Equal Time

Why do we worry about cats?  Today's picture is of Casper in the interest of equal time exposure for our felines.  The routine now that the weather is good is that the cats get on our bed and start wrestling at 4:45 in the morning.  They want to go outside.  We do not allow them outside at night time because of the large owls and packs of coyotes patrolling the neighborhood near the bosque. So, after squirting them with a water bottle to get them off the bed we get another 15 minutes of rest.  Then I must get up at 5am at let them out .  And then I lay in bed worried that a late marauding creature will try to get them.  But they come in an hour later for food most of the time.

 I think I worry more about the cats then I worry about someone tracking my internet and cellphone communications.  Now, that is weird.

Rain

The only thing that has been in the canales of our home near the Rio Grande in Albuquerque in the last  year is our cat Ajax.  He has taken to hanging out there in the mornings now that the weather is good.  My hope is that he will find it too wet at some point this summer. Thunderstorms are needed. 

Water and Oil

It was refreshing to be up in Mora County on Tuesday and Wednesday.  They are the first county in the country that has said no to fracking for oil and gas.  The county commission there thinks that their water supplies might be a little more important than some oil company's CEO getting a bigger bonus for squeezing resources out of an irreplaceable watershed and aquifer.

Now the Governor and her minions, yes the oil and gas boys, have revised the rules that would protect water supplies all over the state from these drillers.  And of course not in a good way.  And before long we will see a full scale assault on Mora county fueled with petro dollars.  They will come after those commissioners who see the importance of watershed and landscape protection.  Just you watch.

Productivity or Enslavement

I noticed that productivity of American workers inched upwards again in the last quarter.  This has been going on for some time as corporate vampires suck the last living energy out of their employees while stashing cash and not hiring any new help.  How much longer can this go on with our some real domestic problems?  Probably a long time as Americans now have lost the ability to take to the streets in any meaningful way.  I am sorry, but social media doesn't build barricades around government buildings and corporate headquarters.  It is really invigorating to watch the Turkish people doing their thing to rattle the Islamist fundamentalist running their country.

Meanwhile in the local New Mexico media the Albuquerque Journal and KRQE news room have managed to turn a FBI investigation of the Governor's administration handling of that casino license into a thing about child porn and Democratic Party Chair Sam Bregman.  Mostly I feel sorry for my old friends like Dick Knipfing and Larry Barker at Channel 13 who are either helpless or conflicted in the coverage of this stuff.  Or maybe they are just also enslaved to their jobs and are not allowed the be the real journalists they once were by a republican infested executive corp in the news room.  Looks more like Fox News everyday.  The news department's handling of this whole affair could fill a few pages of the Columbia Journalism Review.

And finally, we got caught in a hell hail storm yesterday while returning from Pendaires.  My friend Lee Otteni stayed an hour too long there and his truck was caught up by golf ball sized hail and heavily damaged.  I was encountered the hailstorm on La Bajada which resulted in many accidents.  I managed squeak through the mess before they closed the interstate.  I have never been in that violent kind of storm before. At least some moisture was received.

END of Golf day

Smokey Pecos

Mountain Air Mixed

I will spend the next couple of days playing golf in Pendaries, NM breathing mountain air mixed with forest fire smoke from those fires 50 miles to the south.  And of course I got teed off early after reading the Journal story on the Governor's fundraiser being interrogated by the FBI.  After waiting three days so the Governor could come up with a strategy for dealing with this, the Journal relegated the story to the bottom of the fold, front page.  The Governor's response was to say she was a great prosecutor as DA and knows how these things work.  Far from the flat footed response she gave on TV the other night.  And of course the Journal turned this into a Bill Richardson thing.

I have decided this newspaper editor has decided the publication will eventually fail economically and he wants to go down with a full court press for the republicans.

Stealth

Headwaters of the MRGCD at Cochiti Dam

The stealth election for the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District is tomorrow.  Maybe 5% of the folks will show up to vote as usual.  The corrupt process has been in place for years now and it was designed by the agricultural community to lessen the impact of city taxpayers in the district.  These urban taxpayers pay 90% of the bill.  (I pay both city tax and irrigation fees.)  The agency is answerable to no one, not even the decent minority members of its board.  But having said that, Adrian Ogelsby and Karen Dunning must be reelected to keep the forces of darkness at bay on that board.  A water agency like this can't be run by rubes and these two are not rubes.

The Albuquerque Journal remains stealthy for two days in a row on the Albuquerque Racino controversy that has now become public after it was revealed that Governor Martinez's fundraiser has been interviewed by the FBI concerning the awarding of the Racino license.  And KRQE Channel 13 remains in stealth mode and refuses to say they had this whole story wrong.  As a former journalist it just gives me a sinking feeling that we don't have the press watching our backs anymore at all!  It pretty much indicates to me that Dick Knipfing has no say editorially at that TV station anymore.  That is a loss for them.  He was always a guy who would insist on correcting errors in reporting in the past.  I guess it is not about being accurate journalists any more, but all about protecting the 'brand".

Yep

Yep, the Journal didn't even report that story that I talked about in Saturday evenings blog post.  That means one of two things.  They are protecting a Governor because she is republican.  Or they can't even afford to have a writer around on a weekend.  I hope it is the latter.

Journalistic Responsibility--Ha!

If Channel 13 news sees a major screwup in a government agency that involved unprofessional work because of cronyism they would call for heads to roll.  Now that it is apparent that unprofessional cronyism at that news department has resulted in a major blunder in their reporting, will their news director, reporter and others be fired?

 Don't hold your breath.  Channel 13 reported that the Santa Fe Reporter story on wide ranging FBI investigations of the Martinez administration were wrong.  The TV guys said it only involved  issues of  those stolen emails we have been reading about.  But now a former campaign manager has come forth to say that she was interrogated about that alleged bid rigging in the awarding of the Albuquerque Racino licenses by the Martinez administration.  So Channel 13 barely mentioned this tonight on their newscast and certainly did not correct their erroneous story.  It has been solidly reported that there might be some close friendships between news executives and Martinez staffers.  I can't believe that someone at that news operation can't come clean and take responsibility for the errors.  Hubris!

I can't wait to see how the Albuquerque Journal handles this new revelation.  They will probably blame it on former Governor Bill Richardson.

Divide and Conquer

The Martinez Administration must be having a good laugh this morning as the news media is now chewing off their own leg in debating whose story is correct on the possible ongoing investigation of bid rigging in the awarding of the Albuquerque Racino license.  The highly respected Santa Fe Reporter has been attacked by KRQE'S so called news department for putting out a bad story on this whole mess.  The Reporter is demanding a retraction from KRQE and after reading political blogger Joe Monahan this morning I think Channel 13 has some soul searching to do.  The TV news operation seems to have some incestuous relationships with the Governor's gangs.

