School shootings and other public massacre shootings have been happening so much in the last few years that they don't have the same impact anymore. Sure, the standouts still draw memories, like Columbine. Columbine happened 11 months and change after a high school shooting one metro area south of mine. I was a junior when Thurston High School students experienced their shooting, a senior when Columbine happened. 1998, 1999. Predominately white schools. Changes were promised. Time went by, more shootings.
Lobbying against gun control reform (*cough* NRA et al) on both the state and federal levels had an effective impact until #Sandhook and the horrific tragedy there. 2012, 20 first grade children killed, 28 total deaths. Many on both sides of the gun control debate thought that was it. The deaths of those little kids had be the turning point. Nope. Not really. Some state level legislation passed, but the push for federal level reform stalled. Then the whispers began: if not for those 6 and 7 year olds, then it must be impossible.
Flash forward 6 some years and 116 school shootings (includes colleges, as well as incidents without deaths) and #Parkland happens at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. 17 killed, 17 injured. 6 months and change later and there is still some media attention to the survivors. Some theorize that the fact some survivors are crossing into adulthood is why they have been able to maintain media coverage in comparison to the faded coverage that happened with Sandyhook. These are 17 and 18 year olds who just graduated and are focused on gun control reform. From Emma Gonzalez to David Hogg, interviews, news briefs, and featured pieces still give these newly minted activists exposure. With exposure comes lessons.
With lessons comes perspective and the seeds of what will grow into wisdom. I truly hope these dedicated young adults remain open to learning more, about gun control, about legislation, about the key players. I even more truly hope that they, with our help, finally succeed where society has failed for decades.
*Primary source for school shooting data was https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_school_shootings_in_the_United_States
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Monday, December 25, 2017
Obviously I'm not a natural born blogger
So I go about my life and do my general daily tasks and what not, then at then end of the day I'm ready to sleep. Nowhere in that time frame do I think about blogging. Go figure. When I first started this I thought I'd do a weekly post, with a few extras. Pretty sure I can go 12 months and not even think about it.
I think part of it is because I've had a long running sleep problem and spend many days sort of tired. Part of it is I am involved in a few environmental and political groups, so down times are also not long. That involvement is definitely a good thing. Due to the shitshow administration running our nation, I'd be lost and or majorly depressed without those groups. They give me inspiration. They keep me hopeful. They keep me moving onward.
This month, I have worked on keeping contact with various senators and representatives on the national level regarding tax and healthcare legislation. Unless you are off grid, you have seen something about both of those pieces at some point. Yesterday, I was talking with some friends and we realized that despite the constant coverage, we aren't exactly sure what the hell the tax bill, aka #TaxScamBill, a) actually does for people earning less than the top 10% and b) did the student loan deduction and other SLAT deductions survive? Probably a small project for me tomorrow...after I drop off my car at the shop.
My car, a 2016 hybrid sedan, has one thing I keep ruining: an underbumper low enough to hit the stupid rebar that stick out of concrete parking blocks - or whatever those things are actually called. I scoot too far forward and the rebar snags it and off it pops. Eventually it happens in a way that breaks it and I can no longer reattach it. This is the second time around. I buddied up this repair job with fixing a scratched zone on the rear passenger side. I also said screw saving money, and decided to spend the back pay from my union negotiated raise on swapping out the current ignition switch with the pushbutton style. Unions rock, and now I get to splurge, adulting style.
Ok, we'll see how long I go before the next blog - hope everyone is having a wonderfully happy holiday season!
I think part of it is because I've had a long running sleep problem and spend many days sort of tired. Part of it is I am involved in a few environmental and political groups, so down times are also not long. That involvement is definitely a good thing. Due to the shitshow administration running our nation, I'd be lost and or majorly depressed without those groups. They give me inspiration. They keep me hopeful. They keep me moving onward.
