More Mayoral Embarrassment

April Fool’s Day was celebrated appropriately by Mission Viejo’s City Hall. No one does it quite like the city’s Hee-Haw Mayor.

In a video posted by Patch.com on April 1, Mayor Hee-Haw elaborates on his water-saving ideas http://missionviejo.patch.com/articles/mayor-throws-down-water-challenge-in-mission-viejo#video-5490581 . For openers, he says, “Don’t flush the toilet all the time. One tissue – wait til maybe two tissues.”

Unfortunately for Mission Viejo residents, this is not an April Fool’s joke. Hee-Haw then says he doesn’t want to give away too many of his secret ideas, but what’s left after “don’t flush the toilet”? Not only does it save water, it keeps in-laws, burglars – and everyone else – out of his house.

According to Patch.com, the occasion for tips from Hee-Haw is a contest among cities including Santa Ana, Westminster, Newport Beach, Fullerton, Seal Beach and Huntington Beach. It sounds like a water conservation contest, but is it? Participants are directed to go to a Website and sign up.

The city with the highest percentage of signups wins. Hee-Haw states in the video that the city with the most signups wins. Someone needs to read the rules.

Residents also noticed that the names and email addresses will become the property of the private foundation organizing the contest http://missionviejodispatch.com/consumer/mayor-dont-flush-toilet-all-the-time/#comments

While the message is aimed at citizens, those who really need a lesson in conservation are the pseudo-greens in Mission Viejo City Hall. Along with wasting an enormous amount of water, the city’s poorly designed irrigation system contributes significantly to street deterioration. The overspray also showers vehicles and creates traffic hazards with pooling on streets.

As an example of genuine conservation, turn to the private sector. The largest homeowner association in Mission Viejo has dramatically reduced water use through drip irrigation and other conservation methods. The savings were substantial, leading to reduced fees for homeowners. Meanwhile, City Hall’s wasteful practices and throwaway attitude – including taxpayer dollars – are legendary.

Tea Partiers Reunite in Mission Viejo
Press Release

Mission Viejo, CA, April 3, 2011 -- Tea Partiers will hold a Tax Day Protest in Mission Viejo on April 15 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The Republican Party of Orange County and Saddleback Republican Assembly will host the event.

The Tea Party will take place on the street corners of La Paz Road and Marguerite Parkway. The corners of the intersection have become a popular spot to protest high taxes and overgrown government. Mission Viejo's first April 15 Tea Party in 2009 drew more than 600 people. In 2010, more than 700 attended the Tax Day rally.

Phil Steinhauer of Mission Viejo is involved in planning the third annual Tea Party in his city. He said he anticipates a spirited event with music, speakers and an enthusiastic response from attendees.

As the Tea Party's purpose, Steinhauer explained, "We're trying to get the attention of Sacramento and Washington, D.C. We can't fix our broken state unless we cut spending and lower taxes. We need to turn back Obamacare and protect our country from criminal invasion."

Tea Party organizers will provide a variety of protest signs at the event. They also encourage attendees to bring signs and American flags to wave."

Watch for updates on www.ocgop.org

Non-government Events

Following is a sampling of events and activities that are not funded by taxpayers or promoted by the Nanny State. Please support private enterprise.

“Terra Glo,” art exhibit, K.L. Heagen, Marjorie Sanders and the gallery’s regular artists, through Mon., April 4, noon to 5 p.m., Sandstone Gallery, 384-A N. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, (949) 497-6775, http://www.sandstonegallery.com

Renee Fleming, Soprano, Tues., April 5, 8 p.m., Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, (714) 556-2121, http://www.scfta.org/home/Events/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1132&NavID=132

Jazz Monsters Concert with Pianist Kenny Barron, Founders Hall, 3rd Floor, Fri., April 8, 7 p.m., Soka University, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, (949) 480-4000, http://www.info@soka.edu

“Replace Your Lawn with Native Plants: Flowering Perennials,” Sat., April 9, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Tree of Life Nursery, 33201 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 728-0685, http://www.californianativeplants.com

“Ultimate Remodeling Design Workshop,” by Sea Pointe Construction, Sat., April 9, 9:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., at Ayres Hotel & Spa, 28951 Los Alisos Blvd., Mission Viejo, (949) 861-3400, http://seapointe.com/designworkshops.htm

Herb and Vegetable Kitchen Gardening, Sun., April 10, 9 a.m., Plant Depot, 33413 San Juan Creek Road, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 240-2107, http://www.plantdepot.com

Noel Coward’s “Private Lives,” through Sun., April 10, Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (949) 497-2787, ext. 1, http://www.lagunaplayhouse.com

Art exhibit, Timothy J. Clark, through April 11, Sherman Library & Gardens, 2647 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar, (949) 673-2261, http://www.slgardens.org

Movies, Edwards Kaleidoscope Stadium 10 in Mission Viejo, 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy, (949) 582-4020, get show times, watch movie trailers, see what's coming soon at
http://www.moviefone.com/theater/edwards-kaleidoscope-stadium-10/32/showtimes

