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Tag: new mexico

  • Google Now Facing Third Suit, As 30 State Sue Over ‘Illegal Monopoly’

    Google Now Facing Third Suit, As 30 State Sue Over ‘Illegal Monopoly’

    Google is being sued by 30 states, as the company faces its third lawsuit over abusing its monopoly in search and online advertising.

    Google is already facing lawsuits by the Department of Justice (DOJ), as well as a coalition of 10 states. The new lawsuit is led by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, and includes Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, and the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico.

    “Our economy is more concentrated than ever, and consumers are squeezed when they are deprived of choices in valued products and services. Google’s anticompetitive actions have protected its general search monopolies and excluded rivals, depriving consumers of the benefits of competitive choices, forestalling innovation, and undermining new entry or expansion,” Weiser explained. “This lawsuit seeks to restore competition.”

    The scope of this lawsuit goes beyond the previous two, accusing Google of “engaging in a multi-pronged effort to maintain its monopolies.” In particular, “Google’s acquisition and command of vast amounts of data obtained because of consumers’ lack of choice has fortified Google’s monopolies and created new barriers to competition and consumer value.”

    The states have filed a motion to join their case with the DOJ’s case, which could significantly expand the scope of the DOJ’s case.

  • Ghost in Police Station Video Goes Viral

    “Then, I saw the legs … and it was a human … not a real human … a ghost.”

    In Espanola, New Mexico, uniformed officers aren’t the only thing that can be seen sauntering through the local police station.

    Last week a news camera caught something interesting on film and now that video has gone viral.

    “We’ve received phone calls from the Associated Press, CNN, The New York times … and I found out this morning it was on ‘Good Morning America,’” Detective Solomon Romero said. “It is [kind of crazy], but it’s also interesting, especially for the individuals that believe in the supernatural.”

    In the video, a ghost-like figure can be seen moving through the police station.

    Good Morning America reported, “Police in Espanola, New Mexico, are trying to figure out what human-shaped, blurry, translucent figured was captured on camera strolling across a locked area of their station Saturday night. The video shows the figure walking through a chain link fence and slowly walking out again.”

    Romera says that he’s a believer considering this isn’t the first time something strange has happened at the station.

    “A lot of our officers have seen certain things,” Romera said. “Some of our officers have felt what appears to be someone breathing down their neck as they’re working on reports in the briefing room.”

    But some are disputing the recent claims saying that it’s most likely an insect on the camera. During the day a bug doesn’t seem mysterious, but at night it’s understandable how it could be perceived as spooky.

    In 2007, 25 miles away from Espanola in Santa Fe, an identical “ghost” was captured on a police surveillance camera. But after further examination, it was revealed to be … a bug on the lens.

    However, an officer on duty the night of the sighting disagrees.

    “At first I thought it was a fly, a moth and then I saw the legs and it was a human,” he said.

    As of today, the Espanola police department have yet to hear from any interested ghost hunters or ghost busters.

  • Comcast Customer Pulls Gun on Repair Man

    In ooooh-she-mad news, A 48-year-old Bernalillo County, New Mexico woman has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after she pulled a handgun on a Comcast employee.

    Gloria Baca-Lucero was arrested after demanding that a Comcast service rep leave her property – the I’ve got a gun type of demanding. Here’s the best thing about the whole story – Baca-Lucero doesn’t deny it. In fact, her and the rep’s stories are pretty much identical.

    According to the criminal complaint, both parties can agree on a set of facts. The rep, hereafter referred to as Ratliff, went to Baca-Lucero’s house to make some repairs. Upon learning that the repairs would cost money and she would have to sign a consent form before Ratliff could begin work, Baca-Lucero became perturbed. She then dialed Comcast customer service, who confirmed that the repairs would indeed cost a fee.

    Baca-Lucero refused to sign the forms, and Ratliff began to go on his way.

    Both parties then agree that Baca-Lucero took one of Ratliff’s tool bags, and placed it inside the home. When Ratliff said um, gimme my bag, Baca-Lucero refused, saying that his supervisor would have to come get it and he needed to get off her lawn.

    The accounts begin to veer apart at this point – but not that much. Baca-Lucero says Ratliff was standing in her driveway refusing to leave. Ratliff says he had just walked off the porch. Either way, both say that Baca-Lucero then pulled a gun out of her pocket.

    Huh. So from that account, it appears that the only difference of opinion here revolves around whether or not it was a-ok to just steal a bag of tools. Which it’s not, if you were wondering.

    The Albuquerque Journal reports that when police arrived on scene, they found a Glock and the repairman’s bag.

