Matt Lauer's Interview With Ryan Lochte

Ryan Lochte's embellishment of the incident that occurred in Rio was so damaging to his image and may have cost him millions of dollars in endorsement deals. When someone is caught in a lie, it is hard to ever trust them again and they lose all credibility. Lochte's behavior was wrong on so many levels. First  of all, when you are travelling to another country representing your country in the most elite athletic competition in the world, you are required and expected to conduct yourself with a certain decorum. You must conduct yourself with the highest standards of etiquette and you abide by the laws of the land hosting the events. Lochte disrespected the U.S., Rio (the host city of the Games), the Brazilian people, the International Olympic Committee (who contributed 1.5 billion USD to the operational budget of the Games), the U.S. Olympic Committee, all of the Olympic athletes in general, the U.S. Olympic swim team in particular, his family and most of all himself. His scandalous behavior detracted from the honor and legacy of the Games. 

Watch the interview and you'll see what I mean. 

Mel Gibson/Oksana Grigorieva - Breach of Confidentiality

As a legal professional I have had the privilege of working for and with the best of the best. No nepotism; I had to prove myself to earn my spot next to top attorneys, executives, A-list talent and elite athletes. And having worked at the top of my game for many years, I have acquired expert skills when it comes to drafting and negotiating a wide array of complicated contracts; most of which include non-disclosure provisions and all of which include remedies for breach of agreement. When information is intended to be kept confidential, and the disclosure of that information would cause substantial or irreparable harm to a party, that is when the parameters for non-disclosure must be written very carefully into non-disclosure provisions of a contract, settlement agreement or a completely separate Non-Disclosure Agreement. Does any of this legal business sound boring? Well, the story of Mel Gibson and his former lover Oksana is the perfect example of how important the words in a contract are. Celebrities are notorious for being involved in messy situations and scandals. Having worked for numerous big name celebrities, I have had my hands on quite a few unique settlement agreements all of which convey the message ‘I am not admitting to any wrongdoing but take this money, go on about your business and don’t ever talk about this again.’ And you are inevitably barred from ever suing for any issues related to the situation that gave rise to the settlement agreement.

Below is The Hollywood Reporter’s story about Mel Gibson and Oksana posted on hollywoodreporter.com on August 11, 2016 by Eriq Gardner. Apparently Oksana did not understand the advice undoubtedly given to her about staying silent on the matter or she did not take it seriously and her lapse in judgment cost her $500,000. 

In 2011  a similar thing happened to Rachel Uchitel, golf phenom Tiger Woods' former lover, at the height of Tiger Woods' 2010 sex scandal with multiple women. Uchitel had engaged civil rights attorney Gloria Allred to represent her interests with respect to Tiger Woods. Allred is well-known for holding press conferences on TV with her clients who are involved in controversial cases with high profile individuals. And Woods engaged Jay Lavely (the partner of controversial high profile litigator Marty Singer) to represent his interests in the sex scandal. Just before Uchitel was about to go public, Allred cut a deal with Lavely for Uchitel to keep silent on the details of her affair with Woods in exchange for $10 million. After the deal was cut, Jay Lavely claimed that Uchitel breached the terms of the agreement relating to Woods and that the confidentiality provisions in place provided for the return of the settlement money by Uchitel upon such breach. Lavely had claimed that Uchitel breached the agreement by talking to TMZ about the matter and by appearing on the TV show Celebrity Rehab where she was treated for a 'love addiction.' Allred counseled Uchitel that it would be in her best interest to return the money to Woods and Uchitel did. However, Allred cut a deal with Lavely to secure her attorney's fees and Uchitel, recognizing that she had been duped, sued Allred.

MEL GIBSON ESCAPES SETTLEMENT PAYMENTS AFTER EX-GIRLFRIEND'S HOWARD STERN INTERVIEW

Oksana Grigorieva's response to the radio host in 2013 carried domestic violence insinuations about Gibson — and an appeals court says it's enough to deny her $500,000.

A California appeals court has affirmed a judgment that allows Mel Gibson to withhold settlement payments to ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva over a breach of confidentiality.

