I built that, with help
I've started up a publishing company. It's starting to go, and I'm making a living from it. I built it from scratch. Yes, I built that.
Articles for the ‘Opinion’ Category
U.S. drones come home to roost
Much has been spoken, written, and most of all debated, about the lethal use of so-called drone aircraft by the United States in overseas countries. The pushback against drone strikes on presumed enemies of the United States is to be encouraged considering the inherent legal, moral, and even strategic questions involved in remote-controlled killing within nation states not officially at war with this country.
Letters to the Editor 3/6/2013
Response to open space fire questionable
Editor:
My house borders open space and someone lit a fire out there Saturday evening. I was concerned because of the way the wind has been blowing and because it is very dry. I also thought others might be concerned.
Revolutionary ordinary citizens had the power
How do you decide which government is best for your brand new society? That was the question the Constitutional Convention of 1787 faced.
Young adult quandries then and now
Here is a classic, "Bleak House" by Charles Dickens. It's probably too long for today's readers, but the reason it's so long is that Dickens elaborates so wonderfully. He describes the city in detail, the country, the characters and the legal nightmare, all in detail.
Letters to the Editor (3/2/2013)
Dead smell more than just manure
Editor:
The Chieftain’s Feb. 23 issue referred to the odor from a “manure problem” on the east side of Socorro. Trust me, the smell of manure is NOT the problem — as New Mexicans, we’re used to that. What we’ve not been exposed to before — and what’s at the heart of the complaint — is the strong, sickening stench of seriously rotting meat.
Beware Wikipedia
The Internet is just great! We can connect to everyone in the world and learn about just everything! Wow! All the world's information at our fingertips.
React to termites quickly
Subterranean termites (subs) will be swarming soon and there are several things you should know before you decide how to deal with them. How serious is the infestation? The species of subterranean termite most common in New Mexico is the arid land subterranean termite Reticulitermes tibialis. There is another species found in eastern New Mexico and it has pockets in Albuquerque as well. This is the eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes. In Albuquerque, they are established in an area of the Northeast Heights known as the Princess Jeanne area. They haven't been found in Socorro County yet, but they may turn up.
Encourage small business growth through new-hire tax credit
Across our nation, hardworking men and women have found themselves out of work in the wake of our national economic crisis. New Mexicans are no different. As of December 2012, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that New Mexico has an unemployment rate of 6.4 percent, leaving approximately 59,000 people without jobs.
Comet visible in March skies
There is lots of excitement this month with the appearance of the first of two comets that will be visible this year. Comet PanSTARRS will become visible beginning about March 7, low on the western horizon about 30 minutes after sunset. By the 20th it will have risen to about 10 degrees above the horizon and should be easy to find about an hour after sunset.
Letter to the Editor 2/23/2013
Co-op meeting should be held at Macey Center
Editor:
Did you know?
The 2013 Socorro Electric Members’ Meeting is set for Saturday, May 18.
Constitution a suicide pact?
They're not like you and me, those folks who say we are justified in torturing, in keeping people in prisons forever without trial, in bombing villages to kill a single person, in spying on everyone's phone calls and emails. Indefinite detention, murder, a police state, all these are justified now because we are in danger. The Constitution, they say, is not a suicide pact.
Socorro needs new recycling guru
Need an economic opportunity?
Founding fathers failed to see future
A column here two weeks ago described the historic meeting just after his election between George Washington and John Adams, the patriots entertaining a cub reporter who pestered Mr. Washington about Martha's preferred hairstyle.
Use tradition to fight terrorism
I was surprised at the way Socorroans reacted to my Xmas column a couple of months ago. Letters came in, though not as many as I had envisioned, and rather than wishing me a cruel death, they said things like Miss London is brave for sharing her thoughts on atheism with a small town like this.
Where do we take guns from here?
This one has been a long time coming.
A return to hope
I've returned to write again. To write once again moral exhortations to lead a good life, to do good, to act for the community, which means sometimes to write political exhortations.
Taxes not always a sure thing in Socorro County
It seems as though every time I start to write an exposé of the county assessor's office, the problem I want to examine starts getting fixed. That's a good sign.
Accept responsibility, exercise power
I remember my high school civics (class) teaching about the importance of the Magna Carta; for the first time, citizens, albeit the aristocracy, sought to limit the power of a monarch.
Parts is parts, except for the one you need
We truly live in a global society.