Do I need a laptop or will a tablet be enough? Technology is a vital part of modern life, and that has never been more apparent than our current remote-work lifestyle. While computers and smartphones were the stuff of science fiction a few decades ago, they seem fully ingrained into our lives today. When it comes to devices, the essential question is this: a laptop or tablet? Both options have advantages and disadvantages, so it’s crucial to understand the difference before making a purchase. With that in mind, we want to assess the pros and cons of a laptop or a tablet. Ideally, you’ll be abl ..read more

The art of communication has spun upside down in the past few months. Who would have foreseen that many a 50-year-old would be doing video conferencing with friends and family as part of a daily thing? (Well, I guess Google, Facebook, and Amazon did) Improving your communication can make every relationship in your life more fulfilling. That includes your spouse, kids, friends, and co-workers. What can we do to make these new communication rules function in our favor? The same things we would have done before the COVID Lockdown. “Come on, Derrick—Seriously? I’m fifty years old, and now you’re ..read more

Quick, when you hear the phrase ‘Cinco de Mayo,’ what pops into your head? If it is Mexican beer, tacos, and tequila, you wouldn’t be alone. Of course, the United States will turn just about anything into a drinking holiday (I’m looking at you, St. Patrick’s Day!). Cinco de Mayo, traditionally, doesn’t have anything to do with drinking, and it’s not even that big of a celebration in Mexico. So what exactly is it, and how did it become such a party here in the States? Here is the down-low on what you need to know about Cinco de Mayo. It’s Mexico’s Independence Day, Right? Nope.  Instead, t ..read more

A down market can bring stomach-churning experiences to those who have investments that are losing value, and the recent bear market is no exception. Disciplined investors understand how to navigate uncertain economic times like these, however, and those who manage to do so well can reap significant returns once the market recovers. If you’re one of many people who have retirement funds, college savings, brokerage accounts or other investments tied up in the stock market, here’s a guide on how to invest in down times like the ones that we’re facing. Disclaimer: I am not an investment advisor ..read more

Gin doesn’t come from juniper berries in the same way that wine ferments from grapes, but this is very much the drink of the juniper plant. While distilled from a neutral grain, gin’s characteristic piney trait is created by infusing the spirit with these berries. If you’re unfamiliar with the spirit, pour yourself a cocktail with London Dry and become acquainted with what’s perhaps the most botanical spirit. Gin Gives “Dutch Courage” Don’t let the term offend you, we all have friends who get a little gin in them and become “likes to fight Guy.” Today’s gin stems from a genever, which was a ju ..read more

A Camera is something we now take for granted with the current technology readily available today. “I’ll just take the picture with my phone.”  Not too long ago, people would’ve thought you’d lost it if you said something like that. It would’ve sounded similar to: “I’ll just take that picture with my toothbrush.” Can’t you imagine your grandma delightedly snapping pictures of you as a child with her hooked-to-the-wall dial-up telephone? Man, now I sound old. My point is that we’ve gone completely in the other direction. We now not only have a ‘cordless phone,’ but a camera and ..read more

You need to setup a home office, but how? Ever since Coronavirus hit the U.S., the world has become Topsy-turvy. One of the most significant changes to our way of life is that we all have to spend so much more time at home. If you’re one of the fortunate people to be able to work remotely, you’re faced with a new challenge – creating a home office space. While it can be a somewhat daunting task, it’s not as tricky as you might think. In this article, we’ll discuss the best ways to get your home office up and running, as well as how to maximize your productivity while stuck in quarantin ..read more

Here most of us sit, waiting, watching, and working remotely. Maybe some napping, some binge-watching of Netflix, or learning how to make your Toilet Paper at home. Some of you are even making your bidet while you have free time. Meanwhile, Healthcare Workers in the United States are in a non-stop rotation of long shifts and increasingly sicker patients. While we are trying to figure out how to pay our bills and keep our businesses going with everything shut down, they are trying to stem the tide of COVID-19 and to save lives. Disclaimer: I am in no way an expert on COVID-19. I am lookin ..read more

There are many ways to experiment with and brewing coffee, but some aficionados want to get even more hands-on with their favorite beverage. For a truly in-depth experience where you control almost everything except for growing, harvesting, and processing the beans, you can try roasting coffee at home. Here’s a guide to getting started with home coffee roasting.  (This is Part 3 of a three-part series on coffee. In Part 1, I covered selecting and preparing coffee. Part 2 included both roasting and brewing as part of the preparation, but the roasting section discussed commercial roasting onl ..read more

St. Patrick’s Day is rapidly approaching again. One irony of life is that our breakthroughs can come from unexpected places (and sometimes when we’ve all but lost hope). Could the meaning behind St. Patrick’s Day be just one of those scenarios as we face our midlife struggles? St. Patrick’s Day lands two days before spring this year (March 17)—When many regions of the country are emerging from a season of cold and darkness. New life is coming to our forests, fields, and river valleys. Is it possible the icy frost of your midlife ‘winter’ is about to thaw as well? As St. Patty’s Day a ..read more