Columns

Column: No Tax Rate Increase Means No Tax Rate Increase

by

By Dr. Gene Schmidt
Superintendent of Schools

Your YES Vote Means NO Tax Increase. Los Alamos voters received mail-in ballots this past week, which seeks voter approval of a $20 million Bond. If passed, Bond 2013 provides construction funding for Aspen Elementary School and for much-needed upgrades and repairs to school facilities. Bond information provided to the community states passage of the bond will not increase your tax rate. Yes, you heard right. Approval of the $20 million bond will not increase tax rates. This becomes possible because Bond 2013 acts as a replacement for bonds set Read More

Column: ‘Fix the Women!’

by

Parallel Process of Intergroup Dynamics: How Men’s Covert Conflicts Got Expressed in Overt Conflicts Between Women – Part I, The Case

Column by Elena Yang

The columns for today and for next week will be lengthy, and they need to be read in tandem. 

“Parallel process” is a complicated concept, like just all issues concerning group processes. 

I apologize in advance for the occasional jargon and the convoluted depiction – part of the nature of group processes. As always, I welcome your feedback. 

Now for today’s entry.

“Fix the women,” a request/demand by the director of the Buildings Read More

Money IQ: ‘Save Yourself’ and ‘Define Your Own Future’…

by

Money IQ
By Tammy M. Thorn

“Save Yourself” and “Define Your Own Future”…

“The Mayan’s were wrong on the end of the world, it was just the end of their calendar” and “Congress and the President have additional issues to address regarding the government’s fiscal stability and looming debt ceiling issue.”

Since uncertainty is a fact, some things are certain, “Define your Own Future” … contribute to an Individual Retirement Account.

Most of us save for retirement as a participant in our Employer’s Qualified Retirement Read More

Column: Music, All Music, Any Music, Is Wonderful

by

Music, All Music, Any Music, Is Wonderful
Column by Richard Hanneman
 
When I was a kid growing up in Los Alamos in the 50’s and 60’s I listened to KRSN.
 
KRSN programming back then was a musical potpourri – the play-list included Beatles, Kenny Rogers, Frank Sinatra, the Kingston Trio, all of the top recording artists of the day played in no particular order.
 
Within any given hour during the day you would hear rock, country, folk, blues, jazz. In all likelihood you might well have heard a back-to-back presentation of, e.g., Puff the Magic Dragon, Boogie Woogie Bugler
Read More

Food on the Hill: Creme of Mushroom Soup

by

“Food on the Hill” by Sue York

This week’s recipe:

Creme of Mushroom Soup

Photo by Sue York/ladailypost.com

ingredients…

1 1/2 pound of mushroom sliced (I like to mix and match, you get a better flavored soup)
1/3 cups butter
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup cream
1 (14oz) good chicken stock
1 tablespoon White wine
Fresh ground pepper
 
directions…
 
Photo by Sue York/ladailypost.com
 
Slice mushrooms.
 
Photo by Sue York/ladailypost.com
 
Sauté mushrooms in a fry pan with a little butter on high heat, do this in batches.
Read More

Column: New Year Reflections

by

New Year Reflections
Column by Elena Yang

Happy New Year! 2013 will be awesome … because I intend to make it so, for myself; besides, is there any other way?!

A few years ago, I encountered a young and energetic woman in a “Photoshop” workshop who said, “Every year I take on a new hobby or activity. 

So this year I decided to learn how to shoot [with camera] and make great pictures.” It resonated with me. It doesn’t have to be a grandiose undertaking, just something that isn’t in one’s usual repertoire. 

Through a fabulous new friendship made early last year, I have begun to read a few poems. Read More

PEEC Amateur Naturalist: Jemez Mountains Blue Crayfish

by

PEEC Amateur Naturalist
Column by Robert Dryja

Jemez Mountains Blue Crayfish

The nice thing about being out-of-doors is that the unexpected can be seen. A group of students were exploring a stream in the Valles Caldera during a Nature Odyssey program for example. 

One student spotted a blue colored rock and waded into the stream to pick it up. Surprise! The rock began to move away from the student.

On closer observation, we realized the rock was actually a crayfish. It was able to escape in spite of several students attempting to catch it.

A blue crayfish is an oddity. It also would appear to Read More

Column: A HEADS UP! … INCOMING!

by

By B. Zerker
Weapons specialist & Constitutionalist
Los Alamos

A HEADS UP! … INCOMING!

“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste, and what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things that you didn’t think you could do before,” … is what Obama advisor Rahm Emanuel said in an interview regarding the economy with The Wall Street Journal.

Now it looks as if OUR* government seems to be following that same advice as it pertains to every matter that comes along except for our failing economy! In particular, I now speak of the Sandy Hook school shooting tragedy.

Soon, OUR Senate, will

Read More

Money IQ: Home Computer Security

by

Money IQ
By Michael Carson

Home Computer Security

Businesses have been taking computer security seriously for a long time; home users have not been. The reasons are generally two-fold: cost and expertise.

A typical home user may have the anti-virus program that came with the computer but then not realize that this was a subscription service that ended the first year and has had no real protection since.

The good news is that there are free alternatives out there for the home user that don’t require a technical expert to install and configure. It’s no longer sufficient to simply have an anti-virus Read More

Laskey Reviews ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’

by

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” Courtesy/movies.yahoo.com

Review by Kirsten Laskey

Who doesn’t want to go on an adventure? There something thrilling and romantic about leaving the comfort and security of home in exchange for the great unknown that lies in the far corners of the map.

This is what “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” provides moviegoers – the opportunity to tag along on a great adventure.

Let me tell you, it is a wonderful ride although be prepared for long pauses on this epic journey because apparently this story is being spread out into three films.

The first film educates Read More