Feb
28
2010
These pictures were taken in San Francisco and a few of them are phone pictures taken at the Science museum at Golden Gate park. Weather forecasts were for rain and mostly cloudy weather. It turned out to be mostly dry and great weather for walking. The link below takes you to the set of pictures.
San Francisco Trip and Science Museum at Golden Gate Park
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Feb
21
2010
Suggestion to the Schwarzenegger administration: The budget gap California is facing will not be closed by not replacing worn out furniture and/or foregoing the purchases of fuel efficient cars for the State fleet. If anything it hurts the economy. This is the time to buy! Inflation is low including goods the State purchases. Close the budget deficit in REAL ways.This is not Hollywood and make believe will not close a 20 billion dollar deficit.
The decisions are tough. I suppose that’s why our politicians struggle with choices that could make it very difficult to get reelected. Here is a list of unpopular choices that would reduce the deficit.
- Cut welfare with a precise yet sharp knife. Only spare programs for the disabled, elderly and those that put California citizens into productive jobs. It is a mistake to cut Cal Works programs.
- Reduce business taxes and encourage small business growth in California. Small business growth will increase jobs and revenues to the State.
- Immediately implement a golden handshake to State workers eligible to retire. The Schwarzenegger administration has demoralized employees so badly that morale in most agencies is so poor “boomers” by the thousands will opt out of state employment with a little encouragement. Don’t refill those positions until there is a state surplus.
- And if that is not enough raise taxes. I hope that would not be necessary, but if it is start with a gas tax , sin tax, and maybe, only maybe, a personal income tax increase. Ouch, it hurt to write that, but pain will be required to clear up this mess.
Feb
15
2010
It was not that many years ago when predictions were for a population explosion in the Sacramento area. Forecasts called for huge growth in small businesses to compliment the larger companies and the government sector already established. What a difference a housing bubble and government deficits make. In a February 2010 press release Juju.com, a job search company based in New York, ranked Sacramento #45 out of 50 major cities in difficulty to find a job. If you are unemployed only five other cities rank as more difficult to land a position.Those cities include: Detroit, St. Louis, Miami, Las Vegas, and Riverside.You can view the press release at Juju.com by clicking here. They have other job search rankings on their site. Check out their web site if you want to see how the rankings were calculated.
The governor and legislature of California can take a good measure of credit for jobs and people leaving Sacramento. Thousands of state employees residing in Sacramento are ready to take their frugality to a new level when pay cuts are made permanent in July. Anyone want to start a new business in the Capital city in that climate? The only hot thing going on in Sacramento come July 2010 will be the summer time heat.
Feb
14
2010
Quality: 3 1/2 barks out of 4 barks
Service: 2 paws up
Price 3 bones out of 4 bones
Thai Basil is conveniently located in Mid Town Sacramento. I parked my bike out front and could tell by the wonderful aromas coming from inside that it was going to be a great meal. I was not disappointed. Thai Basil offers both inside and plenty of outside sitting. The staff was friendly and the food delicious!
I arrived in the late afternoon for dinner. By the time I departed the place was packed with customers and they really needed my table.
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- Menu with Locations
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- Menu of Entre’s
Feb
12
2010
It’s a drippy, gray Foolish Friday. Most State workers are at home pretending to save the State money.The Sacramento economy continues to suffer under the current Governors policies. No doubt most of the California economy will mend long before Sacramento.This is especially true if furloughs end up turning into permanent pay cuts for public employees in July.
There is no point in arguing economics 101 and the multiplier effect with the current administration. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has dug in his heals and will not listen to anything that makes sense or is economically responsible. Sacramento should be glad he never actually lived here, because he definitely will not be around town after November. Of course, that maybe one of the reasons he does not care about local small business owners who are suffering and too often going out of business. Visit a restaurant in San Francisco and then come to Sacramento and eat out. In San Francisco you may need a reservation. In Sacramento you feel lonely in most restaurants. That is what happens when money is taken out of the hands of consumers.
Just another Foolish Friday. November 2010 can not get here fast enough.
Feb
6
2010
The Fear Mongers are back. This time they are spouting opinions and misleading the public to believe they are facts about federal budget deficits. Paul Krugman of the New York Times writes on his blog: “The point is that running big deficits in the face of the worst economic slump since the 1930s is actually the right thing to do. If anything, deficits should be bigger than they are because the government should be doing more than it is to create jobs.” (you can access his NY Times Blog by clicking here)
California did not have a rainy day fund when the recession hit. Spending is being cut dramatically including the furloughing of State workers. State law requires a balanced budget and accounting gimmicks provide the illusion of a balanced budget until unrealistic revenue projections do not materialize. With all the spending cuts including salaries of state employees, it is no surprise that only five states have higher unemployment rates than California.
If California does not want to repeat this cycle of huge deficits and high unemployment, the state constitution should be changed so the budget is passed by majority rule and a rainy day fund should be set up and increased as the economy improves. Until these two things happen the state will be cutting spending during recessions instead of shortening recessions by pumping money into the economy. Yes, spending is a great thing to do in a recession, especially if you are improving your infrastructure and putting people back to work.
That is just one blogger opinion and should not be confused with facts or fear mongering.
Feb
5
2010
What a beautiful Foolish (Furlough) Friday! We are between storms in Northern California. Roxy and I were out and about and pretending to save the State $ by not working.
Bone to State Workers (right side of photo)
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Jan
23
2010
This is one of my favorite Cross Country pictures taken in Belmont, California in the Bay Area at the end of October 2009. The San Francisco Dons women won the West Coast Conference league championship.
Jan
23
2010
We like to label political decisions as either leaning to the left or leaning to the right. Most people (not just Americans) reside somewhere in the middle. That is why many of us get so frustrated with the stupid decisions made by Democratic and Republican leaders. Here are two simple suggestions to both parties in regards to this weeks news:
- Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s confirmation should happen immediately! This man prevented the economy from falling into the ocean and there are some Senators questioning his confirmation? Stop running for reelection and do the right thing!!!
- Health Care Reform Bill should be passed in the House immediately! Everyone will pay dearly for inaction. Stop the fear campaign and pass this bill so we can start reducing the costs of health care. Stop running for reelection and do the right thing!!!
Doing the right thing is often doing the most difficult thing. It is past the time for our elected officials to practice this basic principal. This is true for both the Democratic and Republican parties.
Jan
16
2010
Northern California weather is going to be wet for at least a week, according to forecasters. Here are a few pictures from Sacramento before the storm. I will take pictures and report any flooding in the area.
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