firstmate's Blog

Specifically, LACounty Budget 2008 report is posted on the web for review. 
http://lacounty.info/budget.htm

Kind of long, but very informative.

I think we all should be looking at where our tax dollars go, and are being planned to go at the fiscal year 2008-2009 which starts in July

There need to be some drastic changes made to our spending policies.

Jillian,
You have lost a lot of weight since your baby was born.  I really think you looked better with more meat on your bones.  You have been an advocate for women in the past, always saying that size doesnt matter, and now look at you.  You are sending the same wrong message to our young girls that you talk against.  Why?  I get being in shape, there is a difference between super skinny and healthy.  Come on, what are you trying to prove here? 

This was on the news last night.....City asked a few homeowners in Glendale to Trim back some of their trees on their property for fire control back in May.  Then the city steps in after the trees are cut and tells the homeowners that the Oak trees (and another species) are not allowed to be cut, according to city ordinance passed recently, so they will be receiving a fine.  These family's were fined $100K for every Oak tree cut.  One family got a fine of $350K!!!

Sounds to me, like the old "Bait and Switch".  City tells them to do something, they do it, then get fined for it.  That is just ridiculous.  Is Glendale going bankrupt?  Do they truly need to use these under minded  tactics to get themselves out of debt?  What is the real reason for this?
Here is a great example of our fine politicians hard at work for US.

Ok, I only feel sorry for Brit a little, she is human and a mom, not a good one, but whatever.  I am human and a mom, so I can relate to those aspects.

 I have to say tho, that the papps are out of control where she is concerned.  You HAVE to know that guy PUT his foot under her tire, hoping she would pull out and roll over it.  Look at the publicity it is getting.  And I BET he is getting paid big time for photos and anything else he can think of.  THey keep setting her up so they can make more money.

 there needs to be some laws keeping them so many feet away, to include a vehicle or any vehicle a celebrity is in.  I would hate to have people surround my car like that.  It would totally panic me, and I would have pulled out too.  Hell, I would have taken a few out on the way, not just a foot.

There should be stronger punishments in place.  If they violate the law (that isnt in place yet) then the punishment should be they loose their right to be a photographer and to be ANYWHERE near a celebrity.  Like in Vegas, if you get caught on the strip hooking, you can NOT EVER be on the strip again.  Period.   So if they are too close to a celebrity, they should loose their camera and never ever be allowed to be near any celebrities ever again.  And if they violate that, JAIL time WITH a HUGE FINE.  Take the fine $$ and put it to our schools.  EVERY single time.   Also, sell the camera  on ebay and give that money to the schools too.

 

I am not sure if the FDA plans to pull ALL child and infant medication or just the cold remedies.  But this sucks.  I have to think a few things might have happened here:

1.  some Pharmaceutical company really pissed someone off at the FDA or

2.  Some Doctors HMOs want to make more money off of us by forcing us to see a doctor every time our kids get sick.

 I have parented for over 20 years, I have dealt with sick babies and children and I never ONCE gave them too much medication.  I also saw first hand that the medication helped get the cold out of their system.  Fever reducers work (tylenol and mortrin) and are extremely important to have on hand.  When my daughter was 1 year she developed a fever of 105.7f.  Her brain would have fried without motrin for infants.  and yes I did take her to the ER for a temp that high.

last January, my son (6mos at that time) had a cold while I was out of town and he was with "grammy".  She did not give him the cold meds as I intructed, his cold got worse and by the time I got home, Just 3 days later, he had fluid in his lungs and needed a breathing treatment several times daily  for a week to help him breath.

 

This all comes from lazy inpatient parents who will give their kid just a little more med to help them sleep so they wont have to deal with the crying and coughing.  It only takes a few incidents where a child is injured or killed before the feds step in and take away something that the rest of us need and use responsibly.  READ the labels, Always right down what the DR says the child gets for his weight (NOT AGE).  NEVER EVER give more than that dose.  How simple is that>???? 

 

They really should be looking into the parents of any kids injured or dead from OD, not taking away a product that works and keeps us out of ERs and DRs offices.  I have never taken my child in for a "cold".  Now I may have to just to get a prescription for something I should be able to buy over the counter. A $6 product is now a $20 copay w/ a $9 prescription copay.  gee thanks.

 

I have this in the entertainment because it is for your entertainment.  I hope you enjoy.

 

1.  I am a mom, and my job is to raise my kids.  I gave up partying and hanging out and have fun in many different ways.  I do not regret this at all, because it is more than my responsibility, it is my life.  Brittney needs to shape up or ship out!  She wanted children, but doesnt do what they need.  I get that she has a job, other than parenting.  Her job is to perform on stage and record in studios.  And I get needing to blow off steam and unwind.  But partying and staying out all night, especially while in the eyes of many with camera's is just asking for trouble.  Get it right for your kids Brittney.  it isnt about you anymore.  And anyone the courts are told about doing drugs are given drug testing, this in not unusual or special tx, this is common and in the best interest of the kids.  I hope KFed has to test too.

 2.  I feel (JMO) that OJ is getting punished in this round with court, not merely for the current allegations, but because he was found not guilty before for the murders of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson.  My question:  What are the other men being charged with, they were the ones with the guns?  and What charges are being brought against the men that were in possession of his stolen property?  That is a crime as well.  Yes, he should have notified police instead of handling this so stupidly.  I also think this Roccio guy is somehow guilty of something, as he knew he would get publicity for setting this situation into motion. If he knew the men in possession of stolen property did in fact have stolen property and he did not notify police, he is guilty too, of accessory or conspiracy or something like that.
 And again JMO I really feel In my gut that Kato had alot more to do with the murders than discovered.  I think he was in love with Nicole and that he was jealous of Ron and that he did it.  But we will never know.  Again, just a theory, but my gut feels it.  And seriously nobody did this all by themselves, this required a team effort to take down two people with just a knife.

