as the world continues its march off the deep end

[Guest guest]

gotta love my neighborhood.....

 

(02-14) 13:09 PST OAKLAND -- Police have arrested three teenage boys suspected

of 25 robberies, including six conducted during a brash half-hour spree Sunday

night outside the cafes and restaurants on tony Piedmont Avenue.

 

" They appear to be responsible for about 20 robberies from Broadway to Piedmont

Avenue, plus several more in Rockridge and other parts of North Oakland, "

robbery Lt. Mike Johnson said today. " They match the descriptions in these

robberies. We're still trying to determine their involvement in other cases. "

 

The three -- a 14 year-old and two 16-year-olds -- are suspected of a series of

robberies in which several victims were hospitalized after they were beaten with

a pistol. In many incidents, the gunmen would run up behind the victims and

knock them down without warning, then demand money.

 

" It's pretty shocking, " Johnson said. " I have a 15-year-old at home, and it's

crazy to see how kids can do something like this. "

 

They were arrested on Monday night after a brief foot chase near Children's

Hospital. All three suspects are Oakland residents and are being held in Alameda

County juvenile hall while police interview victims, Johnson said. Police are

trying to find the firearms used in the robberies.

 

The arrest came about 6:30 p.m. after two people separately reported that they

had been robbed minutes apart near 45th and Webster streets.

 

" One of the victims called in a pretty good description of a brown Cutlass

station wagon " used by the robbers, Johnson said.

 

Officer Debi Mack spotted a similar vehicle near Children's Hospital, started to

pull it over and called for backup, police said.

 

The car stopped in the 800 block of 52nd Street, and the three suspects fled.

Police arrested the teens minutes later.

 

Monday's victims identified the arrestees as the robbers, police said.

 

Johnson said it appeared the three boys carried out a handful of robberies in

December and January along Claremont and College Avenues. But since Friday

night, they allegedly robbed about 20 people. This included six in 30 minutes on

Sunday night along Piedmont Avenue, a pedestrian-friendly street popular for its

restaurants and cafes. Two of those victims were hospitalized for their

injuries.

 

Anyone who has information about the robberies or the suspects is asked to call

investigators at (510) 238-3326 during business hours

 

 

 

MOSS BLUFF, Florida (AP) -- A man was arrested and accused of fatally

beating his roommate with hammers because there was no toilet paper in

their home, police said.

 

Franklin Paul Crow, 56, was charged Monday with homicide in the death

of Kenneth Matthews, 58, according to a spokesman with the Marion

County Sheriff's Office.

 

Capt. Thomas Bibb said Crow initially denied his involvement, but later

confessed during questioning.

 

(Watch how an 11-year-old helped get the confession -- 1:30)

 

Crow told investigators that the men were fighting about the toilet

paper over the weekend when Matthews pulled out a rifle.

 

Crow said he then began beating Matthews with the sledgehammer and claw

hammer, according to an affidavit.

 

Matthews was beaten so badly he had to be identified through his

fingerprints, detectives said.

 

Crow was being held at the Marion County jail without bond. It was not

immediately known whether he had an attorney.

 

------------

 

 

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Klansman told me to get out of America

I met Jarred Hensley, a Ku Klux Klan member, six months ago while

working on a story about racial tensions in Ohio. I remember being

struck by his age: At 23, he was -- and remains -- the second most

powerful Klansman in the state.

 

Hensley told me the Klan was growing younger and larger, information we

later verified with the Southern Poverty Law Center. I asked Hensley if

we could attend one of his Klan meetings. He told me non-members are

not allowed. But he eventually agreed to videotape the meeting for us.

His tape arrived a few months later.

 

After reviewing the tape (only portions of the meeting were filmed), I

went to Ohio to interview Hensley. He told me there was an increase in

Klan membership after 9/11. He also said the Internet is the Klan's

number one recruiting tool.

 

Personally, this has been a hard story for me to report. As an

Asian-American journalist, I found it difficult at times to listen to

his views objectively. At one point in the interview, he told me I

should leave the country.

