VOL II, Issue 4, February 25, 2015 Still FREE, thank goodness

N.M. Two-year Schools Rank at the Bottom In Grad Rates PAGE 5

Manny Aragon Out Of Prison, Talking Politics PAGE 12

TV: Ari Stidham of ‘Scorpion’ Page 23 PAGE 2 • February 25, 2015 • ABQ FREE PRESS www.freeabq.com NEWS www.abqarts.com

Editor: [email protected] ABQ Free Press Pulp News Associate Editor, News: [email protected] Associate Editor, Arts: compiled By abq free press staff [email protected] VOL II, Issue 4, February 25, 2015 Still FREE, thank goodness Anniversary having such an incredibly advanced Going cordless Force Base that caught fire during Advertising: [email protected] capability,” Costin Raiu, director of maintenance. The U.S. has 76 B-52s in Adobe’s Photoshop just turned 25. The The year 2015 likely will be the year On Twitter: Kaspersky Lab’s global research and service, most of them built in the 1960s. @FreeABQ program, created by a company called you cut the cord – your cell phone analysis team, told PCWorld. Only re- In This Issue Photoshop, was acquired by Adobe in charger cord, that is. Samsung is sig- moving the hard drive and destroying 1989 after two other software compa- naling it’s ready to add wireless charg- Radio mystery Editor it can get the malware out of a system. nies turned it down. The first version, ing capability to its cheaper phones. Dan Vukelich Named for the Equation cybercrime Yosemite Sam, a shortwave radio Photoshop 1.0, went on sale in 1990, Standardization of components within (505) 345-4080. Ext. 800 NEWS group, the Equation malware shares broadcast believed to originate from supplanting photo-retouching services charging pads has brought the price ABQ Free Press Pulp News...... Page characteristics with the Stuxnet and outside of Albuquerque, is one of Associate Editor, News 2 that cost up to $300 an hour. The latest down. An international standards scores of indecipherable broadcasts Dennis Domrzalski Local briefs...... Page 4 version, Photoshop 15.0, is offered as a Flame malware linked to the NSA, group recently announced specifica- believed to be aimed at spies and (505) 306-3260 Update: ABQ Free Press APD gun records lawsuit...... Page cloud-based subscription. Kaspersky reports. tions for wireless charging that will 4 the military around the world. The accelerate adoption of the technology Net neutrality lobbying cash...... Page 4 stations, called “numbers stations” Associate Editor, Arts across all smartphone brands. CNM, other N.M. two-year schools graduation rates lag ...... Page 5 Malware On camera typically contain a short data burst fol- Stephanie Hainsfurther (505) 301-0905 The Bosque battle is just beginning...... Page 8 Cybercriminals have developed a new Kendra Sunderland, an Oregon lowed by a voice reading numbers in Zombie plane What’s going on at the De Anza Motor Lodge?...... Page 8 form of malware that can’t be removed State University student fined for various languages, including Russian, Design masturbating on camera in the OSU Chinese, Hungarian and German. The Critics blast Kirtland fuel spill cleanup plan...... Page from a hard drive. The malware has A 53-year-old Air Force B-52 bomber Terry Kocon, Hannah Reiter, Cathleen Tiefa 9 attacked computers in 30 countries, Library, has landed a photo spread in in storage at the Davis-Monthan Air 2001 convictions of a gang of Cuban ABQ executive seeks to crush the radio industry...... Page 11 including Russia, Iran, India, Pakistan Penthouse magazine, will get her own Force Base aircraft boneyard in Tucson spies who received their instructions in Photography COVER STORY: Manny Aragon comes home to different N.M...... Page 12 girl-cam website and front an online the U.S. via a Cuban numbers station and China and has strong similarities has been resurrected and returned to Mark Bralley, Mark Holm, Juan Antonio The Feds’ changing rules on healthcare portal cost N.M. millions...... Page 16 to techniques used by the National Se- dating site called “Date Broke Girls.” service in Louisiana. The plane, “Ghost was the first proof of use of a numbers Labreche, Liz Lopez, Adria Malcolm curity Agency. Reformatting the hard The deals could be worth six figures. Rider,” was rehabilitated with new fuel station in espionage. Yosemite Sam, drive doesn’t remove the infection, Sunderland faces a $6,250 fine and a bladders, fuel lines and tires and flown which has been broadcasting on 3700 Contributors this issue COLUMNS which uses the drive’s own firmware year in jail, but a Canadian website, by a skeleton crew on the three-hour or 6500 kHz since 2004, starts with a Sabrina Autry, Pat Davis, Steve Fischmann, to create hidden sectors of the disc, Bang You Later, has offered to pay her flight with its landing gear extended data burst, followed by the old Bugs Barry Gaines, Gary Glasgow, Ginny Grimsley, Joe Monahan: Do we lack the will to build N.M.’s economy?...... Page 7 Chase Hamilton, Betsy Model, Joe Monahan, says the Russian computer software fine. The Huffington Post reported that as a precaution against landing-gear Bunny cartoon character screaming Efrain Villa: Stumbling in the dark in Uganda...... Page 7 company Kaspersky. “Theoretically, an OSU fraternity plans to picket the failure. The plane, the first B-52 to be behind the static. To hear Yosemite Sharon Niederman, Richard Oyama, we were aware of this possibility, but courthouse when she goes to court. resurrected and returned to service, Sam, search on “Yosemite Sam short- Jerry Ortiz y Pino, Ona Porter, Robert Reich, Peter St. Cyr, Rene Thompson, Saffron Tomato, as far as I know this is the only case Sunderland told reporters that college will receive new electronics and will wave” on YouTube. Richard Vargas, Efrain Villa ANALYSIS & OPINION ever that we have seen of an attacker wasn’t for her. replace another B-52 at Barksdale Air Op-ed: Payday loan industry’s claimed ‘reforms’ are bogus...... Page 13 Copy Editors Editorial cartoons by Gary Glasgow...... Page 13 Jim Wagner Wendy Fox Dial Robert Reich: A return to 19th Century labor economics...... Page 14 Jerry Ortiz y Pino: Let teachers, parents decide retention ...... Page 15 Featured RENTAL Property Sales Manager Op-ed: Why the House Democrats walked out...... Page 15 Greta Weiner, (505) 345-4080, Ext, 803 Sales representative ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE Jeffrey Newman, (505) 345-4080, Ext. 805 Calling all Pets...... Page 17 Operations Manager Deep Dish: On breakfast, bistros and bread...... Page 19 Abby Feldman (505) 345-4080, Ext. 802 Living: Anti-inflammation recipes...... Page 20 A full-service residential Published every other week by: Music: March round-up at The Outpost...... Page 21 and commercial Great Noggins LLC Music Briefs, Live Performance Spotlights...... Page 22 P.O. Box 6070 TV: The lovable Ari Stidham of ‘Scorpion’...... Page 23 property management brokerage Albuquerque, NM 87197-6070 Theater: ‘Souvenir’ at The Adobe; ‘The King and I’ at ALT...... Page 24 serving both renters Publishers Film: ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’...... Page 25 and property owners. Will Ferguson and Dan Vukelich Film Briefs...... Page 25 Film: A former Marine sniper reviews ‘American Sniper’……...... Page 26 10513 Schenley Park Drive NE Corrections policy: It is the policy of ABQ Free Press to correct Remembering poet-essayist-historian Tony Mares...... Page 26 515 CENTRAL AVENUE NE errors in a timely fashion. Contact the editors Books: Anna Nordhaus on ‘American Ghost’…………………...... Page 27 ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO 87196-4249 Three Bedroom, two bath with office, two car garage, 1329 SF at the email addresses on this page. Calendar of Events; Crossword Solution...... Pages 28-31 Crossword Puzzle...... Page OFFICE 505-242-0989 Open living with fireplace, large kitchen with loads of cabinets, 32 Where to find FAX 505-242-0969 incredible stained concrete floors, spacious bedrooms, master On the cover: Former state Sen. Manny Aragon, home from four and a half years in a federal prison on a conviction for TOLL FREE 888-248-0969 our paper? conspiracy to commit mail fraud, talks about the state of New Mexico politics. (Photo by Liz Lopez) with walk-in closet & patio access! This home backs to tennis List of more than E-MAIL [email protected] courts, one of two ponds, a park! There is a clubhouse, 550 locations Corrections at freeabq.com WWW.MADDOXMGMT.COM additional park, workout room and two swimming pools. In a story in the Feb. 11 issue, Sen. Phil Griego’s leadership position in the New Mexico Senate was misstated. He is the chairman of the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee. PAGE 4 • February 25, 2015 • ABQ FREE PRESS NEWS NEWS ABQ FREE PRESS • February 25, 2015 • PAGE 5 ABQ Free Press Local Briefs ABQ Free Press Files Motion CNM, Other N.M. Two-year Schools Lag in Ontime Graduation Rates COMPILED BY ABQ FREE PRESS STAFF For APD Gun Inventory, Damages BY SABRINA AUTRY BY ABQ FREE PRESS STAFF Grand juries Laboratories earlier this month ew Mexico’s two-year community colleges are that the recent slide in oil prices, Namong the worst in the nation in graduating awyers for ABQ Free Press have be included in governmental tactical U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham paradoxically, could lead to higher students on time, according to statistics compiled by asked a Bernalillo County District response plan or procedure. Otherwise, has co-sponsored a bill calling for prices in the long term. Low prices L state and educational advocacy sources. Court judge to rule that the Albuquerque it is not sufficient to deny an inspection appointment of a special prosecutor threaten to destabilize the econo- It’s a situation that could leave the state short of Police Department violated state law to investigate fatal police shootings request that the requested records college-trained workers that companies say they mies of large oil producers such as by refusing to give the newspaper an and to present the results to a judge in could conceivably be useful to terrorists need to thrive and expand – a shortage that could Venuzuela, Nigeria and Angola, inventory of its military-style weapons. a probable-cause hearing. The Grand planning an attack,” Hunter wrote. further stunt the state’s already weak economy, said James Clad, a former assistant The motion seeks the requested Jury Reform Act would remove secretary of defense. When the Chief Gorden Eden testified he was experts said. potential conflicts of interest that weapons inventory and penalties of not involved in the decision to deny the price of a barrel of oil fell below $100 a day on behalf of the newspaper The top four degree-producing, two-year com- might exist when local prosecutors, records request. $50, oil markets started factoring and one of its freelance writers, Peter St. munity colleges in New Mexico graduate an average who work closely with local police, When asked whether or not he agreed the risk of political instability and Cyr, calculated from Jan. 21, 2014, the of just 4.25 percent of their students in two years, help decide whether to charge an with Mr. Chavez’s rationale that the the likely long-term unreliability day St. Cyr requested the records under which is below the national average of 5 percent, officer with a crime following a fatal of supply into the futures market, the New Mexico Inspection of Public weapons inventory could be used by according to Complete College America (CCA), a shooting. The bill, introduced with which caused the price of oil to rise. Records Act. terrorists, Eden said: nonprofit organization that works to increase the another Democrat, U.S. Rep. Henry “Nigeria has already gone to hell in Reynaldo Chavez, the APD records “I would not say the primary reason number of college graduates. “Hank” Johnson of Georgia, also calls a handbasket,” said Clad, a member custodian, denied the request, citing an by any means would be terrorists, but I New Mexico’s and the nation’s remarkably low on state law enforcement agencies, of the Avascent International Group. exemption in the law allowing govern- think it would definitely be those people on-time national graduation rates are due in part to rather than on local law enforcement, In mid-February, oil was selling for ment entities to withhold records that who are likely to commit crime, look the population that two-year schools typically serve to investigate cases. between $50 and $60 a barrel. could reveal a “tactical response plan” to at to find out what types of equipment – students not ready for four-year schools, working a terrorist attack. the Department may or may not have in single parents who don’t have the resources to Recycling In an email to Chavez, St. Cyr wrote, order to formulate a plan or an action, attend classes full-time, and students who don’t yet Seizures “We are not interested in revealing any let’s say to hold up a bank or look at know what they want to do for a living. The blue and brown leather seats A Ruidoso Republican has intro- police tactics ... we simply want to know what the strengths and the weaknesses While less expensive than four-year schools, New familiar to any passenger on South- duced a bill to ban “policing for any and all weapons ... that are owned, of a department may or may not be,” Mexico’s community colleges aren’t free. CNM west Airlines now are available in profit,” or the seizing of property leased, or otherwise available to the according to his deposition. charges New Mexico residents $600 for a class a line of purses, duffels and totes. from persons not charged with a department.” The disclosure of APD’s weapons workload of 12-18 credit hours per semester. Out- Juan Antonio Labreche The “Luv Seat Collection” is made In a motion for summary judgment, crime. The bill introduced by Rep. inventory would no further enlighten of-state students pay $3,240 for 12-18 credit hours in CNM and other two-year schools in New Mexico rank near the bottom nationally in graduating students on time. CNM says it ranks second in the nation for from leather recycled from 80,000 old Colin Hunter, an attorney with the Zachary Cook would end police a would-be terrorist planning to attack a semester. Fees, books and extra-credit hours cost graduating Hispanic and Native Americans. airplane seats pulled from the airline’s Barnett Law Firm, argued that the departments’ use of civil forfeiture the City “than would spending a couple more. Boeing 737s that were replaced by denial was unfounded and in conflict of property on grounds that it could days watching the local news and read- lighter-weight materials, Southwest with the New Mexico Attorney General two-year graduation rates are dismal. “Yes, our rates was featured on CBS News’ “60 Minutes.” be used in a crime. Instead, police ing the ABQ Free Press,” Hunter wrote. said. Looptworks of Portland, Ore., Inspection of Public Records Compliance are bad, they are getting better, and we are chang- Without proper guidance, however, students will would be required to use criminal The records case is before Bernalillo The student-to-adviser ratio at said the waiting list for some of the Guide, which Chavez testified he had ing the incentives of the system to make it better,” take much longer to complete a degree, said Blake forfeiture, which could commence County Judge Alan Malott. The motion CNM is 400-1. A typical advisement products, priced between $150 and read and based his decision on. Walters said. Johnson, director of communications for CCA. On only after the property owner is for summary judgment was filed on $250, is as long as seven weeks. If Chavez had read the compliance session consists of the student average, students are earning 99.2 credits for a 60 convicted of a crime. Cook’s House Feb. 13, 2015. The newspaper took the guide, “He must have completely and academic adviser looking Lack of guidance? credit, two-year associate’s degree. A four-year Bill 560 received two committee overlooked the section on the ‘terrorist depositions of Eden and Chavez late last bachelor’s degree, by contrast, requires 124 credit Cheap oil? referrals. A similar bill in the U.S. attack’ exception that provides the year. The city took the deposition of St. up course requirements on a With student-adviser ratios at CNM greater than hours. Senate has received bipartisan An international security expert following guidance: Information sought Cyr. The newspaper’s suit seeking the computer, something most 400-1, students often dive into a field of study, only Katharine Winograd, president of Central New support. told scientists at Sandia National to be protected under the exception must records was filed on May 5, 2014. students can do on their own to later change their minds and switch majors – Mexico Community College, defended CNM’s racking up tuition expenses and loans along the record on guidance. way. Money Flows in Net Neutrality Fight Each additional year at a community college in Robert Matteucci, a business owner and a member New Mexico can cost a student more than $49,000 in of the CNM Governing Board, said he believes the ‘CNM’s academic advisers do a ABQ FREE PRESS STAFF REPORT lost wages and added college expenses, according to board has dealt with student issues as best it can in great job of helping our students embers of the congressional distribution companies. CCA. the face of financial constraints. “The money that develop a pathway to graduation Mcommittee expected to challenge the House Communications and Technol- By 2020, 61 percent of all U.S. jobs will require a we have coming in, both from property taxes and Federal Communications Commission’s ogy Subcommittee Chairman Greg college degree or certificate, according to CCA. And, the state government have been very limited, so in their field of interest’ rule on net neutrality got three times Walden, an Oregon Republican, got if a community doesn’t have a properly trained trying to do all that stuff with limited funds is really – CNM President Katharine Winograd more in campaign contributions from $189,000, second only to Speaker John workforce, companies won’t want to locate home tough,” he said. broadband providers than did individual Boehner, who got $195,375 in the period or branch operations there, experts told ABQ Free New York City’s two-year schools have developed “CNM’s academic advisors do a great job of help- members in the rest of the U.S. House from Oct. 1, 2012, to Sept. 30, 2014. Press. intensive tutoring programs and incentives, such ing our students develop a pathway to graduation in of Representatives. Other members of the subcommittee Some CNM students told ABQ Free Press that as free subway passes, to keep their students from their field of interest,” she said in an email response The findings by the nonpartisan got an average of $67,272 from broad- they suffered from a lack of guidance by school slipping through the cracks. Their outreach program to questions from ABQ Free Press. MapLight, a nonprofit that tracks band providers, compared to just for advisers and ended up taking far more hours than “CNM’s advisors are well trained and provide campaign finances, relied on data from $23,186 the industry gave to members were necessary to graduate. Two former Central At New Mexico’s eight community colleges, high-quality advisement. Of course, every college OpenSecrets.org, which culls through of Congress not on the subcommittee. New Mexico Community College students said that, 18.63 percent of the students graduate within has a limited budget, which limits the number Federal Election Commission campaign Net neutrality is shorthand for a combined, they got seven associate’s degrees they three years compared to the national average of reports. non-discriminatory approach to unfet- of employees. CNM does its best to maximize its didn’t need, raising in their minds the question of 22 percent. New Mexico graduates 23.5 percent MapLight tracked all contributions from tered consumer access to information budget and allocate resources in ways that provide whether the school was issuing degrees merely to of its two-year college students in four years, Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and G+ ABQ Free Press employees and political action commit- over the Internet. Broadband providers the best service to our students.” pad its numbers or meet quotas. compared to the national four-year graduation Check out www.FreeABQ.com for locations and daily news tees of broadband internet providers have sought to create different speeds Winograd wrote that CNM ranks second among Glenn Walters, New Mexico Higher Education rate of 27.5 percent, according to the Follow us on Twitter @FreeABQ – defined as telephone companies and and cost structures for content providers 1,100 community colleges in the United States in the deputy secretary, acknowledged that New Mexico’s American Association of Community Colleges. cable and satellite TV production and willing to pay more. number of degrees granted to Hispanic and Native cont. on page 6 PAGE 6 • February 25, 2015 • ABQ FREE PRESS NEWS COLUMNS ABQ FREE PRESS • February 25, 2015 • PAGE 7 two-year schools, Page 5 Yo, Chamber, Will the Last Nightfall, Circumcision, school in Farmington, said that students should randy Valles feels she was develop a sense of urgency and make education an ast fall, at age 25, Hannah One Out Turn off the Lights? Babies and Chickens in Uganda Bthe victim of a bait-and- absolute priority. Establishing a defined goal, taking LMora became the first BY EFRAIN VILLA switch by Central New Mexico 15 credit hours per semester, and getting more person in her family to gradu- By JOE MONAHAN Community College. involved with study groups will create a better and ate from college by earning a he room darkened “I’m sure I don’t have your talents, but She entered CNM in 2011 more comfortable learning environment, Pender- two-year degree from Central f the business We simply don’t see the political will. Tas the sun dipped I’ll try,” I slurred. I pointed skyward and intending to get a two-year grass said. New Mexico Community Icommunity wants to It’s much easier to move on, which so behind the lush braced myself to be sprayed in the face, associate degree in nursing. College. make history, it could many do. New Mexico now regularly ranks hills surrounding but to my surprise it was easy to clear my support dropping among the top states of residents leaving. But just days before classes Misleading numbers? Four degrees, actually. the shores of Lake head, which left me wondering how this various tax incentives As we’ve noted with shock and chagrin, were to begin, she found that And it took six years. Bunyonyi, making it party trick had never occurred to me in Community colleges have long said that the in exchange for lower- this once booming Sunbelt state has actu- there were only 24 spots in the When she walked onto even more difficult college. traditional method of determining graduation rates ing the job-inhibiting ally lost population – significantly, young nursing program – not the several hundred spots CNM CNM’s campus, Mora for me to see the cue “Why aren’t you circumcised?” He had offered the previous year. is misleading. The rates are determined by using the intended to get associate degrees in fine arts and gross receipts tax. people who see no future here. ball resting atop the asked. When Valles didn’t get in, she was advised by a CNM number of first-time, full-time students who complete art history. When she left CNM last fall, she had Or it could support New Mexico has not been dealt a strong derelict billiard table’s “My mother didn’t believe that babies adviser to enroll in CNM’s health sciences program the requirements for a certificate or degree within associate degrees in art history, art studio, liberal the formation of a state bank to get money hand for this new century. Declining federal frayed felt. I took aim, while the small come equipped with spare parts that need and wait for a nursing spot to open up. By the time her the normal amount of time, which is one year for a arts, and integrated studies. flowing in this capital-starved economy spending and what appears to be the group of villagers that came to watch me, to be hacked off.” financial aid ran out last year, she still hadn’t gotten in. certificate and two years for an associate degree. In her six years at CNM, she racked up 98 credit in which bankers shiver at the thought of end of the energy bull market hit us hard. the muzungo, observed and commentated “They say it makes it grow. An American She applied for a financial-aid extension but was de- hours – 38 more than the 60 hours she needed to local loan risk. This is a historic shift that has laid bare in one of the multiple languages spoken in doctor did mine last year for free.” nied. Last year, she gave up on CNM and enrolled in the graduate and at least 10 credit hours – a semes- Or it could support the constitutional the “other economy” in which hundreds this area of Uganda. “Those do-gooders are butchers. No dif- University of New Mexico’s four-year nursing program. I seemed to qualify for all these ter’s worth – more than what a double major would amendment to fund very-early childhood of thousands of New Mexicans toil for low The bartender lit a candle, pawed at ferent than the religious colonizers staking CNM officials said the cutback on nursing spots other degrees. I got an integrated have required. programs from the state’s vast Permanent wages or withdraw from the workforce and Fund and begin resolving the crisis in the become wards of the government. This her hefty breasts with one hand and used their claim on African souls. Pruning is for occurred because the school had modified its curriculum studies, liberal arts and health Mora is not alone. ABQ Free Press found other the other to pat the braids on her head to fit the new requirements of the New Mexico Nursing CNM students who said they received no guidance state’s social conditions. second economy has always been there, trees and from the looks of it, it doesn’t do sciences degree, and I can’t You see, many business people don’t but federal cash and an energy boom to relieve the itching. She giggled and much for growing penises.” Education Consortium. But the lack of timely commu- or poor guidance from advisers at CNM and ended whispered something to my opponent. nication of that decision left Valles and others with the do anything with them’ up staying longer than necessary and spending want to move here, and particularly, to lessened its effect and visibility. Now the the Albuquerque Metro area, because the seismic shift has exacerbated the low- “She said if you win, she makes a baby choice of taking classes that were not required of them, – Brandy Valles, former CNM student more money at CNM. with you,” he interpreted. I looked her After losing the game, hoping to wait it out and apply again – or transfer to The student-to-advisor ratio at CNM is 400-1. A place is riddled with crime, poor schools income trend, and there’s no hiding it. and social pathologies that are portrayed We face a state with a lesser-educated way and in the candlelight caught a smile I asked Victor if we could another school. Many students who enter community college do so typical advisement session consists of the student slash across her dark face. In the two years she was at CNM, Valles said the class and academic adviser looking up course require- as fictional on TV shows such as “Better populace and an increasingly older one. go drink somewhere with plans to transfer to a four-year university before Call Saul” and “Breaking Bad” but are far Nearly 10 years ago, in 2006, former Gov. “Victor, you don’t have to translate every requirements of the nursing program changed almost ments on a computer, something most students can earning a two-year degree. That tends to depress the too real to anyone watching the 6 o’clock Garrey Carruthers, now president of New single thing they say about me,” I said, without a crowd gathered every semester. She and her classmates found them- do on their own. two-year schools’ on-time graduation rates. CNM news. Mexico State University, wrote: trying to hide my annoyance. selves taking classes no longer on the prerequisite list or The lack of guidance on how to navigate CNM to gawk at me You can’t sell New Mexico by telling “Over the next 15 years, vast numbers I had sucked down the contents from scrambling to get into classes added as prerequisites for said it identified 4,002 students out of last year’s – where some program requirements can change business people they will want to live in of white workers will reach retirement age two plastic pouches of waragi, the local admission into the nursing program. enrollment of 28,685 students who transferred to a from semester to semester – is costing CNM stu- He looked down, laughed, and said, gated communities and send their kids – in New Mexico, while the state’s Native- moonshine, and my diplomatic patience After she left, CNM sent Valles three associate degrees four-year institution last year. dents such as Mora thousands of dollars – both in “But now I can’t get HIV.” and those of their employees – to private American and, even more so, its Hispanic was running as low as my sobriety. Being that she said she never wanted. A Sandia National Laboratories IT employee who tuition paid for unneeded classes and in lost income “You’re depressing me. Let’s go schools. population, will expand dramatically. As a the subject of constant scrutiny is not “I seemed to qualify for all these other degrees, didn’t want his name used said he has spent seven from delaying their entry into the workforce. drink more and talk less.” After shaking Right-to-work and failing third graders result, by the year 2020, 47 percent of New easy, especially when hearing things though,” Valles said. “I got an integrated studies, liberal years pursuing an IT certification, most of it at To pay the bills for her extended study at CNM, ourselves off we continued our walk until are simply not serious solutions to resolve Mexico’s working-age adults (people 25 to like: “They said your feet and hands are arts and health sciences degree, and I can’t do anything CNM. He said he entered CNM already proficient Mora cut back on her course load and went to work, we arrived at a hut not much bigger than a what’s facing us. They are wedge issues 64 years old) will be Latino. ... The gaps very small and your chest is very big and with them.” in graphic and web design and planned, with the which further delayed her graduation. She did not typical Western playpen. I followed Victor designed to advance a political agenda – in education between New Mexico’s white they want to know if all muzungos smell “I didn’t even ask for the liberal arts and integrated advice of a CNM adviser, to gather enough CNM initially qualify for financial aid. as he ducked into the doorway and took not a true reform agenda that would pull population and its Hispanic and Native- strange like you. Also, is it true muzungos studies degrees, but they said I had earned enough credits to transfer to New Mexico State University’s “I feel like I’m being penalized for being re- a seat on one of the benches against the New Mexico up and begin the demanding American populations are great enough to have hair on you asses?” credits to get them, so it seems to me like they just online IT program. But when the time came, he sponsible at a young age,” said Mora, who finally wall. Once my eyes adjusted further to the task of competing with the quality of life turn these demographic shifts into a real After losing the game, I asked Victor wanted to meet their quota on degrees that year,” qualified for aid in her final year. “I would have liked dark, I could make out three men and two learned that many of his CNM credits wouldn’t and business conditions found in states statewide decline. if we could go drink somewhere without Valles said. to graduate on time.” women huddled in conference, obviously transfer, and he had to re-take most of the classes at only a couple hundred miles away. “A statewide decline.” a crowd gathered to gawk at me. In the “The advisers weren’t very clear when I asked discussing me. One of them said some- – Rene Thompson NMSU. The business community – or at least That’s precisely what’s happened. (This dark, he led me on a hilly trail serving as questions,” Mora recalled of her 30-minute advise- thing to Victor and they all laughed. its leadership – is locked in the narrow- is not to imply that Carruthers endorses the village’s main street. I tried, and failed, ment sessions. “They didn’t help me at all and just “She said ...” minded paradigm of the past: Cut taxes, any of our views). to gracefully maneuver past the many ‘I feel like I’m being penalized gave me the classes I should take.” Sometimes that “I don’t care what she said. Just order American students, according to the U.S. Depart- give companies cash to come here and This is not your granddaddy’s boom- potholes and rocks jutting out of the dirt, for being responsible at a advice was wrong, she said. more of that home brew stuff and another ment of Education. She also cited CNM’s record enact right-to-work. Those measures are and-bust cycle. It’s obvious now after so while silhouettes of women carrying huge Achievement coaches – advisers at the school’s number of 6,732 degrees awarded in 2012-2013 – a young age. I would have liked the cherry on the dessert. many years of downturn that short-term jugs of water on their head sauntered past Bell’s.” individual departments with detailed knowledge of 208 percent increase from the 2008-2009 academic But what’s missing here is the dessert economic development is not in the cards me. Every time I stumbled, I could hear As I sipped, a chicken came in and to graduate on time’ the ins and outs of specific program areas – were year. itself – a secure and safe quality of life, a for New Mexico. explosions of laughter and gibberish erupt started pecking at the dirt floor around – former CNM student Hannah Mora more helpful, Mora said. In the past two years, CNM ranked 11th in lower poverty rate so new residents don’t Decades of sweeping problems under out of the darkness. “They are saying you my sandals, followed by a naked toddler – Sabrina Autry the country for the number of associate degrees feel like they are stranded in a third-world the rug means we’ll have to spend that are drunk,” Victor said. who began rubbing his cheek against the awarded and third in the country for the number of Former CNM student Jamison Wagner transferred outpost populated by the economically much more on early childhood education, “Yes, but that’s not why I’m stumbling,” hair on my legs. Then, a lady got up and “Walking Dead.” workforce development, homelessness, certificates awarded, Winograd wrote. to the University of New Mexico after spending four I groaned. “How do you people see in the handed me a 2,000 shilling note. But who really wants to confront the still- crime prevention and substance abuse She did not directly respond to CNM’s low overall years at CNM without receiving an associate degree. are under way about changing the standard two- dark?” Victor chimed in, “She says she wants deepening crisis the state faces? Come – that is, if we still care enough about our on-time graduation rate, nor to students’ sugges- year associate degree to a three-year degree. “Muzungos walk like zombies,” he to buy you another Bell’s, but doesn’t He had waited so long after high school before going on. Anyone? state to do so. Another difficulty in graduating two-year students stomped his feet on the ground. “You have enough money, so she hopes you tions that CNM was padding its graduation rate by to college that he had forgotten some math funda- Confronting it means taking ownership. None of this is music to the ears of fiscal cannot walk in the dark like that. Use your can pay the other 1,000. She wants to awarding them two-year degrees that they hadn’t mentals and had to re-learn the basics, he said. on time lies in the nature of the students. Many can’t From the governor to the Legislature to the conservatives. Unfortunately, the band phone light. Let’s go for a short call. “ ask you how things are different here from sought and which probably wouldn’t benefit them By the time he will complete his bachelor’s degree devote their full efforts to school because they have congressional delegation to the main- in New Mexico has begun packing up. If A short call is code for taking a piss. We your home.” financially in the workplace. in electrical engineering, Wagner said he will have jobs, are enrolled part-time, are married, have children, stream media, there is little discussion of we want to keep the music playing, we’re stood side-by-side on a ledge of a cliff I thought about it for a long time, then I “College should not be done in isolation,” said spent 10 years in college. or face other life complications or commitments. how systemic or how deep the problem is going to have to pay the piper. overlooking the lake and unzipped. “Point shooed the chicken away, picked up the Ruby Encinas, an achievement coach at CNM who Experiences such as Wagner’s have become According to CCA’s website, “Seventy-five percent or how long it’s going to take New Mexico naked baby, and said, “It’s greener here.” works with students and faculty to stay abreast of common for community college students across of students juggle school, family, and work. Unpre- to recover not only from the recession Joe Monahan is a veteran of New Mexico the light this way,” he said. As I did, the light caught a stream arching over and requirements in specialized fields of study. New Mexico and elsewhere. Nationally, students are dictable class schedules mean college takes longer but from decades of neglect of its social politics. His daily blog can be found at behind his head, nearly twice his height. Reach Efrain Villa through his website Toni Pendergrass of San Juan College, a two-year taking so much longer to graduate that discussions than it should.” problems that is killing business. joemonahan.com “Now you try,” He said. www.aimlessvagabond.com cont. on page 18 PAGE 8 • February 25, 2015 • ABQ FREE PRESS NEWS NEWS ABQ FREE PRESS • February 25, 2015 • PAGE 9 The Battle of the Bosque is Just Beginning Critics Call State Plan for Kirtland Spill Cleanup ‘Insane’ BY DENNIS DOMRZALSKI BY DENNIS DOMRZALSKI

