Thank God no celebrities’ homes burned in Montecito
The Tribune brings us some welcome news as we worry about the families of the one hundred homes that have been destroyed by the Tea Fire, raging in the community of Montecito, our neighbor just south of Santa Barbara. You’ll be able to sleep well tonight knowing that, hooray, it sounds like no homes of celebrities were burned down. That’s a relief isn’t it? Oprah and Rob Lowe are safe. The Tribune made sure that we were told this on the second paragraph of the article.
Here are the first two paragraphs of their November 14 article Evacuations in Montecito:
A brush fire destroyed dozens of homes Thursday in Montecito, forcing evacuations in the community that has long been a hideaway for celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Rob Lowe.
Flames had engulfed several multimillion-dollar homes. It was not clear whether any celebrities’ homes had burned.
Nice way to show sympathy for the victims, Trib.
A Useful Reminder
Yes, I know the Obama phenomenon was launched by his 2004 Democratic Convention keynote declaration that there are neither Red States nor Blue States, just the United States. And, yes, I’m well aware that our president-elect’s central appeal has been his repeated promises that he will end rancorous partisanship, bring the country back together and launch a new Era of Good Feeling when finally elected. But that doesn’t mean we should entirely forget how the nation’s Neo-Conservative Republican Party actually behaved these last eight years. So, this morning, McClatchy Washington Bureau’s Joe Galloway offers a useful reminder. Anyone care to venture whether our local McClatchy fish wrap has the courage to print Joe’s commentary in this very Republican county?
Are you one of the 45.8% SLO idiots for Prop 1A?
45.8% of San Luis Obispo voters are complete idiots. At least. This is the number of voters that voted Yes to Prop 1A, the “Safe Reliable High Speed Passenger Train Bond Act.”
First of all, do you even know what a bond is? And do you know what financial shape California is in, much of which is due to the propensity of California voters to pass bond propositions time and time again? Here’s a little lesson: when the state sells bonds, it is not free money. The state sells the bonds and then over time, decades, the state has to pay interest on those bonds, and then finally the principal. It’s a tax, pure and simple, because when I say the state pays the interest, that means you and I, California taxpayers, pay the interest. Actually, it’s mostly your kids that will pay it down the line. And just how much does this particular one (and, yes, we passed other bond props!) cost? Here’s the analysis from SmartVoter.org: …continue reading the article
Videos beg question: Should anyone be allowed to speak at City Council?
This article is a bit unusual, as we have to break our own rules. While browsing the Video section of our sister site SLOnews.com we ran across a couple bizarre Youtube videos of recent San Luis Obispo City Council meetings that we wanted to share with you, where a SLO local named Sifu Kelvin Harrison is allowed, in the name of free speech and public access, to speak his mind (I guess that’s what you’d call it). Both are a tirade of charges of discrimination in our city. They are so crazy we don’t even know what to say. And he has spoken many more times than just in these two videos we’ve included here. So, forgive us for breaking our own rules and publishing a non-opinion piece in SLOpinion, but we are after your opinions on this one. Should someone like this be allowed to speak whenever he wishes at our council meetings or not, and why? …continue reading the article
An American Carol: Not playing in San Luis Obispo
Shame on San Luis Obispo theaters, shame on the theater chains and shame on the entire Hollywood machine. The movie, “An American Carol,” opened on October 3rd, but the powers that be decided that San Luis Obispo shouldn’t see it. Why is that? Because the movie makes of fun of liberals like Michael Moore, who by the way have no problem making fun of conservatives. …continue reading the article
County wants to spend millions to rid Pirates Cove of nudists
Whether you have been there or not, you’ve likely heard of Pirates Cove, the beautiful beach in Shell Beach situated below The Bluffs neighborhood. Most have never been there since it’s not convenient to access, having to park in a dusty dirt lot, and hike down a trail to get there. But it is popular with those who like to sunbathe in the nude.
