This Wednesday is the second task force meeting resulting out of the legislation of State Bill 767. The bill I and many others were fighting this last spring and summer.
The first meeting was impressive and I have been amiss to not give you an update. Wednesday's meeting has all of our attention. A big wig from the National Education Association is going to speak. The more rose colored glass bespectacled folks in our group thinks he'll have good things to say. Please forgive me if I show my cards here.....he won't. He'll be trained, primed and coached in what to say from the local version of the NEA, our own Oregon Education Association. The organization that showed their true scandalous colors in this legislative session.
I can't make it, but coming up soon I'll post where you can link to listen to it live if you desire.
But in celebration of this great event, I want to invite you to click on the very reason why my children haven't stepped foot in a local public school in our area. I don't want to detract from the learning that takes place in this school, the huge efforts done by underpaid teachers in their 30-40 student classrooms, or the efforts by those who really do care. They go unnoticed a lot. I don't blame them at all. I blame the entire system that has been block by block, contract by contract, built by the OEA. The school system in our state is broken, and the OEA is a big part of that.
Click here. This is the local high school our kids are slated to go to but won't unless they are lowering me into the ground. This school is also a "red listed" high school, meaning it does not meet government standards for academic minimum requirements. We do have the option of transferring to another school, but trust me. I could find a similar article for those schools from last week. It's just jumping from one crisis school to another.
Funny how this story is only being shown on the local Fox network.
Sep 26, 2009
Sep 24, 2009
Wind Turbines
Okay, I have got my thoughts together. I have my brain wrapped around these things a little bit. I am going to show you the pics I took the other day at the wind turbines in Goldendale, WA. I want to try and communicate how immense each one of these things are. They are beyond huge. After that, I am going to give you the financial facts I know of that are impressive.
First, before ever going to the turbine fields up close I had a pretty good idea they weren't the little wind mills from the Dutch country we remember in childrens' books. By just driving along the Columbia River Gorge, I have passed numerous time a long load, three bed, flatbed truck carrying one wing of a turbine headed up to the turbine farms. Because it's so long and precarious, that flatbed truck also has a pilot car. Just passing one wing like that on the road is quite impressive. Officially those wings are 180 meters.
I have also passed one of the noses, the nub that faces into the wind, loaded on a truck. That occupies one full flat bed truck as well. Huge.
These things are so huge that there is a ladder in the center, and personnel can climb up inside, to the top, and into the wings. That was impressive to me. The turbine has to be turned off and stabilized, but several men at a time can climb out into the wings of these babies.
When climbing up the tower to get to the top, if the wind is blowing, there is enough give in that tower to sway up to six feet. I so wanted to go up in one, but we would have needed to shut it down with authorization. No go that day.
Additionally, the "thing" that sticks out behind the nose of the turbine, is a small work area for personnel that can hold up to four men. Up to four men. That was impressive. Here are the pictures.
This landowner is smart. He has not only contracted with the turbine company for his land use, but also the cell phone folks and the satellite TV folks.
Nothing but wind turbines for miles. It's amazing the curve on the wings to catch the wind.
The box that is used by personnel for maintenance can fit four men. The two little hatches there are to lower cables to string up needed tools. I do believe there is even a window there. The nose you see me standing in is on the other side of this maintenance "room".
The look inside the wing. Designed for easy access and maintenance. Several people could climb in here if needed.
Those wings we saw from afar....this is my friend at the base end opening it up.
Looking down a wing. Now look carefully. Out in the distance is Oregon. What do you see? Nothing. There are a few turbines on the Oregon side, but a sampling compared to where I am standing in Washington.
See the nose behind these wings? That is the one I was standing in.
What you can't see is that the horses were here before we were . There is quite a bit of "evidence" that this field is definitely still used by the land owner to graze critters.
This nose is huge. It is actually damaged and will be finding a different use, but definitely gives you an idea of the enormity of these turbines. Now go back to the picture above where you see turbines forever, and you get a sense of the huge amount of power and awesome size of these. Somewhere behind me, off about two or three fields, that insane killer was being captured.
Now who owns all this? A company in Germany. There are several companies and they are competing, which means there is competition for land contracts, finding the most efficient towers, etc. The competition breeds excellent in both power and customer service to the public utility and the land owners. Capitalism at it's best! Each tower is connected via internet to a company in Germany. A guy in Germany can turn off a tower if needed.
Each tower is like a free standing robot. The wings need to sense a minimum amount of wind power for several minutes. Then the tower will spin the wings to the direction for maximum wind. It will also adjust the wings ("yaw" the wings) so that the wings catch the maximum wind. We sat and watched a few turbines slowly spin and yaw trying to catch the wind. If a day is too windy, the turbines are shut down. It can be too windy and become dangerous. It is like watching a bunch of R2D2's around you.
Let me give you the facts I got. As I sit here and write this, I am bummed I didn't ask more about the actual power output of these turbines. However, I got a pretty good financial picture. When I first started asking questions of my friend, Stacy, I asked why she thought Oregon wasn't on board with this and why there were so fewer turbines in Oregon. Her answer, "Red tape and lots more permits are required in Oregon to build these." No brainer on that one.
Here is my punchlist of the economics I learned this day:
*Stacy knows all the landowners of these projects. Goldendale is an incredibly small town. Everyone knows everyone. She gave me example of example of how the turbines helped pull a landowner out of debt and prevented foreclosure. One elderly lady she referred to was living on the land her family had for generations. Her upper years were causing her some health problems and medical needs. She was about to be foreclosed on. Her $50,000 signing bonus for allowing two turbine towers on her land has averted that. Her continued contract has allowed her to live comfortably on her family's land with no worry. No worry about paying her medical bills or her needs.
*Stacy also pointed out some smart economics too. Because you have farmers that have a secondary source of income, the farming community isn't having to do annual loans like they normally have had to do. Annual loans that have dried up in the last few years. So there is less dependency on creating debt for farmers and landowners.
*The entire county of Wasco county is completely powered by wind energy.
