Sam Spade's San Francisco

Free Thanksgiving Dinners in San Francisco (Thursday, Nov 26, 2009):

St. Anthony Foundation (The Franciscan Friars)
corner Golden Gate Avenue and Jones Streets (Tenderloin neighborhood)

Glide Church Foundation (Rev Cecil Williams)
corner Ellis and Taylor Streets (Tenderloin neighborhood)

Tenderloin Tessie (all volunteer - for the homeless gay community - HOWEVER - absolutely every hungry person - or family - is very warmly welcomed) - at First Unitarian Church, corner of Franklin and Geary (block up from Van Ness)

Notes:

- There will be plenty of turkey dinner with all the trimmings - but - there will also be long lines, so go early and be patient.

- Some Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) groups and fellowships will have food available throughout the day and just about all of them will have hot coffee and snacks during meetings. Check with AA at or check with NA at .

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I'm a big fan of Mosiac World News on LinkTV. The producer of Mosaic World News is Jamal Dajani, a Peabody Award winning journalist. He is also a member of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. He's one of the people in our community I genuinely respect.
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Today Jamal Dajani wrote a piece for the Daily KOS about Nidal Hasan and it is brilliant. So, without further fluff from me, here is Jamal's Daily KOS blog post about Nidal Malik Hasan:
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SEVEN messages and counting on my voice mail from different Bay Area reporters, all wanting to know the Muslim community's reaction about the recent heinous killings of Nidal Malik Hasan. All wanting to know what had driven a 39-year-old Muslim to go on a killing rampage, murdering 13 people in Fort Hood, Texas. "He had it all," someone said, "he's an educated man, he's a doctor." Why did he do it?
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Apparently, I fit the profile of someone who has these answers: I am a Muslim Palestinian American: I must know what one out of the 1.5 billion Muslims around the globe is thinking at any given time.
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"Hey, Jamal...sorry to disturb you so early. But you know the Hasan story is big, and I was wondering if you're willing to come for an interview and talk about how it feels being a Maahzlem (Muslim) and all," a television producer says to me on my cell, while I was driving to work.
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"How did you feel being a Christian, with Timothy McVeigh and Adolf Hitler being Christians?" I fired back.
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Silence... I probably should not have said that, but there it is.
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I'm sick and tired of these kinds of questions from media outlets whenever some kooky Muslim decides to commit a random act of violence...or in this case when a GI psychiatrist goes psycho. At the same time, I'm also sick and tired of self-appointed Muslim experts and spokespersons who jump at every miserable opportunity like this one to try to explain Islam.
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"Islam is a religion of peace," they say.
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No, it's not. Not anymore than Christianity is a religion of love. They're just religions, and what you do with them is all up to the believer. More people have died in the name of religion than in any other catastrophe or plague.
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Here is what I know about Hasan:
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He was a disgruntled GI who wanted to leave the military for whatever reason: his conscience, his religion, or for personal reasons. He could have left peacefully. He could have quit and paid the price without hurting others, just like Muhammad Ali, who refused the draft to serve in Vietnam but did not feel the need to go on a killing rampage. Instead, he was stripped of his heavyweight title and served time in jail.
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Hasan is a coward...not only for committing this heinous act, but for counting on being killed or taking the gun on himself, leaving behind his family and the entire Muslim community to account for his despicable actions.
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Read more about Mosaic World News on Daily KOS

Follow Jamal Dajani on

Visit the Mosaic World News website

Visit Jamal Dajani's personal website

Visit Link TV: television without borders

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Special Update Note: The San Francisco Veterans Day Parade is over. It was held Sunday, November 8th - HOWEVER - there are plenty of other events planned this week. Read the full list here: Veterans Day 2009 California Event List

