Three Hours of Waterboarding with Jon Stewart

Commentary by Marita Noon - Energy makes America great - On Thursday, February 27, I received an email that said: “I'm a producer at theDaily Show with Jon Stewart. We're working on a segment about fracking & I wanted to reach out to see if you'd be interested in participating. I read your column in Town Hall a few months ago & it's just what we're looking for—we'd like to have someone dispel a lot of the myths & untruths about fracking.” I responded that, yes, I was interested. After doing my research, I agreed to participate.
     On March 6, I flew to New York City for a taping on March 7. I knew that the Daily Show is a comedy show masquerading as a news program. My peers told mehorror stories of how the show had treated others whose views didn't mesh with those of Jon Stewart—not that the guests were personally abused, but that the final product didn't represent what was really said during the taping. 

     I weighed the pro and cons and decided to take the risk. I figured that no matter how good I might be, I was unlikely to change the opinions of the young audience that watches the Daily Show and thinks it is real news. Additionally, my audience doesn’t generally watch it—and if they do, they’ll know my comments were heavily edited, as my views are well known. 

     What really pushed me to accept the invitation was the fact that the following week, March 10-13, I was scheduled to be in Southern California speaking on college campuses and my Daily Show taping would enhance my “street-cred” with the potential audiences. Read full column

Three Hours of Waterboarding with Jon Stewart

New report looks at oil and gas in NM

A new report detailing New Mexico's reliance on oil and gas shows diversifying the state's economy could prove challenging. 

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the New Mexico Tax Research Institute found even counties where there is little oil and gas development have benefited from those industries. 

According to the institute, $1.7 billion of $5.5 billion of the state's general fund last year was from oil and gas revenues. Much of the funding helps support schools and colleges. The tax report was partially funded by the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association. Officials say it includes data from the state Taxation and Revenue Department, the State Land Office, the Board of Finance and other agencies.

New report looks at oil and gas in NM

New Mexican named National Science Foundation Director

France Cordova

An internationally recognized astrophysicist with ties to New Mexico has been tapped to serve as the next director of the National Science Foundation. 

The nomination of France Cordova was approved by the U.S. Senate this week. 

Cordova, a Santa Fe resident, is a former president of Purdue University. She's also on the governing board of the Smithsonian Institution and she worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory between 1979 and 1989. 

With an annual budget of more than $7 billion, the foundation provides funding for more than one-fifth of all federally supported basic research conducted by America's colleges and universities.

New Mexican named National Science Foundation Director

Sunland Inc. plant to be auctioned off

A New Mexico peanut-butter processing plant that went bankrupt after a salmonella outbreak shuttered its operations and prompted a nationwide recall last year is headed to the auction block. 

The reserve price for all bidders in Thursday's auction is $18.5 million. That's the amount California-based Ready Roast Nut Co. already has offered to buy the defunct Sunland Inc. plant. The sale seemed imminent when a bankruptcy trustee backed Ready Roast's offer. 

But the Clovis News Journal reports another potential buyer has emerged. A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge has scheduled a hearing Friday to accept or reject the best bid in the auction. 

Sunland attorneys had valued the company's total assets at $50 million when it sought bankruptcy protection last fall. It owes its three major secured creditors about $14 million.

Information from The AP.

Sunland Inc. plant to be auctioned off