*Birds? What about migratory birds. These companies have done huge studies of the bird patterns and put that into the equation. The turbine companies must check for "bird kill" regularly by sending teams on the farms in a grid search looking for dead birds, a necropsy is done, etc. Turbine companies are fined big bucks if an endangered bird is killed. It doesn't happen that often by design because of those fines. It's been engineered into the design. In fact, the Audubon Society endorses wind power.
*Each tower costs about a million dollars to build. I said to Stacy, "Wow, so they must get a return on that, what? Within a year?" Stacy said, "No, within a month."
*Both Oregon and Washington are in a prime position to use wind power because of the gusty Columbia Gorge, but also because of having Bonneville Dam nearby. All the needed substations are nearby to tap into. This isn't so for other states who are craving the economy of the turbines but can't because the locations have no substations easily accessible. Again, Oregon is being petty by over regulating at a permit level. Once other states make it easier for turbine companies to come in, Oregon will then figure it out and jump in the back of the line. As usual.
*Goldendale, WA has been considered the "welfare capital" of the United States because per capita there are the most people on welfare. That is changing in light of this new industry here. The turbine companies have begun a two year tech degree at a local community college to get locals trained in basic skills needed to work for these companies. People who have fiber glass experience, mining or logging experience, project management experience, now have jobs. Both labor and management jobs are being created by these farms.
*Let's list the jobs. The trucking industry I see on the gorge hauling the huge parts. The pilot car people who are contracted. Surveying company to scout the property for each turbine. The people who search for birds in a grid and document their findings. The fiber glass technicians who paint these things when they arrive with a specialized non glare paint. The crane who is contracted to lift this all up when being constructed. The construction that assembles this baby. The maintenance workers who have a ten year contract with most land owners after the initial towers are built.
So as I stand here and look over and across the river. There are a about 50-60 turbines I see in Oregon. When I look over the landscape in Washington, I am not joking, I see hundreds and hundreds of them. Don't believe me? Come with me to Goldendale and I'll show you miles and miles of them.
Washington found their gold mine and is cashing in on it. I am so glad for them and the local community I see that suddenly is growing and thriving when most small communities are dying in this economy. I wish Oregon could see that same gold mine and realize turbines could create great revenue for our state, and it doesn't need to be a tax revenue either! Just by creating the job force such an endeavor would create brings in state revenue.
It is impressive. If anyone wants to take a road tour out here, set aside a weekend day, and I'll take you out here.
First, before ever going to the turbine fields up close I had a pretty good idea they weren't the little wind mills from the Dutch country we remember in childrens' books. By just driving along the Columbia River Gorge, I have passed numerous time a long load, three bed, flatbed truck carrying one wing of a turbine headed up to the turbine farms. Because it's so long and precarious, that flatbed truck also has a pilot car. Just passing one wing like that on the road is quite impressive. Officially those wings are 180 meters.
I have also passed one of the noses, the nub that faces into the wind, loaded on a truck. That occupies one full flat bed truck as well. Huge.
These things are so huge that there is a ladder in the center, and personnel can climb up inside, to the top, and into the wings. That was impressive to me. The turbine has to be turned off and stabilized, but several men at a time can climb out into the wings of these babies.
When climbing up the tower to get to the top, if the wind is blowing, there is enough give in that tower to sway up to six feet. I so wanted to go up in one, but we would have needed to shut it down with authorization. No go that day.
Additionally, the "thing" that sticks out behind the nose of the turbine, is a small work area for personnel that can hold up to four men. Up to four men. That was impressive. Here are the pictures.
This landowner is smart. He has not only contracted with the turbine company for his land use, but also the cell phone folks and the satellite TV folks.
Nothing but wind turbines for miles. It's amazing the curve on the wings to catch the wind.
The box that is used by personnel for maintenance can fit four men. The two little hatches there are to lower cables to string up needed tools. I do believe there is even a window there. The nose you see me standing in is on the other side of this maintenance "room".
The look inside the wing. Designed for easy access and maintenance. Several people could climb in here if needed.
Those wings we saw from afar....this is my friend at the base end opening it up.
Looking down a wing. Now look carefully. Out in the distance is Oregon. What do you see? Nothing. There are a few turbines on the Oregon side, but a sampling compared to where I am standing in Washington.
See the nose behind these wings? That is the one I was standing in.
What you can't see is that the horses were here before we were . There is quite a bit of "evidence" that this field is definitely still used by the land owner to graze critters.
This nose is huge. It is actually damaged and will be finding a different use, but definitely gives you an idea of the enormity of these turbines. Now go back to the picture above where you see turbines forever, and you get a sense of the huge amount of power and awesome size of these. Somewhere behind me, off about two or three fields, that insane killer was being captured.Now who owns all this? A company in Germany. There are several companies and they are competing, which means there is competition for land contracts, finding the most efficient towers, etc. The competition breeds excellent in both power and customer service to the public utility and the land owners. Capitalism at it's best! Each tower is connected via internet to a company in Germany. A guy in Germany can turn off a tower if needed.
Each tower is like a free standing robot. The wings need to sense a minimum amount of wind power for several minutes. Then the tower will spin the wings to the direction for maximum wind. It will also adjust the wings ("yaw" the wings) so that the wings catch the maximum wind. We sat and watched a few turbines slowly spin and yaw trying to catch the wind. If a day is too windy, the turbines are shut down. It can be too windy and become dangerous. It is like watching a bunch of R2D2's around you.
Let me give you the facts I got. As I sit here and write this, I am bummed I didn't ask more about the actual power output of these turbines. However, I got a pretty good financial picture. When I first started asking questions of my friend, Stacy, I asked why she thought Oregon wasn't on board with this and why there were so fewer turbines in Oregon. Her answer, "Red tape and lots more permits are required in Oregon to build these." No brainer on that one.
Here is my punchlist of the economics I learned this day:
*Stacy knows all the landowners of these projects. Goldendale is an incredibly small town. Everyone knows everyone. She gave me example of example of how the turbines helped pull a landowner out of debt and prevented foreclosure. One elderly lady she referred to was living on the land her family had for generations. Her upper years were causing her some health problems and medical needs. She was about to be foreclosed on. Her $50,000 signing bonus for allowing two turbine towers on her land has averted that. Her continued contract has allowed her to live comfortably on her family's land with no worry. No worry about paying her medical bills or her needs.
