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DonQuijote1954 November 21st 04 03:40 PM

Miami Parks hostile to kayakers
 
I know it's political, EVERYTHING is political. Whether in my
bicycles--that go unused--or my kayaks--that now will go unused--I
feel at the bottom end of the food chain. Polluting SUVs and
motorboats have it all; bikers and kayakers, get the scraps--if any.
Whether we are intimidated or regulated, we face the beast. It's a
jungle out there...

Where's the law?

Things get more difficult all the time...

Beautiful day for kayaking. Perfect where I live, since I live here,
in a wild place, mostly because I can walk to the bay, barely one
block away. So I just walked my kayak there until I heard someone--the
park guard--screaming. "No kayaks here!" "Why!?" I said. "Well,
regulations," he barked back. "But is there any law?" I insisted. He
informed me that the Parks Department doesn't want any legal suit from
people hurting themselves on the rocks... According to that logic, the
medical profession would be banned because you can bring suits against
doctors... And then I asked him if he didn't do anything about a
homeless couple near us, a common sight at the park. He challenged me,
"do they bother you?" And I say they don't bother me in quickly
passing through the park, but they sure scare the average family. In
effect, most of our parks remain no man's land.

Anyway I didn't take "no" for an answer, and I had him call the
police. But, of course, lion helps lion, and I was almost swallowed.
And they say they serve the community... I asked them why they don't
take care of the homeless in the park, and they anwered back that that
was a different issue. Thinking to myself, "shouldn't the issue be a
clean, safe park?" And then I asked, "where's the law that prevents me
from launching a kayak at this park?" They clued me in there's no law,
only the law of the guard, and roared at me to get lost at once or
else... And I say, I know that law, THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE...

NOTE: I called the Parks Department later and they confirmed the
prohibition. So a member of the community trying to have fun out there
is restricted by the "law"; the homeless though got the law on their
side. Where's the law?

***

THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE

Once upon a time, in the deep jungle, lived a Lion and a Monkey... One
day the Monkey, tired of the Lion always taking the LION'S SHARE, and
seeing that such injustice represented a danger to all the species of
the jungle, demanded JUSTICE... The Lion, yawning and stretching,
said, "You would have to have paws and sharp teeth..." Then the
Monkey, who was very clever, devised a plan: He would go to the
costume store, and look like a lion...

When the Lion saw him, noticing that the new lion wasn't a match for
him, and fearing COMPETITION, killed him on the spot --before the
indifferent look of the little animals of the jungle... And that's how
the Law of the Jungle was re-established one more time...

NOTE: Other monkeys survived him...

http://committed.to/justiceforpeace

Max November 21st 04 04:29 PM

(DonQuijote1954) wrote:

Things get more difficult all the time...

Beautiful day for kayaking. Perfect where I live, since I live here,
in a wild place, mostly because I can walk to the bay, barely one
block away. So I just walked my kayak there until I heard someone--the
park guard--screaming. "No kayaks here!" "



I think this situation is the sort of thing that could be changed with a
little low-level public activism.

Very briefly, i would offer the following suggestions.

1. Find other kayakers in your area and start a club or group.
http://www.google.com and the stores who sell kayaks are
a good place to start. You probably also have some sort of
Miami Amateur Athlete monthly publication available for free
at either bookstores or sporting goods stores.

2. Learn the schedules of the county and park district boards, and
start attending their meetings. Once you've gotten a feel for the
rhythm of these meetings, arrange for time to address the boards,
for both you and your kayaking friends.

2a. Get a copy of the bylaws/ordinances for your parks.

3. Continue your correspondence with the boards.

4. Find a professional mediator/conflict resolution expert. It'll
cost you not-too-much money, and that person will be able to help
you avoid a confrontational environment.

5. Try to avoid irate letters to the newspapers.

You can probably get the park district's policy changed by april or may.

bon chance!

..max

--
the part of
was played by maxwell monningh 8-p

Peter November 21st 04 04:49 PM

Max wrote:

(DonQuijote1954) wrote:


Things get more difficult all the time...

Beautiful day for kayaking. Perfect where I live, since I live here,
in a wild place, mostly because I can walk to the bay, barely one
block away. So I just walked my kayak there until I heard someone--the
park guard--screaming. "No kayaks here!" "




I think this situation is the sort of thing that could be changed with a
little low-level public activism.

Very briefly, i would offer the following suggestions.

1. Find other kayakers in your area and start a club or group.
http://www.google.com and the stores who sell kayaks are
a good place to start. You probably also have some sort of
Miami Amateur Athlete monthly publication available for free
at either bookstores or sporting goods stores.

2. Learn the schedules of the county and park district boards, and
start attending their meetings. Once you've gotten a feel for the
rhythm of these meetings, arrange for time to address the boards,
for both you and your kayaking friends.

2a. Get a copy of the bylaws/ordinances for your parks.

3. Continue your correspondence with the boards.

4. Find a professional mediator/conflict resolution expert. It'll
cost you not-too-much money, and that person will be able to help
you avoid a confrontational environment.

5. Try to avoid irate letters to the newspapers.


Good suggestions. I'd also suggest trying to find out the history of
the prohibition. Has it always been in place or was it enacted
in response to some specific incident? If it's the latter then you
may be able to suggest procedures that would avoid that type of
problem but still allow reasonable paddling access.

It would also help if there's at least one board member who would
support a change in the regulations and can help you develop the
most effective way to go about it.


Ronsonic November 22nd 04 01:43 AM



On 21 Nov 2004 07:40:13 -0800, (DonQuijote1954)
wrote:

I know it's political, EVERYTHING is political. Whether in my
bicycles--that go unused--or my kayaks--that now will go unused--I
feel at the bottom end of the food chain. Polluting SUVs and
motorboats have it all; bikers and kayakers, get the scraps--if any.
Whether we are intimidated or regulated, we face the beast. It's a
jungle out there...

Where's the law?

Things get more difficult all the time...

