World's #1 Hippie Van

The world's most famous hippie van, named the 'Temple of One Love', is the iconic California vehicle owned by legendary hippie One Feather of Santa Barbara.

The California beach hippie transformed an ordinary van into a unique piece of art, totally covered with thousands of figurines, instruments and new age philosophical hippie statements. 

The bizarre van, which is also One Feather's home, is the #1 Hippie Van on earth.

One Feather, 49, has become a part of California folklore as the "peace and love" hippie preacher and philosopher who has been photographed more than any California hippie in the 21st century.

His 'Temple of One Love' hippie van includes so many thousands of items that there is not enough space to describe them all here.

Guaranteed, you will see nothing else quite like the Hippie Van of all hippie vans.

Watch the video below and see One Feather's famous hippie van for yourself.

One Feather earns his living by entertaining tourists who want their picture taken with his hippie van in exchange for a small donation, which covers the hippie's marijuana and munchies.

"Take a trip! It's all visual.  No drugs are needed.  I've already done them for your viewing pleasure," One Feather exclaims to Santa Barbara beach-goers who flock to his hippie van with looks of shock on their sunburned faces.

One Feather is often told that he resembles Jesus Christ, to which the hippie replies, "The world doesn't need more Christians --- the world needs more Christ."

Labeled a "Jesus Freak" for roaming local streets in robes, One Feather proclaims, "We're all one. We're all one in the spirit of love, bro.  I'm livin' on miracles.  I'm livin' on love."

Right on, dude.  Totally righteous, man!

If you ever run into One Feather in his hippie van on the beach in Santa Barbara, be sure to leave a little "love gift" in the plastic globe with a slit cut into the North Pole.

One Feather's California Hippie Van

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Schwarzenegger Turns 64

Arnold Schwarzenegger has turned 64 years old today, though many might say that the former California governor's 64th birthday today is bittersweet.

In the midst of a divorce, Arnold Schwarzenegger laments the loss of his 25 year marriage to Maria Shriver, but he counts his blessings as a father whose 13-year-old son, Christopher Schwarzenegger, was saved from the jaws of death last week.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was born on July 30, 1947 in Austria, the nation which has now honored him by opening the Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum in time for his 64th birthday.

Many say the same type of museum will eventually open in California, the land that allowed Schwarzenegger to enjoy successful careers as a bodybuilder, entrepreneur, Golden Globe-winning actor and state governor.

Perhaps nobody exemplifies the California Dream as famously as Arnold Schwarzenegger, a man who still enjoys a level of international celebrity unrivaled by most.

It has been one heck of a life so far, and we cannot wait to see what the"next move" is for Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Happy 64th Birthday Arnold Schwarzenegger

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L.A. Helicopter Noise Relief Act

The Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2011 has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by California Congressman Howard Berman.

Rep. Berman introduced the legislation to give L.A. County residents relief from the ear-shattering noise and safety concerns caused by the endless barrage of low-flying helicopters over residential neighborhoods.

The L.A. Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act (H.R. 2677) would force the Federal Aviation Administration to restrict helicopter flight paths and set minimum altitudes within one year.

Before House members, the congressman described the "Heligeddon" that the citizens of America's most populated county are forced to endure on a daily basis:

"Residents deserve relief from the thunderous clacking of helicopter blades hovering directly over their homes and, instead, all they've been getting is the runaround from government agencies. The buck stops here because it is simply unacceptable for residents to be forced to contend with these brazen helicopter operators on their own. This bill requires the regulations that will give residents the relief and increased safety they are so desperately looking for."

The FAA has refused to regulate helicopter flights above the city of Los Angeles, leaving residents with no way to get relief from the problem.

House Resolution 2677 solves the "Heligeddon" situation by requiring the FAA to exercise its legal authority to regulate helicopter operations above Los Angeles within 12 months of being signed into law.

Rep. Berman's bill calls for the FAA administrator to set guidelines on flight paths and minimum altitudes for helicopter pilots above residential areas of L.A. County --- with exemptions for law enforcement, emergency responders and military.

"Here, there are safety issues as well as noise issues," Berman said.  10 million L.A. County residents would agree in a heartbeat, however, not many can even hear a heartbeat above the head-splitting noise over their bedrooms.

We've all tried the earplugs. Forget it. What's next? Lobotomies and Xanax?  No!  We're not gonna take it.

Los Angeles is the Media Capitol, the Celebrity Capitol and the Disaster Capitol, so the number of helicopters overhead is overwhelming and LOUD.

With all the weather reports, the breaking news stories, the freeway chases, the celebrity sightings, the manhunts, the sight-seeing tours, the LAPD, the L.A. County Sheriffs, the corporate commuters, the traffic reporters and the military pilots, the skies over L.A. County are jam-packed with low-flying helicopter traffic.

Just think "Apocalypse Now", but with swimming pools and millions of screaming taxpayers below.

Rep. Berman wants to press the legislation with Rep. John Mica, the influential chairman of the House Transportation Committee.

This L.A.-based California blog is asking 10 million Los Angeles County residents to help Howard Berman in his effort to help us all.

