Comments for Project Open http://petalumaopen.net Our Petaluma Electronic Network Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:36:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 Comment on Invasion of the Big Box Chains! by Soma radio. http://petalumaopen.net/2007/09/26/invasion-of-the-big-box-chains/#comment-8253 Soma radio. Sat, 21 Jun 2008 01:38:20 +0000 http://petalumaopen.net/2007/09/26/invasion-of-the-big-box-chains/#comment-8253 <strong>Soma petroleum....</strong> Soma sun pilates. Soma. Soma beds.... <strong>Soma petroleum….</strong>

Soma sun pilates. Soma. Soma beds….

]]> Comment on Petaluma Band Review rocks P-Town! by PINS http://petalumaopen.net/2007/10/08/petaluma-band-review-rocks-p-town/#comment-1181 PINS Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:41:27 +0000 http://petalumaopen.net/2007/10/08/petaluma-band-review-rocks-p-town/#comment-1181 Srrry I missed it this year. Will definitely put it on the schedule for next. I used to watch similar events in the midwest--they are a sight and sound to behold! Srrry I missed it this year. Will definitely put it on the schedule for next. I used to watch similar events in the midwest–they are a sight and sound to behold!

]]> Comment on Blog News? Blog Activism? WHAT’S IN A BLOG…OR NAME? by whammer http://petalumaopen.net/2007/10/07/blog-news-blog-activism-whats-in-a-blogor-name/#comment-1073 whammer Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:30:36 +0000 http://petalumaopen.net/2007/10/07/blog-news-blog-activism-whats-in-a-blogor-name/#comment-1073 Very interesting topic, Frank. The input from citizen bloggers is very encouraging. Perhaps it is time to revive an earlier Petaluma community project called "Our Electronic Town Hall" or "Speak Up!" It also included another section ... "Stand Up and Be Counted." It was a polling section similar to today's Argus-Courier's question of the week. In any event, it's critical for the survival of the democratic process for citizens to stay engaged and participate in local civic affairs. OPEN, or "Our Petaluma Electronic Network" is but one initiative that can aid that endeavor. Don't worry about your label ... "Shock" or "Political" blogger ... just keep on blogging. Very interesting topic, Frank. The input from citizen bloggers is very encouraging. Perhaps it is time to revive an earlier Petaluma community project called “Our Electronic Town Hall” or “Speak Up!” It also included another section … “Stand Up and Be Counted.” It was a polling section similar to today’s Argus-Courier’s question of the week.

In any event, it’s critical for the survival of the democratic process for citizens to stay engaged and participate in local civic affairs. OPEN, or “Our Petaluma Electronic Network” is but one initiative that can aid that endeavor.

Don’t worry about your label … “Shock” or “Political” blogger … just keep on blogging.

]]> Comment on The Elephant in the Room… by Emperor Norton II http://petalumaopen.net/2007/09/29/the-elephant-in-the-room/#comment-885 Emperor Norton II Mon, 01 Oct 2007 17:40:01 +0000 http://petalumaopen.net/2007/09/29/the-elephant-in-the-room/#comment-885 Anyone honest with themselves can't help but see that the current mass migration, the largest in the history of the world, is at its core not different from the immigration, legal and illegal, of the Irish, the Italian and the other Europeans, including the original Brits and Spanish who took over from the Indians. It seems all immigrants are viewed as "undesirable" by those already there (did the bison blog 40,000 years ago about the Indian immigrants coming over the Bering Straits and put up signs, "Indians stay out"?). My grandparents and parents told their kids all the stories about the signs in store windows "No Irish Need Apply" (well, it's understandable why you wouldn't want the Irish). The fact is that the immigrant population arriving now (with the exception of the gang and drug class) is a hardworking, loyal group of Americans who have something to add to the stew (we could learn a thing or two about the meaning of community and family from our hispanic neighbors). The sooner we can come to grips with our fears of loss of identity (American) and language (English) and culture (what culture?) the sooner we can get on with the things that really matter to ordinary people. What makes this so complex and produces such ambivalence is the sheer magnitude of the migration. You can enjoy the waves breaking on the beach, but a tidal wave tends to frighten you. If Americans who fear this migration were smart, they would do all in their power to improve life in foreign countries (and I don't mean blow them to smitherines like we're doing in Iraq or building silly walls.). ?Esta bien, Amigos? Anyone honest with themselves can’t help but see that the current mass migration, the largest in the history of the world, is at its core not different from the immigration, legal and illegal, of the Irish, the Italian and the other Europeans, including the original Brits and Spanish who took over from the Indians. It seems all immigrants are viewed as “undesirable” by those already there (did the bison blog 40,000 years ago about the Indian immigrants coming over the Bering Straits and put up signs, “Indians stay out”?). My grandparents and parents told their kids all the stories about the signs in store windows “No Irish Need Apply” (well, it’s understandable why you wouldn’t want the Irish). The fact is that the immigrant population arriving now (with the exception of the gang and drug class) is a hardworking, loyal group of Americans who have something to add to the stew (we could learn a thing or two about the meaning of community and family from our hispanic neighbors). The sooner we can come to grips with our fears of loss of identity (American) and language (English) and culture (what culture?) the sooner we can get on with the things that really matter to ordinary people. What makes this so complex and produces such ambivalence is the sheer magnitude of the migration. You can enjoy the waves breaking on the beach, but a tidal wave tends to frighten you. If Americans who fear this migration were smart, they would do all in their power to improve life in foreign countries (and I don’t mean blow them to smitherines like we’re doing in Iraq or building silly walls.). ?Esta bien, Amigos?

