California Construction Trucking Association (CCTA)

First, I would like to apologize to any of you who may have left a phone message to me which was not returned.  As I wrote several months ago, management felt it was time for me to upgrade my old phone, I believe something was mentioned about me becoming “more efficient” with access to emails at all times.  Wanting to appear that I can still accomplish a tough assignment, I reluctantly agreed and several days later my “Smart Phone” arrived.

Life has not been the same.  The phone is indeed very smart, there is even a young lady inside named Siri who constantly asks me if I need anything from her.  At first I tried to be polite to Siri and asked her in a nice way to please leave me alone, I will have to figure this out by myself.  For some reason she will just not go away, and by the end of each day I am suffering from what I now call my “Technological Nervous Collapse” or TNC.  Let me add this TNC is not caused only by this phone, it begins with a coffee maker that I can no longer program, a television that I cannot turn on or off, and annoying “dings” that come from either my refrigerator or dishwasher trying to alert me that something is wrong.  I never thought I would say this, but how I long for simpler times, without all these modern electronics.

Early in May came a notice from CARB that a Board Meeting would be held on May 24 to decide how the windfall profits from Cap and Trade will be dispersed.  Several days before this meeting I received an email from Jeff Lassle with a letter to Jerry Brown and Mary Nichols asking for reparations for those of us who had been harmed by CARB with their regulations.  I called Mr. Lassle and asked for his permission to print his letter for distribution at CARB’s meeting, to which he agreed.

I sent it to many of you via email and your responses were overwhelming.  It was while printing these letters that my old printer decided to quit, so off I went to Best Buy, constantly telling myself that I could accomplish the new printer installation if I just remained calm and thoroughly read the instructions (“Ding, Ding.”)  Let me just say “Thank You” to Hank, who heard my desperation and took over the printing job.

While many CARB meetings have been emotionally draining, this one had a humorous element.  Just mention “free money” and folks come out of the woodwork.  What a perfect time to ask for reparations, I thought to myself.  Comments from the floor began at 4:00, with Chair Nichols limiting each speaker to two minutes.

The word of the day became “disadvantaged” many times being used to describe different ethnic groups.  Frankly, I see no reason to divide California’s “disadvantaged” into racial groups, ALL residents of California are disadvantaged as we proceed into uncharted territory, taxing (capping in the Mafia sense of the word?) the businesses who have tried to remain here.
I listened to several speakers promoting bicycle riding (build more bicycle lanes and buy us all bikes) to fuel additive folks who can clean the air with a tablet in every tank (we need some money to promote our product.)

A few began to question this program and suddenly it was almost 5:00.  Mary Nichols announced that this meeting was over due to time limitations and suddenly the audience erupted.  I must add that by this time there were only two Board members left, as the others had skipped out during the proceedings.  While I was able to give our Reparation letter to the Clerk of the Board for distribution, for some reason my name was not called to speak before adjournment.

However, there is a bright side to all of this.  By the next morning the emails were flying between many of those in attendance and our Reparation letter was picked up by several publications.  One of the computer literate was able to post the video of the closing meeting and it has been forwarded far and wide.
I have been thinking about this Global Warming issue for quite a while now.  If it is “man-made” then it seems like we should start eliminating man.  Which took me back to the 70’s when we were all told to limit the number of children we had to two (glad I didn’t listen, my third child is a true blessing.)

For those of you who were too young to remember those days, I assure you it was a really big deal and folks didn’t look kindly on large families.  I am not sure what happened to that movement.  Perhaps at the next CARB meeting I will ask for free birth control for all residents.  Or perhaps CARB has already figured this out and will continue to destroy our economy until we all leave.

Betty