Beautiful day for kayaking. Perfect where I live, since I live here,
in a wild place, mostly because I can walk to the bay, barely one
block away. So I just walked my kayak there until I heard someone--the
park guard--screaming. "No kayaks here!" "Why!?" I said. "Well,
regulations," he barked back. "But is there any law?" I insisted. He
informed me that the Parks Department doesn't want any legal suit from
people hurting themselves on the rocks... According to that logic, the
medical profession would be banned because you can bring suits against
doctors... And then I asked him if he didn't do anything about a
homeless couple near us, a common sight at the park. He challenged me,
"do they bother you?" And I say they don't bother me in quickly
passing through the park, but they sure scare the average family. In
effect, most of our parks remain no man's land.

Anyway I didn't take "no" for an answer, and I had him call the
police. But, of course, lion helps lion, and I was almost swallowed.
And they say they serve the community... I asked them why they don't
take care of the homeless in the park, and they anwered back that that
was a different issue. Thinking to myself, "shouldn't the issue be a
clean, safe park?" And then I asked, "where's the law that prevents me
from launching a kayak at this park?" They clued me in there's no law,
only the law of the guard, and roared at me to get lost at once or
else... And I say, I know that law, THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE...

NOTE: I called the Parks Department later and they confirmed the
prohibition. So a member of the community trying to have fun out there
is restricted by the "law"; the homeless though got the law on their
side. Where's the law?

***

THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE

Once upon a time, in the deep jungle, lived a Lion and a Monkey... One
day the Monkey, tired of the Lion always taking the LION'S SHARE, and
seeing that such injustice represented a danger to all the species of
the jungle, demanded JUSTICE... The Lion, yawning and stretching,
said, "You would have to have paws and sharp teeth..." Then the
Monkey, who was very clever, devised a plan: He would go to the
costume store, and look like a lion...

When the Lion saw him, noticing that the new lion wasn't a match for
him, and fearing COMPETITION, killed him on the spot --before the
indifferent look of the little animals of the jungle... And that's how
the Law of the Jungle was re-established one more time...

NOTE: Other monkeys survived him...

http://committed.to/justiceforpeace

Dude, it's a stupid park with a stupid rule. Get some perspective and start
lobbying. Call your state legislator he lives close. Try to sound unstoned and
persuasive.

Ron


DonQuijote1954 November 22nd 04 03:00 PM

Ronsonic wrote in message . ..

Dude, it's a stupid park with a stupid rule. Get some perspective and start
lobbying. Call your state legislator he lives close. Try to sound unstoned and
persuasive.

Ron


Thanks all.

Or else move. I got no patience to deal with the foxes...

It's ironic that whether bicycling or kayaking you ALWAYS find
yourself at the wrong end of the food chain for doing WHAT'S RIGHT. I
grew political out of necessity and now only hope a revolution of some
sort will come from the sky. Hallelujah!!! ;)


"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most
intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."
-Charles Darwin

EVOLVE OR ELSE!

Once upon a time lived a race of dinosaurs whose violence and appetite
alarmed everybody... One day a Little Ant, tired of feeling stepped
upon, and worried about her cooperative enterprise, came up to the
Americanus Raptor--the biggest dinosaur of them all--and asked: "Why
you eat and eat everything in your path? Why don't you slim down? Why
can't we little animals at least have our own way?" Then the dinosaur,
blowing the Little Ant away, shouted: "Bigger is better, so get lost!"

The Little Ant, then, gathered the whole cooperative and said:
"Comrades, our world is being threatened by the dinosaurs, so..." And
at that precise moment the Earth was hit by a big ball of fire,
destroying all but the small animals...

Jacobe Hazzard November 22nd 04 06:58 PM

DonQuijote1954 wrote:
I know it's political, EVERYTHING is political. Whether in my
bicycles--that go unused--or my kayaks--that now will go unused--I
feel at the bottom end of the food chain. Polluting SUVs and
motorboats have it all; bikers and kayakers, get the scraps--if any.
Whether we are intimidated or regulated, we face the beast. It's a
jungle out there...


And what would you like done with the homeless? Have them scooped up and
dispatched to some burnt out industrial district so they can't make the
yuppies nervous when they go for strolls in the park?



Felsenmeer November 22nd 04 11:34 PM

"Jacobe Hazzard" wrote in message
...
DonQuijote1954 wrote:
I know it's political, EVERYTHING is political. Whether in my
bicycles--that go unused--or my kayaks--that now will go unused--I
feel at the bottom end of the food chain. Polluting SUVs and
motorboats have it all; bikers and kayakers, get the scraps--if any.
Whether we are intimidated or regulated, we face the beast. It's a
jungle out there...


And what would you like done with the homeless? Have them scooped up and
dispatched to some burnt out industrial district so they can't make the
yuppies nervous when they go for strolls in the park?


Two words:

HOMELESS SHELTER




Jacobe Hazzard November 23rd 04 01:48 AM

Felsenmeer wrote:
And what would you like done with the homeless? Have them scooped up
and dispatched to some burnt out industrial district so they can't
make the yuppies nervous when they go for strolls in the park?


Two words:

HOMELESS SHELTER


OK so we lock them away in 'shelters' from which they are not free to
leave. That's f***ing brilliant.

My point was the OPs apparent hypocrisy in being outraged about kayaking
being banned as 'potentially dangerous' and in the same breath condemning
the homeless as 'potentially threatening'. The fact is, a park is a much
nicer place to be than a homeless shelter. Have you ever seen the inside
of one? My reading of his arguments (which really needn't have involved
the homeless at all, as they were irrelevant to his kayaking problem) was
a sort of juvenille, "If I can't play here then why should they?"

How can he demand respect for people who go without motor vehicles, for
whatever personal reasons they have, if he's completely unable to respect
people who go without homes for their own personal reasons? It's easy to
see how the most common complaints one might have about the homeless (IE
they're dirt poor, are probably crazy and are homeless because they can't
manage a real lifestyle, they're an inconvenience and a hazard to the rest
of us) could easily be applied to a cyclist by a motorist. And if we can
say nothing else for homelessness, we can be sure it has less
environmental impact than owning a home, even a home with no SUVs.



