Senator Visits Estancia Valley, Discusses Jobs, Health Care Reform
by John Weckerle
New Mexico Senator Jeff Bingaman and Local Elected Officials
Last Wednesday, New Mexico’s senior Senator, Jeff Bingaman, addressed the Estancia Valley Economic Development Association (EVEDA) and local officials from the Valley’s communities. Mr. Bingaman discussed two high-priority issues, job creation and health care reform.
On job creation, Senator Bingaman discussed two bills already passed: the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the recently passed jobs bill, commonly known as the HIRE Act. According to Mr. Bingaman, the State of New Mexico recently estimated that it has been awarded $4.3 billion in ARRA funds. According to the map application at the Recovery.gov site, some of that, perhaps $3 million or more, has made it into the NM-Central.com coverage area. Mr. Bingaman highlighted the HIRE act as well, noting its provision for a payroll tax exemption for employers hiring new employees who have been out of work more than 60 days. The HIRE Act also purportedly increases the amount of equipment small businesses can write off in a single year (as opposed to depreciating it over multiple years) from $125,000 to $250,000. Mr. Bingaman expressed a hope of passing a new bill for clean energy projects. He also made mention of the new solar equipment manufacturing plant to be built in Rio Rancho, which may employ as many as 1,500 people by 2014. »» Senator Visits Estancia Valley, Discusses Jobs, Health Care Reform
Evil Spotted In Edgewood Again This Afternoon
by John Weckerle
The forces of evil were encountered again today in Edgewood – not far from the intersection of NM-344 and Old Route 66. That’s right, the Security Tool malware program cropped up on yet another Edgewood computer. This makes two this year of which your editor is aware, and I’m sure the other nerds like myself computer enthusiasts in the area have been running into it as well. We’ll refer our readers to our previous story on the issue, and suggest that everybody download a copy of the removal software and the directions. This is one sneaky, stubborn piece of malice, and you’re looking at a couple of hours minimum to remove it. Be extra careful with those e-mail attachments, folks!
John Weckerle: Racist? Race-Baiter? Racist-Baiter? False Accuser? Who Is This Guy?
by John Weckerle
It can be amazing how the same thing can mean different things to different people, and how easy it can be to get drawn into discussions of issues that one considers perhaps less than earth-shaking. Your editor has recently been in a discussion at Gadabout-Blogalot.com (thread here) regarding certain aspects of incidents in front of the Capitol Building leading up to the passage of the health care reform bill. The conversation begins with discussion of whether or not racial epithets are hurled, and sort of takes off from there. Unfortunately, there appears to be some disagreement as to the meaning of your editor’s writings, and Gadabout-Blogalot.com editor Chuck Ring has taken the position that it was my intent to “paint” him as a racist despite statements to the contrary. Mr. Ring declares himself the final authority on the meaning of my words in this regard – an assertion with which I might be expected to disagree. »» John Weckerle: Racist? Race-Baiter? Racist-Baiter? False Accuser? Who Is This Guy?
Public Service Announcment: Wildlife West Invitation to Green Energy Vendors
Editor’s note: The press release below is an invitation to vendors to participate in the annual Wind Festival and Green Energy Fair at Wildlife West Nature Park next month. The invitation would appear to include exhibitors as well as vendors.
Invitation to participate in our free wind festival and green energy fair at Wildlife West Nature Park in Edgewood, NM. Any vendor that has anything to do with green energy or the wind should consider coming to our 9th annual festival on May 1,2 from 10-6 daily. Our e-mail is info@wildlifewest.org if you would like to join us. There is no fee for any vendor qualified by doing any education or having products or services relating to our theme of green energy and or wind gadgets or kites. Please join us for the fun and opportunity to meet and greet our visitors.
Thank you, Roger Alink 263-9453
Ah, Spring… You @^(&#!!
by John Weckerle
Many of us here in central New Mexico looked forward to sunny weather this Spring – finally, a chance to go outdoors without having five pounds of mud clinging to each foot as soon as we stepped out the door. Well, the mud is mostly gone, but our other great friend, pollen, has stepped up to the plate just in time to make the outdoors a no-man’s land for many allergy sufferers. With a nice, wet El Nino winter behind us – and, according to the National Weather Service, an El Nino Spring ahead of us – trees are spewing forth pollen in a reproductive frenzy. The pollen indices (from pollen.com) for Edgewood for today through Monday are 10.8, 10.6, 11.4, and 11.4 (out of 12). Combined with the recent high winds, this has wrought havoc with the noses of New Mexico, and with very little precipitation and plenty of wind predicted for the next week or so, the immediate future is looking a little bleak for those who suffer from exposure to tree pollen.