This month, I have worked on keeping contact with various senators and representatives on the national level regarding tax and healthcare legislation. Unless you are off grid, you have seen something about both of those pieces at some point. Yesterday, I was talking with some friends and we realized that despite the constant coverage, we aren't exactly sure what the hell the tax bill, aka #TaxScamBill, a) actually does for people earning less than the top 10% and b) did the student loan deduction and other SLAT deductions survive? Probably a small project for me tomorrow...after I drop off my car at the shop.
My car, a 2016 hybrid sedan, has one thing I keep ruining: an underbumper low enough to hit the stupid rebar that stick out of concrete parking blocks - or whatever those things are actually called. I scoot too far forward and the rebar snags it and off it pops. Eventually it happens in a way that breaks it and I can no longer reattach it. This is the second time around. I buddied up this repair job with fixing a scratched zone on the rear passenger side. I also said screw saving money, and decided to spend the back pay from my union negotiated raise on swapping out the current ignition switch with the pushbutton style. Unions rock, and now I get to splurge, adulting style.
Ok, we'll see how long I go before the next blog - hope everyone is having a wonderfully happy holiday season!
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Football season is finally back. My Ducks had a good warm up game, taking on UC Davis and testing out several plays for the first time. Nice win, #GoDucks #WTD. Alabama is currently sweeping the field with poor, overly confident, USC players do that's also a great start to the season #Roll Tide Roll.
Moving on to what actually inspired this post - also linked to football. 49ers QB Kaepernick decided enough is enough in the police shooting unarmed/innocent/defenseless Black people and chose to sit out the national anthem this year. In a truly clueless reaction, local police themdecided to threaten a walk out on him. Theres also been a sprrad of reactions in the social.media atmosphere. My first thought on the police response was that they must have forgotten one of the basic tenets of our society is you are free to speak your mind, you are free to protest, and you are free to do so without fear of retribution from your government. Yes, everyday folks who disagree with him are equally free to express themselves; police officers on the other hand are public servants who are employed to ensure safety in their jusrisdiction.
Abandoning core duties of your job because a guy doesn't want to pledge allegiance or pay respects during the national anthem, that's completely contrary to one of the reasons our nation came to be, as well as the beliefs held by the founding fathers and the original writers of our Constitution. Land of the free shouldn't have "free except...".
Moving on to what actually inspired this post - also linked to football. 49ers QB Kaepernick decided enough is enough in the police shooting unarmed/innocent/defenseless Black people and chose to sit out the national anthem this year. In a truly clueless reaction, local police themdecided to threaten a walk out on him. Theres also been a sprrad of reactions in the social.media atmosphere. My first thought on the police response was that they must have forgotten one of the basic tenets of our society is you are free to speak your mind, you are free to protest, and you are free to do so without fear of retribution from your government. Yes, everyday folks who disagree with him are equally free to express themselves; police officers on the other hand are public servants who are employed to ensure safety in their jusrisdiction.
Abandoning core duties of your job because a guy doesn't want to pledge allegiance or pay respects during the national anthem, that's completely contrary to one of the reasons our nation came to be, as well as the beliefs held by the founding fathers and the original writers of our Constitution. Land of the free shouldn't have "free except...".
Friday, September 5, 2014
Football is finally back
Whew, football season took forever to return, or so it felt. This year the Duck start out ranked 3rd or 4th, depending on the poll, and Bama is 2nd. My Raiders are starting a new QB, and won their preseaon matchup with Seattle. There's hope.
Of course, week one Ducks games always a guaranteed blow out win. This year was no different. Week two is when they tend to challenge themselves by playing a nationally renowned, well ranked team. This year is no different. It's Michigan State tomorrow. I'll be hopping, hollering, even screeching while I watch tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
As for the Raiders, though I was watching,I wasn't paying close attention. I suspect Seattle had 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th string floating through while Oakland played 1st ansd 2nd...maybe 3rd. But, if injuries prevail on their opponents, at least we know Oakland has a good core. As Snoop said in quoting Al Davis while sipping on his gin, Just win baby, win.
