BART will eventually make Alum Rock Road into a lucrative transportation corridor. This will help out the Mexican Cultural Center.
Of course, this means that the small businesses on Alum Rock Rd will be able to sell their land for BIG BUCKS. Because these owners are Black & Brown, you can expect real estate agents to try to con them out of their land.
Not content with small scams, our local incompetent transportation agency may have devised a grand plan.
First the agency piously said that the area needed a new, modern bus system. Everyone enthusiastically agreed. Then the agency let the contract to a company that shockingly UNDERBID.
After there were torn up streets everywhere, the construction company found a unmapped gas pipeline. For safely sake, all work stopped and will probably not start until after rainy season is over.
I can probably even tell you where the evil planners want a shopping center. METRO magazine says there is a pocket of businesses that is surrounded by construction barriers.
There is no way to get the streets fixed before rainy season. It would be nice if emergency tarmac was put down. At least, signs should be provided by the city, advertising the small businesses and stating they are still open for business.
These kinds of scams are really difficult to prove. But if you have some proof in writing, consider being a whistle blower under the federal False Claim Act. You can get a percentage of the amount the government collects.
DO NOT become a whistle blower without an attorney's help. I would choose an attorney who is new in the area. I would NOT choose an attorney who attended a male supremacist high school. It seems to be easy to convince a male supremacist to become a racist.
If you are one of the small businesses being hurt, I would call my US Senator, my US representative and the California governor.
SOMEONE HAS TO STOP THIS SCAM!
Monday, August 24, 2015
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
VINDICTIVE INVESTIGATIONS
Republicans are TERRIBLY upset about Hillary's emails, which were NOT spread all over Wikileaks, like the emails held by the State Department.
The Inspector General of the security services is UPSET over people sending satellite images (always classified) to Hillary without marking them as secret.
However, the Inspector General of the security services was so STUPID that he allowed spys' personal information to be held by the Office of Personnel Management.
Now the Office of Personnel Management has been hacked, by a fairly simple method of stealing a badge belonging to an employee. We still do not know who did the hacking and where the data on every governmental employee went.
Now SOMEONE has the information on friends of our spies, the better to blackmail them with.
Now SOMEONE has the fingerprints of our spies, the better to positively identify them.
SECURITY COSTS MONEY! Someone has to make the data secure, and then train the employees to keep the data secure. There has to be enough extra money spent so that employees can spend time on thinking about security, rather than just desperately trying to keep the spies paid.
Are we spending lots of money trying to fix the problems with the Office of Personnel Management?
No, but we are spending LOTS of money trying to find ANYTHING that will embarrass the Clintons.
The Republicans seem to be much more interested in holding on to power than keeping their country safe.
The Inspector General of the security services is UPSET over people sending satellite images (always classified) to Hillary without marking them as secret.
However, the Inspector General of the security services was so STUPID that he allowed spys' personal information to be held by the Office of Personnel Management.
Now the Office of Personnel Management has been hacked, by a fairly simple method of stealing a badge belonging to an employee. We still do not know who did the hacking and where the data on every governmental employee went.
Now SOMEONE has the information on friends of our spies, the better to blackmail them with.
Now SOMEONE has the fingerprints of our spies, the better to positively identify them.
SECURITY COSTS MONEY! Someone has to make the data secure, and then train the employees to keep the data secure. There has to be enough extra money spent so that employees can spend time on thinking about security, rather than just desperately trying to keep the spies paid.
Are we spending lots of money trying to fix the problems with the Office of Personnel Management?
No, but we are spending LOTS of money trying to find ANYTHING that will embarrass the Clintons.
The Republicans seem to be much more interested in holding on to power than keeping their country safe.
Thursday, August 13, 2015
CHINA CURRENCY WINS
By devaluing its currency, China makes its exports less expensive.
By devaluing its currency, China triggers Republican fears about currency manipulation. This impacts the possible Asian free trade agreement. China does not want the US to have a free trade agreement that includes the rest of Asia, but not China.
By devaluing its currency, China brings its currency closer to its actual value. China would like to have its currency be respected and used like other countries use the dollar. NO ONE will use China's currency instead of the dollar unless China's currency is stable and is freely traded on the currency market.
China sets the value of its currency by edict, which means no wise investor can trust that the Chinese government will not unilaterally change the value of its currency to benefit China.
So China takes a risk devaluing its currency. But clearly the benefits outweigh the risk, especially if China's devaluation can derail the Asian free trade agreement.
During the Greek crises, pundits discussed how Greece might have been better off with its own currency. This is because the market would have devalued Greece's currency, making Greek exports cheaper in the global market.
Eventually, China will have to allow its currency to be traded like other currencies. Until that day comes, it is unwise to rely on Chinese currency in the same way people rely on the dollar.
By devaluing its currency, China triggers Republican fears about currency manipulation. This impacts the possible Asian free trade agreement. China does not want the US to have a free trade agreement that includes the rest of Asia, but not China.
By devaluing its currency, China brings its currency closer to its actual value. China would like to have its currency be respected and used like other countries use the dollar. NO ONE will use China's currency instead of the dollar unless China's currency is stable and is freely traded on the currency market.
