Now I just want the person who makes that hateful voice to shut up! SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND GO %%%%##@&$$?!!
Víctor Lei
Friday, October 15, 2010
A Hateful Voice, Always Around My Ears, Makes Me Throw Up Every Time
Let me tell you, I really hate to listen something like this. Every morning, when I wake up, I always hear a hoarse and horrible voice, that voice is really hateful. Why? Because the person who makes that voice always scolds people loudly, and that's terrible! Every time when I hear that hateful voice, I want to throw up because it is the worst and most hateful voice that I've ever heard!!!
Program helps disabled find job placement
Program helps disabled find job placement
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Program helps disabled find job placement
Updated on: 2010-10-14 22:53:20
The slow economy has been especially tough on the disabled. Their unemployment rate is more than 14 percent, compared to 9 percent for Americans as a whole. So there is a local program that's helping the disabled beat the odds.
Challa Tabeson at work helping people use a computer kiosk to access social services like adult care and mental health treatment at a social services center in San Francisco. He knows how lucky he is to have a job.
"I'm so grateful I can't even tell you here," says Tabeson.
Challa suffers from post traumatic stress and other mental health issues caused by 11 years of living on the street and a brutal beating with a 2x4 from a man who was trying to rob him.
"Having some guy hit you with at 2x4 in the head, imagine what that does to the memory. It just wipes out everything," says Tabeson.
Employers weren't hiring anyone -- especially disabled people and Challa had all but given up, until he stumbled into a program run by San Francisco's Community Vocational Enterprises.
"The exciting thing is everyone is coming together, I think right now especially in difficult times.The best way to be successful is to collaborate," says Patrick Regan from CVE.
CVE is jointly partnered with the U.S. Department of Labor and the California Employment Development Department. The goal is to help disabled jobseekers get past the roadblocks.
"Employers and people in the community don't realize that people with disabilities are just as capable as other jobseekers and there's a lot of things such as assistive technology out there to help make those individuals successful," says Regan.
"The participants at CVE are extremely skilled workers and are so proud to have a position here with us," says Teri Hedman from Family Services Agency.
That's part of the recovery program for these workers. Four of them have been placed with the city's family services agency and they're doing well.
"I want to work where I can continue my recovery," says Tabeson.
CVE's jobs program is only available in San Francisco.
Story posted 2010.10.14 at 07:54 PM PDT
All material © 2010 ABC Inc., KGO-TV Inc. & 2004-2010 LSN, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Víctor Lei
SF serious crime down nine percent
SF serious crime down nine percent
Story posted 2010.10.14 at 05:14 PM PDTSerious crime in San Francisco has continued to drop so far this year, dipping nine percent from last year and 13 percent from two years ago, police Chief George Gascon said today.
Gascon made the announcement at a news conference at City Hall this afternoon with Mayor Gavin Newsom and District Attorney Kamala Harris. The three stressed that cooperation between city agencies and federal partners was the key to the decline.
"Good people are working together, and they're making a difference," Gascon said.
He has pledged repeatedly to try to make San Francisco the safest big city in the country.
"Although we're not there yet, we're certainly moving in the right direction," Gascon said.
From January through September, 5,361 violent crimes were committed throughout the city, down from 5,611 in the first three quarters of 2009 and 6,184 for the same period in 2008, according to the Police Department.
Property crimes decreased from 27,731 in the first three quarters of 2008 to 26,649 in the same period of 2009. There were 24,156 this year, the Police Department said.
Homicides have remained about the same, down from 38 in 2009 to 37 this year.
Gascon has made the tabulation of crime statistics in each neighborhood, with a concurrent response to new crime trends, a centerpiece of his administration.
He stressed, however, "There are lives. There are real people behind the numbers."
Newsom agreed there had been "very positive gains" in the fight against crime, even with "substantially" fewer resources.
Recent budget cutbacks have reduced police overtime and forced the halting of new police academy classes.
