Future Trends
Dear Netizens:
In the middle 1980's, a group of futurists did an opinion poll in
which they asked a couple thousand “opinion leaders” to predict
upcoming trends. They sent a poll to me, which shows how little
futurists know. The only question and answer that I remember from the
questionnaire is the one that I know I got completely wrong. It was on
how and whether computers would change people's lives. I was a skeptic;
I said computers wouldn't change anything important. My opinion was that
writing was writing, whether it was done with a pen and paper or with a
word processor, and that the nature of spreadsheet accounting wasn't
changed by using VCalc, or whatever people were using then. The computer
would make some tasks easier, or increase productivity, but it wouldn't
change the basic nature of the work or the lives of those who used them.
I was confident that people who sat at desks manipulating words or
numbers would still be doing the same thing, only with different tools.
What I missed, of course, was that over the next two decades all the
computers would be hooked up with each other, changing the nature of
communication among people, changing the balance of power in
communications, giving individuals the ability to reach multitudes,
making the eloquent citizen with a compelling story to tell the equal of
the wealthiest publisher or media giant. So use your power, in this
wonderful future world. Get your story out there and share it; write in.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Danger to Street Trees and Senior Citizens
Yoma Ullman, ullman724@aol.com
At Tilden and Connecticut, a small tree blew down across the sidewalk
either during Isabel or the subsequent storm. It is still there, as of
the morning of October 22. I have helped one senior blind man and one
senior infirm lady around it, the latter today. Surely, if the city
wants to avoid a lawsuit, it should cut up and remove that tree. I know
the senior blind man has called the relevant authorities many time
without result.
The city prides itself on its trees, but two good street trees need
care around here and nothing is happening. At Brandywine and 36th, a
huge limb has hung down off a perfectly good tree for weeks. At
Chesapeake and 36th, a fine young tree, which I have watched since it
was planted, has one or more broken branches hanging down inside the
foliage, where they are hidden. In both cases, unless the broken limbs
are taken off and the tree treated, disease will take over and we'll
lose the trees. I hope someone can help.
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Today, as I was trying to drive on Alton Place from Tenley Circle, I
was blocked by two double-parked DC Public School busses that were
alongside the church that's between Yuma and Alton. When I blew my horn
to get the bus in front of me to move, a bus driver walked over to my
car and said, “Why are you blowing your horn? This is a school.”
When I said to her, “What do you mean this is a school? This isn't a
school. This is a church.” The bus driver and a woman getting into a
mini-van yelled back “This is a school!” I rolled up my window and
— as the bus that was blocking traffic moved — drove away.
When did this building become a DC Public School? I don't recall
there ever being an announcement that this building was going to be a
school. I think of the reaction that I saw on Chesapeake Street back a
few years ago when it was thought that the Jewish Primary Day School
might move into the neighborhood. There were lawn signs about keeping
the school out of the neighborhood. There were letters to the editor of
the Northwest Current and the Post. I can imagine there
was lobbying by the neighbors of the council and the mayor and the
school board. Did all this happen on Alton Place and I just missed it?
Can someone fill me in?
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Non US Citizens Should Not Vote in DC
Ron Eberhardt, rge1022@aol.com
While Dave Bosserman attempts to make a case for non-US citizens
voting in District elections, he falls well short for a couple of very
basic but important reasons. First, voting in any election is a
privilege and not a right. The way to earn this privilege, however, is
fairly simple. You must be a US citizen of certain age and not be a
convicted felon (in most jurisdictions). Voting is a privilege that
should be yet another reason for foreign nationals in this country to be
motivated to become full U. S. citizens. Statistically, there is a very
worrisome trend, that more and more legal immigrants to this country are
not becoming citizens. Democracy requires informed, committed, engaged,
and loyal citizens to flourish and survive. Second, immigrant who attain
U. S. citizenship learn about the history of this country, its
foundations and principles, and, by the way, they have also reasonably
well learned the English language. All of those things, I think, are
critically essential in obtaining the privilege of voting. Otherwise, I
strongly suggest it becomes an ill-informed and perhaps wasted vote.
