TEKWARGAMES

Cyberattacks LIVE

◼ Hold the cursor over the map, see all the attacks. - http://map.ipviking.com/#

Have fun.

The moral of the story is...

◼ 'I Need To Hide My Roommate' - Accused Murderer Asked Siri To Help Dump Victim's Body - IBTimes [UK]

Among other things: Bravo's trial has heard about evidence detectives gathered from the defendant's iPhone, including the fact that he used the phone's flashlight nine separate times from 11.31pm to 12:01am on the day Aguilar disappeared....

The moral of the story is...

Not your usual booking photo...

It's missing that Humboldt lime green tinge...

◼ Women Are Losing Their Minds Over How Good Looking This Criminal Is - Daily Caller

And this is Stockton!

Not like our local booking photos:

UPDATE:

◼ Felon's 'handsome' mugshot goes viral, but reaction is mixed - LA TIMES

If being booked on suspicion of felony weapons charges wasn’t enough to keep thousands of admirers from fawning over a convicted felon’s mug shot in Stockton, maybe this will – he’s married. (WITH A THREE YEAR OLD SON)

...Meeks was one of four men arrested Wednesday in a multi-agency raid that included help from the FBI, U.S. marshal’s office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and a countywide gang task force. He told KXTV authorities found a gun in his trunk.

KXTV’s Monacelli told Meeks about his newfound popularity while he was still in jail. Video of the interview shows Meeks behind glass, talking to the reporter by phone.

Meeks said that while he appreciates the attention, he also wanted to get his side of the story out to the public.

“I just want them to know that this is really not like me, I’m not some kingpin,” he said.

◼ While the fact that Jeremy was arrested by the hard-working police department for an alleged crime is VERY serious, the comments on his Facebook mug shot are simply hilarious. - HOLLYWOOD LIFE

Interesting Case from Supreme Court

◼ Stating the obvious, after a while - scotusblog

◼ Martinez v. Illinois – While the case kept getting put off, for one reason or another, things started to move in July 2009. But the prosecutor sought several delays, because it could not find Binion and Scott. Finally, the judge ordered the trial to begin in May 2010. The judge was exasperated, commenting that the two complaining witnesses were “convicted felons…well known in Elgin.”

Insisting on starting, the judge then was notified by the state’s prosecutors that they would not take any part in the trial. A jury was chosen and sworn in, but still the state held back. Given repeated opportunities to call witnesses, the prosecutors each time said they were not participating.

So, at the request of Martinez’s lawyer, the judge ruled that he was not guilty of either charge, and dismissed them. The prosecutors appealed, and first a middle-level appeals court and then the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that Martinez had never been put “in jeopardy” and that the judge should have delayed the trial further. Because the prosecutors never put on a case against him, the state supreme court found, Martinez was never “at risk.”
__________________
In addition, the Court turned down a plea by James Holmes, the Colorado man accused of the massacre of theater-goers in Aurora, Colorado, in July 2012. He was seeking to force a Fox News reporter in New York, Jana Winter, to go to Colorado to take the witness stand and reveal the sources of information she received about a notebook Holmes had written to a college psychiatrist. The notebook apparently reveals incriminating information about his case. The case was Holmes v. Winter. The New York Court of Appeals (the state’s highest court) protected Winter from having to testify, under that state’s “shield law” for news reporters.

Cut the BS,

◼ Here we go again Times Standard editorial
"...the Legislature needs to start working together..."

Working together is fine if it means cutting spending - period. Our legislators got us into this mess and it is up to them to bite the bullet and FIX IT. It's being done in all the other states, Washington State, and Wisconsin most visibly... it's painful, but their actions have led us to this point.

"Working together" seems to mean "Republicans should agree to let us raise taxes so we can keep on spending" and that is NOT GOING TO SOLVE ANYTHING.

Why do you not understand this?

Stop asking Wes Chesbro softball questions and start holding that man - and his fellow travelers - ACCOUNTABLE for what they have done.

Nancy Garrido's Bail Set at $20M

◼ PLACERVILLE, Calif. (AP) - A judge has set bail at $20 million for the woman accused of kidnapping and raping Jaycee Dugard and holding her captive for 18 years.

In setting the high bail amount, El Dorado Superior Court Judge Douglas Phimister said Thursday that he considered Nancy Garrido to be a ``danger to the community and also a flight risk.''

