Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Piling on...is great...until it happens to you!

You never really know anyone...unless you are married to them
or raise them as small children. We don't really even know
our parents, our aunts and uncles or our grandparents. Some
are child molesters, thieves, liars and yes sometimes even
criminals. So, we take our world at face value. When people
are nice to us, when they are caring and concerned, when they
go out of their way to be nice...we take all that into due
consideration when assuming our friendship or love toward that
person. Our Churches, Institutions and Government are based
upon "perceptions" and "deeds". Sometimes we become disappointed
because others become more important to these family, friends
and associates; when others may get better treatment that we do.

Sheriff Corona has always been kind, caring and most assuredly
undemanding of quid pro quo's for anything from us. Having said
that: much could have been said the same about certain Catholic
Priests or School Teachers which turned out later to have problems
with Child Molestation. There is little doubt that the Sheriff
of Orange County has the biggest challenge of his career in front
of him. When we surround ourselves with people that have serious
character flaws to say the least....we can run into problems.

The Sheriff has been indited...Supervisor John Moorlach was quick
to ask for his resignation...the Sheriff has refused to step down
and in fact has stepped up to meet the challenge. This is going
to be a character check for the Sheriff. They say that only during
adversity do we really know the character of anyone. That certainly
applies in combat and in life in general.

We find the duplicity of Supervisor Moorlach a bit disconcerting,
following his request for Orange County Treasurer Chriss Street
to resign and then finding no 2nd to his motion has stepped back
completely. When is a rule a rule? When is it grandstanding at
its worst? When is it just bad timing? When is it time to just
shut up? Unless of course Supervisor Moorlach knew all the details
and had intimate knowledge of all the goings on!

At this point, we suggest before piling on anyone...that we get
down to the facts and the truth. Accusations are just that...
and without a paper trail of wrong doing.....we will need to
remain unmoved. There is little doubt that the two prior Asst.
Sheriff's are both facing hard time and financial hardship are
a tad on the desperate side of their criminal defense mechanisms.
Haidl and Jaramillo will have no qualms about taking the Sheriff
down with them or anyone else in their eye line for that matter,
at this point. Who is going to lie to save themselves 23 years
in the slammer? Who are they willing to take down with them?

As citizens in this process...we will withhold judgement until
the Sheriff can muster his defense. We will have to wait to
see if the Sheriff's Defense Team can put together strong and
reasonable facts that can hold water in the midst of a tumult!
READ MORE - Piling on...is great...until it happens to you!

Why Get Involved - Halloween Edition


BOO!!!!
READ MORE - Why Get Involved - Halloween Edition

It's a Day of Progress

A couple of stories in today's Daily Pilot give a normal, somewhat active Newport Beach resident a glimmer of hope.

First story - $27M may go toward city hall.

It appears as though the City of Newport Beach will dance with the devil and draw up a new development deal with the Irvine Company in exchange for $27 million (amongst other things) to help pay for the new White Elephant (City Hall).

Since the estimates for the White Elephant ranged between $35-$60 million bucks, and with the $14 million in "seed" money the City had saved (18 months ago), the Irvine Company dough would certainly keep the amount of the long term debt down.

And since the City leaders and most of the City activists are bent on building a new City Hall at all costs, this is indeed good news.

Less debt = More money to pay for Employee Pensions...

Second story - Legal action may be taken against rehab homes

Are you telling me that the City of Newport Beach, through their independent legal counsel, might actually take action against some Rehab/Sober Living Homes?

Be still my heart!

You see, miracles can happen.

In one day (one meeting mind you) our Fearless leaders potentially lowered the amount of long term debt AND took positive action against a quickly spreading...problem.
READ MORE - It's a Day of Progress

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Mosaic


Cancer Bitch has been traveling. She spent Friday-Monday in Philadelphia, having promised herself that after chemo she would take a mosaic workshop with Isaiah Zagar, whose insider-outsider artwork she loves and admires. And she did just that. She is now writing her speech for a panel discussion Friday morning in Iowa City about spiritual memoirs and so is going to have these pictures stand in for her experience. She will write about her trip later. The first picture is of Cancer Bitch at Zagar's Magic Gardens. Below that, Cancer Bitch and others are applying acrylic paint to glass. Below this text is a picture of a non-Cancer Bitch working on a mural that Isaiah designed. Sort of. He made sweeping brush strokes of human and animal figures and attached large pieces to the wall. Cancer Bitch and others glued on the pieces of mirrors and tile and slapped on the pink grout.
READ MORE - Mosaic

Laguna Beach Rehab Home?

As seen in the OC Register, ex Raider/USC Quarterback Todd Marinovich pled guilty to his latest drug arrest and was sentenced to one year in a LAGUNA BEACH recovery center and 5 years probation.

What? Newport Beach recovery/sober living/rehab homes not good enough...?

They must be too full.

Must be because of the Moratorium.

Yes...that's it.
READ MORE - Laguna Beach Rehab Home?

Only We Were Fooled

So I was leaving the bank this afternoon and ran into a Deputy Sheriff (large, intimidating guy) and asked him,

"Was it a surprise what happened to Sheriff Carona?"

His response,

"To who."

I guess only the people who DIDN'T work for him were surprised.
READ MORE - Only We Were Fooled

Supervisor John Moorlach's Take on the Sheriff

As expected, Supervisor John Moorlach has asked embattled Sheriff Carona to resign.

Here's Supervisor Moorlach's statement from his MOORLACH UPDATE -- Sheriff Carona -- October 30, 2007:

"Put this under “Tomorrow’s News.” At today’s Board of Supervisors meeting, I requested that Sheriff Michael Carona resign.

Michael and I go back a long ways. In fact, I don’t believe I would have rerun for Treasurer-Tax Collector in 1998 if he had not decided to run for Sheriff. I hoped that it would be a new day for the Sheriff’s office and the County.

But, this morning’s front page headline in the Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com/la-me-carona30oct30,0,4519221.story) requires me to be consistent with regards to County elected officials who have committed acts of serious malfeasance in office.

The indictments came as somewhat of a surprise as the Sheriff had never intimated to me that there was a Federal investigation and that the consequences could be this severe.

Numerous visual media representatives were present at the Board meeting, including Channel 11, KFI AM, et al. Expect to see something on the television news today.

I will be praying for Mike, his wife and son during this stressful time and that Mike will do the most appropriate thing for the voters of the County. Duty and honor demand it."

READ MORE - Supervisor John Moorlach's Take on the Sheriff

Total Buzz - Sheriff Carona Saga Detailed

Take a look at the OCRegister.com's Total Buzz section on the Sheriff indictment on Federal Corruption Charges.

Great coverage by Martin Wiscol and Peggy Lowe.
READ MORE - Total Buzz - Sheriff Carona Saga Detailed

CdMRA News: Upcoming Meetings Of Importance

This came to my by email yesterday...they are an informed and involved group huh?

That reminds me, I still owe them my $12 membership fee...although I don't live in CDM anymore...

Based on feedback from many of our members on these topics, you may wish to note these meeting dates on your calendar and plan to attend:
  1. October 30 @ 7:00 pm, City Council Chambers:
    1. City Hall Discussion - Newport Center (500 Block) Site Update
    2. Public Comments Opportunity - Group Homes
  2. November 14 @ 6:00 pm, Newport Beach Yacht Club: Speak Up Newport - City Hall Site Debate (Social hour starts at 5:00 pm)
  3. November 15 @ 7:30 am, Newport Beach Country Club: CdMRA Board Meeting - Council Member Gardner: PCH/Iris Crosswalk Update
  4. December 11 @ 7:00 pm, City Council Chambers: Recommendations to Council on Ordinances regulating group homes.