he questions have the potential to tear Albuquerque emergency measure blocking further trail construction meetings. Two years, the city said, was long enough. plan drafted by the New Mexico Environment is a short, clear compilation of our vision on how to Tapart in the coming years: or upgrading. Whether the ban will survive a possible Opponents argued more meetings and public input ADepartment to contain and clean up the massive advance the fuel cleanup during 2015. What should the Bosque – a narrow swath of veto by Mayor Richard Berry was unclear. was needed. Kirtland Air Force Base fuel spill isn’t a legally “As work proceeds, additional regulatory docu- cottonwood and willow forest along the Rio Grande Both the howls from opponents of the effort, and In the future, the process for developing other enforceable document and won’t prevent the spill ments will be submitted by the Air Force, subject to – look like, who should get to use it and how should the city’s response to those critics offer a look at how Bosque trails might be fixed, perhaps with rules and from reaching Albuquerque drinking water wells or NMED approval.” they get to use it? things could play out in the future. In effect, both sides schedules for public hearings and timelines for deci- lead to a single drop of aviation fuel being pumped Whatever the proposal’s purpose, Patterson and Who decides? What’s the process? have accused the other of lying. sions. What likely won’t end is the debate over who out of the water supply. another critic, Dave McCoy, executive director of Should the Bosque be a place with developed trails, The Sierra Club and Bosque lovers argued that the should have access to the Bosque and what it should That’s the conclusion of a Placitas hydrologist with Citizen Action New Mexico, said it won’t prevent benches, viewing areas, interpretative signs, art and city had sent a bulldozer to gouge an ugly scar through look like. decades of experience in water pollution cases like the underground lagoon of poison, which is now boardwalks that is accessible to as many people as pos- the precious landscape and layered the trail with The city’s original plan for the trail included benches, the Kirtland fuel spill. ABQ Free Press 6,500 feet long and 1,500 feet wide, from reaching sible, including the disabled, young parents pushing crusher fines, a commonly used material for trails. artwork, and a riverside boardwalk. That was quickly And even if the NMED’s Dec. 19 cleanup proposal nearby city drinking wells. The plume has been baby strollers and bicyclists? And what about those In reality, the city sent in one small Bobcat to blade shouted down in a public hearing in September 2013, were legal and enforceable, it wouldn’t stop the Follow-up moving in a north-northeasterly direction and its who think experiencing nature means sitting on a park the trail, and in some instances, to decrease its width. and the city seemed to be listening to its critics. poisonous underground lake of dissolved ethylene leading edge is believed to be 4,050 feet from the bench and smoking a cigar? The existing foot trail, the city argued, was actually “We need to make our natural resources as accessible dibromide (EDB) and aviation fuel from reaching first drinking water well in its path, according to the Or should it be as untouched as possible with damaging the Bosque because people would walk to as many people as possible,” said Albuquerque city drinking water wells, two of the proposal’s water authority. unimproved trails that make it, in effect, the private around obstacles or water holes, thus widening it to as City Councilor Trudy Jones. “Is it a select preserve critics said. Patterson, who has spent 30 years cleaning preserve of a small group of fit nature lovers who get much as 15 feet. Not a single tree was cut down in the for a select few? It should not be reserved for a small Bottom line: The NMED plan just won’t work, underground fuel spills, said NMED’s five goals are orgasmic upon seeing a turtle or skunk? city’s blading process. percentage of the citizens.” and one element of it could further contaminate admirable, but the plan is ineffective. The ongoing controversy over the development of a Bosque lovers charge the city had abruptly and Camilla Feibelman, director of the Sierra Club’s Rio the city’s underground water supply and harm the The first goal of preventing the EDB plume from tiny piece of the Bosque – specifically a 1.5-mile-long unilaterally ended a two-year-long public process and Grande chapter, said the Bosque is already accessible public health. reaching wells in the city’s Ridgecrest well field trail from Central Avenue to the river – has revealed imposed its will on the public. The city delivered a map to anyone who wants to visit and it should remain as The fuel leaked into the groundwater from avia- can’t be achieved because it calls only for drilling the fault lines over how difficult it will be to decide with three options for the trail to the Bosque lovers natural as possible. tion fuel storage tanks and pipes on Kirtland in the monitoring wells, Patterson said. how the Bosque should be used. on Feb. 9. The Sierra Club and others were under the “The idea that the Bosque is not accessible is a myth,” 1950s and 1960s. It was discovered in 1999, and it’s “It is impossible for monitoring wells to stop a On Feb. 10, the city of Albuquerque began leveling impression that they would have a chance to comment Feibelman said. “We all agree the Bosque needs trail estimated that anywhere from 6 million to 24 million migrating EDB plume,” Patterson said. and blading the 1.5-mile-long stretch of an existing on those options and make changes if necessary. management, but we don’t need to turn it into a gallons of fuel seeped into the aquifer. The U.S. Air McCoy agreed, saying, “Quarterly testing of Bosque foot trail to make it a six-foot-wide formal trail. That never happened. manicured park.” Force is charged with cleaning up the mess. The following week, Councilor Issac Benton, in whose The next day the city’s Bobcat was rolling through monitoring wells will not stop the EDB movement. The fact that NMED’s proposal, which the agency Measuring geochemical parameters will not termi- district the offending trail lies, responded to complaints the forest. The city argued that the review process Dennis Domrzalski is an associate editor at ABQ Free Press. touted as the beginning of an aggressive cleanup nate the plume’s forward movement.” about the blading and won City Council passage of an had already taken two years with at least 17 public Reach him at [email protected] effort after 15 years of delays, isn’t enforceable and The second goal – of collapsing the plume, reversing isn’t binding on the Air Force has left one of the The strategic plan was never meant to be an enforce- its flow and getting it to move back toward KAFB and agency’s critics fuming. able document.” away from the city’s wells – is so inadequate as to be “It’s a fraud, it’s a hoax,” said Dwight Patterson, That’s not how the NMED portrayed the proposal Tina Fey Film Shooting at De Anza owner of Xitech Instruments, Inc., a Placitas-based this past Dec. 19, when it released it for public com- By Peter St. Cyr environmental cleanup firm. “At the very least, it is ment. The department made it seem as if the action a marketing, media gimmick. It is a ploy because it items in the proposal were a done deal and that they Where is the Air Force’s eople driving or walking by the public funding is being used on the is not real. would be performed in 2015 by the U.S. Air Force. cleanup plan? PDe Anza Motor Lodge have been production. “This is going to be a huge milestone for this wondering what’s happening inside “However, the City, as a courtesy, ‘It’s a fraud, it’s a hoax. project. We are feeling pretty good about this. It’s On April 2, 2010, the New Mexico Environ- the gates of the historic Route 66 informally notified us of these activi- a whole new ballgame,” NMED geologist Dennis ment Department ordered the U.S. Air property. ties a few weeks ago, and assured our At the very least, it is a marketing, McQuillan said at the time. Force to develop a plan to clean up the The lodge is being converted into a office that the props and temporary media gimmick. It is a ploy Turner at the time characterized the proposal as underground fuel spill on Kirtland Air Force movie set for former Saturday Night structures being built for the movie “an ambitious and aggressive plan that we have put because it is not real’ Base spill within five years. The plan was Live writer and performer Tina Fey’s would be fully removed and reversed, together and what we would like to accomplish in latest film about a CNN field producer once their filming there is completed,” – Dwight Patterson, critic of the NMED cleanup plan 2015. It is not really an approval process because this due on June 7 of that year. The Air Force who finds herself ill-prepared for an Cannizarro said. document is something we wrote. It incorporates all submitted a plan on June 18 of that year, but assignment in war-torn Afghanistan. Even better, Morgan Freeman’s “The most important thing I can conclude from of our strategies.” it’s not clear what became of it. NMED has Built in 1939 with 30 rooms with production company has offered to do this media fraud thing is that we know now that Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley, never rescinded that order. Here’s what the Pueblo Revival elements by Charles some needed cleanup work, including there is no plan approved for stopping the EDB who is also a board member of the Albuquerque department’s letter said: Wallace before being modernized, the removal of mold and other toxic plume. It leaves the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, said she Water Utility Authority totally exposed because it is was under the impression that NMED’s proposal De Anza, named in honor of Spanish remediation needed to make it safe “Therefore, on or before June 7, 2010, the not real. The EDB is coming to city wells, and these was a done deal. She was surprised to learn that it Territorial Gov. Juan Bautista de for use, said New Mexico Historic Tax Permittee [Air Force] must submit to the guys have perpetrated a fraud.” has no force of law. Anza, was added to the New Mexico Credit Specialist Harvey Kaplan, who Department for its review and approval an Register of Cultural Properties in 2003 has worked on previous projects at Jill Turner, spokeswoman for the Environment De- “There was the expectation of ‘Here we go, we’re Interim Measures (IM) Plan that describes and listed on the National Register of the De Anza. partment, told the ABQ Free Press that the five-point on a roll,’” O’Malley said. “It is not fair to the public what immediate actions it will take to reme- Historic Places a year later. The untitled Paramount Pictures’ draft plan the agency developed is unenforceable to come up with these solutions that are unlikely to The property, which was almost film, being co-produced by SNL’s under the federal environmental law that governs be implemented. It’s not fair. They [the public] want diate and stop the migration of the LNAPL the fuel spill and the sputtering cleanup effort. action, and they want this problem solved. They razed to build an Albertson’s in 2002, Lorne Michaels and Ian Bryce, is [aviation fuel] plume. The IM Plan must also “The plan itself is not a regulatory document. It need to tell the public about this.” is in good hands during filming ac- scheduled to film in New York, Santa include an implementation schedule show- is something we put together. There is nothing in In a response to questions submitted by the ABQ cording to New Mexico Historic Pres- Fe and Albuquerque through April ing that remediation of the LNAPL plume the strategic plan that is enforceable,” Turner said. Free Press, NMED said the strategic plan is “our ervation Division Planning Manager and will employ at least 100 local film “The strategic plan is a 40,000-foot look. It was never roadmap for aggressively cleaning up soil and will be completed within five years of the Pilar Cannizzaro. Set construction has crew members. meant to be enforceable. It has no place in the RCRA groundwater over the next year. The DRAFT Stra- Department’s approval.” not triggered an official compliance [Resource Conservation and Recovery Act] process. tegic Plan issued in December for public comment review, Cannizzaro said, because no Reach Peter St. Cyr at [email protected] cont. on page 10 PAGE 10 • February 25, 2015 • ABQ FREE PRESS NEWS NEWS ABQ FREE PRESS • February 25, 2015 • PAGE 11