Contact Congressman John Mica by calling his office at 202-225-4035.

Tell him that you support the bill introduced by Congressman Howard Berman --- the Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act --- and that you're sick of "Heligeddon."

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Circumcision Ban Struck Down

A California judge has ordered a proposal to ban circumcisions of boys to be removed from the November San Francisco ballot, declaring that it would infringe on religious freedom.

Superior Court Judge Loretta Giorgi barred the anti-circumcision measure on grounds that California state laws do not allow voter initiatives governing medical practices.

OCTOBER 2011 UPDATE:  Jerry Brown Signs California Male Circumcision Bill into Law.

The measure is prohibited by the California Business and Professions Code.

Judge Giorgi added that such a ballot measure would violate constitutional First Amendment protections for religious expression.

"The evidence presented is overwhelmingly persuasive that circumcision is a widely practiced medical procedure," the judge declared, adding that it "leaves no room for localities to regulate in this area."

Circumcision is a ritual foreskin removal procedure performed on infant male Jews, Christians and Muslims. Critics of circumcision call the practice "genital mutilation."

The measure sought to make it a crime to perform a circumcision on a boy under 18, regardless of the parents' religious beliefs. The maximum penalty would have been a $1,000 fine plus a year of imprisonment.

A similar anti-circumcision effort in Santa Monica has been withdrawn.

The California efforts to outlaw circumcision ignited a religious firestorm and a furious backlash from Jewish groups in California, across the nation, and around the world.

The Jewish Community Relations Council of San Francisco filed the lawsuit to remove the anti-circumcision measure.

The case is Jewish Community Relations Council of San Francisco v. Arntz, CPF-11-511370, California Superior Court, San Francisco.

Matthew Hess, president of MGMbill.org, an organization supporting the measure and a similar federal bill, vows to appeal the judge's ruling and eventually defeat Jewish circumcision.

Judge Loretta Giorgi ordered the San Francisco Department of Elections to remove the anti-circumcision measure from the ballot, and the gavel came down.

The California circumcision war is over, at least for now.

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Denise Richards Vindicated by Eyewitness

Actress Denise Richards, ex-wife of Charlie Sheen, wants to finally set the record straight regarding persistent rumors that she stole Richie Sambora away from his wife, Heather Locklear.

In a recent interview with Us Weekly, Richards desperately tried to clear things up by insisting that Richie Sambora had already filed for divorce from Heather Locklear before she fell in love with the Bon Jovi guitarist.

According to Denise Richards, she fell in love with Sambora after she had already ended her own marriage to Charlie Sheen, so her story is that the two marital splits were not linked.

Is this the truth, or did Denise Richards blatantly lie to Us Weekly, as some have suggested?

The actress is adamant that she was not the one to blame for the breakup of Richie Sambora and Heather Locklear, with whom Richards was close friends for a while.

"If I was still friends with her, that never would have happened with Richie.  There was no friendship anymore prior to Richie and I getting together," said Richards.  "I did not steal someone's husband.  Did I date a former friend's ex-husband?  Yes.  Did I break up a marriage?  No."

Denise Richards made it clear that she wants the five-year-old drama behind her when she said, "I understand why people perceived it that way in the media, but those are the honest facts.  I can't change what people think."

The big question, that many seem to want the answer to, is whether Denise Richards, an actress, was just putting on an act during her interview.

Did she simply lie to Us Weekly in an attempt to 'make nice' and put her past behind her once and for all?

Here is where I, the California Blogger, personally come forward with the truth.

What Really Happened

I used to live near Heather Locklear, Richie Sambora, Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen in the same Thousand Oaks, California community.

Heather had a personal assistant for several years, named Stephanie, who was also Richie's assistant. Stephanie worked at their house and Heather trusted her assistant completely.

Eventually, Stephanie emailed 'adult' photos of herself to Richie, which Heather discovered by chance on Richie's computer.  She was shocked and enraged, understandably.

I saw the explicit photos myself.

While I will not go into detail, I will say that the pictures of Stephanie were adulterous in their intent and definitely not within her job description.

Apparently, Richie had not mentioned the photos to Heather and, when confronted by her, he told his wife that Stephanie had sent the compromising photos to him unsolicited.

He declared that he did not know why their assistant would email photos of a sexual nature to his email address.

An all-out confrontation ensued between Heather and Richie.

Heather fired Stephanie, who had become close to the family after working at the house for six or seven years, as I remember.

On top of the couple's other 'irreconcilable differences', Heather was on her last nerve with the lewd photos.  The two separated, Richie moved out of the house, and Heather filed for divorce.

Richie eventually bought a house in nearby Westlake Village and continued his music career with Bon Jovi.

Heather and her daughter continued living at the Thousand Oaks house and, after the divorce, Heather became a companion of Jack Wagner.

The tabloid stories about an 'on-the-rebound' Heather rushing into the arms of David Spade were humorous.  The two were just friends, but the magazines created some kind of 'romance' story to sell copies.