Easter Family Fair in Mission Viejo, Sat., April 23, 11 a.m., Mount of Olives Church, 24772 Chrisanta Dr., Mission Viejo, (949) 837-7467, http://www.moochurch.org

World Affairs Council of Orange County, Sir Eldon Griffiths, “The Pros and Cons of a Royal Monarchy for a Democratic Nation,” April 28, 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner, 7:45 p.m. program, Hilton Costa Mesa, 3050 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa (949) 253-5751, http://www.worldaffairscouncil.org

Journey of a Tea Party Patriot
by F. Robert “Bob” Serrao

Greetings in the mutual friendship of Lady Liberty:

From my understanding of your love for America, I believe I can confidently say that we stand together on the pillars of freedom, liberty and justice set forth in the Declaration and U.S. Constitution. We have been blessed by divine Providence to live in the greatest country in the world, America.

In many ways, my story is much like that of other Americans. In earlier years, I am given to provide basic necessities for my family. But, now as I scan the political landscape, I find myself in a battle for truth and freedom. I’m fully engaged in damage control of a nation under assault by socialism and led astray by a feckless leadership on Capitol Hill. And, I am happy to stand should-to-shoulder with you in this struggle.

If you will allow, the following part of my story is truly unique.

My fight to “right my country” begins after receiving a copy of the U.S. Constitution following a Ron Paul movie in early 2009. I am so eager to have this copy that I can hardly wait to get home to read it. It feels like reuniting with a long-lost friend. Eagerly, I begin to consume it.

However, things quickly take a surprising turn, and for the best, I believe (though at the time I did not think so). My enthusiasm is dampened by the antiquated language of Old English. It’s like an irresistible force meeting an immovable object. Words and phrases in the Declaration and Constitution stop me dead in my tracks:--- Perfidy, redress, injuries, consanguinity, welfare, capitation, usurpations, emoluments, Marque and Reprisal, Bill of Attainder, Attainder of Treason, Corruption of Blood, Assent to Laws, natural born. Am I reading Shakespeare? Even with a master’s degree in education I’m puzzled to ask, what do all these mean?

So, my journey extends with long hours of painful, exhaustive book study. First, the Declaration; then, the Constitution. I read and re-read these documents, cross-referencing identical words as they repeat themselves. Then, I seek to define each antiquated word with Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary of the English Language, applying the same meaning to every other instance it is used throughout the documents. One-by-one the words and phrases become defined. Perfidy means treachery; redress, correction; welfare, well-being; usurpation, bullish intrusion; consanguinity, kindred spirit; Marque and Reprisal, Capture and Revenge; Bill of Attainder, Declaration of Guilt, etc. Internet reference studies prove convenient and vital. Slowly but surely I’m starting to get it.

Happily, my passion for these monumental documents is revived by my increased understanding.

However, the Constitution poses the greater challenge. It not only requires a definition of terms, but an understanding of the American history couching them. Clause-by-clause, I study it in depth. The Honorable Edwin Meece’s Heritage Guide to the Constitution is fortified with studies in Black’s Law Dictionary, and Sir William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England. I have come to a profound respect for these works and those who seek to reveal the Framers’ intent. The months to follow were pure drudgery.

I begin the slow task of writing the first draft. Granted, it is rough, almost patchwork, but the rewards of providing a prototype are now the irresistible force. As a wordsmith, I must blend intent, meaning and readability. In the writing process, I must be extremely careful that the old English (source language) equals the modern English (target language). Otherwise, there would be neither integrity nor subsequent validity. This would be a tragedy, for these documents record America’s fight for liberty and codify a nation’s laws containing the privileges and protections of every American citizen. The project must not falter.

Syntax (sentence structure) proves to be a formidable hurdle. As you know, the syntax of the Constitution is cumbersome, even exhausting in spots. Threads of thought are lengthy, finding their way back to antecedents long forgotten. Moreover, the spelling, capitalization and punctuation are not uniform. Yet, with the greatest economy of words, the Framers present to us the Constitution on only four pages of hand-written parchment.  So, I strive to convey the meaning as economically as they.

Drawing from my previous endeavors at paraphrasing the Ephesians and James letters (New Testament), I begin final paraphrasing of our Charter Documents. After many revisions, I can see that a smooth, easy-to-understand rendering of equivalent thought and intent is now viable. The words begin to flow, not too different, but different enough to hurdle the language obstacles. “When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one People to sever the political bonds that have tied them to another….” Page-by-page, the project takes on a beauty of its own, yielding an easy-to-understand rendering.

I must bear in mind that both Charter Documents are legal in nature. The Declaration opens the curtain on a judicial court scene. At times, I can imagine the rap of the judge’s gavel. The plaintiffs are the colonists; the defendants, England’s King; the jury, a reasonable world; the judge, The Supreme Judge of the World. The Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Land, so the “shall” and “shall have” require the reference point of a document with a future empowerment. The legal is clear. Therefore, the rephrasing of these legal documents requires a formal equivalence rather than the looser, dynamic equivalence. With a final spell-checking and punctuation-smoothing, the finished work stands vindicated, in today’s English.

