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Are thieves checking your mail?

By Devona Walker Daily Planet Staff
Monday February 18, 2002

A relatively new and surprisingly innovative scam targeting residences has been discovered where thieves steal checks, then blot out the pay to the order of line with ink remover. This allows them to fill in the line with whatever name they want and makes it fairly difficult to trace down the culprit, police say. 

The Berkeley Police Department was first made aware of this scam approximately a month ago and has notified area neighborhood associations to make their members aware. The police say that bills should and checks should not be left in mailboxes where thieves may get at them, and if anything unusual is noticed they should notify the authorities as well as their bank immediately. 

Many residents, however, remain unaware of the potential threat. 

Berkeley resident Charles Fountain, who is not a member of any neighborhood association said he had not heard of any such scam.  

“I haven’t heard about it, but I don’t leave checks out in the mailbox anyway,” Fountain said.  

The ink remover is typically bought online but is also available at specialty arts and crafts stores. 

Berkeley retailers Decorated Paper and Amsterdam Art say the supplies are often bought for people who want to remove resistant ink from surfaces. They were unaware of the scam as well. They have not noticed any pick up in the purchase of the ink, a spokes people from both retailers said. 

A quick Internet search, however, revealed several places where the ink remover could be purchased.  

FirstGov for Consumers, a federal advocacy group with a we site that offers information about various potential threats, have already looked into these scams and say they do not think it is as new as it appears. 

“The ink remover has been on the market at specialty stores for some time now,” said James Dell of the Consumer Sentinel. “It’s really a natural adjunct to identity theft which is rampant as you know on the Internet.” 

The Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse, a federal government database for tracking, says complaints have been lodged there about lost or stolen checks that have come back to account holders chased. 

They also stated that perhaps not so many people know about the potential threat is because many of these types of crimes increase in prevalence with notoriety. 

“Sometimes news stories and alerts and warnings succeed more in turning lights on the mind’s of criminals then helping the potential victims,” Dell said. “It’s a balancing game. When the complaints get to a certain level, then it’s time to alert consumers and quick.” 

The Consumer Sentinel now contains more than 100,000 complaints. The Clearinghouse information provides law enforcement agencies with a broad range of complaints, allowing them to spot patterns of illegal activity. 

Another purposed of The Clearinghouse is to enable policy makers and to get a sense of the extent of the types of theft that is taking place. 

 

Contact reporter: 

devona@berkeleydailyplanet.net 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Berkeley High boys’ soccer loses NCS quarterfinal on penalty kicks

By Jared Green Daily Planet Staff
Monday February 18, 2002

A miraculous goal at the end of regulation wasn’t quite enough to get the Berkeley High boys’ soccer team past Castro Valley in the North Coast Section quarterfinals on Saturday night, as the ’Jackets fell on penalty kicks. 

Castro Valley goalkeeper Ryan Jimenez stopped three of Berkeley’s five attempts during the final tiebreaker, giving his team a 2-1 win. Jimenez also made 12 saves in the game. 

Berkeley barely made it to overtime. Down 1-0 since Alex Cameron’s header goal in the 21st minute of the game, the ’Jackets grew increasingly desperate late in the second half, pushing more players to the front with every attack. They finally broke through during injury time, as a Liam Reilly throw-in landed in the Castro Valley goalmouth. Several players hacked at the ball, and it ended up at the feet of Berkeley’s Willie Vega, who slammed it into the back of the net for a last-gasp tie. 

“My players were pretty down after (Berkeley) tied the game, but they fought through it,” Castro Valley head coach Al Peacock said. “For them to maintain their composure was all I could ask for.” 

Vega nearly crushed the Trojans’ hopes in the first overtime period, curling a shot over Jimenez that hit the underside of the crossbar and away from the goal. 

Berkeley dominated the next extra period as well, as Jimenez made two saves and Berkeley defender Chris Darby bounced a header off of the post. 

“Their goalkeeper was the difference today, but I’ll tell you what: the post was his best friend,” Berkeley head coach Janu Juarez said. “How many balls did was have go off the frame?” 

The ’Jackets knew they would be at a disadvantage in a shootout, as Jimenez, who will play at Sacramento State next year, is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the state. 

“We beat them in every aspect except the shootout,” Berkeley senior Chris Davis said. “But we knew that if it came down to that, it would be tough for us to win. I know Ryan, and he’s tough to beat.” 

The ’Jackets were hampered by the field conditions, with a torrential downpour an hour before the game turning the surface into a quagmire. The Berkeley players, used to their home Astroturf, looked as if they were playing on skates for much of the game. 

Berkeley outshot Castro Valley 18-10 in the game, but in the end they just didn’t finish enough of their chances. As the 10th seed in the playoffs, few expected them to win a game, much less take the second-seeded Trojans to penalty kicks. 

“Sometimes the best team doesn’t win,” Berkeley defender Victor Mendoza said. 

But Juarez had a different take on the outcome. 

“There are no sour grapes here. The best team is the one advances,” Juarez said. “That means they’re the better team tonight. But make no mistake: we took them to the mat.” 

There was no shortage of teary eyes on the Berkeley sideline after the game, especially on the outgoing seniors. Davis, who plans to play at Brown University next year, said this year’s team was a special one. 

“I’ve been playing soccer year-round for the last 12 years, and this is the best season I’ve ever had,” Davis said. “I love everybody on this team.”


Right turn only is wrong for Telegraph Ave.

Rob Pratt, Coalition to Save Telegraph
Monday February 18, 2002

Editor: 

 

On 1/30 I attended a City planning design meeting at the Claremont Library (re.the Hillegass Bicycle Boulevard).  

City staff along with Berkeley's Bicycle Talaban and a few assertive anti car residents have completed a plan to install 6 right turn only control devices at Ashby on Benvenue, Hillegass and Regent in both directions. 

Additionally large circles will be installed at Channing, Parker & Stuart intersections of Hillegass.  

Also two, one-lane only, hour glass shaped chokers are to go in the middle of Stuart-Russell & Webster-Woolsey blocks of Hillegass.  

This and more is happening in the name of bicycle safety on a quiet benign street that most cyclists avoid.  

We use Regent or Benvenue instead!  

The most alarming of all these ridiculous street de-construction plans being advanced by the anti-car extremists is the approved plan to reduce Telegraph to one lane in each direction from UC to Broadway.  

It's called the AC Transit MIS express bus lane plan.  

Along with the loss of 2 travel lanes most (40-50) center left turn safety pocket lanes will also be eliminated. Also the center of Telegraph will have a continuous median for blocks, preventing vehicles from turning left or crossing it except at Ashby, Alcatraz, 51rst. ST, etc. 

Telegraph conducts at least 60-70,000 cars a day. It works exceedingly well considering its narrow configuration. 

It is the Mississippi of the South Campus-North Oakland area. This express bus lane experiment will bring permanent congestion and gridlock to the whole area.  

It is interesting that most residents, merchants and property owners, aren't even aware of this destructive plan. 

 

Rob Pratt,  

Coalition to Save Telegraph 

 


Staff
Monday February 18, 2002


Monday, Feb. 18 

BART Operates Regular Saturday  

Service for “President’s Day," 

Beginning at 6 a.m. until midnight on all five lines. 465-2278. 

 

The East Bay Coalition Against the War 

Movie/Speaker and Discussion Night 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Fellowship of Humanity  

390 27th St., Oakland 

We will show the Noam Chomsky Video on 9/11 and the War on Terror. Plus guest speaker, Denny Riley, Vietnam Veteran and a member of the Veterans Speaker's Alliance. The film and speaker will take about one to one and a half hours. The rest of the time will be devoted to small and large group discussion about our current struggle in response to "the war on terrorism." 

 


Tuesday, Feb. 19

 

 

Berkeley Garden Club  

Hosts “Crystal Palaces” 

1 p.m. 

Epworth United Methodist Church 

1953 Hopkins St. 

Ann Cunningham, author of “Crystal Palaces” will present slides of glass houses from the turn of the century to the present. Scott Medburry, Director Strybing Arboretum & Botanic Garden, will talk about the history of San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers including an update on its recent renovation. 524-4374. 

 

21st Century McCarthyism & The Rise of the Global Police State 

6 - 8 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

Wheeler Auditorium 

The following speakers present their interpretations of September 11 and its aftermath: Angela Davis, Diane Clemens and Jennifer Terry. Sponsored by the Departments of Women's Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, & Ethnic Studies, and Professors for Peace. xperales@uclink.berkeley.edu. 

 

Pioneering Woman Federal Judge 

4:30 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

Boalt Hall, Room 100 

The Hon. Mary M. Schroeder, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, speaks on "Justice and Mercy." Inaugural event of American Constitution Society for Law & Policy, Boalt Hall Chapter. 642-1741, amconstsoc@law.berkeley.edu. 

 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church 

941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints and learn what other photographers are doing. 525-3565. 

 


Wednesday, Feb. 20

 

Staying Connected: Building A Secular Jewish Life 

7:30 - 9:15 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

An evening of discussion and song with a Klezmer/Yiddish musician. $5. 848-0237 x 127 

 

Institute of Government Studies 

4 p.m. 

119 Moses Hall 

UC Berkeley Campus 

Gerald Gamm lectures as part of the Historical Institutionalism Seminar. 642-4608, www.igs.berkeley.edu 

 

Colonial Courts, African Conflicts,  

and the End of Slavery in the French Souda 

4 - 6 p.m. 

UC Berkeley  

3335 Dwinelle, Level "C" 

A talk by Richard Roberts of Stanford University. Sponsored by Department of History, Department of African-American Studies, and Center for African Studies. 642-8338. 

 

Cultural Competency in Healthcare 

6 - 7:30 p.m. 

Berkeley YWCA  

2600 Bancroft Way 

Racial Justice Lecture Series and discussion on overcoming ethnic and gender differences to deliver healthcare in under-served populations. 848-6370, www.ywca-berkeley.org. 

 

East Bay Job Fair 

noon - 6 p.m. 

Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center 

10 10th St., Oakland 

The United Way of the Bay Area, Economic Development Alliance for Business, and Bay Area Works are hosting a job fair. Free and open to everyone. 238-2410, www.uwba.org.  

 


Thursday, Feb. 21

 

Barbara Lee 

8 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

145 Dwinelle Hall 

Rep. Barbara Lee will be on campus. Sponsored by the Commonwealth Club and the Center on Politics. 642-9355, www.igs.berkeley.edu:8880/. 

 

Purim Lecture 

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Discover the deeper meaning of Purim as Rabbi Alexander Sheinfeld uses the lens of Kabbalah to explore what Purim has to do with being Jewish and with being human. $10, $8 members. 848-0237 x127 

 

Zimbabwe Wildlife 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc. 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Julie Edwards of Rhino Girl Safaris gives a slide presentation showcasing Zimbabwe’s remarkable variety of birds and mammals, and discusses the future of wildlife and the safari industry in Africa. 527-7377 

 

Travel Photography Workshop 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore 

1385 Shattuck Ave. 

An intensive workshop that focuses on travel photography, with an emphasis on film and equipment security, light and weather conditions, methods to make the most of well-known sites, and ways to approach and photograph strangers. $15. 843-3533 

 

Simplicity Forum 

7 - 8:30 p.m. 

Claremont Branch Library 

2940 Benvenue Ave. 

"TV and Media” - Several people who have given up their TV's will talk about the difficulties and benefits. 549-3509, www.seeds of simplicity.org. 

 

Take the Terror Out of Talking 

noon - 1:10 p.m. 

Calif. Dept. Health Services 

2151 Berkeley Way 

Room 804 

State Health Toastmasters Club is presenting a six-week Speechcraft workshop to help you overcome your fear of speaking in public and improve your communication skills. Cost is $36 for six sessions, Feb. 21, 28 & March 7, 14, 21. 649-7750. 

 


Friday, Feb. 22

 

 

Grand Canyon Splendor: Rafting the Colorado 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc. 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Guidebook author and former river guide, Tyler Williams, presents the dramatic beauty of the Grand Canyon in his slide presentation on rafting the Colorado. 527-7377 

 

Still Stronger Women 

1:15 - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave 

Short stories. 232-1351. 

 


Saturday, Feb. 23

 

 

Archaeological Institute of America 

3 p.m. 

Shorb House 

2547 Channing Way 

Lecture by Dr. Stuart Swiny discussing Cypriot rituals surrounding fertility, life and death from the Neolithic to the Roman era. 415-338-1537, barbaram@sfsu.edu. 

 

Paying for Public Education: 

Whose Job Is It? 

3 - 5:30 p.m. 

Ocean View Elementary School 

Multi-Purpose Room 

1000 Jackson St., Albany 

A forum with Kevin Gordon of the Education Coalition, who will explain state-level funding for K-12 schools. Candidates for the California Assembly 14th District seat Debate: Dave Brown (D), Loni Hancock (D), and Charles Ramsey (D). 524-7004, hao_kco@pacbell.net.  

 


Monday, Feb. 25

 

 

A Rose Grew in Brooklyn: Stories from a Jewish Girlhood 

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Local author and therapist, Rose Fox reads from her memoir. 

 

Institute of Government Studies 

12 p.m. 

UC Berkeley Campus 

John Matsasuka presents a lecture entitled “For the Many or the Few" 

642-4608  

 

 

 

 


School is out for Cal sex class

The Associated Press
Monday February 18, 2002

A male sexuality class at University of California, Berkeley has been suspended after reports of lurid extracurricular activities surfaced late last week. The suspension of the class, run by students and sponsored by the university, was announced Friday.  

Students who had taken part in the two-unit course said several of their classmates were involved in an orgy at a class party and that another group of students chose to go to a strip club for their final project. 

At the club the students looked on as one of their student instructors had sex on stage, a student said.  

At a party held to introduce the students, some took Polaroid pictures of their genitals to show that their bodies were not disgusting, UC Berkeley freshman Christy Kovacs told the Sacramento Bee. 

An incredulous university administration quickly pulled the plug on the “democratic education” or “de-cal” course. Such courses are sponsored but not funded by the university. 

UC Berkeley spokeswoman Marie Felde confirmed the male sexuality class had been suspended after the student instructors failed to attend a meeting with a university official. A similar female sexuality course was also under review, Felde said Caren Kaplan, chair of the Woman’s Studies Department and sponsor of the sexuality classes, reviewed the course description but had not seen a detailed syllabus, said a university spokesperson. 

 

 


Huskies upset Golden Bears

The Associated Press
Monday February 18, 2002

SEATTLE – C.J. Massingale matched a career high with 25 points to give the Washington Huskies a 75-60 upset victory over California Saturday night.  

The victory snapped a four-game winning streak for the Bears.  

With Arizona losing earlier in the day, a California victory would have given the Bears a share of the Pac-10 lead. Instead, California stays one game back with four remaining before the conference tournament.  

The Bears, the top defensive team in the conference, kept the Huskies’ top scorer Doug Wrenn to two points on a pair of free throws in the first half.  

Wrenn, who had led Washington in scoring in each of its previous 11 games, finished with six points and did not make a field goal until 7:15 left in the game.  

Washington (9-16, 3-12 Pac-10) led 38-33 after Massingale scored the Huskies’ first seven points of the second half, but the Bears responded with a 12-0 run that gave them a 45-38 advantage with 14:13 left in the game.  

The Huskies regained the lead at 53-51 on a 3-pointer by Curtis Allen with 9:06 to play. From that point on, Washington never trailed.  

Allen put the game away by scoring the Huskies’ final eight points on free throws in the final minute. Allen and Grant Leep finished with 12 points apiece.  

California (18-6, 9-5) failed to post its first five-game Pac-10 winning streak since they won six straight in 1997.  

The Bears were led by Joe Shipp’s 15 points. Tashaan Forehan-Kelly had 12, and Solomon Hughes added 11.  

The game was tied at 10 six minutes into the contest before the Bears scored the next eight points. The run was stopped when Washington’s Erroll Knight hit a 3-pointer, cutting the Bears’ lead to 18-13 with 11:35 remaining in the half.  

The Huskies’ final basket of the half was a layin from Leep after an 18-foot no-look pass from Allen with 16 seconds remaining. It gave Washington a 31-29 lead at the break.  

The Huskies’ success or failure in these final weeks of the season may factor into coach Bob Bender’s job security. His team had lost eight of its previous nine games. The Huskies desperately want to avoid losing 20 games three seasons in a row.  

Washington is sitting in ninth place in the conference, one game behind Oregon State. The Huskies play the Beavers on Thursday in a game that may determine which team gets the eighth and final spot in the conference tournament.


Rapid Transit needs a solution for street traffic

Charles Siegel Berkeley
Monday February 18, 2002

Editor: 

 

To make Bus Rapid Transit work, we should remove cars from Telegraph between Bancroft and Dwight.  

We can do this without tangling up traffic if we make Dwight Way two-way, instead of making Durant two-way as the southside traffic study recommends. 

The MTC has approved funding for a Bus Rapid Transit line that would run from San Leandro to downtown Oakland, on Telegraph Ave. to the UC Campus, and around the campus to downtown Berkeley. BRT would cut the time the bus currently takes by about a third, by providing bus-only lanes, by allowing buses to preempt traffic signals, and by taking other measures to speed up buses. 

What do we want to happen when the bus-only lane on Telegraph reaches Dwight Way?  

Do we want the buses to fight with the current traffic on Telegraph, which is sometimes so congested that you can walk faster than people drive? 

To make Bus Rapid Transit effective, we should close Telegraph to cars between Bancroft and Dwight, and allow only buses, delivery vehicles, and service and emergency vehicles to drive there. 

As Mayor Dean has said, we should be careful to do this in a way that does not cause congestion. Currently, traffic does become congested when we close Telegraph for street fairs, because all the traffic is routed up 

Dwight Way and congests the southside streets above Telegraph. 

Making Dwight two-way would reduce congestion by dispersing traffic.  

When drivers on Telegraph reach Dwight, some would go up Dwight, and some would go down Dwight and continue north through downtown.  

This would give drivers a more direct north-bound route than they now have when Telegraph is closed for street fairs. 

Making Dwight two-way would also reduce traffic in the Claremont and Elmwood neighborhoods. Traffic that begins near campus above Telegraph would be able to drive down Dwight and travel south on Telegraph, rather than driving through the Waring-Belrose corridor, as they do now. 

The southside traffic study has shown that we can close Telegraph to cars and convert two of the one-way streets to two-way traffic. There are obvious benefits to converting Bancroft and Dwight to two-way traffic, instead of Bancroft and Durant. 

 

Charles Siegel 

Berkeley 

 

 

 


Veteran teacher reflects on career of caring

By Mary Barrett Special to the Daily Planet
Monday February 18, 2002

While many veteran teachers hobble toward retirement, Rita Davies seems to be sprinting — and she is still vigorously devoted to her teaching career. Known in and around the Berkeley Unified School District as an advocate of the arts, Davies focus in teaching goes, like art, straight to the heart.  

Davies says she is intent on providing a “family place” for children at school.  

The deeper the sense of community the classroom can build, the more potential there is for learning, she says. 

Throughout her adolescence, she carried heavy responsibilities because her mother was severely ill. But there was a teacher who kept constant watch over her — and she remembers the sound of that teacher’s cane and step, cane and step, as she approached to offer supports.  

It is this kind of caring that Davies says she attempts to duplicate in her work.  

“Love is essential,” she says. “It’s the core of my curriculum.”  

Davies does not mean being sweet, instead she means being open, honest and nurturing, being ‘right there’ for the child and the child’s family. 

Born in Wales, Davies moved as a child to London where her father worked as an electrical engineer. The only one of his family who wasn’t a coal miner, he passed on his ability to think ‘out of the mold’ to his daughter.  

She earned her college degree from London University, then worked in London under Henry Pluckrose at an “Open Plan” school. Pluckrose’s educational practice revolved around providing all the arts to children, painting, music, drama, poetry – all creative things as a way to deeply involve children in their own education. With Pluckrose there was a “god forbid” attitude if you didn’t teach the arts. 

Davies initiated and organized an integrated studies program that covered not just traditional “academic” subjects but the arts as well, organized around a common theme.  

“I didn’t know how to do it any other way,” Davies says. She used her environment, including St. Paul’s Cathedral and the London Tower for study focuses.  

In the ‘60s when teachers in California were studying British Infant Schools, Davies was invited to the States to demonstrate how integrated curriculum instruction worked. She liked it so much in California that she came back to work. Herb Kohl, author of books about teaching, including Thirty Six Children, helped her locate in the Mendocino County Schools.  

For six years, she worked at the Mendocino Grammar School teaching fourth and fifth grades. Her principal, Dick Jaulus, supported the development of curriculum that made everything connect for the kids. 

Luckily for Berkeley, Davies eventually moved here and was hired by Frank Fischer, a progressive Berkeley principal. 

Davies has been in the Berkeley schools ever since.  

But the emphasis on integrated curriculum shifted in California schools to a greater push for skills. Bitter debates raged through educational circles and many California teachers have been cautioned against using integrated theme approaches to teaching.  

Davies feels a “just the skills” route is detrimental to the education of the whole child. She quotes a character from Charles Dickens who emphasized “Facts, Facts, Facts” as the best approach to education and who had students memorize and quote all the facts about a horse.  

“If we don’t reach children,” Davies says, “if the curriculum is not part of their soul, it will just drift away.” 

Davies capitalizes on both love for information and a love for the arts.  

Her work, focused on themes and integrated curriculum, includes skill instruction as a part of a comprehensible whole. Right now, she and educator-parents from the Lawrence Hall of Science develop thematic units collaboratively. Her ideas of collaboration envelop parents and colleagues alike.  

Davies and other teachers at Oxford school are involved in a “Lesson Study” method based on a Japanese model of collaborative exploration of teaching processes. It involves planning together, observing lessons in each other’s rooms and holding discussions that focus on what the teachers want to accomplish and ways of doing it. 

Davies, never content to work just at the classroom level, has given leadership to the District developing district wide Family Art Nights. With the help of several teachers, she arranged a variety of art projects for families to participate in. There were, for example, tin foil sculptures, doll making, calligraphy and always a giant mural down the middle of the cafeteria where parents, grandparents and children painted to their hearts content. Arts nights were mobbed by Berkeley families who loved creating together. 

Davies roots are now firmly planted in Berkeley. She and her partner, Barbara Phillips, have bought a house in the Westbrae area. Her next goal is to study art full time.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Cal avoids LBSU sweep

Daily Planet Wire Services
Monday February 18, 2002

Senior second baseman Carson White knocked in the game-winning RBI with no outs in the bottom of the ninth to lead Cal to a 4-3 victory over Long Beach State Sunday at Evans Diamond. 

The Bears improved to 5-6, while the No. 21 ranked 49ers fell to 4-2. 

Freshman center fielder David Nicholson started off the bottom of the ninth for Cal with a single off of 49er reliever Chris Demaria and advanced to second on an error by Long Beach State shortstop Kevin Randel. David Weiner advanced Nicholson to third with a bunt and then White won the game with a ball hit over 49er right fielder Nick Covarrubias. 

The winning pitcher for the Bears was reliever Jesse Ingram (2-2), who pitched two innings with no hits, no runs, no walks and a strikeout. Ingram had replaced Cal starter Matt Brown (seven innings, eighth hits, three runs, two walks, one strikeout).  

Cal was down 3-0, but sophomore shortstop Jeff Dragicevich got the Bears within 3-2 with a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Cal tied the game, 3-3, in the seventh on an RBI single by sophomore third baseman Conor Jackson. 

“This was a huge win for us,” Cal head coach David Esquer said. “Matt Brown did a great job for us and gave us a chance to win. He kept us in the ballgame. We did a good job of hanging in there.


How about a lonely vote against the DEA?

Steve Geller Berkeley
Monday February 18, 2002

Representative Lee: 

 

I am one of the 40% of Berkeley residents who did NOT approve of your “lonely vote” against war powers for the President (or whatever it was; I'm still confused on that). 

But I suggest you repeat your performance, this time on an issue likely to be approved by both your earlier supporters and people like me. 

Sponsor a Congressional resolution which tells the DEA what to do about medical Marijuana and Hemp. 

As you know, the DEA has already raided medical marijuana outlets in San Francisco.  

It won't be long before the DEA comes to bother Berkeley. 

Californians voted to legalize medical use of marijuana, but “states rights” mean nothing to the Big Bushy Fed. 

TIME had a recent article about DEA plans to stop use of hemp for clothing, rope and other utility things, because hemp contains a tiny bit of THC. 

Challenges to all this DEA dumb-ness are going to the courts. That's wrong. 

The courts shouldn't be deciding these things. Congress should. Tell DEA to stop their marijuana persecutions, and concentrate on crack or whatever. 

How about another "lonely vote", Rep. Lee? 

It will make even more of us feel good. 

 

Steve Geller 

Berkeley


Farrakhan condemns Bush, war on terrorism

The Associated Press
Monday February 18, 2002

INGLEWOOD — Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan issued a call for racial and religious unity on Sunday and condemned the U.S. war on terrorism, saying “there’s a lot of ugliness in America the beautiful, ugliness that can be turned into beauty.” 

Farrakhan combined moral teachings with a long history on what he described as U.S. oil politics during a 2 1/2-hour keynote speech to thousands of followers at the Forum in Inglewood. The speech capped the Saviour’s Day annual convention, marking the birth of Nation of Islam founder Elijah Muhammad. 

The convention, which carried the theme “Healing The Wounds To Bring About A Universal Family,” was held for the first time outside of Chicago, where the Nation of Islam is headquartered. 

Farrakhan, whose black empowerment message in years past has included inflammatory remarks about Jews and Christians, urged unity and condemned religiously inspired violence. 

“I’m a Jew, I’m a Christian, and I’m a Muslim,” Farrakhan said. 

He also called on Hispanics, American Indians and other ethnic groups to unite in destroying racism by achieving success. 

“You kill it with excellence from the darker people of the world,” he said. 

He also urged Americans to speak out against the policies of the Bush administration, contending that a “shadow government” has controlled U.S. foreign policy and predicting that the administration was preparing to wage war in Iraq. 

In his State of the Union address last month, Bush said North Korea and the Muslim states of Iraq and Iran represent an “axis of evil.” 

In a long history lesson illustrated with maps flashed on the stadium’s giant TV screens, Farrakhan argued that the war on terrorism in Afghanistan, along with other Middle Eastern and African conflicts, were instigated by the United States because of its “insatiable appetite” for oil. 

“If the truth were known, there would be a Nuremberg trial for American presidents,” he said. “I cannot allow them to use the American solider, black, brown and poor white, to fight a war that is unjust and wrong.” 

Farrakhan said that true patriots should speak out against bad policies and said U.S. foreign policy could ignite more hatred of the United States. 

No Muslim leader would be capable of uniting the world’s Muslims in a holy war against America, Farrakhan said, but the Bush administration “can summon the whole Muslim world against the West by how you prosecute this war (in Afghanistan).” 

Celebrities attending the speech included Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Shaquille O’Neal, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, and clergy from various religions. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Bears lose final home game to Washington

Daily Planet Wire Services
Monday February 18, 2002

Senior center Ami Forney posted her second double-double of the weekend in a competitive loss by Cal to visiting Washington, 64-53, Saturday afternoon in its final home game at Haas Pavilion in front of 1,447 fans. 

Forney posted 10 points and 11 rebounds to record her sixth double-double of the season and 13th of her career on Senior Day in Berkeley. Cal’s other senior, guard Janet Franey, played in the final minute of the game for the Bears. 

“Today showed the incredible strides that we have made all year,” said California head coach Caren Horstmeyer. “It’s tough that you don’t get the win. Maybe I’ve said that before, but things have come together. I guess what’s most important to me is the team really believed in themselves. The bottom line is that the team did a lot of things in the year that they’ve struggled with. They have every reason to hold their heads up high. I thought we did an incredibly good defensive job.” 

A month ago, the Bears (7-18, 2-14 Pac-10) suffered their worst defeat of the season to the Huskies, 85-46, in Seattle. But today was an entirely different story, as the young Bears continued to show improvement as they have all year. 

After Washington went up 14-6 four minutes into the game, Cal responded with an 11-0 run to go up 19-14 with 12:06 left in the first half. The run was keyed by four points from sophomore guard LaTasha O’Keith and Cal’s lone three-pointer of the day, courtesy of freshman guard Jackie Lord. 

Cal took its biggest lead of the game at 26-20 and 28-22 with 6:30 until the break. But the Huskies finished the half strong on a 14-5 run with seven players scoring, spurring the Huskies to a 36-33 score at the half. Freshman guard Leigh Gregory scored all 11 of her points in the first half to pace the Bears, while Andrea Lalum paced Washington with all 10 of her game points. 

In the second half, the two teams stayed within five points of each other and were tied at the 10:50 mark at 42-42 following a Cal basket from redshirt freshman forward Kiki Williams. Washington then distanced itself from Cal with a 14-0 run. Down 56-42, Cal dug in and made one final run, but the Bears could only get as close as six at 59-53. 

After four-straight games shooting 70 percent or better from the foul line, Cal struggled this afternoon, hitting on 54.5 percent of its foul shots (12-of-22). 

Also in double figures for Cal was Williams with a team-high 12 points of the bench. Williams has posted double-figure points in five-straight games for the Bears. 

Washington was paced by 14 points from Kellie O’Neill off the bench. Giuiliana Mendiola also had 10 points for the Huskies.


BART official says 'Don’t siphon from the already depleted general fund, and Vote No on 42’

Roy Nakadegawa PE BART Director, District 3 Berkeley, CA, 94707
Monday February 18, 2002

Letter to Editor  

 

The public’s assessment of transportation - Our regional transportation agency MTC poll (3% accuracy) indicated the most important issues including transportation, surprisingly, was not “Transportation and Congestion."  

It came out several places below “Spending Public Funds Wisely” and “Improving Education”. Present Gasoline Sales Tax goes into the general fund and is spent for Education, Health, Transportation, …etc.  

So, these funds are being spent wisely in keeping with people’s concern rather than only for transportation at the expense of other important issues.  

Proper Allocations?  

Regional Transportation Agencies e.g. MTC realize there is little they can do with highways to relieve congestion so, they are shifting funds to transit and other alternatives in their Plans, some over 65%. However Proposition 42 permanently allocates Gasoline Sales Tax for, roads 80% and transit 20%. To increase 20% for transit and alternatives will require another referendum or 2/3 of State Legislators.  

Gas Tax rather than its Sales Tax should provide transportation funding. In today’s dollars, Gas Tax is taking in less today than 30 years ago.  

Transportation funding should be increased in keeping with consumer price index. Other developed countries charge at least $3 per gallon for gasoline. This $3 includes $2 in Gas Tax, which keeps their highways in good condition as well as providing decent alternatives.  

With the State’s current $12 Billion deficit, let us not siphon off general fund monies into a special transportation fund allocating only 20% for transit permanently at the expense of other important categories. 

 

Vote No on Proposition 42 

 

 

Roy Nakadegawa PE 

BART Director, District 3 

Berkeley, CA, 94707


Today in History

Staff
Monday February 18, 2002

 

On this date: 

In 1516, Mary Tudor, the Queen of England popularly known as “Bloody Mary,” was born in Greenwich Palace. 

In 1546, Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant Reformation in Germany, died. 

In 1564, artist Michelangelo died in Rome. 

In 1885, Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” was published in the United States for the first time. 

In 1930, the ninth planet of our solar system, Pluto, was discovered. 

In 1960, the Eighth Winter Olympic Games were formally opened in Squaw Valley, Calif., by Vice President Nixon. 

In 1970, the “Chicago Seven” defendants were found innocent of conspiring to incite riots at the 1968 Democratic national convention. 

In 1972, the California Supreme Court struck down the state’s death penalty. 

In 1977, the space shuttle Enterprise, sitting atop a Boeing 747, went on its maiden “flight” above the Mojave Desert. 

In 1988, Anthony M. Kennedy was sworn in as the 104th justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Ten years ago: In the New Hampshire primary, President George H.W. Bush won the Republican contest while challenger Patrick Buchanan placed a strong second; among Democrats, Paul Tsongas came in first. 

Five years ago: Astronauts on the space shuttle Discovery completed their tuneup of the Hubble Space Telescope after 33 hours of spacewalking; the Hubble was then released using the shuttle’s crane. Bill Richardson began work as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. 

One year ago: Auto racing star Dale Earnhardt Sr. died from injuries suffered in a crash at the Daytona 500; he was 49. Death also claimed baseball Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews at age 69, broadcaster Roger Caras at age 72, “Cheaper by the Dozen” co-author Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. at age 89 and painter Balthus at age 92. Veteran FBI agent Robert Philip Hanssen was arrested, accused of spying for Russia for more than 15 years. 

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Jack Palance is 81. Former Cosmopolitan editor Helen Gurley Brown is 80. Actor George Kennedy is 77. Author Toni Morrison is 71. Singer Yoko Ono is 69. Singer Irma Thomas is 61. Actress Sinead Cusack is 54. Producer-director-writer John Hughes is 52. Actress Cybill Shepherd is 52. Singer Juice Newton is 50. Rock musician Robbie Bachman is 49. Actor John Travolta is 48. Game show host Vanna White is 45. Actress Greta Scacchi is 42. Actor Matt Dillon is 38. Rapper Dr. Dre is 37.


