gdp's Comments

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Property values may point to likelihood of obesity | Local & Regional | Seattle News, Weather, Sport

Fri, 25 May 2012 05:01:14 +0000

What they have to look at, and cannot exclude, is education level. In a paper I wrote on prenatal care back in the 90's, when you looked at education level, highly educated women all got prenatal care, regardless of race or income. Education level equalized access. I think the same can be said for personal care/health/fitness. People who are educated are going to take better care of themselves, they'll also tend to have better jobs and therefore live in more expensive houses, purchase better foods, make time for exercise. I don't think walkability of a neighborhood determines obesity levels, rather that affluence leds to more freedom in choice of personal time--and you can choose to workout, walk, run, yoga, etc. You could also probably compare proximity to a Wal*Mart and obesity likelihood and find a correlation. I don't think it's all trophy wives. :)

KOMO - Seattle, WA : World\'s Fair memories come alive as Space Needle turns 50 | Local & Regional | Seattle News, Weathe

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 05:17:33 +0000

How is the orange paint being paid for? And, will we have enough money to repaint it white in a few months? Or, is it an organic, bio-degradable paint that will get washed off with the rain?

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Darrington school chief to resign after cocaine scandal | Local & Regional | Seattle News, Weather,

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 17:08:52 +0000

I'm glad that the parents fought and that the school district ended it. Cheating on your wife and playing a significant part in the death of another woman and then, fighting for a settlement that takes money directly from the school you used to manage. How do you sleep at night, Larry?

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Offers of help pour in for Baby Andrei | National & World News | Seattle News, Weather, Sports, Brea

Thu, 5 Apr 2012 19:50:31 +0000

Agree that he has such bright, inquisitive eyes. I am happy to hear that he is going to get the surgery he needs.

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Students ran, hid as gunman opened fire in classrooms | National & World News | Seattle News, Weathe

Tue, 3 Apr 2012 17:15:38 +0000

This sounds like a very nice, niche school: "Jerry Sung, the university's accountant, said the school offers courses in both Korean and English to less than 100 students. He said the campus consists of one building. Sung said many of its students go on to work in nursing and ministry." I hope that the school community and students recover from this. And, like many others noted above, this is about more than being teased by other ESL and non-ESL students -- he had lots of other issues going on. Positive thoughts to all those at and around the school and to all the families involved.

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Utah mayor defends police handling of Susan Powell case | Local & Regional | Seattle News, Weather,

Sun, 1 Apr 2012 22:19:24 +0000

Perhaps if the West Valley Police could have shared the evidence they did have with CPS in Washington State, Josh Powell would have been denied visitation with his children. I have no idea if, legally, they can do that, but when you have the welfare of children in mind, that type of information is relevant. Can children, especially children at risk, start to have some rights, please?

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Ken Schram: How many children\'s deaths do we accept? | Ken Schram | Seattle News, Weather, Sports,

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:36:43 +0000

I would have hoped that the child of a person who owns a gun and whose profession requires it, would be educated about handling a gun (meaning, to not handle one at all/get an adult as appropriate by age). As much as I have spoken to my own children about guns (what to do if you find one: don't touch it, get an adult; never point it at anyone, unless you intend to shoot them, never trust someone who says a gun is "unloaded", etc.). I just have to wonder if the weapon is so alluring, that even a child trained/drilled on guns, cannot resist it? Hence, the importance to locking it up. With my five and seven year old in the car, I would normally turn the radio down over stories about children dying, but today I left the story on. And then, we talked about guns the rest of the way to school and role-played what to do with a gun -- in hopes, that the death of this little seven year old girl not be in vain. I'll read them the story about Amina Bowman today too. My condolences to this family.

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Log: 8 minutes to dispatch deputies to Powell home | Local & Regional | Seattle News, Weather, Sport

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 05:01:43 +0000

Oh how awful. I have called 9-1-1 many times for crimes in progress and once for a child who was not breathing (my child, febrile seizure). I am sure if I heard my calls played back to me -- I would be chagrined at the information I passed on. That said, I have not heard or seen in any transcript is the social worker saying that she smells gasoline. Have I just missed that? I don't think it would have mattered, at all, but it would have got police and fire rolling sooner. Switching gears -- moving forward, perhaps agencies that deal with dangerous or high risk/high profile situations and 9-1-1 operators/law enforcement should have some sort of code word that they blurt out to indicate they are not a "regular" caller, but someone entrusted to care for at-risk people. For example, in college, I worked at a hotel. The hotel gave out a special pin for the "VIP's/Point Person" for visting convention/groups to wear. This way, any time a VIP/point person had contact with Hotel Staff, the Hotel Staff would know to take the request/inquiry most seriously (Not that we didn't take other requests seriously, but to help Hotel Staff to hop to it.). Perhaps we are at that sad point with social services/providers to warrant code words for different tiers of 9-1-1 service.

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Lakewood woman pleads not guilty in death of her infant son | Local & Regional | Seattle News, Weath

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:06:00 +0000

How every awful for that little baby and for her two other children. There are so many places where moms can get help, get baby supplies, clothes, and more importantly, support (if they (you) want it). I wish hospitals would ask women if they need resources -- and give them the info they need. Families in need can search for "pregnancy aid", "pregnancy support", "pregnancy crisis" and "single mother support" or even "free infant / toddler supplies". My sweet Grandmother, for 25 years--along with about eight other fabulous ladies at her church used to sew baby quilts for the Pregnancy Aid Center in Des Moines. It's a great clothing bank and infant/toddler supply resource. Please refer moms/families in need there. You can also donate gently used clothes/baby items there (or find churches and non-profits in your area that take donations).

