SFI Lecture: Everything Is Obvious Once You Know The Answer
SFI News:
The Santa Fe Community Lecture, “The Myth of Common Sense: Why Everything that Seems Obvious Isn’t” is set for 7:30 p.m., Wednesday July 25 at the James A. Little Theater in Santa Fe.
Duncan Watts
Principal Researcher, Microsoft; author,”Everything Is Obvious Once You Know The Answer;” former SFI External Professor
Abstract: Relying on “common sense” is the sensible thing to do, right? Not always. Although common sense can be useful for dealing with everyday problems, it can suffer from systematic failures when applied to Read More
Marc Goodman: A Vision of Crimes in the Future
“We are at the dawn of a technological arms race, an arms race between people who are using technology for good and those who are using it for ill.” -Marc Goodman
Marc Goodman imagines the future crime and terrorism challenges we will all face as a result of advancing technologies.
He thinks deeply about the disruptive security implications of robotics, artificial intelligence, social data, virtual reality and synthetic biology.
Technology, he says, is affording exponentially growing power to non-state actors and rogue players, with significant consequences for our common global security. Read More
OBITUARY: Bob Gene Cousins May 22, 1929 – July 3, 2012
Bob Gene Cousins, 83, was born May 22, 1929. Born in Tulsa Oklahoma, he was the third of three children born to George and Ruth Cousins. Casting Call for Over 50 Local Students
Courtesy/Los Alamos Arts Council
More than 50 roles will be cast for students entering grades 1 through 12 for the Missoula Children’s Theatre “Beauty Lou and the Country Beast.”
The casting call is 9:30 a.m., Monday July 23 at Crossroads Bible Church, N.M. 502 on the south side of road between the Hilltop House Hotel and Los Alamos County Airport
Parent or guardian must be with each child when registering in order to sign the permission form.
All auditioners should plan to attend the entire morning audition and, if selected, have an open calendar from 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m., for the week Read More
Elegance Fills Fuller Lodge for Sunday’s Apprentice Singers Concert
The Los Alamos Opera Guild hosted a concert of Apprentice Singers at Fuller Lodge Sunday. Founded in 1957, The Los Alamos Opera Guild is the oldest guild of the Santa Fe Opera. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com
Board Member Anna Earlene Caspersen of the Los Alamos Opera Guild before the concert Sunday. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com
The Los Alamos Opera Guild hosted a concert of Apprentice Singers at Fuller Lodge Sunday. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com
Board Member Anna Earline Caspersen, left, and Dr. Mary Cummings, president of the Los Alamos Opera Guild chat Read More
Comparing Federal Funding of New Mexico Schools: How Does LAPS Stack Up?
By Morris B. Pongratz
Because the Los Alamos Public Schools system depends heavily on the “DOE $8 million,” a headline on page C1 of the Tuesday, July 3, 2012 Albuquerque Journal caught my eye.
The headline “Federal Funds Key for Schools” was for a column written by Jenny Kane of the Farmington Daily News.
The article was based on a recently released United States Census Bureau report entitled “Public Education Finances: 2010” (https:////www.census.gov/govs/school/) written by Mark Dixon.
The report contains Public Elementary–Secondary Education Finance Data from Read More
Paul Drakos to Speak at Geological Society Tuesday
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY News:
Wheeler Geologic Area near Creede, Colo. Courtsy/LAGS
Dr. Paul G. Drakos, Senior Geologist and Vice President of Glorieta Geoscience, Inc. in Santa Fe is the featured speaker for the Los Alamos Geological Society meeting, set for 7:30 p.m., Tuesday July 17 at the Christian Church, 92 East Road, Los Alamos.
Drakos’ talk is entitled, “Soil-stratigraphic framework, timing of recent eolian events, and preservation of archaeological sites on the Pajarito Plateau.”
Stratigraphic relationships and soil characteristics provide a geomorphic Read More
Mesa Public Library’s Authors Speak Series Presents New Mexico’s Centennial Story Teller Joe Hayes
MESA PUBLIC LIBRARY News:
Join Joe Hayes for a family evening of fun and tall tales in English and Spanish at 7 p.m., Thursday July 26 on the lawn at Fuller Lodge, weather permitting, inside if not, presented by Mesa Public Library.
Bring a picnic and come early to get a good spot for this beloved, official New Mexico Centennial storyteller and former teacher with Los Alamos Public Schools.
As Hayes notes, “I’ll tell a selection of favorite stories gleaned from New Mexico’s diverse cultures. I’ve been traveling the state with my stories for more than 30 of the 100 years of statehood, Read More
Cone Zone Update: Week of July 16
COUNTY News:
Public Works Projects:
N.M. 4 Improvements Project
Motorists can expect a relatively open roadway this week with temporary tabs marking driving lanes.
Permanent striping and roadway markings will be placed in approximately two weeks, allowing the latest pavement application adequate time to cure.
As the contractor works to finish up any remaining median or shoulder work, intermittent lane closures can be expected.
The speed limit within the construction area is 30 mph. Please drive defensively and watch for construction vehicles.
Pavement Preservation Program
Crews will Read More
Filippenko will deliver 42nd Oppenheimer Memorial Lecture
OPPENHEIMER MEMORIAL LECTURE News:
Award-winning UC Berkeley astrophysicist Alex Filippenko will deliver the 42nd Oppenheimer Memorial Lecture at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20, in the Duane Smith Auditorium in Los Alamos.
