December 2013

Shoot-out in Point Loma as Marshalls Attempt Arrest of Fugitive

December 30, 2013 by Source

On Monday morning, there was a shoot-out in Point Loma when US Marshals and other law enforcement attempted to make an arrest on a suspected fugitive. This all happened in the 1600 block of Catalina Boulevard, around 8:30 a.m.

The suspect – wanted for murder – was wounded and taken into custody. He was then taken to UCSD Medical Center by paramedics. He is currently in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds.

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Unconscious Surfer Pulled From Ocean South of Ocean Beach Pier

December 30, 2013 by Staff
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On Sunday morning, a male surfer was pulled out of the surf by rescuers out in water south of the OB Pier. He was unconscious when he was dragged to shore and paramedics were unable to revive him.

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Family wants answers after man visiting Ocean Beach dies in Border Patrol custody

December 30, 2013 by Source

By Cristin Severance / Alliance San Diego / 10News

The family of a man visiting Ocean Beach wants answers after he died in the custody of Border Patrol agents.

Janet Keith said her 58-year-old brother Steven Keith died in a holding facility on Christmas. She said they grew up in Ocean Beach before her brother moved to Thailand as an adult and the rest of the family moved to Texas.

He was visiting Ocean Beach for Christmas when Janet Keith got a phone call from the San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office that her brother was dead.

“I just couldn’t believe it. It just seemed surreal. My aunt had just died the day before — my mother’s sister — and I thought this can’t be happening,” said Janet Keith.

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When Was OB’s Lifeguard Station Built?

December 30, 2013 by Staff
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There’s confusion in the ranks of both San Diego City planners and OB historians. No one can figure out or remember when the current main lifeguard station in Ocean Beach was built.

In the new OB Community Plan Update, a date of “1983” was given to the lifeguard station (which, by the way, needs to be replaced). But OB history buffs knew that was an incorrect date.

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A Warm and Magical Winter’s Day in OB

December 30, 2013 by Frank Gormlie
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The foot of Newport Ave was just a sunny magical and happenin’ place – a warm winter’s day in OB. It was one of those days that locals beam with pride about, a day that tourists remember.

Armed with camera and bicycle I managed to find the magic as I cruised the west end of the Land of OB on an unusually warm afternoon near the end of the year. And I also tried to find any new developments in the land of development and businesses.

As hula hoopsters gyrated in the grassy area, beach goers and surfers gathered near the water, a shimmering body of quiet pacific until the waves curled up and crashed on the shore.

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San Diego’s Unlucky 2013: The Year That Can’t End Fast Enough

December 30, 2013 by Jim Miller

2013 handsBy Jim Miller

…the emergence of the local plutocracy’s strategy of rule by ballot initiative is a genuine threat to our local democracy

Last year, I rang out the New Year with a list of the best in San Diego culturally and politically in 2012. This year begs for a grimmer assessment. Better yet, politically, 2013 deserves to be tossed from the house with the caveat that it not let the door hit it in the ass on the way out.

It would be tempting to do a bottom ten list as there are so many deserving candidates in all quarters, but let me just reiterate what I wrote last summer, that much of what we saw transpiring in our fair city brought to mind Mark Twain’s pithy assessment of “the damned human race”:

I have been studying the traits and dispositions of the lower animals (so-called), and contrasting them with the traits and dispositions of man. I find the result humiliating to me. For it obliges me to renounce my allegiance to the Darwinian theory of the Ascent of Man from the Lower Animals; since it now seems plain to me that the theory ought to be vacated in favor of a new and truer one, this new and truer one to be named the Descent of Man from the Higher Animals.

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San Diego vs. SeaWorld: Let the Battle Begin

December 30, 2013 by Source

seaworld

By Eva Posner / San Diego Free Press

Blackfish has been on my DVR since it aired on CNN for the first time in October. I knew I should watch it but I didn’t want to. I’ve never been to SeaWorld, and I wanted to go. I wanted to see the whales. I wanted to watch them jump in the air and wave at me. It’s really selfish, and maybe not the best thing to admit, but I didn’t want to see Blackfish because I didn’t want to feel guilty about thinking the whale show was super cute.

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Fundraiser at Mother’s in Ocean Beach for David DeRyckere – Sat, Dec. 28th

December 28, 2013 by Staff
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“My Grandma’s High on Weed”

December 27, 2013 by Judi Curry
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“My Grandma’s High on Weed”

My grandma has a case of shingles,

She hurts terribly bad,

I wish I could do something for her,

It makes me extremely sad.

