The weekend bus service is safe, for now (see news blip on Michigan Public Radio site). The jobs of the 113 bus drivers scheduled to be laid off as of last Friday still exist. The city has cut 205 other jobs. I do not currently know where these jobs are, but according to Michigan Messenger, they are not with Police, First, Water or DDOT.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Missionaries
I attract missionaries. I don't know what it is about me. Maybe my eyes say that I am open to their proselytizing. Maybe I look like I am searching for a path. Or maybe they try to convert everyone.
I have been approached by Protestant Christian missionaries, Muslim missionaries, a Rastafarian missionary, a Quaker missionary, and even an atheist missionary. I find this really interesting. Protestant missionaries are, without any doubt, the ones I encounter the vast majority of the time. I have been approached at bus stops with "Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal lord and savior?" more than once. The single Rasta missionary was on a lovely Ghanaian beach. I must say that he was much more interesting during our first conversation just after he finished performing some acrobatics along the ocean's edge. The second discussion he was preaching at me about various evils that didn't seem so evil to me and I kept getting distracted by his bloodshot eyes. I met my most memorable Muslim missionary as I was walking through a souk (an outdoor marketplace; I love markets). I was somehow drawn into a very long discussion about religion, particularly he wanted to convince me of the general wrongness with thinking it was possible for God to have a child. The only thing that finally saved me was the call to prayer. Given what I knew about the American Society of Friends, I would not have expected a Quaker to try to convert me, but life is interesting that way. The Quaker is tied with the atheist for the most unpleasant attempted conversion experience.
One: why are these people so convinced that they are right? Two: why do they want to intrude on something so personal? I suppose I am also convinced that I am correct. Could this post be considered missionary work?
Here's what I believe: I believe that as spiritual beings having a physical experience, it is rarely (if ever) possible for us to grasp the Divine. The metaphor that applies here is the story of the six blind men who went in search of an elephant so that they could learn what it was by direct observation. However, instead of any of them exploring the entire elephant, each concentrated on a single part (no doubt due to the elephant's limited cooperation for this exercise). As such, the one who had grabbed an ear emphatically declared the elephant to be like a fan; the one who had felt the trunk insisted it was similar to a water spout; another who had explored a leg was convinced the elephant was something like a pillar, etc. In most versions of this story, the different observers become highly agitated with each other, sometimes resulting in a physical fight. Occasionally an outsider is there to explain to them that each of them is right, although not quite entirely.
That story highlights the limitations of perception (and raises the question: why is it so important that others be convinced that we are right? This will have to be different, much later post, as I do not have any well-developed theories on that and am guilty of having become highly offended when someone did not recognize that I was right). It also explains why, if I have the time, I listen intently to the missionaries. I believe that, even if I am unlikely to accept the whole of their belief system, I am likely to find something that resonates with me and can be incorporated into my approach to life. Now some would warn me that this is a dangerous path (oopsie!), yet I consider my reasoning and intuition two of my most important gifts and use them as such.
I know some people believe that we should avoid talking about politics and religion. I disagree and worry that then there would be little else to talk about and we might fall into even more discussions about reality t.v. or whether our co-workers need girdles. Besides sometimes--many times--these discussions can be enriching. One Sunday I was waiting for a bus when someone else who was waiting asked if I had been to church. I was not in the mood to be preached at that morning, I really wasn't. But I answered anyway and we had an interesting discussion. He officially considered himself "a student," not belonging to any particular religion, but sought to understand as much as he could, having friends and going to the services of several faiths. Just last week I was in a meandering conversation that included an explanation that baby showers were not religious celebrations, why Easter is a higher religious holiday than Christmas (actually this one maybe I should have stayed away from...as someone who was raised Christian, but does not practice) the two different Eids, and the reasons behind and the limitations to having more than one wife under Islam.
