Search Results for 'aF'

[JoB]

i am really struck with the sensible analysis parents have given to this question. It depends on the kid, on how far, on how safe, on how well you have prepared them and most of all… on your own comfort level.

My grandkids walk to school… the younger are walked by the older and the older are in middle school and high school. The older have phones. someone is home to notice whether or not they get home. they have been well prepared. And … both families live in “safe” communities.

And every day a grandmother’s heart worries about the sickness that lurks even in safe places. But i also remember that they have to grow up and this is part of growing more independent.

We can’t raise our children in fear and expect them to become fearless adults… so we take calculated risks and pray for the best… for all our children.

[JoB]

corporate greed monkey? well i suppose that’s one way to characterize working on WalMart’s board years ago…while she was supporting a political husband and a daughter.

I like Billary better with the implication that she too will run after interns and lie.

Or, we could call her the screecher after what ken and others say is her voice.

or we could follow the press and label a misty eyed moment when she talked about her ideals as an emotional breakdown.

or we could talk about nepotism ignoring the fact that a politician’s wife certainly gets a political education and that she has used hers to work tirelessly for the Democratic party and has successfully (on her state’s terms) carried out her responsibilities as a senator.

or we could simply comment that she should have gotten bill a puppy sooner and should get him another to occupy him now.

Good grief!

How about we talk about policies and what we hope our candidate will or won’t do once elected?

Or let’s talk about the sex thing. Why is America more comfortable with it’s first viable black candidate than with a woman? (Probably for the same reasons that black men got the vote before women.)That would make a great conversation.

ok, so today i’m feeling a bit frustrated, but i have already stated that i am not in favor of combative politics (i think she should send bill home unless he can find something positive to say)…

and if the only way to support your candidate is to dig for the opponents weaknesses then i think that you have to re-examine why you support your candidate.

i could and have found good things to say about the other two democratic contenders… i just don’t think their good points trump hillary’s good points.

Ken disagrees with me.

That makes for discussion that actually uncovers some of the issues…

as for folding your tents and going home if your candidate isn’t our nominee… that’s one sure way to get a republican elected… and have you looked at their “corporate greed monkey” credentials lately?

Have you checked your house’s current market value? are you sure that you or your spouse are immune from the economic downturn that is headed our way? Do you like where your tax dollars are being spent? Are you in favor of corporate immunity and bailouts? I could go on and on.

Anger, bitterness and disappointment… along with a little graft and fraud… have put us where we are today. If we are stupid enough to fall for it again, we deserve what we get.

Regardless of who is the democratic nominee, it is out best interests to support them fully. And it might be a good idea to start remembering that now before we have blown bridges we can’t repair.

LOL… if we can be this divisive with the quality of candidates we have for nomination… imagine what we would be as republicans;-) no wonder they still feel confident that they can and will win.

[Bernicki]

My daughter is 8, and occasionally she walks to school by herself. In our case, though, we’re close to the school (about 2 blocks). Other neighbors and friends are also walking to school at that time, so the streets aren’t empty. Plus, she’s taken self-defense classes for kids, and I’ve given her lots of instruction in stranger awareness and how to react in uncomfortable situations. She is at the age where she loves to feel grown-up and independent, so I try to give her safe opportunities when I can.

[mlyn1375]

Hey All,

Again, I second the motion (started by me) that we schedule another time after the 3rd to meet again. Maybe early march?

My original plan was the Superbowl , but due to a family illness now I will be out of town. :-( Will check this topic again to see if there is an update on meeting another time after the 3rd.

[Ken]

Jonathan Tasini (author of the above link) was defeated by Hillary Clinton in New York’s Democratic Primary in 06.

The piece seems a bit long on allegation and short on links to supporting documents.

Hillary is my last choice but lets stick to her very real policy problems and current DLC affiliations.

[Kayleigh]

I’m baffled as to why some of you are letting Hillary off the hook for Wal-Mart. It’s an assumption that she voted against the reeeealllly crappy stuff that Wal-Mart did–and even if she did, it’s a failure of leadership on her part, because they did the reeeeallly crappy stuff anyway.

