P(DX)eeves and Cheers

Library rants

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:30:00 +0000

1. Why in the fricking world is that libraries in the greater Portland area all seem to insist on purchasing heavy, cumbersome pieces of furniture that generate so much noise whenever patrons keep dragging them on the floor? They also take up a lot of space, and incredibly uncomfortable by design, and ergonomically a failure.

2. Why, also, in the darned world is that library public computers are equipped with cheap-ass keyboards that are plain noisy and annoying?

3. The news says the Multnomah County Library system will cut down one day off the week to save 20 percent. The real problem has to do more with having to hire so many librarians when 90 percent of library functions are performed by library technicians and pages. Why not eliminate several librarian positions, during off-peak hours? With technology, reference librarian positions can even be consolidated into select locations (Central, Hollywood, Midland, Gresham, and Hillsdale) and entirely eliminating the MLIS employees in smaller branches. Of course, the union will rise up against any rational solution like this. Public-sector unions pit themselves against We The People, and therefore must be outlawed.

4. Of course, part of the problem that no one wants to talk about also is the vagrants in library. They are mostly not using the libraries for legitimate reasons and they do not contribute to the funding of the library system (in Oregon, that is property tax). It is reasonable to require homeless to pay a non-resident fee to receive a card, and impose additional restrictions (maximum number of items that can be checked out, for example) to reduce financial risks. Of course, the librarians are bastions of fake liberalism and fake socialism - I know real socialists, and they are all for shipping the vagrants off to the People's Revolutionary Gulag for Re-Education through Forced Hard Labor.

We do not tolerate intolerance!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 02:37:00 +0000

Image via Wikipediahttps://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=184719554932543

The news that the Portland branch of the Mars Hill Church, one of the most prominent congregations in the emergent church movement, has recently purchased the old University Chapel in the Sunnyside neighborhood, has been greatly exaggerated and blown out of proportion. Initially reported in the Portland Mercury, and then by Just Out -- and pretty soon picked up by the Oregonian and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the news has gotten out of hand as gay movement propagates demagoguery that is inflammatory and not based on facts. In fact, the Mars Hill's side of the story has never been reported in the media. No one from the Mars Hill or anyone close to that church has been quoted. Yet, the accusations and rumor that Mars Hill is a "hate group" and something like Westboro Baptist Church, are already circulating in the social media.

At the very least, this is caused by a shoddy journalism and the queer community's lack of knowledge -- and even more troubling is its lack of effort to learn and understand, and instead letting prejudices, stereotypes and hearsays inform their actions. The queer community has acted irresponsibly on this -- and ironically, duplicates the same kind of hateful demagoguery and populism that is more in common with the Tea Party and Minutemen movements.

Only those who are utterly ignorant of Christian theology and its diverse expressions can recklessly and falsely equate Mars Hill with the likes of Fred Phelps and Jerry Falwell. Notwithstanding controversial teachings of Mark Driscoll, the church is not a hate group -- and most importantly, Driscoll is not the pastor of the Portland Mars Hill.

Mars Hill is one of the more well-known of the emergent church movement. Portland has had other churches that also have been influenced by this movement, for example, Imago Dei Community, Celebration Tabernacle, and Red Sea Church. Not all emergent churches come from the evangelical Protestant background, either: St. David of Wales Episcopal Church and Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church (better known as TaborSpace), for instance, made a miraculous comeback when they redesigned their visions and activities along the line of the emergent church movement, although theologically they are among the most liberal.

The emergent church movement, in general, has made a conscious break from the older rhetoric of the Religious Right (and even from the Religious Right ideology -- many emergent churches emphasize social justice and environmental sustainability) and the classic evangelical theology. Indeed, they are often considered heretics and apostates by the more established evangelicals.

The well-known authors such as Rob Bell (another famous Mars Hill figure), Brian McLaren, and Jim Wallis -- as well as Portland's own Donald Miller -- are all part of the emergent movement, as well.

