George Rebane

Swine flu preparations in Nevada County are proceeding according to established plans.  Vic Ferrera, Program Manager of the county’s Office of Emergency Services, has outlined to county administration how his office has stepped up operations that include daily meetings with the county’s Public Health Department.  PH has activated 530-265-7258 as the updated public information source on swine flu.  This information is replicated and expanded on the PH web pages here with more information from federal sources available here.  These are good links to put in your favorites as this flu situation develops.  [29apr09 update] Indiana Universtiy pandemic model has hopeful prediction for near-term spread of swine flu in the US (here).

Stan Meckler, along with Chuck Shea and Kim Pruett, are the three local coordinators of the grass roots national tea party movement.  I met with Stan over coffee this morning and got updated on what has happened and what is coming down the pike.  More tea parties are planned over the next couple of months which will be announced when firm.  The national movement now has a name – Tea Party Patriots – and does not seek to connect itself with either of the political parties.  Its message continues to be one of promoting “fiscally responsible” government at all levels.  I urged the TPP leadership to nail down sooner than later what exactly they mean by ‘fiscal responsibility’.  As it stands now, both parties would claim to be fiscally responsible when it is clear that neither is.

Arlen Specter’s defection from the GOP brings on a smile.  The senator claims that the GOP has veered too much to the right for his liking, implying that the Dems have steered a clear and constant course in the interval.  My, my!  Looks like the old Sierra Bravo has noticed that the political demographics of his state are shifting left, and he wants to keep doing the only thing he knows how to do, in the only job that still pays a living wage for that kind of talent.  I’ll bet The Arnold, our local RINO, also catches himself toying with the idea now and then. 

[update] Just in from Kim Pruett –