GENERAL TOPIC: The cost of living!

[DeadlyKungFu]

Eureka is one of the major welfare capitals of California. My inlaws lived just north of there (Patrick's Point), they knew better than to live near that town (they lived in a tiny trailer with a huge dog, they're far from snobs). Going through that town is like you're in the middle of nowhere midwest, with fog. Great restaurant at the Eureka Inn's Rib Room, 4 star actually, cool jazz. Rooms are so old you swear there's ghosts.

[Machinesworking]

I lived on 6th and Natoma in SF, right near the Tenderloin. I got to the point to where I would just yell fuck off at half the bums I saw every day, who knew I had no money for them, but would ask me anyway.... This one starts approaching me, and I ask him for change first! He pulls out a dollar, and I try telling him I don't need it, that I was just messing around with him, but he insists. He must have figured that if he was going to ask people all the time......
The people by the highway intersections with cardboard signs, I have no respect for though. There's something wrong with spending 8 hours a day begging in that way. It's really close to real work, yet it's a sympathy play, OMG look at me I'm broke, sad, and needy. At least the guys on the wharf I knew where all into coming up with skits and jokes to tell people to get them to laugh, then ask for some money. Last time I saw this one with a bright red beard i sat down next to him and chatted for a while. He was singing to every woman that passed, "Here she comes Mrs. America !" they would giggle and give him change..... I almost think there is a difference between hobos and bums, like one is choosing to live low, and tries to offer something in exchange for begging, while the other is just waiting to die, and bitter.

I have total sympathy for the truly insane ones though, and really wonder how they manage to survive at all.

[Machinesworking]

Eureka is one of the major welfare capitals of California.

Lived in Arcata before moving to Seattle, pretty mellow back then, but that was 90.

Just glad I wasn't there when Jerry Garcia died!

[djadonis206]

well there you go!



...but still there are alot of genuinely mentally ill people who struggle to fit in anywhere

That's my line - I'm moving to Australia and kicking it with you Forge - at least we'd make jams all the time, probably get a big deal on Intec and do a couple tours and summers in Ibiza

Seattle's homeless situation is pretty sad - I actually agree with both of you Machines and Forge

I live in Seattle same as Machinesworkings and a lot of the homeless I see are kids who ran away from home, drug addicts who will not get the help they need and then the seriously mentally ill who just don't even know where they are - oh and the Natives down on the water front

I kind of half ass joke about having a drug problem but what I'm talking about is not knowing when to come home or calling in sick to work to much - not posting up on the block hustling for cream or smack day in day out

the streets are a totally different situation from my experience - it's a game a lot of those people are out there playing. THE GAME - ducking and dodging the cops, hustling for food, money booze crack - this is a cold thing to say but a lot of the homeless like playing that game - take them out of the game and you basically take their lives away - they wouldn't know what to do with themselve...honestly


The kids need to fucking go home, grandma's grandpa's or their foster folks - granted kids just don't run away for no reason 9I know that) but when you've lived on Capitol Hill and the U District and you noticed the "kid" situation get's worse when school gets out and better when school gets back in it makes me think, "Ok" this is a game to a lot of these kids as well - their friends ran away so they run away, their friends go back to school so they go back to school - a lot of them make it out - some don't

and

then they go crazy living on the street <--- this is a lost lot - they can't afford health insurance, a place to live and have no support - what do you do?

I personally kick it. the homeless situation in Seattle is so bad and I've lived here for so long they've just become a part of landscape -sometimes you stop and notice but most of the time you just walk right on by

now trying to be cold but it's the way it is with me

REAL CHANGE, would you like a copy of REAL CHANGE <--- Machines knows what I'm talking about

oh and I'm back on the emoticons, I know I'm ashamed

[jamester]

the homeless situation in Seattle is so bad and I've lived here for so long they've just become a part of landscape -sometimes you stop and notice but most of the time you just walk right on by

Ain't that the truth! I just spent a week out there, and the homeless/panhandling situation is truly out of control! They're frequently just passed out across the sidewalk, and people just step over them like it's nothing...

In addition, there's an attitude of looking for a handout as a way of life. That's not cool. I agree it's pretty chill, but when it's so chill that half the people there don't want to work or make anything of themselves...well, that's a little too chill for my taste.

We were scoping out Seattle as a possible place to move to. It's been scratched off the list. Nice place to visit...the EMP museum rocks!

[kennerb]

Yeah the sign thing gets me too. It's aweful here in Eugene. The worst is when it is somebody my age in good physical condition and enough wit to try and hustle someone. I just feel bad for their lack of dignity.

Growing up in Boston was different. The street people would at least have some sort of act together so I considered them working. I'd give them food. Here though it's just sloth.

