Algernon D’Ammassa
banner
algernonwrites.bsky.social
Algernon D’Ammassa
@algernonwrites.bsky.social
Journalist in southern New Mexico, writer, retired stage actor, citizen. ABQJournal.com DesertSageNM.substack.com Signal: Algernon.26
Anthony’s new mayor was sworn in tonight, days after hitting back at allegations made by his predecessor.
New Anthony mayor takes oath amid legal dispute with city
At 24, Gabriel Holguin becomes one of NM's youngest mayors days after filing a tort claim hitting back at the prior administration.
www.abqjournal.com
December 27, 2025 at 3:40 AM
A man shot in the back while fleeing a Las Cruces Police Department officer in March has filed suit against the city and the officer who fired upon him.
Man shot while fleeing police files lawsuit against Las Cruces officer
Criminal charges have twice stalled in court, and the man, now 20 years old, claims 'fabricated' testimony was deployed to obscure a wrongful shooting.
www.abqjournal.com
December 27, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Frank Sinatra's father immigrated to the U.S. from Palermo in 1903. Sinatra's mother immigrated from Lumarzo as an infant in 1895. Dean Martin's father immigrated from Montesilvano and his mother was the daughter of an Italian immigrant as well.

At the time, Italian immigrants had low standing.
December 27, 2025 at 12:34 AM
A subject expert presented me with a not-excessively-technical document helpful on a matter related to some reporting I've been doing. Love that.

His instruction was to "run it through ChatGPT for quick analysis."

It's a 13-page policy document. I'll just, you know, read it.
December 26, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Happy Boxing Day, a difficult day for news correspondents who depend on coffee shops for work space.

Our Golden retriever is happy that most of her humans, me excepted, are lazily hanging around the house today.
December 26, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Make a Bond movie casual

Dr. Whatever
Make a Bond Movie casual

No Lime to Pie
Make a Bond movie casual

THE WORLD IS PLENTY, THANK YOU
December 26, 2025 at 6:30 PM
A Modern-Day Visit from Saint Nick. (A Christmas Eve verse, written in 2023, message still applies.)
Wireless Christmas
A Modern-Day Visit from Saint Nick
open.substack.com
December 25, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Project Jupiter developer announces plan to purchase renewable energy. A clean energy expert said the proposal represents a good start, but represents a fraction of what the data center would need.
Project Jupiter developer previews 'Project Green' renewable energy plan
The AI data center in Santa Teresa aims to develop 500 megawatts of renewable energy by 2028 through a 'portfolio-based approach.'
www.abqjournal.com
December 25, 2025 at 2:47 AM
I saw Dezz on stage and met her once, but never worked with her. Many of my local theatre chums are in mourning this week and her family is devastated, naturally. There is a way to help them bring her home and lay her to rest for anyone so inclined.
Las Cruces caregiver shot and killed at work.
Desirae 'Dezz' Martin, 28, was working her shift as a caregiver when she was fatally shot. Her family now seeks help bringing her home to Utah.
www.abqjournal.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Reposted by Algernon D’Ammassa
here's the 60 minutes cecot video part 1 of 5 - recorded/uploaded by and all credit to @jasonparis.bsky.social

I just reduced background noise, chopped the 14 minutes into 3 minute segments each compressed under 100 mb for bsky's limits, cropped and rotated a few degrees for easier viewing on here
December 22, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Reposted by Algernon D’Ammassa
BREAKING: Judge James Boasberg rules for those deported under the Alien Enemies Act on March 15 — certifying a class, finding the U.S. maintained constructive custody over them at CECOT, finding they were not given due process, and ordering return or that such process be given by Jan. 5, 2026.
December 22, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Yes, that is a dog putting their paw on the Bible while their person is sworn into office. Elected officers took their oaths in a county ceremony today.
Doña Ana County swears in new elected officials
Swearing on a Bible is optional, but most still use it
www.abqjournal.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:30 AM
A new book seeks to elevate Diogenes the Cynic as a serious thinker. A WSJ review argues the author is reaching.
‘Diogenes’ Review: A Philosophy of Scandal
Eager to shock, Diogenes hectored refined Athenians in the market square. Plato dubbed him a Socrates gone mad.
www.wsj.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Reposted by Algernon D’Ammassa
In the summer of 1950 most US newspapers ran an AP story about how race had become the main issue in the upcoming Georgia governor's race. Segregationist Herman Tallmadge, governor from '47 to '55 and then a Senator until 1981 made a name for himself by refusing to "apologize for being a white man."
December 21, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Outgoing mayor Diana Murillo announced she had submitted grievances that had been filed by city employees against the city’s elected trustees, including the incoming mayor, to the New Mexico State Ethics Commission and state Department of Justice.
Outgoing Anthony mayor reveals ethics complaints against successor
Diana Murillo's final act as mayor announces employee grievances against incoming mayor Gabriel Holguin handed to Attorney General, state ethics commission.
www.abqjournal.com
December 21, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Outgoing mayor Diana Murillo announced she had submitted grievances that had been filed by city employees against the city’s elected trustees, including the incoming mayor, to the New Mexico State Ethics Commission and state Department of Justice.
Outgoing Anthony mayor reveals ethics complaints against successor
Diana Murillo's final act as mayor announces employee grievances against incoming mayor Gabriel Holguin handed to Attorney General, state ethics commission.
www.abqjournal.com
December 21, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Elephant Butte’s mayor-elect called this “the largest charity event that Sierra County’s ever seen.”
Elephant Butte brings Christmas joy to hundreds at golf resort
Inaugural 'Families Come First' event distributes gifts and $10,000 to Sierra County families in need
www.abqjournal.com
December 21, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Once again, Algernon does not make the list.
New Mexico's favorite baby names revealed: Olivia and Noah top the list
Biblical names dominate for boys while Emma falls off the girls' top 10 for the first time in a decade. Is your baby's name among the most popular?
www.abqjournal.com
December 20, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Reposted by Algernon D’Ammassa
Question: When the head of the DOJ’s Civil Rights division tweets out a false statement about an individual that results in them being barraged with death threats based on their religion and ethnicity, which governmental agency would look into whether that student’s Civil Rights had been infringed?
December 20, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Everyone mad about the Epstein files is getting a taste of what it is like when a reporter waits for a public records request to be filled for several weeks or months only to get something redacted like this.
December 20, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Anyone who has read Tolkien’s letters will know that he is at his funniest when filled with rage, and “The Bovadium Fragments” is a work brimming with Tolkien’s fury—specifically, ire over mankind’s obsession with motor vehicles.
Isengard in Oxford | Los Angeles Review of Books
Christian Kriticos explores J. R. R. Tolkien’s long-lost satire of a motorized world.
lareviewofbooks.org
December 19, 2025 at 7:01 AM
At this rate, she’s going to get a book deal and the west coast editor job at Vanity Fair.
December 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A developer speaking at the city council meeting stated flatly: "Santa Teresa is a county subdivision. It’s not a community – never has been a community."
Sunland Park approves new annexation
City Council postpones zoning to 2026
www.abqjournal.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Oh look, Google Gemini is telling users that former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales sits on the Supreme Court.

Good job, digital parrot.
December 18, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by Algernon D’Ammassa
In the new year you're going to watch Netflix constantly debase itself to secure regulatory approval for its merger with Warner Brothers. This is just the start:
Netflix cancels gay military series ‘Boots’ the Pentagon called ‘woke garbage’
“Boots” followed the story of Cameron Cope, played by Miles Heizer, a gay teen from Louisiana who is bullied and “finds new purpose — and unexpected brotherhood — with his motley …
nypost.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:47 PM