Misc.

People are jobless. We are in endless war. Schools don't have enough money to teach our children properly.  America's infrastructure is falling apart.  You can't trust a banker, investment firms or real estate developers with your money.  And then what we get in the New Mexico Governor's race are stories about the state airplane.  The Sap media does it again.  Another non issue that is easy to report on and requires little effort at journalism.  What a farce. Like running 911 tapes and pretending it is news.  It takes no brains or effort.  Glenn Beck in bling as far as I am concerned.  American Journalism today.

Now a reversal of sorts.  Its one of those days I cherish.  The Albuquerque Journal had a thoughtful and supporting editorial on the Forest Service travel management plans that are aimed at stopping destruction of watersheds and forest lands by irresponsible ATV riders.  Most of those riders are okay, but it doesn't take many to wreck whole ecosystems.

Our congressional delegations are strangely silent on all aspects of the Afghan war.  They should be consistently questioned on their stands on this endless war.

Police State

Susana Martinez wants the State Police given political powers to go after alleged ethics violations. Alleged by who?   This fits right in with Mayor Berry's Chief Public Safety officer being openly involved in supporting partisan candidates in the general election.  Darren White has been in Martinez's TV commercials and was shown yesterday on this blog with GOP congressional candidate John Barela during his workday with the city.  Do we really want the State Police going on political wild goose chases after a call from the Governor's office or a powerful legislator?  Any Governor's office whether they are republican or democrat?  If you follow Martinez's thought process she might think it would be a good idea to have the U.S. Army investigating the President and Congress on a regular basis.  And now we see the FBI may be allowed to look at your email in the name of ferreting out 'terrorists.'  This from the Obama administration.  What a shame.

Wouldn't it be better to have a Commission with bipartisan members deciding which cases are worthy of investigation?  And wouldn't it just be better if Mayor Berry prohibits his chief law enforcement officer from being involved in partisan politics?  If he doesn't then there will be major embarrassments or litigation in his future.  He doesn't deserve this.  He needs to put a collar on White.

Peachy

Our little Peach crop came in and we spent Monday evening preserving them.  They will be great in February.

I saw City Public Safety Chief Darren White this morning around 10:00AM having coffee with GOP Congressional candidate John Barela at the Rio Grande Starbucks.  I kind of wondered why Darren was doing this during business hours but I am sure he can discuss it with the Mayor.  As an exempt employee he doesn't really need to fill out leave forms.  I have said it before, I just don't like the chief law guy for the city being involved in partisan politics.  They did have a nice wave for me though!

Brace Yourselves

We are less than 100 days away from the general election.  Brace yourselves for one of the ugliest and nastiest of campaign ad seasons yet.  As the ultra conservative U.S. Supreme Court sponsored Corporate ad men fan out to do their worst, we will be the targets, or victims.  Corporate and Financial America who brought you the derivative inspired economic meltdown will now bring feces laced mud to your widescreen.

As the money starts pouring into the right wing campaign coffers the candidates who don't fight back will lose.  The American voter is usually gullible because most information is gleaned from 30 second character assassinations between 30 second news stories on the local stations.  And then there........

Oh, why bother complaining.  It is like going to the Dentist.  Just endure it and hope for the best.

Retrench

I am very sad to see Albuquerque Mayor Berry retrenching on the impact fees that were meant to slow sprawl in Albuquerque.  He says it is too expensive to develop on the west side compared to the rest of the city.  I think that was the whole point of impact fees.  These impact fees incentivize infill projects and keep costs of extending infrastructure down.  It may well be that some adjustments could be made on the formulas, but the basic equations are good ones.  If we want to save taxpayer dollars and natural resources, then getting rid of impact fees will do only one thing.  Enrich developers at taxpayer expense.

After the Wikileaks revelations the military/industrial complex and the Obama administration may need to retrench their explanations of the progress of the Afghanistan war.  That war went sour when bush invaded Iraq and everyone has been trying to sweeten it up ever since.  Including the Obama folks.  It is like that great Woody Allen movie where he and another soldier are the only survivors of a great battle.  The soldier says, "We Won!"  Allen responds, "What did we win?"

He has one of the greatest quotes ever.

"I don't want to achieve immortality through my work, I want to achieve it through not dying."  Woody Allen

America's Biggest Failure

One could argue what might be the three biggest failures in decision making for the last decade for America.  Certainly the invasion of Iraq is one.  The reelection of bush to a second term was another.  But those may pale in comparison to the massive loss of common sense and leadership in this country in just the last few days.  That loss is the failure of the US Senate to pass a true and lasting energy bill for this country's future.

This action has just put America in the same boat as Spain, the French, the British and the Dutch when they refused to change their basic energy source from wind to coal for their fleets.  They missed the bus.  America just missed its bus too.  And this is not just a case of technological suicide.

Resulting chaos of climate change will be our reward.  The oil and gas industry is responsible for funding immoral republican and democrat senator's campaigns in return for a vote to keep America from moving to the next stage of energy production.