Story posted 2010.10.14 at 05:14 PM PDT
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Víctor Lei
Gas pump clips to be removed by Friday
Gas pump clips to be removed by Friday
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Gas pump clips to be removed by Friday
Updated on: 2010-10-14 21:47:23
A Santa Clara County Superior Court judge Thursday rejected a request by the California Independent Oil Marketers Association for a temporary restraining order against a state fire marshal's mandate ordering thousands of gas stations in the state to remove "hold open latches" on gas nozzles manufactured by Ohio-based Vapor Systems Technologies, Inc.
The deadline imposed by the State for removing the nozzle clips is Friday.
The order affects about 3,000 gas stations, or about one-third of the total in California.
Tom Robinson, president of the Rotten Robbie gas station chain, told ABC7 the gas stations had asked for 90 days more to look for a solution or another vendor.
They say just as dangerous, drivers will start using quarters and other things in place of the latches.
"People will jam it in, in which case the person who jammed it could have a spray or spill incident," Robinson said.
Gas station owners are also concerned that they will customers if they have to get rid of the clips.
"If the customer has already left us, how do we ask them to come back?" Robinson asked.
The state fire marshal called the nozzles a potential hazard to public health after 13 gas spraying incidents were reported.
"They would go to grab the nozzle to put it in their vehicle and gasoline would freely spray," state fire marshal spokesperson Daniel Berlant said.
The agency says the nozzle malfunction could unexpectedly spray gasoline before a nozzle is inserted into a vehicle's gas tank. By removing the hold open latch, a driver could stop the unexpected gasoline flow by yanking on the manual lever whereas the hold open latch would make it harder to stop the spray. Fire officials also believe a spring attached to the latch may somehow trigger an unintended gasoline flow.
The order applies only to nozzles made by VST. There are two other California certified manufacturers of gas nozzles.
The first bulletin by the state fire marshal's office came in June, alerting gas stations that damaged VSP nozzles were spraying gasoline.
The mandatory order was issued in August.
VSP told ABC7 it is ramping up production of a new nozzle with a secondary release mechanism.
The state can fine gas station owners or shut down gas stations that do not comply to the order but the state fire marshal's office said they would rather work with gas station owners.
Story posted 2010.10.14 at 06:44 PM PDT
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Víctor Lei
Foreclosures hit all-time high in US
Foreclosures hit all-time high in US
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Foreclosures hit all-time high in US
Updated on: 2010-10-15 03:56:05
There was an unfortunate record set Thursday concerning foreclosures. There were more in September than any other month in history. This comes as all 50 states are investigating the foreclosure process.
There were 100,000 homes repossessed in September in the U.S. It's one thing when you hear the number, another when you see faces behind it.
Doli Henriquez and her family lost their Newark home last week. Doli and her husband haven't been able to pay the mortgage since she was laid off two years ago.
"Right now I'm feel so sad. I love my house, I live here for seven years, so it's not easy for me," said Henriquez.
They were so reluctant to leave, the family was tossed out through a personal property eviction. Even their belongings from the couch to the kids bicycles were hauled away for the auction block. Doli isn't confident in her English so asked a family friend, Victor Rivas, to help tell the story.
"I feel for them very much, that's why I'm here for them speaking to you," said Rivas.
Their foreclosure comes just as the country hits a new record -- the most foreclosures in one month in history.
It also comes as the country starts to question banks and whether they have cut corners while foreclosing on 3 million homes since 2007.
"Some of the paperwork that's been used to process foreclosure cases, has been outsourced and is being produced in Guam or the Philippines. It's then being e-mailed or shipped overnight and being submitted in courtrooms all across the country," said Matthew Weidner, a mortgage attorney.
Some on Wall Street are pushing back, pointing out the homeowners have no one to blame but themselves saying if they miss their mortgage payments, they shouldn't be in the house. But this family wants everyone to take a hard look at the system, especially the banks.
"If they would stop and just look around to see what they can do to help people make the payments," said Rivas.
The Enriquez's say they tried to modify their loan, but the bank wouldn't work with them. That's a complaint California lawmakers are concerned about, they say it's a common one, and they sent a letter to federal authorities last week pointing out that possibility.
