Editor’s note/update: Gadabout-blogalot.com editor Chuck Ring has challenged us on our forensics in this article, stating that “you have used resources to mis-identify people who »»]]> by John Weckerle

Editor’s note/update: Gadabout-blogalot.com editor Chuck Ring has challenged us on our forensics in this article, stating that “you have used resources to mis-identify people who have nothing to do with the email address you are dogging.” We beg to differ, and offer the registration information as support:

East Mountain Tea Party Domain Registration Info from GoDaddy whois; phone number redacted for privacy.

A few days ago, we published an article on the proposed Islamic community center in downtown Manhattan that was a response to an article on the East Mountain Tea Party web site, and had an exchange with someone calling themselves “East Mountain Tea Party.”  This person’s comment was also posted on the East Mountain Tea Party site under the name “teapartynm.”  We challenged the person to identify himself or herself, and thus far, there has been no such identification.  Neither is that person identified on the East Mountain Tea Party site; rather, the pseudonym “teapartynm” is used.

We fully support people’s right to state their opinions.  However, it’s important to realize that, while the Constitution may guarantee the right to do so, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee the right to do so anonymously, and given the rather controversial views expressed, we decided to do a little digging and see what we could find out.  Actually, we found out quite a bit, but we will for now stick to just trying to identify the person who posted the original article on the East Mountain Tea Party site and commented on ours.

We took a two-pronged approach.  First, we noted that the “EMTP Calendar” on the site featured a substantial number of events, especially coordinators’ meetings, at 13 Sandia Street in Moriarty.  A bit of searching showed this to be the residence of Douglas and Therese Cooper.  Second, we checked the “Whois” listings for the site and found that it was registered to Emily Cooper, and that the e-mail address was the same given as that provided by our commenter.

Therese Cooper is mentioned several times on the East Mountain Tea Party site.  Emily Cooper is mentioned in one article only.  Douglas Cooper is not mentioned on the site, but has a page at Resistnet.com, on which he equates “progressives” with “Marxists.”  The name “Therese Cooper” appears three times when entered as a search term on the East Mountain Telegraph site.  The name “Emily Cooper” appears four times, three of which involve articles on the Tea Party.  The name “Douglas Cooper” does not return any results on the Telegraph site.  Both Therese and Emily Cooper are described as Tea Party coordinators in several articles found on the web.

While the results of our investigation did not provide 100% certainty as to the identity of “teapartynm” on the East Mountain Tea Party and “East Mountain Tea Party” on ours, the evidence (especially the site registration and e-mail information) would tend to suggest that Emily Cooper is the most likely candidate.  We would like Ms. Cooper to confirm or deny.  There is some indication that, if Ms. Emily Cooper is not the author, Ms. Theresa Cooper may be – and again, confirmation or denial is requested.  Either way, while we acknowledge the right of either Ms. Cooper to express herself (or the right of whoever else may have published the article and the comments in the unlikely event it was someone else) – even when we disagree with him or her – we feel that political activists should “step up to the plate” when speaking out on the relevant subjects, especially when they choose to stake out provocative positions.  If somebody other than the Ms. Coopers wrote the material in question, we call on them to identify themselves.

The NM-Central staff, with the exception of Senior They Won’t Let Me In Correspondent Wilson, all decided to go out for dinner this evening, and »»]]> by John Weckerle

The NM-Central staff, with the exception of Senior They Won’t Let Me In Correspondent Wilson, all decided to go out for dinner this evening, and decided to go someplace comfortable – that is, someplace we had been enough times to know that we would be getting something good.  With that – and having a glass of wine with dinner – in mind, we hopped (more or less) into the car and headed for the Greenside Cafe in Cedar Crest.