*Stacy also pointed out some smart economics too. Because you have farmers that have a secondary source of income, the farming community isn't having to do annual loans like they normally have had to do. Annual loans that have dried up in the last few years. So there is less dependency on creating debt for farmers and landowners.
*The entire county of Wasco county is completely powered by wind energy.
*Birds? What about migratory birds. These companies have done huge studies of the bird patterns and put that into the equation. The turbine companies must check for "bird kill" regularly by sending teams on the farms in a grid search looking for dead birds, a necropsy is done, etc. Turbine companies are fined big bucks if an endangered bird is killed. It doesn't happen that often by design because of those fines. It's been engineered into the design. In fact, the Audubon Society endorses wind power.
*Each tower costs about a million dollars to build. I said to Stacy, "Wow, so they must get a return on that, what? Within a year?" Stacy said, "No, within a month."
*Both Oregon and Washington are in a prime position to use wind power because of the gusty Columbia Gorge, but also because of having Bonneville Dam nearby. All the needed substations are nearby to tap into. This isn't so for other states who are craving the economy of the turbines but can't because the locations have no substations easily accessible. Again, Oregon is being petty by over regulating at a permit level. Once other states make it easier for turbine companies to come in, Oregon will then figure it out and jump in the back of the line. As usual.
*Goldendale, WA has been considered the "welfare capital" of the United States because per capita there are the most people on welfare. That is changing in light of this new industry here. The turbine companies have begun a two year tech degree at a local community college to get locals trained in basic skills needed to work for these companies. People who have fiber glass experience, mining or logging experience, project management experience, now have jobs. Both labor and management jobs are being created by these farms.
*Let's list the jobs. The trucking industry I see on the gorge hauling the huge parts. The pilot car people who are contracted. Surveying company to scout the property for each turbine. The people who search for birds in a grid and document their findings. The fiber glass technicians who paint these things when they arrive with a specialized non glare paint. The crane who is contracted to lift this all up when being constructed. The construction that assembles this baby. The maintenance workers who have a ten year contract with most land owners after the initial towers are built.
So as I stand here and look over and across the river. There are a about 50-60 turbines I see in Oregon. When I look over the landscape in Washington, I am not joking, I see hundreds and hundreds of them. Don't believe me? Come with me to Goldendale and I'll show you miles and miles of them.
Washington found their gold mine and is cashing in on it. I am so glad for them and the local community I see that suddenly is growing and thriving when most small communities are dying in this economy. I wish Oregon could see that same gold mine and realize turbines could create great revenue for our state, and it doesn't need to be a tax revenue either! Just by creating the job force such an endeavor would create brings in state revenue.
It is impressive. If anyone wants to take a road tour out here, set aside a weekend day, and I'll take you out here.
Sep 21, 2009
My History of Being Too Close to the Action
It happened again, and now it's getting to the point where it's getting eerie. In the travels all over northwest Oregon, over nine years of being a candle representative, I have found myself a little too close to news that has made national headlines. Now, am I in the background of any paparazzi picture? No, but had the moments been a little different I could have been part of the action before the cameras showed up. I have been giggling about it over the years, but it happened again yesterday and now it's just eerie.
Here is the history:
1) Summer of 2002. If you don't remember, that was the summer that Ward Weaver was captured here in Oregon. What was his thing? Well, he killed two young girls here in the burbs of Portland, and did it right under the nose of authorities, including the FBI. Click here for a simple timeline of events.
Now click to August 13, 2002. He is charged for rape. Us locals remember the full details to that. The sick man tried to rape his grown son's girlfriend and she fled the house naked, flagged down a motorist and escaped....probably with her life.
The intersection of Ward Weaver's home where this attempted rape happened, and where the young gal ran for a motorist......I had driven through that intersection only an hour before. I had driven to Oregon City that afternoon, with my baby in the backseat to collect some delinquent funds from a customer. I could have been the motorist if the timing had been different.
2) January 2003. I am leaving a home in Milwaukie from a candle party. It is late and Milwaukie is extremely quiet and dark at night. If you didn't know it, at night it almost feels like you're in the country, although you are in the city. I sit at a stop sign on Roots Rd, and suddenly out of the dark comes two Clackamas County sheriff's cars screaming by me at 80+ miles an hour with lights and sirens full bore. Okay, that never happens. Turns out, only a few blocks away, Damon Coates, Clackamas County sheriff's deputy had been horribly shot. Click here to remember that story and also see his amazing recovery from what all thought that night was a mortal shot. I was a little too close to that action that night.
3) December 2008. I was heading down I-5 south to go to south Salem at rush hour. If you have ever traveled that. I actually should have been in the thick traffic by going south. Most of the time, it is inching along traffic, but I was clipping along rather nicely and thought it quite strange. The northbound traffic was completely stopped, completely strange. It was also starting to snow ever so slightly, which just makes Oregonians freak out. I just wrote it off as weather and a traffic anomaly, but definitely thought it odd.
Suddenly, on the other side of the freeway, I believe four state patrol cars go screaming up the emergency lane full bore. I had seen no accident at all on the other side. How could there be an accident? No one was moving. Why four patrol cars? I don't know, but I remember thinking it reminded me of the Damon Coates emergency with the officer's cars going full blast.
Turns out a father/son team had just detonated a bomb at a bank I had just passed. Click here for that miserable night. So sad. Officers died in that bombing, and I am happy to say the state of Oregon just announced they are pursuing the death penalty in their trial.
4) Yesterday! This is crazy only because of how remote of a place I was. Remember those pictures I showed a few weeks ago of the wind turbines going on my rant about how Oregon is exporting such important jobs out of state by taxing businesses to death? Well, I took those in Goldendale, WA.
I was in Goldendale, WA yesterday at a local pizza joint for a candle party. No one showed. However, the hostess and I got to chatting over chicken salad. Turns out she is a project manager for one of the turbine companies. Oh my word! I got excited and just started asking her questions like crazy. She was so nice and offered, "Since the candle party is a bust, I don't want to waste your time, want to go see the turbines up close?" Seriously, I almost passed out, I was so excited.
