Blogger brutally attacked in Ecuador!!

An American couple who sold their belongings to finance a trip to Latin America returned home Tuesday after they were brutally attacked in Ecuador, according to the couple's blog and U.S. officials.

A couple that was brutally attacked in Ecuador chronicled their travels in Latin America in a blog.

State Department spokesman Robert Wood confirmed Tuesday that two Americans from Bend, Oregon, were attacked in the city of Esmeraldas, on Ecuador's northern coast. But he said he could provide no further information because of privacy laws.

Two State Department officials, however, said that the man, named by his family in media reports as Britt Leis, was stabbed more than 24 times and that his fiancee was beaten and raped.

CNN does not name victims of sexual abuse.

The couple was evacuated to the United States on Tuesday for treatment, the officials said.

A relative told local media the attack happened Thursday as the couple was walking along a beach.

The couple wrote a blog throughout their trip. In the most recent post on Monday, Leis' fiancee wrote that he was in intensive care after three surgeries.

"I was informed by the head surgeon there is no certainty he will survive," she wrote.

The earlier postings were happier reflections on their travels through Latin America, a year-long trip they planned after getting engaged and selling all their belongings.

In the blog, the couple did not mention safety concerns as they described their adventures hitchhiking, visiting the homes of strangers and exploring the countryside.

One senior official told CNN that the victims' parents complained to U.S. consular officers in Ecuador that the embassy did not do enough to warn Americans that many people have been attacked in Esmeraldas.

The State Department's Web site advises caution when traveling to the northern border region of Ecuador, including Esmeraldas.

"U.S. government personnel are under limitations with respect to traveling alone and over-nighting in these areas due to the spread of organized crime, drug trafficking, small arms trafficking, and incursions by various Colombian terrorist organizations," the State Department's travel advisory section notes.

The Web site says that since 1998, at least 10 U.S. citizens have been kidnapped and one killed near Ecuador's border with Colombia.

Wood on Tuesday expressed the State Department's "deep sympathy" for the attack and said the department worked with the victims' families to provide assistance.

"It's a horrible and shocking incident" he said.

Joe the Plumber That's Me

Thanks goes out to McCain for promoting me in primetime television tonight!! I haven't watched much of the debates but I do have one question for both of the candidates: with 1000's of soldiers returning from Iraq we are going to see a huge increase of need for medical and financial support for these soldiers and it is well known that the VA is not ready for this. As the next President what are you going to do to take care of these heros.

Beard Blog Goes Wild

A friend of mine decided to change his look about a month ago. Little did he know what he was about to get himself into. Clint from 100.5 The Wolf got the idea to grow out his beard and to do what seems like the norm, in today's culture, and blog about the progress. In the first month he has really got more publicity about it then he would have ever dreamed. He has been contacted by several organizations such as Beard Team USA and The Beard Community. A great deal of bloggers amongst us are always trying to come up with interesting things to blog about well Clint you have done it. So to track his progress and encourage him to continue his beard growing adventure visit his blog @ www.1005thewolf.com

Illinois sheriff refuses to serve foreclosure evictions.

Sheriff Thomas J. Dart said Wednesday he is suspending foreclosure evictions in Cook County, which had been on track to reach a record number of evictions, many because of mortgage foreclosures.

Sheriff Thomas J. Dart of Cook County, Illinois, says proper eviction procedures aren't always been followed.

He said many of the evictions involve renters who are paying their rent on time but are being thrown out because the landlord has fallen behind on mortgage payments.

Mortgage companies are supposed to identify a building's occupants before asking for an eviction, but sheriff's deputies routinely find that the mortgage companies have not done so, he said.

"These mortgage companies only see pieces of paper, not people, and don't care who's in the building," Dart said. "They simply want their money and don't care who gets hurt along the way.

"On top of it all, they want taxpayers to fund their investigative work for them. We're not going to do their jobs for them anymore. We're just not going to evict innocent tenants. It stops today." Video Watch sheriff announce he won't evict innocent tenants »

Dart said he wants the judiciary or the state Legislature to establish protections for those most harmed by the mortgage crisis.

In 1999, Cook County had 12,935 mortgage foreclosure cases; in 2006, 18,916 cases were filed and last year, 32,269 were filed. This year's total is expected to exceed 43,000.

When I first read this I thought it was kinda funny, then you think about it and realize....I rent a house and if my landlord doesn't pay his mortgage I am on the street not cool. I know there has been a lot of people loosing there houses lately due to the economy. For all of them you want to feel sorry for then when you see what put them where they are you lose that loving feeling.

Many Americans have taken on houses that they can't afford but the bank still gave them the loan. One thing I have learned along time ago. Your bank is not your financial adviser.

Bottom line yeah we are in a crisis but for the most part we have put our self in it....

Comments?

Update

Ok well I tried to come up with an excuse of why I haven't posted to my blog for a while...well there really isn't one. So I will try to update everyone what is going on in my life. Well I am currently a plumbing apprentice @ Assemblies of God National Office in Springfield, MO, and Jackie is still the administrative cor. to the Assistant Human Resources Director. We just signed another year lease to our house even though we really want to buy. James River Assembly of God in Ozark, MO is where we spend our Sunday mornings worshiping God and learning more and more about his unending love for us. We are weekly attendees of small groups called "Life Groups". I am working with AG HQ to form a AG Military Network that will be described in full detail in the near future. As far as the whole disability through the Army goes; I have done everything on my end its now just time to wait on the VA to make their decision. Well not much more to reveal that I can think of, but please feel free to ask questions about my life in general.