Jeb Bladine: Watching us can be watching out for us
Documents hacked from CIA or National Security Agency systems, released this week by WikiLeaks, describe methods to spy on individuals through their smartphones, TV sets, modems and other electronic devices. ...
Jeb Bladine: ‘Repeal and replace’ has a faulty premise
I’ve never been a big fan of the Affordable Care Act as America’s health care solution, partly because it so significantly complicated administration of our company health plan, and also because ...
Jeb Bladine: Joining us? Please leave meth behind
Editor's note: Information received subsequent to publication of this column reveals that the woman mentioned has no relationship to the alleged bank robber, and that she personifies the column comment ...
Jeb Bladine: Most wars begin with demonization
President Donald Trump recently stood on so-called hallowed ground in front of the CIA Memorial Wall — there, presumably, to soothe wounds he inflicted by comparing the U.S. intelligence community ...
Jeb Bladine: Resolve combined with apprehension
My cousin’s husband is Northern California regional coordinator for the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a non-partisan advocacy organization with 366 active chapters worldwide. I’ve enjoyed ...
Jeb Bladine: Reality intertwined in more ‘fake news’
This has been an extraordinary week in national politics. It began with long-awaited congressional hearings on nominees to the Donald Trump Cabinet, accompanied by the president-elect’s first press ...
Jeb Bladine: Calendar year has collection of politics
What would we do without calendar years? They provide regular opportunities to regret various behaviors and pledge to do better in the year ahead – thus, the tradition of New Year’s resolutions ...
Jeb Bladine: Quiet retrospective of 2016 life stories
In December, I stop to read our newspaper archive of obituary articles from the previous year. It’s a quiet, reflective and often moving experience that occasionally inspires a column about some ...
Jeb Bladine: Telling stories just part of the package
Grizzlies and Wildcats will mingle and reminisce at a Jan. 7 memorial service for Perry Stubberfield, and the source for many of their stories will be the man they are there to honor. Perry’s 78 ...
Jeb Bladine: Partners produce holiday light magic
Once again this holiday season, a night drive or walk through downtown McMinnville reveals a spectacular canopy of tree lighting that magnifies the sidewalk and cross-street Christmas displays. It’s ...
Jeb Bladine: Living in the local state of mind
The annual holiday spending spree began today on Black Friday, to be followed immediately by Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and four full weeks of pre-Christmas shopping. Through it all we try to ...
Jeb Bladine: ‘Facts’ categorized as election casualty
A television comedy skit this week began with organ music and a sober-faced minister intoning, “We are gathered here today to mourn the passing of our dear friend, Facts.”It was humorously ...
Jeb Bladine: Local sunshine on tax-hike strategies
A mass of campaign finance numbers is available online for anyone caring to analyze the politics of Oregon. Meanwhile, even a cursory look at those figures reveals a fascinating story of tax increase efforts ...
Jeb Bladine: No bets, Bernie, on Clinton-Trump vote
I missed Sunday’s party, when McMinnville Area Habitat for Humanity celebrated the organization’s new Aspire subdivision and 25 years of contributions to Habitat by co-founder Bernie Turner. News ...
Jeb Bladine: A local campaign in Trump-like style
For the record, I’m not a registered Republican, and not a member of the News-Register editorial board that endorsed Ron Noble for the Legislature. Further, if Noble and the Republican Party were ...
