California
California Burning - Hopefully Final
Luckily for ash encrusted SANTA BARBARA but not for Los Angeles, sundowner winds gusted to the south and east whipping a wildfire near UCLA Medical Center but sparing Santa Barbara-Montecito. A 98-year old man evacuated from the Santa Barbara wildfire area has died. But, it is unclear whether his death is fire related. Otherwise injuries have been minor except for two hospitalized burn victims.
More people evacuated overnight mostly as a precautionary move lest win suddenly whip up again. The count for destroyed or damaged homes is approaching 200 but no complete count is yet possible – no one is allowed back into the fire area.
An acquaintance told me last evening his grand parents home is in the area but its condition is unknown but another friend’s home burned. A USC fan, he says wearing my Ohio State sweatshirt is the worst thing of all. Actor Rob Lowe and his family narrowly escaped the blaze but their home burned to the ground.
The winds are calm this morning but temperatures are expected in the low 80s by afternoon. Although the fire area is not yet contained inside a fire line there is optimism that the worst is past.
The thump of helicopter blades and the sound of siren have ended after almost 48 unnerving hours.
I’m reminded of a sampler on my grandmother’s living room wall that said:
God, answers prayers in one of three ways:
Yes.
Not now, and
I have a better idea.
California Burning Update
Media is thicker than flies on a dung heap.
The “Tea” fire has jumped a key road, and firebreak, as swarms of firefighting helicopters and a DC10 poured hundreds of thousands of gallons of water and tons of fire retardant on the 2,500 wildfire in Santa Barbara, California.
Thirteen people have been injured, two seriously burned, and scores are choking and gagging on smoke and ash falling from the skies. The estimate of destroyed homes has exceeded 100 including several multi-multi million dollars homes. Thousands of face mask designed to filter out the smoke and ash have been passed out to those who must venture outside.
The predicted Santa Ana winds have not kicked back up but the watchful are hoping against a repeat of sundowner winds that hit 70 MPH gusts last night and whipped the fire into a devastating inferno.
Everyone will know in just a couple more hours, and no one is taking anything for granted.
California Burning Redux
Strong Winds Predicted To Return By Midday Today
A wildfire has burned an estimated 2,000 acres on the SANTA BARBARA-MONTECITO border over night destroying at least 100 structures and homes. 5,000 residents have been evacuated and for a time 1,000 students sheltered at a fireproof gymnasium on Westmont College’s campus where several buildings; a dormatory and faculty homes were destroyed. .
The “Tea” fire started at sundown last evening and driven by sundowner winds that gusted up to 70 MPH spread quickly across the forested mountains. Eight or nine hundred fire fighters are now on the lines having arrived from departments throughout southern California.
Night capable helicopters staged from an improvised LZ at a local junior high school dropped water throughout the night keeping the fire from spreading into Santa Barbara’s crowded neighborhoods.The winds died down and remain calmer but are expected to increase at midday.
Reportedly airtankers capable of dropping tens of thousands of gallows of fire retardant are reported to be enroute. Local government has asked residents to conserve water this as local reservoirs are being drained.
The is the worst wildfire to strike Santa Barbara since the “Paint” fire in 1990 that destroyed over 600 homes and killed two. No fatalities have been reported, four people have been injured, and scores troubled by smoke and ash.
California Church Members Lead Givers to Ban Homosexual Marriage
Ban Leads in Polls As Issue Rises To Boil.
Mormons, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are leading the way in the “Yes on 8” campaign to amend California’s Constitution to ban homosexual marriage. Church members has donated about 40% of the $22.8 million raised to pass the initiative. Opponents have raised about three-quarters as much. The Catholic fraternal service organization – the Knights of Columbus – donated more than $1 million too.
Proponents of the “No on 8” campaign are critical of the role of church members Kate Kendell, executive director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights and a member of the executive committee of No on Prop 8 calls LDS and Catholics participation “scary.” Allegations that churches are encouraging or even ordering members to contribute to the campaign to ban homosexual marriage remain unproved.
Earlier a court overturned the previous ban passed by a majority of California voters.
Exactly how such statistics have been tabulated remains misty because there is no provision for gathering or requirement to gather the religious affiliation of contributors. More than 700,000 LDS church members live in the state; 85,000 in the Sacramento region.
Churches can play an active role and can endorse propositions without violating federal tax laws, according to Robert Boston of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. California law does not prohibit such activites either in fact a church can make a treasury gift to a campaign or candidate although some think that could attract IRS scrutiny. It is not believed any such treasury gifts have been made by churches to either side of the controversial issue.
In the wake of a television ad campaign that features footage of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom proclaiming same-sex marriage is here to stay “whether you like it or not.” Support for the measure to ban gay marriage has grown among voters in the state over an eleven day period — most especially among young voters. Likely California voters, according to an October 4-6 poll, now favor banning homosexual marriage by a five-point margin, 47% to 42%. New ads claims unless banned same sex marriage will be taught in schools proponents deny that.
