Thursday, August 26, 2010

Quick Update On Why Government subsidized Housing Doesn't Work.

Happily a small community near me has a nice web page where they advertise when SECTION 8 or CITY-BASED housing options become available..

I am 57, legally blind AND use a walker. My current room is a 30-stair walk-up, (no elevator). Yeah, its probably illegal, but Landlord is excellent. (Besides suing him out of business would not secure me a better place to live. I'd just have NO place to live).

This city has 7 (seven) units that will become available for seniors (62+ ). My 2 major disabilities don't matter at all!

God, I love The Americans With Disabilities Act. Because of this legislation, I've become invisible!

There is a lottery of 100 (one hundred) spots that is being gathered now from (ready)? 10,000 (ten thousand) applications!

I am staying put and am not bothering to throw any paper after this particular mirage!

7/10,000 = Actual units/resident need = .07%

I no longer feel insane to realize that the government attempts to 'help' the poor are non-existent for me!

I finally let all of the government options lapse.

For the Hayward list, I was 153,482 in the run for Section 8.

In Berkeley I was 57,028. Actually got a voucher, but my disabilities were clearly stated on the application NOT to qualify for the building. So, I lost my place in line for a lie. This run to a voucher took over eight years! Can you say 'shell-game' anyone?

In Oakland I was #1! Yeah, for years. Every time a new HIV/AIDS patient came through, (you guessed it)! I was shot down to #2, or sometimes even #3. After years of this I finally let it lapse.

If I want to believe in fairy tales, I don't need the government to assist me.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Open Letter To The ATU From An Angry Bus Rider

I am nearly blind, use a walker and rely solely on "public" transportation. Here in the Oakland, CA area that includes AC Transit and BART. Every so often one of these unionized entities decides to play a nasty game of "chicken" with their management.

AC Transit, at the moment is having a labor/management dust-up. A court injunction favored the union and they return to court on the 30th for a continued decision. (Oh, blah, blah, blah).

So, while the union goes to court, management says that the new "unapproved" contract went into effect Saturday, 7/17/10. The union can't strike (yet), so they are having what is termed "a rolling sick-out". So double the normal absent drivers. Buses are severely delayed, or just cancelled all together. This is bad for passengers and the brave drivers alike. Passengers are late and on crammed buses with other angry customers. They end up yelling at the driver, who is attempting to continue to work under dreadful emotional conditions cited above.

I am going to have to take a cab from my home to where I can connect with BART (a rail system) that is (so far) not on strike. Oh how wonderful that prospect of paying for a cab on a fixed income.

I've heard sob stories from both sides. They are accusing one another of lying to the public. Well, frankly, I hope Alameda County just shuts the whole system down. It will be a drag to have no bus service, but I believe some fortunate folks who are currently employed (far above the minimum wage) need an attitude adjustment.

If AC Transit is shut down, those same drivers will look back with longing for the-non-existent job they just couldn't tolerate. Now facing unemployment and truly terrible minimum wage jobs they will get to discover how many of their former passengers are forced to live.

ATU, you think Alameda County won't shut the system down as a way of trumping a strike? I refer you to a group of former air traffic controllers who tried it under Reagen and gee, they're gone from that job.

Better think it through before you force Alameda County to "solve" this money problem, more dramatically then you ever dared to imagine.

Thursday, June 03, 2010

Withdrawel From All Group Social Media In Response to Facebook.Com Abuse

When social media started I loved it. It was the high tech equivalent to "water cooler" conversation in brick-and-mortar office. Since I virtually "live" on my computer this new form of "community" was perfect.

Companies honored their privacy agreements. What you desired to be kept private actually stayed that way.

Then facebook.com got really big and popular. They just couldn't resist the pull of all that interpersonal data not being shared with advertising firms and God-knows-who-else. Now, if a friend of mine clicks something which pulls them into being picked-up by other cites, I'm dragged along. I say "hell no!"

If I know you well enough to have your email, or phone number we can remain in touch. Otherwise, I'm beginning the somewhat difficult process of "pulling out" of social media.

I believe this slow exodus of users from social media will be the beginning of the downfall of another abuse of customer trust. Greed never learns.

When you permanently delete your facebook.com account, it isn't "real" for 2 weeks, while someone prays you change your mind. ba-bye facebook.com! ba-bye!

Saturday, March 27, 2010

I'm Living The Life I've Always Dreamed Of!

No, I haven't abandoned this blog. I have just been busy living my new kind of life. A life filled with common-sense eating, exercise, work, play and God. Here are the vital statistics from last March (2009) to today:

Last Year: 205 pounds.
This Year: 182 Pounds  -23 pounds. Sometimes I'm down as low as -30 pounds.

The great news is I'm keeping the weight off, improving my physical fitness and have finally gotten totally off white sugar. God, that is a FIGHT!

For the first time in years my Dr. didn't yell at me during my physical. She looked at my lower blood pressure, pulse rate and weight and KNEW I'd finally gotten some sense about caring for my body.

I walk 2 miles a day, between 3 and 6 days a week. I don't try to power walk, or anything like that. I just walk at a quick, but comfortable pace with my ever trusty walker. My entire body is changing shape and I'm getting muscle tone where I never had it before.

More later. The true joy of the physical was flunking the "clinical Depression Checklist". I had "never" for all 4 questions! Nutrition works, but for those of you who want the "quick fix" it took about 9 months before I started noticing some of the changes listed above. To truly "heal" a damaged body takes time, discipline and that awful p-word: patience.