Recent Blog Posts: Bakersfield.com

The House Dem's next step in the war in Iraq funding..

Wed, 09 May 2007 13:39:10 PDT

From WaPo:

A House Democratic proposal introduced yesterday that would give President Bush half of the money he has requested for the war effort, with a vote in July on whether to approve the rest, hinges on progress in meeting political benchmarks that Iraq has thus far found difficult to achieve.

The House measure, which could come to a vote as early as tomorrow, would substantially raise the pressure on Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki's government to meet lagging commitments -- including new laws on oil revenue and de-Baathification, constitutional revisions, provincial elections and the demobilization of militias -- that Bush has said are crucial to the success of the U.S. military strategy.

The plan would make about $43 billion of the administration's requested $95.5 billion immediately available to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, train troops from both nations and pay for other military needs. Congress's approval of the rest, intended to last through September, would await Iraqi passage of restructuring laws, or Bush's ability to prove that significant progress had been made. The July vote would mark the first time a mandatory funding cutoff would come before Congress.

Iraq War General:"Mr. President, You Did Not Listen"

Wed, 09 May 2007 13:16:41 PDT

The anti-war veterans group, VoteVets.org, which has been influential with Capitol Hill Democrats, is launching a half-million-dollar TV ad campaign featuring Major General John Batiste (Ret.), former commanding general of the first infantry division in Iraq. The ad begins with a clip of President George Bush saying, "I have always said that I will listen to the requests of our commanders on the ground." Batiste then appears, saying, "Mr. President, you did not listen."

Next week, they will launch another ad with retired Major General Paul Eaton. And, after that, the campaign will wrap up with a powerful ad from former NATO Allied Supreme Commander, General Wesley Clark.

Two Days Until "Streetcar" Hits the Streets of Bakersfield....

Wed, 09 May 2007 13:00:24 PDT

I sat on my perch, the “front room” of “my apartment” on the set of “A Streetcar Named Desire” which opens this weekend at Spotlight Theatre.

Tech week is always full of surprises. One I have especially enjoyed this time around is the space itself, my particular playing space. As Eunice Hubbell, the upstairs neighbor to Stella and Stanley, I do a lot of my work from the doorway to my apartment or on the staircase.

I didn’t know how grand my staircase was going to be, I was expecting ordinary stairs – not curved, beautiful, with a platform on the middle stairs.

I have been marching up those stairs since they were built. I get to experience sobbing up the stairs, stomping down the stairs, racing down the stairs laughing and last night using more of the stairs while I confront Stanley. I am not sure if Bob Kempf, our Director, will like that or not – I will have to wait until rehearsal today when he gives me notes.

I made the change based on his suggestion, but you never know what the outcome will be – what I do know is I fully trust Bob’s judgment and direction. If what I did wasn’t helpful in telling the story, I know I can morph my performance and movement accordingly. Rikk and I talked about it before rehearsal – who wanted to move where, what we wanted to experiment with, and we talked about it afterwards.

Now comes the more important part – Bob’s assessment.

From my perch, I feel so Eunice like, looking out over the neighborhood I love, cherish and try to nurture… though it doesn’t always work like I think best. I am wondering if tonight I will go to rehearsal with my perch all enclosed, so I won’t be able to see anymore.

There was one especially intriguing moment that I watched from my doorway last night.

A little set up:

While we were gathering before rehearsal, Amy Hall, who plays Stella, said to Rikk Cheshire, who plays Stanley, “Julie wants to know where our kiss has been….”

It’s true – with all the sexual energy brimming from Stanley, I couldn’t imagine the two of them without kissing.

I said, “Yeah, I watch from the wings every night, with my glasses on so that I can see! I mean, I am blind on stage without them but I really want to see you guys kiss!” As a supporting character, I spend a lot of time watching and admiring the art my castmates are creating.

They laughed about it, so I was delightfully surprised when I was caught unaware, and without my glasses on no less, as they experimented with their very first stage kiss.

Eunice/Julie, the neighborhood busybody-Queen Bee-nurturing-caretaker watched Stella and Stanley… kiss. I wanted to applaud, but somehow it didn’t seem to fit with the moment in the story.

Blanche (Sheila McClure) and Mitch (Jeremiah Lowry) manage their kissing scenes beautifully. They had a lot of practice back during "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress", the first time they were paired in a show I directed.

I am having so much fun. And it is only two days until we open. I am excited.

A Streetcar Named Desire, written by Tennessee Williams and Directed by Bob Kempf opens on May 11 at 8 PM at the Spotlight Theatre, Located in the Historic Hayden Atrium Building on 19^th Street, just east of H, in downtown Bakersfield.

Call 634-0692 to make reservations.

Prosecutor ends argument

Wed, 09 May 2007 11:24:23 PDT

“He’s a sociopath who has gone through his life lying and manipulating people,” Green said. “Vincent Brothers lives in a world without truth and he thinks a world without consequences.”

“Joanie was different because she loved him, blindly at first maybe...despite his faults his many faults...she loved him she went back to him,” Green said.

“He is a master manipulater he has manipulated people all his life and now he is trying to manipulate you,” Green said to the jurors.

Those lies are proof of his guilt, Green said.

“Why did he lie, why did he lie, because as its core you have to know that innocent people do not lie,” Green said.

Green showed a picture of Brothers with his shirt of and he has a tattoo that “Only God Can Judge Me.”

Green asks the jury to find Brothers guilty.

Help me find my Kids(pets)

Wed, 09 May 2007 11:23:08 PDT

My dogs were released from my backyard on 05/05/2007.I need everyones help.Thanks to the good people of Bakersfield and Animal Control I got one back.But two are still missing.One is about 80 pounds female and mostly black with gray because she is getting up there in age and her name is Missy the other one is about 45 pounds and is tan and black and her name is Daisy. I live in the area of Panama and Akers.If you have seen any dogs like this please call Dennis at 661-808-4518 Thanks

Prosecutor continues to slam Brothers' testimony

Wed, 09 May 2007 11:20:04 PDT

“In order to believe him, all these other people have to be lying,” Green said.

“Where is one piece of evidence that corroborates Vincent Brothers’ testimony,” Green said.

Where are the receipts for food and gas? Where are the bank records for cancelled checks to Joanie?

“The answer is they don’t exist, it’s all a lie,” Green said.

Brothers kept the cast for his arm, but not any receipts or brouchures to a housing development he said he visited in Dayton or the colleges he said he went to or the cap he said he bought for his son?

“There is nothing to support what he was saying, not one piece of evidence,” Green said.

Where is the fraternity brother he said he bumped into around the time his family was killed, Green asked.

“There was no trip to Bloomington...because the Bakersfield was in Bakersfield on July 5, 2003,” Green said.

“Why didn’t they call Troy Brothers,” Green said. “He was here, he was in the hallway. If he said he was with him on the trip why wouldn’t he call him?”

“IF you were on trial and you were accused of killing your entire family wouldn’t you put every piece of evidence and every witness before the jury,” Green said.

Green said Lie #41 is that Brothers was not in a crash with a boy on a bicycle in Ohio.

“Here’s the gamble, he cambled on the fact that we had been too stupid to track down records from Columbus Police Department,” Green said.

He took the stand and on that day Vincent Brothers would have been right we were too stupid, we did not know, Green said.

Wayne Wallace a defense investigator found the records in May 2006. On May 23, 2003, he interviewed Brian Adkins. In Nov. 2005, Madira Dowell was tracked down, the other witness of the crash.

“The defendant had access to those records that showed there had been this accident,” Green said. “He knew all about that accident because he had all this information available to him.”

The prosecution team had not found these records when Brothers took the stand.

Every witness was untape-recorded.

“He makes the accident his own,” Green said.

Brothers listened to the eye witnesses to the crash. “He heard he listened he got up there he raised his right hand and he swore to tell the truth he looked you int he eye and he told the biggest lie of all,” Green said.

“To illustrate the manipulator Vincent Brothers is,” Green shows the jury a quote.