While Mr. Bosserman's discussion of military service and immigrant
employment are irrelevant to this discussion, I point out that such
military service, while appreciated and commendable, is at the sole
option of the individual and not a requirement. Furthermore, as recent
history has shown, the U.S. rewards this service with expedited
conferral of citizenship upon these well-serving foreign nationals
during times of war. Insofar as employment issues are concerned, to
suggest that all immigration (legal and illegal) is based upon
employment fulfillment is utter nonsense. One of the reasons, for
example, that the DC welfare and health care system is overwhelmed is
the sheer number of foreign nationals who daily are signing up in record
numbers for completely free family health and welfare benefits,
indicating that they are not able to support themselves or take
advantage of group health care.
[Now that we've had one exchange on each side of this issue, please
comment only on local aspects of this issue and on how it affects us in
this city. As always, national and international issues are better
addressed in other forums. — Gary Imhoff]
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Don't Like ’em? Don't Watch ’em
Michelle Treistman, Dupont Circle, mtreistman@yahoo.com
The best way to express one’s displeasure with made-for-TV
dramatizations of events like the DC-area sniper, or like the Jessica
Lynch story that is already in production, is to not watch them. To
boycott the sponsors makes no sense. They pay for that advertising
because they, and the networks, are convinced that the public wants
these types of movies, and the same sponsors may also be responsible for
keeping your favorite programs in production. Regardless of ratings and
consumer trends, these movies will continue to be made; and, sadly, many
people will continue to interpret them as the absolute truth of what
happened. My guess is that they appeal to that part of human nature that
makes many people slow down to watch the train wreck. Or to the part of
us that inspired 1,832 people to enter a lottery to win a day in one of
the five seats made open to the public at the trial of John Allen
Muhammad. (Figures printed in the October 27 issue of Time.)
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See the Census Bureau's web site for state and local government
employment data. DC, in particular, is at http://www.census.gov/govs/apes/01locdc.txt,
and the main menu of state and local government data is at http://www.census.gov/govs/www/.
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How Many DC Government Employees?
Jeff Coudriet, Committee on Finance and Revenue, JCoudriet@DCCouncil.Washington.DC.US
According to our budget book as submitted to Congress: “This budget
proposes $5.6 billion in total funding and supports 33,867 full-time
equivalent staff. This change represents a 2.1 percent funding increase
from the FY 2003 approved budget, and an increase of 233 FTEs. In local
funds, this budget proposes $3.8 billion in funding and supports 26,245
FTEs. This local budget change represents a 6.4% funding increase over
the FY 2003 approved budget and a decrease of 150 FTEs.”
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The new DC budget, http://cfo.dc.gov/budget/2004/pbfp.shtm,
shows 33,867.47 (yes, .47) FTE (full-time equivalent) employees
authorized. This may be fewer or more than are actually employed at any
one moment, but it gives you an idea. The CAFR, the annual financial
report, is at http://cfo.dc.gov/cafr/2002/index.shtm.
They do the count differently.
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Update on Rand Study
Ronald G. Eberhardt, rge1022@aol.com
The good news is that lots of people read themail and carefully. My
reference to the cost of the delivery of government services in DC
comparing quite poorly to other big cities has drawn a host of inquiries
for the exact situation. Having been unable to find it myself, as many
of you have also been thwarted, I have hired Google to find the site for
us. The moment the information is sent to me I will forward it to each
of you who have inquired.
If you've never used it, Google has a wonderful search component
undertaken by others who research your question for a nominal fee
determined by you, i.e., a minimum of $2.00 and presto you get your
answers -- at least so far!
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
DC Affairs Section of DC Bar Hosts Robert Bobb,
October 24
Bell Clement, bellclement@msn.com
The DC Affairs Section of the DC Bar will host a conversation with
City Administrator Robert Bobb this Friday, October 24, at 12:30 p.m.,
at its monthly Steering Committee meeting. The meeting is held at Hogan
& Hartson, 555 13th Street, NW (13th Floor — West Elevators). You
need not be a member of the Section to attend.
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The National Neighborhood Coalition 2003 Forum Program, Neighborhoods
Leave No Child Behind, will be held on Friday, October 24, from 12 noon
to 2:00 p.m., at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1785
Massachusetts Avenue, NW, 2nd Floor. We have all heard about the No
Child Left Behind Act, but do we know what it means for lower-income
neighborhoods and families? What can neighborhood advocates do to make
this law work as effectively and equitably as possible for their
neighborhood?