    Lady, I understand your frustration – but this is pretty much the worst way possible way to go about expressing said frustration (apart from actually shooting someone). Also, blaming some poor repairman for arguably bullshit Comcast fees is kind of like bitching at your waiter because the clam chowder is too expensive. Focus your energy a little higher up the chain, and next time focus it without the help of a 9mm.

    Comcast is a terrible, soul-depleting monster, capable a reducing even the most composed individual to a screechy, rabid asylum escapee. This is inarguable. But just say no to tool ransom and firearm brandishing.

    h/t CNET

  • Kaley Cuoco’s Old West Pose Blows Up On Instagram

    Hard at work on the indie flick, Burning Bodhi, Kaley Cuoco received a surprise visit from her husband a few days ago. They had so much fun that the movie star decided to document their adventures on Instagram.

    “Someone came to visit me in New Mexico,” she captioned, along with several heart symbols, a picture of her husband.

    His presence definitely lent the actress a much needed leg of support. One photo showed the couple in a fond embrace with the caption, “Thank you @elizabethmessina for capturing this moment between and my hubs between takes ❤️ #burningbodhi #brooding #husbandscureall”.

    But cute couple photos will only get you so far in the opinion of the internet. To really capture the attention of the public, a celebrity and her spouse must go above and beyond. Cuoco did. She did it with gusto.

    She and her husband posed in a wild west saloon. “Had some free time, so meandered over yonder to the ole saloon and it was a hoot! #ontheshootphotography #newmexico,” the caption went. The photo has to been seen to be believed.

    Afterward, home was in store for the actress. A photo was published showing Cuoco collapsed on the floor with the following exclamation: “Home sweet home sweet home sweet home!!! ❤️❤️”

    You might think her Instagram trek might end there, but one more photo came up with Cuoco and her dog. “Oh I missed this nose,” it said.

    This Instagram trek has been only the latest in a long time effort by Cuoco to show her followers what life is like behind the scenes of Burning Bodhi.

    Makeup effects are a favorite of the actress. One selfie had the caption, “Ok I’m here. Hair/makeup test for #burningbodhi .. So fun playing someone so different. Im up for the challenge #nofilter,” while another simply said, “Crazy girl”.

    What can be said of Burning Bodhi itself? In the words of Cuoco, “#definitelynotacomedy”.

    Image via Instagram

  • N.M Biofuels Plant Fire Results In Evacuation

    Investigators are still working to determine the cause of a fire at a biofuels facility that nearly led to a catastrophic explosion.

    At around 9:00 am on Tuesday morning, a fire was reported at the Rio Valley Biofuels facility near Anthony, N.M.

    The fire resulted in large clouds of heavy black smoke rising high into the air.

    The dangerous situation led to plant workers being evacuated from the location.

    Operations manager Jed Smith believes that the plant’s team of five employees were able to leave the scene prior to suffering any injuries.

    Ana County spokesman Jess Williams also said in a statement that there were no known injuries to any of the plant’s workers.

    The fire, which is said to have burned for roughly two hours, caused a series of small explosions at the site.

    Despite the plant being evacuated, the fire raised concerns of a potential explosion.

    Authorities estimated that there were about 350 homes near the plant, residents who would be seriously harmed by a major blast.

    County officials moved to declare a hazardous materials emergency and asked residents up to a half a mile away from the plant to evacuate their homes.

    Fire crews battled the blaze, which was said to be “basically out” and “smoldering” roughly two and a half hours after the fire was first reported. Several hours after the fire was spotted, the site was being periodically doused with water.

    Hours after residents were asked to evacuate their homes, officials told them it was safe to return.

    Much of the concern of a major blast was due to the the methanol gas at the facility. The fire provided a terrible threat that fire fighters were luckily able to counteract before the worst could occur.

    As of now, County police officials and company officials are unsure what could have caused the fire.

    Image via KFOX14, Twitter

  • Dennis Hopper Fans Assemble for Annual Event

    Film and motorcycle fans from all over the U.S. and Canada descended upon Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico Saturday in honor of Dennis Hopper’s cult classic Easy Rider. Saturday would’ve been the 78th birthday of the late Oscar-nominated actor, and Ranchos de Taos officials hope the gathering will become an annual event called “Dennis Hopper Day.”

    Hopper was once a resident of Ranchos de Taos, and is now buried there, and town manger Rick Bellis stated that ‘Dennis Hopper Day’ is meant to acknowledge and appreciate Hopper’s contributions as a resident of the town, as an actor and director, as a champion of the arts and for simply being a good member of the community.

    Here is the official trailer of Hopper’s Easy Rider from 1969:

    Easy Rider was co-written by Hopper, Peter Fonda and Terry Southern, produced by Fonda and directed by Hopper. It relates the story of two bikers (Fonda and Hopper) who ride through the American Southwest and South. Regarded as a landmark counterculture film, Easy Rider was added to the Library of Congress National Registry in 1998.

