Media

Filner’s Letter Allowing Self-Made Bracelet and Necklace Sales in Ocean Beach Rankles Mainstreet Association

May 16, 2013 by Frank Gormlie
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A letter from Mayor Bob Filner allowing a man on disability to sell “home-made” hemp necklaces in Ocean Beach without a permit has rankled OB’s Mainstreet Association.

Earlier this Spring, David Millette, a resident of Chula Vista, began selling his self-made / home-make hemp necklaces, watch bands and other jewelry items on the Wall at the foot of Newport Avenue. After about a week, he was told by San Diego police that his sales were illegal and chased him away.

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The IRS, Benghazi, and the Republicans Who Cried Wolf

May 16, 2013 by Source
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Every week, New York Magazine writer-at-large Frank Rich talks with contributor Eric Benson about the biggest stories in politics and culture. This week: The GOP finds a new Watergate, the Justice Department bullies the AP, and Bloomberg News gets caught snooping on Bloomberg clients.

By Frank Rich / New York Magazine- RSN / May 16, 2013

RICH: Last week, conservatives called Benghazi Obama’s Watergate. Now they’re applying that label to a new scandal in which IRS officials admitted applying special scrutiny to tea-party-affiliated groups applying for tax-exempt status. President Obama has condemned the IRS’s actions. The FBI has opened an investigation. Do you see this having a major impact on the administration and its credibility?

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Protest Against Ian Rey’s Firing by Point Loma Sprouts – Friday, May 10 at 6pm

May 10, 2013 by Frank Gormlie

Many of us have heard about Ian Rey, a developmentally challenged  employee fired at Point Loma Sprouts. They said he stole another employees jacket. It looked like a black sweatshirt jacket he wore all the time and he mistaken it for his. Channel 10 news did a piece on it. There is a protest this [...]

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Around the Land of OB

May 10, 2013 by Frank Gormlie
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* Interview with Lifeguard Historian Who Notes OB Drownings of 13 on May 5, 1918

* San Diego Bands Play for Benefit and Tribute to Creator of “Crawdaddy” at OB’s Winston’s on Sunday

* Frequency Film Festival Returns to The Ocean Beach Playhouse

* Skateboard Park Designer Got His Start in OB and Point Loma

* History of Medical Marijuana Efforts in San Diego County

* Summer of Love at Liberty Station – All hippies — and hipsters— are welcome!

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How You Can Support the OB Rag : Get a New T-Shirt or Packet of Original OB Rags

May 4, 2013 by Frank Gormlie
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It’s that time of year when we make our pitch for support from our readers in Ocean Beach and elsewhere. And we’ve made it easy to show support, by having brand new OB Rag T-shirts and packets of the old, original OB Rags – all for donations.

The donations we receive for our T-shirts is one of our chief fundraising endeavors. After all, we do have expenses, and even though much of the labor that goes into maintaining this website is volunteer, we do try to pay our writers a small, occasional stipend – plus we now have our new office to maintain.

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Shining a Beam on Black and White

May 3, 2013 by Ernie McCray

Black and WhiteThoughts on the “Fluency of Light”

By Ernie McCray

As I sit writing as a still new 75 year old, I’m so glad I’ve lived, in spite of how scary our world is at times, to see shreds of promise rise before my eyes, hopeful happenings like Arab Spring, gays marrying, and Occupy. I love anything that keeps hope alive.

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Google’s Spymasters Are Now Worried About Your Secrets

May 1, 2013 by Source
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By Robert Scheer / Truthdig

A recent article in The Wall Street Journal by Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt, “The Dark Side of the Digital Revolution,” makes for very scary reading. It is not so much because of what he and co-author Jared Cohen, the director of Google Ideas, have to say about how dictators can use new information technology to suppress dissent; we know those guys are evil. What is truly frightening is that the techniques of the totalitarian state are the same ones pioneered by so-called democracies where commercial companies, like Google, have made a hash of the individual’s constitutionally guaranteed right to be secure in his or her private space.

The dictators, mired in more technologically primitive societies, didn’t develop the fearsome new implements of control of the National Security State. Google and other leaders in this field of massively mined and shared information did.

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Green Store and OB Rag Open House a Success – Thank You!

