Author's Corner: Bakersfield.com

Don't Ignore the Over 60 Crowd!

A friend, who is in her mid-70s, told me that she is sure that society in general does not want people to live past 60. Could that be possible?

Have you ever noticed the front cover of magazines such as Good Housekeeping, Parade, Woman’s Day? They frequently have articles about how to dress to impress – they usually stop at age 60. At age 60 it seems we are to go naked into the world (God forbid!).

What about hairstyles? Many articles appear about “appropriate hair styles” at age 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60. What about over 60? People over 60 like to look nice and rarely want to go out looking like someone who just got out of bed. The only thing is there are no articles that address us. If you can find one, send it to me! I’ll share with my friends.

The last straw slapped me in the face today on an item I bought at the grocery store. I purchased a toilet bowl cleaner. In bold red letters on the outside of the plastic container it said, “POWERToilet BowlCleaner.”In big white letters on a green background it blared, “WITH BLEACH.” In red and white it said, “Kills Germs, Brightens as it Cleans.”

In little bitty letters impossible for anyone over 60 to read without a magnifying glass, there were the usual warnings about not drinking it, don’t put it on your pancakes, forget about using it for a coffee creamer and keep it away from children. That, as far as I am concerned, should go without saying but I realize that there are those who would try to make a toilet bowl cleaner an item that can multi-task.

The fun really started when I decided to clean the master bath. I held it over the toilet and squeezed it. Nothing happened. I decided I should probably read the directions on how to open it. In letters the size of flea feet instructions were: Do not squeeze bottle. To open child resistant cap, hold bottle firmly with one hand on a flat surface. With other hand squeeze sides of cap where symbols indicate and turn counter-clockwise. To close, turn clockwise.” I got lost at “with other hand.” And by the way, have you ever seen flea feet?

Also in very small letters, the user was advised, “this product is harmful to humans and domestic animals.”

In other words, don’t feed it to your dog and keep your children away from it. I honestly do not know anyone who would feed toilet bowl cleaner to a dog. People with small children should know to keep all cleaners locked in a cabinet where a child cannot get them.

Am I imagining things or is the over 60 population totally dissed? Most of us wear glasses so we can read and none of my friends intend to go around town naked. So come on, retailers, give us some clothes we can wear, some hairstyles we love and some instructions on bottles we can read without a magnifying glass.

Thanks bunches.

Local Teen Writes Thriller to Earn Her Way Through College

Bakersfield Christian High School graduate, Emily Rose Cardé, has written and published her first inspirational suspense novella, ICU, at the age of 17 to help fund her education at Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, VA. The project began as a short story and morphed into an exciting fund raising adventure for Emily and her family who sought out sponsors to promote and finance the project. The 160 page book was released in May of 2011.

What does ICU stand for? “That’s what everyone wants to know,” says publisher Mischelle Sandowich. The answer? “Read the book!” This synopsis is provided on the back cover: “A series of tragic events push college graduate Lauren Miller to escape the memories of her past and flee to Los Angeles. Settling into her new life comes easily, almost too easily, until she begins receiving threatening packages. Will her new boss help protect her, or will his mysterious connection to her tragic past destroy their friendship?”

Cardé is an avid reader, loving the classics. Her writing has been influenced by great authors of the past and present including Charles Dickens, Mary Higgins Clark, and Emilie Loring. And although Cardé has never read the Twilight series, Randy Martin, pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church and Bible Department head at BCHS, sees a similarity. “It has all the romantic appeal of the Twilight series, without the vampires,” he said, “and from a Christian worldview.” Though the book has a strong appeal for high school and college age students, it has been read and enjoyed by pre-teens as well as those in their senior years, according to reviews found on the companion blog www.icubook.wordpress.com.

ICU is not Cardé’s first publishing experience. While the youngest active member of the Kern Valley Poets and Writers Club, Cardé published short stories, poetry, and lyrics in their yearly publication, Refections of the Kern. Her work appears in the 2009 and 2010 editions. She has also had numerous pieces published in creative journals at BCHS where she earned a coveted award of excellence in the English Department. Cardé plans to earn a B.A. in literature, go on to earn a M.F.A. in creative writing, and one day earn a doctorate degree. One of her career goals is to become an accomplished novelist.

ICU is available in paper back (8.5” x 5.5”) and retails for $12.50. It can be purchased online at www.icubook.wordpress.com or at Russo's Books in the Marketplace. Sponsorships (purchasing five or more copies at $10.00 each) are also available online. For more information call Sandowich at (661) 348-8379 or email icu_book@yahoo.com. Correspondence and orders can be mailed to: Emily Cardé, 4450 California Ave. #225, Bakersfield, CA 93309. Please add $3.50 per book to cover tax and shipping.

Cardé will be selling and autographing books at Russo's Bookstore in the MarketPlace located at 9000 Ming Ave. on Saturday, July 23 from 1pm-3pm.

(661) 348-8379

www.icubook.wordpress.com

icu_book@yahoo.com

Radioactive Exposure, Iodine and Cancer: Do we need protection ONLY during nuclear fallout?

A horrifying effect of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan may be the damage to the nuclear plants especially Fukushima Daiichi, with potential risk of a nuclear meltdown. According to analysis by accuweather.com, prevailing winds and rain over the region can send potential radioactive fallout to Alaska in seven days and to West coast (LA) in eleven days. The estimates are for as much as 750 Rads exposure (1 CT scan is equal to 1 Rad).

The Japanese are in the process of distributing high dose iodine (actually potassium iodide KI) to saturate the thyroid glands to prevent uptake of Iodine-131 nuclear radioactive material. The best time to use the high dose iodine is 1-2 days before the expected exposure. Iodine was also distributed in 1986 during the Chernobyl nuclear disaster when people in neighboring communities were exposed to I-131 radio-active gas (also used in radiology procedures). It is estimated that over 11,000 exposed children developed thyroid and other cancers, along with significant morbidity due to the Chernobyl nuclear fallout.

The question that comes up is that if iodine is being used to treat radiation exposure to prevent thyroid and other cancers during a nuclear holocaust, then why are we not using iodine to prevent the everyday radiation exposures that we all are getting from X-rays, CT scans, angiograms, and so many other sources?

There is considerable evidence that there is iodine deficiency worldwide. It is the #1 reason for reversible brain damage, according to UNICEF in 2006. “Iodine deficiency during pregnancy affects fetal brain development,” said UNICEF Deputy Director Kul Gautam. “It is the world’s leading cause of mental retardation. It is a danger to pregnant women and young children. Even mild forms of iodine deficiency can lower the IQ level of children by 10 to 15 per cent, leading to poor performance in school and reduced productivity as adults.”

Lack of iodine in the diets of most people has made them more susceptible to cancers, goiter, cysts, infections, immune disorders, and other illnesses. There are some estimates that 70% of the population may be deficient in iodine. Iodine is essential for every cell and tissue of the body, with high concentrations needed in thyroid, brain, breasts, ovaries, heart, skin, immune system, gastrointestinal system, and during pregnancy.

Why are so many people deficient in iodine?

There are several halides including fluoride (toothpaste, water supply), chlorine (water supply, automobiles, computers, etc), bromine (automobiles, fire retardants, clothes, computers, breads, dough, etc) plus mercury & perchlorate which are all toxic to the human body, and actively block iodine absorption and metabolism. Iodine is the only natural halide that is essential for breasts, ovaries and other tissues, while the iodide form is essential for the thyroid. Both iodine and iodide forms are needed for life.

At the Anti-Aging & Wellness Center, we routinely test our patients for iodine deficiency. We recommend the use of iodine and iodide in appropriate amounts to prevent and treat disease. Many of our patients are routinely using iodine and iodide replacement and are well protected from everyday radiation exposures, as well as the more serious exposures from potential nuclear fallout.

About the Authors: Shivinder S. Deol MD is board certified in family medicine and anti-aging & wellness medicine, specializes in thyroid, auto-immune diseases, cancer support, chelation and more. Dr. Deol has been practicing in Bakersfield for 29 years. Dr. Jennifer I. Salcido ND is a naturopathic doctor who specializes in nutrition, detoxification and bio-identical hormones. Dr. Salcido recently joined the Anti-Aging & Wellness Center.

Shirley Castro to Sign Books February 12 at Borders

Children's book author, Shirley Castro, will be at Borders on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 3:00 to sign her three books in the Pelican Family Series. Her picture books are written for children ages pre-school through age 8 and contain cartoon characters and real photographs of brown pelicans along the California and Oregon coasts.

I'm Still Kicking...Thanks to Mom and Dad

This has been a very difficult year for my family, one of the hardest I can remember. Not only was my husband injured at work, requiring surgery and six months’ disability, but I myself was hit with a debilitating illness which rendered me housebound for three months and left me with permanent, severe headaches. To make matters worse, soon after he returned to work, my husband lost his job. Mildly stated, it has been a challenge to come up with anything to be thankful for in this tremendously trying time. Still, I am reminded that, as bad as things seem for us, there are many who are in sadder circumstances. And so, this Thanksgiving, I continue to relish the fact that we still have a wonderful, happy home to celebrate Thanksgiving in. I love the fact that I have a sweet mother-in-law who not only loves her son, but who doesn’t believe that I have three sixes tattooed on my body somewhere. I am grateful for my delightful, adoring husband, my oldest boy, and my two stepchildren, all who give me a reason to live every day when I thought, after the death of my youngest child several years ago, I would never really want to live again. And there is one other thing I have realized I am unique to still have at my age. In my mid (okay, late) forties, I am fortunate to have both my wonderful parents living. Nearly everyone I know, my husband included, has lost at least one of their parents. Many have lost both by the time they reach my age. Not only are my parents living, they are still happily married; they will celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary next September.

My parents have seen me through many things throughout my life: drugs in high school, terrible marriages and divorce, single parenthood and poverty, and the death of my beloved son, my father’s own namesake. And remarkably, not only do they still love me, which many people consider something required of parents, but they really seem to like me, too. Even when I find it difficult, if not impossible, to like myself, my mom and dad really do. This is something that picks me up and keeps me going quite often, even as I battle depression and alcoholism, battles that will continue my entire life. My mother remains my closest friend; my father is still the daddy every little girl wishes they had, the one I am lucky enough to call my own. But even someday when my mom and dad are no longer there, I will always remember that they were there, that they always will be, right beside me, cheering me on. For now, they are both still here. Unfortunately, they live in another state, and will not be with us for this Thanksgiving. We do, however, plan on spending Christmas with them. If things don’t look up soon in the employment department for us, we may eventually be moving back in with them. So much for the empty nest.

President Obama; I Want Larry Summers's Job, I Want To Be Your Next Economic Advisor

You have been empowered. You will be able to change things and make a choice after you read the comments and replies. Also read the People's Economic Recovery Plan at www.recoverygovforthepeople.wordpress.com/

President Obama

C/O U.S. Congress

1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

C/O US Congress

Washington D.C. 20500

202-456-1111 Comment line

202-456-2461 Fax

202-456-1414 Switchboard

Oct.14, 2010

President Obama and U.S. Congress:

You said you would listen, but we haven't been heard yet! The middle class and small businesses need help! We are being destroyed by obsolete policies and Keynesian economics.

Mr. President, at one of your town hall meetings you said that you would consider all options to improve the economy’s recovery and the financial condition of the middle class.

I am Chairman of a special Committee For Economic Reform and A Better Economic Future. Our members belong to an exclusive list of noted private business people and highly educated economic scholars, from the past and current history. I have been involved in improving the economic policies of our economy since 1980.

These policies will lead to another Gloom, Boom, and Doom cycle of economic activity. These are Keynesian economic polices, which we continue to use during each recession and continue to get the same results, recession, posterity, recession, this is the definition of "insanity."

When the federal government deficit spends it creates money by increasing its debt. The spending of the money for wages and products increases aggregate demand in the economy, because the government has increased or maintained a large number of people's disposable income.

In the simplest form, the Plan has only two parts. The first part, just like deficit spending, it restores the middle class’s disposable income by restructuring their mortgages, similar to what government and big businesses are doing, which will increase total demand. Increased aggregate demand will increase productive economic activity, which will wake up employers. They will say to themselves," Where did all these customers come from? I need more help!" Thereby increasing the disposable income of the previously unemployed.

What is beneficial about the Plan is that the Federal Government is not borrowing any money therefore taxes do not have to be increased to pay it back. The Plan does not cost taxpayers a dime. The Plan will also help the financial service sector because their customers will be in better financial condition, which allows the economy to de-leverage without crashing.

The second part of the Plan is what all gold backed money enthusiasts want. It limits and discourages the creation of money (debt) with the Zero Inflation Taxation Policy. It will no longer be profitable or necessary for people to play credit-leveraging games, to protect their capital, when people are affected by inflation psychology.

When inflation raises its ugly head it can be controlled before it gets out of hand. Not by raising cost and eliminating demand from the bottom of the economic ladder with unemployment and small business bankruptcies, but by decreasing demand from the top of the economic ladder with the income tax laws. During the inflation economic cycle, the Policy will redirect money into money investments, savings and productive endeavors.

We also support the enterprise sector of our economy, but it is no longer free. It was a free system when the "robber barons" amassed and controlled a majority of the means of production and supply and created monopolies and trust, which President Theodore Roosevelt, Congress and the Supreme Court broke up to create more competition in our economy.

The Capitalist system needs to have some guiding principles, similar to the morality side of people’s lives. The economy is made of people. Just like a person’s life, the Capitalist economic system can become so imbalanced it can destroy itself.

So that we know that you have heard us. We will say it again. The current economic policies are not working as well you had hoped, Mr. President, to lower the unemployment rate and the rising number of foreclosures. The Committee For Economic Reform and a Better Economic Future has developed an Alternative Economic Recovery Plan that does not raise taxes or deficit spending. It also does not use quantitative easing by the Fed. Go to www.recoverygovforthepeople.wordpress.com/ to read the complete plan.

Please reply ASAP. Please do not send me a form letter or a letter that states that my information is being directed to the correct department. I want to be President Obama's next economic advisor. If you are reading this letter, you have not been authorized to do so. This letter is address to him. It is for his eyes only. No One Else! Period!!

Sincerely

Leonard C.Tekaat Chairman of Committee For Economic Reform and A Better Economic Future E-mail economysflaw@yahoo.com

You have been empowered. You will be able to change things and make a choice after you read the comments and replies.

P.S. I replied to a donmason, who made a comment on my blog article at www.bakersfield.com/ , which is our local newspaper's web site. His comment was, in a few words, let it all collapse and start over again.

Leonard C. Tekaat's reply was:

To donmason: I understand what you are saying. But there will always be people holding other people’s debt, unless you have another economic system that you want to put in place, other than the enterprise capitalistic system.

Money is almost all created by debt. Under the policies of our money system only a small portion of the money supply is something other than debt. Paper money is created and authorized by the federal government's debt through the Federal Reserve System. When a person puts money into the bank it was created by somebody’s debt. It does not matter you holds the debt or money, it is how and when they spend it that is important.

The first part of the plan is to allow the economy to de-leverage, in an orderly way, without crashing. It creates a process that will keep people in their homes instead of the lean holder foreclosing on the homes and resolves the problem of underwater mortgages. It also puts people back to work, in the private sector, as quickly as possible.

The most important part is the second part. We keep using Keynesian policies to re-inflate the economy during and after a recession. We don't want to re-inflate the economy. It decreases our competitiveness in the world markets. Wages go up and our jobs are shipped over seas. It reduces the value of the dollar, which increase commodity prices.

People can't afford the prices in the economy now. As you point out, incomes of the middle class have not been keeping pace with prices. It was when primary home prices became too high, relative to incomes that busted the credit bubble, created by the primary home price bubble.

People don't read or maybe they don't understand how important the second part of the plan is. I am purposing less credit use during the inflation cycle. Keynesian said, Tax people more to pay off the deficit, created by the recession." Congress never does that. Congress recycles the money back into the economy with social program because people are getting poorer because of the inflation that is being created by government and private sector inflationary spending.

