Don’t crush the potential of AI technology to make our lives better

• July 9, 2023

Terminator actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently claimed that the artificial intelligence (AI) in the “Terminator” movies “has become a reality.” While AI has made significant progress, it isn’t Skynet (the fictional AI movie villain in “Terminator”).

In “Terminator,” a self-aware AI decides to eliminate humanity. The post-Judgment Day Earth is replete with humanoid enforcer robots and drones flying overhead, all looking for humans to exterminate. Fortunately, modern-day America is nothing like what is portrayed in the “Terminator” movies.

Instead, AI is improving medicine, therapy and dentistry, aiding education, helping find missing children, fighting forced labor, improving 911 response times, preventing cyberbullying, helping paralyzed people walk, preventing suicide, developing new medicines and preventing cyberattacks. It helps change tires faster and take drive-through orders. It can even detect diseases earlier, help teach students to program, and improve dating. None of these applications even remotely resemble “Terminator”’s Skynet — and several have goals opposed to the fictional AI of “Terminator.”

While AI doesn’t represent a threat to humanity, those in Hollywood may have more to be concerned about. AI technologies are very effective at storytelling (problematically, sometimes generating fiction when asked for the truth) and making television and movies. Big-name actors like Schwarzenegger have little to fear, as their name brings in audiences. However, could the next big name be an AI-generated avatar? One can imagine how this could benefit studios by replacing the salary demands of big-name actors with personas that they own all the rights to and don’t have to pay.

In fact, a recent “Terminator” movie deep fake, which inserted Silvester Stallone in the place of Schwarzenegger, shows how this could be done right now. A studio could hire unknown actors to play key roles and then use this same technology to replace the actors with personas that it builds over time and owns the rights to. Andrew Niccol predicted just this in his 2002 film “S1m0ne,” which starred Al Pacino as a director who loses his film’s star and replaces her with a computer-generated one. And this isn’t far from reality — Instagram influencer Lil Miquela, who was on the 2018 list of the most influential people on the internet, was also computer-generated.

While the Screen Actors Guild has delayed their planned strike for a week and a half, such a strike could provide just the impetus that studios need to experiment more with AI actors — just as the writers’ strike may be raising interest in AI writing. New contracts, if reached, may forestall AI use somewhat, as the risk of alienating writers and actors to use AI is significant. In the longer term, though, the benefits of AI writing and acting are substantial. Programs could become more interactive, with viewers playing a role or making key decisions and an AI writer and AI animator-actor generating content in response.

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Failing to embrace AI content generation would not be wise for movie and TV studios. They may find that video game developers who aren’t as tied to SAG or WGA contracts can produce similar content targeted at a similar audience. A recent change in the credit format used by Warner Brother’s Max service suggests that this may be part of at least that studio’s plans, as it is now calling everyone involved in a show’s production a creator, instead of distinguishing between roles, which would arguably become less important with AIs doing lots of the work.

Given this, it is little wonder that some in the entertainment industry attempt to stoke fear of AI. However, it is not AI that we need to be afraid of.

Studios would be well positioned to join those in the medical, music, automotive, construction, accounting, hospitality, farming, education and numerous other industries using or preparing to use AI. Government regulation of technology development or industry pseudo-regulation through contracts serves only to advance the interests of those not constrained by them and to delay humanity’s access to these benefits.

Jeremy Straub is the director of North Dakota State University’s Institute for Cyber Security Education and Research.

​ Orange County Register 

Successful Aging: In your 80s and still working? You aren’t alone

• July 9, 2023

Q. I am an 80-year-old financial consultant and continue to work. Fortunately, my clients are pleased with my services. I am curious, are there many others in their 80s who continue with their profession or am I an exception? R.F.

You are not alone. Although workers 80 and older are a small portion of the overall U.S. labor force, their numbers are growing. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 650,000 Americans over 80 were working this past year. That is 18 percent more than the previous decade. Half of those 650,000 Americans worked full-time hours. Their professions typically included professional, managerial and financial positions with fewer in service jobs. The fewest in this age category were working in farming, fishing and forestry. Since these occupations typically require a certain level of physical strength and stamina which often declines in later life, fewer in this age category is understandable. Others in their 80s may be cashiers, salespeople or work in a grocery store to relieve their boredom or for extra or even needed income.

Others may be motivated by inflation, stock market volatility or just want to be part of the action. An 85-year-old attorney who specializes in the divorces of the rich and famous is quoted in a June 25, 2023, Wall Street article saying he “loves the challenge of preventing exes from hating each other or being hated by their children.” He also loves traveling to conferences, socializing in bars and receiving recognition. He noted, “…out of sight, out of mind” so being present is important. 

