Voting nightmare

Editor: 

Rio Rancho’s voting program had all the efficiency of a well-oiled rock.  Media say the wait was three hours -- actually it was more like four-and-a-half hours.  We had to finally give in to our ancient legs and go back home without being able to vote. The turnout was “unexpected” and now there’s a statement that needs alignment n- it is out of balance with the rest of the country. All states reported record turnouts, but New Mexico, in particular Rio Rancho, sat on their thinking hats and decided no one in this city would really be interested in voting due to the lethargy displayed in past elections, not to mention that it’s cold outside.

    So, the voters wound up at Rio Rancho High School, in vast numbers, to a voting area similar to a phone booth on a college campus. 

Bob Harpley

Rio Rancho

Rain water rebates?

Editor:

I’m just wondering why Albuquerque residents enjoy rain-barrel rebates on their water bills for $25 to $150, depending on the amount of water storage, in gallons, they purchase and install.

I can only assume our City of Vision is not overly concerned with water harvesting.  I have met and discussed this with my council representative over a year ago; alas, no response.

I would like to point out that my 2,500 square feet of roof, patio, and garage over the past five years has produced close to 80,000 gallons of rain water. I can store nearly 1,800 gallons, and my roof produces 1,500 gallons per inch of rain. 

Will Rio Rancho ever rebate rain barrels and work at saving our aquafer for drinking instead of irrigation? 

Rob Roman

Rio Rancho

City need good wireless service

Editor:

    I read Gordon Logan’s letter (Jan. 27) about Azulstar. It reminded me of the frustration I had as a customer of Azulstar.

    Initially, Azulstar could not provide service in my area. My neighborhood wasn’t in one of the “cherry picked” areas that they wanted to serve. After some negotiation, Azulstar finally installed limited service in June 2005. It was up, it was down, it was slow. On occasion, my signal would be fairly dependable for a few weeks. Then, dropped signals, no signal, low speed, no Internet connection and no email for days on end.

I made calls to Azulstar’s local office — lots of calls. Technical support was hit and miss. Some calls simply went unanswered until I called their corporate offices in Michigan.  

    In May 2007, I cancelled my subscription with Azulstar. They just couldn’t relate with “customer service.” There was none.

    The city doesn’t seem to have fared any better. Contract requirements were overlooked. All Azulstar equipment should have been removed from city property by Dec. 31, 2007. It’s still hanging on the light poles. More promises, and still no service.

    What is the city expecting from Azulstar? They proved, from the day they began in Rio Rancho to today, that they cannot provide a dependable city-wide wireless system. What is RR waiting for?

It’s time to get on with it and find a company that is willing and able to provide the wireless service that the residents and businesses of Rio Rancho deserve. Require the system to cover all of Rio Rancho, not just a few neighborhoods with lots of customers. Design it so customers don’t have to purchase expensive radio receivers to overcome an insufficient signal that won’t penetrate a stucco wall. Design it so we don’t have little antennas hanging on light poles every 600 feet. And, please Rio Rancho, no more 25-year contracts with no oversight of performance.

Dave Bagley

Rio Rancho

Vegan diet warning

Editor:

I encourage anyone considering going vegan (“Health,” Feb. 3) to first read “An Omnivore’s Dilemma”, which explores the pros and cons of eating vegetarian.

 Contrary to assertions that legumes are a viable source of protein, these contain crude proteins that are hard for some individuals to digest and assimilate, as indicated by the digestive upsets that legumes are infamous for causing.  They also have a sky-high glycemic index, or sugar content, and can deliver a major blow to individuals with low blood sugar or low blood sugar-related illnesses, such as fibromyalgia or a propensity for migraines.

 I have a friend who is a long-term, absolute vegan.  She shows every evidence of protein-catasis: Her body is, quite literally consuming itself to find proteins for fuel.  She is skin and bones, her hair has begun to fall out and major illness is likely not far off, even as her friends, family and doctor plead with her to eat some form of usable protein. 

Nor is a vegan diet necessarily a blow against obesity.  Too many vegetarians rapidly become “carboholics” with all of the problems associated with eating too many carbohydrates, including obesity, diabetes and a wide range of estrogen-related health problems, including cancer, that can come with consuming high-sugar diets, since sugars in most forms are estrogen imitators.

 There are moral and health reasons to eat meat in moderation and to assure that animals receive the best possible care while alive by buying only organic meats, since animals raised in this manner cannot be subjected to the abuses and stresses that non-organic animals, fed antibiotics to keep them well, are subjected to. 

Some companies even guarantee humane slaughter practices and humane methods for providing eggs and dairy products, or these can be purchased from local sources that welcome consumers to view their facilities.  But humans, who are omnivores by every definition, would do well to be cautious of a vegan diet or use it only in moderation.

Kathleene Parker

Rio Rancho