Oakland Mehserle verdict protest becomes unruly

Kiddie

Oakland Mehserle verdict protest becomes unruly

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Oakland reacts to verdict with peaceful rally
Updated on: 2010-11-05 22:47:25

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Oakland Mehserle verdict protest becomes unruly
Updated on: 2010-11-06 02:54:33

Story posted 2010.11.05 at 11:55 PM PDT

The tensions between police and protesters in Oakland ran high Friday evening. Hundreds of police officers from around the Bay Area, all dressed in riot gear, many carrying rifles and guns that fire tear gas into crowds, easily outnumbered the demonstrators.

The crowd marching in protest to Johannes Mehserle's sentencing earlier in the day in Los Angeles zig-zagged its way through the city chanting "We are all Oscar Grant" and ended up in a residential neighborhood in East Oakland. Eventually police created skirmish lines and boxed in the group of protesters. They issued multiple orders to disperse, but after what police say were repeated acts of vandalism in which people kicked in fences and car windows and threw rocks at officers, authorities declared the area a crime scene and eventually moved in.

One officer was injured when he was struck by another patrol car. He is in stable condition. Police say a gun was ripped off an officer's gun belt. It was recovered in the crowd of protesters, but the incident turned what had been peaceful evening into a very tense night.

Protesters were loaded on to buses and booked as fellow protesters stood on the other side of the bus and shouted at police to let them go.

Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts praised police response to the demonstrations, saying officers did a great job of allowing the group to carry out their First Amendment rights to protest while keeping the streets safe. He said officers only moved in on the group after personal property was destroyed and safety became an issue.

Batts stressed that these types of demonstrations need to stop.

"I'm trying to send a message that is clear, you don't get to do this in Oakland, you have a right to protest, you have a right to have freedom of speech, you have a right to voice your opinion to voice your opinion and your discontent, you do not have a right to tear this city up," he said.

In all, 150 people were arrested, most facing charges for unlawful assembly, some for vandalism. Police say they range in ages, from young to old, and are from around the area. Many do not live in Oakland.

Protest began as peaceful rally

The unruly march was exactly what rally organizers did not want to have happen. They had hoped Oscar Grant supporters would have a chance to speak freely and think peacefully at a rally outside Oakland City Hall earlier Friday afternoon.

The outrage over Mehserle's sentencing was expressed through signs and words.

"We all need to unify for Oscar Grant and his family; we need to try to find some way to stay close to the family as a city and neighborhood and unite," Oakland resident Kareem Williams said.

But even early in the day, emotions ran high.

"We're not surprised and what everyone should know is that the anger of the folks who will come to this rally today is righteous and the other thing that folks should know is that we are not stopping now," protest organizer Cat Brooks said.

Oscar Grant's grandfather pleaded for calm, saying violence is what killed his grandson.

"You can't blame every police officer for what one cop did because if we didn't have them we'd be in a whole lot of trouble," Oscar Grant Sr. said.

But for many the case has been about so much more than Oscar Grant.

"They protect the guilty, they protect private property, but when one of us is murdered they protect the murders," one protester said.

Police were prepared for the worst

At a Friday afternoon press briefing, Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts reported minimal criminal activity on Oakland streets, less than normal for any other Friday. Of 24 calls Friday afternoon, none have been related to Mehserle verdict.

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Víctor Lei

Johannes Mehserle sentenced to two years in prison

Outrageous! What is justice?! Where is justice?! Justice is always a play tool for a small group of people, if you have power and money, you have justice. Otherwise, bull shit! You'll never see justice!

Walgreens

Johannes Mehserle sentenced to two years in prison

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Oscar Grant's uncle reacts to sentencing
Updated on: 2010-11-05 17:30:26

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BREAKING: Mehserle sentenced announced
Updated on: 2010-11-05 18:12:10

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Johannes Mehserle sentenced to two years in prison
Updated on: 2010-11-05 22:20:30

Story posted 2010.11.05 at 07:25 PM PDT

Former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle was sentenced Friday to two years in state prison for involuntary manslaughter after the 2009 New Years Day shooting of Oscar Grant.

Judge Robert Perry gave Mehserle credit for time he has already served, meaning he could be released in as little as 7.3 months (219 days).

An emotional Mehserle took the stand in his sentencing hearing and apologized repeatedly. He never faced Oscar Grant's family or apologized specifically to them. His apologies were about "killing a man."

Mehserle said it had nothing to do with race.

"This had to do with Oscar Grant's actions and my reaction to it," he said.

He cried and said he wishes he could bring Oscar Grant back and that his family has had numerous death threats since the verdict.

"If my incarceration would bring peace to my family, I will go to jail," Mehserle said.

"He feels so sorry for the family; he apologized to them, to the public in the Bay Area," Mehserle's attorney Michael Rains said. "He said he knows that this case has set back relations between the law enforcement community and the community."

Grant's family spoke at the hearing. Grants mother, Wanda Johnson, begged the judge for the maximum sentence of 14 years.

"I told my son to take BART and the very people who are supposed to protect and serve took his life," she said, sobbing.

Grant's fiancé Sofina Messa told the court, "I hurt when I see my daughter growing up without a father."

Perry also dismissed a gun enhancement that could have resulted in the 28-year-old getting an additional 10 years because Perry said there was no evidence Mehserle intended to shoot Grant. Although Perry had initially granted a motion for a retrial on the charge, the dismissal means there will be no new trial without an appeal.

"Judge Perry himself said that he is clear the Oscar was resisting arrest, so the judicial system is saying, 'Yes, Oscar is at fault,'" Grant's uncle Cephus Johnson said.

"Those rulings were consistent with the evidence, those rulings were absolutely appropriate and the district attorney of Alameda County should be ashamed of himself for the way it's conducted this prosecution," Mehserle's attorney Michael Rains said.

Perry read from postcards and letters he has received from the public. More than 1,000 said he should sentence Mehserle to the maximum. One letter said, "Rightly or not, this has become a symbol of a white cop killing a black youth with impunity." Another letter said, "Please do the right thing and release Mr. Mehserle who made a horrible mistake."

One spectator was ejected from the courtroom for speaking out during the hearing and protestors were involved in a skirmish in front of courthouse. Sheriffs broke up the fight that involved at least two people.

Mehserle has spent the past four months in the Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles.

Grant's mother and other family members have said repeatedly they believe the 28-year-old Mehserle deserves a long prison sentence. Grant left behind a 6-year-old daughter. Mehserle has a son who is a toddler.

Outside court, protestors reacted and the Grant family said the sentence would only increase tensions between the police and people of color in Oakland.

"This case does nothing at all to heal, if that was ever any intent," Grant family attorney John Burris said. "It really goes to continue the polarization and increase the strife within the community."

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Víctor Lei

I Have Never Felt So Good Before!!!

Let me tell you, I feel so happy today. How happy am I? Yes. Very happy, extremely happy. I feel like a bird, a bird which flies freely in the sky. And I can tell you I have never been that happy and had that good feeling before!

I feel so happy today, mainly because two things. First, today is the day which I have been interning for Eye On The Bay for more than 100 total hours, it is such a great milestone! Second thing is that I made up a story in only 10 minutes! That's incredible! I didn't believe that I could do that! Let me tell you what's going on here. Tonight in my Pro Tool class, we started working on a new project, which is to create a "story" using any of 25 sound effects that we made one week ago. The "story" only contains sound effects, no dialogues, no picture, just the sound effects. First I listened to the sound effects, as I continued to listened to those sound effects, my ideas popped out from my mind. And then within 10 minutes, I have already had a story line and knew how to put the sound effects in order.