Football also signals we are about two months away from the fall elections. The tv ads have commenced, much tomy chagrin. I reallyhate seeing the same add every commercial break. No, seriously, I do. All that does is make me wish the damn elections were now so I didn't habe to see this, regardless of candidate/political party. I just want to watch the game.
As chair of the Polk County Democrats, I'm working on plugging events into my calendar and hoping none conflict with the games I really want to see. I do want to be involved in local and statewide politics, I just want to be able to catch my games. It does help,many events happen at wineries, or at times that allow me tonget back in time to flip on the game. But, don't ask me about doing something on Nov. 1st, I'm already busy. Go Ducks, #WTD & Roll Tide Roll #Bama
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Step forward, and don't you dare step back!
Today I saw the best summation of how I feel about the recent attack on LGBTQ folks through legislation in Arizona. It was a post by Rose McGowan on Facebook thanking someone using the call sign @yahav_paris99 who posted a picture of African Americans sitting at a counter in a restaurant sometime during the 1960'scivil rights movement.
The caption says "Dear Arizona, In case you missed it, we've already had this conversation. You don't get to decide who sits at the lunch counter. Love, America"
That's when it hit me. This is beyond outrageous. People using religion to promote hate, especially the current hate aimed at lesbians and gays and marriage, are failing Jesus. I double checked and either missed it, or, more likely, confirmed that no where in The Bible does it say hate gays, or anything of the sort. Jesus does say "...Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Mark 12:31
How is hating on someone for who they are loving them? How is getting up in arms about someone's sexual orientation got anything to do with anyone else? Where does Jesus say it's okay to bully, to look down on or otherwise do anything detrimental to someone because of who they love?
People who promote bigotry, prejudice, hate etc, in the name of God need to take a good look at themselves. Even when Jesus encountered people who were impure, he walked with them. He cared for and about them. He did not look down on them. No, he loved them.
The caption says "Dear Arizona, In case you missed it, we've already had this conversation. You don't get to decide who sits at the lunch counter. Love, America"
That's when it hit me. This is beyond outrageous. People using religion to promote hate, especially the current hate aimed at lesbians and gays and marriage, are failing Jesus. I double checked and either missed it, or, more likely, confirmed that no where in The Bible does it say hate gays, or anything of the sort. Jesus does say "...Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Mark 12:31
How is hating on someone for who they are loving them? How is getting up in arms about someone's sexual orientation got anything to do with anyone else? Where does Jesus say it's okay to bully, to look down on or otherwise do anything detrimental to someone because of who they love?
People who promote bigotry, prejudice, hate etc, in the name of God need to take a good look at themselves. Even when Jesus encountered people who were impure, he walked with them. He cared for and about them. He did not look down on them. No, he loved them.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Oh, hello snow, rain, snow, rain...
So we had snow the first week of December. On that Friday I decided to chance fate and drive to my scheduled hair appointment. At the worst spot on the route there, Commercial & Madrona, the light went red and I stopped with a Jeep Grand Cherokee ahead of me. When the light turned green, I took my foot off the brake and watched the Jeep spin out in front of me. Fortunately, there was enough distance between us (despite releasing the brake my car stayed put) and no one was hit, plus the Jeep regained control and proceeded on. Quick side note, it was 10:00 a.m. And the city had not cleared the Center Street bridge or Commercial yet, even though this was all forecast with plenty of lead time. Anyway, since I didn't roll forward as hoped once I released the brake, I lightly tapped the gas pedal. Nothing. Yikes!! I felt guilty blocking traffic so I tapped lightly but closer together. Nope. Ok fine, I'll press the pedal. Well $&@! Now I was spinning out. Fortunately i got control of the wheel. Unfortunately I had to go downhill on Madrona.
Ok, I told myself, I can go up the US Bank driveway and turn around. Nope, the incline was too much and I was forced to idle halfway up the driveway until traffic cleared and I could back up and head back uphill to the light. I had serious fear that I was not going to be able to make the needed right turn (no way in hell was a left turn an option). Thankfully, the timing of the light and the slight downhill onto Commercial meant I made it back onto Commercial safely. I proceeded to my hair stylist and gratefully note that lot was not cursed by any inclines.
