Since 1906, the Forward has been answering reader dilemmas about daily life in “A Bintel Brief,” Yiddish for a bundle of letters. Send your queries to [email protected], and listen to a podcast version of our signature advice column.
Bintel Brief
The Latest
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Life My Friends Who Want To Host Me Have Bedbugs!
Dear Bintel Brief, I’m traveling to visit friends who have just discovered that they may be harboring a bedbug infestation in their new home. They have called an exterminator but he hasn’t come yet, so they have no idea what type of problem they’re dealing with. I’ve read that bedbugs cause lots of trouble and…
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Life Help! The Times Square Car Bomb Plot Makes Me Scared To Leave The House
Dear Bintel Brief, With the recent events in Times Square (the foiled car bomb plot) I’m feeling anxious about leaving the house. I know that no one can control for these kinds of things, but do you have any advice about what I can do to calm my nerves? Nervous North of Times Square Steve…
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Life Lab Labor: Who Deserves Credit For My Research Paper?
Dear Bintel Brief, I am a recent college graduate, and have spent the past year working in a research laboratory on a paper that is just about to be published. When I saw the final draft this week, I was shocked to notice that the paper said it was co-written by myself and another young…
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Life Steve Almond Has Some Advice for Forward Readers
Steve Almond is the author the story collections “My Life in Heavy Metal” and “The Evil B.B. Chow,” the novel “Which Brings Me to You” (with Julianna Baggott), and the non-fiction books “Candyfreak” and “(Not That You Asked).” His most recent book, “Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life,” came out in Spring 2010. He…
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Life A Lesson in Finding Your Funny Bone
Dear Bintel Brief, I aspire to be a comedy writer, but I am told that my work is just not funny enough. I have taken classes, watch comedy television and attend improv shows, and I can recite certain “Simpsons” episodes by heart. But something is missing. I know humor can be subtle, and that figuring…
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Life Comedy Writer Rob Kutner Has Some Advice for Forward Readers
Emmy-winning writer Rob Kutner, who has written for “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” and who — until very recently — wrote for “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien,” will be answering readers’ questions during the month of February, as the Forward’s guest Bintel Brief advice columnist. Kutner is the author of “Apocalypse How: Turn…
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Life How Can I Regain My Confidence of Yore?
Dear Bintel Brief, When I was growing up, and throughout college, I would characterize myself as a pretty confident person. I felt excited by the world, and all the possibilities in it; almost nothing seemed impossible. But a couple of years out of school, and into the working world, my faith in my own abilities…
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Life How Can I Gently Encourage My Daughter To Lose Weight?
Dear Bintel Brief, My single, adult daughter is about 40 pounds overweight. I really want her to lose weight — primarily for health reasons, but also for more superficial reasons. I raised her and her siblings to believe that it’s what’s on the inside that matters, and I really do believe that. However, I also…
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