Boots & Sabers

The blogging will continue until morale improves...

Owen

Everything but tech support.
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0941, 11 Oct 19

Thoughts from California

I spent a few days in Sacramento this week. I’ve been to California many times, but always on the coast – LA, San Fran, San Diego, etc. This was my first time in the interior. A few things struck me…

At the moment, the area is under a severe fire risk because it is dry and windy. As you may have heard, the power utility, PG&E, is cutting off power to large swaths of people to avoid setting any fires. Well, not really. In reality, they were just blamed for a previous fire and forced to pay a huge penalty. In order to avoid legal liability, PG&E is just shutting off the power. Can you blame them? The idiocy of California’s judicial system strikes again.

Meanwhile, people are inconvenienced and the risk of fires is actually increasing. I had to move a meeting a couple times to find a place with power. The locals who were attending had lost power at their houses, so they showed up with drained batteries. Generators are flying off the shelves. Instead of a stable, reliable power grid, the good people of northern California are sloshing gasoline around in small generators trying to keep their modern amenities functioning. It’s like a third world country in the heart of one of the most modern civilizations on the planet.

Speaking of stupid California rulings… the so-called Uber Law came up unprompted in conversations with two different companies. This was the California Supreme Court ruling, later codified into law, that said that subcontractors were essentially employees. This means that they are entitled to the benefits, workman’s comp, protections, etc. that regular employees have. One business owner I spoke with had used subcontractors in the tech industry in the past and had to pay some big payouts. Another small business owner in the insurance industry said that they can’t grow without using subcontractors, so they were looking to expand in Nevada instead of California. In trying to correct a perceived injustice with Gig economy companies like Uber and Lyft, California is killing off a common way that companies expand and fill spikes in demand.

At about 8 PM one evening, I got a call in my hotel room from the manager. She asked if they could send a contractor to my room in the morning. I was staying in a room for disabled folks and they had an urgent need to saw off the legs of the vanity in my bathroom to make it ADA compliant. Fine, I said, and they gave me 10,000 hotel points for my trouble. I spoke with the manager in the morning, and the urgency was created by the fact that they failed an inspection and had to fix the compliance issues immediately or face huge fines. The regulatory state strikes again. Instead of being reasonable and just waiting for a time when the rooms were empty, the hotel is paying a contractor for emergency services and handing out compensation to inconvenienced customers.

In order to get out of the way of the contractor, I took a drive. I had some conference calls to attend and had intended to take them in my room. Instead, I took the calls from the car and drove out into the farm country. It was a sight to see. The difference between Wisconsin farms and California farms is stark. California farms are massive. They have an industrial feel and the little villages of mobile homes for the migrant workers are everywhere. Long gone are the days of family-owned small farms. Wisconsin is heading this way. It must, in order to compete.

California is a strange place. You could pay me enough to live there, but it would take an enormous sum.

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0941, 11 October 2019

44 Comments

  1. Kevin Scheunemann

    Sounds like it is just a few Maxist steps from being Venezuela under liberal governance.

    Awful. Just awful.

  2. steveegg

    “Sounds like it is just a few Maxist steps from being Venezuela under liberal governance.”

    Two, three tops.

  3. Le Roi du Nord

    Come on guys, CA has the 5th largest economy in the world ($3.018 trillion) vs Venezuele at $96,328 million  (IMF, BEA).  Comparing CA to Ven. is really silly.

  4. Kevin Scheunemann

    Nord,

    Well that’s interesting. Before your Marxist buddies wrecked it, Venezuela was the 4th wealthiest nation in world.

    California,is already heading down.

  5. Le Roi du Nord

    Sorry k, but both claims are factually inaccurate (IMF, BEA)  Why try an BS folks with claims that are so easily checked?

  6. MjM

    they had an urgent need to saw off the legs of the vanity in my bathroom

    ~spittake~    I gotta ask:  how much did they cut off?

     

  7. Owen

    About 6 inches, as far as I could tell.

  8. jjf

    Your Marxist buddies…

    This is Kevin being kind and being the person we should all strive to be?

  9. MjM

    Nort gurggles: “… but both claims are factually inaccurate. Why try an BS folks with claims that are so easily checked?

    Easily checked.  Quite.

    In 1950 Venezuela had the 4th richest GDP per capita in the world, 4 times that of Japan, 12 times that of China, and reached 80% of US GDP per capita in 1960.

     

  10. Kevin Scheunemann

    Nord,

    I’ll accept your apology for your latest false witness.

    Jjf,

    Are you saying Nord is not inclined to leftist ideology? It is rude to indicate Nord might have friends ideologically?

    How delicate are you?

  11. Le Roi du Nord

    That’s it guys, change the parameters (per capita) to suit your argument.  IMF say Venezuela was # 17 in 1960 in total GDP.

    And I’ll answer for jjf: No.

  12. Kevin Scheunemann

    Nord,

    Guess what happened around that time?

    Nationalization of industries began.

    Until the horrible leftist Marxist oppression today.

    Will you apologize to the victims of communism?

    http://Www.victimsofcommunism.org

  13. Le Roi du Nord

    Yessir, rationalize your errors.

