When I started writing about assertive living — a philosophy I call “martialism,” which isn’t militaristic despite what the name implies — I stressed heavily the importance of setting and maintaining boundaries.  Boundaries establish your expectations of other people. It’s a question of mutual respect: If you establish and then defend certain guidelines for... »

After roughly three months of contentious argument, the Transportation Security Administration announced Wednesday that it was reversing its decision to allow certain small knives aboard planes.  While discussion over just how to screen passengers for maximum security benefit continues, passengers will not be able to bring even the smallest pocketknives into the cabin any... »

Last night I dreamed an entire coming-of-age boxing movie. Start to end, complete with a plot arc and a humorous ending suitable for end-credits.  The film was obviously very derivative of The Karate Kid, Never Back Down, School Ties, and Warrior, and was leaning more toward feel-good sentimental drama than comedy.  It started to... »

A 31-year-old upstate New York man who held police at bay for nearly 12 hours apparently was updating his Twitter and Facebook postings during the standoff, officials said. Police finally used flash-bang grenades and tear gas to remove Ryan Whidden and his wife, Nina, from their home, where Whidden barricaded the pair after discharging... »

Graham looked thoughtfully at the marred muscular forearms, the dot of adhesive in the crook of the elbow, the shaved patch where Randy had tested the edge of his knife. Knife fighter’s mange. I’m afraid of Randy. Fire or fall back. “Did you hear me?” Randy said. “Butt out.” Graham unbuttoned his jacket and... »

The 1987 film “Steel Dawn” is a masterpiece of filmmaking. It is not a masterpiece because it is well done, for it isn’t. It is not a masterpiece because it is well paced, for its pacing includes vast swaths of soul-killing emptiness that will send you diving for the remote control for relief. It... »