Charlie Sheen and wife Denise Richards had their own marital issues and decided to separate.  The couple had been close friends and neighbors of Richie and Heather so, of course, Denise had already known Richie for years.

AFTER the two couples split, Richie Sambora and Denise Richards began supporting each other through their respective divorces AS FRIENDS.

Denise Richards DID NOT steal Richie Sambora away from Heather Locklear.  That is an undeniable fact.

There never was a Denise Richards, Richie Sambora, Heather Locklear 'love triangle'.  It never happened.

Richie and Denise later formed a kind of symbiotic emotional bond and eventually took a chance on love, but the outcome of their romance wasn't the happiest of endings.

Why am I stepping up and telling all of this?

While this is not the normal type of subject matter on this blog, I am disheartened to see Denise publicly defend her own honor a half-decade later, while I know the truth.

Richards did not lie to Us Weekly.  Even though she didn't divulge the identity of who really was involved in the old drama, she was truthful in her interview with the magazine.

Denise Richards was never the 'other woman'.

Hopefully, the years of needless speculation, questions and gossip can now be put to rest, allowing everyone to finally move on.

It was a trusted employee who contributed to the marital breakup of Heather Locklear and Richie Sambora --- not Denise Richards.

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Gay History Law Backlash in California

California's Gay History Law has caused a fierce backlash from parents, conservatives, Christians, churches and heterosexuals across the Golden State who are fighting back.

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen has allowed a group to begin collecting signatures for a ballot referendum to overturn the homosexual state law.

Governor Jerry Brown, a liberal Democrat, recently signed the Gay History Law, which forces lessons in California public school textbooks and curriculum about gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders.

A referendum challenging the LGBT state law was quickly drafted by opponents.

The opponents want California schools to focus on improving student performance and lowering the dropout rate.  They say that politicians should not write textbooks but, rather, academic experts and historians should do so.

Referendum proponents must gather 504,760 signatures from registered voters by October 12 to qualify for the next California statewide ballot.

Supporters of the controversial Gay History Law said it will help end bullying of gay students by teaching all kids about "sexual minorities" and gayness.

The gay activist group Equality California vows to destroy the referendum, which may end up on the ballot for California voters to decide.

California conservatives object to the gay law en masse, arguing that it will teach kids to become gay or lesbian through taxpayer-funded propaganda and indoctrination.

The polarizing Gay History Law has ignited a firestorm involving religious believers, churches, synagogues, mosques and conservative groups that say it forces a subject upon minor children that many parents angrily object to.

Reportedly, not all Californians want to be gay.

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Schwarzenegger Son Released from Hospital

The son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver has been released from a Los Angeles hospital after a Malibu surfing accident landed him in intensive care.

Christopher Schwarzenegger, 13, suffered a collapsed lung and broken bones in an emergency that had former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former First Lady Maria Shriver praying for their son's life.

Young Christopher Schwarzenegger was pulled off the beach by paramedics and quickly rushed in an ambulance to the emergency room with his worry-stricken mother at his side.

Mom Maria Shriver refused to leave her son and was living at the hospital around the clock for eight long days and nights.

Dad Arnold Schwarzenegger was in and out of his son's hospital room constantly and was worried sick, though he kept hope alive.

The entire Schwarzenegger family pulled together to support Christopher and each other during their nightmare ordeal.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, in the midst of their divorce, issued separate statements of joy at their son's dramatic improvement and hospital release.

"Blessed to be able to take Christopher out of the hospital last night.  What a feeling of relief to know that he's going to be fine. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. The whole family, especially Christopher, felt your love," said a relieved Maria Shriver.

"Thanks for all your support for Christopher.  It means a lot to me and to him.  He's doing much better and we'll have him back at full speed soon," said former Governor Schwarzenegger.

This California blog had begged for all Californians to join together in prayer for Christopher Schwarzenegger and the entire Schwarzenegger family --- and that's exactly what happened.  It was miraculously effective.

Thank God for helping the Schwarzeneggers, and thank you so much, California.

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CA Law Forces DMV Organ Donor Answer

The California Department of Motor Vehicles now requires all driver's license and California ID card applicants to answer whether they want their organs donated or not.

100,000 people nationwide, who are currently waiting for donated organs, are waiting on the same answer, reportedly.

Previously, DMV applicants could ignore the organ donation question and their paperwork would still be processed.  Not anymore, according to the newest California state law.

In California, 28 percent of drivers donate their vital organs and tissues after death, which is below the national average of 40 percent.

The new law's adjustment to DMV forms is relatively minor, but it now forces drivers to take the question seriously and answer it if they want to legally drive in California.

One of the reasons why organ donation rates are lower in California is the nature of the state itself, where a multiracial, multilingual and multinational population makes residents feel less concerned about other Californians.

States with the highest percentage of organ donors are states where families have been there for generations, and where the population is English-speaking and understands what is being asked of them and why.

Many Californians are so stressed-out by waiting at the DMV to be processed by robotic state workers that they refuse to think about complex afterlife decisions in their exhaustion and frustration.

