See images on my Flickr
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Monday, December 22, 2025
The few times I have been in an airplane.
For a while when I was in college, I saw a therapist at WWU's Counselling Center. I remember one session where I talked about almost being afraid to ride my bike at times. The following week, a pilot, living in the dorm, took a few of us up in his plane. It was the first I've been in a plane. The following week when I saw the therapist, she remarked, "Wow, you are making fast progress." "Last week you were almost afraid to ride a bike, this week you've gone up in a plane."
I answered that I was just a passenger. I would be afraid to be the pilot. I lack the confidence that it would take to pilot a fast moving vehicle. Cars going at highway speeds can be very dangerous. More dangerous than planes. One reason why I don't drive. I still see the car as a big responsibility. The tamer pace of a bicycle is more my speed if I am at the wheel.
As for being a passenger, I'm okay with speed, but I haven't had many occasions to fly. To this day, I've never been on a jet plane. I'm not the type of person to jet across the country for a weekend wedding, or a Christmas dinner, and then be back to work by Monday. My travel tends to be more about the trip and what I see along the way, versus the destination.
Years ago, I've taken a few commercial flights between Seattle and my hometown of Pullman. Back then it was propeller planes to Pullman. Since then, the Pullman / Moscow Regional Airport has a new runway so it has jet service. In recent years, I have bicycled to Pullman mostly for the things I see along the way. That takes about a week where as the trip by air takes a bit over an hour.
Pullman Moscow regional airport (Moscow, Idaho 8 miles east of Pullman) has had 3 terminals that I remember. The first one for many years from my childhood to the 1980s was very small. Like the little building seen on the right. The main terminal, in this picture was later. I took this picture passing by on my bicycle in summer of 2022. Now there is a bigger terminal, built more recently.
My very first flight was from Bellingham to fly around Mount Baker and back. Since it was a small plane, it did a few sharp turns. Taking off seemed normal until we turned east and flew over the freeway. In that sharp turn the bottom of the plane still felt like it was down, but when I looked out the window, the freeway looked like it was turning on its side.
Sort of what I-5 looked like tipping on its side from the plane.
It was different, but I was okay. The rest of that little flight was beautiful till we got to Mt. Baker and the pilot realized it was clouded in. He did another sharp turn over the glacier and headed safely back to Bellingham. I realized that I was probably safer in that plane than in a car or even on my bike, but it was a bit of an adventure.
Mount Baker seen in early 1990s from a bicycle trip on Glacier Creek Road.
A few times after that, I flew to Pullman. Before leaving on one trip, I remember asking someone what it was like to fly above the clouds. His answer was, "it's very interesting - for 5 minutes." Then, I guess it can get boring.
On one of my plane trips to Pullman, it was a totally clear day. The snowcap mountains were visible all the way from Canada down into Oregon. Every seat was a window seat with an aisle down the center. I happened to be sitting across the aisle from the President of Washington State University back then; Glen Terrill. It was a chance to converse with the president.
On another flight, it was cloudy with thunderstorms over eastern Washington. The plane was a bit larger, a turboprop with engines made by Rolls Royce. The flight was pretty turbulent, but my stomach was okay. When we landed at Pullman / Moscow, my family was waiting by that little runway. They said, "we're glad you are okay. The light are out at the airport. They were able to land the plane okay, but the little terminal was dark.
At Christmas time when I was around 5 years old, the family drove out to the airport to pick up my oldest sister who was flying in from Seattle. I wasn't one to believe in Santa Clause due to my scientific mind, I guess. My dad being a scientist. Still I remember seeing a red glow in the sky so I thought, maybe there is a Santa and that's the glow of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Just then, my brother commented that he could see the glow of the red runway lights off the clouds. So much for believing in Santa.
I answered that I was just a passenger. I would be afraid to be the pilot. I lack the confidence that it would take to pilot a fast moving vehicle. Cars going at highway speeds can be very dangerous. More dangerous than planes. One reason why I don't drive. I still see the car as a big responsibility. The tamer pace of a bicycle is more my speed if I am at the wheel.
As for being a passenger, I'm okay with speed, but I haven't had many occasions to fly. To this day, I've never been on a jet plane. I'm not the type of person to jet across the country for a weekend wedding, or a Christmas dinner, and then be back to work by Monday. My travel tends to be more about the trip and what I see along the way, versus the destination.
