Gma's revenge from beyond the grave

Years ago, one of the oddest comments my late grandmother made was that the city should cut down the giant trees lining the streets in historic Ladd's Addition. Her reason? They were a safety hazard because she slipped on some fall leaves while picking up my sister at Abernethy Elementary. Oh grandma...

Well, Gma somehow got her revenge. Although we saw the signs about the Dutch Elm disease, it was very surprising to see the stumps this weekend around Abernethy. It is very sad.

Save Our Elms is trying to save the neighborhood trees.

Predators: D

Trailer

Ugh. Scott and Sheena dragged me kicking and screaming to Predators on Saturday. With so few movies worth seeing this summer, I didn't have a good counter-argument or a compromise movie to offer. Also, Scott insisted that I owed him for last weekend's documentary.

I'm really not a movie snob, but the reviews for this movie re-affirmed that this would be a pointless sequel. I vaguely remember not caring for the original 1987 Predator starring Schwarzenegger and this sequel seemed to have the same basic story. I really have no idea what the sequel's purpose was. The whole movie seemed very dated -- especially considering that first-shooter action games would be far more entertaining than a traditional movie. No fast-paced cinematography tricks or styling was used to update this 20-year-old sequel. Even the soundtrack, which Scott said was based on the original's themes, seemed dated and more like a bad TV movie. Worse, instead of just killing all of the annoying and unlikeable characters, the movie ended setting up for the unlikely sequel. (Geez, can you imagine creepy Gov. Schwarzenegger coming back?)

Happy Independence Day!

I think I've been watching too much History Channel, but I really wanted to decorate the house for Independence Day. We went to Elmers Flag and Banner. I admit that I was a bit weary about putting up a flag. Will neighbors assume the worse -- that we're gun-toting, right-wing, Republican? The awkward trip to Elmers didn't settle my weariness. It's probably just me, but I couldn't help but feel like we walked into some secret Tea Party/militia man's basement bunker. That said, I was happy to find the same flag kit my grandmother had.

Joan Rivers – A Piece Of Work: C

Wow. I can't recall when I last saw a movie in the theater (or when I blogged a review for that matter). Scott and I did see IMAX's Hubble 3D last weekend during our impromptu day trip to the Evergreen Air Museum. We have been watching more movies at home. I probably did miss blogging whatever the last movie I saw, but I haven't been going to the movies as much. There really hasn't been anything compelling us to go out (wow, that sounded middle-aged suburban).

Ma, Scott, Sheena and I saw Joan Rivers –A Piece Of Work at Cinema 21, which is another place I haven't been to in a long time (Good news! They finally accept plastic!). The previews for 9500 Liberty, Countdown to Zero, and Winnebago Man looked promising.

I mainly know Joan Rivers from the praise she regularly receives from Kathy Griffin, her 2009 Comedy Central roast, and her recent Fresh Air interview. Unfortunately, Fresh Air aired the most interesting moments and spoiled the documentary. But it was still interesting to actually see what was happening. That said, I probably would have never heard of the documentary if not for the radio program.

A Piece Of Work follows Rivers through a year and shows Rivers as being painfully self-conscious, professionally narcissistic about her brand/business/career, thankful for her successes, and very bitter about her losses. Rivers' non-stop work schedule at 75 is amazing and while she whines about the unfairness of the entertainment industry (and is a bit excessive at portraying herself as a victim), she seems to enjoy her craft.

Overall, an interesting documentary about a barrier-breaking woman, but not a ground breaking movie. It did drag on a bit toward the end. I hate to admit it, but some TV reality shows like My Life on the D List do a better job of making entertaining documentaries.

Kitchen cabinets: DONE!!!

Yesterday, we finally finished the kitchen cabinets (mostly). The cabinets and microwave/hood for the kitchen's east wall have been sitting the basement for more than six months, but we finally got back into the kitchen remodeling mood.