 

Some people have asked me why we are giving the Ku Klux Klan a

platform. I respond by saying there is clear evidence the white

supremacist movement is on the rise in this country and around the

world. This story cannot be ignored.

 

---------------

 

 

 

VEGAS, Nevada (AP) -- Police crashed through a 20th story window of a

Las Vegas Strip hotel-casino Tuesday and arrested a suspected gunman

who authorities say killed another man and shot at police and

paramedics.

 

Guests were evacuated from several nearby floors, but the Harrah's

casino remained open during the six-hour standoff.

 

It wasn't immediately clear if the suspected gunman resisted when

officers entered the room, police Sgt. Chris Jones said. Some officers

rappelled down the face of the 29-story hotel tower and broke through

the window to reach him.

 

Jones said there were clear signs of a struggle between the gunman and

the man who died in the original shooting about 12:30 a.m. (0830 GMT).

The gunman also shot into the hallway at police and paramedics during

the initial minutes after the victim was hit.

 

Guests were evacuated from the 19th, 20th and 21st floors and offered

blankets and food at the hotel buffet, Harrah's spokesman Alberto Lopez

said.

 

 

-----

 

Automated Meter Leads To $8,900 Xcel Bill

Park Hill Resident Says Seeing Bill Almost Gave Her Heart Attack

 

POSTED: 4:42 pm MST February 20, 2006

UPDATED: 7:22 pm MST February 20, 2006

 

Email This Story | Print This Story

 

DENVER -- Many people experience the sticker shock when opening that

Xcel bill. Now imagine seeing that you owe almost $8,900.

 

That happened to a Denver woman. Madison Wilkins said she's been a

stress case for 10 days not knowing what was going on.

 

" I almost had a heart attack. I'm serious, " said Wilkins, of seeing her

$8,877 bill.

 

Wilkins said she called Xcel right away -- thinking the bill was a

mistake.

 

 

" Well, of course, I thought it was a mistake, " said Wilkins said.

 

Wilkins, who is disabled and on a fixed income, rents a two bedroom

duplex in Park Hill.

 

" I'm expecting my bill to be $95, " said Wilkins.

 

Even though she likes the heat higher, her bill was hard to believe.

 

" How in the world can anyone imagine this could be real? " Wilkins

asked.

 

Wilkins had no idea and grew worried. She said she called Xcel but

didn't get an answer.

 

" Nobody has addressed this at all, " Wilkins said.

 

-------------

 

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) -- Christian and Muslim mobs rampaged through two

Nigerian cities Tuesday, killing at least 24 people in violence that

followed deadly protests against caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed

during the weekend.

 

In the mainly Muslim northern city of Bauchi, violent protests by

Muslims targeting Christians claimed the lives of 18 people, the

Nigerian Red Cross said. In the predominantly southern Christian city

of Onitsha, residents and witnesses said at least six Muslims were

beaten to death by Christian mobs which also burned two mosques there.

 

Tuesday's violence brought to 49 the total number of people killed in

sectarian violence in Nigeria since Saturday, when protests over

controversial cartoons published in Europe of the Prophet Mohammed

turned violent in the northern Muslim city of Maiduguri for the first

time, killing at least 18 people, police said.

 

 

 

" NOTICE: Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may

have read this email without warning, warrant, or notice. They may do this

without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse nor

protection save to call for the impeachment of the current President. "

[Guest guest]

Come on Fraggle, you must have some good points instead of dwelling on all the negative points? P.S. Hows the paw now?, any blossoms left on the plum tree? The Valley Vegan...............fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: gotta love my neighborhood.....(02-14) 13:09 PST OAKLAND -- Police have arrested three teenage boys suspected of 25 robberies, including six conducted during a brash half-hour spree Sunday night outside the cafes and restaurants on tony Piedmont Avenue. "They appear to be responsible for about 20 robberies from Broadway to Piedmont Avenue, plus several more in Rockridge and other parts of North Oakland," robbery Lt. Mike Johnson said today. "They match the descriptions in these robberies. We're still trying to determine their involvement in other cases."