We arrived at 5 p.m., and there were few people dining.  When we walked in, we were seated promptly – but unfortunately, that was about the only thing that happened promptly.  Each of the three of us ordered a glass of wine and a glass of water – which took the better part of ten minutes to arrive.  The excuse was simply that they had to open a bottle of wine.  We then ordered dinner; your editor ordered one of the “specials” – the server could not actually describe the dish, but it turned out to be grilled seafood (scallops (2), ahi tuna, and sea bass (yes, I’ve asked in the past, and they say it’s from the sustainable fishery) – and a cup of broccoli-cheddar soup.  The other diners ordered the chicken burrito and the light version of the meatloaf.  We then experienced the entertainment – not listening to the guy on the patio playing the guitar (we were inside), but watching while people were seated, and served, while we were waiting for our food.  At one point, we asked our server what was holding things up, and he stated that he wasn’t sure, but that the grilled seafood might have been taking longer than expected.  He indicated that it would be out in a few moments.  After a whole lot of moments, he came by with some dinner rolls, and apologized for the wait.  I ordered another glass of wine, and waited a substantial number of moments for that, as well. At one point, one of the other attendees actually suggested walking out – and she’s the patient one in the group.

The food finally arrived as some of the people who came in after us were fairly close to finishing up their meals.  Those who received the chicken burrito and meatloaf were satisfied.  As for the grilled seafood, I think I can suggest a way to get it to the table faster: don’t cook it as long.  Both the scallops and the sea bass were noticeably overcooked, and the ahi was actually dry – something that should never happen to ahi tuna.  The vegetables and rice were good, as was the mango sauce – although more of it should have been presented, especially given the dryness of the fish.

What was especially disappointing was the broccoli-cheddar soup, and what was especially disappointing about it was that it never arrived at the table.  The server apologized for that, as well.  We were quite noticeably dissatisfied, but at no time were we visited by a manager, and nothing was offered (other than the aforementioned rolls) to take the sting out of the experience.

Considering the relative emptiness of the establishment when we arrived, there was really no excuse for the multiple mishaps, and the handling of the situation left something to be desired.  So did the quality of the food, at least where the grilled seafood was concerned.  We have been fans of the Greenside Cafe since shortly after its opening, and we sincerely hope that tonight’s experience was a one-time event.  We will eventually go back, but probably not as soon as we might have otherwise, and we will let our readers know how things measure up.  In the meantime, we would recommend some training, at the very least, for the Monday/holiday staff (few of whom we actually recognized, which seemed a little odd), including service, customer relations, and seafood preparation.

Tom Smylie of The Peregrine Fund releases doves at last year's event.

Public service announcement from Wildlife West Nature Park:

The second annual White Wings across America event »»]]>

Tom Smylie of The Peregrine Fund releases doves at last year's event.

Public service announcement from Wildlife West Nature Park:

The second annual White Wings across America event will be held at Wildlife West Nature Park on September 11, 2010 in honor and memory of the police and fire rescue personnel that sacrificed their lives and/or service to our nation in time of great disaster.  White doves will be released simultaneously all over America.  Please join us for this event.

Thanks,

Roger Alink
Founder and Executive Director

AGENDA-  Saturday September 11, 2010

• 9-11 ceremony at Wildlife West Nature Park- Free admission all day
• Ceremony at the Falcon Theater
• 9AM to 9:50 AM -Patriotic Music and police and fire units set up at falcon field –
• 10AM -Simultaneous Nationwide Dove release
• 10:05 AM –Comments by Mark Chavez- Fireman on Site at 911 aftermath
• 10:15 AM –Comments by Edgewood Police Chief James T. Daniels
• 10:25 AM- Prayer by Police Chaplain
• Snacks, social time and free park visitation all day

We had initially thought not to address the construction of a Muslim community center in downtown Manhattan (the Park51 Project, or Cordova House, commonly but »»]]> by John Weckerle

We had initially thought not to address the construction of a Muslim community center in downtown Manhattan (the Park51 Project, or Cordova House, commonly but mistakenly called the “Ground Zero Mosque), but since the East Mountain Tea Party has apparently decided to make this an election issue, we’ve decided to add some thoughts to the debate.

We’d like to begin, though, with a caution regarding a particular set of practices of discussion that seem to have become popular in certain quarters.  The first is the device by which those who disagree with a particular position attempt to turn the argument back on the originator as some sort of personal critique.  In spoken conversation, we often refer to this as the “I know you are, but what am I?” method, and have little use for it.  The second is to just outright attack the person originating the position or those who agree with it in general.  We’re not big on that one, either.  We invite our readers to post whatever comments they like, but be aware that we will probably ignore these two literary devices where responding to comments is concerned.

