East County Eater – Superb Sushi in Santee
Printer-friendly versionOISHII JAPANESE & THAI CUISINE 10251 Mast Blvd., Santee 619-596-4852 www.oishiisantee.com September 1, 2008 (Santee) — Santee Sushi? If you thought East County only has cowboy and biker bars, you must not have ventured east of I-15 lately, where you will find a rich assortment of sushi bars sprouting up at prices far less than you’d pay at chi-chi sushi shops (down by the sea shore) in La Jolla or Del Mar. Printer-friendly version
Good Money – Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) is becoming main-stream
Printer-friendly versionBy Judith L. Seid, CFP ® September 1, 2008 (San Diego’s East County) — When you invest, your money works towards achieving two objectives. By aligning your investments with your values, your money can work to create a secure future for yourself and your family, while also encouraging the development of a better future for our world. Ten years ago, Socially Responsible Investments (SRI) weren’t generally accepted by many trustees and consultants who were responsible as fiduciaries, looking over other people’s money. Fortunately, a letter from the Department of Labor (DOL) has given investment firms vital support for socially responsible investing (SRI). The DOL sanctioned a letter that endorsed the use of social and environmental criteria in the investment decision-making processes. According to a survey by the Social Investment Forum, a national organization dedicated to advancing socially and environmentally responsible investing, some $1.49 trillion were held in socially screened, separate accounts managed for institutional clients as of 2004. In 2006 we are up by 27% with $1.88 trillion in assets. A survey released in June 2007 by the Social Investment Forum and Mercer defined that 129 contribution plan sponsors found that 19% already had an SRI option and an additional 41% planned to add one over the next three years. Although SRI has proven to be as profitable as “regular” investing, often-times people aren’t motivated to utilize an SRI approach purely for financial reasons; they’re more concerned with supporting companies that are ethical and that are in line with their values. Socially concerned investors are making difference, actually encouraging major corporations to take positive steps. For example, Ford recently bowed to pressure from a block of shareholders, becoming the first automaker to detail its strategy to reduce its fleet’s greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2020. Earlier this year, the company shared its plans with investors including activist groups such as the $100 billion-strong Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility and Ceres-directed Investor Network on Climate Risk, which represents assets of around $5 trillion. The Connecticut State Treasury also is a participating shareholder. Ford is not the only automaker to find itself in the cross-hairs of activist shareholders. General Motors is also being urged to follow in Ford’s footsteps. "The target is not even the win here; Ford has wrestled with various analyses to arrive at reduction goals," said Sister Patricia Daly, representative of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell, N.J., a lead resolution filer. "No other company has entered into this discipline … Even as a leader in the ‘carbon club’ Ford opens the door for other companies and industries to target reductions." The target falls in line with recent auto mileage legislation put in place to improve fuel economy to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. Ford said it would be unable to meet tougher limits for 2016 being sought by California. The SRI industry has been integral in putting pressure on companies and on government to be more sensitive to our environmental and social impact. It’s an area that affects everybody — and offers an avenue for people who care to affect the world. Judith L. Seid, President and founder of Blue Summit Financial Group, Inc, is a certified financial planner who has actively used Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) for her clients since 1992. She firmly believes that “We can influence corporations to change their policies by avoiding investments in irresponsible companies and by seeking investments in companies with positive practices and products.” Socially responsible investing (SRI) exists for investors looking to use the power of financial investment to create sustainable social change. For more information on Sustainable Investing, contact Judith at Blue Summit Financial Group in La Mesa, (619) 698-4330; www.bluesummitinvest.com. Printer-friendly version
Notes On Air – Tracy Lee Nelson
Printer-friendly version By Richard Noel Notes On Air is a monthly music column highlighting local artists, events, and other music-related news. In this month’s column, we talk with Tracy Lee Nelson, accomplished blues musician who is also tribal chairman of the La Jolla Indian Reservation in Pauma Valley. Nelson’s music places an emphasis on his heritage, bringing a Native American perspective to the blues. His most recent CD, Indian Reservation, was released in November of 2007 Thank you for taking the time to talk to East County Magazine. Thank you. You’ve been playing since you were fairly young. What were your earliest musical influences? I’d have to say my earliest musical influence was the Beatles. I remember when I was young my brother would play their records. He would say to me, “You’ve got to listen to this band; you’ve got to know their names!” Even more so