Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Smoke Detectors

Just noticed our two smoke detectors in the house stopped working. Time for new ones.

I'm also wanting to do something I've been thinking about for some time now: I want to put at least one smoke detector out in the garage. Problem is, I likely wouldn't be able to hear it if it went off while I was in the house. So, I need a detector out there that has an alarm speaker that I can put inside the house.

Anyone know of any companies that make smoke detectors like that? I was looking online yesterday and the only thing I found was a wireless smoke detector but it costs just under $300.00. Surely some company must make a detector that has a remote alarm that's affordable?

The Constitution Party Is Here!

Am I the only one that missed this? I just noticed the Constitution Party started up a Redwoods District regional headquarters of sorts, apparently led by our very own Tom Fredrickson. Seems to consist of just a web site from what I can gather so far.

I have to chuckle a bit at the claim the Constitution Party (CP) is America's third largest political party (Don't get too upset, Tom. I laugh when the Libertarian Party makes the same claim).

The thing about the CP is that it has it's roots in the old American Taxpayer's Party founded by George Wallace. The party has acquired a number of different names among the states with their largest membership coming from California, as Wikepedia points out. Over 3/4 of their nationwide membership is registered in California under the American Independent Party label.

The CP/AIP can clearly be considered a Religious Right organization if you look at the prominence of religion in their platform. Do you really think all those people registered in California as AIP are religious right- wingers?

I don't. I would think the vast majority of them wanted to register as independent voters and, seeing the word independent in the AIP name, registered to vote as such when they probably should have registered as Decline To State.

No biggie. Just an observation. We'll wish them well and see how they do.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

No To Anything

Yet another local grasping for any excuse to stop anything from happening up here. In this case, a wind farm.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Suspend AB32 Petitions Available Online

AB 32 is the recently passed law that will require Californians to switch to a higher percentage of supposed "green power" sources in a few years. While there is a provision in the law for suspending it under certain economic considerations, no one in the legislature, including the Governor, has seen fit to take that route.

This petition would place an initiative on the ballot to suspend AB32 until unemployment drops to 5.5% (it's currently at over 12%). It's in .pdf file and prints on 8 1/2 x 11 paper so they're easy enough to print and fill out even if just for yourself. Deadline is April 15 so best get yours signed and sent in ASAP.

You can get the larger petitions that take more signatures by going to suspendab32.org.

The Eye Does Jackson

District Attorney candidate, Allison Jackson, got a nice write up in this week's Arcata Eye. At least I thought it was a nice write up.

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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Anarchists Attacking Anarchists

Looks like an Arcata resident and anarchist, Lierre Kieth, got pied by fellow anarchists a few weeks ago in San Francisco. Fun stuff. Thanks to Zombie for the heads- up.

A Slippery Slope?

According to Congressman Ron Paul, we'll need to hire another 16,500 Internal Revenue Service agents to assure compliance with the recently passed health care bill:

Hefty fines are due from anyone found to have committed the heinous crime of not being a customer of a health insurance company. We will need to hire some 16,500 new IRS agents to police compliance with all these new mandates and administer various fines. So in government terms, this is also a jobs bill. Never mind that this program is also likely to cost the private sector some 5 million jobs.

One thing I'd hoped about prospects for a new health care system was that maybe I wouldn't have to fill out all those forms to qualify for MediCal twice a year. It looks like, instead, a whole bunch of other people are also going to have the government checking their qualifications for health care each year. Hate to see so many people dragged down to my level.

And aside from that, I can't help but wonder just what sort of slippery slope we're going down here with more IRS agents being hired just to look over what should be people's private business?

Sure, they've been delving into people's personal finances for what seems like forever, but what new areas will they delve into now?

Hat tip to lewrockwell.com for the heads up on this one.

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Monday, March 22, 2010

I Thought I Had It Rough

I thought those 25 miles I walked barefoot through the snow to get to school when I was a kid was rough. These Colombian kids got me beat. I guess it was probably tougher from me walking through the snow, but that ride looks pretty hairy for someone like me who isn't comfortable with heights. Don't know that I could handle that, then or now.

Hat tip to Radley Balko, over at The Agitator, for the link.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Highwaymen



Ok. I like the song, but don't get it. What's the underlying point of this thing?

