May
31
(Almost) breaking news: National housing double dip per Case-Schiller?
Filed Under News you can use, Real Estate | 1 Comment
(Los Alamitos, 5/31/2011)There’s some interesting real estate “news” this morning, and I thought you might be interested in a post I just put up on Blair & my real estate blog, SoCalRealEstateNews.com:
(5/31/2011)According to S & P/ Case-Schiller, we’re officially in a double dip housing recession. . . at least on a nationwide basis (bold added):
Data through March 2011, released today by Standard & Poor’s for its S&P/Case-Shiller1 Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, show that the U.S. National Home Price Index declined by 4.2% in the first quarter of 2011, after having fallen 3.6% in the fourth quarter of 2010.
The National Index hit a new recession low with the first quarter’s data and posted an annual decline of 5.1% versus the first quarter of 2010. Nationally, home prices are back to their mid-2002 levels.
The good news, or at least less bad, is that Case-Schiller’s Los Angeles index didn’t do nearly as bad as their national index: L.A. down 1.7% from March 2010, U.S. down 5.1%) . So we’re only 1/3 as Read more
May
29
Memorial Day, 2011: Honoring our Fallen
Filed Under Inspiration, National Issues, The Base | 1 Comment
(Los Alamitos, 5/29/2011)Last month Barb & I were privileged to visit two beautiful memorials while visiting her cousin near Washington: The World War II Memorial (in the foreground of the photo on the left) and the Air Force Memorial. The quotes, fountains and sculptures at each one can’t help but move anyone who visits.
We are so blessed to live in America, but our freedom has come at great cost. Since 1776, over one million, three hundred thousand 1,343,812 brave American servicemen and women have given their lives for our country.
I hope you find some time this Memorial Day to consider their sacrifice, and the sacrifice of their families,and of the millions of other American servicemen and women who were and are willing to give their all.
I found many inspiring quotes engraved on the two Memorials Barbara & I visited. Here are three you may want to share with your kids or grandkids this weekend:
“Tell them that we gave our todays for their tomorrows.”
Inscription in Allied Forces Cemetery
North Assam, India
“I am going on a raid this afternoon. . . there is a possibility I won’t return. . .
do not worry about me as everyone has to leave this earth one way or another, and this is the way I have selected.“If after this terrible war is over, the world emerges a saner place. . .
pogroms and persecutions halted, then, I’m glad I gave my efforts with thousands of others for such a cause.”Sergeant Carl Goldman, USAF WWII B-17 Gunner killed in action over Western Europe in a letter to his parents
May
29
“Sunday Psalm:” The song of a humble pilgrim
Filed Under Inspiration, Sunday Sermons, Songs & Stories | Leave a Comment
(5/29/2011, Los Alamitos)Our “Sunday Sermons” are brief devotionals intended for the people of faith among us. Anyone, local clergy or layperson, is welcome to submit one, preferably around 200 – 400 words, through the “contact us” tab in the masthead.
Today’s devotional was written three thousand years ago, and selected to be one of the songs Hebrew pilgrims sang en route to Jerusalem for one of their nation’s three annual holy festivals. These Psalms, called “Psalms of Ascents” probably because Jerusalem is an uphill trek from just about anywhere, are collected in Psalms 120 – 134.
The church I attend (Calvary Chapel), is studying through the Psalms right now, and focused last week on those 15 brief Psalms of Ascents. As I was reading through Psalm 131, one of the shortest, I found the agent words calling me to a greater humility, satisfaction, and rest in YHWH:
Psalm 131 (New Living Translation)
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.
1 Lord, my heart is not proud;
my eyes are not haughty.
I don’t concern myself with matters too great
or too awesome for me to grasp.
2 Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself,
like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk.
Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, put your hope in the Lord—
now and always.
What a beautiful picture of a young child resting quietly upon his mother’s bosom, content in her love, humbly accepting whatever she knows is best.
Interesting, because we generally think of God as a Father in heaven, but here God is pictured more as a mother.
I have YouVersion loaded on my smartphone, a free Bible app that lets me freely flip from version to version. I found the first verse even more striking when I switched to “The Message” paraphrase translation:
Psalm 131 (The Message)
A Pilgrim Song
1God, I’m not trying to rule the roost, I don’t want to be king of the mountain.
I haven’t meddled where I have no business
or fantasized grandiose plans.2 I’ve kept my feet on the ground,
I’ve cultivated a quiet heart.
Like a baby content in its mother’s arms,
my soul is a baby content.3 Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope.
Hope now; hope always!
I’ve found great peace and wisdom meditating on this ancient poem throughout this week. The believer has no need to strive, to seek to exalt himself or herself, to get all worked up.
