Point of View

UNITED STATES—I saw something interesting on television this morning and it got me thinking. Hmm, the media is much more intrusive than many of us would like to acknowledge. Why does it seem once something hits the Internet, it travels across the media like a massive outbreak that can’t be controlled? The scary factor isn’t that it breaks so...

UNITED STATES—Getting a master’s degree is quite hectic. However, nothing tops a Ph.D. thesis. You have to write an original thesis and adhere to language rules. You also have to have regular meetings with your supervisor. And a Ph.D. thesis can be four hundred pages up to five hundred pages. Of course, you know all this. And honestly, writing a...

MALIBU—My dad was the model of an Irish lad. Health insurance appeared a needless expense for a teenage immigrant with empty pockets and vast ambition. That was, until, as a married man, my mum’s hysterectomy strapped my dad with a $900,000 hospital bill. A common surgical procedure left my mum at death’s doorstep after it was discovered that a...

UNITED STATES─Toni: I need your help to enroll in Medicare because I will turn 65 on April 30th. On April 10th, I was laid off due to the current economic conditions. My employer benefits ended the day I was laid off.  I have no idea what to do!! A friend recently gave me a Toni Says® newspaper article with your...

UNITED STATES—I will admit I am someone who likes a routine. When I have a system in place I don’t like to see adjustments made to that system because I’ve worked hard to implement something that works well for me people. I think I get annoyed when a system that is nearly error proof gets completely upended because someone...

UNITED STATES─I am so proud of myself. For the past week I did something that I have not done in months. What is that? I cooked a hearty meal EVERY single day of the week and if you want me to be honest, it was a stellar feeling. I loved the notion of being able to eat a hearty...

UNITED STATES—A lot of homeowners are leaving San Francisco. How many? Well, according to a new report out of the real estate company Zillow, inventory in SF rose 96 percent between 2019 and 2020. Remote Work Flexibility The obvious reason behind this rapid rise in empty homes is the COVID-19 pandemic. As more Californian tech companies allow employees to work remotely, San Franciscans...

FLORIDA—Only in America can a mass killing spree become a political protest. Watching the kids who are just a few months or years from being adults, enjoying their 15 minutes of fame on national television pointing the finger, “but we are the kids you are the adults, do something!” I agree the adults should do something. They should stop teaching...

UNITED STATES—Help Toni: I am turning 65 in July and last week I tried to open a “My Social Security” account to enroll in Medicare online, but my Social Security account is locked out.  Two years ago, someone falsely filed for a tax refund with my Social Security number. Now anything that involves me or my spouse’s Social Security...

UNITED STATES—I am just going to say it because some people will not say it: Super Bowl LVII was not that great. Perhaps, it could be that last minute ‘holding’ call by NFL officials that turned an extremely competitive and fun game into a dud of a disaster as the clock just ran down. Yes, the NFL officiating has...