INTEREST GROUPS
February 2026
Chatting with Artificial Intelligence
by Chuck Webster
January 6, 2025. The new interest group that will explore and seek to understand Artificial Intelligence (AI) met today for the first time. The meeting. in the Cottonwood Room, was conducted by Chuck Webster, who is the leader of the new group. Webster has an extensive background in new technologies and enjoys understanding both the advantages and the potential pitfalls of technologies like AI.
The meeting began with introductions of the 13 attendees. Some of those present knew little about AI and wanted to learn more while others had some background with it, either in applications or from information. Some had tried to work with applications like Chat GPT while others had not yet delved into that particular application.
In today’s presentation, Webster provided information about the history of AI and the important people who worked in the field during its early days.
Webster also talked about some of the characteristics of ChatGPT, in particular a way to recognize it’s presence in print. He said that ChatGPT “loves emojis.” If a story on a website, for example, has a large number of emojis in the text, the chances are good that the story was generated by ChatGPT.
As an example of how AI might used here in the community, he copied the names and descriptions of Mirehaven’s interest groups from the Mirehaven website. He then asked ChatGPT how it could be used by the interest groups. The AI responses were varied and, to this reporter, fascinating.
But according to Webster, AI in the form of something like ChatGPT is not a stand-alone solution for activities like research. He said that a researcher must double-check the results of ChatGPT in order to be sure that those results are consistent with the researcher’s own understanding of the subject and to know that the results are complete.
Webster is clearly well-versed in his subject. If any reader finds the topic to be intriguing then the next meeting should not be missed.
Coffee Time!
A combined Meeting of Del Webb Mirehaven Neighborhood Watch and Neighbor 4 Neighbor
By Carolyn Ajie
January 10, 2026. For the Saturday combined meeting over 30 residents enjoyed free coffee and pastries in the Manzano Room to hear from John Newell about the Del Webb Mirehaven Neighborhood Watch, DWMNW, and how the organization collaborates with the Albuquerque Police Department, APD, to maintain and improve our community’s safety. Carolyn Ajie with Neighbor 4 Neighbor, N4N, made a brief presentation outlining the N4N Interest Group activities and goals. And finally, Kim Hafermalz introduced a new program, Neighborhood Food Project, NFP. Each group is contributing to the Mirehaven community in important ways.
Carolyn Ajie opened the meeting describing N4N’s services and goals for 2026. She outlined the benefits of N4N to Mirehaven residents; how to contact N4N for service requests (mirehavenn4n@gmail.com) and join the N4N Interest Group on the Estates at Mirehaven Group Page.
John Newell, the Commander of DWMNW, demonstrated the APD CAD Incident Report Dashboard (https://www.cabq.gov/police/online-services/crime-mapping), to track crime in our area. He showed maps of the Watch Areas in our community and introduced each Watch Captain. John also made a pitch for additional Watch Captains in areas (especially Phases 3 and 4) not currently served by a Captain. If you are interested email John at jynewell@gmail.com
Kim Hafermalz introduced a new program, the Neighborhood Food Project, to gather non-perishable foods and supplies to benefit the Rio Grande Food Project. Email Kim at kim5ermalz@gmail.com for more information and to volunteer to participate.
Coffee Time! events are held quarterly. The next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, April 11th, 10:00am in the Manzano Room. We hope to see you there! Your participation in these important organizations is what makes Mirehaven such a special place to call home.
Shooting Sports at ABQ Trap Range
By Chuck Webster
anuary 15, 2026. For the first time, Mirehaven Shooting Sports interest group convened at the Albuquerque Shooting Park Range Trap & Skeet Clubhouse https://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/open-space/facilities/shooting-range-park rather than the Amenity Center. The new “clubhouse” with plenty of tables and chairs, restrooms, heat, and even a radio playing background rock-and-roll, the perfect soundtrack for a jovial morning.
What this meetup had in common with our previous gatherings at the Sandia Amenity Center was excellent coffee and donuts. What it added was a wide blue sky and orange clay “pigeons” streaking through New Mexico’s famously thin air.
Fueled by caffeine and sugar, we went to work.
For nostalgia’s sake, Chuck wore his now-ancient duck hunter’s hat. Ed arrived with his trusty 12-gauge pump. Al tagged along, having never fired a shotgun in his life. John brought his sixty-year-old JC Higgins Model 20 Sears 12-gauge pump, untouched for roughly half a century.
Expectations were modest. Results were not.
Frank, the range officer, told us to “Keep your eyes on the mountains until you see the target.” We faced north, toward the Jemez Mountains. When we were ready, we shouted “Pull.” We did that 75 times and that orange clay pigeon flew to the left, down the center, and to the right.
In the first round, Ed, Chuck, and John fired 25 shots. Ed broke 8 clays. Chuck broke 11. John broke 9. All three of us did better than expected, always a fine way to start a morning.
Then came Al.
After a five-minute of a crash course from Frank, Al stepped up and promptly broke four out of twenty-five clays. For a first-time shooter, this was nothing short of remarkable.
