MitchHellman

Silver City, NM

EcoNew Mexico plans local workshop

Apparently you've got a short memory. Wasn't it you who saidYou asked, I answered. That's why I went into such detail about what I can and can't do as an editor. No, I did not call the readers "idiots. " What I said wasThat statement indicated the *ability* of idiots to post anything they want because of the way Topix handles commenters. That does not indicate that I am calling anybody an idiot-- I was speaking hypotheticallyReal ly? Which ones have disappeared? You *do* realize that only the threads that have the most recently-entered comments are the ones that appear, don't you? And that you can access *all* the threads by clicking on the "Click for more" link at the bottom of the list? As of this writing, there are 817 different threads available-- including ones entitled "22-year veteran is new Grant County undersheriff" and "Silver City Police arrest man for possession of cocaine" (which happens to contain a comment from you in it). These threads are far from complimentary to local law enforcement, yet they, and others like them, are still available.  (Thursday Nov 12 | post #19)

Silver City, NM

EcoNew Mexico plans local workshop

Why not? Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Jon Stewart and Rachel Maddow certainly pick and choose what they wish to discuss from the news of the day and express their opinions to the fullest. Let me remind you that I only pick the news articles, not the the comments. I'd be interested in hearing about any article that doesn't appear here and why you think it should. To the best of my knowledge I have never rejected an article based on whether or not I agreed with it. Similarly, I have seldom rejected flyers posted in my store windows unless they are such that I risk losing a lot of my customers by posting them (or risk having a rock thrown through the window, which has already happened three times since I first openedHere's a link to the discussion. Note that the link may not display in its entirety, but it should work OK anyway: http://www.topix.c om/city/silver-cit y-nm/2009/08/silve r-city-doctor-face s-ethics-violation -2I *was* interested. Am I somehow required to respond to *everything* you post? And why do you assume that I am unaware of these things? I first visited Silver City in 1997, with additional trips in 2000, 2001, and 2002 before moving here for good early in 2003. I've already invested more of my time and money and given more back to the community than many long-time residents... so at what point do I stop being a newcomer (according to *you*, anyway)?  (Wednesday Nov 11 | post #17)

Silver City, NM

EcoNew Mexico plans local workshop

There are a lot of misunderstandings about my position as a Topix editor. First: it is a volunteer position. I am not compensated in any way. Basically my work is this: Topix lists out for me all the articles it has found that it thinks may be relevant to Silver City, and I post the ones that I think are relevant. There are several other places in the world named "Silver City" including one near Taunton, MA, one in Idaho, one in Nevada, one in Australia, etc. and I screen those out if the Topix engine didn't do so. I also *add* articles that Topix didn't find. For example, Topix doesn't do a good job of picking up articles from the Silver City Daily Press, so I check each day's online edition of the SCDP and add them as appropriate. I also get a 'clipping service' generated by Yahoo! which sends me summaries of articles *it* finds and I add to the Silver City stream anything that it turns up that isn't already there. When somebody reads a particular article on Topix, they have the ability to comment on it. Also, when somebody reads an article online on the Silver City Sun-News website and wishes to comment, his/her comments appear on *Topix* rather than on the Sun-News website. The editing job I do only involves choosing the *articles* that appear under Local News for Silver City in Topix. I have absolutely no control over what appears in the Comments associated with any particular article. When I post something in in the Comments, it is solely my opinion and is not in any way associated with either Topix or the Sun-News. The problem *I* have with the Comments is that anybody can leave one without having to authenticate themselves in any way. You can leave a comment under any name, including someone else's, and you don't have to leave a valid e-mail address. What this has meant is that any idiot who wants to do so can say whatever nonsense he feels like, whether it's true or not, with little fear of repercussions. I have tried to present the facts when someone has clearly shown that they were misinformed, but all-in-all I don't take this stuff seriously. I have no idea why you are unable to get into the Comments section related to Dr. Sparks. I suggest that you go to http://www.topix.c om (rather than to the Sun-News website) set yourself up with a signon if you have not doe so already, indicate in the settings that your local area is Silver City, then look for the discussion there. Thanks for your interest.  (Wednesday Nov 11 | post #15)

Silver City, NM

EcoNew Mexico plans local workshop

I want to make sure that everybody understands that I was being facetious when I wrote the above. I strongly believe that tourism is essential to the economic well-being of our area. We have at best 20 years of mining left before we're played out, and farming and ranching barely supports the farmers and ranchers. As I've been saying for some time, you don't have to look very far to see what happens to a town that didn't have a Plan B. I operate a business that is in demand by both tourists and local alike. I'm open seven days a week, and seven *nights* a week, too. And I'm not alone; Silver City MainStreet recently distributed a flyer that lists 32 downtown businesses that are open on Sunday. It's not easy for a business to do this, especially if it's a small family-owned one... but I find that it's worth doing. What burns me up is that our Chamber of Commerce can't seem to find consistent volunteers to keep the Visitor Center open on Sundays. It's especially bad when tourists come over from Arizona during Daylight Savings Time; Arizona doesn't follow DST, so when they cross the border into NM, it's an hour later than they thought-- and most of those businesses they were counting on are already closed. At any rate, if you believe, as I do, that tourism in general and eco-tourism in particular is has the potential to be a useful revenue source for our area, then you should attend the workshop mentioned in the original article... and if you're disturbed/concerne d/scared by the prospect of more people coming to see what we have to offer, you should attend as well so that your voice is heard.  (Saturday Nov 7 | post #13)

Silver City, NM

EcoNew Mexico plans local workshop

Don't like the Wikipedia definition of eco-tourism? OK-- provide a definition of socialism and explain how it is any way relevant to the original topic of this thread.  (Friday Nov 6 | post #10)

