Opinion

Letter to the Editor: ‘Good’ People Need to Become Engaged

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TJ TAUB
Los Alamos

I’ve come to the very sad understanding that “news”, via almost every medium, is not what the 4th estate was charged to do in a democracy. NBC News Director Chuck Todd said it’s not his job to inform viewers when lies are told about an issue. If that’s the case, scarily, he’s a reporter/entertainer, not a journalist. 

Journalists bring facts to light and challenge what appear to be distortions and inaccuracies. Simply passing along “he said/she said” or ‘this side/that side’ without evaluation, is NOT JOURNALISM – it’s simply recording/echoing and it fails its critical Read More

Letter to the Editor: Congress Needs to Act on Clean Continuing Resolution to Fund Government

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By Ben Ray Luján
Member of Congress

I want to thank Mr. Redman for his letter concerning the need to take action to end the government shutdown. I could not agree more that Congress needs to act on a clean continuing resolution to fund the government. It is long past time that the House of Representatives votes on such a measure. Even before House Republicans caved to the Tea Party demands to shut down the government, I advocated for a clean vote that would have kept the government open and allowed Congress to do its work without furloughing thousands of New Mexican workers or delaying vital services Read More

Letter to the Editor: Thank You Note to Community

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By BARBARA BLAIR
Los Alamos Heart Council

The 28th annual Los Alamos Heart Council Health Fair, held at Griffith Gymnasium Saturday, Sept. 28, was a tremendous success! We had close to 1,900 attendees. 

There were 63 exhibitors representing a wide range of health-related organizations from Los Alamos and surrounding communities. A total of 884 flu shots were given and 263 blood draws were done. Along with many other health screenings, 180 bike helmets were given out to Los Alamos and northern New Mexico children. 

The Health Fair is only possible with the support of many organizations, Read More

Letter to the Editor: Haiti Medical Mission Donations Needed

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By CATHERINE FRY, RPh
Los Alamos

Dear Los Alamos Community,

In July of 2013, I participated in my first medical mission. I went to Cyvadier, Haiti as a pharmacist with Friends of the Children of Haiti ( www.fotcoh.org). 

For 10 days, we treated the illnesses of the Haitians from the surrounding areas. Each patient paid $1 US to be seen by a provider and receive medication for their acute or chronic illness. Some families also received a water filter, which is manufactured on the property by Haitians, so they could drink and bathe in clean water.  

This November I am returning to the Read More

Letter to the Editor: Government Shutdown is Affecting Education

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By LOWELL CHRISTENSEN
Los Alamos

I’m very concerned about the effect of the government shutdown on education. Some of us look back on school and remember our favorite teacher, but today’s youth will look back with fond memories of their favorite bureaucrats, who tragically today are not at work; they’re out on their boats.

For example, I recently asked young Rupert Johnson down the street, “Who has had the biggest impact on your education?” Without hesitation he thought of Mylford Peabody, acting-assistant-under-secretary-director of the Office-of-Thinking-Up-Stuff. Mylford qualified Read More

Letter to the Editor: Voice Opposition to Shutdown

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By Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard
Los Alamos
 
Whether or not you agree with the Affordable Care Act, the viability and sustainability of Los Alamos and LANL depend on a continuing resolution to be passed and a budget approved.
 
This issue is beyond partisan politics and threatens thousands of families in Los Alamos and the surrounding area. I am speaking with our federal delegation and urging them to continue to press their fellow members until Congress restarts the federal government. 
 
Los Alamos and our entire region depend on a predictable federal budget process,
Read More

Letter to the Editor: The Common Man

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By LYNNE COMPTON
Los Alamos
 

 

The Common Man

When our government starts to fail

The Common Man gets to post its bail

He trucks food across country so we can eat

Gives shelter to soldiers to rest their feet

Makes sure that the children rest safe in their beds

Puts roofs for the elderly over their heads

Wouldn’t it be a blessing if the ones we elect

Would give us back just a little respect

To see hoe we struggle from morning to night

Trying so hard to live our lives right

But it won’t happen until the Common Man says enough

And the man he elects starts  to live rough

And when the elected Read More

Letter to the Editor: Never Imagined Myself As An Extremist

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By NANCY T. BELL
Los Alamos
 

In answer to Senator Udall I am disappointed that you would call me, someone you represent, an extremist. I have conversations frequently with folks with whom I disagree. I never talk to them in a disparaging way and they are always cordial to me. We respect each other’s opinion.

 
Just to give you a little of my background, I am a Republican (though I’m not too thrilled with their conduct either.) I am 71 years old. I think federal government affairs should be conducted according to the Constitution. I believe that the business of the federal government
Read More

Yang: I Like Brevity … Till I Need More

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I Like Brevity … Till I Need More
By ELENA YANG

Pithy comments can be enlightening, useful, and often embed great wisdom. However, sometimes, their brevity leaves much to ponder over. Or, maybe that’s the purpose of pithy words; it provokes us to think more. 

While I cherish Robert Townsend’s “Up The Organization,” full of piercing observations of organizational nonsense and wise advise to counter it, I often want to parse some sentences for details on the how’s. It is difficult to address how’s in a pithy manner. A thoughtful and wise manager (yes, it’s a rarity but such managers exist) may Read More

Letter to the Editor: Praise For Atomic City!

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By DANA KLINE 
Los Alamos

We have the best bus system! This morning, I missed my connection to the middle school at 7 a.m., but the bus driver, Mick, arranged for the Dial-A-Ride to get me to work.  

I wasn’t even one minute late! You guys ROCK! I’ve been riding this bus system since its inception, and I have experienced only professionalism, responsibility and safety for all these years.

I’ve ridden public transportation in many big cities, and I hope we all know how fortunate we are to have such a wonderful system! Go Atomic City Transit!

   Read More