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LOCAL CURRENCY (Microcurrency)

There are several communities in Oregon that have adopted local currency to keep hard earned "dollars" in local economies.  One example is in the Columbia River Gorge.  (http://www.riverhours.org/)  There, local business and community minded residences have developed a currency called RiverHours.  Its such a great idea! Read more at their website.  There was also a story on NPR's website today that mentioned another local currency that has an even wider acceptance in Germany (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128462416&ft=1&f=1001)

posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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THE FUTURE OF MAX...A SLOW ALTERNATIVE TO DRIVING OR EXPRESS TRAINS!

With the addition of the green line to the family of light rail service throughout the city I think it is high time we start discussing the sometimes agonizingly slow service offered on MAX and some major bus lines thoughout the city.  Every well utilized train system in major cities like Tokyo, Paris, and London offer express service trains and busses to fastly and effecienctly move large volumes of people from the burbs to the central city and business districts.  As I peer into my magic mass transit crystal ball I forsee and uncertain future for the new greenline. I fear a future for the green line that is similar to its older east side siblings of a service utilized not by the communters that pay for it with their taxes but by crimanals, the car-less, and kids headed for the mall.  MAX greenline will not be a silver bullet to the looming problems and traffic jams and long commutes on the east side until non-stop express trains are running full speed to downtown and the west side.

posted 3 years, 8 months ago
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HIGH SPEED RAIL SERVICE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST! ITS TIME WE BOARD THE TRAIN

President Obama and Vice President Biden are leading the Pacific Northwest into the future of transportation.  In November of last year Californian's approve prop 1A giving the go ahead on a massive infrastructure project that would develop high speed (Asian/European Style) rail service from LA to San Fransisco. I spent a year living in Tokyo and on a daily basis used their superb rail lines. They were efficient, affordable, timely, and reliable. I think California is on the right track and and am PLEASED to hear President Obama single out Oregon and Washington as the place for a new high speed rail line.  High Speed rail would be a massive infrastructure project and would create hundreds if not thousands of high paying jobs that are crucial in our region (who leads the nations in unemployment).  We have proved through MAX and other mass transit systems that we make good use of these projects! California's project is 800 miles long and projected to cost 10 billion dollars. Eugene to Seattle is half the distance, on flat terrain and has no passes to dig under or climb over. WE COULD DO THIS if enough people come together and support it!

posted 4 years, 1 month ago
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Mr. Adams must resign immediately! I am a young gay man and I was very, very proud that my great city elected an openly gay person to its highest office. Sam Adams has done many great things for Portland and the city owes him a debt of gratitude however he blatantly abused his power as a mentor and lied in the face of the public. Had he come clean without lies and deception and allowed the pieces to fall as they may I think the public may have been more forgiving. His dishonest, self centered deceptions has caused the public to loose trust in him and his ability to be an effective leader for our city. Another sex scandal will be smeared across the national press and all those who use issues like this to support suppressing gay rights will have another soundbite to rail against. We all make mistakes and now its time for Sam Adams to pay for his with his resignation.

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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I checked out the web page for the new flag...it looks like it is someone's personal page. The flag design is terrible in my opinion. I admit the current flag is a little boring...but the design on that site is worse. I'd like to see a flag that incorporates our coat of arms on a more colorful flag as well as incorporating our Native American heritage

posted 4 years, 5 months ago
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HIGH SPEED RAIL SERVICE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST! ITS TIME WE BOARD THE TRAIN

Nov. 5th Californian's approve prop 1A giving the go ahead on a massive infrastructure project that would develop high speed (Asian/European Style) rail service from LA to San Fransisco. I spent a year living in Tokyo and on a daily basis road their superb rail lines. They were efficient, affordable, timely, and reliable. I think California is on the right track and Oregon and Washington should move swiftly to follow their example. President-elect Obama has just announced his plan for massive infrastructure projects across the nation and I can't think of a more environmentally friendly project that a high speed rail line running from Eugene, Oregon to Seattle, WA. It could boost jobs in state's that have traditionally higher unemployment rates than the rest of the nation during economic slow downs and we have proved through MAX and other mass transit systems that we make good use of these projects! California's project is 800 miles long and projected to cost 10 billion dollars. Eugene to Seattle is half the distance, on flat terrain and has no passes to dig under or climb over. WE COULD DO THIS if enough people come together and support it!

posted 4 years, 5 months ago
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