Questions and Answers about Digital TV Converters

Q: I need an explanation in another language. Where can I find that?
A: https://www.dtv2009.gov/

Q: When does conversion happen?
A: It happens Tuesday, February 17th, by Federal law.

Q: Why?
A: Digital channels can fit closer together without interfering, so the Federal government can sell the old frequencies to use for police, fire, public service, and new cellular data services. Sometimes, reception quality improves even on older analog-only sets using converters. There are other advantages to television stations; they can split their channels into sub-channels and have multiple signals with different programming.

Q: What does a converter do?
A: All converters receive the digital signals from new transmitters and convert the signals to analog so they can be used with older TVs and VCRs.

Q: Are all the stations ready now?
A: Most stations have digital signals, plus analog signals, now. The digital signals are now on different channels to avoid interfering with analog channels. Some major stations will switch on February 17th. Some small stations will stay on analog channels, but only small channels and small transmitters. Here's a chart which shows channels now and after for Portland.

Q: Do I need a converter if I have an HDTV set or a Digital-Ready Set?
A: No.

Q: Do I need a converter if I have cable TV?
A: If you use cable TV, you don't need a converter. The cable system handles conversion for you.

Q: Do I need a converter if I have satellite TV?
A: If you use satellite TV, you don't need a converter. The satellite system handles conversion for you.

Q: Do I need a converter if my building has a community or shared antenna?
A: Maybe, so check with your building management to ask if they will be doing the digital-to-analog conversion for you.

Q: I use 'rabbit ears' or an indoor antenna now. Do I need an outdoor antenna for the converter?
A: Maybe. My next blog post on this subject will explain how to estimate if you do. Many indoor antennas will work well in the Portland Metro area, especially if you can see Council Crest from home. There is no 'digital' antenna; the same antenna design works for digital as analog, but you may need a better antenna because your favorite stations are changing to UHF from VHF (like our ABC and CBS affiliates) or because digital requires a better quality of signal; snow now equals problems later.

Q: I use an outdoor antenna now. Do I need to change it?
A: Maybe, see above.

Q: What are the rules for the converter coupon program?
A: You must buy a converter on the NTIA approved list after getting a coupon.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/rules.html explains more and lists a phone number.

Q: Must I have a coupon to get a converter?
A: No. If you don't use a coupon, you can buy whatever converter you wish.

Q: How much does the coupon get me?
A $40 credit on the spot from participating dealers.

Q: Are all converters $40?
A: No, some have extra features and are as spendy as $300.

Q: Which converter boxes are NTIA-approved?
A: They're listed at https://www.ntiadtv.gov/cecb_list.cfm - see the next item.

Q: What are the NTIA-approved converters available for sale nowadays? What makes and model numbers can be bought with coupons?
A: Here's a list. * = Manufacturer says it has Analog Pass-Through.

AccessHD: DTA1020D, DTA1020U, DTA1010D, DTA1010U, DTA1020AD *, DTA1030D *, DTA1050D *, DTA1080D *, DTA1080U *
Airlink101: ATVC102 *, ATVC101
Alpha Digital: AT2016
AMTC: AT2001
Apex: DT1001, DT250 *, DT502 *, DTA250A *
Artec: T3A, T3AP *, T3AP Pro *, T3APro
Cadence: DTVC-9
CASTi: CAX-03 *
Channel Master: CM-7000
Cleartech: CT DCB100A *
Coby: DTV-102 *
ComponexX: CX-900A *
Coship: N9900T, N9901T *, N9988T
Craig: CVD506 *, CVD508 *
Digital Steam: DSP6500C *, DSP7500T, DSP7700P *, DSP7700T *, DTX9900, DTX9900D, DTX9950 *, DX8700 *
Dish Network: DTVPal Plus *, DTVPal *, TR-40CRA *
GE: 22729, 22730, 23333 *, 23334 *
Goodmind: DTA1000, DTA1100 *
Gridlink: GLT-200
iNet Access: SSR 1921 *
Insignia: NS-DXA1, NS-DXA1-APT * (Note: A BestBuy house brand)
Kingbox: K8V1
Lasonic: LTA-260
Magnavox: TB-100MG9 *, TB100MW9, TB100MW9A *, TB110MW9 *, TB110MW9A *
MaxMedia: LuTRO *
Memorex: MVCB1000 *
MicroGEM: MG2000
Philco: TB100HH9 *, TB150HH9 *
RCA: DTA 800B, DTA800B1 *, DTA809 *, STB7766G1 *
Sansonic: FT300A
Spica: AT 2018 *
Sunkey: SK-801ATSC *
Tivax: STB-T8 *, STB-T9
Venturer: STB7766G
Winegard: RCDT09A *, RC-DT09
Zenith: DTT900, DTT901 *
Zentech: DF2000, EZTV DF2000L *
Zinwell: ZAT-857, ZAT-950A *, ZAT-970, ZAT-970A *

Q: What are important features?
A: You may find some of these important:
1) Analog Pass-Through, so you can easily switch to low-power channels which can still transmit analog after 2/17, and to switch to stations which won't go digital before 2/17 if you install before then.
2) An improved Electronic Program Guide (EPG), so you can search for programs you want and find the channel they're on now, as well as find program details.
3) Resistance to interference from VCR, DVD player, and other electronics.
4) Remote control to let you switch in and out of 'letterbox' mode.
5) Complete with a coaxial cable from converter to TV, a 'balun' adapter from flat antenna wire to the cable TV-stype "F" connector on the back of the converter, and a video+stereo cable to attach to a VCR or TV video and audio in sockets.
6) A longer warranty with local or very fast exchange if it fails. However, buying an 'extended' warranty is not recommended, for most electronic devices, if they're going to fail, fail soon after installation.


Q: What are the converters with the best reviews?
A: Here's what I found in a search for reviews I thought were worthwhile reading.

The DIGITAL STREAM DTX9900 http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages_b/DTVconverters.html remembers channels you scanned for before and was sharper than brand-name competitors.

The DISH NETWORK TR40-CRA http://www.dishnetwork.com/dtvpal/tr40CRA.shtml is $40, hass Analog Pass-Through, and was liked for its advanced EPG (Electronic Program Guide).

The INSIGNIA NS-DXA1 http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2008/06/dtv-converter-1.html was essentially the same than the DIGITAL STREAM DTX9900.

The MICROGEM MG2000 http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2008/06/dtv-converter-1.html was small but sharp.

The MAGNAVOX TB100MW9 http://reviews.cnet.com/tv-hdtv-tuners-receivers/magnavox-tb100mw9/4505-6487_7-33255284.html?tag=mncol;lst is a basic converter with good resistance to interference http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/tvs-services/non-digital-tvs/digital-converter-boxes/digital-tv-converter-boxes-first-look-3-08/overview/digital-tv-converter-boxes-first-look.htm and is only $25.

The PHILCO TB100HH9 http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2008/06/dtv-converter-1.html is a simple converter with pass-through.

The RCA DTA-800 http://reviews.cnet.com/tv-hdtv-tuners-receivers/rca-dta800/4505-6487_7-32887593.html?tag=mncol;lst has good reception, respectable video quality, and a basic EPG.

The RCA DTA-800B1 http://reviews.cnet.com/tv-hdtv-tuners-receivers/rca-dta800b1/4505-6487_7-33280761.html adds its own remote control for analog pass-through switching.

