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.
Plus if your group is having a meeting or event you would like to inform the rest of us about, do so here. If you want to get rid of something, like an old working TV, do it here.
Open Thread for Discussion Right Here
Here is where you can say it, and say it with finesse or say it with humility, but say it.
Attend the OB Town Council Meeting On Issue of Slowing Down Sunset Cliffs Blvd – Wed, Aug 26th
A group of residents – loosely assembled under the rubric “Slow Down Sunset Cliffs” is urging OBceans and others who work in OB to attend Wednesday’s OB Town Council meeting. The meeting is at 7pm at the Ocean Beach Town Council (OBTC) meet which is held every 4th Wednesday at the Masonic Lodge on Sunset Cliffs.
A representative from Councilmember Kevin Falconer’s office has arranged a representative from Traffic Engineering to come and address this issue before the board regarding a list of recommendations that the OBTC made to the councilmember’s office again over a year ago.
OB Rag is Still Looking for Desk or Office Space in the Commercial District
The website/ blog that you’re reading right now is looking for some space in the commercial district of OB. An office, a desk, … somewhere where we can pop open our lap top, do some live blogging, where we can take a break from the reporters’ beat. Any ideas ? Let us know, … please.
Everyone Out to Congresswoman Susan Davis’ Next Town Hall Meeting- Sat, Aug. 29th
Rep Susan Davis’ district is huge! It goes from at least OB to Spring Valley. We at the OB Rag are joining other groups in urging progressives and liberals who want health care reform to attend her next Town Hall meeting. It will be this Saturday, August 29th, at the Spring Valley Library 1-2 pm. Susan Davis will give an overview of the bill and answer questions. The Spring Valley Library is located at 836 Kempton Street in Spring Valley. Voice your support for single payer/ public option.
Film Crew Still In OB
Rumors that the film crew filming “Terriers” has left are premature. Crews and their machinery were seen on Voltaire near Pat’s Liquor and on Abbott Street.
Are you an artist or cartoonist? OB Rag Wants You!
We are making a general call for any artist or cartoonist who wishes to showcase their work. We are looking for art and / or cartoons about OB, natch! Contact us.
People’s 38th annual birthday picnic at Robb Field – Sat Aug 29th
Come to People’s Food Coop’s annual birthday party picnic. From 11 am to 3 pm on Saturday, August 29. Veggie barbecue, music, games. $3 for members, $5 non-members. Tickets can be purchased at People’s.
{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
i’ve noticed recently on this blog a new certain hesitancy on criticizing right-wing people and policies. when we see or hear about extremists on the right comparing president obama to hitler, we shutter and think about maybe our comparisons of bush to hitler were also over the top.
not so, boys and girls! we can rightfully and historically compare gwb to the greatest evil in recent world history. bush deserves the comparison. why? look at his policies these past 8 years. in contrast, what has obama done to bring the same criticism upon himself?
nothing. the right is using these tactics in their campaign to smear the new president, a president they haven’t accepted yet because … HE’S BLACK!
bodysurferbob – I’ve noticed that whenever you make a comment, it stills the conversation for some reason. Do you think you are too intimidating for our commenters?
i think that our attempts to plot a more civil path come from the realization that our guy (for better or worse) won the last election. getting too screechy right about now may not be the most productive thing we can do.
on the other hand, speaking for myself, i certainly feel personally threatened by many of the statements and actions that the newly enfranchised far right is undertaking. as someone who has–in the past–been targeted by right wing terrorists i realize that, while being very vocal in opposing their actions is necessary, you need to be careful about waving meat in front of a mad dog.
It would really be NICE if you guys had some visible spot in downtown OB. that way if someone had some news or info for the blog – you’re right there.
Okay, here’s something to chew on: last Friday night, a bunch of friends were partying in the back yard of one of them. These folks all are pushing 60 if not already over. It was a birthday bash for one of them. They sang ‘happy birthday’ in the backyard. The house and backyard are within a block of the beach.
So what happens? Two cops show up, tell the house owner that there’s been a noise complaint and that everyone has to go inside and the party had to be shut down. The friend who gave the party told me that everyone pretty much left after about 15 minutes, and that everyone else did go inside the house. The cops hung around for another half hour. Just to make sure, no doubt.
Now my friend who gave the party is almost afraid of having another back yard party. He is not a twenty-something. He is all of 60 years old. all gray.
