Hey California Peeps

“A friend of mine has a conference in San Francisco to go to in June and was planning on flying in a few days early with his wife to do some backpacking. His original plan was to go to Yosemite, but all the backcountry permits are booked up through late August. Does anyone have some suggestions where they can go? He would also like suggestions for some good hiking guidebooks and maps.”

“We never reserve and always get permits that morning...EARLY! They can still backpack Yosemite.”

“There are tons of optons... do they want to do mountains, the ocean, see giant redwood trees, what's their preference? The "problem" with California isthat you could spend a LOT of time out here & never see 50% of the incredibly awesomne things we have to do!! :)”

“Yosemite is awesome to be sure but one of the great things about it is it distracts all the tourists from all the other great places to hike. Tell your friends to take a little time to research the rest of the Sierra and they will come up with a hike to meet whatever it is they are coming to California for. There are literally thousands of options within a 3 hour drive of San Francisco.”

“Desolation Wilderness is an easy drive from SF. Simple to get a permit. Afterward you can take a quick side trip to Tahoe.”

“Maybe if we asked the other packers in other states what they did when they had just a short time in CA. Desolation does offer a diverse op. Trees and chips...”

“A section or two of the Tahoe Rim Trail is a good bet...”

“That's right Poolman, you always bag the BPing and chunker down at the tables. Sinful thoughts.”

“Sunday, December 21, 2008

Suing Good Samaritans


ABC News correspondent Mike von Fremd has the story of a lawsuit that is being allowed to go forward against a woman who thought she was saving her friend's life. Below are excerpts from a lengthy article by Susan Donaldson James on the ABC News website. It is worth reading the entire article (and for good measure, at the bottom of the article, we have some video of Good Samaritans in action at a road race):

No good deed goes unpunished, or so goes the saying.

Such was the case with Lisa Torti, who is being sued for pulling a now-paralyzed friend from the wreckage of a Los Angeles car accident in 2004.

The victim's lawyers claim the Good Samaritan bumbled the rescue and caused injury by yanking her friend "like a rag doll" to safety.

But Torti -- now a 30-year-old interior designer from Las Vegas -- said she thought she had seen smoke and feared the car would explode. She claims she was only trying to help her friend, Alexandra Van Horn, and her own life has been adversely affected by the incident.

"I know [Van Horn] has a lot of financial issues and her life has changed," she said. "But it's not my fault. I can't be angry at her, only the path she has chosen to take. I can only pray it helps her."

"I don't have any more fight left," Torti told ABCNews.com, choking back tears. "It's really emotional."

The California Supreme Court ruled this week that Van Horn may sue Torti for allegedly causing her friend's paralysis. The case -- the first of its kind -- challenges the state's liability shield law that protects people who give emergency assistance.

The court ruled 4-3 that only those administering medical care have legal immunity, but not those like Torti, who merely take rescue action. The justices said that the perceived danger to Van Horn in the wrecked car was not "medical."

The court majority said the 1980 Emergency Medical Service Act, which Torti's lawyers cited for protection, was intended only to encourage people to learn first aid and use it in emergencies, not to give Good Samaritans blanket immunity when they act negligently.

Van Horn's lawsuit will go on to trial court to determine if Torti is to blame for Van Horn's paralysis.


#1 cars don't normally explode from a wreck....the smoke is more than not from the airbag or the radiator.
#2 Word of warning...if I am in California I will stand back and watch....”

“no s h i t ! let 'em die. unless of course it's me. please rescue me!”

“LOL..its for your PERTECTION

San Francisco considers plan to charge drivers
Following the lead of cities such as London and Singapore, officials in San Francisco are considering a plan to ease traffic by charging drivers a fee upon entering notoriously clogged sections of the city.

By MALIA WOLLAN

The New York Times


http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008587885_fees04.html?syndication=rss”

“?
last edited: 1/07/09 5:19:37 PM”

“You're a fool if you drive a car into SF, anyway. BART and the metro are excellent. There are blocks and blocks of motorcycles, which is another decent way to get around. I've driven around for an hour before looking for a parking space on the street. It's insanity.”

“it's better in San Diego”

“Isn't San Diego in Mexico? I keed. I keed.”

“just come”

“What about Don Diego?”

“WOW . Let me get this right...if something happens and I do not agree with it in California..I can riot?

SO if say a friend of mine is shot in a crime. I can get a bunch of friends and go burn the crap out of anything? COOOOL”

“If the surf isn't up, yes.”

“Why riot when there are so many places to go hiking?”

“Apparently you guys have found a way to control State Population...(LOL)

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123154816733469917.html?mod=rss_opinion_main

With this history at their back, state leaders might have understood that people have a propensity to get up and move when a better life is to be had elsewhere. But no. After more than 150 years of being a destination, California is becoming a place entrepreneurs, investment capital and the hardy workers who made it a global leader in agriculture, technological innovation and scientific research are fleeing. This exodus is the marker of something deeper than a national recession. It's a sign that the attempts by state leaders to spend their way back to prosperity are killing California.

While it has the sixth highest tax burden in the nation, according to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, California is facing a breathtaking $40 billion budget deficit this year. This comes on the heels of a decade-long spending spree. Last year the state budget was $131 billion, up from $56 billion in 1998.”

“Bring me your poor, your sick, your down trodden, your...............”

“Maybe they'll have to cut back on government handouts and even more people will leave. I knew I picked a great time to move out here!”

“LOL...you guys think if you could find a John Galt to rescue California....anyone would listen to him?”

“I don't listen to any of those guys - too busy working and playing. The market is heading for a correction.”

“toe do you mean that in a positive way or the "lamestream media" negative way?

Personally I am choosing not to participate in the recession.”

“I hope it corrects, but I still have to work another 10 years. I wish things would double by then, I could become a snowbird.”

“Everyone wants to be in California except people who pay taxes.”

“When you're in the high dessert there must be a different perspective.
last edited: 1/13/09 9:39:43 AM”

“My desserts aren't too high.”

“i'm deserted”

“But are you high?”

“tipsey maybe, high? never on illegal sh*t for sure. i'll have 17 years clean on march 15th.”

“We need John Galt here, but they would trample him in Sacramento. Our legislators are in a spending frenzy and cannot stop...kind of an addiction.”

“I've got a solution: kick out all the unmarried non-natives.”

“my kids are safe!”

“Rosey I don't think you will have to kick them out...most are leaving of their own choosing...(LOL)”

“California needs a fictional character??

Aren't there plenty of actors already in California?”

“When the government money starts drying up, the problem will take care of itself.”

“here in CA, even the non actors act. up.
last edited: 1/14/09 9:49:48 PM”