Wal-Mart’s greedy suppressive acts didn’t begin with buying cheap sweatshop goods in China.

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0207-34.htm

I guess it’s OK to be a corporate greedmonkey if you have ovaries? Ovaries are now a get-out-of-jail-free card?

[Ken]

I read it online and try to give a vendor the dollar to keep the paper and sell it again. But I don’t get downtown very often anymore.

This issue has a story relevant to this thread.

http://www.realchangenews.org/2008/2008_01_23/harasment_v15n05.html

The rich are coming. Hide the poor

Excerpt

---

After a shadow of public debate, the mayor will lay down a breathtakingly cruel policy of hounding human beings out of town.

By TIMOTHY HARRIS, Executive Director

How is one to respond when the most beautiful, affluent, and liberal city in America outlaws basic human survival? What are we to feel? What words could measure up to the sadness of this moment?

The Mayor’s staff has described their draft policy on homeless encampments as “consistent and compassionate.” Consistent, perhaps. But compassion requires action that is based upon understanding and empathy.

This is not that.

Seattle has joined the ranks of cities across America whose growing affluence will no longer tolerate the sight of extreme poverty. As urban living attracts those who can pay the price, the visible poor have come under attack in communities from LA to Boston.

Here in Seattle, in the few blocks that abut Pike Place Market, construction cranes mark four developments that will house 505 new condos with an average value of $2 million each. This represents about one-tenth of new downtown condo development.

The rich are coming. Hide the poor.

Until sometime last year, the City of Seattle mostly left homeless encampments alone until complaints forced action. This was as it should be. Last year’s one night homeless count — held in the dead of a cold January night — revealed about 1,600 people surviving on the streets. They slept in doorways and in cars. They rode the night buses. They walked to keep warm. They huddled underneath blankets and inside sleeping bags.

They made do without shelter because the shelters were full.

[swimcat]

Alright, this topic needs to be revisited since I just swam at Southwest and it amazes me that people won’t swim in the proper lane for their speed. I am usually the fastest person in the pool, and it is not fair or safe for me to have to continually pass people that are too clueless to get into a slower lane (I have been hit many times when passing people because they don’t know the proper way to be passed). So here is a hint- if you can not do a flip turn, or any stroke besides ‘freestyle’, you should NEVER EVER EVER go into the fast lane or very fast lane, even if no one is in there.

[Ken]

Just to clarify: The regulations on “free markets” were made after the crash of 29, to save capitalist and the corporations they invested in, from themselves. The boom and bust cycles throughout the 19th century and into the 20th, were the result of manipulation of most investors by the few insiders. Every cycle relied on a new crop of investors that could be roped into another “once in a lifetime opportunity”. Note they occurred at approximately generational intervals. Sometimes the unregulated businesses caused ecological disasters. The Dust Bowl of the 20’s could never have happened without wheat speculation during WWI driving investors to lease Midwestern grasslands sight unseen and pay crews to plow up the grass and plant wheat. After two years most of it reverted to it’s normal dry state, the wheat market crashed and the newly exposed dirt took to the winds in storms that brought darkness at mid day as far away as Washington DC.

Deregulation loosed these same actors on the public again and it is foolish to think any corporation will police itself. History can only teach us when it is not ignored.

[JoB]

ken, i would agree with your advice to the candidates… even to my favorite candidate.

As a woman with one of those voices that tends to go all high pitches i would bet that she has already had some coaching tho:)It’s a difficult thing to control. she should reflect on poor Dean whose one outburst and uncontrolled voice cost him any chance at the presidency… for good or bad, who knows.

However, she can control her stance on health care and she should come down on the side of universal health care. I think America is finally ready to talk about that option.

As for corporations, we need to roll back deregulation for sure, but i am not sure how to keep them out of campaigns.

I just read a totally unrelated book about Helga and Clara Estby’s walk across America (Bold Spirit) which mentioned the Bryan/McKinley campaign and that the campaign contributions of just two corporations for McKinley exceeded those of Bryan’s entire campaign($500,00 from JP Morgan and Standard oil.). McKinley won.

Corporate involvement in campaigns is not news and any attempt to keep them out of it has just resulted in the exploitation of loopholes.