I have really good imagination! I'm really a good writer! People said I'm a good writer before, I didn't believe. But now, I'm beginning to believe that is a truth. In Ancient China, there was a prince called Cao Zhi, he could make a poem in seven steps; today, there is a guy, a guy who is a nobody, he can make a story in ten minutes!

I hope my talent can be extended longer and longer, so I could have them to change my life!

Thousands Gather For Giants Victory Parade

Gosh! It's crazy crowded around and near the Downtown SF right now! Cheers are being heard everywhere!

Thousands Gather For Giants Victory Parade

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Story posted 2010.11.03 at 11:53 AM PDT

Thousands of baseball fans flocked to downtown Wednesday to toast the San Francisco Giants' World Series championship and see their hometown heroes take a victory lap in a ticker-tape parade reminiscent of the one held when the team moved west from New York 52 years ago.

"This is Christmas, New Year's and your first-born all rolled into one," said Steve Williams, 51, an usher at AT&T Park as he gathered with Giants employees at the start of the parade in the financial district. "I'm on cloud nine."

Fans crowded the sidewalks and flooded the Civic Center before the parade's start at 11 a.m., with the diehards showing up before dawn to stake out spots ahead of the festivity. Many skipped work and pulled their children out of school so they could catch what they said was a once-in-a-lifetime celebration.

"I want to see all the hometown heroes and share the smiles of all the fans who've been waiting their entire lives for this," said Teddy Hutcherson, 31, who found a prime viewing spot behind a barricade.

Under a sunny sky, street lamps were festooned with orange and black balloons -- the team's colors. Large banners proclaimed the Giants as this year's World Series champions, as if the crowd needed to be reminded the team had won baseball's highest honor.

Mayor Gavin Newsom was giddy as he described growing up a "fanatical Giants fan" and dreaming about playing for the team one day.

"I thought I'd see (a World Series championship) in my lifetime, but never thought I'd see it as mayor," Newsom said. "It's incomprehensible that this happened."

He even swept aside talk of politics when asked about his victory in the state's lieutenant governor's race on Tuesday.

"Nobody here cares about that, this puts it all in perspective," he said.

Civic dignitaries and the team were riding in a line of open-topped vehicles driven along Montgomery Street in the Financial District, then down Market Street to the Civic Center for a celebration and presentation of a key to the city by Newsom.

Thousands of raucous fans had gathered at the same spot beneath City Hall's orange-lit dome on Monday night to watch an outdoor big screen television that captured the team's Game 5 win over the Texas Rangers. The Giants finally achieved World Series domination that eluded the team in 1962, 1989 and 2002.

Story posted 2010.11.03 at 11:53 AM PDT

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Víctor Lei

SF prepares for Giants victory parade

SF prepares for Giants victory parade

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SF prepares for Giants victory parade
Updated on: 2010-11-03 00:45:27

Story posted 2010.11.03 at 12:15 AM PDT

San Francisco and the entire Bay Area are still buzzing nearly 24 hours after the Giants defeated the Texas Rangers, winning the World Series four games to one. San Francisco will celebrate the win Wednesday with a parade up Market Street.

Workers were busy in Civic Center Plaza Tuesday, turning it into party central. Mayor Gavin Newsom will present the key to the city to the team during Wednesday's festivities.

Most of the high-rise windows along the parade route no longer open up, so the city is positioning people on roofs to drop 10,000 pounds worth of orange confetti.

Planners expect crowds to line every inch of the route that goes from Montgomery and Washington to Market and City Hall.

"We expect tens of thousands of people, my gosh, it's going to be 80 degrees tomorrow so we can expect even more than that," Newsom said.

There will be a celebration at City Hall at the end of the parade. Details are still being worked out, but Newsom says it will involve Giants past and present.

"The Giants, of course, are bringing out not just current players but some surprises and a lot of folks that are indelible in the minds of Bay Area fans," Newsom said.

Fan Mary Fitzgerald is torn between wearing her "Fear the Beard" or "Let Timmy Smoke" t-shirts.

"I'm definitely coming to the parade at 11; my children go to Lowell High School, I'm hoping they'll be excused from classes to come with me, so Lowell High School, please let the kids out," she said.

The San Francisco police Department says they will have high visibility at Wednesday's events, all officers' days off have been canceled.

Streets near and along the parade route will be closed sometime after the morning commute.

The parade begins at 11 a.m. ABC7 coverage begins at 10:30 a.m.

Story posted 2010.11.03 at 12:15 AM PDT

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Víctor Lei

Newsom leading tight CA lt. gov race

Newsom leading tight CA lt. gov race

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Gavin Newsom's election night speech
Updated on: 2010-11-03 02:14:35

Story posted 2010.11.02 at 11:27 PM PDT

Democrats were leading in all but one race for statewide offices Tuesday as the party's rising star, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, held a slight margin over his Republican counterpart for lieutenant governor.

With voters electing Jerry Brown as governor over Republican Meg Whitman, Democrats hoped Newsom could outduel incumbent Abel Maldonado for lieutenant governor, giving the majority party the state's two top spots.

With 30 percent of precincts reporting, Newsom had 46 percent of the vote, compared to 43 percent for Maldonado.

"I feel very good about our chances tonight, I feel very good about all the work and the extra effort that went into this campaign," Newsom, 43, told a crowd of supporters in San Francisco.

Maldonado was girding himself for possibly not knowing the outcome until sometime Wednesday.

"It's going to be a long night though, we know that," he told KCAL-TV.

Republican candidates in California were trying to ride the wave of discontent with Democrats in Congress and hoping to avoid a repeat of 2006, when Democrats took most of California's eight constitutional offices.

Only Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley was ahead in early returns for attorney general against Democrat Kamala Harris, San Francisco's top prosecutor.

Republicans account for roughly 31 percent of registered voters in California, while Democrats comprise about 44 percent of registered voters.

Newsom has garnered national attention for his support of gay marriages, while Maldonado has roiled conservatives in the GOP for casting the deciding vote last year while he was state senator on a budget that boosted taxes.

Cooley is known for his moderate stance toward California's three-strikes law and has been credited for creating a public corruption unit that has recently ensnared leaders of several nondescript suburbs ringing Los Angeles.

Harris has been recognized as a reformer for trying to improve laws aimed at social problems that help lead to crime.

Elsewhere, Democratic incumbent Debra Bowen was ahead of Republican Damon Dunn, a former NFL journeyman, for secretary of state.

Two termed-out state assemblymen, Democrat Dave Jones of Sacramento and Republican Mike Villines of Clovis, were in a close race to replace outgoing Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner.

Democratic incumbent and longtime California politician Bill Lockyer was leading Republican state Sen. Mimi Walters in the treasurer's race.

Incumbent John Chiang, a Democrat, had a sizeable lead against Republican Tony Strickland in a rematch from 2006 for controller.

A teacher-turned-lawmaker, state Assemblyman Tom Torlakson, and retired school district superintendent Larry Aceves also were in a close race to replace Jack O'Connell as the state superintendent of public instruction. The position is nonpartisan.

Story posted 2010.11.02 at 11:27 PM PDT

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Víctor Lei

GOP move within reach of House majority

GOP move within reach of House majority

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Story posted 2010.11.02 at 10:09 PM PDT

Republicans marched toward House control Tuesday night in midterm elections shadowed by recession, locking up enough Democratic seats to install a conservative majority certain to challenge President Barack Obama at virtually every turn. Speaker-in-waiting John Boehner, his voice breaking with emotion, called the results "a repudiation of big government and a repudiation of politicians who refuse to listen to the people."