Once this gets all sorted out I hope someone will actually keep looking into the Racino issue.  The public has a need to know if this high stakes bid award was done properly or not.  I understand that whenever government is involved in one of these there will be allegations made no matter how pure the process was.  It has always been up the the independent press to figure out the truth.  Maybe the first solid step is the just announced indictment of the republican operative who leaked the emails that started this whole ball rolling.  Hang on for an ever increasing fast ride on all of this.

Of course the problem here is that there is little capacity left in this country and state for real journalism anymore.  I don't think little grant funded news websites can get the job done because they are only around for the duration of the grant.  And then the charges can always be made that the investigations are tainted by the grant makers bias.

Misc.

Sometimes you just have to wonder what goes through peoples heads before they speak.  As an accomplished foot in mouth expert I know these things just happen.  Mayor Berry's statement that putting immobilizing boots on cars will help stop men seeking prostitutes is a gem.  Gee, why didn't anyone think of that before?  Do you think johns will maybe use the bus?  Or rent a car from Enterprise?  And really, shouldn't there be a trial first?  And of course would this really end those primal urges and the world's oldest profession.

Watch what happens here.  Everyone will try and get on this bandwagon so as to look strong in the fight against human trafficking.   In effect this is one of those useless laws that will be passed as a feel good measure.

At the same time I applaud Mayor Berry's and the County Commission's efforts to get a major grocery store located downtown.  This will help the tens of thousands of folks near by from having to climb in a car for a multi mile trip to buy a carton of milk.  This effort is a good band wagon to climb on.

Some Trade!

Wait, I get home from golf to read that China is buying our biggest pig farm.  And in return we  buy their defective solar panels?  Life is so strange.

Early Golf

Out on the course early.

Forward Thinking

I am still waiting to see some vision of the future of our city of Albuquerque from our Mayoral candidates.  So far not an utterance from the candidates on the "BIG PICTURE'. They only thing we see in the media is who is charging who with ethics violations and who will spend the most money on independent campaigns for the candidates.  This makes one think that the candidates have no ideas whatsoever.  But, we still have four months!  Maybe we will be enlightened?

There is a story and a lot of interesting comments in the Washington Post this morning about a squadron of F-15 fighter jets that has been grounded due to the budget sequestration.  It might just be the tip of the iceberg as I sense a real desire to cut back the excesses of the military industrial complex in this country.  We don't need to outspend the entire world on military spending any longer.  I welcome that.  But the question of the sequestration itself is a red herring.

Why stop spending money at all as the economy sparks to life once again.  Lets just reprogram it into rebuilding this nation's infrastructure and educational system.  Certainly, having third graders that can read at third grade level is a hell of a lot more important in this country that more weapons procurement.    And all of those defense industry workers?  They are skilled and talented and can be used in many different ways.

B-17

In the Memorial weekend spirit I went up to Double Eagle Airport to look at the WWII vintage Boeing B-17 Bomber.  I had always wanted to peek into one.  I certainly got a view of what flying into combat in one of these must have been like.  Just very thin aluminum between  you and the freezing cold and flak and cannon fire from fighters.  No protection at all really.  My brother Tom paid $400 for a ride in it.

 About 4000 of these were shot down in Europe with their ten man crews.  

Misc.

I had meant to mention earlier in the week that Larry Barker at Channel 13 had a good story on the failure of the Martinez administration to pursue a developer who ran up millions in bills before skipping town.  Today the Journal did the story and barely mentioned their favorite Governor.  When it comes to reporting on the Governor the Journal adheres to the term 'fair and balanced' as practiced by Fox News.


 Anyone who was born in the 40's or 50's should go see the road show edition of 'Jersey Boys' which is on a two week run at Popejoy on the UNM Campus.  The house was packed on Saturday night.  Talk about a nostalgia trip!  I remember the first record I ever bought was 'Sherry' by the Four Seasons.  I was in the 7th or 8th grade and had a crush on Sherry Brummel who lived down the street.  I wonder what ever happened to her.

The Lead Story

The lead story on one of the so called TV newscasts last night was about a guy who has been regularly seen jogging naked in the Bosque.  Of course it was the lead since it smacked of something sexual with a little deviancy.  The Lead Story!  Now we all know about it and of course our lives must be better.

Now I am going to reproduce in full an email I got from someone wondering why a certain cop, who I am sure would be called undercover, is allowed to appear like this in front of cameras representing the APD.  And if he is no longer undercover because of this TV coverage then will he stop looking like the bad guys.

A friend of mine sent me this picture of an APD officer escorting the suspected child molester that was arrested a week or so ago.

Is this the face of APD under Richard Berry?  The guy looks more like a thug than a police officer.  Is this what APD has turned into?  Is this what the community wants from it's police department?  Is this why the DOJ is in town?  Schultz says no, but pictures speak a thousand words.

Also, who in their right mind does a perp walk anymore?  Didn't we learn anything from Lee Harvey Oswald?  Once in custody the suspect is to be protected by the police.  Other than for media PR when does it make sense to walk a child molester through a downtown crowd to the prisoner transport center?  APD was lucky an angry family member wasn't waiting.

The command staff at APD and the mayor's office is AWOL or they are just stupid.  No one at city hall is thinking about anything more than getting re-elected.  This place is a mess.

What do you think?  When you were mayor would you have an detective wearing a death head t-shirt in front of the camera?  At a time the DOJ is investigating?  Would you want this APD Detective working with victims?  Child victims at that!

 Berry is showing no leadership at APD.  This entire circus is a disgrace and disservice to the community and those who have proudly served APD.

Puttering Around

This picture could stand for the early morning annual golf match play at the ACC course I play at.  Golf is a mental game and if you are in the zone you don't notice much because of the concentration the game calls for.  The caption on the photo says the golfer is pretty sure his wife got out.

For the second year in a row my partner Ed Mahr and I, both 19 handicappers, fought against two real low handicappers.  Alas, we lost on the 17th hole after hitting good drives and crumby approach shots.  But it was fun since our opponents didn't think we would make it pass hole 11.

The picture could also stand as a metaphor for Archbishop Sheehan who disallowed that senior at St. Pius from graduating as the boy she has become.    The senior decided not to attend the ceremony.

Sheehan's  church is being consumed by bigotry and he doesn't even know it.  My guess is that just about every catholic under the age of 25 thinks the church is not worthy of their support or attendance any longer.  If they don't, they probably will feel that way by the age of 30.    And once again,  if he gets to wear gay clothes why can't anyone else?