Join NNC members and other neighborhood advocates to learn more about
NCLB and how it is being implemented in neighborhoods across the nation.
This is a rare opportunity to hear from leading experts in the field
about their views and approaches to a comprehensive law affecting
millions of American children. Speakers will include Bela Shah, Program
Associate, Coalition for Community Schools, Institute for Educational
Leadership; Melissa Lazarin, Policy Analyst, National Council of La Raza;
Jill Morningstar, Co-director of Education and Youth Development,
Children's Defense Fund; and Ross Wiener, Policy Director, The Education
Trust.
The No Child Left Behind Act, signed into law by President Bush on
January 8, 2002, amends and reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act (ESEA) of 1965. The Act does not provide additional
resources to states but requires new reporting requirements, new
standards for teaching qualifications and testing results, and new
services for students. Please RSVP to Janice Clark at the National
Neighborhood Coalition, 408-8553 or janice@neighborhoodcoalition.org.
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The Vegetarian Society of DC (VSDC) will have a free vegetarian
festival on Saturday October 25, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., at the Reeves Center,
14th and U Streets, NW. There will be food demos, lectures, vendors,
flamenco dancing, music and much more. The Reeves Center is one block
away from the U Street Metro
stop/green line. It is also near the 50 and 90 bus lines. For more
information, go to our web site, http://www.vsdc.org
or call 202-362-VEGY.
Tentative schedule of VegFest talks/speakers: 11:00-11:30, vegetarian
basics (how-to), Ms. Tracye McQuirter (public health nutritionist);
11:30-12:15, “Widening Our Circle of Compassion,” Mr. Bruce
Friedrich (PETA); 12:15-1:00, nutrition and weight loss, Ms. Doron
Petersan (nutritionist); 1:00-1:30, vegetarianism and the environment,
Ms. Liz Butler (ForestEthics); 1:30-2:00, “The Truth About Labels,”
Dr. Karen Davis (United Poultry Concerns); 2:00-2:45, diet by design:
veganism, Dr. Milton Mills (Physicians Committee for Responsible
Medicine); 2:45-3:30, vegetarianism and global hunger, Ms. Pattrice Le-Muire
Jones (Global Hunger Alliance); 3:30-4:00, “Helping Animals With Every
Bite We Take,” Ms. Miyun Park (Compassion Over Killing); 4:00-5:00,
vegetarianism for optimum health, Dr. Samuel DeShay (physician and
author); 5:00-5:30, vegetarian lifestyles, Ms. Donna Zeigfinger (Green
Earth travel), Marya McQuirter, Ph.D. (VSDC); 5:30-6:00, spirituality
and health with diet, TBD (Everlasting Life/Soul Vegetarian).
VegFest food preparation demos (still tentative): 12:00-1:00, tofu
and tempeh Caribbean style, Ms. Diana Collins; 1:00-2:00, dal, sambhar,
and sabzi (Indian), Ms. Jyotsna Tonse; 2:00-3:00, curry-pistachio
Quinoa, Na'Amana; 3:00-4:00, raw vegan foods, Roeeyah; 4:00-5:00,
vegetarian cooking for balancing your life, Ms. Heike Albers; 5:00-6:00,
Freya's vegan kitchen (full meals preparation via slide show), Ms. Freya
Dinshah.
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Fighting the War on Trafficking, October 30
Jessi Baden, jbaden@democraticwoman.org
Can you believe slave trade in the 21st Century? This worldwide
tragedy is occurring, even in the United States. We are most fortunate
to have as our panel two highly respected speakers representing both the
public and NGO communities. John Miller, Director of the Office to
Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, will tell us the scope of the
problem and the role of the Department of State in implementing the
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, while Leslie Wolfe,
President of the Center for Women's Policy Studies, will focus on her
organization’s activities with state legislators throughout the US.
Theresa Loar, President of Vital Voices Global Partnership, which has
worked with many countries to overcome human trafficking, will introduce
the speakers and participate in the Q and A. Take this opportunity to
learn more about this underreported phenomenon. At the Woman's National
Democratic Club, October 30, 1526 New Hampshire Avenue, NW (just off of
Dupont Circle). Bar opens 11:30 a.m., lunch at 12:30 p.m. Price: members
$19, nonmembers $25. A WNDC Educational Foundation event. Make checks
payable to WNDC-EF. For reservations please call the WNDC: 232-7363,
ext. 3003, or E-mail pfitzgerald@democraticwoman.org.
