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Recent Posts
Letters: Is global warming a hoax?
The global warming "debate" is smoke and mirrors in an attempt to divert attention from the fact that "traditional " energy sources are most often used in ways that are harmful to the environment (the environment = the place where we all live). Why? Follow the money: the fortunes of many powerful people are tied to the business of providing that energy, and for many people, it's easier to stomp their feet, bully and argue than to make changes, even if those changes are clearly for the best. So go ahead and "debate" whether or not global warming is related to carbon emissions, etc. But ask yourself: Should we or should we not continue to look for clean sustainable energy sources or should we just go on using until it's all used up? Until our children and grandchildren have no clean air, no clean water, no fish, etc? Debate over the reality of global warming, its causes and effects is okay; using that debate as an excuse to continue to waste, pollute and despoil our resources is not. (Monday Dec 28 | post #16)
NPS study of Salinas links dropout rate, unemployment to gang v...
I didn't interpret the report as making excuses, but rather offering insight into factors that contribute to gang violence. Understanding the reasons for a problem puts one on the path toward a solution. To clarify that the "main thing the report said" was NOT "community involvement"; here's the quote from the article: "FAR MORE THAN police staff shortages or THE PUBLIC'S LACK OF INVOLVEMENT in community safety... the city's UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, housing density, high-school DROPOUT RATES and SCHOOL BUDGET levels APPEAR MOST CLOSELY TIED TO the ebb and flow of VIOLENCE". So, I agree with you that we as individuals are responsible for the decisions we make in life, but the decision-making process itself requires a skill set and perceived options that some do not possess. That's the point of the report: if a person lacks education and job prospects, they're more likely to participate in gang violence. (Wednesday Dec 23 | post #16)
NPS study of Salinas links dropout rate, unemployment to gang v...
Interesting stuff, although not entirely surprising. It seems logical that if one lacks skills/education, and job prospects are are unpromising, gang membership and the associated violence would be less repugnant than if the situation were otherwise. A question that has intrigued me for some time is that of police presence. It makes sense that an increased police presence in a high-crime area would have some effect as a deterrent. However, in general, police are limited to responding to a past-tense crime. Therefore, it would seem we have to look to other means for crime prevention (i.e., direction of that energy toward something positive/productiv e), which is the real goal, right? Hopefully, local government(s) can use the information from this study to effect some positive changes in our communities. Thanks to Maj. Clarke, Maj. Onufer and NPS for their work on this project. (Tuesday Dec 22 | post #1)
Former Salinas hospital sleep tech enters battery plea
Monitoring penile tumescence is NOT a part of most sleep studies. There are specific indications for this (i.e., determining the etiology of erectile dysfunction), and many sleep labs do not perform such testing. Without a physician's order and the patient's informed consent for such, there is no reason for a patient's genitalia to to exposed to or touched by the technologist at any time during a sleep study (with the exception of a patient requiring/requesting assistance in the lavatory or with a bedpan). (Nov 24, 2009 | post #3)
Medical board accuses Bergstrom
Your note is touching, and seems to be sincere, speaking honestly from your own experience. However, from what you say, you've not been here for the majority of Carl's career (and escapades). You might ask some of your colleagues about what they saw in the days before hospitalists, when internists would pull ER backup. Several posters in these forums have talked about being witness to an intoxicated Dr. B on duty in the hospital. You might also ask about what prompted his move to Idaho. Also, have you read the articles detailing the events surrounding the transcripts that included Carl buying cocaine, offering to trade it for sex, using it, and then giving phone orders for patient care? That tape pretty quickly made it to hospital administration and the California Medical Board; you can read about their response and the net consequence to Bergstrom (apparently nil). So while I absolutely agree with you that the majority of local physicians do