Felsenmeer November 23rd 04 02:43 AM


And what would you like done with the homeless? Have them scooped up
and dispatched to some burnt out industrial district so they can't
make the yuppies nervous when they go for strolls in the park?


Two words:

HOMELESS SHELTER


OK so we lock them away in 'shelters' from which they are not free to
leave. That's f***ing brilliant.


I have yet to see a homeless shelter in which the homeless are "locked away"
and are "not free to leave." Do these exist in your country? They don't in
mine.

My point was the OPs apparent hypocrisy in being outraged about kayaking
being banned as 'potentially dangerous' and in the same breath condemning
the homeless as 'potentially threatening'. The fact is, a park is a much
nicer place to be than a homeless shelter. Have you ever seen the inside
of one? My reading of his arguments (which really needn't have involved
the homeless at all, as they were irrelevant to his kayaking problem) was
a sort of juvenille, "If I can't play here then why should they?"


The public in general *does* feel uncomfortable with homeless people,
warranted or not. A park may be a much nicer place than a shelter to a
homeless person, but a park is *not* a nicer place for the public when it
becomes a collecting point for the homeless. You obviously have some sort
of thing for the homeless, and that's good. But I think if you're going to
intellectually honest, you're going to have to realize that the public at
large in general does not approve of having their parks turned into
impromptu homeless shelters.

So... you've missed the point. People typically feel somewhat threatened by
the homeless, yet they have free rein of the place. People do *not*
typically feel threatened by sea kayakers, yet they're prohibited. This
makes no sense. It's not an issue of "play."

It's easy to
see how the most common complaints one might have about the homeless (IE
they're dirt poor, are probably crazy and are homeless because they can't
manage a real lifestyle, they're an inconvenience and a hazard to the rest
of us) could easily be applied to a cyclist by a motorist.


Huh? That's silly hyperbole. Unless, of course, you truly believe that
bicyclists are dirt poor, crazy, and can't manage a real lifestyle.

And if we can
say nothing else for homelessness, we can be sure it has less
environmental impact than owning a home, even a home with no SUVs.


What does this have to do with the whole thing? Within the context of this
thread, where does the environmental impact of homelessness come into play?




Ronsonic November 23rd 04 03:51 AM

On 22 Nov 2004 07:00:27 -0800, (DonQuijote1954)
wrote:

Ronsonic wrote in message . ..

Dude, it's a stupid park with a stupid rule. Get some perspective and start
lobbying. Call your state legislator he lives close. Try to sound unstoned and
persuasive.

Ron


Thanks all.

Or else move. I got no patience to deal with the foxes...

It's ironic that whether bicycling or kayaking you ALWAYS find
yourself at the wrong end of the food chain for doing WHAT'S RIGHT. I
grew political out of necessity and now only hope a revolution of some
sort will come from the sky. Hallelujah!!! ;)


"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most
intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."
-Charles Darwin

EVOLVE OR ELSE!

Once upon a time lived a race of dinosaurs whose violence and appetite
alarmed everybody... One day a Little Ant, tired of feeling stepped
upon, and worried about her cooperative enterprise, came up to the
Americanus Raptor--the biggest dinosaur of them all--and asked: "Why
you eat and eat everything in your path? Why don't you slim down? Why
can't we little animals at least have our own way?" Then the dinosaur,
blowing the Little Ant away, shouted: "Bigger is better, so get lost!"

The Little Ant, then, gathered the whole cooperative and said:
"Comrades, our world is being threatened by the dinosaurs, so..." And
at that precise moment the Earth was hit by a big ball of fire,
destroying all but the small animals...


A stroke of tremendous good fortune for such creatures that it would be foolish
to count on.

Rather than sit around hoping conditions change:

A - change them yourself.

B - change yourself to suit them.

I recommend "A" but your mileage may vary. Either is more productive than
waiting for a meteor to hit.

Ron


Jeff Starr November 23rd 04 05:17 AM

On Mon, 22 Nov 2004 13:58:15 -0500, "Jacobe Hazzard"
wrote:

DonQuijote1954 wrote:
I know it's political, EVERYTHING is political. Whether in my
bicycles--that go unused--or my kayaks--that now will go unused--I
feel at the bottom end of the food chain. Polluting SUVs and
motorboats have it all; bikers and kayakers, get the scraps--if any.
Whether we are intimidated or regulated, we face the beast. It's a
jungle out there...


And what would you like done with the homeless? Have them scooped up and
dispatched to some burnt out industrial district so they can't make the
yuppies nervous when they go for strolls in the park?


I too wondered what the OP thought he would accomplish bringing in the
homeless to his arguement for the right to kayak. I also felt that it
made him sound petty. One has "nothing" to do with the other and if he
continues to include his rant on the homeless, it will just blur his
arguement for kayaking.


Life is Good!
Jeff



Jacobe Hazzard November 23rd 04 08:09 AM

Felsenmeer wrote:
And what would you like done with the homeless? Have them scooped
up and dispatched to some burnt out industrial district so they
can't make the yuppies nervous when they go for strolls in the
park?


Two words:

HOMELESS SHELTER


OK so we lock them away in 'shelters' from which they are not free to
leave. That's f***ing brilliant.


I have yet to see a homeless shelter in which the homeless are
"locked away" and are "not free to leave." Do these exist in your
country? They don't in mine.


You'll have to forgive me if I misunderstood your two words, I was filling
in some blanks for myself. I assumed that you meant for the homeless in
question to be removed to a homeless shelter, either forcibly or through
strong encouragement. If it's the case that the homeless are not kept
prisoner in their shelters (and it is, both in your country and mine),
then how do the two words 'HOMELESS SHELTER' solve the problem of homeless
that choose to inhabit a public piece of land?

The public in general *does* feel uncomfortable with homeless people,
warranted or not.


The general driving public *does* feel uncomfortable sharing the road with
cyclists.

A park may be a much nicer place than a shelter to
a homeless person, but a park is *not* a nicer place for the public
when it becomes a collecting point for the homeless.


