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Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Original Post - Dec 1, 2015 - 03:13am PT

Okay Supertopians, in the past few years I have hardly started a "political" thread or rarely contribute to them on the Taco Stand (or other forums, I see political threads as a waste of time for the most part, most people's opinions will not be changed one way or another, in my opinion).

But this is not really a political thread, as such, but more a "consumer" thread.

I had not idea about these smart meters, certainly we didn't have them in Dalkey, Co Dublin (as I know of) or here in Wexford. So it is news to me, probably not to some or all of you.

So my brother in life Jay in Saranap (Lafayette/Walnut Creek) sent me this link of a documentary. Over an hour, heck I've got too much to do. But out of curiosity I started watching a bit. I am about 15 minutes into it.

It says free viewing until December 1 (including today), I do not know if it will be available after today, but I am going to watch the whole thing. It is very interesting.

The power companies and manufacturers of these smart meters are making a killing, if the documentary is to be believed, if it is accurate. I grew up with PG&E, and they are apparently culprits as well, ripping off the consumer and indeed, the taxpayer, according to the documentary.

When I saw that Obama (who I like but did not vote for) signed in some legislation in 2008 as part of a stimulus program, I thought he was just as guilty as the corporates, maybe he is or isn't, although I'd think any POTUS would have done the same. Get the economy going, even if it costs the taxpayers and consumers. And of course, in my opinion, corporatocracy is the ruling class, and I am not a conspiracy nut at all.

I think the documentary is worth watching and I am going to finish watching it, I can always do the housework, dog walking and finish an article for me former editor (deadline 17:00 tomorrow) later. If the documentary is even half true/factual, I'd be a pissed off consumer if a smart meter was installed in my house. I mean, busting into people's properties to install the meters would be enough to make me angry, not to mention the increased bills and fire hazards.

https://takebackyourpower.net/free-viewing/

EDIT

I received this email just now…

Hey there,

As you probably now realize, the so-called “smart” meter roll-out is
such an important issue.

Our health, safety, freedom, privacy, and financial security are all at stake.

We believe that change only happens when we get informed and work
together to spread the truth.

Below is a link to the movie. We'd love it if you shared it with anyone
who is important to you. Again, it's only available to watch for free
until midnight on Tuesday, December 1st, so send it along today!

http://www.takebackyourpower.net/free-viewing

Thanks again!

Blessings and gratitude,

Josh del Sol

For your records, here is a copy of the information you submitted to us...

Email Address: dpatricksawyer@gmail.com
First Name:
Last Name:
If at any time you wish to stop receiving our emails, you can:
unsubscribe here

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2015 - 04:44am PT

Okay Moose, but it is not just my pain, yet.

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2015 - 06:21pm PT

Its totally not fair to charge people for the power they use, when they use it. Bastards. Next they'll want o charge more for extra garbage and turds. Whatever happened to the land of FREE?

Jaysus, of you, of all people. You are missing the point, or are you trying to pull my chain?

I stated that if the report is true, even by a bit, it is a concern.

But you in your Ivory Tower, so to speak, your high holy horse, you cast aspersions. Dude, you are going to be more affected by this than I am. Are you a PG&E customer, or do you work for them?

I will pay for utilities I use at a fair price, within reason (talk about Irish Water and their ways), but your flippant post (I hope it is that) is bullsh#t.

Am I sensitive? Yeah, to crap. Go back to Tennessee Authority and I will leave Ireland for my home California.

Yaddi dah.

EDIT
Dingus, sometimes I wonder if you know the "discourse of reason". As for myself, I am still searching for it.

EDIT (again)

Oh, how stupid of me. DMT, you are trying to be ironic, funny. It escaped me at first. Duhhh, now I will go stick my head in the toilet.

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2015 - 06:55pm PT

Damn Tennesseans, you emigrate to Califonia and think you know it all. Well, well.. well…

I have nothing more to say Dingus, you have me tongue tied (a figure of eight?)

Oh, not Tennessee? Kentucky? "Yo shot your first bar" when you were only two, Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild…?

Hey Dingus (rhymes with Charles Mingus, great jazz man, I met him several times), go back to the midwest and I will return to California, for better of for worse.

Peace dude. And I bet I still know as much as you as climbing on Highway 108 territory (though it has been decades). Okay, maybe not, it has been a while.