now; after I understand music and structure and guitar-playing, I am in awe of some of their formulas and structure. Was there any one artist whose work has served as a motivating force in your decision to pursue a life in music? I think John Lennon, because of what he stood for and what he was about; you know—world peace. Because I’ve always believed in that, too. I believe in honesty and doing what’s right. I still hear his “Imagine” song, and there will never be another John Lennon, unfortunately. What types of guitars do you play? I play a wide variety of guitars, but I’ve always come back to Fender guitars; the Fender Strat (Stratocaster) guitar, especially for the blues. And, of course, the traditional acoustic guitar, for the down-home sound of the blues. Your music covers a range of styles; acoustic to electric, Delta blues to blues-based rock. Are there any unexplored styles or genres that you would like to delve into? The hard rock/blues-sounding, dirty-sounding bar blues is what I’d like to do next. Because most of my CDs have been pretty traditional blues, you know–delta style with the Dobro and acoustic guitars. What musicians and bands have you had the opportunity to play with, either in the studio or on the road? I’ve had the honor of playing with the 1970s band Redbone. That was probably one of the best bands that I’ve played with. Lollie Vegas had a stroke in 1995, and they made me the guitar player. His brother Pat called me and wanted me to come out to Hollywood, I tried out and they hired me right there. One of the biggest shows I played with them was the Super Bowl in 1996 in Tempe, Arizona. We opened up for the Four Tops and Hootie and the Blowfish. It was really a natural high to play with them. Do you have any favorite San Diego County artists with whom you enjoy playing (either on stage together, or at the same event)? There’s a band over here from the Barona Reservation, they’re called Arrowhead. And there’s another band called the Rez Band, they were fun….real grunge rock! …I’m not sure they’re even together anymore. I thought it would be cool to play with this band called Aunt Kizzy’s Boyz. They’re really a band to look out for, really entertaining. I thought it would be fun to play with them sometime…good blues. As a Native American blues artist, you titled your first album “500 Years Of The Blues,” and many of your songs deal with life on the reservation. What experiences and perspectives have you sought to communicate to your audience through your songs? When I was young, I used to play a lot of different songs and music. But nothing really had a message, or a purpose for me. I was a punk rocker in the old days…blue hair, mohawk (laughs). I lived up there in Hollywood for a while, my roommate was D.H. (Peligro) who was in the Dead Kennedys. So I was a rebellious kid back then. As I grew up, I started thinking about my purpose in life. You know, being a punk rocker, it’s all about being different. I started to get myself together, and realized I was different and I had a purpose—being a Native American. I wanted to share the Natives’ perspective and history. If you’re going to tell a story and tell the truth, the only way it’s going to really come across powerfully and honestly is through the blues. And so I started writing about the Natives’ perspectives on the blues. Ever since our discovery by Christopher Columbus, we’ve always had the blues. So I always share that with people. So there’s plenty of blues to sing about. You also serve as the tribal chairman of the La Jolla Indian Reservation. How have your responsibilities in that role affected your continued work in music? At the time that I was voted into office as tribal chairman, I realized I had to put 120 percent into this provision. So that did affect my music, I had to set it aside. I think in five years, I played five times. When I jump into something, I want to put my all into it. This was something that I couldn’t take lightly. I oversee 704 members of the reservation and 10,000 acres, and the future of the tribe, so it is really something you have to take seriously. I felt like it was my time to put my two cents in and help the tribe, as did my father, he was a tribal chairman before. How did you work music and recording back into your life? I actually had to make time for it. Because being in a stressful job as chairman, my way in pulling myself together is in playing music. I have to say that my guitar playing is my savior, and it actually helped me stay away from drugs and alcohol. I know it’s hard to believe for
East County Magazine’s Guide to Fresh, Local Foods
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery September 30, 2008 (San Diego’s East County) — Growing concerns over food safety, environmental issues, health and desire to support our local economy have given rise to a new trend: consumers seeking out locally-grown and produced foods. Sales of locally grown foods increased 25% in 2007 from $4 billion to $5 billion – and could hit $7 billion by 2011, according to a HealthFocus TrendScan report. According to Packaged Facts, 69% of consumers surveyed agreed that local food is better for their personal health than food that has traveled across the country. Buzzwords such as “food miles” the “slow food movement” and “locavore” (New Oxford American Dictionary’s 2007 word of the year) have entered the lingo. Since 9/11 ten times more Americans have been killed by food poisoning than by terrorist attacks, The Nation magazine reported. Thousands of salmonella cases linked to foods, as well as imported Chinese