SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 12.10.2023

The San Francisco Chronicle finally published an opinion piece on the insidious Citizen’s Arrest. A legal tool often used by citizen’s wishing to settle disputes by utilizing the police as their enforcer and legal executioner.

I know all too well the malevolent manner in which the citizen’s arrest can be abused. Right here in allegedly “progressive” San Francisco.

My decades long wife a respected educator, parent, grandparent and San Francisco native was two times, at the age of 68 and 70, the subject of citizen’s arrests. Acting as “custodian” (that’s the legal term) the SFPD took my wife into custody.

Why? vindictive neighbors twice in less than two years completed and signed a Citizen’s Arrest. The SFPD witnessed neither offense. Both citizen’s arrests were woven out of whole cloth with no legal basis or evidentiary basis whatsoever.

I had twice to post $20,000 cash bail to have my wife released from San Francisco County Jail. The Superior Court made quick work of both False Citizen’s Arrests. Dismissing one “In the Interest of Justice (PC 1385) and discharging the other.

We sued the neighbors in San Francisco Superior Court for both False Citizen’s Arrests. The neighbors who consummated both False Citizen’s Arrests moved to have the false arrest allegations quashed. The Court denied the Motion. The neighbors agreed to a settlement shortly thereafter and eventually signed the Agreement in our favor.

Still, the psychological and financial damage was done. It is long lasting and will stay with us, particularly my wife, forever.

Justice in America is elusive and expensive.

Citizen’s Arrest. Misused by sociopaths to abuse, intimidate and harass

Top photo: Liz. Subject of two False Citizen’s Arrests (circa 2019) and author of the attached blog post.

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues – December 9, 2023

The American ‘veto’ at the United Nations Security Council calling for a ceasefire in Palestine is reprehensible. The scorn being heaped on America for this ‘veto’ it totally justified.

Palestinian men, women and children continue to be slaughtered from the air by the Israeli military. Whose scorched earth campaign against the Palestinian people continues with the political blessing and weapons provided by the Biden Administration.

The reaction of the Israeli government in response to the horrific terror attack by Hamas on October 7 has now gone far beyond the point of a measured response.

It is now obvious that the military carnage unleashed on the people of Palestine has only one goal. Destroy Palestine as a viable territory fit for human habitation.

One day Israel will pay a price for the murder and mayhem it continues to inflict on Palestine.

Deutsche Welle 12.9.2023

Netanyahu: Israel will continue our ‘just war’ against Hamas

The Israeli military said there were signs Hamas was “falling apart” in Gaza, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue the war.

In a video statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the US for its veto on the Gaza cease-fire resolution in the UN Security Council. 

“I very much appreciate the correct stance the US took at the United Nations Security Council,” Netanyahu said. “Therefore, Israel will continue our just war to eliminate Hamas and achieve the rest of the war’s goals.”  

Israel launched its current military operation against Hamas in Gaza after the militant-Islamist group carried out terror attacks on Israel on October 7.   

 Netanyahu said “other countries must also understand that they cannot support the elimination of Hamas on one side, and on the other to call for the end of the war, which will prevent the elimination of Hamas.” 

https://www.dw.com/en/israel-pounds-gaza-targets-after-us-vetos-rare-un-ceasefire-bid/video-67678827

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 12.8.2023

I cannot believe how Kaiser has dropped the ball in treating Liz’ ankle injury.

Liz will not be seen by a Kaiser specialist in treating injuries until later today, December 8. Ten days after she was injured.

Liz injured her ankle in Frankfurt, Germany on November 28. She was examined by a doctor in Frankfurt. He told her to see her doctor immediately upon her return to San Francisco. While still in Germany Liz contacted Kaiser immediately.

Following a painful 17 hour journey from Frankfurt to San Francisco we arrived home late Sunday.

Liz saw her general practitioner late Monday afternoon. X-rays were taken. The prognosis is that Liz has a fractured ankle. Since then Kaiser has done nothing except talk.

Kaiser has turned what should be a basic treatment, if that can be said about a fractured ankle, into what could become a full blown crisis. This should have been treated three days ago. Instead, Kaiser negligently dawdles. Liz, an athletic runner and cyclist for over 50 years, is forced to suffer unnecessary painful and unconscionable suffering.

The worst part of this failure to provide immediate service is the fact the Kaiser practitioner assigned to handle Liz injury has done nothing. Not even a phone call to discuss with Liz the extent of her injury and recommend treatment.