The three -- a 14 year-old and two 16-year-olds -- are suspected of a series of robberies in which several victims were hospitalized after they were beaten with a pistol. In many incidents, the gunmen would run up behind the victims and knock them down without warning, then demand money. "It's pretty shocking," Johnson said. "I have a 15-year-old at home, and it's crazy to see how kids can do something like this." They were arrested on Monday night after a brief foot chase near Children's Hospital. All three suspects are Oakland residents and are being held in Alameda County juvenile hall while police interview victims, Johnson said. Police are trying to find the firearms used in the robberies. The arrest came about 6:30 p.m. after two people separately reported that they had been robbed minutes apart near 45th and Webster streets. "One of the victims called in a pretty good description of a brown Cutlass station wagon" used by the robbers,

Johnson said. Officer Debi Mack spotted a similar vehicle near Children's Hospital, started to pull it over and called for backup, police said. The car stopped in the 800 block of 52nd Street, and the three suspects fled. Police arrested the teens minutes later. Monday's victims identified the arrestees as the robbers, police said. Johnson said it appeared the three boys carried out a handful of robberies in December and January along Claremont and College Avenues. But since Friday night, they allegedly robbed about 20 people. This included six in 30 minutes on Sunday night along Piedmont Avenue, a pedestrian-friendly street popular for its restaurants and cafes. Two of those victims were hospitalized for their injuries. Anyone who has information about the robberies or the suspects is asked to call investigators at (510) 238-3326 during business hoursMOSS BLUFF, Florida (AP) -- A man was arrested and accused of

fatallybeating his roommate with hammers because there was no toilet paper intheir home, police said.Franklin Paul Crow, 56, was charged Monday with homicide in the deathof Kenneth Matthews, 58, according to a spokesman with the MarionCounty Sheriff's Office.Capt. Thomas Bibb said Crow initially denied his involvement, but laterconfessed during questioning.(Watch how an 11-year-old helped get the confession -- 1:30)Crow told investigators that the men were fighting about the toiletpaper over the weekend when Matthews pulled out a rifle.Crow said he then began beating Matthews with the sledgehammer and clawhammer, according to an affidavit.Matthews was beaten so badly he had to be identified through hisfingerprints, detectives said.Crow was being held at the Marion County jail without bond. It was notimmediately known whether he had an attorney.------------Tuesday, February

21, 2006Klansman told me to get out of AmericaI met Jarred Hensley, a Ku Klux Klan member, six months ago whileworking on a story about racial tensions in Ohio. I remember beingstruck by his age: At 23, he was -- and remains -- the second mostpowerful Klansman in the state.Hensley told me the Klan was growing younger and larger, information welater verified with the Southern Poverty Law Center. I asked Hensley ifwe could attend one of his Klan meetings. He told me non-members arenot allowed. But he eventually agreed to videotape the meeting for us.His tape arrived a few months later.After reviewing the tape (only portions of the meeting were filmed), Iwent to Ohio to interview Hensley. He told me there was an increase inKlan membership after 9/11. He also said the Internet is the Klan'snumber one recruiting tool.Personally, this has been a hard story for me to report. As anAsian-American journalist, I found

it difficult at times to listen tohis views objectively. At one point in the interview, he told me Ishould leave the country.Some people have asked me why we are giving the Ku Klux Klan aplatform. I respond by saying there is clear evidence the whitesupremacist movement is on the rise in this country and around theworld. This story cannot be ignored.---------------VEGAS, Nevada (AP) -- Police crashed through a 20th story window of aLas Vegas Strip hotel-casino Tuesday and arrested a suspected gunmanwho authorities say killed another man and shot at police andparamedics.Guests were evacuated from several nearby floors, but the Harrah'scasino remained open during the six-hour standoff.It wasn't immediately clear if the suspected gunman resisted whenofficers entered the room, police Sgt. Chris Jones said. Some officersrappelled down the face of the 29-story hotel tower and broke throughthe

