The Week
News
I love Berkeley!
The Berkeley Daily Planet received this letter addressed to Berkeley Mayor Shirely Dean and the City Council: -more-
Sacred Buddhist texts bound for World Peace Ceremony
In a warehouse off San Pablo Avenue, stacks of silk-wrapped bundles reach nearly to the ceiling. Wrapped in scarves of red, yellow and saffron – traditional colors in Tibetan Buddhism – sacred texts are being prepared for shipment halfway around the world. -more-
’Jackets can’t hold off MacFarland, Pinole Valley
At halftime of the battle of ACCAL undefeateds on Thursday night, the score was knotted at 7-7. Favored Pinole Valley had run into an inspired Berkeley defense, managing to roll up just 124 yards. Spartan tailback DeAndre MacFarland, averaging nearly 200 rushing yards per game coming in, had just 20 yards on the ground. An upset looked possible, if not probable. Then the roof fell in. -more-
Albany open space set for development
UC Berkeley shows city its newest plans for the -more-
Romance ain’t for sissies … at any age
Good news! Many seniors report they experience more joy, greater affection, and better sex now, in their later years, than they had earlier in their lives. -more-
‘Small Schools’ debate continues
The growing movement to create distinct “small schools” within Berkeley High School got a boost Wednesday night as the school board held its first wide-ranging public discussion on a formal policy. -more-
Benefit to honor veteran musician
Buzzy Linhart will play peace party -more-
War vote shows clearer heads can still prevail
The Berkeley Daily Planet receieved this letter addressed to Councilmember Dona Spring: -more-
City’s class offers free disaster preparedness training
Fredrica Drotos gasped when she saw the twin towers of the World Trade Center collapse before her on television. She watched rescue workers treat victims and search for survivors and wondered if she could have done the same. -more-
NASA satellite discovers rare gamma-ray burst
Only one year into its mission, NASA’s High Energy Transport Explorer satellite just earned its keep. -more-
S.F.’s public power fight brewing
SAN FRANCISCO — Ballot measures that would launch a municipal utility to replace Pacific Gas and Electric Co. as the city’s power provider remained virtually deadlocked Thursday, though a major credit-rating agency already was predicting “decades” of legal battles ahead between the utility and its challengers. -more-
Davis meets with Bay Area mayors to discuss security
SAN FRANCISCO — More than half a dozen Bay Area mayors met with Gov. Gray Davis on Thursday to discuss anti-terrorism coordination between state and local officials to keep the public informed about potential threats. -more-
Shrinking economy causes CSU enrollment to swell by 20,000
LONG BEACH — Student enrollment at California State University has reached a record 388,734 students this year, due in part to a slowing state economy, the chancellor said Thursday. -more-
School fires teacher who burned American flag
SACRAMENTO — A teacher who burned a flag in front of sixth graders days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has been fired, Del Paso Heights school district authorities said. -more-
Chad Condit launches bid for Senate
Infamous Condit’s son files for state’s Modesto district -more-
San Francisco physicians allowed to prescribe methadone to heroin addicts
SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco physicians will be allowed to prescribe methadone to heroin addicts after the city gained an exemption to the typically strict state and federal laws that regulate the availability of methadone. -more-
Feds testing ammunition that brings down the bad guys, not the planes
LOS ANGELES — Ammunition used by duck hunters may become the newest weapon in the fight against terrorists on airliners. Bismuth Cartridge Co. has a bullet it says can bring down the bad guys but not the planes. -more-
Gold bar sold for $8 million
NEWPORT BEACH— The largest known gold bar from the California Gold Rush — a bread loaf-sized brick named Eureka — has been sold for a record $8 million, officials said Thursday. -more-
Intel founder’s memoir details life under Nazis, Communists
PALO ALTO — As the chairman of Intel Corp., Andy Grove speaks freely and often about silicon wafers, microprocessors, profits and the history of computing. -more-
Woman awarded $485,000 in suit against Old Navy
TYLER, Texas — A jury has awarded about $485,000 in damages to a woman who said she was terminated as manager of Tyler’s Old Navy store because she was pregnant. -more-
Palm CEO resigns
SANTA CLARA — Palm Inc.’s chief executive, Carl Yankowski, has resigned, the company said Thursday. -more-
Neglecting gutters and downspouts could cause heavy damage
It will never cease to amaze us how difficult it has been to get the word out about how important it is to keep water away from a home’s foundation. Take gutters and downspouts for example. -more-
Questions and Answers