    “Dennis Hopper Day” commenced with the first-ever “Easy Rider Ride,” when motorcyclists left the town plaza for a 49-mile easy ride with a police escort. A local band kicked off the “Dennis Hopper Commemoration Reception,” with songs from the Easy Rider soundtrack, while some restaurants served Hopper-inspired dishes. Ranchos de Taos mayor Dan Barrone declared May 17 an official holiday for the town and county.

    Here Hopper appears in David Lynch’s Blue Velvet from 1986:

    Hopper was laid to rest in a Native American-style burial mound in the Jesus Nazareno Cemetery in Ranchos de Taos, which is believed to have been the actor’s final request. Hopper first went to New Mexico in the late 1960’s to scout for locations for Easy Rider.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Dennis Hopper Honored at ‘Easy Rider’ Festival in New Mexico

    Dennis Hopper was honored in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico on Saturday–the day the late actor would have celebrated his 78th birthday–as part of an Easy Rider Festival. Hopper made the iconic film and counterculture that followed it famous back in 1969. He died on May 29, 2010, and is actually buried not far from where the event was held. Fans are hoping to mark a celebration on the late actor’s birthday each year, calling it Dennis Hopper Day.

    Several dozen motorcycles gathered to kick off the event and to enjoy a ride through some of the places Hopper made famous in the film. Let by a police escort, the ‘easy ride’ took place against a back drop of snow capped mountains–like the scenes in the film. Ranchos de Taos Town Manager Rick Bellis even got in on the festivities.

    “His image really represents the spirit of Taos,” he said. “He was independent, slightly eccentric but incredibly talented. He sort of became a symbol for a whole new generation.”

    Bellis also noted that Dennis Hopper made many contributions as a “resident, a filmmaker, a supporter of the arts and for simply being a ‘colorful member’ of the community.”

    Hopper first arrived in New Mexico back in the late 60s, scouting out locations for the filming of Easy Rider. The indie film forced Hollywood to take a look at some of the many films shot on shoestring budgets that definitely deserved their shot at time on the big screen. Dennis Hopper not only introduced the film world and a new culture to the Taos region, but also opened up communications between many diverse cultures in the region.

    “He walked across the multicultural borders here. I think that really started with him and the movie and has continued,” Bellis added. “In the last few years, we have really become that kind of community that he saw, that there was no difference between our ethnicities and who, when and where we came from. We all came here for the same reason, that awe of nature and that spirit of the last of the wild West, that independence.”

    Dennis Hopper Day will grow, too, in future years if the planners of this year’s Easy Rider Festival have their say. Music performances and film venues are already tapped for next year’s event.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Kitty Litter May Have Caused Radiation Leak

    A nuclear waster storage facility in New Mexico was shut down weeks ago after researchers discovered unsafe levels of radiation, which affected 21 workers. Now scientists have attributed kitty litter to a possible cause of the nuclear decontainment.

    The underground Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP), located east of Carlsbad, houses drums of plutonium-tinged refuse that are buried 2,100 feet below ground. On February 14, scientists found that radiation levels had spiked in a containment chamber holding waste from Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory. It has been theorized that a chemical reaction had weakened the seals on the drums, releasing plutonium particles.

    Jill Turner, spokeswoman for the New Mexico Environment Department, commented that “kitty litter is in the field of theories.” The litter is used to absorb liquid in the debris, Turner explained, and may have ignited the chemical reaction which weakened the seals.

    Here is a segment on the WIPP facility, reminiscent of a Dharma Initiative instructional video from ABC’s Lost:

    Due to the leak, the WIPP containment facility will remain out of commission for 18 months, and won’t be fully functional again for up to 3 years. Apparently due to a lax security protocol that had developed over time at the facility, organic kitty litter was somehow incorporated in nuclear containment. Jim Conca, a scientist who worked at WIPP from 2000 to 2010, commented, “I’m just dying to know why this happened and who approved it, because it was a dumb idea. You just can’t make a change to the procedure without reviewing it.”

    Conca added, “Cat litter has been used for decades in radiochemistry labs and nuclear facilities to stabilize certain radwastes (radioactive wastes), like liquid scintillation solutions, evaporator bottoms and other materials.” Still, a switch from traditional bentonite clay-based kitty litter to an organic, “green” kitty litter, which is typically composed of wheat, corn and recycled paper or pine sawdust, may have contributed to the chemical reaction that caused the WIPP decontainment.

