Author: David DiCicco, Ph.D.

September 2026

Coping with Uncertainty…

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The President puffed out his chest and banned several news networks from attending White House briefings. In response to free speech proponents, Mr. Trump claimed he was protecting the public from fake news. 

This was one of those cases of “be careful what you wish for.” Apparently, the president didn’t stop to consider the power the press held or that they didn’t have to just take his latest attack sitting down. They did not. The different networks united and refused to provide pool coverage of presidential events. Trump has been skilled at using the media to fire up his base and get loads of free publicity. He didn’t stop to think about what he was doing or the ramifications. He was acting on the belief that he could do anything and get away with it. Once he said he could go down Fifth Avenue and shoot someone, and nothing would happen. That’s how the man thinks. In this case, he was wrong.

 The press’s behavior evokes the Boston Tea Party, an important event in our nation’s history. The press is standing up to a bully who is trying to turn reality upside down. It’s well documented that the president has told many lies, and when he calls the press “fake news,” it’s clear he’s unwittingly talking about himself.

Senior Sketch: Midge Coburn

A Story of Resilience, Courage and Humanity


The driveway to longtime SDPA member Midge Coburn’s house is steep and winding. It takes focus, attention, and skill to maneuver a car and reach Midge’s garage. Getting to her home may well be a metaphor for the life Midge has led. Her in-person persona, calm, steady, and focused, may belie a life marked by many obstacles, challenges, and tests of her will and character. She has not followed an easy or conventional path but has led a life of determination, guided by strong values reinforced throughout her life.

 Midge has long been interested in people and their lives. As a child in Ontario, California, she loved talking with friends and adults. Not surprisingly, many of her friends sought her company because she listened carefully and cared deeply.

She went to UCLA to study psychology, but she was less than enamored with the experimental psychology courses focused on rat behavior. This wasn’t her calling. She changed her major to sociology, married at 19, and began working as a probation officer. She loved researching people and trying to understand their lives so she could make helpful recommendations. She felt effective in her job because judges often followed her and her colleagues’ recommendations.

Continue reading “Senior Sketch: Midge Coburn”

Baci Ristorante


I recently dined at this old-world restaurant on Morena Boulevard in San Diego. I’ve been going there for years, and I was saddened to learn of the death of Tony D’Amato, the owner, who died in Europe while visiting with his wife. Philip, his son, whom I’ve known for many years, is now managing the restaurant.

Baci has long been a place where Italian people from Little Italy and the surrounding area come on the weekends to dine and greet each other. It has a very different vibe than more modern, upscale Italian restaurants like North Italia or Piatti. Those are good places, but there’s something about the atmosphere at Baci that I resonate with.

The building is old, and the decorations are traditional. The food is always excellent, and the same servers have worked there for years. They’re professional, friendly, and competent.

My only complaint about the restaurant is that it’s very noisy. It’s hard to hear the people next to you. It’s annoying, but on the other hand, it’s part of the atmosphere of a lively place where friends meet for an evening of good food and goodwill.

Members on the Move

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Heim Belzer is a regular, enthusiastic pickleball player at the Bay Club in Carmel Valley. He works part-time and will soon travel to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Yellowstone National Park on a road trip. He visits his children and grandchildren frequently and is enjoying semi-retirement.

His wife, Rosa, continues to work on projects with the Center for Creative Leadership. She is also a passionate pickleball player at the Bay Club, though she is battling joint problems, a common senior malady.

Amazon Prime: Remember the Titans


Remember the Titans is a movie everyone should see. It chronicles the phenomenon of integration in the South and what happens when black and white players are forced to become a team and confront their racial prejudices. Denzel Washington, as the coach, is superb and brings the players together to form a well-functioning team. The story is true, and it is a moving tribute to the courageous players on that team.

 In light of the administration’s attempt to reignite racial hatred in the United States, the movie is an important one and can be watched numerous times without becoming stale.  It’s a feel-good movie, but it’s realistic and wonderfully acted by the entire cast.  It’s currently showing on Amazon Prime.

August 2026

Coping with Uncertainty…

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Government, Mental Health, and Happiness

People are more productive and creative when their basic needs are satisfied. They are happiest, as research on happiness in Scandinavian countries demonstrates. A population that is productive, educated, and relatively secure helps a nation grow. Wouldn’t a government want to develop programs with that goal in mind?  

Programs that reduce benefits in healthcare, education, research, and aid increase anxiety, insecurity, and demoralization. They also hinder progress in fields like medicine, engineering, and the arts. Is this what we want as a nation? Shouldn’t the needs of the people be the main factor in programs created by a country’s leadership?

When wealthy individuals in their ivory towers become too disconnected from the wider population, they often abandon the values of compassion, understanding, and empathy. Too often, a cynical attitude toward those who are disenfranchised replaces a genuine understanding of how people end up where they are in life. They develop a “Let them eat cake” attitude and bask in arrogant self-righteousness. 

I remember a friend who grew up wealthy, which allowed him to attend the best schools. He told me about the hard work he put into his profession when we discussed societal inequality. I couldn’t disagree, but I didn’t think he realized that many people worked just as hard as he did. What about the single mother who juggles two or three jobs to feed her family, or the student who goes to college full-time while working 40 hours a week? 

The question shouldn’t be, ‘Don’t I deserve more?’ but rather, how can we find a way for all people to get what they need to thrive and succeed? In that way, the population grows, as does the nation.

A Long Walk


Death follows me
Like a stalker in black.
Am I afraid,
No, I don’t think so:
Oceans roll in and out
Birds fly south
It’s the nature of things.

Life has been lived
We all do our best,
Thinking, reaching,
Loving and suffering,
We muster forth.

Steeps have been climbed
And rivers run
As Mozart plays
A symphony of life.

In the end, 
happy and sad
Blend into one
A time of reflection, 
a time of peace,
a time of journey’s end.