products linked to deaths of thousands of pets, have raised consumer awareness over food safety. Global warming and rising fuel prices have also sparked consciences of shop-local consumers eager to reduce oil used in transporting goods. Many people are also seeking local foods for freshness, flavor, and a desire for organic items without chemicals. In addition, buying local foods supports area farmers, businesses, and communities. SHOP LOCAL Fortunately, there are plenty of places right here in East County where you can find delicious fresh, locally-grown or produced foods. Many health food stores, such as Henry’s, Sprouts, and Windmill Farms markets carry a wide variety of locally grown produce. Look for the “San Diego County 365” label or ask the store’s produce manager where products are from if not labeled. Or hit the road and visit one of the many roadside farm stands, u-pick farms and farmers’ marketplaces in the Eastern portion of San Diego County. You can also find farm-fresh outlets nationwide in the U.S. at www.localharvest.com. We have a guide to community supported agriculture (CSA) programs that deliver farm-fresh foods directly to you: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/8530. ROADSIDE FARMSTANDS The San Diego Farm Bureau lists many roadside farm stands where you can buy just-picked, farm-fresh produce directly from growers. Or discover more on your own by driving East County’s back country roads. Some of our favorites include: Alpine–Frosty Acres: 3905 Alpine Blvd., just east of the Alpine Blvd. Exit off I-8: sweet strawberries, peaches, watermelons and other seasonal fruits, peppers and other fresh vegetables, plus jars of locally-made honeys, salsas and salad dressings. Escondido – Farm Stand West, Season opens April 23, Tuesday-Friday Noon to 5 p.m., Weekends 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Seasonal varieties of berries, melons, avocados, citrus, peppers, potatoes, persimmons, corn and more. Corner of Citracado & Miller avenues, east of the Felicita Ave exit off I-15, (760) 738-9014/ Escondido – Fentiman Farms: Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Persimmon, avocado, orange, tomato, ginger, garlic & more, 10808 Reidy Canyon Trail (760) 746-1420. Escondido – Valley Produce: Monday-Friday 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Weekends 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Avocados, salad greens, melons, citrus, juices, dried fruits and more. 3485 E. Valley Pkwy between El Norte Pkwy & Lake Wohlford Rd, (760) 233-0000. Escondido – Heritage Family Farms: Daily 9.am. to 7 p.m. Variety of produce, fruit, homemade salsa, 3445 E. Valley Pkwy between El Norte Pkwy & Lake Wohlford Rd, (760) 741-8471. Lakeside–Hilliker’s Egg Store: off Highway 67, 1/4-mile west of Riverford Road on El Nopal Road. Eggs! Brown or white, single or double-yolk, sizes medium to extra large, available in cartons, flats, boxes, pallets or by the truckload; fresh, unprocessed sage and eucalyptus honey from the 16 beehives at the Hilliker farm; in spring and summer, fresh vegetables from Hilliker’s home-grown vegetable field are also available. Pala/Valley Center – Pala Rey Ranch: Weekdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Weekends 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Melon, avocado, strawberry, citrus, squash, beans, tomatoes, nuts, Highway 76 at Couser Canyon Rd. Ramona — Eben-Haezer Poultry Ranch:, Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Farm fresh, hand-washed eggs, 1908 A Dye Road (760) 789-0961 Rancho Santa Fe–Lemon Twist: 8175 Del Dios Highway, just east of the Cielo and Crosby Estates housing developments): Oranges, tangerines, strawberries, broccoli, cucumbers, avocados, cherimoyas, certified organic lemons, grapefruit, tomatoes, zucchini and more. Seasonal produce such as Julian pears and apples, Lake Wohlford peaches, Ruby grapefruit from Borrego Springs, vegetables from the organic Tierra Miguel Farm in Pauma Valley and eggs from Fluegge Egg Ranch in Escondido are also offered, along with florals including azalea topiaries, orchids and bonsai. Rancho Santa Fe–Vegetable Shop at the Chino family farm: 6123 Calzada del Bosque, off Via de la Valle, S6. Multiple varieties of most produce: Tomatoes, squash, squash blossoms, beans, shell beans, dried beans, melons, cucumbers, sprouts, greens and lettuces, celery root, carrots, turnips, parsnips, salsafy, radishes, brussels sprouts, okra, onions, Jerusalem artichokes, peppers, herbs, strawberries, strawberry figs, Concord grapes. PICK YOUR OWN Escondido – Johnson’s Family Farm: Oct-Dec, Weekends 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fuyu persimmon & apple, 16542 Guejito Rd (760) 749-2554. Julian — Apple Starr Orchards: Sept-Oct. Organic apple & pear , 1020 Julian Orchards Dr, (949) 494-8738 Julian – Julian Mining Company: Weekends 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Weekdays By Appointment. Raspberry July-Oct, corn Sept-Oct, pumpkin Oct-Nov, 4444 Orchard Ln & Highway 78, (951) 313-0166 Julian – Peaceful Orchard, Weekdays By Appointment. Apples, 3803 Wynola Rd (760) 443-3930 www.peacefulorchard.com. Julian – MJ Ranch & Orchard, September, Weekends 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Apple & pear, 1070 Farmers Rd, (760) 765-2423 www.julianapples.com. Julian – Raven Hill Orchard, Aug-Oct, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Daily. Organic apple, 1284 Julian Orchards Dr, (760) 765-2431. Lakeside – Victoria’s Garden, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Pumpkin, watermelon, strawberry, corn, orchard fruit, 13120 Willow Rd, (619) 390-9571 www.victoriasgardens.us/index.php. Pauma Valley – Bar 2 Ranch, Oct-Nov, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Daily. Fuyu persimmon, 14797 Highway
