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Articles from
March 2009
AG Jerry Brown?
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 ::
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Who would have ever guessed?
Hi, Matt Rexroad (rexroad).
Jerry Brown (JerryBrown2010) is now following your updates on Twitter.
Check out Jerry Brown's profile here:
http://twitter.com/JerryBrown2010
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Book Review: The Shia Revival
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 ::
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 I finished the book The Shia Revival by Vali Nasr several months ago. It was a big deal when it came out but it just did not float my boat.
There was some good basic information in the book and it is very well-written. For whatever reason though, I just could not really get into it. It was a slog the entire time.
Vali Nasr is a professor at the Naval Postgraduate School and Senior Adjunct Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He has done some wonderful research to present this book.
If you would like a clear understanding of the conflict between Iraq (Sunni) and Iran (Shia) then this book is for you.
I would give it three out of five stars.
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Boy Scout Pancake Breakfast
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 ::
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 Two weekends ago I took Abbie and Adam down to the Boy Scout Cabin for the Pancake Breakfast. It was great.
Adam loves pancakes, bacon, oj, and everything else about the event.
This is the kind of thing that he lives for. Great event for all involved.
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Command and Control Basement Progress
Monday, March 30, 2009 ::
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The basement office is coming along. We now have carpet, drywall, and the start of a desk. The desk top will be done in the next week or so.
The office is certainly going to be an upgrade from my old one but this whole experience with the sewer has not been worth it. What a terrible experience.
Adam is sitting in the main work area where the monitors and flat screen will go.
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Taxes -- the wrong way
Monday, March 30, 2009 ::
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This morning I signed my name dozens of times to corporate tax documents. It was lovely. It was great to have Uncle Sam right there with me working so hard last year.
I am a lucky man. As a result I pay a lot of taxes. I get that.
Here are my three problems with the way we do taxes in this country.
1) It is too hard to figure out. The number for state and federal should be far more easy to determine. We have a whole industry that is built around it being so complicated.
2) I don't like withholdings. I think that if people would actually have to write a large check at the end of every year they would hold government more accountable for how they spend money.
3) Why do we tax productivity? We should tax consumption. It appears that liberals also believe that taxes change behavior - thus the taxes advocated on sins like smoking and drinking. So why don't we tax people when they buy things -- not when they produce things. We should be encouraging productivity and discouraging consumption. I still stand in favor of a national sales tax to replace the national income tax. California should be the same way.
That is my rant for the day.
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Jawbreaker: The Attack on Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda
Saturday, March 28, 2009 ::
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 When former CIA Field Commander Gary Berntsen was on 60 Minutes several months ago I knew I needed to read his book "Jawbreaker". It appears interesting and I thought it might have some good information about the cultural challenges of Afghanistan.
I just finished reading the book. Interesting. In my military and political career I have met some people like Berntsen. They are highly driven but believe they are the only ones that has the solution to a problem. In the end, unless they are in charge they can eat an organization up from the inside.
The good thing for the CIA and for our efforts in late 2001 is that someone like Berntsen was in charge.
One of my personal frustrations in Iraq in 2003 is that my Commanding Officer was at the other end of the spectrum. My commander was unwilling to accept any risk of someone getting hurt and was unwilling to make a decision when lives were on the line. I would rather work for someone like Berntsen any day of the week.
The book tells some tales. No doubt. The best and most controversial part of the book is at the end when he discusses how they likely had Bin Laden cornered but did not deliver the final blow.
Another good part is how effectively the SF guys used Special Operations Laser Acquisition Markers (SOFLAMs). I trained to use them but never got the chance to blow anything up with them. It was also one of the things that we did not have any of when the Commanding Officer mentioned above headed back to San Diego with his troops so they coudl train while we were in the middle of the action.
Berntsen mentions several the following things that contributed to the success of the operation.
1) Intelligence driven warfare -- no doubt.
2) Partnership with the Northern Alliance -- having natives be able to move around in that terrain was key for them.
3) Technolgy -- this is where the US is vastly superior to anyone
4) Ability for team leaders to make quick decisions on the ground -- good leaders let other people make decisions and then back them up.
5) The Muslim Americans on our team -- Berntsen used all the Muslim Americans he could find. It worked out well for him with language, culture, and intelligence
6) Leadrship -- in the end the CIA needed the military to back their plays and vice versa. It made all the difference in the world.
I give the book four out of five stars.
