OC Homes Still Not a Bargain

According to a recent article featured in the Orange County Register, OC home prices are back to 2002 levels, however “as of March, Realtors peg the median selling price of an Orange County home at $444,520. That’s 2.54 times what the latest reading for all U.S. homes was: $175,200.”    Accounting for the OC Premium (surf, sand & sun) it appears OC home prices would still need to fall another 17% to be considered affordable.  Will this happen or is a market recovery on the way?  Only time will tell. 

To read the full article in the OC Register click here.

American Hero – Ed Freemen

You’re an 19 year old kid. You’re critically wounded, and dying in the jungle in the Ia Drang Valley on 11-14-1965. Co-ordinates- LZ X-ray, Vietnam.

Your infantry unit is outnumbered 8 – 1, and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 or 200 yards away, that your own Infantry Commander has ordered the Medi-Vac helicopters to stop coming in.

You’re lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns, and you know you’re not getting out. Your family is 1/2 way around the world, 12,000 miles away, and you’ll never see them again. As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day.

Then, over the machine gun noise, you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter, and you look up to see an un-armed Huey, but it doesn’t seem real, because no Medi-Vac markings are on it.

Ed Freeman is coming for you.

He’s not Medi-Vac, so it’s not his job, but he’s flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire, after the Medi-Vacs were ordered not to.

He’s coming anyway.

And he drops it in, and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 2 or 3 of you on board. Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire, to the Doctors and Nurses. And, he kept coming back….13 more times. And he took about 30 of you and your buddies out, who would never have gotten out.

Medal of Honor Recipient, Ed Freeman, died last Wednesday at the age of 80, in Boise, Idaho ……may God rest his soul.

I bet you didn’t hear about this hero’s passing, but we sure were told a whole bunch about some Hip-Hop Coward beating up his girlfriend.

Ed Freemen should have been the story of the day.

Sometimes the “regular” media doesn’t have their priorities right.

(submitted by John Flude-USAF ret)

Cruise Lines To Avoid Mexican Ports

The H1N1 Flu Epidemic is now officially at a stage 5 and therefore is considered a pandemic; however, even though there are more and more infected people the severity of the flu, so far has been much less than what  was feared.

The outbreak is dominating the news. The headlines are changing hourly but at the time of this writing it has been confirmed that this new strain of swine flu originated in Mexico and that Americans traveling in Mexico have returned to the U.S. infected with swine flu.

The U.S. Department of State has issued the following Travel Alert:

“The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens of the health risks of travel to Mexico at this time due to an outbreak of H1N1 “swine flu.” The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an April 27 notice recommending that American citizens avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico at this time. CDC’s notice also suggests precautions that travelers and U.S. citizen residents in Mexico can take to reduce their risk of infection while in Mexico. CDC provides recommendations for those who must travel to an area that has reported cases of swine flu, and recommends measures to take following return from an area that has reported cases of swine flu. The complete CDC notice can be found at the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/. Please check this site frequently for updates…”

As a result of this advisory and in an abundance of caution, (our italics) most major cruise lines  have stopped calling on ports in Mexico and have developed–or are developing–positions with regard to future calls at ports in Mexico, while the outbreak lasts.

Vacations To Go has current newsletters for their customers who are booked on Mexican cruises at http://www.vacationstogo.com/swine_flu.cfm. If you are booked on a cruise that is scheduled to visit Mexico, you may want to check these statements on a regular basis. Alan Fox, CEO of Vacations to Go says that they will update this page every weekday with any new policies or changes. If you have additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your Vacations To Go cruise counselor.

These itinerary changes disrupt the vacation plans of guests, cost the cruise lines money and deal a harsh blow to anyone in Mexico who relies on tourists for their livelihood. Indeed, there are no winners in the H1N1 flu outbreak, but canceling port calls in Mexico was absolutely necessary to ensure the safety of every passenger and crewmember and to combat the spread of the influenza. 

Biggest Zeppelin Coming to Southern California

The World’s Biggest Zeppelin is coming to Belmont Shore and Seal Beach.  The “Eureka” owned by Airship Ventures in Northern California had a press release that said they will be leaving San Francisco on May 20 and heading for Long Beach. It will return to Moffitt Field on May 26.

 

 

 

Since its top speed is 30 mph it will take most of a day to make the trip.  Not to worry, food and drinks are provided and the in-flight bathroom even has a window. Price $1,500 one way and $2,500. Round Trip.

While here in So. Cal., Airship Ventures will be offering 1 hour flights for about $400…perhaps with discounts for those who buy two tickets. Prices are still a little vague and probably will be influenced by the turnout for those flights.

This is a much bigger airship than the blimps we are used to seeing.  The Eureka is 246 feet long.  All the world’s airships are now filled with non-inflammable helium so there is no possibility of a fire from exploding gas.

The Eureka carries a maximum of 12 passengers and flies pretty low. (1,000 feet) At that altitude and that speed passengers will have better visability than they would in a low-slow flying Piper Club.  A great experience. 

The local flights should give passengers great views of Belmont Shore, Seal Beach, Huntington Beach and Los Alamitos…and perhaps some late leaving California grey whales traveling north.

For more info go to http://www.airshipventures.com/

Seal Beach Sailor is #1 at Sheriff’s Academy

SEAL BEACH, Calif.

The Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach celebrated the graduation of its first master-at-arms (MA) from the Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy April 27.

Elected honorary class sergeant by the faculty staff and his fellow classmates, Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Daniel Alcala led the graduates in formation during the ceremony marking the completion of the curriculum at the prestigious academy.