Q: Olivia asks: Every time I run the dishwasher I’ve got to stand by the sink with a cup to bail the water out that comes up and drain it into the adjacent sink. If I don’t, the sink and dishwasher will overflow. The water comes up on the side of the sink where the garbage disposal is. We’ve never used the disposal because it’s been broken since we’ve moved here some weeks ago, but I’m not sure this should affect the way the dishwasher drains, should it? Also, the water never completely drains after running. There’s always a small pool in the dishwasher and a small collection in the sink that does not recede. Is there anything I can do to fix this problem? -more-
Home Matters: Don’t give cold weather the cold shoulder
Don’t look now, but a mild fall is about to give way to winter’s grip. -more-
Alabama biology textbooks to warn about evolution
Claims students should question argued theory -more-
Efforts continue to boost numbers of tiny birds by removing predators, non-native plants and beachgoers
OCEANO — A walk on the beach will become more difficult in spots up and down the Pacific Coast as federal authorities try to keep a bird smaller than a human fist from disappearing. -more-
Study finds that terror attacks could cost the country trillions
LOS ANGELES — An overreaction by the U.S. government could cause the total cost of the terrorist attacks to exceed a trillion dollars, according to a report released Thursday by the Milken Institute. -more-
President Bush expanding National Guard presence at airports
WASHINGTON — President Bush will announce an expanded role for National Guard troops at airports, possibly stationing them at boarding gates, administration officials said Thursday. -more-
Hearing focuses on parking, parking, parking
Draft General Plan examines anticipated impacts on downtown -more-
Calendar of Events & Activities
Arts
924 Gilman St. Nov. 9: Hoods, Punishment, Lords of Light Speed, Necktie Party; Nov. 10: Sunday’s Best, Mock Orange, Elizabeth Elmore, Fighting Jacks, Benton Falls; Nov. 16: Pitch Black, The Blottos, Miracle Chosuke, 240; Nov. 17: Carry On, All Bets Off, Limp Wrist, Labrats, Thought Riot; Nov. 18: 5 p.m., Mad Caddies, Monkey, Fabulous Disaster, Over It; Nov. 23: The Stitches, Starvations, Neon King Kong, Kill Devil Hills, Problem; Nov. 24: Tilt, Missing Link, Cry Baby Cry; Nov. 30: Shitlist, Atrocious Madness, Fuerza X, Catheter, S Bitch, Delta Force; All shows start a 8 p.m. unless noted; Most are $5; 924 Gilman St. 525-9926 -more-
’Jackets face two opponents: Pinole Valley and bad grades
Let’s flash back to Sept. 21. The Berkeley High football team had just lost their third straight game to open the season, and had been outscored 121-12 in the three losses. If anyone had suggested that the ’Jackets would be playing for the ACCAL championship to end the season, they would have been laughed out of the stadium. -more-
Special education parents speak out
Parents filled the Berkeley Community Theater’s backstage area Tuesday to air simmering frustrations about a special education system in schools criticized as unaccountable and resistant to their children’s needs. -more-
BHS girls beat De Anza, await North Coast seeding
’Jackets now 26-0 in ACCAL, should host playoff game -more-
Fire department prepares for bio-terrorism attack
Berkeley’s Fire Department has purchased nerve gas antidotes for its paramedic teams, and emergency personnel will soon receive in-depth training on how to handle biological and chemical threats. -more-
Creativity needed to solve parking mess downtown
The Daily Planet received this letter to Mayor Shirley Dean and City Councilmembers: -more-
Holmoe, players focused on getting year’s first win
Tom Holmoe is a lame duck. The Cal head coach announced his resignation, effective at the end of the current season, last weekend. He’s just playing out the string, probably fielding job offers from other coaches while trying to keep his team together. But what about the players he recruited to the program, the ones who are still fighting for playing time, for a possible NFL career, for pride? -more-
City tries streamlining landmark rules
The effort to amend the city’s Landmarks Preservation Ordinance has been on the table for nearly two years now, and it had been hoped that a special meeting Monday might bring the long process one step closer to fruition. -more-
A dam protest at Citibank
UC students led a demonstration at the Citibank branch on Shattuck Avenue Wednesday, to protest the bank’s involvement in the Three Gorges Dam project in China. -more-
Public power hinges on absentees; anthrax fears delay ballot count
SAN FRANCISCO — Two ballot measures that would allow the seizure Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s transmission lines and plants and provide energy through a public power agency hinged on thousands of uncounted ballots. -more-
Solar power wins big in S.F.; other winners announced
SAN FRANCISCO — While solar power won overwhelmingly in San Francisco’s elections, two ballot measures that would let the city seize Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s transmission lines, were still too close to call Wednesday. -more-
Bay Area Briefs
FREMONT — Bay Area Rapid Transit officials and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority announced Wednesday a tentative deal to take BART south from Fremont to San Jose and Santa Clara. -more-
High-grossing Halloween store closes its doors
Fake teeth, devil horns will return next year -more-