We also have something to say to the nebulous “teapartynm” who posted the article: We don’t think you should have to put your money where your mouth is, but you should certainly put your name there if you truly believe in what you’re saying.  To twist a line from the movie “Beetlejuice:” “Never trust the unidentified.”

Location, Location, Location

Let’s dispense with the easy part of the question first, and that regards the location and proximity of the proposed project to the former site of the World Trade Center.  The location has been identified as two blocks from the Trade Center location; this is technically accurate “as the crow flies,” but in reality it’s nearly a three block walk – two blocks, a right turn, and the better part of another block to get to the front door.  It’s about a two minute walk.  Now, those who are not familiar with downtown Manhattan might think this isn’t much of a distance.  Those of us who are familiar with the area – your editor included – perhaps have a different understanding.  Two blocks and part of one “over” can be a long way, in terms of real separation.  The proposed site is not visible from the former World Trade Center location, and is not located along a walking route between “Ground Zero” and any major transportation stops needed to access the Trade Center property.  Readers do not have to take our word for it; there is a good treatment of the subject, including a video walkthrough, in Matt Sledge’s Huffington Post article.

Here A Mosque, There A Mosque…Where A Mosque?

Further, the proposed project is a community center, not a stand-alone mosque.  Technically, if one adheres to the simple definition of “mosque” as a Muslim prayer space, then one might attempt to characterize the center as containing a mosque, but it’s a stretch.  Factcheck.org’s article perhaps states this well, describing the proposed project as a “cultural center with a mosque inside.”  Some have made the point that there are other mosques in the area.  Well, maybe there are, and maybe there aren’t other mosques operating in the vicinity.  That’s not to say that there aren’t mosques nearby; there are.  However, it’s important to note that, if one accepts that a mosque is a Muslim place of prayer, the mosques in the neighborhood aren’t “other;” Muslim services have been held at the subject property since 2009, according to the Factcheck.org article, so there’s technically already a mosque there.

And So What?

Let’s face it, folks; this is the United States of America, and we do have some rights, here.  The subject property is private property, and the people who own it have a right to develop it as they see fit.  We also have a little thing called the First Amendment, which for all intents and purposes guarantees us all the right to practice our various religions and spiritual traditions without interference from government.  Muslims have a right to build a community center with or without a mosque in it as they see fit on property they own or might buy, as long as they develop the property in satisfaction of requirements for development in the place in question.  The local authority has determined that the project is legal.  Suggesting that the project is offensive simply because the proponents are Muslims seems more bigotry than substance, and we find the entire debate disappointing.  As a nation, we are bigger than this – and if we are not, then shame upon us all.

In a trip back east last month, I spoke to a number of current and former New Yorkers about this, a good number of them conservatives.  Every single one of them supported the rights of the proponents to build the community center, and all but one or two of them knew people who had died in the September 11 attacks.  We should not blame all Muslims for the acts of a few, any more than we should blame all Christians for the acts of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols.  The folks who want to build the center in Manhattan have every right to do so, and we support that right – a right that belongs to all of us, and that we should all recognize and protect.

All things considered, we see the furor as political manipulation, and it remains to be seen who are the manipulators and who are being manipulated.  Elections and ideology notwithstanding, we should remember that we are a nation built on a Constitution, and that Constitution protects all of us, regardless of our beliefs.  Let us not search unnecessarily to divide ourselves, because if we do, then we will be searching for the means of our own destruction (paraphrasing, there; maybe it was on a blog under the pseudonym of lincoln-IL or something of that nature).  The long and short of it is simply this: our nation and our world have serious problems with which we must deal.  Solutions are seldom born of anger and posturing. So let’s not.

Just one more event remains in Wildlife West Nature Park’s Chuckwagon Supper series for this year.  The season finale this Saturday, September 4 will star »»]]> by John Weckerle

Just one more event remains in Wildlife West Nature Park’s Chuckwagon Supper series for this year.  The season finale this Saturday, September 4 will star Holy Water and Whiskey, a regional favorite specializing in “traditional, folk, bluegrass, gospel, western, and some select “whiskey” tunes.”  The night’s entertainment includes a free-flight falcon show as well as dinner, and admission to the Park.  This is a lot of fun, and a great deal; both shows and the dinner are just $20 for adults, $19 for seniors, and $10 for kids age 5 to 11.  Kids under 5 are free!  Reservations must be made by 2 p.m. the day of the show.  For more information, see Wildlife West’s Chuckwagon Supper page.

