November 21, 2008 by PT Rothschild.

THE LATEST IN THE ONGOING INVISIBLE CHILDREN CRUSADE

T-Town, CA – There is a big difference between the photos I see of missionaries in Africa (smiling white faces looking like a photo op in the midst of unsmiling little black faces) and the pictures I see of the Invisible Children crew/roadies there in Uganda (beaming white faces amidst laughing little black faces). While I can’t be God and tell you why the two sets of pictures are different, perhaps I can shed some light as to why everyone is smiling in the IC photos. Short answer, music!! I’ve been involved personally with Invisible Children for almost three years (see archives) after being moved to action by viewing the original documentary, ‘Invisible Children: Rough Cut’. After attending their event, ‘Displace Me’, where I got to meet Jason, one of the three film makers and movement organizers, I was anticipating an end to the crisis through the sponsored peace accord. I admit that I was reliving the victory the youth of my hometown garnered against segregation decades ago. After all, this time some many more (grownup) people were involved, and on many levels, going all the way up to the President. However, when Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (the LRA) backed out of the peace accord process and started once again kidnapping children to turn them into ‘child soldiers’, I fell off the IC wagon and into a pool of despair. I still continued getting emails and updates about the IC movement but hardly bothered to read them, getting caught up instead in all the political hoopla of the local and national elections. Perhaps since all that has passed, the latest IC email update caught my eye and I read up on the guys, and the movement. I guess the first thing I noticed and was happy about was that the IC crew has not lost their edge, even with the downturn of events. Right now they are offering a free trip to Uganda through four different means. The first is their ‘Schools For Schools’ program which rewards the schools who raise the most money with a free trip. The offshoot of that program is the addition of collecting books for the Ugandan schools. The school that collects the most books also will receive a free trip. The third way possible for a free trip to sunny downtown Uganda is to put up the coolest video about the IC movement on YouTube, but the fourth way is the one that recaptured my heart. Remember when I said that this wasn’t your granddaddy’s charity? Well, the guys dug back to something that was from your granddaddy’s day, or maybe at least from your father’s day. Inside three (3) copies of the latest documentary release entitled, Go, a film about a group of students traveling into the heart of Africa’s longest running war conflict, lies a Golden Ticket, just like the type found in the fabulous Willy Wonka chocolate bars of the movie. That’s right, Sports Fans. Order a Go DVD and you could open the case and find a ‘golden ticket’ that will give you free passage to Uganda and put you right in the center of the IC operation there. I love you guys, Jason. God bless you for putting the dream back into a nightmare, a nightmare that has been overlooked still by people now caught up in crushed economic hopes. But hurry, because one of the Golden Tickets has already been found. Now just two remain. The question is, will YOU be the next ‘Charlie’? But wait, there’s more. Don’t feel like trooping over to the dusty African plain to be among lions, tigers, and bears, oh my! Well, Hollywood is much closer and maybe somewhat safer, depending on who you talk to. On December 19th, Dustin Kensrue from THRICE, Jon Foreman (SWITCHFOOT), Chris Conley (SAVES THE DAY) and Jim Ward (SLEEPERCAR, SPARTA, AT THE DRIVE IN) will perform a special acoustic concert to help raise awareness and support at West Hollywood’s legendary Troubadour club.  Sponsored by MySpace, Jedidiah Clothing and SocialVibe, the event will also jump-start multiple auctions for limited-edition and one-of-a-kind band paraphernalia including a Thrice backdrop from previous tours, Riley Breckenridge’s drum set, hand painted guitars from Circa Survive, miscellaneous equipment used by Fall Out Boy, and more to come. Dustin Kensrue will be performing songs from his brand new holiday album, This Good Night Is Still Everywhere (released digitally 11/18 on Vagrant) and his debut solo release, Please Come Home, which debuted on the Billboard Top 200 chart. “Musicians have so much potential to inspire their audience and include them on issues happening around the world,” says Kenny Laubbacher from Invisible Children, “it’s amazing to see this group of individuals embrace that power and act on it for a positive influence.” Location: Troubadour - 9081 Santa Monica Blvd - West Hollywood, CA 90069, 7pm, December 19^th. Tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.com/Invisible-Children-Benefit-tickets/artist/1270800. ($30)

Posted in Schools, United States of America, Our Favorite Things, Family Attractions, Music, Film, News | Print | No Comments »

November 20, 2008 by Bill Gould, Publisher.