Misc.

It seems to me the easiest way to force the construction of Tornado shelters in affected areas is for Insurance companies not to issue home policies unless there are shelters.  It just makes sense.

If Congress bends over for bankers and doesn't keep student loan rates from doubling then it might be time for some serious civil disobedience.  Not on campus.  In the CEO's offices of American Banks.  Be messy and rude.

I will start feeling sorry for the press in regards to the Obama administration's snooping amongst them to find security leaks when the press starts screaming for repeal of the so called 'patriot act'.  Our privacy is just as important as the editors of right wing newspapers and the folks at Pox news.  Yes.  They are a pox on us all.

Vampires

American corporations are beginning to resemble vampires.  Apple Computer, a child of American entrepreneurship, pays no taxes and sucks the blood out of our public services.  Steve Jobs probably didn't envision this kind of corporate looting of the treasury, but his predecessors like how it looks.

Last night John Stewart was on the Veteran's Administration case because their new computer system doesn't work.  But that blame needs to be put mostly on the American corporations who said they could do the job for only one billion dollars and then delivered a non functioning system.  And this happens time and again with these information technology projects.  Yet the government gets all the blame.

A fertilizer plant in Texas blows up and the corporation that owns it seems to bear no responsibility even though people are dead and a town destroyed.  And when you get time go out and explore the abandoned mines and tailings pile left all over public lands by multi national mining firms.  But the government gets the blame.

And things wont change until Corporations stop funding elections to put in their mascots in the Congress and Senate.

Paradox

It is just weird.  New Mexico is lagging behind the economic recovery in the region and nationally.  We are ranked low in the race to eradicate poverty.  We see little progress in attracting new jobs so young people can start their lives, pay off their usurious student loans thanks to our bankers, and have productive lives.

The state is being led by republican executives.  Governor Martinez and Mayor Berry are doing the worst jobs possible in getting the state and city back on their feet.  The only thing that they can point to are projects started under Governor Richardson.  Like him or not he was a mover and shaker.  His poll numbers are low and Martinez and Berry look invulnerable.  It is a paradox.  I have seen it so many times.  The less an elected official accomplishes the longer they are in office.   It is just a peculiar thing in our democracy and most of it is driven the the funding sources of campaigns.  And the inability of the media to do anything but attack government while ignoring  corporate America's predatory nature.

This is a blog worthy of visiting.  The charts on it will scare you.

Ancient Curse

Uranium mining in New Mexico.  An ugly history no doubt, but now that we know better can it be done correctly?  In my opinion not as long as the ancient curse of the 1872 Mining Law remains in effect.  That law was passed during the Presidency of Ulysses Grant.  And it still allows miners the right to claim hard rock minerals on federal land as their own and not pay a dime for it.

The Journal reports a Canadian and Japanese partnership will come in to mine uranium once again near Grants, NM.  They will get all of it for free.  And there is nothing that can be done about it since the mining interests  block any reform.  Can you imagine what these foreign companies CEO's say over lunch?  Probably they say this, "those stupid Americans just give away their minerals under a century and a half old law.  Its too good to be true!"

In the meantime Congressman Steve Pearce lobbies to get more nuclear waste into the WIPP site.  This tail end of the process is controversial at least.  But storing that waste on rail sidings at power plants is even more dangerous.  But stop and think about this process.

The miners get the uranium out of public land for free and then the public has to pay big bucks for the waste storage.  How is that sensible?  

Alma Mater

Sometimes, most of the time, timing is everything.  Like yesterday when I received a fund raising appeal from my Alma Mater St. Pius X High School.  I graduated from there in 1963.  I liked the school and still have lifelong friends from my days there.  I was into the whole Catholicism thing back then, but I was never a fundamentalist.  And I moved on to my current status as a non believer.

But, I understand that is not the norm and I don't criticize those who still believe.  Except when it promotes discrimination and bigotry.  Which is exactly what the school administrators and the Archbishop are doing now when they wont let a transgender student graduate in the appropriately colored gown.  What is more astonishing is that they would even pick this fight in this day and age.  I can't imagine what the student body and faculty get out of this in a positive way.  It certainly makes the school look like a out of touch and isolated institution.  Or an ally of the official homophobes government of Russia.  Yes, the Russia they wanted us to hate as the center of global communism back in the 60's.

I won't be sending Pius any money or respect.  They just need to move on in to modern day society.

And if the Archbishop can dress like this why can't this student wear a certain colored gown.

Oops!

One giant OOPS for everyone of our legislators, cabinet secretaries, LFC, governor's staff and Governor.  I mean really, someone somewhere should have done a little more due diligence before presenting a faulty budget that will cost millions more in lost revenues than had been predicted.  And of course the Governor, unlike the President with his IRS problems, is given a complete bye in the media.

I know these kinds of things happen.  They are not planned deceptions by anyone like the Legislative leadership and Governor.  What is astounding is that no one caught it at the time.  The current head of Finance for Governor Martinez stood up and took the blame, but so should a lot of others whose scrutiny failed.  But, once again these things happen.  Now it must be fixed and my bets are that it won't be because it will look like a tax hike.

Another big oops today belongs to City Council Candidate Isaac Benton who still doesn't want to state his position on a Candelaria roundabout.  This extremely divisive issue here in the north valley deserves a statement from him one way or another.  He sent me an prickly email saying it needed to be studied for a longer time.  I am in a quandary here.  I feel like I can't vote for Benton, whom I actually lean towards, because he won't level with us, and I have a bad taste in my mouth that Councilwoman Roxanna Meyers is in cahoots with the sprawl developers, but at least has the courage to say she is against the project.  I am against the project myself, but I am not a one issue voter.  I just don't like pols who duck the issues.

The Snoops

The federal government's snooping into reporters and editors phone and email should come as no surprise.  Ever since bush/cheney oversaw the demolition of privacy in this country a decade ago this practice of snooping is commonplace.  But now the Obama administration will get much of the heat.  And deservedly so.  I had always thought Obama would restore these issues of privacy protection but like all elected officials he was countermanded by the bureaucracy that really runs this country.  That being the law enforcement cartel of FBI, DEA, ATF, NSA, CIA etc. etc.

Having been an elected official I know how hard it is to crack the concrete facade that such people have developed with help from an apathetic public.  Yes, the career public servant can be just that, a servant.  But many times delusions of grandeur in the upper levels can rival the likes of Senator Ted Cruz of Texas.  (The Joseph McCarthy of our times.)

