I’m a big supporter of helping the indigent. I feel bad for them. Not everyone can be successful in life. However, my support is more along the lines of government assistance. I just don’t feel that giving someone cash on the street is a good idea. I could be wrong, but I feel government help is available for those who need it. Enabling panhandlers is not a solution.
Homeless man sleeping on the sidewalk; 17th and Stout, Denver
There is no shortage of the homeless in Denver. For the most part they’re harmless. When a guy 20 or 30 years younger than me asks for coffee or bus money, I say no. I just don’t think the money is going to be used for coffee or bus fare.
This is what a Denver banker asked me today. “You don’t want to live in the U.S.?”
I explained to him, when the U.S. decided to declare war on Iraq (2003) and the majority of the American people supported the war, I had to ask myself, “Where did my country go?”
Flags in Sculpture Park, Denver
I was heartened when Obama won two terms to the White House. Now it seems Americans are going back to a Bush Administration mentality.
The war made no sense. Iraq and Saddam Hussein were not the “imminent threat” the Bush administration claimed they were. 15 years later and after more than 500,000 people have died, the people of the United States haven’t changed. John Bolton, who was one of the greatest supporters of the Iraq War, is now in the White House. He thinks war with Iran is a good idea.
Americans have embraced a man who said, “Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.” (insert tremendous applause)
How can someone vote for this bigoted trash?
We’ve got a president enforcing a travel ban. Why? Let’s assume this is to protect the U.S. Okay, fine. However, the 9/11 terrorists were citizens of Saudi Arabia (15), United Arab Emirates (2), Egypt, and Lebanon. Are any of these countries on the travel ban? No.
We ban travel from Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, North Korea and Iran. Last time I checked, these countries are not attacking us.
Americans think reducing immigration and building walls is a good idea.
I prefer building bridges between people, not walls.
My banker friend said my feelings were interesting in that he specializes in helping customers who are leaving the United States. He said it seems to him many of his customers who don’t have to live in the U.S. are choosing to leave.
It blows me away to see shops like this all over Denver. Colorado has been ground zero for marijuana legalization nationwide and we even have marijuana tourism.
Cannabis retail in Denver, Colorado
In 2017, the government of Colorado collected over $247 million in taxes, fees, and licensing costs. It’s hard to argue against that 😉
I had about 8,000 English/Spanish flash cards of my own making that had built up over the years. I’m spending a lot of time transferring them to an electronic form so I can take them with me to Mexico. I arrived at Ink! Coffee next to Union Station, Denver at 6:00 a.m. and that’s where I’m sitting now. I need to finish this up posthaste.
Transferring paper flash cards to digital media
If you would like a copy of the few hundred most important Spanish words and phrases in the form of flash cards, just let me know. In past travels through Latin America, I always made a note of a word or phrase that escaped me in the moment. I hate being at a loss for words.
On 10 June I plan to move from my current hotel to a hotel at 4849 Bannock Street, Denver. I have ten free nights where I’m at now, but after that they want $275 a night. Screw that. Using my Radisson Blu points I get to stay at the next hotel from 10 June until 28 June for free. Sweet!
It’s not as centrally located, but it’s only a 30-minute walk to a nearby light rail station and the hotel also has a free shuttle that will take me downtown whenever I like, so it’s all good 🙂
Second day in Denver and jet-lag is still biting me in the arse. Had lunch with mama and dinner with Zoss-man and his lovely wife Cathleen. The city is crowded with fans for the ballgames at Coors Field. I took the 16th Street Free Shuttle all the way to the Thirsty Lion Gastropub. The bus was PACKED. People had serious trouble getting on and off. I had to stand and my nearest neighbor was in dire need of a bath; Whew!
Dude! Get yourself cleaned up!
After dinner I was no further than five paces after leaving my guests when I started laughing about something. I was in a good mood. Then I noticed a homeless guy on a bench off to the side and he got pissed off. He thought I was laughing at him. He was yelling at me, “blah, blah, blah…”
Whatever, buddy. I just kept walking. Let him think what he likes 🙂
