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trurl9's comments:
on Live from Salem
Did Frankie ever consider working somewhere else? What does Frankie recommend that Oregon government do to get back on its feet? What will Frankie do when she stops working for the state? Thank you, Frankie, for your commitment to Oregon.
posted 2 years, 1 month ago
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on Finding Work
lesjoel,
It's too bad you swiped at "deficiencies in my attitude". You don't know me. Why didn't you address the issue that there are employers who treat employees like garbage? The way you expressed your response to my post proves my point. If I don't meet your criteria for "acceptible attitude" then I'm deemed a poor quality candidate. Your response to my post makes you sound righteous and arrogant.
What am I supposed to do when an employer who've I've earned a million-plus dollars for decides to cut my pay 25%? Clap him on the back and congratulate him for running his business efficiently? My employer failed to consider my contribution to the company's bottom line and chose to perceive me as an expense to be cut. I left that company because I couldn't afford the pay cut.
I suppose you'd say, "It's just business," but I'm not here to assume things about you. I don't know you either. C'est la vie.
posted 2 years, 1 month ago
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on Finding Work
She is "creative". Nice! Do you know how I can contact this outgoing recruit?
<Cheshire Cat grin>
I found my last job by walking into a shop and asking. I was hired immediately even though I was overqualified (so was everybody else there.) I said, "Don't worry about me, this is what I want. This is a job I'd do for free if I could afford to." I worked seven years for the company and it was great.
Haven't had a sniff of a job since. Not that I'm trying too hard to sell myself back into voluntary servitude. Working for others isn't as fun as it used to be. There are many nasty things that have evolved across the employment spectrum over the last two decades that are worrisome.
Employers that expect workers to be on call 24-7 is the most offensive condition I've encountered. I applied for a position that was responsible for maintaining a billion-dollar project and they wanted the candidate to be on call 24-7. I was asked, "Are you willing to hop on a plane at 1 A.M. Christmas morning and fly to Japan to solve problems?" No. Too little pay for a huge amount of responsibility. I prefer a diet free of anti-acids.
I've heard that some professional/technical employees have to be in their seat on time or they get marked tardy. What the heck is that - grade school?
posted 2 years, 1 month ago
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on Live from Salem
The kicker is seldom implemented so I want it to go away. Part of the process of making government function better is getting rid of poorly functioning and unecessary legislation and legalese.
Government is by the people and for the people. What good is legalese if the public is incapable of interpreting what is meant without having a law degree or hiring lawyers? Legalese is a pejorative term for "legal obfuscation". What are politicians and lawyers hiding that they don't want the public to understand?
There should be less legislation, and the laws and rules that remain should be well thought out, communicated and understood by citizens. Our current system feels held together by thousands of band aids that bog down systems from functioning effectively. The tax system is too complex and time consuming, for example.
How are we to prepare for a megaquake? We need to bring our level of preparation beyond the current level of Japanese mastery. One mistake we make is super-scaling everything. Instead of lots of smaller hospitals and businesses we tend to build mega hospitals and Walmarts that may be less expensive to operate but they'll become single points of failure in the event of a natural catastrophe. Perhaps we should plan and build self sustaining small communities inside larger communities to eliminate being hamstrung by single points of failure.
Our reliance on cars is a disadvantage given the highway infrastructure's relative lack of megaquake resistance. I'm surprised the I-5 Marquam Bridge is deemed to be in bad shape and unprepared for a megaquke even though it has been seismically retrofitted. The Marquam bridge is about 40 years old.
Portland is built on a basin of deposits which will jiggle like jello when the "Big One" occurs. After the Spring Break Quake in 1993 many reinforced their house's attachment to its foundation. Will houses seismically retrofitted this way survive a megaquake? Nope. And are our insurance policies going to pay the full replacement cost of our destroyed homes and businesses? Nope. Most earthquake insurance coverage has pages of legalese excluding non-covered damages.
Oregon is wise to say "no" to nuclear power and we should keep it that way forever. On this topic there need be no more discussion or an attempt to compromise. I will never agree that nuclear energy is "safe". Nuclear energy is especially dangerous given that we live in a place prone to catastrophic and recurring natural events. Reed College and Oregon State University still have nuclear research reactors and I hope they're prepared for the consequences of a megaquake. Doubt it because not all the negative outcomes can be foreseen as the Fukushima nuclear power station is teaching us - yet again. How many Three Mile Islands, Chernobyl's and Fukushimas do we need to get it through our thick heads that nuclear energy is a bad gamble?
