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I acquired my last full time job (that lasted 10 years) by sending the interviewer a packet of free information that they would need regardless of whether they hired me or not (I do import-export compliance).  They appreciated the gesture and that made the difference.

My worst mistake ever was to take a job without asking to meet my co-workers.  I accepted a job only to discover that I was hired to replace 2 people, and that my department was so demoralized that half the people were planning to quit.

My current hurtle is being overqualified (too old) for many jobs, but underqualified for others (missing management or I.T. skills).  Maintaining morale is therefore a challenge.

My question today is whether I should use a plain-text version of my resume when the employer asks that your resume be uploaded or scanned.  I've heard that the formatting that makes a paper resume attractive can cause problems with scanning.

posted 2 years, 1 month ago
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I find myself at the dawn of my 2^nd chance.  I’m 51 and have only recently realized how my life has been dominated by a pervasive set of fears masked underneath a “resentful martyr” style of living. 

Learning mindfulness (i.e. to “live in the moment”) and finally forgiving my abusive parents pulled back the curtain and revealed just how I was fearful I’ve been of taking any risks that might “raise my head above the trenches”. 

I’m still quite timid, but at least now I can see & confront my fears a hundred times a day; which allows me to slowly climb toward the light.

posted 2 years, 4 months ago
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My girlfriend was one of the devoted members of Friends of Bagby who left after the internal uproar in the group left the aggressive faction in charge (see the linked story in the introduction).   She told me many background stories , some wonderful, some frustrating, and some frightening. 

I started visiting in the 90’s when the FOB was functioning well and the experience was magical.  But like so many others, I stopped coming when I encountered groups of kids with cases of beer arriving at sunset, as well as creeps who came only to stare at (and photograph) the naked bathers.

From what I’ve observed, a volunteer group could manage the site well, but there needs to be some kind of a process for reviewing & removing any disruptive volunteers so as to prevent a repeat of the kind of stupid “power-games” by jerks such as the ones who destroyed the original FOB.

posted 2 years, 5 months ago
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I’ve had a few close calls as both a pedestrian and as a driver.  Regardless of my mode of transport, I now act as if the other vehicle/pedestrian may be either inattentive or emotional and thus could act unpredictably.  The key to survival for both of us is my “mindfulness” of the situation; using a technique I’ve adopted from a motorcycle safety class which is “S.I.D.E.” (Scan ahead, Identify potential dangers, Decide how to avoid, and Execute if necessary).  With practice you can do these mental scans in a second, and they are a real lifesaver.

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
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The key to stopping bullying lies primarily with school administrators & teachers, and to a lesser extent with parents.

When I was severely bullied (physically & sexually assaulted) in Jr. High School, the teachers knew & did nothing under the excuse that “boys will be boys”.  The principal openly tolerated bullying as he believed that surviving such abuse would “make a man out of you”.  Such blatant condoning of violence should be considered criminal negligence under the law wherever it is not already a crime.

The parents in turn must always err on the side of believing & supporting their children.  My parents were very polite & reserved people who insisted that I “must have done something to provoke those boys”.  Their dismissal of my trauma hurt worse than the violence itself.  For mercy’s sake, believe & help your children !!

posted 2 years, 7 months ago
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I currently donate every month to Mercy Corps and have volunteered down at their new headquarters many times in the last year.  I’ve also always wanted to switch my career from the private sector to working in the NGO/Relief Sector; but have hesitated for years because of a lack of information on how to make such a transition.  Now that I’ve been laid-off for a long time and was forced to sell my condo, I am no longer “tied-down” by a mortgage, but find myself middle-aged & still puzzled about the best way to “break-into” the sector while still keeping food on the table.  Any suggestions?

posted 2 years, 9 months ago
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My first idea is to develop biofuels based specifically on invasive plants (such as English Ivy here or Kudzu in the South, etc, etc), so as to solve two problems at once.  This assumes that processing techniques would differ somewhat between different feed-stocks (wood-waste vs switchgrass vs ivy).

My second, related idea is for a short-term stimulus jobs program, based on the 1930's CCC model, which would send hundreds if not thousands of unemployed persons (especially the most disadvantaged unskilled folks) to manually eradicate stands of English Ivy, Scotch Broom, Canary Reed Grass, and Himalayan Blackberry.

posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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The unfolding story of the Gulf Oil Catastrophe shows clearly how subservient government at all levels has become to the power of big business.  BP causes the spill, yet Washington continues to rely on their falsified data to a large extent, and local authorities enforce BP’s orders to keep the media out of the worst affected areas.

The history of previous spills, as well as the on-going devastation of Appalachia by Mountaintop Removal Mining does not make me optimistic for the future.

I predict that this crisis will end up like the Exxon Valdez spill, with the cleanup left unfinished, damage claims tied up in court for years, and a return to business as usual after all the clamor has died down.

posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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What I find annoying about the proposed budget cuts is that there is no apparent corresponding push to increase revenues so as to minimize these cuts.

