cbizien's blog

Bus Route Envy

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 13:23:47 -0600

Bus Route Envy

After spending a little time brainstorming on topics for RNeighbors blogging, I thought about bus culture and wondered what goes on in some of Rochester’s city buses. I mentioned this to my book group and discovered that, indeed, some of these women had some stories to tell. That week, I made a sketchy plan in my head regarding when I might ride one of these buses and how frequently, picturing myself with a steno pad and pen and having a keen sense of reflective observation. Well, this plan went by the wayside when one of my friends from the book group called me with a scoop. Apparently, a woman she’d met is a regular on a city bus and this bus rider already has a plan to write a one act play in the near future about her experience. Aha! This sounded interesting.

Are Bluebirds Returning Early?

Thu, 02 Feb 2006 17:29:15 -0600

Yesterday afternoon, my son and I noticed a small group of what appeared to be Eastern Bluebirds feeding on a worm on our deck. I read in one of my bird identification books that they may be found in Minnesota during their breeding season (spring/summer.) How rare is this spotting (if I correctly identified it) to this season and is it one of the many ecological changes we might find due to global warming, or is it considered a mild variation in habitat due to unseasonably warm temperatures? It would be wonderful if neighbors could post comments about other observations in the Rochester area so that we could compile data that might help in the preservation/conservation efforts, thus impacting legislative decisions.

MLK Day: A Ray of Hope in Rochester

Tue, 24 Jan 2006 10:42:48 -0600

Last Monday morning, I brought my daughters to the Dr. Martin Luther King commemorative events in town. I had hoped to get some photos of the events and planned to interview participants to bring back to RVoices for fresh, new content. Naively, I thought I could both help my children make their posters for the march, while doing this layman reporting. More importantly, I was naive to think that I had any idea about what kinds of experiences and stories I would gather.

As a Midwestern-born Caucasian woman, I am beginning to realize that I experience something called "white privilege", meaning that by virtue of the color of my skin, I am afforded thousands of opportunities, preferential treatment and a sort of "carte blanche" that my brothers and sisters of different skin color are not. The more I realize this, the more I feel reluctant to bridge the gap, because I feel as though, regardless of the progress that has been made to reform government and society's views, I continue to reap the ugly fruits of racism. For example, on this day commemorating MLK, who am I, to do a quick, formulated interview, asking persons of a different race what kinds of prejudice, disregard, hopelessness, etc, they experience here in Rochester?

Rochester Citizens Come Together to Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

Wed, 18 Jan 2006 16:56:43 -0600

"Conscience of a Nation" was the theme for Rochester's 2006 Commemorative Celebration honoring the late Civil Rights Leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on his birthday, Monday, January 16th. The NAACP, along with local organizations, and many local businesses sponsored the days activities which included poster-making, a freedom march, a commemorative ceremony and a birthday party. Chris Caffes, the MLK Committee Chair, tirelessly served participants, to make the celebration a successful and memorable part of a holiday that is meant to be more than a "day off."

Best Buy Blues

Wed, 28 Dec 2005 17:09:09 -0600

Early in the morning, the day after Christmas, my two oldest children were eager to see that I got showered and dressed so that they could get a ride to Best Buy to purchase two DS video games with some Christmas money they had received. Our household already borders on being an anti-technology dictatorship (never mind that I'm writing a blog on-line.) I abhor going to this store and even more so with my children. But there are times that it's unavoidable. After arriving at the store, which was not as crowded as I'd feared, I briskly walked through the parking lot, joking with the kids, so as to distract myself from the inevitable barrage of screaming technology that we'd encounter upon our entrance.