It's black or white

Somedays are like that - it's either black or white.  The glass is either half full or half empty.

Either you are for the protesters or you are not.  Either you are for greedy politicians/corporations or you are for the greedy teachers/public workers.

Today it is either rain or snow.  We live at the critical elevation of 1500 ft in the lovely foothills of Mt Hood.  The same elevations given by weather forecasters as the dividing line between 1 to 2 FEET of snow or the equivalent of rain.

This morning we are all white.  Another inch or so of snow on top of the half foot of snow or ice from the weather event last week.  Will we get the blizzard or the runny slush (or too much water)?

Either way I'll put the glass out and it will be full.

photos - after the snow

cell phone towers in rural mountain area

We have been actively involved both:

1. To stop an ill chosen spot for coverage by ATT, or more accurately a firm seeking to place a lease for ATT; and

2. To be a force in improving communications in a rural area which has very spotty coverage due to the "shadows" caused by tall western foothills of the Cascades.

The addition of cell phone coverage in our "dead zones" is seen a need by residents and visitors and an additional level of communications for emergency communications (also for lost hikers on the slopes of Mt. Hood). The location originally proposed would have only enhanced the coverage levels to those who already receive coverage and not increase coverage to areas not already served. Clackamas County failed to recommend the proposed location because of the requirement to first consider co-location sites specifically a site a 1000+ ft higher and along a power transmission line.

A recent (Jan 11) flood event and loss of power and communications have focused the area again on the need to improve cell phone coverage. Several cell phone providers received approval to install temporary locations along the Sandy River in the E. Lolo Pass area. Even these locations are unable to provide sufficient coverage to the significant "dead zone" area - probably due to the hills and tall trees. Meanwhile, ATT is seeking to install a cell tower on the alternative location along the power lines (after wasting a year trying to locate a temporary site near the Zigzag ranger station). ATT should be able to improve the level of cell phone coverage to a significantly wider area once the new location becomes activated.