When I phoned Thursday afternoon I was told this Doctor, who was to have called Liz on Wednesday, was not in the office.

We called the Kaiser injury clinic. We called the office of Liz’s general practitioner. Thursday night we both got on the phone with Kaiser and filed a formal complaint.

We don’t know what else to do. Liz’s knee is swelling up and she is suffering ongoing pain and discomfit. This is an unconscionable medical professional failure.

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 12.4.2023

Liz and I just returned from our well documented weeks long trip to Berlin and Frankfurt. We were both felled by a brutal virus sweeping Germany.

We saw few people wearing protective face masks.

Germans were coughing everywhere we went. The manager of the Freddy Lecks Waschsalon told us “60 percent” of the business were out with the flu virus.

The manager at our hotel in Berlin chided us when we talked about being current on our Covid boosters. “Some people collect stamps. Other people collect Covid boosters.”

Now Deutsche Welle is reporting the cautionary words from the German health ministry.

Deutsche Welle 12.4.2023

German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach on Monday said it was important for at-risk individuals to have their coronavirus vaccinations in advance of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Lauterbach, himself a trained epidemiologist, said the takeup rate of newly adapted boosted shots designed to fight current COVID-19 variants was so far disappointing.

With three weeks to go until Christmas Day, Lauterbach said it was “the optimal time” for people identified as vulnerable to have the COVID-19 shot.

This would allow the vaccine to take full effect before the large social gatherings and travel that often take place at Christmas, he said.

Germany’s Standing Commission on Vaccination recommends an annual booster vaccination for people with an increased risk of a serious course of the disease.

The minister stressed that an infection was not a simple cold and that the virus remained a real threat to people with chronic health issues.

“At the moment the danger posed by COVID is actually being underestimated,” he said.

Lauterbach was speaking after a meeting about the long-term health effects of coronavirus with healthcare, medicine and science representatives.

 “The problem of Long COVID has not yet been solved,” said Lauterbach.

There had been an estimated 1,700 new infections per 100,000 people in seven days, Lauterbach revealed.

The updated coronavirus vaccine is specially adapted to the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant.

Nicknamed the Kraken, the subvariant became prevalent earlier this year and caught virologists’ attention because it contains more mutations to evade immunity than other variants seen so far.

https://www.dw.com/en/germany-get-covid-shots-for-christmas-minister-urges/a-67631576

Top photo: Liz and Lee in Berlin. Maskless but at least thoroughly vaccinated.

SOMEWHERE OVER NORTH AMERICA

Lee Heidhues 12.3.2023

We are finally on our way to San Francisco after a generally disastrous trip to Berlin and Frankfurt.

An event of kindness salvaged the final hours in 🇩🇪 Germany when we finally boarded United flight 59. When we reached our seats a kind young Italian woman offered Liz her seat in the upscale Premier Plus section. Giving her more space to rest her injured Achilles tendon.

This fortuitous event was something we needed.

Our now concluded Germany experience was made incredibly difficult by the Achilles tendon injury Liz suffered on the Deutsche Bahn. Liz heavy luggage and the lack of proper egress was the proximate cause.

Coming atop the virus we both contracted in Berlin, Liz injury was the brutal punctuation mark.

The  bad situation was made only worse during our trip to the Frankfurt airport earlier today.

An unconscionable lack of service by our taxi driver. He dropped us off at the wrong terminal. Over a mile from the United terminal.  Liz was forced to walk and take a shuttle. Further exacerbating her injury.

We finally reached the United Airlines check in desk. And were assisted by a very kind agent. Who told us her own story of tearing her Achilles tendon while hiking in Switzerland.

We finally reached our gate after going through German Customs, airport security and taking a long walk. Liz in pain every step of the way.

Regrettably, our problems and Liz suffering continued. The actual boarding of our flight was an absurdity. Rather than walk directly into the plane Liz was forced to walk down a steep flight of stairs. Assisted by a kind Mexican national who told us his own travel horror stories.

We were then packed into yet another shuttle and driven to our plane. There was a huge crowd.  Fortunately a German cop took notice of Liz’ plight. He cleared the stairway and walked Liz into the plane.

And her fortuitous encounter with the kind Italian.

The plane, totally packed, left 90 minutes late.

We are now closing in on the destination.

San Francisco International Airport.

