California State

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  • Fellow Democrats, drop High-Speed Rail or you will deserve to lose this election

    High-SpeedTrainTalk
    Martin Engel
    9 May 2012 | 5:33 pm
    http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/08/opinion/carville-democrats-could-lose/index.html?hpt=hp_bn7Carville is a guy to take very seriously. What does what he says have to do with HSR? Everything. If my fellow Democrats were really smart, they would dump this vision, this program and California's project like a hot potato.HSR is not about or for "the rest of us." Most of those of us struggling in this economy with mortgage payments, debts, and insecure jobs or no jobs, don't give a damn about building this train for the rich.  We can't afford a vacation to Disneyland.  We don't commute…

  • Burglar steals bike from Junior Seau's home

    L.A. NOW
    Tony Perry
    16 May 2012 | 1:28 pm
    A burglar broke into the garage of Junior Seau's oceanfront home in Oceanside and stole a bicycle, officials said Wednesday. The theft occurred about five days after the football star was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The burglar entered the garage through a doggie-door and rummaged through cabinets but did not enter the house, police said. The gray bike with a black seat is valued at $500. Seau, 43, was found dead May 2. For days after his death, well-wishers left flowers and other signs of appreciation outside of the home and kept a virtual round-the-clock vigil.

  • Man struck, killed on San Jose Caltrain tracks

    San Francisco Bay Area News — — SFGate
    16 May 2012 | 1:07 pm
    A man was struck and killed on the Caltrain tracks in San Jose early Wednesday, authorities said. The man was hit by a northbound train at 6:40 a.m. just south of the Tamien station, said Christine Dunn, a spokeswoman...

  • Protesters disrupt UC Regents meeting in San Francisco

    California
    <br> <p class="Byline Affiliation">Associated Press
    16 May 2012 | 1:01 pm
    Protesters have disrupted a University of California board meeting where officials are discussing a tuition increase to help close its budget shortfall.

  • Manny Pacquiao banned from L.A. mall over gay comments

    L.A. Times - California | Local News
    16 May 2012 | 12:39 pm
    Boxer Manny Pacquiao has been banned from the Grove shopping mall because of comments he made about gay marriage.
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    L.A. NOW

  • Burglar steals bike from Junior Seau's home

    Tony Perry
    16 May 2012 | 1:28 pm
    A burglar broke into the garage of Junior Seau's oceanfront home in Oceanside and stole a bicycle, officials said Wednesday. The theft occurred about five days after the football star was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The burglar entered the garage through a doggie-door and rummaged through cabinets but did not enter the house, police said. The gray bike with a black seat is valued at $500. Seau, 43, was found dead May 2. For days after his death, well-wishers left flowers and other signs of appreciation outside of the home and kept a virtual round-the-clock vigil.

  • Study finds some drivers doubled cellphone use despite state law

    William Nottingham
    16 May 2012 | 1:24 pm
    Californians are increasingly talking or sending text messages on their cellphone while driving, a new study has found.A statewide survey showed 10.8% of drivers use mobile devices at any given daylight time, an increase from 7.3% a year ago, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. The largest increase was among 16 to 25 year olds, whose use doubled from 9% to 18%.“These results are disturbing, but not entirely unforeseen,” OTS Director Christopher J. Murphy said in a news release. “Now that smartphones are becoming the majority, people are using them more often and in…

  • Riverside County boy assaulted at Bible study, witness says

    Rosanna Xia
    16 May 2012 | 1:16 pm
     A 13-year-old boy was tortured multiple times in a church-run group home, including being assaulted during a Bible study at his pastor’s Corona home, court documents show. A witness reported in affidavits for search warrants several allegations involving Lonny L. Remmers, pastor of Heart of Worship Community Church, and two men who lived in one of Remmers’ group homes, Nicholas J. Craig and Darryll D. Jeter Jr. The alleged incidents occurred in March and included Craig and Jeter driving the unidentified boy to a desert and forcing him to dig his own grave for more than an hour. They…

  • Manny Pacquiao banned from the Grove over gay marriage remarks

    Amanda Covarrubias
    16 May 2012 | 12:16 pm
    Boxer Manny Pacquiao has been banned from the Grove shopping mall because of comments he made about gay marriage. In an interview with National Conservative Examiner, Pacquiao addressed President Obama's recent endorsement of gay marriage. "God's words first ... obey God's law first before considering the laws of man," Pacquiao told the Examiner. "God only expects man and woman to be together and to be legally married," the boxer is quoted as saying. "It should not be of the same sex, so as to adulterate the altar of matrimony, like in the days of Sodom…

  • Students, faculty plan protest at UC Regents meeting Wednesday

    Bettina Boxall
    16 May 2012 | 11:27 am
    While UC regents meet inside the Sacramento Convention Center on Wednesday, students and instructors will be demonstrating outside, continuing their protests of spiraling tuition costs. "We need a crackdown on UC mismanagement of executive pay, declining in-state enrollment, tuition hikes and police violence toward students," organizers said in a statement. Representatives of the UC Union Coalition, UC Student Assn. and Council of UC Faculty Assns. planned to address the regents at the start of the meeting Wednesday morning and then hold a rally. Student activists have staged a…
 
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    San Francisco Bay Area News — — SFGate

  • Man struck, killed on San Jose Caltrain tracks

    16 May 2012 | 1:07 pm
    A man was struck and killed on the Caltrain tracks in San Jose early Wednesday, authorities said. The man was hit by a northbound train at 6:40 a.m. just south of the Tamien station, said Christine Dunn, a spokeswoman...

  • Man shot, killed in S.F.'s Visitacion Valley

    16 May 2012 | 1:01 pm
    A man was shot and killed in San Francisco's Visitacion Valley neighborhood early Wednesday, authorities said. Officers arrived on the 1700 block of Sunnydale Avenue just after midnight and found the mortally wounded,...

  • Bicyclist killed by hit-and-run driver in Dublin

    16 May 2012 | 12:57 pm
    A bicyclist was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in Dublin, police said Wednesday. The crash happened on Dougherty Road between Fall Creek Road and Willow Creek Drive about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, police said. A...

  • Pedestrian killed by train was Fremont man, 73

    16 May 2012 | 12:51 pm
    A pedestrian struck and killed by an Amtrak train in Fremont was identified Wednesday as 73-year-old Inderjit Valia. Valia, who lived in Fremont, was hit by a southbound Capitol Corridor train at 1 p.m. Tuesday near...

  • $195 million bond seeks to improve SF's parks

    16 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Playgrounds pocked with toxic equipment would be replaced, rutted basketball courts would be resurfaced, and overgrown trails, worn swimming pools and funky public bathrooms would all be made functional under a plan...
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    California

  • Protesters disrupt UC Regents meeting in San Francisco

    <br> <p class="Byline Affiliation">Associated Press
    16 May 2012 | 1:01 pm
    Protesters have disrupted a University of California board meeting where officials are discussing a tuition increase to help close its budget shortfall.

  • Mudstorm in Chico has logical explanation

    Chico Enterprise-Record
    16 May 2012 | 10:58 am
    CHICO — Mud that spattered from the sky all over Chico was not some ominous event, but a simple mixture of dust, pollen and an unexpected thunderstorm.

