GREENVILLE, Calif. — An earthquake in far northeastern California did not injure anyone but did cause moderate damage, including to a water tank that supplies hundreds of homes with drinking water, local authorities said Friday.

Plumas County Sheriff Greg Hagwood said the magnitude-5.7 quake sent items tumbling from grocery store shelves and downed chimneys when it hit at 8:47 p.m. Thursday.

The U.S. Geological Survey's National Earthquake Center said the temblor was centered near Greenville, about 25 miles southwest of Susanville, and was felt as far away as San Francisco and in two other states. It was followed by multiple aftershocks, including a magnitude 4.9 quake that struck early Friday morning.


http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/local/aftershocks-continue-rumble-through-northern-calif/nX2wR/

When you think of volcanoes erupting, you probably think of Hawaii, or Mount Saint Helens in Washington State or even Lassen peak sending a plume of volcanic rock and ash over Red Bluff in 1915.

But in Lake County, there are hints of volcanic activity on a smaller scale. You’ve likely heard of long quiet Mount Konocti, but volcanic gas belching from the bowels of the Earth through the waters of Clear Lake are signs potential volcanic activity in Northern California isn’t close to done.

“The groundwater circulates underground and if there is hot magma below the surface that will heat the water up and create geothermal activity,” Lydia Fox, Ph.D., a geology professor at the University of the Pacific told FOX40.

It’s not a man-made special effect, but rather side effects from activity on the world famous San Andreas fault. The heavily wooded hills around Clear Lake are some of the most seismically active in the Golden State, recording hundreds of earthquakes a year.



http://fox40.com/2013/04/29/signs-of-volcanic-activity-at-bottom-of-clear-lake/#ixzz2UHTS6i3G

After two-and-a-half years of unemployment and a month-and-a-half as a temp, I was promoted to a permanent full time job. It's not the job I want or the pay I had, but it's enough to live decently until I get where I want to be. And, most importantly, it's in my field!!It finally took asking someone to help me find an opening. She then referred me to a friend who referred me to her friend in the organization. And already there is an internal opening that pays what I want and is better suited to my experience. Things are looking up for us. Don't give up. If I can find something, so can you.

I started a new job last week in what was supposed to be a temporary 5 month gig. But now I have good reason to believe I am about to be appointed to a new, permanent position that is one step above. The problem is that is the same position that another temp (who holds my same classification) interviewed for. I've heard comments made by a number of colleagues on the "team" about how they cannot believe that he wasn't chosen. And I just know the crap-storm that will surely follow if I'm the one. How do I deal with them? I don't want to be the center of controversy but I also need the job for the sake of my family.

Kaufman County’s district attorney and his wife were found slain Saturday, raising fears their deaths may be part of a plot that included the slaying of an assistant district attorney in January.

Kaufman Police Chief Chris Albaugh and other officials confirmed the reports that Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, had been shot at their home near Forney. Their deaths follow the Jan. 31 slaying of Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse.

“It is a shock,” Albaugh said late Saturday. “It was a shock with Mark Hasse, and now you can just imagine the double shock and until we know what happened, I really can't confirm that it's related but you always have to assume until it's proven otherwise.”

He said the Texas Rangers were helping with the investigation at the McLellands’ home in an unincorporated part of the county, but that the sheriff’s department will be leading the investigation.


http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20130330-breaking-news-kaufman-county-da-wife-found-dead-in-home.ece

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has won over many hearts and minds with his simple style and focus on serving the world’s poorest, but he has devastated traditionalist Catholics who adored his predecessor, Benedict XVI, for restoring much of the traditional pomp to the papacy.

Francis’ decision to disregard church law and wash the feet of two girls — a Serbian Muslim and an Italian Catholic — during a Holy Thursday ritual has become something of the final straw, evidence that Francis has little or no interest in one of the key priorities of Benedict’s papacy: reviving the pre-Vatican II traditions of the Catholic Church.....

The head of the society for South America, the Rev. Christian Bouchacourt, was less than generous in his assessment of Francis.

“He cultivates a militant humility, but can prove humiliating for the church,” Bouchacourt said in a recent article, criticizing the “dilapidated” state of the clergy in Buenos Aires and the “disaster” of its seminary. “With him, we risk to see once again the Masses of Paul VI’s pontificate, a far cry from Benedict XVI’s efforts to restore to their honor the worthy liturgical ceremonies.”


http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/popes-foot-wash-a-final-straw-for-traditionalist-catholics.php

WASHINGTON – A new poll of potential replacements for U.S. Sen. Carl Levin shows Debbie Dingell – a Democratic National Committee member and wife of U.S. Rep. John Dingell of Dearborn – with a chance of winning the nomination, scoring no worse than a tie with U.S. Rep. Gary Peters in a head-to-head matchup.

East Lansing pollster Steve Mitchell used an automated poll to talk to likely voters between March 19-21. He found that, in a Democratic primary matchup, Dingell leads Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) 30% to 25% -- but with a large percentage – 45% - undecided.

While others could enter the race and the field as far from decided, Dingell’s and Peters’ names were the only ones tested in Mitchell’s calls to 387 likely Democratic voters. The margin of error was plus or minus 4.98 percentage points. Taking that into account, the matchup could potentially be a tie – though Dingell’s name scored higher.

Peters has said he is seriously considering entering the race following Levin’s announcement early this month that he would not run for a seventh-term in 2014. Dingell has been mentioned as a possible candidate, but has not said whether she is interested in running or not.


http://www.freep.com/article/20130328/NEWS15/130328048/Poll-Debbie-Dingell-front-runner-potentially-replace-Senator-Carl-Levin

I got through by immersing myself in the role of "Mr. Dad" and participating in my son's school. Now I'm going back to work and I feel as mentally sharp as the day I left my old job. How did you get through?

From Debbie Dingell's column in December, 2012:

Demonizing the NRA or gun owners in general gets us nowhere. A fresh round of old proposals for gun-control laws won’t work and will be followed by the renewed frustration of different factions going to their respective corners to fight instead of seeking real solutions.

We, as Americans, need to be willing to acknowledge that we have serious social problems and have to get at the root causes for so many of these horrific scenes: mental illness, failing educational systems, lack of job opportunities, the disintegration of families. We need communities more willing to identify behavior problems early on, to express zero tolerance for bullying, to implement processes that protect individual liberties yet flag potential problems.

Most important, we must remove the stigma of mental illness so that those who need help get help. We need law enforcement agencies that understand problems when they are identified, along with systems that support parents, teachers and employers in intervening and getting help to those who need it.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/gun-control-fights-wont-solve-the-real-issue/2012/12/20/18e853de-49fe-11e2-b6f0-e851e741d196_story.html

Don't be too easily led by the Judges' questions and remarks. Sometimes they are nothing more than tools to reach their decisions.