Sara

My niece Sara has been married 19 years today to Jason Reeves.  They live near Missoula, Montana.  Back in 1969 I was visiting Dothan, Alabama where she was born.  My brother was stationed there as a Helicopter instructor pilot.  He  had me send a box full of New Mexico soil for him to put under the birthing table so she could claim being born in New Mexico.  I snapped this picture when she crawled up on my bed to say good morning.  Years later she and her sister Stephanie became our best baby sitters for Justin and Noelle.  Now, Sara has teenagers of her own.

Coffee Chatter

We had an hour of chatter this morning over coffee and vacillated over whether or not we really care anymore about what is going on in this country.  Of course, deep down we do care or we wouldn't talk about the stuff we supposedly don't care about.

We talked about the state of the media mainly.  Some of the group has decided that the national broadcast news shows now resemble more than ever the local TV news shows we have all grown to loathe.  Why are the big outlets constantly doing stories on murders, rapes and local violence?  Because they are finding it it cheap to do.  And then the stories that are easy to cover, like Angelina Jolie's double mastectomy, will consist mainly of talking heads for the next three weeks.  Well, we do need to keep abreast of these things I guess.

I can assure you that the people who got blown up in that Texas fertilizer explosion and those who lost everything might wonder why no one cares about their victimization at the hands of no safety regulations.  Now, if Angelina had been shooting a movie nearby then it would get attention.

We also lamented the deepening silliness of a visual TV newscast now essentially turning themselves into radio stations as more than 50% of their content comes from phone interviews with news makers and the other 50% from dash cam and security cameras.    Finding a job as a videographer must be tough these days.

And those reporters who never actually do journalism but rather rely on man on the street interviews than talking with  knowledgeable people....well what can I say?  Their teeth are white and lipstick bright!

Sticking One's Neck Out

Oh, that we had politicos that would equal this.

GOP and Oil

I have to say I am very impressed with the great position taken by the Mora County Commission some time ago. They said no to the Oil and Gas industry on drilling and  fracking in their county.  This takes courage since that northern New Mexico enclave has been economically challenged for so many years.  It is also a place of beauty with landscapes to die for!  And so it should be no surprise that the republican county chairman there is now complaining widely and loudly that the oil boys should get to do what ever they want.  Lest we forget that the GOP and the Oil and Gas Industry are one in the same.

Given our  historic drought and the frightening news on growth of green house gases the Commissioners in Mora look pretty damn smart.  They know that the long term health of their region is tied to water supplies and they have taken bold moves to protect them.  It looks even more impressive when one looks at the Martinez administration's failure to carry out inspections on drilling operations in New Mexico.  

Why America is Falling Behind

Read it here and weep!

Where's the Beef

I had to chuckle when reading about the cowboys in New Mexico complaining that their assistance payments from the federal government are late.  Yes, they are all being hurt by our drought.  And yes they all get thousands of dollars in welfare checks from the government when times get hard.  And yes many think that the government entitlement programs for everyone else should be ended because those people are all freeloaders.  I have always been astounded at this double standard in rural America.  Even though most things they take for granted were paid for by the government.  Like the electrification of these areas by the government.  Like the dams and roads and subsidies paid for by the government.

I do respect these ranchers.  They do work hard and most of them are really decent people.  I just have problems with many of their industry's double standards.  I can't understand their opposition to extended unemployment assistance in hard times and then expect to get payouts for them selves as well as their grazing subsidies in the form of practically non existent fees.  And, when they elect people like Steve Pearce out in ranching country they should realize it hurts their credibility.  He is the poster boy for these double standards.  He never saw a tax break he didn't love for the oil and gas industry.

Misc.

Corporate America now wants to do away with sane City of Albuquerque campaign fund limitations so they can get their fingers into our Mayor's race.  This should come as no surprise to anyone.  They have filed a lawsuit to overturn the city's ban on allowing businesses with city contracts from donating to candidates.  A disaffected democrat, think former legislator Al Park,  has teamed up with right winger Mickey Barnett to put corporate CEO's in the funding drivers seat.  This will be interesting to watch.

It seems the only time Governor Martinez gets to brag about economic development is when she rides the coat tails of Governor Richardson.  This time it is the announcement that the Space Port that Richardson started has a new tenant that will test and further develop reusable rockets.  Well, it is still a good sign and Martinez hired an able person to carry on the work of the Space Port.

At the same time the Journal did a good story on the problems at the Licensing and Regulation department.   The philosophy at the department under a bad Martinez appointee is that enforcing regulations and standards is a bad thing.  Meanwhile, the fruit of that kind of thinking is borne out in the  ever increasing death toll in Bangladesh.  The collapse of the substandard built garment factory there has now caused a total of 705 deaths.  One wonders if Martinez knows how to fire bad appointees.

Protest and Prayer

I keep using that definition of  prayer, "How to say your are helping with out really doing anything."  Now I think that same definition might be true in many cases for modern day protestors.  Think about the "Occupy" movement that accomplished exactly nothing.  And now to top that off are the protestors who are objecting to burying the dead body of that Boston bomber.  What is the point?  It seems to be one of those things that cowardly politicians can't deal with for fear of upsetting some irrational voters.

Those protestors could use their time more wisely.  And also the media folks who blow these things out of proportion.  Why not stop worrying about one dead body and start worrying about some live ones.  Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and help build a home for some deserving people.  Or going to a veteran's hospital and helping out.  Or sit on a board of some organization that actually does humanitarian or conservation work.

This is kind of a preachy blog today but I am feeling guilty for spending $21 on tickets and $11 on popcorn to go see the worst 3-D movie ever last night.  I am talking about two hours of special effects interrupted by some actors mumbling to each other.  Yes, Iron Man III was awful.  I might have had more fun at an NRA convention.

Misc.

The Albuquerque Journal has done one of those stories that makes a common practice seem like a crime.  They have singled out a guy in Las Cruces for making recommendations to Governor Richardson on who might make a good Judge.  Every Governor who has ever appointed judges has always relied on someone to scout out candidates for judicial appointments.  But in Richardson's case they try and make it look sinister.

Last night at dinner with friends we took a poll on how many of our children subscribe to newspapers.  Not one of the six of them do so.  They get their information else where.  And so you would think that publishers might find a way of attracting young folks to get newsprint on their fingers.  In the case of the Albuquerque rag, nothing of the sort is happening.  One of the folks at dinner last night just returned from several years in New Orleans.  Their newspaper recently cut down to publishing only three days a week.  She said most people didn't even notice.

