california economy — Brian Prows

California Broke: Clip & Mail Your Coupons to Sacramento

(Updated October 7, 2012) California broke? Around two years ago I proposed in a blog post that citizens and non-citizens of the State of California donate their unused gift cards to balance California's budget. Yes, I know others have claimed they were the first to come up with this cost-saving idea but, I hasten to remind everyone, it was me. I have since called the effort the "California Broke Solution" or CBS, not to be confused with CBS, the media company. Well, guess … [Read more...]

Health Care Benefits for Congress?

To the Congress of the United States regarding your health care benefits: Over the weekend with the Senate's narrow but passing vote to "debate" health care legislation, it's become crystal clear that some members of Congress don't care about the health care crisis. With a few exceptions, the … [Read More...]

Bridges Connect People in the Bay Area? Drain the Bay

Residents in the San Francisco Bay Area awoke again today not knowing how to quickly commutel from one side of the Bay to the other. The Bay Bridge, connecting Oakland/East Bay with San Francisco, was shut down again due to safety issues. (On Labor Day, the bridge was also closed to fix a dangerous … [Read More...]

Living in Silicon Valley: Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Something is terribly, terribly wrong in Silicon Valley. Probably the rest of the nation too. But, as they say, everything starts in California then heads east. So whatever's happening here will soon hit your home town if it hasn't already. Yes, living in Silicon Valley takes its toll on incomes and … [Read More...]

Dictionaries for Kids at Hayward’s Park Elementary School

How many of you remember dictionaries when you were a kid? I'm not sure the year a dictionary and my eyeballs connected (probably early in my education), but I do remember the Webster's dictionary my Aunt and Uncle gave me as a high school gift--the most useful and lasting gift I've ever … [Read More...]

Great White Sharks Return to Golden Gate Bridge

Great White Sharks Return to Bay Area Californian's are a strange lot, no doubt, but neither earthquakes nor floods nor swine flu nor collapsing bridges bring us to our knees. And that goes for sharks too. We're a hardy bunch here in the Bay Area and we treat recent reports of great whites poking … [Read More...]

Contracting Universes and the Law of Abundance

Before I begin, let me flatly state I'm not a physicist, an economist nor a guru on the lecture circuit telling people how to get wealthy. Neither am I a religious zealot, a Republican or Democrat. That should allay any concerns that I have an agenda to push or answers to ultimate questions of the … [Read More...]

Fort Hood Reminds Us of Veterans and the Ultimate Sacrifice

And we still remember Ford Hood a year later. The incident reminds us of veterans and the ultimate sacrifice. Written and performed by Jeanie JaeCie Cunningham. 1. How can we look in your eyes, and not feel the pain of empty broken hearts… Aching with hope for another day, for one more hour. In … [Read More...]

California Broke: Clip & Mail Your Coupons to Sacramento

Are Retailers Killing Off their Customers?

The news in this morning's paper--front page--is the same. Retailers are hysterically worried about another "bad Christmas." Consumers have tightened their belts, hidden their credit cards and won't even walk into a retail store unless there's a big "70% off" sign in the window. What's going on? I … [Read More...]

Health Care Reform Stifled by Drug Companies

The Washington Post reported two unrelated stories that, considered together, demonstrate a concerted effort by large drug companies and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to kill health care reform. The reports are disturbing and reveal two major challenges to controlling health care costs in the … [Read More...]

Smart Meters Invade Northern California

Over the past two years, so-called wireless "smart meters" to measure electricity have been installed in millions of Northern California homes by PG&E, our utility company. The company claims with great fervor that smart meters are accurate to a nano-kilowatt; home owners beg to differ, … [Read More...]