“And I saw a little girl that looked like my daughter Margaret and so when I drove by, I waved hi to her and she waved hi to me,” Green quoted Brothers as saying on a poster board.

“He wasn’t generous with his time, he wasn’t generous with his money,” Green recounting Shann Kern’s testimony.

“The kind of stuff that I believe is only on made for tv movies happened,” Green said.

Brothers finished testifying on April 24, Green said.

Green asked for certified copy that no ambulance was dispatched. The detective searched again for the records on April 25, 2003.

The detective found a report of a crash at Hague and Steele. Detectives flew back to Ohio, interviewed Tamba Lebbie who denied the crash.

Eventually Lebbie said he was the driver.

“Tamba Lebbie was a nice man, believable,” Green said.

He was wrong about the time, Green said, but he was not wrong about the driver. She said Lebbie had no motivation to lie.

“It somewhat reafirms my faith in the system that the truth came out,” Green said.

“That is how the defendant tried to subvert the system in the most vile deplorable way,” Green said.

“Why would he lie,” Green said. “He lied because he killed his family and he is guilty of these horrible crimes.”

On The Road Again....

Wed, 09 May 2007 11:07:37 PDT

There is one man that I've seen in concert countless times, and I'm not even a big country and western fan. He's been on the road forever. Living on it, literally. It's easy to guess it's Willie Nelson.

I've seen his shows since the 70's. I've seen him with Waylon Jennings, BB King, and I actually went to the very first Farm Aid in September '85. Which is the closest to a Woodstock as I've ever gotten.

I really don't know what keeps me going back to see this man. Well, maybe it's because he was one of my first earliest influences in music. Don't get me wrong, I'm an old time rock n roll girl who has also seen MANY rock concerts....ok, here see my myspace, check the music list for all the concerts I've seen.

Let's get back to THIS story.....I knew Willie was gonna be at Eagle Mountain Casino yesterday. Hubby said go. I said I would go, but just to try and catch a glimpse of him, but I'm not gonna buy a ticket. Funny thing is, I don't gamble either.

I head up there yesterday morning. When I get to the casino I ask the guard if Willie was there. She said no, he's at the Best Western in Porterville. So I head back down the mountain and sure enough the buses are there. The driver told me Willie was sleeping. So, I go to the bathroom in the hotel and come out and the buses are gone. I scared them away, LOL....I must look like a stalker, LOL!

On the road back up to the casino again (what a waste of expensive gas, but I really don't get out that much), I pass the buses, and now I'm leading them up there. I park and seem them head to the back by the concert stage. Some of the guys get off the bus and head into the casino. I go through another door and head in that general direction. I run into Jody Payne (Willie's guitar man) wandering around looking for the buffet....men, they won't stop and ask for directions....so I do....I said hey, guys, the buffet is this way.

I'm trying to be reserved, quiet, and just tell them how much I appreciate all the years of music. (Man they're getting old and looking it). I asked where they played last night, and they said they didn't know. WOW, I guess that's what it's like.

Next I bump into Paul English, the drummer while we're in line at the buffet....he's one of my favs. I said, Paul? He said, yeah. Well, my quiet reserve went out the window. I'm pulling my camera out of my purse and asking to get a pic with me and Paul. Well frigg 'em all, guess what, my damn batteries are dead on my camera. ARRRGGGHH!

Paul asks if I'm going to the concert.. I tell him I don't have a ticket, he says why not? I told him I'm so broke I can't pay attention. He laughed and headed into the VIP area for his lunch. I sit down and have something to eat. I really wasn't hungry I was too excited. I was more thirsty than anything. But I had some salad, and a little fried okra....something I haven't had since I was a kid in Texas.

After lunch Paul comes out of the VIP lunchroom and says give me your name, I'll see what I can do about getting you a ticket to the show. HOT DAMN! Only thing is, it's not even noon, and the concert isn't till 7:30pm. And, again, I don't gamble, what am I gonna do? Plus the place smells like one big cigarette. Though, I think they have a non-smoking area....like that helps.

I call my hubby and tell him my tale, and he says hang out. Till 7:30P, I said? He says go to town and get yourself some batteries for that camera (the gift shop didn't have any) and go shopping if you want. So I burn some time heading down the mountain AGAIN, by heading to Springdale for a look see. Then back to Porterville for the batteries. Now I call my man again, and say maybe I should just come home, it's only an hour away. He said, get a room. If your getting a ticket for free, you can stay at a Motel 6 or something, it's cheap, gas is not...so that's what I did. I check in and took a nap.

About 5:30 I get myself together and head back up there, wondering if there would really BE a ticket for me waiting at will-call. Sure enough, there it was. So, I headed out back where I can see the buses. And out comes Paul English again. I thank him profusely. He gives me a hug and I get the pic that I missed the first time around. I asked if there was any chance on meeting ole Willie. He said nobody meets Willie

The concert was great, what a mix of people and I had a great time talking to other fans. Some ladies, quite older than me, follow Willie's tours around. They're retired and plan on headin' to Washington State this year where Willie has announced his 4th of July picnic. I was surprised, as far as I've ever known, he's always had it in Texas.

Call me adventurous, or call me a nut. I thank my husband for letting me be me. I love having the freedom to do what I want, just sometimes, because most of the timel I'm a mom to two beautiful girls, and that's more important than anything. It was so nice to cut loose for a day. I gotta say this was the best early Mother's Day gift EVER! Thank you HONEY (and Paul English)!

I'd like to add Willie's buses are run on renewable energy Bio-Diesel. Check out this LINK for more information There needs to be a change in our fuel consumption NOW.

Prosecutor continues to enumerate lies

Wed, 09 May 2007 10:58:50 PDT

Green said Brothers lied to meet the evidence.

Lie #13

Brothers said he lost his phone on the way back to California on the bus in April 2003. He said that because his telephone was not with him when he was making the ATM purchase.

Lie #14

Brothers testified that Joanie Harper did not leave the house after she had the baby, but Green said only the baby would stay at home for 40 days after birth.

Lie #15

Brothers said he called his daughter for her 8th grade graduation looking for direction to the school. But Brothers did not call to explain why he missed the graduation. “Why wouldn’t you call your 14 year old daughter after you missed her graduation,” Green said.

“What kind of parent would do that?” Green said.

Lie #16

Brothers said he wanted to move into a two-bedroom apartment to accommodate Marshall, but Green said only 4 people are allowed in that apartment.

Lie #17

Brothers said he never denied his children, but two women said he did deny he had children.

Lie #18

Green asked Brothers how many affairs he had. Brothers said he did not recall any.

Lie #19

Brothers said he told his wife about his two previous marriage. Joanie Harper’s diary said otherwise.

Brothers said he was driving while Joanie Harper filled out the marriage document in Las Vegas. He didn’t indicate the number of marriages he had. Two other people testified Brothers was with Joanie when the documents were filled out, but Brothers said he was int he car and Joanie was filling them out.

Lie #20

Brothers lied about going to his apartment to have sex with a woman.

Lie #21

Brothers’ second wife said Brothers denied his marriage and Brothers denied this on the stand.

Lie #23 Brothers lied about an affair.

Lie #24 Brothers lied about another affair, which a woman testified about.

Lie #25 Brothers told Lupe Hernandez he was not married, she testified. He denied this in her testimony.

Lie #26 Same about children

Lie #28

Brothers took a trip in Spet. 23 to Columbus. Melvin Brothers testimony was that Brothers showed up unannounced. “He had to show up because he had to make a point,” Green said. Watts said Melvin was freightened by Vincent. Brothers testified that he took the Greyhound bus, but said he did not remember which city he took the bus from. The evidence will show he did not take the bus at all, Green said.

Brothers’ friend rented a car on Sept. 22 and Brothers’ name was on it. Brothers said he let Troy take the car on “business.” Green said this is not true because of the wire calls where Brothers is asking another brother where Troy Brothers was.

“The defendant took the rental car,” Green said. “He does not want anyone to know that he is capable of driving the car from Bakersfield to Columbus by himself because that is what happened.”

