Saturday, May 30, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Fear Not!
Listen to Kelly McGinley today and FEAR NOT WHAT MAN MAY DO TO YOU but rather TRUST THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!
The Berean Chronicles
The Berean Chronicles
Monday, May 25, 2009
I Remember... An Ode to War on Memorial Day by Leslie Sheridan
source
I Remember
. . . An Ode to War on Memorial Day
By Leslie Sheridan
© May 29. 2006
I remember when Memorial Day meant that we had learned that war was not the solution to any conflict, and vowed never again.
I remember when mothers who held their children close to their breast were not the same mothers who supported the killing of other people’s children.
I remember when ‘Support the Troops’ meant giving them adequate protection in combat, and bringing them home alive, but did not mean supporting their mission of the murder of other human beings.
I remember when sons taught their fathers about peace by being conscientious objectors to another war that was supposed to be ‘the war to end all wars.’
I remember when fathers learned from their sons.
I remember when supporting our veterans meant that though we may not have agreed with the reasons they went to war or the irreparable violence and destruction they inflicted upon others, we had the decency and respect for the time and lives they gave to their country, (time forever gone,) to not cut their health benefits, and steal their personal information.
I remember that some came back in body, but without a mind, some with mind in mangled body, and some with body and mind – but missing a piece of themselves they will spend a lifetime trying to remember – or with a piece of themselves they would just as soon forget.
I remember learning to sing ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ and ‘Where Have All The Flowers Gone?’ on a porch step in Illinois as a pre-teen from some hippies pretending to be adults, and later with Pete Seeger at the Old Town School of Folk Music – our church of choice at the time, and knowing that the words made sense since they touched me deep in my soul and have lived there ever since . . .
“How many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
How many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
How many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?”
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?”
I remember a time when our flag did not cause me shame.
I remember a country that had not desensitized itself to war and killing through corporate-owned ‘If-it-bleeds-it-leads’ media, ‘shoot-‘em-up’ video games for kids, and the never-ending churn of violence from Holly wood.
I remember a world that bears the wounds of war, but doesn’t stop the behavior that leads to it.
I remember when Christianity had not yet been hijacked by war-mongers unleashing their hatred, xenophobia, and quest for domination at the expense of others onto God’s children living in other countries – countries they did not understand, countries they did not seek to understand.
I remember when people lived more conscious lives, instead of choosing to sleepwalk through life on the paths of apathy or disengagement.
I remember when U.S. wars were fought by men and women of many races, instead of by ethnic minorities who immigrated here only to be exploited, and later to be cast aside as ‘illegals,’ or the rural poor who were sold a bill of goods by slick salesmen dressed in uniforms of death.
I remember a time when people really cared about connecting with their fellow man, instead of numbing themselves with their addiction-of-choice, be it TV, drugs, and consumerism.
I remember that in all of the world’s faiths and religions, there is the equivalent of ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill.’
I remember that we forgot.
I remember that we forgot to love our neighbor as ourselves, and to turn the other cheek.
I remember that we forgot the Golden Rule of treating others as we would want to be treated.
I remember that we forgot about the scars that never heal from having murdered another human being.
I remember that we forgot, but our dreams always remember, whether we want to our not.
I remember that we forgot that on the other end of the gun is someone else’s loved one.
I remember that we forgot that peace is a choice.
And now, we forget to remember.
We forget to remember.
We forget to remember what war does to the world, to a country, to a family, to a person, to a soul.
We forget to remember all of the priceless human lives, of all races, and of all nations, that cannot be replaced, and refuse to be forgotten.
We forget to remember that human beings are all equal.
We forget to remember because it is easier to forget.
But, we must never forget.
We must never forget that violence begets violence.
We must never forget that no killing is justified.
We must never forget that peace is possible, once choice at a time.
When will we remember what we are trying to forget?
When will we choose to remember what we have forgotten?
How many lives will it take until we remember?
When will we remember?
When will we really remember?
When will we end all of the remembering and all of the forgetting, for once and for all?
That Memorial Day will be worth remembering and worth celebrating.
Until then, I remain a dissenting, peace-loving, peace-seeking patriot.
____
Leslie Sheridan is a peace and justice activist, poet, and consultant who lives and works in Sonoma, CA. She has been writing a free, online, international peace and justice newsletter called The Carpe Diem Voice, since prior to the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. A compilation of news articles, combined with humor and inspiration, it's a way to get informed, stay engaged in our world, but not to get depressed. To subscribe, one may send an email to CarpeDiemVoice@aol.com with "P&J" and the country/state in which you live, in the subject line.
The poem’s author grants rights to copy and print as long as the poem is left intact, with author credit and copyright. To be sure you have the original copy, please email the author.
source
THE KILLING FIELDS OF INDIA 1984
I did not write this; I do not know who did. It came to me through IHRO from the British Sikh Federation with a message. PLEASE FORWARD. I ask you to do the same:
PLEASE FORWARD
PLEASE FORWARD -
E NEVER FORGET 1984 E
The Killing Fields Of India In 1984
In the killing fields of India in '84
We were massacred for being different
We were massacred for asking for our rights
We had our places of worship destroyed
All this in the killing fields of India.
In the killing fields of India in '84
Gandhi was killed for her crimes against us
She went to hell-but hell came to us in the shadow of the Congress
Hell came to us in the killing fields of India.
In the killing fields of India in '84
We were to be taught a lesson for being different. To be singled out and massacred.
While the world looked on-the killings went on
In the killing fields of India.
In the killing fields of India in '84
Be it in the streets of Delhi or Calcutta
Be it in the streets of Punjab
Be it in our own homes-the plan was the same
To wipe us out in the killing fields of India.
In the killing fields of India in '84
The authorities, the army, the police and officials did their utmost
In our killing-in the killing fields
Be it our sisters, be it our daughters, be it our mothers
All were shown no mercy
In the killing fields of India.
The kara and the turban were hunted down
They surrounded us, they beat us and they burnt us alive and
These devils from hell
They danced in joy around the smell of our burning flesh-
All this in the killing fields of India
We were hunted down for four days and four nights
Whilst the evil Gandhi was being cremated
We were being burnt alive, we were being raped
No mercy was shown to us in
The killing fields of India.
In the killing fields of India in '84
We were betrayed after giving so much,
to so many-in a land we thought was ours
It was our day of reckoning
It was our betrayal
In the killing fields of India.
In the killing fields of India in '84
We were shot at point blank range-
With our hands tied behind our backs
No one cared how we died
No one cared how many of us died
In the killing fields of India.
In the killing fields of India in '84
they wanted to wipe us out
We have survived many holocausts in the past
But the killing fields of India in '84
Have taught us to seek self-determination
Through the destruction of India and its killing fields
Will be born a new state
Our State
--
WHY TRY TO FIT IN? YOU WERE BORN TO STAND OUT!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Bartholomew Park Winery
Lately I've been riding my bike up to the Bartholomew Park Winery and yesterday, Saturday, I took come video to show how pretty it is there!
source
source
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Valentine's day gift
A young woman was taking an afternoon nap. After she woke up, she told her husband, "I just dreamed that you gave me a pearl necklace for Valentine's day. What do you think it means?"
"You'll know tonight", he said.
That evening, the man came home with a small package and gave it to his wife. Delighted, she opened it - only to find a book entitled "The meaning of dreams".
A Closer Look At Windows 7:Putting Windows 7 to the test
The arrival of Vista was marred by technical problems and, despite Microsoft's claims to the contrary, is widely seen as getting a lukewarm reception from companies and individuals. Many found problems with early applications and many drivers for basic hardware such as printers and scanners were not working.
Windows 7 is available as pre-release software for anyone wanting to download it, install it and try it out.
This "Release Candidate" as it is called, is an almost finished version, but it is not guaranteed to run smoothly.
Below are some of the new features that caught Click's attention.
Multi-touch Clearing desktop Live search Data protection |  | Super taskbar Desktop backgrounds Virtual PC mode |
The task bar, which has remained pretty much the same since
Windows 95, has been combined with the Quick Launch bar to become the Super Bar.
Windows 95, has been combined with the Quick Launch bar to become the Super Bar. This has no text and simply lists icons for the programs already running and ones a user might like to run. Hovering the mouse over the icons brings up thumbnails of different windows.
Icons can be shuffled to suit individual needs, and anyone preferring the old view, can switch it back on.
Resizing windows is easier - just drag them to the edge of the screen and they will automatically either fill half or the whole screen. Shake a window and it minimises everything else in the background - shake it again and it all comes back. Move your mouse to the right edge of the screen and click to minimise all windows.
Multi-touch means that gestures, rather than one finger, can be used on a touchpad or screen to control what happens. A pinch might close applications and pictures can be expanded using fingers moving diagonally away from each other.
However, the only applications currently supporting this feature are Internet Explorer and Microsoft Viewer. Also, very few laptops are ready to be used in this way.
Microsoft is expecting manufacturers and software developers to start building multi-touch functions into software and hardware soon.
There are some wonderfully bizarre pre-installed desktop backgrounds. The user can also take a group of their own favourite snaps and get the desktop to display them as a background slideshow.The Live Search feature has been improved. Looking up files and folders in the computer produces results neatly categorised by where they are on the PC. Then, by clicking on the file's heading, the user is taken straight to its location. Refined search filters can also be created.
This will open a new window with an XP desktop which can be used to run these programs. However, not all graphic cards will support this feature.
The Bitlocker application lets a user encrypt internal hard-disks and portable flash drives so the data stored is only accessible with a password. This feature was available on Vista, but only in the software's Ultimate edition.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Admiral Jeremy Michael Boorda & Sonoma Chemtrails 5-21-09
source
Jeremy Michael Boorda (November 26, 1939 May 16, 1996) was an admiral of the United States Navy and the 25th Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) who 'suicided himself''/was assassinated with 2 shotgun shots to his chest because he did not approve of the current chemtrail program, Project Cloverleaf, according to A.C. Griffin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Michael_Boorda
http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/archive.cgi?read=104629
Thursday, May 21, 2009
How I suicide???
A blonde hurries into the emergency room late one night with the tip of her index finger shot off. "How did this happen?" the emergency room doctor asked her.
