The Rooney Bin

“If any event teaches you how to perform on no sleep, it’s a hurricane.”—David Muir, news anchor Yikes! Hurricanes are scary. Although the Rooney Bin survived another major meteorological event, this one actually turned my hair white. (Admittedly, it could have been the fact that the storm delayed my monthly color and cut.)  I ... Read More

I miss the good old days, when my spouse the Binmeister would talk to me and my watch wouldn’t, when my washer and drier just had on/off buttons and my refrigerator simply stayed on. Ditto my car radio that has to be programmed, but I can’t figure out how to set the channels I ... Read More

“Timing and accuracy is really what matters at the end of the day.”—Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles quarter back             Timing is everything, whether it’s sports, art, journalism, politics or submitting a press release. And so the time has come for the annual Rooney Bin primer about how to get coverage of your organization’s affairs. My assigned ... Read More

“Procrastination always gives you something to look forward to.” Joan Konner, journalist             Although Monday marks the 2019 autumnal equinox, I’m looking forward to Sunday, Nov. 3 when Daylight Savings Time ends. It will be time to “fall behind,” a phrase used to remind folks to set their clocks back an hour. It’s also an ... Read More

“Without labor, nothing prospers.”—Sophocles             Alert! There are only two days until Labor Day. Halloween décor and costumes are showing up in stores. What’s more, there are only 115 shopping days until Christmas. Oh dear, I haven’t sent out cards or decorated the tree. If I seem a bit confused, it’s because I hail from ... Read More

            “A man can work from sun to sun, but a woman’s work is never done.”—Canadian writer Jean Little    An Internet headline: “Having a husband creates an additional seven hours of housework a week,” caught my eye while searching for a topic for this week’s column. Tell me about it! Although women are gaining parity ... Read More

“What dreadful hot weather we have. It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance.”—English novelist Jane Austin Holy Cow! The heat index was 122 degrees in Maryland last week. We’re smack dab in the middle of the dog days of summer that run from July 3 through August11, but seem to go on forever ... Read More

Z-z-z-z-z-zit, snap! Boom! Yikes! That was close. Several weeks ago a violent storm zapped the power and plunged us into darkness for two or three hours. There has been a lot of electricity in the air lately. Some of it was lightning compliments of Mother Nature—as comedian George Carlin said, “electricity is just organized lightning”—and  ... Read More

They’re ba-a-a-ck! Aliens are in the news again. This could become a major campaign issue on both sides of the aisle. I’m not talking building a barrier to keep out illegal immigrants; I’m talking protecting earth from extraterrestrials.             Pentagon officials recently briefed President Trump about sightings of unidentified flying objects reported by Navy pilots. ... Read More

Whether oolong, green, white or black, if you serve tea cold it’s called “iced tea,” not” “ice” tea. A frosty glass or two is most refreshing on a hot day. Although this year sizzling hot weather got a head start at the end of May, temps usually begin to soar in June; that’s why ... Read More