"Anonymous" Hides Behind Blanket Statements - What an Oxymoron!

There's a couple people hiding behind the name "anonymous" that like to comment on my blog, and they're both usually critical of what I write, one especially when it comes to Sun Metro.

That's all well and good, we're all allowed our own opinions, and I post all comments whether I agree with them or not. As long as they don't contain filthy language or threaten anyone I will continue to show their side.

One "anonymous" has chosen to disclose their identity to me. I don't know why. . Actually, they could be one and the same, they do write very similar. If they are, that would be very sad for many reasons. Mainly because they are a pretty public person and on one hand they praise what I say or do to certain people or on other blogs or forums under their true name, yet here they hide behind "anonymous", which I guess gives them a little more superficial guts, and they not only comment critically to what I write but go even further by making blanket statements about what they perceive me to be, usually in a negative light. That's being a little on the passive-aggressive side if you ask me.

I don't care if we have differing opinions, we're all different and think different. "Anonymous" can slam my opinion all day- it still won't change the facts. I just find it funny that "anonymous" doesn't have anything to say about the bumbling government red tape and mistakes I have encountered and have posted about. Where's your voice then, "anonymous"?

Even funnier is when "anonymous" resorts to using blanket statements.

Blanket statements are used by people to try to disassociate themselves from and to dehumanize others. That is one of the core tactics used to separate people, not to bring together, and to judge (or pre-judge).

"Anonymous' is fond of lumping me into their neat little prejudicial box. They have called me a "messican" and in the same breath that I come from the "country club" set. Ummm hello?!! Make up your mind.

Then they go on to say I have contributed less to society, in their all-knowing opinion, because I speak out and shed light on things that matter to me. I didn't know you knew me so well, "anonymous". Lol. You must be an ex lover or good friend to know me so well. I do like older men (and younger for that matter- my last bf happened to be 8 years younger than me and the one before that 9 years older than me)- but there is a line, and if you are the "anonymous" I know then you're about 20 or 25 years older than me, not quite my cup of tea.

So that only leaves a good friend. If you are a good friend and know me so well then you would have never written these untrue statements like you did.

So I guess you are neither. So what qualifies you to make outrageous statements?

Then "anonymous" goes on that people like me milk the government and use government assistance as much as I can. What is this based on? I have been in the workforce and paying taxes for 33 years, never been on welfare, never had children and expected my government to feed and clothe them, never been on food stamps, never been on unemployment. That shoots that theory down. And to imply that people who do use these services are bad or should be ashamed is just plain wrong. It's the abusers of the system that you should be worried about.

"Anonymous" talks about my negativity, but they are completely negative and false in their statements about me. Kind of like the pot calling the kettle black.

So keep commenting, "anonymous", and I'll keep posting what you have to say- the more you talk the more we all see how disjointed, out of touch, and hypocritical you are.

www.transittalent.com/ makes my point in their link to my blog under the Squeaky Wheels category quite simple and direct in that I feel other projects (some that Sun Metro are in the process of doing now and in the future) will increase ridership more than free WIFI.

Common Sense vs Scare Tactics for Real Healthcare Reform

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/08/21

Free WIFI not the Key to Increasing Sun Metro Ridership

Did something rather unorthodox this morning, Sunday morning. Actually visited the El Paso Times' website.

I do that once in awhile when I'm bored.

Was reading Gustavo Reveles' article on Sun Metro enticing "choice" riders (as they are called by the FTA) with free WIFI at the new transfer centers.

"Choice" riders are what the FTA terms people that have cars but choose public transportation. When I first heard about this term I was a little put off. I thought it meant that people who may not choose public transportation but must use it because they do not have cars were less than "choice"- more like chopped liver. Now I understand it better, but still wish there were another term being used.

Anyway, I don't think free WIFI will be the determining factor in a choice rider's decision.

User-friendliness will always be the first determining factor.

User-friendliness includes many concepts. Most importantly, speed and ease of use.

No- not the speed of the bus! More like how fast can a rider get from Point A to Point B and with as few transfers as possible. Does the bus run only once an hour or 3x an hour? Is there a reverse route on this same route? (why don't we have reverse routes here?) How late do the buses run or how early do they start? Are there machines or people in a booth at the transfer centers (and grocery stores, 7-11's, libraries) where one can buy a daily/weekly/monthly pass? Eliminating having to count coins and drop them into the fare box on the bus will save us all time- we should be using ticket machines right now.