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The 2009 San Francisco Veterans Day Parade was held on Sunday, November 8th. The parade will began at 11 AM at 2nd and Market Streets and proceed up Market Street to McAllister where the parade proceeded up to City Hall. The reviewing stand was directly across from the front steps of City Hall, No. 1, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place (Polk Street).
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Special Notice from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA): Looking to help those affected by the Ft. Hood tragedy? Please consider supporting our friends at TAPS: http://www.taps.org/
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Resources:
San Francisco Veterans Affairs Commission
San Francisco City Hall
Directions and map to San Francisco City Hall
List of other veterans, military and merchant marine websites and contacts
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Official 2009 V.A. Veterans Day Poster:
Download a copy of the official 2009 V.A. Veterans Day Poster
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Events outside of San Francisco:
Veterans Day parades and events in other California communties
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Resources for returning veterans and vets looking for a job:
Veterans Resource Library
The Buzz - blog about federal job openings for vets
Help Wanted! 2,100 jobs offered now
U. S. Coast Guard Academy offers tuition-free college - apply online
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)
New Post 9/11 G. I Bill - apply online now!
Year of the Military Family, 2009 - links and resources
Saving lives and guarding the coast since 1790. U. S. Coast Guard now hiring!
San Francisco Police Department careers
Swords to Plowshares - San Francisco
Iraq Veterans Project of Swords to Plowshares - San Francisco
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Even More Resources provided by the
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA):
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Hire Heroes USA
Hire Heroes USA is a national non-profit organization, which provides career placement assistance to disabled veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Our mission is to be the bridge to a fulfilling career for our heroes to ensure they have the opportunity to enjoy the freedoms they fought to preserve.
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RecruitMilitary
RecruitMilitary was founded in February 1998 and quickly became a leader in the use of contingency search to place transitioning and veteran personnel in positions in corporate America. RecruitMilitary established its reputation on the basis of unparalleled service, attention to detail in all activities, and perhaps most important, great choices for both its job candidates and its employer clients.
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Helmets to Hardhats
Helmets to Hardhats provides the best career opportunities in building and construction trade to those who have earned the nation's support through their years of service and sacrifice, easing the difficult passage into civilian life for military families.
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ESGR: Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
Guardsmen and Reservists have the right to return to their civilian jobs following their service. National Guardsmen and Reservists who think their employers have acted unfairly -- for instance, if they believe they were fired because of their military service -- should contact the ESGR.
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VetBiz
Find out more about starting and running a veteran-owned business.
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Veteran Job Search at Military.com
Search over 100,000 job postings online.
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REALifelines
The Recovery and Employment Assistance Lifelines initiative is a joint project of the U.S. Department of Labor, the Bethesda Naval Medical Center and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. It will create a seamless, personalized assistance network to ensure that seriously wounded and injured service members who cannot return to active duty are trained for rewarding new careers in the private sector.
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Career Command Post
CCP specializes in bringing transitioning active duty military personnel and armed forces veterans together with civilian employers hiring for executive, managerial, professional, technical, skilled and semi-skilled positions, from the Military Transition Group, Inc.
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VetJobs.com
A great site for veterans and transitioning military personnel and their family members. Job openings for all levels and types of jobs. You can search for jobs (by type, keyword, and location), as well as post your resume sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Free to job-seekers.
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HireVetsFirst.gov
Veterans seeking employment opportunities can use this free site to search for jobs, get help writing a great resume, and find out how military skills translate into occupational skills. Employers can also use this site to post job openings.
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Return to Work
This organization works to provide vocational rehabilitation to veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. Job-seekers and employers can post profiles and connect to help veterans return to work.
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A violent crackdown is underway in Vietnam. The government has beaten the monks and nuns of Bat Nha and literally destroyed the monastery founded by Buddhist monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh. Read this account from Tricycle.

Thich Nhat Hanh is, I suspect, perhaps the most peaceful human living on the planet. In 1967 Thich Nhat Hanh was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thich Nhat Hanh was a close friend of the late Thomas Merton, a monk of another tradition and an equally profound proponent of peace.

The nuns and monks of Bat Nha urgently need the attention and support of the global community.

Please watch this video:




How you can help: Contact helpbatnha.org

You can also contact Thich Nhat Hanh through his primary residence in France, Plum Village, or through his U.S. center, Deer Park Monastery in California.

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In the photo: Petty Officer 1st Class Darril Kiest, an aviation survival technician stationed at Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, lowers the station's national ensign to half mast during a morning color ceremony as others pay their respects Sunday Nov. 1, 2009.

The ceremony was held in honor of seven coastguardsmen who were lost at sea when a Coast Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft suffered a mid-air collision with a Marine Corps AH-1W helicopter, Oct. 29, 2009. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Alan Haraf.)

