Columns

Acclaimed Violinist Gil Shaham Performs Brilliantly

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Gil Shaham. Courtesy/gilshaham.com
 
Review by By MARY HELEN KLARE
Los Alamos

Johann Sebastian Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, completed around 1720 (he was 35), are thought to be a grand intellectual and musical achievement universally revered by violinists and listeners alike for their spiritual essence.

The Solo masterwork consists of three sonatas, each with four traditional slow-fast-slow-fast movements, and three partitas, each comprised of a series of dance movements. Characterized by supreme virtuosic demands, the violinist is required to play multiple Read More

Solo Traveler: Virgin of Guadalupe

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Juan Diego and the Archbishop in the very spot where Don Diego saw the image of the Virgin. Photo by Patti Walls
 
The old and the new Virgin of Guadalupe Basilicas in Mexico City. Photo by Patti Walls

 

Solo Traveler: Virgin of Guadalupe
By SHERRY HARDAGE

Our boat floated into a tall cave carved out of the canyon cliffs along the Sumidero River. Rachel looked up at the highly decorated wall. “And here’s yet another place to put the Virgin of Guadalupe,” she said with a sigh.

A rope ladder hung down into the water from a narrow ledge. On the ledge stood a metal ladder, precariously fastened to Read More

Pastor Granillo: Rejoice!

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By Pastor RAUL GRANILLO
Los Alamos
 
Rejoice!

“Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!” Zephaniah 3:14 (NASB).

There are some days when rejoicing is the last thing we want to do. You know, the days when you find out your job is not as secure as you thought, or the days when you lose a loved one, or the days when you realize your child has chosen a very dangerous path.

It is hard to rejoice when people seem so divided, or when the enemy seems to be at the gate, or even when we are just worried about keeping our home. Yes, there Read More

Food On The Hill: Salads For Supper—Moroccan Carrots And Chicken Pesto

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Moroccan Carrot Salad with Quinoa. Photo by Felicia Orth
 
By FELICIA ORTH
Los Alamos

For the Sunday after Thanksgiving, I prepared several salads for a large dinner party at PEEC on the theory that folks had consumed their fill of turkey, gravy, potatoes, and stuffing for three days and would welcome the change. 

Menu planning was key.  I wanted to include lots of the fall vegetables in one form or another, and to make the salads sufficiently tasty and filling that folks would not miss dessert. I decided on two salads with meat (a classic Cobb Salad and Chicken Pesto with Tarragon), Read More

This Week At The Reel Deal

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By JIM O’DONNELL
Real Deal Theater

This Friday we are opening The 33. The Good Dinosaur, Mockingjay, Part 2, and Krampus (by the way it’s definitely an off-beat Christmas film but it’s also funny, entertaining and scary.) will hold for another week.

Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens opens Thursday, Dec. 17. Tickets are now on sale at our box office.

Now is the season for many excellent films to open limited in theaters just before the end of the year in the hopes they will be nominated Jan. 14, 2016. The 88th Academy Awards ceremony is Feb. 28, 2016.

These films tend to be more dramatic, Read More

PEEC Amateur Naturalist: Insect Camouflage

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By ROBERT DRYJA
Los Alamos

Insects have different kinds of camouflage to hide themselves. A praying mantis may grow to be up to six inches long, but how many people have seen such a large one?

A praying mantis may be so well camouflaged that it can capture a hummingbird that is coming to a flower for nectar.

A praying mantis selects plants that match its color rather than changing its color to match a plant.

Brown praying mantis. Courtesy photos

 

 

 

 

 

Rosy praying mantis. Courtesy photos

 

 

 

 

 

Green praying mantis. Photo by Sally King/Bandelier Read More

Living Well Los Alamos: Cheese Trays For Parties

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By HELEN IDZOREK
Home Economist and 4-H Agent
Los Alamos County Extension

Many of our calendars are already full of upcoming holiday parties. Whether your host asks you to bring an appetizer or you need something to serve your own guests, cheese plates makes an excellent option for refreshments.

Creating the perfect cheese platter can be daunting but these tips and ideas can make the process more enjoyable and ensure your guests will be delighted.

When creating your cheese tray keep in mind that more isn’t always better. You want the cheeses’ individual characters to take center stage Read More

Yang: Small Whys – Requiring No Answers, Small Answers, Or Some Big Answers

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By ELENA YANG
Los Alamos

Small Whys: Requiring no answers, small answers, or some big answers.

I am the type who doesn’t catch cold often, but when I do, I get it big. I am entering the eighth day of an obnoxious cold. This is by way of saying that in today’s column, I will comment only on some random thoughts, queries, or observations that my clogged head can handle.

These queries may not be directly involved in organizational issues, but for some of them, you have to wonder what people were thinking in their organizing. There is no logical rhyme or reason for the order of the following list.

  • If a computer
Read More

Roger This: All Aboard For The Paris Accord

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By ROGER SNODGRASS
Los Alamos Daily Post

The first week of the 21st meeting of the of the Conference of Parties (COP21) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is drawing to a close in Paris.

During this time the Earth has theoretically warmed an additional .0008degreesFahrenheit. That calculation is according to my own back-of-the-envelope extrapolation of a very broad scientific consensus that we are approaching a warming rate of about .04 degrees F per decade.

The alarming problem about these miniscule estimates is that we are beginning to cross a red line Read More

Smart Design With Suzette: Holiday Decorating

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A color coordinated holiday dining room. Courtesy photo
 

By SUZETTE FOX
Los Alamos

I can’t believe it’s been a year since I’ve begun writing these columns.

I have thoroughly enjoyed sharing my design philosophy with you. I have heard positive feedback regarding my columns and I truly appreciate it.

The holidays are already upon us. I thought I would share some ideas about decorating for the holidays that might inspire you this season.

 

 

A unique Hanukkah color scheme. Courtesy photo
 

Design Tips

  • Embrace different color schemes. Holiday decorating isn’t restricted
Read More