Recent Blog Comments : Bakersfield.com

Kern's hidden pandemic. : "Can Thanksgiving dinner really be dangerous? Actually, yes"

Since Thanksgiving is an extended weekend we're the family that buys the biggest bird, lays out a spread that would feed an army, and graze on it for four days like animals on Discovery Channel or something. Thanks for the tip. I'll be sure to show Mrs. Catpaw your post, as she's the one who monitors diet in the household. (I'm the garbage can.)

Peeing in a cup or whatever to measure P.H. with a pool strip---I'll pass on that; although Mrs. Catpaw will without fail bring it up at the dinner table just to impress guests.

Bakosphere : "Does Ryan Mathews deserve Heisman consideration?"

RAY: Marshall Faulk has a son (age 10) who lives in the Carlsbad Calif area and played pop warner football with my grandson. The boy is a carbon copy of Marshall.................get him the ball and that is the last you see of him. For a kid he even has all the 'moves' necessary to be a running back - UNbelievable!!! Very sweet kid. He and my grandson became best buds and even though my grandson now lives back east, those kids stay in touch. Marshall would come to some of the games, very nice in person.

Bakersfield Boomers : "Here's a quick personality test you can take."

Thanks for the link, Ray! Yes, I have to admit that profile is pretty accurate, warts and all. Some characteristics more true than others, but overall it pretty much nailed me.

HaHa ... a famous person who shares my profile is George W. Bush. I knew there was a reason why the liberals on here love me so much! ; )

Bakosphere : "Does Ryan Mathews deserve Heisman consideration?"

YES!!!

: "Obama's Frightening Insensitivity Following Shooting"

It's not surprising that there'd be a border dispute - since the lines were drawn by the British as a means of containing Iraq.

As far as the slant drilling claim, every text I have lists it as a claim and never goes into detail about whether Kuwait actually slant drilled. Even my professors never specified if it actually took place. In all my research, I've never found a credible source verifying the claim, or for that matter, denying it. I wouldn't put it past Kuwait to have done such a thing - they had loaned Saddam a ton of money during his war with Iran, and they might have been afraid that Iraq wouldn't have the capital to repay them.

To answer your question about a "green light" - no matter what the evidence is or will show up, I think Saddam had all intentions of annexing Kuwait to gain better access to the sea. I don't think Iraq was justified in it's invasion, but then again, I also don't think they were justified with much of anything they did under Saddam's rule.

It's unfortunate that so many people are willing to overlook the honest complexities involved in international affairs - they see things as black and white, us vs. them, without realizing that every move made on the international scale is done so just like you would move a chess piece. The concept of liberating nations from tyranny is a misnomer - it might be one of the many outcomes of a specific event, but it's not the grand prize.

Breaking News : "Coroner rules in-custody death to be homicide"

Better yet, just keep them...

: "Obama's Frightening Insensitivity Following Shooting"

There was also a long border dispute going back to post WWI. The Iraq-Kuwait issue seems to have been a dispute between two nations over business deals and agrements. Kuwaiti just had a little more muscle (US military).

Breaking News : "Coroner rules in-custody death to be homicide"

CIA, I'm pretty sure changing ElRojo's name into a Spanish swear word is stll a violation of the "do not swear" blog policy. It would also fall under the personal attack realm. Perhaps you should go back and edit your comment.

: "Obama's Frightening Insensitivity Following Shooting"

It's really not much different than Bush saying that WMD is harbored by a group that trains and conducts operations in Afghanistan then goes to Iraq considering the threat enough of a green light to initiate pre-emptive wars to prevent a future attack.

When is it okay to invade another country? Where does sovereignty begin and end?

A Better Future for Owens Primary : "Our Voices Were Heard!!!!"

We have over 700 signatures of parents and community members now. I think they are taking an active role in their children's education.

: "Obama's Frightening Insensitivity Following Shooting"

I've researched it and most academics don't dispute the allegations. The bigger question is whether such a dispute gave him the green light to invade and occupy a sovereign nation or, in this case, an economic ally of the US.

: "Obama's Frightening Insensitivity Following Shooting"

Well, that was Saddam's claim.. I never researched the validity of said claim.

Bakosphere : "Does Ryan Mathews deserve Heisman consideration?"

The WAC of today is not the same WAC when Faulk was there. Faulk had one monster game against USC (a mediocre team at that time) and BYU (they were pretty good) then played a bunch unknowns. Mathews has went over 100 yards in every game to include highly ranked teams like UC, Boise State, and Wisconsin. He wont win but he's definitely on the radar. The sad part is that he's going to have to continually produce 100+ yards games and maybe even a superduper performance just to stay in consideration. The Ingrams and Tebows of the world can have two or three down games and still be under consideration. That's the politics of it.

Not to mention, the ones who vote are past Heisman winners from the big schools (USC, Florida, Notre Dame, etc.) and journalists from big city newspapers.

: "Nancy Pelosi is a despicable liar"

pogo wrote: "Change is coming, live with it"

Yeah, changing the United States into a socialist dictatorship where the federal government owns and controls every area of every citizens life. Not going to happen. The people are rising up and will demand recalls of every sheepish robot who voted for Pelosi's nonsense.

Change is not needed. Live with it yourself.

