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MCT: Wednesday, December 26, 2018

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WHO PICKED PICKER TO PICKLE PG&E?

According to wire stories on Christmas Day, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has announced that they “will deeply investigate PG&E’s safety culture by examining the company’s current corporate governance, management and structure to determine the best path forward for Northern Californians to receive safe energy service. That includes possibly replacing the utility’s board of directors, breaking up the company into smaller parts or even converting it to a public agency.”

The person presiding over this “investigation” is CPUC Chairman Michael Picker who was quoted in an “announcement” (meaning he had time to think about what he was saying), “This process will be like repairing a jetliner while it’s in flight. Crashing a plane to make it safer isn’t good for the passengers.”

That’s gotta be one of the all-time dumbest analogies we’ve ever heard, and makes the entire “announcement” into a joke.

Picker looks like a Jerry Brown loyalist and Democratic Party hack. According to his bio on the CPUC website:

“Michael Picker was named President of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on December 23, 2014, by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., who first appointed President Picker as a Commissioner on January 29, 2014. Prior to his appointment, President Picker was Senior Advisor for Renewable Energy in the Office of the Governor from 2009 to 2014. He was a principal at Lincoln Crow Strategic Communications from 2000 to 2009, Deputy Treasurer in the Office of the California State Treasurer from 1998 to 1999, Chief of Staff to Sacramento Mayor Joe Serna Jr. from 1992 to 1999, and Deputy Assistant for toxic substance control in the Office of the Governor from 1981 to 1982. He was a member of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District Board of Directors from 2012-2014. President Picker is a former lecturer at UCLA’s Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning, and instructor at Occidental College’s Urban and Environmental Policies Institute. He holds an MBA from UC Davis, specializing in marketing, social marketing, and nonprofit management.”

In another section of his CPUC bio page Mr. Picker makes the following brilliant observation about power poles:

“If the poles are too old or decrepit, not well maintained, or encroached upon by tree limbs or other vegetation, the electric lines they support can be an extreme hazard.”

Accordingly, after more time to consider his remarks, Mr. Picker boldly announced that the CPUC would “study” the problem. They took it so seriously that they held a “workshop”:

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/General.aspx?id=10150

Apparently, they’ve been working on this utility pole problem for years with basically nothing to show for it. Which should tell you all you need to know about this latest, much more far-reaching “announcement” about PG&E’s future.

In other words, Mr. Picker has no business presiding over what to do about PG&E, much less how to reduce the utility giant’s safety risks.

Obviously, PG&E itself has no problem with endless studies and empty pronouncements from party hacks telling the San Jose Mercury news, “We’re open to a range of solutions that will help make the energy system safer for the customers we serve. PG&E’s most important responsibility must always be public and employee safety.”

(Mark Scaramella)

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PEACE, ANICA, PEACE

On Friday, December 21, 2018 at approximately 3:18 PM, Deputies were dispatched to the 18000 block of Ocean Dr., Fort Bragg, regarding an unwanted female who was causing a disturbance at a residence. When deputies arrived they located Anica Wetzler, 38, of Ukiah, walking from the residence.

Wetzler had a large item concealed under her arm, which was inspected, and was found to be a large fixed blade knife. Wetzler was taken into custody for possession of a concealed dirk or dagger, without incident. Deputies learned that Wetzler was presently out of custody on pre-trial release for a pending felony burglary case. As such, Wetzler was additionally charged with committing a felony while on pre-trial release for a pending felony matter. Wetzler was transported and booked into the Mendocino County Jail on charges of Carrying a Concealed Dirk or Dagger, and Commission of Felony While On Pre-Trial Release For Pending Felony. Her bail was set at $25,000.


SLOW LEARNER

On Friday, December 21, 2018 at approximately 12:45 PM, Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputies on patrol observed Daniel Sanchez, 28, of Fort Bragg, riding as a passenger in a vehicle that was being driven in Fort Bragg.