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Death Penalty Panel, Lunch, and Discussion,
October 30
Joe Libertelli, jlibertelli@udc.edu
Please join the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law on October 30 at
12:30 p.m. for a luncheon and a talk by Stephen Bright, Executive
Director of the Southern Center for Human Rights, http://schr.org/; and
George Kendall (ASL '79) until recently of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund
and now with the law firm of Holland and Knight. Mr. Bright and Mr.
Kendall will discuss their work against the death penalty and current
issues in death penalty litigation. Following their remarks there will
be an additional session with award winning anti-death penalty attorney,
William Redick of the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers;
capital defense attorney, Joseph Teefey, DCSL '94; Brian Roberts, Acting
Executive Director of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death
Penalty, www.ncadp.org;
representatives from the National Capital Area Innocence Project; John
Terzano, UDC-DCSL '99, President of the Justice Project; and UDC-DCSL
Prof. Will McLain (ASL '85), who has been active on behalf of Tennessee
death row inmate Abdur Rahman.
Afterward, panelists and guests are invited to participate in an open
discussion of what the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law might do to
support opposition to the death penalty. 12:00 to 12:30, lunch; 12:30 to
1:30, first panel; 1:30 to 2:15, second panel; 2:15 to 3:00, discussion.
Building 38, 2nd Floor, University of the District of Columbia, David A.
Clarke School of Law, 4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW (Red Line: UDC/Van
Ness Station). This event is free of charge. Feel free to forward this
invitation as you deem appropriate.
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Stand Up for DC Students and Public Schools!
Newell Roger, rnewell@teamster.org
Mayor Williams, the self-proclaimed “Education Mayor,” has
launched an attack designed to undermine the city's public school system
and the 67,000 students it serves. The Mayor has made it very clear that
he is no friend of the city's public schools. His actions include
eliminating parental and residential input in operation of the schools
by trying to established an all-appointed school board and failing to
provide the necessary funding to keep our neighborhood schools clean and
safe.
The DCPS Full Funding Campaign is a coalition of students, parents,
residents, community activists, union members, and others who are
joining together to protest the Mayor's attacks on public education and
to demand that he fully fund the operating budget of the schools. Mayor
Williams cut the requested school budget by nearly $90 million. We will
be handbilling participants in the Mayor's Citizens Summit on Saturday,
November 1, at the new Convention Center, located in the Shaw section of
NW. We will be handbilling and talking with Summit participants from 8
a.m. until 11:30 a.m. We need your help.
Please join us on Saturday, November 1, to help the community tell
the Mayor to stop his attack on our city's public schools. For more
information, please call 624-8100 or E-mail us at concerned4dcps@yahoo.com.
Hope to see you on November 1.
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New Orleans: The Making of an Urban
Landscape, November 3
Brie Hensold, bhensold@nbm.org
To mark the 200th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase, Pierce F.
Lewis, emeritus professor of geography at the Pennsylvania State
University, will trace the evolution of New Orleans and show how its
geographic location has given the city its sense of place and soul.
After the lecture, he will sign copies of his book New Orleans: The
Making of an Urban Landscape (University of Virginia Press). Monday,
November 3, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the National Building Museum, 401
F Street NW (Judiciary Square Metro, Red Line). Admission $10 Museum
members and students; $15 nonmembers. Registration required.
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Design Lectures at the National Building
Museum, November 5 and November 18
Brie Hensold, bhensold@nbm.org
The founder of Allied Works Architecture in Portland, Oregon, Brad
Cloepfil will discuss his firm's innovative work, including the
Contemporary Art Museum in St. Louis and the Wieden + Kennedy Agency in
Portland. The firm was recently awarded two prominent cultural
commissions: the redesign of 2 Columbus Circle in New York for the
Museum of Arts and Design and the expansion of the Seattle Art Museum.
Wednesday, November 5, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., $12 Members; $17
nonmembers; $10 students. Prepaid registration required.
