Category: General Interest

Submitted By: dixiedarrow@icloud.com – Click to email about this post

I haven’t heard of anyone in the Legislature who supports Measure 118 on the Nov. 5 ballot. The initiative would increase business taxes in order to give most Oregonians an annual tax rebate estimated at $750.
During a virtual town hall last month, several Portland-area lawmakers denounced the proposal, which was going through the signature verification process as Initiative Petition 17. Rep. Lisa Reynolds, D-Beaverton, called it “a totally twisted version of the kicker.”
“It’s another example of out-of-state monied interests using Oregon’s low bar to get something on the ballot to create an experiment here in Oregon,” she said. “It happened with Measure 110, which we had to roll back after a lot of gnashing of teeth. And so there will be very concerted efforts by many people, including elected officials, to defeat IP 17.”

Rep. Dacia Grayber, D-Portland, added, “If there is a legislator supporting it, they’re supporting it very quietly.”
Opponents are not quiet. Led by Oregon Business & Industry, a lengthy list of groups created a coalition against the measure, contending it would implement the largest tax increase in state history. 
Oregon Senate Republicans issued a press release Wednesday unanimously opposing the measure and thanking Gov. Tina Kotek for also opposing it. The Taxpayers Association of Oregon put it this way last week: “The tax is so bad, even Gov. Kotek is against it. That’s bad.”

Submitted By: mkuestner10@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

The August issue of Manzanita Today came out today. You can access it at their website:
www.manzanitatoday.com/

Submitted By: mkuestner10@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

The good news is that the Manzanita Budget Comm. reviewed this year’s budget, including Indirect Cost Allocation methodology this Spring. With no axe to grind, and dealing with legal, municipal and cost realities, after rigorous discussions, the budget and methodology were voted on and approved by a unanimous vote of City Council. Half of the Budget Comm. consists of highly qualified volunteers who applied, were interviewed and then appointed by unanimous vote of our elected/appointed representatives. The other half of the Budget Comm. consists of the City Council and our highly qualified Chief Budget Officer, Leila Aman. This process, which by law happens every year, assures that the Manzanita budget is secure, legal and produced with the utmost professionalism. In contrast, resident Kugler wants Manzanita to follow his personal budgetary opinions, which consistently display an astounding lack of understanding of municipal budgeting or budgetary acumen. Every year, we hear the same tired, irrelevant tirades. A few years back, he even threatened to sue the city if they didn’t follow his opinions. Thank you to the City of Manzanita for following the law and common sense, and including resident input from all of us, not just a self-appointed “expert”. We have real problems to face and exciting opportunities facing the city. Let’s continue to focus on these, or actual challenges.

Submitted By: diannerbloom@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

I tried for 5 years to get the strip of gravel between the county road and my cement driveway paved. No one was willing to do it or I was on their “list” and they never go to it. I was given the name of Olson Asphalt in Gearhart,(www.oamnw.com) they came out, gave me an affordable estimate and did an outstanding job. In fact, it is so good, I will no longer have the water from the road and drive running onto my patio. I would highly recommend them for your paving and sealing needs.

Submitted By: mkuestner10@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Kim, this is a great, succinct overview of Manzanita’s water fund and also indirect cost allocation. The subjects can seem abstruse and confusing, so your examples offer a refreshingly straightforward picture. We, as Manzanita residents can learn about the ins and outs of such finance, policy and legal issues by following city council meetings, budget committee meetings as well as Planning Commission meetings. The Budget Comm. in particular zeroes in on the specifics in minute detail. Having said that, to get a good overview without taking as much time, read relevant portions of the newsletter “Manzanita Today”: www.manzanitatoday.com/
Their website has some search capabilities to simplify research questions. And, of course one can ask questions!

Submitted By: tinnindeb@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Nehalem Bay Community Services is asking for your help in getting our local students a great start to their school year.

We have placed ‘tickets’ in several locations around the area, each ticket outlines need for school supplies and clothing. Please make your purchases and drop off at the Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church by August 10. Address: 36050 10th Street, Nehalem, OR.

Any questions, please call us at 503.368.5612 or email us at nbumcchild@gmail.com.

