IntenseDebate - ballard

14 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Property values may po... · 1 reply · +14 points

What they have to look at, and cannot exclude, is education level. In a paper I wrote on prenatal care back in the 90's, when you looked at education level, highly educated women all got prenatal care, regardless of race or income. Education level equalized access. I think the same can be said for personal care/health/fitness.

People who are educated are going to take better care of themselves, they'll also tend to have better jobs and therefore live in more expensive houses, purchase better foods, make time for exercise. I don't think walkability of a neighborhood determines obesity levels, rather that affluence leds to more freedom in choice of personal time--and you can choose to workout, walk, run, yoga, etc.

You could also probably compare proximity to a Wal*Mart and obesity likelihood and find a correlation.

I don't think it's all trophy wives. :)

14 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - World\'s Fair memories... · 2 replies · -3 points

How is the orange paint being paid for? And, will we have enough money to repaint it white in a few months? Or, is it an organic, bio-degradable paint that will get washed off with the rain?

14 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Darrington school chie... · 0 replies · +11 points

I'm glad that the parents fought and that the school district ended it. Cheating on your wife and playing a significant part in the death of another woman and then, fighting for a settlement that takes money directly from the school you used to manage. How do you sleep at night, Larry?

14 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Offers of help pour in... · 0 replies · +12 points

Agree that he has such bright, inquisitive eyes. I am happy to hear that he is going to get the surgery he needs.

14 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Students ran, hid as g... · 1 reply · +3 points

This sounds like a very nice, niche school:

"Jerry Sung, the university's accountant, said the school offers courses in both Korean and English to less than 100 students. He said the campus consists of one building. Sung said many of its students go on to work in nursing and ministry."

I hope that the school community and students recover from this. And, like many others noted above, this is about more than being teased by other ESL and non-ESL students -- he had lots of other issues going on.

Positive thoughts to all those at and around the school and to all the families involved.

14 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Utah mayor defends pol... · 6 replies · +50 points

Perhaps if the West Valley Police could have shared the evidence they did have with CPS in Washington State, Josh Powell would have been denied visitation with his children.

I have no idea if, legally, they can do that, but when you have the welfare of children in mind, that type of information is relevant.

Can children, especially children at risk, start to have some rights, please?

14 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Ken Schram: How many c... · 0 replies · +6 points

I would have hoped that the child of a person who owns a gun and whose profession requires it, would be educated about handling a gun (meaning, to not handle one at all/get an adult as appropriate by age). As much as I have spoken to my own children about guns (what to do if you find one: don't touch it, get an adult; never point it at anyone, unless you intend to shoot them, never trust someone who says a gun is "unloaded", etc.). I just have to wonder if the weapon is so alluring, that even a child trained/drilled on guns, cannot resist it? Hence, the importance to locking it up.

With my five and seven year old in the car, I would normally turn the radio down over stories about children dying, but today I left the story on. And then, we talked about guns the rest of the way to school and role-played what to do with a gun -- in hopes, that the death of this little seven year old girl not be in vain. I'll read them the story about Amina Bowman today too.

My condolences to this family.

14 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Log: 8 minutes to disp... · 0 replies · +7 points

Oh how awful. I have called 9-1-1 many times for crimes in progress and once for a child who was not breathing (my child, febrile seizure). I am sure if I heard my calls played back to me -- I would be chagrined at the information I passed on. That said, I have not heard or seen in any transcript is the social worker saying that she smells gasoline. Have I just missed that? I don't think it would have mattered, at all, but it would have got police and fire rolling sooner.

Switching gears -- moving forward, perhaps agencies that deal with dangerous or high risk/high profile situations and 9-1-1 operators/law enforcement should have some sort of code word that they blurt out to indicate they are not a "regular" caller, but someone entrusted to care for at-risk people.

For example, in college, I worked at a hotel. The hotel gave out a special pin for the "VIP's/Point Person" for visting convention/groups to wear. This way, any time a VIP/point person had contact with Hotel Staff, the Hotel Staff would know to take the request/inquiry most seriously (Not that we didn't take other requests seriously, but to help Hotel Staff to hop to it.).

Perhaps we are at that sad point with social services/providers to warrant code words for different tiers of 9-1-1 service.

14 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Lakewood woman pleads ... · 0 replies · +10 points

How every awful for that little baby and for her two other children. There are so many places where moms can get help, get baby supplies, clothes, and more importantly, support (if they (you) want it). I wish hospitals would ask women if they need resources -- and give them the info they need.

Families in need can search for "pregnancy aid", "pregnancy support", "pregnancy crisis" and "single mother support" or even "free infant / toddler supplies".

My sweet Grandmother, for 25 years--along with about eight other fabulous ladies at her church used to sew baby quilts for the Pregnancy Aid Center in Des Moines. It's a great clothing bank and infant/toddler supply resource. Please refer moms/families in need there. You can also donate gently used clothes/baby items there (or find churches and non-profits in your area that take donations).

14 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Hollywood body parts i... · 1 reply · +1 points

"His head, found by a dog that was let off leash by a dog walker, was found..."

I'll add this to my list of reasons to keep a dog on leash.

IntenseDebate Comment System

Connect with ballard_aj

People I'm following

ballard_aj