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Would you please make a show on the 'using cell phone while driving'? On daily basis and alomost in every few minutes I see one person driving while on the phone and as a result it causes man problem like 'drive slow on a fastrer lane, don't pay attention who is behind or next lane, drive way under the speed limit on a single lane road like cornell road from skyline to NW portland. It gets worst when people take left turn while other hand is busy holding phone set. other day i saw that one woman was almost hitting another car who was turning left fronm the opposite side because she failed to control steering with hand. Another worst situation i have seen in the super market parking lot. The young woman was in a super hurry, got in the car and started backing off while she was on the phone holding the set in her right hand. Obviously she didn't look carefully and hit a car who was right behind her and that car just got off the parking spot. i am sure every bosy see this type of things every day in every where. Like some other cities, we don't have any 'hands free phone' law obviously people are getting very comfy.

Rafi — Fri March 6th 11:02p.m.

I believe phones are only the tip of the iceberg.  They are an obvious sign of distraction while driving and have proven to result in fatalities.  

But to pass laws prohibiting such obviously dangerous behavior would overlook the so many more signs of distraction in our cars and our lives.  Billboards, pets, children, GPS, radio, makeup applications, eating, stress of the day, day dreaming...all become part of our distracted driving experience.  Driving is more than ignition, gas, brake, steer.  

To be better drivers we must become better regulators of our distractions.  A law regulating cell phone use doesn't work as a solution to ameliorate our fractured lifestyles.

blackredphoto — Sat March 7th 11:41a.m.

I second this - the cell phone driving thing is deserving of discussion, especially with a new law in the works. I just got done reading a news bit on opb.org about the proposed expansion of Drunk Driving Laws. In my opinion this is a good thing but the cell phone issue is of much, much greater importance. 

Or perhaps tackle it as a bigger issue still and call it "cell phone etiquette for the cell phone addicted generation"? It isn't just people talking while driving that are distracted, I just watched a woman run a small child over with her stroller at Washington Square mall - too busy talking on her phone to watch where she was going.

RobertWagner

www.pdxsucks.com

RobertWagner — Mon March 9th 5:35p.m.

It's been 50 years since the Chinese invaded Tibet.  Protests and crackdowns are underway again.  The Dalai Lama is aging and Tibetans are becoming more militant at the same time that internal Chinese press is vilifying them.  What is the recent history of Tibet vis-a-vis the Chinese Communist State and what does the future hold? 

Christian — Fri March 6th 11:39p.m.

I propose a program on the future of sleep. Sleep disorders may affect more than 20% of the audience and most of it is untreated. Sufferers are sharing the highways with us, piloting our airplanes, standing at blackboards and whiteboards, hosting talk shows, and performing surgeries. Untreated sleep disorders are associated with increased risk of stroke, heart disease and premature mortality.

Sleep disorders are diagnosed in a sleep laboratory, where technicians perform a sleep study. The patient is covered with electrodes, oxygen levels are measured through a sensor placed on their finger and technicians observe the patient throughout the night using video and infrared cameras. Two years ago, I did a sleep study that showed that during the night, I stopped breathing hundreds of times for sometimes as long as a minute. I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea.

The most common treatment for sleep apnea is a CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) machine. It pumps air through the patient's nose at a prescribed rate calculated during the sleep study. My CPAP stays next to my bed, and a long piece of medical tubing connects the CPAP to a type of face mask that fits over my nose. Wearing the CPAP requires a learning curve. In my case it took a couple weeks to get used to being tethered to the machine, but the quality of my days has been worth those long first nights.

The United States may reach new heights in health, productivity and love of life as this health issue becomes more recognized. Fatigue and sleep are such big issues in our society, I am convinced that your audience will find this a compelling and informative program.

MickMortlock — Sat March 7th 7:10a.m.

How has the recession undermined news coverage in the US in general, and Oregon specifically?

Newspapers are cutting their budgets by slashing their coverage. Bloggers insist on filling in the gaps, but can that be, and who's funding their coverage?  

Why have we all but forgotten about Iraq in the news?  Why is much more attention given to Oscar parties than homelessness?  We might be dazzled by barista competitions in the headlines, but how's the line-up in mental health care facilities?  