  • High-speed rail environmental exemptions sought

    <br> <p class="Byline Affiliation">Associated Press
    16 May 2012 | 10:52 am
    SACRAMENTO -- California's high-speed rail chief says he's seeking environmental exemptions on the first 130-mile leg of the bullet train in the San Joaquin Valley.

  • UC regents weigh another tuition hike to close budget gap

    <br> <p class="Byline Affiliation">Associated Press
    16 May 2012 | 10:50 am
    SAN FRANCISCO -- Another tuition increase is on the table as University of California officials develop plans to deal with a major budget shortfall.

  • Attorney General Kamala Harris: Bay Area-based international drug ring busted

    <p class="bylinejb">By Mike Rosenberg<br /></p><p class="bylineaffiliation"><a href='mailto:mrosenberg@mercurynews.com'>mrosenberg@mercurynews.com</a><br /></p>
    16 May 2012 | 10:26 am
    State authorities on Tuesday brought down an international heroin ring based out of the South Bay, where they say young Norteño gang members imported drugs from Mexico and the Central Valley to sell throughout the United States.
 
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    L.A. Times - California | Local News

  • Manny Pacquiao banned from L.A. mall over gay comments

    16 May 2012 | 12:39 pm
    Boxer Manny Pacquiao has been banned from the Grove shopping mall because of comments he made about gay marriage.

  • Pro wrestler sexually assaulted girl, 12, jury finds

    16 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    A parolee was convicted Monday of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old Santa Ana girl he met on MySpace.

  • Brown stymied by same budget dysfunction that plagued predecessors

    16 May 2012 | 2:43 am
    California's governor is stuck between Republicans who refuse tax hikes, Democrats who resist cuts and a tangle of special interests and voter-mandated requirements on where money can be spent.SACRAMENTO — Jerry Brown told voters he was different — that only he, a septuagenarian government veteran with no aspirations to higher office, could fix the cycle of swelling budget deficits that has plagued California for more than a decade.

  • Assessor corruption probe widening, indictments expected, D.A. says

    16 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    L.A. County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley also accuses the union representing assessor's office workers of interfering with the investigation.Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley said Tuesday that the corruption investigation of Assessor John Noguez has grown to include multiple targets and that he intends to seek grand jury indictments in the near future.

  • Ready to blaze a trail for tax hike

    16 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    Molly Munger says her plan to raise $10 billion a year through income taxes is better than the 'tiny Band-Aid' proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown. She's prepared to fight for children and schools.In March, when I wrote that the tax increase proposals by Gov. Jerry Brown and civil rights attorney Molly Munger were unimaginative if not doomed, I got an email from Munger.
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    Local News

  • Facebook increases size of IPO, pushing proceeds toward record

    <p class="bylinejb">By Jeremy C. Owens<br /></p><p class="bylineaffiliation"><a href='mailto:jowens@mercurynews.com'>jowens@mercurynews.com</a><br /></p><p class="bylinecopyright">
    16 May 2012 | 1:44 pm
    Facing huge demand for a piece of the world's largest social network, Facebook on Wednesday increased the number of shares it will sell in its initial public offering, pushing its total proceeds toward record territory.

  • Apple to increase size of iPhone screen, reports say

    <p class="bylinejb">By Jeremy C. Owens<br /></p><p class="bylineaffiliation"><a href='mailto:jowens@mercurynews.com'>jowens@mercurynews.com</a><br /></p><p class="bylinecopyright">
    16 May 2012 | 1:35 pm
    Apple will make one of its biggest changes yet to its popular smartphone in the next generation of the device, increasing the size of the iPhone's screen by 14 percent, according to multiple media reports Wednesday morning.

  • Santa Clara man killed while riding bicycle is identified

    <p class="bylinejb">By Mark Gomez<br /></p><p class="bylineaffiliation"><a href='mailto:mgomez@mercurynews.com'>mgomez@mercurynews.com</a>
    16 May 2012 | 12:28 pm
    An 18-year-old Santa Clara man was hit and killed Tuesday night while riding his bicycle on Monroe Street, according to the California Highway Patrol.

  • Dwight Bentel, founder of San Jose State University journalism department, dies at 103

    <p class="bylinejb">By Mike Rosenberg<br /></p><p class="bylineaffiliation"><a href='mailto:mrosenberg@mercurynews.com'>mrosenberg@mercurynews.com</a>
    16 May 2012 | 12:22 pm
    Bentel’s penchant for accuracy and freedom of the press was matched only by his energy and the number of young reporters he helped shape.

  • Dwight Bentel's legacy by the numbers

    <p class="bylinejb">By Linda Zavoral<br /></p><p class="bylineaffiliation"><a href='mailto:lzavoral@mercurynews.com'>lzavoral@mercurynews.com</a>
    16 May 2012 | 12:18 pm
    Dwight Bentel's legacy by the numbersBentel, founder of the Spartan Daily and the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, died May 16 at the age of 103.
 
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    Legislative Analyst's Office

  • Limits on Legislators’ Terms in Office. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.

    4 Jun 2012 | 7:00 pm
    A YES vote on this measure means: Future Members of the State Legislature could serve a total of 12 years in office—without regard to whether the years were served in the State Assembly or the State Senate. Legislators first elected on or before June 5, 2012 would continue to be restricted by existing term limits. A NO vote on this measure means: Existing term limits for the Legislature would remain in place for current and future legislators. These limits allow a total of 14 years in office—including a maximum of six years in the State Assembly and eight years in the State Senate.

  • Additional Tax on Cigarettes for Cancer Research. Initiative Statute.

    4 Jun 2012 | 7:00 pm
    A YES vote on this measure means: State excise taxes on cigarettes would increase by $1 per pack to a total of $1.87 per pack. These additional revenues would be dedicated to fund cancer and tobacco-related disease research and tobacco prevention and cessation programs. A NO vote on this measure means: State excise taxes on cigarettes would remain at the current level of 87 cents per pack and would continue to be used for existing purposes, including childhood development programs and various health and tobacco prevention and cessation programs.

  • The 2012-13 Budget: State Should Consider Less Costly Alternatives to CDCR Blueprint

    15 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    In April 2012, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) released a report (referred to as the “blueprint”) on the administration’s plan to reorganize various aspects of CDCR operations, facilities, and budgets in response to the effects of the 2011 realignment of adult offenders, as well as to meet various federal court requirements (such as reducing the inmate population to meet specified population cap targets). In this brief we (1) summarize and assess the major aspects of the blueprint and (2) present alternative approaches that are available to the…

  • Reforming the State's Transfer Process: A Progress Report on Senate Bill 1440

    10 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    In an attempt to fundamentally reform the state’s transfer of students between the California Community Colleges (CCC) and the California State University (CSU) system, the Legislature and Governor enacted Chapter 428, Statutes of 2010 (SB 1440, Padilla). The legislation requires community colleges to create two-year associate degrees for transfer. Students who earn such a degree are automatically eligible to transfer to the CSU system as an upper-division (junior) student in a bachelor’s degree program. Our review finds that since the legislation was enacted, CCC and CSU have made some…

  • State Oversight of Private Postsecondary Education

    8 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    Presented to Assembly Committee on Accountability and Administrative Review
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    L.A. Times - Opinion Blog

  • An ailing wife takes her life; a husband is arrested

    16 May 2012 | 1:20 pm
    Is this the best that American justice can do: Handcuff an old man and take him to jail because he kept his beloved wife company as she ended her own painful life?