 In principle, I believe that any budget shortfall should be addressed with a balance of cuts & tax increases, so as to spread the burden fairly across all income groups.

 It is grossly unfair to balance the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable citizens in the state.  If there is a shortfall, all of us from the wealthiest on down should feel the pinch.  Those at the bottom should be the last to be harmed instead of the first.

posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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My question is why health care reform required such a massive & complex new program? I believe it would have been better to simply reform the flaws in the Medicare program (which is needed anyway) and then expand coverage to anyone as was the original intent 45 years ago.

posted 3 years, 1 month ago
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Having shopped for housing several times since I moved to Oregon 19 years ago, I noticed many zoning or other property restrictions that kept costs high; especially those that prevented the placement of affordable manufactured houses in many locations. 

Meanwhile, specific developments for manufactured houses were often no more than glorified trailer parks, with a homeowner at the mercy of the property owner who could raise lot rents at will.

So I would advocate laws that would give owners of factory-build houses the right to build on any lot they can afford; and other regulations that would give tenants of trailer parks the right to purchase their lots, or at least “rent to own”.

Finally, I would also like to see the return of the small and affordable “shotgun house” that served so many young & working families in the first half of the 20^th Century.

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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Population control is critical to a stable climate & sustainable future for the simple reason that the resources of our single home planet are finite. 

I read “The Population Bomb” back in 1968 at the age of 9, and since then I’ve watched the environment go from bad to worse.  In fact, the world’s population has more than doubled in my lifetime (3 billion to 6.8 billion)

I decided not to have kids by the age of 12 (1971) in part because I’m pessimistic that mankind will be smart enough to avoid a catastrophic future; and the pathetic outcome of the talks in Copenhagen proves my point.

 “Soylent Green” anyone? 

posted 3 years, 5 months ago
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I believe that any surplus TARP funds should be distributed to the struggling working class & unemployed in the form of a tax rebate.  This would stimulate demand & therefore jobs, and may help keep some from losing their homes.

posted 3 years, 5 months ago
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Please comment on the role population growth in global warming. 

It seems that discussing over-population has become somehow politically incorrect on the Left for fear of accusations of racism; and is anathema to those on the Right. 

I fear that all the good actions in the world may be swamped by our sheer numbers.  

posted 3 years, 8 months ago
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Would it be possible to require “scope-mounted” video cameras for those given permission to shoot wolves “caught in the act” of attacking livestock, so as to provide “proof of guilt”?

I’m concerned that the rancher’s word alone may be a loop-hole when the actual attacker might be a different animal (such as a feral dog) rather than the wolf being targeted.

posted 3 years, 8 months ago
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I’m curious to know how the authorities determine who is the speeder when the flash fires at a group of cars passing the camera and only one or two are actually speeding.

I've seen that happen several times and have worried about getting a ticket simply because I'm at the back of the group and therefore have an easily readable tag.

posted 3 years, 8 months ago
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In a world of 6+ billion persons, the simplest solution is for those with genetic diseases to forego having children altogether, as I have done.

I personally felt that it was my duty not to burden society with children at risk for autism & alcoholism; especially since the world is overpopulated anyway.

posted 3 years, 8 months ago
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I recently “dodged the bullet” of a threatened foreclosure by selling my condo. 

 I’ve been unemployed since January, but fell behind on my mortgage only in June.  Yet my lender escalated quickly from a late fee to warning letters to default notice to threat of foreclosure in less than 3 months! 

 

I was negotiating with my buyer when I fell behind so I didn’t try to get my loan modified.  But I suspect that process would have been too slow to save me; since my lender (Wells Fargo) is said to have modified on 6% of their troubled loans, while foreclosing on the rest. 

posted 3 years, 9 months ago
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I'd be curious to know if it would be technically feasible to create small scale "digesters" or fermenters that could be used by local communities or even individual households to make usable methane or alcohol from common yard debris, or even better, invasive plants like Himalayan Blackberry, English Ivy or Reed Canary Grass, etc.  That could help to "finance" eradication efforts & would reduce household energy expenses.

posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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My 2 cents is to suggest that engineering design should mimic existing natural processes so as to speed up the development of a variety of biomass fuel sources.

Rather than aiming at producing ethanol for cars, perhaps the goal should be the production of methane (natural gas); given that livestock already produces methane as a byproduct of digesting food.

Processes based on the natural digestion of cellulosic material might allow for the development of fuel stocks from anything that livestock can eat.  

Such "natural technology" might be simple enough to scale-down as well as to scale-up; with the goal of "back-yard" energy production from yard-debris, etc. 

Wouldn't it be nice if we could use Engish Ivy & other invasives as a fuel source?  This might add the "profit-motive" to our eradication efforts. 

posted 3 years, 11 months ago
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