Sports Shorts

Staff
Monday February 18, 2002

Women’s tennis stays undefeated 

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The 12th-ranked California Golden Bears dropped No. 66 Loyola Marymount, 5-2, Saturday afternoon at the LMU tennis courts. The Bears improve to 3-0 on the season, as the Lions fall to 3-5 overall.  

In singles action, California’s top seeded Raquel Kops-Jones defeated LMU’s Andrea Lord in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5. Kops-Jones is currently ranked as the No. 26 singles player in the country, according to the latest ITA poll. Penka Fileva returned to the No. 2 spot for the Lions, defeating Cal’s Jieun Jacobs in straight sets, 6-3. 6-4. Edit Pakay played at No. 3 for the Lions, defeating Cal’s 38th-ranked Christina Fusano in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. Angelina Zdorovytska played at No. 4, falling to Catherine Lynch in two, 6-2, 6-0. Lynch is ranked at No. 49 in the current standings. In the No. 5 match, Golden Bear Jody Scheldt defeated Julie Hladik in two as well, 6-2, 7-6. And rounding out the singles for the Lions and Bears was Cal’s Kristen Case, who defeated LMU’s Jessica Placencia, giving up only one game in her straight set victory (6-0. 6-1).  

Cal returns to Berkeley next weekend. The Bears take on San Diego on Friday at 1:30, and then open their Pac-10 season Saturday at noon against arch-rival Stanford. 

Cal gymnasts finish second 

The California Golden Bears finished second, only to No. 10 UCLA, scoring a 192.825 to outdo UC Davis, 190.550 and UC Santa Barbara, 185.500, at the biannual California Invitational Sunday afternoon at Haas Pavilion. The Bruins tallied a score of 194.825.  

The Bears improved to 5-4 on the season while UCLA is now 9-4. The Aggies dropped to 9-5 and the Gauchos fell to 0-8.  

In the first rotation, junior Janet McKnight led the Bears with a season-high score of 9.825 on the vault. Freshman My-Lan Dodd also tied her season-best mark with a 9.850 performance on the uneven bars. Dodd also brought home a third place finish on the balance beam with a score of 9.800. The floor exercise, the final rotation of the afternoon, saw three Cal gymnasts draw a 9.800 mark - junior Monique Johnson, McKnight and Dodd.  

In the all-around competition, Dodd placed first with a total score of 39.075. Freshman Sheilah Buack also competed in all events, receiving a score of 38.075.  

 

Cal downs No. 6 UC Davis 

SUISUN, Calif. - Ericka Lorenz and Julie Arnold each scored two goals Saturday as fourth-ranked California beat sixth-ranked UC Davis, 11-3, in a women’s water polo match played at Solano College. Cal improved to 3-2 with the win, while the Aggies lost their third straight game to fall to 4-5 overall. 

Lorenz scored her first goal just over a minute into the game, igniting the Golden Bears who took a 3-0 lead after the first period. Cal led 5-0 early in the second quarter before Agee’s score with 4:51 remaining made it 5-1. A 4-0 surge by the Golden Bears in the third quarter - which included Arnold’s goals with 6:28 and 3:43 left - made it 9-1. Lorenz added her second scored during the third quarter as well.  

Sexton scored her goal less than 30 seconds into the final period, while Delaney converted her score on a penalty shot with 1:56 left. Cal had eight major fouls in the game, but UC Davis only scored once as a result.  

Nine different players scored for Cal in the win.  

Bear goalie Lauren Dennis had six for the Golden Bears, while Alexis Muecke put up seven stops for UC Davis.  

The Bears return to action next week, taking part in the UC Santa Barbara tournament.  

 

Cal rugby beats New Mexico 

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico - The Cal varsity rugby squad (5-0) traveled to the desert equipped with its high altitude and came out with a hard fought win over the Lobos, 43-3 Saturday afternoon. This was the Bears’ twentieth straight win dating back to last year’s national championship run.  

“It was a solid victory against a worthy opponent playing at home,” said head coach Jack Clark. “Maybe it was the altitude or maybe it was our fitness level, but I thought we were dragging ... especially our big guys.”  

The Bears took a narrow 15-3 lead into halftime, only to put up 28 more points in the second half while holding the Lobos to none. The first half execution was shabby at best, but the physicality and the technical skills of the Bears’ seasoned veterans proved to be too much for New Mexico in the second half.  

The second half saw Cal dominating the line-outs and scrums while controlling the run of play. Even though the high altitude seemed to tire out the players, the Bears dominated the territory for nearly two-thirds of the game, rarely letting New Mexico advance to their side of the field.  

“I don’t want to seem ungrateful for the victory, but we have a long way to go to become the team we’re capable of becoming,” said Clark.  

Senior Dave Guest led the Bears scoring attack, scoring four tries, one penalty kick and five two-point conversions for a total of 33 points on the day. Cal held the Lobos to just one first half penalty kick while scoring six tries and one penalty kick of their own.


Legendary Berkeley anthropologist, J. Desmond Clark, dies

The Associated Press
Monday February 18, 2002

OAKLAND — J. Desmond Clark, an anthropologist and African fossil hunter, has died. He was 85. 

Clark, who had been in good health and had just returned from a trip to England with his wife, died Thursday of pneumonia at an Oakland convalescent home, University of California, Berkeley officials said. 

“Clark was legendary,” said Tim D. White, one of his colleagues at UC Berkeley. “He towered above anybody else in African archaeology with his breadth and depth of knowledge about the rise and development of prehistoric culture. His death leaves an enormous void.” 

Clark, a professor emeritus at UC Berkeley, made several expeditions to India, China and Africa throughout his career. 

There he and his colleagues made discoveries of creatures known as hominids, which preceded the emergence of modern Homo sapiens by millions of years. While White and his Ethiopian colleagues found the hominid fossils, it was Clark who unearthed their stone implements, opening fresh insights into the development of early pre-human cultures. 

Clark was born in London and educated as an archaeologist at Cambridge University. He became curator of the David Livingstone Memorial Museum in 1938 in Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia. He intended it to be temporary but stayed for 24 years. 

He went to Berkeley in 1961, served as chairman of the anthropology department for many years, and for 20 years he and White led expeditions to the prehistoric sites of the Middle Awash Valley that have produced major hominid finds as old as 6 million years. 

Clark is survived by his wife of 64 years, Betty Baume Clark; a daughter, Elizabeth Winterbottom of New South Wales, Australia; a son, John Clark of Kent, England; a sister, Moira Coulson of England; and five grandchildren. 


Berkeley residents can unplug to win cash

Planet Staff Report
Monday February 18, 2002

BERKELEY — The City wants to conserve more energy, and they have decided to offer a $75 carrot to do it. 

Living in the wake of last summer’s energy crisis and this winter’s allegations of wide-scale price-gouging and corruption by Enron are not the only reasons for the energy conservation contest, according to Alice La Pierre of the Berkeley Energy Office.  

By promoting the winner, the Berkeley Energy Commission hopes to provide an opportunity for residents to learn about energy conservation methods from their neighbors. 

“We want to get the word out,” La Pierre said. 

And to get the word out about various conservation efforts, the city is sponsoring “Berkeley Unplugged,” which will highlight a wide-range of conservation solutions, from the traditional to the creative, a spokeswoman for the city says. 

Ten winners will be chosen in categories including lowest overall energy usage during January of 2002, the greatest overall reduction from the previous year and the most creative and successful measure used to conserve energy. 

Winners will receive a $75 gift certificate to be used at the  

Berkeley Conservation and Energy program, which provides energy-conserving products such as compact fluorescent lamps, water heater blankets, energy-efficient torchieres and programmable thermostats.  

The deadline for entries is March 20, 2002. More information is available at online at www.ecologycenter.org/Berkeley Unplugged. 

 

CONTACT: Alice La Pierre, Berkeley Energy Office (510) 981-5435 or Stephanie Lopez, Berkeley communications office (510) 981-2481 


Oakland to increase flights as SFO’s expansion plans waylay

Staff and Wire Report
Monday February 18, 2002

OAKLAND — Oakland International Airport has announced that its volume of daily flights is expected to increase over the next six months. 

Airport spokeswoman Cyndy Johnson said Friday that American Airlines has announced the inauguration of twice-daily nonstop service between Oakland Airport and New York's John F. Kennedy Airport beginning March 2. Also, as of Feb. 5, American reinstated nonstop service between Oakland and Los Angeles with six daily flights. 

JetBlue Airways continues to expand its Bay Area presence with the addition of a third daily nonstop flight to Kennedy Airport on March 10 and another daily nonstop later this spring, Johnson said. The fledgling airline also plans new twice-daily, transcontinental service between Oakland and Washington Dulles International Airport this spring. 

Southwest Airlines will expand its Oakland operation with three new daily nonstop flights from Chicago Midway Airport beginning April 7.  

In addition, SunTrips will relocate its Hawaii program from San Francisco International Airport to Oakland on Feb. 28, consolidating its Bay Area operation in Oakland. 

Oakland International Airport served 11.4 million passengers and handled more than 600,000 metric tons of air cargo last year. 

Though San Francisco International Airport officials have affirmed they still plan to push for runway expansions many believe that the recession will put them hold and politics may delay them long enough for further obstacles to arise. 

Critics of SFO's runway reconfigurations say it could shut down windsurfing all along the Peninsula shoreline, both through blockage and through sedimentation that could impact sites well to the south of the airport. 

New runways have been proposed for both San Francisco and Oakland airports. A new runway at either would result in the largest Bay fill since the establishment of the modern environmental and coastal resource management framework.  


Berkeley smokers may have to back up

Daily Planet Staff
Monday February 18, 2002

Mayor Shirley Dean is proposing an amendment to the city’s municipal code that will ban smoking within 15 to 25 feet of the entrances of all buildings open to the public. 

The tobacco coalition originated the idea in conjunction with others concerned about tobacco usage in the city, said Mayor Shirley Dean. 

“Whether it becomes law or not is another question,” Dean said. “But I agree with it. What has happened as people have gotten more and more use to not smoking in their offices they are going to sit outside. And the smoke is wafting into the doorway.” 

The item will be considered by the City Council during its regular meeting on Tuesday. 

The amendment would cover both publicly owned and privately owned buildings that are open to the public including stores, bars and restaurants. 

“Over the years, the city of Berkeley has been in the forefront of anti-smoking legislation and has taken aggressive positions on the sale and advertising on the sale and advertising of tobacco,” the recommendation reads. 

The recommendation claims numerous studies have found that tobacco smoke is a major contributor to indoor air pollution and that breathing secondhand smoke is the cause of disease, including lung cancer, in nonsmokers. 


Mars may be ‘loaded’ with water, experts say

The Associated Press
Monday February 18, 2002

PASADENA — A NASA spacecraft will start peeling back the dry and dusty rust-red surface of Mars this month to reveal what scientists expect are vast, hidden stores of water. 

Scientists already know there is water on Mars, in ice that caps the north pole, frost seen at high latitudes and wispy clouds crowding the planet’s highest peaks. 

Far more extensive amounts of water, even massive glaciers, could emerge from behind the dusty veil that cloaks the Red Planet, once the 2001 Mars Odyssey begins its 917-day science mission on or around Feb. 20. 

“You have a vast region that is perhaps just loaded with water,” said William Feldman of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, a scientist on the $300 million National Aeronautics and Space Administration mission. 

The possibility charges scientists because it would support theories that the planet was once — and may still be — a wet world hospitable to life. On Earth, life is found wherever there is water, nutrients and a source of energy; the same rule may hold true elsewhere in the solar system. 

Today, Mars abounds with evidence that torrents of water once flowed across its surface, carving channels, flooding plains and weeping from steep crater walls. 

Whether that water remains locked within the planet or was lost to space remains a mystery. Scientists believe Odyssey, and its ability to sniff out the hydrogen bound to oxygen that forms water, can provide an answer. 

“That would make it very exciting, that there are still gobs and gobs of water there,” said William Boynton of the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, another Odyssey scientist. 

Rather than dig into Mars, Odyssey will scout from afar, as the satellite orbits the planet at an average distance of about 250 miles. 

Using its thermal emission imaging system and a combination gamma ray spectrometer and neutron detector, the robotic probe will peer down on — and into — Mars. A third instrument, designed to monitor the radiation environment, has malfunctioned. 

As it orbits Mars every two hours, the spacecraft will use its instruments to map the distribution of chemicals and minerals in the top three feet or so of the surface of the planet. Among the 20 elements it can detect is hydrogen, which indicates the likely presence of water. 

“As long as it’s within a meter of the surface we are going to see it,” Boynton said. 

The frozen water is most likely mixed with dirt to form a permafrost similar to that found in the Alaskan tundra. On Mars, the deposits are probably scattered near the poles, in cold regions that receive less sunlight than those closer to the equator. Odyssey should determine how close to the equator those deposits extend. 

“We suspect, and I think we’ll find out very soon an answer, that there are lots of places where there is water ice frozen in the soil,” said Jeff Plaut, the mission’s deputy project scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Tracking down where the water has gone remains a key goal of NASA’s Mars program.


Illegal car show turns deadly in Oakland

The Associated Press
Monday February 18, 2002

OAKLAND — A car wreck at one of the Bay Area’s notorious illegal car rallies has left a woman dead, a man in jail and top city officials calling for new laws to curb the troublesome activity. 

U’Kendra Johnson, 22, of Oakland, was killed when the car she was riding in was broadsided by a Buick that moments before had been spinning “doughnuts” as part of the so-called sideshow, police said. 

Police arrested the driver, 27-year-old Eric Crawford of Oakland, after he fled the scene on foot. Crawford was arrested on suspicion of murder, felony hit-and-run and drunken driving. 

“There is just more and more lives being taken and everyone is like, ’who gives a damn,”’ said Winnie Johnson, the victim’s mother. 

The city has struggled since the late 1980s to curb the late-night gatherings, which draw crowds of people from around the Bay Area to watch drivers whirl around with teens on the roofs of their cars. 

Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown said he wants the state to enact emergency laws giving police the power to impound any car involved in sideshows for 30 days. 


Bush called ‘liar’ for nuke waste campaign remarks

The Associated Press
Monday February 18, 2002

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — Sen. Harry Reid called President Bush a “liar” for telling Nevadans that he would base a decision on whether to send the nation’s nuclear waste to Nevada on “sound science, not politics.” 

At a Saturday news conference, Reid criticized Bush’s approval Friday of Nevada’s Yucca Mountain as the site for long-term disposal of thousands of tons of highly radioactive nuclear waste. 

“So this is the big lie,” Reid, D-Nev., said. “The president didn’t tell the truth ... If this is an example of how he helps Nevada, we don’t need his help.” 

Reid’s comments drew criticism from the White House. 

“The president has said all along that he would base his decision on sound science, which is what he did,” Bush spokesman Jimmy Orr said. “The fact that the senator disagrees with him on the science is a shameful excuse to personally attack the president.” 

Reid’s news conference was held at Heavenly Ski Resort’s observation deck, where Bush stood in 2000 when he told Nevadans that he would base his Yucca Mountain decision on “sound science.” 

Reid said the Energy Department did not properly consider environmental impacts or the security risk posed by transporting 77,000 tons of waste stockpiled at U.S. nuclear plants and defense facilities. 

On Friday, Bush said his decision was “the culmination of two decades of intense scientific scrutiny” and that he is certain the science is sound. 

Reid, the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, said Bush “would not be president today” if Nevadans had known what was in store for Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas. 

Bush won Nevada’s four electoral votes en route to his slim victory over Al Gore. 

“(Bush has) left the country, and he thinks this (issue) will be gone when he gets back, but it won’t be,” Reid said. 

Reid said he’s also concerned that, given Bush’s close ties to the energy industry, Friday’s decision may lead to future nuclear energy development. 


Big family’s house hit with graffiti

The Associated Press
Monday February 18, 2002

SAN RAFAEL — Someone scrawled graffiti on the house and car of the Marin County family accused in the death of an infant and the neglect of 12 other children. 

“Shame. It takes an entire village,” a vandal wrote on the garage door of the family’s home. 

The vandal also used red spray paint to write “murderers” on the side of a black Suburban parked in front of the house where five adults allegedly kept 13 half-starved children until one of the children died. 

“It is horrible when people take this kind of hateful stance,” said Irene Sullivan, who lives next door. 

The five people charged in the case are Winnfred Everett Wright, 45, Carol Louise Bremner, 44, Mary Campbell, 37, Deirdre Hart Wilson, 37, and Kali Polk-Matthews, 20. 

The suspects are accused of involuntary manslaughter for the November death of Wright and Campbell’s 19-month-old son and the alleged neglect of a dozen other children, all fathered by Wright. 


Online scalpers try to raid record lottery purse

By Paul Glader The Associated Press
Monday February 18, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO — As interest in the record $191 million state lottery jackpot ebbed higher, so did reports of illegal online ticket sales. 

State lottery officials are re-emphasizing that tickets must be purchased within the state and in person rather than through third-party sellers. 

“Sales of lottery tickets on the Internet are not authorized nor are they legal,” said lottery Director Joan Wilson. “We want our customers to understand that legal tickets are available at our authorized locations only and that any Internet or out-of- state sites are simply not legal.” 

Lottery spokeswoman Norma Minas said at least one woman called saying she purchased a ticket from a Florida-based Web site, using a credit card. 

“We know it’s going on, we saw the Web site,” Minas said. “We assume there will be more.” 

A quick search online turned up several scalper sites offering California Lottery tickets to out-of-state residents with an added service charge. 

Nearly 19,000 retailers in the state are authorized to sell lottery tickets. Out-of-state residents may enter the state and buy lottery tickets at those sites. They cannot purchase the tickets by telephone or Internet. 

The $191 million sum is the largest single-state U.S. jackpot, and the fifth-largest including multistate games, the California Lottery said. The biggest lottery payout in U.S. history was $363 million in May, 2000 for the multistate Powerball game. 

The previous record jackpot in California was $141 million won on June 23, 2001. 

 

• Winning numbers39, 31, 32, 11 and 6. The Mega Number is 20. 

• The estimated jackpot is $193 million. 


Stores selling winning tickets rejoice, ticketholders silent

The Associated Press
Monday February 18, 2002

The morning after at least three lottery players landed shares of the biggest single-state jackpot in history, the only winners who were talking were the store owners who sold the tickets. 

The three winning SuperLotto Plus tickets, which are each worth $64.3 million before taxes, were sold at an Albertsons in Half Moon Bay and 7-Eleven stores in Orange and Montebello, California lottery officials said Sunday. 

No one had stepped forward to claim the prize Sunday morning, and the Presidents Day holiday means the winners will have to wait until Tuesday to present their tickets to lottery officials. 

The buying frenzy for a shot at the $193 million jackpot peaked Saturday night, when hopefuls snapped up a record $6 million worth of tickets an hour. 

“There’s a lot more excitement around a mega jackpot like this. You pretty much have interest from around the world,” said Norma Minas, a lottery spokeswoman. She was fielding media calls from as far away as Germany and Japan Sunday morning. 

Owners of the three lucky stores will receive $321,666 each for selling the winning tickets. The stores were buzzing with excitement and well-wishers Sunday morning, but the winners stayed away. 


UC named lead plaintiff in Enron lawsuit

By Kristen Hays The Associated Press
Monday February 18, 2002

HOUSTON — The University of California Regents will lead the charge for big-time investors and individual shareholders collectively suing current and former Enron Corp. officials for more than $1 billion gained in stock sales before the company imploded last year. 

U.S. District Judge Melinda Harmon designated the university late Friday as the head decision-maker in a massive securities-fraud lawsuit against current and former executives and directors of the company. 

“We take up this responsibility with the deepest sense of obligation not only to the UC family of employees, retirees and students, but to the millions of Americans who invested in good faith with Enron,” said James E. Holst, general counsel for the university. 

Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach LLP, the law firm representing the university and Amalgamated Bank, stands to collect the most in attorneys’ fees for taking on the lion’s share of work in the case as well. 

The firm could generate fees reaching hundreds of millions of dollars if an Enron judgment comes close to last year’s record $3.2 billion settlement that Cendant and its accounting firm made with stockholders. That case stemmed from a 1998 scandal involving the then-Connecticut company that became the largest financial fraud case ever brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission. 

“Millions of Americans invested in Enron because of the confidence they placed in the business practices of the company and the public information provided by its senior executives and accountants,” said Milberg Weiss partner William Lerach of San Diego, who has spoken for the regents and Amalgamated in hearings before Harmon. 

“On behalf of the University of California as lead plaintiff and working in concert with all the plaintiffs, we look forward to vigorously pursuing the shareholders’ case,” he said. 

The fees provide a big incentive for law firms competing to be lead counsel representing lead plaintiffs in large class-action lawsuits, said Henry T.C. Hu, a corporate law professor at the University of Texas School of Law. The lead plaintiff doesn’t get a bigger slice of the judgment pie. But the university will have more power to plan strategy and direct the case, Hu said. 

“From a monetary standpoint there’s nothing in it for the lead plaintiff,” Hu said. “You don’t get any more money than your prorated share. But that law firm will be putting in a lot of time, and it could be very attractive financially.” 

The original class-action fraud case was filed in Houston on behalf of Amalgamated and several investment funds days after Enron filed for bankruptcy on Dec. 2. 

Amalgamated lost $10 million in the meltdown, and sought $25 billion in damages. The suit is seeking $1.1 billion gained by current and former Enron executives and directors who sold stock from October 1998 through November last year. 

Other plaintiffs that lost more money have since joined the suit, including: 

• The Florida State Board of Administration and the New York City Pension Fund. Combined loss: $443 million. 

• The University of California Regents. Loss: $145 million. 

• Pension funds for the states of Georgia, Washington, Ohio and Alabama. Combined loss: $416 million. 

Lawyers representing shareholders and former employees also joined the suit. Employees watched their Enron-stock loaded 401(k) accounts evaporate as the company collapsed. 

Milberg Weiss had argued that as a single plaintiff, the regents would be able to better manage the case than multiple pension funds. Amalgamated did not seek the lead plaintiff designation. 


Hills fire station clears hurdle

By John Geluardi Daily Planet staff
Saturday February 16, 2002

Despite objections from neighbors, The Zoning Adjustments Board approved the Environmental Impact Report Thursday for the Hills Fire Station proposed for a quiet ridge in the Berkeley hills.  

The ZAB approved the report by a vote of 7-2 with board members David Blake and Andy Katz voting in opposition. The report, required by state law, evaluates potential impacts from the construction of the two-story, 6,800-square-foot station.  

Opponents of the station contend the quiet, residential neighborhood is not appropriate for a fire station. Others argued the station is necessary to protect the Berkeley hills from wild fires originating in the open lands east of the city. 

The proposed location is at 3000 Shasta Rd near Park Hills Road, which is adjacent to Tilden Park on the eastern edge of the city.  

Prior to voting, the ZAB heard public comments about the quality of the EIR. Also Fire Chief Reginald Garcia, Assistant Chief David Orth and Project Manager Carmella Rejwan responded to questions about information in the report. 

Proponents of the project called for the ZAB to approve the project and move quickly to approve the Use Permit for the project. Voters approved bond funds for the project in 1992, partly in response to the Berkeley/Oakland Hills Fire in 1991.  

The bond, Measure G, provided $55 million for a variety of fire safety projects including seismically upgrading the cities seven fire stations, repairing aging water mains and building a new fire station in a strategic location to battle fires in the Berkeley and Oakland hills. 

“I’m concerned with the delay to build the Hills Fire Station,” said proponent Colin Murphy. “This station will serve as a first line of defense in case of another fire in the wild lands.” 

According to fire department officials, one of the reasons 3000 Shasta Rd. was chosen from among eight other locations is because department response time trials shoed the location is within four minutes of the furthest point of the fire district, which is to the north at Grizzly Peak Road at Spruce Street.  

Chief Garcia said four minutes is widely accepted as the maximum amount of time to respond to a structural fire. 

Opponents, who have organized into a group called Citizens for Responsible Fire Protection, argued the EIR should not be approved because the response time trials were flawed. Peter Cukor, who lives immediately across the street from the proposed site, said he had himself conducted a variety of time trials. 

“There are many areas in Fire District 7 that are not reachable in four minutes,” Cukor said. “The neighbors ask the ZAB to not approve the EIR because the response times do not meet EIR standards.” 

Chief Garcia was skeptical of Cukor’s results. 

“Anyone can come up with the analysis they want to,” he said. “I timed these routes myself traveling between 25 and 30 miles an hour, which is the speed fire apparatus travels.” 

ZAB member David Blake, who said he and fellow board member Andy Katz had also timed response distances prior to the meeting, said he found problems with the response-time trials as well. He said he voted against the EIR because of discrepancies in at least one of the fire department’s reported times. 

“Some of the times don’t add up,” he said. “It’s these types of flaws and inaccuracies that make EIR’s more vulnerable to law suits.” 

The ZAB will hold another public hearing on Feb. 28.


Bears suffer late collapse, fall to Long Beach State

By Jared Green Daily Planet Staff
Saturday February 16, 2002

For seven innings, Trevor Hutchinson dodged bullets. But in the eighth, he was done in by foam pellets. 

The Long Beach State 49ers didn’t hit a ball hard in the eighth inning on Friday at Evans Diamond, but they still managed to score four runs to break a 1-1 deadlock. They added another three runs in the ninth, again without hitting the ball very hard, to win 8-1 over Cal. 

The Bears (4-5) dropped the game to the 21st-ranked 49ers despite outhitting them, 9-8, and allowing just one extra-base hit. But Long Beach (3-1) crammed most of their hits into the final two innings, while Cal spread theirs out and left seven runners on base. 

“We need to come of age soon, and find some guys to get the big hits for us,” Cal head coach David Esquer said of his young squad. “We haven’t played very well yet, and we need to put together a string of games.” 

Hutchinson held Long Beach without a hit for the first five innings, but it was a matter of luck more than command. Jeremy Reed started the game for the 49ers with a long drive to the fence in left field, and there were several line drives that headed right for Cal gloves in the next few innings. 

“(Hutchinson) wasn’t dominating them. We just had guys in the right spots,” Esquer said. 

Cal grabbed a 1-0 lead when leadoff hitter David Nicholson cranked a two-out, two-strike home run over the left-field wall in the third inning. It was the center fielder’s first round-tripper of the season, but it was all the support Hutchinson would get on the day. 

The Bears had opportunities to extend their lead in the fourth and fifth innings, putting runners in scoring position with one out in each inning, but couldn’t get anyone home against Long Beach starter Abe Alvarez. 

“If we get even one more run there, it puts much more pressure on (Long Beach),” Esquer said. “They would have had to think about getting a couple of runs, rather than trying to manufacture one to tie the game up.” 

Reed finally got Long Beach’s first hit of the game in the sixth inning, lining the first pitch into left-center for a double. Nick Orlandos put down a sacrifice bunt on the next pitch, but Hutchinson got to the ball late and threw it away, allowing Reed to score and sending Orlandos to second base.  

Chris Wright followed with a single to left, but Orlandos was held at third and wouldn’t score as Hutchinson struck out Paul McAnulty and Nick Covarrubias, then got Mike Hofius to line out to first base to end the threat. 

Having tied the score, the 49ers called in reliever Josh Alliston, who set down Cal with little fuss for the next four innings to earn the victory. 

Reed got things started again in the eighth inning, hitting a leadoff single off of Hutchinson. Orlandos sacrificed him to second base, with Hutchinson this time handling the ball with no trouble. Esquer chose to intentionally walk Wright to set up a possible double play, but Hutchinson faltered, walking McAnulty to load the bases before Covarrubias plopped a single into right field to plate Reed for a 2-1 lead. Hofius then hit a soft ground ball to shortstop and Jeff Dragicevich could only get the out at first, allowing Wright to score. Todd Jennings then got the backbreaker, a soft looper that fell inside the foul line in right field, scoring two runs to give the 49ers a 5-1 lead. Hutchinson finally got out of the inning by inducing a grounder to Dragicevich off the bat of Adam Heether. 

Esquer had no compunction about sending Hutchinson to the mound in the eighth, although his ace had already thrown more than 90 pitches. The senior right-handed had won his first two starts, giving up just one earned run in 15 innings in the two games. 

“I absolutely wanted him out there,” Esquer said. “He’s our Friday starter, and he’s the guy who gets our big wins for us.” 

Freshman left-hander Travis Talbott started the ninth for the Bears, but got just one out before he was yanked after giving up two runs.


Last chance to voice opposition to downzoning

Lynda Hart Berkeley
Saturday February 16, 2002

Editor: 

 

The City Council will be holding a Public Hearing on the downzoning of a portion of the 1100 block of Hearst Avenue (between San Pablo and Curtis) on Feb. 19. This is the last chance to oppose this short- sighted and illegal attempt to stop our development of a 14- unit residential apartment complex in this block. Which is more important? The creation of critically needed new housing on privately owned land which is appropriately zoned or the emotional appeals of well-organized neighbors. The neighborhood activists say that this block is an “anomaly” because there is lower density housing behind Hearst on Delaware Street and therefore our block should be downzoned to match. This is a dangerous assumption because many properties in Berkeley are zoned higher than their neighbors usually because of proximity to major transit corridors.  

If this reclassification is approved it opens the door for neighborhood groups to use reclassification as a weapon against future development. It will create a disincentive for anyone to invest in rental housing in Berkeley since the zoning at purchase may be reclassified therefore reducing the value of the property. Downzoning will reduce the potential for more affordable housing since the new zoning will make it economically unfeasible to build “inclusionary units” (low- income units). Only small projects with less than five units will be built since then they won’t have to comply with the affordable housing requirement. How can the city of Berkeley say that the creation of housing is a high priority while reducing the potential for new housing by downzoning? No wonder we have between 1,000 and 2,000 homeless people in Berkeley and no way to house many of the families on the Section 8 housing list. 

Please e-mail for more information. 

 

Lynda Hart 

Berkeley


The power behind the veil

Sari Friedman
Saturday February 16, 2002

If you’re more interested in reading about eunuchs than UNIX,and you’ve been wondering about the private lives of men in turbans and women in burkas in 16th and 17th century Mughal India, then you might want to pick up a copy of “The Twentieth Wife” by first-time author, Indu Sandaresan. 

This gorgeously jacketed book, which is being given enormous publicity while the author is on a 13-city tour, is a romance novel based on the true story of the birth, childhood, young womanhood, disastrous first marriage, and then triumphant second marriage of Mehrunnisa, the “sapphire-eyed” Sun of Woman, to Emperor Jahangir.  

At her marriage – which takes place when Mehrunnisa is at the advanced age of 34 – she becomes known as Empress Nur Jahan. She is Emperor Jahangir’s 20th, and final, wife. Although women were not usually said to have much power during this period, after the Emperor Jahangir’s death, the Empress has the personal and political skills to rule the empire for 15 years. 

Indian children know this history well. The Empress Nur Jahan is best known, in Indian history books, for her connection to the Tah Mahal. A year after Empress Hur Jahan joins the imperial harem, Emperor Khurram marries Mehrunnisa’s niece, Arjumand Banu Begam. This niece later dies while giving birth to her 14th child, and, in her memory, the emperor – supposedly with help from Empress Nur Jahan, the former Mehrunnisa and the heroine of this book – builds the Taj Mahal.  

“The Twentieth Wife” covers the first thirty-four years of Mehrunnisa’s life. A sequel, titled “The Power of the Veil,” will continue where “The Twentieth Wife” leaves off. 

The non-working class women of Mughal India – which in 1601 stretched from Bengal, India to Kandahar, Afghanistan – wore burkas and looked out at the world through a veil. They spent most of their time behind the walls of the harem enclosure, listening to the sounds of camels, horses, and sheep; their bare feet walking on stone. 

Most women of this period had little power over the shape and texture of their lives. It is interesting to note, though, that women of the working class, such as potters and builders, were more commonly considered the equal of their husbands, and were not required to wear a veil. Mehrunnisa, a member of the semi-nobility, was fortunate to be trained in music, dance, poetry, and painting. Though she’s born to a father subject to the throne of Persia and fleeing debtor’s prison and, possibly, death, due to some temporary bad luck, the family is soon living a life of privilege and comfort. 

Many of the descriptions in “The Twentieth Wife” are quite pleasing to read. When Mehrunnisa is born she is described as having “Well-formed arms and legs, a thick head of shiny black hair, and long, curling black eyelashes curling over delicate cheeks.” We hear about the tent sides that flap in the wind, and “steaming dishes of saffron-tinted pulavas cooked in chicken broth, goat curry in a rich brown gravy, a leg of lamb roasted with garlic and rosemary, and a salad of cucumber and plump tomato, sprinkled with rock salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon.” 

Occasionally, though, descriptions of people, places, and things are described with romance novel clichés: Mehrunissa has “mischief in her eyes.” On the other hand, The Twentieth Wife provides an important and fascinating perspective to the drama taking place in Afghanistan and India today. 

 

Sari Friedman can be reached via Sari2@Earthlink.Net. 

