Editor’s note: This is a story written by Meg McGuire, wife of AMR contributor Christopher Mele. Meg is the publisher and editor of delawarecurrents.org, an online news magazine dedicated to covering the entire length of the Delaware River. It is published here with permission — and mostly because Chris thought it was such a cool story … Continue reading Counting Horseshoe Crabs in the Dark
Note: This was not an easy essay for Richard Rodriguez to write. In fact, it was in development for six months before he decided to go ahead with it. The results reflect a profound courage to confront the pain, anger and confusion of grieving for lost loved ones. It’s a real credit to Rich that he … Continue reading Years Later, the Emotions of Grieving Loved Ones Are Still Raw
That headline is not just clickbait my fine-feathered friends. Actor and professional handsome guy, Adam West, really did save this humble podcaster’s life. As all of you reading this undoubtedly know, Mr. West played the title character in the superhero TV classic Batman which was first broadcast in the U.S. on the ABC television network … Continue reading Adam West Saved My Life
There is just something so primal about cussing and swearing that it’s difficult for us guys to suppress. Hey! Asshole! Are you paying attention to what I’m sayin’ here?! See what I mean? Whether used to vent (“I can’t fucking believe it!), to make an assertion (“That is fucked up”) or to beg a question … Continue reading We Swear, Cussing Is a Way of Life
If it is true that the eyes are the window to the soul, I am convinced we live in a soul-less society. When was the last time you were in a mall, elevator, bus depot or train station and you could see someone’s eyes? Yeah, me neither. It is because everyone has their faces buried … Continue reading The Need to Digitally Detox
How am I supposed to write 150 words on being tired, when I’m completely exhausted? I’m tired. I’m so, so, so tired. I work a very early weekend morning shift a local ABC/CNN affiliate in Scranton, Pa. I’ve been working this shift for about five years and my body still hasn’t completely adjusted to getting … Continue reading Perchance to (Please!) Sleep
Based on my new work schedule, I now qualify to be two out of the Seven Dwarfs: Sleepy and Dopey. The start of my work day recently shifted from 5 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. For someone like me who is naturally a morning person, this was great but the change put sand in my gears … Continue reading Work, Drive, Sleep, Rinse and Repeat
Note: This week we will explore the issue of sleep — or lack thereof. Why do we not get enough sleep and what toll is it taking on us? We’ll have three installments, starting today with Richard Rodriguez. About nine months ago I changed jobs. It was not for advancement or more money but for … Continue reading Sleep-Deprived As a Way of Life
In ancient Greece, men were encouraged to let the tears flow. Dudes in the 17th century looked for a virile, masculine edge by slapping on a pair of high-heels, and it was perfectly masculine for a man to wear a pink silk suit with floral embroidery in the 18th century. As the cultural ideal of manhood continues … Continue reading The Meaning of Manliness
With “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” the latest movie installment from Marvel now in theaters, we thought it would be fun to get a glimpse into the genius of Stan Lee, the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics. Lee, 94, who regularly makes cameos in the Marvel movies a la Alfred Hitchcock, always … Continue reading My Work With Stan Lee
A recent article in The New York Times reported on an emerging trend that I support: Some high-end restaurants are discontinuing the practice of asking customers to taste wine and approve of the selection. Instead, the article said, these restaurants are relying on the sommelier (French for “grape guru”) to do the sampling for you. As … Continue reading Fine-Dining Disasters
I recently had, for perhaps the first time in my life, experienced what it is like to be “other.” As a white middle-class man, I have been fortunate to live a largely privileged life, free of discrimination (at least as far as I know) and to mostly feel I was part of the mainstream. It … Continue reading What It Is Like to Feel Like ‘Other’
When friends of a certain age get together, a bucket list – things we want to do before we die — can become the center of conversation. There are fun and exciting things to do in far and exotic places that are probably completely out of reach due to lack of money, energy and testicular … Continue reading A Different Kind of Bucket List
So after three years of doing this podcast, Chris and Pedro decided to go where fools rush in and angels fear to tread and that is an honest man-to-man conversation about chores and housework. What is revealed is as about as pretty as balled-up sweaty socks turned inside out. I’m not sure we know the … Continue reading Chris and Pedro Come Clean About Housework
It seemed like such a good idea at the time. Chris and Pedro were just planning on having a drink or two after work at a local dive bar. What could possibly go wrong? Listen in as two (very) hungover old friends are hit with the sudden realization that they may be too old to party like … Continue reading BONUS EPISODE: We Really Are Getting Too Old For This
You may have heard about the latest podcast to make a splash, “S-town,” which, not to give too much away, tells the story about a man in the Deep South and the community he lives in. It has gained widespread attention the way “Serial” did a few years ago. So what is all the fuss about … Continue reading What’s All the Fuss About Podcasts?