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Hollywood body parts identified; name withheld | National & World News | Seattle News, Weather, Spor

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:55:03 +0000

"His head, found by a dog that was let off leash by a dog walker, was found..." I'll add this to my list of reasons to keep a dog on leash.

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Federal Way grandmother searching for man who saved her Christmas | Local & Regional | Seattle News,

Mon, 9 Jan 2012 00:13:50 +0000

Hurrah for good! What a wonderful story and what a great story of someone doing the right thing. I hope that the gentleman who returned this purse reads the story. My mother lost her purse on New Years Day. We retraced our steps and left contact info at all the places we had been...two hours after realizing she'd lost it, we got a phone call from a restaurant: "Someone turned in your purse." All the contents (cash, iPhone, work cell phone, car keys, etc.) undisturbed. The local news mentality ("if it bleeds, it leads") can easily warp our belief that people are good, but stories like this -- and my recent experience with my mother's purse -- reminds me that more people are good and empathetic than are not. I'm so glad that Margaret Perkins and her grandbabies had their Christmas!

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Cancer free | Seattle News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KOMO News | Health Blog

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:42:21 +0000

Congratulations Rose!!

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Seattle\'s interim superintendent to step down in June | Local & Regional | Seattle News, Weather, S

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:37:44 +0000

A survey was sent out to parents in late November: "The Seattle School Board invites you to take a public opinion survey about the school district and the traits you would like to see in a permanent Superintendent." The Seattle School Board survey must have not been favorable to Ms. Enfield or perhaps her goals vs survey takers wants (or the board) differed greatly.

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Bail set at $200K for man accused of driving into crowd of people | Local & Regional | Seattle News,

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:08:30 +0000

This is a frightening story and my sympathies to all the victims and witnesses. I hope they all recover fully. I do want to bring attention to an interesting fact reported in one of the neighborhood blogs (fremontuniverse.com). It was reported that the pedestrians were standing in the middle of the street -- not on the sidewalk, not next to the sidewalk, but in the middle of a four lane road. Not crossing the street, but hanging out in the street. This detail is not in the story. So, an accurate headline would be: "Bail set at $200K for man accused of driving into crowd of people in middle of street" Should the driver who hit the people in the middle of the road be driving drunk? No. Could a sober driver just as easily hit these people? Maybe. What can we do to prevent drunk driving? Anyone going out has to commit ahead of time to not drive. If you're going to drink, don't drive--at all. You have to be steadfast about this. Parents (whether they drink or not) need to drill into their kids heads morality about driving an drinking and be an example. Drinking, No Driving. Take the bus or a cab to go out -- so that you don't even have your car with you. Don't make getting into a car as a drunk driver an option. As for the laws -- they really have to change regarding drunk driving. The death penalty doesn't reduce the homicide rate, but I think that very stiff penalties for drunk driving would change behavior. Stay safe this holiday.

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Snohomish Co. detectives investigate death of 4-month-old baby | Local & Regional | Seattle News, We

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:59:22 +0000

My condolences to the family members. I wouldn't bother to comment on the KOMO article. From the Heraldnet.com article, it sounds like the 17 year old mother's accounts have been inconsistant and her re-enactment didn't hold much water (explaining how the plastic bag, may have ended up in the bassinet). She has a public defender now and is no longer speaking with police. (http://heraldnet.com/article/20111209/NEWS01/712099826#Arlington-girl-investigated-for-negligence-in-death-of-4-month-old-son)

KOMO - Seattle, WA : From a petri dish to her mother\'s arms | Local & Regional | Seattle News, Weather, Sports, Breaking

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:24:25 +0000

Congratulations! I do hope that biological sisters can meet and have a relationship. I have a cousin who was adopted at age five and he knew that he had siblings, but never knew where they were -- it's is heartbreaking to hear him talk about it -- even just in casual references. I also saw a 60 Minutes (many years ago...) about children of the same sperm donor meeting -- it was very interesting and really affirmed for these children how much they were wanted and are loved.

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Dating website contacted by police as part of missing boy search | Local & Regional | Seattle News,

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:41:35 +0000

What a great way to attract a pedophile -- advertising yourself and your young children for a price.

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Police searching for missing 2-year-old boy | Local & Regional | Seattle News, Weather, Sports, Brea

Sun, 6 Nov 2011 23:22:27 +0000

Yes -- they updated that story with the time information and also added that the doors were not locked (which was not in the original story). Knowing how fast information changes in a situation like this -- I didn't want to jump to baseless conclusion. But, now -- unlocked doors? Not good. I hope you are okay, little guy.

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Police searching for missing 2-year-old boy | Local & Regional | Seattle News, Weather, Sports, Brea

Sun, 6 Nov 2011 20:34:04 +0000

What time did this happen? I hope that he is found safe and unhurt. The mom has enough to worry about right now -- just send good thoughts.

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Christy Turlington Burns plans NY Marathon run | Entertainment | Seattle News, Weather, Sports, Brea

Sat, 5 Nov 2011 19:01:11 +0000

It's an inspiring reason to run 26 miles. And, not even close "BFD" material. Here are two documentaries you can watch to learn more. . . Love, Labor, Loss: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Kca-btAEOw (15 minutes) A Walk to Beatiful Trailer: http://youtu.be/FjMIdu1nfa0 (5 minutes) A Walk to Beautiful: http://youtu.be/3w-fOmovijc (53 minutes)