  • Contrasting the candidates: Same-sex marriage

    15 May 2012 | 3:18 pm
    Who's the bigger flip-flopper on same-sex marriage, Mitt Romney or President Obama? When it comes to hot-button issues like this one, both politicians appear to have tailored their views according to the political winds -- but that doesn't mean they don't have fundamental differences, particularly as each man's position has "evolved."

  • Think it can't get worse for California? Stick around

    15 May 2012 | 2:40 pm
    On Tuesday morning, The Times’ headline on its news story read: "Jerry Brown's plea to voters: 'Please increase taxes temporarily' "

  • The case for more UC autonomy

    14 May 2012 | 7:01 pm
    The Times’ April 30 editorial, " The danger of UC autonomy ," which challenges our proposal for modernizing University of California governance, deserves a response.

  • Is it safe to consume milk?

    14 May 2012 | 4:34 pm
    Last week was all about breast milk -- specifically, a big kid standing on a stool while being nursed by his young, attractive mom on the cover of Time magazine . In all the media hubbub, a story about raw milk infecting 10 people in California with Campylobacter didn't get the attention it deserved.
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    About.com California Travel: What's Hot Now

  • California Attractions

    gocalifornia.guide@about.com
    16 May 2012 | 6:03 am
    Guide to the best California attractions - for tourists, visitors and residents

  • Tour of California

    gocalifornia.guide@about.com
    16 May 2012 | 6:03 am
    Guide to the Amgen Tour of California - race route, where to watch and when, how to understand who's winning

  • Mission San Juan Bautista

    gocalifornia.guide@about.com
    16 May 2012 | 6:03 am
    See a picture of the stables and hotel which are part of the state historic park at San Juan Bautista

  • Shoreline Amphitheater

    gocalifornia.guide@about.com
    16 May 2012 | 6:03 am
    Read about Shoreline Amphitheater Summer Concerts, when they're held, why you should go (or not), what it's like and how to get there.

  • Fisherman's Wharf Hotels

    gocalifornia.guide@about.com
    16 May 2012 | 6:03 am
    Top picks for hotels near Fisherman's Wharf
 
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    Greenspace - latimes.com

  • An electrifying freight solution on the 710? Siemens working on it

    15 May 2012 | 6:12 pm
    Los Angeles may be one of the first global cities to adopt a new electric freight trucking system, unveiled by electrical engineering giant Siemens Corp. last week at the 26th Electric Vehicle Symposium, or EVS26.

  • Elusive California wolf OR7 is photographed

    11 May 2012 | 4:36 pm
    The first color photo of California’s celebrity gray wolf, OR7, was taken this week as he loped across a sagebrush-covered hill in Modoc County.

  • Unabomber billboard continues to hurt Heartland Institute

    9 May 2012 | 2:26 pm
    With a simple statement on Tuesday, State Farm Insurance became the latest company to withdraw its support from the Heartland Institute, a Chicago-based think-tank which claims a “realist” position questioning that humans are responsible for climate change.

  • EV confab this weekend is about more than cars

    3 May 2012 | 4:49 pm
    The electric car might not be enjoying a good moment as the Electric Vehicle Symposium, EVS26, powers up for its run this weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center. GM stopped production for five weeks on the Chevy Volt, and sales of new all-electric cars such as the Volt or the Nissan Leaf are dismal. It's further evidence that transitioning American drivers to electric vehicles (EV) is simply a hard sell.

  • Settlement may bring EV infrastructure to California

    30 Apr 2012 | 12:14 pm
    In an unforeseen upside to the electric-power market crisis of 2001, a new proposed legal settlement between utility NRG and the California Public Utilities Commission would bring more than $100 million in new electric-vehicle charging infrastructure to the state.
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    California Research Bureau Reports

  • California’s Women Veterans: Response to the 2011 Survey: Preliminary Report

    11 May 2012 | 11:28 am
    California has the largest number (167,000) and greatest proportion (9.5 percent) of female veterans in the country. Currently, who these women are and what they need is generally unknown. The California Research Bureau, along with CalVet and the Commission on the Status of Women, conducted a survey of nearly 900 women veterans in California to find out who they are and what they need. This report presents the preliminary findings from the 2011 survey of these women veterans.

  • White Paper: Interagency Council on Veterans, February 22-23, 2012

    10 May 2012 | 5:18 pm
    Governor Edmund G. (“Jerry”) Brown established the Interagency Council on Veterans (ICV) in order to coordinate state-level activities to improve services and outreach for veterans. Participants of the ICV met in February 2012 over two days to discuss the service needs, gaps and obstacles in service and outline potential next steps for improving services to veterans. This paper analyzes the contents of the meeting discussions and presents key findings from that analysis. Participants in the ICV identified the need for funding, increasing data sharing and data capture, improving transition…

  • California Charter Oversight: Key Elements and Actual Costs

    27 Jan 2012 | 12:35 pm
    Charter schools are overseen by authorizers. In California, an authorizer is generally a school district, but may be a county office of education or the State Board of Education. As of June 2011, California had 293 authorizers overseeing 911 charter schools. In SB537 (Ch.650, Stats. of 2007) the Legislature mandated the California Research Bureau review the practices of authorizers in California, examine best practices in authorizing, review the current funding structure for authorizers and submit to the Legislature a report on key elements and actual costs of charter authorizing. This report…

  • Unlawful Detainer Pilot Program: A Report to the California Legislature

    19 Jun 2011 | 1:35 pm
    AB1384 (Havice, Ch.613, Stats. 1997-1998) established the legal capacity for city attorneys in five cities to sue for unlawful detainer (an eviction suit) when property owners were either unwilling or unable to evict a tenant arrested for drug or weapons crimes. The program was designed to facilitate the effective and efficient removal of criminals from neighborhoods. This report was produced in response to AB 530 (Krekorian, Ch. 244, Stats. 2009-2010), requiring CRB to evaluate the pilot Unlawful Detainer program. CRB used the data reported by three pilot sites as mandated in Civil Code…

  • March 2011 Women's History Month Calendar

    11 Mar 2011 | 1:45 pm
    Coastal Aquatic Invasive Species (CAIS) increasingly threaten California’s coastal estuarine and marine habitats. With no natural predators, these non-native species become abundant, resulting in costly, negative impacts on infrastructure, human health, and natural ecosystems. Seeking assistance in implementing the California Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan, the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, requested that the California Research Bureau craft a framework for understanding the challenges that coastal aquatic invasive species create for California. In the resulting…
 
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    Travel News & Deals - latimes.com

  • National parks from California to New Mexico rev up for eclipse

    16 May 2012 | 8:15 am
    Fade to ... almost dark? An annular solar eclipse will be visible in part of the West on Sunday hours before sunset when the moon will cover up all but a sliver of the sun. Inside what's called the annular path, a "ring of fire" will appear as the moon passes in front of the sun.

  • Riverside: Mission Inn offers package for members of the military

    16 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside has a special offer for active and veteran members of the U.S. military this month: $159 a night for a room that includes dinner for two and valet parking. It's a good discount off the usual rates -- and might make for a nice Memorial Day getaway.

  • Yosemite: Insider tour presents the stories behind the landscape

    16 May 2012 | 7:30 am
    You may think you know Yosemite National Park ,  but you can get to know it  intimately through the Yosemite Insider Experience , a two-night, three-day adventure. Even better, new dates have been added for fall.