"Well, I was trying to commit suicide," the blonde replied.
"What?" sputtered the doctor.
"You tried to commit suicide by shooting your finger off?"
"No silly!" the blonde said. "First I put the gun to my chest, and I thought: I just paid $6,000.00 for these breast implants, I'm not shooting myself in the chest."
"So then?" asked the doctor.
"Then I put the gun in my mouth, and I thought: I just paid $3000.00 to get my teeth straightened, I'm not shooting myself in the mouth."
"So then?"
"Then I put the gun to my ear, and I thought: This is going to make a loud noise. So I put my finger in the other ear before I pulled the trigger."
Monday, May 18, 2009
25th Anniversary - - **Never Forget "1984" ** --
25th Anniversary - - **Never Forget "1984" ** --
'7TH JUNE 2009 SIKH FREEDOM & REMEMBRANCE RALLY PROMO VIDEO - 25 YEARS SINCE 1984 - SIKH GENOCIDE'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwd_8twJI9c
please forward the promo video to your friends,family in every way possible email facebook myspace hi5 and so on.
It has been 25 years since the Sikh Genocide in 1984 and 25 years since the desecration and destruction at the Golden Temple and Sri Akal Thakt Sahib.
It has been 25 years since the planned genocide,rape,and planned eradication of the Sikh Panth took place we ask you to join us on
**SUNDAY JUNE 7 2009 AT HYDE PARK CENTRAL LONDON 10AM**
FOR THE 25TH ANNUAL SIKH FREEDOM AND REMEMBRANCE RALLY
25 YRS ON NO JUSTICE
ITS OUR DUTY TO TEACH OUR FELLOW YOUTHS AND COMMING GENERATIONS OF WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR NATION ,MY HUMBLE REQUEST TO ALL TO ATTEND ,THE SIKH NATION ASKS YOU PUT ASIDE ONE DAY FOR IT IM SURE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE THE PAIN IN THEIR HEARTS WILL ATTEND
All are asked to get to Hyde Park for 10am 10:45am the latest so speeches and so on can begin along with langar once that is done the rally will set off through central london towards Trafalgar Sq where theer will be the biggest planned Sikh Freedom rally in the Western Hemisphere since 1984 25 years ago.
PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS,FAMILY,FACEBOOKS,MYSPACES, AND FORUMS YOU MAY BE PART OF
THE SIKH NATION NEEDS EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU
**NEVERFORGET1984**
Other associated Events====>!
Event: 48 HOUR CHAUPAI SAHIB JAAP"NEVERFORGET 84"
What: RecitalHost: *Mata Sahib Kaur Sikh Academy*
Start Time: Friday, May 29 at 6:00pm
End Time: Sunday, May 31 at 6:00pm
Where: MATA SAHIB KAUR SIKH ACADEMY
Sat 30th May 7.30pm till late
Where: *Singh Sabha Gurdwara Park Ave Southall*
Presentation in English/Panjabi on Operation Bluestar
Kirtan by various Jathas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwd_8twJI9c
please forward the promo video to your friends,family in every way possible email facebook myspace hi5 and so on.
It has been 25 years since the Sikh Genocide in 1984 and 25 years since the desecration and destruction at the Golden Temple and Sri Akal Thakt Sahib.
It has been 25 years since the planned genocide,rape,and planned eradication of the Sikh Panth took place we ask you to join us on
**SUNDAY JUNE 7 2009 AT HYDE PARK CENTRAL LONDON 10AM**
FOR THE 25TH ANNUAL SIKH FREEDOM AND REMEMBRANCE RALLY
25 YRS ON NO JUSTICE
ITS OUR DUTY TO TEACH OUR FELLOW YOUTHS AND COMMING GENERATIONS OF WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR NATION ,MY HUMBLE REQUEST TO ALL TO ATTEND ,THE SIKH NATION ASKS YOU PUT ASIDE ONE DAY FOR IT IM SURE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE THE PAIN IN THEIR HEARTS WILL ATTEND
All are asked to get to Hyde Park for 10am 10:45am the latest so speeches and so on can begin along with langar once that is done the rally will set off through central london towards Trafalgar Sq where theer will be the biggest planned Sikh Freedom rally in the Western Hemisphere since 1984 25 years ago.
PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS,FAMILY,FACEBOOKS,MYSPACES, AND FORUMS YOU MAY BE PART OF
THE SIKH NATION NEEDS EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU
**NEVERFORGET1984**
Other associated Events====>!
Event: 48 HOUR CHAUPAI SAHIB JAAP"NEVERFORGET 84"
What: RecitalHost: *Mata Sahib Kaur Sikh Academy*
Start Time: Friday, May 29 at 6:00pm
End Time: Sunday, May 31 at 6:00pm
Where: MATA SAHIB KAUR SIKH ACADEMY
Sat 30th May 7.30pm till late
Where: *Singh Sabha Gurdwara Park Ave Southall*
Presentation in English/Panjabi on Operation Bluestar
Kirtan by various Jathas
__._,_.___
--
WHY TRY TO FIT IN? YOU WERE BORN TO STAND OUT!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Robert Welborn Newman 1949-2009
June 7, 2009 UPDATE
Received this email today:
Just a reminder that we will have a memorial service for Robert on June 20, at Moore's landing on the Napa River. There is a restaurant there which Robert particularly enjoyed. We are purposefully not organizing a ride before or after, however I encourage everyone to come on their bikes. If you want to come as a group from your area, that's great. I will send the particulars soon as they are figured out, but I think this will take place late morning, and undoubtedly we will inundate the restaurant.
Would you please return email me with an rsvp? I'd like to forewarn the folks at Moore's landing as best as I can.
Thanks
Randall Wilson
Email
May 17, 2009 UPDATE
Robert died of heart failure in his sleep. A memorial service will be June 20 at Moore's landing by the Napa river - details to follow.
Contact: Randall Wilson
ORIGINAL POST
2007 photo of Robert
Today, I was shocked to receive the following email:
Subject: Our dear friend Robert Newman
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009, 10:53 AM
As friends of Robert, we have all been shocked by the news of his recent death. Thanks to Randall Wilson for being such a good friend and for organizing the effort to put Robert's remaining affairs in order, as well as being the person to contact with any questions.
We are sending this sad notice out to everyone in Robert's email address book, with the intention of notifying everyone who may know, or have done business with Robert. We are all going to miss him very much.
Again, please send your questions to Randall [the "To:" address above].
We'll all be sending blessings out to Robert.
I then found this notice in the Sonoma Index Tribune:
Robert Welborn Newman, 59, of Sonoma, died April 8, 2009, in Sonoma. Arrangements under the Duggan's Mission Chapel. Final disposition: Mission Cremation Service.
http://www.sonomanews.com/articles/2009/05/15/news/obituaries/doc4a08d5d1ca71c297049659.txt
I first met Robert at a friend's party in 2007 (photo above) and over time I would occassionally see him at the Barking Dog Coffee Cafe in Boyes Hot Springs.
Then this March, I received the following email regarding my Sonoma Chemtrails blog:
From: Robert Newman
Subject: old aquaintance
To: cathyjpalmer@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, March 19, 2009, 7:26 AM
Hello Cathy, this is Robert Newman you may remember from Stephan Wells' musician's party a few years ago.
I saw your blog and thought we should have coffee soon. I still go to the Barking Dog in Boyes Hot Springs occaisionally.
Take care. Robert Newman
We made arrangements to meet and stayed in touch via email. We met again March 28 at the Sunflower cafe and while walking around the plaza, we passed my bicycle and Robert noticed my tire was flat! He offered to repair it which he did and the following Saturday, we took a bicycle ride from the plaza to Bartholomew Park Winery (photos of scenery).
That was Saturday, April 4th. Four days later Robert Newman died.
I didn't know Robert well but I found him to be a very caring, gentle, and compassionate person. And as a Christian, I spoke to him about the Lord Jesus Christ because my life was transformed many years ago by the message of the Cross and Resurrection.
In one email Robert sent me, he talked about some things I don't believe in so I emailed him the following:
April 2, 2009
Thanks Robert.
Please don't take offense, but I can not believe some of what these folks are saying on this forum. For example, sylphs (mythical creatures) that help remove chemtrails?
There is a lot of 'stuff' (information, experiences, wonders, etc) out there, however, are they from God or are they from Satan? Satan does appear as an angel of light but is a liar and the father of lies.
I am extra careful as I don't want to be deceived. I love the truth; Jesus said he was the Truth. My faith in Christ is strong and I trust His Word, the Bible. If it wasn't for the Lord Jesus, who knows where I'd be today! Did you already see my story?
Anyway Robert, I enjoy your friendship and am very thankful you are repairing my bike.
until next time...
Cathy
After our bike ride, the last day I saw Robert, he emailed this:
Subject: deeper view of the church of evil
To: "Cathy Palmer"
Date: Saturday, April 4, 2009, 9:10 AM
Why does the vatican behave so strangely?
http://www.illuminati-news.com/2007/0318a.htm
My reply to Robert:
April 4, 2009
Souls. The battle is for souls indeed. Thus the reason we share the gospel of the kingdom of God to those with ears to hear.
Paul writes to Timothy:
"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles."
2 Timothy 1: 8-11
The Lord Jesus Christ says in Matthew 12, "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad."
We must make our decision to follow/obey Christ BEFORE death because reincarnation does not exist but is a lie of the devil:
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
Hebrews 9:27, 28
May the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Cathy
I mailed Robert a check for my bike repair and sent this last email to him before he died which included a link to the scriptures on the name of Jesus because he agreed there was power in that name:
Subject: By the way...
Date: Sunday, April 5, 2009 10:16 PM
From: "Cathy Palmer"
To: "Robert Newman"
I road my bike again today - beautiful weather, wasn't it?! And I noticed that it doesn't squeek at all!! It is so quiet that I have to ring my bell more often to warn people on the bike path that I'm coming, whereas before, they usually heard me coming - hahaaha!
Thanks again, Robert.
Cathy
PS The check's in the mail.
PPS Here are several verses about the name of Jesus: http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=name+jesus&searchtype=all&version1=9&spanbegin=1&spanend=73
May the Lord bring comfort and hope to the family friends of Robert Newman.
