Dehesa Valley Gazette

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DEHESA VALLEY GAZETTE

Published periodically from San Diego, CA

(The Official BUT UNAUTHORIZED Organ Of Mayor Jimmy Valentine)

THURSDAY JANUARY 12th, 2012

A VETERAN IS SOMEONE WHO, AT ONE POINT IN HIS (HER) LIFE, WROTE A CHECK MADE PAYABLE TO AMERICA FOR AN AMOUNT OF…”UP TO AND INCLUDING…MY LIFE”

http://www.dehesavalleygazette.com

Or Email: jimmyv@dehesavalleygazette.com

where the heck have U been???

**Faithful reader Richard made this inquiry a day or so ago and it prompted your humble publisher to get upon the stick and produce an issue. It has been a while and I apologize to my paid subscribers and those that I comp with free subscriptions. I would promise to be more diligent in the future but that promise I cannot make. I have mellowed a great deal since my angry years with an unnamed radio talk show. I now take greater joy in my family, my life, my country and God’s bounty. I have discovered that “the end is not near.”

Rather than face the keyboard I’d rather walk the property with faithful dog companion Scamper. Rather fire up the weedwacker or brush clippers and clean up the property. I’d rather try a new recipe, attend a Veterans committee meeting, do a ride with the Patriot Guard and devote time to Homefront San Diego and our military families.

But the moment does strike and I will try to respond to such calling as often (if not in as great a length) as possible. I remain indebted to your interest and your capacity to stomach drivel.

** Since I have spent some time (Yikes, 15 years?) producing conservative talk radio I know that it is real difficult today to get information that is not tainted. I don’t need to drill faithful readers of the DVG but for example…we are told that gummint bailout of US auto companies was a terrible thing, and yet today headlines speak to rejuvenated domestic automakers. And car companies repaying their bail loot. What to think?

I listened to former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw speak recently and he remarked that today’s information consumer needs to be wary, skeptical and savvy. He notes that our menu of news is no longer restricted to three evening network newscasts. I have long maintained that a diet of all Rush or all Maddow, of all Washington Times or all NY Times is unhealthy.

With so many sources of information available instantly today…(many outlets do not report news but produce often uneducated comment)…it can be difficult to determine truth. And falsehood can go viral via email in the time it takes to open your Outlook account.

This reality has given rise to web sites such as Factcheck.org, Politicfact and others. Invaluable sites especially in an election year (read: all the time)

Now, fortunately some bright folks are teaching our youngsters to be good information consumers….my view is that it’s a course that should be taught in every high school.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media/july-dec11/newsliteracy_12-13.html

If we are to remain a self- governing republic we must be vigilant about the quality of information we consume. I can speak in first person about blather and political falsehood….sorry to say.

** I have friends who sign off their emails with quite elaborate finales. A laborious listing of title, honorariums and 18 ways to contact them. I mostly sign off “jimmyv” and leave it at that. But I guess I’m missing a great opportunity to promote myself and so I may rethink my concluding salutations.

I take some unauthorized liberty here to provide illustration, hoping my friends will not be offended…I mean no harm:

Name here

Director, Military Outreach Program
Global Domains International
President and Founder, wsRadio
GDI Office 760-602-3000 Ext 4103
Cell - 858-442-1734
wsRadio Office - 858-623-0199 ext 8
Home Office - 858-206-6963
Other Proud Titles
Captain, USMC
U.S. Naval Academy, 1983

Name here

CPO, USN (Retired)
District Service Officer
Joint Outreach Service Office - San Diego County
American Legion & Veterans of Foreign Wars
Life Member, VFW Service Officers Hall of Fame
O: (619) 365-8263
Are you looking for a job? Visit www.VetJobs.com!
Co-Host of "Armed Forces Talk Radio" on www.ArmedForcesTalkRadio.com heard every Thursday at 10 AM Pacific Time. All shows are archived and available for download or listening at any time!

I’m working on my sign off….perhaps you can give me your guidance?

Jimmy Valentine

Volunteer – Homefront San Diego

Mayor Dehesa Valley, Ca

Life Member, Stragglers motorcycle gang

Publisher, Dehesa Valley Gazette

Former resident of the CA Penal Colony, Parris, Ca

Recovering radio talk show producer

Unofficial ambassador for Jack Daniels

Life member, Good Sam Club

Life member, Costco

Life member of the Currently Unemployed Professionals Association SD Chapter

I could add more but we’d be like another whole page of accolades. And I haven’t added three email addresses, two phone numbers, my snail mail address, facebook, that link in thing. I may just stick with jimmyv, ya think?