Grandma went to her doctor,

Who gave her a strong pain pill,

But all that it managed to do for her,

Was to make her feel more ill.

Grandma went back to the doctor,

Begging for some relief,

The doctor said to get a weed card

And then go buy some leaf.

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Review of “Take to the Hills” by Former OBcean

December 27, 2013 by Marc Snelling
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“Take to the Hills” by the Freewayblogger (AKA Patrick Randall)

Take to the Hills: Clothing the Sierra Madres is a new e-book by the Freewayblogger. He tells an inspiring story about the thinking that took him from grading papers at SDSU to driving hundreds of pounds of donated clothes into the Sierra Madres mountains.

Some may know the Freewayblogger (AKA Patrick Randall) from the thousands of signs he has posted on the freeways of California and elsewhere. The first one I remember was visible coming into OB from the I-8. An upside down American flag with ‘RIP 1776-2001’ very shortly after the Supreme Court decision in the Bush/Gore election. But before Bush and he death of American democracy the Freewayblogger was doing something else.

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Movie Review of “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”

December 27, 2013 by Source

A thrilling adventure film held back only by the lead heroine’s need for a savior.

By Melissa Phy

catching-fire-movie-posterScreaming tweens and indulgent adults finally got to check back in with Katniss, Peeta, Gale and the rest of The Hunger Games crew this week after the second installment of the series, Catching Fire, was released Friday.

The movie starts out nearly a year after the last hunger games, in which Peeta and Katniss (tributes from District 12 in the futuristic Panem) both survived, making headlines as the first dual winners of the barbaric games in which two children from each district (there are 12 total, with a former 13th reportedly obliterated by the capitol for rebelling) duke it out in an arena in a fight to the death.

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San Diego’s Shadow Government Steps Into the Spotlight

December 27, 2013 by Andy Cohen

political-puppetsFormer Mayor Jerry Sanders steps back into the spotlight to undermine San Diego’s elected government

By Andy Cohen / San Diego Free Press

We often hear, particularly when a government entity is seeking to raise revenues for an important project (or, on occasion, a not-so-important project) that the associated revenues amount to a “jobs tax,” or a “job killing tax.” It’s a favorite meme of those of a particular political persuasion or economic status. Ordinance ‘A’ is a JOBS KILLER! We must not allow it to pass! Requiring health care is a JOBS KILLER! Any ordinance requiring a living wage is a JOBS KILLER! The minimum wage is a JOBS KILLER! Increasing the sales tax by one-half of one percent is a JOBS KILLER!

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Why Cops Pull The Trigger – San Diego Man Killed by LA Police Is Latest in Police Shootings

December 27, 2013 by Source

Editor: A dramatic LA car chase on Friday the 13th of December ended up with the LA Police Department killing an unarmed Oceanside man. Brian Newt Beaird, who reportedly had schizophrenia, was shot to death in a police fusillade of 15 to 20 rounds – all on TV. As many as 20 police officers pursued Beaird for suspected drunk driving and reckless driving – as he did injure passengers in another car during the chase. After his car crashed, Beaird emerged from it with his hand raised and empty. He was immediately gunned down by the cops.

By Nicole Flatow

This article was originally published by the Center for American Progress Action.

Last Friday [Dec. 13th], Los Angeles Police Department officers shot dead a mentally ill man who had already gotten out of his car after a police chase with his hands up.

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A Local’s Rant on Density

December 23, 2013 by Source
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By Geoff Page / Special Rant for OB Rag

There was a time, believe it or not, when it wasn’t considered desirable to live at the ocean.

The cultural attitude about being near the ocean, and how one spent time at the ocean, was very different from today’s attitude. Places evolve, sometimes unexpectedly.

Las Vegas is a perfect example, it used to be undesirable desert landscape and look at it now.

To get an idea of what folks used to think about the ocean, look at some of the older homes along Sunset Cliffs. Many of these homes have no, or very little, deck or balcony space and take no advantage of the open ocean air. Contrast that with the newer places that have as much balcony or deck space as possible. Times have changed and attitudes about living at the ocean have changed.

One of the drawbacks to living at the ocean for some people in the past was the small homes on the small lots. Many of the smaller beach homes were never intended for year round residency, they were more like vacation cottages.

Inland you could have a much bigger home on a much bigger lot. As the culture changed and living near the ocean developed into something very much desired, people began to come here bringing the bigger house attitudes.

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OB Christmas Lights –

December 23, 2013 by Staff
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We’re running a string of OB Christmas Lights photos – here’s the first – by Matthew Wood.

