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Al’s Corner – January –> 2024 is Going to Suck – Probably a Nuke Will be Detonated – “Though we do go after the Vanguard on here”

image from www.sparkysonestop.com

I'm tired of being optimistic about the new year.  Since Covid-19, we've all hoped the next new year would bring better times, but each subsequent year since 2020 has sucked, culminating with the October 7th Invasion & War and Increased Hatred of Groups of People.  And our City Council ?  NOT HELPING.

People suck.

But, as R.O. says:  "we do go after the Vanguard on here".  And that is the most important thing — even more important than world peace.

Some annoying woketivist reminded me that David Greenwald was living rent-free in my head.  So I informed DG that I'm now charging him $3000/mo for rent. 

2024 will undoubtedly suck more than 2023.  I also believe some angry narcissist is going to set off a nuke in 2024.  That'll make the argument over who called in the Davis bomb threats moot.  Stock up on iodine, folks!

SUBJECT:  "Editor’s Note: The Good, the Bad and the Ridiculous"  [2day's vansplard]

Well, 2023 ended with a boom. 
 
I predict 2024 will also end with a boom.  Only long before the end of the year.  Iodine, folks.
 
The good news in the last six days the Vanguard raised $13,000. 
 
"Good" is a value judgement.
 
WS say:  "It’s actual science Beth, but your own experiences have blinded you to that widely recognized fact."
 
Taking a break in the middle of the article.  The last vestige of woke-ism:  "It's science"  Actually, science is a process of challenge, theory and confirmation, not a religion of a set facts.  And now back to our regularly featured tearing apart of things written in the Vanguard:
 

Spike the ball.  Live to fight another day.

Hopefully just a day, if we're lucky.

The bad news… that just gets us through the payroll this month.

"Bad" is a judgement call.

I remember when $13,000 would set us up nicely for a few months.  Now it’s barely a month.  That’s ridiculous but at the same time, it’s okay.

It's okay?  What's okay?  Horrible, society-killing inflation?  "Okay" then.

We’re on the verge of doing some great stuff this year. 

Sounds like y'all are also on the verge of running out of cash.

The biggest news coming into the new year is that we are working to launch (finally) our new website. 

Oh goody.  "Finally" — You can say that again.   Of course, now that I'm banned and the comments are a woke suckfest echo-chamber (plus KO for as long as he lasts), I don't give a flying fuck that the edit feature might actually work before it times out.  Which is all I ever asked.  Oh that and a new moderator.  But a website format fix, well, it won't fix that.

This will be our first new website since 2014. 

Seems longer ago than that.

I have seen the prototype for it and it looks nice and clean.

I can't wait not to use it.

The continued Vanguard Court Watch and what that program means not only for the Vanguard but for all the interns—all three of them had formerly been interns and soon all three will be in law school.

Just what we need, more indoctrinated, woketivist lawyers.

The rolling out of our prison watch internship where we will be taking the concept of the court watch and helping to train incarcerated people in journalism.

"We" ?  Who is the "we" that will be doing this training?  Intern future lawyers?  Prison guards ?  Prison "Van" guards ?

Our future high school journalism training program where we will be taking inner city kids and helping them go to college by training them in journalism, the law, and writing.

You will be teaching writing to young people?  Seriously?  Is this The Onion?  The Babylon Bee?   The irony police called and they want all of your English teachers incarcerated for the harm done to your readers.  After awhile, we all become just a little bit worse writers ourselves:  "Trickle down" immigrammatical exposure.  But of course, your future woketivist lawyers will decarcerate your English teachers.  So it'll all be alright.

I pause to thank all of you who donated in 2023 and especially those who helped in the critical drive down the stretch—you made this all possible.

Yeah, thanks, Butt Heads.  What were you thinking?

It should be a fun year. 

That's one prediction.  I'm predicting the detonation of a nuke –> "half glass full, half glass empty" – Tanya Harding

We’ll be firing up the old fund drive soon enough. 

Does it run on diesel ?  Does CARB still let you run it?

If you want to help, however, you can become a monthly donor, a sustaining member

Or you can jam your foot in the door and demand tax records.

Iodine, folks.  Iodine.

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Alan C. Miller

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Comments

70 responses to “Al’s Corner – January –> 2024 is Going to Suck – Probably a Nuke Will be Detonated – “Though we do go after the Vanguard on here””

  1. R Keller

    Where’s “Craig Ross” when we need him? He was always up for insulting anyone who criticized Greenwald’s pandering campaign propaganda for his developer buddies.

