2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session 2013 special election arts arts and culture author ballot measures bomb books budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal 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 international internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana 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 portland mayor president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes television terrorism theater third parties timber payments transportation union university of oregon violence washington water wildfire women

The kicker should go.  If you look at how far the rebates to individuals would go to funding education, then it makes sense.  The education system is our future.  It looks like the Tigard-Tualatin libraries will be closed next year.  How on earth are we going teach young children without libraries?

I was one of the unfortuate ones that fell victim to Quicken's software malfunction a few years ago and donated all my kicker when it checkeded my form 40.  It was my fault for not seeing it when I mailed it.  In retrospect, I am glad the money went to the schools.

posted 2 years, 3 months ago
view in context

"The signature of climate change is in the increased amplitude and frequency of extreme events."  This was my answer to a reporter in 1993.

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
view in context

Hey Salem, Can You Spare a School Library? 

Now it's official.  The Tigard-Tualatin School Board voted to terminate the Media Assistant library positions at all 10 Tigard Tualatin School District elementary schools.  So what does this mean to our children?  Plenty. 

The Media Assistants are the engines that make the library run.  They work with every child in the school to check books in and out.  Many of them know every child's name and what they like to read.  They shelve thousands of books, check in new books, inventory the library at the end of the year, and several operate the computer lab.  They can also monitor the lunch room and make sure that your children get on the right bus to go home.   

The school district will fully staff the Media Specialist (librarian) positions, however without the Media Assistants they will be captains of ships without engines.  The library is a safe harbor for our children.  Their minds can wander the library aisles and grab a favorite book to take home.  It is likely that library hours will be reduced and books will go unshelved and unavailable for our children. 

The impacts of this decision can't be quantified beyond a budget line item on a spreadsheet.  How can one predict the impacts of books not read by a child seeking knowledge?  The legislature needs to meet and focus on funding the literacy of our children and keep this ship of knowledge moving forward.  It is the best investment we can make.

posted 2 years, 11 months ago
view in context

For your radio host:  NOAA - Administration, not Association is the last "A" in NOAA.  I worked for that agency for 15 years of my 33 in federal service.

posted 3 years, 11 months ago
view in context

Don't forget that you can pick up an "Earth Machine" compost device from METRO!  The cost is $47.  503-234-3000.

We are our disposal a rest and reducing our landfill contribution!

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
view in context