For an idea of where the end of the world might start, visit the Titan II Missile Museum in Sahuarita, Az. The site is a former missile silo, complete with a disarmed Titan II still intact, 35 feet below ground in a steel-and-concrete-reinforced bunker. It is a sobering reminder of the destructive power of man and how … Continue reading The End of the World Starts Here
I recently faced a dilemma of character and reprisal at a fast- food restaurant while traveling with my daughter to her college after a holiday. I am typically an easy-going person who doesn’t look for conflict but this situation got under my skin and I had to really hold back and put my impulse aside. … Continue reading French Fry Rage
With clarity and conciseness, my older son coined a slogan that epitomizes the don’t-give-a-crap attitude that makes guys great. I am convinced his insight belongs on coffee mugs, T-shirts and the business cards of men everywhere. Here is the backstory: No. 1 son broke the toilet seat in the downstairs bathroom and set about replacing … Continue reading ‘My Own Particular Aesthetic’
As soon as you mention you are visiting Arizona, you know what people say. C’mon, you know. You have said it yourself: “Oh, it’s a dry heat.” Yes, yes it is. So is sticking your head in an oven door and closing it. The people who inhabit the great state of Arizona are made of sturdier stock than I ever … Continue reading Arizona or Bust? I’ll Take Bust Please!
Clothes may make the man, but I also believe they can be fun and make a statement. I’m all in favor of dressing appropriately for work and, as the product of 12 years of Catholic schools, I have felt compelled to wear a tie to work every day for nearly my entire career. But it … Continue reading Clothing With A Message
Now might seem like an odd time for me to give up my subscription to Playboy magazine – considering that it is restoring nude models to its pages. As you might recall, the men’s magazine surprised many when it announced a year ago that it would discontinue its decades-long practice of featuring naked women. Instead, … Continue reading Restoring Nudes to Playboy? I’m Still Canceling
In this guest blog post, David Figura, a newsman and author of the book “So What Are The Guys Doing?”, was invited by his former colleague Chris Mele to answer some questions about about men and friendships. David’s book offers a brutally honest first-person appraisal of men facing middle age, their marriages, friendships and lives and … Continue reading How Are the Guys Doing?
Back in 1981, almost a month after we gathered at Silvio’s for New Year’s Eve, we were again together to celebrate my 18th birthday. I was the oldest of the group and the first to hit the legal 18 mark. I was also the first to register to vote as well as sign up for Selective … Continue reading Remembering Friends With an Annual Toast
Like millions of other Americans, I watched the Super Bowl halftime show last week. I tuned in specifically to watch Lady Gaga, who I had seen twice in concert. I think she is extraordinarily talented, energetic and gives everything for her audience. I thought she delivered a stunning halftime show. Replete with a Peter Pan-like … Continue reading Body-Shamers, Have You No Shame?
We found it! Pedro and I recorded an episode a few weeks ago that fell somewhere into the couch cushions but fear not, we’ve dusted it off and it’s as good as new. Well, almost. We do discuss (belatedly for you dear listeners) our sense of loss at the death of our beloved Carrie Fisher, … Continue reading Lost Podcast Is in the Wild!