I have been approached by Protestant Christian missionaries, Muslim missionaries, a Rastafarian missionary, a Quaker missionary, and even an atheist missionary. I find this really interesting. Protestant missionaries are, without any doubt, the ones I encounter the vast majority of the time. I have been approached at bus stops with "Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal lord and savior?" more than once. The single Rasta missionary was on a lovely Ghanaian beach. I must say that he was much more interesting during our first conversation just after he finished performing some acrobatics along the ocean's edge. The second discussion he was preaching at me about various evils that didn't seem so evil to me and I kept getting distracted by his bloodshot eyes. I met my most memorable Muslim missionary as I was walking through a souk (an outdoor marketplace; I love markets). I was somehow drawn into a very long discussion about religion, particularly he wanted to convince me of the general wrongness with thinking it was possible for God to have a child. The only thing that finally saved me was the call to prayer. Given what I knew about the American Society of Friends, I would not have expected a Quaker to try to convert me, but life is interesting that way. The Quaker is tied with the atheist for the most unpleasant attempted conversion experience.
One: why are these people so convinced that they are right? Two: why do they want to intrude on something so personal? I suppose I am also convinced that I am correct. Could this post be considered missionary work?
Here's what I believe: I believe that as spiritual beings having a physical experience, it is rarely (if ever) possible for us to grasp the Divine. The metaphor that applies here is the story of the six blind men who went in search of an elephant so that they could learn what it was by direct observation. However, instead of any of them exploring the entire elephant, each concentrated on a single part (no doubt due to the elephant's limited cooperation for this exercise). As such, the one who had grabbed an ear emphatically declared the elephant to be like a fan; the one who had felt the trunk insisted it was similar to a water spout; another who had explored a leg was convinced the elephant was something like a pillar, etc. In most versions of this story, the different observers become highly agitated with each other, sometimes resulting in a physical fight. Occasionally an outsider is there to explain to them that each of them is right, although not quite entirely.
That story highlights the limitations of perception (and raises the question: why is it so important that others be convinced that we are right? This will have to be different, much later post, as I do not have any well-developed theories on that and am guilty of having become highly offended when someone did not recognize that I was right). It also explains why, if I have the time, I listen intently to the missionaries. I believe that, even if I am unlikely to accept the whole of their belief system, I am likely to find something that resonates with me and can be incorporated into my approach to life. Now some would warn me that this is a dangerous path (oopsie!), yet I consider my reasoning and intuition two of my most important gifts and use them as such.
I know some people believe that we should avoid talking about politics and religion. I disagree and worry that then there would be little else to talk about and we might fall into even more discussions about reality t.v. or whether our co-workers need girdles. Besides sometimes--many times--these discussions can be enriching. One Sunday I was waiting for a bus when someone else who was waiting asked if I had been to church. I was not in the mood to be preached at that morning, I really wasn't. But I answered anyway and we had an interesting discussion. He officially considered himself "a student," not belonging to any particular religion, but sought to understand as much as he could, having friends and going to the services of several faiths. Just last week I was in a meandering conversation that included an explanation that baby showers were not religious celebrations, why Easter is a higher religious holiday than Christmas (actually this one maybe I should have stayed away from...as someone who was raised Christian, but does not practice) the two different Eids, and the reasons behind and the limitations to having more than one wife under Islam.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The Potato Harvest
When I planted my seed potatoes, I really had no idea what I was doing. I cut the around the potato eyes and had little one inch chunks that I let dry and form a "callous" to avoid rot. Then I planted them. I had little hope for them. I placed sticks in the ground to mark where I planted them, convinced that nothing would come up and knowing I wouldn't recognize them if they did.
Then I stopped paying attention. Notice the weeds in that picture. Maybe I watered them once. They were off the side of the garden, planted near the air conditioner and I rarely thought about them. Weeks after planting them, I started to notice them and thought I might actually enjoy some home grown potatoes after all.
I think I would have been able to make quite a few potato dishes this fall. Except for the watermelon jungle I've already described (btw, I have at least three on the vines--the largest is now bigger than my hand! That's a lot of growth in one week so I have hope it might ripen after all). The jungle choked the life out of the potato plants and ended the growth of the potatoes. It has also overtaken one of the giant marigolds and I have to pull it back away from my tomatoes nearly every other day now.
Confronted with dead plants, there was nothing to do but harvest what I could. After moving enough of the jungle to see soil, I used a spade to gently loosen and remove dirt and look for potatoes. It was funny--the red potatoes were like Easter eggs someone had hidden for me to find. They were no longer attached to the plant. The white potatoes still looked like they belonged to the plant. I read that I should let them dry out outside first, but given the rain, that's not really working. I'll probably bring them in to cook either tomorrow or Friday. I'm thinking a nice potato-kale stir-fry. Mmmm...