I am creating policy that will reduce the number of people asking for loans during the inflation cycle. Money will become more valuable when less of it is created and it is taxed less. The Plan gives production the time it needs to catch up to demand before inflation psychology is created.

When inflation begins to occur, in an economy, it must become more productive and competitive domestically and internationally. Currently when inflation occurs our economy, becomes less efficient. People try to protect their capital (money) by using credit to either profit from inflation, or maintain the value of their capital, by creating more money and more inflation.

When the Fed uses higher interest rates to reduce demand it raises cost and reduces competition by bankrupting small businesses. Larger businesses & corporations buy the distressed small businesses because they can't restructure their loans, even though they may be good companies and can contribute to the economy and employment. This process decreases competition in the market place. When the economy begins to expand again we have reduced the number of product and raw material supply businesses and businesses that sell the production created by the supply side of the equation.

Don says, “Let it crash and purge the system.” I say, “We have a flaw in the system”, as I point out in my articles, posted on my web site at www.recoverygovforthepeople.wordpress.com If we rebuild on the same policies that we currently guide our economy (people) with, we will end up with the same results.

We the people out number "the big boys”. and the "moneyed class." They only have the power of miss-information. If you are empowered with knowledge and the truth, you can weed out the misinformation. We are not sheep going blindly to the slaughterhouse each day. The power of the vote is vested with the people. We can change tax policy and our government's policies!

PS. More Comments and Replies 10-14-10

donmason: Reply to comment made on 10/16/10

I agree, almost all money, under the current international fractional banking system, is created by the Federal Reserve Systems of the world. Once the money (debt) is created someone owns it. It is how and when they spend or invest it that matters. If the person is directed incorrectly, at the wrong time in the economic cycles, by government policy or by possible inflation created profit and the money may create "paper profits' without work, the money will go in that direction. If enough people are directing their money in one direction, the price of that commodity or capital asset will spike in price without any new money being created by the fractional banking system. It is similar to100 people in a lifeboat. If something good is happening on one side of the boat and enough people want to participate in what is happening, the boat will lean further and further until it capsizes.

I believe the Zero Inflation Taxation Policy would not guide all the people to the side of boat, as the current static policies do. It would create enough uncertainty in the inflation cycle that people would not be affected by the crowd effect. Energy prices are going to spike but people who bet on inflation with leveraged enlarged bets with credit, will pay more income taxes. People that support production, without credit, will pay less income taxes, until supply is balanced with normal demand. The adjustment will come at the end of the year. I am talking about annual inflation rates that reflex a true Consumer Price Index, not the government's gerrymandered rigged CPI that they are currently using.

Tkozy--You are correct about how the money was destroyed over seas. I call what you said “the silver lining “ of this economic mess we are in. If you believe in conspiracy theories, what if, that is why this bubble was created. We had trillions of dollars of debt (money) around the world. When the credit bubble popped, much of the debt was held by over seas by financial intuitions, banks and investors. Maybe we learned something when the Japanese were buying up America. Destroy the money before foreigner can use it to buy America. Just a thought; Do you think they are that cunning? It would take a lot of planning to pull it off.

The world probably thought that we wanted all the wealth and the jobs when we were running trade surpluses for all those years in the eighteen and nineteen hundreds and all the other nations of the world were in debt to us.

Virgil-- Producing more of the products we use would definitely help our trade imbalance and our unemployment stats. When our nation relies too heavily on other nations, we definitely give up some of our security.

We ran a trade surplus from the late 1900s to the late 1960s. The dollar was strong, maybe too strong for the banks. When President Kennedy was elected he lowered taxes, the long-term capital gains rate and increased the deficit. He got us involved in the conflict in Vietnam. These moves are classical Keynesian economic policy.

The inflation takes time to be created and feels good in the beginning. The government was on cloud nine. It thought it could do anything. The tax revenues were poring in. The progressives thought, wow, we could make everyone rich and eliminate poverty. Then it got out of hand and shit hit the fan in the beginning of the 1970s, when President Nixon had to take the dollar off the gold standard. The dollar’s value has continued to go down since then and our price structure has gone up.

The financial service sector loved every minute of it. They were creating more and more debt (money). Larger and Larger loans were needed to support the higher and higher prices.

If we had the Zero Inflation Taxation Policy in place back then, we would not have become, as a people in general, so relaxed about using credit and going into debt way above our means.

Oh don’t forget this: In the 1960s the Kennedy family was heavily invested in Chase Bank. They still might be, I don’t know.

Remember the first objective is to de-leverage the economy without crashing it and put people back to work so they can stay in their homes. The second part is not to repeat the mistakes of the past and correct the flaw in our policies.

Donmason—You bring up the several things. Glass-Stegal, fractional banking and capital requirements.

I agree that Wall St investment banks and the Federal Reserve Banks should be separated. But did the deregulation and the elimination of Glass-Stegal cause the primary home price bubble.

I believe the process mortgages go through had more to do with it. A mortgage broker or bank creates the mortgages. It is then sold to a Wall St. firm or a government-housing agency or Fannie or Freddie. Then it is securitized and sold to investors nationally and internationally. Neither Glass-Stegal nor the Volcker Rule forbids the banks from selling their mortgages to these entities.

The selling of the mortgages is how the investor’s money was pumped into the primary home market. When the return on an investment is good and investors feel confident that their capital will be returned to them, the money will flow in that direction. A large portion of the securitized mortgages were sold to over seas investors.

The American fractional banking system did not provide the money directly. The banks acted as the originators of the mortgages. Their capital was returned to them when they sold the mortgages. They then loaned the same money out again and the process was repeated over and over again. It was domestic and foreign investors and financial institution money that was used to finance the ever-increasing primary home price, not directly by the fractional Federal Reserve Banking System.

The banks only held a small portion of the mortgages on their books. The amount of deposits and loans they held, on their books, is what determined how much capital they had to retain for emergencies (a run on the bank or a devaluation of capital). Even though they sold a large portion of their mortgages, the mortgages they did hold, got them into trouble, but they had the Fed’s discount window to go to, to stay solvent.

It was the Wall St. investment banks that failed. It was the Wall St. banks and AIG that were bailed out and bought by the Federal Reserve Banks.

Some of the Wall St firms changed their structure to banks to save themselves. As banks they had access to the Fed’s discount window. The Community Banks don’t have access to the Fed window. They were helped by TARP along with GMAC and AIG.

Over 100 community banks have failed this year, because they hold a large amount of commercial mortgages and loans. I am sorry to say, but this will decrease competition in the financial service industry and eliminate places for small businesses to go to restructure their debt. This further consolidates the financial service industry making the “big boys” and the “moneyed few” richer and politically stronger.

ApolloDawn--You are not seeing things. I haven’t changed my policies. I think you understand them better and maybe I am explaining my ideas better. I hope that is the case.

If I am explaining them better, then the general public might be catching on to how we have been led down this dark path of servitude to the banks. You can read more at my web site at www.recoverygovforthepeople.wordpress.com At the bottom of the page it will direct you to another site which has the Alternative Economic Recovery Plan. I hope you like to read. There are many articles on the subject.

I don’t see any changes that have been made that will stop another economic crisis from happening again. The same mortgage process is in place. Investors are a little more nervous, but they will get over it. The government thinks that the new consumer protection agency will protect the consumer and that education of the consumer will change the consumer’s attitude about using excessive credit. These are all smoke and mirror plans.

The real problem is inflation psychology. The only way I believe that inflation psychology can be handled is with the Zero Inflation Taxation Policy. If you take a good look at the Policy, it makes the government and borrowers guarantee the value of the money that is created. The debt holders or savers will be taxed less if inflation is created and the borrower will be taxed a little more, if inflation is created, until the economy balances itself, using the enterprise system to create more supply. If we can discourage people from taking out larger loans during the inflation cycle, with the income tax, the Fed will not have to raise interest rates and banks won’t be able to leverage (increase) the money supply too much, which creates credit bubbles and Great Recessions.

Increasing capital requirements is a good idea, but banks know how to play games to get around this requirement. They do it by setting up other entities that make believe the loans are owned another corporation or entity,

You are correct, donmason, when you say growth cannot go on indifferently. Our world has a limited supply of energy and natural resources. If each person of the entire world’s population consumed as much as each person uses it the U.S., the world would run out of both the current energy source (oil) and natural resources in a very short time. We have predicted this same thing in the past, but have always been able to find alternatives to use. Perhaps this will happen again. Lets hope so, for our posterity's sake.

If you want to reduce the size of the deficit and government, and put people back to work in the private sector and get people off the government dole and out of your wallet, call the White House comment line, and tell them you want Leonard C. Tekaat to be President Obama's next economic advisor. Ph. 1-202-456-1111 comment line or go to www.WhiteHouse.gov/ and leave a message.

Donmason Commented, Leonard C.Tekaat Replied On 10/14/10 Comments

I replied to a donmason, who made a comment on my blog article at www.bakersfield.com ,which is our local newspaper's web site. His comment was, in a few word, let it all collaspe and start over again.

Leonard C. Tekaat's reply was:

The first part of the plan is only to allow the economy to de-leverage, in an orderly way, without crashing. It creates a process that will keep people in their homes instead of the lean holder foreclosing on the homes and resolves the problem of underwater mortgages. It also puts people back to work, in the private sector, as quickly as possible.

The most important part is the second part. We keep using Keynesian policies to re-inflate the economy after a recession. We don't want to re-inflate the economy. It decreases our competitiveness in the world markets. Wages go up and our jobs are shipped over seas. It reduces the value of the dollar, which increase commodity prices.

People can't afford the prices in the economy now. As you point out, incomes of the middle class have not been keeping pace with prices. It was when primary home prices became too high, relative to incomes, that busted the credit bubble, created by the primary home price bubble.

People don't read or maybe they don't understand how important the second part of the plan is. I am purposing less credit use during the inflation cycle. Keynesian said, Tax people more to pay off the deficit. Created by the recession" Congress never does that. Congress recycles the money back into the economy with social program because people are getting poorer because of the inflation that is being created by government and private sector inflationary spending.

When inflation begins to occur, in an economy, it must become more productive and competitive domestically and internationally. Currently when inflation occurs our economy becomes less efficient. People try to protect their capital (money) by using credit to either profit from inflation, or maintain the value of their capital, by creating more money and more inflation.

When the Fed uses higher interest rates to reduce demand it raises cost and reduces competition by bankrupting small businesses. Larger business & corporations buy the distressed small business because they can't restructure their loans, even though they may be good companies and can contribute to the economy and employment. This process decreases competition in the market place. When the economy begins to expand again we have reduced the number of product and raw material supply businesses and businesses that sell the production created by the supply side of the equation.

Don says let crash and purge the system. I say, We have a flaw in the system, as I point out in my articles, posted on my web site at www.recoverygovforthepeople.wordpress.com If we rebuild on the same policies that we guide our economy (people) with, we will end up with the same results.

We the people out number "the big boys".and the "monied class." They only have the power of mis-information. If you are empowered with knowledge and the truth, you can weed out the misinformation. We are not sheep going blindly to the slaughter house each day. The power of the vote is vested with the people. We can change tax policy and our government's policies!

PS. More Comments and Replies 10-14-10

Tkozy--You are correct how the money was destroyed over seas. I call what you said “the silver lining “ of this mess we are in. If you believe in conspiracy theories, what if, maybe that is why this bubble was created. We had trillions of dollars of debt (money) around the world. When the credit bubble popped, much of the debt was held by over seas by financial intuitions, banks and investors. Maybe we learned something when the Japanese were buying up America. Destroy the money before foreigner can use it to buy America. Just a thought; Do you think they are that cunning? It would take a lot of planning to pull it off.

The financial service sector loved every minute of it. They were creating more and more debt (money). Larger and Larger loans were needed to support the higher and higher prices.

If we had the Zero Inflation Taxation Policy in place back then, we would not’t have become, as a people in general, so lacked about using credit and going into debt way above our means.

Oh don’t forget this: In the 1960s the Kennedy family was heavily invested in Chase Bank. They still might be, I don’t know.

ApolloDawn--You are not seeing things. I haven’t changed my policies. I think you understand them better and maybe I am explaining my ideas better. I hope that is the case.

Donmason—You bring up the several things. Glass-Stegal, fractional banking and capital requirements.

I agree that Wall St investment banks and the Federal Reserve Banks should be separated. But did the deregulation and the elimination of Glass-Stegal cause the primary home price bubble.

The fractional banking system did not provide the money. The banks acted as the originators of the mortgages. Their capital was returned to them when they sold the mortgages. They then loaned the same money out again and the process was repeated over and over again. It was domestic and foreign investor and financial institution money that was used to fiance the ever increasing primary home price not directly the fractional Federal Reserve Banking System.

The banks only held a small portion of the mortgages on their books. The amount of deposits and loans they held, on their books, is what determined how much capital they had to retain for emergencies (a run on the bank or a devaluation of capital). Even though they sold a large portion of their mortgages, the mortgages they did hold onto got them into trouble, but they had the Fed’s discount window to go to, to stay solvent.

It was the Wall St. investment banks that failed. It was the Wall St. banks and AIG that were bailed out and bought by the Federal Reserve Banks.

Over 100 community banks have failed this year because they hold a large amount of commercial mortgages and loans. I am sorry to say, but this will decrease competition in the financial service industry and eliminate a place for small businesses to go to restructure their debt. This further consolidates the financial service industry making the “big boys” and the “moneyed few” richer and more political stronger.

I don’t see any changes that have been made that will stop it from happening again. The same mortgage process is in place. Investors are a little more nervous, but will get over it. The government thinks that the new consumer protection agency will protect the consumer and that education of the consumer will change the consumer’s attitude about using excessive credit. These are all smoke and mirror plans.

The real problem is inflation psychology. The only way I think that it can be handled is with the Zero Inflation Taxation Policy. If you take a good look at the Policy, it makes the government and borrowers guarantee the value of the money that is created. The debt holders or savers will be taxed less if inflation is created and the borrower will be taxed a little more, if inflation is created, until the economy balances itself, using the enterprise system to create more supply. If you can discourage people from taking out larger loans during the inflation cycle, banks won’t be able to leverage the money supply too much, which creates credit bubbles and Great Recessions.

You are correct, Don mason, when you say growth cannot go on indifferently. Our world has a limited supply of energy and natural resources. If each person of the entire world’s population consumed as much as each person uses it the U.S., the world would run out of both the current energy source (oil) and natural resources in a very short time. We have predicted this same thing in the past, but have always been able to find alternatives to use. Perhaps this will happen again. Lets hope so, for our posterity's sake.

I Want To Be President Obama's Economic Advisor

President Obama

C/O U.S. Congress

1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

C/O US Congress

Washington D.C. 20500

202-456-1111 Comment line

202-456-2481 Fax

202-456-1414 Switchboard

10-13-2010

President Obama and U.S. Congress:

You must have unopened mail! Or perhaps your advisers do not know what to do to improve the economy for the middle class and small business. All your advisors are from Wall St., big business or Keynesian economic policy practitioners. I would like to be your economic advisor. You said you would listen, but we haven't been heard yet! The middle class and small businesses need help! We are being destroyed by obsolete policies and Keynesian economics.

Mr. President, at one of your town hall meetings you said that you would consider all options to improve the economy’s recovery and the financial condition of the middle class.

I am Chairman of a special Committee For Economic Reform and A Better Economic Future. Our members belong to an exclusive list of noted private business people and highly educated economic scholars, from the past and current history. I have been involved in improving the economic policies of our economy since 1980.