April 29, 2013 by Frank Gormlie
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The Open House that the OB Rag and The Green Store held yesterday, Sunday the 28th, turned out to be a huge success – with a big turnout. The Mayor was a no-show, however, but he is forgiven as he was down at the international border opening gates, a worthy pastime.

The significant turnout from the community and from supporters of both organizations is gratefully appreciated by all the volunteers who work for the two groups that are now under the same roof. Donations were given, T-shirt sales were made, delightful acoustic music was played, and the liquid refreshments ran out before the vegetarian food. Thanks to all who came and joined us in our celebrations, and who donated to our causes. And gracias to those who also brought food.

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Why Bomb the Boston Marathon?

April 25, 2013 by Source

Islamic Totalitarians, the Apocalypse, and Terrorism

By Chip Berlet / Talk to Action

E 43.tifWalk a mile in the shoes of those who claim to honor God and yet cheer the bombing of the Boston Marathon. They represent only a tiny fraction of the Muslims on our planet, yet they see themselves as carrying out the will of God. Fanatics such as these can be found in many of the World’s religions. They shoot abortion providers in the United States; blast apart buses in Israel; and murder Muslims in India (and vice versa).

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Dave Davis – Once San Diego’s Printer for the Movement

April 23, 2013 by Frank Gormlie
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Every now and then we must pause in our daily rush and grind to acknowledge the passing of someone who is important to us. This is especially true in the tiny world of progressive journalism in San Diego. And it is true as we pause on the passing of Dave Davis.

Now, there are probably very few people in San Diego right now who even remember Dave Isaac Davis, but it was his little print shop in Golden Hill that was responsible for printing up the very first issues of the original OB Rag way back in 1970 and 1971, when we considered it to be an “underground newspaper”.

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The Frustrations of Finding Your Stolen Jewelry Online – Point Loma Woman’s Experience

April 18, 2013 by Frank Gormlie
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10News is running a story about frustrations and solutions. A local Point Loma woman found her stolen jewelry – worth $1,000 – online, and at first went to the police and then to eBay – both without success … initially.

It’s a cute story with a lesson and happy ending.

Sarah Endemann’s hubby had purchased a pair of apis cabochon stud earrings from Tiffany & Co. and a matching bracelet, worth a thousand bucks. It was a birthday present and he either stuck them or hid them in his golf bag, that he left in his truck.

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OB Historical Society Presents: Diana Lindsay on Ricardo Breceda’s “Sky Art”

April 18, 2013 by Frank Gormlie
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The Ocean Beach Historical Society Presents:

Ricardo Breceda – The Accidental Artist

Featuring Author Diana Lindsay

Thurs., April 18 at 7PM,

at P.L. United Methodist Church

1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., O. B.

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OB Rag Open House – Celebrate Our New Office – Sunday April 28th

April 17, 2013 by Staff
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That’s right! The OB Rag is having a joint Open House with the Green Store. We’ll have our new T-shirts, the winners, special offers …

Hey, the OB Rag is still looking for rugs and posters for our new office. Got something to spare?

C’mon out to our Open House – meet some of the staff – check out the Green Store, a valuable resource for OB.

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“We have a winner!” in the OB Rag T-shirt Design Contest

April 12, 2013 by Frank Gormlie
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Yes, folks, there is a winner in the Great OB Rag T-Shirt Design Contest! And here is the design.

Kat Svetik is the designer of the First Place winning entry and we will now have T-shirts made with her design. The contest, announced in February, had a short extension due to staff illness. Twelve judges – all either current or former residents of Ocean Beach – had 12 designs to pick from. And after two rounds of voting, the top designs were chosen.

Kat is an OB-native, and an elementary school librarian who currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband. She was raised in Ocean Beach in the same OB house where her father (his sister and brother) and his father (her grandfather) were raised. The family house was originally purchased in 1913 and has since been home to 5 generations of the O’Mara family – her family. She has deep roots in Ocean Beach, and told us that she is “proud to be part of a community that supports and encourages independent thinking.”

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Five Stages of Republican Grief (A Tribute to the U-T’s Steve Breen)

April 11, 2013 by Annie Lane
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By Annie Lane / San Diego Free Press

Last week I came across a Steve Breen cartoon in the San Diego Union-Tribune entitled “Mapping Bob Filner’s Brain” (see left). I had quite the guffaw. I mean, if guffaws were redefined to be humorless, silent events that’s what it was.