    Studies have shown that kitty litter also houses Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that exists in cat feces. Human exposure to the parasite has been linked to instances of schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, rheumatoid arthritis and brain cancer.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Kitty Litter May Have Caused Radiation Leak At New Mexico Nuclear Waste Site

    New Mexico’s environmental official said on Tuesday that kitty litter that was used for absorbing radioactive debris may be the cause of a chemical reaction that resulted in a radiation leak below ground at a nuclear waste storage.

    Dangerous radiation levels were first detected on February 14. The waste storage consists of drums of refuse tainted with plutonium that came from laboratories and nuclear weapon factories. They are buried 2,100 feet in salt caverns. The disposal site has since been shut down for safety reasons.

    News reports say that a small radiation leak rose up to the surface and affected 21 workers who were present at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). This incident is said to be the worst since the plant first opened its doors in 1999.

    Jim Conca, a scientist who worked at the plant from 2000 to 2010, said that the change in using non-organic litter to organic litter may have caused the chemical reaction that released the radioactive isotopes. However, Ryan Flynn, the New Mexico Environment Department Secretary said that the kitty litter is just one of the theories and nothing is confirmed at this point.

    The waste plant cannot accept liquid waste, so kitty litter is being used to absorb the liquid before the waste drums are sealed.

    “I’m just dying to know why this happened and who approved it, because it was a dumb idea. You just can’t make a change to the procedure without reviewing it,” said Conca.

    WIPP is the only permanent repository for waste. It is used by national laboratories and federal facilities. On Monday, investigators went to the mine and saw melted rubber and plastic, which could mean that heat was generated in the waste storage room.

    WIPP will not be opening soon, and operations will be stopped for at least a year and a half. Managers said that it may take as long as 3 years for the plant to be ready for full operations.

    Image via YouTube

  • The Atari E.T. Game Land Fill Legend

    The Atari E.T. Game Land Fill Legend

    The year is 1983. The Alamogordo Daily News reported in September that between 10-20 (actually 14) semi-trucks coming from a storehouse in El Paso, Texas, traveled 90 miles to a landfill in Alamogordo, New Mexico. At night, they would unload, cover deep within the earth, and seal with concrete, Atari boxes, cartridges, consoles, and the shame brought with their creation.

    Among the gizmos lay purged was one of art’s greatest abominations: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Atari videogame. An estimated 750,000 copies lay crushed in their dusty graves; the cause of death being rock-bottom sales due to abysmal quality by rushed development.

    Whispers of what happened that day trickled into an urban legend of doubt, intrigue, and mystery… until…

    31 years later.

    On Sunday, at 12:45pm MDT, a film documentary seeking out the video game grave yard teamed up with Xbox Entertainment Studios and Lighbox Entertainment, went back to that old landfill and dug up the remains. There, in front of hundreds of spectators, revealed the epitome of what was one (of many) man’s trash, to be a treasured relic of gaming history.

    The E.T. Atari cartridge did not die alone; several cases of the game Centipede, Pac-Man, and others games were also found, surprisingly, to be in very good condition despite three decades – unfortunately none of them were playable.

     

    There’s a notion in the video game industry that the licensed movie adaptations of video games (and vice versa) wind up becoming laughable flops. The Atari E.T. game competes as one of the worst video games in history, but, as with all art, found a way to be enjoyed.

    Besides the novelty of his lovable wrinkly testicle-like face, critics found the gameplay of collecting Reese’s pieces and part of E.T.’s phone to be a repetitive and vicious cycle; try to watch the following without any hint of irritation:

    Doesn’t it just take you back?

    Image via YouTube

  • New Mexico Helicopter Crash Injures Pilot

    The pilot of a medivac helicopter was injured after crash landing on the roof of University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque Wednesday at around 6 p.m. Two other medical personnel were on board, but were unhurt. The pilot’s injuries are said to be not life-threatening.

    The air ambulance was transporting a patient from from Rio Rancho, NM at the direction of the Rio Rancho Fire Department. The helicopter went down while attempting to take off after delivering a patient to UNMH. The fifth and sixth floors of the hospital were evacuated, visitations for the evening were limited and the facility is presently only admitting serious trauma patients. UNMH is the only level one trauma center in New Mexico.

    Engineers are assessing the structural integrity of the helipad at UNHM, and medivac flights are currently being rerouted to Johnson Field on the University of New Mexico campus, as well as to the Albuquerque International Sunport.

    Here is the crash scene from a different vantage:

    A witness said the helicopter started wobbling out of control at about 30 feet up after takeoff, jerked one last time, and then went down. Upon impact, the witness described substantial flames and smoke, and the sprinkler system in the hospital was triggered. Hospital officials have stated that there is no threat of any additional fires.

