Public paid $27K for Martinez out-of-state trips

NewsNMSwickard - Hey, how about a look at former governor Bill Richardson's use of public money? Let's have a little balance please.

From KOAT-TV.com - SANTA FE, N.M. —New Mexico taxpayers are picking up thousands of dollars of costs related to political fundraisers and other out-of-state trips by Gov. Susana Martinez.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that public records indicate that the state spent more than $27,000 on 11 such trips between mid-March and June.
     Just over $24,000 paid for transportation, lodging and food for the governor's security team while nearly $2,500 paid for travel expenses of Martinez aides. Most of Martinez's own costs were paid by her re-election campaign or organizations inviting her to events.
     Along with several political fundraisers, the governor's travels included a trip to Rome as part of a U.S. delegation attending the installation of the new pope and to Salt Lake City for a Republican Governors Association meeting. More

Public paid $27K for Martinez out-of-state trips

No 'Incredibly Small' Wars Against Energy by Obama

Commentary by Marita Noon - Look closely at the energy-related news stories of the past dozen or so days, and, between the lines, you’ll see a theme: government makes predictions and assertions that cannot be backed up by data to protect or project preferred messaging.
     The unusual collaboration of the University of Texas (UT) and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) conducted a first-ever detailed examination more than 500 wells were analyzed of individual drilling sites to determine the total amount of escaped methane from shale gas operations. The study was released on September 16 by the National Academy of Sciences. The New York Times story on the study opens with: “Drilling for shale gas through hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, appears to cause smaller leaks of the greenhouse gas methane than the federal government had estimated.” It reports: “Previous E.P.A. estimates relied on engineering calculations, and other studies gathered data via aircraft flights over drilling sites.”

     Why does this matter? Because environmental groups have used previous methane-leak estimates to claim that leaks offset the environmental benefits of the clean-burning natural gas the wells produce. Such claims are used to bolster fracking opposition. A September 17 press release from the US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works states: “methane leakage from shale gas development is not releasing nearly as much methane as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had predicted. EPA’s grossly exaggerated estimates have been widely used by critics and far-left environmentalists to discredit the benefits of hydraulic fracturing.”
     The exaggerated estimates of methane leaks came from a study released two years ago when two Cornell University scientists, Robert Howarth and Anthony Ingraffea, reported catastrophic levels of methane were being leaked by fracking operations. According to Forbes, “a slew of experts” discredited the research, which just reviewed EPA data and relied on estimates and hypotheticals. Read full column

No 'Incredibly Small' Wars Against Energy by Obama

One switch away from nuclear disaster

NewsNM-Swickard - the same thing happened in Albuquerque in 1957 when a hydrogen bomb fell accidentally from a military airplane Interesting story read here 

From KOB-TV.com - By: Mike Anderson, KOB Eyewitness News 4 -  A hydrogen bomb nearly detonated on the U. S. east coast, with a single switch averting a blast which would have been 260 times more powerful than the device that flattened Hiroshima, a newly published book says.
     In a recently declassified document, reported in a new book by Eric Schlosser, the supervisor of the nuclear weapons safety department at Sandia national laboratories said that one simple, vulnerable switch prevented nuclear catastrophe. The Guardian newspaper published the document on Saturday.
     Two hydrogen bombs were accidentally dropped over Goldsboro, North Carolina on Jan. 24, 1961 after a B-52 bomber broke up in flight. One of the bombs apparently acted as if it was being armed and fired  its parachute opened and trigger mechanisms engaged.
     Parker F. Jones at the Sandia National Laboratories analyzed the accident in a document headed “How I learned to mistrust the H-Bomb.” “The MK39 Mod 2 bomb did not possess adequate safety for the airborne-alert role in the B-52,” he wrote.
      When the B-52 disintegrates in the air it is likely to release the bombs in “a near normal fashion,” he wrote, calling the safety mechanisms to prevent accidental arming “not complex enough.” The document said the bomb had four safety mechanisms, one of which is not effective in the air.When the aircraft broke up, two others were rendered ineffective.
     “One simple, dynamo-technology, low voltage switch stood between the United States and a major catastrophe!” Jones wrote, adding that it could have been “bad news — in spades” if the switch had shorted.
     Schlosser discovered the document, written in 1969, through the Freedom of Information Act. Read story