When are we going to get serious about energy conservation?
posted 2 years, 2 months ago
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on More Topics on Think Out Loud?
I like what Scottmil said. I don't want a re-vamped TOL (Think Out Loud) to turn into texts and tweets. One hour is not nearly enough time for many subjects TOL introduces.
Nuclear energy in the wake of events in Japan requires much in-depth discussion, thinking and soul searching. Instead of speeding up the show I could see a single sentence being debated for an hour.
Why is the format of TOL being changed? What do you expect to accomplish by changing the format? I like the current format but I'm curious to see what else TOL can do. I'll let you know if I get lost along the way. Refresh the format so we don't get frozen statically within the habits of our expectations.
Currently it seems more emphasis is given to telephone calls, but that can hardly be blamed since the quality of the blog participation has taken a negative hit. For the radio format, phone conversations are easier to parse than overly-long, complex, and often tangential blog entries.
Since Obama became president I find myself wracked with negative information overload. We've been constantly switched on since 2008. Economic crisis in the U.S. and world. Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The unrest in the Middle East and Africa. Several big earthquakes and tsunamis around the globe. The fear an stupidity of knee-jerk reactions by people who've lost sight of, and confidence in, our hard-won systems of governance and liberty.
Yep, we've entered "interesting times" according to the Chinese curse. I hope the TOL crew doesn't burn out during their day-after-day pursuit of topics to discuss. I hope you have sufficient time to decompress and meditate on your experiences. I hope you take time off for other things even if TOL is what gets you out of bed every day.
Keep it real. Keep it fresh. Keep TOL relevant and meaningful. I remain thankful and appreciative of what TOL accomplishes.
posted 2 years, 2 months ago
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on Strategic Default
Sought to buy a house in the early 1990s. I didn't like the conditions: interest rate on mortgage too high, not sure my job was secure. I didn't buy the house because I didn't want to risk being foreclosed if something went wrong. I had never considered walking away from a contract I signed. Does integrity still have meaning? Just because fat cats walk away from busted deals doesn't mean I should. I would prefer to avoid sinking to their level.
posted 2 years, 2 months ago
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on Strategic Default
How did big banks end up with huge portfolios of bad loans? Was it the goal of big banks to acquire massive amounts of real estate because they knew many of their customers couldn't afford to repay their mortgages given the softness of the economy? Cynically, the housing bubble looks like the biggest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich in recent times.
posted 2 years, 2 months ago
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on Strategic Default
Thank you, Dave. I agree with Penny_From_Eugene. I read some of the blog comments this morning and thought this is a waste of time; the online contribution has deteriorated too much over the last several months.
But I want to stick around because I appreciate and respect what you and the TOL crew do. TOL exposes me to possibilities outside my wheel house. I gained much needed rumination from reading The Other Wes Moore. I look forward to reading more TOL book recommendations. I'm also encouraged that TOL provides access and insight into the nebulous world of regional government.
I view the current deterioration of the TOL blog as an opportunity to practice compassion and non judgement. Some days are better than others though.
Thank you for illuminating many paths to better ways of being.
posted 2 years, 2 months ago
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on Food Access
Noticing how services available in suburbs aren't available in inner northeast Portland. A friend has to drive to Vancouver, Gresham or Hillsboro to get his Chyrsler product factory serviced. Whole Foods is a mile away. Safeways are two and three miles away. At least a hospital is close. Gas stations in this area bend customers over and there are few of them. Mostly a residential community with small businesses lining main thoroughfares. Need to bring jobs closer to our homes in order to minimize or eliminate commutes.
posted 2 years, 2 months ago
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on Tsunami
Unfortunately, Portland and the Willamette Valley are built on layers of sediment deposited by the ice age floods. Inland western Oregon might not fare well in a 9.0 magnitude earthquake. How do you prepare for something so catastrophic? Get your emergency preparedness kit setup in your garage and hope for the best.
Considered moving to Costa Rica but learned of really bad earthquakes there. Vacationed down the street from an active volcano which erupted occasionally. That was neat in small doses.
New Zealand was sweet but there are thermal vents posted "out of bounds" on golf courses for crying out loud. And we know what happened to poor Christchurch. Walked around Auckland New Zealand from extinct volcano to extinct volcano, and visited Rangitoto Island which errupted 800 years ago. Constant reminders the Earth is always in motion.