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Hislop's Supporters

County Sheriff candidate, Mike Hislop's web page finally has a list of his supporters up. A partial list it says at the bottom.

I've been dying to see this list but have to say it's a bit of a disappointment. Nothing exciting there and no surprises. Just a handful of current and past Eureka Police officers and a few names from the D.A.'s office.

Looks like the Salzman/ Miller bunch is staying out of the race at this point in time. At least there's no names I recognize from that crowd except for maybe Jeffrey Schwartz.

Friday, March 19, 2010

A Fun Story

More trout and salmon pools seem to be bringing fish back, according to the Santa Rosa Press- Democrat.

A Not- So- Fun Story

According to a recent poll, 21% percent of California's small businesses believe they'll go under within the next three years.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Health Items

Disturbing, although I suppose understandable, results from a survey taken of some physicians. According to Medicus Firm, 24.7% of physicians surveyed said they'd retire early if a public option is included in the current health care "reform" proposals. An additional 21% said they'd quit medicine altogether.

Wow! I can understand, to some extent, but I have to wonder what some of those doctors would plan on doing if they quit medicine? Get a job as a cook somewhere?
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At least one doctor thinks we might be getting too much medicine. I think he's got a point.
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I missed the Health Fair some of the local hospitals put on last month. If I'd had taken advantage of it, I could of had a full blood analysis done for $50.00. It cost me over $300.00 last time I paid for one out- of- pocket.

I have high triglycerides, not a good thing to have, so when I went to the see the practitioner a week or so ago, she wanted some blood work done. I told her I couldn't afford it at this time and might have to wait until next year.

The other day I started wondering how much it would cost just to get my cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked and not bother with all the other routine stuff. The St. Joe's Hospital lab said it would be over $100.00 and didn't seem concerned that I didn't have a physician referral already. I did tell her I shouldn't have much of a problem getting one.

I called Quest Labs in Eureka next. The lady there said it was around $70.00 and then asked if I had a physician referring me to which I said I didn't, at least at this time. She said it was a violation of state law for them to accept people for blood draws without a physician referral.

WHAT? So, to get my cholesterol checked, I might have to not only pay them $70.00, but pay $65.00 to see a physician for a referral? Just another example of government out- of- control, as I see it.

After all, what difference does a physician make when they can draw the blood and give me the results. I can read the results myself. One more way that government tends to make health care more expensive.
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Then I got to thinking and wondered if there was any way to home test my blood. I found one cholesterol and triglyceride test at Walgreens. That one (already lost the link) had 2 not- so- good reviews from users. Unreliable test results, so they said.

Then I found this one. For a bit over $25.00 you can take your own blood and send it to some lab. Then they mail you the results. Wonder if shipping is extra? Anybody have any experience with one of those home test kits?

Update: I decided to give that home blood test kit a shot. I guess they give you a postpaid envelope to send the sample to them in and shipping costs for the kit was just $1.99. Can't beat that. Read somewhere else that these home cholesterol tests were around 95% accurate. Good enough for me.

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Wheels of Change


“Wheels of Change” Car Drawing
Buy this car for $1!
Brought to you by Eureka Brake & Automotive
March 27, 2010 - 4:00 pm
At the Redwood Coast Jazz Festival


Steve & Lacee Cunningham and the crew at Eureka Brake & Automotive are bringing change – “Wheels of Change”. Now until March 22nd, you can help by nominating someone in need to be drawn to purchase our 1994 Ford Escort Wagon including a 1 year maintenance package for just $1! We are looking for that individual who gives more to others than he or she receives; someone who would truly benefit from receiving this vehicle. We want to make a difference for that person. The entries will be read and a select few will be chosen to draw the key that starts the car at the Redwood Coast Jazz Festival on March 27th at 4pm. The car will be on display that day and the drawing held at the Gazebo in Old Town. Go to www.eurekabrake.com to enter online or visit us at 2002 2nd Street, Eureka to submit a nomination form in person.

Fred's note: Keep in mind, even though this car is being given away/ sold for $1.00, you'll still owe state and federal taxes on it. I'm not absolutely certain, but they could asses the taxes at the actual value of the vehicle and that could be pricey.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Too Early For Signs?

