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Cut to the Bone
Pat, Please post comment #1 on www.changesandiego.org That is by far the most accurate and succinct description of our budget I've ever seen. Thomas Paine would be proud. Fred— February 6, 2009 5:16 p.m.
Dog owners and non-motor boats battle over Mission Bay
It's actually looking like the city, with it's weird ways of doing it's strange business behind closed doors has been behind these exaggerated costs and unnecessary conflicts. At the same time, they're considering privatizing Balboa Park. Paddlers and dog runners both, I hope you use this opportunity to go around those jokers downtown and find a real solution. After all, dogs and boats aren't incompatible. I'm sure there's a way for this to be worked out, as long as you get the officials from the city out of your way. Best, Fred— February 6, 2009 5:11 p.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
JW, thanks for the heads up about the 3.5% adjustment. If Don Bauder says it's reasonable, I'll trust his judgment. While we may sometimes excoriate each other, at least we all care enough to have these conversations. Glad you post here. Have a great weekend, and watch out for the rain tonight. I've heard it's gonna blow and maybe flood in lovely San Diego... Best, Fred— February 6, 2009 5:02 p.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
JW, you and I agree...Fumber is the most insightful poster to ever inflict upon himself the indignity of eating my "spooge infested bile omelet". We both deeply admire and appreciate his viewpoints, even when he's not the public payroll. As to your points, remember that the information came not from DeMaio, but from the city. I'll ignore the rest of your towering tirade since its foundation has been removed. You haven't explained why firefighters figure so prominently in the $100k+ list, except to claim that overtime is a money saver. I have doubts about that, and am not convinced that the city gets full reimbursement for overtime spent on special events. At least we know the Chargers aren't paying their fair share. Nor do I accept that officers and paramedics assigned to those events are suffering so badly that they need to be paid overtime. How about showing a little community spirit? Yet all of this is a side show to the basic reality we face. The city is broke, and it's getting broker every day. We have to reduce costs. I say there is evidence that we're overpaying public employees. The numbers seem to bear this out. It's not just fire and police, but folks like former UT writers on the Mayor's staff who get paid $140k for doing...well...okay, nobody knows what he does. What do you suggest we cut, or alternatively, how do you propose to pay off the enormous pension deficit while preventing deep cuts to services? Which tax-hike do you recommend? Simply repeating that you're above any consideration for cutbacks doesn't really amount to much of a case given our city's dire financial straits. Best, Fred— February 5, 2009 9:28 a.m.
Michael Phelps Revisited -- And a Poker Game Bust
Josh, too many cops are cowards. That's why they bust up poker games and arrest pot smokers. As far as they're concerned, a bust is a bust. Since it's easier and far less dangerous to cuff a few pot smokers, or barge in on a poker game like a SWAT team than go out and solve homicides or rape cases, that's what they do. The rewards are the same, and there's little risk of getting hurt. The cop who busts 100 pot smokers a year is going to advance up the ranks far more quickly than the one who only busts one murderer, a few rapists, and a neighborhood bully. But which cop is doing more to "protect and serve"? Have another look at www.theagitator.com. Balko's written a few bits on cops busting poker games. For example: http://www.theagitator.com/2008/04/30/more-poker-… Best, Fred— February 5, 2009 5:59 a.m.
Michael Phelps -- 8 Gold Medals, 2 Drug Busts
Josh, I did read Freakonomics, but my recollection is different. In fact, everything I've read on the subject of mandatory minimums that differentiate between powder and crack cocaine agrees that it has resulted in racial disparate drug offense sentencing. I've got some charts compiled from the FBI's own statistics that show this effect. Be happy to show them to you next time we meet and I've got my laptop handy. Ponzi, Wow. See what stupidity this "Drug War" brings into our government and public policy. Josh, (again) I have a minor suggestion to improve your writing. You have a habit of writing "people that". When it's people, you should use "who" instead. "That" is for things. "Blacks who smoke pot go to jail." "Cars that smoke go to the shop." Best, Fred— February 5, 2009 5:45 a.m.
