California Mileage Tax 2026

 Remember how we rejected the mileage tax that would track every mile you drove on top of the gasoline sales tax, vehicle registration tax, and smog fees?

Well, our governor doesn't give up. Because the vote in the last election didn't completely squash all his ideas to get money, he got the idea that Democrats support taxing every possible thing. The mileage tax is back on the table.🙄 According to their plot and plan, every year we will have to report how much we drive if Assembly Bill 1421 passes.☹️ They are floating $900-1350 annually per 15,000 miles driven. For a two-person working household, that's $1800 to $2700 just for driving! Questions: Washington did away with vehicle smog checks all together. They don't even have much solar. Why can't we?🤔 How do they know that the miles we've driven are in California? Are we supposed to track that too? Doesn't that seem like it is making life more difficult rather than easier?🙄 What would it take for you, if you are a Democrat, to not vote for party politicians who continue to come up with these oppressive tax plans?🤔

Governor Gavin Newsome signed Bill 73 to prevent any examination of ballots or election procedures by the Federal government

 First Newsome sought to disenfranchise Republicans in 5 districts through redistricting that went against the California Constitution.  So much for fair and balanced representation.

He signed the unconstitutional Bill 73 to prevent examination of the ballots and to verify that the voter was indeed entitled to register and vote.

I'm quite certain the counters are doing their best.  But it isn't just a matter or counting.  Odd patterns need to be examined.

There is still a great deal of fraud in voting, more with paper ballots.  Not with the counting, but in the ballot process itself. 

Ballots are stolen from people who aren't going to vote.

I had people ask me if they could have my blank voter ballot!  Others demanded to know if I was going to vote or not (this was prior to the ballots being mailed).  

Mail thievery is high in my area.

During the last two decades of elections, I have witnessed  registration fraud and voter fraud.  Proof?  No, but I know what I saw and heard.  It happens.

A decade ago, non-citizens were given FULL driver's licenses with NO indication they weren't citizens.  That license along with another form of ID enabled them to register to vote.  Who knows how many are still on the lists.  Do you really want foreign entities voting for benefits for themselves at our expense?🤔 

That's why the constitution limits voting to citizens... to prevent exploitation of the American people.

No matter who wins, the feds need to confirm the voters are legitimately entitled to vote.  That's what is being hidden.

What Have Democrats Done For San Diego?

 June 7, 2026

Remember how we rejected mileage tax that would track every mile you drove?

Well, our governor doesn't give up.  Because the vote in the last election didn't completely overturn all their ideas to get money, the mileage tax is back on the table.🙄

The Democrats tout what they've done for us.  Let's look at their effect locally.🧐

1.  Ocean water is SEVERELY polluted by both a broken huge major pipe and the continuation of ongoing release of in excess of 10 Million gallons daily of untreated sewage all heavily infected with viruses.🦠

1168 Navy seal candidates experienced illness and rashes from the contaminated ocean water.

Illness causing viruses can live in the ocean water up to 3 years.  Let me repeat that... 3 years. The polio🩼virus can live 2 months in ocean water.  It can cause permanent weakness or paralysis of arms or legs. 

Please stay out of the ocean water.  It doesn't discriminate by political party.😉

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/30/11/24-0771_article

2. Health conditions brought in by immigrants is NOT being tracked.  The discovery came as a woman we employed years ago was diagnosed with a parasitic infection.  

When the San Diego Health Department was asked how many cases they'd had, they had no record of the diagnosis. Because of my medical/science background, the woman in charge engaged in a delving discussion.  

We both were surprised to learn they had no place in their database to track certain diseases! What this means is that when people come into the country without screening, they can knowingly or unknowingly bring diseases with them.

3.  Environmental studies for San Diego and high density housing meet the requirements San Diego has set for them, which are appalling incomplete.  

They don't address the true impact on health, reproductive health, social impact, aggression and emotional health, ecology, or especially the overall stress on our limited natural resources.  

As a result we have the WORST natural disaster in the U.S., which is ongoing and unmitigated.

We have an ecological disaster in all the high density areas.  

Water quality and amount appears to be declining. Reports from high-density area residents report highly inconsistent water pressure.  The time to fill a gallon cooking pot can take as much as 48 seconds, but 13 seconds at other times.  These types of impacts are not reported in environmental reports.

4. SDSU students voted San Diego water as terrible.  Repeated testing shows plant cutting thrive in rain water, live in filtered water, but falter and die with city water.  

5. Parking fees at Balboa Park.  They levied parking fees at the park, resulting in a sharp decline in visitors, major losses of revenue for the museums and food vendors at the park, losses for businesses in the area, and high costs in replacing 52 of the despised and sabotaged pay-station meters.  These types of decisions are putting us further in the debt hole. 

Tennessee Redistricting Arguments are Racist

 5/11/2026

Tennessee is in a redistricting battle.  The state is eliminating two Democratic districts by redrawing lines. I listened to the arguments of both sides.  While I believe it is critical that Democrats as a minority party have a voice in Tennessee to represent those who believe in socialism, even though I abhor that mindset of dependency, they gave a very racist argument.  

They claimed it diluted the "Black" vote!  They want an advantage based on their skin color.  That's unconstitutional.  Their racist argument demonstrates who is actually racist in our current society... it is those who constantly bring in race in an attempt to get their way.  

To eliminate racism, we have to eliminate all advantages given based on race.  They are arguing for racism. 😕  This after decades to end segregation, they are arguing they want it. Argue for beliefs, but not race and racism!  