The case began in 2010 when Gibson looked to establish that he was really the father of the couple's daughter. Grigorieva filed a separate lawsuit alleging that the actor had committed battery and defamation. Two years later, the couple settled with each other. She got $20,000 per month for child support and a home. He got to be declared the father of the girl. Additionally, to resolve the battery and defamation claims, Gibson was obligated to pay Grigorieva $750,000 in three installments.

After Grigorieva got the first $250,000 payment, she went on Howard Stern's show. On May 21, 2013, she thanked the radio host for his support.

"I want to thank you for saying that, because I will support you to the end," Stern responded. "I don't care what the circumstances are. You do not treat a woman that way, especially the mother of your child."

After a further exchange, Grigorieva told Stern, "You know what? You have to embrace your experience and even — it doesn't matter how painful it might be at the time, and that darker experience, learn from it."

Grigorieva also said that she planned to work with a domestic violence charity.

As a result of this interview, Gibson filed a request for an order to discharge his obligations to pay future installments under the parties' settlement agreements. Grigorieva's attorneys argued that statements referred only to "unspecified domestic abuse" and that Gibson couldn't establish a breach based on inference. The California appeals court rejects this.

"While it is true that the confidentiality clause did not require [Grigorieva] to police what other people might say about her past relationship with [Gibson], it expressly restricted her capacity to make statements 'related to' her domestic violence claims against him," states the appellate court's opinion. "Construing the 'related to' language according to its popular meaning and in the context of the larger instrument’s purpose, it is reasonable to infer that the parties intended the confidentiality clause to encompass not only express statements about [Grigorieva's] domestic violence claims against [Gibson], but also implicit assertions about those claims made through reference to what others might say. Thus, even accepting [Grigorieva's] premise that she was not required to control what others would say, nor prohibited from speaking about domestic violence generally, it still follows from the language of the confidentiality clause that she could not insinuate [Gibson] committed domestic violence on her by piggybacking on Stern's comments about what she had 'been through with [Gibson].'"

The appeals court also rejects Grigorieva's argument that the $750,000 payment was a child support obligation that couldn't be relieved without a finding concerning the daughter's best interest. The appeals court additionally upholds a $13,500 sanctions order against Grigorieva for not cooperating with Gibson's request that she authenticate a transcript of what she said on Stern's show.

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck's Meeting In Washington D.C.

If you thought the problem was being ignored, the LAPD's News Release below is proof positive that it is not. It is so important when there is a problem to move towards a solution. If you are passionate about an issue, make sure to express yourself in an intelligent, articulate manner in the proper forum. Anything less diminishes your message and detracts away from whatever statement you are trying to make.

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and Law Enforcement Leaders in Washington, D.C. NR15360jr

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Washington DC: Today, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck joined President Obama and Bill Keller, Editor-in-Chief of The Marshall Project, for a conversation on criminal justice reform with US Attorney John Walsh from Colorado. The focus of the discussion was how to make America's law enforcement and correctional practices more just and effective.

Said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, "There is an important and necessary national conversation happening right now about use-of-force and the role of police, especially in communities of color.

Though L.A. has a painful history and still experiences difficult moments today, we have taken extraordinary steps to break from the past - and our achievements and commitment to continuing progress have earned our city a place among America's leaders in 21st century policing and criminal justice reform. That is affirmed by Chief Beck's conversation with President Obama today at the White House, as they discuss ways that America's law enforcement and correctional practices can be made fairer and more effective.

Cities across the nation can find transformative lessons in L.A.'s story - as we deepen our police department's relationships with the communities they serve, emphasize de-escalation tactics and transparency through what will be the nation's largest body-camera program, and provide pathways to second chances for nonviolent offenders instead of pipelines to prison."

Said LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, "We have to recognize that all crimes do not carry the same weight and some crimes involve addiction and mental illness and have other pathways that can be more effective than incarceration. We are a reflection of a much larger issue in America. There is racial disparity in housing, in employment, in the entire economic system… We have to look at these things in totality and address them as a nation."