The economic policies that are currently being used are not working, as well as you had hoped to increase employment and stem the rising number of foreclosures. The Committee For Economic Reform and a Better Economic Future has developed an Alternative Economic Recovery Plan, posted at www.recoverygovforthepeople.wordpress.com that does not use deficit spending and quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve. These policies will lead to another Gloom, Boom, and Doom cycle of economic activity. These are Keynesian economic polices, which we continue to use during each recession and continue to get the same results, recession, posterity, recession, this is the definition of “insanity.”

When the federal government deficit spends it creates money by increasing it's debt. The spending of the money for wages and products increases aggregate demand in the economy, because the government has increased or maintained a large number of people's disposable income. In the simplest form, the Plan has only two parts. The first part, just like deficit spending, it restores the middle class’s disposable income by restructuring their mortgages, similar to what government and big businesses are doing, which will increase total demand. Increased aggregate demand will increase productive economic activity, which will wake up employers. They will say to themselves,” Where did all these customers come from? I need more help!” Thereby increasing the disposable income of the previously unemployed. What is beneficial about the Plan is that the Federal Government is not borrowing any money therefore taxes do not have to be increased to pay it back. The Plan does not cost taxpayers a dime. The Plan will also help the financial service sector because their customers will be in better financial condition which allows the economy to deleverage without crashing.

The second part of the Plan is what all gold backed money enthusiast want, it limits and discourages the creation of money (debt) and the over leveraging games that people play when they are affected by inflation psychology, with the Zero Inflation Taxation Policy. So when inflation raises its ugly head it can be controlled before it gets out of hand. Not by raising cost and eliminating demand from the bottom of the economic ladder with unemployment and small business bankruptcies, but by decreasing demand from the top of the economic ladder with the income tax laws. During the inflation economic cycle, the Policy will redirect money into money investments, savings and productive endeavors.

We also support the enterprise sector of our economy, but it is no longer free. It was a free system when the “robber barons” amassed and controlled a majority of the means of production and supply and created monopolies and trust, which President Theodore Roosevelt, Congress and the Supreme Court broke up to create more competition in our economy.

So that we know that you have heard us. We will say it again. The current economic policies are not working as well you had hoped Mr. President, to lower the unemployment and the rising number of foreclosures. The Committee For Economic Reform and a Better Economic Future has developed an Alternative Economic Recovery Plan that does not raise taxes or deficit spending. It also does not use quantitative easing by the Fed. Go to www.recoverygovforthepeople.wordpress.com/ to read the complete plan.

Please reply ASAP

Sincerely Leonard C.Tekaat

Bakersfield, California

It All Happened After Leaving The Bakersfield Business Conference

There must be over 10,000 stories that can be told about the Bakersfield Business Converence, I would like to tell you ours.

On Saturday October 9, 2010 my great grandchildren and I had planed to go quad riding in the foothills of Taft. Ca.

I had sat down earlier that morning and read the Bakersfield Californian. I noticed an article that reminded me that the Bakersfield Business Conference was being held on Saturday. I said to the boys, Nate 8 years old and Dakota 11 years old, that I wanted to pass out some flyers at the Business Conference. They asked, "What’s the Bakersfield Business Conference. I told them that it was a place where famous and not so famous people come to give speeches about their ideas on how to improve our nation and the economy. "But Grandpa", they said, "We want to go quad riding. I know, I said, "But the battery is dead on Nate's quad, so we will put the charger on it. Then go and make some flyers up and put them on some vehicles, in the parking lot at the conference." They said, " O...OK. What are the flyers about?" I told them they were about my ideas on how the economy could be improved and that my ideas would help people have jobs and they wouldn't lose their homes to the bank. They said, "Can we help." I said, "Sure, lets go."

I got on the computer and down loaded a part of an article I had written, hooked up the battery charger, and we headed to the closest Pack & Ship Plus on Calloway Dr., to make up about 100 copies. We got to P&S and I asked the clerk about cost. She said, “10 cents a copy.” I asked about colored paper. She showed me some paper that was orange with leaves around the edge. It looked like autumn. It was nice and I liked it. I asked how much more per sheet. She said, "Ten cents." I said, "OK, I need 200 copies." We copied one copy. For some reason when I copied the original it was crooked on the paper. The clerk was very nice and made-up a proof copy that she taped to another piece of paper. We got the job done and headed to the Conference. A copy of the Flyer is at www.recoverygovforthepeople.wordpress.com/

At the Conference the boys eagerly helped me put all 200 copies under windshield wiper blades. They put the flyers on the low vehicles and I put them on the pickups and SUVs. The last copy I had was the proof. I gave it to an older Gentleman that was at the entrance driveway, holding up a sign in support of his favorite candidate for a political office. Just as we approached him, he was slowly trying to sit down on the curb. I jokingly said to him, "Hey, no sitting down on the job." He smiled at me. I sat down beside him and talked a minute. He said, "He would read the flyer at home." The boys had a good time, they said, then we headed home.

We arrived at home after filling up a couple of container with gas and found that Nate's guad battery was still dead. The plug end of the extension cord had been unplugged after I had used a power saw and I hadn't noticed it. It was 3:30 pm and I was determined to take the boys guad riding. I said to the boys, "We will just jump start Nate's quad, its getting late, the sun goes down at 6 pm.

We took off to have a good time. Just as we passed over the I-5 over pass on Enos Ln., we had a blowout on the left tire on the trailer. NO SPARE!! We limp to the Shell station on the corner of Enos Ln. and Taft Hwy., to pull off the wheel and hub. I was going to call home, oops, no cell phone. Did I lose it? I went inside the gas station to ask about a public phone. No public phone. A lady at the counter offered me her cell phone. THANK YOU! I called my twin brother, Athol, no answer. I called my home and asked my daughter to drive out and pick us up so we could to get another tire.

We picked up a couple of used tires and wheels at a yard I have on Roberts Lane. After dropping the boys off at home, with my wife Brenda, we drove back out to where the trailer and truck were parked. We arrived there about 8 pm. Lo and behold the small doe-nut tire and wheel I had found, that fit the hub, was flat after airing it up at home. The other wheel and tire was flat also, that I had loaded when we left home. The tire needed a valve stem installed to air it up. I had planned for this, and had stopped by Auto Zone and picked one up. I had to break the bead of the tire without any tools, most gas stations don't have service bays anymore. The one I was at didn't, so I used the front wheel and the weight of the Van, my daughter was driving, to break the bead and install the valve stem.

I had thrown in a small compressor with a full tank of air in the van. I tried to reset the tire bead and it wouldn't set because there wasn't enough air going into the valve stem. I almost emptied the tank of air while trying to reset the bead. I had to try something different. I took out the valve core. I took off the inflator gage, off the end of the hose and put the end of the hose over the valve stem and reopened the hose valve on the tank. I just had enough air pressure to reset the tire bead, partially. So I rolled it over to the gas station's air and water island.

There were a couple of guys there that had some trouble with a leaking heater hose. While I was asking what kind of trouble they were having, his partner walk up and said, "They don't sell hose clamps here." I had them show me what size clamp they needed. After looking at it, I told them that I think that there is a clamp on Nate's quad that might work. We walk over to my truck, on the other side of the parking lot, to check out the clamp that held on Nate's air cleaner. It looked like it would work, so I took it off and gave it to him. On the way back to his truck, I asked the gas station clerk to turn on the air. When I got back to the air station, one of the guys was airing up my tire. I never did get their names. They asked for mine. They wanted to return the clamp to me in the morning, so I said, OK. Update they didn't return Nate's clamp as they said they wanted to do by 12 oclock Sunday the time that I told them they need to return.

After putting the wheel back on the trailer, we started back home. Less than 1 mile down the road the tire comes apart. Apparently it was sun rotten and all the rubber came off leaving the nylon cord exposed. I stopped and looked at it, and my daughter, who was driving behind me, tells me something happen, and that a big chunk of something had hit the windshield. I asked her if it had hurt anything. She said, "No! Thank goodness! I told her that since we didn't have any other tires to put on the trailer. We couldn’t leave the trailer beside the road because of the quads that are loaded on it, that we would drive it slowly home, because it was not riding on the rim, but on the nylon cord. I told her we would see how it went. She said, " I will put my hazard flashers on, and I'm staying way back! I don't want anything else to hit the car."

We proceeded to drive home, which is in the NW part of Bakersfield, about 15 miles from where we were, at 20 mile an hour. We stopped every once in awhile to check things out and everything was fine. The nylon cord lasted all the way home. By the time we got home, it was after 10pm. Boy, what a day.

Guess what I'm doing today? I'm taking the boys quad riding after I put a new tire on the trailer.

Oh! The cell phone was on the desk at home. Thank you Lord, well almost. I some how lost my credit card, sometime after I bought a bolt and a couple of pairs of gloves for the boys at the ACE Hardware store on Rosedale Hwy. Had to call the credit card card company this morning. Oh I still haven't found the key to the truck. Sure a good thing my daughter had a copy. I hope you have a better day today, than we had on Saturday the 9th day of Oct. 2010. Best of luck, Have a nice Bakersfield day.

Soloist Author Comes to Bakersfield College as Part of Author Series

Steve Lopez, recognized Los Angeles Times columnist and author of The Soloist: A Lost Dream, and Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music, will be visiting Bakersfield College on Wednesday, October 13 as the College’s 2010 Cerro Visiting Author.

Lopez has been a newspaper journalist for most of his career. When he started writing for Time, Inc. in 1997, a Time-Warner editor in chief said of him: "Steve is a journalist's journalist--an indefatigable and fearless reporter, an elegant writer, and a tireless crusader." He began working at the Los Angeles Times in 2001, writing Points West, an opinion-editorial column, three times a week. He describes his mode of operation as a columnist as "opening the refrigerator to see what's moldy and writing about that."

While he has written several novels, he is best known for his columns and his best selling non-fiction work The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music published in 2008 and made into the 2009 film with Robert Downey, Jr., and Jamie Foxx. The story centers on Lopez's relationship with Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless musician. What began as a subject for a column developed into a friendship. Of the book, reviewer Bill Williams writes, "Lopez has given us a remarkable story, told with sensitivity and insight--one that sheds light on mental illness, homelessness, journalistic standards and, as the subtitle says, 'the redemptive power of music.'"

Steve Lopez will give a presentation for the public at Bakersfield College’s Indoor Theater at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 13. Lopez’s visit to Bakersfield College is made possible by a gift from the Dolores Cerro family endowment.

Writer Tells Tales While Reviewing Products on Amazon.com

There are thousands of reviewers on Amazon.com. None write like Brockeim.

June 2, 2010 -- Brockeim has a strange world view. He sees something beautiful in everyday items. Sometimes sad, but more often sweet, he reviews household items with a fond smile.

Thousands of customers at online retailer Amazon.com have enjoyed his tales involving coffee pots, corncob holders and butter keepers. Quoted globally from technology writer David Pogue to Forrester Research, to blogs across the Internet, readers are amused at his reviews and book related parodies.

A self-described sensualist and unapologetically sentimental, he approaches most pieces asking the question, "What do I feel?" Like an Impressionist painter, he delivers that feeling indirectly, surrounding each piece in colorful vignettes. In his reviews, he examines the interaction of the five senses, like the sound of a knife scraping across a slice of toast, or the glint of a shiny chocolate wrapper. Or he focuses on texture, as he does to begin his review of a well-known nutritional drink: "Smoothly poured, and smoothly swallowed, this delicate chocolate drink danced in daylight, a creamy delight, as if to tease me, please me into a heightened awareness of all that is succulent and good. And, mmm, it was and is good, this chocolate Slim Fast."

Summing up his style, he calls himself a reviewer and positive satirist looking at the art form of reviewing. He asks what else a product can be. Ordinary household goods become agents of romance (rated G & PG), or fix daily troubles. Then, there are his daily non sequiturs that sound somewhere between Steven Wright and Jack Handy.

Why This Style?
"I had been buying products on Amazon.com for years, and thought so many of the reviews had no style. Several years ago, I ran across a brilliant reviewer named Henry Raddick causing a bit of a kerfuffle in the UK. He incorporated his amazing life into his reviews packed with wit and innuendo, and they were hilarious. I thought there's something interesting there." With a background in classic literature and poetry, Brockeim realized his skill was neither in political humor or biting one liners, but in developing ambience and mood.

Who Is Nancy?
Who is Nancy, the girl found in so many of his reviews? "She is a combination of girls I knew growing up and as an adult. She was my first friend, my first crush and my first love. She is every girl I tried to impress, and every girl who smiled my way," he said. Things might get confusing for readers following their romance, as it seems on again/off again as her merges his romantic adventures under one character. He'll take you to the time when Nancy first took Brockeim's eye on the playground when they first were learning to ride bikes, through his adult years when discovering how to clean nasty smells in the sink.

With a delightful childhood filled with friends, and now, a modern life of leisure drinking coffee, he thinks often of those golden years in early grade school, when life was simple, and smiles were common.

Take a look, and see for yourself. Maybe you will smile while sipping your next cup of coffee.

For more about Brockeim, see http://brockeim.com

My Memorial Day 2010, Bakersfield National Cemetery

In Response to Valerie Schultz, May 2010

In May 2010, Miss Valerie Schultz wrote an article on how Harvey Milk Day was banned from schools throughout Kern County. The day was meant to celebrate an important icon of the homosexual community, as a pillar of the gay community worked diligently to spread awareness. Unfortunately, that shard of our world was shut out from not only schools, but many hearts and minds.

Miss Schultz asked if Harvey would have been celebrated if he hadn't been gay, or if he had worked to honor another set of rights. Taking the battle against same-sex marriage into consideration, along with hate crimes, general opinions and marches for gay rights, my answer to her inquiry is a point blank 'yes, he would have been celebrated if he hadn't been for gay rights'. Regardless of whether he rocked history or not, he wouldn't have been celebrated if he had discovered the cure for cancer. Or if he had saved Africa from poverty. When it comes right down to it, only one thing mattered to authority figures across Kern County: he was gay.

Should we celebrate people simply because of their orientation? No. Should we celebrate them simply because of their race, age, weight, height, marital status or cuisine preference? No. We should, however, refrain from suppressing certain hearts and minds, simply bcause they're different. Regardless of religion, background, orientation, marital status or what have you, we shouldn't block anything out from minds willing to absorb new knowledge. And no human has the right to send out this message: We're holier than you are.

Ernistene is waiting to meet you.

Hi, my name is Ernistene. I am a young adult mix breed girl. I weigh about 20 pounds and am not expected to grow any bigger. I am a good girl who needs a new home soon. The staff at the shelter takes care of me, but I miss having my own family. So if you have a lot of love to give please come see me. My friends and I will be waiting at the the shelter for you...

http://www.petfinder.com/sh...

Wasco Animal Shelter, 5409 7th St.,978-8576 or 758-7240 . Open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

PetSmart adoptions, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, 4100 Ming Ave. Bakersfield

Author Writes Book To Improve Economy For Posterity

To President Obama:

I have been interested in economic cycles since the early 1980s. I have been in real estate since 1970, close to forty years. I am a retired businessman, and author.

I ran for California Congress in 1992, because I wanted to change how our economy is guided and how the government is interfering in the enterprise market system. Instead of helping the enterprise sector of our economy, the capitalistic and the government sectors are slowly destroying it.

I wrote the book, INFLATION, THE ECONOMY KILLER, How To Create, Control and Stop High Inflation, in 1982. This was in the middle of the first Great Recession, 1979 to 1983. If you read my book today you would think I was writing about the Great Recession of 2008. Not much has changed. We continue to make the same mistake over and over again. That is why my web site is http://economysflaw.wordpress.com/ I have posted a solution to the unemployment and foreclosure crisis there.

As you are aware our nation is struggling to get out of this Great Recession. It is at the edge of going either way. Deeper into recession or it could begin to crawl. I want it to stand up and walk. Not run like it previously did, but walk tall and proud again. I need your help to make this happen.

President Obama you have verbally abused the financial service industry in the past. Many in the industry deserved it. The people who were responsible lenders did not like it. Putting that aside, our financial sector is the best in the world. At creating capital, no one can match it. Sometimes it does it too well. I believe the creation of too much money is from the government’s miss-guiding policies, not from greed.