Considered Kansans or Arkansas, but learned this week that natural gas companies have shut down two hydraulic fracturing wells in Arkansas because there have been 800 earthquakes in the area, the largest being 4.7 magnitude a few days ago. This area hasn't had an earthquake of that magnitude in 35 years. Humans might be causing localized earthquakes with their oil and gas exploration activites. Nifty, hunh?
posted 2 years, 2 months ago
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on Tsunami
How come the richter scale number bounces all over the place during reporting? Who is an authoritative source for the actual magnitude of the earthquake: the USGS?
Thank you for covering this event. My heart goes out to the Japanese and all those affected.
posted 2 years, 2 months ago
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on The Culture of Pimping
What role do pimps play in Oregon's sex trafficking trade?
As a multi-racial person I have no direct experience with pimps or prostitution because it overly affects my racial group. I've observed prostitution activity along MLK boulevard but steer clear.
I grew up seeing "blacksploitation" movies Like Super Fly, Shaft and many others in which the lady's man, pimp, hustler was a hero. But I separated reality from entertainment and moved along. Sex trafficking creates suffering through thoughtlessness, depravity and self destruction.
Since people are going to engage in prostitution it should be legalized. Meanwhile sex trafficking needs to be stopped. Difficult situation to be sure. Prostitution isn't going away unless we get lucky and promote several more centuries of enlightenment. Good luck with that.
How does their depiction in popular culture affect law enforcement efforts to curb human trafficking in the state?
Media depictions of pimps and prostitution made it easier for law enforcement to profile stupid miscreants who decided to model their lives based on what they perceived via media. A Cadillac with the "pimp" personalized license plate makes a pretty good target for police.
Generally, the existence of pimps and prostitutes represent a middle finger to "civilized" society. The message is, "If I can't be accepted in this society as a fairly-treated and contributing member then I'm going to flaunt my contempt for you by getting paid while saying 'f-you'." In this sense, sex trafficking represents rebellion against a racist, elitist society that profits from supporting a permanent underclass. At least that's how some oppressed people view the situation.
What new laws and programs are helping stop sex traffickers?
Today I'm not aware of the new anti-sex-traffic laws. Seems like the job has gotten much harder now that sex traffickers use the Internet and more discretion. Prostitution on the street is not as obvious as it used to be.
Pornography, where women and men are "paid" for sexual performance, is not prosecuted as prostitution. Adult clubs, where sex traffic business can be conducted, thrive.
I've heard that johns' cars can be impounded and their crime reported publicly.
I'm most aware that female prostitutes are harassed most while they suffer the brunt of male exploitation. Law enforcement efforts against prostitution always seemed backward.
I caught a john and prostitute "conducting a business transaction" in his car in front of my house. I shined my flashlight in the car and made enough of a nuisance of myself that they pulled up their clothes and sped into the night. Three cheers for coitus interruptus! So gross to find exploited condoms in my yard. Fortunately that hasn't happened recently; prostitution has moved to someone elses' front yard.
posted 2 years, 2 months ago
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on The Role of Unions
In the past I've been influenced by people who were anti-certain-unions and pro-other-unions.
Immigrant farm workers needed unions to get better wages and work conditions. Unionized American automotive workers were paid too much to produce crappy cars in the 1970s.
I've had a few jobs where I was threatened with having to pay union dues even if I wasn't represented, but that made no sense. I've worked technical jobs without union representation. If I didn't like how I was treated by management I found another job.
In current times management of private and public entities are anti worker so I'd consider joining a union today to advocate for being treated fairly. The voice of the individual worker needs to be augmented by the power of group representation.
posted 2 years, 2 months ago
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on Wes Moore
Please ignore this vague question. I asked it before finishing the book. Each youngster is unique and might be best served with a customized tool box of solutions as well as personalized attention.
posted 2 years, 2 months ago
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on Wes Moore
Finished The Other Wes Moore at 0247 on 03/07/2011. This book dredged up a lot of stuff I've buried or mulled for 30 years. I seldom read a book in a day but Moore's story is complex, compelling and personally meaningful. A thought provoking page turner. Good choice Think Out Loud and Multnomah County Libraries. Bravo to Wes Moore for writing a classic for this age.
I'm hopeful Moore will be a catalyst to help blacks and whites talk and work through animosity and misunderstanding. I suppose folk will experience enlightenment, wisdom and peace when they're ready. It won't be forced by mandate. The last paragraph on page 160 and the first paragraph on page 161 talk about "privileged legacy" and that struck a chord.