Rather, we can cultivate a quiet heart, like a baby content in it’s loving, wise mother’s arms.
May
27
Details on fund for Officer Garton’s Rossmoor family
Filed Under Community News, Crime & Police | 2 Comments
(5/27/2011, Los Alamitos/Rossmoor) Sad news as Memorial Day Weekend kicks off regarding one of the many heroes who lived among us, Hawthorne Police Motorcycle Officer Andrew Garton, who died yesterday while escorting a large funeral procession in Hawthorne.
A fund was established today by the Hawthorne Police Officer’s Association to aid Officer Garton’s wife and two young children.
Officer Garton, 44, a 7 year police veteran, is survived by his wife Tracy and two sons, aged 12 and 7. All are Rossmoor residents, as was Officer Garton, who many local residents will also know from his involvement with local youth sports, including St. Hedwig’s Baseball.
According to Hawthorne Police Sgt. Jim Connor the fund is “for his family to benefit Read more
May
26
Weekend/Vacation burglary security alert
Filed Under Crime & Police, Inspiration, News you can use | 1 Comment
(5/26/2011, Los Alamitos/Rossmoor) Over the last six months there seems to have been a rise in home burglaries across our 90720 zip code. I’ve received e-mails alerting me to break-ins from residents of Rossmoor, Rossmoor Highlands, Suburbia Estates, and Apartment Row, and Los Alamitos in general. All occurred during the daytime, many while the resident was away on vacation.
Just in the past month two homes in Suburbia Estates were burglarized while their owners were on vacation.
So, with summer trips and vacations kicking off this weekend, please Read more
May
26
Undue Influence?
Filed Under City Budget, City Council, Highlands Guy's Thursday column | 30 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 5/26/2011, by Highlands Guy) Dave here. It looks like our Highlands Guy may be opening a can of worms here. Maybe three. Please tell him what you think!
So, how is it that no one in the last 30 years has noticed that there are certain elected and paid city personnel who seem to have had undue influence on tax monies supporting projects that should be outside of the city’s sphere of influence?
There are three non-profits that, while worthy, have had more than their share of city support based solely on the whims of elected officials supported by city paid personnel that are beholden to them.
I must note a disclaimer here that Read more
May
25
Your weekly news media post, 5/25/11
Filed Under Miscellaneous reader thoughts & questions, News Enterprise & other local media | 6 Comments
(5/25/2011, Los Alamitos) Time for our regular Wednesday post where you can comment and report on any and all news media reports you find noteworthy.
Of course, that includes Los Alamitos’ only print weekly, today’s News Enterprise, as well as tomorrow’s Sun, but it also includes yesterday’s LAUSD School News, the L.A. Times, L.B. Press Telegram, OC Register, even the Golden Rain News (Leisure World weekly) if you happen to pick it up at a local store.
And please don’t forget the local websites like Patch & OCNews360 or the online versions of any paper. Those are even better because Read more
May
22
Los Al Weekly Crime Summary
Filed Under Crime & Police | Leave a Comment
(Los Alamitos, 5/22/2011) For May 8 to May 14, 2011, provided by Los Alamitos P.D.
Call the Police to report suspicious activity. In the City of Los Alamitos dial:
• (562) 594-7232 – 24-Hour Service
• 9-1-1 – EMERGENCY
STOLEN VEHICLE
None
ROBBERY
None
AUTO BURGLARY
5/10/11 – 10:30 AM – 10500 Calle Lee – A report of a work truck whose storage lockers
were pried open and property removed sometime overnight.
COMMERCIAL BURGLARY/SHOPLIFT
None
RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY
5/12/11 – 7:28 PM – 11300 Barbi – A report of an unauthorized person entering a
residence without force and removing property sometime during the day.
ASSAULT Read more
May
22
A Psalm for Harold Camping & His followers
Filed Under Inspiration, Sunday Sermons, Songs & Stories | Leave a Comment
(5/22/2011, the day after “Judgment Day”) I have no way of knowing the heart of the Oakland radio preacher who, as I predicted, apparently made another “miscalculation” on his second attempt to predict the end of the world.
But I wouldn’t be surprised to learn he was a sincere believer who, like most of us, thought he was smarter than he really was.
In any case, as I was reading through Psalm 130 this morning, I thought it was especially appropriate for him & his followers, or anyone suffering deep disappointment, or worse:
Psalm 130
A Song of Ascents.
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
2 O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.
(ESV, copyright, all rights reserved.)
The English Standard Version is a scholarly, contemporary translation in the “word by word” tradition of close translation. It’s my current favorite.
