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Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Horizon film festival on mental health June 5th

     The Horizon Foundation is sponsoring a film festival on mental health on June 5th from
6-9 p.m.  UA Snowden Square Stadium
9161 Commerce Center Dr, Columbia, MD 21046

Because the films will run concurrently and space is limited, each attendee must be registered for only one ticket to one film. All attendees must be registered separately. Viewers and families are advised to review the film content watch the movie trailers and use their discretion in making ticket choices.  To register click on this link.

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Monday, May 28, 2018

Fighting Mother Nature and losing

   
Image result for ellicott city flood

     Deja Vu all over again.  Once again Mother Nature has shown us what happens when you reduce pervious surfaces with impervious surfaces in the area around Main Street Ellicott City.  While I understand the desire to rebuild after a disaster I am not sure about the viability of Main Street when we continue to get heavy rain storms that now run off into a funnel that is Main Street.
    This is not the first time that Main Street Ellicott City has had to change what defines it.  Starting in the 1960s with the development of shopping centers along Route 40 stores that had been on Main Street were no longer viable.  Furniture stores, appliance stores, clothing stores and a lumber store were no longer viable.  Main Street converted over to novelty stores and restaurants.  If we limit our options as following a retail business model then we may very well be in the same situation in a couple more years.  I know that the forces to restore Main Street will look to some large expensive water diversion solution that will be limited in its effectiveness or cost an astronomical amount.  Maybe this time we should recognize that Main  Street as it now exists is no longer viable as a retail shopping area but would make a very good festival and recreation opportunity where the water sources are an asset and not a liability.  We can fight Mother Nature or recognize the opportunities it gives us.
     I laid out my thoughts post 2016 flood in this posting.  I didn't realize how quickly we would be in the same situation and I am afraid this won't be the last time I re-post that blog post.

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Sunday, May 27, 2018

Child abuse as national policy

     US Border patrol agents stand watch at an open gate on the fence along the Mexico border to allow Delia Valdovinos-Sanchez to embrace Ramona Vargas, as part of Universal Children's Day at the Border Field State Park, California, U.S. on November 19, 2016.

      I guess we shouldn't be surprised when we elect an immoral buffoon leader that this administration abuses children to carry out its public immigration policy.  In trying to intimidate immigrant mothers from trying to enter our Country the Trump Administration has implemented a policy of separating mothers from their children when they ask for entry into our Country at our entry points.  Children can be scattered around the Country in group homes and other holding facilities while their mother's cases for asylum are determined.  Whatever damage is done to the children in being separated is considered less important than the message it sends to any immigrant mother trying to enter the Country with her children.  When mothers from Central America have chosen to try and protect their children from the violence in their countries by attempting to enter the United States the last thing they need to face is having their children separated from them.  Issues like this do define the Country we have become under the Trump Administration.  So much for family values in a Trump led country.

P.S.

Saturday, May 19, 2018

Only in Texas?


Image result for building with no doors

    Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said yesterday that maybe the State should look at schools having fewer doors to make it more difficult for someone to come into a school to do a school shooting.  Only in the United States (and more specifically Texas) would we try to ban doors before guns.

Sunday, May 6, 2018

What was once hip is now just a symbol of "hipness"

  Travelling recently I noticed how some car manufacturers are still putting a symbol of "hipness" on their current cars.


   Why are these decorative ornaments on modern Fords and Buick's?  At one time sporty roadster cars owned by the wealthy had air intakes on their sides.

Related image

This functional feature was copied in a non functional way on car models that car manufacturers wanted to sell cars with this status symbol.  This has still been carried over to today's models even if a less notifiable way.  See how many cars you now notice with this past status symbol. 

Saturday, May 5, 2018