Search Results for 'nd'

[JanS]

so, House….once you get that T-shirt, I just have to start frequenting the local coffee shops and I might find you? ;-)

[JanS]

New Res…I’ve been here for 33 years…my first couple of winters were difficult for me to get through…the short daylight hours….so much gray….so I sympathize a lot. After 33 years, it’s not as bad for me….but…seeing the sun this morning was just great, I gotta tell you…hehe. And I start counting on Dec.21….each day or 2 we add a minute or two of daylight hours (it was 8 hours, 30 minutes then, now it’s 10 hours and 2 minutes….hehe)…I, too, love the long days of summer…it just brightens my spirit.

[TheHouse]

This is directed to the geniuses that think using WiFi is “squatting”:

Q: Why to you think coffee shops offer free Internet? A: So that patrons sit there for hours and consume their coffee and pastries. Anotherwards, to make $$$. It isn’t squatting at all unless you do not purchase anything.

As for moi, I work from coffee shops all over WS and will admittedly not patron a coffee shop that does not have ample outlets. I wish there were more shops with tables that cater to those of us that like to hook up (those long tables that 6-7 people can sit at). And, I NEVER use Wi-Fi when I’m there. Instead I use the EVDO service from Sprint.

Oh, yeah. Standing on the table is pretty dumb, but I would rather watch the lasy fall than say something.

[san]

Oh NewRes- just smile. It’s not so bad.

[TheHouse]

Since Jan asked the question in another posting, I felt it would be better to discuss here.

Jan asked who I support since I have publically stated I would not vote for a Democrat and also stated publically that I would not support McCain.

This is a tough one. I’ve stated before that I tend to lean towards the Libertarian platform, but as usual the popular majority and media have played into the two party hype. Most people could not articulate why they want to vote for Obama besides the fact that he will bring “Change”. Not necessarily positive change, but change nonetheless.

My dilema is that I recognize that voting for a Libertarian candidate at this point is as useless as voting for Fred Thompson or Mitt Romney. Do I truly vote with my heart or do I play into what the political machine needs me to play into (voting for McCain)? Although I do not support McCain in many of his past votes, I do believe that he would make a better President than Obama or Clinton.

I will need to contemplate this a bit more over cupcakes at Coffee To A Tea before I truly decide.

[Anonymous]

As someone new to this weather, I have to say the wind hasn’t been bothering me so much (maybe I’m just too new, that I’m not SICK of it yet). I do have to say, though, the getting dark around 3:30pm was hard for me and I’m glad it’s staying light later. Can’t wait for summer and the really long days of sunshine.

In response to whoever said they hate it when a stranger says, “smile… it’s not so bad.” I have to say, that is one of my biggest pet peeves!! Do people actually think that because they have said that, now I will smile and continue to smile the entire day? When people say that, what affect are they striving for? If you are someone who has said that to someone, please explain it!

[Anonymous]

Can anyone recommend a car repair shop here in West Seattle that specializes in Mercedes? Or just German cars?

[Julie]

Clarification: The parties still get to choose who’s on the ballot, and how many, with their party branding, with whatever system they choose. It doesn’t make sense for someone to run as a Democrat if the Democrats haven’t agreed they can use the label. (As an example, Pierce County will be using IRV for local and county elections starting this year. The Pierce County Democratic Party has decided to allow up to three candidates to run as Democrats in their local races.)

And, yes, we need to shorten the campaigns. I also think we need to publicly fund these shorter campaigns, and we need proportional representation. Many reforms needed. IRV is just one.

[JoB]

Julie, i think instant runoff voting is a good idea.. but am not sure how it would work within the context of a two party system… and as long as we have a two party system, i have to defend each party’s right to choose their own candidate their own way. that is one of the privileges of party membership.

i think we need to change our primary system to give all members of each party an equal chance at choosing the candidate tho… how about a real super tuesday with all the primaries on one day so that those in what are now later primaries had as much choice as those in earlier… with instant runoff thrown in.

now that would let the parties know what the people thought! and it should cut down on campaign expenses too.

[JoB]

There were 5 (from not quite 50 to ???) of us ladies and 2 lads at brunch this morning.. and it was enough of a success for us to want to do it again.

So for all you who missed our first outing.. there will be another fairly soon on a saturday morning… time and place to be announced soon.

I don’t remember when i have enjoyed a group of “strangers” more.

[Julie]

You’re all going to think I’ve got a one-track mind; I really do have more interests and issues than this, but I can’t resist pointing out that if we used an instant runoff system, Kaleigh would be able to vote for Edwards, without throwing away that vote, and JoB, add, BobLoblaw, and anyone else whose heart was with Clinton (or Obama), but worried about whether Obama (or Clinton) might more likely win against the Republicans, would be able to just rank their first choice ahead of their second choice, and rank all Republicans last.

