Deep Politics: Environment, Democracy, Health, Privacy — and a Bit of Fun

Nerve Gas Methyl Iodide Sales Halted in US - for Now

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Pacific Grove Resident's Debt from CalPERS 2007-2015

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Pacific Grove City Manager Tom Frutchey

Tom Frutchey does not like criticism of his many failings as City Manager of Pacific Grove.

Recently, to intimidate a resident who told the City Council about her strong concerns about City staff insubordination – the City Manager hired a lawyer to write her a strong letter of reproach.
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Hog Disguised with Lipstick, named Tom Gray

(c) Copyright 2000-2012 David Dilworth

“Smart Growth” is Doublespeak and an Oxymoron.

Along with “Postal Service“, “Jumbo Shrimp” and “Congressional Ethics” – “Sustainable Development” is a self canceling or contradictory phrase along with its new disguise called “Smart Growth.”

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Happy Pup

As sudden as a meteor streak – flashing into my headlights trots a large dog with a nice smile – in the middle of my lane!

Twisting to the left my car just missed him, but the car tailgating me hit him. Watching the horror in my darkened rear view mirror I saw him bounce off the front of their car again and again as helpless as a soccer ball bouncing and rolling in front of a bulldozer.

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Pacific Grove City Mangler Tom Frutchey

“Things were much better [for developers] in the old days, in large part because staff didn’t follow the law.”

– Pacific Grove City Manager Tom Frutchey, April 2011

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Ronald McDonald Quits

Attempted Murder of a Good Law: Two people tried to kill Pacific Grove’s law banning Fast Food. Councilman (and Carpetbagger) Bill Kampe¹ along with Commerce Chamber head Moe “Strip Mall” Ammar wielded the weapons of mass deception.

Councilman Bill "Fast-Food" Kampe

Apparently skepticism of foreigners is a long tradition; an ongoing theme in California.

Immigration has always been a problem in the United States.
Ask any Native American (Credit: Souix Nation)

“What are we to do then? Shall we remain supine, while these daring strangers are overrunning our fertile plains, and gradually outnumbering and displacing us?

“Shall these incursions go on unchecked, until we shall become strangers in our own land?”

 

Q: Who said that ?

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Here’s an example of how a lone voice can halt big mistakes.

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The Best (and worst) Monterey Peninsula Businesses

A business only gets on this list if —

1. I have had direct personal experience with them, and
2. They have provided exceptional service, reliably – with no bad experiences.

These local businesses prove that there are solid reasons for buying some services and products locally and not over the internet / web. It is notable that several of these excellent businesses are large corporations – both privately and publicly owned.
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Pirate’s Arrgh

I lived in Europe for a while teaching several subjects including English and French. In my experience listening to people with languages from different cultures – the “R” is the most difficult sound to get right – in many languages.

Scots roll a long “Arrrr” almost like a pirate. The French pronounce it more like whispering “air”, while Asians often mysteriously switch “R” and “L” sounds.
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I couldn’t make this up.

Emperors New Clothes

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Some places, such as California, come close but we still await – the real thing. Many “leaders” want you to believe that the only criteria necessary for a democracy is allowing people to vote.

As you will see here, voting is not the only thing necessary for democracy, as you may be aware, voting can be totally nullified or corrupted.

“Political Gap” Means Democracy is Lacking

Democracy is defined as “the Consent of the Governed.” It means shared power or shared governance. It can not reasonably be called consent when the most important political decisions made by government officials vary grossly from the will of most voters, from protection of the politically weak, and from the public good.

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Public Utilities Commission President Michael Peevey
Former CEO of a Utility-Southern California Edison

“Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied.” – Otto Van Bismark

Well, today California Public Utilities Commission President Michael Peevey officially denied being a lapdog to PG$E — “the $38 million fine should put to rest criticism that the agency is a ‘lapdog’ of PG$E.”

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Golf play stops at Sunset time – so must restaurant operations.

The Herald published an unsigned, misinformed and misleading editorial advocating for expansion of the Golf Club restaurant to the non-golf customers – after sunset hours. I wrote a response online, but their systems screwed up the formatting so it was barely readable. Here is what I wrote in a readable fashion (with minor improvements).

“the clubhouse [that residents] opposed for so long” = misleading.

The Herald editorial makes it sound like the Clubhouse is a new concept and that it was always opposed.

Both wrong.

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This Wednesday the PG Council has an agenda item to approve extending business hours at the hotly contested Golf Course Grill into the evening to accommodate non-golfers.

Because of the traffic and noise impacts to the neighborhood the Council is required to complete CEQA analysis before approving any such operation. In addition, because the land is zoned as Open Space any use that is not golf course or recreation related is prohibited by city law.

Pacific Grove City Manager Tom Frutchey

However, even though the City attorney has explained this, city staff and a few Councilmembers don’t want to wait.

According to the Herald — “Several issues requiring review under the state Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) must be dealt with, he said, and a draft report under the act requires 30 days for the public to comment on it.”

So staff has prepared a way to approve what they want and effectively evade the law.
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Joe Fitzpatrick – Great Guy

Jospeh Michael Fitzpatrick
December 17, 1923 ~ May 29, 2010

CARMEL VALLEY, CA – Joe Fitzpatrick, witty newsman best remembered for his “My Bag” column in the Monterey Herald, passed away “with a smile” Saturday, May 29, 2010. He died of sudden heart failure at the age of 86 while being prepared to return home after a brief stay in Community Hospital.

His care giver, Yvonne Jacobs, said that “he just smiled, laid back on his pillow and died” after she had shown Joe a picture of his dogs, Hussy and Higgins, on her i-phone and told him they were going home to see them. Joe had been incapacitated and in ill health for the past four years. But he retained his spirit – and a sense of humor – throughout.
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SmartMeters Facilitate Cyber War Against US
(c) Copyright 2011 David j Dilworth

This didn’t happen — yet.

New York Power Blackout 2003 (simulation)

“Within a quarter of an hour, 157 major metropolitan areas have been thrown into knots by a nationwide power blackout hitting during rush hour. . .

“Subways have crashed in New York, Oakland, Washington, and Los Angeles. . . . Aircraft are literally falling out of the sky as a result of midair collisions across the country. . . . Several thousand Americans have already died.”

This is an excerpt from “Cyber War” by Richard Clarke, former National Security Advisor to Presidents Obama and Bush. Its an “edgy account of America’s vulnerability to hackers, both state-sponsored and individual, especially from China.” – Seymour Hersch, Online Threat, New Yorker, Nov 2010

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It’s not illegal to sell raw meat that tests positive for salmonella, campylobacter or listeria.

Raw Meat Threat

Many of my friends are upset that KBOQ changed away from the classical music it has played since 1983.

Here’s a quick and clean alternative.

1. Click here to get WCPE radio station on the Internet (Its in North Carolina).

WiFi Radio