This is ridiculous, isn’t it? Cops in OB telling these 60-year-olds to go inside at 9 pm from their own back yard!
Does anyone else think this is – to use an often-used term – over the top???
Totally. If you have a problem in OB, you walk your sorry-ass over to your neighbors house and calmly ask them to keep it down or take it inside. If they give you a problem after that, you get Dave Gilbert to throw dog doo at their party.
hey, just wanted to pass along something stupid from yesterday. after i got out of the water, went to the men’s restroom at the life guard station – and discovered a whole batch of racist graffiti on pen on the walls. as i was dripping wet in my suit, i didn’t have anything to erase or use to take it off.
molly – wtf?
Yes Doug, please be careful where you wave your meat!
That’s great idea OB Joe, we need to keep our ears & eyes peeled….
LOL! Thanks a lot Jon! Who flung poo indeed?
Frank, you tell those 60 something whippersnappers to hold it down over there…and to get off of my lawn too! xD
bodysurferbob = thread killer? who knew? ;)
Frank – 9 p.m.?!?!? I didn’t even think noise complaints were actionable until 10…
i’ve noticed recently on this blog a new certain hesitancy on criticizing right-wing people and policies. when we see or hear about extremists on the right comparing president obama to hitler, we shutter and think about maybe our comparisons of bush to hitler were also over the top.
not so, boys and girls! we can rightfully and historically compare gwb to the greatest evil in recent world history. bush deserves the comparison. why? look at his policies these past 8 years. in contrast, what has obama done to bring the same criticism upon himself?
nothing. the right is using these tactics in their campaign to smear the new president, a president they haven’t accepted yet because … HE’S BLACK!
Bodysurferbob,
Your post greatly saddens me.
I can’t and won’t change your assertion that “gwb” (I assume you are refering to George W. Bush) is comparable to Hitler. I just don’t see the basis for your argument. I am a rsident of OB, and I LOVE living here, and participating in the political discourse that takes place here. I do, however, find myself in the minority in said discourse, as I consider meself a conservative/liberatrian. I fit in and get along with all those I meet here.
Like it or not “gwb” was elected according to the rules adopted by our constitution and served as president as allowed by the rule of law, of which I have the utmost respect for. There were no changes to law of the land that put him into office, in contrast to the Fuhrer of Germany, to whom you falsely compare him to (i.e. the people of Germany CHANGED the law of the land to allow him to become “die fuhrer.”)
For the sake of brevity, and as this is my first post on OBRag (though I am happy to respond privately at chrisready@hotmail.com , I will directly raise a factual dispute with you: Hitler’s prime crime against history and humanity, was his attempt at a systemic destruction of a religion/race/ethnicity. It is this crime that history judges him for. So, how is “gwb” guilty of this “greatest evil in recent world history” (your words)? “GWB” could have easily sat by others (such as President Obama, I won’t stoop to call him “BHO”) advocated and watched as Shiites sluaghtered Sunnis, but he put an end to the “systematic destruction of a(n)… ethnicity (my words)” advocated. Instead, he committed to the surge, and the associated loss of innocent, in my opinion, American lives, that accompanied that politically inconvenient stance.
I am not a supporter of former President Bush (nor the EXTREME right-wingers {nor those fringe Americans that bring weapons to town hall meetings, even if it is their “right,” solely, in my lone opinion to intimidate and make an irrelevant point)that seem to dominate my side of today’s political debate), but nor can I tolerate your belittling of the murder of six million Jews by Hitler. (Though I will not lessen the significance of 1,500,000 Iraqi combatants and civilians since my country invaded Iraq.)
This post is long enough, but what saddens me, along with the aforementioned loss of lives, is the state of our country today. It is ALL “my way or the highway… you are with me or your against me, you agree with me or you are wrong.” I, personally, have identified myself as a Liberterian/Conservative. I work for the government and, honestly, I have since I graduated frfom college, so I have EARNED an excellent health care program. I admit I have a hard time understanding the other side if the debate. However, ANYONE I engage in conversation in hopes of educating myself, IMMEDIATELY belittles my questions and my arguments probing the validity of (not necessarily against) a “single-payer system.” They are hostile, and assume I am STUPID becaue I am not on their side. Thus, the conversation/debate ends, I am no less ignorant, and I am NO more inclined to see their point of view.
