What’s more important, feeding children or enforcing petty rules?

Yes, I am still in Northern California, the East Bay to be more exact. My stay was extended soon after I arrived in early September from one month to the end of October. My mother is making good progress on her recovery from various and usual aliments for an 87 year old. I plan to be back in Juneau the first week of November.

The front page story on today’s SF Chronicle titled ‘S.F. schools’ lunch money cut off‘, just blew me away. You’re probably thinking oh, there must have been some rotten beef served, unsanitary conditions, or someone is putting money in their pocket. But those answers are wrong, wrong and wrong again. There are some petty violations of the program’s rules. Things like occasionally one of the children will take less then the required number of items. It is news to me that there is a way to get children to eat what they don’t want. It’s OK for them to throw the food away. And that way they will learn how to waste food. It gets even more ridiculous then that. Sometimes the trays are handed out fully loaded and the children don’t get to make a choice of what they are served! This helpful for the younger students, but it is just not part of the program! One school ran out of milk one day. This is a big no no. There no errors allowed in this game.

Meanwhile 57% of San Francisco public school students depend on the school lunch program. Thankfully, the city has advanced the funds to cover the costs. They will be reimbursed when the program meets all the picky little requirements. Wonder what the mayor Galloping Gavin is doing about this? If I were the mayor, I’d be on the phone in a flash. My first call would be to the President. Surely, he is more compassionate then this. Then there be a ring ding to Nancy, Diane and Barbara. Part of being a politician is pulling strings and getting things done one way or another. And this time it is even for a good cause!

Every so often in Alaska we get petty bureaucratic types in our government. And what do we do? Ignore them and hope they go back down south where they belong. We are companionate enough to not make them swim or walk.

It is time to wake up and help feed the children!

San Francisco, lunch program, funds, what is more important?

Soaking & Bloging

Today was a true Southeast Soaker! A hard heavy rain most of the day, but mercifully with only brief periods of wind. I had plenty of days like this under my umbrella at Mickey's Bagel Bistro. There I stood, seemly impervious to the weather, smiling at all who passed by like I was having the time of my life. My thoughts were this was good for business. Couldn't show that the rain and lack of business due to it were bothering me in anyway. Often wondered and still do if people thought I was some kind of simpleton. Back in those days when I demonstrated some of my wit and wisdom in letters to the editor, people would come up to and ask incredulously, 'Did you write that?' My thoughts were who do you think wrote it? But with all seriousness about me I'd reply that I had hired a ghost writer!

Can't believe how I have neglected this blog. Am going to have to save up my money to hire a good ghost! Am going south for the month of September and think I will have time for a daily entry. As money is tight these days, you will have to put up with my writings and thoughts, such as they are! Give it a try!

The Way It Was!

Went to the gold Medal Tournament tonight. No not to watch basket ball but to do a little marketing for my job. Anyone from SE Alaska knows that Gold Medal is a really big deal. One of the vendors, Walter H. Adams, Sr., was selling his book The Way it Was! I've know Walter for over 20 years, but did not know he had written a book. So I bought a copy and sneaked in reading a page or two. The book is about growing up in SE during the 40's and 50's. It is very good, interesting, well written and straight from his soul. The book is available at Hearthsidebooks.com. Did not find it on Amazon, but Hearthside will ship anywhere. Give it a read.

At last about Obama

Here it is almost February, and somehow I haven't mentioned Barrack Obama. You might think that even in my infrequent entries, that his name would have come up. Obama has had and will continue to have a tremendous effect on our country and the world. As a vehicle for change and a realization of what our society is, his impact is on a par with WWII and Jackie Robinson. WWII ripped open America, ending isolation and indifference to different regions of the country. Without Jackie, the first Afro-American to play major league baseball in the modern era, would any of the subsequent changes have been possible? Of course, if hadn't been Mr. Robinson no doubt it would have been another Afro-American.

I was well aware of Mr. Obama. At the time he ran for the Senate I was in Minnesota. My brother-in-law, Dr. David Gill ran for Congress from a heavily Republican district in southern Illinois. He lost twice. And the incumbent, Tim Johnson, even handily survived the Republican repudiation of 2008. Obama had met David. And we were impressed with that. And even more impressed and awed that he remembered David, from one meeting to the next.

In '04, I wished that Hillary would have come forward and made a run for president. There was no doubt in my mind that she would have been easily nominated, and then "cleaned Bush's clock!" Leading up to '08 and into the campaign, I kept repeating that like it was some kind of mantra. And for Hillary that is how it turned out. She would have, but didn't come forward and time passed her by. 2008 just wasn't Hillary's time. But it was Obama's. And he was someone who I could wholeheartedly support. Throughout September and October my fingers were crossed. He didn't seem to have a big enough lead in the polls to overcome the Bradley effect. In order to win he needed to be at least 10 points up in the polls. As the campaign slipped into November, it seemed that maybe he would be elected.

In the days leading up to the election a joke came to me. It was a very mild joke, seemly innocuous . But it was a stereotypical one. It didn't seem quite right to me, and then the next day it was completely wrong. My 8 year old daughter called me election night. Unfortunately due to the unfairness of our divorce and custody laws we have very little contact. She was very excited. "Daddy!" she exclaimed, "we have a new president and he's afro-american!" The next day the realization began to form in my mind that Obama's victory was more of an affirmation of our values then anything else. It didn't matter that he was Afro-American, but that this very smart and capable relatively young person had the courage to try and lead this country at this time of economic crisis and find an end to the war in Iraq. For the first time in a long time, about 45 years, I was proud to be an American. Proud of our values and our society.