Demand for donated organs is increasing because many Americans are obese, alcoholic or drug-addicted and so many related illnesses result in complications that require organ transplants.

In many cases, however, innocent kids need an organ transplant to live, which is heartbreaking.

Perhaps the #1 reason why most do not grant permission to the state to harvest their organs is the belief that being a donor results in inferior care following an accident because someone wants to make money off their body parts.

To help Californians 'make up their minds', the State of California is demanding an answer to the uncomfortable organ donation "pink dot" question --- by law.

Unfortunately, upon being told that they will not get their driver's license, unless they make such a sensitive afterlife decision on-the-spot, many Californians might become defensive and angry enough to say no.

People are not going to like their right to drive being "held hostage" in such a manner.  It smacks of Big Brother to most independently-minded California residents.

In any society, it is difficult to legislate morality and altruism --- especially in California.

What will YOUR answer be to the state?

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Crystal Cathedral Gets $50 Million Offers

Catholics have bid $50 million for Southern California's Crystal Cathedral, and My Father's House Church International has also offered $50 million, beating competing bidders.

The Crystal Cathedral, founded by televangelist Rev. Robert H. Schuller, is trying to sell the property and lease back portions of it to help erase a $36 million mortgage and $10 million in debts.

The church is also considering several other offers. The real estate investment firm Greenlaw Partners Inc. and Chapman University each bid $46 million.

After the Crystal Cathedral Ministries Board of Directors reviews the offers, a plan will be presented to the Committee of Creditors and the Bankruptcy Court. The Garden Grove, California megachurch filed for bankruptcy last year.

The Crystal Cathedral, completed in 1980, seats 3,000 congregants and was designed by homosexual architect Philip Cortelyou Johnson. He and his gay lover, David Whitney, both died in 2005.

Senior members of the Crystal Cathedral have an online petition against the church board alleging nepotism and a doctrinal shift by the daughters of Pastor Schuller. They want their church back from the board and want to appoint trustees who have "no self-interest."

When founding pastor and CEO Robert H. Schuller started the Crystal Cathedral church 55 years ago, it was called the Garden Grove Community Church and its first services were held at a drive-in movie theater.

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Amy Winehouse Death Stuns World

Amy Winehouse, the famously tattooed, beehived, five-time Grammy-winning pop music superstar and tabloid diva, has been found dead.

The results of toxicology tests show that late singer had no illegal drugs in her system, but that alcohol was present. The results did not determine a cause of death and it is not clear whether the alcohol played a role in her death.

Globally recognizable from her trademark '60s makeup and high beehive hairstyle, Amy Winehouse was one of the most famous musicians of the 21st century, selling millions of albums, winning five Grammy Awards and starting a retro soul and jazz renaissance that has outlived her.

Amy Jade Winehouse was born in London on Sept. 14, 1983 to a Jewish family of jazz musicians.  Sadly, she died at 27, like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain.  Too young.

Amy Winehouse was the most unique, intriguing and controversial singer of her generation, bar none.

"We are deeply saddened at the sudden loss of such a gifted musician, artist and performer. Our prayers go out to Amy's family, friends and fans at this difficult time," said Winehouse's record label, Universal.

The Recording Academy in Los Angeles praised the singer, who brought elements of jazz and Motown back into the musical mainstream for a new generation to love.

"Her rich, soulful and unique voice reflected her honest songwriting and earned her a devoted fan following, critical acclaim, and the genuine respect and admiration of her musical peers," said Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS).

Every famous person around the world is issuing a statement of shock, sadness or condolence, including legendary singer Tony Bennett, who had just finished recording with Winehouse at Abbey Road Studios for the album Duets ll to be released in 6 weeks.

"She was an extraordinary musician with a rare intuition as a vocalist and I am truly devastated that her exceptional talent has come to such an early end," Bennett lamented.  "An artist of immense proportions."

I agree with Tony Bennett, and I will go even further.

When I was first introduced to Amy Winehouse five years ago, I was intrigued by her one-of-a-kind image, her creative style, and her guts in reintroducing soul and jazz elements with a fresh, hip-hop approach. 

I was not surprised at all when her success exploded with a nuclear blast across the international pop music spectrum. 

As the singer, songwriter, performer and unmitigated star that Amy Winehouse was, she was unrivaled. 

One of the reasons why Winehouse sold so many records was that people like me, old enough to be her parent, were excited enough about her sound to share it with our middle-aged friends and colleagues. 

Music buyers my age are not too often thrilled by pop stars who are 20-something, but Amy Winehouse was different; an 'old soul', if you will, in a tattooed young body.

Her sudden and explosive rise to worldwide fame and criticism came after years of ambition and musical experimentation.  Amy Winehouse was, after all, discovered at the tender age of 16.

My over-40 friends and associates are sad today, not shocked, just extremely sad.  People our age know just how young 27 is.  We were around in the early '70s when Morrison, Hendrix and Joplin were pronounced dead in their youth.

27 just seems so much younger now than it did then.  Such a tragedy puts a sick feeling in the pit of one's stomach.