Despite gains, Republicans fell short in their effort to gain control of the Senate and take full command of Congress. They also wrested at least eight governorships from Democrats.

Boehner and his Republicans needed to gain 40 seats for a majority, and had exactly that number in hand a few minutes before midnight in the East. They led for another 24.

The victories came in bunches -- five Democratic-held seats each in Pennsylvania and Ohio and three in Florida and Virginia.

Among the House Democrats who tasted defeat was Rep. Tom Perriello, a first-termer for whom Obama campaigned just before the election.

Obama was at the White House as the returns mounted, a news conference on his Wednesday schedule.

In Senate races, tea party favorites Rand Paul in Kentucky and Marco Rubio in Florida coasted to easy Senate victories, overcoming months of withering Democratic attacks on their conservative views. But Christine O'Donnell lost badly in Delaware, for a seat that Republican strategists once calculated would be theirs with ease.

Democrats conceded nothing while they still had a chance. "Let's go out there and continue to fight," Speaker Nancy Pelosi exhorted supporters in remarks before television cameras while the polls were still open in much of the country.

But not long after she spoke, Democratic incumbents in both houses began falling, and her own four-year tenure as the first female speaker in history seemed near an end.

With unemployment at 9.6 percent nationally, interviews with voters revealed an extraordinarily sour electorate, stressed financially and poorly disposed toward the president, the political parties and the federal government.

Sen.-elect Paul, appearing Tuesday night before supporters in Bowling Green, Ky., declared, "We've come to take our government back."

About four in 10 voters said they were worse off financially than two years ago, according to preliminary exit poll results and pre-election surveys. More than one in three said their votes were an expression of opposition to Obama. More than half expressed negative views about both political parties. Roughly 40 percent of voters considered themselves supporters of the conservative tea party movement. Less than half said they wanted the government to do more to solve problems.

The preliminary findings were based on Election Day and pre-election interviews with more than 9,000 voters.

All 435 seats in the House were on the ballot, plus 37 in the Senate. An additional 37 governors' races gave Republicans ample opportunity for further gains halfway through Obama's term, although Andrew Cuomo was elected in New York for the office his father once held.

Republicans were certain of at least six Senate pickups, including the seat in Illinois that Obama resigned to become president. Rep. Mark Kirk won there, defeating Alexi Giannoulias.

Democratic Sens. Russell Feingold in Wisconsin and Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas were turned out of office. In addition, Republicans scored big in races for Democratic seats without incumbents on the ballot. Former Rep. Pat Toomey won a close race in Pennsylvania, North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven won easily there, and former Sen. Dan Coats breezed in a comeback attempt for the Indiana seat he voluntarily gave up a dozen years ago.

"Republicans will continue to stand up for the American people and for the priorities they voted for today, and we are hopeful that the administration and Democrat leaders will change course," Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell said in a written statement.

Democrats averted deeper losses when Gov. Joe Manchin won in West Virginia -- after pointedly distancing himself from Obama -- for the unexpired portion of the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd's term, and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal was victorious in Connecticut, dispatching Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment. Sen. Barbara Boxer was elected to a fourth term in California, overcoming a challenge from Carly Fiorina.

The GOP gubernatorial gains came after a campaign in which their party organization spent more than $100 million, nearly double what Democrats had.

Among the incumbents who fell were Ted Strickland in Ohio, defeated by former Rep. John Kasich, and Chet Culver in Iowa, loser to former Gov. Terry Branstad.

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Víctor Lei

Democrats keep Senate majority

Democrats keep Senate majority

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Story posted 2010.11.02 at 09:58 PM PDT

Democrats retained their Senate majority Tuesday, losing five seats but winning key races in West Virginia and California..

Republicans scored big gains, taking Senate seats from Democrats in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arkansas, North Dakota and Indiana. The net gain of 10 they needed for control of the chamber, however, eluded them.

With Republicans taking over the House, President Barack Obama will need a Democratic-run Senate to champion his legislative agenda.

Veteran Democratic Sens. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas lost their re-election bids.

But West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin held off millionaire Republican John Raese to keep a Democrat in the seat held for half a century by the late Robert C. Byrd. And Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., won a fourth term despite a spirited challenge from Republican Carly Fiorina.

Those victories left Republicans no way to take the majority. They possibly could achieve a 50-50 split. But Vice President Joe Biden, the Senate's official president, would break ties in the Democrats' favor.

Tea party champions won high-profile races in Florida and Kentucky, spearheading a likely cadre of libertarian-leaning Republicans who will press party leaders to be more adamant about lower taxes, less spending and smaller government.

Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida rocked the GOP establishment last spring by routing leadership favorites in party primaries. Then they beat back Democrats' efforts to paint them as too extreme, winning comfortably on Tuesday.

In Utah, tea party-backed Mike Lee also won easily after snatching the Republican nomination from Sen. Bob Bennett in March.

"Tonight there's a tea party tidal wave," said an exultant Paul.

Feingold, a three-term Democrat, lost to GOP newcomer Ron Johnson in Wisconsin. Best known for efforts to tighten campaign finance laws, Feingold was the only senator to vote against the so-called Patriot Act passed after the 2001 terrorist attacks, calling it a dangerous infringement on civil liberties.

Johnson, 55, made a fortune in manufacturing plastics. He wants to repeal the nation's new health care law, which he calls the greatest single assault on freedom in his lifetime.

Lincoln fell to GOP Rep. John Boozman in Arkansas, where Obama lost by 20 percentage points two years ago.

Conservatives said Lincoln, who won her first two Senate elections comfortably, was too close to Obama, while liberals said she wasn't loyal enough.

Republican Pat Toomey won a hard-fought race in Pennsylvania, beating Democrat Joe Sestak. The seat was held by Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter, whom Sestak beat in the primary.

Indiana voters sent Republican Dan Coats back to the chamber after a 12-year absence. Coats, who spent a decade in the Senate before stepping down in 1998, defeated Democratic Rep. Brad Ellsworth. The seat is being vacated by Democrat Evan Bayh.

In North Dakota, Republican Gov. John Hoeven handily won the Senate seat that retiring Democrat Byron Dorgan held for 18 years.

But Connecticut's attorney general, Richard Blumenthal, kept his state's open Senate seat in Democratic hands, fending off pro wrestling entrepreneur Linda McMahon.

Paul, who beat Democratic Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway, is an ophthalmologist who had not sought office before. His father is Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, a hero to many libertarians. GOP Sen. Jim Bunning is retiring from the seat.

Rubio, a former Florida House speaker, is not a political newcomer. But he defied his party's establishment nonetheless, refusing to stand aside for Gov. Charlie Crist in the Senate race. Crist ran an independent effort, but Rubio comfortably defeated him and Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek. The Florida seat's previous two occupants were Republicans who stepped down.

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Víctor Lei

World Series Celebrations Turn Ugly In SF

Sincere Decor

World Series Celebrations Turn Ugly In SF

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RAW VIDEO: Helicopter Footage Of Shocking Mob Attack On Car
Updated on: 2010-11-02 05:06:07

Story posted 2010.11.02 at 02:18 AM PDT

The celebrations of the Giants' World Series in San Francisco turned from elated to violent Monday night as crowds took to the streets, started fires and attacked each other with little provocation.

Crowds appeared all over San Francisco after the Giants beat the Texas Rangers in Game 5 of the World Series, and the gatherings in areas such as the Civic Center and near the Marina, the crowds were mostly peaceful, though boisterous.