Then I stopped paying attention. Notice the weeds in that picture. Maybe I watered them once. They were off the side of the garden, planted near the air conditioner and I rarely thought about them. Weeks after planting them, I started to notice them and thought I might actually enjoy some home grown potatoes after all.I think I would have been able to make quite a few potato dishes this fall. Except for the watermelon jungle I've already described (btw, I have at least three on the vines--the largest is now bigger than my hand! That's a lot of growth in one week so I have hope it might ripen after all). The jungle choked the life out of the potato plants and ended the growth of the potatoes. It has also overtaken one of the giant marigolds and I have to pull it back away from my tomatoes nearly every other day now.
Confronted with dead plants, there was nothing to do but harvest what I could. After moving enough of the jungle to see soil, I used a spade to gently loosen and remove dirt and look for potatoes. It was funny--the red potatoes were like Easter eggs someone had hidden for me to find. They were no longer attached to the plant. The white potatoes still looked like they belonged to the plant. I read that I should let them dry out outside first, but given the rain, that's not really working. I'll probably bring them in to cook either tomorrow or Friday. I'm thinking a nice potato-kale stir-fry. Mmmm...
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
DDOT Public Hearings
Not one of the people who got up to speak for the nearly three hours of public comment voiced any support for the cuts. A lot of people got up to share how the cuts would affect them personally. A grandfather said that he worked midnights while his son and daughter worked and went to school during the day. In this way there was always an adult at home during the day if someone needed to go to his grandchildren's school. He shared that he had lost one job--a very good job, when routes were cut under Kwame Kilpatrick's administration. One woman told that she worked at a nursing home. On Sundays she already takes a cab to work because she has to be there at 6am and the bus starts running on that route at 8am. She said that she couldn't afford a taxi in both directions. Several people got up and spoke about employees of casinos, entertainment, and the hospitality industries downtown. More than one brought up the Cobo deal that had finally been made and wondered who would work at these venues without transportation. An Episcopal priest with two part-time jobs explained how she navigated the bus system to get to work and her community activities.
One bus driver shared how he had taken the bus to work a few years back. He related that 12 or so individuals arrived with him at Capital Park at four in the morning and how they scattered, scrambling to make their connections. The current "proposal" ends service between 2am and 5am. Another driver said that she has watched the children who take the bus get younger and younger. She expressed concerned for them, waiting longer with increased wait times and with predator awaiting them when parents' have to leave them to catch their own buses. While she made her comments, the individuals facilitating the public hearings sat with the same constant lack of expression.
Henry Gaffney, president of the bus drivers' union, told the crowd that 113 drivers will be laid off Friday. These, he reported, account for 70% of the weekend drivers. In effect, the cuts are already happening.According an article in the Detroit News, "Councilwoman JoAnn Watson, who attended the first of eight hearings, said she may move to scuttle the changes." Oh, she may? Alberta Tinsley Talabi was present at the Tuesday evening meeting, stating that the buses were a "core service" that should not be cut. When an audience member asked about her city-provided car, she replied that she had suggested two weeks ago that City Council let the cars go. Unimpressed, the man suggested that she should have already done that twelve years ago. Council Candidate Saunteel Jenkins insisted city officials give up perks before taking things from those who are already overworked and underserved.
Several practical suggestions were offered and, I'm sure, diligently written up by the court reporter present to be filed neatly somewhere and never looked at. Several commenters noted that people who actually use the system were not consulted for feedback. A fare increase of 25 to 50 cents was suggested (at least twice), without serious objections. Losing cars for city officials was a well-received. A couple of individuals were interested in establishing a transportation authority to run the system. Naturally someone suggested partnering with SMART. One older man suggested that now was the time for innovation--he wanted to see the system increase bus service to the point that people don't want cars.
BAMN was present (with about a dozen organizers who commented and told everyone to attend the union-community meeting being held Saturday 8/29/09 at 4pm at the St. Regis Hotel's Boulevard Room; there's also a Wednesday 9/2/09 4:30pm meeting somewhere (I'll post if I find it). Detroit FIST was also there, with two members who spoke (the first of whom gave us the only Spanish heard at the meeting). Both groups advocated organizing and not expecting the elected/city officials to do it for us.