It has to blow itself out eventually. In the meantime, there’s a silver lining; this must be a windfall (pun intended) for the pharmaceutical companies.
Public Service Announcement: Edgewood Mobile Pantry and Civitan Clothing Exchange
The Edgewood Mobile Pantry and Civitan Clothing Exchange will be conducting distribution tomorrow, March 25. For more information, see the article at Gadabout-Blogalot.com.
A Clarification
by John Weckerle
Photo that was attached to the e-mail message
New Mexico Central doesn’t typically get too wrapped up in national affairs; however, once in a while we find a need to address a situation. In this case, we find that an e-mail response sent by your editor was tampered with, and now is out there on the Internet with his name still on it. Accordingly, this article clarifies the situation.
This morning, I received an e-mail message from a Valley resident with the picture shown here and the following text:
Let’s take the bugger down through the Internet… Seems the majority of
the press are worshiping at his feet….Someone could put this on facebook..
If each person sends this to a minimum of twenty people on their address list, in three days, all people inThe United States of America would have the message. I believe this is one proposal that really should be passed around.THIS WILL CURDLE YOUR BLOOD AND CURL YOUR HAIR
The name of the book Obama is reading is called:
“The Post-American World,” and it was written by a fellow Muslim.
“Post” America means the world After America! Please forward this picture to everyone you know, conservative or liberal. We must expose Obama’s radical ideas and his intent to bring down our beloved America!
Your editor is known to have a bit of a pet peeve where inaccuracy and misleading information in widely circulated e-mails is concerned. I replied: »» A Clarification
Edgewood And The Chamber Of Not Exactly Secrets
by John Weckerle
We take it as a compliment that our readers are willing to send us information on which to report.
We received a forwarded e-mail today that apparently originated with the Edgewood Chamber of Commerce. The message reads as follows:
There is going to be a workshop titled “Making of America in the History of our Constitution”
The workshop will be on May 1, 2010 from 9:00 Am – 4:30 PM and will be held at Valley View Christian Church in Edgewood, NM
The cost is $15/adults and $12/students – includes workbook, lunch and refreshmentsI have registration forms at the Edgewood Chamber office if you are interested.
We thought it was worth looking into. »» Edgewood And The Chamber Of Not Exactly Secrets
The Final – Well, You Know…
by John Weckerle
The last couple of nights have brought us some wonderful starscapes in the New Mexico Central area. Such skies are for watching, and if you’re watching, you may want to do so at 8:30 this evening. That’s right: the International Space Station will be gracing our skies over the next few nights. For viewing times, see the schedule, which gives both the time and the direction in which to look. Enjoy it while you can, folks; there’s another storm on the way.
What’s A Chamber For?
by John Weckerle
One of our readers sent us an e-mail message from Debbie Ortiz, executive director of the Moriarty Chamber of Commerce, sent out this past Monday, March 15. The message, with the title “FWD: transformation in the marketplace,” reads as follows:
Dear Chamber Members,
Please open the attachment. Leanne the Chairman of the Chamber requested
this be sent out. Please join her at Shorty’s on March 17, at 5:30 for her
presentation on “Transformation in the Marketplace”.Thanks – Stay warm and have a wonderful rest of the day!
The attachment, which we will absolutely not post here, promotes an event called “Transformation in the Marketplace” – which, as it turns out, was a dinnertime prayer meeting held yesterday at a restaurant reputedly owned by Santos and Leanne Tapia (the Leanne referenced in the e-mail).
Where do we start? »» What’s A Chamber For?
New Orleans Woman Wins NM HGTV Dream Home
by John Weckerle
A former science teacher and Peace Corps volunteer from New Orleans, whose home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, has won the HGTV Dream Home located at San Pedro Overlook near Cedar Crest. The winner, Myra Lewis, won a $2 million package which included the fully furnished home, a 2010 GMC Terrain, and $500,000.