Deputies were aware that Sanchez had been on County Parole and had absconded, causing a Mendocino County Superior Court Judge to issue a felony arrest warrant for his apprehension. Deputies lost sight of the vehicle and located it minutes later stopped in a motel parking lot. Sanchez was contacted in the vehicle and was taken into custody, without incident. Deputies conducted a search of Sanchez and the vehicle and located a saleable quantity of suspected methamphetamine and other items which are indicative of drug sales. The investigation also revealed that Sanchez had taken possession of 'found property', without making any attempts to return the property to the rightful owner. Sanchez was transported and booked into Mendocino County Jail for Possession of Controlled Substance for Sale, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Misappropriation of Found Property, and Violation of County Parole. He remains confined without the eligibility of bail, due to his parole status.


AND HE STARVED HIS DOGS

On Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at approximately 1:53 PM, Deputies responded to the 400 block of South Street, in Fort Bragg, to serve an active arrest warrant on Luis Pineda, 26. pf Fort Bragg, which was issued by a Judge of the Mendocino County Superior Court.

Deputies were also aware that Pineda was presently on probation and he was also on pretrial release for a pending felony weapons case. Pineda was taken into custody without incident. During this contact with Pineda, Deputies noticed two dogs in Pineda's residence that appeared emaciated. Additional investigation into the care of the dogs revealed that both dogs belonged to Pineda and they had been deprived of food and water for a substantial length of time. The Deputies seized the dogs, fed and watered them, and they were ultimately transported to Animal Care for additional treatment and care. Based on this investigation, Pineda was charged with the listed offenses. Pineda was transported and booked into Mendocino County Jail for Cruelty to Animals, Violation of Probation,

Commission of a Felony While On Pre-Trial Release For Pending Felony and the Misdemeanor Arrest Warrant. His bail was set at $85,000.

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ED NOTES

JARRED all the way awake this Christmas morning by the Press Democrat's front page photo of Logo Tevaseu, the legendary Northcoast football player, and a still young man who graduated from Anderson Valley High School. The over-large booking photo was placed over the garbled story about Logo being found guilty of second degree murder for the drunk driving death of a young Sonoma State student named Paulette Quiba. Many of us in the Anderson Valley know Logo and are fond of him. We all hope he can somehow put this awful event behind him to resume the promising life he had enjoyed before November 5th, 2017. The tragedy occurred when Logo crossed a double-yellow line to pass vehicles on Lakeville Highway. His Dodge Ram pickup slammed head-on into a Toyota Corolla driven by the young woman, killing her and injuring five other people in the ensuing pile-up. Uninjured in the terrible collision, Logo was found by the CHP to have 0.22 percent blood alcohol level, almost three times the legal limit of 0.08. And this was his second DUI. He will be sentenced next month to a maximum term of 15 years-to-life in state prison. We hope the judge will impose a much less draconian penalty based on the totality of Logo Tevaseu's non-criminal life. It's clear to everyone who knows him that his remorse is deep and, given that he caused the death of a promising young woman, unending.


THE UKIAH BOWLING ALLEY is hanging on with a month-to-month lease. An important institution to many Mendo people beyond its host community of Ukiah, its loss will be felt far and wide. A recurrent rumor says the bowling alley will be razed for a big box store called Target.

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IF A TREE FALLS IN THE THE FOREST….

Monday night around 11:30 pm, my son in law was on Highway 128 about 3 miles from Highway 1 when he turned a sharp curve and almost ran into a redwood tree fallen across the road. He turned back and took Flynn Creek, flashing his headlights to warn other cars speeding towards the tree. Any reports from others. We reported it. Thanks and Merry Christmas morning, to all and happy holidays to all as well.

— Ann Kyle Brown


Albion River Fire department volunteers responded to clear and make-safe. THANK YOU local heroes, for responding to this Mother-nature emergency in the middle of the night, 12/25/18.

— Kathy Wylie

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BEST JOKE OF THE YEAR AWARD from the Essential Public Information Center, Upper Lake, CA

(click to enlarge)

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CATCH OF THE DAY, Dec. 25, 2018

Anderson, Bennett, Clem

SCOTT ANDERSON, Willits. More than six pot plants, armed with firearm in commission or attempt of/at felony.

JADE BENNETT, Fort Bragg. Probation violation.

DAVID CLEM, Ukiah. DUI, suspended license (for DUI), probation revocation.

Dodd, Garcia, Gielow

JAMES DODD JR., Willits. Probation revocation.

ADRIAN GARCIA, Redwood Valley. DUI.

