Guess what newly published research has unveiled Americans are addicted to. No, it isn't junk food, Netflix, or mere smartphone use, though I'm sure a case can be made for those! Americans are addicted to tracking packages. Indeed, people have developed an acute obsession for tracking the status of their packages. So much so, that is has become an addiction. According to a new study, 60% of people who make purchases online check their delivery status daily, if not multiple times in a single day. The study even found that over 80% of online shoppers have experienced anxiety when packages fail to arrive on time. Two in three online shoppers look out their window to watch out for deliveries, and 65% of study participants feel delivery tracking has become an addiction, stating that they expect packages to be delivered within three days of ordering. In addition, 57% said package tracking is “very important” to them, while 29% refuse to purchase something online if they can’t track i...

There is no doubt that we are living in an increasingly digital world, and the pandemic has only accelerated this trend.  Sometimes I muse about whether kids in the future will even feel the need to shop at stores, dine at restaurants, attend college, or watch movies in person. For starters, we can do most of our shopping on Amazon.  And why spend time waiting for a table at a restaurant when you can have the meal delivered in less than 30 minutes via Uber Eats or DoorDash?  Then there's movies. No need to trek to the theater when you can save a few bucks by waiting a month or two for the movie to be made available on Amazon Prime or Netflix.  College students needn't leave their homes in order to get a college education as many institutions of higher learning now offer fully online degrees.  And a growing number of employers are now allowing their employees to work from home -- a trend that isn't necessarily going away post-pandemic.  Chances are there's a...

If there's anything this pandemic has taught us, it's that going forward the perk most requested by job applicants may not be a robust salary and benefits package (which remains crucial, of course), but the flexibility to telecommute. Gone are the days where employees were perfectly content sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic to make it to a pointless 9 a.m. meeting that could have just as easily been handled via Microsoft Teams or Zoom.  If there's anyone who can attest to the misery of an agonizingly long commute, it's yours truly.  I work a mere 8.2 miles away from home, but my morning and evening commute during the school year runs anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour! (And if there's an accident, I flirt with an hour and a half.) Blame it on antiquated infrastructure and a city population bursting at the seams.  You can imagine what a wonderful respite working from home has been for people like myself who have to contend with clogged streets and jam-packed highw...

If I were to ask you to name something you do far more today than you did a year or two ago, what would you say? You might mention shopping on Amazon, or ordering food through delivery services like DoorDash or Uber Eats, trends undoubtedly accelerated by the pandemic. But there's no question that streaming content via Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, and other platforms was becoming a way of life for most people even before COVID-19 arrived and upended everything. You'd be hard-pressed to find a person who doesn't consume TV shows and movies through at least one of these services while you're bound to encounter individuals who have ditched cable for good.  Here are just a few of the reasons why streaming content is all the rage: You have more control over the content you watch You can skip commercials  You can binge watch shows and movies you may have missed when they premiered  You can do it all in the comfort of your own home  Gone are the days when we had to settle f...

Do you consider yourself an animal lover? Do you own a cat or dog? A bird, maybe? Some people take their love for animals to new heights, throwing them birthday parties and dressing them in the purr-fect outfits. (I couldn't resist using an animal pun.) I myself have been a cat lover my entire life, owning several of varying genders, sizes, and personalities. At present, I have a sassy Calico named Callie who seems intent on finding (and claiming) the most unexpected nooks and crannies in my apartment for lounging.  Cats have a special affinity with writers like myself. Their quiet, often lazy disposition makes them ideal companions, especially when we're typing away at the keyboard.  I respect dog lovers -- and they're abundant -- who want nothing to do with cats. Frankly, I like dogs, but there's no arguing the fact that they're much higher maintenance than their feline counterparts. A day doesn't go by where a dog in my complex passes up the opportunity to en...

Surely, everyone wants this terrible virus to be eradicated. News of vaccines being deemed safe and deployed to hospitals offered a ray of hope that soon enough the staggering death toll and number of cases will begin to drop. And only by putting an end to the public health crisis can we get the economy rolling again. But that doesn't necessarily mean everybody is on board with returning back to the way things used to be. Among those who appreciate the opportunity to work from home and not have to interact face-to-face with co-workers and the general public are: Introverts who are susceptible to being worn down by heavy social interaction Those, introverts or not, who prefer written to verbal communication  People who don't miss getting stuck in rush hour traffic driving to and from work The ones who value the extra time to be able to perform household chores and make home improvements  People seizing the opportunity to spend more time with their kids Individuals who are takin...

If you ask most women, they would say they're always up for wearing a nice necklace. If you ask most men, they'd assert that they're happy to gift one to the woman they love. But chances are you wouldn't be as inclined to wear or give a vibrating social distancing necklace. You're probably wondering what on God's earth that is (as I was when I first read about it on the Smithsonian's website). You may remember that Italy was one of the first countries to get buffeted by the coronavirus. As of this writing, it has led to nearly 33,000 deaths in the European country. Even though the lockdown measures there have largely been eased, businesses big and small are taking steps to curb the virus's spread, and museums are no exception. At Florence Cathedral, electronic devices worn on lanyards will notify visitors if they’re standing too close to their neighbors. How? By vibrating and lighting up, much like a noisy cell phone or a pager you'd ge...