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2015 - 07:12pm PT

Dingus, I admit, I do not know about smart meters. I stated that in my OP. But the documentary I linked to does make a compelling point for questioning such meters, does it not?

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2015 - 07:22pm PT

Imagine what they'll be like 50-years from now?

I'll be 109, I live to see that day. By then, by some estimates, the house I live in (about 40 meters or so from the Celtic Sea) will be under water. And I blame PG&E.

EDIT

Blast it, where is my scuba gear? The phone is ringing in the office and the toast is up. Soggy.

Now, take a deep breath….

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2015 - 07:33pm PT

Hey Jim, how did you know I take cold showers 05:00? But I have a new boiler, so the hot water and heating is back, (after a month).

Sigh, first world problems.

Cold baths and showers, my balls shrivel (excuse me ladies). Nah, they were already that way.

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2015 - 07:42pm PT

Its for your own good, comrade.

Dingus, it is "it's" with an apostrophe. Do I, us, sophisticated west coast pedants have to teach you hicks from the sticks midwesterners grammar?

Yes we will sink when the glaciers melt, into oblivion. See you then buddy.

Lorenzo

Trad climber

Portland Oregon

Dec 1, 2015 - 07:44pm PT

Explain exactly what the beef is?

I see in Ireland the regular rate is .18€ a kWh , around €.16 if you prepay ( prepay?)
Translated into real money, that's something like .19$ and .16$ USD per KWH.

Here in portland, the rate is around .14$ at peak time and .045$ at off peak.

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2015 - 07:55pm PT

Lorenzo, we are not talking abattoirs, so there is no beef.

Yes, so far, in Ireland…

But what about where you live? You are immune to such "deviations"?

EDIT

Lorenzo, I do pre-pay, for the better. When one is on a tight budget, pre-pay here in Ireland is the way to go in my opinion. Having not lived in the States for over two decades, I do not know what is best.

My point in bringing up the documentary, is one of awareness. That's all. I have no other agenda.

Lorenzo

Trad climber

Portland Oregon

Dec 1, 2015 - 08:19pm PT

Well, here smart metering is optional ( Portland, Oregon) if you are on PGE. My neighbor has it.

I'm on Pacific power, which doesn't push it as hard, so I have an analog meter. ( the grid system here in this neighborhood has different providers whether you are on N-S or E-W streets. People on corners get to choose, if they pay for hookups and meter locationing )

The sales pitch is you can save money if you plan usage of things like water heaters. Neither of us is convinced. ( I use mostly gas for that kind of thing) And the competition and ability to compare helps. Even with a hot tub, I can usually bank I will be paying near the minimum monthly rate.
I actually pay a small premium for wind farm energy which has somewhat different requirements to be efficient

The major problem here with wireless smart meters was that they were catching fire and were scheduled to be replaced in 2014. I don't know if they are done with that. There was a dust up a couple years ago concerning inaccurate metering, but that seems to have died down.

Lorenzo

Trad climber

Portland Oregon

Dec 1, 2015 - 08:37pm PT

Dec 1, 2015 - 08:05pm PT
Lorenzo,

Oregon has an extra 2% sales tax on food that isn't organically grown. The tax is folded into the overall sale at the wholesale level, so that no one notices.

You mean an extra 2% sales tax of the normal rate? Yeah. That would be hard to notice.

jstan

climber

Dec 1, 2015 - 09:20pm PT

SCE did not give us a choice here in SOCAL. We get charged for the meter and SCE laid off 1100 meter readers.

Try as I might, I have not been able to figure out who it was that really benefitted. But I'll keep working on it.

jstan

climber

Dec 1, 2015 - 09:23pm PT

Now Jim. Easy there big fella.

Dave.B

Trad climber

North Carolina

Dec 1, 2015 - 10:42pm PT

Food for thought:
Are the funds the US Government "gave" to pay for these smart meters going to be reimbursed by the utility companies or is this another example of big business robbing the tax payer's coffers by way of elected officials?

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 2, 2015 - 05:09am PT

Let's face it folks, we are at the mercy of the corporates, whether it be in California, Oregon or Ireland.

I am as mad as hell and I am a gonna…

...walk on the beach, ain't life a beach.