User-friendliness also includes showing routes on bus stop signs, finally being able to use Google Transit in our area, and having FULL audio and streaming announcements at transfer centers. It also includes clean, accessible, and safe bus stops and shelters. No more overflowing trash bins, no more carts blocking pathways (hello Walmart) and lights- lots of lights! And we can go even further and be environmentally-friendly and use energy-saving bulbs or solar.

Another way to entice more riders would be the advertising on the bus. I don't really have a problem with what is being advertised but how it is displayed. The ads are falling down, torn and just generally displayed in a non-pleasing manner. I don't think anyone looks at the bus daily and makes sure the ads look nice and without having that strip that holds them run across the middle of the ad etc. The devil's in the details! I simply like to call it follow-through. This small but important detail can be part of the daily checklist before a bus pulls out for the first shift and checked in between shift changes. I think all us riders, choice or not, would like a more aesthetically-pleasing environment and experience on the bus.

More bus shelters are needed also, all part of user-friendliness. Yes, Sun Metro is in the process of erecting 200 new shelters at the moment, but until we are at about 1:4 or even 1:3 shelters per bus stops I won't be happy waiting at a stop in this desert heat. Only need about 700 more shelters to get there! Sun Metro is also working on more landing pads or boarding pads, whatever they're called- those thingees made of concrete that we step onto or from that is connected to a sidewalk and cut curb for true accessibility- instead of being left in a bunch of volcanic rock or desert scrub.

I think all these would be first on my wish list BEFORE WIFI.

But let's take this even further- if we had an "el" (elevated train) and commuter rail we would REALLY be in the 20th century, even though we're actually in the 21st already!

But let's not forget.... it is the "non-choice" riders that have been the loyal customers of mass transit, without them there wouldn't be mass transit.

Amen.

Disabled Being Taken Advantage of and Endangered by Walmart's Laziness and Greed

Two Sun Metro riders, both in wheelchairs, having to move carts to gain an accessible pathway to the bus that is stopped at the Walmart at Trans Mtn/Woodrow Bean bus stop.

Just what in the heck does Walmart not get when it comes to accessibility issues?

The disabled community, including advocates, have had numerous meetings with Walmart and Sun Metro about the blocking of the bus stop of carts being used by Walmart customers.

Seems to no avail.

Yes, I understand that it's the people that should not be placing the carts there.

But Walmart cannot have their cake and eat it, too. They benefit from Sun Metro having a bus stop in front of their store, but they don't want to maintain the pathway for their customers.

It makes absolutely no sense that there is not a cart caddy up by the bus stop.

And even more senseless is the fact that Walmart employees don't check the bus stop in a timely and consistent manner for carts.

So Sun Metro's riders are now assuming what is Walmart's job out of necessity.

The disabled are forced to move carts, risking possible injury or accident to themselves or others around them, just to board the bus. Let alone able bodied riders are forced to move these carts.

Why is Walmart so lazy? Didn't they make a profit last year? We should all be protesting them, they are as bad as the banks and car manufacturers with their greed.

They promised the disabled community an accessible pathway LAST YEAR- where is it? A lady in a scooter was just hit by a car in the parking lot there a couple weeks ago. Yes, the onus falls on the driver, but Walmart has created an unsafe condition for the disabled with their huge parking lots and lack of a safe pathway through that parking lot.

When I call for them to clear the carts they promise they'll be right on it- management tells me that. Why lie to me when it takes less effort just to take care of your customers?

Didn't Walmart just get done with a lawsuit by a disabled person in a wheelchair about these very issues? What lesson has not been learned?

I am still waiting to see if Sun Metro and Walmart can ever come to a clear conclusion about Sun Metro buses being allowed to come further into Walmart's property and have the bus stop at their door. Sun Metro has said they have been denied that option, Walmart says they never said no- but no one is willing to have a meeting of the minds. Ft. Bliss has buses that come onto their property and pick up civilian employees that play "insurgents" in mock simulations- why can't Sun Metro come on the property also?

When is enough enough? How many lawsuits does it have to take for a company the size of Walmart to start really giving a hoot about their customers? They already don't care about the American worker- most of their stuff is from China. And what's up with the re-labelling they have done, making the Great Value brand (theirs) look more generic so one thinks they are getting a cheaper brand, tho the prices have risen? Before they labelled to have their brand say "we are as good as name brands but are cheaper"- now they're doing the opposite for the same effect!

Greed. It all comes down to that ugly word. It's what makes the corporate world go 'round. Haven't we really had enough of all that world has done for us?

Back!!!!!!

I'm baaaack!

My sincere aplologies to people that posted comments that I couldn't post until now. I had a family emergency but things are looking ok for now. I won't bore you with the details now, I may decide to post a piece about it later though.