I’ve been there once, but although the beach is absolutely beautiful, the naked bodies, mostly men, were not. In the least. It was a bit uncomfortable, and I’d rather see younger female bodies in bikinis, given a choice. But still, given its seclusion, I think it’s a great place for those who wish to spend time there in the buff. No children are going to inadvertently stumble onto the beach.
Enter the government. …continue reading the article
Preservation is a Green Strategy
Many here in San Luis Obispo may not realize that a number of historic structures in our Downtown may soon have a date with the wrecking ball. Larry Hoyt, the owner of the Mancillas Frietas Adobe at 868 Chorro Street plans to surround his structure with 3 floors of housing. In order to make this happen, the wooden addition to the adobe, constructed around 1877, is slated for demolition. The better-known Chinatown mixed-use project comprised of 312,000 square feet of 4-6 story retail, office and residential uses would involve the demolition of …continue reading the article
Friends don’t let friends bash Starbucks
If you’ve been in any of the non-chain coffee shops in San Luis Obispo county, you’ve no doubt seen the stickers on some of the walls that read, “Friends don’t let friends go to Starbucks.” And you’ve no doubt heard locals make derogatory comments about Starbucks, the evil “corporate” chain. Just what is it that they don’t like about Starbucks, and I assume the other chains like Peet’s Coffee and Tea? Well, it’s nothing logical, that’s for sure. …continue reading the article
Forrest’s Wealthwise offered 42% a year gains?
I see in the Tribune this morning that disgraced investment advisor Jeff Forrest has been charged with fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Locals here know the story, some too intimately, but there is something that really stood out in the article I had not seen before. It’s this:
Forrest told WealthWise clients that APEX would protect their principal while at the same time generate for them monthly interest of 3 percent — a total of 36 percent in annual interest — through a purportedly innovative options-trading method.
Main Street greed, right here in San Luis Obispo
There is a lot of blame to go around in the credit crisis we are now having. But regardless of the inexcusable practices of financial institutions these last few years, it all started in the last decade when Bill Clinton rewrote Jimmy Carter’s 1977 Community Reinvestment Act in order to increase home ownership in minority communities, pushing banks to loan to otherwise unqualified buyers or face a lowering of their CRA rating. Now that the housing boom has bust and created the credit crisis, politicians are backing Main Street to blame Wall Street for all their ills. But this pandering for votes denies who the real culprits are. And that’s you Mr. and Mrs. Average Citizen of San Luis Obispo, and every other town across America. …continue reading the article
Comment Wall
Latest on Mon, 19:49: So I was in line in the market and there was Obama the Savior on the cover of Men's Health magazine. Uh, a health magazine? A decades-long smoker? One who won't release his medical records (McCain released 1200 pages)? One could could die of lung cancer? Hmmm, could there be a little bias? Naw, not in this election! LOL!
: Warning! Be careful going to Santa Maria. If you must, don't go at night! Have you read about all the murders and robberies? It's getting bad.
: Goodbye Insomniac Video, sorry to see you go. Thanks to Bob Whiteford for his 12 years of serving our community.
: I'm happy airlines are leaving our airport! It will help reduce growth since many people will not move here unless they can easily fly in and out. Businesses will think twice too. We can have SLO to ourselves! And those of us staying in town more will spend our money locally, not on vacations. Staycation here! We'll still get tourists driving in from the north, south and east. Our tourism economy will survive.
: "They" say that all politics are local. The same greed and mismanagement that has led us to national failure will soon visit us in SLO if developers and "consultants" [read lobbyists] get their way and turn the small-town ambience of SLO into just another shopping stop between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Vote out incumbents and elect Terry MOHAN, Dan CARPENTER and John ASHBAUGH, who will represent the wishes of the majority and the general plan. They won't run SLO for the convenience of just a few but will "run" this town for the residents.
: Another beautiful day in paradise
: Isn't it nice that the tourists have gone home now! I love September and October.
: Comment wall, huh? That's sounds fun. Wish I had something interesting to say right now.
: Interesting site. I'll think about writing an article. Good idea.
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