Please visit the following locations for Back to School tickets: The Little Apple, Cloud and Leaf, 1st Security Bank, Yolk, Nehalem Lumber, Dixie’s Vino, North Tillamook Library in Manzanita, Wanda’s, El Trio Loco Restaurant (Manzanita), Nehalem Bay Health Clinic, Mohler Co-op Grocery, Four Paws on the Beach, Grumpy’s.

Thank you.

NBCS is an equal opportunity provider.

Submitted By: tevisdiii@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

NEIL OLIVER WITH WHITNEY WEBB
Educational challenge: connect the dots history class.

Very little is as it seems and if you can keep up with Ms Webb, you will understand how this is. With the ground beneath us moving so fast and the air so full of “stuff”, look to your family and neighbors for support and don’t think for a minute that the blue or the red billionaire camps have our interests at heart.

duckduckgo.com/?q=neil+oliver+gb+news&atb=v314-1&iax=videos&ia=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DskoNAt-ey3I

The extended course is in her book:
One Nation Under Blackmail

Submitted By: ben.killen.rosenberg@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Manzanita’s Water Fund
Posting on behalf of Kim Rosenberg

Manzanita’s water fund isn’t a separate entity from the City. The city maintains and operates the water system. Some of that work is done by Dan Weitzel and the Public Works crew but city staff like the City Manager and Accounting Manager use their time, their city offices, supplies, computers, and printers to do billing and payroll and other work to maintain and operate the water system. The City does this for the water system and the City Charter allows those indirect or overhead costs to the city to be paid out of the water fund.

In Section 22 (i) the Charter states that one of the many duties of the City Manager is to supervise the operation of the public utility. That’s our water system.

I asked Dan Weitzel, Director of Public Works, at July’s Coffee with Councilors for an example of what the CM does in regard to the water system since she’s not out laying pipe or running a backhoe. Weitzel told the group about the recent 2.7 million dollar grant for city water projects that CM Aman applied for and received. It takes time and research to write a grant that will be funded.

Weitzel told those of us at the coffee talk that he speaks with the CM daily and if there’s a problem, more than that. The CM is his boss and the responsibility for the water system doesn’t end at 5pm Friday. In fact, the responsibility for keeping everything running in town including the water, is the CM’s.

This is how I understand indirect or overhead costs. Let’s say the city buys a box of pens and a stack of legal pads to use in their day to day. Staff use their pens and their legal pads for both city stuff and water fund stuff. The same pads and pens are used by both entities so how do you determine the exact cost used by the water fund? And what about office machines like a copier or printer? How do you determine the cost to the water fund of toner they use in a year and what about wear and tear on that printer? Who pays for paper? And then you’ve got stuff like the electric bill because the city offices are where the administrative work of the water fund happens. And if the CM covers city business and water business in the same meeting—how do you keep an exact record?

There’s been a suggestion to have administrative staff use timesheets to track their minute by minute but that’s never been done by any of the city managers we’ve had since the dawn of time. Not even the guy who continues to suggest it, kept a time sheet. Time sheets have probably never been used because CMs wear a bunch of hats and it’s impractical to constantly keep track of how much time is spent on each area. For example, in a conversation about time spent on IT issues, do you separate out the time spent talking about how it affects the water billing system versus other billing systems?

You can so easily get all up in the weeds trying to figure out the minutiae of this stuff.

Which is why governments, corporations and other entities everywhere do an indirect cost allocation to cover the cost of the shared support and services provided to another entity.
You do your best to estimate the time and cost and charge accordingly.

Kim Rosenberg
loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com

Submitted By: ben.killen.rosenberg@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Poison Control for Pets

Posting on behalf of Kim Rosenberg

Last night at about 5:30, as I was getting dinner together, I noticed that Nina, our 8 month old dachshund puppy, was suspiciously quiet in the other room. Ben was at the pottery studio in Nehalem and not expected home until dinner time at 7. When I went to check on Nina, I saw she was happily tearing apart a pack of gum and there was only one piece left.

