They stole New Years

Why are the New Kids so bitchy about Halloween? In BC times it was New Years this weekend and them newcomers stole pagan traditions for their so called NEW holiday. Among many other holidays that predate them new kids, OK Mothers day doesn't but think about it the Goddess is known in more then one aspect as the all-mother. Time to steal from them!

and you wonder why I dont respect the media?

First I am disgusted by the gang rape of the 15 year old recently. What frosts my ass more is the news people who act like the people watching and not calling the cops is new. What about that woman murdered in New Jersey in the 60's? 40 plus people watched her get murdered in the court yard and NO ONE called the cops or hollered out a window. This was a made for TV movie when I was in High School. There is nothing new under the sun, Happened before, was sensationalized on TV and now the talking heads seem surprised it happened again.

Why?

Public transportation like bus and light rail are there for three basic types. Those too poor to afford a vehicle, those who are more "green" who would like to reduce their carbon footprint and those who do not want the congestion on their commute. But it is there, when I lived in Kansas there was no public transit and if you did not have a car you walked or bummed rides. Or used your riding lawn mower. When I moved back to Sacramento I bought a bus pass because I lost my license in Kansas. It was about $45.00 per month which was a hefty bite out of my cash flow but with budgeting I was able to get one every month. Now I live in Placer county so to get to school I would need to buy a ride from Placer county for $ 2.50 for a 24 hour pass to get to the transfer to Sacramento county station where it would cost me either $2.50 for a one way pass or $6.00 for a 24 hour pass. That would get me down to the Sunrise light rail where if I bought a 24 hour pass I could ride down to Rancho Cordova city hall which is right by the school. That would take me a couple hours by my math. The return at 9:30 is shorter but it only will get me back to sunrise mall. IF I get out of school in time to catch the bus by 9:53 with class getting out at 9:20, on a good night.
So what I am asking is why are the powers that be making it so damn hard on people in the tree categories I listed? Lets talk about the working poor first off. They cannot afford a car and live in South Sacramento ( Not meant as a racist statement but it does sound like it) and works at someplace up by Arden Fair. So they need to start going to work about two hours earlier then co-workers who drive to work. Then if they are lucky and no breakdowns occur and no missed transfers (which are no longer free, thank you budget cuts) they get to work in two hours. Then they work their assigned shift, most time it is eight hours with an hour lunch. They then make the two hour commute home. By my math that is 13 hours. If they weren't working a minimum wage job they might be able to afford a car to get to work but the vagaries of the bus system makes them at risk for missed connections and breakdowns on our oh so well maintained transit buses. Then since they are not reliable they lose the job, and I know how hard it is to get one in this day and age.
I have another friend who rides the light rail downtown to her job on days she works. Read that as non-furlough days that Arnie allows his people to work since his legislature cannot make a budget in what was at one time the fifth largest economy in the world. She is a fortunate one it is by choice not necessity. But to avoid the hassle of driving and parking downtown she still has to have a vehicle with all the expenses that come with one, such as insurance, registration, maintenance and gas. It may be a convenience for public transit but it still ain't cheap. In time or money. Of course while they are on the train or bus most people can do other productive things. I read it makes the trip pass faster.
So we get back to my original question. Why do the lowest economic strata get the shaft like this? Yet if you are a member of one of the higher strata's things happen easier. Is it because the working poor don't donate to the politicians since they are struggling to put food on the table? Or is it a more sinister plan like the English in Ireland back in the late 1800's? Of course if we drive the working poor out of California who will wash our cars and cook our food? You know I have a fifteen year old who won't think about what happens tomorrow either. Why should I expect our politicians to be more mature?

Maybe I was a little bit wrong.

