Taking the train w/poll

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

Saturday April 04, 2009 · 9:03 AM PDT

2009/04/04 · 09:03

Unfortunately I have recently switched job locations from one that was 20-30 min from my house (depending on traffic) to one that is at least 75 min. The good news is the new location is very convenient for taking the train (and my employer provides a shuttle from the staition to the workplace). I have noticed that some of my co-workers use the train time to catch up on thier sleep, unfortunately I haven't been able to do that. I'm asking my fellow Kossacks for ideas on what to do during these rides.

Poll

70 votes Show Results

I do/would do the following on a long train commute

70 votes Vote Now!

I do/would do the following on a long train commute

Sleep

5 votes

Read

38 votes

Work

6 votes

Compose excellent diaries

3 votes

Talk

0 votes

Play games

0 votes

Listen to music

5 votes

Eat

1 vote

Meditate

2 votes

Something else

8 votes

You couldn't pay me enough to take the train

1 vote

pie

1 vote

What I did on my summer vacation w/photos

Sacramento Dem

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

Wednesday August 06, 2008 · 10:25 PM PDT

2008/08/06 · 22:25

My kids will soon be headed back to school, so we took one last summer trip. Money is tight so we decided that a camping trip would be the lower cost way to go. We left mid-week and headed for the eastern Sierras. After ridiculously poor air-quality in Sacramento for weeks, we were very pleased to find bright blue skies. When we left home I noticed gas was (only) $3.99 a gallon, in Bridgeport it was $5.19 and it wasn't much better in Lee Vining (just east of Yosemite). We found a beautiful campsite along a delightful stream and set up camp. Our location was close to a natural hot spring, which was nice for all the little aches and pains. More...

Sacramento Dem

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

Wednesday August 06, 2008 · 1:27 AM PDT

2008/08/06 · 01:27

This is not a diary to convince people to embrace the suburban lifestyle, rather it is more like an addict trying to come to terms with their addiction. I was raised in the suburbs and I have many fond memories from that time. I think if Americans are going to embrace an alternative to suburban living, it will need to be more attractive than the choices currently available (at least those available on a large scale). Please follow me over the jump as I outline some of the obstacles to getting Americans out of their suburban ways and into something more sustainable.

Sacramento Dem

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

Friday July 25, 2008 · 10:29 PM PDT

2008/07/25 · 22:29

Wilson: How do you know that, Mr. Chairman?

Ervin: Because I can understand the English language. It is my mother tongue.
Sam Ervin during Watergate hearings

I used to feel that way, that I understood the meaning of words. Lately I've been having my doubts. As a young child I was a bit behind in learning to read, and much of what I read in grade-school was dreadfully boring (see Spot run). In Jr High School I read my first novel and I was hooked.

Now I see my language, a wonderful precise tool for communication becoming as squishy as the handling on an Oldsmobile station wagon. For sure some of the blame goes to our current President. If forcing so much water into someone's lungs that they believe they will drown isn't

Torture: the deliberate, systematic, or wanton infliction of physical or mental suffering by one or more persons in an attempt to force another person to yield information or to make a confession

, than I clearly don't know what that word means.

But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.
George Orwell

Sacramento Dem

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

Sunday July 13, 2008 · 12:24 PM PDT

2008/07/13 · 12:24

Like most of you, I struggle with the high price of gasoline. Personally I have been making changes to cope with the new economic reality. For a while I was able to absorb the increased expense by depleting my savings, but that is not sustainable. This diary will be a discussion on what bigger changes are in store for the global economy to deal with the imbalance between oil production vs demand. Please join me over the jump.

Sacramento Dem

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

Friday July 11, 2008 · 12:05 AM PDT

2008/07/11 · 00:05

Like many of you I have been reading a lot about FISA and what this means for the future of a constitutional government in America. Many people I have come to respect hold conflicting views about where the congressional capitulation will lead. Since I don't have any special understanding about what the most recent developments portend, I will try to stick to things I do know a little about. More after the jump.

