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trurl9's comments:
on Foreclosing in Oregon
The trouble I had getting a loan is that mortgage companies and banks wanted me to settle for an adjustable rate mortgage. I learned about ARMs and wanted nothing to do with them. They felt like gambling.
I sought to buy a house in the early 1990s and am happy I didn't. I couldn't justify paying twice for a house on a 30-year fixed mortgage. What a rip off.
I had little faith that I'd remain employed long term. The job market for my profession changed negatively in the mid 1990s.
Where others see "investment" I saw "maintenance" and "expenses". Like most things home ownership can be positive under the right conditions, but the conditions haven't been favorable (in my opinion) for decades. Houses are priced too high and cost too much to maintain given my wage.
posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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on In Public View
I wouldn't tell you if I had a concealed weapon permit because I'd give away my deterrence aegis: you don't know whether I'm armed. You have to take your chances. Go ahead, make my day. Just joking. The challenge is to prevent and sidestep conflict in the first place.
Since privacy protection is breaking down in the USA, I've stopped signing petitions unless I really believe in the potential legislation. Retribution can come from too many angles. I don't want my petition signature, or how I vote, to become public.
Isn't part of the idea of concealing votes to protect individuals from being manipulated into changing their stance in the favor of a bully?
posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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on What Are Workers Worth?
I have worked in the public and private sectors and I've discovered that both classes of workers are losing ground in terms of pay, benefits and pension. I left the public sector in 1988 because I was never compensated as much as I wanted. I earned at least 35% more working in the private sector. I include benefits, pension and salary together for comparison.
One problem is too many executives and managers receive excessive pay, benefits, pensions and bonuses. Anybody in an organization who earns more than 100 times the compensation of the lowest-paid employee might be compensated too well, and the lowest-paid employee is compensated too little.
I'm cynical because I've had managers take credit for my work. They'd get the bonuses and I'd get more responsibility with no increase in compensation, benefits or status. I found new jobs that compensated me better.
posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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on Drawing for a Living
I enjoy editorial cartoons but I don't tape them to the fridge or cut them out any more. A few years ago I recycled a manilla file folder full of humor and cartoons in an ongoing effort to lighten my material life.
Practical info or horribly awful puns get put on the Fridge. But some of my favorite editorial cartoons reside in my memory 30 years on.
I smile when I consider the Star Wars poster with Bill Clinton, Monica Lewinski and cast.
When Reagan was president, James Clavell's novel Shogun was popular. I can't remember the cartoonist's name, but he did caricatures of Reagan and Jimmy Carter dressed in Samurai gear.
Reagan was shown with a sword and the caption simply said Ray-gun. Apropos given that Reagan was gungho over the Star Wars defense initiative. The caricature revealed the truth of Regan's haughty and hawkish demeanor better than his real-life images.
Jimmy Carter in Samurai gear was captioned Sho-nuff. Carter's caricature made him appear an affable country bumpkin with a southern accent, but Carter is one of our brightest and more enlightened presidents.
Another editorial cartoon shows jet fighter pilots sitting in the cockpit of their high tech fighter and staring down at a tribesman who'd flattened the jet's tire with his spear. The cartoon warns that the U.S. relies on the most sophisticated weapons systems in the world, and those systems can often be counteracted by exceedingly primitive means. The IED (Improvised Explosive Device) in the Middle East, for example.
I don't find myself easily offended by cartoons because I want people to be able to express themselves even if it is annoying or offensive to me. There are limits but they're not easily exceeded. I don't think I want to experience a 10-foot high mound of cow exhaust that is referred to as "art"... Or do I?
To contradict myself, Sarah Palin's image is offensive to me because she represents the anti-intellectual ignorance and laziness that has gripped too many in the U.S. Palin's real life persona is a 24/7 caricature. I imagine terrible things when I'm alone: how would president Palin handle Spill Baby Spill? (shudder)
South Park depicting Muhammad, Jesus or Buddha negatively wouldn't bother me because I enjoy and get what South Park is doing. But Mr. Hankey is totally disgusting and offensive, but funny too. I deal with it. Life is often objectionable.
posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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on The Meaning of Jefferson High
Keeping Jefferson open because it is historically significant to a relatively small group might salve some emotions, but if Jefferson has lost its effectiveness wouldn't it be better to move to an improved solution?
Hanging onto past indisgressions is a trap that will keep people fighting instead of solving the present issues.