I see this pattern over and over agian, often from my side.
This saddens me more than I can describe.
Ted Kennedy passed away. Sad day indeed…
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32491712/
Frank, I had a similar experience with the police.
I had about 10 people in my fenced in backyard (also a block from the beach) getting ready to grill some food at around 9pm on a Saturday. Again, not you kids or anything, in the 35 and up range. There was no music playing.
2 officers showed up to investigate a “noise complaint”. They themselves admitted there was no noise, and asked if we’d turned things down before they arrived. I pointed out that the sound system wasn’t hooked up at all, so they could be no music.
Even though they said there was no noise they insisted on writing warnings and threatening us with fines if they were called back. They also said they because there was a keg of beer, they knew they be called again (they weren’t).
They got a little confrontational with my boyfriend who wanted to know what law was being broken, they couldn’t or wouldn’t tell him. I forced him back in the house and tried to get them to tell me what time we had to be quiet by, and if there was an acceptable db level to stay under (we had a meter on hand, we are nerds), again, couldn’t or wouldn’t tell us.
They wouldn’t go away until I accepted the written warning and stopped asking questions.
I thought it was unacceptable that they were unable to tell me what the laws were, and how to avoid breaking them.
Reminds me of my favorite NWA song.
so many good points and responses, yet who has time to reply to them all?
chris ready – appreciate your attempt at rational discourse. acouple of quick points, then i’ll try to make a longer one after bodysurfing:
1) health care is a right – it’s right there in both the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence, and in the California state constitution. everyone, to paraphrase, has a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – agreed? hope so. how can you have “life” without health care? ya can’t is the answer. period. enuff said.
2) comparing gwb to hitler; okay, bush is/ was not as evil as hitler. okay, do you feel better? i don’t because bush and cronies lied to us, the american people in order to invade a country, killed hundreds of thousands, tortured people, broke all kinds of laws in monitoring and spying on citizens, sidelining dissent, and making the presidency almost immune from oversight. that’s just a brief start. just because there is not a one-for-one comparison you can still make the comparison.
check out the compassionate conservatives talking about Teddy Kennedy’s death: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/8/26/757595/-Free-Republic-on-Ted-Kennedy
Chris Ready – With Ted Kennedy’s passing today, we are reminded about the way he made bridges instead of fences during his time in the Senate. Listening to the flood of memorials on the inter-webs this morning, one quotation struck me. For someone who spent nearly 50 years in the senate, he recently said that when he came to the senate nearly 50 years ago nobody could agree whether the glass was half empty or half full, but they could at least agree that the water was at the halfway point. Now nobody can agree that there’s even water in the glass.
That’s why I have been saying lately that we need to cease from sinking to the lows of dressing up the other side in offensive imagery to try and prove a point, and let their words and actions do the talking for us. Nothing gets accomplished that way and both sides are left feeling resentment and anger. It’s time to put away the insults and agree that we’ve got water in that glass.
Now I think the majority of us agree that Bush was an idiot and got us into a war that we didn’t want or need. He wire tapped citizens, attempted to control the DOJ, attempted to suppress free speech at anti-war rallies, etc… But was he Hitler??? I don’t think so. (Cheney, maybe.) I do think he was a terrible president who had poor advisers with alterior motives. I think he was also corrupted by his “faith” and because of his very vocal religious beliefs he divided a country and turned the fight against terrorism into an all-out holy war. And I think we had every right to protest his policies, just as upset citizens have a right to protest Obama *(as much as I may disagree with them, they have that right). But dressing either of them up as Hitler or Bin Laden, or any other, doesn’t do either side any good. In my opinion.
It may be humorous to hear about 60-somethings ordered out of their backyard into their houses, but it’s really not funny when you think about it very long. The 60 year old friend has been living in OB for most of his life, has raised his kid here – who is now in his 30s, has paid his taxes, has had a job most of his adult life, finally bought a home near the beach, built a great deck in his backyard – NOW he’s literally afraid of having a party on that great deck for fear his neighbor will call the cops again.
Perhaps OB needs another Community-Police Relations Committee to deal with these types of problems. Hear that OB Town Council? Interested? Anyone?
Jon – if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it’s Mullah Glenn Beck!
