May 2009

Liberal Talk Radio is Back in San Diego

May 19, 2009 by Staff

By OB Rag Staffer

If you were a fan of Progressive Talk Radio, you are probably still lamenting the loss of San Diego’s KLSD 1360. You may remember the show “This is America” with Jon Elliot. Well, here’s some good news. Jon Elliot is back on the air in San Diego. “This is America” with Jon Elliot is now airing on AM 1700 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM weekdays starting Monday, May 18.

Read the full article → 8 comments

Rory Fanning ends his journey for Pat Tillman in Ocean Beach

May 18, 2009 by Frank Gormlie

On Saturday, May 16th, Rory Fanning came to the end of his journey – Ocean Beach. He had just finished his 8 month, 2700 mile walk across the USA in memory of his friend Pat Tillman.

Pat Tillman, you may remember, was a famous pro-football star, who was killed by “friendly fire” while serving in Afghanistan. But …

FDA Labels Cheerios a “Drug” – not kidding

May 18, 2009 by Source

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now classifying Cheerios —— those little round O’s made of oats that have been around since 1941 —— as a drug, and sent a letter to General Mills saying as much.

Read the full article → 6 comments

A Brand New Liberal Radio Statio is Born… In San Diego!?

May 18, 2009 by Source

by Jill Richardson

I’ve got an exciting announcement about a project I’m involved in! Air America just got some competition…

If you know anything about me, you know that I am addicted to liberal radio.

Read the full article → 2 comments

US Supreme Court Upholds Medicinal Marijuana – Throws Out San Diego County’s Appeal

May 18, 2009 by Source

A major victory was scored Monday, May 18th, by medicinal marijuana advocates at the US Supreme Court. The Supreme Court refused to hear our very own San Diego County government’s attempt not to have to issue medicinal marijuana identification cards.

Read the full article → 10 comments

Disbarring Bush’s Torture Lawyers

May 18, 2009 by Source

by David Swanson

On Monday, May 18, 2009, a broad coalition of organizations dedicated to accountable government, and representing over one million members, filed disciplinary complaints with state bar licensing boards against twelve attorneys who advocated the torture of detainees during the Bush Administration.

Detailed complaints have been filed against twelve lawyers including: John Yoo, Alberto Gonzales, John Ashcroft, and Michael Mukasey.

Read the full article → 1 comment

Rey Knight’s Sausages: A Farmer’s Market Success Story

May 17, 2009 by Doug Porter

by Doug Porter

The controlled chaos that is the Ocean Beach Farmers Market makes it easy to overlook the minor economic miracles that take place there each week.

For Rey Knight’s Salumi Company, the concept of selling direct via farmers markets has proven to be a winner.

Read the full article → 5 comments

Not Just a Leech in the Water: A Look at an Ocean Beach Hopeful

May 17, 2009 by Source

By Buddy Tymczyszyn

Taking an early morning walk along the beach, it is hard to miss the luring scent of toasted bagels and fresh brewed coffee calling like sirens from Newbreak Coffee & Café. Walk on in, look to your left, and you will see one of our living icons here in OB; a man named Randy Mason. He’s in there everyday, bright and early at six o’clock to study his books, write his papers, and enjoy his coffee with some friendly conversation.

Read the full article → 10 comments

No under exposure for OB Historical Society’s photo contest

May 16, 2009 by Frank Gormlie

There was a great turn-out Friday night for the OB Historical Society’s Photo Exposed contest and exhibit. Held in the Masonic Temple on Sunset Cliffs Blvd, the event swelled to 150 people as the crowd mingled among the wonderful color and black and white photos, catered meatballs, pizza, donated and catered desserts.

Here are the six winners and their photos: …

Read the full article → 8 comments

Faulconer Memo to City: Replace Sunset Cliffs Benches

May 15, 2009 by Frank Gormlie

SUNSET CLIFFS, CA. In a memo to CEO Jay Goldstone just released, Councilmember Kevin Faulconer requests that the City replace the 5 benches along Sunset Cliffs that the City removed. Here is the memo:

Read the full article → 4 comments

Something stinks at Wholefoods: Union Busting in Hippie Clothing?