Dave, even in North Carolina, the corporates have you by the short and curlies?

One of my nephews is at The Citadel in South Carolina, I wonder if they pay taxes in those sort of schools?

I say it is time we rise up and fight. But, if we could just bottle the methane from our farts and those of cows. Hmmm, now I need seed funding to find a way to bottle cow farts, the methane could power billions and billions of homes, and save the earth from greenhouse effects.

I want to be a corporate. I used to want to be a top climber, reaching the top, or a doctor, but no, I have decided, at 59, it is time for a change, I am going to be a corporate and rule Donald Trump's card.

C*#k, excuse me Koch, brothers, watch out, here I cum, ahhh, come.

And vulgarity does not pay. Sigh.

EDIT

And despite his lack of intelligence, in my opinion, (he once was smart, until he became a Republican, hah hah), Ronnie Raygun was right, cow farts (and "belches") contribute a lot to greenhouse "airs". I believe he said that around 1983, or was it 1988?

So let's not cut down the Amazon rainforests for McDonald's hamburgers, let's eat beans, the musical fruit.

Gawd, that reminds me of the Boy Scouts.

Bean, beans
the musical fruit,
the more you eat
the more you toot,
the more you toot
the better you feel,
let's have beans
for every meal.

Or Blazing Saddles, the farting cowboys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6dm9rN6oTs

"How about more beans Mr Taggart"

"I say you have had enough."

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 2, 2015 - 07:08am PT

Andy, I did not mean to offend you. One of my closest friends, Brian, I grew up with, has been a PG&E employee for over 40 years, soon to retire (McKinleyville).

I started this thread to see if it could create an awareness, not a ruckus.

I will not apologize for the abuse you have received in your line of work, as I would never abuse somebody doing their job.

But as I stated, even if half the documentary is true, there is cause for concern. And knock of the shite about California/Irish. I was born and raised in California, my family has been in America since 1640. I just happen to live (and love) Ireland, I love the States and California too.

So, Andy take your effing high horse someplace else. If you are just a pawn to PG&E, hey, whatever it takes to make a living. I have been a pawn and duped by big business as well.

Dingus, a good man I only know from the Taco Stand, he just seems to have a burr up his behind on this, and trolling in my opinion.

And Dingus, I do not subscribe to conspiracies as such, you fool. I just thought that if even some of the documentary is true, it is cause for concern. So watch who you call a conspiracy nut. You let me down, but you don't care what I think anyway.

EDIT

I started this thread out of awareness, I will not nuke it or I will be heavily criticized by some if I did. As well, I did not intend to start a firefight. I do not flame or troll.

But damn it Dingus, I have NEVER, EVER hit anybody in my life in anger, EVER. Tae Kwon Do and Tai Chi, but those were supervised. And stage combat (as an actor), again, supervised.

But right now, if I saw you I would give you a good whack. And believe me, you would take it and you would not give back. Take my word for that. And you too Andy.

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 2, 2015 - 07:27am PT

That is true Andy, I live near the sea and the winds get up and when the power goes down, I call ESB and ask, politely, when will my power be restored (thankfully the phone lines stay up, fingers crossed, it is blowing Force 8 right now).

The gal says (yesterday) that the crews are working best they can, under the conditions, but safety is the primary factor. And I agree. I do not want somebopdy risking their life just so I can lolly around on the internet. Though, whan I am facing a deadline, it is nice to know that their are people out there trying to get me hooked up, power wise.

Andy, the whacking business is just my bluff. My false bravado. Please think nothing of it.

I did not intend this thread to be a firefight. And right wing, me? Far from it dude. Cheers and yes, peace.

WBraun

climber

Dec 2, 2015 - 07:36am PT

They are NOT smart meters.

Dumb meters.

They only do what they are told/programmed and nothing more.

If they were smart meters they would give you real power .....

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 2, 2015 - 07:41am PT

Dingus, perhaps I am misinformed by that documentary, but it seems to make a compelling case. I have never even heard of such until I was sent the link.

As for whacking you, let's just leave that I give you slack when you yell tension, just joking.