The car was rented on Sept. 22. He lies to Gary Ray. Vincent Brothers told Gary Ray he turned the car back in even though a dinking can be heard in the background of the tape.

Brothers said the mileage on the records 6,408 miles. It was turned in on Sept. 29.

“How many times did he say that he couldn’t read directions to fit with (a doctor’s) testimony,” Green said.

Even the defendant said he left on Wednesday and it took three days to get to Columbus, Green said. Brothers could not arrive by Friday, Green said. Brothers said three days is Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. He made a call from Bakersfield on Wednesday night, Green said.

Lie #29

Green said Brothers testified that he did not retrieve his wife’s keys when she was taken away in an ambulance. Green said that is not true.

Lie #30

Brothers said Joanie made travel arrangements for him. Kelsey Spann said he made his own.

Lie #33

Brothers told Kelsey Spann he was going back in July 2003 to collect money from his brothers. He testified otherwise, Green said.

Lie #34

Brothers said he saw Raquel in April 2003, but she said she did not see him.

Lie #35

Brothers said he told Melvin Brothers not to talk to police once or twice. He said he only said that once or twice.

Brothers said he turned over his check book to his brother-in-law Will Colmbs. Brothers called his Will Jennings. Colmbs said Brothers had a checkbook.

Lie #38

A hairdresser said Brothers told her he was a single postal inspector from Long Beach.

The 5-second rule, does it work for you?

Wed, 09 May 2007 10:57:35 PDT

My answer is so far, yes.

Clemson University just did a study on the 5-second rule and whether it's advisable within five seconds to pick up food that's been dropped and eat it.

The New York Times did a column on it.

I've done this all my life. I'm clumsy and sometimes that strikes when I'm eating.

I drop. I pick up. I brush off. I'm still alive.

I don't have a university study to back me up on this. Just my experience.

Sometimes my food lands on surfaces or substances which even I won't test the rule on.

What do you think? Have you survived this tactic? Do you know people who have gotten sick by eating food they've picked up off the floor?

Posted by Steve E. Swenson

This health message brought to you by Brad Paisley and the number 4

Wed, 09 May 2007 10:57:11 PDT

Reporters get inundated with press packets and releases every day.

For example, I just got a release blaming high heel shoes for an increase in urinary tract infections. Don't know the validity of that argument, but I've been surprised before.

David Burger, the entertainment reporter, just shared with me a couple entertainment releases with important public health messages.

The first one is for Sesame Street Live, which is coming to Rabobank Arena May 15 and 16. In the character bios, Cookie Monster is described as "a frenzied-but-cuddly character who preschoolers can identify with." It goes on to say, "More recently, Cookie Monster has been learning a lot about health and nutrition, discovering that cookies are really only a 'sometimes food.'"

I guess you have to start somewhere when it comes to curbing the childhood obesity epidemic.

The other interesting press packet involves Brad Paisley's upcoming concert in Bakersfield May 17. If you haven't heard, Paisley's new album is coming out June 19 with the track, "Ticks."

Here's the chorus and end of the song:

'Cause I'd like to see you out in the moonlight
I'd like to kiss you way back in the sticks
I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
And I'd like to check you for ticks.

You never know where one might be
There's lots of place that are hard to reach
I gotcha.

I'd like to see you out in the moonlight
I'd like to kiss you baby way back in the sticks
I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
And I'd like to check you for ticks.

I'd sure like to check you for ticks...

I never knew plucking blood-sucking parasites off your sweetheart was considered romantic.

Now Lyme disease is no laughing matter. (See my maturely titled blog post, "Ewwwwww! Ticks!")

And Paisley's publicist knows this. As the release says, "While the song is infested with Paisley's characteristic humor — and meant to be taken as such — it's important to note that non-musical ticks present a potential health hazard."

Remember that while you're romping in the woods without the proper insect repellent, long sleeves and pants.

At least.....

Wed, 09 May 2007 10:49:43 PDT

One of the little known facts of theatre is that if you are going to be late for your call – the time you are supposed to be at the theatre – you need to call the Stage Manager and say simply, “I am going to be late!”

Yesterday I was running around all afternoon, here and there across town I went, taking care of tasks for the theatre and my family. Criss cross, criss cross, criss cross.

I backed out of my driveway at 5:50 for a 6:00 pm call time and I knew I needed to pick up a drink on the way… one thing I have noticed at rehearsal is I get so very thirsty – and in tech week, I am there in rehearsal from 6 pm until Midnight during Tech Week, the high impact, energy draining week right before a show opens when we incorporate all the technical aspects of the performance.

If I want to stay well, I need to drink something.

I drove into McDonald’s on F Street to order one of their Mammoth sized iced teas which are currently being sold, with tax, for only seventy four cents.

I pulled up to the window and asked the young man there the usual question. “How are you?”

“I am very warm… ” he responded and I immediately honored his truthful response.

I nodded. “I am very warm, too… and grouchy… and sad…..” I paused for a moment and then felt a pulse of positive energy coming from the slightly wet coolness of my just shampooed hair against my neck, “but at least my hair is clean.”

The young man and I looked at each other and smiled.. which turned into giggles… which turned into full laughing-out-loud.

I drove towards Spotlight Theatre still smiling and as I arrived I saw several members of the cast and crew also arriving. I was backstage by 6:05, not so late at all.

AND I was in a much better mood, because… at least my hair was clean.

A Streetcar Named Desire opens on May 11 at 8 PM at the Spotlight Theatre, Located in the Historic Hayden Atrium Building in downtown Bakersfield at the corner of 19th and H Street. Call 634-0692 to make reservations.

The Rocky Horror Show - Video Montage

Wed, 09 May 2007 10:46:24 PDT

If you want to see what ROCKY is really all about, here's your chance. Do not watch if you are offended by sexyness. But do COME see the show.

Holding back freshmen

Wed, 09 May 2007 10:36:59 PDT

In today's story, I spelled out what this new Kern High School District policy of holding back failing freshmen means. I'll attach that story to the end of this post.

When I go to schools to talk to students and parents about the new policy, there seems to be a lot of support. I have, however, gotten several anonymous or semi-anonymous letters and phone calls criticizing the policy.

Here are some excerpts from those letters:

"The motivation of the principals in recommending the adoption of this policy is to eliminate the lowest-performing students from taking the CAHSEE. The effect will be to raise the pass percentage of sophomores taking the exam. In today’s article, you cite Chad Vegas as saying that “holding failing students back gives those students one more year to prepare.” Actually, not true. They have until the end of their senior year to pass the test. Not allowing them to take the exam during their second year of high school eliminates one opportunity for them to take the exam. Even if they are not likely to pass it, I think most educators would agree that something is gained, and nothing lost (by the student, at least) by taking the exam one extra time. This policy is way less about helping students, and way more about making schools look stronger in regard to No Child Left Behind."

Another comment from a different letter writer:

"Students who repeat 9th grade (2nd year freshmen) will still graduate with their classmates. How? They will skip sophomore year and move directly from 2nd year freshmen to being juniors. These students who fail their first attempt at freshman year will repeat their freshman year but will still graduate in four years (assuming they don't drop out). They will NOT be in HS for five years or longer. So, why bother? Here's the reason: They will then never have to take the High School Exit Exam as sophomores, the only group whose scores affect API. The KHSD is in program improvement, meaning it is marching toward takeover by the government if it can't raise its scores. This 2nd year freshman bit is sleight of hand aimed at raising scores. It's like the shell game of hiding the ball under the cup except this time it's "hide the sophomore."

I address some of these concerns in today's article. Other than these few anonymous letters and phone calls, most of the people I've spoken with seem to think the new policy is a good one. They don't want to see failing kids pushed through the system without help. Obviously, some of the kids who might be held back weren't very happy.

What do you think of this policy?

(Today's story explaining the policy)

Freshman rule change will still allow students to graduate on time

By LISA SCHENCKER, Californian staff writer

e-mail: lschencker@bakersfield.com | Wednesday, May 9 2007 10:22 AM

Last Updated: Wednesday, May 9 2007 10:21 AM

Kern High School District officials say most of the freshmen who might be held back this year will still be able to graduate in four years.

