Fred's Humboldt Blog

Eureka WiFi Expanding Without Government

2008-05-20T12:13:00.002-07:00

Yet another example of things happening somewhere without government intervention, although I guess they're kind of related to government. The Redwood Acres Fairgrounds, just outside Eureka, has installed a wifi network. I'd be interested in seeing how far outside the fairgrounds their network extends. Will it overlap the already existing Myrtletown.net network? From the looks of this map, I wouldn't be surprised.

Just drove out there a little while ago and noticed yet another business in Myrtletown advertising free WiFi that I hadn't noticed before: That Tea Garden place on the south side of Myrtle Avenue between McFarland and West(?) Avenue. That's a ways out from Myrtletown.net's coverage but I wonder if there's any other places in between that would complete the link with Myrtletown.net

This is kind of neat. Now I just wish I could get a couple places on Lucas Street, between Myrtle and Harrison, to tie in with Myrtletown.net. Then, maybe I could hook up to their WiFi next time I go to North Coast Family Practice which is on the corner of Harrison and Lucas.

Seems like a petty concern but it's not unusual to spend up to three hours at N.C. Family Practice waiting to see someone. If I could take my laptop in to the waiting room and play around with it, it might make the time go faster.

I think I'll take my laptop next time. Maybe there's some open networks there I don't know about yet. If I can't find one, maybe I can suggest N.C. Family Practice get one going and see if they can hook up to Myrtletown.net.

The way things are going, pretty soon everyone will be doing this and we'll have WiFi all over Eureka. Except for my house. I prefer good old secure hard line DSL, if I have the choice.

The Latest Rage?

2008-05-20T08:14:00.004-07:00

Am I the only one that's noticed more and more Toyota Priuses driving around town. I keep seeing new ones every day, or so it seems. I can understand their popularity but I would think that, because of their popularity, the prices would go up and make them less affordable to people.

I have no idea how much they cost. Doesn't really matter. I couldn't afford to buy one, regardless.

But I actually kind of enjoy seeing this trend toward high mileage cars develop. As I posted before here some time ago, owners of non- fuel efficient cars are having a hard time getting rid of their gas guzzlers as this story from the San Jose Mercury News reports.

They're saying my wife's car, the Geo Metro, is also gaining in popularity. I suppose that's good news but that car is too uncomfortable for me to do anything in but short trips around town. Hey, maybe we could take the engine out of the Metro and stick it in my F-150 pick up truck? Hmmm...???

DeBacker's Fifteen Minutes of Fame

2008-05-19T07:47:00.003-07:00

Looks like Petch House re- modeler, Greg DeBacker, gets his fifteen minutes of fame today by having his house featured in this month's Times- Standard instert, Restore and Preserve. No link available on their web site, at least not yet, so you'll have to get a hard copy to read the story. It's on page 11 and is titled One-man success story.

Way to go, Greg. Eat your heart out, Jerry Droz!

HOORAY!!!

2008-05-18T06:43:00.002-07:00

Is it finally over? Within the last half hour a nice cool fog moved in on Eureka, at least where I live. How Cool (pardon the pun)! These last few days it's been too hot for me. I'd forgotten that when it's warm outside, in this house you need to go outside to cool off. Poorly insulated house, this one is.

I remember a similar heat wave in Eureka back in '74(?), except it was later in the summer- July or August. It was in the 80s for 3, 4 maybe 5 days. Even though I was relatively new up here back then it was pretty miserable. Sit around the house sweating and you'd finally go take a shower to cool and wash off the sweat. Didn't seem to work because, within 15 minutes after getting out of the shower, you'd be all sweaty again.

I hope the fog stays in for the day.

Family Service Announcement

2008-05-15T08:16:00.003-07:00

Quality Plant Sale

Friday and Saturday, May 16& 17, 9am to 2pm.
3579 Dolbeer Street (across from Kennedy Field near Sequoia Park) in Eureka

Indoor and Outdoor Plants:
Violets, begonias, indoor fern, angel trumpets, succulents, cacti
Dahlia, roses, jasmine, snowballs, geum, strawberries, raspberries
and much more!

Fish The Klamath???

2008-05-15T08:00:00.003-07:00

I don't get it. As mentioned earlier on in all the papers, the salmon fisheries in the Klamath have supposedly been devastated by the dams up there. Yet, as has also been mentioned, while salmon fishing has been pretty much closed down throughout the state, the Klamath is the one place left open. The Triplicate reports that salmon runs on the Klamath will be strong this year and and officials are getting word out to local businesses to prepare for an influx of salmon fishermen.

What's up with that? I'm concerned about fisheries as much, or more, than the next guy, but I can't help but wonder. Are these doomsday projections we're hearing about the salmon fisheries just more of the same kind of hysteria we see with things like global warming? I can't help but think that a wise man I knew years ago was right and there are good and bad years for salmon just like there always have been and just because we have a low salmon run one year doesn't mean it's always something that's our fault?