Was Amy Winehouse out of control?  Did she have issues?  Did she need help?  Rehab?  Of course.  Everybody knew that, and some of us were praying for a real intervention.

I cringed and winced each time I heard Amy referred to as "Wino" by far too many media outlets, and I had a real problem with comedians making a living by getting laughs over her personal struggles.

Too many whores and hyenas clawing for leftovers, really.

Why would they try to offer the girl any help when, every time she fell of the wagon, it made them more money? 

There are some cruel aspects to the entertainment industry, indeed.

While others speculate on whether or not Amy Winehouse died of a drug overdose, this California blog chooses to remember the talented singer and songwriter that she was. 

Such musical art will not be forgotten and, 50 years from now, music lovers will recognize that beehive, that eyeliner and those tattoos, along the music that was too hip for words.

For now, though, the time has come to say goodbye --- and it truly is difficult for those of us who really, really liked Amy Winehouse.

Farewell, Amy Winehouse.

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Rabid Bats Invade Southern California

Rabid bats are invading and attacking Southern California cities, and fearful residents are vaccinating themselves and their pets against the plague of flying diseased killers.

Flocking in the skies over Southern California are bats carrying rabies, which can kill adults, children and pets --- and the deadly bats are starting to attack and bite.

Moorpark, California is grappling with a horrifying killer bat invasion which is already seeing bat attacks.  In one Moorpark neighborhood, 10 bats have tested positive for rabies so far.

Sitting by the pool, grabbing the morning paper, entertaining guests, walking the dog, outdoor barbequing, jogging and walking to the park are not as popular as usual right now, due to the flying diseased bats.

Moorpark officials have traced the invading rabid bats to a community in between Moorpark College and the Ronald Reagan Freeway (118).

One Moorpark home has already been quarantined by Ventura County Health Department Officer Robert Levin after authorities confirmed that two rabid bats came from a nest beneath the roof tiles.

The homeowner, Steve Spence, was attacked and bitten by a killer bat, and his dog had contact with another one on the patio. 

Spence is receiving multiple vaccinations for rabies and his dog was given shots and quarantined.

A plague of deadly bats setting up colonies have health officials worried. "It's a higher number than usual. I am concerned about it," Levin said.

The City of Moorpark has notified all residents of the rabid bat plague, warning them not to touch the diseased bats and to call authorities immediately when bats are found.

Moorpark is not the only Southern California community dealing with rabid bats.

San Diego County went into bat defense mode when three boys brought a rabid bat to the Petco pet store in the city of Vista, where the bat died of rabies, according to county officials.

Orange County health officials recently issued a warning after multiple dead bats were found in Laguna Niguel Regional Park and the deadly rabies disease was detected.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported that rabid bat attacks are on the rise --- more than double the average number.

Southern California officials are not sure why so many bats are testing positive for rabies.

They speculate there are more bats in 2011 because of heavy winter rains, which increased the number of bugs that bats eat.

 Updated rabies vaccinations are being urged.

Anyone bitten by a bat should seek emergency medical attention immediately, as rabies can kill quickly.

According to the California Department of Fish and Game, their are 24 species of bats now flying over the state of California.

RABID BAT INVASION

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Kutiman: YouTube Music Star

Kutiman is a YouTube music star with a talent for video production.  His latest project, a video mash-up of Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog", is being called 'genius' as it goes viral.

Ophir Kutiel, 29, (stage name Kutiman) is a musician, artist and producer from Israel, who has created successful online music video projects and collaborated with artists including the Los Angeles rock group Maroon 5.

One of Kutiman's videos has even been on display in the Hammer Museum at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).

The Israeli-born artist selected a Led Zeppelin song for his first cover video because the classic rock group was "one of a few bands I was listening to growing up in a small village."

Kutiman refers to Led Zeppelin as "my favorite band."

Many amateurs and professional musicians unknowingly contributed to this collective video performance of "Black Dog", and Kutiman makes a great effort to credit the original videos used in his mash-up.

Kutiman is extremely talented at synchronizing and editing, as he consistently maintains the song's tempo and pitch while piecing together the audio and video across different performances.

His great YouTube music video was difficult and time-consuming, but it is painstakingly perfect and very cool.

In the montage-like music video for "Black Dog", so many different musicians' performances are seamlessly joined together, it cannot be accurately described.  It simply has to be watched (below).

There are countless benefits to San Bruno, California-based YouTube (owned by Google), and the music video for "Black Dog" by Kutiman is one of the best benefits.

Watch more of this creative artist's videos on the official Kutiman YouTube channel.

Kutiman Black Dog YouTube Music Video

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California Chihuahua Attacks Robbers

Paco the Chihuahua, a brave little dog that interrupted a robbery at his human companion's Altadena, California store, is being celebrated as a canine California hero.

Friends and neighbors say that Paco is a mellow dog, who usually is very quiet, so they were surprised to hear the story and shocked when they watched the surveillance video.

The video of the robbery, showing little Paco's angry response and brave attack, is a YouTube sensation, so the Chihuahua got to appear as a guest on Good Morning America.

