Start Your Day Our Right with a "Morning Buzz" by Chuck Trunks

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My friend Chuck Trunks, precision abstract artist based in Camarillo, presents his latest piece, "Morning Buzz." This piece juxtoposes (God I love that word and wish I could use it more often) coffee with something much more colorful...like the spinning tea cup ride at Disneyland. I could be wrong but I see an "E" in this piece that must have some connection to the good ole' "E Ticket" that up until 1982 (my senior year in high school) signified a particularly exciting ride. I sure miss those days! For more of Chuck's work, visit www.chucktrunks.com.

Look Ma! I Got My California IOU Today!

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An update: Wells Fargo and B of A announced they will start accepting the IOUs again. Wells Fargo on 9/4 and B of A on 9/9.  Yippee! Or alternatively you can mail the IOU to the State Treasurer's office with a return address and they will send you a check to cash in return. 

Yippee!  California State Controller John Chiang today (8/13/09) announced they will be able to stop issuing IOUs on 9/4/09 and start redeeming previously issued IOUs on that date. 

Well you know, maybe holding on to this IOU isn't such a bad thing after all.  With money market and CD interest rates hovering near 1%, holding on to this $2000 IOU paying 3.75% isn't so bad.  And, the added bonus is that interest on the warrants is both state and federal TAX-FREE!  If you're in the 9.55% state and 28% federal tax brackets, that equates to a pre-tax yield of 6%!

So John Chiang, while I still enjoy ranting about these ridiculous IOUs because the cost of issuing and processing them must be outrageous, could I hold on to mine for another year!?

Chiang will give a more definite answer on the IOU redemption timeline after his emergency meeting with the Pooled Money Investment Board on 8/21/09.  I spoke with the California State Treasurer's office about the time frames involved. He confirmed that IOU holders will have to either mail in the IOUs to receive a check (with interest) or perhaps after the PMIB meeting, more banks will start accepting the IOUs again.

But if ya ask me, I'm holding on to mine until the end at this point.  If you take the IOU to the bank, they get all the interest :<

Originally Posted 7/25/09:

Its my own fault I suppose for filing my tax returns 3 months late (with extensions). Today I received, f

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Moorpark Police Seeking Help Re: Indecent Exposure Case

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From the City of Moorpark City Watch Crime Alert System:

Nature of Incident: Camarillo man arrested after committing an indecent exposure

Location: Tierra Rejada Road at Peach Hill Road, Moorpark

Date & Time/ RB#: Aug. 25, 2009 @ 6:20 a.m. / 09-20732

Unit Responsible: Moorpark P.D. Investigations

Suspect: Alberto Vaca, Age 19, Camarillo

Narrative: On the morning of 08-25-09, at about 6:20 a.m., a city of Moorpark resident (woman) reported that a green Ford Mustang was slowly following her while she was out jogging on Tierra Rejada Road. The woman confronted the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle about his intentions. The woman described the driver as a Hispanic male. When the woman confronted the driver, the suspect remained in the vehicle and exposed himself to the woman. A passerby in another vehicle rendered aid to the woman jogger. The driver of the older model green Ford Mustang drove away from the scene.

Moorpark patrol deputies spoke with the victim and a witness who rendered assistance to the victim. These persons described the vehicle as a forest green, late 1990’s Ford Mustang two-door vehicle, with possible collision damage on the passenger side of the vehicle. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male, about late 20’s in age, dark skin, and slender to medium build.

On the morning of 08-26-09, a 19-year-old Camarillo resident was arrested after being identified as the man responsible for exposing himself to the woman in the city of Moorpark. Subsequent investigation revealed Alberto Vaca, frequently drove his green 1997 Ford Mustang around Tierra Rejada Road just east of the high school and just west of Spring Road this past month looking for women jogging or walking. This occurred between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. When he found a target, he would pull up alongside the woman and expose himself. Vaca targeted at least three different women. The first incident occurred in Moorpark within the past month.

Investigators are interested in speaking with anyone who has been the victim of this type of crime with the above-described vehicle while on Tierra Rejada Road or its vicinity recently. Anyone with information about Vaca’s activities is asked to contact Detective Ilano at (805) 532-2714.