 

 


Staff
Saturday February 16, 2002

 

924 Gilman Feb. 16: Iron Vegan, Nigel Peppercock, Lost Goat, Iron Lung, Depressor; Feb. 22: Oppressed Logic, Deface, Edddie Haskells, Throat Oyster; Feb. 23: From Ashes Arise, Artimus Pyle, Brainoil, Down in Flames, Dystrophy, Scholastic Deth; All shows start a 8 p.m. unless noted; Most are $5; 924 Gilman St. 525-9926. 

 

The Albatross Feb. 18: Paul Schneider; Feb. 19: Carla Kaufman and Larry Scala; Feb. 20: Whiskey Brothers; Feb. 21: Keni “El Lebrijano”; Feb. 23: 9:30 p.m., Dave Creamer Jazz Quartet; Feb. 26: Mad & Eddie Duran; Feb. 28: Keni “El Lebrijano”; All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless noted. 822 San Pablo Ave., 843-2473, albatrosspub@mindspring. com. 

 

Anna’s Bistro Feb. 16: Robin Gregory, Ducksan Distones Jazz Sextet; Feb. 17: Acoustic Soul; Feb. 18: Renegade Sidemen w/Calvin Keyes; Feb. 19: Ed Reed; Feb. 20: Bob Schoen Jazz Quintet; Feb. 21: Jazz Singers’ Collective; Feb. 22: Fourtet, Hideo Date; Feb. 23: Vicki Burns & Felice York, Ducksan Distones Jazz Sextet; Feb. 24: Christy Dana Jazz Quartet; Feb. 25: Renegade Sidemen w/Calvin Keyes; Feb. 26: Con Alma; Feb. 27: Mainstream Jazz Quintet; Feb. 28: Junebug; Music starts at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., 1801 University Ave., 849-2662. 

 

Blake’s Feb. 17: Roots Science; Feb. 18: The Steve Gannon Band, Mz. Dee, $4; Feb. 20: Hebro, $3; Feb. 21: Ascension, $5; Feb. 23: Tang; Feb. 24: Famous Last Words; $3; Feb. 25: The Steve Gannon Band, Mz. Dee, $4; Feb. 26: Boomshanka, Rare Form, $3; Feb. 27: Mindz Eye, $5; Feb. 28: Ascension, $5; 2367 Telegraph Ave., 877-488-6533. 

 

Cafe Eclectica Feb. 23: 8 p.m., Hip Hop show: Little Larry, with guest MCs and DJs. A teen cafe "for youth, by youth". All ages, $3 w/HS I.D., $5 w/o; 1309 Solano Ave., Albany, 527-2344. 

 

Cal Performances Feb. 17: 3 p.m., Opera vocalist, Ewa Podles, performs works by Rossini, Chopin and Brahms. $42. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, 642-9988 

 

Cato’s Ale House Feb. 17: Phillip Greenlief Trio; Feb. 20: Anton Schwartz Trio; Feb. 24: Blue and Tan; Feb. 27: Vince Wallace Trio 

 

Club Jjang-ga Feb. 16: Deducted Value, Dopesick, Luxt, Karate High School, Forcing Bloom; Feb. 23: Cheapskate, Eddie Haskels, Resiteleros, Dead Last; 261-1108, savageproductions1@yahoo.com. 

 

Eli’s Mile High Club Every Friday, 10 p.m. Funky Fridays Conscious Dance Party with KPFA DJs Splif Skankin and Funky Man. $10; 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 655-6661 

 

Jupiter Feb. 16: Michael Bluestien Trio; Feb. 20: Joshi Marshall Duo; Feb. 21: Spectraphonic; Feb. 22: Ben Graves Group; Feb. 23: Brenden Millstein Quartet; Feb. 27: J Steinkoler Duo; Feb. 28: Spectraphonic; All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m., unless noted. 2181 Shattuck Ave., 843-7625, www.jupiterbeer.com. 

 

Old First Concerts Feb. 16: 8 p.m., The Duke and The Lady-Faye Carol, $12; Feb. 17: 4 p.m., Miriam Abramowitsch and George Barth, $12; Old First Church, 1751 Sacramento St., 415-474-1608. 

 

The Starry Plough Feb. 16: 9:30 p.m. Camper Van Chadbourne, Dandeline, $7; Feb. 17: 8 p.m., Irish Music Session; Feb. 20: 8:30 p.m., Poetry Slam, $5; Feb. 21: 9:30 p.m., Jon Langford, Rico Bell, $12; Feb. 22: 9:30 p.m., 20 Minute Loop, Kirby Grips, She Mob, $6; Feb. 23: 9:30 p.m., Eric McFadden Experience, Mark Growden, $6; 3101 Shattuck Ave., 841-2082. 

 

Tuva Space Mar. 21: 8 p.m., Blues Translation; Mar. 22: 8 p.m., Electro-Acoustic Quartet; Mar. 23: 8 p.m. Solo Guitar Performance, 9:30 p.m. Country, Folk, and Blues Standards. $8 All shows $8. 312 Adeline St. 649-8744, acme@sfsound.org 

 

 

“Concherto Night” Feb. 16: 8 p.m., Empyrean Ensemble perform new American and 20th Century works. $14 -$18. Julia Morgan Theatre, 2640 College Ave., 925-798-1300, www.juliamorgan.org 

 

“Love is in the Air” Feb. 16: 6 p.m., Oakland Lyric Opera presents an evening of dinner, candlelight and flowers accompanied by a musical showcase of Broadway tunes, Italian street songs and nostalgic cabaret music. $65 including tax and tip. Sequoya Country Club, 4550 Heafey Rd, Oakland, 836-6772 

 

“Judi Bari Takes on the FBI” Feb. 16: 7:30 p.m., Alice Littletree and Sherry Glaser perform separately in a benefit to raise money for Judi Bari’s suit against the FBI. $5 - $15 sliding scale. Unitarian Fellowship, Cedar & Bonita St., 415-927-1645 

 

“Bosch Sisters” Feb. 20: 7:30 p.m., Swiss sisters perform piano concert featuring music by Mozart, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Debussy and Poulenc. Donations suggested. UC Berkeley International House, 2299 Piedmont Ave. 642-9490 

 

“Free Men! Free Women!” Feb. 22 through Feb. 23: 8 p.m., Wing It performs a new a combination of dance, song and story. $12. First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, 814-9584 

 

“John Glennon and Erika March” Feb. 24: 5 p.m., A program of French music including the works of Francois Couperin, Chambonnieres, and Muffat. $15 - $18. MusicSources, 1000 The Alameda, 528-1685 

 

“Cosi Fan Tutte” Feb. 22 through Mar. 3: The Berkeley Opera will perform Mozart’s classic opera. $10 - $30. Call for specific dates and times. Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave. 841-103, www.berkeleyopera.com 

 

 

“La Tania” Feb. 14 through Feb. 16, 6 p.m., 7:15 p.m., Acclaimed Flamenco Dancer, La Tania, performs with members of her dance company. $55 dinner included. Cafe de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. 843-0662, www.cafedelapaz.net 

 

“The Ravel Project and Other Performances” Feb. 15, Feb. 16: 8 p.m., Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre will premiere the Ravel Project on February 15th and perform separate selections on February 16. $24 - $46. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-0212 

 

“Here..Now” Feb. 19 through Feb. 24: Tues. - Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m., 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m., 8 p.m., Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs three distinct programs featuring the West Coast premiere of “Here...Now”. $24 - $46. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-0212 

 

 

 

 

“Human Nature” Feb. 16: 8:30 p.m., X-plicit Players, $15; Art-A-Fact, 1109 Addison St., 848-1985, www.xplicitplayers.com. 

 

“Sisters” Through Feb. 16: Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., The Prozorov sisters look at the gap between hope and fulfillment in their lives. Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattack, www.actorsensemleofbkerkeley.com. 

 

“Night, Mother” Feb. 8, Feb. 15 - 16, Feb. 22 - 23: 8 p.m., A drama exploring one young woman’s decision to take control of her life with one furious and heartbreaking act. Directed by Bahati Bonner. $12, $8 seniors. La Val’s Subterranean Theatre, 1834 Euclid Ave. 496-1269 x1950, nightmother@onebox.com 

 

“Culture Clash in AmeriCCA” Through Mar. 3: Check theater for specific dates and times. The comic trio Culture Clash present their latest collection of political, ethnological and socialogical humor written for and about Berkeley. $10 - $54. Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St., 647-2949, www.berkeleyrep.org 

 

 

“Rhinoceros” Through Mar. 10: Check theater for specific dates and times. An absurdist tragic-comedy about a small provincial town whose citizens slowly but surely transform into large cumbersome rhinoceroses. Directed by Barbara Damashek. $38 - $54. Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St. 647-2976 www.berkeleyrep.org. 

 

“Murder Dressed in Satin” by Victor Lawhorn, ongoing. A mystery-comedy dinner show at The Madison about a murder at the home of Satin Moray, a club owner and self-proclaimed socialite with a scarlet past. Dinner is included in the price of the theater ticket. $47.50 Lake Merritt Hotel, 1800 Madison St., Oakland, 239-2252, www.acteva.com/go/havefun. 

 

Film 

 

Pacific Film Archive Feb: 14: 7 p.m., The Perfumed Garden; Feb: 15: 7 p.m., Rendezvous in Paris, 9:05 p.m., Autumn Tale; Feb. 17: 3 p.m. The Testimony of Taliesin Jones, 5:30 p.m., The Atonement of Gosta Berling; Feb. 19: 7:30 p.m., Prisoners of War; Feb. 20: 3 p.m., The General, 7:30 p.m., Kristin Lucas Simulcast Town Meeting; Feb. 21: 7:30 p.m., Kristin Lucas Workshop; 2527 Bancroft Way, 642-1412. 

 

“Human Rights International Film Festival” Feb. 22 through Feb. 24: Nine provocative films will be shown, many followed by question and answer sessions with local and visiting filmmakers. Check theater for films and times. Pacific Film Archive, 2527 Bancroft Way, 642-1412  

 

 

 

Exhibits  

 

“Rhythms” Through Feb. 2: Art installation of sculpture, neon, music and video projections by Kati Casida; Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St., 845-5373 

 

Pro Arts: “Juried Annual 2001-02” Through Feb. 2: Exhibition of painting, sculpture, mixed media, photography and more by Bay Area and regional artists; Pro Arts, 461 Ninth St., www.proartsgallery.org. 

 

“All Grown Up” Through Feb. 2: New paintings and drawings by Amy Chan. Thurs. 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., Fri -Sun 1 p.m. -6 p.m., 21 Grand Ave., Oakland, 444-7263. 

 

“Water Media” Through Feb. 8: An exhibit by Christine “Caipirinha” Mulder. Capoeira Arts Cafe Gallery, 2026 Center St., 666-1349 for hours. 

 

“New Work by Dennis Begg and Steve Briscoe” Through Feb. 9: Dennis Begg’s sculpture. Steve Brisco’s paintings. Tues. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Traywick Gallery,1316 10th St., 527-1214. 

 

“Enduring Wisdom: Artwork and Stories by Homeless and Formerly Homeless Seniors” Through Feb. 15: 18 homeless and formerly homeless elders reveal how they learned and applied wisdom that is timeless. Mon. - Fri. and Sundays 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Free. St. Mary’s Center, 635 22nd St., Oakland, 893-4723 x222. 

 

“Envisioning Ecology” Through Feb. 15: Paintings by Michelle Waters. Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave., 548-2220 x233. 

 

“The Other 364 Days: A Day in the Life of the Queer Community” Through Feb. 16: An exhibit of black and white photographs by East Bay photographer Limor Inbar-Hansen. Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Sat., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Photolab Gallery, 2235 Fifth St., 644-1400, limor@indelible-images.com. 

 

“Adventures in La Land” Through Feb. 23: Installations by Suzanne Husky and Paintings by Amy Morrell. Tues. - Sat., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 4920 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, 428-2349. 

 

“Transformations: Through the Eye of a Needle” Through Feb. 23: Two-person exhibition by Rebecca Bui and Linda Lemon including procelain and fabric dolls and mixed media works on handmade paper. Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland, 836-0831, www.artolio.com 

 

“Ton of Joy” Through Mar. 1: Group show of twelve painters and sculptors: Simone Anders, Susan Brady, Erin Fitzgerald, Karen Frey, Kei Hanafusa, Nancy Legge, Burke Rainey, Robin Sebourn, Kristen Throop, Clay Vajgrt, Whitney Vosburgh, Ann West; Mon. - Sat., 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Hollis Street Project, 5900 Hollis St., Emeryville. 

 

“Celebrating the African Diaspora” Through Mar. 1: A Black History Month Exhibit celebrating the contributions of Africans in America and throughout the Diaspora. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; University of Creation Sprituality, 2141 Broadway, Oakland, 835-4827 x31 

 

“Ansel Adams in the University of California Collections” Through Mar. 10: A selection of photographs and memorabilia presenting a different perspective on Adam’s career as one of the leading figures in American photography; Through Mar. 24: “Migrations: Photographs by Sebastiao Salgado,” over 300 black-and-white photographs of immigrants and refugees taken by the Brazilian photographer. Wed. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., $4- $6. The University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

 

“A Retrospective Show” Through Mar. 13: The Women’s Cancer Resource Center “The Art of Living Black,” an Open Studios event for local African American artists. The Gallery features a retrospective show of the work of the late Jan Hart-Schuyers. Mon. - Thurs. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sat. 12 - 4 p.m., Women’s Cancer Resource Center, 3023 Shattuck Ave., 548-9286 x307, www.wcrc.org. 

 

The Richmond Art Center Through Mar. 16: “The Art of Living Black 2002: The sixth Annual Bay Area Black Artists Exhibition and Art Tour,” group exhibition of 81 artists; “Introspección Dual: Recent Painting by Verónica B. Rojas and Santiago Gervas”; “Transmutations: Recent work by Tim Jag”; “The NIAD` Family,” Artwork from the National Institute of Art and Disabilities; “Still Here,” collaborative art project about AIDS in the 21st century; “Girls in the Hall,” artwork by girls incarcerated in the San Francisco juvenile justice system; Tues. - Fri., 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Sat. noon - 4:30 p.m.; The Art of Living Black Art Tour Weekend: Mar. 2 and 3, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; 2540 Barrett Ave., 620-6772, www.therichmondartcenter.org. 

 

“Stas Orlovski” Feb. 16 through Mar. 23: New work by Stas Orlovski featuring a series of large paintings and drawings examining the relationships between body and landscape and eastern and western aesthetics. Tues. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Traywick Gallery, 1316 Tenth St., 527-1214 

 

“Average Female (Perfect)” Through Mar. 24: Manhattan-based artist Sowon Kwon projects footage of the first ever perfect-scoring gymnasts: Romanian, Nadia Comanece and Russian, Nelli Kim at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Kwon superimposes over the gymnasts a hand-drawn outline of the “average” female body to direct the audience’s attention to the gymnasts’ movements throughout their performances. Wed. - Sun 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., $4 - $6. University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

 

"Earthly Pleasures" assemblage and photographs by Susan Danis, Through March 30: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mon. - Sat.; Sticks, 1579 B, Solano Ave., 526-6603.  

 

“Domestic Bliss” Through Apr. 4: Collection of abstract paintings and mixed medium by Amy St. George. Albany Community Center Foyer Gallery, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany, 524-9283. 

 

Trillium Press: Past, Present and Future Feb. 15 through April 13: Works created at Trillium Press by 28 artists. Tues. - Fri. noon - 5:30 p.m., Sat. noon - 4:30 p.m.; Kala Art Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave., 549-2977, www.kala.org.  

 

“The Legacy of Social Protest: The Disability Rights Movement” Through April 30: The first exhibition in a series dealing with Free Speech, Civil Rights, and Social Protest Movements of the 60s and 70s in California. Photograghs by: Cathy Cade, HolLynn D’Lil, Howard Petrick, Ken Stein. The Free Speech Cafe, Moffitt Undergraduate Library, University of California-Berkeley, hjadler@yahoo.com.  

 

“The Art History Museum of Berkeley” Masterworks by Guy Colwell. Faithful copies of several artists from the pasts, including Titian’s “The Venus of Urbino,” Cezanne’s “Still Life,” Picasso’s “Woman at a Mirror,” and Botticelli’s “Primavera” Ongoing. Call ahead for hours. Atelier 9, 2028 Ninth St., 841-4210, www.atelier9.com. 

 

“Jurassic Park: The Life and Death of Dinosaurs” Feb. 2 through May 12: An exhibit displaying models of the sets and dinosaur sculptures used in the Jurassic Park films, as well as a video presentation and a dig pit where visitors can dig for specially buried dinosaur bones. $8 adults, $6, youth and seniors. Lawrence Hall of Science, Centennial Dr., above the UC Berkeley campus, 642-5132, www.lawrencehallofscience.org 

 

“The Image of Evil in Art” Feb. 7 through May 31: An exhibit exploring the varying depictions of the devil in art. Call ahead for hours. The Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, 2400 Ridge Rd., 649-2541. 

 

“The Pottery of Ocumichu” Feb. 7 through May 31: A case exhibit of the imaginative Mexican pottery made in the village of Ocumichu, Michoacan. Known particularly for its playful devil figures, Ocumichu pottery also presents fanciful everyday scenes as well as religious topics. Call ahead for hours. The Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, 2400 Ridge Rd., 649-2540 

 

Readings 

 

Black Oak Books Feb. 27: 7:30 p.m., Author & Activist Randy Schutt discussing his new book "Inciting Democracy: A Practical Proposal for Creating a Good 

Society." 1491 Shattuck Ave., 486-0698. 

 

Boadecia’s Books Feb. 9: 7:30 p.m., Loolwa Khazzoom reads from her new book “Conseqence: Beyond Resisting Rape” which takes a street savy look at street harassment. The evening will include a screening of the film “War Zone” and several spoken word presentations. Free. 398 Colusa, Kensington, 595-4642 

 

Cody’s on Fourth St. Feb. 15: Nuala O’Faolain talks about “My Dream of You”; Feb. 19: Tracy Hogg will tell “Secrets of the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers”; Feb. 21: Dan Bessie discusses Alvah Bessie’s Spanish Civil War Notebooks; Feb. 27: 6 p.m., Rodney Yee brings “Yoga: The Poetry of the Body”; Feb. 28: Rosemary Wells talks about children, children’s books, and the importance of reading; All events begin at 7 p.m. unless noted and ask a $2 donation. 1730 Fourth St., 559-9500, www.codysbooks.com.  

 

Cody’s on Telegraph Ave. Feb. 7: Mark Kurlansky considers “Salt: A World History”; Feb. 11: Edward O. Wilson discusses “The Future of Life”; Feb. 12: Frances Moore Lappé and Anna Lappé offer “Hope’s Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet”; Feb. 15: Cindy Engel describes “Wild Health: How Animals Keep Themselves Well and What We Can Learn From Them”; Feb. 19: Robert Cohen reads from “Inspired Sleep”; Feb. 22: “The Whole World is Watching,” a panel discussion with Harold Adler, Leon F. Litwack, Charles Wollenberg, Hollynn D’Lil, Ronald J. Riesterer and Cathy Cade; Feb. 25: David Henry Sterry describes “Chicken: Self-portrait of a Young Man for Rent”; Feb. 26: Carter Scholz reads from “Radiance”; All events begin at 7:30 p.m. unless noted and ask a $2 donation. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852, www.codysbooks.com.  

 

Coffee With a Beat Feb. 2: Julia Vinograd, Shauna Rogan; Feb. 9: Sydney Bell, Debrale Pagan; All readings 7-9 p.m., free and followed by open mike. 458 Perkins, Oakland, 526-5985.  

 

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore Feb. 5: William Chapman presents slides and reads from his book, “The Face of Tibet”; Feb. 7: A panel of female travel writers read from their works published in “The Unsavvy Travelers”, a chronicle of hilarious tales of cathartic misadventures on the road; Feb. 19: Christopher Baker, author of “Costa Rica: Moon Handbook” presents a slide show demonstrating what makes the Central American country so appealing; Richard Sterling, author of Lonely Planet’s “World Food: Greece”, presents a culinary tour revealing the culture and character of Greece through the medium of her cuisine’s; Feb. 28: Terrence Ward reads from his book “Searching for Hassan: An American Family’s Journey Home to Iran”; All readings are free and start at 7:30 p.m., 1385 Shattuck Ave. at Rose, 843-3533. 

 

Shambhala Booksellers Feb. 3: 7 p.m., William Peterson will read from his latest book “Voices in the Dark: Esoteric, Occult & Secular Voices in Nazi-Occupied Paris 1990-1994”. Free. 242 Telegraph Ave., 848-8443 

 

 

Poetry 

 

Poetry Flash @ Cody’s Feb. 6: Adrianne Marcus, Diana O’Hehir; Feb. 10: Cathy Coldman, Judith Serin; Feb. 13: Murray Silverstein, Gillian Wegener, Helen Wickes; Feb. 17: Sharon Doubiago, Doren Robbins; Feb. 20: Linda Elkin, Steve Rood; Feb. 27: Stephen Kessler and John Oliver Simon; All events begin at 7:30 p.m., $2 donation. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852, www.codysbooks.com.  

 

Tours 

 

Golden Gate Live Steamers Grizzly Peak Boulevard and Lomas Cantadas Drive at the south end of Tilden Regional Park Small locomotives, scaled to size. Trains run Sun., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rides: Sun., noon to 3 p.m., weather permitting. 486-0623. 

 

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Fridays 9:30 - 11:45 a.m. or by appointment. Call ahead to make reservations. Free. University of California, Berkeley. 486-4387. 

 

Museums 

 

Habitot Children’s Museum “Back to the Farm” An interactive exhibit gives children the chance to wiggle through tunnels, look into a mirrored fish pond, don farm animal costumes, ride on a John Deere tractor and more. “Recycling Center” Lets the kids crank the conveyor belt to sort cans, plastic bottles and newspaper bundles into dumpster bins; $4 adults; $6 children age 7 and under; $3 for each additional child age 7 and under. Mon. and Wed., 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tues. and Fri., 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thur., 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2065 Kittredge St. 647-1111 or www.habitot.org. 

 

UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology Lobby, Valley Life Sciences Building, UC Berkeley “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” ongoing. A 20 foot by 40 foot replica of the fearsome dinosaur made from casts of bones of the most complete T. Rex skeleton yet excavated. When unearthed in Montana, the bones were all lying in place with only a small piece of the tailbone missing. “Pteranodon” A suspended skeleton of a flying reptile with a wingspan of 22-23 feet. The Pteranodon lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. Free. Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 642-1821. 

 

UC Berkeley Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthropology will close its exhibition galleries for renovation. It will reopen in early 2002.  

 

Oakland Museum of California Feb. 14: 1 p.m., Diane Curry shares her experiences researching photographic archives for the history of Oakland, free; Feb. 17: 12 - 4 p.m., A family program in which artists engage families in creative projects inspired by the work of California African American artists; 2 - 3 p.m., Artist Raymond Howell discusses his creative process and artistic techniques. $6 general, $4 seniors and students with ID. 10th & Oak St., 238-2200, www.museumca.org 

 

Holt Planetarium Programs are recommended for age 8 and up; children under age 6 will not be admitted. $2 in addition to regular museum admission. “Constellations Tonight” Ongoing. Using a simple star map, learn to identify the most prominent constellations for the season in the planetarium sky. Daily, 3:30 p.m. $7 general; $5 seniors, students, disabled, and youths age 7 to 18; $3 children age 3 to 5 ; free children age 2 and younger. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Centennial Drive, UC Berkeley, 642-5132, www.lhs.berkeley.edu. 

 

Send arts events two weeks in advance to Calendar@berkeleydailyplanet.net, 2076 University, Berkeley 94704 or fax to 841-5694.


Staff
Saturday February 16, 2002


Saturday, Feb. 16

 

Puppet Show 

1:30 and 2:30 p.m. 

Hall of Health, Children’s Hospital Oakland 

2230 Shattuck Ave. 

Includes puppets from diverse cultures and with such conditions as cerebral palsy, blindness, and Down syndrome. Free. 549-1564. 

 

Launch Party for War Times 

4 p.m. 

Mandela Village 

1357 Fifth St., West Oakland 

A new national anti-war newspaper covering an alternative truth. 869-5156. 

 

BANA, Berkeley Alliance of  

Neighborhood Associations 

9:30 - ll a.m.  

Live Oak Park, Fireside Room 

l30l Shattuck Ave. 

Neighbors are welcome to network and connect on issues with groups across the city. 848-3l75, HCMuir@mindspring.com. 

 

Judi Bari Takes on the FBI 

7:30 p.m. 

Unitarian Fellowship 

Cedar and Bonita St. 

Benefit for the Judi Bari suit against the FBI. $5 - $15. 415-927-1645. 

 

Habitual Avoidance of Intimacy? 

5 - 6:30 p.m. 

Twelve-step meeting for sexual, social, and emotional anorexia. Open to anyone who wants to recover from habitual avoidance of intimacy. Call first, 548-1285. 

 

Fundraiser for BHS Common Ground Costa Rica trip 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

1924 Cedar St. 

Humongous multi-family Berkeley High School indoor garage sale. Marciagoodman@aol.com. 

 


Sunday, Feb. 17

 

 

Jewish Learning Seminar 

10 a.m. - noon 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

K’Tanim: A Celebration of Jewish Learning for Families with Young Children, Birth to 3. Family activities, songs, stories, crafts, and discussions. $10. To register call: 549-9447 x 104. 

 

Plant Meditations: Cultivating Your Relationship with the Healing Power of Herbs 

7:30 p.m. 

The Berkeley Psychic Institute 

2018 Allston Way 

Spend the evening exploring the many ways of communicating with the healing presence of the plants. $10 donation, 644-1600. 

 


Monday, Feb. 18

 

 

BART Operates Regular Saturday  

Service for “President’s Day 

Beginning at 6 a.m. until midnight on all five lines. 465-2278. 

 

The East Bay Coalition Against the War Movie/Speaker and Discussion Night 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Fellowship of Humanity  

390 27th St., Oakland 

We will show the Noam Chomsky Video on 9/11 and the War on Terror. Plus guest speaker, Denny Riley, Vietnam Veteran and a member of the Veterans Speaker’s Alliance. The film and speaker will take about one to one and a half hours. The rest of the time will be devoted to small and large group discussion about our current struggle in response to “the war on terrorism.” 

 


Tuesday, Feb. 19

 

 

Berkeley Garden Club  

Hosts “Crystal Palaces” 

1 p.m. 

Epworth United Methodist Church 

1953 Hopkins St. 

Ann Cunningham, author of “Crystal Palaces” will present slides of glass houses from the turn of the century to the present. Scott Medburry, Director Strybing Arboretum & Botanic Garden, will talk about the history of San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers including an update on its recent renovation. 524-4374. 

 

21st Century McCarthyism & The Rise of the Global Police State 

6 - 8 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

Wheeler Auditorium 

The following speakers present their interpretations of September 11 and its aftermath: Angela Davis, Diane Clemens and Jennifer Terry. Sponsored by the Departments of Women's Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, & Ethnic Studies, and Professors for Peace. xperales@uclink.berkeley.edu. 

 

Pioneering Woman Federal Judge 

4:30 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

Boalt Hall, Room 100 

The Hon. Mary M. Schroeder, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, speaks on "Justice and Mercy." Inaugural event of American Constitution Society for Law & Policy, Boalt Hall Chapter. 642-1741, amconstsoc@law.berkeley.edu. 

 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church 

941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints and learn what other photographers are doing. 525-3565. 

 


Wednesday, Feb. 20

 

 

Staying Connected: Building A Secular Jewish Life 

7:30 - 9:15 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

An evening of discussion and song with a Klezmer/Yiddish musician. $5. 848-0237 x 127 

 

Institute of Government Studies 

4 p.m. 

119 Moses Hall 

UC Berkeley Campus 

Gerald Gamm lectures as part of the Historical Institutionalism Seminar. 642-4608, www.igs.berkeley.edu 

 

Colonial Courts, African Conflicts,  

and the End of Slavery in the French Souda 

4 - 6 p.m. 

UC Berkeley  

3335 Dwinelle, Level "C" 

A talk by Richard Roberts of Stanford University. Sponsored by Department of History, Department of African-American Studies, and Center for African Studies. 642-8338. 

 

Cultural Competency in Healthcare 

6 - 7:30 p.m. 

Berkeley YWCA  

2600 Bancroft Way 

Racial Justice Lecture Series and discussion on overcoming ethnic and gender differences to deliver healthcare in under-served populations. 848-6370, www.ywca-berkeley.org. 

 

East Bay Job Fair 

noon - 6 p.m. 

Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center 

10 10th St., Oakland 

The United Way of the Bay Area, Economic Development Alliance for Business, and Bay Area Works are hosting a job fair. Free and open to everyone. 238-2410, www.uwba.org.  

 


Thursday, Feb. 21

 

 

Barbara Lee 

8 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

145 Dwinelle Hall 

Rep. Barbara Lee will be on campus. Sponsored by the Commonwealth Club and the Center on Politics. 642-9355, www.igs.berkeley.edu:8880/. 

 

Purim Lecture 

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Discover the deeper meaning of Purim as Rabbi Alexander Sheinfeld uses the lens of Kabbalah to explore what Purim has to do with being Jewish and with being human. $10, $8 members. 848-0237 x127 

 

Zimbabwe Wildlife 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc. 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Julie Edwards of Rhino Girl Safaris gives a slide presentation showcasing Zimbabwe’s remarkable variety of birds and mammals, and discusses the future of wildlife and the safari industry in Africa. 527-7377 

 

Travel Photography Workshop 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore 

1385 Shattuck Ave. 

An intensive workshop that focuses on travel photography, with an emphasis on film and equipment security, light and weather conditions, methods to make the most of well-known sites, and ways to approach and photograph strangers. $15. 843-3533 

 

Simplicity Forum 

7 - 8:30 p.m. 

Claremont Branch Library 

2940 Benvenue Ave. 

"TV and Media” - Several people who have given up their TV's will talk about the difficulties and benefits. 549-3509, www.seeds of simplicity.org. 

 

Take the Terror Out of Talking 

noon - 1:10 p.m. 

Calif. Dept. Health Services 

2151 Berkeley Way 

Room 804 

State Health Toastmasters Club is presenting a six-week Speechcraft workshop to help you overcome your fear of speaking in public and improve your communication skills. Cost is $36 for six sessions, Feb. 21, 28 & March 7, 14, 21. 649-7750. 

 


Friday, Feb. 22

 

 

Grand Canyon Splendor: Rafting the Colorado 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc. 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Guidebook author and former river guide, Tyler Williams, presents the dramatic beauty of the Grand Canyon in his slide presentation on rafting the Colorado. 527-7377 

 

Still Stronger Women 

1:15 - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave 

Short stories. 232-1351. 

 


Saturday, Feb. 23

 

 

Archaeological Institute of America 

3 p.m. 

Shorb House 

2547 Channing Way 

Lecture by Dr. Stuart Swiny discussing Cypriot rituals surrounding fertility, life and death from the Neolithic to the Roman era. 415-338-1537, barbaram@sfsu.edu. 

 

Paying for Public Education: 

Whose Job Is It? 

3 - 5:30 p.m. 

Ocean View Elementary School 

Multi-Purpose Room 

1000 Jackson St., Albany 

A forum with Kevin Gordon of the Education Coalition, who will explain state-level funding for K-12 schools. Candidates for the California Assembly 14th District seat Debate: Dave Brown (D), Loni Hancock (D), and Charles Ramsey (D). 524-7004, hao_kco@pacbell.net.  

 


Sunday, Feb. 24

 

 

Monday, Feb. 25 

A Rose Grew in Brooklyn: Stories from a Jewish Girlhood 

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Local author and therapist, Rose Fox reads from her memoir. 

 

Institute of Government Studies 

12 p.m. 

119 Moses Hall 

UC Berkeley Campus 

John Matsasuka presents a lecture entitled “For the Many or the Few: How the Initiative Process Changes American Government”. 642-4608, www.igs.berkeley.edu 

 


Tuesday, Feb. 26

 

 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church 

941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints and learn what other photographers are doing. 525-3565. 

 


Wednesday, Feb. 27

 

 

Berkeley Gray Panthers 

1:30 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Defending and improving Medicare. 548-9696, graypanthers@hotmail.com.  

 

Berkeley Mental Health Commission 

6:30 p.m. 

2640 Martin Luther King Jr. Way 

Auditorium 

Berkeley mental health clinic. 644-8562. 

 


Thursday, Feb. 28

 

 

Cody's Evening for Parents and Teachers 

7 p.m. 

Cody's Books 

1730 Fourth St. 

Rosemary Wells, children's author of dozens of books including Max and Ruby and Noisy Nora, will discuss children, books, and the importance of reading to your children. 527-6667, www.parentsnet.org. 

 

Trekking in Bhutan 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc. 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Seasoned traveler, Ruther Anne Kocour will share slides and stories of her adventures trekking in this majestic country. 527-7377 

 

Take the Terror Out of Talking 

noon - 1:10 p.m. 

Calif. Dept. Health Services 

2151 Berkeley Way 

Room 804 

State Health Toastmasters Club is presenting a six-week Speechcraft workshop to help you overcome your fear of speaking in public and improve your communication skills. Cost is $36 for six sessions, Feb. 28 & March 7, 14, 21. 649-7750. 

