It has been one month since I sent my Open Letter to Albuquerque’s Mayor Berry regarding what to do with items we *want* to recycle but the City won’t. No word from him.
Category Archives: loco
As Tip O’Neill never said, “All politics is loco.”
Senator Tom Udall has opposed the so-called “Patriot” Act from the beginning – Kudos to him
Democracy for New Mexico: Udall: Reauthorizing Patriot Act Is Mistake; NM Congressional Dems Vote No
U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), took to the Senate floor last Wednesday to reaffirm his opposition to the Patriot Act, saying that the law undermines the constitutional right to privacy of law-abiding citizens (see video clip above).
Democracy for New Mexico: Udall: Reauthorizing Patriot Act Is Mistake; NM Congressional Dems Vote No [hat tip to Democracy for New Mexico]
An Open Letter to Albuquerque’s Mayor Berry Regarding Recycling
What do you do with the large blocks of styrofoam that come with most assemble-it-yourself items? I put several large blocks of styrofoam out to recycle and saw many of my neighbors do the same. I got a note that such is not recycled. Do we want this in the landfill? How much of this goes to the dump every month? I bet you can’t answer that.
I think if someone goes to the trouble of putting material on the curb for recycling, the recycle truck should take it. You have no other way of knowing what people think *should* be recycled or how much of that there is. Collect it, quantify it, then trash it if you can’t figure out anything better.
peace,
mjh
PS: Abq also doesn’t accept “chipboard,” such as cereal boxes, plastic bags (Smiths and other groceries accept these for recycling), common plastics other than #1 or #2 (Whole Foods accepts #5 — Gimme 5), or glass (curbside, but yes at various drop-off points; call 311).
Recycling – City of Albuquerque
Much of the more than 1,800 tons of trash generated by the city each day can be recycled. The manufacturing of new products requires considerable energy. If these materials are reused or recycled instead of being disposed of at landfills, less energy will be used, saving on scarce resources. … For more information on the Three R’s—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle—call the Solid Waste Management Department at (505) 761-8100.
Recyclables are collected curbside at Albuquerque households, at recycling drop-off sites throughout the city, and at the city’s three Convenience Centers.
Recycling – City of Albuquerque
Preserve Gimme 5 bins can be found at the following Whole Foods Market stores and other select locations. The program will expand in the coming months so check back for additional locations. If you don’t live near a Preserve Gimme 5 location, you can mail your #5 plastics directly to Preserve. Turn your yogurt cups into toothbrushes, your takeout containers into razors by joining Gimme 5.
Photojournalism
I like to take pictures of pretty things. But photography must include unpleasant subjects, as well.
I took that picture four years ago. I was driving when I saw the truck. It took me a moment to catch the error. I thought, “I wish I had a camera,” and my wish came true (it had been on the seat next to me the whole time). Later, I decided not to post this because I abhor that word and the violence of this act. However, time passes and it’s never too late to ridicule the idiot who painted this. (Mind you, dyslexics have my sympathy; misogynists do not.)
Similarly, I was appalled to find the following sign in my neighborhood park. Who would wrap packing tape around a tree to post a sign. And who would hire such a person who couldn’t spell or use spell check – or capitalize properly.
Both of these are part of a large topic I call “AlBAHquerque,” with which I document the ugly side of our town. I call quite a few of these “screw the view,” because that’s what they say to me: that someone’s profit matters more than beauty.
First Follow-up to Citizen Journalism Panel
My thanks to everyone who attended and to Gwyneth Doland and Kevin McDonald, KNME.
One of Gwyneth’s suggestions seemed particularly important: pick your subject, your interest, and stick with it. She spoke of the specific example of attending meetings, talking to participants, reading official documents. Important advice from the professional journalism perspective. (As devil’s advocate, I say write about what strikes you at the moment. You do not have to specialize to write. You especially do not need one single focus to get started.)
When Kevin McDonald mentioned PBS isn’t subject to ratings in quite the way commercial TV is, I thought most local TV stations don’t have vocal critics clamoring to shut them down completely. This relates to the woman who expressed her irritation at Gwyneth’s specific examples of media sources. We all have biases. Moreover, we all should cut each other some slack, especially when we give up a Saturday to come together.