Here is one way to exhibit some journalism at the Journal.  Conduct a 90 minute free wheeling interview with the Governor on the state of the state and publish it verbatim.  We all decided last night that she is really in over her head and does not really understand the issues in front of her.  She only conducts interviews on her terms and the media should take her to task for not showing her command of the issues and her visions to make our economy a more viable one.  I am betting she cant give an answer more than a 15 second sound bite for TV.

Worth Watching

History in two minutes.

Coverage Please

In the past the Albuquerque Journal would have sent a reporter to Mexico City to cover the meeting of the US and Mexican Presidents.  It is an important story given that our Land of Enchantment sits on the border with Mexico.  Given the immigrations issues, economic issues and so called war against drugs issues, you would think the editor at the newspaper could send down an experienced journalist to get us some insight.  But no, what we get is a wire story buried in the back pages on this historic visit of a black US President with a Mexican President.

Well, maybe they will pick up the story second hand and in a little more depth.  And maybe they did send someone who will file stories later.  Lets hope so because we are tied to Mexico in culture, business and family.

Praying for Rain

Remember that definition of prayer?  "How to say you are helping with out really doing anything."

Breakfast at the Grove

Bobbi and I went to breakfast at the Grove with Martin and Julie Heinrich this morning.  Julie and Martin introduced themselves to us back in 1997 when they showed up as volunteers at our Mayor's campaign office.  Julie worked for me as my press liaison during my term in office.  Martin must have caught the fever and went from running for city council to becoming a Congressman to becoming a Senator in just about 8 years.  Phenomenal.

They are getting ready to move themselves and their two sons to Washington, DC so they can spend more time together.  They will keep their home in Albuquerque as Martin will have to be here so much.

These are decent, honest and hard working people. 

Off

I am off to play golf.  Here is a good read about an occurrence at the Albuquerque International Airport.

County Property Taxes

As usual the Bernalillo  County folks have continued their practice over the last decade of upping the assessments on your home as high as the law allows.  That is now about 30% in ten years.  And don't forget how the value of your home plummeted.

This is why the Bernalillo County Commission needs to be changed into a Mayor/Council form of government.  Right now there is no one to take the heat on this outrageous hike in assessed values every year.  If you call your Commissioners they just shrug their shoulders and say "I am only one of five of us, what can I do?"  If there were a chief elected official in the county he couldn't use that excuse.  And don't tell me the assessor is the one to complain too, she just ups the assessment to match what the commission says they will increase the budget by.

Or better yet consolidate the city and county.  It really doesn't matter who feels like they win in that scenario, as long as all of the duplication and waste gets fixed.

I'll Be Sorry

I just don't get the P.R. juggernaut against the slaughter of horses in the United States.  Every day 100,000 cattle, 23,000,000 chickens, and over 300,000 pigs are killed in America for food.  And no one does front page stories on that.  But, even mentioning killing a horse turns one into some sort of ogre.  Because they are prettier  than other livestock?  It is a classic double standard.

I remember back in grade school at Our Lady of Fatima's Heights Catholic School that I made a bad lunch trade one day.  Roland Ghiardetti, who was Canadian I believe, offered to trade me his hamburger for a PBJ sandwich.  Thats a great deal I thought.  Half way through the burger he asked me if I liked the horse meat.  I did up until that point.  All I could think of was our crazed pet Arabian horse at my grandfather's in Pena Blanca.  I haven't had any since.

But I have munched on lamb, veal, and other species and never thought twice about it.  Now, I don't eat much meat anymore.  I am not a vegetarian but I just don't seem to like it much.  Although I will always eat some Bison.  Very lean.

The fact of the matter is that so many people have abandoned horses in the last  five years that they are suffering terribly.  That is certainly less humane than most other alternatives.

I'll be sorry I wrote about this.

MIsc.

Pete Dinelli pretty much torpedoed his own candidacy in the non partisan Mayor's race.  He called democrats who vote for republicans, "pendejos".   I wonder if republicans who thought about voting for him are also classified as such?   He certainly needed all the votes he could get and he just alienated anyone who wanted to shed partisanship in this race.  I know I have voted for a republican back in the day of a sane GOP.

Now, I have to admit I made the same blunder one time in a partisan race for Land Commissioner when I called some of the oil and gas funded republican candidates jerks.  I was roundly criticized.  I deserved it.  Mayor Berry and his minions are all having a good laugh this morning as they see an easier path to victory in October.  It isn't over yet, but the odds for Berry look better by far.

Political leaders in Clovis (Peanut Capitol of the World) are asking every one to 'pray for rain.'  Maybe they should ask everyone to 'pray for political leadership that will fight climate change.'  Most leaders in those areas don't seem to understand the science on this, or believe in it.  Some folks don't believe that wishing(praying) for something will get it for them.  They are right.  The old saying is, 'God helps those who help themselves."

It is hard to believe that anyone would see anything positive for the United States getting involved in the Syrian Civil War.  Unless of course you are the CEO or Board member of a defense industry corporation.  Those who are calling for intervention with air power are trying to tip public opinion into stepping into another Middle East quagmire.  I don't think the American public is going to buy into this one.

New Democratic Party Chair

Good!  Sam Bregman won the state party chairmanship for the Democratic Party.  As a guy who was more often than not at odds with Sam when in a Mayor's race or such, I am very happy he won this race.  He is brash and outspoken and won't be afraid to attack the Martinez administration.  And he will most likely do it in an effective way and that is what is needed to show the Governor she just can't keep listening to her neocon handlers.  His abilities showed through in his two to one victory at the party convention.  He has matured and seems a little more thoughtful than in the past.  Let's see what he can do.

Trend Setting

My heart goes out to Mayor Berry and challenger Pete Dinelli.  The trend is now set by the media for the upcoming election coverage.  It won't be about big ideas, future thinking, keeping the parks green, or fighting for the Duke City at the legislature.  It will be about fringe groups filing ethics charges against everyone.  It will be about yard signs being torn down.  It will be about what kind of dogs the candidates have and how they are treated.

That is modern journalism today.  There are few reporters and news directors that know the meaning of that word.  Well, maybe they do.  The just substitute the word 'ratings' for the word journalism.  Pretty soon in the print media, if the Koch brothers have their way, it will mean neo conservative world view.

Speaking of which, I watched a documentary on former draft dodger and VP dick cheney.  I think it is important that medical science get a hold of his brain to study it so some sort of gene therapy might be devised to prevent such a brain from ever existing again.

Leaving for Jobs

Former bush presidency backer Heather Wilson has to leave New Mexico to find a job.  She has been named as President of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.  Seriously, congratulations to her.  It is a respectable achievement.  I am sure she will feel at home in South Dakota.  And being president of a school of mining will fit right in with her record as never seeing a landscape or watershed that couldn't be ravaged.

