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Jack in the Box, Rubio’s, Charlotte Russe, WD-40, and Callaway Golf face a double whammy:
It costs me $1.39 at "Gag in the Bag" to get a Jumbo Jack, a price lower than I could possibly make it myself. I'm confident this is a "loss leader" designed to lure in customers who end up ordering something different, so I'm glad to take advantage. By always changing the order to include pricy extras, I'm hopeful I increase their costs even more. Often, I check the burger on the spot and request that they add yet MORE lettuce and tomato, just to make sure that those productive hard working and underpaid employees are earning just that little bit less for my favorite hometown foodmaker. On the other hand, I'm an evangelist for WD-40, telling my European and Asian friends of the wonders of this miracle lubricant, and urging them to try it on all their tricky sticky problems. It's one of the few products on the market you can really count on. Great stuff. Rubio's fish tacos have always been a disappointment. I prefer the real ones in Ensenada or San Felipe, not the fish-sticks in a shell Ralph passes off to the gullible. Besides, he's a longtime advertiser and supporter of Hedgecock, who I've grown to disrespect over the years. Charlotte Russe...throw away clothes for girls with throw away brains. The world could easily do without that store. Same with that other store that sells ugly black accessories to overweight goth chicks. Help make the world more beautiful, and tell women to avoid shopping at either place. Callaway is a parasite feeding on publicly subsidized golf, whereby water that should be preserved is squandered on a game suitable for Scottish grasslands, not San Diego's desert by the sea. If they went out of business tomorrow, how would the world not be better off? So I say, let's all go out and buy an extra can of WD-40 to have around the shop...and be sure to munch ONLY on a Jumbo Jack that has to be specially made at greater expense than it's sold. We'll improve San Diego each time, by rewarding a good company and punishing a bad one. I don't know if this has any affect on their stock price, but I'm doing what I can to help. Best, Fred Williams— August 27, 2008 1:43 p.m.
Asian Households Had Highest Median Incomes in County in 2007, Census Data Show
Don, have you read The Blank Slate by Pinker? The best debunking of the tabula rasa theory I've seen. Best, Fred— August 27, 2008 1:06 p.m.
From Trashy to Classy
A quarter of a million dollars...for trash pickup, painting over graffitti, weeding, and hauling some old furniture to the dump? Wow! When you take into account the city is ALREADY responsible for this work, and we're ALREADY paying for this work, it sure looks excessive. When the city is relieved of this obligation, and puts it on the shoulders of people who get double-taxed, where did the original money go? Is it yet another way of moving funds from the citizens into well-connected developers' pockets? Does John Moores pay to have his billionaire's ballpark village cleaned up, or do WE pay that fee? I'm all in favor of programs like Urban Corps helping youth to turn their lives around. But this doesn't seem like the best way to spend community money, and I don't see the nexus between stuffing trash bags and graduating from school. Keep reporting on these issues, Dorian. It's enlightening to hear how our money is being mis-spent. Best, Fred Williams— August 27, 2008 11:18 a.m.
Schmooze and Partake
Looks like Doug "Papa" Manchester is reaping what he has sown: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080827… I'm very glad to see that his bigotry, which he naturally justifies through his so-called "faith", is causing him financial pain. With the shenanigans at CCDC now bringing into doubt the legality of his Navy Broadway Complex shenanigans, I look forward to the day when "Papa" no longer has a stranglehold on San Diego's politicians. Looks like Proposition Hate is going down to defeat. Of course, all you deluded religious types have to do is pray to your angry sky-god for divine intervention. Perhaps a well-timed hurricane like Katrina, (clearly His punishment for the sinful people of New Orleans) or a tsunami, (God hates Buddhists and Muslems, you know) or even a good-ole fashioned earthquake (tectonic plate theory is just a THEORY...we all know it's really that nasty Jehovah who makes the earth tremble) could show all us godless types the error of our ways. If He doesn't intervene to help you pass Proposition Hate, then all you religious types must finally admit that gay marriage is clearly God's will. Come on...show the power of your faith. Pray for death and destruction. You know it's what your nasty little God wants. Fred Williams— August 27, 2008 7:28 a.m.
Sempra spins Sunrise Powerlink in the Union-Tribune
Don, I have unfortunate news. As the Chairman of the Mayoral Search Committee, it was my unfortunate duty to look into Fumber's background. He's right. He can never run for public office... See, we conducted a DNA test and it was conclusive. In addition to having one extra chromasome, it turns out his DNA more closely matches that of the Bonobo (Pan paniscus) than the divinely created Man (Homo sapiens). The city charter is clear. While monkeying around with the public's business is perfectly acceptable, and it's fine to elect clowns, charlatans, fools, and even lawyers...we cannot elect our candidate because he's...well, he's too closely related to an ape. As a Christian Nation Under God (TM), you see, only those of us who were created from a bit of mud, or Adam's rib, are eligible for public office. Since it appears that Fumber evolved up from a primate ancestor, he's not qualified. My sincere apologies, Fred Williams Chairman Mayoral Search Committee— August 27, 2008 6:16 a.m.
Sempra spins Sunrise Powerlink in the Union-Tribune
It's long past time we all came to our senses here in San Diego. We need leadership, direction, and sound thinking. Where can we find a man (or woman) who will provide us the kind of wisdom we crave? There is only one logical choice... Fumber Yes, we must act now to save San Diego. That's why we need our very own beloved fumber to be the next mayor of our city. Only he (she?) tells it like it is. Remember, in November, vote for fumber, you vomit-breathed retards. Best, Fred Williams President and CEO Fumber Fan Club, Inc (A Proud Subsidary of Sempra)— August 26, 2008 7:18 a.m.
