Obama Health Plan

I have two thoughts on the Obama health plan. They are:

1. If the plan is so good and we are to embrace it openly, why did congress put into the bill a provision that opts them out of the plan. In another words, they want us to be in the plan but they themselves don't what to be in the plan. Does this tell us something about the plan?

2. Why was another provision put in that allows union member not to be taxed on their employer contributions to their health plan but the rest of us will be taxed on the amount that our employer's contribute. Again, if this is such a good plan, why do they have these provisions? If Mr. Obama cares so much about the middle class, why is he adding another tax on us?

I agree that there needs to be something done about the health care situation but this bill is not the way to do it. Do we really want government run health care? What government agency is run efficiently? Why are people in countries like Canada, England and France warning us not to go down this road? We need to slow down and do it right. I don't buy the line "We know this is not the best, but we need to do something so we will pass this and tweak it later." Is this what we really want?

Michael Jackson & Farah Fawcett passing

The news is full tonight full of the passing of two celebrities, Michael Jackson and Farah Fawcett so I thought I would share my thoughts on both.

Michael Jackson's music was great. I really liked the Thriller album but that's not what I think of most when I think of his work. For the fans of Disneyland these is another side to him, Captain EO. This was a great 3-D movie and one of my favorite attractions at Disneyland at that time. It was always a must see. It was was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and executive produced by George Lucas. So, for Disneyland fans, his passing is another mark in the park's history.

Growing up there was Charlie's Angels and Farah Fawcett. I don't know if she is known more for the work or the poster that found it's way into many a bedroom. I remember one quote that summed up her at that time. It went like this: "There are silver faucets, there are gold faucets, but there in no faucet like Farah Fawcett."

Along with Ed McMahon, Michael and Farah will be missed.

Obama in trouble with PETA

Earlier this week President Obama was giving an interview with CNBC. There was an uninvited guest, a fly. So, Obama does what millions of Americans do every day, he kills it.

Well, this has up set PETA according to an AP story (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hNw_VW9Dlp19RvvaxvSLo5TZRwSQD98SQ0606). PETA spokesman Bruce Friedrich said Wednesday "We support compassion even for the most curious, smallest and least sympathetic animals. We believe that people, where they can be compassionate, should be, for all animals." He went on to say that PETA supports "brushing flies away rather than killing them" and was disappointed that the President had gone ahead and squashed the pesky fly.I guess PETA has never lived or worked next to a dairy farm, or any place livestock roam.

For those of you that agree with PETA you can get a humane bug catcher for $8.00 at the PETA web site store. As for me, I will continue to deal with flies the old fashion way.

New cell phone threat

I saw the latest cell phone threat on Fox news and also on CNN's web site. If the threat of brain tumors or the risk of driving and talking were not enough for you to put your cell phone down then maybe this will. It is called Cell Phone Elbow. Yes you read that right.

They say that holding the phone to your ear pinches a nerve in your elbow that will cause tingling in your fingers. I have attached the link to the CNN web page: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/06/02/cell.phone.elbow/

I would think that you would have to be on the phone a long time for this to happen. The interesting thing is that this only happens with cell phone and not land line phones.

The only issue I have with my cell phone is finding it at times. I don't know how many times I have called it just to find it.

Council authorization for $8 million

At tonight's council meeting the council voted 5 to 1 for the authorization to proceed to secure councilmatic bonds for the remodels/reconstruction of a police facility and library. These bonds may be done in two $4 million issues or one $8 million. There was no firm date given as to when the bonds will be issued. Tonight's action started the process. In future council meetings the final proposals for both facilities will be presented and voted on.

The council member Melpezzi was not present and council member Zimmerman voted against.

I agree with council member Ingram in that we need to get our police into a proper facility. Tonight's action is the first step in the process.

Flag Day

Today is Flag Day. I want to thank the Boy Scouts for adding to the day with the additional flags that they have put up through out the city. Here is the one in front of our condo.

Update Clarification - The Boy Scouts put flags up in front of homes through out the community. The Ferndale Kiwanis Club puts them up on Main Street.

Update 6/16 - The boy scout troop that is doing this is Troop #483. Thanks guys

Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777.

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.

Flag Day is not an official federal holiday, though on June 14, 1937, Pennsylvania became the first (and only) U.S. state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday. Title 36 of the United States Code, Subtitle I, Part A, CHAPTER 1, § 110[2] is the official statute on Flag Day; however, it is at the President's discretion to proclaim officially the observance.

2nd Ave Workshop Meeting

I attended the 2nd Ave improvement project workshop last night. My overall impression of the project is that it will be a big help to the traffic in Ferndale. It will also remove most of the street traffic through the neighborhood which will make it safer for the residents living there.

I expressed my concern for the medians though. It was stated at the beginning of the meeting that there is not enough stimulus money to do the whole project. Therefore, my suggestion was to eliminate the median, which most in attendance last night agreed with, and use that money to finish the park part of the project. Another resident suggested the money used for the medians be used to put sidewalks in along Washington to the park, another good suggestion.

During the meeting it seemed that the city staff did not really want to hear what the public had to say. They seemed set on medians and were reluctant to consider removing them. There seemed to be an agenda behind their comments, especially Bill Henry.

For the council members present, 5 out of 7, they seemed interested in what the public had to say and even asked questions but gave no indication on how they felt about the medians and if they would consider removing them. (Malpezzi and Hansen were not present.)

In the end, it was the public's opinion to remove the medians. Bill Henry said that the project was going out to bid with the medians in but that they could be removed at a later date. There was no time/date set for when or even if the council will consider this and make a decision. Bill's comment was that they have about 6 weeks to look at this and make the decision.

The race is set

It is official. The race for Ferndale City Council Position 7 is set between Mr. Olson and myself. I am looking forward to the next few months. I have a positive outlook and I look forward to the opportunity to serve the citizens of Ferndale. I encourage anyone to contact me and I have no problem answering questions.

I would also like to wish good luck to Ken Downey in his race. If you did not know, there are three challengers to Ken.

Where is Ken Downey?

As of the this posting there is still one current city council member not accounted for in the list of filed candidates. That council member is Ken Downey. I have a few thoughts as to why he is not on the list. They are:
1. I know he has until Friday afternoon to file and his schedule may not have allowed him to get to the Auditor's office until later in the week.
2. He has decided not to run again and has not made this public as of yet.
3. He and council member Olson or Zimmerman have a plan to switch positions at the last moment.

You might be wondering why I put option three down. Follow this logic. Mr. Olson files first thing Monday making everyone think he is going for position 7 again. Then, on Friday afternoon he withdraws his candidacy and refiles under position 5. Then Mr. Downey files for position 7. This is perfectly legal. There is nothing to say that either one can't change positions. The idea behind such a move would be to try and throw off their challengers. This might not happen but it is an interesting thought for discussion. How would such a switch effect the outcome of the election, if at all? Your thoughts?

I am planning on being at the County Auditor's office Friday afternoon to watch the comings and goings seeing this is my first election. I find this all fascinating and this is only the beginning.

It is official

I just returned from filling for Ferndale City Council position 7. For those of you that may not know, the seat is currently held by Mr. Keith Olson and he has also filed his papers to run again.

I am looking forward to the election this year and running against Mr. Olson. Running for office is the next logical step for me. I have been volunteering in various ways in the communities that I have lived in since the early 1980s. I look forward to bringing this experience as well as my technical background to the council.

In the near future I will be posting more information and I will have a web page up soon.