The road may be the nicest place for a cyclist on the go, but it is *not*
the nicest place for SUVs when it becomes a collecting point for slow
moving poorly protected vehicles.

You obviously
have some sort of thing for the homeless, and that's good. But I
think if you're going to intellectually honest, you're going to have
to realize that the public at large in general does not approve of
having their parks turned into impromptu homeless shelters.


If the public is so concerned about some homeless people in a park, whom
to the best of my knowledge have never been known to do anything illegal
or threatening, then maybe there's a problem with the public? Maybe, and
bear with me here, we should treat the homeless like others, innocent
until proven guilty?

So... you've missed the point. People typically feel somewhat
threatened by the homeless, yet they have free rein of the place.
People do *not* typically feel threatened by sea kayakers, yet
they're prohibited. This makes no sense. It's not an issue of
"play."


You've missed *my* point. The OP was expressing his dissatisfaction with
being marginalized by society. He feels that he is being oppressed by the
LAW OF THE JUNGLE, by which the mightier creatures, those driving cars and
motorboats, backed by money and the law, are keeping him from pursuing his
innocent interests. He also has a holier-than-thou attitude towards those
making use of polluting forms of transportation/recreation. In the same
sentences he tries to marginalize the homeless in the exact same way, on
the same flimsy pretexts, using the same laws of the land, and completely
ignores the environmental impact of his owning a home (not insignificant).

I was not arguing that the homeless are more fun to have around than
kayakers, or safer, or anything like that. I was pointing out a glaring
double standard in the OP. This kind of hypocrisy upsets me, like the
person who will gladly steal from a big corporation (it's not like they
need the money, piracy is a victimless crime) but refuses to give to the
needy (why should they get handouts from MY pocket?). In the end, his
arguments boil down to a very selfish demand for respect, and respect is
not something he's willing to give in return.



DonQuijote1954 November 24th 04 12:21 AM

"Jacobe Hazzard" wrote in message ...
DonQuijote1954 wrote:
I know it's political, EVERYTHING is political. Whether in my
bicycles--that go unused--or my kayaks--that now will go unused--I
feel at the bottom end of the food chain. Polluting SUVs and
motorboats have it all; bikers and kayakers, get the scraps--if any.
Whether we are intimidated or regulated, we face the beast. It's a
jungle out there...


And what would you like done with the homeless? Have them scooped up and
dispatched to some burnt out industrial district so they can't make the
yuppies nervous when they go for strolls in the park?


Listen the yuppies get nervous, I get nervous and everybody gets
nervous. The problem is they are OUT OF PLACE in a park, and there
shouldn't be homeless to begin with. While there's homeless out there
I call it a JUNGLE.

Guns N' Roses - Welcome To The Jungle Song Lyrics

Welcome to the jungle
We got fun 'n' games
We got everything you want
Honey we know the names
We are the people that can find
Whatever you may need
If you got the money honey
We got your disease


Chorus:


In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle
Watch it bring you to your shun n,n,n,n,,n,n,,n,n,n,,n,n,,n knees,
knees
I wanna watch you bleed


Welcome to the jungle
We take it day by day
If you want it you're gonna bleed
But it's the price you pay
And you're a very sexy girl
That's very hard to please
You can taste the bright lights
But you won't get them for free
In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle
Feel my, my, my serpentine
I, I wanna hear you scream


Welcome to the jungle
It gets worse here everyday
Ya learn ta live like an animal
In the jungle where we play
If you got a hunger for what you see
You'll take it eventually
You can have anything you want
But you better not take it from me


Chorus


And when you're high you never
Ever want to come down, so down, so down, so down YEAH!


You know where you are
You're in the jungle baby
You're gonna die
In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle
Watch it bring you to your shu n,n,n,,n,n,,n,n,n,,n,n,,n,n,,n knees,
knees
In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle
Feel my, my, my serpentine
In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle
Watch it bring you to your shun n,n,n,n,,n,n,,n,n,,n,n,,n.n, knees,
knees
In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle
Watch it bring you to your
It's gonna bring you down!
Ha!

DonQuijote1954 November 24th 04 12:43 AM

"Jacobe Hazzard" wrote in message ...
How can he demand respect for people who go without motor vehicles, for
whatever personal reasons they have, if he's completely unable to respect
people who go without homes for their own personal reasons? It's easy to
see how the most common complaints one might have about the homeless (IE
they're dirt poor, are probably crazy and are homeless because they can't
manage a real lifestyle, they're an inconvenience and a hazard to the rest
of us) could easily be applied to a cyclist by a motorist. And if we can
say nothing else for homelessness, we can be sure it has less
environmental impact than owning a home, even a home with no SUVs.



To begin with MY CAR WAS SWALLOWED BY THE JUNGLE (ie. got stolen), and
even though I already put money on another, it's Geo Tracker with no
racks possible. A trailer down the line is a possibility though...

But how dare you in your American mind compare being without car to
being without a roof. Sure, it's pretty much the only option left to
get around, but hey, that's the issue. People without an engine are
treated like s*** and then people like you come up with excuses for
the homeless. Yeah right...

How about a permanent solution for the homeless like having them pay
back to society in exchange for a decent salary--and a roof? Picking
up litter seems a good start to me (it's dirty enough out there)...

Jeff Starr November 24th 04 12:51 AM

On 23 Nov 2004 16:21:28 -0800,
(DonQuijote1954) wrote:



Listen the yuppies get nervous, I get nervous and everybody gets
nervous. The problem is they are OUT OF PLACE in a park, and there
shouldn't be homeless to begin with. While there's homeless out there
I call it a JUNGLE.

Guns N' Roses - Welcome To The Jungle Song Lyrics

-snipped-
Welcome to the jungle
Feel my, my, my serpentine
In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle
Watch it bring you to your shun n,n,n,n,,n,n,,n,n,,n,n,,n.n, knees,
knees
In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle
Watch it bring you to your
It's gonna bring you down!
Ha!


