February jobs report shows the economy added 236,000 jobs, bringing the unemployment rate to 7.7 percent.

New Mexico senate has voted to cut taxes on microbreweries.

Russian scientists claim the discovery of a new type of bacterial life in water from an Antarctic lake.

Accused Aurora shooter James Holmes expected to enter a plea next week, after his legal team lost an attempt to challenge the constitutionality of Colorado laws governing mental health defenses.

Some progress seen in the fight against childhood obesity.

Albuquerque bail bond company apologizes to a terrified family after bounty hunters accidentally swarmed their home looking for a bail jumper.

The "thong bandit" is not the name of a SisQo song.

The father of a Rio Rancho Middle School student says his daughter's substitute teacher hit her on the head with a pen.

Regional Vocabulary.

• aurora shooting
• jobs
• unemployment
• taxes
• obesity

Ambulance joyride.

Taxi getaway car.

Choked with dreadlocks.

Tragic escalator accident.

David Bowie announces new album, etc.

Stone breasts survive lightning strike.

Then vs. Now.

Time to shoot an ibex.

Goodbye, HP jobs.

Happy birthday Wilkie Collins.

Thanks to Plant and Maliskas for the help!

U.S. Olympians had a record-setting day with Gabby Douglas becoming the first African American to win the women’s gymnastics all-around and Michael Phelps three-peating gold in the 200-meter individual medley.

Oh, and the men’s bball team put up an Olympic-best 156 points against Nigeria. That still doesn’t answer my question as to why we haven’t been able to view their games on regular TV.

Not much change in the job market.

Balloon Fiesta vendors are worried about what they say could be price-fixing at this year’s event.

Where Chick-fil-A ranks in terms of major companies with controversial policies.

Speaking of which, today is “National Same Sex Kiss Day at Chick-fil-A.”

Santa Fe bus driver admits to multiple instances of sexual misconduct, but isn’t jailed.

Sexist photography at the Olympics?

French president fulfills his promise of cracking down on the rich.

Wojdan Shaherkani became the first Saudi woman ever to compete in the Olympics.

It’s tax-free weekend in New Mexico.

The worst commercial for ice cream of all time.

Mitt Romney gains the support of what appears to be a hunk of humanoid plastic that calls itself Jenna Jameson.

Proof that Ryan Lochte is the frat-boy version of Jeff Spicoli.

And because you know you need to know, a little more info on “Gangnam Style.”

Japan to go nuclear energy free.

Better buckle up if you’re out cruising today.

Dog kills its Santa Fe owner.

April’s unemployment rate lowest in three years.

Pakistani suicide bomber kills at least 19.

Best closer of all-time may have just suffered a career-ending injury.

A game in which you drink in a tree until you get drunk and fall off the tree is apparently all the rage in New Zealand.

Obama’s attention-seeking college girlfriend dishes on their love life, and on the Prez’ literary smugness.

South African cat survives almost two hours in the washing machine.

Remeber that bear from last week that got shot with a tranquilizer and fell out of a tree? It’s dead.

Inside the mind of bin Laden.

Buy Neil Armstrong’s ’67 Corvette.

The alco-bra. ... Kids these days.

• that would be UN-employment rate... (phil) [ Fri May 4 2012 1:57 PM ]
  
• 8% employment could be awesome (sloppy) [ Fri May 4 2012 3:07 PM ]
  

Man steals school bus, say police, who chase him down I-40 from Grants to Albuquerque.

People want politicians to do something about gas prices, poll says.

BernCo Sheriff Dan Houston gets a vote of no confidence from his deputies.

Los Lunas judge fails alcohol test, steps down.

LSD might help people quit the booze.

Lots of new jobs, but unemployment rate holds steady.

Vogue Italia shoots for ghetto fabulous, rips off regular people, maybe wanders into racist and classist territory.

Banks are foreclosing on many churches now.

NPR fact-checks viral video "Kony 2012," which aims to take down Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony with charges that he kills and rapes children.

Philosophy student at McGill is intentionally homeless.

New iPad not as fast as they say it is.

Coke and Pepsi change their recipes to be less cancerous.

Speaking of soda pop, Blue Sky may owe you a refund for not being made in New Mexico for a few years.

Filmmakers and Sarah Palin talk about the relative truthiness of Game Changer.

Go ahead and blame it on the liberal media to say it, but it appears that people are getting more jobs.

Watch your whip if you go to school in Las Cruces.

Speculations on a potential war between Iran and the U.S.

Drug smuggling into N.M., via airplane.

Komen Foundation restores Planned Parenthood funding.

Shooting yesterday in Walmart parking lot. Here's video.

Despite a common perception of assholishness, Mark Zuckerberg is still the boss.

For those who refer to cops as "pigs."

Possible (dead) chupacabra sighting in San Diego.

Not that anyone's talking about it, but the Superbowl is only two days away ...

"Breaking Bad," shitty 90s video game style.