As for Irish mud, there is some good beer in Ireland. Back home in California, my late dear brother Mac, one of the best winemakers of his generation, by peers' recognition and god himself, Robert Parker. Mac got his viticulture/enology degree from Davis, and fementation sciences as well. (Some of his wines went for $5,000 a bottle in some restaurants. Stupid beyond belief, I'd never pay that even if I was billionaire.)

In the 1970s and 1980s we made some of the best beers - lagers, stouts, ales - you would ever find, but we never started a microbrewery, just in the winery at home. Not rot gut crap where the bottles blew up and the stuff tasted like dog poo. We made real good stuff, properly, krausening from one batch to the next, no corn sugar for carbonation. Real stuff. And very good, as good as anything one will find on the market nowadays.

Perhaps we should have taken it commercial, like Gary Fish in Oregon with his Deschutes beer. His older brother Steven, was my high school (and beyond) climbing partner.

Now back to the topic. As I have stated, this smart meter stuff is all new to me. But it would not surprise me to think that there is some sort of BS going on. Do you trust corporations and big business?

WBraun

climber

Dec 2, 2015 - 07:43am PT

DMT

I specifically wrote my smart meter analysis to draw you into posting your mind .....

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 2, 2015 - 07:49am PT

Werner, you are a trouble maker, I knew that the first minute I met you in 1973. You probably never recall doing Lunatic Fringe with the Bird, somebody else (?) and me, I was forth up the rope as you were rapping down.

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 2, 2015 - 07:53am PT

Sharing a right wing conspiracy video demonizing an electric meter must be part and parcel to your MO.

Wrong Andy. Just plain wrong, it is not part of my MO. Get a clue and I will also try to as well.

WBraun

climber

Dec 2, 2015 - 07:55am PT

You probably never recall doing Lunatic Fringe with the Bird

No wonder we've become lunatics .....

:-)

TREED

Trad climber

Gunks

Dec 2, 2015 - 07:57am PT

The modern world DEMANDS reliable electric service.
As the revenue is taken away by alternative energy they will make cuts where ever they can to stay profitable.
Simple answer. Unplug.

WBraun

climber

Dec 2, 2015 - 07:59am PT

Simple answer. Unplug

.

Impossible to do.

It's never ever been done nor will it ever be done .....

dirtbag

climber

Dec 2, 2015 - 08:00am PT

Holy sheet--how did this thread get so hostile?

pyro

Big Wall climber

Calabasas

Dec 2, 2015 - 08:01am PT

Let's face it folks, we are at the mercy of the corporates, whether it be in California, Oregon or Ireland.

Corporate world is still run by HUMANS they are not perfect..

Smart Meters are here to stay along with the SMART Thermostats.. USE ur Smart phone time..

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 2, 2015 - 08:02am PT

This is the kind of bullshhitt crap I have to listen to every day working filed tech representing PG&E.

So Andy, you have no "affiliations" as such? Again, if you are abused in your course of work, I find that reprehensible, but if you care to take the company "line", I understand. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Werner, are we not all lunatics in some manner? Well, let me speak for myself…

Dirtbag, I do not know, I did not intend on such vehemence, and any I have shown is meant to be tongue in cheek. I guess I failed.

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 2, 2015 - 10:30am PT

Welcome to the new world. The folks in ISIS and Donald Trump want a new world. As for me, just as long as I can pay the bills and keep a roof over my head, and feed the puppy and kitten… lead me by the noise, I mean, nose.

Except, I have (fact, or is that facet?) always gotten in trouble by not conforming. Kicked out of schools, arrested for taking a stand (it was not the grandstand by the way, Animal House took care of that), asked to leave a country (not the good ole' USA, I have too much history there).

Maybe there is a molehill under the mountain of smart meters, who knows?

I try to raise an issue, of admittedly I know little of, and I get lambasted as a right-wing conspiracy nut. Good gosh, what about my left wing, does that mean I fly in circles with only one wing?

Lorenzo

Trad climber

Portland Oregon

Dec 2, 2015 - 11:18am PT

It seemed to me you were advocating the citizen ownership of equity, so I was going to call you a socialist.

Does that help?

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 2, 2015 - 01:22pm PT

I am just home from hospital.

See I joke about whacking and karma catches up with me.

I try to be a good person, I am in the neighbourhood watch scheme.

I live in the sticks, with the one house next door to me, a derelict, being rebuilt, and the holiday home. Jamie Ryan, the farmer who owns most around, he is over 300 yards away.