The TIVAX STB-T9 http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2008/06/dtv-converter-1.html was praised for its clarity and an improved Electronic Program Guide which shows details abou each show, not just the bare listings.


Other reviews are found at http://www.hdtvantennalabs.com/converters/reviews.php



My next post on this topic is an explanation of how anyone mechanically handy with a few hand tools can make Do-It-Yourself antennas from recycled or inexpensive materials that rival the reception from spendy store-bought antennas.

Best Hospitals in Metro Portland - None of them in Clackamas Co.

A Wall Street Journal article on rating hospitals led me to WhyNotTheBest.com which, as per the WSJ, is

... from the nonprofit Commonwealth Fund (and) compares care at 4,500* hospitals nationwide, using data from Medicare's Hospital Compare Web site and the federal government's Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey.

So, here's the ranking, using all rating measures, scoring two As, seven Bs, one C and one Incomplete.

Grade A

• 93.6% Providence St Vincent <-- Ranked 373rd/2,052 hospitals nationwide scored in the top 10% *
• 93.0% Providence Portland

Grade B

• 89.3% Kaiser Sunnyside
• 88.9% Adventist
• 86.9% OHSU
• 85.4% Legacy Good Samaritan
• 83.7% Legacy Meridian Park
• 82.5% Tuality Community
• 81.8% Legacy Emanuel

Grade C

• 77.7% Willamette Falls

Grade Incomplete

• Providence Milwaukie - despite having 77 beds, they could not, or did not, report 30 or more outcomes, so their data is incomplete.

You may not care about some of the measures... if you're going under the knife for knee surgery, you may not care if the staff if friendly. I do, but you can roll your own stats by going to WhyNotTheBest.com and selecting your own things to rate by.

Now, here's more data. Click below to see all the graphs for all the above hospitals, trimmed and then concatenated, far sharper than the thumbnailed graphic would indicate.




* Obviously, there's a LOT of non-reporting going on, since the total count of hospitals is nowhere near the actual number of hospitals in the country. Why? Reporting is still voluntary. Ask your state legislator why.)

What to do about Digital TV conversion?

Update: Reuters says a shortage of discount coupons is likely. Get yours now! Sorry, converter coupons are not available. Folks who ask now are waitlisted with no promise they'll get coupons, says the NY Times.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT DIGITAL TV CONVERSION


Thanks to The Consumerist blog for this diagram.


If your set is NOT digital-ready, then you will need to buy a converter IF and only if you don't have satellite or cable. Call 888-DTV-2009 or go to www.DTV.gov and provide your name and address to get $40-off coupons. Move fast, as coupons could run out.

Many Portland-area channels will change their channel numbers. Click on the chart below to see it enlarged and sharper.




Since the list above shows every VHF station in Metro Portland will also have a UHF channel, you can go UHF-only, and therefore a VHF antenna isn't needed.

Below, please find a model antenna made for less than $10 in materials. Specifics on antenna design will follow over the next few days.

State law on ID with checks, credit card rules

Here's a handy link to the section of Oregon's Revised Statutes which explains what a merchant can do when you pay by check.

Also, merchants are contractually obligated not to refuse a sale by credit card without ID.

Lime-lit Democracy

Sodium floodlights illume voters queued up in the rain, to drop off their ballots at the Multnomah Co. Elections office at Morrison & SE 11th in Portland, OR, the day before the election at 6PM. That's dedication in democracy.

Sentenced to School

http://www.paulgraham.com/nerds.html

http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11535645

Think about it.

Where would you rather have been sent to as a teen?

Worst restaurants of Milwaukie, Oak Grove and Gladstone

I've also been the victim of gut-busting, agonizing pain from food poisoning so bad I spent three days in hospital. Think about these eateries and their inspection scores, and then consider, the next time you visit them, asking what they've done to make sure they ace the inspection next time.

http://www.clackamas.us/community_health/eh/restaurants.htm explains how the rating system works. Critical issues cost 4 or 5 points, whereas lesser failures to protect your health only 1 or 2 points. Points for repeat offenses of both kinds are doubled. Italicized results below are the result of a complaint to the health department (503-655-8384) and the subsequent inspection.

You can click on the title of this post for an updated list of restaurants and scores, or get scores for any other food service establishment in the county.

And, now for the Hall of Shame:

