City Council is again hearing from both sides on the domestic partnership/city employees benefits package.
Mayor Cook has quoted again the council's adopted policy of "no personal attacks" and has warned of the consequences. It is very subjective what he will decide is a personal attack. But he has that right as mayor and running the council meeting. He certainly didn't like when he and council were called evil and hypocrites at one meeting. And he's showing he means business by the stern warning today. But since it is subjective- where does free speech fit in? There are degrees of what is acceptable behavior and speech. I'm not for disrupting public meetings with words that are obviously or outrageously incindiery, hurtful, discriminatory etc- but we do all hold the right to our opinions and free speech. We are also responsible for what we say.
Anyway, what gets my goat are the men and women from churches and the private sector that are preaching their interpretation of morality on this issue. Yes, I believe in the Bible. Yes, I believe in laws, God's and man's. But preachers, priests and rabbis are all sinners and they preach to sinners. And Jesus walked and associated with the worst of the worst. And loved them, anyway.
What cracks me up is that we live in a region that has high immorality. We have a huge population of under-age and unmarried people that are having pre-marital sex and having babies. Where is our morality now? Do the parents of these sinners cast their children aside because of their actions? If so, that would be very unloving and not in the best interest of the child or the baby. But how do they deal with these moral convictions? Or is it a matter of convenience?
I have thought long and hard on this and many issues. So I say what may sound like a cop out to some but which is something I do truly believe in with conviction. I'm human. And I don't understand alot of issues. Some I just have to rely on faith as being the right thing. And these I turn over to God to deal with. I don't have to be the moral compass for God just because I believe in Him. He's been doing just fine. So all I can do is do what I think is fair and let the burden of judging rest on God's shoulders.
So I believe in letting domestic partners share in the privilege of these benefits they are paying a portion of. And I say that without judgement and will let God do His work.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Ideas I'm Working On
Been thinking about this for a loong time and am now in the phase of "yeah- maybe I should get off my arse and do it".
Do any of you remember "Old World Chat"? I was deep in that cyber world in some ways from 2001-2006 until they made many changes, some for the better and much-needed- there was alot of cyber-bullying going on, not to mention other drama.
Well, I'm thinking of writing a book about that whole scene, changing the AKAs, of course. If anyone from the El Paso area walked in that world and has any imput I would love to hear from you- and I know that means positive and negative imput.
I'm talking Old World Chat and then the new World Chat thru Jumbuck from back in the time period stated, and even a little earlier.
For credibility, I will ask for old AKAs to verify what you say and that you were truly part of that scene, but will hold true to my confidentiality claims.
Do any of you remember "Old World Chat"? I was deep in that cyber world in some ways from 2001-2006 until they made many changes, some for the better and much-needed- there was alot of cyber-bullying going on, not to mention other drama.
Well, I'm thinking of writing a book about that whole scene, changing the AKAs, of course. If anyone from the El Paso area walked in that world and has any imput I would love to hear from you- and I know that means positive and negative imput.
I'm talking Old World Chat and then the new World Chat thru Jumbuck from back in the time period stated, and even a little earlier.
For credibility, I will ask for old AKAs to verify what you say and that you were truly part of that scene, but will hold true to my confidentiality claims.
Update on Sun City
Ok- waited to hear from many sides on the piece I wrote last night on "Part-time Accessibility for Full-time Disabled"- here's the scoop.
Sun City Cab did receive New Freedom monies in their pursuit of van conversions for wheelchairs. Not alot, but some, don't have an exact dollar amount.
Yellow/Checker has not received these monies.
There is no stipulation of having the wheelchair accessible vans available 24 hours a day to get these monies.
The owner of Sun City Cab also apologizes for the mistake made when saying they were now "on-demand". He says they only have 2 vans at the moment and they are still requiring 24-hour notice for these vans.
Ok- now that we have all that straight- it still sucks. It's better than it was- at least now for planned events or errands the disabled can get a ride, but good luck being spontaneous.
There's more possible good news in the works as far as Sun City and the disabled community, can't say now, but we'll hear about it in October possibly.
So the work continues....
Sun City Cab did receive New Freedom monies in their pursuit of van conversions for wheelchairs. Not alot, but some, don't have an exact dollar amount.
Yellow/Checker has not received these monies.
There is no stipulation of having the wheelchair accessible vans available 24 hours a day to get these monies.
The owner of Sun City Cab also apologizes for the mistake made when saying they were now "on-demand". He says they only have 2 vans at the moment and they are still requiring 24-hour notice for these vans.
Ok- now that we have all that straight- it still sucks. It's better than it was- at least now for planned events or errands the disabled can get a ride, but good luck being spontaneous.
There's more possible good news in the works as far as Sun City and the disabled community, can't say now, but we'll hear about it in October possibly.
So the work continues....