Years ago, I've taken a few commercial flights between Seattle and my hometown of Pullman. Back then it was propeller planes to Pullman. Since then, the Pullman / Moscow Regional Airport has a new runway so it has jet service. In recent years, I have bicycled to Pullman mostly for the things I see along the way. That takes about a week where as the trip by air takes a bit over an hour.
My very first flight was from Bellingham to fly around Mount Baker and back. Since it was a small plane, it did a few sharp turns. Taking off seemed normal until we turned east and flew over the freeway. In that sharp turn the bottom of the plane still felt like it was down, but when I looked out the window, the freeway looked like it was turning on its side.
It was different, but I was okay. The rest of that little flight was beautiful till we got to Mt. Baker and the pilot realized it was clouded in. He did another sharp turn over the glacier and headed safely back to Bellingham. I realized that I was probably safer in that plane than in a car or even on my bike, but it was a bit of an adventure.
A few times after that, I flew to Pullman. Before leaving on one trip, I remember asking someone what it was like to fly above the clouds. His answer was, "it's very interesting - for 5 minutes." Then, I guess it can get boring.
On one of my plane trips to Pullman, it was a totally clear day. The snowcap mountains were visible all the way from Canada down into Oregon. Every seat was a window seat with an aisle down the center. I happened to be sitting across the aisle from the President of Washington State University back then; Glen Terrill. It was a chance to converse with the president.
On another flight, it was cloudy with thunderstorms over eastern Washington. The plane was a bit larger, a turboprop with engines made by Rolls Royce. The flight was pretty turbulent, but my stomach was okay. When we landed at Pullman / Moscow, my family was waiting by that little runway. They said, "we're glad you are okay. The light are out at the airport. They were able to land the plane okay, but the little terminal was dark.
At Christmas time when I was around 5 years old, the family drove out to the airport to pick up my oldest sister who was flying in from Seattle. I wasn't one to believe in Santa Clause due to my scientific mind, I guess. My dad being a scientist. Still I remember seeing a red glow in the sky so I thought, maybe there is a Santa and that's the glow of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Just then, my brother commented that he could see the glow of the red runway lights off the clouds. So much for believing in Santa.
Friday, December 06, 2024
The quiet time I spent while others were doing Black Friday.
I guess I did go shopping, so it wasn't "Buy Nothing Day" for me either. I biked through the quiet campus of WWU on my way to Sehome Village for some regular shopping; such as groceries. Sehome Village, near WWU, was fairly mellow. WWW wasn't in session due to the holiday weekend. Most students were out of town.
Instead of Buy Nothing Day, it was No Rat Race Day for me. Even the walk zone in Red Square, on campus, wasn't necessary as there wasn't likely to be any conflict between pedestrians and bicycles.
It's been many years since I've traveled for Christmas, or Thanksgiving.
My two sisters still live in Pullman, WA where I grew up. In more recent years, I've visited during summer months and I've traveled by bicycle. Most recent bike trip to Pullman was summer of 2022.
The old neighborhood looks similar, but some changes as well.
I have a brother in Kentucky and another in southern Oregon. I would be welcome to visit any of my brothers and sisters. If we were to sit around a Thanksgiving, or Christmas table, our politics would be similar enough that we would get along fine on that score.
Still, when I plan to visit my sisters, they often say they would love to see me, but this would not be a good time to visit. There are often problems and other needs going on that make a visit somewhat uncomfortable and inconvenient.
During my last two trips to Pullman, rather than staying with my sisters, I did enjoy a new perspective of staying at a motel in Pullman, rather than my childhood home.
Visited my sisters during the day and also did much sighseeing on my own around town.
A new perspective looking over downtown with WSU campus in background from the Cougarland Motel.
The old high school across the street.
Memories from my freshman to Junior years in high school. My senior year in a new building in another part of town.
This old high school is now "Gladish Community and Cultural Center" named for a former principal of the school, Oscar Gladish, who was a neighbor across the back fence as I was growing up.
My most recent visits to Pullman were by bicycle in 2022 even at age 67 and then in 2023. In 2023 it was by car.
2023 was for the 50th high school reunion. I rode, by car, with a classmate who lives in the Bellingham area. We had a good visit going across the state. I didn't bike in 2023 as the reunion was in August when temperatures, in the middle of Washington State, can climb into the 100s. My 2022 trip was in June, a relatively cool and lush time in the Columbia Basin.
