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“Vertical” is a techno trance song by Vibrasphere featured in a high-tech music video produced by Visual Chaotics of Silicon Valley, California. Made using Harmony™ software, the song “Vertical” comes alive in a hypnotic music video (below) highlighting the beauty of 21st century Silicon Valley technology. After watching the following video, download this great song by Vibrasphere.
The Occupy Oakland day-long protest turned violent with riot police and protesters injured as hundreds of angry demonstrators were arrested in a cloud of tear gas. “Occupy Oakland has got to stop using Oakland as its playground, and people in the community and people in the Occupy movement have to stop making excuses for this behavior,” Oakland Mayor Jean Quan declared after protesters broke into Oakland City Hall, destroyed exhibits and set an American flag on fire. Riot police moved in, firing grenades, tear gas and non-lethal projectiles at the violent mass of demonstrators who threw bottles, metal pipes, rocks, bricks, explosive devices and burning flares at officers of the Oakland Police Department . Oakland residents could hear hundreds of rioting protesters screaming, “Pigs! Pigs! Pigs!” while vandalizing buildings and cars well into the night as families attempted to get some sleep in their homes. Mayor Quan has reached the end of her tolerance regarding violent Occupy Oakland demonstrations. City Councilman Ignacio De La Fuente issued a strong statement, declaring, “It’s an escalation that, in my opinion, basically amounts to domestic terrorism.” The City of Oakland is being assisted by a coalition of law enforcement agencies from across the San Francisco Bay Area in its effort to stop the Occupy Oakland violence. OCCUPY OAKLAND RIOT ARRESTS Originally posted here: Occupy Oakland Riot 327 Arrests
Federal charges were filed Monday against two SoCal women for their alleged roles in a Beverly Hills-based foreclosure rescue scam that collected at least $5 million from more than 1,000 “vulnerable” homeowners, prosecutors said. “The defendants in this case stand accused of profiting off of the desperation of people who were trying to hold on to their most valuable asset—their homes,” said Benjamin B. Wagner, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California. “This office is deeply committed to tracking down and prosecuting those who prey on vulnerable homeowners.” Jewel L. Hinkles, also known as Cydney Sanchez, 61, of Los Angeles, and Bernadette Guidry, 43, of Irvine, were among five people from throughout the state charged in a federal indictment unsealed today in Sacramento, according to Wagner. Hinkles and Guidry are each charged with eight counts of mail fraud, while Hinkles faces an additional 16 counts of bankruptcy fraud, Wagner said. According to court documents, Hinkles is the founder and general manager of Beverly Hills-based Horizon Property Holdings, LLC, which from 2008-10 pitched a purported foreclosure rescue service called “Save My Home” or “Homesaver.” Guidry was Horizon’s office manager and assisted Hinkles with promoting the foreclosure and principal reduction program—which was sold directly and through affiliates—to clients in Northern California, according to prosecutors. The defendants allegedly told homeowners that for a substantial up-front payment and a monthly fee, they would save the homeowners’ houses. But according to the indictment, the defendants failed to save clients’ homes but continued to collect fees. If convicted, the defendants face a possible maximum of 20 years in prison for each mail fraud count, five years in prison for each bankruptcy fraud count and a $250,000 fine for each count, Wagner said. This report was compiled with information from City News Service. Be sure to follow Beverly Hills Patch on Twitter and “Like” us on Facebook . Read more from the original source: Beverly Hills-Based Foreclosure Rescue Scam Is Busted
Now that Thanksgiving is over, many Beverly Hills families are preparing their homes with holiday decorations. But before you string up Christmas lights or put out the electric menorah, read these safety tips from Southern California Edison . “Most accidents are preventable. We hope people will take a few moments to make sure their equipment is in good working order and that there are no unsafe situations in the home,” said Bill Messner, SCE’s acting director of corporate environment, health and safety. He urged residents to check for overloaded wall plugs, frayed light strings and other electrical safety and fire hazards. According to the National Fire Protection Association: Thirty percent of all home fires and 38 percent of home fire deaths occur during December, January and February. Christmas tree and holiday decoration fires result in twice the number of injuries and five times more fatalities per fire than the average winter holiday fire. On average, 260 home fires begin with Christmas trees each year, resulting in 12 deaths, 24 injuries and $16.4 million in property damage. Candles start 45 percent of home decoration fires. Nearly 6,000 people a year are treated in hospital emergency rooms for falls associated with holiday decorations. More than half of these injuries involve falls from ladders or roofs while decorating outdoors. About 4,000 injuries associated with electric extension cords result in emergency room visits each year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. SCE offered the following holiday lighting safety tips: Put lights on a timer, and unplug them when you leave the house. This also helps save energy and money. Beware of counterfeit or poor quality electrical products. Use only lighting and cords approved by the Underwriters Laboratories, an independent, nonprofit organization that tests electrical components and equipment for potential hazards. LED holiday lights are a fraction of the cost to run, and they don’t get as hot as incandescent holiday lights, reducing the chance of a fire. Only use electrical cords and light strands that are in good condition; don’t overload outlets; and use only three strands per outlet or a surge protector. When hanging lights make sure staples, tacks and nails do not pierce or pinch wires. Loop a plastic zip cord around the lighting strand and secure the zip cord to the wall. For more tips on lighting and safety during the holidays, click here . This story was compiled with information from City News Service. Be sure to follow Beverly Hills Patch on Twitter and “Like” us on Facebook . Read the rest here: Southern California Edison Urges Safety This Holiday Season