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Tafoya Night at McDonald's
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 ::
1 Comments
McDonald's on East Main had a ton of Tafoya parents tonight. 1/3 of the profits from the night go to the school.
The turnout was exceptional. The picture below is of Sam Foster, Spiderman, and me. Sam is 5. He made that very clear to me. He is also getting his shots for kindergarten soon.
I will bet they are well over $1,000 tonight for Tafoya. They had a ton of teachers there that supported the school and a good group of parents.
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Bats at the County
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 ::
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This morning I was on a call and my phone started to light up with text messages. They were all about a bat flying around in the County Admin Building. Heaven forbid.
I think Chamberlain brought it in as a joke.
They are making sure the bat does not have rabies. Dotty might have bitten it.
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Twitter - the experiment
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 ::
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I just don't get twitter. It is something I have explored but in the end just don't see that much use for.
Today I came across a twitter ranking system for Woodland. You can see it here.
Many of the people in these rankings are folks that I know. Amy and Marilyn are both friends. Some of the others I don't know.
I will screw around with this a little more but unless I see something amazing -- I think I am waving the white flag on twitter.
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Bike Path Survey
Monday, March 23, 2009 ::
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Many of you share my desire for a dedicated bike path between Woodland and Davis. No matter how you feel about the issue please take the survey that has been provided on the issue.
You will see it here.
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This article says it all
Monday, March 23, 2009 ::
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This article says it all about card check....
Since when is it ok to do away with the secret ballot? It is not ok. People need to feel free to cast a ballot in a way that will allow them to be free of intimidation.
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Great event for blackmail pictures
Monday, March 23, 2009 ::
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The International House in Davis is having a Davis All-Star basketball game. It will be held Monday, May 11th at 7 pm in the Davis High School Gym. There will be tailgating prior to the event with the Davis Firefighters cooking up hotdogs for sale, the Davis Police Department will have the K-9 unit there to attack people like Art Pimentel or to play with your kids, and the Cal Aggie band will be there to entertain as well.
It is my understanding that Davis Police Chief Landy Black has challenged Woodland Police Chief Cary Sullivan to a dribbling contest before the game. People in Davis are predicting that Black will win -- outrage.
Here is the roster of players for the game...this should be a fun evening.
1.Don Saylor (Vice-Mayor of that other city)
2.Steve Souza (Councilman in that other city)
3. Tim Malone
4.Jeff Loux
5.James Hammond
6.John Pamperin, coach
7. Kevin Nosek
8.Bob Dunning (since the Ducks season ended two months ago he needed something to do)
9.Father Bong Rojas
10.Rose Conroy (Davis Fire Chief)
11.Ed Prieto (The Sheriff does not seem like a basketball player)
12.Mona Prieto (I think she can take the Sheriff)
13.Police Chief Landy Black (he may not play if still crying after pre-game loss to Sullivan)
14.Aly from Davis Africa Club (Aliou)
15.Mary Lynn Tobin
16.Jason Fisk (famous for being related to Woodland Mayor)
17.Joe Teramoto
18.Jen Gross
19.Masud Monfared
20.Ted Puntillo (he is some state big wig now)
21.Sherry Puntillo
22.Carey Sullivan (will be on pre-game victory high at tip-off)
23.Dan Gonzalez
24.Adrian Blanco
25.Debbie Davis (editor of Enterprise)
26.Freddie Oakley (will not be able to control herself...will pass out marriage certificates)
27.Koen Van Rompay
28.Cate Klepacki
29.Carey Johnson
30. David Greenwald (I think he does a blog)
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Backpacks for Kids 2009 -- here it comes
Sunday, March 22, 2009 ::
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The webmaster has updated the website for Backpacks for Kids. We are all set for 2009.
The big day at the Gibson Mansion is July 11th. Please mark your calendar.
The committee is out raising money and getting things in place for start of the school year.
If you are interested in getting involved then please use the website. Last year we were close to 1,000 fully stocked backpacks for the kids of Yolo County. Things are tight for everyone this year but this means our efforts are that much more important.
Even though my office got this thing started I do very little of the work. If you see any members of the committee around town -- thank them for their hard work for Yolo County kids.