Visit our website regularly for information about these and other important topics.

We'd also like to thank you for your continued support through 2007. What can we do better in 2008?

We look forward to hearing from you with suggestions and ideas.

Be sure to share this with your friends and neighbors who may be interested in joining CdMRA, or members you know who do not have Internet access.
Corona del Mar Residents Association
Please visit our website at: www.cdmra.org
READ MORE - CdMRA News: Upcoming Meetings Of Importance

Master of the Obvious

Congrats to the OCRegister's Jeff Overley for stating the obvious in his article,

"Big bucks in City Hall debate."

Big bucks have already been spent (someone had to pay for this phone poll) and more will be spent trying to put the City into massive, long term debt with the increased City Employee load (and their beautiful pensions) and the Building loans.

Can't wait until my kids get to pay for all of this over the next 30 years (when most of our current City Council will probably be...working out at Oasis Senior Center).

Good news, I'll probably be dead (according to the psychic my wife saw before we were married) by the time the City Hall loans are paid in full.
READ MORE - Master of the Obvious

Indict This!

It's all over the Internet (which the Daily Pilot says you shouldn't trust...), the newspapers, and the morning news (click here, here, here, here and here for some easy reading...).

Sheriff Mike Carona has been indicted on Federal Corruption Charges.

Oops.

I wonder what actions County Supervisor John Moorlach, and the rest of the Board of Supervisors will/can take, considering that Moorlach tried to quickly neuter for former protege County Treasurer Chriss Street will less than a Federal/FBI-led indictment.

Sheriff Carona has always been a friend, even endorsing this over-inflated ego in my ill-fated City Council run, but this is a tough one.

He's always been involved with many philanthropic events, riding his motorcycle for the Annual CHOC X-Mas Harley ride, or serving on many boards of directors for very charitable foundations.

And he's a good guy.

But, anyway you look at this, anyway you try to spin this (I'm particularly interested to see Jon Fleischman's take on this on his Flashreport.org, as Sheriff Carona's former PR guy.), anyway you read it, it's pretty bad.

More to follow, I'm sure.
READ MORE - Indict This!

Monday, October 29, 2007

Wadder Wadder Everywhere but not a drop to drink!

Made a call to the MWD and chatted with the PIO...who was in
residence called Rob. Told him who we were and basically just
wanted to know what scientific studies they used to make their
determination regarding adding Fluoride for the first time
since the establishment of the Metropolitan Water District in
1928. We wondered why suddenly this addition to our water
supply was necessary. Rob seemed to know his stuff....at least
the stuff "he" wanted us to know. He stated that the Board of
the MWD had met last month, heard the public comments which
were approximately 80 percent opposed to Fluoridation and had
decided in their wisdom, to move forward in any event.

Rob, said that it was simply decided because Federal and State
Water Officials had determined it would be necessary and in fact
beneficial. We simply asked for the scientific data! That was
at 12 noon today. We have yet to hear from Rob on "why" the
sudden change of policy after 80 plus years and what studies
made the Board feel comfortable with their decision. We didn't
have time to ask Rob about how much PPM of Fluoride was going
to be added or how much Chlorine would be necessary. Do you
notice how each summer we get that wonderful Chlorine smell to
our shower and bath water? Water Districts really don't want
to tell you these things because of those necessary required
"seasonal deviations"..that come along during droughts or long
hot summers..when water supplies shrink to levels that quickly
can reach old realms of DDT, MTBE leechings, perclorates and
other harmful trace exposures, like radiation. Face the facts,
the MWD is there to serve as "Gatekeepers" to keep people mostly
satisfied that supplies are safe - all the time!

We seem to be able to check Ocean pollution regularly in this
day and age. It would be interesting to know how often and
what tests are required for our wells and open or closed water
supplies! How often again?

If you believe that...we have some swamp land in Florida on Indian
Burial Grounds; we can put you into for a song!
READ MORE - Wadder Wadder Everywhere but not a drop to drink!

John Wayne Airport PRIVATE Plane Mishap

After we are told that John Wayne Airport's runways are not that safe, primarily because of private planes,

"Airport spokeswoman Jenny Wedge chalked the problem up to JWA's large number of private small-plane flights, which account for roughly 70 percent of operations."

A private plane blows a tire on the runway, shutting down the runway...for all flights...

Happy, happy, joy, joy...

More fuel for the fire to lessen the quantity of Private planes flying out of John Wayne Airport, thus increasing the Commercial (and safer) flights.

Nervous...
READ MORE - John Wayne Airport PRIVATE Plane Mishap

Newport Beach Links Galore!

One of the reasons I started this blog was to give my handful of readers a place where they could find links to other Newport-Centric websites. I think I've done a somewhat decent job, but nothing compared to this site...

Check it out.

http://www.at-la.com/cities/newport_beach/community.htm

I don't know what it's called, don't know how often they update, but it sure has lots of links.
READ MORE - Newport Beach Links Galore!

FreeNewport.com Active Again!

For a while, Freenewport.com was quiet. And I missed it.

For a while, Freenewport.com was attacking me unmercifully. While that was interesting and fun, now they quote it. Times change...

But, Freenewport.com is known as a place where people can truly post their comments anonymously, spitting out all the hatred and rumors they can muster.

But sometimes you can learn a thing or two.

Kind of like a Freenewport.com filter.

With all the Hatred and Rumors, 1% might have some truth to it...

Well...with the Sober Living/Rehab home issue flaring up, Freenewport.com has made a great recovery back to it's anonymous, hating and rumor throwing message board that we all loved and missed.

Latest victim, Bob Rush, the guy who is spearheading the drive to make all the City Council and City Staff's public disclosures truly transparent.

Why shouldn't we know everything our City leaders are involved in?

If they lie, Bob Rush would find it.

He should be praised and honored for such a watchdog role.

But instead, in the past week, Freenewport.com posters turned on Bob, in true Freenewport.com fashion.

"You all might want to do a background check on Mr. Rush. Seems he has quite a history of involvement in some pretty unsavory activities."

Why write such a thing? Is he running for City Council? There are members of the current City Council and City Staff who also could fit that same "pretty unsavory activities" label pretty well.

I guess, with the good, you get the hatred and rumors...

Welcome back Freenewport.com.
READ MORE - FreeNewport.com Active Again!

Monday Morning QB - Newport Beach Edition

I'm sick, wife is sick, kids are sick...

So I apologize in advance if this doesn't make sense.

The Daily Pilot had an article, "Newport water to contain fluoride," which then drew this Editorial, "Trust the dentists, not web theories." Ron and Anna Winship also gave us their thoughts on it.

Both Daily Pilot articles had many, many Reader Feedback posts left, many of which extremely upset that the Pilot would rail on people who read the internet and believe what they read.

Imagine that.

Believing what you read in the press and/or internet.

Considering that the "traditional" newspaper business is quickly flushing down the toilet, primarily because of the internet.

I don't subscribe to a newspaper anymore. I click on Cnn.com, MSNBC.com, OCRegister.com, LATimes.com, amongst many others.

The only thing I lose is something to fill the bottom of my birdcage with.

My thoughts on the Fluoridation issue? Don't like it...

But I did ask my sister, who's credentials include a stint as a Groundwater Specialist at the EPA, a Marine Biologist at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and a Master Degree in Marine Biologist. Her job is to study the effects of chemicals in water.