Can you imagine the outcry if a district argued that "White" votes were being diluted by people of color?  While it is true in some areas, it is not a valid argument for redistricting.

They should stick to the fact that in the Tennessee constitution, redistricting was limited to every ten years.  Districting should not be to give one party an advantage over another, but to insure fairness in representation.  California is a perfect example of dreadful redistricting that went against the constitution, disenfranchised the majority of Republicans in the state, and was done as a self-serving act of a corrupt governor to stay in power.  Whether we agree or disagree with other views and opinions, we all deserve the right to be heard and our voice counted... in Tennessee as well.

San Diego Trash Can Fiasco

 San Diego, California, has major trash problems.  The cans are constantly damaged by the trash trucks and vandals; cans stolen or exchange stolen; and no spot for cans along the curb for collection due to high density housing.
The city solution?  Replace the existing cans with cans the same size, different color. 
Did that work? 🤔

Another trash rant:   The new San Diego trash cans (same size, different color) that cost a fortune are NO better than the old ones.😖 

Why did they think changing colors would fix anything?  🤔 

The same problems still exist.  

The fix was and will always be to assign the curb use rights to the properties associated with that curb.

The PROBLEMS:

ADUs and OVER-RENTED HOUSES constantly place their OVER-STUFFED BINS in front of our home and other people's properties, after blocking the curbs with the excess vehicles from the over-rented properties. 

Residents with steep driveways struggle to get bins down to the curb into the position in front of their homes, only to find their traditional trash can position occupied.

New bins are being damaged.

Additional broken glass and trash litters the sidewalks and streets after trash pick-up.

The curb use rights are NOT assigned to the associated properties of that curb.

The KNEE-JERK REACTION:

While the tempation is to dump their overstuffed cans on their property, that  would solve nothing but add to the trash and glass already strewn on our property, the sidewalks, the streets, and cause a war between neighbors.  

The options are to either block our driveway or move their bins over and block theirs.  Some people don't have that much strength to move their many bins and drag their own bins down... so guess whose driveway is blocked?  🙁

Stomp your foot and demand curb use rights be assigned to the associated properties of that curb.

THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION:  They need to fix the messes they've created. 

1. IMMEDIATELY assign the curb use rights to the associated properties of that curb.

2.  Stop building high-density housing, which compounds the problems.

3.  Slow down the trash trucks down, so they can pick up properly pick up cans without damaging them and pick up the trash they drop. If there aren't enough trucks, pay overtime to the drivers to complete the routes.

The old bins were removed and "recycled" (which cost money).  WHY? 

 
Many of the old bins in good shape could have been used for many things.  But, no.  The city destroyed them. And, why not let the homeowners keep the bins they paid out of pocket for to replace?  The city hasn't sufficiently answered these questions.  

Old cans should have been fixed.  Usually it was the lids.  
Scan the code on the can when the trash is collected to determine stolen cans. (My cans were exchange stolen multiple times, where someone would take my cared for cleaned can and replace it with a filthy broken can.)

Don't say it can't be done.  In this day and age with computers and apps, it is possible.

The people who genuinely try to  follow or fix the trashcan fiasco are being blocked or fired. 

How to handle a broken heart when the object of your affection finds another.

 

How to handle a broken heart when the object of your affection finds another.

If a heart flutters away to other fields of attraction, then it was not true love.
If you’ve shown the person who you are, your personality, values, and virtues and they lose interest, then it is not a match no matter how much either wants it. Both must want the match.
The best step is to remain friends, but understand they have moved on to someone who is a better match than you. It doesn’t mean that the new "someone" is a better person than you, only that the person you cared for believes they are a better match.
You say, “I understand you’ve found someone who is a better match for you and our relationship is over. But, I’d still like you as just a friend, nothing more.” Then stick to that. Don’t try to reignite romance.
My son did that and ended up with life-long good friends of both his prior match interest and their eventual spouse. As you get older, good friends are important.

How Successful Happy People Think

How Successful Happy People Think

This morning my friend and I played a game.  He was successful three times in a row.

I asked him, "Are you happy?"🤔

He replied, "Why should I be happy?"

"Because, you were successful."

"What do you mean? You won!"

"Which made me happy, so YOU made me happy.  Isn't that what we are supposed to do... make each other happy?  So, you were successful in making me happy.  That you were successful also makes me happy, so you can be double happy." 

I paused and let that sink into his brain.  

Ball Drone

 We got a new toy, a small ball drone, consisting of a wire mesh ball encircling 4 tiny propellors.After reading the manual, charged it as instructed until the light was fully green. I pushed the button, raised and lowered it quickly three times, and it buzzed to life.  Gently tossing it upwards, it ascended higher than expected, dropped a foot, then lifted.  It shot off to the side rapidly when Larry reached for it. 

Operating this was going to be tricky. Clearly it responds, but we are unsure if it had sensors or if it did, what the sensors reacted to.

After experimenting with how to manipulate its direction, we were able to play back and forth. Then the dogs discovered it! Good thing they are little dogs!  They bounced excitedly beneath it. It would fly off in an opposite direction depending on which side they jumped under it. When the drone hit a wall it would bounce off or bounce along for a distance.

 However, it could only stay airborne for minutes, ten at most.  It was great fun and a distrating break in the day's routine for the dogs.  After a few months, the drone didn't want to hold a charge and fly time dropped significantly.  It was a cool toy and a good start for future toy designs.

Fly in the Ointment: Thanksgiving Dinner 2025

 Fly in the ointment: We had a relaxed Thanksgiving. Turkey, dressing, gravy, yams, potatoes... golden sauted, mashed, and potato salad, an assortment of veggies... carrots, celery, jicama, and green onions, and pumpkin pie with homemade whipped cream. 😋The issue came when I went to plate them.