So anyway, gimme a few days to get back in the loop and catch up on over 200 emails and we'll get together for a chat.

Shout out to Richard Sheldon- today's his birthday! He's an advocate with ADAPT and chair of the City Accessibility Advisory Committee and the Citizen's Advisory Committee to the Mass Transit Board/Sun Metro. He also speaks out once in a while over at city council- a real go-getter for someone in a power wheelchair and with all his challenges with his disabilities. Like I've said before, I have never met stronger people than the ones I've met and befriended that have some sort of disability- they are some phenomenol folks!

Spankin'-hot Feuds in the Blogosphere

So it's been a few days since I've posted anything new. Sometimes one just needs to take a break from all the buzz of the world and take care of their own personal business.

Every once in awhile I need to take a break from all the bs. Yes, I like to be involved and I do what I can with community events/activities, but sometimes people forget that this is not all I have in my life.

I am not a full-time political blogger, but some things I write about are political in nature. I am not a full-time campaign volunteer, though I dabble in different ways learning about a candidate, and their volunteers. And wow!- have I learned alot in the last few weeks! I am not a public speaker, as some of you can attest to, so I use my voice in the ways that are most clear and beneficial to my causes. By writing. What I want, when I want. Guess I'm selfish.

I really hate politics and when I end up getting a little too involved in trying to figure out all the games I not only feel exhausted but need a sort of respite. I seek balance and fairness.

I haven't read fully the other blogs out there until today since my break of the last few days. I got so much accomplished in my days off I didn't miss them. But everytime I take a break I come back and the bs is flying faster and smellier than before!

Specifically, the DavidK-Lionstar feuds.

One has to wonder if these two are for real in their disputes or if they are both master-minds in keeping the blogosphere buzz going fast and furious?!

I could call Jaime and ask his side of all this, but that wouldn't be fair to DavidK, and I don't have David's phone number.

I like Jaime Abeytia's views on alot of things and I read DavidK's blog to read the "opposition", tho sometimes he does make perfect sense on some issues.

They both do, to me.

At times.

So I'm sitting here wondering if the whole Chicano vs White Guy theme is planned or their real views?

But what it really comes down to is............

When the two of you resort to using the race card for whatever reason I just want to spank you! (and not in a good way, okay?!)

Two grown intelligent men resorting to a place where no one wins. It kills both their credibility.

Some may argue that they are only speaking the truth and their viewpont is valid. Yes, that's true. But one also has to ask- what gets accomplished when all is said and done?

They are not engaging in open discussion to come together, but to separate.

If their viewpoints are real then that's sad. Neither will accomplish what they set out to get. Be that equality, wrongs righted, credibility, looked at as intelligent and fair- whatever. They will leave that small irritating stain.

If it's all just a spin and a way to manipulate us readers into a tizzy and involve us in a revolving door of no consequence- I say community theater may be a better outlet for your creativity. I don't like big issues being used in a casual manner for your own entertainment. Especially when you are trying to involve others, and that's what you are doing by writing your blogs.

But did you also notice that I didn't touch on the subjects you two bloggers/column writers were actually writing about? That's because you lost me the moment you started with the race thing. Actually, one of you was low-down in your insinuations, but maybe we can talk about that another day since that real issue got bogged down by other bs.

Robert Talhami, Childhood Friend, 9/11 Victim

In memory of Robert Talhami, victim in the WTC 9/11 attacks, my childhood friend.

You will not be forgotten.

The Talhamis moved to the U.S. from Jordan in 1967 to my little town of Northbrook, Il. Robert and his brother George were very kind boys, and I know they grew into incredible men. The family was beautiful and raised their children right.

The boys were sort of neighborhood protectors, not necessarily by force but by their presence and demeanor. If someone was being picked on, especially a girl, these guys would handle the situation so that no one lost face.

To me, they were pretty darn cute with their carmel skin and dark brown/black shiny hair- and nice guys to boot- wow, the girls they met later in life surely didn't stand a chance of not falling under their spell! And they were smart as a whip, too!

The family eventually moved on, to Venezuela, I believe, and then back to the U.S., though they still have family in Jordan.

Robert worked for Cantor Fitzgerald and had a young family. I pray they are celebrating his memory today and that it is not just filled with sorrow.

If anyone in Northbrook today is over by the Village Green, maybe having lunch at Little Louie's or Sunset Foods, take a moment and head over to the Village Green Park and sit on Robert's memorial bench and give a moment of silence. He is worth remembering and honoring.

And say a prayer for all the other victims and heroes of 9/11, they were all loved by someone and families are grieving today.