"I was shocked. Normally, he's usually really laid-back. He just sits back and takes it easy," neighbor Cecil Griffin declared on the television show.

Paco was rescued and adopted years ago, and he spends his days relaxing in the shop, familiar to customers who now call the tiny dog a neighborhood hero.

The video of the attempted robbery (below) shows two hooded men, one carrying a rifle, entering the shop and demanding cash.

Paco the Chihuahua began barking viciously at the two robbers, who fled the store with a backpack containing far less money than they would have stolen.

The robber with the gun even aimed it at Paco, who was fearless as he chased the criminals out of the store and all the way down the street.

After chasing robbers, doing television interviews, and dealing with all the unusual attention, Paco the Chihuahua is getting some much-needed rest.

If you recognize the robbers in the video, please contact Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department detectives at (626) 296-2114 or (626) 798-1131.

Paco the Chihuahua

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UCLA Face Transplant Science

Face transplants are considered the new wave of cosmetic surgery in Southern California, the plastic surgery capitol of the world, and UCLA is putting a new face on face transplant procedures.

The University of California, Los Angeles now has a program that gives back functionality and quality of life to individuals who have suffered severe trauma or disfiguring injuries to the face, as well as to the abdomen and upper extremities.

The UCLA Section of Reconstructive Transplantation expertly utilizes a new transplantation approach, known as vascularized composite allotransplantation, to treat patients whose tissue loss cannot be fixed through conventional means.

A face transplant, or reconstructive transplantation, is a complex surgical procedure involving composite tissues.  Unlike organ transplants, which save lives, reconstructive transplants aim to dramatically improve the ongoing lives of patients.

The UCLA Section of Reconstructive Transplantation is taking advantage of the existing transplantation infrastructure at UCLA, the university with the largest solid-organ transplant program on earth.

Reconstructive transplants are currently focused on procedures for three parts of the human body --- upper extremity transplants, abdominal wall transplants and face transplants.

Patients with trauma to the face, or with lost facial tissue through cancer or other diseases, may be eligible for a face transplant if their condition is not thoroughly treatable with conventional plastic surgery procedures.

A face transplant procedure has tremendous cosmetic value, but it can also have vital purposes that allow the facial transplant patient to function as normally as possible in everyday life.

"UCLA has been a leader in transplantation for the past quarter-century, and this is a natural extension of that leadership.  We are excited to be able to offer a program of reconstructive transplantation for patients, as well as research to further advance the field," said Dr. Kodi Azari, chief of the reconstructive transplantation section.

Usually, similar tissues from other parts of the patient's body are used in reconstruction.  For body parts such as hands, noses and mouths, Dr. Azari said, there is no similar tissue, making conventional reconstruction difficult.

Dr. Azari and his UCLA colleagues are breaking through the face transplant limitations of the past, using composite tissues to build what the body does not provide.

The UCLA Health System has provided the best in health care to Los Angeles, California and the world for more than 50 years.  By offering history's most advanced face transplants, UCLA offers humanity another 50 years of hope. 

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L.A. Artist Exposes Secret Swimmers

Who among us is a secret swimmer?  Los Angeles, the swimming pool capitol of the world, is reportedly flooded with 'secret swimmers' who have gone off the deep end.

You might be shocked at how many people daydream of diving boards, backstrokes and laps while they interact with you in the professional world.

That uptight boss, that cheerful store clerk or that high-powered business executive just might be about to enter a public pool locker room and strip down to nearly nothing, exposing their bodies and secret passions.

An hour after meeting with clients, that assertive professional in an Armani suit may be in Speedos, living a secret life --- unknown to you nor anyone else.

Exposing Secret Swimmers

The Secret Life of Swimmers is an arts project by visual artist Judy Starkman, an accomplished professional and a passionate lifelong swimmer from Los Angeles, California.

Starkman got the idea one day in the Culver City Plunge pool locker room, when a middle-aged woman in a business suit got herself ready for the water.

"I watched this obviously high-powered, buttoned-down person transform herself in minutes into a swimmer just like all of us. There was such a striking difference in her appearance," said Starkman.  "I thought to myself, 'This is her secret life.'  It was literally then the idea popped in my head."

Starkman's dichotemous photo project reveals the professional persona of each swimmer, while also revealing the secret passion for swimming exercised by Southern California professionals. 

The Secret Life of Swimmers visually portrays a story Starkman knows personally --- that every die-hard swimmer has another life outside of the pool, and that swimming is the Great Equalizer.

Each swimmer in Starkman's art project is displayed in the visual image of his or her public life and, in an identical pose poolside, baring nearly all in their 'secret' life.

Real people with real lives are showcased, such as a chef, a professor, a firefighter, a mom, a veterinarian, a truck driver, a Rabbi and a physical trainer who lost a leg in an accident.

Like artist Judy Starkman, all of the subjects are self-proclaimed lap-swimming 'addicts' who have a found a special kinship and community at the Culver City Plunge.

"No one was afraid to pose for me, or to appear virtually life-size on street poles throughout the city," said Starkman.  "They are young and old.  Some are in fantastic shape, but most are just regular people."