I have seen you speak in front of Congress. On March 23, 2010 the Committee for Financial Services will be holding a hearing on the future of housing financing. The current system works. It is not the principal working parts of the system that need to be changed. I believe we can improve the government’s guidance policies of this sector of our economy, if we appear before the committee and testify. Will you testify again for your country? I have requested the opportunity to testify myself.

I do believe my ideas for economic recovery will be beneficial to the financial service industry and the citizens of America and the world. A fully recovered economy is more beneficial for our citizens and the government, than an economy that is running on half its cylinders. If guided correctly the economy will produce more jobs, tax revenues and a better standard of living for our citizens. Unlike what the California Congress has done, taxes will not have to be raised.

It seems to me, that there are macro economic principles that need to be applied to the economy, before the economy will recover completely.

As former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan pointed out, we are experiencing a very unbalance economic recovery. Wall Street is benefiting from the government’s injection of capital into banks and financial institutions, but the consumer, jobs and small business are lagging behind, which represents 70 to 75% of the economic activity in our market-based economy. This imbalance leaves our economy vulnerable to a double dip recession. Export trade must also increase or imports must decrease, to balance our trade deficit, for America to have lasting prosperity.

Not only do the U.S. and Ca. Congresses need oversight but they also need direction. They do not seem to understand what happened to the economy or what to do to get the economy up off it’s back.

There are plenty of articles that point out problems with the economy. They are written every day. It is good to look back and see where you have been and what has been done. From the past you can usually figure out the cause of a problem and what needs to be fixed.

Why am I talking about inflation when we are in a deep recession? As the guiding principles are written, we will again create another cycle of high inflation and another economic crisis. But you are thinking, we didn’t have high inflation when this economic crisis occurred. Before the financial service industry all most collapsed, home prices were going up 30% a year. If that is not high inflation, what is?

I wrote the book, INFLATION, THE ECONOMY KILLER, How To Create, Control and Stop High Inflation, in 1982, in the middle of the first Great Recession. I thought to myself, “There has to be a better way to guide/manage an economy than to have interest rates increase to 18% to buy a home, to control inflation psychology. The increases in interest’s rates stopped the inflation but they destroyed our economy and the world’s economy and created untold misery.

It appears that Congress has not learned very much in the last twenty-eight years. Our economy is experiencing another Great Recession, which is much worse than the one in 1982. This recession is different than in 1982, only because the numbers are different and you have to “think outside the box” as they say, to find a fix.

I wrote the book as a message to the American people, as a guide into the future, so we would not repeat the mistakes of the past. I was not a very good massager, because the information did not get to the people. I am sorry about that.

I have once again taken up the task, so our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren are not left with huge government debt and our posterity has the knowledge to create a better future for themselves and their children.

My book and the recent articles I have written spell out two policy changes that need to be made which will shorten the Great Recession of 2008 and put into place a better way of dampening future cycles of inflation and recession.

Mr. President and Congress is there any way you can help me get these policies enacted into government policy? We must help the people and end the misery created by the Great Recession of 2008.

I do not want to re-inflate the economy. Housing has once again become affordable for many people to purchase a home. Home ownership is a cornerstone of our economy.

I want people know that there is a different approach available to solving the foreclosure and unemployment crisis, instead of a huge government deficit.

Government deficits make governments larger and more powerful, because people look to government to solve the problem, which the government and the capitalistic entities helped to create.

Some governments remind be of the starving nations of Africa. Civil war, government corruption and ignorance create the problems. The government then backs the food trucks up to the starving crowd and passes out food, there-by buying support for the corrupt government.

The best way to put this is: AN ECONOMIC CRISIS IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY AND SHOULD NOT BE WASTED.

I do not want the World or the U.S. to go back on the Gold Standard or a government managed system.

Video on how money is created and fiat money. Load in your browser.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VaSh8MMo34

E-mail me if you have any questions or comments. economysflaw@yahoo.com/

Sincerely

Leonard C. Tekaat

Ray Friesen Signs 3 book publishing contract!

Local Cartoonist Ray Friesen, Age 22 has just made a very large leap forward in his writing career, signing up with medium sized publishing company top shelf to produce a trilogy of graphic novels starring Friesen's newest characters 'Pirate Penguin vs Ninja Chicken'

Top Shelf specializes in more unique, creator driven books, and has a strong kids book line including 'Owly'. THey also publish new works from Alan Moore, creator of Watchmen, and the movie 'The Surrogates' starring Bruce Willis was based on a book they published.

Ray thinks they will be instrumental in helping him connect with potential fans Ray is having trouble reaching on his own. Ray created plush toys based on these characters allready, and they are quite adorable. The first book will be released in spring 2011.

www.TopShelfComix.com

www.DontEatAnyBugs.com

Come talk to Ray about this adventure in person, at Russo's bookstore, this weekend, Feb 20th for a free cartooning class, and then the first saturday of every month thereafter!

The End of a Decade

We are approaching the end of a decade. This has not been a favorable ten years. Why? Let's see... greed, war, environment and recession, to name a few reasons. Time Magazine calls it the "Decade from Hell".

It started at the beginning of the century. Those in the "know" said that the computers wouldn't work after the ball dropped in Times Square, because the computers weren't set to flip over from 1999 to 2000. That shows how wrong "they" can be. Evidently the computers are smarter than "they" are. Other people were afraid something more disastrous would happen after the ball dropped... like what?...maybe the world coming to an end? Didn't they know that the event was just the flip of a calendar page? The calendar was created by man who perhaps started counting the days one sunny afternoon in Mesopotamia or somewhere. Back then every religion had their own way of keeping track of the days. Therefore, many different calendars. So why would something disastrous happen with the turn of the clock when the whole thing is made up by man? Did that calendar change have anything to do with greed, war, environment or recession?

Hmmm...but, after the turn of the century, disastrous things DID happen. 9/11 comes to mind. Where were you when you heard the news? We all know exactly where we were and what we were doing when that horrible deed was done. That fits into the war category.

How about Katrina? But, before Katrina, there were a few other hurricanes that flattened several parts of the southeast. Hurricane Ivan comes to mind because that is the one that did so much damage in Florida. Hurricane Ivan held the prize spot of being the worst one until Katrina came along. Can it get much worse than that? That fits into the environment category.

How about the economy? How has it affected you? HAS it affected you? Can we trust our stock brokers? Can we trust our banks? Do you still own your home? That fits into both the greed and the recession categories.

However, things are looking up while we end this decade. We are putting some of the greedy people in jail. It looks like perhaps our money will be safe in the bank again. How about the war? I think the jury is still out on that one.

The environment? I've noticed a whole bunch of wind machines on the Tehachapi mountains that weren't there ten years ago and there's the solar farm out in the desert that is new since then also. Bakersfield is recycling garbage with the blue cans and finally we have cars like the Prius and the Smart Car. Solar panels appear more frequently on roof tops around town.

So, we're approaching the end of a decade. I think that Time Magazine will have a better label for this next one. Why do I think so? Because I'm an optimist, that's why.

Dear Santa

This year in Lake Isabella we have much to celebrate, but with an 80% poverty level, we also have great opportunity to help others who are not so fortunate. There is a dear friend, Vicky, who recently had her mobile home rent raised to $699.00 per month. I am looking for any of you angels out there who might be able to help with a Vicky project. We bought a mobile home in Death Valley for $731.00. It is a 12 x 60 ft. 3 br 1 ba. We need to move it to Harbor Lights park in Mountain Mesa and would welcome help in moving it and setting it up for her. Vicky is supporting 3 other people and they have not been able to afford heat nor food. No heat means they are all sick, and Vicky just recently was diagnosed with diabetes. My hope is to sign a contract for Vicky to rent with an option to buy the mobile, with Vicky owning the mobile after all costs have been paid. She doesn't know about this. I know there are angels out there, so if you are one of them, please contact the Bakersfield Californian on Vicky's behalf. Thanking you in advance, BK Thomas.

THANKSGIVING

   I started writing this because I was upset and wanted to go on a tirade. I was upset
about some Christian conservative on talk radio who had never served in the military saying
how the United States was founded as a Christian nation when it wasn’t.
   I was going to support my tirade with quotes from the founding fathers, like Jefferson’s comment in a letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper that “Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law” or Thomas Paine, who said “All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.”
   I was then going to throw in some Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who said “Politics are not the task of a Christian,” and some Isaac Backus, who said “Religious matters are to be
separated from the jurisdiction of the state not because they are beneath the interests of the state, but, quite to the contrary, because they are too high and holy and thus are
beyond the competence of the state,” and a variety of other quotes.
   However, in the middle of this, I was stopped by an Arlo Guthrie comment. You see, years after doing the anti-war song ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ in 1969, Arlo went back and bought that old church mentioned in the song. He then turned it into a foundation to help people, whether they were old, needy, poor, homeless, addicted, or whatever.
   One night, while Arlo was cleaning the place up, the Pastor from another church down the road stopped by. He pointedly asked “What kind of church is this, Arlo?” Arlo
replied that it was a “Bring your own God sort of Church.”
   When I remembered this quote, I realized   that the debate about religion was secondary. It occurred to me how lucky we all were to be living in a country in which we can be having this debate in the first place - a country in which we can agree to disagree and (for the most part anyway) not resort to killing and torturing each other (an intrinsic part of religious conversations for centuries).
   Then my mind jumped to Presidents, and I realized how fortunate we were to live somewhere where John Kennedy (war hero), Milhous Nixon (used car salesman), GH Bush (war hero), Bill Clinton (anti-war protester), GW Bush (who served in the National Guard to avoid Vietnam then went AWOL), and Barack Obama (apparently, none of the above) could all serve as president. Our presidents are all different personalities and stripes, and eventually we’ll throw them out for some other pretender to the American throne.
   My mind then jumped to music, and my personal aggravation that today is not like the 40s, 50s, 60s, or 70s, where we had nationwide hit songs that everyone knew and loved, or had great folk classics which brought everyone together. Now, everyone has their own music, and if you overhear someone else’s, you’re often hearing something you never heard before. Usually, this appalls me, because we’ve lost something of beauty and a part of our unity; however, if I look beyond my own prejudices, isn’t it great that we can live somewhere where rock and roll, country, punk, rap, blues, and a thousand variations can all exist and vie for their place in the world.
   Even the Internet, which brings a host of lies and half-truths to the world, gives us views and opinions we may have never heard - and we live in a place where we’ve allowed to check out any of them, not a country where access is blocked or things are routinely removed.
   I personally hate right-wing pseudo cowards like Rush Limbaugh who wear a cross and wrap themselves in a flag after never having served. However, I have to appreciate
living in a place where they’re free to spout their evil and I’m free to shut them off and listen to NPR.
   I guess all of this reminds me of the line from the song ‘total eclipse of the heart’ that
we’re “living in a powder keg and giving off sparks.”   I mean, think of it. We’ve been pushing each other’s buttons for over two and a quarter centuries, and have yet to explode. America allows us to push it to the limit, to agree to disagree, and (for the most part) keeps us from killing ourselves in the process.
   Anyway, its almost thanksgiving, 2009, and I know what I’m thankful for - I’m thankful for America.

Ex-California Prison Guard releases New Book

Just released last week. Story now tells all what goes behind the walls of a California State prison.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/imageviewer.asp?ean=9781440140594

Getting Craft With Digital Scrapbooks!

New Age Scrapbopoking-

When most think of scrapbooking, what usually comes to mind is a large table crowded with various tools, scraps of paper and old photos. I have to admit, I was once a victum of such crimes. I almost couldn't scrapbook because my house was turned upside down with unorganized printed photos and all the expensive paper, stickers, and tools that one needs to truly express creativity. I was limited to scrapbooking on long weekends, days off, or when my husband was out of town. I found myself scrapbooking at a friend's house once every three or four months. I was feeling like I was neglecting my hobby, and I didn't like it.

It wasn't until I discovered the digital scrapbooking world that I started scrapbooking at least once a week, if not more! Digital sacrapbooking allows me to organize all my photos. I'm not forced to spend $100's on stickers and paper that never get used up. I have endless use of lettering, themes and more! With traditional albums, I would finish a layout and sometimes find another must have picture in the spread and be disappointed I wouldn't be able to add it in. I resorted to creating another layout of the same theme just to include the exiled picture. Not with digital! Now I have no worries about mistakes or regretted layouts. The fixes are so easy. I also do not have to take up space around my house for storing supplies, and it's always clean!

There are several digital scrapbooks companies to choose from. From places like Wal-Mart.com and Costco.com to specialized companies like kodak.com and creative memories.com, you are sure to find an easy program with many options and price ranges to fit you. I prefer the Creative Memories scrapbpooking software called Storybook Creator Plus 3. You pay a little out of pocket, but compared to what I was spending, I am saving money. The program is versatile and allows both veterans and beginners to create albums to be proud of. Also, their printed albums are gaurenteed quality.

So put away your scissors and glue. It's time for the New Age of Scrapbooking!!

AngelSoldier

With 9/11 approaching and today being Labor Day, I could not help but think of Our Soldiers and the Labor they face every day to deliver our freedoms that we are blessed with. My son Paul has already served his Country as he was committed to serve and protect. One thing I learned while he was in the army is that when you have one child serving you also have another 500,000 or so sons and daughters ,your heart holds all of them inside, close and with honor and pride. When a Mother, Father, Brother, sister, and wife loses a soldier, you feel their pain deeply. When you see a solider has been killed on the news, a sweeping swell of sorrow sweeps over you as tears well up. You never forget sacrifice; you don’t forget 9/11 or the thousands who have already died for our freedoms and safe keeping.

At any given time that could have been my son, and although he has served his time and now is safely building his family and enjoying a life that could have been taken, he has brothers in harm’s way and that put’s life into perspective for him every day. When there are those of us complaining about the Bakersfield heat, remember our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan walking miles with 100 pounds or more on their backs in temperatures near 120 or greater. Every step they make could be their last, every night sleep could be permanent never again to wake and see the light and everyday their fellow soldiers are killed living them with a view of what may be ahead for them at any time.

Every day we carry on with our life’s within a perimeter of safety, while our men and women are taking a bullet for us on the frontlines. We shop, dine out, take vacations, go to the movies, buy that huge television, and newest fun toy and while we are actively indulging ourselves, our soldiers are dusting off their boots, waking up on the rocky dirt, in hopes they will receive a letter from a loved one. It is like a child waiting in the heat for the ice-cream truck, a letter of love, a kind word, a chocolate bar, perhaps a new pair of socks this is their simple request outside living.

So today I adopted my first solider, with my commitment to write a letter every week, send a package at least every month, with small but needed items. Most importantly to start to do something, I once was told (Cant’ can’t do anything), so no more excuses, our men and women need us, and they need you. I sat in church and was challenged to join AngelSoilders. Com, as 1500 soldiers need adopting, they have no one to send them letters to keep their spirits soaring. I thought our community is bigger than this, the hearts in this town are huge and regardless of how we feel about the war, our loved ones are in it! And we all are Americans. So will our media and news papers spread the work of AngelSoilders.com and send words in a letter that might just serve and protect the spirits of our sacrificing Soldiers? As we approach 9/11 and the Holiday’s please sacrifice yourselves, and give back.

What's to be, What's next?

My good friend Davina learned that her work location will be closed shortly. She wrote this poem, from the gut, as soon as she heard. I think it speaks for a lot of people in a similar situation today.

I have Davina's permission to submit this to the paper.

It's rare to see our corporate managers visiting with such short notice

As presumed, they came to serve a purpose

My team received letters and were informed this location will be closed

By August 1st is the date corporate chose

The a/p lady's tears made me feel guilty

Cuz I know her two kids need to stay healthy

My mind is running hand in hand with questions

As I'm also giving myself suggestions

Prepare! Pay off and close accounts

Owe nobody and no-one any amount

Keep only one, the internet or the cable

Cuz soon I might not be able

I called my friend Lynn and sighed the news

She reminded to have faith because God renews

She said, you have a job, stand up and rejoice!