Unlike what Oneita Jackson wrote that she saw at the earlier meeting today, I found the people remarkably calm and respectful of each other (especially given that people's livelihoods are threatened). Now people did get a little "church" up in there at some points--but I have never seen anything wrong with a little call and response.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Random Beauty
A couple of weeks ago I decided that I should carry around my camera at all times. I think it was a good decision. Unfortunately I haven't managed to put it into action yet. Last Friday, at Northland Mall, I happened across some random beauty and was left with nothing but a cellphone camera to capture it.
The first was a rainbow. A beautiful, full arc of a rainbow that stretched across the whole sky. I was so captivated by it that I tripped on a curb cut. And I wasn't the only one impressed. There were at least three other folks who had whipped out cell phones and were trying to squeeze that immensity into a 2" screen. Of course, me being me, there is a bus in the picture. The second picture is absolutely terrible, but it at least gives an impression of its size (though not how vivid it was).
As I was putting my phone away, I happened to look down at some weeds poking through the asphalt around the bus shelter. One of them was a tomato plant.
The first was a rainbow. A beautiful, full arc of a rainbow that stretched across the whole sky. I was so captivated by it that I tripped on a curb cut. And I wasn't the only one impressed. There were at least three other folks who had whipped out cell phones and were trying to squeeze that immensity into a 2" screen. Of course, me being me, there is a bus in the picture. The second picture is absolutely terrible, but it at least gives an impression of its size (though not how vivid it was).
As I was putting my phone away, I happened to look down at some weeds poking through the asphalt around the bus shelter. One of them was a tomato plant.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
The State Health Care Reform "Action"
I rode by a group of folks waving signs on Woodward in Birmingham yesterday. We were turning a corner so I only saw one end of it, but I did see a few signs: one railing against "Obamacare", one that read "Healthcare for All," and one that pleaded for HR676 (the House bill that would enact single payer and that no one seems to be taking seriously) to be brought into the debate. I hadn't heard about any planned rally and I was already late to somewhere so I didn't get a chance to learn anything more until this morning.
There was an article on the rally in the Detroit News and an account from Detroit Mark in the Huffington Post. Detroit News blogger MakoYamakura to exception to Detroit Mark's characterization of those in the northern suburbs as "white conservatives [...] moved their businesses and families up in the upper counties to escape the diversity of Detroit. You know, bigots. Not everyone but an impressive sample, I'd be willing to bet." Interestingly there was a couple on the bus with me discussing the rally who, based on their experiences growing up there, felt that just by the nature of their conservatism, Oakland County residents were practically obligated to oppose anything proposed by any Democrat.
In his piece, Detroit Mark pointed out some of the signs for the anti-health care side. There are those that just list things that are just wrong, complete with supposed citations from the bill (FactCheck.org has is a good resource: look at Seven Falsehoods about Health Care). The other sign that he pointed out that I want to mention is one of Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a Hitler mustache. When similar depictions of Obama started cropping up a while back, I was completely mystified, but then someone forwarded a piece entitled "Stuff White People Like: Comparing People to Hitler" to a mailing list. I now get it: this just means that they don't agree with something and they think it's very, very bad.
Last week I signed an internet petition to support (and keep honest) the 60-plus House Democrats who have pledged to only support a health care reform bill that includes a public option. Below is a clilp of Rachel Maddow interviewing Jane Hamsher of FireDogLake.com. Perhaps ironic given my below comment about another interviewer, I really enjoyed watching how tickled Maddow is about Progressive Democrats with a spine.
Listening to NPR the other day, I really enjoyed Steve Inskeep's interview with Angela Braley, CEO of health care insurance company giant Wellpoint. I normally "tsk, tsk" during his interviews because he generally laughs so much that I feel more like I'm listening to a morning show instead of news. But he actually asked serious questions (such as "What do you get for those millions of dollars that you spend lobbying?"):
There was an article on the rally in the Detroit News and an account from Detroit Mark in the Huffington Post. Detroit News blogger MakoYamakura to exception to Detroit Mark's characterization of those in the northern suburbs as "white conservatives [...] moved their businesses and families up in the upper counties to escape the diversity of Detroit. You know, bigots. Not everyone but an impressive sample, I'd be willing to bet." Interestingly there was a couple on the bus with me discussing the rally who, based on their experiences growing up there, felt that just by the nature of their conservatism, Oakland County residents were practically obligated to oppose anything proposed by any Democrat.
