There Will Be Blood

Last night in our building there was an "incident". So and so fell and hit his head last night on a table and was confused. Uh huh. Each apartment has two emergency cords to summon help....nope, not used. Five police officers, ambulance, and the fire rescue all said it was serious.

So after letting the "old farts" by the fireplace, blather on and on about it for an hour, I decided to go look for myself. Bad idea.

The elevator doors opened to a slaughter house of blood and gore. It was soaked into the carpet in pools, splashed on the ceiling, and all over the walls and railing leaked gore! Put it all in a bottle and I would say a full quart...minimum.

I've seen some blood when my son slit his wrists in a suicide attempt. That was all the blood I care to see. This third floor event was 20X worse. Fall, I doubt it. Knife attack or a claw hammer....more likely.

Will we ever know the truth? Are other residents in danger? Does the Landlord have a responsibility to tell us what really happened? Stay tuned for developments.

1-31-09

Blood all gone! The victim maintains he "fell" and required 28 stitches. The landlord is sending him a bill for over $2,000 for replacement of the carpet, paining, and hazmat cleanup! Uh huh.

More News From the NW

The latest from the Left Coast: two girls gunned down Saturday night and 7 others wounded. The gay Mayor, age 42, had an affair with a 17 year old, but waited till his 18th birthday to sodomize him. Uh huh. Seems many high school female teachers did stuff like that and are all in Prison. What would the outcry be if a straight 42 year old man had an affair with a 17 year old girl..yeah, prison! Oh well, it's the "Left Coast". Yet the official line is crime is down or low. I think it's worse than the suburbs of Detroit where I lived!

Portland, like Colorado Springs is a very poor and "Colored" city.....the average household income of $45,000 being about half of Rochester, Michigan or Ft Collins, Colorado, where I lived 13years.

Being a Conservative Republican, with a slight socialist bent, is pretty difficult to deal with here in "Liberal La-La Land". They have few rules/laws that seem to impact "the masses".......laws like public drinking, littering, loitering, speeding, running red lights, bike lanes that work, snow/leaf removal, noise, dogs crapping on the sidewalk, etc. The city is filthy with trash most places, and hundreds of homeless, street urchins, beggars , and annoying "binder people" wanting to sign you up to "Feed the Children".

Of course the city fathers ignore all this and proclaim Portland as a wonderful place to live, which strangely the 90+% of so called, Natives since 1800, claim is true. (How would they know? They have never lived anywhere else!)

I've come across dozens of polls, charts, and tables of "The Best Place to Retire or Live" and Portland or even Oregon is never on the list. Michigan and Colorado is though,in fact Ft Collins,CO was #2......Too bad the ex-wife lives there.

Eighteen months till Social Security......I'm outta here!

It is left-wing overload.

Got that 3 Day Kit Yet?

I remember my first "Survival Kit". I waited three days before New Years Eve that became 2000. I figured sure, why not, I can always use things for camping, eat the food, drink the water, etc.

Uh huh. I went to Walmart, Target, Cabala's, Dicks, and numerous stores, it took me hours and many trips. Why? Because everywhere was out..out of bottled water, camp stoves, batteries, etc. I eventually got the core of my "Kit". I've had it through 9/11, through my bout with homelessness, and still maintain a small pack for bugging out if needed.

My lesson, don't wait until the crisis hits, it will be too late. Don't count on family or friends to save you, and even more the useless Federal Government, aka, FEMA. Remember Katrina three years ago...it's still not fixed.

Take a weekend, get your kit now.

American Red Cross

Ready.Gov

Shelter in place during a disaster?

I hear a lot of people talking about wilderness survival in case of disaster. I was close to Houston during the Hurricane Rita evacuation. The hurricane didn't hit, but 2.5 million people evacuated from the area. This is just a fraction of the population. It was taking up to eight hours to drive 100 miles. I have never seen anything like it and hope I never will again.