Jeff Leonard stopped by my house yesterday wanting to put one of his campaign signs in my front yard. I'd told him earlier, as I did with Virginia Bass, he was more than welcome to place one of his signs in my yard. That necessarily mean I'll be voting for either of them, though.

I had to tell Jeff no. I just think it's too early for the signs. He said it was within 90 days of the election. Maybe so, but isn't the unofficial rule more like 6 weeks?

Friday, March 12, 2010

Shotguns For The Schools?

Some of us may joke about Hislop and others in the District Attorney's office wanting to buy AR15s with asset forfeiture proceeds, but I can't help but wonder why the U.S. Department of Education would be in the market for 27 shotguns?

Ahhh...the first comment to Balko's post gives a reason. Sounds a lot to me like the D.A. office's reasons for the AR15s, except for these folks are supposedly replacing older shotguns they already had (that might not ever have been used, I would think).

Hat tip to Radley Balko for the heads up.

Hislop At The Garberville Rotary

Not sure just how revealing this speech Mike Hislop recently gave at the Fortuna Rotary is. It doesn't seem he's that good of a public speaker so it's hard to understand some of what he's saying. I can't pick on him for that since I'm a horrific public speaker myself, but some of the stuff he says just seems odd to me.

For instance, remarking on the billion dollar state deficit and how it might get worse yet he brings in more money from elsewhere to hire more people. Just seems kind of weird to me.

Or buying Harley Davidson motorcycles for Eureka P.D. because "...they're a great P.R. tool".

Again, kind of tough to understand what he was trying to say at times, but at least more understandable than Paul Gallegos' past My Word columns.

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Thursday, March 11, 2010

The Journal: Downey vs. Hislop

The North Coast Journal's cover story this week looks at the race for Humboldt County Sheriff. I kind of got the impression the writer was favoring Hislop, but that might just be because Downey is a rather humble guy, from my limited experience. It's not in his nature to go around telling people how great he is.

Seems to me Hislop is doing everything he can to make a case for himself, and not doing very well at it. There just aren't that many widespread complaints about the Sheriff's Office, aside from those we've been hearing over the last 35 years I've lived up here. The primary complaint being lack of deputies in the field.

I think Hislop's making another bad move in bringing up money being shuffled around within the Sheriff's Office budget. Truth be told, most agencies (and households) move money around within their budgets to cover shortfalls, as needed. It wouldn't surprise me if the District Attorney's Office has done the same thing a time or two.

Hislop is certainly the underdog in the race and I was surprised to see that brought up on the Humboldt Herald. Wasn't he supposed to have had a fundraiser at Babetta's, in Eureka a couple weeks ago? I see no mention of that on his Facebook page as there was with the earlier "standing room only" event at Big Louie's. Might it have been a flop?

It seems to me Hislop's pretty much spinning his wheels with this campaign. I'm wondering if he should cut his losses and just give it up?

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Wednesday, March 10, 2010

...and the bloody Red Baron...

My game, Aces High, has just added a WW1 arena where you can fight in the old WW1 planes. Only four different models available so far, though. I tried out the old Sopwith Camel and got 2 kills in the time I was up there.

Everybody needs to download the game so you can fly the skies over Aces High.

Sunday, March 07, 2010

My Preliminary Slate

It's a bit early but, since Greg and Carol posted their preferences for the November election, I'll take a shot at how I'm looking at it:

Governor of California- Luckily, since Gavin Newsom left the race, we don't have any real flakes from the two major parties running. This is one of those rare moments I'm actually leaning toward Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown, the Democrat.

The problem is, having a governor and legislature dominated by one party historically sees government power and spending grow more than when the executive and legislative branch are split. I don't know that it would be wise voting for Brown for that reason alone. I'll likely just waste my vote on whoever the Libertarian Party candidate is.

Regardless of who ends up winning, it will be a nearly impossible task to put this state back together.

4th District Supervisor
- I'm with the Anyone But Bonnie camp, if only because I'm sick of the way she's been pandering to the fringe Left. I've told both Virginia Bass and Jeff Leonard they can place their signs in my yard. Not sure just how I'll vote in that one or whether I'll vote at all in that race.