If you don't have a generator....might be time to get one

From the mailbox: ADVISORY: Currently, the strong El Nino is reaching its peak in the Eastern Pacific, and now finally appears to be exerting an influence on our weather. The strong jet has been apparent for quite some time out over the open water, but the persistent block had prevented it from reaching the coast. Now that the block has dissolved completely, a 200+ kt jet is barreling towards us.

Multiple large and powerful storm systems are expected to slam into CA from the west and northwest over the coming two weeks, all riding this extremely powerful jet stream directly into the state. The jet will itself provide tremendous dynamic lift, in addition to directing numerous disturbances right at the state and supplying them with an ample oceanic moisture source. The jet will be at quite a low latitude over much of the Pacific, so these storms will be quite cold, at least initially. Very heavy rainfall and strong to potentially very strong winds will impact the lower elevations beginning late Sunday and continuing through at least the following Sunday. This will be the case for the entire state, from (and south of) the Mexican border all the way up to Oregon. Above 3000-4000 feet, precipitation will be all snow, and since temperatures will be unusually cold for a precipitation event of this magnitude, a truly prodigious amount of snowfall is likely to occur in the mountains, possibly measured in the tens of feet in the Sierra after it's all said and done. But there's a big and rather threatening caveat to that (discussed below).Individual storm events are going to be hard to time for at least few more days, since this jet is just about as powerful as they come (on this planet, anyway). Between this Sunday and the following Sunday, I expect categorical statewide rainfall totals in excess of 3-4 inches. That is likely to be a huge underestimate for most areas. Much of NorCal is likely to see 5-10 inches in the lowlands, with 10-20 inches in orographically-favored areas. Most of SoCal will see 3-6 inches at lower elevations, with perhaps triple that amount in favored areas.

This is where things get even more interesting, though. The models are virtually unanimous in "reloading" the powerful jet stream and forming an additional persistent kink 2000-3000 miles to our southwest after next Sunday. This is a truly ominous pattern, because it implies the potential for a strong Pineapple-type connection to develop. Indeed, the 12z GFS now shows copious warm rains falling between days 12 and 16 across the entire state. Normally, such as scenario out beyond day seven would be dubious at best. Since the models are in such truly remarkable agreement, however, and because of the extremely high potential impact of such an event, it's worth mentioning now. Since there will be a massive volume of freshly-fallen snow (even at relatively low elevations between 3000-5000 feet), even a moderately warm storm event would cause very serious flooding. This situation will have to monitored closely. Even if the tropical connection does not develop, expected rains in the coming 7-10 days will likely be sufficient to cause flooding in and of themselves (even in spite of dry antecedent conditions).

In addition to very heavy precipitation, powerful winds may result from very steep pressure gradients associated with the large and deep low pressure centers expected to begin approaching the coast by early next week. Though it's not clear at the moment just how powerful these winds may be, there is certainly the potential for a widespread damaging wind event at some point, and the high Sierra peaks are likely to see gusts in the 100-200 mph range (since the 200kt jet at 200-300 mb will essentially run directly into the mountains at some point). The details of this will have to be hashed out as the event(s) draw closer.

In short, the next 2-3 weeks (at least) are likely to be more active across California than any other 2-3 week period in recent memory. The potential exists for a dangerous flood scenario to arise at some point during this interval, especially with the possibility of a heavy rain-on-snow event during late week 2. In some parts of Southern California, a whole season's worth of rain could fall over the course of 5-10 days. This is likely to be a rather memorable event. Stay tuned. (NASA - I am looking for the link)
◼ El Nino is coming: “This event has the potential to approach or rival the January/February 1998 El Nino event in Central CA and the January 1995 time frame for Southern California”
◼ Strong storms predicted to bring 10-20 feet of snow to the Sierra during the next two weeks
◼ Are You Ready? - Emergency Planning and Checklists
◼ FYI Costco sells Emergency Food Kits
◼ storm surfing

UPDATE: ◼ Big storms to set in Sunday

The real deal? Or Chicken Little? Better safe than sorry. Stock up.