** At the mall over holiday. People watching is fun. One set of peoples of particular interest. Family of three….man, wife and daughter (12ish). Girl was following mom and dad guided by some kind of radar. She was stone involved in her phone message gadget. Head down, total concentration. Still she was able to stay in lock step with her folks. They stopped to look at a store window, girl stopped without bumping into parents. Mom and dad did a left turn, she followed flawlessly, never once lifting her head or eyes to see where they were.

Just amazing. Today’s kids are seriously talented?

**Switch scene to Imperial Beach. There to drop off food cards from Homefront San Diego to a Navy enlisted family. As I drive past schools the reader boards exclaim that this is a school break. December 19^th thru January 9^th.

I guess I’m Scrooge but don’t that seem like a long break for Christmas and New Years? Maybe I’ll Google and see if students in China and India get that kinda time off.

It is good to be a teacher?

**You able to vote for any of the current GOP field? Sorry lot, yes? At this writing Mitt would appear to be the candidate. Are we doomed? Guess if there is no other choice the faithful will flock behind him? I may not be faithful enough. The Christian right is in full panic. War council meetings in Texas to unite behind somebody other than….

But it’s been fun. New poll leader each week. Was Herman the best frontrunner? Loved that hat. I might actually have been able to vote based on the hat alone.

But the Hat had to depart. Michelle found her own way home. And so..

Mitt….I can’t do Mitt. Which Mitt would I vote for? And what would I get if he won?

Rick S…Not sure we’d get much done aside from abortion battles and gay rights fights. I am concerned about those matters but that is not why I hire a president.

Ron….He’s fun but marginally insane. Nice to talk about all that stuff but we do need to make roads and provide care for our Veterans and I’m of a mind that education is a national security issue etc. But I love the energy of his supporters.

Newton…It’s not 1994 anymore. And while I am a public school graduate I don’t buy the distinction between “consultant and advisor,” and a “lobbyist.” I don’t care that he marries a lot. And frankly I’d be more of a fan if he had indeed served, that would forgive a number of sins for me.

Rick P….I really think the folks in Texas are embarrassed to actually get to know their governor. Inept is a good word. Now we know why he refused to debate his democrat opponent during his last run for governor. He is one helluva preacher tho. Next stop Dallas mega-church. (He did serve but makes too much of driving a cargo plane)

Jon….Way dull. I do appreciate his China expertise and that entices me. He also doesn’t lean off the scale politically. He’s young has a decent range of experience and is bright enough to learn on the job (all presidents learn to be president). As I put the ponder on it, I guess I could live with Huntsman.

And he is likely to be a formidable opponent to President Obama given that he served when asked…..putting politics aside for country plays well with me.

I expect hate mail.

**Got to visit with Duncan L. Hunter last week. Sad circumstances. A memorial for Nelson “Mac” McWilliams who served as Duncan D. Hunter’s aide for veterans affairs. Mac died in an auto accident. Services held in Ramona where Mac was a member of the VFW (a retired Navy Vet). The post held a “ceremony of life,” event at the post. Moving and a fine tribute.

Mr. Hunter the elder looks great. He gave me a copy of his book, “Victory In Iraq,” and was kind to write a nice note inside. (also see below)

Duncan has always been a serious plain kinda American. Not much fancy about him. Tends to look a bit rumpled most of the time and seemingly out of place in a suit and tie. He served in the Army. One son is in the Army and the other served in the Marines during the worst fighting in Iraq. The latter is now the Congressman.

Duncan rose thru ranks in the House and served as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee 2003-2007.

I used the word “plain,” above, as a compliment. He doesn’t stand much on formality. A “call me Duncan,” kinda guy.

I have fond thoughts of our radio audience trips to DC to “Hold Their Feet to the Fire.” Duncan would always open his congressional office to our listeners as they lobbied on the hill, providing a way station to ease sore feet, make a cold cut sandwich and have a cold pop. His office was ours during our sojourns. I would use his desk to make booking calls for the radio show. He was serious when he said the place belonged to the people.

