Senator Barrack Obama – Math Challenged?

Senator Barrack Obama says the population of the United States is 3% of the world population. If that was true, the United States would have a population of 198 million. But we have a population over 301 million. Senator Obama is just off by over a 100 million Americans.

World population 6,602,224,175 as of July 2007 see http://kids.yahoo.com/reference/world-factbook/country/xx--World#people

United States population 301,139,947 as of July 2007, sees http://kids.yahoo.com/reference/world-factbook/country/us--United-States#people

Of course, Senator Obama also said there were 57 states. He might be math challenged.

Public Apology to Harry Lawrence

I’d like to publically apologize to Harry Lawrence, a long time civic leader dedicated to improving Laguna Beach. I am chagrined that I have caused him pain.

Harry Lawrence a former Historical Society Board Member and a former member of the Main Beach Park Committee generously provided me material to scan and use at the recent Historical Society History of Main Beach Park program. I was surprised that he did not attend while he was surprised and hurt that he was not invited.

How I botched this is complicated and I should just fully and completely apologize.

Harry and I agree that the Main Beach Park and the Window to the Sea that we all enjoy is a remarkable achievement and something we can all be proud of. I did zero work and Harry Lawrence spent decades diligently working to make it a reality.

Harry Lawrence has lived in Laguna Beach since the 1940s and has been a business owner, Warren Imports, and been involved in civic affairs for many years. Among other accomplishments, he has served as Chair of the Chamber of Commerce Beautification Council, and President of the Laguna Playhouse.

Harry was the Patriots Day Parade’s 2008 Grand Marshal. According to local papers “After 22 landings in the Pacific during WWII, including Guadalcanal and Bougainville, business took Harry and wife Maxine around the world again with Warren Imports, which they ran from their upstairs apartment in South Laguna, adding to their residence/business until it grew into the popular French 75 complex.
Lawrence managed to merchandise Asian imports and art while keeping Laguna foremost in mind, according to many testimonials. Rushing home from Hong Kong and Singapore meetings, he chaired committees that contributed to preserving the town's villagelike scale. In the late 1950s when the Main Beach boardwalk had deteriorated and developed a dubious reputation, Lawrence helped spearhead the drive to create Main Beach Park, among Laguna's loveliest beaches.”

For Harry not to have been invited to attend the History of Main Beach Park program is inexcusable.

What’s Ethical – Great Letter in Wall Street Journal

See May 17, 2008 Wall Street Journal at http://online.wsj.com/public/page/letters.html

A "commitment to diversity" is actually immoral because considering attributes such as race, gender and age when hiring is an outrageous injustice to employers and employees. Far from preventing prejudices, this actually institutionalizes them. "Progressive environmental practices" doesn't mean a respect for private property, which is in fact a pillar of ethics. Instead, it means a capitulation to the policy makers who tout the pseudo-science of "global warming."

And "forced labor" is slavery, which is so obviously immoral that I suspect the term is used here ambiguously to mean something else. For instance, if injunctions against "child labor" mean that children ought to be prohibited from work that they would otherwise choose over starvation, then I would regard the prohibition as immoral as well.

The tragedy is that the question, "Does being ethical pay?" is vitally important, and as Ayn Rand identified, the rational answer is a resounding, "Yes!" I am disappointed that you have reduced ethics to a few left-leaning bromides that don't constitute moral behavior.

Stephen Bourque
Littleton, Mass.

Aliso Creek Canyon Scoping Meeting May 19th 6:30 PM at Council Chambers

Please consider attending the Aliso Creek Canyon Scoping Meeting which will be held May 19th starting at 6:30 PM at the Laguna Beach City Hall Council Chambers at 505 Forest Avenue.

Let your views be heard whether they are similar to mine or not.

My thoughts are that the environmental documentation should cover:
· A project with no golf course
· How the project will improve fish and wildlife in Aliso Creek
· How the project will improve attracting migratory and other birds
· How the project will reduce energy usage
· How the project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions
· How the project will improve the visual appreciation of Aliso Creek Canyon

Also how will the project i,pact vehicular traffic

Did you go to the Walk-Around? I did and what a glorious day it was when a good crowd got to see the spectacular Aliso Canyon property. My first reaction to the Aliso Creek was quite positive as there was a babbling flow of water and even in one section with a drop and rapids and the special sound that it makes. But then I realized that the amount of water flow was unnatural and actually nonpoint source pollution from inland cities. And from my observation, Aliso Creek was devoid of life.

Isn’t it true that the ocean water at Aliso Beach and the Athens Group Montage Resort and Spa is among the most polluted and unsafe in Laguna Beach? If the redevelopment could be more like San Mateo Creek, it would be better for business while serving the community.

To see a San Mateo Creek teeming with life, I suggest you go to www.YouTube.com and search for and view the “Save San Onofre Trestles” video clip or just click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD-4f4bsSXY

President George W Bush Attacks Senator Barrack Obama

“There are good and decent people who cannot fathom the darkness in these men and try to explain away their words. It's natural, but it is deadly wrong. As witnesses to evil in the past, we carry a solemn responsibility to take these words seriously. Jews and Americans have seen the consequences of disregarding the words of leaders who espouse hatred. And that is a mistake the world must not repeat in the 21st century.

Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along. We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: "Lord, if I could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided." We have an obligation to call this what it is--the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history.

Some people suggest if the United States would just break ties with Israel, all our problems in the Middle East would go away. This is a tired argument that buys into the propaganda of the enemies of peace, and America utterly rejects it.”

Read entire speech at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/20080515-1.html

US Most Competitive Economy in the World Says Swiss Business School

From Brit Hume Special Report May 15, 2008 See http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356192,00.html

"Tough Competition

And for those wondering how the U.S. economy is avoiding recession, the answer may be in the latest world competitiveness report out of IMD Business School in Switzerland. It ranks the American economy as the most competitive for the 15th straight year.

It says the economy is the world's strongest, topping all others in investments, stock purchases and commercial service exports. It says the U.S. is the easiest place to secure venture capital for business development. And, it writes the U.S. dominates all other economies in key technology criteria such as computers in use.

Project director Stephane Garelli says, "The U.S. always seems to find the means to reinvent itself in ways that Japan, and much of Europe, often lacks."

Senator Barrack Obama Thinks US Has 57 States

He thinks Alaska and Hawaii is one state.

"It is wonderful to be back in Oregon," Obama said. "Over the last 15 months, we've traveled to every corner of the United States. I've now been in 57 states? I think one left to go. Alaska and Hawaii, I was not allowed to go to even though I really wanted to visit, but my staff would not justify it."

See http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/05/barack-obama-wa.html