Distorted GPS Signals Reveal Hurricane Wind Speeds
An Air Force pilot performs a pre-flight inspection of a ‘Hurricane Hunter’ aircraft. Similar aircraft have begun measuring GPS signals bouncing off the ocean surface to determine wind speed. Photo by Manuel Martinez
AGU News:
WASHINGTON, D.C.—By pinpointing locations on Earth from space, GPS systems have long shown drivers the shortest route home and guided airline pilots across oceans. Now, by figuring out how messed up GPS satellite signals get when bouncing around in a storm, researchers have found a way to do something completely different with GPS: measure and map the Read More
Comment on State Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Through Aug.15
DHSEM News:
The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is in the process of updating the State Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.
The Plan presents the State’s mitigation strategy for reducing the impact of natural disasters.
The State Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan includes the following sections: natural hazard profiles, risk assessment, vulnerability, capability and recommended mitigation actions. The Plan provides an overall strategy that can be used to guide natural hazard mitigation planning and project implementation throughout Read More
Column: Proper Posture Through Back Strengthening
Fitness ColumnProper Posture Through Back Strengthening
Proper posture is a necessary component of a person’s overall healthy lifestyle.
But an increasing number of people are experiencing posture problems. Improper posture is most often exhibited by a person having a forward lean at the waist and a forward rounding of the shoulders.
Postural problems occur and increase gradually over time. As the forward lean and rounding increase, a person’s center of gravity is moved forward as well. This changed center of gravity then pulls a person forward even more, increasing the postural
Early Socialization for Dogs and Cats is Critical
Reggie. Courtesy/Friends of the Shelter
SHELTER NEWS:
This is Reggie. He came to the Los Alamos Shelter about 10 months ago.
He was surrendered at five months of age, along with his four littermates. All of the pups were extremely fearful. They were in a new place, and a certain level of trepidation was to be expected. But these youngsters were not just shy, they were downright terrified of people, and shrank away from any and all forms of human contact.
Why were the puppies so afraid of humans? It wasn’t because they’d been abused
They hadn’t been beaten or harshly handled. But they had been neglected, Read More
State Transportation Commission Meets in Angel Fire
NMDT News:
SANTA FE ─The governor-appointed commission that determines policy for the New Mexico Department of Transportation will hold its monthly meeting in the village of Angel Fire.
The six-member board, along with officials from NMDOT, the Federal Highway Administration and local community leaders, will meet at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, July 18 at The Lodge at Angel Fire, Conference Rooms A and B.
Items on the agenda include:
- Statewide Transportation Improvement Program FY 2012-2015 Amendment 9
- Annual Hardship Sale 2013
The meeting is open to the public and time will be allotted Read More
Celebration of Life for Marion Hay July 20
Memorial Notice:
There will be a Celebration of Life for Marion Hay at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 20 at the home of Bob and Sally Nolen, 790 Camino Encantado.
Marion passed away Feb. 15, 2013 and anyone who knew her is welcome to join the Nolen’s for an informal luncheon and share remembrances of Marion’s wonderful and life-long impact on so many people.
Los Alamos Police Blotter: July 3–July 8, 2013
The following information is provided by the Los Alamos Police Department.
Neither arrests nor charges indicate a conviction, and neither means that a person is guilty of the charges filed against them.
July 3 at 7:48 a.m. / A 39-year-old Tijeras health care worker reported that he was assaulted and battered on West Road.
July 3 at 1:08 p.m. / Police responded to a report on Gold Street of sexual exploitation of a child: possession of child pornography. The matter is under investigation.
July 3 at 3:49 p.m. / A 15-year-old Los Alamos girl was charged with shoplifting at 1735 Central Ave., Read More
Del Norte Credit Union Launches ‘Great Credit Race’
Del Norte Credit Union Launches “Great Credit Race”
- Partners with Filene Research Institute to Investigate Credit Score Genesis and Consumer Finance Education
SANTA FE—Del Norte Credit Union has partnered with Filene Research Institute, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to scientific and thoughtful analysis about issues affecting the future of consumer finance and credit unions, to launch a visionary study to investigate the establishment and trajectory of a credit score—starting from an initial FICO score of zero.
The Great Credit Race will follow the use of a VISA credit card Read More
Pajarito Mountain: What A Difference Two Years Make!
The land around Pajarito Mountain suffered some serious scorching in the Las Conchas Fire, as evident in this August 2011 panorama. Photo by George Lawrence
Two years later, much of the mountain is a green oasis, surrounded by the burned and recovering portions of the National Forest. Photo by George Lawrence.
By Bill Priedorsky:
Just two years ago, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area was a mess. The flames were out, but smoke was still rising, and the Las Conchas Fire had taken its toll.
The steel haul rope and chairs of the Spruce lift, oldest on the mountain, were lying on the grass. They had fallen because Read More
Luján Discusses LANL, Sandia With Moniz
DOE Secretary Ernest Moniz, left, met with Rep. Ben Ray Luján to discuss the role of Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories. Courtesy photo
CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District and a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee released the following statement after meeting with Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz:
“Today I had an opportunity to discuss with Secretary Moniz the important role that Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories play in New Mexico.