China sets the value of its currency by edict, which means no wise investor can trust that the Chinese government will not unilaterally change the value of its currency to benefit China.
So China takes a risk devaluing its currency. But clearly the benefits outweigh the risk, especially if China's devaluation can derail the Asian free trade agreement.
During the Greek crises, pundits discussed how Greece might have been better off with its own currency. This is because the market would have devalued Greece's currency, making Greek exports cheaper in the global market.
Eventually, China will have to allow its currency to be traded like other currencies. Until that day comes, it is unwise to rely on Chinese currency in the same way people rely on the dollar.
Monday, August 10, 2015
AIR CONDITIONING MATH*
Women are cold in summer offices because women wear summer clothes in the summer. MEN are REQUIRED to wear a suit, tie, and heavy shoes. Since men do not want people to see them sweat, the office air conditioning is turned up to the comfort of men.
Women actually need to reflect on whether wearing summer clothes detracts from their ability to project power.
A really good way to help slow the warming up of the globe is to have offices be less cool. (In order to get an office cool, the air conditioner puts out hot air onto the street.)
But socially, if the only way men can get respect is to dress in a suit and tie, then they will dress in a suit and tie.
We need to rethink how we treat men who wear comfortable clothing. We should respect the men who dress correctly for the weather.
THE FATE OF THE WORLD MAY REST ON MEN GIVING UP THE SUIT AND TIE.
*Several news agencies have stated that the math regarding air conditioning is set to a man's standard and that it why women are cold in summer offices.
Women actually need to reflect on whether wearing summer clothes detracts from their ability to project power.
A really good way to help slow the warming up of the globe is to have offices be less cool. (In order to get an office cool, the air conditioner puts out hot air onto the street.)
But socially, if the only way men can get respect is to dress in a suit and tie, then they will dress in a suit and tie.
We need to rethink how we treat men who wear comfortable clothing. We should respect the men who dress correctly for the weather.
THE FATE OF THE WORLD MAY REST ON MEN GIVING UP THE SUIT AND TIE.
*Several news agencies have stated that the math regarding air conditioning is set to a man's standard and that it why women are cold in summer offices.
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
RADIATION AND WATER
Both water and radiation are everywhere on Earth. Water and radiation are both lethal in large quantities.
Death by radiation is a relatively new phenomena. Death by water is older than the story of Noah.
Just because we have a new fear does not mean that we have to overreact to radiation. It is actually easier to measure radiation in the air, than it is to measure water vapor in the air.
Radiation leaves a long term trail. When a man in London was murdered by radiation, it was easy to confirm the hotel room used by the murderer.
The biggest fear everyone had regarding Iran, was that they would make, buy or somehow acquire a thermonuclear device (atom bomb).
In the new treaty, Iran has agreed to NEVER make, buy or somehow acquire an atom bomb. They have agreed to permanent inspections so we can all be reassured. They have done this because their religion says that atom bombs are immoral.
Our news should be saying, "Wow! I think atom bombs are immoral also. Good show, guys!" Instead our news is SAYING NOTHING. Most of you do not even know that Iran has agreed to NOT HAVE AN ATOM BOMB.
I was frightened over the possibility of Iran having an atom bomb.
I am even more frightened about the possibility that OUR PRESS IS NO LONGER FREE!
Death by radiation is a relatively new phenomena. Death by water is older than the story of Noah.
Just because we have a new fear does not mean that we have to overreact to radiation. It is actually easier to measure radiation in the air, than it is to measure water vapor in the air.
Radiation leaves a long term trail. When a man in London was murdered by radiation, it was easy to confirm the hotel room used by the murderer.
The biggest fear everyone had regarding Iran, was that they would make, buy or somehow acquire a thermonuclear device (atom bomb).
In the new treaty, Iran has agreed to NEVER make, buy or somehow acquire an atom bomb. They have agreed to permanent inspections so we can all be reassured. They have done this because their religion says that atom bombs are immoral.
Our news should be saying, "Wow! I think atom bombs are immoral also. Good show, guys!" Instead our news is SAYING NOTHING. Most of you do not even know that Iran has agreed to NOT HAVE AN ATOM BOMB.
I was frightened over the possibility of Iran having an atom bomb.
I am even more frightened about the possibility that OUR PRESS IS NO LONGER FREE!
Monday, July 27, 2015
IT WILL NEVER BE SAFE
It will never be safe for a woman to go into a hotel room with a strange man.* It is even more unsafe to take a drink or a pill from a stranger. Just because you know a person's TV character, does not mean you know the actor.
If Bill Cosby had been a rock star, we would all be yawning over the stories of drugs and hotel rooms. For me Bill will always be a cool spy, as I do not watch sitcoms.
If you are so stupid as to go into a stranger's hotel room and take a strange drug, then you need to report the result RIGHT AWAY. Modern drugs leave the system really quickly.