Sacramento Dem

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

Saturday July 05, 2008 · 12:16 PM PDT

2008/07/05 · 12:16

Some friends and I recently went to Yosemite National Park to hike up Half-Dome (man is that a tough hike). When we left the Park the first Gas Station we saw had gas for over $5.50 a gallon. Eventually we found a cheaper station, but like many of you I am cutting back my gas usage. I'll go into what I'm doing after the jump.

Poll

174 votes Show Results

So what are you doing to deal with high gas prices?

174 votes Vote Now!

So what are you doing to deal with high gas prices?

Driving less

51 votes

Taking transit more

2 votes

Walking

1 vote

Riding a bike

3 votes

Bought a more fuel efficient car

8 votes

Driving in a more fuel efficient manner

8 votes

More than one of the above

76 votes

Nothing

19 votes

Something else

5 votes

Apple Pie

1 vote

After January 20th 2009 w/poll

Sacramento Dem

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

Saturday February 23, 2008 · 9:06 PM PST

2008/02/23 · 21:06

I know many people here are hesitant to even think about what is going to happen many months from now (we all know what happens when we take our eye off the ball), but I am interested in hearing what members of this community think we will need to do after George W. Bush is out of office. Is the enthusiam we are seeing sustainable? Will we need 60 Senators to get anything done?

Poll

101 votes Show Results

How can we maintain interest in politics over the long term?

101 votes Vote Now!

How can we maintain interest in politics over the long term?

STFU We're 30 points down

17 votes

Political websites like this one

4 votes

By passing important legislation we can restore faith and encourage involvement

16 votes

By bringing excitement into the political process

4 votes

By using the 'Bully Pulpit' to inspire America

4 votes

By forming community organizations that advocate for citizens

2 votes

By fully investigating all the misdeeds of the current Administration

8 votes

By talking to our friends and neighbors

2 votes

all of the above

35 votes

none of the above

1 vote

Pie

5 votes

Pooties

3 votes

UpdatedHow I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the (O)bama now w/poll

Sacramento Dem

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

Sunday January 27, 2008 · 6:57 PM PST

2008/01/27 · 18:57

My apologies to Stanley Kubrick. (Dr. Strangelove). I turned 18 years old in 1984. My Birthday was too late in the year for me to vote (not that it would have changed anything) I remember being upset that I could not vote against Reagan. In 1985 I went away to college with little money and a dream of being a scientist. The late 80's were a tough time to work your way through college in California. I worked more and reduced my classload to make ends meet (they never really met but at least I didn't get evicted). In 1990 I had the most lucrative I had ever had ($10/hr), I actually paid income tax that year. By the end of the year I was literally ill that GHWB was taking my money to pay for the slaughter in Iraq. Unable to support the immorality, I took a less generous job, with the added benefit that I could now do schoolwork at work-work. In 1992 unemployment was greater than 9% in California and much higher in many counties. Our former Governor Jerry Brown was running that year, it was all wrapped up by June as it always is. I still voted for Jerry.
Barack and Superman

Poll

21 votes Show Results

What do you feel is Barack Obama's best Quality?

21 votes Vote Now!

What do you feel is Barack Obama's best Quality?

Honesty

4 votes

Intelligence

6 votes

Faith

0 votes

Compassion

2 votes

Integrity

5 votes

Persuasiveness

1 vote

Energy

0 votes

Detailed Plans

0 votes

Knowledgable Advisors

0 votes

Experience (both political as well as 'real life')

0 votes

The Strong Symbolism/Message his candidacy represents

1 vote

Common Sense

0 votes

Delicious Pie

1 vote

Something Else

0 votes

Transendence (I don't know what it means but all the pudits are saying it)

1 vote

My journey to see Bill Clinton (or there and back again) (now w/pics)