I still do some bike / and now transit combo tours to other areas. Pullman is still a possibility, but mid summers might not be a good idea.
I still have memories, from Christmas visits back to Pullman, during my college years in Bellingham. I grew up in Pullman where WSU is, but still did go away for college.
Taking the Greyhound Bus with transfers in Everett and then Spokane was the way to go for Christmas visits. Trying to do it in one day with snow on the mountain passes and in eastern Washington would cause delays. We usually made it, but sometimes got in real late; like next day after midnight. By bicycle, it usually takes around a week to get to Pullman, but it's a scenic trip; warmer months that is.
I live car free so maybe the most pragmatic way to get to Pullman is by air. Pullman has recently completed an airport upgrade that can accomodate jet service.
One memory, from my college Greyhound Bus days, was the lunch stop at "Martha's Inn Truck Stop." That stop was in the town of George, Washington.
Martha's Inn is only a faded memory, but the old sign is still there, faded by the years of hot sun and cold winter winds.
Image taken during my 2022 bike trip.
I did take the bus back to Bellingham, from Pullman, in 2022 as I planned. Bus and train has returned me from many a bicycle tour.
In 2022, I shipped my bike back to Bellingham using a service called Bike FLights.
It would be better if Greyhound style buses didn't require bikes to be boxed for shipment. County transit buses have bike racks, but service is very limited in Eastern Washington. From what I hear, Flix Bus might work to Spokane without the complexity of finding a bike box.
I have a brother in Kentucky and another in southern Oregon. I would be welcome to visit any of my brothers and sisters. If we were to sit around a Thanksgiving, or Christmas table, our politics would be similar enough that we would get along fine on that score.
Still, when I plan to visit my sisters, they often say they would love to see me, but this would not be a good time to visit. There are often problems and other needs going on that make a visit somewhat uncomfortable and inconvenient.
During my last two trips to Pullman, rather than staying with my sisters, I did enjoy a new perspective of staying at a motel in Pullman, rather than my childhood home.
Visited my sisters during the day and also did much sighseeing on my own around town.
This old high school is now "Gladish Community and Cultural Center" named for a former principal of the school, Oscar Gladish, who was a neighbor across the back fence as I was growing up.
My most recent visits to Pullman were by bicycle in 2022 even at age 67 and then in 2023. In 2023 it was by car.
2023 was for the 50th high school reunion. I rode, by car, with a classmate who lives in the Bellingham area. We had a good visit going across the state. I didn't bike in 2023 as the reunion was in August when temperatures, in the middle of Washington State, can climb into the 100s. My 2022 trip was in June, a relatively cool and lush time in the Columbia Basin.
I still do some bike / and now transit combo tours to other areas. Pullman is still a possibility, but mid summers might not be a good idea.
I still have memories, from Christmas visits back to Pullman, during my college years in Bellingham. I grew up in Pullman where WSU is, but still did go away for college.
Taking the Greyhound Bus with transfers in Everett and then Spokane was the way to go for Christmas visits. Trying to do it in one day with snow on the mountain passes and in eastern Washington would cause delays. We usually made it, but sometimes got in real late; like next day after midnight. By bicycle, it usually takes around a week to get to Pullman, but it's a scenic trip; warmer months that is.
I live car free so maybe the most pragmatic way to get to Pullman is by air. Pullman has recently completed an airport upgrade that can accomodate jet service.
One memory, from my college Greyhound Bus days, was the lunch stop at "Martha's Inn Truck Stop." That stop was in the town of George, Washington.
Martha's Inn is only a faded memory, but the old sign is still there, faded by the years of hot sun and cold winter winds.
I did take the bus back to Bellingham, from Pullman, in 2022 as I planned. Bus and train has returned me from many a bicycle tour.
In 2022, I shipped my bike back to Bellingham using a service called Bike FLights.
It would be better if Greyhound style buses didn't require bikes to be boxed for shipment. County transit buses have bike racks, but service is very limited in Eastern Washington. From what I hear, Flix Bus might work to Spokane without the complexity of finding a bike box.
I had a good local Thanksgiving.
Then a nap. Then I dropped by Betty Desire's place. I got there by evening so the place was all lit in Christmas lights. They plan to have 25,000 lights; like in the movie National Lampoon Christmas. They are almost to the 125,000 mark. These days, LED lights.
Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go, but we are not out of the woods yet.
