A First Trip to Japan 2009

This is an account of a trip that my wife, younger son, and I took to Japan to visit our older son and his future wife. My son had been in Japan five years and had learned Japanese, which allowed him to act as a very good tour guide. He lived in a rented a house in a semi-rural town. This allowed us to stay for several weeks and get an idea of Japanese life outside the huge cities. This is an account of my first impressions of a new culture.

A Career in Computer Programming

This is a (mostly) non-technical account of the joys of computer programming, diverse working environments, and my education in the social skills needed to thrive in those different environments. My career spanned 44 years. During that time I plied my trade in a small startup, several small business, a general partnership, a sole proprietor, and finally as an employee in a international fortune 500 company. I describe the different cultures I encountered while working in these businesses.

The Political Thoughts of a Non-Politician

The current cultural and political turmoil in the United States has caused me to examine my own cultural and political beliefs and opinions. This essay is an attempt to clarify in my own mind just what my politics are. Another motivation was to create an essay that could be used as a starting point for a rational debate on current political topics. To avoid emotions, I tried hard to avoid using the words and phrases commonly used in the current controversies.