    The cause of the crash is still unknown, and the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will aid in the investigation. The helicopter is owned by Petroleum Helicopters, Inc., a civilian aeromedical helicopter service, which regularly transports patients to UNMH.

    Image via Twitter

  • Albuquerque Protests Turn Violent

    Albuquerque Protests Turn Violent

    Earlier this month, James Boyd, age 38, was confronted by police officers for illegally camping in the Sandia Foothills in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After a somewhat brief standoff, Boyd and the officers had come to a peaceful agreement of sorts. “All right, don’t change up the agreement,” stated Boyd as he began to gather his belongings. “I’m going to try to walk with you.”

    Before Boyd could get said opportunity to walk with the police, however, one of the officers is heard yelling, “Do it!”

    As soon as the command was made, officers fired a flash-bang grenade at Boyd’s feet, disorienting the homeless man. After the grenade goes off, Boyd brandishes two knives in the air above his head, his intent being unknown. At that moment, two officers opened fire on Boyd, dropping him to the ground.

    “Please don’t hurt me anymore. I can’t move,” Boyd pleaded as the officers approached his prostrate body.

    Boyd would die in the hospital the next day.

    It was this incident, plus the shooting and killing of another man approximately one week later, which prompted the protests in Albuquerque this Sunday.

    The call for protests began when the hacktivist group Anonymous posted an online video condemning the actions of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) and asking citizens to march in the streets of Albuquerque near the police department. Anonymous also vowed to take cyber-action against the police department, a task in which they succeeded in by taking down the APD website on Sunday.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuinzEynAxM

    While the majority of the protesting on Sunday was peaceful, tensions surged as the evening hours approached. When protesters refused to leave the streets, police officers used tear gas to disperse the crowds. According to the mayor of Albuquerque, Richard Berry, at least one officer was injured by a thrown rock and another was trapped in a vehicle by protesters.

    Despite the fact that Mayor Berry believes the protests devolved into “mayhem” Sunday night, he apparently values the cause the protesters are backing, stating, “I think it’s the right thing. We need answers as a community. I want answers as a mayor,” when asked to give his opinion of the impending federal investigation into the over-use of deadly force by the APD.

    Since 2010, APD officers have been involved in 36 shootings, 22 of which were fatal. During those four years, police misconduct lawsuits have also cost taxpayers a whopping $24 million.

    In comparison, the city of New York has had 25 fatal police shootings in two years – albeit for a city that hosts 15 times as many citizens.

    Citizens of Albuquerque and the Department of Justice are not the first bodies to act out against the magnitude of police violence, though. In 2011, the City Council of Albuquerque requested that Mayor Berry pursue a federal investigation into the APD’s use of deadly force, a request Mayor Berry vetoed. One year ago, the city also asked for the Mayor to fire the current police chief, another concern which went unnoticed.

    As it currently stands, the City Council is voicing its concern once again in light of the 2014 killings.

    Image via Twitter

  • Peanut Butter Dumped in Landfill, Thank Costco

    Peanut Butter Dumped in Landfill, Thank Costco

    Roughly one million jars of peanut butter are being dumped into Curry County landfill in Clovis, New Mexico to speed up the bankruptcy of Sunland Inc., the peanut processing plant that was the source of a September, 2012 salmonella outbreak which caused 41 cases in 20 states, prompting a nationwide recall. Sunland was forced to file a Chapter 7 after membership-only warehouse club Costco declined to accept a large shipment.

    Bankruptcy trustee Clarke Coll said that Costco also refused an option to allow the completely safe peanut butter to be donated, or even repackaged for sale to institutions like mental hospitals and prisons. Coll commented, “We considered all options. They didn’t agree.”

    After extensive testing of the peanut butter to confirm it was free of salmonella, Costco had initially accepted the order which was made with $2.8 million worth of Valencia peanuts. Yet after receiving eight loads, the retailer rejected further shipments, calling the peanut butter “not merchantable,” due to leaking peanut oil. The remaining jars had been sitting in the Sunland warehouse since.

    Here a clip concerning the process of making peanut butter:

    Court records show that on March 19, Costco’s stance on the matter was that “it would not agree to any disposition, other than destruction.” Coll commented that “all parties agreed there’s nothing wrong with the peanut butter from a health and safety issue.”

    Sonya Warwick, a spokesperson for Roadrunner Food Bank, New Mexico’s largest, said that salvaged food comprised 74 percent of what was distributed across New Mexico in 2013. “Our fleet picks up rescued food from hundreds of locations weekly and brings it back to the food bank,” she said, adding, “Before distributing it, volunteers help label, sort or repack it for distribution to partner agencies across the state. Access to rescued food allows us to provide a more well-rounded and balanced meal to New Mexicans experiencing hunger.”