One switch away from nuclear disaster

Making it politically profitable to do the right thing

© 2013 Michael Swickard, Ph.D. “The issue is not a partisan issue. We will not solve our problem by electing the right people. We will only solve our problem by making it politically profitable for the wrong people to do the right thing.” Milton Friedman.
     Those words spoken by economist Milton Friedman during the presidential administration of Jimmy Carter are just as true today. The problem he saw then is exactly the same problem we are experiencing now. Politicians, for the most part, always do the politically profitable things as it applies to them. Unfortunately, many citizens feel those are not the right things for them but do not know how to change the politicians.
     Changing politicians comes two ways: changing some of their actions and, changing from one politician to another. It would seem that, as Friedman said, it is not a partisan issue. Both political parties seem to want exactly the same thing: to make government bigger so that they are ever so much more powerful themselves.
     Government gets bigger no matter who is elected. It is true some politicians do not increase government quite as fast as other politicians, but in the last century government has always gotten bigger. President Thomas Jefferson observed, “The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground.”
     Sometimes the only thing that helps is to get new politicians in office who do not yet know the ropes to bind the citizens. Those are the ones that we think will be different. Mark Twain observed, “Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason.”
     One of the most troubling aspects of politics to me is that to get elected both parties must promise to spend tomorrow’s money on today election. The way they see it, if they do not they will be yesterday’s news. Any politician saying they are not going to bring home the pork is unelectable. Read full column

Making it politically profitable to do the right thing

How to identify flood victim relief scams

From KOB-TV.com - New Mexico Attorney General Gary King is warning residents to be wary of scams that falsely solicit funds to help victims of recent flooding. King says it is fairly common for scam artists to take advantage of natural disaster situations and take money from unsuspecting people.
     The attorney general's office is sharing the following simple tips from the Federal Trade Commission:

• Donate to charities you know and trust. Be alert for charities that seem to have sprung up overnight in connection with current events.
• Ask if a caller is a paid fundraiser, who they work for, and what percentage of your donation goes to the charity and to the fundraiser. If you don't get a clear answer – or if you don’t like the answer – consider donating to a different organization.
• Don't give out personal or financial information – including your credit card or bank account number – unless you know the charity is reputable.
• Never send cash: you can't be sure the organization will receive your donation, and you won’t have a record for tax purposes. 
• Check out the charity with the Better Business Bureau's (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, or GuideStar.
• Find out if the charity or fundraiser must be registered in your state by contacting the National Association of State Charity Officials.

     New Mexicans can report suspected scams to the attorney general's office via email at communications@nmag.gov or by filing a complaint report. Consumer Complaint forms are available at http://www.nmag.gov/consumer/file-a-complaint. To view more online resources for identifying flood fraud, click here.

     More on this story from KOB-TV

How to identify flood victim relief scams

APS, City Council clash over loop road

From KOAT-TV.com - ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —A traffic jam at an Albuquerque middle school is causing a crash between the school board and City Council.Monday, city councilors voted to block Albuquerque Public Schools from getting the curb cut it needs for a proposed loop road. The council said more community input is needed.

     Tuesday, cars stretched out of the Jefferson Middle School parking lot into oncoming traffic. The line of cars spills into traffic at the intersection of Lomas and Girard boulevards. APS was close to a fix in its plan to create the loop road, but as of Monday isn’t allowed to cut curbs to complete the loop project. City council said the school needs to work with the community during the next 60 days to find other options.
     Albuquerque City Counilor Brad Winter said so far, no one has brought a plan better than the loop project. APS board members said they’re green lighting the project with or without the council’s blessing.
     The superintendent of schools said he believes the city is playing politics with children’s safety, and are blocking the curb cut because of the upcoming election. Opponents of the proposed loop are concerned it would lower neighbors’ property values and create a safety hazard for children who walk home. More