Trustees voted unanimously Monday night to create new requirements for freshmen to move on to 10th grade. The requirements include passing a certain number of classes, state tests or passing at least math and English. The change means as many as 2,000 freshmen might not move on to 10th grade this year. The idea is to help failing students before they fall too far behind.

Freshmen will, however, be able to retake one class during summer school and then another next year. The rest of their classes — the ones they didn’t fail freshman year — will be sophomore classes. That means, hypothetically, a freshman who failed math and English this school year could catch up with the rest of his class by junior year.

He could essentially have two freshman years and then become a junior. Students who still haven’t caught up by the end of their senior years can continue working toward a diploma at Bakersfield Adult School, said district Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Joe Thompson. They won’t stay at their high schools for a fifth year, Thompson said.

He said the district expects most students will be caught up by their fourth year of high school.

“Our goal is to catch these kids when they’re young so they don’t have to go to the adult school and so we can keep our graduation rates up high,” Thompson said.

No one spoke against the policy change before the school board Monday night, and many parents seem to support the change. Some, however, have criticized the district, saying the new policy is only to boost test scores.

That’s because normally sophomores take the California High School Exit Exam. The state calculates a school’s academic performance index (API) — a measure of how schools are performing — partly by using sophomore exit exam results. In fact, those results account for 20 percent of a high school’s API score.

Freshmen who are held back this year won’t take the exit exam next school year. Essentially, only students who passed their classes freshman year will take the exam, which might boost schools’ API scores.

Also, students who are held back will have fewer chances to take the exit exam, which students must pass to graduate from high school.

Thompson said students who are held back as freshmen will have six chances to take the exam instead of seven.

Thompson, however, said the district believes the move will help students. There’s no sense in students taking a test for which they’re not prepared, he said.

He and all five trustees have said the change is to help students before they fall too far behind, not to boost test scores. Trustee Chad Vegas even acknowledged Monday night that though the move might help boost the district’s API scores, it could ultimately hurt the district’s AYP (adequate yearly progress), a federal measure of school progress that takes graduation rates into account. If the new policy causes more students to drop out, it could hurt the district’s AYP.

“Testing was never a part of this discussion,” Thompson said. “It’s something we think will benefit our students, reduce the dropout rate. What we’re asking is pretty reasonable.”

Still, some freshmen weren’t happy about the change Tuesday.

Bakersfield High freshman Joel Navarro said he’s one of the 1,500 to 2,000 freshmen who might not move on to 10th grade now because of the change.

“I think it sucks,” Navarro said of the policy change. “Freshman year is the hardest year out of all four years. You’re introduced to whole new things.”

Navarro said he plans to take classes this summer and is seeking extra credit now.

BHS freshman Yva Schmalzer called the policy change a “scare tactic” that she doesn’t think will work well.

“They told us too late in the year,” Schmalzer said.

Kern High Faculty Association President Mitch Olson made a similar argument before the board Monday night. He urged them to hold off on the policy saying it was a “little bit rushed.” Trustees, however, said they felt they’d do a disservice to students by waiting. They said they didn’t want to let one more group of failing students pass on to next grade.

Schmalzer said she knows “quite a few” students who won’t go on to 10th grade next school year.

Other students wondered whether the new policy would lead to classes crowded with kids who were held back. Thompson said freshman class sizes won’t be any larger because of the policy.

He said schools will still have the same number of classes they would have had regardless of who was held back. The difference will likely be more freshmen sections of certain classes to accommodate those who need to repeat classes and fewer sophomore sections.

Other students said Tuesday they support the change.

“I think it’s better because there are people in classes who are holding other people back,” said BHS freshman Ronald David. “If they don’t learn what they’re supposed to, they should learn it again.”

BHS freshman Joey Chavira said he can see both sides of the issue.

“I think it’s good, but also kind of unfair,” Chavira said.

Paris being pardoned?

Wed, 09 May 2007 10:35:53 PDT

Paris Hilton has just recently been sentenced to 45 days in jail for a DUI offense and driving when they took her license away. She thinks that she is being "punished" for who she is so she is trying to get a pardon from Governor Arnold. I personally think that they are too easy on celebrities ie. Robert Downy Jr., until they finally put him in jail and Halle Berry for the hit and run accident that she had but the list can go on. Her attitude about this just shows that she and alot of celebrities think they are above the law. If anyone else did that, they would need to do the time so what makes her so special? What do you think?

Racy divorce billboard lands attorneys clients

Wed, 09 May 2007 10:35:21 PDT

A racy billboard that shows scantily clad chests of a man and a woman was taken down in Chicago after people complained about the slogan, "Life is short, get a divorce."

It wasn't the slogan or the cleavage, it was the lack of permit that axed the billboard.

But let's wallow in the bigger issue — should lawyers be allowed to prey on the disenchanted married couples to encourage a divorce at hundreds of dollars an hour?

And the answer is, it won't matter. Couples ready to call it quits don't need encouragement from a billboard.

Conversely, if a billboard prompts a divorce, the marriage wasn't all that hot to begin with.

Is it tacky? Yes.

Is it legal? Would have been with a permit.

Is it America at its realistic best? You betcha.

Is it a message that strikes a nerve? Obviously.

Posted by Steve E. Swenson

Prosecutor accuses Brothers of lying

Wed, 09 May 2007 10:25:50 PDT

Lie #11

Brothers said he cheated out of “ignorance on my part.” Brothers said it was a mistake and he is sorry for it. “That wasn’t a mistake,” Green said. “We all make mistakes...but what Vincent Brothers engaged in was a pattern and that is a whole lot different than a mistake,” Green said.

Brothers cheated on another woman he was married to.

Brothers cheated with several women during his last marriage to Joanie Harper, Green said. Brothers said he cheated twice during this marriage.

Green explains that one of the women visited Brothers 77 times in jail and she lied on the witness stand about not sleeping with Brothers during his last marriage because she was trying to cover for him. Green said this woman told a detective that she did have sex with Brothers on June 29, 2003.

Lie #12

The Kansas City baseball game that Brothers said he went to see in April 2003. Brothers said that while he was there he heard his wife was sick and took a bus to Bakersfield.

Green said that Brothers’ defense team “got smart” and found out there the Kansas City Royals were not playing in Kansas City and Brothers changed his story that he was going to see them in Chicago. They were on the road, Green said. Green has a schedule for the Kansas City Royals.

“Somehow he found out,” Green said. “What matters is he is manipulating this evidence to manipulate you.”

Early Mothers Day poem

Wed, 09 May 2007 10:25:48 PDT

For Mothers

Thru this door all must pass

This door that opens for life

Its mysteries, its tragedies

Are not easily won or shared

A woman’s openness to undergo a process

Which brings into human form

That stuff stars are composed of

Nothing less than a miracle

Nothing less than an odyssey

Into Pain, into Life , into Death

Into ReBirth

No heroes prize is worth more than this

Worth more than a woman’s gift~

The magic of life

Sage 2007 Truly hoping you have a joyous day!

The Return of The Doctor

Wed, 09 May 2007 10:11:11 PDT

It looks like the Doctor has officially rejoined the site, after being on hiatus for about 12 hours. With him he seems to bring a more combative tone, though still cloaked in his rhetoric of civility.

Let's start with a bit of history. There was a time when the Doc and I got along quite well. When he and I first started here, I had his back. In fact, refering to him as "Doc" was my way of trying to reach out to him.

