Category: Economy

A line wrapped down the block and around another one in Hillcrest Tuesday morning. If you didn’t know, you would think they were handing out free money not free nectarines and bread.

One after another, young and old collected plastic bags filled with fresh produce — bread, cantalope, nectarines, bananas and potatoes — from volunteers.

by George Mitrovich

At the tribute to Senator Ted Kennedy Friday night at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut, Mr. Kennedy’s closest friend in the Senate, told a story of how he recently underwent prostate cancer surgery and when he came out of recovery his first phone call was from Mr. Kennedy, who said, “Given the choice between prostate cancer surgery and going to town hall meetings, you made the right choice.”

It is beastly hot in my tiny house eight miles inland from Ocean Beach and I have just spent a number of hours culling through the news online and I am really really grumpy.

I’ve printed out a copy of Robert Reich’s recent posting The Guns of August: How the Republican Right Fired on Health Care …

OCEAN BEACH, CA. This is the OB Rag’s weekly Community Bulletin and Discussion Board. Discuss anything that is bugging you, or exciting you, or of interest. Do it in the comments section. Not only that, if you or your buds are having a meeting or event you would like to inform the rest of us about, do so here.
Come inside for each of these sizzling stories …

* GO INSIDE FOR OPEN THREAD FOR DISCUSSION

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:

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 …

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, …

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, …

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.

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.

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, …

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.