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I highly recommend you have Portland author Carol Frischmann on to talk about her newest book Pets and the Planet: A Practical Guide to Sustainable Pet Care. Carol is a biologist, and naturalist. This is her third book. The guide is extremely well researched, and provides a wealth of information for pet loving Oregonians concerned about being more "green" when it comes to pet care, food, waste and so on. There is not a topic that goes uncovered. It would make for an interesting discussion -- what are the environmental costs of pets? What does Portland do that makes it stand out from other cities for pet care? What can we do better? 

posted 3 years, 11 months ago
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My eight year old son tells me some kids at his school consider it fun to spit on people while riding the Ferris Wheel. We talk. Who told you this? How did you respond? Do you think it would be fun? And then a new question comes to my mind: what would Barack Obama say?

For the first time in what seems like decades, we have the potential to elect someone whose sense of duty, fairness, and honor is a role model. And not just for our children.

Last Sunday, when news broke about Sarah Palin?s pregnant daughter, it was Barack who told people that her family and children were off limits.

By contrast, the woman he defended, decided the best way to introduce herself to the American public was to take catty, cynical, and mean-spirited pot-shots at the Democratic candidate. Immediately, I recognized her for who she was. A spitter. Part of a hard-hitting group of bullies that believe the best way to win votes is to forego truth and integrity and hurl invectives at anyone that may try to pass them by. My advise to my son: keep your eyes on people like Barack, and don't go anywhere near the Ferris Wheel.

Naseem Rakha

posted 4 years, 8 months ago
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My eight year old son looks at what the US has done over the last five years and asks me questions like
- what is wrong with adults?
- don't they understand that no solution will come from war?
- why do they teach us not to fight, but then turn around and are voilent with others?
- why are adults making such bad choices?

He worries about the children in Iraq. He attends peace marches, and is generally worried about the world we are passing on to the next generation.

I find this sad.

And I find I have few answers.

Naseem Rakha

posted 5 years, 1 month ago
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