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Homeless: Streets of Santa Barbara


 Prayers Welcome
 



Friday, Jan. 18, my family learned that my nephew (my oldest sister's oldest boy) has an aggressive brain tumor, a GBM type.  He's not been feeling well, losing weight, and has been depressed since last year.  It doesn't sound very encouraging.

Steve is 51, has a 'significant other', and they have 2 beautiful daughters, 11 and 8.

I 'invite' you to pray and send good thoughts for comfort and courage for all involved.  My sister is having a hard time because her husband is 70 and is  dealing with occasional seizures.  Thank you. 









Posted by Lulublue at 9:43 PM - 7 Comments   Add a Comment  
 

 Attacks in Reno
 








Police in Reno want to talk to the driver/owner of this SUV.


"The Reno Police Department and the FBI are continuing to investigate the disappearance of Brianna Denison and the following information is being provided as part of a request for additional assistance:

Evidence obtained from the scene of Brianna Denison’s disappearance included DNA genetic samples. After analysis by the Washoe County Crime Lab, a positive link has been established between this case and a Kidnap and Sexual Assault case that occurred at a nearby residence on December 16, 2007 @ 2:05 a.m. The victim in the December case was also the victim of a recent (1/19/08) attempted burglary at her residence in the 1400 block of N. Virginia St. On November 13, 2007 shortly after 5:00 p.m., an unknown suspect sexually attacked a UNR student who was walking to her home in the neighborhood. That case is also being investigated as being possibly connected to those already mentioned.

Additionally, detectives have learned of new information relative to these three mentioned cases which is being distributed to the public. This information is relative to a possible suspect vehicle and a suspect description which are as follows:

Suspect vehicle: Extended cab pick-up truck or SUV, dome light above the windshield, tall enough that it requires a step up to gain entry, floor-mounted console that was described as “fairly skinny” that opens in front, blue and red LED read-out on the radio, cloth seats, automatic transmission. There was a baby shoe on the front seat floor board. There were 8 ˝” x 11” white pieces of paper with typing on the floor board of the front seat.

Suspect: White male, approximately 28 - 40 years, long face with a square chin, taller than 5’6” but not excessively so, very strong but not with a significantly muscular build, a belly that was described as not excessively large and firm but not flabby, an “innie” belly button, a light covering of hair on his arms, no jewelry or a watch, facial hair about a quarter to a half an inch long below his chin and was soft and not prickly as stubble normally is, unknown if he had a mustache, brown head hair of undetermined style, normal speech with no accent or regional dialect, no smoker’s breath, no alcohol, no bad breath, no cologne or after-shave.

Suspect clothing at the time of the Kidnap/Sexual assault: red (not maroon) short sleeve shirt described as being made of material similar in feel to a Fubu jersey-type shirt (silk/rayon/polyester type) with a medium blue-colored neckline, short printed (possibly embroidered) word on the upper left breast area, another shirt underneath with wrist-length sleeves, unknown color pants – regular length – not jeans. The pants reminded the victim of basketball pants as the material was smooth but they made no noise when he moved and they had an elastic waist band and no zipper.

Case Summary and Other Details:

Brianna Denison was last accounted for at approximately 4:30 a.m., on Sunday, January 20, 2008. It is believed that the suspect encountered her sometime thereafter, at a time when most people were asleep. Because the suspect was out at an odd hour, he may have fabricated a story regarding his activities during the early morning hours of January 20, 2008. The suspect may be a resident of the neighborhood immediately west of the University of Nevada campus and/or may have intimate knowledge of the area. For reference, the three crimes in question occurred on the following dates and times: November 13, 2007 – 5:40 p.m., December 16, 2007 – 2:00 a.m., January 19, 2008 4:00 a.m., and January 20, 2008 – 4:30 a.m. Because of the nature of the crimes, please note that the information, e.g., height or weight descriptions, might not be completely accurate. Any information, no matter how seemingly insignificant, should be brought to our attention, including abrupt and noticeable changes in the behavior of a person that could be considered a suspect.

Genetic sampling (DNA) has been identified from the scene of Brianna’s disappearance and has been linked to the Kidnap/Sexual assault case as mentioned above. Additionally, the blood found on the pillow at the residence has been identified as belonging to Brianna. Her clothing at the time of her disappearance was described as a white tank top with pink angel wings with rhinestones on the back and word “Bindi” on the back. She was wearing pink sweats that had two distinctive brown stains on one leg.