In the next 2 months Bush became increasingly irrelevant. It must have been like 1933, when the country waited for Hoover to leave office, so Roosevelt could begin the work of ending the depression.

Inauguration day seemed like a holiday, a day of celebration. Here in Juneau, people gathered in Centennial Hall to watch the events on a giant screen TV. My daughter's second grade class came for the event. Each time the signal was lost, I held my breath. Hoping that we would not come back to a scene of an assassinated president. We didn't, the celebrations went on, and once again I took a breath.

I came of age in the '60s. I remember the assassination of John Kennedy, Vietnam, the chaos, the events of '68, and the aftermath over the following decades. I am glad to be alive at this time and that I live in America. I am happy for my daughter that she is living thorough this time. And am confident that the renewal of our spirt that seemed to happen overnight is real and will be long lasting!

Oh, some readers, may be wondering just what the joke was from election day. So mild and yet in a blink irrelevant. Finally we have a president who can dance, dress and play basketball. The reality is that once again after 8 horrible years we have a president who can think, reason and lead.

Fairness for all via sales tax

This is a comment I wrote in response to an article in the Juneau Empire, our local newspaper. We have some unique laws here. No other municipality in the country does it our way. Sales taxes and the way we elect assembly members are two of them. Currently residents of Juneau 65 and older pay no sales taxes on all purchases except for liquor. Is it fair? Don't think so. Are the abuses of this exemption? You better believe it! Sara is a member of the assembly who is currently running for cover. Sales taxes are one hot potato here in the capitol city.

BLESS YOU SARA!! Finally a hint of fairness and common sense to our crazy unique sales tax laws. Exempt the basics for everyone. Include things like toilet paper. We don't have to exempt all food. Use some good health guidelines. But why not exempt hamburger and tax prime rib? End the unfair senior tax exemption. Only those already exempt items bought for resale get exempted at purchase. For rest take receipts to city hall. Have someone who knows what they are doing go over them. The present resale cards are a bit of a joke. Additional exemptions refunds can only be used as a credit on their sales tax collected account. Sure it would cost us a little more to administer resale purchases this way, but misuse of the exemption would just stop. The increase in revenue should more then offset the cost.

Give ourselves a present by raising the sales tax in an area roughly the same as the DT historic district May through September. Exempt all sales in Juneau, excepting tobacco and liquor, Thanksgiving through January 1.

And on residential rents cap the exemption there. Exempt only first so many dollars, and tax everything over that. Tax the high rollers and not those on the shorts.

Finally check the nonprofit purchases. Just because you work for one, shouldn't you pay sales taxes on the coffee purchased for the office? Why should items bought at places like Sally Ann be exempt. Doesn't the city charges sales tax at the pool and Eaglecrest. When you have a religiously significant type meal at your place of worship why is there no tax on the purchase of fixings or even the cost paid to to take part. The Feds don't let you deduct the actual cost of the meal for charity, why don't we do the same? You still got to eat don't you?

I am not trying step on any one's toes ora say unkind things about anyone. Fairness for all is what I'd like to see.

Where am I?

Hi!

Am still on the planet and connected to the Internet. I know there has been lots to comment on. Much of that will be stale by now. Some things are still worth mentioning. So hang on in 60 years have never been without an opinion, ideas to convey and stories to tell.

At last a new post! How do those living in the last frontier view Palan as a Candidate for VP?

Hi Mick,

What's the Alaska buzz, particularly the Alaska Jewish community buzz about Gov. Palin?

Ellen

EBG,

I don't think there is a particular Alaskan or Jewish buzz. Juneau is different then the rest of Alaska. No customer has said anything @ Costco. At services, I also heard no comments.

Do you know anything about her? She is a priss through and through. And no she doesn't seem to be all that cute. And cuteness is a part of the Palin Package. Before Palan was elected gov., she was mayor of a town by Anchorage for a couple of terms. Not sure what jobs she has had or if she went college. Her hubby works on the North Slope, which means a pretty good income. Staunchly anti-abortion, five children. Think she was a cheerleader in college. She beat a blah personality in the primary and again in the general.

Most Alaskan know that she is completely unqualified for the job. But a lot of Alaskans like the attention she brings to Alaska. Sort of the all publicity is good publicity school of thought. After all we have put up with Rep. Don Young for 34 years! And he acts and thinks like a caveman. Of our three member congressional delegation he is on only one to take office by election. Of course, the democratic incumbent was killed in a plane crash right before the election. There was no way he was going to win the election. The only reason Young was running was so the republicans could have someone the ballot. But then the rest as they say is history! Both of our senators were appointed. One by her father.

What does this do for Obama's chances. Well Palin is for the time being only campaigning with McCain. Wonder how she will do on her own? Think once the newness wears off, and people stop saying smooth daring move John, they will realize what he has done. Should he be elected and then die in office what a bad joke that would be!

Her daughter being pregnant seems to be handled OK. And really that is life in the US these days. But then there is the trooper scandal! If another controversy or two comes to light then she could be seen as a person with lots of questions swirling around them. Where there is smoke fire is often perceived. As the campaign plays out, I don't see Palin helping McCain chances. At best she will end up being a neutral factor.

What is the Windy City buzz?

Good to hear from you,

Mickey