What would you do if you were furloughed?

It's not a great time in the State of California. Everyone is getting furloughed, including myself, a CSU employee.

While everyone under the governor's rule is now furloughed three times a week, the UC system has an odd furlough system where depending on your salary, you are forced to take a certain amount of furlough time, and CSUs are planning for 24 days for the next ten months for everyone.

One ironic thing about furloughs is that while the government is saving money, for the individual, they are not making money, and actually spending money. In the end, you are losing out on more of your income, but at least your tax dollars are feeding the budget hellhole.

What would you do if you were furloughed?

Here's what I would do and spend very little:

• Use my membership at the California Academy of Sciences.
• Go to Costco and get some free samples and a $1.50 hot dog.
• Ride Muni to somewhere scenic (I'm getting a Translink Fast Pass this September!)
  
• Go for a matinee at the movies.
• I've got some DVDs I haven't even opened.
• Go to the King Tut exhibit since I have vouchers from Costco (they are still available).
• Venture out and do some amateur photography and why not piss-off Muni fare inspector #32?
• Alcatraz? That's too expensive.
• Get a free mocha at McDonald's on Mondays.
  
• Cheap seats at the Giants game.
• Stare at Bushman on the Wharf.
• Go complain at the Board of Supervisors or the SFMTA meeting.
• Attend some oddball protest.
• More blogging at Akit's Complaint Department.
• Where's the next county fair? San Mateo?
  
• Sign-up to be a poll worker for the city on election day (not a bad deal to make some money).
  
• Visit "Oak Land."
  

Here's what some of my colleagues said:

• Go fishing.
• Go snowboarding in the winter.
• Play video games.
• Visit friends.
• Go to Dublin.
• Ice skating.

Got any suggestions? Post them in the comments section.

Bad Driver - CA License Plate 4LLM210

If you are the owner of the license plate 4LLM210, where the f--- did you learn to drive?

Caught driver swerving between two lanes to get in front of vehicles and didn't use turn signals.

Location: San Francisco, CA; Great Highway (southbound) on the stretch between Lincoln and Sloat.

Someone doesn't need to slap you, but needs to spank you with a paddle.

CA Senator Carole Migden - REVOKE HER LICENSE

California State Senator Carole Midgen was recently involved in a car accident in her state issued SUV when driving from the Bay Area to the State Capitol in Sacramento.

News reports claim that she scraped the center guardrail at least twice, once in particular somewhere on I-80 in Berkeley. She also rear-ended a vehicle a little later.

News reports also claim that half a dozen drivers following her called CHP's 911 to inform them that the vehicle was swerving, making dangerous lane changes, and she was on a cell phone while reading documents in her other hand.

On tonight's news (May 23, 2007), the Senator met with numerous local news stations to tell her side of the story. She claimed that she does not "recall" the incidents because she is taking medication for her leukemia, and has voluntary decided to have someone else drive her, and get her self evaluated by medical professionals.

In my opinion, I'm calling out BULLSHIT because her statement is a load of crap.

--First of all, she should have her LICENSE REVOKED IMMEDIATELY by DMV officials for driving under the influence of drugs. If her prescription says that she should not take the medication while driving a vehicle, TAKE THE ADVICE SERIOUSLY.

--Second, the taxpayers should not have to foot her insurance policy that is paid for by the State of California. If YOU committed the accidents in question, it is your FUCKING FAULT and YOU WILL PAY THE DAMAGES IN FULL.

--Third, who the hell gave this lady a BRAND NEW LUXURY SUV? Her last "state official" vehicle for her use was a $50,000+ luxury automobile. If we are a cash strapped state, why do we give government officials brand new expensive cars? Why not give them a FUCKING GEO METRO? At least that extra money could go towards funding our schools a little better.

--Lastly, don't try to get any sympathy from your constituents. It is your fault that you caused the rear-end accident and by blaming that you took drugs for your leukemia is a bunch of shit. Honestly, if I was hit by you, I WOULD SUE YOU IN COURT AND DEMAND TO GET YOU CRIMINALLY PROSECUTED FOR DUI.

Let's summarize my rants:
Migden is full of shit.
I am NOT voting for her.
Pay your own damn insurance, don't make the state.
Don't use a phone and read documents while driving. Do I masturbate while I drive? No.
Give her a bumper car, those run on electricity and if you hit something, at least you won't fuck-up someone else's car. Oh wait, we don't electrified roads on the highways, I guess you'll have to have someone else drive!
No more excuses... CONFESS! CONFESS!