The Los Angeles Police Department has embraced the recommendations from the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing Interim Report released earlier this year. A key pillar of the Interim Report pertains to developing policy and oversight with regard to Police Training and Education. This summer, Chief Beck unveiled a five-hour block of training to every field officer in the LAPD on the topic of reverence for life. The training utilized historical reference points including the 1992 Riots and the Rampart Corruption Scandal, as well as national use of force incidents to highlight key transformational moments in the department's history. The course included a block on building our capacity to engage the mentally ill. Officers took away the reminder that reverence for all life is the cornerstone to constitutional policing.

Chief Beck addressed a second pillar of the report - Community Policing and Crime Reduction - through continued growth of the Cadet program, establishing an LAPD Headquarters Cadet Post in order to recognize the voice of youth in community decision-making. The Department is also spearheading a Juvenile Arrest Diversion Program in Operations-South Bureau designed to keep first time offenders from jail time through social engagement, education, and job training.

The panel discussion at the White House was live-streamed at 2:00 PM Eastern Time Thursday. It can be viewed at The Marshall Project and Yahoo.

* Source of official information in this posting is the Los Angeles Police Department; NR15360jr.

The Real Deal Rock-N-Roll

Machine Head by Bush is one of my all time favorite songs hands down. This is the real deal rock-n-roll. Enjoy... 

LAPD Sergeant Joel Sydanmaa On The Job

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https://jacqibone.blogspot.com/2020/09/i-believe-in-karma-lapd-sgt-joel.html

https://jacqibone.blogspot.com/2020/05/hymn-to-fallen.html

https://jacqibone.blogspot.com/2019/06/elder-abuse-alert-lisbeth-liz-sebiane.html

https://jacqibone.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-ugly-truth-about-lapd-detective.html

I met Sergeant Joel Sydanmaa of the LAPD (Serial # 33196) on September 18, 2015 when I witnessed him firsthand give a fellow LAPD officer (i.e., my LAPD officer brother Serial # 32809) a free pass to some very bad and questionable behavior falling under the category of conduct unbecoming and then some. I am very analytical and I think like a detective. I watched Sydanmaa and his subordinates intently. I listened up close and from afar then went on about my business. When I read an email that Sydanmaa subsequently sent me, the content blew my mind. I was astonished at the misuse of independent authority that Sydanmaa attempted to use as a cover-up for a fellow officer and his subordinates using very craftily manufactured words intended to fool any third party reading the subject email. Knowingly and affirmatively stating a falsehood or making a partially true but misleading statement that is equivalent to an affirmative false statement is unethical for a peace officer. The lack of integrity in his behavior and words was, unfortunately, not so shocking. Sergeant Sydanmaa, who goes by the alias Joel Christopher and Kersantti Christopher, appears to be very disgruntled in his public commentaries on social media which runs the danger of clouding his judgment while on the job. His words appear to be honorable but the undertones of anger and disillusion are very apparent. In one of his social media postings below of July 12, 2016 he mischaracterizes the public’s dissatisfaction with excessive or fatal use of force incidents and police misconduct as a “trend against police.” In his posting below Sydanmaa is projecting his dissatisfaction with being a police officer onto prospective recruits by indirectly dissuading them against police work. Sydanmaa’s negative words (albeit posted, according to him, pursuant to his First Amendment rights) are distasteful and disparage law enforcement in general and the LAPD in particular. Sydanmaa is using fuzzy logic to make certain points and the points he is making are invalid in light of the fact that there are pit falls to the law enforcement profession by virtue of what the profession is. Policing has to adapt to societal factors; including the entropy and decay that did not come over night and therefore will not be resolved over night.

Here is Sydanmaa’s posting which clearly shows his us (cops) versus them (the public) mentality when the mindset should be one of cooperation and collaboration to bridge the gap between the public and the police:

“What would you do if there weren't any police?

Or, if there were so few, that it just could not be reasonably expected that they could respond to your emergency in a timely manner?

Could you defend yourself and your family against that armed, home invasion robber in the middle of the night?

Could you identify, track down and arrest the burglar who broke into your home?

