Once again, the black community hears an unfavorable verdict and the riots begin. No matter where in the nation the verdict is handed down, those intent on destruction and mayhem will find an excuse to riot and do so in the name of righteousness.
Had the verdict been guilty for George Zimmerman and he been given 5 years probation, the riots would have started a bit later, because the same narrow minded idiots would believe the sentence was too light, even though the verdict was guilty. No matter what came down, there were going to be riots, either by those using the innocent verdict as a reason to destroy, or those who would use the guilty verdict, no matter how harsh the sentence, as a cause for jubilation and destroy in the name of "justice."
Can anyone see how this further destroys the progress we have made in race relations in this country? How such idiotic behavior undermines the trust and dignity that we have begun to develop between brotherhoods as a result of so many years of work? That people would allow others to run amok and burn, smash, destroy and injure in the name of alleged justice? Come on, this isn't justice. It's hooliganism and vandalism in its' highest form. And done in the name of a deceased person who some people are trying to canonize like a saint. Shame on you.
I went through the Baltimore MLK Riots in 1968 carrying a Remington 870 shotgun and my greatest fear was not the dark streets, not the Molotov cocktails, not the roaming gangs of looters. It was the possibility that I might have to shoot a fellow American. Even after tours in Vietnam, I just wasn't hardened enough to wrap my head around that; this was happening in an American city. Sure, Newark was in the past, but this wasn't Newark, this was Baltimore and the people here were more civilized and gentile. Or were they? No, the streets were just like Newark, taken over by the young people who burned and looted, while their elders sat on the curbs and wept, not about their own burned out stores and shops, but about the race relations that had fallen back 20 years in just a few nights. Yes, I spoke with many people in the streets those nights, and we all agreed that Martin Luther King's death was a horrible thing, but these riots were not going to bring him back, nor would he be pleased by the actions of these thugs.
Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with the Trayvon Martin - George Zimmerman verdict, the justice system has spoken. There was no prejudice on the part of the jury who made the decision. It's over and time to move on to constructive things. Don't let Trayvon Martin's memorial be one of looting and burning; let it be one of building new bridges towards peace and a renewed commitment towards brotherhood between races. Zimmerman will have to find his own way. Please find yours. Peacefully.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Why is it?
A life is a terrible thing to have ended by violence. Regardless of how the verdict comes down, a human life lost is a condemnation of society as a whole, that something went wrong in what should be a peaceful, co-existing relationship between humans.
That said, why does everything have to have some smear of civil rights or racism tossed in? The just ended Zimmerman-Martin case is decided, but long from over it seems as now the government wants to establish whether civil rights violations are possible. And whether the family may sue in a civil case. What? This case should be closed. How can there be a civil rights violation when a man is found not guilty? How did he violate Trayvon Martin's civil rights?
What if...George Zimmerman had been killed? Would the government step in and open a case to see if his civil rights were violated? Of course not. We're told not to think racist, and I for one tend to be color blind, but it galls me to see the government and others jump in and pander to causes regarding civil rights only when it behooves non-whites to do so.
Look at it this way. Trayvon Martin kills George Zimmerman and the facts are exactly the same. Trayvon Martin is found not guilty. Case closed. No civil rights violations, no marches in the streets by ethnic groups saying this was a racist thing, no cries for a retrial, no cries for the government to step in and appeal the verdict. No riots, no mayhem. Absolutely nothing. Trayvon Martin would have gone home and lived as normal a life as he could have lived under the circumstances without a followup circus being staged, all in the name if "civil rights" and racism. Oh, wait. How does this race card get played? Only if it behooves the party that plays it. Since we're becoming a generally accepting and mixed society, it's less and less an issue, until some group wants it to be an issue.
Remember the professor in Massachusetts who was detained at his home because the police had a burglary call, He was black and the police officer was white. Made no difference that he had no identification and no way to prove he owned the home or had the right to be there. But the fact that he was subjected to the indignity of being stopped and questioned by a white cop and not allowed to proceed into the house that was "allegedly his" brought forth racist cries from the community. And, this professor turned out to be one of President Obama's buddies, and of course Obama played the race card there because it became opportunistic for him to do so. He did invite all to a glass of beer in the Rose Garden at the White House to smooth things over. I'd have told him to shove his beer, but, then again, I don't have a career to toss down the drain to do the right thing, albeit politically incorrect.
