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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 31. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by AuntieMel on February 22, 2006, at 16:25:15
According to our paper, NO council members said things like "There's been a lot of pampering and at some point you have to say no" and "We don't need any soap opera watchers. We are going to target the people who are going to work."
Nice, guys.
Imagine the squawking if we had met people at the city gates and screened for healthy educated workers.
I love my town more and more. We've provided a year of rent and utilities for over 80,000 evacuees with very little grumbling from the public. We're trying to get FEMA to pick up the tab, but it's there even if they don't.
Posted by James K on February 22, 2006, at 18:23:15
In reply to Houston gets to keep the poorest of the evacuees, posted by AuntieMel on February 22, 2006, at 16:25:15
What a great deal. Now when drunk people come from all over the country to look at ladies' breasts for beads, they wont have to worry about straying into the wrong part of town.
It's still a free country. People can move wherever they want. Public housing is a combined Fed and State run program. Unless they think they can make state legislative changes that quick, I'd be willing to bet there are laws on the books mandating affordable housing. I don't actually know much about Louisiana law though. It does sound like their social programs are more generous than Texas', so if people move back, there they are. And evacuees still have to decide where they intend to vote. If I was a politician I'd be careful who I alienated until that matter was worked out.
One thought I've had about the small percentage of people who came here with bad intentions. It only takes a few arrests to get you into real prison in this state, and our execution rate, while down, is still the largest. So, B-stupid, have a good time. Watch out for MS13 while your at it.
I've known so many Louisiana natives here in Houston, that I'll always had a feeling that there are better opportunies here anyway. No offense meant to the fine people of that state, It just seems that way to me economically. Maybe it just that people have always migrated to the largest close city when times got individually hard.
rambling again
James k
Posted by James K on February 22, 2006, at 19:21:13
In reply to Re: Houston gets to keep the poorest of the evacuees » AuntieMel, posted by James K on February 22, 2006, at 18:23:15
I was eating dinner, and got to thinking about what I had just written here, and realized that bit about the drunk guys could be misunderstood. The long version of what I mean, is New Orleans is one of the oldest and most individual cities in america. Mardis Gras is a historical major celebration with religious roots. I think when tourists come there and do things like public urination and disorderly conduct, they are disrespecting the great city and the achievments of Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, Etta James etc. Black, white, French, Spanish, Caribbean all mixed at this port city. The people who actually live there, deserve better than to be seen as an inconvenience to the party. And sometimes, that seems like the attitude.
James K
Posted by Dinah on February 22, 2006, at 22:15:59
In reply to Houston gets to keep the poorest of the evacuees, posted by AuntieMel on February 22, 2006, at 16:25:15
Well, to be fair, the context is that a goodly number of the public housing units are damaged and unable to be occupied. They'll come back into service slowly. Currently there's an application process that includes a background check for criminal convictions.
I believe that what the current council has suggested is something along the lines of: As units become available, former residents will be given first choice. The application process will then still include a criminal background check, but will also screen for people who are willing to work, or to train for work, in one of the industries that desperately needs workers. Because housing supply is inordinately low, businesses are operating shortened hours. Marine companies are giving away multimillion dollar contracts they worked years to land. The labor shortage is a huge problem that is slowing down the rebuilding of the city. So the council is saying that as units become available, they'll give preference to people who are able to contribute to the labor pool.
Eventually I'm sure a good number will come back. But it's a very slow process. You can't get the public housing units and affordable rental units up and habitable without labor. You can't get labor without affordable housing.
And of course the wonderful bailout plan that we're all delighted and grateful to get, don't mistake me there, but it only compensates homeowners. So rental owners with insufficient insurance, or slow insurance, are going to have trouble rebuilding. So housing will be in short supply for years to come. (Plus, the task ahead is monumental, and would take years in the best of circumstances.)