It would be honest to say that throughout this journey, I wonder how this paraphrase might benefit others. So, at the appropriate time, I seek several publishers, submitting the entire text for their publication and marketing. But, there is no response from a half dozen publishers. I’m puzzled at this, because this modern rendering would certainly stimulate public interest, enhance understanding and broaden readership.

Is it my audacity or their lack of vision that brings no response?

Consider for a moment that many ancient secular and sacred writings underwent translation. As examples, Hebrew Scriptures were rendered into Greek (3rd Century BC); Greek and Hebrew into Latin (4th Century AD); Latin into King James Bible (1611 AD) and countless paraphrases since 1960. Yes, each endeavor met with its naysayers, but one thing is clear throughout history: communication is best served in the language of the day. This is why I firmly believe that a modern paraphrase of our founding documents is long overdue.

Now, at this point I determine that if it is going to be published, it will have to be self-published. So, in the fall of 2010 I copyright the book and employ my computer skills to format the text for printing. Employing a local printer, 1,200 copies comprised the first printing which is exhausted in six weeks, partially due to a front-page feature of the Dec. 21 Orange County Register. This requires a second printing of 1,400 now being distributed. I have one radio interview, Issues in Education, Feb. 11, 2011. Calvary Chapel Bookstore carries it, and many political action committees now allow its sale.

What will this book do for its readers? Well, for one thing, it clearly underscores one’s incalculable worth as Providence bestows it. For another, it clearly outlines the designated powers that We The People grant to the federal government. Furthermore, it describes the citizen’s inalienable and civil rights, including the citizen’s protections against infringing government. Finally, it does all this in today’s English.

www.intodaysenglish.com intodaysenglish@cox.net

The Buzz

If the city wants to lead the way with Mayor Dave’s environmental ideas, here’s a suggestion from a resident: “Let’s have the employees in city hall use the ‘don’t flush’ policy. See how long it takes before someone calls the Health Department. I didn’t understand Dave’s suggestion about using only one tissue. Did he mean use only one square? If Dave reaches out to shake my hand, I’m keeping both my hands firmly planted in my pockets.”

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You might be a hillbilly if you:

• Don’t flush your toilet until Mayor Hee-Haw’s contest ends.
• Refer to your two city-dispensed “iron tree” canvas bags as matched luggage.
• Try to buy a phone at Taco Bell.
• Take a few items to the dump and bring back a full truckload.
• Refer to reruns of Hee-Haw as documentaries.

 

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City Hall launched a new festival on April 2, “Up in the Air.” The poorly attended event drew City Hall occupants and the usual resident followers. Most taxpayers get it. The function of government is to provide essential public services, and entertaining a handful of people isn’t one of them. Coverage by Patch.com showed photos and drew a comment from City Clowncil Member Trish Kelley. Trish Kelley trying to start the dialogue is similar to “Seinfeld” character Elaine Benes trying to start the dancing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNsDSBwr7c4

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City Hall invokes its bragging rights on its use of recycled wastewater. There is, however, a downside. For example, residents living near a wastewater treatment facility have to put up with the stench. Anyone lighting a match outdoors takes a chance of blowing up the entire neighborhood.

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Atlas PAC will host ATF Day on Sat., April 9, 12:00 noon at Evans Gunsmithing Shooting World, 1637 N. Brian Ave., Orange. Certified firearms training will be provided, and weaponry rental will be available. A fee of $30 for members and $50 for non-members includes lunch. Cigars and cocktails will follow at 4:00 p.m. at 8 Eighty Eight Cigar Merchants, 118 W. Wilshire Ave., Fullerton. RSVP immediately to rsvp@atlaspac.org, as space is limited.

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State of the state: Gov. Jerry Brown acknowledged on Day 86 (of his first 100 days in office) the breakdown in budget talks. Time ran out last week to have a special election in June to extend taxes. “Brown spokesman Gil Duran said negotiating with the Republicans was ‘like playing whack-a-mole,’ with different lawmakers negotiating what Brown called an ‘ever-changing list of collateral demands.’” http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/03/3523980/browns-countdown-day-84-governor.html#ixzz1IUOPjdDG

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From Dan Walters, “The difference between California’s having an adequate water supply and an inadequate supply is roughly 3 million acre-feet of water a year. That's the equivalent of just 20 days of current Sacramento River flow [going out to sea]. In a rational world, the extra flows in this and other high-water seasons would be diverted into what's called ‘off-stream storage,’ either into underground aquifers or into reservoirs such as San Luis Reservoir on the Pacheco Pass between Los Banos and Hollister.” http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/03/3523627/dan-walters-californias-water.html#ixzz1IURwyjmS