The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urges consumers of micromobility products – including e-bikes, e-scooters, self-balancing scooters or hoverboards, and e-unicycles – not to use chargers that are marketed as “universal” or suitable with general categories of micromobility devices to avoid fires and injury or death, unless they’ve been tested... Read more →

On Sunday, I attended the Olympia Harbor Days celebration. After I enjoyed walking along the boardwalk and taking photos, I participated in another Labor Day typical activity – shopping. Although I didn’t find any bargains, it was fun to get out and walk along the waterfront, an area local activists... Read more →

In recent years, I haven’t traveled much on Labor Day. About 21 percent of Americans plan to travel over the Labor Day weekend by car or plane, according to WalletHub, a personal finance website. It’s estimate there will be 51,900 serious injuries during the Labor Day weekend crashes and more... Read more →

Labor Day these days is mostly about beaches, barbecues, ballgames, and shopping. About 67 percent of Americans plan to celebrate Labor Day, with more than 210 million having a barbecue and thousands going to college football games. In the past, however, workers marched. The holiday’s roots can be traced back... Read more →

Like many people, I’m beginning to notice signs of summer fading and fall approaching. Unfortunately. I’m not a fan of winter. September marks the end of summer. Sales are already underway for Labor Day. September is a great month to shop, meaning you don't have to wait until Black Friday... Read more →

The evacuation of American Airlines Flight 2045 on July 12 at the San Francisco International Airport took longer to complete than the federal standard of 90 seconds. While only minor injuries were reported, delays in the evacuation created an unacceptable risk of major injuries or death for the passengers and crew. Read more →

For most summers, my daughter Lisa, who lives in Madrid, visits me with her kids, Rafa and Cecilia. Although the visits are shorter now that the kids are older and want to spend more time with their friends, we had a great time. Fun times included a barbecue, swimming, walking in an arboretum and parks, dining out, and a July Fourth celebration. Read more →

Recently, when I traveled to Madrid, I noticed that more people weren’t using headphones or earbuds when listening to audio on their phones and computers. At the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, a man was sitting with his leg propped up on his suitcase listening to YouTube videos. It was really irritating. Another man had his phone on speaker. Read more →

Memorial Day is a day to honor Americans who have died in service to their country. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans attend parades and visit cemeteries to place flowers on the graves of loved ones. Barbecues and trips also are popular. Read more →

A friend on Facebook tricked me with with a tale of a move across the country, a new line of work, and a rural lifestyle. I thought, wow, that’s an interesting thing to do. Then, it dawned on me, April fools. I don’t know how I feel about being tricked on social media. I usually write about a few of my favorite April Fools’ Day jokes on April 1. Read more →