Second of two parts (Read the 1st Part) Forgiveness. It is needed in oft-fractured parent-child relationships. A 2022 study led by a sociology professor found that 26% of adult children were estranged from their father and 6% from their mother. In Rob Mitchell’s case, it was both. As he details in Castaway Kid, a painful…
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First of two parts It’s not often that a book published close to 20 years ago gets a second chance at public exposure. But Castaway Kid by R.B. Mitchell is no ordinary book. That is seen by the fact that approximately 400,000 copies are in print—and in seven languages. Here, I should explain that I…
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The White House’s July 4 victory lap over the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) had barely subsided before two members of the House of Representatives rushed to repeal a little-noticed provision. The Senate added it during final deliberations, limiting the gambling losses taxpayers can deduct from their income to 90%. Introduced by Rep. Dina…
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Earlier this year, a colleague asked if I could send her another copy of a story I had written; she had lost hers in a computer crash. When I sent it, I wrote, “Ouch; that sounds like a nightmare (times three).” Her experience reminded me of similar fear-inducing scenarios I lived through after my freelance…
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Only one week to go before the National Football League’s 2025 season kickoff. I will whet my appetite for the action this weekend by participating in the draft for a Fantasy Football League. Football and I go a long way back, including my attendance at the first Monday Night Football game ever played in Cleveland…
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While summer is close to its conclusion, I can’t leave it behind without recalling the remark I heard at a late June high school graduation. I can’t quote it word for word. The speaker called for compassion towards others “since you don’t know what invisible battles they are fighting.” Truer words were never spoken. Especially…
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With vacation season still ongoing, it’s startling to consider the 2025-26 school year is also upon us. As the latest academic calendar unfolds, there is no better news than New York becoming the largest state to ban cellphones and other internet-enabled devices during school hours. Although the state passed the law in May, I didn’t…
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Growing up, roller coasters were my favorite amusement park ride. I especially remember one at Chicago’s now-defunct Riverview Park (which offered a bird’s-eye view of Wrigley Field). As we finished, my father chuckled; apparently my 10-year-old eyes had widened to the size of saucers as I grabbed the car’s rails. But fear didn’t create the…
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I recently closed my old business checking account to prevent thieves draining all the funds. It’s not so much that it happened that bothers me as much as the way it happened. I recently decided to switch internet providers to lower the price to a more reasonable level (almost $45 a month). But a mistake…
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In the modern news cycle, it’s ancient to talk about HBO talk show host Bill Maher going to the White House this spring to meet with President Donald Trump. Yet, in this fractured era of clickbait when everyone is loading their weapons (and not all verbal) so they can shoot anyone who disagrees with them,…
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