What an interesting and informative article. There couldn't possibly be a better or more important topic for a reporter to spend his time writing about. Food storage bags can even be used to cover half-empty dog food containers! I'd like to quote a particularly poignant passage: "You can even put candy in the bags!". Amazing! I'd like to personally thank Tom Ross for his important, meaningful contribution to journalism and the community. One could even go as far as to say that he's doing God's work.
Take a look at the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere over the last 500 - 20,000 years. I wish that I had a link to a graph here, but you are the "expert". You can tell where the industrial revolution is without looking at dates. This is not to prove the human influenced "global warming" argument, but Carbon dioxide is poisonous to people and most of the other living things on the earth. Great. You wouldn't catch me dead watching CNN. If Al Gore was a reliable source for information, then he probably would have been recognized by a prestigious organization founded and operated to recognize people of exceptional merit ( like the Nobel foundation). I'll get back to you as I digest more of this.
2) I receive no health care. I receive no bonus. I stand by my statements. Again, I appear to be in a slightly more informed position to comment.
3) You appear again, to have ignored the facts and created your own. The city, and no one else is paying the Approx $1500 end of season bonus.
This space is for discussion of the above article and related issues. I guess we should probably try not to deviate from that. It is fun to argue.
Driver272, thank you for an informed opinion from the inside, and a reminder of the poorly reported facts. Thanks for doing your job. I hope I have not maligned SST, you, or any of your coworkers.
Sbovr, Wow! You are really convinced that global warming is a fallacy! It's good to have convictions. It's also good to examine all of the information available and make an informed decision. I'd like to spend the time to read all of the posts on this page. But I work for a living. And I have to finish Don Quixote first, so I can bring it back to the library (although you may be just as entertaining). I'm glad to see that you are keeping most of your incendiary, convoluted, rhetoric confined in an appropriate space, not polluting the forums meant for community discussion of specific issues. I look forward to future conversations. And to reading your blog.
Bubba, thank you for your interest in grammatical correctness. As a nerd, I share your campaign. However, I stand by my statement. The TIPS acronym, probably about 110 years old, was originally British. There are many usage differences between American English, and that of merry ol' England. From my Oxford Concise English Dictionary (under the entry for insure): "For the general senses, insure and ensure are often interchangeable, but insure tends to be more common in US English.
Thanks for being a well behaved and polite rider. Almost often enough, that is just what people do.
1) I specified that my housing is subsidized by SSRC specifically to avoid the confusion you appear to suffer from.
2) Living on a limited income, I examined the possibilities, and unfortunately, I definitely could not find comparable quality of housing in the unsubsidized private sector.
3) I have suggested not that development should be limited, but that it should be held to a standard that reflects and has a concern for the entire population of the area. Do second homeowners and tourists deserve recognition?
4) Not accounting for tips, considering bonuses, the city still pays 20%+ more than SSRC, and 40%+ more than alpine. Factoring for experience and credentials, you can check this against the newspaper employment ads.
5) Thank you for your welcome to the community (I have lived in Colorado nearly my entire life). Having received more gracious welcomes, I think I'll choose not to be offended. I have no inhibitions about my tax dollars funding this transit system (which enjoys a great reputation statewide), or "socialist housing" (I rather enjoy thinking that part of my taxes go to better my fellow citizens' quality of life). Oversized or second homes homes do alot more to drive up the cost of housing, and have many other negative effects on the working class of a city. While I am not by any means an expert on the topic, I have been driven out of more than one community (and deprived the privilege, somewhat indirectly, of buying a home) by second homeowners.
Furthermore, you and rokboat are both correct. Employers are only required to drug test CDL drivers (the distinction being a driver who carries more than 14 passengers, or is a full time, driver only employee), as per state and federal law. There is no requirement to test part time drivers carrying less than 15 passengers.
P.S. - In my professional experience (in areas I would deem more aggressive and/or drunk), I have found that the most effective way to effect or enhance a rider's behavior is a calm, direct, polite request.
I'd like to think that I am literate enough not to be fooled by pretty words or poorly applied jargon (hopefully, as evidenced by my posts here).
I will ask again, what is your housing situation? Can you purport to have empathy OR sympathy for the groups you would deprive of assistance?
I am encouraged by the level of community involvement shown in this forum.
Afterthoughts: The most important issue discussed in these numerous comments is the quality of journalism. As evidenced by my first comment, the community could make this job much more attractive in two ways. One, better wages (the current pay is competitive, compared to similar jobs statewide), and two, being polite while on the bus (and not only to the driver). I really hope that it isn't totally unreasonable to issue a call for a segment of the community who shares an important and "free" service to act in a socially acceptable (not socialist), respectful, and possibly even (gasp) courteous manner.
