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The humanities strike back

Columns

Last year Microsoft Research reported on the 10 jobs most threatened by artificial intelligence. Should I, dear reader, be running scared? Historians are No. 2 on the list. The report says 91% of what historians do is pretty much covered by AI queries. Uh-oh. I majored in history in college and went on to get a master’s. In the movie “Animal House,” Bluto laments throwing “seven years of college down the drain.” I guess the good news is maybe I only wasted six. Eventually, I pivoted to writing, with five novels published and another coming next year. And of course, ...

Dear Annie: A mother-in-law’s criticism could do more harm than good

Columns

Dear Annie: My son recently got married. My new daughter-in-law used to dress so cute. She always had makeup on and her hair done. But nowadays, she dresses like a slob. There are days I swear she doesn’t brush her hair. She’s told me herself that her mom has said to her, “What’s wrong with you? Since you got married, you’ve let yourself go,” and I think the same thing. I want to say something to her, but I don’t want to hurt her feelings. What should I do? — Troubled MIL Dear Troubled: Don’t say anything about her looks. Changes to appearance can sometimes point to ...

How patients with rheumatoid arthritis receive the MMR vaccine

Columns

DEAR DR. ROACH: Recently, you wrote that people who were born before 1957 are likely to have had measles and don’t need to get the measles vaccine. I was born in 1954 and had measles in 1959 (with photographs to prove it). Last year, I had an MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) titer test, which showed that I had sufficient antibodies for mumps and rubella (both of which I had as a child) but insufficient antibodies for measles. I’m concerned because I can’t receive the live measles vaccine unless I suspend my biologic medication for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This would suppress my ...

A message to recent grads facing an AI-affected job market

Columns

As 2026 college graduates prepare for the next chapter of their lives, the news on the job market front is kind of mixed. Those going to graduate school full time may be a little relieved that they are not entering the workforce just yet, but a report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers offers a somewhat encouraging outlook. According to their projections, employers are expected to increase 2026 graduate hires by 5.6%. This data is based on a survey sponsored by Jobscan, administered from Feb. 12 to March 17 to 185 respondents, including 142 NACE members. It is ...

AI replacing workers gives government less tax revenue

Columns

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the U.S. government would receive most of the revenue to provide services to the American people via the revenue received from personal income taxes. It also is how we fund Social Security, Medicare and unemployment compensation as “workers pay into” those systems to derive their benefits, respectfully, from these government systems when eligible. My question: What happens when we have a dramatic decrease in monies going into those funds as well as into the federal coffers? Well, it would mean we would have to make major adjustments in the ...

Dear Annie: Peace and quiet comes at a price

Columns

Dear Annie: I’m 26 and sharing an apartment with two roommates who make my home life miserable. There’s constant noise, passive-aggressive notes and one of them regularly invites people over late on weeknights (plus, they usually make dinner without cleaning up). I work long hours and need a peaceful home to recharge. I’d do anything to come home to silence. I’ve tried addressing it directly; it didn’t stick. I’ve found a studio I love that I can afford on my own, technically. But “afford” means rent, utilities, and groceries — nothing left over. No savings, no ...