What bothers me, is that the queer community shows no sign of effort in learning from those whom they disagree with -- and instead are quick to propagate half-truths, misleading statements and inflammatory comments, and organize a protest for the sole purpose of simply being offensive. This is not constructive to any ends.

This goes back to this old politically-correct slogan, "we do not tolerate intolerance."

Homeless and dogs

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 21:14:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaI know this is kind of un-PC, but the common sense dictates that homeless has no business keeping a dog. According to the book All God's Children, many of them own dogs and train them as weapons. This is the background for the recent news that a policeman shot a dog owned by a homeless at the Lombard Transit Center MAX station.

By definition, homeless cannot sufficiently take care of their own needs; so why do they need to exacerbate the situation worse by creating a unreasonable burden on themselves?

With a dog, most shelters do not admit a client. It is also difficult to go to a job interview or get a job with a dog. Furthermore it limits opportunities for housing. In short it makes more difficult to get anyone off the street.

The sight of street youth congregating on downtown sidewalks with their dogs and monstrous backpacks is now a fixture -- a depressing one at that -- in downtown Portland.

This must end. The Multnomah County Animal Control has means to confiscate those dogs and charge the homeless with animal abuse.

The annual TriMet fare increase

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 21:51:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia
On September 1 in most years the TriMet regular single fare goes up by five cents. TriMet always justifies this by saying it is to keep up with inflation. But I am curious if this is real. Looking at the past ten years, an increase of five cents to the general 1-2Z and AZ fare would be an increase of approximately 2 to 2.5 percent from the previous year's.

In 2010, the rate of inflation was only 1.15 percent (as of August), and in 2009, there was actually a deflation of 1.48 percent, but TriMet did not lower the fare in response. While 2008 saw a massive inflation of above 5 percent, this was also the same year TriMet raised the fare by 20 cents (and the inflation was also most likely prompted by the steep increase of crude oil prices).

Unleashed dogs and irresponsible dog owners!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 21:29:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia
Last summer I was at Couch Park in Northwest Portland, and saw a dog owner allowing her dog run wild chasing a ball in the area outside the designated off-leash zone.

Me: "Hello? The off-leash area is the other side of the park!"
The Irresponsible Dog-Owner: "But there are already too many dogs there."

Um, what kind of f---ed up audacity is this? Just because there are too many dogs in the official city-mandated off-leash area, which has been established after years of discussions as a major concession for dog owners of Portland, she feels entitled to break the law that everyone else is following, and encroach upon the other parts of the park and violate other park users' right to a fair enjoyment of the park?

Anyway, this is one anecdotal case, but every day, in so many parks of Portland, I see people letting their dogs run around off-leash, even though it is not an off-leash area. Both the city and county codes require that dogs must be securely leashed and muzzled at all times, unless the dog is carried inside a portable kennel. The only exception is within the clearly demarcated boundaries of the off-leash zones at select Portland parks.

Portland City Code 20.12.140

B. No person owning, in control of or responsible for any dog shall allow that dog to be in any Park if the dog is not held securely on a leash no greater than eight feet in length, except in such Parks or portions of Parks as the Director may designate as off-leash areas, or during such times as the Director may establish as off-leash hours; provided, however, that a violation of any rule established by the Director governing any designated off-leash area or off-leash hours shall be a violation of this Section. Nothing in this Section shall limit the authority of the Director to terminate, alter or amend the designation of any off-leash area or off-leash hours.