CHARLES GIELOW III, Willits. Probation revocation.

Greenblatt, Grimm, Guadarrama

SAMUEL GREENBLATT, Fort Bragg. DUI-drugs&alcohol.

RYAN GRIMM, Potter Valley. Disorderly conduct-alcohol, probation revocation.

ALEJANDRO GUADARRAMA, Cloverdale/Ukiah. Paraphernalia, resisting, parole violation.

Hoaglen, Marsh, Mendo-Gonzalez

JOSEPH HOAGLEN, Covelo. Assault with deadly weapon not a gun, criminal threats, prison prior, sentencing for mandatory supervision.

TIMOTHY MARSH, Ukiah. Controlled substance, smoking/injecting device, burglary tools, tear gas.

GUILLERMO MENDOZA-GONZALEZ, Talmage. DUI.

Plascencia-Barajas, Rangel, Robison

MIGUEL PLASCENCIA-BARAJAS, Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol, probation revocation.

JORGE RANGEL, Ukiah. DUI, controlled substance, failure to appear.

THOMAS ROBISON, Willits. Disorderly conduct-alcohol.

Sandoval-Reyes, Sierra, Vogus

YANETH SANDOVAL-REYES, Ukiah. DUI, probation revocation.

RIGOBERTO SIERRA, Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol.

KIAUNA VOGUS, Willits. Domestic battery.

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CAN'T FOLLOW THE MONEY

Editor,

The Pentagon has failed its first audit. The audit revealed an arresting display of fiscal incompetence and jaw-dropping discrepancies. In a recent piece for the Nation, David Lindorff wrote, “As things stand, no one knows for sure how the biggest single-line item in the US federal budget is actually being spent.”

There is minimal public outrage. Why? A sickening lack of coverage. There are billions of dollars being siloed, misrepresented, lost, etc. in an organization that receives the majority of taxpayers’ money. The Pentagon continues to operate with a blatant disregard of fiscal responsibility and fidelity to the citizens of the United States, while other agencies and organizations are threadbare and underfunded — the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Social Security and Medicare to name a few.

Why is there no continuing coverage? It is the responsibility of news agencies to shed light on the injustices of the world. It is simply not right to allow a department such as the Department of Defense to continue misappropriating, misrepresenting and flipping funds in such ways that the Government Accounting Office cannot successfully complete a substantive audit. Something has to change. It starts with proper reporting.

S.A. Pamatmat

Cotati

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ON LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY

I hear it is still possible to call businesses in China and order bulk Fentanyl powder, which they will ship to anyone with no questions asked. Assuming it is not among the 5% of packages that get even a cursory glance, you too can have the chance to poison and kill thousands of people you don’t know, and maybe some that you do.

OTOH, Oxycodone and Hydrocodone have a secondary effect on the MDMA receptors in the brain that makes you feel pain more intensely when they wear off – It's just as if they were designed to get people addicted to them….

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THROWN THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD

Cars, cars, cars, the long highway

in SoCal, land of firestorms,

bunkers of fast food, motels

for fast fucks, overdoses,

suicides, billboard gospels,

malls and logos, passing peeks

at Missions ringed with roses.

A mediterranean

region even so, and so

adults behind the wheels bark

at kids to put down gadgets

and see the snowy mountain

there, and there the sunny surf—

gone, gone by the next exits.

That would be the scenic route.

All the windows are sealed up

for climate control, so cool

in this metal bubble, each

window a silver screen, and

the movie keeps moving on,

junkyards, oleanders, sand.

Then there is the math of death,

because some get home alive

and some don’t. A collision

is always going to happen,

better we’re lucky enough

to rubberneck that scene, gone

by the next exit and brunch.

If we’re thrown through the windshield,

the scene changes, the whole script

changes. So let’s take that trip,

launched into wild blue yonder,

oh big sky of the west, oh

Zen moment all too human

and the world turned upside down.

Maybe there’s a soft landing

in a citrus grove, only

a few broken bones, the fight

to catch your breath. Maybe not,

and emailed memorials

a few hours later. Random,

as we often say just now.

This highway is a dead end.

There has to be some other

way to get from here to there.

What is that if not a god

forsaken kind of kindness

just possible if we make

it so? No more than a prayer.