There we a few blow ups like this one: http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/4025
Which led to this: http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/4026

Which led to this: http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/4027

A big-time blunder by a right-wing Bakersfield blogger who goes by his initials, Dr. BLT, and who is the self-proclaimed King of Blog and Roll, is now being compared to Dan Rather's fall from grace (listen to one-song sound-track to this blog thread now). Dr. BLT, (who recently alledgedly jumped the gun, implying that a Bakersfield Bush-bashing blogger had deleted comments he made at the Bush-bashing site) was noteably chagrined when a trusted commenting party who goes by the screen name of TomW said in a comment that he trusted that Bush-bashing blogger from Bakersfield had not banned the blog n roll one-man band, Dr. BLT. That's right! There is a rumor that the newly disgraced Dr. BLT (aka, yours truly) has committed the biggest bloggin' blunder since the Rather Matter. Was the alledged fascist-styled censoring incident the result of a technical glitch, is the alledged censoring party covering up his tracks, or is a vast left-wing conspiracy involved. Or, is this simply a lame publicity stunt? You are the commenter. You decide.

Ah, trips down memory lane.

As time went on, he seemed to realize that controversy was good for readership. Stirring things up became more important than getting along. Which is all well and good except when some of us are actually trying to find ways of getting along.

His style of acting like the kid on the playground who hits people then cries to the teachers when he gets hit back has become ingrained, rewarded by the desire on the part of a lot of people to defend their position against outrageous attack and to comfort and be kind to people who feel they have been wronged.

So the question now is how do you deal with this type of blogger? Do you just ignore them as someone who's only goal is the attention (good or bad) that is generated by this shuttling back and forth from agitator to martyr, do you try to engage them and point out the folly of their ways, or do you actually begin to act in the way that he has at one time or another accused many of us of acting and give him no quarter?

My temptation now is to be true to my word:

posted by TomW on Sep 6, 2006 at 03:51 PM

	You get one freebie, Doc. Then we go after you like chickens seeing blood. ;)

But I'm sure my better angels will once again get the best of me. What say you?

Ancient Faith

Wed, 09 May 2007 09:49:16 PDT

To order your hard copy of Prologue please go here

May 9

1. THE HOLY PROPHET ISAIAH

This great prophet was of royal lineage. Isaiah was born in Jerusalem of Amoz his father who was the brother of Amaziah, the king of Judah. By the great grace of God that was in him, Isaiah was made worthy to see the Lord Sabaoth on the throne in heaven surrounded by six-winged Seraphims who continuously sing: "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts [Sabaoth]" (Isaiah 6:3). Isaiah prophesied many things to individual men as well as to the people. On one occasion, he walked naked around the streets of Jerusalem for three days prophesying the imminent fall of Jerusalem by the Assyrian King Sennacherib, reminding the king and the leaders of the people not to hope in assistance from the Egyptians or Ethiopians for they, also, will be subjugated by the same Sennacherib, but rather to trust in help from God the Most High. This prophesy, as well as other prophecies, were literally fulfilled. Isaiah's most important prophecies are the ones concerning the Incarnation of God, the conception of the All-Holy Virgin, John the Forerunner and about many other events of the life of Christ. ["Therefore, the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Emmanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). "The voice of him that cries in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord and make straight in the desert a highway for our God" (Isaiah 40:3).] This discerning man, because of the purity of his heart and because of his zealousness toward God, also received the gift of working miracles. Thus, when the besieged Jerusalem suffered from drought, Isaiah prayed to God and water flowed from beneath Mount Zion. This water was called Siloam which means: "sent." Later, the Lord directed the man, blind from birth to bathe in this water in order for him to see. During the reign of King Manasses, when Isaiah thundered against the pagan customs of the king and the leaders comparing that generation with Sodom and Gomorrah, the anger of the leaders and the people rose up against this great prophet. He was captured, led out of Jerusalem and was sawed in half. Isaiah lived and prophesied about seven-hundred years before Christ.

2. THE TRANSLATION OF THE RELICS OF SAINT NICHOLAS THE WONDER-WORKER OF MYRA IN LYCIA.

During the reign of Emperor Alexius Commenus and Patriarch NicholasGrammaticus, the body of this saint was translated from Myra in Lycia to the town of Bari in Italy in 1007 A.D. This occurred because of the assault of the Muslims on Lycia. The saint appeared in a dream to an honorable priest in Bari and ordered that his relics be translated to this town. At that time, Bari was Orthodox and under the Orthodox Patriarch. During the translation of the relics of this saint many miracles occurred either by touching the relics or from the myrrh [oil] which abundantly flowed from his relics. "Also on this day, is commemorated the miracle of St. Nicholas to the Serbian King, Stephan of Decani: how St. Nicholas restored the sight to the blinded King Stephan.

3. THE HOLY MARTYR CHRISTOPHER

Christopher was a great miracle-worker. He is especially venerated in Spain. The people pray to him primarily for protection from contagious diseases and great pestilence. He suffered for Christ and was glorified by Christ in the year 249 A.D.

HYMN OF PRAISE

SAINT STEVEN OF DECANI

[STEPHAN DECANSKI]

On the Field of Sheep, the blind Stephan sleeps

And in a dream, endures misfortune without peace.

His body shivering, his eyes bloody,

Than such a life, death is surely better,

At that moment, in a dream a man appeared to him,

In heavenly glow, in heavenly glory.

Nicholas I am, of Myra in Lycia, said he,

And, one of those whom God chooses, you are.

Into my right hand, O Stephan, look,

Behold are your eyes, preserved in it!

Without eyes you are, the eyes are with me,

To you I will give them, when the Lord wants.

Five years passed and Stephan in darkness

A strong hope has, a strong faith has:

To me, Nicholas will come once more,

With God's help; help me, he will.

Thus did Stephan, once thought in the church,

And to the beloved saint, with tears, he prayed.

And while in the chair stood, in a dream, he fell,

But behold, St. Nicholas again to him came!

Two eyes of the king in his right palm:
Behold, said he, to you, O king the day dawned!

In the name of the Lord Who, to the blind, gives sight

Look and cry out: To God be glory!

And the blind eyes, the saint touched

And darkness from the eyes as a curtain is drawn.

REFLECTION

Every Christian can accept for himself martyrdom for the Faith, in time of persecution as well as in time of peace. Abba Athanasius says: "Be tortured by your conscience, die to sin, subdue earthly organs and you will be a martyr according to your wishes. They [the persecuted and the martyrs] fought with emperors and princes; you also have the king of sins - the devil and demonic princes. Before, there were idols, pagan temples and those who offer sacrifice to the idols. And now, they exist as thoughts in the soul. He who is a slave to debauchery worships the idol of Aphrodite. He who becomes angry and enraged worships the idol of Ares. He who is avaricious and closed to the pain and misery of his neighbor worships the idol Hermes. If you refrain from all of this and preserve yourself from passions, you have overcome idols, you have rejected an evil belief and have become a martyr for the True Faith." Therefore, a man need not especially yearn for persecution and martyrdom. Everyone can and at all times endure martyrdom for the sake of Christ and His Gospel.

CONTEMPLATION

To contemplate the Descent of God the Holy Spirit upon the apostles:

1. How all the men wonder and marvel listening to the apostles speak in different tongues;

2. How some mocked them saying: "They have had too much new wine" (Acts of the Apostles 2:13).

HOMILY

About the curse of man who trusts in man

"Thus says the Lord: cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the Lord" (Jeremiah 17:5).

When man alienates himself from God in his heart he usually trusts in men and in himself, for in who else can he otherwise trust when he untied his rowboat from God's boat? Since he has already untied his rowboat from God's boat, nothing else remains for him except to trust in his rowboat or in the rowboat of his neighbors. Weak trust, but there is no other for him! Weeping trust above the abyss of destruction, but there is no other!

But, O heaven and earth, why did man untie his rowboat from God's boat? What happened to man that he flees from his security? What kind of calculation did he calculate when he discovered it would be better for him alone on the tempestuous waves than in the household of God and near the hem of God! With whom did he make an alliance when he breached the alliance with God? Is it with someone stronger than God? Foolishness, foolishness, foolishness!

"Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings." This, God spoke once and men have repeated this thousands of times. Being disappointed in their trust in men, men have cursed thousands of times those who have trusted in man. God has said only that which men experienced only too well and confirmed by their experience, i.e., how, indeed, cursed is the man who trusts in man!