In a news era where it is painfully obvious that we get our information handed to us by ad-revenue based newsrooms, what is the future of democracy when there is no voice to be protected by the First Amendment?  

When revenue isn't driving news, can we change a system to become better informed?  Can new broadcast technology change our way of absorbing the news?  With shows like your own, I'm encouraged to participate in news.  With Twitter, for example, I'm dosed all day long with information tidbits.  Where traditionally I'm used to simply "hearing"  and dividing news in to timeblocks, such as morning paper, afternoon radio, 5 o'clock news....

Cheers!  

blackredphoto — Sat March 7th 11:29a.m.

In light of the recent closure of The Rocky Mountain News and the upcoming (likely) closures of the Seattle PI and SF Chronicle, I think this idea has quite a lot of merit. 

Can bloggers be trusted more or less so than traditional news sources? Is Twitter any more useful than a tantalizing soundbite? Is "new media" encouraging more discussion and less reporting than old media? Is that a good or bad thing?

I admit to having scrolled over this one a few days back when I first read it but this is actually a very, very timely idea - kudos blackredphoto

RobertWagner

pdxsucks.com

RobertWagner — Thu March 12th 3:13p.m.

I would like to know the history of the federal reserve, what it's function is supposed to be, what it's real function is, and to know if it is fulfilling is goals and purposes, if not, why not.

ShodyRyon — Sat March 7th 1:56p.m.

what is the role of lobbyists (state lobbyists would be fine), do they have a legitimate function, how does Salem handle them, do they provide things for them do they try to attract lobbyists, give them special consideration, what do lobbyists do, how do officials respond, are there ethical concerns that are not addressed that could be addressed. Do lobbyists crowd out the concerns of the general public, do special interests take precedent over, or at the expense of, the general publics interest and how is that addressed.

ShodyRyon — Sat March 7th 2:05p.m.

Is media controlled by parent corporations, if so, is that in the best interest of the public, if not, what should be done

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0624-25.htm

ShodyRyon — Sat March 7th 2:10p.m.

Should Oregon take a vote on if Oregon has an official position regarding the bush administration's, stolen elections of 2000 and 2004, lies about Iraq and WMD, yellow cake uranium, torture, outing Valerie Plame, etc.

Because Pelosi said impeachment is off the table, she was negligent with her official duties, which means the state should have stepped in with a statement, but the state didn't, was the state at fault?

That kind of behavior should be means for termination of federal taxes sent to the IRS by Oregonians. The new administration needs to understand that the last administration has set legal precedent, and that we as a state support legal action that makes it clear that this behavior doesn't go unnoticed and unpunished. If we don't it will come back even worse. "Bush did it and nothing happened, so we'll do it even more""equal protection under the law"

ShodyRyon — Sat March 7th 2:26p.m.

Please get smart and fix your fundraising marathons!  They drive away more viewers and supporters then they generate.  The biggest problem is that they punish supporters.  As more people respond to this type of abusive fund raising, the more your station becomes addicted to it.

There is no one I know that does not change channels when they encounter your fundraising marathons, because we all learned long ago that making a pledge and donating only adds to the problem.  We all just change channels, or go outside and play with the dog, then check back later to see if it has ended.

The biggest abuse, is some poor misguided soul droning on and on about nothing that anyone is interested in or listening to.

You want solid funding?  Put it on the ballet, and promise Oregonians that the bill will end these stupid moronic fundraising drives.  We will then help you force the state to fund you proper, like most other non-stupid states do.

Your fundraising drives remind me of religious individuals that beg to their gods day and night...

JohnDoeOregon — Sat March 7th 6:01p.m.

Alternative energy:

I think you touched on this already; what are the down sides to geothermal and wind, there are some very disatisfied people.

Would this solve some wind energy problems if they were at high altitute, very high and away from the view of the land scape? I don't think birds would crash into these, I wonder about the viberation, that may be diminshed too:

http://www.magenn.com/

should Oregon do a joint venture with intel like NY state and IBM are in the link below?

http://news.rpi.edu/update.do?artcenterkey=2280

"paper batteries" in the link below

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_battery_types

is this worth while, if so, will Oregon promote it some how?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/09/050907102549.htm

ShodyRyon — Sun March 8th 1:08a.m.