I used a creamer for the gravy, since that was right size for the amount of gravy we might use. Each time I reach for that creamer, I am reminded of its twin that was stolen many years ago. It miraculously returned after I mentioned the loss. However, an extra stoneware gravy boat I had disappeared and never returned, as did cut crystal salt and pepper shakers and silver plated ladle given to me for my wedding. I brushed the thought aside and continued with the preparations. Gaslighting and theft from our home has been a major issue since we moved to San Diego. ​😖

When I retrieved my carefully packed away, vintage, veggie platter, I discovered that three curved container sections and their tops had been taken, leaving the center bowl and one container with a discolored and badly cracked lid atop the platter tray beneath its clear plastic cover.☹️

I recalled seeing curved sections with lids at my son's house. My son said his wife had 3 curved containers with lids. How coincidental that I am missing 3. 🤔 I asked if she hadn't had four. He said she'd had one that the top was damaged and discolored, but she must have gotten rid of it, since he hadn't seen it in a while.

As I pulled my placemats from the sideboard, I discovered a missing special Thanksgiving placemat that I made specially for heated items to sit on.😧 It's thicker than the placemats in the photo with the same fabric.

My hope is that by posting about items I discover missing it will explain to people how gaslighting-theft works, what's been going on for the past 15 years at my house, and raise awareness of this growing crime. In talking to other seniors, a few are experiencing similar incidents, while people in their lives tell them it is in their imagination.☹️

Sometimes it might be, but this is not. Having been legally blind until the end of 8th grade, I learned a lifelong habit to keep parts of things together. Otherwise I would struggle to find them.

I now have a witness who can verify things "magically" being damaged or disappearing.😊 I also hope to jar something loose in my son's memory.

In the meantime, I am thankful for regaining purpose and happiness, inspite of the major losses of both family and property.
I am pursuing starting a non-profit that I was about to file just prior to Covid to help catastrophically disabled people enjoy their lives. 🤗
I have dear friends I love and care about and am back to playing games and laughing.😄

74th Birthday Disappointing Meal at Denny's

 My 74th birthday brought a lot of love from friends and acquired family, for which I am ever so grateful, and fun with my dear friend Larry as we went shopping for Thanksgiving!

To my surprise, I received a beautiful globe of flowers from Anthony, and from Andrea a beautifulbox of handmade biscotti, a gourmet gift box of sausage, cheese, crackers, condiments, chocolate hazelnut cream-filled wafers, and nuts! 💝

Larry, so sweet, gave me an Echo Show, a Hula hoe (which I desperately wanted), and a lovely poinsetta and pansy pot.💕The night before, I'd gone out to check the gate in the dark of night with a flashlight, but was focused on skirting by the azelea, any spiders on the fence, and the gate lock, so didn't look down. Larry thought I'd seen the flowers, that he'd set to the side of the gate, so he brought them in early for my birthday.

A fly in the ointment made my birthday dinner memorable... we went to Denny's, which I used to completely enjoy. It had been our go-to for decades across the country.

It was the first time we'd encountered blatant false advertising at their restaurant that previously had good food. I ordered nachos that are NOT in my diet, but had been one of my favorites in decades past. What came had lots of chips, no meat, and $2 extra for a few thin semi-slices of avocado, although the menu description and photo (on left) clearly shows ground beef mounded on chips. ☹️

I asked the waitress and manager who both confirmed they use "meat sauce," not ground beef and that it was extremely popular.😲

I started to eat it, but it was soupy, like gravy on chips, not like nachos. Quickly the chips became soggy. It was such a bad dish that I had to laugh. This would be one of the most memorable meal disasters I'd experienced. 🫤

I can't imagine that Denny's would put a deceptive plate on the menu. 🤔 My suspicions kicked in for the cause of such disparity between the described and served plate and how many other people had been duped the by meat sauce instead of ground beef? Was someone at this particular Denny's skimming the food budget to produce a lower grade plate than Denny's had carefully make with cost restraints?

Another difference from years ago was the manager removed the cost of my meal from our bill, since I ate very little, but offered no compensation. While I would have graciously declined such an offer, I was surprised that they think that the fact that they ruined a birthday celebration didn't deserve a profound apology. But, that's another blog... How to Apologize.😉

Liz Ortega's Belief that Trump is Against Immigrants

Why can't certain groups of people understand basic English concepts and that it is terribly important to be accurate when making assertions about other people's motives?😕

Assembly woman Liz Ortega, a Democrat from Hayward, said, "Trump's war on immigrants was never about safety." 🫤

Trump doesn't have a war on immigrants. He embraces and wants immigrants... legal immigrants. Trump is married to an immigrant.

Liz fails to make the distinction between legal and illegal immigrants. It is such an important and simple difference.  One obeys U.S. law. The other doesn't. While there are a few exceptional cases, such as the man who for over 70 years thought he was a legal citizen, only to discover he wasn't, most cases of illegal immigrants are deliberate disregard of our immigration laws.  

Liz claims racism, when it is about immigration law. If you are looking for someone who broke immigration law, it only makes sense to look for someone of color who doesn't or barely speaks English? 🤔 That alone isn't enough.  But if they are associating with other illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds who became a target of ICE, it is appropriate to ask for their ID.  Likewise, if you see a load of people pour out of the back of a truck, or a business that was identified as one that hires illegals, it is appropriate to ask for their IDs.  If they refuse, that alone is suspicious.

