New Mexico Hiatus

Summer in the Land of Enchantment....

Commemoration Of The Life Of Tevye Ditter At The California Department Of Social Services

Wildlife Care Association (WCA) Needs Care Itself

I love this group. It takes care of so many important needs in this area. Let's donate and keep it going:

For eight years, the association has operated out of the golf-ball shaped structure at the former Air Force base, serving as the region’s only center licensed to accept wild animals and help them recover until they can be returned to the wild.

But by August, if the group’s worst fears come to pass, the structure may have to shut down and force the staff to turn the birds over to be euthanized.

“We’ve been hurting financially for a long time,” association President Theresa Bielawski said this week as she pondered how the group can stave off a closure that would, for the first time, imperil the animals they have spent years trying to save.

A combination of factors has hit the group: The years-long recession has cut into donations that are its lifeblood; the drought has increased the number of animals facing difficulty in the wild; and the group itself acknowledges it has not done a good job seeking grants, public funds or publicity.

...Nearly all of the 39-year-old group’s funding comes from donations or an annual fundraiser. In past years, the group has managed to just scrape by with a tiny paid staff and as many as 100 volunteers.

But the financial situation has become so serious the association says it may be forced to shut down in August rather than following its usual routine of going largely dormant in October, when there are few birds hatching or newborn mammals being brought in. Most of the mammals found by citizens – foxes, skunks, possums, squirrels and other creatures found injured or unable to care for themselves – are farmed out to volunteers who care for them at their homes.

But the bulk of the birds – robins, herons, mockingbirds and others – fill cages, laundry baskets and converted children’s playpens at the McClellan facility, where the air is filled with the smell of bird dung and the sounds of singing and chirping.

...So far this year, the number of birds at the facility has peaked at 1,500. It costs as much as $1,500 a month to purchase food for the birds, and the number being brought in has jumped from an average of five to 10 a day to 25 to 40 a day, largely because of the drought.

The drop-off in donations has hit hard.

“We just don’t have the funds to keep it operating,” Turner said, estimating that she works an average of 50 hours a week trying to manage the load. “I know that donations have been down for several years in a row, and I think that’s just impacting how things are going.”

One Of My Favorite Scenes From That Movie

How To Train Your Dragon 2

Saw this movie with Jetta. Felt sorry for her (torn meniscus again). Hard for her to get around now. May have to put planned stardom on hold.

Sort-of strange story, even though I loved the animation marvel of it. Guess I should have seen movie #1. I was bothered, as with many other movies since 1979's "Raiders of the Lost Ark", by people - even animated people - slamming into objects and being unhurt. Jetta said "Whattya mean? They've been doing that since Popeye!"

Probably won't see #3, but to each their own.

Arrogant NM Rancher

These are public lands, asshole:

While Lucero claimed that protection of the mice's stream habitats will force him "out of business," ranchers can simply pipe water from the river to their cattle rather than letting them go to the river in order to more responsibly graze, according to Lininger. Details such as this have been left out of local media coverage, including an article by New Mexico's largest newspaper, the Albuquerque Journal, titled "Endangered mouse may cost NM ranchers their livelihood" and from the right-wing Franklin Center's New Mexico Watchdog.org.

The Tamperer Feat. Maya - Feel It 2008 (Pop Trumpet Club Mix)

Entering The Iggy Azalea Battlefield

It seems to me that it's possible for a little foreign girl from very modest means to form a natural connection to the music of Tupac and other rappers, and to use her abilities to flourish in that field. Iggy Azalea is the wrong target, IMO. Maybe racism helps give her enough room to flourish, though.

I doubt that Iggy Azalea rolls out of bed every morning asking 'what can I appropriate today?' She may be taking that role, though, because it's the avenue of least resistance. It's not her. That's the system. She'd be rapping whatever her color or background.

Remember, the audience for rap and hip-hop is very, very large, and spans the entire globe.

Progress

I buckled down and lost 10+ pounds over the last two months. Now, I'm back at the Must Not Ever Exceed Under Any Circumstances weight from a few years ago, at least before I discovered the Combo Taco plate at Jim Boy's restaurant. Hopefully, I can continue this progress.

Under doctor's direction, I'm also beginning to cut back on blood pressure medication, since the excessively-high BP from a few years ago has fallen so low that I'm in danger of fainting. Finding the right titration may be a challenge, especially if the weight continues to slide.

Da Party Krew In The ABQ

Dance Workshop With Aurelia Michael

One of the excellent things about Step One Dance and Fitness is that they bring in guest instructors. On Saturday, they brought in Aurelia Michael, who taught a very fast-moving routine to a portion of Amerie's song, "Heard 'Em All".

Aurelia Michael taught two sessions, one for kids, and one for the olders. Still, I was surprised just how young most of the olders were: mostly in their teens. Tried to keep up!

Apparently Aurelia Michael danced with Janelle Monae. Here is a project where Aurelia Michael plays Janelle Monae:

Making The Rafters Shake

Under a decidedly different red, white, and blue banner, the cast of "Les Miserables" at DMTC in Davis give a thunderous rendition of "One Day More" after strike at Sudwerk Brewing Co.

A Scourge From The Skies