I have mixed feelings about Kevin’s suggestion to associate with a larger entity. He says it lends some credibility to the blogger. Certainly, it increases the odds of one’s efforts being seen. It smacks a little of my cynical observation at the start that “citizen journalism” sounds like an excuse for firing the professionals. More importantly, I like my autonomy. Anyone is welcome to link to me, but I don’t want anyone’s masthead.
I have a recent example that turns the whole notion of citizen journalism (professionals versus amateurs) upside down, but I need to get my facts straight. Be so kind as to come back here on Tuesday. Thanks.
You, too, can be a Citizen Journalist – whatever that is
Start blogging. Writing is an exquisite exploration of the world and self, at once. If you think you have nothing to say, think again. If you think no one will care, you’re in for a surprise, but don’t despair if it seems no one is reading – they just don’t think they have anything to say. Setting up a blog takes a few minutes.
Consider using Windows Live Writer as a tool for blogging (after you set up your account with some service). WLW is a great wordprocessing-like tool.
Join Facebook. Whereas blogging may connect you to anyone in the world, Facebook connects you to people you already know. Hermits blog; Facebook draws you out of your cave. But don’t ‘friend’ everybody or ‘like’ everything – you’ll be overwhelmed. Learn about Friend Lists as a way to organize Facebook.
Read the Web. Find sites you like. Explore randomly, as well. www.dukecityfix.com has an extensive list of Albuquerque blogs. Use RSS (Really Simple Syndication) to keep up with sites without visiting them directly – look for an orange icon on the site or near the address bar. Consider using Google Reader to organize your RSS feed subscriptions.
Share links. On your blog or in Facebook, link to the items you like or learn from. Look for a Share button or link. Learn how to add Share to your browser for any site. If you use WLW and Firefox, add a Blog This button to Firefox, as well.
Note the difference in these links:
www.edgewiseblog.com/mjh/ (links to this blog – newest content always at top)
www.edgewiseblog.com/mjh/you-too-can-be-a-citizen-journalist-whatever-that-is/ (links to this specific entry: permalink)
Comment. React. Discuss. (Be nice.)
What about Twitter? Meh, but some people love it. (Hint: RSS works with Twitter, too.)
Write me (mark@mjhinton.com). My stuff (each has RSS feeds):
- www.edgewiseblog.com/mjh/ – politics, poetry, miscellany
- www.photosbymjh.com – photo blog
- www.mjhinton.com/wild/ – wilderness, southwest, rockies, Chaco Canyon
- www.mjhinton.com/help/ – computer topics, especially Windows and Web
- www.flickr.com/photos/mjhinton/ – individual photo
- picasaweb.google.com/photosbymjh/ – photo galleries
- www.youtube.com/user/ooo0j0ooo – videos I like and a few of my own
- Amazon.com: Mark Justice Hinton – shameless plug
For the 2011 Open Government Academy, presented by the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, New Mexico Press Association, and New Mexico Broadcasters Association.
Information is power. Get yours!
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Whatever your cause, this one-day workshop will deliver the tools YOU need to become an informed and active participant in state and local policy-making.
The Loons Gather in New Mexico
Wilson is “too moderate.” No one will be more conservative unless they’re on the “loon right,” which is “like coming back around on the left.” (Yes, they’re so conservative their liberal!) It’s going to be great fun watching Republicans shoot each other in the foot in 2012.
Sanchez also was dismissive of the tea party movement, saying, “I don’t necessarily need to be the Tea Party candidate.” He did say that he agreed with tea party positions like smaller government and less taxes.
Sowards: ‘There will be no one to my right’ in GOP primary | New Mexico Independent
“There will be no one to my right, and I believe the other candidates are more conglomerated around the moderate area,” Sowards said, according to David Cantanes. “I don’t see how anyone would get between me and conservative principles. They can go to the loon right, which is, as far as I’m concerned, like coming back around on the left.”
Sowards also said that Pearce supporters had told him they would oppose a second Senate run from the Republican congressman.
Sowards: ‘There will be no one to my right’ in GOP primary | New Mexico Independent
Sowards sells himself as the conservative candidate | NMPolitics.net
Sowards has run for federal office twice in the past, without success; however, with the growth of the tea party movement, he appears to be getting a closer look from some influential groups this time around. He also recently got a prominent mention in an investors.com article.
One of Sowards’ missions is to keep U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., out of the race.
Sowards sells himself as the conservative candidate | NMPolitics.net