Today is the last day you can legally talk on a hand-held cell phone while driving in California. But maybe they're not the problem.
I witnessed a driver — distracted by nothing more than his own lack of awareness — barrel through the B Street and 10th Street downtown four-way stop, right in the middle of the lunch hour.
Some folks, evidently, don't need extra distractions to be bad drivers.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Friday random thoughts ...
• And think, it might not have been cut enough: This year's San Joaquin County budget, just approved, is about $84 million smaller than last year's.
• Let's hope the interpretation of personal instead of collective rights is applied to other amendments as well: The Supreme Court's first-in-history assertion that the Second Amendment entitles sane, law-abiding citizens to own guns in the home.
• According to the president's past statements, isn't this appeasement? Dropping the "State Sponsor of Terror" designation of North Korea in response to its recent nuclear concession.
• Barack, I've got a 'but' for you: It's great, all this hope and unification talk. But I wouldn't mind if you once told your base voters something they don't want to hear. As long as it's the truth.
• Oh yes, the pain is coming: The war in Iraq has been paid for pretty much exclusively by borrowing. Sooner or later, we'll have to pay that bill.
• The signs of an addict: If we're addicted to oil, like President Bush has said before, why are we trying to drill for more oil?
• Calvin and Hobbes quote of the week: "Have you been reading the papers? Grown-ups really have the world fouled up. ... The only bright side to all this is that eventually there may not be a piece of the planet worth fighting over."
• Let's hope the interpretation of personal instead of collective rights is applied to other amendments as well: The Supreme Court's first-in-history assertion that the Second Amendment entitles sane, law-abiding citizens to own guns in the home.
• According to the president's past statements, isn't this appeasement? Dropping the "State Sponsor of Terror" designation of North Korea in response to its recent nuclear concession.
• Barack, I've got a 'but' for you: It's great, all this hope and unification talk. But I wouldn't mind if you once told your base voters something they don't want to hear. As long as it's the truth.
• Oh yes, the pain is coming: The war in Iraq has been paid for pretty much exclusively by borrowing. Sooner or later, we'll have to pay that bill.
• The signs of an addict: If we're addicted to oil, like President Bush has said before, why are we trying to drill for more oil?
• Calvin and Hobbes quote of the week: "Have you been reading the papers? Grown-ups really have the world fouled up. ... The only bright side to all this is that eventually there may not be a piece of the planet worth fighting over."
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
A disappointing decision
Rep. Jerry McNerney voted this week in favor of a bill updating FISA, the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act.
A McNerney statement last week said he voted for the legislation because it "updates our nation’s surveillance laws for the 21st century, considerably strengthening civil liberty protections and giving our intelligence community the tools to conduct surveillance of potential threats against our country."
From analysis that I've read, that's not inaccurate. At least this version of the bill clearly states that warrantless wiretapping — a favorite tool of the Bush administration — is expressly illegal when it comes to American citizens.
But the disturbing part of the law is the part dealing with telecommunications companies that turned their customers' confidential phone records over to the government just because the Bush administration said they should. (Note here, at least one major company, sensing that something was either fishy or downright illegal, said no.)
The White House wants complete immunity for the telecoms that broke the law, I'd guess to cover up its own mistakes and law-breaking in the War on Terror. Lawsuits against these companies are likely to reveal just what civil liberties were trodden on by the administration in its hunt for the terrorist bogeymen.
So it's a big deal for the rule of law that the companies — and their records — be subject to the public scrutiny of legal action.
As an answer, the new FISA bill requires that a judicial review must decide "substantial evidence" exists before granting a company lawsuit immunity from customers pissed that their information was illegally handed over to Big Brother.
Andy Stone, McNerney's spokesman, reminded me Tuesday that the congressman voted against an earlier bill that contained so-called blanket immunity.
But as a columnist for another local paper penned last weekend, "other language says the courts must decide solely on whether the Bush administration told the telecoms the spying was legal."
In other words: If the president said so, the immunity sticks.
That stinks.
Let's hope the Senate doesn't give in to the administration's desires.
A McNerney statement last week said he voted for the legislation because it "updates our nation’s surveillance laws for the 21st century, considerably strengthening civil liberty protections and giving our intelligence community the tools to conduct surveillance of potential threats against our country."
From analysis that I've read, that's not inaccurate. At least this version of the bill clearly states that warrantless wiretapping — a favorite tool of the Bush administration — is expressly illegal when it comes to American citizens.
But the disturbing part of the law is the part dealing with telecommunications companies that turned their customers' confidential phone records over to the government just because the Bush administration said they should. (Note here, at least one major company, sensing that something was either fishy or downright illegal, said no.)
The White House wants complete immunity for the telecoms that broke the law, I'd guess to cover up its own mistakes and law-breaking in the War on Terror. Lawsuits against these companies are likely to reveal just what civil liberties were trodden on by the administration in its hunt for the terrorist bogeymen.
So it's a big deal for the rule of law that the companies — and their records — be subject to the public scrutiny of legal action.
As an answer, the new FISA bill requires that a judicial review must decide "substantial evidence" exists before granting a company lawsuit immunity from customers pissed that their information was illegally handed over to Big Brother.
Andy Stone, McNerney's spokesman, reminded me Tuesday that the congressman voted against an earlier bill that contained so-called blanket immunity.
But as a columnist for another local paper penned last weekend, "other language says the courts must decide solely on whether the Bush administration told the telecoms the spying was legal."
In other words: If the president said so, the immunity sticks.
That stinks.
Let's hope the Senate doesn't give in to the administration's desires.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Thank goodness for the experts
If it wasn't for official reports, how would we ever figure out when the Central Valley air wasn't healthy?
Even if you just poked your head toward a grime-covered window today, you knew you were taking your health into your own hands by walking outside, as this past weekend's lightning storm has sparked hundreds of fires across the state.