I thought something was amiss in the holiday home which has been broken into several times.

I went to investigate. Well, a 2x4 (4x2, they are called Ireland) across my face welcomed me.

I am just home from Wexford General. A broken right arm (ulna), a broken right wrist (scaphoid), a broken right cheekbone, a broken nose. And aches and bruises aplenty. I was kicked in the buttocks and the left arm. It happened in a flash. My tae kwon do and tai chi training did not help me

Did I mention the broken shoulder joint capsule? (Second time, the first was July 1997, I was a barman in a pub in Enniskerry, refused the village headcase a drink, he jumped me, he was already on a suspended sentence for assault with a deadly weapon).

I limped back up to the house. They/he got away in a white van, I did not get the registration (licence) number.

I called the guards (Garda, police). They came quite fast, even in the rural area, as the Europort is five miles away and a ship/ferry was coming in from France.

Peter, who I know from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB, where I register as an "immigrant"), he and Robbie (I have met once before) they showed up and took my statement.

They sort of know who was responsible. But the perp will never be prosecuted. No proof, just my word and my wounds.

I am hurting. I hate casts. The pain killer (I think vicodan) is wearing off. I have OTC vimovo.

I was taken to Wexford General in an ambulance. To add insult to injury, I just paid €29 to get home (taxi). At least it was a slow night in ER, I was seen quite fast.

The Garda (Peter and Rob) said, "next time, call us first".

You bet.

EDIT
"I have OTC vimovo." No, Vimovo is actually a script drug, not OTC.

And it is a cracked ulna, not "broken", still it effing hurts.

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 2, 2015 - 01:51pm PT

The doctor at Wexford General just called me back, they want to take another x-ray of my right arm.

I said in the morning, I am not driving up and it is not life threatening. I just want some peace. I am shooken up.

Why do people have to be violent, or am I just naive?

Lorenzo

Trad climber

Portland Oregon

Dec 2, 2015 - 02:20pm PT

Sorry to read about your injuries. I hope it goes well.

Be careful out there, people!

pyro

Big Wall climber

Calabasas

Dec 2, 2015 - 02:26pm PT

Patrick besides the smart meter have you checked out the electronic financial system that is being used in Africa?
I was very impressed...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-Pesa

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 2, 2015 - 05:47pm PT

Lorenzo, thank you. I did not need this assault.

Pyro and others, as for me, at this moment in time, my right had id huitiong I can hardly type,, and I am brusied and battered,and at this oment U -id od not car abot smart devices,

My whole riught side nd arm.are numbn and painful.

Yury

Mountain climber

T.O.

Dec 2, 2015 - 06:42pm PT

Smart meters make sense when you pay market rate for your electricity to balance supply and demand.
However right now wholesale price of electricity is market driven, but retail electricity pricing is truly byzantine e.g. http://www.pge.com/en/myhome/saveenergymoney/plans/tou/index.page with a complete disconnect from wholesale market.

To better understand pricing approach you need to know how natural monopolies are regulated by the government.
In case of PG&E electricity price is controlled by the government of California. De-facto they have specific profitability target in mind e.g. 5% to 6% (I do not remember exact numbers, however you can find them on their web site). If profit goes above 6%, government mandates price decrease. When profit goes below 5%, government allows price increase.
In this model, the more you spend the more you earn. It may be counter-intuitive, but in such companies unions, managers and shareholders are interested in cost increase. Unions and management have rather cozy relationship, because both are interested in steady growth of salaries of the union members.
When last time have you heard about PG&E strike?
Smart meters perfectly fit into this model. They are not paid by the government. The cost of the whole Smart meters program is paid by consumers through electricity price increase (for the benefits of unions, managers and shareholders).

To help conserve energy, retail electricity price should be directly linked to wholesale electricity price and all “tiers” should be eliminated e.g.:
Retail price at a particular time = 150% of the wholesale price at the same time

Based on the above PG&E page it’s easy to conclude that Californians do not remember that they live in supposedly market driven capitalist America, but live in socialist North Korea v. 2.0.

Yury

Mountain climber

T.O.