In his piece, Detroit Mark pointed out some of the signs for the anti-health care side. There are those that just list things that are just wrong, complete with supposed citations from the bill (FactCheck.org has is a good resource: look at Seven Falsehoods about Health Care). The other sign that he pointed out that I want to mention is one of Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a Hitler mustache. When similar depictions of Obama started cropping up a while back, I was completely mystified, but then someone forwarded a piece entitled "Stuff White People Like: Comparing People to Hitler" to a mailing list. I now get it: this just means that they don't agree with something and they think it's very, very bad.
Last week I signed an internet petition to support (and keep honest) the 60-plus House Democrats who have pledged to only support a health care reform bill that includes a public option. Below is a clilp of Rachel Maddow interviewing Jane Hamsher of FireDogLake.com. Perhaps ironic given my below comment about another interviewer, I really enjoyed watching how tickled Maddow is about Progressive Democrats with a spine.
Listening to NPR the other day, I really enjoyed Steve Inskeep's interview with Angela Braley, CEO of health care insurance company giant Wellpoint. I normally "tsk, tsk" during his interviews because he generally laughs so much that I feel more like I'm listening to a morning show instead of news. But he actually asked serious questions (such as "What do you get for those millions of dollars that you spend lobbying?"):
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Alas, My Garden!
My kohlrabi: a gardening casualty.
Well, this has been my first year with the garden. I worked hard: removing sod--that is, digging up the grass from an area that's at least 12x15 feet and then constantly weeding for the first two months. Then I just kinda stopped. I mean, I still water and weed on a weekly basis, but there's no pampering going on. After I harvested the kale and collards I planted early in the season, I started taking it a little easy. Which is good, because otherwise I'd be heartbroken right now. Some rodents (I'm not sure if the culprits are squirrels or rabbits) have found a new diner: my garden.
Every single time my kohlrabi starts looking good--all leafed out and strong, they come and eat every single leaf on the plants. Every one. Consistently. Last night was the their third run in this little game they play. Soon after I brought the kohlrabi home from the Garden Resource Program and planted them, the creatures ate all the leaves. It was sad, but I really hadn't formed any attachment to my first crop of kohlrabi so it was okay. I mean, I was looking forward to the yummy stems that taste something like broccoli, but I had no emotional investment. So when the sturdy little plants grew new leaves, it was a great surprise and like a gift I hadn't done anything to earn. A few days after I started looking forward to a fall harvest of the kohlrabi, the ravenous little monsters came back. That time, I think, they maybe left one leaf on one of the four plants. And yet hope springs eternal so when the determined little plants grew their third set of leaves, I again began dreaming of sauteing my kohlrabi. Ha! After this third strike, I refuse to believe the poor dears will be unmolested long enough grow stems large enough to bother cooking.
Sigh.
So it's really good other things are growing well enough to keep me distracted. The tomatoes are doing well--I've got roma and heirloom. This morning I had a lovely breakfast of fresh picked heirloom tomatoes sliced on olive bread from Avalon (purchased for practically nothing at the end of the Farmers Market yesterday). And the surprise of garden: my watermelon plants. I never really expected anything of them, but I planted them because I got them. I now have a watermelon vine jungle that has hidden my potato plants (hmmm...I suppose I should go dig those up this week). It's also threatening to overtake some marigolds I have planted out there.
Take a peek:
And I even have at least one fruit on the vine:
It's palm-sized and absolutely beautiful:
Monday, August 17, 2009
Some snippets from the African World Festival...
As usual, it was wonderful. Friday I caught Amp Fiddler and Ras Kente performing together--I'd never seen either individually, but they were great together. It started with Ras Kente playing Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing on electric guitar (think Jimi Hendrix's version of the Star Spangled Banner).
On Saturday there was a parade down Woodward from Mack to Hart Plaza. I'm sure it was wonderful, but I missed it, waiting for someone who was in traffic for two hours. At the end of the route, we did find two belly dancers collapsed and recovering from their three miles (!) of shimmying. Apparently we missed wings.
