NEWS ARCHIVES (by date archived)

The San Diego Bicycle Club, which starts its Saturday club rides right here in La Jolla (8:30 in front of UC Cyclery), is joining forces with Vitalyte to build a fundraising bike team to help find better treatments and a cure for multiple sclerosis (MS). Please help these volunteers by joining the team or contributing to this worthy cause. Please click here for more information.

UCLA Spies on Iraq by Night – Using satellite imagery, UCLA scientists offer insights on the the effects of the US military surge. See the report and links to the full study here.

Scary Hag Invades Rally, McCain Shows Restraint – The media is often accused of "sensationalism," but here's a case where the media (Associated Press, in the case of this photo) toned down the true horror of a situation in its live coverage. The television cameras and photographers showed viewers mercy by not revealing this woman's face. However, viewers could not be completely shielded from the rearing, ugly head of American ignorance, fear & hate at recent GOP rallies.

Praise for Palin -- La Jollans react to the vice presidential debate with pleasant surprise at how cogent Sarah Palin was throughout the debate. Here are excerpts from informal interviews conducted around town after the debate Thursday evening:

"She could be a really good newscaster! I don't know why she would want to be governor or vice president when her smile looks so friendly on TV." Pam M, Bird Rock

"She has a solid grip on the crucial issues. She even mispronounces "nuclear" the way our great president does. It shows that she's one of us. God bless George Bush, the Republican Party, and America!" Steve R, University City

Financial Bailout Insight – History repeats itself, and taxpayers keep paying the bill. This brief insight on traditional Washington politics and its ties to Wall Street will help you decide who you can trust in the Oval Office:

John McCain supports greater deregulation in the financial markets. If elected president, he'll support greater deregulation in the medical insurance markets. Have any idea what that could do to your medical coverage costs?

American voters will have one last chance in November of 2008 to show the rest of the world that we are NOT determined to drive this great country to ruin. Here are a few opportunities for those voters to learn more about the Candidates:

John McCain demonstrating credibility:
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One more presidency prioritizing foreign wars over the education, employment and care of Americans could carry this great country from our current financial crisis to a state of cultural and financial ruin.
 

McCain's POW experience is often brought into the discussion of presidential qualifications. What could be more random than that? Here's an insightful commentary from a former fellow POW who knew John McCain:

VIKINGS WIN CIF FINALS! The La Jolla High School men's volleyball team clinched its place in history. The Vikings defeated University City on May 15th, Mar Vista on May 17th, and Ramona on May 21st to become CIF champions. The 2008 team is the best one ever assembled at La Jolla High. This team was also the first to win the Beach City Invitational tournament for La Jolla.

The smiles couldn't be contained (above) moments after the game. The "team to beat" in 2008 (below) could not be beaten in this CIF tournament.

CONGRATULATIONS, VIKINGS!!

CONSUMER ADVISORY: BEWARE OF JOHN HINE! Some service vendors think it's OK to charge people who live in La Jolla more than they might charge residents from other parts of town. La Jollans can afford it, right? We won't complain if a car dealer pulls a scheme that causes us to return for unnecessary repairs, right?

A local La Jolla resident (who prefers to have her name withheld) recently brought her vehicle to John Hine for service on the family minivan. The engine was running just fine, but apparently the mysterious noise she heard required almost $1,800 worth of work on the brakes and steering column. OK, let's fix it. She authorized the repair and went to pick up the car.

Keep in mind that she had no complaints about how the engine ran, and the dealership noted nothing wrong with the engine. What a difference a day makes! The day she picked up the car from John Hine's repair shop, the engine was suddenly skipping. It seemed that at least one piston suddenly had trouble firing. Figuring the serviceman inadvertently bumped a spark plug wire or other cord, she brought the car back in to get the engine back to the condition it was in when she brought the car in. She was told that one spark plug was not firing and a "tune up" was needed...at an additional cost of $400.

Both the service manager (Brad Alford) and the service contact (Mary Jackson) failed to see the irony in this amazing coincidence. A logical, honest person with any understanding of statistics would realize the chances of the engine failing on that particular day (after three years and thousands of miles) is essentially zero!

When this service victim and her husband went to pick up the car, they asked to see the fouled spark plug. Anyone in the car repair business knows it's good policy to have the "bad" parts available to show the customer when the customer is coming in to pay for new parts and service. Mary Jackson said the bad parts were nowhere to be found, but she'd call if it turns up. Of course the customer never heard back from Ms. Jackson.

While this customer will clearly never buy a car from John Hine, she's concerned that car repair shops are still operating this way, potentially victimizing a steady stream of new customers . To help raise awareness, her husband is building an awareness campaign at consumer review sites like YELP and helping to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. In the meantime, tell your friends to choose any other place for new cars and car repairs.

Comments:

1. In attempts to get the Better Business Bureau off their backs, John Hine offered a "free detailing" on the car. Hine failed to realize that the customer doesn't trust the John Hine dealership with the car. What recourse would the customer have if there was suddenly a major transmission problem that occurred right after the detailing? (Some are slower learners than others.) All the La Jollan wanted was her car back without having to pay for things that weren't broken. As far as the consumer is concerned, the case remains open and unresolved until she receives a refund for the unneeded, pricey "tune-up." Sadly, the Better Business Bureau consideres this "case closed" after Hine's detailing offer.
2. The consumer later informed us that she has purchased two vehicles since this article was archived. For both vehicles, John Hine was her "nearest dealer," but she didn't consider Hine because of the deceit demonstrated in their repair business.