Columns

A View from the Stacks: Your Librarian – the Original Natural Language Search Engine

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Column by VERONICA ENICINAS
Head of Reference, Mesa Public Library

Long, long ago, before the World Wide Web had matured and long before the miraculous search algorithm of Google was invented, finding the answer to your questions often involved consulting an encyclopedia – as well as a call or visit to your local library.

On one of those long ago days, a reference librarian was asked, “What are those little stringy things on the inside of banana peels called? You know, the ones that sometimes cling onto the banana after you’ve peeled it?” Well out came the botanical reference books and a search Read More

How The Hen House Turns: How The Hen House Came To Be … And Other Things, Like Goats

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How The Hen House Turns
By Carolyn A. (Cary) Neeper, Ph. D.

How The Hen House Came To Be … And Other Things, Like Goats

It must have been the summer of 1973 when Don built the Hen House. Our youngest daughter was about to have her sixth birthday.

She wanted a pet of her own, because, the year before, someone’s white rabbit had wandered into the yard. As a result, Santa Claus brought middle daughter item number one on her Christmas wishlist–two white rabbits, Sniffy and Pinkears.

Youngest daughter (YD) lucked out that next summer. The timing was right. Don had raised chickens as a boy

Read More

Hypno Talk: What is Hypnotherapy?

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Hypno Talk
By KELLY MCLOUGHLIN

What is Hypnotherapy?

Let me introduce to you the most powerful self-help system known to man – Hypnotherapy!

What exactly is hypnotherapy and how can it help me, you may be wondering? Hypnotherapy uses the ancient art of hypnosis to put a client into a deep state of relaxation.

Once the client is relaxed completely the therapist accesses the most powerful part of the mind, the subconscious mind. This is where we hold all of our beliefs and memories.

Before we get too far down the rabbit hole let me explain a little about the mind, starting with the conscious mind. Our Read More

Letter to the Editor: How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love Los Alamos

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By Joel M. Williams
Los Alamos

What’s the chance that the “Branding of Los Alamos” will be some version of “Virginia is for Lovers”?

I like “How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love Los Alamos.”

We could use a Los Alamos/Rio Grande landscape in the background with one of our local councilors (updated every year to give max visibility to the elected) astride.

“Get to know” Los Alamos, where discoveries are made!” is touted by BuffaloTours LA. The latter portion (in bold) is already splashed around on the web (on tourist sites like Read More

Hannemann’s Music Corner: Changing a Tenon Cork

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Hannemann’s Music Corner: Changing a Tenon Cork
By RICHARD HANNEMANN
 
Clarinets come in sections. Each section attaches to the other by means of a tenon and sleeve joint – one section has the sleeve, the other has the tenon which protrudes from the body of the section.
 
There is a cork on each tenon which allows a snug, and most importantly, air-tight fit.
 
Cork is wunnerful stuff. But it doesn’t last forever. Eventually it mashes down and wears out and then the joint gets wobbly, leaks air, and your instrument won’t play right. Time to change the tenon cork.
Read More

Money IQ: The Fiscal Cliff

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Money IQ
By ERIC LOUCKS
 
The Fiscal Cliff

The so called fiscal cliff is a series of tax increases and spending cuts that were due to come on line at the start of 2013 that were temporarily averted given a last second deal between the Republican led House of Representatives and the Democratic led Senate.

The compromise, known as the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, is not the grand solution to address our nation’s surging debt issues that many had hoped for.

Rather, it is more of a temporary band aid that resolves the revenue tax elements of the fiscal cliff, but delayed addressing the tougher Read More

Column: Rebranding Los Alamos … Krogerville?

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Rebranding Los Alamos … Krogerville? or, who speaks for me?
By KHALIL SPENCER
Los Alamos
 
Apparently, someone — see video on KRQE: Los Alamos does not want to be known as the “atomic city” anymore. The county is trying to create a new brand for the northern New Mexico community. Los Alamos is spending $50,000 to do it and have hired a company out of Tennessee to help. The company will meet with county leaders, business owners and community members to learn what makes Los Alamos distinctive, besides the building of the first atomic bomb — has the great idea to spend 50 grand of our money
Read More

Column: ‘Why People Do Not Go to Church?’

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“Why People Do Not Go to Church?”
By Sr. Pastor Paul Cunningham
First Baptist Church of Los Alamos

A strange subject for a pastor to explore, but one that even this pastor, lived for 10 years. It’s a cultural phenomenon not limited to Los Alamos but spans across the Atlantic, into the very seat of modern Christianity.

According to one report by the North American Mission Board, Los Alamos has the highest percentage of church-attendance of any county in New Mexico – 9.5 percent! 

But still, ‘why do people not go to church?’

This is what I have seen, heard and felt:

  • #1 Objection: Time; that does not
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Kendall: 2013 – A Fuller Lodge Oddity

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Update: The green electric box to the right below is new and much larger than the green transformer box that was previously in this location.   You may view the previous electrical setup by clicking HERE.

New electrical boxes have been installed in front of Fuller Lodge on Central Avenue. View facing west from the bronze statues of Oppenheimer and Groves. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com

New electrical boxes in front of Fuller Lodge on Central Avenue. View facing east. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost

Column by GREG KENDALL
Los Alamos

As part of an electric upgrade project Read More

Yang: Smaller Bag Is Smaller Than Bigger Bag

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Smaller Bag Is Smaller Than Bigger Bag
Column by ELENA YANG

Allow me to have some fun with the following announcement … otherwise, I’d have to cry. 

“Date Published: February 22, 2013

Publisher: URS CH2M Oak Ridge

When double bagging radioactive and/or asbestos wastes, consider using a smaller bag as the inner container and larger bag as the outer container to make an easy fit for the double bagging operations while minimizing the risk of contamination spreading.” 

Seriously?!

Of course, my first reaction was the usual, “No s*#%, Sherlock!” I realize that handling radioactive materials Read More