Brethren, that is why we should have trust in God Who is the stable boat on the tempest and Who does not betray. Let us have trust only in Him for all other trust is a devilish illusion. In You do we trust, O Lord, our fortress and refuge. Tie us along side You and do not allow us to untie ourselves, if we, by our foolishness and cursedness, attempt to untie ourselves from You.

To You be glory and thanks always. Amen.

Prosecutor resumes argument

Wed, 09 May 2007 09:48:24 PDT

Deputy District Attorney Lisa Green resumes her closing argument.

Green explains that malice aforethought is an intent to kill.

Green said there is no question that the killer intended to kill the family.

Green showed the jurors the verdict form. The jurors must find if Brothers is guilty or not guilty for the death of each victim. The jurors must also decide if Brothers discharged a firearm in the killing. As to Joanie Harper, the jurors are also asked if a weapon was used in the killing because she was also stabbed. After deciding each of these, the jurors must also decide if Brothers is guilty of the special circumstance of multiple murders.

Green said theft if not a motive because nothing of value was taken from the scene except Joanie Harper’s cellular telephone.

Green said sexual assault is also eliminated.

“They did not have enemies, they were church going women and they were well liked,” Green said.

“Who had the motive to kill the children?” Green said. “Ask youself that over and over again, the answer is Vincent Brothers he is the only one who had the motive to kill a 4-year-old, a 2-year-old and a 6-week-old baby.”

“You could speculate that Marques and Lyndsey were killed by a stranger because they were potential witnesses,” Green said. But she said a stranger would not stage the crime scene because they do not think there is anything to link them to the scene.

“Who would turn a gun on a 6-week old infant,” “Who would hold that gun 6 inches away from the back of a sleeping child,” Green said.

“How does a stranger stand to benefit from the killing of the child? The answer is there is no benefit,” Green said.

Green said divorce was not an option because he would pay a lot of money. If Brothers had court ordered child support of $500 for his oldest child, he would have paid a lot more for the rest, Green said.

“If VB really loved his family, if it was true that he was going to move into that Barnes Street house...how could he have possibly ever moved into that house in December?” Green said.

“He would not have wanted to live there because his grief would have been so overwhelming...every room would have reminded him of his family,” Green said.

He could have gotten out of buying the house, Green said.

“He had dollar signs in his eyes,” Green said.

“He made $100,000 on that house in four months,” Green said.

“It’s all about money, money was important to him,” Green said.

Vincent Brothers did not contribute any money or pay back any money for the money the Harper family paid for the funeral, Green said.

“Why was he willing to pay $2,500 for an attorney for Melvin Brothers and not once cent to pay back Joanie’s family for the burial of his family,” Green said.

“I will never be able to make you understand how a father can kill his children, I will never have that answer for you,” Green said.

“We must accept that certain things happen that are beyond our understanding,” Green said.

“I do not have to prove to you how things like this happened, I only have to prove that they happened and that he did it,” Green said.

“I would hope that any doubts you might have had were wiped away when Vincent Brothers took the witness stand,” Green said.

“A presumption of innocents does not mean that the defendant is presumed to tell the truth,”

“On direct examination he was quiet he was tearful...we never saw that man on cross examination...we saw the manipulator...we saw the person who thinks he’s smarter than anybody else and he certainly thinks he’s smarter than me,” Green said.

“I’m not sure that he did not sound believable,” Green said.

“What we saw was him staging, stanging on the stand, trying to separate himself from the evidence in the case that so binds him to this crime,” Green said.

“I could upwards of 40 lies in his testimony,” Green said.

Green said Brothers lied about what he did on the Thursday before the killings. The girls went to a fireworks show, but he did not mention that.

Brothers later said he fell asleep that evening to explain why he did not know they were going to the fireworks show.

Brothers said he talked with his nieces when they got back from the parade Friday night. They said he was not there at this time.

Green said Brothers said Melvin took the credit card. But she believes this was not true.

Lie #5 Green said the rental car company called him, but she believes he called them because the rental car was not due until the day after the call.

Lie #6, Green said. Brothers said Joanie Harper left him because a minister told her to, but she wrote in a diary she left him because he did not tell her about a previous marriages.

“This is Joanie Harper reaching out of the grave to call Vincent Brothers a liar,” Green said.

New juror selected

Wed, 09 May 2007 09:21:59 PDT

“Some of you know more about the event than others,” Bush said. He said something happened yesterday.

Bush told the jurors than they may feel a loss because they have been together for so long, but they have to put that behind them.

A new juror was selected.

She is female and lives in Ridgecrest. Her father is a retired chief of police of California City, and her husband is sergeant at California City. Her son is also a Kern County Deputy.

She appears conflicted about her views on the death penalty.

This leaves four alternate jurors remaining.

Juror dismissed, trial resumes

Wed, 09 May 2007 09:18:49 PDT

Kern County Superior Court Judge Michael Bush opens up the courtroom to the public. There has been a motion to excuse juror #10. The court has granted that motion.

Bush said he closed to court “in order to provide the jurors a forum in which they can speak openly and freely without concerns about the public or the media being present.”

Bush said that jurors at times are reluctant to speak about another juror in open court. “I believe there would be prejudice.”

Bush said he told the jurors that the transcript would be sealed but he may revisit the issue after the trial.

Juror meetings continue

Wed, 09 May 2007 09:05:42 PDT

After spending Tuesday in closed-door meetings, Kern County Superior Court Judge Michael Bush had another closed-door meeting with one juror.

Bush has barred the public from these hearings.

NW Bako, Throw Me a Bone!

Wed, 09 May 2007 09:00:45 PDT

How my dog made it to the complete cattie-corner quadrant of the city may forever remain a mystery -- but there's no doubt, he's there. In the past three days, we've received calls of two confirmed sighting for "Ace the Greyt", both in the Madison Grove neighborhood directly across from Norris Middle School.

The last sighting was about a week ago on Raincheck street. The kind woman who spotted him said he looked tired and thirsty (and collarless -- not good), but when she tried to coax him to her with a bowl of water he was hesitant. She left the bowl out for him, but he wasn't seen after that. Last night I spoke with her and showed her pictures which she confirmed were identical to my boy. She even mentioned his signature scarring from his old days as a running dog.

As we're getting warmer, so is the weather -- which makes it scary to think that my guy might be out there in 90 degree weather dying of thirst and probably at this time hunger.

Please, please, please if you've seen him let me know. If not, continue to keep your eyes peeled!!!!

Timeline of Ace's Adventure
4-14 - Ace's wanderlust is too much to control and he breaks through my fence
4-16 - Ace is spotted near South High School
4-18 - I get a report while walking the neighborhood that someone thought
           they saw a greyhound in a car
4-23 - Ace is spotted all the way in Northwest Bakersfield  the  Madison drove home tract across from Norris Middle School on Calloway. He's seen with 2 boys on rollerblades.
4-30 - Ace is spotted alone, tired and thirsty in the same neighborhood.

A Lot of Hot Air

Wed, 09 May 2007 08:32:18 PDT

The season is rapidly coming upon us where we need to get our houses ready for the long slow roast of summer. I'm planning on spending the next few weeks talking about different things you can do with different levels of difficulty and cost to make your home more pleasant this summer, cut your energy costs and hopefully make your life a bit more green.

We talked last winter about making sure your building envelope was closed. Check for drafts near doors and windows and get them patched up. Another thing that every house should have is a good quality attic fan. It's a step up from the old fashioned "whirly-bird" metal spinner and if you have one of those, replacing it with a powered fan should be a breeze. There are lots of different models available and some of them are even solar powered so you don't need to run wires for them.

What's the big deal about these things? Even though it's "only" 105 degrees outside, your attic can get to 180 degrees or so, cooking your roof shingles and shortening their life, Also, your swamp cooler and/or AC will have to work a lot harder if your ceiling is getting superheated by air in the attic.

Tips:

If you've got a slate roof, don't try to do this project yourself. Just walking up there can cause damage. Also, some slate roof construction cools the attic area as well.

