Translate
Blum: A little local humor, inspired by a literary master
It’s time, once again, for a humorous column, dear reader. In that vein, I welcome Mark Twain to the conversation. Ron Chernow’s recently published biography of the famous author serves as the backdrop.
According to Chernow, before he was America’s most celebrated humorist, Mark Twain...
Closing the gaps in mental health care
I learned from a panel discussion held on Dec. 14 at the Los Gatos Town Hall, that mental health care is riddled with gaps, leaving many individuals struggling to access the services they need.
From a shortage of qualified providers, to inadequate insurance coverage, to...
How should you respond when someone asks ‘the question’?
“Where are you from?”
It’s a common question, and one that can be quite loaded for people of diverse ethnicities.
On its face, it’s a plain question based on curiosity, filled with nostalgia, or awe.
But it could also carry covert racism and hatred, carrying the connotation...
Coming to terms in Los Gatos
Los Gatos is not Washington, D.C. where the level of partisanship is extremely high.
Nor is it Palo Alto, where I lived for more than 40 years prior to moving to Los Gatos in November 2019, and where I observed the divisiveness our community...
Introverts and social anxiety: what’s the difference?
Being an introvert and social anxiety are often confused, but they’re not the same. An introvert is a personality trait. Social anxiety is a mental health condition.
An introvert might resist going to a party because they get drained from loud music and too much...
Here’s how Los Gatos can keep its commissions active
During the past few years, I’ve served as a member of the Community Health and Senior Services Commission (CHSSC) in Los Gatos. For most of that time, our commission, which is supposed to have six adult members and one youth member, has had one...
Mt. Rigi Kulm: Enjoying a symphony of mist and mountain
Mt. Rigi Kulm, known affectionately as the "Queen of the Mountains," is more than just a geographic landmark in central Switzerland; it is a sanctuary where the earthly and the ethereal exist in perfect accord.
To visit Rigi is to step into a realm that...
Mike Wasserman says things are looking up…
Hello everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and remained healthy.
I’m a “cup is half full” kind of guy, and believe that 2022 has a lot of positive surprises in store for all of us!
Board President. In December, my colleagues...
We’re moving from chips to charm
Santa Clara County has been carrying around the nickname Silicon Valley for half a century. However, the nickname is as one-dimensional as a microchip. The phrase summons images of hoodie-clad coders, driverless cars, and tech CEOs who think kombucha is a food group. Silicon...
Guest View: ‘Work Hard, Play Hard’
In 1950, Rotary International adopted two mottoes. One was “He Profits Most Who Serves Best” (Rotary did not officially welcome women until 1989), and the other was “Service Above Self.” To this day, Rotary continues to use the latter motto.
After being a member of...















