By Brian Lafferty

October 5, 2010 (San Diego)--The Social Network is one of the year’s best films. That is not a label I apply to just any good film. What makes this movie special is how everything in it took me in. Very few movies this year engaged me as much as The Social Network. The writing, directing, acting, and every other aspect left me feeling genuinely spellbound. Every person involved gave one-hundred percent effort and it shows.

By Brian Lafferty

October 3, 2010 (San Diego)--Claustrophobia seems to be a popular theme in the last two months. Lebanon took place entirely within a tank populated by four Israeli soldiers during the First Lebanon War. Whatever was seen outside the tank was limited to what was viewed through the periscope. Devil had several people stuck in an elevator with someone eventually revealed to be the Devil himself. Now we have Buried, a film featuring Ryan Reynolds in Iraq buried several feet underground in a coffin. This is a movie that must be seen in the theater to fully appreciate it. Not even the best home theater system can faithfully replicate the claustrophobic effects experienced at the cinema.

October 2, 2010 (Alpine) – A truck and another vehicle have collided in Alpine, resulting in at least one fatality, according to the California Highway Patrol. The accident was reported at 8:25 p.m. on Alpine Boulevard just east of Dunbar Lane.

October 2, 2010 (San Diego) – The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather statement for San Diego County. Skywarn spotter activation is requested through this evening.

Isolated showers and thunderstorms are forecast tonight, mainly in the mountains. “Thunderstorms have deadly lightning and may have heavy rain,” the statement said, adding that strong gusty winds and hail are also forecast.

October 2, 2010 (El Cajon) -- The public is invited to an Oktoberfest celebration at the El Cajon Elks Lodge, 1400 East Washington Avenue in El Cajon, for the Elks' annual Oktoberfest on October 16, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. There will be food and beverages, craft booths, German music to enjoy, a nail pounding contest and pitcher holding contest along with drawings for many prizes.

County Offers No Cost Depression Screenings, Referrals and Resources

October 2, 2010 (San Diego)--The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), in partnership with the Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP), is hosting a series of no cost depression screenings for adults during San Diego Depression Screening Week October 4-9.

By Joel A. Harrison

October 1, 2010 (San Diego) -- I recently paid SDG&E $1,599 for a job my plumber would have charged between $400 and $500 to do. The job involved relocating my gas meter approximately nine feet from its location under my bedroom window.

I decided to replace the window with a door and steps as an emergency exit, but couldn’t do this as long as the gas meter was in the way. SDG&E told me that its current safety code prohibits gas meters from being under windows, but my home was “grandfathered” in -- and they were under no obligation to move the meter.

Propositions’ impact on plate at League of Women Voter’s luncheon

Story and photos by Emily Anderson

October 2, 2010 (San Diego) -- Members of the San Diego League of Women Voters met last Thursday, September 23 at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse on Harbor Island to hear a three-member panel discuss redistricting, including the potential impact of an upcoming ballot initiative that could overturn a major redistricting measure previously approved by voters.

Tips and Tricks for Business Success and Growth

By Rama Beerfas

October 2, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – I recently had a conversation with a contact who told me, “I need to meet with you to discuss my marketing plan for next year. I am just so busy that I don’t think I’ll have time to do it until things slow down in late December.” Of course, once “late December” rolls around, he’ll probably be too busy with holiday plans to give his 2011 marketing plan any thought either.

“Voters in San Diego’s 50th District, do we have another Randy “Duke” Cunningham on our hands?”

By Tracy Emblem

We need to hold our elected officials' feet to fire and make them responsible when their actions fall short of their words.

October 1, 2010 (San Diego) – A 22-month-old toddler accidentally run over by her mother yesterday has died. She has been identified by the San Diego Coroner’s office as Lauren Garibay, daughter of Florence Street.

Shelters inundated with lost pets; now you can search online for lost animals

October 1, 2010 (Bonita) -- Thunder and lightning from yesterday’s storms resulted in a flood of stray dogs and cats coming into the County’s three animals shelters. On Thursday, the shelters took in a total of 133 dogs and cats. In comparison, the previous Thursday saw 79 stray dogs and cats brought in. The biggest increase in dogs was at the County’s animal shelter in Bonita, where 50 dogs came in on Thursday.

October 1, 2010 (Sacramento) Governor Schwarzenegger has signed AB 1775 to designate January 30 of each year as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution, in recognition of the Japanese American veteran's life-long fight to preserve civil liberties and constitutional rights. The measure was co-authored by Assemblyman Marty Block (D-Lemon Grove.)

“As a trailblazer of civil rights who stood against the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, Fred Korematsu’s legacy reminds us that we must use this dark period in our history as a teaching tool to educate future generations on the importance of preserving civil liberties for everyone," Block said.

The Last Circle, By Cheri Seymour (TrineDay LLC, Walterville, Oregon, 2010, 584 pages.)

Book Review by Dennis Moore

October 1, 2010 (San Diego) Former investigative reporter Cheri Seymour, a San Diego County resident, has written a non-fiction thriller to end all thrillers. The Last Circle is ripped from the headlines of one of our era’s most controversial murder scandals: the killing of investigative journalist Danny Casolaro, whose discoveries about a shadowy organization that he dubbed “The Octopus” reached into the Mafia, the Cali Drug Cartel, and even the U.S. Department of Justice.

September 30, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- Wild weather created the perfect storm for some spectacular skies over East County during the past couple of days. Here are a few of our favorites.  

Scroll down for more amazing images of skies over East County.