The Cheapskate’s Guide to Living Well in East County
Printer-friendly versionMaking ends meet is getting tougher. The cost of gas, food, college and just about everything else is going up, while wages have failed to keep pace with inflation. This column provides info on where to find bargains in East County, plus other tips on how to get more for less. September’s Money Saving Tips Beat the Heat: Can’t afford gas to drive to the beach? Take the kids to the sprayground play area at Santee Lakes, which also has float tubes and paddelboats. Or visit a public pool such as the La Mesa Recreation Center or Fletcher Hills Recreation Center in El Cajon. Senior centers, libraries, movie matinees and shopping malls provide cool respites for the elderly during hot summer days. Free Summertime Entertainment: Instead of spending money on movies or other high-priced entertainment, check out the many free events listed on our calendar, such as free concerts, festivals and outdoor movie showings offered throughout East County. Flowers for Less: Dress up your household with gorgeous bouquets of fresh flowers for as little as $3 a bouquet at the La Mesa Farmer’s Market, every Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. You’ll also find bargains on locally-grown fruits and vegetables. Breezy Savings: Save money by turning off air conditioning. Invest in ceiling fans and floor fans instead. To save more, turn fans off before leaving home. Go Fishing: Find a shady spot at one of East County’s many lakes (such as Lake Jennings, Lake Murray, Santee Lakes, or Lindo Lake Park) and drop a line; you may just reel in dinner! Catfish, trout and bluegill are among the fish found in local waters. Back to School Supplies: Buying back to school supplies can be a major budget-buster. To maximize savings, make several stops. Pick up loss-leader items for a fraction of regular cost at office supply store sale bins. Check swap meets, 99 cent stores and other discount chains. Find used college text books at Ross Books, in college bookstores or online vendors. School Clothes: Check with your child’s school about dress codes before buying school clothes. Visit resale children’s clothing stores (listed in the yellow pages); many items look new since kids often outgrow clothes before wearing them out. Spring Valley and Santee have swap meets each weekend with bargains on new and used clothing, or shop discount stores and yard sales. At retail stores, ask about rewards cards for frequent buyers to save more money on clothes, shoes and more. Send your tips for saving money in East County to: editor@eastcountymagazine.org. Printer-friendly version
Book It: New Library Opens in La Mesa
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery La Mesa’s new library is a bookworm’s delight. A soaring wall of windows fills the library with sunlight, creating an inviting place for reading, studying, or browsing. Banks of computers, including some at child-sized desks, make the library an inviting place for people of all ages. Live music, face painting and a magic show for kids celebrating the library’s grand opening in July. In August, Friends of the Library opened a bookstore at the new library, which is 40% larger than the old one. Who says nobody’s interested in reading anymore? “Last month, 25,000 people visited our new library,” said Councilman David Allan. “It’s the fourth busiest library in the entire county.” The new library sports a teen section and a children’s area complete with brightly-colored, animal-shaped pillows. Story-time, book clubs, Internet research classes and a virtual library complete with free movie library are among the offerings now provided in a library that has many attractions of a community center. Youngsters can also sign up to read aloud to “Sunny”, a collie dog delighting children through a new “read to your breed” program. The library is part of a 17,000 square foot building that includes a Post Office in back. The old library is being demolished to make room for a new police station. Next door, a new, state-of-the-art fire station recently opened. In an era when many cities are suffering effects of budget cutbacks, La Mesa residents overwhelmingly approved Proposition D, a $25 million bond measure to fund the new public buildings. “We are all proud of this fantastic accomplishment,” said Councilmember Ruth Sterling. “We had a vision, and the La Mesa people were very generous.” Printer-friendly version
New Border Patrol Facility Opens
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery New Campo Border Patrol facility (photo credit: Leon Thompson) Public reactions varied to a new Border Patrol/Homeland Security facility in East County varied sharply. One local conservative blogger thought it was a casino under construction, adding that it resembled “a palace.” But an immigrant rights supporter observed, “It looks like a prison.” Beauty, it appears, is in the eye of the beholder. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house were held August 8th at the new Campo Border Patrol Station, which despite its name is located on Old Highway 80 in Pine Valley, not Campo. The facility replaces an older Border Patrol Station on Forrest Gate Road. Public tours were provided of the $34 million, 33-acre facility, constructed by Jordan-BE&K Federal Group. The new 45,000 square-foot station has capacity to accommodate 350 Border Patrol Agents and includes a vehicle maintenance garage, water storage, armory, emergency generator, gym, canine training facilities, meeting rooms, and state-of-the-art processing facilities. Agent J. Espinoza demonstrates electronic fingerprinting system Barbed wire-topped fencing surrounds the enclave, which has Homeland Security surveillance cameras inside and outside with real-time monitoring from a control room equipped with flat-panel LCD screens. Border Patrol Agent J. Espinoza demonstrated an electronic fingerprinting system (no more inky thumbprints). “If someone has been deported before, it comes up yellow,” he said, pointing to a computer screen. “If they’ve been arrested anywhere in the U.S., their names will pop up in blue or red.” Those with criminal records may face prosecution, he added. Special Interest Aliens (SIAs) from countries such as Saudi Arabia or Iraq are turned over to other federal authorities, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) for questioning. Asked how often local Border Patrol agents have intercepted SIAs, Espinoza replied, “We’ve had them from Somalia, Iraq, Iraq, Brazil, Saudi Arabia.” The new facility has individual and group holding cells capable of holding about 300 detainees, said Supervisory Border Patrol Agent R. Marzec. Agents headquartered at the Campo station pick up an average of 150 people per day who have crossed the border illegally, he said. Often, immigrants are misled by human traffickers (coyotes) and realize they are over their heads in rugged desert or mountain terrain without adequate water or food. “The coyotes will tell them anything,” said Border Patrol Agent Rahman. “They’ll tell them it’s just a short walk over the border.” Agent shows off S.W.A.T.-type weaponry at open house Most immigrants with no criminal records are returned to Mexico, usually within 24 hours, according to Border Patrol authorities. Some immigrants picked up in immigration raids and transported downtown may choose to fight deportation orders, particularly when they are living here with their families. “Downtown, sometimes they sit there for a week or a month,” Espinoza noted. The facility has trained first-responders on-site as well as emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to provide medical care to immigrants, when needed. Supervisor Dianne Jacob attended the opening ceremony. At the open house, Special Response Team weaponry was on display. Public tours were held and kids interacted with Agent KC, a robot used by the Border Patrol for recruiting purposes. “Is that a legal alien?” one visitor quipped upon seeing the talking robot, which resembled a combination of ET and R2D2. Barbed wire and security cameras surround facility (photo credit: Miriam Raftery) O.W. Morey has owned property adjacent to the new station since 1965. “I helped them come in,” he said of the Border Patrol. Before the station was built, he said, he often had border crossers on his property. Pointing to an outdoor restroom, he recalled, “I opened that restroom door one day and there were 17 of them,” he said, adding that he’s had no immigrants on his property since the Border Patrol facility opened up. Not everyone shares Morey’s enthusiasm for the new facility. “It’s part of an overall strategy of increased enforcement and militarization of the border region,” said John Fanestil, executive director of Foundation for Change in San Diego. “It may solve some local problems for a few local residents, but it does nothing to solve the larger problems of migration between the two countries.” Fanestil called for comprehensive immigration reforms. “Clamping down on patterns of migration that go back decades won’t stop people from seeking to enter the United States and in fact, will encourage them to stay here permanently once they get in.” Facility can hold up to 300 detainees in individual and group holding cells (photo credit: Miriam Raftery) Construction of a border wall and other enforcement efforts that make it more difficult to enter or reenter the U.S. will result in Mexican people “seeking to enter permanently and bring their families to join them,” he predicted. “As long as economic need persists, the northward patterns of migration will persist. The real question is how can we humanize those patterns of migration?” Fanestil pointed out that the wealthy can obtain tourist visas, border crossing cards or local passports to enter the U.S. legally from Mexico, while poor Mexicans have no way to apply for legal entry. “All of those things require that you have some resources, and the Border Patrol assesses that you’re likely to return to Mexico,” he explained. “But if you don’t have resources and you can’t feed your family, there is no option but to seek to migrate. It’s not a choice people make light-heartedly. They make it out of dire circumstance.” Printer-friendly version
MEDIA WATCH: PRESIDENTIAL AND LOCAL CANDIDATES TAKE STANCES ON NET NEUTRALITY, INTERNET PRIVACY ISSUES
