Point of View

Debate Does Not Have To Include Arguing

UNITED STATES—I think the world of debate is something we need more in this country. Too many people interchange the terms debate and arguing. They are NOT the same thing. A debate involves a discussion about an issue with individuals who have different stances. An argument tends to involve yelling and nothing gets accomplished that way. There is too much...

Banning TikTok, Is It Really That Important?

UNITED STATES—I truly cannot believe we are having this discussion. The House of Representatives passed legislation trying to put a ban on TikTok. I mean is this where we truly are as a society. I am not going to argue that social media doesn’t have its cons. It absolutely does because for so many tweens and teenagers it dictates...

Trust Your Team

UNITED STATES—This past week has been glorious for me. I finally had a long-awaited vacation, one that I desperately needed after going nearly seven months with no significant time off between working two jobs and being a full-time doctoral student. I feel like I have been running myself thin, but refusing to admit it, which is an absolute travesty...

The Cinema Lover Returns

UNITED STATES—I love cinema, I really do, but I think the past week has been the most entertaining, educational and exciting week in cinema that I can recall in years. I have always been a fan of old-school cinema; I learned so much as an undergraduate about early films, technique and how the black-and-white era really placed a stamp...

Device Upgrade Affordability

UNITED STATES—I recently had an upgrade opportunity for my mobile service, not in particular my phone, but my iPad. I have had my iPad mini for close to a decade. It still works perfectly and I had no intention of getting rid of it because it works perfectly. The only issue was that a lot of apps that I...

Top Casino Payment Methods

UNITED STATES—People have been interested in gambling since the concept was invented. Something about it is just intrinsic to human nature, but the internet has really supercharged its popularity. That is because it is able to provide casino gambling in a format that is convenient. Once someone has created a casino account, they can just log in and start to...

I Thought Medicare Covered Long-Term Care

UNITED STATES—Dear Toni, recently in your Medicare column, you discussed services that are not covered by Original Medicare such as dental, vision, long-term care, and other items. I thought Medicare covered long-term care but was wrong, because my mother suffered a severe stroke, and her rehab facility notified me that Medicare is not paying for my mother’s care. Beginning...

How Do I Enroll In Medicare?

UNITED STATES—Hello Toni: I am turning 65 in July and am bombarded with mail and telemarketing calls. I am not receiving Social Security and a friend who just got Medicare is receiving her Social Security check. Do I have to be receiving my Social Security check to get Medicare? Please explain what I should do because I was waiting to...

Age Is Simply A Number

UNITED STATES—I have been grappling with something in the past few weeks. I have a birthday coming up and it is a bit of a milestone, and it has really forced me to reflect a bit on life. I think that is the problem with birthdays is they only come once a year, but when they come you get...

How AI Is Changing Planning And Allocating Water Resources

UNITED STATES—A big problem worldwide is the need for more water, worsening because of climate change, population growth, and bad resource management methods. Using artificial intelligence (AI) to help plan and distribute water supplies has become an idea that might work well. Artificial intelligence is changing how we handle water resources, even non-revenue water, by making it possible to...