The bone of contention is that church members and the religious view marriage as a sacrament between one man and one woman.
Huge Battle Over Homosexual Marriage In California
Marriage only between one man and one woman leading.
The Proposition 8 campaign to reverse a court ruling allowing homosexual marriage has suddenly gained majority in California. Yes on 8 is leading the race, 47% Yes to 42% No, with 10% undecided, according to a new CBS 5 (San Francisco) poll. That is up 3% for Yes and down 7% for No since September 25th - a total of a 10% gain for Yes. Yes would amend California Constitution to ensure that marriage is between one man and one woman.
On September 25th, CBS 5’s poll showed the race at 44% Yes to 49% No, with 7% undecided. Yes on 8 is attributing the gain to their first television ad featuring San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome making an arrogant speech when California’s Supreme Court overruled a prior vote and reinstating homosexual marriage in the state. But, a new ad concentrates on the impact on school children view it at www.icontribute.us/ProtectMarriage/initiative/already-web.
The TV spot was released last week, and there has been a massive door to door campaign.
Much Ado About Not Much of Anything.
The California Highway Patrol 11-99 Foundation says it will no longer give foundation license plate frames and wallet-sized badges to members who donate $1,800 or more. It seems a lot of people think the insignia help luxury car drivers get out of speeding tickets.
A press release says the decision was prompted by illegal Internet sales of the 11-99 license plate holders, talked up in luxury auto chat groups as get-out-of-jail cards. The 11-99 Foundation is a Fullerton-based non-profit group that provides death benefits for California Highway Patrol families. Eleven-99 is two-way radio code for “officer needs assistance.”
The California State Sheriff’s Association still sells license plate frames on its website as do County Sheriff and some police departments. The frames are the minor part for them because county sheriff’s can and do issue concealed weapons permits and routinely give badges to financial supporters.
Such practices have been long standing across the nation. Years ago the Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association gave so-called get out of jail “courtesy cards” urging any police officer to extend all courtesy to drivers.
“Gay Day” In Schools Inflames Religious and Parent Groups
Bizarre Links To Greatest Civilian Death Toll Before 9-11.
A vigorous and rancorous campaign to politically force California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to veto a new law opponents say will force public schools to hold ‘gay day’ celebrations every May 22. Last Thursday the California Assembly approved AB 2567, which designates May 22 as ‘Harvey Milk Day.’ The 43 to 26 vote occurred on party lines with Democrats for, Republicans against. Earlier this week, AB 2567 passed the California State Senate on another party line vote 22-13 - Democrats for, Republicans against. The bill will require all public schools to ‘conduct suitable commemorative exercises’ in “commemoration of the anti-religious, homosexual agenda of the late San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk”. ‘This bad bill will teach impressionable schoolchildren the anti-religious, homosexual-bisexual -transsexual agenda of Harvey Milk,’ warned Randy Thomasson, President of Campaign for Children and Families.
According to a Senate analysis of the bill, ‘This bill requires the Governor to proclaim May 22 as Harvey Milk Day. The designation of a day of significance triggers statutory encouragement for public schools to observe and conduct commemorative exercises suitable to the day.’
Harvey Bernard Milk (May 22, 1930 - November 27, 1978) was an American politician who was the first openly homosexual man to be elected to public office in the United States, as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He was elected in the Castro District after the city redistricted into neighborhoods rather than citywide districts.
On November 27, 1978, Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were assassinated. Milk was an activist for homosexual rights lobbying to change local sodomy laws, and for what he saw as homosexual rights. Moscone was a heterosexual who advocated for homosexual rights and was infamous for not investigating San Francisco Housing Commission Chairman Jim Jones and his People’s Temple Cult for alleging criminal wrongdoing. Jones fled the country and oversaw the mass murders at Jonestown, the greatest single loss of American civilian life in a non-natural disaster until September 11, 2001. Jones was the cult’s leader who oversaw the poisoning and deaths of 918 men, women and children, including his own by having them drink arsenic laced grape Kool-Aid.
Schwarzenegger Pledges to Veto Fiduciary Fornication Budget
Democrats Say They Will Over-ride Veto Triggering Many More.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pledged to veto a “smoke n’ mirrors” state budget because it is little more than fiduciary fornication lacking long-term fiscal reforms and would burden taxpayers with increased withholding taxes. Such a veto would be the first time in California history a Governor rejected a spending plan.
The Democrat controlled Legislature says they were prepared to override Schwarzenegger’s veto. The bill was expected to be delivered to the governor’s desk Wednesday morning and be vetoed as soon as that day. The Assembly and Senate are likely to convene Thursday and try to override his veto - it will be a near thing. But, probably be overridden under pressure from hospitals, doctors, nurses, teachers and prison guards who are all lined up at the public trough.
Even legislators who voted for the budget admits it is a scam and only puts off harsher reality and won’t solve the technically bankrupt state fiscal problems.
The rub is Schwarzenegger has promised to veto every other bill unless the State’s fiscal fur ball is resolved that could put the state in legislative gridlock.