zRants

(Thanks for all your kind comments. Here is the latest from Maria who is up around Ukiah…)

Dear Maude and All,

Thank you for your notes! It is scary at times - BUT we all can do much good here because so much is what they call “hand work”. Also they want us to get each of our homesteads fire safe. The fire so far has been slow moving. Coming closer but not that fast. I just inspected the new fire break that was cut today by CalFire and two convict crews - can you imagine that, “con-crews”. It is right below and slightly to the east of our house which is disappointing, was hoping they would take a stand closer to the fire and further away from our houses. We ended up just outside the border where they are hoping to take yet another stand if the fire breaches the fire break again. (more…)

Dear All,

Here is why I have been out of touch. I’m currently in Mendocino County in the middle of four of the most serious wild land fires in our region. The Orr Springs fire has almost reached the Orr Hot Springs immediately west of here, the Running Springs fire across the road has reached the first dwellings, the Jack Smith and Singley fires have just combined and entered our 5,000 acre association on the Northern border. I see that fire out of the window of my hand made straw bale house.

We are in a world of drifting smoke, sun and moon have been orange for five days. My neighbors and I are in an amazing effort to prevent the fire from coming down the box canyon above us and crossing Redwood Creek and fully entering our land. I have worked on the fire line and on property of my neighbors nearer the fire than I am until Cal Fire sent us away because the fire had breached - again - one of the fire breaks they had bulldozed. They ordered us to go home for our own safety and clear around our houses.

Living so close to a fire is an extraordinary event. The local battalion chief for the Ukiah region compared it to a sleeping dragon on the hill. each fire has its own character. This one is moving slowly, sometimes turning back onto itself, sometimes consuming 60 foot fir trees in 3 seconds and then falling quiet again. Wind, moisture and sun affect it’s movement and direction. We can hear it groan or bristle or crack like a whip or explode things.

For two days now Jeff and I have been limbing trees, clearing roofs and gutters. Yesterday - out of the blue - a crew of eight young men showed with their own equipment and after three hours our place is unrecognizable. One neighbor even brought a large bulldozer and cut a fire break around our houses. Then they all left and went on to another neighbor’s house.

Everybody here is packed up to leave on short notice. This morning the local battalion chief came to meet with us at our community center, the old ranch house. He told us that we would be receiving an evacuation warning that may be followed by an enforceable order. He confirmed that, given the 130 fires in Mendocino County alone, there were no resources to actually fight the fire. The only thing they can do at this time is try and direct the fires with fire breaks and “box” it in between those lines, and to protect dwellings. He also told us if the line that is  currently held below our house is breached that they would regroup three miles behind us. In that case my house would end up inside the “box” with the dragon.
Love,

Maria (TUCradio)

I had to share this one. You will either laugh or cry or …

the blues and then some: McCain’s Youtube Problem Just Became A Nightmare

zRants

Looks like San Jose has the same ideas I do for dealing with violence. Maybe the city of San Francisco can try a similar tactic. The objective should be NOT kill the business, but protect the public from crime. Keeping more people later on the streets by encouraging longer non-drinking hours, food and calming music may do the trick. To encourage businesses to participate, San Francisco should temporarily suspend some of the extra fees and licenses currently required in order to fulfill these objectives. No point in listing them here, as all the pertinent parties are very familiar with them.

For the full story on ABCnews.com: Turning downtown SJ into a vibrant area

CLUB OWNERS: Maybe it’s the music. Clubs that experience violence problems after closing should instruct DJs to start winding the music down at least a half hour before closing, right before last call, to calm people down before pushing them out the door onto the streets at closing time. See POV of club patron below.

The type of music they play there has much to do with the behavior. There is something about booze (and drugs) mixed with certain types of gangsta music that creates a violent/reckless behavior”. Clubs that do not play that type of music experience less of violence and more toned down behavior.

You should know about McCain but probably don’t.

From the Green 960AM web site.

We have seen the results of corporate tax credits and research grants. Huge corporate profits and not a lot of positive change. We are told it will take years for the car manufacturers to deliver fuel efficient cars, and for the gas companies to replace the old fuel distribution system.

We need faster solutions and we need a better return on our tax dollars. It’s time to change the way the government finances research and development. Rather than giving away the money as tax credits and grants to oil companies and car manufacturers, the government should participate as owner/operators and investors. Use the income from profits to pay down the debt, or keep prices down for the consumers.

Invest in specific areas of production. If the car manufacturers need money to retool to produce energy-efficient cars, the government can participate as a partner, pay for the retooling and be reimbursed as cars are sold.

Many local governments are producing limited amounts of fuel for their own transit needs. These programs can be expanded to serve the public as well. Diesel engines can run on other fuels. Delivering alternative fuels to trucks should be a top priority since so much of the economy depends on trucks for delivery.

Tommy D Video on YouTube laments the situation of the homeless. “I’m a man without an address.” It’s number one on the zrants channel this week.

 Ways to stop the bloodshed and violence in the clubs.

Use what we know about alcohol to fix the problem. The Liquor laws with the 2 AM curfew don’t work. Bars turn people out when they are drunk and excited. The loud music and alcohol never stops until they are out the door and then they just want to continue the party.

People need some cool down time before leaving the clubs. They need a cooling down period after the alcohol stops flowing and the music stops pounding. The clubs know how to rev the party up by starting with light music and upping the anti to full blast. They should spend a little time ending the party on a slower note and allow people to sober up before leaving and driving home.

People should not drink on an empty stomach. All bars should serve food.Food service should be mandatory at all bars and not require an extra license. Given the choice, most people will eat. Aspirins ought to be available also. Bill Graham’s Filllmore always had free apples.

Require clubs and producers to file security plans for large events. Make the clubs responsible for crowd control after the party ends. If we scrutinized the security systems at the clubs the way we count the bottles and glasses on the bar after hours, there would be no weapons in the bars. People with a history of violence, or a police record should be kept out of the clubs. The security personnel should be required to work the streets after the shows end. Their responsibility should extend into the neighborhood and parking areas. The security forces should be the ones to call police if they can’t control the crowd.

***

A club neighbor’s opinion:

I feel that the search for solutions to the nightclub violence and mayhem is not ‘Nimby’ but rather, ‘Not In Anyone’s Backyard’. I don’t mind happy chattering on the way to the car, but every week there are women screaming like they are being abducted, men fighting, glass shattering, sidewalk litter, car alarms, speeding vehicles, sirens etc and it has been really hard on everyone living in the neighborhood.

Obama supporters speak out on 30 sec video posted on YouTube.