]]> Comment on The Elephant in the Room… by moxieville http://petalumaopen.net/2007/09/29/the-elephant-in-the-room/#comment-881 moxieville Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:29:21 +0000 http://petalumaopen.net/2007/09/29/the-elephant-in-the-room/#comment-881 Farmingville sounds like a good film for us to see all sides on this issue and how it affects us all. Clockwork Orange was an eye-opening film, I don't compare Petaluma to that - yet, but the issues on the table do need addressing, politically incorrect or not. I applaud you for setting the table and bringing out the first course, Frank. My thoughts always turn to overpopulation globally every time the issue of immigration comes out. I think perhaps globally, population wise we have a clockwork orange situation. Not enough resources for everybody. How we address it domestically is critical. Maybe we can be a shining example for other nations of how to go about it and bring about some positive change. Especially in our glaring blunders of this terrible war. My own feeling, (and keep in mind my family hires about 600 mexican workers every harvest season - "A Day without a Mexican" was a great film to point out how crucial these hardworking people are to our economy and hard-working U.S. citizen farmers who get the shaft from our own government- farmers are a dying breed in our country), is that we need some regulation. Though we have more mexican immigrants than from immigrants from any other country, my feeling is that we need to control all immigration. Canada and Australia have some interesting policies put forth, maybe our country should look at them and consider adopting those rules as well. Immigration has never been easy. Heck, it might be easier now, then when my grandparents got off the boat over two hundred years ago. When my great-great grandparents came over from Scotland, you could be turned down for having so much as an eye-infection let alone passing the silly exam. ..and those were the days when we had lots of elbow room and encouraged immigration. I don't know what the profound solutions are to this problem, but you are correct Frank, in that it does need fixing - politically correct or not. I don't think building a wall is a good long term solution. I do hope one day Mexico, who has such proud and beautiful people will be able to reclaim their country back from an incorrupt government ... now we need to do the same! :) Sorry for the novel of a comment Frank. I hope you will post more about this topic. Farmingville sounds like a good film for us to see all sides on this issue and how it affects us all. Clockwork Orange was an eye-opening film, I don’t compare Petaluma to that - yet, but the issues on the table do need addressing, politically incorrect or not. I applaud you for setting the table and bringing out the first course, Frank. My thoughts always turn to overpopulation globally every time the issue of immigration comes out. I think perhaps globally, population wise we have a clockwork orange situation. Not enough resources for everybody. How we address it domestically is critical. Maybe we can be a shining example for other nations of how to go about it and bring about some positive change. Especially in our glaring blunders of this terrible war. My own feeling, (and keep in mind my family hires about 600 mexican workers every harvest season - “A Day without a Mexican” was a great film to point out how crucial these hardworking people are to our economy and hard-working U.S. citizen farmers who get the shaft from our own government- farmers are a dying breed in our country), is that we need some regulation. Though we have more mexican immigrants than from immigrants from any other country, my feeling is that we need to control all immigration. Canada and Australia have some interesting policies put forth, maybe our country should look at them and consider adopting those rules as well. Immigration has never been easy. Heck, it might be easier now, then when my grandparents got off the boat over two hundred years ago. When my great-great grandparents came over from Scotland, you could be turned down for having so much as an eye-infection let alone passing the silly exam. ..and those were the days when we had lots of elbow room and encouraged immigration. I don’t know what the profound solutions are to this problem, but you are correct Frank, in that it does need fixing - politically correct or not. I don’t think building a wall is a good long term solution. I do hope one day Mexico, who has such proud and beautiful people will be able to reclaim their country back from an incorrupt government … now we need to do the same! :) Sorry for the novel of a comment Frank. I hope you will post more about this topic.