This whole craze of shit people say: Here are one and two divergent takes on how it's interpreted in Chicago.

• the chupa (Nick Brown) [ Fri Feb 3 2012 11:20 AM ]
  
• Shooting... (m_​​c_​​zero) [ Fri Feb 3 2012 2:41 PM ]
  

Buffalo rampages through Edgewood, N.M.

Former Gov. Gary Johnson ditches the GOP and goes Libertarian in his quest to become president of these United States.

Should be a $4.2 million surplus in the state budget. Gov. Susana Martinez wants to spend it on college prep programs.

Barbie is a hoarder.

Best insta-celebs of the year.

The 10 most absurd quotes about women in 2011.

Apes to video chat on iPads.

Wendy's $16 foie gras burger.

At Vow's Bar in Tokyo patrons are served by real Buddhist monks.

The professional laugher.

http://www.kidopo.com/coloring-pages/occupation/chefs/cook/

My friend has given me a job at his restaurant. He takes me to the kitchen on my first day to introduce me to everyone. I meet a pretty waitress in white who is getting ready at a table. Around the corner everyone else has been lined up. My friend begins the introductions. I extend my hand at the right of the line, but am instructed to start at the left. There is a short Indian woman, a short Hispanic guy I had already met, two Hispanic cooks who spoke no English, and several others. I'm not remembering names. Each rushes off as soon as they shake my hand. Several sit at a break table playing a video game, with the screen up on the wall. The game allows you to pick a song and make the figures on the screen do funny dances to it. They are also able to dress the figures in different ethnic costumes from around the world.

The extremely photogenic Van Jones

Unemployment, the economy and budget cuts can be boring topics, but once you start paying attention, they're scarier than that time you watched The Shining late at night, alone. Instead of cowering in fear of a federal ax hacking away at social programs, the American Dream Movement will rally at Civic Plaza today from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The American Dream Movement, a progressive response to the Tea Party, includes MoveOn.org and 30 other organizations. It’s mission is to create economic justice for veterans, students and others in need. The movement grew out of the turmoil in Wisconsin and was named by Van Jones, who was the green jobs adviser to the White House in 2009. The debt ceiling deal and cuts to Medicare, education and transportation spurred a recent round of demonstrations.

“The priorities are upside down,” says Margo Morado, the council coordinator for the Albuquerque chapter of MoveOn.org, “Taxes have not been raised, and the cuts are going to affect the poor, elderly and disabled the most.”

Albuquerque's rally is one of 254 nationwide taking place today. Morado says 200 people have signed up, and she estimates an attendance of 250 to 400 participants. The demonstration will feature a reading of “A Contract for the American Dream,” a plan to get the economy back on track based on ideas from 131,203 people. The 10-point proposal was developed through online forums and house meetings.

Democratic state Sens. Eric Griego, Jerry Ortiz y Pino (an Alibi columnist) and state Rep. Antonio “Moe” Maestas will speak in support of job creation and halts on spending cuts. In addition to policy discussions, the rally will also include poets, music from the Route 66 Revelers and a flash mob.

• jobs
• economy
• protest

• Van Jones: George Soros's monkey (desertbunny) [ Thu Aug 11 2011 8:07 AM ]
  

 

And here we thought all the eco-business was going to go the way of Martin Chavez-head bus decals when our former flashy mayor left his post to Richard Berry.

But Albuquerque is No. 10 on a 24/7 Wall St. list of the cities with the fastest growing green jobs. (Knoxville, Tenn., is No. 1.) From the article:

10. Albuquerque, NM

• Green Job Growth Rate: 7.8% per year

• No. of Green Jobs in 2010: 9,912

• Current Unemployment: 6.8%

• Peak Unemployment: 9.4% (July 2010)

• State Unemployment: 6.9% (14th lowest)

Albuquerque has emerged as a major center for companies that use green technologies as well as large manufacturers of green technologies, such as Advent Solar and Schott AG. Last year, “The EPA awarded $49,000 to the Earth Works Institute and the Gila Resources Information Project towards the employment of New Mexico high school students in green jobs,” reports New Mexico news station KRQE.

Unemployment is now two and a half percentage points lower than it was at the city’s peak, only one year ago.

Need a job? The city needs bus drivers.

A teen with a machete gets the Taser treatment from APD.

A lawyer in Mississippi was thrown in jail for not saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

Year 10 of war in Afghanistan.

Soldiers and scientists may have figured out what's killing the honeybees.

A bill to help banks snuck through the Senate with no debate.

Very thin women make way more money.

Why does everyone hate the weather so much?

A Pakistani diplomat says President Obama exaggerated the terror threat to Europe.

Hispanics will likely vote Democrat this year.

Forbes named the first lady the most powerful woman in the world.

Toxic red sludge reached the mighty Danube in Hungary.

Westerly weed.

Got to read books by Mario Vargas Llosa. He just won the Nobel for literature.