The missing crew members from the C-130 are: (click on the name link to see a photograph of the crew member)

Lt. Cmdr. Che J. Barnes, age 35, Capay, Calif., Aircraft Commander.
Job Description: Flight Safety Officer, C-130 Aircraft Commander, and Operations Duty Officer (ODO) Age: 35 Hometown: Capay, Calif. Gender: Male Relationship: Single Awards/Accolades include: 2009 CDR Elmer F. Stone Award Recipient, Coast Guard (CG) Commendation Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, three CG Achievement Medals, six Meritorious Unit Commendations, CG Meritorious Team Commendation, two Commandant’s Letter of Commendations, CG E Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, two CG Special Operations Ribbons, CG Presidential Unit Citation, Dept. of Transportation (DOT) 9-11 Ribbon.

Lt. Adam W. Bryant, age 28, Crewe, Va., Co-Pilot.
Job Description: C-130 Pilot, Public Affairs Officer and ODO Age: 28 Hometown: Crewe, Va. Gender: Male Relationship: Single Awards/Accolades include: Armed Forces Service Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, CG Presidential Unit Citation, Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, CG E Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, CG Special Operations Service Ribbon, CG Presidential Unit Citation, DOT 9-11 Ribbon.

Chief Petty Officer John F. Seidman, age 43, Stockton, Calif., Flight Engineer.
Job Description: Aviation Maintenance Technician, Shop Chief of Engine/Prop Shop, Qualified C-130 Flight Engineer, and ODO Age: 43 Hometown: Stockton, Calif. Gender: Male Relationship: Married, no children Awards/Accolades include: CG Commendation Medal, Global War On Terror Service Medal, Achievement Medal, six CG Unit Commendations, four CG Meritorious Unit Commendations, Bicentennial Unit Commendation, CG Rifle Marksman Ribbon, two CG Meritorious Team Commendations, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, five CG Special Operations Service Ribbons, CG Presidential Unit Citation, Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, two National Defense Service Medals, Humanitarian Service Medal, CG Special Operations Service Ribbon, CG Presidential Unit Citation, DOT 9-11 Ribbon, seven Good Conduct Medals, and a DOT Outstanding Unit Award.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Carl P. Grigonis, age 35, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, Navigator.
Job Description: Aviation Electronics Technician, Qualified C-130 Flight Navigator Age: 35 Hometown: Mayfield Heights, Ohio Gender: Male Relationship: Married, with children Awards/Accolades include: Global War On Terror Service Medal, Achievement Medal, two CG Unit Commendations, two CG Meritorious Unit Commendations, CG Pistol Marksman Ribbon, CG Meritorious Team Commendations, Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, National Defense Service Medals, CG Special Operations Service Ribbon, CG Presidential Unit Citation, DOT 9-11 Ribbon, three Good Conduct Medals.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Monica L. Beacham, age 29, Decaturville, Tenn., Radio Operator.
Job Description: Aviation Electronics Technician, Qualified C-130 Radioman, Navigator Trainee Age: 29 Hometown: Decaturville, Tenn. Gender: Female Relationship: Married, with children Awards/Accolades include: Global War Terror Service Medal, two CG Unit Commendations, two CG Meritorious Unit Commendations, two CG Meritorious Team Commendations, National Defense Service Medal, two Humanitarian Service Medals, CG Presidential Unit Citation, two CG Good Conduct Medals, and DOT 9-11 Ribbon.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason S. Moletzsky, age 26, Norristown, Pa., Air Crew.
Job Description: Aviation Maintenance Technician, Basic C-130 Air Crew. Age: 26 Hometown: Norristown, Pa. Gender: Male Relationship: Single Awards/Accolades include: Global War on Terror Service Medal, CG Achievement Medal, CG Meritorious Unit Commendation, CG Rifle Marksman Ribbon, CG Pistol Marksman Ribbon, CG Meritorious Team Commendation, two Commandant’s Letter of Commendations, National Defense Service Medal, two CG Special Operations Service Ribbons, CG Presidential Unit Citation, two CG Good Conduct Medals.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Danny R. Kreder II, age 22, Elm Mott, Texas, Drop Master.
Job Description: Aviation Maintenance Technician, Dropmaster, Sensor System Operator. Age: 22. Hometown: Elm Mott, Texas. Gender: Male Relationship: Married, no children. Awards/Accolades include: Cutterman Insignia, CG Unit Commendation Award, Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, CG Presidential Unit Citation, CG Sea Service Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal.

All were stationed at Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento where their aircraft was based.

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