: "Some predicted trouble from Fort Hood's Maj. Hasan"

As I said on another blog, this situation is more complex than "Muslim sleeper agent". There was more at play here than that. While it happened to be a soldier of Middle Eastern ethnicity that snapped this time, there have been smaller incidents of other "red blooded" American soldiers snapping and killing family members and/or themselves. That was part of the motivation behind having PTSD evaluations and treatment before allowing a soldier to go home after deployment. To prevent further such tragedies, the military needs to expand that program to active duty soldiers. There needs to be policies put in place by the military to detect and evaluate activity duty soldiers showing signs of mental instability and hospitalize them if needed, both for the soldier's mental health and the safety of others on base.

Bakosphere : "Does Ryan Mathews deserve Heisman consideration?"

Ryan is screwed just like San Diego State's Marshall Faulk was; because Ryan (now) and Faulk (then) were in the WAC. It sucks but it's reality.

Breaking News : "Two Bakersfield residents killed in accident outside Buttonwillow Saturday"

He was turning right. Double lines or middle turn lanes wouldn't have mattered in this case.

You Can Do Better Than That. : "Congratulations!!!! Your Daughter's Not Dead-----Yet."

Wow. I certainly hope that somewhere there's a parent who reads this and goes out to check their car. What an awful experience for your son to have to go through. What part of town was your son in when this happened? How is he doing? How is the pup doing?

: "Obama's Frightening Insensitivity Following Shooting"

Another issue not mentioned about the invasion was that Saddam invaded Kuwait because they were using a slant drilling technique which he felt was an infringement on Iraqi sovereignty and stealing his oil.

Breaking News : "Two Bakersfield residents killed in accident outside Buttonwillow Saturday"

I hope this doesn't happen again. I wonder if continuing the universal turn lane that exists in front of Frito Lay all the way till it reaches Bussell road will help the situation. Most drivers are traveling at sixty mph on highway 58 and some do not use turn signals when they are turning off of 58 or turning onto 58. The road needs a double line all the way down, or turn lanes or I fear this will happen again.

Bakosphere : "Who remembers the nightclub, Oz?"

I remember OZ (or maybe I'm thinking of Diamonds?). One of my stupid relatives shot up the place.

You Can Do Better Than That. : "Congratulations!!!! Your Daughter's Not Dead-----Yet."

I too am so glad your grandpuppy AND you son are ok. Seriousness noted, I have to tell you I LOVE the expression on that dogs face.

While you're being grateful for the dog be extra grateful it wasn't your son who was hit. And pray for the rest of us....she's still out there.

Politics, anyone? : "Costa: "yes" vote begets UC Merced med school"

I wonder if the new residency deal will affect UCSF's current residency program in Fresno. Maybe one can move to Bakersfield?

ToppStories : "Should Kern institute zero tolerance for dog attacks?"

Like Bakoblue, I find "zero tolerance" policies to be too inflexible to circumstances. The case outlined has circumstances where the dog should be declared dangerous since it broke into another yard in order to attack a dog. But saying every time a pit bull bites something, it should be put down is a bit much. What if it bites to protect its owner from a mugger? A zero tolerance policy would still put that animal to sleep. That's the problem with zero tolerance policies, they have no human decision factor.

Our current problem comes from lack of human decisions. They say "the rule is the dog must attack two animals before it's declared dangerous" and they don't evaluate the circumstances. But the response shouldn't be to change the rule to zero tolerance. The response should be "stop thinking by-the-book and start evaluating the circumstances behind each attack". That's why I agree with Bakoblue that we need an Animal Control review panel that evaluates each reported case and applies human reasoning to determine if the dog is dangerous.

Politics, anyone? : "Costa: "yes" vote begets UC Merced med school"

Thanks very much for digging into the story regarding Costa's vote on health care reform. I guess this showcases what poltical decisions sometimes come down to -quid pro quo-. I cannot blame Costa for trying to get the best for his constituency.

What did Rep. McCarthy get?

Rep. Kevin McCarthy has become a very tiresome partisan political wedge-carrier for the sake of partisanship only in the short time he has been in Congress. As long as he remains in Congress his District will get squat in aid and development money. This greatly hurts a depressed economic area such as Bakersfield in a big way with more and more services being called upon to be shouldered by people who make substantially less on average than the working people in other cities of California.

If McCarthy cannot work across the aisle in any capacity it is time for him to do the right thing and go back into the private sector that he champions so greatly and become a pillar of American capitalism.

Neverleft's Things to Think About : "Immigration Bill From CNN"

I wonder if any replubicant president has ever let any undocument workers stay here. I know the answer and i believe it was reagan and many more. If you don't want them here stop hiring them and if you know of a business that does than don't buy anything from them or let them work on your property. TELL YOUR FRIENDS SO THEY WILL NOT USE THEM EITHER.

School House Zach : "Week 9 running thread and scoreboard"

Zach, I'd like to see them get rid of the 5 division format, too. I'd much rather see the old Yosemite and Sequoia division setup.

Crashing through the phony left-right paradigm : "81-year-old Tasered by Eielson Air Force Base police"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richardson_Highway

Sam Heath : "The Weedpatch Gazette"

Thanks Pax; and despite the setbacks you keep up as well. I do keep on top of reports about the LHC; fascinating stuff.

