He died earlier this month. James Chandler Augustine, my dear friend for most of 75 years. Passed on in Gothenburg, Nebraska. Now no longer suffering from COPD that drained his energy and spirit. He was 80 and failing.
For about a dozen years; ages 6 to 18 we were the tightest of “ buds,” very close coloring each other’s lives, filling in the blanks and spaces that shaped, molded, defined us. His death crowded my aging brain with so many marvelous memories of our youth. This article is not an obituary but hopefully a celebration of his life and perhaps an aid for you in handling the loss of a loved one.
Of course please don’t waste your time reading this if you happen to be one of the fortunate few who have not suffered such loss. If you’re one please email me or at least start wondering when you might join us. My intent is for us both – you the reader (entertained) and me the writer (needing therapy) – to benefit from these mostly true tales of our youth.
Fellow Davisites, time and time again I promise myself that this is my last post about Eric Jones. And time and time again, he does something more outrageous and I feel obligated to call it out.
Sung to the tune of “Me and Mrs. Jones” by Billy Paul
🎵 YOU AND ERIC JONES 🎵
(The Yolo-Sonoma-Colusa-Lake-Napa-Placer-Sacramento-Sutter-Yuba Congressional Blues)
🎶 You and Eric Jones… Eric Jones, Eric Jones, Eric Jones… He got duplicity going on…
Every day he’s changing his tune, Left in the morning, right by noon. He’ll promise you anything, whatever you choose, He’s got ten different positions and nothing to lose.
🎶 You and Eric Jones… Eric Jones, Eric Jones, Eric Jones… He got duplicity going on…
The antizionist radicals all sing along! From the farthest left in Davis town, They’ve found their man, they’re gathering ’round!
He’ll tell you what you want to hear, Then tell your neighbor the opposite, dear! Two different flyers on the very same street, One for the right, one for the left to read!
He’ll even give the Vanguard dough, To help his reputation grow! Silicon Valley pays the bills, While Davis swallows all his pills!
🎶 You and Eric Jones… Eric Jones, Eric Jones, Eric Jones… He got duplicity going on…
Nobody knows just what he’s for, But he’ll promise you more, and more, and more!
(From press release) In a televised debate hosted by the League of Women Voters of Yolo County on Thursday, October 8th, Rep. Mike Thompson made the case about why he is best prepared to represent the district in Congress.
The forum made clear the stark differences between the two candidates’ backgrounds. Jones is a San Francisco venture capitalist whose firm profited from companies fined hundreds of millions of dollars including healthcare companies that repeatedly denied patient coverage, including emergency care, violated patients privacy laws, and preyed on seniors by illegally running up their medical bills.
Thompson spoke about his record of service to the families, farmers, workers, and small business owners of the 4th Congressional district, including $9 million he secured in disaster relief for peach farmers, $4 million he secured to combat the glassywinged sharpshooter and his comprehensive tax legislation aimed at lowering the cost of living for American families.
“San Francisco venture capitalist Eric Jones is asking this district to hand him a seat in Congress, but it’s not for sale, especially not to someone who isn’t from here and who made their fortune on the backs of seniors and patients,” said Thomas Dowling, campaign manager for Mike Thompson. “Voters deserve a representative who is battle tested, knows their district, and has earned their trust. That person is Rep. Mike Thompson.”
Congressman Thompson is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over health care, tax, trade, Social Security and income security issues. Congressman Thompson is the Ranking Member of the Tax Subcommittee and a senior member of the Health Subcommittee. He is also a member of the fiscally responsible Blue Dog Coalition and a combat veteran. To learn more about Congressman Mike Thompson visit here.
“I am not fully for one candidate or the other. I see that Mike Thompson’s Establishment-Democrat methods and policies have been failing us for a while now.” — S.S.
You’re not fully for Eric Jones, but you claim Mike Thompson has failed us. Uh huh . . .
“Eric Jones offers a worthy alternative, even as he and his supporters have drawn significant ire . . . ” — S.S.
Can’t imagine why.
“Perhaps the independent, patriotic right can join the independent, patriotic left (and the middle, too) to vote for change” — S.S.
Perhaps those right/left patriotic pigs can fly [see illustration, above].
“While I might have preferred an outspoken progressive in the mold of Abdul El-Sayed . . . ” — S.S.
So, you’d like an Israel hater, by any other name.
“Jones is a populist/progressive, anti-establishment capitalist outsider . . . ” — S.S.
Outsider, of Yolo County, as well . . .
“Blue Dogs are notorious for breaking rank to vote against progressive populists, usually against most everyone’s interest . . . ” — S.S.
Your interest, in other words.
“[Thompson] believes he has been a good steward of an economy and social structure that serves the very wealthy.” — S.S.
And Eric Jones’ campaign is funded by the very wealthy.
“Jones is new, and not a progressive panacea.” — S.S.
What ever happened to those progressive panacea candidates?
“His reliance on market solutions makes his economic views closer to Thompson’s than mine.” — S.S.
The nerve of him relying on market solutions.
“Has [Jones] stuck to his no-PAC, corporate-money, and anti-donor-influence positions? Yes.” — S.S.
No.
“Critics of Jones complain that his rhetoric changes with the audience.” — S.S.
Thank you for trumpeting our point.
“Eric’s position on affordability hasn’t changed; he won’t accept the status quo system where most won’t be able to buy a home until they’re 40, if ever.” — S.S.
And I won’t accept the status quo on pigs not flying.
“[Jones] did not become convinced of the infallibility of foreign countries and their insatiable need to massacre an entire people under the pretext of safety.” — S.S.
Any . . . particular . . . foreign country you are speaking about, SS? Flying pig got your chicken tongue?