I really don't believe that there's a whole lot of wilderness left. Not in the U. S. at least. Sheltering in place is probably the best, or only choice, at least at the beginning of a larger disaster, then start moving if you begin to run low on supplies. Then again, if you only keep a couple of days of supplies in your home, you'll be the one clogging up the freeways and praying the FEMA guys show up before somebody knocks you over the head for your last bottle of water. If that hurricane had hit Houston, I wouldn't have wanted to be near the coast, but being on those roads could have been a LOT worse.

Another thing, my location was about an hour and a half drive from Houston. I had a job running shipping for a local company. I had seven large trucks in the area and about ten gas driven vehicles. A portion of the products that we were shipping was bottled water, so we had to operate. I used fleet fuel at stations instead of storing my own fuel. There was still plenty of diesel at the end of the day but there wasn't a drop of gas to be had. One more day and the gas engine portion of the fleet would have been grounded. The only way we could operate anyway was knowledge of all the dirt roads to get to our delivery points and I still had to turn trucks around before they ran out of fuel. The fuel lines were running out into the highways. It took almost a week for all the stations to get their gas deliveries and be back to normal. (again, the hurricane didn't hit Houston)

Now you start thinking to yourself, what if it did. For one thing, all those fuel deliveries generally come from Houston, so don't count on being able to buy any. Especially if some of the refineries are damaged. The population of New Orleans when Katrina hit was approx 454,865, the population of Harris County was 3,886,207 in 2006 plus another 1,031,126 in Chambers, Fort Bend, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller Counties which are also part of the Houston Metro Area. So, at approx 5 million people in the Houston Metro Area that is about eight times the size as New Orleans. When Katrina hit New Orleans approximately 80 of the Houston Metro Area Evacuated instead of the 2.5 mil that did it would have been around 3,933,866 people evacuating and another 983,466 people stranded and dying in the city. That's twice the amount of people staying behind as were in New Orleans to begin with. And another million and a half on the road. (all my numbers were taken from Wikipedia)

No, don't plan on heading down the road if disaster strikes. You'll be lucky to get out of your driveway. Oh yeah, and all those people on the road are heading your direction. Lock your doors because the criminals left along with everybody else.

Written by: InfoJunky

www.untolerable.com - A current events, privacy, survival and self sufficiency discussion group.

Obamanation

I like Obama. I really do, and his daughters are cute, but I have reservations about the wife. Time will tell.

Prior to his election, I felt that Blacks in America were getting too much exposure in TV commercials, movies, news reports and even reporters. It appeared that they were equal in numbers to White, rather than the 13% of the population they represent.

This may seem racist, yet the majority minority....Hispanics, doesn't show up in every TV commercial, have their own Network (BET) or attempts to dominate everyday life from the Oscars, Golden Globes, Grammy awards (They have their own Black Entertainment Awards for all this on top of the "general awards) Blacks influence on TV, Films, Music, etc. far exceeds their respective numbers in America.

I doubt that only I notice this, but yet do not see or hear Hispanics or Asians whine and complain about this emphasis on one minority.....a minority that is not even the largest minority.

Here in the NW, Asians out number Blacks, and Hispanics out number both. Yet in yesterday's Sunday paper, the editors of this "Left Coast City" moaned on the lack in diversity of the city's 74% white population. Huh?

Myself, I am still looking for "White People Land". I used to live there, unknown to me at the time. Several Cities that were 98% white, none of which whined about the lack of diversity or cheered their " whiteness".

After tomorrows inauguration, I am afraid the USA is in for a major "Blackout".

Help, I See Old People!

Well, I witnessed once again, altercations between "old people" today.

It seems you get crabby and short tempered when you get past 70 yrs old. The problem in general is fat people, old ladies, Chinese who speak no English, and old men who can't hit the urinal, wash their hands before they pee......... whatever!

It must have something to do with hormones, the full moon, and their diet. At the Senior Center, they stand in line or sit waiting for lunch to be served for an hour, then don't eat it! Today was "Swedish Meatballs" and pretty good, but no seconds for me...cause too man old farts wasted it!

I found my shovel, a nice Smith and Hawkins spade, for $69. I'll buy that and hand it to someone to smack me up the head, when I turn into an "old foggie".