FUEL SPILL, Page 9 NMED responds to its critics ABQ Internet Radio Chief Launches ‘Game-changing’ Technology impossible, both men said. The plan break the chemical bonds of the fuel BY DENNIS DOMRZALSKI calls for drilling at least one, and up molecules. Criticism: The fuel spill is being to eight, extraction wells that would One of NMED’s strategies is called ABQ Free Press emailed t’s a little after noon in Dick Govatski’s Albuquerque in his office, will also include one that features musi- and Govatski said there is no limit to the number of pulled to the city’s Ridgecrest well pump contaminated water out of the “air sparging,” which involves blow- the state Environment Department Ioffice and there are small colored triangles on a world cians from Austin or who have appeared on Austin stations he can form. field and could eventually contami- aquifer. ing compressed air into groundwater a list of questions and criticisms map on a wall-sized computer screen in the office. City Limits. That’s because Internet radio uses no public But those wells are small, and to strip out contaminants and vacuum of its Dec. 19 plan to clean up the nate the entire field. Govatski clicks on the triangle in Russia. The stations are available for smartphones by airwaves and therefore doesn’t need licenses from “Someone in Russia is listening to the Andrew Sisters downloading the free ABQ.FM application. combined, they would pump only 800 the fumes out through a well. Sparg- Kirtland Air Force Base fuel spill. the Federal Communications Commission. They still, on their smartphone!” Govatski exclaims. Why is a telemedicine executive getting into Internet however, must pay royalties to the originating artists gallons a minute. That would not be ing has the potential of spreading the Here are some of the agency’s NMED response: The fuel spill enough pumping to counteract the EDB underground and making the contamination … would have to That Russian was listening to the Andrew Sisters on radio? for the songs they play. responses to those criticisms: one of the 13 Internet radio stations that Govatski just Because Govatski, who worked as a radio reporter much more powerful 3,000-gallon- plume larger, both men said. migrate uphill, against the laws It wasn’t just dissatisfaction with regular radio and launched from his Albuquerque office. and disc jockey from 1959 through 1982, got sick of a-minute pumping rate of the “Use of air sparging will create an of physics and gravity, and into a its lack of variety that convinced Govatski to start his Sparging the plume and The family of stations is called ABQ.FM Radio, and the lack of variety on regular stations. Those stations, Ridgecrest 5 well, which is steadily even larger dissolved plume,” McCoy Criticism: stable of stations. He thinks there’s a lot of money to vastly larger area than it presently Govatski thinks they have the potential to bring what Govtaski and his chief engineer on the project, Mike pulling the plume toward it, they said. injecting surfactants and bio-stimu- be made on the Internet. To make his point, Govatski occupies after decades of migration he calls terrestrial radio – AM, FM and satellite stations Harger, explained, cycle the same 50 or 60 songs said. The third goal also calls for injecting lants into the aquifer could spread cites a Feb. 17 Inside Radio magazine article. in the groundwater. Despite decades – to its knees. every day, maybe changing the lineup every couple of “One well is an insult. It is surfactants, meaning soap or deter- the plume and further contaminate “As audience migrates to mobile, advertisers will of migration in groundwater, fuel “It’s a game changer in so many different ways, from weeks. the aquifer. follow suit,” the article said. “Marketers will open the impossible for one well to collapse gents, bio-stimulants, and bacteria a technology, connectivity and listenership side,” said contamination has not yet been “I’m a huge fan of radio, having worked in major mobile spigot wider in 2015, pouring $58.6 billion into a 120-acre EDB plume,” Patterson into the aquifer to dissolve the fuel. Govatski, founder and CEO of Net Medical Xpress radio markets as a personality in Detroit, Kansas City detected in any of the Ridgecrest advertising on smartphones and tablets, according to said. “The plume is spreading and is That would simply be adding more NMED response: This is another Solutions, Inc., a telemedicine firm that serves more and Indianapolis,” Govatski said. “I couldn’t find wells, much less in any of the wells eMarketer. being pulled by the city wells, and 800 contaminants to the groundwater, the ridiculous and scientifically baseless than 400,000 patients a year. anything I was looking for on the local dial. With a located hydraulically up gradient and “That’s music to the ears of any radio brand that’s gallons a minute is not enough.” two said. accusation. Sparging, How can 13 Internet radio stations based in Albu- team of technology developers, we’ve developed a miles away. made a top priority out of building out its mobile McCoy said, “To consider that “In my opinion, that is illegal surfactant injection, and bio- querque be a game changer? Because Govatski can new way to share music by specifically programming a decade’s old 120-acre plume of platforms.” because you cannot knowingly stimulation are proven technologies easily program each one to play any genre of music he radio stations for each generation and for missing contamination will be ‘collapsed’ further contaminate the water sup- The wells in the Govatski thinks he can offer advertisers blocks of used by the groundwater industry Criticism: wants, thus catering to any market segment he thinks genres here in New Mexico.” aggressively by ‘robust’ installation of ply,” Patterson said. “You are know- Ridgecrest field are pulling the can be profitable. It also helped that Govatski had amassed a personal hundreds, or even thousands, of commercials at prices to remediate groundwater con- a pilot extraction well and possibly no ingly contaminating a drinking water plume toward the field. “What market can a [regular] radio station go after?” collection of 35,000 songs over the years, half of which much cheaper than those of traditional radio. tamination. These technologies, others is not credible.” supply. That is insane.” Govatski asks, “I can go after all of them.” have been digitalized for use by his stations. His “The advertising dollars are following where the and others, will be evaluated by a market is going,” Govatski said. “At the same time, It is the third goal of the NMED’s NMED response: Due to the While Govatski is thrilled that someone in Cambo- collection includes 3,500 vinyl records. proposal that troubles Patterson and Dennis Domrzalski is an associate editor highly qualified panel of experts dia, Iran, Peru or anywhere else in the world with a advertisers that couldn’t afford radio before, well, now location’s complex aquifer hydrau- The app was developed by Newsbeat, a Silicon McCoy the most. It calls for cleaning at ABQ Free Press. Reach him at that NMED has assembled into the smartphone and Internet connection can listen to his Valley technology firm that was started by the Tribune they can afford radio.” lics, this is not a simple yes or no the actual fuel by injecting air, steam [email protected] biogeochemistry/LNAPL working stations, he wants to focus his efforts in Albuquerque Media Company. answer. The contamination plume is and chemicals into the aquifer to group. These experts have a sound and New Mexico, with a dip into Texas. While it took Harger a month to set up the first Dennis Domrzalski is an associate editor at migrating under the influence of the understanding of the hydrological Govatski’s stations, which are run from five servers station, he can now create a radio station in a day, ABQ Free Press. Reach him at [email protected] regional hydraulic gradient, which is conditions affecting the contamina- to the north-northeast at the fuel spill tion site and the experience to site, in the direction of a water table Herrera School Buses recognize that not all spill sites depression that has been created Albuquerque’s are created equal and thus not all by pumping of various water supply strategies and technologies will wells in the area. Premier Facility work at every site. All regulatory permits for the injection of carbon Eight extraction wells energy sources, electron accep- Criticism: - for - pumping a combined total of 800 tors, or other amendments will be gallons per minute aren’t enough to obtained within all state and federal counteract the 3,000 gallons-a-min- Mock Trials & regulations. ute pumping rate of the Ridgecrest 5 well. Thus the movement of the Focus Groups Criticism: The draft strategic plan plume can’t be reversed. was a deceitful attempt to make it • Trial planning and issue spotting, appear that NMED was actually do- In accordance in-house facilitators ing something to clean up the spill. NMED response: • Mock jury services with standard industry practices, the extraction wells will be designed to • Witness preparation NMED response: The state- minimize the amount of uncontami- • Simulated court and ment from critics is ridiculous and nated water captured by the system. deliberation venues insults the public’s intelligence. We The fuel contamination is in the • Political polling were simply voluntarily seeking shallow unconfined aquifer zone, public input on or vision for how to while drinking water wells pump Call 505-263-8425 or email advance the fuel spill cleanup during water from the shallow zone and two [email protected] 2015. Strategies presented in the deeper confined aquifer zones. The documents (some of which are in suggestion that the pumping rate of 6608 Gulton Court NE, Alb. 87109 process) do represent the continu- the extraction wells should approxi- ation of an aggressive remediation mate the pumping rates of the much process that was accelerated by NMED and the Air Force this past deeper, multi-aquifer drinking water summer. wells in the area is inappropriately simplistic. trialmetrixnm.com PAGE 12 • February 25, 2015 • ABQ FREE PRESS NEWS OPINION ABQ FREE PRESS • February 25, 2015 • PAGE 13 Released from Prison, Manny Aragon Speaks on N.M. Politics Payday Loan Industry’s BY DAN VUKELICH

anny Aragon’s back. He’s a little know what happened. I can deal with Mmore than a year out of prison. it.” ‘Reforms’ are Bogus His home confinement is over. The Serving in the Legislature “was an BY ONA PORTER AND STEVE FISCHMANN ankle bracelet is off. After more than honor and a big part of my life,” he four and a half years behind bars, he’s said. The irony that he went to prison reconnecting with friends. over a scandal at Metro Court is not arly in the session, the New Mexico House Though, not as many as he once lost on Aragon. “In 1975, one of the ERegulation and Public Affairs Commit- had. first bills I introduced after being tee tabled popular 36 percent interest cap Love him or hate him, perhaps the elected to the Senate was to abolish bills designed to protect borrowers from most famous or infamous name in Metro Court and return to the magis- triple-digit interest loans that lock them into New Mexico political history still has trate system,” he said. poverty. a lot to say about the state of New The committee dismissed testimony in favor of 36 percent caps from a broad range Mexico politics, the Legislature and On Gov. Susana Martinez the state’s economy. of financial counseling, social service, tribal, He is reluctant to talk about the religious, senior citizen and other groups. It criminal case that got him locked up “I think she isn’t as transparent as preferred to consider an industry proposal for in a federal prison in Colorado. He she claims to be. One thing I found, consumer protections that lenders promised was forthcoming. Once the loan sharks were insists he wasn’t guilty, but in 2008 really, that was unfortunate was that handed the keys to the bait tank, advocates of – facing a possible 20-year sentence New Mexico had two chances to step loan reform were skeptical that meaningful had his case gone to trial – he pleaded up on Tesla. The Tesla thing showed proposals were in the offing. guilty to conspiracy to commit mail really weak leadership. It didn’t mat- Liz Lopez The loan industry-drafted “consumer fraud and received a six-year prison ter whether the Legislature pressed Since getting out of federal prison in December 2013, Manny Aragon has spent time in a halfway house and six months in protection” legislation proves the skepticism sentence. He was released in Decem- them for more information, they ran home confinement. He faces three years of probation. was well founded. SB 579 and HB 425 allow ber 2013. into a brick wall. Not conferring more finance charges of up to 450 percent APR “Even if they want to believe that I with the Legislature, the funding arm shifting from politics to economics, then back again. on six-month loans of less than $2,500. The did what I was accused of, all that was paid back,” of government, was a mistake.” He agreed to an interview with ABQ Free Press after measures provide no interest limitations he said in interviews conducted in the snack bar of months of negotiation but bristled whenever ques- whatever on loans of more than $2,500. the University of New Mexico Championship golf “I really respect Gov. Martinez for taking the Med- tions steered him back to the Metro Court corruption The bills propose an imposing array course. icaid expansion. One-hundred-seventy-thousand pave the way for expansion of a loan product case. He refused to discuss life behind bars. new people have signed up. That’s something of allowable fees that would confuse an that is being restricted or banned almost “You have to understand the federal courts. she should be very proud of. That’s something I experienced accountant. The unsophisticated everywhere else. Unfortunately, this proposal ‘They’ve been after me for, shit, They’re very intimidating. All but 2 percent of the applauded her for. There’s nothing more important clientele typically ensnared by these loan prod- already has been passed by the House Public I don’t know how long’ cases that go to federal court plead out. Of the 2 than your health.” ucts seldom will understand what processing, Affairs Committee. percent that go to trial, only 2 percent of those get handling, check, insurance and delinquency – Manny Aragon Storefront lending in New Mexico has an acquittal. The rest get the maximum. I made “Don’t say you’re broke, you have $6 billion. The fees really mean to the cost of their loans. No become a 1-for-2 proposition. State statistics the decision to plead after a conversation with my legal remedies for borrowers and no provi- from 2013 show that for each dollar bor- Once the iron-fisted Democratic president pro tem Legislature gave this administration how many family.” sions to enable meaningful enforcement by the rowed, customers paid back nearly two of the New Mexico Senate, Aragon has paid dearly. millions of dollars to go to the Children, Youth, and Families Department to get more social workers, and state are specified in the proposals. dollars over the next six to eight months. While lenders claim this kind of credit is • He lost his job as president of New Mexico ‘Things have changed. There are this administration didn’t spend it. This is people’s a lifesaver for low-income borrowers, the Highlands University. lives. This is not a joke.” In a stunning display of people that I care for that were only knowledgeable people who pretend to • His name was stripped from an elementary school industry arrogance, the believe that are lobbyists, consultants and library and from the torreon of the National friends that I had and still have. On taxes legislation goes so far as “researchers” on the industry dole. A library Hispanic Cultural Center that he championed People see me, and say it’s to ban cities and counties of independent research shows high-cost while in the Legislature. good to see you. I still have “We have to go back and repeal taxes. I say repeal from enacting any local loan loans are a lifesaver made of lead, dragging • At sentencing, he was ordered to pay $646,000 in belief in myself. I know what them all. Then make a list, a Santa Claus list, and borrowers ever deeper underwater. More personal restitution, which has been paid. regulations by ‘ordinance, happened. I can deal with it’ say, ‘OK, what do you want to fund?’ so everybody’s than 160,000 New Mexicans were ripped off • He was fined $750,000 on three counts, of which on the same page. We have 300 exemptions in the resolution, or otherwise’ by these scams in 2013. – Aragon he still owes $86,000 and which is accruing interest gross receipts tax. No more exemptions. A clean The loan industry’s proposed legislation at 8 percent a year. slate. Everything comes off.” does not protect consumers. It legitimizes the • The government seized an investment account Four and a half years later, he finds it odd that no In a stunning display of industry arrogance, 1-for-2 formula by emblazoning it in statute. worth $800,000 and placed liens on his properties. one ever asked him for his side of the story of the al- “I remember we had an exemption from gross the legislation goes so far as to ban cities It specifies that consumers can be charged • He was saddled with more than $500,000 in leged conspiracy to skim money from the construc- receipts tax for the purchase of baling wire. A total and counties from enacting any local loan up to $2.10 for each dollar borrowed over a restitution jointly owed by him and his tion of the Metro Court. “To this day, they’ve never tax impact of $160,000 or $220,000 dollars a year. Are regulations by “ordinance, resolution, or period of six months. co-defendants. To recover that, the government talked to me. Not the FBI. Not the U.S. attorney.” you kidding me? This is going to keep our farmers otherwise.” Cities and counties throughout The lesson in this is simple. Loan sharks is taking 15 percent of the 67-year-old Aragon’s Aragon said he doesn’t plan to try to return to in business? You get the exemption for baling hay New Mexico already have passed resolutions who make a living by deceiving cash- monthly Social Security check. the practice of law. He wants to write a book about but not for tying your muffler to your car? You keep asking for loan interest and fee caps of 36 strapped borrowers are just as comfortable • While he was in prison, the government took his case and delve into the election-year politics he chipping away with all these exemptions. If you percent or less. Lenders clearly do not want deceiving the Legislature. They promised $1,000 a month of his legislative pension, which he believes were behind his prosecution. “They’ve been want to buy a yearling at the Ruidoso auction, you their voices to be heard. consumer protection legislation but instead is still collecting. after me for, shit, I don’t know how long,” he said. pay $600,000 to $700,000 for a horse, and it’s tax Separate industry-drafted legislation cover- delivered an army of lobbyists pushing • Aragon will be on probation until he’s 70. On life on the outside, he said, “Things have exempt. But if you want to go down at Christmas ing Tax Refund Anticipation loans (HB 356 proposals to expand their hunting grounds. changed. There are people that I care for that were and buy your 4-year-old son a puppy, guess what, and SB 527) provides for fees that can dwarf Like before his imprisonment, Aragon is quick to friends that I had and still have. People see me and you pay the gross receipts tax.” the 417 percent APR payday that lenders Ona Porter and Steve Fischmann are co-chairs of joke. He speaks in machine-gun bursts, seamlessly say it’s good to see you. I still have belief in myself. I are currently allowed to charge. These bills the New Mexico Fair Lending Coalition.

cont. on page 18 PAGE 14 • February 25, 2015 • ABQ FREE PRESS ANALYSIS OPINION ABQ FREE PRESS • February 25, 2015 • PAGE 15 ‘Mechanical Turks’ a Throwback to 19th Century Piecework Let Teachers, Parents Judge Reading Skills Why the Dems