Information from the press release includes: »» New Orleans Woman Wins NM HGTV Dream Home
El Nino Rides Again
by John Weckerle
Winter Sunrise - Southern Santa Fe County
Sunday’s snowstorm brought about a foot of snow to New Mexico Central headquarters. Fortunately for us, the snow melted sufficiently to allow us to make our appointments in Albuquerque yesterday afternoon. First thing in the morning, though, the snow was fresh and deep, allowing your editor and Senior Snowpack Analyst Wilson to set out just before sunrise and survey the situation. We were not disappointed, and we’re looking forward to the April (and thereafter) flowers that will likely benefit from the recent weather.
Cap, Trade, and Chambers
by John Weckerle
Last year, as a gesture of friendship and by way of some attempted fence-mending, then-Edgewood Chamber of Commerce president Kelly Krauth put your editor on the Chamber’s e-mail list for announcements and other communications. On February 22, we received an e-mail from Chamber executive Robin Foshee discussing a proposal by New Energy Economy (NEE) to include what appears to amount to a carbon dioxide (CO2) cap-and-trade program in New Mexico’s environmental regulatory structure. The e-mail strongly opposed this move, and listed the Edgewood Chamber of Commerce as being publicly opposed to the regulation. Language in the e-mail seemed fairly clear with respect to an intent to have it forwarded to the greatest extent possible. I responded to the e-mail, asking whether the decision to oppose this proposal was made by the entire membership or just the board of directors, and on what basis the Chamber was opposing the regulatory change.
In response, I got a “corrected” version of the e-mail (this was also sent to me by a concerned Chamber member), which simply changed “Edgewood Chamber of Commerce” to “Edgewood Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors.” I sent another e-mail to Ms. Foshee stating the belief that this was essentially a difference that made no difference, given that the Board was invoking the Chamber’s name and using Chamber resources to oppose NEE’s petition. I again posed the question regarding the basis for the Chamber’s opposition. The response was rather unexpected. »» Cap, Trade, and Chambers
Well, Here We Go Again
by John Weckerle
After yesterday’s beautiful weather, your editor awoke with a song in his heart and not too many clouds in his sky. Unfortunately, it looks as if the bright, sunshiny day may be a short-lived phenomenon. According to our friends at the National Weather Service, another system is moving into the area, complete with the potential for more of the good old white stuff. We’ll be under a winter storm watch today and will likely be seeing showers and thunderstorms this afternoon, with snow tonight. Depending on who is to be believed, we have 70-80% chance of rain/snow today and tonight, and 50-70% chance tomorrow. Fortunately, it looks as if temperatures will be remaining at or slightly below freezing tonight and tomorrow, and popping back up into the fifties on Tuesday, so we should not be socked in for long. Nonetheless, driving conditions later today – and especially tomorrow and Tuesday mornings – may be difficult, so let’s be careful out there!
Here’s the winter storm watch advisory: »» Well, Here We Go Again
Enough, Already…
by John Weckerle
We find ourselves shaking our heads yet again at the Mountain View Telegraph’s relentless publication of climate contrarian rants by Scott Brooks. Last week, Mr. Brooks provided yet another reference-free critique of little bits and pieces of an BBC interview with University of East Anglia Climate Research Unit director Phil Jones and a related BBC story. We’ll let our readers read the articles and come to their own conclusions, but from here it looks as if Mr. Brooks’s points on the Jones statements are 180 degrees off top dead center. Mr. Brooks’s interminable insistence that the lack of statistically significant warming during a statistically insignificant period of 15 years proves something about climate change is beginning to bore us, and his recounting of the comparison of warming periods is characteristically wide of the mark. Of course, we see similarly characteristic unqualified statements that those who believe that anthropogenic global climate change is occurring point to the winter storms as proof of global warming. That is typical hogwash; in fact, the only references to those storms proving anything that we’ve seen have been from the other side, claiming that they show that global warming is a farce. Mr. Brooks does as much in the current diatribe.
Mr. Brooks will continue to write his letters, and the Telegraph will continue to print them – and will likely continue not to provide any meaningful independent examination of the issues in question – in what appears to be a perpetual “he-said/he-said” treatment of the subject. Perhaps one sells more papers by inflaming than informing, but in this case we again wish to state that we believe the Telegraph owes its readers a little more of the latter.