Originally uploaded by sweber4507	When we originally bought the house a year ago. The east wall had an old electric stove, tiny spice cupboard, and tiny base cabinet. The first thing we did was pull out the cupboard and cabinet (which is how we discovered everything in our 1929 house is held in with nails and can be easily pried loose with enough tugging).
	Although it's a bit tacky, we decided to install the new full-size fridge next to the stove and blocking part of the window. We had new electrical outlets installed, the furnace people installed a gas line, and we installed an old gas stove from craigslist. We also installed some metal racks above stove before we committed to cabinets.
	Installing cabinets on the east wall wasn't really a priority; however, IKEA had a sale if we bought two appliances. So, we added the microwave/hood and east wall cabinets to our order. And then left them in the basement for seven months.
	The electrician installed a dedicated circuit for the microwave/hood according to my detailed drawing.
	I did a terrible job patching the electrician's hole, but it doesn't matter 'cuz it will be hidden behind the cabinets, right?
	Last weekend, I got my first jigsaw and stupidly practiced my first cuts into our cabinet making a less than perfect hole for the hood vent. Even more stupid, I realize that we can't vent out the side of the kitchen because a stud in the exterior wall (and we have no interest in opening-up the wall to move studs). So, the jigsaw hole was for nothing -- although it will be helpful for when we do eventually decide to vent.
	Yesterday, we hung the cabinets and microwave. For some strange reason, IKEA assumes we would leave space above the cabinets to reach around and screw-in the top molding. Our cabinets are nearly to the top of the wall, so we're going to ponder how to attach the molding.
	Scott demonstrating that the cabinets were a terrible idea now that we will have to reach over the fridge to get to our precious cereals. More than the cabinets and microwave, Scott is excited about simply having a light over the stove.

The only left to do now are to get some knobs from IKEA, finish the molding .... and tile the backsplash, and tile the floor, and maybe some more lighting, and the hood vent, and....

2010 Primary: Results

Because my blog isn't boring enough, I'll graph the results of the primary.

Oregon Turnout	386k Democrat votes 863k registered Democrats 327k Republican votes 656k registered Republicans 120k other votes 513k registered other
US Senator	89% Wyden 332k 41% Huffman 109k
OR Governor	64% Kitzhaber 241k 29% Bradbury 109k 39% Dudley 122k 31% Alley99k
OR Treasurer	64% Wheeler 215k 29% Metsger 114k 213k Telfer
OR Supt	50% Castillo 349k 49% Maurer 346k
OR Supreme Ct, Pos 4	98% Kistler 446k
OR Supreme Ct, Pos 5	71% Landau 399k 28% Arlow 156k
OR Measure 68	65% Yes 495k No 265k
OR Measure 69	71% Yes 544k No

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US Rep. 3rd District

US Rep., 3rd Dist.

91% Blumenauer 73k Sweeney 6k 98% Lopez 19k

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METRO: 208k ballots (Clackamas 36k, Multnomah 106k, Clackamas 64k)

METRO President

36% Hughes 76k 34% Stacey 72k 27% Burkholder57k

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Multnomah County: 139,784 ballots

MultCo County Chair	77% Cogen 81k 11% Darger 12k 10% Soderback 10k
MultCo County Sheriff(2011-)	78% Staton 89k 20% Ra'oof 23k

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City of Portland

Clackamas (< 200) and Washington (< 200) county results omitted.

Ptld Comm. Pos. 2	79% Fish 77k 10% Nichols 9k 6%
Ptld Comm. Pos. 3	55% Saltzman 55k 11% Volm 11k 8% Cornett 8k

2010 Primary: Endorsements

Here are my picks for the 2010 primary election and a comparison of the significant newspaper and PAC endorsements. Click for details on how I decided on each vote.