window to reach him.Jones said there were clear signs of a struggle between the gunman andthe man who died in the original shooting about 12:30 a.m. (0830 GMT).The gunman also shot into the hallway at police and paramedics duringthe initial minutes after the victim was hit.Guests were evacuated from the 19th, 20th and 21st floors and offeredblankets and food at the hotel buffet, Harrah's spokesman Alberto Lopezsaid.-----Automated Meter Leads To $8,900 Xcel BillPark Hill Resident Says Seeing Bill Almost Gave Her Heart AttackPOSTED: 4:42 pm MST February 20, 2006UPDATED: 7:22 pm MST February 20, 2006Email This Story | Print This StoryDENVER -- Many people experience the sticker shock when opening thatXcel bill. Now imagine seeing that you owe almost $8,900.That happened to a Denver woman. Madison Wilkins said she's been astress case for 10 days not knowing what was going

on."I almost had a heart attack. I'm serious," said Wilkins, of seeing her$8,877 bill.Wilkins said she called Xcel right away -- thinking the bill was amistake."Well, of course, I thought it was a mistake," said Wilkins said.Wilkins, who is disabled and on a fixed income, rents a two bedroomduplex in Park Hill."I'm expecting my bill to be $95," said Wilkins.Even though she likes the heat higher, her bill was hard to believe."How in the world can anyone imagine this could be real?" Wilkinsasked.Wilkins had no idea and grew worried. She said she called Xcel butdidn't get an answer."Nobody has addressed this at all," Wilkins said.-------------LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) -- Christian and Muslim mobs rampaged through twoNigerian cities Tuesday, killing at least 24 people in violence thatfollowed deadly protests against caricatures of the Prophet Mohammedduring the

weekend.In the mainly Muslim northern city of Bauchi, violent protests byMuslims targeting Christians claimed the lives of 18 people, theNigerian Red Cross said. In the predominantly southern Christian cityof Onitsha, residents and witnesses said at least six Muslims werebeaten to death by Christian mobs which also burned two mosques there.Tuesday's violence brought to 49 the total number of people killed insectarian violence in Nigeria since Saturday, when protests overcontroversial cartoons published in Europe of the Prophet Mohammedturned violent in the northern Muslim city of Maiduguri for the firsttime, killing at least 18 people, police said."NOTICE: Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may have read this email without warning, warrant, or notice. They may do this without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse nor protection save to call for the impeachment of the

current President."To send an email to -

[Guest guest]

Maybe Fraggle should get some more vitamin B to make him more

positive - what do you reckon Fraggle?

 

Jo

 

, peter hurd <swpgh01 wrote:

>

> Come on Fraggle, you must have some good points instead of dwelling

on all the negative points?

> P.S. Hows the paw now?, any blossoms left on the plum tree?

>

> The Valley Vegan...............

>

> fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote:

> gotta love my neighborhood.....

>

> (02-14) 13:09 PST OAKLAND -- Police have arrested three teenage

boys suspected of 25 robberies, including six conducted during a

brash half-hour spree Sunday night outside the cafes and restaurants

on tony Piedmont Avenue.

>

> " They appear to be responsible for about 20 robberies from Broadway

to Piedmont Avenue, plus several more in Rockridge and other parts of

North Oakland, " robbery Lt. Mike Johnson said today. " They match the

descriptions in these robberies. We're still trying to determine

their involvement in other cases. "

>

> The three -- a 14 year-old and two 16-year-olds -- are suspected of

a series of robberies in which several victims were hospitalized

after they were beaten with a pistol. In many incidents, the gunmen

would run up behind the victims and knock them down without warning,

then demand money.