Monday, August 24, 2009
Part-time Accessibility for Full-time Disabled
Yeah, it's 2 a.m. and I'm up and awake.
Par for the course, my sleeping schedule is so out of whack.
But the upside is I like to do alot of work around the house in the wee hours, especially in the summer. It's not as hot or humid- perfect for laundry time. Perfect time to go shopping at Walmart, too.
Or so I thought. I really gotta stop thinking so much.
You see, I've taken Sun City Cab over to Walmart or other places after 9 p.m. when there's no bus service. It's worked out about 4 times that I've used them. And I use Sun City because they advertised to the CAC and the CAAC (city accessibility advisory committee)that they have handicap accessible vans and I'm usually accompanying my client in a wheelchair.
I also know that Yellow/Checker has handicap accessible vans, but I now have a "relationship" with Sun City and try to give business to the ones that want it. Sun City seemed to really want to serve the disabled community.
Last year when they let us know about the vans they said to give them 24- hour notice at first for a ride. Ok- I can understand they wouldn't always be available. They were waiting til word spread about the vans- then they could have them available full-time. The owner and his son gave us their first ride in the vans one night last year and we have been using them since.
Earlier this year they said there would be maybe a couple hour notice needed, then it was "call anytime". And it's worked out like I said the 4 or so times I've used them.
Last I heard, Sun City has 5 handicap accessible vans. I had heard that one got wrecked in an accident in Juarez and is being tied up in red tape as far as getting it fixed. I think it's still in Juarez.
So that would leave 4 vans.
Speaking with one of our usual drivers, we were told that two vans were waiting to be painted with the Sun City graphics- that was a while ago. Where are they now?
See, called for a handicap accessible van just now from Sun City and there isn't one available. It's not on another call- it's not being used. The drivers out tonight are using other vehicles. Or maybe they have a handicap accessible van out on calls but the back back seat is put in and they don't want to drop off that seat over at headquarters, make this call, then go pick it back up? I dunno.
Called Yellow/Checker- no vans available until "maybe" in the morning.
Called Border Cab- no handicap accessible vans in their fleet, according to dispatch.
City Cab- none.
According to our "usual" driver at Sun City, some drivers don't like to use the handicap accessible vans because when they go on certain calls, like picking up soldiers, they can't fit as many into the taxi because the back back seat is taken out of the handicap accessible van to make room for a wheelchair. So in reality, the vans can only carry maybe 4 passengers that way as opposed to 6 or 7 with the back back seat in.
Why don't they just send another van for larger groups?
Bus service and cab service are two separate entities in the transportation industry.
Maybe I'm being selfish, but since cabs run 24 hours a day I believe that if they receive any grant money for handicap accessible vans they should be required to have the handicap accessible vans available 24 hours a day!
I'm pretty sure Sun City received grant monies for these vans, and probably Yellow/Checker, too- I will check in the morning and post an update.
But in the meantime, cabs being the most expensive mode of transportation in the city compared to bus service out-of-pocket to the disabled community, and you have handicap accessible vans- don't you think your advantage would be having them available when bus service doesn't run?
Or am I thinking too much, again?
Par for the course, my sleeping schedule is so out of whack.
But the upside is I like to do alot of work around the house in the wee hours, especially in the summer. It's not as hot or humid- perfect for laundry time. Perfect time to go shopping at Walmart, too.
Or so I thought. I really gotta stop thinking so much.
You see, I've taken Sun City Cab over to Walmart or other places after 9 p.m. when there's no bus service. It's worked out about 4 times that I've used them. And I use Sun City because they advertised to the CAC and the CAAC (city accessibility advisory committee)that they have handicap accessible vans and I'm usually accompanying my client in a wheelchair.
I also know that Yellow/Checker has handicap accessible vans, but I now have a "relationship" with Sun City and try to give business to the ones that want it. Sun City seemed to really want to serve the disabled community.
Last year when they let us know about the vans they said to give them 24- hour notice at first for a ride. Ok- I can understand they wouldn't always be available. They were waiting til word spread about the vans- then they could have them available full-time. The owner and his son gave us their first ride in the vans one night last year and we have been using them since.
Earlier this year they said there would be maybe a couple hour notice needed, then it was "call anytime". And it's worked out like I said the 4 or so times I've used them.
Last I heard, Sun City has 5 handicap accessible vans. I had heard that one got wrecked in an accident in Juarez and is being tied up in red tape as far as getting it fixed. I think it's still in Juarez.
So that would leave 4 vans.
Speaking with one of our usual drivers, we were told that two vans were waiting to be painted with the Sun City graphics- that was a while ago. Where are they now?
See, called for a handicap accessible van just now from Sun City and there isn't one available. It's not on another call- it's not being used. The drivers out tonight are using other vehicles. Or maybe they have a handicap accessible van out on calls but the back back seat is put in and they don't want to drop off that seat over at headquarters, make this call, then go pick it back up? I dunno.