I really do believe these pols are immoral at worse, or just plain stupid.  They are destroying our future because of their lap dog status for the oil boys. Somehow, we must take action to stop it.  In the meantime I think Energy Committee Chairman Senator Jeff Bingaman needs to let us know why this really happened and who is responsible.  Name names Jeff.

In the meantime my advice is to not give the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee one cent.  Pick your individual candidates because if you give to the committee some immoral democrat senators may get some of it.

Eagle Envy

When I was in High School at ST. Pius X the thing I wanted more than anything, except for a girl friend, was a Cushman Eagle Motor Scooter.  All the cool guys had one and I did not qualify since my twin brother Tom and I were definitely niched in the nerd category.  (We weren't jocks)

Now my next door neighbor lets me come by occasionally to see his fully restored Cushman Eagle.  He has even offered to let me take it for a spin, which I will do this weekend perhaps.

All of the guys that had these Cushman Eagles back in 62 at St. Pius ended up in wheel chairs and therapy.  I am serious.  Everyone of them had a crash.  Except for one guy who accidentally set his on fire in the parking lot one day when screwing around with a lighter.

CNN

Dear CNN,

I am willing to watch that Sonic Drive In Restaurant commercial once when I sign in to your website to look at breaking news..  But, do I have to watch it before every story?  I am beginning to think I will track down those obnoxious chanting carhops and force them to eat themselves to death on those scrumptious Sonic onion rings.

Also, please buy Anderson Cooper some new black T-Shirts.  Or maybe some that have a color other than the one that represents death.  A pink one would be nice.  Or Mauve.

Jim Baca

Courageous

I defy anyone to find any environmental principles stated on the web site of republican governor candidate Susana Martinez.
On the other hand democratic candidate Diane Denish has posted her environmental guiding principles on her web site.  They are as follows.

1.    All decisions on natural-resource development and extraction should hinge on the protection of water – New Mexico’s most valuable resource.  Water conservation, protection from pollution, and sustainability of supplies are the key factors to consider in all natural-resource decisions.  Our groundwater, watersheds, rivers, and riparian areas must be protected.

2.    Renewable-energy development in New Mexico is one of the most important economic-development strategies available to us.  It should be prioritized for state economic-development incentives and support.

3.    Protection of New Mexico’s unique landscapes should be a priority of state policy development.  There are many appropriate places for energy and natural-resource development in our Land of Enchantment, and there are many places that are inappropriate.  Otero Mesa in Southern New Mexico is one such inappropriate place.  New Mexico’s enchanted landscapes and natural beauty are two of the most important long-range economic-development assets we have. 

4.    Energy efficiency and conservation must be a priority for state government. This means no new state facilities, buildings, and fleets purchased that do not meet the highest standards for green buildings and efficient mileage. The cheapest source of energy is the energy that is not used.  As state employees, we have a responsibility to lead the way in green infrastructure development.

5.    One of state government’s biggest tasks is assuring public safety.  This includes strong protection through enforcement of environmental rules and regulations.  This commitment to public safety policy not only protects the public health, it also protects the strategic interests of taxpayers by saving them from having to pay huge sums for environmental cleanups.

6.    Climate change will drastically affect New Mexico and the west and we must work with the federal government on a comprehensive national effort to reduce carbon emissions.

If you care about the sustainability of our quality of life you have a clear choice.

Shameless

Just how shameless can some legislators and the oil and gas industry get?  Senator John Arthur Smith, who I have always respected, has suggested that easing up on oil and gas industry environmental regulations would get our economy going. That Pit rule, which is meant to protect New Mexico's water, is ruining us all in his estimation.  I can't believe he fell for this stuff at the same time that oil and gas leases are still selling at high prices and local oil and gas operators are selling out to the big fish for major bucks.

And then the Washington Post does a story about how the oil and gas lobby in DC is comprised mostly of former government and congressional employees.  They didn't mention New Mexico's latest entry with the Farmington BLM chief going from his government job to head of the NM Oil and Gas Association in just one day.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has an obligation to look into this revolving door at MMS and the BLM.  The leadership of those agencies need to be instructed to give an ethics course to all of their employees.

Rain in the North

Had a great time up in Pendairies.  36 holes of golf over 24 hours and some incredible thunderstorms.  It was a very pleasant outing.

Don't you love opening the window and sticking your hand out into the cool breeze?

Hot

I am going up to Pendaries, NM again for a couple days of golf.  I sure hope it is cooler than Albuquerque.  As I get into the Zen of golf I will be distracted by the current gross receipts tax rate I noticed on my sales slip last night.  7%!
That is one hell of a high rate.  It is regressive as hell and unfair to the poor especially.  I think when I was Mayor it was around 5.6%.  And meanwhile the republicans want to cut taxes on the rich even more.  That is something to get hot about.