Even with the sun out and temps in the lower 50 degrees, they whine and complain. And sick much? I think being a hypochondriac increases when you reach a certain age, cause these folks have so many medical issues, it's a wonder the CDC doesn't take them away to isolation.

Time for a nice quiet walk.

Disaster Survival Kits Can Save Lives

No one knows when disaster may strike, but getting prepared beforehand will help you survive. No matter whether it is natural disaster in a local area, like an earthquake or hurricane, or man made disaster, terrorist attack and fire, you require having disaster survival kits with proper emergency supplies. The disasters will force you vacate your neighborhood, place of work or school or will detain you to your house.

Having the right first-aid kits, survival kits, and emergency supplies ahead of time is just like having spare tire in a trunk of the car: You think not to have the flat tire, but it is good to know that the spare tire is there, ready for the use to keep you going. The emergency preparedness is necessary now.

What is the disaster survival kit?

Disaster survival kits are one type of kit that you and your family fill with necessities for the survival in an event of disaster and these include food, water, clothing, first aid supplies, bedding and tools and some emergency supplies.

Why prepare for a disaster?

The hope of something “disastrous” taking place will scare us all. However, reality is, there is the chance that all of us can be involved in a disaster and emergency. The services like water, gas, electric, and telephones can be cut off. In an event of large disaster, the emergency staff will be very busy helping people in need of the immediate medical and rescue attention, and will not assist you.

Events of 11th September, Hurricane Katrina, Mumbai terrorist attack in India as well as shocking Tsunami in Indonesia as well as surrounding regions have affected us emotionally, physically, and morally. Thus, preparation for all kinds of disasters should be the fact of life. So why leave it on fate and take a chance that you and your loved ones will suffer unnecessarily during and after the disaster?

The emergency preparedness experts have designed the disaster survival kits that have the most reliable disaster food, water, communication, and shelter, lighting, as well as sanitation supplies accessible so they are prepared when and where you require those.

Choose an easy method to keep the items stored and ready while you need it is to divide between two or more easy to carry containers, like camping backpack or duffel bag. Place canned foods in dry place where the temperature is very cool.

(Wed Jan 7th, 2009, by Martin Applebaum)

Things You Hear While Listening

Well, while not taking part in "gossip", I can't help but listen to it.

Yesterday I rode a different bus route, and the bus stopped at a high school and picked up 40 kids (no school buses here?). I was surrounded by teenage girls, yakking away about Billy liking Sally, and Carol was such a klutz...etc. I thought to myself, wait 40 years and things will be the same. Old fogies at the "Home" gossip like school girls!

Here, I listen to the elderly gossips whine about their medications, physical ailments, each others ailments, the status of so & so's mental health...many are nutters. They speak of how "Dave" smells so bad, never takes a shower or "Mary" is a loon and her room is haunted. There is "Horny Harry" age 82, "Gas Mask" Bob who has a special vent out his window cause his room's air is poison, which is why he wears a gas mask.

Then, there is a friend from the shelter, who got a job as a Metro Bus Drive at
$19/hr, but still collects bottles and cans for the 5 cent return, and thinks he is getting three "merit" raises in 2009. "Curly", the laziest janitor I have ever met, says he asked for a 7.5% raise this year and thinks he deserves it. Uh huh.

I hear people complain about not having enough food or money, yet they all have cell phones, cigarettes, and can buy dope and booze. Their "dealers" even deliver right to the "Home".

They brag about their prison time, run ins with the law, drug use, etc. Old hippies, still being hippies.

Now I am not from the upper class of society, but never in my life have I been exposed to these types of folks, Colorado Springs being the same. People I knew back in Michigan or Northern Colorado were professionals...teachers, engineers, government workers, grad students, real estate people, etc. They also gossiped and spoke of things that were of little interest to me, but dang....a whole different level. I can only imagine what a third world country must be like.

NW & Holiday Update

Is it over yet? The Holidays? OMG I hate them, the clinking glasses , the meaningless toasts, the hugging of strangers and the vague promises for the New Year. But this year and last, very mellow. Why? No relatives, no buying presents, no stress, no ex-wife! Ahhhhhhh!

