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Penny_From_Eugene's comments:
on Questioning Police Policy
If the root cause of the need for more training and better mentoring is inadequate funding for training, then I can see how "more money" might help.
I am aware that various professional fields (Accounting, Medicine, Cosmetology -- just to name a few diverse skills) require continuing professional education every year. Why should we think that the police would be any different in that regard? This would mean, however, that the various law enforcement agencies would need to have a certain amount of their budget designated for training, and of that, a specified amount set aside for CPE (continuing professional education). We all know that policing today is much different than it was even 50 years ago. Back then, if you were taken into custody by PD, they did not have to advise you of your rights. That changed in 1966 with the landmark Supreme Court decision Miranda v. Arizona. 100 years ago, if you didn't "come along quietly," the police might beat you senseless with a billy club. Policing is an evolving profession, and as such it seems to me that on-going training is necessary and would be a good thing.
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on Questioning Police Policy
You are right about there being good cops and lousy cops. Unfortunately, it is the lousy cops, the "rogues" if you will, that get all the press and thus make the good ones look bad. I, for one, appreciate the EPD officer who followed me into a parking lot one day to advise me that I had a burned-out taillight. We spoke briefly and I agreed to replace it by the end of the day, and he bade me a good day and left without citing me (which he could have done, had he chosen to).
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on Questioning Police Policy
I saw an item in this morning's R-G (front page of City-Region) that police officers are allowed to take a blood sample from DUI suspects without a warrant! Does this mean that all police officers are going to have a nurse riding with them, or are the police going to be properly trained to do it themselves, with all the proper precautions that are attendant with such a procedure?
What happened to our Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination? It would seem that a blood sample is just the first step in getting us to be witnesses against ourselves. (This Amendment also seems to apply to the forfeiture laws that convert the real and personal property of accused drug offenders to public ownership. Due process dictates that they be convicted first, not just charged.)
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on Northwest Passages: Fisher Poets
I can think of a very distinct contrast between working on a fishing boat and working in an office:
When you go to the office, you don't usually punch in thinking that "today might be my last day on God's Beautiful Earth," but when working on a fishing boat, whether fishing salmon or cod, or working the crabbing grounds off the Oregon coast or pursuing Opelio and King crab in the Bering Sea, every crewmember has to keep in the back of their mind the possibility that one wrong step might send them to Davy Jones' Locker.
A moment of silence for the memory of Capt. Phil Harris, of the Cornelia Marie.
(My partner and I watched him and the Hansens and all the rest on Deadliest Catch.)
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on Religious Clothing in the Classroom
While teachers (and many other professions) are not SUPPOSED to wear political paraphernalia, there have been a number of times (more than I can count) that I have seen teachers wearing their OEA/AFT t-shirts, University classified employees wearng their purple SEIU t-shirts, and bus drivers wearing their ATU pins.
Don't tell me that Unions are not political organizations... candidates are always courting the Union Vote.
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on Religious Clothing in the Classroom
So, if I am on the bus, going to the doctor's office, and someone else on the bus is wearing a hijab, or a yarmulke, or a crucifix, then they're proselytizing me?
I'm sorry, I don't see how just being in the same space as someone of another faith who is an observant individual, and is proud of their faith (none should be ashamed to be faithful) could be considered proselytizing.
Further, if memory serves, the only religion that truly proclaims itself the "One, True Religion" is the Catholic Church, which saw fit to send missionaries to the New World to convert the "heathen natives" as well as all across Europe, Asia, and Africa, to attempt to convert the Jews, the Hindus, and others.
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on Religious Clothing in the Classroom
While I would not want any of MY teachers (or my child's, if my partner and I had had children) to wear a swastika, especially with the baggage it was saddled with in the 20th century, we need to remember that it was a symbol linked to Eastern belief systems for centuries before that.
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on Religious Clothing in the Classroom
@ David Miller, OPB...
I don't think either one of us intended for this to be a one-on-one discussion...it just sorta wound up like that.
Lively, respectful, well-considered debate is always a good thing.
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on Religious Clothing in the Classroom
Hi again, slakr007...no worries...i didn't feel as though your response to my original comment was derisive or otherwise insulting. I do welcome thoughtful debate from others who have well-considered opinions (and not-so-well thought out ideas) as we both (or all) get the chance to see the question from a different point of view.
I like to remember that minds, as with parachutes and condoms, only work when open.
Be Well!
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on Religious Clothing in the Classroom
Sorry, but if practicing the faith one's choice or of one's heritage includes wearing certain garments, or wearing their hair a certain way (or not cutting their hair), such as Sikhs (for example) who wear turbans and their hair uncut, then requiring them to NOT wear their turban, or to cut their hair DOES infringe on their right to practice their faith.
Would you tell someone who is an observant Jew NOT to wear their prayer shawl, or NOT to wear their yarmulke at Passover and Hannukah? I certainly wouldn't. Nor would I want any body to tell me that I would not be allowed to wear clothing or jewelry that symbolized my faith.
Teachers who wish to be observant of their respective faiths should not be limited to teaching at private religious schools. Indeed, we need the very best teachers we can find in ALL our schools, because as it is, the system is failing too many of our citizens.