It is sad about Ed Kennedy’s passing. I always felt a little safer knowing that he was in the Senate watching out for our rights. He was certainly a champion of health care reform. Now, let’s do it for Ed!
Doug – I checked out those compassionate conservatives’ comments on Ed Kennedy’s passing …. geez! Why is it that the progressive community is the only one that wants to discuss issues to build consensus. The other side could care less (except Brian or Chris commenters here) about trying to have a rational discourse.
Jon, if the other side is not putting away their guns (metaphorically speaking) why should we?
And I still offer to set up a forum using PHPBB or other software so that a “proper” forum can be realized.
Or better yet:
In doing that, “stories” can remain stories, and forum posts can be in their own area.
I’m not saying put away our “guns.” I’m saying fight smarter. Keep slamming these people for being lying, fear-mongering jerks. But what’s with the silly get-up?? I fail to see what that proves. It appears elementary to me. And only manages to keep both sides divided and angry at each other. Whether it’s funny or not. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I knew I would catch a bunch of crap from everyone here for this point of view, but I don’t care, and I refuse to sink to the level of the right-wing crazies with the use of highly offensive imagery. The same story was posted on mediamatters.com and they used a stock photo of Beck without the silly taliban beard. I thought it was much more professional and would have been much harder for the other side to dismiss as left-wing rhetoric. You cheapen your message when you resort to those tactics. again…in my opinion. ;)
Jon – okay, let’s agree to disagree. I respect your opinion, as at least it was consistent. It’s always good to “fight smarter.” I like your intuition if not how it plays out (opposition to “highly offensive imagery”).
Part of the use of propaganda (used as a neutral term)and imagery is to rally our troops to a perceived serious threat. When we see the other side is not willing to negotiate and/ or compromise, and at the same time, they’re threatening our rights (and even our lives), then there’s genuine value to the use of imagery that gets to the point immediately. Again, in my opinion.
Frank, perhaps your friends could print up a little flyer/invitation that explains their situation and then distribute it to all of their neighbors. Have them put their phone # on it too so a person or persons could contact them instead of calling the SDPD. A little bridge building goes a long way and it just might be the end of having the cops show up unannounced.
Jon, while I doubt you’ll ever sway the Glen Becks of the world you may have a chance at influencing their intended audience. I like what you’re saying!
Well Sen. Kennedy is gone. He was a good man who seemed to have at least some principals. As a member of the ruling class, he did work to make the country better, he was a true liberal.
I wonder how much coverage of his death we will receive compared to Michael Jackson who did nothing to better our society, unless of course you subscribe to media creation that everything he did was to fight racism, not make money. I have a feeling Kennedy won’t get quite the response from the citizens or the media he deserves.
As for criticizing right-wing people and policies on this blog I think we should feel free to stomp on their stupid positions without any feeling of being “fair and balanced”. They have plenty of blogs they go to to post their hatred, lies and bullshit, as well as all the national media. If their poor little feelings get hurt, tough shit. You are not going to change their minds on a blog so why bother to entertain them here.
Watched the coverage all night last night about Sen Kennedy, with misty eyes. I even was writing a list of the legislation in which he was involved in, just astonishing! He just was one that was on the right side, consistantly. Now what?!… Healthcare!!!! And all we get is a stinkin hour with Susan Davis!
As for the coverage, no, he won’t get anything even close to the amount Michael Jackson did. The media is perverse! Afterall, they wallowed in destoying him in his life, Wacko Jacko, pervert etc. And they never published the good work and cherity he did, with Aids, We Are the World, and feeding and health care for children around the world.
R.I.P. Teddy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfI9e4BX0lU
Reminds me of something…what was it again? Oh yeah, our 2-party system ;)
speaking of fighting (the right-wing wackos) smarter, there are a lot of really good editorial cartoons out there right now on the internet that could be blown up & printed that would make for amusing posters at Susan Davis’ town hall on Saturday….
I like that Doug! Editorial cartoons are a perfect example of what I mean. Typically the images used are more well thought out than say, a Hitler moustache scribbled onto a public figure.
Was there any coverage of the OB Town Council candidate forum last night? I’m hoping that SOMEBODY got down there and took some notes….but I don’t even see it listed in the community bulletin above.
All this talk about left wing and right wing….how about some in your backyard “wing” about the candidates for the Town Council or are we out of luck and just guessing on who to pick from their letters of intent in the newsletter.