A final rematch sealed the morning. Ed surged to an impressive 13/25, leaving John and me respectfully—and decisively—in the dust at 6/25 apiece.
A great debut, by any measure.
Our next Shooting Sports meetup will be Thursday, February 5th, from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., once again at the Albuquerque Shooting Park Range Trap & Skeet Clubhouse. We even provide door-to-door carpool service.
A reminder: you don’t have to shoot a shotgun to join us. Come for the coffee and donuts, then peel off afterward to the nearby rifle range or simply go back home. Participation is wonderfully flexible.
Everything Everywhere All at Once: Notes from a Typical Unbook Club Meeting
By Chuck Webster and Linda Van Wert
A typical Unbook Club meeting is like the Oscar-winning movie, Everything Everywhere All at Once: ideas arriving from every direction at once, wildly different stories coexisting, colliding, and making sense together. In two hours, we jumped centuries, continents, disciplines, and tones, from racehorses to physicists, Supreme Court procedure to Delta blues. Like the movie, an Unbook Club meeting suggests that meaning doesn’t come from narrowing focus, but from holding many worlds in our heads at once and noticing the connections that flicker briefly into view.
January 5, 2026. Eighteen Unbookers gathered once again demonstrating that our club’s strength lies in range. Historical fiction, physics memoir, music history, diplomacy, Supreme Court procedure, and contemporary crime fiction all shared the floor.
Diana opened with an enthusiastic endorsement of Horse, Geraldine Brooks’ novel spanning 1850, 1954, and 2019, all linked by the legendary racehorse Lexington. From enslaved groom to art historian to Smithsonian scientist, meticulous research and narrative payoff earned five stars (5 ★).
Joe followed with Theo of Golden, a gentle, character-driven story about returning café portraits to their subjects. “No suspense,” Joe noted, “but eloquent prose and a joy to read.” Five stars (5 ★).
Faye delighted physics fans with Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!, showcasing Nobel laureate Richard Feynman’s brilliance, mischief, and humanity. Five stars (5 ★).
Linda recommended Custodians of Wonder, a travel book about people preserving vanishing traditions, from rare pasta to love letters delivered to a tree. Every chapter was her favorite. Five stars (5 ★).
History took a darker turn with Charlie’s Naples 1944, examining post-war chaos, black markets, and the Mafia’s rise. Four stars (4 ★).
Ed reviewed The Song of Achilles, calling it thoughtful, tragic, and a “good beach read.” Four-and-a-half stars (4½ ★).
Diplomacy entered through John’s first presentation, Lessons from the Edge, which was praised for its courage and insight into Ukraine, corruption, and impeachment. Five stars (5 ★).
Other highlights included Boardroom Vigilante (Doug: 5 ★), The Shadow Docket (Caroline: 5 ★), The Residence (Emily: 5 ★), Delta Blues (Charlie 2: 4 ★), and Chuck’s memoir surprise, The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Detours, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI (5 ★, Chuck’s review…).
Everything everywhere all at once: many books, many worlds, one conversation.
Mirehaven Discussion & Debate Group, Reconstituted, Plans for 2026!
By Chuck Webster
January 21, 2026. Chris Kovalesky called the Mirehaven Discussion & Debate Group to order, with a gavel and everything. Previously, the Mirehaven Debate Society, the newly reconstituted group, convened nine residents for its first official meeting under the new banner.
Chris, the fourth organizer in the group’s lineage, laid out a broad organizing vision while actively soliciting ideas, feedback, and volunteers. Out of that discussion emerged a practical and ambitious plan: a public-facing meeting every other month—January, March, May, July, September, and November—supplemented by occasional smaller, ad hoc organizational meetings as needed.
Big questions on the table were how should the group handle controversial topics? Options ranged from avoiding them entirely, to embracing them fully, to postponing them until a stronger culture of trust is established.
Are HOA-related issues fair game? The consensus: probably yes, but with restraint. As one put it, let’s avoid anything that could start a civil war. No final decisions were made, just thoughtful discussion.
Chris emphasized a broader mission from the old Debate Society. The new MDDG’s focus has an equal emphasis on conversation, presentation, and debate. That philosophy immediately translated into programming ideas:
March: Chuck Webster volunteered to organize the Conversation Olympics, based on the self-evident premise that Mirehavenites are both talkative and competitive. Details forthcoming.
May: Drawing on Bill’s experience organizing TEDxABQ events, the group plans a series of short, 10-minute talks on big ideas.
Early volunteers include:
Joel, recently retired, on States’ Rights vs. Federal Power
Jeff, on Retirement vs. Freedom
Don Swanson, longtime advisor (unable to attend the meeting but met with afterward), on DEI is an Essential Reality
What should the May talks be called? One early suggestion was MIRE! Talks (Minds In Retirement, Energized!)
The discussion continues.
The next public-facing MDDG event is scheduled for 10:00 AM on Wednesday, March 18th.
If you have an idea for a discussion, presentation, or debate, please reach out.
Chris Kovalesky (Organizer): CKovalesky14@gmail.com
Chuck Webster (Notetaker & Photographer): ChuckWebsterMD@gmail.com