GM Bail out:

Is it true that GM could be purchased for $3B?

If so, and there are 13 layers of management, why doesn't the goverment purchase GM, fire 10 layers of management restart production of the EV1, which is 3 times more energy efficient than prius and sell GM back to the remaining workers?

This also removes wall st from the equation, good riddance!

I have contacted my US congressman Earl Blumenauer (Ore-3) several times over the last 2 months about this.

ShodyRyon — Sun March 8th 1:19a.m.

Six years of the Iraq war and eight years of post-2001 local opposition to war, first in Afghanistan, then in Iraq AND Afghanistan.  This coming week sees the culmination of the campaign to stop the deployment of the Oregon National Guard to Iraq and Afghanistan, and an action in Salem on Sunday, March 15th, marking the anniversary of the Iraq war. 

How 'bout a show about the peace movement under the new Obama Administration?

More information?  Check the websites www.pprc-news.org and www.pjw.info

And while you're at it, have a look at Robert McChesney's lecture at the University of Portland on Feb. 26th, posted at www.pdxjustice.org ... "The Life and Death Struggle for Journalism and Self-Governmnet."

pdxjustice — Sun March 8th 8:06p.m.

Perhaps a show about the on-going debate about law enforcement on Oregon public college campuses? OHSU, the Oregon University System (via the Governor) and the officers who currently WORK on OUS campuses have all taken drastically different positions as the legislature heats up (see Senate Bill 658 and House Bills that will be forthcoming relating to 352.385).

Every state except Hawaii allows public universities to organize and operate their own police departments with the same authority as municipal or state departments. Oregon rescinded that ability in the 1970s. In my opinion this would make an excellent and engaging topic.

thefridgelse — Mon March 9th 4:21p.m.

thefridgelse:

We actually touched on this question a while ago, in our show about violence on school campuses:

http://www.opb.org/thinkoutloud/shows/guarding-against-school-violence/

We'll keep an eye on the legislature as the situation develops.

David Miller — Tue March 10th 11:18a.m.

I don't know if you have done a show on homebirth in Oregon but I think it would be a wonderful show.

Out of hospital birth is becoming increasingly popluar and with good reason! Midwives in Oregon are a huge part of the movement of birth out of the hospital and we have a fountian of information here in Portland.

Please do a show about this! I am a homebirthing mother and would love to hear where the conversation goes and I'd be willing to be a part of it.

moline543 — Wed March 11th 10:44a.m.

I'm listening to your show about addiction and thinking you should do a show about treatment courts.  There are two in Multnomah County, STOP and DISP.  STOP has recently been in the news due to proposed budget cuts from the county. 

DISP (DUII Intensive Supervision Program) is a probation program for repeat offender drunk drivers that mandates treatment and recovery so that folks can avoid future run-ins with the law.  They get reduced jail time in exchange for electronic monitoring, random UAs, extensive addiction and mental health treatment and close supervision.  It has a much lower recidivism rate than regular probation due to the intensive supervision and treatment component.  It is supervised by Jg. Kathleen Dailey and Jg. Judith Matarazzo also gives judicial assistance.  One of the problems with non-mandated treatment is there is no accoutability.  Unfortunately folks have to commit crimes to get into these innovative programs. 

muyfeliz — Thu March 12th 9:55a.m.

 

The Biggest Secret.  We discuss addiction, crime, death, suicide and other life problems. The one that doesn't get discussed is parents with adult children who no longer have any communication with them. I am in this situation.

It was 3 years from last Christmas since I have had any communication with my daughter. She will not disclose the reason she cut me from her life and is not open to any contact, such as meeting at a councilor of her choosing once a month. She still talks to the others in my family but not me. After much therapy, I have grieved for the loss of this precious daughter in my life and accept the boundary she has set. At the same time, without expecting anything in return or any change in the relationship, I occasionally send her cards, email or a small gift. This is my way of saying I will always love her and she has not been forgotten.

I have learned from this experience and sharing my pain that there are many other adults with this same grief and hope that one day the relationship will be healed. But, it is very difficult to share this with others in our life because society tends to make us think that we must have been bad parents and we don't want others to learn this. It is a secret.

