You can’t judge any news or opinion source by a single piece. Further, two people looking at the same piece will reach different conclusions — we all have our filters.

That said, today’s Albuquerque Journal tilts a bit to the right (“in my opinion” should always be implied). When the first individual cited is Steve Pearce, we might be suspicious. When the only other individual cited is Richard Pombo, alarms should be blaring. Pombo is not just one of those extremists who blame the Endangered Species Act for every evil short of terrorism; he’s also a member of the Starve the Beast Club. It remains to be seen if he is just a fanatic or, like his colleage Duke Cunningham, a corporate extortionist. When someone like Pombo speaks of “reform,” be very afraid (and vigilant). When local media endorses him as the voice of reason, well, … I just have no way to finish that sentence.

As the Journal carries water for the Radical Right on this, the editorial assumes a passionless tone — you have to trust them, because they’re so reasonable (note: passion isn’t evil and serial killers are passionless). And yet, slander worthy of John Dimdahl slips in:

Environmentalists worry that incentives, such as paying ranchers to maintain habitat for the lesser prairie chicken, would bankrupt federal agencies. Oddly, the potential for bankrupting stockmen and small logging operations by putting the burden on them never seemed to be much of a worry— perhaps more of a goal. And the Endangered Species Act often seemed a tool to realize that goal as much as to protect disappearing flora and fauna. [from ABQjournal: Political Minefield No Haven for Species]

Yup, tree huggers LIVE to bankrupt others — it’s our GOAL. And the ESA is our tool. mjh

Search this blog for Pombo

Warning! I hope anyone can enjoy most of my site. I do feel that written profanity is a little harsher than spoken, but this entry is about profanity and may require some. I can’t bring myself to write “frick” or “f-word” beyond this sentence.

A poll about profanity is bound to inspire lots of jokes and a fair amount of swearing.

I don’t remember my mother or father swearing much. My Mom said “damn” when she was really frustrated — I find myself doing the same thing and long considered that the most powerful curse.

I remember the first time I said “fuck” in front of my Mom (I was about 16). She covered her ears, winced as if struck and cried, “oh, my virgin ears!” I don’t think she ever got comfortable hearing it.

One thing that stung in comments with the survey was the claim that swearing indicates a limited vocabulary. Well, fuck that! Even allowing for some self-delusion and ego-inflation, I’m a pretty fucking articulate guy — no shit! And I don’t need a god-damn thesaurus, thank you very much. I enjoy expressing myself in many ways, some subtle, some coarse. I wonder what those who think “it’s the vocabulary, stupid!” think of the ubiquitous cool — enjoyed by all ages — one of the few exclamations I use more than “fuck.”

I’m really surprised that age predicts swearing, or more specifically, that 35 is the dividing line between foul and fair. Remember the Simpson’s Geriatric Profanity Disorder. I’m over 50 and I’m certain I say fuck many times a day, as do my wife and many of our friends (though I never write it as much as I have here). It’s just what we say. What the fuck happened to our peers — how did so many people grow up to become their own grandparents?

The Bill Bennetts and like-minded puritans will see this as further evidence of the decline of civilization. Obscenity may be a symptom, but so is burning abortion clinics and shooting doctors or judges. Evil sometimes wears nice clothes and a smile.

I’m not saying the world is a better place because of swearing. The real issue is one of anger and potential violence, which has risen immensely in my lifetime. I’d rather get cursed at than shot at. “Jerk!,” screamed at you may actually be worse than “asshole” said with less venom. Just as a thrust finger is harsher than a “what the fuck?” It’s tone, don’t you know.

Still, as the Mothers said, “it’s fucking great to be alive.” mjh

Results of AP-Ipsos poll on profanity

The Associated Press-Ipsos poll on public attitudes about profanity is based on telephone interviews with 1,001 adults in the United States from all states except Alaska and Hawaii. The interviews were conducted March 20-22 by Ipsos, an international polling firm.

Results were weighted to represent the population by demographic factors such as age, sex, region, race and income.

Demographics and details of profanity poll

Some demographics and details about the AP-Ipsos poll on attitudes about profanity.

I met one of my neighbors for the first time Thursday morning. Well, some might not call her my neighbor cuz we live blocks apart. And I didn’t get her name — I just got yelled at by her.

On my way around Altura Park with Lucky Dog, I decided to photograph some flowers across the street. These are white flowery fruit trees that are lovely for, at most, one week each year — they are at peak right now. I was especially drawn by the illumination of the flowers against an almost black-in-shadow wall.