Could you chase away the drug dealers from your street corner?

Could you respond to and neutralize that active shooter at your son or daughter's school?

It's an intriguing - and scary - thought, isn't it?

Even though I'm the police myself, when I'm away in Los Angeles working, I depend upon the local law enforcement where I live to serve those functions for me - to protect my home and my kids and my property.

There is no "hiring pool" for police officers anymore - it's barely a hiring "trickle". And, if the current trend against police continues, it will become a hiring "drip".

Nobody in their right mind will want to become the police.

I could not, in good conscious, recommend that anybody go into police work right now.

This issue of a staggering lack of police candidates doesn't necessarily affect you as much as it will affect your children.

Tomorrow's generation will greatly be affected by today's developing lack of interest in becoming the police. And I can understand why. In what other job do you get murdered at a rally protecting people who are there protesting you in the first place? Think about that for a second.

In what other job is it not only okay for groups to march against you and call for your murder, but it's widely broadcast without condemnation in the media?

In what other job do you wear body armor and carry a weapon to possibly prevent your own death, and when you're forced to use that weapon, the very premise of American justice - "innocent until proven guilty" - does not apply to you?

Rather, you're immediately vilified in the court of public opinion, by portions of the media, various politicians and even the President of the United States.

Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson defended his life against a violent attack - that's all he did. Yet, he was immediately deemed guilty of profiling, excessive force and murder by nearly everybody outside of the law enforcement community, including the President.

But what ultimately happened?

The Justice Department determined that Wilson did absolutely nothing wrong.

There were no apologies from the White House or the BLM movement. No "make-goods".

But Wilson's life was changed forever. He can no longer be the police anywhere. He was forced to move. He changed his name. He faces death threats. He lives in fear. All for doing nothing more than his job, as yes, a police officer. Who would want to do that?

I don't say this for myself. I have twenty years in - you're stuck with me. I'll continue to strap on that vest, pin on that badge and do the very best that I can until I retire. Rather, I say this for the generation of amazing policemen and women that will never serve, because, they'll never apply in the first place.

America needs to invest in its future by seeing the problems of today for what they truly are and stop blaming them on the police.

Because if America doesn't, down the road, there won't be any police left to blame them on.”

People, despite the poor judgment, irresponsibility and dereliction of duty of Sgt. Joel Sydanmaa and other bad cops, please do not rush to judgment against the police who we depend on for protection and societal order. Yes the "c" word (i.e., corruption) does exist in law enforcement but not all police are bad and there are processes and procedures in place to identify and weed out the bad ones. Policing is a vital function and the men and women on the dangerous, volatile streets are our brothers and sisters who need our support. Pray for our brothers and sisters.

Jacqueline Sebiane

Ownership Statement: The written content of The Blog by Jacqueline Sebiane which is deemed and construed to be original is the sole and exclusive property of the author, Jacqueline Sebiane.  All right, title and interest in and to the intellectual property rights of The Blog by Jacqueline Sebiane shall vest solely in the author.  Any unauthorized use or duplication of the written content of The Blog by Jacqueline Sebiane, or any portion thereof, is expressly prohibited.  

LAPD Police Chief Charlie Beck On Criminal Justice Reform

In Observance of Independence Day 2016

Today is a traditional American holiday deeply rooted in history with freedom as the theme.  What does freedom mean to you?

Freedom means everything to me.  Freedom to think, to feel and to be.  Freedom to express myself verbally, physically, emotionally and sexually. Freedom to be me and express myself through fashion, hair styles, music and dance.  Freedom to laugh and to love who I want and how I want.  Freedom to love myself and honor my feelings. Freedom to choose and make decisions. Freedom to say yes, to say no and to say good-bye if I need to.  Freedom to live how I want to live.  

Freedom from evil, hatred and injustice.  Freedom from negativity, conflict, turmoil and toxic people. Freedom from debt, control, oppression, fear, self-loathing, self-doubt, obsession, addiction, affliction, illness and the past.  One of the wisest things I have ever heard is “Your tormentor today is yourself left over from yesterday.” Let go of the past; including painful events and the people who hurt you. Take the shackles off yourself and go and live a beautiful life no matter what obstacles come your way.  God bless you and God bless America. 