Teacher Layoffs?

2008-05-14T08:06:00.002-07:00

It seems we've heard time and time again, over the years, threats of teacher layoffs. Seems to me they usually come around the time the state budgets nears its deadline. I've always felt that, for the most part, it's just posturing by management and the teacher's unions to scare everyone into making sure the schools get all the money they want.

I'm sure there's a little bit of that going on this time, as well, but this time they're making it sound like there really will be some layoffs. One thing I have to wonder is...why?

How many of these supposedly being laid off are in positions that were non- existent, say, four years ago? Probably none. I'm guessing most of these positions have been there for years, if not decades, long before the current supposed budget crisis.

All state departments are being asked to reduce expenses by 10%, yet at least some of these teachers were probably in those same positions when the budget might have been 30% or more less than what they're being asked to operate on now.

If the same people were working the same job for much less than they're being asked to cut now, how does it get to layoffs so easily? I don't know that I'll ever understand that, at least in regards the schools and their declining enrollment.

McCain and Ethanol

2008-05-12T14:16:00.002-07:00

Along the line of global warming, we get back to ethanol subsidies. Forest Defender commented that John McCain is playing the I care about the environment game trying to get some votes from The Left. That's to be expected. I had to admit though, in McCain's favor, I'd read somewhere that he'd spoken to a bunch of Iowa farmers and told them he was opposed to ethanol subsidies. Good for him, if I'm remembering correctly.

Can't find the news story on that, though. I thought it was this one, but that just says he's been a long time opponent of ethanol subsidies. Good for him, again. Maybe I just misread that, or maybe I read it somewhere else? I don't know.

But, I'll concede that might be a point in McCain's favor. I say might because people say all sorts of things. especially during elections. Action is what counts.

So what about Hilllary and Obama? I read somewhere recently that Hillary's pretty tight with the corn growers. Don't know about Obama. I also thought I read some carefully crafted lines from both their campaigns that something needed to be done regarding rising food prices. I don't know that I expect much from any of them in this regard, but McCain seems to have the longest held opposition to ethanol subsidies.

About the only good thing going on in regards this is there's at least a few people in congress that seem to really be taking a look at this boondoggle. Whether that amounts to anything positive being done in the long run remains to be seen.

Global Warming Stuff

2008-05-11T10:11:00.005-07:00

I've found British media to be far more open minded about claims of global warming and/ or climate change as this article points out. The article doesn't refer to British media. I've just found pieces like that on global warming are found far and few between in the U.S. media. As the writer points out, the internet is the most open source of information on the issue nowadays.

***********

And this just in to my inbox:

On C-Span 2:

The Deniers: The World-Renowned Scientists Who Stood Up Against Global Warming Hysteria, Political Persecution, and Fraud

Sunday, May 11, at 3:30 AM ET, 12: 30 AM PT

Sunday, May 11, at 11:15 AM ET [ 50 minutes]

Tuesday, May 27, at 3:15 AM ET

You can also view it on your computer by clicking here, if you have Real Player. Click on the Watch Now link on upper right of the page. I haven't watched it yet. Didn't have time this morning. That, and the speaker didn't exactly grab my attention in the first minute or two that I started watching it.

Humboldt Commies

2008-05-10T10:04:00.002-07:00

A somewhat bizarre- at least to me- read in this week's North Coast Journal on local communists. I'd always wondered what Michael Langdon looked like and did for a living. Why doesn't it surprise me that he's on disability?

Our very own Shane Brinton is mentioned, as well, although it seems he's left, or is at least distancing himself from, the communists. I wonder why he declined to be interviewed for the story?

Pepper Spray vs...

2008-05-09T07:45:00.002-07:00

Just about anything and the pepper spray loses, except it does work on dogs. At least it did the one time I used it.

I guess it's easy for me to say, but I don't see why people are going along with this pepper spray robber in Arcata. I know the stuff's irritating, but that's about it. Even a baseball bat would trump a robber using pepper spray, fists alone if you have a size advantage on the guy.

Somebody needs to thump this (these?) guys.

Just The Wind?

2008-05-07T14:47:00.002-07:00

I guess it wasn't an earthquake?

I think it was right before 2pm and I was sitting here playing Aces High. All of the sudden there was like a big jolt with a big thump type noise. More like an explosion, but I figured maybe an earthquake.

Checked the earthquake report web site and didn't find anything. Just checked again and nothing. Must have been the wind, or maybe a sonic boom? Probably a sonic boom. Haven't heard one of those in a while but that's what I remember them being like.

Baby Aspirin: Anybody Else?

2008-05-07T09:22:00.003-07:00

Went to the doctor Monday. Among other things he told me my blood was thick and I should take something to thin in out. He recommended taking one baby aspirin a day. Ahhh, baby aspirin. I remember that stuff.