I understand how upset people get when their heroes are not perfect. My hero is Thomas Jefferson, who wrote those famous words about all men being created equal. Did you know that he had an affair with a female slave? The affair started when the slave was 16, and continued though 6 kids. For me, the worst of it was that he did not even free his children when he died.
What kind of man believes in freedom, but allows his own children to live in slavery?
Jefferson is still my hero, because of the words that he wrote. But I never forget that, for Jefferson, the words that he wrote did not include me.
I do NOT like trial by internet. It is clear that Bill Cosby, along with thousands of other actors, athletes and rock stars, took advantage of his popularity to have sex with young women. I find that reprehensible.
Too many men think that women are put on this earth to provide pleasure and babies to men. But the subtext of all of the complaining about Bill Cosby is that women should be safe when they go into hotel rooms with strange men.
The law has a rule of implied consent. If a woman goes into a man's hotel room, she should still be able to say NO to sex. But the law may be unable to punish the man unless there is clear evidence of lack of consent.
LISTEN TO COSBY'S WOMEN. The momentary pleasure of intimacy with a famous person may not last when you discover that the famous person does not see YOU as a person.
* Hotel employees must also be careful. They should let people know when they intend to go to a room with a person inside the room.
If Bill Cosby had been a rock star, we would all be yawning over the stories of drugs and hotel rooms. For me Bill will always be a cool spy, as I do not watch sitcoms.
If you are so stupid as to go into a stranger's hotel room and take a strange drug, then you need to report the result RIGHT AWAY. Modern drugs leave the system really quickly.
I understand how upset people get when their heroes are not perfect. My hero is Thomas Jefferson, who wrote those famous words about all men being created equal. Did you know that he had an affair with a female slave? The affair started when the slave was 16, and continued though 6 kids. For me, the worst of it was that he did not even free his children when he died.
What kind of man believes in freedom, but allows his own children to live in slavery?
Jefferson is still my hero, because of the words that he wrote. But I never forget that, for Jefferson, the words that he wrote did not include me.
I do NOT like trial by internet. It is clear that Bill Cosby, along with thousands of other actors, athletes and rock stars, took advantage of his popularity to have sex with young women. I find that reprehensible.
Too many men think that women are put on this earth to provide pleasure and babies to men. But the subtext of all of the complaining about Bill Cosby is that women should be safe when they go into hotel rooms with strange men.
The law has a rule of implied consent. If a woman goes into a man's hotel room, she should still be able to say NO to sex. But the law may be unable to punish the man unless there is clear evidence of lack of consent.
LISTEN TO COSBY'S WOMEN. The momentary pleasure of intimacy with a famous person may not last when you discover that the famous person does not see YOU as a person.
* Hotel employees must also be careful. They should let people know when they intend to go to a room with a person inside the room.
Friday, July 24, 2015
RUINING A LEGACY
One of the most important things that President Eisenhower did was our wonderful interstate highway system. Tea Party Republicans have been allowing this legacy to slowly deteriorate.
No long term planing can be done, because the funding is only for six months at a time.
Now the idiots are planning on funding the highway system for the next three years, BY SELLING OUR OIL RESERVE. They could not have chosen a worse time to sell oil.
In any event, three years is not really enough lead time to make major highway improvements.
One of the first highways to be built, Interstate Highway 10, has a bridge out, causing day long delays, which will get better but will last for months. About 40% of all shipping from Asia goes down this highway.
Quick movement of goods is one of the ways that the US is different from Africa. It allows us all to enjoy the world wide bounty of food, electronics, shoes, clothes, at the lowest possible prices.
As the country grows, so the highway and railroad systems have to grow. This has ALWAYS been one of the responsibilities of the federal government.
Worse, these selfish, short sighted Simpletons are allowing the railroad and highways to fall apart. We have had train derailments blamed on anyone but the true fact that the railroads have NOT been brought up to 21st century standards.
Roads wash out because no one has the money to pay for a soil engineer. Bridges fall down, and everyone just shrugs.
THIS IS OUR COUNTRY. It deserves the best transportation systems that money can buy.
No long term planing can be done, because the funding is only for six months at a time.
Now the idiots are planning on funding the highway system for the next three years, BY SELLING OUR OIL RESERVE. They could not have chosen a worse time to sell oil.
In any event, three years is not really enough lead time to make major highway improvements.
One of the first highways to be built, Interstate Highway 10, has a bridge out, causing day long delays, which will get better but will last for months. About 40% of all shipping from Asia goes down this highway.
Quick movement of goods is one of the ways that the US is different from Africa. It allows us all to enjoy the world wide bounty of food, electronics, shoes, clothes, at the lowest possible prices.
As the country grows, so the highway and railroad systems have to grow. This has ALWAYS been one of the responsibilities of the federal government.
Worse, these selfish, short sighted Simpletons are allowing the railroad and highways to fall apart. We have had train derailments blamed on anyone but the true fact that the railroads have NOT been brought up to 21st century standards.
Roads wash out because no one has the money to pay for a soil engineer. Bridges fall down, and everyone just shrugs.
THIS IS OUR COUNTRY. It deserves the best transportation systems that money can buy.
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