Beth, as a mom, I feel my primary responsibility is to my kid, not to society. So I'm not going to take my kid to a park where he/she may see a homeless man peeing, even if my taking the kid to the park makes it a better place.

I may add that my experience in the streets of San Francisco does not lead me to believe that population density prevents homeless people from doing anything at all.

thinks that island would be made much more bearable by shirtless Sayid.

I think I want to go to juliana's island.

I suggested that they should take back the park - go in large groups - be visible be present.

the answer:

youre so brave for going to the park

This would be frustrating. I can see where people would hesitate if there were violent crimes taking place. But it doesn't sound like this is the case. If I had to plan my life to avoid homeless people, I'd never leave my apartment so maybe I'm just more used to dealing with the situation than your neighbors.

Yeah, in the East. But I don't think they're a lock for the pennant or WS. They've both had radical revamps from last season. Mind, the Yankees are now sporting an All-Star at almost every position, and then they added Randy Johnson.

I agree that the Skankees are the team to beat in the AL, although the Red Sox will be good and Anaheim look pretty good too, if a little shakier. In the NL? Much more open, I'd hazard. Some mags are expecting the Braves to drop as far as fourth, which is crazy talk, I think.

What do you mean by proof of irrational numbers?

Proving that they exist? Like, that there exists a number... uh... crap. I've totally forgotten it. I'm going to be such a terrible math teacher.

no violent incidents. about 10 street people. am I crazy in thinking that numbers of moms ( and dads ) and singles would create saftey and open the park back up to use by everyone? without seriously endangering your kids?

This is hard. I agree with both Beth and Betsy.

I wouldn't want my kids to see anyone peeing in public, and I wouldn't want to lose my park.

we all appear to share the common Baltimore-D.C. area delusion that the Potomac River is a Berlin Wall.

Mr Bush. Fill in that River!

I thought I got it from your explanation of the process. It's just proving that the square root of two is irrational, isn't it? Which is great because you can draw it so easily.

Right! Right! Proving that the square root of two is not a rational number, and thus that there are numbers which are not!

I suggested that they should take back the park - go in large groups - be visible be present.

Dogs, man. Dog neighborhoods are great for this - there are enough people out and about at all times that, in my experience, it does exert a certain pressure keeping park areas and such more or less liveable. I'm not suggesting that a pack of dogs is the solution for your neighborhood (though - fun!), but an example of the effect you're wondering about.

I may add that my experience in the streets of San Francisco does not lead me to believe that population density prevents homeless people from doing anything at all.

It didn't sound to me like the homeless people were the point here. I mean, they're what people are hanging their fear on, sure. But critical mass is a powerful thing - get enough so-called normal people using the park and the handful of homeless won't be only thing that sticks in people's minds.

This is hard. I agree with both Beth and Betsy.

I wouldn't want my kids to see anyone peeing in public, and I wouldn't want to lose my park.

That's it right there. Especially if your kids are young. "Why don't they use a bathroom, Mommy? Why can't I pee in the park, Mommy?" But I wholeheartedly agree about not wanting to lose the park, too. No easy answers there.

askye, where are you?! It sounds lovely. I shouldn't complain. I'm just in Pennsylvania and it will be spring here soon enough...but not really soon enough for me.