Confronting Racism
League of Women Voters presents forum on race relations Saturday -more-
City of Franklin school boasts almost a 100- percent voter turnout
Turnout was reportedly low in most Bay Area off-year elections on Tuesday, but at one Berkeley school, it came close to 100 percent. -more-
Task force wants security before dances resume
A task force, convened by the UC Berkeley chancellor, released an action plan last week, aimed at preventing riots and other criminal behavior that has occurred following student-organized dances at the Pauley Ballroom. -more-
Reddy sons appear in court, point at translators
OAKLAND – Two pairs of defendants associated with the Lakireddy Bali Reddy case appeared in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Saundra Armstrong Tuesday charged with assisting Reddy in illegally bringing underage girls into the country for sex. -more-
From under the Shroud
Tahmeena Faryal said if she had obeyed the orders of the Taliban government, she would never have gone to school. Despite government warnings that all schools were “gateways to hell” for girls, she attended secret schools run by the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, known as RAWA. -more-
Voters transform S.F. into solar power leader
SAN FRANCISCO — San Franciscans overwhelmingly approved a $100 million bond issue on Tuesday that would make the fog-shrouded city the nation’s largest municipal producer of sun-generated electricity. -more-
Judge rules Olson guilty plea in SLA bomb case stands
LOS ANGELES — A judge Tuesday let stand former Symbionese Liberation Army fugitive Sara Jane Olson’s guilty plea to possessing bombs with intent to murder policemen after questioning her about why she later insisted she was innocent. -more-
Davis defends warning of possible bridge attacks
SAN FRANCISCO — Gov. Gray Davis defended his decision to warn last week of potential rush-hour terrorist attacks against four California bridges, and said he has no intention of easing security on the spans. -more-
Bay Area Briefs
SAN FRANCISCO — A report released Tuesday shows that California HMOs fail to provide proper language access policies and procedures to those customers who are not fluent in English. -more-
Attorney General Ashcroft allows agents to act against assisted-suicide doctors
WASHINGTON — Attorney General John Ashcroft gave federal drug agents the go-ahead Tuesday to take action against doctors who help terminally ill patients die, a move aimed at undercutting Oregon’s unique assisted-suicide law. -more-
Power grid’s CEO deposed by CA Senate committee
SACRAMENTO — The state Senate committee investigating possible price manipulation of California’s energy market questioned the CEO of the state’s power grid Tuesday about his call to end price caps last winter as the state neared possible rolling blackouts for the first time. -more-
HP family, foundation oppose Compaq deal
PALO ALTO — The family and foundation of Hewlett-Packard Co. co-founder William Hewlett said Tuesday they will vote their 5 percent stake against the proposed takeover of Compaq Computer Corp., revealing divisions that could threaten the $21 billion deal. -more-
10 years after ‘death sentence,’ Magic Johnson thriving
LOS ANGELES — Ten years later, he is playing ball against guys half his age. He is running a small empire of theaters, coffeehouses and restaurants. And his smile — the one that launched a thousand ads — remains as wide as ever. -more-
‘Jackets’ quarterback isn’t one to pass-over
Raymond Pinkston’s never been one to walk away from a challenge. That explains why he couldn’t wait to get back to the West Coast after a year of playing football in Detroit. -more-
Plan looks at downtown growth
City Council to hear discussion of parking, height limitations -more-
Arts
924 Gilman St. Nov. 9: Hoods, Punishment, Lords of Light Speed, Necktie Party; Nov. 10: Sunday’s Best, Mock Orange, Elizabeth Elmore, Fighting Jacks, Benton Falls; Nov. 16: Pitch Black, The Blottos, Miracle Chosuke, 240; Nov. 17: Carry On, All Bets Off, Limp Wrist, Labrats, Thought Riot; All shows start a 8 p.m. unless noted; Most are $5; 924 Gilman St. 525-9926 -more-
KPFA supporters come closer to claiming victory
After two and a half years fighting Pacifica in the streets, the media and the courts, KPFA supporters say they have won the battle – a mediated agreement that will reconfigure the national Pacifica board. -more-
Tiny EV, Sparrow, flies into mainstream market
It has to be about the goofiest looking thing on the road. It’s got three wheels and one door, a steering wheel and a motorcycle license plate, and one person can zip up the HOV lane in it. -more-
More parking unnecessary
Editor: -more-
Solar energy lessens reliance on oil and gas
Hot water heating system efficient for residential and commercial use -more-
Don’t let boycott intimidate you
The Daily Planet received a copy of this letter addressed to the City Council: -more-
Post 9/11, act with understanding
Editor: -more-
Palestinian leader condemns bin Laden, presses for negotiations in Middle East
SAN FRANCISCO — Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi condemned Osama bin Laden and his terrorist network Monday, distancing his actions from Palestinian movements for independence. -more-
