Author Archives: Dr. Jeff McQuillan

Starting Salaries

Posted on Thursday - November 18, 2010 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

Most college students worry about how much they will make (how much they will be paid) at their first job after they graduate (complete their studies), what we would call their starting salaries.  As you already know, the answer to … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in the United States | 34 Comments

How Old is Old?

Posted on Thursday - November 4, 2010 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

As many of you know, I turned (reached the age of) 47 this year. Am I old?  The answer to this question depends, in part, on how old the person is who answers it. A recent study by the Pew … Continue reading →

Posted in News and Current Events | 43 Comments

The Scarlet Letter Turns Green

Posted on Wednesday - October 20, 2010 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

Most Americans have either read or heard of a story by Nathaniel Hawthorne called The Scarlet Letter, which takes place in 17th-century Boston. In the story, a woman has to wear a scarlet (red) letter “A” because she has committed … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in the United States | 19 Comments

Forget the iPhone. Check out my rPhone!

Posted on Thursday - September 9, 2010 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

Oh, sure, you’ve heard of the iPhone, Apple’s smartphone (phones that have other functions, such as music and video players and web browsers). Millions have been sold, and it has singlehandedly (by itself, without any other help) changed the way … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in the United States, Technology | 12 Comments

You Betcha!

Posted on Thursday - August 12, 2010 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

I usually return at least once a year to my home state (place where I was born) of Minnesota. Although I love living in beautiful Los Angeles, California, there are things that only Minnesota can offer (can give you; can … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in the United States | 17 Comments

Summer Reading: What I’m Bringing to the Beach

Posted on Thursday - July 29, 2010 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

In many countries, August is a popular time for vacations, and for me vacations have always meant (been associated with) reading lots of books. Here are some of the books that I have either read recently or plan on reading … Continue reading →

Posted in Recommendations | 23 Comments

Headline English: Online Bullies Pull Schools Into the Fray

Posted on Thursday - July 1, 2010 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

The New York Times this week ran (published) a story about online bullies. A bully, as we discussed in ESL Podcast 372, is a person who uses either verbal (spoken) or physical violence to prove his or her own strength, … Continue reading →

Posted in News and Current Events | 16 Comments

Looking Forward to 50?

Posted on Thursday - June 17, 2010 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

A recent article in the New York Times reported on a recent study on aging (getting older) and happiness.  The study was based on a scientific poll of 340,000 Americans of all ages.  One of the questions related to how … Continue reading →

Posted in News and Current Events | 28 Comments

Headlines: Regulating the Banks

Posted on Thursday - May 6, 2010 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

Here’s a headline (title) from a political blog on the New York Times website this week: Battle Over Bailouts Shifts Oversight Debate The blog post is about one of the most controversial issues currently in U.S. politics: how the federal … Continue reading →

Posted in News and Current Events | 20 Comments

Will Obama’s Healthcare Plan Make Us a Nation of Girlie Men? Part 2

Posted on Tuesday - April 6, 2010 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

Last week I presented the findings (results) of a psychology experiment in which women from healthier countries preferred men with a more feminine look, while women from less healthy countries preferred more masculine-looking, “manlier” men.  Now I will give you … Continue reading →

Posted in News and Current Events | 13 Comments