This seems to happen every year. Of course, the holidays happen during a season of harsh weather.
Glad I have no plans to travel a long ways to family. A community potluck at Unitarian Church in my neighborhood is more my speed.
Photo from Yahoo News.
Thursday, December 14, 2023
When Joseph and Mary got to the border, there was no room at the inn. They regretted that they didn't use birth control.
Given population growth, migration, border issues and the Christmas season, these conflicting concepts come to mind when following the news. I don't draw cartoons well, but here is my attempt at a political collage.
My thanks to Mark Allyn for helping me with the couple, could be Joseph and Mary. I'm really bad at drawing people.
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Should they raise user taxes on air travel to improve US air traffic control system? I would guess yes.
As for the national issue, they say our air traffic system is stretched nearly to the breaking point. As for the need for more money, a simple fix is to increase the user taxes that airlines and the flying public pay to run and expand the system. That could cut down on the growing demand addressing the problem that way. It could also help fund the staff and equipment needed to upgrade the system.
Cutting demand does mean disruption to some plans and local economies so it wouldn't happen without it's critics, but seems like the best way to go.
I've wondered how much the government subsidizes air travel, but tried to look that up and my eyes gloss over. Yes, it's complicated. I think most of the system is paid for by user taxes that airlines and the flying public pay, but some is subsidized; especially smaller airports to prop up more rural parts of the country where there is less "economy of scale."
Monday, October 23, 2023
Happy Halloween.
Friday, May 26, 2023
Homonormativity questioned.
Saw stuff about this on Facebook.
Apparently, during the campaign of 2020, a group of activists calling themselves “Queers Against Pete” attempted to disrupt his events. They were folks who saw in the former mayor of South Bend a paragon of “homonormativity.” I read, in the post, about an article written for The New Republic that the magazine later retracted, the writer Dale Peck derided Pete Buttigieg as “Mary Pete,” the gay version of an Uncle Tom.
I can understand being a critic of homonormativity, but I certainly wouldn't be part of a circular firing squad attacking other gay people and allies who have made it to influential positions. Pete has done good in my opinion.
I am definitely not part of a "normal" middle class couple, myself. My own sexuality and lifestyle is very low on the romantic scale and higher on the unusual scale.
Interesting that, until that recent Facebook post, I have never heard of that group of activists, but around two months ago, I wrote this somewhat toung in cheek blog post about right wing, rather than left wing, criticism of Pete Buttigieg.
Did "family values" cause the air travel chaos of Christmas 2022?
Apparently, during the campaign of 2020, a group of activists calling themselves “Queers Against Pete” attempted to disrupt his events. They were folks who saw in the former mayor of South Bend a paragon of “homonormativity.” I read, in the post, about an article written for The New Republic that the magazine later retracted, the writer Dale Peck derided Pete Buttigieg as “Mary Pete,” the gay version of an Uncle Tom.
I can understand being a critic of homonormativity, but I certainly wouldn't be part of a circular firing squad attacking other gay people and allies who have made it to influential positions. Pete has done good in my opinion.
I am definitely not part of a "normal" middle class couple, myself. My own sexuality and lifestyle is very low on the romantic scale and higher on the unusual scale.
Interesting that, until that recent Facebook post, I have never heard of that group of activists, but around two months ago, I wrote this somewhat toung in cheek blog post about right wing, rather than left wing, criticism of Pete Buttigieg.
Did "family values" cause the air travel chaos of Christmas 2022?
Monday, March 27, 2023
Did "family values" cause the air travel chaos of Christmas 2022?
As both the traditional left and traditional right jockey for the "moral high ground" on family values, it could be family values that caused the airline chaos of Christmas 2022.
Republicans try to blame Transportation Secretary Buttigieg for that chaos, but Buttigieg doesn't control the weather.
People's desire for bringing together distant family members, during the worst travel season of the year, is more to blame. Our family oriented holidays of Christmas and Thanksgiving happen to be during the stormy time of year and storms of 2022 took aim right at Christmas travel mania.
Being less family minded, myself, I didn't travel then. Visiting with my brothers and sisters, electronically, was sufficient in my family of origin. Connection with local folks was sufficient as well; local folks that are not connected by blood or marriage.
A bike ride across town, or walking when the snow made biking treacherous was sufficient. At times, I think American culture is trying to squeeze too much out of our transportation systems as well as the natural environment.