Yet others may work in their later years because they are bored with golf or pickleball or their mate wants them out of the house. They also may also be motivated by wanting a sense of purpose and accomplishment as well as opportunities for recognition

Here are just a few examples of notables in their ninth decade who love their profession. Actor Harrison Ford, aged 80, stars in the newly released movie “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” and a pair of streaming series, “Shrinking” and “1923.” Primatologist Jane Goodall, aged 89, continues to protect chimpanzees. Singer, songwriter and producer Smokey Robinson is on tour at 83. President Biden is seeking re-election at 80. Actor, comedian and filmmaker Mel Brooks, 97, recently wrote and produced the Hulu miniseries, “History of the World, Part II.” Add to that list of working actors 88-year-old Judi Dench and 85-year-old Jane Fonda. Then there is the investor, businessman and philanthropist Warren Buffett, aged 92, who continues to serve as chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. 

There are plenty of people who are not well-known who continue to work in their 80s. Although he retired at age 90, an optometrist reflected on his recent work at Cosco. What he enjoyed most was working with younger people. He found them a relief and said, “only associating with people my age means you talk about their aches and pains.” He also loved the feeling of being productive. 

A consultant continues to work at age 90 as an executive coach, recruiter and editor. In his role as a recruiter, he finds it particularly gratifying to help others overcome obstacles in finding the right position. He considers the process a pleasure and fun. A recent phone call from a client told him, “The advice you gave me 20 years ago changed my life.” That “making a difference “is what makes this consultant’s work so meaningful. He added that the money also helps. 

Some companies are looking for ways to keep their older workers from retiring or moving to another employer. A new benefit has been developed to do just that. It’s called Grandternity Leave. Although rare, it is a special paid time for new grandparents that can last from a day to a couple of weeks. Cisco, the tech company, consulting firm Mercier and HireVue, a hiring platform are offering it, according to the Wall Street Journal piece. 

Working into one’s 80s may become more common as the notion of a 100-year life becomes a reality. Work among other things will be redefined. Our hope is that we all will be sufficiently healthy to fulfill our work-related aspirations and needs during what may be considered by many as our bonus years. 

Indeed R.F., you are not alone as more people in their ninth decade will come along to join you. And thank you for your good question. 

As a reminder to our dear readers – kindness is free; so, feel free to spread it around generously. 

Helen Dennis is a nationally recognized leader on issues of aging and the new retirement with academic, corporate and nonprofit experience. Contact Helen with your questions and comments at [email protected]. Visit Helen at HelenMdennis.com and follow her on facebook.com/SuccessfulAgingCommunity

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​ Orange County Register 

The staffing crisis in law enforcement

• July 9, 2023

The lengthy investigation on the staffing crisis in Southern California law enforcement by Joe Nelson and Scott Schwebke published this spring showed that, with very few exceptions, area police and sheriff’s departments are having a very hard time indeed both holding on to qualified officers and deputies and replacing the ones who leave.

As anyone who reads the series knows, it would be wrong to chalk the problem up to any one reason. The problem runs deep, and the complicated issues that led up to it will require complex solutions.

At a very surface level, it might seem like a great time to go into law enforcement. The need is great; pay has never been better — in the past, a cop was never going to see anything like a six-figure salary; the benefits are out of this world; relatively early retirement is available like almost no other occupation in the nation. All of that is easy for those of us who don’t don the uniform daily to say.

There is still an incredible hangover for law enforcement from the effects of the “defund the police” movement that arose — in some ways understandably, though the nomenclature stinks — in the wake of the murder by Minneapolis officers of George Floyd.

A tiny group of Midwest officers committed that crime; during the protests that followed it, you would think that every officer in America, the vast majority of whom serve honorably, was behind it. Who needs that kind of hatred in their work day?

Plus, in California, the cost of living is so high that other states are actively recruiting our officers. Stresses of serving during COVID-19 led to a lot of early retirements. Our sheriff’s departments offer such high-quality training that many deputies move on to other police agencies after a few years of service.

So, the problem is not simple. And this dual suggestion alone won’t solve it. But it would help. How about we the people agree to understand that each cop is an individual, most just trying to do a job, which keeps us safe? Treat them with respect. And how about all officers and deputies take seriously their training in de-escalation of tense situations as job one while on duty? Let’s work on creating a climate in which the people and police live well together; a better job climate for law enforcement will soon follow.

​ Orange County Register 

Senior Moments: When you ask ‘How hard can this be?’ and find out

• July 9, 2023

How hard can this be?

I have lived long enough to know whenever I ask myself that question the universe is only too happy to let me know. Today the question involved a teapot wind chime that I was readying to hang on my crepe myrtle tree.