So we go to her house off of Hoctor Rd and Bickleton Hwy to drop my car off. At her house, she talks to her husband about a few things and I find out what happened that I hadn't been aware of. The criminally insane guy who escaped custody while at a field trip to the Washington State Fair near Seattle had been spotted just down the road the day before? What?! This was news to me. His escape had been making national headlines and I hadn't heard this is where he was spotted. So we stop and think this through, is this smart to go out into the fields with this guy running around? We decide that we are fine if only because we outnumber him and have a vehicle.
You need to understand Goldendale. It is a blip on a map. It has a main street and a small conglomeration of homes. Goldendale?? Really? Here? We are out on the ridge of a mountain and don't see buildings in any direction. We can see up and down the Columbia Gorge and it is breathtaking while watching these majestic turbines all around us. Nobody but us and the cows.
So a blog post is coming soon telling you about my field trip to the wind turbines, really up close. What a treat! It was so cool. I have so much to share with you. I just need to get the pictures from my friend since I borrowed her camera.
Turns out while I was climbing inside the paddles of wind turbines, they caught the guy right down the road on Bickleton Highway, a field or so from where we were. Click here. The only difference this time, didn't see anything. No screaming patrol cars. Nothing.
Weird huh?
Here is the history:
1) Summer of 2002. If you don't remember, that was the summer that Ward Weaver was captured here in Oregon. What was his thing? Well, he killed two young girls here in the burbs of Portland, and did it right under the nose of authorities, including the FBI. Click here for a simple timeline of events.
Now click to August 13, 2002. He is charged for rape. Us locals remember the full details to that. The sick man tried to rape his grown son's girlfriend and she fled the house naked, flagged down a motorist and escaped....probably with her life.
The intersection of Ward Weaver's home where this attempted rape happened, and where the young gal ran for a motorist......I had driven through that intersection only an hour before. I had driven to Oregon City that afternoon, with my baby in the backseat to collect some delinquent funds from a customer. I could have been the motorist if the timing had been different.
2) January 2003. I am leaving a home in Milwaukie from a candle party. It is late and Milwaukie is extremely quiet and dark at night. If you didn't know it, at night it almost feels like you're in the country, although you are in the city. I sit at a stop sign on Roots Rd, and suddenly out of the dark comes two Clackamas County sheriff's cars screaming by me at 80+ miles an hour with lights and sirens full bore. Okay, that never happens. Turns out, only a few blocks away, Damon Coates, Clackamas County sheriff's deputy had been horribly shot. Click here to remember that story and also see his amazing recovery from what all thought that night was a mortal shot. I was a little too close to that action that night.
3) December 2008. I was heading down I-5 south to go to south Salem at rush hour. If you have ever traveled that. I actually should have been in the thick traffic by going south. Most of the time, it is inching along traffic, but I was clipping along rather nicely and thought it quite strange. The northbound traffic was completely stopped, completely strange. It was also starting to snow ever so slightly, which just makes Oregonians freak out. I just wrote it off as weather and a traffic anomaly, but definitely thought it odd.
Suddenly, on the other side of the freeway, I believe four state patrol cars go screaming up the emergency lane full bore. I had seen no accident at all on the other side. How could there be an accident? No one was moving. Why four patrol cars? I don't know, but I remember thinking it reminded me of the Damon Coates emergency with the officer's cars going full blast.
Turns out a father/son team had just detonated a bomb at a bank I had just passed. Click here for that miserable night. So sad. Officers died in that bombing, and I am happy to say the state of Oregon just announced they are pursuing the death penalty in their trial.
4) Yesterday! This is crazy only because of how remote of a place I was. Remember those pictures I showed a few weeks ago of the wind turbines going on my rant about how Oregon is exporting such important jobs out of state by taxing businesses to death? Well, I took those in Goldendale, WA.
I was in Goldendale, WA yesterday at a local pizza joint for a candle party. No one showed. However, the hostess and I got to chatting over chicken salad. Turns out she is a project manager for one of the turbine companies. Oh my word! I got excited and just started asking her questions like crazy. She was so nice and offered, "Since the candle party is a bust, I don't want to waste your time, want to go see the turbines up close?" Seriously, I almost passed out, I was so excited.
So we go to her house off of Hoctor Rd and Bickleton Hwy to drop my car off. At her house, she talks to her husband about a few things and I find out what happened that I hadn't been aware of. The criminally insane guy who escaped custody while at a field trip to the Washington State Fair near Seattle had been spotted just down the road the day before? What?! This was news to me. His escape had been making national headlines and I hadn't heard this is where he was spotted. So we stop and think this through, is this smart to go out into the fields with this guy running around? We decide that we are fine if only because we outnumber him and have a vehicle.
You need to understand Goldendale. It is a blip on a map. It has a main street and a small conglomeration of homes. Goldendale?? Really? Here? We are out on the ridge of a mountain and don't see buildings in any direction. We can see up and down the Columbia Gorge and it is breathtaking while watching these majestic turbines all around us. Nobody but us and the cows.
So a blog post is coming soon telling you about my field trip to the wind turbines, really up close. What a treat! It was so cool. I have so much to share with you. I just need to get the pictures from my friend since I borrowed her camera.
Turns out while I was climbing inside the paddles of wind turbines, they caught the guy right down the road on Bickleton Highway, a field or so from where we were. Click here. The only difference this time, didn't see anything. No screaming patrol cars. Nothing.
Weird huh?
Sep 19, 2009
I Should Give an Update on Spawn...er....Tyrone
Check out the look on Tasha's face.
Hmmm......yes?
I have heard this plastic thing referred to as a mouse......need clarification please!
See the doorknob on the left?? Yes, he is way up the door. Glad it's a steel security door!
Bugs!! Where? Must catch them!!What is the stinker doing now? How is he doing now? Since August he has become a domesticated kitten.
Strides he has made:
* He hasn't been caged since about a week after that post I referenced dated August 8th.