A surge in marijuana grow houses is linked in part to the region’s mortgage crisis. Read more here: Foreclosed Homes Become Haven For Pot Growing
A surge in marijuana grow houses is linked in part to the region’s mortgage crisis. Read more here: Foreclosed Homes Become Haven For Pot Growing
One of Angelenos’ biggest grumbles about taking public transit at night is that service is limited, both in frequency and how late the service runs. Now Metro says they are about to launch what they’re calling a “major expansion” of night service on their rail lines. So what kinds of big changes can we expect? more › Read more here: Metro to Launch “Major Expansion” of Night Service on Rail Lines
LOS ANGELES — Actor Will Smith and basketball standout Earvin “Magic” Johnson for dinner and Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas for post-meal mingling. President Barack Obama waded into the domain of the stars Monday as he hit the California fundraising circuit in one of his busiest donor outreach trips of the season. Smith, in an elegant three-piece suit, and Johnson, the standout former point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, were guests at the home of producer James Lassiter and his wife, Mai. About 40 contributors, including actress Hillary Duff, contributed $35,800 each for a cozy dinner and a chance to chat with the president. Obama, eager to reinvigorate his supporters, ticked off his administration’s accomplishments. “Sometimes I think people forget how much has gotten done,” the president said as he urged his backers to rally once again, at the same time joking, as he often does, that he is older and grayer now. “This election won’t be as sexy as the first one.” The Lassiter dinner, followed by a larger affair at the home of Griffith and Banderas, were part of a three-day, fundraising-rich swing through Nevada, California and Colorado. California, however, is his biggest donor state and he raised about $1 million in the Los Angeles area alone during the past two fundraising quarters, according to an Associated Press review of contributions above $200. Testing a re-election theme, Obama is also telling donors that the country is suffering from an economic crisis and political crisis. “People are crying out for action,” he says. Pointing to elements of his $447 billion jobs plan that was rejected by Republican lawmakers, Obama said they likely would linger as campaign issues in 2012. “This is the fight that we’re going to have right now, and I suspect this is the fight that we’re going to have to have over the next year,” Obama told about 240 donors at a fundraising event earlier Monday at the Bellagio hotel and casino in Las Vegas. “The Republicans in Congress and the Republican candidates for president have made their agenda very clear.” The Las Vegas fundraiser attracted about 240 people who paid from $1,000 to $35,800 toward Obama’s re-election campaign and to the Democratic National Committee. The bigger donors met the president personally. Others at Lassiter’s Hancock Park home included Troy Carter, the manager of Grammy award winner Lady Gaga. The singer herself was a guest at a fundraiser last month at the Atherton home of Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg. The Griffith-Banderas event attracted about 120 donors and was aimed at Obama’s Latino supporters. It featured guests such as actress Eva Longoria and mayors Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles and Julian Castro of San Antonio. While in Las Vegas, Obama spelled out a plan to help homeowners refinance their homes even if their home values had dropped dramatically below what they owed on their mortgages. Obama ventured into a working class development in the Las Vegas suburbs that benefitted from a community revitalization program like one he is pushing Congress to approve now. But the president displayed campaign-style vigor, wading into the neighborhood crowd to shake hands and even lift a baby. His handlers reminded him it was time to leave, but Obama strode to yet another group of residents for one last hand shake, autograph and photograph. Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Obama headed to a diverse neighborhood minutes from Lassiter’s home south of Hollywood and stopped at Roscoe’s, a popular Los Angeles chicken restaurant chain. Obama roved through the dining booths greeting customers, leaving at least one awestruck young boy holding his hand aloft after shaking the president’s hand. One man gave him a hug and a Hispanic man told his daughter that if she studied hard “you’ll be like him.” Most of his remaining time during this three-day Western swing is being spent raising money. On Tuesday he will tape an appearance on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” his second as president and fourth appearance overall. He also will attend fundraisers in San Francisco and Denver. Follow this link: Obama Mingles With Stars At Hollywood Fundraisers
