Interviewer struggles to find the right questions

DEAR HARRIETTE: As someone tasked with interviewing people who have stories that may not be of particular interest to me, I often struggle with connecting to my subjects. How can I possibly be interested in something that I find lacking in any real personal meaning? It can be challenging to craft a thoughtful line of questioning that leads to the best possible story outcome. As an interviewer, what tools or methods do you use to make the stories you tell stand out? How do I work to identify what makes a subject's story interesting to others, even if it isn't interesting to me? — Uninterested DEAR UNINTERESTED: This is a tough situation that is actually common for journalists and other writers.

In 1836, Col. William Travis issued a call for help on behalf of the Texian troops defending the Alamo in San Antonio.

Examining the Fetterman dilemma

John Fetterman was sworn in as senator from Pennsylvania on Jan. 3. On Feb. 8, after 36 days in office, Fetterman was admitted to George Washington University Hospital in Washington after experiencing symptoms he and those around him feared might indicate a stroke. Tests showed he did not have a stroke, and Fetterman was released after two nights in the hospital. On Feb. 15, after 43 days in office, Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment of depression. He is still there. Over the weekend, the Wall Street Journal reported that he “could remain hospitalized for more than a month.”

Parent has been smothering college-age son

DEAR HARRIETTE: My son is in college now, and it's really difficult for me to stop calling or texting him on a daily basis. A friend of mine reminded me that this is his time to begin to exert his independence. If I am too attached to him, he won't have the space to do that. She also pointed out that when we were in college, we didn't have cellphones, so it wasn't possible for our mothers to be so smothering. We had no choice but to grow up on our own. Of course that was true then, but this is now. I find it nearly impossible not to reach out each day. When I have been successful and a week has gone by, I find myself chastising my son for not contacting me sooner. How can I better manage this transition? — Get a Grip DEAR GET A GRIP: A child going off to college can be challenging for both parent and child, but often it is harder for the parent for a host of reasons.

DO JUST ONE THING

Inside the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022, there's a tax-saving incentive for homeowners to go greener. It's called the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, which gives consumers up to $3,200 as a federal tax credit when purchasing energy-efficient products. Hunter Douglas, one of the largest manufacturers of window coverings, says that honeycomb-style shades, which insulate windows, can save homeowners 15% on their overall energy costs, and that they are eligible for up to $1,200 in federal tax credit savings, too. Learn more at energystar.gov.

Fear of medical expenses leads to avoidance

DEAR HARRIETTE: It's somewhat frightening how many people I know who are having serious medical issues. I arrived at an off-site job earlier this week only to learn that a woman I hadn't seen for a few months had been away due to open-heart surgery following a heart attack. A male friend of mine is recovering from a stroke. Yet another guy I haven't seen for several years just told me he had had a heart attack a few months back. OMG! Two of these people appeared to be the picture of health.

Trump is Biden’s rationale for running

Some 21 months before the 2024 election, the Democrats seem decided on renominating Joe Biden for the White House. But this apparent resolution contains the unsettling air of a party that is settling for something it would prefer were not the case.

Pages