January 2011

“Globalize This” Corporate Hiring Job Jam Dance Party

January 31, 2011 by Dixon Guizot

Here’s an audio/video project cobbled together from publicly available information… a reaction to President Barack Obama’s emphasis on job creation in his “State of the Union” speech last week.

Just want to point out that American corporations are creating plenty of jobs all the time!

Click the title to see the video…

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Fear and Loathing in the Desert – On The Road for Freedom

January 31, 2011 by Doug Porter

Driving into Rancho Mirage, a wealthy enclave just a few miles from Palm Springs, California, you’d never know that California faces a long term water shortage. The intense green of the finely manicured lawns, the fountains spewing water into the desert air and the bright flowers everywhere give proof to the power of the land developer and the illusion that the American dream is somehow still alive.

Look a little closer, though, and you can see the rotten inner core of this illusion oozing …

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San Diegans Join Protest Against Koch Brothers at Rancho Mirage

January 31, 2011 by Frank Gormlie

As your intrepid OB Rag reporters drove into the mall parking lot – having just driven up from San Diego, the main thing we saw was all the cops and sheriffs moving about, getting coffee, getting into position, milling about. As we parked and sought relief in the caverns of the Rancho Mirage mall, we could also see that there were many more demonstrators than mall customers roaming about.

A little before 1pm, we ambled over to the rally spot …

Frank, Doug and Patty are off to Palms Springs

January 30, 2011 by Patty Jones

UPDATE: We have returned, and will be filing full reports and media for the morrow. In the meantime we can confirm that 25 were peacefully arrested in a civil disobedience action, with a crowd close to 2,000. Over a dozen buses brought people to the rally spot in Rancho Mirage from all over Southern California. […]

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Point-In-Time-Count, Part 2

January 30, 2011 by Sunshine

The Point In Time Count (PITC) of the homeless surveys were conducted this morning in Ocean Beach. As my alarm went off at 6am, I thought to myself, “what am I doing up at this hour? why did I commit to reporting Part 2 of 2 in this series on the Point-In-Time-Count?” It suddenly didn’t seem like my brightest idea to date. Yet, after what I witnessed today it was well worth the early wake up call.

By the time I arrived at the First Baptist Church at 7:30am where the surveys would be conducted, I was freezing and wishing I had worn my toe socks.

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Reflections From an Evening with my Home Girl

January 30, 2011 by Ernie McCray

I don’t know if we’ve ever been able, in our society, to truly talk and listen to each other but, at this point in time, we seem to be at an all time low at doing so. I remember when I first really began to notice how divided we are in our social intercourse. It […]

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Today We Are All Egyptians!

January 29, 2011 by Source

We will not be silenced, whether you’re a Christian, whether you’re a Muslim, whether you’re an atheist, you will demand your goddamn rights, and we will have our rights, one way or the other ! We will never be silenced!

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Anna’s video Pick – Carl Sagan and the Pale Blue Dot

January 29, 2011 by Anna Daniels

Twenty five years ago, on January 28, 1986 the space shuttle Challenger broke into pieces, a mere 73 seconds into its flight. National tragedies have such a personal affect upon us that we can remember exactly where we were, exactly what we were doing, when we heard that John Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Bobby […]

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Pitchforks and Torches for the New Ocean Beach VFW Post

January 29, 2011 by Andy Cohen

Back in August, the OB VFW Outpost 1392 received notice from their landlord of 27 years that their lease would not be renewed. It was a “business decision” on the part of the owner, who had chosen to go in another direction with the property. I wrote about it back in November. Ever since, the […]

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Top Ten New Locations for Walmart in San Diego

January 29, 2011 by Doug Porter

For those of you who haven’t been following the news, the mighty Wal-Mart Corporation has bought themselves some City Council members and a Mayor with promises of a dozen new locations throughout San Diego in the next five years. Now this is the same company that a decade ago promised a bunch of new Supercenters […]

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School “Reform” Group 99% Funded By Fat Cats

January 28, 2011 by Doug Porter

According to documents filed with the City of San Diego this week, the secretive group behind the campaign for appointed school board officials is 99.75% funded by just two individuals: Chicago financier Ron Dammeyer ($300,000 via CAC Advisory Services LLC) and billionaire Irwin Jacobs ($150,000).