 

The Writing Life 

4:30 p.m. 

North Branch Library 

1170 The Alameda 

Peter S. Beagle will discuss his works and the life and times of a professional writer. 649-3913, www.infopeople.org/bpl. 

 

Photographing the Famous 

7:30 p.m. 

College Preparatory School Auditorium 

1600 Broadway, Oakland 

Michael Collopy will talk about photographing the famous (Mother Teresa, Frank Sinatra, Mikhail Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela).


Schools may face a $3 million budget cut

By David Scharfenberg Daily Planet staff
Saturday February 16, 2002

Superintendent Michele Lawrence recommended an initial wave of $3 million in cuts, including the closure of City of Franklin School, in a budget proposal released Friday. 

Lawrence, who would trim $1.1 million from the central office, also laid the groundwork for heavy layoffs, which would include more than 100 teachers. 

The Board of Education, which needs to cut about $6 million in order to balance the budget next year, will discuss Lawrence’s recovery plan during its Feb. 20 meeting, and is expected to vote on it Feb. 27. The board will not vote on the official 2002-2003 budget until June. 

Lawrence has discussed the need for multi-million dollar cuts for weeks, but the proposal still hit school activists and elected officials hard Friday. 

“Quite honestly, it’s a bit depressing now,” said school board member John Selawsky. “Seeing the reality of it, it kind of shakes you up.” 

Lawrence said recommending the closure of City of Franklin, a K-6 school, was a “very painful” decision. But she said the 3-year-old magnet program has failed to draw an appropriate number of students. 

“It’s a school of barely 200 and we can’t afford to run it,” she said. “The overhead, the administrative costs, are just too high.” 

The district estimates that closure will save $326,000, plus tens of thousands in transportation costs. 

“It’s very upsetting,” said Shay Williams, parent of a first-grader at City of Franklin, arguing that the school should have more time to increase enrollment. 

Shirley Issel, president of the Board of Education, said she will seek input in the next two weeks before making a decision on the school’s closure. 

“It’s very important to hear from anyone who wants to address the board before I make up my mind,” Issel said. 

Lawrence’s budget proposal identifies about 300 positions for potential layoffs, including 70 to 80 “temporary” or beginning teachers employed by the district. The document also targets 20 “permanent” teacher positions in grades four through eight and 12.2 slots at Berkeley High School.  

The proposal also names librarians, reading teachers and music instructors among dozens of others who could be laid off. 

But the district will not necessarily let go all of the employees on the list. By law, the system must notify certain classes of teachers and administrators by March 15 if it intends to let them go next year.  

Lawrence and school board members say they hope to take back some of the lay off notices before the end of the year if they are able to realize additional savings between March 15 and the official June budget vote. 

The district is currently pursuing special legislation to forgive a $1.1 million fine owed to the state for failure to turn in a professional development document on time, but Lawrence is not optimistic about forgiveness. 

Rick Ayers, an English instructor at BHS, said he is concerned about the layoffs. 

“We’re just hoping a lot of good teachers don’t get pushed out by this,” he said, adding that normal resignations and retirements may soften the blow. 

“We’re going to keep working as hard as we can to keep the cuts as far away from the classroom as possible,” Lawrence said. 

She added that literacy programs will be a top priority, and noted that librarians and “reading recovery” instructors will be near the top of her list for employees she will attempt to retain. 

Selawsky also voiced his strong support for the district’s early literacy program. “We’ve got to save that, from my point of view,” he said. 

Lawrence’s proposal also calls for a shift from a seven- to a six-period day at BHS, saving the school eight full-time teaching positions and an estimated $520,000.  

Science teachers have expressed concern that the move will reduce or eliminate the school’s successful double-period science program. 

Lawrence’s proposal would increase BHS class size from 29 to 31 students, and use the savings to pay for an additional 20 to 30 “flex time” class sections outside the normal six-period day. 

Rodney Kopish, a biology teacher at BHS, said he hopes the outside sections will allow for some partial continuation of double-period science.  

Lawrence said extra science classes are a possibility, but warned that the flex periods could also be used for leadership classes, orchestra, the school newspaper and other activities. 

The superintendent’s reorganization of the central office involves some 35 layoffs, $844,000 in cuts from the business office and $311,000 from the educational services office. 

The superintendent would, among other things, fold administration of the Berkeley Schools Excellence Project, a special local tax, into the district’s business office. Until now, BSEP has been administered by a separate, independent body. 

Nancy Riddle, co-chair of the BSEP planning and oversight committee, said she has concerns about the loss of independent management of the local tax, which generated about $10 million this year and may only be used for certain purposes, like class size reduction. 

“When times are rough, it’s really tempting to dip into restricted funds,” she said, arguing that the shift to district management could lead to a plundering of BSEP funds.  

“I have absolutely none of those fears,” Lawrence responded, arguing that her administration will be more careful with district funds than its predecessors. “We know the difference between restricted money and unrestricted money.”


Open letter to Gov. Davis to stop new Bay Bridge

Andrew Berna-Hicks Oakland
Saturday February 16, 2002

Dear Governor Davis: 

 

Why are we spending billions to build a new half a bridge when by the time it is built, it will be a commuter parking lot 24/7? 

It is obvious that the people who make these decisions (you, Willie and Jerry Brown, etc.) can not see out the tinted windows of your limousine if in fact you do get caught on the Bay Bridge at rush hour (6 to 9 a.m., 3:30 to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday evenings ...) when it may take upwards of an hour to get across the three-mile span. 

Why aren’t we building a bridge from San Leandro to San Mateo, which Frank Lloyd Wright has already designed with a park in the middle. Sounds a little different, but the bridge would have rail, bike lanes etc. ... It would actually help relieve the strain of traffic on the existing Bay Bridge (hey, is this a new concept?). Meanwhile, we could retrofit the existing bridge, which held up pretty damn well during the 1989 Loma Prieta quake. Oh, sorry, what am I thinking. Scrape the plans for the new single-span thing-a-ma-bob? 67,000 jobs put on hold? Ruin your chances of re-election? Please excuse the sarcasm, but it helps me cope.  

No, it is not to late to stop this project and do it right.  

 

Andrew Berna-Hicks 

Oakland


ZAB grants affordable senior housing project the go ahead

By John Geluardi Daily Planet staff
Saturday February 16, 2002

The Zoning Adjustments Board unanimously approved a Use Permit for a controversial four-storey, 40-unit senior residence on Sacramento Street at the site of the former Outback clothing store. 

The bleary-eyed ZAB members cast their votes after closing the public hearing on the mixed-use project at 2:30 a.m. Friday at the end of an especially long meeting. 

About 100 people attended the meeting to make comments for and against the project during the public hearing. But as the hours dragged on, the crowd thinned until there was about 12 speakers for each side.  

Opponents complained the project at 2517 Sacramento St. is too dense for the mostly residential neighborhood. Proponents, many who are elderly, argued that affordable housing is in critical need, especially for seniors. 

The project, which will be built by the nonprofit developer Affordable Housing Associates, will include 30 low- and very low-income units for seniors. The remaining 10 units will be leased to moderate income tenants.  

AHA Executive Director Ali Kashani estimated the project will cost $8.8 million to complete. He added that if additional funding is secured this summer, the project is expected to break ground in early October. 

Kashani said the mixed-use project will be 42,000 square feet including 3,600 square feet or commercial space. The project will also have 12 parking spaces. 

“We are very excited the city leaders have put their faith in us to build this project,” said Kashani, who has sought approval for the project since June of 1999. 

South Berkeley resident Howie Muir, who spoke in opposition to the project, said the unit density was inappropriate for the neighborhood. 

“The approval of the project as proposed literally represents the imposition of downtown density in a lower density neighborhood,” Muir wrote in a statement on Friday. “The project is equal to 100 units per acre in an area the (General Plan) foresaw as “medium” density, of 40 units per acre.”


Using terror to squeeze our rights

Tod H. Mikuriya, M.D. Berkeley
Saturday February 16, 2002

Editor: 

 

Warnings of the FBI to be on increased alert for terrorism are effectively subverted and attenuated by the federal fifth column actions by the Justice Department’s DEA. (Or is it the other way around?)  

Right wing Republican Enronites exploit the threat of foreign terror to attack civil and state’s rights. Since 9-11 we have seen an increase in domestic federal attacks against California and Oregon. The fuzzy connection of drugs with terrorism is true – but the result of prohibitory laws that set up the illicit markets.  

Undermining governance and mutual trust, the assaults against the Harm Reduction Center in San Francisco no doubt pandered to their covens. A slap in the face to uppity Terence Hallinan, San Francisco District Attorney, and the City and County of sanctuary and gays. Twelve hours before DEA chief Asa Hutchinson’s speech at the Commonwealth Club.  

Marking his turf, he cited the official extraordinary unpopular delusions and madness of Congress and the Supreme Court as the justification for his agency assaults. This toxic federal hegemony is promoted by the Bush II, Ashcroft, Hutchinson, Walters evil axes. This subverts and blunt readiness and alert by divisive persecution. 

A pathetic national version of the bible thumpers holding forth on Sproul Plaza at UC Berkeley to show bravery as they sermonized in the belly of the beast. Asa showed that he could be just as nasty and meanspirited to stick it to those San Francisco, California godless deviants. On the backs of the medical marijuana patients and the California voters. 

The divisive creation of enmity and distrust by Californians of good will, wanting to do the right thing to implement and comply with will of the people expressed through their enacting the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. This is subversion and giving comfort to enemies of democracy.  

The myopic and simplistic notion promoted by the attempts to link terrorism with illicit drugs is merely efforts to seek a moral high ground and justification for a failed policy of prohibition. All perpetrated by a leadership dazed and confused- unable to conceptualize long term strategies to combat foreign terrorism. The refuge of scoundrels is seeing a mass clustering: Patriotism. Anyone conspicuously proclaiming it should undergo additional scrutiny for misdeeds. 

These elements of toxic federalism will do more to hinder the national effort to defend against terrorism. They will not deflect from the developing Enron scandals except to expose the harm that has been done to California and Oregon. 

 

Tod H. Mikuriya, M.D. 

Berkeley


Today in History

Staff
Saturday February 16, 2002

Today is Saturday, Feb. 16, the 47th day of 2002. There are 318 days left in the year. 

 

 

Today’s Highlight in History: 

On Feb. 16, 1862, during the Civil War, some 14,000 Confederate soldiers surrendered at Fort Donelson, Tenn. (Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s victory earned him the nickname “Unconditional Surrender Grant.”) 

 

On this date: 

In 1804, Lt. Stephen Decatur led a successful raid into Tripoli Harbor to burn the U.S. Navy frigate Philadelphia, which had fallen into the hands of pirates. 

In 1868, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks was organized in New York City. 

In 1918, Lithuania proclaimed its independence. 

In 1923, the burial chamber of King Tutankhamen’s recently unearthed tomb was unsealed in Egypt. 

In 1945, American troops landed on the island of Corregidor in the Philippines during World War II. 

In 1948, NBC TV began airing its first nightly newscast, “The Camel Newsreel Theatre,” which consisted of Fox Movietone newsreels. 

In 1959, Fidel Castro became premier of Cuba after the overthrow of Fulgencio Batista. 

In 1961, the United States launched the Explorer 9 satellite. 

In 1968, the nation’s first 911 emergency telephone system was inaugurated, in Haleyville, Ala. 

In 1977, Janani Luwum, the Anglican archbishop of Uganda, and two other men were killed in what Ugandan authorities said was an automobile accident. 

Ten years ago: Two days before the New Hampshire primary, five Democratic presidential candidates debated on CNN, directing most of their criticism at President George H.W. Bush. Israeli helicopters attacked a convoy in Sidon, Lebanon, killing Sheik Abbas Musawi, leader of the pro-Iranian group Hezbollah. 

Five years ago: U.S. Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., the chairman of the House committee investigating campaign fund-raising activities, told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that his probe would be far broader than originally anticipated. 

One year ago: The United States and Britain staged air strikes against radar stations and air defense command centers in Iraq. President George W. Bush met with Mexican President Vicente Fox on the first foreign trip of Bush’s presidency. Dr. William H. Masters, who with his partner and future wife Virginia Johnson, pioneered research in the field of human sexuality, died in Tucson, Ariz., at age 85. 

 

Today’s Birthdays: Singer Patty Andrews is 82. Movie director John Schlesinger is 76. Actor Jeremy Bulloch is 56. Actor Pete Postlethwaite is 56. Actor William Katt is 51. Actor James Ingram is 46. Actor LeVar Burton is 45. Actor-rapper Ice-T is 44. Actress Lisa Loring is 44. Tennis Hall of Fame player John McEnroe is 43. Rock musician Andy Taylor (Duran Duran) is 41. Singer Sam Salter is 24.


Berkeley Observed Looking back, seeing ahead

By Susan Cerny Special to the Daily Planet
Saturday February 16, 2002

John Hinkel Park is located off Arlington Avenue in north Berkeley on a steep wooded hillside. A small creek cascades through it and paths meander under native oak, bay and buckeye trees. The almost six acre park was given to the city in 1919 by John Hinkel, a downtown property owner. It was reported to be the largest gift the city had ever received. The park area was used by the Boy Scouts, and a Boy Scout Club house still stands in the park.  

Before giving the property to the city Hinkel made some notable improvements: he built a rustic redwood clubhouse, a stone fireplace and playground and also created the network of pathways. The park was conceived by Hinkel to be a natural park where the native flora would be retained and enhanced rather than being replaced it with artificial plantings. The park and clubhouse were designed by landscape architect and professor John W. Gregg, who became the first president of Berkeley's Park Commission.  

The clubhouse is located just below San Diego Road on the east side of Devon Lane, a footpath that bisects the park. Since the park was envisioned as a “natural” park, this building was designed by Gregg to fit into and blend with its natural setting.  

The rustic clubhouse is constructed of redwood inside and out and is sheathed with shingles in keeping with the concept of “building with nature” advocated by the Hillside Club. It is a simple, rectangular building with a gable roof, surrounded on three sides with a wide-covered veranda. The building is essentially one room with a small kitchen on the east side. The main floor of the building is set above a raised basement where the slope of the hillside provides for a storage room beneath. The rustic charm of this building is a significant element in the park.  

Since 1999 the clubhouse has not been used because it is in need of restoration. A group of neighbors are interested in helping to restore it. Previously it had been used by a variety of groups over the years: Ann Halprin taught dance here, Elaine Schooley taught Theater Movement for thirty years, and it was the home to the Berkeley Folk Dancers. Between 1974 -1991the basement had been used as storage for the Shakespeare Festival. The clubhouse was also a popular site for weddings and memorial services. 

The outdoor amphitheater was built later, and is located on a steep slope of the canyon overlooking the outdoor fireplace which has served as a backdrop of the stage. The theater was built by the Civil Works Administration (Project Number 5) and was dedicated on April 22, 1934. That same year the park commission reported that the “CWA funds not only provided much needed relief to the unemployed but also gave to the citizens of Berkeley a new means of cultural recreation.”  

 

Susan Cerny is author of “Berkeley Landmarks” and writes Berkeley Observed in conjunction with the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association 


Lindh’s trial date tentatively set

By Larry Margasak The Associated Press
Saturday February 16, 2002

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — John Walker Lindh’s trial will likely start in late August, raising the odds the former Taliban soldier will be in court on the one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. 

U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III set Aug. 26 for jury selection, but said Friday he might later consider a defense request to move the date beyond that historic September date. 

On the day the Lindh case moved forward, Ellis handed down a 21-month prison sentence to a Virginia man who helped two of the September hijackers obtain fake Virginia identifications. 

In a third case in the same federal courthouse, a man charged with carrying false identification near the Pentagon was released on $5,000 bond after a prosecutor indicated the case may be dropped. The man was arrested Monday night, just after the FBI issued its latest terrorism alert. 

Lindh, 21, is charged in a 10-count indictment with conspiring to kill Americans, providing support to terrorists, including Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida, and using firearms during crimes of violence. Three of the charges carry a maximum life sentence and the other seven could bring an additional 90 years in prison. 

Lindh, wearing a green prison suit, sat at the defense table throughout the federal court proceeding to schedule the trial date and pretrial proceedings. During a brief recess, he spoke with his attorneys and signed papers as his parents, Frank Lindh and Marilyn Walker, sat in the second row. 

Defense attorney George Harris asked the judge for a Sept. 16 trial date to get past Sept. 11, saying the defense might be presenting its side of the case on or near the anniversary. 

Harris said there was no link between the attacks and the Lindh case, but contended that Attorney General John Ashcroft tried to leave the implication there was a connection. The lawyer argued for a Sept. 16 trial date. 

“There will be memorial services. There will be a great deal of genuine emotion in this country,” Harris argued. “The government has attempted to make that connection (between the trial and the attacks). For us to be in trial at that time is prejudicial to the defendant.” 

Ellis told Harris, “I may be persuaded by the force of your argument. You may revisit this point” as the August date approaches. 

The judge, however, said he rejected defense concerns that pretrial publicity would harm Lindh’s case and told Harris he would ensure that no jurors would be selected who formed an opinion about the case. 

The Virginia man who aided the Sept. 11 hijackers, Luis Martinez-Flores, had pleaded guilty in December to one count of document fraud. 

The Falls Church, Va. man admitted he falsely certified that Hani Hanjour and Khalid Almihdhar, hijackers on the flight that crashed into the Pentagon, were Virginia residents. The hijackers paid him $100. 

At a sentencing hearing Friday, prosecutor John Morton said the defendant’s lies about potential imminent attacks on East Coast targets were brought to the attention of President Bush, Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert S. Mueller. 

“Hundreds of hours were wasted by investigators dealing with Mr. Martinez’s misstatements,” Morton said. 

In the third case, U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa Buchanan ordered Imad Abdel-Fattah Hamed of Manassas, Va., released on $5,000 bond and limited his travel to the Washington, D.C. area until his arraignment. But the prosecutor indicated the case of the man arrested near the Pentagon — just after the alert — may be dropped. 

“I’m not sure that this case will actually make it that far,” said Morton, the assistant U.S. attorney. 

According to court papers filed by the FBI, Hamed and a passenger drove a red tow truck past signs that ban commercial vehicles on a highway which passes within yards of the Pentagon. 

State police stopped them and found several false identifications and a cashier’s check for $12,700.


Californians look for luck to win $175 million Lotto jackpot

By Daisy Ngyuen The Associated Press
Saturday February 16, 2002

LOS ANGELES — Californians looked for ways to boost their luck Friday as the jackpot for Saturday night’s SuperLotto Plus draw rose to $175 million. 

“Play Here” screamed lottery banners at a Chevron station in Los Angeles’ Chinatown, where the lottery craze was mixing with Chinese New Year traditions. 

“The last few days has been crazy,” said manager Joe Shiber, 48, who was seeing many first-time Lotto ticket buyers. 

Customers usually spend $1 to $5 on lottery tickets, he said, but that increased to up to $50 after Wednesday, when no one won the midweek draw and the jackpot rolled over again. 

“Now with the Chinese New Year, my Chinese customers have been spending a lot more. They tell me they’re using ’good-luck’ money,” Shiber said. 

A single jackpot winner who chose the option of 26 annual installments would receive payments starting at about $4.37 million and rising to about $8.92 million, before withholding of 27 percent federal withholding tax. The estimated cash option would be $87.5 million, or $63 million after federal taxes. 

The $175 million jackpot is a record for California. The previous mark was $141 million on June 23, 2001. 

At George’s Liquor, a Chinatown store that has sold two winning lottery tickets in the past, the line of customers went out the door and down the sidewalk. 

Stan Ng, 33, a recreational assistant, said he stood in line for 10 minutes to buy 10 SuperLotto tickets. 

“I seldomly play the Lotto, but since this is a big jackpot and it’s Chinese New Year, I’m trying my luck,” Ng said. 

Ng said he wasn’t really spending his own money because he was using “good-luck” money he’s received from relatives. He said he was also picking numbers himself, especially those with the lucky number eight. 

“I don’t believe I will win, because of the odds, but I needed to spend my good-luck money,” he said. 

Frank Benin, 37, went out of his way to buy tickets at George’s. 

“A gambler in my office told me to come here. This is a big jackpot and I felt I needed to come to a lucky place to get my tickets,” he said. 

Benin said that if he won he would build a community center in south Los Angeles and help underprivileged children. 

“It’s all for fun. You play the Lotto to see where it will take you,” he said. 


Riordan challenges GOP to change or face extinction

By Erica Werner The Associated Press
Saturday February 16, 2002

LOS ANGELES — Richard Riordan, the front-runner for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, has issued a challenge to fellow California Republicans: Embrace moderate stances such as support for abortion rights or risk becoming “an extinct species.” 

His opponents, businessman Bill Simon and Secretary of State Bill Jones, the GOP’s only statewide officeholder, believe Republicans can win without distancing themselves from their bedrock principles. 

Those competing visions are sure to be discussed when the candidates meet for their third and final debate Wednesday evening in Long Beach. And on March 5, when Republicans pick a challenger to Democratic Gov. Gray Davis, they’ll also be determining their party’s ideological direction. 

“As the late Jess Unruh said, ’Winning isn’t everything, but losing isn’t anything,”’ said University of Southern California political analyst Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, quoting the legendary Assembly speaker of the 1960s. “That’s basically the debate, and that’s what’s driving the GOP to consider the direction in which it wants to go.” 

Riordan, 71, the former mayor of Los Angeles, leads Jones and Simon in polls and narrowly edges Davis. 

With his moderate views on social issues, Riordan was popular as mayor among women, Hispanics and independents, groups Republicans must attract to beat Davis. Thirty-five percent of the state’s voters are Republicans while 45 percent are Democrats. 

Riordan’s crossover appeal led most of the state’s GOP leadership to embrace his candidacy, and President Bush reportedly urged him to run. 

But in hewing to his promise of broadening the party’s reach, Riordan has largely ignored its conservative base. He doesn’t identify himself as a Republican in campaign literature, and revelations of his financial support for Democratic candidates have incensed some of the GOP loyalists most likely to vote in the primary. 

Party activists picked Simon, who lives in the Pacific Palisades section of Los Angeles, in a nonbinding straw poll at last weekend’s state GOP convention, and several conservative leaders, including former Gov. George Deukmejian, announced they won’t vote for Riordan if he becomes the nominee. Deukmejian is Jones’ campaign chairman. 

“Riordan made the decision several months ago that he was going to run a campaign directed very strongly and specifically at those swing voters that Republicans have lost in past elections,” said Republican strategist Dan Schnur, who worked briefly for Riordan. “In doing so, he may have created an opportunity for a more conservative challenger to reach out to the party’s base.” 

Riordan aides counter that he does have support from many conservative leaders, in part because of his untraditional approach. 

“In California, the Republican Party unfortunately has taken on a negative image,” Riordan strategist Kevin Spillane said. ”... We need to demonstrate that we’re a party that provides political opportunity and power to women, Asian-Americans and other minorities.” 

At the first GOP debate, Riordan announced the need for a “new Republican Party ... of inclusiveness” and said the anti-abortion positions of Jones and Simon “would turn (the Republican Party) from an endangered species into an extinct species.” 

Jones and Simon, both traditional conservatives, took strong issue with that. They contend the GOP can attract diverse voters without moderating its core stances. 

“Some in our party suggest that only a liberal can win and we have to nominate a liberal even if he sounds like a Democrat,” Simon told the party faithful last weekend to cheers and applause. “Some have suggested that our ideas no longer work and can’t lead another California comeback. We have a better idea, don’t we?” 

GOP strategists point to President Bush’s success as an example of how Republicans can reach out beyond the party’s base without wavering on their principles. 

Although the GOP has been a minority party in the state since the 1930s, voters have elected Republican governors again and again, from Ronald Reagan to Deukmejian to Davis’ predecessor, Pete Wilson. But the party has suffered a string of recent setbacks. 

Wilson did Republicans lasting harm with Hispanics with his support for anti-immigrant Proposition 187 in 1994. The GOP’s last gubernatorial nominee, then-state Attorney General Dan Lungren, lost to Davis in 1998 by a margin of 20 percentage points. Democrats greatly outnumber Republicans in the state Legislature. 

All this has led to a consensus that the Republican Party must be more inclusive. For Riordan to succeed, Republican voters must conclude that that requires adopting more moderate positions. 

“The only way to know whether he’s done it well or not is to wait until the day after the election,” Schnur said.


In race for his political life, Condit is reaching out — to anybody

By Brian Melley The Associated Press
Saturday February 16, 2002

STOCKTON — Hoping to save his political skin, Rep. Gary Condit is shaking every hand he can. 

Last Friday, that quest took him to a retirement home in this former Gold Rush depot, where he flashed his wide grin and started pumping hands. 

“I’m Gary Condit,” he told a woman, who said he looked familiar. 

Familiar maybe, but not someone any of them could vote for. 

Most of those he met said they were Republicans and unable to vote for him in the March 5 primary. Even the Democrats couldn’t vote for Condit: The Bayside Landing community is not even in his redrawn congressional district. 

Rookie mistakes like this only reinforce how uphill Condit’s bid for re-election is. 

After a summer of bad publicity and abandonment by many of his Washington colleagues and political donors, Condit is running more like an underdog than a 12-year veteran. 

His mailer plaintively asks voters: “Perhaps you will reconsider me when you vote for Congress.” 

In person, however, Condit uses the charm that has given him an undefeated, 30-year electoral record, one that made him a household name in California’s Central Valley before it was linked to that of missing Washington intern Chandra Levy. 

His weekend campaign swing started Friday morning at a Christian radio station, where Condit, the son of a Baptist minister, talked issues with four other Democratic candidates. 

Into the crowd in their Sunday best walked Condit, wearing boots, blue jeans, a plaid shirt and corduroy jacket. He displayed clear command of the issues — the economy, energy and farming. The other candidates echoed his answers. 

But the incumbent first elected to the Ceres city council in 1972 now looks more like a challenger, while his longtime friend, ally and protege, Assemblyman Dennis Cardoza, plays the front-runner. 

Cardoza has won important endorsements, has an edge in the polls and has raised more money than Condit — $144,000 at year’s end to Condit’s $36,000. He held a Washington fund-raiser last week that aimed to bring in $40,000; Condit had a dinner in Turlock on Friday that raised about $5,750. 

Condit once did TV commercials for Cardoza. Cardoza now does his own TV spots, while Condit can afford only radio. 

Cardoza turned down the radio appearance, as well as more than 20 requests for debates, in part to avoid questions about Levy, said his spokesman Doug White. 

Condit called that “disingenuous,” because Cardoza “wouldn’t be running if it wasn’t for the Chandra Levy case.” 

After Levy vanished in May, Condit’s stronghold collapsed. Police sources said he admitted having a romance with Levy, 24, but is not considered a suspect in her disappearance. 

Condit will not talk about it in any detail, saying he has no idea what happened to her. “It would be wonderful if she would turn up, and she would be healthy and everything,” he said. “It’s something I pray about every day.” 

Levy’s name was not mentioned during the radio show or at a candidates’ forum on Sunday, which Cardoza did attend. But the case hangs over the campaign, in part because the 10 other people running would be doing something else if Levy never disappeared. 

Condit is also facing a redrawn district full of voters who primarily know of him through news reports. The new district, approved by the Legislature in September, has a strong Democratic edge, but Condit lost much of his base. 

As a result, the Condit who hustled from the cameras last summer is courting the media, often joking with photographers. The man who skipped public appearances is now spending as much time as he can walking precincts, speaking at churches and rallying his supporters. 

At Krazy Gal’s Kafe in Gustine on Saturday, Condit slapped supporters on the back and called farmers by name. He hugged and kissed Janet Carlsen, the former mayor of nearby Newman, who said she loves Cardoza but still supports Condit and thinks he will pull out a victory. 

“I feel safe with Gary,” she said. 

Waitress Lisa Partlow said Condit’s visit made her and her 17-year-old daughter, a dishwasher at the restaurant, uncomfortable because of the Levy scandal. 

“One woman asked if I was a supporter,” Partlow said. “I said, ‘No I’m not’ and she said, ’I don’t imagine any mother with daughters our age would be.”’ 

If he loses the primary, Condit said, he will not rule out anything, including running as an independent in November or returning to work as a welder, a job he held in his teens. 

He suggested there is an undercurrent of support from the voters that does not register in the polls. 

“Voters have a funny way of making things fair,” he said.


Legislation would end new drilling off Central Coast

By Mark Sherman The Associated Press
Saturday February 16, 2002

WASHINGTON — Two California Democrats on Thursday said they would try to end any prospect for new drilling for gas and oil off the central California coast by letting energy companies swap their leases for similar rights in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said she and Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., will introduce legislation to allow energy companies that hold 36 leases that the federal government granted decades ago to obtain credits for their investment that they could apply to oil and gas exploration in the central and western Gulf of Mexico. The bill would include four other leases that had been canceled but are tied up in court. 

The bill would permanently ban drilling in the tracts that range from northern Ventura County to southern San Luis Obispo County, Boxer said. 

The lease sites “would become an ecological preserve, never more to be touched,” Boxer said. 

The swap would cost the government $1 billion to $2.8 billion, she said. 

Boxer said her staff has been assured by some of the energy companies that they back the swap. She said she will try to make her measure part of a broad energy bill that the Senate will take up in early March. 

Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, whose district would be most affected by new drilling, will sponsor a similar bill in the House of Representatives. 

Boxer, Capps and 30 other California lawmakers on Thursday also filed legal documents in a lawsuit over the leases. A federal judge last year halted all oil and natural gas exploration, siding with California officials who adamantly oppose new drilling and who argued that the state has authority to restrict new exploration. The decision left energy companies wondering whether they simply would lose the money they have invested. 

The Bush administration recently decided to appeal last year’s court ruling, arguing that the lease owners’ property rights are at stake. The lawmakers oppose the appeal. 

“This ... is about local control and California’s right to be at the table when the federal government is making decisions that affect its coastline,” Capps said. “We cannot risk another oil spill off of our coast.” 

President George Bush banned new drilling off California’s coast in 1990 and President Clinton later extended it to 2012. But those presidential edicts did not cover existing oil platforms or the 40 leases on tracts that have yet to be developed. The leases allow for exploration, but no drilling. 

Boxer’s legislation would require all the lease holders to agree to the swap and to end all outstanding lawsuits over the leases. If those conditions are met, the Secretary of the Interior would be directed to cancel the leases and offer equivalent rights off the coast of Louisiana and Texas, where oil platforms are more numerous. 

Jim Bray, a spokesman for lease holder Nuevo Energy of Houston, said his company would consider a swap, although he has not seen Boxer’s legislation. “But our message to the senator has been, ’This has been going on for 20 years,”’ Bray said. “It’s time to move forward.” 

——— 

On the Net: 

Rep. Capps: http://www.house.gov/capps 


Davis, Democrats gather to prepare for re-election campaign

By Alexa Haussler The Associated Press
Saturday February 16, 2002

LOS ANGELES — After months of unrelenting attacks from the Republicans who want to unseat him, Gov. Gray Davis will face a friendly crowd at the California Democratic Party convention this weekend. 

Davis is scheduled to speak at the gathering that falls in the heart of an intense Republican primary race to challenge him, and as he continues to launch counterattacks at GOP front-runner Richard Riordan. 

“The party is focused on re-electing Gov. Gray Davis in California,” said party spokesman Bob Mulholland. 

The general election is more than eight months away, and Davis is virtually uncontested in the March 5 primary. But he has been the consistent target of the three men vying for the GOP nod and a national Republican party hungry to regain power in California. 

Plus, a crippling power crisis last year and budget crisis this year also have chipped away at Davis’ popularity and he has slightly trailed Riordan in some recent statewide polls. 

Davis has poured more than $4 million into television ads in recent weeks, many of which criticize Riordan for his stance on abortion, the death penalty and his record of crime. 

Riordan, who also has come under fire from some members of his own party for left-leaning stances on some issues, has brushed aside barbs from his Republican opponents and aimed his attacks squarely at Davis. 

As a result, the campaign is likely to consume much of the meeting of the Democratic Party’s most loyal activists at Los Angeles’ Westin Bonaventure Hotel. 

“It’s an opportunity to rally the activists and to energize them for the November election,” said David Lara-Tellez, chairman of the Riverside County Democratic Party. 

Party leaders also will be focusing on a handful of contested primaries, including the open seats for secretary of state, controller and insurance commissioner. 

Also, two key figures in the campaign finance reform debate will address the convention. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., and nation’s highest-ranking female legislator, House Minority Whip Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, are scheduled to speak Saturday. 

The Democratic convention is falling one week after a raucous Republican party convention in San Jose, where steep divisions have formed among the gubernatorial candidate supporters. 

Many Republicans believe Riordan is the party’s best hope the win the governor’s seat in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans. But others, including former Gov. George Deukmejian, have said they doubt his loyalty and said they would not vote for him in the general election is he is the nominee. 

Mulholland said the Democrats plan to remain positive at their annual gathering, “compared to the cannibalism at the Republican convention last weekend.” 