Dotty Huber
Dave Flory
De Bathe
Bill Bathe
Mimi Rose
Kathy Redmond
Bob Huber
Krista Piazza
Sandra Rodriquez
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Board Meeting on Tuesday 3/24
Saturday, March 21, 2009 ::
1 Comments
Jenn is at a church retreat this weekend so I have both kids. My goal is to have the house cleaner, the kids healthier and happier, for me to get rid of this sickness, and to get some work done before she gets back. The house is spotless right now. The kids were great all day except when they did not eat the wonderful dinner I made. The last two are up in the air.
So I took a couple hours to look over the board packet for Tuesday. The highlights --
I am presenting a resolution for World Tuberculosis Day. Not sure how they selected me but I will be ready to go.
We are going to consider a resolution on the Employee Free Choice Act. In all the information we were given in the packet it is interesting to me that the fact that this eliminates the secret ballot for union elections is left out. This is a bad idea.
A public hearing will be held on the Esparto mixed use zoning district ordinance. This is always interesting.
We will talk about Inclusionary housing in-lieu fees in the afternoon too.
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Adam in a fire truck
Friday, March 20, 2009 ::
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Jenn sent me this picture today of Adam in a firetruck. I think they did this in Davis.
Jenn says this was the highlight of his month.
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Look at that beautiful agenda
Friday, March 20, 2009 ::
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I just got my agenda for the Woodland City Council meeting on Tuesday. It is beautiful. Beautiful.
Agenda.pdf
In more than six years of public office I have never seen anything like it.
Even Pimentel should be able to pay attention for the entire meeting on Tuesday.
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Where do they get these people? San Bernardino County
Friday, March 20, 2009 ::
1 Comments
I just can't believe this story. I heard about it last night in Modesto and thought someone was pulling my leg.
Sure enough it is worse. What is in the water in San Bernardino County?
Link here.
I am betting the FPPC does not have a place on their website to advise public officials on the proper way to report a gift of prostitution services. Shame.
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Death Penalty in New Mexico
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 ::
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For some reason I always thought New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson was a straight shooter. He had a great resume and I really thought he might be an ok President.
Today he signed a bill in New Mexico to do away with the death penalty. As I have told many of you before I am ok with the death penalty and would be fine if it was expanded to include certain sex crimes and a few other things.
The problem is the administration of the penalty. It is often more expensive than just keeping someone locked up. Until that is corrected I am not sure why it is pursued. I agree they are dirt bags. I agree that death is justified. I just don;t want to pay more taxes for it than the less expensive alternative.
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I am sick
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 ::
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I hate being sick. Today I clearly am. I should be at the Farm Bureau breakfast this morning but that is not going to happen.
I will try to go to work later.
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Jenn cancelled the phone
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 ::
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I actually thought I was the only one in our house that was going to be ok with canceling the phone line. Well, Jenn went and did it. As of Monday the Rexroads will not have a home phone.
This will have no impact on me since no one calls me there anyway.
Who would have thunk it?
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Military Freefall
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 ::
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The first part of my Military Freefall Video is now on YouTube. They disabled the sound so the rocking music is not in there due to licensing issues.
The first part of the video is from the wind tunnel in North Carolina. The second part is from Yuma, Arizona where we did all the jumping. This part of the video ends with a jump that was pretty memorable.....you will see the helmet cam going back and forth because the jumpmaster sent everyone out of the plane about 3 minutes (and several miles) early.
Ok -- so now we have the second the part of this video. Four to five minutes into it is when I do my pivot poise exit with a rear mounted ruck sack. It is cool for military people. The other thing I like about it is that my goggles start to come off and I save them. This jump locked me in with this course. Right after the 5 minute mark is what we call a meat vomit when everyone goes out in a big mass --- it is one of the coolest things I have ever done.
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Phone Service
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 ::
1 Comments
Jenn and I have a home phone number at 662-5232. Nobody ever calls us there. I will bet no more than 3 people have called me there this year.
We both have cell phones and I have a home office number in the basement. We are actually considering not having a home phone number. Many of our friends are taking this option.
Who would have guessed that in 2009 people would not have home phone numbers?
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You can't make this stuff up....
Monday, March 16, 2009 ::
2 Comments
Davis. What a place eh?
When I heard about this from a very reliable source I actually did not believe them. So I came home to look at the City Council agenda for tomorrow night myself...and there it is at Item #7.
Discussion of Possible Ordinance Regarding Additional Review of Businesses Engaged
in the Sale of Tobacco-Related Paraphernalia (City Manager Bill Emlen)
As I understand it the Council is going to consider a Conditional Use Permit requirement for stores selling bongs and sex toys. All good right?
