Clovis Skeptic

'If you don't take a job as a prostitute, we can stop your benefits'

2005-01-30T07:09:00.000-08:00

Telegraph News 'If you don't take a job as a prostitute, we can stop your benefits': "A 25-year-old waitress who turned down a job providing 'sexual services'' at a brothel in Berlin faces possible cuts to her unemployment benefit under laws introduced this year.

Prostitution was legalised in Germany just over two years ago and brothel owners who must pay tax and employee health insurance were granted access to official databases of jobseekers.

The waitress, an unemployed information technology professional, had said that she was willing to work in a bar at night and had worked in a cafe.
She received a letter from the job centre telling her that an employer was interested in her 'profile'' and that she should ring them. Only on doing so did the woman, who has not been identified for legal reasons, realise that she was calling a brothel"

So I guess if a married man is unemployed, he could be forced to become a "boy for rent", or lose his unemployment benefits. Germany is just a step below nazism again.

COPS: The Jump-Out Boys

2005-01-26T13:07:00.000-08:00

For more than a decade viewers have been thrilled by the real-life exploits of the police officers on the television show COPS. The Jump-Out Boys, by Hank J. Barr, takes the reader along on the filming, as seen through the eyes of a veteran audio man and producer. From the comic to the tragic and all places in between, the efforts of police officers across the country are revealed in all their diversity. The author presents a positive picture of law enforcement officials, because that is what he mostly saw in his seasons with the show. Forever changed by his experiences, Mr. Barr will not take police officers for granted any time soon. The reader of this book will feel the same way.

The Jump-Out Boys : Hank Barr is a friend of mine. We attended the same church here in Clovis, CA for several years. Hank, and his family also live in Clovis. This is an exciting book, about an exciting show. If you could meet Hank, and talk with him for just a few minutes, you would see what a nice kind man he is. And, stories...wow, he has traveled all around the world, and back and forth across this country with COPS, you can't imagine all he has seen. That's what makes this book so great. Hank is in the picture above in the background, the one with the earphones. He has been a sound man for the show for several years now. He started as a cameraman, but after getting shot, he decided to do the sound, better visibility he says. Hank is also credited as associate producer.

Hank has been with Cops since it began. He has been involved with television since the early 70's. Hank was a cameraman for Geraldo Rivera, when Geraldo was out on the streets trying to interview drug dealers, and various street criminals early in Geraldo's career. Cops origins are associated with Geraldo. John Langley, creator / producer of COPS also woked for Geraldo in those earlier years.

FCC Chairman Powell Said to Be Resigning

2005-01-21T08:30:00.000-08:00

Yahoo! News - FCC Chairman Powell Said to Be Resigning: "WASHINGTON - Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites) Chairman Michael K. Powell plans to step down from the job he's held for four years, two agency officials said Friday.
Powell, who maintained a light regulatory hand as the nation's chief media watchdog but collected some of the largest indecency fines against U.S. broadcasters, planned to issue a statement Friday but was not expected to hold a formal news conference, these officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Powell, the son of departing Secretary of State Colin Powell ,does not plan to step down immediately, the officials said. However, he will leave soon.
Powell privately informed some industry officials that he planned to make the announcement, according to one person who spoke with the chairman earlier this week. This person also spoke on condition of anonymity out of respect for the timing of Powell's announcement"

Well Howard Stern should be happy to hear this. Michael Powell seems to go a bit too far, in his fineing everyone for alleged indecency. The greatest defense against any type of obcenity, is to simply turn the station.

Full text of Bush's inaugural address

2005-01-20T13:22:00.000-08:00

RealCities.com 01/20/2005 Full text of Bush's inaugural address“We are led, by events and common sense, to one conclusion: The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world.”

“America has need of idealism and courage, because we have essential work at home – the unfinished work of American freedom. In a world moving toward liberty, we are determined to show the meaning and promise of liberty.”

A great speech by a great man, President George W. Bush!