    Instead of putting the peanut butter to good use, Sunland has spent $60,000 to transport 58 truckloads of jars, or roughly 25 tons worth to the landfill, where public works director Clint Bunch says it “will go in with our regular waste and covered with dirt.” The peanut butter is said to be worth $2.6 million, and should have been completely dumped as of Friday.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Peanut Butter Dumped In Landfill Following Bankruptcy

    Peanut butter dumped into a New Mexico landfill is on the minds of many this week after nearly a million jars were destroyed.

    Sunland Inc., the peanut-processing plant that made the peanut butter, is at the center of a bankruptcy case and nationwide recall after 41 salmonella cases in 20 states were reported. The company says that Costco refused to take delivery of the product, but also wouldn’t agree to let it be donated to food banks in the area.

    “Those trucks carrying it to the dump went right by the front door of my food bank. It wasn’t like it would have been out of the way,” said Melinda Joy Pattison, executive director of the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico. “For it to just be deliberately thrown away is disappointing.”

    According to public works director Clint Bunch, the product will go to the Curry County landfill in Clovis, where it will be covered with waste and dirt; bankruptcy trustee Clarke Coll said there was no other choice.

    “We considered all options. They didn’t agree,” Coll said of Costco. The retail giant has had no comment.

    Costco reportedly had extensive testing done on the last batch of peanut butter Sunland made for them and found it safe, but after recieving eight shipments, the company declined to sell it due to “leaky peanut oil”. Sunland shut down in October after filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

    Image via Thinkstock

  • Horse Slaughterhouse Bill Up For Vote

    This week, a budget bill that will effectively ban horse slaughter by cutting funding for inspections will be up for a vote in Congress.

    The budget bill was released Monday night. Should the bill pass without changes, lawsuits that have constantly prevented the opening of New Mexico horse slaughterhouses could remain unsettled. Congress cut funding for horse slaughterhouses inspectors in 2006 but reinstated funding four years later in 2011.

    Animal rights advocates who oppose attempts to re-open domestic horse slaughterhouses applauded the bill saying Americans do not want to see tax money used on the “disreputable horse slaughter industry.”

    President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States argued that since “We don’t have dog and cat slaughter plants,” Americans shouldn’t have horse slaughterhouses either. Other animal rights groups have joined the Obama administration in lobbying for the ban on horse slaughter in the U.S. as well.

    In December of last year, New Mexico prosecutor Gary King, filed a lawsuit seeking to block a new slaughter plant from being opened. King’s application for a temporary injunction against the opening of Valley Meat Co. will be decided on Friday.

    Supporters of slaughter plants, however, say that domestic slaughter is a more humane way to deal with abandoned and abused horses. Currently, such horses are shipped to Canada and Mexico and are slaughtered there anyway.

    Native American tribes are among the strong proponents who contend that the exploding number of undomesticated horses is destroying their fields. Blair Dunn, a Valley Meat Co. attorney says, “It is certainly disappointing that Congress is returning to a failed policy at the urging of special interest groups while failing to provide for an alternative.” According to Dunn, the ban will lead to a denial in access to employment opportunities created by the export market and there will be more waste and devastation of the rangelands.

    Hear both sides of the story

    Image via YouTube

  • New Mexico Supreme Court Rules For Marriage Equality

    The New Mexico Supreme Court has made a landmark decision regarding marriage equality. The panel of five judges ruled that same-sex marriages were legal across the state.

    An excerpt of the decision reads:

    We conclude that although none of New Mexico’s marriage statutes specifically prohibit same-gender marriages, when read as a whole, the statutes have the effect of precluding same-gender couples from marrying and benefiting from the rights, protections, and responsibilities that flow from a civil marriage. Same-gender couples who wish to enter into a civil marriage with another person of their choice and to the exclusion of all others are similarly situated to opposite-gender couples who want to do the same, yet they are treated differently.

    Because same-gender couples (whether lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, hereinafter “LGBT”) are a discrete group which has been subjected to a history of discrimination and violence, and which has inadequate political power to protect itself from such treatment, the classification at issue must withstand intermediate scrutiny to be constitutional. Accordingly, New Mexico may neither constitutionally deny same-gender couples the right to marry nor deprive them of the rights, protections, and responsibilities of marriage laws, unless the proponents of the legislation—the opponents of same-gender marriage—prove that the discrimination caused by the legislation is “substantially related to an important government interest.”

    In other words, the opponents of same-sex marriage in the state could not prove that the reasons that gay men and women should not marry were justifiable under the state’s existing constitution. The judges found that the reasons for opposing marriage equality came down to simply one explanation: prejudice.