  • Tanzania: REI offers 20% off a trek up Mount Kilimanjaro

    15 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania rises 19,340 feet above sea level, the high point on the African continent and one of the "seven summit" high points of the world that's special to climbers. Outdoors retailer and travel operator REI will offer 20% off a six-day trek to the top of the peak for those fit enough -- and motivated enough -- to make it to the summit.

  • Tuesday Travel Ticker: Pirate ship sails San Diego

    15 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Did you know that strawberries, though considered a fruit, are technically a member of the rose family? Then you are ripe for the California Strawberry Festival this weekend in Oxnard. On 50 acres, the event features two concert stages and an array of strawberry treats, including strawberry beer. There’s also Strawberryland for the kids. Info: (888) 288-9242 or www.strawberry-fest.org . . . . Speaking of kids, here’s yet another summer activity in family friendly San Diego: Pirate Ship Adventures offers daily cruises aboard an 83-foot sailing ship , including a special July 4…
 
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    Daily Dish

  • Tune in: 'Roadtrip With G. Garvin'

    Irene Virbila
    16 May 2012 | 12:00 pm
    Remember “G. Garvin,” the California eclectic restaurant on West 3rd Street in Los Angeles? Once it closed, I never heard what happened to chef/owner Gerry Garvin (aka G. Garvin). Before opening his own place, he’d done a stint as executive chef at Morton's. He was chef at the late Kass Bah on Melrose Avenue, and was opening chef at Keyshawn Johnson's Reign in Beverly Hills, also long gone and one of the few celebrity haunts where people came more for the food than the scene. Turns out he’s been in plain sight all along, that is, if you watch the Cooking Channel. Now…

  • Food FYI: Man jailed for poaching Laguna Beach lobsters

    Betty Hallock
    16 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    NOT BUTTER-POACHED A Riverside County man caught poaching lobsters in Laguna Beach has been sentenced to jail, fined and banned from the newly established marine reserve. [Los Angeles Times] STOLEN FOOD DONATIONS  Unofficial vehicles drove down streets and took bags of food intended as donations for "Stamp Out Hunger," the National Assn. of Letter Carriers' annual food drive. [LA Weekly] OBESITY BY NUMBER One mathematician takes a look at obesity by equation. "It actually takes about three years for a dieter to reach their new 'steady state.'" [New…

  • Recipe Box: For the serious snackers

    Jenn Harris
    15 May 2012 | 4:32 pm
    It's three-o-clock in the afternoon and you're feeling low on energy. A growling stomach tells you there's no way your 11:30 lunch will keep you sane 'til dinner. Snacktime is a daily dilemma most everyone faces. It's a serious problem that if not treated quickly or properly can result in severe crankiness. In my case, I'm in dire need of munchies no less than three times a day, and most days, chips from a vending machine are too much of a bore for my taste buds to even pay attention. For those times when you're in need of a real snack, here are 10 fun and easy…

  • Live discussion: Lunchtime with Mr. Gold

    LATimes
    15 May 2012 | 4:26 pm
    Join in Wednesday at noon for a live chat with Jonathan Gold. You have questions? Say, where to find hand-pulled Uzbekistan noodles? He'll be here at lunchtime to answer.  &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=af1ca699b5&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; _mce_href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=af1ca699b5&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Lunchtime with…

  • A foie gras fest at Wilshire restaurant

    Betty Hallock
    15 May 2012 | 3:41 pm
    As the future of foie gras hangs in the balance, here comes another all-out-foie dinner in opposition to the pending ban on the production and sale of fattened duck liver in California. On June 3, Wilshire restaurant's Foie Festival takes place on its patio with chef Nyesha Arrington and guest chefs Ray Garcia of Fig, Kris Morningstar of Rays & Stark Bar, Vartan Abgaryan of Public Kitchen & Bar, Micah Wexler of Mezze and Jordan Kahn of Red Medicine. Ticket are $110, with part of the proceeds benefiting C.H.E.F.S., the Coalition for Humane and Ethical Farming Standards, which…
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    About.com California Travel

  • Hotels With Unexpected Pluses

    15 May 2012 | 8:21 pm
    Forget the overdone fresh-baked cookie, wine and cheese or bottle of water some hotels offer, when you stay at these places, you'll get some really fun (and unexpected) extras. These are some of the ones we've come across during our travels:...Read Full Post

  • California in June

    12 May 2012 | 8:33 pm
    In June, you can listen to some great music, watch hot air balloons take off or enjoy a classic car show. See what's going on....Read Full Post

  • What Are You Going to Do This Summer?

    10 May 2012 | 8:18 pm

  • California Vacation Location of the Month: East of the Sierras

    8 May 2012 | 8:07 pm
    One of California's least-visited vacation destinations is also one of its most fascinating: the area east of the Sierras along US Hwy 395. It's a high valley, with mountains on both sides, steaming hot springs, weird rock formations, ancient trees and California's best-preserved ghost town....Read Full Post

  • Tioga Pass Watch

    6 May 2012 | 8:37 pm
    Yosemite's Tioga Pass opens at noon today, one of the earliest openings ever and probably the shortest winter road closure in the history of the park, according to the Yosemite Conservancy. California east of the Sierras is our featured destination for the month - look for the post about that in a couple of days. The pass opening also means you can take our scenic back road trip from San Francisco to Las Vegas....Read Full Post
 
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    The Unofficial Stanford Blog

  • Day In the Life: Dominik Pasalic

    Jesse Clayburgh
    16 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    Part one of a series detailing Stanford students and the awesome things we do outside of class 7:15AM on Sunday morning and my alarm sounds, piercing my post-Saturday night partying foggy consciousness. Detesting the idea of waking up at this godforsaken hour, I hit that glorious invention the snooze button and roll back into blissful [...]

  • If You Want to Save Chi Theta Chi, March on the Vice Provost’s Office This Monday!

    George
    12 May 2012 | 9:43 pm
    This Monday, May 14, at 9:30am, the residents, alumni, and friends of Chi Theta Chi (XOX) will march on the office of Vice Provost for Student Affairs to defend the house’s lease before the deaf ears of the Stanford administration. If you want to save this house’s independence, you must join them. Stanford, a variety [...]

  • Berlin, du bist so wunderbar: Adventures of a Stanford Ex-Pat

    Kristi
    12 May 2012 | 5:55 pm
    The man in the gigantic skirt spat half-chewed potato chunks at the audience, then flung the remnants across the stage.  Later in the production, he donned a soggy octopus suit and cried in a corner in the fetal position.  My first thought was “wow, German theater is weird.”  My second: “wow, Stanford’s paying for this!” [...]

  • This Week In Stanford 4/30/12 – 5/7/12

    Crystal
    7 May 2012 | 5:58 pm
    Between Stanford’s history and its scientific findings, it seems that there are a million new things to discover. Here’s your Stanford news for this beautifully warm week. There were quite a few responses to “Get Rich U.” Check out writers defending  Stanford on Bloomberg’s Businessweek and the prominent online tech blog site PandoDaily. Did you ever [...]