Jefferson is a big enough facility to educate 2,000 plus students. It doesn't seem financially practical to keep it open for 300. Separate the emotional issues from the pragmatic. Turn the Jefferson building over to PCC and enhance PCC's ability to prepare students for education beyond high school.
PPS could merge the best of Jefferson into the best of Benson and create one really good high school. Provide Jefferben with the human, security and financial resources to make it exceed expectations. Upgrade all remaining Portland high schools similarly.
posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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on The Meaning of Jefferson High
I attended Boise elementary, graduated from Benson, and I attended a historically black university before graduating from Oregon State.
My grade school education was negatively impacted by students who chronically disrupted class. Disruptive kids sought attention they were not receiving at home? That's my theory.
The pervasive mentality in grade school was that "being smart" was a liability not an asset. How does one overcome pervasive negative societal brainwashing? Thankfully my parents provided guidance to help me steer clear of the pitfalls of following the herd.
Has PPS (Portland Public Schools) considered implementing Geoffery Canada's system? At first encounter Canada's system seems severe, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense.
Canada's system pushes kids from kindergarten through college graduation by providing extensive life and education support. Parents are taught to be effective. Canada's system focuses on saving the next generation; it seeks to break the invisible mental chains that effectively enslave the poor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Canada
Closing Jefferson or re-jiggering Benson in the name of "balancing the budget" does not serve the best interest of educating students. Has excess fat been cut from the budget by PPS adminstration? I believe TOL guest, Anna, asked that excellent question.
posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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on Getting Back to Work: Entrepreneurs
When I graduated from college I employed myself as a technical writer. It was a heady and stressful experience and I made lots of money. I needed the money for my debts and living expenses and I eventually ran afoul of the IRS. I don't know why the IRS wouldn't accept my reasonable explanation that I needed MY money! Good times.
Decades later it looks like I will again rev up the self promotion machine and start a new adventure as an entremanure. I have no idea what I'll do yet but the ideas are slowly fermenting in the cess pool of my mind. Good times.
In the meantime I encourage everybody to quit their employment (except you good people producing Think Out Loud) so we can send a message to corporations and governments that we're not going to continue doing business the way we are.
Corporations and governments will change their ways if we the people change ours. Starve the government and corporate leeches so positive reforms can be enacted.
FEEL (Fraternity Equality Equanimity Liberty)
posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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on Getting Back to Work: Jobs and Identity
I no longer tie my identity to my career or job. It's taken about 10 years to decouple my personality from my work.
I've had several different jobs over my work life. I've taken classes to attempt to find new employment but additional schooling has not helped. I am currently unemployed -- this time for three years. My last job move was from being an Information Technology engineer to managing an outdoor sports shop.
Being unemployed is occassionally worrisome because I doubt my self worth. On the other hand I take better care of myself now because I devote all my waking time to non-work pursuits. I don't bring the job home any more and that is a supreme blessing.
The quality of my unemployed life is better in all aspects except not earning income and benefits. I like to imagine that I'm part of a heretofore undefined movement: the post-career zeitgeist. There are lots of things I like to do in addition to work.
Some day I will seek to earn income again, but for the time being I enjoy retirement number two and push negative thoughts to the side. I work when I have to but not to define myself.
posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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on Who Owns the Ocean?
With respect to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster I hope Washington, Oregon and California ban drilling for anything off the Pacific coast forever. The cost of man-made mistakes is too high and not worth the risk.
Flippantly, it seems that corporations and governments own the oceans. They harvest fish and resources from ocean with preference over individuals. The government does not do what individuals want them to do regarding sustaining oceans, so the "everybody owns the oceans" argument is effectively fallacious.
posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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on Lunch at the Beverly Hilton
Congratulations on winning the Gracie, Emily.
I commend you and the rest of the Think Out Loud team for the enlightenment you provide. I can imagine how fast and intense you folks work to put together a widely ranging daily show and I'm happy you do it well. Continued success and thank you.
posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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on Stiffing the State
The problem with Tax Fairness Oregon's "public humiliation" method is that those who are innocent may be unjustly vilified. Oregon and Federal tax systems are opaque, complex, fraught with human error, incompetence, indifference or corruption.
It's too easy for an individual to be placed on the Internet, but it can be extremely difficult for them to be removed. The whole system has to work correctly most times it doesn't.
