Bloglander

The countdown to Wednesday has begun. Millions will watch Obama and Romney square off for the first time — and at least a couple hundred of them will be at Party Politics!, The Inlander’s presidential debate party on Oct. 3.

Come one, come all. There will be a huge screen, lots of other big screen TVs and drink specials from our host, nYne Bar and Bistro.

See the Facebook event page here.

The Inlander’s Party Politics! • Wed, Oct. 3, beginning at 5:30 pm • $3 at the door • nYne • 232 W. Sprague Ave. • All-ages

The New York Times this weekend ran a front-page story on how Camden, N.J., is disbanding its police force to get rid of its union.

The reason? Generous time-off policies have made it so that about 30 percent of officers do not show up on any given day. And high salaries mean the city can't afford to hire the police officers it needs to combat crime. If the city's plan works, it will replace 273 unionized officers with as many as 400 non-union officers.

Spokane, which has about three times the size of Camden's population, currently has about the same amount of officers — roughly 275 — as the smaller city.

The New York Times story — read it here — cites poor response to property crimes as one of the reasons more officers are needed. Sound familiar?

For more City Hall Eyeball, let us steal your heart.

We don't know if you'll read this, but wanted you to know we were very
impressed with you at the forum and thought you were an excellent
candidate. We were rooting for you to join us. We wish you only the best in
future ventures!

To the guys on the brakeless bikes. Yeah, it's cool you can keep up with
traffic and blow through lights we drivers have to stop for. Your bright
red tires are a spectacle I guess you just had to have. Oh, and way to go
skitching on that semi-truck up the hill, that was pretty
death-defying.Please don't threaten to spray paint my car when I shout at
you to get off the road, granted we do share the roadway, so I should get
over it. All in all, you make biking stupid look cool, I guess. Good luck
not dying in the winter.

Sept 16th, Sunday @ 6:25 am. Starbucks at Sprague and Thierman. You were in
front of me, driving a white Chrysler Sebring. Thanks for getting my mocha.
First time that has happened to me. What a great way to start my day. I was
heading to Liberty Lake for the RIM - Century Bike Ride. After your mocha,
I knew it was going to be a great ride. It was a glorious ride and day.
Thank you so much. Bill

To the PUNK, JERK, POOR EXCUSES FOR HUMAN BEINGS, that hit my adult son
while he was crossing the street and left him unconscious and bleeding in a
puddle of blood on Saturday night 09/15 on 3rd and Indiana in Cd'A, ID. He
laid in the road for 7 hours until a man walking his dog found him! He saw
you hit your brake lights and heard your tires squeal as you left him
there. You could of at least called 911 and sent help to the location get
him. By the way, as you hit him into the passenger side of your windshield
post, he saw your faces and your Subaru before he flew, 8 ft up into the
air, falling onto the road. Try turning on your headlights and do the speed
limit, which is not 50 on a residential street.Your best bet is to turn
yourself in. We, along with the Coeur d'Alene police will find you!

Thank you so much for coming to my aide and calling 911 when you found me
crashed on my bicycle on the north side. I don't remember a thing from the
moment I caught a pedal in a turn to the moment I was being cared for by
EMTs in the ambulance. Maybe I was unconscious when you came upon the
accident. I don't know, but you stepped up and took action on my behalf,
when I was not able. I am forever grateful. Thank you kind stranger.

I want to send a cheers out to Rich at Victoria's towing for getting up at
3 am and offer to help us out when we were locked out of our van. You were
a God send to us. We didn't know what we were going to do, but you said no
matter what you would help and get us back on the route. Your kindness was
so dearly appreciated. I know it is your job to do this, but under the
circumstances you could have said "no" like so many others did, but you
pulled through for us. Thank you so very much.

Cheers to one of the most genuine and loving people I have ever had the
fortune to meet. Over the past two years, I have fallen deeply in love with
our friendship. You have taught me so much about respect, generosity and
enduring optimism. I will miss you dearly as you embark on your new
adventure to Colorado, although I am certain this relationship will stand
the tests of distance and time. Good luck, Erin. All my love, Mariah

Ok guys football season is here and many of us are looking forward to the
hours and hours getting together for the games at the favorite sports bar.
Please remember that the people serving you are excited about the season
too. But if your group comes in and takes up the seating area and orders
just a couple of drinks or just water and stays for hours, just think of
the effect your stay has on your servers income that they rely on to pay
the bills at home. I see it every weekend (as a customer) tables full of
guys mostly drinking water and the only thing on thier mind is the game.
When they are done they leave a few coins as a tip. The servers can't just
go to other areas in the room because you aren't ordering, they rely on
each table for their income. Please show some concern for these servers by
thinking of your effect on their income and tip accordingly or please just
stay home to watch the game. And really I am not a server, I am just tired
of seeing self centered people.