Plus, she's a crazy researcher who lives to discredit all my thoughts.

She said,

  1. EPA's current standard/goal of 4 mg/L should be lowered down to at least 2 mg/L.
  2. The main health effect at the 2-4mg/L level is dental fluorosis, which is a mottling of tooth enamel that ranges from barely discernible enamel flecks in its mildest forms to staining and pitting in its severest forms; the severest forms are rare in the United States.
  3. It seems to be safe, around the levels recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) (since the 1960's). They recommended an ''optimal" fluoride concentration of 0.7-1.2 mg/L to prevent dental cavities and minimize dental fluorosis.
  4. Levels above 4mg/L (which shouldn't be happening, or else they are violating the EPA standard or they are eating a lot of toothpaste), have an increased chance of bone fracture.
The levels we are getting will not be more than 1.2 mg/L, most likely to be closer to 0.7 mg/L.

So while I'm a bit less hesitant about the increased Fluoridation, however somewhat concerned because of our really small children at home, I tend to trust my sister's opinion too.

As far as the Daily Pilot Editorial?

"We hardly think the dental association foundation has a secret agenda. Dentists want us to avoid tooth decay and will use whatever is best to help us battle cavities. Doesn’t your dentist nag you to floss, brush and use whatever mouthwash is best?

If they’re telling us to add fluoride to the water, then they know best."

That's great, don't do your own research (which is what the Internet is best for) and blindly follow the Dentists who AGREE with your opinion.

Never mind all the other doctors and dentists who don't...
READ MORE - Monday Morning QB - Newport Beach Edition

Sunday, October 28, 2007

What can we use... if not Fluoride?

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has
decided in its wisdom to add Fluoride to the So. Cal water
supply. How much? For how long? Why? When?

Jon Roth, Executive Director of the California Dental Assn.
Foundation (whoever they are!) said: "It's strange how the
scare tactics have changed over the past 50 years. Of course,
the overwhelming evidence says that it's safe and effective.
The argument against fluoridation in the 50's that it was a
communist plot!"

The result is that the MWD is going to add Fluoride whether
people want it or not. There are reasons but certainly not
because of any communist plot. No UFO's, No surreptitious
desire to spend government's money! No the MWD is adding a
molecule that is smaller than water itself. They are adding
it because as the amount of Reclaimed water rises in our
water supply....it becomes more and more necessary to kill so
called "suspended viruses" that no filter, no sunlight, no
other chemical that evaporates can do. Fluoride....the wonder
drug for poisoned wells in Texas during the 50's. Fluoride,
the so-called wonder drug that pitted teeth and browns the
teeth of babies years later.

The paid off Newspaper Editors are busy out there flaunting the
joys of Fluoride and the benefits of stronger teeth. Not for
babies of course. Not for those with gum problems, not for those
that with dietary issues! Remember DDT? Remember Formaldehyde?
Malathion? Methyl Bromide? Remember, remember? How about the
truth? Yes, we are running out of water big time! Yes, we are
being forced to use more and more Reclaimed/Toilet/Sewage Water
mixed with the paltry water supply we do have. Hey, it's just
another medical benefit ....to add fluoride...for stronger teeth
and bones! Right! Probably worth further documentation and more
study! We study everything...why not Fluoride in the water? Tony
Dodero must already be using fluoride...please view this Sunday's
Editorial in the Daily Pilot on why we should use the chemical.
We remain unconvinced!

Anything with Fluoride or a derivative of fluoride is questionable.
But hey, what do people know that simply Google the word and find
out for themselves. After all, would the California Dental Assn.
Foundation lie to us? Come on, we must be alarmists! Come on,
we must just be trying to make trouble where there is none! No,
we want our government, Federal, State, County and Cities to make
darn sure that there will be no harmful effects on our population.
How irresponsible is that? Does it cause lowered IQ, brown teeth
on babies that ingest it, pitting in the teeth of adults? Hey,
before we jump off the boat...why don't we find out if we can
swim first!

The expert opinion better be coming from the top of the food
chain for us to believe the rhetoric of our local "water dudes"
and local or self advancing water power groups. It's time to
check the weather reports for the next three months before we
take down the convertible top....when the mechanism to put it
back up may not work! We have to at least praise the Newport
Beach City Council and others in So. Cal for stepping up to the
plate in asking for a delay. As usual, they start Monday (that's
tomorrow!)with phased water fluoridation at it's Deimer Treatment
Facility in Yorba Linda. Newport gets 18% of its water from
that facility! How much of Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, Costa
Mesa,Fountain Valley and others will be fluoridated and when?
READ MORE - What can we use... if not Fluoride?

Thursday, October 25, 2007

State Senator Tom Harman - End of Year Honors

In today's Daily Pilot, Newport Beach (and Costa Mesa) we are told that:

"The California Taxpayers’ Assn. has given (State Senator Tom) Harman an “A” rating for the 2007 legislative session.
This was the fifth year the group, which opposes raising taxes and government spending, gave Harman its highest rating."

Congrats Senator Harman on that one.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (who is called "one of the most consistently pro-taxpayer groups in Sacramento") also came out with their ratings giving State Senator Tom Harman also an A rating for 2007 (after a B rating in 2006 and 2005).

Congrats on getting more tax payer friendly.

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore writes more about it on the OCBlog.net.

Finally, as seen on the Harman Watch Blog, the California Log Cabin Republicans also "came out" with their 2007 Legislative Score Card.

State Senator Tom Harman scored the best (out of all Orange County Republican Legislators) in their ratings as well.

If you click here, you can compare "How Gay" our 33rd Senate District is in comparison with the other 37 State Senate Districts in the State.

Congrats to State Senator Tom Harman on that honor too.
READ MORE - State Senator Tom Harman - End of Year Honors

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Toys R on Us & the Bad Oncologist

Monday I met with my friend C from the Bay Area, in town to give a lecture and to celebrate his father's 80th birthday. After being an adjunct lecturer and a freelance editor for many years, he's finally gotten a job as chair of liberal studies in a university. He is an inspiration to us all. He's considered full time but just has to work 30 hours a week. That is truly inspirational. All this is an answer to the question: What can you do with a Ph.D. in English?


We had coffee and then he went with me to Tom Thumb Hobby & Crafts in Evanston, because I wanted to look at outdoor furniture to put on my head. I'm working on a proposal for an art installation called Chemo/Lawn and part of it will be made up of pictures of such things on my lawn-like head. I bought two miniature trees, a swing set, slide, see-saw and picket fence. I don't know how I'll get the fence and trees to stay up. I sort of jokingly/seriously said I'd use chewing gum. The sales clerk said that it doesn't come off. I said, Peanut butter is supposed to work. And he said, On the Simpsons, they tried peanut butter and oil and nothing worked. I said, That's a cartoon!


How can people get household hints from cartoons? I mean, it's one thing to get political news from the Daily Show, but at least Jon Stewart is a real person. Though Jon Stewart isn't his real name.