How about reforming the tax system so it is easier to pay the right amount of taxes without all the complexity of current tax laws?
If I had earned income I could pay taxes. How about a job?
Anybody need a cynical, ascerbic, but caring and careful technical writer, IT type? I work hard. I'm honest. At times I'm imaginative but I tend to scuba to my own drummer. I've done a lot of different things and seek to do more with enlightened folk. I'd like to work in Antarctica for a clip, for example. Forgot to visit Antarctica last time I was in New Zealand.
If you seek a wage slave to work in your machine without complaint I'm not your cup of tea. Enlightenment, collaboration, cooperation, justice, honesty and integrity is what I care about. Fair pay for work provided works wonders.
posted 2 years, 12 months ago
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on Who Owns the Ocean?
Marine reserves? Are you kidding? This is a joke to my mind. We'll set aside a tiny percentage of ocean to protect habitat. Pollution or abuse will stop at the boundaries of marine reserves! Right. Marine reserves are a stop-gap feel-good measure that are meaningless compared to the gravity of our plight.
Humans have already proven they can over-fish oceans. We've polluted the ocean with thousands of square miles of suspended plastic and fertilizer run off. Though oil comes from within the Earth, it probably hampers the ecosystem a bit when it spills directly into the ocean.
Humans do not own oceans or anything really. Humans are born and will die dependent on others and sun light. Ownership is a human mental construct. Humans are effectively equivalent to ants, shrimp, algae, silverfish and roaches: we're organisms exploiting planet Earth to exist. Humans have a lot more bad habits than other critters though.
For humans to transcend their abysmal way of being they must forgo negative habits like exceptionalism, ego, and arrogance in order to cultivate humility and deep understanding. Humans are interwoven into the whole. Excessive individualism is a human mental construct.
What do I take from the ocean? What it gives. Rain. Wind. Air to breathe (indirectly). Food. Solace. Enligtenment. Hurricanes. Tsunamis. Excitement when I get washed off the rocks by the occasional sneaker wave. Metaphorically, I become part of the food chain when a shark bites my metaphorical surf board. The ocean reminds me that I'm but a grain of sand on all the beaches of the Universe. My individuality only has meaning to me.
Do humans need to minimize their individuality so they can particpate in the Universe as it really is? Do humans need to be much better stewards of Earth? If we destroy Earth will we not destroy ourselves and many other beings?
Roaches will be here after the radioactive fallout settles. I can see them smearing 40 SPF sunblock on each other's carapaces as they murmur, "Damn, it's nice to be rid of those pesky humans. They were a royal PITA!"
posted 2 years, 12 months ago
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on What Wind Means for the Gorge
I worked at a windsurfing shop in Hood River and much of the shop's income came from tourists, especially Canadians. Visitors from all over the world came to the shop. In the winter months much of the business was international.
Many wind enthusiasts moved to Oregon and Washington to be close to the Gorge sports life style and one of the best wind sport areas in the world. Many of the people I hung out with were from Europe, Central and South America.
While tourism is an important aspect of Gorge life, over time I felt that well-heeled locals and transplants could thrive regardless of tourism. The poor, on the other hand, scraped together a hand-to-mouth existence.
I knew several people who lived in vans down by the river and their lives were shambles. The song Welcome to the Hotel California summarized their plight: you can visit the Gorge, but for some, it was damn hard to escape. I witnessed people who lusted to be Boys of Summer but they ended up destitute with no Plan B. Some pursued dreams to the detrimient of their reality.
posted 2 years, 12 months ago
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on What Wind Means for the Gorge
@jlangdon,
My science fiction answer is that in 100 years, barring we don't wipe ourselves out stupidly, we will harness fusion, Hydrogen, and zero-point energy. We will use magnetism to its fuller potential.
Going X Files on you, the probability is high that several existing energy technologies are being supressed by the government and Big Url (Oil). This is Art Bell territory so I'll stop because I'm blowing the smoke of conspiracy theory. Fire up your web browser and search for zero point energy.
What if the particle physicists discover something new and fundamental about the nature of reality that leads to inexpensive and safe energy?
Solar technology will become more efficient than it is today. I've read that German researchers have designed solar panels that are 40% efficient. Today the most efficient production solar panels in the U.S. are less than 25% efficient.
Finally, many of us have discovered the we live wastefully. Most of us don't need televisions, stereos and IPads. I've got clothes lines in my basement and out in the yard so why do I use a clothes dryer? Out of habit and convenience.
