Author Archives: Jim

The VA crisis: one veteran’s perspective

Posted on May 24, 2014 by Jim

I was dismayed to hear about widespread problems at Veterans Administration hospitals of veterans being denied medical care because of bureaucratic malfeasance. And I was a little surprised because my experience as a VA patient has been overwhelmingly positive. When … Continue reading →

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Climate change and hot air

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Jim

It’s official: Climate change has left the realm of science and is now a full-blown political ideology. That’s unfortunate because climate change is real, and there are some commonsense solutions that are likely to get lost in the political hysteria. … Continue reading →

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Rio Grande opera

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Jim

I spent a pleasant afternoon at the opera last Sunday, enjoying Opera Southwest’s performance of Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers in Albuquerque. In June, the season begins at the Santa Fe Opera and I’ve already ordered tickets for two performances. I … Continue reading →

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Politically incorrect solutions for practically everything

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Jim

How to stimulate the economy Since President Obama is unwilling to grow the economy by approving the Keystone Pipeline, increasing U.S. energy production or relaxing some of his new regulations on business, he should double down on his most successful … Continue reading →

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Owning your dream vacation

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Jim

Mexico is a great place to vacation if you’re aware of the hazards: Not the dodgy sanitation or drug cartels, but the timeshare salesmen. A timeshare is a vacation home, sort of. You purchase time at a resort, pay an … Continue reading →

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Going solar with mixed feelings

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Jim

I just signed a contract to install an array of solar panels on my roof that eventually will give me free electricity. But don’t call me an environmentalist. Solar energy makes sense for me because the sun shines 330 days … Continue reading →

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Obamacare and the Holy Shit Moment

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Jim

I’ve been taking an academic interest in the public reaction to the Obamacare rollout. (It’s academic at this point because my Medicare/Tricare coverage has not changed so far.) I’ve always been curious about how people behave in groups, and my … Continue reading →

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Of wooden ships and swordfish

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Jim

My sea duty in the Navy was aboard a minesweeper: a class of ships designed to clear mines from harbors and shipping lanes. In a fleet of steel hulls and armor plate, minesweepers were an oddity because they were made … Continue reading →

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Covering Billy Graham

Posted on November 8, 2013 by Jim

The Rev. Billy Graham is back in the news: celebrating his 95th birthday and releasing a video billed as his final sermon. I met Rev. Graham in 1962, when I was a journalism student and part-time reporter for a community … Continue reading →

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A reluctant athlete

Posted on October 23, 2013 by Jim

I joined a new gym this week, and worked out there for the first time today. It passed my test: fairly clean, uncrowded and five minutes from home. There’s no juice bar, personal trainers or pulsating music and that’s fine … Continue reading →

Posted in Idle Ruminations | 2 Comments