Numerous Caucasians and other persons are killed, maimed or injured as a result of crime by non-white aggressors and criminals, some guilty and others adjudicated not guilty. Yet when can anyone remember there being a civil rights case being opened against a Hispanic or African American person for the death or severe injuries of a Caucasian? Is this some sort of a double standard?
I'd just like to know how this civil rights thing works. Is there something that says if you are one race, creed or national origin and are killed or otherwise injured by someone not of your same race, creed or national origin that your civil rights have then been violated? Or does that specifically exclude Caucasians and certain other ethnic groups? Or is it inclusive of certain groups only?
I'd really like to know.
That said, why does everything have to have some smear of civil rights or racism tossed in? The just ended Zimmerman-Martin case is decided, but long from over it seems as now the government wants to establish whether civil rights violations are possible. And whether the family may sue in a civil case. What? This case should be closed. How can there be a civil rights violation when a man is found not guilty? How did he violate Trayvon Martin's civil rights?
What if...George Zimmerman had been killed? Would the government step in and open a case to see if his civil rights were violated? Of course not. We're told not to think racist, and I for one tend to be color blind, but it galls me to see the government and others jump in and pander to causes regarding civil rights only when it behooves non-whites to do so.
Look at it this way. Trayvon Martin kills George Zimmerman and the facts are exactly the same. Trayvon Martin is found not guilty. Case closed. No civil rights violations, no marches in the streets by ethnic groups saying this was a racist thing, no cries for a retrial, no cries for the government to step in and appeal the verdict. No riots, no mayhem. Absolutely nothing. Trayvon Martin would have gone home and lived as normal a life as he could have lived under the circumstances without a followup circus being staged, all in the name if "civil rights" and racism. Oh, wait. How does this race card get played? Only if it behooves the party that plays it. Since we're becoming a generally accepting and mixed society, it's less and less an issue, until some group wants it to be an issue.
Remember the professor in Massachusetts who was detained at his home because the police had a burglary call, He was black and the police officer was white. Made no difference that he had no identification and no way to prove he owned the home or had the right to be there. But the fact that he was subjected to the indignity of being stopped and questioned by a white cop and not allowed to proceed into the house that was "allegedly his" brought forth racist cries from the community. And, this professor turned out to be one of President Obama's buddies, and of course Obama played the race card there because it became opportunistic for him to do so. He did invite all to a glass of beer in the Rose Garden at the White House to smooth things over. I'd have told him to shove his beer, but, then again, I don't have a career to toss down the drain to do the right thing, albeit politically incorrect.
Numerous Caucasians and other persons are killed, maimed or injured as a result of crime by non-white aggressors and criminals, some guilty and others adjudicated not guilty. Yet when can anyone remember there being a civil rights case being opened against a Hispanic or African American person for the death or severe injuries of a Caucasian? Is this some sort of a double standard?
I'd just like to know how this civil rights thing works. Is there something that says if you are one race, creed or national origin and are killed or otherwise injured by someone not of your same race, creed or national origin that your civil rights have then been violated? Or does that specifically exclude Caucasians and certain other ethnic groups? Or is it inclusive of certain groups only?
I'd really like to know.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Solar Roof Fans - Beat SDG&E to Cool Your Home!
I've written about many things, mostly how people get ripped off, but this is one of those times I would like to send kudos to a great company and a product that can save you angst and money too. It's called the Solar Star solar roof fan by Solatube Home Daylight in Vista, CA.
First, let me explain that we live close to the Pacific Ocean and have no air conditioning but the ocean breezes. That said, the attic gets hotter than a convection oven on the warm summer days. Even with the requisite six inches of insulation, the master bedroom ceilings were showing 86 to 90 degrees on a laser guided digital infrared thermometer. Some areas were in excess of 90 degrees where tight ceiling/roof areas prevented significant air flow and there were dead air pockets. The bedroom was uncomfortable for sleeping, even though we had installed heavy duty UV resistant double pane windows with one-third and one-eighth glass to cut heat and light, so heat penetration through them was minimal.