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Should Google be allowed to control over 90 percent of Internet searches? Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon), says no. He has sent a letter to California Attorney General Jerry Brown asking for an investigation into privacy implications of Yahoo’s search-advertising deal with Google. The U.S. Justice Department is also scrutinizing the proposed transaction. “The impact of such potential market concentration—in both Internet search and search advertising—left in the hands of one company…warrants rigorous scrutiny,” Anderson said. “We must ensure that the proper consumer safeguards and transparency are put in place to protect privacy,” he stated in the July 18 letter. “The ability to `data mine’ online behavior in order to find specific consumers interested in specific products is a big part of Google’s revenue stream and business plan.” Anderson warned that if the deal goes forward, Google would control more than 90% of all Internet searches, making it “impossible for any competitor to crack Google’s stranglehold on Web advertising.” Yahoo assured the user privacy will be protected. “Any suggestion that Google and Yahoo are merging vast databases of personal information is simply false,” a statement issued by Yahoo said, adding that the company will remove the last quarter of a searcher’s Internet address before handing the search term over to Google. Protecting Internet privacy and equal access to online content is becoming a largely bipartisan issue—with some notable exceptions. Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, has promised that if elected, he will impose network neutrality mandates requiring that broadband providers such as AT&T and Comcast not discriminate among Internet users by blocking consumers from obtaining legally-allowed content on the Internet or other obstructive tactics. Obama said that network neutrality laws would create “a level playing field for whoever has the best ideas.” Republican presidential nominee John McCain, however, opposes network neutrality laws. “John McCain does not believe in prescriptive regulation like net neutrality,” a policy statement on his website states. “Rather, he believes that an open marketplace with a variety of consumer choices is the best deterrent against unfair practices.” In Congress, Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) is pushing for Congressional actions to strengthen online privacy protections. The concern is part of the broader Net Neutrality issue, which would assure everyone equal access to online content. Supporters of net neutrality often cite concerns over potential censorship of political or religious content. Even well-intentioned efforts to block sexual content have had unintended consequences, such as filters in libraries which have also blocked sites containing information on breast cancer and other women’s health issues. Another issue is carriers seeking to charge ‘premiums” to consumers for faster broadband services. In April 2006, a bipartisan coalition called SaveTheInternet.com collected more than 1.5 million signatures in two months, urging Congress to write net neutrality protections into law. The coalition had some strange bedfellows–including conservative groups such as Gun Owners of American and the Christian Coalition along with liberal groups such as MoveOn and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Consumer protection and government reform organizations including Consumers Union and Common Cause also signed on. Even many Internet application companies have pledged support for Net Neutrality, including Microsoft, Ebay, YouTube, Amazon, and yes, Yahoo! In response to the growing clamor for protection of free and equal access to information online, a coalition of big business interests (including AT&T, Cisco, and 3M) opposed to Net Neutrality has formed in partnership with conservative think tanks such as the Cato Institute to form a deceptively-named website called Hands Off the Internet, which in actuality opposes Net Neutrality and equal access for consumers. Hands Off might be more appropriately termed “Roadblocks on the Information Superhighway.” The Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act of 2006 would have made it a violation of antitrust laws for broadband providers to discrimination against web traffic by blocking or impairing content that is legal to view or by refusing to connect to other providers. That measure failed to win passage. A later bill, the communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006, would have authorized fines for such violations. It passed the House but died following a Senate filibuster. Anderson’s opponent for the 77th Assembly district seat, Democrat Ray Lutz, also supports internet privacy and net neutrality—but differs in his approach. “On the larger issue of Internet freedom, net neutrality, and the like, we have to recognize that the US is lagging behind many other countries in terms of availability of the Internet, bandwidth, and computing throughput,” said Lutz, an electrical engineer who worked for high-tech industries in defense electronics, video entertainment, and chip design before founding his own company, Cognisys, Inc. He views that lag as partly the result of “vested interests in the TV an entertainment industry that see the Internet as a daunting threat to their well being. If we actually give the Internet the capability we indeed could, television networks would find downloading of programs from the Internet to be a viable option for viewers, with the eventual elimination of their interruptive-advertising business model,” he added. Lutz believes a “close eye needs to be kept on actions taken by these powerful vested interests to ensure that they don’t take steps to further limit the availability of the Internet and high-speed connectivity just to preserve a fleeting business model.” However, Lutz criticized his opponent for addressing a “silly technicality” to gain media coverage rather than broader privacy concerns. “Anderson was complaining that Google did not have the link to their privacy page clearly shown within one click, that is all,” Lutz observed. “His complaint had nothing to do with the actual privacy issues or privacy policies of Google.” Another privacy issue revolves around the increasing use of live surveillance camera footage now available online. While programs such as Google Maps have proven useful for travelers’ seeking birds-eye views and for law enforcement seeking to monitor crime on public streets, Lutz cautioned that surveillance videos aired online do have the potential for abuse. “If we find that cameras
