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For 2010, 2011, and 2012 seasons, San Diego Opera cuts back to four operas instead of the usual five
$8M for arts, $11M for Padres, and $5M for Chargers. Hardly seems equitable...especially since your article shows attendance at high brow events is up, while attendance at ballgames is down.— February 11, 2009 2:31 p.m.
Psychics (and the idiots that use them)
Anti, I always love your comments. You write so very well. Do me a favor. Contact the Randi Educational Foundation. They offer a cool million dollars to anyone who can prove their ability. It seems like your friends are sure to win. http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/1m-challenge.… If a million isn't enough, scroll down in this page to see the list of organizations that offer similar prizes to anyone who can prove their ability: http://skepdic.com/randi.html When you guys cash the check, please give me a small gift for the tip. My universe is pretty darn big, actually. In fact, it contains a lot of mysteries waiting to be solved...but by reason, experimentation and proof rather than wishful thinking. As Josh says, if they're really able to do these things, why didn't they short shares earlier this year, and make a fortune? Or why don't they warn people who are going to be in car wrecks not to go out that day, saving their lives? How is it that whenever the so-called channelers connect with someone from the past, it's always a celebrity? Randi isn't alone in debunking alleged psychic abilities. He's joined by Penn and Teller and a lot of other professional conjurers who resent those who lie about what they do for a living. They have great fun showing exactly how the fake miracles are done. Yet there is something in human nature that makes us WANT to believe in nonsense. Cognitive scientists have done some interesting work pinpointing regions in the brain responsible for fallacious beliefs. In my big wide universe, I quite like keeping up with this research, since it explains how otherwise cogent and sensible folks like yourself end up so credulous and believing in psychic frauds. Otherwise, if you really can prove it, go take Randi's money. It's waiting for you...I hope your friends win. It would sure change the way I view the world. But until then, I think I'll rely on fact-based reality to navigate through this enormous universe of ours. Best, Fred— February 11, 2009 11:42 a.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
Re: http://media.lvrj.com/documents/salaries_comparis… Very nicely done. I'd suggest we produce something similar for San Diego and send it to the Reader. I'd put Gerry Braun on the list, as well as the honchos at CCDC and the Chamber. JF and JW, you guys should know I'm not inherently anti-police or firefighters, but believe that your take-home pay has gotten out of proportion to the work you perform, especially when one considers the current state of the economy. I'm not alone in this. JF, I've seen your comments over at VOSD where an even larger group of commenters have negative thoughts about current public employee salaries. While I'm highly critical of the current situation, I'm gratified to see JF making some especially cogent suggestions on modifications to agreements and alternative revenue sources. As you probably know, I'm also a harsh critic of how CCDC and SEDC have misused public funds, and how redevelopment in San Diego has shortchanged public services like firefighting. I've also suggested (and received criticism) that we dramatically expand the amount of volunteerism here in San Diego so that we can respond to city-wide emergencies like the inevitable firestorms, flooding, and earthquakes that plague our region. I think the firefighters and police would get a lot of credit and support if they got in front of this issue instead of trying to defend the status quo. I'd really like to see cops and firefighters lead the charge in demanding that the city stop paying outrageous salaries. By offering to curtail their own income, they could force every other employee of the city to accept a temporary $100k wage cap. Can you imagine the political capital you'd have? You've got some great ideas, but if you don't capture the public's imagination with something bold, not just tinkering around the edges, you'll see that you're more resented than respected in the future. Best, Fred— February 11, 2009 11:27 a.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
Doing my bit to take this thread to 1000, Fumber, I want to thank you again. With your help, I've now sold over two million bottles of "Fred's Panty Waste" through my retail partners in the adult book and entertainment industries. Of course, I'd never have made it this far without my business partner, J.W. By providing a fresh harvest of chunky panty paste every morning, he's been absolutely critical in supplying the raw materials that makes "Fred's Panty Waste" such a commercial success. To celebrate our groundbreaking business, J.W. and I have set up the Fumber Memorial Scholarship fund, which will pay for you to finally attend and graduate from middle school. We're honored to assist you in your academic goals, and hopeful that when you've completed your course of education that you'll finally get a job and move out of your mother's basement. Again, Fumber, let me offer my deepest thanks and humble appreciation for all you have done to make "Fred's Panty Waste" such a huge hit. See you at the Brass Rail later tonight, my friend. Best, Fred "Panty Waste Mogul" Williams Founder and CEO F.P.W.-Inc. (NASDAQ FPWI) 1234 Smegma Street San Diego, CA 92101— February 11, 2009 11:17 a.m.
