NorthAm Fest : fostering a North American continent approach to countering terrorism.

On September 14-16, 2004, the Advanced Concepts Group of Sandia National Laboratories in conjunction with the University of Texas at El Paso and the North American Institute hosted a workshop (fest) designed to explore the concept of a North American continental approach to countering terrorism. The fest began with the basic premise that the successful defense of North America against the threat of terrorism will require close collaboration among the North American allies--Canada, Mexico and the U.S.--as well as a powerful set of information collection and analysis tools and deterrence strategies. The NorthAm Fest recast the notion of ''homeland defense'' as a tri-national effort to protect the North American continent against an evolving threat that respects no borders. This is a report of the event summarizing the ideas explored. The fest examined the uniqueness of dealing with terrorism from a tri-national North American viewpoint, the role and possible features of joint security systems, concepts for ideal continental security systems for North America, and the challenges and opportunities for such systems to become reality. The following issues were identified as most important for the advancement of this concept. (1) The three countries share a set of core values--democracy, prosperity and security--which form the basis for joint interactions and allow for the development of a culture of cooperation without affecting the sovereignty of the members. (2) The creation of a continental defensive strategy will require a set of strategic guidelines and that smart secure borders play a pivotal role. (3) Joint security systems will need to operate from a set of complementary but not identical policies and procedures. (4) There is a value in joint task forces for response and shared information systems for the prevention of attacks. (5) The private sector must play a critical role in cross-border interactions. Finally, participants envisioned a ''Tri-National Security Laboratory'' to develop and test new counter-terrorism technologies and processes. The fest was an important first step in developing a tri-national approach to continental security and very different approaches to countering terrorism were explored. Participants came to the conclusion that continental security would be easier to achieve if the focus were on broader security issues, such as transnational crime, with terrorism being only a part of the focus. A series of fledgling relationships were begun between individuals and organizations through which actions can occur. A first commitment is the publication by a set of participants representing the three countries of a joint paper outlining the elements of a Continental Security approach

San Miguel Church in 1890, Santa Fe, New Mex.

San Miguel Church in 1890, Santa Fe, New Mex

Interior of San Miguel Church, Santa Fe, NM.

Interior of San Miguel Church, Santa Fe, NM

Exterior of San Miguel Church, Santa Fe, NM.

Exterior of San Miguel Church, Santa Fe, NM

Artificial life: The coming evolution

Within fifty to a hundred years a new class of organisms is likely to emerge. These organisms will be artificial in the sense that they will originally be designed by humans. However, they will reproduce, and will evolve into something other than their initial form; they will be alive'' under any reasonable definition of the word. These organisms will evolve in a fundamentally different manner than contemporary biological organisms, since their reproduction will be under at least partial conscious control, giving it a Lamarckian component. The pace of evolutionary change consequently will be extremely rapid. The advent of artificial life will be the most significant historical event since the emergence of human beings. The impact on humanity and the biosphere could be enormous, larger than the industrial revolution, nuclear weapons, or environmental pollution. We must take steps now to shape the emergence of artificial organisms; they have potential to be either the ugliest terrestrial disaster, or the most beautiful creation of humanity. 22 refs., 3 figs

Bishop Lamy's Chapel, Bishop's Lodge, Sante Fe, New Mexico.

Bishop Lamy's Chapel, Bishop's Lodge, Sante Fe, New Mexico

A rosetta stone for connectionism

The term connectionism is usually applied to neural networks. There are, however, many other models that are mathematically similar, including classifier systems, immune networks, autocatalytic chemical reaction networks, and others. In view of this similarity, it is appropriate to broaden the term connectionism. I define a connectionist model as a dynamical system with two properties: the interactions between the variables at any given time are explicitly constrainted to a finite list of connections; the connections are fluid, in that their strength and/or pattern of connectivity can change with time. This paper reviews the four examples listed above and maps them into a common mathematical framework, discussing their similarities and differences. It also suggests new applications of connectionist models, and poses some problems to be addressed in an eventual theory of connectionist systems. 66 refs