I want to start a support group here in McMinnville, but I don't know how. Efforts to contact people who might help have mostly been met with rejection. When I heard your invitation this morning to make suggestions for a show, I knew I needed to write to you. Thanks for any help you might give me in starting a group.

tender hearted — Thu March 12th 10:36a.m.

Show suggestions: For an economically challenging time: Perhaps heading for another Depression, I suggest 'before the event' occurs Community Brainstorming for ways to reduce the (potentially profound) impact to Oregon. 

I suggest two topics and advocate to you to enjoin both local and National experts to discuss:

1. The benefits of expanding Community growing gardens in Urban areas.  I recommend more land availability, free tools, seeds and plots as well as "gleaned produce availability" during harvesting seasons for anyone-- growers or non-growers. 

2.  I believe the burdens of the parents ripple down through their children and avenues for release must be provided to these areas:  I recommend the advertizing of Community Center hours, local school basketball gymnasium hours for public availability and perhaps most important (because more children participate in this last sport than any other combined) I strongly advocate for major expansion of efforts to build more skateparks in all of our urban communities.  Experts here may range from safety concerns to sources of funding. 

Thank You!  Sincerely,

James Larson

islands77 — Thu March 12th 11:01a.m.

Cato Institute Scholar Patrick Michaels is coming to Portland on March 26^th to speak about his new book, “Climate of Extremes.” He has an excellent resume/bio (http://www.cato.org/people/patrick-michaels).

He does not deny man's influence/role in climate change; he simply rebukes a lot of the alarmist conjectures with real peer reviewed science.

OPB should have him on before the 26^th to talk global warming issues and to promote his appearance in Portland, contact myself, Cascade’s Climate Change analyst, Todd Wynn, and I can help you set it up.

toddw — Thu March 12th 3:55p.m.

White Hart Forge School of Traditional Blacksmithing and Ornamental Iron.  We run this school from our shop and teach students the basics in the trade of the blacksmith.  We have students come to us that are looking for a trade because they are laid off or need to change careers.  We work with the Portland State Sculpture Co-op to help add to their studies in iron art and sculpture. We have also taken on apprentices from the university who trade work for the experience in a shop.  We are also starting classes for the community that relate to making your own garde and farm tools.  As many people are creating their own Victory gardens they are looking for ways of " Tooling it yourself". We teach how to build these tools or repair old ones and how to use recycled steel to make them.  its all very much hands on for the student.  Please add this to Monday's show.

Thanks

whitehart — Fri March 13th 2:27p.m.

I urge you to do show on the closing, earlier this month, of the Oregon Historical Society's Research Library. Although the trustees of OHS have now authorized reopening the facility with a reduced staff and hours, as of yet there is no long-term funding or plan to permanently keep the facility open to researchers, students, and the public. At an open forum for members of OHS on Tuesday, 3/17, the trustees held a "listening" session where dozens of very distressed members addressed such issues as 1) what the real mission of the OHS is, 2) why the membership, impacted staff, and current students and researchers using the library were giving virtually no advance notice of the closing,  3) why the membership was not appealed to for specific funding to prevent such a drastic action 4) whether or not, when the library reopens, long-term experienced archivists and other staff will be rehired or if new and inexperienced staff will replace them, and  5) what the obligation of the society is to the many donors of manuscripts and other material given to the library for safekeeping to be held in perpetuity. In addition to inviting the director and/or members of the board, I would suggest you invite impacted staff members to comment on the situation. Prof. Stephen Beckham, Professor of History at Lewis and Clark, would be an excellent person to invite to speak. He presented to the board two specific examples of historical societies which have put their collections in storage in order to focus on their libraries and archival materials, thereby bringing increased prestige and usage to their centers.

Deborah Olsen, Linfield College, Department of History

dolsen — Wed March 18th 9:04p.m.

My husband is a former OHS employee and my family is among Oregon's pioneers.  It hurts to think of the loss of Oregon history and the means to preserve and share it that results from this decision.  How is it that our state gave up keeping these materials in a state archive?  Since we enturusted it to OHS, don't we have the responsibility as a state to keep the funding coming or take back the materials?

Tiffany Yelton Bram

Tyelton — Fri March 20th 10:25a.m.

Deborah Olsen,

Thanks very much for this suggestion. We'll be doing the show tomorrow.

