Max’s Journal 3/3/2015

A LITTLE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, A LITTLE LESS ENABLING

By Max R. Weller

I happen to be in Boulder, CO this morning at the Main Branch Library at 1001 Arapahoe. It might be Saturday before I again have access to the Internet, so I thought I’d put in a quick word now for the benefit of fans and detractors alike. Well, for fans at least . . .

After spending last night at my campsite, I’ll be back indoors with my friends in Longmont for the next three nights. I understand why babysitters could be frightened by my appearance, and have no problem making myself scarce when necessary:

The Homeless Philosopher

Of course, the kids themselves don’t mind, and that comes from knowing me for a few years,

After all, they don’t read the newspapers, which report only the criminal wrongdoing and self-destructive ways of the worst-behaved homeless people (mostly transients from Denver and elsewhere), nor do these 8-year-old fraternal twins drive around to observe the drunks/dope fiends panhandling in an aggressive manner. Thank goodness, too, that they haven’t been exposed to charitable solicitations from our worthless local homeless shelter/services providers.

I’d hate to think that kindhearted youngsters emptied out their piggy banks to aid what REALLY goes on at Bridge House, as one example.

Snow is falling thickly outside around 10AM, as I gaze out the windows from my computer station on the 2nd Floor here. BTW, the Main Branch of BPL has begun opening at 9AM and closing at 8PM, a change which is long overdue. See new hours for all branches here.

I enjoyed riding the SKIP around its loop at the south end of Boulder, before getting off at King Soopers on Table Mesa earlier. There is a great view of the ranchland on Greenbriar Blvd. along with the Foothills, and I love street names like Silver Plume, Smuggler, and Tincup along the route.

I haven’t paid any attention to the news lately, so have nothing to say about it except that I’m probably better off for it. What passes for “news” these days is mostly gossip, innuendo, and speculation based on partisan prejudices.

I do believe I’ll be returning to CU’s Norlin Library in the near future, where I’ve found a cozy corner where there is almost never a Froot Loop to distract me with loud music leaking out of his headphones as he watches some violent animated junk on the Internet (right next to me, on the left), nor do I encounter somebody directly across from me bouncing around in his seat to who-knows-what (likely some half-nekkid video ho).

Oh, well . . . I’ll go over to a seat by the windows to watch the snowfall, thank my lucky stars that I’ll be inside tonight, and eat donut holes from my trip to the grocery store.

They’re coming for you, haydukelives1 (and 2, and 3)

A LITTLE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, A LITTLE LESS ENABLING

By Max R. Weller

Meet the boys from Earp, Earp, Holliday, and Earp — cybersecurity specialists hired by me to track down the pesky varmints leaving unwanted comments on my blog.

True, I delete these silly remarks and nobody else ever sees them, but I’m tired of the Bridge House bums’ bull****, anyway.

A few days away from the Internet

A LITTLE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, A LITTLE LESS ENABLING

By Max R. Weller

Because my friends in Longmont have packed up their computer in their preparations to move to a new home, I’ll be reading a lot and working on ideas for a short story rather than blogging for the next few days. I’m told that I’m a good houseguest, so I no longer feel like I’m imposing in accepting their kind invitation to come indoors out of the winter weather.

The advantage of REAL writing involves more than money, of course; it also provides the protection of a copyright which could be enforced by whoever publishes my work (NO self-publishing for me). It’s regrettable, but not surprising, that WordPress chooses NOT to enforce their own Terms of Service in re one of the deranged cyberstalkers who is also a plagiarist, but if it gives me the impetus to write seriously then the Froot Loop has done me a favor — just as he has done everyone on the streets a favor by posting Resources for the homeless in Boulder, CO as his own work.

So, not to worry about my absence from here for a while . . .

Lots more snow on the way, and more

A LITTLE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, A LITTLE LESS ENABLING

By Max R. Weller

See Boulder County could see up to 16 inches of snow this weekend during ‘extended event’ from the Daily Camera.

Resources for the homeless in Boulder, CO may be of assistance, along with the advice I always post on the DC’s website: STAY SOBER, seek shelter, and survive!

I’ve been outside overnight when 23″ of snow fell on top of me, back in March of 2009. I’d actually prefer the temps to be in the teens rather than around the freezing mark, which produces all of that miserable, wet slush.

I’ll have to stock up on snacks to eat in my burrow, and no doubt I’ll be sharing with the pesky mice. I’ve had to start zipping up all of the compartments in my backpack overnight, because the rodents have been taking lint from my “homeless survival blankets” and making nests in my personal storage space. My campsite is home to at least half-a-dozen mice, currently.

There isn’t a library in Boulder, CO opening until 10AM on Saturdays and Sundays, so I’ll probably have to hang out drinking coffee at the Starbucks inside King Soopers until that time. Under the circumstances, George Reynolds Branch of Boulder Public Library on Table Mesa would be most convenient for me.