Republicans try to blame Transportation Secretary Buttigieg for that chaos, but Buttigieg doesn't control the weather.
People's desire for bringing together distant family members, during the worst travel season of the year, is more to blame. Our family oriented holidays of Christmas and Thanksgiving happen to be during the stormy time of year and storms of 2022 took aim right at Christmas travel mania.
Being less family minded, myself, I didn't travel then. Visiting with my brothers and sisters, electronically, was sufficient in my family of origin. Connection with local folks was sufficient as well; local folks that are not connected by blood or marriage.
A bike ride across town, or walking when the snow made biking treacherous was sufficient. At times, I think American culture is trying to squeeze too much out of our transportation systems as well as the natural environment.
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Broadcasting church services has changed over the years
I recently watched the earlier of two Christmas Eve services at Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral, in Louisville, KY. Watched on Facebook videos, after the fact, but nice. I'm still amazed we can do this now. Why Louisville? My brother Jack Ashworth was the organist.
Brings back early memories of when Jack was organist at Pioneer Methodist Church, in Walla Walla, WA. Back then, he was a student at Whitman College. One day, my mom and I tried to tune in the faint signal, as that service was broadcast over KTEL, Walla Walla.
We were trying to listen, in the far fringe area. We were in Pullman, so the faint signal had a long way to travel.
Today, I see on Wiki, that KTEL is now news talk. Back then I think totally different format and owners. I forgot the format, back then, except it broadcast the service.
When to take down the decorations.
Someone out there ask, when do you take the Christmas tree and decorations down? My answer was.
When I was a child, the "real" tree needed to come down before it was so dry to become a fire hazard in the house. Often it was pretty crispy by New Year's Day. Today, most people (I think) have artificial trees.
As for decorations, I remember people taking them down on "Twelfth Night." I guess this was, supposedly, 12 days after the Christ Child was born so sometime around the 5th of January. Today quite a few folks think, whoever that was that they call "Jesus" was more likely born in the Spring; rather than Winter Solstice.
Today, most people seem to leave the beautiful lights up around their houses till well into spring. Especially this far north, in Bellingham, where winter darkness is long. They are sometimes called Solstice Lights.
When I was a child, the "real" tree needed to come down before it was so dry to become a fire hazard in the house. Often it was pretty crispy by New Year's Day. Today, most people (I think) have artificial trees.
As for decorations, I remember people taking them down on "Twelfth Night." I guess this was, supposedly, 12 days after the Christ Child was born so sometime around the 5th of January. Today quite a few folks think, whoever that was that they call "Jesus" was more likely born in the Spring; rather than Winter Solstice.
Today, most people seem to leave the beautiful lights up around their houses till well into spring. Especially this far north, in Bellingham, where winter darkness is long. They are sometimes called Solstice Lights.
Christmas is about the toys for some kids
When I was a child, I was probably like most other kids. I was a bit materialistic, since children tend to see things in more simple eyes.
Christmas was about the presents under the tree; the new toys and so forth.
Our Christmases were simple, but the new toys, that we had, were still fun.
Today, my Christmas isn't about shopping, but more about parties. Mingling with friends I haven't seen for a long time. It's about socializing.
I'm no longer in a family with kids, but I do remember mother saying, after I went off to college and was back for Christmas Break:
"Christmas is not about the presents, but it's about our presence;" the presence of the people around us.
Problem, today, is that families seem to be spread out across long distances and Christmas Vacation is way to short. To do "family time;" it becomes a traveling nightmare. One must hit that one day, on the calendar, with the same accuracy that the Apollo 8 spacecraft was able to achieve with it's "orbital insertion burn;" Speaking of my 1968 Christmas Eve memories.
I don't travel for Christmas, so, for me, it's about the mingling of local people. Reaching out on Facebook and so forth.
One nice memory I do have, from childhood, was the long, long Christmas and Summer Vacations we got from school. Today, there is the phrase, "shop till you drop." I'm no longer in a family setting, with kids, though I get along well with my siblings in distant places.
Now, being retired, It can feel like that long vacation. My last days, at work, did bring back those childhood feelings of anticipation about the last day of school.
Christmas was about the presents under the tree; the new toys and so forth.
Our Christmases were simple, but the new toys, that we had, were still fun.
Today, my Christmas isn't about shopping, but more about parties. Mingling with friends I haven't seen for a long time. It's about socializing.