I find it interesting that, given Breen’s skill and Pulitzer Prize history, the brain he chose to draw was so boorishly simple. Don’t worry, I get it — it’s intended to represent the supposedly simple mind of our union-sympathizing, anti-hotelier mayor.

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Keys to the San Diego Kingdom

April 10, 2013 by Source

By Norma Damashek / NumbersRunner

For the first time ever, the San Diego public has been awarded the Keys to the Kingdom.

The grantor of this unique gift to the people of San Diego is former councilmember Donna Frye and her Open Government project, developed during her three-month stint in the office of Mayor Bob Filner.

Finally, regular citizens and ordinary folk (you and I) have ready access to just about everything we wish to know about the ins-and-outs of City Hall.

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A Fine Farewell to Dating Websites

April 9, 2013 by Judi Curry

By Judi Curry online20dating

As my subscriptions to five online dating sites comes to a close, I look back at some of the situations I have found myself in and can’t help but laugh hysterically. On the other hand, some of the time I found myself sad and depressed because things did not turn out the way I had hoped they would. Sounds like I might be bordering on bipolarism.

Some of the people that I have met have been wonderful and I consider them friends. Of course, I wasn’t looking for friends when I joined the sites; I was – and still am – looking for a companion, a lover, a best friend. I am thrilled that Joe, a man I frequently went out with has found a potential companion for life. I will always think of him as a friend and have also “friended” his new squeeze. Jim, I know I can always count on you if I need help; you have been there each and every time I have asked for some thing.

I have been amazed at the number of men that are married and are looking for a one-nighter.

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NEWS FLASH: San Diego Free Press Goes For the Corporate Cash

April 1, 2013 by Staff
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This just in: the San Diego Free Press is going corporate.

From banner changes to types of articles published, the San Diego Free Press – the on-line daily journal for San Diego County has apparently made a 180 degrees turn from its prior stance.

We at the OB Rag are very concerned with these changes, as the SDFP was our baby. We re-birthed the online publication back on June 4, 2012.

Listen to some of these headlines (click on the headline to go to the article):

Mayor Filner Joins Forces with New York City Mayor Bloomberg

San Diego and New York City mayors take aim at sugary soft drinks

In a speech yesterday at the Balboa Park Club, Mayor Bob Filner outlined his plans for combating the consumption of large quantities of sugary, fizzy soft drinks. (Go to remainder of post.)

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The Southern Californian Major Dailies Failed Miserably in “Commemorating” the 10 Year Anniversary of the Iraq War

March 27, 2013 by Frank Gormlie
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The LA Times and the U-T San Diego Continue the Deception of Ten Years With Their Failure to Discuss the War

Southern California is home to two major daily newspapers – each from the major cities in this part of the country: the Los Angeles Times and the U-T San Diego.

In a review of their coverage of the ten year anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq, I found them to be woefully inadequate in any discussion about “lessons learned” on the war, the invasion, or the run-up to the conflict.  I especially searched to see whether they went further and exposed the falsehoods and lies that the Bush administration told the public to convince us to go to war.

Those of us who suffer the U-T would not be too surprised to learn that the Manchester daily would not get too involved with a critique of the Bush’s deceptions and misrepresentations.  However, one would have thought the LA Times – once the bastion of liberalness on the West Coast – would have at least attempted to put together some kind of journalistic endeavor in examining all the ways that the American people were misled a decade ago.

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Wisteria Garden Party – Photo Gallery

March 25, 2013 by Frank and Patty
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The Ocean Beach Historical Society held their annual “Wisteria Garden Party” last Saturday, and by the looks of it, the party was a total success!

OB Ragster Patty Jones got the camera out and kept the shutter going – so we have this great photo gallery of a wonderful event.

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Frequency Film Festival Opens Tonight, March 21, at Ocean Beach Playhouse

March 21, 2013 by Source
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FREQUENCY FILM FESTIVAL

MARCH 21-23, 28-30, APRIL 1 -6, 2013
SAN DIEGO, CA 92107

Frequency Film Festival March 21 -23, 28-30, April 1 -6, 2013 will be screening films from around the world. The opening night film from Portugal, The Baron, will have its North America Premiere on March 21, 2013 at The Ocean Beach Playhouse, 4944 Newport Ave. , San Diego, CA 92107.