Nope. Clearly scheduling this on St. Patrick's Day is an attempt to deny the people most likely to be out using these things the right to participate in democracy. Shame. Shame. Shame.
The Davis City Council is actually going to debate bongs and sex toys on St. Patrick's Day. I might actually have to watch this meeting.
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Secret Ballot
Sunday, March 15, 2009 ::
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Congress will be spending a fair amount of time this year on legislation to implement the card check program for unionization.
This legislation is going to be wrong because the whole concept is just wrong. I find it interesting that unions that argue (rightfully so) that employees should not be intimidated by employers in casting their votes on union issues are the ones demanding these policies be put in place.
I believe in the secret ballot for people voting for elected officials and people voting on unionization issues.
If this card check program is such a good idea then why not let me go around and gather signed letters from people before the next election? If I can get half the voters in my area to sign onto a card -- then why bother to have an election?
I really think this card check thing is wrong. The more that I learn about it the more I am opposed.
Here is a website put out by those that support the secret ballot.
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Jon Stewart v. Jim Cramer
Saturday, March 14, 2009 ::
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Over the past year I have watched almost every episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. The only ones I have really missed have been over the past two weeks due to just being busy.
So today I sat down to watch this latest episode with Jim Cramer. Good golly Miss Molly....Cramer got his head handed to him. Why in the world did he go on that show.
I don't watch MSNBC much anymore and I certainly have no plans to do that when this Cramer guy is on there.
Jon Stewart had some great points in this interview about the responsibility of the media.
You can watch the interview here.
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Disaster Report: Katrina at 711 College
Saturday, March 14, 2009 ::
1 Comments
 Many of you have asked about the progress of repairing the back half of our house after the plumbing disaster of last November. It has been quite stressful for everyone involved but we are making it.
As long as we tore everything out of the basement I might as well put it back in just the way I want it. So that is what is happening in mission control. I am getting a wall mounted television, side by side computer monitors, shelves for my books, good lighting for reading, and ton of counter space to work. I will also have about 12 plugs in an area of about 250 square feet.
You can see a picture of what is the current status of mission control below. It is going to be nice. In the upper right hand corner you can see the connection for the cable box for the tv. You can also see the outlet boxes for all my plugs.
The bathroom and laundry room and far less important to me in terms of functionality but we are doing it right. Jenn is really thinking this process through. The tar just got poured for the shower bottom yesterday. The electrician is getting things in order today for the inspection -- then we are rolling toward being able to use this area.
The picture is from my sink and into the shower/bathroom area.
It will all be very nice when it is done but this is not something anyone want to go through.
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Household Hazardous Waste Day
Saturday, March 14, 2009 ::
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I just had a great experience at the Yolo County Landfill. We had some old pool chemicals that were under a covered bench in the backyard that had been left there since the previous owners left them there.
I also had an old PC that needed to go.
Throw in an old sink from our house remodel and I had a load.
So I drove out to the dump in Jenn's car. It was so easy even McGowan could do it. I rolled up and was greeted warmly by the newest member of  Juhler gang. I did not even have to get out of the car. They opened up the back of the car and unloaded all the pool chemicals. Then I drove around to drop off the PC before I headed to the garbage area to toss the nasty sink cabinet.
I have always like the dump -- but I really do think it is a really cool thing. They do good work.
I took the picture at the left when I was rolling by the scales to drop off the sink. They had a nice organized assembly line going. Very impressive.
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Chamber Connections
Friday, March 13, 2009 ::
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I just read my Chamber of Commerce newsletter -- and it is FANCY. I got a personal message to "Matt of Meridian Pacific" from Janet Carrere on the front. "Matt" was even stuck in to the add from f&f multiprint. Very impressive.
Fancy. Fancy.
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Tanya McKay is a hero
Thursday, March 12, 2009 ::
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I am not really going to comment much on Dr. Anderson. I will let other people do that.
What I will comment on very clearly is Tanya McKay. I really likes Tanya before. She was a huge asset to our community in many ways as a parent and being active on the Parks Commission. She was one of my favorite Woodlanders.
Right now -- after reading this article in the Daily Democrat - I think she might be right behind my wife in terms of my favorite Woodlander. (note to readrs: Art Pimentel is almost always last on that list.) This is the way I want my daughter to behave. I want her to stand up for what it right and be willing to speak out about it.