Potash and the Journal

The Sunday Journal wrote a front page story about the long running feud between the Potash Industry and the Oil and Gas Industry in Southern New Mexico.  Instead of doing a public service in really talking about drilling in the Potash areas and endangering miners and resources, the Journal seemed to take the tact that since the Governor had a friend who was a lobbyist for the Potash industry that something was afoul.

This is a long running resource debate that I dealt with as State Land Commissioner for two terms and as BLM Director.  Once again the Oil and gas boys want it all and to hell with everyone else.  The Potash miners just want their workers to be safe from migrating gas and to protect a resource for the future.  The oil and gas guys want to drill close to the mines even though they have thousands of undrilled parcels elsewhere.  Safety should be paramount in this discussion.

In the meantime the NM Oil and Gas Association has a new leader.  Yes, it is a retiring Bureau of Land Management guy from the Farmington office.  Another indication that the BLM in New Mexico could be viewed a branch of the oil and gas industry.  It might be time for big changes in the BLM leadership of the State.

On the positive side for the Journal last week was the story on the re-plastering of the San Francisco de Asis Church in Rancho de Taos.  Very thoughtful.

That Tongue Thing

This is Noelle and her boyfriend Luke Currell at Luke's father's wedding in Minnesota last week.

This other picture is the last one taken, to my knowledge, of that tongue stud from the famous 'Noelle Tongue Stud Incident' from the year 2000 or so.  She has permanently shed it now as I blogged last week.

Kitten Troubles

So, while the cats were exploring the back yard this morning at the same exact instant they each climbed a tree.  One Pear tree and one Ash tree.  They got down fine.

Bad News, Good News

I mean really, how low can the republican party go.  They have now dedicated a website to defaming President Obama for planning a vacation with his wife and two daughters.  Family Values at its best.  They are going to Maine for some relaxation.  And the republicans think it is a bad thing.  Is the GOP truly at this point of abject pettiness?  Lets see, they are against aid for the unemployed, want more tax cuts for the rich, and voted against sensible regulation of the financial industry.  They are totally screwed in the head.  This should be their new mantra.

They're coming to take me away, ha-haaa,

They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa.

To the happy home. With trees and flowers and chirping birds and basket

weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes and they're

coming to take me away, ha-haaa!!!

I always loved that old song.

The good news is that my daughter Noelle called me today and told me she has now removed her tongue stud.  She just thought I would want to know.  This is a picture of her during her 'go to hell' phase while in High School.  When Bobbi and I were out of town one time she went and got this thing put in her mouth.  She had a choice of taking it out or a six week grounding.  She took the grounding.

This is a recent picture of Noelle on a visit to Chengdu, China for Intel where she is an up and coming professional.  She said this morning that after ten years of dealing with the tongue stud she may have to learn how to speak again.

Kitten Wisdom

LISTENING

The Obama administration America's Great Outdoor Initiative listening session is rolling into Albuquerque this Saturday.  Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Senator Jeff Bingaman, and USDA Undersecretary Harris Sherman will be there to listen to anyone who might have some suggestions for Public Land Management in the West.  They pretty much already know the issues and the Interior Department has dealt with them for decades.  I dont know what these sessions are supposed to accomplish other than an exercise in listening, which I guess is okay.  Let's see what happens after that.

I want the Interior Department to do a few of things.  Protect more land and water supplies with Wilderness, Park, Monument and Conservation Area designations.(They made progress on this for a while.)  Order the incorrigible BLM make it easier for renewable energy development.  There is a disconnect between the DC office wanting it and the State offices actually doing it.

And please start humanely treating America's Mustang herds.  Twelve horses died this weekend during a roundup of heat exhaustion because of a lack of water.  Unforgivable. There are solutions.

The hearing session will take place at the Marriott Pyramid Hotel on North I-25 at 1:30PM on Saturday.

New Camera

Soon I will hit the road on my Rio Grande Bridge venture.  I have been using a Nikon D70 for the last six years and decided it was time to step up to the D90.  My excuses to Bobbi was that I needed a spare.

It seems like a pretty phenomenal camera so far.  I ran out to have coffee with a friend at the Albuquerque Zoo this morning to snap a few pics to see how it performed.  It was a very hot morning already and the animals were feeling it.  Despite having an allergy attack from hell today I managed to use it as designed.  Mostly automatic mode.

Tit for Tat

A poll on CNN says that 70% of those responding support other countries banning scarves that cover the faces of Muslim women.  It is an attack on a whole religion.

So I think these countries should ban the white collar for priests and reverends and also make the pope stop wearing his funny hats.

But what I really want is for the USA to ban men's tank tops.  Have you ever really seen anyone that looks good in one?  Well, maybe .006%.  Tops. We got rid of mullet haircuts mostly.  Why not tank tops?  Who needs hairy armpit shows?

Here is the latest kitten picture.  They are insisting it is time for canned food.  One half teaspoon each. They are growing a lot.