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And also be aware that, to be there for them will require a LOT of patience.  It took years for the condition to develop.  It may take years to solve.  Be ready to just listen (talking isn't listening!)

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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The human race has a long history of one person enslaving another.  I fear that societies will always treat personell like pieces of equipment.  I don't know an answer.

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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Perhaps it's impossible for someone who is "normal" (ie normal feelings of hope) to understand how anyone could commit suicide. 

When I go back and read things I have written while depressed and feeling hopeless, I can't understand how I could have felt that way.  And yet there are the words in my own handwriting.  When deeply depressed it seemed so rational that, since we all die eventually, why wait?  Why not just skip the years of pain between now and my inevitable death?

I guess it would be wise to write down my feelings while I am feeling hopeful, and read them when I become depressed.

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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I don't think prejudice ever goes away. Women still prejudge me on the appearance of my skin (white and geeky) and don't even consider the content of my character (which is insubstancial, but they might reserve judgement until they at least ask).

posted 4 years, 5 months ago
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Concerning measure 63:

I get the distinct feeling that the city of Portland actively discourages homeowners from doing their own work. I can see where the city wants to make us create jobs by hiring people.

My experience with Portland building permits:

1) Went to get a building permit. They said I couldn't get one unless I hired a contractor.

2) Hired a plumber to do minor work. He obtained permit. But no inspector ever came to inspect work.

3) Hired a plumber to do major work. Inspector came to inspect, but only spent about 5 minutes. Didn't catch errors that even I could see.

4) Went to get a building permit. The cost of the permit was likely to be as much as the whole job I wanted to do (cost of building permit is a percentage of what a contractor would charge for the job-- if I do my own work, the job would cost far less, since I'm not paying for labor).

posted 4 years, 7 months ago
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Three points:
1 We're being told to conserve, drive less and use mass transit. To make more lanes for cars would encourage just the opposite.

2 "Build it and they will come". Just like all the freeway expansions, any new auto lanes would just fill up and we'd be right back where we started. Someone once said, "You can't build your way out of congestion."

3 Four Billion dollars is just too much right now (and probably in the future as will). The US economy is being ruined by too much debt. Would this be the last straw to break it?

posted 5 years ago
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