Magpie is like many voters in not wanting to affiliate with either major party; she or he, and the many voters who feel more affiliated with a minor party, could under an instant-runoff system participate fully without “throwing away” that vote. Their true opinions would be counted, and not lost in the two-party tug-of-war. (Magpie, I defend your right to vote, but I deeply disagree about Jim McDermott!)

If you ended up voting for Obama, but you really think Clinton would be the better president (or vice-versa), your true opinion is not reflected in your vote. The plurality voting system we have forces us to engage in this kind of strategic voting; strong evidence our democracy isn’t really reflecting the opinions of the citizens, and is therefore less democratic than it should be.

[JoB]

just contact the webmaster through her contacts page and i will email her asking her to give you contact info.

[Franci]

I almost couldn’t believe my eyes. I was just on my way home driving south on California past the Thriftway when I noticed a man standing on the sidewalk in front of the entrance to the store relieving himself! There are any number of businesses within a few feet that have public restrooms – including the Thriftway.

I think more than anything I was startled to witness this. I guess when you gotta go, you gotta go.. :0

[JoB]

Magpie, we do live in interesting times, don’t we. i think the chinese view that as a curse, but an old rebel like me had to think it is a good thing.. especially since we have been living in such distressing times.

whoever our candidate is, and i don’t think we know yet in spite of the polls and primaries, we will have to find a way to make it work.

[JoB]

if you end up in harborview.. you’ll get warm:)

what an image!

[JoB]

JT. i can’t thank you enough for your post. The shiba person who came over wasn’t exactly encouraging… and the shiba rescue organization wasn’t much more help.

We have come to the same conclusions you have.. that our little shibas may never be able to be the type of dogs we have had in the past.

We can touch both of ours.. in fact, even the most abused has become a little snuggle bunny… but on his own terms of course… like a cat.

it would be easier to have just one… but which one? so we are going to step up individual training instead of separating them.

I am still looking for help with the people thing though for the more abused little fellow.

I am told more training will help.. so we will see. Our desperation has passed…

so now it’s just time to get on with things and find what kind of relationship we will be able to have with these two and the world.

it is good to know someone else understands why we can’t just put them down.

[Anonymous]

JoB – I have a 8 to 9 year old shelter Shiba. Besides being the most unique breed I have ever encountered, she was obviously abused as a pup. I have worked with her this entire time and continue to do so, yet she still thinks I’m going to hit her every time I approach to pet. It took almost 2 years to be able to touch her tail without being bitten. She wasn’t even a year when we got her, so it seems the imprinting on her little psyche is deep and permanent. Because Shibas don’t respond like other dogs, I think in the wrong hands they are often abused. Some people want strict obedience, which is certainly not their strong suit.

Like you though, I love her to pieces. She’s extremely loyal, very affectionate on her terms, and just a riot when she’s playing. To me she seems much more like a cat. Very independent. Responds when she’s good and well ready. Little spurts of energy, where she jumps from furniture to furniture at a hundred miles per hour and races through the house or yard.

Her social skills on a leash are exactly as you describe however. She’s either completely indifferent or wants to challenge every dog she meets. Doesn’t matter if they’re ten pounds or a hundred. We’ve learned to let her have about a 2 second sniff and then snap her back to attention and walk briskly. After this many years and trying every possible method of training, I’m pretty sure what you see is what you get.

With people she’s strange also. On walks she’s not the least bit interested whether it’s a stranger or someone we know. Then at home, she’s all protective and will bark and growl and show her teeth to a stranger until we say it’s “okay”. Then if it’s a repair person or something she’ll just walk away like she’s bored to tears, but if it’s a friend or family member she goes nuts with squealing and delight.

Don’t know if this is encouraging or discouraging that you’re not alone, but you may end up having to accept your Shibas the way they are. I do know I don’t regret for a minute having this little strange creature in my life.

[acemotel]

Bernicki: love it. love it, love it. Thank you for making my day!

[Erik]

LOL Bernicki,

It’s good to see I’m not the only madman out there!

My late wife and I used to go swing on the swings at North SeaTac park at night and scream at the top of our lungs when a jet flew a couple hundred feet above our heads before it landed a mile away.

We always felt better afterwards.

[Bernicki]

Lear: Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow!

You cataracts and hurricanoes, spout

Till you have drench’d our steeples, drown’d the cocks!

You sulphurous and thought-executing fires,

Vaunt-couriers to oak-cleaving thunderbolts,

Singe my white head! And thou, all-shaking thunder,

Smite flat the thick rotundity o’ the world!

Crack nature’s moulds, all germens spill at once,

That make ingrateful man!