  • How to Own the Stanford Housing Draw

    Valeria Fedyk
    5 May 2012 | 10:41 pm
    Okay, okay, I’m kidding. There’s no way to beat the draw. (I mean, it is just a random number that you have no control over. Sorry.) But you can do the next best thing: avoid it altogether. Put your housing out of the lottery system and into your own hands. Disclaimer: This is written for [...]
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    Winery & Vineyard Blog

  • Wedding at Lafond Vineyards

    Pierre
    15 May 2012 | 7:30 pm

  • Adding an extra Tank

    Pierre
    2 May 2012 | 5:41 pm
    Some wines, like the Santa Barbara Winery Chardonnay, of which we are bottling over 20,000 cases are difficult to blend. Difficult because our tank capacity is limited and there are so many components. The solution is to rent a wine tanker for a few days. The tanker has a capacity of 6500 gals., equal to [...]

  • Petit Verdot

    Pierre
    30 Apr 2012 | 10:35 am
    Recently in the winery we bottled our second ever release of Petit Verdot. Petit Verdot is an interesting grape. It is historically one of the red varieties of Bordeaux. It is added to the Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blends of the Left Bank in order to enhance their color, depth and exotic perfume. Like Cabernet Sauvignon [...]

  • Chardonnay Block April 28, 2012

    Pierre
    28 Apr 2012 | 7:47 pm
    These are fairly young vines, planted 7 or 8 years ago. The block is probably our sandiest and growth has been very slow. Vines that are not vigorous usually produce excellent wine and our experience, so far, certainly confirms this. This year the vines look very healthy with many double clusters promising a good harvest. [...]

  • 2011 Santa Barbara Winery Rosé of Syrah

    Pierre
    28 Apr 2012 | 11:08 am
    When Bruce first identified a section of Hilltop Ranch Vineyard as being particularly well suited to making rosé, we were becoming aware of a re-energized interest in these wines produced in a dry style with serious winemaking techniques. A dry rose is a prized complement to food and company, particularly well suited for warm summer [...]
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    this tasty life | a san diego / southern california food blog - restaurant reviews, recipes & more

  • ave 5 / banker’s hill – san diego, ca

    mary
    14 May 2012 | 10:48 am
    I had been hanging onto a LivingSocial deal for Ave 5 for quite awhile and I figured out that it was about to expire on me. I tried to find someone to join me for dinner that night, but it just didn’t work out and I ended up taking myself out to dinner. I’ve dined alone many times for lunch so it didn’t feel too different to me to end up doing it for dinner as well. I had my Kindle at hand to entertain me in between courses and had a lovely night out by myself. I like to think that I’m pretty good company, even if it’s just myself. View from the back of the…

  • kona coffee company / hillcrest – san diego, ca

    mary
    11 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    I’ve had kind of a love and hate relationship with coffee the past few months. I like to have coffee, but for awhile, I was unable to have it at all. It really tended to tie my stomach up in knots and drinking a cup of coffee made my stomach unhappy for a whole day. I laid off the stuff for awhile until I started taking probotics on a regular basis to help ease my stomach woes. I’m happy to say and coffee and I are friends again. It was fortuitous then that I was invited to come to Kona Coffee Company in Hillcrest to try out what they had to offer. I was still a little wary of…

  • recap of taste of hillcrest

    mary
    9 May 2012 | 10:30 am
    I got some last minute tickets to go to Taste of Hillcrest courtesy of McFarlane Promotions a couple of weeks ago. It was my first time going to a “Taste of…” anything and I’m happy that Hillcrest was one of our first “Tastes”! With over 50 restaurants available to visit it seemed pretty daunting at first. But Jake and I decided to just go with it and visit as many as we could before we were A) full and B) our parking meter ran out. The Taste of Hillcrest is a great way to sample from a variety of restaurants and to see what kinds of food they serve. I…

  • anniversary dinner at alexanders / north park – san diego, ca

    mary
    7 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Hoo boy, I am behind in posts! My laptop issue isn’t quite solved just yet, but hopefully in a few more days I’ll be back to work using my own laptop instead of someone else’s (aka, my dad’s laptop). Using another laptop is not quite the same as using your own. Things are different and everything’s in a weird place and you don’t have your usual programs. Arrgghhh, frustrating. Anyway, let’s talk about something fun! As in my 5 year anniversary dinner last month with Jake! I had grabbed a coupon for a swanky little spot in North Park called…

  • Food Blogger Bake Sale Recap

    mary
    6 May 2012 | 10:42 am
    I’m a little late on my bake sale wrap up post – but at least I have a good excuse! It’s a quick recap though, with lots of photos! The things I bought from all of the other wonderful bakers! The things I made and sold at the sale! Pretty packages of baked goods, ready to be sold. Orange ribbons and samples! I love raffia. I don’t know why. I hate it when I’m trying to take it off of packages, but I think it’s so pretty and rustic looking, especially on these awesome, exotic sounding cookies from Dooley Noted. (...)Read the rest of Food Blogger Bake Sale…
 
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    California Employment Law Report

  • Three Legal Steps Employers Can Take To Ensure Employees Comply With Company Policy

    Anthony Zaller
    11 May 2012 | 10:52 am
    The scenario is common: employers have policies in place to protect the employees and the company, but getting employees to comply with the policies is difficult. For example, a company has a policy that employees have to be on-the-clock for during all of the time they are working, but there is one or two employees who habitually forget to clock-out at the end of the day. In addition to the administrative hassles this creates, there are legal issues of how much time the employer should pay the employee for. Generally, employers are required to pay for all time that the company knows or should…

  • Can Employers Ask For Applicants' W-2 or Tax Returns?

    Anthony Zaller
    3 May 2012 | 7:26 pm
    First it was Facebook passwords, now it is financials. It is becoming more regular that employers ask job applicants for a W-2 or tax returns in order to verify past salary or employment information. Kathleen Pender of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote a story on this interesting issue. Given the tough job market, many job seekers are feeling obligated to provide such information. While many people have the gut reaction that this type of request is improper, as the article notes, there is arguably nothing legally that limits employers from asking for this information. Of course, the improper…

  • Plaintiff Cannot Bring Class Action In Arbitration Even When Arbitration Agreement Is Silent On Issue

    Anthony Zaller
    30 Apr 2012 | 12:08 pm
    In Kinecta Alternative Financial Solutions v. Superior Court (wrd) held that a trial could improperly ordered a wage and hour class action to proceed in arbitration as a class action. The appellate court held that even though the arbitration agreement was silent on whether the parties agreed to arbitrate class claims, the fact that the agreement only referenced plaintiff’s claims against the employer (not other employees’ claims as well) the plaintiff could only bring her individual claims in arbitration.  The plaintiff signed an arbitration agreement that provided to…

  • Meal and Rest Break Compliance After Brinker v. Superior Court

    Anthony Zaller
    23 Apr 2012 | 11:09 am
    Have you attended webinars and read new legal updates on the new Brinker decision and still uncertain on how this applies to your company? Realizing that employers need to take a more active step in ensuring they are in compliance with the new decision, I've developed a package that actually assists employers in drafting and implementing a meal and rest break policy tailored to their business: A draft of meal and rest break policy to comply with the standards set forth in Brinker. Video presentation covering overview of Brinker (1 hour) and presentation materials. 1/2 hour consultation for…

  • NLRB's Attempt To Require Workplace Poster Is Temporarily Stopped

    Anthony Zaller
    20 Apr 2012 | 3:14 pm
    Here in California the Brinker decision has taken up most of my time over the last week.  Now I am finally able to focus on a national issue - as the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia blocked the NLRB from requiring employers to post a notice of employee rights. The court’s decision comes after the federal court in South Carolina ruled that the NLRB exceeded its authority by requiring employers to post notices in the workplace. The DC appellate court held: The uncertainty about enforcement counsels further in favor of temporarily preserving the status quo while…
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    California Travels