Posted by Dinah on February 22, 2006, at 22:20:37
In reply to Re: Houston gets to keep the poorest of the evacue » AuntieMel, posted by Dinah on February 22, 2006, at 22:15:59
It really is mind boggling. Even in the suburbs that are up and operating, you can't hardly get a hamburger after 7 pm because they just can't find enough workers to keep a Burger King open from 10 to 10.
That's a little thing, and insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but it's one of the telling small things that drive home what's going on.
In a good part of New Orleans proper, they don't even have electricity. So there are no hamburgers at any time.
I wonder if they've taken the greater metropolitan area and calculated what percentage of residences are unliveable.
Posted by AuntieMel on February 23, 2006, at 18:14:33
In reply to Re: Houston gets to keep the poorest of the evacue » AuntieMel, posted by Dinah on February 22, 2006, at 22:15:59
Interesting dilema
Public housing to screen for criminal backgrounds?
Private apartments already do.
Where is a criminal to go?
And more important, where were they all living? Where did they come from?
I'm not trying to be mean - I know that it's a slow process and people who want to help rebuild should have a place to live - and that it should take precedence over "free" housing.
It was just something about the way it was said. Mix that with what other people said about Katrina being great urban renewal and it sounded (to me) almost like gloating to be rid of the "rifraf."
Posted by Dinah on February 23, 2006, at 19:44:01
In reply to Re: Houston gets to keep the poorest of the evacue » Dinah, posted by AuntieMel on February 23, 2006, at 18:14:33
Chuckle.
Well....
I'm not saying there aren't people who have that attitude.
I think I can't say any more about those people on this forum. :)
I don't even know how many people have that attitude, to tell you the truth. But I know it's not possible to keep people away, so it doesn't really matter in the long run what they might think.
Posted by James K on February 25, 2006, at 18:49:06
In reply to Re: Houston gets to keep the poorest of the evacue » AuntieMel, posted by Dinah on February 23, 2006, at 19:44:01
I've lived here for 33 years, and I've never had bums with cups go car to car at red lights. Sell flowers, newspapers, hold a sign, whatever. But hold a goddamned cup and knock on car windows? never at least not till a few weeks ago. some stupid out of town? piece of sh*t just stuck his face in my wife's while she drove us home from our first nice night out in weeks. I was out of the car before I even knew what was happening. He ran off and I screamed and followed and threatened his life. If he had even looked at me, I would have killed him. right in the middle of one the major streets in our city. go back where you came from. Never in my f*cking life. Next one is dead. Don't touch my car, don't talk to my wife. dont even f*cking look at me. My wife called the cops when we got home, just so I didn't get in the car and go back.
I'm not naive and I'm not sheltered. This is Texas get the f*ck off of my car.James K
Posted by Gabbix2 on February 25, 2006, at 19:26:50
In reply to I just went after a beggar » Dinah, posted by James K on February 25, 2006, at 18:49:06
pleased with yourself?
Posted by Gabbix2 on February 25, 2006, at 19:37:40
In reply to I just went after a beggar » Dinah, posted by James K on February 25, 2006, at 18:49:06
> piece of sh*t just stuck his face in my wife's while she drove us home from our first nice night out in weeks. I was out of the car before I even knew what was happening. He ran off and I screamed and followed and threatened his life. If he had even looked at me, I would have killed him.
**So he wants some money in his cup, and it annoyed you the way he did it. It is intrusive. He's probably desperate and desperation can make you do things you never thought you would.
And you, who just went out for dinner maybe?"
and had had a nice night out, threatened *his* life, and ran after him screaming.But he's deserving of being called a piece of sh*t?
Interesting standard.
Posted by TofuEmmy on February 26, 2006, at 10:18:50
In reply to Re: I just went after a beggar » James K, posted by Gabbix2 on February 25, 2006, at 19:37:40
(((Gabbi))) I love your style.
em
Posted by Dinah on February 26, 2006, at 11:16:55
In reply to I just went after a beggar » Dinah, posted by James K on February 25, 2006, at 18:49:06
I'm sure your wife wouldn't mind someone rapping on her window with a cup nearly as much as she'd mind you in the criminal justice system for killing that person, James. And I know how much you love her, and how much you appreciate how she's stood beside you.