Around Hart Plaza, some of the floats from the parade were on display:
I must say, I am loving Little Man's hair here.
Looks like they did it up properly!
I was drawn to the Great Lakes African American Quilters Network's booth. I spoke with the president for a while and one of the things she talked about was trying to reclaim the heritage of our grandmothers and their grandmothers who quilted.
Here's one of the quilts they had on display:
And of course there was the Omowale Cultural Society. Here are some shots of them from Saturday. The drummers were getting it:
And the dancers...
The young woman below was all energy (notice how fast her beads are moving!):
They called this woman out of the crowd to come dance with them. I think her initial reluctance was just for show, because she was quickly barefoot and her skirt was flying:
On Saturday there was a parade down Woodward from Mack to Hart Plaza. I'm sure it was wonderful, but I missed it, waiting for someone who was in traffic for two hours. At the end of the route, we did find two belly dancers collapsed and recovering from their three miles (!) of shimmying. Apparently we missed wings.
Around Hart Plaza, some of the floats from the parade were on display:
I must say, I am loving Little Man's hair here.
Looks like they did it up properly!
I was drawn to the Great Lakes African American Quilters Network's booth. I spoke with the president for a while and one of the things she talked about was trying to reclaim the heritage of our grandmothers and their grandmothers who quilted.
Here's one of the quilts they had on display:
And of course there was the Omowale Cultural Society. Here are some shots of them from Saturday. The drummers were getting it:
And the dancers...
The young woman below was all energy (notice how fast her beads are moving!):
They called this woman out of the crowd to come dance with them. I think her initial reluctance was just for show, because she was quickly barefoot and her skirt was flying:
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Alert: Bus System in Danger
You know, I'd just assumed that Mayor Bing would win in November. After all, even among those who voted against him in the special election in May, who really wants the city to have four mayors within 12 months? Now, I'm not so sure. Less than one month after the grand opening of the Rosa Parks Transit Center, the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) is suggesting cutting back 12 routes, ending Saturday bus service at 6pm, and eliminating Sunday bus service altogether. Check out the details in the article on the Detroit News website.WHAT?????
The bus drivers' union estimates that 50,000 people ride the bus on Sunday and that 20,000 more would be effected by the Saturday cutback. The News article notes that the DDOT made this announcement a few days after the mayor said he planned to cut the jobs of 1,000 workers.
Maybe the mayor has not noticed, but public transportation in the city is already as bare bones as a dinosaur skeleton. It's 12:30 in the morning and I'm just getting in from the African World Festival--one of the major summer festivals downtown and you might think the city would be a little invested in making transportation available for it. Guess not. I live 12 miles from Hart Plaza, yet took me an hour to get home. And it was only that quick because I walked the last mile and a half rather than wait for a second bus which only runs once an hour (if that) at night. We can't take any more cuts in service and still have a system.
During the weekends, people use the bus to get to work, to church, to family, to shopping. How are they--how are we supposed to do that without the bus? That whole Cash for Clunkers only worked for those of us who a) had a clunker and b) had the cash/credit for the rest of the pricetag. Taxis are too expensive. Does he expect us to walk? When we're traveling over 10 miles? When we need to be there at 8am or get off in the middle of the night? More bus cuts are not an option.
If Tom Barrow really wants Bing's job, he might try riding the bus and talking to folks and then sending his campaign team out to register folks waiting at bus stops and on buses. I can imagine that if this goes any further we just might get more than the approximately 15% voter turnout we enjoyed in May and August.
A DDOT Rider Alert flyer states that public hearings will be held next week at the following locations:
Monday, August 24
10am 12 noon and again 6-8pm
Wayne County Community College
5901 Conner
Tuesday, August 25
10am 12 noon and again 6-8pm
Rosa Parks Transit Center
360 Michigan Ave.
Wednesday, August 25
10am 12 noon and again 6-8pm
Southwest District Neighborhood City Hall
7400 W. Vernor
Thursday, August 26
10am 12 noon and again 6-8pm
Northwest Activities Center
18100 Meyers
In addition, I believe Mayor Bing could benefit from hearing why this is a bad idea from his constituents. You can let him know at:
City of Detroit
Executive Office
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Ave., Ste. 1126
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 224-3400
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Go ahead, raise my taxes
Dear Congress,
You may raise my taxes. I figure I could still manage to pay bills and eat if you took another couple percent of my pay in taxes. No, I don't make over $250,000, but I want universal health insurance. I mean I want it in that way that makes me willing to give something up to get it. I have this crazy notion notion that it makes sense to sacrifice something I have for something I really, really want.