At the risk of getting my Man Card revoked, shredded and incinerated, its ashes buried in some unmarked grave, let me make the following confession: I have taken to using “product.” You know, “product.” The euphemistic term used by and among men to describe the various unguents (a fancier way of saying ointments, instead of … Continue reading “I Feel Pretty, Oh So Pretty…”
After college, I worked as a recreation director. I would have a few children who came to the park that I mentored and taught how to dribble a basketball and hit and throw a whiffle ball: A level swing will always get you on base. Others I taught how to play board games such as … Continue reading Back in the Trenches — Again
My wife and I have a simple rule when we travel to parts unknown by car: I drive and she navigates. The reason for this is twofold: I am a lousy passenger who turns green riding shotgun and I have a sense of direction worthy of Christopher Columbus. (Dude was headed to the Far East … Continue reading Being Directionally Challenged Means Always Seeing Someplace New
Last week marked the 25th anniversary of my father’s passing and while it is an unhappy milestone, I am safe in the knowledge and faith that he and my mother are together in a better place free from suffering, pain, and surrounded by Jesus’ love. I’m sure dad’s putting the greens in the Elysian Fields … Continue reading Remembering Mom and Dad
In the constellation of stars who died in 2016, the one that I was heartsick over the most was Carrie Fisher. When I first saw her in “Star Wars,” the special effects and droids got more of my 12-year-old’s attention than her signature character, Leia Organa, the blaster-toting, tough-talking, take-charge princess. By the time … Continue reading An Appreciation of Carrie Fisher
“Star Wars” fans have waited nearly 40 years to find out how and why there was such a fatal flaw in the first Death Star. “Rogue One,” which debuted last month, lays out the events leading up to “Star Wars: A New Hope.” That’s the first movie that came out in 1977 labeled Episode IV. … Continue reading “Rogue One” Was Good, But …
It is finally over — the year that took so much away from us in such a big swipe. The year of course is 2016, “a year that will live in infamy,” if you will allow me to paraphrase FDR. It was a year filled with losses of the famous and talented. There are so … Continue reading Mourning — and Celebrating — Three Music Giants Who Died in 2016
Have you ever read something that flicked a switch in your brain, that suddenly filled your head with a memory long forgotten or repressed? Recently my good friend John recounted a story about a visit to Guatemala. You can read it here. His memory of his first visit to a Central American country was of … Continue reading A New Year’s I’d Rather Forget!
Waking up to a coating of fresh snow this morning has me thinking more of the upcoming holiday and everything I still need to get done by Dec. 25. I am actually a little ahead of schedule this year, as I went out with some of the kids and cut down a fresh Christmas tree at … Continue reading Celebrating a Christmas Tree Ritual
A midlife crisis makes for good movie fodder: There is the wayward husband who suddenly wants to take up with a younger woman or the guy who believes that getting a bright shiny sports car will make him youthful. The truth is having a midlife crisis is not just the stuff of fiction. It is … Continue reading “Manopause” and Having a Midlife Crisis
As Christmas approaches, it stirs memories of one of my favorite childhood toys: Legos. I was an avid collector of the tiny bricks that snapped together but Legos in the 1970s were a lot different. Back then, they did not have as many little figurines and cool components as they do today. The sets were … Continue reading Childhood Memories Built of Legos
Among my guy friends, we do not often call each other by our first names. “Dude,” “bro,” “hermano,” “brother from another mother” and “yo” are popular favorites, especially in social media postings. Even when we get close to using our names, it still is not quite right. Many of my friends call me “Mele,” often … Continue reading What’s In a Name, Bro?
Note: Today marks 10 years ago that Christopher Mele’s fiancee, Carla Carlson, died. Those who knew her celebrated the larger-than-life character she was. For those who never met her, this tribute — in the form of a Carla-to-English dictionary — will give you a better sense of who she was and why she was unique. … Continue reading Remembering My Late Fiancee and Her Crazy Made-Up Vocabulary
Now that the election is finally over, it’s time we came together as a country, united by a single purpose. I think we can agree – regardless of your political persuasion or how you feel about the election’s outcome – that it’s time to purge from our vocabulary the hackneyed expressions overused by political pundits … Continue reading R.I.P. These Political Phrases — Please!
