Jack Baruth

1 week ago | avoidablecontact.com | Jack Baruth

I have about thirty minutes to write this before it becomes a Monday OT, so please forgive me. I was at Waterford Hills this weekend, picking up an overall win for myself and watching a truly fascinating race unfold for someone else. I can’t wait to tell you all about it — on Wednesday, when we talk about racing.

1 week ago | washingtonexaminer.com | Jack Baruth

The best science fiction is either pure spaceships and aliens escapism or intelligent present-day social commentary viewed through a more pliable lens than that available to Charlotte Bronte or even Tom Wolfe.

1 week ago | avoidablecontact.com | Jack Baruth

If you’ve spent any time hanging around Avoidable Contact Forever that you know that “Made In The USA” is one of my primary obsessions. I believe that buying from local manufacturers helps your neighbors, shortens supply chains that have become increasingly fragile, helps the environment, and imparts a sense of decency and dignity to our daily existence. When that’s not possible, I try to buy from Western countries and/or Japan, as they generally offer decent working conditions and fair wages.

2 weeks ago | avoidablecontact.com | Jack Baruth

Good morning all. Today will be a very retro-feeling Open Thread, as I return to my time-honored practice of roasting my fellow “journalists” in the automotive-PR-by-other-means businss. I remind you, however, that as an Open Thread, you’re encouraged to bring up other, less confrontational topics, and I will pin them for discussion. Alright. Forward march. Your humble author has never counted himself among those who look with suspicion at men who teach primary or secondary school.

2 weeks ago | avoidablecontact.com | Jack Baruth

coming to a nursing home near youIt’s been an ultra-exciting weekend so far, because the engine is coming out of my, ahem, absolutely perfect Lexus. Turns out the radiator is junk as well. The good news just keeps coming. There is no way — no way — this is not a $10,000 car when all is said and done. I almost feel like I should drive it all the way arou…