Thursday, August 27, 2009 - Posts

• Unseen - Pictures Drawn by Michael Jackson

  The Times online is putting out some pictures drawn by the late Michael Jackson. The 1st picture - was drawn back in 1971. (Jackson was 13-years old. It was a protest against the Vietnam War.) This one was drawn by Jackson in Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 10:31 PM by godogs | 2 Comments

• 2010 – NUMMI – Plant to Close

  2010 – NUMMI – Plant to Close   Toyota Motor Corp. plans to close the NUMMI plant in Fremont in March 2010.   That’s bad news for the area and for the state’s unemployment rate.   See it – Link it: (*Article was written before announcement Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:40 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Power-up - Kern Hydrogen Power

  Power-up - Kern Hydrogen Power   It’s a long way from happening – BUT:         ... in Kern County they will soon be studying the idea of building a hydrogen power plant.   (Projected price tag for the plant Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:39 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• California - Remember High-speed rail?

  California - Remember High-speed rail?   Make that “Slow-Speed” rail.   This week a court ruling may have temporarily derailed a potential route over the Pacheco Pass.   All aboard – litigation around the next bend.   See it Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:39 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• El Nino – We need you…

  El Nino – We need you…   Who knows if our three year drought will end this season, but some are hoping an El Nino weather pattern could help.   We need the rain, and the water.   See it – Link it:   Stockton Record article Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:38 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Senator Kennedy’s California Legacy?

  Senator Kennedy’s California Legacy?   Senator Edward Kennedy – helped to write and pass the 1986 Immigration Reform Act.   The law – gave amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants.   See it – Link it:   Sacramento Bee articl Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:37 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• California Supreme Court – 2/3 – A Okay..

  California Supreme Court – 2/3 – A Okay..   I almost missed this story.   Today the State Supreme Court - rejected a lawsuit filed that challenged the constitutional requirement that new taxes need to be passed by a two-thirds vote Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:36 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Turlock – Lawyers – God – And Prayer

  Turlock – Lawyers – God – And Prayer   It looks like (for the time being at least)  Turlock council members will have to run their prayers by a lawyer.   The “Freedom from Religion Foundation” – doesn’t like their prayers (invocations) Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:35 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Sheriff Margaret Mims – Re-election Bid

  Sheriff Margaret Mims – Re-election Bid   Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims – announced this week she’s running for re-election.    See it – Link it:   Fresno Bee political notebook   Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:34 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Governor – Tweet – Gutless ?

  Governor –  Tweet – Gutless?   It’s called a "Tweetcast."      Governor  Schwarzenegger – has done several of these.   (He had one when he briefly waived huge knife)   Anyway during this week’s Tweetcast Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:33 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• California - Higher Taxes – On the Way

  California - Higher Taxes – On the Way   Brace yourself – for yet another tax hit from Sacramento.   The tax board is changing some tax brackets.   Bottom line – a lot of folks are getting bumped into higher brackets.   See Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:32 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Bakersfield – Sounds off on Health Care Reform

  Bakersfield – Sounds off on Health Care Reform   It sounds like a familiar scenario recently played out at a health care forum in Bakersfield.   A lot of folks feel like Congress is trying to force government health care on the country. Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:32 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Congressman George Radanovich – Its do or die time.

  Congressman George Radanovich – Its do or die time. Is Congressman Radanovich – right?   Is our Valley is at a crossroad?   If so, at the center of road – is water.   Water and Jobs are on the line right now for California. Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:31 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Gavin MacLeod - New Movie - 'The Secrets of Johathan Sperry'

  Next month you can check-out the new film The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry It comes out on September 18th. (It will only be out in about  200 theaters.) Churches are behind the film which is based on a story about  three 12-year-old boys Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 7:47 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Facebook - Hiring ?