Shining the light of the Catholic faith on the Culture of Death : "Health-care reform bill barely wins House OK"

Whatever else we all may or may not have in common, this is surely the collection of the most brightly colored avatars on this site.

I feel out of place chiming in on a discussion of the End Times, but even I think we are in for some tribulations that could be almost Biblically painful.

I do not personally believe that the world as we know it will end as told in Revelation, but I do think we are moving into the "End Times" of our present energy-hungry, globally interdependent lifestyle. When the reality of its unsustainability stares humanity in the eyes, it will lead to a tribulation of sorts, and I am not looking forward to weathering the socio-political storm.

We must begin reversing the web of global economic and energy interdependency and begin bringing control of our basic needs back within our borders and back under our own control as much as possible.

For that reason I am in favor of offshore drilling, but only as a temporary, transitional energy supply. Those who would peg me as an environmentalist would be correct, as I am a lover of the Earth, but I am willing to condone offshore drilling as a temporary necessary unpleasantry, an intermediate step between ending foreign oil dependency and developing sustainable domestically produced energy - all as we begin to adapt to a future lifestyle that is much less demanding of energy than is our current lifestyle.

So here I find myself in the most unlikely company, as I also do not want the one-world government that a global economy would eventually create.

Crashing through the phony left-right paradigm : "81-year-old Tasered by Eielson Air Force Base police"

Richardson Highway existed before Alaska was even a state.

Crashing through the phony left-right paradigm : "81-year-old Tasered by Eielson Air Force Base police"

The Richardson Highway was built by the US Army. I think DOD still has controll over that road since it was originally built and maintained to link bases that are now non-existent. The road can be justified as having military strategic value (as well as federal/military control) to avoid violation of Posse Comitatus.

Sam Heath : "The Weedpatch Gazette"

Putting God to the test is never a good thing, as a project of yore on the scale of the collider reveals: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_babel

What could result may be very much like the confusion that I had when I read a blog posting and did not realize that it was a tongue-in-cheek report until I got to the comments section. Guess I should have clicked on the link at the top first! http://cartagodelenda.blogspot.com/2009/10/there-will-always-be-chicken-little.html

But you can excuse me for initially believing that the report was for real, for we know how mad some scientists can get.

Keep up the great work, Sam!

: "Nancy Pelosi is a despicable liar"

Pogo, her bill allows no funding for abortions. Can you live with that?

You Can Do Better Than That. : "Congratulations!!!! Your Daughter's Not Dead-----Yet."

I share your outrage and frustration. I hope your "grand puppy" makes a complete recovery.

Shining the light of the Catholic faith on the Culture of Death : "Health-care reform bill barely wins House OK"

Amen to that, Berean. While my church has a different take on what its fellow Christians consider to be the Rapture, everything else you said is indeed how we should prepare for the end times. There's that saying that we should be "watching" for the return of our master as we tend the vineyard.

Things that interest ME : "Fresno State Game Tonight"

Ray, if I thought I'd get a couple of bucks out of the deal I'd LEGALLY adopt him too. LOL.

As it is, I'm just happy for him and will stay his adopted great grandma in law. He's a good kid.

And yeah...wasn't that first play AWESOME? He broke his own record for running a touchdown.

(also, culver has been deleted)

: "Some predicted trouble from Fort Hood's Maj. Hasan"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/06/fort-hood-shooting-provok_n_348740.html

Maybe this had something to do with it also.

ToppStories : "Should Kern institute zero tolerance for dog attacks?"

Bastards !

--virgil

ToppStories : "Should Kern institute zero tolerance for dog attacks?"

I hate it when that sorta thing happens .

--virgil

: "Some predicted trouble from Fort Hood's Maj. Hasan"

Obviously his religion had everything to do with him snapping and going on a killing spree. Please tell me where anyone is trying to downplay this?

Why does this have to be political?

You people on the right are taking a tragedy and making a politial attack on the President out of it.

Shame!

ToppStories : "Should Kern institute zero tolerance for dog attacks?"

I told this story on another dog blog and I'll tell it again here.

My daughter's cat was killed by two roaming dogs. My grandkids saw it. Animal control and the police did nothing.

Months later, the two dogs died in their yard from eating poisoned meat that someone had thrown over the fence.

Sad.

: "Nancy Pelosi is a despicable liar"

I stated yesterday, on another blog, that I was going to start reading the headings and decide whether to get into the fray. This one seems a little one-sided to me, no place to make a logical arguement or get a reasonable response.

Health Care Reform has passed the House, under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi. She did a good job of getting it through, akin to hearding cats. I respect her for that. If you conservatives can't well then that is your problem.

Change is coming, live with it.

Bakosphere : "Who remembers the nightclub, Oz?"

There was a place for the under 21 in the late 60's on 18th (up the street from the Mexicali) called the Green Grasshopper. No booze but lots of pot!!!!!!!

Funny Farm was fun. Silver Bullet Lounge was fun.

Crystal Palace IS fun :-)

: "Nancy Pelosi is a despicable liar"

Dude,

If you're gonna delete posts, do it fairly, for God's sake !

--virgil

ToppStories : "Should Kern institute zero tolerance for dog attacks?"