Secret Swimmers Go Public

Starkman approached Culver City officials to pitch the idea for a public arts display featuring her swimmers. The city responded positively, devising a plan with the artist.

After the photographic street banners are displayed downtown, along Culver Boulevard, they will be moved to Sepulveda Boulevard, where they will hang for 24 months.

"The Secret Life of Swimmers makes a significant contribution to Culver City's Art in Public Places Program, in that it focuses on a unique community of individuals who are passionate about swimming, and it celebrates portraiture as a genre," declared Culver City Public Art & Historic Preservation Coordinator B. Christine Byers.

The streetlight pole banner and virtual gallery portion of The Secret Life of Swimmers concept was made possible with the support of the Culver City Cultural Affairs Commission, the Culver City Parks, Recreation & Community Services Commission, and the Culver City Council.

"It is a rare pleasure to create a project based on personal passion.  I love making photos, I love telling stories, I love swimming, and I love all of my 'secret' swimmers," Starkman exclaimed.

The Secret Life of Swimmers by Judy Starkman is currently on display along Culver Boulevard.  The images, along with a video directed by the artist, can also be viewed in a virtual gallery on the official The Secret Life of Swimmers website.

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Bees Attack City in California

A plague of angry bees has terrorized the Southern California city of Wildomar for the last month, causing residents to fear for their lives as city officials sit paralyzed.

A family dog has died a violent death after being stung hundreds of times by the bees in the Riverside County community, and allergic city residents, who could die from a bee sting, have barricaded themselves indoors.

Another dog was attacked by bees but has survived after $2,000 in emergency veterinary care.

So far, one nest of 8,000 bees has been destroyed by exterminators in Wildomar, one hour southeast of Los Angeles.  The exterminators warn that, if the main nest containing the queens is not destroyed, the bee plague will worsen.

The presence of so many bees has shocked fearful local residents, who have altered their schedules to avoid getting stung by roving clouds of violent bees.  Some have even left town to stay with friends or relatives.

Swarms of bees are generating a deafening buzz above in trees at certain times during the day while residents' nerves continue to be on edge.

In one desperate attempt, the top of a bee-filled tree was chopped off and covered with a tarp.  The bee attacks escalated after that.

Vector Control, a part of the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health, is equipped to kill bees if they are a public threat, according to Deputy Director Keith Jones.

The county has a contract with the City of Wildomar to assist if called.

Wildomar City Manager Frank Oviedo is waiting to see how bad the bee plague gets, saying, "If the problem persists and gets worse, then we may have to take some action."

Wildomar's code enforcement officer, Keith Ross, allegedly told a resident that the city could not afford Riverside County's price for the job.

The City of Wildomar has experienced budget problems since incorporating on July 1, 2008.

"We have budget issues, but when it comes to public safety, we're not going to ignore the issue," said the politician who receives a $179,000 salary, according to the City of Wildomar website.

"Let's not wait until someone dies," said Kim Bammes, the mourning woman who lost her canine family member to the California bee plague.

"They've already taken down a dog. Next it's going to be a person."

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Senator Barbara Boxer Death Threats

California Senator Barbara Boxer has received death threats from an alleged would-be assassin from Northern California, who police have arrested.

Kevin Joseph O'Connell, a 47-year-old San Rafael resident, is behind bars after police said he threatened to assassinate U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) in a series of threatening voice mail messages.

According to San Rafael city officials, Senator Boxer's office alerted authorities about the 'terrorist threats' made by telephone.  Investigators identified the caller as O'Connell, who was located and arrested near his Marin County residence.

O'Connell, whose detailed death threats have not yet been made public, was booked into a Marin County jail on one felony count of making criminal threats against the U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer.

Barbara Boxer, 70, is the former President of the Marin County Board of Supervisors.

Public officials have received more assassination threats recently than at any previous time.

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-California) has also been threated by a would-be assassin who stated he would gun-down the California politician.

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) has dealt with a California caller who threatened to assassinate the U.S. senator and his entire staff.

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-Arizona) was shot in an assassination attempt and barely survived an assailant's bullet, though many around her lost their lives.

Security protection for California's Sen. Barbara Boxer and Sen. Dianne Feinstein is tighter than ever, reportedly, and other public officials have beefed-up their security details.

San Rafael, California police spokeswoman Margo Rohrbacher stated that local police worked in conjunction with the FBI on the Senator Boxer assassination threat case before making an arrest.

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Silicon Valley Boom Draws Foreigners

Foreign investors are crazy for Silicon Valley, especially the real estate.

Taking advantage of listing prices much cheaper than in their own nations, foreigners are buying up available properties and planning to ride a new Silicon Valley economic boom all the way to the top.

Both immigrants and foreign investors abroad are grabbing every apartment complex, condominium and single family home they can get as Silicon Valley real estate prices begin to rise again.

The potential for rental property cash flow, as well as Silicon Valley's multinational business connections and quality schools, have India and China leading a new wave of international cash infusion into the California economy.

One-sixth of current real estate sales in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties are bargain-hunting absentee investors, according to the latest housing sales figures from California-based DataQuick.

