52 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
52 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: The good and bad of Los Alamos
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description: The first letter I collected. I felt it needed to be preserved forever.
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---
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*This was published as a [letter to the Editor of the Los Alamos Monitor](http://www.lamonitor.com/content/good-and-bad-los-alamos)*
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November 5, 2008
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Dear Editor,
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Today I got a good look at what is right and what is wrong with Los
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Alamos. After delaying for months, I got up this morning determined to
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have my prescribed blood work done.
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I'm always grumpy when I haven't eaten for eight hours, so I was just
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barely maintaining my civility when I walked into the Medical Center. I
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had forgotten that it was Halloween. My mood was not improved by the
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long line at the registration desk. When I saw the cause I was really
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annoyed. The staff could hardly keep their minds on their work because
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they were celebrating the day.
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Now, I don't mind a pumpkin or two or some black cats, but the whole
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intake area was decorated to the nines and all personnel were wearing
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costumes --- elaborate, commercial costumes. I assume they were
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rented. The whole charade was continued at the laboratory --- more
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over-the-top decorations and commercial costumes. I believe the
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expenditure of time, effort and money could have been put to far better
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use than that of enabling a group of adults to dress up in silly
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costumes and act like children.
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After that ordeal was over I went to McDonald's and had a good breakfast
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for four dollars. The change from the five went into the Ronald McDonald
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House donation box. That is something right.
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Next I went to the library, a place I find compatible and stimulating.
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Now, however, I was assaulted by the sight of the county's latest
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boondoggle and eyesore --- the skate park. One argument for putting it
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in front of the library was that the police could keep an eye on it.
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Well, it was eleven o'clock on a Friday morning and there were several
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school-age boys using the ramps. Where were the police?
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After that I returned home to White Rock, stopping off at the Jemez
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House Thrift Store. I found a great Christmas gift for a quarter, but
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while I was paying for it I got into conversation with the knowledgeable
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volunteer behind the counter. She told me about the nine young people
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the thrift store is supporting in their secondary school and college
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careers. I had a dollar in my hand and I told her put the change in the
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till. Again, that is something right.
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— Los Alamos
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