Wednesday, October 20, 2010

No Virginia, There is no apology... Call this number

Anita Hill or Clarence Thomas?

It seems that Clarence Thomas's wife, Virginia, has the focus today.
Her Husband was confirmed to a United States Supreme Court seat 19 years and a week ago on October 15, 1991.
What I remember from the sensational televised hearings was a pubic hair on a can of Coke, the one with a registered trademark, Anita Hill worked for Clarence Thomas, Clarence Thomas spoke with sexually inappropriate references to Anita Hill, and something about some pornography.
After a while the hearings became tedious to follow. He said and she said...
There was much anticipation of the final vote.
Then it was over.
Now it is back.
News has it that Virginia has called Anita and asked for an apology. Anita called the FBI because she was unsure of the caller.
Who would believe that Virginia Thomas would call and ask for an apology and explanation via phone messaging?
Well there are some seated senators that voted against the confirmation.

Virginia,
Don't stop now.
Call these 15 senators that voted against Clarence Thomas' nomination:

Chris Dodd     D-Connecticut     (860) 258-6940
Joe Lieberman     I-Connecticut     (860) 549-8463
Daniel Akaka     D-Hawaii     (808) 522-8970
Daniel Inouye     D-Hawaii     (808) 935-0844
Tom Harkin     D-Iowa     (202) 224-3254
Barbara Mikulski     D-Maryland     (410) 962-4510
John Kerry     D-Massachusetts     (508) 677-0522
Carl Levin     D-Michigan     (202) 224-6221
Max Baucus     D-Montana     (406) 761-1574
Harry Reid     D-Nevada     (702) 388-5020
Frank Lautenberg     D-New Jersey     (973) 639-8700
Jeff Bingaman     D-New Mexico     (505) 988-6647
Patrick Leahy     D-Vermont     (802) 863-2525
Jay Rockefeller     D-West Virginia     (202) 224-6472
Herb Kohl     D-Wisconsin     (414) 297-4451

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Van Houten Mines


Van Houten was originally developed in 1901 and 1902 by the Raton Coal and Fuel Company.
The mines were then referred to as the Willow Mines.
In 1904 and 1905 the mines were renamed the Van Houten Mines after the company president, J. Van Houten.
In 1907 and 1908, the mines were taken over by the St. Louis Rocky Mountain and Pacific Company.
Kaiser Steel Corporation bought the Van Houten Mines in 1955 and sold the Canyon area to the National Rifle Association in 1974.

A Railroad operated by AT&SF, was completed in November of 1902. Six mines operated periodically from 1901 until 1954.
The coal mined in Van Houten Canyon was bituminous and primarily used for cooking. All mining was done underground.
At it's peak, approximately 1200 persons lived in the canyon.
This marker is dedicated to those who lived and mined in this canyon.
Installed in 1988 by the New Mexico Abandoned Mine Land Bureau.

Friday, October 8, 2010




Thursday, March 13, 2008

On the way back from Raton, New Mexico with my Uncle Joe and Aunt Angie, We stopped in Aguilar, Colorado to visit with Georgia Abeyta. My Grand-Mother is Georgia's God-Mother.

Aunt Angie and I had visited before but this was the first time for Uncle Joe. Well, after 60 years, no introduction was necessary. They spoke of times and people I knew very little or nothing about.

Georgia said she liked going to Grandma's house because the kids could play and nothing would bother grandma. Such was not the case at home.

Uncle Joe said there was a pretty lady at Georgia's home one day. He said he used to peek in her room and talk to her. Uncle Joe asked Georgia "who was that lady?" Georgia immediately knew who she was. The lady had taught Georgia how to sing.

The lady and her family were in Raton to perform. While she was in Raton she stayed at Georgia's home.

The lady's name is Lydia Mendoza.

Lydia Mendoza died last year, December 20. 2007. Georgia showed us the obituary she saved from the newspaper. The clipping stated that she sang at President Carter's Inauguration and was recognized by President Clinton.

In 1982 Lydia Mendoza was recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts with an NEA National Heritage Award. Bill Munroe was also recognized that year. In 1999 she was awarded the National Medal of Arts at a White House ceremony. She shared that stage with Aretha Franklin.

I asked, why did Miss Mendoza stay at with Georgia's family? Georgia said "so nobody would bother her." I did not ask anymore about it, though I did find another answer online at WorshipGuitars.org

She was called "la alondra de la frontera" - the lark of the frontier or "the lark of the border."

Check the links below.