August 2009

OB Rag Sponsors T-shirt Contest to Get Progressive Movement Moving Again

August 31, 2009 by Frank Gormlie

OCEAN BEACH, CA. This news web/ blog is always responsive to our readers. There has been much complainin’ of late among you lefties about the lack of a progressive movement to get the country moving again, to fight for health care reform, to fight the right-wing crazies funded by the health care insurance companies, to generally acknowledge that on November 4, 2008, the country moved from a center-right nation to a left of center nation. We want to save our democracy by ending the empire.

In order to get it right, er, left, uh, … I mean … we need a T-shirt that says it all.

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OBceans divided on having film crews in OB

August 31, 2009 by Frank Gormlie
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Residents of Ocean Beach appear to be divided on the issue of having film and video crews in Ocean Beach. We have recently heard a number of complaints about the loss of parking, the rudeness of the security guys for the film crews, and so forth.

So, for a week, starting on August 21st, we ran a poll:

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Credit Rules Change: ‘Consumer Protections’ Killing Those Intended to Benefit?

August 31, 2009 by Dave Rice
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Do you carry a credit card balance? You suck. Don’t worry, I do too, and so does my girlfriend, my mom, my sister…but hopefully you’re trying to stop your spending and are hacking away at that balance with the rare nickel and dime left over from the shrinking paychecks …

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Mexico Legalizes Drugs: Is U.S. Youth Liberation Therapy Possible?

August 31, 2009 by Source

by Rocky Neptune

Mexico last week, in an historic, enlightened, humane move, legalized personal drug use throughout the country. The government also announced that drug addiction would be treated as a medical problem rather than a criminal offense.

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Reflections on August 29th Town Hall Meeting: Right-Wingers Reenact Presidential Election and Lose Again!

August 30, 2009 by Anna Daniels
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by Anna Daniels

Over 700 people in yesterday’s town hall meeting with Susan Davis chanted “Health Care for All,” while another 300 people chanted “Just Say No!”

Doesn’t that say it all—that the majority of people want health care coverage extended to all citizens? President elect Obama campaigned on this issue, was elected for his position and is now addressing it. That’s called moving forward.

The “Just Say No” minority is frozen in time, …

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Why we went to a health care reform town hall meeting in sizzling Spring Valley with Rep Susan Davis

August 30, 2009 by Frank Gormlie
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by Frank Gormlie

SPRING VALLEY, CA. I knew I was in trouble with that phone call from ace OB Rag reporter Doug Porter. It was noon. “Where are you?” he asked impatiently. I stumbled for words. We were finishing up our morning business when he called, and I felt like a busted teenager. “We’ll be there real soon,” I mumbled, trying to brush away my hang-over.

Your OB Rag news blog had planned to send our troops to the Spring Valley Town Hall meeting, …

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Photo Gallery from Spring Valley Town Hall Meeting

August 30, 2009 by Patty Jones
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Photos by Patty Jones

SPRING VALLEY, CA. Throngs came out to chant, yell, wave signs and discuss health care reform. Both the left-wing and the right-wing sent their legions to fill the auditorium in Spring Valley. Congresswoman Susan Davis had called the town hall meeting – the only event of its kind in Southern California.

These photos were taken by Patty Jones.

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Billionaires Steal the Show at Susan Davis’ Town Hall Meeting

August 30, 2009 by Doug Porter
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by Doug Porter

It was a scorcher out in east San Diego County on Saturday afternoon as the crowd gathered to attend Congresswoman Susan Davis’ Health Care Town Hall. The east county has traditionally been a haven for right-wing fringe groups, and they were out in full force for this event. As we approached the Spring Valley Gymnasium, we were greeted by members of the John Birch Society handing out DVD’s so we’d understand how the Constitution works. The driveway was lined with a motley collection of birthers, deathers, Jesus freaks and anti-abortion protestors.

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Far Out, Groovy and Outta Sight: Remembering the OB Ranger

August 28, 2009 by Staff

OB Ranger and his trusty sidekick Indian (from the CD cover art)
Originally posted August 24, 2009
By OB Rag Staffer

“From out of a cave at the foot of Sunset Cliffs, the thundering hoof beats pound, with a hearty ‘Hi Yo Sylvia, away!’ The OB Ranger rides again.”

The OB Ranger was a radio series that aired on “HIS Radio, FM stereo ninety” in 1971 and 72. It was a spoof of the old “Lone Ranger” radio show, but a lot more fun. Ranger fans tuned in every week to find out what new trouble the OB Ranger would stumble his way into.

He introduced himself with “Far out, groovy and outta sight, I am the OB Ranger!”