——— 

On the Net: 

The California Democratic Party Web site is http://www.ca-dems.org 


Biologists ready to release condors in northern Arizona

By Arthur H. Rothstien The Associated Press
Saturday February 16, 2002

TUCSON, Ariz. — Seven California condors born in captivity will be released Saturday atop northern Arizona’s Vermillion Cliffs, adding to the current population of 25 in Arizona. 

However, officials nearly postponed the release because at least two previously released condors had eaten from coyotes that had been killed with lead shot. Scavengers and birds of prey, including condors, often die from lead poisoning after eating game killed with lead gunshot. 

“Since we were able to capture the birds at risk and determine through initial tests that they’re healthy, we’re confident that we can move ahead with the condor release as scheduled,” said Chris Parish, field coordinator for the Peregrine Fund. 

Biologists with the Peregrine Fund, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other federal and state agencies plan to release 11 new condors in all in the 10th such release since efforts to restore the birds to the wild began in 1996. 

California condors are the biggest and among the most ancient of North America’s birds. They nearly became extinct — dropping to only 22 in 1982 — before biologists launched a multimillion-dollar recovery program. As of January, there was a total California condor population of 183. 

Ten of the birds being released were born in captivity last year at the Peregrine Fund’s World Center for Birds of Prey. The other was hatched in 1999 at the San Diego Zoo. 

A pair of condors among the 25 living in or near the Grand Canyon produced an egg in a cave there last year, believed to be the first in the wild since the early 1980s, but the egg did not hatch, said Jeff Cilek, a spokesman for the Boise, Idaho-based Peregrine Fund. 

Scientists are hopeful other eggs will be laid and hatched successfully this year, Cilek said. 

Condors, which are strict scavengers, do not normally reproduce until they are about six years old, he said. Typically, females produce one egg every other year. Incubation takes 56 days. 

David Harlow, Arizona field supervisor for Fish and Wildlife, called condor recovery efforts in Arizona “an overwhelming success” in terms of the surviving wild population. 

“We anxiously await the first successful breeding and egg hatching of condors in the wild since the early ’80s,” he said. 

Condors have few natural predators. But a naturally low rate of reproduction, shootings, poisoning — particularly lead poisoning — and collisions with power lines have been major contributors to the bird’s near-extinction. 

As of January, there also were 33 California condors in the wild in southern and central California, another 12 in field pens in California and 102 in captive populations in Idaho and California. 


Farrakhan urges rappers to turn away from violence

By Leon Drouin Kieth The Associated Press
Saturday February 16, 2002

BEVERLY HILLS — Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, joined by Russell Simmons and other prominent hip-hop figures, called on rap artists to move away from explicitly violent lyrics. 

Farrakhan, who also condemned the U.S. war on terrorism, told a receptive, sometimes raucous audience Thursday that rappers owe poor and minority communities more than many of them have given. 

“From the suffering of our people came rap,” Farrakhan said. “That should make you a servant of those that produced you. That should make you a servant of the hood.” 

Children “can’t read Dick and Jane, but they can recite your raps,” he continued. “The question is, what are you feeding them?” 

More than 300 people, including rappers Boo-Yaa Tribe, Kurupt and DJ Quik, packed into a hotel conference room for his speech, and Simmons and others seconded the message. 

The Hip Hop Summit was organized by Simmons as an opportunity for rappers to reassess an industry that draws millions of fans worldwide but is widely blamed for violent and sexually explicit lyrics. It was one of a series of regional gatherings that are to lead up to a national meeting this summer. 

Simmons also advised the performers it may be time to step back from lyrics about sex and violence, especially when the raps are delivered by performers who didn’t emerge from gangs. 

“Truth sells — it always did,” Simmons said. “Integrity and honesty last forever.” 

At the same time, the founder of Def Jam Records acknowledged that his favorite recordings are those “that people have been most offended by.” 

Comedian and Los Angeles radio personality Steve Harvey told the group that radio stations, including the one he works for, are turning away from violent rap. 

“They’re making the conscious decision to play conscious music,” he said. 

Marion “Suge” Knight, who co-founded Death Row Records, called on rap artists to form a union to protect themselves from an ever-smaller number of large record companies and to secure pensions for artists after their popularity fades. 

Farrakhan also used his keynote speech to attack the Bush administration’s use of military force to fight terrorism, predicting that if the fighting spreads to other countries, “You will start a war that will engulf the whole planet — the war called Armageddon.” 

“I’m a patriot, I’m not an enemy of this nation,” Farrakhan said. “This is the greatest nation on Earth, but she won’t be if she stays on this course.” 

Benjamin Muhammad, president and chief executive officer of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, said he believes rap lyrics already are changing for the better. He added that artists also are stepping up their community involvement through charitable work and get-out-the-vote efforts. 

In a closed-door session during the afternoon, hip-hop artists expressed support for unionization, Muhammad said. He added that the topic probably will be more thoroughly examined at the national meeting. 

Artists at the summit also expressed unanimous support for Sarah Jones, a New York poet who is suing over a Federal Communications Commission fine levied against a Portland, Ore., radio station that played her song “Your Revolution.” 

The song contains vivid sexual imagery, but Jones intended it as a criticism of the degradation of women in hip-hop. 


Former Enron chair wrote repeatedly to urge Bush’s support for self-serving legislation

By Natalie Gott The Associated Press
Saturday February 16, 2002

AUSTIN, Texas — Former Enron Corp. Chairman Kenneth Lay wrote repeatedly to George W. Bush throughout his governorship, seeking support for legislation benefiting the energy giant, according to documents released Friday. 

Many of the letters concerned utility deregulation and tort reform. Others were personal. Some 350 pages of correspondence were released by state archivists following requests from news organizations and others under the state’s open records law. 

“It’s old news,” White House spokesman Scott McClellan Friday. “The governor of Texas like any other governor receives thousands and thousands of letters from people across Texas who have diverse views on a variety of topics.” 

Although Bush signed a law deregulating the electricity market in 1999, the documents do not appear to show that Bush responded in print to Lay’s interest in the issue. 

Also, Bush had made clear during his first gubernatorial campaign that tort reform would be a top priority. He signed a sweeping bill into law in 1995. 

The two also exchanged birthday, holiday and get-well wishes. Much of the correspondence came from Lay, while a few letters originated from Bush’s desk. 

Bush wrote a note in 1997 wishing Lay a happy birthday: ”55 years old. Wow! That is really old. Thank goodness you have such a young, beautiful wife.” 

In his two Texas gubernatorial campaigns, Bush received $312,000 from Enron officials, including Lay, who was one of his biggest donors. 

In separate letters in 1996, Lay and former Enron chief executive Jeffrey Skilling told Bush that Enron officials could arrange for him to tour Enron’s trading floor in Houston. 

“We would like to show you how we do business,” Skilling wrote. 

The following year, Lay wrote Bush about Enron’s negotiations for a $2 billion joint venture to develop Uzbekistan’s natural gas fields. According to the note, Bush was scheduled to meet with Uzbekistan’s ambassador to the United States just a few days later. 

“This project can bring significant economic opportunities to Texas, as well as Uzbekistan,” Lay wrote. 

Earlier this month, Texas Gov. Rick Perry released correspondence between Enron executives and the governor’s office in response to another open records request. 

Those documents showed that as governor Bush appointed at least two officials recommended by Lay. The White House has said the appointments were made on merit, not on Lay’s recommendation. 


Global Crossing paid millions to its chairman’s own firms

By Simon Avery The Associated Press
Saturday February 16, 2002

LOS ANGELES — Global Crossing chairman Gary Winnick controlled companies that had lucrative dealings with his fiber optics network firm before it imploded, regulatory filings show. 

The special relationships between the firms added an undisclosed amount to the personal profits of Winnick, who sold $734 million worth of stock before the company began bankruptcy proceedings on Jan. 28. 

The dealings involved Global Crossing paying millions of dollars to a privately held merchant bank and its subsidiaries founded and controlled by Winnick. 

The fees paid to Winnick through Pacific Capital Group Ltd. and its subsidiaries covered real estate leases, corporate aircraft fees and financial advice, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 

In one deal made in October 1999, Global Crossing agreed to pay North Cresent Realty, a subsidiary of Pacific Capital, $400,000 a month to lease office space in Beverly Hills. Pacific Capital then subleased space back to North Cresent Realty for $53,000 a month. 

The agreement also involved Global Crossing paying North Cresent $3.2 million toward $7.5 million of renovations. 

Global Crossing is formally based in Bermuda, although Winnick and other top executives work out of Beverly Hills. The company is expected to announce soon that it will leave its Beverly Hills offices and relocate 60 employees to El Segundo and the San Fernando Valley. 

The company said an independent real estate consultant reviewed the complex transaction and determined it to be “the product of an arm’s length negotiation.” 

Mike Sitrick, a spokesman for Winnick, said Global Crossing got three independent valuations of the property and paid North Cresent the middle quote. In addition, Winnick excused himself from the negotiations, Sitrick said. 

Pacific Capital also billed Global Crossing $2 million during 1999 for using airplanes in which Pacific had a stake. Sitrick said the fee was less than Global Crossing would have paid an independent charter company. 

Global Crossing made another large payment to Winnick’s companies as part of a consulting contract drawn up in 1997, in which a unit of Pacific Capital advised Global Crossing’s wholly owned subsidiary, Atlantic Crossing Ltd., on a $482 million loan. 

Under terms of the deal, Pacific Capital’s PCG Telecom was to receive 2 percent of Atlantic Crossing’s gross revenue over a 25-year period. 

In June 1998, Global Crossing terminated the deal by agreeing to pay $135 million to Pacific Capital, several members of Global Crossing’s own board, including Winnick, and two financial partners: the CIBC and Union Labor Life Insurance Co. 

Since Global Crossing filed for bankruptcy protection, shareholders have accused the company of overstating revenue, and past and present employees have complained that they have lost the bulk of their retirement savings. 

Matt Fico was laid off by Global Crossing in November. The 27-year-old customer support manager said he lost about $20,000 in stock options and 401(k) retirement savings. 

He said knowledge of the multimillion-dollar deals between Global Crossing and some of its top executives has left him feeling “distrustful.” 

“These things might be legal, but they certainly don’t look ethical,” he said. 

In Washington, a spokesman for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is investigating the collapse of Enron Corp., said the panel has begun looking into the Global Crossing affair. 

“It’s inevitable we’re going to do something” related to Global Crossing, said the spokesman, Ken Johnson. 

Meanwhile, Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-NY, has asked the Committee on Education and the Workforce to examine Global Crossing’s move preventing employees from accessing their 401(k) accounts during December and January. 

The retirement accounts were flush with company stock, which employees could not trade because Global Crossing was in the process of switching plan administrators. 


Biotech companies scramble to meet pet cloning demand

By Paul Elias The Associated Press
Saturday February 16, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO — Tundra died three years ago, but Susann Rivera never gave up hope that one day she would play with her furry friend again. 

Her heart soared Friday after she learned that Texas A&M University researchers had successfully cloned a little calico kitten named cc, short for copycat. 

“Tundra’s coming back,” said Rivera, the first cat customer of Genetic Savings & Clone, which charges people to store their pets’ DNA. 

The Burlingame woman — who has kept Tundra’s toys and Elvis Presley costume in anticipation of his resurrection — is on a long list of pet owners hoping cloning can bring back their beloved companions. 

Several biotechnology companies see a lucrative market in the frisky ball of fur that researchers unveiled Thursday. They say they’ve been inundated with calls since the feline hit the news. 

Hundreds of people have already paid as much as $1,000 each to freeze their pets’ DNA with hopes that cloning will someday become affordable and safe. The cloned kitty has buoyed those hopes while opening a giant can of worms. 

“I’m very worried that people are putting a piece of Fluffy in the fridge with the hope that cloning will restore it,” said Arthur Caplan, a University of Pennsylvania bioethicist. “Cloning is an echo. It is not a copy. These companies border on deceiving people.” 

Even cc looks nothing like her surrogate, a calico cat named Rainbow. The genes are the same but cc’s markings differ substantially from Rainbow’s. That’s no surprise since other cloned animals have displayed similar differences. 

The kitten born in December looks different because the pigmentation pattern of the animal’s coat isn’t controlled strictly by the lineup of genes. 

“This is a reproduction,” said Texas A&M researcher Duane Kraemer “not a resurrection.” 

That’s a huge hurdle for the successful commercialization of cloned pets given that people like Rivera want their Tundra back. 

“The idea of cloning is a sham,” said Wayne Spacelle, a senior vice president with the U.S. Humane Society. “Their behavior and personality will be different. You may have a better match personality wise by going to a shelter and seeing an animal that exists, than by rolling the dice with cloning.” 

Genetic Savings chief executive Lou Hawthorne agrees. 

“Tundra ain’t coming back,” said Hawthorne, whose company funded the Texas A&M research and is putting the finishing touches on a new 7,000 square-foot cloning laboratory in College Station, Texas. 

And though Hawthorne says it is spending millions on research to produce as close to exact duplicates of cats, dogs, horses and cattle as possible, he concedes that today’s cloning technology is “crude”. 

“We can’t give you a guarantee that the personality will be the same,” he said. 

The kitty clone was the research team’s only success after transferring 87 cloned embryos into eight female cats. 

Overall, the success rate was comparable to that seen in other cloned species, the researchers said. 

Still, at least three other companies are racing to develop successful commercial pet cloning operations, including Cyagra of Worcester, Mass. Cyagra is a subsidiary of Advanced Cell Technology, the biotechnology firm that announced in November it had cloned a human embryo. 

Lazaron Biotechnologies of Baton Rouge, La., and Canine Cryobank of San Marcos are two other companies interested in pet cloning. 

Cyagra vice president Ron Gillepsie estimates that up to 10 million pet owners would be interested in cloning their animals for about $3,000 each. Hawthorne said his marketing studies show the same number of interested people, though he declined to talk about pricing. 

These companies have been collecting and storing pets’ DNA in deep freezes for prices ranging between $800 and $1,200 each. They all see a big market in people like Rob Fine of New York City. 

Fine’s beloved 11-year-old Rottweiler, Cali, died in January. 

“She was absolutely the most incredible animal I’ve ever known,” he said of the dog he raised from a pup. “She had so much personality. She was beautiful and smart. I was broken up when she died.” 

To help cope with his loss, Fine hedged his bet and paid two biotechnology companies about $800 each to store some of Cali’s cells and keep hope alive that someday, maybe, science could deliver him a clone — or something close to an exact duplicate. 

—— 

On the Net 

Genetic Savings: http://www.savingsandclone.com 

Humane Society: http://www.hsus.org 

Cyagra: http://www.cyagra.com 


PayPal’s shares gain 55 percent in debut

By Michael Liedtke The Associated Press
Saturday February 16, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO — Shares of PayPal Inc. soared 55 percent in the online payment provider’s stock market debut Friday, signaling investors burned by the dot-com crash might be ready to take another chance on promising — but unprofitable — Internet companies. 

After the company’s investment bankers sold 5.4 million shares at $13 apiece in an initial public offering Thursday, PayPal’s stock closed at $20.09 Friday on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange. The shares sold for as much as $22.44 during Friday’s session. 

At Friday’s price the company had a market value of $1.2 billion. The biggest individual winners Friday were PayPal’s co-founders, Elon Musk, 30, and Peter Thiel, 34. 

Musk, formerly PayPal’s CEO and now a director, held a stake worth $143 million as of Friday. Thiel, currently the company’s CEO, owned stork worth $56 million. 

Besides enriching PayPal insiders, Friday’s robust gain encouraged market observers who hope the rapidly growing company will rekindle investor interest in Internet startups. 

After feasting on dot-com stock during the late 1990s, Wall Street has largely avoided the Internet sector during the past 18 months. Investors have worked to recover from massive losses stemming from the high-tech bust. 

“It feels like 1999 all over again,” said James Van Dyke, an analyst with Jupiter Media Metrix. “PayPal could be like the torch bearer that kicks off the Olympics.” 

The Palo Alto-based company boasts an impressive track record for growth, swelling from 24 experimental users in October 1999 to 12.8 million customers as of Dec. 31. 

The service obtains payments from credit cards and bank accounts before sending them to a designated recipient through e-mail. PayPal generates revenue by charging transaction fees based on the amount transferred and is particularly popular at online auctions like eBay. 

PayPal’s strong IPO performance is bound to lure other privately held Internet companies into the stock market, predicted Kyle Huske of IPO.com. “The market just shook off all the risks associated with this one,” she said. 

Huske and other analysts had been worried that several legal and regulatory hurdles facing PayPal might scare off investors Friday. 

Just before PayPal was set to launch its IPO, New York-based CertCo Inc. filed a patent infringement lawsuit that threatens to shut down the service with a court order. 

PayPal, which is nearly 3 years old, also is embroiled in disputes with various state regulators who believe the company is illegally running an unlicensed bank. 

Regulators in Louisiana were poised to shut down PayPal’s service in that state until company officials negotiated more time to work out the licensing issues. New York regulators this month also reiterated their opinion that PayPal is breaking that state’s banking laws. The alleged violations could expose PayPal to huge fines. 

PayPal also acknowledged its activity is being scrutinized by bank regulators in other states. 

“If you try to balance all the positives and negatives with this company, it looks like there are more negatives right now,” said David Menlow, president of IPOfinancial.com. 

PayPal also hasn’t made a dime yet. 

The company’s losses totaled $283 million through Dec. 31, including a 2001 loss of $107.8 million on revenue of $104.8 million. 

But with PayPal opening an average of 18,500 new accounts per day, investors are betting the company will eventually become profitable. If not for accounting charges absorbed to pay for past acquisitions and stock-based compensation, the company says it would have earned $3.2 million in the final quarter of last year. 

——— 

On The Net: 

http://www.paypal.com 


Judge orders California to dump ’hanging chad’ machines by 2004

By Leon Drouin Keith The Associated Press
Saturday February 16, 2002

LOS ANGELES — A federal judge has ordered California to get rid of its “hanging chad” voting machines by the 2004 elections, more than a year before the deadline the state had set. 

U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson made the ruling late Tuesday — a week before a lawsuit filed in April against Secretary of State Bill Jones was set for trial. He ruled based on briefs filed by Jones and plaintiffs including the AFL-CIO and the advocacy group Common Cause. 

“California can look forward to a chad-free presidential election in the year 2004,” said Dan Tokaji, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, which helped represent the plaintiffs. 

But the chief elections official for Los Angeles County called the decision “catastrophic,” saying that two years isn’t enough time to implement a more accurate system. 

“It’s going to throw the election system in LA County into chaos,” said Conny B. McCormack, the county’s registrar-recorder and county clerk. “The ultimate irony is that the outcome is going to be exactly the opposite of what the plaintiffs are seeking.” 

Tokaji said the ruling was the first requiring the replacement of voting systems by 2004 since the 2000 presidential election, when disputed punch-card ballots in Florida left the winner undeclared for weeks. 

Jones, who helped put on next month’s state ballot a $200 million bond for new election equipment, had ordered all Votomatic and Pollstar punch-card systems to be replaced by July 2005. The systems are used in nine of California’s 58 counties: Alameda, Los Angeles, Mendocino, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Clara, Shasta and Solano. 

Jones spokesman Alfie Charles said July 2005 is the earliest counties can buy equipment for touch-screen voting and get it running. 

“The date selected by the judge may prevent counties from obtaining the best equipment possible,” Charles said. 

But Tokaji said Jones isn’t requiring counties to switch to touch-screen balloting, and that other, quicker-to-implement options also would be better than punch-card ballots. “The priority here is to get rid of the worst offenders,” he said. 

Los Angeles County elections officials used touch-screen voting in a pilot project in November 2000, and want to expand its use in the November 2002 elections, McCormack said. 

But she added that the county is nowhere close to buying, testing and setting up the 30,000 touch-screen monitors it would need to rely on in an election. About 2.7 million people voted in the county in November, more than in each of 41 states, McCormack said. 

Using another paper-based system such as optical scanners as an interim measure could cause more error than punch-card balloting because voters won’t be used to them, McCormack said.  

She said the county, which must print ballots in 3,184 different local combinations and seven languages for primary elections next month, would be better off switching to a paperless system. 

“The plaintiffs are worried we’re going to be Florida, but we weren’t Florida, and we haven’t been for 34 years” — the length of time the county has relied on the punch-card voting system, McCormack said. 

She added that counties need to be alloted time to deal with problems that likely will arise during the switch. For instance, election officials in Broward County, Fla., this week said that more than two-thirds of their first shipment of 101 touch screen machines were defective. 

Switching to a touch-screen system would cost $90 million to $100 million for Los Angeles County alone, McCormack said. The state bond would cover some of the expense if voters approve it, and Congress is working on appropriating money for new elections equipment. 


Medical sleuths try to figure out mysterious rash affecting students

By Michael Rubinkam The Associated Press
Saturday February 16, 2002

PHILADELPHIA — Hundreds of youngsters in at least seven states have broken out in mysterious rashes, and some health investigators suspect it might be caused by a new or yet-to-be-identified virus. 

The red, itchy rash appears to be more an annoyance than a serious health threat, but it has managed to temporarily close schools, worry parents and frustrate school administrators, for whom answers have been elusive. 

Students in Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio, Oregon and Washington state have complained about rashes on the face, arms, legs and body. For the most part, the rash goes away when the students leave school. 

“For something like this to occur almost simultaneously in different parts of the country is, to my knowledge, unprecedented,” said Dr. Norman Sykes, who examined about 30 suburban Philadelphia students who came down with the rash this month. 

In the Quakertown Community School District, where nearly 170 students at all nine schools were confirmed to have the rash, an environmental company collected air and water samples and examined carpets, floor mats, vacuum bags and clothing, but all tested negative for contaminants. 

“We may never know what this thing is,” said Quakertown Superintendent Jim Scanlon. 

Most school systems have ruled out an environmental cause, but not the Peninsula School District in Gig Harbor, Wash., where more than 50 students and teachers complained about a rash. 

Test results showed an abnormally high level of dust, dandruff and skin particles — probably caused by an overactive ventilation system that took too much moisture out of the air. 

“People are very concerned about their children,” said Peninsula Superintendent Jim Coolican, who does not suspect a virus. “We say it’s not a long-term problem, but people say, ‘How do you know? How do you know it won’t be a problem for my child 10 years from now?”’ 

Sykes, a dermatologist and professor at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, suspects the culprit in Quakertown is a mutation of the childhood illness known as fifth disease or a virus not yet known to science. 

Fifth disease, so-called because it was once considered one of the five main childhood illnesses, produces a low fever and cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash that creates a “slapped cheek” appearance and a lacy red rash on the trunk, arms and legs. 

Though Sykes’ patients had those same symptoms, a blood test turned up no evidence of the virus that causes the disease. Sykes then performed a more sophisticated test and found DNA evidence of fifth disease virus. But nine other students tested negative for fifth disease. 

“We only know a tiny, tiny percentage, certainly less than 10 percent, of the organisms that are in and on our bodies,” said infectious-disease expert Madeline Drexler, author of “Secret Agents: The Menace of Emerging Infections.” 

Dr. Suzanne Jenkins, of the Virginia Department of Health, also suspects a virus as yet unknown by science. The virus probably lives in the gastrointestinal tract, and can be spread by coughing, sneezing or failing to wash one’s hands after using the bathroom, the epidemiologist said. 

Scanlon, the Quakertown superintendent, believes some of the rashes might have been caused by psychosomatic “hysteria.” And some rashes were not rashes at all — high school students rubbed themselves with sandpaper in a futile attempt to get the school shut down, he said. 

“We sat there itching and then it got all red and bumpy and then it started stinging. I put a paper towel on it so it wouldn’t burn that much,” said 8-year-old Samantha Makl, who went to the hospital on the first day of the Quakertown outbreak. 

Quakertown parent Keith Ruppel said the rashes are distracting his two children from their school work. 

“I really wish they could find the cause,” said the father of a 10-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl. “But you can’t keep them out of school.” 


Loving your body on Valentine’s Day

By David Scharfenberg, Daily Planet staff
Friday February 15, 2002

Academics warned that destructive concerns about body image are filtering down to 6-and 7-year-olds during a conference on body image Thursday afternoon sponsored by UC Berkeley’s Center for Weight & Health. 

“We’re seeing this desire to lose weight at earlier and earlier ages,” said Joanne Ikeda, co-director of the center, citing a Stanford study of 13 elementary schools in northern California, released last year, which found that 35 percent of third-grade girls and 25 percent of boys wanted to lose weight. 

Ikeda said attempts to diet during pre-pubescent growth spurts can be particularly harmful.  

“If you reduce calorie intake, that growth is not going to take place,” she said. 

Jennifer O’Dea, a visiting professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at UC Berkeley, presented findings from a study she conducted in Australia in 2000, involving 470 adolescents ages 11 to 14, which found that general self-esteem education is more effective in improving body image than a program focused on food and eating disorders in particular. 

O’Dea’s “Everybody Is Different” program, tested in two schools, emphasized that “diversity is normal” and celebrated each student’s unique characteristics. 

Using a standard test called the “Eating Disorders Inventory,” the study measured lasting improvements in body image among those exposed to the curriculum, and declining body image in a control group. 

The study also measured an 8 percent growth in weight loss attempts among girls in the control group, compared to a 2 percent growth in the study group. 

O’Dea said previous studies, which emphasized direct education on eating disorders, had moderate effects on improving students’ knowledge about the topic, but did little to change behavior. 

Marilyn Wann, author of “Fat! So?,” and self-described “fat rebel,” said the nation must “break the connection” between notions of body type and fitness. 

“If everyone in America exercised for an hour a day and ate nothing but broccoli, there would still be a variety of body types,” she said. 

Ikeda pointed to a spate of recent studies which suggest that overweight people who exercise and eat well can reduce their risk for hypertension, diabetes and other maladies.  

Still, Ikeda acknowledged that there are significant health risks associated with obesity, and said there is not yet any evidence to suggest that overweight people who exercise and eat well face the same low risk as thin, fit people. 

O’Dea said the next wave of problems will be with boys, who are starting to exhibit the body image concerns that emerged with girls in the 1960s. 

O’Dea said that boys face a “double-edged” sword. They fear not only being too fat, but being too scrawny. 


Shelf talks of cutting library funds

M.L.King Middle School
Friday February 15, 2002

Editor: 

 

I read with interest the front page article (1.23.02) pertaining to Berkeley school libraries. As a BUSD Library Media Teacher, I feel a few points need to be added. 

Berkeley is home to a world class research library. It can also boast a public library system which enjoys the highest use of any library system serving a community of similar size in the state and has for years. 

Furthermore, it receives a higher level of public support than most public libraries anywhere. 

One would think that in a community such as ours, a vibrant school library program would be in place.  

Sadly, this is not the case.The library media technicians in our elementary schools do wonderful work under difficult circumstances, but they are not librarians.  

The research referred to in the article states: [Students who score higher on] "tests tend to come from schools which have more library resource staff and more books, periodicals and videos, and where the instructional role of the teacher-librarian and involvement in cooperative program planning and teaching is more prominent."  

The Impact of School Library Media Centers on Academic Achievement. 

Shelf talks of cutting library budget. This conclusion from the Colorado study has been replicated in at least three other states. What is most crucial to point out is that they hold true regardless of socioeconomic status and parental level of education. 

In Berkeley we are forever obsessing (and rightly so) about the achievement gap. We have in our own backyard a powerful means to address it, we need only to recognize that fact and act on it.  

At a time when our school district is potentially facing huge budget cuts, let us remember that the school library is a classroom--the most expensive and potentially the most powerful. Staffed by a Library Media Teacher who collaborates with other teachers, our libraries have the potential to level the playing field for all students. 

The research is there. Lets not cut here, let's build. 

 

 

M.L.King Middle School 

Berkeley


A king and a lion bring in street sounds of the Middle East

By Peter Crimmins, Special to the Daily Planet
Friday February 15, 2002

The explosive popularity of world music the last decade has brought Cuban son and Caribbean soca and Latin American salsa and African high life to the ears of many Americans, but music of the Middle East has, for many people, stayed in the domain of the belly dancing parlor and the odd Oum Kulthum cassette. A Berkeley performance by a couple of giants in the Arabic music world will show how close alongside Western pop this music is progressing. 

Appearing at the Berkeley Community Theater on Friday, February 22, is Khaled, and Hakim, “The king of rai” and “The lion of Egypt,” respectively. Their monikers don’t come easily. 

Khaled, who has dropped the traditional rai prefix, Cheb, from his name, is an Algerian-born, Paris-based singer and musician who draws from musical influence from all corners of the Arabic world and beyond to make his pop rai. Like rock and roll from the blues, rai has transmogrified over and over through the 20th century from its roots in Algerian folk chants with percussion and flutes, through influences of Western pop and jazz, into electronic beats and funky grooves underneath traditional melodies and instrumentation. 

Rai is an idiomatic word that resists translation into English; depending on who you’re talking to and how loose they’re feeling at the time, it can mean “opinion,” “advice,” “my way,” “tell it like it is,” or simply “oh yeah!” British pop star Sting had invited “The prince of rai” Cheb Mami to bring an exotic flair to his 1999 “Brand New Day” album on the “Desert Rose” track. As the modern music of Algeria, began to take its shape with confrontational and plain-talking lyrics in the early 1960s after the country became independent from France. 

The music comes with radical political baggage as the street sounds of the dispossessed. It was repressed from airwaves by the Algerian government until 1985 because it was associated with dissenting elements, and the assassination of popular rai musician Cheb Hasni by Islamic militants caused many musicians to flee to France, where they discovered studio facilities to make rai sound like it never had before. 

Khaled was one of those artists in France who rose to the top to become a global sensation. He not only admits to finding influence from Egyptian and Spanish music, but also from the Beatles and James Brown. On his new CD “Kenza,” named after his second daughter, the Paris production has Khaled’s horn section moving from funk to salsa, with plenty of electronic dance rhythms and string arrangements under the direction of New Wave producer Steve Killage (Simple Minds) and New York City’s acid jazzman Lati Krolund formerly of the Brooklyn Funk Essentials. 

Performing on the same bill, Hakim is likewise bringing the music of the back streets to a global audience by performing “al jeel” – for a new, young generation. His brand of shaa’bi music is fast with nearly delirious layers of percussion. 

Hakim grew up in Egypt the son of the mayor of Maghagha playing in bands of just tabla and accordion. He played shaa’bi, a form of lower-class music comparable to blues for its steady beats and freestyling vocals about hard times, poverty, and lost love. His father sent him to study in Cairo, where Hakim found himself immersed in the music scene on the city’s streets. 

After years of performing weddings and recording cassette tapes – the principle medium in Egypt for recorded music – Hakim has become the lion of his moniker, rivaling the sales of Egypt’s longstanding diva Oum Kathoum, who passed away almost 30 years ago and is still enormously popular. 

It’s hard to imagine cassette tapes blaring from boom boxes all over Egypt could respectfully replicate the nuanced percussive textures of Hakim’s newest release, “Yaho” (available on CD from the Mondo Melodia label). Several tracks are produced and mixed by Transglobal Underground, a group melding urban techno with instrument textures from cultures around the world. 

Both Hakim and Khaled have been wildly successful using dance beats and bass grooves to present their traditional musical heritage to a wide audience. Their live performance at the Berkeley Community Theater is presented by local DJ Cheb i Sabbah, who has been a Bay Area fixture for 10 years, championing not only Arabic, but Asian and African music in San Francisco clubs.


Arts & Entertainment Calendar

Staff
Friday February 15, 2002

 

924 Gilman Feb. 15: One Time Angels, Eleventeen, Audiocrush, Counterfit, Bikini Bumps; Feb. 16: Iron Vegan, Nigel Peppercock, Lost Goat, Iron Lung, Depressor; Feb. 22: Oppressed Logic, Deface, Edddie Haskells, Throat Oyster; Feb. 23: From Ashes Arise, Artimus Pyle, Brainoil, Down in Flames, Dystrophy, Scholastic Deth; All shows start a 8 p.m. unless noted; Most are $5; 924 Gilman St. 525-9926. 

 

The Albatross Feb. 18: Paul Schneider; Feb. 19: Carla Kaufman and Larry Scala; Feb. 20: Whiskey Brothers; Feb. 21: Keni “El Lebrijano”; Feb. 23: 9:30 p.m., Dave Creamer Jazz Quartet; Feb. 26: Mad & Eddie Duran; Feb. 28: Keni “El Lebrijano”; All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless noted. 822 San Pablo Ave., 843-2473, albatrosspub@mindspring.com. 

 

Anna’s Bistro Feb. 15: Ann’s Jazz Standards, Hideo Date; Feb. 16: Robin Gregory, Ducksan Distones Jazz Sextet; Feb. 17: Acoustic Soul; Feb. 18: Renegade Sidemen w/Calvin Keyes; Feb. 19: Ed Reed; Feb. 20: Bob Schoen Jazz Quintet; Feb. 21: Jazz Singers’ Collective; Feb. 22: Fourtet, Hideo Date; Feb. 23: Vicki Burns & Felice York, Ducksan Distones Jazz Sextet; Feb. 24: Christy Dana Jazz Quartet; Feb. 25: Renegade Sidemen w/Calvin Keyes; Feb. 26: Con Alma; Feb. 27: Mainstream Jazz Quintet; Feb. 28: Junebug; Music starts at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., 1801 University Ave., 849-2662. 