Received this email today:
Just a reminder that we will have a memorial service for Robert on June 20, at Moore's landing on the Napa River. There is a restaurant there which Robert particularly enjoyed. We are purposefully not organizing a ride before or after, however I encourage everyone to come on their bikes. If you want to come as a group from your area, that's great. I will send the particulars soon as they are figured out, but I think this will take place late morning, and undoubtedly we will inundate the restaurant.
Would you please return email me with an rsvp? I'd like to forewarn the folks at Moore's landing as best as I can.
Thanks
Randall Wilson
May 17, 2009 UPDATE
Robert died of heart failure in his sleep. A memorial service will be June 20 at Moore's landing by the Napa river - details to follow.
Contact: Randall Wilson
ORIGINAL POST
2007 photo of Robert
Today, I was shocked to receive the following email:
Subject: Our dear friend Robert Newman
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009, 10:53 AM
As friends of Robert, we have all been shocked by the news of his recent death. Thanks to Randall Wilson for being such a good friend and for organizing the effort to put Robert's remaining affairs in order, as well as being the person to contact with any questions.
We are sending this sad notice out to everyone in Robert's email address book, with the intention of notifying everyone who may know, or have done business with Robert. We are all going to miss him very much.
Again, please send your questions to Randall [the "To:" address above].
We'll all be sending blessings out to Robert.
I then found this notice in the Sonoma Index Tribune:
Robert Welborn Newman, 59, of Sonoma, died April 8, 2009, in Sonoma. Arrangements under the Duggan's Mission Chapel. Final disposition: Mission Cremation Service.
http://www.sonomanews.com/articles/2009/05/15/news/obituaries/doc4a08d5d1ca71c297049659.txt
I first met Robert at a friend's party in 2007 (photo above) and over time I would occassionally see him at the Barking Dog Coffee Cafe in Boyes Hot Springs.
Then this March, I received the following email regarding my Sonoma Chemtrails blog:
From: Robert Newman
Subject: old aquaintance
To: cathyjpalmer@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, March 19, 2009, 7:26 AM
Hello Cathy, this is Robert Newman you may remember from Stephan Wells' musician's party a few years ago.
I saw your blog and thought we should have coffee soon. I still go to the Barking Dog in Boyes Hot Springs occaisionally.
Take care. Robert Newman
We made arrangements to meet and stayed in touch via email. We met again March 28 at the Sunflower cafe and while walking around the plaza, we passed my bicycle and Robert noticed my tire was flat! He offered to repair it which he did and the following Saturday, we took a bicycle ride from the plaza to Bartholomew Park Winery (photos of scenery).
That was Saturday, April 4th. Four days later Robert Newman died.
I didn't know Robert well but I found him to be a very caring, gentle, and compassionate person. And as a Christian, I spoke to him about the Lord Jesus Christ because my life was transformed many years ago by the message of the Cross and Resurrection.
In one email Robert sent me, he talked about some things I don't believe in so I emailed him the following:
April 2, 2009
Thanks Robert.
Please don't take offense, but I can not believe some of what these folks are saying on this forum. For example, sylphs (mythical creatures) that help remove chemtrails?
There is a lot of 'stuff' (information, experiences, wonders, etc) out there, however, are they from God or are they from Satan? Satan does appear as an angel of light but is a liar and the father of lies.
I am extra careful as I don't want to be deceived. I love the truth; Jesus said he was the Truth. My faith in Christ is strong and I trust His Word, the Bible. If it wasn't for the Lord Jesus, who knows where I'd be today! Did you already see my story?
Anyway Robert, I enjoy your friendship and am very thankful you are repairing my bike.
until next time...
Cathy
After our bike ride, the last day I saw Robert, he emailed this:
Subject: deeper view of the church of evil
To: "Cathy Palmer"
Date: Saturday, April 4, 2009, 9:10 AM
Why does the vatican behave so strangely?
http://www.illuminati-news.com/2007/0318a.htm
My reply to Robert:
April 4, 2009
Souls. The battle is for souls indeed. Thus the reason we share the gospel of the kingdom of God to those with ears to hear.
Paul writes to Timothy:
"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles."
2 Timothy 1: 8-11
The Lord Jesus Christ says in Matthew 12, "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad."
We must make our decision to follow/obey Christ BEFORE death because reincarnation does not exist but is a lie of the devil:
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
Hebrews 9:27, 28
May the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Cathy
I mailed Robert a check for my bike repair and sent this last email to him before he died which included a link to the scriptures on the name of Jesus because he agreed there was power in that name:
Subject: By the way...
Date: Sunday, April 5, 2009 10:16 PM
From: "Cathy Palmer"
To: "Robert Newman"
I road my bike again today - beautiful weather, wasn't it?! And I noticed that it doesn't squeek at all!! It is so quiet that I have to ring my bell more often to warn people on the bike path that I'm coming, whereas before, they usually heard me coming - hahaaha!
Thanks again, Robert.
Cathy
PS The check's in the mail.
PPS Here are several verses about the name of Jesus: http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=name+jesus&searchtype=all&version1=9&spanbegin=1&spanend=73
May the Lord bring comfort and hope to the family friends of Robert Newman.
Divert ur Ship!!!!!!
This is supposed to be the transcript of an actual radio conversation between a US naval ship and Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October 1995. The Radio conversation was released by the Chief of Naval Operations on Oct. 10, 1995. - Please change your direction 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision.
- Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to South to avoid a collision.
- This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.
- No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.
- THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER ENTERPRISE, WE ARE A LARGE WARSHIP OF THE US NAVY. DIVERT YOUR COURSE NOW!
- This is a lighthouse. Your call.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Lok Sabha Elections 2009 Result: Who wins, who looses
Updated at 16 Hours IST
• Jaswant Singh (BJP) wins from Darjeeling)
• Akhilesh Yadav (SP) wins by 1.11 lakh votes in Kannauj
• Jaya Prada (SP) wins in Rampur defeating Noor Bano Begum (Congress)
• Priya Dutt (Congress) wins in Mumbai North-Central by 319352 votes
• Rajnath Singh (BJP) wins in Ghaziabad
• Navjyot Singh Sidhu (BJP) wins in Amritsar
• Farooq Abdullah (NC) wins by 30,000 votes in Srinagar
• Sushma Swaraj (BJP) wins in Vidisha
• Kamal Nath (Congress) wins in Chhindwara
• Sachin Pilot (Congress) wins in Ajmer
• Maneka Gandhi (BJP) loses by 22,000 votes in Aonla
• Ram Vilas Paswan loses in Hajipur
• Praja Rajyam Party chief Chiranjeevi wins from Tirupati, AP
• Chidambaram loses in Sivaganga to Raja Kannappan (AIADMK)
• M K Azhagiri, CM Karunanidhi's son, win from Madurai
• P.K. Biju (CPI-M) wins Alathur seat in Kerala by 20,000 votes
• H.D. Kumaraswamy wins Bangalore Rural seat by 130,275 votes
• Francisco Sardinha (Congress) defeats BJP's Narendra Savaikar in Goa
• BJP Jayshree Patel wins in Mehasana; leads in 18 others
• CP Joshi (Congress) wins Bhilwara seat by 89,643 votes
• Jayshreeben Patel (BJP) wins by about 21,000 votes in Mehasana
• Arun Yadav (Congress) wins Khandwa Lok Sabha seat
• Lalu Bhai Patel (BJP) wins in Daman & Diu
• Udayanraje Bhosle (NCP) wins from Satara in Maharashtra
• E. Ahamed of CPI-M records sixth straight win in Malappuram(Kerela)
• BJP candidate Lalubhai Patel wins in Daman
• Shashi Tharoor (Congress) wins in Thiruvanathapuram
• Hamdulla (Cong) wins against Pookunji Koya (NCP) in Lakshadweep
• K Sudhakaran of Congress wins in Kannur, Kerala
[Reply Your Views]
• Jaswant Singh (BJP) wins from Darjeeling)
• Akhilesh Yadav (SP) wins by 1.11 lakh votes in Kannauj
• Jaya Prada (SP) wins in Rampur defeating Noor Bano Begum (Congress)
• Priya Dutt (Congress) wins in Mumbai North-Central by 319352 votes
• Rajnath Singh (BJP) wins in Ghaziabad
• Navjyot Singh Sidhu (BJP) wins in Amritsar
• Farooq Abdullah (NC) wins by 30,000 votes in Srinagar
• Sushma Swaraj (BJP) wins in Vidisha
• Kamal Nath (Congress) wins in Chhindwara
• Sachin Pilot (Congress) wins in Ajmer
• Maneka Gandhi (BJP) loses by 22,000 votes in Aonla
• Ram Vilas Paswan loses in Hajipur
• Praja Rajyam Party chief Chiranjeevi wins from Tirupati, AP
• Chidambaram loses in Sivaganga to Raja Kannappan (AIADMK)
• M K Azhagiri, CM Karunanidhi's son, win from Madurai
• P.K. Biju (CPI-M) wins Alathur seat in Kerala by 20,000 votes
• H.D. Kumaraswamy wins Bangalore Rural seat by 130,275 votes
• Francisco Sardinha (Congress) defeats BJP's Narendra Savaikar in Goa
• BJP Jayshree Patel wins in Mehasana; leads in 18 others
• CP Joshi (Congress) wins Bhilwara seat by 89,643 votes
• Jayshreeben Patel (BJP) wins by about 21,000 votes in Mehasana
• Arun Yadav (Congress) wins Khandwa Lok Sabha seat
• Lalu Bhai Patel (BJP) wins in Daman & Diu
• Udayanraje Bhosle (NCP) wins from Satara in Maharashtra
• E. Ahamed of CPI-M records sixth straight win in Malappuram(Kerela)
• BJP candidate Lalubhai Patel wins in Daman
• Shashi Tharoor (Congress) wins in Thiruvanathapuram
• Hamdulla (Cong) wins against Pookunji Koya (NCP) in Lakshadweep
• K Sudhakaran of Congress wins in Kannur, Kerala
[Reply Your Views]
CNN-IBN projects Congress to emerge as single largest party
15th LOK SABHA ELECTION RESULT NEWS (India): Ahead of the 15th Lok Sabha election result, CNN-IBN has come up with a projection. According to the channel, UPA is suppose to get 210 to 225 seats that is way ahead of NDA.