And his staff was (is) like family. Interesting that while Duncan always asked folks to call him Duncan, his staff always refers to him as Mr. Hunter. A lot of that staff has been inherited by his son and they are still family. Mac was a member of that family and he’ll be sorely missed.

This is the “see below,” referenced above…another book I commend to your attention….”Battlefield Angels: Saving Lives Under Enemy Fire From Valley Forge To Afghanistan,” the latest work from Scott McGaugh who has written several books on the USS Midway and the museum here in San Diego. This book a bit of a departure but an important one given that San Diego is a major military medical arena treating thousands of Wounded Warriors from the Iraq-Afghanistan wars. And it highlights the civilian benefits that have accrued over the years because of the remarkable advances in battlefield medicine. Check it out on Amazon.

**How many GPS devices does it take to locate a home on Camp Pendleton? Three!! The Stragglers adopted a U.S. Marine family for Christmas and we (Tom, Spock and my wife) were bound for CP to deliver gifts for the family and two small girls. We had the address. Tom’s gps device came up blank. Spocks was able to get us to the gate at Pendleton and after much trying my wife’s gps pinpointed the home on base.

There has been a lot of new housing construction at CP so GPS was challenged….still three devices?

**Emails, we get emails:

Radio in general has become an automated, brokered money machine. There is real very little emphasis on quality programing and of course, they certainly don't want to pay for creativity. A couple more years, when the internet is fully propagated into automobiles and we might see a return to REAL programming. Great edition Jimmy. Chuck

Thanks Jimmy. So sorry to hear about your neighbors fire. Renee and I still live in Carlsbad and have just great neighbors. They are a blessing. Take care. Merry Christmas and may you and the misses have a great new year.

Carlsbad Joe.

Thanks Jimmy, and want to say to keep up the good work you are doing for those who have giving the lifes for our country. James

Jimmy: I think hackers caused the SDGE blackout in Sept. Joe

Dear Jimmy,

Lots of common sense here in the DEHESA VALLEY GAZETTE. Maybe you'd be interested in the political satire THE PLANET OF COMET SENSE,a satirical view about the destruction of American culture that should hit the hired Wall Street marchers as hard as it hits followers of the Al Gore Global Warming Church. It’s a full-fledged stinging denunciation of politicians in the 21st century. Through dialogue and quips by Ratoncito, the mascot for a group of San Diego County artists and writers, this book offers humorous bureaucratic stories as well as Geek Poetry by an unemployed cyber-security engineer.

I wrote actually wrote this one for my 40 something kids, one who teaches at Crest Elementary School....all voted for Obama, though they were raised in a conservative Republican home in El Cajon. They have no idea I wrote this one......they'll get a copy for Christmas. I'm hoping to waken them from their political programming.

I'D BE GLAD TO SEND YOU ONE FREE OF CHARGE.

Carol Ann Lindsay
Carlsbad

Hi Jimmy:

Just gave a small donation to help Homefront San Diego--if any of the stressed moms are up in North county near Vista--Bill and I would be happy to help a little--child care after work hours or whatever. Let me know. Thanks Peg

Jimmy: It’d be nice if we had some of that $5 Trillion we blew on 2 wars with unsatisfactory results …. Akin to Vietnam ….let’s end stupid wars ….JV

Jimmy: so, the Roger is on the move; guess the 'Occupy' clear channel offices is over? RG

(EDITORS NOTE: Please note there are no derogatory references to Mr. Hedgecock in this issue. He was kind enough to donate a good portion of a recent speaking engagement to Homefront San Diego. I would feel badly if I repaid that donation by… …..well, you know…tho I did write a whole lot of real funny stuff that I have not printed)

**Love Ya Bye!!

HOMEFRONT SAN DIEGO – 760-392-1551 (NOTE PHONE NUMBER CHANGE)

http://www.homefrontsandiego.org/

GOD BLESS AMERICA

WE REMEMBER SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

STAND TALL FOR TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE - FIGHT ON!!

STILL WORK TO DO TO SAVE OUR CROSS…KEEP POWDER DRY

ORGANIZATIONS & INDIVIDUALS SUPPORTED BY THE DEHESA VALLEY GAZETTE

Homefront San Diego

http://www.homefrontsandiego.org/

North County Warrior Support

http://www.ncws.org/