October 1, 2014

I'd always wondered how prisonsers survive in U.S. prisons during heat waves...it sounds awful:

I know prisons aren't supposed to be comfortable, but this sounds life threatening.

Texas inmates sue for relief from prison cells that ‘hold heat in like a parked car’
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/06/20/texas-inmates-sue-for-relief-from-prison-cells-that-hold-heat-in-like-a-parked-car/

"Texas prisoners have sued (again) to force the state’s Department of Criminal Justice to bring temperatures in their cells down to 88 degrees or less.

Most people would probably consider the high 80?s to be uncomfortably hot, but the federal lawsuit — filed on behalf of four inmates at a facility that houses ill, geriatric and disabled prisoners — alleges that the status quo is far worse.

According to the suit, filed in Houston this week by the Texas Civil Rights Project and other advocates, the cells at Wallace Pack Unit, near College Station, are so hot “that inmates have resorted to wrapping themselves in damp towels and lying on the concrete floors,” according to Texas Monthly.

Inmates lay towels on the burning hot stainless steel tables to rest their elbows. The walls, also made of metal, trap in hot air like a “parked car.” Some dorm windows are sealed shut; others that do open don’t provide relief from the heat. ..."

September 25, 2014

CHP Reaches $1.5M Settlement With Woman Seen Being Beaten on Video

Source: KTLA 5 News

The woman who was captured on cellphone video being beaten by a California Highway Patrol officer on the side of a Los Angeles freeway reached a $1.5 million settlement with the department on Wednesday, according to her attorney, Caree Harper.

The settlement includes a provision that the officer involved will resign.

Video shot by a motorist showed a CHP officer throwing a woman to the ground, straddle her body and repeatedly punching her. (Credit: David Diaz)

Read more: http://ktla.com/2014/09/24/chp-reaches-1-5m-settlement-with-woman-seen-being-beaten-on-video/

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I hope the officer has been—in the least—put on parole. He obviously has anger issues, and a disregard for the well-being of others.
Of course, I wasn't in the courtroom, but watching that video certainly makes me think he could be a danger to the public.

September 16, 2014

Calfornia heat wave power outages (Southern California Edison)

Southern California Edison's Power Outage map.

Eeeek! Long link: I hope it works.
It's a map of the current outages for SCE. Pretty extensive. And it looks like most fixes are going to take at least a day. This was worst last night, though.

I tried to look at the L.A. DWP's map, but the page is down.

Hope I can make it through with no outage, I work from home. DWP just upgraded our transformer /equipment last month, so that's something. I'm ready to leave for the library if it does go out.

September 10, 2014

Lawsuit Claims Sushi Rice Sold To California Restaurants Tainted With Rodent Soiling, Black Mold

Source: CBS Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — If you have eaten sushi in California in the past four years, you could be part of a class-action lawsuit. The lawsuit suggests sushi enthusiasts throughout California for years have been fed rice that may have been tainted.

...In the lawsuit, Farmer’s Rice Cooperative is accused of selling the tainted rice to thousands of grocery stores across California.

Particularly, the names New Variety, New Rose and Imperial Rose are associated with the bad rice.

The complaint alleges the company would “allow substances, such as insects, rodents and their soiling, bird remains and black mold to be present in its processed rice.”

Read more: http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/09/09/lawsuit-claims-sushi-rice-sold-to-calif-restaurants-tainted-with-rodent-soiling-black-mold/

September 10, 2014

Is it any wonder that just as things start to feel REALLY dark...

Cheney pops up, and has a cynical secret circle with the GOP?
The man is as sick and rotted as his original heart.
He is so much that is bad about the U.S.
I hope to all Gods that ever were, that his new heart has a flaw.

September 3, 2014

Uber Defends Slashing Drivers’ Rates Amid LA Protest

Source: CBS Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A spokesperson for popular ride-sharing service Uber has defended the company’s decision to cut its drivers’ rates in more than half as they gathered in protest Tuesday.

More than 50 Los Angeles-based Uber drivers assembled in a North Hollywood parking lot Tuesday night to voice their displeasure with continued cuts in their take-home pay.

“None of us have anything against the app. We love the app,” said driver Aya Valilar, who has been working with the company a year-and-a-half.

“I’ve experienced four cuts since I started. It was $2.50 a mile when I started a year-and-a-half ago, and now we are at $1.10 a mile. You can’t make a living off of that,” she said.

Read more: http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/09/02/uber-defends-slashing-drivers-rates-amid-la-protest/

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A small gathering, I know (of only 50), but I hope these folks can put a stop to what sounds like greed on Uber's part.