In the spring of 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton handed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov a plastic button that was supposed to read “reset” on both sides, once in English and once in Russian. But while the Obama Administration got the English part right, the State Department got the Russian word for “reset” wrong, instead emblazoning the button with the word “overload.”

With the Senate set to ratify New START sometime today, that error might just prove prophetic as already identifiable flaws in the treaty grant the Russians numerous opportunities to pressure for restrictions to American missile defense capabilities. The Senators voting for this treaty should be vigilant to resist any further erosion of our sovereign right to self-defense.

The first order of business will be to... http://blog.heritage.org/2010/12/22/morning-bell-merry-christmas-moscow/...

Written By SUSAN CARROLL

More than 18 months after U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspectors were supposed to start enforcing stringent ID requirements at the nation's land borders, millions of travelers are still being admitted without passports or other secure IDs, a new government audit shows.

An Office of Inspector General report released Monday found that CBP remains unprepared to fully implement the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which officially took effect in June 2009 and requires all travelers, including U.S. citizens, to carry passports or one of a handful of other forms of secure ID.

In the first eight months after the requirements took effect, 2.3 million travelers failed to provide proper paperwork at U.S. land ports of entry.

CBP internal policy, issued shortly before the implementation deadline, only required travelers who provided improper paperwork multiple times to undergo added inspection, resulting in additional screening for about 9,000 people based only on their lack of documentation, according to the report.

Auditors singled out Texas for... http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7348243.html

Community organizations and agencies interested in applying as a “Lead Agency” for the development of Community Coalitions must inform:

Ventura County Behavioral Health (VCBH)
Contracts Administration
By 4:00 p.m. - Monday December 20, 2010

Registration must be completed via email to Maryza Seal, Maryza.Seal@ventura.org at VCBH.

Such notice to VCBH is required by the current RFP for the development of PEI Community Coalitions under Section 1.18.

Registration must include:
Name of the organization intending to serve as a Lead Agency.
Area(s) for which the organization intends to submit proposal.
Name and email of contact person.
Organization address and phone number.
Information regarding those agencies and organizations registering with Intent to become a Lead Agency will be posted to this site by Monday, December 27, 2010.

This Public Notice is also available on the VCBH web site at:
http://www.vchca.org/pages/ventura-county-behavioral-health.aspx

Please click on Request for Proposals link located in the box titled "The Latest" in the lower right side of the page to access the Notice.

City of Fillmore

Fillmore City Hall is announcing City Hall closures beginning December 2010 through June 2011 until further notice. Due to holidays and mandated furloughs, City Hall will be closed on the following days:

December 22, 2010 - Closed
December 23, 2010 - Holiday – Closed
December 24, 2010 - Holiday – Closed
December 27, 2010 - Furlough – Closed
December 28, 2010
December 31, 2010 - Furlough – Closed
January 7, 2011 - Closed
January 17, 2011 - Holiday – Closed
January 21, 2011 - Closed
February 4, 2011 - Closed
February 18, 2011 - Closed
February 21, 2011 - Holiday – Closed
March 4, 2011 - Closed
March 18, 2011 - Closed
March 31, 2011 - Holiday- Closed
April 1, 2011 - Closed
April 15, 2011 - Closed
April 29, 2011 - Closed
May 13, 2011 - Closed
May 27, 2011 - Closed
May 30, 2011 - Holiday – Closed
June 10, 2011 - Closed
June 24, 2011 - Closed

Utility Customers:
Due to the scheduled City Hall closures during the Christmas holiday season, service requests for new or terminating water and sewer service will only be available on December 20 and 21 (Monday and Tuesday) or December 29 and 30 (Wednesday and Thursday). Please contact Utility Billing directly at 805-524-1500 ext. 136 if you have any questions or need additional information.

For information on the closure schedule, please check the Fillmore City Website at www.fillmoreca.com or call 524-1500 ext. 214.

Bert Rapp
City of Fillmore, Public Works Director

Bert Rapp, Fillmore's long time Public Works Director, has resigned from the City of Fillmore. Below is his resignation letter:

December 16, 2010

Yvonne Quiring, City Manager
City of Fillmore 250 Central Avenue Fillmore CA, 93015

Dear Yvonne;

I am submitting my resignation as the Public Works Director for the City of Fillmore, I request that my last day of employment with the City be February 25, 2011 and I plan to take vacation days from January 24,2011 to February 25th. I am honored to have served the greatest City in all of Ventura County as its City Engineer/Public Works Director for the last 19.5 years. I have accepted an offer of employment with the Ventura River County Water District as their General Manager, they are a small water district serving about half as many customers as the City of Fillmore water enterprise.