Thousand Oaks Police Department Bicycle Safety Enforcement Announcement

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What is a “sharrow”? (From City of Thousand Oaks Website)Sharrow
A sharrow is a road lane marking that shows a stencil of a bicycle with two chevron markings above it. The purpose of a sharrow is to remind residents to share the road when driving or riding in Thousand Oaks. It's designed for use in areas too narrow for a separate bike lane. Sharrows are about 3 feet wide and 10 feet long. The California Department of Transportation officially adopted the design in 2005. Thousand Oaks will begin stenciling sharrows in September 2008.

Sharrows have several applications in improving safety for cyclists and motorists:

  • Sharrows tend to keep bicyclists from riding too close to parked vehicles,
    which puts them at risk for unexpected opening car doors.
  • With sharrows on the road, motorists tend to give more space to bicyclists
    that they pass.
  • Sharrows help reduce wrong-way riding by bicyclists.
  • They help decrease aggressive bicycle-car interactions.
  • They can help reduce the level of pedestrian-to-bicycle conflicts on sidewalks.

Where (Not) to Smoke in Thousand Oaks, Calabasas and Moorpark

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Most of you have heard about last week's Moorpark City Council vote last week to prohibit smoking in most public places.  The new law, which becomes effective in August, is summarized below along with other state and local bans.  There are no federal smoking bans, though roughly 70% of the country has some type of workplace smoking ban (inversely, 30% of the U.S. population can still smoke at work).

State of California

Smoking in enclosed workplaces and within 20 feet thereof has been banned in California since January 1995.  The law also applies to restaurants and bars.  The law has certain exceptions, such as workplaces with up to 5 employees (assuming no minors and all employees consent), up to 65% of hotel rooms, etc.  Since 1/1/08, smoking in a car with a minor has been illegal in California.  Since 1/1/02, it has been illegal to smoke within 25 feet of a public playground (unless you are smoking on a public sidewalk within 25 feet of the playground, in which case it is perfectly legal).

City of Calabasas

The City of Calabasas smoking ban has been in place since 3/16/06 and outlaws pretty much all public places, both inside and outside...streets, sidewalks, parks, restaurants, stores, you name it. You are allowed to smoke in your home and in designated smoking areas.  You are also allowed to smoke in any outdoor area in which no non-smoker is within reasonable distance and due to the time of day you

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Grand Re-Opening of Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Thousand Oaks is June 15th!

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Today as we were walking out of Leslie's Pool Supplies next door to Lupe's on Thousand Oaks Boulevard, it dawned on me that hey, maybe they are ready to open again!  Sure enough, the sign said Lupe's, a Thousand Oaks landmark since 1947, will once again open for business TOMORROW, June 15th!  Workers were inside preparing for the grand re-opening.

The restaurant was beautiful inside and out.  It has been expanded from a cramped and dark 1500 sq ft to a beautiful, open, bright and airy 3,100 sq ft, including 649 sq ft new dining addition and a 498 sq ft outdoor patio area.  The front of Lupe's is new and improved with a fountain and enclosed courtyard.  Lupe's has been completely revamped and reinvigorated!  But the beauty of it is that it still has some look, feel and charm of the Lupe's we've known the past 60 years! Call 805.495.3573 for more information. 

Debut of "T.O. City Alert" Emergency Alert System in Thousand Oaks

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The City of Thousand Oaks debuted the "T.O. City Alert" a telephone based emergency notification system in December 2008. City alert allows local officials to quickly communicate critical information to thousands of residents and businesses during an emergency.  (NOTE: Effective 1/3/12, the T.O. City Alert system will be incorporated into the broader VC Alert system.)

While the system is pre-loaded with residential and business land line phone numbers through the City's 9-1-1 database, residents can provide additional contact information on this site. Residents can manage their “City Alert” profile online, controlling contact methods and communication path – cell phone, home phone, email, text messaging, fax, pager, PDA and more. To provide your additional contact information now, click here.

T.O. City Alert Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the “Thousand Oaks City Alert” program?

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