Tanya McKay is a hero.
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President Obama
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 ::
3 Comments
Ok. So I have been mildly interested in what President Obama has been doing in Washington DC. I listen to the news. I read the news. I watch the news.
As a social conservative I am pro-life. Where I part with many in the pro-life crowd is on the death penalty and stem cell research. I am actually ok with both of those things. For me, I disagree with President Bush on the stem cell research decisions he made. I am not medical ethics specialist but it seems pretty clear to me that stem cell research is a good thing. As for the death penalty -- I am willing to let them die in a cost efficient way for the commission of certain crimes. So for me - President Obama gets a thumbs up on the stem cell thing.
Then I read this editorial in the Daily Democrat on the goal of the President to have more college graduates. Red flags started going up as soon as I read the title of the editorial. See, I actually think we have too many people going to college that don't need to. We have a bunch of people clogging up the UC and CSU system that don't need to be there. We don't have too few college graduates -- we have too many people in college for reasons that are not properly allocating resources.
What we need is a huge expansion in technical education so that the base workforce is more productive. We need college graduates but we need them in more practical areas of study. Math, science, accounting, computer science, nursing, engineering is where we need to focus our attention for the next 100 years. That is what will move the economy.
For me -- when I read this editorial I take from it that President Obama is going to try and make sure the truck driver gets a college degree. That might be nice -- but it is not necessary for our economy. More vocational education is what we need. Some of the dumbest people I have ever met were in law school.
Thumbs down for the President on this one.
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Wild Wings Measure O
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 ::
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Measure O passed out in Wild Wings on a vote of 318-101. Far more than the 66.7% of the vote needed.
I have to tell you I would have been way off on predicting the outcome on this.
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What? Putin, Arnold, and now this....
Monday, March 09, 2009 ::
1 Comments
Hi, Matt Rexroad (rexroad).
John Garamendi (JohnGaramendi) is now following your updates on Twitter.
Check out John Garamendi's profile here:
http://twitter.com/JohnGaramendi
You may follow John Garamendi as well by clicking on the "follow" button.
Best,
Twitter
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Externalities of Driving
Monday, March 09, 2009 ::
1 Comments
Much of public policy these days is attempting to calculate and capture the economic externality of human behavior. There is no other area where this has been under greater scrutiny than driving automobiles.
Check out this site that was sent to me by Dave Flory.
I guess it was somewhere in the Sacramento Bee this weekend.
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Road Closure
Monday, March 09, 2009 ::
2 Comments
 So yesterday I drove out to parts of the Capay Valley that I have not been in for quite a while. One area I had never been to.
We have an item on the agenda about ending road maintenance on some county roads. It is an important issue. If a road is being maintained for the benefit of one or two landowners then why should the public subsidize access to the property.
Here is a road that leads from just west of the community of Rumsey that heads over to Colusa County. This is the closed gate leading up to it. It is closed during the winter.
This is beautiful country during this time of year. It was wonderful out here yesterday.
However, if no one lives out beyond this gate and it is not a well traveled road, then why would Woodland residents need to pay taxes to maintain a road with such low traffic counts?
Under the proposal on Tuesday the gate would be removed, signs would be posted, and travelers would assume the risk for their travel past a certain point. We will see how Tuesday goes.
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Schoon - Paddle
Sunday, March 08, 2009 ::
0 Comments
I realize few of you will get this or understand but it is one of the funniest things I have seen.
Gunny Schoon is the man in this picture. He just retired after 20. He was my platoon Sgt. and Commander at various times. He is really an amazing guy. He was once Marine of the Year for the 4th Marine Division.
Anyway -- today he got his paddle. It is below.
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The long way
Sunday, March 08, 2009 ::
0 Comments
I am headed out to drive Yolo County. We have a couple items on the Board of Supervisors agenda coming up that are in the far reaches of the county.
Watch out 5th District -- here I come.
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Palms Playhouse - The Bottom Dwellers
Saturday, March 07, 2009 ::
2 Comments
So last night Jenn and I headed over to the Palms Playhouse to watch the Bottom Dwellers. We both like them but for different reasons.
The Palms is cool and we saw Foam, Linda Henigan, and friend Daven there.
I actually thought the Bottom Dwellers were opening for some other band called Rowdy Kate. So when they had some other group up there to open up and Adam Hancock was hanging out in the back I knew something was up.