Now on to the Bad Oncologist. As a scientist deciding what potions to give me, he was probably good. Or excellent. Let's say he was excellent. But as a person, not so good. My psychiatrist, the Effusive Shrink, had told me early on that some of my anti-despair medicines would mix badly with Tamoxifen. I mentioned this to the first oncologist while I was in the middle of chemo and he waved me off, saying there was plenty of time yet. The Effusive Shrink had to call him twice before he called her back. Flash forward to the Girl Oncologist, who made me wait while she looked up drug interactions. She found one, with Cymbalta. She said she'd talk to the Effusive Shrink about substituting Effexor. I met with the Effusive Shrink today who said that another anti-nihilism drug that I take, Wellbutrin, also mixes badly with Tamoxifen. Our plan is to taper off the Cymbalta and start slowly on the Effexor. Then we'll substitute something else for the Wellbutrin. In the meantime, I don't want to start Tamoxifen because then I won't know whether any side effects I have are from the Effexor or the Tamoxifen. But see, if the Bad Oncologist hadn't waved me off, we could have started this back in May. Though we were also waiting for the results of my genetic testing. Or rather, I was thinking about genetic testing then, though my surgeon had said it wasn't necessary, and I finally got the testing in July. If I had the BRCA gene mutation, I'd probably get my remaining ovary removed, and then I'd definitely be in menopause and I probably wouldn't be taking Tamoxifen. So I guess the oncologist was right to wait.

How disappointing to realize that there's no one to blame.
READ MORE - Toys R on Us & the Bad Oncologist

Firestorms

The human carnage, the broken hearts, the lost animals, the
missing mementos - lost forever have yet to be counted. Let
us just say...it has been bad enough already. Whatever is
scheduled to follow adds needless insult to injury. How did
the Governor do? Very well....he has shown up and represents
the State of California in a sensitive and meaningful way.

What about President Bush and the Homeland Security people?
They all seem to be on track....the major media coverage seems
appropriate...the use of Qualcom Stadium in San Diego was a
nice touch. The national support for the victims seems to be
there as well. This giant human tragedy that has hit So. Cal.
has yet to be counted in its long term effects. The beautiful
homes in Rancho Bernardo and so many other places have been
slaughtered...much as a lamb without protection might be taken
for a sacrifice to the gods!

The object of this precipitous article however is to focus on
the "Arson of the Lambs"...rather than dwell in morbid self
depression. The Santiago Fire...which indeed has affected the
Orange County area more than the others....at this point is
under investigation for "setting intentionally by a person or
persons unknown". Would a "public execution" be great enough
to sauve the the people and victims involved in this disaster?
Years ago when the people of Newport Beach faced the loss of
arguably one of the most beautiful view planes on the coast
of California....the Irvine Company was able by "hook or crook"
reach a majority on the City Council to bypass the wishes of
people. Soon, the two by fours went up for Promontory Point...
just above Balboa Island. It obliterated the view of bay from
PCH and Jamboree - forever!

There was talk by two groups at the time that the Promontory
Point property might be a good target for Arson before the
drywall went up! Criminal acts usually have some genesis in
"Causes" or "Financial Rewards" that would result from the
process. This talk was soon put to rest when the two pertinent
groups started talking with each other. The first group was
the Environmental and Community Activists that didn't want
their City harmed. The other group were the developers who were
in fact building Promontory Point. When the developers revealed
that they had Fire Insurance and if the project was burned...
it would be great for them - with a slight delay..because they
could get paid to build it again! They even said they would be
glad to help the Activists if they were serious! Promontory
Point went up without major incident.

Last year some Earth First people were accused of burning up
a Humvee Dealership....and writing Environmental slogans on
the remaining vehicles that were not burned. Oddly enough
after the arrest of one of the suspects....he was released
due to lack of evidence. So, if the Earth First people did
not burn up those vehicles - who did? Back to the human
carnage we are now experiencing here in California. Were these
fires....simply acts of God? Was it purely two power lines that
should have be placed underground hitting each other in the wind
and causing "the spark"? Was it "Al Queda"? Was it greedy and
mean spirited "Developers" who needed work because of the sub-
prime credit crunch? Was it out of work "Illegal Aliens" - that
just needed work? Was it "Earth First"? Was it Firefighers that
didn't have enough equipment...or made poor decisions? Or, was
it simply two stupid construction workers welding in a 60MPH wind?

The things we know now, are that at this point, over a million
of our So. Cal. neighbors have been displaced in this process.
We know that the scope of this disaster was probably not caused
by "Global Warming" but probably rather through Greed, Arson or
Stupidity! We know that homes, memorabilia, mementos and those
endearing items for so many are now lost forever. "The Castle"
in Malibu is perhaps a microcosm of our grief. Items regarding
Elvis, Princess Diana and a plethora of movie stars and famous
personalities....are now lost forever. As, we watched the many
displaced families on television as they stood there with their
three kids and a wedding plate..saying they had lost everything
..it leaves us with this question: we all need to know..sometime
in the future....how did it really happen!
READ MORE - Firestorms

Interesting Campaign Contribution Limit Article

With the Newport Beach City Council 2008 elections a year away, and the impeding campaigning a few months from starting, the issue of Campaign Contribution Limits will no doubt be raised. Especially since two of the 2006 combatants raised (including loans), and spent, over $100 grand EACH for a City Council seat.

At a $500 contribution limit per contributor, getting $100k (or even $70k plus a $30k loan) is pretty impressive

Back in January, Councilwoman Gardner brought this issue up a discussion point.

In the OCBlog.net, this issue of Campaign Contribution Limits is excellently brought up again in a Blog Entry called, "Campaign Contribution Limits – Good Intentions – Unintended Consequences."

Although it's focus is in the County of Orange races, the unintended consequences sections can certainly be related to Newport Beach:

Unintended Consequence #1 - One of the biggest is that the campaign limits may only help wealthy candidates run for election, as there are no limits on how much a candidate can spend on their own campaign.

That is especially true in Newport Beach, where one Council candidate put in more money into his campaign than many other candidates raised.

Unintended Consequence #2 - Independent Expenditure Committees or General Purpose Campaign Committees.

Again, that happened pretty extensively as more money was spent by these two types of committees (including the Police and Fire Unions) than many candidates spent on their own.

Unintended Consequence #3 - ANY committee be it candidate controlled or otherwise (IE or GP), to notify all candidates of any mail 24 hours in advance with a copy of the piece within the last 16 days before the election.

In talking with the City Clerk during the last 2006 election, while it is required to provide to her a copy a any mail piece during this period, no one really does it, nor is it enforceable, especially with the Independent Expenditure Committees, where finding out the responsible party is like looking for a needle in a stack of needles.

Unintended Consequence #4 - Election attorneys, consultants and other campaign jobs. With the laws being what they are and changing all the time…there is certainly enough job security. A candidate for any office today would be foolish not to have a good attorney, treasurer and consultant at hand.

Uber-political consultant Dave Ellis is responsible for 6 out of the 7 current City Councilmembers, as well as countless previous Councilmembers and Mayors. In the past two decades, the Newport Beach City Council races have been run and won with the help of Political Consultants and their cadre of Political helpers.

This has also driven the costs of running a successful campaign through the roof as well.

Whether the 2008 elections will be as expensive as 2006, we'll see.
READ MORE - Interesting Campaign Contribution Limit Article

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Good News! John Wayne Airport Runways Not Safe!

Well...not exactly, but the OC Register's Jeff Overley's triumphant return article titled, "JWA's runway safety scrutinized." says it all.

Check out this first paragraph:

"Though it has not witnessed any serious mishaps in recent years, John Wayne Airport is among a small group of the nation's airports being targeted for lapses in runway safety, federal officials disclosed Monday."

Great news huh?

John Wayne Airport officials blame it on the Private planes (paving the way to reducing Private planes and increasing Commercial flights?) saying:

"Airport spokeswoman Jenny Wedge chalked the problem up to JWA's large number of private small-plane flights, which account for roughly 70 percent of operations."