C. No person owning, in control of or responsible for any horse or other animal capable of being ridden by a person shall allow that animal to be in any Park, except in such Parks or portions of Parks as the Director may designate for use by such animals.
D. No person shall hitch any animal to any tree, shrub, fence, railing, or other structure or facility in any Park, except to such structures or facilities as are designated for that purpose.
E. No person shall bring or keep any animal in any Park if the animal is not within the person’s immediate reach and control.
F. No person owning, in control of or responsible for any animal shall allow that animal to enter or remain upon any of the following in any park:
1. Any lake, fountain, pond or stream.
2. Any tennis court, basketball court, running track or other artificial sports surface or manicured turf sports field.
3. Any sports facility enclosed by a fence or wall.
4. Any area where such animals are prohibited by the Director.
G. No person shall allow any animal in that person’s ownership, possession, custody or control to injure any other person or animal or damage any property in any Park. Any person so allowing any animal to cause any such injury or damage shall be liable for the full amount of the injury or damage and for the costs of impounding the animal.
H. No person shall allow any animal in the person’s possession, custody or control to discharge any fecal material in any Park unless the person promptly removes and disposes of the fecal material in an appropriate receptacle. No person shall allow any animal in the person’s possession, custody or control to enter or remain in any Park unless the person has in the person’s possession the equipment necessary to remove and properly dispose of any fecal material deposited by the animal in the Park.
I. No person owning, in control of or responsible for any animal shall allow that animal to be in any Park if the animal is not in compliance with applicable Multnomah County Animal Control regulations; provided, however, that dogs otherwise complying with those regulations may be off leash in designated off-leash areas or during designated off-leash hours.

Multnomah County Code 13.305

(B) It is unlawful for any person to commit any of the following:
(1) Permit an animal to be an animal at large;
(2) Permit an animal to trespass upon property of another;

Additionally, many Portland Public Schools playgrounds are off-limits to dogs when signs are thus posted, and at all times while classes are in session. I see too many dogs running about at school playgrounds despite clear signs stating they are "dog-free areas."

In short, Portland's dog owners are irresponsible and generally concerned only about their own interests.

Farmers' market in a summer morning!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 21:02:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia
What is better than a slow walk through neighborhoods on a Saturday morning in a golden sunlight and slowly warming up air to a farmers' market?

On this Saturday alone, there are one at the Portland State University, at Hollywood, at St. Johns, and on North Mississippi Avenue (and probably more!). The one on Mississippi, the Market Q, is ending as of this week.

It is more than just being able to buy fresh vegetable. It is a focal point for community.

Gluten free fad

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 04:46:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia
I do not think it is just me that there are signs proclaiming "gluten-free" popping up everywhere in Portland. All of sudden gluten-free is considered healthy and suddenly hip. It's the next cool thing and people are clamoring after gluten-free this and gluten-free that.

Wait. Haven't I seen this maybe around eight years ago?

Yeah. Except that those signs used to say "low carb."

Aside from a small percentage of people who genuinely need gluten-free products (i.e., those with celiac disease) most others are buying gluten-free products because they are misled into thinking it is somehow better for them, and merchants who peddle them make premium profits for the latest gluten-free products.

There is no known health benefits to gluten-free diet, unless you are indeed having celiac disease. Gluten is a fine source of plant-based protein, which is both environmentally sustainable to produce, and is higher in bioavailability, and has been used throughout East Asia since time immemorial. Most vegan Chinese food makes use of gluten, and so do Japanese Zen Buddhist cuisine.

The truth of the matter is, wheat flour without gluten is simply a pure carbohydrate. You might as well be eating packs of white refined sugar.

Companies and entrepreneurs investing in this latest fad should learn from the failure of the low-carb fad during the past decade.

Food Not Bombs!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 21:24:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaBetween the communitarian and non-monetized subcultures characterized by the Rainbow Gathering, and the feisty anti-establishment radicalism that defines much of the "Little Beirut" Portland, Portland is home to reportedly the second most active Food Not Bombs operations in the world.

The current FNB schedules:
M/Tu/Th/F 6 p.m.: Colonel Summers Park (SE 17th Avenue & SE Taylor Street)
W/Sa 5:30 p.m.: Woodlawn Park (NE Oneonta Street north of NE Dekum Street)

Status symbol and digital divide

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 04:59:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaI must admit: I love status symbols. As much as I live simply and for next to nothing, I still love fine things in life -- not an accumulation, but rather a small yet focused collection of good things that not only are of fine quality but also something that makes myself look special and stand above the crowd.

