Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed
Big Screen — Movie commentary
Blurt — Music's inside track
Booze News — San Diego spirits
Classical Music — Immortal beauty
Classifieds — Free and easy
Close to Home — What it’s like on the street where you live
Cover Stories — Front-page features
Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes
Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts
Feast! — Food & drink reviews
Feature Stories — Local news & stories
Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore
From the Archives — Spotlight on the past
Golden Dreams — Talk of the town
The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it
Letters — Our inbox
Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites
Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans
Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists
Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news
News Ticker — News & politics
Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated
Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna
Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated
Poetry — The old and the new
Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers
Reading — The hunt for intellectuals
Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails
San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds
SD on the QT — Almost factual news
Sheep and Goats — Places of worship
Special Issues — The best of
Street Style — San Diego streets have style
Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves
Theater — On stage in San Diego this week
Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative
Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work
Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego
Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads
Your Week — Daily event picks
No Knife Fight
Good story, 'mano! Just goes to show you that when it comes to weapons, some folks are dangerous with merely a unloaded squirt-gun! If you must carry a weapon of any kind, there is only one acceptable reason to draw it and go for broke...to protect your life and the lives of family members! That's all. And no, you cannot deploy a weapon to protect your "honor!" Unless, of course, you either like jail food, or have a strong wish to be removed from the population count. Think of it this way. I carry a blade, but it does not leave my pocket unless I have no other alternative. For it is my "weapon of last resort," and only leaves (in non-combat conditions) my pocket when I get ready to bathe at the end of the day. 'Sides, anybody can tell you that the deadliest weapon humanity has ever developed is the one between your ears. Without your brain, all other weapons are useless...as is everything else. How you use it is what gets you in trouble--or keeps you out of it! --Robbiebear— September 16, 2009 3:12 p.m.
El Cajon no-smoking law flouted
As a nation, we have seemed to adopt a "It's All About ME!" attitude towards our neighbors. In doing so, civility and respect have been chucked off the Coronado Bridge, in favor of tactics that utilize the cheesed-off Chimpanzee part of our intellect. Having read the commentary following the story, I'm surprised that both sides haven't gone full-tilt boogie to Fist City over this issue. Having said this, may I make a few suggestions to both sides? 1. Leave the red herrings about obesity out of your replies. If you are talking about tobacco use...stay with the subjects-at-hand. Tangental screeds weaken your point. 2. When I used to smoke cigars, I always asked before I lit up. Most of the time, it was either "yea" or "nay" that I got for an answer...and I acted accordingly. 3. If you ask somebody to put out their smoke, do it politely. And spare them the "health ed" lecture on "The Evils Of Demon Smoke," will ya? 4. As for you smokers...you need to remember that being polite and showing respect is a two-way street, not a one-way alley. This means you have no call to rip the guts out of anybody who politely asks you to not smoke around them. The more you "assert" your "rights" by anti-social behavior? The more ammo you give the radical non-smokers to have your pleasure restricted even more. Definitely bogus! 5. My final point: Smoke 'em if you have 'em--it's later than you think! --Robbiebear— September 8, 2009 3:37 p.m.
San Diego Stupid Chargers -- The Tila Tequilla Edition
Now you see why I vett any potential ladylove before things go any further in a new love partnership. Active Substance (including booze) Abuse is the ultimate deal-killer in a potential relationship for me. I have no desire to become a spiritual scrathing post/human punching bag...and will never put myself in that position again. Having said that...the saying of "Instant Adam-Henry, Just Add Booze!" is oh, so true. Both need to be a bit more selective in choosing a companion...and could stand some good, heavy-duty substance abuse/anger management counseling. It's too bad that Shawne was hauled off to the Central Jail, but he knew that cops everywhere are cracking down on spouse/companion abuse allegations. He should be very afraid about NFL High Sheriff Roger Goddel's reaction...this may be "Lights Out" on his Chargers career. Sad...and a tragic waste--on both of their parts! --Robbiebear— September 8, 2009 1:40 p.m.
No Bailout For Animals
Give your four-legged best friend a hug today--and be grateful they are with you, rather than in "Pet Prison." At least THEY know what Unconditional Love is all about! --Robbiebear— September 8, 2009 1:27 p.m.
The New Prohibition--Tobacco Use?
Just a quick follow-up to this blog: First, I thank you kindly for the comments. Also, whether a person smokes or not is their choice. To use a quote from "The Cannonball Run," when Roger Moore is asked by a ladyfriend if she could smoke: "Please, go ahead...they're your lungs!" Also, my blog is a look at what can happen when the "extremeist" portion of a do-gooder squad gets it's way and enforces it's viewpoint via legislative fiat. If you outlaw anything popular "for the good of the people," the people will obtain the banned substance...by any means neccesary! That was why Prohibition never succeeded. And as for tobacco being totally outlawed...not a chance. Nicotine is also used as a pesticide...and to cull out troublesome bears in our National Parks. A dart is loaded with liquid nicotine, loaded into a big-bore air rifle, and fired at Mr. Bear. If it works...the bear becomes a rug. If not...Mr. Ranger becomes bear munchies. --Robbiebear— September 8, 2009 10:13 a.m.
critical mass - villians or just people?