	ME	WILLAMETTE WEEK	PORTLAND MERCURY	THE OREGONIAN	JUST OUT	THE SKANNER	NARAL	OTHER
US SENATOR (OR DEM)	WYDEN	WYDEN	WYDEN	WYDEN?		WYDEN
US REP. (OR-3RD DEM)	BLUMENAUER	BLUMENAUER	BLUMENAUER					SIERRA:BLUMENAUER
OR GOV. (DEM)	KITZHABER	KITZHABER	KITZHABER	KITZHABER	BRADBURY	BRADBURY	BRADBURY KITZHABER	SIERRA,OLCV: BRADBURY/KITZHABER PTLDTRIB:KITZHABER
OR TREASURER (DEM)	WHEELER	WHEELER	WHEELER	WHEELER	WHEELER	METSGER		OLCV,PTLDTRIB:WHEELER
OR REP. (42ND DEM)	BAILEY		BAILEY				BAILEY	BRO,OLCV:BAILEY
OR SUPREME CT. (POS. 5)	LANDAU	LANDAU	LANDAU	LANDAU
OR SUPT.	MAURER	MAURER	CASTILLO	CASTILLO		CASTILLO	CASTILLO	BRO:CASTILLO
OR MEASURE 68	YES	YES	YES	YES				LWV,OLCV: YES BOJACK: NO
OR MEASURE 69	YES	YES	YES	YES				LWV,OLCV:YES BOJACK: NO
MULTCO CHAIR	COGEN	COGEN	COGEN		COGEN	COGEN	COGEN	SIERRA,OLCV:COGEN
MULTCO AUDITOR	MARCH
MULTCO SHERIFF	STATON	STATON	STATON	STATON
PTLD COMM #2	FISH	FISH	FISH	FISH	FISH		FISH	PTLDTRIB,OLCV:FISH
PTLD COMM #3	SALTZMAN	SALTZMAN	CORNETT	SALTZMAN	CANNOT BACK ANYONE		CORNETT GARREN SALTZMAN VOLM	OLCV,PTLDTRIB:SALTZMAN BOJACK:VOLM
PTLD AUDITOR	GRIFFIN-VALADE
METRO PREZ	STACEY	HUGHES	STACEY	HUGHES		STACEY	BURKHOLDER STACEY	BOJACK,PTLDTRIB:HUGHES SIERRA,OLCV:STACEY
METRO AUDITOR	FLYNN

2010 Primary: OR Measure 69

May 18, 2010, Oregon Primary Election
Oregon State Measure 69

"...Referred to the Electorate of Oregon by the Legislative Assembly of the 2010 February Special Session..." OregonVotes.org

Amends Constitution: Continues and modernizes authority for lowest cost borrowing for community colleges and public universities.

The Way It Is Now
State bonds cannot be used to remodel campus buildings or buy buildings from someone else. Colleges and universities cannot use these bonds to pay for buildings that are used for both teaching classes and community service.

What Measure 69 Would Do
Measure 69 would let community colleges and public universities remodel campus buildings using state bonds. It would also let them buy buildings from someone else and build buildings that are used both for teaching and community service.

LWVOR.org

[X] Yes

"'Yes' vote continues and modernizes state authority to issue lowest cost bonds to finance projects for the benefit of community colleges and public universities." OregonVotes.org "People FOR This Say: The rules we have now about the use of state bonds for community colleges and public universities need to be brought up to date." LWVOR.org

[_] No

"'No' vote rejects modernization of authority to issue lowest cost bonds to finance projects for the benefit of community colleges and public universities." OregonVotes.org "No arguments in opposition to this measure were filed with the Secretary of State." OregonVotes.org "People AGAINST This Say: Oregon’s Constitution should not be changed everytime someone wants to do something with state bonds." LWVOR.org "...We think that any change that encourages the state to drag the taxpayers further into hock is a bad change. This is a time to pay off debt, not rack up more of it. And so we're voting no on both measures..." BoJack.org

The "modernizes" language irks me as heavy-handed. I doubt universities are currently bartering chickens and beads. However, I can't find anyone opposing this change, so I'll support it too.

2010 Primary: OR Measure 68

May 18, 2010, Oregon Primary Election
Oregon State Measure 68

Referred to the Electorate of Oregon by the Legislative Assembly of the 2009 Regular Session

Revises Constitution: Allows state to issue bonds to match voter approved school district bonds for school capital costs.