This is a time of year when we pause to give thanks for our blessings. This is also a significant time of year for me because today – the Monday before Thanksgiving — marks my first day as a full-time reporter. It is what I consider the official start of my professional career as a … Continue reading Celebrating 30 Years as a Newsman
For nearly four years, this large plastic jar stood sentry on our kitchen counter. At the start of 2013, I was inspired to take an empty container of my whey protein powder and scribble in black marker on the side: “Good Things That Happened in 2013 For Which We Are Grateful.” The premise was simple: I … Continue reading There Is No Expiration Date on Gratitude
I was reading a story about the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan who was being promoted to Hearst magazines’ chief content officer after four years. The editor, Joanna Coles, was quoted as saying: “I love Cosmo, but I gave it everything I had. I just didn’t have another sex position in me.” That comment was a humorous nod to … Continue reading Covering Up Cosmo? Stop the Double-Standard!
OK, I will admit it: I am a scaredy cat just minus the whiskers and tail. The “Creature Feature” movies that would appear on TV when I was a kid, horror flicks, slasher films with gore, things that go bump in the night? Nope. No thank you. I will just sit over here and watch … Continue reading Me? Afraid? You Betcha!
I recently listened to an extraordinary episode of the radio show/podcast called “This American Life.” I am a regular listener and you may be too. But for those unfamiliar with it, the show each week picks a theme and tells stories built around that theme. The reporting is impressive and the story-telling more so. Part … Continue reading Make That Call Today While You Can
I busted Father John’s chops for not wanting to join the rest of us at the shooting range. He took it in stride — as he always has — and just casually lit up his cigarette with the air of a man who’s heard it all before. You see, John dislikes guns and he wasn’t going to … Continue reading Locked and Loaded
As writers and editors, my wife and I have an appreciation for language. That is especially true when we mangle English or misinterpret something. I often quip “words are my life,” especially after I have made a dog’s dinner (a Britishism for a real mess) out of something I was trying to articulate. For supposedly … Continue reading When Words Collide: Fun With Mangled English
As a kid, I’d watch my dad put the can of Barbasol under hot water and then squeeze off a little golf ball-sized foam and spread it on his face. He’d always dab me on the nose with it. Then he would take out his razor, the kind in which he had to add the … Continue reading Cutting It Close With Sal the Barber
You might be a guy if… You feel it is against the laws of nature to make more than one trip into the house from the car after a trip to the supermarket. Gather up all of those plastic shopping bags into two clenched tomato-red fists and get them into the house in one trip … Continue reading You Might Be a Guy If…
This is the latest installment in the About Men Radio Fitness Challenge in which members of the AMR posse have pledged to eat better and adopt a healthier lifestyle in order to lose weight. Chris Mele has this update: My moment of truth arrives on Monday. I go back to see the doctor, who when … Continue reading Weighting For the Moment of Truth
When I was growing up in the Bronx, my friends and I would regularly play “guns.” It was a catchall name for playing Army or cops and robbers. I had at various times a cap gun, a gold-colored pistol that was supposed to shoot little pellets but never really did and a plastic Tommy gun … Continue reading A New Perspective On Guns
Richard Rodriguez offers this update on his progress in the About Men Radio Fitness Challenge: I began tracking my meals, exercise and progress on July 1st and I’m using the Lose It app. It has been an up and down battle. I amazingly lost three to four pounds during the first week probably just due to the … Continue reading Making Some Progress in AMR Fitness Challenge
As part of the About Men Radio Fitness Challenge, About Men Radio contributor Janifer Cheng explains how getting back to nature — and away from processed foods — has benefited her boyfriend. Look for more AMR Fitness Challenge updates coming soon! I grew up with parents who worked all the time. Generally, dinner consisted of … Continue reading Losing 7 Pounds With Home Cooking and Fresh Ingredients
Back at Christmastime, I had a chance to play “Pie Face” with two of my nephews. The game borrows a concept from other games of my childhood like “Don’t Break the Ice” and “Don’t Spill the Beans.” If you are not familiar with “Pie Face,” here is how it works: You stick your face into … Continue reading How Antidepressants Changed My Life
I think I have reached the official “hey-kids-get-off-my-lawn” age. I do not think of myself as being a curmudgeon but I am starting to embrace being curmudgeonly. I revel in the things that annoy me and enjoy being self-righteous about it. So in the best spirit of the late Andy Rooney from “60 Minutes,” here … Continue reading Hey You Kids! Get Off My Lawn!