While I fiddled, with his leash gripped between my knees, Lucky wandered into the vinca along the sidewalk. He loves vinca, but today he just sat down rather than roll around or paw. I took a few shots and for the last, I stepped into the vinca, too.

At that moment, the owner drove up. Halfway up her driveway she stopped and yelled with exasperation, “You know, I don’t appreciate you letting your dog ‘go’ in my yard. Why don’t you give me your address and I’ll bring my dog over to your house!.” To which I replied with my address — if that will balance this injustice — which seemed to do nothing to placate her. She repeated the “‘go’ in my yard” thing again. To which I replied, “he’s not really ‘going’, he’s sitting.” Still no pleasing her; more of the same. Fed up, and a bit guilty, I said, “I’m sorry; thank you for the opportunity to photograph your flowers.” I turned away from her fuming.

Now, I don’t encourage trespassing anymore than I do over-zealous property-rights-obsession. I know I was wrong to trespass and a love of flowers and light and shadow are poor excuses; the dog was an innocent bystander. I’m sorry for trespasses. I am not sorry for upsetting her — her reaction is her problem, not mine. I have no idea what the Buddha or Jesus would say to her, but it might be “how’s that working for you?”

I was a bit put-off by the hollow “I’ll bring my dog over” threat. If she actually has a dog, there MUST be some occasion where that dog did something she’s not proud of. Some walk where she slipped up and let that dog cross from public to private space. It’s not possible to have a dog bigger than a breadbox that won’t go where it will at any opportunity. The shortest distance between two points is of no interest to a dog. Neither are boundaries or borders or property lines.

Living where she does, she surely knows countless dogs have had their way with her vinca. She also surely knows that vinca in shade is indestructible — and, this time of year, looks like shit on its own. These facts don’t excuse me but might lead some to pick a different battle. What’s your well-being worth to you?

In my case, my well-being is greatly restored by the laughter of friends when I tell my story and also by knowing her friends will be laughing, too. A better man might keep it to himself. A better woman might have, too. mjh

The first full day of Spring had an extra sweetness this year. It was Filing Day, when those seeking various elective offices must file and make known their candidacy. My wife is Merri Rudd, Bernalillo County Probate Judge. She has held that office for most of one full term, preceded by a few years filling out the term of her predecessor, Ira Robinson, who left office to move up to the NM Court of Appeals.

Merri has run in two contested elections. She is as smart and hard-working a candidate, as she is a judge, but campaigning is a brutally draining process. The first time, she opposed Tom Mescall, the incumbent. The next time, she was in a race against fellow Democrats, John Wayne Higgins and Ira Robinson, who filed his candidacy 5 minutes before the deadline. That experience of having someone jump in the race at the last minute (and later win) left an indelible mark on Merri and me.

For good or bad, there are few requirements for county offices. You file your paperwork and pay your $50 and you, too, can run (if you are over 18, a NM resident not currently in jail, etc). In most counties, the Probate Judge doesn’t even have to be a lawyer, though in Bernalillo County, that is a requirement.

Most people who have paid any attention realize Merri is the perfect person for this job. If I say she may be the best probate judge ever, you’ll dismiss that as spousal prejudice, but it is actually at least a possibility — no offense intended to other judges (many of whom Merri has trained and who seek her views daily).

This year, like the previous race, no one filed to run against her. Most of us believe that potential opponents realized she deserves the office or might even be unbeatable. Merri, more modestly, thinks few people care about the office enough to run. Either way, the crescendo of worry on Filing Day quickly passed and Merri gets the proverbial “free ride.”

So, Bernalillo gets to keep its great probate judge for 4 additional years, at which point term limits prevent her for staying in office forever. And Merri gets to relax a bit and neither of us has to worry about the devastating effects of a campaign — it is an exhausting process that must end in someone’s heartbreak, no matter who is the most qualified.

I might go so far as to say “the system worked” but, though the outcome was the best one possible, I’m not sure this is a measure of the system.

Continue reading The Thrill of Victory →

It is truly tragic that anyone ever suffers through deliberate violence. It is also sad that public servants may be murdered in the line of duty. Life is short; we should let each other have as much time as we can fairly squeeze in.

That said, I have two thoughts about the recent murder of a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputy, beyond my sincere sympathy for him, his family and friends and our community. Two thoughts I don’t expect to see expressed anywhere else.

Continue reading What Would Stop the Violence? →