Tennessee man claims Jesus image keeps appearing on his truck

 Source  November 4, 2009  20 Comments on Tennessee man claims Jesus image keeps appearing on his truck

Jonesborough resident Jim Stevens admits he’s not a particularly religious person, but even he is awed by what he has seen nearly every morning for the last couple of weeks on the driver’s side window of his Isuzu pickup truck.

It was two weeks ago today that an image, resembling the face of Jesus, made its first appearance on the window.

Continue Reading Tennessee man claims Jesus image keeps appearing on his truck

Senate votes to extend unemployment benefits for 1.3 million jobless

 Source  November 4, 2009  4 Comments on Senate votes to extend unemployment benefits for 1.3 million jobless

Washington : After nearly a month of gridlock, the Senate voted unanimously to extend unemployment benefits for some 1.3 million jobless Americans expected to lose benefits by the end of the year.

If, as expected, the House adopts the Senate version of the bill, it means workers in all states will be eligible for an additional 14 weeks of federal unemployment benefits. In states with unemployment rates higher than 8.5 percent, workers will be able to extend their federal unemployment benefits a further six weeks.

Continue Reading Senate votes to extend unemployment benefits for 1.3 million jobless

Calling all churches, social organizations, and community clubs of Point Loma (and OB): Point Loman Dr. Robert Ehmann needs help!

 Frank Gormlie  November 4, 2009  56 Comments on Calling all churches, social organizations, and community clubs of Point Loma (and OB): Point Loman Dr. Robert Ehmann needs help!

NEW UPDATE UPDATE: The clean-up being planned for this Sunday, Nov. 8th has BEEN CANCELED. Dr. Ehmann has sent word that he does not want anyone coming by his house this Sunday. Watch this blog for future details.
THE PENINSULA, CA. The people and resources that were mobilized to help elderly Point Loman Robert Ehmann now need help. And the help is needed immediately.

Ehmann is the 84-year old Orchard resident of Point Loma whose medical and physical conditions …

Continue Reading Calling all churches, social organizations, and community clubs of Point Loma (and OB): Point Loman Dr. Robert Ehmann needs help!

Sheldon Dorf dies – OBcean helped start Comic-Con

 Frank Gormlie  November 4, 2009  3 Comments on Sheldon Dorf dies – OBcean helped start Comic-Con

OCEAN BEACH, CA. I met Sheldon Dorf back in the mid-seventies here in Ocean Beach. The OB resident passed away on Tuesday, November 3rd, to diabetes complications. He was 76. Sheldon was perhaps one of the most culturally influential OBceans as he was a co-founder of San Diego’s now infamous Comic-Con.

Comic-Con – now the convention that draws tens of thousands every year to San Diego. The City jumps hoops just to keep the event local.

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One Year On After Barack Obama’s Election – Part 1

 Anna Daniels  November 4, 2009  10 Comments on One Year On After Barack Obama’s Election – Part 1

Stop and think a moment. Tuesday November 4, 2008. Election night. I bet you can remember where you were, what you were doing.

We had invited friends over, to celebrate together, or commiserate together- who knew? We weren’t sure what the outcome of the election would be. Would Obama carry Pennsylvania and Ohio and Virginia and North Carolina?

We had the computer set up with MSNBC, and the champagne was flowing. Earlier that day at the Central library information desk where I worked I answered many many questions about where people could vote.

Continue Reading One Year On After Barack Obama’s Election – Part 1

Point Lomans honor their deceased homeless man … too little and too late?

 Frank Gormlie  November 3, 2009  14 Comments on Point Lomans honor their deceased homeless man … too little and too late?

POINT LOMA, CA. About three months ago – in August – a homeless man who sat on a bench in Point Loma for 15 years died. No one knew his name, or where he was from, and the County was about to “dispose” of him when a community member found his family members and contacted them.

It turned out his name is – was Jeff Pastorino, and that he has a twin brother named Chris, and had three other brothers, and was from a good family in Pennsylvania and disappeared from them27 years ago.