    Reply
  2. Alan C. Miller

    Looks like a two-fer folks! Two days with zero comments on the Vanguard. And I see two articles that I would have commented on to criticize DGs views. Such a shame. The once mighty Vanguard. The once mighty community discussion space.
    And the real gem: they drove out or banned all the assholes, and the resulting influx of people craving for a echo-safe space to spew bad ideas in never materialized. Turns out the world needs assholes.

    Reply
  3. South of Davis

    Alan wrote:

    Two days with zero comments on the Vanguard.
    It makes sense that if a site does not have any readers it will not have any commenters…

    Reply
  4. Ron O

    The once mighty community discussion space.
    And the real gem: they drove out or banned all the assholes, and the resulting influx of people craving for a echo-safe space to spew bad ideas in never materialized. Turns out the world needs assholes.
    According to some, the only ones who comment on blogs are the same small group of “assholes” in the first place, driving out others (who would presumably not challenge anything they say, nor try to create or engage in an actual discussion).
    Perhaps the creators of blogs don’t really want a community discussion, anyway. They just want a place to post their own articles, and/or advance their own advocacy.

    Reply
  5. Keith

    “According to some, the only ones who comment on blogs are the same small group of “assholes” in the first place, driving out others (who would presumably not challenge anything they say, nor try to create or engage in an actual discussion).
    Perhaps the creators of blogs don’t really want a community discussion, anyway. They just want a place to post their own articles, and/or advance their own advocacy.”
    Well said Ron. What you stated here is exactly how I see it too. Looking at the conversation from a couple of days ago it’s amazing to me to see what comments were allowed to remain posted and what comments were taken down.

    Reply
  6. Alan C. Miller

    We’ve had some discussions about that here at the Davisite. Hopefully things will be a bit better. The goal is to be better than The Davis Vanguard or Beth Bourne’s Facebook page. Talk about low bars!

    Reply
  7. Alan C. Miller

    SUBJECT: “Commentary: We Cannot Stay the Course on Housing and Measure J” [2day’s Zavis Zansplard]
    KYE say, regarding DG’s article (on housing, #gasp!#): “I read all of what you just wrote and without putting on my policy wonk hat an (and because I hadn’t drunk my coffee yet) and I really glazed over what you wrote and really didn’t care.“
    I believe you speak for many of us in Davis, KYE.

    Reply
  8. Keith

    I’ve got news for KYE, the coffee wouldn’t have helped.

    Reply
  9. Ron O

    The problem with the Vanguard’s “discussion” regarding Measure J is that David himself is opposed to Measure J, as are almost all of the remaining commenters.
    They aren’t trying to “fix” it for the purpose of saving it. They are looking for ways to overturn it, and have been for years.
    It seems that David is concerned that Covell Village won’t be approved by voters, but he (or the council?) thinks that asking those same voters to overturn Measure J will work?
    In other words, David thinks that voters are going to reject Covell Village, while also removing their own ability to do so?
    Well, good luck with that.

    Reply
  10. Ron O

    Below is a copy of an email that I just sent to the council:
    I see that the Vanguard is continuing its years-long campaign of misinformation.
    In today’s article, David cites several cities as being “pro-housing”, without explanation (e.g., whether or not they’re expanding outward to address the state’s housing targets).
    He then goes on to state that Davis lacks infill sites. But he conveniently leaves out the fact that every city throughout the state lacks infill sites (blank land). That’s why the state is requiring rezoning of sites that already have buildings on them. (Those sites are also “infill” sites.)
    Here is one such example of rezoning of sites which already have buildings, and which is creating a backlash:
    https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/rezoning-backlash-lakeside-18621676.php
    If the state required “infill sites” to simply be blank land (with no buildings on them), every city in the state would fail to address the state’s housing targets.
    But again, this is why the state’s efforts will fail – it’s really not even in question. It’s a misguided, illogical and extremely divisive effort in the first place, which isn’t going to “pencil-out” (which even David acknowledges).

    Reply
  11. Ron O

    Here’s yet another lie being promulgated:
    “Meanwhile, younger renters agonized over the fact that the areas’ housing scarcity means that their generation won’t be able to raise families in the city.”
    https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/s-f-housing-clash-yimby-nimby-18638462.php
    The fact is that most young families in San Francisco wouldn’t dare send their kids to that atrocious public school system, if they have the ability to leave. And that’s been occurring for DECADES.
    And by the way, since when did The Chronicle start using the terms “YIMBY” and “NIMBY”, when only one of those terms is not derogatory and biased?
    Here’s hoping that The Chronicle goes the way of the LA Times (mass layoffs).
    But here’s a quote that probably is true:
    Cow Hollow Neighborhood Association President Lori Brooke said “very very few people in San Francisco were even aware what was going on.”
    (Unfortunately, cities are going to have to actually suffer some negative consequences, for mass, organized resistance to emerge.)