So I go to the Henderson Center Rite- Aid and start looking through all the aspirin for baby aspirin. Didn't notice it right away so I asked the lady stocking the shelves- her name escapes me right now- if they carried baby aspirin. She pointed one out to me that was orange flavored.

I told her, "I don't know about orange flavored. When I was a wee little tyke I used to love Bayer baby aspirin. I'd eat them like candy...". She replies, "You too? I got in big trouble when my mom noticed the bottle was almost empty after I'd snacked on a bunch of them...".

Anybody else love that stuff when you were a kid? The ones I bought yesterday taste almost as I remember them way back when.

Rogan Coombs: R.I.P.

2008-05-06T09:42:00.004-07:00

Another North Coast icon, Rogan Coombs, died recently. From what I've heard, he was a bit of a mover and shaker, although I rarely actually heard from, or about, the guy himself.

I don't know that I've ever met Rogan, although I might of spoken to him on the phone once or twice. Although a registered Republican, I believe he was also a Life Member of the Libertarian Party, that status gained by paying a certain amount of money for lifetime membership dues. That's where I first saw his name- the LP of Humboldt membership list, when I first got involved with the party.

Another local libertarian, Ron, related the story of Rogan attending some local Republican meeting many years ago where everyone was discussing an upcoming election. According to Ron, Rogan rose quite a few eyebrows when he said, "I'm voting for Harry Brown...", the Libertarian Party presidential candidate at the time.

Don't know just how true that was but I got the impression he was quite the libertarian oriented guy. The kind of guy we need more of in this world.

Singleton Still At It

2008-05-05T14:06:00.002-07:00

Looks like local bottom- feeder and attorney- at- law, Jason Singleton, is still up to his hijinks. He's behind the recent closing of long time favorite eatery of many people, Arctic Circle, according to the Times- Standard.

Way to go, Singleton! No need to worry about the disabled having problems with access to Arctic Circle anymore. That's one way to deal with the problem.

That guy really needs to be run out of town on a rail.

CHP Seeks Rodoni Accident Witnesses

2008-05-04T09:33:00.004-07:00

I can't help but wonder if any of the witnesses that the Highway Patrol has interviewed were among those that some claim reported the lady who hit Rodoni was reported as driving recklessly prior to the accident? I'm eager to find out the results of their investigation.

Media Maven Does Blogs

2008-05-02T07:07:00.003-07:00

Marcy Burstiner, better known as the North Coast Journal's Media Maven, takes a look at blogs and blog comments in this week's column. She even mentions the Humboldt Herald and our very own Fred's Humboldt Blog.

At first I was a bit offended with her reference to this blog. She writes:

Read Humboldt Herald or Fred's Humboldt Blog on any given day and you'll find comments that appear hastily typed and posted, people saying hurtful things about other people, without the decency of signing their posts.

Hey, I guess I do allow anonymous comments and some comments might be hurtful to others, but I moderate the comments here. I might get a lot less comments than other blogs since I began moderating, but I don't allow the insulting and really nasty comments here that some others do.

But, some comments are hastily typed, posted and anonymous. Can't argue with that.

*******

First I noticed, unless I'd seen it before and forgotten about it, Marcy has her own blog. Looks like she only posts about once a month, though.

The Mt. Shasta Quake

2008-04-30T06:46:00.004-07:00

The link to the story of last night's earthquake on the Santa Rosa Press- Democrat's home page was entitled Earthquake hits Mt. Shasta Area.

You're from Eureka, huh? Isn't that up around San Francisco?

Addendum: No mention of the quake that I can see in today's Mt. Shasta News. Maybe too late for the deadline, or did they even feel it there?

#2: Just noticed the Redding paper reported it.

Zombie Does The Olympic Torch Relay

2008-04-28T14:59:00.002-07:00

Photojournalist Zombie has another excellent photo essay up now. This one's the Olympic Torch Relay that took place in San Francisco not long ago. Be sure and check out all three parts. As usual a fun look and read.

Accidents and Punishments

2008-04-28T07:06:00.002-07:00

I've mentioned here before I question how proper it is to charge someone criminally for an accident. One example being the guy that accidentally shot his nephew(?) a little while ago, killing him. He thought his nephew was a bear. Wouldn't you feel bad enough about doing something like that without criminal charges being filed?

Is there anything to be gained by charging someone for a tragic accident? I don't know.

Then there's traffic accidents. Leaving aside the Rodoni crash, at least for now, what about this one? Elderly lady hits a pedestrian in a crosswalk in Eureka. Fortunately, no serious harm done. I'm sure the driver feels like a fool, or at least we should hope she does. Hey, accidents can happen to anyone. We're all capable of blowing it at some time or another.

I can't believe the driver wasn't cited for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, though. Accident though it may have been, she blew it big time.

