Halfway There

Let's make a deal I am a mission-oriented shopper. Decide in advance what you want. Get in, get out. Done. Browsing is for bookstore...

Several moves ahead The president's most devoted advocates believe that Barack Obama is a political genius who plays eleventh-dimens...

An example of undercutting If a large fraternal organization invites you to be the speaker at its annual fundraiser, you should definite...

Getting serviced by the financial sector Most junk mail is pretty easy to ignore. Of course, when it comes bearing the label of your bank,...

Not always for sale Remember California's Governor William Matson Roth ? You probably don't. How about U.S. Senator Norton Simon ?...

Failing to get the straight poop One of my favorite restaurants offers—pushes, even—a “frequent-flier” program that offers discounts to it...

Saturday was pretty weird, too The four high holy days always find me back at Mom & Dad's in California's Central Valley. It...

The campaign budget is peanuts The insight was not mine. It was a friend's daughter who said, “You know who Meg Whitman reminds me of?...

Too much of a good thing? California community colleges are a mixed lot, lacking the kind of central authority enjoyed(?) by the University ...

Cocoon man can It's happening now and it's happened before. California has a budget again, one of those jury-rigged jobs created by ...

Milestone & millstone The Site Meter widget told the story. My blog was approaching a quarter of a million hits. It had taken three and ...

Cashing in on End Times You've undoubtedly already seen the bumper stickers announcing that irresponsible Christians are ready to aband...

But they don't stay that way When I see a penny on the ground, I usually pick it up. Force of habit? I'm not sure. As money, a penny...