Pretty soon the GOP Bernalillo County Chair will need to leave NM for a job too.  His name is Steve Kush.  Where do they get these guys?  After his Facebook running commentary on supporters of a minimum wage hike for the county  which was sexist and a sophomoric performance, I don't see how the party can ever hire him back.  As one of my commenters said, "Whenever Republicans say any thing they believe they have to apologize."  How true.  Let's hope he can get a job that at least pays at the rate of the minimum wage he so hated.

No Need Here

There is no need for the ultra right wing Koch brothers to include the Albuquerque Journal in their newspaper buying plans.  Since the paper is already editorially so right wing the evil brothers can just move on to other markets.  The publishers and editors of the local rag have already fallen into place with the ultra rich.  And this is in one of the poorest states in the nation.

I have also decided there is no need in the Governor's office for original ideas because Susanna had decided that the movie industry and spaceport are what needs her attention.  Of course those projects were started by Bill Richardson.  At first she condemned them but then found the only thing she could do was to embrace them after seeing that made sense politically and economically.  Pretty soon she will even like the Rail Runner.

The one thing I will support the Governor on is her opposition to social promotion in the schools.  She is right on that one and the legislature should come around.  That and fund a highly effective early childhood reading effort.  I have always believed if kids can read well in the third grade then they an make it in life and career.

I would urge folks to read the comments in yesterday's posting.  They are very telling.

Don't Look for the Big Ideas

The upcoming Mayor's race will certainly lack one thing.  The "Big Idea".  "The Vision Thing."  "A Futurists View."  The Mayor has demonstrated he is incapable of even one large idea that will positively affect the City of Albuquerque.  He can't even keep our existing parks from drying up and blowing away.

Pete Dinelli's candidacy announcement didn't revolve on future projects that would make this a better city.  He was just concerned about the settling of lawsuits.

I wonder if New Mexico will no longer produce politicians that are capable of the whole vision thing.  Bill Richardson could do it with the Rail Runner and Space Port.  Yeah they were expensive but they will pay many dividends in the future.  Just like the Isotopes Stadium and a refurbished and now politically abandoned city core thanks to Marty Chavez and Mayor Berry.

Governor Martinez has not shown one iota of originality in making this state's future look brighter.  Where are her grand ideas?  There are none.

So, in the upcoming Mayoral and Governor's race let's start demanding a few grand projects from the candidates.  If they need some ideas because they can't think of any then I and any number of people could help.  It isn't that hard and it is a lot more fun than raising money for Super Pacs.

Here is a quickie for Pete Dinelli.  Let's get serious about an all purpose arena for downtown.

Here is one for the Governor's candidates.  How about an economic development project that makes New Mexico the center of renewable energy component manufacturing in the United States.  If the Governor of Alabama can travel to see Airbus and successfully get them to locate in his poor state, then why not have our Governor make some overt efforts too?

Oil Boys Get Payback--and Update

The Albuquerque Journal's investigative story on  the State's failure to conduct electrical inspections on oil and gas installations and drilling operations in the southeast part of New Mexico shouldn't really be surprising.  Those fossil fuel boys are just getting some payback from supporting Governor Martinez and her right wing causes.  And of course the government and regulation hating Governor and her ilk would never deign to hire more inspectors and grow government.

No matter that the public health, safety and welfare are directed into the waste bin.  Think about the fertilizer plant that went up in Texas this week.  They had not had an inspection since 1985 and more than a dozen people died because of it.  And a whole town was blown to smithereens. But, the industry says to Martinez,  "Trust Us", and then they write more checks for her favorite Super Pacs.

500 out of compliance oil well installations may be in existence right now down in the Permian Basin.  Well, maybe or maybe not.  We just don't know do we?  But one thing is for sure.  Every time an oil field worker goes near one they are risking their lives.

The big question now is whether the Journal editor, an oil and gas and Governor supporter, will switch his hat to journalism and followup on this story.  He could direct the able Coleen Heild to cross reference the oil companies getting off with compliance to the list of the Governor's and GOP's contributors.  If this had been Bill Richardson then that would be automatic.

Connections?

New Mexico's population growth has fallen.  Net migration into the state has ceased and people are leaving because of the state bucking the national trend of adding jobs and opportunity.  We have always had a problem with our young people leaving for greener pastures, but this trend is downright alarming.  And Governor Susanna Martinez and Mayor Berry just hide in their cubby holes so they won't take any criticism.

Instead they have the GOP Chairman John Billingsley send a letter to the respected Crime Stoppers Board criticising them for allowing a liberal to be Chairman of the Board.  That would be Pat Davis, a former police officer and now activist on progressive issues.  The Crime Stoppers Board immediately told him to stick it and unanimously reaffirmed Davis to head the board.

So, if I were a young entrepreneur who stopped in Albuquerque to scout it out for a new business and read these two stories in the Journal today, here is what I might think.  "What a bunch of ineffectual rubes the leadership and GOP in this state must be.  If they ignore the real problems in the economy in favor of this drivel, why would I locate here?"

Anxiety

I am anxious.  The other day tucked down in the corner of the newspaper was a little story about how an American drone in Afghanistan had killed a couple of dozen innocent civilians, fourteen of which were children.  Maybe the national media spent ten seconds on it.

Now we are getting 24 hour reruns of the horrific explosions in Boston.  Closer to home.  I stopped watching the news after seeing the explosion about 100 times.  Feeding the anxiety of Americans.

Yesterday at lunch with my golf buddies I decided that Americans like to be scared because it pulls them together.  At first I was greeted with guffaws, but then slowly the others thought maybe it was true.

I am not anxious because I am scared.  I am anxious because we ignore the death of 14 children in Afghanistan with no apologies for blood on our hands.  At the same time we show great empathy and caring for our own victims who most likely died at the hands of a crazy person, ala Tim McViegh.  It seems wrong.

Dem Governor's Primary

The New Mexico Governor's Democratic Primary is thankfully getting some more potential  candidates now that Senator Linda Lopez and Senator Tim Keller are considering entering the contest.  This is a good thing because Attorney General Gary King certainly needs some one to poke him in the eye to see if he reacts.

Linda Lopez's claim to fame will be the refusal of her Senate Committee to give the Governor's Education Secretary an up or down vote after two  years of endless and unnecessary delay and pontification.  Ms. Skandera has been treated unfairly by Lopez and the committee.  But is that enough for anyone to notice Lopez in a positive way?  Hardly.