    The decision to allow same-sex marriage would make New Mexico the 17th state in the United States where homosexual men and women would be able to be legally married. While this is a victory for many advocates in the push for marriage equality, it is still an uphill battle. This ruling means that a gay couple is only able to form a legal union in about one third of the United States. The number has jumped significantly in the past few years, signaling a momentum that may carry gay advocates towards marriage equality in all 50 states.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Killer Thanksgiving Storm Isis Threatens Travel

    The western side of the United States is dealing with an intense storm by the name of Isis, and the southern and eastern parts of the country are sure to have their turn with it soon.

    According to the Associated Press, the icy storm with the worst possible timing is already responsible for at least eight deaths and hundreds of flight cancellations throughout the southwestern states, and will last until midday Monday morning.

    The wind, snow and hail not only make for unsafe air travel; it has also caused treacherous road conditions. The eight reported causalities are the results of fatal car accidents, including the tour bus accident that has injured three members of Willie Nelson’s band and has halted the tour.

    Eastern states are already feeling the extremely low temperatures, and many states are predicted to begin seeing the icy sleet, rain and snow at any moment now.

    Southwestern states such as Texas and New Mexico are not as accustomed to icy driving conditions as eastern state drivers are, so this could be attributed to the fatalities, but it is never safe to travel during an ice storm for even the most experienced driver.

    Keep up with your area weather as well the weather of your intended destination with The National Weather Service, and be prepared for flight delays and possible cancellations throughout this Thanksgiving week.

    Image: Facebook

  • FBI 2012 Crime Stats: Tennessee is Most Dangerous State

    24/7 Wall St.com did an analysis last week of the FBI’s recently released 2012 crime statistics, but before anyone starts hastily comparing states, it should be noted that the FBI does remind people not to compare state violence in rankings.

    “These rough rankings provide no insight into the numerous variables that mold crime in a particular town, city, county, state, tribal area, or region,” the FBI said at the end of their report. “Consequently, they lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting communities and their residents.”

    Because no system of ranking could fairly gauge the numerous unknown variables, and because crime is reported and measured in different ways by different states, Urban Institute senior fellow John Roman would also caution against comparing them. The trend of declining crime since the 1990s is not clearly traced to any one factor, though experts have suggested demography, higher incarceration, falling crack use and new social programs as reasons for the decline.

    But trends always have exceptions. Alaska, Delaware, and Maryland are states with a high level of education and a high income, yet they are found within the top 10 because of small urban areas with a high crime rate (the city of Baltimore comes to mind).

    The 24/7 Wall St analysis was calculated by using the FBI’s population estimates and comparing four types of violent crime per 100,000 residents: homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault. Income, poverty, and education statistics were also compared as the relationship between the uneducated, the impoverished, and rising crime rates has been followed for decades.

    Here are the top 10 most violent states in the U.S. based on their calculations. If you want to see the report for yourself, you can find it here. Included are explanations of each states’ crime rates and the factors that contributed.

    1. Tennessee
    > Violent crimes per 100,000: 643.6
    > Poverty rate: 17.9%
    > Pct. of population with bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.3%
    > Property crimes per 100,000: 3,371.4 (10th highest)

    2. Nevada
    > Violent crimes per 100,000: 607.6
    > Poverty rate: 16.4%
    > Pct. of population with bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.4%
    > Property crimes per 100,000: 2,809.4 (23rd highest)

    3. Alaska
    > Violent crimes per 100,000: 603.2
    > Poverty rate: 10.1%
    > Pct. of population with bachelor’s degree or higher: 28.0%
    > Property crimes per 100,000: 2,739.4 (24th lowest)

    4. New Mexico
    > Violent crimes per 100,000: 559.1
    > Poverty rate: 20.8%
    > Pct. of population with bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.1%
    > Property crimes per 100,000: 3,600.7 (4th highest)

    5. South Carolina
    > Violent crimes per 100,000: 558.8
    > Poverty rate: 18.3%
    > Pct. of population with bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.1%
    > Property crimes per 100,000: 3,822.2 (the highest)

    6. Delaware
    > Violent crimes per 100,000: 547.4
    > Poverty rate: 12.0%
    > Pct. of population with bachelor’s degree or higher: 29.5%
    > Property crimes per 100,000: 3,340.9 (13th highest)

    7. Louisiana
    > Violent crimes per 100,000: 496.9
    > Poverty rate: 19.9%
    > Pct. of population with bachelor’s degree or higher: 22%
    > Property crimes per 100,000: 3,540.6 (5th highest)

    8. Florida
    > Violent crimes per 100,000: 487.1
    > Poverty rate: 17.1%
    > Pct. of population with bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.8%
    > Property crimes per 100,000: 3,276.7 (15th highest)