Called Yellow/Checker- no vans available until "maybe" in the morning.
Called Border Cab- no handicap accessible vans in their fleet, according to dispatch.
City Cab- none.
According to our "usual" driver at Sun City, some drivers don't like to use the handicap accessible vans because when they go on certain calls, like picking up soldiers, they can't fit as many into the taxi because the back back seat is taken out of the handicap accessible van to make room for a wheelchair. So in reality, the vans can only carry maybe 4 passengers that way as opposed to 6 or 7 with the back back seat in.
Why don't they just send another van for larger groups?
Bus service and cab service are two separate entities in the transportation industry.
Maybe I'm being selfish, but since cabs run 24 hours a day I believe that if they receive any grant money for handicap accessible vans they should be required to have the handicap accessible vans available 24 hours a day!
I'm pretty sure Sun City received grant monies for these vans, and probably Yellow/Checker, too- I will check in the morning and post an update.
But in the meantime, cabs being the most expensive mode of transportation in the city compared to bus service out-of-pocket to the disabled community, and you have handicap accessible vans- don't you think your advantage would be having them available when bus service doesn't run?
Or am I thinking too much, again?
Saturday, August 22, 2009
New Links
Check out some new links I added for Chicago-style food to order online and links to gardening, plant sites- it's not all about blogs!!! Check out FAVORITE LINKS on the right side of this page.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Chicago-style Food- the Italian Beef
Here's a small tribute to the best food in the world- Chicago-style food!!!
Let's start with one of my favs- the Italian beef sandwich. On a french or Italian roll, plain or toasted, with or without garlic butter- Gonnella bread is the best.
Next comes the beef. Vienna brand beef. Beautifully slow-cooked and spiced Italian beef that is actually from lesser-cuts, but once it's slow-roasted it will literally melt in your mouth and with no rubbery fat- just pure beef, juicy and tender. Now you have the choice of how you want your beef. If you want it real juicy ask for it "wet" and they'll take your sandwich in tongs and dip the whole sandwich, bread and all, into the au jus.
El Pasoans will understand this next step. You just HAVE to have giardeneira on it. That's pickled jalapeno slices, pickled carrots,pickled sliced celery, pickled cauliflower(some mixes), and/or pickled sliced sport peppers (serrano)in a delicious hot pickling sauce- it's chopped bite-size and is almost as important an ingredient as the beef.
Next comes the sweet peppers. These are blanched green peppers (boiled for 1-2 minutes then thrust into ice cold water to stop the cooking process). They taste nice and sweet and are not too crunchy and not too soggy- just perfect for Italian beefs or Italian sausage sandwiches with marinara sauce- another Chicago Italian specialty.
A good beef will never be fatty and you'll eat it so fast because it melts in your mouth and because they can be messy if you like 'em wet- but don't worry- no one's looking while you eat it to see how messy you are- they're gulping down their own as fast as they can!
The best beefs in Chicago are at Portillo's, Zippy's, Al's Beef (Taylor St), and MY fav- Johnnie's Beef in Elmwood Park, Il. Johnnie's Beef has a "beef nazi" taking your order- just like the soup nazi on Seinfeld- you better know what you want and how you want it when you're next or you'll be skipped over. These guys are serious- there are usually lines traveling half-way around the building to get in. They only have an ordering counter and a counter opposite to eat at- there are a few picnic tables outside and people eat there or in their cars when inside is full. The weekends there's actually security guards to keep order. Oh- you also have to have a real Italian Ice when you go to Chicago- Johnnie's has 'em, of course.
You can go to Chicago for this wonderful food for the true experience, or you can even order it online and they'll ship it to you on dry ice ready to heat and serve through Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, a famous Chicago restaurant that has partnered with other Chicago favorites for ex-pats and other lovers of authentic Chicago-style food at http://www.loutogo.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8yVjXKVDQ8&NR=1
Let's start with one of my favs- the Italian beef sandwich. On a french or Italian roll, plain or toasted, with or without garlic butter- Gonnella bread is the best.
Next comes the beef. Vienna brand beef. Beautifully slow-cooked and spiced Italian beef that is actually from lesser-cuts, but once it's slow-roasted it will literally melt in your mouth and with no rubbery fat- just pure beef, juicy and tender. Now you have the choice of how you want your beef. If you want it real juicy ask for it "wet" and they'll take your sandwich in tongs and dip the whole sandwich, bread and all, into the au jus.
El Pasoans will understand this next step. You just HAVE to have giardeneira on it. That's pickled jalapeno slices, pickled carrots,pickled sliced celery, pickled cauliflower(some mixes), and/or pickled sliced sport peppers (serrano)in a delicious hot pickling sauce- it's chopped bite-size and is almost as important an ingredient as the beef.