This evening, the NM-Central staff (minus Chief Staying Home For Dinner Correspondent Wilson) took the evening off and went out for our evening meal.  Our »»]]> by John Weckerle

This evening, the NM-Central staff (minus Chief Staying Home For Dinner Correspondent Wilson) took the evening off and went out for our evening meal.  Our first choice for the evening was going to be Sandia Crust Pizza, which serves a noteworthy eggplant rollatini, but after a neighbor asked us if Pete’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantina – Home of the Halfbreed – had opened yet, we decided to take a peek and see if they had started operations.

Boy, had they.  Your editor dropped the rest of the party off at the door and ended up parking on the shoulder of North 14.  We were seated immediately, despite the fact that the parking lot was completely full.

The prospect of once again being able to have a margarita (or, for that matter, any mixed drink) before or with dinner was apparently a draw; there were a lot of people in the place, and a lot of margarita glasses on the tables.  Unfortunately, after waiting more than 10 minutes for our drink order, our waiter returned to tell us that they did not have the tequila we requested (the very popular Jose Cuervo 1800 Silver).  Now, there are those who will say that it doesn’t matter what kind of tequila one puts in a margarita.  Such people are not to be trusted, voted for or, for that matter, allowed to vote.  Or reproduce.  Under such circumstances, one expects the waiter to suggest another middle-shelf tequila.  He didn’t.  We got regular Cuervo Gold instead.  Strike one.

Chips and salsa were on the table before the drinks.  That is to say, some very tasty salsa and some whole chips on top of a bunch of smashed ones.  This is the sort of thing that does not go over well in other states, but in New Mexico, it’s nigh unto treason.  Strike two.

The menu at Pete’s contains a mix of regular favorites – New Mexican foods, steaks (Lucy says they need to add an 8-ounce steak; 12 ounces is too big for a lot of people), and so on – and other things we don’t see in some restaurants.  Shrimp Veracruz is one of the selections, and shrimp fajitas are another.  A green chile pasta dish was also featured, and that could be ordered with shrimp. Your editor was delighted to be able to get something with some protein that didn’t involve meat or poultry.  With great enthusiasm, I ordered the pasta with shrimp – and at almost exactly 5:45 in the afternoon, the waiter replied, “We’re out of shrimp.”

Strike three.

Your editor ended up with a bean burrito which, like the rest of the food, arrived at the table some time after people started remarking about how long it was taking (25 minutes – a bit long for burritos, which is what everybody had; then again, they are newly opened, and it was a bit of a mob scene).  It was a very good bean burrito, and if you’re in the mood for a bean burrito, then Pete’s bean burrito is recommended.  The green chile is not only vegetarian, but very good.  The beans are also quite tasty, as is the rice that comes with the burrito.  The sopaipillas were likewise very good.  And the price tag – under $31 for 3 people, including 2 margaritas and a glass of wine – was certainly very, very good. On that basis, Pete’s has a good shot at medium-term success.

However, we want to be clear: when we go to a restaurant at 5:45 in the afternoon, we expect everything on the menu to be available.  Had your editor known he was faced with a choice between a bean burrito and the aforementioned eggplant dish, he’d have gone for the eggplant on this particular evening and gone to Pete’s when the urge for a burrito struck (not an uncommon occurrence here).  The management needs to do a better job of provisioning the kitchen, stocking the bar, and putting serviceable chips on the table.  Granted, they just opened this month, so we’re going to give our newest culinary destination a little bit of time to get its feet under it, try it again, and report back here.  A word to the wise: your editor is not alone in not frequenting places at which he’s been disappointed multiple times.  The fact that the location in question has been a bit of a revolving door over the last couple of decades is testimony to the fact that East West Mountain folks have little patience for unsatisfying dining experiences, and that eggplant rollatini is going to be walking distance from Pete’s front door before too much longer.  Also, we’ll note that water was not offered until we decided not to order another margarita, and then was brought in very small glasses, two things that we hope will change.  Based on the quality of the food tonight, we think Pete’s has a lot to offer, and if they offer all of it, they stand a good chance of doing well.  We wish them the best of luck in doing so.

