Tag Archives: oakland

“DAY OF THE DEAD” CEREMONY NEXT WEEKEND IN OAKLAND, CA

Oakland.  While some will be coming off a sugar high and reveling in the halloween spirit of the season others will be hosting another… celebration?

An annual ritual of honoring the dead will be performed in North Oakland on Nov 1.

“It’s about remembering our forefathers, our ancestors, and for me there’s actually something spiritual about that,” stated local event founder K. Ruby Blume.  “It’s also really connected to the seasons … there’s this sense (that) nature is dying. Traditionally, there’s this sensibility that the veil is thin and people can cross over.”

After a march to Dover Park, a ceremony to call out the dead will be performed.  An alter will be built for participants to offer flowers, candles and photos of deceased loved ones.

“It’s very serious, personal and sacred” stated co-organizer Cate Freyer.

Blume was inspired to start a local ritual following 25 years of attending San Francisco’s Dia de los Muertos celebration.  Blume now sees the San Francisco event as “a sort of Burning Man… media-heavy event”.

Blume is hoping for a more intimate milieu in the Oakland location, therefore recording equipment is discouraged.  Event start time will be around 5:30 at either the Driver or McGregor parks, the march will head to Dover Park and the ritual and altar building should be around sunset.

Source

TSA Spending More On New Security System

The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) is switching security systems.  The apparent motivation…  privacy and health concerns.

A $245 million program is establishing the second generation of body scanners.  American Science and Engineering and L-3 Communications has been chosen to develop the new device.

The new technology now in use is called Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT-2).  It is able to find non metal weapons and home made explosive devices.  The AIT-2 makes use of two types of technology;  x-ray scans and electromagnetic waves.

These new scanners have already been deployed in San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento earlier this summer.  Another 700 have also been placed around the country.

Source

San Francisco Archbishop Niederauer retires; Bishop Cordileone to succeed him

On Friday, Salvatore Cordileone became the new archbishop in San Francisco.

Pope Benedict over-rode the usual process of appointment and hand picked Cordileone to the post for the San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin region.  Cordileone had been stationed across the bay from San Francisco in Oakland, California.

Cordileone has been known as a leader in creating the campaign to pass Proposition 8 on a recent California ballot.  He made no qualms about his views Friday… “”We need to do whatever we can to strengthen marriage, understanding that it is a benefit for everyone in society.”

The current Archbishop, George Niederauer has been experiencing cardiac related issues and has undergone a double bypass heart operation recently.  He therefore will be stepping down in retirement.

See San Francisco Archbishop Niederauer retires; Bishop Cordileone to succeed him | abc7news.com.

Oakland: Dead zones plague police radios

Lt. Fred Mestas of the Oakland Police Department remembers the day he was face to face with a robbery suspect who looked like he was carrying a concealed shotgun.   When he went to his radio for backup he saw that he had no signal.

He was in a dead spot.  His transmission was ‘somehow’ blocked.

This story was just this fall.  Despite an $18 million system he could not use his communication device.

The dead zones extend to hundreds of buildings including the basement of police headquarters!

See Oakland: Dead zones plague police radios – SFGate.

Crime rates in liberal cities shockingly higher than in conservative cities

The (San Francisco) Bay Area Center For Voting Research itemized highly conservative and highly liberal cities nationwide.  This was done by how they voted, either republican or liberal in the 2004 presidential election.

Also, votes for the Libertarian and Constitution Parties were considered conservative.  Votes for the Green, Peace and Freedom Parties were counted as liberal.

The top 15 cities of each are listed below… with their violent crime rates.  Note, the national average is 4 violent crimes per 1000 residents.

Top Liberal:

Detroit, Michigan – 24 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Gary, Indiana – 15 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Berkeley, California – 5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Washington, DC – 13 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Oakland, California – 16 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Inglewood, California – 8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Newark, New Jersey – 11 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Cambridge, Massachusetts – 5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

San Francisco, California – 7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Flint, Michigan – 24 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Cleveland, Ohio – 14 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Hartford, Connecticut – 13 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Paterson, New Jersey – 11 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Baltimore, Maryland – 15 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

New Haven, Connecticut – 15 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Top Conservative:

Provo, Utah – 2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Lubbock, Texas – 9 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Abilene, Texas – 5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Hialeah, Florida – 4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Plano, Texas – 2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Colorado Springs, Colorado – 5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Gilbert, Arizona – 1 violent crime per 1,000 residents

Bakersfield, California – 6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Lafayette, Louisiana – 8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Orange, California – 1 violent crime per 1,000 residents

Escondido, California – 4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Allentown, Pennsylvania – 6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Mesa, Arizona – 4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Arlington, Texas – 5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

Peoria, Arizona – 2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents

To gain understanding of this amazing coincidence see prophet.tv.  Also see the Building the Warrior Teaching Series or this specific teaching.

Source article Crime rates in liberal cities shockingly higher than in conservative cities – Orlando Political Buzz | Examiner.com.