Gloves, Mittens, Hats and Socks

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Friday November 30, 2012 · 11:13 AM PST

2012/11/30 · 11:13

On Wednesday, I wrote "He Said "I'm Sorry"". In that diary, I wrote about giving a homeless man my gloves. And as a result of that experience, I concluded that when possible, I would begin to hand out winter clothing to the homeless people that I encounter.

As I mentioned in my previous diary, I am a frequent thrift store shopper. And my favorite local thrift store offers a 25% "VIP" discount card for use on Fridays. So today, I visited the store and picked up the following:

2 pairs of insulated leather work gloves
2 pairs of thick wool knit mittens
2 wool knit hats
3 fleece balaclava hats (full face ski mask type hats, which also cover the neck)
3 pairs of thick wool socks

djmiklethun

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Wednesday November 28, 2012 · 11:46 AM PST

2012/11/28 · 11:46

In Minneapolis, where I live, highway off-ramps and busy intersections are often populated with homeless people. Many hold the familiar cardboard signs, with messages scrawled in magic marker, asking for help of some kind. For years, I passed these people by without much thought. I suppose I thought that they might make better use of their time by seeking employment. And I'm not sure exactly how I came to shift my thinking, but I've been more inclined to giving something when I can. I suppose that handling questions from my two children has something to do with my change. (It's a challenging topic to cover with a six year old and a four year old.)

In the summer months, I've taken to carrying a case of bottled water. When I'm approaching someone with a sign, I typically roll down my window and hold a bottle out as I get near so that they have a chance to move towards the curb before I stop. (I like to keep my stop as short as possible as there's often traffic behind me.) To date, no one has ever declined my offer of water and virtually all have offered thanks.

djmiklethun

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Saturday December 06, 2008 · 9:57 AM PST

2008/12/06 · 09:57

I was at my parent's house yesterday. And my mom told me a story about a recent trip to the grocery store that made me proud. The story begins as she was at the service counter. She overheard another customer asking a store employee whether they sold jumper cables. The employee told her that they did not. The customer then asked for ideas about where else she might buy them nearby. The clerk directed her to a local big box hardware store, about a half mile away. (Not a pleasant walk, as it's a busy suburban highway stoplight hell. And it's cold here in Minnesota right now.) The woman was clearly in distress and mentioned that she'd been trying to get help in the parking lot for almost an hour, with no luck.

At this point, my mom stepped in and told the woman that she would help her out. She told the woman that she (my mom that is) had to go home, but my dad would come over and help her get her car started.

djmiklethun

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Monday December 12, 2005 · 6:45 AM PST

2005/12/12 · 06:45

Our house was burglerized last night. The asshole kicked in our back door and garage side door. He/(she?) stole my wife's laptop, her bike and my beloved snowblower. (I live in Minnesota and only got to use it once.)

So now we've lost these items and will have to spend a bunch of dough in order to repair the doors. Thankfully, I have two unemployed friends who are extremely capable home repair types.

I called our insurance company this morning. We have a twenty five hundred dollar deductable. I was advised that if we have two "non-weather related claims in three years", the company would drop us. Now who's stealing from us? We've paid our premiums each month. We've never before had a claim. More on the flip... Read More

Cowards - Rethugs leave anonymous lit

djmiklethun

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Friday October 29, 2004 · 1:33 PM PDT

2004/10/29 · 13:33

My wife has now received two anonymous pieces of lit in her mailbox at work. The most recent:

To All American Voters,

I am a senior citizen. During the Clinton Administration I had an extremely good and well paying job. I took numerous vacations and had several vacation homes. Since President Bush took office, I have watched my entire life change for the worse.

I lost my job.
I lost my two sons in that terrible Iraqi War.
I lost my homes.
I lost my health insurance.

As a matter of fact I lost virtually everything and became homeless. Adding insult to injury, when the authorities found me living like an animal, instead of helping me, they arrested me. I will do anything that Senator Kerry wants to insure that a Democrat is back in the White House come next year. Bush has to go.

I just thought you would like to know how one senior citizen views the Bush Administration.

Thank you for taking time to read my letter.

Sincerely,
Saddam Hussein Read More

MN - Repub Durenburger - Kerry Health Plan Better

djmiklethun

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday October 27, 2004 · 11:57 AM PDT

2004/10/27 · 11:57

Dave Durenburger, former republican MN Senator has turned some heads with an editorial in todays Star Tribune. The rats continue to abandon ship.

David Durenberger: For health care security, Kerry has the better plan

The presidential candidates are debating whether Iraq or the economy is headed in the right direction, but no one can dispute that the health care trend line is going in the wrong direction.

With 5 million more uninsured Americans, bringing the total to 45 million (including a 12 percent increase in uninsured Minnesotans in the last year), family insurance premiums up more than $3,500 (including a 59 percent jump in Minnesota), prescription drug costs up over 70 percent, and businesses struggling to afford health care and stay competitive, there can be no doubt that we need to change our policy
course.

More after the break....

djmiklethun

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday October 26, 2004 · 8:49 PM PDT

2004/10/26 · 20:49

Minnesota Secretary of State, Mary Kiffmeyer continues her partisan hackery, as described in the local alt weekly City Pages

Kiffmeyer's "friends and family" election observer corps stirs controversy

Mary's Election Posse
Two election-related stories broke on local newscasts on Friday, October 15. In the more visible of the two, the state GOP filed suit over an allegedly disparate number of Democratic election judges in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. The partisan imbalance in the rolls of election judges in these counties raised doubts about the fairness of the election, GOP representative Mindy Tucker-Carlson told reporters. "You need people to have faith in the system," the Associated Press quoted her as saying. "For people to have faith in the system they need to think it's fair. They need to trust the vote tabulation that comes out." Critics of the suit were quick to point out that no one had criticized the performance of the state's election judges, Democrat or Republican, in previous elections.
More below the fold..

djmiklethun

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Saturday October 23, 2004 · 2:42 PM PDT

2004/10/23 · 14:42

The Kerry campaign has sucked me in bit by bit. Early this year I was immersed in election news in the daily papers. Then I began to read blogs. First Atrios, then Talking Points Memo, Then dKos. The diaries describing activism led to massive feelings of guilt for me. I started donating money to just about everybody who asked. I then went to a rally featuring John Edwards on Labor Day. (My first political rally ever!) I went to the Kerry rally in Minneapolis two nights ago. It was there that I decided I had to do more than read about the election.

More below the fold. Read More

MN 4th - Worst Congressional Candidate Ever

djmiklethun

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday October 20, 2004 · 9:54 PM PDT

2004/10/20 · 21:54

Local reporter Paul Demko describes 4th Congressional District republican candidate Patrice Bataglia's recent foray into talk radio as "train wreck radio". Her snafus include:

"...stating that Saddam Hussein used biological weapons on U.S. troops during the Iran-Iraq war."

She also asserts: "that biological weapons are not weapons of mass destruction."

Demko reports the story in more depth in his weblog for the Twin Cities alternative weekly City Pages See more below the fold.
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Gloves, Mittens, Hats and Socks

He Said "I'm Sorry"

I'm proud of my parents

Insurance is a scam!

Cowards - Rethugs leave anonymous lit

MN - Repub Durenburger - Kerry Health Plan Better

MN- Sec State Hires Partisan Election Observers

I'm finally a volunteer.

MN 4th - Worst Congressional Candidate Ever