She's right, but I can't help feeling remorse

I was blessed to be excluded from their meeting and notice

But I'm aware, retiring from the place is bogus

What's to be, what's next

Right now, I really appreciate my check

About 30/70 is the scale of my worry

I wish the economy would better in a hurry

One day I know all this will be wiped away

I'll be safe if I keep God in my everyday

…by Davina Harrison 6/18/09

CSUB graduate publishes his first book, Gino the Minnow

Scott Wolford graduated from California State University Bakersfield in 1989 with a bachelors degree in Physical Education. He swam for the Roadrunners. He enjoyed the local lakes and headed for the coast to enjoy California’s water areas whenever possible. After graduated, he earned his masters in Physical Education in 1990 at Florida International University in Miami. Upon graduating he worked in California and St. Augustine for over six years at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind as the recreation manager for the visually impaired. He was raised in the Indiana Dunes National Park along Lake Michigan for the beaches that are close by. He worked as a lifeguard on Lake Michigan and spent numerous hours on the beach. Scott grew up with a love for nature and continues to share this love with a series of children's books that encourage us all to do our part in helping keep the environment clean.

Gino the Minnow, is Scott's first published book and it focuses on clean water areas. The hardcover book is beautifully illustrated and shows how one little fish can make a world of difference. His next two books will discuss ways to cleaner land and air qualities and what we can all do to help. $1 will be donated to non-profit organizations who focus on cleaner environments.
Thousands upon thousands of miles of coastal and water masses enrich this beautiful nation of ours. Water is one of the most important natural resources that we have. Here in California we all should be truly grateful having such beautiful beaches near by to enrich our lives. All of us need to take care of our water. Not only for ourselves, but for wildlife and future generations to enjoy. Millions of tons of trash are thrown into the water areas each and every year. This trash can take years to decompose, if ever.

A few facts on the time it takes for some materials to fully decompose:
Paper: 2-8 months, Plastic Coated Cartons: 5 years, Plastic Bags: 10-20 years,
Cigarette Butts: up to 12 years, Tin Cans: 50-100 years,
Aluminum Cans:80-100 years, Batteries: 100 years,
Plastic Six Pack Holder Rings: 450 years, Glass Bottles: 1 million years
Plastic Soda Bottles: Forever

As you can see, it takes some materials a very, very long time to decompose, some last forever. Some people may think that it is much easier to simply toss the trash wherever they are, instead of disposing of it properly. Improper disposal of trash has many bad side effects: harm to wildlife. Some creatures eat the litter thinking it is food. The litter causes damages to the creatures' digestive systems. Also, litter can get tangled in the fins or legs of various animal life, which can cut off circulation or other damage to the their tissues. Fishing line and plastic six pack holder rings are the main culprit in these types of damage to wildlife. Numerous injuries on human life are experienced each year as well. Broken glass bottles, aluminum cans, and other forms of litter can cause havoc on ones' body. The water can be contaminated from litter tossed into the water areas, which makes the water harmful to consume or to swim in for humans and wildlife.
Do you want to see the same trash at your favorite water spot, year after year? What can you do about this problem of litter in our water areas? When you go to the water areas pack for the outing as light as possible. Carry with you as few amounts of future trash items as possible. Several suggestions include using cloth napkins, clean towels and rags, stainless steel silverware, glass or pottery dishes and cups, rechargeable batteries, and a thermos for beverages. Bring a garbage bag with you for all of your trash items, as there may not be any trash cans in the location that you will be going or it may already be filled. Dispose of all of your trash properly. Used fishing line should be recycled. If you see trash left behind by others, please do your part in cleaning up the water areas, by picking it up. Be careful when picking up trash. You should wear proper gloves.
Go for a nice walk along the water. Bring a garbage bag with you, to allow you to pick up any trash that you may see along the way. You’ll get some great exercise, see some beautiful sights, spend quality time with those special to you, and leave a clean water area, which everyone can enjoy. Join an organized beach cleanup group. Start your own beach cleanup group. Do your own beach cleanup each and every time you visit your favorite water area.
Especially with the high price of gas, why not stay close to home and enjoy your local beaches? For more information on ordering his book, Gino the Minnow or helping keep the water areas clean, please look on www.ginotheminnow.com. Scott would like to hear from his friends and others who share a devotion to our environment.

Local Resident Publishes Poetry Book

First time author and local Bakersfield resident Gael C. McNally has written a collection of 128 poems entitled "My Inner Schizophrenic - Poems for the Working Man". This book was written by a diagnosed third-generation schizophrenic giving hope to others with mental disabilities that you don't have to give up on your dreams of creative endeavors. Gael McNally graduated from Marymount College with an A.A. in liberal arts. She is hoping to pursue her B.A. in English Literature at Cal State Bakersfield. This book contains poems in short story form and also includes an essay of her illness and a short story. Many poems, as well, touch upon historical references to Ireland. This book can be purchased for $12.95 on Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com, and it can also be purchased in e-format for $6.00 from iuniverse.com. Gael hopes that sales of her book will help with expenses at CSUB.

E-mail Versus L-mail

Call me old fashioned, I don't care. I know the world of personal communication has changed but I'd rather get a good old L-mail (letter) in my 'real' mailbox than a short, usually impersonal E-mail in my computer mailbox.
Sorry, electronic messages are simply not the same as letters.
And then there is the delete key.

Some do not check their messages often and it builds up to what becomes an impossible reading marathon that never gets read beyond the 'from' line.

One friend told me he had over 100 emails in his box from junk mail and other bothersome-looking sources and simply hit the delete key.

My message was on there too. How many times I have been sent to the electronic graveyard, only heaven knows.

Ah, but when a good friend's L-mail is nestled in your mailbox anxiously awaiting discovery there is no executioner who pushes the delete button to send your words and thoughts into oblivion, you have been reprieved!

If one is too young to have experienced the real thing and has grown up in this electronic age of text- messaging and e-mail then they will never know.

Technology is not always good you know, some progress is really regress.

But if you're old enough to remember the real thing, what it was like to get a letter from someone you love, especially from that certain guy or gal, then you know what I'm talking about.

Sure, it's nice to be remembered at all. Nice that someone took a couple of minutes to send a personal message (as personal as possible via the Internet) and this should definitely exclude forwards and mass mailings.

Electronic communication can never take the place of a hand-written, carefully folded letter, gently tucked into an envelope and sealed and stamped with love.

I still have those special ones saved in my box of souvenirs, yellowed with age but read over and over through the years bringing back the sweetest of memories.

On the back of those envelopes are the love and kisses symbols and S.W.L. (sealed with love) and some said, '2sweet2B4got10'. Sure, silly little messages for all the world to see and some even sillier ones such as S.W.S. (sealed with spit) or 'open before reading'. I did my share. But I just miss them all.

You can call it snail-mail but I don't care, some things are just worth waiting for.

If E must be, then let it stand out from the others. Keep it nice, keep it friendly and let the E stand for Encouraging, Enlightening and Endearing.

Local Author Publishes Novel: TARE

Novel: TARE

Author: Peggy Sue Yarber

Small-town America takes on Big Government and an Uncontrollable Virus

Peggy Sue Yarber writes a compelling novel of what happens when government becomes involved in a small town in California.

Something has gone terribly wrong in the small California town. An infectious virus has been discovered in the soil and threatens the country’s grain production.

The United States government takes over—military operations quarantine the town and its residents are in held in captivity until someone can determine the cause and resolve the problem. But who is responsible and who can be trusted?

A soldier abandons his post and takes his family on a pilgrimage, traveling to The Rocketship Café, a way station and sanctuary for those who are able to escape the tragedy that’s befallen the town. There he attempts to find the answers and take back what the government has stolen from him—his life, his home, and his family.

As the soldier digs deeper and uncovers the horrible truth, he learns that those in power may have had a role in a world that has suddenly and inexplicably gone wrong. A cover-up of enormous proportions is behind it all and the soldier questions everything he’s held dear.

Yarber writes a terrifying novel—full of intricate twists and turns. This compelling novel is about right and wrong, good and evil, and the choices individuals and communities make that often times have devastating repercussions.

Publisher’s website: http://www.strategicbookpublishing.com/TARE.html.

About the Author:

Peggy Sue Yarber, PhD, is a writer, tap dancer, and high school teacher and administrator. She has worked in the Kern High School District for almost twenty years and is currently employed at South High school. According to Yarber, TARE based on the parable from the book of Matthew. Yarber began her teaching career in Bakersfield at West High school, she then went to work at Vista East and then finally need dup at south High. The story line is one of Good vs. Evil - something similar to a Sci-Fi Thriller. In one sentence the story may be summed up: A government conspiracy covers up a food contamination crisis causing humans to question humanity and their own individual belief system. Yarber lives with her husband, daughters and two dogs in Bakersfield, California.

Free Cartooning Class and Booksigning!

Tehachapi author Ray Friesen, age 21, is celebrating the release of his new graphic novel 'Cupcakes of DOOM' with a Booksigning Party and Free Cartooning Classes at the Bakersfield Barnes & Noble, Saturday, January 17th. "It's 100 pages of full color humor adventure, chock full of pirates and penguins and lots of silly things!" grinned Friesen, holding up a copy, and chewing on it slightly.

Friesen described his newest work as "A must read for kids and kids at heart. If you like silly, then giggling is guaranteed." The story revolves around a clump of pirates, Captain Scurvybeard, YoHo Joseph, Peglegless Pete, Lester, and more, who must embark on a quest to find the ultimate pastry: The Long Lost CUPCAKES OF DOOM! Only this can defeat their rivals, those lousy vikings and their deliciously evil Viking Pie. As you'd expect, there are sword fights aplenty, parrots, sea serpents, a treasure hunt or two, and all sorts of other piratey shenanigans.

Friesen has been a professional cartoonist for seven years, having founded his publishing company, Don't Eat Any Bugs Productions in order to further his cartooning career. He has 3 other book collections, 'Another Dirt Sandwich', 'A Cheese Related Mishap' and 'YARG!'

In his first year of cartooning professionally, Ray was nominated for the prestigious "Ignatz Award" for promising new talent. Ray's works have been favorably reviewed by the American Library Association, Los Angeles Daily News, Wizard Magazine, and more. Ray sometimes guest lectures at California elementary schools, sharing his experiences and drawing them penguins. He was one of the American Library Association Booklist's Top Ten Graphic Novels of the Year for Kids!

"...The jokey asides and playfully sophisticated take on language are reminiscent of Walt Kelly’s Pogo, but the gag-a-second pace may leave some readers a bit numb. Others, however, will hold their sides for the duration of this manic blend of mayhem and adventure." -- American Library Association BookList

Ray will be signing books, doing free sketches, teaching kids how to draw their own cartoons, and giving away some free t-shirts and some other fabulous prizes to winners of the Pirate Yelling Contest, which will be held during the signing. So, if you enjoy humor, ostriches, cowboys, pirates, penguins, free stuff, or just enjoy yelling, there isn't a better place to be on Saturday the 17th than at the Bakersfield Barnes & Noble.

For more information, and to read Ray's free daily web comic strip, visit www.DontEatAnyBugs.com

Bringing fiddler to the masses

Gayel Pitchford didn’t set out to write a book. A teacher of both classical violin and country fiddling in Tehachapi, Pitchford just wanted to track down the recordings of fiddling legend Howdy Forrester. Most music fans, even country fans, have never heard of Howdy Forrester, but among fiddlers, his music is the gold standard. Largely forgotten, Forrester died in 1988. Unfortunately, only two tracks of his solo playing have ever been released on CD and much of what was written about him was either vague or inaccurate.
Forrester’s music and style of playing spoke to Pitchford. She had taken up the violin as a child to escape a cruel piano teacher who rapped her knuckles whenever she improvised on a song. Forrester’s style of music called for improvisation but unlike many other fiddlers, his improvisations made musical sense and were always in tune. Pitchford knew she had a model to follow.
The recently published “Fiddler of the Opry: The Howdy Forrester Story” is the result of five years of research, traveling and listening. Pitchford traveled to Tennessee, sifted through archives and met Forrester’s family. Even though she hadn’t planned on becoming his biographer, Pitchford knew what she wanted.
“I was determined to be accurate,” she said.
The result is a book that is as scholarly as it is readable. It contains thorough notes, rare photographs, charts, dates and numbers. The highlight of the book, though, is the inclusion of lead sheets for 12 of Forrester’s tunes.
Pitchford had already transcribed one of Forrester’s tunes and she knew that it would be difficult but she decided that the results would be worth the effort.
But when she marketed the book to publishers she was told that the music had to go.
Pitchford wasn’t about to lose what she considered to be one of the book’s strong points. Using the same determination that had brought about her book in the first place, she refused to publish the book without the music. Finally, a Tehachapi area publisher, Viewpoint Press, published Pitchford’s book, music and all.
It turned out that Pitchford was right, Forrester’s tunes were indeed a powerful selling point.
Pitchford plans to market her book nationwide. With the revival of bluegrass and the growing interest in American folk music, the time is right to reintroduce music fans to a forgotten great.
Forrester is described as a humble genius, his music is dense but sweet and fun. Pitchford uses his music to teach her students and hopes that he will eventually be honored with an induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Gayel Pitchford’s book, “Fiddler of the Opry: the Howdy Forrester Story” won the 2008 IRWIN Award for Best Niche Marketing Campaign.

Seeking employment for pre-schooler

Jobs-For-All Employment Agency

Attn: Personnel Director

Dear Sir or Madam,

In these tough economic times, I believe it is important that everyone in our family pull his or her own weight. For this reason I am requesting that your agency find a job for my four year old. I understand that some employers might balk at the idea of putting a pre-schooler on the company payroll. For this reason I am including the following vignettes in order to highlight her qualifications for the following jobs:

Negotiator

Daughter: Can I watch tv?

Me: You know the rules, one tv show after your shower.

Daughter: Please, please, please, please, please can I watch tv?

Me: No

Daughter: (dropping to her knees) Mommy pleeeeeeease? Just one show!

Me: (walking away, preparing for ensuing storm) No

Daughter: (grabbing onto the pockets of my jeans) Mommy pleeeaaaase. I pinky promise I’ll be good for the rest of the night.

Me: (feeling very ToughLove and empowered) No

Daughter: (prostrate on the floor, in a low guttural moan) Pleeeeeeeeeeease, pleeeeeeeeeease, pleeeeeeease

Me: No (going into bedroom to celebrate good parenting, then pausing to wonder at sudden silence)

Daughter: (entering room) Mom, the baby’s awake.

Me: Go turn on the tv.

Actress

Me: (losing patience after trying to wrestle four year old into car seat while baby screams hysterically) That’s it, you’re not getting your treat tonight.

Daughter: Mommy, no! I’ll be good!

Me: (starting car, preparing for twenty minute drive with wailing infant and histrionic four year old) No, you lost your treat.

Daughter: Mommy no! Please! I’ll be good! Don’t do this to me! Don’t do this to meeeeee! Please, mommy, please! I need my treeeeeat!

Me: (going to happy place)

Daughter: (making entire body rigid and thrashing around much like grand mal seizure) My treeeeeeeat! My treeeeeeeat!

Me: (happy place, must stay in happy place)

Daughter: (crying and beating on head and chest in manner reminiscent of biblical mourning) Mommy no, no mommy, noooooo!

Me: Is that an ice cream truck?

Daughter: (instantly calm) What?

Me: I thought I saw an ice cream truck.

Daughter: (clasping hands and smiling a la Shirley Temple) Really?

Me: Listen really carefully and if you hear it we’ll get ice cream.

Daughter: (frozen in rapturous silence)

Me: (I make my own happy place.)

Food Critic

Daughter: Is that pepper?

