geofreak comment-22280 2010-02-16T04:40:04Z 2010-02-16T04:40:04Z I can't wait to salute! geofreak 2010-02-16T04:40:04Z geofreak comment-17502 2009-11-08T21:26:06Z 2009-11-08T21:26:06Z Great article, John! And congratulations to Alchemist for doing a good thing to serve a few small neighborhoods. geofreak 2009-11-08T21:26:06Z geofreak comment-16591 2009-10-28T18:21:07Z 2009-10-28T18:21:07Z Don't forget that Mayor Johnson publicly and sincerely apologized TO NESTLE!! geofreak 2009-10-28T18:21:07Z geofreak comment-16590 2009-10-28T18:15:53Z 2009-10-28T18:15:53Z Council Member Fong was very quick to raise his styrofoam cup when a citizen voiced their concern: "I am very disappointed to see how many council members have bottles of water here tonight when bottled water was banned last year for all council meetings." geofreak 2009-10-28T18:15:53Z geofreak comment-16492 2009-10-27T19:27:33Z 2009-10-27T19:27:33Z Where do you come from Max? When water is bottled and people are made to believe it is healthier than tap water, guess what, it is. When people don't demand high quality water at the tap, the government answers the peoples vote to bottle our water. It is so sad that I walk through capitol park and find an old broken drinking fountain. Water is necessary for life. Water in a bottle is a packaged, advertised, and sold lie. The people are just now beginning to understand how they have been duped...me included. geofreak 2009-10-27T19:27:33Z geofreak comment-16489 2009-10-27T19:05:56Z 2009-10-27T19:05:56Z Yay! It makes me so happy to see the people stand up and tell their government what to do with the corporations who take advantage of old laws. Nestle knows exactly what they are doing. They see an old zoning code and a city who hasn't addressed this too important issue...so they swoop in like sharks. Bite back little pirhanas! we'll win this fight together! This is the kind of world I want to live in. People engaged!! geofreak 2009-10-27T19:05:56Z geofreak comment-10580 2009-07-12T03:48:37Z 2009-07-12T03:48:37Z I see. I'm not really sure I understand the complexity of this specific issue, but it is unfortunate when a government institution lacks cohesion and consistency. We are certainly missing effective leadership on a grand scale all through government today. I wish we had better leadership and mentoring offered to government employees. But we as citizens don't really think about how good leadership in local government could ultimately affect us. But that's the big picture from the government point of view. As a citizen and homeowner who pays regular taxes to my local government, I am definitely concerned when a fly-by-night big business gets favor over the local developer working on a small scale for citizens. Do I kinda get what you're saying?? geofreak 2009-07-12T03:48:37Z geofreak comment-10540 2009-07-10T23:03:42Z 2009-07-10T23:03:42Z Do you think the cost and delays could have anything to do with the 35+ employees (mostly planners) that have been laid off in the last 2 years? It seems to reason that when you have fewer people to do a job, money talks. geofreak 2009-07-10T23:03:42Z geofreak comment-9214 2009-06-10T06:51:06Z 2009-06-10T06:51:06Z Mr. Knapp - We'll take this one step at a time. I used the word hatred only when referring to the SHIFT...as in shifting away from this divisive behavior. Never did I use it to refer to anyone in particular as you did with vegetarians. I have a feeling you already know this, though. Enjoy your 5 minutes. geofreak 2009-06-10T06:51:06Z geofreak comment-8308 2009-05-26T02:14:45Z 2009-05-26T02:14:45Z Mr. Knapp - I am sorry you think all vegetarians move with one mind and have the personal agenda to HATE all meat eaters. HATE is not the word I used...AND...I said "MANY Vegetarians," not all! I agree that terrorist activity is intolerable, but when the opposition refuses to listen, it becomes inevitable. I personally would never engage in such activity and would stand at the forefront of preventing it as peacefully as I could. I am sorry to ask, but is Liberal, Vegetarian, and Socialist the extent of your vocabulary? I am very curious as to what you think "Liberals" are redefining the word "Torture" to mean in this case. You are rich on labels but lack substance in your arguments. Has it occurred to you that when you use this language, you are not seeking to communicate but rather to discredit without presenting a logical counter argument? I believe this type of behavior is what begins violence. The "terrorist" activity you mention may have been avoided if someone had the mind to listen before jumping to conclusions. Further, I fail to see how vegetarianism became the central part of this conversation. Have you read Michael Pollen? Mindful consumption goes much deeper than simply enjoying your food. It goes to the core of understanding not only where it came from, how it was raised, and how it got on your plate, but how the way you eat relates to the rest of human culture and the environment. You, sir, should be very concerned and I would urge you to watch this movie if you don't have the time to read. If indeed you did grow up raising cattle for slaughter, you too might be concerned what large agribusiness is doing, not only to the meat, but to the family farmer. And our government is subsidizing it. I hope that you can reach out and see further than your plate in this conversation. geofreak 2009-05-26T02:14:45Z geofreak comment-8295 2009-05-25T22:06:29Z 2009-05-25T22:06:29Z Mr. Knapp - Before you jump to conclusions about a person, perhaps you should try asking questions first. You might find that we have much more in common than we have differences. The Shift I am talking about encompasses many things, but in this case, it is a shift away from mindless eating and consumption. If you read Omnivores Dilemma, you would know that the author of the book, Michael Pollen, is far from being a vegetarian. And so am I (something you neglected to ask but rather assumed). In this case, shifting away from mindless consumption means I care enough to ask where my food is coming from. I support local businesses who thrive on good quality product and customer relationships. I don't see anything wrong with ensuring that my meat is not ground with feces, pumped with hormones, or antibiotics, and is treated with the kind of respect it deserves while it is alive. Further, I agree that many vegetarians jump to conclusions about meat eaters, but most do not. Most are simply trying to be good people. When they see large factory farms needlessly torturing animals just to turn a bigger profit than last year, the vegetarians have decided to opt out of that system. Good for them for living what they believe. Another part of the "SHIFT" is making a conscious effort to move away from divisive hatred and towards Inclusive kindness. Let's step away from our judgments of each other and towards a greater understanding. With that said, Mr. Knapp, please enjoy your pork, but next time you head out to Armadillo Willies, try asking where that pig came from. geofreak 2009-05-25T22:06:29Z geofreak comment-8187 2009-05-23T03:33:28Z 2009-05-23T03:33:28Z I can't wait to see it! Hopefully Food Inc. will capture a wider audience and get the word into the mainstream. Omnivores Dilemma and Fast Food Nation were excellent books...but lets face it, who in the mainstream rat race has any time to read? Unfortunately, these are the people who need to hear the message for the this shift to happen once and for all. geofreak 2009-05-23T03:33:28Z geofreak comment-5184 2009-03-28T20:44:03Z 2009-03-28T20:44:03Z I would like to see a whole different approach to this. I'm not sure I understand the purpose of the County Board of Supervisors other than their personal wish to regulate morality. Sadly, they don't realize their opposition to the existence of these establishments only serves to make them more appealing to deviants. The community would be better served by focusing on issues that really cause problems. For instance, Large intrusive signage can be offensive. Let's target that. Let's also target the professionalism and safety of the entertainers? Training for the entertainment staff is not required. Proper training of the law, individual rights risks, and safety issues would go far to thwart the "undesirables" that may frequent these places. It's so frustrating when legal officials work towards outlawing something they perceive as problematic rather than trying to solve the real problems that exist. That is just pure lazy governance. I'm sorry Steve, I should also mention that "Single Mothers" are by far a minority of the entertainers. No one should assume they KNOW any entertainer. geofreak 2009-03-28T20:44:03Z