* He has become friends with our other cat, Tasha. At first we had to defend her to keep him from tormenting her with his constant need to tackle and play with her. No longer, they both love to wrestle with each other and drive each other crazy. Now, she sits on the edge of the couch, let's him pounce on her, she lowers her head and drops him to the floor. Minimal effort for getting him literally off her back.
*Once I knew I could handle him fairly well, we made a trip to the vet at the end of August. Tried a new vet that has a type of insurance/payment plan. I was so afraid he still had a bit of wild in him and would take a bite at one of the vet's or assistants. I warned them he was a recovering feral cat. He did fine! He let everyone handle him, got blood drawn, was weighed, Q tips down the ears, and the cursory thermometer up the sphincter. Not one protest, no aggression, nothing. I can't say he was purring and calm. He was definitely on alert, but trusted all of us who were handling him and let us do it with no aggression. I was so happy when we were done. I definitely knew after that visit, if he could handle that, we were on the right path.
*Tyrone is still very much kitten. Most days are spent zooming around the house in pursuit of anything that flicks easily, flies in the air, has a bell in it, or is furry and little. He is slowly maturing and we are seeing the mature cat come out in him where he lounges and lounges.....for long periods of time.......and even drools if he goes into that lounging, purr fest mode slightly between sleeping and consciousness.
*Tyrone gets the big fix next weekend. Yes, his genetic blood line will stop with him. And he desire to use my legs to climb up on things with his claws will be stopped as well. I am sure Tasha will appreciate that more than any of us.
*Tyrone has become a fun family member.
Sep 17, 2009
Wave Your Arms Wildly....A Little Smoke is in the Air
I am full of all kinds of sarcasm right now. So keep that in mind as you read my words, but not my quotes.
I listened to talk radio tonight. I realize this is against Obama's wishes, but tough. I am so sick of him right now and his policies. Carter's statement recently about Wilson's damaging (although I fully agree with his outburst, it may not have been the most mature way to say it) shout out to Obama.
Carter's statement that those who oppose Obama (speaking about Wilson's outburst) is just about if not more offensive and immature. The more I think about it and mull it over, I am incensed.
Silly sarcasm here.....does the fact that I disagree with my African American kids on a daily basis make me a racist?? According to Jimmy Carter it does.
So as I listened to that ghastly (*sarcasm*) talk radio tonight, I heard a bullet list of history regarding the Democratic Party and the racial history of our country. I do believe that man I am about to quote was the man I heard interviewed on the radio tonight, Wayne Perryman. I do stand corrected if that is who I didn't hear. The information is the same.
Bottom line....the Democratic Party not only has a dubious history in the history of race in this country. It is a shameful history. So before Carter goes off calling people racists for disagreeing with the President. He needs to turn around and look at the history of the party he has chosen to align himself with. The same party that committed these injustices during Carter's lifetime. The party that opposed at great length the Civil Rights Movement during Carter's adulthood. His memory seems to be fading, truly. He needs to make some effort to improve the living history of his party before he starts casting stones. Period.
So wave your arms wildly, Carter is blowing smoke and needs to go back to retirement before making such an offensive comment to anyone. While in retirement he could make some calls to his colleagues about changing the face of the Democratic party's history.
Grab a cup of coffee and be amazed. Thank you Mr. Perryman. You have inspired me. Click here for the link of where I copy/pasted this quote from.
"Most people are either a Democrat by design, or a Democrat by deception. That is either they were well aware the racist history of the Democrat Party and still chose to be Democrat, or they were deceived into thinking that the Democratic Party is a party that sincerely cared about Black people.
I listened to talk radio tonight. I realize this is against Obama's wishes, but tough. I am so sick of him right now and his policies. Carter's statement recently about Wilson's damaging (although I fully agree with his outburst, it may not have been the most mature way to say it) shout out to Obama.
Carter's statement that those who oppose Obama (speaking about Wilson's outburst) is just about if not more offensive and immature. The more I think about it and mull it over, I am incensed.
Silly sarcasm here.....does the fact that I disagree with my African American kids on a daily basis make me a racist?? According to Jimmy Carter it does.
So as I listened to that ghastly (*sarcasm*) talk radio tonight, I heard a bullet list of history regarding the Democratic Party and the racial history of our country. I do believe that man I am about to quote was the man I heard interviewed on the radio tonight, Wayne Perryman. I do stand corrected if that is who I didn't hear. The information is the same.
Bottom line....the Democratic Party not only has a dubious history in the history of race in this country. It is a shameful history. So before Carter goes off calling people racists for disagreeing with the President. He needs to turn around and look at the history of the party he has chosen to align himself with. The same party that committed these injustices during Carter's lifetime. The party that opposed at great length the Civil Rights Movement during Carter's adulthood. His memory seems to be fading, truly. He needs to make some effort to improve the living history of his party before he starts casting stones. Period.
So wave your arms wildly, Carter is blowing smoke and needs to go back to retirement before making such an offensive comment to anyone. While in retirement he could make some calls to his colleagues about changing the face of the Democratic party's history.
Grab a cup of coffee and be amazed. Thank you Mr. Perryman. You have inspired me. Click here for the link of where I copy/pasted this quote from.
"Most people are either a Democrat by design, or a Democrat by deception. That is either they were well aware the racist history of the Democrat Party and still chose to be Democrat, or they were deceived into thinking that the Democratic Party is a party that sincerely cared about Black people.
History reveals that every piece of racist legislation that was ever passed and every racist terrorist attack that was ever inflicted on African Americans, was initiated by the members of the Democratic Party. From the formation of the Democratic Party in 1792 to the Civil Rights movement of 1960's, Congressional records show the Democrat Party passed no specific laws to help Blacks, every law that they introduced into Congress was designed to hurt blacks in 1894 Repeal Act. The chronicles of history shows that during the past 160 years the Democratic Party legislated Jim Crows laws, Black Codes and a multitude of other laws at the state and federal level to deny African Americans their rights as citizens.
History reveals that the Republican Party was formed in 1854 to abolish slavery and challenge other racist legislative acts initiated by the Democratic Party.