By readying, I meant carrying it out to the courtyard and hanging it on a branch that faced the front porch swing, my favorite spot to sit and contemplate the world.

On the way out the front door, the universe intervened when I ever so gently placed the bag containing the wind chime on the porch.

“You call that gently?” the big U growled at me.

“How bad can it be?” I replied. I might intervene here to say “How bad can it be?” and “How hard can it be?” evoke the same response from the universe.

Even through the bubble wrap, I could feel that there were more pieces than I remembered.

“Get cracking, lady,” Big U barked. “Oh, right you already did that,” he snorted as I lifted the handle which was no longer attached to the teapot.

“I can fix this.” I barked back at him. Then I asked the fatal question, “How hard can it be?”

At the breakfast room table with all the pieces assembled in front of me and a bottle of glue in my hand, I would ask that question many times. I finally decided to start with the easiest piece, the teapot handle, so I could find out if the glue held. It went on perfectly and seemed to be holding. I left to take a walk while it solidified. I was humming as I walked, pleased with my progress.

But the Big U was laughing.

When I returned the handle was still in place but the teapot was glued to the place mat which was glued to the table, as were several of the broken pieces. The glue bottle, minus the cap I had failed to replace, had tipped over, affixing everything in its path, including my ballpoint pen and half-eaten orange, to the table. At least I know the glue works.

If you think this little tale does not merit the space it takes up, you might be right. On the other hand, I am often asked how I define a senior moment. The answer is they are the moments of our lives as we age, and what we can learn from them. For example, I now know I have a dysfunctional relationship with glue. How bad can that be?

Email [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @patriciabunin and at patriciabunin.com.

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​ Orange County Register 

War over new rooftop solar rules rages on

• July 9, 2023

A conspiracy between big government and big utilities to protect big corporate profits? No, no, the regulator said.

A violation of law requiring rooftop solar to keep growing rapidly in California? That isn’t the law at all, the regulator said.

Government spewing a lie that financial breaks given to (wealthier) rooftop solar owners shift burdens to their (less-well-off) neighbors — to the tune of billions of dollars? That’s just wrong, the regulator said, and asserting the cost shift doesn’t exist is “a false statement and a factual misinterpretation.”

Rancho Mission Viejo  (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

And so the California Public Utilities Commission has rejected requests for a do-over of its wildly controversial new rooftop solar rules, which went into effect in April. They gave everyone something to hate. But alas, the solar wars rage on: Opponents continue their battle in court, armed, for better or worse, with the same arguments that failed to convince the powers that be at the PUC.

At issue: The update to how much new rooftop solar owners are paid for exporting energy to the grid, depending on how much clean energy is available at the time (among many other things).

Folks who install new systems with batteries to store solar power, and who can pump energy out after dark when it’s most needed, will get the most handsome compensation. Folks without batteries, who only pump excess energy to the grid during the day — when it’s already plentiful — will get much less compensation.

Even at its best, compensation will be lower than it is for folks who had solar before these changes. And that will vastly increase the amount of time it takes folks to recoup their investments — from 3-5 years up to nine years. And that will tank the growth of solar in California, in violation of the law, critics argue.

Have you looked at your electric bill lately? Have you wept? The average price for residential electricity in California is nearly 80% higher than in the rest of the nation.

Solar or non-solar, this war hits your home, too.

Violates laws?

The arguments for a redo that were rejected by the PUC, and are now pending before the Court of Appeal of the State of California, First Appellate District, Division Three, go deep into the weeds about formulas used or not used, variables weighed or not weighed, costs accurately accounted for or not accurately accounted for.

The burden is on the petitioning critics — the Center for Biological Diversity, Environmental Working Group, and the Protect Our Communities Foundation — to prove that the PUC made legal errors in reaching its decision on the new rules.

Workers installing solar panels (Staff file photo)

“For the past 25 years, California has led the transition from fossil-fuel generation to clean, renewable power,” the petitioners argue in an appeals court filing. “Individual Californians have spearheaded the effort, installing rooftop solar on over one and a half million homes, schools, churches, and businesses. State policy encouraged this transition to clean power through the Net Energy Metering (‘NEM’) tariff, which allowed residents to earn a reasonable return on their substantial upfront investments ….

“This local generation confers significant societal benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions, resilience to extreme weather and power outages, and avoided land use impacts by decreasing the need for utility transmission infrastructure which also keeps electricity bills down.”

Owners of rooftop solar systems receive credit for energy they generate and use on site. The utilities also compensate NEM customers for excess energy they supply back to the grid, traditionally paying them the same rate that regular customers pay for energy from the grid.

