Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama was Baracking the vote in full force last night, as he hosted a fund raising event at the Regent Beverly Wilshire with a live performance by Barbra Streisand. Boy, did he manage to raise funds. Tickets to the reception and dinner at the Greystone Mansion cost $28,500 apiece, with about 300 people in attendance, reports the Los Angeles Times. Gaining entry to the hotel event, which took place after dinner, cost $2,500, with about 800 people in the audience. You do the math. Ok, I’ll do it for you: that’s an estimated $9 million.

As Obama spoke to the crowd, filled with the likes of Jodie Foster, Will Ferrell and Leonardo DiCaprio, he gave attention to the concerns people might have about the election.

“I know that a lot of you, just in conversations while we were in the photo lines, had all sorts of suggestions,” he said.

But the crisis on Wall Street “has suddenly focused people’s attention, and it’s reminded people of what’s at stake. It’s reminded people that this is not a game. This is not a reality show, no offense to any of you,” Obama said as the crowd erupted in laughter. “This is not a sitcom.”

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By now, most of Los Angeles and much of the world has gotten wind of the deadly Metrolink derailment that took place yesterday afternoon around 4:30 p.m. in Chatsworth, when a commuter train carrying 225 people collided with a freight train, killing dozens and critically injuring many more. While officials stated today that shortly after 2:30 p.m. the search for victims had come to a close, investigators and medical personnel were still working on the bottom level of the double decker car.

Here is a run down of what we know:

• The death toll has reached 25, with more than 135 injured. The Los Angeles Times reports that 100 people were taken to hospitals (60 by ambulance and 40 by helicopter). All 12 trauma centers in Los Angeles handled patients.
• Among the fatally injured were LAPD Officer Spree Desha, 35, of Simi Valley and Paul Long, an English teacher at Oaks Christian School, who died this afternoon after being taken off life support at County-USC Medical Center.

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These are the stats of the troops who have been killed in war since August 19th 2008. The total number of casualties (that word makes my skin crawl) of California troops since August 19th 2008 is 511.

It’s important to be reminded that the battles we fight in places many of us will never see, makes a difference to in our day to day lives. War is not just fought “over there,” it’s right in front of us. It’s our friends, neighbors, loved ones and they are disappearing from around us every single day. War takes place everywhere and whether you acknowledge it or not it changes the world we live in.

Source: LA Times

I personally think it’s way too early for Oscar talk and don’t care too much about the International FIlm Festivals (and won’t until someone decides to send me to Venice to cover one), but that’s what going on this week.  There’s nothing worth seeing at the movies (Bangkok Dangerous??) and fall TV hasn’t even started yet.  Time to go back to bed.

• In this week’s Gold Derby blog at latimes.com, Tom O’Neill confronts the question: could Peter O’Toole beat out Heath Ledger for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar?  Then he goes on to describe O’Toole’s latest vehicle, Dean Spanley that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this week, as “lollipop sweet” and “a nice Disney or Hallmark pic.”  The whole (imagined) conflict is at the core of how basically unimportant and random the Oscars are.  How could Ledger’s Joker even be in the same category as a curmudgeonly but sweet grandpa?  The question I want to confront is: How do I get a cushy and completely unnecessary job like Tom O’Neill?

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PhoBrother and sister found dead in home both died of natural causes, contrary to all evidence - OK there is something seriously messed up here. The coroner said that 51-year-old Daniel Savage, who swallowed three bullets and had black shoe polish smeared on his face, died of a stroke and this his 57-year-old sister Jacquelyn, who was found with blood on her mouth and bruises on her face and neck, died of a heart disease. Something REALLY isn’t adding up here.

School can longer ban bible studies group - Until now, students had been prevented from starting a Bible club at Esperanza High School in Anaheim. School District officials argued that only curriculum-related groups are allowed on campus, but because they allow the Red Cross club, they therefore must allow the Bible club. So Jesus, take your spot on the lawn.

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Student study death in order to better understand life - This story, let alone the actually experience is enough to bring anyone to tears. Students are on a three year waiting list for a class in which they learn to better understand death from the inside out. They watch a mortician dissect a body of a murdered victim, learn about his/her’s life story, and then meet convicted criminals who have killed people and ask them questions. They learn about the “highs” of death, write a goodbye letter to their loved ones, and apparently deal with issues that they try to hide. And here you thought kids went to college to get laid.

Westside moves forward with subway plan - On Tuesday local officials decided to go ahead and pursue planing for a subway that will move along Wilshire Blvd from Santa Monica to Downtown LA. This would be an amazing step towards mass transportation in a city with virtually none and to reducing the traffic that is suffocating our city. They have yet to find the full 9 billion plus they’ll need to do it, but at least it’s beginning.

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Between 1985 and 2007, a serial killer LA Weekly dubbed “The Grim Sleeper” has been linked to at least 9 murders, possibly 15, many of the victims were young black woman who were raped and then killed. Officially as of today, the city of LA has collected a pool of $500,000 for information leading to the arrest and convictions of the serial killer.