This projection of the election result is based on a national election study by CNN-IBN in association with a daily newspaper Danik Bhaskar.
The result study also says that DMK and its allies are set to "sweep" Tamil Nadu getting 47% of the vote share against AIDMK's 34%.
Couple of days before a similar study was made by CNN-IBN. In the study it projected UPA to get 185-205 seats and the BJP-led NDA to get 165 to 185 seats. The study gives a projection of 110 to 130 seats to the Third Front and the Fourth Front some where between 25 and 35 seats. Others likely to get 20 to 30 seats.
In the final projections of the election result, Congress is expected to emerge as the single largest party getting some where around 158 to 173 seats against BJP, whose tally is put at 132 to 147 seats.
Snippets: 15th Lok Sabha Election Result, Lok Sabha Election Result, CNN-IBN, Dainik Bhaskar, UPA, NDA, DMK, AIDMK, Congress, BJP
[Reply Your Views]
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Kenneth Swolley Shot Dead in Sonoma Home
There is a memorial service for Ken at Duggan's here in Sonoma at 5PM on Wednesday, June 3, 2009.
Kenneth Swolley (scroll down for updates)
Last night the helicopter was flying over a nearby neighborhood and this is why. We pray for the victim's family.
MORE:
On Saturday night, May 9, 2009, in a home on Arnold Drive, south of Watmaugh, Kenneth Swolley was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head. Neighbors said the home is rented to Tim Slevin. This story is a bit bizarre as the one arrested was the one who demanded a woman call the police!
Below is a map showing the neighborhood where Theresa Lee lives and where Salvadro Camargo was arrested.
Sidenote: It was full moon too.
Location of Theresa Lee's street
Suspected Homicide in Sonoma Valley
Sheriff's Department County of Sonoma
2796 Ventura Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 565-2511
http://www.sonomasheriff.org/
Bill Cogbill, Sheriff/Coroner
Press Release
source
On 5/9/2009 at approximately 9:35 pm, a subject came into the Sonoma Police Department to report that his friend had been murdered by another subject at a house on Arnold Drive, but he was not sure of the address. The Reporting Party gave a vehicle description and said the suspect had fled in the vehicle. Deputies responded to the area that the Reporting Party described, located an address and found a deceased male inside the residence. The victim appeared to have been killed by a single gun shot. Deputies began searching the area for the suspect vehicle when another call came in from a resident on Pueblo Avenue in Sonoma. Pueblo Avenue is approximately 3 miles from where the suspected homicide occurred.
The Second R/P stated that a subject came into her house and told her that someone was trying to kill him and asked her to call 911. After the Reporting Party called 911, she was able to get out of her residence and away from the suspect. Several deputies and a K-9 Unit arrived on scene. The K-9 unit was deployed, biting the suspect. He was then taken into custody without further incident. The suspect vehicle was located a short distance away from the Pueblo Road address which matched the description given by the original Reporting Party of the suspected homicide.
Detectives from the Violent Crimes Investigation Unit and the Crime Scene Investigations Unit were called out for further investigation.
For further information contact Sergeant Tim Duke of the Violent Crimes Investigation Unit at (707) 565-2185.
Prepared by: Lieutenant Steve Brown
Posted on 10 May 2009
--- end ---
Investigating con man's death in Sonoma
By RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
source
Published: Monday, May 11, 2009 at 3:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, May 11, 2009 at 10:59 p.m.
The man shot to death Saturday night near Sonoma was a convicted con man with a history of fraud arrests.
Ken Swolley, 52, who was shot once in the head during an altercation at a home on Arnold Drive, had been released from prison last fall in connection with a series of fraud and burglary convictions linked to wedding Web sites and real estate deals, according to court records and people who knew him.
Walt Moreno, an attorney who represented Swolley in court several times, said he’d heard from his former client a few weeks ago and Swolley had told him he was working on some new business ideas.
“He was very likeable,” said Moreno, who acknowledged Swolley “could be considered a con man.”
Sonoma Valley resident Salvador Camargo, 26, has been jailed as a suspect in the killing. But how the two men crossed paths and what happened between them remained under investigation Monday.
“We’re still trying to piece it together,” said Sonoma County Sheriff’s Lt. Chris Spallino.
There were four people at the Arnold Drive residence at the time of the death. Swolley and Camargo were in a room alone when the shooting occurred, Spallino said.
The two others heard a shot and all three left the house. One of the men went to the Sonoma police station to alert deputies.
Meanwhile, Camargo drove to a home about three miles away and walked in on a woman at about 10:45 p.m., saying he feared for his life. He hid in the home and demanded she call 911.
When deputies arrived, the woman and her dog left the house, although she later described how Camargo had begged her to stay with him.
During the arrest, Camargo was bitten by a police dog.
Prior to Saturday, Camargo had a minor criminal history in Sonoma County that included arrests on drugs, weapons and drunken driving charges, according to court documents.
He’s being held in county jail without bail. He’s expected to be arraigned today in Superior Court in Santa Rosa on a homicide charge.
Swolley apparently had been visiting or staying at the Arnold Drive home. He has resided at several Sonoma County locations and in cities throughout the Bay Area.
In Sonoma County, Swolley’s criminal history dates to the late 1990s, a pattern that began with misdemeanor driving violations and escalated to numerous felonies.
Sheriff’s detectives arrested him several times on fraud charges involving multiple victims in the past several years, officials said. One case involved 21 felony charges and another had 11, according to court records.
“I represented him on a number of cases,” said Moreno. “His schemes were not always 100 percent above board.”
Swolley’s fraud, burglary, forgery, grand theft and credit card convictions stemmed in part from a Web site offering tips on weddings and a Web site offering videographer services, officials said. He would take payments but not always deliver on his promises and he sometimes used people’s credit card numbers illegally, according to law enforcement and court records.
Swolley also was involved in questionable real estate deals. “He had a lot of different ideas he tried to execute. He had his fingers in a lot of different things,” said Moreno.
In 2006, Swolley’s cases were consolidated and he was convicted of a reduced number of charges. He was sentenced to four years and eight months in state prison.
But upon automatic sentencing review last fall, officials determined he’d been given too long a sentence and he was released, Moreno said.
You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com.
--- end ---
SHERIFF'S DETECTIVES COLLECT evidence Sunday at the scene of a homicide on Arnold Drive. Robbi Pengelly/Index-Tribune
One dead in shooting
Saturday incident
By Bill Hoban INDEX-TRIBUNE MANAGING EDITOR
source
One man is dead and another is in custody charged with murder after a shooting Saturday night at a residence on Arnold Drive.
The victim was identified as Kenneth Swolley, 52. A suspect in the shooting, Salvadro Camargo, 26, allegedly fled the scene but was arrested later Saturday night after he knocked at the door of a stranger and asked her to call 9-1-1. According to Sgt. Steve Brown of the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department, at about 9:35 p.m. Saturday, a subject arrived at the Sonoma Police Department to report that his friend had been murdered at a house on Arnold Drive, but was unsure of the address. The man also gave deputies a description of the car the suspect was driving.
Deputies arrived at the residence in the 21400 block of Arnold Drive and found Swolley fatally shot. Swolley didn't live at the residence but was a visitor. Brown said deputies started searching the area around the Arnold Drive residence when a second call came in from a resident on Pueblo Street in Sonoma.
A woman making the second call, said that a man came to her residence and told her that someone was trying to kill him and asked her to call 9-1-1.
After calling 9-1-1, the woman was able to get out of her residence. Sgt. Tim Duke, with the sheriff's Violent Crimes Investigation Unit, said that Camargo seemed to be worried when he knocked on the woman's door. Duke said that patrol officers surrounded the Pueblo Street home and sent a K-9 into the home.
Camargo was bitten at least once by the dog and required treatment at the hospital before being booked into the Sonoma County Jail.
The car Camargo was driving was located on Napa Road, a short distance from the Pueblo Street residence.
Duke said the sheriff's department is still putting together a time line, and that the shooting took place possibly an hour or more before the friend reported it to the police.
Duke also wouldn't speculate on the motive and said that the investigation is ongoing. He also said that Camargo is being held on murder charges.
An autopsy on Swolley is scheduled for today, Tuesday.
--- end ---
Penngrove man killed in Sonoma shooting
Published: Monday, May 11, 2009 at 2:55 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, May 11, 2009 at 2:55 p.m.
source
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department deputies are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of a Penngrove man in Sonoma on Saturday night.
At the time of the shooting, four people were in a home on Arnold Drive, and Kenneth Swolley, 52, of Petaluma and Salvador Camargo, 26, of Sonoma were alone in one room. A shot was fired in the room, killing Swolley, and the other three people then fled.
Camargo drove to a house some three miles away and told a woman there to call 911, saying he feared for his life. Sheriff’s deputies subsequently arrested Camargo as a suspect in the shooting.
Another person in the house reported the incident to the Sonoma police station.
Detectives are searching for the gun and are trying to determine why the shooting occurred.
--- end ---
Fleeing homicide suspect begs Sonoma woman for protection
By NATHAN HALVERSON
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
source
Published: Sunday, May 10, 2009 at 11:29 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, May 10, 2009 at 11:29 a.m.
Theresa Lee on Sunday afternoon was still coming to grips with what happened the night before when a homicide suspect burst into her Sonoma home and demanded she call the police.
Salvadro Camargo, 26, walked into Lee’s home late Saturday night only hours after a man had been shot to death in a rural home south of Sonoma — about three miles from Lee’s house.
Camargo, apparently afraid that someone wanted to kill him, hid in her home until police arrived and arrested him.
“He told me they were out to kill him, and not to stand by the windows because they would shoot us,” she said. “It was very chaotic. I was very confused.”
Lee’s account adds to the bizarre circumstances surrounding a killing that the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department continued to investigate Sunday afternoon.
The identify of the dead man was not released.
Authorities learned of the killing when a friend of the victim arrived at the Sonoma police station to report the shooting, according to a police statement released Sunday morning.
The man didn’t know the address where the killing occurred, but his description led to a home on Arnold Drive just south of Watmaugh Road.