Score	Restaurant			Inspected
70	Dragon Inn Rest.	14411 SE Mcloughlin	503-659-9686	02/14
77	Chan's Steakery	10477 SE Main St	503-653-2709	12/17
77	Domenic's Bar & Grill	16065 SE Mcloughlin	503-654-6969	11/06
79	Chopsticks Express I	10801 SE Main St #0	503-659-2950	05/13
82	Panda Buffet	16251 SE Mcloughlin	503-652-0515	05/09
82	Tartan & Thistle	11050 SE 21st	503-657-1507	11/19
82	Winchells Donuts	19500 Mcloughlin	503-657-3197	01/16
83	Chan's Garden Rest.	14790 SE Webster Rd	503-652-2828	11/19
85	Casa De Tamales	10605 SE Main St	503-654-4423	02/26
85	Dolphin Seafood Rest.	17180 SE Mcloughlin	503-654-9366	02/14
85	Mai Wah Rest.	18088 SE Mcloughlin	503-659-0323	05/13
85	Oak Grove Bar & Grill	2099 SE Oak Grove Blvd	503-654-6343	12/10
85	Panaderia Cinco De Mayo 2	17419 SE Mcloughlin	503-998-2960	12/18
85	Super Burrito Express	10546 SE 42nd	503-786-9370	05/13
85	Hong Kong 97	17405 SE Mcloughlin	503-654-3336	04/08
86	Arrivederci Wine & Gifts	17025 SE Mcloughlin	503-781-3873	04/22
86	Porterhouse Rest & Par Lng	14611 SE Mcloughlin	503-794-9450	05/13
86	Soy Grill	20010 Mc Loughlin Blvd	503-655-5780	03/24
87	El Tapatio Rest.	15192 SE Mcloughlin	503-659-8654	03/17
87	Int'l Hse o'Pancakes 681	14617 SE Mcloughlin	503-653-2710	03/17
87	McGrath's Publ Fish Hse	11050 SE Oak St	503-653-8070	05/13
88	Hartwell's	10608 SE Main St	503-387-5866	05
88	Lew's Drive Inn	14911 SE Mcloughlin	503-654-6648	03/17
88	Wichita Pub	6106 SE King Rd	503-654-4201	04/18
89	Brew Bar & Grill	10933 SE Main Street	503-653-6369	12/19
89	Buster's TX Style B-B-Q	17883 E Mcloughlin	503-652-1076	05/09
89	Chang's Mongolian Grill	18925 SE Mcloughlin	503-655-2323	05/08
89	Gaffers Pub	18515 Webster Rd	503-516-5295	03/16
89	Kwang Chow Rest.	7980 SE King Rd	503-659-1160	12/26
89	Mekong Thai Cuisine	10880 SE Mcloughlin	503-594-2888	12/05
89	Stanley's Corner	19905 SE Mcloughlin	503-655-5544	04/23
89	Subway #10335	19516 SE Mcloughlin	503-803-4923	01/16
89	Wind Horse Coff & Tea	10611 SE Main St	503-659-1000	02/25
90	High Rocks Pub	915 E Arlington	503-656-1111	04/13
90	Mike's Drive In	3045 SE Harrison St	503-654-0131	04/28
90	Sharis Rest.	11030 SE Oak St	503-652-4035	03/31
90	Taco Bell #4088	11000 SE Oak St	503-659-2960	02/19
91	Elk Rock Bar & Grill	14211 SE Mcloughlin	503-786-0410	04/17
91	Historic Broetje House	3101 SE Courtney	503-659-8860	04/22
91	Imperial Garden Rest.	15350 SE Mcloughlin	503-654-1280	03/17
91	Pizza Schmizza	14624 & Sstreet &	503-496-0873	04/28
91	Ranch Tavern	18601 SE Mcloughlin	503-653-9152	02/25
91	Stuart Anderson's Cattle Co	16323 SE Mcloughlin	503-653-2700	12/17
91	Vogies Bar, Llc	464 Portland Ave	503-657-3626	03/16
92	Gladstone Card Room	420 Portland Ave	503-657-1977	03/16
92	Kentucky Fried Chik313	14715 SE Mcloughlin	503-659-2580	02/14
92	Mi Pueblo	10543 SE Fuller Rd	503-653-4194	05/08
92	Quizno's	10983 SE Oak St #107	503-594-2118	04/24
92	River Road House Pub	11921 SE 22nd	503-653-5885	12/27
92	Roake's	18103 SE Mcloughlin	503-654-7075	03/17
93	Big Town Hero	4630 SE Int'l. Wy #201	503-652-5428	04/24
93	Dominos Pizza - McLouglin	15117 SE Mcloughlin	503-659-4950	04/29
93	Foxy's	11094 SE Main St	503-654-8800	01/15
93	G-G's Rest.	15717 SE Mcloughlin	503-659-5553	04/18
93	Healing Place Cafe	10330 SE 32nd Ave	503-513-8342	02/06
93	Lacey's Bomber Inn	13515 SE Mcloughlin	503-659-9306	12/05
93	Libbeys Rest.	11056 SE Main St	503-653-2044	03/13
93	Maddy's	18080 SE Mcloughlin	503-786-4761	01/10
93	Oak Grove Cinemas	16100 SE Mcloughlin	503-653-3511	02/14
93	Wendy's - Milwaukie	17217 SE Mcloughlin	503-653-2472	04/08
93	Wongs Garden	10820 SE Oak St	503-794-2879	12/17
94	Amadeus Manor	2122 SE Sparrow St	503-659-1735	11/29
94	Cha Cha Cha Mexican Taqr	11008 SE Main St	503-659-2193	02/26
94	Econolodge	17330 SE Mc Loughlin	503-654-2222	05/14
94	Gladstone Lanes	20100 SE Mcloughlin	503-656-4266	02/20
94	Got Curry	2818 SE Park Ave	503-652-4050	12/31
94	Little Caesar's Pizza	17038 SE Mcloughlin	971-570-2504	02/14
94	Pogys #3	17185 SE Mcloughlin #h	503-652-0120	02/25
94	Red Brick Pizza	10843 SE Oak St Suite 106	503-702-7422	05/06
94	Tonys Bistro	6400 SE Lake Rd #101	503-353-8900	11/27
95	Amer Legion Post #180	2146 SE Monroe	503-659-1300	12/28
95	Da Vinci's Italiano Ristorante	12615 SE Mcloughlin	503-659-3547	05/08
95	Drift On Inn Bar & Grill	12611 SE Mcloughlin	503-652-7966	01/15
95	Figaros	18911 Portland Ave	503-656-5556	02/25
95	Happy Rock Coffee Co	465 Portland Ave	503-650-4876	04/13
95	Mcdonalds - Gladstone	820 E Berkeley	503-557-9951	02
95	Mcdonalds - Johnsn Crk	8151 SE Lamphier	503-774-2960	04/08
95	Mcdonalds - Mcloughlin	15870 SE Mcloughlin	503-654-6268	03/10
95	Mcdonalds - Milwaukie	10970 SE Oak	503-659-0979	03/17
95	Milwaukie Luth Church	3810 SE Lake Rd-6097	503-653-0250	02/20
95	Mo Betta Deli	6110 SE King Rd	503-653-5487	04/18
95	Rigoberto's Taco Shop	15855 SE Mcloughlin	503-659-8124	12/18
95	St John The Bapt Chrch	10955 SE 25th Ave	503-654-5449	01/17
95	Subway - Milwaukie	15031 SE Mcloughlin	503-786-1660	03/17
95	Tods Pizza Pit Stop	17254 SE Mcloughlin	503-654-5555	02/25
95	Waterfalls Cafe	12705 SE River Rd	503-652-6330	01/18
96	Cafe Bon Jour	4360 SE Int'l. Way #200	503-697-3242	04/11
96	Dominos Pizza -32nd Av	10586 SE 32nd Ave	503-659-5585	01/15
96	Dottys #10	10812-B SE Oak St	503-786-2516	01/10
96	G G's Delicatessen	15717 Mcnerthney Ent Inc	503-654-2428	01/14
96	Hong Kong 97	6128 SE King Road Suite B	503-786-4567	04/18
96	Larry's Rest.	8081 SE King Rd	503-771-0216	03/10
96	Pete's Lair Tavern	17720 SE Mcloughlin	503-652-1430	03/17
96	St Johns Episc Church	2036 SE Jefferson	503-653-5880	02/20
96	Sushi Kata Japanese Rest	13809 SE Mcloughlin	503-653-0302	12/18
96	Taco Bell #19200	16300 SE Mcloughlin	503-654-8097	02/19

And, these eateries get an honorable mention, for they scored 97-99 points, which means they could not have had a major violation. Not perfect (and, why not, one might ask?) but nothing major:

97	Bo's Pub & Eatery	18650 SE Mcloughlin	503-652-0302	04/11
97	Great Amer Video & Esprsso	6130 SE King Rd	503-794-9573	04/21
97	Happy Cafe	4620 SE Int'l. Way #100	503-654-2488	12/18
97	Main Street Soda Fountain	10909 SE Main St	503-659-7632	03/10
97	Pietro's Pizza	10300 SE Main St	503-659-7770	04/08
98	Burgerville #8	19119 SE Mcloughlin	503-655-3932	03/17
98	Christ The King Parrish	7414 SE Michael Dr	503-659-1475	01/1
98	Dottys #20	1503 SE Mcloughlin	503-652-7221	01/29
98	El Taco Loco	4607 SE Boardmand Ave	503-653-1715	02/27
98	Flying Pie Pizzeria Milwaukie	16691 SE Mcloughlin	503-496-3170	03/10
98	Grove Rest. And Bar, The	15300 SE Mcloughlin	503-653-1930	12/10
98	Hale's Breakfast & Lunch	17502 SE Mcloughlin	503-659-7566	04/22
98	Lucky Lady Deli	16690 SE Mclouglin Blvd	503-786-5165	04/02
98	Milwaukie Cinemas	11011 SE Main	503-653-2222	03/13
98	Oak Grove Coffeehouse	2144 SE Oak Grove Blvd	503-654-4389	03/04
98	Original Philly's	17252 SE Mcloughlin	503-594-0303	02/25
98	Pizza Hut #2857	19640 Mcloughlin	503-722-8834	01/16
98	Providence Milw Hosp	10150 SE 32nd Ave	503-652-8300	04/21
98	Starbucks Coffee #3374	10826 SE Oak St	503-652-7962	01/10
98	Subway - Milw Mktplace	10818A SE Oak St	503-653-2100	02/19
98	Tebos Rest.	19120 SE Mcloughlin	503-655-6333	03/13
98	The Deli	4160 SE Int'l. Way #d10	503-786-9388	03/31
99	Baskin Robbins - Milwaukie	13735 SE Mcloughlin	503-654-2474	04/29
99	Dillinger's Pub Inc.	13305 SE Mcloughlin	503-652-8702	02/14
99	Great Waldo & Peper Warehs	13515 SE Mcloughlin	503-513-4949	01/28
99	Jack In The Box #7123	14811 SE Mcloughlin	503-353-9435	02/14
99	Quizno's	18040 SE Mcloughlin	503-652-1633	01/10
99	Starbucks Coffee #434	14620 SE Mcloughlin	503-659-3653	01/14