“[Jones] is more likely to continue fighting for structural change rather than settling for the decline of business as usual.” — S.S.
I thought the decline of business as usual was what you were looking for, SS
(From press release) Nonprofit organizations are invited to submit applications to the Biberstein Social Action Fund for grants in support of projects addressing poverty, discrimination, abuse and neglect, and the promotion of social justice in Yolo County.
The Biberstein Social Action Fund was established in 2002 by the Board of Directors of Congregation Bet Haverim to honor Ernie and Hannah Biberstein, who are among the founding members of CBH, and who devoted much of their lives to community service and social justice. Hannah passed away in April 2011. This is the 24rth Anniversary of the Fund.
The goal of the annual awards made from the Biberstein Social Action Fund is to help Yolo County organizations in their efforts to meet unfulfilled needs. Special consideration is given to new and/or innovative projects.
An annual Call for Proposals is released each Fall. Grants ranging from $500 to $2,000 are awarded in December. The Biberstein Fund members review the proposals. Current Biberstein Fund members include Congregation Bet Haverim partners Ernie Biberstein, Amy Abramson, Anne Gieseke, Sandy Jones, Joan Sublett, and Shoshana Zatz.
Grant proposals must be submitted no later than October 16, 2026. Questions may be directed to the Biberstein Social Action Fund at: cbhbibersteinfund@gmail.com. Awards will be announced in December 2026.
I wrote previously about my disappointing experience at the townhall Eric Jones held in Davis on August 26. I had previously looked at Eric Jones’s website, ericjones.us, before the townhall, simply to get a sense of him and his campaign. This reinforced my impression of Jones. It also caused me to look back at how Jones’s ideas have evolved over time. This made me question Jones as a candidate even more. Jones announced his candidacy for Congress on August 17, 2025. Over the last year, his views have undergone remarkable transformations. He has undergone a significant shift to the right, especially after the June primary. Some major issues he previously championed have disappeared from view. His political values seem like a moving target. I have been left wondering what Jones actually stands for, on key issues.
This is all drawn from ericjones.us, looking at the website as it now stands and earlier versions that can be found at the Wayback Machine. I have provided links for all screen shots.
The issues I will explore here are: immigration; taxes; housing and renting; balanced budget amendment and sunsetting programs; and abortion, childcare, and transparency. I know this article is long, so readers can scroll down to find a particular item they might be interested in.
From L to R: Ann Ehrlich, Amory Lovins, Dr. Paul Ehrlich, and David Kupfer, having lunch in Palo Alto in 2022
By David Kupfer
The summer of 2026 has witnessed the quiet, heavy closing of an era. With the recent passings of population biologist Paul R. Ehrlich, radical theater pioneer R.G. “Ronny” Davis, and most recently, the visionary agrarian writer Wendell Berry on August 31, we have lost a singular trinity of American defiance. Operating in vastly different arenas—the university laboratory, the public park, and the rural hillside—these three men were bound by a shared, ferocious commitment to shaking humanity out of its industrial complacency. To have known them as friends and mentors over the decades was to witness the rare alchemy of brilliant intellect wedded to an uncompromising moral compass. Now, as the dust settles on their long lives, their final, intimate moments reveal the heavy burden borne by those who dare to speak truth to a civilization bent on its own consumption.
Envious, jealous (“jelly”) of us; 80-plus years of age. We’ve arrived. Been selected and inducted into a very prestigious club. If you’re much younger; not having given it (80) much thought but hopeful to arrive one day far into your future or if you’re perhaps closer to 80 and wonder if you’ll crawl across this finish line, this column is for you. Intended for everyone hoping to age.
You, my reader; fellow octogenarians or those more advanced in age may agree with some or all of my observations. You others, maybe younger, may question my findings. I get that.
I’m thrilled to be in my eighth decade and hopefully you have one or more in your circle; a contented individual in your life; a parent, grandparent, sibling, friend or neighbor. At this age I feel a calm, a quiet not present in my younger years. I get less frustrated, think I’m more patient, less irritating and irritable with fewer mountains to climb and live with less noise, destruction and disappointment. The insignificant minor, many tiresome details and bothersome annoyances of my younger years are gone.
My mother was very secretive about her age until she turned 80. Then she proudly told everyone. She passed at 84 and my dad who lived but five months past his 80th wanted to sail and get in a round of golf the day he died. Those who I learn have passed on gain greater notoriety when you’re their age. How long do we each have? Probably fewer days that we expect.
(Contains Al content, as in “Al”, short for Alan. Short for Alan C. Miller. Content. Well ok, I did use A.I. for the illustration, because I can’t draw that fast, or at all. But the Vanguard uses A.I. illustrations too, so neener neener)
There is something wonderfully Davis #cough,gag# about publishing an opinion piece accusing your neighbors (do you even live in Davis, oh author?) of being too old, too wealthy, too white and too male, while declining to tell those neighbors who you are that is accusing them. The Vanguard’s August 9 op-ed, “The Face of NIMBYism in Davis – Old, Rich, and Mostly Male, White, and Retired” [https://davisvanguard.org/2026/08/measure-v-opposition-demographics/] is credited simply to “Vanguard Administrator.” Who the heck writes an “Op Ed” under the cover of anonymity? And what media outlet permits it? The Davis Vanguard, that’s who!
That deserves a pause from us all. This is an opinion piece about a local housing election. It concerns zoning, development and the political behavior of people who live near a proposed subdivision. We are not dealing with organized crime. Nobody is reporting from inside a cartel. There is no threat to be had from deeply-held international political divides. Deep Throat has not returned to tell us where Davis hid the missing duplexes (pardon the old people reference, young people). Yet the author apparently requires anonymity.
