Damn Tea Party

There were several excellent letters to the editor in the SF Chronicle this morning. This is my favorite:

"The disconnect between Tea Party slogans and reality is stunning ("Don't believe smears, come see for yourself," Open Forum, April 15).

They speak of cutting "liberty-squelching, job-killing taxes." What does that mean? Tax rates on income, capital gains, estates are at historic lows. What would they cut?

They embrace "conservative" principles and freedom. Yet government can dictate who can marry and what a woman can do with her body?

They rail about "government-run" health care. How is it government-run? Because everyone is required to buy health insurance? We're already required to buy car insurance. How are those mandates different?

They hate the bank bailout. Me too. But imagine how hard it would be to get a mortgage if the government let AIG, Citi and BofA fail.

Don't bail out the auto companies! But didn't that save jobs, not kill jobs? Besides, aren't conservatives the ones who scream "Buy American"?

Government spending is "out of control." I agree. Cut our obscene defense budget. But that's un-American!

Get real, Tea Partiers. You can't have it both ways. And until Sarah Palin stops sticking her gun in my face, you still look like an angry mob."

Voice Mail

It would be great if various businesses would get away from automated phone menus. There are too many times that I go around in circles trying to get to the right person. For example: Today I tried dialing Verizon customer service regarding re-setting my voice mail password. When it didn't work I ended up in an endless loop going no where so at the end of the message I quickly dialed several zeros and actually go connected with a live person who helped me with my problem several times in the earlier process I was continually referred to the previous number that I had dialed. Yesterday I had the same problem with Dell technical support. Each time I had to re-enter my express service code and start all over again. In the end I got disconnected and had to start all over again this morning. Fortunately, in both cases, the problems have been resolved but...
I HATE AUTOMATED VOICE MAIL IN WHICH IT IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH A LIVE PERSON.
That is not good customer service at all. No ifs, ands, or buts.

Dreary Weather

The rainy season here on the West Coast generally winds down and ends in April however today seems more like January. It has been raining all day and the temperature is 48° resulting in a totally boring day. We are supposed to have sunny skies Tuesday through Friday but more rain next weekend. Bummer...

The SF Giants are currently under rain delay for their game against the Atlanta Braves. There was to be a reunion of players from the past including Barry Bonds but I guess they will all now go their separate ways the public won't get to see any of them.

And to make things worse, I am hungry. It is too early to eat dinner so what to do...

And to make things worse (part 2) there aren't any interesting movies in the cinemas and I don't have any DVDs of interest right now and this apartment is getting colder by the minute. Oh well, I least I can turn up the heat. Wish I could turn off the rain.

I am seeing Red

This is getting so tiresome and I worry about my friends there. I would like to return to Chiang Mai in January but I am now wondering what shape the country of Thailand will be in by that time. These stubborn Red Shirts who only want one thing and that is the return of Thaksin Shinawatra as Prime Minister. Well, my friends, that ain't gonna happen, so what would happen if the current P.M. dissolved parliament and actually did call for new elections as the Red Shirts have been demanding? Would they accept the outcome of that election? I doubt it. And then there if the matter of the frail and elderly King. How much longer will he last? I am hoping for the best however it is a very precarious situation to say the least.

By the way, if you want to get some good background on the Royal Family and Royal Succession and the problems involved, check out the articles at The Economist.

Impossible Airline

Airlines continue to make flying more and more difficult but Spirit Airlines has taken things to a new low with their charges and they don't even allow a camera to be carried on board. So, everyone be warned - DON'T FLY SPIRIT AIRLINES.

Caltrain ponders return to commute-only service

That would be sad if it comes to pass. They would lose additional riders and find it even more difficult to recover after the economy recovers. Also, what would Giants fans from the peninsula do on game days? And one other thing. The timing of this announcement is a little strange as only a few weeks ago they announced that they would begin a study to electrify the entire line from San Francisco to Gilroy. No need to that if they are only going to be part-time or non-existent.