]]> Comment on The Elephant in the Room… by whammer http://petalumaopen.net/2007/09/29/the-elephant-in-the-room/#comment-786 whammer Sat, 29 Sep 2007 21:17:16 +0000 http://petalumaopen.net/2007/09/29/the-elephant-in-the-room/#comment-786 At first "Eagle-Eyes" thought this headline was referring to a political party and was searching the blog for the name of the party represented by the "donkey." When he realized the significance and essence of these thoughts, he immediately notified his associate, Hammerhead, who said that topics like "immigration" need to be addressed and discussed, intelligently, in the blogosphere. Electronic community forums, like OPEN, are created so that its residents can share their views. Frank has certainly "hit the nail on the head" with this post. At first “Eagle-Eyes” thought this headline was referring to a political party and was searching the blog for the name of the party represented by the “donkey.” When he realized the significance and essence of these thoughts, he immediately notified his associate, Hammerhead, who said that topics like “immigration” need to be addressed and discussed, intelligently, in the blogosphere. Electronic community forums, like OPEN, are created so that its residents can share their views. Frank has certainly “hit the nail on the head” with this post.

]]> Comment on The Decline & Fall of Petaluma…? by CPMJohn http://petalumaopen.net/2007/09/27/the-decline-fall-of-petaluma/#comment-726 CPMJohn Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:37:26 +0000 http://petalumaopen.net/2007/09/27/the-decline-fall-of-petaluma/#comment-726 Maybe I can deflect some of the flack intended for you, Frank. Clockwork Orange or “Twilight of the Gods," I think not. More like Liberalism in our City, County and State management, and especially within our courts. Because of your first Criminal News item, we're going to have to outlaw the wearing of head covering; hoodies have to go. Did you notice that with #2, one was on parol; clearly he fooled someone. Plus, the Lynch Creek River Trail gives these people quick escape to hide in the fields on the west side of the freeway. That leads to #3: Is a transient like the homeless people that camp along the Petaluma River just a half mile from the Twin Creeks Circle area? These are the ones that leave trash, like broken beer and booze bottles throughout the area. I may have seen this transient while on a walk under the Payran Bridge and further up the path on Tuesday. He was drunk and it could have been from going back from another "load" after sobering up and being let go. About the DUIs: Are we arresting those caught with no drivers license, or other forms of identification...including residency or citizenship? And if so, are we locking them up or returning them to their country of origin? We've become a country of feelsgood justice, Frank, and it's what feels good to the Libs running the place. Maybe I can deflect some of the flack intended for you, Frank.
Clockwork Orange or “Twilight of the Gods,” I think not.
More like Liberalism in our City, County and State management, and especially within our courts.
Because of your first Criminal News item, we’re going to have to outlaw the wearing of head covering; hoodies have to go.
Did you notice that with #2, one was on parol; clearly he fooled someone. Plus, the Lynch Creek River Trail gives these people quick escape to hide in the fields on the west side of the freeway.
That leads to #3: Is a transient like the homeless people that camp along the Petaluma River just a half mile from the Twin Creeks Circle area? These are the ones that leave trash, like broken beer and booze bottles throughout the area. I may have seen this transient while on a walk under the Payran Bridge and further up the path on Tuesday. He was drunk and it could have been from going back from another “load” after sobering up and being let go.
About the DUIs: Are we arresting those caught with no drivers license, or other forms of identification…including residency or citizenship? And if so, are we locking them up or returning them to their country of origin?

We’ve become a country of feelsgood justice, Frank, and it’s what feels good to the Libs running the place.

]]> Comment on Invasion of the Big Box Chains! by PINS http://petalumaopen.net/2007/09/26/invasion-of-the-big-box-chains/#comment-695 PINS Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:14:07 +0000 http://petalumaopen.net/2007/09/26/invasion-of-the-big-box-chains/#comment-695 Interesting stuff! I am slowly gathering my thoughts on the subject. I am not opposed to Big Box stores--nor am I for them. I patronize some and avoid others. As I said to someone else recently--build to the coast and build to he ocean--BUT FIRST TELL ME WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO GET THE WATER. And when you have answered that, tell me how you will manage the traffic. Minor details to be sure :-) :-) Interesting stuff! I am slowly gathering my thoughts on the subject. I am not opposed to Big Box stores–nor am I for them. I patronize some and avoid others. As I said to someone else recently–build to the coast and build to he ocean–BUT FIRST TELL ME WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO GET THE WATER. And when you have answered that, tell me how you will manage the traffic. Minor details to be sure :-) :-)

]]> Comment on Neighbors Come Through by moxieville http://petalumaopen.net/2007/09/24/neighbors-come-through/#comment-641 moxieville Tue, 25 Sep 2007 01:35:53 +0000 http://petalumaopen.net/2007/09/24/neighbors-come-through/#comment-641 Hey Frank, Looks good. Are we going to find you over here now? I like the type flow and layout better. And your blog was excellent per usual. Cheryl Hey Frank,

Looks good. Are we going to find you over here now? I like the type flow and layout better. And your blog was excellent per usual.