Senator Time Keller is a charismatic and youthful leader who sits left of center.  He is hard working and not so full of dogma that he can't compromise once in a while.  He might make a pretty good candidate if he can raise some money.  I hope he can.

At the very least this will all liven the primary and will get the juices flowing.  That is positive all the way around.  At least some of these candidates act like grownups!

Missile Range or Renewables?

The Defense Department doesn't like the alignment of the SunZia power line that will carry renewable power.  They say it will harm the White Sands Missile Range even though it is well north of the active range.  The planning process has been exhaustive and now there are threats from self appointed defense guru Sherman McCorkle that the range will leave NM if Defense doesn't get its way.  What a crock?  Where would they go?  What other state has the space or stamina for going through NEPA qualifications etc. to get the range?

What is really more frustrating is the comments of Senator Tom Udall, the sometimes master of fence sitting on issues.  Here is what the Journal quoted him as saying,

Saying WSMR has a “diverse and important mission,” Udall said he has urged the cooperating agencies to work together for a “timely and fair resolution concerning WSMR and SunZia we can all benefit from.” 

What the hell does that mean?  Does he have a position?  Come on Tom!  Man  up a little.  You are on the appropriations committee.  Defense will most likely do what you want and deep down you know the power line is more important to the future than some missile shots.

Senator Heinrich was more forthcoming.  

"Heinrich said the siting process has been “deliberate, transparent and comprehensive. I am excited that this proposal is on the verge of moving from the planning phase to actual construction.” 

That sounds like support for the hard right of way decision for the power line.  He takes a position.  And it is the right one.

Still Moving Around

My big sister Carlota just returned from a month long sojourn to Peru.  She visited the desert, the Amazon, Cuzco and Machu Picchu.  She did a lot of hiking around on the new hip she got last year.  I hope I am getting around that well at 70.  

Blame

Why does everyone blame the Government for our unemployment problems?  I tend to do it sometimes too, especially when government makes absolutely no effort to make things better.(Think Governor Martinez here.)

But really, it is our much over rated American corporations that are responsible.  Right now  they are sitting on mountains of cash.  They have abandoned research and development in the favor of the bottom line.  They have cut employees and forced those remaining to work harder for less. And they sit there and say they can't do anything until they get some certainty in the economy which many of them helped wreck in the first place.  They hate government regulation and interference but they sit around and blame government for not fixing things.

The big missing item here is, of course, the media which feeds this self sustaining loop.  They constantly attack government but never attack their advertisers.  For the most part journalism is dead in this country.  It was the one thing we had watching our backs for a long time.  But nor more.

Memo to NM Dem Leaders

It is all there waiting for you.  First there is the really bad news on the declining work force in New Mexico.  Thousands are just giving up looking for decent jobs and either moving out of state or becoming couch potatoes.  And what jobs there are pay a pittance minimum wage that the Chamber of Commerce and Governor Susana Martinez guaranteed with her veto of a raise in that wage.  This state is consuming itself in poverty while the Governor gets ready to have a $10,000 a person fund raiser at a trendy spa in Taos for her corporate supporters to hand over the cash.

This is what prospective Democratic party chairman should be talking about.  Constantly!  But, Martinez continues to get a break on criticism.  Here is an idea.  One of the TV News Stations should demand a one hour interview in prime time with her hosted by an economist, a reporter, and an unemployed person so they can try and elicit some answers from her on the current state of affairs.  I think then people would realize just how much she is in over her head.  And the TV station should do a ten second story every night on how the Governor has refused to go in front of a large TV audience to explain what she intends to do.  Every night.

Dinelli

Pete Dinelli called me yesterday to state that he had very little support from the Labor Unions in getting his signatures and $5 contributions for public financing in his Mayor's race.  He said they were worried about getting backlash from the NM Legislature as the attempted to fix the Public Employees Retirement system.  He said he hired a professional organizer to over see the successful effort.  He said the city sent him his $360K finance funds immediately

 The big question is the amount of outside independent PAC money will be injected into the race.  It could be huge.

Salt Lake

I am off to Salt Lake City for a meeting of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance Board.  I have to say that being on a Wilderness advocacy board in Utah is like being an atheist at a Christian fundamentalist church gathering.  It is pretty much a hard road to travel given the inclinations of the Utah Legislature who have just appropriated $3 million dollars to sue the United States to get all public land turned over to the state.  These guys are incredibly stupid.  And they keep getting worse.  I have been on this board for over 20 years and the political scene in Utah just gets weirder and weirder.

The magnificent landscapes of Utah are under real threats due to the legislature and counties attempting to claim rights of way for non existent roads through every park, wilderness study area and monument. Thousands of roads.  All at the behest of the oil, gas and mining industries.   Groups like the Alliance fight back and use the courts and public opinion to fight the craziness.  It is great to be part of this fight. I have been doing it for twenty years now.  It is a fight that is seemingly endless.

Albuquerque Mayor's Race

I was surprised that Pete Dinelli collected all those $5 contributions to get him public financing.  It showed some organization and cohesiveness to do it.  I am not sure who helped, but my guess is the Union folks did.  There is nothing wrong with that since the corporate boys and right wing Chamber of Commerce will be with Mayor Berry.  It was also a cheap way for the Union guys to help a candidate.  Now they wont need to pony up any money now that Pete has his pubic financing.

He will most assuredly be greatly outspent.  That could spell disaster for the ability to get in the public's face.  All Berry will have to do is outspend the former Marty Chavez ally by having independent pacs and others do a job on Pete.

Still, there is a way to victory for Dinelli, but it might be pretty much out of his hands on designing such a path to a happy election night.  Events that can't be foreseen, such as in Councillor Michael Cooks case, can alter the political process quickly and with finality.  It could just be something that Mayor Berry and his managers can not foresee.  But right now, I think the odds are 4-1 for Berry.  But that could change overnight.  And, my odds making really don't work well.  I didn't think Pete could get the  required thousands of  $5 contributions.  He deserves some respect on that accomplishment.

Misc.

Governor Martinez, probably at the behest of her oil and gas supporters, vetoed a Photo Voltaic array for the Capitol Building parking structure in Santa Fe.  The legislature voted for it.  It would have been the right thing to do, but she would rather support fossil fuel consumption and their corporate tax breaks.  This is the kind of leadership that will literally cook New Mexico. It is shortsighted and stupid.