So with Commercial (larger planes) flying out of John Wayne Airport, we would have less private planes, which would mean less problems?

It all makes sense!

Let's further expand John Wayne Airport so that a plane can crash on Lido Isle!

Then no-one would have to worry about the Rehab/Sober Living homes anymore...
READ MORE - Good News! John Wayne Airport Runways Not Safe!

Monday, October 22, 2007

Someone Doesn't Heart John Moorlach

Stumbled across this Blog today, most aptly named:

"John Moorlach is a fool."


To quote Jubal at the OCBlog.net:

"Successful blogging requires persistence and frequency."

We'll see if this "Cop" can be persistent.

First one against State Senator Tom Harman and now this.

Gotta love the Internet huh?
READ MORE - Someone Doesn't Heart John Moorlach

Congressman Rohrabacher Event.

Although Congressman Dana Rohrabacher doesn't represent Newport Beach anymore, it's always a good time to hear what he has to say, especially if Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld will be there. Both events will be in Newport Beach.

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher

Invites you to join him, at one or both of

two truly memorable events on Saturday, November 17th ________________________________________

Event #1

12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Lunch with Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld

The Pacific Club

4110 MacArthur Blvd.

Newport Beach

Gourmet meal

Roundtable discussion

$2000 per person (limited seating)

_____________________________________________

Event #2

7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.

LIBERTY LOUNGE:

Dessert & after dinner drinks with like minded patriots

Music & visuals by Rhonda Rohrabacher

The home of

Dr. Brennan Cassidy

2920 Cliff Drive

$100 per person

(Expect a celebrity guest)

Newport Beach

_______________________________________________

R.S.V.P. 714-969-7457

surfer13@ix.netcom.com

READ MORE - Congressman Rohrabacher Event.

OC Residents to Pay to Fly from LAX?

I don't know how they would efficiently enforce this, especially since they miss about 75% of bombs and explosives coming through their security screens, but a Los Angeles Airport Commissioner wants OC residents to pay a "Special Fee" to fly out of the Los Angeles International Airport.

That's funny.

Here's Len Krasner's take from the OC Blog.net.

Here's County Supervisor John Moorlach's take from his October 20 - Moorlach Update:

There’s no denying that the residents of Los Angeles County are disappointed that the residents of Orange County voted down an “international” airport at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. But, give me a break.

My office has been working feverishly to address regional airport issues. It is a constant topic at Orange County Transportation Authority meetings, because I bring it up at every opportunity.

My office has worked diligently with the staff of the Southern California Regional Airport Authority to make their charter more effective, only to be continually stalled. They recently hired a consultant to assist with this project, and our County staff volunteered to meet with them and other neighboring airport representatives on Columbus Day, a County holiday.

I will continue to reach out to provide leadership on this issue. As for my LA neighbors, it makes one wonder who really is only “concerned with themselves.”

One point of clarification: The JWA remodeling in 1990 was designed to handle 8.4 million annual passengers (MAP). It was handling 4.5 MAP at the time the new terminal opened. We’re now at 9.7 MAP. Our maximum capacity is restricted to 10.8 (MAP), which stretches our current facilities beyond its limits. For example, an airport gate should accommodate some 350,000 passengers per year; at JWA we’re handling some 650,000 to 850,000 passengers per year (the highest utilization in the nation). Consequently, we are not increasing terminal capacity to expand, we’re doing it to meet the current levels. This “expansion” is most critical in the areas of baggage handling, TSA (some of the longest wait times in the nation), restrooms and parking (full on Wednesdays).

Do you really think that when the Settlement Agreement is up, the pressure to expand John Wayne Airport will not be intense?

Is it time for Newport Beach City Manager Homer Bludau to get nervous yet?
READ MORE - OC Residents to Pay to Fly from LAX?

Sunday, October 21, 2007

All Her Life or: Can You Spot the Southern Lady in This Picture?

My mother came in last weekend to Cancer Bitch World HQ. (See photo take by L on porch of CB World HQ.) My mother would have flown in for every chemo treatment, but I wouldn't let her. I asked if she would help me with my clutter, and she agreed. So we spent most of Saturday and Sunday going through the carved wooden buffet I inherited from my grandmother. That's where I keep photos. We filled some albums and threw a lot of pictures away. At first she tore them in half (no going back) but then we just threw them out. It is hard to throw photos out. That's why I needed her there. We pasted some pictures in my baby book, which she'd apparently lost interest in after my first full sentence. She's been diligent about collecting pictures in albums, though--I don't mean to imply that she ever lost interest in recording moments of my life. The book cover is puffy white moire taffeta. I think that's what it's called. It has those whorls and stripes like planks of wood have. The cover says: All Her Life, in pink script, and there's a painted rose with a painting of a little blonde baby sitting inside the flower. It was copyrighted in 1955, the year I was born.

The first thing in there is a congratulatory card for "that basket of joy/The stork just delivered to you!" It's from the local alumnae of my mother's sorority at the University of Texas. This was before sex education in college. Or high school.

My mother didn't fill in the details of our trip home from the hospital, so that page is blank. On the next page is space to put the names of visitors. I filled this in probably in junior high, when I found the book and asked my mother for information. Nine people are listed. Two are alive: my mother's older sister, and an uncle on my father's side. The very first person listed is my mother's friend who died about six years ago of ovarian cancer. My uncle came to visit with my aunt (my father's youngest sister), and she died a few years ago of lung cancer, the kind people get when they don't smoke or haven't smoked for a very very long time. My father's only brother died of lung cancer, the kind that smoker's get.

My baby book expects women to play sports, to go to college, have a philosophy and a career, get married and have a home and children--all reasonable, even progressive assumptions for mid-century. It doesn't necessarily expect the baby to be Jewish. The first clue is a page with an illustration of a baby on it. She's wearing a long white gown edged in pink. There are spaces for my name, its meaning, date, place, officiating clergyman, godmother and -father, notes and those present. What was the occasion? It doesn't say, but I think it's safe to assume it was something that starts with c-h-r-i-s-t. The book finally declares itself on page 22, asking for notes on the baby's first Christmas.

My baby book tells me my first road trip was to Dallas in 1957. My first bus ride was to the San Jacinto Battleground with my kindergarten class. (I remember that. I remember kids chanting, Nixon, Nixon is our man, let's throw Kennedy in the garbage can. And vice versa.) My first train ride was to Dallas in 1958 and my first airplane ride was to New Orleans in 1974. Notes: "Very good traveller, doesn't need dramamine-is very cheerful." That's in my own handwriting.

I discovered my own hands at about two-and-a-half months. I first smiled at about six weeks. I first recognized my mother at about three weeks. I first sat up at about six months. Do I spot a trend? There's more than a whiff of retrospect here. Apparently my mother mother didn't run to the baby book when I reached these milestones.

I had chicken pox in 1959, measles in February 1963, mumps (both sides) June 1964--all this in my mother's hand. In my own: "Pnemonia [sic]-Feb. 1969-was a very good patient." Should I add "Breast cancer, Jan. 2007, very good patient"?

Listed pets:
Gregg, 1963- dachshund
Whitie-goldfish
2 Goldie-goldfish
Blackie-goldfish
Tater, Latke, Sherice, Squeaky-hamsters (I got the original two for Chanukah)
Pretzel, Prince-dogs
April- 1/2 beagle

It does not say that my mother, in one of her worst days in the 1960s, backed her car over Prince. (Didn't your mother kill your dog? my cousin S asked me the last time I saw him.)

