Just for laughs

A busload of politicians were driving down a country road when the bus suddenly ran off the road and crashed into an old farmer's field. The old farmer heard the tragic crash so he rushed over to investigate. He then began digging a large grave to bury the politicians. A few hours later, the local sheriff was driving past the farmer's field and noticed the bus wreck. He approached the old farmer and asked where all the politicians had gone.The old farmer explained that he'd gone ahead and buried all of them."Were they ALL dead?" asked the puzzled sheriff."Well, some of them said they weren't," said the old farmer, "but you know how them politicians lie."

And note: for those politicians that might like to see a threat in this joke, there is none.

Did you know?

Did you know there is a chess club down here in Valencia County?

There sure is and what a great group of people there in that club.

http://vcchess.net/

Banned Books Week

Thank Goodness there doesn't seem to a problem with that in this library.
If books are not in the library it is more likely due to lack of space than it is due to the librarian banning the book or to someone challenging the book.

http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/

Of course this author will post this note and then the stories will be told about banned books.

A budget quote to keep in mind

Many People take no care of their money

till they come nearly to the end of it.

- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Another Community.

Destination Knowlton

This is a nice little website about a nice little town that just happens to be called "knowlton".
They have similar laws to us and look at their end result- trashy signs. Isn't that interesting.

http://www.destinationknowlton.com/2006/08/knowlton-business-faces-fine-for.html

This author doesn't want to hear about being business friendly and how the Village has to work with the businesses until the local businesses take care of their signs. If each business took care of the signs for each business then everything would be fine.

The one thing this author hates to see are the clapboard signs. This has already been addressed but they are not allowed in the local laws (as best as this author can tell) and they know it. This author would like to see the local planning and zoning lady come down hard on those businesse not obeying the law.

And here is another community with residents complaining about the ugly signs.
http://tracypress.com/component/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,2317/func,view/id,1886/catid,2/

Signs

This author is a bit upset to see all of the A frame signs hanging around Bosque Farms. (Not to mention the off site signs.) The ones that are hand made are particularly ugly.

These are illegal. They are illegal because a big gust of wind could easily blow them into the road. Oh, silly author, they don't have big gusts of wind around here do they?

In addition to that they force anyone walking on the sidewalk to walk around the signs. Often times there is not enough room to walk on the inside of the sign, thus forcing people out into the road. Not safe.
Oh, silly author, they don't have people that walk around here do they? Just kids. Kids getting off the bus, walking to their friends house, people who are working out.

They are illegal because they are ugly.

One of the things this author hates are the businesses that have the A frame signs out front, on the sidewalks and yet they don't take advantage of the legal signs they are allowed to have on a pole in front of their business. The most recent one this author has seen is the "arcade open" sign near Curves.

Before we hear about how we need to be business friendly and pay for advertising to help people remember to shop in Bosque Farms and how the Village needs to allow for huge signs and so on; the businesses need to help themselves too.

And then there is this thread from Cyburbia.

http://www.cyburbia.org/forums/showthread.php?p=436761

Those Darn Mothers

This author likes to run a recipe once in a while in response to the accusation that this author cooked nutritious meals for her children. This author is not quite sure what the accusation was except an angry reader taking a stab at a guess without making a guess as to who this author/s is or at least one of the authors.

Many have guessed and all have been wrong.

But in honor of that angry reader one of the authors share a recipe that is healthy that children or dogs might like. This author is posting this in hopes that other readers will share their recipes, especially since the police may be cracking down on some of the other readers who have yummy recipes to share.

The Famous (fill in a name) Veggie Bake
cups thinly sliced unpeeled zucchini
2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 stiffly beaten egg whites
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
4 to 6 slices bacon, crisply cooked, drained, and crumbled
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup fine dry bread crumbs

Simmer squash in salted water until tender; drain and sprinkle with a little salt. In mixing bowl, combine egg yolks, sour cream, and flour. Fold in egg whites. Place half of the cooked squash in a shallow 2-quart baking dish; top with half of the egg mixture, half of the shredded cheese, and all of the crumbled bacon. Repeat with remaining squash and egg mixture and cheese. Melt butter; stir in bread crumbs. Sprinkle over casserole. Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes.Baked zucchini recipe serves 8 to 10.

Signs and Councilor Wallace

Well, Councilor Wallace hasn't been mucking up the Village with signs for her upcoming election. Thank goodness. Although this author will tell you that the reason she hasn't done much is she believes she's a shoe in for the position. She thinks she's going to be elected and she doesn't need to even pretend that she might try to save you money, keep taxes lower or any of the other things she should be doing but won't.

But has anyone taken a drive around Peralta?

Councilor Wallace, who should know better, has signs posted on the telephone poles. Yup. Against the county law she has posted signs whereever she can. Isn't that lovely? Doesn't that show you how much she cares about being an upstanding leader?

With Sympathy

On Friday an upstanding person in this community passed away.
He will be remembered. This author will miss him.

In Memory

This author will not forget this event. It was a very scary time.

This author has prayed for those who are still fighting overseas. This author will continue to pray and send care packages to the men and women over there. This author prays that the leaders of this country will have the wisdom and strength to handle the future with dignity and bravery and in a manner that is best for everyone.