Me: (looking at plate, noticing a few miniscule pepper bits clinging to baked potato) No

Daughter: (voice rising in panic) Mom, its pepper!

Me: It’s not pepper, its...dirt.

Daughter: Dirt?

Me: (feeling guilty about encouraging child to eat dirt, imagining ensuing conversation with grandparents) Fine, it’s not dirt. It’s just a little bit of pepper.

Daughter: (edging toward panic) I can’t eat pepper!

Me: (annoyed that only four minutes of eating time remain before baby wakes up) Just eat the side with no pepper.

Daughter: (taking lilliputian bite of baked potato, spitting it out, then frantically rubbing tongue with napkin) Ah! Pepper!

Me: (lost in reverie, recalling eating expensive food in swanky restaurants at nine o’clock at night) Whatever, don’t eat the potato.

Daughter: Mom?

Me: Huh?

Daughter: My broccoli needs more ketchup.

As you can see, her natural ability overcomes any barriers her age might present for these jobs. References and resume can be provided upon request. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank You,

Kelly Damian

Kwanzaa: Honoring a cultural legacy

Africa’s greatest gift to America is the endless generations of her sons and daughters who have embedded an immeasurable legacy within the fabric of America’s essence. The cultural holiday of Kwanzaa, serves as a vehicle for African American families and communities all across the USA, to collectively honor and present their cultural legacy.

The cultural holiday is traditionally celebrated from December 26 – January 1. Kwanzaa was created in 1966 in Los Angeles, California, in the midst of the African American Freedom Movement. Dr. Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa as an avenue for African Americans to collectively express their ethnicity as a people of African descent. The holiday celebrates family, community, and culture, and emphasizes that these three cherished values are indivisible. The Kwanzaa holiday emphasizes respect for the dignity and well being of our families and community, and seeks to maintain a profound sense of kinship, one with each other.

Kwanzaa is non-heroic, is neither religious nor political, and is not a substitute for, or supplement to Christmas. Kwanzaa is totally unrelated to the Christmas holiday. The year-end observance of Kwanzaa occurs, because this cultural holiday is derived from the African continent’s traditional year-end agricultural harvest celebrations.

The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase, matunda ya Kwanza, where matunda means “fruits”, and ya kwanza means “first”. Dr. Karenga added the extra “a” to the Swahili word kwanza, to distinguish the name of the holiday and convey a distinct African cultural identity. The language of Swahili was chosen for the name Kwanzaa and all of its accompanying phrases, because it is “non-tribal”, and is an official trade language used by multiple African countries.

It is important to note that nowhere on the continent of Africa is there a holiday named Kwanzaa. Nor is there any indigenous holiday celebrated on the African continent with the same symbols, practices, or principles. Kwanzaa is a positive and uplifting African American created cultural expression, intended to address a widespread need to rescue, reconstruct, restore, and reinforce rootedness in African heritage and culture.

Kwanzaa brings the community together from all religious traditions, all classes, all ages, and all generations, to celebrate, build, and strengthen, our families, communities, and cultural bonds in a rich and meaningful way.

The heart and soul of Kwanzaa revolves around Seven Principles. The Swahili term for the Seven Principles is the Nguzo Saba. There is one principle for each day of the cultural holiday observance. The principles in English and in Swahili with a brief explanation are:

Umoja (Unity) – stresses the importance of togetherness in the family and in the community
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) – stresses that family members work together to define and develop common interests, and make mutually beneficial decisions, that are in the best interest of the family and community
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) – stresses the obligation to always team together to solve problems, and to actively share work in creating institutions that serve to improve present conditions and expand future success
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) – stresses the obligation to pool resources, and share, for collective economic strength to meet common needs
Nia (Purpose) – stresses introspect for setting personal goals that are beneficial to the family and to the community
Kuumba (Creativity) – stresses consistent use of our creative energies to build and maintain, a strong and vibrant family and community
Imani (Faith) – stresses the obligation to honor the best of our traditions, to always strive for higher levels of achievement, to continuously affirm our dignity and self-worth, and to always maintain confidence in our unique ability to succeed and triumph, irrespective of surrounding adversity.

Kwanzaa is embraced because it establishes a cultural tradition for African American families and communities to circulate their African heritage in a multi-cultural world. Kwanzaa is observed in family centered activities and in community gatherings. On Saturday, December 27, 2008, there will be a Kwanzaa Celebration for our community-at-large at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Community Center, located at 1000 S. Owens Street, from 1 pm until 4 pm. African attire is strongly emphasized to support the essence and ambiance of this cultural event and there is no admission charge.

Bakari Sanyu

Director, The Sankofa Collective

A local community-based cultural education organization

Telephone Number: (661) 319-7611

email: bakari.sanyu@sbcglobal.net

Male duties for the holiday

In American culture, the male has several important duties during the holidays. By far the most important, is carving the turkey.
By genetic pattern, every adult male knows how to carve a turkey; however, sometimes interference blurs the male’s instinctive ability to carry out this duty. I really do not need to tell another male how to carve a turkey—he, of course, already knows. But in the interests of a pleasant, non-stressful holiday, I shall help by reminding him of the details.
Someone sets a large, greasy, cooked bird in front of you—it does not matter that you have never before seen a large, cooked bird. You must do your duty! You firmly grasp a long, dangerous knife and begin—NO! Someone has already used the knife and dulled it—it will not cut hot butter. Now, perhaps, you begin to perceive the multitude of pit-falls associated with this simple duty.
So, let us start at the real beginning and proceed to the end; let us build a plan:
1.    the day before--find the knife, prepare it, hide it.
2.    preparation of the knife is a most solemn ritual; this is to be done alone, with appropriate libations (IN MODERATION), out of hearing of and without the interference of any of the pesky women in your life:
a.    find or buy a real sharpening stone. Such a stone, is about 2 by 6 inches and has a coarse and a fine side; most hardware stores have such a sacred object. Forget the ‘steel’ that comes with such a knife; it is a diabolical device. If the knife is dull, it will not sharpen it. If the knife is sharp, it will make it sharper—sharp enough to take eight inches of flesh off of your arm when you miss the guard.
b.    set the stone at a convenient height and on a flat, non-slip surface—a table or workbench with a towel will serve.
c.    coat the stone with a little light oil—most any oil; cooking oil will serve.
d.    (most of us are right handed—if not, reverse the directions) grasp the handle firmly but gently with your right hand. Place the fingertips of the left hand on the back (the non-sharp side!!) as a guide
e.    place the knife flat on the stone and rotate the blade about 30 degrees—this is the angle you will diligently strive to maintain during the rest of the sharpening ritual.
f.    now, guide the sharp edge the knife across the stone as if you are cutting a thin slice. Start the stroke at the point and end at the back of the edge—do this as a single stroke. Reverse the knife and do the same to the other side of the edge (you may work from the back of the blade to the point if you wish). Do this smoothly and deliberately. Do this twice for each side; add oil as needed.
g.    test the sharpness. This activity is fraught with danger and is not for the non-male, the non-adult male, or the careless male. You may have seen someone test the sharpness of a blade with their thumb—NO, NO, NO—this is how you earn a trip to the emergency ward for several stitches. With full attention to your job, gently place the sharp edge at a 45 degree angle on your thumb nail; if it doesn’t slide along the length of the nail, it is sharp; if it slides, it is dull. Test the full length of the edge.
h.    some very dull blades may require that you use the coarse side of the sharpening stone in step ‘f’; if this is the case, finish with several strokes on the fine side of the stone. You may use extra strokes on any remaining dull places.
3.    when the knife is sharp along its’ entire edge, carefully wipe the grit and oil off of the blade with a pad (of at least 4 layers of cloth) across the back of the knife—a sharp knife will cut through two layers!! Treat a sharp knife with respect.
4.    prepare a paring knife (one of the smallest knifes) the same way. Now, hide the two knifes someplace where you and only you can find them. It is highly desirable that YOU remember where you hid them.
When it is time to carve the turkey fetch both knives with you—if you want to impress your guests, first obviously and thoroughly wash your hands, then bring the knives to the table wrapped in a clean, small towel; lay them out as a surgeon would lay out his implements. Place next to the knives a large cooking fork and a regular fork.
Now, again, someone places a large cooked bird in front of you—the knife? No, not yet. There are two more parts to the ritual. With an appropriate, solemn expression inquire if anyone would like a drumstick or a wing (ignore all teen-age males). Few will admit to this preference because it will immediately identify them as a barbarian who eats with their fingers and gnaws on bones. If someone does so identify them-selves, graciously accommodate them (no matter how much you wanted that part for yourself).
Those with weak stomachs do not have to watch this part, but you, as a strong male, must carry through—if you become upset, sit down and put on a profound, thoughtful expression until you control your unmanly queasiness. If someone questions you at this point, lie. Use the small knife and disjoint the wing at the three joints—grasp (this is why you washed your hands) and over-flex the joint; cut the meat and tendons holding the joint together. Discard the wing tip. Also, cut away and discard the triangle of skin between the three joints. Disjoint the drumstick and the thigh.
Set the wing parts and drumstick on the serving platter for later distribution if someone asked—other wise put them on a separate dish and put them in the kitchen. Trim four pieces of the dark meat from the thigh and place on the serving platter (do not try to make them even are a certain thickness—just hack them off). Handle the meat with the regular fork and the flat of the knife (if necessary, practice secretly and before-hand with a piece of cardboard).
Wipe your hands. Turn the platter with the bird so that the side without the wing and leg are away from you. Take up the cooking fork, and stab the bird in the top of the breast. This not only ensures that it is dead, but allows you to anchor it in place. Realize the bird is setting in grease. If you do not anchor it in place it will slide off the platter and fall to the floor—everyone with laugh (accept your wife, who will have kittens—note that comments on this will not be welcome); such an accident will certainly spoil the seriousness of the ritual.
Now (finally), take up the large knife. Do not wave it over your head—this is considered tacky. Besides, you do not want a sharp knife that close to your ear. Holding the bird in place with the cooking fork, remove the first slice of the breast meat—do this at about 45 degrees to the side of the bird. Attempt to cut a thickness between 1/8 and ¼ inches. Place the slice on the serving patter using the regular fork and the large knife. Take a second slice from the same place and stack it neatly and artfully half-way on the first.
Now, make a near horizontal cut to the bone through the center of the sliced area--this will keep the slices a manageable size. Take successive upper and lower slices and transfer them to the serving platter.
Having done all this with poise and élan, proceed with the meal. If the applause and shouts of ‘bravo’ are prolonged, it is permissible (with suitable humility) to take a bow. However, do place the knife on the table before you do this.
Have a pleasant holiday.

Howard and the Haunted House

There was a house at the corner of Black Street and Bidden.

Going there was strictly forbidden.

It was a haunted house or so folks said.

Just passing by it filled people with dread.

Billy Blowhard the bully one day just for spite

thought he'd tempt the Dunn kids into going inside.

So the boastful Billy Blowhard

told Donny, Daisy, Danny and Howard

that they were all big yellow cowards.

Donny said,

"You're a liar, Billy, and you're not fair!"

'Billy said ,

"If you were brave, you'd take my dare.

You'd go on up and get in there."

Daisy said,

"That house has got goblins and ghoulies

and gremlins galore.

It's got slimers who creep and monsters that roar.

Dead bodies are hiding beneath the floor

and awesome horror's behind the door."

Howard said,

"We can't go in there anyway

'cause Daddy Dunn said stay away."

Billy said,

"You Dunn kids are all the same.

Coward should be you middle name."

Danny said,

"The Dunns are heroes, brave and true.

We will go there. We'll show you."

Howard said,

"I don't believe in goblins and ghoulies and gremlins galore,

or in slimers that creep,

or monsters that roar,

or even in dead bodies under the floor.

But I will not go there

because early today

Daddy Dunn told us

to all stay away.

So we should all go home

and not go in there.

It's dumb to do anything

just on a dare."

Billy said,

"There's one Dunn diferent from the rest.

The others are more and he is less.

The others are brave, but he's a coward.

The one with no courage, his name is Howard."

Howard said,

"When you do what is right

like you know that you should,

that's when you're courageous ,

brave, true and good."

Then Donnie, Daisy and Danny three

went to the house at the end of the street.

They walked up the step and went in through the door.

Then Billy and Howard heard a blood-curdling roar!

Howard looked at Billy, who'd gone suddenly pale

and then from the house came a terrified wail!

Howard said,

"Billy, get the police and bring them right back.!

Something's after my family. It's time to attack!"

Then Howard ran up the stairs and through the door.

"Is it true?" he asked. "Are there gremlins galore?

Are ther slimers that creep and monsters that roar?"

Daisy said,

"Howard, it's time to meet our dreaded host.

It's Gilbert Gravely, the gruesome ghost."

The air was chilled and a green mist appeared.

It had a face to see and a voice to hear.

It said, "You better be scared because I am here.

and when I'm around, there's plenty to fear."

Howard said,

"I thought there were ghoulies and gremlins galore,

or slimers that creep, or monsters that roar.

or a least a dead body under the floor.

But if it's only Gilbert, then what's the fuss for?"

A mist whirled and swirled and then it did roar,

""I'm Gilbert Gravely, your host into horror!

If your my guest today, you'll see no tomorrow.

When it comes o being ghoulish, grisly and ghastly,

I'm the best there is. I do excel vastly!"

Howard said, "You think you're scary? Well. we'll just see.

You do your best to try to scare me."

Gilbert said,

"I can move furniture! I'll lift a couch in the air!"

Howard said, "While you're moving furniture, put the chair over there."

Gilbert said, " Watch me make myself big. As big as a house!"

Howard said, "That wouldn't scare me, or even a mouse."

Gilbert cried, "I can howl and scream and pound a big drum."

Howard said, "It's boring , Gilbert, and kind of ho-hum."

Gilbert said, "This is my scariest face, so how about that?"

Howard said, "I've seen worse on TV. This stuff's just old hat."

Gilbert cried and whined,

"I thought you'd be fun guests,

but youi're mean and insulting.

You're really just some pests.

Ghosts are supposed to scare folks.

That's how we play.

And if we can't be scary,

then we just fade away."

Howard said,

"Don't fade away , Gilbert,

and don't sit and pout.

Let me think for a minute.

We'll work something out.

You're not as bad as I thought.

That's plain to see.

You're good for something,

but what could it be?"

They thought and they talked,

then they all went outside.

Billy Blowhard stood there,

scared stiff and bug-eyed.

When Billy saw Gilbert

he swooned right away.

Then Gilbert felt better

than he had all day.

They ran and they rushed to the amusement park.

They had to hurry 'cause soon it'd be dark.

They soon found the manager, a big tall man named Mark.

They said, "Gilbert the ghost needs a job in the park."

Mark said, "You're perfect! A natural!

You'll start tomorrow!

You'll be the new host

in our house of horror."

Gilbert was happy and joyful!

He had a new haunt!

It was a place he could scare folks

as much as they want!

The kids knew Howard was a hero, good, brave and true

because he had done what he knew he should do.

The End

Against Medical Advice

The dog lay prone in the road directly in front of my house. She was very still, although a gentle breeze ruffled her fur and mimicked movement. In the light of the nearly full moon, I easily recognized the unfortunate dog as Tasha, the Welsh corgi who belongs to one of our favorite neighbors, a very sweet elderly lady named Marlene who lives in the house across the street from us. She lives there alone, except for Tasha, who always accompanies her mistress outside while Marlene works on her front garden. As I stared at the poor little dog in the road, I willed her to get up, hoping in futility that she was only sleeping. It was nearly three AM, and Tasha is never outside at that time; she passes her nights curled at the foot of Marlene's bed. I was utterly heartsick. Tasha is an adorable little thing, very friendly and affectionate. She's always had a talent for escaping her back yard by digging under the gate, and often runs across the street to visit us on weekend mornings.

