And my father was an aeronautical weight engineer (he weighed parts of planes mathematically as they were being designed so the planes would be able to take off). In fact, I put the formula for lift on his tombstone.

I love flying. It’s crashing I hate.

Toddlers are nothing. Try being a parent of young adults. They’re legally adults (I have two: 19 and 20) and think they know it all. But they don’t have much life experience. With a toddler, you can pick them up and put them in their room until they calm down. Doesn’t work with young adults. Being a parent of young…

Thanks for your honesty. How many do you have?

The corollary to this works with any difficult issue. When you start a conversation with someone going through something tough, ask them something like this: “Would you like me to just listen? Or would you also like me to respond to what you’re saying or would you be interested in hearing how I’ve dealt with similar…

In this case (between 2 numbers) an n-dash is the appropriate hyphen.

Personally, I like Diet Pepsi better than DC. A bit spicier. I weaned myself off of diet soda. But, then I had to stop drinking coffee (too much acid). What’s a guy gotta do to get his daily intake of caffeine? Recommendations welcomed.

I have two daughters in college. One is a saver and has the savings account to prove it. The other spends on eating out and clothes. These funds are their own —they’ve earned them from summer jobs. What’s a dad to do?

Also in downtown Silver Spring is Bete, one of the best Ethiopian restaurants anywhere.

True on Starbucks. Never liked the burnt taste. I solved the problem in one of two ways: 1) ask which vat of coffee was made most recently (part of the reason you get that burnt taste is because the coffee is stale), or 2) ask for a pour-over (no extra charge) and you get the freshest coffee.

Cold brew coffee has less acid than hot coffee that has been chilled.

If you’re already in an aisle seat, what’s the harm in standing? After hours in a cramped plane, it feels good to stand. If there was a safety issue or some other reason for someone in an aisle seat to stay seated, I would.

I think that’s the key. You’ve found a group of friends with whom you share that spontaneity. And, that’s what makes it work.

I grew up in L.A. and when I commit, I commit. The trouble with L.A. is that you have good friends who live 20 miles away and the traffic... Still, I make that decision before I accept an invite.

Just out of curiosity, how old are you, BIMming It? If someone invites one to a dinner party (not a party and not a buffet), where the host is cooking and arranging a specific group of friends to meet, eat, and discuss interesting things, not being able to commit will be a nonstarter. Perhaps, your circle of friends…

How about when the “kids” are 19 and 20 years old? Whose house is it? Whose rules? Being the parent of young adults legally they are adults) whose brains aren’t finished being wired yet and who think they know it all, is harder than being a parent of children. Just getting them to discuss issues in a quiet way can be…

This is just a repeal of the ACA. There is no replace. Just remember, this is a cover to give the rich huge tax cuts. It seems unbelievable to think that elected officials would be so transparent about supporting this bill. It’s because they feel they can get away with it. Have the voters learned anything? I don’t…

Yes, that was true. My elementary and junior high cafeterias were outside. I think you got a choice in my high school, in or out.

I’m confused. Did they move to the West Coast or to the East Coast. Where I grew up the cafeterias were outside.

I’m the odd man out here, but I love summer. I’m a summer baby. I love the long daylight. I grew up in Southern California and, at the time, there was very little humidity (more now, from what I hear). I like a hot day/cool night climate—Mediterranean. And, that’s basically what SoCal is. Of course, the south of…