not condone, as you aptly put it, his gross misconduct, it has been widely known for years, even by those who were outside his closest circle. Ergo, it's understandable (and maybe justified) that there is the perception that the profession "protect[s] it's [sic] own", because clearly his occasionally criminal and occasionally unethical behavior was overlooked, excused and dismissed to some degree. I think we have to acknowledge that we don't have a good system in place for peer review/censure once a physician is licensed and practicing. There were some posts by PatricParamedic who offered some interesting comments and insight. (Here's a link to on of his posts: http://www.topix.n et/forum/source/mo nterey-county-hera ld/TQPJ3OR4OOR2S7T QQ/p2 ). He apparently has done a good deal of research about physician misbehavior and the consequences (or lack thereof). (Nov 12, 2009 | post #19)
Art owners ask FBI for probe of Sheriff's Office
Has A. Benjamin been on a house hunting holiday in Hood River? This sounds as if it could have been written by him. (Nov 4, 2009 | post #25)
Pollock painting may not exist, artist's nephew says
Does anyone else think that if this is proven to be a false report Amadio and Kennaugh should be required to reimburse law enforcement agencies (read "taxpayers ") for the investigation costs? (Oct 11, 2009 | post #45)
Pollock painting may not exist, artist's nephew says
Interesting - thanks for posting. (Oct 11, 2009 | post #41)
Pollock painting may not exist, artist's nephew says
Strange as it may seem, she is there: http://members.cal bar.ca.gov/search/ member_detail.aspx ?x=139625 Member #139625 (Oct 10, 2009 | post #21)
Pollock painting may not exist, artist's nephew says
Bull's-eye! (Oct 10, 2009 | post #10)
Insurance coverage remains mystery
St. John is listed: http://members.cal bar.ca.gov/search/ member_detail.aspx ?x=139625. These are the parts of today's story that made me laugh: "Documents providing some details about the [missing] pieces were provided to investigators Friday...Amadio said his...defense lawyer, Shawn Mills, faxed the papers to a detective at the Sheriff's Office, hoping to put an end to complaints from the department that he and Kennaugh have not cooperated with officers investigating the theft." AND "A packet of art images and short descriptions taken from Wikipedia given to reporters at Friday's press conference, Richards said, 'doesn't establish authenticity or ownership. Any high school kid with a computer can put that out'." His DEFENSE attorney faxed some paperwork providing SOME details THREE WEEKS after the burglary was reported. Why did he need a lawyer for defense if he was cooperating with the investigation to recover his $80M? If it suddenly turned up, why not hand-carry it immediately to ensure correct delivery of readable material? The second quote from the article says it all. Descriptions taken from Wikipedia? Really??? (Oct 10, 2009 | post #3)
Monterey beach cross to be replaced
EDITOR ALERT: That Spanish explorer's name needs an "a" (Portola or Portolá). (Oct 7, 2009 | post #1)
Pebble Beach art heist puts collectors in spotlight
Agree completely. It seems incomprehensible that two savvy gentlemen (or anyone else in their right mind) would keep property valued in the tens to hundreds of millions of dollars in a location lacking sophisticated security. The statement that their loss is due to a window lock that they had previously identified as broken, and could have fixed for, at most, a couple of hundred bucks, seems to indicate one (or more) of the following: 1. A ridiculous degree of negligence. 2. That the items weren't as valuable as they're claiming. 3. A set up in which they participated. Can you think of a benign and logical reason they would kept such expensive pieces in a place they had identified as not being secure? (Oct 4, 2009 | post #7)
Medical board accuses Bergstrom
Regarding the status of his license, it seems it was suspended upon his conviction July 27 (from The Herald article "Accounts Differ on Bergstrom Transcripts": "The Medical Board suspended the license of Bergstrom in the wake of his conviction.") Now that the request for a new trial has been denied and he's been sentenced, they're moving to revoke it. Regarding the impact on his patients, I do believe he gave very good care to many people over the years, but certainly concede that you make an excellent point, and that (unfortunately) there's likely truth to it. I'm curious to know if he made a contingency plan for his patients prior to his conviction. (Sep 30, 2009 | post #12)
Bergstrom to appeal for new trial
Well said - thanks. (Sep 28, 2009 | post #88)
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