We must have care not to arrest legal citizens!  But, if they refuse to cooperate or show their ID out of the misguided thought that they are resisting a particular politician, then any detainment or arrest is on them.

That said, I know some people here who came illegally who are the epitome of good citizens.  They were brought here as teenagers, one by an elder in the church, learned skills, worked hard. Yes, one may have made a small mistake when they were very young, but they learned and have clean records and good characters. One would never be allowed back because he's been deported more than once.  Why did he cross back? Family members in Mexico were kidnapped by the cartel. Instead of paying, he returned and rescued them himself! Because of that, he could never return to Mexico.  The cartel would kill him.

I also know illegals who deliberately overstayed their Visas, one was a counterfeiter. Another became a citizen, but is a cartel member and a criminal.😲

Our system needs to be faster, but more fastidious.  All agencies need to cooperate with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Just because someone comes with a sob story (and there are millions of legitimate sad or tragic stories), doesn't mean they should be admitted if they don't want to assimilate to adopt our culture and standards, will only be a drain on our system, and have no desire or intention to become self-sufficient.

Judge Bans Flight of Guatamalan Children Bound to Reunite with Relatives

 On September 18,2025, a judge banned a flight filled with 76 children bound for Guatamala from leaving. She felt it was more important that these children, who's parents dropped them over the wall, paid coyotes to bring them illegally and unaccompanied, or abandoned them here, remain here instead of being reunited with relatives who were waiting for them in Guatamala.  That makes no sense... unless one considers the politicial angle.
How sad when judicial politics are getting in the way of humanity.

Olivia Julianna

 Olivia Julianna is a leftist influencer paid by a Dark Money group who were attempting to create an illusion of support. In case you don't know who she is, Olivia is a very obese, bubbly, young woman who spoke at the Democratic National Convention.

Using a poor choice of words, she said, "If you're not at the table, you're on the menu."  Followed by, "I spend a lot of time with young men. I love young men. I love frat guys."  Her attempt to sway young men failed miserably. There is no grassroots support of her or the Democratic platform. 

I did an informal survey of frat guys and independents to see if they were drawn to her and her message. The response was just the opposite. 

Worse, the statements left her open to a myriad of jokes and jabs, with cruel personal attacks regarding her appearance, such as:

"She ate everything on the menu."

 "She'd better not be at the table with an apple in her mouth."

 "She's been at the leftist trough too long."

I feel badly for her.  She doesn't appear to know herself and her actual self-esteem seems low in spite of the public mask she wears, as her micro-expressions reveal she is looking for validation.  

It doesn't help that she took money in trade for her integrity. In a vain attempt to promote herself, she gave interviews that left her wide open to ridicule, even by the interview host. She seemed fully unaware the viewers' point of view.  I don't care how thick her skin is, I hope she has someone who genuinely cares for her and can give her solace, because outside of the remaining group of leftists with cognitive dissonance, the public response from university students is more negative to her efforts. 

Planning to Come or Vacation in San Diego (Mexican Sewage)

San Diego Beaches: Paradise with a Poopy Plot Twist!

Ah, San Diego – the land of eternal sunshine, surfer vibes, and... surprise sewage swims? If you're plotting a getaway to soak up those golden rays, hit the waves, or picnic in the parks, buckle up for a reality check. The past few years have turned this coastal gem into a bit of a stinky adventure. Pro tip: Pack sunscreen, flip-flops, and maybe a hazmat suit? Just kidding – but seriously, double-check that medical insurance. Let's dive into the murky waters of what's going on, with a splash of humor to keep things from getting too foul.

The Crappy Contamination Conundrum

Picture this: You're frolicking on a San Diego beach, only to realize the "refreshing ocean spray" might be more "Eau de Tijuana Toilette." The latest scoop from the San Diego Union-Tribune (as of mid-2025) reveals fecal 💩contamination stretching all the way up to Carlsbad – that's a whopping 35 miles north of San Diego proper. Blame it on a decades-old drama where millions of gallons of Mexican sewage, sneaky hazardous industrial chemicals🧪, and random trash 🩹🩲💉,  (think bandages, diapers, and who-knows-what-else) dump daily into the Tijuana River. It all flows north like an unwelcome party crasher, crashing into the Tijuana Estuary and Pacific Ocean. Result? Beach closures, health hazards, and a vibe that's less "chill waves" and more "chill... but with chills from bacteria."

A Brief History of the Sewage Saga (Or: How We Got into This Mess)

This isn't some new Netflix thriller – it's a real-life epic dating back to the 1930s. Back then, the Tijuana River was basically Tijuana's DIY wastewater highway: A few folks skipping septic tanks, companies chucking chemical cocktails, and voila – instant pollution potion. Fast-forward to October 1966, when heavy rains caused a sewer line to burst like a piñata at a bad party, dumping raw sewage northward into San Diego's backyard.

Tijuana's population exploded thanks to industrialization and a migration boom (fueled by folks from Central and South America eyeing the border), outpacing its creaky infrastructure like a hamster wheel trying to keep up with a cheetah. By the 1980s and '90s, overflows were as predictable as bad traffic on the I-5, worsened by storms and what some call "binational whoopsies" under the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty. Blame game? A mix of rapid urbanization, weather woes, and maybe a dash of historical U.S. influence in the region – but hey, no one's pointing fingers... too hard.

