2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes technology terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

I was a Friends of Bagby during the early/mid 80's. The periods of peace, sanity and cleanliness were times when there was a strong presence of volunteers, which brought lots of family usage and had at least moral support from the Forest Service.

Things fell apart several times, when the Forest Service budget meant a cut in committment or when volunteer management fell away.

The Key factor about Bagby is that it is a NATURAL hot springs not a hot spring spa. Volunteer individuals and groups took great pains to maintain a low-key, natural looking system. Often at our own expense, which sometimes was more than less, and always was a committment of time and effort.

Going for profit does lead to 'commercialization' in all its ugly meaning. If I heard correctly, the natural tubs we (I was there, not I did it) hewed by hand will be replaced from outside sources. That and for-profit fees are examples of that commercialization.

It was a delight to be there when it was relatively unspoiled by toll booths and ticket takers.

And yes, it was a family place. One fond memory is a kid saying to his Daddy, "I'm fweezing, Daddy" asking to get back into the tub. Or the elderly Japanese lady who came often and alone.

Volunteer effort CAN be maintained with a minimum expense but vital support by the Forest Service. At one time Bagby was written up as an example within the Forest Service of volunteer effort.

and, Hi, FOB'ers! I'm the one with that guy in the white hat...

posted 2 years, 5 months ago
view in context

So, the purpose is to PREVENT or ELIMINATE terrorism.

If the purpose is to prevent terrorism then the logical action would be to talk someone OUT of planting a bomb.

 Someone said the group this young man was in was all FBI plus him – is that accurate?  Even if not, regarding implanted agents – I have long thought that it could be the one comment, the one encouragement that sent over the edge the _____ (fill in the blank enemy). I hope FBI out there infiltrating are talking potential threats down and expect that we would not hear about them. Good job.

 If the purpose is to eliminate terrorism, then becoming aware of why people do it must be addressed. I agree with the speaker’s comment that that list of complaints about US actions would be 100% objectionable to us if the same were directed at us.

Living in Portland, I feel the same way I did after 9/11: that it is incredibly sad, do not give in to fear, do not act rashly, find out why and how it happened and do something about the root causes.

The effect of the FBI letting this grow to public action is to increase fear.

posted 2 years, 5 months ago
view in context