What I will miss most about Fiilmore are the wonderful people, individuals that give of themselves for the betterment of the community. People tike Gene Wren who faithfully led young boys to manhood through the Boy Scouts or Scott Klittich who continues Gene's work today. And Sara Hansen who tirelessly works to keep Fillmore clean and beautiful. When Rotary donated the beautiful clock for Central Avenue, Sara Hansen, Bill Dewey and Linda Nunes helped pick rocks to protect the clock and directed how they should be placed so they would look nice. And within a month those rocks saved the clock from a runaway car!

On the west side of town people like Doug Wilhelm work tirelessly clean up litter and graffiti. There are dozens more of these dedicated persons who have adopted their corners of the City and keep them clean and take care of them. In North Fillmore Max Pina works at the police store front bringing peace, stability and hope to the residents. Ralf Reese never stops serving and just recently restored a beautiful 1800's buggy and is helping preserve and restore Rancho Camulus. Can anyone's life be the same once they knew Chappy Morris Senior? He was a very special person. For every person I have mentioned there are a 100 more that are equally special. Fillmore would be a poorer community without the contributions of these faithful volunteers.

One of the most enjoyable things to do in Fiilmore is to walk the tree lined streets and greet the people working in their front yard or relaxing on their front porch. But you better watch out for the traffic jam on the bike paths on warm summer evenings as moms and dads push their baby strollers in the refreshing westerly trade winds that make life so pleasant in Fillmore.

Fillmore has rivers and mountains that physically restrict the size of the town and will help keep it the last best small town in California with beautiful vistas of the mountains and agriculture. I will miss the hard working employees at the City and Fillmore's wonderful citizens.

Very Truly Yours
Bert J. Rapp, P.E.

Written by By Greg Brown

Kansas City Fed President Thomas Hoenig says the recovery simply cannot be sped up and that Fed Chief Ben Bernanke’s efforts to avoid a double-dip by printing money are nothing less than “a bargain with the devil.”

Hoenig has been a sometimes lonely dissenter on the Fed’s rate-setting committee, which meets Tuesday. He fears that the latest foray into easy money, the $600 billion bond-buyback plan announced in November, is an unusually risky move.

He also believes that the repeated promises to keep rates at virtually zero for “an extended period” are a mistake.

Hoenig says that... http://www.moneynews.com/StreetTalk/Hoenig-Bernanke-Deal-Devil/2010/12/1...

WASHINGTON — Embattled GOP Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele announced Monday that he will seek a second term despite a rocky two years marked by allegations of financial mismanagement and frequent verbal gaffes.

After weighing a decision for weeks as challengers lined up, Steele alerted the 168-member Republican National Committee during an evening conference call that he would run, according to participants listening. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because the call was private.

Steele's troubled... http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/Chairman/2010/12/13/id/379842?s=al&pr...

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul says “it’s at least 50-50 that I’ll run again” for the presidency, depending partly on the state of the economy, according to The New York Times. The Texas Republican seemed surprised about suggestions on some websites that he team up with his son, newly elected Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., to launch a dual “Paul/Paul 2012” ticket, the Times reported.

Paul brushed... http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/Ron-Paul-president-Rand/2010/12/13/id...

The temporary extension of the Bush tax cuts that President Barack Obama and Republican members of Congress agreed to will not translate into large job growth or investment, and Congress should come up with a better deal, says former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Uncertainty “is not a friend of investment, growth and job creation,” Romney contends in an opinion column in USA Today.

Romney, who... http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/Romney-Tax-Cut-Jobs/2010/12/14/id/379...

Persons interested in serving on the City of Fillmore Film Commission or Planning Commission are invited to submit an application to the City by Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 5 p.m.

The Film Commission markets Fillmore to the film industry and also assists with the development of the City’s film policies. Film Commissioners also participate in annual film location expositions, which serve to highlight what Fillmore has to offer to the film industry. The Film Commission generally meets the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Monthly meetings generally last about one hour. Two positions on the commission will be filled. Two persons will be appointed to a four-year term ending in January 2015. Their term of office would expire in January 2015. At that time, the commissioners could re-apply to continue service on the commission. There is no residency requirement. The members shall have an interest in promoting, encouraging and assisting film activities within the City.

