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August 2009 Stories (101)

Doing Bioethics: Death Panels and Good Deaths

Death has dominated the news cycle this past week – from discussion of “deathers” at town hall meetings to analysis of Senator Ted Kennedy’s last days. My field of bioethics deals with both of these issues.

In bioethics we label these… Continue

Added by Barelas Babe on August 31, 2009 at 8:30pm — 7 Comments

Join the Cocoa Conspiracy to discuss your completed iphone app or to hash over apps on the drawing board

Each Thursday members of Cocoa Conspiracy meet at 9 am at RB Winnings ( http://www.winningcoffeeco.com/). Join the group to learn more about iphone apps, share your ideas, and/or become a member.

This group was recently spotlighted on KOBTV Channel 4. Check out this link on YouTube:… Continue

Added by Rep Ayre on August 31, 2009 at 5:37pm — No Comments

See. Click. Fix. In Albuquerque and Abroad.

Many of us see things every day about our city that annoy or inconvenience us, or others. Sometimes we call 311. Sometimes we log on to DCF to complain and rev support among like-minded people. Strangely, this less-than often yields the desired results of actually fixing the issue at hand.

Enter SeeClickFix.com - a website using Google Maps' API to map, describe, and report… Continue

Added by Caroline Blaker on August 31, 2009 at 2:15pm — No Comments

For the Record

It's been said that the first thing sacrificed in a political campaign is the truth and the facts. I was reminded of this last Monday while attending NAIOP's mayoral forum at the Uptown Marriott.

While I sat next to Marty Chavez, he claimed to be "the only candidate in the race that's ever cut taxes." It's a statement that Mr. Chavez makes a habit of repeating. It's also not true.

As President Pro Tem of the New Mexico Senate, I supported a cut in the state's income tax… Continue

Added by Richard Romero for Mayor on August 31, 2009 at 11:57am — No Comments

Stranger than Fiction

In a recent Albuquerque Journal article “Aviation Director: Mayor Worked for Tougher Deal,” Nick Bakas, one of the Mayor’s top deputies, drops some of the more memorable lines to come out of Chavez’ twelve years in office.

Here’s one example: "I work for the man," Bakas said. "I don't have a personal relationship. We're not drinking buddies, dinner buddies. I got to produce. I don't produce, I… Continue

Added by Richard Romero for Mayor on August 31, 2009 at 11:55am — No Comments

Heights and Loathes

Sunday is traditionally house-cleaning day at der Garrisonhaus, and these days there's lots less acreage to cover now that we've down-sized living space. Unfortunately that means we gave up the washer and dryer provided in the larger apartment and must now use the community laundry rooms.

Cripes. I hate picking up after other people, man. It's like our neighbors just moved here from the Pleistocene epoch, when people wore mostly dirt. Why must I get elbow-deep in somebody else's… Continue

Added by Rob Creighton Garrison on August 30, 2009 at 5:28pm — 2 Comments

The Sunday Poem: Margaret Randall... Nothing was What it Pretended

Albuquerque poet Margaret Randall, whose most recent books include STONES WITNESS, TO CHANGE THE WORLD: MY YEARS IN CUBA and… Continue

Added by The DitchRider on August 30, 2009 at 8:00am — 5 Comments

I Am Plain And Genuinely Sweet.

I’ll take the gun and you take the wheel.

We’ve almost shook ‘em off our heels.

Gonna make a life for ourselves someday.

Forgiveness from the lord is what I pray.

Some have it easy, some have it hard.

Myself? I was dealt a wicked card.

I am plain, and genuinely sweet.

But papa became an invalid, and mama made me a piece of meat.

The scraps of joy I managed to harbor, never would I reveal.

No choice but to be complacent, however, from that… Continue

Added by Christine Casaus on August 29, 2009 at 1:00am — No Comments

Instant Gratification

I was driving home from my daughter's house on Wednesday night and at Fourth and Menaul I stopped at a red light and over heard the people talking in the van next to me. "Do you take your cell phone with you when you use the bathroom?" one person said. The other answered, " I used to," she said. "You know it will always ring while you're in there if you don't." I really chuckled to myself. I have been know to take the phone with me into the bathroom,… Continue

Added by Sarahjmd on August 28, 2009 at 11:41am — 2 Comments

Morning Fix: No Black. No White. Just Blues!