Best regards,

Dave Miller

David Miller — Mon March 23rd 12:55p.m.

I don't get to hear the show every day, so I may have missed this if you did it already.

Arts education in the schools.  With all the cuts (due to budget constraints), it seems the thing that gets cut first is music programs.  This is deplorable.  The opponents say "We need to concentrate on Reading, Writing, and 'Rithmetic."  To quote Mr. Holland in a movie that was filmed here in Oregon, by the way, "take away art, and they'll have nothing to read or write about."

It has been scientifically proven that children who learn a musical instrument also learn all subjects (especially math) far more effectively than their classmates who don't study music.  In other words, if you want to teach a kid anything, teach her music first.

Tax-payers should recognize this as a long-term savings.  You think education is expensive, try ignorance.

I am a board member of South West Music School (www.swmusicschool.org).  Among other things, we are partnering with a few area schools to bring music education back into the schools.  The whole board would love for our organization not to be necessary, which will only happen when taxpayers decide a full education is worth paying for.

Though I'm sure you can find guest speakers, I offer myself.  As a music educator for almost 20 years, I feel I'm fairly knowledgable on the topic.

TheGrungeDiva — Thu March 19th 11:35p.m.

Suggestion: Cohousing

Cohousing is a form of intentional community that orginated in Denmark several decades ago.  It is having a boom here in Portland with three mature communities, an all rental community, an ecovillage, a community under construction and many other groups of people talking about forming their own communities.  It would be interesting to ask these communities why cohousing and why now?  And how these communities see themselves and their place here.  It is interesting to note how these communities are growing and building at a time when other housing and construction is declining.

Cohousing is not only often created to be environmentally sustainable but it is also "socially" sustainable, giving community members a social network.

In June, Seattle will host the 2009 National Cohousing Conference.  This confernece will bring together representatives of the hundred plus communities around the country.  (www.cohousing.org/2009/overview)

There will be activities here tied to the conference, including a tour of Daybreak Cohousing, under construction now. 

Tiffany Yelton Bram

www.daybreakcohousing.org

Tyelton — Fri March 20th 10:38a.m.

Please consider a program on Outdoor Education in Oregon. There is an increased awareness of the importance of these opportunities for students as described in Richard Louv's "Last Child in the Woods" and the "No Child Left Inside" legslation.

Resource: Environmental Education Association of Oregon <eeao.org>

I enjoy your program,

John

johng — Fri March 20th 7:35p.m.

I have been in Oregon about seven years and, about a year or two after arrival, OPB broadcast a report on proposed sculptures along the Columbia River by Maya Lin commemorating Lewis and Clark.  I'm an ardent dawn-to-dusk listener of OPB and I recently realized that I never heard a followup on the sculptures or any dedication ceremony.  I'd love to hear a follow-up on the story.  Thank you.  

Constance — Mon March 23rd 7:32p.m.

Here's a suggestion for tax time....

In preparing our taxes, we found a mistake from a charitable organisation that said we gave twice the ammount we actually gave, ie, we could claim 2x the deduction.

We'll claim the proper amount and not take advantage of their mistake, but the temptation is there.

How about a show on the corrosive impact on morals by our government?  The corruption in our tax laws (read loopholes and targeted tax exemptions) leads us to think "the Congress is cheating us, why not cheat on our taxes?"

I think the larger topic could be explored from several angles:

  - tax law encourages cheating

  - Congressmen that spout family values and then are caught with a mistress

  - etc.

John Providenza

John Providenza — Tue March 24th 9:55a.m.

Again, and probably voiced by others, I would like to suggest a show about the Chevron oil spill trial in Ecuador. It would might be a fitting complement to OPB's series on South American countries currently airing. 

John Denton

aka bob zimway

johndenton46 — Tue March 24th 10:47a.m.

John,

Thanks for this suggestion — here and at your DailyKos page. We've also gotten a few emails asking the same question.

I understand the connection that some people have made between PBS sponsorship and this Chevron story, but I can't really see a prominent regional resonance -- a way to talk about this issue with and for a northwest audience.

Do you?

Dave

David Miller — Thu March 26th 2:44p.m.

