Columns & Opinions

Corns caused by repeated damage to skin

Dear Doctors: I run a lot and developed a growth on the knuckle of my second toe. It's hard, with a sharp point in the middle, and it hurts. I thought it was a callus, but my running coach says it's a corn. I thought only older people got those.

New IRS employees = 86,852

You’ve probably heard Republicans say the Inflation Reduction Act – the massive spending bill just passed by Senate Democrats – includes provisions to hire 87,000 new Internal Revenue Service agents. The number seems too big to believe.

The misinformation superhighway

Notice how you never hear anybody talk about “the information superhighway” anymore? The creation of the internet marked a big advance in human ingenuity, yes. As a lifelong reader who feels claustrophobic in libraries, it’s been an enormous boon to my existence.

Grief emerges long after colleague’s death

DEAR HARRIETTE: An industry colleague passed away about a year ago. I expressed my sorrow at the time, and that was that. Now, though, I am beginning to feel real sadness about this man's death. While we were not close, he had an impact on my life.

DO JUST ONE THING

•Here are a few reasons from the animal kingdom to avoid setting off fireworks for special events. In addition to making companion animals like dogs anxious and causing panic attacks, they can affect other types of wildlife as well.
What we know now from ‘Titanic’

What we know now from ‘Titanic’

What we know now from ‘Titanic’

We are living a Brock Lovett moment.Brock Lovett? Reel your memory back a quarter century. Summon the most dramatic moment in the 1997 film “Titanic.”

Ill-mannered host makes guest feel disrespected

DEAR HARRIETTE: For the past few years, I have hung out with a small group of people in our sleepy summer community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the group was really small for health purposes.I like most of the people, but one woman rubs me the wrong way.

Exposure to artificial light disrupts circadian rhythms

Dear Doctors: I need it to be completely dark to sleep well. I've got blackout curtains, I use an analog clock and I even duct-taped the digital lights on the smoke alarm. I just read that light at night is bad for your health. Is that true?
Partier facing health challenges even after slowing down

Partier facing health challenges even after slowing down

Partier facing health challenges even after slowing down

DEAR HARRIETTE:I have been partying pretty hard since the pandemic started. That's a good two years, maybe a little more if I'm totally honest. Partying means drinking, smoking,hanging out. For the most part, it hasn't been such a big deal.
New technology is a bear to use

New technology is a bear to use

New technology is a bear to use

They call the impossibly complicated screen I am looking at a 'dashboard,' which I do not find reassuring at all.