BY JERRY ORTIZ Y PINO BY ROBERT REICH Walked Out s a politician, BY PAT DAVIS ow would you “People are monetizing their own AI can state Hlike to live downtime,” Arun Sundararajan, a unequivocally that n Feb. 17, every Democrat in the in an economy professor at New York University’s “I love all children.” OHouse of Representatives stood up where robots do business school, told The New York They are our future; and walked out en masse. Here’s why. everything that Times. they are our most Republican leaders began debate on can be predictably But this argument confuses vulnerable citizens, a bill to give every New Mexico teacher a raise to reward their hard work. The programmed in “downtime” with the time people needing the greatest speaker set aside three hours of debate, advance, and normally reserve for the rest of attention. History will judge us by how we’ve treated them. and Democrats followed the rules. almost all profits their lives. Then, with just minutes to spare, go to the robots’ owners? There are still only 24 hours in a For the cynically minded among us, children also make for great photo ops. Republicans substituted the bill with their Meanwhile, human beings do the day. When “downtime” is turned Effective campaign materials have own bill no one had seen or considered. work that’s unpredictable – odd jobs, into work time, and that work a shot of the candidate reading to a They cut off debate and moved it on-call projects, fetching and fixing, time is unpredictable and low group of smiling, eager-to-learn children forward without anyone having a chance driving and delivering, tiny tasks paid, what happens to personal gathered around the candidate reading to debate it. They made sure that the needed at any and all hours – and relationships? Family? One’s own from a recognizable classic of children’s entire time to debate was eaten up by a patch together barely enough to live health? literature. As George W. Bush learned, bill they never intended to pass. on. Other proponents of on-demand it’s even better if the book is being Here’s the report from the nonpartisan Brace yourself. This is the economy work point to studies, such as held right side up while the candidate New Mexico Political Report: we’re now barreling toward. one recently commissioned by pretends to be reading it. “After more than three hours of debate, They’re Uber drivers, Instacart Uber, showing Uber’s on-demand As a parent, however, I’m not as sure mostly by Democrats, an amendment shoppers, and Airbnb hosts. They workers to be “happy.” about this “love for all kids” thing. Oh, was introduced by a Republican. Follow- include Taskrabbit jobbers, Upcoun- But how many of them would sure, I love all of my children, stepchil- ing the introduction of the amendment, Governor’s office House Majority Leader Nate Gentry, sel’s on-demand attorneys, and be happier with a good-paying job dren and grandchildren. I love them with 30 years ago when corporations began turning over a steadfast passion that survives every an Albuquerque Republican, moved to Healthtap’s online doctors. offering regular hours? Gov. Susana Martinez reads to first graders at Chaparral Elementary School. close debate. They’re Mechanical Turks. full-time jobs to temporary workers, independent An opportunity to make some extra bucks can testing of the limits, angry outburst, repulsive habit or plain bad decision “Debate can be stopped by a majority The euphemism is the “share” economy. A more contractors, free-lancers, and consultants. seem mighty attractive in an economy whose legislative proposals that strikes me as developed only at some point beyond they demonstrate. But sometimes other vote after three hours on a bill according accurate term would be the “share-the-scraps” It was a way to shift risks and uncertainties median wage has been stagnant for 30 years and being not very child friendly at all. what we would call “the third grade.” people’s children aren’t very lovable. to House rules. economy. onto the workers – work that might entail more almost all of whose economic gains have been going Especially suspicious is her proposal So why use that point in time to risk the Often, people who publicly shout their “Democrats said they were not given New software technologies are allowing almost hours than planned for or was more stressful than to the top. to flunk third graders who can’t pass a consequences to the child? Why not let love for all children don’t have any the proper amount of time to debate expected. standardized test of reading proficiency. each child’s parent and teacher make any job to be divided up into discrete tasks that can That doesn’t make the opportunity a great deal. themselves. Time-tested parents are the new amendment and wanted an And it was a way to circumvent labor laws that set This is being marketed – and the type of customized decision that we be parceled out to workers when they’re needed, It shows only how bad a deal most working people wary of such effusion. They know better. additional three hours on each proposed with pay determined by demand for that particular minimal standards for wages, hours, and working have otherwise been getting. marketed is precisely the word for this have always respected? change to the bill. Republicans said they job at that particular moment. conditions. And that enabled employees to join Defenders also point out that as on-demand work initiative pushed around the country by New Mexico never has required social were following regular procedures and together to bargain for better pay and benefits. continues to grow, on-demand workers are joining If the Legislature doesn’t corporations eager to convert learning promotions. We’ve simply left that that the amendment was distributed to The new on-demand work shifts risks entirely together in guild-like groups to buy insurance and mandate flunking these into profit – as a measure being done decision to the family and the teacher all members with ample time to review it. New software technologies are onto workers and eliminates minimal standards other benefits. for the love for children. It is in their best who together can assess how physical “Democrats did not agree and left the interest to avoid “social promotion” (you problems, linguistic differences, lack of allowing almost any job to be completely. But, notably, they aren’t using their bargaining children in law, then, floor, leaving only Republicans to vote are supposed to hiss at this phrase) exposure to opportunity and learning on the final legislation. The legislation divided into discrete tasks that In effect, on-demand work is a reversion to the power to get a larger share of the income they pull we are told, Hanna piecework of the 19th century – when workers had because that would simply be setting disabilities might all be involved in passed unanimously, 37-0. in, or steadier hours. That would be a union – some- Skandera will order it them up for later failure – in school, life delaying reading. can be parceled out to workers no power and no legal rights, took all the risks, and “Minority Leader Brian Egolf told New thing that Uber, Amazon, and other on-demand and society. Shouldn’t the teacher be the one Mexico Political Report afterwards the worked all hours for almost nothing. done through regulation when they’re needed, with companies don’t want. If the Legislature doesn’t mandate to judge if a child is able to read well decision to leave the floor was because Some economists laud on-demand work as a flunking these children in law, then, we enough to move to the next grade? Of pay determined by demand In my lifetime, I have coached youth the Democrats have been shorted this means of utilizing people more efficiently. are told, Hanna Skandera will order it all the skills, the ability to read is one for that particular job at that Defenders of on-demand work baseball and youth soccer; worked session. But the biggest economic challenge we face isn’t done through regulation – one more best demonstrated by simply reading out as a social worker in several settings “‘[House Republicans] talk about particular moment emphasize its flexibility. Workers using people more efficiently. It’s allocating work step in eliminating local school boards’ loud and explaining what you’ve read to with disturbed children. I’ve counseled bipartisanship, they talk about reaching control of their schools. That’s how the teacher. What is gained by requiring across the aisle, they talk about open can put in whatever time they want, and the gains from work more decently. families who were desperate to give crucial a component of Gov. Martinez’s this skill to be demonstrated instead by debate,’ he said. ‘As of now that’s all out Customers and workers are matched online. On this measure, the share-the-scraps economy is their kids away for adoption or to find a work around their schedules, fill in “love of children” this is. “passing” a standardized test purchased the window.’” Workers are rated on quality and reliability. hurtling us backwards. nice institutional placement for them – Child psychologists, though, list flunk- from a private company – other than Since they took charge this year, The big money goes to the corporations that the downtime in their calendars preferably one as far away as possible. ing a grade as among the most adverse improving that company’s profit and loss Republican leaders have ignored Demo- own the software. The scraps go to the on-demand Robert B. Reich, chancellor’s professor of public policy I’ve learned generalizations about “all of childhood experiences, almost as statement? cratic debate, bypassed the deliberative workers. Uber drivers use their own cars, take out their own at the University of California at Berkeley and senior children” often miss the mark because damaging to the fragile child’s sense of “Loving all children” is easy – if you committee process and manipulated the Consider Amazon’s “Mechanical Turk.” Amazon insurance, work as many hours as they want or can fellow at the Blum Center for Developing Economies, each child is a world unique to itself. self as the death of a parent or serious don’t have to deal with the consequenc- rules to jam through their agenda, even calls it “a marketplace for work that requires human – and pay Uber a fat percent. Worker safety? Social The trick is not to lump them all under a was secretary of labor in the Clinton administration. physical abuse. To realize that your es of a one-size-fits-all policy. Loving when New Mexicans don’t support it. intelligence.” Security? Uber says it’s not the employer, so it’s not blanket policy but to find the specialness Time magazine named him one of the 10 most effective peers will be moving upward while you this particular child, and meeting the But this time it was different. Legislative In reality, it’s an Internet job board offering responsible. of each and then to determine how they cabinet secretaries of the 20th century. He has written remain behind leaves emotional scars child’s particular needs, take caution, heroes stood up and walked out united Amazon’s Mechanical Turks work for pennies, can flourish at their own pace and in minimal pay for mindlessly boring bite-sized chores. 13 books, including the bestsellers “Aftershock” and and a depleted sense of self that should care and insight. That means a teacher instead of lending legitimacy to the sham literally. Minimum wage? Time-and-a half for their own way. Computers can’t do them because they require some “The Work of Nations.” His latest, “Beyond Outrage,” not be lightly imposed. Children develop and a parent, not a corporation, should GOP effort. They need our support to overtime? Amazon says it only connects buyers and And these experiences have left me minimal judgment, so human beings do them for intellectually at different rates and with be deciding. stand up for New Mexico values and is now out in paperback. He is also a founding editor skeptical of the glib, all-inclusive “love peanuts – say, writing a product description, for $3; or sellers, so it’s not responsible. different pathways. Using an arbitrary democracy and oppose Republican of the American Prospect magazine and chairman of of all our children” expressions that choosing the best of several photographs, for 30 cents; Defenders of on-demand work emphasize its flex- calendar to judge them is dangerous. Jerry Ortiz y Pino is a state senator from shenanigans. Common Cause. His new film, “Inequality for All,” peppered Gov. Susana Martinez’ State or deciphering handwriting, for 50 cents. ibility. Workers can put in whatever time they want, History has many examples of Albuquerque. is available on Netflix, iTunes, DVD and On Demand. of the State address on Jan. 20 and that Amazon takes a healthy cut of every transaction. work around their schedules, fill in the downtime in highly successful and influential men Pat Davis is executive director of His blog is robertreich.org now are used to justify a series of her This is the logical culmination of a process that began their calendars. and women whose love of reading ProgressNowNM. PAGE 16 • February 25, 2015 • ABQ FREE PRESS NEWS NEWS ABQ FREE PRESS • February 25, 2015 • PAGE 17 Feds’ Moving Goal Posts Costs N.M. Healthcare Exchange $97 million NMHIX, PAGE 16 BY DENNIS DOMRZALSKI the feds and has complained about The NMHIX isn’t broke how they have constantly changed their minds about what New he New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange can’t required and stated CMS has already approved with The New Mexico Health Insurance f New Mexico doesn’t ever launch its own indi- Mexico’s individual exchange should Tseem to find the right door. which CMS disagrees.” Exchange was formed by the vidual health insurance exchange, state residents look like. He has demanded, without At least that’s what the federal government thinks. I Those letters – from Gov. Martinez and Sidonie Legislature in 2013, but it is funded might not be eligible for federal health insurance success, that CMS officials explain And now, because of a sudden change in what the Squier, then-secretary of the New Mexico Human by the federal government. feds want from the NMHIX, the agency’s ability to premium subsidies. Services Department – ripped CMS for changing its themselves to board members and It all depends what the U.S. Supreme Court de- state residents about their evolving ever operate a pure, state-based individual health mind on what the exchange should be. The changes So far, NMHIX had received $115.6 insurance exchange is in doubt. cides. The decision would affect the affordability of requirements. caused the exchange to ask for more federal money million in federal grants. Of that, It could mean that New Mexicans who use the health care for tens of thousands of New Mexicans. than should have been necessary, both officials Sandel is enraged that the feds it has spent $66.1 million. It has online marketplace to buy insurance will always The court has before it a case, King vs. Burwell, wrote. won’t give the NMHIX the names $49.5 million left. The exchange’s be stuck using the much-maligned federal site, that could end subsidies for people who buy indi- “I am concerned, however, that New Mexico’s of, and other information about, the latest grant request, for $97 million, healthcare.gov. Under the worst-case scenario, it vidual policies on the federal insurance exchange. need to apply for this additional grant funding more than 44,000 New Mexicans was rejected. could mean that state residents who buy policies on Opponents of the Affordable Care Act have argued is due to your department’s decision to require who have enrolled in health plans the exchange could lose their eligibility for federal that under the law, subsidies are available only to changes in our state’s exchange design – a design through the federal exchange. That health insurance subsidies. people who buy through state-based exchanges. that your department had reviewed and approved,” said Martinez’s letter was not the information is critical if the state is And it all comes down to bureaucratic language The government has argued that anyone who buys Martinez’s letter said. “These changes have signifi- reason for the grant’s rejection. to ever operate its own individual about doors and the issue of how convenient the through the federal exchange, healthcare.gov, is cant implications for the stand-up of New Mexico’s “As a Democrat who has been exchange. The information would CALLING ALL PETS allow the exchange to automatically exchange should be for consumers. eligible for subsidies. exchange and add unnecessary costs with only involved with the NMHIX board, re-enroll people in their plans every Since it began meeting in April 2013, the NMHIX If the court sides with the ACA’s opponents, marginal, if any, value to consumers.” my opinion is that the charges are baseless and could not be farther year. Without it, policies would be Derrick, a black, questionably Labrador Retriever, staff and its 13 board members have been working subsidies will end for millions of Americans. Squier’s letter contained similar language and away from the truth. Gov. Martinez canceled each year and individuals gets dressed up every Halloween for the annual under the assumption that the exchange for individ- It’s still not clear whether New Mexico’s exchange added, “I also express concern that the amount of signed the legislation to put this would have to manually enroll in a costume contest at the Sutin Law Firm. uals would be a “no wrong door” site. That means is a state-based marketplace. The NMHIX operates funding represented in this grant application greatly [NMHIX] into place, and to say that new policy, an inconvenience that “Derrick is a bee in this photo and I’m his beekeeper,” that if a person logs on to the site and is eligible its own SHOP, or small business exchange, but it exceeds that necessary to produce a functioning she is tearing it down, I take great likely would cause many people to says Jean Moore, a lawyer at the firm. for Medicaid, and not for private insurance, the still uses the federal site for individuals. In other exchange to allow New Mexicans to shop for and site would figure that out and automatically direct objection to.” drop the federally mandated health words, it’s a hybrid site. purchase insurance.” the person through a link to the state’s Medicaid Sandel ripped the feds for changing coverage, Sandel said. Send it to NMHIX board member Dr. Martin Hickey has website. From there, the person could enroll in their minds at the last minute. said the feds have told him that they consider New [email protected] Medicaid. A progressive political movement, “They changed the rules at the Mexico’s to be a state-based exchange. Other ‘When you talk to them Include your name, phone number, and your pet’s name, All during that time, the feds, meaning the U.S. ProgressNowNM, has blamed a absolute last minute, and that’s board members don’t agree, and it’s not clear if the [the feds] will tell you and we’ll try to reserve their spot in the pet parade. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, exactly what I was afraid of,” Sandel feds have ever given the NMHIX written notification harshly worded letter to CMS approved of the exchange’s “no wrong door” said. “Staff and board members have what they want, but of its status as a state-based exchange as opposed approach, NMHIX board members said. by Gov. Susana Martinez for the been saying ‘no wrong door’ since they won’t put That all changed in November, just six days before to a hybrid exchange. federal government’s denial of our first meeting. To change it would anything in writing’ the deadline for the exchange to submit an applica- As of the end of January, 44,300 New Mexicans the grant application, but there is cost $50 million. Now they are had enrolled in health plans through the federal – NMHIX board member Jason Sandel tion for a $97 million federal grant to continue with no publicly available documenta- mandating ‘single door,’ and they’re final construction of the website. exchange. Of those, 75 percent, or 33,200, were not willing to pay for it. This is eligible for premium subsidies. The average subsidy tion to support that claim nothing more than an attack on every “It has been nine months, and they was $202, for a total of $6.7 million. New Mexican.” won’t even give us a file. They said The NMHIX’s request for the While critics have pounced on the letters’ tone, The problem, Sandel added, is they had privacy concerns, and we that it would be difficult to hold the assured them that we would invest $97 million grant – about half government’s denial of the grant application, but the outrage expressed in the letters isn’t anything federal government to a decision or in privacy and security software, and of which was needed to change to there is no publicly available documentation to different from what NMHIX board members have point out their constantly changing they said, ‘Sure, we’ll give it to you,’” support that claim, and ProgressNowNM didn’t been saying for more than a year: that the federal a ‘single door’ site – was rejected requirements. “When you talk to Sandel said. offer any. government has constantly changed its mind and them, they will tell you what they “But they have never followed “CMS told us that they wanted to have the new, moved the goal posts when it comes to getting the want, but they won’t put anything in through with that commitment; The feds changed their minds and said the “no ‘single door’ design and we had six days to come up state’s individual exchange operational. writing,” Sandel said. they have continued to throw up wrong door” approach was unacceptable. Instead, with that,” NMHIX spokeswoman Linda Wedeen “Frankly, I don’t think the governor’s letter had ABQ Free Press has made a formal roadblocks, and of course, nothing is they wanted a “single door” site, which would said, “and that was part of the problem [with the anything to do with the rejection,” said NMHIX request from to the NMHIX for in writing.” automatically enroll someone who is eligible for grant application], we were not as detailed. We had board member Dr. J. Deane Waldman, a Republican documents indicating any written Sandel thinks it a waste of time for Medicaid in the program instead of directing that to come up with a detailed design.” from Albuquerque. “It’s not inflammatory, and approval from CMS for the “no NMHIX staffers and board members person to the Medicaid site. During a Jan. 9 NMHIX board meeting, the secondly, they [CMS] gave us every indication that wrong door” approach for documents to go to Washington, D.C., to meet The NMHIX’s request for the $97 million grant exchange’s staff used a slide show presentation to we were going in the right direction. Every single regarding the rejection of the grant. with federal officials. He wants the – about half of which was needed to change to a show why CMS officials rejected the grant applica- thing we got from them said, ‘You are on the right As of press time, the agency had not feds to come to New Mexico, sit down ‘single door’ site – was rejected. Now, staff and tion. track.’ The denial letter was a shock to everybody.” provided any documents. in front of the board and explain board members face a $16 million budget shortfall “In general, some sections were more detailed Waldman recalled that when the board had to de- Board chairman Dr. J.R. Damron themselves in a public meeting. and trying to determine if they can build the “single than others; needed more detailed narrative on cide in August 2014 whether to go forward with the also said that CMS had originally “My desire as a board member is for door” exchange with the $49 million in federal IT workplan and cost allocation (i.e., specifics on state-based individual exchange, or use the federal accepted a “no wrong door” ap- them to come to a board meeting and grants it has left in its bank account. Board members hourly rates on contractors was not provided),” the site for another year, the feds were on board with proach but that it changed its mind. answer questions,” Sandel said, “and said the change in requirements for the exchange presentation said. the “no wrong door” approach. “They were the ones He added that he and staff have been let’s do it in a public forum.” will make it more expensive to build, but that the “Wanted to see more ‘verbose and glowing’ who said ‘no wrong door’ is perfectly acceptable, trying to meet with the feds regarding feds aren’t willing to pay for the changes. description of progress – didn’t provide enough and now they said it’s not OK. We are shocked.” the grant rejection but that CMS of- Dennis Domrzalski is an associate editor A progressive political movement, Progress- detail on accomplishments,” it added. Board member Jason Sandel of Farmington also ficials haven’t committed to anything. at ABQ Free Press. Reach him at NowNM, has blamed a harshly worded letter “Letters attached to application indicated state said that the feds had been on board with a “no Sandel has been a constant critic of [email protected] to CMS by Gov. Susana Martinez for the federal was questioning the benefit of the changes that were wrong door” approach from the beginning. He, too,

cont. on page 17 PAGE 18 • February 25, 2015 • ABQ FREE PRESS NEWS LIVING ABQ FREE PRESS • February 25, 2015 • PAGE 19 TWO-YEAR SCHOOLS, PAGE 6 Deep Dish: On Breakfast, Bistros and Bread Getting better on enrollment or getting students through the front strategies that work elsewhere and scale them for door, and not on graduating them, Walters said. use in CNM’s core territory – Bernalillo, Valencia, BY SAFFRON TOMATO While New Mexico’s graduation rate languishes New Mexico’s community colleges are now adopt- Torrance and Sandoval counties – to create a reliable near the bottom, it has been getting better. Over the he restaurant news that rocked Also in the food-news department, “All of our owners decide their own focaccia, and Irish soda bread, all ing CCA’s strategy for boosting graduation rates. past four years, there has been a slight uptick, Walters the city was the filing of Chapter the Sandia Casino has now opened menus (the number and varieties of made from scratch. Phew! Their focus includes remedial education, keeping T of the Higher Education Department said. The primary reason for New 11 bankruptcy by ABQ fave, Flying their Roadrunner Casino & Grill, breads offered), interior decor, and My final favorite place to buy enrolled students from falling through the cracks Star and Satellite Coffee. Saffron as in a new casino area with its own marketing endeavors.” More to the freshly baked breads, that’s available and closing the achievement gap for low-income Mexico’s low graduation rate, ironi- thinks breakfast is the best meal (and new grill. Roadrunner features pulled point, “Yes, all of our bakeries stone around the city, oddly enough, is ‘Each additional year at a commu- students. cally, has been the New Mexico appetizers make the best dinner) and nity college in New Mexico can cost In addition, a local initiative known as “Mission: Legislative Lottery Scholarship pork nachos, popcorn chicken, fish mill all of their wheat on site and bake Smith’s. The California-based La Graduate” has a goal of adding 60,000 graduates with confesses to a fondness for the delish and chips, chicken and waffles, Indian from scratch every morning.” (Great Brea bakery makes some of the a student more than $49,000 in lost certificates and degrees by 2020. Mission Graduate is breakfasts served all day at Flying tacos and pizza. Sit down or take it Harvest Bread Co., El Dorado Square yummiest, easily available breads in wages and college expenses’ a partnership among CNM, UNM, the Albuquerque pipeline of trained workers and to allow students Star. What does this news mean to us? grab-and-go. Shopping Center, 11200 Montgomery Albuquerque. Their multigrain bread to get their feet in the door and motivate them to I have been reassured by Chris Blvd. NE, 293-8277, ghabq.com) is a Saffron favorite that is available at – Complete College America Public Schools and businesses and government entities, including Public Service Company of New finish college without many interruptions, said Cervini, a spokesperson for Flying Let Them Eat Fresh Bread Whole Foods also has a huge selec- Smith’s and Costco. Their rosemary Mexico, Bernalillo County, and Presbyterian Health- Karen Rudys, general assistant superintendent of the Star, that all the locations in Albu- tion of fresh baked breads and rolls. olive oil loaf is also a fine runner-up. The primary reason for New Mexico’s low gradua- care Services. Human Resources Department at APS. querque – seven Flying Stars and Everyone’s favorite royal-to-hate They bake daily and take pride in And they offer several other types as tion rate, ironically, has been the New Mexico Legisla- “Mission: Graduate” bills itself as a “cradle-to-career seven Satellite Coffees – are doing fine might be Marie Antoinette who, so the using cage-free eggs, natural butters well. But it’s clear that the California- tive Lottery Scholarship. Colleges have concentrated education partnership” that will identify education Sabrina Autry is an ABQ Free Press journalism intern. financially and will stay in operation. story goes, upon being told that her and unbleached, unbromated flour. based company can’t be shipping “Make no mistake, Flying Star is not French subjects had no bread, suppos- I asked their bakery person about them out fresh-baked to stores around edly suggested “Qu’ils mangent de COLLEGE OVERALL GRAD 2-YR GRAD 3-YR GRAD 4-YR GRAD tranSFER going anywhere in Albuquerque. the process. Their representative told the city (and around the country). Central New Mexico Com- la brioche,” widely translated as “Let rate rate rate rate rate munity College, formerly Jean and Mark [Bernstein] are local me that they do get some par-baked The variety is clearly not there, but them eat bread.” called Albuquerque Technical business owners who are committed breads from the Bake House but most these easy to pick up loaves are truly That story has been discredited – CNM 11% 3% 10% 17% 24% Vocational Institute, has five to the community,” he said. are made from scratch and baked yummy. some other queen said it. Moreover, campuses in the Metro area. It As for the closures of Bernalillo and fresh in the store. Par-baked bread So, how do these freshly baked Clovis Community today we may not consider brioche College 9% 4% 8% 14% 19% is one of nine two-year public Santa Fe locations: “From a business dough is mixed, shaped, proofed, and loaves appear? I asked how Smith’s colleges in New Mexico perspective, the most efficient and to be cake, but it is a delicious egg- then baked 80% of the way. Then the got their breads and a representative Luna Community funded by local property taxes effective way to close those locations based bun that rivals a croissant for bread is cooled and flash frozen and of La Brea explained: “We ship it fro- College 19% 6% 19% 23% Not available and governed by elected local was through a Chapter 11 reorganiza- deliciousness. In fact, there are breads finish baked at the store. zen directly to the Kroger distribution Mesalands Community boards. A 10th two-year school, tion.” available in Albuquerque so yummy The totally store-made breads centers and they transport it frozen to College 32% 36% 37% 39% Not available Southwest Indian Polytechnic Huge sigh of relief; my favorite that they rival cake, and then some. include their French, Seeduction, the individual stores. The stores then There are small bakeries around the N.M. Military Institute, is operated by the U.S. breakfasts are safe. whole wheat oat, ciabatta, sourdough, bake it fresh onsite each day.” Institute 43% 29% 31% 31% 52% Bureau of Indian Affairs. By law, But while Santa Fe is losing their city that offer their own specialties, rosemary sourdough, green chile the nine two-year schools are but for variety, you can’t beat these San Juan College 13% 8% 16% 23% 12% Flying Star, they are gaining Modern cheddar, challah, raisin challah, Saffron Tomato doesn’t do Atkins. largely autonomous. Currently, General, which promises to be a great let-them-eat-bread places. Santa Fe 26,771 students are enrolled at breakfast location. Great Harvest Bread Company Community College 9% 2% 10% 15% 23% CNM, down from 28,685 for the Erin Wade, Chef/Owner of is a northeast favorite with freshly same period in 2013. N.M. Junior College 18% 18% 18% 26% 21% Vinaigrette salad bistro opened the baked breads, sweet rolls, and dessert new store as a place where folks can loaves all freshly baked. I love getting do a bit of shopping and sit down a free sample slice to try before I get and enjoy a cup of coffee. “We’re whatever bread I initially came in to m anny aragon, PAGE 12 appealing to the same core Vinaigrette purchase. That’s actually how I find customer and widening our offerings new breads to love. Current passion? On education and right to work and kids coming from so many backgrounds come chambers and decided not to participate because the with extended meal periods and Pumpernickel. to school with so many problems, and you’re a Republicans shut down debate on teacher evalua- services.” teacher and have to deal with all that, it’s an unbear- “What New Mexico needs in the schools is a real tions. It seems more and more that we’re getting as But they are extending the able load.” serious influx of social workers. They’re short of gridlocked as it is in Washington.” focus on sustainable and healthy to include products social workers. You need them in schools, working that customers can use in with families, working on truancy. If you gave On anemic job growth “The only other time I recall anything like that their home. teachers more money, they’d be more interested in happening was I had a [nonbinding] memorial on the lack of senior residential care on Native Ameri- “Vinaigrette is all about talking to families, looking for what’s the problem. “From October of last year, we had an increase can reservations. The memorial urged Sen. [Pete] sustainable eating and Social workers can help you a lot. They can get into of 300 net jobs. That rests with her [Gov. Martinez] Domenici to work to remedy this in Congress. Sen. healthy eating, and Modern the problem and figure out what it is. and Mayor [Richard] Berry, as meager as that is. I General is about sustainable [Les] Houston and the Republicans were in charge think the Legislature cooperated with the governor and helpful items for the of the Senate, and they said, ‘We’re in no position to “The problem I see is the antagonistic battle going significantly and gave her most of the tax breaks she home, garden, in addition tell Sen. Domenici what to do.’ They tabled it, and I on between teachers and this administration, and asked for. She proposed to have a significant impact to juices and smoothies,” now it seems the administration has the upper hand. on employment and attracting new businesses, but said why, and they said, ‘We got the votes.’ It only said Wade. “It’s also more And it’s not that they won, but that New Mexico I haven’t seen any real change in that particular happened one time in my experience. You have to breakfast-oriented, so it’s lost.” regard, and I note that this year we’re still in 45th have respect for the other members.” both complementary and cooperative But this is also a franchise bakery – in high school graduation rates and 48th in child with Vinaigrette.” one of more than 220 located through- “This whole right-to-work thing, there are so many poverty and 49th in drug-related deaths.” “When you get down on that floor and they put The name Modern General out 43 states. Can these breads all be silver bullets flying, you’d think they were the Lone the senator’s name on that placard in front of his “popped” into her head as a design made from scratch and baked fresh daily? It turns out that yes, they can. Ranger. That’s the biggest bunch of B.S. There are no On Republican control of the House desk, he should take off that R or D. When you’re a concept “which then evolved into silver bullets for New Mexico. It’s going to take a lot state senator, you’re a state senator.” the full concept – a modern take on Representative Terri Medina from of hard work. If there is one silver bullet, it’s making the general store.” (Modern General, Great Harvest explained that all their bakeries are locally owned the education system stronger. When we’re number “It’s starting to fall apart, which is very unfor- Dan Vukelich is editor of ABQ Free Press. Reach him at 637 Cerrillos Road, 505-930-5462, and operated and no two are alike. one in poverty and we’re number one in child abuse, tunate. The Democrats walked out of the House [email protected] vinaigretteonline.com) PAGE 20 • February 25, 2015 • ABQ FREE PRESS LIVING MUSIC ABQ FREE PRESS • February 25, 2015 • PAGE 21 Four Anti-inflammation Recipes Boost Health From Bop to Beyond: Jordan, Konitz, Iyer at the Outpost BY GINNY GRIMSLEY