And yes, these beautiful sentiments are mine in my authentic words. I did not borrow these thoughts or words from anyone or anywhere. 

Ownership Statement: The written content of The Blog by Jacqueline Sebiane which is deemed and construed to be original is the sole and exclusive property of the author, Jacqueline Sebiane.  All right, title and interest in and to the intellectual property rights of The Blog by Jacqueline Sebiane shall vest solely in the author.  Any unauthorized use or duplication of the written content of The Blog by Jacqueline Sebiane, or any portion thereof, is expressly prohibited.  

An Empowering Message From Khloe Kardashian

  

  

This is a strong message posted by Khloe on one of her social media accounts. The grammatical and typographical errors are hers, not mine, but I really like what she posted whether or not the thoughts are 100% hers. We all have relationships that deeply impact our lives. How we handle those relationships is key to the effect they have on our lives. Just like I have said about my relationship with BMW Race Car Driver Bill Auberlen (and he loves the title BMW Race Car Driver) "sometime's good-bye is the only solution."

Jacqueline Sebiane

khloekardashian "Letting go doesn't mean that you don't care about someone anymore. It's just realizing that the only person you really have control over is yourself." Letting go with love takes great strength. We have to learn to stop taking on people’s problems as if they are our own. Loving people does not mean we have to carry their burdens and confusions on our back. Sadly, you can only express your opinion on a situation. You can't want their life more than they do. This is in fact their life to figure out on their own and in their own time. I do believe in timing. I do believe timing is everything. You forcing your beliefs and dreams down ones throat is only going to cause resentment and possibly manifest deeper issues. Possibly to the point of no return. "People say time heals all wounds... I say time heals wounds but scars are left to remind you what you have been through and what you survived." Stop shattering your own heart by trying to make a relationship (friend, family, partner) work that clearly isn’t meant to work. We have to stop trying to repaint people's colors. We have to learn to believe the love we AREN'T given. You can't love someone into loving you. (God I wish it were that easy) You can’t force someone to be loyal, kind, understanding. You can’t force someone to be the person you need them to be. Even if it's for their own good!! Sometimes the person you want most is the person you’re best without. 😩😫 You have to understand... some things ARE supposed to happen in your life, but they just are NOT meant to be. Damn... It took me so many years to understand that. Don’t lose yourself by trying to fix what’s meant to stay broken. God always has a plan even if we can't understand it (or don't want to understand it) Even in the darkest of places... Our Lord sees His vision. We might not understand it at the moment but I promise you, your future will always bring understanding and clarity of why things didn’t work out. Don’t put your happiness on hold for someone (family, friend, partner) who isn’t holding on to you. "A Girl once told me… Be careful when trying to fix a broken person. For you may cut yourself on their shattered pieces."

Caitlyn Jenner vs. The Kardashians

Bruce Jenner’s transition into Caitlyn Jenner and all of the aftermath of her coming out is so interesting. For so long Bruce Jenner sat on the sidelines while all of the Kardashian mayhem unfolded then from one day to the next he (now she) stole the show. How ironic.

Taylor Swift And Calvin Harris Are Over

Taylor Swift was reportedly dumped by Calvin Harris after just fifteen months of dating. It makes you wonder when someone who is rich, famous and seems to have it all gets dumped by their lover.

MMA Fighter Kimbo Slice's Final Tap Out

KIMBO SLICE, POPULAR MMA FIGHTER AND INTERNET SENSATION, DIES 

By Joshua Berlinger, CNN

Mixed martial arts fighter Kimbo Slice died Monday, according to the MMA organization that represented him. He was 42 years old.

"One of the most popular MMA fighters ever, Kimbo was a charismatic, larger-than-life personality that transcended the sport. Outside of the cage he was a friendly, gentle giant and a devoted family man," said Bellator MMA President Scott Coker. "His loss leaves us all with extremely heavy hearts, and our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Ferguson family and all of Kimbo's friends, fans, and teammates."

