Articles written by Bruce Pilgrim - Page 2

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About me - Bruce Pilgrim

I've been making my living as a writer since I got out of college. Over the years, I've worked in journalism, PR, advertising, marketing and corporate communications.

I recently self-published a book about managing a freelance writing business, called "Talking

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Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: Health scares that lead you to give up smoking: 1 of 1
I doubt very much that I would have ever quit smoking if I hadn't spent a night in intensive care after being unable to breathe. It started at dinner time when I was having a lot of trouble catching my breath. So, I went to the emergency room and was admitted to the hospital's ICU.I'd had trouble breathing before, but that wa... More..
Entertainment > Hollywood & Movie Industry Movie ratings: Should smoking be considered R-rated in films?: 23 of 42
No.It is not possible for movie goers to ingest second hand smoke from watching a movie. Not even with smellovision.Editing out smoking scenes from old movies is even more ridiculous, which doesn't stop idiot anti-smoking zealots from proposing it.If an impressionable young child sees an actor smoking cigarettes, will he or s... More..
Personal Finance > Taxes Do instant tax refunds exploit low-income earners?: 8 of 12
BusinessWeek's recent cover story about how corporate America is milking the poor, The Poverty Business, touched a nerve. I've long been disgusted by such scams as payday loans and check cashing "services" which prey on the working poor. The article points out that:"In recent years, a range of businesses have made financing m... More..
Arts & Humanities > Comic Books & Graphic Novels Superman versus Spiderman: The superior superhero: 15 of 22
Superman is simply the best and the original superhero.He has a complete back story - son of Jor-l of Krypton, rocketed into space just as the planet exploded, grew up in Smallville, best friend of Batman (the only superhero without any super powers), leader of the Justice League, vulnerable to kryptonite, and so on.Spiderman... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Government & Policies Are gun control laws compatible with the Constitution's right to bear arms provisions?: 16 of 23
Every gun nut quotes the following passage from the Constitution:"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."This, they argue, means that every American has the right to own virtually any weapon, including assault rifles.What ... More..
Autos > Mechanics & Repair Shops Is there such a thing as a trustworthy mechanic: 14 of 19
The answer is yes, absolutely, of course.I've found any number of trustworthy mechanics over the years, at automobile dealerships as well as at small shops. In fact, I believe that trustworthiness is, at least today, the rule not the exception.A huge reason for this is the demise of the "service station." Today you can buy ga... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Bush Administration Bush's legacy: Villain or visionary?: 51 of 62
George W. Bush has always been a bully. That's bad enough in grade school, but when your cronies help you into the White House and you unleash your bullying personality onto the world, so that a bully graduates into a villain.The invasion of Iraq was sold to the American public as revenge for 9/11, a cynical lie that is still... More..
Creative Writing > Humor Humor: Exercise: 69 of 70
One of my many inventions that went no farther than idle talk was the Pot-Bellied Guys Health Club. The meat of the concept was that only PBGs were allowed; no buff looking men, and certainly no women need apply. (I anticipated little difficulty in keeping them away.) This admitted discriminatory policy was designed primarily... More..
Creative Writing > Humor Humor: Traveling mishaps: 33 of 33
Lead Footing It across the Czech RepublicBy Bruce PilgrimIf you have a lead foot, you'll love driving in the Czech Republic.The streets in old Prague are narrow and charmingly old-worldish. Outside of the city, you will find ultra modern highways, which are wide, smooth, and extremely well maintained. In either case, the spee... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Terrorism The 'War on Terror' as a political invention: 12 of 12
The so-called "War on Terror" is a cynically constructed, all-purpose excuse to do anything to anybody. Exploiting the fear generated by the attacks of 9/11/01, George W. Bush and his administration have rationalized the suspension of human rights, justified torture, and waged a war in Iraq that had nothing to do whatsoever w... More..