This site is just a huge site full of pictures, poems and more all about September 11. There are many sites like the one linked below. This one seemed worth spending some time on the other night so here you go:

http://911.swafford-family.com/

A few interesting sites

Nothing much to report right now but here are a few interesting websites

http://www.factcheck.org/
This is a non partisan site. Their motto is "Holding Politicians Accountable" and that is what they do- check facts.

http://www.ontheissues.org/
Their motto is "every Political Leader on Every Issue".

And while you are voting, consider this websites push
http://www.takeyourkids2vote.org/.
The lesson from this website is that teaching our children to participate in the democratic process is important and the way children learn is through parents and their examples.

And this author will point out, you can stand there in the booth (Such as it is now) and point out to your children that you don't for people who are confused.

Prepare to be Prepared

During National Preparedness Month, we also honor our Nation's police officers, firefighters, and emergency personnel for their hard work and commitment to protecting others. As first responders, they have demonstrated the true meaning of heroism by taking great risks to safeguard our communities, and all Americans are grateful for their efforts.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/08/20080826.html

September is now officially National Preparedness Month.

In Memory

http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/82942-09-06-08.html

The authors of this blog really appreciate that Belen is doing something to ensure that this day does not just get forgotten. Nice job Belen. This author has been to this small area and they have been improving it year by year.

The park serves as a reminder for future generations to remember one of the darkest days in the history of the United States on which lives were lost and heroes that died while trying to save others.

The creation of the 9/11 Memorial Park began seven years ago with a prayer vigil a month following the attacks on New York and the Pentagon and the downing of Flight 93 in a Pennsylvania field. It has since grown into a beautiful memorial that honors not just the lives lost that day, but also the brave soldiers who have lost their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq in the war on terrorism that is now in its fifth year.

Good for Sopa's

Wow, although this author doesn't visit Sopa's very often, wow. They have wifi. This author may just make a point to take a lap top, order a cup of coffee and try the wi fi.

Did you know that McDonald's has wifi? They do. But you have to pay to use it. This author doesn't know if Sopa's is a pay as you use it or one of the businesses that is providing free wifi.

If it is free, this author will pick Sopa's over McD's. every time. See?! Free wifi works.

Now if the Council will get on the ball and provide free wifi straight across the board to everyone, what an economic boost that would be. Maybe instead of worrying about painting the word stop on the bike path, the council should do something constructive to help everyone.

Free WiFi is good for Businesses.

http://www.computerworld.com/printthis/2003/0,4814,86149,00.html

John Wooley, chairman, CEO and president of restaurant chain Schlotzsky's Inc. in Austin, isn't so shy in sharing details of what he calls the "strong ROI" from the company's free Wi-Fi service. Schlotzsky's currently offers free Wi-Fi in 30 of its 600 company-owned or franchised Schlotzsky's Delis. Wooley says he figures that the free Wi-Fi results in an additional 15,000 visits per restaurant per year by customers who spend an average of $7 per visit.

That means Wi-Fi service brings in more than $100,000 per year per outlet in return for an investment of about $8,000 per restaurant for wireless infrastructure, Wooley says.

So if the Village wanted to help businesses...

Special Month

This month is a special month. It is not too late to celebrate and recognize some of these national days and weeks and month long events. Some of them are very appriopriate for the current Council to consider. This author would suggest that the Council look at and consider celebrating the following special events:

National Library Card Month.
It is past time the Library held and open house. The librarian could combine this with National World Animal Rememberance Month and encourage everyone to bring their pet dog or cat to the library. Certainly since it is National Chicken Month, chickens should be invited to this special open house. Surely the librarians dog is not the only animal that should be allowed in the library. Do you think Councilor Wallace would insist horses be invited too? If the librarian was smart she would hold her open house during National Banned Books Week on the 27-10/1. And if you look at some of the other events held during this month, you will notice they all hit at about the same day (the 27th) so it sounds like a good day for a party.

National Baby Safety Month.
The police could invite everyone over on the same day of the open house at the library for a car seat inspection. This could also cover National Prevent Childhood Injuries Month and the Week of Child Passenger Safety Week (21-27)

Nation Keep Kids Creative Week (21-27)
What is a community center for if not to be used by the whole community? So the same time the open house is held for the library, who not make it a community event. Let the community center director (note, this author did not say Senior Center Director) plan some creative kids activities.

There is even a special day for the politicians this month:
The Big Whopper Liary Day (20th). Which Follows National Talk like a Pirate Day (19th). And of course, what does a pirate do but plunder your riches to spend elsewhere (Sounds like taxes doesn't it?!)

The National Hug a Vegitarian Day should also be celebrated. Maybe we could have a big group hug at the end of a long productive fun day of meeting, greeting, crafting, petting and reading. The largest hug in NM. Sounds like a good way to begin bringing in outside money (you know, economic development!)

Some Other Days:

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/childps/planner/index.cfm

This next link is to the all important Salami day.
http://www.salamiday.com/

Constitution Day
http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/

Help a Soldier

Do you want to help a soldier who is serving? Not sure who to send a package to or what they need?

Try these links to see if they help:

www.operationmilitarysupport.com

www.anysoldier.com

www.treatanysoldier.com

Congratulations

The Village Vet is celebrating an important date this month. According to their sign out front they have been in business for a mighty long time. Good for them.

Labor Day

Where better to learn about Labor Day than at the Department of Labor website?

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Wouldn't it be fun if we still had a Labor Day like this?

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday.

http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm