Open House Survey Responses - Oregon: Fill & Download for Free

Do you want to unite Americans, regardless of party? Do you wish to transcend the tribal cesspool gripping Washington and the rest of the country?One issue has succeeded in breaking through the partisan logjam, even in the midst of the impeachment saga. This scourge cares nothing for your partisan affiliation. Residents in both rural and urban areas are continuing victims.Your political representatives, always attuned to voter opinion, heard the nation’s collective outrage. Republicans and Democrats agreed to tackle this seemingly insurmountable problem.If you own a cell phone, this plague might soon come to an end, thanks to a rare bipartisan consensus.Hi there, this is Shasta calling in regards to your Volkswagen warranty. The warranty is up for renewal. I’d like to congratulate you on your $1,000 instant rebate and free maintenance and oil change package for being a loyal customer. Call me back at 888-206-XXXX to redeem now. Once again that number was 888-206-XXXX. Thank you so much. Have a great day. [1]Robocalls - unwanted, automated telephone calls offering myriad products and scams - have reached critical mass in consumer hatred. According to the robocall index YouMail, 2019 has already seen a new record, with more than 53 billion calls received in the United States.[2]In November 2019, more than 5 billion calls were tracked, with up to 7 million made per hour.[3]Image: November numbers, with chart tracking U.S. calls in 2019. Robocall Index | YouMailThe calls have even reached the halls of power. No one is safe; members of Congress have not been immune.Robocalls have interrupted members of Congress in the midst of hearings. They have enraged constituents and spurred myriad complaints to lawmakers.Rep. Greg Walden of Oregon, the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, once ignored a call from Trump over fears it was a robocall.[4]Though the calls are undeniably annoying, they also have a real-world impact. Experts have pointed to ubiquitous robocalls as one reason behind a drop in political polling.[5]A 2017 Pew Research Center study shows rates of responses to polling questions have plummeted since 1997, with a steep drop from 36% to 9% (but stabilizing in 2012).[6] The survey detailed a multitude of factors in the data as possible causes, but authors still remain optimistic about polling accuracy. However, robocalls have increased exponentially in the last three years.[7]Image: Poll response rates since 1997. What Low Response Rates Mean for Telephone Surveys - Pew Research Center MethodsThe calls have driven people even further away from answering their own phones. According to the most recent data, a majority will no longer answer their phones if they do not recognize the number.The problem has reached such epic proportions that, according to a nationally representative Consumer Reports survey, 70 percent of U.S. consumers say they won’t answer the phone if they don’t recognize the caller's number. Sixty-two percent say they let most calls go to voicemail.[8]In response to this, scammers have increased their arsenal, utilizing tools to “spoof” phone numbers. Spoofing allows the scammer to present themselves on Caller ID as a local number, enticing the unsuspecting victim to answer their phone.[9]Politicians, always eager for a popular and pandering victory, quickly seized on their consituents' anger.On December 4, 2019, the same day that the Judiciary Committee opened its impeachment hearing, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act, by a 417–3 vote.[10] Three libertarian-leaning lawmakers - Thomas Massie, Justin Amash, and Andy Biggs - were the lone dissenting votes.[11]The bill, named after its sponsors in the House and Senate, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), was then passed unanimously by the Senate on December 19, 2019.[12] President Trump signed it into law today, on December 31st.[13]Though it does not promise to end robocalls altogether, the bill offers new tools to combat them:$10,000 fine for each automated call.[14]Require carriers like AT&T and Verizon to install new software that identifies spoofed calls.[15]Increase the statute of limitations from one year to four years, allowing more time for regulators like the FCC and the Federal Trade Commission to “go after scammers.”[16]Allow consumers to block robocallers at no additional cost.[17]The bill specifically targets the One Ring Scam. In this process, “scammers dial from a fake phone number and let it ring once, in a ploy to get the consumer to call back, often saddling the person with hefty fees for dialing a foreign line.” The bill requires the FCC to draw up consumer protection regulations within four months to address this fraud.[18]As we close out the new year, we can only hope that 2020 will see a significant drop in at least one of life’s small irritations.Footnotes[1] Watch out for Auto Warranty Scams[2] United States Robocalls by Month[3] Robocall Index | YouMail[4] Robocall crackdown sails through the impeachment noise[5] How Robocall Spam and Cheap Tech Are Screwing With Political Polls[6] What Low Response Rates Mean for Telephone Surveys - Pew Research Center Methods[7] How Robocall Spam and Cheap Tech Are Screwing With Political Polls[8] How the New Robocall Law Would Protect Consumers[9] Caller ID Spoofing[10] Robocall crackdown sails through the impeachment noise[11] Robocall crackdown sails through the impeachment noise[12] Senate unanimously approves anti-robocall legislation[13] Trump signs Traced Act into law in bid to help put an end to robocalls[14] Robocall fines rise to $10,000 per call under newly passed law[15] Trump signs Traced Act into law in bid to help put an end to robocalls[16] Trump signs Traced Act into law in bid to help put an end to robocalls[17] Robocall crackdown sails through the impeachment noise[18] Robocall crackdown sails through the impeachment noise

KGW's investigative team sent letters to 86 inmates currently serving time for burglary in the Oregon Department of Corrections. The inmates were asked to respond anonymously to 17 questions detailing how they broke in, when the crime occurred and what they were looking for.What we learned could help you keep your home safe from burglaries.Below is a summary of the answers we received.How did you typically break into a home or apartment?Most inmates broke in through an unlocked door or window. Several burglars kicked the door open.“I would kick in the door rather than break glass. Loud bangs are better than loud glass breaking, plus you run the risk of getting cut,” said one inmate.2. Once inside, what was the first thing you looked to steal?Jewelry, electronics, cash and credit cards are all attractive to burglars. Inmates also added collectibles and guns.“NRA sticker on car bumper = Lots of guns to steal,” wrote one burglar.3. Where did you look for hidden valuables?Most burglars started by searching the master bedroom for valuables, then moved through the rest of the house.“Everywhere! From the stove and freezer, to the fish tank and toilet tank, book shelves and in boxes of cereal,” said an inmate.4. What time of the day did you prefer to break in?Burglars prefer breaking in early morning or afternoon.“Between 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm. Anyone that was home for lunch should be gone by then and most kids should all still be in school,” wrote a convicted burglar.5. Did home protection or security signs posted outside the home deter you?Burglars had mixed opinions about home security signs. Some burglars said it didn't faze them. Others said they knew how to disable alarms or avoid setting them off.6. Did pets in the home, like a dog, make you think twice?If a homeowner had a big, loud dog most burglars would stay away. Smaller dogs don't seem to bother them.“Dogs are a deal breaker for me,” said one inmate. “Big breeds, home protectors are the best to keep people out.”7. Did you typically knock on the front door before breaking into a home?Yes. All of the inmates who responded said they would knock on the front door before breaking in.8. If someone answered the door, what would you do or say?“Act like I was lost or looking for a friend.”“I would approach the resident as though they had posted an ad on Craigslist.”“Say wrong house, sorry and thank you.”“Ask if they'd seen my dog and leave.”“Sometimes I would wear nice clothing and print a questionnaire off the Internet and carry a clipboard and see if they could spare a moment for an anonymous survey.”9. If a home alarm system went off, what would you do?Most intruders said they would leave immediately if a security alarm went off.“I would try and turn it off or get the hell out of there,” said one burglar.10. If there was a security camera visible, would it keep you from breaking in?Generally, burglars agreed security cameras were a deterrent. But some said it also likely signaled there were valuables inside the home.11. Did lights on in the home make you think twice?Responses were mixed regarding lights on in a home. Some said it was a deterrent. But one burglar said the combination of lights on and blinds closed created an attractive location.“Would drive through upper class neighborhoods looking for many things, like porch light on with all window blinds close,” wrote one inmate.12. If you heard a radio or TV on inside the home, would you still break in?Most burglars feared someone might be home if they heard a radio or TV. They wouldn't break in.“Absolutely not,” wrote a burglar.13. Would it make a difference if there was a vehicle in the driveway?As a homeowner, this is one of the best precautions you can take. Almost all of the burglars said they'd think twice if there was a car in the driveway.“Most of the time that is a sure-fire sign of someone being home,” wrote an inmate.14. What was you ideal target for a burglary?Burglars don't want to be seen. They looked for homes with big fences and overgrown trees or bushes.“Home away from other homes, blind spots, older window frames, cheap wooden doors,” wrote a burglar.“Large trees, bushes or shrubs around the home, or very reserved and conservative neighbors,” wrote another inmate.“Nice home with nice car = A person with money,” another said.15. Did you ever do surveillance on your target?The responses were mixed. Some burglars did surveillance before a burglary, while others did not.16. If you did surveillance, what were you trying to figure out?Of those burglars who did surveillance, most agreed they were looking for the best opportunity to break-in.“Who lives in the home, what are their weekday schedules (weekends are too unpredictable), what they drive, is there a dog, a hidden key,” wrote one inmate.“What time the house would be empty and for how long,” wrote another.17. What is the one thing homeowners can do to avoid being burglarized?Burglars suggest homeowners make their property visible with good lighting and trimmed bushes and trees. You should get to know you neighbors and alert police if you see anything suspicious.“In my opinion, I think homeowners should always leave a TV or radio on,” said one inmate.“Get a camera and make it visible!” wrote another.“Put bars on your windows and doors, get an alarm, keep an extra car in the driveway, keep lights, TVs and radios on when you leave your home,” read one questionnaire.“Home alarm, know your neighbor so they can report suspicious people around the neighborhood,” said a burglar. We asked 86 burglars how they broke into homes

There are lots of geological references in ASOIAF. From the nature, location and distribution of name-checked rocks and minerals, it looks very much like the author is using real-life geological processes in the world building of ASOIAF. There are similarities with our understanding of our own history on Earth which are suggestive of ancient civilisations and archaeological discoveries about that time.Black stones on Earth are generally either igneous - volcanic products like obsidian or basalt - meteoric, or due to the presence of organic matter in a sedimentation or metamorphic process.In ASOIAF the descriptors ‘oily’ and ‘greasy’ are used with reference to black stone in specific locations. I would guess that ‘oily’ equates to stone derived from the decomposition of organic matter and that ‘greasy’ is a reference to a sulphur content, as that’s the only context where I am familiar with the word ‘greasy’ being used. It is a guess though.Oily & Greasy‘Pure Sulfur is bright yellow. The color may be altered if impurities are present. Clay and selenium impurities, as well as volcanic mixtures in sulfur can cause it to be slightly red, green, brown, or gray. Sulfur often occurs in petroleum deposits, where it is found coated with greasy black petroleum.In sedimentary environments in evaporite and salt dome deposits, where it often is a product of breakdown of sulfates caused by cetain bacteria. In volcanic deposits in hot springs and fumaroles as a product of sublimation. Also occurs in igneous basalt rocks of recent volcanic activity’ - The mineral native Sulfur information and picturesMeteoricSome classes of meteor contain both organic molecules and sulphur.The Black Stone of the Islamic faith is thought to be of meteoric origin, having fallen to Earth from the heavens as a guide for Adam and Eve to build an altar - Black Stone - Wikipedia‘Carbonaceous chondrites are very rare and primitive meteorites.These meteorites contain organic compounds as well as hydrous silicates (water bearing minerals). The sulfur in carbonaceous chondrites can take the form of sulfide minerals such as troilite (FeS), elemental sulfur, or water soluble sulfate’ - https://www.lpi.usra.edu/science/kring/epo_web/impact_cratering/enviropages/atmossulphur/sulphurweb.htmlThe sigil of House Dayne with the falling star which the founder(s) was said to have followed to the site of Starfall in Dorne is suggestive of a meteorite. The green falling star on Dunk’s personal sigil is suggestive of the yearly Perseid meteor shower.The Lovecraft story, ‘The Doom that came to Sarnath’ references the worshipping of a stone idol, which seems similar to the story of the Bloodstone Emperor and the Isle of Toads in ASOIAF with the worshipping of a stone said to have fallen from the sky. Lovecraft names his cities Ib, Sarnath and Kadath, whilst ASOIAF has K’Dath, Ib and Sarnath. Lovecraft, like Martin, includes lots of geological namechecks in his work: specific colourings of marble, various gemstones and so on.The Toad Stone, the Bloodstone Emperor’s stone from the sky, and the Seastone Chair’s most likely origin is meteoric.VolcanicIn addition to obsidian, there is detail about structures built using basalt. Blood and Fire contains the detail that Harrenhal was built from black stones, and we already know that Moat Cailin in The Neck was built with basalt, so it seems reasonable to surmise that Harrenhal was too. The stones at Moat Cailin have an oily appearance when it rains.We know that the stones for Harrenhal were quarried. Yet the Riverlands area itself is sandstone: Riverrun was built in pale red sandstone, so it would seem that the choice of what is likely basalt by Black Harren is a deliberate choice and raises the question of where it came from. We are told that the basalt for Moat Cailin came from ‘elsewhere’.Yellowstone in the US is a volcanic hotspot. Formations in Oregon reveal a layer of basalt underlying the sandstone, where the basalt is a source rock for petroleum or asphalt. These formations are found on the North Fork of the Siuslaw River: Geological Survey BulletinThe west, east and south coasts of Westeros are indicative of a ‘ring of fire’ and the edges of tectonic plates: Old Wyk is a classic volcanic island horseshoe shape, the shattering of the Arm of Dorne is likely the result of plate activity, and we know that Dragonstone is volcanic. Inland, we have hints of a volcanic hotspot as Winterfell seems to be located where there is a hydrothermic vent, which is used to heat the castle.The Flooding of the Neck, the Shattering of the Arm of Dorne are likely not so much about ‘water magic’ as that the movement of water is the consequence of volcanic activity. Building Moat Cailin out of oily basalt is a good idea if you want your castle to be flood-proof, similarly the building of Harrenhal and the choice of material suggests similar reasoning. We know that the Riverlands are in flood and if there is to be some mini Ice Age, then when that ice melts, Harrenhal look like an ideal refuge when that time comes.If dragons live in volcanoes and lava is basaltic, then it follows that basalt, and castles made from basalt, can be melted by dragonfire, as happened at Harrenhal. The fused ‘dragonstone’ roads are likely basalt that has been exposed to dragonfire.Put together, the geological details of the Riverlands in ASOIAF imply a long ago volcanic event, which laid down basalt, which was subsequently covered by deposits of sand and silt from the action of the rivers in the area, forming sedimentary sandstone layers and hiding the basalt. Underlying the sandstone and basalt, organic matter from river basins that settled in prehistoric times, yields oil and gas which enters the cavities in the basalt.OrganicThe decomposition of organic matter in sedimentary basins can also result in the incorporation of such products into sedimentary rocks, such as sandstone.