Lollipop Guild
Gringo, Thank you for your reply. But you've misstated your case. You don't "allow" your child to believe in a fictitious "Father in Heaven"... You've TAUGHT your child to believe in falsehood, wish-thinking, and demonstrably ridiculous myths. To call a lack of belief "religion" is just another lying trick from nervous worshipers of the invisible nothingness. It's called equivocation. Here are the facts: Evolution is a demonstrable fact...unless you don't "believe" in things like agriculture or fancy dogs, you'll have to admit that we humans have been using evolution to adjust and adapt plants and animals for thousands of years. The Bible is filled with utter nonsense that is easily disproved, calling into doubt the entire text. What good stuff is in the Bible was culled from classical stoicism and other ancient sources. There's no biblical teaching on morality that is in any way unique or unprecedented in philosophy...those ideas were around for thousands of years. The Bible itself wasn't written and compiled until hundreds of years after the events it describes. The old testament in particular is filled with rape, incest, slavery, and genocide. Do you teach your child all the rules in Deuteronomy and Leviticus? Including the bits about how to sacrifice oxen, or ritually purify yourself in the event you happen to touch a woman who may be menstruating? Is that what you're equivocating with my way of thinking? Or is it that you've subsumed this nonsense since childhood as part of your identity and feel threatened by anyone who dares to point out how ridiculous it all is? Is that why you make the outrageous equivocation of "lack of religion is the same thing as religion"? Get to a community college and enroll in a science class. You really need it. Barbarella and others who have bothered to learn even the smallest amount of science and logic are entitled to a good long laugh at your silly prejudice and credulous belief in such fairy-tales and logical fallacies as you're promoting. While it's impossible to prove a negative (Russell's teapot) it's very easy to completely disprove the existence of your Christian God, the angry sky father who created all children evil, and uses talking snakes or burning bushes to communicate with us all. As I said before, religion is child abuse, polluting kids with false promises, counterproductive myths, and outrageous lies. The few sprinklings of wisdom were culled from other sources. It looks like your parents were especially cruel to you, my unfortunate friend, since they didn't love you enough to teach you about logic and science. Best, Fred— February 5, 2009 5:18 a.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
I'm calling bulshytt on this repeated "invitation" to join the police or fire department, with the implication that ONLY police and fire are qualified to comment on these public policy subjects. 1. How about YOU try to get a job out in the real world? 2. All of us are qualified to have opinions about how much we pay so-called public servants. This is something we call "democracy". 3. Cops and firefighters are NOT superior human beings. They are people who choose to do a not particularly difficult or dangerous working class job. So, Just Wondering, where are you on that list from the City? How much are we over-paying you, in addition to providing you with a plump pension, extraordinary benefits, and unshakable job security? Remember, neither police nor firefighters are even on the top ten list of most dangerous jobs. It's far more deadly to work at a 7-11 or as a taxi driver. It's time to stop extorting the rest of the public with your claims for special treatment. Cops and firefighters should be well-paid, but current compensation is over the top. We can't afford it. Best, Fred— February 5, 2009 4:59 a.m.
U-T Axe Was to Fall Friday. It Didn't. Newspaper May Need Employees to Slam Together Long-Delayed Pagination System
I was a writer, illustrator, and paste-up guy...I remember working late with x-acto knives and glue sticks, the photo-printed paper still hot... But I'm really no good as a journalist. I cannot fool myself or anyone else that I'm objective. I have a distinct viewpoint and set of experiences that I apply to what I see, and cannot pretend to separate that from my writing. That's why technology suits me. Sometimes you can actually get rewarded for telling the unvarnished truth. In politics and journalism, that seems to be forbidden.— February 4, 2009 10:59 a.m.
Deion Disses L.T.
Joel, it's time to fess up... Josh pays me to write nice things about him. It's true. Last week he gave me a crumpled five dollar bill and the dregs of his slurpee. I used the five bucks to get a half pint of vodka, mixed it all together -- got a good buzz. Josh's generous financial support provides a needed boost to my income, and helps me keep warm during these cold Balboa Park evenings. Every time I smoke my crack pipe, I give a little wave of my lighter to Josh Board. Now that's "editorial professionalism". Sincerely, Fred "Ya Got Change?" Williams c/o 3rd tree to the left, 163 Canyon Trail Balboa Park San Diego, CA 92101— February 4, 2009 10:50 a.m.