Two-for-One Special on Mediators
I'm all in favor of mediation...but not in governmental functions. Come on folks, we've allegedly got something called democracy. This system of government, you may recall from high school civics class, is NOT about agreeing with everyone and trying to be everyone's friend. As a matter of fact, it's about DISAGREEMENTS and how they are openly discussed, debated, and finally voted on. There is supposed to be dissent. Instead, here in San Diego, we seem to rely on something called "consensus". This is a crock, and highly un-American. Consensus means either that a vocal minority bullies the majority into getting its way...or it means that anyone who dares voice opposition to a proposal gets steamrollered. In neither case does the issue get fully discussed, debated, and aired out in advance of a vote. Instead the honchos meet behind closed doors and make sweetheart arrangements so everyone can appear to be friendly and in agreement. This is the root of so many of our recent fiascos in San Diego. Instead of having an honest debate about the pros and cons of, for example, building a ballpark for a billionaire, the honchos made the decision behind closed doors based on a flawed consensus, and went out and sold it to everyone as a wonderful idea. No debate. No discussion of who would actually pay for the deal. No provisions for making sure the city wouldn't get ripped-off by John Moores and his clever lawyers. No, the issues between MAD and CDC are NOT a result of personality conflicts, but an honest attempt by those who disagree to air their points of view before policy gets made. So while the mediators are, I'm sure, well intentioned, they are not helping the democratic process. Rather they are going to stiffle the democratic process by insisting that everyone "get along". As to the CDC staffers arrogantly refusing communications with the members of the MAD...it's inexcusable. It's their JOB to take the heat, whether it is polite is irrelevant. I see another snow job coming, where those who object to proposed policies are frozen out of the process so the privilaged staffers and insiders can get back to running things behind closed doors without the pesky public getting involved. I urge the individuals involved to reject this "mediation" and continue doing what they are doing now...vocally objecting to plans they disagree with in public. Mediation is just another way to stiffle open debate. It ought to be resisted as yet another ploy by the insiders to shut out the voice of the general public. Best, Fred— August 25, 2008 6:58 a.m.
Schmooze and Partake
Hi Fumber, I've missed you. Your latest comment above is pure poetry. Thank you for your continued love and support. Best, Your Friend Fred— August 25, 2008 6:41 a.m.
State Lands Commission Approves Lease of State Property for Poseidon's Carlsbad Desalination Plant
Some facts about water: 1. There is no more or less water today than 100,000 years ago. We live in a closed system and ALL water is recycled. 2. Fill a glass with water. There are more water molecules in that glass than there are glasses of water in all the oceans in the world. 3. At least one water molecule currently in your body's system at one time passed through the system of George Washington. Those who dubbed water-recycling as "toilet to tap" engaged in cynical word-play to "poison the well" when it came to recycling. Do those same people have a direct financial interest in the vastly more expensive and less efficient desalination plant? As usual in San Diego, the insiders are aided and abetted by a press corps that is either dishonest or ignorant. We're going to pay a lot more for water than necessary, and a privilaged few will profit enormously. Best, Fred— August 24, 2008 10:29 a.m.
Schmooze and Partake
There is no evidence for the existence of a supernatural deity that lives in the clouds and monitors your masturbation, marriage, and choice in football teams. There is no evidence that your angry sky-god causes hurricanes, disease, or earthquakes. There is no evidence that prayer affects the outcomes of physical events. On the contrary, there is considerable evidence, independently verified, repeatable, and completely independent of any "belief" that weather events and natural disasters are caused by measurable and well-understood physical processes. There is considerable evidence that masturbation, marriage, and outcomes of games are independent of any religious belief or supernatural intervention. Do you believe in talking donkeys? Do you think that eating shellfish is sinful in the eyes of your vengeful god? Do you believe that god hates any manifestations of love that do not result in pregnancy? Of course you don't. I feel pity for the deluded, not respect. If my neighbor believes there is a hoard of pirate's gold in his backyard, and spends all his spare time with his family digging up the garden, I don't have any obligation to go along with his delusions. As long as he leaves me alone, it's his business. But when he insists that the government pass a law requiring that I dig up MY garden to support his belief in an obvious absurdity, he deserves not only opposition but ridicule for his illogic. Your belief that a made-up story, traditional though it may be, should form the basis of laws enforced at the point of a gun, is absurd...no matter how popular or widespread. Unfortunately, your position is supported by a majority of today's electorate, and they have the same vote as those of us who actually know how to think and reason for ourselves. It's a strange inversion when you accuse those of us who don't indulge in childish magical thinking of lacking in logic. Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary proof. That's what Russell's teapot illustrates. While such an imaginary orbiting teapot is possible, it's likelihood is so remote that we don't take it seriously. Just like your traditional belief in a god who kills children who make fun of bald guys. Such thinking deserves as much respect as the folks who dress up like Wookies at a sci-fi convention...you don't have the right to force me to dress like a Wookie, or express public respect for your sincere belief in Wookism. Unfortunately, those believers in talking donkeys, the evils of shellfish, and an angry sky-god who condemns masturbation, are prominent and powerful in our society. We've got one as President, and look where it's gotten us. Best, Fred— August 24, 2008 8:53 a.m.