California Assembly passes resolution for ‘Cuss Free Week’
Really?? Doesn’t the CA assembly have something better to do with their time like fixing how messed up California is?? I’m so let down with our politions (as usual)!
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14470454
Boycott San Diego Clear Channel Radio Stations
At the beginning of this month, money grubbing Clear Channel decided to not renew the contract of Dave, Shelly and Chainsaw show which has been one if not the most popular morning show here in San Diego for over 20 years. The show was currently being hosted by radio station KGB 101.5. My personal view is that this is the best morning show I have ever heard in the country, including syndicated shows, because it was truly funny and didn’t insult my intelligence.
I have written KGB and will soon write Clear Channel and I advise all DSC fans to do the same. I also invite you to join my boycott of all Clear Channel stations in San Diego (list below)… actually I’m not listening to radio at all since most of it totally sucks besides this show.
Clear Channel Stations
- KGB-FM
- KHTS-FM (CHANNEL 933)
- KIOZ-FM (ROCK 105.3)
- KLSD-AM (XTRA SPORTS)
- KMYI-FM (STAR 94.1)
- KOGO-AM (AM 600 KOGO)
- KUSS-FM (NEW COUNTRY 95.7)
If you know of any others or any news about the DSC show, please enter a comment below.
First Sunset of the Year
I took this picture right around 16th street by the beach in Del Mar, Ca on 1/3/2010. The San Diego area has the best sunsets I have ever seen!
Does the City of San Diego Owe Your Money?
The city of San Diego has hundreds of thousands of dollars from returned checks and more that might be owed to you. After three years they get to keep it, so go to the link below to see if you are owed money:
Juror Number 14
This week I had the pleasure to be called for the 6th time and serve for the 5th time on a jury at the San Diego Courthouse. Usually when I tell my friends or co-workers that I have been called to jury service the reaction is not good. They act like they are going to the dentist to get teeth pulled or some other task one would totally like to avoid. They usually continue to tell me all the ways they use to get out of jury service. I for one like it when I get my summons and look forward to being part of the process.
Now I’m not going to agree that our legal process is the best it could be, but it’s a lot better than many others in the world. I would rather be judged by a jury of my peers then some judge that is having a bad day. I believe it’s every Americans duty to willing fulfill their service when called, just like voting. If you aren’t part of the process, then you have nothing to complain about.
The Case
The case I was on was my second criminal case. You might be wondering why I was juror 14 when there are only 12 jurors on a jury? Well I was alternate number two which means I do everything any other juror has to do during the case, but unless another juror can’t fulfill their service, I don’t get to decide if the defendant is guilty or not.
This case was a DUI case that happened about a year ago here in downtown San Diego. I’m always very interested in the jury selection process. This time it was different than the other times I was called. Usually the judge and attorneys ask their questions to only the 12 jurors in the jury box. This time they did this process to all 50 people in the jury pool. So this took awhile (almost an entire day including the orientation in the morning). Since I was the last person picked for the jury, I sit there trying to figure out who the attorneys will let go from the jury. Most of the time I’m pretty dead on, but sometimes they do surprise me.
During this question and answer process to the jury pool there were a few questions like if we had a DUI or have been personally been a victim or know someone close to us that have been a victim of a crime that was alcohol related. Now I know that DUI’s are on the rise, but to my surprise almost half of the people there raised their hand and had one or more stories (some really horrible like a death).
The prosecution put on a good case. There were only three witnesses who were the policeman who pulled over the defendant, the person that took his blood and a very cute CSI woman that tested his blood. After we were told that his BAC was .19 (over double the allowed limit in California) it was pretty much over for me. The CSI did such a great job at not only proving that fact but also proving that the machine she used was calibrated correctly. The policeman told us that the defendant failed (some because he did not follow directions) every field sobriety test.
Unfortunately I found out that one does not need to possess a very high IQ to be a Phlebotomist (someone who draws blood). Not much school needed (think of that the next time you are getting sticked). But this one was exceptional! About two months after the blood draw of the defendant she was fired from the company she was working for (that contracts with the San Diego police department) and banned from working for the San Diego police department for life! When she was asked when she was fired, she asked the judge to plead the 5th amendment! I had to do everything I could to not burst out laughing. So if you happen to be getting your blood drawn at Kaiser hospital and a large woman with a very bad home blonde hair dye job is about to stick your arm, I would run away!
The defense put on a pretty poor case. The attorney seemed to be distracted and didn’t seem to be prepared. This was very different from the prosecuting attorney who was prepared and had all of his questions typed out for every witness. The defense attorney spent way too much time on where the blood was drawn for the BAC test. Both expert witnesses who spoke on this subject said it did not matter… it’s the same blood. He also spent too much time on how the field sobriety tests were given, trying to discredit them. Dang, the guy failed all six! Plus he was pulled over because he almost hit a car, a median and straddled the middle of two left turn lanes. Isn’t that enough to pull someone over?
The defense also put on the stand the wife and son of the defendant who were in the car with him and also at dinner with him before he got pulled over. Both of them could not seem to remember much of anything of the evening. So either they were just playing dumb (so why put them on the stand) or they were as drunk or more then he was. Both them and the defendant tried to convince us that during a two and a half hour birthday dinner celebration for his son, they only ordered two bottles of wine. The defendant said he only drank two glasses of wine. Sure, I will believe that, but what else did he have? If this was true, why didn’t the defense produce the dinner receipt from the restaurant?
The Verdict
It only took the jury less then two hours to return a verdict of guilty of both charges (driving under the influence and having a BAC over .08). I found out from one of the other jurors that this was the second time this case went to court. The first time resulted in a hung jury because there was a crazy attorney in the jury that refused to make a decision. In criminal cases, every juror has to agree on the verdict.