People who know the suspect may not believe that he is capable of committing this type of crime and he may not necessary have a violent criminal history.

With the above in mind, citizens are asked to contact authorities with any potentially useful information even if it seems unimportant to them or they think that someone else has already filed a similar report or the information does not completely fit with previously reported information or other details contained herein. It is important to note that because the DNA that has been collected is valid and conclusive, any person that is brought to our attention can be easily and unobtrusively eliminated or identified as a suspect.

Information can discreetly be provided via telephone to the Reno Police Department tip line @ 775-745-3521."



People, please lock your doors and windows.  We used to be able to leave them unlocked, but we can't any longer.  I'm getting weary of hearing stories like this one.  It happens way too often and I hear about them because often they're UCSB/SBCC students.  There are too many broken souls out there, for whatever reason, too capable of doing harm to others.  Take care of yourself, your family, and your friends.  Take care of all others; we're all connected.


Posted by Lulublue at 8:53 PM - No Comments   Add a Comment  
 

 Gangland 2008 Santa Barbara
 



How much longer do we have to take this? Only two weeks into the new year and there have been 4 gang stabbings in the city of Santa Barbara. Today is a half day for schools leading into the 3 day Martin Luther King holiday. Before school ended for the day, the students were warned that because of the half day, it was likely that gang bangers might be downtown. They were cautioned to stay away from downtown!!!

The gang stabbing in front of Saks Fifth Avenue in the heart of Santa Barbara occurred on a 'minimum day'. I guess I'll spend some time this weekend sending emails to the police, city council and mayor. How long are we supposed to take this sh*t? So far only gang bangers have been hurt. Do we have to wait until a tourist is injured to realize we have to put our foot down? I don't like to see 12 and 14 year old boys hurt but nothing is being done.

In the past, there have been gang conflicts along the beach, in one of the city's nicest parks, residential neighborhoos on the east side, west side, and in the middle. I'm ready to move to Goleta. It's safer with the UCSB students.


Posted by Lulublue at 6:08 PM - 8 Comments   Add a Comment  
 
 Hypocrite of the Week - Huckabee
 










This is a very unAmerican guy. Before you vote for him, read
this.



And another story that has surfaced about Huckabee:

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said it was "heartbreaking" that the deaths of women killed by a convicted rapist who was released from prison after Huckabee supported his parole had become politicized.

art.huckabee.debate.gi.jpg

Mike Huckabee denies pressuring the Arkansas Parole Board to release Wayne DuMond.

On Wednesday, the mother of the woman the convict later murdered pledged to campaign against the former Arkansas governor.

"There are families who are truly, understandably and reasonably, grief stricken," Huckabee told CNN. "And for people to now politicize these deaths and to try to make a political case out of it rather than to simply understand that a system failed and that we ought to extend our grief and heartfelt sorrow to these families, I just regret politics is reduced to that."

The case of the rapist, Wayne DuMond, began in 1985, when he was accused of raping a 17-year-old girl. He was later convicted and sentenced to a life term.

Before trial, DuMond was attacked in his home and castrated, and the local sheriff kept the severed testicles in a jar. No charges were brought in the attack.

In 1996, Huckabee, during his first term as Arkansas governor, expressed support for the parole of DuMond in a letter to him. The Arkansas parole board, which has the final say on such matter, later approved DuMond's parole. Video Watch Huckabee deny he pressured the board to approve DuMond's parole »

Less than a year after his release from prison in 1999, DuMond was accused of raping and murdering Carol Shields, a woman in Kansas City, Missouri. DuMond was convicted of the crime in 2003. He died in prison in 2005.

Huckabee on Sunday confirmed to CNN he had sent the letter to DuMond.

The murdered woman's mother, Lois Davidson, said she will "absolutely campaign against" Huckabee, and said she decided to come forward when he started doing well in the polls.

"It's because he is a serious contender," Davidson said. "I didn't think he had a chance, but now he's right up there in Iowa."

Huckabee said he had considered granting DuMond clemency in 1996, but he dropped the idea in response to public outcry and because he wanted to ensure DuMond was supervised when he was released from prison.

