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Good Morning This is Tim's (Twisted Wrench) son and I wanted to come on here and post that Twisted Wrench was in an accident a few weeks ago and passed away. I know how much he loved coming on here to discuss on world topics and such. Memorial Servies will be held at Valley Bible Fellowship 2300 E Brundage Ln. Bakersfield, CA 93307 Thank you everyone for keeping my Dad entertained through out the years - Garrett

All “registered owners” of vehicles weighing more than 26,000 GVW have received this letter over the past couple weeks. This edict, only applies to diesel powered vehicles used as a function of business. Privately used vehicles are exempt, at this time. Compliance is very expensive, Diesel Particulate Filters, start around $10,000.00 per vehicle. New vehicles are as high as, $140,000.00. This is an enormous expense to California business owners, which obviously will be passed on. California business also has to comply with a carbon credit scam and undoubtedly, the future recension of Prop 13 protection of commercial property. There are...

State environmental leaders this week hailed California's first cap-and-trade auction a success, but it was hardly so for the state budget. Gov. Jerry Brown and state lawmakers assumed three auctions this fiscal year would generate $1 billion total for the state, half of which they want to plug the state budget deficit. But most of the $289 million raised this month is dedicated for utilities and their ratepayers, leaving only $55.8 million for state purposes.

A UC Riverside study found that commercially cooked hamburgers cause more air pollution than diesel trucks. The study, which focused on commercial charbroilers found in burger restaurants, said the equipment generates grease, smoke, water vapors and combustion products, which emit a large amount of particulate matter into the air.

If California citizens get hurt on the job, they're eligible to collect workers' compensation. But, in an exclusive investigation, Eyewitness News discovered that prison inmates who are hurt while working in prisons can also collect on the benefit when they're set free. On top of paying the benefits to inmates, the state also pays nine full-time employees roughly $500,000 in salaries each year to work specifically on inmate workers' compensation claims.

Another 19 participants in the Occupy Sacramento movement made their first court appearance today on charges that they violated late-night curfews at Cesar Chavez Park. snip Cres Vellucci, vice chair of the local American Civil Liberties Union board and a spokesman for the protesters in Sacramento Superior Court today, said "everyone's going to plead not guilty" and ask for a jury trial.

I can’t believe I’ve never heard this song before. It reminds you of what’s at stake and what the fight is all about. I just thought I would share with everyone, Like myself, who hasn’t heard it either. God Bless Charlie Daniels And God Bless America

California's debt to the U.S. for covering its unemployment checks the last two years could reach $13.4 billion by the end of the year. If the loans aren't repaid by November, a payroll tax will kick in. It starts at $325 million next year and could rise to $6 billion.

Sorry if this has been posted before. Best one i've seen yet

State Attorney General Jerry Brown said Tuesday a court judgment against New York-based Pro's Choice Beauty Care Inc. blocks the company from selling "pollution-causing" products that exacerbate respiratory illnesses. Brown's office identified some of the "noncompliant" products as Big Sexy Hair Dense, Redken Fabricate, Sebastian Threads Microber Cream, Sebastian Shaper Plus, John Paul Mitchell Freeze and Shine Super Spray Firm Hold and Short Sexy Hair Hard Up Gel. Pro's Choice also is to pay $1.25 million in penalties and costs, Brown's office said.

I’m planning a trip this year to the Seattle Seafair for the Hydroplane races. This will be my first trip to Seattle and would like to get any FReeper recommendations on the best seats for viewing the race, hotels, restaurants, ect. Thanks to everyone in advance for the help with travel plans for what should be an awesome 10 days.

The state Air Resources Board today plans to unveil a preliminary draft of the nation's first "cap and trade" program for cutting emissions of greenhouse gases. The release will lay out a framework for the plan, but will leave many key details to be decided over the coming year, an agency spokesman said. The system is scheduled to take effect in 2012.

If Cathy Hackett defeats J.J. Jelencic, a large and aggressive labor union, the SEIU, will have backed the winner in the last three well-financed races for CalPERS board seats. snip The SEIU is interested in retirement issues. The powerful union is a major part of a new organization, Retirement USA, that will hold a conference in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 21 to consider proposals to supplement Social Security.

California Climate Adaptation Strategy Released Discussion Draft Announcement Triggers 45-Day Public Comment Period Sacramento, Calif. — California's Natural Resources Agency today released a comprehensive plan to guide adaptation to climate change, becoming the first state to develop such a strategy. The 2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategy Discussion Draft summarizes the latest science on how climate change could impact the state, and provides recommendations on how to manage against those threats in seven sector areas. Today’s release sets in motion a 45-day public comment period.

Across state government, there is a migration going on. With the state’s general fund $24.3 billion in the hole —a number that seems to get revised upwards every few days — both state workers and agencies are trying to move away from depending on the general fund. The new goal is to tap so-called “special funds,” pots of money made up of various combinations of user fees, federal dollars and other sources.

A lawsuit would limit the information on the website of a pension reform group, preventing the listing of names such as Bruce Malkenhorst, a city of Vernon retiree with a $499,675 annual pension. The suit filed by a retired Contra Costa Deputy Sheriff, Donna Irwin, would allow the disclosure of the amounts of individual public employee pensions. But the recipient could not be named.

I received the pictures in an e-mail yesterday, thought I would share.

We are about to cripple California’s trucking and construction industries for absolutely no good reason. If I really believed the California Air Resources Board’s draconian new diesel emissions standards would save thousands of lives a year, I might say, sorry guys, you gotta suck it up for the greater good. But when you scratch the surface of the alleged science used by CARB to justify these rules, there’s just no “there” there. Our air is NOT killing us, despite what the “environmental alarmist complex” would have us believe.

You probably know about the lead content restrictions that went into effect on February 10; because of them, dirtbikes and associated parts designed for those 12 years old and younger currently can't be sold. But have you heard about Senate Bill 22 (S. 22)? Well get familiar, because 2.1 million acres of land in nine states — California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia — are about to be declared Wilderness areas and thus off-limits to motorcycles. That's 2.1 million acres, or about 3,281 square miles, nearly the size of Rhode Island and Delaware combined.

As awareness about global warming and conservation builds, educators like Kimberly Boyt of Reagan Elementary in Bakersfield are working environmental ed into day-to-day lessons, AP classes and school clubs. snip “I’ve never done a project where kids have gone into the community and spread the word,” Boyt said.