I really think that you should talk to your psychiatrist again, possibly about getting admitted, but definitely about trying to get some more stability with your medications. I know it's frustrating to try to get help and be turned away. Maybe your personal doctor could intervene ahead of time so that you can get the help you're requesting.
Posted by James K on February 27, 2006, at 0:36:55
In reply to Re: I just went after a beggar » James K, posted by Gabbix2 on February 25, 2006, at 19:37:40
Guess what? I'm a piece of sh*t too. I'm unemployed, I'm mentally ill, I didn't stick my face into his until he stuck his face into my wife's.
do I feel better? I have two new fractures in each hand because I beat the crap out of the door jamb 3 or 4 hours later. I feel like a million f*cking dollars. He "earned" more than I did that day. I'm hurt, He's not. so what. what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what.
WHAAT????????James K
Posted by James K on February 27, 2006, at 2:15:29
In reply to Re: I just went after a beggar » Gabbix2, posted by James K on February 27, 2006, at 0:36:55
when I crawl through the gutter, I expect to come face to face with the other slugs in the gutter. I welcome it. We can pass each other, share a hit, or fight. I've lived my life that way. Sometimes I leave my house (yes I have a house, because somebody loves me, and lets me live here) sometimes I leave my house and I walk down the street and I look everybody in the face - right in their face.
but everyonce in a while, the woman who loves me , and picked my up out of the f*cking street and saved my life, I try to do something normal with her. Like she's a lady. And she pays for it because I haven't worked for 19 months.And some Piece of Sh*t. who wouldn't have the balls to look me in the f*cking face. wants to break the law of my city that I have chosen as my home, and f*ck with my wife.
f*ck him and f*ck you. Do I feel f*cking better now? do I feel goood about myself. What the f*ck do You think .goddamnit. I have just sliced open the skin on my belly with the penknife of my dead grandfather in honor of this occasion.
Posted by James K on February 27, 2006, at 3:24:29
In reply to Nicely put. » Gabbix2, posted by TofuEmmy on February 26, 2006, at 10:18:50
I like my style. At the end of the day (yesterday) what did we have? One grown man with mental illness hurting himself out of impotent rage. One grown man with mental illness, still out there living or not based upon the standards he's set for his path.
I looked around, and nobody was hurt. Not five dead children in a bathtub. Everybodies' arms were still attached. So maybe someone could give me the same understanding and sympathy that is commonly given to people about 15 miles from here who do much worse than hurt somebody's feelings.
or not , because It's all just words on the internet isn't it. right just f*cking words. I like you style. I like the f*cking stye in your eye.James K
Posted by James K on February 27, 2006, at 4:15:31
In reply to Re: Nicely put. » TofuEmmy, posted by James K on February 27, 2006, at 3:24:29
I can't go to bed without discussing what is really happening here. I don't have a pdoc or a therapist. I went off of my meds about 3 days ago. I intended to stay off of alcohol too, but at the restuarent we went to, decided to drink. I didn't pick a target and go after it, I was just sitting in the passenger seat, and was instantly unbuckled, out the door, and going after someone. I'm not sorry towards him. But I am losing it. That was my point, no matter how macho or superior i expressed it. I went from full of seafood and martinis and happy and relaxed, to murder, in about one minute. And I couldn't let it go, all night. I bought a bottle of whiskey, and a 12 pack of beer and watched taped tv shows and tried to be "normal" and I still was f*cked up in the head about it. I stayed away from the internet for 24 or so hours after I vented, and the fact that someone had the slightest dissaproval tone, set me off again. I'm in trouble right now. I've asked my wife to please help me get through the red tape that's kept me out of the hospital, but everytime I think maybe I don't need hospital, just get my act together, something like a homeless person asking me for money sends me to another level. There was no thought involved, I just did. All my political and personal feelings are valid to me, and are real, but the real story is " I no longer have control over my physical and emotional reactions".
