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robynthegeek's comments:
on The Meaning of Marriage
I see Ms. Gallagher defining the meaning of marriage as a state institution that recognizes and confers rights upon marriages that create (or could possibly create) children.
I see her opposition to gay marriages as primarily that they can not reproduce, but she also recognizes that marriage confers benefits from the state. Benefits that people in gay unions are being held back from.
Is there a reason that these men and women should not have the same benefits (health care, taxes, social acceptability) as straight couples gain through marriage? It seems unfair to me that the state should confer benefits upon one group, but not another based on either their gender, or their reproductive ability.
Does Ms. Gallagher agree/disagree?
posted 2 years, 4 months ago
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on Spore to Spoon: Mushrooms in Oregon
Another option to save mushrooms:
They can be dry sauteed and frozen. I've saved Chanterelles for nearly a year this way and they stay tender!
posted 2 years, 6 months ago
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on Involuntary Commitment
What I really think we need is an intermediary step between no help at all and commitment to a mental institution. Something like a probation system for people who need mental help. Each person would have a psychiatrist to check in with regularly and get treatment, though they might still live independently and have a job.
My other concern is that emergency or low-cost psychiatric help is nearly impossible to find in Portland. A friend had a mental health emergency last year and despite my best efforts, I could find no help for someone who had no insurance. The school he was attending offered him an appointment months out, and then refused to treat him based on an old seizure disorder (when he was a child). We ended up staying with him ourselves until he felt like he could support himself because we didn't want to call in a 5150 as being in a hospital would not have helped him.
What I'd really like to see is funding for easy to find, less expensive mental help. Therapy is so expensive, and it's very hard to get into the system without insurance.
posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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on The Face of Race
Are programs that offer assistance to the impoverished community without regard to race or ethnicity a solution to this problem?
posted 3 years ago
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on The Face of Race
What would you prefer? White is the name we've chosen for ourselves for at least a hundred years...
posted 3 years ago
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on The Face of Race
The only thing I found shocking or surprising about this report were the comments from other Oregon residents on the Oregonian article about the PSU study.
Nearly every comment (now deleted) included terribly racist stereotypes of people of color as alternately: lazy, having too many children, stupid, liars (as though they had made up the results of the study.) To see such comments openly made was frankly, disgusting. Confronting these commenters only seemed to increase their racist invective.
Having come from a society where I grew up as a white 'minority' in a largely black, hispanic and southeast Asian population, the differences between Portland and more diverse communities are readily apparent.
Of course I'm also concerned about the failure of Portland's attempts to better educate our whole population and reduce inequality for all populations, but we're unlikely to actually succeed in our endeavors until we attack the roots of personal prejudice and racism as well as institutional racism.
posted 3 years ago
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on The Big One
I believe earthquakes are unlikely to be long enough to move locations, and moving during the quake is dangerous anyway. Advice from experts is to shelter under a strong piece of furniture until the shaking stops, then move to safety. You can also retrofit your home ahead of time!
posted 3 years ago
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on The Big One
I lived in California and was government trained in disaster response. I've lived through earthquakes small and large. Moving to Oregon was fairly shocking in that there is almost no earthquake preparation by comparison. This is especially surprising considering that our building codes have not been as strict as CA, so our houses and businesses would not fare well.
The good news is it's not too hard to prepare. Have camping supplies? Put them into a large water resistant container with canned food, fuel and water for your family for at least 5 days. Make sure it's accessible (as close to the outside as possible). Many preparation kits are available online, as are instructions for building your own kit. Consider preparing your house (bolting your house to the foundation can be fairly inexpensive and may raise your home value). Be prepared! This is your opportunity to be a hero for your own household; make a plan for your family!
-Robyn Klopp
posted 3 years ago
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on Rx: The Final Health Care Bill
I personally am glad that my partner (who posted above) will have a chance to purchase in the future coverage he's had to return to school to get.
posted 3 years, 1 month ago
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on Rx: The Final Health Care Bill
I am a healthy, active 25 year old male. I eat healthy, exercise every day, and have no health issues which require regular doctor visits. Last year, I applied for health insurance and was quickly rejected. I can only conceive of two reasons for this: My having been without insurance for the prior year, or my knee surgery 10 years ago.
This bill means that I, and other young people like me, need not fear rejection because we might threaten some companies bottom line.
posted 3 years, 1 month ago
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on Religious Clothing in the Classroom
I feel that we can fairly safely separate symbols (as in Crosses, political symbols, other religious symbols) from clothing.