“As Co-Chair of the Technology Transfer Read More
Book of the Year: ‘Sun, Sticks and Mud’
Photograph from ‘Sun, Sticks and Mud.’ Photo by Steve FitchStaff Report:
ForeWord Reviews has announced the winners of the 2012 Book of the Year Awards.
Representing more than 600 publishers, the winners were selected after months of deliberation from 1,300 entries in 62 categories. The winners exemplify the best work coming from today’s independent, academic, and small press communities.
Gold, Silver and Bronze awards, as well as Editor’s Choice Prizes for Fiction and Nonfiction, were determined by a panel of librarians and booksellers and announced at a special program Read More
Three-Day Fiestas de Taos Slated for July 19-21
Children in costume for Fiestas de Taos. Courtesy photo
Staff Report:
TAOS—Voted by locals as Taos News’ 2013 “best annual event in Taos County,” Fiestas de Taos revives a centuries-old celebration of Taos, New Mexico’s culture, history and traditions with weekend long events July 19–21 in Taos Plaza.
Known originally as Fiesta de Santa Ana y Santiago, Fiestas de Taos (Taos Fiestas) is a community celebration honoring the two Catholic patron saints of Taos – St. Anne (Santa Ana) and St. Yago (Santiago), celebrated in Taos since the 1600s.
One of the biggest annual summer events in Taos, Fiestas Read More
Still Time to Enter Summer Reading Challenge
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Gov. Susana Martinez is reminding students on summer vacation that all forms related to the Summer Reading Challenges need to be in by Aug. 1.
There’s still time to download the forms and enter the competition.
“We are just three weeks away from the deadline for the Summer Reading Challenges,” Martinez said. “I urge all students to make sure they submit the paperwork for all of the books they read this summer by Aug. 1. It’s also not too late for students to get involved in the reading challenges. Information on how to participate is available online.”
In May, the Governor Read More
Wild Weather Whips Los Alamos Friday
Friday’s torrential storm floods the floors at the PAC 8 Studio in the lower level of the Los Alamos Community Building at the corner of Central Avenue and 20th Street. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com
Rain began filling up the excavated bottom of Ashley Pond Friday. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com
Staff Report:
Friday was a wild day throughout Los Alamos County with flooded buildings, power outages and rockslides.
Lightning and thunder pounded the area. Los Alamos Fire Department reported its dispatch radios were down and switched over to an alternate system.
Adventures in Mexico Featured at July Meeting of Los Alamos Mountaineers
Sherry Hardage, Mexico adventurer, will speak at the July 17 meeting of the Los Alamos Mountaineers. Courtesy photo
Have you ever traveled abroad with a tour group and thought “I could lead my own trip?”
In February 2012, Sherry Hardage took a tour to Copper Canyon and Bahia Magdelena with Nichols Expeditions. After living in Chiapas, Mexico for six months, Sherry decided to organize her own expedition and offer it to the Los Alamos Mountaineers.
Eight people signed on, and the July Mountaineers program will tell the story of their adventures.
Mayan Read More
Letter to the Editor: Climate Must Be Considered Over Profitability
By KAREN ORTEGAPresident Obama’s leadership on capping carbon emissions is long overdue with the impending climate crisis.
Special interest groups can no longer decide the fate of the environment we all share. New Mexico is already experiencing the effects of climate change. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than 60 percent of New Mexicans live in conditions of exceptional drought. This drought is aggravated by increasing global temperatures and extended periods of time without precipitation.
We need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, but natural gas is Read More
Yang: A Summer Fantasy – This One Involves Goats and Bureaucracy
A Summer Fantasy: This One Involves Goats and Bureaucracy Author’s note: Since this is a fantasy, let’s pretend that you don’t know where I live and what organization I refer to in this piece.
A nearby community college recently purchased two goats, mother and kid, to handle the landscape maintenance on their 60+ acre campus. The groundskeeper could not keep up with the invasive trees, shrubs, and weeds. He didn’t want to use herbicides for fear of contaminating the running water. While the president of the college was unaccustomed to farm animals – he’s from a major city – he Read More
Udall: $1.9 Million in Grants for Homeless Veterans
U.S. SENATE News:Is This Your Cat? … Found on Ensenada
Legislative Interim Committee Meetings Week of July 15
STATE News:
Upcoming Legislative Interim Committee Meetings
Week of July 15 – 19, 2013
SANTA FE–The following legislative interim committees are meeting the week of July 15 – 19, 2013.
July 15-17 — Indian Affairs Committee
Monday, July 15 — Pueblo of Isleta, Isleta Resort and Casino (Hotel), Ballroom C
Tuesday, July 16 — Pueblo of Santa Ana, Prairie Star
Wednesday, July 17 — Pueblo of Santo Domingo, Community Center, 1 Tesuque Street
Co-Chairs: Rep. Sandra Jeff (D-McKinley, San Juan-5) and Sen. John Pinto (D-McKinley, San Juan-3)
July 15–16 10 a.m. — Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy Committee Read More