Aside from masks, disinfectants, toilet paper, and other health-oriented items, can you guess which product is flying off the shelves at grocery stores big and small, near and far? I'll give you a hint: It's something you'd expect people to consume when they're feeling down, as many in this lockdown are. If you said beer, you hit the nail on the head! Indeed, Americans' thirst for booze has actually increased since the coronavirus began spreading across the U.S. in mid-March. Beer, a beverage that was once falling out of favor with consumers as their tastes shifted to such low-calorie drinks as spirits and spiked seltzer, is surely benefiting. In particular, home-grown budget beer brands have spiked in sales over the past two months. For instance, sales for Anheuser-Busch's Busch Light have gone up 44%, thanks largely to amusing promotions like implementing price cuts depending on how much snow has fallen. Other brands have recorded similar do...

Do you or someone you know binge watch shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, or other streaming services? Maybe you're a Law and Order fanatic, your spouse is diehard watcher of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, or your sister can't get enough of How To Get Away With Murder. So what's the problem with having an insatiable appetite for these shows, you ask? As with all else, too much of something is never healthy. More time spent watching episode after episode and season after season of myriad series could mean: More time being sedentary and snacking, which translates into more pounds Unless the series offers some intellectual value, you're bound to consume content that doesn't flex your mental muscles as much as, say, a documentary would  Neglecting chores, work you've brought home, and other items on your to-do list Less time for loved ones, whether your kids or friends Depriving yourself of valuable sleep  There's no question t...

The last few weeks have felt surreal, haven't they? I've never experienced anything like this Coronavirus pandemic in my life, and I'm sure many of you second that sentiment. While the most important thing we can do right now is keep ourselves and our families safe and healthy, many are already starting to chafe of cabin fever. They complain of feeling isolated and disconnected from the world in a way they never have before. Chances are, you've already worked from home for a few days. Such an arrangement has its share of pros and cons. Sure, you can work in your undees, spend more time with family, and not have to grapple with traffic. But some people just aren't as self-motivated as others, and without a boss a few feet away to keep them focused on their work, they become easily distracted -- whether by their kids clamoring to play, the cat meowing for food, or the temptation to watch The Price is Right. And while we can still do takeout and deliver...

Remember when Netflix was a little-known company trying to chip away at now-dedunct Blockbuster Video by streaming content on the Web? Those days are no more. Shares of Netflix surged 10% today after it reported a tremendous gain in subscribers in the fourth quarter of last year -- a whopping 8 million -- and a strong outlook for the first quarter of this year. As a result, its market value soared to $110 billion. It joins 58 other companies in the the S&P 500 worth at least $100 billion. The company is now worth more than several big Hollywood companies, many of which still supply Netflix with content. Though Netflix is nowhere near media giants like Disney (worth $166 billion), Comcast (just shy of $200 billion), and AT&T (nearly $230 billion), there's no question the company has grown immensely since its humble beginnings in the late 1990s. What's more, Wall Street is predicting even larger gains ahead. The highest price target for Netflix is now $303 a s...

I came across the following quote on Facebook earlier today: "Fifteen years ago, the internet was an escape from the real world. Now, the real world is an escape from the internet."  The quote is attributed to Noah Smith, a professor of finance. What Smith is essentially saying is that we seem to "live" digitally now more than we do the traditional way. It makes perfect sense. If you're like me, you probably communicate more with friends and family via email, text, WhatsApp, or social media than you do in person. You're likely shopping more online than you do at brick-and-mortar stores. And you're probably watching movies more frequently through services like Netflix than at the movie theater. While there's no question the convenience the internet affords us has made our lives easier in myriad ways, it's also made human interaction much more impersonal. If you'd asked me in the 90s whether relatives and friends would someday wish ...

Below are three fun facts regarding events in history that occurred on October 19, the most recent of which took place a little over 30 years ago: 1781: Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown On this day in 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis formally surrenders 8,000 British soldiers and seamen to a French and American force at Yorktown, Virginia, effectively bringing an end to the American Revolution and paving the way for American independence. Interestingly, as the British and Hessian troops marched out to surrender, the British band played the song "The World Upside Down." The Treaty of Paris, signed in 1783, formally recognized the United States as a free and independent nation. 1796: Editorial accuses Jefferson of affair with slave On October 19, 1796, an essay appears in the Gazette of the United States in which a writer by the name of "Phocion" craftily attacks presidential candidate Thomas Jefferson, who was running against incumbent president John...