Local media reports said that Slice, whose real name is Kevin Ferguson, had been hospitalized earlier Monday. His official website also confirmed his death.

Sgt. Carla Kmiotek told CNN police in Coral Springs, Florida, did not receive any police or EMS calls to Slice's residence before he was hospitalized. There is no police investigation, she said.

"We battled inside the cage, warrior vs warrior," said UFC figher Ken Shamrock. "REST IN PEACE KIMBO SLICE. May God Watch Over You."

LACoFD, Et Al., Faces Three Alarm Brush Fire In Calabasas, CA

Here is video footage of the fire by NBC. [Just ignore the 30 second advertisement. There is no way to remove it from the footage.]

Here is the story by CNN updated 12:36 PM ET, Sunday June 5, 2016:

(CNN) Hundreds of firefighters are battling a blaze in Los Angeles County that has forced at least 5,000 people to evacuate their homes, authorities said.

Since the inferno started Saturday afternoon it has already torched 516 acres, Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief John Tripp said. As of Sunday morning, the blaze was 30% contained.

The fire is on the slope of a canyon, "which makes it very dangerous for us to do a direct attack," Tripp said.

The wildfire broke out Saturday afternoon in the Calabasas area -- a relatively affluent part of Los Angeles County that is home to a handful of celebrities, including Jessica Simpson and Toni Braxton, authorities said.

About 3,700 homes -- or about 5,000 people -- were ordered to evacuate in Calabasas and nearby Topanga, mountainous communities west of Los Angeles and north of Malibu.

On Sunday morning, authorities lifted the evacuation order for Calabasas, but Topanga residents should stay away, officials said.

"The fire is not on the road, it is halfway up the side of a mountain," Tripp said. "That's why we can't let people back in their homes."

So far, the blaze has destroyed a large building and damaged two homes, he said.

HOW IT STARTED

The fire started around 4:15 p.m. PT Saturday when a pickup truck struck a power pole on Mulholland Highway in Calabasas, the sheriff's department said. 

"Witnesses reported that the truck was traveling at a high rate of speed before colliding into a power pole, causing the pole to fall and a transformer to explode, thus igniting the Calabasas fire," Deputy Jeffrey A. Gordon said.

"Witnesses reported that the truck was traveling at a high rate of speed before colliding into a power pole, causing the pole to fall and a transformer to explode, thus igniting the Calabasas fire," Deputy Jeffrey A. Gordon said.

Temperatures in nearby Topanga reached the mid-90s earlier in the day, according to the National Weather Service.

The fire has been dubbed the "Old Fire" due to its proximity to Old Topanga Canyon Road. It came right up to the edges of Calabasas High School and Viewpoint School.

FIGHTING BLAZE WITH GARDEN HOSES

About 400 firefighters, along with water-dropping helicopters, are trying to contain the blaze, Tripp said.

He said three firefighters were injured. Two suffered knee injuries, and one had a "cardiac event."

"This is extremely arduous work for them to do," Tripp said.

Steve Gentry, a photojournalist who filmed the firefighters, told CNN the situation was "very serious."

"At one point, the fire was licking right up through to the backyards of a lot of the homes of the residents in that area, to the point where even sheriffs' deputies were grabbing garden hoses and using them to fight the fire," he said.

"Things here in California, they're very dry and it doesn't take a whole lot for a fire to get going and spread really rapidly."

Pictures of the blaze show residents staring at bright, tall flames creeping toward the sky, visible from nearby streets.

[The rest of this story was intentionally omitted.]

Muhammad Ali Dies At Age 74

Float Like A Butterfly...

El Segundo Firefighter Clayton Holt's TV Appearance On The Doctors

Here is a sexy firefighter from my past, El Segundo Firefighter Clayton Holt, still rocking the muscular physique. Check out how giddy he made TV Host Dr. Jennifer Ashton. 

Don't worry Dr. Ashton, I had the same reaction when I dated him. And yes, he is all that! I still have a school girl crush on this one.

