• Jim Thompson 24 June 2020

    Emotions should not trump science and math

    If you have not spent a lot of time digging into data or if you know math and science are not strengths for you, I have a recommendation, should you want to discern the truth for yourself. Gather as much information as you can. Then, seek out people you trust on both sides of whatever issue you are examining. Listen to them, roll it over in your mind, then decide for yourself, having gathered as much information as you can, what way to go. I also have a recommendation as to where not to gather information for your opinions. Television or social media. Both spew the emotional side only.
  • Jim Thompson 21 June 2020
    The end of Crump, 1968
    The acorn does not fall far from the tree, they say. There are some issues and personalities I deal with in a tough manner. For other situations, I am a softie. The example for my life was set in Highland County in the years on the farms by a conservationist.
  • Jim Thompson 11 June 2020
    All hat, no cattle, 1964
    These days, I dream a lot, and people from various times in my life show up in my dreams. Once in a while, SHE does, but now I have the nerve to wave at her across the room – and she smiles and waves back.
  • Jim Thompson 2 June 2020
    Chapter 1964, Fourth Quarter: Oolitic, Indiana
    Thanksgiving weekend 1964 revolves around a hamburger, served to me about 7 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 28, in a small diner in Oolitic, Ind. I drank a glass of milk with it.
  • Jim Thompson 29 May 2020
    Exploring other spaces and ideas
    The means are easier and more economical to implement than ever before. The question is this: Do we have the will to explore other spaces, other ideas? I hope I do, and I hope you do. We are richer for the experience when we do.
  • Jim Thompson 24 May 2020
    Tribalism and personal perspective
    The movie “My Cousin Vinny” is a great study in this sort of tribalism. New Yorkers thrust into southern Alabama. Both sides view the other with suspicion and doubt. Makes for a hilarious movie, but one that rings way too true. So, when you hear people talk about “tribalism” today, think about where you are and what your experiences have been.
  • Jim Thompson 15 May 2020
    What’s next, America?
    Since 2016, especially since November of 2016, those of both parties, particularly the Democrat party members, who don’t like President Donald Trump, have thrown up one roadblock after another, attempting to destroy his presidency. Nothing has stuck to him. In fact, in all cases, the accusers have ended up looking petty, childish and in some cases, treasonous. Undeterred, they continue to attempt to derail him and his administration.
  • Jim Thompson 8 May 2020
    Time to update the anti-trust laws, Part 2
    The operative word in anti-trust discussions is “collusion.” It is not only money, which is how the current laws are focused. Anti-trust language needs to be rewritten and codified as collusion centric, not money centric before our rights are completely abrogated by large private enterprises.
  • Jim Thompson 1 May 2020
    Time to update the anti-trust laws, Part 1
    Large corporations are saying, “We value our time, we don’t value yours.” It is a tremendous insult and a tremendous cost to the consumer.
  • Jim Thompson 24 April 2020
    An opportunity not seen since the Garden of Eden
    Never, ever, in the entire recorded or pre-recorded history, has nearly the whole planet been economically brought to a standstill. For all intents and purposes, the world has stopped. This has never happened before.
  • Jim Thompson 19 April 2020
    What I think I know, and what I don’t
    Has the government assumed payment of all costs for anyone who gets sick, thereby absolving us from applying any insurance we may have to our personal treatment and cure? If that is not what they are doing, what is their purpose? Beyond the emotional toll, all human life has a real dollars-and-cents value. If you don’t believe this, get yourself on a wrongful-death civil suit jury. A 25-year-old with a lifetime of earning potential has a much higher financial value than a 70-year-old like me.
  • Jim Thompson 11 April 2020
    The curious case of COVID-19
    I am still waiting for the other shoe to drop. I don’t think we have any realistic idea how this is going to play out. The general population has clearly demonstrated they will go along with anything those they perceive to be in authority tell them to do regardless of the personal injury it causes. Further, the whole scenario has been nonsensical so far; hence, the next phase is not predictable.

  • Jim Thompson 4 April 2020
    So, what is it?
    If you have ever thought about biological warfare, you probably have an idea in your mind of what that would look like. If you can’t differentiate between that mental image and what we are experiencing right now, you should probably assume we are caught up in biological warfare. Think for a minute. Do you think those perpetrating biological warfare would announce it? It makes no sense for them to do so.
  • Jim Thompson 31 March 2020
    Fixing our Achilles heel(s)
    All the big airplane manufacturers plus companies like Honda and others have been diligently working on small air taxis that can fly point to point with little or no runways. Pilotless and electric, these planes will reduce the cost to the point that for many domestic trips, it will no longer be necessary to take a road trip to get to a large airport, for these new air taxis can land anywhere, carrying just a few passengers. Such airplanes will make Hillsboro as accessible as Chicago.
  • Jim Thompson 23 March 2020
    New technology brings new problems
    There have been two catastrophic events caused by airplanes in this century. The first is 9/11 when some individuals bent on destruction, even at the cost of their own lives, attacked the United States with airplanes. The second is this winter when airplanes were inadvertently used to spread a hither before unknown virus all over the world. On a macro scale, these airplanes did a better job of spreading this virus than a hot-air hand dryer does in a public restroom (and that's saying something!).
  • Jim Thompson 19 March 2020
    A time of abject sorrow
    We’ve been harmed, and the harming is not over. No one can tell us when the damage will end, for like the virus, the panic has taken on a life of its own.
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