— Thomas Tucker

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WE’VE GOTTA SECURE OUR BORDERS! [NOT!]

When I was a kid, we had various stereotypical views of our neighbors to the south. Speedy Gonzales was fast with the ladies. Pedro’s favorite word was mañana. That’s when you get everything done – tomorrow. José was always to be found snoozing under his giant sombrero, feet crossed at the ankles so you could see the scarred, grubby well-worn soles of his sleeping feet.

At thirteen I walked across the Rio Grande bridge from El Paso (USA) to Juarez (Mexico). It was summer, and the water was just waist deep on the boys in the river. It was muddy and opaque. The Mexican boys had big funnels they’d made of paper or cardboard, mounted on sticks like broomsticks. People crossing the bridge threw coins over the side. The boys would catch the coins in their funnels, but if you were playful enough to toss your coin just out of reach of the nearest kid, he’d immerse himself in the muddy water – probably not just mud – and come up with it in his triumphant fingers. Juarez’s streets were largely dirt. Everything had a frontier roughness about it. It seemed we were on a movie set.

Imagine our surprise as more and more U.S. citizens left the farms for the cities and Mexicans filled in as agricultural labor, and we discovered that Speedy, Pedro and José flat worked their buns off – for practically nothing. They outworked everybody. Who knew?

When I was thirteen there was a labor shortage in the U.S., and the Mexicans quickly became indispensable, papers or no. We weren’t too fussy about green cards and all that. That was still some time in the future.

We began to try some of the food they cooked. It tasted good.

THAT was the “invasion” then – poor, mostly illiterate Mexicans, willing to be exploited because our shitty pay was still more than they could make at home. They lived here minimally in unfit "housing," and they were cheated in every way their gringo employers could devise, sending most of the pittance they earned home to their families, where a yankee dollar was good as gold.

I don’t remember people talking about “border security.” The biggest problem was when a Mexican boy would look at your daughter, even sometimes actually speak to a white girl. It’s a good thing they were merely tan instead of brown or black. There wouldn’t have been enough trees in many of those desert places to hang all the disrespectful, licentious beaners. Instead, we beat and jailed them. We reminded them often and forcefully that they were here at our pleasure, and they shouldn’t get too used to it.

How times change! Little did we know that those Meskins were the stealthy first wave of what would become practically an invasion like the White Walkers in “Game of Thrones.” They would get us all hooked on marijuana, cocaine and opioids, deflower our white girls at every opportunity and fill the air with their rackety music. Little did we know that we’d need a Department of Homeland Security to protect ourselves against all these ’skins and they’d drag other Central American lazy ragtag ne’er-do-well neighbors with them.

IS THIS BEGINNING TO SOUND SILLY? DID YOU NOTICE THAT MY TONGUE WAS IN MY CHEEK? These stereotypes were widespread when I was thirteen – and twenty-three and thirty-three – and now they have new life, a rich injection of murderers, thieves and deadly gang members. We damn well better secure our borders. No wall is high enough. No border patrol can be expected to handle this inrush of rough customers. We need a border ARMY! Mattis just didn’t get it.

AT THEIR SCARIEST, THE MEXICANS OF MY BOYHOOD DID NOT PRODUCE NIGHTMARES OF ENTIRE DEFORMED POPULATIONS SWARMING OVER THE BORDER TO DEFILE OUR VIRTUE AND STEAL OUR SHIT.

When did this mortal danger at our southern border arise? How does it work? How big a mass of invaders are we talking about? What will we do if they elude our best efforts to quell their intrusion?

How long will the media and the American people keep on honoring Trumpspeak, allowing his crude, negative BS to dominate the conversation (“They’re not sending us their best people!”)?

I’ve worked beside Mexicans, friends have worked beside Mexicans. They do, in fact, cause some sense of inadequacy: I couldn’t keep up, try as I may. If our Mexicans, newly arrived, illegal, legal, several generations resident, unskilled laborers, skilled ones, professionals, professors – if we could tap our heels together and all these aliens suddenly disappeared, it would be exactly the same as if somebody just turned off the juice in the U.S.

