In the Alibi that’s on stands, Contributor Margaret Wright wrote an article on polarized reactions to the repeal of Albuquerque’s building standards.

The debate was repeated throughout New Mexico in 2011 as construction and real estate folks attempted to lower stringent regulations. They argued that tough rules drive business away and result in fewer jobs. Our Republican leadership mostly agreed and helped usher in repeals of various environmental protections.

But as a September New York Times article tells us, there is nothing new about this ideological conflict. It happens regularly around the country. An MIT economist quoted in the report talks about the “Groundhog’s Day quality” of the argument. He’s actually measured job loss as it relates to environmental regs. Turns out, it’s a tricky thing to study.

Local credit unions see lots of new accounts after Bank Transfer Day.

The city of Farmington tries to assure Navajos that the city is a safe place for them to visit.

N.M. rattlers provide venom for cancer treatment.

Perry screws up. Big time.

A 70-year-old machine gun that still works.

Dude surfs a 90-foot wave.

Someone stole a ghost bike.

A trailer park in Tesuque Pueblo is demanding proof of citizenship from renters.

Unseen photos of Marilyn Monroe.

Caviar lipstick.

Police beat protesters with clubs at Occupy demonstration at UC Berkeley.

Penn State students riot over the firing of their football coach, who is accused of covering up his assistant coach's child molestation.

There are no more rhinos in West Africa.

Ex-banker takes over Greece.

California had a law against euthanizing "downer" animals. The Supreme Court overturned that law.

Why is gold our basis for money and not something else?

The Leila texts.

Rescue crews can't find a man pulled into a turbulent arroyo.

A meteor above Burque.

Some health care reform starts today.

Santa Fe's got bedbugs. And so does Albuquerque.

Sure. Blame it on a mockumentary, Joaquin Phoenix.

Blockbuster is dying. Netflix wins.

Ay. "The party of stop."

Obama asks Arab nations for peace.

Fancy people put booze in their fruit, too. (Not so much Everclear, though.)

A new dinosaur. Maybe even better than stegosaurus.

The richest people got 8 percent richer this year. What recession? Oh wait ...

The Senate fails to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

President Obama's top economic advisor is quitting.

Someone from a Georgia Republican Senator's office posted some homophobic comments on a gay rights blog.

The world's oldest man is 114.

The best headline I've ever read: Axe-Wielding Ninja Robs Jewelry Store

Is New Mexico's recession over yet?

Denver Broncos rookie Kenny McKinley kills himself.

Governor Richardson is selling his junk.

Did you miss the big fight behind the bleachers? Watch it on Youtube.

Four-year-old finds a used condom in a hotel room, now has herpes.

Megachurch Bishop ironically accused of coercing young men into sex.

Twelve-year-old killed by train because his iPod was too loud.

(HOORAY?) The newest Vatican scandal doesn't involve pedophiles.

Steve Wiebe reclaims the world record Donkey Kong high score.

Egyptian newspaper photoshop fail.

Lil Wayne's classy new album has a classy song called Gonorrhea.

By the time hipsters bring designer milk to Albuquerque, it will be out of style.

My neighbor may be an asshole with a dog that never stops barking, but that doesn't make him a terrorist.

Fossil treasure trove discovered in California.

The Mars rover finds a meteorite.

Newspaper in Minnesota publishes a racist joke.

What do you think of Burger King's new breakfast items?

Someone cracked the DRM that protects Blueray, HDMI and HD transmission video. What does that mean for your pirate friends?

It's National Bourbon Heritage Month. Are we drunk yet?

Happy birthday Michael Faraday!!!

In an attempt to rein in expenses after the unfortunate loss of my job, (I believe it was captured by hack pirates in choppy waters off of the Rio Abajo.) I switched medications.

The pill I usually take to fend off unpleasant thoughts regarding the amount of perceived bodily fluids in my Hot Pockets doesn’t work well anyway and costs $120 a bottle without insurance.

My sanity is not worth that much, so I began dating the older sister of my usual pill, a bargain at four dollars a bottle. The new pill made me feel both tired and nervous, two unpleasant sensations now available at the same time.

I tried cutting the pills in half and now seem to be half as nervous and 63 percent less tired (this amount of self analysis is exhausting, by the way.) The only problem: being too tired to think did prevent any invasive thoughts about theoretical fluids being present in frozen foods or condiments. That’s back. Yay.

If only I could start smoking again. I never had any of these problems when I sucked down 33 Marlboros a day. My clothes had holes burned all over them and there was that pesky lesion in the back of my throat, but no fluids.
Smoking is not an option, however. At seven dollars per pack, two packs a day, I would have to resort to petty theft to get my smoke on. This would undoubtedly lead to prison, where they would give me the generic sister of my crazy pills. The net result would be the same except the fluids in the food would be quite real.

Manzano High girl dies after falling from top of moving car. Her brother died this summer.

Multiple coordinated attacks kill dozens in Pakistan.

New Chief of Public Behavior (or something) Darren White talks about illegal immigrants and arrests.

Captain Lou Albano died. Today I wear the official rubber bands of mourning.

Gold Street Caffe burglar caught on camera. Let's find him, sleuths!

Seventy-nine metro areas out of recession. We're not one of them.

Tina Fey made the bold choice to not entice anyone into having sex with her until she was 24 and met her husband. Saving the goodies.

Painting bought for $19,000 turns out to be a da Vinci, worth $150 million.

Can politicians have interracial marriages? So weird.

It's Penny Marshall's birthday.