Dec 2, 2015 - 07:25pm PT

$32.50 monthly surcharge

??????????????????
Why do they need to check meters every month?
Why not to implement monthly self-reporting by the owner with periodic e.g. once in two to four month check by utility employees?
Extrapolation based on the past use should also work.
Both options should be cheaper than the current Smart meters program.

Jan

Mountain climber

Colorado, Nepal & Okinawa

Dec 3, 2015 - 07:52am PT

Patrick, sorry to hear of your injuries. With thugs like that running around, smart meters seems like a minor issue?

As for the meters themselves, I voluntarily paid $50 extra for a smart gas meter and $50 for a smart electric meter because both of my old meters were inside my fence and I wanted to be able to have my dogs in the yard without any trouble for the meter men or any liability for myself.

I am delighted that I can heat and cool a whole house for the cost of heating or cooling only one room in Japan. They send my bill by email and it is paid automatically from my credit card. It would never have occurred to me that this was some kind of conspiracy???

I'm not entirely sold on technology. I fought with my smart thermostat which kept reverting to the previous owner's schedule which is different from mine since I'm retired, so I had a simple hand adjusted one installed with my new furnace. I've still got enough marbles left to remember to turn it down when I go away from home or to sleep at night.

Our town is slowly converting to smart meters to save on labor costs (and dog bites), but they're also installing high speed fiber optic cable for internet at $50 a month. It will be the same service I had in Japan (finally !) but at half the cost. It is financed by a bond issue that we passed. Whatever else is wrong with our society, it is comfortable and energy is cheap. So why is everyone so full of anger and conspiracy theories about meters when people are getting gunned down in the streets? It beats me.

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 3, 2015 - 12:45pm PT

Okay Timid you asked here are the photos, but first.

Dingus, you ask what is going on here in Ireland where I am attacked. Could happen anywhere. I was mugged in London 1989 (headed home after work).

And WTF happened in San Bernardino? I just heard of it, 14 dead?

Mass shootings, in Britain are few. Dunblane, Scotland 1996, Hungerford, England 1987. If one excludes The Troubles, no mass shootings in Ireland. I hope by writing that, it is not “tempting fate”.

Jan,

So why is everyone so full of anger and conspiracy theories about meters when people are getting gunned down in the streets?

Too true. I started this thread out of what I was hope an awareness raising exercise, but I have learned from some of the posts.

Now, I may have made my injuries from the attack sound worse than they are. The broken nose is damaged cartilage, the cheekbone just cracked, the forearm a hairline fracture that does not need a cast [thankfully, I have worn too many casts. When I was ten I was hit by a car, two weeks in Kaiser (Walnut Creek) and SIX MONTHS in a wheelchair. Imagine a very hyper ten-year-old – ADHD probably – stuck in a wheelchair that long. It was “murder”.]

The sort of forearm injury is common as one fends off an attack from blows overhead.

The arm hurts, I have a headache since the incident and when I was lying on the ground I received a very hard kick to the left buttock. Some bruising, but heck does it hurt to sit or even stoop.

My condolences and empathy to all victims of violence.

I am part of the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. The Garda (cops) Rob and Peter said: “You are suppose to report any suspicious activity, not go investigate it yourself.”

Yeah, never again, unless I feel that somebody’s life may be in danger.

My cousin Jini in Seattle, she just turned 84 and still has all of her marbles and is very intelligent, she said:” You learned a lesson.”

Two selfies taken with my Mamiya-Sekor 1000DTL (I had since I was 14, stolen in a burglary in my flat in Dun Laoghaire, 2001)

And not a selfie (I am not sure who took it, but the same trip) but heck, it's a climbing forum, not a smart meter one (oops, that was my doing)

EDIT

And now I have a good excuse for never leading 5.11 again (I did once), my fingers, shoulders and arms are a hurting from the assault.

I'll never be the same again, sigh… ;-)

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 3, 2015 - 01:09pm PT

See I joke about whacking and karma catches up with me.

I know Dingus. A long reach indeed. (Now that I recall the attacker was chanting something like, "Dingus, Dingus, Charlie Mingus, Paddy will not have anymore fingers to play the piano or the bass.")