Neighbors on Sunday said the home is rented to Tim Slevin and that one person — not Slevin — was found inside dead from a gunshot wound to the head.
The Sheriff’s Department on Sunday did not release the names of those involved in the case, where the victim was shot, or many other details.
Camargo reportedly fled the home on Arnold Drive and drove to Pueblo Avenue where he barged into Lee’s home at about 10:45 p.m. demanding the 50-year-old mother call 911.
“I assumed there was a car wreck,” Lee said.
Camargo appeared to be in shock, she said, and at first he refused to tell her why she needed to call 911. Then things grew increasingly bizarre, Lee said.
“He was terrified. Whatever he knew had happened, he was terrified,” Lee said. “At first I thought he was in shock, then I thought he was probably really high on something. But I don’t know.”
Camargo didn’t threaten her or try to stop her from leaving when police ordered her and her dog to exit out the back door, Lee said. Instead, Camargo begged her not to leave.
“He was a pathetic person, on his knees, begging me not to leave as I backed away with my dog,” she said. “I told him he scared me and I needed to leave now.”
With Lee and her dog on the back patio, officers released their police dog, which bit Camargo.
“I honestly don’t know how long it lasted. You’d have to ask the 911 operator. It was just so chaotic,” Lee said.
Camargo was booked Sunday into the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of murder. He was being held without bail.
The vehicle apparently driven by Camargo, which the victim’s friend had described to police, was found a short distance from Lee’s house.
On Sunday, deputies coordinated an effort to find evidence around Lee’s house using metal detectors.
--- end ---
Autopsy shows man died of gunshot to the head
By RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 11:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 11:15 a.m.
source
Convicted con man Ken Swolley had gone to a home in Sonoma Saturday to do some electrical work when he was shot dead, sheriff’s officials said Tuesday.
An autopsy Tuesday morning showed Swolley, 52, died of a gunshot wound to his head, Lt. Chris Spallino said.
Swolley was at the Arnold Drive home Saturday night doing the work for the home’s renter, Spallino said.
Suspect Salvador Camargo, 26, was due in court Tuesday afternoon to be formally charged with the slaying.
The two men apparently didn’t know each other. There were two others at the home at the time of the shooting, which occurred when Swolley and Camargo were alone together in a room.
Spallino said detectives have some information about what happened between the two men but they weren’t releasing it at this point in the investigation.
Detectives were back at the Sonoma home Tuesday. They were pursuing leads on where to find the gun.
--- end ---
Suspect flees murder scene, invades home
Sonoma Valley Sun
May 13, 2009
source
The suspect in the fatal Arnold Drive shooting Saturday night was subdued three miles away by a Sheriff K-9 unit after bursting randomly into the home of a woman alone in her Pueblo Avenue residence.
When Salvador Camargo barged through her kitchen door, “I assumed there was a wreck, and he was in shock,” said resident Theresa Lee. “He told me to call 911. I thought he needed help. He was terrified.”
Camargo, 26, was charged Tuesday with homicide in the fatal shooting of Kenneth Swolley, 52. Drug paraphernalia was found at that scene, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department. Camargo was carrying a glass pipe when apprehended in her home, Lee said.
Camargo, she said, became increasingly agitated but did not overtly threaten her. “He said ‘They’re going to kill me and they’ll shoot you, too.’ He was wild-eyed, hysterical.” Lee said she then thought she might be in “the middle of a drug deal gone bad.”
“It was very chaotic,” said Lee, who was on the phone with a friend when Camargo rushed in. They ended that call and both called police.
Camargo took the phone for a moment, she said, and spoke Spanish to the 911 operator before handing the phone back to Lee. He huddled in the hallway while she communicated with police. “I could hear the helicopter and see the lights,” she said, as deputies advanced on the house.
“He was on his knees, begging, ‘Don’t leave me alone,’” Lee said. She told him, “I did what you asked. I have to go. Stay where you are.”
As Lee and her dog stepped out the back door, officers, lead by a police dog, came in the front. Camargo sustained a dog bite but surrendered without further incident.
Police initially thought they were dealing with two different emergencies on Saturday night. One of two other people in the Arnold Drive house at the time of the shooting went to the Sonoma Police Station at 9:35 p.m. to report that his friend had been murdered and that the suspect had fled by car. He described Camargo and his vehicle to officers, and gave the approximate location of the house where the victim was found (just south of Watmaugh).
Deputies were searching the area for the suspect when another emergency call came in at about 10:45 p.m. It was Lee.
Officers quickly realized the shooting and the home invasion were related. “Patrol did a fantastic job pulling the pieces together,” said Sergeant Tim Duke of the Violent Crimes Investigation Unit.
Camargo’s car was found near Lee residence, which he apparently chose to enter “at random,” according to Duke. The investigation, including results of toxicology tests for drug use and the search for the gun, continue.
“It could have been so much worse,” said Lee, thankful that “everybody did their jobs so well” and that nobody else got hurt. “He was a desperate man. Luckily, the ‘what-ifs’ didn’t happen.”
Camargo is being held without bail at the Sonoma County Jail. His next court date is May 18.
--- end ---
Divers retrieve handgun possiby used in Sonoma slaying
By RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
source
Published: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 9:21 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 1:54 p.m.
Divers searching a vineyard irrigation pond on Wednesday retrieved a handgun believed to have been used in a slaying in Sonoma last weekend.
They found a submerged semi-automatic pistol late Wednesday morning, said Lt. Chris Spallino. The gun will be tested to see if it was used to kill Ken Swolley, 52.
Swolley had been hired to wire stereo speakers at an Arnold Drive home Saturday night. While in a room with the suspect, Salvador Camargo, 26, he was shot in the head. An autopsy Tuesday showed the bullet struck him in the right temple from a range of within three feet, Spallino said.
Camargo was arrested later that night after a Sonoma woman called 911 to say a man had come into her home, acting terrified, and demanded she call for help.
A motive for the shooting hasn’t been disclosed.
During the search for the handgun on Tuesday, divers found a rifle. Whether it is connected to the Swolley slaying is unclear, Spallino said.
The pond was is about one mile from the crime scene.
Camargo appeared in court Tuesday but formal charges were delayed until he could be evaluated by a jail psychologist.
--- end ---
Competency exam in slaying
Press Democrat
Published: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 4:03 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 4:03 a.m.
source
Criminal proceedings have been suspended against a man suspected of shooting to death another man near Sonoma, then entering a woman's house and telling her a bizarre story that he was being pursued.
One mental health professional has determined that Salvador Camargo, 26, isn't competent to stand trial on murder charges, according to Sonoma County court records.
Judge Elliot Daum ordered another psychological exam be conducted before moving forward with the case. In the meantime, criminal proceedings are suspended.
Camargo is accused of shooting Ken Swolley, 52, once in the head at close range during an altercation at a home on Arnold Drive on May 9. Swolley had gone to the home to do electrical work, police said.
Four people were inside the Arnold Drive residence at the time of the death, police said. Swolley and Camargo were in a room alone. The two others heard a shot and they and Camargo left the house. One of the men went to the Sonoma police station to alert deputies.
Camargo apparently drove to a home about three miles away and walked in on a woman at about 10:45 p.m., saying he feared for his life. He hid in the home and demanded she call 911.
Camargo is due back in court June 1 for results of the second psychological exam. If he is determined to be unable to assist in his defense, he could be sent to a state mental hospital for treatment.
-- Lori A. Carter
--- end ---
OBITUARY
source
Fred "Kenneth" Swolley -Sept. 5, 1956-May 9, 2009
Fred "Kenneth" Swolley, was born on Sept. 5, 1956 to Clara and Fred Swolley. He was well-known in Sonoma and Novato for his outgoing, optimistic personality, extreme wit and great sense of humor. Kenny grew up in Novato and loved to play baseball and was an all-star team player in high school. Summers were spent on his motorcycle riding along the windy roads of Marin County with reckless abandon along with his friends. Kenny had a love of horses, fast cars, antiques and enjoyed repairing electronics. He was a stereo specialist and more recently, was named top salesman and won many trips that took him to places like Hawaii and Thailand to mention a few. He installed sound systems for well known musicians including The Jefferson Airplane, Buddy Miles and the The Doobie Brothers.
Kenny was preceded in death by his father, Fred, in 2000. He is survived by his loving mother, Claire Swolley, Yuba City; his brother, John Swolley, of Yuba City; his sister, Kathy Fleming, of Sonoma; his cousins, Denise, Tressa and Zachary Hurlburt, of Napa, Darrell Quinn, of Sonoma, David Quinn, of Anderson, Danny Quinn, of Vista; and by his niece, Katie Allred, of Santa Rosa.
Kenny's life was cut short, when he died tragically, on Saturday, May 9, 2009, in Sonoma. He will be deeply missed by his loving family and friends.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at 5 p.m., Duggan's Mission Chapel, 525 W. Napa St.
Private inurnment. Arrangements under the direction of Duggan's Mission Chapel, Mission Cremation Service, Sonoma.
August 4, 2009 UPDATE
Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:58
SONOMA CO.: MURDER SUSPECT SENT TO NAPA STATE HOSPITAL
SANTA ROSA (BCN)
source
Murder suspect Salvador Camargo, who was found mentally incompetent to be prosecuted for the shooting murder of a Penngrove man in a Sonoma area residence, has been sent to Napa State Hospital.
Camargo, 26, will remain there for three years or until he is competent to stand trial.
Criminal proceedings were suspended after doctors found him mentally incompetent. The defense and prosecution agreed Friday in Sonoma County Superior Court on the hospital commitment.
Deputy Public Defender Charles Ogulnik said during Camargo's first court appearance in May that his client was in "a fragile state" and that Camargo's "thought processes are not clear."
Kenneth Swolley, 52, of Penngrove, was shot once in the head in the Arnold Drive residence outside Sonoma around 9:30 p.m. May 9.
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Department said there were four people in the Arnold Drive residence when Swolley, an ex-convict with fraud convictions, was shot.
Camargo and two other people left the residence. One of the two people contacted the sheriff's department and Camargo went to a residence on Pueblo Drive about three miles away after the shooting and asked a woman to call 911, the sheriff's department said.
