Author Archives: Jim

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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Enduring the year-end story

Posted on January 1, 2016 by Jim

Much as I enjoy the holidays, I’m always relieved when they’re over and we can stumble into the new year with renewed optimism. I always look forward to celebrating Christmas with family, and ringing in the new year with friends … Continue reading →

Posted in Idle Ruminations | 2 Comments

Whose boots on the ground?

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Jim

After a weekend of round-the-clock news coverage of the terrorist attacks in Paris, I am appalled by the depravity of the terrorists and dismayed by the reaction of politicians and pundits. We’re seeing some stark contrasts. At the same time … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | 1 Comment

Pumpkins in the air

Posted on October 18, 2015 by Jim

Pumpkin chunking! Elaborate, home-made machines hurl ripe pumpkins high into the air to smash down hundreds of yards away. What’s not to like? I stumbled across the World Championship Punkin Chunkin on cable TV a few years ago and was … Continue reading →

Posted in Idle Ruminations, Life in New Mexico | 2 Comments

Two cheers for Columbus

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Jim

Today is Columbus Day in the United States. But in Albuquerque it’s been re-named Indigenous Peoples Day to commemorate the struggles of Native Americans against genocidal invaders like good old Chris. What makes this a little odd is that about … Continue reading →

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Feeding the hummingbirds

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Jim

It’s hummingbird season at my house. The Rio Grande, a few hundred yards from my house, is a bird superhighway with seasonal flyovers of geese and sandhill cranes. Quail and roadrunners trot across my yard every day. But the hummingbirds … Continue reading →

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