So, what do I want?
And if the Muttface has to live on store brand dog food and I have to take my lunch to work every day (instead of just most days)...well, we'll adjust.
Sincerely,
A concerned citizen
You may raise my taxes. I figure I could still manage to pay bills and eat if you took another couple percent of my pay in taxes. No, I don't make over $250,000, but I want universal health insurance. I mean I want it in that way that makes me willing to give something up to get it. I have this crazy notion notion that it makes sense to sacrifice something I have for something I really, really want.
So, what do I want?
- every person in this country to have access to quality health care
And if the Muttface has to live on store brand dog food and I have to take my lunch to work every day (instead of just most days)...well, we'll adjust.
Sincerely,
A concerned citizen
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
African World Festival this weekend!
It will be going on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. There's a schedule available at the African World Festival website (http://www.awfdetroit.com/).
Local Currency (again)
"The Plenty", local currency in Pittsboro, NC, where
15,000 are in circulation. (The Abundance Foundation)
15,000 are in circulation. (The Abundance Foundation)
Protectionist that I am (free trade? That benefits whom exactly?), I really don't see a reason not to have local currency in Detroit. Though, unlike how it has been enacted in the article, I want the Detroit currency larger than a group of businesses banding together. I want to see the city itself involved.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Visibility
I'm not a fan of rainbows. Well, actual rainbows, yes. They rank up there with waterfalls for me. What I'm not a fan of is the crayola-colored type of rainbows that have been adopted as a symbol of LGBT pride. They just don't really match my sense of style (or, maybe non-style would be more accurate). But sometimes I feel like I should wear a rainbow pin on my sleeve or maybe just tattoo a rainbow on my forehead. Because coming out gets old. Real fast.I've had friends accuse me of going so overboard with being private that I cross the line into secretive and almost being in the Witness Protection Program. So I have no compulsion to talk about my sexuality. I'd actually prefer not to.
Except. Well, if you don't talk about it, people will just go ahead and assume you are heterosexual. Yeah, I'm not comfortable with that. I believe in privacy, not closets. Shoot, I have a hard enough time getting my clean laundry from the basement to my closet, there's really no way I can manage to put myself in one.
So I'm thinking that a forehead tattoo would avoid any confusion. You know that woman you see walking her dog around the neighborhood, greeting everyone she passes? Well, look at that! She's romantically attracted to women. You know, her, the one who gave away all those carrots from her garden? She likes women, really likes them. And I think it would be good for all those straight people who don't think they know anyone who sits under the LGBT umbrella. They could note me, with my big sign, going about the quirky, mundane business of my life. Not at all being a threat to the fabric of society (well...hopefully I'm at least occasionally a threat to some social ills, but not the beautiful parts of the fabric).
I like this idea--other than the whole permanent part, but at least it would save me from collapsing into a fit of giggles when someone random person asks me about boyfriends.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Catching up...on blogging and civic responsibility
So this past weekend I was on mad dash to gather information about the candidates in the primary election that was held yesterday. Which is why there's hasn't been much blogging lately. I'm going to try to do better. On both counts.
I was really impressed by one of the candidates for the charter commission: Jenice Mitchell Ford. I really appreciated her answers to the questions posed to candidates by MiVote. I think her video (unlike those of most of the other candidates) was outstanding: she very clearly explained the charter, the charter commission, and specific issues that need to be addressed in the revision. She also did a great job of sharing her qualification and making points about the issues that demonstrated that she had thought about them on more a cursory level.
I was really impressed by one of the candidates for the charter commission: Jenice Mitchell Ford. I really appreciated her answers to the questions posed to candidates by MiVote. I think her video (unlike those of most of the other candidates) was outstanding: she very clearly explained the charter, the charter commission, and specific issues that need to be addressed in the revision. She also did a great job of sharing her qualification and making points about the issues that demonstrated that she had thought about them on more a cursory level.