The Way It Is Now
The State of Oregon cannot help local school districts pay for new school buildings or major repairs to existing buildings.

What Measure 68 Would Do Measure 68 would allow the State to sell bonds, which is like borrowing money, to help local school districts pay for new construction and repairs for schools. The state would give some of this bond money to match the funds that local school districts receive through local bonds approved by local voters. The State would repay the state bonds from a special school fund by using some lottery money.

LWVOR.org

[X] Yes

"'Yes' vote allows state to issue bonds to match voter approved school district bonds for school capital costs. Dedicates lottery funds for matching funds and repayment." OregonVotes.org "People FOR This Say: We need to repair existing schools, and sometimes need to build new schools. Measure 68 would make it less expensive for local school districts to pay for this because the state would provide matching money." LWVOR.org

[_] No

"'No' vote retains current law prohibiting state and restricting local districts from issuing bonds to pay for school capital costs, including acquisition, construction, repair and improvement." OregonVotes.org "No arguments in opposition to this measure were filed with the Secretary of State." OregonVotes.org "People AGAINST This Say: We don’t know all the information needed for starting a new bond match program and the effects it will have on local school districts." LWVOR.org "...We think that any change that encourages the state to drag the taxpayers further into hock is a bad change. This is a time to pay off debt, not rack up more of it. And so we're voting no on both measures..." BoJack.org

This seems like a relatively minor change to the bizarre way Oregon funds public education.

2010 Primary: Portland Commissioner 3

May 18, 2010, Oregon Primary Election
Nonpartisan
City of Portland Commissioner Position No. 3 Four-year term, $102k salary
LWVPDX.org (PDF)