I think teachers should be allowed to cover their bodies in whatever way they choose within reasonable and modest norms. I think headscarves, turbans, long dresses, yarmulkes etc, have many cultural meanings also associated with them and may not necessarily be obviously religious.
A giant gold cross, a star of david, 'allah' or a jesus fish has only one message, one of faith and should probably be banned simply on proselytizing grounds.
posted 3 years, 3 months ago
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on Oregon Meth
Ron Wyden has clearly never been uninsured.
When I was living well below the poverty level I had neither insurance to go to a doctor, or the ability to take time off of work when I had a cold.
When you can't afford to take time off of work, sometimes a little Tylenol and a decongestant are the difference between feeling well enough to go to work and feed your family or not. According to a Portland pharmacist, the decongestants sold over the counter in Oregon "simply don't work".
I don't see what the substantive difference is between making pseudoephedrine prescription only and having to register for it at the pharmacy with your driver's license and getting only a few boxes a year (as seems to be the case in other states). Getting only a few boxes a year would probably stop smurfing.
Both would severely limit access, but severely restricting access through a pharmacy would preserve access for the poor, who need it most.
posted 3 years, 3 months ago
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on Reporting Abuse
We don't just have an obligation to report abuse, but also to fund those who fight the abuse. DHS is grossly underfunded and we can't expect them to be fully functional unless we give them good training, a reasonable caseload and money to fully reimburse foster parents.
DHS also has its hands tied by the vague rules about what is needed to take a child out of a home and a fear of lawsuits if they move too quickly.
-Robyn
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on Sex Ed
And a question for your state expert...
What does Oregon law say about sexuality education as regards medical accuracy (a big problem with fear-based abstinence programs), and gender and sexuality non-discrimination?
Thank you!
posted 3 years, 6 months ago
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on Sex Ed
As a long time advocate of CSE, I wonder why there is still any debate or question about abstinence only education. No study has found greater value in education that only teaches abstinence over CSE (In fact, studies show that students are LESS likely to use condoms or birth control when they eventually do become active). Nearly every prominent American medical organization emphasizes that CSE is the most effective type of education.
Lets also remember that an important part of sexuality curricula is mental health. How to communicate with partners, how to prevent rape by ensuring consent and recognize and avoid abusive behaviors. CSE offers this, by definition Abstinence only education does not.
As an advocate, I spent my high school years working for an organization that held press conferences, wrote articles, and eventually successfuly lobbied the school board and state legislature to make CSE a requirement for all students. The program that came to our school had a strong and visible effect on the local teen birth rate that was very encouraging.
posted 3 years, 6 months ago
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on No Place to Call Home: Chronic Homelessness
As a former homeless advocate, there will always be some segment of people who live on the street. And I doubt it will be for lack of trying. There is a segment of the homeless population who either prefers life on the street, or is not mentally able to tolarate the confinement and control that life in shelters necessarily brings.
As people who strive to reduce homelessness we have to remember to offer people a choice, and understand if they refuse offers of assistance.
posted 3 years, 7 months ago
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on As We Are: Illiteracy
Thank you Judith! These are the kinds of resources I was hoping for =)
posted 3 years, 11 months ago
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on As We Are: Illiteracy
Working in the restaurant industry many of my coworkers are from countries where they did not have the chance to learn to read (in english, and sometimes in any language).
I was wondering if your guests had any advice on how to offer assistance to coworkers who might struggle with language. Thus far I have resisted so as not to embarrass my friends, but I know they are passed up for better positions without the necessary reading skills. Are there any local (to Portland) resources I can post in the break room? Any other suggestions for how to connect my friends with ways to build reading and language skills without hurting their feelings?
Thanks!
-Robyn
posted 3 years, 11 months ago
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on Grow Your Own
You can still grow food!
Build a few raised beds and buy a unit of soil, this shouldn't run you more than a few hundred $$ for some good sized beds.
Or, for a cheaper solution, some pots and a few bags of soil. I grew my garden all in pots for less than $40.
posted 4 years, 1 month ago
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on Grow Your Own
Hadn't seen anyone address gardening for those of us who do not have a yard. As an apartment dweller in the big city I finally got a chance to plant a balcony garden this week. I've got many herbs, strawberries, lettuce, sweet peas, primroses, green onions and chard started. Just wanted to let other apartment dwellers know that it's possible to start an apartment, or even an indoor garden inexpensively. I save money just on the cost of herbs alone!
Robyn K.
(Thanks for reading my comment!) And in reply, no, none of the vegetables are 'up' quite yet but the herbs, which I can eat year-round.
posted 4 years, 1 month ago
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