Story posted 2010.10.15 at 12:56 AM PDT
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Víctor Lei
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Batman-Masked Bandit Robs Belmont McDonalds
Batman-Masked Bandit Robs Belmont McDonalds
Story posted 2010.10.13 at 07:17 AM PDT
Police are searching for a suspect who robbed a fast food restaurant in Belmont Tuesday night.
Officers responded to reports of a robbery at the McDonald's restaurant at 522 El Camino Real at about 9:10 p.m.
A man wearing a Batman mask and false vampire teeth had confronted the manager, demanded cash, and made off with an undisclosed amount of cash from the restaurant's office, police said.
The masked bandit is described as a Hispanic male between 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet tall, weighing 215 to 240 pounds. He wore a blue hooded shirt and blue pants.
The subject was last seen leaving the area in a silver two-door Honda with a black top. As of 11 p.m., a countywide alert failed to yield any leads on the suspect or vehicle, police said.
Anyone with information related to this robbery is asked to contact Belmont police investigators at (650) 595-7400.
Story posted 2010.10.13 at 07:17 AM PDT
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Víctor Lei
Pleasant Hill Residents Warned About Prowling Mountain Lion
Pleasant Hill Residents Warned About Prowling Mountain Lion
Story posted 2010.10.13 at 07:19 AM PDT
Police reminded local residents to exercise caution around any wild animals after a mountain lion was sighted in Pleasant Hill Tuesday night.
Officers responded to a report at 8:59 p.m. of a mountain lion sitting on the hood of a vehicle in the 100 block of Bramblewood Lane near Elderwood Drive.
The big cat was spotted in the residential landscaping, which is to the west of open space, police said.
With the assistance of the Contra Costa County Animal Control and the California Department of Fish and Game, officers attempted to coax the mountain lion away from the homes by erecting a picket line.
A short while later, police received reports that the animal was headed east in the open space toward Morello Avenue.
Police said the mountain lion did not act aggressively toward officers, but remind residents who encounter a mountain lion to notify police immediately and avoid approaching the wild animals.
Residents are advised to avoid hiking or jogging when the cats are most active -- at dawn, dusk and night -- and to keep a close watch on small children.
Mountain lions generally try to avoid confrontation, but residents who encounter the animal should not flee, but rather face the animal, make noise and try to appear larger with arm waving.
More information about mountain lions is available at www.keepmewild.org.
Story posted 2010.10.13 at 07:19 AM PDT
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Víctor Lei
PG&E Publicizes Plan To Renovate Pipeline System
PG&E Publicizes Plan To Renovate Pipeline System
Page 1 of 2
Story posted 2010.10.13 at 12:27 AM PDT
In response to criticism over its safety measures, PG&E announced a new program Tuesday that it says will improve its response to gas leaks and hopefully prevent explosions like what happened in San Bruno last month.
In a press release, PG&E announced its adoption of "Pipeline 2020," a five-point program that the company said would "strengthen the utility's natural gas transmission system" beyond what is required by government regulators.
"PG&E will collaborate with state and federal regulators, industry and scientific experts, and local agencies to enhance our ongoing efforts to adopt industry best practices, invest in system upgrades and, where possible, advance the state of the art of gas pipeline inspection procedures and technology," said PG&E president Chris Johns.
According to the release, PG&E's Pipeline 2020 program consists of:
• Modernizing Critical Pipeline Infrastructure – "PG&E will consult with regulators and engage industry experts on a multi-year modernization initiative to upgrade key gas transmission pipeline segments located in heavily populated and other critical areas."
• Expanding the Use of Automatic or Remotely Operated Shut-Off Valves – "The valves will give PG&E operators the capability to shut off gas flows without having to dispatch crews."
• Spur Development of Next-Generation Inspection Technologies – "PG&E will establish an independent, nonprofit entity dedicated to researching and developing next-generation pipeline inspection and diagnostic tools. At no cost to customers, PG&E will provide $10 million to launch this organization."
• Develop Industry-Leading Best Practices – "PG&E will closely review its practices related to pipeline integrity, safety and training – as well as practices used elsewhere in the industry – in order to develop industry-leading standards of excellence in this area."