May 15, 2009 by Source

Whole Foods Market is a highly profitable corporation that far outperforms its competitors, while maintaining an aura of commitment to social justice and environmental responsibility. Its clientele is attracted not only to its brightly lit array of pristine fruits and vegetables, organically farmed meats, and delectable (yet healthy) recipes, but also to the notion that the mere act of shopping at Whole Foods is helping to change the world.

Read the full article → 3 comments

What’s happenin’ to the Sunset Cliffs’ benches?

May 14, 2009 by Frank Gormlie

Benches that citizens have put up along the cliffs at Sunset Cliffs are disappearing. It has been reported by MSNBC that several benches attached to the guardrail along the scenic boulevard have been possibly removed by the City of San Diego for liability reasons.

Reportedly, Councilmember Kevin Faulconer’s office has been flooded with requests for information on the missing benches. SEE MEMO ABOVE

Read the full article → 1 comment

Universal Health Care or Bust! Democrats offer “sweeping reform” of the same ol’ system

May 14, 2009 by Lane Tobias

by Lane Tobias

The debate over health care reform has been hotly contested for generations, so it should come as no surprise to anyone that during one of the worst global economic crises in history, President Obama is following through on his campaign promise to reform the system.

Or is he?

Read the full article → 3 comments

Beauty Crowned and Trumped

May 14, 2009 by Anna Daniels

by Anna Daniels

News about beauty pageants engenders pretty much the same response in me as the announcement of a new brand of breakfast cereal-“here comes more refined sugar in a new box.”

The 2007 Miss Universe Competition did, however, get my attention. The gowns, as reported in This Side of the Mirror, were not your run of the mill frocks.

Read the full article → 15 comments

The Real Problem With Our Food System: A Response to ‘Organic vs Conventional’

May 14, 2009 by Source

The earlier posted article “Organic vs Conventional: Have you been robbed?” takes aim at the wrong target. Much like the person who frets over which china to use while the house is on fire, you take organic– which accounts for 2-3% of food sales– to task while ignoring the rest of our food system.

Organic consumers have certainly not been robbed. On the contrary, …

Read the full article → 3 comments

New Union-Tribune Publisher Described As a Journalistic Mortician

May 14, 2009 by Frank Gormlie

Ed Moss, the new publisher for the recently purchased San Diego Union-Tribune, could be a worry for those who want the paper to survive. Moss, who takes control on Monday, May 18th, was described as a “journalistic mortician,” by Ron Kaye, the former editor of the Los Angeles Daily News, where Moss worked.

Read the full article → 7 comments

Organic vs Conventional: Have You Been Robbed?

May 13, 2009 by Source

It’s Saturday afternoon and you’re checking out at your local co-op. You’re behind another member of your community, lining up your organic eggs, organic pork chops, organic milk, organic lamb shank, and organic cheese. You feel pretty content. You’re eating right, in a world full of chaos. Your body loves you.

But organic may not mean the food is better for you. ….

Read the full article → 12 comments

OB Photo Exhibit and Contest – Friday, May 15th

May 12, 2009 by Frank Gormlie

Ocean Beach Photo Exhibit and Contest – this Friday, May 15th, at the Masonic Temple on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard – 6pm – 8:30pm. Join the OB Historical Society for an evening of fun and local culture.

Read the full article → 6 comments

Is the California Water ‘Drought’ Over-blown by Politicians?

May 12, 2009 by Source

Take shorter showers, wash only full loads of laundry, sweep instead of hose your driveway.

These are the messages that Californians are getting as part of the state’s new “Save Our Water” campaign. Water restrictions, farmworker protest marches …

Is this comparable to the worst drought in modern history of the state? Or is it all being over-blown?