Charmaine Wang, a Shanghai real estate agent representing Bay Area listings, declared that hundreds of Chinese investors purchased Santa Clara County properties over the last 12 months "in all the high-end neighborhoods --- Palo Alto, Los Altos Hills, Atherton."

Silicon Valley Economic Boom

Office rents have gone up 35 percent, hotel occupancy rates have hit 80 percent, retail is skyrocketing and Silicon Valley tech IPOs are attracting big money.

Recently, Russian billionaire investor Yuri Milner paid $100 million for a mansion in Los Altos Hills, calling global attention to the Silicon Valley real estate market.

Office space is now harder to find in hot spots like Palo Alto, where rents have jumped and vacancies have shriveled up by 50 percent, according to Colin Yasukochi, a Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. research director.

Facebook has a new 57-acre campus in Menlo Park,  Apple is building a spaceship campus in Cupertino and, across the San Francisco Bay, Twitter is moving into a huge building as the company expands.

As well, a scientific masterpiece, the highly-anticipated NASA Sustainability Base, is being built amid the Bay Area's new economy, while the British nation of Wales moves into Silicon Valley offices.

Silicon Valley-based online real estate search engine Trulia reports a current international spike in Internet searches for Silicon Valley real estate. 

Web searches for properties in Atherton are up 68 percent; San Jose is up 86 percent;  Cupertino is up 90 percent;  Palo Alto is up 121 percent; and Los Altos Hills is up by a staggering 182 percent.

Incidentally, Trulia has doubled its workforce since January and plans to continue hiring all year long.

With such an economic boom occurring, it is no wonder that foreign real estate investors are aggressively invading Silicon Valley in 2011 with unprecedented spending cash.

"It's probably the only place in the country, if not the world, that has heated up this quickly.  I have been in the business for 12 years and I have never seen anything like it," exclaimed Steve Niethammer, a Zane MacGregor & Co. real estate agent.

Today, it seems that everyone either wants to be in Silicon Valley, or they want to simply BE Silicon Valley... and why not?

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Carmageddon 405

Carmageddon was not quite 'The Mother Of All Traffic Jams', and the 405 freeway opened ahead of schedule.

Los Angeles traffic may be the worst in America but Carmageddon promised to be a traffic apocalypse.  It was lighter than normal in Los Angeles all weekend as most motorists simply stayed home.

State, county and city officials are happy that motorists apparently understood the message to avoid Carmageddon by staying off the roads.  The Sepulveda Pass section of the always jam-packed 405 freeway, which connects West L.A. to the San Fernando Valley, is open and running smoothly.

An official command center, manned by Caltrans officials, operated in Downtown L.A. to monitor freeway chaos all weekend, using information from remote cameras, traffic volume sensors and CHP officers on the ground and in the skies over the city.

The California Department of Transportation worked in alliance with the California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Fire Department and Los Angeles Department of Transportation.

A job well done.

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Bay Area Quake Volunteers Wanted

San Francisco Bay Area citizen seismologists, or Quake-Catchers, are needed to set up tiny earthquake monitors in their homes, offices and classrooms to help scientists learn more about earthquakes.

If you have a computer, a high-speed Internet connection to host the monitors, and a nearby spot on your floor, Stanford University researchers want your help in detecting Bay Area earthquakes and seismic patterns.

Crews are already installing 100 sensors for volunteer seismologists who previously signed up for the Quake-Catcher Network project.  Scientists want to add 200 more sites next weekend and eventually grow to 6,000 sites throughout the West.

A small sensor on your floor connected to your computer's USB port is all you need to be a valuable contributor to earthquake science.

Installing a free sensor only takes a few minutes to attach the sensor to a wall and download software, and the sensors can be easily removed. 

The seismic sensors and the software are free of charge to all volunteers in the program.

The Quake-Catcher project software uses only a tiny amount of power and runs in the background.  Priority is given to volunteers willing to keep the computer running constantly with battery backup.

Researchers at Stanford University and the U.S. Geological Survey in Los Angeles say that quickly detecting small earthquakes will greatly assist larger government seismic networks.

The initial three years of the Quake-Catcher project is financed by a $1.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation.

The seismic network sensors are designed to be located near faults with the greatest potential for magnitude 6.7 or greater quakes.

Researchers want to install monitors along the San Andreas Fault through the Peninsula and along the Hayward Fault, which is most likely to cause a major earthquake in the Bay Area in the near future.

Volunteers' sensors will send data to the Quake-Catcher project's server as a quake is happening and will provide data on how earthquakes rupture and how buildings respond to temblors.

Eventually, a Quake-Catcher mobile app could be able to quickly notify people of earthquakes.

The Quake-Catcher project is based at Stanford University's Department of Geophysics and was conceptualized by California seismologists Elizabeth Cochran and Jesse Lawrence.

Want to be a citizen seismologist and a California hero?  You need to sign up quickly.  Visit the Stanford Quake-Catcher Network website for details, maps and signups.

Stanford University Quake-Catchers

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