Silver City, NM

EcoNew Mexico plans local workshop

That's only half of it. Those folks are also against them damn tourists coming into the area and spending money at local businesses and paying lodger's taxes.  (Thursday Nov 5 | post #8)

Silver City, NM

EcoNew Mexico plans local workshop

Here is a definition of eco-tourism, as shown in the WikiPedia entry on the subject  (Thursday Nov 5 | post #6)

Silver City, NM

EcoNew Mexico plans local workshop

Well, that's a little more coherent, anyway. What I question is the contention that eco-tourism causes irreparable destruction. I'd be curious to read any supporting info; it's my understanding that eco-tourists actively seek opportunities to visit places and carry on activities in such a manner that they have little or no impact on the environment-- that's the point.  (Thursday Nov 5 | post #5)

Silver City, NM

EcoNew Mexico plans local workshop

I think you may have missed a few steps there. Would you care to explain how a workshop on ecotourism leads to laziness, welfare and food stamps? I'm sure it makes perfect sense to *you*, but the rest of us may need a little guidance.  (Wednesday Nov 4 | post #3)

Silver City, NM

Small cafe a big hit

As Johnny Carson used to say: "Wrong again, Buffalo Breath!" I'm not sure what you meant by my name suggesting that I am a Democrat, but stop by some time and I'll show you on my voter registration where it shows that I'm neither a Democrat or a Republican. Also, you missed my correct age by about a quarter of a century. You're just shooting in the dark, which is funny considering that I am known to about half of the people in this town. As for throwing stones, all I did was prove that the facts behind your opinion were either faulty or non-existent. You are entitled to your opinion-- and I'm entitled to prove that you're wrong. If you run off at the mouth, you should expect somebody to call you on it; this time it was my turn, and I must say that it's been fun.  (Monday Nov 2 | post #10)

Silver City, NM

Small cafe a big hit

(The system truncated my response above. Here it is in its entiretyI don't consider you a lesser person-- but apparently you consider yourself one. As Eleanor Roosevelt said: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consentExactly what did he do? I already pointed out that he has not been involved in the hospitality business for several years, so he would have no personal interest in doing anything like what you allege. Second: to my knowledge, the company behind Sky Max did not approach Silver City. Third: even if they *had* been interested in setting up in Silver City, there is no way that the town council could stop them from doing so (provided they obeyed zoning regs, etc.). Fourth: Trans-Lux, the company that *was* interested in setting up in Silver City (and is not connected in any way to Sky Max) has sold out all of their entertainment investments, according to the press release I mentioned in my previous messageThe answer to that is so simple, I'm surprised you didn't think of it: when you're short on cash, you do whatever is necessary to get some, even if it means cutting prices. Not that it matters what they do-- they're legally in bankruptcy and the article I mentioned proves it beyond a doubtWhat could possibly have caused you to include mention of the First Amendment? It applies only to the federal government-- not to individuals, corporate entities, newspapers, online forums, or anything else. Here it is in its entiretyAs I said in my first message, you don't know what you're talking about-- and you keep proving it again and again. Come back when you have some provable facts, not unsubstantiated rumors about Mr. May. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if he went after you for libel-- then you'll find out that free speech has its limits. Quoting from the Wikipedia entry on DefamationOne last thing: notice how I was able to respond to you without the childish name-calling that you use?  (Monday Nov 2 | post #7)

Silver City, NM

Small cafe a big hit

I don't consider you a lesser person-- but apparently you consider yourself one. As Eleanor Roosevelt said: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent  (Monday Nov 2 | post #6)

Silver City, NM

Small cafe a big hit

Elkstine, if you actually knew what you were talking about, I might take you seriously. Your one redeeming characteristic is that when someone challenges you here you usually slink away without responding. So, let's look at some facts: 1. Flying J, the company that you mention so favorably, is bankrupt. See: http://www.sltrib. com/business/ci_13 016785. 2. To my knowledge, Mr. May hasn't been associated with the Red Barn for close to ten years. Last I heard, he was working for Border Area Mental Health Services after selling the Adobe Springs Cafe more than two years ago. 3. Trans-Lux, the company that was planning on opening the movie theatre, has sold off *all* their theatres in order to concentrate on their core business-- the design and manufacture of LED display systems. They offered the site in Silver City for sale, but I don't think anybody was interested. See: http://www.trans-l ux.com/press_relea ses/pr_07_11_08.ht m 4. The story that Mr. May somehow prevented the theatre or a bowling alley or a restaurant is BS, pure and simple. In particular, the restaurant rumor has been circulating for some time. The simple fact of the matter is that we haven't got a Denny's or Applebee's in Silver City because there isn't enough business to support one. Deming has a Denny's, but it's right next to a major Interstate highway... which we don't have. Las Cruces has both a Denny's and an Applebee's, but the town is situated at the intersection of TWO major Interstates and has a population that is nine times the size of Silver. Geez, I'm surprised that you didn't find a way to include your usual complaint about the speed traps on Little Walnut. Have I left anything out?  (Sunday Nov 1 | post #2)

Silver City, NM

Silver City Walmart NOT closing!!!

This was mentioned in the Sun-News and the Deming Headlight several weeks ago.  (Oct 24, 2009 | post #2)

Silver City, NM

Dance performance to mark Mimbres Region Arts Council's 30th an...

Oh, and by the way: I hope you are home-schooling your kids. By your twisted logic, my tax dollars shouldn't support the education of your kids because I don't have any of my own.  (Oct 22, 2009 | post #6)