 

Blake’s Feb. 15: KGB, Solemite, $7; Feb. 16: SFunk; Feb. 17: Roots Science; Feb. 18: The Steve Gannon Band, Mz. Dee, $4; Feb. 20: Hebro, $3; Feb. 21: Ascension, $5; Feb. 23: Tang; Feb. 24: Famous Last Words; $3; Feb. 25: The Steve Gannon Band, Mz. Dee, $4; Feb. 26: Boomshanka, Rare Form, $3; Feb. 27: Mindz Eye, $5; Feb. 28: Ascension, $5; 2367 Telegraph Ave., 877-488-6533. 

 

Cafe Eclectica Feb. 23: 8 p.m., Hip Hop show: Little Larry, with guest MCs and DJs. A teen cafe "for youth, by youth". All ages, $3 w/HS I.D., $5 w/o; 1309 Solano Ave., Albany, 527-2344. 

 

Cal Performances Feb. 17: 3 p.m., Opera vocalist, Ewa Podles, performs works by Rossini, Chopin and Brahms. $42. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, 642-9988 

 

Cato’s Ale House Feb. 17: Phillip Greenlief Trio; Feb. 20: Anton Schwartz Trio; Feb. 24: Blue and Tan; Feb. 27: Vince Wallace Trio 

 

Club Jjang-ga Feb. 16: Deducted Value, Dopesick, Luxt, Karate High School, Forcing Bloom; Feb. 23: Cheapskate, Eddie Haskels, Resiteleros, Dead Last; 261-1108, savageproductions1@yahoo.com. 

 

Eli’s Mile High Club Every Friday, 10 p.m. Funky Fridays Conscious Dance Party with KPFA DJs Splif Skankin and Funky Man. $10; 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 655-6661 

 

Jupiter Feb. 15: Forest Sun; Feb. 16: Michael Bluestien Trio; Feb. 20: Joshi Marshall Duo; Feb. 21: Spectraphonic; Feb. 22: Ben Graves Group; Feb. 23: Brenden Millstein Quartet; Feb. 27: J Steinkoler Duo; Feb. 28: Spectraphonic; All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m., unless noted. 2181 Shattuck Ave., 843-7625, www.jupiterbeer.com. 

 

Live Oak Concerts Feb. 15: Merlin Coleman with Dan Cantrell, Darren Johnson and Ron Heglin, $10; Feb. 16: Marvin Sanders, Karen Ande, JungHae Kim, $12; All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St., 644-6893. 

 

Old First Concerts Feb. 16: 8 p.m., The Duke and The Lady-Faye Carol, $12; Feb. 17: 4 p.m., Miriam Abramowitsch and George Barth, $12; Old First Church, 1751 Sacramento St., 415-474-1608. 

 

The Starry Plough Feb. 15: 9:30 p.m., Dickle Brothers, Rube Waddell, Brian Kenney Fresno, $6; Feb. 16: 9:30 p.m. Camper Van Chadbourne, Dandeline, $7; Feb. 17: 8 p.m., Irish Music Session; Feb. 20: 8:30 p.m., Poetry Slam, $5; Feb. 21: 9:30 p.m., Jon Langford, Rico Bell, $12; Feb. 22: 9:30 p.m., 20 Minute Loop, Kirby Grips, She Mob, $6; Feb. 23: 9:30 p.m., Eric McFadden Experience, Mark Growden, $6; 3101 Shattuck Ave., 841-2082. 

 

Tuva Space Mar. 21: 8 p.m., Blues Translation; Mar. 22: 8 p.m., Electro-Acoustic Quartet; Mar. 23: 8 p.m. Solo Guitar Performance, 9:30 p.m. Country, Folk, and Blues Standards. $8 All shows $8. 312 Adeline St. 649-8744, acme@sfsound.org 

 

“Concherto Night” Feb. 16: 8 p.m., Empyrean Ensemble perform new American and 20th Century works. $14 -$18. Julia Morgan Theatre, 2640 College Ave., 925-798-1300, www.juliamorgan.org 

 

“Love is in the Air” Feb. 16: 6 p.m., Oakland Lyric Opera presents an evening of dinner, candlelight and flowers accompanied by a musical showcase of Broadway tunes, Italian street songs and nostalgic cabaret music. $65 including tax and tip. Sequoya Country Club, 4550 Heafey Rd, Oakland, 836-6772 

 

“Judi Bari Takes on the FBI” Feb. 16: 7:30 p.m., Alice Littletree and Sherry Glaser perform separately in a benefit to raise money for Judi Bari’s suit against the FBI. $5 - $15 sliding scale. Unitarian Fellowship, Cedar & Bonita St., 415-927-1645 

 

“Bosch Sisters” Feb. 20: 7:30 p.m., Swiss sisters perform piano concert featuring music by Mozart, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Debussy and Poulenc. Donations suggested. UC Berkeley International House, 2299 Piedmont Ave. 642-9490 

 

“Free Men! Free Women!” Feb. 22 through Feb. 23: 8 p.m., Wing It performs a new a combination of dance, song and story. $12. First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, 814-9584 

 

“John Glennon and Erika March” Feb. 24: 5 p.m., A program of French music including the works of Francois Couperin, Chambonnieres, and Muffat. $15 - $18. MusicSources, 1000 The Alameda, 528-1685 

 

“Cosi Fan Tutte” Feb. 22 through Mar. 3: The Berkeley Opera will perform Mozart’s classic opera. $10 - $30. Call for specific dates and times. Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave. 841-103, www.berkeleyopera.com 

 

 

“La Tania” Feb. 14 through Feb. 16, 6 p.m., 7:15 p.m., Acclaimed Flamenco Dancer, La Tania, performs with members of her dance company. $55 dinner included. Cafe de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. 843-0662, www.cafedelapaz.net 

 

“The Ravel Project and Other Performances” Feb. 15, Feb. 16: 8 p.m., Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre will premiere the Ravel Project on February 15th and perform separate selections on February 16. $24 - $46. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-0212 

 

“Here ... Now” Feb. 19 through Feb. 24: Tues. - Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m., 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m., 8 p.m., Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs three distinct programs featuring the West Coast premiere of “Here...Now”. $24 - $46. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-0212 

 

 

“Human Nature” Feb. 16: 8:30 p.m., X-plicit Players, $15; Art-A-Fact, 1109 Addison St., 848-1985, www.xplicitplayers.com. 

 

“Sisters” Through Feb. 16: Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., The Prozorov sisters look at the gap between hope and fulfillment in their lives. Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattack, www.actorsensemleofbkerkeley.com. 

 

“Night, Mother” Feb. 15 - 16, Feb. 22 - 23: 8 p.m., A drama exploring one young woman’s decision to take control of her life with one furious and heartbreaking act. Directed by Bahati Bonner. $12, $8 seniors. La Val’s Subterranean Theatre, 1834 Euclid Ave. 496-1269 x1950, nightmother@onebox.com 

 

“Culture Clash in AmeriCCA” Through Mar. 3: Check theater for specific dates and times. The comic trio Culture Clash present their latest collection of political, ethnological and socialogical humor written for and about Berkeley. $10 - $54. Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St., 647-2949, www.berkeleyrep.org 

 

 

“Rhinoceros” Through Mar. 10: Check theater for specific dates and times. An absurdist tragic-comedy about a small provincial town whose citizens slowly but surely transform into large cumbersome rhinoceroses. Directed by Barbara Damashek. $38 - $54. Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St. 647-2976 www.berkeleyrep.org. 

 

“Murder Dressed in Satin” by Victor Lawhorn, ongoing. A mystery-comedy dinner show at The Madison about a murder at the home of Satin Moray, a club owner and self-proclaimed socialite with a scarlet past. Dinner is included in the price of the theater ticket. $47.50 Lake Merritt Hotel, 1800 Madison St., Oakland, 239-2252, www.acteva.com/go/havefun. 

 

 

Pacific Film Archive Feb: 15: 7 p.m., Rendezvous in Paris, 9:05 p.m., Autumn Tale; Feb. 17: 3 p.m. The Testimony of Taliesin Jones, 5:30 p.m., The Atonement of Gosta Berling; Feb. 19: 7:30 p.m., Prisoners of War; Feb. 20: 3 p.m., The General, 7:30 p.m., Kristin Lucas Simulcast Town Meeting; Feb. 21: 7:30 p.m., Kristin Lucas Workshop; 2527 Bancroft Way, 642-1412. 

 

“Human Rights International Film Festival” Feb. 22 through Feb. 24: Nine provocative films will be shown, many followed by question and answer sessions with local and visiting filmmakers. Check theater for films and times. Pacific Film Archive, 2527 Bancroft Way, 642-1412  

 

 

 

“Enduring Wisdom: Artwork and Stories by Homeless and Formerly Homeless Seniors” Through Feb. 15: 18 homeless and formerly homeless elders reveal how they learned and applied wisdom that is timeless. Mon. - Fri. and Sundays 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Free. St. Mary’s Center, 635 22nd St., Oakland, 893-4723 x222. 

 

“Envisioning Ecology” Through Feb. 15: Paintings by Michelle Waters. Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave., 548-2220 x233. 

 

“The Other 364 Days: A Day in the Life of the Queer Community” Through Feb. 16: An exhibit of black and white photographs by East Bay photographer Limor Inbar-Hansen. Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Sat., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Photolab Gallery, 2235 Fifth St., 644-1400, limor@indelible-images.com. 

 

“Adventures in La Land” Through Feb. 23: Installations by Suzanne Husky and Paintings by Amy Morrell. Tues. - Sat., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 4920 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, 428-2349. 

 

“Transformations: Through the Eye of a Needle” Through Feb. 23: Two-person exhibition by Rebecca Bui and Linda Lemon including procelain and fabric dolls and mixed media works on handmade paper. Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland, 836-0831, www.artolio.com 

 

“Ton of Joy” Through Mar. 1: Group show of twelve painters and sculptors: Simone Anders, Susan Brady, Erin Fitzgerald, Karen Frey, Kei Hanafusa, Nancy Legge, Burke Rainey, Robin Sebourn, Kristen Throop, Clay Vajgrt, Whitney Vosburgh, Ann West; Mon. - Sat., 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Hollis Street Project, 5900 Hollis St., Emeryville. 

 

“Celebrating the African Diaspora” Through Mar. 1: A Black History Month Exhibit celebrating the contributions of Africans in America and throughout the Diaspora. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; University of Creation Sprituality, 2141 Broadway, Oakland, 835-4827 x31 

 

“Ansel Adams in the University of California Collections” Through Mar. 10: A selection of photographs and memorabilia presenting a different perspective on Adam’s career as one of the leading figures in American photography; Through Mar. 24: “Migrations: Photographs by Sebastiao Salgado,” over 300 black-and-white photographs of immigrants and refugees taken by the Brazilian photographer. Wed. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., $4- $6. The University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

 

“A Retrospective Show” Through Mar. 13: The Women’s Cancer Resource Center “The Art of Living Black,” an Open Studios event for local African American artists. The Gallery features a retrospective show of the work of the late Jan Hart-Schuyers. Mon. - Thurs. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sat. 12 - 4 p.m., Women’s Cancer Resource Center, 3023 Shattuck Ave., 548-9286 x307, www.wcrc.org. 

 

The Richmond Art Center Through Mar. 16: “The Art of Living Black 2002: The sixth Annual Bay Area Black Artists Exhibition and Art Tour,” group exhibition of 81 artists; “Introspección Dual: Recent Painting by Verónica B. Rojas and Santiago Gervas”; “Transmutations: Recent work by Tim Jag”; “The NIAD` Family,” Artwork from the National Institute of Art and Disabilities; “Still Here,” collaborative art project about AIDS in the 21st century; “Girls in the Hall,” artwork by girls incarcerated in the San Francisco juvenile justice system; Tues. - Fri., 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Sat. noon - 4:30 p.m.; The Art of Living Black Art Tour Weekend: Mar. 2 and 3, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; 2540 Barrett Ave., 620-6772, www.therichmondartcenter.org. 

 

“Stas Orlovski” Feb. 16 through Mar. 23: New work by Stas Orlovski featuring a series of large paintings and drawings examining the relationships between body and landscape and eastern and western aesthetics. Tues. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Traywick Gallery, 1316 Tenth St., 527-1214 

 

“Average Female (Perfect)” Through Mar. 24: Manhattan-based artist Sowon Kwon projects footage of the first ever perfect-scoring gymnasts: Romanian, Nadia Comanece and Russian, Nelli Kim at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Kwon superimposes over the gymnasts a hand-drawn outline of the “average” female body to direct the audience’s attention to the gymnasts’ movements throughout their performances. Wed. - Sun 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., $4 - $6. University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

 

"Earthly Pleasures" assemblage and photographs by Susan Danis, Through March 30: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mon. - Sat.; Sticks, 1579 B, Solano Ave., 526-6603.  

 

“Domestic Bliss” Through Apr. 4: Collection of abstract paintings and mixed medium by Amy St. George. Albany Community Center Foyer Gallery, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany, 524-9283. 

 

Trillium Press: Past, Present and Future Feb. 15 through April 13: Works created at Trillium Press by 28 artists. Tues. - Fri. noon - 5:30 p.m., Sat. noon - 4:30 p.m.; Kala Art Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave., 549-2977, www.kala.org.  

 

“The Legacy of Social Protest: The Disability Rights Movement” Through April 30: The first exhibition in a series dealing with Free Speech, Civil Rights, and Social Protest Movements of the 60s and 70s in California. Photograghs by: Cathy Cade, HolLynn D’Lil, Howard Petrick, Ken Stein. The Free Speech Cafe, Moffitt Undergraduate Library, University of California-Berkeley, hjadler@yahoo.com.  

 

“The Art History Museum of Berkeley” Masterworks by Guy Colwell. Faithful copies of several artists from the pasts, including Titian’s “The Venus of Urbino,” Cezanne’s “Still Life,” Picasso’s “Woman at a Mirror,” and Botticelli’s “Primavera” Ongoing. Call ahead for hours. Atelier 9, 2028 Ninth St., 841-4210, www.atelier9.com. 

 

“Jurassic Park: The Life and Death of Dinosaurs” Feb. 2 through May 12: An exhibit displaying models of the sets and dinosaur sculptures used in the Jurassic Park films, as well as a video presentation and a dig pit where visitors can dig for specially buried dinosaur bones. $8 adults, $6, youth and seniors. Lawrence Hall of Science, Centennial Dr., above the UC Berkeley campus, 642-5132, www.lawrencehallofscience.org 

 

“The Image of Evil in Art” Feb. 7 through May 31: An exhibit exploring the varying depictions of the devil in art. Call ahead for hours. The Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, 2400 Ridge Rd., 649-2541. 

 

“The Pottery of Ocumichu” Feb. 7 through May 31: A case exhibit of the imaginative Mexican pottery made in the village of Ocumichu, Michoacan. Known particularly for its playful devil figures, Ocumichu pottery also presents fanciful everyday scenes as well as religious topics. Call ahead for hours. The Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, 2400 Ridge Rd., 649-2540 

 

Readings 

 

Black Oak Books Feb. 27: 7:30 p.m., Author & Activist Randy Schutt discussing his new book "Inciting Democracy: A Practical Proposal for Creating a Good 

Society." 1491 Shattuck Ave., 486-0698. 

 

Boadecia’s Books Feb. 9: 7:30 p.m., Loolwa Khazzoom reads from her new book “Conseqence: Beyond Resisting Rape” which takes a street savy look at street harassment. The evening will include a screening of the film “War Zone” and several spoken word presentations. Free. 398 Colusa, Kensington, 595-4642 

 

Cody’s on Fourth St. Feb. 15: Nuala O’Faolain talks about “My Dream of You”; Feb. 19: Tracy Hogg will tell “Secrets of the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers”; Feb. 21: Dan Bessie discusses Alvah Bessie’s Spanish Civil War Notebooks; Feb. 27: 6 p.m., Rodney Yee brings “Yoga: The Poetry of the Body”; Feb. 28: Rosemary Wells talks about children, children’s books, and the importance of reading; All events begin at 7 p.m. unless noted and ask a $2 donation. 1730 Fourth St., 559-9500, www.codysbooks.com.  

 

Cody’s on Telegraph Ave. Feb. 7: Mark Kurlansky considers “Salt: A World History”; Feb. 11: Edward O. Wilson discusses “The Future of Life”; Feb. 12: Frances Moore Lappé and Anna Lappé offer “Hope’s Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet”; Feb. 15: Cindy Engel describes “Wild Health: How Animals Keep Themselves Well and What We Can Learn From Them”; Feb. 19: Robert Cohen reads from “Inspired Sleep”; Feb. 22: “The Whole World is Watching,” a panel discussion with Harold Adler, Leon F. Litwack, Charles Wollenberg, Hollynn D’Lil, Ronald J. Riesterer and Cathy Cade; Feb. 25: David Henry Sterry describes “Chicken: Self-portrait of a Young Man for Rent”; Feb. 26: Carter Scholz reads from “Radiance”; All events begin at 7:30 p.m. unless noted and ask a $2 donation. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852, www.codysbooks.com.  

 

Coffee With a Beat Feb. 2: Julia Vinograd, Shauna Rogan; Feb. 9: Sydney Bell, Debrale Pagan; All readings 7-9 p.m., free and followed by open mike. 458 Perkins, Oakland, 526-5985.  

 

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore Feb. 5: William Chapman presents slides and reads from his book, “The Face of Tibet”; Feb. 7: A panel of female travel writers read from their works published in “The Unsavvy Travelers”, a chronicle of hilarious tales of cathartic misadventures on the road; Feb. 19: Christopher Baker, author of “Costa Rica: Moon Handbook” presents a slide show demonstrating what makes the Central American country so appealing; Richard Sterling, author of Lonely Planet’s “World Food: Greece”, presents a culinary tour revealing the culture and character of Greece through the medium of her cuisine’s; Feb. 28: Terrence Ward reads from his book “Searching for Hassan: An American Family’s Journey Home to Iran”; All readings are free and start at 7:30 p.m., 1385 Shattuck Ave. at Rose, 843-3533. 

 

Shambhala Booksellers Feb. 3: 7 p.m., William Peterson will read from his latest book “Voices in the Dark: Esoteric, Occult & Secular Voices in Nazi-Occupied Paris 1990-1994”. Free. 242 Telegraph Ave., 848-8443 

 

 

Poetry 

 

Poetry Flash @ Cody’s Feb. 6: Adrianne Marcus, Diana O’Hehir; Feb. 10: Cathy Coldman, Judith Serin; Feb. 13: Murray Silverstein, Gillian Wegener, Helen Wickes; Feb. 17: Sharon Doubiago, Doren Robbins; Feb. 20: Linda Elkin, Steve Rood; Feb. 27: Stephen Kessler and John Oliver Simon; All events begin at 7:30 p.m., $2 donation. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852, www.codysbooks.com.  

 

Tours 

 

Golden Gate Live Steamers Grizzly Peak Boulevard and Lomas Cantadas Drive at the south end of Tilden Regional Park Small locomotives, scaled to size. Trains run Sun., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rides: Sun., noon to 3 p.m., weather permitting. 486-0623. 

 

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Fridays 9:30 - 11:45 a.m. or by appointment. Call ahead to make reservations. Free. University of California, Berkeley. 486-4387. 

 

Museums 

 

Habitot Children’s Museum “Back to the Farm” An interactive exhibit gives children the chance to wiggle through tunnels, look into a mirrored fish pond, don farm animal costumes, ride on a John Deere tractor and more. “Recycling Center” Lets the kids crank the conveyor belt to sort cans, plastic bottles and newspaper bundles into dumpster bins; $4 adults; $6 children age 7 and under; $3 for each additional child age 7 and under. Mon. and Wed., 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tues. and Fri., 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thur., 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2065 Kittredge St. 647-1111 or www.habitot.org. 

 

UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology Lobby, Valley Life Sciences Building, UC Berkeley “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” ongoing. A 20 foot by 40 foot replica of the fearsome dinosaur made from casts of bones of the most complete T. Rex skeleton yet excavated. When unearthed in Montana, the bones were all lying in place with only a small piece of the tailbone missing. “Pteranodon” A suspended skeleton of a flying reptile with a wingspan of 22-23 feet. The Pteranodon lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. Free. Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 642-1821. 

 

UC Berkeley Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthropology will close its exhibition galleries for renovation. It will reopen in early 2002.  

 

Oakland Museum of California Feb. 14: 1 p.m., Diane Curry shares her experiences researching photographic archives for the history of Oakland, free; Feb. 17: 12 - 4 p.m., A family program in which artists engage families in creative projects inspired by the work of California African American artists; 2 - 3 p.m., Artist Raymond Howell discusses his creative process and artistic techniques. $6 general, $4 seniors and students with ID. 10th & Oak St., 238-2200, www.museumca.org 

 

Holt Planetarium Programs are recommended for age 8 and up; children under age 6 will not be admitted. $2 in addition to regular museum admission. “Constellations Tonight” Ongoing. Using a simple star map, learn to identify the most prominent constellations for the season in the planetarium sky. Daily, 3:30 p.m. $7 general; $5 seniors, students, disabled, and youths age 7 to 18; $3 children age 3 to 5 ; free children age 2 and younger. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Centennial Drive, UC Berkeley, 642-5132, www.lhs.berkeley.edu. 

 

Send arts events two weeks in advance to Calendar@berkeleydailyplanet.net, 2076 University, Berkeley 94704 or fax to 841-5694.


Out & About Calendar

Compiled by Guy Poole
Friday February 15, 2002


Friday, Feb. 15

 

 

Berkeley Women in Black 

noon - 1 p.m. 

Telegraph Ave. and Bancroft 

Standing in solidarity with women in Israel and Palestine to urge the end of Israeli occupation of West Bank and Gaza. 548-6310, www.wibberkeley.org. 

 

Hip-Hop Music Workshop 

6 - 8 p.m. 

South Berkeley Community Church 

1802 Fairview Ave. 

Friday Night Art and Dinner Program for youths ages 5 to 14 years old. Hands on experience in various artistic styles. 6 - 7 p.m. art, 7 - 8 p.m. dinner. 652-1040. 

 

Still Stronger Women 

1:15 - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Life of Isadora Duncan, plus film on contemporary creative, therapeutic dances. 232-1351. 

 

 


Saturday, Feb. 16

 

 

Puppet Show 

1:30 and 2:30 p.m. 

Hall of Health, Children’s Hospital Oakland 

2230 Shattuck Ave. 

Includes puppets from diverse cultures and with such conditions as cerberal palsy, blindness, and Down syndrome. Free. 549-1564. 

 

Launch Party for War Times 

4 p.m. 

Mandela Village 

1357 Fifth St., West Oakland 

A new national anti-war newspaper covering an alternative truth. 869-5156. 

 

BANA, Berkeley Alliance of  

Neighborhood Associations 

9:30 - ll a.m.  

Live Oak Park, Fireside Room 

l30l Shattuck Ave. 

Neighbors are welcome to network and connect on issues with groups across the city. 848-3l75, HCMuir@mindspring.com. 

 

Judi Bari Takes on the FBI 

7:30 p.m. 

Unitarian Fellowship 

Cedar and Bonita St. 

Benefit for the Judi Bari suit against the FBI. $5 - $15. 415-927-1645. 

 

Habitual Avoidance of Intimacy? 

5 - 6:30 p.m. 

Twelve-step meeting for sexual, social, and emotional anorexia. Open to anyone who wants to recover from habitual avoidance of intimacy. Call first, 548-1285. 

 

Fund Raiser for BHS Common Ground Costa Rica trip 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

1924 Cedar St. 

Humongous multi-family Berkeley High School indoor garage sale. Marciagoodman@aol.com. 

 


Sunday, Feb. 17

 

 

Jewish Learning Seminar 

10 a.m. - noon 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

K’Tanim: A Celebration of Jewish Learning for Families with Young Children, Birth to 3. Family activities, songs, stories, crafts, and discussions. $10. To register call: 549-9447 x 104. 

 

Plant Meditations: Cultivating Your Relationship with the Healing Power of Herbs 

7:30 p.m. 

The Berkeley Psychic Institute 

2018 Allston Way 

Spend the evening exploring the many ways of communicating with the healing presence of the plants. $10 donation, 644-1600. 

 

 


Monday, Feb. 18

 

 

BART Operates Regular Saturday  

Service for “President’s Day” 

Beginning at 6 a.m. until midnight on all five lines. 465-2278. 

 

The East Bay Coalition Against the War Movie/Speaker and Discussion Night 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Fellowship of Humanity  

390 27th St., Oakland 

We will show the Noam Chomsky Video on 9/11 and the War on Terror. Plus guest speaker, Denny Riley, Vietnam Veteran and a member of the Veterans Speaker's Alliance. The film and speaker will take about one to one and a half hours. The rest of the time will be devoted to small and large group discussion about our current struggle in response to “the war on terrorism.” 

 

 


Tuesday, Feb. 19

 

 

Berkeley Garden Club  

Hosts “Crystal Palaces” 

1 p.m. 

Epworth United Methodist Church 

1953 Hopkins St. 

Ann Cunningham, author of “Crystal Palaces” will present slides of glass houses from the turn of the century to the present. Scott Medburry, Director Strybing Arboretum & Botanic Garden, will talk about the history of San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers including an update on its recent renovation. 524-4374. 

 

21st Century McCarthyism & The Rise of the Global Police State 

6 - 8 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

Wheeler Auditorium 

The following speakers present their interpretations of September 11 and its aftermath: Angela Davis, Diane Clemens and Jennifer Terry. Sponsored by the Departments of Women's Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, & Ethnic Studies, and Professors for Peace. xperales@uclink.berkeley.edu. 

 

Pioneering Woman Federal Judge 

4:30 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

Boalt Hall, Room 100 

The Hon. Mary M. Schroeder, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, speaks on “Justice and Mercy.” Inaugural event of American Constitution Society for Law & Policy, Boalt Hall Chapter. 642-1741, amconstsoc@law.berkeley.edu. 

 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church 

941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints and learn what other photographers are doing. 525-3565. 

 


Wednesday, Feb. 20

 

 

Staying Connected: Building A Secular Jewish Life 

7:30 - 9:15 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

An evening of discussion and song with a Klezmer/Yiddish musician. $5. 848-0237 x 127 

 

Institute of Government Studies 

4 p.m. 

119 Moses Hall 

UC Berkeley Campus 

Gerald Gamm lectures as part of the Historical Institutionalism Seminar. 642-4608, www.igs.berkeley.edu 

 

Colonial Courts, African Conflicts,  

and the End of Slavery in the French Souda 

4 - 6 p.m. 

UC Berkeley  

3335 Dwinelle, Level “C” 

A talk by Richard Roberts of Stanford University. Sponsored by Department of History, Department of African-American Studies, and Center for African Studies. 642-8338. 

 

Cultural Competency in Healthcare 

6 - 7:30 p.m. 

Berkeley YWCA  

2600 Bancroft Way 

Racial Justice Lecture Series and discussion on overcoming ethnic and gender differences to deliver healthcare in under-served populations. 848-6370, www.ywca-berkeley.org. 

 

East Bay Job Fair 

noon - 6 p.m. 

Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center 

10 10th St., Oakland 

The United Way of the Bay Area, Economic Development Alliance for Business, and Bay Area Works are hosting a job fair. Free and open to everyone. 238-2410, www.uwba.org.  

 


Thursday, Feb. 21

 

Barbara Lee 

8 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

145 Dwinelle Hall 

Rep. Barbara Lee will be on campus. Sponsored by the Commonwealth Club and the Center on Politics. 642-9355, www.igs.berkeley.edu:8880/. 

 

Purim Lecture 

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Discover the deeper meaning of Purim as Rabbi Alexander Sheinfeld uses the lens of Kabbalah to explore what Purim has to do with being Jewish and with being human. $10, $8 members. 848-0237 x127 

 

Zimbabwe Wildlife 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc. 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Julie Edwards of Rhino Girl Safaris gives a slide presentation showcasing Zimbabwe’s remarkable variety of birds and mammals, and discusses the future of wildlife and the safari industry in Africa. 527-7377 

 

Travel Photography Workshop 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore 

1385 Shattuck Ave. 

An intensive workshop that focuses on travel photography, with an emphasis on film and equipment security, light and weather conditions, methods to make the most of well-known sites, and ways to approach and photograph strangers. $15. 843-3533 

 

Simplicity Forum 

7 - 8:30 p.m. 

Claremont Branch Library 

2940 Benvenue Ave. 

"TV and Media” - Several people who have given up their TV's will talk about the difficulties and benefits. 549-3509, www.seeds of simplicity.org. 

 

Take the Terror Out of Talking 

noon - 1:10 p.m. 

Calif. Dept. Health Services 

2151 Berkeley Way 

Room 804 

State Health Toastmasters Club is presenting a six-week Speechcraft workshop to help you overcome your fear of speaking in public and improve your communication skills. Cost is $36 for six sessions, Feb. 21, 28 & March 7, 14, 21. 649-7750. 

 


Friday, Feb. 22

 

Grand Canyon Splendor: Rafting the Colorado 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc. 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Guidebook author and former river guide, Tyler Williams, presents the dramatic beauty of the Grand Canyon in his slide presentation on rafting the Colorado. 527-7377 

 

Still Stronger Women 

1:15 - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave 

Short stories. 232-1351. 

 


Saturday, Feb. 23

 

Archaeological Institute of America 

3 p.m. 

Shorb House 

2547 Channing Way 

Lecture by Dr. Stuart Swiny discussing Cypriot rituals surrounding fertility, life and death from the Neolithic to the Roman era. 415-338-1537, barbaram@sfsu.edu. 

 

Paying for Public Education: 

Whose Job Is It? 

3 - 5:30 p.m. 

Ocean View Elementary School 

Multi-Purpose Room 

1000 Jackson St., Albany 

A forum with Kevin Gordon of the Education Coalition, who will explain state-level funding for K-12 schools. Candidates for the California Assembly 14th District seat Debate: Dave Brown (D), Loni Hancock (D), and Charles Ramsey (D). 524-7004, hao_kco@pacbell.net.  

 

 


Sunday, Feb. 24

 

 


Monday, Feb. 25

 

A Rose Grew in Brooklyn: Stories from a Jewish Girlhood 

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Local author and therapist, Rose Fox reads from her memoir. 

 

Institute of Government Studies 

12 p.m. 

119 Moses Hall 

UC Berkeley Campus 

John Matsasuka presents a lecture entitled “For the Many or the Few: How the Initiative Process Changes American Government”. 642-4608, www.igs.berkeley.edu 

 


Tuesday, Feb. 26

 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church 

941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints and learn what other photographers are doing. 525-3565. 

 


Wednesday, Feb. 27

 

Berkeley Gray Panthers 

1:30 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Defending and improving Medicare. 548-9696, graypanthers@hotmail.com.  

 

Berkeley Mental Health Commission 

6:30 p.m. 

2640 Martin Luther King Jr. Way 

Auditorium 

Berkeley mental health clinic. 644-8562. 

 


Thursday, Feb. 28

 

Cody's Evening for Parents and Teachers 

7 p.m. 

Cody's Books 

1730 Fourth St. 

Rosemary Wells, children's author of dozens of books including Max and Ruby and Noisy Nora, will discuss children, books, and the importance of reading to your children. 527-6667, www.parentsnet.org. 

 

Trekking in Bhutan 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc. 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Seasoned traveler, Ruther Anne Kocour will share slides and stories of her adventures trekking in this majestic country. 527-7377 

 

Take the Terror Out of Talking 

noon - 1:10 p.m. 

Calif. Dept. Health Services 

2151 Berkeley Way 

Room 804 

State Health Toastmasters Club is presenting a six-week Speechcraft workshop to help you overcome your fear of speaking in public and improve your communication skills. Cost is $36 for six sessions, Feb. 28 & March 7, 14, 21. 649-7750. 

 

The Writing Life 

4:30 p.m. 

North Branch Library 

1170 The Alameda 

Peter S. Beagle will discuss his works and the life and times of a professional writer. 649-3913, www.infopeople.org/bpl. 

 

Photographing the Famous 

7:30 p.m. 

College Preparatory School Auditorium 

1600 Broadway, Oakland 

Michael Collopy will talk about photographing the famous (Mother Teresa, Frank Sinatra, Mikhail Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela).


Tate carries sluggish ’Jackets past Gauchos

By Jared Green, Daily Planet Staff
Friday February 15, 2002

Sophomore pours in 34 points against El Cerrito 

 

This summer, Berkeley High sophomore Khion Tate was touted as one of the best boys’ basketball sophomores in the state. Tate, while a solid contributor so far this season, hadn’t had the impact many expected. But Thursday night that all changed. 

Putting the ’Jackets on his back after the first quarter, Tate scored 34 points against El Cerrito on Thursday, carrying the uninspired Berkeley squad to a 63-50 win. 

Tate was an amazing 17-for-19 from the floor and showed an all-around game that had previously eluded him. Aside from his stunning array of long jumpers, solid inside work and two ferocious dunks, Tate pulled down 7 rebounds and had 3 assists against the Gauchos, who held a 28-26 halftime lead before Tate took over in the second half. 