 3.  The parents of Ron Goldman are ridiculously petty and sick.  All they care about is $$.  Money is not going to bring back Ron, it is not going to serve any kind of justice or make them feel any better about loosing him.  They saw this as a lottery tix and have been focused on collecting their winnings for over ten years.  That is sick.  They need to get over it, get passed it and move on.  Forgive, not for anyone else but themselves, they need to forgive and go back to living their lives without hate and anger.  What a waste of time, precious time that we cant get back, what a waste of life, focusing on stupid stuff that wont do anybody any good, wont bring happiness to your life.  I do know grief, I lost two daughters, but I choose to live my life for them and cherish all the things I do have.

4.  Immigration Reform.  We do not need it right now, eventually, but not now.  We need to enforce the current laws, and secure our boarders.  This is not an attack on people from Mexico, but the fact is, it is not only Mexicans who cross that boarder.  Terrorists also use it to sneak into our country to cause us harm.  Drug smugglers us it to bring in drugs that hurt our people, our children our future.  Secure it, now.  Also, we are all immigrants or descendants of immigrants.  I Have said that b4. But respect for the process and laws of the land are a necessity for anyone who lives here, born or not.  I lived in Germany  for 3 years, while I was there, I had to respect and obey their laws and ours.  If I had not, I would have been arrested.  Period.  We are not trying to keep Mexicans out, only make everyone have a fair chance at entering legally and eventually becoming US Citizens.  My ancestors had to.  They came legally and signed the book at Ellis Island in 1836. I dont like long lines at the grocery store, do I just take my groceries and leave because the process is too long or an inconvenience? NO.  I dont like traffic.  Do I drive in the emergency lane to get me there faster?  NO.  In fact, I do not like or agree with alot of things, but I obey the law, I have respect, for this country and for myself. 

Well, that is it for today.  I hope you enjoyed the show.  Thanks for reading.  Feel free to direct any comments or complaints to the brick wall on your left.  Just kidding.  You know, opinions are like a-holes, we all have them and they all stink.

I would like to have my coffee with the news, local news, recent events and issues that are important to our society.  I watch Fox11 in the morning because you offer me the news with a more relaxed expression, not all stuffed shirts sitting behind the desk.

 It is very sad to see you give Paris so much publicity.  How much is she paying fox for all this?  It isnt news, it never was.  I do not believe our community is interested in anything she does, what she wears or eats or where she sleeps.  These "Celebutants" are disgraceful, skanky and should not be given the time of day by the media.  Let the Tabloids cover them. 
That is what the tabloids are for. 

Enough said, move on, with real issues, please.  I do know how to work my remote and I do change the channel often, or put you on mute when you get stupid like this.  Her life really is sad, not interesting.  And it certainly isnt worthy of my time or yours.
 

I thought this would be a good place to get the word out to the public how some of their tax dollars are being spent unnecessarily.

If you own a car, you are responsible for your own gas, insurance, and if need be, towing and maintenance.  But if you own a boat, you do not have to:

1. take any lessons, classes or get a license of any kind

2. you do not have to have insurance unless you are financing or have a slip in the marina (even then you can cancel without having to notify your marina.)

3. if you run out of gas or cant start your engine on the water, you can call Baywatch or your Harbor Patrol and they will come get you, bring you in to your slip or launch, at tax payers expense.

As I totally agree that in "Life Threatening" scenarios  a call to USCG, Baywatch or Harbor Patrol is indeed justified.  That is a MayDay.  But if you are not in any danger (taking on water, being thrown onto rocks, jettys or the beach) than you should be responsible for paying a private company or keeping a membership active for these non-emergency services.

Many of the Boaters out of Long beach or Marina del rey, dont even live in our county.  Therefore they do not contribute to the tax income that pays for these Non Emergency services.

Now, There are several towing service companies for on the water assistance.  You can pay for a membership to save you money or take your chances and pay an hourly rate.  But it should be the Boat Owners Responsibility, not MINE, to cover these situations.

 

If you are like me, you dont even have a boat, cant afford one.  so why should I or you pay for some idiot who can afford a boat but not the maintenance or gas or is too cheap to make sure he has a towing membership while he is out enjoying a day on the water?  If I break down in my car on the 405, does the Police, Sheriff or CHP unit come tie a rope to my car and get me home safe?  NO. 

 

I really want a policy/law created for this area.  I am not sure how to do it, so maybe you can help.  Thanks for reading.

It never surprises me (but does sadden me) to hear about how much something is costing tax payers.  Today the news commented on the price so far for helping the whales find their way back to the ocean up north.  

Well, I think (and this is JMO) that if some "good Samaritan" job is going to be done, let it be done for FREE!  And if you dont want to do it for free, then dont do it.  Or let the tax payers have a say so in which pro bono things are done and which will have a bill attached to it. 

 OUR $$$ is needed in many many other areas.  Waste, waste, and more waste. 

 

I am totally with Rick Dickert on this one and have been for years.  I remember when the bicyclist fought for the right to be in the street and won.  I do not have a problem with that.  But if you are going to ride in the street, obey the laws, obey the signs.  Make sure you are seen, do not just assume it.  My sister actually got a ticket (at age 13) for running a stop sign on her bike going to school one morning.  If you are going to be in the street, you are considered a vehicle and must obey all traffic rules.  you are taking your own life in your hands when you don't and you are breaking the law.