The story broke late Wednesday, Jan. 26th in the Voice of San Diego, which went on to report:

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Counting the Homeless in Ocean Beach and Beyond – Part 1

January 28, 2011 by Sunshine

This is Part 1 of 2 Parts about the Point In Time Count (PITC) in San Diego and what took place in Ocean Beach at 4:00am this morning. My first question to Tim Sandiford, Regional Volunteer Coordinator for Central San Diego, was “what are you doing here at 4am?” He answered: “The PITC uses different […]

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OB VFW Looks to Clear the Air With Public Meeting Today – Jan. 28th

January 28, 2011 by Andy Cohen

A group of local residents and business owners near the future new home of the OB VFW Outpost 1392 are seeking to block the VFW from opening its doors. Local members of the area’s neighborhood watch activated their email tree to express their concern over what they view as an unsuitable replacement for the restaurant […]

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CLARIFICATION On “Protest” at New VFW Post, Friday, Jan.28

January 27, 2011 by Frank Gormlie

This is a clarification on our earlier headline and article that spoke of “a protest rally” in front of the new location of the local VFW Post on Friday, January 28th. The event is more likely to be local residents and business owners upset attending a public meeting in protest of the VFW taking over […]

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Some Point Loma and South OB Residents Oppose New VFW Post – Protest Planned Friday, Jan. 28

January 27, 2011 by Frank Gormlie

UPDATE at 8:30pm: The event being planned tomorrow we have learned is a public meeting at the new VFW post. We have yet to see the flier. There may be a picket. Stay tuned. We have just been informed that some residents in south Ocean Beach / Point Loma area are upset that the new […]

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Homelessness Myth #18: The Police Will Solve It

January 27, 2011 by Christine Schanes

By Christine Schanes

Homeless is first and foremost a social service issue. In other words, homelessness can be and will be resolved through the work of compassionate individuals and social service agencies, be they nonprofit organizations or government agencies. Nevertheless, the myth exists that homelessness is primarily a police issue.

If homelessness is truly a social service issue, why is police activity often seen as the ultimate solution to ending homelessness?

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Broad Coalition that Includes San Diegans Readying Action Against Koch Brothers in Palm Springs On Sunday, Jan. 30th

January 27, 2011 by Source

Editor: The OB Rag is helping to organize a demonstration this Sunday in Rancho Mirage in the Palm Springs area against the tea party funders, the billionaire Koch brothers. The Common Cause-sponsored bus from San Diego, we understand, is full. Contact us if you are interested in attending this creative, fun, but necessary outpouring of […]

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Torrey Pine Trimmed the “OB Way” – a Photo Gallery

January 26, 2011 by Frank Gormlie

Beginning this morning, Wednesday January 26th, the Torrey Pine on Long Branch Avenue in Ocean Beach, got its trim job. Having obtained a permit from the City of San Diego, Theron Winsby of Pro-Trees, and his crew began to take off about 20 to 30% of the top foliage. They had arrived on Long Branch […]

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Scores of Windows and Glass Doors Etched Along Newport by Vandals

January 26, 2011 by Frank Gormlie

This is an update from the earlier post about the vandalism in Ocean Beach against Newport Avenue businesses. This morning (1-26-11) I walked up and down Newport Avenue taking an informal survey of the businesses who had windows and doors etched by vandals probably during the early morning hours of Tuesday, January 25th. I had […]

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Dozens of Ocean Beach Businesses Vandalized

January 26, 2011 by Source

Editor: We will be posting an update on this story later today.

By Jen Lebron Kuhney / SignOnSanDiego / Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 5:46 p.m.

OCEAN BEACH — The windows of at least 31 Ocean Beach businesses were etched by vandals, apparently between midnight and 5 a.m. Tuesday, San Diego police said.