King Lear stands on the heath in a powerful storm, raging impotently against the wind. The storm represents other forces he cannot control, both within and without: the ingratitude of his daughters, the imminent dissolution of his kingdom, the ultimate frailty of humanity when confronted with natural forces, and his own approaching madness. He is king, but his own choices have brought him down to the level of a rain-soaked madman. He’s saying, “Bring it on!” to the weather; might as well destroy everything, because it can’t get any worse.

If you’re ever feeling overwhelmed by the crappy stuff happening in your life AND it’s really windy, try this: Stand alone on Alki Beach and give this speech at the top of your lungs to the wind and waves. You’ll get cold, wet, and possibly taken to Harborview for psychiatric evaluation, but I guarantee you’ll feel much better in the end.

[Magpie]

It’s really interesting to read these posts. I didn’t attend a caucus because I still refuse to chose an alliance to one party. I did attend the Democratic caucus in 1976 and as a youngster, felt completely alienated. It is a good thing that this has obviously changed. My spouse did caucus and was outvoted about 3-1 in our district. One of the truly interesting changes that I am seeing is that money and fame trumps race (OJ), but it still looks like sex still trumps all…I have read over and over how poorly Hillary Clinton does with men. Obama has a huge lead (I believe double digits with men). There may very well be some truth in the fact that Obama is more electible than Hillary Clinton, particularly the Evangelicals might stay home if Obama is the candidate and come out and vote against Hillary by voting for McCain because they hate her so much. It seems that Obama is coming out of this weekend as the front runner, but once the candidates are chosen, the real key to who wins might be the choice of vice president. Does McCain chose someone who panders to the Evangelicals? Does he chose Condoleeza Rice (what a cog that would put in the wheel)? Yikes, finally an interesting election in my life time. I just wish someone viable would run against Jim McDermott. I’m about as tired of him as I could possibly be.

[k]

I stayed my course and stuck with Hillary despite the glares and obvious disappointment my precinct felt towards me. It was a very odd feeling. Many of the voters reflected the smug feeling I get from Obama. We ended up with a 5-2 for Obama, but not without several folks speaking for Hillary. The Hillary hatred is unjustified and sad. I wish our nation good luck as we democrats are now forced to stand behind a man with a lack of experience as he takes on a country in a condition we have not seen in decades. I will vote for Obama, but my heart belongs to Hillary.

[WSMom]

JoB-

I want to thank you for keeping me on the fence for these last few weeks jumping back and forth between Hillary and Obama. Yesterday I followed my head and my heart and landed in the Obama side. It finally came down to the fact that since Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama are so close on issues that are important to me and are equally excellent candidates, I needed to give my vote to the candidate who is inspiring our young people to get in the process. My husband (bless him, he stuck by Hillary all the way) heard two older women Hillary supporters remark as they left the caucus room “this reminds me of 1960 and JFK”. I still love Sen. Hillary Clinton. I love her intelligence and left brain dominant organizational skills. I love that she’s still standing after all the dirty tricks the Republican’s (and her husband) have played on her. But seeing Sen. Barak Obama on Friday sold me that he will be the leader we need to take us past the devastation of the last 7 years. I’m confident that around the world people will be sighing with relief that we have put into this most important office a person of integrity and intelligence. In my life I have always worked to never let my heart rule my head, and I didn’t allow that to happen yesterday either. I believe that Sen. Obama has what it takes to not just beat the Republicans in November, but unite and inspire the best from us in the coming years.

[Kayleigh]

In our precinct caucus, JoB, no one thought Hillary would make the better president. A few thought she would make a *good* president, and I agree with that idea.

I’d been largely ignoring both Hillary and Obama because I was a strong Edwards supporter. But I did my homework (watched speeches, read position papers, looked at voting and contribution records, listened to supporters of both sides.)

I caucused for Obama, but I loved listening to my neighbors yesterday at the caucus. I didn’t say a word; I wanted to hear others’ insights and loved that so many people stood up for what they believed in.

Some of the Democrats who turned out yesterday did so, I think, because Obama touched them somehow. Maybe his “hope” thing is marketing hype; maybe it’s for real; maybe it’s both. But it’s gaining momentum, and I kinda like it. :-)

[JoB]

i just reviewed my post.. and i want you to know that i am well aware that there are Obama supporters out there who are not clinton haters and who actually support their candidate for a host of good reasons.

It was just very hard to hear person after person admit that they felt she would make the better president.. but…

And yet, those caucuses are American politics at their purest.

I still hope she ends up our candidate because in my opinion she would make the better President… (and this caucus has taught me what it will take to sell her to the American people)… but if not, i will work hard to get Obama elected.

In that event, i just hope i am not as right as i think i am… either in the campaign or in the Presidency.