We had 14" of snow...they have no clue how to cleanup snow here. All they do is whine about how much it will cost...cheap bastards, raise the taxes. They need to discover the wonder of Road Salt. Only two homeless people were found frozen to death. I'd expected dozens. Now the whine is about all the road gravel (almost pea gravel) they put on the streets instead of plowing! Yes, it will scratch your car and break your windshields! Unlike Road Salt that melts!

The Social Agency that helped me get my housing, gave out "Goodies Bags" for Christmas...greedy, annoying fellow tenants went through a bunch of them, taking out the $25 gift cards & what they wanted, and even taking more than one bag! They did the same at the Christmas Dinner...it is quite disgusting to watch.

I hate crowds, so I ate alone with the homeless at the YWCA, a few blocks from my house.. Good enough. Pressed turkey, they ran out of potatoes, but the pumpkin pie was OK, and I got a pair of new socks! Then my DVD player broke and I had to take all my movies back to the Library. At least the $10 TV and the rabbit ears work!

Today was dry and the sun was out, but 8 days of rain are in the forecast. Three days of snow and they start crying "Cabin Fever", but 10 days of rain and gloom is OK? Duh. Everyone must be on drugs.

New Years is a non-event for me, I doubt I'll even stay up. I've only been out on New Years three times in 60 years. More hated crowds! Bah Humbug to holidays!

2009....bring it on!

Damn Grinches Stole My Christmas Presents !

OK, the nice social agency that helped me get my nice warm studio apartment, brought over a shopping bag full of goodies, ranging from toiletries, clothes, food items, gift cards, etc.

Except the greedy "Grinchs" that live in the building, pawed through the bags and took what they wanted for themselves, then left the leftovers for others...like me!

I wouldn't have even known, except that my neighbor brought me my bag, and I went down to thank the agency folks. Then I watched several people take stuff out of their bags. So I went upstairs and looked at mine. Opppssss, no food, 50% of items on the list attached to the bag were missing, the sweatshirt was a woman's medium, etc.. Uh huh.

I fumed and flamed about this overnight, then went to the office and fained, embarrassment, asked what I could do about it. I was told to go to the main agency office and get another bag. So I went with what didn't fit or I didn't need, and the nice folks got me new stuff.

Then today...I'm still pissed off, OK...found out that not only did people (Grinchs) paw through bags taking what they liked...some took two or three bags!

How low can one go but to steal from someone else who is also unfortunate? Like the people who got no bags at all?

Snow, Bitter Cold and Why I am Warm

OMG, it's as cold as anywhere I have lived.......7,000ft elevation in Colorado Springs, SE Michigan, or Oswego, NY by Lake Ontario..

It's now 21F outside and will be for the next week, with lows of 15F. Thank God..literally, I am not "Urban Camping" this winter. Last winter it sure rained a lot, but it never snowed or was this cold!

Now I have a nice studio with heat, although the thermostat doesn't work....it's on or it's off.........so it was 60F in my unit when I woke up this AM at 7:30. Yet there are hundreds of people out there that are "Urban Camping" in this crap; some by choice, some by circumstance. There is no "day shelter" and the ones you can sleep at night in, such as the Salvation Army, kick you out at 7:00 AM and don't even open until 9:00PM. That makes for a long, cold day. The public librarys double as a day shelter!

It's only four blocks from "The Home" to the Senior Center, so it was a nice walk, with blue sky and sun. However, this far north, the sun won't melt the streets due to all the high-rise buildings, since most streets are in shade 24/7. Alas the many irresponsible building owners fail to shovel or salt most of the sidewalks. I guess a few "slip and fall liability suits" are in order!

Well the prediction is more snow on Wednesday and possible freezing rain on the weekend! Bah humbug. Updates to follow.

The Last Temptation

The Christmas Holiday Season is here. Black Friday has come and gone. Gloom and doom pervade every waking hour of the day and night, around the world. Ho-ho-ho!

Mall shootings are increasing every weekend it seems...yet another reason not to go to the mall and spend money you don't have. People must be reaching their credit limits by now, having spent it one food, late payments, and utilities. People laid off already or soon will be cash short.