>

> " It's pretty shocking, " Johnson said. " I have a 15-year-old at

home, and it's crazy to see how kids can do something like this. "

>

> They were arrested on Monday night after a brief foot chase near

Children's Hospital. All three suspects are Oakland residents and are

being held in Alameda County juvenile hall while police interview

victims, Johnson said. Police are trying to find the firearms used in

the robberies.

>

> The arrest came about 6:30 p.m. after two people separately

reported that they had been robbed minutes apart near 45th and

Webster streets.

>

> " One of the victims called in a pretty good description of a brown

Cutlass station wagon " used by the robbers, Johnson said.

>

> Officer Debi Mack spotted a similar vehicle near Children's

Hospital, started to pull it over and called for backup, police said.

>

> The car stopped in the 800 block of 52nd Street, and the three

suspects fled. Police arrested the teens minutes later.

>

> Monday's victims identified the arrestees as the robbers, police

said.

>

> Johnson said it appeared the three boys carried out a handful of

robberies in December and January along Claremont and College

Avenues. But since Friday night, they allegedly robbed about 20

people. This included six in 30 minutes on Sunday night along

Piedmont Avenue, a pedestrian-friendly street popular for its

restaurants and cafes. Two of those victims were hospitalized for

their injuries.

>

> Anyone who has information about the robberies or the suspects is

asked to call investigators at (510) 238-3326 during business hours

>

>

>

> MOSS BLUFF, Florida (AP) -- A man was arrested and accused of

fatally

> beating his roommate with hammers because there was no toilet paper

in

> their home, police said.

>

> Franklin Paul Crow, 56, was charged Monday with homicide in the

death

> of Kenneth Matthews, 58, according to a spokesman with the Marion

> County Sheriff's Office.

>

> Capt. Thomas Bibb said Crow initially denied his involvement, but

later

> confessed during questioning.

>

> (Watch how an 11-year-old helped get the confession -- 1:30)

>

> Crow told investigators that the men were fighting about the toilet

> paper over the weekend when Matthews pulled out a rifle.

>

> Crow said he then began beating Matthews with the sledgehammer and

claw

> hammer, according to an affidavit.

>

> Matthews was beaten so badly he had to be identified through his

> fingerprints, detectives said.

>

> Crow was being held at the Marion County jail without bond. It was

not

> immediately known whether he had an attorney.

>

> ------------

>

>

> Tuesday, February 21, 2006

> Klansman told me to get out of America

> I met Jarred Hensley, a Ku Klux Klan member, six months ago while

> working on a story about racial tensions in Ohio. I remember being

> struck by his age: At 23, he was -- and remains -- the second most

> powerful Klansman in the state.

>

> Hensley told me the Klan was growing younger and larger,

information we

> later verified with the Southern Poverty Law Center. I asked

Hensley if

> we could attend one of his Klan meetings. He told me non-members are

> not allowed. But he eventually agreed to videotape the meeting for

us.

> His tape arrived a few months later.

>

> After reviewing the tape (only portions of the meeting were

filmed), I

> went to Ohio to interview Hensley. He told me there was an increase

in

> Klan membership after 9/11. He also said the Internet is the Klan's

> number one recruiting tool.

>

> Personally, this has been a hard story for me to report. As an

> Asian-American journalist, I found it difficult at times to listen

to

> his views objectively. At one point in the interview, he told me I

> should leave the country.

>

> Some people have asked me why we are giving the Ku Klux Klan a

> platform. I respond by saying there is clear evidence the white

> supremacist movement is on the rise in this country and around the

> world. This story cannot be ignored.

>

> ---------------

>

>

>

> VEGAS, Nevada (AP) -- Police crashed through a 20th story window of

a

> Las Vegas Strip hotel-casino Tuesday and arrested a suspected gunman

> who authorities say killed another man and shot at police and

> paramedics.

>

> Guests were evacuated from several nearby floors, but the Harrah's

> casino remained open during the six-hour standoff.

>

> It wasn't immediately clear if the suspected gunman resisted when

> officers entered the room, police Sgt. Chris Jones said. Some

officers

> rappelled down the face of the 29-story hotel tower and broke

through

> the window to reach him.