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Loan Modifications in Today’s San Diego

January 26, 2011 by Dave Rice

Editor: This occasional column by our financial whiz Dave Rice will give us snippets of views of the world of mortgages, finance, loan modifications and …. To many borrowers trapped in ‘upside-down’ loans and struggling to make payments, getting a loan modification sounds like an ideal solution—you keep your house, if you’ve missed any payments they’re tacked […]

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SDSU Aztecs: A Season for the Ages

January 26, 2011 by Andy Cohen

When the team you love represents the school you attended—your fellow Bruins, or Bears, or Trojans, or Bulldogs, Broncos, Wildcats, Ducks………….or AZTECS!— to see that team be successful is just extra special. You’ll have to forgive us, though, us Aztecs. We’re just not used to this kind of thing. This just doesn’t happen in San Diego. Certainly not at San Diego State University.

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State of the Union – An Open Thread

January 25, 2011 by Staff

Did you watch the State of the Union address by President Obama tonight? Paul Ryan’s rebuttal? Michele Bachmann as she stared off into space?

Let’s hear your thoughts…

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Egypt Explodes As People Take to the Streets to Oust Mubarak

January 25, 2011 by Source

UPDATE: Police fire teargas at Egypt overnight protesters CAIRO Jan 26 (Reuters) – Police fired teargas at Egyptian protesters who were camped out in the centre of Cairo early on Wednesday morning after a day of nationwide protests calling for President Hosni Mubarak to end his 30 years of rule. Thousands of demonstrators had said they […]

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Reader Rant: ‘This is the Ronald Reagan I remember …’

January 25, 2011 by JEC

by JEC

On Monday, January 24th USAToday ran a major feature on Ronald Reagan. The Ronald Reagan I remember is very different from the idealized version offered in that paper.

As Governor, Reagan helped California’s public schools slip from #2 ranking to a #26 in just 8 years; in the aftermath of the killings at Kent State in May, 1970, to calm the exploding emotions Governor Reagan declared that:

“If blood is to run in the streets so be it!”

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This Is What Really Hides In Taco Bell’s “Beef”

January 25, 2011 by Source

Taco Bell “beef” pseudo-Mexican delicacies are not made with USDA ground beef. They use a gross thing called “Taco Meat Filling” as shown on their big container’s labels—which customers can’t see. The list of ingredients is gruesome: ….

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Ocean Beach Sustainability 101: Reduce, Recycle, Re-use, Repurpose—and Repeat!

January 25, 2011 by Terrie Leigh Relf

by Terrie Leigh Relf While the mantra of ‘reduce, recycle, re-use, repurpose’ may be familiar, individual experience varies. Yes, it is important to dispose of your glass and plastic bottles, as well as other obvious recyclables, in the blue bins. Yes, creating a home-based compost bin is also an excellent practice. . .and yes, donating your […]

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Learning to Love at My Granddaddy’s Knee

January 25, 2011 by Ernie McCray

With all that I’ve had to say lately and in the somewhat distant past about the need for a more loving world where diversity is appreciated, I’ve tried to point out, perhaps indirectly, that schools should be places that model how our world could be. I’m a proponent of Ethnic Studies for that very reason: they promote the building of a better world.

I’ve broached such notions of love because it is my duty as an educator to open minds to ideal possibilities. If nothing else is required of a teacher he or she should be a loving human being who is willing to reach out to a diverse collection of humanity.

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The Very First Issue of the Original OB Rag, Vol. 1, No. 1

January 24, 2011 by Staff

Here it is – the very first OB Rag – the OB People’s Rag – published on September 17th, 1970. It was four pages – front and back of 2 pages stapled together. This is great because we have been missing many of the issues from the Rag’s first year, including this very first edition.

A blogger’s sibling found it in some old files and sent it our way. We have scanned all four pages – see below – plus we have retyped all of the articles so you don’t have to squint and ruin your eyes. In addition, we have included all of the graphics and most of the hand-drawn headlines.

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OB Convert: Bathing Suit or Naked at the Y shower?

January 24, 2011 by OB Convert

Dear OB Convert: Hi, I just joined the Peninsula YMCA and think it’s great. But very few women seem to use the locker room. Instead, they go home after working out. The women who do use the locker room are swimmers and many keep their swimsuits on to shower!

Is there an unwritten rule I don’t know about? I’m from Sweden originally and realize Americans view nudity differently but do I need to get in to a swimsuit to shower?

