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CAcyclist's Journal
newspaper. Can I get some feedback on this article?
It is clear, are the references understandable - is it too vitriolic? I have a good relationship with this paper, which, while it did endorse Westly to my dismay, I don't want to damage. I am not sure this is the kind of letter Jon (the editor) has in mind, but it's the letter I want to write. I can always send this out to other papers and write him a different one if this is too strong. Please don't anyone copy any of this letter, though, until tomorrow and then I would be honored if anyone wanted to copy it for themselves - I just want to be the first one to publish it. The LTTE  Concerning the California Governor's race)Dear Editor, Note:The following letter is commentary on the whole mass media spectacle surrounding this election, not the Daily Journal. As dependable as an Osama video appearing after a Republican poll down-turn,we hear the perennial prediction of the "lowest turn-out ever" from the mass media every time we have an election, particularly a primary. From my stand-point, this election was intensely important to many. As I write this, we won't have the final count until probably Wednesday, due to the need to count paper ballots in Alameda County, the election problems in Sacramento, San Joaquin and Kern Counties and the large number of absentee ballots. The conclusions I have derived from this election are that the mass media, particularly the papers owned by corporate conglomerates, have lost sight of their duty to inform the public and, instead, prefer a spectacle. In fact, the other words that came to mind, were, as Jon Stewart might say, what do you call it? Oh, yeah - partisan hackery. Never mind that these two are both nominally Democrats. We have one candidate, supported by 67% of state Democratic delegates, with a very detailed plan, who clearly and firmly called for raising taxes on the very wealthy and corporations, the same group of people who enjoyed tax cuts amounting to 17 BILLION dollars from the federal government, in order to put California back on track as the best state in the nation. We have another candidate who paid $34 million from his own very deep pocket out of $36 million spent, whose only experience in office is signing checks, who couldn't generate more than 20% support at the Democratic State Convention, and who has no clear plan for what he's going to do when in office or how he's going to pay for it. This isn't American Idol, folks. The way we vote has real consequences for what happens to us individually and as a state. If we can't get real information from the mass media, we are lost. So, as Jon Stewart might say, Stop. Just Stop. Stop the affected cynicism, stop the spin, stop the he said/she said "reporting". Prove to us that investigative journalism isn't just fiction any more, after all. |
Profile Information CAcyclist
2231 posts Member since Mon Oct 4th 2004 ``Unlike the governor, I know where I stand, I know whose side I'm on,'' Angelides said. ``I'll stand on the ground that I believe is right for California and I believe Californians are hungry for that.'' Phil Angelides Dani's Bike Pages
URLs of just a few of the great Chevy Ad parodies - the first two listed are mine, the rest are just brilliant contributions from others. Who know how long these will be good for though. See also the thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discu... mine: http://www.chevyapprentice.com/view.php?co... http://www.chevyapprentice.com/view.php?co... Others: http://www.chevyapprentice.com/view.php?co... http://www.chevyapprentice.com/view.php?co... http://www.chevyapprentice.com/view.php?co... http://www.chevyapprentice.com/view.php?co... http://www.chevyapprentice.com/view.php?co... http://www.chevyapprentice.com/view.php?co... http://www.chevyapprentice.com/view.php?co... http://www.chevyapprentice.com/view.php?co... http://www.chevyapprentice.com/view.php?co... ***************************************************************************************************** I am posting bicycle-related articles, mostly relating to bicycle rights in California, as time goes by. Since this issue isn't frequently touched on at DU, but is an issue close to my heart and entirely pro-environment, pro-health and pro-freedom and anti-oil, I think the subject merits consideration. The first point I would like to make is to educate people as to the actual Vehicle Code in the state of California. The following code is good to download and take with you as you ride: (the url you can find this at is http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html ) The below code describes the actual exceptions to riding to the right including the right to take the lane and it specifically DOES NOT require single-file riding. Note that these rules hold for cyclists traveling at less than the normal speed of traffic. Cyclists traveling at the normal speed of traffic do not have to stay to the right at all, because they are now no longer a "slow-moving" device (vehicle). California CVC 21202. (a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations: 1. When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction. 2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway. 3. When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of Section 21656. For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane. 4.When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized. (b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway, which highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable. 21208. (a) Whenever a bicycle lane has been established on a roadway pursuant to Section 21207, any person operating a bicycle upon the roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride within the bicycle lane, except that the person may move out of the lane under any of the following situations: (1)When overtaking and passing another bicycle, vehicle, or pedestrian within the lane or about to enter the lane if the overtaking and passing cannot be done safely within the lane. (2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway. (3) When reasonably necessary to leave the bicycle lane to avoid debris or other hazardous conditions. (4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized. (b) No person operating a bicycle shall leave a bicycle lane until the movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided in Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 22100) in the event that any vehicle may be affected by the movement. 21211. (a) No person may stop, stand, sit, or loiter upon any class I bikeway, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public or private bicycle path or trail, if the stopping, standing, sitting, or loitering impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable movement of any bicyclist. (b) No person may place or park any bicycle, vehicle, or any other object upon any bikeway or bicycle path or trail, as specified in subdivision (a), which impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable movement of any bicyclist unless the placement or parking is necessary for safe operation or is otherwise in compliance with the law. (c) This section does not apply to drivers or owners of utility or public utility vehicles, as provided in Section 22512. (d) This section does not apply to owners or drivers of vehicles who make brief stops while engaged in the delivery of newspapers to customers along the person's route. (e) This section does not apply to the driver or owner of a rubbish or garbage truck while actually engaged in the collection of rubbish or garbage within a business or residence district if the front turn signal lamps at each side of the vehicle are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side of the vehicle are being flashed simultaneously. (f) This section does not apply to the driver or owner of a tow vehicle while actually engaged in the towing of a vehicle if the front turn signal lamps at each side of the vehicle are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side of the vehicle are being flashed simultaneously. 22517. No person shall open the door of a vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe to do so and can be done without interfering with the movement of such traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers. Visitor Tools
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