I could have done without the slogan, though.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Summertime and the reading is easy...
..though apparently not the blogging. I've been trying to write this post since Friday. A little last minute marathon candidate research got in the way (but that, dear people, is another post).
It's amazing! I've actually had enough time to get in some pleasure reading. For the last six weeks or so I've been able to read strictly for the joy of reading. Free time is such a beautiful thing.
I grabbed a few books recommended on an NPR summer reading segment. One was a bust: Laura Rider's Masterpiece. Just eh...I was not feeling the shallow, self-absorbed characters and their little manipulations. The others have been enjoyable. The Stolen Child, by Keith Donohue, was a lovely 20th century Grimms' fairy tale. Okay, lovely might not be the best word, given core of the story: basically, a gang of shapeshifter children steal a child and one of them takes his place. I still think it was lovely and offered some interesting reflection on human connection, growing up, perspective, and group membership.
Kao Kalia Yang's The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir kept me company on vacation. She shares the story of her family as they fled Laos in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, spending several years in refugee camps in Thailand and eventually settling in Minnesota. She offers a very loving portrait of her grandmother and a fascinating snapshot of Hmong people.
I'm currently reading Uruguayan author Eduardo Galeano's Mirrors: Stories of Almost of Everyone. Which is amazing. Most of my summer reading has come to me from library books, including this one (interlibrary loan is such a good idea). However, it's due back tomorrow and someone has a hold on it so I can't renew. Today I ordered a copy online. This book is full of excellent bedtime stories and I want the hardcover on my shelf. These stories are less than a page, often no more than a paragraph, but, oh, the stories. It reads to me like a Brief History of Everything.
I know I've read a lot more, but it's late and I'm sleepy so I'll just share one piece of good news: The Serpent's Gift is back in print!!! The novel by Helen Elaine Lee is one of my favorites. I stopped recommending it to folks when it went out of print and I recently found out it was back after loaning out my copy. This is such a beautiful book: the language, the love among the family members, the imperfect humanity of the wonderful characters.
Still to come: Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South, The Revolution Will Not Be Funded, and whatever else I want because it's summertime and I can.
Now, when I really have some free time, I need to find myself a book club. Oooo...
It's amazing! I've actually had enough time to get in some pleasure reading. For the last six weeks or so I've been able to read strictly for the joy of reading. Free time is such a beautiful thing.
I grabbed a few books recommended on an NPR summer reading segment. One was a bust: Laura Rider's Masterpiece. Just eh...I was not feeling the shallow, self-absorbed characters and their little manipulations. The others have been enjoyable. The Stolen Child, by Keith Donohue, was a lovely 20th century Grimms' fairy tale. Okay, lovely might not be the best word, given core of the story: basically, a gang of shapeshifter children steal a child and one of them takes his place. I still think it was lovely and offered some interesting reflection on human connection, growing up, perspective, and group membership.
Kao Kalia Yang's The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir kept me company on vacation. She shares the story of her family as they fled Laos in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, spending several years in refugee camps in Thailand and eventually settling in Minnesota. She offers a very loving portrait of her grandmother and a fascinating snapshot of Hmong people.
I'm currently reading Uruguayan author Eduardo Galeano's Mirrors: Stories of Almost of Everyone. Which is amazing. Most of my summer reading has come to me from library books, including this one (interlibrary loan is such a good idea). However, it's due back tomorrow and someone has a hold on it so I can't renew. Today I ordered a copy online. This book is full of excellent bedtime stories and I want the hardcover on my shelf. These stories are less than a page, often no more than a paragraph, but, oh, the stories. It reads to me like a Brief History of Everything.
I know I've read a lot more, but it's late and I'm sleepy so I'll just share one piece of good news: The Serpent's Gift is back in print!!! The novel by Helen Elaine Lee is one of my favorites. I stopped recommending it to folks when it went out of print and I recently found out it was back after loaning out my copy. This is such a beautiful book: the language, the love among the family members, the imperfect humanity of the wonderful characters.
Still to come: Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South, The Revolution Will Not Be Funded, and whatever else I want because it's summertime and I can.
Now, when I really have some free time, I need to find myself a book club. Oooo...
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