Camargo told the woman someone was trying to kill him, according to the sheriff's department. The woman left the house and Camargo was arrested after he was bitten by a police dog.
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Department's dive team recovered a semi-automatic handgun that is believed to be the murder weapon in an irrigation pond off state Highway 12 near Watmaugh Road on May 15.
Camargo was being held in the Sonoma County jail.
Kenneth Swolley (scroll down for updates)
Last night the helicopter was flying over a nearby neighborhood and this is why. We pray for the victim's family.
MORE:
On Saturday night, May 9, 2009, in a home on Arnold Drive, south of Watmaugh, Kenneth Swolley was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head. Neighbors said the home is rented to Tim Slevin. This story is a bit bizarre as the one arrested was the one who demanded a woman call the police!
Below is a map showing the neighborhood where Theresa Lee lives and where Salvadro Camargo was arrested.
Sidenote: It was full moon too.
Location of Theresa Lee's street
Suspected Homicide in Sonoma Valley
Sheriff's Department County of Sonoma
2796 Ventura Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 565-2511
http://www.sonomasheriff.org/
Bill Cogbill, Sheriff/Coroner
Press Release
source
On 5/9/2009 at approximately 9:35 pm, a subject came into the Sonoma Police Department to report that his friend had been murdered by another subject at a house on Arnold Drive, but he was not sure of the address. The Reporting Party gave a vehicle description and said the suspect had fled in the vehicle. Deputies responded to the area that the Reporting Party described, located an address and found a deceased male inside the residence. The victim appeared to have been killed by a single gun shot. Deputies began searching the area for the suspect vehicle when another call came in from a resident on Pueblo Avenue in Sonoma. Pueblo Avenue is approximately 3 miles from where the suspected homicide occurred.
The Second R/P stated that a subject came into her house and told her that someone was trying to kill him and asked her to call 911. After the Reporting Party called 911, she was able to get out of her residence and away from the suspect. Several deputies and a K-9 Unit arrived on scene. The K-9 unit was deployed, biting the suspect. He was then taken into custody without further incident. The suspect vehicle was located a short distance away from the Pueblo Road address which matched the description given by the original Reporting Party of the suspected homicide.
Detectives from the Violent Crimes Investigation Unit and the Crime Scene Investigations Unit were called out for further investigation.
For further information contact Sergeant Tim Duke of the Violent Crimes Investigation Unit at (707) 565-2185.
Prepared by: Lieutenant Steve Brown
Posted on 10 May 2009
--- end ---
Investigating con man's death in Sonoma
By RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
source
Published: Monday, May 11, 2009 at 3:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, May 11, 2009 at 10:59 p.m.
The man shot to death Saturday night near Sonoma was a convicted con man with a history of fraud arrests.
Ken Swolley, 52, who was shot once in the head during an altercation at a home on Arnold Drive, had been released from prison last fall in connection with a series of fraud and burglary convictions linked to wedding Web sites and real estate deals, according to court records and people who knew him.
Walt Moreno, an attorney who represented Swolley in court several times, said he’d heard from his former client a few weeks ago and Swolley had told him he was working on some new business ideas.
“He was very likeable,” said Moreno, who acknowledged Swolley “could be considered a con man.”
Sonoma Valley resident Salvador Camargo, 26, has been jailed as a suspect in the killing. But how the two men crossed paths and what happened between them remained under investigation Monday.
“We’re still trying to piece it together,” said Sonoma County Sheriff’s Lt. Chris Spallino.
There were four people at the Arnold Drive residence at the time of the death. Swolley and Camargo were in a room alone when the shooting occurred, Spallino said.
The two others heard a shot and all three left the house. One of the men went to the Sonoma police station to alert deputies.
Meanwhile, Camargo drove to a home about three miles away and walked in on a woman at about 10:45 p.m., saying he feared for his life. He hid in the home and demanded she call 911.
When deputies arrived, the woman and her dog left the house, although she later described how Camargo had begged her to stay with him.
During the arrest, Camargo was bitten by a police dog.
Prior to Saturday, Camargo had a minor criminal history in Sonoma County that included arrests on drugs, weapons and drunken driving charges, according to court documents.
He’s being held in county jail without bail. He’s expected to be arraigned today in Superior Court in Santa Rosa on a homicide charge.
Swolley apparently had been visiting or staying at the Arnold Drive home. He has resided at several Sonoma County locations and in cities throughout the Bay Area.
In Sonoma County, Swolley’s criminal history dates to the late 1990s, a pattern that began with misdemeanor driving violations and escalated to numerous felonies.
Sheriff’s detectives arrested him several times on fraud charges involving multiple victims in the past several years, officials said. One case involved 21 felony charges and another had 11, according to court records.
“I represented him on a number of cases,” said Moreno. “His schemes were not always 100 percent above board.”
Swolley’s fraud, burglary, forgery, grand theft and credit card convictions stemmed in part from a Web site offering tips on weddings and a Web site offering videographer services, officials said. He would take payments but not always deliver on his promises and he sometimes used people’s credit card numbers illegally, according to law enforcement and court records.
Swolley also was involved in questionable real estate deals. “He had a lot of different ideas he tried to execute. He had his fingers in a lot of different things,” said Moreno.
In 2006, Swolley’s cases were consolidated and he was convicted of a reduced number of charges. He was sentenced to four years and eight months in state prison.
But upon automatic sentencing review last fall, officials determined he’d been given too long a sentence and he was released, Moreno said.
You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com.
--- end ---
SHERIFF'S DETECTIVES COLLECT evidence Sunday at the scene of a homicide on Arnold Drive. Robbi Pengelly/Index-Tribune
One dead in shooting
Saturday incident
By Bill Hoban INDEX-TRIBUNE MANAGING EDITOR
source
One man is dead and another is in custody charged with murder after a shooting Saturday night at a residence on Arnold Drive.
The victim was identified as Kenneth Swolley, 52. A suspect in the shooting, Salvadro Camargo, 26, allegedly fled the scene but was arrested later Saturday night after he knocked at the door of a stranger and asked her to call 9-1-1. According to Sgt. Steve Brown of the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department, at about 9:35 p.m. Saturday, a subject arrived at the Sonoma Police Department to report that his friend had been murdered at a house on Arnold Drive, but was unsure of the address. The man also gave deputies a description of the car the suspect was driving.
Deputies arrived at the residence in the 21400 block of Arnold Drive and found Swolley fatally shot. Swolley didn't live at the residence but was a visitor. Brown said deputies started searching the area around the Arnold Drive residence when a second call came in from a resident on Pueblo Street in Sonoma.
A woman making the second call, said that a man came to her residence and told her that someone was trying to kill him and asked her to call 9-1-1.
After calling 9-1-1, the woman was able to get out of her residence. Sgt. Tim Duke, with the sheriff's Violent Crimes Investigation Unit, said that Camargo seemed to be worried when he knocked on the woman's door. Duke said that patrol officers surrounded the Pueblo Street home and sent a K-9 into the home.
Camargo was bitten at least once by the dog and required treatment at the hospital before being booked into the Sonoma County Jail.
The car Camargo was driving was located on Napa Road, a short distance from the Pueblo Street residence.
Duke said the sheriff's department is still putting together a time line, and that the shooting took place possibly an hour or more before the friend reported it to the police.
Duke also wouldn't speculate on the motive and said that the investigation is ongoing. He also said that Camargo is being held on murder charges.
An autopsy on Swolley is scheduled for today, Tuesday.
--- end ---
Penngrove man killed in Sonoma shooting
Published: Monday, May 11, 2009 at 2:55 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, May 11, 2009 at 2:55 p.m.
source
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department deputies are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of a Penngrove man in Sonoma on Saturday night.
At the time of the shooting, four people were in a home on Arnold Drive, and Kenneth Swolley, 52, of Petaluma and Salvador Camargo, 26, of Sonoma were alone in one room. A shot was fired in the room, killing Swolley, and the other three people then fled.
Camargo drove to a house some three miles away and told a woman there to call 911, saying he feared for his life. Sheriff’s deputies subsequently arrested Camargo as a suspect in the shooting.
Another person in the house reported the incident to the Sonoma police station.
Detectives are searching for the gun and are trying to determine why the shooting occurred.
--- end ---
Fleeing homicide suspect begs Sonoma woman for protection
By NATHAN HALVERSON
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
source
Published: Sunday, May 10, 2009 at 11:29 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, May 10, 2009 at 11:29 a.m.
Theresa Lee on Sunday afternoon was still coming to grips with what happened the night before when a homicide suspect burst into her Sonoma home and demanded she call the police.
Salvadro Camargo, 26, walked into Lee’s home late Saturday night only hours after a man had been shot to death in a rural home south of Sonoma — about three miles from Lee’s house.
Camargo, apparently afraid that someone wanted to kill him, hid in her home until police arrived and arrested him.
“He told me they were out to kill him, and not to stand by the windows because they would shoot us,” she said. “It was very chaotic. I was very confused.”
Lee’s account adds to the bizarre circumstances surrounding a killing that the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department continued to investigate Sunday afternoon.
The identify of the dead man was not released.
Authorities learned of the killing when a friend of the victim arrived at the Sonoma police station to report the shooting, according to a police statement released Sunday morning.
The man didn’t know the address where the killing occurred, but his description led to a home on Arnold Drive just south of Watmaugh Road.
Neighbors on Sunday said the home is rented to Tim Slevin and that one person — not Slevin — was found inside dead from a gunshot wound to the head.
The Sheriff’s Department on Sunday did not release the names of those involved in the case, where the victim was shot, or many other details.
Camargo reportedly fled the home on Arnold Drive and drove to Pueblo Avenue where he barged into Lee’s home at about 10:45 p.m. demanding the 50-year-old mother call 911.
“I assumed there was a car wreck,” Lee said.
Camargo appeared to be in shock, she said, and at first he refused to tell her why she needed to call 911. Then things grew increasingly bizarre, Lee said.
“He was terrified. Whatever he knew had happened, he was terrified,” Lee said. “At first I thought he was in shock, then I thought he was probably really high on something. But I don’t know.”
Camargo didn’t threaten her or try to stop her from leaving when police ordered her and her dog to exit out the back door, Lee said. Instead, Camargo begged her not to leave.