The longer I stared at the apparently lifeless dog in front of our house, the worse I felt. How would I tell Marlene that some idiot had callously run over Tasha in the road and left her to die? And what despicable person would do such a thing? Surely anyone in our friendly, caring neighborhood would have stopped, had they hit a dog in the street. But maybe, I thought, the driver had not seen Tasha, had not realized that it was a dog that they had hit.

It was at that thought that I started getting angry.

I am an ophthalmic medical technician by profession. I have worked for eye doctors my entire adult life; for vanity's sake I will not elaborate on just how many years that could be. Suffice it to say that I know my job very well, and have counseled countless patients and their families regarding their eye health and vision. I also have no qualms about telling someone when they are not using their brain regarding their eyes. Never a day goes by when I don't see a patient who has been without glasses for an extended time, but who can barely find the bathroom in broad daylight without them. The infuriating thing about these people is that they still insist upon their ability to drive safely without glasses. Unfortunately, it is quite often some mishap in a motor vehicle that brings them stumbling into my office. Usually, they find it amusing that they are going through life with blinders on, but it really chaps my hide; I am definitely NOT amused.

As I watched the dog in the street for signs of life, only seconds passed, but the mind can race to a conclusion in much less time than that. With the sudden clarity of mind that only comes from stress and a sleepless night, I just knew what had happened to Tasha. She had to have been hit by one of those jerks who should have been wearing their glasses! All I could think of was the patient I had seen only the day before. Without vision correction, she was only able to count fingers at ten feet. She had not worn her glasses for over a year because she "didn't like them", and all that time she continued to drive. It was only when she nearly ran over her own son in the driveway that she conceded the point and came in for an exam and new glasses.

I couldn't let Marlene come out and find poor Tasha, and I couldn't even think of leaving that sweet dog lying in the road. I ran to my room and hastily began throwing clothes on. My husband, who is a very light sleeper, woke up and asked me what was wrong. Tearfully, I told him that Tasha had been killed and was lying in the street out front. Ever the one to look out for me, he jumped out of bed and grabbed his robe. "I'll take care of her; you stay inside," he said gently. His shoulders slumped as he made his way to the door; he likes Tasha and Marlene as much as I do. I watched him as he went out the front door and knelt beside the dog. He reached out a hand and touched her fur, and then shaking his head, he stood and came back up the front walk. When he came into the house, he glared at me in silent annoyance. Without a word, he walked back to the bedroom.

"Well, what are you going to do? Just leave her there?" I asked as he removed his robe and began to climb back into bed. I was incredulous at his sudden apathy. But when I started to go outside, he called me back. What he said next made me feel like the star of one of those 'real men of genius' commercials.

"Next time you see a dog in the road in the middle of the night," he said, "put on your glasses and make sure it isn't just a pile of dead leaves before you wake me up."

So much for taking my own medical advice. As I write, I am wearing my glasses. I wouldn't want to accidentally type a profanity and miss it.

Award Winning Novel by North High Grad

The summer book release "Ecumensus: The Next Vision" has won the 2008 Publishers Choice Award from iUniverse Publications. Lauded for its timely message of hope and inspiration in a world full of religious conflict, author Clifford Lane Mark (North High 1969) tells the story of the seven people who are challenged to find the wise ones, sages and saints of all religions who will meet to establish the next spiritual template; a paradigm shift that takes us beyond religion and will propel our civilization through the next 2,000 years to heights not yet imagined.

These seven ordinary people; a skeptical black man, an analytical Asian woman, a blind Muslim boy, a inquisitive archaeologist and an innocent Catholic girl are hired to plan the meeting of the wise ones. Led by a retired Jewish publisher who has been inspired by an Indian guru and a 95-year old priest, they join forces with the Native American Pueblo leader on whose lands the sages and saints will gather. Together, they begin their quest for Ecumensus.

As they struggle to make sense of the cryptic clues designed to help them identify and locate the master teachers of our time, they begin to glimpse some of the insights that will come to light when the wise ones and sages from all over the world finally speak as one voice. From the gathering place at Acoma Pueblo - the place that always was - they uncover the truths that have always been and devise the means by which they can be taught once again to the world.

Through love and inspired understanding, these seven ordinary people and seven special sages come to discover a new spiritual perspective that is as old as all the religions of the world and as new as tomorrow's headlines. The culmination of their time together is as dramatic and hopeful a story as any that has ever been told.

The Novel: "Ecumensus: The Next Vision"
The Sequel: (due out 2012) "Ecumensus: The First 25 Years"

Available online at www.BarnesandNoble.com, www.Amazon.com and other online retailers. Coming soon to local bookstores as well. Web site: www.Ecumensus.com

CSUB welcomes local authors for writer series

California State University, Bakersfield will welcome two local authors to kick off the fourth annual California Writers Series on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. in the Dezember Reading Room of the Walter Stiern Library.

James Sepsey, who earned his bachelor’s degree in English from CSUB and is now enrolled as a graduate student, teaches at Delano High School. He writes fiction and has published short stories, including one in the literary journal, Glimmer Train, which won second place in the magazine’s Short-Story Award for New Writers competition.

Charles Hood, the second author, dropped out of college nine times and then went on to earn degrees from CSU Northridge and UC Irvine. He has published six books of poetry and prose, including “Bombing Ploesti,” “Río de Dios,” “Under the African Air” and “The Half-life of Salt.” Hood teaches at Antelope Valley College and is a contributing editor to the Los Angeles Review.

Books will be available for sale and signing.

The California Writers Series brings established and upcoming writers living and working in California to the CSUB campus every year to read from their works. “We had an auspicious beginning as the first writer to read in our series, poet Kay Ryan, was recently named Poet Laureate of the United States,” said Marit MacArthur, English professor.

“All of us read many writers who can feel, at first, remote from our time and place,” she continued. “The California Writers Series hopes to offer students, faculty and staff, and members of the community the transformative and inspiring experience of encountering the work of living writers who live in the same, strange and wonderful state of California that we do, and discussing the creative process with them.”

The event is sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, the English Honors Society and CSUB’s Associated Students, Inc.

For more information, contact Emerson Case at (661) 654-6281.

Shirley Castro Does Book Signing at Russo's Marketplace Oct. 12

Shirley Castro, retired teacher from the Beardsley School District, has often watched the Brown Pelicans flying over the ocean in long lines along the California and Oregon coasts and thought it would be fun to write a children’s counting book about them. Seeing her son, Christopher, who attended Bakersfield schools from kindergarten through college, drawing cartoon characters for a hobby, she asked him to draw the colorful cartoon pelicans that move through the pages of the books in the series they are developing for children ages preschool through second grade.

The Pelican Family Counting Book, the first book in the series, starts with one little pelican, named Pelly, flying over the ocean, flying over the sea. A new silly character is added on each page until the line of ten pelicans gets ready to dive for yummy fish. The story contains rhyming words and repeated sentences aimed for young children who are just beginning to listen to stories and start to read.

Telly’s story, the second book in the series, explains why Telly, the eighth pelican in the counting book, has a cat for a best friend. Along with Christopher’s drawings, the books contain real photographs of brown pelicans that Shirley has taken in her travels along the coasts with her husband, Ron.

Shirley will be signing her two books at Russo’s at the Marketplace on October 12, from 12:00-3:00. Children who come to the book signing may choose to take home a stick puppet or Telly finger puppet.

CSUB’s Kegley Institute of Ethics hosts discussion on Islam and the ‘War on Terror’

California State University, Bakersfield’s Kegley Institute of Ethics presents its fourth annual fall lecture, featuring Reza Aslan in a discussion titled “How to Win a Cosmic War: Why We’re Losing the War on Terror,” on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. in CSUB’s Doré Theatre.

Aslan, author of “No god but God,” is an internationally recognized expert on Islam and the Middle East. His book was praised by the New York Times as “grippingly narrated and thoughtfully examined; ... [a] literate and accessible introduction to Islam.”

Christopher Meyers, KIE executive director, said Aslan is a highly respected young Muslim intellectual who brings a new, passionate, and much-needed perspective to the national discussion regarding Islam.

In his lectures and writings Aslan explores the intricate interplay between faith and politics in the Muslim world, presenting Islam as an ever-evolving faith and culture that is currently in the midst of a cataclysmic internal battle for reform and modernization.

Aslan argues the current conflicts in the Middle East are not the result of a “clash of civilizations” between Islam and the West, but rather the consequence of an “Islamic Reformation” occurring within the Muslim world, an internal struggle to define the future of this faith and to harmonize its traditions and values with contemporary ideals of democracy and human rights.

A book signing will follow the presentation. The lecture, co-sponsored by San Joaquin Community Hospital, is free and open to the public, with free parking after 6 p.m.

For additional information, please call (661) 654-2555 or log on to www.csub.edu/kie.

Author David Kulczyk at Russo Books on September 27th

Author David Kulczyk will be signing and speaking about his book, California Justice - Shootouts, Lynchings and Assassinations in the Golden State (Word Dancer Press) at Russo Books (9000 Ming Ave) on September 27th .

Two chapters of the book happened in Bakersfield. A Hard Road into Bakersfield is a look into vigilante injustice in Kern County in 1879, when five Californios and two successful businessmen were lynched.

Chapter 11

A Hard Road into Bakersfield

Death Toll: 9

May 28, 1879, Bakersfield - Kern County

Justice was thwarted in the following case of the Yoakum brothers,

as in one trial, they were exonerated, and in another, they were convicted

on the basis of highly partial testimony, testimony provided by the victims’ relatives and friends. However, based upon exasperation at the lengthy

and multiple trial proceedings, and upon the dubious degree of

impartiality provided by the judge, some citizens of Bakersfield took the

law into their own hands. They drew their own verdict and administered

a much quicker form of “justice” than the courts were providing.

The city of Bakersfield is situated at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley on the Kern River, and it gained a well-deserved reputation as a tough town almost from its founding. Maybe it’s the heat.

Bakersfield was settled in 1858, and it was named after an early settler, Colonel Thomas Baker. Colonel Baker ran a sort of campground for immigrants who were moving from southern California looking for a place to settle. By 1871, the settlement had a telegraph office, two stores, a newspaper, two boarding houses, one doctor, a wagon shop, a harness shop, one attorney, a saloon, and fifty students who attended a one-room school. Bakersfield quickly became the center of agriculture and industry for the region.

Five Californios were charged with the ever-popular crime of rustling on December 22, 1877, in Kern County. Whether they wee guilty or not, Bessena Ruiz, Fermin Eldeo, Miguel Elias, Francisco Ensinas, and Anthony Maron were all strung up together in one of the biggest Lynchings in California history. Nobody was ever charged with the murders.

Bill and Tom Yoakum were successful miners and businessmen in the area. Their land was located about twenty-five miles northeast of Bakersfield and the property included the Long Tom, the New Years Gift, and the Long Hank mines. The brothers also ran a general store, a blacksmith shop, and a mill. They employed thirty miners at their various excavations. The brothers defended their property against claim jumpers and thieves and thought nothing of suing anyone who challenged their right to their lands. Bill Yoakum even ran for sheriff once, although he lost the election.

The Yoakum brothers were not to be messed with, and their success in the mines and the courts angered many citizens of Kern County. Hamilton J. “Tug” Tucker and his partners. Johnson, Bronough, and Wegg, were involved in a long-running lawsuit over the Long Tom mine. The lawsuit became convoluted, and the Yoakums filed a court case against Tucker, Johnson, Bronough, and Webb. Little is known about the relationship that

Tug Tucker and William Johnson with the partners. But we can be reasonably sure that the extended lawsuit against the Yoakums drained the capital of both parties.

On April 13, 1879, Tucker and Johnson were driving their wagons along the road approximately a half mile from the Long Tom mine. They were returning from Granite Station, where the thirty-year Tug had established his family home. Johnson and Tucker’s sister, known only as Mrs. Burdett, were in the front wagon, with Tucker, his wife Harriet, and their two children in the second wagon, when two shots rang out from a rock outcropping on the hillside. Tucker was shot through the heart and died instantly. Johnson was also hit, and he died almost as quickly. People living nearby heard the commotion and came to their aid, but there was nothing they could do. Also, the men had been shot from a distance that was too far for anyone to have seen their assailants.

Harriet Tucker and her sister-in-law attended the coroner’s inquest the next day in Bakersfield. Both women were dressed in black. Mrs. Burdett’s face was badly bruised from her fall from the wagon. The Yoakums’ attorney, a Mr. Gregg, asked Judge Colby to clear the courtroom for the inquest, and the judge agreed. This riled the dead men’s friends, and as they stood outside the courthouse, they conjured up explanations as to why the courtroom had been cleared. A few hours later, Coroner A. A. Mix released the results of the inquest. Sheriff W. R. Bower’s investigation showed that the shots came from a large boulder with a natural hole in it that served as a gun port for the sniper. The boulder was located two hundred and fity yards from where the men were shot. The inquest dubiously concluded that the men were probably shot by the Yoakum brothers. Bill and Tom Yoakum were charged with murder, solely because of their ongoing lawsuit and the location of the shooting.

Completely disregarded by the inquest panel was the fact that Tucker and Johnson had successfully sent a miner to prison for stealing their gold. The miner had sworn revenge, and he had been seen around Kern County at the time of the ambush.

The Yoakums’ attorney asked for a change of venue for the trial, but Judge Philip Colby refused, although, ironically, before Colby had become a judge, he had represented William Yoakum in an unsuccessful lawsuit against a man named Thomas Baker. Although Bill and Tom Yoakum had huge investments in the area and a payroll to meet, they were detained in the Bakersfield jail while awaiting trial.

The Bakersfield newspapers stirred up passions with stirring editorials that suggested that good citizens of Kern County take the law into their own hands and become the judge, jury and executioner.

Bill Yoakum’s trial started on January 13, 1879. Yoakum was represented by three law firms. The attorneys again requested a change of venue, supported by a document signed by three outstanding Bakersfield citizens. The judge once again refused the request. Harriet Tucker testified first and added new details about the shooting. She now remembered that she recognized Tom and Bill Yoakum running from the ambush site. It was hard to believe that in the commotion, with her husband shot dead while sitting next to her, with their children on their laps and frightened horses pulling their wagon, she had possessed the mindset to look up to see who was shooting at them.

Tucker’s sister, Mrs. Burdett, testified that she saw a Yoakum running up the canyon just after the shooting, carrying a rifle. Bill Yoakum’s only alibi came from his wife Callie, who told the jury that Bill was home that day, taking care of their sick child while she did the washing.

The jury deliberated for only a few minutes before they came back with a not guilty verdict. Sheriff Bowers had to protect Bill Yoakum from the crowd, which was hell bent for blood, albeit not justice. Bill still had to face another trial on February 13 for the murder of Johnson. The brothers were pallid and baggy-eyed from their long imprisonment while awaiting trial and they had almost had enough. However, they hired additional attorneys from San Francisco for the next trial. The Bakersfield newspapers spread hate via editorials insinuating that the Yoakums had bought off Judge

Colby, completely omitting that Yoakum was found not guilty by a jury of his peers and not the judge.

The Johnson murder trial lasted ten days. Even thought Bill had been found not guilty in the first trial, he was found guilty of shooting Johnson. The jury heard the same witnesses and evidence as in the first trial. Yoakum’s attorneys immediately filed for a stay of sentencing so that they could appeal the verdict.

Any subsequent appeal trial was scheduled to be moved away from Bakersfield. Unfortunately, the Yoakums were still being held in the Bakersfield jail.

At half past midnight on the morning of May 28, 1879, a mob broke down the door of the jail and grabbed guards George Reed and William H. Coons. They took the keys from the jailers and went looking for the Yoakums. Sheriff Bower and a friend were nearby, but they were stopped by the mob and brazenly held at gunpoint.

The Yoakum brothers were in their cells when the lynch mob entered. Bill, who was in leg irons because he wasn’t a model prisoner, fought his attackers like a wildcat, until someone shot him in the chest. They then hung him by the neck in his cell. Tom was murdered the same way.

