The energy crisis of 2000 brought home traumatically and very dramatically how vulnerable San Diego County can be to an interruption of this lifeblood energy source if we rely too much on imported power.

You can't get through to the third party company, or you'll get through to them and say, 'stop this and take the charge off, reverse the charge', and they don't.

Go to the landlord and ask to see the bills and the methodology used to calculate and figure what you owe based on the bills you've received.

Gasoline prices are one of the most regressive costs on lower-income people.

It'll have to be less than that if they want to complete this by mid-2007.

It's the same theory that Lance Armstrong exploits whenever he's riding in the Tour de France. He's taking advantage of the draft created by other riders to reduce the amount of effort he has to make.

The municipal water districts should be playing not just provider of the water, but playing the water cops.

There's substantial premiums you pay if you buy gas near a freeway. It's simply a function of gas stations' taking advantage of the convenience factor. They may also pay higher rents, though.

Do we have a need for new power? Yes. No question about it. The question is going to be, 'How should we provide that power?' That's the issue.

We know that none of our oil and none of our gas comes from the South, so there's no clear explanation for the run-up.