I think we need to make the distinction between a bite and an attack.

We've all seen dogs, especially excitable young ones, that jump and nip, or turn and bite the hand that feeds them. I'm no expert, but I wouldn't call that aggression. I'd call it lack of control and training.

It's typically a quick, non-serious bite, with no continuing aggression, no tearing or ripping. And if that happens on the dog owner's property, it's not very consequential.

Dog ATTACKS, against people or other pets -- that's another category entirely.

: "Nancy Pelosi is a despicable liar"

savvyDude,

samuel Heath, PhD., at 9:00 this morning said this, "I know you are a lying troll . "

He said that in response to me saying, "stick to what you know Sam, not to what you think."

I asked him, Why? ( he felt I was a lying troll ) in a post, the same which you deleted.

Why did you delete that one post from me ?

--virgil

ToppStories : "Should Kern institute zero tolerance for dog attacks?"

The issue is more complex than the comments. There are more pit bulls being adopted than any other breed, as there are more pit bulls available for adoption.

Many of the stories involving pit bulls, do not state that the dogs were "rescued" and placed. This is a good starting point. Talk about rehabilitation, etc., most facilities are not equipped for the intense skill and expense associated with truly rehabilitating a pit bull.

The lives of my children and I were in danger. If you told me I could suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and lose my job, nearly my house and everything I would have told you "no way". The dog that attacked Maxx, lived in our upscale neighborhood for one week! Maxx was dragged over 50 feet, he lost a leg, shoulder, has metal plates implanted in his jaw and his ear was reattached. My five year old son was inches away from Maxx, when Maxx was torn from the leash I was holding. I tried to help Maxx and I could not. Oh my god, these rescued dogs do not belong in family neighborhoods.

The tenants of the house have not offered to help with the 20,000 dollars in Maxx's hospital bills. We are thankful Maxx survived. I waited 11 months until I went for treatment, so basically I was in shock (freeze for over a year)..... this story should be shared. Dangerous dogs do not belong in family neighborhoods, period.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is real, and not just associated with war.

: "Nancy Pelosi is a despicable liar"

54% oppose Pelosi's health care plan.

: "Nancy Pelosi is a despicable liar"

The majority of Americans are elated that the Health Care Bill passed the House.

Adam, I don't know what planet you are living on. If you think the American public welcomes the possibility of Pelosi, Obama and Reid dictating their health care choices you have totally lost it.

ToppStories : "Should Kern institute zero tolerance for dog attacks?"

BTW, I read some of the responses about putting down a dog if it bit a human.

I'll just add that there more than 5 classifications of aggression and not all of them mean they are malicious or killing machines like pit bulls. I once knew of a dog who had poor bite inhibition who loves to mouth and at times, will bite out of fear when its human owner was clueless about what he was doing to provoke his dog. Long story short, the owner taught bite inhibition in keeping the jaw pressure "in check" to decrease chances of breaking the human skin. And the other avoided situation where dogs would get into the defense mode out of fear.

To those that are dog owners, how many have you have taught bite inhibition when it was a puppy and continued to keep it in check throughout the dog's life?

Breaking News : "Coroner rules in-custody death to be homicide"

El Joto14- "What stunning brilliance." , Yes El Joto14, I am brilliant..thanks for the compliment. Now back to the issue. Jeez, El Joto, you sure do ramble on. I think we all got the point the first time you mentioned that the Homicide was not due to lack of training or choosing the right people to be an officer. You and the others are now just going in circles...and circles....and circles. I'll repeat myself again....Why is it that you, Hammered Head, and Spell CheckMate constantly ask me for "citations", etc. for any little thing that I say, yet you never offer anything in terms of that which you request of me? In any of the ramblings by all of you, nothing is backed up, cited, proved, etc. ...it's just your opinion. You all claim that I have no knowledge of what I talk about (I do however), yet all of you speak as if you are "All Knowing" and should have the final word on the subject. Such blatant hypocrisy!

As others have posted, Kern County Law enforcement is not a sacred cow to the public. It may be to you, but for the general public it is not. If we want to question the actions of officers, we have that right. In case you don't know it, they work for us... the public. That means me, and that means you , and that also means the family of the person who they just recently killed. It's sick and pathetic that you and some of the others, without any knowledge of the situation, want to immediately make excuses for the officers like: "people make mistakes"; they are only human"; "everyone makes mistakes"; "no one is perfect"; etc. Why don't you go and cry these excuses to the family of the person that they just killed? Sadly though, I don't think that would actually bother you, or Hammered Head. It might even give you two pleasure so you could taunt the family by saying, " He was probably on meth or was resisting arrest so he deserved it !".

El Joto14 -"I also don't support witch hunts by the ignorant public." In all reality El Joto, it doesn't matter what actions you support or not by this "ignorant public". We do not care if it was a mistake or not, whether it was a lapse of judgment or not. When law enforcement kills someone while they are in custody, we want answers and we want justice!

El Joto14- "we need more information here before we can hold people accountable for their actions." Are you typing from Mars? Here's the information that we do know: His cause of death has been determined to be "Sudden Death During Restraint By Police". The manner of death is Homicide. How much more information would you require before you would allow the "ignorant public" to ask questions about the incident????? Fortunately for society, you are not in charge as to when the "ignorant public" is allowed to ask questions about the incident or not allowed to ask. We want the officers who committed the HOMICIDE to be accountable.