Despite the benefits of locally generated solar, “for-profit utilities across the country have targeted NEM programs,” they argue. “Because investor-owned utilities earn guaranteed returns on capital spending for transmission infrastructure, distributed energy resources, like rooftop solar, threaten the utility business model. Thus, for-profit utilities across the country have embarked on a multi-state campaign to gut NEM programs, promoting a false narrative that NEM causes a ‘cost shift’ from wealthier NEM customers and increases rates for everyone else, ignoring completely the billions of dollars utilities spend on transmission infrastructure that drives increased rates.”

The utilities’ narrative was swallowed whole by the PUC, and the changes it made violate the Legislature’s mandate to ensure “the continued, sustainable growth of distributed generation,” the critics say.

The petitioners asked the PUC to hold off on implementing the new rules while challenges were pending, said Roger Lin, senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, but “crickets.” And despite the PUC’s purported concern about costs being shifted onto less-well-off customers, the $600 million fund to help lower-income customers get solar has been sliced in half, and must be distributed by 2026, a narrow window for action.

The petitioners ask the court to do what the PUC wouldn’t. “The decision makes the installation of new solar systems economically unattractive and, as a result, will dramatically decrease growth” of solar, they said.

Doing our job?

(File photo by Michael Goulding, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The generous subsidies embedded in the old system contributed to the “staggering success” and rapid expansion of the rooftop solar industry, transforming a nascent technology into a mature industry, the PUC argues in its court filing.

It’s past time for an update, “in part because NEM customers in 2019 were paid six times what electricity generated by solar panels is worth to the grid,” it said. Customers who do not have rooftop solar systems have subsidized their solar neighbors by as much as $31,402 per solar owner.

“The Legislature recognized that the net energy metering tariff might require occasional updates or changes,” it said. “Thus …the Commission revised the NEM program to better align with the state’s current grid conditions and updated findings regarding costs and benefits of the program.”

The old system — which remains intact for folks who had solar before April — pays far more for rooftop solar power than its market value, analyses have said. It totals roughly $4 billion a year, borne by less-affluent consumers without rooftop solar who subsidize their wealthier solar neighbors.

This “troubling” cost shift — which critics say doesn’t really exist — came to the attention of lawmakers a decade ago. The Legislature ordered the PUC to address it. It has, it says.

The law does indeed require solar to grow sustainably — but that doesn’t mean it must gallop as fast as it has under more generous subsidies. Market growth “should not come at the undue and burdensome financial expense of nonparticipant ratepayers,” it said.

“Although Petitioners may disagree with the determinations made by the Commission, they have failed to establish that the Commission’s determinations lack substantial evidence,” the PUC said in its filing with the appeals court. “To the contrary … the Commission met all statutory obligations and its findings are supported by substantial evidence in the record.”

The PUC is not an ordinary administrative agency, it argued, “but a constitutional body with far-reaching powers, duties, and functions. There is a strong presumption of validity of the Commission’s decisions. In the Court’s review, the Commission’s interpretation of the Public Utilities Code, as the agency constitutionally authorized to administer its provisions, should be given great weight.”

When conflicting evidence is presented, from which conflicting inferences can be drawn, the PUC’s findings are “almost always” treated as conclusive, it argued. “Here, the Commission has complied with the law in all respects and Petitioners’ arguments are without merit. Petitioners’ have not shown legal error and their Petition should be denied.”

What’s next?

The Center for Biological Diversity et al. will reply to the PUC’s reply this month. Then everyone will wait to see what the appeals court does.

It might schedule oral arguments. It might not.

Boxes of petitions at a rally in Sacramento in 2021. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

“We’re very hopeful the court will take up this case,” Lin said. “There are clear violations of the law.”

In a prepared statement, Lin lamented. “It’s really disturbing that state regulators continue to block working-class Californians from the benefits of rooftop solar. State lawmakers have added to the insult by making deep cuts to an equity fund intended to help everyday folks afford renewable energy. It’s mind-boggling behavior for a state that’s supposed to be leading the transition to a just and affordable energy system.”

Reminder that the new solar rules do not affect folks who owned rooftop solar before April; they’ll remain on their current tariff plans for 20 years after their systems hooked into the grid.

What’s just, and what’s not, is oft in the eye of the beholder. We’ll see what the appeals court decides.

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​ Orange County Register 

Taking dogs into nature? Here’s how to keep both safe

• July 9, 2023

Michaela Coats has seen off-leash dogs flush endangered birds from their nesting spots at the mouth of the Santa Ana River, where Huntington and Newport beaches meet.

She’s also watched dogs do their business in that same river, with the waste left to either contaminate pooled water or float downstream to those popular recreational beaches.