  • Crepevine, Irving Street, San Francisco

    Margaret and Tom
    14 May 2012 | 8:17 pm
    Inside the Crepevine on Irving Street in San Francisco Before heading to Point Bonita Lighthouse in the Marin Headlands, we required breakfast. We parked in a small car park just off Irving Street in San Francisco and set off to walk down Irving Street. The first breakfast place we came across was the Crepevine and it looked really interesting. We have been to the Rain Tree Cafe several times before so it was nice to try somewhere different. Outside Crepevine there were a few tables and chairs which were full. Inside there were empty tables but they all had reserved signs on them. Orders are…

  • Point Bonita Lighthouse

    Margaret and Tom
    4 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    Cozelman Road heading out to Point Bonita. We love this road. It's a cheap thrill. Point Bonita Lighthouse has sat on a rocky outcrop, safeguarding the entrance to San Francisco Bay, since 1877. The only way to get to it is by walking down a steep path, through a tunnel hewn through rock and across a vertigo inducing, swaying suspension bridge. Tom and I last visited this lighthouse two years ago, just before it closed for two years for the bridge to be replaced. (Click on the photos for larger versions) Before we reached the headlands, we headed to Irving Street for breakfast.

  • Breakfast in Hanalei

    Margaret and Tom
    23 Apr 2012 | 12:00 pm
    As mentioned in previous posts, we ate breakfast at three places in Hanalei. Instead of doing a separate post for each, we’ve put them altogether in this one post. Hanalei Coffee Roasters Hanalei Coffee Roasters in Hanalei, Kauai Our first breakfast in Hanalei was at the Hanalei Coffee Roasters. This was our second visit to the shop. When we first discovered this place a few days before, Tom bought some coffee beans. At that time, we saw that they served breakfast and we checked the menu out. It looked good so made a note to come back to try the breakfast. It opens at 7.15 a.m so we…

  • Kauai – Day 6 Snorkeling

    Margaret and Tom
    17 Apr 2012 | 10:06 am
    Anini Beach This was our last full day on Kauai and our last chance to do any snorkeling. We had breakfast in Hanalei (our next post will be about the three breakfasts we had in Hanalei) and then headed back to Kayak Kauai to book the snorkeling gear. I had geared myself to go snorkeling as well, even though I was still a bit reluctant.  Afterall, there was still a big surf advisory posted. This time there was a different person serving and when I asked to rent a floatation belt he was a bit taken aback because they don’t rent them out. I could buy one though. We told him that the…

  • Kauai – Day 5 Kayaking

    Margaret and Tom
    9 Apr 2012 | 3:00 pm
    Kayaking the Hanalei River As yesterday’s trip involved a lot of driving, we decided to stay close to base today. We couldn’t decide whether to go kayaking or snorkeling. During breakfast we discussed our options and in the end plumped to go snorkeling. We drove into Hanalei to find some place where they rented snorkeling equipment. Before we left though, I decided to try the poi again. Well, it definitely tasted different as it was more acidic but still not a lot of taste. Decided that my experiment was over and ditched the rest of the poi. The day was overcast and I…
 
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    The California Employment Law Blog

  • Rehmani v. Superior Court: Court Reverses Summary Judgment in National Origin Discrimination Action

    Steven G. Pearl
    3 May 2012 | 9:06 pm
    In Rehmani v. Superior Court (Ericsson, Inc.) (3/29/12) --- Cal.App.4th ---, plaintiff Mustafa Rehmani filed suit against his former employer, Ericsson, and several co-workers, alleging that he suffered harassment based on his Pakistani national origin and Muslim religious beliefs. The trial court (Santa Clara County Superior, Hon. Kevin McKenney) granted Ericsson's motion for summary adjudication of Rehmani's harassment claims, finding that "Plaintiff was not subjected to unwelcome harassment based on religion and/or national origin, and/or the harassment did not unreasonably interfere with…

  • Kirby v. Immoos: Supreme Court Holds that Parties Cannot Recover Attorney Fees in Rest Period Actions

    Steven G. Pearl
    1 May 2012 | 7:29 pm
    In Kirby v. Immoos Fire Protection, Inc. (4/30/12) --- Cal.4th ---, the California Supreme Court considered whether a defendant can recover its attorney fees when it prevails in an action for meal and rest period compensation under California Labor Code section 226.7. The Court held that the answer is no, and neither can a successful plaintiff. Plaintiff Anthony Kirby worked for a contractor, IFP. He filed suit, alleging that IFP violated a number of wage and hour laws. He also named a number of doe defendants, alleging that they were liable under Labor Code section 2810 because they…

  • Harris v. Pac Anchor: Cal. Supreme Court to Federal Preemption in Independent Contractor Misclassification Action

    Steven G. Pearl
    1 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    In People ex rel. Harris v. Pac Anchor Transportation, Inc. (5/18/11) 195 Cal.App.4th 765 (blogged here), the Court of Appeal held that the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act ("FAAAA") does not preempt an action alleging that a motor carrier violated the Unfair Competition Law ("UCL") by misclassifying its employee drivers as independent contractors. I blogged Pac Anchor when it came down, but I failed to note that the California Supreme Court granted the employer's petition for review on August 10, 2012. The issue presented is as follows:  Is an action under the Unfair…

  • Brown v. Ralphs Grocery: Supreme Court Denies Certiorari

    Steven G. Pearl
    27 Apr 2012 | 1:08 pm
    In Brown v. Ralphs Grocery Company (2011) 197 Cal.App.4th 489, the Court of Appeal held that an employer could not enforce an employee's waiver of the right to bring a representative action under the 2004 Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act ("PAGA"). Cal. Lab. Code 2698 et seq. The Court distinguished AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion on grounds that Concepcion "does not purport to deal with the FAA's possible preemption of contractual efforts to eliminate representative private attorney general actions to enforce the Labor Code." The California Supreme Court denied the employer's petition…

  • Kirby v. Immoos: Supreme Court to Issue Decision Monday

    Steven G. Pearl
    27 Apr 2012 | 12:42 pm
    The California Supreme Court just announced that it will publish its decision in Kirby v. Immoos Fire Proection on Monday.  Kirby raises the  the following issues: Does Labor Code section 1194 apply to a cause of action alleging meal and rest period violations (Lab. Code 226.7) or may attorney's fees be awarded under Labor Code section 218.5? Is our analysis affected by whether the claims for meal and rest periods are brought alone or are accompanied by claims for minimum wage and overtime? The decision is early. The 90-day deadline was not set to expire until June 4.
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    California Newswire

  • 360 Mortgage Group Succeeds with HARP 2.0, Now Helping Significant Number of Qualified Underwater Borrowers

    National News Desk
    16 May 2012 | 5:59 am
    AUSTIN, Texas, May 16, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — 360 Mortgage Group, a privately owned wholesale mortgage banker, officially began accepting applications for HARP 2.0 loans on Monday, March 19, 2012, specifically serving challenged and underwater borrowers. Subsequently, 360 has experienced a significant increase in loan volume, resulting in the largest active pipeline since the company’s 2007 founding. Borrowers whose application date was listed after December 1, 2011 are eligible to take part in 360 Mortgage Group’s participation with HARP 2.0. Additionally, all EA-I,…

  • Leading Long Term Care Insurance Firm Hosts 3in4 Need More Tour Event

    National News Desk
    16 May 2012 | 3:59 am
    OVERLAND PARK, Kan., May 16, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — MasterCare Solutions, a National LTC Network member, hosted the May 11 Oregon stop of the 3in4 Need More Tour. Nathan Sanow, Business Development Manager at MasterCare, and Erica Drake, Marketing Specialist at the firm, accompanied tour spokesperson and elder care expert Dr. Marion Somers (“Dr. Marion”) as she addressed the need for long term care planning in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Marion started her visit at local hot-spot Voodoo Doughnuts, where she was presented with a custom-made 3in4 Need More doughnut. The…

  • New Book Release – Fiction: Thriller Weaves War Crimes, Cult Religion, Domestic Terrorism into Major Threat to U.S.