• Enhance Public Safety Partnerships – PG&E will work with local communities, public officials and first responders to forge model partnerships in support of pipeline safety. The company will provide detailed, customized information on pipeline locations and emergency response plans, as well as enhanced annual emergency response training.
The Pipeline 2020 plan comes more than a month after a leak from a PG&E gas pipe caught fire and exploded in San Bruno, killing 8 people and destroying 37 homes.
In the weeks following the explosion, reports surfaced of federal safety regulators finding over 400 safety violations in PG&E's pipeline system in the past 4 years.
The plan's inclusion of expanding the use of automated valves could be a direct response to the explosion -- the pipeline burned for more than an hour and a half because the gas had to be turned off manually.
In a symbolic move, San Bruno city leaders scooped up the last charred debris in the heart of the Crestmoor Canyon neighborhood Tuesday afternoon, marking an end to the major cleanup phase.
"The county declared this a public health emergency when this happened-- that is being lifted today because the debris is gone--we don't have to worry about air blowing, water flowing off," said Dean Peterson, director of the San Mateo County department of environmental health.
More than 7,000 tons of charred debris was removed from the explosion area.
"I don't think they intended this to happen, but it happened," said fire victim Bob Pellegrini. "The line still runs here; will it happen again? Nothing comes with guarantees."
The San Bruno City Council voted Tuesday night to fast track the permit process for fire victims to rebuild. That means construction on new homes in the fire zone could be underway within a couple of months.
Normally it would take as long as six months and up to $14,000 to complete the permit process to build a new home in San Bruno. The city council also voted to waive the permit fees for fire victims, a move that could cost San Bruno half a million dollars in revenue.
"This whole ticket is on San Bruno," said the city's mayor Jim Ruane. "But we're hoping that through FEMA and the governor's proclamation we'll get funding that will help the residents and the city."
To see PG&E's full announcement of Pipeline 2020, go to
© 2004-2010 LSN, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Víctor Lei
Gubernatorial Candidates Focus On State's Future
Gubernatorial Candidates Focus On State's Future
Page 1 of 2
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SAN RAFAEL: Final Gubernatorial Debate Features Heated Exchanges
Updated on: 2010-10-13 13:38:12
Story posted 2010.10.13 at 12:22 AM PDT
California's gubernatorial candidates engaged in heated exchanges over taxes, job creation and public employee unions in a final debate Tuesday that quickly degenerated into verbal jousting and personal attacks on issues that have dominated the campaign.
Republican Meg Whitman and Democrat Jerry Brown had their first testy exchange a few minutes into the debate at Dominican University in San Rafael as the conversation turned to Proposition 13, the 1978 measure approved by California voters that rolled back and capped property taxes.
Brown accused Whitman, the billionaire former eBay chief executive, of promoting a plan to cut regulations and taxes that would benefit her and her wealthy friends. He singled out her proposal to eliminate the capital gains tax. Brown said that would benefit millionaires and billionaires most.
"I'd like to ask you how much money will you save if this tax break went into effect?" Brown asked Whitman.
She demurred, saying her business was creating jobs, and Brown's business is politics.
Whitman then accused Brown, the state attorney general, of leaving the state in worse shape than when he began as governor during his tenure from 1975 to 1983.
"You have been part of the war on jobs in this state for 40 years," she said.
The candidates began the debate saying California must live within its means before it can be turned around, each saying that they are hopeful about its future.
"The California dream is broken," Whitman said, adding that "tough trade-offs" were needed to control the size of government.
Brown acknowledged the state, saddled with persistent budget deficits, must realize its limits.
The debate quickly changed course, though, as the candidates debated issues that have been front-and-center in the campaign, including the cost of public employee pensions, education, the environment and immigration. At times the two talked over moderator and former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw as they offered rebuttals to their opponent's claims.
One of the most colorful exchanges came when Brokaw asked Brown about an audiotape released last week in which a female aide used the word "whore" in describing Whitman's attempt to curry favor with the union representing Los Angeles police officers.
"It's unfortunate, I'm sorry it happened, and I apologize," Brown said.
Whitman said the term was not befitting of a gubernatorial campaign. She and Brown then argued over whether Whitman should demand an apology from her campaign manager, former Gov. Pete Wilson, who used the term in 1995 in reference to what he felt was Congress' role in helping public employee unions.