American Idol is an increasingly cruel reality

2005-01-20T06:35:00.000-08:00

Scary Mary

Boston.com / A&E / TV / 'Idol' is an increasingly cruel reality: "The most memorable audition was by a blonde in a bright red shirt named Mary Roach, whom AOL has already dubbed 'The Female William Hung' and 'Scary Mary.' Singing Carole King's 'I Feel the Earth Move,' she threw her body into convulsions as she shrieked out the lyrics. When Cowell asked her how she felt she did, her answer was a confident 'Not too shabby.' She then told the judges about the voices in her head, in case there was any question of her stability. If she is indeed the female Hung, she has already earned her guilt money from the public"

Mary Roach, was definitely scary!! She said she was a cosmetology student, and that her friends (as if she had any) told her she had a voice. Which led to this conversation with judge Randy,

Mary:"I have so many voices inside me that are coming out right now."

Randy: "What are they telling you now?"

Mary: "The voices are telling me that they cant believe that you are not letting me into the next round."

Then she went into a tirade, that was very psycho.

Jib Jab Second Term

2005-01-19T07:19:00.000-08:00

You have got to watch this hilarious animation, lib or conservative , you'll love it!!!

Schwarzenegger Allows Rare California Execution

2005-01-18T17:57:00.000-08:00

Wired News Schwarzenegger Allows Rare California Execution: "SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Citing 'grisly and senseless killings,' Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declined on Tuesday to grant clemency to murderer Donald Beardslee, setting the stage for California's first execution in three years.
As expected, Schwarzenegger said he would allow the execution of Beardslee, 61, to proceed by lethal injection at San Quentin State Prison north of San Francisco at one minute after midnight (3:01 a.m. EST) on Wednesday morning.
Beardslee's attorneys argue he was duped by accomplices and was suffering from mental illness aggravated by brain injuries when in 1981 he shot Stacey Benjamin, 19, and choked and slashed the throat of Patty Geddling, 23, in California.
The Air Force veteran, who was out on parole at the time for a 1969 murder of a young woman in Missouri, confessed to both killings and was sentenced to death in 1984."

The State of California finally is seeing to it that another cold blooded murder does not kill another one of our loved ones. The first one in over 3years.

Bike-building brothers take rides to new level

2005-01-18T06:03:00.000-08:00

Click pic for larger image

HoustonChronicle.com - Bike-building brothers take rides to new level:"DUNCANVILLE - One man's motorcycle is another man's art. Or both when the man is cycle builder Joe Martin.

There's no denying the beauty of Martin's hand-built bikes. Even sedan-huggers can appreciate the sensuously dangerous artistry of the one-of-a-kind machines. Martin's bikes sell for about $100,000 to collectors who may never ride them.
'They're pieces of art. That's truly the way you have to look at it,' says Jason Martin, Joe's business partner and younger brother."

Nice huh? Bikes look good too! Absolutley beautiful bikes, can you imagine $100k for a motorcycle, just to put it in a glass case in the den. Check out more of this talented teams bikes at their website Martin Bros Bikes.

2005 Golden Globe Awards

2005-01-17T13:34:00.000-08:00

Teri Hatcher

Yahoo! News - Entertainment Photos - AP: "Teri Hatcher (news) accepts the award for best actress in a musical or comedy series for her work on Desperate Housewives, at the 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (news - web sites) on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2005, in Beverly Hills, Calif."

Teri Hatcher seems to be aging well. She looked great last night! Click here for more pics of 2005 Golden Globe Awards.

'Bond Girl' Gets Fired

2005-01-15T08:47:00.000-08:00

New York Post Online Edition: news: "January 15, 2005 -- A hotshot Wall Street bond analyst was fired from his $4 million-a-year job for putting this fake photo of himself as a woman being swept off her feet on teh cover of a business report. Andrew Susser, 39, of Banc of America, was rated the past three years as the No. 1 analyst covering casinos and hotels and the prank may also costbonus, which could be an additional $5 million, insiders say. " him his annual

Wow, talk about a zero tolerance policy.

