A go-to manual with practical and helpful advice. A primer to assist managers, human resource departments, and small business owners.

Introduction

All around us, commerce is changing. It’s also shifting in the where, when, and how we do business. From the ancient bazaars to the apps on our phones, the principles of the transaction remain. The recipient of a seller’s product and service is a consumer.

Products, tools, and delivery systems evolve. The one constant that remains is consumer relations. The contact, service, and appreciation of any company’s biggest asset is still the customer.

As artificial intelligence and software programs manifest…

Political Humor

In 1983, ESPN broke a sports story that claimed Donald Trump had bought the New Jersey Generals of the USFL. That’s not in dispute.

What followed after Trump gained entry, continues to spur debate. Who, how, and what killed the United States Football League? Almost 35 years after its demise, the premise of the USFL survives because it makes sense.

In its inaugural season, the USFL fielded a twelve-team league that played an 18-game spring schedule. They also signed a TV contract with ABC and ESPN to televise their games. Not too shabby.

The window between the Super Bowl and…

Pandemic Humor

Outside the carnage of death, violence, and social change, I doubt I’m going to recognize the new normal anyway. In the meantime, I’ll devour the self-help and all the rest while I figure out where to go next.

I also got to play a gangster. You know, shaking down society in my Goodfella fantasy. Chock full of gaming the system and flying under the radar. Whacking adversaries and other social deadbeats.

All this while collecting unemployment, what the wiseguys call a no-show job. Here’s how I did it. Living the high life, otherwise known as this thing of ours.

Shelter in Place

Let’s…

In May 1994, my paternal grandfather passed away. Born as a turn-of-the-century baby (January 1, 1900) who pioneered a fortunate and long life.

Back in the day, my grandpa and his two brothers ran a mini garment factory, specializing in men’s raincoats. The coats were high-end and fashionable — tailored for the stylish and professional crowd.

The raincoats were well-made with high-end fabric shells and a woven wool interior. They came in three colors: Dark Olive, Dark Tan, and Charcoal Grey.

In the 1950s, Cesar Romero (famous for playing the Joker in the Batman TV series of the 60s), was…

On the eve of the NFL Draft, heads were exploding across the media landscape. YouTube channels, podcasts, and sports radio were all weighing in on the recent article by journalist and NFL writer, Martenzie Johnson.

In Martenzie’s piece, he claims that the NFL is a racist institution practicing hate and bias. It’s a disturbing accusation that many find unwarranted, unwelcome, and without merit.

Here is the article’s headline:

JUSTIN FIELDS AND THE DOUBLE STANDARD OF BLACK QUARTERBACK PROSPECTS

In the article, the writer questions why a top QB prospect, with a stellar collegiate career, has gone from the second overall…

“Very few people can evaluate quarterbacks and even fewer can coach them.” — Bill Walsh

On the cusp of the 2021 NFL Draft, the quarterback position remains front and center. The coveted white whale of pro football. Elite and Franchise are the terms associated with the top collegiate quarterbacks entering the draft. Do these prospects have the tools to lead their team to the Super Bowl?

Despite the stats, pro days, and live-action game tape, the NFL Draft remains a crapshoot. In the end, nobody knows how these prospects will perform on the pro level. Not just the QBs, but…

In July of 2017, my brother Eddie passed away in a house fire. While Eddie slept, smoke filled the house.

The carbon monoxide intake kept my brother unconscious. Once the flames broke out of the walls and engulfed the house, neighbors dialed 9–1–1. As firemen doused the blaze, responding medics retrieved Eddie.

Suffice to say, Eddie was in grave condition. None of the flames had reached the bedroom nor touched his body, but he did suffer radiant heat burns to his temple and biceps.

The EMTs tried their best to revive my brother en route to the hospital. …

A collection of short and flash fiction

A collection of flash fiction and short-short stories. All stories previously published and featured in various webzines and anthologies.

Dark Angels

The day the boy left for basic training, his father fielded a strange phone call. It was the army base looking for the boy. The puke missed his induction and a sergeant wanted to know the problem.

Sometime between the draft notice and the barracks, the boy decided he wasn’t going to Vietnam and that was that.

“He didn’t say anything to us. …