I think your kayak has upside down, for way too long. You are showing
signs of oxygen depravation.


Life is Good!
Jeff

DonQuijote1954 November 24th 04 01:02 AM

"Felsenmeer" wrote in message ...
And what would you like done with the homeless? Have them scooped up
and dispatched to some burnt out industrial district so they can't
make the yuppies nervous when they go for strolls in the park?


Two words:

HOMELESS SHELTER


OK so we lock them away in 'shelters' from which they are not free to
leave. That's f***ing brilliant.


I have yet to see a homeless shelter in which the homeless are "locked away"
and are "not free to leave." Do these exist in your country? They don't in
mine.

My point was the OPs apparent hypocrisy in being outraged about kayaking
being banned as 'potentially dangerous' and in the same breath condemning
the homeless as 'potentially threatening'. The fact is, a park is a much
nicer place to be than a homeless shelter. Have you ever seen the inside
of one? My reading of his arguments (which really needn't have involved
the homeless at all, as they were irrelevant to his kayaking problem) was
a sort of juvenille, "If I can't play here then why should they?"


The public in general *does* feel uncomfortable with homeless people,
warranted or not. A park may be a much nicer place than a shelter to a
homeless person, but a park is *not* a nicer place for the public when it
becomes a collecting point for the homeless. You obviously have some sort
of thing for the homeless, and that's good. But I think if you're going to
intellectually honest, you're going to have to realize that the public at
large in general does not approve of having their parks turned into
impromptu homeless shelters.

So... you've missed the point. People typically feel somewhat threatened by
the homeless, yet they have free rein of the place. People do *not*
typically feel threatened by sea kayakers, yet they're prohibited. This
makes no sense. It's not an issue of "play."

It's easy to
see how the most common complaints one might have about the homeless (IE
they're dirt poor, are probably crazy and are homeless because they can't
manage a real lifestyle, they're an inconvenience and a hazard to the rest
of us) could easily be applied to a cyclist by a motorist.


Huh? That's silly hyperbole. Unless, of course, you truly believe that
bicyclists are dirt poor, crazy, and can't manage a real lifestyle.

And if we can
say nothing else for homelessness, we can be sure it has less
environmental impact than owning a home, even a home with no SUVs.


What does this have to do with the whole thing? Within the context of this
thread, where does the environmental impact of homelessness come into play?


Well, you said it all. What else can I say...

But let me add a couple of points:

1-The people making these regulations--privileged public
officers--don't ever go on a kayak. They go on motorboats which are
much higher up in the social ladder.

2-They don't go to the park, since they are probably associated to
some private club or are out there in their motorboat.

If they did, they would take care of the homeless problem. Of course,
these are not accepted in their clubs... ;)

DonQuijote1954 November 24th 04 01:23 AM

Ronsonic wrote in message . ..
The Little Ant, then, gathered the whole cooperative and said:
"Comrades, our world is being threatened by the dinosaurs, so..." And
at that precise moment the Earth was hit by a big ball of fire,
destroying all but the small animals...


A stroke of tremendous good fortune for such creatures that it would be foolish
to count on.

Rather than sit around hoping conditions change:

A - change them yourself.

B - change yourself to suit them.

I recommend "A" but your mileage may vary. Either is more productive than
waiting for a meteor to hit.

Ron


Multiple choice...

__ God will run out of patience and hurl the asteroid (Armageddon).

__ Become a dinosaur yourself.

__ Stop feeding the stupid hungry dinosaur (lend God a hand).

__ Gather all the ants and fight the beast (it may justify the dinosaur)...

Claire Petersky November 24th 04 03:43 AM

"DonQuijote1954" wrote in message
om...

Give 'em another choice: light community work.


On top of their existing jobs?


--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
please substitute yahoo for mousepotato to reply
Home of the meditative cyclist:
http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm
Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky



DonQuijote1954 November 24th 04 01:00 PM

Jeff Starr wrote in message . ..
On 23 Nov 2004 16:21:28 -0800,
(DonQuijote1954) wrote:



Listen the yuppies get nervous, I get nervous and everybody gets
nervous. The problem is they are OUT OF PLACE in a park, and there
shouldn't be homeless to begin with. While there's homeless out there
I call it a JUNGLE.

Guns N' Roses - Welcome To The Jungle Song Lyrics

-snipped-
Welcome to the jungle
Feel my, my, my serpentine
In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle
Watch it bring you to your shun n,n,n,n,,n,n,,n,n,,n,n,,n.n, knees,
knees
In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle
Watch it bring you to your
It's gonna bring you down!
Ha!


I think your kayak has upside down, for way too long. You are showing
signs of oxygen depravation.


Life is Good!
Jeff


Sure, I was trying to GET AWAY from the jungle, but it's not simply
possible.

NOTE: I bought a heavy duty kayak cart and now I should be able to
walk 3 times as much as before to please the hungry lion. The
launching itself will be more dangerous too from a seawall, but hey,
what does he care but his own appetite...

DonQuijote1954 November 24th 04 01:13 PM

"Claire Petersky" wrote in message ink.net...
"DonQuijote1954" wrote in message
om...

Give 'em another choice: light community work.


On top of their existing jobs?


Yep, I think the homeless have been philosophizing enough about life
now to go back and join the real world.

There's this place next to the Intercontinental Hotel. It's a wooden
pier with the most awesome view over the bay. Perfect for romantic
hideout...

Well, guess who's there. Yeah, THEY are also there, day and night, and
even have set up camp cardboards and all, NEXT to the lions in the
hotel! I've denounced the situation multiple times (so I can romantize
there) but nothing.
Sure since the rich and famous give a dam about REAL FREEDOM to enjoy
the simple things they give a damn. And that's how the jungle came to
be a jungle...

DonQuijote1954 November 24th 04 07:16 PM

Jeff Starr wrote in message . ..
I think your kayak has upside down, for way too long. You are showing
signs of oxygen depravation.


Life is Good!
Jeff


Where's the "depravation" in Eskimo roll?

Oxygen deprivation surely comes from inhaling your motorboat fumes...