Whitman said that situation was completely different, prompting Brown to fire back, "It's not."
The debate was their final opportunity before a statewide audience to promote their plans for turning around the economically troubled state. It comes just three weeks before Election Day, with some voters beginning to cast their ballots and others just starting to tune in.
In one exchange, Brown defended his record as governor, saying Whitman's accusations about state spending during that time were "demonstrably false." He said taxes went down when he was in Sacramento, but regulations have been added in the nearly three decades since he left.
Whitman called Brown's response a "classic politician answer."
"It's a half-answer and therefore a dishonest answer," she said. Whitman said unemployment nearly doubled under Brown's tenure, and she accused him of spending beyond the state's means.
Brokaw then interjected with his own fact-check, noting the end of Brown's term came in the midst of a national recession, and four states that had Republican governors then had higher unemployment rates.
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Víctor Lei
Local Athletes Celebrate Dramatic Miner Rescue
Local Athletes Celebrate Dramatic Miner Rescue
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SAN FRANCISCO: Athletes Who Raised Funds For Chilean Miners Celebrate Rescue
Updated on: 2010-10-13 02:14:04
Story posted 2010.10.12 at 11:00 PM PDT
A group of Bay Area athletes who had a personal stake in the mission to rescue the Chilean miners trapped underground for 69 days watched in jubilation Tuesday night as the first miner emerged from the specially designed rescue capsule.
The group of Bay Area swimmers was gathered inside the Blue Mermaid restaurant at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. Last month, they swam from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park to raise money for the trapped miners. On Tuesday they anxiously watched the dramatic rescue.
Waving small Chilean flags, the group erupted into cheers when the first miner, 31-year -old Florencio avalos, surfaced.
"I don't have words," said Mill Valley resident and Chilean native Pedro Ordenes. "I am like shocked to see this. It's like a miracle."
Ordenes became emotional watching his native country accomplish what many thought to be impossible. His own grandfather -- a Chilean copper miner -- was buried alive just days before Ordenes was born.
"The whole world has been waiting for this moment, this happy ending," said Ordenes. "Incredible."
Never before has anyone been trapped underground this long and survived. Chilean officials began the final stage of this dangerous and delicate rescue operation a little after 8 p.m. pacific standard time.
The narrow escape capsule with a rescuer inside was lowered down a nearly half-mile tunnel beneath the Chilean desert.
Over the next two days, the 33 miners will be brought to fresh air and freedom one by one.
Diana Craig was another one of the 33 swimmers who set out on a charity swim across the bay for the trapped miners. Like Ordenes, her grandfather was a miner. He worked as a coal miner in Pennsylvania and eventually died from black lung disease.
"I think it's a lesson in humanity," said Craig. "I'm just astonished at how well they have treated each other and in the face of real hardship."
Her heart immediately went out to the families who for weeks have been holding vigil outside the San Jose mine in Chile.
"Its mind boggling to me that the miners can go down there and mine and live that life," said Craig.
Story posted 2010.10.12 at 11:00 PM PDT
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Víctor Lei
Monday, October 11, 2010
Half Moon Bay holds Pumpkin Weigh-Off
Half Moon Bay holds Pumpkin Weigh-Off
Story posted 2010.10.11 at 05:48 AM PDTSome of the world largest pumpkins are tipping the scales in Half Moon Bay for the 37th Annual Pumpkin Weigh-Off.
Last year's winner weighed 1,658 pounds.
The contest sponsors pay $6 a pound to the champion.
This year, there's a $5,000 bonus for beating the world record 1,725 pounds.
The weighing takes place between 7 and 11 Monday morning on Main Street in Half Moon Bay.
Story posted 2010.10.11 at 05:48 AM PDT
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Víctor Lei
Blue Angels wow San Francisco crowds
Blue Angels wow San Francisco crowds
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Blue Angels wow San Francisco crowds
Updated on: 2010-10-09 21:43:00
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Blue Angels perform over San Francisco
Updated on: 2010-10-09 21:43:00
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Fleet Week Air Show amazes audiences again
Updated on: 2010-10-10 21:58:41
San Francisco Bay was dotted with sail boats, ships and motorboats Saturday and hundreds more crowded along the water to catch a glimpse of the Blue Angels flying over San Francisco.