Next comes the sweet peppers. These are blanched green peppers (boiled for 1-2 minutes then thrust into ice cold water to stop the cooking process). They taste nice and sweet and are not too crunchy and not too soggy- just perfect for Italian beefs or Italian sausage sandwiches with marinara sauce- another Chicago Italian specialty.
A good beef will never be fatty and you'll eat it so fast because it melts in your mouth and because they can be messy if you like 'em wet- but don't worry- no one's looking while you eat it to see how messy you are- they're gulping down their own as fast as they can!
The best beefs in Chicago are at Portillo's, Zippy's, Al's Beef (Taylor St), and MY fav- Johnnie's Beef in Elmwood Park, Il. Johnnie's Beef has a "beef nazi" taking your order- just like the soup nazi on Seinfeld- you better know what you want and how you want it when you're next or you'll be skipped over. These guys are serious- there are usually lines traveling half-way around the building to get in. They only have an ordering counter and a counter opposite to eat at- there are a few picnic tables outside and people eat there or in their cars when inside is full. The weekends there's actually security guards to keep order. Oh- you also have to have a real Italian Ice when you go to Chicago- Johnnie's has 'em, of course.
You can go to Chicago for this wonderful food for the true experience, or you can even order it online and they'll ship it to you on dry ice ready to heat and serve through Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, a famous Chicago restaurant that has partnered with other Chicago favorites for ex-pats and other lovers of authentic Chicago-style food at http://www.loutogo.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8yVjXKVDQ8&NR=1
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Customer Service the Key to Profits
What is it with T-Mobile?
Why do they make something so simple to take care of into a loss on their part? Especially in these hard economic times?
You see, my pay date changed when I switched agencies for work. I pay my other bills in the beginning of the month and my T-Mobile bill with my second check in the month. Always have and never had a problem- until the paydate changed.
I pay about $150 a month for all the bells and whistles for my phone. But T-Mobile REFUSES to change my billing date. And I refuse to NOT pay my more important bills just so I can pay my cellphone bill in their time frame.
T-Mobile is losing anywhere from $25- $50 a month from me because I end up paying the lesser pro-rated bill soon after I get my 2nd paycheck of the month, just a few days after they cut me off. I try to explain this every month to "customer care" but no one gets it!
So for the folks that try to call me and get a recording that the customer is not receiving calls at this time- now you know why.
Not a very smart way of doing business on T-Mobile's part, I would say.
I still have a home phone I can be reached at, though I do need to replace the phone as it is difficult to hear on. I use the MagicJack and have no qualms with them overall, just that they don't have a customer service line for their customers- if you have an issue you need to go online and chat with a rep that may or may not be able to help you. But it makes for a good backup if my cell is off- tho I can still use my cell to call 911 if needed.
Advice to T-Mobile- figure out this very intricate glitch- maybe take your right index finger or even left or pinky-finger for all I care, and change the date on my bill and pro-rate the beginning billing cycle for the new date in the POSITIVE, I'll pay the full bill, and next month we'll be back to paying my regular full-price bill on-time.
WOW! What a concept- customer service at it's finest!
Now THAT would be a cool mobile makeover!
Why do they make something so simple to take care of into a loss on their part? Especially in these hard economic times?
You see, my pay date changed when I switched agencies for work. I pay my other bills in the beginning of the month and my T-Mobile bill with my second check in the month. Always have and never had a problem- until the paydate changed.
I pay about $150 a month for all the bells and whistles for my phone. But T-Mobile REFUSES to change my billing date. And I refuse to NOT pay my more important bills just so I can pay my cellphone bill in their time frame.
T-Mobile is losing anywhere from $25- $50 a month from me because I end up paying the lesser pro-rated bill soon after I get my 2nd paycheck of the month, just a few days after they cut me off. I try to explain this every month to "customer care" but no one gets it!
So for the folks that try to call me and get a recording that the customer is not receiving calls at this time- now you know why.
Not a very smart way of doing business on T-Mobile's part, I would say.
I still have a home phone I can be reached at, though I do need to replace the phone as it is difficult to hear on. I use the MagicJack and have no qualms with them overall, just that they don't have a customer service line for their customers- if you have an issue you need to go online and chat with a rep that may or may not be able to help you. But it makes for a good backup if my cell is off- tho I can still use my cell to call 911 if needed.
Advice to T-Mobile- figure out this very intricate glitch- maybe take your right index finger or even left or pinky-finger for all I care, and change the date on my bill and pro-rate the beginning billing cycle for the new date in the POSITIVE, I'll pay the full bill, and next month we'll be back to paying my regular full-price bill on-time.
WOW! What a concept- customer service at it's finest!
Now THAT would be a cool mobile makeover!
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