The jailers were released and they ran for their lives into the night. A few hours after the mob left, the frightened guards entered the jail and found the Yaokums beaten, lynched, and shot.

Even though only a handful of the mob word masks, and the sheriff and jailers all saw who was involved, the coroner concluded that “unknown persons” had lynched the Yoakums.

Evidently, the supporters of the victims had their own opinions

as to the events that had led to the ambush murder of Tucker and

Johnson. When “justice” flows from the barrel of a rifle, the “law”

sometimes becomes irrelevant.

Jim Magwood, local author of SANCTION, at Russo's Marketplace Books September 20.

Jim Magwood, local author of the exciting new international mystery, SANCTION, will be signing his books at Russo's Marketplace Books on Saturday, Spetember 20, from 1 - 3 pm. SANCTION is receiving rave reviews from readers everywhere, so come by and pick one up for yourself or to give as a Christmas present.

SANCTION is an exciting mystery of a world in chaos, facing terrorism on every front. Computer hacking, cold-blooded murder, and a battle for control of the world take place as the people can only watch. SANCTION is a novel about today's world you won't want to miss.

Visit the website at www.JimMagwood.com to read some chapters, read the reviews already received and even get an autographed copy direct from the author at a reduced price.

CHEWING LIFE TO GET THE SWEET OUT

There are few memories as precious to me as the Christmas morning that I woke up to find a pink and white Schwinn bicycle with big fat white walled black tires, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget the house I lived in when I got that bicycle..1602 East 65^th Street in Long Beach, California. Warm summer evenings in that neighborhood when the Good Humor man drove through the streets with the funny, whiney music playing on his speaker while we all played “Red Rover” on the grass. I still have my photograph of me sitting on a Shetland pony in the front yard of that house in a pair of chaps, and a cowboy hat on my head, courtesy of the man who drove around the streets of Long Beach, knocking on doors, offering this prize picture up to parents willing to pay the price (with begging children in the background”)

Some of my other memories revolve around the things my Mother would say..the typical “be careful you’ll poke your eyes out” “eat everything on your plate” (which these many later years come with much regret that I listened to that piece of wisdom) But one of my most prized memories, oddly enough, is my Mother chiding me for chewing bubblegum…she’d say “Debbie, no more gum! You just chew that gum to get the sweet out then you throw it away!” I’d immediately tell her..”No, I won’t, I won’t throw it away” only to spit it out and with guilt pop another piece in my mouth while she wasn’t looking and hope that she wouldn’t ask so I wouldn’t have to lie when she asked..”Did you spit that gum out?” Thinking now about those meant to be chiding words, I think of my life and how I often want the best or the “sweet” if you will, the warmest blanket on a cool night, the brightest star to wish on, the softest baby to cuddle with, the biggest sunflower in my garden…. in essence the sweetest of everything! I’ve decided, and pronounce, that my Mother was right; I did only chew the gum to get the sweet out... that was my way then and it’s my way now. I get the sweet out of life and toss the away the bad memories. So let it be known to all who ask (and those that don’t) I’m guilty as charged..I chew life to get the sweet out, knowing that the sweetness of these years are the very best!

D. Schmitz

8-27-08

Meet Nonie Darwish, author of "Now They Call Me Infidel"

"Now They Call Me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel and the War on Terror"

By Mrs. Nonie Darwish

You are cordially invited to this special evening as we hear from this nationally renowned author and fellow republican who will educate us on these important current topics which effect our country and culture.

Thursday, Aug. 21, 6 to 8 p.m.
Petroleum Club of Bakersfield, 5060 California Ave. Suite 1200
$30 per person
Call 661-327-4971 for reservations

Make checks to "BRWF"
The Bakersfield Republican Women, Federated
P.O. Box 1564
Bakersfield, CA 93302

Considered a traitor and too liberal in her country of origin, Nonie Darwish is the daughter of an Egyptian Lt. General Mustafa Hafez, former commander of Army intelligence and founder of the Palestinian Fedayeen. Nonie's book "Now They Call Me Infidel" is a biography of 30 years of her life in Egypt and Gaza where she lived under oppressive dictatorships. The book describes the culture behind the jihad and worldwide terrorism and accounts of her transformation after she moved to America in 1978 into a supporter of peace in the state of Israel. Her book uniquely describes the impact of polygamy and oppression of women on Muslim society.

With a background in journalism and a degree in socio-anthropology from the University of Cairo in Egypt, Nonie is a spokesperson for progress, minority rights, human and women's rights in the Middle East. Like most Arab children, she was taught hatred, jihad, vengeance and retaliation. Nonie states, "When I was growing up, we had to recite poetry vowing jihad against Israel. We would have tears in our eyes, pledging that we wanted to die." She grew up listening to the cursing of Jews and Christians from the pulpits of mosques and says that "if you grow up with such cursing, it can feel and sound normal."

In July 1956 when Nonie was 8 years old, her father was killed in the first assassination by the Israeli Defense Forces. President Nasser of Egypt vowed that Egypt would take revenge for his death. Nonie remembers Nasser coming to her home and asking, "Which one of you will avenge your father's death by kiling Jews?"

After moving to America she struggled for years to look the other way when she would hear about the suffering of her people. 9/11 was a turning point as she realized "jihad has come to America." She began to speak out against the countless threats against Arab feminists and reformers whose voices were being silenced. She was featured in the documentary "Obsession" and is the founder of "Arabs for Israel," an organization of Arabs and Muslims who reject suicide terrorism as a form of jihad and promote constructive self-criticism and reform in the Arab Muslim world. Her mission is to promote "forgiveness" which she stressed in her interview with Al-Arabaya TV.

Both Wafa Sultan, Nonie Darwish together with other Arab and Muslim women have founded an Internet TV show "Dawry," meaning "my turn," which will assert the right for freedom and self-expression of women and men in the Musim world. She is married and a mother of three. Her second book, "Cruel and Usual Punishment: The Terrifying Global Effects of Sharia Law," is due for release in November.

How Should Christians Engage the World?

Many Christians wonder how to successfully live out their faith in an increasingly non-Christian world. With so much opposition to biblical values found wherever they look, some are tempted to think that culture is beyond hope.

A new book called Culture Makers: A Worldview Approach to Re-engaging the World offers a rarely heard perspective on this issue. Local author and teacher Josiah Vencel argues that believers have a God-given cultural mandate, which they have unknowingly neglected for nearly a century. Although many believers prefer living in the comfort and safety of their Christian subcultures, God has called His people to engage hearts and minds outside of these realms. The problem, Vencel says, is the lack of Christian thinking among God’s people today.

The author makes a powerful and inspiring case for Christians to become “culture makers”: God’s agents of restoration on earth. This God-appointed role requires the embrace of a biblical worldview, the defense of truth, and the application of biblical principles in all areas of life.

For any believer seeking to apply his/her faith beyond church walls or to learn about Christianity’s historical role in society, Culture Makers is a must-read!

Spirit Hunters is Here to Claim Your Souls

Dawn Lewelling, long-time Bakersfield resident, is pleased to announce that her debut book, Spirit Hunters, is here and available to buy.

Spirit Hunters is already a hot seller on the internet. The book is about a group of paranormal investigators who are invited into the depths of the most haunted house in America, Death Manor. The team must figure out the house's secert before the house and its inhabitants can claim their souls.

Please check out this book written by a hometown author!

www.publishedauthors.net/horror_wench1

www.myspace.com/dawnlewelling

Spirit Hunters is available to buy from the following sellers:

www.publishamerica.com

www.barnesandnoble.com

www.amazon.com

These Precious People: Honoring My Parents

About a year ago, I read an article in The Bakersfield Californian which related to the fact that there is a great scarcity of books written about Hispanics, their ancestors and families. I found this to be very sad, but so true. This article motivated me to have it published my book, “These Precious People,” published.

My book opens with a brief history of the lives of my parents and the odds they had to contend with in a strange country after they immigrated to the United States in 1922. Both my parents were born in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, and my book begins with my father’s childhood. As I write about many of his young experiences, I mention the time when he was a young teenager and ran away from home to join Pancho Villa’s Dorados to fight in the Mexican Revolution. I also write about my mother who was raised on a hacienda, became orphaned at the age of three and endured much sadness and problems during her youth.

However, my parents’ trials and tribulations increased when they came to this country. For instance, they did not speak English and knew nothing about this country’s traditions and culture. They had to confront many difficulties as they struggled to raise their nine children during the Great Depression and in the ensuing years. They experienced the sadness and anxiety of having their two oldest sons go off to fight in World War II, and the blessing and fortune to see them return home again.

As I touch upon eventful details of their lives, I convey what my parents felt as they confronted and dealt with the difficulties they encountered in a strange land. I portray how they faced a rapidly changing world as they continued to uphold their traditions and teachings. Through my recollections, I share how they lived, felt, struggled and survived. My parents were, beyond doubt, very amazing, resilient and determined individuals; not perfect, but the best parents for me. Their perseverance through the years is remarkable and praiseworthy.

I convey to readers my feelings and reveal how the deep impact my parents made on my life influenced and shaped me. It is with gratitude, love, respect and honor which they so deserve that I share their story.

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

The book is available by contacting the author at 366-2575, francesespinosa@att.net or www.francesespinosa.com. It is also available through the publisher at www.Xlibris.com or at major bookseller Web sites such as Amazon.com.

Rising Star

Hello. In this great world of ours, I am a small star hoping to make a change. I currently work for an online magazine, and I would be honored to use my skills for other organizations. I am 22 years old, and in August of this year, I'm going to return to Bakersfield College. I took a year-long absence, but during that absence, a lot of emotional transitions were made. Now I feel ready to take on the world.

I hope that you'll support my dreams. My dreams are to spread my gifts throughout the world, starting with my own home. If you're in need of an editor, or just an assistant writer, please don't be afraid to drop me a line. I do not require a monetary fee, though. I wish to give my services in exchange for an item. I am an aspiring author, working to change my world through writing. Writing supplies of any sort, especially journals, would be sufficient. I do not require extravagant fees.

Thank you for reading this. That alone means a lot to me. Wish me the best of luck! I hope to make a better life for my family.

"RECOVERY AND EMPOWERMENT-Living Schizophrenia to Become a Professional Peer

I will be featured on a nationally syndicated radio show, the Popp Off show in Sacramento at 11:30 A.M. on Monday July 14th, 2008 on station www.kahi.com to discuss my autobiography "RECOVERY AND EMPOWERMENT-Living Schizophrenia to Become a Professional Peer", a book that shares how I experienced Schizoid Affective disorder from the age of four, experiencing the stigma of mental illness but determined not to let it bring me down after living the painful world of Schizophrenia - only to find my true Purpose - teaching RECOVERY.

After experiencing the confusion and torture of a brain disease, I eventually found real purpose in my life by sharing as a Professional Peer. I became someone that others felt they could share the cruelty of their fate and not be judged. They thought they found a person who understood and could be an example towards a road of recovery.

After suffering from the age of four the disease of Schizoid Affective Disorder suffering rejection, abuse in mental institutions, being told I'd never leave the hospital, never function and definitely never leave work again, I worked for 15 years in the mental health field at Kern Linkage with the homeless and at Kern county Mental Health as a Recovery Specialist teaching others how to enter recovery from their mental illness.

After retiring for physical reasons I started promoting from home on radio my book, written two years ago and hopefully intend to further explore other avenues of promotion through out the world, to show people that recovery is reaching for the impossible and making it possible. I want those with a mental illness to realize my steps of recovery so they can live a normal life like I have and that others can realize that mental illness is a disease no different than diabetes or Parkinson's disease that requires medication in order for a person with what is just a brain disease, can function normally.

Mental illness has a stigma I'd like to dispel, especially with the law and even the mental health field and with family members. We are no different than others. All we want is to live normally by having our own home, a car, and maybe even a date. We just want a chance to be accept for who we are, not what we are.

I have my own website, www.paulajonesenterprises.com that explains further how I intend to accomplish this. Please listen to www.kahi.com on Monday, at 11:30a.m. or if that time is not possible it is podcast for a full 24 hours after the show.

I invite you to be a part of this innovative way to help those you know with mental illness to recover and live a normal life like I have.

"Ashes of Destiny" rises from California gold history

I grew up in Bakersfield. I attended Standard Elementary School, and graduated from North High School in 1957.

I moved to Los Angeles to attend Pepperdine College. When I graduated, jobs and circumstances took me to Northern California.

I now live less than 15 minutes from Coloma, where James Marshall discovered gold in 1848. I have walked the streets there numerous times, and explored the remains of that bygone era to gather historical information for “Ashes of Destiny.” It is also only a short drive to Placerville (Old Hangtown), a town born of the gold rush. Old Hangtown earned its name as a great oak tree there was used to mete out miner's justice to claim jumpers, robbers, and other shady characters of that era.

“Ashes of Destiny” follows the story of Angus Murray, an Englishman who is blessed with great intelligence, but is devoid of the neurological tools necessary to develop a conscience.

In 1848, Angus reads a newspaper account that chronicles the discovery of gold in a faraway place called California, focusing on the small lumber-producing town of Coloma.

It is then that Angus knows that his destiny awaits him in this place; that riches beyond imagination will eventually be his.

In 1849, Angus steps onto the shores of America. He is no longer Angus Murray; he has changed his identity to Dr. Steven Morgan, noted physician and man of medicine.
In San Francisco, Angus meets Muley Skaggs, a gentle brute of a man, and Quincy Freeman, an intelligent, rough-cut man wise to the ways of the gold country. With these two men, Angus/Dr. Morgan begins his quest to find his destiny.

The journey into the Sierra Nevada Mountains is packed with adventure, intrigue, and murder, and when the small troupe finally arrives at Coloma, they find a place transformed from a small logging town and stage stop to a virtual beehive, with a population of more than 15,000 treasure seekers.

It is there that Angus comes face to face with his destiny.

"Sanction," by local author Jim Magwood

An exciting novel of a world in chaos with terrorism everywhere. Computer hacking, missile attacks, cold-blooded murder and pure evil haunt the world as The Plan progresses. The fate of the world rests in their hands…or does it?

A deadly plot for total domination of the world takes place as the people idly watch. Can the world leaders resist this powerful force as the power struggle comes to an ultimate climax? As the war of good versus evil rages, SANCTION intensely narrates the lives of the powerful men on both sides of the battle. Computer hacking, missile attacks, cold-blooded murder and pure evil haunt the world as The Plan progresses. Civilians and government officials lock arms in defense of the world as it is seemingly being unhinged.

SANCTION is a suspenseful story about today’s world that you won't want to miss.

See the book and read a few chapters by going to www.JimMagwood.com.

SANCTION will be available through your local bookstore after the June 24 nationwide release date.

Shirley Castro at Russo's at the Marketplace, June 8

Shirley Castro will be at Russo's at the Marketplace on Sunday, June 8, from 1:00-4:00 to sign her two books in the Pelican Family Series. Shirley and her son, Christopher, are developing the Pelican Family Series for children ages preschool through second grade. The books contain whimsical characters drawn by Christopher along with photos of real Brown Pelicans along the California and Oregon coasts.

Shirley taught in the Beardsley School District for 33 years and also ran a pre-school in her home for 4 1/2 years. She and her husband, Ron, now live in Willits, California. Christopher attended Norris School, Garces Memorial High School, and Cal-State University, Bakersfield. He is a therapist in the Santa Barbara area working in crisis intervention. He and his wife, Allisa, live in Goleta, California.

Their first book, The Pelican Family Counting Book, encourages children to count the silly pelicans as they fly over the ocean in search of yummy fish. It contains rhyming and repeated phrases pulling children in to listen and read along. Telly's Story, about one of the ten pelicans in the counting book, is the second book in the series. Telly has a rather unusual friend for a pelican--a cat. His story tells how they got to be friends. Children who come to the book signing will get a pelican stick puppet to take home.