Those looking for a little food and entertainment can find it starting tomorrow at Wildlife West Nature Park in Edgewood.  The Park will be holding »»]]> by John Weckerle

Those looking for a little food and entertainment can find it starting tomorrow at Wildlife West Nature Park in Edgewood.  The Park will be holding its annual Harvest Festival celebrating the area’s agricultural heritage.  Locally grown products will be available for sample and/or sale, and an opportunity for wine tasting will be provided by Anasazi Fields Winery.  Other attractions include blacksmith demonstrations, antique cars and trucks, old iron tractors and machinery, historic ranch equipment, and artists and vendors.  Tractor-drawn hayrides around the park will be available.  Entertainment will include music by Jimbo, blacksmith demonstrations, and games and stage shows for children.  Events include the 5K Pronghorn Run and a 1/4 mile “run” for kids on Sunday morning.  The Park will also hold its regular weekly Chuckwagon Dinner, including a free-flight falcon show, on Saturday night.

As outlined in Saturday’s article, we are awash in squash, and decided to take the time yesterday to make some wyngette soup (to make wyngette »»]]> by John Weckerle

As outlined in Saturday’s article, we are awash in squash, and decided to take the time yesterday to make some wyngette soup (to make wyngette soup, you take whatever vegetables you have on hand, and wyngette).  Yesterday’s variety contained onions, garlic, zucchini, carrots, parsnips, celery canned diced tomatoes, lentils, and green bell peppers.  Today, we’ll share the “recipe” – such as it is – and some thoughts on wyngette soup making.

The first thing to understand about spontaneous soup making is that any “recipe” is really just a guideline.  There’s no real right or wrong way, and if you want to make a change, you’re probably not going to hurt things much: if you don’t like parsnips, leave them out, and if you want more onions, then toss in more onions.  So here we go (and remember, quantities are “give or take”):

• Olive oil – for sauteing vegetables
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 tsp minced garlic
• 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 medium parsnips, peeled and sliced
• 2 stalks celery, sliced
• 1 large or 2 medium zucchini, cut in half or in quarters lengthwise (depending on how big they are) and sliced
• 2 cans diced tomatoes
• 2 quarts low-sodium vegetable broth
• 3 small green bell peppers, diced
• Sea salt to taste
• Fresh ground pepper to taste
• Dried basil to taste (probably about 1/2 to 1 tablespoon, divided in half)
• Ground thyme (about 1/2 teaspoon, divided in half)
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup dried lentils

Now, to be perfectly frank, I don’t measure the spices; I just start small and keep adding until things smell/taste right, so these quantities are definitely “ball park” figures.  And why low-sodium vegetable broth and sea salt?  Well, the food industry seems obsessed with over-salting things, and that’s not really good for the body – and, of course, too much salt in a soup just makes it taste heavy, which is definitely not what we’re shooting for in a summer vegetable soup.  Starting with low-sodium broth and adding sea salt a bit at a time allows us to get just the right amount, while keeping the sodium under control. I use sea salt because it has more flavor for less sodium, and I grind it fresh.  Ditto for the pepper.  However, if you don’t have fresh ground pepper or sea salt, the table versions should do just fine.

Saute the onions over medium heat for about two minutes, and then add the garlic.  Saute them together until the onion is just starting to turn translucent.  Stir in the carrots, parsnips, celery, and peppers, and saute briefly, 1 to 3 minutes.  Stir in the tomatoes, lentils, and zucchini, and about half the spices.  Add some sea salt, trying to get the saltiness fairly close to your taste, and do the same with the ground pepper.  Simmer until the carrots, parsnips, and lentils are all tender but still have some texture, anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes depending on how you sliced your carrots.  Add the rest of the spices, and any additional salt and pepper needed.  Simmer another two minutes, and serve.

Why add more spices at the end?  Many spices, especially aromatic ones like basil, lose their individual taste when simmered for a while.  Adding some in at the end will “perk up” the soup and give it a fresher taste.  Some cooks actually put all their aromatic spices in at the end; I tend to split them up.

Happy eating!