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Some of life’s little moments we all seem to share

Life often gives us little moments. Moments when we experience something ... unique, something out of the ordinary. Something that makes us wonder if we are cursed or simply have a run of bad luck. And it makes us ask ourself if there is anybody else out there who has ever had these unfortunate instances happen to them. Times when we think, this kind of thing can’t possibly just be happening to me, can it? Now, I’m not referring to moments when we play the lottery and come away with only a losing ticket to show for our dollar. Nor am I talking about being late for work ...

History in the Hills: Independence Day

This weekend, we celebrate Independence Day. This is one of my favorite holidays because, No. 1, it’s in the summer, and No. 2, there are fireworks, and who doesn’t love those? The real reason for the holiday is when we declared independence from England with the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Next year will be the 250th anniversary of that momentous event. Like most historians, I am looking forward to that holiday, especially because it’s such a huge moment in our history. I would imagine that it is similar to how the bicentennial felt 50 years ago. I love to find the ...

Guest column/Congress must act to protect small innovators

The 119th Congress is in full swing, and one priority should be reforming the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s quasi-judicial patent review board. The Patent Trial and Appeal Board — originally intended to provide a streamlined process for reviewing patents — is increasingly being utilized to harm small innovators and deter investment in critical American industries. A bipartisan bill that sought to rebalance the scales in favor of start-ups — the Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership Act — gained traction in the last Congress, but ...

Guest column/Outdated wireless regulations fuel criminals

Overseas crime rings are profiting from the trafficking of U.S. wireless devices because of an outdated FCC rule that prevents providers from controlling their phones. Repealing it should be a no-brainer for the FCC and the Trump administration — get rid of the wasteful and harmful cell phone unlocking rule. When the FCC adopted its C Block rules in 2007 — the same year the iPhone debuted — it was an era of nascent innovation, budding excitement, and deep uncertainty in the wireless space. The Apple iPhone was new, and was only available on AT&T’s network. And the app economy ...

Guest column/Collaboration is the most underrated strategy

In an oversaturated marketplace where attention is fragmented and authenticity is under a microscope, brands are looking for more than awareness. They’re looking for resonance. And increasingly, they’re finding it through something simple but strategic — collaboration. Not the buzzword version. The business version. Real brand partnerships are not product giveaways or cute Instagram tie-ins. They’re serious business strategies that combine platforms, perspectives and momentum to create something neither party could achieve alone. The best recent case study? “The White ...

Thoughts on the Fourth

The Fourth of July is just a few days a way, and with that, we can expect to see the usual surge in displays of patriotism. That’s a term that certainly has taken on different meanings during the past several years. And,whatever it means to you, it should be reassuring to know that we will be seeing an increasing number of displays featuring red, white and blue as Friday gets closer, and thousands of area residents will be heading to several locations around the Tri-State Area to watch a fireworks display — or two. We’ve also been told that residents of our region are among ...