In a heroic plot twist, the U.S. flipped the switch on the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP) in San Ysidro in January 1999. Designed for 25 million gallons a day from Tijuana, it was like giving a kiddie pool to handle Niagara Falls. Overwhelmed by breakdowns in Mexico's setup (shoutout to the Punta Bandera plant and its coastal collectors), plus mega-storms in the 2010s, it's been spilling over 100 billion gallons since 2018. And let's not forget the population surges in the 2020s, turning Tijuana into a bustling border hotspot.

Funding Fiascos: The Money Pit (Literally)

Enter politics, stage left. In 2019, during his first term, President Trump pulled off a bipartisan magic trick, securing $300 million via the USMCA to "fix this mess once and for all." It was part of a $400 million push to expand the SBIWTP and slash those cross-border flows by 90%. High-fives all around from environmentalists and unlikely allies!

But under Biden from 2020-2024, Mother Nature and migration waves cranked things up to 11, with record 44 billion gallons in 2023 alone. Beaches closed, economies tanked, and health issues piled up like... well, you know. In mid-2024, a quick-fix "bandaid" was slapped on, but it peeled off faster than cheap sunscreen. By February 2025, even tough Navy SEALs at Coronado had to bail on training after 1,168 cases of "eww-induced illnesses" from the tainted tides.

Fast-forward to Trump's second term: In July 2025, a fresh U.S.-Mexico agreement was inked, pledging urgent fixes like rehabbing Mexico's plants and diverting 10 million gallons a day of "treated" water (though critics quip it's more "lightly filtered" than spa-quality). And just days ago (as of late August 2025), the EPA announced a "major milestone" toward a 100% solution, with the Trump admin wrapping up key projects in record time. Progress? Finally! But hold the confetti – beach warnings and toxic air hazes are still a thing.

Oh, and funding drama: Congress tossed in $650 million in 2024 (thanks, Biden), but House Republicans halved the IBWC's annual plant budget from $156 million to $78 million in March 2025. Prior funds are safe, but it's like cutting the pizza budget mid-party – everyone's still hungry for a real fix.

Solutions: Brilliant Ideas... Stuck in Committee Hell

Engineers have brainstormed some gems to unclog this crisis. From a 2025 opinion piece on the "Cali-Baja" woes, here are three standouts, served with a side of sarcasm:

1. **Legal Reform**: Update Baja California's laws to make developers build wastewater systems before slapping up new condos. It's like telling builders, "No plumbing? No permit!" – shocking, right? This tackles unregulated growth that's overloading the pipes.

2. **Technical Innovation**: Roll out constructed wetlands on both sides – fancy fake swamps that naturally filter the gunk, letting us reuse water for farms or safe ocean dumps. Eco-friendly and cheaper than therapy for frustrated beachgoers.

3. **Economic Investment**: Pump annual bucks from both countries via the 1944 Treaty, plus help from banks like NADBank. Think treatment plants, pipes, and public health perks – because who doesn't love a binational budget bash?

Other ideas? Expand the SBIWTP, fix Mexico's gravity lines, and that diversion plan. But California's latest endorsement? Governor Newsom's idea to shunt the untreated sludge 3 miles offshore. It's like your kid hiding trash in the backyard corner instead of the bin – "Out of sight, out of mind!" Except, as environmentalists (apparently channeling ocean magic) hope, it won't drift back to haunt 35+ miles of coastline. Spoiler: Currents don't care about borders.

What Happened to All That Cash and Brainpower?

The $300 million from 2020 mostly went to SBIWTP tweaks, but bureaucracy moved slower than a sloth on vacation. Meetings multiplied like rabbits, solutions stalled, and Mexican breakdowns kept the party pooping. The 2024 extra funds are chipping away at repairs, but storms in early 2025 caused fresh spills. Mexico's pledging to sieve out big trash and divert flows, but it's sparking algae blooms and ongoing beach blues – not the fun kind.

Advocates push for EPA oversight and creative funding (toll taxes, anyone?), while restoration dreams in the Tijuana River Valley have downsized due to persistent pollution. The 2025 deal promises a "permanent fix," but as of now, full cleanup could take years. And unless Tijuana's growth gets a reality check (maybe redistribute that boom?), the ocean's in for more murky days. 
Perhaps the only true solution is building a massive sewage plant inland in Mexico outside of Tijuana and diverting all sewage there, away from water ways and the ocean.

The Gloomy (But Giggle-Worthy) Future

Look, the oceans are tough, but between Mexican sewage shenanigans, ship spills, and global gunk, they're starting to look like a bad science experiment. What happens when the seas turn into giant cesspools? Fish with therapy bills? Beaches renamed "Hazard Havens"? For now, San Diego's fighting back with progress reports and agreements – but if you're visiting, stick to pools or high-ground hikes. And hey, if all else fails, embrace the chaos: Who needs clear water when you've got a story that'll make your friends gag with laughter? Stay safe, stay informed, and maybe pack some nose plugs. 🌊💩😂

Loss of Maternity Care in California.. the growing crisis

 Aug 8, 2025

A few months ago, the labor and delivery at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital in Glendale closed it doors after decades of care and service. All potential patients had to travel to other hospitals.

According to Dr. John McHugh, San Diego Union-Tribune - Opinion, almost 60 California hospitals and delivery units closed since 2012.  About 1/3 were in L.A. county. One-third of remaining hospitals do not offer labor or delivery services.  The reasons for the closures at 3-times the rest of the country were inflation and insufficient reimbursement.

What surprised me was the lack of "reproductive health care funding, training and technical assistance for hospital emergency departments."  Dr. McHugh stated that the state legislators were "working to address these problems," with AB 2490, but Governor Newsom vetoed the bill.

What Dr. McHugh declined to mention, probably out of compassion, morals, career ethics, and treads a delicate political line, are the ugly political facts.