Second, you might ask, why not just put in more insulation? Great question. The answer is the same Pacific Ocean winds that help cool the air in the summer bring huge winds during the Pacific storms in the winter. Roof vents already in place allow the wind to circulate in part of the attic, insulation becomes dislodged and blown all over, necessitating recovering and replacement of the batts, which are irregular and some several feet square. Plus, the attic area over the master bedroom is a vaulted ceiling, with very low access, making the choice of insulation in that area blown in, rather than batts. That, combined with the low clearance between the roof and the ceiling joists creates a low flow air space. So no matter how much insulation were in the attic, the space itself would not be getting any cooler during the summer heat. (I am excepting insulating the underside of the roof for various reasons, including access) Plus, the insulation tends to trap the heat longer after the sun goes down. Kind of a Catch-22 situation, I suppose.
Third, the back of the bedroom wall is also the garage wall, the garage wall extending about one-half the way up the bedroom. This same garage wall is also the back wall of a first floor bedroom as well. The garage wall facing the bedrooms is insulated with 4" fiberglass, but the garage outer walls and roof is open studs and rafter construction with no insulation. The garage door is steel with 2 inches polystyrene between two steel panels.
Now to the fans. We had installed two RM1600 22 watt Solar Star fans, one in the attic directly above the hottest part of the master bedroom ceiling and the second near the peak of the garage. We chose the thermal switches for each fan since they allow the fans to activate when the attic temperature reaches 85 degrees and to deactivate when the temperature is 65 degrees or less. Thus the fans don't run in the cold winter months unless needed.
The results: During 80 plus degree days, the master bedroom temperatures have remained in the low 70's and are much more comfortable. The ceiling temperatures during the peak heat of the day show as between 74 and 84 degrees, a significant drop from earlier testing. Garage temperatures, which used to be almost unbearable, after bringing in heat soaked vehicles, are now pleasant.I can actually work in the garage without sweltering! Granted the uninsulated open roof does allow some heat buildup, but the Solar Star fan takes it out quickly and even with two hot vehicles, the temperature is not uncomfortable.
I consider this a very good investment. The fans run free with no electricity charge, do not need full sunlight to operate efficiently, and are very quiet. They really are efficient, even more than I expected. The cost for several of these units is in the $1500 range, but there is a 30% tax credit for solar energy that can be applicable from what I understand. 5 year warranty on the fan and motor and 10 years on the rest of the components.Very professional installation in about 90 minutes for both fans. Plus, the fan and solar unit could be replaced if ever needed with no roof intrusion, a big plus in the future if it were needed. Just remove a few bolts, remove one fan assembly and install a new working unit! Very cool!
I don't recommend products very often but this is just one of the super stars that I really feel good about.
Here's a link: http://www.homedaylight.com/content/show/6934
First, let me explain that we live close to the Pacific Ocean and have no air conditioning but the ocean breezes. That said, the attic gets hotter than a convection oven on the warm summer days. Even with the requisite six inches of insulation, the master bedroom ceilings were showing 86 to 90 degrees on a laser guided digital infrared thermometer. Some areas were in excess of 90 degrees where tight ceiling/roof areas prevented significant air flow and there were dead air pockets. The bedroom was uncomfortable for sleeping, even though we had installed heavy duty UV resistant double pane windows with one-third and one-eighth glass to cut heat and light, so heat penetration through them was minimal.
Second, you might ask, why not just put in more insulation? Great question. The answer is the same Pacific Ocean winds that help cool the air in the summer bring huge winds during the Pacific storms in the winter. Roof vents already in place allow the wind to circulate in part of the attic, insulation becomes dislodged and blown all over, necessitating recovering and replacement of the batts, which are irregular and some several feet square. Plus, the attic area over the master bedroom is a vaulted ceiling, with very low access, making the choice of insulation in that area blown in, rather than batts. That, combined with the low clearance between the roof and the ceiling joists creates a low flow air space. So no matter how much insulation were in the attic, the space itself would not be getting any cooler during the summer heat. (I am excepting insulating the underside of the roof for various reasons, including access) Plus, the insulation tends to trap the heat longer after the sun goes down. Kind of a Catch-22 situation, I suppose.