As for our current concern with corporate greed, let me quote Wiliam Jennings Bryan’s campaign slogan, “Wall street owns the country. It is no longer a government of the people for the people, by the people but a government of Wall street, for Wall street, and by Wall street.”

This too is nothing new. In reading history it seems that there were only a couple of times when Wall Street seemed to get the need for investment in anything other than making money and that was during the industrial revolution and the period after World War II when it became apparent after our investment in Germany and Japan under the Marshall plan that we had better do some investment of our own here or American Corporations were going to be left in the dust. Both times, investment was crucial to their own self interest… better a little now and a lot later than none now and nothing later. And both times America and Americans prospered.

I feel that concentrating on the injustice of corporate greed (including their involvement in our elections) we are missing the boat that would lead to a realization of the importance of actual production for profit…

just as America missed the boat on health care when they worried about the govt rationing health care when the insurance companies were exceeding anything our government could have done. At least the govt had public opinion to contend with.

We need to find a way to focus on the real conversation which is about actual production… even in service industries which have forgotten they relied on service to create their business.

I believe that Hilary has a grasp of that concept… and that is why i am supporting her. It may be a vain hope, but there you go.

:) In closing, I can’t resist mentioning Bold Spirit again and that these two women walked across America during a time when only one state (Wyoming) actually granted women the right to vote… a little more than a hundred years ago. Something to ponder.

[sw]

Call Mitch Monetti at Monetti Landscaping – 938-5400. He did some work for us last year that was great, and priced comparably to other bids we had. He’s also done some work for others around the neighborhood that has turned out nicely.

[acemotel]

I think in general there is an increase in homelessness, as evidenced by the increased count this year. Close to 3,000 people on the street and 6,000 in transitional housing and shelters is a DISGRACE in one city in one of the wealthiest countries in the world! I’m sure there are at least 1,000 who were not counted because they are sleeping in cars in side streets everywhere throughout the city. Some of these people have substance abuse or mental health issues, but there are many who just hit a string of bad luck, and for the grace of god, it could be most any one of us. There is no safety net. The social services are spread so thin as to be nonexistent. The middle class is the new class of working poor, while the rich get richer, moving into bigger and grander and finer homes, insulating themselves from the poverty that’s now on virtually every street corner. It’s a disgrace.

[Al]

I went to the Rapid Ride open house. Here’s what they are saying, at least what the gentleman I spoke with said: 1) The proposed RR route will replace the regular 54 route and follow the route as it exists now – using Avalon heading both east and west (no more bridge ride up the hill) 2) There is only ONE stop proposed between Alaska & Morgan Jct at Findlay 3) Apparently, the 54x will remain as is 4) They were ’surprised’ to hear everyone complaining about the 21 route – this route will not even be reviewed by Metro until at least 2010 or 2011 – a travesty in my opinion 5) the curb bulbs will not jut into the street, but take as much space as a parked car so should not interfere with traffic or bicycles 6) bus only lanes are being studied for both directions of Alaska between Fauntleroy and Alaska Jct. 7) the removal of the Viaduct and Spokane St construction will not even be discussed, this is like spraying insecticide into a jar of bugs – he ran away when it was mentioned These people do not understand how bad traffic gets or how mass transit is used/needed by West Seattlites. 9) Connection to the 21 may be lost if the 35th/Avalon stop is not utilized 10) The route could go all the way to Westwood Village – as planned now, it starts at the ferry dock. Get out there and give them feedback now! Metro seems set on this route and from what I understand, it’s not rapid, it reduces service, could make you use more transfers, may not connect with the 21 route, and the funds to be expended on this RR could be better used to expand existing service and routes. credmond, can you please direct me to a link of the tax we voted for? I would not mind adding routes that made sense, but replacing an already existing route with one that makes no sense is not a responsible choice. I don’t think anyone would have voted for that. Improving bus service in general is a whole different ball of wax and something we can agree on.

[Kayleigh]

Well, the King County One Night Count did show a 15% increase in the (found and counted) homeless.

http://www.homelessinfo.org/onc.html

Why WSEA? Maybe because they are cleaning out some homeless encampments in the downtown areas, and people are trying to avoid that. I’ll ask folks at work who know more than I do.