As I said, the baby book expected me to have a career. On page 46 there's a picture of a young woman in a blue dress, red hat and white gloves, pondering five gift boxes. They are labeled: Secretarial, Creative, Selling, Manuel [sic], Scientific. Should she go for the guy, Manuel?

Three pages later I'm supposed to be a bride. Then have (in this order) a honeymoon, first home, sports, club activities, first baby. Then have 50 wedding anniversaries. If a parent and daughter were to diligently fill out the pages of this book, they would create a record of a whole life, some kind of whole life. The pages peter out after marriage. Life no longer revolves around the girl-child. It's time for her to start filling out others' baby books, in which she'll have a supporting role.

The reason my mother didn't fill this book out, I think, is that we don't normally think in large blocks of time. We put the photos of the first birthday party into an album, and next, the pictures from the beach two months later, and then of the family trip to Dallas. We don't think to take one photo from each event or year or decade and paste it into a baby or any other kind of book.

But what if we did? What if every New Year's Eve we printed out a couple of representative photos from our desktops and put them in a book, a book with a finite number of bound pages? Is that too frightening to contemplate? This book is called All Her Life. When you get to the end, you're daid. Or sitting in the nursing home, with no one thinking to take your picture or record your first dentures, your first wheelchair, your last meal cooked for yourself, your last wisp of short-term memory. No, there's your golden anniversary, a page for notes, and then it's curtains: "This little book--a happy souvenir/Of all my life--is ended here."
READ MORE - All Her Life or: Can You Spot the Southern Lady in This Picture?

Saturday, October 20, 2007

City Hall Phone Poll

And I thought that I was going to have a quiet Saturday morning...

I haven't written that fast and furious since Graduate School.

Got a call this morning from Western Research and was asked to participate in a Phone Poll.

Here are the questions (and sorry if I didn't get everything down exactly):

1. What's the most important issue in Newport Beach
2. Is the City of Newport Beach on the right track (in general)
3. What kind of job is the Mayor and City Council doing.
4. Have I heard of the following people and what is my opinion of them (Very Favorable, Favorable, Somewhat Unfavorable, Very Unfavorable or No Opinion)
    • Marian Bergeson
    • Bill Ficker
    • Greenlight Committee
    • Debra Allen
    • Jean Watt
    • Mayor Steve Rosansky
    • Allan Beek
    • the Daily Pilot
    • Don Webb
    • Phil Arst
    • City Hall in the Park Committee
    • Parks are Priceless Committee
    • Keith Curry
    • the Irvine Company
    • Ed Selich
5. Regarding the February Ballot Measure of the City Hall in the Park, will you be voting yes or no.
6. Why No or Yes
7. Statements from NB Residents (Agree or Disagree)
    • We shouldn't move City Hall
    • City Hall needs to be Centrally Located
8. Info on City Hall (Support or Not Support)
    • Ballot Initiative for the City Hall in the Park
    • Current City Hall cannot accommodate current Employees
    • Tsunami is coming
    • City Hall in the City Center would eliminate the vulnerabilities of the current site.
    • If the Measure passes, the costs would be higher.
    • The Irvine Company alternative site would be $15 million dollars cheaper.
    • In the current location, condos or a hotel would be built.
    • Because it is a ballot measure, an Environmental Impact Report would not have to be completed.
9. Which opinion do you have regarding the City Hall
    • Leave it where it is.
    • City Hall on the Park
    • the Irvine Company proposed location
    • Unsure.
Wow, that was a lot of questions.

If you get a call from an Unavailable Caller ID Number, pick it up.

You may be a "chosen" one...
READ MORE - City Hall Phone Poll

Friday, October 19, 2007

Not All Have Gone...

Earlier in the week, while mourning the Newport Beach's Daily Pilot's impending loss of Political writer Alicia Robinson, I wondered where the OC Register's Jeff Overley went.

Well, I just found out. Fortunately he'll be back covering Newport Beach again soon.

Dear Connected ...
Noticed your post on the departure of Alicia Robinson. I agree it's a loss - she's been a solid presence, not to mention a great competitor for yours truly. Since you included my name in your list (much appreciated) I thought I'd drop you a line and let you know I haven't signed off. I've been on leave for five weeks, but am returning next week. So please do keep looking for my byline, along with all those of all the other fine reporters you mentioned.

Best ...
Jeff Overley

Hey Jeff, I hear the Daily Pilot has a job opening...
READ MORE - Not All Have Gone...

Busy as a Dolores

Good friend Dolores Otting has single handedly beaten back Fluoride...

Earlier in the month, I received this and this from Dolores, promptly posting them (I know what's good for me...), about the Metropolitan Water District adding Fluoride to our water.

Dolores then went into overdrive to educate EVERYONE about it, speaking at City Council meetings, sending out emails, and doing her homework.

Now it appears that it has paid off, as the Newport Beach City Council will talk about whether to ask for a delay in adding the Fluoride to our water:

"Council members will consider whether to send a letter asking the water district to delay the start of fluoridation so the city can evaluate the residents’ concerns."

It appears as though the City Council also knows what good for them.

Good job Dolores.
READ MORE - Busy as a Dolores

Those Damn Personal Reasons...

Former Newport Beach Mayor (considering that the Mayor seat rotates between City Council members, it's possible that every member of the dais could become a Former Mayor right?) John Heffernan has a few questions in today's Daily Pilot to his former colleagues.

But I had a recurring question while I read through his questions.

Why did he resign?

Mayor Heffernan talks about the $5 million bucks Lennar is forking over for development fees, and how the City Council should handle it.

Why did he resign?

Mayor Heffernan then talks about the potential $45 million the City will "extract" from the Irvine Company for development fees and how the City Council should handle it.

Why did he resign?

He then asks why isn't City Staff more involved in negotiations.

Why did he resign?

Leasing from the Irvine Company versus taking the $50 million in Development fees to pay outright for the new White Elephant.

Why did he resign?

Get the picture here?

Mayor Heffernan couldn't decide whether to run for re-election in 2004, finally filing his paperwork at the last minute (and hanging opponent Dolores Otting out to dry). 13 months after the election, he resigned anyway.

By the time he resigned in January 2006, the Newport Beach City Council already had three previous City Councilmember resign since 2003, making him the fourth to resign in three years.

Thus creating a situation where the Newport Beach City Council had 4 (count 'em 4) members out of 7 who were appointed instead of elected...in a three year period.

A majority of the City Council were appointed by the other members of the City Council.

Good for creating a voting bloc huh?

Mayor Heffernan (to his credit) addresses his resignation by saying:

"Yes, I am responsible for the status of these issues above by resigning before my term expired. I needed to for personal reasons, though that does not excuse me."

You are right Mayor Heffernan, it does not excuse you.

While I can fully understand personal reasons being much more important than political aspirations, what I don't understand is how you started apologizing for your inactions on many City related issues (high paid City Employee salary increases, for instance) 6 months after you resigned.

And now you are asking major questions to a City Council (which you decided to leave) about fiscal responsibility, which you admittedly say that you were partially responsible for?

Why?

Are you preparing yourself to run again in 2008 (by making the City Council look bad) and are using the press to start the campaign?

Do you feel guilty for being partially (self-admittedly) responsible for some of the mayhem the City finds, and found, itself in?

I guess we'll find out soon...when the silly season starts up again early next year.
READ MORE - Those Damn Personal Reasons...