Got another ? Send yours and we’ll post it for all to see. (We routinely have 1,000 to 2,000 readers at the OB Rag a day) – send them to obragblog@gmail.com as an attachment (under 800 pixels please).

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The OB Hippie House Dedicates a Peace Pole

December 23, 2013 by Judi Curry

On December 21, 2013 at 9:11am, the Time & Day of the Winter Solstice

2013-12-21-Liquid-Blue-Band-House-Peace-Garden-002By Judi Curry

To call this beautiful remodeled house on the south side of Ocean Beach a “hippie house” truly does it an injustice. The new owner – Scott – has put a great deal of money into the house to make it liveable, and the fact that it is not the “normal” Pt. Loma residence is incidental. But….it is gaining fame, even though Scott and his significant other Layla, have just recently moved in.

First of all the views are spectacular. The scenery changes from minute to minute. What were high waves an hour ago are small little ripples now; the pelicans fly over going both north and south. The surfers are not there today – waiting the 72 hours after the rain – before dotting the scenery with their black wetsuits and multicolored surfboards. So why were we there this morning, braving the cold and wind, standing outside looking at a pole set in concrete , albeit in a beautiful design?

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The Thought of David Alvarez as Mayor…

December 23, 2013 by Frank Gormlie

David Alvarez…Has More Than Him Smiling

By Ernie McCray

It was like walking in on a “Who’s Got the Sunniest Smile” Contest as the room in this “David Alvarez for Mayor” gathering, was full of them. I joined right in with my ages old grin.

My smile shone brightly because David is an answer to a dream of what a San Diego mayor should be like that I first conceived when I moved to town in late August of ’62. I was barely a few months over 24 years old, ready to change the world for the betterment of all humankind. For most of the years since then, my dream of a mayor like David has seemed just like that: a dream.

I mean when I showed up on the local scene I thought I had escaped the small-minded non-progressive kind of thinking I had been subjected to growing up in Tucson. That notion changed when I turned my TV on and saw two men, Frank Curran who would later become mayor and Allen Hitch who wanted so much to be the mayor.

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Merry Christmas, Sex Pistols Style

December 23, 2013 by Jim Miller

sexpistols huddersfieldBy Jim Miller

Every holiday season one of my favorite tasks is collecting and delivering all the toys donated by my union brothers and sisters in the American Federation of Teachers to the Labor Council office for the annual toy drive. My union, along with many other San Diego locals who participate in this annual ritual, do so in order to help out the families of unemployed workers struggling during the holiday season.

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“Best of OB Rag” – 2008 – Part 1

December 21, 2013 by Staff
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Here’s the first part for “Best of OB Rag” in 2008 – a story of the disappearance of the “Peace Sign” off of Bird Rock, and more on the Iraq war, the peace movement, the 2008 elections, torture, nuclear power, video from an alien invasion of OB in the Seventies, San Diego foreclosures and health care reform :

Peace Sign Atop “Peace Rock” Disappears From Sunset Cliffs – Vandals? Thieves? Conservatives?

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OB Rag’s Best of 2007 – Born Under Fire and During War

December 21, 2013 by Staff
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Here is the OB Rag’s “Best of 2007” – :

After watching the television coverage of San Diego County’s fires for the first couple of days, here are a few brief observations & comments about local TV channels’ coverage:

Channel 9: Best coverage, hands down, by team of Paul Bloom, Kimberly Hunt, Michael Turko and …

Channel 10: Very bland; veteran anchor desk reporters had no … c’mon to the original for all the rest … Go here.

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End of Year OB Rag’s “Best of …” Series Begins

December 20, 2013 by Frank Gormlie
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During these last few days of 2013, the OB Rag will be running a series called “The Best of …” and include the years we have published, from late 2007 through this year.

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Hot Spots: Radioactive San Francisco

December 19, 2013 by Michael Steinberg
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by Michael Steinberg /blackrainpress / Dec 12th, 2013

This story is important in and of itself, but also because it once again unearths the region’s role in the birth of the atomic age, and also highlights the radioactive legacy that continues to haunt us.

On November 13 the San Francisco Chronicle ran a lead story written by the SF-based Center For Investigative Reporting. The story was about the radioactive contamination of Treasure Island, a former US Navy base in the middle of the Bay.

The Chron article reported that 575 metal discs consisting of radioactive radium-226 had been found in the ground at Treasure Island as of 2011. The report did not mention that the radioactive life of radium-226 is millennia, over 16,000 years.