>

> Jones said there were clear signs of a struggle between the gunman

and

> the man who died in the original shooting about 12:30 a.m. (0830

GMT).

> The gunman also shot into the hallway at police and paramedics

during

> the initial minutes after the victim was hit.

>

> Guests were evacuated from the 19th, 20th and 21st floors and

offered

> blankets and food at the hotel buffet, Harrah's spokesman Alberto

Lopez

> said.

>

>

> -----

>

> Automated Meter Leads To $8,900 Xcel Bill

> Park Hill Resident Says Seeing Bill Almost Gave Her Heart Attack

>

> POSTED: 4:42 pm MST February 20, 2006

> UPDATED: 7:22 pm MST February 20, 2006

>

> Email This Story | Print This Story

>

> DENVER -- Many people experience the sticker shock when opening that

> Xcel bill. Now imagine seeing that you owe almost $8,900.

>

> That happened to a Denver woman. Madison Wilkins said she's been a

> stress case for 10 days not knowing what was going on.

>

> " I almost had a heart attack. I'm serious, " said Wilkins, of seeing

her

> $8,877 bill.

>

> Wilkins said she called Xcel right away -- thinking the bill was a

> mistake.

>

>

> " Well, of course, I thought it was a mistake, " said Wilkins said.

>

> Wilkins, who is disabled and on a fixed income, rents a two bedroom

> duplex in Park Hill.

>

> " I'm expecting my bill to be $95, " said Wilkins.

>

> Even though she likes the heat higher, her bill was hard to believe.

>

> " How in the world can anyone imagine this could be real? " Wilkins

> asked.

>

> Wilkins had no idea and grew worried. She said she called Xcel but

> didn't get an answer.

>

> " Nobody has addressed this at all, " Wilkins said.

>

> -------------

>

> LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) -- Christian and Muslim mobs rampaged through

two

> Nigerian cities Tuesday, killing at least 24 people in violence that

> followed deadly protests against caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed

> during the weekend.

>

> In the mainly Muslim northern city of Bauchi, violent protests by

> Muslims targeting Christians claimed the lives of 18 people, the

> Nigerian Red Cross said. In the predominantly southern Christian

city

> of Onitsha, residents and witnesses said at least six Muslims were

> beaten to death by Christian mobs which also burned two mosques

there.

>

> Tuesday's violence brought to 49 the total number of people killed

in

> sectarian violence in Nigeria since Saturday, when protests over

> controversial cartoons published in Europe of the Prophet Mohammed

> turned violent in the northern Muslim city of Maiduguri for the

first

> time, killing at least 18 people, police said.

>

>

>

> " NOTICE: Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National

Security Agency may have read this email without warning, warrant, or

notice. They may do this without any judicial or legislative

oversight. You have no recourse nor protection save to call for the

impeachment of the current President. "

>

>

> To send an email to -

 

>

[Guest guest]

i only have a point on my head....

blossoms? dunno..they've mostly dropped off..tho dunno if any got pollenated.... peter hurd Feb 22, 2006 12:18 AM Re: as the world continues its march off the deep end

Come on Fraggle, you must have some good points instead of dwelling on all the negative points?

P.S. Hows the paw now?, any blossoms left on the plum tree?

 

The Valley Vegan...............

"NOTICE: Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may have read this email without warning, warrant, or notice. They may do this without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse nor protection save to call for the impeachment of the current President."

[Guest guest]

i'm not even gonna voice wot my immediate comment was gonna be.....

 

 

>heartwerk <jo.heartwork

>Feb 22, 2006 5:22 AM

>

> Re: as the world continues its march off the deep end

>

>Maybe Fraggle should get some more vitamin B to make him more

>positive - what do you reckon Fraggle?

>

>Jo

>

 

" NOTICE: Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may

have read this email without warning, warrant, or notice. They may do this

without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse nor

protection save to call for the impeachment of the current President. "