Best Restaurants of Milwukie, Oak Grove and Gladstone

Best, why? Because they aced their last health department inspection.

Folks, I've worked in public health, and some of the prettiest, cleanest-looking restaurants can be public health menaces. I think these establishments deserve kudos for getting it 100% right.

Tomorrow, I'll post the rest, including the Hall of Shame...

Amis Coffee Buzz	13119 SE Mcloughlin Bl	503-657-4975	03/12
Bally Total Fitness	4330 SE International Way	503-653-0377	01/17
Baskin Robbins	19510 SE Mcloughlin Blvd	503-656-0311	01/16
Bistro Catering	6025 SE Alderhill Loop	503-659-6216	05/14
Clackamas Rvr Racquet Club	790 82nd Drive	503-657-1806	01/22
Desert Inn	14535 SE Mcloughlin	503-654-6380	01/10
Doll House Tea Room, The	3223 SE Risley Ave	503-653-6809	11/28
East Side Athletic Club	4606 SE Boardman	503-659-3845	02/27
Foxy's	15224 SE Mcloughlin	503-353-6885	01/10
Frog Thai Cuisine, The	18601 SE Mcloughlin Bl #b	503-786-8893	12/26
Full Gospel Comm Church	4007 SE Llewellyn	503-774-2663	04/02
Gladstone Senior Center	1050 Portland Ave	503-655-7701	01/30
Gray Gables Estate	3009 SE Chestnut St	503-654-0470	04/02
Happy Restaurant	270 Portland Ave	503-657-4097	04/22
Holly Station	3610 SE Concord	503-724-9896	04/02
J Gelati	3650 Concord Road	503-382-9450	03/10
Jamba Juice - Milwaukie	10814 SE Oak St	503-513-6385	01/10
Joes Place Saloon	4400 SE International Way	503-653-6798	01/24
Kellog Bowl Inc	10306 Main St	503-659-1757	02/21
K-mart Deli #4406	13750 SE Johnson Rd	503-659-6773	04/22
Lew's Drive Inn	14911 SE Mcloughlin Bl	503-654-6648	03/17
Lighthouse	18010 SE Mcloughlin Blvd	503-312-1404	01/08
McQueen's Bar & Grill	14680 SE River Rd	503-736-3308	04/24
Milwaukie Bowl	3056 SE Harrison St	503-654-7719	02/21
Milwaukie Center	5440 SE Kellogg Creek Dr	503-653-8100	03/05
Milwaukie Christian Church	5197 SE King Rd	503-654-6597	02/20
Milwaukie Elks #2032	13121 Mcloughlin Blvd	503-654-9588	12/28
NCPRD Concession Stand	5440 SE Kellogg Creek	503-654-3030	03/05
Oxford Suites	75 SE 82nd Dr	503-650-0562	03/04
Round Table Pizza	16550 SE Mcloughlin Blvd	503-653-6444	05/01
Spring Creek Coffee House	10600 SE Mcloughlin Bl #105	503-496-5555	02/25
Sully's Cafe	2035 SE Jefferson St	503-786-0285	01/24
Tsunami Cafe	7300 SE Harmony Road	503-659-1756	12/26
Westwood Tan & Beauty	6960 SE Theissen	503-654-8171	03/05

Safety deposit boxes not safe from the state

Which is a safer place for your valuables: Under the mattress, or in a California safety deposit box?
Be surprised. Very surprised.

http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=4832471 or http://silverbearcafe.com/private/5.08/ripoff.html

Note that Oregon's safeguards in this area are also weak... and you can check to see if they have taken something of yours at http://www.oregon.gov/DSL/UP/yourmoney.shtml

We are top officials of the United States Senate Government who are interested in importation of oil into our country with funds that are presently...

CONFIDENTIAL/URGENT POLITICAL PROPOSAL

Dear Sir

First we must solicit your confidence in this issue. This is by virtue as being utterly confidential and "top secret".

We are SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON, the wife of the former United States head of state, PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, and also SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN, friend and associate of current head of state PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH. We got your contact through business inquiries as we were searching for contacts of a citizen who can help save our and our family's political careers since our country has been frustrating us.

We are top officials of the United States Senate Government who are interested in importation of oil into our country with funds that are presently trapped in the FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND dedicated to improving transportation. We wish to send this money to overseas accounts in the MIDDLE EAST but cannot due to restrictions in Congress Transportation Equity Act requiring that this money must be spent to build roads, bridges and high speed trains.

If you accept we will deliver to your a sum of 30 DOLLARS in the summer 2008 in form of a "GAS TAX HOLIDAY". You will then deliver this money to accounts of our friends in Middle East by taking it to your nearby gasoline station where they have information to forward the money. Please supply your bank account, social security number, address and your vote in DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES AND NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION.

But bear in mind that this transaction requires absolute confidentiality. Do not visit WWW.GASTAXSCAM.COM where there is information about dangers of our proposal and a petition to stop us from this diversion of funds.

PLEASE NOTIFY US URGENTLY OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THIS PROPOSAL

Awaiting your rapid response

Yours truly

SENATORS HILLARY CLINTON AND JOHN MCCAIN

Target matches Wal-Mart $4 prescription plan

Target stores just expanded, again, the list of generic drugs it sells for $4/30 day supply, to match the expanded Wal-Mart $4 prescription list. Excellent.

What will $10 / gal gas do to you?

http://www2.nysun.com/article/75363

Start thinking, for the cost of fuel is no longer the least expensive item in the cost of your ride.

The cost of fuel will no longer be the cheapest component in the cost of food.

How dependent is your job on cheap transport?

Go do your budget before you vote... and maybe ask your national candidates what they will do to encourage restoration of production in Mexico, Nigeria, and (oh, dare I say it) Iraq?

You'd think oil execs-turned-politicians would make darned sure Iraqi oil production was restored ASAP, if they had our best interests in mind... but, instead, ask your Democratic and Republican federal candidates, Jeff Merkeley, Steve Novick, Earl Blumenauer, Gordon Smith, et al. Ask early, ask often, and send me their responses.

Scientific expedition to Oregon quake swarm launches Friday

Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC) will launch an expedition to the area of hundreds of recent quakes offshore on Friday. Quakes hundreds of miles offshore, if small, pose no tsunami risk, but when the quakes start exceeding five?