    Reply
  12. Ron O

    By they way, ask your local, “friendly” realtor what they think of the statement below. Or, do they claim that they have “no control” over what their own organization does?
    (Right, I’m sure that their concern is “affordable housing”.)
    And while you’re at it, ask them when they’re going to reduce their OWN FEES, in regard to buying and selling houses. Or, did they not “get the memo” regarding the related lawsuit in other states?
    “Where the state declines to step in, there are other sheriffs in town.
    Matt Gelfand, attorney with the legal nonprofit Californians for Homeownership, said he doesn’t expect the state to be “ultra aggressive” in looking over each jurisdiction’s shoulder as it redraws its zoning maps. “Nor do I think that’s necessarily the role of the state,” he said.
    That, in Gelfand’s view, is his job. “We are ultra, ultra aggressive,” he said.
    The nonprofit, sponsored by the California Association of Realtors,     has sued roughly a dozen cities across the state for failing to plan or zone for enough housing.”
    https://calmatters.org/housing/2024/01/california-zoning/

    Reply
  13. Ron O

    Interesting “guest” article in the Vanguard today, which actually cites an article from LA Progressive. (Not familiar with that publication, but I’m guessing that it’s similar to San Francisco’s 48 Hills.)
    “There is no shortage of cons in American society, and it is hard to find a bigger one than the claim that homelessness, rent gouging, and overcrowding result from a housing shortage. City Hall’s solution, therefore, is to “unleash the private sector” by eliminating zoning laws and environmental review to build more housing. While these faux answers tremendously benefit real estate speculators, they invariably boomerang. Homelessness continues to rise despite a building boom of expensive apartments.”
    https://www.laprogressive.com/homelessness/crocodile-tears-for-the-houseless?utm_source=LA+Progressive+NEW&utm_campaign=c8010ac043-LAP+News+-+20+April+17+PC_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_61288e16ef-c8010ac043-287107655&mc_cid=c8010ac043

    Reply
  14. Ron O

    From DJUSD’s Facebook page:
    For ways to expand your family’s learning and to honor and celebrate Black History Month, check out the Multicultural Resources page on the DJUSD website, where you’ll find links and suggestions for reading about and exploring local and regional Black history, and for expanding anti-racist practices. djusd.net/MulticulturalResources
    So, I looked at the link that DJUSD refers to, and found the following (among other ludicrous links):
    Louder Than A Riot Hosted by NPR Music’s Rodney Carmichael and Sidney Madden this podcast reveals the interconnected rise of hip-hop and mass incarceration and explores power from all angles — the power the music industry wields over artists, the power of institutional forces that marginalize communities of color, the power of the prison industrial complex and the power dynamics deep-rooted in the rap game (episodes 1 hour)
    Right – hip hop music pretty is pretty much a step-by-step playbook regarding how to enter into “mass incarceration”. And no, the music industry does not cause that (though it’s probably an enabler). For sure, the power (and $) is with both the “artists” and the industry.
    Introducing: Nice White Parents From Serial and The New York Times, reporter Chana Joffe-Walt looks at the 60-year relationship between white parents and the public school down the block. Includes reading list and discussion guide, calls in/out white progressives (episodes1 hour)
    (Fortunately, I’m “neither” of those. So, I guess I get a “pass”, despite being “responsible as a white person”, as implied or directly stated.)
    “Do the Work Podcast hosted by Brandon Kyle Goodman explores race and relationships. Each episode is an intimate conversation between two people who know each other well, and have had or are still having a struggle to cross the racial barrier. We bring them together so they can finally have a real conversation about race, and we can all learn how to be anti-racist in our daily lives. Debby Irving has a small role in each episode (episodes 30 – 50 mins)”
    Uh, huh. “Two people who know each other well, and are having a “struggle” to cross the racial barrier.”
    “Do the work”, indeed. And “who” might that “work suggestion” be directed at?
    All My Relations, hosted by Matika Wilbur (Swinomish and Tulalip) and Adrienne Keene (Cherokee Nation) this podcast “explores indigeneity in all its complexity.” Episodes focus on issues such as DNA identity, appropriation, feminism, food sovereignty, gender, sexuality, and more while “keeping it real, playing games, laughing a lot, and even crying sometimes” (any episode – one-ish hour each).
    I’m already “laughing”, but probably not as intended.
    Bear in mind that it is important to both learn and share history as well as to know the current lived experiences of Native Americans and their sovereign nations. The Climate Office welcomes suggestions of additional resources.
    Right – “sovereign nations” within a nation. How about if roads, utilities and federal support are cut-off to these “sovereign nations”? And why is this “lumped in” with “Black History Month” in the first place?
    For sure, cutting-off these “sovereign nations” would result in less gambling addictions by the folks who can least afford it, as well as less environmental damage.
    And what does any of this have to do with the “Climate Office” – whatever that is? I do have a suggestion for them, but I don’t think it would be well-received.
    If DJUSD was actually interested in “equity”, they would have opposed WDAAC’s “Davis-connected buyer’s program”. And yet, not a peep out of these a-holes.
    At this point, I hope Davis voters reject DJUSD’s latest demand for more taxpayer money. Suffice it to say that I don’t like these cats, starting with their unabashed, self-interested promotion of continued sprawl.

