Matt Nathanson In Concert

One less monster

This year we lost Steve Jobs a man who most will agree had a major impact on the lives of Americans.  Just recently we have lost another man whose life also had a major influence on our lives.  That man was Muammar Gadhafi.  

Libya’s besieged dictator Muammar Gadhafi’s death was confirmed on Oct 20, 2011 by Libya’s Prime Minister.  He was killed near his Mediterranean coastal hometown of Sirt by opposition forces.

The Libyan civil war began in Feb 2011 as a series of peaceful protests similar to others in the region as part of the Arab Spring movement. These demonstrations turned violent after 38 protestors were killed by forces loyal to Gadhafi.  This proved to be the fateful undue of the Libyan strong man. 

Violence was not a new tool for Gadhafi.  On the contrary it was one that he has used over and over again in the 41 years that he ruled Libya.

Occupy Sacramento

More than three hundred people gathered to hear Cindy Sheehan, the famous anti-war protester speak, as she came to support the “Occupy Sacramento” protest movement in Cesar Chavez Plaza on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011.  The activists were showing their support for the ongoing demonstration in New York City where the “Occupy” movement had started on Sept. 17 2011.

 Many had come to hear Sheehan, and to march with her to the state capital.  Her message: a mixture of anti-government, anti-big business and anti-war slogans and sentiments was delivered via a bull horn from a scripted speech.

Occupy Wall Street

On Sunday October 9, 2011 I had the opportunity to visit the so called Liberty park encampment in New York City.  The occupation of Wall Street was underway.  No wait a minute I was several blocks away from Wall Street and the big banks and corporations that where being protested.

The protesters were gathered in a small concrete park just north of Ground Zero and across the street from Burger King.  Was I mistaken? This could not be the big protest that I had seen on TV, the protest that President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and big labor were endorsing?  There were only a couple of hundred people crowded into a small park.  Hand painted signs on old pieces of cardboard.  Where was the protest that I was looking for?

One man's journeys to Ground Zero - Sept 10, 2011

Ground Zero is the name given to the 16 acres’ of ground where the twin towers of the World Trade Center once stood. A place where America was attacked and American citizens were murdered by a group of Islamic Terrorists on September 11, 2001. In May of 2006, I made my first journey to Ground Zero.

As I climbed the stairs from the subway at Church Street, I was greeted with the sight and sounds of Ground Zero.  Beep, beep, beep assaulted your ears as all the constructions vehicle moving around on the streets and in the pit of the former twin towers.  Members of the NYPD swat teams stood guard, with M16 across their chests and police dogs at their sides.  

As I made my way along the path I was able to see into the pit.  A huge hole in the ground, all that was left after the wreckage of the twin towers had been cleared away.  Parts of the foundation of the south tower were still standing attached to the bedrock from which the south tower had once risen. 

2 guys, 24hr, 7 buffets

Sin City, also known as Las Vegas, is said to be able to accommodate any vice that you may have or one that you may choose to indulge. So we chose Gluttony.

Several of the Casinos were offering a buffet special that included seven buffets in 24 hours all for the wonderful low price of $44.00. 


The seven choices were the Lago Buffet (Caesars), Le Village Buffet (Paris), Spice Market Buffet (Planet Hollywood), Flavors Buffet (Harrah's), Paradise Garden Buffet (Flamingo) Carnival World Buffet (The Rio), Village Seafood Buffet (The Rio), and the Emperor's Buffet (Imperial Place).

Student Warrior

He sits quietly in the back row as close to the door as he can. His short cropped dirty blond hair and rugged face gives him that "California boy look." But his blue eyes draw you in. You see a quite intelligence and a touch of humor, but also the haunted look of one whom as seen too much of war for one so young.

Carl Roberts is one of many American River College students that are seeking an education after serving in the military. Using the benefits provided by his military service he plans on becoming a doctor. "I want to be able to help people now not hurt them" he said.

Roberts the oldest of three children, grew up in Citrus Heights attended Citrus Heights Elementary as a child. Spent two of the "roughest years of my life" at Sylvan Junior High School then, continuing on to finish four years at Del Campo High School.