Here's another map link, auto club tips on what to do if you're behind the wheel and a quake hits, and guidance on preparing your disater plan.

Plus, here's a link to multiple stories on the Oregon off-shore quake swarm:
http://news.google.com/?ncl=1151691996&hl=en&topic=t

Is Portland's gift to OHSU upside-down?

Here, Sam Adams admits Portland can't afford to pay its obligations to development plans in South Waterfront: http://bojack.org/2008/04/its_official_sowhat_is_broke.html

The Cos' and his campaign

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200805/cosby

There's a lot for us to listen to, regardless of our race.

Aghast at the Bush Administration

The Bush Administration may have a concealed internal legal opinion which, at their whim, makes any action of the National Security Agency, by fiat, legal, overruling the Fourth Amendment.   

... our Office recently concluded that the Fourth Amendment had no application to domestic military operations. See Memorandum for Alberto R. Gonzales, Counsel to the President, and William J. Haynes, II, General Counsel, Department of Defense, from John C. Yoo, Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Robert J. Delahunty, Special Counsel, Re: Authority for Use of Military Force to Combat Terrorist Activities Within the United States at 25 (Oct 23, 2001). (emphasis added)

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/04/administration-asserts-no-fourth-amendment-domestic-military-operations

Enhanced Law Enforcement Service District Citizens' Advisory Committee of the Clackamas Co. Sheriff (Part One of ...)

2008-03-06 Enhanced Law Enforcement Service District Citizens' Advisory Committee of the Clackamas Co. Sheriff (Part One of Two)

Opened 18:40 on 3/06 at the Public Safety Training Center by John E. Bartley, Vice-Chair, a tech writer @ Intel who lives on Oatfield Hill above Oak Grove. Absent: Chair Ralph Radmer


1. Introductions

Bill Andrews, lives by Rex Putnam HS
Kristen Buren, Customer Service Rep for Laminations in Wilsonville
Paul Ellison, Bank of the West, Webster & Clackamas
Ron Hinson, Customer Service Mgr for the Estacada branch of BOTW, lives by Clackamas HS
Trish Jorgenson, retired nurse, Maple Lane
Charlie Paul, USAF (Ret.), Miramonte Point
Shelly Radmer, Investigator, lives near 152nd/Sunnyside
Nancy Whitley, retired teacher from Oak Grove

Ex-officio members
Kathleen Stewart, CCSO Administration for 6 yrs & Main staff to committee
Patrol Captain Dave O'Shaugnessey

Brief discussion of roles of chair & vice chair by Kathleen. Chair sets tone of meeting, plans agenda, can assemble letters & speak for the committee. Vice-chair fills in for chair when chair absent.



2. Discussion of 2008 Sheriff's goals


2.1 (Captain Dave O'Shaugnessey) Interviewed for all 14 unfilled patrol officer positions; six or seven are in background checks (six weeks to several months), rest awaiting other requirements or have start dates. 171.5 FTEs allocated including ELED and levy positions. No college requirement for an officer; last week eight interviews were conducted; four had degrees, and three about to graduate from college. Nancy asked about diversity of applicants; Capt. O'S. replied they have; Spanish speakers, Asian, other diverse members.


2.2 Increasing training opportunities for all staff.

Certification agency requires only 84 hrs every 3 years; the CCSO dept std is 40 hrs/yr. All supervisors are trained in crisis intervention including dealing with the mentally ill, and 40 of the deputies also trained. Also sharing training w/ other agencies to share costs.


2.3 Five-year strategic plan; collecting all-employee input before new plan written.


2.4 Work hard to consolidate all staff into one building, very cramped and spread across multiple sites. Want to consolidate all in soon-to-vacate Sunnybrook building (ETA EOY) but civil (required to be in the courthouse), property and special investigations not be consolidated. Will keep the dollar-a-year Shaver building below the County Public Services Complex which was donated by the Feds. County administration not yet approved. Old co. fin plan counted on selling Sunnybrook Building for 5M$ to pay for new Development Services Building, and the county is working on alternatives.


2.5 Open remaining closed jail beds ASAP; 44 remaining just opened. 500 early releases/mo now, this will reduce. New jail needed to eliminate it. Bill commented on War On Drugs as a bad joke.


2.6 Implement inmate work crews as per levy, but will limit to low risk criminals.


2.7 Beginning new design jail construction at current site of Dog Control, ASAP. New podular design will have 880 beds and will staff w/ current jail employees (which only serves less than 500.) Still planning, project management assigned to Capt. Howard.


2.8 Expand CCITF interagency task force, does ton of work on middle- and upper- level criminals, but expect increase in crime in September 2009 when Tri-Met opens Green Line at Town Center. (Ed. note: Tri-Met is unhelpful in addressing concerns.)


2.9 How to use better new staffing from levy; Patrol? Detectives? A full-time crime analyst position was created to watch for crime changes. The department is interviewing the top six candidates within two weeks, with a hire following soon thereafter.


2.10 Relationship between Community Corrections (Parole & Probation, Work Release) now supervised by Co. Administrator) & the CCSO. Decisions of Community Corrections affect what can be done w/ jail resources. Consultant studying now.


2.11 Identify & plan for long term funding; several other counties went to dedicated funding assessment. The CCSO budget was $62M last year, $40M from county general revenue funds, but timber monies are shrinking, which makes more counties shift to general fund sources and consider a dedicated tax assessment just for law enforcement.


Capt. O'Shaugnessy was in a work session w/ Commission last week on creating a county Justice Court (not Community Court, which is similar to a diversion program). Nineteen Oregon counties have 32 Justice Courts for traffic violations, evictions and other landlord-tenant matters, and perhaps code violations. It would increase the county's share of revenue from fines levied, an important financial improvement.

Justice Courts were consolidated into District Courts in the 50s, and in the 90s, District Courts were absorbed into Circuit Courts. Commissioners have authority to establish it, but presiding judge expressed unidentified concerns and then cd not attend the workshop, but judge in Lane Co. (which has a Justice Court) had excellent info. Next step is a month out. Last time it went to commission, one commissioner wanted public input, so all the county's Community Planning Organizations were consulted and all like it.

Now, Commissioner Peterson is new to the commission and needs to be brought up to speed.

Each motor officer writes about 2,000 citations/yr, resulting in 5,000 court appearances with at least 2 hrs off patrol per hearing. A Justice Court would reduce the time motor officers are off patrol and increase service to the public, another of the many advantages of a Justice Court.


3. Surveys: A packet to provide info to the public within the ELED only as well as ask the public their concerns. Dick Jones of the Oak Grove CC did pick some up & had at their 2/20 meeting. Many returns have come back & are ready to compile. (Chair Ralph Radmer arrived). Trish volunteered to compile them and John volunteered to help her with preparing a form to automate the compilation.

4. Patrol: Oregon City plans to annex 166 acres which would remove it from the ELED and Lake Oswego has several single lots to annex as well. Both would remove those properties from the tax base of the ELED. The Commission will consider these annexations at their April 16 public hearing.


A list of categorized calls for service and reported crimes from 1/1/2008 to 10AM today (3/06/200) was distributed. In that period, there were over 9,000 calls for service, resulting in 1,095 reports written.


(Ed. Note: Those reports will be scanned and posted on Clackablog later.)