More than half the babies born, who access hospital services rendered for care, labor, and delivery, are to illegal immigrants who pay by using Medi-Cal, if they have that. Most illegal immigrants receive Medi-Cal immediately as part of the many benefits California taxpayers provide.  Many of these women had little to no prenatal health care. Their babies if born prematurely or with birth defects become long term patients in the hospitals. While it is basic morals and compassion to care for them, since they are here, there is no denying the massive numbers (up to 250,000 nationwide according to the Center for Immigration Studies) stress the Medi-Cal and hospital budgets. 

This care-load stress results in delays in appointments and denials of other healthcare needs. (I do not have the data on direct assertions from pregnant or post-natal legal citizens to provide numbers, however I was surprised to learn this was an issue.)  This care demand doesn't just affect labor and delivery care, it is spread across all specialities and general care. U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration estimates a current shortage of about 19,000 physicians. Considering that fewer than 1700 doctors graduate medical schools each year... do you see the problem?

SUV Shift Linkage Breaks at Airport... Larry's Long Trip

 Aug 7, 2025

Larry got up at 2a.m. to come to San Diego this past Thursday. His Alaska Airlines flight was supposed to leave Seattle at 6a.m. That was cancelled. He rebooked for a flight leaving 2pm. arriving at the airport at noon. After repeated delays, he, his little dog, and the plane ✈ finally went airborne after 3pm. Cujo hadn't had anything to eat all day.

I was waiting just outside baggage claim at 6pm. I asked a very nice traffic control lady how to go around the circle, so I could open spots for those picking up others. I followed her instructions and anxiously made my way around the loop back to baggage claim. Once again I waited. I noticed my gas was low, which it shouldn't have been, since Larry and I filled the tank prior to him leaving.

A quick mental memory and calculation for trips taken and gas used didn't add up. I only took Larry to the airport and went to meet my son twice, which was a few miles each way. With my 22 gallon tank, I should have had 19 gallons left. I remembered seeing the gas flap open. I snapped it shut as a fleeting thought of gas theft crossed my mind, but dismisssed the concern.

I shifted into "Park" and turned my SUV off to save fuel. The traffic control lady asked me to move forward. I turned on my SUV, but it refused to go into gear. I tried repeatedly, but it just slid back and forth without catching. 😲 It remained stuck in "Park." I quickly called to her to alert her to the problem and that I would probably need a tow truck.
Moments later Larry and Cujo arrived at my SUV, ready to go home. I broke the news that we needed a tow truck. Luckily I brought a protein drink for Larry and some beef jerky. Another lucky stoke was the tow truck came quickly, possibly because we were taking up space in front of the airport's busy loading area and couldn't move. More luck was a traffic control agent, a young man, knew what was wrong, as he was a gear-head on the side. It was minor, but it disabled the vehicle and caused a bit of a issue for the tow truck driver. They had to figure out how to get it out of "Park" to load it onto the flatbed truck. Again, the young gear-head solved the issue.
At 7:30pm we were on our way. Larry and I in the cab with the tow driver, but our dogs rode in the SUV. I can only imagine what the dogs were thinking, left alone in a car that was not only moving, but elevated! The tow truck driver, very amicable, was from Palestine. His wife and beautiful 4-year-old daughter were U.S. citizens currently living in Palestine. I was confused by that, as I wasn't certain where Palastine was. I knew Gaza and West Bank, but where was Palestine? He said she lived near Jeruselum. She was expecting her second daughter to be born in January.

Arriving home, we had to move the van and the neighbor's trash cans to put the SUV on the street.

Placing the vehicle in the parking spot was tricky, as it was stuck in reverse from the airport. We moved our van and the neighbor's trash cans to make enough space, replacing everything after the SUV was unloaded. Finally, after 8pm the doggies were freed from the SUV. ​

The cupboards were bare, as was the refrigerator that the day prior I had to dismantle, repair, clean, and reassemble, but we were home. Larry was exhausted.

Illegal Immigrants, Their Children, and Consequences

A short video by BostonGlobe described, "Ice arrests and the devastating effect on children left behind". They described the financial stress and mental toll on children of illegal immigrants when one or both parents are taken away. The children have the fear of wondering if their parents will ever come home or if they will see them again.  This story is heart-wrenching to anyone with compassion, as they watch children of detained illegal immigrants cry.

The BostonGlobe failed to recognize that this feeling of distress is what military families go through repeatedly.  The military member must go when deployed or restationed.  They have no choice, as they chose to serve their country due to their loyalty to the United States. As a consequence, the children and spouse are left behind, unless they are sent somewhere the family can accompany them, even though uprooted.

The BostonGlobe failed to mention that unlike military families, the illegal immigrant parents could avoid this trauma for their children by leaving the country voluntarily, signing up for re-entry if qualified, and suffer no separation from their families. 

The BostonGlobe failed to mention that the children and families can be deported with them, unless the person if the crime is being here illegally.  It is the parent's choice to abandon their children in the United States, just as it was their choice to bring or give birth to them here.

The BostonGlobe failed to acknowledge that the vast majority of immigrants who crossed the border illegally answer to the cartels, since they must identify themselves and their friends and families to the cartel and then pay the cartel to cross, whether or not they are escorted.  These people can be forced to pay or commit crimes under threat of harm or death to their families in their countries or origin.  Quite a number of illegals are enslaved or forced to work as indentured workers, or worse, as sex slaves... including children. 

