Author Archives: Jim

The drama of the HOA

Posted on August 31, 2023 by Jim

I joined a growing trend three years ago when I sold my sprawling house in Albuquerque and built a smaller home in an active-adult community in nearby Los Lunas. Folks my age are living longer than previous generations and active-adult … Continue reading →

Posted in Idle Ruminations, Life in New Mexico | Comments Off on The drama of the HOA

Operation Homecoming

Posted on June 20, 2023 by Jim

I was waiting on the tarmac at Glenview Naval Air Station when they arrived on a cold night in March 50 years ago. The American former prisoners of war had been released from North Vietnam. Now they were on their … Continue reading →

Posted in Sea Stories | Comments Off on Operation Homecoming

Why we need more immigration

Posted on May 19, 2023 by Jim

Okay, the border is a mess. Even the news media are beginning to admit it. But we still need more immigrants because Americans aren’t making enough babies and are not growing the talent we need to sustain the country.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Comments Off on Why we need more immigration

The hidden promise of artificial intelligence

Posted on April 17, 2023 by Jim

Futurists and science-fiction writers have been warning us about artificial intelligence for years. Movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey advanced the notion that computers eventually will be smarter than we are and ultimately will take over. Open the pod bay doors, Hal. … Continue reading →

Posted in Idle Ruminations | Comments Off on The hidden promise of artificial intelligence

St. Pat’s in the desert

Posted on March 17, 2023 by Jim

One of the few things I miss about my hometown of Chicago is St. Patrick’s Day. Even though my ancestry is Scottish and Hungarian, every Chicagoan is Irish on St Pat’s Day and that’s what makes it special.  Not that … Continue reading →

Posted in Idle Ruminations, Life in New Mexico | Comments Off on St. Pat’s in the desert

January at the gym

Posted on January 4, 2023 by Jim

It’s the first week in January and I am delighted that the gym in my over-55 community is not crowded.  I’m not a big fitness buff, mind you. Fitness, yes; buff, hardly. I began hitting the gym regularly when the … Continue reading →

Posted in Idle Ruminations, Life in New Mexico | Comments Off on January at the gym

Student loans: Now we’re all in debt

Posted on September 5, 2022 by Jim

The debate over President Biden’s student loan forgiveness is just what we needed: yet another divisive issue. It’s the largest unilateral spending decision by a U.S. president. I’m waiting for the pundits to praise it as a triumph of democracy. … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Comments Off on Student loans: Now we’re all in debt

Credibility is not rocket science

Posted on August 27, 2022 by Jim

I’ve been watching with bemusement as one American institution after another loses its credibility with the public. Fewer people believe much of what they hear from authority figures and I can’t blame them. I’m interested in this because I spent … Continue reading →

Posted in Idle Ruminations | Comments Off on Credibility is not rocket science

Confessions of a recovering opinion pollster

Posted on June 20, 2022 by Jim

When I get curious about a controversial political issue (okay, that ‘s redundant) one of the first things I do is check the public opinion polls. That’s because I’m a recovering opinion pollster. One of the most satisfying jobs in my public … Continue reading →

Posted in Idle Ruminations | Comments Off on Confessions of a recovering opinion pollster

Turning around a local economy

Posted on April 5, 2022 by Jim

Two years ago I built a new house in an over-55 community in Los Lunas, just south of Albuquerque. Los Lunas is the fastest-growing town in New Mexico and the development is exciting to watch: new industry, hundreds of new … Continue reading →

Posted in Oak Park | Comments Off on Turning around a local economy