One of my favorite turns in the wheel of the year! Spring equinox! In Reno, we know the lilacs are still a month or two away from blooming, but we’re getting tantalizing previews of the weather to come (just don’t plant anything yet!). And let’s not forget that great Sierra Spring skiing - corn! Check out these spring options!
The Washoe GOP County Convention is over. I chaired the Credentials Committee, and given the record turn out we’re seeing everywhere this year, that caused a few sleepless nights, I can tell you.
Good news is that I had a great crew of dedicated and hardworking volunteers and we were able to get everyone registered and in the door by 10:30 a.m. Prelim credentials report at 11:30 - final report before lunch. Over 1,200 people at the Peppermill in all.
The more libertarian-minded Republicans in the room tried hard to get a platform that was a little more “hands off” in terms of government dictates, the platform ended up being adopted pretty much as written.
Even though 52% of Republicans in Nevada describe themselves as “pro-choice,” the County Party’s platform completely ignores the wide range of views party members have on this issue. What was it Ronald Reagan used to say about “the big tent?”
Getting prepared for the County Convention here … reading up on the Convention in Vegas. The great news is that we’re still seeing record crowds — what an amazing political year.
I was sorry to see that John McCain’s representative ridiculed the Democratic presidential candidates. “Even the names Barack and Hillary sound liberal.” Really? Disappointing. Their voting records and public statements are fair game. Do we really have to call people names? Kind of juvenile. And not exactly inspiring.
I don’t like it when either side calls the others names.
Feels like the political scene has been all consuming. On the Dem side, it still is. No rest for the weary. On the GOP side, at least Team McCain can take a breath and gather their strength.
I will be curious to hear if the GOP county convention in Vegas runs smoothly, after the challenges the D’s faced.
This morning, I took my son to McDonalds for breakfast. I know - not the healthiest start, but we don’t do it very often. I couldn’t help but notice a woman sitting there with a cup of water. Her clothes didn’t fit well … but I wasn’t sure if she was just having a bad morning or if she was homeless and hungry.
I hate to say it, but I had to debate for a while about offering just to give her some money. As I walked over to give her $5, I noticed she was wearing men’s boots but no socks. Just said, “hey, you look like you could use a cup of coffee or something.” So simple to do. She thanked me several times. Which just made me feel worse. How hard was that? Why is it so hard for people like her to get help? You can help by donating to the Food Bank. Or the Committee to Aid Abused Women.
Then off to work …. catching up on e-mail. I’ve gotten about 10 updates from the 40 days for life vigil. (They pray outside abortion clinics during Lent - and I greatly appreciate their Statement of Peace.) Today’s update was “don’t you have something better to do?” (The feedback they get from some people in the community.) And I thought of the woman I talked to this morning. Yes, there is plenty to do. Right here. Right now.
Many, many women decide to have abortions because they want to be good mothers, and know they aren’t capable of doing that now. Or because they are doing all they can to take care of the kids they have now, and know that one more will plunge their whole family into poverty. There are lots of reasons women have abortions.
Here’s my wish: let’s all work together to end unintended pregnancies. And, let’s all work together to help women take care of the families they do have.
Surfing the net and I ran across this interesting trivia: The very first Google Doodle was a reference to the Burning Man Festival in 1998 (or 1999?).
If there’s one thing I know about water, it’s that hydrology is an exact science, but to really understand it you have to know a whole lot about the studies and assumptions that went into the modeling in the first place. Still, I hope the latest study reporting that Lake Mead could go dry gives us all pause. And instead of panic, may we turn to PLANNING!
Lake Mead during the 1951 drought:
Apparently (I haven’t verified this - so someone may correct me), Nevada is the only caucus state Senator Hilary Clinton has won. Which is only to be expected, she notes. So what does it mean?
One more reason to keep the caucus: Nevada’s results mirrored the Super Tuesday results … we do look like America. (At least on the Democratic side.) On the Republican side, having Nevada and South Carolina on the same day meant that, well, those two contests together look like America. One thing is for sure, the longer we go without “presumptive frontrunners,” the more people in more states have a chance to weigh in.
No matter what else you think about the contest, you’ve just got to be impressed with a system that hands the reins of power over in a way that includes so many people.
When Truckee Meadows Tomorrow asked people to list an example of a community innovation that represents or exemplifies “quality of life” and has made a profound difference here - #1 on the list is the downtown Reno Truckee River Whitewater Park at Wingfield. My friend Jim Litchfield, of Fluid, deserves a lot of credit and every single award he earned for turning this dream into a reality. Myrna the Minx thinks so too!
Catch the 12 Horses Podcast with (some of) the story behind the park.
For next year’s Community Well-Being Report, I’m going to have to nominate the Presidential Caucus as one of the most significant innovations of the year. Record turnout! Presidential candidates in Nevada for weeks! Voters paying attention! Can’t beat it!
What would you nominate?