    9. Maryland
    > Violent crimes per 100,000: 476.8
    > Poverty rate: 10.3%
    > Pct. of population with bachelor’s degree or higher: 36.9%
    > Property crimes per 100,000: 2,753.5 (25th lowest)

    10. Oklahoma
    > Violent crimes per 100,000: 469.3
    > Poverty rate: 17.2%
    > Pct. of population with bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.8%
    > Property crimes per 100,000: 3,401.0 (9th highest)

    [Image via Google Maps]

  • Frito Pie Review Gets New Mexico Riled Up

    Anthony Bourdain is known for speaking his mind about the food he travels the world to try, and while his palette is invariably accustomed to high-end fare, sometimes one just has to do as the Romans do and eat local delicacies…like Frito Pie.

    The treat isn’t really a pie so much as it is a mixture of Frito’s corn chips, chili, peppers, and cheese in the bag. Bourdain said that the one he tried had canned chili and a “day-glo orange cheese-like substance” inside, something the owners of Santa Fe’s Five & Dime General Store say just isn’t true. General manager Mike Collins says the chili is in fact homemade and the peppers used are native to New Mexico, where the dish was invented–not Texas, as Bourdain claimed.

    “Neither the Frito, nor the Frito pie, are indigenous to New Mexico. They were actually Texan,” Bourdain said on his show “Parts Unknown”. “New Mexico, you have many wonderful things. I think, let Texas have this one.”

    Bourdain has apologized and says that despite what his review may have sounded like, he did enjoy the corn-chip delicacy.

    “I, in fact, very much enjoyed my Frito pie in spite of its disturbing weight in the hand. It may have felt like shit, but was shockingly tasty.”

    “It always hurts to see something taken away from New Mexico and given to Texas,” says New Mexican David Stout. “The only thing we have at the moment is Breaking Bad, so just give us Frito pie.”

  • Roswell UFO Incident Gets A Google Doodle

    Roswell UFO Incident Gets A Google Doodle

    Google is running a doodle on its homepages around the world celebrating the 66th anniversary of the famed Roswell UFO incident, which took place on this day in 1947. Legend has it that a UFO crashed on a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico. The government, acknowledging the incident attributed it to a military surveillance balloon, but some believe it to have been an alien spacecraft carrying extraterrestrial life.

    Theories about the incident have been frequently tossed around for decades. Wikipedia has a pretty extensive article about them.

    The doodle itself is particularly noteworthy, as it’s a playable game, not unlike some doodles the company has run on occasion. The PAC-MAN doodle and the hurdles doodle Google ran for the Olympics last year come immediately to mind. In this one, you guide an E.T. around after his space ship crash lands, collect items, and help him get back to his ship. You can see the action here:

    The final image (pictured at the top) of the animated and interactive doodle recalls this famous newspaper cover story about the incident at Roswell:

    Roswell Daily Record

  • Horse Slaughterhouse: USDA Opens Path for Horsemeat

    Horse—It’s What’s for Dinner.

    Is this the new trendy food item? Despite the fact that the UK was recently up in arms after it was discovered that some varieties of microwavable meals contained horsemeat, other countries are comfortable with the idea. Chefs in Paris have been putting it back on the menu in recent years.

    And horse-meat could be on its way to American tables.

    The USDA has just given approval for a New Mexico plant owned by Valley Meat Co. to slaughter horses for meat (the plant still has to undergo on-site inspection before it can sell the product). Similar applications have been made by plants in Missouri and Iowa.

    Congress banned the domestic slaughter of horses in 2006, but the product is now again available to export. At present, approximately 130,000 horses per year are shipped abroad for slaughter (primarily to Mexico and Canada). The 2006 law currently at odds with the New Mexico plant’s “grant of inspection” (which had pulled funding for USDA inspections of horse plants, but had not outright forbidden horse slaughter) expired in 2011. If Valley Meat, and the companies following suit, are granted the right to slaughter domestically, export-for-slaughter could be expected to decline.

    Since horses are not raised as food animals in the US, they are often given drugs that are banned for other livestock, making their food use (for humans or animals) questionable. Even so, this has not prevented export of horse meat in the past. Horse meat is sold for human consumption in many countries, including Mexico, China, and Russia. The world’s top three horse meat producing countries are China (1,700,000 metric tons), Mexico (626,000 metric tons), and Kazakhstan (340,000 metric tons). Mongolia, Argentina, Italy, Brazil, and Kyrgyzstan round out the top eight.

    Currently, horse meat costs less than 25% of what beef costs.

    And, just for cocktail party conversation: Western biases against the consumption of horse meat might stem from Pope Gregory III’s fight against the ritual consumption of horse in pagan practice in the early eighth century.