After last year's show was cancelled due to fog, people were thrilled to watch the elite flying squad erfom.
"So excited to watch the Blue Angels, my heart is racing, it's just the best," Palo Alto resident Yael Valek said.
A spokesperson for the Blue Angels told ABC7 the pilots love coming to San Francisco because the town is so friendly.
Officials estimate 1 million people come into San Francisco for Fleet Week activities.
Story posted 2010.10.10 at 07:02 PM PDT
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Víctor Lei
Homeless group takes over Leslie Hotel in SF
Homeless group takes over Leslie Hotel in SF
Story posted 2010.10.11 at 06:32 AM PDTPolice are standing guard outside a vacant San Francisco hotel where a group of homeless advocates have taken over.
The group marched into the Leslie Hotel in the Tenderloin Sunday. Police are not allowing anyone else in, but they're not trying to get anyone out either.
This was declared to be the first annual World Homeless Day on 10-10-10 and activists decided to turn vacant housing into homeless housing.
Families, immigrants, activists and students banned together late Sunday afternoon at Civic Center Plaza calling themselves the Creative Housing Liberation. Unfurling a huge World Homeless banner, they marched down city streets to the vacant Leslie Hotel on the corner of Eddy and Larkin and they entered it. Hooded activists wearing black masks went room to room through the hotel hanging banners and taking over. The homeless came through the door and settled into empty rooms with running water and electricity until police arrived.
"We had the building open to the public -- anyone needing a place to sleep tonight could get in and at this point police are preventing that from happening," said homeless activist Aaron Bookbinder.
Activists say there are 36,000 vacant housing units in San Francisco according to the latest Census Bureau data and that on any given night, 6,000 San Franciscans have nowhere to stay.
"It's a disgrace to see three times as many empty units of housing in the city as there are people sleeping on the streets. Something needs to be done. Since today is World Homeless Day, we're acting in solidarity with 50 other countries across the world, dozens of cities in the US," said Bookbinder.
People walking by were elated to find the surprise housing.
"Building's sitting empty when we can put people in there," said homeless activist Howard Grayson.
"This is what needs to be, this is what needs to be. This is where it needs to start from the ground up. And that's a beautiful thing. I'm going to tell my best friend now and maybe he'll come back up with me," said Melvina York.
But that never happened. Police blocked anyone from entering the building and anyone from exiting it. They're trying to contact the owner of the vacant hotel so it's a stalemate for now with about 15 people who spent the night there.
Story posted 2010.10.11 at 06:32 AM PDT
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Víctor Lei
Weather Service Issues Fire Warning For Bay Area
Weather Service Issues Fire Warning For Bay Area
Story posted 2010.10.10 at 12:05 PM PDT
High temperatures, dry conditions and strong evening winds have prompted the National Weather Service to issue a fire weather watch for the Bay Area on Monday and Tuesday.
Temperatures are expected to reach the lower 80s on the coast and upper 80s inland by Monday afternoon, according to National Weather Service forecasts, and evening winds are predicted to be 15 mph to 30 mph in the East Bay Hills, Napa County hills and other foothill regions above 1500 feet, where gusts are predicted to possibly reach up to 40 mph.
The combination of warm temperatures, low humidity, strong overnight gusts and dry hills could lead to increased fire activity across the region, according to the weather service.
The fire weather watch was scheduled to go into effect at around 6 p.m. Monday and last until Wednesday morning.
Story posted 2010.10.10 at 12:05 PM PDT
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Víctor Lei
Report: No Fines On PG&E Over Six-Year Period
Report: No Fines On PG&E Over Six-Year Period
Story posted 2010.10.10 at 05:15 PM PDT
A review of public records shows the watchdog agency responsible for regulating public utilities has taken a mostly hands-off approach to violations by Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
Even though PG&E had more pipeline infractions than the rest of the state's major pipelines combined over a six-year period, The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the California Public Utilities Commission did not levy a single fine on the utility during that period.
