The New Tang Dynasty (NTD) Television will hold the 2023 International Figure Painting Competition in June in New York, the 6th of its kind since the Competition began in 2008. The competition’s mission is to promote the pure beauty, kindness, and truth of traditional oil painting. Realism artists worldwide are invited to submit figure paintings…
Two New Travel Insurance Gotchas
Over the years I’ve devoted lots of ink and pixels to travel insurance, but recent developments with a Boston-area tour operator have raised two new—or at least new-to-me—potential pitfalls. Both deal with a subject once more prominent than now: failure to pay legitimate claims. And to understand the situation more clearly, I’ll start with a…
Bern, Switzerland’s Classy yet Fun Capital
The sidewalk along the Aare River is congested with wet and happy Swiss, hiking upstream in swimsuits just to float back into town. I join them—marveling at how this exercise brings out the silly in a people who are generally anything but goofy. Every hundred yards a railing with concrete steps leads into the rushing…
Six Steps to Take Before Offering to Buy a Home
Dear Monty: We are first-time home buyers. We didn’t plan on buying a home for several years. We recently learned that we will soon receive a substantial gift. Our benefactor conditioned the gift on a home purchase. We both have satisfying careers and secure positions but need more knowledge or experience in buying a home….
The D-Day Tugboat That ‘Saved Our Bacon’ and Bloodied the Enemy
As the orange rays from Lake Ontario’s setting sun filter through the glass windows of the tugboat’s elevated steel pilothouse, one can almost see her crew. Their faces, slightly blurred by time, are still fixed in anxious rigidity. As they pass around the binoculars, each man leans forward slightly, in a vain attempt to magnify…
These Barbecued ‘Ribs’ Are Budget-Friendly, Extra Meaty and Delightfully Hands-Off
As a Texas girl, I’ve got a special affinity for ribs—but they can be so pricey! My recipe for country-style ribs makes cooking ribs at home easier and cheaper than ever. Besides calling for a cost-effective cut of meat, the best part about this recipe is how hands-off it is. You season your ribs, throw them in…
How to Set a Fair Rent Price for Your Properties
By Dave Spooner Renting at below-market rates is a common problem among new real estate investors. How do you know what constitutes a fair rent rate? And what if that rate leads to vacancies or losses? Setting the right rent rate is a skill that requires practice. There are many things to consider in your…
Transport the Taste of France to Your Plate at Home
I’m not eating much meat these days, but occasionally I have a major longing for a steak. And since I was recently in Paris and had a version of this nostalgic, delicious dish, I can’t get it out of my mind. A tender filet of beef, with its lean texture, is accompanied by a cheesy, creamy sauce….
Lower-Class Humor in the Middle Ages: The Miller’s Tale
The Miller’s tale is probably the most entertaining story in the “Canterbury Tales,” a collection of 24 tales featuring 29 characters from all walks of life who are on a pilgrimage to Canterbury, England. As part of a storytelling contest, the pilgrims tell each other stories, and this framework allows Geoffrey Chaucer, the preeminent writer…
‘I Like Who I Am’: Albino Asian Family With World Record for Most Albino Siblings Tells Their Story
Six brothers and sisters from England who hold the world record for the most siblings with albinism have opened up about their journey to self-acceptance. Talking to Guinness World Records, the British family, who live in Coventry, say they experienced bullying growing up, but their tight bond helped them get through their school days. “During…
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