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“The City is broke and they are talking about a retractable-roof stadium"
It's way past time to tell Fabiani and Spanos that their use of the public money teats has been terminated--PERMANENTLY! What we have here is a condition called "Stadium Envy." Much like pe***** envy, stadium envy will often drive supposedly rational adults mad with the desire to build a "bigger and better" version of the stadia they toured during the last NFL season. Well, if they want to build the "Kubali Kahn, Spanos, and Fabiani Xanaduian Memorial Pleasure Palace" in Downtown San Diego, then let them build it...but on one condition. That condition: they have to finance the whole project out of their pockets, with no funding from either the City, or the County, of San Diego. And if they decide to threaten to move the Chargers to places like Industry; South-Central L.A.; Las Vegas; or Stinky Landfill, Montana unless we give in to what they want, with no back-talk? Both the City Council and The County Board Of Supervisors need to have spine transplants and learn to say "NO," while making that "NO" stick like Velcro. If Fabiani and the Spanos family carries out their threats? Well, we wish them luck wherever they go--and would be wise not to let the screen door hit them where the dog should have bit them! We have far more pressing needs in both the City and the County than to shovel our public funds into the Pit of No Return that would be a new publicly-funded stadium that Joe Six-Pack and Jane Beujoulais have no hope of seeing a live Chargers game in. Send them both to the back of the line--where they belong! --LPR— May 14, 2010 8:58 p.m.
I Voted--But Will You?
Actually, CF, by the time my ballot arrives in my mailbox, I've already made up my mind about how I'm going to cast it. My research starts when I recieve my Offical California Voter's Guide from the Secretary Of State's office (as well as the one put out by the S.D. Registrar Of Voters). Add to that a bit of research on Nexis/Lexis, and I'm ready to do my duty. I do understand that once the ballot is cast, there is no "do over." By the time I get my ballot, like I said, I'm ready to vote. Hence the reading-and-research beforehand. This way, I don't have "voter's remorse" after I mark-and-mail my ballot. Plus, out in these parts, the nearest polling place is three miles from my apartment--and most of it is inaccessible by public transportation. If it's a choice between absentee balloting and paying for a round-trip cab ride...I'll go absentee, thank you! But, that's just me. However it gets done--let's get 'er done. The right to vote is like your body--if you don't exercise it, it will go away! --LPR— May 13, 2010 8:07 p.m.
The Battle of Madison Avenue
One thing that you forgot to mention there, RG: The end of the "Empire of Mexico" came when Maximillian III and several of his followers were put before a Mexican Army firing squad and executed. By then, the French had their hands full with a ascendant Prussia, and would't send troops to save his sorry butt from being blown away. As for "celebrating" Cinco de Mayo? There is a very good reason why my dad (a former bartender) called it "Cinco de Drinko." Yet another chance to get blitzed out of your gourd; for the local police to set up Sobriety Checkpoints to nail those whot get behind the wheel too swacked to drive safely; and to celebrate a "holiday" that seems not to be celebrated in it's "homeland"--only here! Good thread, RG. Perhaps folks can learn from this...but i'm not holding my breath. --LPR— May 3, 2010 8:14 p.m.
Bleeping On Your Knees
All that I have to say about the controversy over "South Park" is this: "If you are going to threaten a person-or-people with their demise, then you had best dig at least two graves--and reserve one for yourself!" Whether or not you enjoy South Park, there is a bigger issue at stake here. Do we let a bunch of Bullies-for-Muhammad have their way and let them dictate what we can read, hear, see, sing, believe, or even think? Or do we tell them "Take your best shot, chump--cos we're gonna take you down if you carry out your threat!" In the Qu'ran, jihad is, indeed, preached--but to murder-one-or-a-thousand "infidels" in Allah's Name still carries a penalty of spending the afterlife in the Ninth Hell as a hypocrite. No seventy-two virgins for that sort of jerk! Good posting, CF! To qoute Motorhead: "I know what the blind man sees-- ON YOUR FEET OR ON YOUR KNEES!" --LPR— May 3, 2010 7:53 p.m.
Dog-Gone-It!
Know what you mean, 'mano. And frankly, non-service animals are not allowed in most restaurants, including Mickey D's. All that it takes is somebody bringing in their "baby," and "baby" leaves a pile of doggie Tootsie-Rolls on the restaurant floor, for the Health Department to swoop in (not to mention an investigation be "corporate HQ"). When I worked for Target of Escondido, we enforced this rule with our guests (stands to reason since we have a snack-bar (Food Court) on-site). When I made my rounds through the aisles to check spill stations (and check floor cleanliness), I kept an eye out for folks smuggling in their "Snuggie-Poo"--especially repeat offenders. I always carried a two-way radio with me (I had a lot of duties, trust me). If I spotted a "dog smuggler," I put a call out to our Security Team of: "Pooch Alert (aisle-or-department)." My teammates and I were told to let Security enforce company policy--but I had to haul out the old "Charlie Cart" to clean up any bio-messes they left on my floors! Not fun! --LPR— April 30, 2010 6 p.m.