“We don’t win this game without Khion, plain and simple,” Berkeley head coach Mike Gragnani said. “We were stagnant, and we needed someone to come in and hit shots.” 

Tate did exactly that. He scored 10 of Berkeley’s 13 points in the second quarter to keep them close, then scored 14 in the first five minutes after halftime, including a breakaway dunk that put the ’Jackets up 42-32. El Cerrito would never get closer than 10 points the rest of the way. 

“This was the first time I put everything together in one game,” said Tate, whose previous high this year was 12 points. “I knew if I worked hard I’d break out eventually.” 

Tate said he took 200 jump shots before the game, and his stroke from the outside was clearly outstanding. But it was his final two points, a baseline jam over El Cerrito’s Dominique Thomas, that got the Berkeley crowd really pumped up. 

“I knew as soon as he came down the lane on me that I’d get over him,” Tate said of the play. “My confidence was sky-high.” 

Tate’s outstanding night offset a sluggish night for the rest of the ’Jackets. Tate’s teammates combined to shoot just 29 percent from the field against the Gauchos, with Nate Simmons the second-leading scorer with just 9 points.  

Center Damien Burns struggled on offense, shooting just 4-for-12 from the field. His usually dependable touch close to the rim was just a hair off, with several shots rolling around the rim before spinning out. But Burns still managed to grab 13 rebounds and 2 steals. 

“Damien just had an off-night tonight,” Gragnani said. “But he still got us some much-needed rebounds.” 

El Cerrito gave Berkeley fits with their mid-range game, with forwards Joe Fort and Brandon Jernigan scoring 20 and 13 points, respectively.


Claremont workers continue protests against management

By John Geluardi, Daily Planet staf
Friday February 15, 2002

Say problems persist with union contract negotiations 

 

About 100 union supporters protested at the entranceways of the Claremont Resort and Spa on Thursday to protest union problems with the exclusive hotel’s management.  

The protesters chanted: “No justice, no peace,” and carried signs in the shape of hearts inscribed with Valentine’s Day-inspired thoughts, such as “I’m in the mood for justice” and “Contract be mine” and “Besiege estoy con La Union.” 

Hotel Employee and Restaurant Employee Union Local 2850 organizers said the food and beverage workers’ contract expired in September, and negotiations have been especially difficult. They also said about 140 spa workers have indicated they want to join Local 2850, but hotel management has resisted the idea. 

A press statement issued by the hotel’s director of marketing, Denise Chapman, said the hotel has been working with the union. 

“We are in the process of re-negotiating a contract and we have been bargaining in good faith since of August of last year,” the statement read. “When it comes to our employees there is a lot of love.” 

At one point the crowd spilled off the sidewalk into the street prompting police officers to block the flow of traffic. 

“We’re in for a long struggle with the hotel and we just thought Valentine’s Day was a good time to start things off,” said union organizer Stephanie Ruby.


Education funding, corrections

John Selawsky
Friday February 15, 2002

Editor 

 

I am correcting some inaccuracies in a letter to the Planet dated Feb. 13 regarding the percentage and amount of public education funding in the state of California (both k-12 and university level). In fact, if one checks the Web site for the California state budget (www.dof.ca.gov/HTML/BUD_DOCS/Bud_link.htm), the figures indicate that the state General Fund would allocate 39.7 percent or $31.3 billion to k-12 education and 12.7percent or $10 billion to higher education. But when major state bond funds are included in the overall figures k-12 education funding drops to 31.8 percent or about $32 billion and higher education drops to 11.4 percent or about $11.5 billion. This is all much easier to read and comprehend on the web site pie charts and graphs. This from a proposed state budget, including bond funds, of about $100 billion. 

I also note that the projected revenue contributors to our state budget include personal income tax ($42.6 billion), sales taxes ($22.8 billion), Corporate taxes ($5.8 billion), and estate taxes ($615 million). 

 

John Selawsky 

Director, Berkeley School Board 

 

 

 

 


Taking on the medical insurance system with ‘John Q’

By David Germain The Associated Press
Friday February 15, 2002

It’s hard to knock Denzel Washington’s earnestness in “John Q,” the story of a desperate man who takes over an emergency room at gunpoint to force doctors to give his dying son a heart transplant. 

The preposterous excess of zeal the film oozes is another matter. 

In bashing a health care system that can leave a 10-year-old on his deathbed because of his family’s empty pockets, director Nick Cassavetes also repeatedly bashes the audience in the head, painfully instructing viewers how they must, must react at each silly emotional summit. 

Feel anger now (conk). Invoke your outrage here (thump). Weep in commiseration there (whack). Decry the heartless system throughout (crack, smack, thwack). 

Heart trouble is not the problem with “John Q.” The movie needs a brain transplant. 

“John Q” is not so much a film as a contraption: A collection of socially conscious widgets pieced together on a Hollywood assembly line, each moving part flailing a hanky bearing the title character’s image as poster boy for socialized medicine. 

Toss in some inane groaners in James Kearns’ script (like a TV reporter’s allusion to O.J. Simpson, saying that exclusive footage from the ER is “my white Bronco”), and “John Q” makes a C-SPAN hearing on HMO reform seem an appealing entertainment alternative. 

Overindulgence begins with the title, the first name and middle initial of Washington’s character, John Quincy Archibald. “John Q” looks good on a movie poster, but in their fervor to tell the story of an Everyman fighting the system, the filmmakers might as well have gone the extra few feet and made the last name “Public.” 

John is a doting husband and father, too saintly to believe, given his severe financial straits. His wife’s car has just been repossessed. He’s cut to half-time hours at the factory where he works. He practically grovels during an interview for a new job but is told he’s overqualified. 

Then John’s son (newcomer Daniel E. Smith) collapses on a baseball field. John and his wife (Kimberly Elise) rush him to the hospital. The parents meet with Doc Turner (James Woods), the resident maestro of heart surgery, and the hospital administrator (Anne Heche). The boy needs a new heart, and John’s health insurance won’t cover the operation. 

Friends raise money. The family’s church passes the collection platter. John sells everything he can. But it’s a fraction of what’s needed, and the hospital decides to send the boy home to die. 

“Do something!” John’s wife bellows at him. 

Next thing, we’re stuck in a bad variation of “Dog Day Afternoon” as John pulls a pistol on Turner and takes the emergency room staff and patients hostage, demanding that his son be put on the heart-transplant waiting list. 

Washington was far more believable as a bad cop in last year’s “Training Day” than as a good man doing bad things here. Still, his performance has great passion, sadly squandered in an undeserving story. 

Everyone else is a stereotype: The semi-compassionate hostage negotiator (Robert Duvall); the itchy-trigger-fingered police chief (Ray Liotta); the hostages who immediately bond with their captor; the adoring onlookers who cheer John on from outside. 

Heche comes off the worst as the cold, calculating administrator. She’s a miracle of medical science, a character who gets along just fine without a heart for most of the movie. 

“John Q” hits one of its many low points when John and his prisoners sit around the ER condemning the inadequacies of the health care system, with a brief side trip to gripe about the nation’s lax gun control. 

In painting John an outlaw hero, the movie conveniently sidesteps the possibility that his actions might deny another, equally deserving patient a life-sustaining heart. That would be too much moral ambiguity for this shameless piece of propaganda. 

The first rule of medicine is: Do no harm. Too bad filmmakers don’t have a similar code. 

“John Q,” a New Line release, is rated PG-13 for violence, language and intense thematic elements. Running time: 116 minutes. One and a half stars (out of four). 

——— 

Motion Picture Association of America rating definitions: 

G — General audiences. All ages admitted. 

PG — Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. 

PG-13 — Special parental guidance strongly suggested for children under 13. Some material may be inappropriate for young children. 

R — Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. 

NC-17 — No one under 17 admitted. 


Cal men get past Cougars

Staff
Friday February 15, 2002

PULLMAN, Wash. – Jamal Sampson and Ryan Forehan-Kelly scored 11 points each Thursday night as California defeated Washington State 77-56. 

It was the most decisive Pacific-10 road victory for California (18-5, 9-4) since a 73-43 win over Southern Cal on Feb. 12, 1998. 

The Bears outrebounded the Cougars 44-37 and had six blocked shots, including four by Sampson. 

With Washington State’s top post player, J Locklier, sidelined by injury, California used its height advantage to good effect. 

The Bears played four players who were 6-foot-10 or taller. The Cougars’ 6-foot-11 Pawel Stasiak, making his first start of the season, was Washington State’s tallest post player and WSU had no other players taller than 6-7. 

Mike Bush led Washington State (5-17, 1-13) with 14 points. 

Stasiak scored just three points, while the Bears quartet of post players outscored the Cougars post players 36-10. 

The Bears never trailed. Washington State got as close as 27-26 with 4:32 remaining in the first half on a Thomas Kelati 3-point shot, but California responded with a 13-4 run to end the half ahead 40-32. 

California opened the second half with a 22-10 run to take a 62-42 lead with 8:37 remaining. 


Southside Plan pelted during public hearing

By John Geluardi, Daily Planet staff
Friday February 15, 2002

The public had a chance to weigh in on a preliminary draft of the Southside Plan and, as expected, debate focused on housing and traffic policies. 

This was the first public hearing on the proposed plan. Another will be held on March 13, and two others have been tentatively scheduled during May, June and July. According to Senior Planner Andrew Thomas, the earliest the plan will be approved by the City Council will be in September. 

The 20-year plan will set guidelines for development, traffic and transportation in a roughly 30-block area immediately south of campus. The area currently has about 12,500 residents, the vast majority of which are UC Berkeley students, according to Planning Commission Chair Rob Wrenn. 

Included among the plan’s 11 goals are the creation of more affordable housing, enhancing pedestrian uses and conservation of the unique architectural character of the area. 

The plan also seeks to designate certain areas for development, mostly along transit corridors, while restricting residential neighborhoods from growth that’s incompatible with the existing homes. 

About 12 people addressed the Planning Commission and the majortiy discussed housing.  

“There is still a housing crisis in Berkeley,” said Andy Katz, a member of the Associated Students of the University of California. “Students still pay 55 percent of their income for rent, the average housing search still takes two moths and the average rent is still $2,250 a month.” 

Wrenn pointed out that the university has already approved, as part of the Underhill Area Master Plan, 1,000 new beds for students. “In addition, the Southside Plan could potentially allow for a population increase of 20 percent in the area,” he said.  

The potential development would take place on parking and vacant lots as well on the sites of demolished buildings. 

Several public comments called for one-way streets, such as Telegraph and Durant avenues and Bancroft Way, to be returned to two-ways. Proponents said two-way streets are more conducive to a small town feeling as well as being safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. 

“Cities and towns all over the world are reverting back to one-way streets.” said Southside resident Martha Jones. “In 1974 the streets were all two-way and there we had a much higher population.” 

Jones said the one-way streets are dangerous because they attract more drivers who are able to drive at higher rates of speed. She added the existing situation is dangerous to drivers and pedestrians alike. 

But Thomas said changing one-ways back to two-ways would not be without impacts. 

“One of the advantages of one-way streets is that trucks delivering goods to the area’s businesses can double park and traffic still has plenty of room,” Thomas said. “Converting back to two-ways could mean huge traffic jams during delivery hours.” 

He added that going back to two-way streets could mean the elimination of street parking to create more room for traffic. “But then you get into the whole parking debate,” he said.  

 


Our health should not suffer because of city decisions

Michael Bauce
Friday February 15, 2002

Editor:  

 

The “communications” tower currently being debated in these pages has no place in a community that values the health and well-being of its citizens. Supportive scientific studies always add up to absolutely nothing in the face an increasingly toxic world that suggest otherwise. Modern science simply does not have the capacity nor the ability to explain the reality of life. It should not be given the right to be the sole determinant of city policy as it relates to health.  

A wider, more inclusive understanding is based on the natural order of the universal cosmos, not the failed approaches of the past which have certainly cost us all so dearly; physically, mentally and spiritual. In simpler words, let's realize and admit our own ignorance; we know very little about the effects of electromagnetic fields. Besides, any long-term effects can’t be measured. If you doubt that worshiping the mighty God modern science has failed us, take a quick look at the continuing spread of AIDS, cancer, heart disease, etc...etc... There remains no end in sight.  

So, whether it's building a children's field on a toxic site, throwing up a potential cancer nightmare, or demanding more parking; one thing remains clear: It should be our choice; after all, we'll be paying for it, physically, mentally and spiritually.  

 

Michael Bauce 

Berkeley 


Big Medicine surfaces as a new public enemy in movies and on TV

By Theresa Agovino, The Associated Press
Friday February 15, 2002

NEW YORK — There’s a new villain in Hollywood: the health industry. 

In the movie “John Q,” opening Friday, a bureaucrat refuses to place the title character’s son on the list for a donor heart because his family can’t afford the $250,000 transplant operation. The boy’s loving father, played by Denzel Washington, becomes a vigilante, taking the hospital’s emergency room hostage. 

Despite the melodrama and exaggeration of what patients and their families face, “John Q” resonates because we know the bad guy, too. We may not have a dying child, but who hasn’t had a health care claim denied? Who hasn’t worried about losing their job-based health insurance? Or filled an outrageously priced prescription? Or endured the rushed advice of a condescending doctor? 

In a society where some 45 million people have no health insurance, at least 39 million are underinsured and health care costs are primed to jump — once again — roughly 16 percent this year, anyone who takes on Big Medicine makes a great hero. 

It’s not just happening in movies. In hit television shows and best-selling books, the enemy these days is as likely to be the maker or dispenser of legal drugs as illegal ones. 

“Consumer concerns about health care and drug costs has reached a critical mass. Popular culture responds to changes and concerns in peoples’ attitudes,” said Robert Thompson, a professor of media and popular culture at Syracuse University. “Dealing with health care is an experience everyone has. It gets deep into our emotional being.” 

Money-hungry pharmaceutical executives take the place of Communist spies in John Le Carre’s most recent novel “The Constant Gardner.” 

On TV’s “Law and Order” last month, a father kills a health insurance executive who denies authorization to pay for a very expensive drug that could save the man’s dying daughter. (The program ends with a hung jury.) And a recent episode of “ER” highlighted questionable marketing practices of drug makers. A pharmaceutical company sends free food to the hospital, and a doctor chastises her colleagues for eating it, suggesting the freebees could influence prescribing habits. (A plot twist: those who dig in get food poisoning.) 

The health industry dismisses the new Evil Medicine story line as, at best, simplistic pandering. At worst, they say, it’s an incitement to violence. 

Still, the American Association of Health Plans, a Washington, D.C.-based trade organization, is opting for damage control. On Friday it will begin an advertising campaign to divert the anger away from the medical profession and toward other popular targets: politicians and lawyers. The ads say runaway litigation and government regulation contribute to skyrocketing health care costs and the growing number of uninsured. 

Karen Ignagni, the organization’s president, also noted that “laying down violence as a solution is completely irresponsible in light of what this country has been through.” 

“John Q” director Nick Cassavetes said his movie addresses an important issue but shouldn’t be seen as an apology of violence. 

“We don’t want people using guns to get what they want. It is wrong. John Q should go to jail and he does,” Cassavetes said. 

“We are facing an immediate crisis that we need to address before anything bad happens,” he said. “Once only the rich can afford health care, the poor are going to start making some noise so better we hear it now.” 

Cassavetes was drawn to the script because his 13-year-old daughter has heart disease and will eventually need a heart transplant. “I would pray I would never do what John Q does, but if someone could help my daughter and refused, well, those people would have a very serious problem on their hands,” he said. 

Not that you could tell by the movie, but Cassavetes said his experiences with the health care system have been reasonably good. He has excellent insurance, he said, and certainly can afford out-of-pocket costs. 

He’s no John Q, a factory worker whose insurance doesn’t cover transplants. Even when he sells everything he owns and his church pitches in, he can’t afford the operation. 

John Q has to be the kindest vigilante in movie history. It’s the doctors who are portrayed as greedy, failing to conduct tests to secure big bonuses from HMOs. 

Anne Heche, as the coldhearted hospital administrator, may be the nastiest person in health care official since Nurse Ratched in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Her worldview: People get sick; they die — that’s the way it goes. 

The “Law and Order” episode focused on an actual drug called Gleevec. Hailed as a breakthrough cancer treatment when it was approved last year, the drug costs between $2,000 and $2,500 a month. 

The episode does its best to portray the slain insurance executive as a man trying to give care within the confines of his company’s resources. But the father who kills him also is portrayed sympathetically. 

“I didn’t want to indict the health insurance industry,” said the show’s head writer, Barry Chindel. “The industry has to say no sometimes. If there is only $1 you can only spend it once. Sometimes people get the short end of the straw.” 


Prep Scores

Staff
Friday February 15, 2002

Prep scores 

Girls’ Basketball – Berkeley 73, El Cerrito 25 

The Lady ’Jackets win their 13th straight game with an easy win over the Gauchos. Berkeley heads to Pinewood High for a tough game this Saturday at 6 p.m., then faces ACCAL champ Encinal next Saturday for an automatic bid to the North Coast Section playoffs.


Chocolate is not so sweet a valentine for child labor protesters

By Claudine LoMonaco, Special to the Daily Planet
Friday February 15, 2002

While customers at See’s Candies on Shattuck Avenue crammed in line to purchase valentines for their sweethearts this year, protesters outside drew attention to the bitter reality of child slavery half a world away.  

The protest, together with 31 similar events across the nation, launched the San Francisco-based human rights organization Global Exchange’s Fair Trade Cocoa campaign to help end child slavery and poverty wages in the cultivation of cocoa.  

 

43 percent of the world’s cocoa supply comes from Africa’s Ivory Coast, where the U.S. State Department estimates 15,000 children between the ages of nine and twelve are 

working as forced, unpaid laborers. 

 

Like "fair trade" coffee, now widely available at establishments such as Starbuck’s, Global Exchange wants to promote "fair trade" chocolate- chocolate produced on farms that 

insure fair wages, environmental sustainability and safe working conditions within the local context.  

 

"We want See’s to sell five percent fair trade chocolate," said protest organizer and U.C. Berkeley Development Studies junior, Bridget Meyer, 20. "We in U.S. are the 

consumers for this chocolate, and so it’s up to us to demand fare wages."  

 

Although See’s, along with other chocolate manufacturers, has signed on to a plan to improve the status of children and end slave labor by 2005, protester’s contend that the 

plan will do nothing to address the fundamental cause of child slavery: record low cocoa prices. 

 

"There’s a glut in the market," said nationwide campaign organizer Deborah James, "due to IMF and World Bank policies which have forced these countries into production for 

export to pay off their national debt." That glut, she says, has driven down the price of cocoa so that farmers can no longer afford to hire workers. Instead, they enslave them.  

 

With fair trade chocolate, farmers are insured 80 cents a pound, versus the 40 cents a pound regular farmers receive. At its height, chocolate fetched nearly $2.50 a pound. Since 

1996, the price of chocolate has gone down 25 percent, a savings largely pocketed by the chocolate companies.  

 

Organizers launched the campaign at See’s because of its high sales and visibility on Valentines Day. But, says campaign director Deborah James, Global Exchange plans to 

extend the pressure to all major U.S. chocolate producers. Their next event will target chocolate giant M&M/Mars over the Easter holiday. 

 

Widespread news of child slavery reached the United States in the summer of 2001 when the Knight Ridder news paper chain published a series of exposes documenting the 

use of forced, unpaid labor by children as young as nine. They were enticed to cocoa farms by promises of work to help their impoverished families. Once lured, often far from 

their homes in neighboring countries, the children were forced to work up to 12 hour a day, received frequent beatings, and slept, locked up at night, on wooden planks.  

 

Protester Joshua Grossman, a Berkley entrepreneur, first learned of the issue from reading a New York Times profile of a young boy who had been enslaved.  

 

His participation, he said, "is a little Valentine to some 13 year old kid I’ll probably never meet. But if I can do something here to improve his life, I figure that’s worth my lunch 

hour." 

 

See’s workers distributed flyers prepared in anticipation of the protest. The flyers stated that while See’s was concerned about slave labor, there was little the company could do 

due to "remoteness from the problem." Company headquarters in South San Francisco declined a request for further comment.


We don’t spend nearly enough on education

Trina Ostrander
Friday February 15, 2002

Editor:  

 

Michael Larrick hit the nail on the head today when he complained that “for all our billions of dollars, our education system is at the bottom of the heap.” But he’s wrong when he suggests that the $58.4 billion California spends on public schools is too much. On the contrary, it’s not nearly enough. 

In “The State of the States,” a report published in the Jan. 10 issue of Education Week, a national journal for educators, California gets an “F” for school funding this year. We spend just $5,845 per pupil, compared to the national average of $6,408. New Jersey spends the most, at $9,986. We’re 48th in the nation for school spending! 

The article also reports on a federal survey of student achievement for the most recent school year. Guess what: the top-spending states have double the number of students scoring at or above grade level in reading, writing, math, and science, compared to California. When I was educated in California public schools, in those wiser days before Proposition 13, California school spending was among the highest in the country, and so was our achievement. I submit there's a correlation here. 

 

Trina Ostrander, Associate Director  

Berkeley Public Education 

Foundation


Bears beat WSU for second time

Daily Planet Wire Services
Friday February 15, 2002

The California women’s basketball team (7-17, 2-13 Pac-10) got back on track Thursday night in its return to Haas Pavilion, setting a number of individual career highs and team records en route to a 76-63 romp over the visiting Washington State Cougars (2-23, 0-15). With the win, Cal sweptthe season series for the first time since the 1992-93 campaign.  

Three different players set career highs on the night, which was Cal’s first win in front of the Bear faithful since December 1 of last year. Senior forward Ami Forney posted a near triple double on the night, notching a career best in assists with 7 to go with 13 points and 10 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season and 12th of her career. Not to be outdone, freshman Kristin Iwanaga exploded for a career high of 18 points, and LaTasha O’Keith dropped 13 on the Cougars, including 10 in the first half. Junior Amber White also tallied a career-high 10 rebounds in the effort, and freshman Kiki Williams posted her fourth consecutive game of double-digit scoring with 13 off the bench.  

“I thought we played really well as a team tonight,” said Cal head coach Caren Horstmeyer. “We’ve talked about making improvements. We had 19 assists on 22 baskets. That tells me that we had a very good team game. I’m really excited about the way that K.I. (Iwanaga) and Ami played.”


Today in History

Staff
Friday February 15, 2002

Today is Friday, Feb. 15, the 46th day of 2002. There are 319 days left in the year. 

 

Today’s Highlight in History: 

On Feb. 15, 1898, the U.S. battleship Maine mysteriously blew up in Havana Harbor, killing more than 260 crew members and bringing the United States closer to war with Spain. 

 

On this date: 

In 1564, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei was born in Pisa. 

In 1764, the city of St. Louis was established. 

In 1820, American suffragist Susan B. Anthony was born in Adams, Mass. 

In 1879, President Hayes signed a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court. 

In 1933, President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt escaped an assassination attempt in Miami that claimed the life of Chicago Mayor Anton J. Cermak. 

In 1942, the British colony Singapore surrendered to the Japanese during World War II. 

In 1961, 73 people, including an 18-member U.S. figure skating team en route to Czechoslovakia, were killed in the crash of a Sabena Airlines Boeing 707 in Belgium. 

In 1965, Canada’s new maple-leaf flag was unfurled in ceremonies in Ottawa. 

In 1982, 84 men were killed when a huge oil-drilling rig, the Ocean Ranger, sank off the coast of Newfoundland during a fierce storm. 

In 1989, the Soviet Union announced that the last of its troops had left Afghanistan, after more than nine years of military intervention. 

Ten years ago: A Milwaukee jury found that Jeffrey Dahmer was sane when he killed and mutilated 15 men and boys. Benjamin L. Hooks announced plans to retire as executive director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Pulitzer Prize-winning composer William Schuman died in New York at age 81. 

Five years ago: North Korean defector Lee Han-young was shot and mortally wounded in South Korea, three days after another North Korean defected in Beijing. Fourteen-year-old Tara Lipinski upset Michelle Kwan at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Nashville, Tenn., becoming the youngest gold medalist at nationals. 

One year ago: President Bush said the Pentagon should review its policy on civilian participation in military exercises like the emergency ascent drill a Navy submarine was performing when it sank a Japanese fishing vessel off Hawaii. Hans-Joachim Klein, a former German terrorist, was sentenced to nine years in prison by a German court for killing three people in a 1975 attack on an OPEC meeting in Vienna, Austria. 

 

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Kevin McCarthy is 88. Country singer Hank Locklin is 84. Former Illinois congressman John Anderson is 80. Comedian Harvey Korman is 75. Actress Claire Bloom is 71. Author Susan Brownmiller is 67. Songwriter Brian Holland is 61. Rock musician Mick Avory (The Kinks) is 58. Actress Jane Seymour is 51. Singer Melissa Manchester is 51. “Simpsons” creator Matt Groening is 48. Actor Christopher McDonald (“Family Law”) is 47. Reggae singer Ali Campbell (UB40) is 43. Musician Mikey Craig (Culture Club) is 42. Actor Michael Easton is 35. Actress Renee O’Connor is 31. Rock singer Brandon Boyd (Incubus) is 26. Actress Ashley Lyn Cafagna is 19.


Environmentalists sue DOE over radioactive material

By Jessica Brice, The Associated Press
Friday February 15, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO — A San Francisco Bay area environmental advocacy group sued the Department of Energy Wednesday, claiming the department plans to ship radioactive material in unsafe containers to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. 

Tri-Valley Communities Against a Radioactive Environment filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. 

DOE spokesman Joe Davis would not comment Wednesday on the lawsuit or the shipment specified in the suit, but said that, in general, the DOE follows strict guidelines whenever shipping radioactive materials. 

“We have an incredible safety record,” he said. “We will only transfer if we can do so safely.” 

The suit alleges the DOE has “improperly granted itself a national security exemption” in order to bypass laws requiring it to study the potential environmental impacts of transporting plutonium in the proposed containers. 

The DOE wants to ship the plutonium as part of the massive cleanup of the Rocky Flats Technology Site in Colorado, a facility that was once used to produce components for nuclear weapons. The facility, which was shut down in 1989 after 40 years of production, is scheduled to be cleaned up by 2006. 

The group, represented by the nonprofit environmental law firm Earthjustice, argues the plutonium should be shipped in containers that could withstand an accident that might occur during transport. 

Trent Orr, lead attorney in the suit, said the group hopes to get a ruling restricting the DOE from making the shipments until an environmental impact study is conducted, determining the safest way to transport the plutonium. 

“The chances of an accident are relatively remote,” Orr said. “But if it does happen...potentially hundreds or thousands of people could be exposed.” 


Schools, health care top issues for California voters

The Associated Press
Friday February 15, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO — Health care costs and the quality of schools are the most important issues for California voters, not gubernatorial candidates’ views on abortion, according to a Field Poll released Thursday. 

Sixty-nine percent of registered voters questioned by the Field Institute said they were extremely concerned about health care costs. Sixty-eight percent put public schools on the same anxiety level. 

Only 33 percent said they were extremely concerned about abortion, which has been the most visible issue so far in clashes between Democratic Gov. Gray Davis and his top Republican opponent, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan. 

The public health system (57 percent), higher education (55 percent), cost of electricity (53 percent), illegal drug use (53 percent), crime and law enforcement (52 percent), the cost of living (52 percent), taxes (51 percent), creating jobs in new industries (50 percent) and protecting the environment (50 percent) also ranked high among voters’ concerns. 

The poll questioned 1,022 voters between Jan. 23 and Jan. 27 about how concerned they were about 28 issues and problems facing the state. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. 

Democrats and Republicans had somewhat different priorities. 

Democrats ranked health care costs, public schools, the public health system, protecting the environment, air and water pollution and homelessness and poverty as their most important concerns. 

Republicans listed public schools, crime and law enforcement, illegal drug use, health care costs and illegal immigration as their top issues. 

Voters’ concerns about several issues declined since the Field Poll’s last issues survey, in November 1997. Illegal drug use, crime and law enforcement, illegal immigration, air and water pollution, race relations, unemployment and welfare were among those issues that dropped in importance. 

Concerns about health care costs jumped from 55 percent in 1997 to 69 percent this year, although in the earlier survey voters were asked about health care, not health care costs in particular. 

The concern about public schools remains about the same, with 69 percent expressing extreme concern about that subject in the 1997 poll. 

The poll questioned voters about several issues for the first time, including the public health system, the cost of electricity, and terrorism and security, which was of extreme concern to 47 percent of those questioned. 


Click and Clack Talk Cars

by Tom and Ray Magliozzi
Friday February 15, 2002

Stop the insanity – Don’t use your mouth to siphon  

 

 

Dear Tom and Ray: 

 

Is there a way to siphon liquids – like gasoline and antifreeze -- from a car without putting your mouth on the siphoning tube? – Joyce 

 

RAY: Yes. When you're siphoning a fluid, you need a way to fill the siphon tube to get the flow started. And while it's tempting to put your mouth on the tube and suck the fluid into it, when you're dealing with toxic substances, that's a very, very bad idea. If you need evidence why, look no further than my brother. 

TOM: Yeah. They had me do all the siphoning at the garage until I figured out that it wasn't the pork sandwiches from Izzy's that kept causing me to excuse myself during tune-ups. 

RAY: The only realistic approach is to buy a ready-made siphoning tube that has a squeezable vacuum pump at the end. You put one end of the clear tube into the gas tank or the radiator overflow tank, and then you squeeze the pump at the other end to create suction. The pump has a check valve, so each time you squeeze, the tube fills up a little more. Once the tube is full and the liquid is flowing, it should keep flowing for as long as the receptacle remains lower than the reservoir you're drawing from and as long as the flow is uninterrupted. 

TOM: You can get these "siphons" in any auto-parts store or the auto-parts section of a jumbo mart. They cost a buck or two, and they're cheap junk, but you use them once and then throw them away. 

RAY: And if you have any brains at all, you won't need them more than once, because after having to use one once, you'll always remember to look at your gas gauge.  

 

 

 

 

Dealer’s explanation sounds fishy 

 

 

Dear Tom and Ray: 

 

About a month ago, we bought a new Ford Taurus wagon from a local dealer. It was a demonstrator model and had about 6,000 miles on it. The dealer agreed to do some minor repairs that we noticed, and he said that if we noticed anything else in the next few weeks, to bring it to his attention. After about two weeks of driving, I saw that moisture kept forming on the inside of the right front headlight. My husband talked to the salesman about it, and the salesman said that because it is a halogen bulb, the headlight can't be sealed too tightly. He said that otherwise, it would heat up so much that the inside of the headlight would melt. When my husband related this story to me, I asked "Well, does that mean the other headlight is going to melt, since it's obviously sealed tightly enough to keep out water? And shouldn't other people's headlights be melting, since I don't see moisture forming in their headlights?" Could you please explain what's going on? – Susie 

 

RAY: I guess you didn't hear the end of the dealer's sentence, Susie. He said, "If you notice anything in the next few weeks, bring it to our attention. And THEN we'll tell you to get lost." 

TOM: The salesman was either lying to you, or he's afflicted with Male Answer Syndrome: the need by many men to provide an authoritative-sounding answer despite the fact that they have no idea what they're talking about. My brother and I both have it (as you shall see below). 

RAY: This might have been exacerbated by Commissioned Salesperson Syndrome: the willingness of a salesperson to do or say anything to make a sale. And conversely, to do or say anything to get rid of anyone not actively involved in buying something. 

TOM: The salesman has got his headlight in his taillight socket, Susie. The entire headlight fixture is sealed tight at the factory. Why is it sealed? So moisture won't get in and shorten the life of the bulb! 

RAY: My guess is that you need a new headlight lens, Susie. What happens sometimes is that the headlight lens gets cracked. The cracks are usually very small and difficult to see. They usually come from pebbles and other debris that come up off the road. You often see this in older cars that have been pounded by road debris for years, but it can happen to a car of any age. 

TOM: When you drive at 60 mph in the rain, water gets forced through those invisible cracks, and it forms a film of moisture on the inside of the lens. Once it's in there, it can't escape, because there's no equivalent force pushing it out from the inside. 

RAY: So here's what you do, Susie. Drive backwards at 60 mph ... 

TOM: No. Go back to the dealer and ask him to replace the headlight lens on the right side. Insist on it. He owes it to you.  

 

Having dealer fix  

throttle vs. throttling dealer 

 

Dear Tom and Ray: 

 

Our 1999 Cadillac DeVille is subject to the accelerator sticking in the "up" position. The service technician tells me it happens because of carbon buildup in the throttle body. Supposedly, cleaning of the throttle body is a maintenance item (at $110 per). I had the 15,000-mile maintenance performed at 12,800 miles, and the accelerator began to stick again at 20,000. Am I faced with a $110 bill for cleanup every 8,000 miles? – Jacque 

 

TOM: Well, one possibility is that if the dealer says it's a $110 maintenance item every 8,000 miles, then that's what it is. And I'm sure everyone considering buying a Cadillac would be interested to know that this is a scheduled maintenance item that was accidentally left out of the owner's manual. 