13TH ANNUAL ARCATA EYE BALL

13TH ANNUAL ARCATA EYE BALL –
MUSIC, DRAMA AND MAGIC
SUNDAY, JAN. 24 AT 6 P.M.
AT THE ARCATA THEATER LOUNGE
The Arcata Eye presents the 13th Annual Arcata Eye Ball Sunday, Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. at the Arcata Theater Lounge. Headlining the 2010 Eye Ball are Mike Keneally and Bryan Beller, former players with Frank Zappa, Dweezil Zappa, Steve Vai and Dethklok. Michael Fields and Dell’Arte will perform dramatized interpretations of items from the Arcata Eye’s world-famous Police Log. The event is also a birthday party for Shantaram the Magician, who will perform acts of wizardry and confoundment. A fundraising auction for the newspaper will be conducted by the Eureka Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Emcee for the gala affair will be Rick St. Charles.

Admission is $10, $8 for Arcata Eye subscribers (with subscription label).
Tickets are available at arcatatheater.com. The Works in Arcata and Eureka and at the Arcata Eye in Jacoby’s Storehouse.

More information is available at arcataeye.com and the ◼ Arcata Eye Ball Facebook page, at (707) 826-7000 and at news@arcataeye.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kevin Hoover (707) 826-7000

We're going to miss you

Another loss to the blogosphere
◼ http://www.tsblogs.com/cheaperthantherapy/
Sorry to see you go.

"He was pretty much a monster"

Greg Allen Hawkins and James Jay Keefer/Peoria Police Dept photo
◼ 'Person of interest' in Arizona homicide kills himself in Humboldt Hill Home
Detective Mark Lankford of the Glendale Police Department said Greg Hawkins was the person of interest and that he was found in his mother's home around 10 p.m. Wednesday.

Hawkins' mother and a man who is under hospice care were also in the home.

Glendale police wanted to talk to Hawkins, officially listing him late Wednesday night as a person of interest in the killing of Cynthia Langrall, 57.

Langrall was killed in the early morning hours of Dec. 21, shot in the head while out for a run.

Arizona media reports state that neighbors heard two gunshots and that she was about a block from her home when she was shot. Langrall died at a hospital later the same day.
◼ Glendale woman shot and killed while jogging


◼ Peoria man tied to murder of Glendale jogger kills himself
Hawkins went missing about that time with James Jay Keefer, 55, whom Glendale police said was his roommate.

Keefer, 55, told friends he was going to an area northeast of Kingman, to go exploring. Family and friends have not heard from him since then, and all attempts to contact him have failed. Police later learned that he was with Hawkins.

The white 2005 Chrysler Sebring with a black top and Arizona license 1MSGT2U that the two men were driving was found at the California residence where Hawkins died.

Keefer, who is diabetic and may be without medication, is still missing.

He is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, 210 pounds, with blue eyes and receding light brown hair.

Anyone with information regarding this incident or the whereabouts of Keefer is asked to call the Glendale Police Department's Detective Sergei Droban at 623-930-3310 or Silent Witness at 480-948-6377.

◼ Man From Eureka Standoff Identified The Journal
◼ http://kiem-tv.com/newscast Newscast of 12/31/09 quotes his brother as saying he's sad and not surprised "{Greg} was a loner as a child, he had different interests from kids his own age... he would do minor torture, and hold us down and make us do things against our will... so he'd box our ears and slap us, one time when we were kids for instance, he got a rope, tied the rope around a cat's tail, swung the cat around, and then threw the cat over a wire like a telephone wire and then ran down the street as the cat dangled from the wire, ran down the street smiling and laughing all the while..." adding his heart goes out to the victim's family, and offers his sincere condolences, "we're talking about Greg here and Greg is pretty much a monster"

How did he become a person of interest?
◼ Two POI’s Sought in the Murder of Cynthia Langrall crimeshadowsnews.com
On December 21, at about 5:45 AM, shots were heard in the area of 7300 W. Donald Avenue in Glendale, Arizona. Only seconds earlier, a resident's surveillance camera captured the image of a car passing through the area. A shocked neighbor found the body of a woman who would later be identified as 57-year-old Cynthia Ann Powell –a woman who regularly jogged in the area. Langrall was found lying in the street. She was taken to John C. Lincoln Hospital in critical condition. She did not survive. Langrall had been shot in the head.
◼ Police seek information in homicide of jogger
◼ 1 of 2 men sought by police, takes own life
◼ Keefer's family now fears he could be a victim.
His daughter Donna can hardly bring herself to look at pictures of her father.

She says she knew something was very wrong on Christmas day.

“Christmas, at 2 o’clock when my dad didn’t show. He would have been there. There’s no doubt in my mind,” said Donna.

Police originally believed Keefer and Hawkins were out exploring in Mohave County, something his family and friends say wouldn’t have been out of character for Keefer.

