Articles written by Charley James

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About me - Charley James

A former assistant editor of "Business Week" magazine, and a television news producer and reporter before that, Charley James began writing when he was about eight and hasn't stopped.

Now, covers and writes news articles including his own independent investigative

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Politics, News & Issues > Climate Change Assessing our responsibility to preserve the environment: 1 of 30
Like contemplating a diet, people thinking about living a greener life often become nervous, wondering whether they'll succeed. They are easily overwhelmed thinking about the size of the effort needed, are concerned about their ability to stick with a plan, and not really sure if the struggle to live differently will be worth... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Environmental Awareness Top 10 simple ways to be green: 5 of 117
Like contemplating a diet, people thinking about living a greener life are often nervous, wondering whether they'll succeed. They are easily overwhelmed thinking about the effort needed, are concerned about their ability to stick with a plan, and not really sure if the struggle to live differently will be worth the effort.In ... More..
Society & Lifestyle > North American Culture Comparing Canadian and American cultures: 1 of 19
Seventeen years ago, an innocent, wide-eyed, barefoot boy with cheek stepped off an airplane at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, clearing customs and immigration in a flash. He was a stranger in a strange land, a bewildered immigrant in a foreign country far from home. His eyes filled with wonderment at the many new a... More..
Creative Writing > Essays Essays: Growing old: 2 of 36
Hey! How Did I Become 60? I just entered my seventh decade and can't figure out how I got here.Time gave me a hard nudge at 5:48 one afternoon a few weeks ago and I stumbled from middle age to senior citizen. Like it or not, at that moment I hit 60; for years, it was like seeing a car crash coming from far off yet knowing you... More..
Business > Business (Other) What is cultural consulting?: 1 of 11
A group of Minneapolis executives making their first trip to China this year held a series of meetings intended to meet new customers and sign orders. By the end of the trip, they'd made no sales and flew home wondering what went wrong.What went wrong is they assumed that "business is business everywhere." The execs believed,... More..
Politics, News & Issues > War in Iraq How much longer should the U.S. remain in Iraq?: 1 of 7
This is what John McCain wants to perpetuate for another 100 years, and Dick "Darth Vadar" Cheney calls "phenomenal progress."As oblivious to the world around him as ever, and despite needing a complicated security routine and lots of bodyguards just to move around the Green Zone, Cheney cited "phenomenal" security progress i... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Baseball What are fan expectations during MLB's spring training?: 2 of 12
George Will once observed, "Life begins with spring training," and baseball's pitchers and catchers reported to spring training in Florida and Arizona this week.Baseball was my first love, infusing me with the kind of joy that normally only a new romance brings. Its wonderment has outlasted any other loves and lusts that have... More..
Health & Fitness > Aging & Longevity Reflections on turning 60 years old: 2 of 11
I just entered my seventh decade and don't remember getting here.Still, time gave me a hard nudge a few days ago, shoving me from middle age to senior citizen. Like it or not, at that moment I hit 60; it was like seeing a car crash coming from far off yet knowing you can't avoid it. Not long ago, I was thought of by many as c... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Sports Archives Superbowl 2008 commercial previews: 1 of 5
The Super Bowl is fast approaching I'm not a football fan and if a game doesn't need nine guys, a grassy field and a hickory stick, I don't pay any attention so I won't know who played, who won or why until I read the Monday morning papers. I''ll leave it to the network colour commentators and columnists to dissect the Super ... More..
Creative Writing > Satire Satire: Confusion: 1 of 4
I cannot believe that I actually remembered garbage day this week, which meant I hauled my trash and garbage to the curb on time.Since I don't do work that ties me to a calendar, sometimes I lose track of days. It's often a mad race to get the stuff out when I hear the truck rumbling along the street because I don't wake up s... More..