As much as we as society also hate to admit, we do also change our attitudes and behaviors based on status symbols. Think of one finely dressed lady with elegant jewelry and small expensive purse sitting in one place. Then think of one shaggy-looking middle-aged man with dirty and tattered clothes and huge backpack. They are in the same room and they came in exactly at the same time. Imagine a manager or a security guard making a beeline towards the latter, telling the bum to move on and get off the property because he is loitering and trespassing.

One of the notable recent social phenomenon is how so many businesses have begun offering 'free Wi-Fi' to customers and began almost encouraging customers with a laptop to "loiter" for hours. Back in the 1990s it was common for fast-food restaurants to post signs such as "30 minute maximum seating limit." Now even those places are putting up free Wi-Fi.

But as the prices of technology inevitably lower, and availability of cheap used laptops become wider, and the recent recession turning formerly-wealthy into the new poor, some businesses seem to be taking cues from this change. It has been reported that after just over a year of offering unlimited free Wi-Fi access, Starbucks in New York City are now doing away with power outlets to discourage loitering (this is a bit futile, as newer laptop batteries last between 8 to 12 hours; but it does work to drive out the homeless who have no way to recharging the battery overnight).

Here in Portland, most Fred Meyer stores have Wi-Fi, except for Stadium -- and I have duly noted that the Hawthorne store also recently did away with it, most likely due to a large number of vagrants.

Of course, I readily grant that they are for-profit businesses and they are there to maximize profits for shareholders. But this does quite a bit of harm for those who are on the other side of the Digital Divide, who often rely on those businesses for inexpensive access to the Internet -- this is especially a serious issue when attempts at building public Wi-Fi networks are failing (think MetroFi) and Personal Telco Project now seems to be losing nodes instead of opening new ones.

Ten years ago it was a cell phone that was the status symbol. Now most homeless have one, and as a status symbol it is done with.

Yoga, tantra and cultural appropriation

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 04:36:00 +0000

Apparently, a certain recent study conducted led to a conclusion that Portland, Oregon is the "most promiscuous city in the U.S." (http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/08/19/oversexed-oregon-top-10-most-promiscuous-u-s-cities/). Aside from the notorious reputation as the "Pornland" and home of more "adult" video stores per capita, and from the Oregon constitution's generous protection of "adult" businesses under the free speech clause, Portland also has a vibrant sex-positive culture.

That, in and itself, I have nothing against. Portland is home to the worldwide LoveTribe, and has its most active chapter on earth. In addition, there is a wide and overlapping network of events and groups around "sacred sexuality" and ecstatic dancing.

But I draw a line when I hear a word "tantra." Portland, as it stands, is the whitest major city in America. Unlike cities such as New York and Vancouver, B.C., immigrants from the country of India are small and invisible presence here. Very few people here ever have a serious commitment to and learning of Hinduism or Buddhism. And like many immigrant communities from South and Central Asia, they are misunderstood and oppressed minorities whose cultures and religious traditions are seen at best with suspicion if not outright hostility during the past 10 years post 9/11.

It is wonderful if you know what you are talking about, but please don't misappropriate the artifacts of minority cultures and twist them in such a way that you would do injustice to that tradition.

Ditto with yoga, as well. Somehow in America yoga became just a form of physical exercise like calisthenics and Pilates. Most Portlanders don't even realize yoga is part of a very strict spiritual discipline that requires years of total commitment to Hinduism.

Food service at Reed College

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 09:27:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia
I am at the Reed College this weekend for a conference, and one of the things that I think is great about this campus is the high quality of food service (and it is nice that we can just zoom past the cashiers as long as we are wearing the conference nametag!).

Whereas most universities in the area contract out food service to either Aramark or Sodexo (formerly Sodexho = La Société d'Exploitations hotelières), Reed (as well as Lewis & Clark College and Marylhurst University) contracts with Bon Appétit, whose business model is to emphasize local (within 100 miles) sourcing and environmental sustainability.

I had a great "vegan roast" (think of sliced Tofurky® you can get from stores, except it looks more like roast beef) sandwich for lunch, which was superb, big, and filling.