My stylist got down to business and trimmed my hair. I skipped any fancy style since inches of snow had piled up during the hour long appointment. I was nervous getting in my car for the trip home, but thankfully the drivers at 11:45 a.m. were as cautious as the ones earlier and we all scooted along at about 10 to 15 mph. Unlike my trip there, the light at Madrona was green onthe way back, crisis averted. The Marion Street bridge had been managed but most of Edgewater and all the connecting streets leading home had not. So I prayed and carefully inched my way home. I even managed to reverse park as I usually do. That was the last I drove until the following Monday.
Flash forward to February 2014 and boom, snow is back. the city pretty much shut down, including actual toads that were closed for almost 5 days. It started on a Wednesday evening when the meteorologist said he had confidence the predicted snow storm would come the next day. I got to work that Thursday and immediately told all my co-workers that the prior December incident was not happening again so I would be leaving before noon. I left at 11:25 and went to the grocery store en route to home. I stocked up on everything I thought I needed to get me through the weekend and headed home. Once again, I successfully parked as snow fell and didn't dare drive until the following Monday afternoon.
My best friend did rescue me that Saturday. Luckily she has traction tires. This mattered for safety reasons, and because the city had restricted all travel to chains or traction tires - all others would be ticketed. So we explored the west side, noting many places, including all Starbucks :(, were closed. Short staffing affected what places were open. For example, no deli, bakery, Starbucks, or any other specialty zones were open in Safeway that day. Once done shopping we headed up Eola as far as allowed and saw gorgeous views in the hills and looking over town. Aside from walking Yuki, that was the only outing I had for about 5 days.
Once the snow days were over, rain came hard core. The river is still up, though not at flood stage, and it's been over a week. We still have a long way to go to catch up rain levels and snow pack levels to avoid a drought this summer, but there's something nice and comforting about returning to normalcy. I also like not having the electric heaters constantly running.
Ok, I told myself, I can go up the US Bank driveway and turn around. Nope, the incline was too much and I was forced to idle halfway up the driveway until traffic cleared and I could back up and head back uphill to the light. I had serious fear that I was not going to be able to make the needed right turn (no way in hell was a left turn an option). Thankfully, the timing of the light and the slight downhill onto Commercial meant I made it back onto Commercial safely. I proceeded to my hair stylist and gratefully note that lot was not cursed by any inclines.
My stylist got down to business and trimmed my hair. I skipped any fancy style since inches of snow had piled up during the hour long appointment. I was nervous getting in my car for the trip home, but thankfully the drivers at 11:45 a.m. were as cautious as the ones earlier and we all scooted along at about 10 to 15 mph. Unlike my trip there, the light at Madrona was green onthe way back, crisis averted. The Marion Street bridge had been managed but most of Edgewater and all the connecting streets leading home had not. So I prayed and carefully inched my way home. I even managed to reverse park as I usually do. That was the last I drove until the following Monday.
Flash forward to February 2014 and boom, snow is back. the city pretty much shut down, including actual toads that were closed for almost 5 days. It started on a Wednesday evening when the meteorologist said he had confidence the predicted snow storm would come the next day. I got to work that Thursday and immediately told all my co-workers that the prior December incident was not happening again so I would be leaving before noon. I left at 11:25 and went to the grocery store en route to home. I stocked up on everything I thought I needed to get me through the weekend and headed home. Once again, I successfully parked as snow fell and didn't dare drive until the following Monday afternoon.
My best friend did rescue me that Saturday. Luckily she has traction tires. This mattered for safety reasons, and because the city had restricted all travel to chains or traction tires - all others would be ticketed. So we explored the west side, noting many places, including all Starbucks :(, were closed. Short staffing affected what places were open. For example, no deli, bakery, Starbucks, or any other specialty zones were open in Safeway that day. Once done shopping we headed up Eola as far as allowed and saw gorgeous views in the hills and looking over town. Aside from walking Yuki, that was the only outing I had for about 5 days.