The newspaper reports in an article in its Sunday edition that its review of CPUC records between 2004 and 2009, PG&E accounted for 410 of the probable violations of federal safety laws found by regulators.
By comparison, all other utilities accounted for 287 of the probable violations.
PG&E operates 42 percent of the gas pipelines in the state.
The report comes after word that the CPUC is forming a panel to conduct a review of the PG&E pipeline blast in San Bruno last month that killed eight people.
Richard Clark, head of the Consumer Projection and Safety Division of the CPUC, told the newspaper that the industry has a history of fixing problems voluntarily.
"We operate under the assumption they are interested in having a safely operated system," Clark told the Chronicle. "If we saw a trend that gave us concerns in terms of what we are finding out there, we would take enforcement action," he said.
It's been least seven years since the CPUC fined PG&E or any other utility operating a gas pipeline in the state, according to Clark.
According to the Chronicle, self-policing is almost a necessity because the commission has just nine inspectors to monitor 100,000 miles of gas pipelines running through California.
Kirk Johnson, vice president of gas transmission and distribution for PG&E, said the utility often reports safety problems to the commission on its own.
"We don't see problems that warrant the level of enforcement actions," he said. "We don't see it. This is an anomalous event that took place in San Bruno,' he added.
Instead of fining pipeline operators over violations, the CPUC sends them a letter asking the companies to comply with federal safety regulations.
"We find a violation, we tell them to fix it," Clark said. "Unless its a real egregious violation," he added.
Clark could not recall any such violation.
In a response to the article, PG&E spokesman Andrew Souvall told the Associated Press the "safety of the our natural gas system is our top priority."
"We are very conservative deciding what are reportable incidents," Souvall said. "In fact we often self- report things we have already fixed," he told the AP.
Souvall added that it would be a "mistake" to suggest that a lack of fines levied on the utility comes as a result of a lack of oversight, noting the natural gas industry is closely regulated by state and federal agencies.
A call left for the CPUC seeking comment on Sunday was not immediately returned.
Story posted 2010.10.10 at 05:15 PM PDT
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Víctor Lei
Bay Area Whale Deaths Blamed On Krill, Ship Traffic
Bay Area Whale Deaths Blamed On Krill, Ship Traffic
Story posted 2010.10.10 at 07:17 PM PDT
Scientists said Sunday that they may know what's to blame for an unusual spike in the number of dead whales found in waters around the Bay Area.
At least six dead whales have been sighted or have washed ashore around the Bay Area since July, including a pregnant 80-foot blue whale and a fetus found last weekend in Pescadero.
Researchers say the animals appear to be following swarms of krill, which are taking them right into the path of ship traffic.
This summer, the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary issued a warning to boaters to watch out for whales in the area.
Mary Jane Schramm told the AP that the organization was working on measures that could reduce the number of collisions between whales and ships.
Story posted 2010.10.10 at 07:17 PM PDT
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Víctor Lei
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Sometimes You Shouldn't Be Too Conceited
How can I describe this person? I don't know if I say he is a perfectionist or an overachiever. Sure, I don't deny that he has a lot of professional experience for video / film production, and he has more extensive knowledge than I have. I really appreciate his working attitude, but the fact is this man loves to excessively show off his knowledge, he is also too opinionated, and I think he has a really bad habit is that he always commands others to work for him, I still remember what he did to me during the production of the first project... "CAMERA 1, CAMERA 1, IS IT CAMERA 1? CAMERA 1, CAMERA 1, CAMERA 1!!!" Yes, he wants people work for him, but how about he works for others. I was directing the same project one week after he directed the project, and he was assigned as a server operator. He seemed like not familiar with the school's server system, when I asked everyone ready or not, he suddenly yelled at me "NOT READY!" I was really unhappy with that, we were working together, I really wanted to scold him when he said that.
I think that everyone has his strengths, but also has his weaknesses, we have to learn other people's strengths, get rid our weaknesses, and that's the admirable attitude. A person who is opinionated and mighty is hard to cooperate with others. I hope that he would understand, and the person who has the similar kind of attitude would understand too.
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