Tuesday 31 January 2017

A cute photo and some useful advice


1smartcanerican brought this to my attention and I think it should be shared on the political blogs, as it contains very useful advice about contacting politicians' offices. It's from a guy who worked taking calls from the public. Thanks, 1sc.

Friends! As some of you know, I used to work on Capitol Hill as the person in charge of all the incoming phone calls to my Senator's office.  I have some insider tips to make calling your reps easier and quicker.

1. Give your name, city, and zip code, and say "I don't need a response." That way, they can quickly confirm you are a constituent, and that they can tally you down without taking the time to input you into a response database.

2. PLEASE ONLY CALL YOUR OWN REPRESENTATIVES! Your tally will not be marked down unless you can rattle off a city and zip from the state, or are calling from an in-state area code.  I know you really want to give other reps a piece of your mind, but your call will be ignored unless you can provide a zip from their district.  And don't try to make this up; I could often tell who was lying very quickly thanks to the knowledge of the state's geography.  Exceptions to this are things like Paul Ryan's ACA poll which are national.

3. State the issue, state your position.  "I am opposed to ________."  "I am in favor of _______."  "I am opposed to banning the import of phalanges." I am in favor of a trade deal to lower the price of juice smoothies."  That's it.  That's all we write down so we can get a tally of who is in favor, who is against.  It doesn't matter WHY you hold that opinion.  The more people calling, the less detail they have time to write down. Help them out by being simple and direct.  This keeps calls shorter, allowing more callers through.

4. Please be nice! The people answering the phones on Capitol Hill already had the hardest job in DC and some of the lowest pay as well, and for a month now their jobs have become absolute murder, with nonstop calls for 9 hours every day.  Thank them for their hard work answering the phones, because without them our Senators could not represent us!

What does this sound like?

"Hi, my name is Mark, I'm a constituent from Seattle, zip code 98***, I don't need a response.  I am opposed to banning the sale of blueberries and I encourage the Senator to please oppose implementation of any such ban.  Thanks for your hard work answering the phones!"

This is how I wish every caller had phrased their message.  It makes it easier for the people answering the phones and takes less time and emotion than a long script.  I know that you want to say why, but keeping it short and sweet helps the office answer more calls per hour, meaning more people get heard.  The bigger the tally, the more powerful your voice.

Also, when you're reading off the same script as 100 other callers that day... well...they know what you're about to say, so you don't need to use the whole script for your opinion to be heard!

Pick one issue each day, use this format (I am in favor of _____ or I oppose ______), and call your 2 Senators and 1 Representative on their DC and State Office lines, and you'll be on your way to being heard.

Someone made this comment about the above:

I also spent a several years on Capitol Hill.  IMHO calls to a Reps. office don't count for very much.  If you really care, spend the twenty minutes to write a letter expressing your view.  The rationale being that people who take the time to write may be more inclined to take the time to vote.  A more impactful strategy is to show up a your Reps. town hall meeting and ask in person.

There you are. Some sound advice from people in the know. Contact your representatives in whatever manner works best for you, but do it. Share widely, as we're living in very strange, dangerous times! 

Monday 30 January 2017

A very tiring but beautiful tourist attraction

Montagne de Bueren, in Liège, Belgium, is a 374-step staircase that connects the city center to an old citadel. With a slope of almost 30 degrees, these stairs are not a real mountain, but you might find that this long, steep climb is almost as challenging as ascending to a summit. 
The staircase was constructed in the late 19th century to allow soldiers to access the city center from the citadel. It was named for Vincent de Bueren, who defended Liège against an attack by the Duke of Burgundy in the 15th century. It honors the 600 soldiers who lost their lives in this battle.

One of the best times of year to visit Montagne de Bueren is during Bueren de Fleurs in June, when the steps are covered with colorful flowers. Another time when the stairs look spectacular is on the first Saturday in October during the Nocturne des Coteaux de la Citadelle. For this event, more than 3,000 candles are placed along the steps to create a mesmerizing evening illumination. 








Wednesday 25 January 2017

A must have new book!

The correct title should be alternative, not alternate... (I'm afraid I'm an active member of the grammar police!)

Tuesday 24 January 2017

Monday 23 January 2017

Sunday 22 January 2017

Anyone for a cuppa?

After the traumatic, but also exhilarating couple of days, we deserve a soothing drink in a stylish cup... Take your pick.



















Friday 20 January 2017

People having a bad day

Amy sent us a collection of photos of people in unfortunate circumstances. They are the kind of situations that make us feel sorry, laugh and feel smug, all at the same time. Thanks, Amy.