  Facebook - Hiring ? I know some folks who would love to work for Facebook. And now may be the time. Facebook may expand its staff by up to 50 percent this year. ( They have about 1,000 employees right now) See it - Link it: Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 7:44 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• California - Red Flag Warning - Fire Risk

  California - Red Flag Warning - Fire Risk Red flag warnings are going up in California. (From - San Francisco to the foothills of Los Angeles) The flags - mean we're facing a critical fire threat. (High temps - low humidity - strong Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 7:39 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Tulare - Williamson Act – 1st Victim?

  Tulare - Williamson Act – 1st Victim?   Without the tax break afforded under the Williamson act some are taking another look at large parcials of land for other development.   In Tulare the council is looking at a lot of land for Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 7:36 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Fresno Grizzlies – Back in 2010?

  Fresno Grizzlies – Back in 2010?   According to leaders with the club – the Grizzlies (The Triple-A affiliate of the Giants) will be back in Fresno Next season.   But at what price?   See it – Link it:   Fresno Bee article Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 7:35 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• California Property Assessments – Revolt ?

  California Property Assessments – Revolt ?   In Stanislaus County it looks like more homeowners are challenging their property tax bills.    (Some believe their assessments are too high.)   See it – Link it:   Modesto Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 7:34 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Fair School Fees – In Clovis ?

  Fair School Fees – In Clovis ?   It sounds like there could be a legal battle brewing in Clovis.   Some families claim the Clovis Unified School District – won’t let some kids graduate unless certain fees are paid first.   See it Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 7:33 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Bakersfield College – Enrollment Down.. Slightly

  Bakersfield College – Enrollment Down.. Slightly   Like lots of colleges around the state Bakersfield College saw a slight dip in enrollment this fall semester.   (It’s only down about one percent)   But some wonder if the trend is Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 7:33 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• California - SAT Scores – Down?

  California - SAT Scores – Down? Its not the kind of trend you want to see.   California test scores on the SAT exam – are down.   See it – Link it:   LA Times article   Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 7:32 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Kern County - Another Tax Hit

  Kern County - Another Tax Hit   Like hundreds of other cities and counties in California – Kern County will get a smaller check from the state this month.   Tax revenues are down and that trickles down to the local level.   See it Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 7:31 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Governor Schwarzenegger - Jefferson Elementary School

  Governor Schwarzenegger - Jefferson Elementary School   Nice recognition this week from the Governor.   He’s pushing for more federal money for California schools and he picked Jefferson Elementary School as a campus that’s doing things Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 7:31 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Newsweek – Our Valley – Dying on the Vine?

  Newsweek – Our Valley – Dying on the Vine?   You know our drought and our high unemployment here in the valley is bad, when Newsweek takes notice.   See it – Link it:   Newsweek article   Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 7:29 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Water Canal – End Run – Water Grab?

  Water Canal – End Run – Water Grab?   Some here in the valley are against some plans being discussed in Sacramento to build new canals as part of the fix for the state’s drought.   But – Who will get the water?   See it – Link it: Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 7:28 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• "The Great California Garage Sale"

  "The Great California Garage Sale"   It’s this weekend.   The state is selling off surplus state property.   Check it out on eBay and Craigslist.   See it – Link it:   San Francisco Chronicle article Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 7:28 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Expensive Water - $54 Billion?

  Expensive Water - $54 Billion?   According to some – fixing the state’s drought will come with a hefty price tag.   (The Delta fix – could cost up to $54 billion dollars.)   See it – Link it:   Contra Costa Times article Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 7:27 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Congressman Dennis Cardoza – Jobs…

  Congressman Dennis Cardoza – Jobs…   Congressman Cardoza wants President Obama to do something about the high unemployment numbers here in the valley.   See it – Link it:   Merced Sun-Star article Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 7:26 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Flowing Cash – Instead of Water

  Flowing Cash – Instead of Water   This week Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack got a first hand look at the rising price tag to our valley drought.   We need water.   But will Washington send us money instead?   See it – Link Read More posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 6:38 PM by godogs | 0 Comments