Wit & Wisdom with Tom Greene

Prior generations had tremendous respect for wisdom. Think: Abraham Lincoln, T.S. Elliot and Martin Luther King, Jr. But, in earlier times there were far fewer voices. And, with fewer voices there was less tolerance for bullshit. Today it seems that everyone has a megaphone. The most outrageous voices have the biggest platforms. People like the Kardashians and Kanye West. People with little intell...

Can you imagine complaining about your Organic Chemistry class and actually getting the Professor fired? Well, it happened at NYU. But, the Professor may have the last laugh....

Divorce after age 50 is on the rise. Between 1990 and 2010, the so-called “gray” divorce rate doubled in the United States and continues to climb. But, why is this happening? Could it have anything to do with Viagra????

The United States is drifting away from it’s aristocratic roots. We are exchanging the old, formal ways of life for newer, more casual ways of living. King George, III must be rolling over in his grave at Windsor Castle. I’m a big fan of casual. But this drifting has blown us off course. The drift has normalized casual sex and drugs.

We live in a seemingly more dangerous world. Last week, September 11th reminded us that there is still evil in the world. Anxiety about our children’s safety can often turn the most rational human into an overprotective parent. According to a recent study, parents spend an astounding 37 hours each week worrying about their children.

It was an exciting week for about 43 million Americans. President Biden announced he will forgive up to $20,000 of college loan debt. With a stroke of the pen, the President wiped away between $400 billion and $600 billion in student loan debt. The move also extends the moratorium on student loan repayments to January 2023, a full two years after the initial payment pause was initiated. But, is th...

It’s hot. And, unless you’re in complete denial I think we can both agree that the planet is getting hotter. Last week, 60 Minutes ran a story on the alarmingly low water levels in our western reservoirs. It seems the mighty Colorado River is getting thirsty, The river serves seven western states and 30 Native American tribes. It’s the lifeblood of the region. The river has been suffering from the...

I’m afraid of snakes; actually terrified of snakes. But, what if I told you that more people die each year taking selfies than die from snake bites? Yes, it’s truly the age of vanity. Some people will literally die for the perfect “selfie”. In fact, the trend even has a name: the kilfie. That’s right, people are taking enormous risks to create a photo in search of likes on the social media platfor...

The US House of Representatives passed the massive Inflation Reduction Act on Friday on a purely partisan vote. The $430 billion bill includes new taxes totaling $739 billion. Here are some of the highlights of the Schumer-Manchin bill: $9 billion for climate agricultural programs to reduce bloating in cows; $27 billion for local and state governments to procure zero-emissions technology; $60 bill...

We have all been living in the future. A future full of cheap, on-demand services willing to cater to your every whim. Need a ride, hail Uber. Need an idea for dinner? Blue Apron delivers a five-star meal kit to your home. Need a dozen Krystal burgers at 2am? Postmates brings it to your doorstep. But, the era of uber-cheap Uber and other subsidized, on-demand services is nearing an end. Yes, it’s...

Do you dread watching the News? Turns out you are not alone. But, there’s more to it than you think. Let me explain.

Unless you’ve been under a rock for the last two years, you’ve noticed that crime in America has exploded. We can blame Covid or gun laws or poverty, but what if this spike in crime was altogether predictable and preventable? Let me explain. Back in 2020 when you and I were trying to find toilet paper and Chardonnay, America’s major cities turned into something out of a Marvel comic book. A recent...

Way back before the typewriter, people had to write words by hand. In those days you needed paper, a fountain pen and an ink well to write. The ink often smudged, causing you to start over. Yes, creating words required money, skill, education and time. Entire books have been written that contain nothing but words between lovers from an earlier era. Words were chosen thoughtfully and writing words...

We are all wandering through a difficult time in history. War in Ukraine, inflation, shootings in Uvalde & Highland Park, political division, gun violence in our cities and bitter disagreement on the issue of abortion. Meanwhile, ordinary people are trying to find meaning in the turmoil; trying to sort it all out. Like Alexander Papaderous hopelessly trying to put the mirror pieces back togeth...

America’s past two Presidents were the oldest in history. President Joe Biden will turn 80 in November. As the New York Times recently pointed out, Mr. Biden is the oldest serving U.S. President at age 79. He will be 82 when he finishes his first term. If Donald Trump chooses to run in 2024, he will be 78 years old. For gosh sakes, don’t these guys have any grandkids to play with? Yes, my friends,...

Where were you were when the Twin Towers fell in New York City? How about when 58 people were killed and 500 people were injured at the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas? Why is it that some mass casualty incidents stick with us while others do not? While we can instantly recall our location when the Twin Towers fell, we have a harder time with catastrophic events that fall short of mass-calamity. Whil...

Trust is the foundation of all relationships. But, in America, trust in our institutions and trust in each other is falling faster than Amber Heard’s net worth. According to Pew Research, two-thirds of adults think Americans have little or no confidence in the federal government. Ironically, in an era where we trust so little we often over-trust our leaders. For example, everyone loves the idea of...

For the second time in nine days, gunshots rang out in a gruesome and heartbreaking mass shooting. When the smoke cleared, 19 innocent children between the ages of 7 and 10 years old were dead. Two teachers were also murdered. First Buffalo, now Uvalde, Texas. Will this senseless violence ever stop? The Robb Elementary School shooting is the 212th mass shooting event this year. We’ve already had 2...

After two years of hand-washing and social distancing we finally have a reprieve from “14-days to stop the spread”. But, ironically, we have simply moved from one crisis to another. Enter monkeypox and $10 a gallon gasoline. Not to mention the world’s supply of wheat has about ten-weeks remaining. Start sharpening your elbows cause you’ll soon be hip-checking your neighbor for the last loaf of Rom...

The oldest millennials will turn forty years old this year. Yes, the kids are all grown up, but they're terribly unhappy. Many millennials are lonely, burned out and depressed. But, why? This the the most educated, upwardly mobile generation in history. Listen to this week's article to find out why we have an entire generation feeling like they got a raw deal from life.

What do Athletes like Tom Brady, Tiger Woods and Maria Sharapova have in common? That’s right, they all gorge themselves on the same legal, performance enhancing drug: sleep. Listen to this episode to learn why many folks are now turning to separate bedrooms to enhance their sleep. It' the hottest thing in "big time" real estate: separate master bedrooms.

Residents of Shanghai, China are now in a full-blown lockdown. It was supposed to last 48 hours. Its been seven weeks. It’s the Chinese Communist Party’s version of 14 days to stop the spread. But, wait until you hear what they are doing to family pets to keep the virus at-bay. It's gut wrenching.

On April 1, 2022, while you and I were consumed by The Slap Heard Around the World, the US House of Representatives quietly passed a landmark bill. The bill, which gained bipartisan support, decriminalizes the recreational use of Marijuana. My gut tells me that the ass-clowns in Washington, DC are about to have a big announcement on 4.20. Are we about to finally see the decriminalization of weed?

Like all major scandals, it’s never about the crime. (see also, Watergate, College Admissions Scandal, Opioids, etc.) It’s always the cover-up that does the real damage. That, too, will be the lasting impression of the Will Smith/Chris Rock slap fight. It will be the way Will Smith handled the aftermath that will forever damage his brand.

So, is this a momentary stain on the Hollywood red carpet? Or, is it something much larger? Something that will leave a permanent blemish on the red carpet and on The Fresh Prince’s career? Listen to this podcast to find out.