“By all standards, MA2 Alcala exceeded every expectation,” said Lt. Jim Foster, station force protection officer. “During his midterm and final performance reviews, both his peers and the Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy staff ranked MA2 Alcala the number one recruit.”

Alcala participated in nearly 1,000 hours of intensive academic and physical training. His studies helped to broaden his understanding of law enforcement techniques through classes on the laws of arrest, use of force, first aid, CPR and community relations.

“It makes me a better all around MA in every way,” he said.

Academy Commander Lt. Jeff Bardzik said Alcala was an outstanding representative of the Navy. “He set a new record for our very challenging academy physical fitness test—TRA, Toughest Recruit Alive,” Bardzik said.

While Alcala’s accomplishments opened the door for other Seal Beach MAs to enroll in the academy, base Commanding Officer Capt. Jon Kurtz said the pilot program’s success is representative of other ongoing partnerships with key local organizations.

The station is also active in local multi-agency law enforcement counterterrorism programs including the Joint Regional Intelligence Center and the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center’s Terrorism Liaison Officer (TLO) programs. Both programs offer 24/7 logistical and operational support and real-time information gathering and sharing among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Agents from 42 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies also train on the station’s small arms range, the last open range in the Los Angeles basin.

The station has also a long-standing relationship with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, working closely with the Sunset Bay Harbor Division to secure civilian boating traffic in Anaheim Bay when U.S. warships conduct ordnance evolutions.

 

Product Recall

 

April 29, 2009 — Personal Care Products of Bingham Farms, MI is voluntarily conducting a nationwide recall of all lots of Personal Care non-acetone nail polish remover, conditioner enriched with gelatin, 6 fl. oz., UPC 4815592076, because it does not meet product specifications and has the potential to cause chemical burns to the fingers of users.

The product has been sold nationwide in small discount retail stores and retailers are being instructed to remove the product from sale and to return it to Personal Care Products.

Personal Care has received two complaints of burns to the fingers resulting from the use of the product.        

Any person who purchased a bottle of Personal Care non-acetone nail polish remover, conditioner enriched with gelatin is urged to return it to the store of purchase for a refund. Consumers with questions may contact Personal Care Products at 1-248-258-1555, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. EDT.

One Way Not to Control Swine Flu

Some counties in the United States have voters who do not want undocumented and/or illegals to be given emergency health care. Admittedly treatment in “Emergency Rooms” at hospitals is dramatically more costly than treatment at a clinic or doctor’s office, however, those without health care have no option. Only at an emergency clinic can they garner treatment.

So when the Swine Flu reaches epidemic proportions in the United States, as most experts predict will happen, (not deaths necessarily but infected citizens) all the people with the lowest paying jobs in the country will not be able to be treated.  

They also won’t be able to stay home from work because they desperately need the work.  Many of these will be people who work in the “service” industry; i.e. waiters and waitresses, cooks and busboys, housecleaners and baby-sitters. These are the invisible people who serve the rest of us every day. 

Does that make sense?

Swine Flu Update

World Health Organization has increased the threat for a Pandemic from Level 3 to Level 4.  The highest threat level is a 6 but WHO doesn’t feel present danger level is that hight.

New cases have been identified in Israel and New Zealand.  Additional cases have been identified in Los Angeles and one  person familiar with the situation said there is little doubt that the there will be a substantial outbreak here, however, there is no way to judge the severity of the infection.  Many U.S. residents get flu shots every year and that should lessen the severity. We have better options for sterility in this country with clean water readily available; we are more able to identify the sick and treat them quickly.

As of this writing there is strong evidence that the first case was on a pig farm in Vera Cruz, however, that person has not died.

Also even though it is referred to as a “swine” flu, so far there has been no notification of any pig that died from it.

Washing hands is still considered the #1 treatment for avoiding infection. Stay home if you feel ill with flu like symptoms. Make sure you cover your mouth and nose if you sneeze. Avoid close contact and crowded places.

Beach Soccer Fans Headed For Seal Beach

Beach Soccer Comes to Seal Beach this Saturday and Sunday, May 2/3. The city  will host the Copa Cabana Beach Soccer’s 2^nd series of games this year. 

Beach Soccer has been around for over 30 years but has really grown in popularity during the last three years. Two weeks ago the Copa Cabana Beach  soccer teams played to over 4,000 fans in Oxnard.

The U.S. Beach Soccer national Team began training in Huntington Beach on April 2 under head coach Eddie Soto.  Of the 18 players called into that  camp, 12 will be selected to participate at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.  The team will be vying for a spot at the 2009 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai from Nov. 16-22

Its estimated that over 5,000 will come to Seal Beach this weekend so city parking will be at a premium.

*The parking areas next to the piers will fill up early so if you want to park its suggested you arrive early in the morning. The east side of the pier has a lot of equipment and lumber stored for the boardwalk renovation so parking is greatly restricted.

*On Saturday teams should register 1/1/2 hours before their first game and remember to bring signed liability waivers for each player.

*Players should your schedules Thursday evening for late changes.

For additional information call the Copa Hotline at 909-294-2989

FDA Warning on Alfalfa Sprouts

Sunday, April 26, 2009

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today recommended that consumers not eat raw alfalfa sprouts, including sprout blends containing alfalfa sprouts, until further notice because the product has been linked to Salmonella serotype Saintpaul contamination. Other types of sprouts have not been implicated at this time.

« Previous Page — Next Page »