en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/1290637 Comments by alexanderpope http://www.katu.com/news/business/125955863.html#IDComment175992927 Amazing how Moody's rated the huge Wall Street banks 'AAA' the day before the crash and now Moody's is threatening to drop the rating to the United States. Why does Moody's, or any of the other rating agencies, continue to have any basis of credibility when it has been demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are just pandering to Wall Street financial interests. This is a huge scam played upon the American public to wrest power from the sovereign...American People...and hand it over to corporate interests based on fear. Now Moody's is undermining the credibility of the US Government in the eyes of the American People and the solvency of the US economy in the eyes of the world...all to garner more power and influence for the Wall Street bankers. Eventually, the American worker will need to claw back that power usurped by these corporate-financial sooth-sayers. Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:58:57 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/business/125955863.html#IDComment175992927 http://www.katu.com/news/business/125955863.html#IDComment175989855 stick to making rude off color comments about women and leave the political commentary to anyone who has smidgen of grey matter at their disposal. Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:49:16 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/business/125955863.html#IDComment175989855 http://www.katu.com/news/local/125926944.html#IDComment175982111 Why do people still drive hummers in Oregon. I could understand Florida or Arizona or Texas but hippy trippy eco-friendly progressive Oregon doesn't make sense...or does it? Maybe Oregon isn't so hippy-trippy eco-friendly or progressive...maybe that's just a smoke-screen to cover the conservative white fascist underbelly. At any rate...I was almost creamed twice yesterday; once by an angry old guy in a huge pickup who was rolling through a stop sign without stopping and the second time by an oblivious driver of a short bus who crept into the bike lane on Broadway to make a right hand turn and only bothered to signal halfway into the turn and less than ten feet from the street. Fortunately, my 40 years of cycling experience and 30 years of driving experience served me well and saved my life or at least my body. My point being: If I can use my significant driving and riding experience to predict...or at least to identify screw ball drivers and react when they do stupid things...and a avoid getting run over by bad inattentive ignorant and self-absorbed drivers then a person driving along a road and seeing an inexperienced child-cyclist should have the basic ability and simple common sense and basic fundamental concern for human life to slow down in preparation for 'unexpected behaviors' such that they could control their vehicle in a manner to avoid grave injury to others. Regardless, of what the child did...the driver was at fault...the larger vehicle always has the greater burden of responsibility because driving is a privilege and a responsibility and because of the great mass and kinetic energy represent a grave potential harm to the public and; therefore, drivers those self-propelled environmental hazards have the exclusive duty and burden of responsibility to the public to conduct and control their massive vehicles in a prudent and safe manner at all times. There are no accidents only irresponsible behaviors that result in injury. All my sympathy goes to this small child who was run over by this huge 6 tonne vehicle and trailer. Suffering the abuse of three axles and three sets of wheels passing over her 8 year old body. I am disgusted by the driver of the hummer on so many accounts that I can only spit. Of course, the driver is an idiot...driving a hummer is the exclusive domain of idiots and narcissist. Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:26:18 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/125926944.html#IDComment175982111 http://www.katu.com/news/local/125939189.html#IDComment175962878 They look like cops...hmmm...same characters; different career choices. I bet they played football in High School too. I bet these guys are considered hero/martyrs in the underworld. In a looking glass world these guys could be making $100K/Yr. plus a huge benefit package for driving around in armored vehicles sexting their girlfriends, talking on the phone to their wives, busting down doors, and shooting citizens all without repercussion or accountability. I bet they regret their career choice now cause the underworld doesn't have a road raging union representative to defend their actions and pay their legal fees and manipulate the media. Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:24:38 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/125939189.html#IDComment175962878 http://www.katu.com/outdoors/featured/125781673.html#IDComment175288106 Yes, along with homeland security, police, fire, public transportation, etc. all these could be 'tapped' into also just the way education, Social Security, public assistance has been 'tapped' into. Sure am glad they don't raise taxes on the wealthy and still allow all the loopholes that allow corporations to avoid contributing. In accounting when you take from one side of the balance sheet it is like adding to the other side of the balance sheet and it works the same way in American Tax economy: when the rich and corporations pay less in tax then it raises the effective tax on the poor. For instance: since the wealthy and corporations refuse to contribute, and pay lobbyists handsomely to influence congress, congress responds by cutting social services and education etc. all the while increasing the budget for security forces; police, homeland security, various spy agencies so that when the poor actually do revolt there is a para-military force to protect the wealthy. It is called fascism... Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:39:44 +0000 http://www.katu.com/outdoors/featured/125781673.html#IDComment175288106 http://www.katu.com/news/local/125807363.html#IDComment175284931 Really a stupid thing and seriously not funny. Why do these idiots not consider the possible consequences of their behavior. This activity is not a joke and although the likelihood of causing a plane to crash with hundreds of souls aboard is very unlikely; if anything did happen they would be held accountable even if the laser wasn't a factor. There is no benefit to this behavior for anyone. Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:28:06 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/125807363.html#IDComment175284931 http://www.katu.com/news/entertainment/125809523.html?ref=guiltypleasures#IDComment175231848 Your statement is at odds with itself; you blame everyone. Hatfeld was being pissy over his property and force the state to build around his property at a cost of $650K. This is the same guy that got pissy over Napster and was hilariously parodied by South Park. He is a multi-millionaire spoiled entitled brat whiner who gets his way at the expense of other people. I would have some respect for him if rather than forcing the state he would have found another way but his lawyers got paid. maybe, so there's that. Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:47:59 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/entertainment/125809523.html?ref=guiltypleasures#IDComment175231848 http://www.katu.com/news/national/125564348.html#IDComment173474398 Sick woman. If she is found to be sane she deserves life in prison...but she should serve that time in general population in a facility for men. That might satisfy her need for male genitalia. Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:10:00 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/national/125564348.html#IDComment173474398 http://www.katu.com/news/national/125564348.html#IDComment173473629 eh...the set up needs work. Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:07:17 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/national/125564348.html#IDComment173473629 http://portlandcitycenter.katu.com/news/events/top-cyclists-gather-square-battle-bricks/441846#IDComment173473073 I saw this on a web board but didn't realize that they were on trainers...somehow I got the impression that they had installed a temporary Velodrome at PCS; just to see that would be kewl. It was too hot and muggy to sleep last night. Anyway, .I am so not disappointed any longer now that I know that all I missed was a bunch of dudes on exercise bikes...really couldn't think of anything less interesting...oh, wait; it came to me: an opinion/commentary from SwissBank. Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:05:04 +0000 http://portlandcitycenter.katu.com/news/events/top-cyclists-gather-square-battle-bricks/441846#IDComment173473073 http://lakeoswego.katu.com/news/crime/daniel-baldwins-wife-arrested-lake-oswego/441847#IDComment173471709 Building bridges to S.E.; keepin' it real and Keepin' it classy in L.O. Elitism never looked so good. Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:59:28 +0000 http://lakeoswego.katu.com/news/crime/daniel-baldwins-wife-arrested-lake-oswego/441847#IDComment173471709 http://www.katu.com/news/tech/125438703.html#IDComment173187649 Solidarity....I'll cancel on September 1, also. Wed, 13 Jul 2011 20:28:13 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/tech/125438703.html#IDComment173187649 http://www.katu.com/news/tech/125438703.html#IDComment173186596 Yeah, I agree. And, banks should charge customers who want to talk to tellers. And, Insurance companies should get to keep all the money they 'accidentally' bill customers. And, wireless companies should keep all the money from myserious charges and taxes and fees that they never pass to local government. And, Internet providers should be able to control the access of users. And, the connection fee that utilities charge is far too low. And, water and sewer bills are not high enough. And wireless companies should be able to charge customers extra...or bill a second time for the same data plan... when consumers tether their computer to their phone. Clearly, consumers are just spoiled little brats who are constantly catered to by corporations that provide great value for so little compensation. I'm sure that your salary has gone up 60% just like everyone else in America...except those poor poor people they call the top 1% and big corporations who are so broke they can't afford to pay taxes. Thanks for setting me straight. Wed, 13 Jul 2011 20:24:23 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/tech/125438703.html#IDComment173186596 http://www.katu.com/news/weird/125492428.html?ref=guiltypleasures#IDComment173133512 Awesome! This will be so "offensive" to a certain PAC of society...which will go unnamed...because hopefully it will drag the ugly monster of emotional terrorism out into the light where it will, hopefully, whither and die. There is a social double standard which allows a social pass, to a select group of people for their bad behavior. The excuse is just too pat and too easy and too accepted. Ask the homely woman if she could get away with ad homonym personal attacks on a co-worker simply by saying; "I couldn't control myself; it's that time". And, honestly, won't feminism make its greatest advances when both men and women recognize the inherent equality of the sexes and stop accepting or excusing bad behavior on the basis the sex of the individual. Equality means that both sexes are held to the same standard of responsibility for their behavior and anticipates that both sexes are equally able to manage their emotional life. To argue otherwise, is to argue against equal rights and to create a protected class that possesses special rights. So glad for this conversation. Sorry, that such conversations require corporate sponsorship and provocation to reach a pubic audience. Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:27:57 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/weird/125492428.html?ref=guiltypleasures#IDComment173133512 http://southeastportland.katu.com/news/people/man-hit-freight-train-loses-part-leg/441791#IDComment173124040 It took me a day and a half but I got it. Very funny. What happens when humans mess with natural selection? Another, stupid photograph of a Jesus look-a-like on the KATU web page. We should all settle in at his foot while he imparts his great wisdom to the masses; just like the ancients did with the old master they call Jesus walking. But, really I'm going to wait for the REAL Jesus who has the greatest wisdom of all and as it is written; "ye shall know him as he has no feet and no fear as he wheels through the valley of death" Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:52:31 +0000 http://southeastportland.katu.com/news/people/man-hit-freight-train-loses-part-leg/441791#IDComment173124040 http://southeastportland.katu.com/news/people/man-hit-freight-train-loses-part-leg/441791#IDComment173121479 I know...where was his mom to look after this adult child. Society should make another law to prevent this from happening again. Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:43:41 +0000 http://southeastportland.katu.com/news/people/man-hit-freight-train-loses-part-leg/441791#IDComment173121479 http://southeastportland.katu.com/news/people/man-hit-freight-train-loses-part-leg/441791#IDComment173120686 In that photo he looks like a one legged Jesus granting a blessing upon the KATU photog; if he learns how to slalom ski I suppose that might qualify for a double miracle; reprising the old walking on water trick. Might even count as a triple miracle considering he hasn't yet mastered the basic ability to avoid a confrontation with a train. Anyone notice the big eared tattoo on his chest; I'm guessing Marvin the Martian; just like Jebus. I see this guy in Sweden over the next couple of years hobbling forward to accept the next Nobel Prize in the Spirit Category...you know the one they give to 'special' people who try really hard and keep a good attitude through adversity. Seems like a great guy; I hope he's back to his old Skippy self soon. Two words one phrase; shave and haircut. These two words often have a profound impact on the following two words/one phrase; Gainful Employment: look into it...even a job Taco Bell will buy indoor lodging over the Winter. Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:40:57 +0000 http://southeastportland.katu.com/news/people/man-hit-freight-train-loses-part-leg/441791#IDComment173120686 http://www.katu.com/news/local/125454238.html#IDComment172848904 Curious, I wonder if De Lorian had represented himself if he would have had free access to the 50 or so pounds of white evidence related to his charge of criminal drug smuggling...cause that would be awesome! Doin' the time is much better when you can snort the line. Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:35:57 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/125454238.html#IDComment172848904 http://southeastportland.katu.com/news/people/man-hit-freight-train-loses-part-leg/441791#IDComment172847465 What happens when humans mess with natural selection? They loose a lower leg? Grow a beard? Have their picture posted on KATU for being an idiot? What? And, please, tell me how exactly one might "mess with 'Natural Selection'" because having that pearl of wisdom might just save a leg or help me to grow a disgusting gross beard; however, I think I would choose to mess with a different unprovable theory...like existence of Jesus, God, Gravity, the 5th algebraic postulate, black holes, the wisdom of Sara Palin, the number infinity...etc. I certainly understand that a diesel-electric locomotive is a force of nature. Exactly, the same force-of-nature, in fact, that caused the dinosaurs to go extinct.sometime between 14 million and 5,000 years ago depending on whose bible one uses to reference the truth. I hear if you make lots of noise and shake your hands over your head that diesel-electric locomotives will just run away or you can try playing dead like this guy tried but that doesn't seem to work. Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:32:08 +0000 http://southeastportland.katu.com/news/people/man-hit-freight-train-loses-part-leg/441791#IDComment172847465 http://www.katu.com/news/tech/125438703.html#IDComment172798609 Yep, they will lose $10/mo. from me rather than get an additional $4. If they try to raise the cost any more they'll loose me forever. Started out a a great thing but now that they are acting like greedy bullies after axing the competition I'm done. So long and thanks for all the fish. Their patent will run out in a couple of years and there will be plenty of competition from the studios. And, the studios will go directly to the consumer via streaming options and cut out the netflix middleman. Netflix only owns the distribution model but doesn't have any proprietary content; therefore, they are exceptionally vulnerable and shouldn't behave like greedy peritas just to maintain a little good will among their loyal customers. Honey badger don't care.... Tue, 12 Jul 2011 22:23:10 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/tech/125438703.html#IDComment172798609