The new Green Line MAX is due to open in the fall of 2009. The CCSO is concerned more crime at end of the line and the stop preceding is likely, and the department prepares an aggressive plan to discourage crime from the beginning. TriMet says TriMet crime happens on TriMet property, but that excludes crime which led from their property. Gresham, Portland and Hillsboro track crime near TriMet stops, and several years of statistics will help the CCSO understand any changes caused by TriMet-delivered criminals.


(Ed. Note: Sadly, TriMet is not directly responsible to the people, insulated as it is from the electorate by its appointed board.)


Annual incident reports were also provided. Kristin asked for definitions of categories; Capt. O'Shaugnessy noted ORS chapter 160 explains the crime categories. The demarcation between the 99E and 82nd areas is Webster Rd, and 205/Schumacher is the boundary for the Clackamas area.


(Ed. Note: Those reports will also be scanned and posted on Clackablog later.)


5. A revenue forecast was not yet ready for the ELED CAC to consider. Nancy asked what the tax rate is; John noted the original tax rate is reduced by millage caps, a percentage reduction which changes with every change in all assessments as per caps imposted by ballot measures.


6. Election of Chair & Vice Chair for CY2008.


Ralph and John were elected unanimously to serve another term, with no competition or dissent.


7. A free-ranging discussion of possible priorities for the ELED followed, and the perceptions, and misperceptions, of the public. The recurring myth that the ELED does not get what they paid for was dissected, and John explained the cause.

When the ELED was created, a specific goal of (35?) more road deputies was prominent in the original campaign. However, since then, the tax rate caps mandated by statewide ballot measures reduce every tax assessment to fit under the cap, including the ELED tax rate. The people of the ELED are not allowed to pay as much as we need to collect enough to reach that original goal, but the ELED does get what we pay for.



The committee adjourned at 20:10, with the next mtng planned for 18:30 on Thursday 1 May, also in the PTSC unless announced otherwise.

ELED History + Sheriff's Services to cities

Here's a map of the District (requires Adobe Reader; it's 2MB, a long download on dial-up).

The District was approved by voters in the November 1994 general election and became effective July 1, 1995. Its purpose is to increase the level of sheriff's patrols to meet the increased demand of urban Clackamas County. It serves approximately 85,000 residents in the unincorporated areas of Clackamas County within the Urban Growth Boundary, and the city of Johnson City. - From a county press release.

Scroll down to Other Counties in Oregon in this report from Multnomah County for an auditor's perspective on the ELED.

In Clackamas County, cities were invited to join unincorporated areas within the urban growth boundary in the establishment of an Enhanced Law Enforcement District (ELED) with a tax base which supports an additional .5 officers per thousand in addition to the rural level of .5 per thousand. Johnson City and Happy Valley joined the ELED, but Wilsonville chose to continue its contract with the Sheriff.

Also of interest:

The Clackamas County Sheriff has contracts with Estacada and Wilsonville to provide patrol services. The Sheriff's Office reports that no patrol services are provided to these cities free of charge. The cities pay an hourly rate for patrol services which the Sheriff's Office claims is fully costed, including both departmental and County overhead. The current hourly rate for a deputy is $51.84, and for a lieutenant $60.50.

Writing to the County Commissioners

This link, bcc@co.clackamas.or.us sends an e-mail to all three, using the default e-mail client of your computer. The Commissioner's office may also be reached at phone: 503-655-8581 or by fax at 503-742-5919.

To send a message to only Commissioner Martha Schrader or Commission Vice-Chair Bill Kennemer, put 'Dear Commissioner Schrader' or 'Dear Commission Vice-Chair Kennemer' in the subject line, as per the Commissioner's office with whom I just spoke.


Chair Lynn Peterson has her own posted e-mail address lynnpet@co.clackamas.or.us, but uses the same phone and fax numbers.

Casa de Tamales

The current lunch/dinner menu for Casa de Tamales may be found at tinyurl.com/yub5au. Dinner there last week found their asparagas tamales, the same as these folks have served at the Farmer's Market for years, to still be very fine.

HELP: How do you pick a feline cardiologist?

3 y.o. DSH/Scottish Fold ('straight fold'), 5.5 kilos, energetic and outgoing.


Fast Eddie was taken to vet for bolting his kibble (behavioural issue; why, well, you'd have to ask him, as he is Top Cat in the household, dominant over a 10 y.o. Scottish Fold and a 3 y.o. Flame Point Siamese longhaired tub-o'-lard).

Vet observed a heart murmor, rated slighly over 3 on a scale of 1 to 6. Radiographs and bloodwork due back tomorrow, cardiomyopathy or hyperthyroid likely causes.

So, how do you pick a feline cardiologist? The closest vet schools are OSU in Corvallis, WSU in Pullman and UC Davis, but Portland Magazine does not profile vets like they do MDs.

Open for comments, via K7AAY ayt ARRL daht NET

Biodiesel B99 and E85 Ethanol get state tax credits

Beginning 1 Oct 2007, Oregonians get a 24 cents per gallon income tax credit for B99 biodiesel, which we use in the Jeep, as per Oregon House Bill 2210.

If we had an E85-capable car, that same income tax credit would apply to it, and there's also a five cents per gallon credit for biodiesel used in home heating systems. (Biodiesel can be used in just about any home oil furnace, although it's a good solvent and will knock loose a lot of crud which may cause problems... and it doesn't smell like dead dinosaurs when you heat your house. Kewl.)

There's a cap of $200 per taxpayer for the credit, which I will surely reach in a full year's time. Figure 20 gallons a week, 52 weeks in a year and $3.37/gallon right now for B99 at Jay's Garage or Bluesky Fuel vs an effective $3.13/gallon after the rebate, and I'd see a $250 rebate if not capped.

20 GAL/WK * 52 WK/YR * $0.24/GAL = $249.60

Hmm. Better buy a logging program for the smartphone, and a backup paper logbook.

Calendar of Public Meetings, July 2007

Calendar of Public Meetings
July 2007
(Meeting times and places may change so data should be confirmed in advance.)


Every Sunday
9:30 AM - 2:30 PM Milwaukie Sunday Farmers’ Market in downtown Milwaukie.

Tuesday the 3rd
11:15 AM I-205 Light Rail Ground Breaking at Clackamas Town Center.

Wednesday the 4th
Happy 4th of July. Go read the Bill of Rights!

Thursday the 5th
9:00 AM Land Use Hearing @ SSC/Sunnybrook Service Center, 9101 SE Sunnybrook Blvd.
No Board of Commissioner Hearing.
3:00 PM Code Compliance Hearing at SSC.

Monday the 9th
6:30 PM Planning Commission meeting at SSC (possible).

Tuesday the 10th
8:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
6:30 PM Oak Lodge Sanitary monthly Board meeting at Board offices.

Wednesday the 11th
7:00 PM CIA meeting at Rose Villa 13505 SE River Rd.
Discussion of Transit and Transportation as a Community Value.

Thursday the 12th
10:00 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at Public Service Building, Kaen Road, Oregon City.
7:00 PM North Clackamas School Board meets in Board offices.
7:00 PM Historic Review Board meets at SSC.

Tuesday the 17th
8:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
7:00 PM Oak Lodge Water District Board meeting at District offices on River Road.
7:00 PM County Committee for Citizen Involvement meets at PSB.

Wednesday the 18th
6:30 PM CCSD#1 Wastewater study committee meets at SSC.