I'm no longer in a family with kids, but I do remember mother saying, after I went off to college and was back for Christmas Break:
"Christmas is not about the presents, but it's about our presence;" the presence of the people around us.
Problem, today, is that families seem to be spread out across long distances and Christmas Vacation is way to short. To do "family time;" it becomes a traveling nightmare. One must hit that one day, on the calendar, with the same accuracy that the Apollo 8 spacecraft was able to achieve with it's "orbital insertion burn;" Speaking of my 1968 Christmas Eve memories.
I don't travel for Christmas, so, for me, it's about the mingling of local people. Reaching out on Facebook and so forth.
One nice memory I do have, from childhood, was the long, long Christmas and Summer Vacations we got from school. Today, there is the phrase, "shop till you drop." I'm no longer in a family setting, with kids, though I get along well with my siblings in distant places.
Now, being retired, It can feel like that long vacation. My last days, at work, did bring back those childhood feelings of anticipation about the last day of school.
I'm glad I am not traveling far, this time of year.
On Facebook, I keep seeing tales of woe from folks trying to visit distant families and other travels in the storm. Some of the tales are quite creative. Others more of pure frustration, or even danger. The whole country is experiencing an intense period of weather. People are still trying to hold on to so many traditions that are being stressed by change.
I'm just glad I'm staying close to my home; especially this time of year.
I'm just glad I'm staying close to my home; especially this time of year.
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Naming a holiday is like a zero sum game. Not enough holidays to go around. Is Columbus worthy of a holiday?
Folks debating about who and what a holiday should commemorate. For the virtue of exploration, how about a holiday for Neil Armstrong, first person to step on the moon? Another person suggests, instead of Niel Armstrong, name the exploration day after Apollo 11. Credit everyone who made that possible.
Oh, too many holidays. Not enough days in the calendar. How about retiring some of our old holidays so we can have room for new ones? Otherwise the past totally clutters our lives and we face "holiday commemoration gridlock."
Another idea is to just keep adding holidays till the entire year is like being on vacation. Like being retired, I guess.
Oh, too many holidays. Not enough days in the calendar. How about retiring some of our old holidays so we can have room for new ones? Otherwise the past totally clutters our lives and we face "holiday commemoration gridlock."
Another idea is to just keep adding holidays till the entire year is like being on vacation. Like being retired, I guess.
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
The police do make some mistakes, but they get too much blame for society's problems.
I'll admit I may be writing from a position of white privilege, but I do feel that so much media focus on deadly mistakes made by police usually leaves out some deeper issues. These mistakes are bound to happen in tense situations.
Conservatives will say that the violent crime rate is higher in black neighborhoods. Maybe better to say in poor neighborhoods. Discussing underlying causes of these problems is valuable.
I only have my own opinions, but I think about things like restrictive "single family" zoning and it's contribution to the high cost of housing.
Segregation is often an unintended consequence of things, in society, that are designed to protect people's wealth and peace of mind. In the past, there was a history of more overt racism behind lots of urban planning decisions, but now many traditions, rooted in the past, continue without the overt stated racism.
I've seen some articles about this. The racial roots of some zoning rules that have been cleansed of their original, 1950s, language, but still are enforce.
I would think that over dependence on the automobile contributes to problems. The way freeways have carved up cities.
There is the problem of traffic stops in the first place. A fear of what's lurking inside vehicles. Who's behind the tinted glass? Do they have a gun? Were they reckless drivers? Are they on drugs? Automobiles, in the hands of the general public, can be very dangerous. I think about the problem of "stranger danger." How wary ordinary people are of folks they don't know. A lot of people fear using public transit for that reason, but is public transit really as dangerous, or unpleasant, as folks perceive?
I think maybe we should all be more accepting of strangers.
There is a lot of suspicion, out there, created by a climate of fear. Media can enhance fear as it often highlights the one in a million type fluke events and crimes when the overall statistics might say that common activities; like driving a car, are more dangerous. More dangerous than, say riding a bus with unknown passengers.
Scared to ride the bus? Picture of haunted Whatcom Transit bus, Halloween 2010.
When people get to know each other, fear usually diminishes. Problem is that in most situations, there isn't time to develop a rapport with people we encounter.
A group of menacing looking teenagers might be fine, if one gets to know them more. Even just some brief conversation. Most situations don't allow that, however. People will walk across the street instead. I'll admit I'd walk across the street also.