San Francisco sets standards for keeping dogs outside

2005-01-14T15:30:00.000-08:00

ContraCostaTimes.com 01/12/2005 San Francisco sets standards for keeping dogs outside: "SAN FRANCISCO - In this notoriously dog-friendly city, where dog owners are called 'pet guardians' and the local shelter keeps strays in plush 'apartments,' man's best friend is now entitled to a certain standard of living.
San Francisco's Board of Supervisors on Tuesday passed an ordinance that requires 'humane treatment of all companion dogs.'
That treatment includes: A dog's water needs to be changed at least once a day and served in a nontipping bowl; food has to be palatable and nutritious; a dog house must have a top, a bottom and three sides; and tethering is highly discouraged as a way of keeping one's dog in the back yard. .......
'It's been played up as an 'only in San Francisco thing' or 'Why are we bothering with this when we have so many other issues,'' Friedman said.

click pic for larger view

As I was saying in the previous post, when are people going to say "no more" to laws regulating every single activity. These liberals have to make a law, cause in their opinion, we poor commoners have no idea how to safely squeeze toothpaste onto our toothbrush.

Yes pets need to be properly cared for. They need food, water, and shelter. They should not be mistreated.

What do you think??? BTW should that be bottled water???

Moving Violations: New Laws for Drivers

2005-01-13T20:56:00.000-08:00

AAA : About AAA : Moving Violations: New Laws for Drivers: "Headlight Use
Requires drivers to turn on their headlights whenever driving conditions require the use of windshield wipers or when weather conditions limit visibility to less than 1000 feet. The use of parking lights or day running lights alone does not constitute compliance with the law. "

California is broke, highway 99 is crowded and full of potholes. Yet, our expensive full time legislature has come to the rescue with a whole new list of laws.

If your windshield wipers are on, you better turn on your headlights. Another nanny government law, that gives the police another excuse to pull you over.

I understand you should turn your headlights on, I do. I understand you should wear a seatbelt, I do. I just wonder where will these protect ever aspect of my life laws ever end. What's next, toilet seatbelts???

Major Resort Hotel to Rise in Mammoth Lakes

2005-01-08T09:58:00.000-08:00

Untitled Document: "Mammoth Lakes is about to get a different kind of lift.
Developers hoping to turn the homey Eastern Sierra town into an upscale ski resort said Wednesday that construction of the area's first luxury hotel would begin with the spring snowmelt.
Intrawest Corp., a Canadian developer that has spent the last 15 years working to remake Mammoth, said it would erect a 230-room, $140-million Westin hotel. It is scheduled to open in the spring of 2007.
Dubbed the Westin Monache, the hotel would be the largest in town and the first to bear the nameplate of an upscale hostelry. It is the centerpiece of Intrawest's planned $1-billion makeover of Mammoth.
'The arrival of the first international hotel brand is a very significant step for Mammoth to be recognized as a world-class destination,' said Peter Cowley, Intrawest's vice president of lodging development."

Who wants to buy a condo within the lava flow of a live volcano. Those of us who live in the Clovis/Fresno, Ca area have felt a few of the earthquakes from the Mammoth Mtn. Volacano.

Here are some diagrams from the USGS. Click on them for a larger view. The First one shows the direction of lava flow, which is right towards this proposed resort. The second shows the areas to be affected by the ash.

The 'Dukes' filming moves to LSU 01/08/05

2005-01-08T09:12:00.000-08:00

2theadvocate.com: News - The 'Dukes' filming moves to LSU 01/08/05: "It may not be the Bo and Luke Duke you remember from your younger days, but the 2005 version of the Dukes of Hazzard takes to Duke cousins to college."

Love them Dukes! Can't wait for this movie to come out. Why you ask,great plot, or great writing, or cinematography? Don't be silly! Jessica Simpson wearing those "Daisy Dukes".....

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Clovis Building for Future

2005-01-07T09:04:00.000-08:00

FresnoBee.com: Metro: Building for Future:

"When Clovis City Hall opened a modern set of downtown offices in the Fifth Street civic center nearly 30 years ago, the city was a small suburb of Fresno facing a minor growth spurt.