This ain't the "shake and bake" my mamacita used to make. Meth makers going old school.
Developers on the west side forgot to consider something rather important - the safety of children going to…

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Added by Adelita on August 28, 2009 at 6:30am — 7 Comments

An Environmentalist Rides the Rail Runner

I took my first Rail Runner ride today, Downtown Albuquerque to Santa Fe. The journey was delightful and the scenery eye-popping. I have made the trip several times by car and was amazed at just how much "civilization" can be found between I-25 and the Rio Grande.

Unfortunately, the rabid environmentalist in me was somewhat troubled. Despite the fact that I was on the 7:30 AM from downtown, the train was nearly empty. My best guess would be 25% of the available seats were filled… Continue

Added by Muskrat Sam Donaldson on August 27, 2009 at 6:23pm — 21 Comments

My Car Smells Great

Much of my adult life has been spent contemplating urban vs. rural living options. I kind of want a farm on bus line within walking distance of places to eat and shop. And yes, I know it does not work that way, at least on large scale.

Today my lunch hour errand was a trip to the feed store. South Valley Mercantile is a 10 minute drive from my office downtown. So I left at lunch, drove down Broadway, turned on to Rio Bravo and there I was. I needed a bale of straw and bale grass hay… Continue

Added by mombat on August 27, 2009 at 4:03pm — 7 Comments

Fraudulent Debits at New Mexico Educators Fed Credit Union

Beware. Review your account online and look for debits applied to your checking which don't look familiar. While talking to a customer service rep for the credit union this morning, asking why my balance was off, she told me I had a 20.58 debit that was pending to my account. When I told her I did not recall a recent transaction for that amount, she told me it originated out of Florida. I advised her I haven't been in Florida this year. Then she told me it has just come to the bank's attention… Continue

Added by Richard V on August 27, 2009 at 10:20am — No Comments

Morning Fix: 4,000,000 and Counting

Volunteers at KUNM send letter of "no confidence" to UNM's administration. But Deputy Provost Richard Holder said "I don’t think any of these [issues] rise to the level of the disputes in the ’80s. They seem quite minor and basically non-important." Ouch! Wonder where he volunteers...
Nickelodeon likes…

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Added by Adelita on August 27, 2009 at 6:30am — 4 Comments

Green Chile Trade: Sharing The Love

A year ago, I express mailed a particularly good batch of freshly roasted green chile to a former New Mexico coworker and friend who is now living in Alaska. She was JONESING for the chile. A few weeks ago, she returned the favor: freshly caught Alaska salmon. Tonight, I combined her special package with my own recent batch of freshly roasted. The result? Sublime.

Do you have stories of sending green chile and having friends return… Continue

Added by Don Brown on August 26, 2009 at 8:30pm — 5 Comments

Good city

I am not a good city dweller. I cringe from getting into my car, even to go hiking, because the drive must take me through an ever-amplified din of pavement and billboards and exhaust and angry angry people, each with a distracted finger on the trigger of a three-thousand-pound steel and plastic weapon. There is trash on the street, and a fat woman in tight jeans kicks her little girl, because her hands are too encumbered by cellphone and Wal-Mart bags to be good for slapping. My neighbor's dog… Continue

Added by Jessie on August 26, 2009 at 4:00pm — 4 Comments

August flowers 2009

The days are getting a little shorter and the evenings a little cooler; so I felt a little sad that summer is about over and Lord and Behold I walked out to the backyard and guess what I saw? Take a look!

Added by Dolly on August 26, 2009 at 2:30pm — 1 Comment

Of Bobcats and Ranch Hands

It rained a bit the last two days, eh? And then in Monday’s Journal there was an article about the ever increasingly urbanized bobcats of Placitas. And it got me thinking…

The recent rain was a bit of a departure from the “monsoon season” norm—I’m no meteorologist, but first… Continue

Added by Masshole in Fringecrest on August 26, 2009 at 10:00am — 3 Comments

Morning Fix: The Illustrated Man

Hey, my fourteen year old wants a koi fish tattooed on her shoulder. Guess she missed her opportunity.
Smith's lights up and is going green.
Call it what you want:…

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Added by Adelita on August 26, 2009 at 6:30am — 2 Comments

Update: Fundraising for my 9/25 Over the Edge rappel,

I am delighted to report that I have raised a bit over $1,000, which is the minimum amount I need to be eligible to participate in the September 25th Over the Edge rappel for Special Olympics NM.

I am delighted and thrilled with the initial response, and am going to try to raise more.

My ideal goal was to raise at least $1,000 in $10 contributions from 100 people. To date, however, the average contribution has been $28+ -- almost three times what I… Continue

Added by Jane S. Blume on August 25, 2009 at 1:03pm — No Comments