I originally wrote a terrble blog entry blaming everyone I could for the Gaylord pull out. After giving it some additional thought I have retracted the entry.

I will say it is a damn shame and until the smoke clears I think it best to reserve judgement.

With the recent introduction of the iPhone by Apple Computer to the consumer cell phone market I rushed to buy the stock. I, like many others, thought this new introduction would be as fabulous as the popular iPod player. All my favor for this new product and Apple came to a grinding halt yesterday 7/6/07 when I had finally heard enough about the iPhone and its short comings.

I have had PDA phones since they started offering them here in the States. They cost a lot of money and you quickly learn how to use them to achieve optimal utility. The first and most important rule is, this is your phone and not your toy. I mean that ultimately, if you use the device's other features often you will have something that amounts to a brick that does not let loved ones communicate with you. You will love listening to your Led Zeppelin but miss your business phone calls when the battery dies.

The two issues with the iPhone that lead me to dissolve my stock position at this time (I may buy back in later) were the AT&T service introduction tie-in and the recent information about the battery and the inability for an owner to swap it. The AT&T deal was a major issue with me. Now often times when a new device hits the market, it is common to grant it to one provider as there are incentives on both sides. The consumer doesn't really see these incentives and I don’t think I recall an instance where a phone was the impetus for change of cell service by a user except in the case of Blackberry in certain instances. So I say no to change your cell life only to get a new device. The recently released information about the battery is completely terrible. Now everyone knows that the iPod has a closed battery system but many people may not know why. For a better understanding I asked a friend Mark Baker, a master electrical engineer. As I am to understand it, the battery systems in the iPod and perhaps that of the iPhone carry the Lithium-Ion rechargeable units. These are the best batteries available and offer the highest capacity with the greatest recharge cycle life. In order to engineer a compact product with the capacity of the iPod (large one with video), the company needs to control the use of the batteries absolutely. You see Lithium-Ion batteries are highly volatile and need electronics to insure proper operation. By keeping the system closed and not allowing a battery swap, Apple can more safely insure longevity in the product. Now the problem comes in when a battery system fails on the iPhone. In the event of a failure you have to send the iPhone back the mothership for repair. A person can live without an iPod for a week or a week and a half but what about their cell phone?

Power and battery specs
Built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery
Talk time: Up to 8 hours
Standby time: Up to 250 hours
Internet use: Up to 6 hours
Video playback: Up to 7 hours
Audio playback: Up to 24 hours

These are the quoted specs on battery life. As quoted, we see that like other PDA phones a use curse is never discussed or shown outlining the average life or the battery in general use (where one might use all the utility of the phone during the course of the day.






I sold my Apple stock today at 132. I think it was a good move. I think we'll see the stock flatten or go soft as this product starts to be looked at more critically by the consumer. I think the iPhone is the green apple of the Apple line and needs to rippen on the tree before this consumer picks it.

I read an article today stating that the port authority has given its blessing to National City to pursue their bid for the Charger's stadium on a plot of land near the bayfront. Now I approach this with some caution as I read it on the voiceofsandiego.com website and only mildly trust the statement. If it is true I have to seriously question the Port and their Authority.

The Mayor of National City has experience developing deals to land stadiums in his backyard. He is a capable individual and could put it all together. The question is not capability but viability. Currently we have a stadium located in Mission Valley aside our counties best resource for affordable hotel stays, Hotel Circle. This is the ideal location in many ways for a stadium as it can accommodate out of town guests that spend their money in our county. There is an issue with traffic to the events but San Diegan's have never really complained. The National City location on the other hand is not so traffic friendly and will result in congestion downtown and around our hubs of business. Can you imagine a Monday night game down there? Imagine all the people driving in for the game killing an already congested downtown form the north southbound. Beyond traffic, what about the parking for all these people? Is there enough room for a wildly crazy and popular event or game? (not to worry too much as the Chargers have not been there since the 90's with Humphreys) It could happen and will again.

Though I do look at a Chargers stadium in Chula Vista with some reserve I believe another stadium close to downtown could be a problem for sports fan and take away from the experience. It puts San Diego back to where they have nothing community related in a place with growth space around it. You will have the airport, PetCo, convention center, etc.. packed into this area. It looks nice on paper but it will smell later on. in some ways it might stink to have our football stadium up in Chula Vista East but one thing is for sure, everyone will have a place to park and if there is some service you cannot get nearby when you visit, they will build it!

While the Chargers are talking about looking for a new host city, Chula Vista steps up to show their interest. We have a Mayoral race in progress and with positions of power and leadership still undecided, I can only image this "bid" is more hype then reality at this point. The leadership in this city needs to be put in place and grounded before anyone or any city can push ahead on such an initiative. Chula Vista's leadership might/does/could lack the experience to and perhaps the cohesiveness to make hard decisions fast, a requirement of a host city. Host cities are usually asked for more than just a stadium, are they ready to pony up? Are the citizens of Chula Vista ready to see their tax dollars spent on the Chargers?

Sure, who wouldn't want to have their city as host to an NFL franchise? We would, but are we fooling ourselves to believe we can?

Let's get a mayor and believe in our leadership before this decision is made.

Chula Vista's east side gets a new project! The $10 million institute, named the National Energy Center for Sustainable Communities, would research energy-efficient technologies. The center, the first in a global network of such facilities, would focus on building neighborhoods that consume less energy and produce less waste.

What economic and environmental impact will this have on east Chula Vista?

California: Home Owners Association Confiscates Resident Car
Homeowners associations will confiscate vehicles and sell them at auction without notice.

Local governments have made millions seizing automobiles, but they are not alone. The Serena Homeowners Association in Chula Vista, California is one of many private entities that is also engaged in confiscating cars. Last April, for example, the association towed the Honda Accord of a resident named Adele without warning and sold it at auction. Adele says that for the past two years her association has been sending security patrols to issue parking tickets and tow away vehicles because the practice generated a significant amount of revenue in fees.

A year ago Adele, a single mother of three, parked her Accord -- with permit -- in her assigned space. The condominium management towed the car and refused to release it unless she paid $350, money Adele did not have. She was told to wait for the next board meeting to resolve the matter, but despite her best attempts to contact members the car was sold. A year later the case remains unresolved.

In a letter last week, lawyers for the association told Adele they would not provide her minutes from the board meeting where her case had been discussed, nor would they issue a replacement parking pass

Chula Vista is the second largest city in San Diego but sometimes being second is being first. While San Diego, the county and its city namesake, flounder financially, Chula Vista continues to grow stronger with each passing month.