Around 10 p.m., a crowd that had taken over the intersection of 3rd and King streets had started multiple fires, but those were extinguished soon afterward.

An hour later, at the intersection of Mission and 22nd streets that had been taken over by dozens of fans, a large fire had been started. Later, a car attempted to drive through the crowd was stopped, and the vehicle and its passengers were attacked.

Near 11:30 p.m., thieves attempted to rob the Dugout, a sports merchandiser and broke its windows.

Story posted 2010.11.02 at 02:18 AM PDT

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Víctor Lei

(BN) Dollar Weakens, Stocks Advance Before Fed Stimulus Decision; Aussie Gains

Bloomberg News, sent from my iPod touch.

Dollar Falls, Stocks, Futures Rise Before Fed; Aussie Rallies

Nov. 2 (Bloomberg) -- The dollar weakened while stocks and U.S. index futures rose as the Federal Reserve prepared to inject funds in the American economy. Australia's dollar climbed to the highest level since it was floated in 1983 after an unexpected interest-rate increase. Commodities advanced.

The dollar depreciated versus 12 of its 16 most-traded peers at 9 a.m. in New York, while the Aussie climbed above parity with the U.S. currency. Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures rose 0.6 percent, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 0.3 percent. Cotton jumped 3.9 percent, sugar advanced 3.1 percent and crude oil increased 1.3 percent. Irish 10-year government bonds tumbled for a sixth consecutive day, driving the yield difference over benchmark German bunds to a record.

The Fed will probably start a fresh round of stimulus tomorrow, announcing a plan to purchase at least $500 billion of long-term securities, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. As U.S. policy makers consider measures to boost the economy against the backdrop of mid-term congressional elections, other central banks are seeking to curb inflation. Australia raised its overnight cash rate target to 4.75 percent, while India increased the repurchase rate to 6.25 percent.

"The dollar is likely to remain under pressure while the market is waiting for more clarity from the Federal Reserve and the election result," said Henrik Gullberg, a currency strategist at Deutsche Bank AG in London. "Concern that there will be a political gridlock that would prevent the U.S. government from pursuing efficient policy is weighing on the currency."

Dollar, Aussie

The U.S. currency depreciated 1 percent to $1.4029 per euro, while the Dollar Index, which tracks its performance against those of six of the nation's trading partners, declined 0.7 percent. The Aussie advanced 1.8 percent to 80.86 yen, appreciating against all 16 of its major counterparts.

The gain in U.S. futures indicated the S&P 500 may advance for a second day. The index surged 13 percent in September and October, the best performance in those months since 1998.

Pfizer Inc. reported third-quarter adjusted profit of 54 cents a share, compared with a 51-cent average estimate of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Newmont Mining Corp., the largest U.S. gold producer, said profit excluding gains on asset sales was $1.08 a share, topping the 95-cent average estimate in a Bloomberg survey. About 80 percent of the companies in the benchmark gauge that reported results since Oct. 7 have surpassed estimates for per-share profit, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

BBVA, Garanti

Oil and gas shares led the gains in Europe, as BP Plc climbed 1.2 percent and BG Group Plc rose 2.4 percent after earnings at both companies beat analysts' estimates. Danske Bank A/S, Denmark's largest lender, rallied 3.6 percent as profit rose. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, Spain's second-biggest bank, fell 1.2 percent after agreeing to buy a $5.8 billion stake in Turkiye Garanti Bankasi AS. Garanti slipped 1.1 percent and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index rose 0.3 percent.

The S&P GSCI index of 24 commodities climbed 1.2 percent as cotton advanced to a record and raw sugar jumped to the highest level since Feb. 1. Gold rose 0.4 percent to $1,359.43 an ounce and crude oil increased to $84 a barrel.

The Irish 10-year yield spread over bunds widened to 474 basis points, the second consecutive all-time high. The Greek- German gap increased 19 basis points to 841 basis points, the most since Sept. 28. The Portuguese yield premium rose seven basis points to 369 basis points. The Spanish and Italian 10- year spreads over bunds also widened.

The cost of insuring against a default by Europe's most indebted nations rose. Credit-default swaps tied to Ireland climbed 9 basis points to 507, a record based on closing prices, while swaps on Greece added 7 basis points to a five-week high of 839, according to data provider CMA. Spain climbed 2.5 basis points to 226.5, Italy increased 1.5 basis points to 176.5 and Portugal increased 1.5 basis points to 395.

To contact the reporter on this story: Stephen Kirkland in London at skirkland@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Paul Sillitoe in London at psillitoe@bloomberg.net

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Víctor Lei

(BN) Most Asian Stocks Fall After Australia Raises Interest Rates; Yen Weakens

Bloomberg News, sent from my iPod touch.

Most Asian Stocks Dip as Australia Raises Rate; Yen Retreats

Nov. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Most Asian stocks fell after Australia unexpectedly raised its interest rate before central bank meetings in the U.S., Japan and India. The yen declined from a 15-year high.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed 0.2 percent to 130.60 as of 1:21 p.m. in Tokyo, with five stocks down for every four that rose. Futures on the Standard & Poor's 500 index were little changed while the yen weakened versus 15 of its 16 major counterparts. Cotton climbed to a record.

The Reserve Bank of Australia increased its benchmark rate today on concern stronger economic growth will fuel inflation. The Bank of Japan meets Nov. 5, the U.S. Federal Reserve's rate decision is expected tomorrow while India sets its rate later today. The Fed will probably begin a new round of unconventional monetary easing this week by announcing a plan to buy at least $500 billion of long-term securities, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.

"The wait-and-see mood is evident ahead of the major events," said Park Young Yeol, a fund manager at ING Investment Management Korea Ltd., which manages $16 billion in assets. "Investors are reluctant to make decisive directions in their bets before they get the sense of the magnitude of the Fed's measures."

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average dropped 0.2 percent while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Index lost 0.1 percent. A total of 520 stocks dropped on the MSCI Asia Pacific index, while 382 gained.

Japanese Exporters Fall

Elpida Memory Inc. and Honda Motor Co. slid at least 2.4 percent, leading Japanese exporters lower on concern a stronger yen will hurt the value of overseas sales. Newcrest Mining Ltd., Australia's biggest gold producer, retreated 1.5 percent as the metal's price fell.

The yen fell to 112.10 yen per euro in Tokyo from 111.85 in New York yesterday. It was at 80.52 yen per dollar from 80.51 yesterday, when it reached 80.22, the highest since April 1995.

"Domestic demand growth in Asia is helping the global economy chug along," said Greg Gibbs, a currency strategist at Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc in Sydney. "Most are bullish on a rise in non-Japan Asian currencies."

Australia's dollar climbed 1.1 percent to 80.37 yen and advanced 1.1 percent to 99.83 U.S. cents. Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens and his board raised the overnight cash rate target by a quarter percentage point to 4.75 percent in Sydney today, the first move in six months.

Cotton on ICE Futures U.S. climbed 1 percent to a record on concern that global demand will outstrip supply after colder temperatures and rains hurt crops in China, the biggest consumer and importer. Futures for December delivery advanced to $1.306 a pound, before trading at $1.2993.

Japan's Policy Meeting

The Bank of Japan said last week that policy makers advanced their next session to Nov. 4-5, following a meeting by the Fed on Nov. 2-3. Japanese markets are closed tomorrow for a public holiday.

U.S. policy makers will restart a program of securities purchases to spur growth, reduce unemployment and increase inflation, said 53 of 56 economists surveyed last week. Twenty-nine estimated the Fed will pledge to buy $500 billion or more, while another seven predicted $50 billion to $100 billion in monthly purchases without a specified total.