FRANKFURT, GERMANY

Lee Heidhues 12.2.2023

Our experience in Germany 🇩🇪 is coming to its conclusion on a cold dreary early December afternoon in Frankfurt. Looking out at the skyline from our redoubt in the Willy Hotel on Neue Mainser Strasse just yards from the Opera House

Our nearly month long time in Germany has provided us with a snapshot of the cultural change sweeping the country. We met with and were treated kindly by many emigres. Turks. Persians. Asians. Italians. Africans. These new arrivals have transformed Germany 🇩🇪 And for the better.

Despite this immersion in the new multi cultural Germany, our health travails in Germany 🇩🇪 continue as Liz missive to a friend in San Francisco recounts.

Rather than experiencing the Museums and sites of Berlin and Frankfurt we have become immersed in the German healthcare maze.

We have had to jettison luggage prior to our return to San Francisco. Necessitating trips to the Deutsche Post in Berlin and Frankfurt.  Shipping 45 pounds home to avoid schlepping our belongings through the airports. And leaving one piece of luggage behind.

We were both laid low by a virulent virus sweeping Berlin. 

We arrived in Frankfurt. Liz suffered a debilitating ankle injury. Resulting in three visits to a clinic.  Lab work and diagnosis requiring immediate treatment upon our return after the upcoming arduous 11 hour flight.

The kindly and always attentive manager, Charlie, at the Willy Hotel has gone above and beyond in providing customer service. When we told him about Liz debilitating ankle injury he found a vacuum cleaner hose to use as a make shift cane.

We did have some unique moments in Frankfurt. Having seen few Asian folks in Berlin we felt more at home in Frankfurt. Staying in the Willy Hotel. Managed and staffed by Chinese emigres. Eating dinner several times at a Asian Fusion restaurant. I told the server it was very reassuring to be around people we feel most comfortable.

Top photo. The European Union insignia shines in the Frankfurt night as omnipresent cyclists pedal by.

FRANKFURT, GERMANY

Lee Heidhues 11.30.2023

I am in Germany. The country where Henry Kissinger was born 100 years ago. Whose Jewish family fled Nazi Germany 🇩🇪 in 1938.

What makes Kissinger’s political life so disturbing. His manic single-minded focus to American power dominance.

The destruction of neutral Cambodia in 1970 which led to genocidal Khmer Rouge regime

Kissinger’s destruction of the democratic Socialist Salvador Allende. Ushered in the 17 year dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. A reign of terror and prosecution of political foes.

Mainstream media for American capitalist predominance notwithstanding. This is why the obituaries are not universal in lauding Kissinger as a great man.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2023/nov/30/henry-kissinger-dies-tribute-world-leader-diplomat-latest-updates?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Top photo: Henry Kissinger under siege by Code Pink protesters at hearing in Washington DC

BERLIN, GERMANY

Lee Heidhues 11.25.2023

It’s a 36° dreary rainy day when the blogger trekked to 17 JuniStrasse in the center of Tiergarten Park by the Victory Column to check out the environmental group Letzte Generation protest.

A sizable crowd braved the elements to voice its support for climate change

The group is controversial in Germany 🇩🇪 for its militant street actions protesting the ongoing prevalence of  fossil fuels in this auto fueled nation. The headline (posted below) from German tabloid BILD is typical.

The blogger knew of this event before leaving San Francisco and vowed to attend.

His blog mate was recovering from a Virus and made the prudent decision. She sought refuge in a Moabit Cafe for a warm meal and conversation with the barista.

Following is a montage of the Letzte Generation climate protest. A well attended event watched over by a large number of Berlin Polizei.

BERLIN, GERMANY

Liz and Lee Heidhues 11.24 2023

An unforgettable day in the Friedrichshain district.

Watching folks eat, drink, and get down at the historically themed medieval Weichnachtsmarkt.

With hand-operated attractions like a Ferris Wheel and a wooden carousel for the children.

Where adults can purchase unique handmade works from blacksmiths, carpenters, and weavers.

Christmas Markets pop up all over Berlin and other German cities around Christmas times.

All varieties of families from diverse backgrounds gather together at these outdoor markets, to enjoy the food, mulled wines, and traditions of the wintry German Christmas.

There is nothing comparable in San Francisco’s often balmy Christmas season.

Top photo: The Christmas Market merry go round.

BERLIN, GERMANY

Lee Heidhues  11.23.2023

We have been two weeks in Moabit and had daily exposure to this multi cultural hip working class neighborhood.

Following are some photos of the life.