Like puppies and babies of all kinds Nina puts everything in her mouth—rocks, socks, arch supports, anything questionable or smelly goes straight in her mouth. I’ve been worried about her interest in the bees in our back yard because she’s so small and our last dachshund was allergic. Over the weekend Ben picked up some liquid children’s Benadryl just in case she gets stung when the vet is closed. But we never thought of gum as a dangerous substance.

I got the package away from her—a real trick since this girl likes to play keep away when she has something extra naughty. The gum was sugar free and written in tiny letters on the ripped up package the word xylitol identified the sweetener.

I looked on-line and learned that xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs. It causes hypoglycemia so severe that a dog can quickly lapse into a coma or have seizures. Symptoms can come on fast in 30 minutes and all the information said to go immediately to a vet. Even a few pieces of gum can kill a dog or cause liver damage and our pup only weighs 9.5 pounds. I texted Ben to let him know and asked him how many pieces of gum were in the package. He thought maybe 5 and there was one full piece left so she maybe ate 3 or 4.

Of course, this happened after the vet was closed for the day but on their answering machine and texted automatically to me after my call, I got the number for ASPCA Poison Control a 24 hour toll free number.

I had to hold for what seemed like a long time but probably was five or ten minutes. Someone took my information—Nina’s weight and age, what type of gum, how many pieces, how far from a veterinarian we are. They conferred with a toxicologist and gave us information about how to manage her care overnight (small meals every two hours for twelve hours) and what to do should she have a seizure or seem out of it (give her a tablespoon of honey or maple syrup and go right to Tanasbourne or Dove Lewis). They also gave us a case number should we need to take her in so the vet could get all the details. It cost $95 dollars and they have payment options.

Because she was showing no symptoms except delight that dinnertime appeared to be an all-night buffet, we stayed here in Manzanita and luckily this morning she is fine and we are, too.

We didn’t know that Xylitol is toxic for dogs or how quickly it can cause damage. We also didn’t know that the ASPCA has a poison control number with a staff of toxicologists and veterinarians who can help. That phone number is now in my phone and if you have a pet, I encourage you to do the same!

ASPCA Poison Control 24 hour Toll Free Number 1-888-426-4435

Kim Rosenberg
loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com

Submitted By: campbelljlmn.0510@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

I just moved here recently and I am looking for a medium size electric bike that I could front mount my daughter with. I have been searching this site daily and I haven’t been able to find anything yet. Please help
Thank you

Submitted By: ben.killen.rosenberg@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

August Collage Kits at the Manzanita Library

Posting on behalf of loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com

Up at the Manzanita transfer station last spring, I spied heavy duty sealed boxes over by the little free community bookshelves. I opened a box and full sets of National Geographics from 1941-1968 were inside. They had evidently been stored somewhere dry because they didn’t smell moldy, so I took home one box and then went back for another….and another.

Cutting up old magazines was a favorite occupation of mine when I was a kid. I was sick a lot and the youngest of five girls by a decade, so I made my own fun a lot of the time. I liked to cut out pictures of people and built entire paper doll families designing their houses with the old Sunset and Family Circle magazines my mom had around the house.

As a preschool teacher, I’d make collage “story starters” and ask the kids to tell me the story of the picture. I’d transcribe their words and we’d make books of the stories that went with the images. I used the same process when I taught creative writing at PSU only by then I was collecting old photographs from thrift stores.

Once I found those magazines at the transfer station I went gangbusters—you can see some of the collages I’ve made at the library through the month of August. I guess you could say that the embroidered felt pieces that are also in the library are like collage in a way. Cutting and stitching, take a lot longer, but I love the process of making things by hand.

It’s time for me to pass on the rest of my collection so I put together bags with a few National Geographics, some paper ephemera I’ve collected, heavy duty paper and a glue stick for anyone who wants to cut and paste the old school way. You’ll need scissors and your imaginator. Add other stuff like old greeting cards and photos. Be creative—collage old oatmeal containers or cardboard packaging. The sky’s the limit!

They’re at the desk for your crafting pleasure!

Kim Rosenberg

Submitted By: cbbcalm@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

am I the only one who feels that by now surely we would have yellow radio with a clearer easier screen to see . I did a search online and saw a variety of models .
corinna @ cbbcalm@gmail.com

Submitted By: Cpossibility1023@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Announcing TillCoDems fundraising raffle, all proceeds go into our general fund and are used to elect Dems both locally and across America!