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Newport Harbor Republican Women Luncheon

This came in via email (to both of my email addresses...it must be REALLY important) from friend Dolores Otting.

Go to it and learn something, meet some really nice ladies, eat some good food, and to have a great time!

The Luncheon you don’t want to miss!!!!
Since we live by John Wayne Airport, don’t you want to learn from an expert?
Newport Harbor Republican Women are pleased to announce
Chief Deputy for California Homeland Security
As Our Guest Speaker for Our October Luncheon.
Thursday, October 25, 2007

Five Crowns Restaurant

PCH & Poppy, Corona del Mar

Social hour 11:45 – Lunch 11:45 - Call Sue Bennitt @ 644.0539
READ MORE - Newport Harbor Republican Women Luncheon

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Death & Taxes

Three things (in addition to Political news) that I neurotically look for are the OC Restaurant Closures, the Newport Beach Police Blotter feature of the OC Register and the DUI reports in the Daily Pilot. Sometimes I see names and restaurants I recognize, mostly I don't. But I always check.

Well, in the OC Register (taken from an AP report) was this little article about the California Franchise Tax Board and their publishing a web site listing people and companies who owe the State more than $200k. If they pay, their name comes off the list.

I did recognize a relatively known Criminal Attorney based in Irvine (he represented the guy who was convicted of killing Mickey Thompson)

Newport Beach has three names on the list.

Knowing how the Franchise Tax Board operates, I'm not surprised that they resorted to Public Humiliation.
READ MORE - Death & Taxes

Sausalito Ahead of the Curve.

It get a big frustrating when you watch other cities take action (like Pasadena) to prevent the proliferation of Rehab/Sober Living Homes in their areas, while Newport Beach continues to get them by the bushel.

Now (actually a week ago...news travels slow from Northern California) Sausalito has taken action too.

The title of the article says it all:

"Sausalito sues Alta Mira rehab center"

The best quote?

"We believe that law was created to prohibit local discrimination against small community care facilities, not to shoehorn a 48-bed institution into a residential neighborhood."

Here's the part which frustrates me the most.

"Officials with the state Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs have backed the Blatts, saying because the properties have different addresses they are treated separately for licensing purposes.

They say that means Sausalito can't require the center to obtain a permit to operate the treatment facility, but city officials hope a judge will rule otherwise and issue an injunction until city rules are met. A date for a court hearing has not been set."

Do you see that? Read it again.

City Officials in Sausalito don't give a crap about what the State says. They are more interested in protecting their residents than letting these facilities from destroying their residential neighborhoods.

Newport Beach city officials need to grow a pair (actually 7 pairs) and PROTECT THEIR RESIDENTS INSTEAD OF THE SOBER LIVING/REHAB HOME OPERATORS.

READ MORE - Sausalito Ahead of the Curve.

I Heart Harman!

The Orange County Register's Total Buzz mentioned it. The OCBlog.net wrote about it too.

Apparently I'm not the only person who thinks that our (well...technically Huntington Beach's) State Senator Tom Harman is a swell guy.

Here's a new Blog dedicated to criticizing State Senator Tom Harman written by a Whittier resident.

Now, I've gone after Senator Harman a few times (here, here, here, here, and here). But I've never gone looking for things to attack him on. To be fair though, I've also said sorta nice things too (here and here).

He just does it to himself.

I mean, click on this Daily Pilot article from August to see what I'm talking about. After Assemblyman Chuck DeVore and Assemblyman Van Tran talk about parents being in control over what their kids do, Tom Harman writes that wants the Government to play parent and tell other peoples parents what video games they can and cannot play by supporting this crazy bill.

But while I've spent a fair amount of time attacking Senator Harman, I never started a Blog dedicated to criticizing him.

Interesting tidbit from the Total Buzz was this:

"There are also some rumblings that Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, R-Irvine, might challenge Harman next year."

I've heard the same thing too, from Federal sources mind you.

That would be very interesting to say the least...
READ MORE - I Heart Harman!

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Welcome to the Dollhouse; Cancer Bitch Embarrasses Herself and Others

Today I passed by the dollhouse furniture store where I bought the lawn furniture (see photo below). I went in looking for accessories to put on the table, but the problem was they didn't have any more of the lawn furniture on sale so I had to guess at proportions. I had told the saleslady the other day that the furniture was for my head. This time I didn't mention it. This saleswoman seemed used to waiting on people who were specific and serious about what they wanted. Never did she say: Oh, why does it matter, it's just a dollhouse.

I guess if she felt that way she wouldn't work there. I almost bought a miniature pot with (fake) cactus in it and also a little tea set. It is amazing how detailed the little dishes and boxes and jars are. It is a completely different world. Dealing with these things can put you in a different place. I imagine it can be a form of meditation. I knew of someone who had "a nervous breakdown" (I've never been sure what that meant) and part of her recovery was working on dollhouses. But how can you not think of Ibsen?

***
In other news, tonight I received a teaching award from the continuing education division of WRU. First there was a reception, during which I had my second Very Hot Flash of the Day while standing near some hot hors d'oeuvres. Luckily I was had on Hot Flash Defensivewear (silk scarf around my hairline, tied in back) to catch some of the sweat. As I was standing around I saw a person come into the room with my exact hair do. I had to talk to her. I assumed she was a sister chemo-head and I felt immediate affinity. Even her salt to pepper ratio was very much like mine. I went up to her and said, I had to talk to you because your hair's like mine. She said, Is your haircut intentional? and I said no. And then I don't know what happened. Did someone else swoop in? I lost her. I felt immediately stupid. I felt that I had insulted her: No one would have hair like ours unless she couldn't help it. I didn't get a chance to finish talking to her, to say, It looks good on you, I don't think it looks good on me.

I had a class at Intellectual University at the same time as the WRU awards ceremony, so I had asked my class if we could meet later. The students had very nicely agreed. The ceremony was supposed to end at 7:30, and class was going to start at 7:45. I figured I had plenty of time for a half-mile cab ride between the campuses. Of course the talks by various WRU personnel took longer than scheduled. It was getting to be 7:10 and we were one speaker behind. I had shpilkes. L came for the ceremony and told me I should just leave. But I wanted to stay and hear nice things said about me. L called the IU office for me to leave a message but no one answered. Miraculously, several self-sacrificing personnel cut their talks short so that we got just about on schedule. First the distinguished teacher of undergraduates got his award. He was from Europe, with a thick accent, and had received a number of teaching commendations. Then it was my turn, and I came up to the front of the room, and looked down as I was being lauded, then shook the associate dean's hand and took my award in a blue box. The European had said a few thanks so I just said I wanted to repeat his thanks and invite everyone to the free workshops my students will be giving in December. Then I sat back down as the distinguished teacher of noncredit programs was named and praised As soon as he was applauded, we made our exit. He had started to give a little speech. I had a little, really little speech prepared in my head but I had thought enough is enough, I gotta git.

And I got to my classroom at IU by 7:42.

But I was addled. Why o why couldn't the people keep on schedule? I have to remember that when I teach. Usually I do end on time, but occasionally we go over. I read somewhere that when you steal someone's time, you're a thief. Corny as that sounds.