New research increasingly links both of these dog owner decisions with hazards for wildlife and watersheds across Southern California. So experts like Coats, a dog lover who serves as education director for the nonprofit Orange County Coastkeeper, are asking for the public’s help.

“‘Leave No Trace’ principles of course apply to all people, but also (to) your animals,” she said.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to responsibly take dogs into nature. And fortunately, experts say many of the same practices that protect the environment also lower the risks that such adventures can pose for our furry friends — particularly this summer, in the wake of a wet winter that has boosted the odds of unhealthy encounters with living things like  snakes, ticks and poison oak, among others.

“It really does just keep the environment, (and) your pet, as safe as possible if you follow the rules,” Coats said.

Protect nature

The first step in making sure your dog isn’t going to harm any ecosystem is to research the rules before you visit. Those rules typically are posted online, while websites such as BringFido.com or tools like AllTrails can lead you to dog-friendly hikes or recreation areas.

People sometimes are surprised to learn, for example, that dogs aren’t allowed on the trails in most national parks and some state parks.

“Even ‘good dogs’ can cause problems by displacing and harassing wildlife, disturbing sensitive nesting and breeding areas, and spreading diseases,” noted Jorge Moreno, spokesperson for California State Parks.

Dogs look like a predator to most wild animals, Moreno said. That means dogs can disturb wildlife even if they’re calm and on a leash. So in areas with sensitive wildlife, or sensitive vegetation, dogs sometimes are not allowed.

And when dogs are allowed, the visit often needs to be planned and managed. The agency has a whole section on its website dedicated to the rules for dogs in State Parks, with details on which parks and areas allow canines. At Crystal Cove State Park, for example, Parks.ca.gov/dogs explains that, aside from service animals, dogs are allowed only on paved areas. But at Los Angeles State Historic Park, dogs are allowed throughout the park as long as they’re kept on a leash.

Few issues spark more heated debate in hiking circles than the question of off-leash dogs.

Coats — who frequently takes her parents’ tiny Boston terrier Archie and her boyfriend’s fluffy white Samoyed named Willow on adventures — isn’t against letting well-behaved dogs off leash in some circumstances. But she said it’s important to keep them leashed in sensitive places, such as the Santa Ana River mouth.

The area serves as a critical habitat for two endangered shorebirds, the California Least Tern and the Western Snowy Plover. These birds live in the area to raise their young, but Orange County Coastkeeper says off-leash dogs are threatening their ability to nest and feed. Both species have evolved to respond to threats, such as dogs, by fleeing and abandoning their nests and chicks.

During a year-long study of the 13-acre river mouth area, 36 volunteers with Coastkeeper kept track of what they saw in terms of dog activity. Despite rules requiring dogs to be leashed in the area, data recently published shows the volunteers found 71% of dogs were off-leash. That contributed to more than 9,000 “bird disturbances” witnessed by the volunteers in 2022. And despite leash laws being in effect along the entire Orange County coast, during Coastkeeper’s 1,275 observation surveys of the river mouth they never saw a dog owner cited for breaking those rules.

In addition to harming wildlife, Moreno noted that off-leash dogs can intimidate human visitors who sometimes travel long distances to visit these wild spaces. Some simply may not be used to dogs, while others may have had bad dog experiences in the past. So Moreno said leash laws are enacted to help all visitors feel safer in state parks.

Another major issue with dogs in wild spaces is owners not picking up their waste.

Bacteria found in fecal matter was detected in all but two beaches across California in this year’s Heal the Bay Beach Report Card. While Heal the Bay doesn’t track the source of that bacteria, other studies have found dog waste is the single biggest contributor, followed by birds and humans. A study in the National Library of Medicine, for example, noted one instance of a dog doing his business on the beach was the equivalent of 6,940 bird “fecal events.”

Yes, dogs defecating is a natural process and the waste will decompose. But domesticated dog waste is not natural to many wild spaces. And, as that waste decomposes, it can introduce harmful bacteria, viruses and ammonia, which Coats said can elevate nutrients in the water. That can trigger toxic algae blooms, not unlike what is currently harming sea lions and other animals along the Southern California coast.

As dead algae decomposes, it consumes oxygen in the water that fish and other aquatic life needs to survive. If enough oxygen is absorbed, the area can become a “dead zone” that can’t support life. An example of that cycle continues to unfold at the Salton Sea, east of Palm Springs, where fish and bird die offs are regular occurrences and dust blowing away from the dying lake is causing health problems for residents.

In this April 29, 2015 file photo, oxygen-starved tilapia float in a shallow Salton Sea bay near Niland, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

While fertilizer runoff and other man-made activities are major reasons why some bodies of water in Southern California have too many harmful nutrients, Coats said picking up your dog’s waste can go a long way toward protecting local watersheds.