Northeast Holman Street, the hidden treasure of bike routes

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 09:07:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia
Northeast Holman Street between 8th and 42nd avenues is a designated neighborhood greenway (formerly "bike boulevard"). This is a very low traffic street, with virtually no motor traffic except for local access by residents, and very few if any bicycles and pedestrians. The route is mostly flat, and while it looks more like a glorified back alley that was marked with bicycle symbols, it can take bicyclists fast between MLK and 42nd Avenue, including the Concordia University Portland campus. This is a hidden treasure, and is a great alternative to Skidmore or Going street.

A summer day in Portland

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 08:53:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia
A couple of days ago, I was riding my bicycle up SW Naito Parkway along the Tom McCall Waterfront Park, and suddenly I noticed someone standing on the curb holding a small white plastic bucket. That was unmistakably a bucket of day-old Voodoo doughnuts. So here was this random person just standing there giving away Voodoo doughnuts...

...That would happen only in Portland.

Actually, how bad is it?

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 15:36:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaEvery other year, in compliance with the federal Housing and Urban Development regulations, city and county officials are required to conduct and compile a survey of homeless "a point in time" counts and "one night shelter" counts (http://www.portlandonline.com/phb/index.cfm?c=53975&a=353576) (http://streetroots.wordpress.com/2011/06/21/homelessness-on-the-rise-in-multnomah-county/). It is generally viewed as inaccurate and under-counting.

Yet, there is a wide perception that Portland is "bum-infested" and "train hopping hobos" come from all over the world due to social services that aid, abet and enable bums to become bums and stay bums.

Both viewpoints are out of touch with the reality.

Much of this is caused by a number of factors, but generally having to do with the public stereotypes and prejudices against those who are experiencing "homelessness" and vagaries in defining what constitutes "homelessness."

I, for one, is for simply stop using the vague words that are loaded with stigmatizing connotations, and simply focus on bums, hobos, and tramps. Of these three, bums are the source of most social tensions, and consume the great majority of resources available.

I am proposing a block-by-block survey of high homeless areas, defined by the following factors. This probably would more accurately capture the impact of homelessness on urban environment (rather than trying to enumerate numbers of individuals) and thus help neighborhoods develop a better strategy to counter homeless activities.

Bum activities: begging, congregating, etc.
Bum artifacts: shopping carts, abandoned/hidden sleeping bags, etc.
Bum camp sites: nighttime spotting of sleeping bums
Bum hot spots: charities, feeds, etc.

The survey is to be conducted block-by-block, during midday, early morning, and late night. Compiled data will be made available to local officials, neighborhood associations, neighborhood business associations, as well as to real estate agents and the county property tax assessor. Once I get the methods down, I am planning on making this a volunteers-driven wiki, and people will be able to participate after a brief training session.

p.s. Important: I am not talking about those who are merely lacking housing due to economic circumstances or systemic barriers. I am not against those who are hard-working to better themselves, and do their best to survive this difficult time. I am simply attempting to distinguish these people -- who, by all means, deserve respect and all resources available -- from those who have become products of the failed system that seems instead to produce more chronic bums. Unfortunately, the latter groups are far more visible, do far more harm to the community, and makes the lives of the former more difficult. This is also a reason why these two groups should never be lumped together under the banner of "homeless."

Corporate lobbyists

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 14:57:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaPortland on the surface looks like a city that cherishes civic involvement and elected officials like to be seen in town talking with real people. Mayor Sam Adams will be riding his bike around tomorrow's Northwest Portland Sunday Parkway, and Rep. Tina Kotek and Secretary of State Kate Brown will be conversing with people in St. Johns at Patti's Home Plate Cafe. But in reality, it boils down to plutocracy, not democracy. The city, county and regional politics are driven for the most part by real estate interests and construction businesses, while the Oregon State Legislature and their part-time "citizen legislators" just take fill-out-the-blank "model legislations" from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), an organization with close ties to the Koch brothers and has companies ranging from UPS to Walmart as their board members.