But they say all of the gear he would have needed was still inside his Peoria home.

Keefer’s best friend, James Ronje, says he knew something was off about Hawkins.

“I always had my suspicions of him,” said Ronje.

When they found out Hawkins was a “person of interest” in a murder investigation they became even more fearful something terrible had happened to Keefer.

Hawkins step-brother Scott Hawkins says he was a disturbed man.

“Greg is a strange character. I wouldn’t have expected him to go kill anybody. I’ll be just as curious as anybody to see what the circumstances were behind that,” said Scott.

For now Donna says she continues to try and make contact with her missing father.

“I text my Dad every night that I miss him and I love him,” said Donna.

Glendale police say they still hold out hope that James Keefer could be alive. The family hopes Valley residents will help with the search.

Merry Christmas.

The tradition


To mresquan and Stephen, Carol and Greg, Eric, heraldo, the HumBug and Hank. To Ernie, to Kym, to Jennifer and Dave, to the Cap'n, to Fred, to Softball and Cap, to Anon.R.mous (I know you're out there) and Anonymous - Merry Christmas to all.

Not exactly a Blog

But ◼ Seven-O-Heaven is pretty funny.


No blog feed, so they're not in the Blogroll, but you'll find 'em in the NewsStand in the Sidebar. And they're a regular feature in The Journal, yes?

Vote NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and 1F
What do all these measures have in common? They ALL allow the runaway legislators to Keep Spending. SAY NO! No more spending. Live within our means. Fire every single legislator who doesn't get it... including Schwarzenegger.

RESULTS!
◼ Local Election Results 2009 (8:28, 13% in)
1A No - 63%
1B No - 60%
1C No - 61%
1D No - 62%
1E No - 62%
1F Yes - 75% 77/23 at 9:06 (17% in) 1F is winning at 82% in SF

◼ Ace of Spades California Props Scoresheet Open Thread

Prop 1A is nothing more than a massive tax increase masked as a phony spending limit and allows then to KEEP spending.
Prop 1B is an attempt to modify some of the terms of California Proposition 98 (1998) in order to free up money, won't go into effect unless 1A passes, but allows them to keep spending.
Prop 1C allows the state to borrow $5 billion against future lottery sales, enabling the state to continue unsustainable spending and avoid needed reforms.
Prop 1D allows the state to modify the terms of Proposition 10 (1998 tobacco tax hike earmarked for children's health care) and KEEP SPENDING!
Prop 1E allows the state to divert $230 million a year from Proposition 63 (surtax on the wealthy approved in 2004 to fund mental health programs) to offset general fund obligations... another one that takes propositions that set aside funds for certain things that VOTERS APPROVED, and steals it to keep funding their irresponsible spending.
Prop 1F prevents pay increases for elected officials during budget deficit years. While this may sound good on its face, this proposition has no teeth and is all for show.

If you just hafta vote YES on something, do it on 1F because that will help send a message
Here's The Americans for Tax Reform recommendations: ◼ ATR Analysis of California's May 19th Special Election

◼ Dan Walters: Big costs loom for state beyond deficit h/t: Fred
◼ Dan Weintraub: Picture this state's fiscal reckoning, because it's close h/t: Fred
Californians on the left and the right have told me they think the state's finances have to crash and burn before lawmakers and the governor will come to their senses and finally fix the problem.

Good point

Time to clean houseToday's T-S (May 7) posted an article stating that Arnold may suspend Proposition 1A (from 2004). Wonderful. If he can do that then the current Proposition 1A and its “rainy day fund” could suffer the same fate if passed! Remember that these latest propositions we are to vote on were proposed by the very folks responsible for our current financial crisis! We need to start house cleaning in Sacramento! John Arata

The Fight Club Thread

This post is for all the comments by ex-Republican and a few others. Your comments won't be censored, but they will be moved here from now on. Have fun.

Comments like this one -
Harmony Groves has left a new comment on your post "Juxtaposition":

Rose! I will not tolerate these slanderous and false accusations! I will not tolerate being criticized in any way shape or form because we who are the political elite are not obligated to follow the same rules as the masses! I was put into power by the hand of god just as was pelosi, clinton, obama, and many other great liberal politicians.
I dmand you shut this thread down Rose! I deand that my good name not be dragged through the mud! These worthless eaters dare think they can question their superiors and soon they shall pay with the freedom that we for far too long have allowed them.

