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No Double Dipping
JF, you "put your life on the line"? How often? How many fire calls have you had this year so far? Isn't the truth that the overwhelming majority of calls are medical -- something we shouldn't be sending an entire crew to cover except for the union dictated work rules? Convenience store clerks put their lives on the line every day too, with a much higher rate of job related deaths...should we give them double-dips too? Get off that "I'm a fireman, you all bow down to me" trip and you'll make better sense. Best, Fred— February 13, 2009 5:27 p.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
JF, you "put your life on the line"? How often? How many fire calls have you had this year so far? Isn't the truth that the overwhelming majority of calls are medical -- something we shouldn't be sending an entire crew to cover except for the union dictated work rules? Convenience store clerks put their lives on the line every day too, with a much higher rate of job related deaths...should we give them double-dips too? Get off that "I'm a fireman, you all bow down to me" trip and you'll make better sense. Best, Fred— February 13, 2009 5:26 p.m.
How to sell pest control in San Diego
Had a look at your blog...great writing, but nothing new since August of last year. Your description of the teacher training was hilarious. It brought to mind this classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8Pk1UYkB3I But my favorite version comes from Danny Elfman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP_xIJFZaoY Best, Fred— February 13, 2009 6:16 a.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
Re: 832 For my dear friend and biggest fan, Fumber, I will gratuitously do as he commands and "say": "LIBERALS HAVE MADE UNIONS AN UNBREAKABLE FORCE" Only to continue on with the obvious point that nothing is unbreakable and not every unionist is liberal nor does every liberal support unions. There are good and bad aspects to unions and their collective bargaining powers. What we've seen in the public sphere in the last few decades, Fumber my buddy, is unions at their worst...led by a self-dealing group of insiders they not only hurt the city, they've hurt the union members too. I don't think anyone would call Ron Saathoff a liberal, but he's the one who seems primarily at fault -- using the union as a cover for law breaking while deceiving his own membership about his secret deals with managers like Jack McGrory. Are liberal judges, liberal city attorneys and liberal prosecutors to blame for never even lifting a finger to prevent, let alone actually pursue those responsible? Hardly, since most of them seem to be self-identified "conservatives". I don't blame good people like JF for defending what was promised to them. He's not the bad guy. He did what they asked and expects them to keep their word. And the cold reality is that those promises will be broken -- they never should have been given or believed in the first place. So now we have to change things before it gets out of hand. So far it seems the firefighters and police unions are more interested in defending their turf than in finding a realistic solution. They've yet to admit that since they were part of the original problem, they have a responsibility to be part of the solution. I look forward to the inevitable day when that will change, and hope it's sooner rather than later. Unions aren't inherently bad, though they can behave badly. When they're out of line, their members, like JF, ought to set them straight. I believe JF is doing so, and this conversation has helped to draw forth some serious proposals that I've not seen anywhere else. If he can get the union to adopt these, or even go farther, San Diego will be a far better place in the future. Best, Fred— February 12, 2009 7:42 p.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
New on the Nightly Business Report on PBS: Explicitly referring to "gold-plated, platinum-plated" public employee pensions and health care obligations, Jim Chanos says state and local finances are in a mess...watch for yourself. http://www.pbs.org/nbr/site/research/learnmore/09… San Diego needs to combat its problems before it's too late...— February 12, 2009 7:20 p.m.
How to sell pest control in San Diego
Cami, I taught ESL in Korea back in my misspent youth. What's it like in Taiwan? As Vincent says, you could make a living as a writer. Your breezy style is well-suited to online distribution. Plus you're really cute, so a bit of video would go over well too. I look forward to seeing and reading more of you. Send out more stories more places...you've got it. Maybe I shouldn't bag on Brandon. Sincerity goes a long way. I'm sure he really believes what he's teaching, and it's a needed mindset for success in high pressure sales. But research and common sense tells us that there is never a one true way to success in life. Look at Malcolm Gladwell's latest book Outliers to see why. Not only do we have different genetic inheritance, but different environments and peers to inculcate unique skills and values into our lives. Just working hard and "wanting it" has never been enough. Those who preach this doctrine can do real harm in this world, while overlooking their own inherited and acquired advantages. That makes most self-help books worthless. I've not met a salesman yet who wasn't a fountain of self-help psycho-babble, Someone with a gift for superficial conversation and manipulation of strangers rarely has much else going for them, and few real friends. If Brandon is an exception, I'd be happy to meet him...but you didn't describe him that way. Just because a sales guy makes a lot of money and teaches the techniques to others doesn't make him admirable. Does he have anything else in his life...like teaching in Taiwan? That, to me at least, is far more important and admirable. As is writing skill. Intelligent writing is incredibly attractive, and you're a real gem, Cami. Keep up the writing and enjoy your time overseas. Pitch an article to the Reader about finding and keeping a job over there from the perspective of a former San Diegan...I bet they'll buy it. Best, Fred— February 12, 2009 12:19 a.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