    National News Desk
    16 May 2012 | 2:58 am
    MARSHFIELD, Mass., May 16, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Writers Glen Publications announces the release of “The Gospel of Ashes” (ISBN: 978-0-9825892-2-9), a thriller, by author Lloyd R. Prentice. Plot: While searching for Phan’s missing daughter, Boston residents Mei Li Phan and Landry Carmichael stumble into a massive conspiracy. Their search threatens powerful forces seeking radical change. So now – they must die. The conspiracy: nuke a major American city. Phan and Carmichael framed as terrorists. Hunted by authorities. Killers hard on their heels. Where can…

  • e2b teknologies to Fully Rebrand by Summer 2012

    National News Desk
    15 May 2012 | 3:20 pm
    CHARDON, Ohio, May 15, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — e2b teknologies (www.e2btek.com), a business software and services provider, announced today a new brand identity featuring a new identity and new names for its three operating business units. The previous business unit logos featured a “floating ball” which has been replaced with the familiar “paper airplane” logo used for e2b’s Anytime brand products. e2b teknologies offers the same products and services, but now markets their extensive portfolio of business products and services under a unified brand…

  • Ryan Kocher to Lead CMI’s Analytics Team

    National News Desk
    15 May 2012 | 12:11 pm
    ATLANTA, Ga., May 15, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Ryan Kocher has joined CMI, a full-service marketing research company, as vice president of analytics. Kocher will lead CMI’s analytical sciences team, where he will oversee all of CMI’s analytic service processes and offerings, and guides development of new solutions to help clients understand the decisions their customers make and why. “We are excited to have Ryan leading our analytics team,” said Chet Zalesky, president and CEO of CMI. “Ryan has an amazing ability to make numbers and models come to life…
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    California Blog - California Blogger - Californiality.com

  • Io Volcanic Observer 2015

    The California Blogger
    15 May 2012 | 5:38 am
    Io, the moon orbiting Jupiter, is the most geologically-active object in the entire Solar System, and Io needs to be studied more closely.With 400+ active volcanoes and a constantly quaking surface, Io could teach scientists much more about Earth's geological hot spots like California.Slightly larger than Earth's moon, Io's extreme geologic activity produces volcanic plumes 300 miles high, lava flows 300 miles long, and mountain peaks taller than our planet's Mount Everest.Io was discovered by Galileo more than 400 years ago.  The Ionian discovery greatly assisted the advancement of…

  • Solar Eclipse Venus Apocalypse

    The California Blogger
    14 May 2012 | 9:12 pm
    The solar eclipse of May 20, 2012 will pass directly over Northern California's Emerald Triangle and Gold Country as the moon passes between Earth and Sun, leaving an ominous glowing ring, or annulus, in the sky.The Great Solar Eclipse Over CaliforniaIt will be the first annular eclipse visible from California since 1994, the year of the Great Northridge Earthquake.The eclipse of the sun's path of annularity will enter California as the evening skies turn dark over Eureka, the city named after the state motto of California, also known as the "Queen City of the Ultimate West."The name of the…

  • Ron Paul's California Earthquake

    The California Blogger
    13 May 2012 | 2:07 am
    California's Ron Paul Revolution is unprecedented as voters of all political persuasions register as Republicans in the days ahead of a historic June 5th California Primary.Ron Paul supporters signing up for the GOP in California include former voters of the Democratic Party, Libertarian Party, Green Party, American Independent Party, Peace and Freedom Party, independents, decline-to-state voters and Californians who have never voted at all.A "Blue Republican" explosion is sweeping the Golden State for Ron Paul as poll after poll - showing Ron Paul winning California in a landslide - goes…

  • "California" BNR

    The California Blogger
    12 May 2012 | 5:47 pm
    "California" is a 2012 neo-psychedelic instrumental rock song by the avant-garde experimental band BNR from Portland, Oregon.A track from the album And This Time C, the alternative band's ode to California is a bizarre trip into the collective unconscious with the slow-burning angst of a modern Occupy protest.This particular rock band's sound and feel are difficult to explain, but very cool nonetheless.  Strangely trippy, indeed.  It is no surprise that the members of BNR are influenced by 'heavy' rock bands like Pink Floyd and Soundgarden."BNR is not normal," says the band. …

  • California-U.S. Data Sharing Agreement

    The California Blogger
    11 May 2012 | 9:42 am
    The California Department of Insurance and the U.S. Treasury have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that allows the State of California and the U.S. government to share information at an advanced level.The bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury known as the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) signed the agreement with California's state insurance agency to strengthen consumer protections and stop insurance fraud and related criminal activities.The state and federal Memorandum of Understanding aims to increase compliance with anti-money laundering regulations through…
 
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    High-SpeedTrainTalk

  • Fellow Democrats, drop High-Speed Rail or you will deserve to lose this election

    Martin Engel
    9 May 2012 | 5:33 pm
    http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/08/opinion/carville-democrats-could-lose/index.html?hpt=hp_bn7Carville is a guy to take very seriously. What does what he says have to do with HSR? Everything. If my fellow Democrats were really smart, they would dump this vision, this program and California's project like a hot potato.HSR is not about or for "the rest of us." Most of those of us struggling in this economy with mortgage payments, debts, and insecure jobs or no jobs, don't give a damn about building this train for the rich.  We can't afford a vacation to Disneyland.  We don't commute…

  • When it comes to High-Speed Rail, they can't hear us.

    Martin Engel
    5 May 2012 | 4:09 pm
    Grandchildren visiting are taking priority over blogging.  Until end of the week, there will be less activity on this blog.Yet, reading the daily papers re-affirms a saying about which I am convinced, coined by the American writer Upton Sinclair:"It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it."What that means for us is that there really is no point in trying to convince anyone related to the CHSRA or the Democratic Party in California that what they believe, or say they believe, is incorrect.  Democratic Party elected…

  • When it comes to High-Speed Rail, they can't hear us.

    Martin Engel
    4 May 2012 | 10:18 pm
    Grandchildren visiting are taking priority over blogging.  Until end of the week, there will be less activity on this blog.Yet, reading the daily papers re-affirms a saying of which I am fond, coined by the American writer Upton Sinclair: "It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it."What that means for us is that there really is no point in trying to convince anyone related to the CHSRA or the Democratic Party in California that what they believe, or say they believe, is incorrect.The facts and realities of this…

  • When this High-Speed Rail disaster is finally build, who will be around to say "I told you so."