Some called it the Civil War, others called it the War Between the States, but to the African Americans at that time, it was the War Between the Democrats and the Republicans over slavery. The Democrats gave their lives to expand it, Republican gave their lives to ban it.
During the Senate debates on the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, it was revealed that members of the Democratic Party formed many terrorist organizations like the Ku Klux Klan to murder and intimidate African Americans voters. The Ku Klux Klan Act was a bill introduced by a Republican Congress to stop Klan Activities. Senate debates revealed that the Klan was the terrorist arm of the Democratic Party.
History reveals that Democrats lynched, burned, mutilated and murdered thousands of blacks and completely destroyed entire towns and communities occupied by middle class Blacks, including Rosewood, Florida, the Greenwood District in Tulsa Oklahoma, and Wilmington, North Carolina to name a few.
After the Civil War, Democrats murdered several hundred black elected officials (in the South) to regain control of the southern government. All of the elected officials up to 1935 were Republicans. As of 2004, the Democrat Party (the oldest political party in America) has never elected a black man to the United States Senate, the Republicans have elected three.
History reveals that it was Thaddeus Stevens, a Radical Republican that introduced legislation to give African Americans the so-called 40 acres and a mule and Democrats overwhelmingly voted against the bill. Today many white Democrats are opposed to paying African Americans trillions of dollars in Reparation Pay, money that should be paid by the Democratic Party.
History reveals that it was Abolitionists and Radical Republicans such as Henry L. Morehouse and General Oliver Howard that started many of the traditional Black colleges, while Democrats fought to keep them closed. Many of our traditional Black colleges are named after white Republicans.
Congressional records show it was Democrats that strongly opposed the passage of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments. These three Amendments were introduced by Republicans to abolish slavery, give citizenship to all African Americans born in the United States and, give Blacks the right to vote.
Congressional records show that Democrats were opposed to passing the following laws that were introduced by Republicans to achieve civil rights for African Americans:
Civil Rights Act 1866
Reconstruction Act of 1867
Freedman Bureau Extension Act of 1866
Enforcement Act of 1870
Force Act of 1871
Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871
Civil Rights Act of 1875
Civil Rights Act of 1957
Civil Rights Act of 1960
And during the 60's many Democrats fought hard to defeat the
1964 Civil Rights Act
1965 Voting Rights Acts
1972 Equal Employment Opportunity Act
Court records shows that it was the Democrats that supported the Dred Scott Decision. The decision classified Blacks and property rather than people. It was also the racist Jim Crow practices initiated by Democrats that brought about the two landmark cases of Plessy v Ferguson and Brown v. The Board of Education.
At the turn of the century (1900), Southern Democrats continued to oppress African Americans by placing thousands in hard-core prison labor camps. According to most historians, the prison camps were far worst than slavery. The prisoners were required to work from 10-14 hours a day, six to seven days a week in temperatures that exceeded 100 degrees and in temperatures that fell well below zero. The camps provided free labor for building railroads, mining coal-mines and for draining snake and alligator invested swamps and rivers. Blacks were transported from one project to another in rolling cages similar to the ones used to transfer circus animals. One fourth of the prison populations were children ages 6 to 18. Young Cy Williams age 12, was sentenced to 20 years for stealing a horse that he was too small to ride. Eight-year old Will Evans was sentenced to 2 years of hard labor for taking some change from a store counter and six-year old Mary Gay was sentenced to 30 days for taking a hat. While authorities sent whites to jail for the same offenses, they sent blacks to the prison camps with much longer sentences. Thousands died from malaria, frost bites, heat strokes, shackle poisoning, others were buried alive in collapsing mines, or blown to pieces in tunnel explosions, and still others drowned in swamps or were beaten and shot to death. Every southern black citizen was a potential prisoner for any alleged small offense, including violating evening curfews. Through the prison camp system, southern owners of railroads, mines and farms had an unlimited source of free labor. The black prisoners played a major role the South's economic development. Bryan Stevenson of the Equal Justice Initiative, said, in his opinion, "the prison camps were a new form of slavery, but far more inhumane."
History reveals that it was three white persons that opposed the Democrat's racist practices who started the NAACP.
Dr. Martin Luther King, several Civil Rights leaders and many historians reported that during the first two years of his administration, President John F. Kennedy ignored Dr. King's request for Civil Rights. The chronicles of history reveal that it was only after television coverage of riots and several demonstrations did President Kennedy feel a need to introduce the 1963 Civil Rights Act. At that time, experts believe the nation was headed toward a major race war.
History reveals that it was Democratic Attorney General, Robert Kennedy that approved the secret wire taps on Dr, Martin Luther King Jr., and it was Democratic President Lyndon Johnson that referred to Dr. King as " that n****r preacher." Senator Byrd referred to Dr. King as a "trouble maker" who causes trouble and then runs like a "coward," when trouble breaks out.
Over the strong objections of racist Republican Senator Jessie Helms, Republican President Ronald Reagan, signed into law, a bill to make Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday a national holiday. Several Republican Senators convinced President Reagan this was the right thing to do.
Congressional records show after signing the 1972 Equal Employment Opportunity Act and issuing Executive Order 11478, Richard Nixon, a Republican, that started what we know as Affirmative Action.
On December 15, 1994, federal Judge David V. Kenyon issued a court order to the Clinton Administration in the Case of Fairchild v Robert Reich Secretary of Labor (#CV92-5765 Kn). The order demanded that Secretary Reich and the Clinton Administration force 100 west coast shipping to develop an Affirmative Action plan to stop discrimination against, African Americans, Hispanics, Female and Disabled Workers. Female employees were being sexually harrassed, Hispanic were being denied promotions and training, Disable Workers were being laid off, and African Americans were being force to work in an environment where they had job classification called " N****r Jobs." Clinton left office six years later and never complied with the court order. The companies still do not have an Affirmative Action Plan.
President Clinton sent 20, 000 troops to protect the white citizens of Europe's Bosnia, but sent no troops to Africa's Rwanda to protect the black citizens there. Consequently over 800,000 Africans were massacre
During the 2003 Democratic Primary debates, the Rev. Al Sharpton, said the Democrat take the black vote for granted and treat African American like a mistress. They [Democrats} will take us to the dance, but they don't want to take us home to meet mama."