APS, City Council clash over loop road

Beware: The Foolish Politics Of Climate Change

Commentary by Marita Noon - Last week, while America dithered over whether or not to depose Syria’s president, an ocean away, a different leader was decisively dumped. The election of Australia’s new prime minister has international implications.
     On September 5, in a landslide election, Tony Abbot became Australia’s new Prime Minister restoring the center-right Liberal-National coalition after six years of leftward economic polices. Conservatives the world over are looking to learn from Abbott. In the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Tom Switzer, sums up the “resounding victory” this way: “Abbott did the very thing so many US Republicans and British Tories have shied away from in recent years: He had the courage to broaden the appeal of a conservative agenda rather than copy the policies of his opponents. As a result, Australians enjoyed a real choice at the polls.”
     While this should sound alarms for liberals, the real panic is with the global warming alarmists. It is not just the politicians who are “looking on in horror.” It is everyone who has bought into, as the WSJ calls them, “the faddish politics of climate change”—those who believe we can power the world on rainbows, butterflies, and fairy dust are panicked. Their entire world view is being threatened.
     This was clearly evident at last week’s hearing in Santa Fe, New Mexico, regarding the proposed change in compensation for electricity generated by rooftop solar installation. The hearing was scheduled in a room typically used for Public Regulatory Commission meetings. Well before the scheduled start time, it became clear that a bigger auditorium was needed—and it was filled to capacity. The majority was, obviously, there in support of solar—they were carrying signs. Thirty-nine of them gave public comment in opposition to the proposed rule changes. After each comment, they hooted, cheered and waved their signs—until the Chairman prohibited the sign waving. Two of the women went by only one name “Lasita” and “Athena,” with no last name—linking themselves to some goddess. Several referenced Germany’s success with renewable energy.
     They were organized, rabid in their support, and intimidating to anyone who dared disagree. At one point, the Sierra Club representative, took control of the hearing and, completely ignoring the Chairman’s instructions, stood in the front of the room and, with hand-waving gestures, got everyone who was there in opposition to the proposed change to stand up and wave their signs. A smattering of individuals remained seated. Three of us spoke in favor of the proposed change. I brought up those who’d held up Germany as a model to follow and posited that they didn't know the full story. Read full column

Beware: The Foolish Politics Of Climate Change

National monument in the Gila closed

From KRQE-TV.com - GILA NATIONAL FOREST, N.M. - According to a news release, the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument and the Gila Visitor Center have been closed due to damage and debris from heavy rain in the area.
     A portion of N.M. 15, which provides access to the national monument and visitor center, has also closed north of Doc Campbell's Post in Gila Hot Spring. The monument and center are both expected to reopen this week after water levels decrease and the highway reopens.
     Volunteers from the Mesilla Valley Search and Rescue helped clear out debris that had been washed over a bridge near the visitor center Sunday. Grapevine, Lower Forks and Lower and Upper Scorpion campgrounds are also closed. Upper Forks campground is open, according to the release. More

National monument in the Gila closed

Alamogordo moves closer to legalizing beekeeping

From KOB-TV.com - By: Jeffery Gordon, KOB.com - The city of Alamogordo is moving closer to legalizing beekeeping. The city commission has taken steps to approve an ordinace that will allow people to keep bee hives on certain sized properties
     Beekeepers will have to register their hives with the city and notify their neighbors. Those critical of the plan say it could endanger people who are allergic to bees. More

Alamogordo moves closer to legalizing beekeeping

Swickard: Surprise, you’re in the Army now

© 2013 Michael Swickard, Ph.D. Last week two young college men were in front of me in a grocery store line. I asked them, “What do you think about the conflict in Syria? Is America about to get embroiled?” One student shrugged, “I don’t know or care since it doesn't concern me.”
     “Really,” I exclaimed, “Did both of you register for the Selective Service when you turned eighteen? They both nodded a bit puzzled. I continued, “The whole reason for Selective Service registration is so they can draft you if our country needs you to serve in the military.”
     After a pause, one said, “You can’t get college financial aid unless you register.”
     “So you had a good reason to register with Selective Service,” I said. “That’s the same Selective Service I registered with in 1968. They registered me so that later then President Richard Nixon sent me greetings.”
      I had their attention. “Didn't it occur to you that if our country gets into a big shooting war young men like you are just what our Army needs?”
     One student protested, “No that is not right. Our country has an all-volunteer military. Our country does not conscript people against their will into war.”
I smiled, “Then why did your country need you to sign up for Selective Service in the first place? They spent years pushing you to do so when you turned eighteen. They made sure you knew bad things would happen if you did not. The way I see it, our country has two more draft eligible soldiers if needed.”
      Panic crept into their eyes and I went on. “I’m 63 so they do not want me. They need young men.” I sang a verse from long ago, “You’re in the Army now, you’re in the Army now… you’ll never get out, you’ll never get out, you’re in the Army now.”
     Two geezers behind me laughed loudly. They sang that same verse again.
      Finally I asked, “Did you vote in the last election?” Both shook their heads no, “We not registered.”
      I could not help observing, “Then there is no political reason for any politician to save your butts.”
They paid at the register and hurried out. The geezers behind me laughed, “Bet they now pay attention to the world news.” Read full column

Swickard: Surprise, you’re in the Army now