Bank of Japan board members also said purchases of exchange-traded funds and real-estate investment trusts could increase transactions by supporting investor sentiment, minutes of the bank's Oct. 4-5 board meeting show.

India's inflation rate remains above "comfort level" even after five interest-rate increases this year, the central bank said, signaling the need for higher borrowing costs before its monetary policy decision at 11:30 a.m. in Mumbai.

To contact the reporters on this story: Linus Chua in at lchua@bloomberg.net Saeromi Shin in Seoul at sshin15@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Patrick Chu in Tokyo at pachu@bloomberg.net

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(BN) Australia Unexpectedly Raises Key Rate; Currency Approaches Dollar Parity

Bloomberg News, sent from my iPod touch.

Australia Raises Interest Rate to 4.75%, Ending Pause

Nov. 2 (Bloomberg) -- The Reserve Bank of Australia unexpectedly increased its benchmark interest rate on concern stronger growth will cause inflation to accelerate, driving the nation's currency toward parity with the U.S. dollar.

Governor Glenn Stevens raised the overnight cash rate target a quarter point to 4.75 percent in Sydney, saying the economy has "relatively modest amounts of spare capacity" and citing risk of "inflation rising again over the medium term." It was the RBA's first move in six months.

The move signals Stevens wants to avoid a repeat of 2007, when he held off raising rates for months as slowing inflation masked a buildup in price pressures. Growth in Australia, which skirted a recession during the crisis, may strengthen as energy companies such as BG Group Plc add construction jobs.

"They're trying to nip inflation in the bud," Matthew Circosta, an economist at Moody's Analytics in Sydney, said on Bloomberg Television. "Back in 2007 they were behind the curve" in raising rates and "I don't think they want to make the same mistake this time around."

The Australian dollar climbed to 99.79 U.S. cents as of 4:39 p.m. in Sydney from 98.82 cents before the announcement. The S&P/ASX 200 Index of stocks was little changed at 4,701.40.

Economists' Forecasts

The decision, predicted by seven of 24 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News, was the second straight in which Stevens defied the majority of economists' forecasts.

Stevens's move comes a day before the U.S. Federal Reserve meets to consider pumping additional stimulus into the world's largest economy. The divergence in monetary policies has stoked the Australian dollar, which has gained about 11 percent this year against the U.S. currency.

Australia's jobless rate, at 5.1 percent in September, is about half the level of unemployment in the U.S. and euro zone. The International Monetary Fund predicts Australia's growth will advance to 3.5 percent next year from 3 percent this year as resources investment intensifies.

"While the labor market is not as tight as in 2007 and 2008, some further strengthening would appear to be in prospect, judging by the trends in job vacancies," the central bank said in today's statement. "After the significant decline last year, growth in wages has picked up somewhat, as had been expected. Some further increase is likely over the coming year."

End of 'Moderation'

A "moderation" of inflation for the past two years "is probably now close to ending," the RBA said.

Two days ago, BG Group said it will begin building a $15 billion liquefied natural gas venture in Queensland state, generating 5,000 construction jobs. Investment there and in Western Australia, including Chevron Corp.'s A$43 billion ($42.5 billion) Gorgon liquefied natural gas project, is growing because of stronger Chinese demand for raw materials.

"The bank still sees Australian interest rates as likely to continue to rise as the mining boom progresses," said Ivan Colhoun, head of Australian economics at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. "This likely reflects the need to move nominal rates higher to match any rise in inflation and, at some stage, to also raise real interest rates too."

Today's increase was announced half an hour before the running of the Melbourne Cup, dubbed "the race that stops the nation," and means the central bank has moved borrowing costs in the past five meetings on the day of Australia's richest horse race.

Banks' Response

Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the nation's biggest home lender, will raise its standard mortgage interest rate by almost double the central bank's increase. CBA's standard variable home loan interest rate will be increased by 45 basis points, or 0.45 percentage point, to 7.81 percent on Nov. 5, the Sydney-based bank said today.

Borrowing costs at ANZ and Westpac Banking Corp. are under review, according to spokesmen at the lenders. National Australia Bank Ltd. spokesman George Wright said no decision has been made "at this stage."

Treasurer Wayne Swan has urged banks not to boost borrowing costs by more than central bank increases, calling CBA's move a "cynical cash grab." Australian politicians are sensitive about rate increases as more than two-thirds of the population own homes, compared with less than 50 percent in some European nations.

Australia's central bank signaled after its Oct. 5 meeting that the decision to leave borrowing costs unchanged was "finely balanced" with the case for an increase, as a rising currency helped ease inflation concerns. Most economists had forecast a quarter percentage-point increase at that meeting.

Price Measures

While the government's consumer price index rose 0.7 percent from the second quarter, less than the 0.8 percent median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey, that may be shrouding intensifying price pressures. An Oct. 7 report showed the biggest back-to-back monthly job increases since 1988.

The central bank's measures of core inflation showed annual price increases also slowed last quarter. The bank aims to keep inflation in a range of 2 percent to 3 percent on average.

Stevens had paused after boosting borrowing costs in six quarter-point steps from October 2009 to May this year, the most aggressive round of rate increases among Group of 20 members.

Companies such as BHP Billiton Ltd., Rio Tinto Group and BG, the U.K.'s third-largest oil and gas producer, have helped spur a hiring surge as they increase shipments of iron ore, coal and energy to China.

The growth in mining investment was a reason IMF staff last week said Australia is starting to exhibit "early signs" of inflation pressures.

"With inflation projected to remain close to the top of the 2-3 percent target band, the RBA needs to guard against inflation expectations becoming anchored at too high a level," the IMF staff said in an Oct. 29 report.

Among 33 members of the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Australia last year was the only advanced economy to avoid two consecutive quarters of contraction -- a standard definition of a recession -- along with developing economies Slovakia and Poland.

To contact the reporter for this story: Michael Heath in Sydney at mheath1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Chris Anstey in Tokyo at canstey@bloomberg.net

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Giants win the World Series!!!

Hawaii Visiors & Conention Bureau

Giants win the World Series!!!

Page 1 of 2

- view video -
Civic Center Giants fans react to win
Updated on: 2010-11-02 00:06:47

- view video -
Giants fans get rowdy in the Mission
Updated on: 2010-11-02 00:36:28

- view video -
Fans welcome Giants win at Public House
Updated on: 2010-11-02 00:57:15

Story posted 2010.11.01 at 09:58 PM PDT

Tim Lincecum, Edgar Renteria and the San Francisco Giants won the World Series on Monday night, beating the Texas Rangers 3-1 in a tense Game 5 and taking the trophy home to the city by the Bay for the first time.

The Giants are World Series champions for the first time since 1954 when the franchise was known as the New York Giants.

Edgar Renteria's three-run home run and Tim Lincecum's stellar pitching gave the Giants the title after San Francisco closed out Texas 3-1 to win the series in five games. Lincecum shut down the Rangers on three hits, striking out 10 in his eight innings. The only Texas run came on a home run by Nelson Cruz in the seventh.

Lincecum outdueled Texas ace Cliff Lee for the second time in the series. It was a scoreless pitcher's duel for six innings before Renteria connected in the top of the seventh. Lincecum and closer Brian Wilson made it hold up to give San Francisco its first World Series crown since the Giants moved there in 1958.

Pitching is the reason San Francisco won. The Rangers, one of baseball's highest-scoring teams in the regular season, managed just five runs over the final four games.