“This individual committed several homicides from 1985 through 1988, and then there was a 13-year hiatus. What accounted for that gap we still don’t know,” Cremins said.

The Los Angeles Police Department established a cold case unit in 2001 to investigate unsolved homicides.

Five years later, detectives discovered the 11 murders were connected through DNA and ballistics evidence.

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LAPD breath new life into an old serial killer who has been killing for two decades - He/she has been linked to 10 slayings in South LA and Inglewood. The killers normally targets young black woman, although he did attack one man, and sexually abuses them before killing them and leaning their bodies in a corridor along Western Avenue. After 20 years of the case going hot and cold, the killer has tried to kill again, and the LAPD is on the case.

McCain chooses his VP Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin - Palin carries potential to strengthen McCain’s run for President. She appeals to woman, including a portion of those who voted for Hillary Rodham Clinton. It’s one now!

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• Conservative McCain followers are worried he may pick someone who is…gasp… pro-choice. “McCain’s back-and-forth with voters at New Mexico State University came as Republicans released a schedule for next month’s national convention that gives prominent slots to abortion rights proponents, including California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, keynote speaker and former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.” But what will he decide?
• Aurora Las Encinas Hospital, best known for being associated with Drew Pinsky (aka Dr. Drew of “Loveline” and “Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew”), is being looked down upon by the state after three patients died and one was raped in the last five months. Experts say it is rare to see so many patients at a psychiatric hospital die or be harmed in such a short period. Two patients being treated for drug abuse, both died of apparent drug overdoses. This month, a patient receiving help for substance abusers, hanged himself from a wooden beam. One day after his body was found a 14-year-old girl was raped by a 16-year-old patient as hospital staffers and the suspects probation officer slept nearby.

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Amy Kuney’s debut full-length LP, “Bird’s Eye View” was released Tuesday, August 12.  With it’s release, audiences finally have the chance to become acquainted with this brilliant 23 year old whose life experiences could put those of people twice her age to shame.  Amy moved from her comfortable teenage life in the states to the rugged poverty stricken Honduras when her parents felt called to be missionaries in the country.  While in Honduras, Amy found great comfort in exploring her music and, eventually, finding her voice.  A voice that is as unique as the experiences leading her to its discovery.

Prior to the release of “Bird’s Eye View,” Amy Kuney has seen some great musical accomplishments.  Her music was spotlighted on the season finale of One Tree Hill last year giving many of the shows viewers a small glimpse into the genesis of this musical genius.  Her cover songs of pop hits like Coldplay’s, “Viva La Vida” and Damien Rice’s, “The Blower’s Daughter” have been supremely popular on YouTube and showcase her ability to handle even some of the toughest mainstream songs and make them, so beautifully, her own.  Her cover of Damien Rice’s, “The Blower’s Daughter” gave her the amazing opportunity to play with the song’s original creator in Iceland recently: he loved her version of his song so much that he invited her out to lush continent.

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• Seven Southern Cali men arrested on suspicion on child porn - Seven men were arrested today on suspicion of possessing child pornography, following an eight-month investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. If convicted of each defendant could face up to 10 years in federal prison. Those charged include Gary Samuel Cochran, 50, of Huntington Beach, previously convicted of child molestation and possession of obscene materials depicting children engaged in sex acts; Evan Craig Stephens, 36 of Upland, a registered sex offender; George Tyler Farmer, 39, of Oxnard, previously convicted of molesting a 6-year-old child; and Eric David Lacey, 48, of Hollywood.
• Ex-police officer arrested at bank robbery - Vincent Cantu, 44, a retired Pasadena police officer was arrested in connection with a La Habra bank robbery. He was arrested after police spotted him driving away from the Banco Popular at 401 E. Whittier Blvd. that had just been robbed at 11:15 a.m. It was unclear whether cash was recovered from Cantu’s car, Knapp said. No one was injured during the robbery and arrest, she said. The Polite Bandit struck the Banco Popular at 12333 S. La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada on May 25 and Aug. 28, 2006, and the Banco Popular at 3160 Colima Road in Hacienda Heights on Nov. 23, 2006. Witnesses came up with the name Polite Bandit because they said the robber apologized to bank tellers, thanked them and said he was only trying to feed his children.

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It has just been decided by the California Supreme Court that “Doctors may not discriminate against gays and lesbians in medical treatment, even if the procedures being sought conflict with physicians’ religious beliefs.” Since when the hell have doctor’s been allowed to refuse treatment to ANYONE because of religions beliefs? A doctors job to is help people. Is a doctor refusing to treat a homosexual not exactly the same as a restaurant refusing to sell someone food because of their sexual preference? A doctor’s job is not to judge people it’s to help them. Allowing religion to decide when a doctor is or isn’t allowed to treat someone completely ridiculous and dangerous.

Obviously my opinion on this issue is very strong, but this battle has been going on for 10 years. So this is a problem for people and I would love to hear some other opinions. What do you think?

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