By Dom Cioffi Like most teenagers these days, my son has an affinity for the popular music that dominates the charts. Thankfully, while I am forced to listen to the occasionally track by Yung Gravy and Juice World, he also appreciates plenty of classic rock staples from bands like the Eagles, Aerosmith, and the Beatles.…

By Dom Cioffi My son started his first job about six weeks ago. He works at a local grocery store collecting carts from the parking lot, bagging groceries, and emptying trash barrels. He makes just under $10 an hour and couldn’t be happier. He generally works on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays so for the first…

By Dom Cioffi I was flipping through the tv channels this weekend when I caught an image of Kim Jong-un, the maniacal dictator of North Korea. I settled on the station for a moment and watched as an American filmmaker interviewed a family from Pyongyang, the country’s capital. The family being interviewed was obviously on…

By Dom Cioffi Several years ago, in February of 2015, a very plain and unassuming photo went viral around the internet. The photo was of a blue and black dress – or a gold and white dress, depending on who was looking at it. That was the curious thing. Two people could be standing side-by-side…

I often listen to podcasts when I run. I find that the conversations help me detach when things get difficult – like when I’m headed up a long hill or struggling through the last mile. I also know that running puts me in a state of mind where I’m able to be truly present as…

By Dom Cioffi I joined Facebook early on – within a couple years of its launch. College kids were the early adopters, but after a year or two, savvy adults were starting to connect as well. I was cautiously curious when I first heard about Facebook. I’ve never been an early adopter of any media…

by Dom Cioffi I’ve mentioned many times prior in this column that I’m a runner. I run every other day religiously, no matter what the weather or what state my physical health is in. I’ve done this for years and I’ll continue to do it as long as my body holds up. Some people can…

By Dom Cioffi When I was in school, I never took a note. Not one. I relied on class memory, my ability to absorb content just prior to a test, and my capacity to BS. My son is exactly like me in that he also has never taken a note. However, his class memory is…

By Dom Cioffi I had to take a lengthy drive recently — 14 hours to be exact. That’s a long time to sit in a car, no matter how comfortable the seats are. When my wife, son and I go on a road trip, I generally do all of the driving. I can do a…

  By Dom Cioffi Many memorable events occurred in the year 1986 – both good and bad – whose effects continue to resonate today. During the late morning of Jan. 28, 1986, I was heading to the school cafeteria to grab an early lunch. I was standing in line making conversation with some friends when…

By Dom Cioffi I have owned trucks for most of my adult life. They have all been run-of-the-mill, fundamentally sound trucks. My wife has driven SUV’s for most of her adult life. They have all been run-of-the-mill, fundamentally sound SUV’s. None of the vehicles my wife and I have owned would ever be considered luxurious…

By Dom Cioffi I remember having numerous conversations after 9/11 that highlighted the fact that no one could have ever predicted the events of that fateful day. Sure, maybe some military experts or terrorism specialists could have foreseen a few suicidal maniacs flying commercial airliners into skyscrapers, but it never entered the mind of the…

By Dom Cioffi Between the 17th and 20th centuries, the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire fought 12 separate wars. These wars make up one of the longest series of military conflicts in European history. Overall, these conflicts ended disastrously for the Ottoman Empire, which was stagnating as a world power. Conversely, the wars highlighted how Russia…

By Dom Cioffi I’m officially over Covid-19. In fact, I’m over the year 2020 in general. Admittedly, when this whole quarantine thing started back in March, I experienced a bit of mild excitement mixed with cautious trepidation. Most of the excitement came from the thought of working from home. I have long grumbled about my…

By Dom Cioffi Anyone who is into music will undoubtedly remember their first live concert. Mine was a doozy, setting the excitement bar for what would be a lifelong love of live entertainment experiences. My friends and I had just graduated from high school and were reveling in a summer of fun before we headed…