Opinion - The Timberjay

The most important person in Ely? Don’t ask AI

Faced with the possibility that I could be replaced soon by AI, I began an investigation into how well AI actually works. The first thing I noticed was the number of AI programs available. It seems … more

Catie Clark | 2/6/25

Brain Balm: A meditation for when you’re sitting in the ER

Here’s a balm that you can rub onto your mind to stop it from jumping from worry to anger to fear. It’s an easy, old practice that some people do for years at a time. Even though … more

Jean Gendreau | 2/6/25

Musk’s takeover

Correct us if we’re in error here, but by our reading of the U.S. Constitution, it is the U.S. Congress that holds the purse strings of the government. The Congress allocates funds and it is up … more

2/6/25

School trust lands

Opponents of the sale of approximately 80,000 acres of school trust lands in the Boundary Waters should check their calculators. Those opponents include Rep. Roger Skraba and Eighth District U.S. … more

2/2/25

Trumpian mayhem 2.0

And so, it begins – the second term of‘the man who would be king,’ the convicted felon, the mob boss, rising from the ashes like a Phoenix. He hit the ground running, already … more

1/30/25

Harsh immigration policies affect all of us

No matter how you voted in the most recent election, I appeal to all of you to consider the impact on individuals, families, and society as a whole as a result of the immigration policies being … more

1/30/25

Beware the chaos now headed our way

My dad used to tell me America will always have more than our share of dingbats, because so many of our ancestors were forced to leave their home countries for reasons other than poverty. They … more

1/30/25

A board is only as good as the supervisors we elect

Candidate Bassing was correct on one thing in her recent letter. She stated supervisors have recently had “plenty of chances to appoint” a clerk and treasurer. The last appointed clerk, … more

1/30/25

Give the SafeTech proposal a fair hearing

I don’t believe that the modern, sustainable, Ely-Tower-Babbitt ambulance service, envisioned by the EBCH/SafeTech proposal should be declared dead. It’s too good of a plan and it … more

1/23/25

Presidency is already going to Trump’s head

It is unlikely that Panama, Greenland, and Canada will start a war with the United States. Trump, however, indicated he might start a war or wars with them using military force to accomplish his goal … more

1/23/25

The board has been picking our clerk and treasurer for years

In the Jan. 10 issue of the Timberjay, Paul Thompson placed an ad touting the benefits of our township operating under Option B. We have been doing so, in a way, in the last few years already: … more

1/23/25

Pros and cons of driverless cars

Do you like waiting in traffic? If you say yes or simply don’t mind traffic, then don’t read any further. If you are bothered by traffic jams, slowdowns, or any other stop and go traffic … more

1/23/25

Elections have consequences

Regarding the upcoming Greenwood Township ballot question on allowing the board, rather than the registered voters, to choose their clerk and treasurer, please vote NO! The positions are … more

1/23/25

Minnnesota State Senate shows working together is possible

As the 2025 Legislative Session begins, the Minnesota State Senate finds itself in an unprecedented position. Following the tragic passing of former Majority Leader, Kari Dziedzic, our chamber is in … more

Sen. Grant Hauschild | 1/23/25

Building trust in communities...one person at a time

There is a LOT going on in this human space between heaven and Earth as Donald Trump becomes our 47th president. Emotions are rampant, whether despair or jubilation, anticipation, or angst. I imagine … more

Betty Firth | 1/23/25

American oligarchy

Just days before Donald Trump took the oath of office this past Monday, now former-president Joe Biden used the bully pulpit of his office to warn Americans that the democracy we’ve known since … more

1/23/25

Americans need to wake up!

By now, most people know that President Biden and his criminal gang have sent and continue to send weapons to Benyamin Netanyahu, the criminal president of Israel, who is using them to commit … more

1/16/25

Musk has it backward on human population

Elon Musk said, “A collapsing birth rate is the biggest danger civilization faces, by far.” Actually, a fast-climbing birth rate is the bigger danger to our present … more

1/16/25

We need better ways to conserve resources

Someone once stated, “Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans.” Nothing could be truer for the farmers and ranchers of the southern U.S plains all through the … more

1/16/25

Just keep going, just keep trying, wonders are ready to start

Last week a movie theme-song made me cry. It threw me backwards into the thick sadness of 35 years ago. I had forgotten how bad that time was. Thank God I had forgotten. The theme was from a dinosaur … more

Jean Gendreau | 1/16/25

Political will is a renewable resource, let’s use it

Despite criticisms being hurled at the “Biden agenda,” during Biden’s term in office, policies and programs designed to reduce our nation’s dependence on fossil fuels were … more

Kathleen McQuillan | 1/16/25

It’s the economy, stupid

For nearly four decades, U.S. voters have consistently punished Democrats for success and Republicans for failure, and that is a trend that will almost certainly remain intact when President-elect … more

1/16/25

The oligarchy runs the show

Bezos, Murdoch, Musk, Zuckerberg are among the top one percent who own more global wealth than the bottom 95 percent. Oligarchs own the global economy (U.S. included) and now seek to own and control … more

1/9/25

Let’s get serious about a joint ambulance service

I believe that we are missing out on a very viable opportunity that has been put forth by the EBCH/SafeTechSolutions plan that would upgrade our individual ambulance services in Ely, Babbitt and … more

1/9/25

Mining industry record shows plenty to fear

The Dec. 20, 2024 Timberjay article, “Trump Victory Boosts Copper-Nickel Prospects,” contains a quote that says about mining critics: “They are just scared.” This continues a … more

1/9/25