If you prefer a “thought by thought” translation, you Read more
May
21
Why the world won’t end at 6 p.m. today (5/21/2011)
Filed Under Inspiration, Sunday Sermons, Songs & Stories | 1 Comment
Update: If you’re reading this, you know that Harold Camping got it wrong. . . again. Still, I’m leaving this post up because the reasons my friends and I came up with for doubting Mr. Camping also apply to a host of groups that feel they have a corner on the truth, including some of those folks who keep knocking on our doors here in Los Alamitos.
If you want my “day after” post, see “A Psalm for Harold Camping & his followers.”
(5/21/2011, 9 a.m., Los Alamitos)This morning we’ll take a break from some of the local insanity to discuss an interesting case of theological insanity being promoted by an 89 year old radio preacher from Oakland.
As best I can tell, Harold Camping actually hasn’t scheduled the end of the world for this evening, but the return of Christ to rapture the true believers, which will trigger a period of Great Tribulation which I think is supposed to lead to the actual end of the world sometime this fall. As part of the event we’ll also experience a major earthquake at sometime today.
The topic came up yesterday morning at a small Read more
May
19
Expecting more from our civic leaders: Best Practices
Filed Under 2011 Issues, Highlands Guy's Thursday column | 1 Comment
(Los Alamitos, 5/19/2011) by Highlands Guy: A few recent articles in Let’s Fix Los Al brought to mind that we, the unwashed masses, must expect more from our civic leaders. We should not merely assume a false sense of well-being because we are provided decent services and relatively safe neighborhoods.
To really bear witness to the sacrifices and commitments made over 234 years ago through today and to confirm the vision of our Founders, it takes work, attention to detail, history, and dedication to government’s pursuit of the best options, for the best purposes, for the benefit of the citizenry.
What’s important?
Let me be more specific, what do I consider important when benchmarking Los Al? The first Read more
May
19
Los Alamitos area Community Bulletin Board for this weekend
Filed Under Community News, News you can use | Leave a Comment
(Los Alamitos/Rossmoor, 5/19/2011) I’ve been thinking of trying this on a weekly basis, as a place for community members, businesses, churches, clubs, etc. to post upcoming events.
You can also use it to post garage or block sales, or items you have for sale and/or need, or other items that might be of interest to the community.
So, if there’s something coming up this weekend or next you think folks in the Los Alamitos area might be interested in, just complete the comment box below, but includ something about what it is under “name,” so people can find it easier from the home page. You can include your name if you want.
For example, if I Read more
May
18
5/18/11 Weekly local media reporting & comments
Filed Under Miscellaneous reader thoughts & questions, News Enterprise & other local media, News you can use | 12 Comments
(Los Alamitos) Time for our regular Wednesday post where you can comment on today’s News Enterprise or tomorrow’s Sun without having to wait a week to see your thoughts in print.
This is also the place for comments & reporting & links to any other media reports that recently caught your eye or that you notice during the next 6 days, whether in our local websites (Patch, OCNews360) or print or online versions of the L.A. Times, L.B. Press Telegram, or OC Register. Even the business papers or networks if it affects us.
I’m writing this before my News Enterprise has arrived, but it should make interesting reading as Editor Shelley Read more
May
17
(5/17/2011, Los Alamitos) Once again Peter’s got 7 trucks lined up for those of you who want to travel to the MyGear.com store parking lot on Winner’s Circle on just south of Katella (west Costco corner). Time is 5 – 9 p.m.
From Peter:
We’ve got seven trucks tonight and literally all favorites of ours. Summer days are literally here so there is more time for you to catch sun and enjoy your food too. Below is tonight’s list:
Residents
Guests
[Hover your cursor over the icon for the name of the truck, click the icon for the twitter feed, from which you can go to the truck's website and usually locate a menu page.]
I definitely can’t Read more
May
16
Agendas & your reporting on Monday’s 2 City Council Meetings
Filed Under City Budget, City Council Meetings | 7 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 5/16/2011) Once again we have two meetings today, and once again you get to report on both of them, whether live from your seat in the Council Chambers using your smart phone, live from your home watching on LosAlTV3 (which should carry both meetings), or after the meeting or delayed viewing. Or even after reading one of the local media reports on the meeting.
The 5 p.m. meeting continues work on the city’s 2011-2012 Operating Budget. This time staff has prepared revenue estimates and proposed departmental expenditures for the General Fund for the Fiscal Year beginning 7/1/2011, projecting a budget suplus of roughly $80,000. That’s about 15% less than the actual surplus for F. Y. 2009-2010, but over 92% less than the surplus city staff is projecting for the current Fiscal Year.
As for the 7 p.m. regular meeting, Read more