Isms: Views on life in rural America

Sometimes, you need a good laugh.

After last week - filled with school activities, work obligations, and family medical emergencies - I needed something to smooth the chaos and soothe the calm.

I found it in a TV show, “The Paper,” a mockumentary spin-off from the creators of “The Office.” The show is available on Peacock, a streaming service.

Most days I am the lone SAM staffer in Clearwater’s building, appropriately dubbed “The Office.” Yet, the mundane crises created during the show, like disorderly staff meetings, the weird details that surface while investigating stories, the water cooler...