I also can't believe what the cop is quoted as saying: “It seems like she’s a competent driver, she just made an error in judgment,” he said. An error in judgement??? Makes it sound like she intended to hit the pedestrian. Poor use of words on the officer's part.

She had an accident because she seems to have not been paying close enough attention. As Judge Wapner once said on that TV show: He who looks, but does not see, is negligent. Sure, it could happen to any of us, but the driver should have gotten a ticket for hitting the girl in the crosswalk.

Is there anything to be gained by that? Not sure, but at least it would establish whose fault the accident was.

Eureka's Own Push- Poll?

2008-04-26T07:54:00.007-07:00

Speaking of push- polls, as we often do in the Humboldt blogosphere, what do some of my fellow Eureka residents think of the poll that just came in the mail regarding the $100 per parcel fire tax proposal?

It's no surprise that public agencies would send out literature promoting a tax for this or that but, by law, I don't believe they're supposed to advocate one position over another. This poll probably stays on the legit side of the line, if only barely.

Basically, you get a flier entitled City of Eureka Fire Department Official Survey. It has the official City of Eureka emblem to the left of the title and starts off with the Question, Why did you receive this survey?

It then says Enclosed is a questionnaire that will allow property owners to voice their priorities and opinions on a potential property- owner funding measure for improved fire protection and emergency medical services.

The flier then goes on to describe the supposed problem and what the proposed tax would supposedly do to take care of those problems. It ends with some Emergency Response Facts, going on to say how early response can reduce fire damage and save lives. Duh! But I understand everybody has to have a clincher for their argument at the end.

So they've made their pitch and then they go one step further and add what I thought was a push- poll, at first glance. Looking at it closer, though, they can probably wiggle out of that accusation because they only ask questions and give you five possible ways to respond.

It's titled almost the same as the flier: Official Survey, City Of Eureka Fire Department and it starts out with: In order to:

improve fire protection services in the City and provide additional professional firefighters,
improve medical emergency response services, and
reduce response times to save lives and property

would you support an annual assesment for your property in the amount of $100?

Possible answers range from Definitely YES to Definitely NO

The other thirteen questions are below. Interesting that, except for the last two questions, the questions all sound like the original push- poll type sales pitch:

Question #1: This measure would improve year- round fire prevention and suppression services in the city to reduce the damage caused by structure fires.

Question#6: Replace outdated equipment such as fire trucks and safety equipment

It isn't until question 12, of 13, that they ask a nay type question:

Question#12: We shouldn't have to pay more for local fire protection services. The Department should just learn to make do with its current revenues.

Five possible answers are allowed to all those questions ranging from Much More Likely to Much Less Likely to support the measure.

Pretty clever way of promoting the tax and probably even legal. Still, kind of gets my goat that they bother going to that length since it's usually not too hard to scare people enough to pass a tax by threatening to fire all the cops and firefighters in town if the tax doesn't pass. They do it every time Eureka's Utility Tax comes up for renewal.

On the bright side, at least they provide a post paid envelope to mail the survey back in. Oh, and I just noticed: The envelope is addressed to City of Eureka Fire Dept, c/o SCI Consulting in Fairfield, CA. Hmmm???

Spring Fever Is Here!

2008-04-26T07:24:00.002-07:00

The Spring Fever Festival will be held today and Sunday at Eureka's Redwood Acres Fairgrounds. Our very own Bohemian Mermaid tells us about it on her blog. She'll be having a booth there so I'm sure you'll all want to stop by, say hi and BUY SOMETHING!

Roger

2008-04-25T18:13:00.002-07:00

What he said, except I'll use a white hat.

Should Voters or Legislators Decide?

2008-04-24T07:37:00.002-07:00

The Willits News takes a look at what seems to be a desperate attempt by anti- Measure B forces in Mendocino County to keep the measure off the ballot.

The main argument that seems to be being made is that guidelines can't be established by popular vote, assuming I'm reading it right, and such things should be determined either by the state legislature or the Board of Supervisors.

It is interesting, as the judge points out, that Measure G- the measure the counselor is trying to defend- also set guidelines.

I've mentioned here before I'm not a big fan of democracy. I also think politicians have way too much control over too many aspects of our personal lives.

But I don't know that it really matters so much who creates the ordinances and guidelines- whether it be by popular vote or legislative action- but whether the issue at hand is something that should be decided by anyone other than the individual in the first place.

Gunderson Case Transcripts On E/R

2008-04-23T14:41:00.002-07:00

First that I've noticed this. If someone else mentioned it, I missed it. The Eureka Reporter actually has transcripts, of a sort, of the Gunderson trial. Not exactly word for word, but close enough for me. Nicely addition.

On the E/R's home page, just scroll to the bottom of the Local News list and you'll see a box labeled "Gunderson Hearing". Or use the link I just supplied.