San Diego and Tijuana are not winterless places. Lovely weather is common during the winter months; so is rainy, nasty, chilly weather. The thousands at our border did not walk a couple thousand miles to make a rhetorical point. Our centuries-long abuse, exploitation, intimidation and support of evil men to do our bidding have made much of Central America uninhabitable except by the desperate men and boys who own the streets. The people at our border humbly and helplessly beg for shelter at this start of winter. Our collective choice seems to be to let them die there. Did I get that right? Is this us?

(A Honduran mother removes her 2-year-old daughter’s shoelaces, as required by US Border Patrol agents, after being detained near the US-Mexico border on June 12, 2018, in McAllen, Texas. John Moore/Getty Images.)

(Mitch Clogg)

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On Banksy’s Christmas Card Joseph and Mary Can’t Make It To Bethlehem Because of Police State

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I WRITE FICTION and I'm told it's autobiography. I write autobiography and I'm told it's fiction. So, since I'm so dim and they're so smart, let them decide what it is. Or isn't.

— Philip Roth

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24 Comments

  1. Jerry Burns December 26, 2018

    Hello AVA,
    Can you please identify the WW2 photo?
    Thanks

    • AVA News Service Post author | December 26, 2018

      A photograph from The Battle of the Bulge, taken January 24, 1945: “American soldiers of the 289th Infantry Regiment march along the snow-covered road on their way to cut off the Saint Vith-Houffalize road in Belgium.”

      https://catalog.archives.gov/id/531244

      • james marmon December 26, 2018

        My stepfather, biological father and 3 uncles were all at that battle of the bulge together. My uncle James Marion Sawyers was with the 2d Armored (Hell on Wheels) Division. To honor him, I have “Hell on Wheels” tattooed on my left arm. I also have a “Hell on Wheels” patch on my leather jacket.

        James Marion Marmon

        • Harvey Reading December 26, 2018

          My uncle fought in the Pacific. So what?

        • Bruce McEwen December 26, 2018

          Highest respect to your Bio-Pop, James. My Dad was with the 11th Armor (Thenderbolts) in the Battle of the Bulge and the German Panzers called the American Shermans “Roman Candles” because they could skip a 88mm round across the back, cut the gas-line, ignite it, and set ’em on fire!

          My Old Man was Cpl. Eugene McEwen and they did this to his Sherman tank just as they were going in to relieve Bastiogne, on Christmas. (you’ll remember, they had to wait until the storm came in, and the ground froze, to bring up the armor), and as my dear old dad was helping his crew out of the burning tank, the powder magazine blew — Papa lost his left foot — which would later cost him his life — and he crawled under a farm house porch, out of the snow, made a tourniquet out of his belt, and wrote a letter home to his mother, Florence McEwen, which she showed me many years after he was dead and buried, stained with crusted blood, the ink run from the melting snow.

          My old Uncle who stayed home on a deferment pawned my dad’s bronze star

          However, my three uncles — and one aunt — were all in the Marines, in the Pacific with Mr. Reading’s uncle.

          I salute you uncles, Gentlemen.

          Not for the bloody wars they fought, nor the reason why; but for their spirit, their stamina, and their valor — hear hear, and if you don’t drink, pour one out for your uncles, some of the best, on their graves!

          • Bruce McEwen December 26, 2018

            *by the time the photo in question was taken, January 11th (coincidentally), the late Cpl McEwen was on a hospital ship underway (the wards in her hold groaning with wounded men from the Battle of the Bulge), and steaming bravely through the U-Boat wolf-packs of the North Atlantic, to the Army Hospital in New Jersey… where, alas, we will leave our (my) hero to convalese for a time…

            • Bruce McEwen December 26, 2018

              You’ll say may dad was a tool, if not a fool, but this was his first combat deployment, from a year-long training course in Texas, designed by Lt. Gen. Patton, a great admirer of the blitz, where he learned how to ride and shoot big fast tank — He would, like a Arthurian Knight , have his squires and valets, his gunner and driver, a couple of ur, uh, privates…

              “You there! You two men — get your rifles and go out and get some exercise pacing the tank. Tell those infantrymen to keep off, the lazy bastards, the Krauts will hose ’em off with machine guns if we…ever [at this point I see Dad standing in the turret of his tank, focusing his binoculars on the horizon…

          • Bruce McEwen December 26, 2018

            Two versions of the story on who pawned the medals — in one version, the cheap bronze one, the star of valor, went for a quart of muscatel; and the other, the purple heart with the George Washington Profile in gold and purple a six-times his stamp on a nickel — my god, it was worth a gallon of Tokay!