The Planning Commission, which serves an active role in local land-use decisions, generally meets the second Wednesday following the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. One position on the commission will be filled. One person will be appointed to a four-year term ending in January 2015. Their term of office would expire in January 2015. At that time, the commissioner could re-apply to continue service on the commission. The person appointed must reside within the City of Fillmore limits.

Those interested in being appointed to the Film Commission or Planning Commission are invited to submit an application and letter of interest to Angela Mumme, Fillmore City Hall, 250 Central Avenue, Fillmore, CA. 93015.

Applications are available in the lobby at Fillmore City Hall or may be found at the City's website at www.fillmoreca.com/docs/cag.pdf applications must be received by December 16 at 5 p.m.

Appointments to the Film Commission and Planning Commission will be made by the Mayor following an interview and recommendation by City Council Interview/Selection Committee.

For further information on the application process please call Angela Mumme at 524-1500, extension 214.

City of Fillmore

CITY OF FILLMORE
CITY COUNCIL/PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION JOINT MEETING
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2010
6:00 P.M.
FILLMORE CITY HALL
CENTRAL PARK PLAZA
250 CENTRAL AVENUE
FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA 93015-1907

AGENDA
1.
Call to Order: 6:00 P.M.
2.
Pledge of Allegiance
3.
Roll Call: Councilmembers Brooks, Conaway, Hernandez, Washburn and Mayor Walker
4.
Approval of Agenda
5.
Public Comments
6.
Joint City Council / Redevelopment Agency/ Parks & Recreation Commission Business Items
A.
Proposal for Additional Hours for Use of High School Track and Installation of Side Access Gate.
Recommendation: 1) Consider expansion of hours for access to the High School Track for authorized users for the hours of 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and 2) Authorize financial participation in the installation of a side access gate to the High School Track with the cost to be offset by fees paid by Track users.
B.
Five-Year Projection – Fillmore Redevelopment Agency.
Recommendation: 1) Receive and file.
C.
Award of Contract for CONTINUED »

Persons interested in serving on the City of Fillmore Film Commission or Planning Commission are invited to submit an application to the City by Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 5 p.m.

The Film Commission markets Fillmore to the film industry and also assists with the development of the City’s film policies. Film Commissioners also participate in annual film location expositions, which serve to highlight what Fillmore has to offer to the film industry. The Film Commission generally meets the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Monthly meetings generally last about one hour. Two positions on the commission will be filled. Two persons will be appointed to a four-year term ending in January 2015. Their term of office would expire in January 2015. At that time, the commissioners could re-apply to continue service on the commission. There is no residency requirement. The members shall have an interest in promoting, encouraging and assisting film activities within the City.

The Planning Commission, which serves an active role in local land-use decisions, generally meets the second Wednesday following the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. One position on the commission will be filled. One person will be appointed to a four-year term ending in January 2015. Their term of office would expire in January 2015. At that time, the commissioner could re-apply to continue service on the commission. The person appointed must reside within the City of Fillmore limits.

Those interested in being appointed to the Film Commission or Planning Commission are invited to submit an application and letter of interest to Angela Mumme, Fillmore City Hall, 250 Central Avenue, Fillmore, CA. 93015.
Applications are available in the lobby at Fillmore City Hall or may be found at the City's website at www.fillmoreca.com/docs/cag.pdf applications must be received by December 16 at 5 p.m.

Appointments to the Film Commission and Planning Commission will be made by the Mayor following an interview and recommendation by City Council Interview/Selection Committee.

For further information on the application process please call Angela Mumme at 524-1500, extension 214.

Written By JEREMY PAGE

ZHUHAI, China — A year after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a cash-strapped Kremlin began selling China a chunk of its vast military arsenal, including the pride of the Russian air force, the Sukhoi-27 fighter jet.

For the next 15 years, Russia was China's biggest arms supplier, providing $20 billion to $30 billion of fighters, destroyers, submarines, tanks and missiles. It even sold Beijing a license to make the Su-27 fighter jet—with imported Russian parts.

