Month: August 2021

Washington’s War in Afghanistan Is Over. What Happens Now?

President Biden was right to withdraw US troops. But we should have no illusion that this will end the war for Afghans.

By Phyllis Bennis / The Nation / August 16, 2021
We don’t know yet what the consequences

US Retreats as Taliban Take Kabul

By Jon Queally / Common Dreams / August 15, 2021

Nearly two full decades of lies and wishful thinking from U.S. generals,

There ‘Will Never Be’ a US Military Solution in Afghanistan: Rep. Barbara Lee

By Andrea Germanos / Common Dreams / August 16, 2021

Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Lee—who cast the sole vote

By Colleen O’Connor

Part 4 of “What’s Up with the Mayor’s Get It Done?”

Starting with the “Good.” Rain, thunder, and lightning introduced some much-needed good news and good memories.

Nearly a quarter inch of rain at San Diego’s airport. That broke the all- time record for the day. Rolling thunder, missing since childhood accompanied by that wonderful sheet lightening once used to count the miles from light to thunder. Remember one-one thousand, two-one thousand. A once reliable yardstick for the approaching storm.

By Judi Curry

I attended a social gathering of twelve women the other night and more than two came up to me and asked me why I hadn’t written anything lately. Basically I answered that I was so fed up with what is going on around me that I am trying not to let the social fabric of today get in my way.

Of course we all know that is impossible; every time you walk out of your house you can’t help but wonder if you are putting yourself at risk.

There are two things happening – or not happening – that have my dander up this week. The first one has to do with those people that refuse to get a Covid vaccine. People very, very dear to me refuse to get it.

The Navy is proposing a massive development on the NAVWAR site alongside Pacific Highway, just east of Old Town. And today, August 12, is the very last day for public comment. (If today is the deadline, then comments made today should be accepted.)

Go to NAVWAR’s website: www.navwar-revitalization.com to submit a comment before the Aug. 12 deadline.

Coppertone, Banana Boat and Neutrogena brands are among those flagged

By Anna Edney / San Diego Union-Tribune / August 12, 2021

Researchers asked U.S. regulators to pull some sunscreens from the market, including brands such as Coppertone, Banana Boat and Neutrogena, saying they’ve found evidence of a potential carcinogen.

Scientists petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to remove from sale all sunscreens with the active ingredient octocrylene.

Our COVID-19 plans will be under constant review and evaluation before and during the semester.

By Bob Brower /Op-Ed San Diego Union-Tribune / Aug. 11, 2021

Brower is president of Point Loma Nazarene University. He lives in Point Loma.

“What is fall semester going to look like?” has been my most frequently asked question at Point Loma Nazarene University over the past few months. It’s a question I’ve been answering with hope as we anticipate a return to a more traditional educational model.

However, our planned full return still requires a caveat.

by Ernie McCray

I think of
the Black thespians
of old
who,
like minors
shaking ore
in water
panning for gold,
separated
the top grades
from what might be “fool’s gold,”

By Andrew Keatts / Voice of San Diego / August 9, 2021

With two years left in office, former Mayor Kevin Faulconer used his 2019 State of the City speech to dive into the city’s housing debate, referring to himself as a YIMBY and pledging to roll back regulations that inhibit housing production, even if that meant upsetting existing residents. …[COME INSIDE}

Response toVoice of San Diego on ADU’s and “Granny Flats”

By Paul Krueger

1) The term “granny flats” should not be conflated with “accessory dwelling units”. The city regulations don’t focus on “granny flats”, which evoke a false picture of a single, back-yard living unit occupied by a family member or renter.

The OB Rag is in the fifth day of our annual summer fundraising campaign and we need just a little more than $200 to reach our goal of $2,000.

Help us continue our coverage and analysis of local and regional goings-on. Help us continue to be the most grassroots progressive website in all of San Diego County.

By David Helvarg / Los Angeles Times / August 8, 2021

Kelp forests are a crucial California marine ecosystem. From kelp’s floating canopies to its “holdfast” roots, the giant seaweed — algae, actually — supports greater biodiversity and sequesters more carbon than a redwood grove, while also protecting our coastline from the full force of Pacific storms. Kelp forests shelter fin fish, shellfish, whales, seals, octopuses and sharks — more than 1,000 animal and plant species in all.

Unfortunately, since 2013 the state’s kelp beds have been in an unprecedented state of collapse. From San Diego to Monterey the losses are patchy, but north of the Golden Gate

By Thomas Ultican / Tultican

In a court settlement, Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) agreed to implement inappropriate dyslexia remedies. The Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) claimed the district failed to identify students with reading disorders, including dyslexia, and did not provide them adequate services.

To end the litigation begun in 2016, district leaders agreed to implement a universal screening program for reading disorders and adopt new reading intervention programs. BUSD also agreed to hire a nationally recognized outside consultants.