Third, the back of the bedroom wall is also the garage wall, the garage wall extending about one-half the way up the bedroom. This same garage wall is also the back wall of a first floor bedroom as well. The garage wall facing the bedrooms is insulated with 4" fiberglass, but the garage outer walls and roof is open studs and rafter construction with no insulation. The garage door is steel with 2 inches polystyrene between two steel panels.
Now to the fans. We had installed two RM1600 22 watt Solar Star fans, one in the attic directly above the hottest part of the master bedroom ceiling and the second near the peak of the garage. We chose the thermal switches for each fan since they allow the fans to activate when the attic temperature reaches 85 degrees and to deactivate when the temperature is 65 degrees or less. Thus the fans don't run in the cold winter months unless needed.
The results: During 80 plus degree days, the master bedroom temperatures have remained in the low 70's and are much more comfortable. The ceiling temperatures during the peak heat of the day show as between 74 and 84 degrees, a significant drop from earlier testing. Garage temperatures, which used to be almost unbearable, after bringing in heat soaked vehicles, are now pleasant.I can actually work in the garage without sweltering! Granted the uninsulated open roof does allow some heat buildup, but the Solar Star fan takes it out quickly and even with two hot vehicles, the temperature is not uncomfortable.
I consider this a very good investment. The fans run free with no electricity charge, do not need full sunlight to operate efficiently, and are very quiet. They really are efficient, even more than I expected. The cost for several of these units is in the $1500 range, but there is a 30% tax credit for solar energy that can be applicable from what I understand. 5 year warranty on the fan and motor and 10 years on the rest of the components.Very professional installation in about 90 minutes for both fans. Plus, the fan and solar unit could be replaced if ever needed with no roof intrusion, a big plus in the future if it were needed. Just remove a few bolts, remove one fan assembly and install a new working unit! Very cool!
I don't recommend products very often but this is just one of the super stars that I really feel good about.
Here's a link: http://www.homedaylight.com/content/show/6934
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
More Postal Service Idiocy
Here's a surprise...you spend ten bucks to ship a package and the Postal Service misroutes it within its own unit then doesn't update the tracking information. Why? Because they don't want you to know just how badly they might have screwed up the shipping of a simple priority mail package.
Let's start with the facts. This package was handed to the carrier about noon on July 1st. How in hell it didn't get scanned by the Post Office about three miles away until after 3 AM the next morning is way beyond my comprehension. And then the real screw up starts as follows:
Priority Mail®
USPS Tracking / Delivery Confirmation™
What is so weird is that apparently the Post Office KNOWS it has missent the package at 8:17 AM but continues the sort and sends it on out for delivery at 8:37 AM anyway and 14 hours later doesn't update the status of the package because they likely don't know where in hell it is, or don't want anyone to know how badly they mishandled it! And 15 hours later there is still no indication where that package might be. It should be in the hands of the recipient but that isn't going to happen on time!
So, the USPS wants me to trust them with all my shipping. And touts two to three day shipping to boot. Yet why won't they give me a refund if it takes them a week to get my package to the receiver, when it's clearly their fault? Not the weather or another act of God? It's the idiocy of the incompetent postal service at work. Sad that there are some good employees and some idiots who cannot get their crap straight if it were on their head. This isn't the first time this has happened but it's the most recent and it's documented it's Carlsbad that screwed up so no tossing the blame this time. Nice work folks. And you worry about your jobs? I bitch about SmartPost, but at half the cost, maybe it does take ten days, but you're getting in the same category for twice the price.
July 6 Update: With no further scanning except the delivery scan, the package arrived on July 6. The 2-3 day Priority Mail took 0ver 5 days to get there, which in itself is probably no biggie considering there was a holiday, but not to scan it at any time after they bobbled it locally? Shows the quality of the USPS. Sorry, if bankruptcy is on the horizon, they're doing it all by themselves.