ALEC has long been pushing bills that privatize much of government functions, while greatly expanding the police state system and prison industry through criminalization of more people, and through various anti-immigrant xenophobic legislations such as Arizona's SB 1070. In short, ALEC is anti-human rights, anti-working class, anti-poor and anti-small business. While ALEC claims to be all for smaller government, apparently that does not apply to police, prison and military. Its vision is a government devoid of all functions except for the systemic violence.

http://kboo.fm/node/29893
http://www.alecexposed.org

Sumer is icumen in!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 14:49:00 +0000

http://www.kgw.com/home/Actual-summer-weather-on-the-horizon-126017543.html

Beggars and faux-democracy: scumbags on the sidewalks!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 02:40:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

ATTENTION: Begging on the TriMet transit mall, MAX lines, platforms and vehicles are criminal violations of TriMet Code. Additionally, begging on the Pioneer Courthouse Square itself, a private property of the Pioneer Courthouse Square, Inc., is a criminal trespass. NOTIFY RELEVANT AUTHORITIES whenever and every time you see any form of begging activity being committed.

Pacific Patrol Services (Pioneer Courthouse Square): 503-710-8004
Portland Police Bureau non-emergency: 503-823-3333
Downtown Clean & Safe security (transit malls): 503-224-7383

If you are in downtown Portland, especially around the Pioneer Courthouse Square and along the TriMet transit malls, you must have been accosted by at least five bums in a given 10-minute period, and a couple pay-to-play petition gatherers or canvassers.

They are both an affront to the civic values that any decent society values.

First, I am not one to advocate this paternalistic and colonialist ideology -- a tired argument coming from the career homeless control service executives -- that one should not give money to panhandlers because you should know better than they do and they will spend it on drugs or booze. They are adults and I do not care what they spend their own money on. But beggars do not provide value in exchange for money. In a normative society, money is a medium of exchange and one pays someone for goods or services. At least, street vendors and buskers do provide goods or services, and they are working for money. Beggars, on the other hand, do not. Their audacity and sense of entitlement -- as though the world owes them a living -- is quite outrageous. In addition, I am not convinced that more than 9 out of 10 street beggars are genuinely what they claim themselves to be. In fact, I know enough "real homeless" people and they too detest those scumbags -- most of whom are runaway youth or addicts who live in a subsidized wet housing unit -- who in turn make the lives of those who experience homelessness for a legitimate reason more challenging.

On top of this seemingly unending stream of panhandlers in downtown Portland are those canvassers and petition gatherers. Most of them are merely paid employees of companies such as Dialog Direct, who are working under a very heavy pressure to perform and achieve their quota or be fired. They will canvass for ACLU one day and will wear another t-shirt and canvass for NRA if that pays them. They are not authentic activists dedicated for a cause.

Their activities are unfortunately considered constitutionally protected "free speeches" in the State of Oregon. Cities cannot do anything to stop them.

Undisciplined children in public spaces

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 01:41:00 +0000

Part of the problems in this post-modern world is that we have forgotten the value of discipline. With the currently prevailing theories on child development, lack of previously predominant religious anthropology based on the doctrine of original sin, and plain laziness on the parents' part (while blaming school districts and politicians for all their children's problems), it is hard to expect any more that children today learn to behave.

It is not that I hate children, but I do hate the way American parents today just dote on their children, and how the society at large is only interested in "protecting" children, even while they fail to discipline the young into good members of society. And don't think for a moment that I promote child abuse, either -- there is a huge difference between legitimate parental discipline and abuse -- in fact, a failure to discipline properly is also a form of abuse.

Parents need to discipline unruly children in public spaces. Don't just let them "a child being a child." And please don't try to persuade or plead with them. It has to be sir yes sir, or sir no sir, as far as kids are concerned with their parents -- no ifs or buts.

Bicyclists on bridges

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:55:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaHello? Bridges are not racing tracks for bicyclists. Don't you read the big letters painted on the sidewalk, that reads "SLOW"? It is dangerous when there are joggers and pedestrians on the sidewalk and bicyclists are supposed to also use the sidewalk. "SLOW" usually means 5 mph or under. There needs to be a clearly posted speed limit for bicycles on a county bridge when they are sharing the space with pedestrians.