Public power, mayoral races on Tuesday’s ballot
SAN FRANCISCO — California voters were headed to the polls Tuesday to consider a new school district and contemplate pushing California’s largest utility out of its hometown in favor of a publicly-owned power agency. -more-
Cisco down by $268 million in first quarter
SAN JOSE — Cisco Systems Inc. posted a first-quarter net loss of $268 million, beating Wall Street’s expectations, sending shares of the networking giant nearly 5 percent higher in after-hours trading. -more-
PG&E’s earnings triple as its energy costs fall
SAN FRANCISCO — PG&E Corp. reported Monday that its third-quarter profit nearly tripled from a year ago, reflecting a steep drop in the energy costs of its bankrupt utility, Pacific Gas and Electric. -more-
Largest tech trade show to restrict portable computers
SAN JOSE — High-tech gadgets may be the focal point at Comdex, the nation’s largest technology trade show, but trusty laptops will not be welcome this year amid tightened security. -more-
Bay Area Briefs
BERKELEY — The majority of voters in Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s district support the president’s response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, according to a poll. -more-
Chemist and author arraigned in SD Ecstasy case
SAN DIEGO — A Texas chemist who wrote a guidebook on illegal drugs was accused Monday of providing expertise and supplies to what authorities say was one of the largest and most sophisticated Ecstasy labs ever found in the United States. -more-
Supreme Court delves into released convicts’ privacy rights; home searched without warrant
SAN FRANCISCO — Police investigating as many as 30 firebombings of utility poles focused on a man with an apparent grudge against Pacific Gas & Electric Co., and searched his home without a warrant. -more-
District rejects plan for flags in classrooms
SAN JOSE — Community college district trustees have rejected a plan that would have required a U.S. flag in each classroom on the two campuses they oversee. -more-
Adventurers can still access vulnerable areas of Bay Bridge, station reports
Planet reporter’s three-year-old story makes TV news headlines -more-
Lawsuits may restore old model
The troops – more than 150 spilled off of the sidewalk and into the street – were called back to KPFA at noon on Sunday. -more-
It’s official: Holmoe resigns
Cal football coach Tom Holmoe resigned Sunday, one day after a loss to Arizona gave the Golden Bears an 0-8 record and an 11-game losing streak dating back to last season. His resignation is effective after the 2001 season. -more-
UC Berkeley joins effort to upgrade math instruction
The Berkeley Unified School District will be one of three testing grounds for a federally funded research program aimed at changing mathematics instruction and improving retention of minority students through the college years. -more-
Don’t fund war
The Berkeley Daily Planet received this letter addressed to Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator Diane Feinstein, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee. -more-
Big plays, timely defense win big game for Panthers
In a game filled with big plays and very little defense, the St. Mary’s Panthers got a bunch of the former and just enough of the latter to take down St. Patrick’s, winning 42-34 on Saturday in Berkeley. -more-
The Berkeley Housing Authority makes steady but slow progress
Newly reorganized agency in a race against time -more-
Bears lose battle of Pac-10 cellar dwellars
Each week, John Mackovic has seen Arizona make steady improvements during a difficult season. -more-
Police Briefs
Two UC students were robbed by a group of armed criminals as they walked down Telegraph Avenue early Oct. 31, according to Lt. Cynthia Harris of the Berkeley Police Department. -more-
Buying Berkeley
The Berkeley Daily Planet received this letter addressed to Dale Sanford’s TV in Berkeley. -more-
Cal women kick off season with victory
Cal held off a feisty Bay Area-Pro Am Team, 61-55, in women’s basketball on Sunday afternoon at Haas Pavilion. -more-
Young scientists compete at regional finals
It may not have had the draw of the California Bears football game on the other side of the campus, but for the cognoscenti, the regional finals of the Third Annual Siemens-Westinghouse Science and Technology Competition, held Saturday in the Pauley Ballroom, was an eight-way battle royale to savor. -more-
Cal falls to Bruins on OT penalty kick
The Cal men’s soccer team lost a heartbreaker on Sunday, falling in overtime to UCLA, 1-0, on a penalty kick. -more-
Boeing cancellation would mark end of era in California
LOS ANGELES – California’s love affair with the car is rivaled only by its love affair with the airplane. -more-
Netscape co-founders reunite in Silicon Valley startup
SAN FRANCISCO – After stumbling through the dot-com debacle, Web browser pioneer Jim Clark is teaming up with old partner Jim Barksdale again, trying to recapture the success they enjoyed in their heyday at Netscape Communications. -more-
Click and Clack Talk Cars
Looks like it’s time for a new belt -more-
Where is the next trendy spot? Follow the artists.