            I would like to say, “I don’t know what to believe,” but that would hardly be precise.

            • Bruce McEwen December 26, 2018

              My Aunt showed me a newspaper clipping — if you dare to contradict me –and, yes, she took it to her grave, but still…..

              • Bruce McEwen December 26, 2018

                … !

  2. George Hollister December 26, 2018

    Mitch Clogg should try to go to either Canada, or Mexico and try to get a job as a non-citizen. I recall many years ago when entering Canada, the border agent from Canada wanted to know how much money I had, and if I intended to work while I was in Canada. Without some sort of work permit, it was clear I could not work there. Canada was protecting it’s own labor force, for better or worse. If I was broke, I would have not have been allowed entry unless I could verify there was a relative who would be taking responsibility for me. So what Trump is doing is not unique, and in fact is common.

    • james marmon December 26, 2018

      Mitch Clogg should seriously seek some help. There are many self help books out there that could help him. I suggest he buy and read Albert Ellis’s first books like “The Guide to Rational Living” and “How to Live with a Neurotic” for his wife. Therapist have always debunked Ellis’s methods because you can heal yourself, which would ultimately put them out of work. They have bastardized Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) into Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT). Therapist did not Ellis’s in your face style, they found it offensive. He called things the way he saw him. I knew him personally, attended several of his trainings, and have a stack of autographed copies of his books. I suggest that all the people suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) order any Ellis’s publication as soon as they can.

      “Catastrophic thinking is a debilitating source of anxiety that plagues a lot of us. Most simply, it means jumping to the worst-case scenario when thinking about a situation or future event.”

      How to Deal with Catastrophic Thinking
      6 Strategies You Can Use to Curb Your Anxiety:

      Albert Ellis’s ABCDE Method

      “Last is Albert Ellis’s ABCDE Method. It incorporates many of the ideas I’ve already listed above, but it’s a simple compact 5 step action plan that you can use any time you feel the need. Here it is:

      A is the activating event. It’s the original trigger for your anxiety. Maybe you have to give a speech, take an important exam, or perhaps you’re worried about a possible medical problem, or your child seems depressed. Identify it and write it down.

      B represents your beliefs about the situation. What are the actual thoughts you are having about it, and what have you convinced yourself of already? Identify them and write them down.

      C stands for the consequences of your irrational beliefs. What are you imagining will be the outcome of your beliefs about the situation? What disaster have you conjured up?

      D is for disputing the irrational beliefs you have created, and challenging them in view of reality. Ask these 5 questions:

      Is the belief realistic? Can I confirm it through experiment? Is it based on facts?
      Have I been in this situation before? What happened? What did I do to work with it?
      Is the belief plausible within the context of the situation?
      What are other possibilities besides those I’m thinking?
      What’s the most probable explanation or outcome?

      E stands for the new effects relative to changing you’re interpretation of the situation. You can now create a more plausible and constructive view based on thinking, rooting out cognitive distortions, and running your beliefs through logic.”

      http://www.thesuccessfulgrownup.com/categories/behavior-patterns/item/how-to-deal-with-catastrophic-thinking#.XCPAHG_Qibg

      James Marmon MSW
      Personal Growth Consultant

      ‘don’t just go through it, grow through it’

      • Harvey Reading December 26, 2018

        You’re the one in need of some help, James. The phrase, “Physician, heal thyself,” comes to mind, even though you are not a physician, and thank goodness for that.

        • james marmon December 26, 2018

          Getting over feeling victimized by Mental-cino Administration was a hard one for me. Working through Ellis’s steps they eventually helped me come to terms with myself and admit that I was just as much to blame as Mental was, and that revelation forced me take back control of my destiny. I’m not going to roll over and die. In the last 6 months I’ve undertaken a complete makeover, mind, body and soul. I am proud of everything I said or did and more than ever convinced that I was always on the right path, fulfilling my destiny.