Don't get me wrong, slakr007, I value your comment as well, because it gives me a different perspective to view the issue from, and I do honor the contributions and accomplishments of the Founding Fathers of this, Our Great Nation. Let us not forget, however, that they were human, too, and made some choices that we would consider politically incorrect these days (owning slaves, for example). But I do agree that it took many great men (and great women) to found and build this, Our Great Nation, that I have no doubt that we all love, even if we get perturbed by the current government from time to time.
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on Vortex I
If you remember Vortex I, then you weren't there?
I wasn't there, and I still don't remember it.
In fact, until this morning, when I heard the discussion (reminisinces) I had never heard of Vortex I and I grew up in Oregon, having been born in Springfield in 1964.
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on Paper, Plastic or What?
If your carrier does not tie a knot in the neck of the bag, then you can easily slip your paper out (maybe not so much with the Sunday edition), save them up in a large paper grocery bag, and return them to your carrier for re-use (better than recycling, as they go around more than once before going out with the curbside bin).
My partner and I were carriers for the Register-Guard here in Eugene for several years, and some of our subscribers did that. It really helped a lot, especially as the R-G charges carriers for the bags at the rate of $40 for a box of 20 clips of 100 bags each. (Works out to 2 cents per bag, and if you use a bag every day (we didn't) it comes to $7.30 in extra expenses per subscriber per year.)
Ask your Carrier if they would like the bags back for re-use.
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on Religious Clothing in the Classroom
Quoting directly from the Constitution of The United States of America:
BILL OF RIGHTS, Article I:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
THE CONSTITUTION, Article VI:
All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.
So it seems to me, from reading this, that Oregon's law prohibiting school teachers from wearing symbols of their faith -- be it a crucifix, a yarmulke, a turban, or a hijab, is contrary to the Constitution of the United States. And frankly, I fail to see how any student's education is diminished by an educator wearing her hijab, or his turban, or a crucifix or a Star of David, or any other personal item that is a symbol of their faith.
No, I am not a lawyer or a Constitutional expert, just a citizen with a modicum of common sense who is tired of seeing individuals' civil rights stepped on by the government, especially the government of Oregon.
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on Checking Credit
Excellent point: if you use a general purpose credit card (Visa, MasterCard) there is no way to tell from the cardholder's credit report where they used it. Certainly not in the same way that you can tell that someone who has a Macy's card uses it at Macy's (and possibly Bloomingdale's).
Did I mention, also that the credit reporting agencies -- Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion -- have way too much influence over our lives. (I'm not afraid to name names, nor am I afraid to say "Voldemort.")
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on Vetting the Dog Walker
That is a RIDICULOUS list of requirements in order to walk a dog. I guess I would be ineligible for the job, though, since my partner and I no longer have a vehicle, nor do I have car insurance. I do have a drivers license, however. (Class 'C' -- is that sufficient for dog-walking?)
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on Checking Credit
"And finally, if one discusses a health issue that caused past (or current) payment issues, the health issue will throw up red flags in most cases EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE USED IN THE HIRING DECISIONS. (We're human, it is hard to "ignore" information once we know it.) So much for explaining away an issue......"
Excellent point...that is about as useful as a judge saying "The jury will disregard...(something)"
How DO you un-ring a bell?
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on "The First Unemployment Claim" of Measure 67
Excellent point. As an accounting major, I know that a sole proprietor does NOT receive a salary, but is able to take capital (money) out of their business by use of a Drawing Account. Does anyone REALLY NEED a $76,000 salary?
I would question the salaries of those who hold statewide positions (governor, secretary of state, attorney general), as well -- do they legitimately need to be six-figure salaries?
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on Checking Credit
Just a further comment: When applying for many jobs, unless you give consent to a credit report, your application is round-filed, so it is a catch-22. My credit history is irrelevant to whether or not I can ring up a customer, but unless I consent to the credit check, then the last light of day my application sees is when I submit it and they say "Thank you."
Also, despite the fact that employers are not allowed to explicitly ask what your age, marital status, gender identity, or sexual orientation are, credit reports DO contain information that can reveal these things to an employer. (I have previous experience working at a credit union where I pulled credit reports on members who were applying for Visa cards.)
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on Checking Credit
NO! I DO NOT trust the financial industry or big corporations any further than I can throw them. I trust the credit bureaus even less!!!
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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on Paper, Plastic or What?
Don't take this the wrong way, I am definitely NOT trying to sound like I am without sin, but as my partner and I have no car, when I go to Wal-Mart by bus, I take my folding cart and a pile of reusable bags that we have acquired at a cost of 1 to 2 dollars each.
I then bag my own at the U-Scan lane so that I can bag them in the most efficient way and get the most groceries into the least amount of space as possible.
Yes, I use an occasional plastic bag when I am buying such things as Mr. Clean, so that it is 'segregated' from the food. (Nobody wants Mr. Clean-flavoured sugar in their coffee.)
Finally, I use the plastic bags from Wal-Mart for lining the garbage can in the bathroom and in the bedroom. I wish we could compost our food waste, but we live in an upstairs duplex and have no yard in which to compost.
We do recycle as much as possible -- if it is plastic, paper, metal, or anything that we even THINK might be recyclable, it goes in our recycling cart, except the glass -- that goes in the small tote bin. So we're trying to help, but we know we are not perfect either.
By the way, there are three companies doing business in Lane County alone that do not offer single-use plastic bags at all: Trader Joe's, Market of Choice, and Dari-Mart. I invite Wal-Mart to become the fourth.
(This comment is not aimed at any particular person or group.)
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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