Functional self-organization in complex systems

A novel approach to functional self-organization is presented. It consists of a universe generated by a formal language that defines objects (=programs), their meaning (=functions), and their interactions (=composition). Results obtained so far are briefly discussed. 17 refs., 5 figs

Pojoaque Basin Cost-Sharing & System Integration Agreement

Cost Share & Integration Agreement among Pueblos of Nambé, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso & Tesuque, USA, NM, Santa Fe County, & City of Santa Fe (17 pages)Cost Share & Integration Agreement (Mar. 14, 2013); NM v. Aamodt, 66cv6639 USDC, DCNM. Parties: Pueblos of Nambé, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso & Tesuque, US, NM, Santa Fe County, City of Santa Fe. Conformed to Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act, Pub. L. No. 111-291, tit. VI, 124 Stat. 3064, 3134-56 (2010). Parties agree to fund and the United States agrees to plan, design and construct the Regional Water System (RWS). The Bureau of Reclamation will build the system. The Secretary of Interior shall conduct government-to-government consultation with the Pueblos regarding well locations and maintaining appropriate confidentiality to protect traditional Pueblo practices. US will obtain Pueblo land rights of way, at no cost, and the County shall obtain rights of way on non-Indian government lands, at no cost. The US shall convey those portions of the RWS on Pueblo land to the respective Pueblo; those portions in the County Distribution System to the County Water Utility; and all remaining portions to the Regional Water Authority. Each entity shall have authority over its portion of the system, but delegates the responsibility for operation, maintenance, repair, replacement, and management to the Regional Water Authority. An Operating Agreement shall be executed among the parties. The City and the County shall each implement a conjunctive management strategy. The City & Tesuque Pueblo shall execute an agreement regarding surface depletions on the Rio Tesuque. Construction costs are allocated. State shall create a Utility Connection Fund for non-Pueblo residents. The US shall create an Aamodt Settlement Pueblos Fund. The US and Nambé Pueblo shall execute an agreement regarding the transfer of Pueblo’s reserved water rights. The US shall purchase the Top of the World rights from the County. Members of San Ildefonso Pueblo shall be involved in the construction of the system and the Pueblo shall have a community waste water system built. NM shall establish an Impairment fund. This Agreement shall be effective upon the date of execution by the last of the Parties. (Mar. 14, 2013). Copies may be obtained from one of the signatories

Water Rights Settlement Agreement for Pueblos of Nambé, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso & Tesuque (Apr. 19, 2012)

Settlement Agreement for water rights of Pueblos of Nambé, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso & Tesuque.(70 pages)Settlement Agreement: Aamodt Litigation Settlement Agreement (Apr. 19, 2012). 66cv06639, USDC, DCNM. (final signatures Mar. 27,2013) Parties: Pueblos of Nambé, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso & Tesuque, US, NM, Santa Fe County, City of Santa Fe. The key provisions of the Aamodt settlement include: 1) constructing a Regional Water System; 2) providing non-Indians a choice of whether to join the settlement and upon joining, a choice of whether to connect to the Regional Water System for domestic water; 3) relinquishment of existing Pueblo claims against non-Indians who join the Settlement; 4) closing the Pojoaque Basin to new water right development following the court’s approval of the settlement; 5) metering all water uses in the basin; 6) limiting Pueblo water use; and 7) protecting existing uses. ◊ The Regional Water System is a pipeline and water distribution system which will have capacity to deliver water from the Rio Grande to the four Pueblos and to non-Indian residents. The system provides 2,500 acre-feet per year (afy) for Pueblo consumptive use. It also allows Santa Fe County to “piggy back” onto the system for up to 1,500 afy to serve existing non-Indian domestic well owners who choose to connect to the system and all future groundwater water users. It creates an impairment fund and a water system connection fund. The Agreement has been conformed to the Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act, PL. No 11-291, Title VI, Sec. 602 et seq., 124 Stat. 3064, 3134 (2010). It requires entry of final decree(s) and interim administration order. Court has continuing jurisdiction to enforce the terms, provisions, conditions of the agreement the Interim Administrative Order and the Final Decree. [Source: NM Office of the State Engineer http://www.ose.state.nm.us