Make sure you seal off the air from inside your living space to your attic. You don't want to suck out the air your just paid to cool.

Make sure you have a gap for "make up air". Most houses have soffet vents, but make sure you read the instructions on the box or verify with your contractor that you have gaps for enough air to come in replace the air being pulled out.

This is your construction open thread.

Restless legs making me an insomniac tonight

Wed, 09 May 2007 01:20:14 PDT

I feel like I take so many meds, I'm a walking pharmacy. Unfortunately, when they aren't taken, I have problems like horrible insomnia, very deep depression, restless anxiety, and usual assortment of highs and lows of various kinds. (I think a lot of this stems from many years of living in a high stress environment. It really messes you up in a lot of ways.)

Well, at this time, I haven't taken the ones that help me sleep and keep me comfortable. Tomorrow I go to one of those in and out surgical centers for an exploratory procedure. I won't go into detail about it, but my problem is that they have me scheduled for 1:30 in the afternoon! No food or liquids for 10 hours before that means nothing after 3:30am. It's doable when they set you up for a morning time, it's not like you're going to be eating or drinking in your sleep.

Soooo, I've decided to stay up till around 3 or so, eat something, then take my sleep meds and sleep the morning away. Sounded like a good idea, but for some reason, the restless legs kick up really badly at night. I guess I haven't noticed it since I'm usually knocked out. I'm surprised Cameron doesn't have bruises all over him from my kicking around. Of course, he has the same trouble, but it's pretty well controlled most of the time. I think it's going to be a looonnnngggg night! Any other insomniacs awake?

Foodborne diseases 101: There's a bug in my food

Wed, 09 May 2007 00:11:42 PDT

The county Department of Public Health is working to confirm what exactly sickened 12 local children. (Read "Outbreak said to be contained" in Wednesday's Californian.)

Here's a primer on some of the foodborne diseases being talked about.

E. coli enteritis
Cause: eating foods containing the bacteria, not washing your hands after going to the bathroom and then touching people and food.
Risk factors: recent family illness with E. coli, recent family illness with vomiting or diarrhea, eating unsanitary food, drinking untreated or contaminated water or traveling to places that may not have clean drinking water.
Symptoms: diarrhea that may be bloody, stomach cramping, gas, vomiting (rare), loss of appetite, abdominal pain and fever.
Treatment: Cases usually clear up on their own in one to three days, and no treatment is required. Call your health care provider if you are unable to keep fluids down, if diarrhea does not go away in three to four days or if you see blood in the stool.
Prognosis: The illness usually runs its course in a few days, without treatment.
Complications: dehydration, prolonged diarrhea, temporary lactose intolerance and hemolytic-uremic syndrome.
Prevention: Careful hand washing may be helpful. Do not drink untreated or possibly contaminated food or water. Always cook meats well, especially ground meats.

Salmonella enterocolitis
Cause: The infection is acquired through ingestion of contaminated food or water.
Risk factors: ingestion of improperly prepared or stored food (especially undercooked turkey or chicken, unrefrigerated turkey dressing and undercooked eggs), family members with recent salmonella infection, recent family illness with gastroenteritis, institutionalization, recent poultry ingestion, owning a pet iguana or other lizards, turtles or snakes, which can carry the bacteria.
Symptoms: abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills and muscle pain.
Treatment: avoiding dehydration by drinking electrolyte solutions, antibiotics.
Prognosis: usually good. Symptoms subside in normal individuals in two to five days. Call your health care provider if blood is found in stools or if there is no improvement after two to three days.
Complications: dehydration from diarrhea, life-threatening meningitis and septicemia may also result.
Prevention: proper food handling and storage, good hand washing, and if you own a reptile, wear gloves when handling the animal or its feces.

Shigella enteritis
Cause: The bacteria can spread from an infected person to contaminate water or food, or directly to another person.
Risk factors: poor sanitation, crowded living conditions.
Symptoms: acute abdominal pain or cramping, tenesmus, watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, acute fever or stool with blood, mucus or pus.
Treatment: avoiding dehydration by drinking electrolyte solutions, antibiotics.
Prognosis: Often the infection is mild and goes away on its own. Call your provider if diarrhea does not improve, blood is found in stool or if dehydration develops.
Complications: severe dehydration, neurologic symptoms including seizures (in children), hemolytic-uremic syndrome and Reiter syndrome.
Prevention: proper handling, storage and preparation of food, in addition to good cleanliness and hand washing.

For more information on foodborne diseases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and MedlinePlus.gov have great sites with info.

I Saved Someone's Life Tonight

Tue, 08 May 2007 23:26:09 PDT

Tonight my wife Leslie left our house en-route to the store. About two minutes after she left, she called me from her cell phone to advise me a man was slumped over the wheel in his vehicle in a nearby intersection. The reason she called me is I was a Paramedic for many years and if it were a medical emergency I could institute CPR if necessary while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive.

I hopped into my car and drove the two blocks to the intersection and called The Bakersfield Police Department to advise them of the situation.

Upon my arrival at the intersection, I found there was a new vehicle in the middle of the intersection with the lights on, motor running and the driver slumped over in the drivers seat. I immediately checked for a carotid pulse to see if the driver was alive. As soon as I touched his neck, he snorted and babbled something incoherent. It was at that time I was blasted with foul alcoholic breath and I realized he was drunk as a skunk.

I reached into the open window and turned off the ignition switch killing the engine. As soon as I did so, the driver relaxed his leg and took his foot off the brake. It wasn't until then that I realized the vehicle was in gear with the motor running the entire time!

I then re-called the Bakersfield Police Department to advise them the driver of the vehicle was OK but very very drunk. With his vehicles engine turned off, there wasn't much to do until the Bakersfield Police department officers arrived so I directed traffic around his vehicle so no one would plow into him.

About four minutes after my call, the first BPD officer arrived. I briefly recounted the circumstances and stepped back while he made contact with the driver. Just as when I tried talking to him, nothing the driver said to the Police Officer made any sense. The BPD officer called for a back-up and while we were waiting for the back up to arrive the officer let the driver continue his nap in the middle of the intersection.

The back-up officer arrived within minutes and they proceeded to remove the drunk from his vehicle. The poor guy was so very drunk he had no idea where he was or what was going on. Even when the handcuffs were placed on his wrist he still didn't know what was going on.

Once the drunk driver was safely ensconced in the back of the police car, a search of his vehicle was conducted. I'm sure you can guess the rest... The BPD found a bunch of Meth in his truck along with his favorite alcoholic beverages.

As I was getting ready to leave for home, the BPD officers came over to thank me for stopping this guy from driving away and killing himself or anyone else. Judging from his condition, he could have run over an entire family and would not remembered it in the morning.

This young man's life has just undergone a dramatic change for the worse. However he is very lucky he was stopped before he could continue driving his deadly weapon and possibly killing a bunch of innocent people.

He can recover from a drunk driving conviction. It's a lot more difficult knowing you choose to drive drunk and because of that stupid irresponsible choice an entire family is dead.

Dr. Beemersteins Best Ghetto Garage Innovation Yet

Tue, 08 May 2007 22:34:51 PDT

Since being assaulted in my classroom a week ago I have had a lot of free time...fun, but dangerous

The Ghetto Garage has been humming with activity getting ready for a trip to Colorado. Since the "wife cam" is on the injured list I cam (sic) up with this:

The mirror mounted web-cam

This morning I went out at dawn and did an "all the metal on the road all the time" ride and just let the laptop in my tank bag run. The results were unsatisfying but interesting. The good news is...camera stays mounted at redline and all lean angles. The bad news is...cheap web cams are cheap web cams. This might work with a higher quality one. (Which is my next experiment)

Anyway for your viewing pleasure or displeasure, as the case may be, here are the first experimental results.

Experimental Video

Dr. Beemerstein...out (Insert evil laughing)

An update...

Tue, 08 May 2007 17:18:09 PDT

As you may have guessed (or not), my grandmother passed away. We brought her home and before she had been there a full day, she passed in her sleep (early Saturday morning). I still won't be posting for a while, I'm staying at her house and taking care of her cats, and the daily chores.