I could be imagining that though. And I don't play the bass. ;-)

Spiny Norman

Social climber

Boring, Oregon

Dec 3, 2015 - 01:52pm PT

And while I'm at it....added fluoride to drinking water lowers children's IQ.
But again, not when I say it does cuz that's a conspiracy theory.
Harvard study

It's pretty obvious that if NWO2 read that study he didn't understand what was measured or how it is or is not relevant to fluoridation in the US.

I have read it and I do understand it. It doesn't show what NWO2 claims it shows.

Spiny Norman

Social climber

Boring, Oregon

Dec 3, 2015 - 01:55pm PT

Wow that's awful, Patrick. Take good care. I hope recovery is swift and I hope the son of a bitch who did it is brought to justice.

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 3, 2015 - 02:02pm PT

Timid, one of my best and closest friends I grew up with, Brian, he worked the field, mainly faults, for Pigs, Goats and Elephants.

He started out of the Walnut Creek (Boulevard Way) depot/yard. Transferred up to Humboldt (1995, I helped him and his family move to McKinleyville)

In December 2008, I took Jennie home to California to meet family and friends. I had money, lots of it. I put Andy and Mary Jo up in Yosemite Lodge for three days.

In Napa, I paid for Brian, Cindy and the two girls. We were sitting in the hotel in Napa, Brian and I shooting the bull, as we had not seen each others for years.

"Patrick, working the field for PG&E in Walnut Creek is one thing, but up in Humboldt, one goes out and stumbles on a pot patch and then the next thing threatened with a gun levelled at you."

"Scary, Brian."

I wonder if the pot growers use Smart meters, hah hah. Besides polluting the creeks and streams.

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 3, 2015 - 02:59pm PT

Thank Spiny, nah, the law is sure who did it, but there will be no prosecution, as far as I can see.

These crooks are clever. But then so was Hitler, Mao, Stalin, Pol Pot… didn't make them right though.

Nah, Spiny. In 1997, I was jumped by the village nutter (well, the whole family were nutters, hated and despised in Enniskerry, take my word for it, it is true).

I would not serve him a drink (I was working an unpaid internship towards my masters, in the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, when Michael D was minister - now president of Ireland, one of the few politicians I would ever trust. a very good man and person).

I needed money so I took the bar job in the pub at nights and weekends.

This Tommy ("you think he is bad, wait until you meet the mother," I was told. Whatttttt!!!)

He jumped me. I would not serve him a drink. Ruptured right shoulder joint capsule, multiple abrasions and contusions.

Everybody, but everybody in the village, wanted me to press charges, including Joe the sergeant (Garda) and Jerry, the Garda detective.

(Tommy was already on a suspended sentence for aggravated assault, put a guy in a wheelchair for the rest of his life).

I just wanted out of there. Tommy had an extended (sicko) family who threatened me. Some of the village folk said: "Don't worry about them, we'll take care of them."

No, I just got out within a week, moved to Dun Laoghaire.

EDIT

They liked me in Enniskerry, and why not. I was friendly, happy. Always willing to help when I could. I got along great, bar the Harveys.

After I was attacked there was a family (seven sons) who saw me bleeding and beat up, they said they would get Tommy. I told them, "No".

Several years later, Tommy and his brother ended up in prison. Another story to tell, not a personal one though, but they "messed" up, their headcase dad (not as bad as the mother) tried to send them away to England, but the law caught up with them before they could make the journey across the Irish Sea. Thankfully.

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 3, 2015 - 04:48pm PT

Okay, I did not want this to be political thread, but I suppose by the subject matter alone, it is.

It was not my intention. But as my mom always used to say, "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

Okay, here is my drift. I was attacked, it could happen anywhere in this world. The San Bernardino killings, sounds like a couple of deranged people, with maybe a tint of Islamic fundamentalism, who knows. Time will show and the truth well out. Is Dominionism any better?

To me, ISIS will be defeated, but there will always be nutcases out there, whether they use religion or another excuse, we cannot totally protect against them, even if we lived in a totalitarian state. It could be such a state would even bring out more fanaticism.

My worry, in the long run, are people like Putin, the Chinese leadership, North Korea and Donald Trump.

Headcases all, who do not care about the people. But their own so-called "destinies".

It is frightening. Such power in such hands.

I have interviewed presidents and prime ministers. It never ceases to amaze me how "right" they are, how dogmatic, how obstinate. How they…

Oh, what the heck, c'est la vie.