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At the Edge of D7 April 19, 2024 at 6:07 pm on OB Planners’ Project Review Committee: 20 Units at 4705 Point Loma Ave., — Wed., April 17Holy smokes I can't believe my eyes. The first sentence of this darn proposal on the Project Review Committee Meeting Notice and Agenda has blatantly...
sealintheSelkirks April 19, 2024 at 4:26 pm on OB Planners’ Project Review Committee: 20 Units at 4705 Point Loma Ave., — Wed., April 17In 1974 I lived in a studio on Strandway between Liverpool Ct. and Lido Ct. in MB. A converted 1-car garage with a tiny bathroom...
kh April 19, 2024 at 3:41 pm on Reader Rant on the New Warehouse Plan for San Diego’s Unhoused CitizensI think in the interest of expediency, we should sign a lease without due diligence. And then later when we find out we can't use...
kh April 19, 2024 at 3:36 pm on 2 New Projects Proposed for West Point Loma Boulevard in Ocean BeachStrawman, if you transfer title to your children and they actually live there, they will be protected by Prop 13.
kh April 19, 2024 at 3:34 pm on 2 New Projects Proposed for West Point Loma Boulevard in Ocean BeachAre you suggesting that investor-driven real estate speculation doesn't contribute to higher housing prices?
kh April 19, 2024 at 3:32 pm on Why San Diego Should Not Be Awarded Anything for Its ‘Bonus ADU’ Program — Not One ADU Unit Has Been Built as Low-Income HousingMeh. City staffers live on these awards and back pats. We need to give them more awards. They would whither and die without these meaningless...
Sam April 19, 2024 at 3:27 pm on 2 New Projects Proposed for West Point Loma Boulevard in Ocean BeachTo what end? This will not bring down housing prices and you still won't be able to afford to buy.
kh April 19, 2024 at 1:11 pm on 2 New Projects Proposed for West Point Loma Boulevard in Ocean BeachAre you seriously trying to equate the tens of thousands in annual Prop 13 benefits some receive on their investment properties with the $9 writeoff...
sam April 19, 2024 at 1:10 pm on Reader Rant on the New Warehouse Plan for San Diego’s Unhoused CitizensThis lease was negotiated by the staff at the Real Estate Department, who clearly had no issues agreeing on terms, with the approval of management....
chris schultz April 19, 2024 at 11:49 am on Why San Diego Should Not Be Awarded Anything for Its ‘Bonus ADU’ Program — Not One ADU Unit Has Been Built as Low-Income HousingSANDAG spending a billion over the next 4 years for bike lanes is mind boggling.
paul krueger April 19, 2024 at 11:44 am on Why San Diego Should Not Be Awarded Anything for Its ‘Bonus ADU’ Program — Not One ADU Unit Has Been Built as Low-Income HousingExcellent and very revealing research! Thanks for sharing!
Paul Krueger April 19, 2024 at 11:43 am on Why San Diego Should Not Be Awarded Anything for Its ‘Bonus ADU’ Program — Not One ADU Unit Has Been Built as Low-Income HousingHere's a link to the city's news release on it's nomination for the 2024 "Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability": https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2024-04/2024-04-16-city-of-san-diego-a-top-10-finalist-for-2024-ivory-prize-for-housing-affordability.pdf
Kate Callen April 19, 2024 at 11:40 am on Why San Diego Should Not Be Awarded Anything for Its ‘Bonus ADU’ Program — Not One ADU Unit Has Been Built as Low-Income HousingThe good people at Ivory Innovations are in the pocket of Ivory Homes, the largest home builder in Utah. The Ivory Family is one of...
chris schultz April 19, 2024 at 11:40 am on 2 New Projects Proposed for West Point Loma Boulevard in Ocean BeachDo you help your kids? Even after they're grown? Should taxation be randomly F the person who worked for what they have? If I helped...
paul krueger April 19, 2024 at 11:22 am on Why San Diego Should Not Be Awarded Anything for Its ‘Bonus ADU’ Program — Not One ADU Unit Has Been Built as Low-Income HousingThanks very much for posting this detailed info!