[_] Rudy Soto	Ugh. Campaign website unfinished: "Come back SOON and check out the NEW SITE" RudySoto2010.com Yikes: Did not respond to League of Women Voters timely. LWVPDX.org (PDF)
[X] Dan Saltzman ELECTED INCUMBENT (1998-)	Good: "Precinct Reconfiguration: Dan cut management and overhead to address the city’s budget cuts..." DanSaltzman.com Made tough decision "...Dan secured funding for a program that assists chronic offenders in finding treatment and housing, helping break the cycle of criminal activity that fund their addictions saving taxpayers millions..." DanSaltzman.com Excellent: "...Dan recouped millions of dollars from telecommunication companies that were not paying their fair share to the city..." DanSaltzman.com Good: "...Payday Lenders: Dan wrote the city ordinance cracking down on predatory lenders..." DanSaltzman.com Excellent: "...Dan led the charge to reform the Fire Police Disability & Retirement system, preventing a financial catastrophe and instituting independently audited system..." DanSaltzman.com; "..in the face of runaway costs and outright abuse, Saltzman pushed reform of Portland’s Fire and Police Disability and Retirement system. That didn’t earn him many union friends but should earn him gratitude from taxpayers." WWeek.com Good: "Major League Soccer: Dan ensured the protection of taxpayers on the stadium deal by requiring that no urban renewal dollars be used..."DanSaltzman.com Good: "...Dan created and renewed the Portland Children’s Levy.." DanSaltzman.com A bit tired to campaign on. Good: "...Reexamine force policies and the use of lethal and non-lethal tools. More focus on scenario based training and real world skills to deescalate situations. Union contract should include: drug testing, annual performance reviews, better ability for discipline that is imposed to be upheld by arbitrations. I support current proposed changes to IPR system" LWVPDX.org; "...In agreeing to oversee the police, Saltzman shouldered a thankless job the mayor shrank from performing. Gumption? Nerve? Leadership? Saltzman fits the bill..." OregonLive.com Good: "Currently enforcement is focused when camps block pathways or when health and safety issues are presented. I support this level of enforcement, but more attention needs to be put into preventing those from becoming homeless in the first place, and helping those who currently are. Unfortunately, too many of our homeless are either mentally ill or former/current foster children. I support innovative programs which find foster kids permanent loving homes and families." LWVPDX.org Good: "...in 2000 he supported a successful charter amendment to end civil-service protection for bureau chiefs, making it easier to fire incompetent directors...." WWeek.com Good: "...Saltzman remains an independent voice on the council. More than anyone else in City Hall, he offers much-needed balance to Commissioner Randy Leonard. And while some see in Saltzman a lack of charisma, we see a politician who doesn’t need constant coddling." WWeek.com; "...Saltzman -- in a City Hall crippled by the mayor's woes -- is a consistently courageous voice and the true center of gravity on this council. " OregonLive.com
[_] Martha Perez	Yikes: No statement in the official voters' guide. MultCo.us Interesting answer regarding police: "...Provide mandatory mental health/steroid testing of personnel" LWVPDX.org LOL! Huh? The other candidates recommend drug testing, but I guess steroid testing is good too. Good: "...Police identify those with criminal and drug history and are moving them into treatment. This needs to be continued. Homeless families and individuals are job and housing placements (sic) but the waiting list is long and must be expanded. The challenge is with those who refuse help and perhaps returning them to where they grew up with resources and contacts might help them. Enough study, time for action." Not sure police really move homeless into treatment. Deporting homeless is controversial, but smaller towns do buy one-way bus tickets to Portland. Interesting: "I would make all city employees...decide between a parking space or a bus pass. ...I would earmark funding for more air testing as Federal mandated. I would encourage Tri-Met to consider looking for corporate sponsors for assistance with marginalized communities.." Well, at least her answers regarding climate change are doable. TriMet is already corporately funded. Good: Only candidate to take public transit to WW interview. WWeek.com
[_] Spencer Burton	Good: "...tell the federal government that we are not going to put in one hundred million dollars to build a filtration system that we don’t need...." SpencerBurtonForPortland.com Development killer: "..."Portland Feed-in Tariff" for renewable energy production and a requirement that new buildings have solar panels on their roof tops..." SpencerBurtonForPortland.com Unlikely: "...have the Portland Light Rail Network, including the Vancouver, Powell Boulevard and Tigard-Sherwood Lines fully built by 2020..." SpencerBurtonForPortland.com Unlikely: "...build the nation's first electric vehicle network..." SpencerBurtonForPortland.com Unclear implementation: "...have farmers markets in every neighborhood..."; "...have neighborhood based cultural centers where artists, craftsmen, musicians, actors and freemen and women can express themselves and earn a living." "Freemen"? Huh? "...pension funds should be invested in local green businesses..." Yikes: Did not respond to League of Women Voters timely. LWVPDX.org (PDF)
[_] Mary Volm	Excellent: "...Over the years, the City's elected officials have talked about the importance of maintenance, but have decided instead to invest scarce city funds in new enterprises. The City should be heard on the vital issues that affect our livability, but we must take care of our responsibilities first..." MaryVolmForPortland.com "...the Portland Development Commission and the private sector must work together to identify new opportunities to attract and expand business, as well as keep existing businesses ...Currently, all City rules and regulations are applied the same, regardless of the type of business. Common sense must be applied to make it affordable for small businesses to stay open in Portland." MaryVolmForPortland.com Good: "...improve communications between City Hall bureau and union. Ensure the budget is earmarked for training and a timeline of training goals at all levels is created, implemented, and post-process review performed..." LWVPDX.org Good: "...A former city employee of 20 years who most recently was involved in the first effort to recall Adams, Volm has experience and passion for the job. ...we also think she’s unprepared to manage complex bureaucracies..." WWeek.com Huh, WWeek? Who else but a 20-year city employee would be prepared to manage city bureaus. Good: "...She seems an edgy person, and her personal affiliation with the zany Adams recall guy hasn't gained her any mainstream cred. But she's the only one in her race expressing a lick of common sense about the dangerous direction in which the city is headed..." BoJack.org
[_] Edward (Ed) Garren	Okay: Campaign website/blog features an overwhelming collection of ideas: Transparency and Accountability in Government, "bring green technology to Portland", Working Parents & Schools, Sustainability, etc. EdForPDX.com Unlikely: "...Union contracts should require more community involvement (volunteering), as well as drug and alcohol testing, and specific policy to eliminate 'the code of silence' among officers..." LWVPDX.org (PDF) Ugh. Strange answer regarding homelessness: "...There appears to be an obsession with 'fitting in' rather than with celebrating diversity and encouraging people to honestly share our differences. We also do not talk enough about our historic racial and social differences (racism & homophobia)..." LWVPDX.org (PDF) Meh: works seismic concerns into question about climate plan:"...We need to create ways to specifically encourage (or require) energy (and seismic) upgrades to our buildings and homes to reduce energy use by at least 50%, and assure that when our big quake comes our homes and buildings will survive..." "Require" upgrades???LWVPDX.org (PDF)
[_] Jesse Cornett	Good: "...opposes using taxpayer money for a soccer stadium..." Voters' Guide Meh. Too little, too late: A Plan For Jobs JesseCornett.com Meh. Police plan with some good ideals, but unclear execution. JesseCornett.com Good: Opposes current Vancouver SUV bridge plan JesseCornett.com Good, but obvious:: "...From day shelters, treatment programs, and employment counseling, there needs to be more of a concerted effort to reduce homelessness in Portland." LWVPDX.org (PDF) Interesting: "...Cornett raised 1,000 donations of $5...and thereby qualified for $150,000 from the city's taxpayer-financed campaign funds..." OregonLive.com Ugh. "...Jesse Cornett is the next Erik Sten, all the way down to the "clean money" machine. You can almost smell the dopey ideas in his pocket..." BoJack.org
[_] Michael J Courtney	Ugh. Glenn Beck-like free association rant: "...Bureaucrats and Union executives are rounding up the troops under the Socialist banner...we invest vast sums in our illegal immigrant population. Nearly 18% of our population doesn’t speak English and about 12% of our school kids don’t either...we have been #1 in unemployment over the last 15 years.); Hunger (Nationally #2); Worst schools (#3 in the Nation of the most failing schools...We lead in the culture wares [sic] and class warfare...lead the way in failed transit and in running[sic "ruining"?] our own business..." MichaelCourtneyGroup.com Yikes: Did not respond to League of Women Voters timely. LWVPDX.org (PDF)
[_] Jason Renaud	Yikes: No statement in the official voters' guide. MultCo.us Yikes: Declined to respond to League of Women Voters. LWVPDX.org (PDF)