    Reply
  15. Alan C. Miller

    What did the Climate Office have to say about the DCBP? I demand answers! And my gender identity is “anti-climate”. And I’d like to have a conversation with someone I know well who is “pro-climate” so can finally work this shit out 😐

    Reply
  16. Ron O

    My point is that some of those associated with the school district seems to have selective concerns, when it comes to equity, climate change, etc.
    Here’s a summary of things I don’t like about some of those associated with the district:
    1) The manner in which they reacted to Beth Bourne (e.g., a restraining order, and an apparent lack of transparency regarding her inquiries).
    2) The “selective concern” regarding equity. (If the school district was actually concerned about that, they’d stop poaching students from other districts. This ultimately harms those other districts, which probably have a larger percentage of “non-white” people who are then “left behind”.)
    3) Their support for sprawl, rather than right-sizing their own district.
    4) The enormous amount of parcel taxes they ALREADY collect, which is actually a HOUSING cost. Beth Bourne recently posted her own tax bill, which lists some of those taxes. It is shocking, for those not familiar with it.
    As a side note, I understand that Mello Roos and some parcel taxes only apply to new (or newer) subdivisions, which is yet another reason that anyone moving to Davis is better-off buying a “used” house.

    Reply
  17. Ron O

    From today’s housing advocacy article in the Vanguard:
    Richard McCann: “And that UCD ag land is more valuable than the privately held land around the city.”
    Richard has made this statement several times in the past, presumably because UCD is “saving the world” via agricultural research.
    So using Richard’s logic, wouldn’t it make sense to eliminate (e.g., relocate to other campuses) all non-agriculture schools and activities from UCD’s campus, and expand UCD’s holdings beyond its 5,000 acres? Wouldn’t that enable UCD’s “world-saving” efforts to be expanded?
    Has any research been done regarding how many more lives could be improved or saved by implementing these suggestions?

    Reply
  18. Keith

    McCann also writes:
    “They also will have to be educated about the scale of the cost of a Housing Trust Fund (potentially hundreds of millions). ”
    Can you imagine how much homeowners and/or residents would have to be taxed to get a trust fund up to hundreds of million$?
    Then to possibly see someone get a house nicer than their own paid for partially with their homeowner trust fund parcel taxes?

    Reply
  19. South of Davis

    Keith asks:

    Can you imagine how much homeowners and/or residents would
    have to be taxed to get a trust fund up to hundreds of million$?
    If every homeowner in Davis paid $10K (less than $1K a month over the next year we would have over $100 million).
    Whenever the government gets involved with “affordable” housing we pay millions to provide housing for a few families (and make the politically connected rich).
    Twenty years ago the “affordable” 80+ unit three building housing complex at 1752 Drew Circle in Davis was built by the politically connected who made millions.
    They never rented more than 40 of the over 80 units and stopped paying the mortgage and in 2010 the city paid off the loan and took ownership of the mostly vacant property by paying off the multi million dollar loan balance to keep the property “affordable”, but almost 15 years later have never bothered to lease even a single unit in two of the three buildings.
    Since the city owns it the property it pays no property tax to the state and for 20 years has only given shelter to a handful of poor people since nobody either has the time to find a manager or can’t find a way to get more politically connected friends to make a bundle doing something at the property.

    Reply
  20. Ron O

    Not a good look for Native American tribes, the monopoly on gambling that voters granted to them, or for Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, as usual. This is exactly what’s wrong with politics, and the corruptive influence of money:
    “SB 549 is authored by Fullerton Democratic Sen. Josh Newman, and it has nine co-authors including prominent Democrats, Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, the Assembly’s majority leader, and former Senate President Toni Atkins. The bill’s Republican co-authors include Senator Scott Wilk and Assemblymember Marie Waldron, both former minority leaders in their chambers.”
    https://calmatters.org/digital-democracy/2024/03/gambling-california-cardrooms-tribes/

    Reply

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