Read the full article → 3 comments

The Anti-War Dilemma: How To Protest A President You Trust

May 12, 2009 by Source

During the Bush era, peace protests were presupposed. If the President of the United States showed up anywhere, so did the protesters. Now that Barack Obama has taken over the helm, though, peace activists are debating and rehashing protest strategies and often not protesting at all.

Read the full article → 7 comments

Who Are We, We African Americans?

May 12, 2009 by Ernie McCray

by Ernie McCray

I’m enjoying the honor of helping organize the African American Male Intergenerational Conference that will be held on June 5th and 6th at the Educational Cultural Complex.

The experience has made me think of all the identities I’ve answered to in my 71 years. I entered the world a little colored baby boy and before I could say Jack Robinson, voila, I was a Negro.

Read the full article → 1 comment

Moving in the Right Direction… Improving Access to Food Stamps

May 11, 2009 by Source

by Staff of the San Diego Hunger Coalition

There are steps that are being taken to address some of the barriers that those in need face when applying for food stamps.

Here are suggestions about additional steps that we can all take to streamline the process: …

Read the full article → 0 comments

Radio Powered by the People

May 9, 2009 by Staff

By OB Rag Staffer

On April 15, 1949, a new kind of radio station appeared on the airwaves. Pacifica Radio was founded by Lewis Hill, a pacifist who believed that radio stations should be funded by listeners, not by corporate sponsors.

The first station was KPFA in Berkeley, which still serves the Bay Area. In 1959, sister-station KPFK came on the air in Los Angeles. For years, KPFK’s powerful signal was heard in San Diego at 90.7 FM. Then in February 2000,…

Read the full article → 4 comments

Governor Schwarzennegger Balances California Budget on the Backs of the Poor

May 7, 2009 by Lane Tobias

by Lane Tobias

The Special Election being held on May 19th is being penned by the Schwarzenegger Administration as a way to fix California’s “broken budget system”.

While it is understood that California’s budget woes are going to effect us for generations to come, before voting yes on any of these propositions we should take a look at …

Read the full article → 5 comments

The Osprey Family of Ocean Beach

May 7, 2009 by Dixon Guizot

Local birders have been flocking to Ocean Beach’s Robb Field in recent weeks. One big draw has been the osprey family that has nested atop one of the park’s light poles. This family of four includes a proud pair of parents and two chicks, who appear to be about 3/4 of the way to full size.

While I was filming the ospreys at Robb Field, “Dad” flew off toward the San Diego River at one point. A few minutes later, he came back with a large fish in his talons. …

Read the full article → 9 comments

Despite the old Union-Tribune, we still have democracy

May 7, 2009 by Frank Gormlie

On May 6th, the “new” Union-Tribune, under new management, ran an editorial, entitled “Bible of democracy”. It quoted Walter Lippmann who called newspapers “the bible of democracy”.

Is this a description of the old Union-Tribune? Hardly.

Read the full article → 5 comments

Eight Ideas for the New Union-Tribune Owners

May 7, 2009 by Doug Porter

by Doug Porter

The Copley era at the Union-Tribune drew to a close this week. Given that the new owners aren’t really experienced in the media world, (and, yes, I know that it was the real estate that really made this deal work for them) I have a few modest suggestions for improving the paper.

1) Wake up and smell the coffee. San Diego isn’t the Navy retirement village that it used to be….

Read the full article → 13 comments

Lawsuit details SEIU surveillance effort of own members in internal battle

May 7, 2009 by Source

An unexpected lawsuit has provided dramatic new details about who SEIU is hiring – and how much money it’s spending – to carry out its trusteeship of SEIU-UHW.

On Friday, an international security company sued SEIU in federal court for failing to pay all of its $2.2 million in bills for surveillance and security services … r

Read the full article → 0 comments

Tide Changes In San Diego Media

May 6, 2009 by Frank Gormlie

by Frank Gormlie

This week has witnessed major tidal changes for San Diego’s media.