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Slow down Sunset Cliffs – Come to OB Town Council Aug 26th

August 28, 2009 by Source
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by Dan Allemeier

It has been well over a year since we started this effort to slow down traffic on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, but we are still here and working to get something done to calm the traffic and provide more safety to all OB residents that try to cross Sunset Cliffs whether by foot or car.

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No More Frankenfood! Join The National “Eat-In” for Healthy School Lunches

August 27, 2009 by Doug Porter
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by Doug Porter

Diverting young appetites from the siren call of salt, sweets & fats is a challenge that requires reform on many levels, starting with the school lunch programs.

You’d think that, in a country where cooking is a top rated spectator sport, our kids lunches would amount to more than Cheeseburgers, Pizza and Chicken Nuggets, with PB&J Uncrustables thrown in as a vegetarian option. But you’d be wrong.

Those are real choices from the San Diego Unified School District’s Spring 2009 Secondary Lunch Menu, …

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Local rallies organized to carry unloaded weapons

August 27, 2009 by Source
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A retired Navy petty officer in Escondido is organizing weekly rallies for next month during which people are encouraged to bring unloaded guns to highlight the right to openly carry the firearms.

Gerald Reaster, 69, said he is asserting his Second Amendment rights …

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State Investigates Corruption In Local San Diego Republican Party

August 27, 2009 by Source

A small but vocal group of local Republicans is accusing county party leaders of conspiring to rig Central Committee elections and abusing office powers.

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San Diego mainstream media ignore large fire 30 miles away (again)… because it’s in Mexico

August 26, 2009 by Frank Gormlie
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UPDATE: Late Wed. afternoon: Cal Fire is monitoring a brush fire that is about a half-mile inside Mexico near the U.S.-Mexico border. The blaze is about a half-acre in size and is burning east of Potrero, south of state Route 94 below Bell Valley, a Cal Fire spokesman said.

Firefighters said the fire appears to be burning away from the border.

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Over whose dead body? Guns, granny, and health care reform

August 26, 2009 by Anna Daniels
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by Anna Daniels

What goes through your mind when you see some wahoo standing outside of a town hall meeting about health care with a gun strapped to his body, and the president of the United States is inside that meeting hall?

What do you think when a woman sobs “I want my country baaaaaack!” inside yet another town hall meeting? Did you catch the commercial about how Gramps is going to be denied health care because he’s an expendable old duffer, but that YOUR TAX DOLLARS will pay for abortions? How did you respond to the signs showing our President with a mustache a la Hitler?

How about WTF????? That’s what I’m thinking.

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Remember when … during the Bush years … how dissent was hushed up?

August 25, 2009 by Source
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During eight years of Bush, progressives and those on the left (and, after a while, many in the center too) protested vigorously, passionately, determinedly, and-whoa, get this!-peacefully.

But seven meager months into the Obama administration, and right-wing extremists are talking secession, fabricating lies to induce fear and are stockpiling ammunition. They are apoplectic and want you to know it. Are you frightened? You should be.

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Reader Rant: “Let’s leave Hollywood Outta OB”

August 25, 2009 by Source
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by Concerned Muir Resident:

I’m a Muir Ave resident here with my two cents on the current shoot of ‘Terriers.’

We received a hand delivered notice about the upcoming filming 2 weeks before production began (a nice courtesy indeed). Listed on the one page letter was the name of the Production Co’s contact who welcomed contact from local residents with any concerns they may have.

One day while sitting out front, …

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Scientists Return From Floating Garbage Patch 1 1/2 Times Size of U.S.

August 25, 2009 by Source

Miriam Goldstein was floating on an inflatable raft in one of the planet’s oldest biological communities, curiously watching gelatinous creatures few humans have ever seen, when she noticed tiny polka dots of plastic bobbing on the ocean surface.

Goldstein was shocked to see firsthand how big pieces of synthetic debris are breaking down and littering the North Pacific Gyre with “micro-plastics” — almost undetectable, confetti-like bits that could end up fouling the entire food chain, from zooplankton to humans.

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OB Community Bulletin and Discussion Board: August 24 – 31, 2009

August 25, 2009 by Staff
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OCEAN BEACH, CA. This is the OB Rag’s weekly Community Bulletin and Discussion Board. This means that you can discuss anything that is on your mind and get it off your chest, right chere. In the comments.

All details inside ………….