And finally, if it was not faulty training or lack of proper psychological screening that allowed this to happen, what other choices are there? They did it on purpose?

ToppStories : "Should Kern institute zero tolerance for dog attacks?"

The problem I see with this zero tolerance policy is that it is aimed specifically at pit bulls in the short term due to the high frequency of unprovoked pit bull attacks in Kern County. But what about the other breeds where there can be cases of aggression where it stems from guarding an object such as food, or stemming from fear? Banning pit bulls would seem like a more logic solution than the zero tolerance policy.

Even so, this solution is aimed at the wrong side of the system, where the city and county need to do more in enforcing the existing dog laws and helping the public educate about responsible pet ownership. It would be better to solve the underlying problem of pet overpopulation and letting dogs run wild in neighborhoods: irrresponsible pet ownership.

ToppStories : "Should Kern institute zero tolerance for dog attacks?"

My stepmother's dog bit my child when she was 4~she did nothing until it bit her grandchild~then the dog was put to sleep. dogs are only as mean as the people who own them.

Bakersfield Boomers : "Here's a quick personality test you can take."

Cat, is Audrey **really** your mother?

Your husband is ISTP and that's what my younger brother is, too. To a "T".

http://www.typelogic.com/istp.html

LEFT blaming the RIGHT, and VISE-VERSA... making sure the same idiots get re-elected : "HATE FROM THE LEFT AT AN ALL TIME HIGH AT TBC (tolerance???)"

Animalluvr, please tell me where in my post did I mention anything concerning Obama's ethnicity? I bring a valid argument, and you attempt to paint me as a racist. Zero credibility for you right now, but I do not think you intended to respond with an actual point of view.

And Adam, still waiting on my message....

ToppStories : "Should Kern institute zero tolerance for dog attacks?"

Zero tolerance means zero tolerance, wish they had it in effect when I got bit, put EVERY dog down that bites regardless of breed regardless of circumstance. I can see the fires burning now from burning the bodies of all those dogs that bite, from toy breeds up to the biggest dogs, from the one time biters to the habitual biters. Gotta love the knee-jerk fixes for the problems

ToppStories : "Should Kern institute zero tolerance for dog attacks?"

shy-shy~we once had a golden/chow mix who showed aggressive tendencies as a puppy. I worked with him for 2 months to no avail and my dog trainer friend said his disposition would not change. I took him to the pound only to find out that the entire litter had been put down for the same reason. it was very sad~he was an adorable looking dog.

Bakosphere : "Who remembers the nightclub, Oz?"

ITS SO FUNNY TO HERE ABOUT ALL THE BARS IN THE 90'S IN BAKERSFIELD,EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT LIVE HERE IVE HEARD MANY STORIES SEE MY NAME IS ROXANNE WILLIFORD IT USED TO BE ROXANNE KING AND MY FATHER BOB KING NAMED ROXANNES AFTER ME.IVE BEEN BACK IN BAKERSFIELD FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS AND EVER TIME I MEET SOME ONE I ALWAYS GET TO HERE A RANDOM STORY ABOUT ROXANNES

No holds barred : "Indian casino OK with me"

There won't be a Grapevine casino until the "Tejon Indians" gain federal recognition and tribal members of the various tribes comprising the body of "Tejon Indians" including Chumash, Coastanoans, Kawaiisu, Kitanemuks, Kowlummnes, Yokuts and others listed in the federal description of "Tejon Indians" in the congressional historical records of the Sebastian Reservation are fully documented.

The Tejon Ranch company, under the direction of Civil war hero General Edward S. Beale who later became head of The Bureau of Indian Affairs and also Federal Surveyor of the reservation and surrounding ranch lands in question, wrested ownership of the reservation land from the Indians following a court case in which Tejon Ranch Company successfully convinced the courts that the Indians had "abandoned" the lands when most were forced from the Sebastian reservation and shipped to the Tule reservation and other places.

Before contesting Tejon Ranch Company's ownership of the land and revisiting what appears to be a flawed judicial decision, the surviving Indians must mount the giant hurdle of conclusively proving their Native American lineage.

Documentation of the surviving progeny of the various tribes is a monumental task since their lineage has been diluted by centuries of matriculation with other Hispanics, Caucasians and other tribes.

Indians of the mission era were given Hispanic surnames by Spanish missionaries, followed by decades of intermarriage with other Indian tribes and Hispanics which further blurred their bloodlines.

Indian activist Dee Dominquez has been successful in documenting many various tribal descendants through exhaustive research of family records, etc., but many, or perhaps even most, of the Kern County area Chumash and other tribes have been unable to provide sufficient documentation of their lineage even though some have demonstrated their tribal connection through DNA matches from samples collected by a Santa Barbara university professor who has established a DNA data base for that purpose.

Meanwhile, Tejon Ranch Company is adamantly opposed to airing the details of the way in which the company acquired the reservation lands and tribal elders have been hesitant to rile Tejon Ranch for fear of losing permission from the company to visit ancestral grave sites.