Let's start with the facts. This package was handed to the carrier about noon on July 1st. How in hell it didn't get scanned by the Post Office about three miles away until after 3 AM the next morning is way beyond my comprehension. And then the real screw up starts as follows:
Priority Mail®
USPS Tracking / Delivery Confirmation™
Delivery
status not updated
July2, 2013, 10:37 pm
|
|||||
Out for Delivery
|
July 2, 2013, 8:37 am
|
CARLSBAD, CA 92011
|
|||
Sorting Complete
|
July 2, 2013, 8:27 am
|
CARLSBAD, CA 92011
|
|||
Missent
|
July 2, 2013, 8:17 am
|
||||
Arrival at Post Office
|
July 2, 2013, 3:12 am
|
CARLSBAD, CA 92011
|
|||
Electronic Shipping Info Received
|
June 30, 2013
|
||||
So, the USPS wants me to trust them with all my shipping. And touts two to three day shipping to boot. Yet why won't they give me a refund if it takes them a week to get my package to the receiver, when it's clearly their fault? Not the weather or another act of God? It's the idiocy of the incompetent postal service at work. Sad that there are some good employees and some idiots who cannot get their crap straight if it were on their head. This isn't the first time this has happened but it's the most recent and it's documented it's Carlsbad that screwed up so no tossing the blame this time. Nice work folks. And you worry about your jobs? I bitch about SmartPost, but at half the cost, maybe it does take ten days, but you're getting in the same category for twice the price.
July 6 Update: With no further scanning except the delivery scan, the package arrived on July 6. The 2-3 day Priority Mail took 0ver 5 days to get there, which in itself is probably no biggie considering there was a holiday, but not to scan it at any time after they bobbled it locally? Shows the quality of the USPS. Sorry, if bankruptcy is on the horizon, they're doing it all by themselves.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
SDG&E Rates to Increase for Some Residents..uh..Most Residents..The Facts Outspeak the Lies!
Holy electrons, Batman, here it is just a few days later and the gougers at San Diego Gouge and Extort are at it again! After a 12 percent increase in May, the greedy suckers are now looking at a 15 percent increase for ratepayers starting in September. Or, up to a 30 percent increase, according to their news release. What? That's right. They stated the increase would amount to about $15 more on a $100 bill and about $75 more on a $250 bill. That's 15 and 30 percent respectively, folks. Do you feel the shaft here?
The news article starts out with: SDG&E Rates to Increase for Some Residents (not according to the published rate chart! That shows increases for everyone!)
The news release is fraught with lies as they say "those customers live mainly in warmer inland areas of San Diego." Actually, when you read the rate sheet, everyones' rates are going up, and those living on the coast using 500 KWH actually will see a bigger increase than someone living inland using 500 KWH of electric. And people in the mountains and deserts will see the lowest increase of only about 2%. I always thought the deserts were warmer areas? Does SDG&E lie so much they forget we can and do read? We've come to distrust them so much we never take anything they say at face value.
Here's their Sept.1 increases: http://www.sdge.com/residential/2013-rates
And, don't you know they blame it on the shutdown of San Onofre in the following statement: The closure of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station has “created an untimely reduction in our region’s energy resources," explained SDG&E in the letter.
Better yet, further showing the greed of this utility, is the following statement attributed to SDG&E: She (Stephanie Donovan) also said the bill impact is 30-50 percent greater than what it would have been if the General Rate Case had been approved last year.
The article is here for your perusal. I'd use to line the litter box after reading it but I think it might make my cat vomit:
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/SDGE-Rates-to-Increase-for-Some-Residents-213016021.html
Once again, raising rates on a whim, unexplained blackouts and no protection from the California Public Utilities Commission. You do have to ask if someone isn't in the utilities pockets here? I'm not intimating they are, but you really do have to wonder how a regulatory agency lets this utility run wild with our money and just about every increase seems to be a slam dunk. Maybe the governor needs to dump the cronies on the CPUC and put some people with balls in there to stand up to the utilities and quit being lackeys to the power company.
The news article starts out with: SDG&E Rates to Increase for Some Residents (not according to the published rate chart! That shows increases for everyone!)
About 25 percent of San Diego Gas & Electric customers will see an increase in their bill beginning this fall (The article says 350,000 customers but the rate chart covers all customers. Is there a method where some customers will pay more for the same usage than others. Will you pay more than your next door neighbor? How can it be the rate increases only cover 25% of the customers yet the charts show it also covers the entire utility customer base increasing? Sounds like a bunch of crap talk to this writer!)