Sacramento Dem

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

Wednesday January 16, 2008 · 1:13 AM PST

2008/01/16 · 01:13

Big Dog

As the zen saying goes 'the journey is the destination'. At about 2:00pm my office partner said "I hear Bill Clinton is going to speak at UC Davis tonight", which in turn sent me buzzing. I wrote some e-mails to friends I thought might enjoy it (no response), I called my wife, she said "you can go, but I don't feel like it", I asked the kids (yeah whatever, rather play 'Rock Band'), I called my office partner, he said "I'm too lazy". So it was just going to be me (and a couple thousand friends I just hadn't met yet). After getting home from work, and helping a bit with household chores, I ate dinner, tried to figure out some clues on find 815 (see Lostpedia for more info; Warning it is highly addictive), and it was almost time to go. The speech was set to start at 9:00 and the paper recommended arriving at 8:15, at 7:45 I started what I expected to be a 30 min trip to UC Davis. My first mistake was to just print my directions from google maps. My map very clearly put my destination in the Southeast corner of the University. Clinton Country

Sacramento Dem

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

Monday January 14, 2008 · 12:13 AM PST

2008/01/14 · 00:13

When FDR became president he implemented a policy of boosting the power of the labor movement - the fruits of this policy allowed Americans to have a rising standard of living for the following decades.
At a time when a very small proportion of the workforce had a college education, the practice of limiting union membership to those who did not, was insignificant. Today a significant percentage of college graduates are not in management positions and could greatly benefit from union membership.
Unions have been the most effective agents for insuring that workers get their fair share of profits. Since the 1970's America has become much more productive, but wages have failed to keep pace. We need more unions, current unions need more members, lawmakers need to be more supportive of unions. In order to achieve these goals, unions need an agressive plan - that includes specific demands, outreach, publicity, and actions.

Poll

44 votes Show Results

What do you think the top priority for Labor ought to be?

44 votes Vote Now!

What do you think the top priority for Labor ought to be?

Increase Membership

11 votes

Increase Publicity

3 votes

New Legislation

3 votes

Electing Better Politicians

4 votes

Raising Money

0 votes

Improving the Labor Market

1 vote

Creating our own Media Outlets

4 votes

Personally Supporting Unions & Union Shops

2 votes

Nothing (Labor Unions are so 20th Century)

2 votes

Networking (Building Personal Relationships with Decisionmakers)

1 vote

Updating Technology for Better Organization & Communication

1 vote

More Vacation Time

2 votes

Including More Highly Educated Individuals (Doctors, Lawyers, etc)

6 votes

Apple Pie

1 vote

Getting my Favorite TV Show Back on

3 votes

Does Size Matter? w/pole

Sacramento Dem

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

Monday December 17, 2007 · 11:29 AM PST

2007/12/17 · 11:29

Are you tired of candidate diaries? Would you like to discuss something a little more Adult. Then join me for a robust discussion about size. I will be making the case that size doesn't matter. Of course I am talking about the size of the population that has been subject to GWB's unconstitutional behavior regarding detention at Gitmo (or other foreign locations), torture, as well as the whole enemy combatant classification. As always please let me know what I left out.

Poll

39 votes Show Results

Does size matter?

39 votes Vote Now!

Does size matter?

Yes - No one I know is at Gitmo (yet) so what's the big deal?

2 votes

No - A president being a little unconstitutional is like being a little pregnant

21 votes

I worry that another President won't be as competent as this one (that's a joke)

4 votes

something else

2 votes

Christmas cookies

10 votes

Newer
Older

RSS

Taking the train w/poll

What I did on my summer vacation w/photos

Confessions of a Suburbophile

My Mother Tongue

What is the future of world energy use?

Just another FISA BF

What does $5 gas mean to you? (w/poll)

After January 20th 2009 w/poll

UpdatedHow I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the (O)bama now w/poll

My journey to see Bill Clinton (or there and back again) (now w/pics)

How do we reinvigorate the Labor Movement w/poll

Does Size Matter? w/pole