Green Beat – Green Citizenship: First Step to a Sustainable World
Printer-friendly versionBy Chuck Brands OK, I’m ticked off. This is going to be a bit of a rant that will touch on hot-button issues facing all of us. Just in case that prospect deters you from reading the rest, I’ll share this month’s green treat with you up front. Wanna be a “green” know-it-all? Visit www.green.alltop.com daily for the single best source of links to all the best articles and commentary relating to green and sustainability on the web. Period. Now that I’ve offered that little green carrot, and before I share a bounty of more useful East County-oriented leafy green bunches of goodness in future columns, I first want to lay the groundwork for understanding the real big-picture sustainability mess we’re in–and the role each of us plays in solving those problems. So, I hope you’ll stick with me as I get a few things off my chest and help you connect some “green dots.” I’m very concerned as you probably are, too, about the health of our country and the world. I’ve long believed that the first obligation of citizenship, and indeed patriotism, is the responsibility to be well informed (hint –for starters, visit the above link). For most of us, casting an enlightened vote is our only way of ensuring that our leaders govern in a way that is beneficial to our mutual long-term interests. But with the increasingly rancid fiasco of traditional corporate media coverage on important issues (such as gas price gouging and Big Oil’s windfall profits, discussed below, or our current presidential election), I’m wondering how the average citizen can even exercise that obligation in the face of so many corporate-owned media forces dispensing disinformation, distraction, and downright manipulation of our minds designed to make and keep us dumb consumers instead of enlightened citizens. Want to get the truth? Start by clicking on the links below. It’s not only hard finding reliable and useful news sources, but it’s getting harder to make sense of financial matters. Every day, things are getting tougher for the average family as we struggle to stay afloat paying for skyrocketing costs of living and soaring fuel costs. (By the way, I strongly suggest you question the official government inflation and unemployment figures as they are mostly just gross and cynical falsehoods (lies?) that don’t even include the increases in the food and energy costs that most affect our pocketbooks). Yet, even as many of us grapple with diminishing business, income, and career prospects, a certain segment of our economy (psst – the fossil fuel industry, better known as “Big Oil”) is swimming in cash and profits while average people and the environment suffer to support their prosperity, forking over huge sums at the pump. For sheer gut-wrenching outrage and more specifics about our predicament, have a look at the below litany of corporate financial and environmental abuses and exploitation by just one multinational oil and gas corporate conglomerate. This ought to be a wakeup call signaling America that something is seriously wrong with the affairs of the good ole U. S. of A. So follow with me on this trail of tears. The six largest American oil and gas industry corporations (Big Oil) just reported mind-blowing combined quarterly after-tax net profits of 51.5 billion dollars. The $11.7B profit of Exxon Mobil, biggest of those six, set a record as the largest quarterly profit in American corporate history. Even as the unimaginable costs of our addiction to oil sap America’s economic strength and security, supporters and lobbyists of Exxon and Big Oil lavish campaign contributions on politicians who support policies like further offshore drilling, which will do very little to boost oil supplies or alleviate the high cost of gas. In fact, Big Oil already has access to 68 million acres of leased public land and offshore assets, but spends only a tiny fraction of earnings to develop it. As Big Oil and the fossil fuel industry feast at the public trough of taxpayer money in the form of government subsidies and hidden tax breaks, most of their profits are used to boost their stock price and enrich fatcat executives with obscene compensation. To ensure that this same Exxon Mobil can maximize profitability to the detriment and at the expense of others, the Supreme Court just recently (and nineteen years after the incident), reduced from $5 Billion to a measly half billion bucks Exxon Mobil’s judgment for damages in connection with the Exxon Valdez Alaskan oil spill that devastated the sea life and ecology of Prince William Sound and the economy of surrounding communities. Exxon spends less than 1% of profits on clean alternative energy, yet plans to spend over $30 billion annually from 2008 to 2012 on exploring for and developing dirty and ever-more costly oil and gas. This capital budget dwarfs even the most aggressive proposals for federal spending on more benign forms of renewable energy that would prevent further destruction of our environment and our