In partial response to sbvor's comment directly following my comment of this morning:
Sir, I am not a pinko, but several qualities of my existence (not my opinions) appear to directly refute your opinions. In addition, as an employee of both SSRC (as a bus driver), and alpine, I appear to be in a more knowledgable position to render a judgment on this issue. I also think that it would be quite revealing if you were to describe where and in what you live (not a street address or your living conditions, just a description of your home, and who owns it).
1) The city currently pays 20%-30% more then either of my employers, not accounting for their end of season bonus. My decision not to work for them (as a public transit driver) is as a result of my past experience in the industry. I agree that city spending could be examined, but does that differentiate the 'boat from any other city?
2) TIPS is an acronym for "to insure proper service". Ask anyone in the service industry about the relationship with that part of their income. "We" are wary of people of "your" demeanor (I intend no insult, and truly hope that you tip those who spend their time taking care of you).
3) I live in employee (SSRC subsidized) housing. I would not be able to afford to live here otherwise. Having recently moved here, I can tell you that there is a total failure of the private sector to provide "affordable" housing. While bueracracy is unfailingly frustrating, I am no more interested in further privatization than I am in buying electricity from Enron.
4) Privatizing the bus system would be a mistake. It is likely that the candidates would be as greedy as their counterparts in the real estate industry. Wal-Mart would not be the "PERFECT" place to sell bus passes. I refuse to shop there, and know many people who share this conviction. I do not expect you to "pay my way" for anything. I do expect you to pay your taxes. If you are interested in how they are spent, consider a political career. Furthermore, if you remain convinced of the the value of privatization, and have health insurance, contract an expensive illness. I expect this experience would change your opinion of "socialism" (to which I make no claims or aspirations).
Challenge - Calling ALL CO2 Hysteria Pimps
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/na...
December 13, 2007 at 10:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tom Ross: What did we ever do without Hefty bags?
What an interesting and informative article. There couldn't possibly be a better or more important topic for a reporter to spend his time writing about. Food storage bags can even be used to cover half-empty dog food containers! I'd like to quote a particularly poignant passage: "You can even put candy in the bags!". Amazing! I'd like to personally thank Tom Ross for his important, meaningful contribution to journalism and the community. One could even go as far as to say that he's doing God's work.
December 1, 2007 at 7:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Challenge - Calling ALL CO2 Hysteria Pimps
Take a look at the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere over the last 500 - 20,000 years. I wish that I had a link to a graph here, but you are the "expert". You can tell where the industrial revolution is without looking at dates. This is not to prove the human influenced "global warming" argument, but Carbon dioxide is poisonous to people and most of the other living things on the earth. Great.
You wouldn't catch me dead watching CNN. If Al Gore was a reliable source for information, then he probably would have been recognized by a prestigious organization founded and operated to recognize people of exceptional merit ( like the Nobel foundation). I'll get back to you as I digest more of this.
November 27, 2007 at 4:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bus driver shortage unnerves some
Sbvor,
again you are confused.
1) I suspect your salt shaker is almost empty.
2) I receive no health care. I receive no bonus. I stand by my statements. Again, I appear to be in a slightly more informed position to comment.
3) You appear again, to have ignored the facts and created your own. The city, and no one else is paying the Approx $1500 end of season bonus.
This space is for discussion of the above article and related issues. I guess we should probably try not to deviate from that. It is fun to argue.
Driver272, thank you for an informed opinion from the inside, and a reminder of the poorly reported facts. Thanks for doing your job. I hope I have not maligned SST, you, or any of your coworkers.
November 26, 2007 at 9:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Challenge - Calling ALL CO2 Hysteria Pimps
Sbovr,
Wow! You are really convinced that global warming is a fallacy! It's good to have convictions. It's also good to examine all of the information available and make an informed decision. I'd like to spend the time to read all of the posts on this page. But I work for a living. And I have to finish Don Quixote first, so I can bring it back to the library (although you may be just as entertaining). I'm glad to see that you are keeping most of your incendiary, convoluted, rhetoric confined in an appropriate space, not polluting the forums meant for community discussion of specific issues. I look forward to future conversations. And to reading your blog.
November 26, 2007 at 9:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bus driver shortage unnerves some
Bubba, thank you for your interest in grammatical correctness. As a nerd, I share your campaign. However, I stand by my statement. The TIPS acronym, probably about 110 years old, was originally British. There are many usage differences between American English, and that of merry ol' England. From my Oxford Concise English Dictionary (under the entry for insure): "For the general senses, insure and ensure are often interchangeable, but insure tends to be more common in US English.