hronic disease – including heart to low, adding a little more coconut oil if Cdisease, cancer, stroke, rheumatoid needed. Using the same skillet, add the arthritis, and many others – can be eggs, shaking to distribute the mixture caused by inflammation. Inflammation, evenly. Cook over medium-low heat for this common source of disease, is the five minutes using a spatula to spread direct result of a poor diet and sedentary the eggs from the edges to the center lifestyle, a fact documented by the until the edges are no longer runny. Centers for Disease Control among Arrange the vegetable mixture over the other reputable sources. top evenly. “The best medicine to ease common Transfer to a 375-degree oven and cook suffering from chronic disease is an for five minutes until set and slightly active lifestyle and an anti-inflammatory • Breakfast: Spanish frittata and browned. Remove from oven. Be very • Dinner: Grilled salmon and aspara- diet; food should be nourishing and simple salad with maple orange aware of the hot handle! To finish, slide gus with stone fruit and lavender pleasurable,” says nutritionist and juicing vinaigrette (serves 4-6). partially cooked frittata onto a large chutney (serves 4-6). Chutney: 2 lb. pioneer Cherie Calbom, M.S. (“The Frittata: 12 large organic eggs; ½ cup plate; wearing oven mitts, place a stone fruit, small dice; 1 large onion, Jimmy Katz Michel Volanthen Guy Smith Juice Lady”). Her latest book, “The Juice coconut milk; ½ tsp. sea salt, or more to plate over the pan and, holding the two finely chopped; zest of 1 lemon or lime; BY RICHARD OYAMA Lady’s Anti-Inflammation Diet” (juicela- taste; 2 tbsp. coconut oil or extra-virgin together, invert them so the frittata drops 2 tbsp. garlic, minced; ¼ tsp. chili flakes dycherie.com), outlines the causes of olive oil; 1 small red onion, small chop; onto the plate. Slide the frittata back into (optional); 1/3 cup red wine vinegar; arch comes roaring in at Outpost Davis’s legendary “Birth of the Cool” Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature” to a polymath with a doctorate in the inflammation and offers solutions with ½ cup sautéed mushrooms or your the pan so partially cooked side is up. ¾ cup raw honey or agave; ¾ tsp. sea Performance Space, bringing a sessions and is known for his work those of Sri Lankan rapper MIA. cognitive science of music from UC healthy meals for breakfast, lunch and favorite vegetable; 1 cup spinach or Place back in oven to cook three-to-four salt; 2 tbsp. fresh lavender (or use basil M pride of jazz lions including two Na- with Lennie Tristano, Stan Kenton The pianist also has explored Berkeley, Vijay Iyer is a professor dinner, as well as robust juicing recipes. arugula. minutes more. or mint; use 1 tsp. dried lavender if you “Whether you’re on a vegetarian, Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk cannot find it fresh). tional Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and Warne Marsh as well as with rhythmic concepts from South Indian of the arts at Harvard University’s vegan, low-carb, no-carb, Mediter- the eggs and coconut milk with two In a saucepan combine all prepared Jazz Masters, vocalist Sheila Jordan Mingus, Bud Powell and Bill Evans. music. “I’ve spent a good deal of Department of Music. ranean, Neanderthal or any other kind of pinches of salt. Set aside. Prepare pan ingredients except the herbs. Bring to a and alto saxophonist Lee Konitz, plus “I was rather shy,” Konitz has said, time studying and coming to terms Fresh from a gig in Jazz at Lincoln diet, there are delicious recipes avail- with coconut oil and medium-high heat boil. Continue cooking at a rolling boil, MacArthur Fellow, pianist-composer “but was willing to stand there and with carnatic music — South Indian Center, “Vijay has always been sup- able to anyone who wants to up their and sauté onions until translucent, about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally. Mix in Vijay Iyer. Among them, they embody invent variations on themes, in front classical music,” Iyer said. portive of Outpost,” Guralnick said, anti-inflammation efforts.” three minutes. Add mushroom or favor- fresh herbs and/or lavender at the end. the bedrock of bop, cool, pop, free of people. I got enough validation to His trio is not interested in soloing “and we hope he continues to be.” Calbom lists just three of her many ite vegetable and sauté until soft. Toss jazz, world music and beyond. encourage me to continue developing so much as the evolution of “grooves, For the rest of Outpost’s spring recipes, with some ingredients that may in spinach and fold into veggie mixture Of Jordan and Konitz, Outpost’s this craft, and sometimes, art.” spaces and textures,” and to take “a schedule, go to outpostspace.org. already be found in your pantry. just until wilted. Remove vegetables founder and executive director Tom On Thurs., Mar. 12 at Outpost at collective journey.” from pan; set aside. Turn down the heat Guralnick said, “They’re still vital and 7:30, Konitz will bring his quartet of As if this wasn’t entirely too much, Richard Oyama is a novelist and poet. developing into their 80s.” Dan Tepfer, piano; Jeremy Stratton, Photos courtesy of NewsandExperts.com Sheila Jordan returns to Outpost on bass; and George Schuller, drums. Thurs., Mar. 5 at 7:30 p.m. with bassist “I didn’t play like Parker,” Konitz • Lunch: Tropical quinoa salad Cameron Brown, a pioneer of the said, “wanting to develop my own with cashews and carrot fries voice-bass duo. The Patti Littlefield- voice. I studied Louis Armstrong (serves 4). John Rangel duo opens. and Lester Young. I wanted to cool Quinoa: 1 cup dried quinoa, rinsed well; “Sheila’s an innovative singer,” it, to play with both intensity and ½ red onion, finely chopped; 1 cup Guralnick said, “one steeped in bebop.” restraint.” apple or carrot, finely chopped; juice of Jordan counts Charlie Parker In early recordings like “At 1 lime, 2 tbsp. honey or agave; 1 tbsp. among her greatest influences along Storyville 1954,” his alto has a soft, extra-virgin olive oil; 1 large mango, with Charles Mingus, Herbie Nichols feathery tone reminiscent of Prez chopped (not overly ripe); ¼ cup mint, and Lennie Tristano. She received the (Lester Young’s nickname), with finely chopped; 1 tsp. sea salt, to taste; freshly ground black pepper, to taste; 2008 Mary Lou Williams Award for a fluency, lyricism and thoughtfulness. ½-inch-piece ginger, finely chopped; Lifetime of Service to Jazz. “Konitz is great,” said Guralnick. 1 avocado, chopped or thinly sliced; 1 Growing up in Pennsylvania’s coal “Maybe sonically less edgy than Bird, cup cashews, coarsely chopped; 3 cups country with her grandparents, Jordan but definitely not [less] inventively.” Romaine lettuce (or greens of choice), sang in school and on amateur radio On Thurs., Mar. 26 at 7:30 p.m., roughly chopped. shows. In the 1940s she returned to Grammy-nominated composer and Cook the quinoa: Bring two cups of Detroit to live with her mother. There pianist Vijay Iyer returns to Outpost water to a boil in a medium saucepan; she met Tommy Flanagan, Kenny with his trio of Stephan Crump, bass, add the quinoa and simmer, covered • Snack: Cherry Chocolate Shake Burrell, Barry Harris and others, and Marcus Gilmore, drums. Iyer, 15-20 minutes. Set aside and let cool (serves 1). 1 Tbsp. unsweetened, un- joining a vocal trio akin to Lambert, described by Los Angeles Weekly as “a (spread out for best results). In a large processed cocoa powder; ½ cup frozen Hendricks & Ross. Relocating to New boundless and deeply important young bowl toss the chopped red onion and dark cherries, pitted; 1 cup coconut, York in the 1950s, she sang in clubs star,” was a 2013 MacArthur Fellow. His apple/carrot. Whisk together the lime almond or flax milk; ½ tsp. pure vanilla and at jam sessions with Mingus, latest CD is “Break Stuff” (ECM). juice, honey and olive oil. Add to the extract; several drops of liquid stevia Nichols and Parker. She released her What defines Iyer’s career is bowl. Add the cooked, cooled quinoa (suggest Sweet Leaf Vanilla Creme); ice first album “Portrait of Sheila” on a startling eclecticism. He cites cubes as desired. and mango to the bowl and toss well. Blue Note, the first female singer to Thelonius Monk as his biggest Place all ingredients in a blender and Mix in mint, cilantro, ginger and salt and record for the label. influence. On the new album, the trio process until smooth. pepper, to taste. Garnish with sliced Lee Konitz was one of the few covers compositions by John Coltrane avocado and cashews. Scoop mixture alto saxophonists of his generation and Billy Strayhorn. But Iyer has over greens and serve chilled or at room National Print Campaign Manager to create his own sound distinct acknowledged avant-garde masters temperature. Ginny Grimsley interviews for newsandexperts.com from Charlie Parker’s dominant like pianist-composer Sun-Ra and even presence. He worked on Miles interpreted popular songs ranging from PAGE 22 • February 25, 2015 • ABQ FREE PRESS MUSIC TV ABQ FREE PRESS • February 25, 2015 • PAGE 23 Music Briefs: A Global Feast, One Yank Live Performance Spotlights Ari Stidham of ‘Scorpion’: Schlubby? Not So Much vocals and remarkable style of guitar playing. This artist has an original MUSIC: THURSDAY, MARCH 5 BY BETSY MODEL sound that definitely deserves a listen- STICK TO YOUR GUNS over. His debut album “Gone West” The Launchpad t would be just too damn easy to make assump- that doesn’t mirror his own life –both share anxiety. came out at the tail tions about actor Ari Stidham. Stidham has no trouble, he says, bringing that one Their newest CD is “Disobedience,” a I end of 2014. name we can relate to. Stick To Your Guns At first glance, his appearance is similar enough to particular trait to his character. The electronic are Jesse Barnett (vocals, guitar), Andrew Sylvester Dodd, the socially challenged, scared-of- “Sylvester has some issues that I’m grateful, as a stylings of Rose (bass, vocals), George Schmitz his-own shadow genius he plays on the CBS drama human being, to not take home with me at night! Liverpool band (drums), Chris Rawson (guitar, vocals) and “Scorpion.” You tend to think that Ari, the man, also I don’t have some of his bigger fears, for example. Filter Distortion Josh James (guitar, vocals). might be a little, well, awkward. Sylvester is afraid of water, he’s claustrophobic, he’s BY RENE THOMPSON is evocative of The Amity Affliction, Being As An Ocean, At 6-1 and 340 pounds, Ari’s character, Sylvester, is got major OCD, and everything has to be just perfect elgian Duo Amatorski is an alter- new-wave nostal- ‘68 and In Hearts Wake will open. Advance portrayed as a bit of an oversized dufus. He’s smart and precisely in its place or he thinks something Bnative post-rock band re-releasing gia and sounds similar to Depeche tickets are $15 plus service fees, and may about math and computer science but not neces- terrible will happen as a result. But what we share in their single “Come Home.” It’s a Mode, but with a modern take. Their be higher the day of the show. Get them at sarily about life, dating or even his own internal common is general anxiety. rework from their 2010 album “Same debut album “Transition” is out now, launchpadrocks.com. capabilities to interact with others in a way that “I have my anxious moments – I struggle with Stars We Shared,” and is the theme for unexpectedly well done and stimulat- doesn’t scream “geek.” auditions, for example, and worry ‘Am I good the new hit show “The Missing” from ing for a first album with a vintage In short, he’s easy to ignore and to underestimate, enough?’ – and deep down I have a real fear of the BBC. ‘80s sound. MUSIC: TUESDAY, MARCH 24 at least initially. failure. I guess many actors do, but it’s real for me It gives this phenomenal series The ambient-sound band from REVEREND PEYTON’S To confuse the two men – character and real-life and I think I can really, really (laughs) bring that an overall eerie, melodic depiction Italy called Sylicae has listeners 22-year-old – would be a mistake but a lovely anxiety to Sylvester.” of how it must be to lose someone, reeling with their avant-garde take BIG DAMN BAND mistake to uncover. Stidham is funny (real-life, Stidham, who does stand-up comedy and which takes listeners into “tense and on electronic noise. Their self-titled Low Spirits stand-up improv funny), smart and has all of the plays music as Dr. TV in any lulls of the shooting sinister territory.” After watching this album can be found at cdbaby.com, Touring for their new CD “So Delicious,” social skills one could wish. schedule, says he’s also using his experience on series thriller, many viewers will want but be cautioned: this band is more the Big Damn Band promises a good time In fact, during this interview, the only time Stid- “Scorpion” to absorb anything and everything he to download this unique sound. for the hipster experimental-sound and a sermon or two from the Rev. They ham expressed any real moment of embarrassment can from fellow castmates, from the producers and Bottoms, the odd and eclectic crowd. were named “Best Band of the Warped or hesitation was when complimented on those very directors and the filming crew in general. experimental trio from Brooklyn, Yorkshire, U.K. ska band The Talks Tour” and had their songs slotted into same social skills. After a short, quiet pause, he kept He admits to harboring goals and wants to learn as came out with their song called “HIV” have an album out now by the name “Shameless” on Showtime. Tickets: $10, it simple. much as possible to achieve them. holdmyticket.com on Dec. 1, World AIDS Day, to bring of “Commoners, Peers, Drunks and “My mom and dad. They raised us right.” “I’m a character actor, and I happen to love awareness that the fight against AIDS Thieves” on iTunes “Us” are Stidham and his brother, also an actor, comedy. I look at older television and people like is not over. and Amazon. Be and Stidham repeatedly mentions how the support Photo courtesy of CBS Harvey Korman and Carol Burnet and I see raw, This song is from their upcoming sure to search for IMPROV: FRIDAY & SATURDAY, MARCH 27-28 of his family enabled him not only to land his first unfiltered comedy that I’d love to achieve at some album called “Goodbye” via Atlas the album name, as few acting gigs – a couple of plays, and 10 episodes point in my career. Chair, out now on iTunes. There is a the band is pretty SCOTT TAKEDA: African American male!” WORKING TOGETHER in the short-lived television comedy “Huge” – but “Scorpion” was a hit from nearly its first airing “Look, I’m only 22, and I don’t want to make any mix of wacky and cheerful beats very tough to find via to keep going out on auditions in the very tough sweeping statements. I’m incredibly reminiscent of old deep house with these sites. Their The Box Performance Space – particularly in the teenage and industry known as Hollywood. young adult demographic – and lucky to have landed something additional electronic elements. bouncy, fun and You’ll recognize Takeda from films like “Gone Girl” Persistence paid off: Stidham landed walk-on “Scorpion” airs at 8 p.m. on like ‘Scorpion’ at my age, and I classic punky sound is unique with CBS green-lighted a second season Bottoms calls themselves “two shitty and “Dallas Buyers Club” and on TV’s “Nashville.” roles in television shows such as “Glee,” “Mike and Mondays on CBS, or watch know it every single day that I go each song, and has some traditional early into the show’s first season. drag queens, and a 303 and a drum- He’s just been cast in an as-yet-unnamed Tina Fey Molly” and “The Crazy Ones.” all 16 season episodes on to work. I hope the show goes on horns that should have any ska lovers It not only changed Ari’s career, it mer,” but have hearts of gold and a comedy. Now Takeda’s trying his hand at improv Then he got a call for another walk-on part for the CBS All Access (cbs.com) for many, many years and that it skanking around the house in no time. for two nights only at The Box. Ticket prices haven’t changed his lifestyle. cause they stand behind. pilot of a new drama. The show’s premise was un- allows me the opportunity to find been announced; get them at holdmyticket.com. “I started getting acting jobs when Contemporary folk artist Exzavier usual: a veteran Homeland Security officer recruits my footing, find my best acting self Rene Thompson writes Music Briefs for I was 17, which was great, but I was Whitley from Denver will amaze and trains a band of genius misfits to outmaneuver and learn from everybody that I can.” listeners with his unique and soothing ABQ Free Press. living in an apartment above my parent’s garage. terrorists and keep America safe. For all intents and purposes I was, until this past Stidham works alongside actors with serious More than 50 percent of pilot shows languish year, a 22-year-old schlub living at home. I got the TV and film chops, such as Elyes Gabel (“Game of before ever being picked up by a network, and call to come in for the pilot of ‘Scorpion’ to read Thrones,” “Interstellar”) and veteran Robert Patrick quite often, even when picked up, the network a really, really tiny role on a Friday – I think the (“The Unit,” “The Sopranos,” “Trouble with the will “tweak” the show – location, setting, actors, character had a whole two lines of dialogue! – and Curve”). Former “American Idol” favorite Katharine Enter our Flash Fiction Contest timelines, etc. – to the formula of the moment. Years they must have liked what they saw because four McPhee (“Smash”) is also a castmate. can go by before a pilot ultimately finds a home, and days later I was working on the show and being “To have this opportunity when I’m only freaking Submission Deadline: sometimes it can be even longer before it finds itself 22 is awesome, and while almost every interview Friday, February 27, 2015 directed by Justin Lin.” in an actual on-air lineup. For a brief second, the boy-his-own-age in Stidham with every actor includes some version of ‘Well, I Write short, and write fast. Enter the ABQ Free Press Flash Fiction Contest for a chance to win Although young, Stidham knows the ropes, knows comes out. worked really, really hard to get where I am’ I’m not $75 and publication in our March 11, 2015 issue. the percentages but showed up for the pilot, got and “We have great producers and great directors all going to do that. Did I do my work? Yeah, I did, learned the script, performed the lines and … went the way around, but I was a big, big fan of all the but only as much as my age can possibly allow, and • Only unpublished short stories no longer than 650 words submitted by email or snail mail will be accepted. home. ‘Fast and Furious’ films and saw the latest one (‘Fast there’s still a lot of just plain luck happening here. • Any subject matter, but keep the words clean. It was a holiday weekend, Stidham recalls, and he and Furious 6’) in the theater, like, three times. Lin “But,” he adds with a grin, “I can also proudly say • No matter how short, your submission should be a complete story, with a beginning, middle and end. got THE CALL that actors dream about the Tuesday was, even before ‘Scorpion,’ a real hero for me, I must be an adult of at least some kind now because • No entry fee. Multiple entries OK. after the audition. It was, he admits, more than a and to be on a show with such amazing talent as I don’t live above my parent’s garage anymore!” • Include your name, email and phone number. surprise. we’ve got, which includes some really big names in • Entries will be judged by a panel of professional writers whose decisions are final. “I had no expectations, none, although I thought Hollywood, is a thrill and something I just want to Betsy Model specializes in investigative pieces and the premise of the show was more than a little absorb as much of as I can.” personality profiles. She is a regular contributor to ABQ DEADLINE: Entries must be emailed or snail mailed by midnight Mountain time, Friday, February 27, 2015. No exceptions. Email to cool. But, you have to understand where my total Stidham is also still absorbing who Sylvester is. He Free Press, and her work has appeared in Rolling Stone, [email protected] or snail mail to Flash Fiction Contest, ABQ Free Press, PO Box 6070, 87197-6070. Winners will be notified by surprise came from. I never really auditioned and,” acknowledges that while Sylvester might have some Vanity Fair and other national publications. Friday, March 6. No phone calls, please. he laughs, “the role was written as a 35-year old issues that Ari doesn’t – or at least to an extreme PAGE 24 • February 25, 2015 • ABQ FREE PRESS THEATER FILM ABQ FREE PRESS • February 25, 2015 • PAGE 25 ‘The King and I’ Opening She Had Quite a Career Assume the Position: ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ at Albuquerque Little Theatre Despite the Tin Ear commencement speech. In her “mommy porn” note that porn made inroads into mainstream novel, E.L. James renders the scene: “Double crap cinema sometime in the 1970s with films such as BY BARRY GAINES — me and my two left feet! I am on my hands and “Behind the Green Door” and “Deep Throat.” knees in the doorway to Mr. Grey’s office, and gentle The mainstreaming of pornography occurred he Adobe Theater opened its hands are around me, helping me to stand. I am so against the backdrop of Watergate, disco, sex clubs, Tproduction of Stephen Temperley’s embarrassed, damn my clumsiness . . . Holy cow — the second wave of feminism and, I believe, moral “Souvenir” with two of Albuquerque’s he’s so young.” Virginia Woolf it’s not. exhaustion after a massive post-’60s hangover. finest performers, Lorri Oliver and Philip The movie’s dialogue is equally atrocious: “I find Politics was demonstrably corrupt. Many traded J. Shortell, as you have never seen — you intimidating . . . I feel so different . . . I’m not impossible dreams, such as changing the world that is, heard — them before. Under the the man for you . . . It’s complicated.” Ladies and and achieving personal enlightenment for a more expert direction of James Cady, this two- gentlemen, we’ve entered the land of ‘Netspeak.’ easily grasped goal — good, dumb fun. And here person play is a fantasia on the unlikely singing career of Florence Foster Jenkins This roué has no strenuous objection to Grey’s we are today, drowning in comic book superheroes, and her accompanist Cosme McMoon in kinks — different strokes, so to speak. European apocalyptic scenarios and, doubtless, more “erotic” Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele and Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey cinema has addressed dominant-submissive rela- reveries. the first half of the 20th century. star in “Fifty Shades of Grey.” Photo courtesy of Focus Features. The problem is that Mme. Jenkins is tionships for decades, notably in Joseph Losey’s Scott is right. It can’t happen now, because the cul- as confident of her coloratura as she is BY RICHARD OYAMA films. “Fifty Shades” hints at that. Anastasia is an tural climate is too conservative and the film indus- tone deaf. Indeed, she considers herself innocent who works in a hardware store, corrupted try financially risk averse. Anyway, pornography on possessed of perfect pitch and — after h. My. God. The dirtiest thing about “Fifty by Grey’s experience. She’s also totally improbable. the Web is so widely available that an acquaintance a minor accident in a taxi — the ability to OShades of Grey” is the Stones’ “Beast of Burden” Neither Christian nor Anastasia ever takes on the of mine, not a prude, can claim, “There’s too much reach a flawless F above high C. on the soundtrack. Otherwise, the movie is as sleek flesh of character. His past is dispatched with in a porn.” That’s another kind of human depletion and For those of us who have enjoyed and clean a machine as the priceless steel-and-glass phrase. She’s no po’ girl. Her mother owns a house a fictive liberty but one consigned to the not-private Oliver’s mellifluous voice over the years, Lorri Oliver stars as Florence Foster Jenkins in accoutrements Christian Grey collects. It’s also with a pool in Savannah. There are a handful of space of the bedroom. What we’re left with, alas, is Randy Talley her first musical sounds in this play come “Souvenir.” Courtesy of The Adobe Theater. ridiculously awful. masters of the universe and millions of slaves, but 50 shades of imbecility — the book, the movie. Main characters in “The King and I” at ALT are (l. to r.) Tuptim (Michaela Bateman), Lady Thiang (Courtney Awe), as a shock. Her honey-tongued notes Christian Grey is a telecommunications mogul “Fifty Shades” is, after all, a fantasy. In John Cassavetes’s stunning debut film, “Shad- herself as a fine singer. Listening to The King (Dean Squibb) and Anna Leonowens (Sharee Gariety). have become an amazing array of wrong with his own downtown tower, a closetful of power As of this writing, the movie was expected to ows” (1959), a biracial woman, after coitus, says, “I pitch, wrong rhythm, and wrong dynamics her recordings (which are still avail- suits and a grand piano on which he tinkles mood- gross $90 million over the first weekend. The book never knew it could be so awful.” That shattered a able with all their imperfections) she By Stephanie Hainsfurther delivered with absolute confidence. The ily after intercourse. He has a playroom of BDSM sold like hotcakes. So it doesn’t much matter what half-century of romantic illusion — at least for those only confirmed her positive opinion. sounds are, in their way, perfectly awful. (bondage/domination sadism/masochism) toys. a critic thinks. “Fifty Shades” is beyond the point of who got up the nerve to see that harrowing improvi- ommunity theater is a wonderful brocades to fashion the intricate Shakespeare actually anticipated this But don’t worry, she reminds us of her Jude Law would’ve brought some wit and panache censure. The only question left is to ask and answer sation, adult in the best sense. That bit of dialogue is Caddition to the variety of plays Siamese (Thai) outfits worn by the phenomenon. In “A Midsummer Night’s considerable talent at show’s end. to the role, but Jamie Dornan’s one-note Grey is a “Why the phenomenon?” truer than the entirety of this laughable exercise. and musicals we enjoy here. Whole children, elaborate coats for the King, “Souvenir” is narrated by Shortell’s Dream,” when Duke Theseus is watch- cipher. The Times’ A.O. Scott said the movie cannot be families get involved, one way or the and Anna’s hoop skirts. character, the pianist and failed song- ing an execrable play performed by He meets Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson), “the thing the novel so trashily and triumphantly Richard Oyama is becoming a celibate monk. other, in Albuquerque Little Theatre’s Let’s not forget the ballet dancers’ writer Cosme McMoon. Wearing black manual laborers, he reassures his wife, a decorous, most inarticulate English major in a is . . . pornography.” And why not? Film historians productions, especially when their costumes for their rendition of “Uncle tie and playing a baby grand piano in a “If we imagine no worse of them than flowery blouse, who interviews him before his kids are in the show. Tom’s Cabin” (“The Small House of 1964 New York nightspot, McMoon tells they of themselves, they may pass for “I always try to do at least one Uncle Thomas”), choreographed by us about his years with Jenkins. The excellent men.” musical with as many kids as I can,” Peter Bennett. The ballet is presented scene shifts to 1932 when he agrees to The details in Cady’s production of said Henry Avery, executive director to Anna and the King as a strong accompany her in a private “Souvenir” are near perfect. Film Briefs of ALT. “Then families come to see anti-slavery message; “The King and recital at the Ritz-Carlton Cady joined with Linda Wilson BY ABQ FREE PRESS STAFF len, Mark Hamill and Angelina Jolie. It’s after his wife dies, more martyr than Light-hearted at first, the film turns dead Hotel, despite his aware- THROUGH MARCH 15 in the set design: the supper the show and they all really have fun I” story takes place in the time of the battle of good and evil, with a young saint. Elliot Anderson is a prejudiced rich serious as the young adults discover the with it.” America’s Civil War. ness of her vocal deficien- SOUVENIR club with piano and New York nightscape out the window Kingsman: The Secret man mentored by an older man in the man who struggles for custody against consequences of altering the past. Also There are 30 children and teens in “It’s the show within the show,” cies. Jenkins’s concerts The Adobe Theater, ways of outwitting bad guys and drinking on one side and the music the girl’s father and grandmother, played starring Virginia Gardner, Allen Evange- ALT’s version of “The King and I,” said Bennett. “We have dancers from and her records sold well, 9813 Fourth St. NW Service alcohol. Lots of CGI and monster by Anthony Mackie and Octavia Spencer room with a fainting couch on lista, Sofia Black D’Elia and Sam Lerner. opening on Feb. 27. Three of them are age six into their 60s.” but the public was actually 898-9222 transformers; Moore looks spectacular as Jeremiah and Rowena Jeffers, the the other. Lighting designer Slow-motion martial arts and Brit Rated PG-13. the children of Sharee Prop Master Nina laughing at her. adobetheater.org as Mother Malkin, the local witch. Rated girl’s black family. Yet again, it’s about Michael Girlamo uses the tongue-in-cheek characterize this spy For a comedic take on the same Gariety, who plays Dorrance was putting Audiences came to her PG-13: some images are really scary, the white man’s journey to understand FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 22 Adobe’s new lighting system spoof with Taron Egerton, a young theme, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry, Anna Leonowens. The detailed touches on the concerts to laugh though accompanied by frightening sound. his own heart and hate instead of the Clark Duke and Chevy Chase return to they often covered their faces with to advantage to shift our attention from Welshman who will star later this total cast numbers 40. THE KING AND I dancers’ masks during year as the twin serial killers the Kray infinitely more interesting story of the the hot tub for Hot Tub Time Machine 2. hankies or left the auditorium when one area to the other. Director Nancy Albuquerque Little Theatre, the cast’s first technical brothers in “Legend” (Sept.). Colin Firth black family’s anguish and ultimate Nick (Robinson) is stealing pop songs overcome. At the Adobe, the opening Just as Florence Foster Jenkins McFarland USA and Sellin, a former drama 224 San Pasquale Ave. SW run-through. She likes does Stephen Colbert proud as the compassion for this boob. Rated PG-13. from other artists by recording them in night audience laughed and gasped and designed her own outrageous cos- teacher at Rio Rancho Box office: 242-4750, straight-faced spymaster Harry Hart, Black or White the past, and Lou (Corddry) is taking the work but grumbles gave the cast a standing ovation. But tumes, so Oliver assembled hers — fine albuquerquelittletheatre.org who recruits Egerton’s “Eggsy” Unwin credit for the tech wizardry of others. High School, loves this about the $400 budget. they were laughing with the performers, period dresses as well as over-the-top Plug-in plots and feel-good films go Project Almanac to battle a techno-villain. Samuel L. When Lou is shot, Nick and Jacob particular musical. “It’s never enough,” not at them. performance costumes themed to each hand in hand. The real Jim White is a Jackson brings his comic timing and de- and Hot Tub Time (Duke) time travel to find his killer and “I’m such a romantic, she said. Indeed. The second act focuses on Jenkins’s selection. true saint (read the Sports Illustrated livery to Hart’s henchman Valentine, and change history. Rated R. and this show has so many important With dreamy songs like “Shall We Carnegie Hall concert in 1944. Two Oliver and Shortell are wonderful profile, March 15, 2004), so playing him Michael Caine adds to his filmography Machine 2 themes,” she said. “We have man Dance?” and “Hello, Young Lovers,” thousand tickets were quickly sold and together. His piano playing and singing as a real person must be difficult. Kevin as the only guy to cast when you need There’s more than one way to write vs. woman, East vs. West. Anna is a audiences will be carried away by scalped at top prices. There she re- are formerly hidden talents that only Costner sails through it as an athletic Unfinished Business a handsome old Englishman. Up-close about time travelers. In Project Almanac, strong single woman with a child. All “The King and I.” They’ll never know enhance his acting. Her acting is marvel- coach who builds a running team and ceived her first inkling that people might violence is rampant yet comic like the Scheduled to open March 6, this lously controlled and delightfully haughty. a legacy. The runners call him “Blanco” it’s called “temporal relocation” when in all, we have two people in conflict the sweat equity and talent the ALT be laughing at her and that their raucous graphic novel series the film is loosely buddy movie explores the hilarity of Her singing is, well, unforgettable. And because that’s his name, but it also teens discover a time machine built by with each other who are each doing cast and crew have invested in this applause might be disingenuous. But based on. Rated R. David Raskin‘s (Jonny Weston) de- things going wrong on a business trip. the script is witty and sympathetic. This is signals that this film is yet again about their best. And the music is simply lavish production. But they will be McMoon talked her out of that insight. ceased father. Of course the first thing No, they’re in Berlin, not Vegas. Vince a “Souvenir” worth keeping. the white guy, not the Hispanic dudes gorgeous!” charmed by the sheer love of acting, The play compares the way people on the team. More “The Blind Side” than they do is travel back to win the lottery Vaughn and Dave Franco are the busi- Gorgeous, too, are the costumes singing and dancing that this ALT see themselves and the way others Seventh Son “Chariots of Fire.” Rated PG. so they can become millionaires. But ness owner and his young colleague; Barry Gaines is the theater critic for ABQ designed and crafted by Joe Moncada show displays. perceive them. Cosme’s self-doubt Another hero’s journey, this time in In his apparent quest to portray the the impacts of their past-altering actions Tom Wilkinson plays the older guy. The Free Press. He is a Professor Emeritus at with a modest $3,000 budget and contrasts with Florence’s self-confidence fantasy country as Jeff Bridges, Ben nicest white man ever, Kevin Costner take on terrifying life, a la the so-called three are about to close the biggest deal UNM and Administrator of the American just a few helpers. In his backstage Stephanie Hainsfurther has played in a strange symbiosis. Barnes and Julianne Moore wander once again stars as a lawyer who takes “butterfly effect” in Ray Bradbury’s in the company’s history. What could Theater Critics Association. workshop he wrangles multicolored Princess Ying and Anna. It seems certain that Jenkins heard through roles better suited to Ian McKel- on raising his multiracial granddaughter short story “The Sound of Thunder.” possibly happen? Rated R. PAGE 26 • February 25, 2015 • ABQ FREE PRESS FILM BOOKS ABQ FREE PRESS • February 25, 2015 • PAGE 27 Understanding the Wages of War Take Five with Author Hannah Nordhaus BY SHARON NIEDERMAN BY CHASE HAMILTON n her thoroughly researched have undergone in hopes of recovery. they also added a quotient of real human feeling to fter reading “American Sniper” while Kyle was known for beyond his skill as a Imemoir, “American Ghost: Q: You write in the book that you’ve known about my search. What the psychics did was to provide me AChris Kyle was still alive and helping warrior – his passion for assisting combat A Family’s Haunted Past with a means of connecting to Julia herself — if not combat veterans process their reintegration veterans and helping them to transcend your great-great grandmother Julia Staab your entire in the Desert Southwest,” life. Why did you decide to write about her now? to her actual spirit, then at the very least to an idea back to “The World,” I eagerly awaited the societal stereotypes. Hannah Nordhaus attempts of her. They told me that she liked flowers; that she film’s release in January. I had been horrified “American Sniper” comes out at a time to uncover the truth about I had always found Julia interesting, of course, and had once loved another man; that her children were by Kyle’s death and, with great trepidation, that our country really needs to better her great-great grandmother, I had even written about her when I was a young the world to her; that she rocked back and forth in a I found myself in an almost empty theater understand PTS (a normal, adaptive Julia Schuster Staab — whose woman starting out as a journalist. But she was rocking chair and brushed her white hair and paced at Uptown’s Regal Winrock on Super Bowl response to extreme stress) and PTSD (the ghost is said to haunt La always more of an anecdote to me than a real person the floor and wrung her hands. To them, she was a Sunday. clinically diagnosed condition). Since I have Posada in Santa Fe — in this with a real story. Casie Zalud woman with a story of her own. Clint Eastwood’s direction delivers a post-traumatic stress from my own service, I complex exploration of myth, Shortly after I gave birth to my first child, howev- For all the unreality of sitting in a room talking complex, conflicted and deeply moving look feel the need to note that the hyper-vigilance family history and the American West. er, I was poking around the dusty bookshelves in the to strangers who were themselves talking to spirits at the character of Naval Special Warfare you see in Kyle throughout this film could house my great grandfather built in the mountains who resided in the air, my meetings with the personnel and the men chosen because of be misdiagnosed broadly as mental instabil- Q: Do you see your book as a ghost story, a biogra- east of Santa Fe, when I found a history my great psychics made Julia feel somehow more real to me. their ability, responsibility and restraint to ity; this couldn’t be further from the truth. phy or something else? aunt Lizzie had written shortly before she died in become and operate as snipers, or “Hunters Combat veterans have clarity under stress, 1980. I may have read it without much interest when Q: Why did you decide to include the story of Ju- I think of this book as a history that is wrapped in of Gunmen.” an ability to perform when the chips are I was a young girl. But this time around, I found it lia’s sister Emilie, who perished in the Holocaust? a ghost story. The story — the legend — of Julia’s life The opening scene of SEAL team Chief down. They are the ones we can count on. riveting: Lizzie told a tale of sadness and madness When I started researching the book, I hadn’t and death and afterlife is what makes her interesting Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) and the young Navy SEAL Chris Kyle was above all a and forbidden love, planned to extend my narrative far beyond Julia’s to most people and what keeps her alive to us so infantry Marine processing the battlefield good father, husband and friend, an Ameri- of drug addictions death. I did, however, hope that I would learn what – put so well in Col. David Grossman’s book, “On many years after her death. It is the reason people with surgical precision in the midst of emotional can warrior who lived bravely and died tragically at and suicides, knives had happened to those relatives of Julia’s who had Killing” – is a poignant part of the movie. Scenes of want to know about Julia in the first place. chaos shows the challenges it takes to remain calm the hands of someone he was trying to help. to the “bosom,” remained in Germany. Kyle immersed in four combat tours are powerful But it’s also very much a device through which and to effectively execute a mission that is not “American Sniper” is a journey and a destination. inheritance and disin- Then I met Grandfather’s second cousin Wolfgang and demonstrate the complexities of combat in I was able to explore the other, equally intriguing necessarily desirable. It is about the sacrifices made by those who serve heritance, penury, Mueller, who had come to stay with my family in urban areas. stories of my family’s past, and all of the different Women and children are the people we expect our country every day. War is savage. Viewers family feuds, brother New Mexico as a German Jewish refugee in 1936. He was good at what he did, and the term “sheep- pasts that bear on Julia’s story — Jewish history in to protect, not engage. In a world of asymmetric willing to spend a couple of hours getting to know against brother. There He told me that his grandmother, Julia’s youngest dog” fits his role as a sniper. As a veteran who 18th- and 19th century Germany; the settling of the warfare, the very people we vow to keep safe and Chris Kyle will leave feeling like you have gotten to was, I realized, more sister, Emilie, lived long enough to die in a Nazi served as a U.S. Marine sniper, I can say that when Anglo-American Southwest; the European spas and naively view as noncombatants can kill us. know a true American hero. to Julia’s story than concentration camp, and I realized that this was a we return home, we can’t just leave the war behind. séance rooms of the late 19th century; the fate of The portrayal of Kyle and the SEAL teams is just a ghost in an story I needed to follow to its conclusion. Not only That’s the sheepdog in us. And this is the struggle German Jews during the World War II era; and even excellent. Cooper is compelling, capturing Kyle’s Chase Hamilton served in combat with the U.S. Marine old hotel. Julia had because the specter of the Holocaust haunts every the film depicts as Kyle grapples with his many the 1980s and ‘90s, when Julia’s ghost story first grit, patriotism and personal struggles, allowing the Corps as an infantry rifleman, close combat instructor, actually been alive German Jewish story, regardless of when and where obligations – his men, his family, the ones he could entered our cultural imagination. audience to relate to him. Depicting how Kyle grew sniper, member of the USMC FAST TEAMS, and as a once; she had been it ends, but also because it seemed that Emilie’s life not save – while coming to grips with his battlefield up and what he did before his notoriety is a critical member of elite reconnaissance units. He is a disabled Q: There are so many different histories that you dragged as a new in Germany — cultured, privileged, surrounded role on protecting life with death itself. building block. A scene during his childhood where veteran living in Albuquerque. employ to understand who Julia Staab was when bride across the Santa by friends and family — was everything that Julia I hope those who see this film understand what reference is made to sheep, wolves and sheepdogs she was alive: the Spiritualist movement, the Jew- Fe Trail to an unfa- felt she had lost in ish history of the time, the past of the American miliar place; she had coming to America. Southwest, etc. What did you find gave the most been a new mother, THURSDAY, MARCH 12 Emilie was, in insight into the mystery of Julia’s life? like me. I now wanted to learn more about her. HANNAH NORDHAUS many ways, leading These different strands of history were all essential I also realized that if I wanted to go deeper into my IN CONVERSATION WITH the very ghost life Kindred Spirit: Memories of Tony to telling Julia’s story; I’ve braided them together to family’s history, it had to happen quickly. None of SHARON NIEDERMAN that Julia had longed my living relatives remembered Julia, who died in for in her New BY RICHARD VARGAS create a larger portrait of Julia’s life and time. But I’d Bookworks, say that the most helpful to my understanding was 1896, but some of them did remember her children 4022 Rio Grande NW, 7 p.m. Mexican exile. But it (the last one died in 1968) and it seemed important 344-8139, bkwrks.com ended in an un- ony Mares’s stories and recollections were many, shop, discussing poetry, current events, the books he the specific history of the Southwest that I encoun- to capture those recollections before they were lost. imaginably horrible Tbut one of my favorites involved a very drunk James was currently reading (the subject matter ran the gamut tered in old travel journals and newspapers from the FRIDAY, MARCH 13 manner. Emilie’s Dickey, National Book Award for Poetry winner and of history, literature, philosophy, art and science), his time: what it was like to travel the Santa Fe Trail in By then, too, the Internet had begun to revolution- author of the novel “Deliverance.” research of the Spanish Civil War, and the ideals of the early days, and how it must have been for Julia ize genealogy and history research — so many LAUNCH PARTY story, writ large, I don’t remember how they ended up together but, his beloved favorites, the Anarchists. Tony pursued as a young bride riding into Santa Fe, a then-ragged documents are now scanned and searchable online AT JULIA’S HOUSE haunts so many of us. after imbibing a considerable amount of booze, Dickey knowledge like a modern-day Renaissance man, the frontier town of trash-strewn dusty streets and that were, only five or 10 years ago, tucked away in La Posada Hotel, 330 East Hers was an alternate began sizing up the men at the bar. Tony started to wheels in his head constantly in motion. brothels and gunfights and all-night fandangos. dusty archives and difficult to locate. This was the Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, ending to Julia’s life, get nervous, especially when Dickey said he and Tony I attended many of his readings, including the one we In addition, the history of 19th-century medicine time to do it. 7 p.m., (505) 986-0000 and I felt compelled could take on all of them, and he realized the man was helped organize (helmed by John Crawford, with the — particularly its treatment of women’s health and Q: You visited multiple psychics and spiritualists to explore it. serious. Tony was able to change the subject, but for a assistance of several local writers/community activists) mental health — was really invaluable in helping me in an attempt to connect with Julia’s ghost. Did Sharon Niederman writes about the West for Sunset brief moment he actually thought he was going to have in support of the Librotraficantes. Tony was magnificent understand Julia’s physical and emotional condition, you find this helpful, and why or why not? to go down swinging alongside one of the South’s most as he stood before nearly 400 people at the National Magazine and other publications. and the strange and barbaric treatments she would My visits to the spiritualists were lots of fun, but celebrated authors, a couple of inebriated poets taking Hispanic Cultural Center and read his poem “Ode to Georgia Santa-Maria on the world. Los Librotraficantes” (you can watch him on YouTube). Tony Mares reading at the NHCC on March 15, 2012. My friendship with Tony wasn’t as flamboyant. We Tony’s gracious gift of taking time to write the forward Our arts & entertainment section is a 19-year-old going-out guide met in 2003, at a poetry reading at Acequia Booksell- for my book when he was concentrating on his own sense of humor. Tony’s vision as a writer/educator/ Contact Sales Manager Greta Weiner that our readers love and trust. ers, and discovered we shared an admiration for the work, as he faced the ultimate deadline looming over activist was that someday, there would be freedom and for a media kit and consultation: working class hero and the artists who took a stand him, will always be one of the most selfless acts of Love of the arts People who dine out, buy tickets, clothing and jewelry, dignity for all. 345-4080 against social injustice. (This is where I paraphrase friendship anyone could ever present to me. travel and recreate outdoors find the best Amen, Maestro, amen. is a lifestyle. [email protected] Bogart’s classic line from one of Tony’s favorite movies, A famous writer once said, “What matters most is how of everything Albuquerque and New Mexico in our A&E pages. “Richard, this could be the beginning of a beautiful well you walk through the fire,” and in Tony’s case, he Poet Richard Vargas edits and publishes The Más Tequila Reach the people friendship.”) showed us how, with his call for social justice, compas- Review. His most recent book is “Guernica, Revisited.” Our readers are your customers. We shared many afternoons in R.B. Winnings Coffee sion for underdogs all over the globe, and a warm who live it. Capture their attention with an advertisement in ABQ Free Press. PAGE 28 • February 25, 2015 • ABQ FREE PRESS EVENTS EVENTS ABQ FREE PRESS • February 25, 2015 • PAGE 29 CALENDAr CALENDAr CASINOS March 20, Redneck At Shadeh Nightclub: FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 31 March 15, Tribal Seeds, The Movement, SEVEN LAST WORDS FROM THE CROSS THURSDAY, MAY 28 March 18, The Met: Live in HD “La Donna del March 21, Redneck Fridays, 8 pm-4 am, Live Music Leilani Wolfgramm Cathedral of St. John, 318 Silver SW Lago” Encore LAUNCHPAD EDDIE IZZARD: FORCE MAJEURE TOUR FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 28 March 26, Karaoke Saturdays, 9 pm-4 am, Live Music March 18, Motionless in White, For Today, 7 pm, Polyphony: Voices of New Mexico, March 19, The Royal Ballet “Swan Lake” March 27, Exit Zero 618 Central Ave SW, 764-8887, Kiva Auditorium, Albuquerque Convention ISLETA RESORT & CASINO At the Turquoise Trail: New Years Day, Ice Nine Kills polyphonynm.com March 28, Exit Zero Fridays, 9:30 pm-2 am, Live Music launchpadrocks.com March 24, Chelsea Grin, Carnifex, Sworn In, Center, Downtown THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28 11000 Broadway SE, 724-3800, isleta.com Saturdays, 9:30 pm-12 am, Live Music February 26, Luke Wade, No Dry County Black Tongue, The Family Ruin SATURDAY, MARCH 14 401 Second Street NW, 768-4575, In the Showroom: FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 28 February 27, Expressway to Yr Skull albuquerquecc.com CCA CINEMATHEQUE March 25, Suicide Silence, Emmure, 1050 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe, February 28, 7 pm, Don Williams ONGOING February 28, Anesthesia CD Release Party DIRECTOR’S DISCUSSION: Tickets on sale now: eddieizzard.com/gigs INN OF THE MOUNTAIN GODS Within the Ruins (505) 982-1338 ccasantafe.org March 6, 7 pm, The O’Jays March 1, Hanta, Spectral Voice, PUCCINI’S LA BOHÈME RESORT & CASINO March 27, Memphis May Fire, Crown the Leviathan, 4 pm March 20, 8 pm, Los Tigres Del Norte CITIES OF GOLD CASINO Negative Degree, Yar Albuquerque Museum of Art & History, 19th & 287 Carrizo Canyon Rd, Mescalero 10-B Cities of Gold Rd, Santa Fe, Empire, Dance Gavin Dance, Palisades Boyhood, 4:45 pm At Embers Steakhouse: March 2, La Luz, The Shivas, You, Mountain Rd NW, 243-7255, cabq.gov/museum (800) 545-9011, ticketmaster.com, (505) 455-4232, citiesofgold.com March 28, Immortal Technique & Talib Kweli Leviathan, 7 pm starting 6 pm: Shitty and the Terribles 10 am, Presented by Opera Southwest, $15-20, innofthemountaingods.com Lodging, Food & Drink, Golf, Bowling and 1971, 8 pm February 25, Los Amigos March 4, The Pawn Shop Poster Boys, The THURSDAY, APRIL 9 operasouthwest.org/guild February 28, 8 pm, Charley Pride Nightly Bingo February 26, Eryn Bent Casual Fridays, Coffin Stuffers March 14, 8 pm, Dwight Yoakam SUNDAY, MARCH 15 MARCH 8-15 February 27, Bad Katz Trio + 1 SANDIA RESORT & CASINO March 5, Stick to Your Guns, The Amity YASIIN BEY AKA MOS DEF, BLACK MILK, March 21, 8 pm, Aaron Lewis March 4, Acoustic Essence 30 Rainbow Rd, 796-7500, sandiacasino.com Affliction, Being as an Ocean, ‘68 THE REMINDERS THE WAILIN’ JENNYS JEAN COCTEAU CINEMA March 28, 8 pm, Buckcherry March 5, The Bobcats Tlur Pa Lounge: The Historic El Rey Theater, 622 Central Ave KiMo Theatre, 423 Central Ave NW, 418 Montezuma Ave., Santa Fe, (505) 466-5528 March 6, Milo & Co. FEBRUARY 28-APRIL 17 DJ Cut & Huggy the Entertainer, SW, 242-2353, elreytheater.com ampconcerts.org jeancocteaucinema.com 8 pm, with Jordan Miles and DJ Ohm. March 11, Last Call Sun.