Another stake in the heart of a ignorantly conceived economy, based on consumerism, credit, growth instead of sustainability, and waste.

But the ads on TV and in the Sunday paper are look so compelling, the discounts so deep, the perceived need so great. As bad as the economy is this year, it will be at least 10X worse next year. This Christmas is truly the Last Temptation!

Thanksgiving not Thankstaking !

It is the time of the year for free holiday meals throughout the city. Non-Profits, churches, and senior centers all have delicious and free holiday meals starting about one week before the holiday.

Last year, when I was "Urban Camping", I ate at about 6 different places, on 5 different days. It was great, and the main meal of the day for me and many others.

This year however, I am only eating at the local Senior Center, and cooking a few things for later at my own place.

You see, this year I have been blessed with paid housing, food stamps, and LEAP utility payments. I don't need 6 free holiday meals, and it seems wrong to eat so much, if not truely in need(just because it's free). Unfortunately, many street people think of it as some kind of scam they need to take part in. They push their way to the front of the lines, thinking "me, me!" Get four free coats and sell three, etc. Even when I was "Camping" I thought that was wrong. Now the tanking economy has created even more need, and fewer resources.

So this year, I'll give up my place for others in need. It's the least I can do.

Recession? What Resession?

I went to check out a new Safeway store in the Pearl District. The Pearl is home to $350,000+ high rise condos, and the Baby boomer "yuppies", and their "yuppie puppies".

http://www.explorethepearl.com/

Everything about it is new, upscale, and well, chic. My observation is that none of these folks think they're in an Recession or soon, a coming Depression. One couple, twenty something, was buying six-packs of wine (not Ripple), and had a $30+ floral centerpiece. Remember all those news stories about declining retail sales, and folks barely able to buy food for their baby....well if your buying $30 flowers, your off in a different world.

I live about 15 blocks south of there, and looking out my window, the average car is a BMW or Mercedes. The West Hills, about 4 blocks west, is covered with $Million homes. These folks, lord knows where they work and can afford such digs, have no conception of recession. Their world is peachy keen, bright, and kinda Rosy through those pink glasses. I have heard them talking, while on the Streetcar, and avoiding the "R" word, thinking if they ignore it , they won't be effected. Uh huh.

Then take a further extreme. Folks in the "Home" I live in get/subscribe to lots of upscale magazines like GQ, Details, Architectural Digest, Vogue, etc. Pick one up some time...filled with dozens of ads for $50,000 watches (How many do you need? I'll bet a $30 Timex is as accurate by 5%), diamond jewelry, Aston Martins, BMW, Lexus, Jaguars, private Jets, Mega Yachts etc. Things to entice the masses, while ignoring the fact that most who have such things, got their money the old fashioned way...inheritance!

Which brings me to the crux of the whole matter. Our economy is entirely based on consumerism....buying crap we want, but don't need. Buying on credit for instant gratification. How many shoe stores in a mall do we really need? Many sell the same brands and/or are owned by the same company. Automobiles...do we really need hundreds of various models at various prices that all have four wheels, and go from point "A" to point "B"on the same road?

The Pacific NW prides itself, (a legend in their own minds) on "Sustainability" and "Green" environmental and economic policies, which in reality are a marketing gimmick to sell things and continue growth.

True "Sustainability" maintains a constant level of economy and does not need to grow. It is self sustaining, environmentally friendly by nature, does not require addition limited resources, imported cheap labor, outsourcing, etc. It is a class leveling economy...a truer "Middle Class". Unfortunately, it is also much an illusion.

The Last Election of 2008

Election Day is finally here, thank God. Two years of hell, hours of negative commercials, and rants from folks like Rush Limbaugh. Tonight, the victor will take the spoils of all this home and put it on a shelf!

2008 is the first time I have voted since the fiasco of 2000, and it will also probably be my last vote, for many reasons. One being, who really knows what happens to that ballot once it leaves your hands? Can you say "Hanging Chads"?