Here's their Sept.1 increases: http://www.sdge.com/residential/2013-rates
And, don't you know they blame it on the shutdown of San Onofre in the following statement: The closure of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station has “created an untimely reduction in our region’s energy resources," explained SDG&E in the letter.
Better yet, further showing the greed of this utility, is the following statement attributed to SDG&E: She (Stephanie Donovan) also said the bill impact is 30-50 percent greater than what it would have been if the General Rate Case had been approved last year.
The article is here for your perusal. I'd use to line the litter box after reading it but I think it might make my cat vomit:
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/SDGE-Rates-to-Increase-for-Some-Residents-213016021.html
Once again, raising rates on a whim, unexplained blackouts and no protection from the California Public Utilities Commission. You do have to ask if someone isn't in the utilities pockets here? I'm not intimating they are, but you really do have to wonder how a regulatory agency lets this utility run wild with our money and just about every increase seems to be a slam dunk. Maybe the governor needs to dump the cronies on the CPUC and put some people with balls in there to stand up to the utilities and quit being lackeys to the power company.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
San Diego Gas & Electric
Well, well, well, once again the local gas and electric company is raising the red flag about brownouts and rolling outages this summer. Isn't that just amazing?
A few years ago, SDG&E and its thirsty shareholders jammed the Sunrise Power Link up our collective arses by pressing everyone in the political world, especially the useless CPUC, that is supposed to protect the ratepayers, that it was so sorely needed. By allowing the construction of this massive project across the desert, it would bring virtually unlimited electricity to San Diego County and minimize our need for such terrible things as brownouts that ruin our appliances and rolling blackouts.
Last summer, if you recall, San Onofre Nuclear Power Station, of which SDG&E owns 20%, was out of commission. In fact, it had been out of commission due to faulty equipment (who bought and paid for that do you think?..the ratepayers) since January 2012. No blackouts or brownouts occurred. Seems we had plenty of electricity to go around.
Yet on June 7, 2013 the plant was formally closed permanently, never to generate electricity again. Shortly thereafter, warnings began to circulate about brownouts and rolling blackouts should the summer heat warrant. Why? We didn't have San Onofre last summer, so why would it suddenly be necessary to cut the power this summer? To scare the consumers to allow another Power Link? To allow a huge rate hike to line the pockets of SDG&E's shareholders?
Frankly, folks, SDG&E never takes responsibility for their screw ups. When two of the three 2007 wildfires in San Diego County were attributed to SDG&E improper maintenance of power lines, SDG&E mounted a defense to delay payment to homeowners for years. Then went on the attack by trying to recoup the costs for future wildfire costs by nailing ratepayers ahead of the fact with large rate charges. That's like an individual asking you to put money into the bank in case he burns down his home because he is careless! He knows he's careless and knows he'll burn it down but wants to create a fund to cover the costs, but wants YOU to pay his bills first! Idiotic. And only to protect the shareholders. I thought this is a PUBLIC UTILITY where we the PUBLIC are supposed to be protected by the PUBLIC utilities commission. Guess not, at least here in Kalifornia!
I guess SDG&E really does stand for San Diego Gouge & Extort. Wish we had a way to just turn them off and move to more sources of power. I've gone solar and LED as much as possible. How about you?
Oh, one more thing:
From the San Diego Reader:
KPBS quoted Commissioner Mark Ferron commenting, "Safety and reliability do not come free. While we must do our best to contain costs, we do have to spend some more on safety and reliability." Some would challenge his reference to safety, since a division of the CPUC found SDG&E greatly responsible for significant parts of the 2007 wild fires, and customers going through blackouts have not been singing the praises of reliability.
A few years ago, SDG&E and its thirsty shareholders jammed the Sunrise Power Link up our collective arses by pressing everyone in the political world, especially the useless CPUC, that is supposed to protect the ratepayers, that it was so sorely needed. By allowing the construction of this massive project across the desert, it would bring virtually unlimited electricity to San Diego County and minimize our need for such terrible things as brownouts that ruin our appliances and rolling blackouts.