          Like my dad always said, “they can kill you, but they can’t eat you”

          The only question is if Mental’s Administration will ever take responsibility for their actions, probably not. They’re happy with being my victims, “The devil made them do it”

          God Bless you all

          James

          • Marco McClean December 27, 2018

            They /can/ eat you, James. But they can’t pick your friend’s nose.

      • james marmon December 26, 2018

        When I’m wrong I admit it, Albert Ellis changed RET to REBT himself. The rest of my comment is true. His style is what therapist got rid of. Most therapist want you to be a victim and go out of their way to make you feel like a victim. I find humor in the fact that the whole world is blaming President Trump for turning them into VICTIMS!!!

        “The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny.”

        -Albert Ellis

    • Harvey Reading December 26, 2018

      George, your comparison is ridiculous. Canada has a population of a little over 10 percent that of the U.S. It’s ag sector is much smaller, too. Immigrants here take jobs that citizens refuse to take because those jobs pay too little to live on (not, as you have asserted in the past, because citizens are too lazy to take them). The ruling class here and their yuppie acolytes, along with big ag, would be beside themselves if they had to pay a living wage and provide decent living conditions for their help.

    • Randy Burke December 26, 2018

      Yes George, but this is not Canada. Do agree that it is difficult to work in other countries, Mexico, Argentina, England, and Scotland…I know, I have tried on occasion to apply my professional wares only to be turned down with the threat of expulsion and incarceration in case I wanted to test these systems. But Mitch’s story holds truths in the first few paragraphs of how it used to be and how the “illegals” were exploited for the capitalistic gain. A type of gain effect that seems to be landing on the white man’s door, and continuing unabated for those first threshold crashers.

      • George Hollister December 26, 2018

        I am in support of immigration. I support a guest worker program, as well. But an economy dependent on illegal immigrants is dysfunctional. Open borders, for any country, is perverse, as are “sanctuary” cities, or states. Trump, in spite of his uncaring and rudimentary communication skills, is right. Maybe he can break the bi-partisan roadblock to immigration reform in Congress. Maybe.

        The exploitation is with those who are illegal, and in “sanctuaries”. Thank the Teamsters Union for that.

  3. George Dorner December 26, 2018

    Hmm, shutting down the government and sending the Border Patrol Agents home in pursuit of increased border security…do we see more than just a bit of illogic here?

  4. Stephen Rosenthal December 26, 2018

    Wow, did a double take this morning. At first glance I thought Johnny Pinches had consumed a little too much Christmas cheer. Then I saw it was Rigoberto Sierra.

  5. Harvey Reading December 26, 2018

    No, deny him the wall. Let the little rich boy who never grew up throw a tantrum. Maybe it’ll give him a stroke or heart attack. Quit worrying about immigrants and start deporting the ruling class, along with their yuppie acolytes (but impound their money, to fund programs benefiting the Working Class, like free college). The concept of the wall is utter stupidity, bullying, and racism. The putrid wall is another ecological disaster. Just what we need.

  6. james marmon December 26, 2018

    Canada and Mexico don’t claim to be America, they don’t want open borders either and are shutting down their southern borders A lot of European Countries want out of the European Union (EU) as well, and want to shut down their borders too. Immigration being the biggie. They are wanting to become Nationalist like America

    5 Countries Most Likely To Leave The EU

    https://youtu.be/SxnXdNjjnLc

  7. james marmon December 26, 2018

    Great Mental Health Treatment Act Citizens’ Oversight Committee meeting. I thought Nurse Ratched was going to order staff to sedate the Asylum’s inmates and lock them in their rooms, what a crew, LOL The elephant in the room is if they are going to accept Kemper’s strategic plan or create their own. They already adopted the report but not his strategic plan.

    Remember Allman already told the Board that he was smarter than Kemper as to what what the county really needs. Allman threw Kemper’s strategic plan in the shitter immediately after Kemper submitted his report. If you all remember the other asylum inmates threw a big fit about him doing presenting his own opinions the Board.

    If Kemper’s strategic plan is not accepted by the asylum inmates then the County is on the hook for a 2 million dollar piece of land on Orchard and forced to return a 500 thousand grant they used as a down payment to buy the land back to the State. Camille is threatening to default.

    Where’s the money Camille?

    https://youtu.be/lGadB4TEl0o

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