After decades of importing and reverse-engineering Russian arms, China has reached a tipping point: It now can produce many of its own advanced weapons—including high-tech fighter jets like the Su-27—and is on the verge of building an aircraft carrier.

Not only have Chinese engineers cloned the... http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870467920457564647265569884...

Written by By Dick Morris

The formerly solid wall of Republican opposition to any tax increase has now been breached and it is up to us to repair it and plug it up!

Three normally conservative Senators — Tom Coburn (Oklahoma), Mike Crapo (Idaho) and Judd Gregg (New Hampshire) — have voted in favor of the Bowles-Simpson Deficit Reduction Commission’s recommendations for massive tax hikes. Coburn, Crapo, and Gregg are laboring under the grand illusion that tax increases can reduce the deficit.

In fact, the... http://www.dickmorris.com/blog/3-gop-senators-betray-us/

Written by Luke Harding

Russia is a corrupt, autocratic kleptocracy centred on the leadership of Vladimir Putin, in which officials, oligarchs and organised crime are bound together to create a "virtual mafia state", according to leaked secret diplomatic cables that provide a damning American assessment of its erstwhile rival superpower.

Arms trafficking, money laundering, personal enrichment, protection for gangsters, extortion and kickbacks, suitcases full of money and secret offshore bank accounts in Cyprus: the cables paint a bleak picture of a political system in which bribery alone totals an estimated $300bn a year, and in which it is often hard to distinguish between the activities of the government and organised crime.

Among the most striking allegations... http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/01/wikileaks-cables-russia-mafi...

Written By Mortimer B. Zuckerman

The modern world has for centuries been dominated economically, intellectually, and physically by the civilization that arose in Western Europe in the wake of the Renaissance and Reformation and spread across the Atlantic.

Will that one day be seen as a passing phenomenon doomed to ascend ever upward and then slowly fizzle out like a firework?

It is nearly a century since that gloomy German mathematician and philosopher Oswald Spengler published his 1918 classic The Decline of the West. His arguments were complex, but basically he suggested that the future of the West was not as limitless as his peers imagined after the ghastly World War I. His thesis was that civilizations had an underlying trajectory, an organic rise and fall; his metaphor was to compare the stages of this process to the stages of our seasons—but seasons of many centuries. In the 19th century we were, he suggested, in the winter of the West, witnessing the triumph of materialism, socialism, and money and that the era of individualism, liberty, and humanitarianism was nearing its end. (When the Nazis rose to power he seemed vindicated—he was a vehement critic.)

Read today, Spengler's... http://politics.usnews.com/opinion/mzuckerman/articles/2010/11/29/the-da...

You and your family are cordially invited to a Holiday Party and Open House at one of my district locations:

Reagan Ranch Center, Santa Barbara
217 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Thursday, December 9, 2010
4:30pm – 6:00pm

and

Simi Valley District Office
2655 First Street, Suite 230
Simi Valley, CA 93065
Thursday, December 16, 2010
4:30pm – 6:00pm

For more information or to RSVP, call (805) 306-8886 or send an email to matt.guthrie@sen.ca.gov

To ensure everyone has a wonderful time, please RSVP to guarantee there are enough hors d’oeuvres & refreshments for all.

This year, my district office is serving as a drop-off location for the Port Hueneme Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program. If you’d also like to participate, please bring a new, unwrapped toy to either Holiday Party.

I look forward to seeing you all this holiday season!

Chair of the Board, Supervisor Kathy Long announces the first-ever meeting of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors to be held in Santa Paula on December 7, 2010 at 6:30pm.

The Board of Supervisors voted to hold this offsite meeting at the request of Supervisor Long. The meeting will provide an opportunity for local residents, who may not be able to attend a regularly scheduled meeting at the Ventura Government Center, to participate in their County government. Supervisor Long has called for County departments to give updates on the Santa Paula Hospital and the Santa Clara Valley Job & Career Center. She will also ask for the Board’s support of public awareness efforts by the California Emerging Technology Fund’s ‘Get Connected!’ initiative to help rural communities achieve access to broadband technology and infrastructure that are essential for the 21st Century success of communities, families and individuals in Ventura County.

Residents throughout the Santa Clara Valley are invited to attend. The Board of Supervisors' meeting will take place at the Santa Paula City Council Chambers located at 970 Ventura Street, Santa Paula on December 7, 2010 at 6:30pm.