Thank you all for your support, it was much appreciated. Right now, I'm focusing on taking care of her cats and finding them a place to live.

Breathe easier, expand board

Tue, 08 May 2007 15:58:32 PDT

PUBLISHED 5-9-2007

A proposal to make the governing board of the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District’s less responsive to political and parochial concerns, and more focused on cleaning up the valley’s polluted air, recently cleared a political hurdle.

On a 4-0 vote, the Senate Local Government Committee passed the measure on to the Appropriations Committee.

The bill by Sen. Michael Machado, D-Linden, is a long way from being approved by the entire Senate and Assembly, and signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger. A companion bill by Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, which ties funding and fees to passage of Machado’s bill, also faces a long road ahead.

But an optimistic sign is the bipartisan support the effort is drawing this time around. The committee’s Democrat chairwoman, who voted against similar measures in the past, and a Republican senator on the committee, gave the initial nod.

Machado has tried and failed in the past to change the make-up of the regional air board that sets rules and adopts plans to clean up the valley’s polluted air. Efforts failed primarily over arguments that it eroded “local control.”

It’s a common argument tossed out. Often it means that political and special interests — in this case polluting industries — can exercise more “control” over “local” officials who rely on campaign contributions.

After a long-fought legislative battle, the eight-county district itself was created in the early 1990s over “local control” objections. Before, the boards of supervisors in each of the valley’s counties served as the local decision makers over air rules and air quality in their counties.

The idea was ludicrous. Air pollution did not stop at a county’s border. Breezes swirl pollution around in the big, mountain-lined tub that forms the valley’s “air basin.”

Repeated failures of valley counties to meet federal air cleanup deadlines and the obvious inability counties to develop effective air cleanup strategies on a piecemeal county-by-county basis prompted the Legislature to approve creation of a unified valley air pollution control district.

While the district has made cleanup progress, the valley’s polluted air still does not meet federal standards. Just last week, the air district board requested a nearly two-decade extension of the federal deadline for cleaning up the air.

The district’s 11-member board now is comprised of representatives of each of the counties’ boards of supervisors and selected city representatives.

Machado’s bill would expand that to 15 members, give major cities in the district, including Bakersfield, permanent seats, and allow the governor to appoint two air quality or medical specialists to the board.

This minor tweaking of the governing board should lessen the lock-grip local political and economic interests have on cleanup decisions. It should give a voice to the fears valley residents have about the quality of their air, which is making many people sick and prematurely killing others.

Opponents argue that expanding the board will slow cleanup efforts.
They must be kidding. Efforts and cleanup to this point could hardly be slower.

City can do better

Tue, 08 May 2007 15:56:07 PDT

PUBLISHED 5-9-2007

Leadership is not a spectator sport. A measure of the people we elect to public office is the quality of the people they appoint to boards and commissions, and encourage to become involved in government.

Posting a vacancy notice and waiting for candidates to come knocking is not the leadership we expect in our Bakersfield City Council members.

Well, maybe it is the leadership we expect. But we deserve better.

Two vacancies on the city’s Planning Commission come as the City of Bakersfield and Kern County begin revising metropolitan Bakersfield’s general plan.

Growing pains from the community’s skyrocketing growth require thoughtful planning commissioners who look beyond special interests and short-term demands to guide development and protect the quality of life for generations to come.

At their meeting tonight, City Council members will consider three applicants to fill two vacancies on the planning commission. They include a builder/developer and two political operatives — one a paid staff member of Democrat Assemblywoman Nicole Parra and the other a paid staff member of Republican Congressman Kevin McCarthy. These are hardly the grassroots community members.

Out of the nearly 350,000 people who live in Bakersfield, this is the best we can do?
Shame on all the people who complain about the traffic on Rosedale Highway, the building on northeast Bakersfield’s bluffs and the sprawl into prime agricultural land.

Quit complaining. Do something about it. Apply for a position on the planning commission. Our elected representatives must do more to recruit a better cross section of the community for these appointments.

City Council members are urged to delay their appointments, re-open the recruitment and encourage good people to apply for the planning commission and all other city boards and commissions.

Why not wait until September to force a decision on Iraq?

Tue, 08 May 2007 15:15:21 PDT

Why not wait until September to force a decision on Iraq?

Because my loved one has not died in Iraq YET!!!!!!

Local children hospitalized with possible foodborne illness

Tue, 08 May 2007 14:07:45 PDT

If you haven't yet, please read "Unknown illness strikes four" in today's Californian.

I'm still following this story, so look for updates over the next few days.

Here's the gist:

At least one child has been put on dialysis and as many as three others have been hospitalized with symptoms similar to foodborne illnesses.

Three of the children are kindergartners in the same class at Ronald Reagan Elementary School. The other is a preschooler at St. Philip the Apostle and is in a play group with two of the other sick children.

Before getting sick, many of them attended several parties and play dates together.

The children suffered bloody diarrhea, and two have developed hemolytic-uremic syndrome, a condition marked by kidney failure, and have been transferred to hospitals outside Kern County.

The Kern County Department of Public Health discovered Monday some of the children are positive for Shiga toxins, which can come from E. coli, said County Public Health Officer Dr. B.A. Jinadu.

"The test results are not very conclusive," Jinadu said. "It could be E. coli, but it is not definitive."

The health department is still trying to find the commonality between these cases.

Do any of you have children at Ronald Reagan? Have you heard about this?

Democrats. Don’t fail me now.

Tue, 08 May 2007 13:53:35 PDT

Democrats. Don’t fail me now.

Remember Pope Paul’s consistent ethics of life?

Evaluate your demands. Set a priority and vote for the politician that will do the most good.

Republicans have attracted the single issue voter for decades. Democrats have finally got back on tract with the Iraq war issue. And have an excellent chance of electing the president and congress in 2008..

The illegal immigrant issue is the deciding factor in the 2008 elections. It is the issue that will sway enough voters to put the Republicans ahead. They will do nothing to solve the problem. But they will use the issue to win the election and stick America in Iraq for decades.

So ask yourself. What good will allowing continued illegal immigration. What good will come from amnesty?

We reason that Iraqi’s should solve their own problems. Then how can we justify solving the problems of Mexico?????????????

Be consistent. Do what is right for both America and Mexico.. Stop crime.. Secure our borders..

Be consistent. Vote a consistent ethics of life..

Recent Blog Posts: Bakersfield.com

The House Dem's next step in the war in Iraq funding..

Iraq War General:"Mr. President, You Did Not Listen"

Two Days Until "Streetcar" Hits the Streets of Bakersfield....

Prosecutor ends argument

Help me find my Kids(pets)

Prosecutor continues to slam Brothers' testimony

On The Road Again....

Prosecutor continues to enumerate lies

The 5-second rule, does it work for you?

This health message brought to you by Brad Paisley and the number 4

At least.....

The Rocky Horror Show - Video Montage

Holding back freshmen

Freshman rule change will still allow students to graduate on time

By LISA SCHENCKER, Californian staff writer e-mail: lschencker@bakersfield.com | Wednesday, May 9 2007 10:22 AM

Paris being pardoned?

Racy divorce billboard lands attorneys clients

Prosecutor accuses Brothers of lying

Early Mothers Day poem

The Return of The Doctor

Ancient Faith

Prosecutor resumes argument

New juror selected

Juror dismissed, trial resumes

Juror meetings continue

NW Bako, Throw Me a Bone!

A Lot of Hot Air

Restless legs making me an insomniac tonight

Foodborne diseases 101: There's a bug in my food

I Saved Someone's Life Tonight

Dr. Beemersteins Best Ghetto Garage Innovation Yet

An update...

Breathe easier, expand board

City can do better

Why not wait until September to force a decision on Iraq?

Local children hospitalized with possible foodborne illness

Democrats. Don’t fail me now.

By LISA SCHENCKER, Californian staff writer

e-mail: lschencker@bakersfield.com | Wednesday, May 9 2007 10:22 AM