national and personal pocketbooks. Similar to the tobacco industry’s falsification of scientific facts relating to the harmful effects of smoking in years past, Exxon has used their profits to fund disinformation campaigns to spread confusion and doubt over climate science and the harmful effects of burning fossil fuels and CO2 greenhouse gas. Now let me get something straight. I don’t have a problem with capitalism, free enterprise and the profit motive. In fact, I think that the profit incentive is a necessary element of any sustainable system of trade and commerce. However, the last time this country saw the above kinds of abuses and crony capitalism, it entered a Depression from which it recovered largely due to government intervention–curtailing monopoly practices and other abuses of the perks of power and the public trust. So to be clear, my problem with Exxon Mobil (and many other globalized and conglomerated multinational corporations and industries) is not so much the profiteering on the backs of average citizens. Worse than that, even while they are
Music Review – On an Island
Printer-friendly versionBreezin’ to the music of Charlie Imes By Libby Belle San Diego singer/songwriter Charlie Imes has captured the easy, breezy spirit of laid-back Southern California living on his new CD, On An Island. Imes and the Hodad Surf Club Band will perform at BonitaFest, a street festival in Bonita, on September 27th (see our calendar section for details). He also ventured out to East County to entertain guests at a La Mesa picnic for Barack Obama supporters in July (photo). Recently written up in the Reader, La Jolla Light and Del Mar Times, Imes celebrated his success with a CD launch party at (where else?) the Barefoot Bar on Mission Bay. Born in Texas, Imes migrated to Southern California with his parents at the age of five, landing in Los Angeles, where he grew up listening to the music of his parents and older siblings: “Everything from The Beatles, Nat King Cole, Led Zeppelin, Louis Armstrong, John Denver, Black Sabbath, Bing Crosby, James Taylor, Jethro Tull, Doc Severinson, Jim Croce and everything in between. I loved it all,” he wrote in his MySpace blog. Later, he played in high school bands and other locales. “I’d play down at the beach, around campfires…wherever,” he recalled. Imes moved to Arizona for a couple of years, but soon found that sand alone wasn’t enough. Homesick for the beach, he wrote Summer Days, then packed up and headed back to California – this time winding up in San Diego. He played in coffee houses, job-hopped and became a political organizer before returning to his first love, music. The lyrics of On An Island, the CD’s signature tune, reflect a time when Imes felt dissatisfied with his job and his life: “I can only tolerate just so much of taking orders, before I give in and forget it all and go where there’s sea for borders.” Imes worked on several political campaigns and organized DemocracyFest, a national conference of progressive activists in San Diego. He lined up top-flight musical talent as entertainment, making key connections in the music industry including San Diego Music Award winner Jeff Berkley (Berkley Hart, Citizen Band), who co-produced the On An Island CD. Imes co-wrote the CD’s Morning Birds with Grammy award-winner Laurence Juber (Paul McCartney’s Wings). The CD also includes cameo appearances by singer/songwriter Cindy Lee Berryhill,, jazz trumpet virtuoso Gilbert Castellanos, and Deadline Friday guitarist Mike Spurgat. In addition, comic star James Adomian provides impersonations of President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney in a playful political poke titled, Worst Presnadent Ever. Imes’ passion for politics locally is legendary. (Friends still rib him for making traveling companions miss a plane home while trying to “convert” a conservative staffer in a Washington D.C. bar.) He once strummed songs on his guitar to accompany peace protesters serenading on a beach outside the Hotel Coronado during a Bush presidential visit. Imes survived cancer and a second near-death medical crisis. After his doctor told him to cut out stress, he gave up other work and politics, deciding to devote himself to his music. His music incorporates elements of pop, rock, jazz and folk, evoking comparison to Jimmy Buffet or Jim Croce. While most of his music is light-hearted and free-spirited, some works reflect a more contemplative point of view—and some rocks along life’s road. The Test of Time was written as a tribute for his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. One Man Parade by James Taylor became Imes’ “œwalking song” that he’d sing while walking his dog, Jake. It became a farewell commemoration after “the best damn dog a guy who ever have†died while Imes was recording his CD. The most devastating loss, however, was the sudden death in May of a brother who provided a life-long source of musical inspiration. “We had talked about playing this music together someday,” reflected Imes, who dedicated the CD to his brother, Rod. “In the next life, we will.” Meanwhile, Imes invites listeners to “pour your favorite beverage of relaxation” and “enjoy these tunes in the spirit in which they were written and recorded.” Listen to selections of Imes’ music here or at his website. Imes’ CD, On An Island, is available at Amazon, iTunes, CD Baby and at his website. Libby Belle is a Southern California-based writer, rabble-rouser and music aficionado who savors visits to San Diego beaches and East County mountains in her spare time. Printer-friendly version