Thoughtless consumerism and not using goods completely are dead-end behaviors.
Oil spilling into the Gulf is a potent reminder that fossil-fuel cumbustion vehicles are dead-end technologies.
For humans to continue thriving on this wonderful planet we will be increasingly forced to change our thoughtless ways. Start with self assessment. I habitually use energy and other resources thoughtlessly and selfishly.
If everybody were to audit their wastefulness and turn that behavior into positive conservation, we'd solve many of our problems without spending more money.
Read Arun Gandhi's lecture in which he describes how his Grandfather taught him the principles of non-violence. This lecture is a blue print that illustrates the way forward for the open minded.
We know fast food is not as healthy as whole fresh food. We know a tremendous amount of waste is created by consuming fast food. We know that fast food production is terribly destructive to the environment. Logic and necessity strongly suggests we stop eating fast food.
Not using electricity or gasoline in the first place is an important step to changing our lives for better.
posted 2 years, 12 months ago
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on Failing Graduation Rates
Declining high school graduation rate warns us something is wrong. Why are students not graduating?
Too much recreational Internet, video games, texting and other distractions?
K16 education can be mind-numbingly boring and not attached to real world?
Too many sports and not enough academics?
Too much focus on the cult of personality as opposed to young people developing character and integrity?
Too much focus on materialism instead of enlightenment?
Laziness and selfishness? I'll let somebody else run society; I just want to do my thing, screw everybody else?
Do students escape reality by using recreational drugs? Is existence so bad and hopeless that it's better to escape reality artificially rather than overcome the challenges life presents?
Have students become cynical and given up? "Why should I graduate high school when there is no hope for me to graduate from college and get a good paying job?"
How many students seek to escape becoming a cog in a burnout, low pay, low reward, meat grinder corporate "career"?
posted 3 years ago
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on Finding Solutions: Arts Education
I encourage parents to help their kids be creative especially if formal art classes aren't available. Art is an important means of self discovery and it shouldn't be taught as if it were mathematics. I've taken art and music classes in college and privately, but I've gotten even more mileage when I'm creative because I'm internally compelled.
posted 3 years ago
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on What Wind Means for the Gorge
My concern is the number of people who complete the wind energy training program will dwarf the available number of jobs.
I loved living in the Gorge but my service job didn't pay enough to offset expensive housing and living costs.
The Gorge requires sustainable living wage jobs so wind energy might help. I view wind energy as a temporary step stone technology until future energy technology makes wind energy obsolete.
Wind farms, dams, coal and nuclear technologies will be obsolete and replaced within 100 years.
posted 3 years ago
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on The Face of Race
I am multi-racial and I still wonder whether a supervisor who told me, "It's my way or the highway," was being racist or merely didn't like me.
My supervisor lived in an upper-class, white enclave of Portland. Everything in their demeanor made me feel race was an issue but I had no verifiable proof. I've also wondered why there were only a handful of non-white employees who worked for the company over the 12 years I was there.
I've concluded that I did my job well or I wouldn't have received raises every year. I was a leader at the company. I asked for promotion based on my work but I was denied twice.
Since I did no like working for my fourth supervisor I resigned to find a healthier life. That was 11 years ago and finding equal or better opportunities has become much more difficult.
The primary problem is that wealth is redistributed from poor to rich. The racial aspect is secondary in my mind.
posted 3 years ago
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on Primary Conversations: Treasurer (D)
Today, the rainy day fund doesn't have enough funds to adequately protect Oregonians from the current economic catastrophe. How would you repair the rainy day fund so it works better?
Would it be feasible to convert the rainy day fund into an endowment that would grow until it could sustain the cost of running the state? The endowment could replace income, business and property taxes. It would be used to provide free k-24 education for Oregon residents. The state budget would be provided by the endowment.
What I envision requires lots of changes in the attitude of Oregon's citizens. One, Oregonians would have to build the endowment for 50-100 years while paying for ongoing operations. Two, Oregonians would have to believe that the equity markets will remain a viable way to build and sustain the endowment. Three, Oregonians would have to be taught how to manage resources so they can ween themselves off using debt incorrectly. Four, Oregonians would have to think beyond their current self interest and consider what's good for sustaining their progeny and the state.
posted 3 years ago
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on Primary Conversations: Governor (R)
How do Federal and State governments secure the borders?
posted 3 years ago
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