• One Thing or Another Columns,  Podcasts

    Ginny Brennan, Producing Director for Music Mountain Theatre, Joins the Podcast

    My guest this week is Ginny Brennan, Producing Director and a founder of Lambertville, New Jersey’s, Music Mountain Theatre. Join me as we talk about Ginny’s involvement, the creation of Music Mountain Theatre, and the invaluable contribution it makes to the community and beyond.

    Coming Up on the One Thing or Another Podcast:

    • Rick Rose for our February look back on politics, culture and more
    • Maribeth Fabrizio on Tiny Miracles Animal Rescue

    Enjoy the One Thing or Another Podcast on Libsyn, iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeart Radio or SoundCloud.

    Subscriber here for easy delivery of each new podcast.

    Copyright MadeMarkPublishing

  • Reviews

    Steve Hayes: Tired Old Queen at the Movies – The Clock

    In MGM ‘s wartime romance, THE CLOCK, director Vincente Minnelli takes future wife Judy Garland out of the musical spot light and into the arms of soldier Robert Walker for her first serious, romantic drama. With a supporting cast headed by Keenan Wynn and James Gleason, it’s a delightfully tender and touching, romantic travelogue of New York during World War II and did much to establish Garland as a serious actress. You ‘ll be beguiled by the chemistry of Garland at her loveliest and Walker at his sincerest. – Steve Hayes, Tired Old Queen at the Movies

  • Book Reviews,  Books

    Book Review: Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick, by Zora Neale Hurston

    By Terri Schlichenmeyer
    The Bookworm

    “Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick” by Zora Neale Hurston, edited with an introduction by Genevieve West, foreword by Tayari Jones

    c.2020, Amistad  $25.99 / $31.99 Canada 304 pages

    Everybody has that place.

    You know, that place where everyone knows you, they know what you want, and they get it for you before your coat’s half off. It’s where you can catch up on gossip and good news, where you take shelter and get sympathy. In “Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick” by Zora Neale Hurston, you also get a front seat.

  • LGBTSR

    One Thing or Another: 2020 Vision

    By Mark McNease

    It’s always One Thing or Another… a lighthearted look at aging, life, and the absurdities of it all.

    Two months into a new year and this one feels different. Depending on your preferred echo chamber, America is either experiencing a renaissance of greatness restored by the last presidential election, or crumbling into a sinkhole of authoritarian despair. The earth is slowly catching fire while the ice caps melt, or it’s all a conspiracy to make us vote for liberals. The extremes are increasingly extreme, and now, as we hurtle toward an election many people are declaring the most significant in their lifetimes, it’s all too much, like a hangover breakfast at a diner after a party you never wanted to attend. We live under sustained assault by social media and a news cycle that stopped knowing how to shut off back when the Indian head ceased displaying on our TV screens from midnight till 6:00 a.m.

  • Columns,  Dave Hughes,  LGBTSR,  reitre

    25 Great US Cities and Towns for LGBT Retirees

    By Dave Hughes, RetireFabulously.com

    This article is an excerpt from Dave Hughes’ new book, The Quest for Retirement Utopia: How to Find the Retirement Spot That’s Right for You.

    When it comes to choosing a place to live during retirement, LGBT people want the same things that everyone else wants – safety, reasonable prices, agreeable climate, cultural and recreational amenities, and good healthcare.

    However, LGBT people have a few additional factors to consider. Those include how tolerant an area is, the presence of a gay community, and healthcare providers that are welcoming towards LGBT people. Sadly, instances where LGBT patients are treated poorly and same-sex partners are denied visitation rights or decision-making rights in hospitals and nursing homes are still all too common.

  • LGBTSR

    Gay Travelers Magazine: Virgin Voyages – No Nickel and Diming Cruising Arrives in Florida

    Reprinted with permission from Sunny Harbor Publishing

    By Steven Skelley & Thomas Routzong

    SCARLET LADY, the first ship of Virgin Voyages brand by Sir Richard Branson is cruising to Florida where it will offer “no nickel and diming cruising” where tips, wifi, food and group workouts are all included.

    Here is what you need to know:

    Virgin Voyages’ first ship, Scarlet Lady, will arrive at PortMiami in 2020 for her inaugural sailing season where she will sail to the Caribbean hosting more than 2,770 sailors and 1,150 amazing crew from around the world. Virgin Voyages will offer a mix of itineraries.

  • LGBTSR

    Featured Book: The Quest for Retirement Utopia: How to Find the Retirement Spot That’s Right for You, by Dave Hughes

    He’s done it again! The fabulous Dave Hughes of Retire Fabulously has recently released his third book on the ups, downs, ins and outs of retirement.