With its vast resources, Tejon Ranch Company will not give up the lands without a legal battle and the tribes lack the resources to wage that war. Even with the proper resources and pro bono legal representation, the Indians have little chance of gaining reparation for the Sebastian Reservation lands without conclusive proof of lineage which meets the federal minimum standard blood line percentage and other factors which would qualify them for federal tribal recognition.

However, having said all that, Tejon Ranch might rethink its position (maybe it already has) and cede a piece of land to the Indians for a share in the lucrative gambling business in which it could not otherwise be legally involved and which it could easily finance.

The bottom line is, the Indian issue is a highly complicated affair which is a long, long way from resolution.

A bet on a Grapevine Casino is a long, long shot at best.

Bakersfield Boomers : "Here's a quick personality test you can take."

That must be why I liked you so quickly, Ray--you reminded me of my Mom! Haha!

Hey Mom--I made my husband take this quiz too, and it's so funny!

Quiet and reserved, interested in how and why things work. Excellent skills with mechanical things. Risk-takers who live for the moment. Usually interested in and talented at extreme sports. Uncomplicated in their desires. Loyal to their peers and to their internal value systems, but not overly concerned with respecting laws and rules if they get in the way of getting something done. Detached and analytical, they excel at finding solutions to practical problems.

Careers that could fit you include:

Police, detectives, forensic pathologists, computer programmers, system analysts, computer specialists, engineers, carpenters, mechanics, pilots,

: "Some predicted trouble from Fort Hood's Maj. Hasan"

"like that gives him a ticket to do what he did??"

No, but it does give us an alternative to seeing this event narrowly in terms of religious extremism.

The dude went postal - he also happened to have religious sensibilities borne of a different experience of god, who happens to be interpreted, by him, to be the same one we say we worship.

--virgil

ToppStories : "Should Kern institute zero tolerance for dog attacks?"

Most worthless piece of !@#$ dogs Ive ever seen, The the only thing they are good for is hurting/killing people. Juice ever frickin one of them, no questions asked.

No holds barred : "Indian casino OK with me"

Equality....I agree with you entirely. I guess the threating phone calls we received when we intended on opening a cardroom/casino at the end of the moritorium in 2012 has been a real eye-opener. No worries now though. The moritorium has been extended and probably will be indefinitly.

: "Some predicted trouble from Fort Hood's Maj. Hasan"

Sioux,

"virgil keep your BS with sam off my blog or i will block you...fair warning..I deleted your post.."

That response to Sam Heath was to his 8:39 am post - not an attack on his person, whoever that may be.

In all fairness, that post of his ( reflecting an insipid little world view with odd ideas about god and American politics ) is still there, after you deleting my response to it !

--virgil

Bakersfield Boomers : "Here's a quick personality test you can take."

Audrey, the trick for getting the correct letter code (like INFJ) is that anything that show a trend toward INTUITIVE gets the letter "N" rather than "I". That's the only quirk on the chart. It's done to distinguish it from (introversion). So your husband would be an INTP. But WOW. He's almost perfect center on the Judging/Perceiving measure. He's sort of AC/DC there. So he should read the profile for INTP and INTJ and see which one speaks to him most.

INTP http://www.typelogic.com/intp.html

INTJ http://www.typelogic.com/intj.html

Shining the light of the Catholic faith on the Culture of Death : "Health-care reform bill barely wins House OK"

I would not be surprised if Benedict XVI is the next to last Pope. I don't know about you, but I believe in a pre-tribulation Rapture and a pre-millennial reign of Christ.

I agree with you that free will could still save the day. End-times eschatology looks like it's all coming to pass, and I believe it is, but Jesus in Luke 19 instructs us to go on about our business until He comes. It would be shameful if, in misreading the signs of prophecy, we stopped doing the Lord's work and idly waited for Him to come when, in actuality, it's not yet time.

I think there are the end times, but I could be wrong.

Bakersfield Boomers : "Here's a quick personality test you can take."

Ray

The feeling is mutual, my friend.

Bakersfield Boomers : "Here's a quick personality test you can take."

This might be due to coming so close to the center on the S/I T/F lines.

That's exactly true, Adam. I'm going to guess that you trend toward the center of the scale on those two measure on a regular basis. In that case, what is recommended is that you read the corresponding profiles and see which one REALLY speaks to you.

In my experience, I trend to INTJ sometimes and when I did, I happened to be programming databases and it turns out that the kind of work you are engaged in can influence how you resolve problems. Well, the MB is nothing if not a kind of profile of how you resolve problems and your work influence YOU, rather than YOU influencing your work. Depending on what you do, that work shapes you to think in a certain way. Thats the deal. So I'm thinking you must be engaged in some type of activitiy (could be a hobby as well as work) that creates a kind of "mood swing" between problem solving modes. What do you think?

ToppStories : "Should Kern institute zero tolerance for dog attacks?"

I had a chow/sheperd mix a while back and she was the best dog in the world. She even jumped in front of me to protect me from a rattle snake. She was 13 when she bite the nextdoor neighbors daughter. A child she had known for years. I do not know if she was going blind or what the problem was. I put her on the backyard and once again she growled at another child she knew. Both were within one week. The next Monday without hesitation my beloved dog was put to sleep in my arms. It is sad but you cannot own a dog that will bite. No matter how much you love them.