I fail to appreciate "Representative Government".....that's not democracy, that's a Republic...like ancient Rome. I would be content on removing all "Professional Politicians" and vote via the Internet, on all major policies. (Yes the Internet is safe for voting. You do your taxes, banking, and pay bills on it don't you?)

From my viewpoint, of the poor and working poor, the future of the USA seems lost in a fog of hopelessness and greed. 2012 approaches and many feel the End is near, in many ways. War, famine, overpopulation, depression, pandemic disease, etc. are just some of the many, and perhaps simultaneous crisis to End our world as we know it.

How does this affect our jobs, lifestyle, retirement, families and businesses?

Well, for one thing, strategic planning for worse case scenarios, can't hurt. Not planning and going ahead with wide eyed optimism may be fatal...to the country, to the world, to your family, and yourself.

More in future posts.

I Am Employed Again !

OK, first came my nice studio apartment. Now I have a part time job at a nice non-profit. All is good.

I looked at some "temp" holiday type jobs, but the downside was not worth it.....paying 30% of my gross for rent, having my food stamps decline considerably for two or three months..then going through the hassel of renewing everything after the job ended. It wasn't worth it.

This non-profit job is part time about 20-24 hr per week. It is about all I can handle through the pain. Best of all it is exempt! Title V rocks!

Thanks to all the folks who have helped me!

Monsoon Season

Finally, the rains of Autumn are here. It has been a long, hot, dry summer! I have never understood those who feel the need for 90F+ weather. Perhaps if you summered on the beach, a lake, or owned a nice boat, it would be enjoyable. But when you don't, or even have AC, I find it annoying.

Now four to five months of rain may seem gloomy, but then so does -20 below zero, 32 inches of snow! This past winter, this being my second, will be snow free for the first times in my life....having been born in Syracuse, NY and attended college in Oswego, NY. In Oswego, 3 - 5 feet in one storm, (overnight) was not unusual. Today, it is difficult to imagine.

Time to buy a new umbrella, and or a rain suit. I wish I had kept my golfing rain suit. Oh well.

Time to watch the rain out my window, and a movie on my TV!

Trapped in the Pacific NW

OMG...this area of the country is a legend in it's own mind. Of course most people here have never lived any where else, tracing their ancestors back to Lewis & Clark!

Can you say, "Wagons East?"

It is a very old and poor area..........15% wealthy yuppies and boomers, living in one bedroom, $400,000, high rise condos, while smelly homeless people sleep on the sidewalks in front of their buildings, and pee behind the dumpsters! The whole town smells like urine, with lots of trash on the streets.

Detroit makes this place look like a third world ghetto!

But.......I have free public housing and food stamps. I am trapped. I lose it all if I leave, and it took me 6 months to get it. Oh well.

Does Your Town Have Free Public Events?

It must have been a East Coast thing....free public events like the "Woodward Dream Cruise" or "Arts, Beats, & Eats" in the Detroit area. Carnivals and fairs in Upstate NY, or even the minor league baseball games that charge only $4-$6 admission, but have $1 hot dogs and beer days. Here the Portland Beavers cost $9 General Admission. Good grief Charlie Brown!Not so on the West Coast. Even though the event is held in public parks, the fence them off and charge admission. The beer festival last week cost $20.

It is of course another rude and disgusting aspect of life on the left coast!

What is the Appeal of Sidewalk Eating?

I have never understood the appeal of dinning on a sidewalk. What do people say to themselves, "Let's eat out in the hot sun with the bugs and pooping birds?" "I want to be seen and see the people who are not eating, look at my food and watch me chew." Yeah that's it......not!

I suppose this is supposed to be European or something. but most sidewalk eating is simply tables and chairs crowding the 5 foot wide sidewalk. (How do they get away with that, aren't the sidewalks public?) It is not like there is a private patio, closed off with a railing with shade umbrellas or awnings. The smoking laws also allow smoking in these venues, so of course nonsmokers won't be sitting there.

Oh did I mention the critters? Squirrels, birds, and of course dogs! Pit bulls and the oh so rare Labs and Retrievers. Yeah I want to eat with peoples dogs!

Sidewalk Cafes are disgusting!