Most agree the poor deserve public help. But where should the line dividing poor from non-poor be set? The U.S. government answered this question in 1963 by by setting official poverty thresholds according to…
November 26 marks the 75th anniversary of the premier of the wartime drama “Casablanca,’’ one of the greatest, most beloved, most quoted — and misquoted — movies of all time. The film is based…
Excessive drinking claims the lives of tens of thousands of Americans each year and is responsible for about 1 in every 10 deaths among working age adults. Alcohol abuse also takes a heavy economic…
Dogs are man’s best friend, although some would give that honor to cats. While adopting a puppy or a kitten from a shelter can be rewarding, many would-be owners don’t mind paying up —…
Americans have been decorating their homes with outdoor lights during the holidays since suburbia exploded in growth after World War II. To that end, we buy an estimated 150 million light sets each year…
This upcoming Thanksgiving weekend, 164 million Americans, or close to 70% of the U.S. population, will start their holiday shopping. And, according to the National Retail Federation, an estimated 1 in 5 of those…
Approximately 285 million Americans sit every year on the fourth Thursday of November to celebrate Thanksgiving. With 88% of the country sharing a similar meal on the same day, price fluctuations in any of…
For those on a budget or with many people on their holiday shopping list, most of this season’s hottest tech gifts might seem too expensive. The latest iPhones, Samsung Galaxies, laptops, and video game…
Comedy has historically been a field saturated with men. While male comedians often receive the most media exposure, women have been behind some of the best and most innovative contributions to comedy in both…
Few municipal services in the United States are as uneven as the public school system. The quality of schools across the country largely depends on local property values, with the best school districts in…
As the NFL season progresses, predicting wins for teams like the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles gets easier and easier. The opponent or location doesn’t seem to matter much. Those two elite teams…
Black Friday, the traditional start to the holiday shopping season, has lost its frenetic edge as holiday sales promotions creep into Thanksgiving, and some stores plan to open on Thanksgiving Day. Retailers such as…
criene / iStockAfter many years of working for a living, many Americans look forward to retirement. Typically around age 65, people have finished working, saving money, and raising their children, so their focus shifts…
Every year, music lovers in Spanish, Portuguese, and increasingly English speaking countries look forward to the Latin Grammy Awards. The awards honor rising and long-influential Latin stars for outstanding achievements over the last year.…
Alcohol and illicit drug abuse are major burdens on American society, costing an estimated $442 billion annually in lost productivity and health care costs. The share of full-time workers who report monthly excessive alcohol…