Psychics (and the idiots that use them)
I had some down time a few years back, and since I was just hanging out I decided to try an experiment... I bought a set of tarot cards and a book that explained their meanings. It took me a few hours to memorize those, and I was ready. I went to a place where a lot of international students congregated, and struck up conversations. I offered to give people a reading. Each time, I did it just as the book says...reflecting the fact that every one of those cards has a dualistic meaning...often diametrically opposed. If someone responded to something I said, that's the path I followed. Each and every time the subjects were amazed at how accurately I described them. After each "reading" I explained what I had done, how I had read them more than the cards, and that these readings are always accurate because they simply don't signify anything. Not one of these people, who moments before had trusted me completely, believed that it was all so easy and all so fake. They made up reasons to believe even after I told them it was all a bunch of bull. It says a lot about human nature and the propensity to believe comforting nonsense rather than face reality. I had fun, but was bored with it within a few weeks. Seriously, anyone who believes in psychics shouldn't be allowed to vote. Astrology is just as phony for the same reasons. Here's a short video with professional magician James Randi showing how horoscopes are so much junk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dp2Zqk8vHw— February 10, 2009 3:08 p.m.
Here Are the Banks Using Your Tax Money for Pro Sports Naming Rights Scam
Don Bauder was often the ONLY voice of sanity in the various stadium rip-offs. Don Bauder consistently opposed these deals, giving facts and figures instead of the editorial policy of fabricating outright lies based on blind faith and self-interest rather than facts. This took courage. It's one of the reasons I'm such a fan of Don Bauder today. Direct your outrage at the other so-called reporters who were paid off by the Padres and Chargers or too scared to tell the obvious truth. Don Bauder has always been on the right side of this issue -- as a consequence, his articles were frequently buried on the bottom right of page 2, where they were least likely to be seen. As far as I'm concerned, Don Bauder is one of the few honorable and honest journalists who ever worked at the UT. I'm sure grateful he's agreed to continue writing about San Diego. We're lucky to have him. If I ever meet him again in person, I'll shake his hand until it falls off. Don, stay healthy. We need you around for as long as we can keep you!— February 10, 2009 2:43 p.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
Those are reasonable suggestions. The Rancho Penasquitos example you provide above is indicative of the folly of not separating fire from paramedics. There is overlap, yes, but too often we send a fire truck when all that's needed is an ambulance. This seems to be city policy, and when a fire needs to be put out the crew is instead helping with a heart attack. As to toasters, well JF, get over yourself. I don't leave any hazard unattended...remember, I'm former military. I don't need your paternal oversight. I'll take care of myself, thanks. Besides, toasters aren't as big a problem as candles. You know when your girlfriend decides to "set a romantic mood" and lights up a dozen of the smelly things, puts them too close to drapes and curtains, lets them burn all night long after you both fall asleep in post-coital bliss...those things are dangerous. But instead of doing something to tell women to knock it off, the city has banned "novelty lighters" instead. What a city!— February 10, 2009 10:42 a.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
I want a toaster...— February 9, 2009 noon
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
JF, A cop's life, and the family's grief, is not greater or less than any other's. Do not lumberjack families suffer far more when their breadwinner dies? Where are the special scholarships for their children? How about when a clerk at a store is shot? Those deaths outnumber LEO deaths by a huge factor, and I can guarantee you the families are left far worse off than the kids of a cop who dies on the job, whether from violence or accident. Again, cops and firefighters are not heros, just guys doing a difficult and dangerous job...like so many others in this world. Let's stop with the slavish adoration already. It's one of the root causes of the ridiculous situation we face today, where cops and firefighters consider themselves above everyone else.— February 8, 2009 8:33 a.m.
San Diego's changing its dive bars
It's Friday Night...those sushi bellied beauties have only about an hour to live and I'm hungry. Rest assured I'll have along condoms, goggles and earplugs. You can't be too safe in North Park...especially when McDouche is resonating oontz oontz, the lasers flash and walls shake - faux furniture falls forward and doomed damsels dash dire plans, slipping sashimi, spilling the soy-wasabi down to their... Mmmmm... Thanks for the tip! Rev. Dr. Fred "Fish" Williams Rector and Docent; Faith Always Reviving Tabernacle Director; Churches Allied for Spiritual Hope 202 Bullshart Street San Diego, CA 92101 All you desperate bar hopping posers, you who want to change your lives... Make your checks and money orders out to the Churches Allied for Spiritual Hope, or simply "C.A.S.H." Our first task is to sample all the vice and pretension so rampant in San Diego first hand. Your generous donations, along with the Fine Food For Fred Fund (5F) and Parents Eternally Rejecting Vulgar Eroticism (PERVE) support this important mission. Give now and from your heart to help me confront this lifestyle to which none of you should ever be exposed. Though I sacrifice and risk all, it's in humble service to a greater cause. Peace upon you my children. I eagerly await your donations.— February 6, 2009 7:05 p.m.