D-Minus Diaries Podcast

This is what my friends call a "Jones Story". What starts as pulling weeds can quickly turn into a full-scale war against chaos. In this episode of D-Minus Diaries, I explore how thermodynamics, homeownership, faith, and one very expensive tractor all reveal the same truth: left alone, everything falls apart. From clogged gutters to personal discipline, “Mechanical Things Don’t Fix Themselves” is a humorous but practical look at entropy, self-reliance, and why preserving order in life always requires sweat, effort, and purpose.

A little 888‑square‑foot starter home in Elizabethton just got treated like a mini McMansion by Tennessee’s new CAMA/IMPACT tax software. In this D‑Minus Diaries, I walk through how a $120,000 house becomes a $180,000 “asset” on a screen, why that means a 50% jump in your property tax bill, and how city and county budgets quietly ride those numbers. More importantly, I show you how to appeal your own assessment, what questions to ask about the software, and what reforms we should be demanding before rising valuations tax us right out of our homes.

D-Minus Diaries Episode 25: The Great Migration dives into why so many Americans are packing up and heading to Tennessee in search of lower taxes, greater freedom, and a different way of life. From Tennessee’s frontier roots and fierce independence to modern migration, politics, culture shock, and the growing tension between preserving tradition and managing explosive growth, this piece explores what happens when people flee one system only to risk rebuilding it somewhere new. If you’ve ever wondered why Tennessee is booming, and what newcomers should understand before arriving, this one’s for you.

In this D‑Minus Diary, I start in the back of an MH‑53 on a dark training night and end in an old church pew. Along the way, I look at stress, loss, childhood faith, and why sometimes being grounded is better than falling apart.

As we approach the midterm elections, I use storytelling to show why elections matter and why they often feel confusing by design. Between primaries, media noise, and now AI-driven influence, most voters never get a clear picture of what’s really at stake. In this piece, I break down how the system works, why local races matter more than you think, and how to cut through the noise to understand who is really asking for power over your life. Because in the end, it all comes down to one vote… and whether you show up.

What happens when the tools we create start to look, think, and act like us? In Part 2 of Created in Our Image, Jim Jones moves from a simple Appalachian conversation about distance into a much bigger question about identity, technology, and purpose. From the early days of robotics to today’s rapidly evolving AI, this piece explores the moment when machines stop being tools and start becoming reflections. As comfort increases and responsibility fades, we are left with a deeper question: are we building something to serve us, or something that may one day replace what makes us human?

Created in Our Image (Part 1) by Jim Jones, D-Minus Diaries. What started as an argument about whether something was “over by” Krispy Kreme turned into something much bigger. Somewhere between donut shop directions and a simple AI question, my wife and I realized something has changed. We are no longer just using technology, we are starting to relate to it. We name it, we talk to it, and we trust it. And maybe, without even realizing it, we are beginning to replace something human with something easier. This is Part 1 of a series exploring where AI is today, how we got here, and why it already feels more real than most people think. Part 2 asks the harder question… what happens when it gets a body? If this makes you think, follow D-Minus Diaries.

Other people’s drama is costing you peace you can’t afford.

In this D-Minus Diaries entry, I break down “Other People’s Problems,” how emotional fires start and spread, and why learning to say “not my problem” might be the most important survival skill you develop this year.

Regret doesn’t shout, it whispers. It sounds like “I’ll go next time,” “when things slow down,” or “maybe next year.” I learned the hard way that one day, the invitations stop. This is a story about a missed dive, a hard lesson, and the rule that changed how I live. Say yes… while you still can.

From Eden to Tehran, I trace how ancient religious divides, oil, and Shia theocracy converge on one frontline: the bodies and lives of Iranian women and girls. If Epstein turns your stomach, wait until you see what’s written into Iran’s laws.