Ugh. I put off working through this ridiculous list of candidates. It seems whenever there is a hint that a spot on the city commission is open or vulnerable, anyone with a slight political dream runs for the office. Understandably, city commissioner is an appealing position -- $100+k salary, control of some city assets, and access to taxpayer funds rather than dealing with the poor/sick/criminal as a lowly county commissioner ($88k salary), fixing the state's budget as a part-time legislator ($21k salary), or doing time in an unpaid elected position like school board, etc. So, I can't really blame any wannabe politician dreaming about becoming a city commissioner, but it takes some hubris to run for this office first without considering a more attainable public office.

I previously voted for Saltzman and didn't really have strong negative or positive feelings about his long tenure on the council. I was concerned about his role as police commissioner during the bureau's on-going controversies, but he seems to be trying. The latest alleged scandal involving Saltzman's girlfriend receiving a city grant does suggest maybe he is getting too comfortable in the office (but, really, this is the best dirt after 12 years in office?). Willamette Week and The Oregonian make convincing arguments that Saltzman has been burdened with fixing problem bureaus and deserves to be re-elected. I agree.

I spent two days reading these about these other kooky campaigns, Mary Volm is the only candidate I seriously considered voting to replace Saltzman. A run-off between her and Saltzman could be interesting. considering her public support of the Adams recall, I hope she spends more time either running against Adams or recruiting someone to run against Adams in 2012.