Alan Markow

Professional writer and communicator 40+ years. Senior corporate communications exec in high tech, telecom, banking, and chemicals. Navy journalist during Vietnam era. IVN blogger since inception. Political views range from liberal to libertarian.

Feds to men: be happy, don't worry (about prostate cancer)

The feds have once again stumbled into our personal lives in a ham-handed manner that is unlikely to improve our health; instead, it is bound to damage the reputation of

By Alan Markow

October 10, 2011

Feds to men: be happy, don't worry (about prostate cancer)

Environmental math: more solar panels = fewer eucalyptus trees

It is well known that some green programs fail. Solyndra, the Fremont-based solar panel manufacturer forced into bankruptcy last month is one high profile example. Meanwhile, energy efficient transportation projects

By Alan Markow

October 6, 2011

Environmental math: more solar panels = fewer eucalyptus trees

Bank of America and the $5 Revolution

Bank of America may have tipped the scales toward a true movement of independence in 21st century America. By announcing that it would charge $5 per month for use of

By Alan Markow

October 3, 2011

Under financial pressure, UC Davis takes bold step to become 'private' University

UC Davis has come up with an answer to the crushing budget reductions that the State of California has thrown its way: become a private university. While that’s not

By Alan Markow

September 29, 2011

Under financial pressure, UC Davis takes bold step to become 'private' University

Brown of California whips Bezos of Amazon in game of financial chicken

In a game of financial chicken between the state of California and the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon blinked first. Or, perhaps that was just Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos

By Alan Markow

September 26, 2011

Brown of California whips Bezos of Amazon in game of financial chicken

Violence may test state's limits of liability

When a Sacramento County conservator placed Ofiu Edwards Foto into an Oak Park group home, she may not have realized that the man was dangerous (although that information was easily

By Alan Markow

September 22, 2011

Violence may test state's limits of liability

Barriers remain too high for Independents

Is there anyone less popular today than a sitting politician? Well, yes. Someone else’s politician. Today’s generalized numbers about Congress, the President, Democrats and Republicans go out the

By Alan Markow

September 19, 2011

Barriers remain too high for Independents

Safer transport of oil will protect Santa Barbara coastline

For most environmental organizations, news of an oil pipeline approved in their backyard would be tantamount to war. But not for the Environmental Defense Center (EDC) of Santa Barbara, which

By Alan Markow

September 15, 2011

Safer transport of oil will protect Santa Barbara coastline

Perry suffers a senior moment

I was thrilled to learn some years ago that my trusted financial planner had not put any of my precious savings into a Bernie Madoff-managed fund. As a retiree without

By Alan Markow

September 12, 2011

The Chandler classroom conundrum

It’s hard to tell whether Chandler, Arizona’s popular technology-driven classroom program is the wave-of-the-future, an expensive failure or something in between. According to the New York Times: “The

By Alan Markow

September 8, 2011

Rick Perry: Stand by your stands

The Republican presidential candidate who has made himself look more like Billy Graham than Barry Goldwater has taken a substantive lead in the polls as reported in recent days by

By Alan Markow

September 1, 2011

Ron Paul on FEMA: Just Say No

Ron Paul is a remarkable politician; indeed, a remarkable man. But for another age. His recent argument that America does not need FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) is totally

By Alan Markow

August 29, 2011