2012 Proposed County Charter Changes not Clearly Presented to Voters
By Ellen Walton
This is a call to Los Alamos voters to study charter change proposals well ahead of the upcoming general election.
These 21 changes are rolled together into four groups, and are not separated by subject matter, making a clear choice by voters impossible.
To date, one can only find the full text of these proposed changes (Ordinances 598-618) at the Los Alamos Governmental Review Initiative website, LAGRI.org, or at the Los Alamos County Clerk’s office.
Among other things, these changes will increase the signature requirements for citizen petitions, cut in half time periods for Read More
Initiative, Referendum and Recall Ballot Questions – A Path to Good Governance
By John C. Hopkins, Charter Review Committee Chair
By Chris Chandler, I&R Subcommittee ChairThe Charter Review Committee (CRC) spent more than two years studying the Los Alamos County Charter.
After numerous public meetings and considerable debate, the CRC’s and Los Alamos County Council’s proposals relating to initiative, referendum and recall are now being presented to the voters on the fall ballot.
The CRC approached its study of initiative and referendum (I&R) beginning with the tenet that representative democracy Read More
How Do You Motivate People? By structuring the organizational environment!
Column by Elena Yang
The first point that resonated with me in Dan Pink’s TED presentation on motivation, www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation.html, is that there is a gap between science findings and business practices.
This is the same point made in Pfeffer & Sutton’s book on “Evidence-Based Management,” which I will review in the future, as well as Ghoshal’s critical assessment of business schools in his essay on “Bad Management Theories,” which was the focus on my first post.
So, the notion isn’t new, but it still hasn’t caught the full attention of the public, and definitely Read More
Archuleta Responds to Hate Mail
Editor’s note: New Mexico businessman Phil Archuleta reports that he has been receiving hate mail since speaking at the Republican National Convention last month. Here is his response to a letter from a small business owner:
By Phil Archuleta
I’m writing regarding your letter dated Aug. 31, 2012.
First of all, I appreciate the fact that you took the time to write to me, communicating your disappointment about my comments in my speech given during Tuesday night at the convention.
You stated that stories about people who genuinely make it on their own without the backing of government are Read More
Cornering Moonshine Market Drives ‘Lawless’
Shia LaBeouf and Tom Hardy in Lawless. Photo By Weinstein Company
Movie Review by Dr. Seva SSS Khalsa,DOM, L.Ac.
Lawless takes place in 1931, Franklin County, Va, when bootlegging, moonshine and prohibition are going strong. (Prohibition ended in 1933.)
Taken from a true story and the book, “The Wettest County in the World” by Matt Bondurant, grandson of the main character, three brothers are going about their business of making their living bootlegging and selling moonshine in a pastorally green Garden of Eden when a nasty businessman/mobster (Guy Pearce) appears from the big city of Chicago, Read More
Money IQ: Financial Powers of Attorney
Money IQFinancial Powers of Attorney
Tom is 78. He’s been married to Sarah for 52 years. They have five children, none of whom live nearby. Tom had always been blessed with exceptional health until he suffered a serious stroke on July 15.
Sadly, Tom is looking at a slow and uncertain recovery. Throughout their entire marriage, Tom has taken care of all bill paying, tax returns and investments.
He is now unable to assist in any way. Sarah is committed to being Tom’s primary caregiver and has become responsible for all household financial matters.
Tom and Sarah had talked for years about Read More
Running Technique, Posture and Pain
Column by Jessica Kisiel
There are no sports beyond our body’s capability! When we have pain playing a sport though, it is easy to blame the activity for our pain.
Running, the primary functional movement our body was designed for, has a reputation for being hard on or even bad for the body.
It is often the first sport we are advised not to do if we have any lower extremity pain. If running were the problem then everyone who runs should hurt as a result of participating, right?
The fact is, some people suffer while others are pain free. Why?
The difference lies in the physical body that is brought Read More