At least you have a job was my mantra. Back 10 years ago my mantra was if you work for the state (of California) your rice bowl was full for life. And then today I hear from one of my friends who worked for the state is going to look at a rental because they are losing the house they are buying. I gave J the battle cry for today "Screw you Unka Arnie.. with rusty barb wire op the 'ol poop chute". He has been screwed out of his home by the budget cut furlough days. It's not like he was a base level employee. He is an engineer in his department. But he was fucked by furlough. Yet we as a state are still paying for heart transplants for illegal aliens. I wonder if we looked at how much the cost is for medical compared to how much we saved by furloughing state workers how many days they paid for.
And now they have screwed with their prescription benefit which will cost them 3 times as much for some medications that people need to live. Of course to pay for their mortgage they can stop taking the med thereby saving the state more money when they no longer can work without that med. And then costing the state more money by getting the house foreclosed on and that tax revenue no longer in the states coffers. Oh and another foreclosed house on the block lowers the property values of the rest of the houses on the block. Domino effect. So she still has to buy the meds at this new rate that Calpers has negotiated with their health care provider to save a few bucks per employee. So she still can keep her house. She will have to economize on something else now.
I wonder how both families will do. I thought my economic status sucked but it sucks for all of us and we all have to figure out what to do next. I keep looking for work and economizing where ever possible. And like today filing another EDD claim form for another two weeks pay. Oh and by the way your Majesty, thanks for another 14 weeks of benefits.

Ottar
who feels the pain of us all
But I am not ready to advocate revolution yet.
Lets give Obama a chance. He got voted in at a horrible time so give him a chance.
Could have been worse. Could be McCain.

Since the Government won't or can't help

Maybe we the people of this city should show compassion for those who live in other then a house or apartment. By the grace of the gods one of us could be next.

Homeless people in Sacramento for whom there are no shelters are living outside, as best they can. Local ordinances prohibit camping on public property but permit homeless persons to camp on private property, with the consent of the owner of the property, for not more than one consecutive night.

Recently, a private property owner allowed homeless people to camp on his property. The campers were not told by police that they had to leave until they had spent two nights on the property, then they were arrested. These homeless persons are now exposed to the elements and have been told by city police that they cannot even stay under the city’s bridges without being arrested.

We need safe places for the homeless folks to go.

We are asking owners of empty lots, parking lots and any other unused space to permit homeless campers to pitch tents on their property for ONE NIGHT. The “campers” will clean up the property and leave it in better condition than they found it; a porta-potty will be provided. The “campers” will then move to the next property owner’s property where they will pitch their tents, again, for ONE NIGHT.

We hope to establish a series of vacant lots and unused parking lots, where people will come and camp for one night at a time on a rotating basis. Your generosity will highlight the plight of the homeless and help convince the city and county that special, temporary areas should be designated where homeless people can “camp” or live until adequate housing can be arranged or alternatively to place a moratorium on enforcement of the “no camping” ordinance. You will be doing a mitzvah if you step up and offer your lot for this very worthy effort.

Questions? Call or email Mark Merin Esq. 916-443-6911, mark@markmerin.com or Joan Burke at Loaves & Fishes 446-0874; advocate4loaves@yahoo.com

Please forward this request on to your friends. They might have a usable lot or know of someone who does.

Mark E. Merin, Esq.
Law Office of Mark E. Merin
2001 P Street, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95814
Telephone: 916/443-6911
Email: mark@markmerin.com

or

Joan Burke
Director of Advocacy
Loaves & Fishes
P O Box 2161
Sacramento, CA 95812
(916) 446-0874
advocate4loaves@yahoo.com
www.sacloaves.org

www.safegroundsac.org or www.sacloaves.org/safeground

Another year of guilt.

Will it ever get be put to rest? I know I deserve it but is it not bad enough that I have felt terrible for 15 years now? I am trying to atone for my error 15 years ago. I MADE A MITAKE. I am trying to live it down and redo the past.
And today as you left you asked if you were going to return to find a key and a check on the table. I do not know how to convince you this is not the case. I LOVE you and am going to spend the rest of my life with you. Good and bad parts. In the past year and a half their have been both. We grow closer every day through everything life throws at us. Even without the states blessing you ARE my wife. Until you toss my shoes you are not getting rid of me.

I Love You
Ottar