I heart Real Change! When I am in a bad mood (which seems to be too often these days), I buy a Real Change paper. Instant karma—I always feel better afterward.

[Bayou]

I’m looking for an affordable landscaper on the west side. I need some general yard maintenance done and would like to have a stone path set. I’d also like to have a long term landscape plan drawn up. Any suggestions?

[Ken]

repost of info from a main page caucus thread:

---

A note on the process of the Dem caucus.

This week I called the caucus hot line for clarification on the age of participation issue. I remember in 04 there was mention of 17 year olds being able to caucus but it was pretty much a moot point since I could not even get any of the 18 to 25 set to show up at 9 am on a Saturday no matter what kind of game they talked…

But this year we are seeing a serious increase in the youth turnout in many places across the country.

One aspect of the Dem caucus being used exclusively to choose the delegates rather than the state sponsored primary, is that the parties make the rules. The Republicans seem to be following the state primary rules for the caucus since they are using both for delegates.

The Dems are free to accept caucus input and even votes from those who are 17 now but will be 18 on or before the November general election.

Question 5 of the FAQ makes it semi clear that 17 year olds that will be able to register to vote by November, will be able to vote at the caucus.

Who can participate in their caucus? All registered voters and those who will be 18 at the time of the presidential election can vote at their caucus. You can register to vote at the caucus location and vote in the caucus. Others who are not registered can participate but can not vote.

Those I have talked to at the caucus hot line are interpreting the above somewhat ambiguous language to allow 17 year olds (who according to the Sec of State CANNOT register until they are 18) to fully participate in the caucus.

So If you know any one who will be 18 and a precinct resident and otherwise eligible to vote in November, make sure and bring them along to the caucus

Faq page:

http://www.wa-democrats.org/index.php?page=display&id=266

Addenum note: This years caucus starts at ONE PM on Saturday afternoon so even those who might have stayed up a bit too late on Friday can attend. I am pretty sure there will also be FREE COFFEE :)

[JoB]

i am not sure runners anywhere do much more than nod as they pass you… or bikers…and sometimes dog walkers.

for dog walkers, it depends upon how well behaved their four legged friends are… and for the rest how intense they are.

but it is definately possible for me to start a casual conversation almost anywhere here… especially in West Seattle.

And if I make the effort to attend group functions, I am almost always made to feel welcome.

I just spent the afternoon being made very welcome by a group of about 50 strangers.

Friendship will take a while, but there is no shortage of conversation here.

[Ken]

Sue: The link above might answer some of your questions. Sorry you will miss the caucus. The caucus process is harder on absentee issues in this state than it is in a few others if I remember correctly.

Here is the detailed answer for those who might have to miss the caucus but want to participate anyway.

From the FAQ on the Dem site (since they say it better than I do…

Can I vote absentee or by proxy in the Caucuses? No. There are only three reasons you can vote in the caucuses without being there. If you serve in the military, have a medical condition that prevents your attendance, or for religious reasons cannot attend your caucus, you can request an affidavit from the State Party. To find this affadavit, go to http://www.wa-democrats.org/caucusinfo and download the Caucus Surrogate Affadavit Form. This must be returned to the State Party by February 1st. No one else can vote without being there. You can become a delegate without attending your caucus. College students registered at their home address but living away from home cannot vote but can become a delegate using the process described below.

Link to FAQhttp://www.wa-democrats.org/index.php?page=display&id=266

The caucus has some strict time allotments and some that are soft. In general normal sized precincts will be done in about two hours.

Getting there early or at least on time will be best especially for those in large precincts since the sign-in process can become a bottleneck when turnout is as big as expected.

next: ok your precinct has no PCO. Yes that means one of your neighbors will have to volunteer at the caucus to run it. They will then appoint a secretary and a tally clerk. (assuming there are at least three people from your precinct)

More details and a You tube video of the step by step are at the state party page above.