So Rowdy Kate has the band up there and out walks this woman as the lead signer of Rowdy Kate that did not quite look the part -- and I have to tell you I thought "Oh no. This is not going to go well. What do I have to endure until Bottom Dwellers come out?" Well the singer was Keri Carr. She is beautiful and she can really sing. The lead guitarist Geoff Miller was darn good too. Jenn and I both thought Rowdy Kate was excellent.
So when the Bottom Dwellers came out they did many of the songs I like. Jenn likes to listen to Adam Hancock sing. I do too but I have this strange attraction to watching Mark Eagleton play the bass. Last night I figured out what it was. Musical instruments are supposed to be small to me. That big old bass is huge yet Mark just looks so cool when he plays it. He just dominates it something that would probably get someone like me all wrapped up in the strings.
The Bottom Dwellers are just a great time for Jenn and me. We had a nice drive out to Winters and back, good tapas at a place we never know existed (we are already working on a group event there), and good music by the Bottom Dwellers. Great evening -- although we are both old/tired and needed to hit the road before the final songs and whatever the super extra secret guest was.
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Tip of the Week: Ficelle in Winters
Saturday, March 07, 2009 ::
0 Comments
I posted on Facebook that Jenn and I were headed to the Palms Playhouse in Winters last night to watch the Bottom Dwellers -- more on that later.
So my friend Kate sends me a Winters Tip via Facebook to try this place behind a coffee house that had tapas and Sangria. I could not give a rip about Sangria but Jenn is all about Tapas and Sangria so we headed over there prior to the show.
Ficelle in Winters is awesome. Awesome. We loved it.
They had great food. Great atmosphere. The place was packed. The people were nice. It is an absolute home run and I did not know anything about it until 4pm yesterday.
Here is the website for the place.
This is how good the place is -- we ordered our food and sat down. While we were happily eating our food we kept looking at the next table over to see what the other tapas looked like. Then we would kind of wish we would have ordered what they had until the table on the other side of us got something then we wanted that.
Downtown Winters was rocking last night. They have far more of a nightlife than Woodland does from what I could tell.
You can't go wrong at this place.
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Water Ordinance
Thursday, March 05, 2009 ::
1 Comments
Tonight I arrived late and left early from a meeting regarding the proposed Yolo County water ordinance.
I was opposed before and I am probably more opposed now.
Tonight the group heard from Supervisors McGowan and Thomson on their views for why they were motivated to create the ordinance. Supervisor Chamberlain and I sat in the back of the room but were prohibited from commenting or demonstrating in any way. I just sat there and watched.
Many of the reasons stated by McGowan and Thomson I agree with. I just have a completely different path to accomplish the same thing.
In the end I don't believe that Yolo County government is the end all solution to every problem. In fact, many times I think elected officials actually get in the way of progress. This is not exactly one of those times but I feel that we need water professionals involved in this on a day to day basis.
Lewis Bair from RD 108 probably made the most clear statement of my concern. He wanted to know how the Board of Supervisors with all the other stuff that was so important to them would really focus on water. That is my concern too. Health care, mental health, jails, re-entry facilitiies, parks. water, criminal justice, and all those things stand in the way.
I actually think that a Board of experts combined with the support of the BOS might work best for a structure of an agency.
The water agency probably could have passed alone. However, locking it in with the water ordinance doomed it to rejction by the public. Now I still think this thing is not going anywhere.
So far I have three no votes that are just really solid --
1) Coffee Cart
2) Needle exchange
3) Water ordinance
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These are important meetings
Wednesday, March 04, 2009 ::
3 Comments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Beth Gabor, Public Information Officer
March 4, 2009
(530) 666-8042 [w] ▪ (530) 219-8464 [c]
Community Workshops re: FEMA Flood Map Changes
(Woodland, CA) – On December 19, 2008, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued new preliminary flood zone maps. The revised maps, which are expected to take effect in early 2010, have significantly expanded the area of high-risk flood zones within Yolo County. Homeowners who have an existing mortgage are required to carry flood insurance if their home is located within a high-risk flood zone. Community meetings have been scheduled to provide information and answer questions concerning the proposed flood map changes and what it means to homeowners and business owners.
The new maps are part of FEMA’s Flood Map Modernization Program, which includes revised nationwide standards for determining the level of flood protection provided by levees. These changes have led to major revisions in FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Map for Yolo County. As a result, some areas once designated as low-risk are now identified as high-risk flood zones.