    Martin Engel
    2 May 2012 | 1:57 pm
    Wolf RIchter poses the situation with high-speed rail very well in this article. California continues to operate along the edge of an economic cliff.  Nonetheless, the Governor and fellow Democrats are determined to juggle a number of running chainsaws as they stumble along the precipice.  (Is that too many metaphors all at once?)However, the rail authority keeps reassuring us that they know what they are doing. They keep generating new phraseology to cover their improvisations, but it's all theater; show business.  No substance.  Like those theater stagings where the…

  • An Anonymous Comment on this blog about High-Speed Rail

    Martin Engel
    2 May 2012 | 1:03 am
    Whatever comments are posted on this blog, I do read them, but I'm not looking for conversations.   However, one comment came in on April 19th that I have re-visited several times that I want to reproduce here.The anonymous author raises a powerful and fundamental issue about fraud.  He asks, is the High-Speed Rail Authority guilty of "breach of contract fiduciary duty?"  The answer to that question can officially come from one of two sources.  The first source is the Government Accounting Office in Washington. Now that the rail authority has already spend federal dollars,…
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    Travelin' Local

  • How to Bake the Perfect Chocolate Pecan Pie – Or have somebody else do It for You!

    D. J. Schwartz
    16 May 2012 | 7:57 am
    Who doesn’t like Pie? Apple Pie, Cherry Pie, Chocolate Pie…just the word Chocolate can and does drive millions into a frenzy! (Of course, I’m not one!). Previously, I penned an article (in honor of National Chocolate Chip Day) entitled The Top Ten List for Chocolate Chip Cookies in Los Angeles. Curiously, the Chocolate Chip Cookie was manufactured (baked) by accident: The story is as follows: It all started in the 1930s, at the Toll House Inn, which was owned by Ruth and Kenneth Wakefield. Here, Ruth would prepare delicious, home-cooked meals that would be served for her…

  • Burbank & Other Cities are Now Creating Web Based Platforms to Support the Arts

    D. J. Schwartz
    15 May 2012 | 10:30 am
    A world-class city like Los Angeles means that it needs and requires a vibrant cultural community. “A strong and vibrant cultural community is vital to having a ‘creative class,’ according to the ideas of urban studies theorist Richard Florida. The Rise of the Creative Class In his book “The Rise of the Creative Class,” Florida explores what it takes to attract “knowledge-based professionals,” including scientists, engineers, artists, musicians, designers, writers, and any other professional who brings creativity to the task at hand. The creative class, he says“accounts for…

  • ‘Life’s a Beach’ in Southern California!

    D. J. Schwartz
    14 May 2012 | 11:02 am
    Err, well, don’t blame the Messenger! [Ed.Note] A smart way of saying “Life is a Bitch!”. Someone who has oppressed anger and fed-up with life, yet at the onset wants to look normal (Don’t we all?), would use a phrase like that. It gives the connotation–and rightly so—that the user of the “phrase” is very happy-go-lucky, but on closer examination one realizes that the user is going through a hard time. (Dammit, I like “hard times!”). O.K., alright, hey you–I heard it, actually in one of the sayings, “Sex, booze, rock and…

  • “Saying Good-by to Mr. Sendak”

    WendyBraun
    10 May 2012 | 11:14 am
    “Sendak with Where the Wild Things Are illustration” (Photo Credit in the slider and left thumbnail photo courtesy of Pbs.org.) Beloved author and artist Maurice Sendak died Tuesday, May 8, 2012, at the age of 83.  He is best know for writing and illustrating the Caldecott Medal book Where the Wild Things Are, but he lent his detailed illustrations to many other children’s books, including one of my favorite childhood series: Else Homelund Minairk’s Little Bear books. As a child, I recall being completely caught up in those simple stories of imaginative Little Bear — his…

  • Travelin’ Local in Orange County: When Mother’s Day calls for something Special, we have the best Answers

    Sandy Schroeder
    8 May 2012 | 1:29 pm
    A Day at the Museum and a Mother’s Day Brunch at the Bowers Museum. Opening Mother’s Day early with their special brunch  menu, The Tangata Restaurant (or translated as “mankind” in the tribal Maori language ofNew Zealand), features Southwestern decor enclosed by glass walls and a ceiling framed with stucco beams. Located in the Bowers Museum’s mission-style courtyard, the 160-seat restaurant also offers al fresco dining on a large patio area. While there, be sure to tour the Current Exhibitions at the Bowers now featuring both the Sacred Gold Pre Hispanic Art of…
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    CscapeWriter

  • You Say It’s Your Birthday…

    CscapeWriter
    9 May 2012 | 1:16 pm
    Today is my son’s birthday. Fourteen years ago, I was in a small hospital in the Sierra Nevada Foothills. My labor lasted about 27 hours. That ninth day of May was a Saturday and the day before Mother’s Day. My husband and I frantically searched through a baby book for a boy’s name. Although we had chosen not to know the sex of our baby, I had become certain it was a boy. My son as a baby in 1998. My labor had begun early on the evening of May 8. I was relaxing after dinner. My husband and I were watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Around the scene of the Black Knight,…

  • Like a Band of Gypsies We Go Down the Highway

    CscapeWriter
    7 May 2012 | 11:29 pm
    Westbound Interstate 80, near the Utah/Nevada border. Summertime is rounding the corner here, in Northern California. I love spring and fall. Sorry, winter, I have little love for you other than the rain you are supposed to bring us. (But, you weren’t interested in giving us rain this past season, were you winter?) By far, my favorite season is the good, old summertime. Summer in and around the Gold Country and Sacramento Valley is hot and dry like the climate of the Mediterranean. In fact, this region enjoys sunshine 78 percent of the year. That’s a lot of sunny days! Evenings…

  • Staring at the Sea, Staring at the Sand

    CscapeWriter
    5 May 2012 | 4:41 pm
    Just a quick note readers: I am at Stinson Beach today while my husband paces a friend, who is running the Miwok 100 K. Such is life. I have to wait at the beach all day! Pretty sure I can deal with it. Beautiful day, clear skies, kites are flying. I will check in later. In the meantime, here is a picture.

  • Long Distance Runner, What You Standing There For?

    CscapeWriter
    3 May 2012 | 3:24 pm
    Today’s entry title is taken from the Grateful Dead song,Fire on the Mountain (lyrics by Robert Hunter, music by Mickey Hart.) The song always reminds me of my husband, Jeff, who is an ultra-runner. At this point, you may ask, What the heck is an ultra-runner? Good question, reader! I will give you my best non-runner answer. (Oh, yes, I’ve tried running. I am just not a runner. Maybe if zombies or Santa Claus is involved I might be moved to run; otherwise, eh, I’ll just sit here and rest. OK?) Here goes:  Ultra-running is pretty much any long distance race that is over the…

  • Be a Simple Kind of Man…

    CscapeWriter
    1 May 2012 | 6:57 pm
    My only child, my son, turns 14 years old next week. I’ve always referred to him as my “Saturday night special” because he was born on a Saturday night, 43 minutes before Mother’s Day. The old cliché stands true: Time flies. Undoubtedly, I have made mistakes as a mother. I probably have done some things right, too. And, as we all do at some point, he’ll look back and judge me and ultimately forgive me my trespasses and appreciate my strengths. Until then, my job is changing. My job now is to see him through high school. I am not entirely sure when we decided or…
 
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