THE NORTH ATLANTIC — On one of our across-the-Atlantic flights to visit our son Stan, his wife and children, we noticed several passengers who had positioned themselves in the middle seat of the middle row. My wife and I had been content with our seat assignment, a window seat and the one next to it.

The motives of these middle-of-the-roaders soon became clear: As soon as we were airborne, they’d simply raise the armrest between the seats, stretch out and snooze all the way to Copenhagen. On a later, less crowded flight, I claimed one such arrangement, told Bonnie about it, agreed to let her use it, “just for a half hour,” and ended up in my cramped single seat, next to a large man who had claimed Bonnie’s seat, and who apparently had been eating garlic-and-onion sandwiches. Continue reading →

Remember a few years back that a pair of human spell-checkers made the news for traipsing around the country making corrections to signs they believed contained errors? For their efforts, the language-fixers, Jeff Deck and Benjamin Herson, got banned from certain national parks.

I wrote about this team who would arm themselves with Sharpies, erasers, adhesive tape and righteous indignation. They’ve faded from the news, but if they wanted an assistant, I’d try to join them.

Besides, what business do people have displaying typos in public places? And on that subject, has anyone ever seen an obscenity or scatological message, emblazoned on a building or underpass, that contained a typo? Why is it that the army of spray-paint vandals always manages to spell correctly? Continue reading →

“And I want all of you to vote the strraaiigghht ticket when you go to the polls in November.” How many times have we heard this, and from how many politicians?

Too many times and from too many politicians.

And that’s why I say New Mexico Secretary of State Dianna Duran did something very clever just a couple of weeks ago when she got rid of the straight-party option, effective in the general election in November. I applaud the move. Remember, a slew of straight-party voters made it possible for Jerome Block to get elected to the Public Regulation Commission, even if other circumstances forced him to vacate that position. Continue reading →

Super Slo-Mo (that’s a term I believe I’ve just made up), instant replay, zoom lenses, extra-sensitive mikes: they’ve spoiled it for all of us.

Let me explain:

It was exactly this time 100 years ago that Las Vegas became transformed from a sleepy little town to an active little town, with the hosting of a world heavyweight championship bout. Those of you who read our Page 1 Looking Back feature may be aware that the Fourth of July festivities that year included a fight between Jack Johnson and Jim Flynn.

Hardly a man is now alive who saw the fight. An article written about 20 years ago mentioned my dad, J.D. Trujillo, as one of the spectators. Continue reading →