I stopped giving change out all the time here when. I (raising 2 kids, in school, and 2 jobs) had 2 dollars to my name for the whole day. I was on my way to get a cup of coffee and study when this kid asks me for change. I felt bad as he looked ragged. I sat down with my small coffee since that is all I could afford now and watched as he and a few other trustafarians drove by in a brand new Pathfinder. I felt pretty used right there. We do have a serious problem with mentally ill people out on the street with no care thanks to Reagan.

[djadonis206]

Walking down Broadway in the summer (1 mile from one end and back)

You get hit up for cash a least 2 times
You get hit up to sign up for the gold gym
You get hit up to join WAMU
You get hit up for REAL CHANGE
You get hit up for WASHPIRG /SAVE THE WHALES

I live (sort of) and work up here everyday

who do I give my money and time is precious - so I stopped

I smile and say "no thank you" or "sorry"

I do give money to those "recovery" churches that ask for money and give you cookies though

[mikemc]

Walking down Broadway in the summer (1 mile from one end and back)

You get hit up for cash a least 2 times
You get hit up to sign up for the gold gym
You get hit up to join WAMU
You get hit up for REAL CHANGE
You get hit up for WASHPIRG /SAVE THE WHALES

I live (sort of) and work up here everyday

who do I give my money and time to - so I stopped

Smile and say "no thank you" or "sorry"

i was in san francisco last week, and this one guy was sitting on the sidewalk up against a building and messing with his shirt, putting one of his arms under his shirt so it looked like he was a slightly heavier than he really but one armed guy. So I flipped him a quarter, just because that was so sorry, it wasn't quite well aimed and so he tried to catch it with both hands, totally blowing his gig.

[djadonis206]

I give this one cat props - he was a big time clubber got hooked on herione and ended up sleeping on benches on Capitol Hill -

He always was hella cool when I saw him, never asked for a dime

I always thought I'd be embarrased if I was with friends but he was always chill

they're not all bad - not sure where he is though

I see faces come and go month to month year to year

[kennerb]

So I flipped him a quarter, just because that was so sorry, it wasn't quite well aimed and so he tried to catch it with both hands, totally blowing his gig.

Heh that reminds me of Eddie Murphy's character in Trading Places where he got lifted off his wheeled crate showing that he actually did have legs.

look at that S car go!

[debu]

between growing up in Venice, Ca and choosing to live up in SF I saw so much of this I don't know where to begin writing. About ten years ago I was working a shit retail job and my manager was dating a bum. He'd stroll in about 930 at night all happy with a real parrot on his shoulder. Clearly all cleaned up after a day of lookin grimy sitting around begging I met a girl who worked where he banked and it was astonishing how much she "claimed" he had in the bank.

SF and the East bay there is so much variation between the Berkeley gutterpunks, up in your face tendorloin types, to a few people i've seen literally dying on the sidewalk, it can be hard to tell who deserves help. If I was in that circumstance I'd be over in Berkeley where the homeless get there own lockers and feet washing from Berkeley students

[DeadlyKungFu]

Walking down Broadway in the summer (1 mile from one end and back)

You get hit up for cash a least 2 times
You get hit up to sign up for the gold gym
You get hit up to join WAMU
You get hit up for REAL CHANGE
You get hit up for WASHPIRG /SAVE THE WHALES

That's why you need the 'thousand yard stare', stop being such a nice guy.

The trustafarians piss me off, I got a lot of that when I go to Berkeley or when I lived in Boulder, CO.

Machinesworking - With all the monthly hotels down there, that area is tough to clean up but it's getting better. You had to have been to Tu Lan, best noodle bowl in the city.

Edited, I misposted that machine is female, he's not, I'm a dumbshit.

[djadonis206]

Deadly Pimp FU

I was just reminded you live in Frisco

The first place and last place i go when I'm in your hood is Pal's Chicken (there was a record store down the street)

Is Pals there? Do you ever go there - the best Soul Food on the West Coast

Last time I was down there I was in there by myself and this little old lady asked me to walk her home when I got done - home in the Tenderloin!

I did to be nice, I strolled the Loin for a bit after I got her home - it wasn't that bad - but I do know it IS that bad

but the Soul Food - you ever go there? Pal's? Is it still open - If it is I'm coming down there tonight!

[DeadlyKungFu]

I live in the Mission, 20th and Valencia, not too bad of a neighborhood compared to the 'loin. There's not much soul food around here, over in the Western Addition, Fillmore, Hayes Valley, and the 'loin, that's where the soul food's at.

You mean this place http://www.streetcarmike.com/popeyeandpals.html bottom of the page? I think the closest record store to there now is the Virgin Megawhore off of Market. That Popeyes is probably still there, all the Popeye's I've seen in the city have been in business for years and years.

This place looks good when I walk by, never eaten there though.
http://www.sfsurvey.com/rd.asp?r=1789

[djadonis206]

Nope - not it

It's in-between Haight street and the Loin on some fancy street - used to be a small techno record store on the same street

I'm on my way down now, I'll call you when I get there and I'll take you there when I get in - think you could send someone to pick me up from the airport


syke


Adonis