See: Caltrain ponders return to commute-only service

Down in Flames

It was once thought that Archbishop Levada (and former Arch-Bishop of San Francisco), now Cardinal Levada and now right hand man to the Pope could be the first American Pope. Well, that whole regime is going down in flames. Not only has Ratzinger's actions, or lack thereof, made it difficult or impossible for another German Pope in the near future but for an American one as well.

The Church needs to turn to the East, the Far East, as there were one or two Asian Cardinals amongst the preferiti during the last election for Pope. The church needs to get away from Europe and I am not sure one of the arch-conservative Cardinals from Africa will fill the bill either.

Bad English

Here is a movie review written by a high school drop out. It says in part: Rocketing from one bobby-trapped and treacherous site to the next... I thought that was always "booby-trapped" unless British "bobby's" have somehow gotten into the war. Also, Spun by operatives with intersection agendas which I believe should read "intersecting agendas". Duh.... No wonder kids have such a problem with the English language these days.

One of the most irritating expressions these days by teens is "such and such is so fun". What ever happened to so much fun. This just grates on my nerves to no end.

Great Sale

Oh, I love this special for a messenger bag posted on ThinkGeek.com today. A messenger bag originally $49.99, now on sale for, gasp...$49.99. Sorry guys but that does not compute. hehehe

Mobile Home?

It gets so disgusting to walk around San Francisco these days when one encounters so many homeless people and their myriad belongings crammed into stolen shopping cards. About the only place they are not seen is on Nob Hill. Guess it is too difficult to push that stuff UP the hill. They do make a mess of flat areas of the city however as exhibited by this "train" of stuff on the otherwise lovely Embarcadero.

Progressive?

I wish some people in San Francisco would stop referring to progressive ideas or politics in this city as there is nothing progressive about any part of this city. It is a failed city which is going down the drain to obscurity. And we are also burdened with Aaron Peskin, a former city supervisor, who seems to be to San Francisco politics what Thaksin Shinawatra (the former PM of Thailand) is to Thai politics. Neither person knows when or how to let go and let the city (and the country) move forward.

Message to Linda

Yes, I can believe you are 70 years old. heh heh heh God how I hate some TV commercials.

"Smart Phones"?

I just need one that can complete calls as dialed and with good voice quality. I DO NOT need to surf the web/download apps and talk at the same time and my Verizon phone has done just that in California, Nevada, New York, Virginia, and D.C.

Buzz? I do not need a social networking app in my g-mail. That is private, or at least as private as things can be on the world wide web I guess. For social networking I will stick with Facebook, or Twitter if I can ever figure out how to use that site.

Windows 8? Those folks up in Redmond still don't get it. They need an OS that works well with few if any bugs before they decide to re-invent the wheel again.

I remember many years ago when the slogan for General Electric was "Quality is our Most Important Product". Well, that apparently does not currently apply to a lot of businesses in the USA. The bottom line seems to be the only important product for a number of companies these days.

Re: Highrises

This city could drive me to drinking and probably already has. The latest move by some members of the Board of Stupidvisors is a good example as reported in this morning's SF Chronicle.

"Again, another short-sighted, reactionary measure from the Board of Supervisors to "fix" a problem that isn't a problem. And due to the lack of voters in June's election, this will probably pass as a result of an ill informed public and left wing progressives. (Who wouldn't vote to save SUNLIGHT?!?) It seems many don't realize that these buildings may only cast small slivers of shadows on certain parks at certain times during the year (like in the winter), and they'd be stopped with this ballot measure. SF should be encouraging smart development like Transbay Terminal and Hunters Point, which would create more jobs and grow our tax base. This is also a power grab by the Board of Supervisors. I'd rather let PLANNING decisions be left to the professionals at the Planning Department and Planning Commission. Don't politicize the development process even further by giving more power over the the Board."

Sometimes I think some residents would return the city to the log cabin days of past centuries. San Francisco Progressives are NOT progressive, they are ill-informed and backwards in a lot of their thinking, if they think at all.