If you’re far into the wilderness, or on a multiday trip, take care of your dog’s waste the same way you should take care of your own: Dig a cathole at least six inches deep and at least 200 feet from any water sources, and bury it.

“Under the ground, it can at least keep it contained and start to do a better job of that breakdown,” Coats said.

And don’t be that person who bags your dog’s poop and leaves the bag on the side of the trail. That’s worse in some ways, Coats noted, since those bags often are plastic and won’t decompose. If you frequent a high-use trail where this is a problem, Coats said consider advocating for whichever entity manages that land to add and service trash cans.

Protect your pooch

When it comes to keeping your dog safe in nature, two of the three rules above also will help.

Sometimes dogs are banned in certain areas because there are real risks to them. So, again, check the rules before you go and stick to them.

Keeping a dog leashed also will significantly reduce their chances of being bitten by a snake, wandering through poison oak, getting snatched by a mountain lion or encountering many other risks that are inherent in wild places. A leash and harness also reduce the risk of your pooch getting away from you on the trail and ending up lost, said Brandi Hunter Munden, a spokesperson for the American Kennel Club.

“The leash should be a sturdy one,” she said, “and your dog should also be tagged and microchipped.”

A woman walks her dog along the West Bluff Hiking trail through fields of blooming California brittlebush in the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve in Newport Beach on Tuesday March 15, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Even when they’re on a leash, Hunter Munden said to keep an eye out for wildlife and be ready to redirect your dog if necessary. That’s where good training for recall and having some high-value treats come in handy.

It’s also important to keep your dog’s temperament, preferences and physical needs in mind.

“Some breeds or older dogs may not do well with extensive exercise,” Hunter Munden noted.

Overheating is another serious risk, with summer temperatures in full swing. Be sure to bring plenty of fresh water with a bowl. And avoid letting your dog drink from water on the trail, which Hunter Maden noted can lead to parasites. Then watch for early signs of overheating, which include heavy panting, drooling and constantly seeking shade. Lower the risks by not hiking during heat waves, avoiding the hottest times of day, seeking out shady trails and taking regular breaks.

Ticks are another potential hazard. The tiny insects can latch onto dog fur if it walks through tall grass or low brush in wooded areas. Bites can become infected and can transmit diseases.

To play it safe (for you, too), stick to cleared trails and do a thorough check of your dog’s entire body, including spots like ears and between their toes, as soon as you finish your hike. If you feel a bump, part the dog’s fur and check to see if a tick has latched on. If it has, use tweezers to pull it straight out, then clean the bite with soap and water.

You should also be sure your dog is up-to-date on flea and tick medication and all vaccinations before heading out, Hunter Munden. Don’t use bug spray for humans on your dog, though. Typical ingredients like DEET are toxic to dogs, so seek out pet-safe repellent.

Tweezers are good to have in a dog first aid kit, which you should keep on hand. Most other recommended items should be in human first aid kits, too, such as alcohol wipes, gauze, non-stick bandages and Benadryl. Some people also carry dog booties, in case terrain gets tough, and a rescue harness that can help you carry your dog if it’s too injured to walk out. And you can talk to your vet and watch videos online about basic pet first aid.

Rattlesnake warning signs near the trails at Chumash Park in Simi Valley. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

As for snakes, you might consider a rattlesnake avoidance class that uses positive reinforcement to teach dogs to steer clear of rattlers. It’s also wise to track down and call the nearest vet in the area you’re exploring to make sure they have antivenom on hand. If your dog is bitten, carry them out and get them to that vet as soon as possible.

Once you get some simple gear and routines established, this all becomes second nature. And Coats said to consider it part of the deal you made when you chose to become a pet owner.

“If you’re taking on a dog and taking on ownership of the dog, you also need to take ownership in a responsible manner.”

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​ Orange County Register 

Missouri v. Biden: A victory for free speech

• July 9, 2023

On July 4th, when every government office was closed for the Independence Day holiday, a federal judge in Louisiana released an order that might be the most significant victory for freedom of speech in the lifetime of anyone alive today.

The case is Missouri v. Biden, in which the states of Missouri and Louisiana joined with five individuals — psychiatrist and university professor Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, Harvard and Stanford epidemiologists and professors of medicine Dr. Martin Kulldorf and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Gateway Pundit owner and St. Louis resident Jim Hoft, and co-director of Health Freedom Louisiana Jill Hines — to sue the Biden administration for allegedly colluding with and coercing social-media platforms “to suppress disfavored speakers, viewpoints and content.” This, the plaintiffs argued, constitutes government action to violate their First Amendment right to freedom of speech.

