How low will California fall?

[PapaG]

Seeing an IBM computer beat some all-time greats at Jeopardy was a real eye-opener to me at how far AI has already come.

The questions the AI missed were hilarious, though. The "all-time greats" were compensated, as well. Read the March GQ article on AI. That is the real eye-opener.

 

[mook]

The questions the AI missed were hilarious, though. The "all-time greats" were compensated, as well.

Yeah. The typical internet search engine result in 2000 was hilariously bad and spammy. It's amazing that not a bit of progress has happened in the past 10 years to make search results more relevant. In fact, as the internet expanded at an exponential rate to encompass much of human knowledge, it just got so bad that they're pretty much unusable. No wonder Google went bankrupt in 2005, and we now use internet directories like dmoz.org to find everything. Man, I wish I'd bought stock in dmoz.org.

Goes to show that you just can't improve programming, and that AI is a pipe dream.

 

[maxiep]

I've come around to the idea that Jerry Brown deserves this, and that Meg Whitman had a favor done for her by losing. California is going to have to declare bankruptcy, and as long as the House remains Republican, they're not getting bailed out. And that will be the very best thing for the State and the Country.

 

[Shapecity]

I like the higher gas prices in SoCal. Less drivers on the road. Time saved is more valuable than a few pennies at the pump.

What's disappointing has been the lack of punishment for the city officials who stole taxpayer money.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

i kind of want to drive less. like if I were driving to OC or something I look at it in terms of how much the drive would cost. like driving total would cost me $40....don't want to do that.

 

[Shapecity]

i kind of want to drive less. like if I were driving to OC or something I look at it in terms of how much the drive would cost. like driving total would cost me $40....don't want to do that.

Get a motorcycle.

 

[maxiep]

Here's a website covering the situation of the California state government.

http://www.city-journal.org/california/

 

[Shapecity]

The Orange County Transportation Authority board awarded its former director of special projects a $195,000 two-year contract to essentially provide the same services he offered while employed by the OCTA. Monte Ward, who worked for the OCTA for 28 years and whose position was not filled when he retired in 2009, will work up to 750 hours a year and earn $130 an hour, said OCTA spokesman Joel Zlotnik. Zlotnik said that at the time of his departure Ward was earning an annual salary of $188,635.

"It's a very reasonable contract," said OCTA's chief Will Kempton at the board meeting this week. "Consultants would normally bill out at a significantly higher rate than that."
On top of that, Ward receives a pension of $114,384 a year from the California Public Employees' Retirement System.


"We think this is a very good deal for us," Kempton added. "This is something that is done ... and in this case I thought this was an appropriate move."

http://www.ocregister.com/news/octa-300035-ward-contract.html

Double-dipping is a major problem for the state.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Lifeguards making $200k a year?

http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2...-totally-lucrative-some-make-over-200k/44783/

High pay and benefits for lifeguards in Newport Beach is the latest example of frustrating levels of compensation for public employees. More than half the city’s full-time lifeguards are paid a salary of over $100,000 and all but one of them collect more than $100,000 in total compensation including benefits.
When thinking about career options with high salaries, lifeguarding is probably not one of the first jobs to come to mind. But it apparently should. In one of Orange County’s most desirable beach destinations, Newport Beach, lifeguards are compensated all too well; especially compared with the county annual median household income of $71,735.
It might be time for a career change.
According to a city report on lifeguard pay for the calendar year 2010, of the 14 full-time lifeguards, 13 collected more than $120,000 in total compensation; one lifeguard collected $98,160.65. More than half the lifeguards collected more than $150,000 for 2010 with the two highest-paid collecting $211,451 and $203,481 in total compensation respectively. Even excluding benefits like health care and pension, more than half the lifeguards receive a total salary, including overtime pay, exceeding $100,000. And they also receive an annual allowance of $400 for “Sun Protection.” Many work four days a week, 10 hours a day.
Lifeguarding in Newport Beach is a pretty good gig, if you can get it.
There is no denying that lifeguards protect swimmers and play a vital safety role in protecting numerous beachgoers every year. In 2010, the total number of rescues by Newport Beach lifeguards was 2,190. Even so, these salaries seem too generous, and the compensation levels don’t appear fiscally sane.

 

[Shapecity]

We told you last year that the city manager of San Juan Capistrano’s was also its utilities director, and as such, collected something like two salaries: $324,000, putting him at No. 8 in the entire state of California in a survey of city manager compensation.

Officials defended the dough paid to Joe Tait: He received no benefits, and saved San Juan about $162,000 by doing both jobs, they said.
Suffice to say that didn’t go over so well. Tait’s pay was reduced a bit.