    The Quest for Retirement Utopia: How to Find the Retirement Spot That’s Right for You, “will provide you with the resources you need to properly evaluate the places you are thinking about retiring so that you can make the most informed choice. The Quest for Retirement Utopia is not just a quest for the most beautiful or most economically advantageous place, it’s a quest for the place where you can live an optimal, fulfilling, and wonderful life. The Quest for Retirement Utopia will help you find the retirement spot that’s right for you!”

  • LGBTSR,  Uncategorized

    Cathy’s Wealth of Health: Let’s Talk About the Role of Inflammation in Illness


    Inflammation: Causes and Cures
    By Cathy McNease, Herbalist

    One of the biggest predictors of how well we age is the amount of inflammation present in our bodies. The major killer diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s, as well as the discomforts of gastritis, arthritis, gingivitis, and the many other –itises, all begin with inflammation. When an organ is inflamed, disease follows. Over time that fire in the tissues or cells can become life threatening. Some of the best cures to reduce inflammation are found in colorful fruits and vegetables. The other vital component to fire reduction is to avoid unhealthy fats, denatured grains, refined sugars, and foods heavy laden in artificial flavorings, colorings and preservatives.

    In recent years the medical world has awakened to the huge connection between diet and health. One of the measurable factors that your doctor may use to determine disease risks is your level of CRP (C-Reactive Proteins) in the blood. It is now know that this is a more reliable pointer to the possibility of heart disease than merely looking at cholesterol levels. It will also show the amount of inflammation generally present in the body.

  • Uncategorized

    Guest Rick Rose Joins Me for Our February Look Back – Fasten Your Headphones!

    Guest Rick Rose returns for our monthly look back to catch up on the latest in politics, culture and food whimsy for February. You say acquitted, I say impeached, let’s call the whole thing off! Plus: Bernie scares the moderates, blue popcorn, and Sotomayor takes a stand.

    Enjoy the One Thing or Another Podcast on Libsyn, iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify iHeart Radio, or SoundCloud.

    Subscriber here for easy delivery of each new podcast.

    Copyright MadeMarkPublishing

  • Savvy Senior,  Uncategorized

    The Savvy Senior: Beware of Potential 2020 Census Scams

    Dear Savvy Senior,

    Can you offer some tips to help seniors guard against census scams? With the 2020 census gearing up, I’ve read that there are a lot of potential scammers out there looking to take advantage of older people and I want to protect myself.

    Cautious Judy

    Dear Judy,

    Unfortunately, scams have become a persistent problem when the U.S. Census Bureau does its once-a-decade count of the U.S. population. Here’s what you can expect from the 2020 Census in the coming weeks, and how you can protect yourself from potential scams.

  • Columns,  Savvy Senior

    The Savvy Senior: 2020 Census Offers Temporary Jobs Ideally Suited for Retirees


    By Jim Miller

    Dear Savvy Senior,

    The U.S. Census Bureau is in the process of recruiting thousands of workers for temporary jobs to help collect valuable data for the 2020 Census, and retirees are ideal candidates. Can you write a column to get the word out? Thanks for your help!

    Census Recruiter                                                                      

    Dear Recruiter,

    I’m happy to oblige, and I agree. This once-a-decade job opportunity is a great fit for retirees that have some free time on their hands who wouldn’t mind earning some extra income while helping the community.

  • Columns,  Savvy Senior

    The Savvy Senior: 2020 Census Offers Temporary Jobs Ideally Suited for Retirees


    By Jim Miller

    Dear Savvy Senior,

    The U.S. Census Bureau is in the process of recruiting thousands of workers for temporary jobs to help collect valuable data for the 2020 Census, and retirees are ideal candidates. Can you write a column to get the word out? Thanks for your help!

    Census Recruiter                                                                      

    Dear Recruiter,

    I’m happy to oblige, and I agree. This once-a-decade job opportunity is a great fit for retirees that have some free time on their hands who wouldn’t mind earning some extra income while helping the community.

  • Interviews,  Sue Katz

    Sue Katz: An Interview with author Stephanie Schroeder, co-editor of Headcase: LGBTQ Writers & Artists on Mental Health and Wellness

    The following is reprinted with permission from Sue Katz’s Consenting Adult blog.

    By Sue Katz

    Stephanie Schroeder – writer and peer advocate – and her co-editor Teresa Theophano – writer and social worker – have brought together 38 important pieces of writing on the topic of LGBTQ mental health today in their anthology Headcase: LGBTQ Writers & Artists on Mental Health and Wellness. Stephanie is known for her hard-hitting socially-aware journalism and one other book, her moving memoir.

    The enthusiastic reception of Headcase is reflected in its reviews where comments call it “ground-breaking,” “poignant,” “terrific and essential,” and “a diverse democracy of voices.” I spoke to Stephanie Schroeder about the process of putting together such a pioneering work.