Jeb Bladine: Marijuana 'horse' may be out the door
The state of Oregon is going to operate separate, complex regulatory systems for medical and recreational marijuana. There are justifications for a dual system, but pitfalls if it reduces safety for recreational ...
Jeb Bladine: Trump's campaign uncovers deep pool
Donald Trump may have lost to Angela Merkel as Time’s Person of the Year, but in American politics he definitely was Person of the Week. For Trump, that oft-received award carries a strong dose of ...
Jeb Bladine: Here's a number we can remember
Even if you have trouble remembering numbers, try to memorize this one: $2.6 billion. Yes, that would be two-point-six-billion-dollars. If this is too many dollars to contemplate all at once, here are ...
Jeb Bladine: Thankfulness has many perspectives
Feeling thankful can be a challenge, and this is a good time of year to confront and overcome nagging discontents. That done, we can watch life’s miracles float by while finding ways to help others. One ...
Jeb Bladine: Good time to take a look at your 'stuff'
Here’s a sneak preview about a new nonprofit fund-raising strategy. No names at this point. OK, I will drop one name: MacHub. And here are some tantalizing tidbits about a program we hope to unveil ...
Jeb Bladine: New developments have historic roots
In the midst of much excitement about new community projects in McMinnville, two longtime business groups are recalling their notable historic contributions to community growth and prosperity. And looking ...
Jeb Bladine: Saving history for another generation
The powerful allure of history plays an important role in our present, and our future. But handled poorly, history can become, well, just old, so it’s great to see some of McMinnville’s history ...
Jeb Bladine: Still one sure way to cut health costs
How are we doing on health care costs? We can count some of the evidence, but good luck finding clarity amid the morass of health insurance and health care costs. Look at premium costs rising by double-digit ...
Jeb Bladine: We're surrounded by Nigerian princes
There it was, in my email queue – my ticket out of life’s ongoing financial challenges: “Your assistance is requested as a non-Nigerian citizen to assist the Nigerian National Petroleum ...
Jeb Bladine: Some people don't need to bear arms
In today’s state of polarized politics, it seems almost pointless to write about the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. However, as we begin to leave behind our active grieving for murder ...
Jeb Bladine: Meth continues as a destroyer of lives
Local justice and social welfare systems will spend months sorting through the fallout from this week’s drug bust in McMinnville. Four people arrested in the raid will continue many years sorting ...
Jeb Bladine: Pot stores open: walk, don't drive
Oregonians and visitors hit the streets Thursday to begin visiting medical marijuana dispensaries now selling pot to the general public. The Oregonian even published a convenient map listing 109 locations ...
Jeb Bladine: Old memories of playing with Yogi
Yogi Berra died this week, and a generation of Baby Boomer sports fans paused to remember their childhoods. The occasion transported me back to 1960-61, taking my best batting stance in the corner of ...
Jeb Bladine: If you don't support Trump, you're fired!
When there’s an elephant in the room, it’s surprising when no one seems to notice. But that’s my take on this week’s second debate among Republican candidates for president. Donald ...
Jeb Bladine: Story pace leaves no time for outrage
There is so much deplorable news these days we scarcely have time for outrage about one shocking story before another takes its place. Maybe that’s why so many just ignore it all; maybe that’s ...