From: Anthony & Victoria Stoppiello [mailto:stoppiello@nehalemtel.net] Subject: GEN. INTEREST: my response to Boone re forest transfer Begin forwarded message: From: Anthony & Victoria Stoppiello Date: February 17, 2012 9:24:59 AM PST To: “Rep Boone” Subject: Re: I’m the 3,562nd signer: “Uphold Federal Protections for Oregon Forests!” Dear Ms. Boone, My understanding is that SJM 201 does NOT voice opposition to changing the stewardship of O&C lands, but in fact does just the opposite. It is a joint memorial that would [...more]
Feb 192012
Jan 272012
For the last 6 months or so, we’ve had no representative in the House of Representatives from the Upper Left Edge. That seems a bit weird. You’d think that someone would be appointed to step in when there’s a vacancy – in this case because of the resignation of our former representative, David Wu.
In 2006, some 600,000 homeowners living in coastal areas that insurers consider high storm risk saw their insurance policies cancelled or not renewed. This includes coastal areas stretching all along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean from Texas to New York. Allstate Insurance totally pulled out of Florida, leaving 650,000 policy-holders without insurance. A 2007 study by Environmental Defense showed that new policies in Miami, Florida are now costing residents 500% more than previous ones. In March 2008, State Farm, the last major insurer in coastal coverage, pulled out. It no longer will write homeowner policies within a mile of the Atlantic Ocean.
Dec 212011
At this ancient Solstice time, when the great trees are honored (with the conifer in the living room), and the power of fire and return of the sun is invoked (with the burning of candles and the splashes of electric lights on our houses), the birth of Jesus, great dissident and rebel, is celebrated by many. In our present era of mind-numbing consumerism, increasing disparity between the rich and the poor, obvious collusion between corporations and the state, and bold attacks on our constitutional rights by the government we pay taxes to, [...more]
Dec 182011
This past week Congress passed a bill linking continued tax cuts to a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline, which would bring minimally processed Canadian oil sands to the Gulf region to be refined and distributed. Well, if I were president, I would veto this bill. And not only because I think that the Keystone XL pipeline is ridiculous (for many reasons, which I’ll detail in a later post). For I also am against continuing the Bush-era tax cuts, and I’ll tell you why.
Nov 202011
Just got off Skype with my German friend Volker. During our almost-weekly phone calls (free via Skype!), we discuss all sorts of things, and today, we talked about the European debt crisis, among other things.
I asked how things were going in Europe, after getting the story from our U.S. media that things are all fine now that the Greek and Italian governments are being run by sensible men who will bring order and austerity to their respective countries. Volker said that indeed, the riots have calmed down, and in Italy, there seems to be some relief at the ouster of Berlisconi. A couple other things he said got me thinking.
Nov 152011
Occupy Portland is in its very uniquely Portland end game and it’s time to think a little. Because of some family health issues I have only been marginally attached to the flow of Occupy events, so my reflections are… pure. Something that the Occupy Movement is not. Occupy is made up of wildly diverse groups of people with different needs, different agendas, different experiences and the complete spectrum of identities. No generalization takes into account the true diversity represented. But [...more]
Nov 112011
Today is cool and crisp, with a peek of sunshine, and there’s probably 300 people in the park surrounding the Vancouver Art Gallery(VAG), where Occupy Vancouver has existed since October 15. There are about a hundred small tents, from one-to six person size, mostly distributed around the periphery of the encampment, with a so-called “gated community”(not really, of course) of tents in a sheltered area behind the Food Not Bombs(FNB) kitchen tent, which puts out meals fifteen hours a day. There are larger tents for “information”, “media”, “medical assistance”, “peacekeeping”, a”tea house”, and a very well-stocked lending library with comfy sofa and chairs, where I borrowed a copy of Manda Scott’s Boudacia–to take back on Saturday, of course. Hand-written posters everywhere remind us of the shenanigans of the banksters and the governments, the evil and waste of the illegal wars being waged against poor people all over the world, and how these crimes are impacting every one of us.
Nov 102011
I’ve been reading books, articles and e-mails about complexity, the economic and political situation, and technology for years now, trying to get a handle on what is going to happen to life on earth in the near future (while I might be alive). I get all kinds of mixed signals, and I seem to change my mind almost daily about what it all means.
Recent Comments