"Had I granted his commutation, then there would have been no supervision at all," Huckabee said, "I wasn't comfortable with that."

When he spoke about the case, Huckabee suggested his role in the decision to parole DuMond was limited.

Huckabee said it was the decision by former Arkansas Govs. Bill Clinton and Jim Guy Tucker that made DuMond eligible for parole, and Huckabee declined to reduce DuMond's sentence further.

"I've never made a decision about the DuMond case other than the decision to write the letter" to DuMond, Huckabee said. "That was my decision, but I didn't parole him, because governors don't parole people in Arkansas."

However, Charles Chastain, a parole board member at the time, told ABC News he felt pressure from Huckabee when the board considered DuMond's parole in 1996, and the Arkansas Times reported in 2002 that two other board members said they were influenced by Huckabee to parole DuMond.

Huckabee denied he asked the board to approve DuMond's parole.

"No, I did not," Huckabee said Sunday. "Let me categorically say I did not."

Huckabee noted that the three board members who said they were pressured were appointed to the board by Democrats Clinton and Tucker.

Huckabee said Wednesday his discussion with the parole board in 1996 was a general discussion about clemency, not about the DuMond case.

But a former Huckabee aide, Butch Reeves, tells CNN that the DuMond case was discussed during the meeting with the parole board, but that it was the board members who asked Huckabee about the case. Reeves said Huckabee did not pressure the board to approve DuMond's parole.

Documents posted on the Web site The Huffington Post indicate Huckabee received letters from several victims of DuMond before his release.

The letters detailed his past actions and pleaded that he remain incarcerated.


"I feel that if he is released it is only a matter of time before he commits another crime and fear that he will not leave a witness to testify against him the next time," one victim wrote. She described how DuMond had raped her at knifepoint.

A former top Huckabee aide confirmed to CNN that the then-governor received that letter and a follow-up phone call from the victim.



Posted by Lulublue at 12:04 PM - 7 Comments   Add a Comment  
 

 Sentimentality vs. Money Grab
 



My oldest son graduates from high school this coming June! He and his friends are having a blast taking advantage of being the 'oldsters' on campus. Last week, during casting for a musical play, my guy and a friend went in to 'audition' for singing parts in the play although it was jokingly done in good fun. Over 50 other students were there to seriously audition, and the teacher/director got a kick out of it, as well as the other kids (I hope).

What is surprising to me is the amount of money a family is expected to pay for the portrait, ring, cap, gown, and other goodies associated with graduation. The portrait package that would give the amount of photos I'd like to give to family and friends amounts to about $300.00! To get just one 8" x 10" we're talking over $75.00!

I've never considered myself to be tight with money, in fact I'm closer to the opposite. I'm sure the amount of the grad accessories is no problem for the top 1/2 of 1% of the population that has plenty of money. In all good conscience, though, I don't think I can bring myself to pay so much when so many in this world are in need of the basic necessities they need to live.

That's a lot of money to me, and I can think of a lot of other things we could use like a trip to the Channel Islands or a better electric guitar for the graduate, and on down to new clothes or food.

I know, he only graduates once in his life. He doesn't even want a class ring. This guy has a down-to-earth head on his shoulders and can do without things that I would have thrown tantrums over at 17. He chose to wait until he's 18 to get his driver's license because he can't see wasting money on all the driver's ed schools that would be required to be licensed earlier. He's aware that 17 year old guys are involved in accidents too often, too. How did I raise such a sensible kid?

I'll wait until his dad comes back from the snow and I'll let him decide what to buy. He'll be the one paying anyway. I just feel it's unfair and unreasonable the way this is playing out. I hope that someday I'll be able to understand these dilemmas. So often these quandaries seem to come down to how people are susceptible to what can be called the 7 "Deadly Sins" - greed, envy, anger, hatred, sloth, lust, and gluttony. Distorted values and expectations have far-reaching consequences and I don't get why others can be so callous and unfeeling about it.

By the way, I did a good job and gracefully left the studio without asking the people how they expect 'average' people to pay these prices.  No, I did not launch into the above philosophizing about sin.  I did good. 

Average and proud of it, Lulublue






Posted by Lulublue at 3:11 PM - 3 Comments   Add a Comment  
 
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