    And for the umteenth time, I don’t apologize for your mistakes.

  14. Kevin Scheunemann

    Nord,

    Missing part where I had an “error”.

    Bearing false witness yet again?

  15. MjM

    Nort grumbles: “change the parameters ”

    Laying your ignorant assumptions on others does not constitute a misdirection by those others, numbnutz.

    Per Capita is a better measure of economic health and wealth of a nation than simple GDP. It also explains why the US, with the largest GDP in the the world, is the 8th richest country in the world and why China is 2nd in GDP but #72 wealthiest.

  16. MjM

    @Owen….

    I would have offered to do it for the cost of the stay and a cheap saw (plumbing, if necessary, not included… I hate plumbing)

    606.3 Height. Lavatories and sinks shall be installed with the front of the higher of the rim or counter surface 34 inches (865 mm) maximum above the finish floor or ground. – DOJ, ADA 2010

    Hmmm. Normal bath counter height is only 32”.

    Dis is Bureaucrats:

    604.9.6 Dispensers. Toilet paper dispensers shall comply with 309.4 and shall be 7 inches (180 mm) minimum and 9 inches (230 mm) maximum in front of the water closet measured to the centerline of the dispenser. The outlet of the dispenser shall be 14 inches (355 mm) minimum and 19 inches (485 mm) maximum above the finish floor. There shall be a clearance of 1 1/2 inches (38 mm) minimum below the grab bar. Dispensers shall not be of a type that controls delivery or that does not allow continuous paper flow.

  17. Mar

    Kevin, liberalism didn’t kill the guy. The electric company turned out the power to prevent potential fires caused by downed lines.
    Plus the guy was barely on oxygen. It’s not like the guy was hooked to a breathing machine/ventilator.
    The guy or his family should have known this was going to happen.

  18. Mar

    Liberalism is killing the middle class in Arizona and many of them are moving out. They are moving to Arizona and Nevada where there is less taxation, lower cost of living and fewer regulations. Pretty soon, all you will have are the very rich and the poor living there and that is not sustainable.

  19. Kevin Scheunemann

    Mar,

    You don’t think fear of legal liability,from disgusting liberal governance, mentioned by Owen, drove electric company decision?

  20. jsr

    604.9.6 Dispensers. Toilet paper dispensers shall comply with 309.4 and shall be 7 inches (180 mm) minimum and 9 inches (230 mm) maximum in front of the water closet measured to the centerline of the dispenser. The outlet of the dispenser shall be 14 inches (355 mm) minimum and 19 inches (485 mm) maximum above the finish floor. There shall be a clearance of 1 1/2 inches (38 mm) minimum below the grab bar. Dispensers shall not be of a type that controls delivery or that does not allow continuous paper flow.

    Now I know why my knee hits the TP dispensers at work.  Just about everyone’s knee does the same – explaining why the dispensers break within a week of being replaced.

     

  21. Le Roi du Nord

    mjmumbles:

    I don’t disagree, but you are comparing apples to oranges, and doing so in a different time frame.   And k’s original California vs Venezuela is folly.

  22. Le Roi du Nord

    k:

    PG&E is an investor owned company, so unless you were sitting in the boardroom you really have no idea what drove their decision.  Maybe it was poorly implemented or delayed ROW maintenance?  Or out-dated or poorly maintained physical plant?  Or the dry and windy conditions created by climate change?  Or a combination of those factors, or more.  You really don’t know, but you are quick to assign blame.

    And why and how does “disgusting liberal governance” affect legal liability?  Or don’t you actually believe in personal/corporate responsibility?

  23. jjf

    It’s like the farm question that I never got a response about…  to what extent does a CAFO have a right to harm the water and air of their neighbors?

  24. Kevin Scheunemann

    Nord,

    Can’t answer your question until you apologize for your false witness on this thread.

  25. Le Roi du Nord

    k:

    I guess we are at a stalemate; I won’t apologize for your errors, and you continue to dodge responsibility.  Finally we agree.

  26. Kevin Scheunemann

    We have established Venezuela was once 4th richest country and Marxists destroyed it

    You denied that fact and bore false witness with no apology.

    That makes you awful.

  27. Le Roi du Nord

    No k, what has been established is that; 1) you will never admit you made a mistake and: 2) you call people names in a feeble attempt to make yourself feel important.

    When did the marxists take control on Venezuela?

  28. Kevin Scheunemann

    Nord:

    Fact challenge for you. How many “names” did I call you on this thread? (Zero)

    How many insults and names did you use toward myself? Quite a few.

    Don’t criticize others for your behavior.

  29. Le Roi du Nord

    So now you have proven to us all that you can’t count.  Bingo, you hit the daily double !

  30. Mark Hoefert

    For what it is worth, the “Meme Policeman” did a takedown going around that the PG & E because of deferred maintenance to maximize shareholder profits, not because of fear of lawsuits from fires it causes.

    https://www.facebook.com/memepoliceman/

    This meme has some truth to it. The California utility company PG&E skimped on safety upgrades and repairs for years. But the main reasons for this are avoided by this meme, and they don’t mention what much of the money was diverted to.
    -PG&E has spent billions on green energy and electric car subsidies. They proudly boast about these projects on their website. For example, you can read about their attempts to install thousands of EV charging stations (15% of these will be in disadvantaged communities). Credit Suisse estimates that long-term contracts with renewable developers cost it $2.2B more annually than current market power rates. For reference, PG&E’s market cap is just $4.2B.