And now, our colleague Brittany Levine reports, San Juan has hired a new city manager and plans to pay her $218,000 a year plus benefits.
Yes, it’s a her: Karen Brust, Del Mar’s city manager, beat out about 80 other applicants for the job, Levine writes. That makes her Orange County’s third female city manager, along with Leslie Keane in Laguna Woods and Lori Sassoon in Villa Park.

What of Tait? Levine tells us that he has been hired as principal consultant for the Utilities Department. Tait will be paid a maximum of $175,000 through March and gets a city car, Levine writes.
If the city pays him the whole $175K, Tait will have been correct: The city will, indeed, spend a good bit more than $324,000 on those two positions (likely more than $400K, once Brust’s benefits are factored in).

It will also, however, get two people doing two different jobs. Does that seem like a good tradeoff?

http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2011/05/11/high-priced-city-manager-replaced-in-san-juan/82805/

I like how they defend these salaries.

 

[maxiep]

Lifeguards making $200k a year?

http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2...-totally-lucrative-some-make-over-200k/44783/

You think this shit comes free? It costs money to look this good!

[video=youtube;IuYrRebvFHc]

 

[maxiep]

http://www.ocregister.com/news/octa-300035-ward-contract.html

Double-dipping is a major problem for the state.

I know two Portland school teachers who "retired" at age 55 with full benefits and then were immediately rehired as "permanent substitutes" in their same classrooms. It's obscene.

 

[Shapecity]

I know two Portland school teachers who "retired" at age 55 with full benefits and then were immediately rehired as "permanent substitutes" in their same classrooms. It's obscene.

Yeah there's a lot of this happening with the school districts in California. Not only does it cost a fortune it takes away a job from a younger teacher trying to gain experience. I know a few cops who are also doing this. What's even more disgusting is they ramp up their overtime right before retiring to boost their annual income so the pension % is paid out based on that income level. Then they get re-hired as "consultants."

 

[maxiep]

A shocking development: http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2011/06/companies-leaving-california-in-record.html

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

shocking?

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I fucking love it. Last november voters passed a measure that would stop paying the legislature if they didn't turn in their budget. on the deadline they passed one that would never pass just to get paid. veto'd the next day....state controller said "fuck off" and stopped paying them. sweet justice!

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

http://www.scpr.org/programs/airtalk/2011/06/22/unpaid-legislators/

Prop 25 says that if California legislators fail to pass a budget by the June 15 constitutional deadline, their pay is cut off. On Tuesday, State Controller John Chiang said the budget lawmakers presented to the Governor last week was “miscalculated, miscounted or unfinished” and didn’t pencil out. As a result, he decided to withhold from the legislators the $400 daily pay they receive from the state. Democrats have responded angrily saying they have fulfilled their commitment to bring a budget on time to the Governor and have threatened to sue in order to get paid. Chiang says since he’s the person who writes the checks, it’s up to him to assess whether revenue equals or exceeds spending. According to his calculations, the budget comes up 2 billion dollars short. Does state controller Chiang have the authority to determine the soundness of the budget? Should California’s lawmakers get paid or cut-off?

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

John Chiang using that Tiny Asian Cock up the ass of the California Legislature!

:MARIS61:

 

[maxiep]

[video=youtube;ffUCnwh_KQc]

 

[Denny Crane]

http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/28/news/economy/California_companies/index.htm?iid=Lead

California companies fleeing the Golden State

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Buffeted by high taxes, strict regulations and uncertain state budgets, a growing number of California companies are seeking friendlier business environments outside of the Golden State.

And governors around the country, smelling blood in the water, have stepped up their courtship of California companies. Officials in states like Florida, Texas, Arizona and Utah are telling California firms how business-friendly they are in comparison.

Companies are "disinvesting" in California at a rate five times greater than just two years ago, said Joseph Vranich, a business relocation expert based in Irvine. This includes leaving altogether, establishing divisions elsewhere or opting not to set up shop in California.

"There is a feeling that the state is not stable," Vranich said. "Sacramento can't get its act together...and that includes the governor, legislators and regulatory agencies that are running wild."

The state has been ranked by Chief Executive magazine as the worst place to do business for seven years.

 

[maxiep]

No pun intended, but this is a golden opportunity for Oregon to poach business. My guess is we'll fail to do so, because our tax structure isn't much more friendly than California's. As a result, other states will benefit when Oregon needs the jobs so much more.

 

[maxiep]

I'm glad to see California State Government has cut to the bone: http://fiercereason.com/2011/08/californias-unsustainable-existence-by-larry/