By Matt Reed. Sometimes the most direct route is the least effective one. For instance, when wrestling with writer’s block, staring at a blank screen only makes things worse. Instead, stepping away and doing something entirely unrelated for a while can allow the pieces to fall into place. I’ve had many a breakthrough while folding towels or taking the trash to the curb. More...

By Matt Reed. This weekend was weirdly warm in New Jersey; it was well into the 60s on both days. Among other things, that made for ideal dog-walking weather. I corralled The Girl into joining me on a long one. More...

By Matt Reed. When The Boy was born, I didn’t look at him and wish to myself that he’d major in something marketable. I looked at him and wished him health and happiness and eventual emergence as a good man. I feared I wouldn’t be worthy of him. I didn’t give a hoot about the labor market. More...

By Matt Reed. Yes, the colleges need the money. But application fees are a drop in the bucket, in terms of the overall budget, and I suspect that any money made from fees is more than lost in the form of applications deterred. More...