In my own daily activities, I inadvertently come across people who surreptitiously give me indications that they are indentured or enslaved in veiled clues as we talk. Sadly, in the past, I missed what would be obvious to anyone aware of the slavery issue (I wasn't at that time). 

Where have I encountered those indentured or slaves?   Gas stations with mini-marts, nail salons, and construction sites. Most gas station mini-mart workers speak a decent amount of English. Nail salon technicians either are not required to be licensed or the owners simply ignore the law. Many indentured/enslaved "illegal" men work for construction sites.

How are illegals identified? 

  1. If you notice that different workers at the same or similar place all give a similar story of their backgrounds or lives, that's a clue.

  2. If the person doing doesn't seem to want to talk to you or can't speak English, that's a tiny indicator.  

  3. Or, when holidays come and you ask if they will be spending it with their families, they lament they won't, haven't for a while, and won't be able to see them for a long time.

  4.  If they glance around furitively as they speak to you, that's another indicator they may be indentured or outright enslaved. 

  5. If they are brought to a work site stuffed into the covered bed of a pickup or packed into the back of a truck with no or blacked-out windows, that's a clue.

  6. For ICE, tips are usually given as to the location of a wanted criminal illegal immigrant. In the process of apprehension, other illegal immigrants are frequently encountered, detained, identified, and deported.

The BostonGlobe failed to mention the solution... stop illegal immigration. Illegal immigration is an expensive, dangerous, and arduous undertaking.  If you love immigrants, encourage those here illegally to leave and come back legally, because laws will continue to be enforced for the protection and benefit of our country. Those who come illegally will be identified and deported immediately, without time to get their affairs in order.

Over decades, the most driven, hard working, good people have been siphoned off to the United States. Unfortunately with them come hardened criminals, cartel members and obligants, mentally ill, drug addicts, and physically disabled, whose goal is to take advantage of our system.  Our president has offered to help some of those countries fight the issues that are making their most productive citizens flee. These immigrants who are determined to work and build a life need to work to make changes in their own countries.

Little Birdies Crime Scene.

 In writing, the rule is if a story has disastrous or bad outcome, disclose that early. This the narrative of coming upon a murder scene.

For several years, a mud swallows nest existed beneath the roof overhang eves, tucked where two exterior walls met to form a right angle. Within that well-covered corner the nest was protected from the weather elements. It had be vacant for the last several years, but I held hope that the swallows would return.

 One day in early May, 2025, while cleaning on the side of the house, the peeping of little birds caught my attention. Their tiny heads barely showed over the edge of the nest, bobbing up and down intermittently. After a minute, the mother bird appeared. I watched the mother bird, not a swallow, make flight after flight over the fence to the neighbor's yard swooping in mid-air aerobatics to capture insects, which she dutifully brought back, clutched in her beak. She'd quickly deposit her catch into one of the open mouths, then immediately fly off and within minutes, bring back another. For the next few days I enjoyed the knowledge that birds were back and the live nature show.

But the intriguing nuturing show didn’t last. On the third day of viewing a few trips by the mother bird, another bird showed up, diving into her pathway. It was slightly bigger than her and aggressive, but not a hawk. I didn't get a good enough look to determine if it was the same species or not. Clearly, they had "words" with an unfriendly appearing mid-flight exchange.  A phone call forced me away from the unfolding natural world drama.

On May 5, 2025, a mere two days after enjoying the newly occupied nest, I came upon a crime scene a few feet from the base of the long ramp leading to the back sliding door. A small chaotic pile of tiny pin feathers littered the patterned concrete patio floor. Scanning the delicate and unmistakable feathers, they were clearly the remnants of a baby bird. I rushed to the side of the house and desperately searched for any signs of life in the high-mounted nest. The nest was a silent shell, its occupants gone. I made bird calls, to no avail. No sound, no movement.  The scattered feathers are all that remained of the little birdies.

 

Then on 5/7/2025, I found another grim clue... a pile of tiny feathers by the washer and dryer stored along the house's exterior beneath the nest.😥 I stood there, trying to piece together what had happened. Had they tried to fly? The chicks were too young to fly; their feathers and wings weren't sufficiently developed. Had they fallen out? Not likely. They barely showed their little heads above the nest's edge when their necks were stretched out, mouths open, begging for food from their mother. Most likely they were brutally snatch from the small mud fortress without mercy, but by what?

I recall that at around 2 or 3 a.m., three nights after I had originally discovered them, I heard a commotion of birds. I’d dismissed it as a fleeting disturbance, but that must have been when an attack ensued. But by what? The predator could’ve been another bird, a rat, a possum, or feral cat, all common in our area.  Rats, possums, and some cats can climb a stucco walled house.

This wasn’t just a loss; it was a violation of the small sanctuary I’d watched with such hope. Nor have I seen the mother bird return to the nest. For a moment, I wondered if I could’ve done something—scared off the intruder, checked the nest sooner. But nature doesn’t wait for our interventions. Eventually whatever the determined predator would have prevailed. Nature moves on, leaving us to grapple with the aftermath of its brutality. I’m left staring at that corner of the house, hoping the swallows might one day reclaim it, but knowing the story of those little birds will linger, a reminder of the beauty, brutality, and reality of nature.

On two separate, heart-wrenching occasions, a baby possum was found drowned in my pool. Nature can be so cruel. I've witnessed it repeatedly across species. I often wonder what the mothers think, after they've lost their baby. Do they search for their lost young and for how long? They usually have a brood to look after, so can't risk the other lives for the one. I remember as a child seeing a mother farm cat return from a training foraging hunt with her kittens only to realize one was missing. Usually over time, several from the litter would disappear before they reached adulthood. 