On December 3, 2002, President Clinton spoke to Democratic Leadership Council in New York regarding the future of the Democratic Party and how they could retake the White House. At no time did he address Civil Rights issues for blacks or doing things to improve the conditions of African Americans. His only reference to Civil Rights was Civil Rights for Gays. His only reference to improving communities was his recommendation to revisit the Marshall Plan to re-build communities in other countries. His entire speech was aired on C-Span.
After exclusively giving the Democrats their votes for the past 25 years, the average African American cannot point to one piece of civil rights legislation sponsored solely by the Democratic Party that was specifically designed to eradicate the unique problems that African Americans face today. Congressional records show that all previous legislation (since 1964) had strong bi-partisan support, even though some Democrats debated and voted against these laws.
After reviewing all of the evidence, many believe America would have never experienced racism to the degree that it has, had not the Democrats promoted it through:
Racist Legislation
Terrorist Organizations
Negative Media Communications
Bias Education
Relentless Intimidation
And Flawed Adjudication.
The racism established and promoted by members of the Democratic Party affected and infected the entire nation from 1856 with the Dred Scott decision, to the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case. But they never offered or issued an apology.
Today both parties must remember their past. The Democrats must remember the terrible things they did to Blacks and apologize and the Republicans must remember the terrific things they did for Blacks and re-commit to complete the work that their predecessors started and died for.Sep 14, 2009
Cute Things Happen During School Too......
Whew, after playing with toys all morning, the books are a great place to crash.
Ooohhh....something moved....must attack.....
Moving pencils......must.....attack.....
If I pounce on the pencil first, it's mine!
These little plastic things that flick around really easily.....
It's so nice they put this book out for me to lay on.
Are you moving that pencil for me????Sep 12, 2009
An Inward Struggle
I know I have posted some silly things on the ol' blog since September 9th...the day of Brian's memorial. I have been conflicted with how to express and write how I am feeling about all of this.Don't get me wrong, I am grieving. I am grieving in a way that I have never grieved before. I have seen death and tragedy in my life, trust me.
I am going to express to you, anyone who reads this, something so simple and so gravely important. Something that had become so amazingly convoluted in Brian's life, but was truly simple.
I do not stand in judgment of Brian. I want to make that crystal clear. He lived his amazing life, and it has echoed for the last week or so, he was a good guy....a great guy. He struggled, though. Just like all of us do. We all struggle with hard things inside that we don't express to anyone, or maybe only drop hints about.
What all of us knew about Brian was two things. 1) He was having a hard time. 2) Several family members, time and time again, expressed to him that if he surrendered to God, gave his life to God, a whole lot of this struggle would make sense. Each time that was expressed to him, he bristled and either put up a wall or changed the subject with a joke. It's a simple answer, but makes all the difference in the world.
It was not my place, as Brian's cousin in-law, to approach him about such personal things. I knew others were. However, from the outside looking in, I saw a man trying to fill "that void" with things. New cars, new house, new bikes, new this, new that.......all shiny things that have no great value. Real simple assessment, those things don't fill that void. The void became increasingly demanding, and nothing can fill it.
Nothing shiny and pretty and temporary can fill a void that is meant to be filled with substance.
I know a verse in the Bible that I want to share with you, but hesitate to. So many people use it and abuse it. Even celebrities and people on that shiny TV.
Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the light. No one comes to the Father except through me." So many focus on the way and the truth....but forget the light. Light in darkness. Oh my gosh, if someone were screaming for light in his life, it was Brian.
I can say from my "outside looking in" vantage point, Brian was thirsty for something that shiny things cannot quench. It's a demanding yearning for something bigger and better.
I want to let all of you know this. When you have that kind of "thing" in you. The latest IPhone isn't enough. The latest XBox game isn't going to do it.
Jesus said to a prostitute at a well (John 4), "Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."
Jesus said, "If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink." John 7
It sounds simplistic and maybe even contrite. I am a Christian, and is everything rosy? Um....not by any stretch of the imagination. Is everyday filled with butterflies and angels? No. Is everyday a struggle where I wonder if I am doing the right things for myself and my family? Yes, daily. Is everyday a struggle? Yes. Everyday can be very dissatisfying. Everyday, I need to look for the shiny things, I need to look for help, I need to remember, this isn't all there is. Daily I do remember that all of this stuff I have in front of me is not all there is and I know there is a purpose and order to all of this, because of God.
Knowing there is eternity. Knowing that all the things I have surrounded myself with are not the end all of my existence makes my mundane, stressful life make sense. If I didn't have a relationship with the Christ who provides living water of eternity, and I came to realization that all I have was my run down house, chicken coop, Wii, and cell phone (water that doesn't quench).....I can see very quickly how Brian hit that point of despair. Those toys are very dull and not so shiny anymore.
Please think of this today. It's not hard, it's simple. Taking a moment to pray to God, ask for His living waters to be in your life, to guide your life, is simple. Going to a church where that truth is central is the next step. I am pleading with you as a human being who is hurting after watching someone else hurt, please don't let it get to a point where nothing consoles you. You are too important to me. You are even more important to God.
It's so simple, yet can be so complicated.
Sep 11, 2009
A "Gluing"? A felony?
Yes it is. And everyone in this case is getting what they deserve.....mostly a whole lot of embarrassment for acting in a manner unbecoming to an adult.
Click here. And be sure to read the reader's comments below the article. The "two stage epoxy" comment had me going.
Sigh.....humor. It heals a broken heart sometimes.
Click here. And be sure to read the reader's comments below the article. The "two stage epoxy" comment had me going.
Sigh.....humor. It heals a broken heart sometimes.
Sep 9, 2009
Remembering Brian....
Brian's two brothers on the left, his father has his back to us on the right. All of Brian's siblings were on airplanes and flying here the moment they were beckoned.
His memorial. In the background on the left is the final bell. It is used in firefighter's memorials to signify the last shift is done.
Brian's uniform. This was difficult for me.