 

Is the economy improving, or isn't it? Numbers and predictions are being thrown around like aimless pebbles, and millions of Americans are still without jobs. To remedy the situation, the U.S. Census Beureau is holding a job fair at the John Marshall Center (1500 Walter SE) today from 9 a.m to 4 p.m. A variety of full- and part-time positions promise to be available to hundreds of thousands of people, boasting great pay and flexible scheduling. After all, those bills are doing a pretty crappy job of paying themselves. For more information, visit 2010censusjobs.gov or call 1-866-861-2010

I want to read this.

Since age 16 I’ve had many different jobs:

• First I worked at a small coffee shop.

• Then I worked at a pharmacy mailing pills to rural areas, and delivering them to mental institutions and old folks homes.

• During my freshman year of college I worked at the Fine Arts Library—at once the best and most difficult job I’ve had. The pros were that I got to look at rare books and check out records from their collection of more than 16,000 LPs. The con was that I had to shelve carts and carts of books and it was hard to stay focused and not look at them, especially when hidden in the stacks.

• Next I worked at a series of restaurants: a fry fest known as BG’s Old Tyme Deli in Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Cafe Broadway here in town; and, (shudder) The Olive Garden. Every night after working at the Olive Garden I would eat a kid’s portion of some crappy pasta, drink cheap red wine, listen to KUNM and hate myself.

• After being fired from the Olive Garden for insisting on going home for the holidays, I got a receptionist job at the Architecture school.

• Then I was employed as a receptionist at the Weekly Alibi. I was fired for reasons still beyond me.

• Accidentally, I got a job as a student reporter at KUNM where I spent almost three years, also working as a music assistant.

• Finally I fell back into the loving newspaper arms of the Alibi.

Sadly, I’ve never known retail.

Once I tried to get a job at Birdland but they wouldn’t hire me because I had no retail experience, and probably figured I was too dumb to learn how to sell pipes and black light posters. Another time I tried to get a job at Bow Wow Records. They had me fill out a questionnaire where you listed favorite and least favorite bands. I wrote that Skrewdriver was my least favorite band. They never called me back. Because I wasn’t cool enough, I assume.

I wonder what my next job will be. Snooty academic sounds cool, but I also sort of just want to make soup and draw toons. These days, though, I’m thankful I have a job. The U.S. unemployment and underemployment rate is currently at a lame 17 percent.

• Snooty Academic (DarcyBennet) [ Fri Jan 22 2010 3:22 PM ]
  
• Birdland (babyfishmouth) [ Sat Jan 23 2010 11:08 AM ]
  
• stupid things i've said during interviews (Greenley) [ Sat Jan 23 2010 7:17 PM ]
  

 

Coffee, three eggs over-medium and bacon; hangover recovery process is in full swing. Question: Where have all the film jobs gone? Answer: Michigan, Louisiana, Georgia, Iowa; and then, if we’re lucky, New Mexico.

Has it always been this way? Actually, no. Used to be outside of New York and L.A. the jobs were in Louisiana, Connecticut and New Mexico, and in that order too. No lie, I kid you not.

Is there light at this abysmally dark tunnel? Actually, yes. Iowa recently made the news when their Governor, Chet Culver, recently nixed the film incentive program there. Bringing New Mexico up to fourth outside of New York and L.A., A bitter sweet victory for us considering we used to be third and it took a whole lot of bungling and corruption by the Iowa Film Office (which is currently under investigation) to pull us out of fifth place.

How do I know this? Well, I called Chet Culver’s office and spoke with a very nice lady who sadly confirmed that their film office is under investigation and that the Iowa Film incentive program is temporarily suspended. Unfortunately she could not define how long temporarily meant. Bad news for them, good news for us; sadly, I feel for them. The Hollywood Machine is a daunting business for anyone to comprehend let alone deal with effectively.

Any other good news out there? Again the answer is yes. Michigan is looking at reducing their incentive program from a 42 percent refund to an undisclosed amount. A big deal considering in 2008 they had 28 films shot there, one of those films being Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino. Hella good movie by the way.

But who is the dark that is not making the news and why? Georgia is going strong and offering a combined 30 percent state income tax credit and also offering a pass on sales tax that saves the productions that go there up to 8 percent in addition.

Is Georgia truly that competitive with New Mexico? Sadly, yes. One of the biggest movies that is coming here is spreading its locations around and looks to only be here for a couple of weeks before packing up and heading off to Georgia for the remainder and the majority of its shooting schedule.

Is this good or bad? Answer, hard to say. If the production decides to keep the majority of its crew that it hires here and take them all to Georgia this could be great. If not, our boys and girls who so hard to do what they do will have to fend for themselves until they get another job. Thankfully, more than one movie is expected to head our way because of the fallout from Iowa.

So what is our overall prognosis as a state? Not so great but we’re getting better.

Reporting from the Sunshine Café, this is Hoot Smalley. See you all at the Marble Brewery; they open at 3 pm on the weekdays.