Neverleft's Things to Think About : "Immigration Bill From CNN"

That begs the question: How will this affect my sister-in-law and her family from another country, whom my wife has petitioned an immigration visa for? We are doing this the right way. We are four years into this and it looks like an additional eight years of waiting. The undocumented president's administration better consider the fairness of her situation if it is going to reward the cheaters.

Bakersfield Boomers : "Here's a quick personality test you can take."

My husband's scores. I've got to see who else is a IITP

Your personality type:

Logical, original, creative thinkers. Can become very excited about theories and ideas. Exceptionally capable and driven to turn theories into clear understandings. Highly value knowledge, competence and logic. Quiet and reserved, hard to get to know well. Individualistic, having no interest in leading or following others. Highly analytical, they can discover connections between two seemingly unrelated things and work best when allowed to use their imagination and critical thinking.

Careers that could fit you include:

Physicists, chemists, biologists, photographers, strategic planners, mathematicians, university professors, computer programmers, computer animators, technical writers, engineers, lawyers, forensic researchers, writers, artists, psychologists, social scientists, systems analysts, researchers, surveyors.

ToppStories : "Should Kern institute zero tolerance for dog attacks?"

I also think it should be on a case by case basis.I think it is so sad that so many people and animals have to be injured or killed before SOMETHING is done.One bite shame on you for not controlling your animal. TWO BITES doggie heaven/or hell. I do not, nor will I EVER own a pit bull. But I do own a mastiff. And the key is to socialize them.If you own what is considered to be a "bad" breed,then you darn well better be able to control the "beast".

And the B.S. about animal control having to see the attack .....it is just that B.S., They are NEVER there. And if you call them they will not be there for HOURS.

Bakersfield Boomers : "Here's a quick personality test you can take."

I sat here for 30 minutes trying to get someone to come and play. FINALLY, you showed up, Audrey. You just don't know how long I've wanted to blog this VERY subject.

I do realize that some people are phobic about taking tests that anything to do with their personality. Random is a pretty special guy, in my book; endlessly fascinating. So I've often wondered how he would score on the MB.

I feel sooooooooooooo SPECIAL to know YOU are an INFJ. (You should see the smile on my face). Girl, could we ever talk!!!!!

: "Some predicted trouble from Fort Hood's Maj. Hasan"

virgil I wanna know if the guy was taking psychotropics for depression.

like that gives him a ticket to do what he did??

: "Nancy Pelosi is a despicable liar"

I posted this comment on my own blog on this subject, but might as well post it here, too:

I read that the U.S. Catholic bishops lended their "full-throated approval" to the bill now that the abortion funding provision was scuttled. I'm still leery of it, though, for what it would do to our economy and because of its unconstitutional mandate. An extensive debate between the Senate and House in working out a final version is likely to follow. If senators try to change the amendment to allow abortion funding, they likely will doom its passage. After all, 39 Democrats still voted against the bill even with the amendment. And I bet the lone Republican who supported it, a staunch Catholic conservative like myself, as well as the bishops will backtrack on their support if the amendment is altered in any way.

: "Some predicted trouble from Fort Hood's Maj. Hasan"

virgil keep your BS with sam off my blog or i will block you...fair warning..I deleted your post..

Bakersfield Boomers : "Here's a quick personality test you can take."

Ray, thanks for the link to the explanations. Some these characteristics do fit me quite well, while others are not so readily apparent in either my actions or philosohical bent on the ESTJ scales. This might be due to coming so close to the center on the S/I T/F lines. Very thought provoking by any measure. Thank you Audrey and Ray for this exercise on introspection. Much appreciated and food for discussions all day long.

Shining the light of the Catholic faith on the Culture of Death : "Health-care reform bill barely wins House OK"

By the way, the friend that I mentioned above also brought up the prophecy of St. Malachy, which I was aware of, that indicates that Pope Benedict XVI may be the next to last pope: http://www.spiritdaily.net/ratzinger1.htm

ToppStories : "Should Kern institute zero tolerance for dog attacks?"

Yes. It is irresponsible for anyone to own a dog who has aggressive tendencies. There are plenty of dogs with nice dispositions out there. A dog is not worth a person's well being or the life of another nice dog. I have a golden retriever and a jack russell and if either one of them showed aggressive tendencies off to the pound for an eternal sleep for them.

Bakersfield Boomers : "Here's a quick personality test you can take."

Wow This has turned out to be really fun. I'm going to take time this afternoon and read through everyones score.

BTW Ray I don't see Random taking this test, but I could be wrong.

Things that interest ME : "Fresno State Game Tonight"

That FIRST PLAY!!! LORDY!!!! It's like somebody lit Ryan's fuse BEFORE the game started.

Things that interest ME : "Fresno State Game Tonight"

If you ever want to dis-own Ryan let me know. I need the millions he's going to make in the NFL and I'll adopt him. Wow. He is a walking high-lights film.

Bakersfield Boomers : "Here's a quick personality test you can take."

I'd really like to see how Random does on this. I keep thinking he and Virgil are both INFP. Wow! So many fascinating profiles and insights. It's a whole new look at the Bako.com crowd.

Bakersfield Boomers : "Here's a quick personality test you can take."

