It seems that Sally of Schulz’s “Peanuts” comic strip is in a bit of a bad mood this past Sunday (Camera comics, 9/13/2009). Schroeder helps clarify her anger – She is mad at everybody in the world, the animals, the birds and the fish, trees, flowers, sky, stars and so on, but most of all [...]

It’s been a difficult decision for my family whether or not to get the H1N1 vaccine for our two small boys. As a parent, you obviously want the best outcome for your children. Part of life is trying to make the best decisions, not sure of the future. Will there be a side effect from this vaccine? Will the kids get H1N1? One of my boys has a history of pneumonia as a baby, I believe it would be best to get the vaccine for both of my children. Now the struggle I face is paying a $30 copay for both boys, and both vaccines. The H1N1 vaccine is not yet available, but our pediatrician says it’s time to get the regular flu vaccine.

Claiming that our god is bigger (and better) than your god and in the grand tradition of Judeo-Christian hegemony, the U.S. and its 51st state of Israel are ginning up a new war with Iran. Apparently the illegal invasions and occupations of two Muslim countries over the last eight years weren’t good enough to satiate the unquenchable thirst for profits and destruction required by the very military-industrial complex that President Eisenhower warned us about almost 50 years ago.

In tight and competitive economic times most companies have trimmed their administrative overheads. I ran the programs of a major museum and I did that. Why don’t we hear about this
happening in BVSD – why is all the talk about reducing teachers’
salaries? Administrators often are paid much more than teachers.
I’d like to see the percentage of the overall BVSD budget that
goes to administration.

Referring to Prof. Taylor’s Open Forum letter of 9/29/09, “Religion Isn’t a Commodity”, my wise father once counseled me that “if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and acts like a duck, it’s probably a duck.

The modern-day conservative is a strange creature. When we had an administration that lied us into a war we didn’t have to fight, so that Bush, Cheney and their rich friends could get richer, conservatives stayed silent. When that administration broke the law and wiretapped American citizens without obtaining the necessary warrants, conservatives said not a word.

As HIV prevention workers serving twelve counties across Colorado’s Front Range, we are concerned that today’s headline reading “Vaccine successfully stops virus” may lead to a false sense of security for those at risk for HIV infection. Trial results showed a limited change for 31% of those who participated in a targeted population in Thailand, not the US. As there are numerous strains of the human immunodeficiency virus, this may or may not have long term benefits in America.

So far this campaign season, we have seen candidates forums focussing on the environment and on business. Boulder Community United encourages voters to also investigate and consider the candidates’ positions on critical human issues, including: social sustainability, equity and social justice in our city. The public is invited to the Boulder Community United Candidates Forum on October 4th, 7-9pm at the YWCA at 14th and Mapleton, which will focus on the social well-being of all members of our community. Candidates responses to the BCU questionnaire can also be viewed at http://bouldercommunityunited.blogspot.com.

I read with interest that a Boulder couple is mounting a campaign to unseat Macon Cowles based on his position in regards to house-size laws. I have lived in the same modestly sized home in North Boulder for the last eleven years, enjoying my views of the mountains from my backyard until the equally modestly sized home behind me was sold and the land combined with some lots to the west to become a four home development.

On Thursday, October 1 at 6:00 pm in the Council Chambers, the Planning Board will take up discussion of the Council-amended Area Plan for the former Boulder Junior Academy (BJA) site. Friends of Mt. Sanitas was extremely disappointed that the Council, with the exception of Crystal Gray and Lisa Morzel, voted to approve an Area Plan designating approximately 3/4 of the property for an ambiguous “Flex-District” and the remaining for low density residential development. In sum, the Area Plan would allow for 80-100 congregate care units (in addition to 9 or more single family homes) and upwards of 150,000 sq. ft. of total build-out (the demolished school was @ 30,000 sq. ft.).

In reply to Nicole Horder’s letter that Boulder is a role model. A role model to what – over consumption. As an observer living in the U.S, the infrastructure created by inexpensive fossil fuels is unsustainable and Boulder leads the way. Take the boarding houses, sprawled around in land gobbling suburbs, intertwined with an overbuilt transportation system, filled with the gas guzzling clunkers we all drive.

In regard to Campaign Finance Rules in this City Council election, it is not “leveling the playing field,” as candidate Tim Plass suggests.
But the opposite, doubling the distance between the “haves” and the “have nots.” Macon Cowles has raised more than eight thousand dollars. With the city doubling what he raises in contributions, he could likely spend more than any candidate in council election history. Matt Applebaum and Plass have raised between six and eight thousand dollars each, thus far.

While I always find it entertaining to peruse the yearly Boulder County Gold and find out what businesses have won the popularity poll for the year, as an academician and scholar of religion at CU for the last 30 plus years, I continue to question the appropriateness of including religion in what is essentially a list of community available commodities. While there are those who for one reason or another are happy to place religion in the category of commodity, it is reductive to suggest that “best”, whatever that means in the category of religion, faith and practice, can be established by a vote, suggesting that the religion of a small congregation is not as “good,” whatever that is supposed to mean! The inclusion of religion in your Boulder County Gold is a form of reductive logic, in this case a reduction of religion to a commodity.

Government controlled healthcare is like adding a big (expensive) bandage to cover a sore that already has a dirty bandage over it. Instead of correcting the actual infection causing the sore, it’s made worse.

Speaking as teacher in Boulder Valley, we are seeking what voters approved in the mill levy in November 2002, to “attract and retain high-quality teachers and support staff and maintain competitive salaries and benefits.” The recent proposal from BVSD to replace a professional salary schedule with merit pay could pit teachers against each other in a competitive rather than collaborative teaching style. This hurts students the most.

We want to acknowledge the passing of a true Boulder County institution—La Familia—on its last day as the cornerstone of Restaurant Row (Public Road) in Lafayette. It’s hard to imagine how we are going to get through next week without that signature nuclear green salsa, the spicy ribs, the chili smothered [...]

How many times have you left the house in the morning and wondered, “Did I turn off the stove?” With our busy lives, the safety of our homes and families are sometimes relegated to the back of our minds.

I do not live in Sunshine Canyon, but am totally amazed and appalled at the decision last week by the Boulder County Commissioners to NOT pave a portion of Sunshine Canyon dirt road. The testimony IN FAVOR of paving from agencies and organizations representing the general public interest was overwhelming! Strongly recommending paving were: 1) County Transportation Director, 2) Director of Boulder Co. School Buses, 3) Fedex, 4) UPS, 5) a CSU Environmental Engineer specializing in health damage from road dust, and others.

I believe it is outrageous that the residents of upper Sunshine Canyon cannot get their road paved. All the neighbors are in agreement including the delivery people like FedEx, UPS, the Mailman, etc.

When President Carter brought up racism in his recent interview, he said aloud, on a national level, what many have said privately.
This country has made great strides, over a long period of time, in overcoming racism, but it is still very much alive and screaming. The hateful signs, guns, and contorted faces at these so-called demonstrations and meetings immediately bring the element of racism to the forefront.