The Albuquerque Journal did what they always do in their edition today.  Instead of putting a picture of former GOP Governor Gary Johnson on the front page story detailing the ripping off of the state on his much vaunted financial deal  on construction of the 550 highway to Farmington with the Koch brothers, they inexplicably put a picture of Governor Richardson on the front page.  Richardson had absolutely nothing to do with that project between  the extreme right wing Koch boys and the highway department.  Richardson did refinance the bonds later on, but that is standard practice.  This is a perfect example of why you can not trust the Journal to report fairly and accurately their stories.  I will bet you a million that the editor forced the picture of Richardson on to the front page.  Well, it wont matter in another ten years.  This newspaper wont be around anymore if circulation continues to drop as young people turn to other avenues for news in ever growing numbers.

Democracy at Work

A friend of mine had an interesting idea on how to deal with the NRA and other right wing groups.  Just get a campaign together to have millions of people who don't think we need assault rifles to join the NRA and then get a vote called to oust the current boards and CEOs.  Then pursue the reasonable firearm policies that most sensible countries have.  Or at least the eradication of assault rifles and implementation of universal background checks.

I think some organization out there could pull this off over a couple of years.  The NRA has only 4.5 million members.  If another five million moderate members are added then the days of Wayne la Pierre and his ilk are numbered in those groups.

Misc.

So, UNM will run after Steve Alford and spend money and time in their legal department.  They want $1 million from him.   Ultimately, will we get in a fight with UCLA's legal department?  That is a great use of time for institutions of higher learning, isn't it?  This is a fight hardly worth having.  It is really looking to me as a form of punishment meted out by an incompetent Athletics department.  It takes the heat off of them.

The oil and gas industry is funding another right wing conservative educational group in New Mexico whose name is GOAL.  Their goal is to fight endangered species listing that get in the way of the fossil fuel boys hunger for profits.  This group will spend money on the media blaming certain of Nature's creatures with destroying human jobs and values.  Watch for their weekly opeds in the oil and gas controlled Albuquerque Journal.

I have to say the Journal has been doing a pretty good job of straight news coverage lately.  Not wide ranging, but certainly focused.  I have also noticed lots of full page ads in the paper recently.  Many of them from that giant new liquor warehouse on the west side.  Their ad might accidentally end up in the section with pictures of drunk drivers someday.  That would be funny.  Especially since the Journal is somewhat focused on DUI issues.  When our kids and spouses were home last week I only saw one of them pick up a newspaper once.  It was the New York Times.  They get most of their content from the internet and NPR.

Different Standards

Manny Aragon got what he deserved when he was sent to prison for corruption.  His multi million dollar kickbacks from the construction of the metro court in Albuquerque was extreme.  But somehow, as we discussed at coffee the other day, it seems less serious than former Senator Pete Domenici abandoning a child he fathered, keeping it a secret from the public, his children and his wife for decades.  A child who grew up with out a father because of political protection for a republican known as St. Pete who the GOP needed to keep in place.

The rush to eradicate the name of Manny Aragon from the Hispanic Cultural Center was quick and decisive.  Any thought of doing the same to the Domenici name who threw away a child hasn't even been brought up.  His name graces the US Federal Court House.  A supposed place of Justice.  Except when it comes to his name.  Why the different treatment?  Most probably it is because of race.  That is all I can come up with.

 I started thinking about this again today when I saw that formerly disgraced republican Governor Sanford of South Carolina won his primary for congress.   The fact that those GOP voters wanted him back shows a different standard from the one they espouse on family values.  Maybe when all the women vote in the general election he will get handed his Appalachian hiking hat.

Teflon

She is coated with it.  Teflon.  Here is what the Governor has done in the last few days.

Lowered taxes for corporations.
Raised taxes on poor and working people by causing cities to raise taxes on them.
Told gay people they aren't worthy of marriage.(Along with New Mexico's Catholic Bishops.)
Vetoed the minimum wage increase for the Chamber of Commerce.

Susanah Martinez gets away this kind of behavior because people just don't pay attention.   Corporate moneybags keep her and her right wing mascots in good standing.  Along with the media mostly doing inane positive stories on her.  Such as her hiring 40 fire fighters for the upcoming conflagrations.  Well, that just might be the culmination of her job creation efforts.

Misc.

I have been getting some real wacko comments lately on the Mary Han case as well as some constructive ones.  It all points to one thing for me.  The Department of Justice must step in and investigate Mary Han's untimely death.  So far the bizarre actions of the Albuquerque Police Department at the scene would make one very concerned that a proper investigation was not done.  The City Attorney should definitely ask for an independent review of the case from top to bottom.  Already, the national media is showing interest in this story and it could be that our city will end up with another black eye.  But really, at the end of the day we must all know that the Justice system and its backups are working.  So far as Mary's death, they don't seem to be.

Where were the Mayor's lobbyists during the Legislative session?  I can only assume that they didn't know about the screw job done to Albuquerque in the tax reform bill that cut taxes for corporations and raised them on the poor and working folks.  Or, they were ordered by the Mayor and City Council to ignore it.  Or, as happens many times, Albuquerque's own legislators did not stand up for the well being of their home districts.  No matter what happened, they all failed us.

There is something else that has been bothering me.  The legislature has enacted law that will do away with the automatic 3% cost of living raise for public employee retirees.  I understand it was necessary for a while.  But at the same time they ignore the actions of the County Commissions and Assessors in automatically raising property taxes 3% a year.  Shouldn't they be put on a diet too?  Just asking, that is all.

Finally, we had a great week with our kids and grandson Simon.  Justin, Karly and Simon flew away from the Juniper pollen yesterday.  Daughter Noelle and Luke flew back to Colorado Juniper pollen in Fort Collins.  We went to Costco to buy a bale of Kleenex to get us through the next few weeks.

Generations

My uncle Deacon Jaime Baca had a good time with the youngest Baca on Saturday.  We had our Easter Feast a day early since all the kids are leaving on Sunday.

Jaime is 90 years old.  Grandson Simon is 29 months old. There is a lot of time between their births.  But only in some ways.  As my wife Bobbi was mentioning last night, this country will be celebrating its 240th anniversary soon.  When you stop and think that my uncle has been alive for almost 40% of the time that the United States has existed then we don't seem to be such a long time world power.  Even at my age of almost 68 I have been around for over one quarter of the USA's history.

So, one should not feel that this country is necessarily a long term success yet.  If we don't curb the power of corporate America it is doubtful the Union can stand.  But there is time to remedy that.

Ettu Steve

I read a story one time by Arthur C. Clarke titled "The 9 Billion Names of God."  The premise was once the human race knew all of those 9 billion names that the universe would cease to exist.

I don't think those 9 billion names will approach the names Steve Alford of the Lobos will be called.  Now that he has bolted to UCLA one day before his new contract starts.  If this doesn't show college basketball athletics for what they are, then nothing will.  It is just a cut throat money business where the big names get everything.