Here’s your chance to win a FABULOUS DeWalt ELECTRIC Chainsaw, Flex Volt Brushless 60v Lithium Ion, 16″ bar, includes tools, battery, charger ($329.99 value)

Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5/$20, we will not sell more than 500 tickets so odds are good! The drawing will be held Saturday 8/10 @ aprox. 7pm, in the TillCoDems booth at the Tillamook County Fair, you don’t need to be present to win.

Email me now to arrange buying tickets before Friday 8/9! Think about it, no more being jerked around by a cord, or smelling like stinky gas, it’s reliably ELECTRIC!

Thank you!
Constance Shimek
TillCoDems Chair

Submitted By: ggitzen@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post

Can anyone identify this instrument?

Submitted By: k.r.yurka@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Hello, neighbors!
Please share this information with visitors, your friends and family – help us stamp out food insecurity – you never know who might be receiving food benefits!

This is your reminder that Oregon Trail (SNAP) card holders can double their buying power at most farmers markets, including the Manzanita Farmers Market! At the market info booth, swipe your Oregon Trail card for tokens that can be used for all your normal SNAP foods – meats, cheeses, grains, oil & vinegar, honey, pickles, jams, veggies and fruits.

We match up to $20 with coupons for FREE PRODUCE: fresh veggies, beans, fruits, fresh herbs and mushrooms!!!

Please see Karen in the info booth, Fridays from 4 to 7 in the field behind the new City Hall at Manzanita Avenue & Division. All questions answered!

Submitted By: Tinnindeb@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Nehalem Bay Community Services is asking for your help in getting our local students a great start to their new school year.

We have placed ‘tickets’ in several locations around the area, each ticket outlines need for school supplies and clothing. Please make your purchases and drop off at the Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church by August 10. Address: 36050 10th Street, Nehalem, OR.

Any questions, please call us at 503.368.5612 or email us at nbumcchild@gmail.com.

Please visit the following locations for Back to School tickets: The Little Apple, Cloud and Leaf, 1st Security Bank, Yolk, Ticor Title, Nehalem Lumber, Dixie’s Vino, North Tillamook Library in Manzanita.

Thank you.

NBCS is an equal opportunity provider.

Submitted By: dixiedarrow@icloud.com – Click to email about this post

I recently posted a small article reporting on Measure 110 (passed in 2020) the drug bill and its replacement HB 4002, which starts Sept 1. I said it was a better bill. It is not! At this time no one goes to jail for possessing illegal drugs. They go right back on the street.
Recently in the primary election, fed up Democrats voted out the incumbent DA in the metro area who refused to prosecute criminals, instead – putting them back on the street. But now Democratic legislators are refusing to lock up those for possessing illegal drugs as per HB 4002 – instead putting them back on the street. They do not get treatment.
There is a rumor that monies from measure 110 for treatment instead went to buy new cars and homes for unknown persons – yep a rumor – No monies went for treatment facilities. This is now 2024!! Where is the money allocated for measure 110???? I would like to know.
New money was allocated for this new bill. Where is that going? where are the treatment facilities? How many years do we have to wait?
Because of the judge problem which I have been writing about – no one is going to look into this. Nope!

