Category Archives: Articles

Whatever happened to local radio?

When was the last time you tried to get a weather report in a snowstorm while driving? The medium that used to be universal and accessible to everybody doesn’t work anymore.  That is, the radio in your car:  the moving … Continue reading

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What work comp doesn’t cover

This was a response to an article in the Albuquerque Journal, published as an op-ed article by the Journal in September, 2010. Something must be missing from the recent Journal column by Joline Gutierrez Kruger about a workers’ compensation claim … Continue reading

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The ugly posters on your office wall

Somewhere in an obscure corner of your workplace, you probably can find some rather ugly wall art in the form of mandatory government posters. You have have seen these posters in businesses besides your own workplace — tucked away in … Continue reading

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The environment and my dirty dishes

My attitude toward life changed a little when I started washing garbage in the dishwasher. In the past, small packaging items like empty tuna fish cans and yogurt containers were garbage, thrown away and forgotten. Then we started recycling them. … Continue reading

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The commuting accident

The New Mexico Court of Appeals ruled a few weeks ago that a certain state employee is entitled to sue the state in district court instead of being restricted to workers’ compensation. A friend e-mailed:  “Seems like it unravels the … Continue reading

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What gets measured

By the sheerest coincidence, I have just read two books that turned out to share a theme:  the power of statistics.  “Moneyball” by Michael Lewis is about major league baseball.  “Mountains Beyond Mountains” by Tracy Kidder is about the physician … Continue reading

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Who stays on the boards?

“There is no such thing as a Republican or Democratic audiologist. There are just professional audiologists.” This comment was made in December 2002 by an audiologist I know, after he received a letter informing him that he was being booted … Continue reading

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Legal Narcotics

The medical cost of prescription opioid abuse in the United States is estimated to be more than $300 billion a year.  That’s billion with a “b.” This statistic, which almost knocked me out of my chair, was presented recently at … Continue reading

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Customer service in government

I’ve got two words for the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department — and for the other state agencies that regulate small business. The two words are “beta testing.”  Or, in plain English, “customer feedback.” Beta testing is the phase … Continue reading

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How NOT to reduce the size of government

Memo to next governor:  Here are some words you may very well have to eat:  “Get rid of all political appointees” and “eliminate all vacant positions.”   We have been hearing that from all sides. Respectfully, I suggest that you do … Continue reading

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