LACoFD Comes To The Rescue Of CHP Officer In Malibu

This is interesting. I have a close friend who is a Firefighter/Paramedic with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. David and I communicate on a daily basis. On this particular night an emergency situation occurred in Malibu, CA that required his services. A female CHP Officer was the victim of a hit and run accident and was struck by a vehicle at approximately 9:15 PM [See the story below.] David called me to relax and talk like we always do at exactly 9:15 PM, the same time the incident happened, and I missed the call. Had I picked up the phone, he would have been caught off guard when the call came through to the LACoFD. Instead, he was alert and ready to roll out to the scene. When I didn’t hear back from him after the missed call, I figured something had gone down and it was confirmed when I turned on the evening news. This is what it is like when you have cops and firefighters in your life. You have to be patient and understanding at all times. The fact that I missed the call at 9:15 PM as the CHP Officer got hit by a car at approximately 9:15 PM was no accident. What a trip.

CHP OFFICER ‘DOING BETTER’ AFTER BEING STRUCK BY HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER NEAR MALIBU

Posted On KTLA.com May 26, 2016 At 9:15 AM

A California Highway Patrol officer was “doing better” Thursday after being seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash near Malibu the night before, authorities said.

Officer Flores was hit about 9:15 p.m. on Topanga Canyon Boulevard just north of Pacific Coast Highway, according to CHP Officer Patrick Kimball.

Flores was standing outside her patrol car directing traffic at the scene of an earlier non-injury crash when she was struck by a gray Cadillac traveling northbound at an unknown rate of speed, the CHP stated in a news release.

One of the people involved in the earlier non-injury crash rushed to help Flores and used her radio to call for assistance.

Flores, a 14-year veteran of the CHP, was airlifted to UCLA Medical Center in serious condition.

The driver of the Cadillac, later identified by authorities as 76-year-old Prashant Amin, fled the scene but was arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run a few miles away, according to Kimball.

Flores “appeared to be doing better” and was in moderate condition as of Thursday morning, Kimball said.

The cause of the crash was under investigation.

Ownership Statement: The written content of The Blog by Jacqueline Sebiane which is deemed and construed to be original is the sole and exclusive property of the author, Jacqueline Sebiane.  All right, title and interest in and to the intellectual property rights of The Blog by Jacqueline Sebiane shall vest solely in the author.  Any unauthorized use or duplication of the written content of The Blog by Jacqueline Sebiane, or any portion thereof, is expressly prohibited.  

Real Life Hero LAPD Officer Donald Thompson

This heroic act by LAPD Officer Donald Thompson deserves an honorable mention. So often the media spotlights questionable incidents of use of force and police misconduct. It is my pleasure to post this story to remind people that police officers risk their lives every day to protect ours.

LOS ANGELES (KABC)

A Los Angeles cop who put his life on the line to pull a driver from a fiery wreck on the 405 Freeway is being honored with the Medal of Valor from President Obama.

Officer Donald Thompson, a bomb technician with the LAPD remembers Christmas 2013 like it was yesterday.

A driver going north on the 405 experienced a medical emergency and slammed his vehicle into the center divider. The vehicle exploded into flames.

Thompson, who was on his way to work, acted quickly, scaling two freeway dividers to get to the unconscious driver, who was seat-belted inside

"I could just feel the heat increasing and increasing," Thompson said. "My exposed skin was just feeling it, everything was happening so fast. I thought this might be the moment that I might pass away."

Thompson didn't give up, finally unbuckling the seat belt and pulling the 72-year-old driver to safety.

His heroic actions are now being recognized by the White House. Obama will award Thompson the public safety officer Medal of Valor on Monday.

Thompson says receiving the medal and meeting the president will be a highlight - but the true reward came when he finally met the man he saved.

"That was the defining moment," Thompson said. "From that point on, I just knew that no award, whether it's a medal, a certificate, a ribbon, proclamation can take the place of someone looking you straight in the eye and saying thank you for saving my life."

A Day At Work As A Paramedic For The L.A.County Fire Department

Just another day at work for my long-time friend David Agerbeek; a Firefighter/Paramedic with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.  He gave me this picture and asked me to post it on my blog so I did. A picture is worth a thousand words!

