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Sempra spins Sunrise Powerlink in the Union-Tribune
Anon, Take a breather buddy. All of us are mightily pissed off at the situation. Yet we can also mix in a little fun too. As you've seen, sometimes that mix ends up in surprising places...and that's totally normal for blogs. Some places have moderators that delete anything that isn't germane. They'll label it "thread hijacking", which is a wonderful term. But as long as Don doesn't mind things veering off course now and then, it's okay, my friend. If he changes his mind, he can call us to task and tell us to focus on the matter at hand. Best, Fred— August 1, 2008 2:18 p.m.
Note to U-T Employees: You Think You're Angst-Ridden? Look at Your Former Ohio, Illinois Colleagues
If the editorial writers end up walking the plank, I've got one thing to say: "Arrgh yeh scurvy dogs, see you in Davy Jone's locker, swabbies!"— August 1, 2008 10:56 a.m.
The Cross Controversy
"In God We Trust" and "One Nation Under God" were both imposed onto our national life by religious nuts...neither were endorsed by the founding fathers. I make it a point to use the original Pledge, instead of the McCarthy and Knights of Columbus inspired 1954 version with its noxious "under God" inserted to destroy the rythm AND add a brainless religious plug (Un-American in the extreme) to a pledge recited mostly by school children, baseball fans, and politicians. It's also notable to compare the British 10 Pound note, with a portrait of Darwin, to our currency with it's occultist and christian symbolism. Get rid of all that claptrap. Keep religion and state as far from each other as possible...the last eight years shows what happens when we get too much religion in politics. So I agree with you, Josh. Take down the cross arms so it becomes a squarish phallic symbol like the Washington monument. This lying bull***t about it being a veterans memorial is insulting to everyone one of us who's served in uniform to protect our Constitution. I didn't serve "under God". I served under the Constitution of the United States, the first nation in the world to proudly reject state mandated religion. Anyone who wants to live "under God" can move to Saudi Arabia. Those of us who actually want to live in America can do without the Soledad Easter Cross reminding us that religious bigotry too often trumps our Constitution.— August 1, 2008 10:52 a.m.
Equal Rights For Women? Thumbs Down!
Josh, I think you're missing a salient point. Women get lots of stuff free. From ladies nights to boyfriend's gifts, we guys gotta make a bit more just to stay even. Think of it...if a guy buys a woman a car, nobody raises an eyebrow. In fact, both are praised. The man for being generous, and the woman for getting a "good catch". What happens when it's reversed? The woman is a fool for supporting a deadbeat, and the man's a bum. I've done so much unpaid labor for various girlfriends, fixing their cars and apartments, paying vet bills, bailing them out of their credit card debt...you guys all know the story. If I were to marry my sweetheart, and if she never worked another day, she'd still be claiming half my assets in a typical California divorce. The law is so twisted, she's more rewarded the less she contributes. All this is quite unfair, yet you'll never hear the women who long ago got wage parity mention any of this. Instead they'll trot out household chores as unpaid additional labor, calculate an inflated wage for this work, and claim it's discrimination. Well, how about all us guys fixing your cars? Do you know what professional mechanics earn ladies? None of us are paid enough, true. But women have far better access to both government subsidies and outright gifts than most men. Personally, I'm perfectly fine with that. "Women and children first" had better be our society's motto, or our socity will not last long. Women have tremendous advantages, and mostly deserve them. Yet I predict shrill cries of unfairness (to women) will continue throughout our lifetimes. Best, Fred— August 1, 2008 10:32 a.m.
Not So Fast, Faulconer
Faulconer does suck. What a disgrace. Who is running against him in 2010? We ought to start campaiging now to get rid of Faulconer. Wasn't Faulconer the right hand man of corrupt-insider Ron Saathoff? Time for Faulconer to find a real job...seems he's been too close to the crooks for too long, and simply doesn't give a crap what the voters think.— August 1, 2008 9:08 a.m.
The Cross Controversy
Josh, please read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Soledad_cross_… It's been an "Easter Cross" since 1913. The "Memorial" ruse surfaced as a response to later objections. Most legal scholars agree it violates both the California and U.S. Constitutions. The City of San Diego has twisted and turned ever since, because in spite of clearly violating the law, they know they'll be crucified by the talk show loud mouths if they ever did the right thing. Religious symbols offend me no more than Golden Arches or the Starbucks mermaid. But intrusions into the separation of church and state do offend me. The founding fathers were very clear on this. A latin cross paid for and maintained by the city in a place of prominence declares that this is somehow a "Christian City", and does send a signal to those of other faiths, and especially to those of us who recognize that all religion is delusion. The cross has been a pointless distraction for almost two decades now, wasting money in futile law suits because the City was determined to ignore the law and keep the cross. Even "Duke" Cunningham and dear leader George W. Bush got into the act, trying to circumvent the law by transfering ownership to the Federal government by eminent domain. So again...I'm not offended by the cross. If Christians want to venerate a murder weapon by wearing it around their necks, okay. If Moslems want to wear a burka, or Jews a yamika...okay. But don't ask me to pay for it for your jewelry, clothing, or concrete cross on a hill...okay? Consider if you'd support a giant concrete marijuana leaf that symbolizes rastafarianism on top of the most picturesque and valuable hill of our city. Will you just say, "Well I won't look at it and it doesn't bother me that my taxes pay for it." The cross, ugly symbol of death and oppression that it is, presents absolutely no problem Constitutionally as long as it's on private property. Whether you call yourself Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, or Satan Worshiper, you gotta keep your propoganda off public property. Best, Fred— August 1, 2008 9:02 a.m.
Sempra spins Sunrise Powerlink in the Union-Tribune
Re. #21 Ricky, you are a rare creature. You ask reasonable questions, and with the information you get, actually spend the time to read up and come to a conclusion based on the evidence. I suspect you are not in professional politics. You should be. We surely need more people in public office who can actually evaluate a position based on the merits, instead of making up their minds first and then looking for reasons to justify it. You made my day, Ricky. Seriously. On most blogs it's just preaching to the choir, and you've shown that sometimes here at Don Bauder's Scam Diego what we write about can make a difference. Thank you Lhogue for posting the resources. Good job! Fred— August 1, 2008 8:20 a.m.
A.H. Belo, Initially Considered Candidate To Buy Copley, Reports Big Loss, Layoffs
I sat through four Operas, all of them in Prague which is renowned for it. Except Dvorak's "Cert a Katja" (Kate and the Devil?) I fell asleep every time. I also once got dragged to see Gilbert and Sullivan by an ex-girlfriend. When I could understand the words, I recognized they were clever, but the music was dull as dirt. Hence, it's clear, according to the saintly and revered Don Bauder himself, that I'm not a NORC.— August 1, 2008 8:13 a.m.
Money Flows Out of Brandes's Investment Firm, As Stock Portfolio Fails To Perform
I don't want Brandes' investment advice. I want him to tell me where I can find a beautiful, intelligent woman like her, and somehow convince her to marry me. I admit it freely...I'm jealous.— August 1, 2008 8:03 a.m.
San Diego Home Prices Now Back to October '03 Levels. Prices Decline in May, but at Slower Pace
I speculate that the slow in the decline will speed up again after the 2008 summer home buying season. I don't expect housing prices to stabilize until at least the end of 2009. There's just too much more bad news yet to come, and in the run up to elections the full force of the economic slowdown still hasn't hit us. Houses probably become affordable again only with inflated dollars. When today's $5.00 sandwich costs $10.00 it will start to look reasonable to pay $500,000 for a three bedroom house in North Park...but not now.— August 1, 2008 7:59 a.m.