Yahoo! News: Bizarre Attack Ad Heats Up California Senate Race. The campaign for high-profile California Senate candidate Carly Fiorina has released an attack ad against one of her Republican primary opponents that just might be the most bizarre in American political history, one that’s already being called everything from “terrifying” to “psychedelic.”

I saw the ad and it is every bit as weird as described. From bad graphics to fake citizens opposed to Tom Campbell. Yes, FAKE. Here’s the voiceover dialogue:

Who would remember that as the governor’s chief budget officer, Campbell was the architect of disastrous 2005 budget. A budget so bloated with increased ongoing spending commitments and borrowing that it literally set the stage for the recent decline of California. That’s fiscally conservative Tom? Who would remember that was the Tom Campbell budget? We would.

At “we would,” the video freezes momentarily on this group of “citizens.”

I saw the photo and it looked a bit too composed. Much like the many photos that I’ve seen on iStockphoto. So, with the screenshot from below, I used TinEye, a reverse image search engine. Just upload or specify an online photo, and TinEye will attempt to locate the same image online.

In this case, TinEye worked spectacularly well and pointed me to this page of Concerned Group of Workers on iStockphoto.

These concerned group of workers allegedly remember the Tom Campbell budget?

I wonder if the use of the photo to depict people that remember the Tom Campbell budget and presumably support Carly Fiorina constitutes use that depicts personal endorsement by model.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issues product recalls when consumer products present an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death. Typical hazards include toys that contain high levels of lead, electronic products that can short circuit, overheat and cause a burns, or mislabeled products.

Well, you can add dangerous books to that list as well. When I first spotted the recall notice, I had thought that ink may have contained lead or that the books posed some other form of physical danger. However, the true danger posed by books is knowledge or, more accurately, misknowledge. Be assured that these books are not being recalled for being profane or indecent. Instead, as the recall notice points out, “The books contain errors in the technical diagrams and wiring instructions that could lead consumer to incorrectly install or repair electrical wiring, posing an electrical shock or fire hazard to consumers.”

So, what’s the prime directive for DIYers? Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. Now, we can also add don’t believe everything you read in a book.

New York Times: Swiss Regulators’ Demand of UBS Client Data Found Illegal. A Swiss court said Friday that the country’s financial regulator had broken the law when it ordered UBS to hand over data on nearly 300 clients suspected of evading taxes to U.S. authorities a year ago.

Too late. Buried in the fourth paragraph:

[I]t is far too late to halt the transmission of certain clients’ data[.]

No kidding. If UBS sent its client data to the IRS via Outlook, maybe UBS can still recall its e-mail. Regardless of the Swiss court ruling, the damage to Swiss banking has already been done. All the King’s horses and all the King’s men, won’t be able to restore the confidence in secret Swiss bank accounts again.

If you have to visit a local California DMV office, make an appointment. Even though you will still have to pick a number and wait in line, the line for people with appointments will likely be shorter than the line for people without appointments. However, the DMV calendaring system is a bit non-intuitive. Ideally, the DMV will let you select a date and it will offer available times. However, that’s not the way the DMV works. You have to pick a date and time, and the DMV will let you know whether that date and time is open. Feels like playing Battleship. Just guessing different dates and times and looking for a hit.

Not sure why the DMV calls its employees technicians. If it was the person inspecting a vehicle, I will understand. But, the guy handing out wait tickets?

After you get your bingo ticket, you take a seat and wait for the announcer to call out your winning combination. If you owe money, be prepared. Unlike the rest of the world, the DMV does not accept credit cards! Cash, check or debit cards.

Three years ago, I completed my California MCLE requirements through LACBA’s CLE-in-a-box program. Basically, for the current non-member price of $249, you will receive a box of CDs containing 25 hours CLE courses to be completed at your convenience. For quite a bit more, you can get these same courses pre-loaded on an Apple iPod Nano or an Apple iPod Shuffle.

This time around, I’m trying MCLEZ’s California Super Bundle Promotion for $99. MCLEZ offers 25 hours of California MCLE credit via online audio and video programs. The programs play through a standard flash-based player that is compatible with both Macs and PCs.

Inside Bay Area reports that Assemblymember Pedro Nava will be introducing new legislation to punish witnesses of violent crimes. Do legislators have to approach every single problem with a hammer?

Someone needs to think this through very carefully. Right now, there is no upside to being a witness. If you report the crime, you face real problems with witness intimidation. And, from the Broadcom saga, witness intimidation isn’t the sole province of the mob.

It will be a great day in America when the police starts Mirandizing witnesses before interviewing them. I think that will really encourage them to open up.

Earlier this week, I saw A Charlie Brown Christmas on ABC. The highlight is Linus’ monologue at the end when he explains the meaning of Christmas. Evidently, some adults didn’t watch or learn from this Christmas special in their formative years.

The Salvation Army purports to “preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.” If that is the case, why is the Salvation Army checking on the immigration status of children during their toy drives? Seriously. WWJD. Become a member of the border patrol? Talk about taking the Christ out of Christmas. Even Santa delivers gifts to children around the world and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t share his naughty-or-nice list with the elves at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

If you live in Los Angeles, Orange County or the San Francisco Bay Area, you probably refill your windshield washer fluid reservoir with the $1.00 jug of blue windshield washer fluid marked +32°. Even if you use plain tap water, the weather really doesn’t get so cold that it will freeze your washer fluid and crack your reservoir. However, if you are planning a winter excursion to Lake Tahoe, you should be aware of how different laws can affect your trip. First off, the California Department of Transportation provides winter driving tips and information regarding the state’s snow chain laws. To see whether an chain controls are in effect, visit the road information page. If you are using an iPhone or other mobile phone, bookmark the Road Conditions (Mobile) page. Caltrans also provides live traffic cameras, which loads OK on a PC. Not so hot on a Mac unless I paste in the URL for the particular camera into QuickTime Player 7 or WIndow Media Player. Not sure why it doesn’t work the same for newest QuickTime Player 10.

Anyways, for the windshield washer fluid, I was searching around for an under 32° winter mix. I stopped at Pep Boys, Kragen, Target, and Wal-Mart. No one was carrying it because California regulates automotive windshield washer fluid. Basically, you cannot prepare in advance like a reasonably prudent person would and refill your automotive windshield washer fluid reservoir with a winter mix of windshield washer fluid. Instead, you have to wait until you reach sanctuary, a/k/a a Type A area. That or buy it online.

I think all the findings remain true; however, Congressman Baca might want to strike #6 about breaking barriers (fire hydrant?) with grace and dignity.

HR 1244 IH

To provide for the award of a gold medal on behalf of the Congress to Tiger Woods, in recognition of his service to the Nation in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship, and in breaking barriers with grace and dignity by showing that golf is a sport for all people.

Mr. BACA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services

To provide for the award of a gold medal on behalf of the Congress to Tiger Woods, in recognition of his service to the Nation in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship, and in breaking barriers with grace and dignity by showing that golf is a sport for all people.

• Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL MEDALS.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF CHARGES AGAINST FUND; PROCEEDS OF SALE.

Even Second Amendment haters must be scratching their heads at this one. Two years in prison for second degree criminal possession of a weapon and second degree reckless endangerment. Wow! Is his offense of the same magnitude as that committed by Michael Vick? No. Regardless of the law, on a basic fairness level, how do you send a man to jail for two years for accidentally shooting himself with a concealed weapon, illegal or otherwise? Sure, if he shot someone else, I would understand. But he shot himself!! Is New York any safer with Plaxico Burress off the streets for two years? I doubt it. What a waste of taxpayer money.