If a tree falls in the woods, is it a catastrophe? On June 26, it was.

In New Mexico, the once-a-decade exercise of redistricting—redrawing the boundaries of the state’s political districts—is giving lawmakers and political junkies a dose of déjà vu.

On Dec. 5, just a block from the state capitol, the trial began to determine the shape of New Mexico’s new legislative districts. Redistricting actually begins with the Legislature, which approved several plans last spring; however, Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed most of them.

On Nov. 3, the city’s planning commission will consider a proposal to eliminate (technically, “reduce by 100 percent”) residential development impact fees for two years. The plan’s sponsors, City Councilors Rebecca Wurzburger and Matt Ortiz, tout it as a way to bolster Santa Fe’s faltering construction industry.

This may be the last Restaurant Guide you ever read.

Not to be alarmist or anything, but 2012 is, in some circles, considered the date of the coming apocalypse. And it’s not just the guys peddling crystals on the side of the highway; many Americans believe that, sometime next year, the world will come to an abrupt, fiery end [cover story, Nov. 18, 2009: “My Oh Mayan!”].

The events of 2011 seem to support this eventuality: fires, floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, and Congress’ near-failure to raise the debt ceiling (and utter failure to do anything else).

Lawrence E Joseph, the author of Apocalypse 2012 (and Aftermath, the guide to surviving said apocalypse), has a name for the shape of the solar flare that could spell our demise: “cosmic croissant.” 

Fifteen minutes into what began as a relatively run-of-the-mill interview, Kenny Ausubel drops a bombshell. “I don’t usually make predictions,” he says—the type of statement interviewees consider a cautionary disclaimer, but which reporters tend to gleefully exploit—“but I think probably the next six or so years are the six most important years in the history of human civilization.”

On Sept. 24, the New Mexico Legislature adjourned its special redistricting session. Lawmakers passed four plans—one for the state House, one for the Senate, one for the Public Regulation Commission and one for the Public Education Commission—for redrawing districts. Congressional districts—and any plans Gov. Susana Martinez opts to veto—will be left to the courts to determine.

This week, SFR offers a look at New Mexico’s political climate: the races to watch, the rhetoric to consider (or reject) and the tools needed to research the candidates. It may be almost fall in Santa Fe, but that doesn’t mean there will be any less hot air to contend with in 2012.

These days, it’s fashionable to rant about “the media”—a somewhat ironic concept, given that it’s also the age of “citizen journalism” and crowdsourcing. If in fact the media is flawed, then each of us is flawed by association.

It’s best if this story begins with an explanation. “Hashing,” the verb that describes the favored pursuit of the World Hash House Harriers, generally involves a three-mile run, lots of cheap beer, copious raunchy jokes and, ultimately, camaraderie—though not necessarily in that order.