In the blue box was an engraved piece of crystal and on top of the blue box was an envelope with a check. Which was unexpected and very nice. Thank you, WRU administrators and students. The nice thing said about me was that I challenged students more than they had imagined. Or something like that. Students nominate faculty for the award, and then the deans look up your teaching evaluations and discuss you and decide who gets honored. I was pleased to get the award, even as I suspected it was a sympathy vote. My friend P said that students aren't sympathetic. I hope she's right. I have been teaching college for 21 (!) years and still I get insecure. And of course I still make mistakes. In class tonight at IU we went off on a tangent about which ethnic groups worry a lot and a student got lost in the muddle. I was leading the way on the tangent. In a distinguished manner, of course.
READ MORE - Welcome to the Dollhouse; Cancer Bitch Embarrasses Herself and Others

Monday, October 15, 2007

Good News, Sort Of


U.S. cancer rates are on the decline, a group of private and public scientists announced today. In further good news, the AP reports: "New breast cancer diagnoses are dropping about 3.5 percent a year...." It's either because fewer post-menopausal women are opting for hormone replacement therapy, or--here's the punchline--fewer women are getting mammograms.


That's probably at least one reason that there is more breast cancer in developed countries than developing: because women in the Third World are less likely to have access to the machines that detect early cancers.


So what does it mean? I don't know. If we ever get national health insurance, and the rates soar, we'll know it was the access problem. And then what? Maybe we'll look at pollution and the human effects of the -cides: herbi- and pesti-. That's why I call this picture of my head Chemo/Lawn.
READ MORE - Good News, Sort Of

URGENT: Concerned Citizens Call to Action

This came over the email this morning.

Concerned Citizens and Friends:

Wednesday, 10/17, at 7:00 p.m. (City Hall) is the Public Hearing for Group Homes Moratorium Extension. The City is expected to propose 1-year extension. Please attend: Your voice is critical.

Our Position:

§ No extension beyond 90 days. Plenty of time to complete revised ordinances.

§ No more Ordinance delays. The City has used every possible excuse to obstruct and delay. City council must act: no kickback to Planning Commission.

§ Current Moratorium is Not Working. Businesses continue expansion, and more new ones. City is not enforcing compliance.

§ More over-concentration = more risk, damages. Increased problems with abatement, community impact.

§ Citizens’ Demand for good ordinances in 45 days stands, regardless of Moratorium.

§ Prevent further Institutionalization of our residential neighborhoods before it is too late.

Contact:

CONCERNED CITIZENS OF NEWPORT BEACH

Email: ccnb@obermanassociates.com

Phone: (949) 230-5868

Next important date: 10/23 City Council Meeting (7:00 p.m.)

Denys Oberman, for

CONCERNED CITIZENS OF NEWPORT BEACH

READ MORE - URGENT: Concerned Citizens Call to Action

Small Paper - Small Dollars

Sometimes it's easy to lose track of what's really important...as Ron and Anna Winship point out...

Geoff West, and his A Bubbling Cauldron blog, has a good little piece about our Daily Pilot's Political Reporter Alicia Robinson and her moving on to a much larger Riverside Press-Enterprise.

For those who have "built" relationships with the local reporters who cover Newport Beach, this happens way too often, whether it was S.J. Cahn, or June Casagrande, or Jean Pasco, Rebecca Schoenkopf, or even Jeff Overley (maybe he's on vacation). You always looked for their articles at the papers because they always had something interesting to say (well...maybe not so much with S.J...).

At least Scott Moxley's still around...

Now it's Alicia Robinson. In the few years she's been here, she's done a good job. She's always been at all the events. She's always been relatively fair. And she's always accepted the criticism and well-natured ribbing well.

But that's how it goes with small paper reporters. Small dollars and annoying local Bloggers calling...it's just not worth it.

When Jean Pasco left the LA Times to go work for the County of Orange, I asked Alicia if she would make a run for her job. After all, the LA Times owns the Daily Pilot, and they are even in the same building. But nothing.

Maybe the Daily Pilot should take note of how the OC Register has done it to keep their Political Reporters. When you go to the OC Register, you always click on articles by Frank Mickadeit, Martin Wiskol, Peggy Lowe and Steve Greenhut to see what political wisdom we didn't previously know about. But they primarily covered OC as a whole.

It's like reading the LA Times. You know they had a section about Orange County, but you knew they focus primarily on Los Angeles.

Now the new Daily Pilot political reporter will have to learn all the names and faces and issues anew, just in time for the impending fun and games with City Hall/Rehab Homes/Airport, and that's just in Newport Beach.

At least Alicia will have her hands full with the Political mayhem that lives in Riverside. And there are lots and lots of it!

However, the readers in Riverside will enjoy Alicia's words.

Good luck Alicia and thanks for reading this babble.

You will be missed.
READ MORE - Small Paper - Small Dollars

We don't want Conan O'Brien..do you?

Politics..politics...good grief...how much can we stand?
Look at all those events...all the money....they want...
all the wasted hor'dourves...all the wasted conversation,
no less. How about some truly important stuff? Who cares
where they put the dumb City Hall? Who cares whether Bob
Burnham and his wife run 1000 Rehab facilities? What the
heck....USC stumbled, bumbled, tripped and fell into a
wonderful win at home this week-end against Arizona. Now
that was great news! Next week...the dreaded Catholics of
Notre Dame..who will probably wear those annoying Green
throwback uniforms. It will be one of the two most important
games of the season...and our eyes will be glued for the
four hours that could change our lives "forever"! That is
until we play the "Powder Blue Meanies" later this year!

OK, let's get down to cases. Traditions are good...some
traditions are even better. Do you sometimes think way back
and miss Johnnie Carson? Ed McMann we could do without..but
Johnnie was awesome. Even when Johnny was bad....he was very
good. Think of another talk show...that still gets re-run
money! Only the Tonight Show - with Johnny Carson!

Now what? The bean counters at NBC have sold their property
in Burbank! Horrors! End of times! For the last two years
there has been a rumor that Jay Leno would step down in 2009
and be replaced by Conan O'Brien!!!! Good Grief Charley
Brown.....here; kick this football! Last night Jay let it be
known...he didn't want to leave! We do not want Conan and his
jump in the air nonsense! His very boring, self consideration
interrogatory! We would even take Mike Ditka? Someone that
is more - uplifting! Chris Berman could do it...Tom Jackson
could it...Jim Rome could do it....but "Conan the Ridiculous"?
Not our cup of tea!

Now let's be fair. Jay Leno can be boring, boorish and on
occasion...totally off! Kevin pushes his phony antagonism
routine too often and sometimes the "headlines" gets very
tiring. "The stupid people" that answer Jay's questions
Molly and Jack or whoever they are - really are very bad.
"Ross the Intern" was fine until he got skinny and we found
out he wasn't really gay! The realities of these little off
the subject issues is: Jay Leno does incredibly good dialogue
with his guests! Sometimes we even find out important stuff.
Jay does a superb job of making his guests comfortable and
can ask tough questions without making them angry! For this
and this reason alone - we don't want Jay Leno to leave in
2009! We detest David Letterman, who has no rapport with
animals or kids! Paul Schaffer is a great musician but hey
NO Doc Severnson! Sometimes, we just watch the first half
hour with Nightline...but only if they have a decent program
that doesn't include dismembered soldiers, children or Iraqi
civilians!

OK Jay, we have said it: You are an "Old Car Guy", a giving,
caring, kind person with a sense of humor closer to ours than
Conan O'Brien or David Letterman! Tell those NBC execs to go
pay Conan his $40 million bucks and get lost! Take $20 million
for two years instead of what you get...and renegotiate your
contract. And by the way; "Why didn't you think of that?"

In the meantime Jay - we are behind you sir, kick butt!
READ MORE - We don't want Conan O'Brien..do you?