Simple Food
Hey ya, CF! Speaking of food (and preparing it), here's a tasty little dish that I cobble together once in a while. ROBBIEBEAR'S "DIE HARD THE HUNTER" STEW: You will need the following: 1) 1 can of pasta sauce (del Monte of Hunt's), Four Cheese Blend. 2) 1 rope smoked sausage. 3) 1 pound ground beef (80/20 mix at the least) 4) 1 can of corn, drained (VegAll works as well) 5) 1 2-cup package shredded cheese 6) 1 box/bag of non-noodle pasta 7) 1/4 cup of vegetable oil. How to put it together: A)Open all cans, unwrap the smoked sausage. B) Using a sharp knife, cut the sausage rope into coins, then quarter each coin. C) Combine ground beef and sausage pieces into a skillet. Cook them both until ground beef is cooked well-done. Drain and transfer meat to sauce pot. D) Fill pasta pot with water, add vegetable oil and small amount of salt. E) Pour can of pasta sauce onto meat, mix well, and set to boiling. When boiling point is reached, lower heat and simmer. F) While sauce simmers, start the pasta when the water reaches the boiling point, then cook for ten minutes. Drain and return to pot. G) Remove sauce from heat and pour onto pasta. H) Open bag of shredded cheese and pour on top of sauce. Mix all of them well, then cover and let sit for ten minutes. Serves 5-6 folks. --LPR— April 29, 2010 4:41 p.m.
Should San Diegans Give Up Simple Majority Rights For Passing Prop. 16?
That PG&E (an out-of-area utility, serving California north of the grapevine, btw) is daring to impose their will on the rest of the state--let alone their ratepayers--is arrogance beyond belief. Both 16 and 17 are boutique propsitions, bought-and-paid for by corporations to give the finger to the electoral process, even as try to bamboozle the voters into approving something that only benefits the corporation-in-question, rather than the voters. (Prop 17 is totally funded by Mercury Insurance, btw). We had our dose of corporate kleptocracy from 2001-2008 under Bush II. We need not have to swallow any more of this brown-and-lumpy offering from PG&E (or from Mercury, as well). Instead, we should tell them we have no desire to have an out-of-town utility setting the voting rules here in San Diego County to merely benefit that utility's bottom line! Tell PG&E to get-and-stay out of our affairs! Vote "NO!" on BOTH 16 and 17! NO MORE BOUTIQUE PROPSITIONS! --LPR— April 29, 2010 3:49 p.m.
Escondido's Moral Minority
I've lived in Escondido from 1998-2006...and I'm just glad I no longer live there. The area I lived in was great for cycling, but the community was heavy on "racial polarization" even then. Until we realize that all of us share a common biology...regardless of skin tone or language spoken...we will never really grow up enough to abandon racism as a lifestyle. Plus, until we substitute true patriotism for the insipidly chauvinistic jingoism that passes for it today, we will never grow up as a society. Something to think about. --LPR— April 28, 2010 11:12 a.m.
Dorian Hargrove suffers life-changing skateboard accident
Hey, Dorian! Picked up a copy of this week's Reader and checked out your story. Man alive, bro...you've walked through a living Hell, yet you still live to tell the tale! Your picture on the cover is, to me, a reminder of what happens when you value vanity over safety. If any grommie rider still thinks that helmets look Stupidsville, they need to read your story and get a very good look at your picture! Remember, kiddoes...you only are issued one body and one lifetime. Better to don the gear while riding any wheeled contraption (bike, skateboard, push scooter, motorbike) and get called "unmacho" by the know-nothings, than it is to be laid out in a casket at your funeral (and be complemented on how "natural" your carcass looks) after eating the big one while not wearing the gear. Fight on, Dorian--you're a true warrior! --LPR— April 22, 2010 11:02 p.m.
Why the Confederates Don't Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
When my dad worked as a bartender at the EM Club on Camp Pendelton, he called Cinco de Mayo "Cinco De Drinko To El Stinko." This was because the 5th of May was used to get totally blasted by a lot of the young sailors and Marines (and it was Jack Daniels, rather than margaritas, that was the "buzz of choice."), with the usual visit by the Shore Patrol and/or Military Police to break up the liquor-fuled sailor vs Marine brawls. Needless to say--Dad couldn't wait to get back to work at the Naval Hospital, where he served as a Hospial Corpsman (HMC--Chief Hospital Corpsman--at the time). --LPR— April 21, 2010 12:59 p.m.