Author Archives: Jim

Decking the halls

Posted on December 2, 2020 by Jim

Is it just my imagination, or are people embracing Christmas decorations a little more this year? My state of New Mexico recently closed the restaurants and most of the stores (again) and has pretty well given up on schools and … Continue reading →

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A pandemic Thanksgiving

Posted on November 25, 2020 by Jim

I’m roasting a turkey breast for Thanksgiving even though I’m not expecting guests. Much as I will miss sharing the holiday with friends and family, I refuse to give up turkey leftovers. There’s a lot to be thankful for because … Continue reading →

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Pro-union or pro-worker?

Posted on October 22, 2020 by Jim

It’s been interesting to watch the presidential stump speeches to blue-collar audiences. President Trump is bragging about jobs. Former Vice President Biden is promising to create union jobs. It’s an important distinction because in 2016 about half of private-sector union … Continue reading →

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The Apocalypse may be coming but it’s politics as usual in New Mexico

Posted on September 15, 2020 by Jim

The coming election is the most important in our lifetime, we are told. Both parties are telling us that if the other party wins it will be the Apocalypse. Depending on which cable channel you watch, America will become either … Continue reading →

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The American Street

Posted on August 23, 2020 by Jim

When angry mobs of protesters stormed the Wisconsin state capitol in 2011, their rallying cry was: “This is what democracy looks like.” That’s ridiculous, I thought. Democracy is delivered at the ballot box, not in the streets. I was wrong. … Continue reading →

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Experiment in integration

Posted on August 6, 2020 by Jim

My hometown of Oak Park, IL., is all in for Black Lives Matter and I’m not at all surprised. Because the nearly all-white suburb where I went to high school became a rarity in America: a racially integrated community. Oak … Continue reading →

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When Greenpeace helped the Navy

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Jim

For many years the Navy’s annual Great Lakes cruise deployed a ship on a goodwill tour of Midwest cities to build awareness and boost recruiting. As a Navy reserve public affairs officer in Chicago in the 1980s, I was involved … Continue reading →

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Here’s looking at you

Posted on July 10, 2020 by Jim

I recently attended my first homeowners’ association meeting as a new resident of an over-55 community. Because of the pandemic it was conducted online via Zoom. It worked pretty well once participants were reminded to mute their microphones when they … Continue reading →

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Time for more statues

Posted on July 4, 2020 by Jim

Mobs have declared open season on every aspect of American’s history.  Confederates and abolitionists, Christopher Columbus, Founding Fathers, and the occasional saint are being erased from memory. What an opportunity!  This is the perfect time to deepen our understanding of the … Continue reading →

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The Civil War’s New Mexico sideshow

Posted on May 13, 2020 by Jim

The American Civil War was fought in New Mexico. It was, really, though most histories make no mention of the Confederate invasion in 1862 and its two significant battles. It was a bizarre little sideshow. I’ve been a Civil War … Continue reading →

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