MVP Renteria saves biggest moments for Series

Edgar Renteria saves his most memorable moments for the World Series.

After getting the hit that won the 1997 title for Florida and making the final out for St. Louis in Boston's 2004 win, he pushed the Giants to their first championship in 56 years.

Renteria's three-run homer off Cliff Lee in the seventh inning stunned the Texas Rangers and their fans, sending San Francisco to a 3-1 victory Monday night in Game 5. His unexpected offense from the No. 8 spot in the batting order earned him World Series MVP honors.

Not bad for a guy who began the postseason on the bench.

"It was a tough year for me," Renteria said. "I told myself to keep working hard and keep in shape because something is going to be good this year."

A five-time All-Star who has declined dramatically the past three seasons, Renteria hit .412 (7 for 17) with six RBIs in the Series. He had all of three homers and 22 RBIs during an injury-filled regular season that landed the shortstop on the disabled list three times and prompted him to openly ponder retirement.

"I don't know. I'm going to think about it and see what happens," he said Monday night.

But he's used to the big stage -- Renteria is one of only two players to get a World Series-ending hit and hit into a World Series-ending out, according to STATS LLC. The other was Goose Goslin, who struck out for Washington against Pittsburgh in 1925, then singled for Detroit against the Chicago Cubs in 1935.

In 1997, Renteria's 11th-inning single up the middle off Cleveland's Charles Nagy won the title for the Florida Marlins, only the fourth Game 7 in World Series history to stretch into extra innings.

Seven years later, his comebacker to Keith Foulke finished Boston's four-game sweep of St. Louis and gave the Red Sox their first title since 1918. He was the one who hit the ball that Doug Mientkiewicz made famous.

The two-time Gold Glove winner returned to the World Series with his sixth major league team in 15 seasons.

Contemplating retirement at age 34, Renteria made three trips to the disabled list this year because of a strained right groin (May 6-22 and May 25-June 16) and a strained left biceps (Aug. 11-Sept. 1). His 72 games were the fewest of his big league career.

He didn't start in the division series against Atlanta but was inserted into the lineup in Game 2 of the NL championship series at Philadelphia. Renteria started 10 of the Giants' final 11 games, with Juan Uribe shifting from shortstop to third.

Renteria responded by turning into a surprising slugger.
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Víctor Lei

San Francisco To Host Ticker-Tape Parade For Giants

Xfinity

San Francisco To Host Ticker-Tape Parade For Giants

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Story posted 2010.11.01 at 09:41 PM PDT

In celebration of the San Francisco Giants' win in game 5 of the World Series, the city will host a ticker-tape parade from its Financial District to Civic Center Plaza on Wednesday, Nov. 3.

The parade will start at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Montgomery and Washington streets and will continue onto Market St. for six blocks.

The parade will end with a celebration on the steps of San Francisco City Hall, where Mayor Gavin Newsom will present the team with a key to the city.

The parade route is the same that the team took in 1958, after the team had been relocated from New York City.

The team is scheduled to return to San Francisco International Airport at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, although no public or media events were scheduled with the arrival of the team's charter.

"San Francisco eagerly awaits your return," Newsom said to the Giants organization. "We cannot wait to celebrate your triumph in Texas."

Below is a map of the route; click on the symbols to learn more information.

Story posted 2010.11.01 at 09:41 PM PDT

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Víctor Lei

Giants win the World Series!!!

Man! I'm fucking excited right now, besides that, I don't know how to describe my excitement!!!!!

Hawaii Visiors & Conention Bureau

Giants win the World Series!!!

Story posted 2010.11.01 at 07:44 PM PDT

Tim Lincecum, Edgar Renteria and the San Francisco Giants won the World Series on Monday night, beating the Texas Rangers 3-1 in a tense Game 5 and taking the trophy home to the city by the Bay for the first time.

Renteria hit a tiebreaking home run off Cliff Lee in the seventh, and Lincecum pitched three-hit ball over eight innings, allowing Nelson Cruz's solo homer in the bottom half. Brian Wilson finished for his first Series save.

It was an overdue victory -- the Giants last wore the crown in 1954, four years before they moved west. So much for a franchise that never quite got it done in October despite the likes of baseball giants Willie Mays, Barry Bonds and Juan Marichal. It's November, and now new names stand tall in San Francisco.

Lincecum gave up two hits, struck out six and walked one in a matchup of Cy Young Award winners, and he threw 49 of 68 pitches for strikes. Lee allowed three hits, struck out five and walked none, throwing 55 of 75 pitches for strikes.

Lincecum beat Lee in Game 1, with the Giants winning an 11-7 slugfest. This time, they both pitched like aces.

Lincecum retired his first eight batters before walking Mitch Moreland on a 3-1 pitch. Lincecum then struck out leadoff man Elvis Andrus.

The right-hander allowed two balls out of the infield, opposite-field flies to right by Michael Young and Vladimir Guerrero, before Young singled up the middle leading off the fourth. Lincecum retired his next three batters.

Moreland, the No. 9 hitter, singled leading off the sixth but Andrus and Young flied out -- both hitting the first pitch -- and Josh Hamilton grounded out.

San Francisco's hits off the left-hander were by Buster Posey in the first, Andres Torres in the third and Freddy Sanchez in the sixth, the latter a sinking liner that glanced off the glove of a diving Nelson Cruz in right and hit his throwing arm.

On the next pitch, Posey hit a drive to deep right-center and Cruz made a jumping grab one step in front of the wall. Posey slapped both hands against his helmet in frustration.

Only five teams have overcome 3-1 deficits in best-of-seven World Series, none since the 1985 Kansas City Royals against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Giants have not won the World Series since 1954, when they still played at New York's Polo Grounds. They moved to the West Coast after the 1957 season.

If Texas wins to force a Game 6, the Series would resume Wednesday night in San Francisco with Matt Cain pitching for the Giants against C.J. Wilson. Cain has allowed only a single unearned run in 21 1-3 innings over three postseason starts.

The Series extended into November for only the third time, following 2001 and 2009. Former President George W. Bush, a former Texas Rangers owner, watched his third straight game from a front-row seat to the plate side of the first-base dugout.

Lee had been 7-0 in eight postseason starts before losing to Lincecum in the opener, but the left-hander was far sharper this time with his curveball and changeup.

Benched in Game 4, Pat Burrell returned at designated hitter for the Giants rather than left field. Burrell entered 0 for 9 in the Series with eight strikeouts, and 19 strikeouts in 38 at-bats this postseason. Given a green light with a 3-0 count in the second, he fouled off a pitch before flying out to left.

Aaron Rowand got his first start of the Series in center, with Torres moving from center to right. Ross was in left for the second straight day, and Aubrey Huff was back at first base following a one-day stint as DH. Huff hit a go-ahead homer -- his first in postseason play -- in the third inning of Game 4.

Texas added right-hander Dustin Nippert to its active roster in place of Alexi Ogando, who strained a muscle on his left side during Sunday night's game.

Story posted 2010.11.01 at 07:44 PM PDT

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Bumgarner pitches Giants to brink of Series crown

Hawaii Visiors & Conention Bureau

Bumgarner pitches Giants to brink of Series crown

Page 1 of 2

Story posted 2010.10.31 at 09:06 PM PDT

The rookie pitched way beyond his years, sending a shudder through Rangers Ballpark.

Madison Bumgarner dominated for eight innings, Aubrey Huff and Buster Posey homered and the San Francisco Giants put on a fielding clinic in Game 4, beating Texas 4-0 on Sunday night to move within one win of that elusive World Series title.

