A general truth is to have a good sense of humor. Roll with the punches of life's ups and downs. Laughing at yourself always helps.

I like the immediacy of blogs and the democratizing effects of letting millions of voices bloom on the Web.

Over the years, I’ve worried that my directness could come off as brusque or my criticisms heard in an outsize way, especially by male colleagues. I sometimes wondered whether expressing even my mildest reservation reminded someone of a chastising mother or complaining wife.

If The Times said it, it was the absolute truth.

What's next for me? I don't know. So I'm in exactly the same boat as many of you.

People often assume New York City is no place to keep a dog. This is certainly what my parents told me when I was growing up there. But I have found this not to be the case at all.

I admit that I am hopelessly hooked on the printed newspaper. I love turning the pages and the serendipity of stumbling across a piece of irresistible information or a photograph that I wasnt necessarily intending to read.