Thursday the 19th
9:00 AM Land Use Hearing at Sunnybrook Service Center (SSC).
No Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB.

Monday the 23rd
6:30 PM Planning Commission meeting at SSC.
7:00 PM Fire District No. 1 Board meets at Mt. Scott Fire Station.

Tuesday the 24th
8:00 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
5:30 PM NCCWC meets at plant on Clackamas River Dr.
6:00 PM North Clackamas Parks and Rec District Advisory Board meets with the BCC in a joint meeting at Happy Valley Park.
7:00 PM Jennings Lodge CPO meets at Homewoods Heights.

Wednesday the 25th
4:00 PM North Clackamas Park Stewardship Committee meets at the Milwaukie Center.
7:00 PM Oak Lodge Community Council meets at OLSD offices.

Thursday the 26th
10:00 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB.

Monday the 30th
2:00 PM BCC Planning meeting on Historic Preservation PSB Room 255.

Tuesday the 31st
8:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.

Agenda, Oak Lodge Community Council meeting tonight

Oak Lodge Community Council
AGENDA
June 27, 2007
Oak Lodge Sanitary office

Oak Grove, Oregon


7:00 PM -- Call to Order: Dick Jones, Chairperson


ROLL CALL: Roland Atkinson, Bill Bader, Catherine Blosser, Bill Brown, Wilma Brown, Frank Budwill, Jane Civiletti, Sue Conachan, Edith Coulter, Rosemary Crites, George Dietz, Lynn Fisher, Jerry Foy, Bryn Gillem, Chuck Gode, Mike Grant, Milo Haas, Thelma Haggenmiller, Eleanore Hunter, David Jelinek, Dick Jones, Jim Knapp, Alan Koch, Gloria Koch, Elinor Kuhns, Bill Neels, Elaine Neels, Chuck Petersen, Margaret Pritchard, Paul Savas, Henry Schmidt, George Schneider, Eugene Schoenheit, Eric Shawn, Susan Shawn, Kent Squires, Julie Stanley, Blair Stephens, Charlie Stephens, Dr. Elton Storment, Bob Waldt, Leonard Waldemar, Joanne Weaver, Roy Wikman and Doug Woods.


7:02 PM – Introduction of Attendees


Name, area of residence and position in the Oak Lodge Community Council, if applicable.


7:05 PM – Council Reports

Treasurer’s Report – Sue Conachan


Minutes from May 23, 2007 for approval


7:10 PM Sheriff’s Report – Lt. Chuck Slaney


7:15 PM – Special Presentation – South Corridor Light Rail


7:50 PM - District Reports:


Bill Stewart, Urban Livability and Crime


Clackamas County Fire District #1 – Scott Weninger


Oak Lodge Water District – Jim Knapp


Oak Lodge Sanitary District – Kent Squires


Clackamas County Service District CAC – Jim Knapp


Page 2


8:10 PM – Land Use Issues for Voting


Introduction of procedures by Chairperson. Eligibility for Voting, Time Limits, presentations by those in favor, the Council’s on-site review and those opposed.


Z0373-07, Z0374-07-Z This is an 8-lot subdivision request and a zone change request from R-10 to R-8.5. It contains 2.0 acres and is located at 3201 SE Westview Ave. The area is zoned R-10.


Z0406-07, Z0407-07-V This is a request to partition a property into three parcels with an existing house on one parcel. It is .85 acres at 3823 Aldercrest Rd. It is zoned R10. Additionally the applicant requests a variance for the front setback from 20 feet to 16 feet.


Z0416-07 This is request partition into two parcels a lot containing two existing dwellings. The parcel is .7 acres and is zoned R-8.5 at 3845 SE Spaulding Ave.


Update on Land Use Applications:


Z1024-05 This was a request by the applicant for the Hearings officer to make a decision on a five lot subdivision. This is located at 4610 Whipple Ave. This site contains .84 acres and is zoned R-7. The staff recommended denial because of possible landslide issues. The applicant has two weeks to demonstrate the property is not landslide prone. Other issues continue to be problems as well include sidewalks and stormwater issues.


Update on the Bike/Ped proposal.


8:40 PM General Matters for Discussion


Sexual Predator update: See the attached sheets outlining two new offenders.


Trolley Trail update- Thelma Haggenmiller


FUTURE PUBLIC MEETINGS


Council meetings:

July 25, 2007 August 22, 2007 September 26, 2007

OLCC/CIA at Rose Villa unless otherwise noted.


July 11, 2007 August 8, 2007 September 12, 2007


Special meetings, if required to vote on land use issues, will be held in conjunction with the monthly CIA meeting normally on the second Wednesday of each month.


9:00 PM – Meeting Adjourned meeting tonight

Oak Lodge Community Council on Wednesday

Wednesday June 27th is the Oak Lodge Community Council meeting. It will meet at 7:00 PM, in the regular location, the Administration Building of the Oak Lodge Sanitary District at 14611 SE River Road.

A half hour discussion of the Light Rail issue from Clackamas County’s Transportation group, with Metro and TriMet personnel, is planned, plus a number of Land Use applications.

Oak Grove | Calendar of Public Meetings | June 2007

Calendar of Public Meetings
June 2007

Sundays
9:30 AM - 2:30 PM Milwaukie Farmers’ Market in downtown Milwaukie.


Monday the 4th
6:00 PM Fire District No. 1 Board meets at Mt. Scott Fire Station.
6:30 PM Planning Commission meeting at the Sunnybrook Service Center to discuss changes to the Essential Ped. Network.

Tuesday the 5th
9:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.

Wednesday the 6th
7:00 PM Traffic Safety Commission meets at SSC.

Thursday the 7th
9:00 AM Land Use Hearing at Sunnybrook Service Center (SSC).
1:30 PM Homeless Planning PSB..
6:45 PM C-4 meets at SSC.

Monday the 11th
6:00 PM Harmony Rd. Project Advisory Committee meets at OIT.

Tuesday the 12th
7:30 AM County’s Green Ribbon Committee meets at SSC.
9:00 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
6:30 PM Oak Lodge Sanitary monthly Board meeting at Board offices.

Wednesday the 13th
7:00 PM CIA meets at Rose Villa 13505 SE River Rd. Discussion of Hamlets and Villages with Christine Roth.

Thursday the 14th
10:00 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB.
6:00 PM North Clackamas Parks and Rec District Advisory Board meets at Happy Valley City Hall.
7:00 PM NC12 School board meets in Board offices.
7:00 PM Historic Review Board meets at SSC.


Monday the 18th
7:00 PM Fire District No. 1 Board meets at Mt. Scott Fire Station.

Tuesday the 19th
8:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
7:00 PM Oak Lodge Water District Board meeting at District offices.
7:00 PM Committee for Citizen Involvement meets at the PSB.

Wednesday the 20th
9:30 AM Board of Commissioner’s Land Use Hearing in Board Hearing room at PSB. This Hearing will hear actions on the Essential Ped. Network from the Planning Commission of June 4th.
6:30 PM CCSD#1 Wastewater study committee meets at SSC.

Thursday the 21st
9:00 AM Land Use Hearing at Sunnybrook Service Center (SSC).
10:00 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB.
7:00 PM NC12 School board meets in Board offices.

Monday the 25th
6:00 PM Harmony Rd. Project-Community Workshop at OIT.
6:30 PM Planning Commission meets at SSC.