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Meet the Artist Behind the Sunset Cliffs Mural at the “Hippie House”

December 19, 2013 by Matthew Wood
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By Matthew Wood

By now, you may have seen the spectacular mural adorning the wall outside what is being called the “Hippie House” at Sunset Cliffs and Adair. Judi Curry has been writing about the newbie counter-cultural abode at Sunset Cliffs and Adair.

But do you know the artist behind the latest beacon of color welcoming people to the neighborhood?

Adelaide Marcus has been creating art from a multitude of media since moving to San Diego in 2005, and then to Ocean Beach two years later, but this is by far the largest scope of painting project she has endeavored.

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More From the Widder Curry on the “Hippie House” of Sunset Cliffs

December 19, 2013 by Judi Curry
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Scott Stephens, the owner of the “Hippie House” on Sunset Cliffs and Adair told me today that he has had over 100 people stop and talk to him about the beautiful designs on his wall.

Everyone that has stopped has been enthralled with the designs, the layout, and the landscaping being done. After all, the house has been a rental for years and not in very good condition.

He, along with his significant other Layla, talked over the designs they wanted for their landscaping – native garden; peace poles; murals, etc., and worked with artist Adelaide Marcus in putting their ideas in motion.

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What would Santa Faulconer do?

December 18, 2013 by Source
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OB Rag’s Own Widder Curry Makes the News With “Catfish” Tale

December 18, 2013 by Staff
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Yup, that’s right. The OB Rag’s own columnist, the Widder Curry, has made the news. Judi Curry – who lives in southern OB – was interviewed by Channel 10 News after she called them to recount her story of being victimized by a “Catfish” scheme. She went to the local TV station in order to warn other women about the risks of “online dating”.

Here’s part of the story by Jennifer Jensen, with links to the full article.

Local woman duped by love in ‘catfish’ scam – She warns women to be leery on free dating sites

At 74 years old, she thought she had found love again, but instead a local woman may have been part of an elaborate scam. Judi Curry contacted 10News after being “catfished” or duped into believing she was chatting online with someone pretending to be someone else. She says her story should send a message for women who are looking for love on free online dating sites.

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Chargers and Aztecs: Please Stop With the Nonsense!

December 18, 2013 by Andy Cohen

No, the Chargers are NOT going to the playoffs, and no, the Aztecs should NOT replace Rocky Long.

By Andy Cohen / San Diego Free Press

Alright, so let’s have some fun. A little diversion from the world of San Diego politics for a moment.

Bolts Playoff Bound? Not a Chance!

First, let’s dispel any notion that the San Diego Chargers have any hope whatsoever at making the playoffs. Via Twitter yesterday, the Chargers issued a poll, asking followers whether, with two games remaining, will the team make the playoffs? They then joyfully tweeted out the results of the poll (a tweet that has oddly since been deleted….but thankfully someone else was smart enough to retweet the Chargers’ tweet) showing that 69% of respondents enthusiastically replied “Yes, the Chargers will make the playoffs!”

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Humboldt County Coroner IDs Remains of OBcean Garret Rodriguez

December 17, 2013 by Source

Update: Rodriguez’s friends are planning a memorial service and a paddle-out for him on Feb. 9 in Ocean Beach, according to a Facebook page called “Garret Rodriguez n Friends.”

Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release:

The Humboldt County Coroner has identified the human remains located in a gravesite off of Jewitt Ranch Road, Harris area of Humboldt County as that of missing person Garret Rodriguez, 29 years old from San Diego, California.

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San Diego Magazine Promotes Canoeing from the Cuyamacas to Mission Bay

December 17, 2013 by Staff
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Years ago, San Diego Magazine was a stellar journalistic and investigative resource for San Diegans. Then for the last few decades, it succumbed to being a repository of house and garden type and variety of writings and photos and direction.

Yet the current issue has perhaps broken through that restraint and has issued a call for changes in San Diego for 2014 with its “10 Big Ideas for San Diego” by Erin Chambers Smith and Dave Good. Smith and Good say “Let’s start 2014 with some vision, shall we?”

We’re excited by Number 10 of their “big ideas” entitled “Let’s canoe down the San Diego River from the Cuyamacas to Mission Bay.”

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OB Woman Loses Battle Against Breast Cancer

December 17, 2013 by Staff
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OBcean Angela Marie Sahyoun lost her battle against breast cancer on December 1st. She was 35 and had been living in OB for the last 10 years. She has been described as a “strong and beautiful woman”.

Angela was born in Stockton, California in 1978, and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1995. She obtained a degree in Humanities from San Diego State University, and had been working on a teaching credential in multiple subjects from National University.

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