Oh yeah, great article on the history of the community garden. Again…I ask….humbly…why don’t we just buy it back? At this point…certainly the owner just wants to get out of it what they paid and be done with the liability. They can’t carry a loss like that forever AND they can’t possibly be hoping to make much money on such a small commercial space.
Did anyone ask?
They might even offer us a “payment plan”…. who knows.
Lisa-I got down there last night but didn’t reduce my mental notes to writing. If you’d like to discuss this matter or to head towards an answer to the rest of your post please contact me…Morales.DanR@gmail.com
Hey, I have a question…are there more Americans now that suffer from Allodoxaphobia than ever before?
http://phobialist.com/
The call is out: did anyone go to the OB Town Council meeting besides Dan (who left early)? Dan? Steve Hadley is a member of the council a few of us met last November during the save the OB Library fight.
Jon,
Appreciate the kind and thoughtful comments. I was raised in Massachusetts, and I recognize the accomplisments of Senator Kennedy. I came of age at the same time that he appeared to overcome his demons, and respect his accomplishments as he approached the twilight years. I hope his successor is every bit as succesful.
Bodysurferbob,
I STRONGLY disagree with your assertion that the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independance provide an “unalienable right” to health care. That phrase appears in connection, as you quoted to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” It is quite obvious that if I am taxed to a level high enough to provide health care, but so high that it impacts my “right” to pursue (i.e purchase)a new surfboard (and, thus, my happiness), my constitutional rights are impacted.
Where do you draw this line? Is it the LITERAL pursuit of “happiness,” and thus the LITERAL (and explicit) “right to bear arms” of the 2nd amendment?
I do not know where these constitutional arguments are settled. I am CERTAIN that the framers of the Constitution did not expect my taxes to used for ridiculously expensive blood tests or X-rays (maybe for a few leeches), as I am equally sure that they did not anticipate their words interpreted to justify the carrying of assault rifle in the vicinity ofthe elected president.
In closing, their is NO inherent right to good health, nor a right to government funding to good health (particularly if poor health is a result of decisions). That makes no more sense than using the “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness” argument in the Preamble than it does to passing an amendment to the Constitution that outlaws cancer and stokes.
Give me a way to sustain universal/single-payer health care that doesn’t bankrupt me and this country and I’m all in.
Have a wonder-land weekend my fellow OBceans! ;)
Not sure how long B4 U-Tube pulls this so….
I just HAD to share this. So a few of us went down to the cliff wall this morning to paint out any tags and pick up a little. We also put new stencils that say “taggers will be punished by death.” Ok, that was a joke. They say, “no smoking, no trash, no glass” or something like that. They came from the city. AAANYWAY…..my point is, while cleaning up at Santa Cruz, I found a whole unopened six pack of Tecate. Who says this job doesn’t have it’s benefits. Happy Saturday!!!!
Gee, Jon, a bag of shrooms one day, a six-pack another, what about those condoms?
Friends just bought Chris Bowd an OB Rag T-shirt! Yeah!
Eew. Frank, we’re not gonna talk about those here. I found some other more disturbing stuff. But I’m gonna forget about that and drink my free beer. By the way, the stencils are up along the cliff wall now. I would love to hear everyone’s opinions if you see them on your walk. I’m still on the fence of whether they will do any good, or more harm. I guess we’ll wait and see.
hey jon – ill go take a look tomorrow, but what do the stencils actually say?
Ok…before anyone goes to take a look. Let me just say, I’ve already been down to look at them, and I think it’s a total overkill. I’m going to talk to the folks that put them up and see if we can reduce a little bit. I think the guys that did it were just a little over-excited. The intentions are good, the execution is questionable. There’s a stencil every 10 feet, and I think it’s gonna send mixed messages, like “you can’t spray paint your tags here, but we can spray paint all the stencils we want.” Anyway, it’s a learning curve folks. We’ll find a happy compromise I’m sure.
FYI…Lane- They say No Trash, No Smoking, No Glass. But I don’t think you’ll have a problem spotting them. ;)
Went down to the beach today with a trashbag in tow, to clean as we went. However, there really wasn’t anything to pick up! Great job you guys!
Thanks Billy Ray! We were down there around 7-8:30. Did you notice those stencils? What are your thoughts on them if you did?