A recent survey listed the worst job in the country, and for the third year in a row, newspaper reporter was at the top — or the bottom, depending on your view — of the list. As someone who has been in that career for 30 years, I take that kind of news personally. Yes, … Continue reading Marking Labor Day by Recalling the Worst Job in the World
In the spirit of Labor Day, Silvio La Frossia shares his worst job from when he was 23: I worked for three months as a shipping supervisor in a leather hide processing plant. It was a union shop and as a supervisor — a young supervisor — I was faced for the first time overseeing union … Continue reading Silvio’s Worst Job
It was about 10 minutes after leaving the starting line at the Warrior Dash at Pocono Raceway – keeping pace with the top third of my wave of fellow dashers – that I really, really wished I had had a second cup of coffee. I knew there would be a dozen obstacles that included climbing … Continue reading What I Discovered in Conquering the Warrior Dash
I love movies and I am a guy. So I really, really love guy movies. There are a few things that are undisputed that make up a guy movie and one of them is it has to have one or a few memorable quotes. It’s the quote that gets repeated anytime guys get together. I … Continue reading Memorable Guy Movie Monologues
I recently had my annual physical and I was like pffffft….I’ve got this thing in the bag. Heart? Sounded A-OK. Lungs? All clear. Yes, I wear my safety belt. I drink alcohol in moderation. And no, I don’t smoke. I was sailing toward a bill of health cleaner than my mother’s kitchen when… The … Continue reading Can My Doctor Just STFU About My BMI Please?
I’ve got this. I do. Right. Right? It’s the day before I “participate” (read: run, fall down, scrape my knees, get wet, get muddy and fall down some more) in a so-called mud run, this one the Warrior Dash at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. For those not familiar with these races, they feature … Continue reading Some Final Thoughts Before My First Mud Run
The younger son left for the start of college Friday morning, making us officially an empty nest. No. 1 son graduated and moved out last year. With the departure of No. 2 son, it means we no longer have to worry about: Lights needlessly being left on in rooms, especially when no one is there. Turning … Continue reading A Bittersweet Farewell to My Younger Son
Quite soon, my stepson and his wife are expecting their first baby. (Spoiler alert: It’s either a girl or a boy.) I’m so over-the-moon excited for them. It harkens me back to the days leading up to the arrival of my first son more than 20 years ago. It was a time filled with excitement … Continue reading What to REALLY Expect When You’re Expecting: The Straight Dope
It is hard to know when I first noticed that my parents were aging. The closer you are to a subject, the more your perceptions are distorted and you don’t see as clearly. For example, my mother and the mother of a childhood friend of mine both grew up in Germany. When I would visit … Continue reading Facing the Reality That Your Parents Are Getting Older
With the encouragement of my childhood friends who make up the About Men Radio crew, I’ve decided to fully embrace the AMR Fitness Challenge. It’s not that I haven’t tried to eat right and exercise. I’ve been working out consistently for nearly 15 years but I would say in the past two or so, I’ve … Continue reading Going Old School to Get Into Shape
New York City’s subway system is a microcosm — or Petri dish, depending on your view — of humanity. Nowhere was this more evident than as I made my way recently from Queens into Manhattan and observed the following all within the span of 40 minutes: * A stranger (a man) helping a woman carry an … Continue reading Stand Up For Good Manners
Note: About Men Radio member Richard Rodriguez wrote this a month ago as we prepared our AMR Fitness Challenge. We’re encouraging all men to do what they can to get themselves in better shape. Here is Rich’s first installment: It is July 1st and I have determined this to be the start of my entry into … Continue reading Weighing in on the AMR Fitness Challenge
An AARP columnist astutely and humorously listed 11 things you should not do when you are beyond 50. Jell-O shots. Trying to break a plank with your head. Crowd surfing. Truthfully, I am not so sure how wise any of those are at ANY age. But it did get me thinking about getting older. So, … Continue reading You Know You Are Older Than 50 When …
Longtime listeners of the podcast know that getting the entire AMR Posse to reach a consensus on anything is quite the achievement so this episode may come as a shock. Father John, Coach Silvio, SuperDad, Mele Mel along with yours truly, El Kaiser, have unanimously agreed that getting healthy should be our top priority for the rest of the year. … Continue reading No More Excuses, It’s Time to Get Healthy
It was 40 years ago today that serial killer David Berkowitz murdered his first victim in the Bronx, the start of a yearlong reign of terror that left New Yorkers both on edge and fixated with what became known as the Son of Sam murders. At the time I was 12 years old. A few … Continue reading Son of Sam Began His Murderous Spree 40 Years Ago Today
I am never alone when I drive. I do a lot of chauffeuring of my kids, but I also spend a lot of time alone behind the wheel and I always have some unseen passengers. In my front console I have a variety of items ranging from pens to Chapstick to an eyeglass cleaning cloth, but … Continue reading When I Drive, the Dead Are Always With Me
You know, as a parent, you can be wracked with self-doubt and anxiety about what kind of job you’ve done raising your kids. Did you instill in them the right values? How do they treat others? Do they respect themselves? Will they only remember the stupid things you did wrong when they were younger? Did … Continue reading The Kids Are All Right. Truly.