The plaintiffs presented evidence that the government suppressed constitutionally protected free speech on nine different topics: the Hunter Biden laptop, the lab-leak theory of COVID-19’s origin, the efficiency of masks and lockdowns, the efficiency of COVID-19 vaccines, election integrity in the 2020 presidential election, the security of voting by mail, parody content about government agencies and officials, negative posts about the economy, and negative posts about President Biden.

“If the allegations made by Plaintiffs are true,” U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty wrote, “the present case arguably involves the most massive attack against free speech in United States’ history.”

Judge Doughty ordered a preliminary injunction to immediately stop the government from contacting and muscling social media companies as described in detail by the judge in a 155-page memo.

For example, on January 23, 2021, three days after President Biden took office, the Digital Director for the COVID-19 Response team, Clarke Humphrey, emailed Twitter and asked for the removal of a tweet from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., that was critical of the COVID-19 vaccine. Humphrey asked if “we can keep an eye out for tweets that fall in this same genre” and if Twitter could “get moving” on removing it “ASAP.”

The next month, the White House objected to a parody account relating to Hunter Biden’s daughter, Finnegan. “Please remove this account immediately,” White House Deputy Assistant to the President Rob Flaherty wrote in a stern email. Twitter suspended the account 45 minutes later.

Flaherty leaned on Facebook to remove what he called “Misinfo Themes,” which included “claims about the side effects of vaccines.” Although Facebook said “vaccine-skeptical” content did not violate its policy, the company reduced the distribution of the content and prevented recommendations for Groups, Pages and Instagram accounts where that content was shared. Flaherty continued to hound the company, demanding “actions and changes.”

The government was trying to censor truthful information, not just rumors or falsehoods — though rumors and falsehoods are protected free speech as well. The Biden White House pressured Facebook to suppress “true but shocking claims or personal anecdotes” and discussions of vaccines “in terms of personal or civil liberties.” This is what they termed “misinformation.”

On April 21, 2021, Biden administration officials met with Twitter and demanded to know why journalist Alex Berenson had not been “kicked off” the platform. Berenson had developed a large following during the pandemic by posting and analyzing official government data from around the globe, but the White House characterized his work as “disinfo that radiated out to the persuadable public.” Berenson was “kicked off” Twitter a few months later. (He sued Twitter, reached a settlement that included more discovery, and is suing the Biden administration.)

The strong-arming wasn’t reserved just for COVID topics. “The White House also asked social media companies to censor misinformation regarding climate change, gender discussions, abortion, and economic policy,” the judge wrote.

These examples of censorship directed by the White House are just a few of the incidents described in the judge’s lengthy memo. A chilling sense of the scope of what allegedly has been taking place can be drawn from the 7-page order granting the preliminary injunction.

The list of U.S. government agencies and officials now “enjoined and restrained” from engaging in censorship activities fills nearly three pages.

It includes the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and NIAID Acting Director Dr. Hugh Auchincloss (who succeeded Dr. Anthony Fauci after serving as his longtime deputy), the CDC and the surgeon general.

It also includes the FBI, the Department of Justice, a long list of White House aides including Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department, along with specific officials and employees.

Next, there’s a page and a half of specific activities that these agencies and officials are now prohibited from doing.

They’re barred from “any manner” of “urging, encouraging, pressuring or inducing” social media companies to engage in the “removal, deletion, suppression or reduction of content containing protected free speech.” This means no flagging, no forwarding, no leaning on the companies to “change their guidelines,” no meetings, no calling, no emailing, no letters, no texts, and no “threatening, pressuring or coercing.”

Also, no “following up” or “requesting content reports” about “actions taken to remove, delete, suppress or reduce content containing protected free speech,” and no “notifying social media companies to ‘Be on The Lookout’ (‘BOLO’) for postings containing protected free speech.”

In addition, no “collaborating, coordinating, partnering, switchboarding and/or jointly working with” outside groups or projects to censor or suppress protected free speech.

The Biden administration has already filed a notice of appeal, which seems like an on-the-record confession that they are doing all of this and have no intention of stopping.

Judge Doughty’s order still allows the government to communicate with social media companies about illegal activity, cyber-attacks, national security threats and foreign efforts to influence elections. “Other than well-known exceptions to the Free Speech Clause,” he wrote, “all political views and content are protected free speech.”

It’s protected by people like Judge Terry Doughty, who chose the Fourth of July for some real fireworks.

Write [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @Susan_Shelley

​ Orange County Register 

Read this before you buy a boat or RV – tax laws have changed

• July 9, 2023

After everything we’ve been through in the past couple of years, doesn’t it feel like the whole country needs a vacation?

