Cinco cervezas, cinco tacos, Cinco de Mayo

Roadrunner

He's just scrounged for some breakfast, flew about as high as one of these creatures can fly, and perched on a fence at the University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course.  Hope he wasn't watching me play golf today!

It's springtime!

And, he's the State Bird of New Mexico.   

I don't know if his name is Dusty!

Preparing for the worst

This isn't about politics - and it's kind of a throwback to previous posts.

In the neighborhood of Albuquerque International Sunport recently, I couldn't help but notice these monsters

This is what their tail looks like

And this is the whole enchilada.

The 10 Tanker Air Carrier family has grown from a single re-purposed DC-10. They've gone from the days of passenger or freight hauling around the world - to being a flying fire truck.

Chances are they'll be dispatched all around the country as the winter snow pack melts and the sparks fly.

It could be a long-hot-summer, in more ways than one!

Thursday Bomb

Facebook Clouds

Notice the clouds?

They're floating over a construction site just west of Los Lunas.

Although there is nothing for the unknowing to raise awareness of what's going on down this freshly paved road - just past a manned guard shack - my guess is, it's the new Facebook Data Center.

In the distance can be seen what would appear to be an invasion of earth movers!

And just over the hill, from a vantage point on down the road, signs of things happening.   Piles of stuff.

Here's a Facebook provided photo of what it might look like when finished.

Data center is, in my simple language, "the cloud".

And the big companies - Facebook, Microsoft, Apple, Yahoo - are popping up clouds all around the globe.

One must wonder what is going to be inside that cloud! 

Just yesterday Facebook announced it is building another "cloud" near Omaha.  

Here's more about that plant.

This could be the start of something big.

Lots of construction jobs.  I've heard of at least one electrician who has been working in the Albuquerque area that recently was hired by a subcontractor on the Facebook job - for good money.

Not many permanent employees when construction is finished - but...

As the housing development across the street says

Windmills

While driving down the street one day (US 60 headed east out of Belen) I spotted this...

Then there were 2 - Mountainair

Then there were dozens - Willard

Then there was the time gone by

And this is what it was-

High Lonesome Wind Ranch on the Mesa de los Jumanos 

Here's more from "the net"

Energy for all!

Good for you, New Mexico!

Estancia Happenings FC

On the road, again...driving through Estancia, New Mexico - a once bustling 'burb that had a terrific eating place worth the drive - until it burned down.

Now, the biggest thing is the Torrance County Detention Facility just out of town.

Problems ahead!    Whoa....this can't be good!

And, following the Road Closed direction, through a windy (windy=twisty - not as in the blowing scenery of a March day) town street is found this sign:

What do you mean, a highway blocked off is a "Special Event".

Sounds suspicious!

Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the main drag through downtown Estancia had been taken over by long necked creatures...

 The New Mexico Film Office Announces “Fast Color” to film in New Mexico 

SANTA FE — New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that the independent feature “Fast Color” produced by LD Entertainment will begin principal photography mid-March thru mid-April in Albuquerque. 

The production will employ approximately 100 New Mexico crew members, 5-7 New Mexico principal actors and over 300 New Mexico background talent. 

The independent feature is directed by Julia Hart (“Miss Stevens”) and produced by Mickey Liddell (“Jackie,” “Anthropoid,” “Risen,” and upcoming 2017 release “Megan Leavey”), Pete Shilaimon (“Anthropoid,” “Risen” and upcoming 2017 release “Megan Leavey”) and Jordan Horowitz (“La La Land,” “Miss Stevens,” “The Kids Are All Right”). 

“Our film ‘Fast Color’ is the perfect vehicle to showcase the majestic landscapes and the abundance of unique locations here in New Mexico.  We are excited to work with the deep and talented artisans and technicians of the New Mexico film community, and we appreciate the partnership with the New Mexico State Film Office,” said producer Pete Shilaimon. “We look forward to building a relationship for this and hopefully more movies to come.”

Starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Miss Sloane,” “Free State of Jones,” “Concussion”), “Fast Color” is the story of a young woman forced to go on the run when her superhuman abilities are discovered. Years after having abandoned her family, the only place she has left to hide is home.

Friends, this is economic development that is working, and putting people to work, economic development that is paying off!  Keep it going, New Mexico!