Cheto November 24th 04 08:30 PM


"Jacobe Hazzard" wrote in message
...

If the public is so concerned about some homeless people in a park, whom
to the best of my knowledge have never been known to do anything illegal
or threatening, then maybe there's a problem with the public? Maybe, and
bear with me here, we should treat the homeless like others, innocent
until proven guilty?


I don't know where you live, but where I live urinating and defecating in
public, performing sex acts in public, drinking to the point of
unconsciousness in public, injecting illegal drugs and leaving used needles
laying around, leaving garbage laying around and agressive panhandling are
all illegal.

Cheto



Cheto November 24th 04 08:34 PM


"Claire Petersky" wrote in message
nk.net...
"DonQuijote1954" wrote in message
om...

Give 'em another choice: light community work.


On top of their existing jobs?


Existing jobs? Too funny.

Cheto



David Reuteler November 24th 04 08:36 PM

In rec.bicycles.misc Cheto wrote:
"Jacobe Hazzard" wrote in message
...

If the public is so concerned about some homeless people in a park, whom
to the best of my knowledge have never been known to do anything illegal
or threatening, then maybe there's a problem with the public? Maybe, and
bear with me here, we should treat the homeless like others, innocent
until proven guilty?


I don't know where you live, but where I live urinating and defecating in
public, performing sex acts in public, drinking to the point of
unconsciousness in public, injecting illegal drugs and leaving used needles
laying around, leaving garbage laying around and agressive panhandling are
all illegal.


and yet they fail to arrest frat boys en masse. did you have a point about
the homeless? ahh, panhandling. yea, well, boys gotta make a livin'.
--
david reuteler


Galen Hekhuis November 24th 04 08:37 PM

On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 12:30:27 -0800, "Cheto"
wrote:


"Jacobe Hazzard" wrote in message
...

If the public is so concerned about some homeless people in a park, whom
to the best of my knowledge have never been known to do anything illegal
or threatening, then maybe there's a problem with the public? Maybe, and
bear with me here, we should treat the homeless like others, innocent
until proven guilty?


I don't know where you live, but where I live urinating and defecating in
public, performing sex acts in public, drinking to the point of
unconsciousness in public, injecting illegal drugs and leaving used needles
laying around, leaving garbage laying around and agressive panhandling are
all illegal.


Where do you live that *injecting* illegal drugs is illegal. I know many
places where possession of certain substances is illegal, and I know many
places where selling certain substances is illegal, but I know of none
where *injecting* (or any other form of consumption) illegal drugs can
result in charges. Can you tell me where this is true and possibly provide
a pointer to the relevant statute?

Galen Hekhuis NpD, JFR, GWA
Guns don't kill people, religions do

Joanne November 24th 04 08:47 PM


"Galen Hekhuis" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 12:30:27 -0800, "Cheto"
wrote:
Where do you live that *injecting* illegal drugs is illegal. I know many
places where possession of certain substances is illegal, and I know many
places where selling certain substances is illegal, but I know of none
where *injecting* (or any other form of consumption) illegal drugs can
result in charges. Can you tell me where this is true and possibly
provide
a pointer to the relevant statute?

Galen Hekhuis NpD, JFR, GWA
Guns don't kill people, religions do


It would be difficult to consume without first possessing. Even if someone
else held the consumable as it was being consumed in a public park, both
would probably be candidates for arrest.

--
Sincerely,
Joanne

If it's right for you, then it's right, . . . . . for you!!!

Play -
http://www.jobird.com
Pay for Play - http://www.jobird.com/refund.htm
Looking for Love? - http://www.jobird.com/hearts.htm
Garden Kinder CDs
http://www.jobird.com/cd/gardenkinderhome.html





Cheto November 24th 04 08:50 PM


"Galen Hekhuis" wrote in message
...

Where do you live that *injecting* illegal drugs is illegal. I know many
places where possession of certain substances is illegal, and I know many
places where selling certain substances is illegal, but I know of none
where *injecting* (or any other form of consumption) illegal drugs can
result in charges. Can you tell me where this is true and possibly

provide
a pointer to the relevant statute?


Are you being purposely idiotic? If so, you're doing an excellent job.

Cheto



Galen Hekhuis November 24th 04 09:03 PM

On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 12:50:27 -0800, "Cheto"
wrote:


"Galen Hekhuis" wrote in message
.. .

Where do you live that *injecting* illegal drugs is illegal. I know many
places where possession of certain substances is illegal, and I know many
places where selling certain substances is illegal, but I know of none
where *injecting* (or any other form of consumption) illegal drugs can
result in charges. Can you tell me where this is true and possibly

provide
a pointer to the relevant statute?


Are you being purposely idiotic? If so, you're doing an excellent job.


No. I'm asking a question. It is a simple matter to say you merely wrote
one thing (which is technically inaccurate) when you meant to make a point.
Why do you not do that instead of calling me "idiotic"?

Galen Hekhuis NpD, JFR, GWA
Guns don't kill people, religions do

Galen Hekhuis November 24th 04 09:03 PM

On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 20:47:24 GMT, "Joanne" wrote:

It would be difficult to consume without first possessing. Even if someone
else held the consumable as it was being consumed in a public park, both
would probably be candidates for arrest.


I realize that, but the original poster claimed that *injecting* was
illegal. I know of no statute anywhere that makes that specific action a
crime.

Galen Hekhuis NpD, JFR, GWA
Guns don't kill people, religions do

Zoot Katz November 24th 04 09:17 PM

Wed, 24 Nov 2004 15:37:30 -0500,
, Galen Hekhuis
wrote:

I know many
places where possession of certain substances is illegal, and I know many
places where selling certain substances is illegal, but I know of none
where *injecting* (or any other form of consumption) illegal drugs can
result in charges.


Drunk driving.
There are several states with laws against a minor being in possession
of alcohol by consumption.

In South Dakota you can be busted for "internal possession".

If a cop suspects you're stoned, he can get a warrant and you can be
taken to hospital to have a urine sample forcibly removed.

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/...thdakota.shtml
--
zk

Galen Hekhuis November 24th 04 09:26 PM

On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 13:17:12 -0800, Zoot Katz
wrote:

Wed, 24 Nov 2004 15:37:30 -0500,
, Galen Hekhuis
wrote:

I know many
places where possession of certain substances is illegal, and I know many
places where selling certain substances is illegal, but I know of none
where *injecting* (or any other form of consumption) illegal drugs can
result in charges.


Drunk driving.
There are several states with laws against a minor being in possession
of alcohol by consumption.


Driving while under the influence or driving while intoxicated I don't
think apply. Possession I think even *I* pointed out above.

In South Dakota you can be busted for "internal possession".

If a cop suspects you're stoned, he can get a warrant and you can be
taken to hospital to have a urine sample forcibly removed.

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/...thdakota.shtml


I wasn't aware of that. Thanks for supplying the reference.

Galen Hekhuis NpD, JFR, GWA
Guns don't kill people, religions do

Max November 25th 04 12:34 AM

I'd really like to hear more about the details specific and germane to
the Miami park problem.

Could you post a mapquest link to the spot in question, or an overhead
image?

Any luck spinning up a dialogue w/ the park board?

etc.

Ob paddling: i got about 120 miles paddling my yak on the Il. Fox River
between Geneva and St. Charles and north. Well worth the small expense
to buy a cheap yak. I launch from a park a block away and they don't
mind at all.

Ob cycling: might be time to start shoveling and plowing the river trail!

..max

--
the part of
was played by maxwell monningh 8-p

Cheto November 25th 04 09:54 AM


"Galen Hekhuis" wrote in message
...

Are you being purposely idiotic? If so, you're doing an excellent job.


No. I'm asking a question. It is a simple matter to say you merely wrote
one thing (which is technically inaccurate) when you meant to make a

point.

It's not inaccurate. I'll defer to Mr. Hunts' expertise on the subject.

Why do you not do that instead of calling me "idiotic"?


Because you're trolling. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence knows that
one cannot use unless one posesses.

Cheto




DonQuijote1954 November 25th 04 01:53 PM

"The ice is melting but the problem is ignored"

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most
intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."
-Charles Darwin

If it were to be an animal it would be doomed. But wait, maybe it is,
what, a warmongering lion, a hungry dinosaur?

Keep the SUVs rolling and the war going so the beast is fed. What an
unromantic way for humanity to end, huh? :(


Group Passes on Addressing Global Warming

By BART CAMERON, Associated Press Writer

REYKJAVIK, Iceland - Although faced with fresh evidence of global
warming, the United States and other members the Arctic Council on
Wednesday failed to make any recommendations to combat a problem most
scientists say is causing sea ice to melt and temperatures to rise.

The council met to consider a new scientific report suggesting the
Arctic is warming up much faster than the rest of the planet.

Some delegates on the council, a respected international panel that
advises governments on Arctic issues, seemed to blame their group's
inaction on America's rejection of the Kyoto Protocol (news - web
sites), which requires industrial nations to reduce emissions of
greenhouse gases. The Bush administration prefers voluntary measures
to save the environment.

"We no sooner leave the science proper than we enter into politics,"
said Bryndis Kjartansdottir, speaking on behalf of the Icelandic
ministry which chaired the one-day meeting.

The study, compiled by 300 scientists and released earlier this month,
said the Arctic is particularly vulnerable to warming from industrial
greenhouse gases. One reason is that when snow and ice melt, the
exposed, bare ground absorbs more heat.

It projects that some animals could become extinct and people living
in the region could be threatened by the thinning sea ice, melting
glaciers and thawing permafrost.

Sea ice in the Arctic has already decreased about 8 percent in 30
years, resulting in the loss of 386,100 square miles of sea ice,
according to the report.

Delegates said the findings will help inform governments about global
warming, but declined to make any specific recommendations in a
declaration adopted Wednesday.

Paula Dobriansky, the U.S. under secretary of global affairs, told the
council's closing news conference that she was happy with that
decision. She said America's participation in the council is just one
part of the Bush administration's $5.2 billion spent for environmental
projects such as renewable energies.

But anger from other delegates over the U.S. position on global
warming seemed evident during the news conference, particularly the
Bush Administration's rejection of the Kyoto Protocol in 2001.

The U.N.-sponsored accord, which was negotiated in 1997 in Kyoto,
Japan, requires industrial nations to reduce emissions of greenhouse
gases below 1990 levels.

When Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said, "It is the best
possible declaration that could be adopted today," other delegates
exploded in laughter.

The council is comprised of eight nations --Canada, Denmark, Finland,
Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States-- and six
indigenous peoples of the Arctic, including the Saami Peoples of
Norway and Finland and the Inuit Circumpolar Conference.

http://committed.to/justiceforpeace

DonQuijote1954 November 25th 04 01:55 PM

Good point.....what can be done?

Many things. For one, stop driving the SUV to the corner store....

But really THE PROBLEM IS POLITICAL. Dozens of good ideas are sitting
out there, but the problem is ignored....

"Whither capitalism, now that the communist dragon is slain?"

Well, history tells us that the dragon wasn't the only problem. The
stupid dinosaur sticks to his old ways refusing anything new. 'Natural
Capitalism' is a book that puts forth such ideas. But I'm afraid the
dinosaur must be controlled and put on a diet--or else get rid
of--before anything happens.

The Economist (Nov. 13, 1999):
"Much of what the authors argue for is sensible, and certainly
desirable. But what makes this book worth reading is the fact that the
authors have taken as first principles for their Utopia the harsh
truths of Darwinian capitalism: individuals and companies act in their
self interest, and markets guide that impulse through prices."

http://www.natcap.org/sitepages/pid9.php

DonQuijote1954 November 25th 04 02:00 PM

"Cheto" wrote in message ...
"Jacobe Hazzard" wrote in message
...

If the public is so concerned about some homeless people in a park, whom
to the best of my knowledge have never been known to do anything illegal
or threatening, then maybe there's a problem with the public? Maybe, and
bear with me here, we should treat the homeless like others, innocent
until proven guilty?


I don't know where you live, but where I live urinating and defecating in
public, performing sex acts in public, drinking to the point of
unconsciousness in public, injecting illegal drugs and leaving used needles
laying around, leaving garbage laying around and agressive panhandling are
all illegal.

Cheto


When you are sitting with a backpack or worse lying back in a park
full of homeless, guess who people take you for.

If the idea of being a BUM is OK to you, then you may as well ask for
coins... ;)

DonQuijote1954 November 25th 04 02:14 PM

Max wrote in message ...
I'd really like to hear more about the details specific and germane to
the Miami park problem.

Could you post a mapquest link to the spot in question, or an overhead
image?


Here's the map (I hope it works)...

(I'd come down 18 st, but now I have to walk 3 times farther and
launch at a more dangerous place)

http://www.smartpages.com/cityguides...yType=&Radius=


Any luck spinning up a dialogue w/ the park board?


I did talk with them over the phone, and they were reluctant to
consider any options. After that I send them a copy of these posts but
they never reply.

etc.

Ob paddling: i got about 120 miles paddling my yak on the Il. Fox River
between Geneva and St. Charles and north. Well worth the small expense
to buy a cheap yak. I launch from a park a block away and they don't
mind at all.

Ob cycling: might be time to start shoveling and plowing the river trail!

.max


Have fun out there!

Where I am there are islands out there that are a real getaway. They
used to be DILAPIDATED but last time were clean.

Joanne November 25th 04 03:57 PM


"DonQuijote1954" wrote in message
om...
Max wrote in message
...
I'd really like to hear more about the details specific and germane to
the Miami park problem.

Could you post a mapquest link to the spot in question, or an overhead
image?


Here's the map (I hope it works)...

(I'd come down 18 st, but now I have to walk 3 times farther and
launch at a more dangerous place)

http://www.smartpages.com/cityguides...yType=&Radius=


This isn't some little park lake like I imagined you were describing.
Although I'm not familiar with your put-in point, any boat launch ramp
should be as available to kayaks as any other craft. If you are launching
from a non-ramp site, walk the three blocks or drive to a public ramp and be
done with it. You are so lucky to have this wonderful place to paddle.

In Colorado, we have a great deal of compassion for the homeless who have
hard and shortened lives. Typically, the homeless are struggling with
mental illness and are difficult to help although many try.

Of course, kayaking and the homeless have nothing to do with each other
except to distract the officials from your issue with them. Gratitude is
the antidote for resentment and the map seems to point to a lot to be
grateful for.

Happy Thanksgiving.

--
Sincerely,
Joanne

If it's right for you, then it's right, . . . . . for you!!!

Play - http://www.jobird.com
Pay for Play - http://www.jobird.com/refund.htm
Looking for Love? - http://www.jobird.com/hearts.htm
Garden Kinder CDs
http://www.jobird.com/cd/gardenkinderhome.html



DonQuijote1954 November 25th 04 09:43 PM

"Joanne" wrote in message nk.net...
This isn't some little park lake like I imagined you were describing.
Although I'm not familiar with your put-in point, any boat launch ramp
should be as available to kayaks as any other craft. If you are launching
from a non-ramp site, walk the three blocks or drive to a public ramp and be
done with it. You are so lucky to have this wonderful place to paddle.


The only park with a canoe ramp is two miles away, but takes a car and
then be limited by the closing hours. Limitations, limitations,
limitations...

And the next best choice is kind of dangerous and difficult.
Surrounding areas are all monopolized by the lions. What's left?

In Colorado, we have a great deal of compassion for the homeless who have
hard and shortened lives. Typically, the homeless are struggling with
mental illness and are difficult to help although many try.


You must have been raised into accepting the homeless as normal but I
have not. I'd like to remind you they are the symptom of a jungle. A
few that have it all (private marines and all), others that are left
behind and discarded like animals (the homeless), and a majority who
got no place in between. It's a jungle out there...

Of course, kayaking and the homeless have nothing to do with each other
except to distract the officials from your issue with them. Gratitude is
the antidote for resentment and the map seems to point to a lot to be
grateful for.


The things I have to be grateful were created by NATURE, but are
quickly disappearing thanks to the relentless attack by motorboats and
the careless dumping, so a few can have fun.

Happy Thanksgiving.


Likewise. Thanks Mother Nature! ;)

DonQuijote1954 November 26th 04 04:23 AM

Originally posted by Rickk
"The sky is falling! The sky is falling!"

Oh no, it's only ice falling!

"oohhhh...dead Jews and Americans!....oohhh...ohhhh...almost
there...ohhh...right there!...that's the spot...deeeeaddd
Jews...ovens....ohhhh-dead Jews! Be-headed Americans! OHHH! OHHH!
YES!!!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"

But don't blame all Americans and Jews for it, only a few of them--the
lions so to speak. Actually the Jewish kibbutz present the best hope
to Stupid Unnecessary Vehicles and other stupid things out there...

The Greening of the Kibbutz
Environmentalists hope to restore the kibbutz movement to its former
place on the leading edge of social innovation
by Jan Martin Bang

Imagine a string of villages, settled over the last twenty five years
by young people from all over the world, inspired by the ideals of
building a new society. A cooperative society, not using money,
trusting each other, each village having unique characteristics,
owning all things in common, bringing up their children in a new
educational system, practicing democracy at a grass roots, village
level. In short, building a new type of culture.

Doesn't that sound inspiring? Can such a thing exist? Is this just a
dream? A utopia, no place?

(snip)

The task of the Green Kibbutz Group became quite clear to me, to find
this concern in every kibbutz in the country, and nurture it, helping
it along to make the kibbutz movement once again a leading social
experiment. Where modern consumerism and capitalism armed with the
latest technology are creating a wasteland unfit for human habitation,
we have a task to create a new society, one which will use the
technology available to us, in a spirit of cooperation, to create
communities which will be sustainable and live lightly on the land.

http://www.ru.org/artkibb.html


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