A friend at Howard University invited me to see Reverend Farrahkan speak. I told him I would not listen to Farrahkan's racist rhetoric because early in my life many whites and jews gave me friendship, education, training and work. I would not turn against those who weren't my enemy.
Years later I worked for a company with 1,000 employees. During the decade I worked there I was often the only "black" employee. As a young "black" male I remember feeling philosophical and sad. "Are black people hated or feared so much that they can't get a job here? What qualities do I have that allow me to be employed here? Certainly there are capable black people beside me so why aren't they working there?" I didn't seek these questions; they asked themselves because they were obvious. At most there were five blacks working throughout the entire company at any particular time.
FREEDOM
posted 2 years, 2 months ago
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on Wes Moore
Wes, I recently re-read Ellison's Invisible Man so I'm 1,000 percent encouraged that you wrote The Other Wes Moore. Thank you. You've given me a transfusion of hope as we try to take the next dumb step forward together.
How would you encourage young black males to pursue education and build opportunity for themselves rather than be cool and follow fools?
posted 2 years, 2 months ago
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on Wes Moore
Early in the book (around page 17) Moore describes how Reagan cutting Pell Grants impeded his mom's ability to earn her college degree. During that time I attended historically black Howard University in Washington, D.C.
So many Howard students received financial aid that the cutoff caused a semester's registration to be invalidated. When I arrived to start the new semester, all students spent several days re-registering for classes. The line of thousands snaked around the gymnasium and the atmosphere was tearful and nasty.
Several junior and senior acquintances lost their financial aid and were not able to complete their degrees as far as I recall. Unlucky students packed their bags and returned home.
I sold my campus meal ticket so a friend could attend school while I subsisted on a meal-a-day diet for the semester. I'd never experienced hunger before but the experience still resonates today.
When I returned home mom freaked out due to my weight loss, but I assured her I was fine, I was merely getting in better shape through rigorous exercise. I don't recall whether I ever told her the truth. Money and the careful stewardship of its limited supply was a thorny subject. And I didn't want to test whether my altruism would win me brownie points.
Good times.
posted 2 years, 2 months ago
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on Live from Salem
Sobriety Check Points
Not only unconstitutional but a waste of time and resources. Are we at a point of diminshing returns? How many drink drivers will slip through sobriety drag nets? More concerned by drivers talking on cell phones than drink drivers. Every day I encounter drivers who violate driving laws and they're most likely abusing drugs other than alcohol.
I will accept more risk and responsibility to keep the state out of my business. Today we seem hell bent to replace personal responsibility with excessive legislation. We don't want to pay for the government we have so why are we talking about adding another expensive and unnecessary government yoke?
posted 2 years, 2 months ago
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on Live from Salem
Faith healers should be allowed to follow their practices even if they perish in the process. As long as faith practioners don't impact the state or others with their practices, the state should butt out. Yes, people are going to die unecessarily, but that is a choice we should have has individuals.
Let's abolish the kicker. It doesn't kick in enough to warrant further use. We're in a deep hole and digging deeper while the kicker hasn't done much to offset the pain. Instead of messing around with kickers lets stabalize the economy.
The state's ability to determine what revenues will be available from an unstable system riddled with loopholels, and subject to the vagaries of man-made and environmental influences, will always behave unpredictably.
Somehow we need to disabuse ourselves that we can grow our economy or print enough cash to get out of the boom-and-bust cycles that create more harm than benefit.
E.F. Schumaker's book, Small Is Beautiful, offers ideas on how we might design sustainable economic systems that work for people and the environment. Revisit concepts like: oil is not income, it is capital.
We spend irreplaceable captial by harvesting oil. We are too slow to develop new sources of energy to replace oil. Oil will run out and we won't be able to produce more. Oil running out will particularly affect the U.S.A.
Support SB525. Decrease waste caused by unwanted phone books.
Opposed to HB2228. Bans bike baby carriers.
Most important. Insurance companies that raise health care premiums 10% per quarter without having to validate increases cause immense harm to society. Senator Chip Shields works to put teeth into the state agency that approves insurance premium rate increases.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ0pUYZHYYk
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/02/experts_tell_senate_committee.html
posted 2 years, 2 months ago
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on A Jazz Bridge
Really happy Esperanza won a Grammy. Gave me hope that Jazz will thrive another generation. The logical extension is that Jazz will continue to provoke communication and cooperation throughout the world. There are so many possibilities available to the imaginative and open minded.
posted 2 years, 2 months ago
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