The San Diego Union-Tribune formally changed publishers – and San Diego News Network (SDNN) has outpaced the other independent net show, the Voice of San Diego, in terms of monthly hits – for the first time.

Read the full article → 1 comment

Rock Paper Scissors back in the news?

May 5, 2009 by Frank Gormlie

We have just heard from friends in the know that Rock Paper Scissors and its controversial closure is back in the news – sort of. The Reader, San Diego’s predominant weekly, is supposed to be carrying an article on it in its Thursday’s edition. Jeff Fagan, the original owner of the arts and crafts store, reportedly refused to be interviewed. …

Read the full article → 11 comments

← Older Articles

Newer Articles →

unwashedwalmartThong April 23, 2024 at 8:03 pm on Reader Rant: ‘Why I’m Breaking Up With Cox Communications’For e-mail I went to Hushmail a decade ago. I've had no problems with the company or my e-mail account. It's about $35/year & based...
Marc Davies April 23, 2024 at 4:28 pm on Adam Avenues Unplugged — Saturday, April 27I miss Isaac Cheong hosting open mics at Lestat’s on Adams Avenue, when Gregory Page and Greg Laswell would perform.
Chris April 23, 2024 at 2:11 pm on Adam Avenues Unplugged — Saturday, April 27I miss when it was the Roots Festival.
Gilbert Field April 23, 2024 at 1:27 pm on ‘Hey You! Get Up! We’ve Outlawed Sleeping in Public!’You are very correct that many sections of our city are outliers, like LaJolla and El Cajon. But, if your home is within a typical...
chris schultz April 23, 2024 at 12:57 pm on ‘Hey You! Get Up! We’ve Outlawed Sleeping in Public!’Sounds like way more land then house based on your numbers. My assessor value tells me everything. Maybe the location differs which would explain some...
Gilbert Field April 23, 2024 at 12:42 pm on ‘Hey You! Get Up! We’ve Outlawed Sleeping in Public!’Of course the land value % will vary within the city. I just had my home reassessed after some improvements, and since I know about...
chris schultz April 23, 2024 at 12:03 pm on ‘Hey You! Get Up! We’ve Outlawed Sleeping in Public!’My land is 38% of the value on my tax assessment. 75% seems like speculative assumptions on what?
chris schultz April 23, 2024 at 11:42 am on Mayor Gloria Fined $10,500 for Not Disclosing DonationsSame reporter has a story on the loans taken out by Hamm, the shelter lease owner. Sure does make you wonder how he knew to...
chris schultz April 23, 2024 at 11:37 am on Reader Rant: ‘Why I’m Breaking Up With Cox Communications’Doesn't matter the provider, you're always fighting the cost hikes, and bad service despite the claims. But yeah, one day when my wife was on...
Frank Gormlie April 22, 2024 at 11:30 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 HousingIN case you haven't noticed, 'build, build, build' has been the developer elite's mantra for decades; to say the 'government is owned by the unions'...
Frank Gormlie April 22, 2024 at 11:26 pm on 2 New Projects Proposed for West Point Loma Boulevard in Ocean BeachWe reposted that a couple of weeks ago; great piece.
ingrate April 22, 2024 at 9:52 pm on 2 New Projects Proposed for West Point Loma Boulevard in Ocean BeachGet a load of the er load being dumped by Midway Rising in La Prensa: https://laprensa.org/perspective-grift-expands-midway-rising-development-deal
ingrate April 22, 2024 at 9:47 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 HousingDid you get the Colin Parent campaign flyer "Colin Parent Knows How to Fix the Streets"? Yeh. He narrows them, doesn't repair them and jams...
Mateo April 22, 2024 at 9:45 pm on California Leaders Take Sides in ‘Most Important Supreme Court Case on Homelessness in 40 Years’The Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act, also known as the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999 eliminated the firewall protection between investment and commercial banking. With FDR's, John...
ingrate April 22, 2024 at 9:37 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 Housing"When developers trumpet the need for affordable housing but never build it themselves, do they think we’re gullible, or are they just playing a cruel...