Last summer, if you recall, San Onofre Nuclear Power Station, of which SDG&E owns 20%, was out of commission. In fact, it had been out of commission due to faulty equipment (who bought and paid for that do you think?..the ratepayers) since January 2012. No blackouts or brownouts occurred. Seems we had plenty of electricity to go around.
Yet on June 7, 2013 the plant was formally closed permanently, never to generate electricity again. Shortly thereafter, warnings began to circulate about brownouts and rolling blackouts should the summer heat warrant. Why? We didn't have San Onofre last summer, so why would it suddenly be necessary to cut the power this summer? To scare the consumers to allow another Power Link? To allow a huge rate hike to line the pockets of SDG&E's shareholders?
Frankly, folks, SDG&E never takes responsibility for their screw ups. When two of the three 2007 wildfires in San Diego County were attributed to SDG&E improper maintenance of power lines, SDG&E mounted a defense to delay payment to homeowners for years. Then went on the attack by trying to recoup the costs for future wildfire costs by nailing ratepayers ahead of the fact with large rate charges. That's like an individual asking you to put money into the bank in case he burns down his home because he is careless! He knows he's careless and knows he'll burn it down but wants to create a fund to cover the costs, but wants YOU to pay his bills first! Idiotic. And only to protect the shareholders. I thought this is a PUBLIC UTILITY where we the PUBLIC are supposed to be protected by the PUBLIC utilities commission. Guess not, at least here in Kalifornia!
I guess SDG&E really does stand for San Diego Gouge & Extort. Wish we had a way to just turn them off and move to more sources of power. I've gone solar and LED as much as possible. How about you?
Oh, one more thing:
From the San Diego Reader:
CPUC approves fat rate hike for SDG&E
Typical bill will jump 12.2%. Decision was unanimous
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today (May 9) approved a rate hike for San Diego Gas & Electric customers that will come to almost $10 a month for the average electric ratepayer. The vote of the commission was unanimous. SDG&E for many years has consistently had the highest electricity rates in the nation, but that apparently didn't dissuade the commission or the administrative law judge who earlier recommended an increase. The CPUC said the typical electric bill (500 kilowatt hours per month) will leap 12.2% or $9.95 per month; the average gas bill (33 therms per month) will rise 9.6% monthly or $3.55.
KPBS quoted Commissioner Mark Ferron commenting, "Safety and reliability do not come free. While we must do our best to contain costs, we do have to spend some more on safety and reliability." Some would challenge his reference to safety, since a division of the CPUC found SDG&E greatly responsible for significant parts of the 2007 wild fires, and customers going through blackouts have not been singing the praises of reliability.
Friday, June 21, 2013
"No Duty to Defend the Individual Citizen"
Well, someone had to finally admit it and place it in the news. A fact that has been hidden pretty deep over the years and largely buried by the gun control crowd. Maybe not buried, but they do not want you to know that the government, be it the state or county or municipality or whomever, has absolutely no duty to protect YOU, the individual citizen.
Maybe the boldest statement came from the recent Connecticut case involving the disfigurement of Charla Nash by her friend's chimpanzee and the State of Connecticut dismissing her $150 million dollar lawsuit. The suit is based on the fact that the State knew beforehand that the animal was dangerous but did nothing about it, even though it had attacked several other people. I'm not commenting on the value of the lawsuit at all, but rather the language in which the lawsuit was dismissed by the state claims commissioner: "He added, "If there was a failure by the DEP to seize the animal ... the duty owed was to the general public and does not create a statutory obligation to ensure the safety of a private individual such as (Nash)."
Most law enforcement agencies will tell you their "protect and serve" also is to do so as it pertains to the community as a whole, not as it pertains to any private citizen. Thus agencies are generally immune to lawsuits when they do not show up in time to stop an assault, rape, robbery, murder, or whatever criminal activity may be involved. If you call 911 and it takes 7 minutes response time, and you are seriously injured or dead before help arrives, your family cannot sue the city or county because the police or sheriff didn't arrive in time to stop the crime. Nor can the next victim or their family sue because the perpetrator should have been caught at your home had the response been more timely.