I'm a bit shy on first contact with people, but, if the opportunity is there, I am pretty open to meeting new people. I don't worry too much about privacy or being out there in public. Still, I avoid things out of fear as well.
Some folks are very insular and stay in their small world of friends. That's a common part of human nature. Other folks are more open to mingling with the public, with the diversity that the public mix brings.
Maybe we do need to be more tolerant and not allow as many things to annoy us. Sometimes, though, people can be annoying and even outright dangerous. There are times when one has to call a spade a spade. I would think that the police aren't usually going out there arresting people without cause.
The police have to deal with things all the time. People and situations that other folks, including myself, tend to avoid. Part of the problem is the way our society tends to isolate people from one another. It's kind of a natural cliquishness. I think a lot of the problems, related to the police, are more the symptoms of human tendencies. Things that would cause everyone to have to rethink their own tendencies.
As for stranger danger, here is a funny thought I often have walking on the sidewalk. When I see some young people heading my direction on skateboards, my first thought is often, "they are cute." My second thought is to jump out of the way.
Fortunately, I am still quite agile so jumping out of the way works. Also, even if I didn't jump, they can almost always swerve around me anyway. They are kind of fun to watch.
My point being to try and have a different mindset than fear, or anger is often a good strategy.
Conservatives will say that the violent crime rate is higher in black neighborhoods. Maybe better to say in poor neighborhoods. Discussing underlying causes of these problems is valuable.
I only have my own opinions, but I think about things like restrictive "single family" zoning and it's contribution to the high cost of housing.
Segregation is often an unintended consequence of things, in society, that are designed to protect people's wealth and peace of mind. In the past, there was a history of more overt racism behind lots of urban planning decisions, but now many traditions, rooted in the past, continue without the overt stated racism.
I've seen some articles about this. The racial roots of some zoning rules that have been cleansed of their original, 1950s, language, but still are enforce.
I would think that over dependence on the automobile contributes to problems. The way freeways have carved up cities.
There is the problem of traffic stops in the first place. A fear of what's lurking inside vehicles. Who's behind the tinted glass? Do they have a gun? Were they reckless drivers? Are they on drugs? Automobiles, in the hands of the general public, can be very dangerous. I think about the problem of "stranger danger." How wary ordinary people are of folks they don't know. A lot of people fear using public transit for that reason, but is public transit really as dangerous, or unpleasant, as folks perceive?
I think maybe we should all be more accepting of strangers.
There is a lot of suspicion, out there, created by a climate of fear. Media can enhance fear as it often highlights the one in a million type fluke events and crimes when the overall statistics might say that common activities; like driving a car, are more dangerous. More dangerous than, say riding a bus with unknown passengers.
Scared to ride the bus? Picture of haunted Whatcom Transit bus, Halloween 2010.
When people get to know each other, fear usually diminishes. Problem is that in most situations, there isn't time to develop a rapport with people we encounter.
A group of menacing looking teenagers might be fine, if one gets to know them more. Even just some brief conversation. Most situations don't allow that, however. People will walk across the street instead. I'll admit I'd walk across the street also.
I'm a bit shy on first contact with people, but, if the opportunity is there, I am pretty open to meeting new people. I don't worry too much about privacy or being out there in public. Still, I avoid things out of fear as well.
Some folks are very insular and stay in their small world of friends. That's a common part of human nature. Other folks are more open to mingling with the public, with the diversity that the public mix brings.
Maybe we do need to be more tolerant and not allow as many things to annoy us. Sometimes, though, people can be annoying and even outright dangerous. There are times when one has to call a spade a spade. I would think that the police aren't usually going out there arresting people without cause.
The police have to deal with things all the time. People and situations that other folks, including myself, tend to avoid. Part of the problem is the way our society tends to isolate people from one another. It's kind of a natural cliquishness. I think a lot of the problems, related to the police, are more the symptoms of human tendencies. Things that would cause everyone to have to rethink their own tendencies.
As for stranger danger, here is a funny thought I often have walking on the sidewalk. When I see some young people heading my direction on skateboards, my first thought is often, "they are cute." My second thought is to jump out of the way.
Fortunately, I am still quite agile so jumping out of the way works. Also, even if I didn't jump, they can almost always swerve around me anyway. They are kind of fun to watch.
My point being to try and have a different mindset than fear, or anger is often a good strategy.