Riverside County, California - The FBI and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigators are seeking the public’s help in identifying possible victims of Jorge Aglony, a man federally indicted this month who allegedly possessed child pornography. Investigators believe Aglony may have had physical contact with victims based on evidence found in his possession, announced Salvador Hernandez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles, Thomas O’Brien, U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles, and Stanley Sniff, Riverside County Sheriff.

Aglony was arrested by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in Palm Desert on September 12th for suspicion of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Further investigation by Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigators and the FBI led to the execution of federal search warrants of the hotel room, where Aglony had been staying, as well as his vehicle. Aglony was indicted by a federal grand jury on 11/12/08, charged with receipt and possession of child pornography, as well as possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and phencyclidine (PCP).

The search of Aglony’s Palm Desert hotel room and his car yielded paraphernalia consistent with the distribution of narcotics, as well as pornographic images of minors.


During a search of Aglony’s car, detectives found dozens of CDs, DVDs, VHS video cassettes, various other digital storage devices, video cameras, digital cameras, and handheld radios. Aglony also possessed a very small digital video camera and digital images consistent with the use of that camera to photograph the genital areas of unsuspecting females present in public places.

Investigators also found notes which appeared to be observations about the physical appearance, ethnicity and apparel of several individuals, described in some cases as “15 year old” or as “girls.” The notes contained several sexual references to these individuals. Some of the notes found included a listing of secondary schools in the Mountain View, San Jose, and Santa Clara areas of California.

Additionally, detectives found in Aglony’s hotel room a police badge with the letters “NTF,” an apparent reference to “Narcotics Task Force.” The badge suggests that Aglony may have impersonated a law enforcement officer.

Aglony is currently being held in federal custody and is scheduled to be arraigned today in U.S. District Court in Riverside. If convicted as charged, Aglony faces a statutory maximum penalty of 110 years in federal prison.

Anyone who believes their child has had contact with Aglony, or who otherwise has information involving Aglony’s possible criminal activity involving minors, is urged to contact the FBI, 24 hours a day, at 1 310 477-6565. Aglony is described as an Hispanic male, 50 years of age, 6’2”, 240 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes.

This investigation was conducted by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI. This case was filed in U.S. District Court in Riverside and will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office.

Posted in Palm Desert, Crime, News | Print | No Comments »

November 18, 2008 by Jeney Kingsbury.

In a town that has a pizza place in every center, you have to stand out among the competition. You have to be authentic Italian with just enough commercial American and exotic intrigue. And you have to serve a damn fine pizza.

Even though I am mostly of Irish decent, I am irrationally drawn to Italian food like I am returning to my homeland. Having originally stopped at the Baron’s shopping center to get coffee, we found ourselves walking into Spuntino’s instead.

Spuntino Pizzeria and Delicatessen
31891 Rancho California Rd Suite 200
Temecula, Ca 92590
951-699-7722
951-699-7724 fax

Spuntino’s Pizzeria and Delicatessen is wedged between a Subway and a Starbucks at the head of a beautiful courtyard. Inside, Spuntino’s is dual purpose; serving customers pizza, fresh salads, and sandwiches, as well as grocery items of dried pasta, olives, wine and much more. The front of the store houses the delicatessen, sliced meat and cheese, cold salads, fresh breads, and the salad/sandwich center. The real wood fire pizza oven is in the back, with about six or seven wooden tables curving through the middle of the shop. Along the side by the register is the Italian grocery.


On the menu you will find a multitude of options. From Pizza Bruschetta, bruschetta on a wood fired pizza crust (my all time favorite pizza), to Pizza Wurstel, hot, tomato sauce, mozzarella and oregano, you are sure to find the perfect pizza. Along with the usual pizzas, Meat Lovers, Vegetarian, Margherita, there are quite a few unique and exotic toppings like smoked salmon, anchovies, peas and French fries. If pizza is not what you are looking for, try one of the many types of salads, pastas, sandwiches or a calzone.

Finish off your meal with some strong Italian coffee or one of the many fresh desserts. Our table ordered Lemon Chello Sorbet and a Mocha Sorbet, both were exceptional. In my homeland if pizza were a place, Spuntino’s would now be the Capital City.

Posted in Temecula, Family Attractions, Food, News | Print | No Comments »