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.

Komen debacle, Super PAC spending demonstrate skewed priorities

The confluence of the Susan G. Komen/Planned Parenthood debacle and the growth in anonymous corporate donations to presidential candidates serves as a reminder that the nation’s spending priorities

By Alan Markow

February 6, 2012

Wall St. now placing risky bets on the weather

This year’s light snowfall throughout the nation may enrich a number of Wall St. firms who essentially have bet against a good ski season. Hedge funds sell derivatives in

By Alan Markow

February 2, 2012

Global warming: a moving target for presidential politicians

In 2008, the two presidential candidates couldn’t say enough about the dangers of climate change. John McCain wanted to see a 60 percent reduction in greenhouse gases during his

By Alan Markow

January 31, 2012

UC-Riverside latest site of pepper-based attack on protesting students

Pepper is apparently the new weapon of choice on UC campuses. Tight on the heels of the pepper spray incident at UC-Davis, campus cops last week shot peaceful protesters

By Alan Markow

January 27, 2012

Kodak may fade from public view

Among the iconic American businesses that have been driven into the tar pits of economic extinction, none will likely have a greater cultural impact than Eastman Kodak. From Hollywood’s

By Alan Markow

January 26, 2012

Kazakhstan poised to join first-world status

Has Kazakhstan, the oil- and uranium-rich former Soviet bloc nation that borders both the Caspian and Aral Seas, emerged from the shadows of satiric infamy to become one of

By Alan Markow

January 23, 2012

Cutting IRS auditors short-changes the nation

The United States is facing a trillion dollar plus deficit. The only way to solve it is to reduce spending and/or increase tax revenues. In the current political environment,

By Alan Markow

January 19, 2012

Politics trumps common sense in IRS tax collection effort

Let's say you ran a business that had millions of dollars in uncollected revenue, and it would take $100,000 to collect it. Spending that extra money seems

By Alan Markow

January 16, 2012

Activists work to keep coal trains out of Washington town

Concerns about energy independence notwithstanding, when the odor of coal dust wafting through the town offends the citizenry’s olfactory glands, the trains must be stopped. At least that’s

By Alan Markow

January 12, 2012

Economy shows glimmer of hope

When it comes to gauging the direction of the economy, most of us think “inside the box,” expecting things to continue the way they have been going. But signs have

By Alan Markow

January 9, 2012

Politically-charged water wars continue to plague California

With the Sierra snow pack at “the smallest amount at this time of year since measurements began in 1964,” as reported in the San Francisco Chronicle, there’s plenty of

By Alan Markow

January 5, 2012

Iowa takes the political spotlight

The Iowa caucuses take place tomorrow. What’s fascinating about this often-called “irrelevant” stop on the Republican primary parade is that it may end up highly significant if not

By Alan Markow

January 2, 2012