Even though you might have to miss the caucus, if your precinct has no PCO, then you should consider becoming the PCO yourself. Candidate organizations urge their supporters to become PCO’s where possible. You can be appointed after filling out a short form at a district meeting and run for the position next year. It is a rare precinct that has contested PCO elections since it is an unpaid party position, but this year also included replacing a 34th district Senator and a Rep in which case ONLY PCO’s were allowed to vote for the replacements.

Here is the PCO handbook in html format

http://www.democracyforwashington.com/civicspace-0.5/?q=pcohandbook

For more info on caucus history,

this article is pretty easy to read.

http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/the_next_hurrah/2008/01/questions-about.html

I see my link code is now being turned into alternate text. editing to re add full urls.

[Ken]

I just noticed the last two questions…

Add

Kids that are not likly to cry or run around and/or get bored are probably fine. Our grandson would be banned after a few minutes.

I think the SCC page states something like.. well let me go look at it…

Washington State residents who are not qualified to register to vote because of

age or citizenship shall be allowed to participate in the platform and resolution

discussions, but not vote on the election of delegates or alternates, nor may they

be elected as delegates or alternates

I think that indicates that any interested student smart enough to be interested in presidential politics, can not only attend, but take part in the discussions and even speak for a candidate if they like, if time allows and there is no representative of that candidate hogging the discussion time.

Go to http://www.wa-democrats.org/ for all the details normal people can stand. And it your really really interested here is a

pdf of delegate selection document in all it’s obtuse glory

This is the official document, or one of them that is used as a resource for those running the caucus. There is also a Caucus Hotline at (206) 583-4345 or e-mail grassroots@wa-democrats.org. This us a statewide number. I am awaiting a bit more clarity on an age related question myself. More on that later.

Sue’s question in next post.

[mlyn1375]

Hi all! I agreed with so many of the posts here, I wouldn’t even know where to start with a reply.

I’m new to WS (LOVE it so much more than my old neighborhood), and am actually noticing more friendliness out here, but I definitely know all about the “Seattle Freeze”. After spending a short time on the east coast in 2006, I know conduct experiments like those discussed here where I purposly make eye contact while out walking my dog, or say hello, or say “Merry Christmas” in December just to see what reaction I get. It’s interesting.

Anyway, I’m up for the Anti-Freeze group, but just not on Feb 3rd :-) Maybe we make this a once-a-month thing?

[mlyn1375]

Sounds like a great idea! I experienced the “seattle freeze” myself many yrs ago, and am now new to WS, so would love to meet some new people.

Will there be another get together after Feb 3rd? I’m a big Patriots fan, so will doing the Superbowl that day. :-)

[karen]

Nothing wrong with paranoid! Predators will pick off the easiest one to get in a herd. Don’t make your child the easiest one. Go a little further – don’t let any child near you be the one. I am as watchful of the other children at the bus stop as my own. I watch to make sure they stay safe. Sure, I may be that interfering old lady on the block, but better that than one kid getting lost.

[Anonymous]

Hi Bonnie,

We have 4 kids and the youngest is 7 1/2 and she has never walked to school or home by herself. I only brought this subject up because so many people in our neighborhood and at school have been talking about it and I wanted to see what the general census was is all.

I believe it does depend on the child and their maturity, every child matures at different times. I drive our 2 younger kids the older two walk or take a bus.

I too think about those stories that have come up and it does not help with all the sex offenders in and around the area. But I also don’t want to get paranoid. Like anything you have to use precautions and have a safety plan, which we have.

[Bonnie]

Cinnamon, I’m not sure of the ages of your kids but I believe you mentioned 7 years old once. I’m not comfortable with a 7 year old walking alone to school. I don’t know what age is a good age but I’d rather be safe than sorry. I always think of that little girl who walked to school on a snow day and has never been seen since. (a few years ago down south)

Anyway, when it comes to my kids I’d rather be overprotective than not.

[Jerald]

I don’t think I’m considered overprotective by most people, but I’m not comfortable with my daughter walking alone even in high school, although I don’t forbid it. If she has to walk to the bus stop alone on dark winter mornings, I stand on the sidewalk and watch until she’s joined others.

In middle school, my kids walked lots of places, but in groups.

I feel they’re safer on busy streets or buses than alone in our quiet neighborhood.

Also, I believe in having a cellphone at the ready.