What if you could take that vacation anytime you wanted? Imagine escaping to the great outdoors or enjoying our oceans and lakes whenever you desire while still enjoying the comforts of home.

That is the appeal of a mobile vacation haven, be it a boat or RV. It goes beyond just the freedom to explore — it’s a tangible investment in unforgettable experiences.

But before you set sail or hit the open road, it’s crucial to consider the tax implications of this investment decision. The tax breaks that reduce the cost of your investment have changed and will now depend on how you intend to use your mobile vacation home.

Second home on wheels or on water

According to the IRS, if your boat or RV has sleeping, cooking and toilet facilities, it can qualify as a second home for taxes.

However, it might be a surprise that the write-offs in 2023 are more limited than in the past. (For this article, an RV is any recreational land vehicle, whether a camper van, fifth wheel or motorhome, and a boat is any watercraft, as long as it has a bed, toilet and stove.)

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that passed in 2017 introduced some changes to the rules for deducting mortgage interest and limited the ability of most Americans to deduct taxes and itemize deductions.

Under TCJA, you can generally deduct mortgage interest on up to two qualified homes plus any grandfathered debt totaling $375,000 for married taxpayers filing separately and $750,000 for all other taxpayers. Therefore, if your mortgage on your first home is near the limit, mortgage interest on a second home, which can be an RV or boat, may not be deductible.

There is also a deduction for personal property and sales taxes on RVs and boats. However, the TCJA also implemented a cap on state and local tax deductions. The SALT deduction limitation is $10,000 for married couples filing jointly and $5,000 for married individuals filing separately or single taxpayers. This limitation may affect the overall tax benefits, especially if you max out your SALT deductions with your primary residence or state income taxes.

One of the most significant changes resulting from the above, along with the elimination of exemptions and the increase in the standard deduction, is that most Americans no longer have enough deductions to make it worth itemizing. Instead, they take the standard deduction. Therefore, before buying a second home, add the combined interest on your two homes, the $10k  SALT tax deduction, and your charitable deductions to ensure you have enough to itemize and take advantage of the deductions.

While most RV ads claim you can write off your camper/travel trailer or motorhome as a first or second home, checking with your tax professional is a good idea. Also, TCJA is set to expire at the end of 2025, so it will be interesting to see if these rules will change again in 18 months.

Renting it out

Renting out your recreational vehicle or watercraft can generate rental income to offset your ownership expenses, just like with a traditional vacation home. The tax implications of your rental income or loss will depend on how often you rent it out and how it’s classified for tax purposes.

According to the IRS, if you rent out your vacation home (including your RV or boat) for 14 days or less in a year, the rental income is generally not taxable. This can be a significant advantage if you only rent it for short periods of time.

If you rent out your vacation home more than 14 days a year, you must report the rental income on your tax return. However, you may be eligible to deduct certain rental-related expenses, such as insurance, maintenance and depreciation, to offset the rental income and reduce your taxable rental profit.

If you have a loss, rental activities are generally passive, subject to the passive loss rules. These rules limit the ability to deduct rental losses against other sources of income, such as wages or business income unless you meet certain exceptions.

It’s advisable to consult with a tax professional to understand the implications of the passive loss rules and how they apply to your situation.

Using it for business

You may be eligible to deduct expenses if you conduct business activities, such as traveling to job sites, completing administrative work, and holding client meetings from your recreational vehicle if used as a mobile office.

Let’s say you own a boat and operate a guided tour business showcasing a coastal area’s scenic beauty or take out others on fishing or snorkeling expeditions. Costs associated with that business on the days you operated the tours would be deductible.

Some business owners travel and sell at hobby shows (like woodworking or quilting)  and use their toy hauler to transport themselves and goods for sale. In another example, a retired entrepreneur offered makeovers and sold clothes from her motorhome to residents at retirement homes up and down the state.

In these cases, you could potentially deduct a portion or all expenses related to the RV or boat’s maintenance, fuel, docking fees or parking charges, insurance, and depreciation as business expenses based on the business usage.

The IRS scrutinizes business deductions, particularly those related to mobile offices, and there are specific rules you should be familiar with. It’s advisable to consult with a tax professional who can provide guidance specific to your business.

Owning an RV or boat is a big investment decision. A motorhome can cost $100,000 or more. You could stay 500 nights in an average hotel at $200 a night for the cost of the motorhome. Only you can decide if it is a suitable investment for your family.

As Erica Jong said, “Live your life by a compass, not a clock. “Whether you choose to rent or own, take that vacation! It is probably overdue.

Michelle C. Herting is a CPA, Accredited Business Valuator, and an Accredited Estate Planner. She specializes in succession planning, business valuations, and settling trusts.

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​ Orange County Register