Opening Night Film, March 21, 2013: THE BARON

A black and white gothic horror /fantasy narrative feature film from Portugal – the North America Premier

Official Selection: International Film Festival Rotterdam 2013, San Diego, CA (March2013)-

This unique and mesmerizing black & white narrative feature film will also screen on April 2, 2013.

The Baron

Directed by: Edgar Pêra / Portugal / Portuguese, English Subtitles / 2011 / Gothic Horror, Fantasy /105 minutes / North America Premiere

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Meet the Candidates: The District 4 City Council Special Election

March 18, 2013 by Doug Porter

This ‘meaningless’ election could change the face of San Diego politics and community development for years to come.

Part One in this series on District 4 (here) presented (an all-too-small) slice of the history of the area with a general overview of the present-day political situation. We also broke the story about the GOP-type dirty tricks campaign going on in District 4.

Here's a copy of the faux "City" mailing that's going out attacking Myrtle Cole.
Here’s a copy of the faux “City” mailing that’s going out attacking Myrtle Cole.

There are nine, count ‘em, nine candidates running for the City Council seat vacated by Tony Young at the end of 2012. A candidate must get more than 50% of the vote to win, and by all accounts that isn’t going to happen on March 26th. So there’ll be a run-off. The trick here will be picking the top two candidates.

Given that this ‘special election’ isn’t going to be ‘special’ enough to drive much of a voter turnout, any candidate could end up in the running. (We’ll tell you our predictions and predications in Part 3 of this series.)

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A Brief Update from OB Rag Editordude’s Desk

March 14, 2013 by Frank Gormlie

Howdy, it’s Thursday, March 14th.

OB Planning Board Election Results to Be Announced Tonight

We have been waiting for the election results from Tuesday’s Planning Board balloting. We have heard that a press release will be released tonight. As the Board allowed for mail and email voting this year for the first time, they are just making sure they have all of the ballots back.

OB Rag T-shirt Design Contest to End on the Ides of March – Friday

Just a reminder that our OB Rag T-shirt design contest officially ends tomorrow, Friday, March 15th – the Ides of March. We have a score of design entries already but we are willing to check out anything new that reaches us by the deadline, either email (obragblog@gmail.com) or snail mail (OB Rag, PO Box 7012, OB 92167) or by carrier pigeon. We have a panel of judges waiting to make their decisions. There are prizes for the selected entries. For more info, go here.

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Slightly Stoopid “Don’t Stop” Vid Covers Ocean Beach

March 14, 2013 by Source

The OB band Slightly Stoopid has a new vid out for their new hit “Don’t Stop”.  Check it out – it covers Ocean Beach quite nicely.  

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Author Q & A: ‘The Golden Shore: California’s Love Affair with the Sea’

February 21, 2013 by Source
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Conservationist David Helvarg – a former OBcean and writer on the original OB Rag – talks about his book, “The Golden Shore,” a tribute to California’s beautiful and iconic coastline, and the Navy’s and San Diego’s roles in shaping it.

By Serge Dedina / Wildcoast

No one has done more to educate the public on ways to preserve our coast and ocean than David Helvarg. Author of six books and the founder and Executive Director of the Blue Frontier Campaign, Helvarg will be speaking about his newest book, The Golden Shore: California’s Love Affair with the Sea at the Birch Aquarium on Tuesday Feb. 26 from 6:30-8 p.m.

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Papa Doug Manchester On Reports He Wants to Buy LA Times: ‘All a misunderstanding’

February 13, 2013 by Frank Gormlie
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There were all kinds of rumors and media reports swirling yesterday about Papa Doug Manchester – the owner of the U-T San Diego – wanting to buy the LA Times and its mother company, the Tribune Company.

Doug Porter – over at San Diego Free Press – was on top of the story yesterday, and today I asked him for an update, and here’s what he sent me via email:

I’m shocked to discover that Doug Manchester can’t afford a heading aid. His minions over at the UT are now saying that Papa Doug ‘misunderstood’ a question asked of him as he spoke to a room full of Republican ladies. So this deal isn’t gonna happen. Or,more likely,he got laughed out the room.

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