Dressed in black-and-orange, the Giants were spooky good in taking a 3-1 edge. Bumgarner allowed only three hits and took all the fun out of a festive, Halloween crowd.

"I can't say enough about what he did," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.

Ace Tim Lincecum will try Monday night to deliver the Giants' first championship since they moved to San Francisco in 1958. Now it's up to Cliff Lee to save the Rangers' season in Game 5.

The 21-year-old Bumgarner and closer Brian Wilson helped the Giants become the first team to post two shutouts in a World Series since Baltimore threw three straight to close out the Dodgers in 1966.

"I thought the pitching was the thing tonight," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "And their defense."

Huff's two-run homer in the third gave Bumgarner all the support he needed. Posey added a solo shot in the eighth -- Bumgarner and Posey became the first rookie battery to start in the Series since Spec Shea and Yogi Berra for the Yankees in 1947.

Even though Bumgarner got relief help, it was a complete game for the Giants. Andres Torres and Edgar Renteria each got three hits and their teammates made almost every play in the field.

Make it great D in Big D.

Left fielder Cody Ross came up with a shoestring catch, second baseman Freddy Sanchez made a leaping grab and Posey threw out Josh Hamilton trying to steal. Bumgarner helped himself, too, knocking down Hamilton's scorcher up the middle.

Coming off a 4-2 win Saturday night, the Rangers and their fans were ready to even this Series. Earlier in the day, about a quarter-mile away at Cowboys Stadium, Dallas dropped to 1-6 with a 35-17 loss to Jacksonsville. Two little boys held up signs inside that read: "Hurry Up Cowboys ... I Have a Rangers Game to go to."

The father-and-son team of George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first ball in what Major League Baseball said was the first time two former presidents attended a World Series game.

The elder Bush's wife, Barbara, even kept score from her front-row seat next to the Texas dugout. There wasn't much to write down -- not on the Texas side, anyway.

Bumgarner didn't permit a runner past first base until the seventh. Facing his only jam, he retired Ian Kinsler on a fly ball to strand two runners and preserve a 3-0 lead.

Bumgarner struck out Vladimir Guerrero three times, the first time the star Texas designated hitter had done that this season.

Wilson closed with a hitless ninth.

The Giants tweaked their lineup, benching strikeout machine Pat Burrell and making Huff the DH for the first time this season. Bochy put Nate Schierholtz in right field and Travis Ishikawa at first base -- fine fielders, not great hitters. That's more the NL way, where spare bats rarely grow on the bench.

Washington came off his bench twice to discuss calls with first base umpire Jeff Kellogg. Both plays were bang-bang, and replays seemed to show both were misses that went against the Rangers.

Thwarted early, the Giants took a 2-0 lead in the third on Huff's homer. Torres led off with a grounder that hit the first-base bag, kicked up and rolled into the corner for a double. Sanchez failed to advance him and was still shouting at himself down in the dugout tunnel when Huff hit a long drive to right.
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Víctor Lei

Authorities eye sex offenders during Halloween

Hawaii Visiors & Conention Bureau

Authorities eye sex offenders during Halloween

- view video -
Authorities eye sex offenders during Halloween
Updated on: 2010-10-31 22:51:37

Story posted 2010.10.31 at 07:48 PM PDT

Halloween night is a night for families, but for some, it is an opportunity to commit crimes.

State parole officers were out Sunday night enforcing "Operation Boo" to make sure sex offenders were not taking advantage of young trick-or-treaters.

About two dozen agents gathered in a conference room at the parole office in Oakland late Sunday afternoon and received their instructions for what would be a busy night. They planned to go to the homes of convicted child molesters throughout Alameda County.

They wanted to make sure sex offenders were in compliance with the conditions of their parole which for Halloween night specifically, means convicted child molesters cannot leave their homes, their exterior lights must be turned off, there must no Halloween decorations out front, and they cannot answer the door to give out candy.

Convicted child molesters who do not have a home were required to check in at the parole office earlier in the day. They were required to sit in on a treatment and life skills class, and were not allowed to leave until 11 p.m.

"I think we'd be doing an injustice if we didn't do something tonight, as the parole division, because we're charged with supervising the sex offenders" said parole agent John Bent. "They're all in ankle bracelets. We're going to be able to track them all night. But, I think we'd be doing a great disservice to the community if we didn't do this on Halloween."

About 40 sex offenders labeled "transients" showed up at the parole office Sunday. There are about 30 sex offenders in Alameda County that do have homes. Many of them, if not all, were slated to be monitored on Halloween Night.
Story posted 2010.10.31 at 07:48 PM PDT

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Víctor Lei

Halloween safety emphasized in Castro District

Hawaii Visiors & Conention Bureau

Halloween safety emphasized in Castro District

- view video -
Halloween safety emphasized in Castro District
Updated on: 2010-10-31 15:36:38

Story posted 2010.10.31 at 01:22 PM PDT

The city of San Francisco is asking people not to celebrate Halloween in the Castro. They issued the same request last year but tens of thousands of people showed up anyway.

Several Castro District community groups are demonstrating how to call for help in the event of violence on Halloween. The night can be scary enough, but no one wants it to be terrifying.

"Safety is always relative. The incidents that have happened here have been isolated, but they have affected people. But, once the crowd gets to the point where it's hard to control, it makes the situation more dangerous," Greg Carey says.

The 2006 street party did get dangerous. Nine people were shot. Most were grazed by bullets. One woman was trampled. This year, as in other years, local safety groups handed out whistles in case someone is attacked or witnesses any type of trouble or violence.

Sister Vicious of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence says the whistle saved a fellow nun weeks ago.

"If you hear a whistle blowing like crazy please call 9-1-1," she told a crowd Saturday.

Police have a stepped up patrols in the area. So has the Castro Community On Patrol and the Triangle Marshall Arts Association, but officers say people have to celebrate responsibly.

"Don't be a victim. We have to be responsible for our actions as a community. Don't allow yourselves to be a victim by, perhaps, overindulging at times at night," Sgt. Chuck Limbert says.

The safety whistles were welcomed by those who worry about the celebration turning ugly every year.

"It's very scary sometimes walking around and it's nice to know that if you do blow the whistle, someone will hear you," Claudia Gardner says.

Some local residents do not care about the whistle or celebrating Halloween. They have seen the violence the night can bring and now want no part of it.
Story posted 2010.10.31 at 01:22 PM PDT

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Obama makes last campaign stop in pivotal Ohio

Hawaii Visiors & Conention Bureau

Obama makes last campaign stop in pivotal Ohio

Page 1 of 2

Story posted 2010.10.31 at 02:55 PM PDT

President Barack Obama made Ohio his final campaign stop Sunday in the tumultuous midterm elections, trying to help hard-pressed Democrats in a state that could prove crucial to his fortunes in two years.

Republicans said it was too little and too late, confident their party will pick up more than 40 House seats and regain the majority they lost four years ago. Republican control of the Senate seems less likely, although they expect to gain several seats there, as well as numerous governors' seats.

Obama, bracing for perhaps one of the biggest midterm setbacks in recent times, made a four-state weekend sprint to help embattled Democrats as best he can. He said their chances are good if their supporters turn out heavily on Tuesday.

But Sarah Palin, the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, predicted voters will send a sobering message: "You blew it, President Obama. We gave you the two years to fulfill your promise of making sure that our economy starts roaring back to life again."

As he did in three other states this weekend, the president implored voters in Ohio to recall how poorly the Republicans handled the economy when they were in control, and to give Democrats more time.