I use to have a thing for firefighters. I dated so many.  I had a lot of visits to different fire stations and even went on calls on the Rescue Truck and different Engines. This was thrilling and scary as you never knew what to expect when you got to a call.  David was one of my besties for a very long time. I loved having a meal with the firefighters at Station 106 as well as rushing to a call on the Rescue Truck. Thanks for that memory David. You might not think so but I do miss hanging out with you... all those meals we had together, shopping at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, meeting up at the gym for years, going to church and hanging out at your condo, the beach, etc. 

Prolific Music Icon Prince Dies At Age 57

Eclectic music legend Prince died today just two months short of his 58^th birthday. Prince was very much an enigma. His music, a mix of funk and rock-n-roll, was so unique and will live on forever in history. Prince was 100% a super star. I remember one night I was at a night club on the Sunset strip in Hollywood. The music was pumping and the dance floor was jumping. And when I looked to the left of me I saw Prince all by himself standing up against the wall wearing very dark shades just hanging in the club with his body guards nearby keeping a watchful eye on him. And the next time I saw him was when I had an exclusive VIP pass to one of his appearances on the Arsenio Hall Show on Valentine’s Day where he performed The Most Beautiful Girl In The World and gave the audience a rare, customized piece of music memorabilia. Amazing!

Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant's Final Game

After an esteemed 20 year career as a Los Angeles Laker, NBA superstar Kobe Bryant played his last game tonight at the Staples Center; home of the Los Angeles Lakers. Not only did Kobe maneuver a high-pressure comeback for the Lakers in the last couple of minutes of the game for a 101 - 96 win over the Utah Jazz but he ended his career with a bang with a historic season-high 60 point game bringing down the house for one last time. You rock Kobe!

Donald Trump's Twitter Account

I decided to check out Donald Trump’s twitter account, Donald J. Trump@realDonaldTrump, after reading a story about his successor host to Celebrity Apprentice, Arnold Schwarzenegger, for the 2016/2017 TV season. All I can say about Mr. Trump’s twitter account is… Oh my goodness! The tweets were entertaining. Mr. Trump is very direct. It is no wonder that his candidacy and campaigning for President of the United States of America elicits visceral reactions from the masses.

VH1s Family Therapy With Dr. Jen

Have you seen this show? It is very interesting. Tiffany “New York” Pollard’s mother Sister Patterson is extremely polarizing on the show. Her anger issues are intense and disrupt the therapeutic process of all the other patients. Renown mental health professional Dr. Christian Conte who specializes in anger management is a therapist on the show. Even he is taken aback by the intensity of Sister Patterson angry, irrational outbursts.

If your family is broken or dysfunctional then you stand to benefit from watching this show. Below is the show’s synopsis…

VH1 will explore the difficult and complex ties that bind in the newest series VH1 Family Therapy With Dr. Jenn. The families seeking therapy are: Tiffany "New York" Pollard and her mother Sister Patterson, celebrity exes Dina Lohan and Michael Lohan, Damon Dash and brothers Jeremy Dash and Bobby Dash, Reality TV star Bam Margera and his mother April Margera, and Teen Mom's Briana Dejesus and her sister Brittany Dejesus.

Blood is thicker than water but the harsh spotlight of fame can thin it out for some families. While fame and fortune can give you almost everything you desire, it certainly doesn't buy happiness, heal past wounds or solve deep-rooted family issues.

From John Irwin's Irwin Entertainment, the producers of Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew, new series VH1 Family Therapy With Dr. Jenn hopes to shed a little light on the complicated and often misunderstood world of celebrity families who still have to grapple with universal issues – but under a microscope. The new series features five families at a crossroads in their relationship as they undergo three weeks of intensive family therapy. Under the guidance of Dr. Jenn Mann (who will serve as primary therapist and host for the series), the family members will participate in group and individual therapy along with relationship exercises out in the "real world" to see if they can rebuild their relationships or if it's simply time for them to move on.

Spring Equinox 2016

St. Patrick's Day 2016

Here’s one of my favorites from House of Pain…