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Does new convention center in San Diego make any sense?
History matters. Look at previous collapses. Nobody at the time expected them to come so fast and be so far reaching. We're kidding ourselves if we think we're just going through a temporary "adjustment". The changes we're going to experience in the next few years are going to be deep and lasting. Anyone who expects things to go back to "normal" will be sorely disappointed. Meanwhile, our political and economic "leaders" are fiddling while the world burns. For San Diego to waste yet more money on a convention center expansion at a time like this shows just how out of touch they are. The way of life we've had for the last few decades is OVER. Those who are ignoring reality and clinging to business as usual need to be removed from public office, RIGHT NOW. The fact that the same ignoramuses who got us into this mess are now pushing this expansion shows how out of touch we are in San Diego. They've screwed us so completely that we should be covering them with tar and feathers, NOT appointing them to yet another rubber-stamp board that will make the predictable pre-ordained recommendation that sinks us further into disaster. I'd like to personally spit in the face of each and every one of these appointees. They've earned it.— March 26, 2009 2:12 a.m.
UCSD pays for trans-species project.
I'm all in favor of genuine research in computer science and the arts...this isn't it. If someone wants to morph into a dragon, fine. But NOT with taxpayer money at a time like this. Who approved these grants?— March 26, 2009 2 a.m.
Unaudited Audits
Carl DeMaio is right. This is TOTALLY unacceptable. There's no way this wasn't cynically planned out in advance. This stinks to high heaven. Mary Lewis should be fired for this.— March 26, 2009 1:01 a.m.
The Padres’ Mystery Lineup
Tiki and Monaghan, Are you forgetting that just about everything Bruce Henderson predicted came true? He was vilified, practically run out of town for telling the truth...and you STILL want to blame him for what happened? Please, direct your anger toward the owners of the Chargers and Padres, and the city staff and elected officials. They're the ones who lied to us, ripped off the city for hundreds of millions of dollars, and are now living in luxury because people like you refused to listen to Henderson. Why do you think the city is bankrupt? It's precisely because of the deals Henderson opposed. For you to now ridicule him shows a complete lack of class or intelligence.— March 26, 2009 12:57 a.m.
Two Nobel Economists Denounce Geithner Plan for Lining Wall Street Pockets
The best article I've found yet on the situation we're in is by Matt Tiabbi of Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/267939…— March 25, 2009 8:44 a.m.
San Diego City Employees’ Retirement System overestimates annual pension returns
So, Don, are you predicting a "dead cat bounce" later this year? You could be right. I'm afraid, however, that the recent news from China regarding their doubts over our economy spell the end for the USD as the world's reserve currency. I'm skeptical of any real recovery this year. So the market moves you're predicting seem to be based on outguessing investor psychology. You may be right that they'll be bright and optimistic later this year, but if so I predict they'll quickly recover their senses and realize that without fundamental changes to the way in which the whole world does business there is no sustainable future. I'm thinking now that we should have let the titans of wall street fail, instead of bailing them out. Seems we're throwing good money after bad, and in the end there will be nothing left. Worst of all, as you noted, the billionaires are the ones getting the help while simultaneously the little guys are getting stomped. Historically, that can only go on so long before there's a revolution.— March 25, 2009 2:55 a.m.
Escorts & Engagements
First time blogger--Having grabbed last weeks reader to put on the bottom of my budgies's cage, I happened to read about a book signing for a local author, and starting reading the blogs - ridiculous, let's set it straight, I'm 67 now and from 40 to 53 I worked at the City Council(I'm sure I met some of you guys). I cleared between fifty five to sixy thousend dollars per year(thank you fellows)...when at the age of fifty four, I became a private political consultant, catering to city, state and local politicians. I tucked away approximately one hunderd and thirty thousend dollars a year and with solid investment tips(from clients),I am now retired, have a beautiful four bedroom home in San Diego and who knows, I might be your neighbor! The moral(haha)of this little blog is stop being negative about what others choose to do with their lives and get on with your own... Sincerely, Former State Senator Steve Peace— March 24, 2009 12:46 a.m.
Trick Play
Sports and scholarship should be separate. This story illustrates the problem we've grown in our society. Because sports are perversely grafted onto the schools, it becomes "residents vs. students". That's not it at all. It's about people who attend aggressive sporting events. Everywhere in the world, these events provoke fights, drunkenness, and other antisocial behavior. Coaches teach how to "beat" the other team. It's all about testosterone and adrenaline, and has NOTHING to do with education. When you host events of this nature, the outcome is so well-known that the residents have legitimate concerns for their safety and quality of life. Then the professional bullies get their crazed fans and naive students to intimidate those who dare stand in opposition. They put on the false cloak of "scholarship", when in fact all they care about is sports and entertainment. Hoover has serious problems. Gang activity and poor student achievement are just symptomatic of the mentality that puts sports in the place of a learning curriculum. Hoover DOESN'T need yet more sports spending that will only drive down the neighborhood. Hoover needs teachers and students who are there to learn...NOT play games. If football games are so damned important, let the Chargers pay for the playing fields their trainees require. The rest of society needs engineers, scientists, and other useful people. Not more frustrated wannabe jocks picking fights at a Friday night game.— March 23, 2009 2:27 a.m.
San Diego City Employees’ Retirement System overestimates annual pension returns
Not to spread panic, but has anyone considered the worst case scenarios? What if stocks don't recover for more than a decade? What if China pulls the plug on our Treasury? What if another major war, famine, or infectious disease breaks out? All the projections seem to be based on the last 30 years of unprecedented peace and stability...ignoring the rest of human history. Consider what happened to the Dutch empire after the tulip craze...did they EVER recover? If the assumptions of our leaders are examined, I think we'll find that we've been kidding ourselves, and that the promises made to pensioners will turn out to be no more real than fairy-dust.— March 23, 2009 2:09 a.m.
Florida Marlins Agree to Share Profits with Governments if Team Sold
Oops, John Moores already appears to have sold the Padres...sure, San Diego paid for all the expenses, and gave Moores vast swaths of valuable real estate, but only John Moores pockets all the profits from his bribery of public officials, and duping of gullible rubes who voted to support this theft. In all seriousness, if I ever come within spitting distance of John Moores, he'll get a glob right between the eyes. That slime ball belongs in prison.— March 23, 2009 1:33 a.m.