Here’s a foolproof recipe for snow ice cream.

On a serious note:

It will be interesting to see what action, if any, WordPress takes to protect the integrity of my blog called “homelessphilosopher” from one of the cyberstalkers who has started his own blog called “homelyphilosopher”. NOT any innocent coincidence, because I’m the one and only topic of his posts . . . Here’s the complaint I submitted to WordPress:

< This obsessed individual has been using the name “homelyphilosopher” for a few months now — no doubt to confuse followers of my blog “homelessphilosopher” — and all of his posts are defamatory, containing rumor, innuendo, outright lies, etc. What prompts my complaint this morning is that he’s started to copy and paste posts from my blog, and claim them as his own. SPAM! At the very least, WordPress should require this individual to use a different name for his blog; perhaps “I hate Max Weller” would be appropriate given his persistent, hateful attacks which serve only his own twisted psychiatric disorder. Thanks for your consideration. >

I think there’s a more than reasonable suspicion that this Froot Loop is either an employee or a volunteer at Bridge House. Remember that, folks, the next time that Isabel McDevitt starts trolling for donations courtesy of free coverage in the Daily Camera.

That’s all for now.

‘Boulder’s expanded outdoor smoking ban gets final approval’ and more

A LITTLE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, A LITTLE LESS ENABLING

By Max R. Weller

Here’s the link to this story from the Daily Camera. It was also featured on the DC’s Facebook page, and the comments below are copied from there:

Max Weller: Inconsiderate smoking addicts have brought this on themselves, because the more than 80 percent of us who don’t smoke are sick and tired of their BS. NOBODY has the right to pollute my airspace with tobacco smoke, nor with marijuana smoke. BTW, it’s absurd to claim that this ban is targeting the homeless — I’m homeless myself, I haven’t smoked since high school over 40 years ago, and I respect others who appreciate fresh air in our public spaces.

Jake Stimmel: As a homeless person I presume you smell bad sometimes. But I respect your right to “pollute” MY fresh air with any body odor you please. You can’t afford me the same respect? Please

Max Weller: You’re mistaken, and ignorant for believing one of the negative stereotypes because the worst-behaved 20 percent of the homeless have poor hygiene. The other 80 percent of us shower daily and use deodorant and do laundry when necessary, too. Crawl back under your arrogant, presumptuous rock with Isabel McDevitt, Greg Harms, and Betsey Martens.

You know, there are a lot of ignorant Jake Stimmel-types here in Boulder, CO — and what little they think they know about homelessness comes from encounters with that small minority of the worst-behaved bums, and from the LIES they’ve been told by the nonprofits. We’re all substance abusers, mentally ill, sex offenders, helpless and needy, etc. Wake up, Jake! The nonprofits don’t make millions of dollars off the majority of homeless folks like me . . .

When I arrived at Boulder Shelter for the Homeless this morning around 5:20AM, I observed two police vehicles parked on the north side where the SKIP buses pick up passengers. The second officer responding was just entering the facility, and when I got to the door where I stand and meditate until BSH opens at 6, I thought I heard a woman’s screams coming from the day room, far down the hallway. A few minutes later, however, it was a scruffy-looking MAN who was escorted out of the door by two of Boulder’s finest. They made certain that the screaming yahoo got onto the SKIP that was leaving, southbound on Broadway.

Seems to me that if you don’t want to abide by a few simple rules — which boil down to respecting others — and BSH staff tells you to leave, you should do so without all of the silly drama that isn’t going to change anything in your favor. No doubt, this character was another transient from Denver or elsewhere, probably under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs. He was taking an overnight bunk away from a homeless resident of Boulder County, too.

Great news from King Soopers: Hot fish sandwiches are once again available in the deli, as they are every Lenten season. These are a tasty treat to me, not a sacrifice at all. $1.99 each with your store card.

That’s it for now, as we should be preparing for another bout with snow turning to ice, mostly due to Boulder’s policy of “solar-powered” snow removal.

Latest news from Three Stooges x 3 (Boulder City Council), and more

 A LITTLE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, A LITTLE LESS ENABLING

By Max R. Weller

See Boulder to submit Xcel separation plan to PUC rather than appeal ruling from the Daily Camera. My comment online following the story is copied here:

City of Boulder, while bent over and being spanked: “Please, Judge LaBuda and PUC and FERC, may we have another?”

I enjoyed the most restful sleep I’ve had in a long time last night. Peace and quiet outdoors is likely the reason for it. Such quality sleep would NOT have been possible in either Boulder Shelter for the Homeless or BOHO, crammed together with noisy, filthy transients from Denver and elsewhere, who reek of body/foot odor and flatulence and who also tend to roam around at all hours of the night. My best guess is that only 1/3 of them are homeless residents of Boulder County, so why are they allowed to consume local resources month after month? Give ‘em each the $5 bus ticket on RTD back to Denver, along with a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and a bottle of water to-go.

