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Richard Cummings

Richard Cummings is a writer, traveler, and web content developer.

Get your copy of his latest book entitled Obvious Conclusions, stories of a Midwestern emigrant influenced and corrupted by many years living in San Francisco and abroad. It just received its first outstanding review "...reminiscent of David Sedaris or Augusten Burroughs" on Amazon UK.
Richard Cummings
Get Social
september-11-changed-your-life

How Has 9/11 Changed Your Life?

september-11-changed-your-lifeHow has 9/11/changed your life? I’ll tell you how 9/11 has changed my life.

Driving home late last night, I noticed many flags along the road at half-mast.  Hmmm, why is this?  Then I remembered the significance.

Today is the anniversary of 9/11.  

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Richard CummingsHow Has 9/11 Changed Your Life?
spanish-pronoun-la-le-lo-se

Spanish Pronouns: “LaLeLoSe”, A Simple Explanation

spanish-pronoun-la-le-lo-seI am going to give you a simple explanation of Spanish Pronouns and when to use “La” vs “Le” vs “Lo” vs “Se”. In fact, it might be too simple so I will also give you resources that make it more complicated.

Spanish Pronouns: What Did She Just Say?

One of the most difficult things when learning Spanish is understanding the use of pronouns. And, learning these pronouns academically is only part of the battle. The other part is actually understanding native speakers when they string all of these pronouns together.

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Richard CummingsSpanish Pronouns: “LaLeLoSe”, A Simple Explanation
uruguay-visa-requirements-extensions

Uruguay: Visa Requirements, Visa Extensions, and Passport Information

uruguay-visa-requirements-extensionsIf you want to visit Uruguay for an extended stay of longer than 3 months, read this article to find out what you need to do.

I initially planned to visit Uruguay for approximately 4 months.  However, when I read the Department of State’s Uruguay page, it said:

All United States citizens entering Uruguay for business or pleasure must have a valid passport.  U.S. citizens traveling on a regular passport do not need a visa for a visit of less than three months.”

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Richard CummingsUruguay: Visa Requirements, Visa Extensions, and Passport Information
Kindle Fire Keyboard Disappears

Kindle Fire Keyboard Disappears After I Press One Key?

Kindle Fire Keyboard DisappearsWhen I am using my Amazon Kindle Fire, the keyboard disappears after I type just one key in Google.  I then have to go back and type another key to get the keyboard to stay there.  Why is this and is there a solution?

Fortunately, you can correct the disappearing keyboard problem on the Kindle Fire fairly easily with the quick workaround below.

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Richard CummingsKindle Fire Keyboard Disappears After I Press One Key?
feeling-lucky

Are You Feeling Lucky?

feeling-luckyAre you feeling lucky?  There’s a lottery going on right now and you could run out and buy a ticket.

Do you know that today, there are hundreds of people who are going to visit google or other search engines and type in the following:  “What are the most lucky mega numbers played?”  You might be one of them.

But you might not want to win the lottery today.  This sounds silly I know (who would not delight in winning $3,000,000 today?).  But experts say that “excessive wealth, particularly for people unaccustomed to it, such as lottery winners, can actually cause unhappiness.”  In fact, over 1/3 of lottery winners end up declaring bankruptcy.

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Richard CummingsAre You Feeling Lucky?
Teacher of the Year Sex Scandal

Teacher Sex Scandals [Erica Depalo & Debra Lafave]!

Teacher of the Year Sex Scandal

Erica DePalo, Teacher of the Year, Accused of Rape

A former “teacher of the year”, Erica DePalo, has been accused of having sex with one of her students.  DePalo, who won the New Jersey Teacher of the Year Award, is now faced with charges of first-degree aggravated assault. But, is this assault?

To any mothers out there, this story certainly is offensive.  “Someone has violated my little boy,” would certainly be their pervasive sentiment.  And, to make matters worse, this teacher is in a trusted position of authority.  She has abused this trust and physically assaulted a little boy.

For men, the first question that comes to mind is:  “Is she hot?”  So, let’s take a look at photos of the teacher, Erica DePalo, to determine just how abused the child was.

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Richard CummingsTeacher Sex Scandals [Erica Depalo & Debra Lafave]!
economy-how-it-works

The Economy: A Definitive Answer?

economy-how-it-worksAfter being a country for nearly 250 years, and seeing examples throughout history, is there not yet a definitive answer for the U.S. as to what makes the economy work?

I ask this on the heels of viewing  Christiane Amanpour on CNN on a recent Sunday morning. On the episode, we had the same old tired rhetoric with the stodgy Republican saying “cut taxes” and the uncomfortable Democrat saying “create government programs”. I often just turn these programs off now because it is the same “solution” each week with similar words coming out of the partisan mouth of the week.

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Richard CummingsThe Economy: A Definitive Answer?
Older Women Versus Younger Women: Who Is Better?

Who Is Better at Sex: Younger Women or Older Women?

better-sex-young-older-womenAre younger women or older women better in bed?

Take this one question quiz and then put your reasons in the comments section below.  Everyone is interested in your opinion.

Guys, who would you rather be with…a younger woman or an older woman?  Ladies, are you better now at 30 than you were at 18?

Comment below.  All of your information is private (you can make up name/email address if you want).  Tell us why you answered one way or another.

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Richard CummingsWho Is Better at Sex: Younger Women or Older Women?
uruguay-arrival

Living in Uruguay, Arrival

uruguay-arrivalMy arrival in Uruguay began fortuitously — with Uma Thurman. Any trip that begins with Uma Thurman begins well.

Though I live in San Francisco, I began my journey to Uruguay from LA after staying at my friends Hermosa Beach house for July 4th.

On the way to the airport, the taxi was diverted from the main roads because they were filming a movie of some sort. Then, while proceeding to my gate for the flight to Miami at about noon on a Sunday, I spot this very attractive blonde women gracefully but hastily making her way through the airport with some guy who was probably just on the cover of Men’s Health.

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Richard CummingsLiving in Uruguay, Arrival

Why Were Black People Called Negros

black-people-negro-word-usageI came across a question today that many people ask:  “Why were black people called negros?”  I am going to research the history of this term, but my guess is that the term comes from the Spanish word for black, which is negro.

It turns out that the term negro actually originated with the Portuguese (whose language is very similar to Spanish).  Around 1442,  the Portuguese were trying to find a sea-route to India and discovered sub-Saharan Africa in the process.  There, they discovered black people and referred to them as negro, their word for the color black.

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Richard CummingsWhy Were Black People Called Negros