Comments by Pagurus
Posted on February 6 at 9:26 a.m.
McGinnis's attempts to be "poetic," might have some heft if he knew what he was writing about. It must be terrible to pretend to be an expert on sea life without a shred of any real experience with it. Instead, he's become a random word generator...
Posted on January 2 at 1:30 a.m.
Too bad McGinnis wasn't filled with the "spirit of community" when he resigned in protest from the Channel Islands advisory board a few years back when he didn't get his way over fishing restrictions. This guy still rings hollow in his appliqued high-mindedness. Or, as the Polynesians would say: "A real Phoni-nua!"
Posted on December 21 at 7:16 a.m.
Starshine: Yes, don't use plastic in your microwave. If it's not BPA today, it will be some other heretofore unstudied, undetected petroleum-based hydrocarbon tomorrow. What's so hard about using glass, girl?
Also, when you're in need of a massage, just call. (insert smiley face emoticon here)
On Dear Santa
Posted on December 21 at 7:06 a.m.
Religion has useful aspects to it, until it gets into the hands of men (mostly) who use it for their own ends (See: "Life of Brian") and manipulate others through appealing to the inborn fears affecting most humans searching for "significance" (See" "Meaning of Life"). Religious-based strife will continue as long as individuals remain uncomfortable with not knowing the unknowable and who refuse to understand that 'moral behavior' does not depend or need religion to justify it. Evolution favors energy conservation, ultimately, and being good (kind, compassionate, cooperative, happy) saves a whole bunch of energy. That's it. That's all there is until the whole thing blinks out in the maw of a hungry black hole and gets spit out to start over somewhere else in this whole improbable miracle.
Posted on December 9 at 8:53 a.m.
Starshine - you're great! Courageous, funny, honest. And smart. What a lovely combination...
Posted on December 7 at 4:20 p.m.
Who can resist a good dog pile? Not I, apparently. We saw a recent example of what a high level government administrator should do after being arrested for DUI (first offense and without wrecking his car in the process): Randy Babbit, FAA administrator, had enough smarts to understand that his job-related effectiveness relies on credibility and responsibility for his actions, and based on that he did the right and ethical thing: he resigned. Based on his record so far, I doubt we can expect the same of Mr. Armendariz.
Now the soapbox: Elected office is a privilege, not an entitlement; responsibility for the public weal is matched with a responsibility to maintain a high example of personal behavior and actions, whatever one's politics are. Yes, we all make mistakes, but all mistakes are not created equal...
On Carpinteria Councilmember Joe Armendariz Arrested for DUI
Posted on November 23 at 12:31 a.m.
Have any of you bothered to talk to the current owners of Goleta's ag properties to ask them about the feasibility of farming surrounded by urban development where people complain about ag nuisances? People may want to preserve all ag land, but the facts and challenges may make it difficult for the owners to make a profit - and farmers aren't in business to provide the public with perty views. Hey, Indy: how about sending one or two of your crack reporters to talk to Goleta ag owners for a reality check? Of course, there's always the option for enough people getting together to buy the property and put it in a permanent easement - just don't expect to spend public money doing so...
Posted on November 21 at 3:48 a.m.
If only "hypothesis that is mute" was...
(It's "moot," dude.)
But probably a suitable response to another hand-wringing, oh-dear, oh-dear, me-oh-my article from Mr. McG, who is always more interested in in the sound of his own alarmist 'voice' which simply MUST be poly-polysyllabic rather than clear and informed. When one doesn't clearly grasp a subject, that's when the dime-store vocabulary is trotted out.
Posted on November 21 at 3:26 a.m.
In 2009, or by Chandra Wallar's math, "years and years ago," the Arizona newspaper cited by zwoirie opined: "Bahl is no dummy -- her recent work as director of parks and recreation for San Diego County was touted by the man who led the selection committee. But her ethical judgment stinks -- not to mention the fact that she should have known she'd get caught. If you see Bahl touring any of our treasured state parks, do a favor for Arizona history -- keep an eye on her."
After too many years of an ethically challenged CEO, der Herr Brown (now supplementing his handsome SB County retirement package by working for COLAB, fer crissakes!), SB County needs a leader who wouldn't choose a friend and former colleague for her assistant, another outsider who is as unfamiliar with SB County as she is. Surely, there were qualified locals available. What Wallar's decision indicates is that her personal comfort in familiarity was more important than getting the absolute best person. Not a reassuring early move by Ms. Wallar...
Previous Month
Posted on February 6 at 2:56 p.m.
Martha: I'm well aware of McGinnis's 'academic' credentials. Unfortunately, none of them pertain to actual work, or education, as a marine biologist which might have better equipped him for understanding the fisheries and ecosystems he comments on in these columns. I'm also aware that when McGinnis served on a Channel Islands advisory committee, purportedly representing UCSB (he wasn't), he was the only member to resigned in 'protest' of the consensus the committee arrived at. So much for his understanding of how 'communities' function.
It's easy to criticize fisheries managers, especially when their complicated work is further complicated by political interference, and it would be a much better service if McGinnis would focus on this aspect. After all, isn't that what a political science major is educated to do?
I have a suggestion: why don't you do a local poll among fishery professionals, academic and governmental, to ask how they regard McGinnis's literary contributions?
On Saltwater in My Hair