For whatever that is worth. Wherever the political board and the psychology board, and Me intersect, that is the last 2 or 3 days
Love,
James K
Posted by gardenergirl on February 27, 2006, at 7:33:05
In reply to Re: I just went after a beggar, posted by James K on February 27, 2006, at 2:15:29
> >
> f*ck him and f*ck you.Please don't post anything that could lead others to feel put down. You've been asked to be civil before, so I am blocking you for a week. Dr. Bob has oversight over deputy decisions, and he may choose another action.
In addition, please take care of your injuries, and seek help as needed.
If you or others have questions about this or about posting policies in general, or are interested in alternative ways of expressing yourself, please see the FAQ:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil
Follow-ups regarding these issues, as well as replies to the above post, should be directed to Admin and should of course themselves be civil.
Regards,
gg acting as deputy for Dr. Bob
Posted by Dinah on February 27, 2006, at 10:06:03
In reply to I can't stay away, posted by James K on February 27, 2006, at 4:15:31
James, I hope you will bring yourself to go to a hospital and take care of your belly and your hand, and get some help for stabilizing your medications as well. And that they can help you explore some of the ideas you've talked about on Psychology.
Dinah
Posted by Gabbix2 on February 27, 2006, at 12:44:13
In reply to Re: Nicely put. » TofuEmmy, posted by James K on February 27, 2006, at 3:24:29
So maybe someone could give me the same understanding and sympathy that is commonly given to people about 15 miles from here who do much worse than hurt somebody's feelings.
***And I'm truly sorry.
I needed to be reminded of that.
I am sorry.
Posted by verne on February 27, 2006, at 13:48:56
In reply to I can't stay away, posted by James K on February 27, 2006, at 4:15:31
James,
Take care of yourself. You make some good points. I appreciate your honesty and courage to expose your feelings - even the negative ones.
I have an issue with anger too and have few friends left. I'm an expert at alienating and estranging others.
I'm glad you have someone.
I'm almost too hungover to post. Hope you're feeling better.
Verne
Posted by Gabbix2 on February 27, 2006, at 14:44:45
In reply to Nicely put. » Gabbix2, posted by TofuEmmy on February 26, 2006, at 10:18:50
Man if I keep learning stuff, I'm never going to be able to judge anyone, and where's the fun in *THAT*
Posted by AuntieMel on February 27, 2006, at 16:33:06
In reply to I just went after a beggar » Dinah, posted by James K on February 25, 2006, at 18:49:06
Sorry, but I don't think we can pin this on our new citizens.
I had the same thing (guy knocking on the window for a handout) just about every day after school - about 15 years ago. It's not all that new, just not common.
But when you're a flyweight girl like I was then it sure can be frightening.
Posted by Tamar on February 27, 2006, at 18:16:36
In reply to I just went after a beggar » Dinah, posted by James K on February 25, 2006, at 18:49:06
I don't know the whole story and I wasn't there. But it sounds to me as if you believed your wife was in genuine danger and you wanted to protect her. And for that you are definitely a good guy.
Tamar
Posted by Sobriquet Style on February 27, 2006, at 18:41:52
In reply to I can't stay away, posted by James K on February 27, 2006, at 4:15:31
Posted by henrietta on February 27, 2006, at 20:29:18
In reply to Re: Nicely put. » TofuEmmy, posted by Gabbix2 on February 27, 2006, at 14:44:45
All I ever knew of love was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya. Not an accurat3 quote, I'm sure, but somehow this line keeps coming into my heAD WITH RELATION TO gB2. How about thinking first and shootin later, if necessary, girl?.
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