I would love to hear a show about Student Loan debt. There is a movement of people who believe it would be wiser to forgive student debt than to bail out banks and large corporations in order to save the economy. I tend to agree, but I am also biased as I have a large amount of student loans.  I'd love to hear other perspectives on this.  For more information:  www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Real-Economic-Stimulus-Forgive-Student-Loans

The movement is also very active on Facebook...

Thanks,

JSK

Goddess4515 — Tue March 24th 3:51p.m.

  You need to do a story on Connor and Tavvi who were forcefully taken from school and home by Virginia DHS workers.  This deserves the time and attention that only OPB and Think OUT Loud can provide.  Seriously, this is a time sensitive story and you should bump other stories to cover this.  I think there is a lot of opinion out there on this story but also other recent stories about DHS injustices and serious errors in judgement. Even if you don't believe Think out Loud is the appropriate forum for this discussion it should have better coverage than the local tiny sound bites they've done so far.

http://www.katu.com/news/41722177.html  

http://www.katu.com/news/41722177.html

http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_032409_news_custody_siblings_virginia.6a7304a9.html

I hope you consider this.

Thanks,

Zoe

Inochizo — Tue March 24th 9:37p.m.

This article is based on a report from the National Academy of Sciences. It describes a disaster (a strong solar storm) that could knock out electrical power in this country for years.

It'd be nice to see this "go viral" to ensure that measures were taken to protect the electrical grid and prevent this disaster.

kraznayazvezda — Sat March 28th 12:48p.m.

I am curious if it is possible to answer this question.

What is the purpose and therefore the scope of the state government of Oregon, today?

There of course follows many questions such as when the government is exceeding the scope or not meeting the scope just how is that measured by the citizenry and how can the citizenry get the attention of the government.

To be clear I am NOT proposing this question from a partisan perspective as I hold that the R's and the D's have summarily failed, and can now be simply referred to as Sneetches!

Desolation — Wed April 1st 9:07a.m.

Show suggestion:

Ceasar Chavez Street renaming proposal.   

With the failure to rename Interstate Ave. last year, this issue has resurfaced and hearing are currently being held throughout the city.  Along Inner NE Broadway I have seen several restaurants, bars, and other businesses with petitions to stop the renaming of Broadway.  I have not seen any petitions supporting the renaming along Broadway. 

I know the Interstate meetings got pretty testy, but it would be interesting to hear from businesses and neighbors that the renaming will effect. 

I get the feeling that not very many people in the city are supporting the renaming effort.  I am not comfortable with the city spending money to rename streets when they can't fill potholes or as Mayor Adams said yesterday "connect communities within the UGB." In the midst of a once in a hundred year depression, is the city's focus misplaced? What kind of economic impact will this have on stuggling businesses along Grand, Broadway, or 39th ave. who will have to pay for new signs, business cards, etc.?

Thanks for the consideration,

Cubilist     

Cubilist — Wed April 1st 12:54p.m.

This is a discussion that pops up regularily with my group of friends, most of us have spent our entire lives in North Portland, and it was interesting to see the reactions to Portland Blvd. Being renamed Rosa Parks way.  It always got intense and even people who agreed with each other did so for completley different reasons.  Renaming streets seems to be a hot topic, and now more than ever the issue of public cost incurred seems to affect people across the politcal spectrum.

My two cents, the City of Portland spends too much time on "pet projects" and really needs to focus on things the people need

uncommonsense — Thu April 2nd 10:31a.m.

As I might have guessed:

April 2nd.

"A survey of property owners and residents of three streets proposed to be renamed for Cesar Chavez found strong majorities opposed to the change.

The postcard survey, conducted by the city auditor's office, is required by the city code.

Here are the results:

• Broadway: support, 73; opposed, 1,276

• Grand Avenue: support, 69; opposed, 372

• 39th Avenue: support, 91; opposed, 694.

According to Andrew Carlstrom, city elections officer, the survey was mailed March 2, with the postcards due to the auditor April 1. The return rate was between 41.1 percent and 47.7 percent."

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/04/overwhelming_no_on_survey_to_r.html

Cubilist — Fri April 3rd 7:08a.m.

This thread is now closed. But April's is here:

http://www.opb.org/thinkoutloud/blog/april-show-ideas/

David Miller — Tue April 14th 2:26p.m.

Comments are now closed.