-Thurs., 8 pm-12 am CHATTER SUNDAY: FROM B TO Z March 8, Royal Shakespeare Company “Love’s ROUTE 66 CASINO Labour Won” March 12, Eryn Bent Live Entertainment, Fri.-Sat., 9:30 pm-1:30 am ONGOING Chamber music, poetry and coffee, 14500 Central Ave SW, March 9, Author Lisa See March 13, Bad Katz Trio + 1 Bien Shur Lounge & Patio: in an informal, acoustically excellent setting. 352-7866, rt66casino.com March 14, The Last Unicorn March 18, Calvin Appleberry with Tracey Whitney Live Music, Fri.-Sat., 9 pm-1 am ZINC CELLAR BAR Doors open at 9:30 am, chatterabq.org March 19, Los Amigos In Legends Theatre: 3009 Central Ave NE, 254-9462, zincabq.com March 15, Author Ellen Datlow SANTA ANA STAR CASINO March 20, Desert Soul February 28, 8 pm, Gordon Lightfoot Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, enjoy SATURDAY, MARCH 21 54 Jemez Dam Rd, Bernalillo, SUNDAY, MARCH 29 March 25, The Tumbleweeds March 20, 8 pm, The Pink Floyd Experience good music, tasty food and great drinks in the 867-0000, santaanastar.com MUSIC IN CORRALES: CRAICMORE March 26, Shane Wallin March 28, 8 pm, Ezequiel Peña cellar bar. Live music on Tuesday features blues SWEET GEORGIA BROWN: IMPACT, At The Stage at The Star: Historic Old San Ysidro Church, March 27, Troupe Red April 11, 8 pm, Carlos Mencia duos from 8 pm to 11 pm. On Thursday and COURAGE, SACRIFICE AND WILL Stand-Up Comedy Thursdays, 7:30 pm 966 Old Church Rd, Corrales At Triple Sevens Saloon: April 17, 8 pm, Foreigner Saturday nights, larger bands perform from New Mexico History Museum, Escape Fridays (DJs), 9 pm Contemporary and traditional Celtic music. starting 9:30 pm: At Thunder Road Bar: 9:30 pm to 12:30 am. During Sunday brunch, 113 Lincoln Ave, Santa Fe Vegas Nights Saturdays (DJs), 9 pm 7:30 pm, musicincorrales.org, February 26, Karaoke Live Music, Fri.-Sat., starting at 9 pm enjoy the live music of solo artists in the main A documentary about African-American women In Lounge 54: March 6, Blind Dryvem Fade the Sun, Walls brownpapertickets.com February 27, Brahma dining room from 11 am until 2 pm. in World War II. FEBRUARY 28 & ONGOING Live Local Music, Fri.-Sat., 9 pm, Open 7 days Within, Capricorn, Night of Revenge February 28, Brahma March 7, Red Light Cameras, Hank & SUNDAY, MARCH 22 2 pm, Reservations: (505) 476-5152, March 5, Karaoke BUFFALO THUNDER Cupcakes, Lindy Vision, DJ Salinger nmhistorymuseum.org MUSIC CHATTER SUNDAY: March 6, Brushfire RESORT & CASINO CLUBS & PUBS March 8, Rock’n the Mic Showcase THREE VISITING COMPOSERS APRIL 30-MAY 3 March 7, Brushfire 20 Buffalo Thunder Trail, Santa Fe, March 9, Destruction Unit, Gusher, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27 March 12, Karaoke (505) 455-5555, buffalothunderresort.com FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 25 Chamber music, poetry and coffee, Adult Beverage CLAIRE LYNCH BAND THE STANLEY FILM FESTIVAL March 13, Whiskey Baby In the Ballroom: in an informal, acoustically excellent setting. LOW SPIRITS March 11, Rat Fist, No Parents, Icumdrums, Outpost Performance Space, 210 Yale SE OPERA Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado, March 14, 8 pm, St. Patty’s Party February 28, 7 pm, Blue Oyster Cult with Doors open at 9:30 am, chatterabq.org 2823 Second St NW, lowspiritslive.com Star Eater 8 pm, ampconcerts.org stanleyfilmfest.com March 19, Karaoke April Wine February 26, Spiritual Rez March 12, Through the Roots, Mondo SATURDAY, MARCH 28 MARCH 22-29 Denver Film Society invites you to stay at the February 27, The Cold Hard Cash, The Shadowmen Vibrations, Innastate SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 hotel where they filmed “The Shining.” February 28, DRE Z’s Earthlight and Album March 13, St. Punktrick’s Day 2015 HAPA OPERA SOUTHWEST: LA BOHEME NM PHILHARMONIC: Release Show March 15, In the Company of Serpents, KiMo Theatre, 423 Central Ave NW, National Hispanic Cultural Center, A NIGHT OF MOZART FESTIVALS, FIESTAS & FAMILY March 9, Russian Girlfriends, Hudson Falcons, End to End, Iceolus, Echoes of Fallen ampconcerts.org 1701 Fourth St SW Popejoy Hall, UNM Main Campus, Dressed for the Occasion March 16, Castle, Cicada, Fallen Prophets Sun., March 22, 2 pm 203 Cornell NE SUNDAY, MARCH 29 THROUGH MARCH 1 March 11, Spafford March 17, Doomtree Weds., March 25, 7:30 pm 6 pm, 925-5858, unmtickets.com March 13, Gilded Cage Burlesk & Varieté March 18, Sister Kill Cycle, Tripping Dogs, THE CYPRESS STRING QUARTET Fri., March 27, 7:30 pm DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID JR. Presents Feast of Flesh Ballistic Batz, Andrako CARLOS NÚÑEZ Simms Center for the Performing Arts, Sun., March 29, 2 pm VSA North 4th Theatre, 4904 Fourth St NW, March 14, Shamrockabilly Showdown March 19, New Kingston, Jah Branch, National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque Academy, 724-4771, nhccnm.org cardboard-playhouse.org March 15, Consider the Source, Pherkad The Riddims 1701 Fourth St SW chambermusicabq.org THROUGH MARCH 12 March 16, Joe Pug, Field Report March 20, Inspectah Deck of Wu Tang Clan, 8 pm, ampconcerts.org 3 pm, presented by Chamber Music Albuquerque. FILM SCIENCE IN THE SKY March 17, The Two Tens, Beard, Dave Jordan Dezert Banditz SUNDAY, MARCH 1 CHATTER SUNDAY: COMING TOGETHER of Award Tour March 21, Joseph General CD Release Show Chamber music, poetry and coffee, Read ABQ Free Press film reviews and briefs Albuquerque Balloon Museum, March 18, The Glass Menageries, US Light, March 22, Night Riots, Draemings NEW MEXICO SYMPHONIC CHORUS in an informal, acoustically excellent setting. on pages 25-26 in this issue. 9201 Balloon Museum Drive NE, 768-6020 Nocturnal Company March 23, Corners, Sun Dog, Constant Harmony & ORCHESTRA Doors open at 9:30 am, chatterabq.org THROUGH MARCH 15 balloonmuseum.com March 19, Good Green, Sweet Hayah, The March 24, Weedeater, King Parrot, First United Methodist Church, CHATTER CABARET: THROUGH MAY 10 Shacks, Gary Blackchild Black Maria, Hanta 314 Lead Ave SW PANDAS: THE JOURNEY HOME CHARLES IVES CONCORD SONATA March 20, Red Light Cameras, Merican Slang, March 25, The Stone Foxes 3 pm, NMSChorus.org or Brown Paper Tickets Lockheed Martin Dyna Theater, New Mexico XOXO: AN EXHIBIT ABOUT Classical music in a nightclub setting. Ill Fusion March 26, As Blood Runs Black, Fallujah, at (800) 838-3006 Museum of Natural History, Old Town, 841-2800, LOVE & FORGIVENESS Food and drink extra. March 23, Jimmy Thackeray Eat a Helicopter nmnaturalhistory.org, ngpandas.com Explora, 1701 Mountain Rd NW, 224-8323 Chatter Sunday: 5 pm, chatterabq.org March 24, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, March 28, Burlesque Noir Presents: Dangerous explora.us Beethoven + Bartok THROUGH MARCH 31 Leopold and His Fiction March 31, Fashawn, DJ Exile, Son Real, Chamber music, poetry and coffee, SATURDAY, APRIL 11 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27 March 25, Nosotros Earthgang FILMST A THE GUILD in an informal, acoustically excellent setting. MUSIC IN CORRALES: FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 28 FEBRUARY 27-28 Doors open at 9:30 am, chatterabq.org The Guild Cinema, 3405 Central Ave NE RENEWABLE ENERGY DAY THOMAS PANDOLFI 255-1848; for more movies: guildcinema.com New Mexico State Capitol, Historic Old San Ysidro Church, SISTER THE BAR NED’S BAR & GRILL SUNDAY, MARCH 8 February 23-26, Human Capital Roundhouse Rotunda, Santa Fe 966 Old Church Rd, Corrales 407 Central Ave SW, 242-4900, sisterthebar.com 2509 San Mateo Boulevard NE, 884-4680, February 26, Bad Penguin Comedy Show, Free and family friendly, including an ecological BRENTANO STRING QUARTET The young American pianist. February 26, Low Life with DJs Caterwaul nedsnm.com 10:15 pm art table for kids and youth to learn about water St. Francis Auditorium, New Mexico Museum of 7:30 pm, musicincorrales.org, and Rygar February 27, Shit Happens February 27-March 3, Beloved Sisters issues. More info: gotsol.org Art, 107 West Palace Avenue, Santa Fe brownpapertickets.com February 27, Show Off 4.0 Curious Concoctions February 28, SourPuss February 27-March 3, Song of the Sea 3 pm, Santa Fe Pro Musica, (505) 988-4640, MARCH 1-31 March 4, Leftover Soul, a Vinyl Only Soul Night COOL Water FUSION (505) 988-1234, santafepromusica.com THURSDAY, MAY 7 FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 19 March 6, A Place to Bury Strangers, Creepoid, Wyoming Mall, 2010 Wyoming Blvd NE, 10th ANNUAL WOMEN & CREATIVITY CHATTER SUNDAY: HOME FREE Sad Baby Wolf 332-2665, coolwaterfusion.com F AthOM EVENTS Various events and venues in Santa Fe and CLARINET + OPERA SOUTHWEST KiMo Theatre, 423 Central Ave NW, 768-3544, March 7, Yar, CRTTRZ, Sylph February 27, 6-8 pm, Cole Raison at selected movie theaters, fathomevents.com Albuquerque: womenandcreativity.org Chamber music, poetry and coffee, kimotickets.com, holdmytickets.com March 9, The Sloths, Sun Dog, Holy Glories February 28, 9-11 pm, Comedy Showcase February 26, Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014 “What Moves You? in an informal, acoustically excellent setting. March 12, B Dolan February 28, UFC 184: Rousey vs. Zingano 30-Day Challenge & Exploration” at the Doors open at 9:30 am, chatterabq.org March 14, The Lymbs CD Release MARCH 1-28 COMEDY March 3-5, “The Drop Box,” award-winning Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum March 17, Merchandise & Power Trip documentary about a South Korean pastor who SUNSHINE THEATER FRIDAY, MARCH 13 Pop-Up Dinners with Outstanding March 21, Pete Rock & Slum Village SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 created a safe place for mothers to surrender 120 Central Ave SW, sunshinetheaterlive.com Women Chefs March 22, Chicago AfroBeat Project, Baracutanga CHISPA: LATIN DIVA SERIES unwanted infants. March 1, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Boondox ONE NIGHT STANLEYS by edible SantaFe (in ABQ and SF) March 23, Delicate Steve, Moon Honey, You National Hispanic Cultural Center, March 8, Bolshoi Ballet “Romeo and Juliet” March 7, The Noms CD Release Party The Box Performance Space and Improv Free Creative Salons on Wednesday Evenings March 24, Burger Records Caravan Tour 1701 Fourth St SW, 724-4771, nhccnm.org March 14, The Met: Live in HD “La Donna March 10, Simon Posford Presents Theatre, 100 Gold Ave SW, theboxabq.com at Westbund West, Keshet, NHCC and March 28, Reggae Dancehall Saturdays, Sofia Rei Sextet with Special Guests del Lago” The Shpongletron 3.1 Harwood Art Museum Brotherhood Sound System Jazz Brasiliero. PAGE 30 • February 25, 2015 • ABQ FREE PRESS EVENTS EVENTS ABQ FREE PRESS • February 25, 2015 • PAGE 31 CALENDAr CALENDAr “The Moment”: spontaneous short videos ex- GARDENS SOUVENIR SUNDAY, MARCH 15 RADIO THROUGH MARCH 22 FEBRUARY 25-APRIL 21 pressing pivotal/defining moments – created by Adobe Theater, 9813 Fourth Street NW, HMS PINAFORE community members and MOMENT artists. THROUGH APRIL 26 898-9222, adobetheater.org THROUGH MARCH 1 GHOST RANCH VIEWS GIVING VOICE TO IMAGE Popejoy Hall, UNM Main Campus, “Unconfined: Empowering omenW Through The story of a rich woman who thought she could sing. Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Vivo Contemporary, 725 Canyon Road, MORPHING NATURE 203 Cornell Dr NE Art” presented by Bernalillo County and Read the rave review by Barry Gaines ART OF THE SONG: AWNA TEIXEIRA 217 Johnson St, Santa Fe Santa Fe, (505) 982-1320, vivocontemporary.com Santa Fe Botanical Garden, 925-5858, popejoypresents.com Listen on KUNM or at StandingOProject.com outhwest Women’s Law Center at the on Page 24 in this issue. (505) 946-1000, okeeffemuseum.org 715 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87505 FEBRUARY 27-APRIL 10 frican-American Performing Arts Center. Students from the Institute of American Indian MARCH 19-22 THROUGH MARCH 31 “Creating Spaces”: Create space each FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 8 TALKS THE HUMAN DRIFT: BART PRINCE, Arts and the Santa Fe University of Art and De- weekend in March to nurture and enrich yourself CAMELOT RAD GADGETS STEVE BARRY AND T. FITZALLAN sign are creating site-specific sculptures made NOT QUITE RIGHT through visual art, dance, and culinary arts as Popejoy Hall, UNM Main Campus, SUNDAY, MARCH 8 Albuquerque Museum of Art & History, SCA Contemporary Art, 524 Haines NW, from recovered plant materials cleared from the Teatro Paraguas, 3205 Calle Marie, Santa Fe you visit creative places and spaces in Albu- 203 Cornell Dr NE 19th & Mountain Rd NW 228-3749, scacontemporary.com site of the Botanical Garden’s next phase, and An upbeat family comedy. REINVENTING RADIO: querque – presented by the National Hispanic 925-5858, popejoypresents.com Off-the-wall tools & stuff from other found objects. (505) 424-1601, teatroparaguas.org AN AFTERNOON WITH IRA GLASS MARCH 1-31 Cultural Center, 516 Arts, Maple Street Dance the Museum’s collection. Free, Winter hours: Thurs-Sun 11-3, FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 8 MARCH 19-MAY 17 Popejoy Hall, UNM Main Campus, Center for Arts Space, and Farm & Table Award-winning host of NPR’s “This American Life.” 243-7255, cabq.gov/museum FEATURED ARTIST: BARBARA CLARK (505) 471-9103, santafebotanicalgarden.org SIEMBRA: LATINO THEATER FESTIVAL “Mnemosyne’s Lounge,” featuring a diverse HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE 3 pm, 925-5858, unmtickets.com THROUGH APRIL 26 Corrales Bosque Gallery, 4685 Corrales Rd, National Hispanic Cultural Center, group of New Mexico women sharing their MONDAY, MARCH 10 UNM’s Experimental Theatre, Corrales, 898-7203, corralesbosquegallery.com 1701 Fourth Street SW, 724-4771, nhccnm.org WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 voices and narratives, presented by Tricklock UNM Main Campus, Center for the Arts ELECTRICITY: SPARK YOUR CURIOSITY SPRING BREAK HABITAT GARDEN TOUR March 19-22, Semillas del Corazon MARCH 6-7 Theatre Company Presented by SCRAP Productions and the RICH FIELD: ROMAN EMPERORS, THE National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, Albuquerque Garden Center, March 26-29, Semillas del Corazon “A Beast, an Angel, and a Madwoman,” four UNM Dept. of Theatre & Dance. GOOD, THE BAD AND THE CRAZY 601 Eubank Blvd SE, at the entrance to Sandia ENCOMPASS: A MULTIGENERATIONAL 10120 Lomas Blvd NE April 16-19, Bless Me Ultima new original works performed by a Keshet 925-5858, unmtickets.com Albuquerque Academy, Simms Center for the Science & Technology Park, 245-2137, ART SHOW 10-11 am, Free, xericgardenclub.org April 23-26, Hembras de Pluma Dance Company trio. Performing Arts, 6400 Wyoming Blvd NE nuclearmuseum.org Harwood Art Center, Seventh and Mountain, FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 15 April 30- May 3, Hembras de Pluma “Why I Write,” a portable writing wall and col- Meet the men behind the myths. harwoodartcenter.org laborative public art piece accompanied by the May 7-10, The Sad Room THROUGH APRIL 30 MOTHERS AND SONS 6:30 pm, free but must register online, 828-3400, Women of the World International Poetry Slam May 14-17, The Sad Room MARCH 6-27 Aux Dog Theatre, 3011-15 Monte Vista Blvd NE aa.edu/communityacademy MODERNISM MADE IN NEW MEXICO Festival & Competition. The regional premiere of Terrence McNally’s play. Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, CL AY AND INK II: WILLI SINGLETON “EKCO: Poetry, Collaboration, Performance,” SUNDAY, MARCH 15 254-7716, auxdog.com DANCE 217 Johnson St, Santa Fe Weyrich Gallery, 2935 D Louisiana Blvd NE, an unusual poetry performance by a trio of poets DON BULLIS: NEW MEXICO IN THE ERA (505) 946-1000, okeeffemuseum.org 883-7410, weyrichgallery.com in response to “containers” – bottles, bowls, FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 22 THROUGH MARCH 1 boxes, vases, jars, etc. – submitted by Albuquer- OF MEXICAN RULE 1821-1846 THROUGH MAY 10 MARCH 6-31 SPIN: FACULTY DANCE CONCERT Sandoval County Historical Society Museum que residents, presented by Littleglobe. THE KING AND I ARTSPREE Albuquerque Little Theatre, 224 San Pasquale UNM Dept. of Theatre & Dance, Rodey Theatre (DeLavy House), Hwy 550 & Edmond Rd, VISUALIZING ALBUQUERQUE SUZANNE SBARGE: A WING & A PRAYER FRIDAY, MARCH 6 Ave SW, 242-4750, albuquerquelittletheatre.org UNM Main Campus Bernalillo, turn between I-Hop & Warrior Fuel. Albuquerque Museum of Art & History, OPEN NOW SABINE ZIMMER: ALBUQUIRKY 7:30 pm, 277-4332, theatre.unm.edu 1.75 miles west of I-25, exit 242. 2 pm, $5, 19th & Mountain Rd NW, 243-7255, Mariposa Gallery, 3500 Central Ave SE, Read our preview on page 24 ON THE MAP EXHIBITS INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT & ASIAN Presented by Friends of Coronado Historic Site. cabq.gov/museum 268-6828, mariposa-gallery.com AMERICAN DAY in this issue. MARCH 6-7 Showcasing the area’s diverse artists and how abqonthemap.com New Mexico State Capitol, Roundhouse FRIDAY, MARCH 27 MARCH 6-APRIL 4 SATURDAY, MARCH 21 MARCH 5-15 JESUS MUÑOZ FLAMENCO: “ERA” they transcend their differences through art. THROUGH MARCH 6 Rotunda, Santa Fe, 12-2 pm National Hispanic Cultural Center, TEDxABQEDUCATION DUBIOUS BEASTS: LIFE CYCLES GEORGE MILLER: LANDSCAPING WITH GEORGE ORWELL’S ANIMAL FARM THROUGH AUGUST 15 TWITTERPATED/DEFLATED SATURDAY, MARCH 7 1701 Fourth St SW African American Performing Arts Center, Circus Posterus/Stranger Factory, PLANTS ADAPTED TO ABQ Duke City Repertory Theatre at The Cell Theatre, Downtown Contemporary, 105 Fourth St SW, 8-10 pm, 724-4771, nhccnm.org 310 San Pedro Dr NE AFROBRASIL: ART AND IDENTITIES 3411 Central Ave NW, 508-3049, Albuquerque Garden Center, 700 First St NW, 797-7081, dukecityrep.org by appt, 261-0075, downtowncontemporary.com CELEBRATE SOLIDARITY FUNDRAISER 1-5 pm, reservations: tedxabq.com National Hispanic Cultural Center, strangerfactory.com Factory on 5th Artspace, 1715 Fifth St NW 10120 Lomas Blvd NE MARCH 7-22 SATURDAY, MARCH 7 1701 Fourth St SW, 246-2261, nhccnm.org THROUGH APRIL 11 By the NM Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice, 10-11:30 am, Free, xericgardenclub.org MARCH 13-APRIL 10 SPA ART CUS an evening of poetry, music, friends, food and A FUNNY THING HAPPENED BOOKS & POETRY THROUGH JANUARY 16, 2016 PROJECT/PROJECTION: MAY 30-SEPTEMBER 13 Popejoy Hall, UNM Main Campus, 203 Cornell NE NINA ELDER: LODE giving; 6-8:30 pm. Info: [email protected] ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM BRUCE WARREN DAVIS NM Ballet Company and NM Philharmonic in a FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 26 INDIAN COUNTRY: THE ART OF DAVID STACI PAGE: made of somewhere, MONARCH: ORANGE TAKES FLIGHT Presented by Landmark Musicals. 516 Arts, 516 Central Ave SW, 516arts.org MARCH 28-29 New Mexico premiere. BRADLEY somehow Santa Fe Botanical Garden, Rodey Theatre, UNM Main Campus, BOOKWORKS 6 pm, 925-5858, unmtickets.com Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Museum THROUGH MAY 31 JESSAMYN LOVELL: DEAR ERIN HART 715 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe NEW MEXICO FASHION WEEK 925-5858, unmtickets.com 4022 Rio Grande NW, 344-8139, bkwrks.com Hill, Santa Fe, (505) 476-1269, Central Features, 109 Fifth St NW, Downtown, (505) 471-9103, santafebotanicalgarden.org Albuquerque Convention Center, MARCH 13-15 Free unless otherwise noted; some events take indianartsandculture.org HAPPINESS IS A WARM PROJECTOR 243-3389, centralfeatures.com Grand Ballrooms A&B, Downtown place at other venues as noted. Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, AIR DANCE NEW MEXICO: Two Days of fashion and design. Advance tick- February 25, 7 pm, Gabrielle Zevin, OPENING MARCH 3 Spector Ripps Project Space, 1050 Old Pecos FRIDAY, MARCH 27 THEATER THE FLYING MONKEYS ets are $12 for Saturday and $8 for Sunday, or a “The Storied Life of AJ Fikry” Trail, Santa Fe, (505) 982-1338, ccasantafe.org AirDance ArtSpace, 3030 Isleta Blvd SW ONLY IN ALBUQUERQUE GRAND OPENING two-day pass for $15; 803-6966, THROUGH FEBRUARY 28 February 26, 7 pm, Jocelyn Buckley, 842-9418, airdancenm.org Albuquerque Museum of Art & History, See other On the Map Exhibits Encaustic Art Institute, 632 Agua Fria newmexicofashionweek.com “Submerged in the Prophetic” 19th & Mountain Rd NW and Events under MUSEUMS. (at Romero), Santa Fe, (505) 424-6487, NOIR POINT BLANK March 1, 7 pm, Kim Gordon, “Girl in a Band” ANTIQUE OR UNIQUE? Foul Play Café, 2600 Louisiana Blvd NE Please make advance reservations for this eainm.com UNM SUB Ballrooms B&C, Tickets: bkwrks.com THROUGH MARCH 29 March 28: 6-9 pm, Hotel Albuquerque, Dinner Theater. Fri-Sat 7:30 pm, Reservations highly anticipated new exhibition. March 10, 7 pm, Lisa See, “China Dolls” APRIL 3-25 Casa Esencia, Old Town required: 377-9593, foulplaycafe.com 243-7255, cabq.gov/museum March 12, 7 pm, Hannah Nordhaus, ED MIECZKOWSKI: THE AESTHETICS March 29: 9 am-4 pm, Hotel Albuquerque, “American Ghost” MARCH 6-MARCH 29 OF GEOMETRY SARAH HARTSHORNE: FEATHERED 800 Rio Grande Blvd NW THROUGH MARCH 1 Lewallen Gallery, 1613 Paseo de Peralta, In conversation with Sharon Niederman; catch CREATURES Bring your items to Celebrity Appraisers OUTSTANDING WOMEN, BLACK Santa Fe, (505) 988-3250, lewallengalleries.com THE WHIPPING MAN her interview with the author on page 27. Matrix Fine Art Gallery, 3812 Central Ave SE, and find out what they’re worth. PIONEERS, CLASSICAL MUSIC The Vortex Theatre, 2900 Carlisle Blvd NE, March 25, 7 pm, Kirstin Valdez Quade, 268-8952, matrixfineart.com Assistance League of Albuquerque, New Mexico History Museum, THROUGH MARCH 31 247-8600, vortexabq.com “Night at the Fiestas” antiqueorunique.org/tickets 113 Lincoln Ave, Santa Fe After the Civil War, a story of master and slaves. March 26, 7 pm, Michael Finklestein, A WALL OF DOLLS Various events, some needing reservations, RIO RANCHO HOME & REMODELING THROUGH MARCH 1 “Slow Medicine” Rainbow Artists Collective, SHOW (505) 476-5200, nmhistorymuseum.org Off Center Art Gallery, 808 Park Ave SW,