Early in July, my wife and I set out for a vacation to New Hampshire and Maine, part of which included plans to go on a moose expedition. As you may recall, I have been on a 30-year odyssey to see a moose in the wild. Three previous attempts – two with a wildlife biologist … Continue reading Another Moose Egg
In this latest episode of About Men Radio shenanigans, Pedro and Chris talk about men’s health — no, not the magazine — but what it takes for men our age to be of sound bodies. (Forget about our minds, those are shot!) Partly the discussion was spurred on by recent medical procedures we both endured … Continue reading Talking Men’s Health
I saw this cartoon shared on Facebook recently and it really made me laugh. It is so the truth in how we as parents end up teaching our children curse words and phrases that in a perfect world we try to protect them from and set a better example. Way before I was even married and had … Continue reading Why the Fuck Is “Fuck” So Overused Today?
Today marks my sixth “Un-Independence Day.” I got married on July 4, 2010, to Meg, who is gorgeous, tall and fiercely, fiercely bright. I was then and continue now to be one lucky guy. Talk about marrying up… The wedding itself was a relatively easy event compared to getting engaged. Meg loves waterfalls and what … Continue reading A July Fourth Wedding: Happy Un-Independence Day!
Say what you want about the Brexit vote and about Donald Trump (and let’s face it, there’s a lot to say about both) but the most important development to arise from the intersection of these two newsmakers was the hilariously inventive invective streamed at Trump during his post-Brexit visit to Scotland. A quick refresher: British … Continue reading Brexit, Trump and the Best Insults Ever
I got a FitBit for Father’s Day, so I am hoping to get a bit fit. For the six of you who have not heard of this electronic geegaw, it is the latest example of better living through technology. It straps to your wrist, and like a watch, it will display the time, but it … Continue reading Getting a Little Bit Fit With My FitBit
Uh oh! What do I do now?! I am faced with a conundrum that took more than 30 years to develop. I am a soccer fan, not only because I played the sport from a very young age, but because as a native Argentine, the religion of soccer is ingrained in my DNA. We worship at … Continue reading A Soccer Fan of Divided Loyalities
For Father’s Day, I thought I would share some of my father’s sayings and pearls of wisdom. As the oldest child, I have been exposed to these the longest of my siblings and thus they are part of my DNA. What follows is a blend of Borscht Belt kitsch and Old World philosophy. Think of … Continue reading The World According to My Dad
As fathers, we hardly lead the lives of television characters such as “Father Knows Best,” “Leave It to Beaver,” or “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father.” Unlike television characters, our parenting efforts lack a script. We make it up as we go along, drawing on what experiences we recall from our parents. The results are far … Continue reading Father’s Day Roundtable
“All kings should have scars.” That was what Queen Cersei said to her son Joffrey, who was soon to become king on “Game of Thrones.” As hated as both of those characters were by fans, I have to agree. Scars are reminders of a battle, won or lost, that have left their mark. Scars have … Continue reading How a Symbol of Love and Loyalty Saved My Finger
Traveling with a teenage daughter is an experience. Traveling with me is no picnic either. I am no world-class traveler by any measure, and I get so nervous and anxious going through TSA security at the airports that on a recent trip I was stressing over my belt, shoes, jacket and my quart bag of … Continue reading My Travel Travails With a Teenage Daughter
An Instagram account called “miserable_men” documents the silent suffering that is the scourge of all men: Shadowing their wives or girlfriends as they go shopping. You know the scene I am talking about, or perhaps you have lived this nightmare yourself. Your significant other wants you to go shopping at the mall, which means you … Continue reading Men Who Are Miserable, Join the Fight Against Shopping!