And all that smoke has ended up in the valley — you couldn't ask for a more perfect smog trap. It's days like today that ensure the valley will probably never meet strict air pollution standards, no matter how hard we try.
(If you don't trust your lying eyes, this Web site has the daily air quality forecast.)
Even if you just poked your head toward a grime-covered window today, you knew you were taking your health into your own hands by walking outside, as this past weekend's lightning storm has sparked hundreds of fires across the state.
And all that smoke has ended up in the valley — you couldn't ask for a more perfect smog trap. It's days like today that ensure the valley will probably never meet strict air pollution standards, no matter how hard we try.
(If you don't trust your lying eyes, this Web site has the daily air quality forecast.)
Monday, June 23, 2008
Tough news for the little guy
Looks like our state senator isn't getting rave reviews when it comes to dealing with the housing crisis, and Ground Zero is in the middle of his district.
The San Francisco Chronicle took Mike Machado, D-Linden, to task today for voting in opposition to several bills that would have enacted some measure of regulation on the home-lending industry.
Part of the reason the housing meltdown happened was because those with the power of industry oversight decided to "trust the free market," while conveniently forgetting that often includes barely-legal (and sometimes downright illegal) schemes that ultimately create more losers than winners.
Sensible regluation can help keep industry in check while allowing its captains to still make a comfortable living. But if you prefer more Enron "success stories," that's your perogative.
The San Francisco Chronicle took Mike Machado, D-Linden, to task today for voting in opposition to several bills that would have enacted some measure of regulation on the home-lending industry.
Part of the reason the housing meltdown happened was because those with the power of industry oversight decided to "trust the free market," while conveniently forgetting that often includes barely-legal (and sometimes downright illegal) schemes that ultimately create more losers than winners.
Sensible regluation can help keep industry in check while allowing its captains to still make a comfortable living. But if you prefer more Enron "success stories," that's your perogative.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Big Delta deal, or no Delta deal?
One of two local congressional candidates has been touched by the Delta College Mountain House debacle.
The grand jury report excorciating the Board of Trustees said, in part:
"The day after this closed-session meeting, phone calls and a faxed letter indicated that one or more board members had relayed confidential, closed-session information about the 'breach of contract' discussion to the developer and his consultant. If true, this is a violation of the Brown Act."
Turns out that consultant, assuming the credibility of this report, was none other than Dean Andal, who's running to unseat Rep. Jerry McNerney this fall.
It's fair to say that Andal had nothing to do with possibly violating the Brown Act. That's solely on the head(s) of the unnamed trustee(s) who relayed the confidential info.
However, it is fair to ask what role Andal played in a continuing effort to push a Mountain House satellite campus that has cost taxpayers millions of dollars and cost students several semesters that could have been spent in classrooms.
We'll have more when more develops.
The grand jury report excorciating the Board of Trustees said, in part:
"The day after this closed-session meeting, phone calls and a faxed letter indicated that one or more board members had relayed confidential, closed-session information about the 'breach of contract' discussion to the developer and his consultant. If true, this is a violation of the Brown Act."
Turns out that consultant, assuming the credibility of this report, was none other than Dean Andal, who's running to unseat Rep. Jerry McNerney this fall.
It's fair to say that Andal had nothing to do with possibly violating the Brown Act. That's solely on the head(s) of the unnamed trustee(s) who relayed the confidential info.
However, it is fair to ask what role Andal played in a continuing effort to push a Mountain House satellite campus that has cost taxpayers millions of dollars and cost students several semesters that could have been spent in classrooms.
We'll have more when more develops.
Friday random thoughts
Worst. Management. Ever: San Joaquin Delta College trustees and the Mountain House satellite campus.
Heads must roll for this: The above-linked grand jury report concludes that Delta wasted several years and millions of taxpayer dollars because of incompetence. There's just no nice way to put it.
A project that Tracy can actually afford: The multimodal station will only cost the city $250,000. Not bad for a project with a total price tag topping $12 million.
Weak. Timid. Spineless: How the San Francisco Chronicle characterized the Democratic House kowtowing to the Bush administration in passing wiretapping legislation. I couldn't agree more. Those wusses.
It's not just John McCain who's had a change of thought: Now that gas is topping $4.50 in some places, plenty of folks are reconsidering bans on oil drilling in Alaska and on California's coast.
The Tracy Press, watchdog of the daily grind: Before this story, Home Depot had no idea it was breaking city law. Thanks to the report and the company's quick action, it's now in compliance.
Anyone else see the problem with this logic? Marriage as a religious institution between man and woman only, OK. I'll hang with that. But the state -- that would be the government of all things secular -- has no right defining marriage based on the religious leanings of one group, even if that group is a majority.
Heads must roll for this: The above-linked grand jury report concludes that Delta wasted several years and millions of taxpayer dollars because of incompetence. There's just no nice way to put it.
A project that Tracy can actually afford: The multimodal station will only cost the city $250,000. Not bad for a project with a total price tag topping $12 million.
Weak. Timid. Spineless: How the San Francisco Chronicle characterized the Democratic House kowtowing to the Bush administration in passing wiretapping legislation. I couldn't agree more. Those wusses.
It's not just John McCain who's had a change of thought: Now that gas is topping $4.50 in some places, plenty of folks are reconsidering bans on oil drilling in Alaska and on California's coast.
The Tracy Press, watchdog of the daily grind: Before this story, Home Depot had no idea it was breaking city law. Thanks to the report and the company's quick action, it's now in compliance.
Anyone else see the problem with this logic? Marriage as a religious institution between man and woman only, OK. I'll hang with that. But the state -- that would be the government of all things secular -- has no right defining marriage based on the religious leanings of one group, even if that group is a majority.
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