The lecture, “Dark Energy and the Runaway Universe,” is free and open to the public.
Filippenko has made a career of studying supernovae and using these cosmic beacons to probe the vastness of space.
Filippenko was a member of two independent teams that in 1998 reported, based on observations of supernovae, that the universe was expanding at a runaway pace.
The leaders of those Read More
LAHS’s Holly Erickson Earns $60K at International Science Fair
Los Alamos High School student Holly Erickson at the International Science Fair in Pittsburgh in May. Courtesy photo
By Kirsten Laskey
Los Alamos High School student Holly Erickson and her science project, “Intelligent Self-Assembling System using Robotic Cells” started out on a local stage but ended up on an international one.
Erickson, who will be a senior this year, participated in the International Science Fair held May 13-18 in Pittsburgh.
She competed in the electrical and mechanical engineering division and received a $60,000 scholarship to go to Florida Technical College.
“It Read More
UNM-LA Presents Summer Programs for Kids & Teens
Courtesy/UNM-LA
By Bonnie Gordon
The staff and faculty of UNM-LA are excited to welcome kids and teens to the campus when UNM-LA presents two unique programs for those in grades 4-12 this summer.
UNM-LA will host “University Experience,” from July 23-27. This program is a newly designed and invigorated version of what was once called “Children’s College.”
This program includes two components, the “University Adventures” program for students entering grades 4-7 and “University Explorations” for older students entering grades 7-12.
Seventh graders may select either program, depending Read More
Y Camp to Perfom “Back-To-The-Future” Thursday
A “Back-To-The-Future” performance extravaganz a featuring Y campers will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday July 19 at Barranca Elementary School. The public is welcome to attend this end-of-summer performance and ice cream social. Courtesy/YMCA Read More
Ribbon Cut on North Mesa Disc Golf Course
Los Alamos County Parks and Trails Division Superintendant Jeff Humpton cuts the ribbon to the entrance of the North Mesa Disc Golf Course Saturday. The Los Alamos County Parks and Recreation Dvision held the ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the newly renovated North Mesa Disc Golf Course. A tournament was held after the ceremony with participants from Los Alamos, White Rock and a few non-locals. Visit https:////www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=4854&mode=ci for a course description and map. The course is free to the public and open year round. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com Read More
Board of Public Utilities Meets 5:30 p.m. Wednesday
DPU News:
The Board of Public Utilities is holding its regular monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 18.
The meeting is at 170 Central Park Square.
The meeting is open to the public.
On the agenda:
- Approval of Modification of DPU rules and regulations regarding the fee schedule for water hydrant meters
- Cooperation on achieving the County’s sustainability goals
- Electric reliability plan update
- Discussion of sewer project costs and ways to fund continuing sewer budget needs
- Discussion on the board’s sewer budget presentation to Council July 24
- Discussion on utilities manager goals
Los Alamos Boasts World’s Newest Rotarians
Rotary President Linda Hull, left, looks on as School Board President Kevin Honnell and Christina Kraemer, who recently returned from a Group Study Exchange in South Africa, are inducted into the local club during a ceremony at Tuesday’s Rotary Club lunch meeting at the Dixie Girl. Rotarian Skip King pronounces Honnell and Kraemer “the two newest Rotary Club members in the world.” Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More
Taylor Receives Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal
Jacob Taylor, NIST Physicist, Receives Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal for Public Service. Photo by Sam Kittner/Kittner.com
NIST News:
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) physicist Jacob Taylor received a Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal (Sammies) for his advanced scientific research, which has potential for advances in health care, communications, computing, and technology.
Presented the award by Acting Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank Sept. 13, Taylor was one of just nine winners chosen from nearly 400 nominees for awards honoring excellence Read More
Every Business Tycoon Starts Somewhere…
Ashley Donny and Dante Cote sell snow cones near the corner of Trinity Drive and Diamond Drive Saturday afternoon. The young entrepreneurs will be selling their flavorful snow cones – grape, orange, cherry and lemon-lime – again next Saturday. Courtesy photo Read More
Board Approves LAHS Bus Loop, Landscaping and Parking Lot Work
Photo: The Los Alamos High School Bus Loop Committee met with the architect July 3 to review options that were presented at Tuesday’s School Board meeting. Courtesy/LAPS
By Kirsten Laskey
Say goodbye to a dirt lawn and a parking lot with helter-skelter lanes at Los Alamos High School.
The proposed bus loop and landscape project were approved at Tuesday’s school board meeting.
The bus loop project, which received a unanimous vote, involves replacing the existing sidewalk along Smith Auditorium and P-Wing with a new six-foot wide sidewalk.
Additionally, a bus loading and unloading Read More
Annual Stoddard Scholarship Awards Announced
Photo: Emily Lucero.
By Karyl Ann Armbruster
How does the Caldera National Preserve relate to the Stoddard Scholarship? Steve Stoddard, a member of the original trustees of the Valles Caldera who attended many meetings to decide the fate of the Caldera, was given a per diem stipend.
Rather than spend that money on his family, he placed it in an account.
By the time all was settled with the Valles Caldera, there was a significant amount of money set aside. Steve and his wife Barbara realized that what they both valued was the work that teachers and nurses do for our community and state.
With that Read More