Block party at the new pedestrians-only Ankeny Street

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 05:08:00 +0000

Great Goldschmidt's ghost - this thing is working out.
One year after our no-budget launch, Portland Afoot is going strong and (because we're as surprised as you are) raising a glass to celebrate. Join us! The party's after-work-ish on Thursday, July 21, at Valentine's on PDX's first pedestrian-only plaza, downtown on SW Ankeny and 3rd Avenue.
We'll bring the free food, the transit-themed raffle prizes, and the piping hot news about our new East Portland project this fall. You'll bring the sparkling conversation and that megawatt smile.
No fee; everyone's welcome. It's sponsored by the smart kids at the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Portland Mercury, and you definitely won't want to miss it.

Time: July 21, 6-8 p.m.
Location: Valentines, 232 SW Ankeny St.

Portland Art Spark

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 05:02:00 +0000

The bimonthly Portland Art Spark will be held tomorrow (Thursday, July 21) 5 to 7 p.m. at Backspace. PDX Pop Now! will be presenting at 6 p.m.

This Saturday night, stand up against hate crimes!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 04:53:00 +0000

http://www.osgpride.org/march.html
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=205686819481358&ref=ts

Bicycling and Race Card

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 04:16:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaNote: politically incorrect.

First off, I am a long-time advocate for the rights of all marginalized and oppressed people. But as I also mature as an activist and community organizer, I feel more that tactics matter just as much as the messages themselves. On one hand, the reality of gentrification/displacement and racial inequity in Portland is a serious issue that warrants a good discussion. On the other hand, today's meeting on the proposed North Williams Avenue bike lane plan is a tactical failure if racial justice is the genuine agenda.

News reports and Twitter feeds on this topic so far say the meeting had disintegrated into heated emotional exchanges over race. This makes the real issues less visible and distracts everyone from seeking a solution that works.

Gang outreach is needless to say a program that will also benefit bicyclists as it will promote their safety and comfort in riding bicycles. It must be an integral part of the bike lane planning. It should not have been an either-or situation.

And while there remains a wide perception that bicycling is for white hipsters, the reality is that bicycles do provide an inexpensive and reliable mode of transportation for many low-income people, who can no longer afford expensive fossil fuels or ever-rising TriMet fares. Safe bicycling lanes and bike boulevards make getting around easier and faster for work, school, and various daily needs.

Yet, the racial line over bicycling is undeniable. For the starter, though, African-American communities need to do their own education around bicycling. I think the benefit of bicycling for both economical and health reasons is underpromoted in the black community. And the black bicycle riders need to follow the traffic code. This has been one of my major pet peeves for years. Inevitably, I encounter an African-American bicyclist, riding on the wrong side of the street, with no lights at night, running red lights and swerving left and right in the middle of the road. If they want to be taken seriously they need to ride their bicycles right. Bike lanes are there for their safety as well. Don't come back and whine, using your race card because you have nothing else constructive to say about the real issue on the table, when you disrespect the traffic code and put other people -- motorists, fellow bicyclists, and pedestrians -- in danger.

Portland State University, now America's best hipster college

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 03:46:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaThe Huffington Post now says the Portland State University is a "hipster college."

Ah, Portland, you hipster enclave, you. Hipsters are so prominent at Portland State that they have their own bars and their own guide to burritos. Most amazingly, Portland State is the epicenter of a rare species (becoming more common) called the Hipster Librarian. Have hipsters infiltrated every facet of Portland? The question is begged: Are hipsters attracted to the melancholy Oregon city, or does it produce them?

TriMet fare inspectors and transit police on their crusade

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Morrigan) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 03:42:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaThis morning you should have seen the sight at the Jeld-Wen Field MAX station on SW 18th Avenue in Goose Hollow, Portland -- a length of the whole city block was occupied by fare inspectors' vehicles, with two transit police cars parked in front of the soccer field. Is this their shock-and-awe publicity-seeking stunt? This is an overkill, it's ridiculous.

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