Look, man. Be thankful you just got a lecture from the SDPD officer who stopped you. Elsewhere, you might have fared far worse off.In certain parts of North County, the prevailing attitude seems to be: "Cite First, Ask Questions Later." Accept your correction, saddle up, and move along. It might cause your pride to bleed and hurt for a few days, but compared to having a motorist turn you into terminal bumper garnish And as for any other ninny who whines about poice officers "not going after real criminals" as they get a "summons" written up for a traffic violation? Face it, guys...you were caught, and you will have your day in court to defend your actions. Traffic laws are like any other...and breaking them is a crime (low-level, but still a crime) with legal consequences. If you think the ticket was unjust, appear on your date and plead your case. What have you got to lose...except the fine if you do lose? Just some points to ponder! --Robbiebear— September 2, 2009 4:25 p.m.
Two Idiots Suing -- The Miss California Edition
Back when I was a kid, there were those who lobbied to see the Miss America Pagent (as well as all others) shut down permanently, supposedly because is "glorified the denigration of women." To be honest, the Miss California Pagent could have chosen better judges than Perez Hilton. However, once you put your chicken scratch on that dotted line, you are expected to follow the rules TO THE LETTER! If you do not like being told to "smile, style profile...and by the way, zip your lips until told otherwise"? Then do not sign up to participate to begin with. Nowadays, it's not the "denigration of women" that should get all pagents the head-first saloon toss from our culture...it's the denigration of our legal system afterwards by those who got "the rush" for breaking their contract rules, yet feel they should keep that cheesy tiara anyway! Fraulien Prejean knew what she was doing when she inked the deal with Chump-Co...BELAY THAT....Trump Co. I'll be checking out the trial on my radio to see if she wins...or if the court tells her to, in the words of Michael Jackson: "BEAT IT!" --Robbiebear— September 2, 2009 4:03 p.m.
BREAKING NEWS BLOG -- Michael Jackson and Farrah Die
Three kings have fallen: "King Of Rock And Roll" Elvis Presley. Died in 1970's from a combination of morbid obesity and addiction to painkillers. Still an icon to many who like early rock 'n roll, and those who enjoy being someone they will never be. "King Of Grunge" Kurt Cobain: Although he was not considered so, Cobain was The Face of Grunge, and responsible for putting it on the map with his mates in Nirvana. Died in the 1990's from his addiction to heroin and eating a shotgun blast. Still "The King" to those who like their music grungy-style. And now, "The King Of Pop" has left this world, never to return. Michael Jackson was a talent beyond talent. Sadly, his deamons eventually caught up to him, and put an end to him. Love him or hate him, he will be missed by all. (BTW: My favorite song by MJ was "Beat It.") --Robbiebear— July 13, 2009 12:36 p.m.
Letters
Just finished perusing another issue of your weekly offerings. The lead story was cool, but I feel that a few comments about past stories (and one of this week's letters) are in order. 1. After I read the story by the young lass combining her views on her former jobs (and her views on the workaday world in general) with a search for sea turtles off the San Diego Coast (as well as some of the past comments regarding said article)? Frankly, young lady, I seriously doubt that your former employers appreciated your tart-tounged attitude about working in their establishments. Try to realize that being employed may stink sometimes (worse than that "wasted sushi" in fact), but in this day-and-age, those that can turn a job that's chicken-bleep into chicken-and-dumplings tend to do better at their line-of-work. Also, try to stick to one topic in a story, and make sure all aspects fit into the storyline. Switching back-and-forth between two topics in the same story is not only confusing, but also makes the story unreadable to begin with. And as for that letter from "The White Skull" regarding Mr. Xtreme? Hey, man...your letter was neither funny, nor worth the space the Reader gave it! There is more than enough evil on this here planet without the likes of you trying to pull a third-rate Lex Luthor act and lashing out in that manner! You want to act like a total pinhead...don't be too surprised if somebody calls you out. And as for the "Mr. Xtreme" story itself? I thought Ollie was 86'ed from your paper to begin with! Something reeked about this story, and when I saw who worte it at the end? It's no small wonder that Mr. Xtreme isn't either in the Central Jail or at CMH-Rosecrans, courtesy of the SDPD! Quality Control, folks--that's what you need to use more of when selecting your articles! Having said my say, I bid you Good Day! LPR48619— May 29, 2009 3:33 p.m.
In Transition
Just another example of what happens when a company adopts a Corneilius Vanderbilt-like atitude towards their clients. That, and the fact that NCTD's board would love to filp the Teamsters the old "one-fingered salute" by outsourcing maintenence to a non-union company, shows me where NCTD's leadership have their priorities...and it's not to improve service, execpt to their bank accounts. What the former head of NCTD did was bad enough. With more cuts in state funding on the horizon, NCTD may yet cease to exist in about five years...unless we riders take a stand and fight back for what we have left! Otherwise, more routes will be shut down, remaining service will be less frequent, and the price of fares and passes will explode. Not a happy scenario, would you say? --LPR48619— May 29, 2009 2:37 p.m.