“Property owners are not required to carry flood coverage until FEMA’s new maps take effect,” said Yolo County Planning & Public Works Director John Bencomo. “Once the maps are adopted, however, the cost of obtaining a new flood insurance policy may substantially increase. Homeowners who purchase flood insurance prior to the map changes will be entitled to a grandfathering moderate rate.”
A number of community workshops with Yolo County and FEMA staff have been scheduled to provide information and answer questions concerning the proposed flood map changes. At these public meetings residents can view the new maps, understand how the new designations may affect future construction plans and learn about the new flood insurance requirements.
“I encourage all Yolo County residents residing in flood zones to attend one of these community workshops to become familiar with the proposed FEMA flood zone map changes and how they might be affected,” said Yolo County Board of Supervisors Chair Mike McGowan.
For more information regarding the preliminary FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map for Yolo County, visit www.yolocounty.org <http://www.yolocounty.org/> (go to: Government > Planning & Public Works > News & Events).
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Attachment: Community Workshops re: Proposed Flood Map Changes
Community Workshops re: Proposed Flood Map Changes
Mar. 11, 7:30 a.m.
Elkhorn Fire Protection District
Elkhorn Fire Station
19759 Old River Road, West Sacramento
Mar. 11, 7:00 p.m.
Knights Landing Citizens Advisory Committee
Knights Landing Community Center
42114 7th Street, Knights Landing
Mar. 12, 7:00 p.m.
Clarksburg Citizens Advisory Committee
Clarksburg Library Activity Room
52915 Netherlands Road, Clarksburg
Mar. 23, 7:00 p.m.
Yolo-Zamora Citizens Advisory Committee
Zamora Town Hall
38870 County Road 13, Zamora
Apr. 1, 7:00 p.m. – El Macero County Service Area Advisory Committee
Fire Station #33
425 Mace Boulevard, Davis
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Reading while you drive
Tuesday, March 03, 2009 ::
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This lady is driving her Prius in the rain while reading the newspaper. Nice. What a great way to start the day.
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FEMA -- these people seem to have it in for me
Monday, March 02, 2009 ::
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When I was on the Woodland City Council I would sometimes wonder what in the world was going on with FEMA. They just seemed to make life so much more difficult.
Now more than 1,700 parcels in the unincorporated parts of Yolo County have the potential to be considered in the 100 year flood plain.
See brochure
(PDF 4.35 MB -- this is a large file and will take time to load)
This is going to be a great deal of fun. Joy.
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Good !#$%ing luck LA
Monday, March 02, 2009 ::
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Thanks to the folks at Capital Roundup for pointing out this article from the Associated Press regarding the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passing a resolution proclaiming "no cussing week".
Article is here.
This will be something I am going to bring up with McGowan right after he issues his next pox.
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Have some blogs ..need more
Sunday, March 01, 2009 ::
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I am very disappointed that we have so few blogs in Yolo County covering news in the community.
Those that are active include --
Woodland Journal (Dino and Jeff)
Hello Happy Pittbulls (Marilyn)
Surf Putah (Wu Ming)
Davis Vanguard (David Greenwald)
Floating Foam (Krause)
Roughstock Journal (Walt)
So yesterday I was with the family at the Davis Farmer's Market when I run into David Greenwald (the blogger formerly known as Doug Paul Davis). He is launching a new design of his blog tomorrow. Good for him. He is working hard on that and looking to constantly improve.
The following are pretty much dead.
That blog by the Pope guy from Davis. I stopped looking at that months ago.
Yolo Sun -- Bobby Harris last made a post before Thanksgiving.
Historic Nelson Ranch Scandal -- two posts this year
The By Hell Chronicles -- one post this year announcing the passing of Dudley Holman. This is written by Siefrman's old Treasurer.
Politiclast is threatening to come back but I doubt it will last long.
It does take some effort to blog but I think our community would be better if we saw more rather than less blogging. It can be by anyone. The burden is so small yet the number of people willing to provide information in this way seems to be even smaller.
More. More. More.
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Yolo County in Via Magazine
Sunday, March 01, 2009 ::
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My friend Amy just sent me a heads up on the mention of the Capay Valley in Via Magazine (AAA's publication.
You can check it out here....they even mention Tazzina Bistro in Woodland.
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