No treatment – but now….a deflection center!!
The following article comes from the Portland Tribune:
In a Wednesday press conference, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson and other county leaders addressed plans for a deflection center that continues to incur criticism from the public and fellow commissioners.
The chair’s deflection program will give those caught with hard drugs the choice between serving jail time or receiving treatment for a substance use disorder when House Bill 4002 goes into effect Sept. 1—once again “We must offer people suffering from addiction alternatives to incarceration, or we will be right back where we started,”. “Vega Pederson said. Treatment is the best route to recovery. People’s lives are depending on opening more treatment options, and we are moving swiftly to do so.”
(my comment – How swift is a few years?) However, Multnomah County’s new program could also allow drug users to avoid arrest and possibly walk away without mandated treatment. This outcome is possible for people who get dropped off at the deflection center and go through a screening and assessment with a peer counselor, but are not required to follow a plan for drug treatment.
(And they can go to a deflection center many times – there’s no limit – so they are back on the street! over and over again.
Remember the “hot line” for persons arrested caught with more than allowable amounts of hard drugs under measure 110? The state health authority hired Health Resources in Action, a Boston-based nonprofit focused on public health, for up to $2.7 million to operate the moribund helpline. This was set up for measure 110 in an effort to connect people to substance abuse screening and treatment referral. But there is still no treatment available!!!!!!
Oregon’s Measure 110 drug treatment hotline has served only 577, gets new operator. Updated: Dec. 14, 2023.This is still ongoing although there is no treatment available. (wow – look what happens when you put Democrats in charge of the purse- my comment – wasted wasted money)
My conclusion is Democratic legislators want to see criminals back in the street. What other conclusion can you come to?
In the coming November election – there will be two tax measures to vote on. One will be a tax on your property for public safety. So Oregon Democratic legislators create crime in the street and then tax you for it.
That is what it looks like to me.

Submitted By: diwax54@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Event for Harris

Submitted By: barbaraandchuck@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post

Tired of stories that focus on all the bad things that are happening in the world?

Here’s on from: www.goodnewsnetwork.org/saddled-with-backpacks-of-seeds-local-pooches-enlisted-to-help-rewild-urban-nature-reserve/

Picture credit-Railway-Land-Wildlife-Trust-Lewes

Inspired by an innovative Chilean forest restoration effort, the English town of Lewes is enlisting the help of dog walkers to rewild a local nature reserve.

Heavily degraded by foot traffic, the project co-ops dogs’ tendency to run about in the woods to spread wildflower seed from saddlebags strapped to a harness around the dog’s abdomen.

The idea mimics the function that wolves once played in that part of England, roaming over vast distances getting grass and flower seeds stuck in their coat, only to fall off and germinate somewhere else.

This helter-skelter seed-spreading is actually how many plants evolved to reproduce, and it’s key to maintaining a biodiverse and native ecosystem.

“We’re really interested in rewilding processes, but they often involve reintroducing big herbivores like bison or wild horses,” said manager Dylan Walker from the Railway Land Wildlife Trust who organized the project back in 2019.

“In a smaller urban nature reserve it’s really hard to do those things. So, to replicate the effect that those animals have on the ecosystem we aimed to utilize the vast number of dog walkers that are visiting the nature reserve daily.”

The saddlebags are filled with a variety of perennial plant seeds mixed together with sand. This allows the seed to be spread for longer across larger distances, while also providing a helpful tracking sign to inform the Trust’s employees where dogs are walking.

“I signed up because it sounded like such a good fit. I was asked to place a harness on my chocolate cocker spaniel called Bertie and he ran around spreading seeds like wolves used to do many years ago,” Cressida Murray, a dog walker who regularly uses the nature reserve, told The Guardian.

Wolves were persecuted to extinction in England as early as the reign of Henry VII, who reigned during the latter third of the 15th century.

“A community-based project like this not only helps engage and teach people about the ecological impacts of wildlife but also allows us to make our wildlife and environments richer in the process,” said Walker.

Submitted By: barbaraandchuck@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post

Tired of stories that focus on all the bad things that are happening in the world?

Here’s on from: www.goodnewsnetwork.org/saddled-with-backpacks-of-seeds-local-pooches-enlisted-to-help-rewild-urban-nature-reserve/

Picture credit-Railway-Land-Wildlife-Trust-Lewes

Inspired by an innovative Chilean forest restoration effort, the English town of Lewes is enlisting the help of dog walkers to rewild a local nature reserve.

Heavily degraded by foot traffic, the project co-ops dogs’ tendency to run about in the woods to spread wildflower seed from saddlebags strapped to a harness around the dog’s abdomen.

The idea mimics the function that wolves once played in that part of England, roaming over vast distances getting grass and flower seeds stuck in their coat, only to fall off and germinate somewhere else.

This helter-skelter seed-spreading is actually how many plants evolved to reproduce, and it’s key to maintaining a biodiverse and native ecosystem.