“He was a pathetic person, on his knees, begging me not to leave as I backed away with my dog,” she said. “I told him he scared me and I needed to leave now.”
With Lee and her dog on the back patio, officers released their police dog, which bit Camargo.
“I honestly don’t know how long it lasted. You’d have to ask the 911 operator. It was just so chaotic,” Lee said.
Camargo was booked Sunday into the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of murder. He was being held without bail.
The vehicle apparently driven by Camargo, which the victim’s friend had described to police, was found a short distance from Lee’s house.
On Sunday, deputies coordinated an effort to find evidence around Lee’s house using metal detectors.
--- end ---
Autopsy shows man died of gunshot to the head
By RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 11:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 11:15 a.m.
source
Convicted con man Ken Swolley had gone to a home in Sonoma Saturday to do some electrical work when he was shot dead, sheriff’s officials said Tuesday.
An autopsy Tuesday morning showed Swolley, 52, died of a gunshot wound to his head, Lt. Chris Spallino said.
Swolley was at the Arnold Drive home Saturday night doing the work for the home’s renter, Spallino said.
Suspect Salvador Camargo, 26, was due in court Tuesday afternoon to be formally charged with the slaying.
The two men apparently didn’t know each other. There were two others at the home at the time of the shooting, which occurred when Swolley and Camargo were alone together in a room.
Spallino said detectives have some information about what happened between the two men but they weren’t releasing it at this point in the investigation.
Detectives were back at the Sonoma home Tuesday. They were pursuing leads on where to find the gun.
--- end ---
Suspect flees murder scene, invades home
Sonoma Valley Sun
May 13, 2009
source
The suspect in the fatal Arnold Drive shooting Saturday night was subdued three miles away by a Sheriff K-9 unit after bursting randomly into the home of a woman alone in her Pueblo Avenue residence.
When Salvador Camargo barged through her kitchen door, “I assumed there was a wreck, and he was in shock,” said resident Theresa Lee. “He told me to call 911. I thought he needed help. He was terrified.”
Camargo, 26, was charged Tuesday with homicide in the fatal shooting of Kenneth Swolley, 52. Drug paraphernalia was found at that scene, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department. Camargo was carrying a glass pipe when apprehended in her home, Lee said.
Camargo, she said, became increasingly agitated but did not overtly threaten her. “He said ‘They’re going to kill me and they’ll shoot you, too.’ He was wild-eyed, hysterical.” Lee said she then thought she might be in “the middle of a drug deal gone bad.”
“It was very chaotic,” said Lee, who was on the phone with a friend when Camargo rushed in. They ended that call and both called police.
Camargo took the phone for a moment, she said, and spoke Spanish to the 911 operator before handing the phone back to Lee. He huddled in the hallway while she communicated with police. “I could hear the helicopter and see the lights,” she said, as deputies advanced on the house.
“He was on his knees, begging, ‘Don’t leave me alone,’” Lee said. She told him, “I did what you asked. I have to go. Stay where you are.”
As Lee and her dog stepped out the back door, officers, lead by a police dog, came in the front. Camargo sustained a dog bite but surrendered without further incident.
Police initially thought they were dealing with two different emergencies on Saturday night. One of two other people in the Arnold Drive house at the time of the shooting went to the Sonoma Police Station at 9:35 p.m. to report that his friend had been murdered and that the suspect had fled by car. He described Camargo and his vehicle to officers, and gave the approximate location of the house where the victim was found (just south of Watmaugh).
Deputies were searching the area for the suspect when another emergency call came in at about 10:45 p.m. It was Lee.
Officers quickly realized the shooting and the home invasion were related. “Patrol did a fantastic job pulling the pieces together,” said Sergeant Tim Duke of the Violent Crimes Investigation Unit.
Camargo’s car was found near Lee residence, which he apparently chose to enter “at random,” according to Duke. The investigation, including results of toxicology tests for drug use and the search for the gun, continue.
“It could have been so much worse,” said Lee, thankful that “everybody did their jobs so well” and that nobody else got hurt. “He was a desperate man. Luckily, the ‘what-ifs’ didn’t happen.”
Camargo is being held without bail at the Sonoma County Jail. His next court date is May 18.
--- end ---
Divers retrieve handgun possiby used in Sonoma slaying
By RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
source
Published: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 9:21 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 1:54 p.m.
Divers searching a vineyard irrigation pond on Wednesday retrieved a handgun believed to have been used in a slaying in Sonoma last weekend.
They found a submerged semi-automatic pistol late Wednesday morning, said Lt. Chris Spallino. The gun will be tested to see if it was used to kill Ken Swolley, 52.
Swolley had been hired to wire stereo speakers at an Arnold Drive home Saturday night. While in a room with the suspect, Salvador Camargo, 26, he was shot in the head. An autopsy Tuesday showed the bullet struck him in the right temple from a range of within three feet, Spallino said.
Camargo was arrested later that night after a Sonoma woman called 911 to say a man had come into her home, acting terrified, and demanded she call for help.
A motive for the shooting hasn’t been disclosed.
During the search for the handgun on Tuesday, divers found a rifle. Whether it is connected to the Swolley slaying is unclear, Spallino said.
The pond was is about one mile from the crime scene.
Camargo appeared in court Tuesday but formal charges were delayed until he could be evaluated by a jail psychologist.
--- end ---
Competency exam in slaying
Press Democrat
Published: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 4:03 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 4:03 a.m.
source
Criminal proceedings have been suspended against a man suspected of shooting to death another man near Sonoma, then entering a woman's house and telling her a bizarre story that he was being pursued.
One mental health professional has determined that Salvador Camargo, 26, isn't competent to stand trial on murder charges, according to Sonoma County court records.
Judge Elliot Daum ordered another psychological exam be conducted before moving forward with the case. In the meantime, criminal proceedings are suspended.
Camargo is accused of shooting Ken Swolley, 52, once in the head at close range during an altercation at a home on Arnold Drive on May 9. Swolley had gone to the home to do electrical work, police said.
Four people were inside the Arnold Drive residence at the time of the death, police said. Swolley and Camargo were in a room alone. The two others heard a shot and they and Camargo left the house. One of the men went to the Sonoma police station to alert deputies.
Camargo apparently drove to a home about three miles away and walked in on a woman at about 10:45 p.m., saying he feared for his life. He hid in the home and demanded she call 911.
Camargo is due back in court June 1 for results of the second psychological exam. If he is determined to be unable to assist in his defense, he could be sent to a state mental hospital for treatment.
-- Lori A. Carter
--- end ---
OBITUARY
source
Fred "Kenneth" Swolley -Sept. 5, 1956-May 9, 2009
Fred "Kenneth" Swolley, was born on Sept. 5, 1956 to Clara and Fred Swolley. He was well-known in Sonoma and Novato for his outgoing, optimistic personality, extreme wit and great sense of humor. Kenny grew up in Novato and loved to play baseball and was an all-star team player in high school. Summers were spent on his motorcycle riding along the windy roads of Marin County with reckless abandon along with his friends. Kenny had a love of horses, fast cars, antiques and enjoyed repairing electronics. He was a stereo specialist and more recently, was named top salesman and won many trips that took him to places like Hawaii and Thailand to mention a few. He installed sound systems for well known musicians including The Jefferson Airplane, Buddy Miles and the The Doobie Brothers.
Kenny was preceded in death by his father, Fred, in 2000. He is survived by his loving mother, Claire Swolley, Yuba City; his brother, John Swolley, of Yuba City; his sister, Kathy Fleming, of Sonoma; his cousins, Denise, Tressa and Zachary Hurlburt, of Napa, Darrell Quinn, of Sonoma, David Quinn, of Anderson, Danny Quinn, of Vista; and by his niece, Katie Allred, of Santa Rosa.
Kenny's life was cut short, when he died tragically, on Saturday, May 9, 2009, in Sonoma. He will be deeply missed by his loving family and friends.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at 5 p.m., Duggan's Mission Chapel, 525 W. Napa St.
Private inurnment. Arrangements under the direction of Duggan's Mission Chapel, Mission Cremation Service, Sonoma.
August 4, 2009 UPDATE
Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:58
SONOMA CO.: MURDER SUSPECT SENT TO NAPA STATE HOSPITAL
SANTA ROSA (BCN)
source
Murder suspect Salvador Camargo, who was found mentally incompetent to be prosecuted for the shooting murder of a Penngrove man in a Sonoma area residence, has been sent to Napa State Hospital.
Camargo, 26, will remain there for three years or until he is competent to stand trial.
Criminal proceedings were suspended after doctors found him mentally incompetent. The defense and prosecution agreed Friday in Sonoma County Superior Court on the hospital commitment.
Deputy Public Defender Charles Ogulnik said during Camargo's first court appearance in May that his client was in "a fragile state" and that Camargo's "thought processes are not clear."
Kenneth Swolley, 52, of Penngrove, was shot once in the head in the Arnold Drive residence outside Sonoma around 9:30 p.m. May 9.
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Department said there were four people in the Arnold Drive residence when Swolley, an ex-convict with fraud convictions, was shot.
Camargo and two other people left the residence. One of the two people contacted the sheriff's department and Camargo went to a residence on Pueblo Drive about three miles away after the shooting and asked a woman to call 911, the sheriff's department said.
Camargo told the woman someone was trying to kill him, according to the sheriff's department. The woman left the house and Camargo was arrested after he was bitten by a police dog.
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Department's dive team recovered a semi-automatic handgun that is believed to be the murder weapon in an irrigation pond off state Highway 12 near Watmaugh Road on May 15.
Camargo was being held in the Sonoma County jail.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Star Trek Formed My Longtime Friendships
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Today the long awaited Star Trek movie is out and like any nerdy Trekker, I'm excited. I got our tickets 10 days ago and didn't have to stand in line, contrary to what you might think. But the real story here is that on Saturday, May 9th, I'm going to see Star Trek with my long time friends Bill Boyd and Lars Frykman.
This is an Oakland Trekker story in brief.
Bill, Lars, and I met in Oakland in 1976 when we were 14 years old at what was then called Bret Harte Junior High School, now Bret Harte Middle School. I was new to Oakland, having moved with my mom to the city from Chicago as my mom was in search of better schools for me. How times have changed!