So, the statement above in Connecticut does give you great pause on your own personal protection. Why, then, should you leave it to someone else to protect you and your family, when those sworn to protect actually have no duty to protect them, only the community in general? Don't get me wrong, many fine officers will go to the wall for you and yours, but spread as thin as the blue line is today, you simply can't expect any immediate response, no matter how good you think your police or sheriff's department is. You need to protect you and yours and not be a target while waiting for help to arrive. But be reasonable about doing it!
My suggestion is to be prepared for every eventuality. If you are a firearms owner, know how to use it. Know how to safely use it. Take a firearms safety course. Train with it, know how it should be safely stored, handled, and the laws on self-defense inside your home. Be well trained, as too many accidents can happen when a family member is mistaken for a bad guy in the middle of the night. Solid locks that are actually used are a must; alarms and deadbolt locks and a baseball bat are better deterrents for most people than a firearm they don't know how to use.
I believe in our Second Amendment rights. I believe law abiding citizens should be able to own firearms after reasonable background checks and fingerprinting. That's no less than we ask of people who work in many professions who do not purchase firearms. We go through checks for a drivers license with fingerprinting and a written and driving test. So what's the big deal about the same for a firearms purchase. But let's be sensible. Those who desire to take away everyones' guns are trying to change the face of America. It would be as likely to remove the automobile from our streets. But wait...isn't that part of the government scheme by continually mandating higher MPG until there's nothing left but electrics, and the power companies can't keep up with the demand for charging as they shut down nuclear plant after plant? It seems so ....clear?
Maybe the boldest statement came from the recent Connecticut case involving the disfigurement of Charla Nash by her friend's chimpanzee and the State of Connecticut dismissing her $150 million dollar lawsuit. The suit is based on the fact that the State knew beforehand that the animal was dangerous but did nothing about it, even though it had attacked several other people. I'm not commenting on the value of the lawsuit at all, but rather the language in which the lawsuit was dismissed by the state claims commissioner: "He added, "If there was a failure by the DEP to seize the animal ... the duty owed was to the general public and does not create a statutory obligation to ensure the safety of a private individual such as (Nash)."
Most law enforcement agencies will tell you their "protect and serve" also is to do so as it pertains to the community as a whole, not as it pertains to any private citizen. Thus agencies are generally immune to lawsuits when they do not show up in time to stop an assault, rape, robbery, murder, or whatever criminal activity may be involved. If you call 911 and it takes 7 minutes response time, and you are seriously injured or dead before help arrives, your family cannot sue the city or county because the police or sheriff didn't arrive in time to stop the crime. Nor can the next victim or their family sue because the perpetrator should have been caught at your home had the response been more timely.
So, the statement above in Connecticut does give you great pause on your own personal protection. Why, then, should you leave it to someone else to protect you and your family, when those sworn to protect actually have no duty to protect them, only the community in general? Don't get me wrong, many fine officers will go to the wall for you and yours, but spread as thin as the blue line is today, you simply can't expect any immediate response, no matter how good you think your police or sheriff's department is. You need to protect you and yours and not be a target while waiting for help to arrive. But be reasonable about doing it!
My suggestion is to be prepared for every eventuality. If you are a firearms owner, know how to use it. Know how to safely use it. Take a firearms safety course. Train with it, know how it should be safely stored, handled, and the laws on self-defense inside your home. Be well trained, as too many accidents can happen when a family member is mistaken for a bad guy in the middle of the night. Solid locks that are actually used are a must; alarms and deadbolt locks and a baseball bat are better deterrents for most people than a firearm they don't know how to use.
I believe in our Second Amendment rights. I believe law abiding citizens should be able to own firearms after reasonable background checks and fingerprinting. That's no less than we ask of people who work in many professions who do not purchase firearms. We go through checks for a drivers license with fingerprinting and a written and driving test. So what's the big deal about the same for a firearms purchase. But let's be sensible. Those who desire to take away everyones' guns are trying to change the face of America. It would be as likely to remove the automobile from our streets. But wait...isn't that part of the government scheme by continually mandating higher MPG until there's nothing left but electrics, and the power companies can't keep up with the demand for charging as they shut down nuclear plant after plant? It seems so ....clear?
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