Continue Reading Point Lomans honor their deceased homeless man … too little and too late?

Scary crowd protests Blue Shield – photo gallery and report

 Frank Gormlie  November 3, 2009  3 Comments on Scary crowd protests Blue Shield – photo gallery and report

SAN DIEGO, CA. A scary crowd gathered outside Blue Shield’s Mission Valley offices last night, Monday, Nov. 2nd. It was part of a three-day protest against the giant health insurance company held by local San Diegan activists.

On-the-scene friends reported that about 75 people were at the 6pm demonstration.
OB photographer Logan Marcus was there and took these shots. (See gallery inside)

Meanwhile … protesters are arrested earlier in the day at Blue Shield ….

Continue Reading Scary crowd protests Blue Shield – photo gallery and report

OB Moonset at the pier

 Staff  November 2, 2009  4 Comments on OB Moonset at the pier

Jim Grant is at it again, capturing the moon as it sets the morning of Monday, November 2, 2009.

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Reader Rant: ‘Fight back against the water rate increase!’

 Source  November 2, 2009  1 Comment on Reader Rant: ‘Fight back against the water rate increase!’

by Gail Madsen

Who else is tired of our public officials ignoring our best interests, cutting our services, going forward with their pet projects regardless of cost and our current finances and expecting us to obligingly pick up the tab?

Well, thanks to Proposition 218; (yes, one of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association propositions); we have a chance to fight the water increase planned for November 17th.

From what I understand, the reason for the rate hike is because we have done such a good job of cutting back on our water consumption; the city is trying to make up for the loss in revenue.

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Meet your neighbors on the OB Restaurant Walk

 Source  November 2, 2009  9 Comments on Meet your neighbors on the OB Restaurant Walk

by Cindi Guilbert

I am an Ocean Beach Restaurant Walk newbie. There, I said it. When I first caught mention of Restaurant Walk in a post on OB Rag, I wanted to know more. What’s the story behind the bus? What bands will I see? Which food businesses and bars are participating this year?

I needed to know EVERYTHING that is Restaurant Walk the way Nancy Drew needs a whodunnit. I asked when to expect to see a blog about this event, and a few emails later, found myself offering to dish on the details of one of OB’s best kept secrets…

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San Diegans hold 3-day protest at insurance giant Blue Shield in Mission Valley

 Source  November 1, 2009  7 Comments on San Diegans hold 3-day protest at insurance giant Blue Shield in Mission Valley

“Is there anything scarier than thinking you might need medical care, and getting canceled by a health insurance corporation who spent your premiums on TV ads and lobbying?” asks San Diegan Mike Copass, co-organizer of a 45-hour haunt of Blue Shield’s office at 2275 Rio Bonito Way in Mission Valley.

The actions are part of a national groundswell of civil disobedience at health insurance company offices by people seeking to end insurance abuse and win health care for all. So far, 115 people have been arrested in 18 cities demanding “real health care reform that treats health care like a human right, not a commodity,” according to a press release issued by event organizers.

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It takes a village….

 Patty Jones  October 31, 2009  49 Comments on It takes a village….

It never ceases to amaze me what people will do for others when called upon to help and today was no exception. This morning I got to meet Jim Dent, the Point Loma electrician who was compelled to help an elderly gentleman who had called him needing some electrical work done. Jim discovered that was just the tip of the iceberg… A call for help went out and the community answered. There is much more work to do and I have no doubt that call will be answered too, but I have to tell you about what happened today.

The group of people that came together this morning was as diverse as it was courageous. Jim had warned everyone in his emails and comments leading up to today’s cleanup that the conditions were bad and he was well prepared, providing everyone with respirator masks and sturdy gloves. As folks showed up he asked that everyone sign in so we could keep track of who had volunteered (we’ll do a more complete report later) and we passed out supplies. Shovels, mops, brooms, trash bags…

Continue Reading It takes a village….