Tuesday the 26th
8:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
1:30 PM County’s Long-term Visioning meets at PSB room 255.
7:00 PM Jennings Lodge CPO meets at Homewoods Heights.

Wednesday the 27th
9:00 AM Green Ribbon Draft Report meeting in BCC offices.
4:00 PM North Clackamas Park Stewardship Committee meets at the Milwaukie Center.
7:00 PM Oak Lodge Community Council meets at OLSD offices.

Thursday the 28th
9:00 AM Land Use Hearing at Sunnybrook Service Center (SSC).
10:00 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB.

Friday the 29th
8:30 AM C-4 Summer Retreat at Museum of the Oregon Territory.


Note meeting times and places may change so data should be confirmed in advance.

VOTE by 8PM today

Voting closes for the special election at 8PM today. Make sure to turn in your ballot at the Oak Grove library or another authorized location; call the elections office at 503 655 6510 if you can't find your ballot.

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it - George Santayana

Robert A. Heinlein died 19 years ago today... this blog entry honors him and his quest for passing on the torch of freedom.

He created honor for all of us, everywhere he went, with everything he wrote. A stellar example is this book, written when television did not dominate politics, and political parties really mattered.

Much of the social history of the Western world over the past three decades has involved replacing what worked with what sounded good - Thomas Sowell

Reading this non-fiction book opened my eyes to the virtues, yes, virtues, of partisan politics, when the enormous power of the damned noisy box did not lead us astray into discarding partisan politics, replacing it with the hollow shell of the Demopublican and Republicrat parties today.

And, partisan politics still works today, on the local level. I've been asked, as a consequence of my service on the county sheriff's Enhanced Law Enforcement District Advisory Committee, to comment on a proposal to expand and revamp the county commission. In my response, I advocated the preservation of a partisan vote for the commission, instead of making it non-partisan.

Partisan politics *assures* competition on nearly every issue, and raises the bar of discourse and thought in civic affairs, for the greatest peril of a democracy is apathy. When citizens, the ultimate judges of truth and right, can no longer be bothered to vote, an oligargic elite can rule a placid, uncaring populace of sheeple.

And, in Oregon, our vote-by-mail system provides us with high turnout, low fraud and very high accuracy, a blessing when fighting voter apathy, for when it's easy to rig the system (see Diebold's vote editing machines as one small example), apathy increases, so I hope you Oregonians will continue to support vote-by-mail.

Last month, Tim Russert gave some worthy insight in a Bill Moyers PBS special (downloadable here) program on media blindness to bad intelligence. Russert emphasized the bipartisan system, especially when the press is lazy or has limited resources, is very important to revealing errors in government.

Even when I am one of those partisans, I appreciate the advantage of an honest critic, and when Clackamas County doesn't have an aggressive watchdog press, we need partisan opposition to assure the best government possible.

History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, however, if faced with courage, need not be lived again - Maya Angelou

We can learn from history, and I have learned that the ability of concerned, earnest Americans is increasingly irrelvant because of 'non-partisan' politics; for, all politics have partisans, and the 'non-partisan' lie merely makes it easier to mask the true interests of those invisible partisans.

I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain - John Adams

It is time, now more than ever, to study politics and war. Heinlein explained first principles of what served us well through two centuries of social progress in Take Back Your Government, and he's well worth reading if you ever want to be an agent of liberty.

Fatherland Security, There You Go Again

The agency that can't protect the identity data of its own employees has another ill-conceived scheme, the REAL ID system. Never mind that if one security document is all that's needed, criminals will learn how to forge it and cops/security folks will be lulled into accepting it.

Read up on it, and then TODAY, NOW, send this to DHS, who obviously is far too busy doing a miserable job of rebuilding New Orleans to consider how many ways this violates Federal Law, the intent of the Congress and the spirit of the Constitutiuon (especially the Ninth Amendment).

May 8, 2007


Fax: 1 (866) 466-5370
oscomments@dhs.gov

Department of Homeland Security
Attn: NAC 1-12037
Washington, D.C. 20538

RE: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking DHS-2006-0030

Dear Secretary Chertoff:

Because the Department of Homeland Security is creating an illegal national identification system, I write to urge the agency to withdraw the regulations and seek repeal of the REAL ID Act. The attempt to create rules for the establishment of a national identification system is unlawful for the following reasons:

1. The law that created the Department of Homeland Security prohibited a national identification system. By trying to implement REAL ID, the Department of Homeland Security is breaking the law and violating the public trust.
2. The plan will create a massive national identification system without adequate privacy and security safeguards. It will also make it more difficult for people to get driver's licenses. And it will make it too easy for identity thieves, stalkers, and corrupt government officials to get access to such personal information as a home address, age, and Social Security number.
3. The regulations endanger the privacy of domestic violence survivors' personal information, exposing them to stalkers in all 50 states.
4. If the regulations are not withdrawn, then the Department of Homeland Security must FULLY APPLY all provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 to this REAL ID system, including the right to limit the use of personal information collected by the federal government, access the data collected about them; correct any mistakes in the data; and turn to the court system to apply for redress.

We the people were unable to speak during the rushed passage of REAL ID. We are speaking now and we are demanding that the Department of Homeland Security reject this illegal national identification system.

Respectfully submitted,

Oak Grove Citizens Informed and Aware May meeting

May 9, 2007, 7:00 p.m.

The Oak Lodge Community Council monthly CIA (Citizens, Informed and Aware) meeting will be held at 7 PM Wednesday May 9, 2007 at Rose Villa, 13505 SE River Rd. We will be in the Fellowship Hall. Please do not park Rose Villa’s campus; either park on River Rd. or in the lot at Torbank.

Our topic is “Community Values”. Community Values include trees, paths and sidewalks, housing, libraries, jobs, Urban Renewal Districts, transit and surface water. Our values are a collection of each of our values. Please join us.

This a great topic because Clackamas County’s Community Congress V will occur this Saturday May 12th. You can still register for the Congress online at www.co.clackamas.or.us/community.

If you have questions call 503.730.6401 or E-mail Dick Jones' e-mail address.

Low Pork Diet

Oregon, it seems, is on a low pork diet. Only five cents per person of federal cash spent here (totalling $177,160) was obtained by the congressional chicanery known as 'earmarks.'

Who's Number One? Why the District of Columbia, at $1.19 per resident.

Four Dead In O Hi O

Not the first time the US Military turned on innocent Americans.
Not the last, either.
Hope we learned something, though.
Some of us.

Internet Radio Equality Act

Call the offices of The. Hon. Representative Darlene Hooley at 202-225-5711 and let her know that you want her to sponsor HR 2060, The Internet Radio Equality Act, which:
1. Cancels the Copyright Royalty Board decision which would make web radio stations pay as much as 30 times more for the same music satellite radio gets, for much less. The bill sets royalty rates at 7.5% of revenues – the same rate that satellite radio pays – for 2006-2010; and
2. Change the rate-setting standard currently used by the CRB to determine Internet radio royalties, and substitute the standard that applies to most other statutory licenses, including satellite radio, jukeboxes and sound recording.

It's only fair, and without some equity, Internet Radio will crash and burn. I know I sure can't find Cape Breton folk music on the road, any other way, and I'm sure you can think of moments where the right music was a balm unto your soul.

More details here.