5th District Supervisor- Not leaning either way in that race, yet, mostly because I haven't been following it much.

District Attorney
- I'm also in the Anybody But Gallegos camp in this race, although I think Gallegos' heart might be in the right place much of the time, I don't think he's really all that capable for that job. I'm leaning toward Allison Jackson but have some issues with her. She is clearly the most experienced and qualified candidate of those running.

County Sheriff- Mike Downey is clearly the most qualified from experience alone. I also think his laid back personality fits in better with both the Sheriff's Office and the county- at- large than Hislop would. He gets my vote.

U.S. Congress- Quite frankly didn't even think about this race until I saw it mentioned on Greg and Carol's blog. I'll once again likely vote for whoever the Libertarian Party candidate is, assuming someone ends up running.

If the Republicans can come up with some Ron Paul type candidate, which is highly unlikely, I might consider voting for him or her. If it's just another race between two statist candidates, I'll do as I often do and stand aside in that race.

U.S. Senate
- I'm backing Tom Campbell for the Republican nomination and, if he wins, I'll probably vote for him. If he loses, I may or may not vote for whoever the winner is. Then there's always the Libertarian Party candidate. I'll determine that later. Boxer won't get my vote and never has.

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Saturday, March 06, 2010

Bravo Is Back

I almost forgot about him. I'd heard something about Nick Bravo moving back to Humboldt and I guess he actually did, according to the Arcata Eye. Anyone know if he's found a job yet?

Friday, March 05, 2010

Health Access In Humboldt

No, I'm not talking about health insurance, or lack of it. Well, I suppose that can have something to do with it since those on MediCal might have fewer options than those that have regular insurance or pay out of pocket. I'm referring to just being able to find a doctor for something.

I had to renew a prescription that runs out soon. I was going to what used to be the North Coast Family Practice. That practice went by the wayside but the shell of it continued under a new name. I won't mention their new name here. I will say it was a real pain to deal with them but it got better when I started seeing the Physician's Assistant there, rather than the doctor.

But they moved and they aren't listed in the phone book anymore. I vaguely knew where their new location was but decided maybe it was time to go elsewhere. I called Eureka Family Practice, where the old P.A. I used to see at North Coast Family Practice is now working. I tried to set up an appointment with him but was told the earliest I could see him would be in June(!?!). Maybe I should of asked if there was anybody there with a more open schedule?

All I needed was a prescription renewed so then I tried that Eureka Community Health Center I'd seen on Buhne Street. I was under the impression that was some kind of walk in facility.I drove by there and they told me they were closed to new patients.

Yikes! I thought that might be the last resort for the poorer folks around here like me. What to do?

I wasn't but a few blocks from the new location of the place I used to go so I drove by and, lo and behold, they actually had a sign visible from the street. It's probably the most run down building in the area, at least as far as the medical buildings go. The sign out front also had my old P.A.'s name listed among the staff. Cool. Maybe this won't be so bad, I thought, and I parked and went inside.

Nope. As is par for the course with this group, my P.A. no longer worked there. They just don't change their signs very often. The waiting room was as depressing as at it was at their last location and the signs on the walls telling everyone what they must and must not do while in the facility made me feel like walking out the door.

But I stuck with it and managed to make an appointment with their Nurse Practitioner, the name of whom escapes me now. The best part is the appointment is next Monday. Not bad compared to having to wait until June to see John Brimlow P.A.

Still, I find it almost scary how so many medical practices can't accept new patients and the only ones you seem to be able to access are the ones you'd rather not go to if you had the choice.

BTW; In trying to find a phone number for the medical practice I was using, I came upon this page that tells you a little about your doctor. It even lets you give doctor reviews. I gave mine one but in never showed up with the others he already had.

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Riding A Real Tidal Wave

We'll dedicate this to Jennifer "Jen-Jen" Savage. Here's a video of some folks riding a miles long tidal wave. A real tidal wave.

Hat tip to lewrockwell.com for the link.

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Straw Poll For D.A.'s Race

For those that don't frequent Eric's blog, he's set up a straw poll for the D.A.'s race. I actually voted NOTA this time, if only because it's still a bit early and I think I might have at least some issues with all the candidates. Whether or not I choose one candidate by election time remains to be seen.

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