Author Archives: Jim

Kid reporter at City Hall

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Jim

“Hey, we don’t have any coverage of City Hall. Is it okay if I set up a news beat?” “Sure, kid, go ahead, “my editor replied.  I was a journalism student working part-time and summers at the Austinite, a weekly newspaper … Continue reading →

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The pandemic and institutional co-morbidities

Posted on April 27, 2020 by Jim

It’s probably a healthy sign that people are beginning to talk about what will change once the coronavirus has run its course. There’s a lot of speculation about how things will work now that people are concerned about social distancing … Continue reading →

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Will working at home be the new normal?

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Jim

The Coronavirus is forcibly introducing much of the American workforce to the phonomenon of working at home. I understand what these folks are going through because my late wife and I had a work-at-home household for 16 years. I had … Continue reading →

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The census

Posted on March 21, 2020 by Jim

I got my census invitation in the mail and completed the questionnaire online. Doing my civic duty took about five minutes. It’s a simple process, as it always is every 10 years. The census carries a sense of importance and … Continue reading →

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Downsizing

Posted on March 7, 2020 by Jim

I’m going through a senior rite of passage: downsizing to a smaller house. This has required a lot of thought and soul-searching because I’ve always been a big-house guy. I grew up in a tiny apartment while my parents saved … Continue reading →

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The death of the phone call

Posted on February 7, 2020 by Jim

When my phone rings I rarely answer it. That’s a big cultural change for me, because I spent much of my career working for a telephone company where answering the phone (within three rings in a tone of unflagging courtesy) … Continue reading →

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A threat to our democracy

Posted on January 24, 2020 by Jim

In the Senate impeachment trial, the Democrats have been saying repeatedly that President Trump is a threat to our democracy and must be removed from office before he steals the 2020 election. My senators and Congressional representative, Democrats all, have … Continue reading →

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Japanese honeymoon

Posted on September 6, 2019 by Jim

We had a picturesque apartment on the lower floor of a house on a steep hillside, half cave and half treehouse. A step down from the entrance hall to the living room, two steps down to a kitchen with windows … Continue reading →

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Observations on immigration

Posted on July 21, 2019 by Jim

Immigration ought to be a no-brainer. Control the border with Mexico. Decide who gets in and make it easier for them to do so legally. Deport the criminals. Grant legal status to my cleaning lady.  But nobody’s thinking along those … Continue reading →

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Censorship, privacy and monopoly

Posted on June 2, 2019 by Jim

One of the many political controversies swirling around is the role of social media such as Facebook and Twitter in poisoning public discourse and fanning the partisan flames. Censorship of political opinion is a growing concern, along with the influence … Continue reading →

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