Columns

How The Hen House Turns—The Eyes Have It

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How The Hen House Turns
By Carolyn A. (Cary) Neeper, Ph. D.
 
The Eyes Have It

As a biology student, I was enthralled with the amazing diversity of tiny critters that swam energetically in a drop of water under the microscope. After studying embryology, I was even more amazed that any of us were ever born halfway normal. But comparative Anatomy in the Zoology Department at college topped them all. The variety of eyes that have evolved on this planet is amazing.

It’s not just the eyes’ variety of color and design, as pictured in a recent issue of National Geographic. It’s their Read More

Cinema Cindy Reviews ‘Race’

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By CYNTHIA BIDDLECOMB
Los Alamos
 
 “Race” is a new film about the African-American Olympic athlete Jesse Owens, once called the “fastest man on earth.”
 
The film covers Jesse’s college years when he broke several records in track, his qualifying for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, and the U.S. Olympic Committee’s debate and vote over whether the U.S. should participate in an Olympics hosted by the Nazis.
 
Movie poster for ‘Race.’ Courtesy Photo
 
The role of Jesse Owens is played by Stephan James, the Canadian actor who played John Lewis in the film Selma
Read More

Mrs Beadsley’s Jewel Box: Vintage Jewelry-Rhinestones

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By DEBRA LOWENSTEIN
Mrs. Beadsely’s Vintage Jewelry

Well spring officially starts today and nothing looks better in spring than a sparkly rhinestone brooch. So let’s talk about rhinestones.

To many people the word rhinestone conjures up thoughts of gaudy, cheap costume jewelry. Although some rhinestone jewelry may be just that, not all rhinestone jewelry is cheap or gaudy. There were many companies, including Eisenberg, Weiss and Kramer that made quality rhinestone jewelry, set with the best quality stones and finished beautifully front and back.

Made from 40 to 75 years Read More

Living Well Los Alamos: Kidney Health

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By HELEN IDZOREK
Los Alamos

In addition to removing waste products from the body our kidneys play an important role in other processes including regulating salt, potassium and blood pressure, producing a form of Vitamin D to keep bones strong, and controlling red blood cell production.

Diabetes and high blood pressure are responsible for up to two-thirds of cases of chronic kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease affects up to 26 million adults in the US and many more are at risk. Two simple tests – heart and urine, are available to determine if you have kidney disease.

Many kidney diseases Read More

Pastor Granillo: Hosanna In Our Fears!

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By Pastor RAUL GRANILLO
Los Alamos

Hosanna In Our Fears!

Every year, when Palm Sunday comes around, I am reminded of my childhood. As a Catholic, it was a day on which we would certainly go to mass. It meant that I would get to come home with a palm leaf; and it meant Easter was around the corner and Spring was upon us.

I loved Palm Sunday—I still do, but today, Palm Sunday reminds me of something else, something less innocent; Palm Sunday also reminds me of how much influence fear has upon us.

Palm Sunday celebrates the triumphal entry of Jesus; He rode a donkey into Jerusalem and the people were so excited Read More

PEEC Amateur Naturalist: Climate Change And The Birds Of Northern New Mexico Pt. 1

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PEEC Amateur Naturalist
Part 1: Climate Change and the birds of northern New Mexico
By Robert Dryja
 
We have been exploring the data of the Christmas Bird Count. Los Alamos now has a snapshot of birds seen in December 2015 (See here.)
 
The Christmas Bird Count shows that a few bird species are commonly seen while other species are increasingly rare. Ten species of birds account for about two-thirds of all the birds seen in the Los Alamos area.
 
The other seventy one species compose the remaining one-third of the birds seen. CHART I show this pattern for the 81 species.
 
 
Read More

Hall: 2016-17 Budget Considerations For Los Alamos Public Schools

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By Jim Hall, President
Los Alamos School Board

Note the following are my comments as a board member, and do not represent official board policy.

The Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) are building an operational budget for the 2016-17 school year. This will require difficult choices. Public meetings are scheduled 5:30-7 p.m. March 15 (High School Speech Theater), April 5 (White Rock Library), and April 7 (High School Speech Theater). All are welcome to attend. 

Note that New Mexico law does NOT permit local taxes to fund public school operating expenses. 

Four sources fund LAPS operations. Read More

A Councilor’s Request: Participate In Library Survey

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By Councilor Steven Girrens
Library Board Liaison

As the Council Liaison to the Library Board, I’d like to encourage our community to participate in the library survey that will be open until March 31. You can access it by clicking on the Open Forum tab from the main page of the Los Alamos County website at https://www.losalamosnm.us.

This survey is the first phase in updating the public library’s strategic planning process, which will play a key role in developing the nature and scope of the library’s services over the next five years. Getting as much feedback as possible will enable Read More

Food On The Hill: New Mexican Cassoulet

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New Mexican Cassoulet. Photo by Felicia Orth
 
Food On The Hill
By FELICIA ORTH

A New Mexican Cassoulet

Our family was in Cleveland, Ohio recently and had the pleasure of dining at L’Albatros Brasserie, a very fine restaurant near Case Western Reserve. Older son Alex ordered the Cassoulet, a traditional French peasant dish of beans with multiple meats – usually pork, duck and mutton or lamb. The duck portion of the dish is often duck confit, which typically requires professional skills, epic amounts of duck fat, and lots of time.

I returned to the Land of Enchantment determined to try Read More