“We’re really interested in rewilding processes, but they often involve reintroducing big herbivores like bison or wild horses,” said manager Dylan Walker from the Railway Land Wildlife Trust who organized the project back in 2019.

“In a smaller urban nature reserve it’s really hard to do those things. So, to replicate the effect that those animals have on the ecosystem we aimed to utilize the vast number of dog walkers that are visiting the nature reserve daily.”

The saddlebags are filled with a variety of perennial plant seeds mixed together with sand. This allows the seed to be spread for longer across larger distances, while also providing a helpful tracking sign to inform the Trust’s employees where dogs are walking.

“I signed up because it sounded like such a good fit. I was asked to place a harness on my chocolate cocker spaniel called Bertie and he ran around spreading seeds like wolves used to do many years ago,” Cressida Murray, a dog walker who regularly uses the nature reserve, told The Guardian.

Wolves were persecuted to extinction in England as early as the reign of Henry VII, who reigned during the latter third of the 15th century.

“A community-based project like this not only helps engage and teach people about the ecological impacts of wildlife but also allows us to make our wildlife and environments richer in the process,” said Walker.

Submitted By: wombats_mottos07@icloud.com – Click to email about this post

Have you heard of A Course in Miracles? Been curious about it?

Here’s a link to a free copy, just pay for shipping ($8): theborderlandfoundation.com/book-order-form/

The Course is a psychological & spiritual tool for mind training and inner peace. Through its curriculum of 31 chapters, 365 lessons and a teachers manual, it helps us experientially to shift from the ego’s thought system to Holy Spirit’s and from fear to Love.

– It teaches us about psychology, philosophy, metaphysics, forgiveness, miracles, inner guidance and the power of decision making.
– It teaches us how to pray, ask, listen and trust so that we can heal and be healed.
– It teaches us about relationships and emphasizes the importance of transforming our special relationships into holy ones.
– It helps us to train and change our mind, so we can do our special function together and offer miracles to change the world.

“You are entitled to miracles because of what you are. You will receive miracles because of what God is. And you will offer miracles because you are one with God. Again, how simple is salvation!” (ACIM, W-77.1:1-4)

Submitted By: ben.killen.rosenberg@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Thank You, BBQ and BBQ Readers!

Posting on behalf of loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com

Years ago, a little girl I took care of after the death of her mom said something that changed how I think about hard times and bad trouble.

If the bad thing hadn’t happened, then all the good things that came after wouldn’t have either. Because it’s all connected. The bad stuff you live through and the good stuff, too.

Would you be the same person if the tragedies hadn’t happened?

If I look at my life through the rearview, I can see that I’m here now because of a series of not so wonderful events. There’s no teasing them apart.

If I hadn’t met Ben, I wouldn’t have the life I have now.

If my ex hadn’t hit me all the time, I wouldn’t have left him and met Ben.

If I hadn’t run away when I was 14, I wouldn’t have lived the life I did—the good and bad, the sweet and sour. It’s not one or the other—it’s always both.

The past we live through is all compost and poop, but without that there are no flowers.

Today I’m writing to say a big thank you to BBQ for being a forum that allows people to say their piece AND get rid of old couches, advertise local events, and sell those dishes you never really liked.

Posting on BBQ and hearing from so many people in the villages about what I’ve written has been a gift—whether you’ve liked what I’ve written or not. Some of you have been in both camps at different times. To everyone who has reached out to encourage, discourage, agree or disagree with me, I want to say thank you.

It’s been years since I published, but today a short essay I wrote is out in the world and I believe it’s because of BBQ. Posting taught me how to write again.

Yes, it gets a little hot and squirrely sometimes, but Chuck and Barbara have created a space to share our experiences, beliefs and opinions plus get rid of that old futon.

Here’s my essay!

oregonhumanities.org/rll/beyond-the-margins/sleepless-nights/

Kim Rosenberg
loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com

Submitted By: Baltizaar09@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Hello everyone, I’m seeking someone local that has the expertise on fixing older clocks. It used to chime & tick, now our home is silent
I miss its company!
Anyone know where it can be fixed? Much obliged