SATURDAY, MARCH 21 247-1172, offcenterarts.org Crossword Puzzle appears on page 32 TORY RANT Santa Ana Star Center, AMERICAN BUFFALO MARCH 6-SEPTEMBER 13 EDGER

3001 Civic Center Circle NE Tricklock Performance Laboratory, RIE I ER LE I VO 8TH ANNUAL WOMEN OF THE WORLD THROUGH APRIL 30 AMAH

Sat., 10 am-5 pm; Sun., 10 am-4 pm 110 Gold Ave SW, 243-0596, motherroad.org COLORS OF THE SOUTHWEST POETRY SLAM FINALS DUAL I V I ND I NUTTY

New Mexico Museum of Art,

891-7300, santaanastarcenter.com By David Mamet, produced by the folks at KiMo Theatre, 423 Central NW WHERE-WEAR: ANN DUNBAR ASSORT

107 West Palace Ave, Santa Fe MACRAME

Mother Road Theatre Company. 8 pm, 768-3544, kimotickets.com and MIDDLESCAPES

SOLAR SATURDAY, APRIL 11 Part of the “Summer of Color” citywide OSE I OT

THROUGH MARCH 15 April Price Projects Gallery,

PSST TIS INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT HEALTH FAIR celebration, through September 13. 201 Third St, Suite G, Downtown Hyatt, TNT

MUSEUMS (505) 476-5072, nmartmuseum.org

NIPES I SN SEER Texas St SE between Central and Zuni, BEAUTIFUL THING MARCH 13-APRIL 5 573-0895 LO I 10 am-2 pm The Desert Rose Playhouse, NG I LEGALPROCEED

THE GLASS MENAGERIE THROUGH FEBRUARY 27 MAY 17-SEPTEMBER 13 THROUGH APRIL 18

6921 Montgomery Blvd NE HOE M I PR

The Vortex Theatre, 2900 Carlisle Blvd NE BEETLE

SATURDAY, MAY 2 A young man explores his sexuality. Dramatic INTRAURBAN: THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT THE RED THAT COLORED THE WORLD JOHN CHERVINSKY: AN EXPERIMENT

SWAB MAT 247-8600, vortexabq.com TOR

3rd ANNUAL ALBUQUERQUE comedy featuring the music of Mama Cass Elliot. Tamarind Institute, 2500 Central Ave SE Museum of International Folk Art, IN PERSPECTIVE

NSEL I T

RENAISSANCE FAIRE 881-0503, desertroseplayhouse.com SATURDAY, MARCH 14 277-3901, tamarind.unm.edu Museum Hill, Santa Fe photo-eye Bookstore + Project Space, MASER

ESEL E WEAS Anderson Abruzzo Balloon Museum, A selection of lithographs from the collection, Part of Santa Fe’s “Summer of Color” exhibits 376 Garcia St, Suite A, Santa Fe, AMERCES

STORMY WEATHER: guest curated by Brendan Picker. 9201 Balloon Museum Dr NE and events. (505) 988-5152, photoeye.com TOFBEER I SALESUN

THE STORY OF LENA HORNE (505) 476-1200, internationalfolkart.org SLAP AGRA

768-6020, balloonmuseum.com LAZAR

Popejoy Hall, UNM Main Campus, 203 Cornell

CAFE SCURF Dr NE, 925-5858, popejoypresents.com ALTO PAGE 32 • February 25, 2015 • ABQ FREE PRESS CROSSWORD Case Study by Myles Mellor and Sally York

Across 56. Catalog 24. Pier 1 merchandise 1. Anita Baker, for one 59. Knotting technique 25. Bust maker 5. Dandruff 61. CASE 27. Recurrent 10. Latte locale 64. Nanking nanny 30. Congressional 14. High-five, e.g. 65. Woven fabric enforcer 15. Hollywood agent 66. Canal of song “Swifty” 67. British Conservative 31. Bang-up 16. City on the Yamuna 68. Garden tool 32. Panhandles River 69. Bluster 33. Radar image 17. CASE 34. Congers 20. Punishes legally Down 35. Freudian topics 21. Sneak 1. Indian state 37. Cartilage disks 22. Microwave, e.g. 2. Andean animal 23. Tree adornment 40. City near Sparks 3. Accounts 26. Lookout point 41. Ailment 28. “Welcome” site 4. The Mikado, e.g. 46. Grin modifier 29. Q-Tip 5. Pivot 50. Encouraging word 33. Retro car 6. Art able to 51. “South Pacific” hero 36. Decorous 7. Action film staple 53. Mrs. Bush 38. Clod chopper 8. Backstabber 39. CASE 54. At full speed 42. U.N. workers’ grp. 9. Most musty 55. Found a new tenant for 43. Merlin, e.g. 10. Intrigues 56. Doctor’s abbreviation 44. Actor Wesley 11. Long, long time 57. Clash of heavyweights 45. Call to attention 12. At liberty 58. Antares, for one 47. Atlanta-based station 13. Benjamin Disraeli, e.g. 60. Assert 48.Case Scale Study notes 49.by MylesGood-for-nothing Mellor and Sally 18. Moves York screen text 62. Affirmative action 52. Kind of battery 19 ___ simple 63. Archaeological site Answers on page 31

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56 57 58 59 60

61 62 63

64 65 66

67 68 69

Across Down 1. Anita Baker, for one 1. Indian state 5. Dandruff 2. Andean animal 10. Latte locale 3. Accounts 14. High-five, e.g. 4. The Mikado, e.g. 15. Hollywood agent "Swifty" 5. Pivot 16. City on the Yamuna River 6. Art able to 17. CASE 7. Action film staple 20. Punishes legally 8. Backstabber 21. Sneak 9. Most musty 22. Microwave, e.g. 10. Intrigues 23. Tree adornment 11. Long, long time 26. Lookout point 12. At liberty 28. "Welcome" site 13. Benjamin Disraeli, e.g. 29. Q-Tip 18. Moves screen text 33. Retro car 19. ___ simple