It's clearly not Harmony, it's just a time waster.

If the government made Viagra

link

Assassins of the Mind

◼ vanityfair.com/politics/ Christopher Hitchens
When Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa on novelist Salman Rushdie for The Satanic Verses, it was the opening shot in a war on cultural freedom. Two decades later, the violence continues, and Muslim fundamentalists have gained a new advantage: media self-censorship....

The Arcata Collection

Seriously!

From Martha Stewart - and not a pot leaf in sight.

Not so good in da Nabahood!

☛TS Editorial Not a good fit
Nabahood Community Development Inc.'s proposal to transform the small town of Bridgeville into a homeless rehabilitation center for 200 clients is simply not a good fit.

Even if the organization was able to jump all the hurdles needed to make the center a reality, it would first and foremost mean the destruction of the small, close-knit community that already exists there. While we can appreciate the healing opportunities such a setting would provide for those the project aims to help, where would they go from there?

Bridgeville's been a bouncing ball since it first appeared for sale on ebay. And granting that the $1.3 million asking price is the cheap part, IMAGINE how much fun it would be to buy it and fix it up, and turn it into something picture postcard perfect!

What would you do if you owned Bridgeville?

Geert Wilders to be Prosecuted for “Hate Speech”

◼ Geert Wilders to be Prosecuted for “Hate Speech”
A Dutch court has ordered prosecutors to put a right-wing politician on trial for making anti-Islamic statements.

Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders made a controversial film last year equating Islam with violence and has likened the Koran to Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf.

“In a democratic system, hate speech is considered so serious that it is in the general interest to… draw a clear line,” the court in Amsterdam said.

Mr Wilders said the judgement was an “attack on the freedom of expression”.

“Participation in the public debate has become a dangerous activity. If you give your opinion, you risk being prosecuted,” he said.

Not only he, but all Dutch citizens opposed to the “Islamisation” of their country would be on trial, Mr Wilders warned.

“Who will stand up for our culture if I am silenced?” he added.

I guess pointing out that Islamists stone their teenage girls to death for having boyfriends is 'hate speech.' Pointing out that they behead their women in soccer stadiums in front of cheering crowds is 'hate speech.' Pointing out that they behead school girls and leave their heads on the police station steps is 'hate speech.'

Fitna, the movie.

◼ Ezra Levant on Wilders: Holland's national suicide note
Amsterdam, 21 january 2009 - On 21 January 2009 the Court of Appeal in Amsterdam ordered the criminal prosecution of the member of parliament Geert Wilders for the incitement to hatred and discrimination based on his statements in various media about moslims and their belief.
Did you catch that? It's just like the execrable section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act. Incitement to... what? Violence? Murder? Riot? No. Incitement to hatred.
◼ Defend Geert Wilders.wordpress.com
◼ Shooting The Messenger….This is Sharia Law!
◼ Is This the END or Just the BEGINNING? Geert Wilders charged over Fitna movie

I highly recommend you watch the movie, Fitna. Click on the link. It isn't even that extreme, not that inflammatory, he actually pulls back from some of the most egregious scenes, stops before the head is sawed off for example.

Then think about what this means to you.
***
As Wilders puts it, “If I have to stand trial, I will not stand trial alone, but also with the hundreds of thousands of Dutch people who reject the Islamization of The Netherlands.” He will also stand trial with those in The Netherlands and beyond who reject government prosecutions of free speech. In recognition of this dire situation, the IFPS immediately calls on every supporter of free speech to come to the aid of Geert Wildest assist in this effort, the IFPS has launched an international campaign in defense of Geert Wilders and his freedom of speech.



To support these efforts, we urge you to contribute to the Geert Wilders Defense Fund. Donation information can be found at the IFPS website at http://www.internationalfreepresssociety.org.

We also urge defenders of free speech to sign this letter of protest against the Dutch Government

◼ http://www.petitiononline.com/wilders/petition.html

Lars Hedegaard
President of the IFPS
lhedegaard@freepressmonitor.com


Update:
◼ BRITS CAVE TO ISLAMIC SUPREMACISTS: CANCELS FITNA SCREENING

Related: ◼ vanityfair.com/politics/ Christopher Hitchens, Assassins of the Mind
When Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa on novelist Salman Rushdie for The Satanic Verses, it was the opening shot in a war on cultural freedom. Two decades later, the violence continues, and Muslim fundamentalists have gained a new advantage: media self-censorship....