Author Archives: Jim

Family stories: Burnside

Posted on September 1, 2016 by Jim

Note to readers: This exploration of my family history is primarily for my kids and kinfolk. I’m posting it in my blog because I’m too cheap to set up a separate website. If you are not among my relatives you … Continue reading →

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The old stories

Posted on August 28, 2016 by Jim

Note to readers: This exploration of my family history is primarily for my kids and kinfolk. I’m posting it in my blog because I’m too cheap to set up a separate website. If you are not among my relatives you … Continue reading →

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Watching the media hissy-fit

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Jim

Media-watchers and pundits have been debating liberal bias in the news media for decades. Now the debate is over. The national media are in full empire-strikes-back, hissy-fit mode in an increasingly hysterical campaign to not merely cover Donald Trump, but … Continue reading →

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Where’s Ellis Island when we need it?

Posted on July 30, 2016 by Jim

The immigration issue in this year’s presidential campaign boils down to two extremes: “Build a wall” and “let everybody in.” I keep thinking of the Casey Stengel quote: Can’t anybody here play this game? The United States used to be … Continue reading →

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It’s the economy, stupid

Posted on July 24, 2016 by Jim

Donald Trump’s acceptance speech at the GOP convention got lots of criticism for presenting what was described as a “dark” view of the state of the nation. Trump struck a nerve on the economy (among other things) because he contradicted … Continue reading →

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Self-driving cars and Darwin

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Jim

Self-driving cars are in the news these days as the technology starts to gel and businesses begin to make strategic investments. It’s certainly an exciting breakthrough. Self-driving cars have the potential to reduce traffic jams and use the road system … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Idle Ruminations | 2 Comments

Breaking the partisan package deal

Posted on May 7, 2016 by Jim

I’ve found it increasingly hard to identify with either political party because the basic principles that used to define Democrats and Republicans have evolved as both parties purged their moderates. Party members now must support an increasingly cumbersome package of … Continue reading →

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What democracy looks like

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Jim

Democracy is a fighting word these days. The latest political brawl is over charges that selection of delegates to the Democratic and Republican conventions is undemocratic. Voters in both parties are angry because they believe the Establishment (whoever that is) … Continue reading →

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Bringing the Civil War to life in New Mexico

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Jim

When we saw a couple of women in hoop skirts and sunbonnets walking across the dusty parking lot, we knew we were in the right place: the annual re-enactment of the Civil War Battle of Valverde near Socorro, NM. The … Continue reading →

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New Year’s resolutions at the gym

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Jim

I’m in the habit of going to the gym nearly every day. As the holidays drew to a close I was steeling myself for big New Year’s resolution crowds at my local Planet Fitness in Albuquerque, but so far have … Continue reading →

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