Julie Snow Architects was selected by the New York Architectural
League as one of its "Emerging Voices in Architecture" in 1998
for work that strives for clarity and directness with restraint and
minimal means. Julie Snow, FAIA, principal of the Minneapolis-based
studio, will discuss her wide-ranging public and private work, honored
with numerous awards, including a 2002 American Architecture Award from
the Chicago Athenaeum and an I.D. Magazine Design Review Award. Tuesday,
November 18, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. $12 Members; $17 nonmembers; $10
students. Prepaid registration required.
Both lectures at the National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW
(Judiciary Square Metro, Red Line).
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Wine Seminar and Tasting with Fellow
Democrats, November 6
Duane Muller, pdmuller@earthlink.net
The Woman's National Democratic Club (WNDC), in conjunction with the
Washington Wine Academy, will be hosting a wine seminar and tasting of
wines from around the world. This event is being organized by the WNDC's
Working Professionals Group and Educational Foundation and will feature
a lecture, a sampling of a variety of white, red, and sparkling wines,
as well as a discussion. Michael Franz will be the featured wine
speaker. He is a wine writer, educator and consultant. He has served as
wine columnist for The Washington Post since 1994, and is also the wine
writer for the Post's on-line service, WashingtonPost.com. Franz also
serves as a judge at national and international wine competitions, and
has conducted over 600 site visits and tastings at wineries in Europe,
South America, the United States, and Australia. He writes about the
world's finest wines, and is an avid student of viticulture and oenology
as well as commercial aspects of the international wine trade.
Additionally he is an accomplished cook with a keen interest in the
paring of wines with food. Michael is one of the most popular and
well-respected wine writers and lecturers. Michael's presentations are
dynamic and energetic. Please join your fellow Democrats in what should
be a fun, evening event at the historic Whittemore House near Dupont
Circle, home of the WNDC! .
The event will be on Thursday, November 6 (6-8 p.m.), at the Woman's
National Democratic Club (WNDC), 1526 New Hampshire Avenue, NW (just off
of Dupont Circle). Cost: $25 for WNDC members; $30 for nonmembers. To
RSVP, contact Ms. Pat Fitzgerald, 232-7363 (ext 3003) or E-mail pfitzgerald@democraticwoman.org.
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CLASSIFIEDS — FOR SALE
A nice, contemporary style rug, acrylic, size 8' 5" by 11'
6" is looking for a new home. Earthy tone shades of gray and brown.
Contact Bernie at barons@world.oberlin.edu.
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Quality leather couch, armchair and ottoman, brown, three years old.
Price $1500, originally $4500. Please call 722-6336 or E-mail ewul@starpower.net.
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CLASSIFIEDS — PETS
Kitten/cat adoption event to be held on Saturday, October 25, from
2:00-6:00 p.m., at Petco, 3505 Connecticut Avenue, NW, between Ordway
and Porter Streets (red line to Cleveland Park), sponsored by Ward 1
Alley Cats. For more information about the organization, see http://www.geocities.com/ward1alleycats.
For questions about the adoption event, call Marg at 332-5968.
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CLASSIFIEDS — VOLUNTEERS
The Washington Literacy Council needs tutors to provide one-on-one
help in reading and spelling to adults in DC. New tutors are trained in
monthly sessions throughout the year. Tutors commit to a year of service
and meet for one hour each week with their students at the library or
the Washington Literacy Council office in Adams Morgan. No prior
teaching/tutoring experience is needed. Find the latest training dates
at our web site, http://www.washingtonliteracycouncil.org.
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Youth Pollworkers Needed for the Presidential
Primary Election
Bill O’Field, wofield@dcboee.org
District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics Director Alice P.
Miller announced today that District youth who are sixteen years old and
older are needed to assist the Election Day Workers for the upcoming
January 13, 2004, Presidential Primary. “Any District of Columbia
youth in public or private school who is a resident of the city and 16
years old or older can apply to qualify to work on Election Day,”
Miller noted. “The Board of Elections’ Youth Pollworker Program
provides the District’s young adults an opportunity to participate in
the electoral process and get experience working with the public. The
goal of the program is to educate the city’s young people by providing
them with a broader view of the electoral process.”
Training is required of all pollworkers with classes provided by the
Board’s staff prior to the election. The youth pollworkers will work a
minimum of four hours on Election Day and can be paid or receive
community service credits which are required for high school graduation.
Individuals interested in applying for a youth pollworker position
should contact the Board by calling 727-2525. Individuals with hearing
impairments can call the Board’s TDD at 639-8916.
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