Re: 796...smirk. Re: 797...post the link. I'll look into it. That may be something I can do to help. Thanks. Re: 799...okay, let's count. Hueso and Young are in your pocket we all know. So that's two. Emerald owes you for all the campaign signs, as does Gloria. So that's four. Is Lightner in debt to the firefighter's union too? What about Faulconer? You helped elect him too. So I guess all the citizens of San Diego can count on is DeMaio and Frye...not because they're anti-firefighter (nobody is) but because they're not beholden to your extraordinarily active and powerful union. But maybe our council will learn to count other numbers, like the people who are deeply disturbed that SOME people can elect their bosses and thereby dictate their labor contracts. Instead of public servants, they become public masters. The disenfranchised majority could revolt. We live in interesting and volatile times, my friend. So we'll see. The basic fact remains that we're in very bad shape as a city. What can we afford? Is it really reasonable to pay firefighters in excess of $100k in salary and "overtime" (sometimes spent sleeping, shopping, watching golf games, or playing cards) as well as gold-plated pensions along with guaranteed job security? Now if the firefighters union would go after the real culprits who robbed us blind, resulting in the pension underfunding, I'd be a big fan. But I've never seen a public employee with the gumption to state the obvious truth that crooks like Moores ripped off the city and we need our money back. Rather, firefighter union flunkies, I mean Saathoff in particular, campaigned to give away money to sports moguls knowing full-well that it would take away money from future pension contributions. (But he sure did get a big payoff.) So, JF, who has so much time to post on such a variety of media in defense of the indefensible while working "mandatory overtime"...why don't you turn your talents toward those who really harmed you? Not just Moores, but staffers like McGrory and Gwinn too. I look forward to the new leadership you'll bring to the firefighters of San Diego. Best, Fred— February 11, 2009 11:59 p.m.
Undiagnosed
Good thing you're not paying for a CT scan! How much will you be out of pocket for the goop they had you drink? Stress can mess up your gall blader function, and then you get stomach pains and lose appetite. But that may not be the condition. Remember, I'm not qualified to give you any advice on this stuff, just letting you know what worked when I got stressed enough to need to change my diet, increase my exercise (hint, hint), and lay off the sleepless nights worrying about things beyond my control (like capricious software budgets). I can't say I'm any happier or wiser today, but I don't have the stomach pains any more and I've even grown a slight pudge. So diet, exercise, and deciding to finally realize my ambition of trading worrying for writing and singing songs (even if they suck) seems do have done the trick. Speaking of which...I feel a tune coming on..."Barbarella's Barfing"...oh, I gotta write this down... :-) Seriously, from your writing we all know you're in a very stressful time right now. And your writing has gotten you in trouble (the curse of any honest and open writer is lost friends). So it's obvious you're having a hard time of it. Take long walks in Balboa Park. I also highly recommend going to the rose garden (across the pedestrian bridge from the fountain) and deliberately smelling at least one rose from each and every bush until you determine which one has the most pleasing smell. Make it a project. It's wonderful for clearing your mind. Let me know if the knee trick works at relieving stomach pressure. I've gotten some of the most wonderful, pleasurable, booming farts of my lifetime through that method. So be sure to do it alone, or in a well-ventilated room. It won't smell like the roses at Balboa Park. Best, Fred— February 11, 2009 5:05 p.m.
Undiagnosed
I once had some stomach troubles, and found that lying down on my left side with my right knee up to my chest would somehow open things up and relieve pressure. It worked within a half hour. Try it. It can't hurt, and may help a bit. Hope you get this sorted out. If it's stress, your gall bladder may be involved...if so a few weeks of low-fat, non-spicy food can do wonders. Do you have insurance? Best, Fred— February 11, 2009 3:35 p.m.
How to sell pest control in San Diego
Cami, you tell a great story. Brandon sounds like a first-class horse's ass who actually believes the crap he spouts. Just the kind of plastic excuse for a human who excels at door-to-door. I sold door-to-door for a few months and hated every instant of it. The ones who made the big money were just slime, telling whatever lie and using whatever manipulation they could get away with. I was very happy to leave that job. In fact, if I ever got desperate enough to do door-to-door again, I'd sell bright red "No Soliciting" signs, carry along a battery operated screwdriver and charge an extra five bucks for instant installation. "Hi, I'm Fred. Don't you hate door-to-door solicitors? Wouldn't you like to have justification to slam the door in their face? Well, after I install this little sign, they'll think twice before they bother you. And if they knock on your door...watch out! Yessir, that'll be five dollars for just the sign -- ten dollars installed...whirrrrrrrrr. "Oh, you don't want it now? That's okay. I'll be back tomorrow. What time are you having dinner?" Cami, I really enjoyed your article. I look forward to more of them. Can we assume you no longer sell pest control? What are you doing now? Best, Fred— February 11, 2009 3:11 p.m.