Articles written by Ali Koomen

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About me - Ali Koomen

I grew up in northern Illinois, the oldest of five kids. At the wise old age of 28, I packed up my worldly belongings and moved to Arizona, where I have lived for the past (mumble, mumble) years. What, you thought I'd tell you how old I am?
I have two children,

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Politics, News & Issues > Political Issues Commentary: School shootings as a political issue: 1 of 34
The shootings at Northern Illinois University have left me bereft and grieving. This tragedy has hit me hard. I was born there, I grew up in DeKalb, lived right there on campus for several years. You always hear people say after an event like this that, "If it can happen here, it can happen anywhere." Nowhere is that more tru... More..
Sports & Recreation > Sports & Recreation (Other) Wild and wacky town festival ideas: 1 of 32
Americans will use any excuse to party, as evidenced by the countless festivals held across the country every year. Some celebrations are a salute to mediocrity, but most of them are just plain wacky and weird! If a town has a celebrity, food or history worth celebrating, it's a sure bet there'll be a festival going on. OSTRI... More..
Autos > Buying New Cars Should you buy new or used cars?: 1 of 32
It just doesn't make sense to buy a new car. Years ago, when all a driver could expect out of a vehicle was perhaps 100,000 miles before it fell apart, buying used was truly "buying someone else's problems." Vehicles of today are put together with cutting- edge technology, and are designed to last much longer. A vehicle with ... More..
Pets & Animals > Pet Ownership Websites every pet owner should know about: 2 of 59
Is there a new puppy in the house and you're at wit's end trying to train him? Or is your dog an older gent that's displaying new habits or health problems. Have you thought about taking a vacation out of the country but don't know the laws about bringing Bowser along? Are you looking for info on a specific breed, or trying t... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Christmas Simple ways to save money during the holidays: 3 of 56
One of the best ways to save at Christmas is to shop for gifts year-round. There's no law that says all holiday shopping must be done between the last week of November and the third week of December. In fact, right after the holidays is the best time to start buying gifts for next year, when sales can be as much as 75% off. G... More..
Personal Finance > Smart Spending Save on groceries: 7 of 107
* KEEP A LIST: When you're close to running out of an item, jot it down. This saves you from having to take an unplanned trip to the market-and who ever runs in to buy one thing and actually comes out with just that one thing? *CUT COUPONS: Most Sunday papers include a sheaf or two of coupons in their advertising sections. Cl... More..
Food & Drink > Dining & Restaurants (Other) Five tips on saving at restaurants: 2 of 30
Americans love eating at restaurants! Even in a slow economy, we do not want to give up the fun and ease of dining out. In fact, according to the national Restaurant Association, the average American household spends more than $2600 on dining away from home each year. However, when everyone is busy counting pennies, it only ... More..
Pets & Animals > Pet Ownership Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat?: 14 of 150
I love both cats and dogs, but-hands down-cats are far superior. I own three dogs, and when I come home, I know they are happy to see me. On the other hand, Bonzo, my cat opens one eye and glares at me as if to say, "You're back already?" before rolling over and going back to sleep. You can't but help admire a creature so coo... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs My most humorous gardening (mis)adventure: 10 of 76
I grew up in northern Illinois, an area that has some of the richest soil in the country. My father loved gardening there, just for that reason. Every year I would get shanghaied into helping him turn the soil, sow seeds and place the bedding plants. His tomatoes were his pride and joy, and he slaved over them. Or rather, I s... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Problems Parents Face Ways working parents can manage school-aged children in the summer: 7 of 53
School's out. . . for summer. For parents of teenagers, it's not so bad. Most kids over 13 should be able to stay home alone, once given some hard-and-fast rules. Even better, have your teenager find a job. It keeps them out of the house, out of trouble and they'll earn money for those absolute teenage necessities such as Ipo... More..