With the city's population at 20,750 (actual 80,844) city leaders hoped the new 25,000-square-foot, $2.4 million complex would house the police, planning, financial and administrative departments for some time to come. "

The current Clovis City Hall complex has paved over my old field of dreams. Located on the SE corner of 5th Street & Cole (which used to go through), was the Old Clovis High Schools recreation area. It contained the old wooden gym, and the baseball fields. There were 2 fields, the nice one in the SW corner with the concession stand right behind home plate, that kept all of us little leaguers cooled off with cherry snow cones, and the basic field in the NE corner with only a backstop, and small bleachers for the friends and families of the minor leaguers.

The Clovis Boys League was great in those days. Yes, "boys" league, it was a different time. All summer the future pro baseball players honed their skills. Skinned knees, missed flyballs, and a few homeruns, proud mom and dads cheered on their sons, and made friends in the stands.

Now of days I see kids playing soccer all over town, even in drainage pond/recreation parks. They even play on Sunday! I will never get used to that. I'm sure these kids are having fun, and learning some skills, and making lasting memories such as mine, but they missed a good time back when Clovis was indeed becoming a "Way of Life". Clovis was a community back in 1965, when I turned 8, and able to play minor league. You either knew or at least recognized most everyone you saw on a daily basis. They may even had been riding a horse on Shaw Ave near Clovis Ave.

Click on the picture above for a larger picture of the field in 1965. And for those inquiring minds, this City Employees sponsored minor league team is; top row l to r, Don Nelson, Tom Perez, Felix Puentes, Chuck Nicholson (dark blue shirt unknown), bottom row l to r, Steven Swiger, Cesario Lopez, Tracy Taylor, Mike Gibson.

Ashlee Simpson's Halftime Performance Falls Flat

2005-01-06T13:15:00.000-08:00

Local10.com - News - Ashlee Simpson's Halftime Performance Falls Flat: "MIAMI --
Video

SEE IT, HEAR IT

Ashlee Simpson's Orange Bowl halftime performance ended with the screeching line, 'You make me want to scream,' but all the crowd wanted to do was boo.

Simpson's performance topped off a halftime act that featured American Idol Kelly Clarkson, country star Trace Adkins and a host of technical problems.

Simpson, the act's finale, fell flat in front of the 72,000-plus Orange Bowl crowd. The camera zoomed in on Simpson's face just as the boos started raining down then quickly cut away."

Will someone please tell Ashlee to try acting, carrying her sisters luggage, or maybe host a cooking show on MTV, anything but singing in public!

Her sister Jessica, is a beautiful, and quasi talented singer. Her beauty tricks your ears into hearing an angelic chorus when she sings ( mine anyway). Now Ashlee is a cute kid, but her 15 minutes of fame are running into someone else's time by now.

What do you think?

Boxer Bashing Bush In Ohio

2005-01-06T08:36:00.000-08:00

For the second time since 1877 the house and senate will be forced into seperate 2 hour meetings to consider electoral votes. Why you ask? California's Senator Barbara Boxer (dem) and a small band of other democrats, signed a challenge to Ohio's 20 electoral votes. This will delay congress from certifying the 2004 presidential election results.

No one expects the election results to change, not even Boxer herself. Boxer says "objecting to the electoral votes from Ohio is the only immediate way to bring these issues to light".

President Bush has clearly won, nothing is going to change. Liberals just want to stir the pot. The report cites machine shortages and extremely long lines in minority and Democratic precincts. It alleges intimidation of voters, a purging of registration lists and other irregularities.

What is really going on is the liberals now want any vote not cast to be for their candidate. They want open interpretation of all ballots. Remember pregnant chads? The Democrats, since they lost Florida, have wanted to change the system, from counting real actual votes by legal voters using simple arithmetic to a system where wise guardians decide what the voters really wanted to do on election day.

This mostly has to do with African-American votes, and specifically with the falling number going to Democratic candidates.

In order to win a statewide election, a Democrat needs 90+% of the black vote.

This is no longer happening in a reliable way, partly because some of "their" voters don't vote.
The Democrats would like the system to "count every (non)vote" as a vote for them, since if "their" voters had registered, or were legal voters, or had showed up at the polls, they would have won.

What is happening today is meaningless.

What will follow, an attempt to change the rules for what counts as a vote, is not meaningless