Author Archives: Stephen Spitz

Horrific daily murders are again on the increase in near-by Juarez, Mexico with the recent public assassination of three American counselor employees in broad daylight making national headlines.  In response, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton traveled to Mexico City and again pledged US cooperation in the fight against the Mexican Drug Cartels while Governor Richardson called out the New Mexico National Guard to protect against cross-border violence. But with cheap drugs and entrenched Cartels just across the Rio Grande from the largest and richest drug market in the world is there any realistic hope of winning the drug war and stemming the violence? Alternatively, what are the choices when corruption and intimidation have overwhelmed local, State and National Mexican Governments and violence is already spilling over the border.

Joining host Stephen Spitz to discuss these and other issues is the  reporter based in El Paso-Juarez for NPR’s Latino USA, Monica Ortiz Urribe, and UNM doctoral student Rebeca Jasso Aguilar, whose work in sociology concerns contemporary politician movements in Mexico.

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This month’s guest is Bobby Unser, three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and the older brother of four-time Indy winner, Al Unser, Sr., who founded the Unser Racing Museum in Albuquerque. If you are interested in what it is like to first take the track at Indianapolis at speeds over 200 mph, while the owner of a million-dollar car nervously watches a rookie driver immediately go for top speeds, then you must hear Bobby Unser tell the story of his initial attempts to qualify for the 500. We will also ask Bobby what it is about this family –individually or collectively– that makes it the most successful family in racing if not in all of sports. (Besides Bobby and Al, Al, Jr. has won Indy twice and two other Unser’s have competed seven times in the 500.) Finally, we cover the closest and most controversial 500 in history that came down to a duel between Bobby and fellow racing legend Mario Andretti, which, instead of three hours, took four months to decide. Produced with the assistance of John Burgund.

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Dinosaurs first roamed New Mexico during the Triassic Period around 230 million years ago when this was part of the supercontinent Pangea. Our State continues to be a fertile source of Dinosaur fossils and a recent find of 215-million-year-old fossils near Ghost Ranch made headlines when it clarified questions as to when the major lineages of dinosaurs diverged.  Interestingly, these early, smaller dinosaurs were not the top predator of their time; dinosaurs evolved as dominant only following a mass extinction event at the end of the Triassic Period approximately 200 million years ago. Another mass extinction event, about 65 million years ago, put an end to their reign, opening the door to mammals and thus humans. Much of this history is on display in Albuquerque at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History.

This Friday host Stephen Spitz is joined in the studio by the Museum’s Curator of Geology and Paleontology, Spencer G. Lucas, Ph.D. Please tune in for this fascinating discussion of the history of dinosaurs in New Mexico, with a New Mexican who still spends part of his time hunting for dinosaur bones in a place near to you. 

Produced with the assistance of John Burgund

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If you have ever wondered about the design of that spaceship on Monte Vista Blvd, or that snake-like home in Rio Rancho, this is your chance to find out. Architect Bart Prince joins host Stephen Spitz to explain how his imaginative and innovative ideas along with his clients’ requirements lead him to create such ambitious works. Please tune in for this fascinating discussion with a native New Mexican, who still lives and works in Albuquerque, and who is internationally recognized as one of the America’s most brilliant architects. Produced with the assistance of John Burgund.

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If you have ever wondered about the design of that spaceship on Monte Vista Blvd, or that snake-like home in Rio Rancho, this is your chance to find out. Architect Bart Prince joins host Stephen Spitz to explain how his imaginative and innovative ideas along with his clients’ requirements lead him to create such ambitious works. Please tune in for this fascinating discussion with a native New Mexican, who still lives and works in Albuquerque, and who is internationally recognized as one of the America’s most brilliant architects. Produced with the assistance of John Burgund.

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The art exhibition at the National Hispanic Cultural Center has been extended by popular demand until August 16, 2009 and it is surely one of the most beautiful, original and engaging art displays of the year. The intricate blown glass and “mixed” media works of Jamex and Einar de la Torre address the complex experiences of living in an increasingly global society filled with immigrant and transnational experiences. Their art brings together Mexican figures, dance masks, popular religious icons, skeletons, and tourist kitsch.  The bi-national brothers, who were born in Guadalajara, Mexico, now live on both sides of the border.  Their blown glass has complex visual layers and vibrant colors, along with a political and cultural point of view.

Please join host Stephen Spitz and the de la Torre brothers for a discussion of their witty, unconventional and sometimes confrontational works of art.

Produced with the assistance of Roman Garcia.

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New Mexico’s limited supply of water is deeply problematic. With a fast-growing population and ever present drought, what does New Mexico’s future look like? Our guest today is one of the most prominent water experts in the United States, and the Chair of President Clinton’s Commission on Western Water, UNM law professor Denise Forte. 

Today’s program raises three basic questions: How serious is our current lack of water? How is it that the general public still uses only about 10% of New Mexico’s available water supply? And, can we get to sustainable water use in New Mexico and, if so, how? Please join host Stephen Spitz and UNM Professor Denise Forte for an exploration of these vital issues.

Produced with assistance of Roman Garcia

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Today’s guest is UNM law and American studies Professor Laura Gomez. In her new book, Manifest Destinies, Gomez writes that Mexican-Americans have consistently occupied an ambiguous, “off-white” status in the US since the end of the Mexican American war in 1848.

We will explore what this means for Mexican-Americans both today and in the past. We will then take a hard look at two aspects of New Mexico history highlighted in her book that remain very controversial: (1) Is it a “myth” that New Mexicans can now, or were ever able, trace their ancestry back to Spain, and (2) Were Indian slaves kept by elites in New Mexico, including Mexican-Americans, and what have we recently learned about this dark period of New Mexico history. Please join host Stephen Spitz, and special guest Dr. Laura Gomez to learn much more about her provocative research into New Mexico history.

Produced with the assistance of Sam Irons.

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The Albuquerque Art Museum is presenting a series of three exhibitions covering 300 years of Spanish art timed to coincide with the founding of Albuquerque by the Spanish in 1706.  The curator of these exhibitions, Ellen Landis, and UNM art historian, David Craven, join host Stephen Spitz to discuss the second exhibition, including works by Mariano Fortuny and Pablo Picasso. In addition to assessing the overall significance of the featured artists, the show focuses upon  the relationship of their art to New Mexico and Mexican artists, such as Diego Rivera.

Produced with assistance of Steve Madrid.

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