I have seen him wear this uniform numerous times.
It is hard to see it without him in it.
I have seen him wear this uniform numerous times.
It is hard to see it without him in it.
The show of support in both honor guard and bagpipe band was impressive. Three different communities of paramedic/firefighters were represented today.All knew Brian and had worked with him.
The fire departments came together and put together a very lovely luncheon with plenty of food to spare. Again, impressive and so appreciated. The family had nothing to worry about.
Brian's daughter giving me a cheesy pose with herdaddy's actual firefighter helmet.
No, she just did this grin for me, she wasn't smiling at all today.
One of Brian's dearest friends, hunting buddy, golf partner, and fellow firefighter. He has been a surrogate father to Brian's daughter, that role will more important as the years go by. This man's daughter was weeping uncontrollably during the ceremony, which says much about the relationship between this great man and Brian.
Brian's parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, wife and daughter.
A plaque of honor for going above and beyond the line of duty earned whileserving his community.
I am spent. I have cried so many tears today, I have none left. This man was a great man. We need to remember that. He wasn't himself, at all, in his final days, but he left an amazing legacy. He saved countless lives in his line of work, he was an inspiration to his family, and he was a great dad. We miss him very much.
Sep 7, 2009
Portland Tea Party
Tonight our city hosted a Labor Day Tea Party. For those who haven't heard of these, this is a historical reference to the Boston Tea Party where the colonists revolted against Britain's high tea tax. We, the city of Portland, rallied against both national and statewide crippling tax hikes.
I encourage you to check out your local politics. In observance of Labor Day and the 9/11 anniversary, these are happening all over the country. Please take the time to participate in local politics and show your support for lowering taxes during our recession, minimizing government presence in our daily lives, allowing free speech and questions at town halls, your thoughts on Cap and Trade (or Decapi Tate as I call it), socialized health care, etc. You may or may not agree with all that is said at these gatherings, but it is so important to participate in politics.
Here is a great collection of the banners I saw tonight.
I encourage you to check out your local politics. In observance of Labor Day and the 9/11 anniversary, these are happening all over the country. Please take the time to participate in local politics and show your support for lowering taxes during our recession, minimizing government presence in our daily lives, allowing free speech and questions at town halls, your thoughts on Cap and Trade (or Decapi Tate as I call it), socialized health care, etc. You may or may not agree with all that is said at these gatherings, but it is so important to participate in politics.
Here is a great collection of the banners I saw tonight.
Sep 5, 2009
Out of Ashes is Redemption
I took this grainy picture today with my cell. Who are these people? Well, I won't tell you in the conventional way.Remember about a year ago my little freak out after finding out a near and dear friend of mine had attempted suicide? Remember my frustration in the mental health system that lets so many people fall through the cracks? No, this isn't my way of endorsing Obama's health care by any stretch. If you don't remember, just click here. It was a very serious attempt, although she will tell you now and she told me a year ago.....she didn't want to die, she just desperately wanted help to make the pain go away. No one would listen to her until she attempted suicide. What is so scary is she almost succeeded.
The woman you see beautifully dancing with her groom is JP, from last year. A year ago at this time she was on life support clinging to life. This year, she is dancing. I cannot tell you how odd and yet very healing it was to celebrate her wedding day today. I cannot tell you how warm it made me feel to see her father dance with her when a year ago, he was holding her hand while machines kept her alive. What a year. What a story of redemption, and I am so happy for her I could bust open.
Two days ago, almost to the moment, Brian took his life. It did not escape either my husband or myself that today we were facing a dichotomy. The outcomes of two suicide attempts. One was successful and the other wasn't. It was incredibly odd for us.
However, we are beyond blessed and thankful to the core to be able to celebrate JP's wedding. She needed it, deserves full happiness, and truly has come from the depths of hell. Today was her reward for a lot of hard work on herself. Her new husband is nothing but a pillar of support. I have had some tough conversations with him, at her request, telling him what her recovery has been like. He wants to know, she barely remembers super dark times she and I have had. I was amazed as I talked with him his desire and determination to know her, even those dark parts. Out of dark parts come beautiful jewels of success when faced and conquered. God bless you JP!
My husband and I needed it. We needed to see JP happy. We needed to see hope again after talking about nothing but hopelessness since Thursday night.
You have to understand. My husband and I have become surrogate parents to JP over the last several years. We have taken on a roll in JP's life that was sorely and horrifyingly missing in her life. When she met her groom, she brought him to our home immediately to meet him for our approval.
When did I choke and lose it today? JP and her groom came to our table to greet us. We chatted and exchanged pleasantries. My husband, in his God given wisdom, touched her elbow and whispered in her ear, "I am so incredibly proud of you."
Enough said.
Sep 4, 2009
I Stop This Blog to Pay Homage
My husband's cousin died yesterday. It has been sudden, unexpected and tragic. Brian will fall into the vast number of statistics of EMT/firefighters who care too much. The stress got to Brian, and he made the stress stop. I choose not to allow him to be remembered as to the "why" he died but "how" he lived. Brian was a dedicated father, serious EMT/firefighter, and avid cyclist. I choose to remember him in those moments where he shined the most. Here are a few of those moments to share with you.
Brian, we love you. We miss you.
Brian, we love you. We miss you.
Sep 1, 2009
Hmmm......no
Received this spam tonight:
This e-mail was sent by Bell Canada to notify you that we have temporarily prevented access to your account. We have reasons to believe that your account may have been accessed by someone else.
Please verify your details by following the link below http://bell.ca. blah blah blah......
© Bell Canada ( Please do not reply to this e-mail , this account is not monitored. Follow the instructions in the e-mail )
This e-mail was sent by Bell Canada to notify you that we have temporarily prevented access to your account. We have reasons to believe that your account may have been accessed by someone else.
Please verify your details by following the link below http://bell.ca. blah blah blah......
© Bell Canada ( Please do not reply to this e-mail , this account is not monitored. Follow the instructions in the e-mail )
Methinks no. I don't have an account with Bell Canada, nor plan to, nor think that link is worth any virus, trojan or whatever to find out.
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