Comments for The Word Warrior

Comment on Supercomputer achieves “intelligence” equivalent to that of cats by Logical Operator

Logical Operator — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:53:02 +0000

so what you’re trying to say is the smartest computer is not that smart.

Comment on Mao’s plans were only five years long by the jesster

the jesster — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:05:31 +0000

You just made me laugh the hardest I’ve laughed in a good week.

Kudos, Bento, kudos.

Comment on How many Republican talking points are in a given sample of Palin-speak? by Kel

Kel — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:21:34 +0000

I bet some “elitist” education would make her speeches more understandable to those of us with minimal english training.

I agree though Bento. Shallow just doesn’t even define Palin anymore.

It is starting to scare me more that people are backing Palin. At least with other Republicans I can understand their arguments even if I disagree with them. Palin’s however…ya..I had to read that paragraph a few times.

Comment on I love the smell of grass roots in the evenin’! by Logical Operator

Logical Operator — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:20:49 +0000

The issue with the banks is that 1. they not only have no motivation to take care of some of the run-down homes but 2. they have no motivation to sell the homes to individual buyers. One of the testimonies heard was by a relator who was trying to buy a bank-owned home for a church, as-is and the payment would be in cash. The bank was extremely hard to deal with, since it prefers to sell 10 homes to one buyer or hold on to them until the market value goes up.

I’m uncertain as to why the banks are not being held more accountable, I am aware that it doesn’t matter where Deutsche bank’s HQ is.

Comment on I love the smell of grass roots in the evenin’! by Kel

Kel — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:30:04 +0000

*sigh*

Comment on I love the smell of grass roots in the evenin’! by Katie

Katie — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:32:56 +0000

I can’t speak for other cases, but I know someone who lives next door to a Milwaukee home that is “in foreclosure.”

The only problem is, the home isn’t actually in foreclosure. The neighbors moved out last March, knowing they couldn’t make payments or continue with any of the improvements they’d undertaken. Foreclosure was inevitable.

So they left. But the bank has not foreclosed yet. Why? Because there is no incentive. The house is run down, worth half what is owed on it, and taking control of it would mean the bank would have to pay taxes, upkeep, etc., and probably be unable to sell it. If the city came and said they would take the house, I’m sure the bank would hand it over with a smile. The city won’t do this because they become responsible.

I am not saying who is right here, I am only saying that everyone involved is acting in a completely logical manner. You have to change the situation driving the logic of it to get them to act a different way.

One thing I find interesting is the taxpayers picking up the tab on the building code violations. That is outrageous. How does that work? If the City has a legal claim on a fine against a bank, especially a visible one like Deutsche bank (they are everywhere; it doesn’t matter that their HQ is in Germany).

Comment on I love the smell of grass roots in the evenin’! by Logical Operator

Logical Operator — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:08:36 +0000

I would assume the city has tried to contact the banks to no avail. If you have more questions, as stated in the post, refer to common ground’s website.

Comment on 13-year old Somali girl stoned to death for being gang-raped by Kel

Kel — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:58:29 +0000

I fail to see how human beings can ever see this as justified. It boggles my mind that people can be so…..I can’t think of a good word. dense? thick? dumb?

Comment on I love the smell of grass roots in the evenin’! by Kel

Kel — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:57:21 +0000

How is there no actual person to track down. Its a fricking bank you go to the bank and say “pay up or the city takes the house”.

Comment on In memorium by the jesster

the jesster — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:43:07 +0000

Thank you for posting this Bento – in most states, it is still legal to be fired from your job for being transgender (Wisconsin, thankfully, is not one of them). But anti-trans violence and discrimination happens every single day in this county, and people need to be aware and outraged.

In the time my organization has existed, we have had to deal with the loss of three young people. One was a suicide (she was transgender and had no support), one was an overdose of street hormones (again, she was transgender and didn’t have the resources to get her hormones through a doctor), and the third was murdered (another lovely trans woman who simply wanted to wait for the bus).

Transgender people are some of the bravest people I’ve ever known. It takes guts to be yourself in a world where everyone is telling you that who you are is wrong.