This sure as heck is not your father’s economy or job market. Gone are the days when a person could expect to start, stay and retire from the same company after 30 or more years of service. You are likely to switch jobs any number of times as opportunities — and companies — ebb and … Continue reading We’ve Got About as Much Job Security as a “Game of Thrones” Character
A scene in the movie “London Has Fallen” features the president and his trusted Secret Service agent, whose wife is pregnant with their first child. The agent asks the president for advice about fatherhood and parenting. You just need to keep two things in mind, the president replies: Teach your kid the Golden Rule and … Continue reading Got Passion?
What does Friday the 13th mean to you? For many people I’m sure it represents some superstitious beliefs about the number 13, bad luck and ominous happenings on this day that can possibly occur three times a year. For many people who are fans of a certain movie genre, it is a cause to celebrate … Continue reading Jason Lives! Celebrating “Friday the 13th” in Its Hometown
Just because Pedro and I are men does not mean we can explain everything about what our gender does. Take for instance “mansplaining,” the way men will insert themselves into a conversation and talk to a woman like she was a 4-year-old and the man was the Great Wizard of Oz. Or at least that … Continue reading “Mansplaining?” Let Us ‘Splain It to You
A sign in our kitchen reads: “If it walks out of the refrigerator, let it go.” I cannot for the life of me imagine why that sign is there. Ahem. Ever since my wife and I first got together, my cooking and eating habits (lack thereof and abundance of, in that order) have been the source … Continue reading Microwaved Coffee and Other Food Fails
There has not been this much news coverage and public conversation about penises since Anthony Weiner’s campaign for New York City mayor flamed out over some too-revealing selfies. Donald Trump’s allusion to his manhood — in no less a setting than a Republican presidential debate — and Hulk Hogan’s recently concluded trial against Gawker (“Hulk Hogan lied about … Continue reading A Visit to the Penis Museum
In an article from September of last year, AMR posse member Chris detailed his personal crisis of faith. In the post he explains why he drifted away from his faith and acted on his growing indifference toward the Church’s teachings about the existence of God, Jesus Christ and the ceremonial trappings of Catholicism. On this episode of … Continue reading Some of That Old-Time Religion
Seeing Verizon workers on strike picketing outside company offices made me think about 1971. My dad was working for what was then New York Telephone Company (this was years before the breakup of AT&T into the “Baby Bells”) and the union he belonged to, the Communications Workers of America, went on strike. It ended up … Continue reading The Verizon Strike, Men and Job Insecurity
Young men coming of age in the 1980’s in New York City was an amazing time, with many stories to tell. One of my favorites takes place at our go-to club, The Ritz, where many bands of the time were heard and good times were had. 1984: We show up at the club to see … Continue reading Remembering Prince in Concert in New York City
It’s hard to make a good male friend. When I was younger, I used to have many friends and I was able to say anything to them and laugh about everything with them. But as I’ve gotten older, it’s been harder to make a good friend. I almost thought I never would again. Then Selman came along. I … Continue reading Making Male Friends Is Not Easy
We here at About Men Radio are nothing if not a full-service podcast and website. We invited readers and listeners to submit their most burning questions about men and some of our peculiar behaviors. Among the questions put to us: Jacqueline Damian: Why can men never find anything in the house? Why do so many … Continue reading You Wondered, We Answered
I recently tried one of those newly popular “escape room” attractions and let’s just say Houdini I am not. If you enjoy puzzles, thinking on your feet and working with others under pressure, you will have a thrilling time. With its hidden clues and riddles to solve, being in an escape room is like playing … Continue reading Escape Room Escapades
There is a memorable story told about my late fiancée and her son that goes like this: Garth was in his 20s and headed out for a night on the town. He was primping himself in front of a mirror. His mother, (my late fiancée), Carla said something to him and he cracked wise or … Continue reading On Being a Dad and Facing an Empty Nest