Once the snow days were over, rain came hard core. The river is still up, though not at flood stage, and it's been over a week. We still have a long way to go to catch up rain levels and snow pack levels to avoid a drought this summer, but there's something nice and comforting about returning to normalcy. I also like not having the electric heaters constantly running.
Monday, August 5, 2013
New Phone New Ways of Operating
I held onto my BlackBerry Torch as long as I could. It started failing a year ago with sudden battery loss, to zero, if I talked more than five minutes. Then about two months ago the cannon ball effect began. I would take a picture, then the battery would immediately die. I plugged the phone in and it was recharged within half an hour. This spread to taking videos, and the last straw was I couldn't surf the internet or use online apps without immediately draining the battery. Bummer!
So online research revealed that buying a replacement battery, which may or may not have totally solved the problem, actually cost more than just getting a new phone via Amazon. Amazon seriously rules, by the way. Thanks to this awesome one-stop-shop site I found a brand new Samsung Galaxy S3 for $29, and even after the AT&T fee (buttheads!) it was cheaper than going to any AT&T or AT&T authorized shop where the phone was on sale for $99. Go me :)
Last Tuesday the phone arrived at my office. I sent Lisa the first text, or so I thought. Then I worked on adding apps - 38 that day. The next day I thought about screen layout and played with that, as well as adding in contacts. Last Thursday it occurred to me that I hadn't received any responses to the various texts I'd been sending. Hmm. A quick call to AT&T revealed that, even though I called two days be fore the phone got to me to check, there was indeed no text plan associated with my Galaxy S3. WTF???? All I wanted to do was swap out my BBRY for the GS3 and call it good. The old voice, text, and data plans worked just fine...silly me for thinking they would stay the same. Anyway, the guy told me I had to get plan the plan with unlimited texts etc because I have a smartphone. Whatever, it just annoyed me that the plans don't stay regardless of the smartphone you replace an old one with. Guess that explains why it asked me to pick a text plan when I was buying it. For some reason I just thought the family plan I pay for covered that base. Oh well.
Once that was sorted out I started working on ringtones. Today I discovered the secret path to success. It's a lot more involved than I expected, but after hooking up to the pc, I was able to drag and drop songs into the right places and now have text specific and call specific ringtones. Woot Woot!
So online research revealed that buying a replacement battery, which may or may not have totally solved the problem, actually cost more than just getting a new phone via Amazon. Amazon seriously rules, by the way. Thanks to this awesome one-stop-shop site I found a brand new Samsung Galaxy S3 for $29, and even after the AT&T fee (buttheads!) it was cheaper than going to any AT&T or AT&T authorized shop where the phone was on sale for $99. Go me :)
Last Tuesday the phone arrived at my office. I sent Lisa the first text, or so I thought. Then I worked on adding apps - 38 that day. The next day I thought about screen layout and played with that, as well as adding in contacts. Last Thursday it occurred to me that I hadn't received any responses to the various texts I'd been sending. Hmm. A quick call to AT&T revealed that, even though I called two days be fore the phone got to me to check, there was indeed no text plan associated with my Galaxy S3. WTF???? All I wanted to do was swap out my BBRY for the GS3 and call it good. The old voice, text, and data plans worked just fine...silly me for thinking they would stay the same. Anyway, the guy told me I had to get plan the plan with unlimited texts etc because I have a smartphone. Whatever, it just annoyed me that the plans don't stay regardless of the smartphone you replace an old one with. Guess that explains why it asked me to pick a text plan when I was buying it. For some reason I just thought the family plan I pay for covered that base. Oh well.
Once that was sorted out I started working on ringtones. Today I discovered the secret path to success. It's a lot more involved than I expected, but after hooking up to the pc, I was able to drag and drop songs into the right places and now have text specific and call specific ringtones. Woot Woot!
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