Archive for October 12, 2009
Byrd Unfairly Maligned, Pork Report Dissected
by John Weckerle
In an October 9 article, Gadabout-Blogalot.com editor Chuck Ring unfairly criticizes U.S. Senator Robert Byrd for supposedly obtaining a budget “earmark” for a company that does not exist. The accusation is demonstrably false. How do we know that? Because we followed the link to the referenced biggovernment.com “Pork Report“, looked the company (Information Manufacturing Corporation (IMC) of Rocket City, WV) up online, and dialed a phone number listed on one of the search results. Perhaps predictably, somebody answered the phone. We spoke with Dave Porter of National Interest Security Corporation (NISC). He advised us that NISC had purchased IMC about two years ago, and that the IMC organization was now operating under the NISC banner. According to RollCall.com, the funding is intended to be used to digitize files for the Naval Criminal Investigation Service. Lauren Holly and Mark Harmon must be thrilled, but we see little cause for outrage; digitization of paper copies is a common practice and can be very useful in reducing the massive quantity of paper stored by Federal agencies. »» Byrd Unfairly Maligned, Pork Report Dissected
Public Service Announcement: Hazard Tree Removal Continues
We have received the following press release from Karen Takai at the Sandia Ranger District:
Hazard Trees Continue To Be Removed in the Sandia Ranger District Recreation Sites
TIJERAS, NM – October 8, 2009: Starting October14th , 7am to 5pm, contractors will be cutting down large dead standing hazard trees in developed recreation sites off of the Crest Highway. The project will start from the higher elevation sites and move down the mountain into other sites where hazard trees have been identified. We expect the project to take two months weather permitting (Monday through Friday) .
For the safety of our visitors to the mountains during this time we recommend that you call one day before to find out what areas will be temporarily closed while work is being done.
The initial work is concentrated in picnic areas and trailheads. We are asking our visitors to be extremely careful when in the forest. Be aware of dead standing trees (snags) around you at all times. Exit heavily forested areas that have dead standing trees especially during high winds.
For more information contact Sandia District Ranger at 281-3304
I-40-III: The Search For Completion
by John Weckerle
According to an October 1 article in the Mountain View Telegraph, New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) public information officer Phil Gallegos announced that lane and ramp closures associated with the Tijeras to Zuzax road work would be a thing of the past by October 10. Perhaps predictably, during a round-trip to Albuquerque yesterday (October 11), we were fortunate to be able to exit at Zuzax and avoid the traffic that was backed up to that exit, apparently due to continued lane closures in the westbound direction. The return trip revealed that the eastbound lanes are open, although there is obviously line painting to be done on the bridges.
A slightly confusing announcement from NMDOT Friday stated the following:
Monday 10/12 from 8am to 4pm weekdays – I40 westbound from Zuzax to Tijeras will be reduced to one lane. Monday 10/12 from 9am to 5pm weekdays ? The I40 westbound Zuzax onramp will be CLOSED!! Tuesday 10/13 through Friday 10/16 from 7am to 3pm Tuesday and from 9am to 2pm Wednesday through Friday – I40 eastbound from Tijeras to Zuzax will be reduced to one lane. Expect delays! Ongoing and until further notice ? The Zuzax (exit 178) onramp to I40 westbound will be closed. Use NM14 or Carnuel onramp.
Rosy earlier predictions from NMDOT notwithstanding, we will all have to hold our sighs of relief just a little longer; to steal a phrase, it ain’t over ’till it’s over. We recommend that, in future, the NMDOT adopt the project planning methodology of Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott of the Starship Enterprise: multiply your estimates by four, and look like a miracle worker at the end – instead of looking otherwise.
Sadie’s Rides Again
by John Weckerle
As we were driving north on Eubank Blvd. in Albuquerque last Friday, my wife happened to glance at a building behind the Owl Cafe just north of I-40, and note that there was a sign we hadn’t seen before. The sign identified the establishment contained therein as “Sadies.”
We completed the errand we were running, returned and – sure enough – it was a new branch of THE Sadie’s – the New Mexican restaurant that once called a bowling alley home in the North Valley (the main location moved out of the bowling alley into its own stand-alone structure years ago). Our server informed us that the new location opened up about five weeks ago. We recommend that they get a bigger sign or one closer to the road, although business certainly seems to be going very well – there was a good line waiting for tables when we left.
Sure enough, it’s the same Sadie’s salsa, margaritas, and vegetarian green chile (they also offer green and red chile prepared with meat). We both had bean burritos a la carte, which came with sopapillas, and they were just as we remembered them from the main locations. Most of us need to go to Albuquerque from time to time, and it’s nice to see that there’s another New Mexican food alternative near the highway.