Author: admin

  • Chem Lab Fire Case Postponed

    Byadmin

    The preliminary hearing for a UCLA professor charged in a 2008 lab fire that caused the death of a research assistant has been postponed until November. Patrick Harran, an organic chemistry professor, will return to court Nov. 16. His preliminary hearing was originally scheduled for Tuesday. Harran last appeared in court in September,when he pleaded not guilty to three counts of willful violation of an occupational safety and health standard causing the death of an employee… Full story at http://centurycity.patch.com/articles/hearing-postponed-for-ucla-professor-charged-in-lab-death-case We have tracked this case in the past and a) noted that there has been a civil settlement, b) reported that the DA dropped…

  • UC officials release thousands of documents related to Davis pepper spraying incident

    Byadmin

    From the Sacramento Bee: Nearly a year after police pepper sprayed protesting students at the University of California, Davis, UC officials today released thousands of pages of internal documents and emails related to the aftermath of the incident. The document release comes in response to Public Records Act requests from The Bee and numerous other media organizations that were filed immediately following the Nov. 18 incident. However, disclosure of the documents was delayed while university officials said internal reviews of the matter and a criminal investigation was conducted… Full article at http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/09/4895291/uc-officials-release-thousands.html [The documents described above do not seem to be on the…

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    The 3rd Tax on the Ballot

    Byadmin

    Most of the media attention with regard to tax initiatives on the November ballot has gone to Prop 30 (the governor’s tax) and Prop 38 (the Molly Munger tax) and their rivalry. However, also on the ballot is Prop 39 which is generally described as closing a corporate tax loophole that favors out-of-state firms.  It has polled well and there doesn’t seem to be an organized opposition campaign against it.  Prop 39 is said to involve about a billion dollars in potential revenue.  However, it has been criticized in some newspaper editorials as ballot-box budgeting because it earmarks about half…

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    Parking Revenue: Cash Cow for Higher Ed?

    Byadmin

    Inside Higher Ed today has a short story about a controversy over a proposed long-term lease of parking facilities at Indiana University to a private operator in exchange for a lump sum payment.  The story links to a longer AP article on the issue which notes that Ohio State U has gone in that direction. Readers of this blog will know that at the Regents’ retreat last month, the Regents discussed a proposal to transfer campus parking services – after a rate increase – to the UC pension fund.  With the higher rate, the parking services would have higher value…

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    Movie Star Endorsements for UCLA Extension-Steve Poizner Online Certificate Program

    Byadmin

    UCLA Extensions’ online venture with Steve Poizner, the former state insurance commissioner, now features rotating movie star endorsements – such as the one above – on its website, http://www.empowered.com/. As we have noted in earlier posts on this venture, a variety of certificate programs are offered.  There is an $800 one-time enrollment fee plus tuition of $1,485 per quarter for various programs that run 3-4 quarters.  The website links to success-story videos such as the one below:[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha7QeGY9FAA?feature=player_detailpage]

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    Updated Stay Aways for ObamaJam Today and Tomorrow

    Byadmin

    The LAPD has an updated list of streets from which to stay away during the Obama visit today and tomorrow in the UCLA and Westside areas: From 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday: — Pico Boulevard between Overland Avenue and Beverly Drive — Avenue of the Stars between Olympic and Sunset boulevards — Sunset Boulevard between Beverly Glen Boulevard and Doheny Drive From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday: — Sunset Boulevard between Beverly Glen Boulevard and Doheny Drive — North Whittier Drive between Sunset and Santa Monica boulevards From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday: — Avenue of the…

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    On Being Propositioned

    Byadmin

    There is a complicated inter-relationship between various propositions on the November ballot.  Prop 30 (the governor’s tax initiative) is paired against Prop 32 – a “paycheck protection” initiative that would largely cut unions out of political funding which often means funding Democrats.  Prop 32 is thus supported by Republicans and has gotten considerable campaign support from CharlesMunger. Prop 30 is also paired partly against Prop 38 – the MollyMunger school tax initiative.  So you have to keep track of your Mungers who are both aligned against 30 but not 32.  (Molly is the liberal who wants more money for schools…

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    Obamajam coming Sunday-Monday

    Byadmin

    Another Obama fundraiser coming to our general neighborhood: LAPD is suggesting avoiding the streets listed below in the UCLA and Westside area: Sunday 12:30-2:30 p.m.Pico Boulevard between Overland Avenue and Beverly Drive.Avenue of the Stars between Beverly Glen and Doheny Drive.Sunset Boulevard between Beverly Glen and Doheny Drive. 3-5 p.m.Sunset Boulevard between Beverly Glen and Doheny Drive.N. Whittier Drive between Sunset Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard. 5-7 p.m.Avenue of the Stars between Wilshire and Pico Boulevards.Motor Avenue between Pico Boulevard and the 10 Freeway.Streets around L.A. Live and the Nokia Center. 9:30-11:30 p.m.Motor Avenue between National Boulevard and Pico Boulevard.Avenue of the…

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    One Bill That Got Away (from our attention last month)

    Byadmin

    As Governor Brown was signing or vetoing bills last month, we tried on this blog to point to those affecting UC.  However, one – AB 1955 – got away from us and escaped our attention.  It deals with the aftermath of the UC-Davis pepper spray incident.  As is often the case, while the bill mandates CSU to do something, it just “requests” the Regents to do the same because of UC’s constitutional status.  Gov. Brown signed this bill which you can read below: AB 1955, as introduced, Block. Public postsecondary education: campus law enforcement agency and student liaison. Existing law…