I kept thinking why did he bring this to court let alone twice? If it’s his first time just take the punishment and be done with it since his BAC was .19. I can see fighting it if he was .08 but not at the level he was at. So it got me thinking this was not his first. If it was possibly his third time he could be looking at 120 days in jail.
I found out he was being sentenced the next day, so I called back and found out the he got what he would have gotten if he pleaded guilty in the first place! This pissed me off that he wasted so much of our tax dollars to take him to court twice! Now I know he doesn’t care on his end because he is rich, but when San Diego is in such a financial crises, this seems pretty stupid.
Getting To Jury Duty
If you are called to jury duty I really recommend taking the bus, Coaster or trolley to get downtown. Parking is $16 or less depending how far you want to walk. Starting the second day you can trade your mileage payment of $.15 per mile in for a pass for one of mass transit methods. I choose the Coaster and it was great. Only took 30 minutes from where I live, was on time and the downtown station is only three blocks from the courthouse.
Experience Jury Duty
So the next time you get a summons to do jury duty I hope that you will take part with the enthusiasm and conviction that I do. Because if you are ever in the position to be judged by your peers (not saying you will be part of a criminal case, but how about if you take a doctor to court for medial malpractice etc.), would you rather have twelve people like me judging you or twelve people that hate being there judging you?
Write a Review on Yelp and Get Kicked Out
Yes, write a review on Yelp.com about the Arterra restaurant/ bar in San Diego, Ca and get 86′d (kicked out). Read below:
10/9/2009
Now, based on my previous two reviews of Arterra (in the Marriott), the bartender that I reviewed has now managed to 86 (kick me out) of the bar/ restaurant! That’s right, I went in tonight to get a drink from the my favorite “good” bartender, Mike, and after I was done, they (the manger) told me I was no longer welcome. Their reason was bogus since this is only the second time I’ve been there this year, the real reason is because of the truths/ reviews I have been writing on Yelp.
It’s too bad new management believe the word of this bartender I wrote about. I don’t blame the the other bartenders for sticking together, this is what they do. I do blame the Arterra management for not only keeping this terrible immature bartender (Corry) but letting him manipulate the situation.
Locals or regulars bring a lot of money into restaurants/ bars and it’s too bad that they don’t get it and keep pushing us away. Is the Marriott going to 86 everyone that writes a not so favorable review on Yelp.com?
While this was all going on this evening, there was this SUPER DRUNK guy in the bar, bothering all the patrons (girls), pissing off the bartenders that no one did anything about. Hows that for fairness? I did nothing but come in and get a drink to wind down after an very long and stressful day.
Stay away from this place until they get better management and better bartenders. Food service and service in the bar is really bad too.
8/24/2009
Watch out if you write a bad review on Yelp! Went back to to Arterra last week hoping my favorite bartender was there but instead the one I wrote about was! While he served me and after I gave him a big tip… seems he and others at the Marriott read my review and he gave me a ration of crap! Not very professional. Guess you never can go back.
3/12/2009
While the outside patio is nice here, that’s about it. The bar boasts that it brings downtown to Carmel Valley… yes it does! Downtown prices and attitude. If you are a local… stay away. While Arterra use to be a cool place to hang out, have a drink and listen to a local jazz band, that is all gone. Replaced by high corporate prices and a DJ. Gone are the bartenders that take care of you and managers/chefs that took care of you.
Actually, here is a story of one of their bartenders: I stopped going to Arterra over a year ago mostly because of one of the bartenders there. He is verbally, physically and mentally abusive and I just won’t put up with then when going to a bar, especially when I was a regular! I know I’m not they only local that feels this way and does not go to Arterra for the same reasons. On multiple occasions he has sprayed cleaning fluid in my face. He has made fun of my clothing. He has thrown my drinks out for no reason and even has banded together with other bartenders to not even serve me (early in the evening even before my first drink). I can keep going but I think you get the idea.
Unless you want to be treated this way at the Arterra bar, I would stay away.
Heard from the Marriott on 10/13/2009
This afternoon I rec’d an email with an attached letter from the Del Mar Marriott. Here are the contents:
I am in receipt of your complaint from Marriott Customer Care regarding your recent visit to Arterra.
Your comments have been shared with our staff.
Thank you for your candid feedback.
Sincerely,
Joe Emma
Assistant General Manager
Wow, what an awesome response! I think Joe should go into politics! I expected something like “… we’ll look into it”, an apology but not this! Oh well, what do I expect from a large corporation anyway.
Pedestrians Need To Pay Attention When Walking In Front Of Cars
Not two minutes later I was pulling into the parking lot of a local restaurant and a woman was very slowly walking across the parking lot reading a piece of paper in her own little world… not paying attention to me or that I wanted to get past her to park! Come on people, I know pedestrians have the right of way, but it does not make you any less responsible for an accident. If you are going to be in front of 3+ ton bullets, get off your frickin cell phones, iPods or whatever other distractions you might have! Otherwise that might be the last time you are walking anywhere.
Save Some Cash On Apple Products
I should have whipped out my Amazon.com iPhone app right at the store and checked but totally forgot. Amazon.com offers a full line of Apple products including laptops for up to 6% off from what I could tell. If you spend $25 or more, shipping is free! So if you don’t need something right this minute and want to skip the crowded Apple stores, check out Amazon.com.
Torrey Pines State Beach Raises Parking Fees
Now compare this to the Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma that is also a state park but only costs $5 and you can come back free for a week!!