Adam, by the way, VanityFair scored an ESTJ temperament, too. Audrey and I are both INFJ.

No holds barred : "Indian casino OK with me"

SandyDoo...who wouldn't want a Monopoly on Class III slot machines?...but only the Indians Tribes can have them. I know, I know...Indian Tribes are Sovereign Nations that use the United States infrastructure. It's also very interesting that Indian Tribes defeated Electronic Charity Bingo in California contending that electronic CHARITY BINGO violates agreements with the state that give them exclusive use of slot machines. It took took two weeks and Millions of Dollars from Indian Tribes..to put the Disabled Citizens, like my Grandma, in there place. She can't work a bingo daubber with her crippled hands...pushing a button was so much easier...oh well you will have to spend the remaining few days of you life miserable with nothing to do. It was a very sad day for little Johnny that has many disabilities and needed the CHARITY money for his new wheel chair ! Talk about MEGA GREED !

Bakersfield Boomers : "Here's a quick personality test you can take."

Adam, sounds like you're describing ESTJ. Have a look at this profile and see what you think.

http://www.typelogic.com/estj.html

Bakersfield Boomers : "Here's a quick personality test you can take."

As would be expected I tend to be on the left hand side of any barometer. Ididn't bother cutting and pastings or copying the graph. I was worried I'd blow the margins here. I am between the 5th and 6th points on the lines starting at the left for both extroverted and judging. And just to the left of center on the sensing/intuitive and thinking/feeling lines. Objective capable management type of dude. Who'd of thunk?

Thanks a lot for the quiz, Audrey!

Stranger in a Strange Land : "Multiple Gunmen shoot and kill at least 7, wound potential dozens at Fort Hood"

I stand corrected. Sgt. Munley was first to confront the monster but Sgt. Mark Todd brought him down. Investigation continuing.

: "Nancy Pelosi is a despicable liar"

No, my contempt for Palin has nothing to do with the fact she is a female.

--virgil

Bakersfield Boomers : "Here's a quick personality test you can take."

Pax, post your graph. I'm very much into the MB and find it endlessly fascinating. I always think that if I want to know the REAL person behind the people who participate here, the MB quiz is the best way. I just think it reveals the best of what people really are like no other serious science does. It's not an intelligence test, but it's about how your approach problem solving and how you make decisions. That's why it referred to as a Temperament analysis. Temperament is but one aspect of Personality. Intelligence is another aspect of Personality. I think the MB give us, as individuals, the best look at ourselves we'll ever get. I can't say how high the objectivity is, but having read my own INFJ temperament, It completely creeped me out in terms of how it nailed me.

: "Nancy Pelosi is a despicable liar"

I think deep down a lot of people don't like a powerful female.

That would explain why the Democrats chose the skinny, inexperienced kid over Hillary Clinton. And the visceral hatred from the left towards Sarah Palin and her family.

Shining the light of the Catholic faith on the Culture of Death : "Health-care reform bill barely wins House OK"

Thanks for the compliment, Berean. I can't argue with anything you've said, so I'll try to keep that in mind. Indeed, it seems impossible to thwart the inevitable outcome even though we certainly have the free will to alter the course. It seems nothing short of a complete unity with the body of Christ from all of us can save the day, and we know that'd never happen when we have folks like TomJoad thinking like he does. But, as Sam points out, there's still always hope and prayer is our only recourse.

Bakersfield Boomers : "Here's a quick personality test you can take."

Pax, if your graph is like Bakoblue's, that equates to an INTJ. From what I know of you, I'd say that's pretty darn accuracy.

http://www.typelogic.com/intj.html

I could use some of the attributes of the INTJ. I'm an INFJ and the difference is that darned "F" which gets me into trouble.

spamcode: SIP GO (That the story of my life when I drink too much coffee).

: "Nancy Pelosi is a despicable liar"

I think deep down a lot of people don't like a powerful female. As it has become socially unacceptable to say this, it comes out in strange ways like Savydude's post.

Bakersfield Boomers : "Here's a quick personality test you can take."

Vanity's profile is ESTJ

http://www.typelogic.com/estj.html

What do you think, Vanity? Does that profile ring true for you?

: "Some predicted trouble from Fort Hood's Maj. Hasan"

That's because it would not be taken as a religious issue by moderates, Pax.

I wanna know if the guy was taking psychotropics for depression.

--virgil

Bakersfield Boomers : "Here's a quick personality test you can take."

Pax, Hannibal did kick some Roman butt back in th day, though.

--virgil

ToppStories : "Should Kern institute zero tolerance for dog attacks?"

There should be zero tolerance for dog attacks, as well as restrictions on placing dangerous dogs in family neighborhoods.

In Massachusetts there is the case of Nutt v. Florio, the MA Appeals Court has ruled that where the dog at issue was a pit bull, the issue of the landlord's negligence may go to the jury for a determination of whether or not "the dog had dangerous propensities.

In effect the court is saying that is a pit bull is involved, you don't necessarily have to show the dog attacked in the past. This will be interesting to follow.

: "Some predicted trouble from Fort Hood's Maj. Hasan"

Has anyone heard or read of any Muslim moderates condemning the massacre? I haven't, although I've read accounts of some cheering his actions.