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36 Advertisers have pulled their support for Glenn Beck

August 24, 2009 by Source
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The campaign calling on Glenn Beck’s advertisers to stop supporting his show continues to pick up steam. Today we’re announcing that sixteen more companies have pledged not to run their ads on Beck’s show:

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Woodstock 40: “we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden”

August 22, 2009 by Dave Gilbert
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by Dave Gilbert

Huh? I couldn’t decipher what Joni Mitchell had written because I couldn’t understand the lyrics that CSN&Y were singing, at least when I first heard the song Woodstock, but the music sure resounded in and through my heart, soul & being.
.
Hopefully we can all agree that everybody wants to find their niche’ in life, to know where they fit in on this big blue marble, and hopefully leave at least a beautiful memory or 3 to those who both loved you and you loved in return

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Winstons wins our poll on OB music venues

August 21, 2009 by Frank Gormlie
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OCEAN BEACH, CA. For the last week we ran a poll asking readers : Where’s the best spot in O.B. to catch your favorite band and or music?

Winstons, the long-time local club on Bacon Street won hands down. It received 58% of the votes. There was no one a close second. Farmers Market came in with 16% of the vote, and the Harp had 15%.

Here’s the full tally:Where’s the best spot in O.B. to catch your favorite band and or music?

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Warmest Global Ocean Surface Temperatures on Record for July

August 21, 2009 by Frank Gormlie

The planet’s ocean surface temperature was the warmest on record for July, breaking the previous high mark established in 1998 according to an analysis by NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. The combined average global land and ocean surface temperature for July 2009 ranked fifth-warmest since world-wide records began in 1880.

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Chris Bowd contacts OB Rag: says he’s almost normal and is looking for a suspect

August 20, 2009 by Frank Gormlie
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Chris Bowd has contacted us at the OB Rag and says he is 85 to 90% back to normal – health and mental wise, and as of today (8/20/09) out of the hospital system. This is great news.

Bowd, the OBcean assaulted July 4th and left unconscious on the sidewalk on Newport Ave and Bacon, and then was in a coma for weeks, wrote to the OB Rag at 4:15 this afternoon and left a comment to the latest article on his situation.

Here is what Chris wrote: …

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Musicians Add to the OB Farmers Market Flavor

August 20, 2009 by Doug Porter
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by Doug Porter

Since a significant number of our readers participating in the latest OB Rag weekly poll told us that they love the music played at the OB Farmers Market, I went down on August 19th & met a few of the players. The faces change some each week, but the vibe is always mellow. Don’t forget to leave a little spare change (or bills) in their tip jars if you enjoy the music.

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Three Incidents of Protesters With Guns at Obama Events

August 18, 2009 by Source
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Armed protesters asserting their right to bear arms, including a man with a rifle slung over his shoulder, gathered yesterday near a Phoenix convention hall where President Barack Obama spoke, a police spokesman said.

The protesters were taking advantage of an Arizona law that allows people to carry unconcealed guns, Phoenix Police Department spokesman Andy Hill said. Police made no arrests.

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San Diego Town Hall – We Got The Last Laugh

August 18, 2009 by Doug Porter
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by Doug Porter

Congresswoman Susan Davis spoke about health care at a town hall meeting last night (8/11/09) in the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego.

Nearly 500 people showed up prior to the doors opening; the hall held maybe 300, lacked adequate ventilation and was supplied with a sound system that made it difficult to hear beyond the first few rows of seats. A couple of disruptors made it into the hall, but, for the most part, things ran smoothly inside.

I was there along with other associates of the OB Rag ….

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OB Community Bulletin and Open Discussion Board

August 18, 2009 by Staff
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OCEAN BEACH, CA. This is the OB Rag’s weekly Community Bulletin Board expanded version; now it’s the Community Bulletin and Open Discussion Board. Plus if your group is having a meeting or event you would like to inform the rest of us about, do so here.

OB RAG IS LOOKING FOR DESK OR OFFICE SPACE IN THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT – PU-LEESE!

PEOPLE’S 38TH ANNUAL BIRTHDAY PICNIC AT ROBB FIELD – SAT AUG 29TH

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Tony Messadri Surf Classic Makes a Splash at the OB Pier

August 18, 2009 by Staff
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On Saturday August 15th, Ocean Beach witnessed the Tony Mezzadri Surf Classic at the Pier. This was the 15th year of bringing awareness and fundraising for spinal cord injury research to the local community.

Local photog Jim Grant was there. Here is what he saw.

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New TV Pilot Being Filmed In OB – “Terriers”

August 17, 2009 by Staff
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Here’s the scoop on the film crew that’s been seen around OB lately. They are shooting for an upcoming pilot for an hour long comedic private-eye show.

The project, from Fox21, centers on two PI partners with maturity issues who solve crimes while trying to avoid danger and responsibility.

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