Vacation & Security

Well, my most recent flights to and from Thailand were no different than any other however Homeland Security at SFO has resumed, after a one year layoff, of giving me an extra screening upon return. My friends who travel through LAX say they have never had that experience even when traveling to and from Thailand. The screener at SFO this time implied that it had something to do with a person traveling alone to that country. Not sure what that meant but after a number of trips there they know, or should know that I do not bring back illegal substances, weapons, or contraband of any sort. It gets frustrating and somewhat discouraging. Maybe that is what they are trying to do...discourage me from traveling there. Well, Thailand is officially one of our Allies and since I can be stubborn, I am not going to let someone who thinks they are not a friendly country, stop me from vacationing there.

Sad end to this vacation however. My friend Richard who was very ill with cancer, took a sudden turn for the worse and I had to cut my time short by one week but still did not make it back to the USA in time. I returned to San Francisco the evening of January 19th but he died (in his sleep) that morning.

Now it is time to make some changes in my symphony and opera subscriptions. I need to reduce my expenses so I may terminate one subscription and cut back on the other. I just don't know yet as I need to examine all of my options. Also, I am very tired of the maniacs who populate Van Ness Avenue after dark especially on the weekends which makes travel home after a concert or the opera very unpleasant at times. Even if I manage to catch the #47 or 49 bus, passengers can be unruly. While I am physically able to walk home, that is becoming less and less of an option with all the crazies out there. Even the short walk from California and Van Ness home can be unpleasant. Because of this I am going to have to switch to matinee performances if I continue to attend the symphony or opera.

What I would like to do is live near Columbus Circle or Lincoln Center in New York City and be close to all the concerts and operas without the hassle of SF's temper tantrums. That ain't gonna happen unless I win the lottery as I could never afford NYC rents.

At least they weren't people...

This is an unusual method of venting one's frustrations.

A belated Happy New Year

Question: Do you know any flibbertigibbets?

Well, I am still here but barely. That is, after logging onto this site for the first time in awhile, I am preparing to take off on what has become my annual winter vacation in Thailand. This time it will be only for two weeks and one city (Chiang Mai) instead of three weeks in two or more cities.

In recent months my duties as caregiver for a friend who is seriously ill with cancer has taken up a lot of time and I have not been able to focus on this site. He is slowly getting weaker, or so it seems, and is taking a lot of different medications now in addition to his chemotherapy treatments. I alternate for a week or two with his three siblings.

So now I will get to see some of my friends in Chiang Mai for the first time in several years plus one or more ex-pats from San Francisco who live there now. I am battling my mid-winter cough here however. It took last winter off but when present sounds a lot worse than it is.. The only thing that will knock it out is warmer weather which is what I am sure headed for on Monday. The problem is the 9+ hours of flight time on chilly airplanes. Hope that does not exacerbate the problem.

As I prepare for this trip I wonder how the new security regulations, if any, will impact me. I guess outbound from the U.S. won't be too much different but the return could get interesting. Just hope I will have access to the rest room during that final hour of flight. After all, when you gotta go, you gotta go.

Greasy Burger

Tried the new Best-O-Burger in One Market Plaza today and it really should be called Worst-Of-the Greasiest Burgers on the Planet. And I ordered the 1/3 lb. cheeseburger which got lost in the already small bun which was falling apart due to all the grease from the meat and the sauce. There were not even any fries nor were any suggested or offered. Also, the pickle which was posted on the menu board was not included either. WHAT A RIP OFF JOINT! And I got a stomach ache to boot ten minutes after I left the place. Never will I got there again.

Possible answers...

It is late at night in the Florida home of Tiger Woods and his wife. They have a violent argument. She goes after him with a golf club in hand. He runs out of the house barefoot (The FHP said he was driving in bare feet.), jumps in the car and tries to get away and in his panic crashes into a tree and fire hydrant. His wife catches up with the now stopped car, smashes a window, and gets Tiger onto the pavement and hits him with the club so that when the local police arrive he is drifting in and out of conscientiousness as reported by the authorities. It's possible.

Questions

Where was Tiger Woods going at 2:30 AM? Why was he driving so fast as to cause such significant damage to his car? Why did his wife have to break a window with a golf club to gain access? Didn't she have a spare set of key? And where did she get the golf club? Was she in the habit of walking around the house or vicinity with golf club in hand in the wee hours of the night or was she attacking someone in the car...Tiger or someone else???