How long do the animal mothers mourn? Do they dream of their lost young, as I do of moments gone? The more evolved species, such as chimpanzees and great apes, appear to mourn deeper and longer, carrying and cradling the limp body of their young in their grief. Their brains are wired for empathy and sorrow.

In San Diego’s canyon hills, nature is being pushed to the brink as untethered development and the ignoring of homeless people who camp in the nature corridors displaces the native wildlife. What binds us to the animal world? There’s a flicker of something universal, bonds of love that even greed and cruelty cannot extinguish, a resilience that humbles me. Is it the reflection of our lives... love and nuturing versus the brutality and cruelty? When resources are aplenty, aggression and cruelty decrease. Do we pay attention to a fleeting pang or a prolonged wail, each a cry against indifference and the assault on our natural world?

The story of the baby birds are a indicator, like the frogs in a stream or a canary in a mine, that something is going wrong with our environment and ecology.

Schadenfreude... the Pleasure of Misfortune

Schadenfreude... the Pleasure of Misfortune

/ˈSHädənˌfroidə/

I discovered the word schadenfreude, a noun meaning pleasure derived by someone from another person's misfortune.  I smiled at finding a word that exactly described my mother's general and parental attitude which had been difficult to explain to people.  An example of schadenfreude is your response if you see someone cruelly kick a dog and they badly stub their toes.  Most people will be angry that the person kicked the dog, but might smile at the inflictor's pain. That kind of smile and attitude, of "good, they deserved that... instant karma," is an example of mild schadenfreude. 
Some people might ask the kicker if they are alright, but the concern is usually not completely genuine.  Anyone who observes your smile understands your true feelings, because the smile is not a smile of heartfelt regard.  Children, of parents with the trait of schadenfreude, also understand the parent's smiles and true feelings.    

 

Although normal people may exhibit schadenfreude depending on the circumstance, my mother, quite possibly a psychopath, or simply mentally unstable or ill, exhibited it consistently. 

 

One major difference between "normal" people and my mother is that although normal people may have witnessed something that brought about rightful misfortune to others and a sense of schadenfreude, my mother would sometimes deliberately do something to cause misfortune to others and revel in the adversity. For instance, the neighbor's little dog squeezed through the fence into our backyard.  Over years, she had refused to let me have a dog, but kept the little dog, lying to the neighbors that she hadn't seen the dog, all the while knowing how much they loved their dog. She smugly gloated and smiled with schadenfreude when they asked her if she had seen their dog. Eventually she was caught with the dog, but blatantly stuck to lies and did not apologize. Other than the neighbors knowing what a piece of work she was, she faced no repercussions. She knew she had gotten away with the vile act and never changed her heart.

 

 

Children take their cues on how to react situations by how other people react.  Small children toddle and inevitably fall while learning to stand and walk.  Good parents often naturally smile or laugh, help them or let them regain their feet, and let them try again.  The child learns it is okay to fall, because they can simply try again.  If the child is hurt, a loving parent might still smile with empathy, but gently wipes the tears, comforts until the pain is past or mostly past, and then sends the child on their way.  The child learns comfort exists in the parents, that pain will pass, and they can try again.  In the few photos of me as a baby and child, it was apparent that my father was the loving parent.  I recall him smiling as he taught us the things little kids need to master. Our mother was the opposite.

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My mother embraced schadenfreude.  She would smile and laugh when I would fall, but there was no comfort or genuine encouragement, unless someone was watching.  The comfort was for show.  I knew, but hoped the comfort was real.  She took pleasure in seeing me or my siblings physically or emotionally hurt.  Her smirking expression, riddled with schadenfreude, hid the self-serving gratification of a resentful parent.  She secretly, or not so secretly, never wanted children, especially me, as she would say as she talked to herself.  Ultimately I ended with permanent physical injuries that continue to plague me after decades.

I write this so you can recognize schadenfreude, which can progress to bullying. When someone has a misfortune, such as they do an embarrassing splat fall, drop things, get food on themselves, it is okay to laugh, but only if immediately followed by helping them with genuine help, care, and words of comfort.  Incident responses need to be practiced, so kids can retain a sense of humor and compassion.

  

Proposal for Publicly Financed Elections

Edward Chaplin's  Proposal for Publicly Financed Elections

Chaplin proposes that every registered San Diego voter be given $25 in vouchers, that they could give to whichever candidate they chose, for mayor, city attorney, or City Council.   He said, "It would make every voter in San Diego part of the donor class."  He said the program would cost no more than $6 million per year.  

Although an interesting idea to get voters involved, there are several problems with this scheme.  

First, people, in general, don't respect money they are given, whether in vouchers, gift cards, or cash.  That is why the majority of lottery winners go through any money they win within three years.  People could easily give vouchers to people they know would be willing to give favors of some kind.  (Yes, corruption still exists.)  Some enterprising, but corrupt, person could offer $5 or $10 cash for a voucher donated to a particular candidate, to boost that candidate's coffers.

Second, many people wouldn't use the vouchers at all.  Although the taxpayers have been taxed, the money is wasted.  At best, ends  up in a slush fund.  It appears this proposal is another well-meaning, but deluded way, to fleece taxpayers.  Perhaps I'm wrong.  Is there a way to reimburse tax payers the unused voucher money?  Yeah, I didn't think so.

Third, people who are clueless as to the backgrounds and positions of the candidates might donate to the person who's name is the most familiar, likeable, or simply a member of a particular party, thus defeating the purpose of the voucher, which is to get informed voters involved to elect new blood.