‘Oil sands, also known as tar sands or crude bitumen, or more technically bituminous sands, are a type of unconventional petroleum deposit. Oil sands are either loose sands or partially consolidated sandstone containing a naturally occurring mixture of sand, clay, and water, saturated with a dense and extremely viscous form of petroleum technically referred to as bitumen (or colloquially as tar due to its superficially similar appearance)’ - Oil sands - Wikipedia^^^ An example of tar sandstone - Oil sands - WikipediaFurthermore, it produces petrochemical substances such as asphalt and bitumen. We know that bitumen was used as a mortar and a building material by ancient civilisations in Mesopotamia.Asphalt was used in the building of Babylon.The Greek historian Herodotus (484 to 425 B.C.) writes about deposits of asphalt at the city of Hit in Mesopotamia: “There is a city eight days journey from Babylon, where a little river named ‘Is’ flows, a tributary of the Euphrates river. From the source of this little river many gouts (drops or spots) of asphalt rise with the water, and from thence the asphalt is brought for the walls of Babylon.”There are many references in early writings to the city of Hit as a source of asphalt. George Rawlinson, a British traveler, wrote of his visit to Hit in 1745: “Having spent three days or better among the ruins of old Babylon, we came into a town called Hit. Next to this town is a valley of pitch, very marvelous to behold, and a thing almost incredible wherein are many springs throwing out abundantly a kind of black substance, like unto tar and pitch, which serves all the countries thereabouts to make staunch their barks and boats.”In describing the Babylonian asphalt deposits around 50 A.D., the Greek historian Diodorus Siculus wrote: “Of all the many wonders occurring in Babylonia, the most outstanding consists of large deposits of asphalt which are found there. So much is found that it not only suffices for many and large buildings, but the surplus is used by the populace.” - Early uses of asphaltKing Nebuchadnezzar made use of natural bitumen deposits to waterproof the city walls and buildings as a response to a flooding event and the failure of the walls to hold back the water.The book of Genesis states, when describing construction of the Tower of Babel around 2000 B.C., “they had bricks for stone and slime for mortar.” In the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Bible, the word slime is translated “asphaltos”, and in the Latin version, “bitumen.” - Early uses of asphaltHe also built a bridge across the Euphrates and a sewerage system using asphalt.‘King Nebuchadnezzar never stopped building and in many of his works he used asphalt. He built a 370-foot bridge across the Euphrates river near Babylon. The piers were constructed of burnt bricks embedded in asphalt mastic, and the base of each pier was coated with asphalt. Nebuchadnezzar also built large sewers made of asphalt, loam (soil and clay mixture) and gravel to drain the city of Babylon’ - Early uses of asphaltVolantis in ASOIAF seems to be a dead ringer for Babylon.It is located where the River Rhoyne meets the sea, and there is reference to a historic freezing of the Rhoyne, which suggests Volantis likely experienced flooding as the ice melted. It is also suggestive of a city that has been built and rebuilt over time by different peoples.‘The half of Volantis east of the Long Bridge is the older and richer part of the city, containing the Black Wall and the Temple of the Lord of Light. Foreigners are generally restricted to the western half of the city.The Long Bridge's gateway at its eastern end is an arch of black stone carved with sphinxes, manticores, dragons and other strange beasts’ - VolantisConclusionThe various black stones in ASOIAF are located mainly around coastlines. Inland examples such as Moat Cailin and Yeen are associated with river basins, whilst the Five Forts, near the Bleeding Sea and Bone Mountains, could be explained by continent formation, where two plates collide forming those mountains and enclosing a previously open sea.The Toad Stone and the Seastone Chair are found on islands, and whilst we do not know where the Bloodstone Emperor’s worship stone fell, that could well be an island too. Fire and Blood reveals that one of the Stepstones is called ‘Bloodstone’ - which is very specific. The Basilisk and Iron Islands, and the Stepstones appear to be islands formed from volcanic activity, so there may be a link between the black stone falling from the sky and tectonic plate activity.Greasy black stone likely has a high sulphur content. Oily black stone may be basalt as a source rock for asphalt and petroleum, making it useful for waterproofing as protection against flood events. With the numerous references to the ‘maze-makers’ it would be kind of funny if it turned out that those mazes were simply an ancient sewerage system.Rather than anyone putting the black stones here and there, my guess would be that some fell from the sky, and the others derive from past volcanic events and the formation of oil from decayed organic matter, making them ideal as flood defences.Thanks for the A2A Jeff Mackenzie