The Bret Harte Star Trek Club
I was a big Star Trek fan and wanted to start a club at Bret Harte. I had no clue how to do this, so my friends said "You should talk to Bill Boyd or Lars Frykman!" So I was introduced to Bill, who at 14 had the deepest voice I've ever heard in my life, and has the same voice today! Then there was Lars, who's just unique and uses terms like "GROK" the meaning of which I've forgotten.
At any rate, Bill and Lars are white; I'm black. But in Star Trek, as Doctor McCoy once said, "People are different. You get used to those things." We formed a diverse set of people, all interested in science and led by Craig Pryor who famously worked through all of the problem sets in our calculus book before the end of the semester. But whom I bested in a massive debate on American versus foreign cars - I took American and won!
But we were and to this day are great friends. At Bret Harte in 1976 we made the most money of any club at our carnival taking in $104.76. We did it with a game Craig came up with where you throw a set of "Tribbles" (from the Star Trek episode "Trouble With The Tribbles") our moms made from fur and stuffing at a ping pong ball suspended from the air from a vacuum cleaner.
You laugh.
But Star Trek was the show that brought all of us together and caused us to work conventions in Oakland and have parties and get girlfriends. And it was because Star Trek continues to show a positive view of the future and how we relate to each other.
I can't wait for Bill, Lars, and Craig to see this and I can't wait to see Star Trek, even if the movie messes up the San Francisco Skyline.
Friday, May 8, 2009
HOW TO TELL A SIKH FROM A TALIBAN, ILLUSTRATED EDITION
Before I start, let me say that in writing about the Taliban, I am not indicting the Muslim community, which has many good, upright adherents, some of whom I am honoured to include among my friends. Please do not construct anything I say about Taliban to apply to the millions of Muslims who are peaceful, constructive and valued citizens of countries all over the world.
Do to a certain shallow, outward physical resemblance to some Muslim extremists, our Sikh community has been under attack since the 9/11 terrorist attacks by those who don't know any better. Now events in Pakistan, where the Taliban has attacked the Sikhs of the SWAT Valley, forcing them out of their homes, make a comparison of the two groups mandatory for anyone who really wants to understand world events. (And to stop picking on innocent Sikhs, as well.)
First, what exactly happened in Pakistan? The government there has effectively turned over control of a region in the north of the country, the SWAT Valley, over to the Taliban. In a region of this valley called Orakzai live - or rather lived - a few Sikh families. These were poor Sikh farmers who had lived in peace with their neighbours for generations, who had chosen to stay in Pakistan when most Sikhs left to move to India in the Partition of 1948. These are people with few material resources who clearly love their homes and simple way of life.
These were destroyed when the Taliban demanded that they pay a tax on non
Muslims, called a Jaziya. I have read that jaziya was originally paid by nonMuslims in lieu of military service. I have also read that it was originally a financial inducement to convert to Islam. Whatever the original purpose, in this instance, it is clearly simple extortion, not unlike "protection money" paid by business owners to organised crime to insure that the Mob will leave their businesses alone.
The amount demanded by the Taliban, was beyond the means of the community and when it was not paid, the houses of the Sikhs were razed and Sikh businesses were occupied. The Sikhs, seeing yet another massacre looming, fled with little more than the clothes on their backs and a few meager possessions.
In summary:
Having established, I hope, that Sikhs are not Muslim extremists, who then are Sikhs? Briefly, a Sikh is a follower of Sikhi or Sikhism, a panentheistic (look it up!), monotheistic religion that originated in Punjab, in what is now northeastern India and southwestern Pakistan. Rather than summarise the beliefs, which is really beyond the scope of this article, I suggest you go to about.Sikhism and look around. It's interesting and educational.
The religion sprung up and developed at a time when Mughals (Muslims) had imposed a brutal dictatorship on the people of part of what is now called "the Asian subcontinent," that is India and Pakistan. I will now compare some aspects of Taliban and Sikhs.
Since people are generally more visual than verbal, I have included a picture gallery of major differences between the two groups below.
There is a certain superficial physical resemblance. The men of both groups grow beards and wear turbans. The majority of members of both groups are brown.The Taliban, however, are by and large Arabs, with Middle Eastern origins. I stand corrected. The Taliban are, by and large Pushtans of Afghan origins. Although there is a growing number of Sikhs of European and African descent, most Sikhs today are still either
Punjabis or descendants of Punjabis.
Taliban discriminate against women in many ways: imposing Muslim dress which completely covers her, denies her education, restricts her movements so she is not allowed to go outside unless accompanied by a male relative. (I wonder what happens to a woman who has no male relatives?)
Sikhi teaches that men and women are equals. In fact, the Sikh Rehat Maryada - the Sikh Code of Conduct - forbids a woman to cover her face.
Here is an example of Sikh music, a sort of hymn called a kirtan. Notice that it has a happy sound and is a joy to hear! Also notice that it is sung by a woman!
.
I cannot give an example of Taliban music, since the Taliban ban music entirely, even to the point of killing songbirds when they controlled Afghanistan.
I cannot give a current example of Sikh government, since the Sikh Empire (1799-1849) governed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh is no longer around. However, two big differences between Sikh rule at that time and Taliban rule now are that capital punishment did not exist in the Sikh Empire, while it is common among the Taliban. And a huge difference, different religions were not only tolerated in the Sikh Empire but were actually respected, while the Taliban not only lack respect or tolerance for other religions, but also condemn all other forms of Islam, their own religion.
But enough of words. I have written enough to tell about the differences, now a few pictures to show the differences.
Note: Should anyone wish to reproduce this post, I will be happy to send you the html to make it easy for you. Just leave your e-mail in a comment or e-mail me at simayanan [at] gmail [dot] com. MHK
Do to a certain shallow, outward physical resemblance to some Muslim extremists, our Sikh community has been under attack since the 9/11 terrorist attacks by those who don't know any better. Now events in Pakistan, where the Taliban has attacked the Sikhs of the SWAT Valley, forcing them out of their homes, make a comparison of the two groups mandatory for anyone who really wants to understand world events. (And to stop picking on innocent Sikhs, as well.)
First, what exactly happened in Pakistan? The government there has effectively turned over control of a region in the north of the country, the SWAT Valley, over to the Taliban. In a region of this valley called Orakzai live - or rather lived - a few Sikh families. These were poor Sikh farmers who had lived in peace with their neighbours for generations, who had chosen to stay in Pakistan when most Sikhs left to move to India in the Partition of 1948. These are people with few material resources who clearly love their homes and simple way of life.
These were destroyed when the Taliban demanded that they pay a tax on non
Muslims, called a Jaziya. I have read that jaziya was originally paid by nonMuslims in lieu of military service. I have also read that it was originally a financial inducement to convert to Islam. Whatever the original purpose, in this instance, it is clearly simple extortion, not unlike "protection money" paid by business owners to organised crime to insure that the Mob will leave their businesses alone.
The amount demanded by the Taliban, was beyond the means of the community and when it was not paid, the houses of the Sikhs were razed and Sikh businesses were occupied. The Sikhs, seeing yet another massacre looming, fled with little more than the clothes on their backs and a few meager possessions.
In summary:
Lahore: The Taliban has expelled at least 50 Sikh families from the
Orakzai Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) after
they failed to pay 'Jazia'. The Taliban had demanded 12 million rupees ($242,840, GBP 161,271)
as protection money from the Sikhs, who have living in the region from
hundred of years, but they could arrange only 6.7 million rupees.($135,586, GBP 87,355)
Later, it was reported that the extremists occupied houses and shops
of the Sikhs in Qasim Khel and Feroz Khel areas of the Agency and
auctioned their valuables for 0.8 million rupees ( $16,190, GBP 10,750), The Daily Times
reports. Earlier, the Taliban had also demolished houses belonging to
the Sikh community in the region.
The Taliban's Orakzai Agency chief Hakeemullah Mehsud ordered the
demolition of the houses after the Sikhs failed to meet a deadline
fixed for payment.
Having established, I hope, that Sikhs are not Muslim extremists, who then are Sikhs? Briefly, a Sikh is a follower of Sikhi or Sikhism, a panentheistic (look it up!), monotheistic religion that originated in Punjab, in what is now northeastern India and southwestern Pakistan. Rather than summarise the beliefs, which is really beyond the scope of this article, I suggest you go to about.Sikhism and look around. It's interesting and educational.
The religion sprung up and developed at a time when Mughals (Muslims) had imposed a brutal dictatorship on the people of part of what is now called "the Asian subcontinent," that is India and Pakistan. I will now compare some aspects of Taliban and Sikhs.
Since people are generally more visual than verbal, I have included a picture gallery of major differences between the two groups below.
There is a certain superficial physical resemblance. The men of both groups grow beards and wear turbans. The majority of members of both groups are brown.
Punjabis or descendants of Punjabis.
Taliban discriminate against women in many ways: imposing Muslim dress which completely covers her, denies her education, restricts her movements so she is not allowed to go outside unless accompanied by a male relative. (I wonder what happens to a woman who has no male relatives?)
Sikhi teaches that men and women are equals. In fact, the Sikh Rehat Maryada - the Sikh Code of Conduct - forbids a woman to cover her face.
Here is an example of Sikh music, a sort of hymn called a kirtan. Notice that it has a happy sound and is a joy to hear! Also notice that it is sung by a woman!
.
I cannot give an example of Taliban music, since the Taliban ban music entirely, even to the point of killing songbirds when they controlled Afghanistan.
I cannot give a current example of Sikh government, since the Sikh Empire (1799-1849) governed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh is no longer around. However, two big differences between Sikh rule at that time and Taliban rule now are that capital punishment did not exist in the Sikh Empire, while it is common among the Taliban. And a huge difference, different religions were not only tolerated in the Sikh Empire but were actually respected, while the Taliban not only lack respect or tolerance for other religions, but also condemn all other forms of Islam, their own religion.
But enough of words. I have written enough to tell about the differences, now a few pictures to show the differences.
Note: Should anyone wish to reproduce this post, I will be happy to send you the html to make it easy for you. Just leave your e-mail in a comment or e-mail me at simayanan [at] gmail [dot] com. MHK
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