Giants VS Rockies! What a series for the Giants so far. Giants lead series 2-0 and it is tied 1 to 1 in the fifth. Who would have thought the Giants would be in this position last year at this time. Todd Helton just belted a solo homer. Rockies lead 2-1. Regardless of the outcome of this game, whoops another solo home run. Very long ball to straight away center to the concession stand. Rockies have power and now lead 3-1. Make that 4-1 with Giants threatening in the sixth. Make that 4-2 with none out for Giants. Plenty of time for a come back as the Rockies make a pitching change. Terrible strike call on 3-2 pitch and Sandoval called out. Umpires can not get them all right and this call was incorrect. End of inning and end of blog entry.
UPDATE: GIANTS SWEEP! Brian Wilson closes down Rockies with drama of course!
UPDATE: Giants take 9-5 lead in 8th!
UPDATE: Giants take 6-5 lead in the 7th! Not over in San Francisco!!!
Let’s keep this season going!!! Make a trip to San Francisco and get Giants fever!!!
GO GIANTS!!!
The State of Utah completed the first year where State employees work four-10 hour days. Except for emergency services all State offices are closed on Fridays.
In the first year most employees are happy with the new schedule. According to reports in the major press, savings on energy weighed in at 13%. Buildings unoccupied three days a week saved a lot of money. (Read about it at Time Magazine by clicking HERE.)
The environment benefited by having fewer cars on the road. There were challenges with the program which can be expected with major changes. Family schedules are being tested and a ten hour work day is tiring. The total results seem to be quite promising not only for government, but also private industry looking to cut costs while still providing services.
When California puts politics aside and starts looking for solutions to economic problems this could be part of the solution.
Standing room audiences are showing up for health care reform meetings. Don’t let the minority opposing any reform scare you with false accusations. This minority opinion is the loudest, but also the least accurate with information. Fight back against their lies.
Watch a You Tube Video Titled: Fight Back Against Health Care Lies.
Demand the Truth!
It should come as no surprise the California economy lags the Nation in economic recovery. The Governor and the Legislature have decided cutting salaries for State employees is good for the State General fund. Politically it gives the appearance they are doing something.
Economically it is a different story. State workers are getting slammed in California newspapers. These workers spend all of their pay checks in the local economy. Reduce their salaries and you reduce spending by the same amount. No rocket science here.
If the courts overturn the State Furloughs the recovery could begin sooner. Workers will spend again instead of practicing their new hobby of staying home and seeing how little they can spend on Fridays. Some will go out and buy homes or new cars. This is what the economy is begging for. If the current economic policy stays in place look for California to be the last State in the Nation to recover and for unemployment rates in places like Sacramento to go higher.
A Late Night Observation About the California State Furloughs:
The current Economic Policy at the Capitol is killing the Economy. Cutting government spending during a recession is insane. During full employment and high inflation cutting government spending is reasonable. You don’t cut salaries of employees in either circumstance! Cuts in spending on new infrastructure during full employment and high inflation, yes. Salaries for employees, NO! How are you going to retain them? The current starve the economy to save the State general fund will not work. The Governors policies are killing the economy. Don’t be surprised if California is the last State to pull out of the recession. As long as Furloughs are in place the downtown area will continue to be a ghost town on these Fridays and employers will continue cutting employees from their payrolls.
And the State of California soap opera continues. Employees are stuck right in the middle of it while no one is doing anything to stop the political madness of it all. If action took place yesterday it would not be soon enough.
My brother, Diamond Dave passed away from a massive heart attack on July 26, 2009. To honor my brother a Heart Health page is being developed. Go to the !Dime Says! button on the bottom of the page.
Don’t be a Putz. Take care of your heart and stick around awhile.
You can also access the Diamond Dave main page by clicking HERE.
My condolences go out to the Kennedy, Shriver, and Schwarzenegger families on the loss of Eunice Kennedy-Shriver. I understand the Governor was close to his mother-in-law and my heart goes out to him and especially to his wife Maria.
I am a former Peace Corps volunteer. R. Sargent Shriver Jr., was the founding director of the Peace Corps. Being a Peace Corps volunteer changed my life for the better. Thousands of volunteers are forever grateful for the life changing experiences the Peace Corps provided. The Kennedy-Shriver family made this program happen. Visit the Peace Corps Web Site by clicking HERE. The Peace Corps mourns the loss of Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Visit the Peace Corps page remembering Mrs. Shriver by clicking HERE.
May all the families close to Eunice find peace during your difficult time. From a returned volunteers perspective, Eunice lived a life worthy of great celebration. Godspeed to you all.
I’m home for another furlough day. Shortly after this post, I will head to the gym and get some exercise. After my workout there should be no problem finding a table at any restaurant. As the furlough days continue so do empty sidewalks at noon in front of the new restaurants opened in better times. The governor has made it very easy to get a table everywhere downtown.
If you happen to own or work at one of these small businesses the less than brilliant starve the economy save the general budget policy of the Schwarzenegger administration has forced you to lower prices and cut staffing.
Most of us hope the courts will end these furloughs. People like myself who like to work will get back to serving those we were hired to serve. We will also be in town at lunch times on Fridays to enjoy a good meal and support our local restaurants.
Quality: 4 barks out of 4 barks
Service: 2 paws up
Price 3 bones out of 4 bones
Bangkok Thai Cuisine has fresh and tasty entrees. If you like spicy food you will love this restaurant. I suggest the peanut sauce. Goes well with everything. You can also read reviews at Urban Spoon by clicking HERE.
Bangkok Thai Cuisine
8038 B Greenback Lane
Citrus Heights, Ca 95621
(916) 712-3392
Californians who reside outside Sacramento must think everyone in the Capitol are nuts. The Governor cuts state salaries of employees who do not get paid from the general fund he is trying to balance. State employees spend the days miserable posting to the Sacramento Bee on how wrong it is and how it does not help reduce the deficit.
Around and around and around we go. This blogger believes the following:
- The deficit is not helped by the cuts and employee morale is so poor the work does not get done efficiently.
- The governor has people who like to work sitting at home not getting paid while work does not get completed.
- The Sacramento unemployment rate goes up as spending is reduced because of furloughs.
- The Sacramento unemployment rate is already above the California average. Less spending in the Sacramento region area is only going to make the rate go higher.
- City and Counties take a big hit from lower sales tax revenues. Less spending=Less tax revenue.
- The governor may get people to retire early. He will also push IT-Computer specialists out and will spend more on highly paid consultants.
- The Department of Personnel and the Unions are unable to accomplish anything, except pointing fingers blaming each other.
- State employees suffer emotionally and take on additional debt. Selling second cars and pulling children out of day care because both are now unaffordable does not increase productivity in the workplace. Mild understatement?
- Baby Boomers will retire and the State will create another emergency in the form of staff shortages. This will be the next emergency the State does not see coming around the corner.
It is time for real solutions to State problems. Finger pointing and political staging is not getting the job done.
Opinion-"I'm Just Saying" | blog4boomers August 30, 2009 | 
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