    -The main reason for this heavy investment in green energy is due to pressure from the California government. Their goal is to get 33% of their electricity from renewable facilities by 2020 (which PG&E has met) and 60% by 2030. Their goals were well publicized and known, and PG&E wanted to get in Sacramento’s good graces.
    -Utilities are not usually free markets, they are government granted monopolies. If you live in Northern California, likely your only choice is PG&E. As such, the utility company doesn’t have normal market competition, it’s primary motivation is to make money while at the same time keeping the government happy so it can keep its monopoly.
    -PG&E customers already pay among the highest rates in America, but the company says inspecting all of its power lines and clearing dangerous trees would raise rates by 400%! Contributing to this cost are sky high rates for tree trimmers due to environmental and legal issues in CA. Opposition to logging and prescribed burns, compounded by a seven year drought have yielded 147 million dead trees, increasing the fire risk.
    -Contrary to this meme’s insinuation, PG&E faces significant costs associated with fires, and they are literally bankrupting it. In January, it filed for bankruptcy as it faced liability for $30B in fire damages in the last few years. They recently settled this for $11B. Their shareholders are hardly happy, as they stand to lose out in the bankruptcy proceedings, and the stock is down over 65% this year, 75% since last November after the destructive Camp fire.

    The links used to verify the above are on the page – avoided pasting them in because if there is more than one link, comment automatically goes to moderation before being published.

  31. dad29

    Maybe it was poorly implemented or delayed ROW maintenance?

    PG&E took down power in areas where ‘hot’ wires could contact (dry) brush or trees.  As you recall, that was what ignited the N. Cal. fires last year.

    That implies maintenance; PG&E did not trim the trees (as does, e.g., WE Energies) near the lines, and/or its wires are old and tired, subject to breakage.

    THAT implies budget mis-allocations, or just not enough budget, which means either the Company is run by boobs OR its revenues which are governed by Cal PSC, are insufficient to cover.  It’s also possible that the company is forced to spend money on other areas by regulators, obviating its cash-pool for line maintenance.

    Of course, it could be run by boobs AND have regulatory-forced cash issues, which would imply that California is ALSO run by boobs, a conclusion I’m very willing to endorse.

  32. Le Roi du Nord

    Yes dud, I do recall that, and that is why , without kevin’s presence in the boardroom, we don’t know what their ROW maintenance policy is, or if it was implemented or not.  Still awaiting his response.

  33. Kevin Scheunemann

    Nord,

    Companies that have maintainence issues like this, are scared to do it…because of oppressive Marxist regulation attached. California is rife with 3rd world Maxist governance of Democrats.

    Since you joy over thought of regulating people and companies into the ground, I expect denial on your part.

    Make California America again.

  34. Le Roi du Nord

    “Companies that have maintainence issues like this, are scared to do it…because of oppressive Marxist regulation attached. California is rife with 3rd world Maxist governance of Democrats.”

    Really?  And how would you know that?   Do you have experience or training in the electric utility business?  Trained professional in ROW maintenance?  Privy to policy making?   Or just spreading more alternative facts to prop up your earlier mistakes?  Come on, share with us all your great and unmatched wisdom.

  35. Kevin Scheunemann

    So you don’t want to make California America Again?

  36. Le Roi du Nord

    k:

    Your private school education fails you once again. California has been in the great US of A since 1850 and hasn’t left. Why do you so fear knowledge?

  37. Mar

    It appears the electric made a good choice by shutting down its power. There have been major fires up that while the LA has basically 1 medium fire, which isn’t bad considering the last few years.
    Wasn’t climate change suppose to devaste California this year?
    So far, it hasn’t it.
    And what about all the hurricanes we were suppose to have? Just 1 major hurricane that devasted the Bahamas but bothered virtually no one else.
    Tell me again about this thing called climate change?

  38. Jason

    Good old Leroy, always good for a pity laugh.

     

    >2) you call people names in a feeble attempt to make yourself feel important.

    >Yes dud, I do recall that

     

    Five hours apart.

  39. Kevin Scheunemann

    Nord,

    I went to public school.

    Sounds like you are in denial about Marxist hell that is California.

  40. Le Roi du Nord

    k:

    California is as marxist as Washington County.  And you like to make things up to fluff up your ego.

    j:

    dud is a term of endearment, just as is LeeeeeeRoyyyyyy.  Just ask him.

  41. Kevin Scheunemann

    Nord,

    Clearly, you missed 100% of Owen’s post above.

    And you criticize others for lack of reading comprehension….

  42. jjf

    Jason, would you like to encourage people to not call each other names?

  43. Le Roi du Nord

    k:

    I read, and re-read, the article.  You, probably not, because nowhere is the term marxist used, nor implied.

    Why must you use dishonesty to advance your position when truth would be to your advantage?

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