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
I wondered if the star of Bethlehem was a super nova
In this picture, UCC Church in Pullman, WA. looked kind of like it did during my childhood. Photo taken 1997.
I grew up in a liberal church which I still have a lot of respect for. The UCC Congregational Church, in Pullman.
The life of Jesus, all the way from Christmas stories to the death and resurrection part was shared like it was a set of mysterious tales and inspirational parables. It wasn't presented as rigid fact. It had a mystique about it. Ancient tales from Roman times. That made it all the more intriguing; in a way.
Back then, I might have thought about it the way I view questions about the origin of the universe. What may have come before the big bang? Was there a "before?"
The Roman Empire was kind of intriguing, to me, as well. So different than the world I was experiencing. There was the census and Caesar Augustus, the manger and the star of Bethlehem. I thought that star could have been a supernova. A large star, out in the galaxy, exploding as it reached the end of it's supply of hydrogen.
Then there was a story, I heard, about the old furnace in the basement of the church. When it ran out of fuel, one day, it supposedly, blew the door off the furnace room. I was kind of scared to walk past that door for several years.
My parents didn't march us all to church each Sunday. They just went when it was convenient for them. During my early childhood, I did kind of resent going to church, however. It all seemed old, musty and archaic.
Back in the early 1960's people still dressed up to go to church, or even just to go downtown. I didn't like the polyester type slacks I was expected to wear. When I got home from church, I was expected to change back into more informal clothing, but it was an annoying chore.
One time I tried to find a shortcut to having to take off my shoes before changing my pants. I pulled my pant legs off over my shoes, but the pant legs got stuck. Being determined to continue down that road, I shuffled out to my dad's shop, and grabbed the oil can. I tried to lubricate the pant legs so they would slip off over the shoes. It just made an even bigger mess.
By the time I got to high school, I started understanding theological discussions more. My impressions of the church improved significantly as I started participating in some free wheeling and speculative discussions there.
I still feel welcome in UCC and other liberal churches today even though I don't go to Sunday morning things due, mostly, to working night shift.
Sunday, December 24, 2017
Staying local for the holidays
In recent times, I've stayed local for the holidays. Last time I took Greyhound Bus to visit family in Pullman, WA. it was crowded. Buses were delayed with snow on the mountain passes. By the time I got to Spokane to transfer for Pullman, the buses were being mobbed by the crowd. Terminal staff was doing the best they could trying to get people where they were going.
I sort of regret what I said when I finally got on my bus. I said, "next time I'll ride my bicycle." It's true. I did ride my bicycle the following summer, but I'm afraid the ticket taker took that as just another insult. I didn't mean it that way, but the comment came as part of a long line of snarling passengers. Now I wish I could do that moment over again. The reaction of the ticket taker wasn't bad, however. I think he just said, "not in the snow." I was appreciative of how they were doing a hard job to get everyone on their way. Many of the passengers are patient with good mindset while others grumble. I try to look at situations from both sides; the side of the customer and employee.
On the bus, it's kind of a long tedious day to get from Bellingham to Pullman with transfers in Everett and Spokane. By bike it's usually 6 or more days with camping along the way. I bike in summer tho I met someone from Norway who biked across Canada in the winter.
I sort of regret what I said when I finally got on my bus. I said, "next time I'll ride my bicycle." It's true. I did ride my bicycle the following summer, but I'm afraid the ticket taker took that as just another insult. I didn't mean it that way, but the comment came as part of a long line of snarling passengers. Now I wish I could do that moment over again. The reaction of the ticket taker wasn't bad, however. I think he just said, "not in the snow." I was appreciative of how they were doing a hard job to get everyone on their way. Many of the passengers are patient with good mindset while others grumble. I try to look at situations from both sides; the side of the customer and employee.
On the bus, it's kind of a long tedious day to get from Bellingham to Pullman with transfers in Everett and Spokane. By bike it's usually 6 or more days with camping along the way. I bike in summer tho I met someone from Norway who biked across Canada in the winter.
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Skylark's Cafe in old Fairhaven District Christmas lights 2017
Skylarks Christmas lights.
Around 20 people celebrated my birthday at the which I send out notices for. My birthday is December 16th, but they celebrated on the Wednesday before.
At another social function I go to, I brought my lighted helmet which I use quite a bit riding around town. This at Bellingham Bar and Grill. A gathering that happens after the Friday Bellingham Peace Vigil.
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