"It's up to you to remember that this election is a choice between the policies that got us into this mess and the policies that are leading us out of this mess," he told about 8,000 people at Cleveland State University.

Obama said Republicans would return to policies that cut taxes for billionaires, cut regulations for special interests and "cut loose" middle-class families to fend for themselves.

But Republicans see Tuesday's vote shaping up as a stern public rejection of two more years of Democratic control on Capitol Hill.

"What the American people are looking at and they're saying is, 'The Obama policies aren't working. We need new policies, we need an economic-growth agenda,"' said Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, chairman of the Republican Governors Association. "If Republicans win, that's what it will be, a repudiation of Obama's policies."

Obama carried Ohio easily in 2008, and Democrats once had high hopes of re-electing Gov. Ted Strickland this year and taking the Senate seat being vacated by Republican George Voinovich. But with the recession barely losing its grip in the state, and the president's approval ratings sagging, Democrats have all but given up on the Senate race and are desperate to save Strickland and several imperiled House members.

Obama campaigned Saturday in Philadelphia, Connecticut and Chicago. All are generally friendly locations for Democrats, and the White House strategy is to fire up core voters who may feel despondent in this GOP-trending year.

In Portland, Maine, former President Bill Clinton campaigned again Sunday for Democrat Libby Mitchell as she and four other candidates for governor ramped up their get-out-the-vote efforts. It was Clinton's second stop in Maine in five weeks to help Mitchell, who's sagging in polls to third in the five-way race, behind Republican front-runner Paul LePage and independent Eliot Cutler.

Alaska is perhaps the most unsettled state politically this weekend, and Democrats say it's conceivable they could score an upset Senate win there. With GOP nominee Joe Miller stumbling badly, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski making a rare write-in effort after losing the primary to Miller, little-noticed Democrat Scott McAdams might find a way to sneak through to victory.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has poured more than $160,000 into the once-ignored race.

"We believe that Scott McAdams actually has a real chance of winning this race," committee chairman Robert Menendez, D-N.J., said Sunday.

In Ohio, a Strickland loss to Republican John Kasich would have many ramifications beyond the state. Ohio will lose two House seats because of the 2010 census, and its governor will help oversee a redistricting process that may be fiercely partisan. Governors also can direct substantial political resources to the presidential contender of their choice.

Should Obama lose Ohio in 2012, it would make it all the more important for him to win other highly contested states such as Pennsylvania and Florida.

Strickland underlined the symbolic importance of Ohio, telling the Cleveland audience that the state is "a microcosm of America."

Illinois is the largest recipient of last-minute money for get-out-the-vote efforts from the Democratic National Committee, and Ohio is fourth. Of the nearly $2.7 million being transferred to state parties, $950,000 went to Illinois, $470,000 to Florida, $325,000 to Pennsylvania and $300,000 to Ohio.

The DNC aired a new ad featuring Obama that warns of record cuts in education and rollbacks in financial accountability if Republicans take control of Congress.
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Víctor Lei

(BN) Asian Stocks, Emerging Currencies, Oil Climb on China Manufacturing, Korea

Bloomberg News, sent from my iPod touch.

Asian Stocks, Emerging Currencies Rise on China Manufacturing

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks rose, emerging markets currencies strengthened and oil climbed after China's manufacturing expanded at the quickest pace in six months and South Korean exports grew faster than expected.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index gained 0.8 percent to 130.32 and futures on the Standard & Poor's 500 index climbed 0.8 percent as of 1:52 p.m. in Tokyo. The won approached a six- month high against the dollar and the ringgit jumped the most in eight weeks. Oil rose as much as 53 cents a barrel and the yen weakened against all its major counterparts on speculation the Bank of Japan will expand monetary easing.

"The strong data coming out of China is suggesting the period of economic slowdown is coming to an end," said Stephen Halmarick, head of investment markets research at Colonial First State Global Asset Management in Sydney, which oversees $135 billion. "That's very good for Asia, Australia and other countries that rely on China for export growth."

China's Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 54.7 in October from 53.8 a month earlier, the nation's logistics federation said today, beating the median forecast of 13 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News and adding to signs the economy is withstanding government efforts to curb property speculation and improve energy efficiency. South Korea's exports increased 29.9 percent in October from a year earlier, the government said, as makers of cars and chips benefited from Japan's struggle to restrain the strength of the yen.

Japan Easing

The Bank of Japan has said it plans to discuss purchases of exchange-traded funds and real-estate investment trusts at a Nov. 4-5 meeting as the yen nears a postwar high against the dollar. The central bank left its benchmark interest rate and credit programs unchanged last week.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index jumped 1.9 percent. The Shanghai Composite Index rose 1.9 percent for its first increase in five days. South Korea's Kospi index rose 1.3 percent and Taiwan's Taiex index advanced 1.1 percent while Japan's Topix fell 0.6 percent, on course for its sixth consecutive retreat.

Jiangxi Copper Co. climbed 5.6 percent in Hong Kong, pacing gains by China's commodity producers. Kia Motors Corp. climbed 9.2 percent in Seoul, the most in five months, as Morgan Stanley and Korea Investment & Securities Co. raised their share price estimates after the carmaker posted record quarterly earnings.

Phone Sales

Acer Inc., the world's second-largest computer maker, surged 4.2 percent to a six-month high in Taipei. The company said it expects to ship as much as 5 million phones next year after delivering about 1 million handsets this year.

Nissan Motor Co., the Japanese carmaker that derives 35 percent of its sales from North America, declined 1.3 percent in Tokyo on concern the strengthening yen will hurt the value of export earnings. Nomura Holdings Inc., Japan's biggest brokerage, sank 4.3 percent after profit plunged.

The yen dropped to 80.63 per dollar in Tokyo from 80.40 last week, after earlier touching 80.22, the strongest since April 1995 and near its postwar high of that month. It slid to 112.72 yen per euro from 112.12.

South Korea's currency rose the most in a week after inflation accelerated to a 20-month high and exports climbed, boosting expectations the central bank will raise its benchmark interest rate. The won climbed 0.8 percent to 1,116 per dollar in Seoul, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Currency Demand

Malaysia's ringgit gained the most in eight weeks on speculation U.S. easing will weaken the dollar and prompt investors to buy more regional assets. The ringgit appreciated 0.5 percent to 3.0963 in Kuala Lumpur, the biggest advance since Sept. 1, Bloomberg data show.

"Strong data out of China improves the export outlook for many regional economies that rely on external demand," said Hideki Hayashi, a global economist at Mizuho Securities Co. in Tokyo. "Asian currencies will remain under pressure to strengthen on speculation of more fund inflows."

Oil for December delivery rose to as much as $81.96 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange as the dollar weakened.

The Markit iTraxx Asia index of credit-default swaps on 50 investment-grade borrowers outside Japan fell 1 basis point to 107 basis points in Singapore, Barclays Plc prices show. Contracts on BHP Billiton jumped 8 basis points to 93 basis points in Sydney, the biggest increase since Aug. 18, according to Nomura Holdings Inc.

BHP may increase its $39 billion bid for Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. by 10 percent, the Sunday Times reported yesterday, citing people it didn't identify. Canada's government has indicated to BHP that it will approve the acquisition over opposition from provincial authorities, the newspaper said. BHP shares increased 1.2 percent in Sydney.

To contact the reporters on this story: Will McSheehy in Singapore at wmcsheehy@bloomberg.net Shani Raja in Sydney at sraja4@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Patrick Chu in Tokyo at pachu@bloomberg.net

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Víctor Lei