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Stonemason at Work Between Talmadge and City Heights
This ought to be encouraged elsewhere in San Diego. Thanks for reporting this story.— July 23, 2011 1:18 a.m.
Wall Street Thrives on Main Street Pain
Master Chief Petty Officer Charles O. Gaylor of Fighter Squadron 211, the Fighting Checkmates, is my model for performing the black arts of profanity, calumny, and sarcasm. The Master Chief, a short, bald, fat cigar chomping salt with 40 years on his sleeve could convert a strapping young recruit into a blubbering infant in less time than it takes to launch the alert birds. So today, in honorable memory of this great man, I invoke his spirit to pass along these words of wisdom: "God****it sailor, I guarangod****doubletydog***tee that I will have your *** up in front of a ****ing son of a ***** who will cut off your **** shred it in a ****ing propeller and then ram it up your god ****ed mother****ing ****hole, which you will then regurgitate each morning to **** yourself with, regretting the unfortunate night your syphilitic parents drunkenly ****ed resulting in your sorry excuse for a **** ****ing *****." (Let's see if that gets through the filters...admin, please don't delete me, I'm just kidding here!)— July 23, 2011 1:14 a.m.
Wall Street Thrives on Main Street Pain
Don, from you that is very high praise indeed. Thank you. If only I were also rich, telegenic, and willing to explain my viewpoint in such a way that it doesn't offend the ordinary sensibility...I might have more influence. Looking at the calendar I see it's about time for my yearly re-reading of Candide by Voltaire, to remind myself that I really ought to be tending my own garden. :-) Best, Fred— July 23, 2011 1:03 a.m.
Wall Street Thrives on Main Street Pain
Writing up ideas is easy...it's actually doing it in the real world that proves to be quite difficult. :-)— July 23, 2011 12:57 a.m.
Wall Street Thrives on Main Street Pain
Twister 'n me's tight, y'all...he my dawg! I be knowin' he got my back, aight?— July 23, 2011 12:56 a.m.
Wall Street Thrives on Main Street Pain
Roger Waters of Pink Floyd wrote a song ("Home", Radio Kaos) with these lyrics: When they overrun the defenses A minor invasion put down to expenses Will you go down to the airport lounge Will you accept your second class status A nation of waitresses and waiters Will you mix their martinis Will you stand still for it Or will you take to the hills When the cowboys and Arabs draw down On each other at noon In the cool dusty air of the city boardroom Will you stand by a passive spectator Of the market dictators Will you discreetly withdraw With your ear pressed to the boardroom door Will you hear when the lion within you roars Will you take to the hills— July 23, 2011 12:54 a.m.
Hallelujah! NFL Admits Football Has No Economic Impact
"History Repeating" Updated...watch carefully for some clever highjinx. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTUIHK7gHRE Yes, the Roman Colosseum still stands, but not the Roman Empire. It was Gibbons who coined the phrase "bread and circuses", and the founders of our republic grew up on his analysis of ancient history. Gibbons has gone out of style, as have the virtues he recommended to future legislators. So instead of infrastructure, we got football and baseball fields, hockey rinks and basketball hoops. Schadenfreude makes me want to put out my tongue and say, "I told you so" to San Diego. But it's far to tragic and senseless for that. Oh well. Life will go on, but it won't be so great as it could have been, since we've already squandered so much for so very little...investing in private sports entertainment businesses rather than our kids' futures. Now the billionaires finally admit they've been lying about the economic "benefits" all along. Too late. We're already pretty much wrung out, with no more left to give away to these crooks. Someone who grew up reading about the Fall of the Roman Empire would both punish these charlatans and prevent it from happening again. Sadly, you'll find few in a position of real power who could even tell you who Gibbons was, much less what he wrote. No intelligent man can both love professional sports entertainment and claim to care about America too. Fred— July 21, 2011 2:42 a.m.
How Did We Get in This Mess at Southwestern College and Sweetwater Union?
Susan, you are doing a great job. If more reporters produced articles like this, San Diego would be in better shape soon. Have you noticed the UT's "Watchdog" (more like lapdogs, but I digress) have taken credit for the Sweetwater story? According to them, they're the ones who did the investigation and brought this scandal to light. If there's any integrity in journalism, you'll win an award for your work over the last year in the South Bay, Susan. (If The Reader hasn't given you a nice bonus, it certainly should!) I'm your devoted fan. Thank you Susan! Best, Fred— July 21, 2011 2:15 a.m.
Wall Street Thrives on Main Street Pain
When we look at history, and economic collapses, one of the conditions that makes things worse is a separation between those making the decisions, and those who have to carry out the decisions. Today, in America, there's a tiny sliver that controls most important decisions, whether economic, social, or political. These same decision makers are insulated from the rest of us. They go to different schools, have different expectations, even experience reality in a different way from us. They look down on us, when they deign to notice us at all. When their bad decisions hurt us, they can laugh and look away. After all, we are not the same as them so they have no instinct for empathy toward us. Even when they don the mantle of philanthropy, a lot of times it's either a tax dodge or ego trip. So we see that we are right now experiencing the conditions that students of history know lead to dire consequences. It would be brave to ask, "So what do we do about it?" I admire all those who stand up and dare to speak against this state of affairs. But I'd be kidding myself to say that this is likely to work. Sure, we must speak out...but we know we're going to be ignored and we're objecting mostly to salve our own conscience. We are, in a sadly real way, spectators and commentators when it comes to economics and politics in America. This is especially true in San Diego where the separation between those who truly make the decisions (hint: usually not elected officials) and those who bear the brunt of these decisions has never been greater or more obvious. Hope for the best, but plan for the worst. We can hope our overlords are wise, but since we've seen little evidence of this lately it's prudent to plan how to endure, or better escape, their realm of influence. Best, Fred— July 21, 2011 2:01 a.m.
Wall Street Thrives on Main Street Pain
Emergency Business Plan Start up costs less than $100 1. Buy a box of plastic "No Soliciting" signs with pre-drilled holes. 2. Buy/borrow a rechargeable lightweight drill. Buy small screws that fit the holes in the signs. 3. Wear nice clothes, put on a big smile, knock on any door that doesn't already have a "No Soliciting" sign, and offer to install one on the spot for a "suggested donation" of five dollars. 3a. If they say yes, install the "No Soliciting" sign and smile, with your hand out for five bucks. (If they don't pay, take back the sign and screws, and they've got holes in their door for messing with you.) 3b. If they say no, smile and tell them you'll knock again tomorrow...since there's no sign telling you not to. (You needn't do this. Just follow around some magazine sales people...you'll sell out in no time.) 4. Be careful with your cash. Don't tell anyone about your business...it's too easy to copy. Enjoy the freedom, healthful exercise, and income from your bootstrapped business. 5. Get discovered by the city and end up having to get a solicitor's license...ironically enough. (Don't bother to get one until they warn you it's needed.) Best, Fred— July 21, 2011 1:46 a.m.