Have a good trip, and don’t come back!

BTW, fares on RTD will soon be going up, again. If Boulder wants to be seen as a “progressive” city, why not adopt the FARE-FREE policy of the Cache Valley Transit District in and around Logan, UT? This could apply to bus trips within Boulder itself, at least. Eliminate the farce of riders, a lot of them transients, pretending to be disabled in some way that entitles them to a half-price fare; even mental illness qualifies, no matter if you’re able-bodied. As the link to CVTD explains, FARE-FREE has many advantages which would dovetail with Boulder’s progressive aspirations.

King Soopers used to be a lot better, when their deli offered BIG ham or turkey subs, Nathan’s hot dogs, and discounted chef-prepared individual meals from the previous day. That all went away many moons ago. Now, they’ve rearranged the merchandise on their aisles so that even longtime shoppers like me are LOST. The manager must be an idiot; folks who patronize King Soopers aren’t looking for Whole Foods!

Another round of snow coming this weekend. Would it do any good to inform those in charge of snow removal here in Boulder ahead of time?

(Cliff Grassmick / Daily Camera 2013)

Solar-powered snow removal in Boulder, CO is a flop, and more

A LITTLE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, A LITTLE LESS ENABLING

By Max R. Weller

Read Boulder weather: Mostly sunny with a high of 37 in the Daily Camera. The fallacy inherent in Boulder, CO’s “solar-powered” snow removal strategy is quite obvious this morning — slushy snow from yesterday afternoon has frozen overnight and it is very ICY and very DANGEROUS out there! These conditions may linger for a couple of days.

This is a City of Boulder snowplow, in case you’ve never seen one in your neighborhood:

 (Cliff Grassmick / Daily Camera 2014)

Sidewalks are just as treacherous as streets, further proof that a city ordinance requiring snow removal there for the safety of pedestrians like me is a farce as well.

Before I moved here to America’s Smartest City in early 2008, I had lived in cities back in Missouri which took snow removal seriously; by comparison, Boulder is incompetent and not enough taxpayers are calling for the scalps of Boulder City Council members.

BTW, if the lack of timely and effective snow removal doesn’t piss you off enough, there is a whole range of other issues for which BCC is escaping accountability . . . Municipalization, transients from Denver and elsewhere consuming resources which could be going to Boulder County’s own homeless people, city policy dictated by the PLAN-Boulder cabal to the detriment of the middle class and working poor, etc.

Interesting column by Bob Greenlee (who has been kind enough to mention my blog in re homelessness) from the DC: Caution! Off-ramps ahead? Quoting from it below:

The entire electric utility industry is undergoing a tremendous reformation of its century-old business model in electric generation as well as its delivery systems and networks. Today both investor-owned as well as community-based electric providers face consumers who want to be more efficient in their use of electricity as well as more empowered in how they access and employ this vital commodity. There’s little doubt that today’s electric utility providers are seeking ways to fundamentally change their business model and practices even though such changes are difficult to achieve due to the highly-regulated environment they face.

Of particular interest was the staff’s review of what has occurred in Minneapolis, the home base of Xcel Energy, Boulder’s current electric utility provider and the target of misplaced local ire. Minneapolis was considering forming its own muni at about the same time Boulder was. Instead, a short-term franchise agreement was entered into by Xcel and Minneapolis largely because the two entities identified similar goals related to employing more renewable energy as well as the promise of more consumer- and environmentally-friendly operating practices. This is an alternative that Boulder should consider to achieve its energy future goals without the excessively expensive, unpredictable, and risky course it now finds itself pursuing.

Three Stooges x 3: Boulder City Council

All of you ignorant people who think that police officers should NOT take fools who point what might be a pellet gun at them as a deadly threat should read this story from the Denver Post: Erie man dies after accidentally shooting himself with pellet rifle. Yes, it’s true that a protective vest typically worn by cops will stop a pellet, but what if that projectile were to strike the officer in the eye? Do you think it might have sufficient energy to penetrate into the brain, in addition to causing permanent blindness? Time to stop making excuses for stupid drunks who get themselves shot after threatening police officers with deadly force — and it’s not even necessary to concern ourselves with pellet guns that are designed as lookalikes of more powerful weapons. Anything firing a projectile can kill or seriously injure another person; a lesson most of us are taught at a very young age by responsible parents.

As long as my toes are bright red when I step into the shower room at Boulder Shelter for the Homeless, shortly after 6AM, I know that I don’t need to worry about frostbite turning them black and causing autoamputation, which happened to a homeless friend of mine a few years ago. If I recall correctly, two of his toes fell off after quite a while. I wonder if he saved them, as a reminder NOT to get drunk and pass out in snowy, subfreezing weather . . .

That’s all for today, since I need to get to King Soopers earlier than noon if I hope to find hot & spicy chicken breast sandwiches still available.