Beginning in the 1960s artists set up studios in modest-sized industrial buildings in West Berkeley. -more-
Pacifica board battles draw to a close?
Marion Barry, former Washington, D.C. mayor and new Pacifica board member, came into the KPFA studios late Friday afternoon and declared to evening news reporter Mark Mericle the “war is over.” -more-
Aurora Theater opens with disappointing ‘St. John’
Berkeley’s Aurora Theater opened its 10th season Thursday with a production of George Bernard Shaw’s “St. Joan” in the company’s brand new theater downtown on Addison Street, next to the Berkeley Rep. -more-
’Jackets run all over Richmond
Championship game with Pinole Valley set for Thursday -more-
ZAB denies publisher’s request for expansion
What is the difference between an office and a factory? -more-
Berkeley officials remembered American values
The Daily Planet received a copy of this letter addressed to TV talk-show host Bill O’Reilly: -more-
Cal’s Tamir will miss only eight games due to NCAA ruling
Cal freshman forward/center Amit Tamir, whose eligibility was called into question because he played with professionals as a member of the Israeli National Team, will have to sit out just eight games this season. The decision came after a vote Thursday by the NCAA Division I Board of Directors. -more-
Mother helps families cope with parental disabilities
Every summer for the last few years, Rhoda Olkin had looked forward to a week at Berkeley’s family camp near Yosemite. It is a special time to share with her son. -more-
Poor air quality notices wanted at west Berkeley soccer fields
After receiving several months of data from a year-long study at Harrison Soccer Fields, the Community Environmental Advisory Commission asked city staff to post notices of poor air quality around the popular field. -more-
The grand vision for downtown requires parking
The Daily Planet received a copy of this letter written to the City Council: -more-
Market good for renters, bad for landlords
What’s that? You want $200 off the rent? No problem. -more-
Fair warning or panic mongering? Gov. Davis spurs new debate
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gray Davis’ warning that the Golden Gate and three other California bridges could be on terrorists’ Friday rush-hour hit list has renewed a debate over whether such disclosures do more harm than good. -more-
Microsoft rivals lament settlement as weak
SAN JOSE — Competitors complained Friday that Microsoft Corp.’s settlement with the federal government will do little to protect them or consumers from the software giant’s monopoly power. But they held out hope that state attorneys general could make the deal more restrictive. -more-
How Saudi businessman with suspected terror links joined San Diego firm’s board
SAN DIEGO — It took one of the world’s biggest gold-mining frauds to lead Yasin Al-Qadi, a Saudi businessman with suspected ties to Osama bin Laden’s terror network, to the board of a small California diamond mining firm. -more-
Technology in brief
SAN JOSE — Competitors complained Friday that Microsoft Corp.’s settlement with the federal government will do little to protect them or consumers from the software giant’s monopoly power. But they held out hope that state attorneys general could make the deal more restrictive. -more-
Opinion
Editorials
Bay Area Briefs
OAKLAND — Lew F. Galbraith Golf Course has become one of the most expensive public golf course-related projects in Bay Area history. -more-
Davis defends decision to warn of possible Bay Area bridge attacks
SAN FRANCISCO — Parking spaces remained empty at the Golden Gate Bridge’s visitor center, even after the FBI said there was no credible information backing Gov. Gray Davis’ warnings last week that terrorists were potentially targeting it. -more-
Former LA mayor enters governor’s race
LOS ANGELES — Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan officially entered the California governor’s race Tuesday, joining two other major contenders for the Republican nomination to try to unseat Democratic Gov. Gray Davis. -more-
Oakland man sentenced to 17 1/2 years in prison after HIV status is cited positive
Prosecutors argue he planned to meet a boy for sex -more-
San Francisco spends millions on homeless, but problem persists
Hotel honcho wants New York-style cleanup -more-
Bears, Sun Devils tie
TEMPE, Ariz. - Two first period goals from each team was all that was scored as the Arizona State soccer team (9-8-1, 3-4-1) tied with 23rd-ranked California (11-5-2, 3-3-1), 1-1,on Sunday. -more-