Thanks for being a well behaved and polite rider. Almost often enough, that is just what people do.
November 25, 2007 at 8:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bus driver shortage unnerves some
sbvor,
another reply,
1) I specified that my housing is subsidized by SSRC specifically to avoid the confusion you appear to suffer from.
2) Living on a limited income, I examined the possibilities, and unfortunately, I definitely could not find comparable quality of housing in the unsubsidized private sector.
3) I have suggested not that development should be limited, but that it should be held to a standard that reflects and has a concern for the entire population of the area. Do second homeowners and tourists deserve recognition?
4) Not accounting for tips, considering bonuses, the city still pays 20%+ more than SSRC, and 40%+ more than alpine. Factoring for experience and credentials, you can check this against the newspaper employment ads.
5) Thank you for your welcome to the community (I have lived in Colorado nearly my entire life). Having received more gracious welcomes, I think I'll choose not to be offended. I have no inhibitions about my tax dollars funding this transit system (which enjoys a great reputation statewide), or "socialist housing" (I rather enjoy thinking that part of my taxes go to better my fellow citizens' quality of life). Oversized or second homes homes do alot more to drive up the cost of housing, and have many other negative effects on the working class of a city. While I am not by any means an expert on the topic, I have been driven out of more than one community (and deprived the privilege, somewhat indirectly, of buying a home) by second homeowners.
Furthermore, you and rokboat are both correct. Employers are only required to drug test CDL drivers (the distinction being a driver who carries more than 14 passengers, or is a full time, driver only employee), as per state and federal law. There is no requirement to test part time drivers carrying less than 15 passengers.
P.S. - In my professional experience (in areas I would deem more aggressive and/or drunk), I have found that the most effective way to effect or enhance a rider's behavior is a calm, direct, polite request.
I'd like to think that I am literate enough not to be fooled by pretty words or poorly applied jargon (hopefully, as evidenced by my posts here).
I will ask again, what is your housing situation? Can you purport to have empathy OR sympathy for the groups you would deprive of assistance?
I am encouraged by the level of community involvement shown in this forum.
November 25, 2007 at 8:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bus driver shortage unnerves some
Afterthoughts:
The most important issue discussed in these numerous comments is the quality of journalism.
As evidenced by my first comment, the community could make this job much more attractive in two ways. One, better wages (the current pay is competitive, compared to similar jobs statewide), and two, being polite while on the bus (and not only to the driver). I really hope that it isn't totally unreasonable to issue a call for a segment of the community who shares an important and "free" service to act in a socially acceptable (not socialist), respectful, and possibly even (gasp) courteous manner.
November 25, 2007 at 6:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bus driver shortage unnerves some
In partial response to sbvor's comment directly following my comment of this morning:
Sir, I am not a pinko, but several qualities of my existence (not my opinions) appear to directly refute your opinions. In addition, as an employee of both SSRC (as a bus driver), and alpine, I appear to be in a more knowledgable position to render a judgment on this issue. I also think that it would be quite revealing if you were to describe where and in what you live (not a street address or your living conditions, just a description of your home, and who owns it).
1) The city currently pays 20%-30% more then either of my employers, not accounting for their end of season bonus. My decision not to work for them (as a public transit driver) is as a result of my past experience in the industry. I agree that city spending could be examined, but does that differentiate the 'boat from any other city?
2) TIPS is an acronym for "to insure proper service". Ask anyone in the service industry about the relationship with that part of their income. "We" are wary of people of "your" demeanor (I intend no insult, and truly hope that you tip those who spend their time taking care of you).
3) I live in employee (SSRC subsidized) housing. I would not be able to afford to live here otherwise. Having recently moved here, I can tell you that there is a total failure of the private sector to provide "affordable" housing. While bueracracy is unfailingly frustrating, I am no more interested in further privatization than I am in buying electricity from Enron.
4) Privatizing the bus system would be a mistake. It is likely that the candidates would be as greedy as their counterparts in the real estate industry. Wal-Mart would not be the "PERFECT" place to sell bus passes. I refuse to shop there, and know many people who share this conviction. I do not expect you to "pay my way" for anything. I do expect you to pay your taxes. If you are interested in how they are spent, consider a political career. Furthermore, if you remain convinced of the the value of privatization, and have health insurance, contract an expensive illness. I expect this experience would change your opinion of "socialism" (to which I make no claims or aspirations).
I hope to see you on my bus, comrade.
November 25, 2007 at 6:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Development signals end for rancher
I quite appreciate the irony of this article appearing on a page peppered with real estate advertisements.
November 25, 2007 at 11:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )