To Ponder

The question at Lakewood United early Thursday morning, July 31, was whether the four candidates represented at the platform, and wanting to represent you in the State Legislature, would use negative campaigning – ‘hit pieces’ – reflecting poorly on their opponent rather than run a race based on their own merits.

My wife planted a garden of vegetables – we think – but the jungle has not only taken root, it has taken over: the space available; the adjoining lawn; the bulkhead that separates the garden from the lake; and it has begun to obscure the view.

Our son-in-law swears he can see it grow (and grow and grow) while he’s watering it.

Lakewood is compensated up to $24,875 for its smoke detectors, aka the Lakewood Police Department Community Service Officers (CSO) and one Code Enforcement Officer.

According to a Public Disclosure Requested (PDR) document – the September 27, 2012 contractual agreement between the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) and the City of Lakewood – the City is reimbursed nearly $25,000 for the five members of Lakewood’s Burn Ban Patrol to observe, photograph, document and report those caught violating the air with smoke from chimneys, outdoor fires and even BBQ’s during burn bans.

Put another way, when rules go rogue, the rebellion is commenced.

The issue here concerns the avowed purpose and mission of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) which has cited me for violating a burn ban that occurred on a rental property of ours unbeknownst to me last December 7, 2013.

Question: At what speed are you dead if hit by a car?

Answer: “A pedestrian has an 85 percent chance of death when involved in a motor/vehicle collision at 40 mph, a 45 percent chance of death at 30 mph, and a 5 percent chance of death at 20 mph.”

I bet, from the title, you thought this was about football. It’s not. But because you thought it was, we’ll begin there.

Solving problems by common sense and courtesy.

“An old recipe for a rabbit dish starts out, ‘First, catch the rabbit.’

“That puts first things first,” writes Charles Swindol in his book “Man to Man.”

Loyalty or honesty – which quality best describes a friend? “I thought he was your friend?”

The question was asked of me by a reporter. I’d just retaken my seat following the allowed three minutes at the microphone in which I had chastised one of the city council for his attempt to override our community effort to honor one of our locals.

Anonymity, most typically, suggests epic buffoonery sans backbone.

A while back a local newspaper, in an article headlined “No More Taking Potshots from Behind Anonymity,” decided that if you can’t stand behind it, they were not going to print it.