‘A New Frontier’ for Hearing Aids

That makes return policies important. The F.D.A. disappointed consumer advocates by not mandating them, leaving it to states, manufacturers and retailers to set their own. But the agency did require that return policies be clearly specified on the package. Since a user’s brain can take several weeks to adapt to amplified sound, consumers should look…

A Brooklyn Artist Crafting Perforated Furniture

Thomas Barger’s Hole-Filled Creations Thomas Barger’s puffy pastel chairs and whimsical ruffled tables only look soft; in reality, the designer and artist makes his furniture by molding a slurry of paper and sawdust onto wooden frames, then sanding and painting them until they’re flawlessly smooth. “I want them to feel almost manufactured,” he says of…

How Much Clothing Do I Really Need?

My husband has very few items of clothing and believes in minimalism. I don’t believe in that, and I want to have a good selection of garments. We can’t agree on the issue. Is there a compromise? How many pieces of clothing do I actually need? — Justina, Kajaani, Finland That’s like Thomas Aquinas asking…

Rolling Out the Red Carpet

Hollywood took over the New York Public Library. The Clooney Foundation for Justice, a nonprofit founded by George and Amal Clooney, honored human rights activists and journalists at its inaugural gala on Sept. 29, though the spotlight was on the big stars who walked the marble steps in sparkly gowns and black tie. Supporters included…