Cheryl

]]> Comment on SHOPPING CART BLUES…Is there a way out? by CPMJohn http://petalumaopen.net/2007/09/22/a-petaluma-shopping-cart-story-how-to-keep-em-home/#comment-629 CPMJohn Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:31:54 +0000 http://petalumaopen.net/2007/09/22/a-petaluma-shopping-cart-story-how-to-keep-em-home/#comment-629 Frank: "Irony notwithstanding, we have to recognize today’s social reality. Arresting people for taking shopping carts is not a realistic solution." CPMJohn: In yours and our city's liberal leaders' opinions only! I say you start arresting every one of them and PUBLISH their fines, mug shot, name, address, etc., in the local newspapers. (Make arrest info and mug shots available to the public and, naturally, the press.) You've even got the pictures of one perp! (I would have turned her in.) I'm just not ready to bend over and grab my ankles for these people. Those who are recent immigrants from countries where everything that's not chained down is theirs to take, need to be taught the American way! You steal you go to jail! Frank: "For those concerned about the potential of increased food prices due to a cart control ordinance, I must point out that you are already paying for the cost of abandoned carts… Don’t think for a moment that stores don’t factor cart shrinkage in their budgeting and pricing. It is just a cost of doing business. Each time a cart disappears, another has to be purchased to take its place. Assuming, for the purposes of this discussion, that each cart costs $150, you can get into some serious money very quickly." CPMJohn: The contradictions in your last two lines strengthens the apprehension argument. Frank: "Even if a cart is recovered, it frequently is not in a condition to be returned to service…" CPMJohn: That's why we they must not be stolen in the first place! Frank: "Based on the precedents and experiences of other California communities, we need to construct an ordinance that recognizes the nature and extent of the problem in Petaluma…" CPMJohn: Just because other communities bought into the Liberal mantra of "let big business pay for the sins of the little people" doesn't mean it's right. We don't HAVE to accept a crime just because a certain group of people choose to do it. I sure as hell won't! Frank: "Of course, enforcement by the City will be required; however, if properly implemented, the enforcement need will diminish as stores get control of their cart inventories." CPMJohn: Pure jack-booted Social-thugism, Frank; go after the "rich" guy because they can better afford it. Sorry, I ain't buying that, nor your economics, and never will. If someone needs cart to tote their groceries they should buy one. Carts are not that expensive. If they're stealing a store cart because it's easy, and they don't have to return it, that's a crime. If bleeding heart liberal do-gooders of Petaluma want to assist folks to keep them from becoming cart thieves, offer them free carts...with DONATED money, not public (tax) or a store's money (which consumers will have to make up). Frank: “Irony notwithstanding, we have to recognize today’s social reality. Arresting people for taking shopping carts is not a realistic solution.”

CPMJohn: In yours and our city’s liberal leaders’ opinions only! I say you start arresting every one of them and PUBLISH their fines, mug shot, name, address, etc., in the local newspapers. (Make arrest info and mug shots available to the public and, naturally, the press.) You’ve even got the pictures of one perp! (I would have turned her in.)

I’m just not ready to bend over and grab my ankles for these people. Those who are recent immigrants from countries where everything that’s not chained down is theirs to take, need to be taught the American way! You steal you go to jail!

Frank: “For those concerned about the potential of increased food prices due to a cart control ordinance, I must point out that you are already paying for the cost of abandoned carts…
Don’t think for a moment that stores don’t factor cart shrinkage in their budgeting and pricing. It is just a cost of doing business.
Each time a cart disappears, another has to be purchased to take its place.
Assuming, for the purposes of this discussion, that each cart costs $150, you can get into some serious money very quickly.”

CPMJohn: The contradictions in your last two lines strengthens the apprehension argument.

Frank: “Even if a cart is recovered, it frequently is not in a condition to be returned to service…”

CPMJohn: That’s why we they must not be stolen in the first place!

Frank: “Based on the precedents and experiences of other California communities, we need to construct an ordinance that recognizes the nature and extent of the problem in Petaluma…”

CPMJohn: Just because other communities bought into the Liberal mantra of “let big business pay for the sins of the little people” doesn’t mean it’s right. We don’t HAVE to accept a crime just because a certain group of people choose to do it. I sure as hell won’t!

Frank: “Of course, enforcement by the City will be required; however, if properly implemented, the enforcement need will diminish as stores get control of their cart inventories.”

CPMJohn: Pure jack-booted Social-thugism, Frank; go after the “rich” guy because they can better afford it. Sorry, I ain’t buying that, nor your economics, and never will.

If someone needs cart to tote their groceries they should buy one. Carts are not that expensive. If they’re stealing a store cart because it’s easy, and they don’t have to return it, that’s a crime.

If bleeding heart liberal do-gooders of Petaluma want to assist folks to keep them from becoming cart thieves, offer them free carts…with DONATED money, not public (tax) or a store’s money (which consumers will have to make up).

]]>