Rainy days seem to be one of those things that people either love or hate. I've asked around, and opinion is increasingly polarized on this topic. Those who love rain say it creates a sense of calm and tranquility, is good for the environment (e.g., grass and trees), and serves as a useful cleaning agent for things like cars. They also say it makes for great sleeping or reading weather. Then there are those who loathe rainy days, saying that too much rain makes them depressed and keeps them holed up at home. I think it all depends on one's personality and how often they like to be in doors. If you're an outdoorsy person who enjoys sunbathing on the beach or jogging at the park, rainy weather is sure to be an inconvenience. If you like staying at home reading or watching Netflix, the rain is less likely to bother you. The only time that I can't stand the rain is when I have to be somewhere at a certain time -- say, at work for a meeting, church for a wedding, o...

Most people find it a tall order to be without internet for a day, let alone an entire week. We have a hard time conceiving that, at one point, people actually functioned in this world without the aid of smart phones, tablets, and laptops. Just picture yourself having to get through a full week sans internet. You'd have to dust off the old phone book to look up restaurants and other establishments in the area.  With no Netflix, you'd have no choice but to watch movies and shows via DVD or cassette.  With no YouTube, you can only hope that whatever music video or show clip you'd like to watch pops up somewhere while you're surfing the TV channels.  You wouldn't be able to download music to your phone or iPod, forcing you to tune in to the radio. If you pay your bills online, you'd have to resort to traditional payment methods like check, money order, or paying by phone.  Need to research anything for school, work, or leisure? Your best bet would be...

I've noticed that every time I request a couple of days off, one of my co-workers immediately asks, "So where are you going?" They assume that if a person plans to be out for three or four days, they must be planning a vacation. While that's always a possibility, what happened to requesting time off just to relax? I've done this on several occasions over the years. Reality check: Some of us actually like using the free time to:  Sleep in  Binge-watch Netflix in our underwear or  pajamas  Catch up on our reading  Watch a movie at the local theater  Hit up a nearby beach  Do things around the house, like clean,  organize, or renovate Traveling can be fun, but it can also be awfully draining. Between planning, packing, walking, and hailing cabs, it can often feel like work in itself. In other words, people sometimes take time off to travel and end up feeling as tired -- if not more so -- when they come back home than if they had go...

You've likely seen or at least heard of the show Mad Men, starring Jon Hamm. It wrapped up its seven-year run this past year, but my wife and I are playing catch-up via Netflix. We're now in season 6 of 7. The show is flat-out addictive, which is no surprise given it has won and been nominated for several awards. We concluded our binge watching last night at 2 a.m. So here I am at work, running on three hours of sleep and greatly looking forward to going home so we can catch the next episode! Jon Hamm plays Don Draper, a creative director at an advertising agency on Madison Avenue (hence the name "Mad Men"). The show is set in the 1960s and touches on a wide range of themes associated with that time, from misogyny and adultery to racism. I think they've done a great job of making the viewer feel as if he's been transported to an era defined by such watershed events as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, which is incorporated into an episo...

Most of us would agree that this is an exciting time to be alive. It's the digital age -- one governed by such corporate heavyweights as Apple and Samsung. To be sure, technology is the name of the game in the 21st century. Everyone and his brother has a smart phone or tablet. It's simple, quick, and convenient to find whatever it is you want on the internet -- be it a song, movie, or information for a research paper. Still, it seems many of us can't help but reflect on a much simpler time in our lives -- our childhood -- where we took pleasure in the smallest things. From reading a book to playing tag outside with friends, we had little difficulty finding ways to entertain ourselves. It can certainly be argued that technology makes life a whole lot easier. No need to walk to the library to buy a book or do research. No need to tune into the local radio station to listen to a popular song. The internet can facilitate practically anything these days. So why would som...

These days, the popularity of television series is quite remarkable -- the likes of which we've never quite seen before. Whether it's friends, family, or co-workers, it seems everyone watches at least one TV series. Among the most popular ones are: The Walking Dead Game of Thrones Empire Breaking Bad True Detective Sherlock  Now, I've never been one to watch these kinds of shows, but when I first saw True Detective being advertised, it looked interesting -- and so I figured that watching one episode couldn't hurt. I became instantly hooked! It was only then I understood why so many people I know become so enthralled by these shows.  I started thinking about the reasons why these shows resonate so closely with us, the viewers.  Here are a couple of reasons that may explain their surge in popularity in recent years: They distract us from our daily lives : Considering that our lives seem to be getting busier and more stressful by the day, these shows ...

As a kid growing up, I distinctly remember friends and family being all gung-ho about going to the movies. Some of us made it a weekly ritual -- in fact, we would catch one (if not two) showings each week. These days, it seems the fervor over cinema has died down quite a bit. Yes, production companies are still raking in massive profits at the box office, but it just doesn't seem like people -- at least those in my immediate social circle -- are as interested in making the trek to the movie theater on the weekends. Is it the same for you? There are several reasons for this: First, the cost of movie tickets continues to skyrocket. AMC Theatres locations in my city charge a whopping $22 for a pair of tickets to an evening showing. That doesn't even include snacks or popcorn! Second, enter streaming content. We all use or have heard of content providers like Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu. These companies provide a cheaper way to watch movies -- and from the comfort of your hom...