RAY: On the other hand, there might just be something wrong with your particular car, Jacque. It's possible that your throttle plate is particularly tight, and that when even a small amount of carbon builds up (which it does on all cars), the plate starts to stick. So one solution would be for the dealer to replace the throttle body – under warranty. He'll be reluctant to do that, I'm sure. 

TOM: The other solution would be to take the dealer's advice and have the throttle body cleaned every time you change your oil. But I wouldn't pay the dealer $110 to do it. Cleaning the throttle body involves removing the air cleaner and spraying the inside of the throttle body with a life-threatening solvent. We charge $20 for that. 

RAY: So if your dealer can't provide a more permanent -- or at least longer-term -- solution, I'd take it to an independent shop that won't overcharge you.  

 

 

 

Shedding light on a foggy issue 

 

 

 

Dear Tom and Ray: 

 

Do fog lights work? Do they help you see through the fog, or do they just light up the fog? Are yellow fog lights better than clear fog lights? Should they be mounted low on the vehicle to search forth underneath the fog cloud? I am so confused – you might even say I am "foggy" on the fog-light issue. Therefore, I ask you to search through the fog of your collective brain cells and enlighten the world to the truth about fog lights. – Pat 

 

RAY: Great question, Pat. How I wish this were the only subject we were foggy on! 

TOM: There are many different kinds of lights that people put on the front of their cars these days. There are driving lights, fog lights, Velux motorized sky lights ... we've seen 'em all. Most of them are purely decorative. And many are used and/or aimed incorrectly, and they simply blind oncoming drivers. 

RAY: But fog lights, when used and aimed correctly, might be useful to some drivers. As you probably know, if you project light directly into the fog, it bounces off the fog droplets and reflects in all directions, making it even harder to see. That's why you use your low beams in fog rather than your high beams. 

TOM: Fog lights are low-mounted lights (bumper level or below) that project light that's cut off at the top. So the light pattern on a good-quality fog light goes straight out at bumper level and down, but not higher than that. 

RAY: The reason for this is that fog tends to hover about 12 to 18 inches off the ground. So by projecting light in that fog-free pocket, you can illuminate the road a greater distance from your car and therefore see farther ahead. Some people swear by fog lights. Others claim that they don't really make much difference. 

TOM: So the question becomes, to yellow or not to yellow? There's a lot of debate about this, but the research says that yellow lights are no better than white lights at penetrating fog. The theory bandied about was that yellow light has a longer wavelength and is therefore less likely to be reflected by the fog particles. Turns out, this is complete poppycock. 

RAY: Apparently, the fog particles themselves are so big that they reflect all colors of light. Basically, all light bounces off of them, so using yellow light instead of white light gives you no advantage. 

TOM: Plus, in order to get yellow light, what fog-light manufacturers do is put a yellow lens over a white light. That cuts your light output by 20 percent to 30 percent, which is counterproductive. 

RAY: So if you live in a coastal area where fog is a real problem and you want to give fog lights a try, we'd suggest a set of high-quality, white fog lights that are professionally mounted to be sure they're aimed correctly. And don't forget to check their aim periodically. Since they're mounted low, they can be knocked out of alignment when you run over things like snow banks and stalled Toyotas.


Installing a suspended ceiling

James and Morris Carey
Friday February 15, 2002

When you walk into a store or some other commercial building and look up at the ceiling and see something that looks akin to a tic-tac-toe board, chances are you are looking at a suspended ceiling. 

It gets its name from the way it is held in place. Some refer to it as an acoustic ceiling, because it contain panels that “deaden sound.” Another term is a “T-bar ceiling.” The channels that make up the grid that hold the panels in place are T-shaped. 

The suspended ceiling is one of the easiest and inexpensive ceilings to install — especially when the task calls for a flat surface that can be used to hide an existing ceiling or unsightly building components at roof or ceiling level. 

Although suspended ceilings are typically used in commercial applications, you can take advantage of one in your home if, for example, you are building a music studio, a hobby center, a computer room or office or for some other use where a quick and easy to install a ceiling is needed to lower a higher ceiling or is needed to conceal mechanical devises, cables, piping, ducts or other overhead equipment or machinery. The neatest thing about a suspended ceiling is that it can be removed without major damage to the existing structure. 

Installing the ceiling is easy. But first you will need the following tools: 

—A long level (a 3-footer will do, but the longer the better). 

—Hammer and nails or a screw gun and screws. 

—A measuring tape. 

—A razor knife. 

—A hacksaw. 

—Wire cutters and a pair of pliers. 

The suspended ceiling materials you will need include: 

—Three kinds of track. 

—Runners. 

—Wall angles. 

—Crossties. 

—Bailing wire and hooks or eyes. 

—The panels of your choice. 

Before purchasing the track, you will need to select the panel style, color, and the panel size. When it comes to suspended ceilings, size is really important. The bigger the panel, the fewer tracks are needed and the quicker the installation. However, keep in mind that in small rooms large ceiling panels can make the room seem smaller. There are two basic sizes that are readily available: 2x2 foot and 2x4 foot. As you might have already guessed, the 2x2 panels take twice as many crossties as the 2x4 panels. Keep in mind that the most popular light fixtures for suspended ceilings are 2x4. Loudspeakers, smoke alarms, heat register supplies and returns all fit into any size. 

Wall angle pieces are attached to the wall, continuously, all the way around the room at the exact same height. Professional installers use laser levels to establish a height (elevation), but you can get away with a regular level or a measuring tape. Once the perimeter is attached, then the runners are placed. Placing runners is simple if you hang wires above each course first. Wires are attached to the existing ceiling by twisting each one around a screw eye. Runners interlock with the perimeter track and each other end to end while the wires are threaded through the track to raise or lower them, maintaining a level plane. 

You can install all of your runners first and then the crossties. But we like to complete the grid as we go installing light fixtures, ducting and other elements that will connect to the grid. 

The last step is to install the panels. Sliding them into place is a bit tricky at first time but once you get the hang of it, the process goes quickly. 

Keep in mind that installing a suspended ceiling is like installing floor tiles. Some measuring is appropriate so that perimeter panels will be reasonably uniform in width. Without this consideration, a course of full tiles could exist at one side of the room with just a narrow slit at the other side. Planning is important here. 

When we did the ceilings in the showroom of our remodeling company offices, we used wallboard everywhere except in the main area where the ceiling was 20 feet tall. We selected 2x2 panels with a deep texture because we wanted an interesting look. However, fancy suspended ceilings aren’t one bit better than the simplest ones. Not in any way. So, choose what makes you happy and enjoy. 

 

For more home improvement tips and information, visit our Web site at www.onthehouse.com.


Tip of the week: Bee Attacks Facts

James and Morris Carey
Friday February 15, 2002

We’re outdoors a lot — in the yard, on picnics, hiking and camping. Those are places where it’s easy to accidentally disturb a beehive. Such an accident can be serious, especially when bees attack in numbers. You can spot, avoid and survive killer bees the same way you do less-violent common honeybees. At home, fill open cracks with steel wool or caulk, and cover larger holes with window screen. Outdoors, expect to find them in places such as holes in trees or in wood piles or rock piles. Also, under picnics tables, in drain pipes, sheds and in water meters. Watch for bee activity and listen for the buzzing that tells a hive is near. Watch children and keep pets on a leash. If you are attacked, don’t flail or run. Hide in a dense bush instead.


Questions and Answers

James and Morris Carey
Friday February 15, 2002

Q. Gary asks: Why is water seeping around the bottom of the water closet and how do we remedy it? 

A. With a toilet, if water is anywhere but in the tank or the bowl it’s reason for concern. Water at the base of a toilet can be caused by a hairline crack in the tank or bowl; a sweating tank due to condensation; leaking supply water (valve, hose or connections); leaks where the tank connects to the bowl or a faulty wax ring. The wax ring is used as a water seal between the discharge port at the underside of the toilet and the toilet flange connected to the sewer pipe. Over time the wax ring can become compressed — especially if the toilet is not securely anchored to the toilet flange — and a leak results. 

Use a few drops of food coloring in the tank and bowl to determine if the toilet is cracked. If the dye test reveals a crack, replace the tank or the entire toilet. If the leak is confined to the area immediately around the base of the bowl, chances are good that a new wax ring is needed. You’ll need to remove the toilet to replace the wax ring. 

Begin this project by arming yourself with an open-ended wrench, a crescent wrench, a pair of pliers, a screwdriver and a hacksaw. Turn off the water supply to the toilet. Turn the little valve that is located below and behind the toilet clockwise until it stops. Flush the toilet and remove any water that may remain in the tank or bowl with a small cup and a sponge. Once all the water has been removed, disconnect the water-supply line at the base of the tank. This can be achieved by backing off the nut in a counterclockwise direction. 

Unfasten the toilet from the floor. Most residential toilets are anchored with a couple of fasteners called closet bolts. You might find that your toilet has four of these. They are concealed with either porcelain or plastic caps. A toilet rarely is anchored to the floor. In most cases, it is bolted to the toilet flange. 

Pry the closet bolt caps off with a screwdriver and remove the nuts that remain with an open-ended wrench, turning counterclockwise. We suggest you have another person help you lift and carry out the toilet. 

What remains on the floor will be some of the wax ring. Remove it with a putty knife. 

With the toilet on its side, affix the new wax ring to the exhaust port of the toilet with the plastic throat facing away from the toilet. Replace the old and rusted closet bolts with news ones. Attach the new ones to the closet flange in an upright position. 

Pick the toilet up and, without allowing the bottom to touch the floor, align the holes in the base of the toilet with the closet bolts, and gently lower it until it completely seats. Install the nuts onto the closet bolts being careful not to tighten them too much; doing so could result in a broken toilet.  

Place the bolt caps over the nuts. If the bolt caps don’t properly seat, chances are the bolts are too long. Shorten them by cutting with a hacksaw. Reattach the water supply line to the tank with the new nut and washer provided with the toilet and turn the water on. 

——— 

For more home improvement tips and information, visit our Web site at www.onthehouse.com. 


A pineapple plant brings the tropics up north

By Lee Reich, The Associated Press
Friday February 15, 2002

 

Despite its tropical origins, pineapple is easy to grow indoors A fresh pineapple fruit brings a bit of the tropics into your home. And the plant will keep it there long after you’ve taken your last bite of the fruit. 

Despite its tropical origins, pineapple is easy to grow indoors. It is a bromeliad, a plant family that well adapted to the parched conditions of most homes in winter. 

Start your plant from the leafy crown capping the fruit. Give it a twist, peel off a few lower leaves to bare the base of the central stem, then set it aside to dry out and heal over. 

Pineapple thrives in very porous soil.  

Make whatever potting soil you use for your other plants more porous by mixing it with equal parts of perlite or coarse sand.  

Or concoct your own mix using three parts of perlite or sand to one part of peat, with a little garden soil thrown in. Also add some sulfur or coffee grounds to make any potting soil more acidic. 

When you’re ready to plant, cover the drainage hole of a flowerpot with a square of window screen, then fill the pot with the potting soil. A clay pot is better for a pineapple than a plastic pot because clay pots “breathe” through their pores and they’re heavier, and thus less likely to topple with a leaf-heavy pineapple plant. 

Stick the base of the leafy crown into the potting soil just deep enough to hold it upright. Top the soil with a thin layer of gravel to prevent the soil from washing around as you water, and to provide a decorative backdrop for those bluish leaves.  

Water thoroughly, but don’t do it again until the soil is bone dry.  

Roots eventually will start to grow. Then fill the pot. 

Treat your plant well and it can bring a taste of the tropics to you again — by eventually bearing fruit.  

Good treatment means, in part, periodic fertilization. Splash some diluted fertilizer solution on the leaves also; pineapple plants love to “eat” with their leaves.  

Also keep the plant in bright light: a sunny window indoors in winter, and dappled shade outdoors in summer.  

And be careful not to over-water. 

Sometimes a healthy plant needs to be coaxed into bearing fruit.  

Do this by putting the plant into a bag with a ripe apple or banana for a week.  

Ethylene gas released by the ripening fruit induces flowers which can eventually ripen into delectable fruits.


Couples swarm Vegas for quickie Valentine’s Day nuptials

By Angie Wagner, Associated Press Writer
Friday February 15, 2002

LAS VEGAS — In jeans or in white, pregnant or pushing a suitcase, brides and their grooms rushed to the county courthouse on Valentine’s Day, eager to exchange vows in the city of quickie, no-frills weddings. 

“We just came in off the plane,” David Lendosky, 48, of Turtle Lake, Wis., said Thursday, hauling two bulging suitcases up the stairs of the Clark County Courthouse. 

Lendosky and his bride, Mary Eichholz, 45, skipped hotel check-in and went straight to the long line at the Marriage License Bureau. 

“We thought it’d be different,” Eichholz said of marrying in Las Vegas. 

That’s a sure thing in a city where you can wed in a taxi at a drive-up window, get a marriage license any hour of the day on weekends and holidays and take advantage of the most liberal marriage laws in the nation — no blood tests or waiting period for the $50 license. 

“No movie stars came,” said Cheryl Vernon, license bureau supervisor. “Actually we’re kind of slow today. Yesterday was horrendous.” 

Last year, 1,065 marriage license were issued on Valentine’s Eve and Day in Las Vegas. Vernon expected this year’s total to be lower. 

“They’re all crazy,” she said. 

Wesley Williford, 38, of Temple, Texas, and his bride, Amber Pollitt, were hoping a Las Vegas wedding would bring them some luck. It’s the third marriage for each. 

“Quick, easy and we had to get away,” Williford said. “We brought some friends to gamble with. Marriage is a gamble, isn’t it?” 

Pollitt, 28, wasn’t paying attention. She was too busy filling out paperwork. 

“Let’s see, my divorce was final, March?” she asked. 

Wedding chapels lining Las Vegas Boulevard put out red ribbons, balloons and signs advertising “I do” specials. 

“We are just having a wonderful, awesome time,” said Charolette Richards, a minister and president of A Little White Wedding Chapel. “I just married this couple in their car!” 

The chapel booked 150 weddings for Thursday, each lasting a few memorable minutes. “We are into the serious part of marriage,” Richards said. 

On the Strip, 107 couples brought to town by a Los Angeles radio station exchanged nuptials at the same time under the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Las Vegas hotel-casino. 

Ryan Fender, 36, and his bride, Penny Saylor, 28, of Dallas opted for a wedding in the sky with a minister and, of course, Elvis. 

“We are a fun-loving couple, thrill-seekers if you will,” Fender said after the couple’s hot-air balloon wedding. 

And in the city of assembly line nuptials, why not a mass wedding reception? 

A local company, Vegas Receptions, recruited brides waiting at the license bureau and invited them to toast to their future with fellow brides in a banquet room at the Greek Isles hotel-casino. 

For $35 a person, newlyweds get a first dance, bouquet and garter toss, a cake and Elvis. 

“Instead of them going to a buffet in their wedding dress, we’ve developed a place where they can all party together,” said Brian Mullin, company president. 

But even in the self-proclaimed wedding capital of the world, love isn’t always in the air. 

“You don’t want to get married?” a woman asked her boyfriend after he walked away from the waiting line at the courthouse. “It’s Valentine’s Day!”


President’s Day weekend could mean full house for Las Vegas

By Lisa Snedeker, The Associated Press
Friday February 15, 2002

LAS VEGAS — One of the busiest holiday weekends on the Las Vegas Strip could get an extra boost this year thanks to Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day, tourism officials say. 

“President’s Day weekend is typically one of the strongest holiday weekends in Las Vegas,” said Kevin Bagger, senior researcher for the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority. 

The authority predicts an estimated 278,000 visitors will come this weekend to gamble, eat and shop — comparable to the 2001 holiday. 

“Having all those dates — Chinese New Year’s, Valentine’s Day and President’s Day — close together makes for a good week in Las Vegas,” said Rob Powers, authority spokesman. Chinese New Year began Tuesday. 

The steady year-over-year number is good news for the tourism-dependent city that saw a dramatic drop in visitation after Sept. 11, in part because of a drop in commercial airline travel and a weak economy. 

“If we end up attracting the same number as last year, we’d be happy with that,” Powers said. “We’re still in a recession, so if we can say we’re looking for the same size crowd in town as we were a year ago, that would be a very good sign.” 

Hotel room occupancy is expected to be down about 2 percent to 96 percent, visitors authority figures show. 

“But we have 1.9 percent additional rooms this year,” Bagger said. 

Park Place Entertainment Inc., which owns and operates Caesars Palace and Bally’s/Paris Las Vegas hotel-casinos, among others, says its five Las Vegas resorts should be full this weekend. 

“A lot of people get married on Valentine’s Day and stay the weekend or they got married on Valentine’s Day and come for their anniversary,” said Debbie Munch, Park Place spokeswoman. 

The economic effect of last year’s holiday weekend was $186.4 million, not including gambling. The authority isn’t predicting this weekend’s impact because visitor spending has changed since Sept. 11, Bagger said. 

“Spending patterns among our visitors continue to fluctuate,” he said. 

And while many of the city’s nearly 127,000 rooms remain empty on weekdays, Bagger said signs point to recovery. 

More visitors are expected to continue to arrive by car than by air as McCarran International Airport’s numbers indicate. 

Over the holiday weekend, the airport is expecting a slight decline in passengers — about 80 percent of which are visitors, spokeswoman Debbie Millett said. 

“Right now we think we’re down a little bit from last year, but it’s hard to predict,” she said. 

In December 2001, there were 6.4 percent fewer seats on airplanes — 63,194 each month — coming into Las Vegas than there were a year ago, according to the airport’s Web site. 

What’s not hard to predict are long lines at the airport’s security checkpoints during peak travel days. 

“We’re telling passengers to arrive at least two hours early during peak times, but it’s going to fluctuate,” Millett said.


Court nullifies logging permits in Tongass National Forest

By David Kravets, The Associated Press
Friday February 15, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court nullified as many as 100 logging permits, a decision mainly affecting tree harvesters in the Tongass National Forest in southeastern Alaska. 

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Wednesday that environmentalists and others should have been given a legal forum to protest new rules allowing the companies to produce more wood waste in estuaries and coastal zones than previously permitted. 

At issue are the federal permits to run so-called “logging transfer facilities.” The facilities are estuaries or other coastal areas into which harvesters dump their logs before they are shipped away. The logs are tied together to form log rafts and they are transported floating in the water to market, a process that can cause pollution from bark and other wood debris in coastal inlets. 

Two years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency issued new guidelines that permitted harvesters to increase the amount of waste, but did not give environmentalists an opportunity to oppose the new measures. The three-judge panel pointed out that, had the government imposed stricter rules, logging interests would be making the same argument. 

“If the EPA had reached the opposite conclusion, and had added additional requirements to the final permits, Alaksan logging interests would surely have taken the position that notice and comment had been inadequate,” Judge Sidney R. Thomas wrote for the San Francisco-based court. 

Sharon Buccino, a Natural Resources Defense Council attorney, said that the transfer facilities, which she called “logging dumps,” kill marine life and ruin coastlines. 

“The ultimate goal is to preserve the ability of Alaskan natives and others to continue to use these waters for a variety of uses: subsistence fishing, commercial fishing, recreation and ecotourism,” she said. “The timber companies should not be allowed to monopolize this public resource.” 

The permits in question will not be voided until the court’s decision becomes final in about a month or so. The court instructed the EPA to renew the permit-formulating process and allow the public the “ability to comment on whether the proposed permit complied with water quality standards.” 

Bill Dunbar, an EPA spokesman in Seattle, said the agency was reviewing the decision and declined comment. 

John Peterson, a Ketchikan, Alaska, attorney representing the pro-logging group, Alaska Forest Association, which opposed the environmentalists in the case, declined comment. John Tillinghast, a Juneau, Alaska, lawyer for logging concern Sealaska Corp., which sided with the forest association, did not return phone calls. 

Generally, under most of the previous permits, logging groups were allowed to cover one acre of an estuary’s floor with up to 10 centimeters of waste. The new rules eliminated the one acre rule and said the so-called “zone of deposit” could comprise a company’s “project area,” which could be several acres. 

The case is Natural Resources Defense Council v. EPA, 00-70890. 


Construction activity down in California

The Associated Press
Friday February 15, 2002

LOS ANGELES — Construction activity in California declined 13.1 percent last year as the slumping economy scared off lenders, an industry report shows. 

Builders received $20.4 billion in funding for residential and commercial projects in 2001, compared to $23.5 billion a year earlier, according to a report released Thursday by DataQuick Information Systems, a La Jolla-based real estate information service. 

Demand for new homes and commercial buildings remained firm, especially with interest rates low. But the sagging economy has made banks and other lenders more cautious, DataQuick said. 

In the early 1990s, lenders supported many projects only to see the market crash during that recession. 

“They burned themselves back then with ... overexuberance,” said John Karevoll, a DataQuick analyst. 

Today, builders are selling nearly everything they’re putting on the market but didn’t know the market would stay so strong when they did their planning, said Mike Ela, DataQuick’s president. 

“There’s a good chance building activity will pick back up this year,” he said. 

The San Francisco Bay area, where the collapse of Internet companies ended a frenzied few years of construction, returned to a more normal pace ln 2001, said John Karevoll, a DataQuick analyst. 

Construction activity in the nine-county area fell 28.4 percent last year from the 2000 figure. 

San Francisco County’s 59.2 percent decline led the state, followed by Marin County at 54 percent and San Mateo at 50.8 percent. 

Santa Clara County, the heart of Silicon Valley, saw construction activity dip 26.7 percent to a still-sizable $1.39 billion. 

In Southern California, Los Angeles County dipped 10 percent while neighboring Orange County saw a 32.2 percent decline, partially because of the tech industry decline. 

However, counties bordering those dense urban regions continued to grow, attracting people unable to afford homes in the more expensive markets. 

For example, San Bernardino County east of Los Angeles reported a 25.3 percent jump to $1.16 billion. 

In the farming areas of the Central Valley, Merced County’s construction activity jumped 57.3 percent to $153 million and Madera County’s total increased 50.7 percent to $53 million. 

North of San Francisco, Napa County, center of the state’s wine industry, reported a 51 percent jump in construction activity to $124 million. 

DataQuick’s figures are based on analysis of loan deeds filed for residential and commercial projects. 


East Bay MUD may bypass PG&E and sell its own electricity cheaper

The Associated Press
Friday February 15, 2002

OAKLAND — After a report suggested the East Bay Municipal Utility District could beat Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s rates, the public utility is considering adding electricity to the water and sewer service it provides to 1.3 million customers. 

The EBMUD board voted unanimously Wednesday to continue its expansion study to determine whether it should resemble utilities that provide residents with a variety of services, such as the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Alameda Power and Telecom. 

The study, by consultants R.W. Beck, Inc., proposed three pathways EBMUD could take. 

—It could buy electricity and use PG&E to deliver it, though the arrangement called aggregation, is currently prohibited by state law. 

—It could offer renewable sources of electricity, such as wind and solar power. 

—It could take over PG&E’s East Bay infrastructure and generate and sell its own electricity. 

PG&E would support the first two efforts but opposes the third, said PG&E spokesman Jason Alderman. The utility helped defeat two ballot measures in San Francisco last year that would have created public power agencies. 

The board has spent $100,000 studying the issue, but still has no estimates of how much the undertaking would cost or how it could be financed. Critics urged EBMUD to stop spending money and focus on its current role — providing water to much of Alameda and Contra Costa counties. 

“Others have tried this and failed miserably,” William Glass, a San Leandro developer, told the board. “Focus on what you do best.” 

Customers have asked EBMUD to consider becoming an electricity provider rather than relying on PG&E after soaring power costs last year prompted state energy regulators to issues record electric rate hikes. 

“There is no better institution to do this than EBMUD,” said Cynthia Cohen of Berkeley, a longtime public power advocate. “They’ve got the experience.”


HP heir and dissident director hopes to be deal breaker

By Brian Bergstein, The Associated Press
Friday February 15, 2002

PALO ALTO — They share a name, but that’s about it. Hewlett-Packard Co. wishes Walter Hewlett would just go away. 

The eldest son of one of the company’s revered co-founders, the 57-year-old Hewlett has picked a fight with fellow HP board members over its $23 billion plan to buy Compaq Computer Corp. 

The battle by Hewlett and other family members to torpedo the merger — one of the most intriguing episodes in Silicon Valley history — goes to a shareholder vote on March 19. Both sides are campaigning for support with full-page newspaper ads, letters, charts — and some unkind words. 

The company has dismissed Hewlett as an “academic and musician” with no real business experience. HP insiders complain that the usually reserved Hewlett surprised them by turning so vigorously against the rest of the board. 

The first part of the characterization is a big understatement: Hewlett earned master’s degrees in engineering and operations research at Stanford and a doctorate in music. He plays 10 instruments and writes software that digitizes classical scores. 

With the determination he has shown in several marathons and a 139-mile “Death Ride” bicycle race in the Sierras, Hewlett is not backing away from his attacks on the deal, even as some analysts now predict it will succeed. 

In an interview this week, Hewlett was tough as usual on HP chairwoman and chief executive Carly Fiorina, whose fate hinges on the hotly contested merger. 

“I think that Carly has been overly optimistic about what she can do with Hewlett-Packard,” he told The Associated Press. 

“She first proposed that we expand the company by buying PricewaterhouseCoopers, now she’s proposing that we expand the company by buying Compaq. I think she’s trying to build the company with some large-scale strategy plan instead of blocking and tackling and building the company the way it should be built.” 

Hewlett’s criticism of the PricewaterhouseCoopers bid — which ended in 2000 when Fiorina and the consulting firm could not agree on a price — is curious, since he supported that move. 

It is not the only contradiction surrounding Hewlett, a multimillionaire who lives in a modest Palo Alto neighborhood not far from the small garage where his father, William Hewlett, and partner David Packard launched their pioneering company in 1938. 

For one, Hewlett originally voted for the Compaq deal before it was announced on Sept. 3. He has said he was told that a non-unanimous board vote might force HP to pay more for Compaq. 

HP attorney Larry Sonsini said Hewlett was never told that. 

Hewlett also helped the merger plans along by helping to craft the $370 million package of bonuses that important HP employees can get over the next two years if they stay with the company after the deal closes. 

The plan calls for Fiorina to get an $8 million post-merger bonus, though she has turned it down. 

Hewlett said he was merely doing his job as one of the three HP directors on the board’s compensation committee. 

Even so, Hewlett’s diligence as a director is in dispute. HP has chastised him for missing three board meetings last July. 

In one meeting, while Hewlett was fulfilling a long-held commitment to play the cello at an exclusive retreat, HP’s bankers made a financial case for buying Compaq. Several directors began that day with serious doubts about the wisdom of the deal but hashed it out in detail and emerged with a positive opinion, according to people who were there. 

“I don’t even think Walter understands how much work went into this,” said George Keyworth, HP’s longest-serving director. “The truth is, Walter wasn’t there during the crucial parts of the discussion.” 

Hewlett counters that he has done ample research to conclude that the Compaq deal is too risky and would increase HP’s exposure to the weak personal computer market and low-margin technology services business. 

“I’ve been a close observer of Hewlett-Packard for more than 50 years and I’ve been on the board of directors for 15 years,” he noted. “I can say that I really understand HP and the businesses it’s in.” 

He advocates taking smaller steps, investing more heavily in digital imaging, the company’s core business, and finding other ways to make PCs profitable — ideas HP dismisses as “platitudes.” 

Asked whether he is driven partly by a sense — voiced by David Packard’s son — that the founders would not have approved of such a blockbuster move, Hewlett said his only motivation is that the deal is bad for shareholders. 

Beyond the handful of large investors who have spoken out against the deal — including the Hewlett and Packard families, who collectively control 18 percent of HP stock — Hewlett says six others have privately told him they also will vote it down. 

Only two big investors have told him they support the acquisition, he said. 

Fiorina says quite the opposite: that investors and analysts are beginning to understand the deal is motivated by long-term trends that will force HP to dramatically improve its position in business computing and high-tech services. 

People who know Hewlett say HP may be underestimating him. 

“He’s very smart, very up to date on what’s going on in the business world,” said Dick Jenrette, who co-founded the Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette investment firm and serves with Hewlett on Harvard’s board of overseers. “He’s got very deep convictions.” 

——— 

On the Net: 

Pro-merger site: http://www.votethehpway.com 

Opposition site: http://www.votenohpcompaq.com 


Writers’ Room program makes the grade

By David Scharfenberg Daily Planet staff
Thursday February 14, 2002

A recent study of the Writers’ Room, a one-year-old Berkeley High School program, which provides students with one-on-one writing coaches, suggests it is having a significant positive impact on students’ skills. 

The study, a January self-assessment supervised by BHS co-principal Mike Hassett, graded rough drafts and revisions of English papers on a six-point scale, taking into account organization, style and grammar. At least two people read, and independently graded, each paper. 

The report found that each of the 33 students in the study gained at least one point after working with a writing coach and writing a revision, while 36 percent gained two points or more. 

“We’ve got a very successful model here,” said Mary Lee Cole, Writers’ Room project director. 

The program, based on a similar project in Montclair, N.J., began in February 2001 with 35 volunteers working with 180 students. This year the Writers’ Room, which serves mostly ninth-graders, has 95 coaches on board serving 800 pupils, about one-quarter of the school’s population. In September, the program expanded to King Middle School where 25 coaches work with 100 eighth-grade students. 

Eventually, Cole hopes to provide volunteer writing coaches for every middle school and high school student in the school district, but is currently focused on expanding the program to cover all eighth and ninth graders. 

Writing coaches work in teams of about 10, with one lead coach who helps to mentor new coaches as they enter the program. Coaches see roughly 12 students per year, and work with each student about six times per semester, pulling them out of normal class periods. 

At the high school, the program deals primarily with ninth-grade English students. But the Writer’s Room also provides tutors in a few science and history courses in the upper grades, and in three Advanced Placement Demonstration Project classes, which target African-American and Latino students.  

Cole said the key to the program’s success is one-on-one attention. “A lot of kids don’t have any adult to just sit down with them and listen to them,” said Cole. “Suddenly, here was someone who was interested in what they had to say, to help them find their voices.” 

“Since the teacher has so many papers to look at, she doesn’t pay so much attention to my paper...and my parents aren’t great writers either,” said Maria Wahlstron, a ninth-grader who participates in the program. “I’ve learned a lot about writing, and I’ve analyzed my writing a lot more.” 

Priscilla Myrick, a volunteer writing coach, said the program works because it builds on students’ skills. 

“We’re taught to identify the strengths of the writing as opposed to taking the traditional red pencil and telling the students what they’re doing wrong,” said Myrick, also the parent of a BHS sophomore. “I think that changes the dynamic of the whole relationship.” 

Ellen Felker, another volunteer coach, added that tutors’ independence help to win students’ trust. 

“We’re not the teachers, were not the parents,” she said. “We have nothing to do with their grades. I think that helps kids to go along with it.” 

Mary Flaherty, an editor and reporter who volunteers as a coach, said the benefits go beyond improving writing skills. “When you learn to write clearly, you learn to think,” she said. 

Allison Johnson, chair of the BHS English Department, said the program has made a difference in her classroom. She said that students left to their own devices will often just correct typos when moving from a rough draft to a revision. 

“Now I’m actually seeing structural changes in their final drafts,” she said. 

The Writers’ Room is sponsored by a $30,000 grant from the Berkeley Schools Excellence Project, a group that distributes revenue from a special local tax. Cole, through the Community Alliance for Learning, a non profit she founded this summer, has also raised about $15,000 this year through various small grants. 

Cole said the district, which has made the Writers’ Room a cornerstone of its high school literacy effort, will eventually need to provide sustained funding for the program. 

“How can this be part of the district plan, and they’re not putting money in?” she asked. 

Still, with the district facing a budget crisis and millions of dollars in cuts, Cole does not expect funding anytime soon. 

“I understand the budget crunch, and I see this as a goal down the line,” she said. 

Those interested in volunteering as a writing coach should call Berkeley School Volunteers at 644-8833.  


BHS boys upset Washington

By Jared Green Daily Planet Staff
Thursday February 14, 2002

Berkeley High boys’ soccer coach Janu Juarez named three captains at the beginning of the season: seniors Chris Davis and Liam Reilly and sophomore Kamani Hill. The trio proved worthy of the honor on Wednesday night, as each had a hand in two goals of a 3-0 Berkeley win over Washington High in the first round of the North Coast Section 3A playoffs. 

Berkeley came into the game as the 10th and last seed of the playoffs, with the visiting Huskies the No. 7 seed. The ’Jackets only got a berth because they won the ACCAL title, also earning themselves a home game. But they used that home-field advantage well on Wednesday, skipping long passes along the artificial turf and playing the bounces more consistently than their opponent. 

“We had home-field advantage tonight, and that was huge,” Davis said. “I’ve been on varsity for four years, and we’ve only lost one game here.” 

Washington looked shocked by Berkeley’s speed and accurate long balls, perhaps because they cruised to a 2-0 win over the ’Jackets during a tournament earlier this season. But Berkeley didn’t have the services of Hill or Davis in that game, and they made the difference on Wednesday. 

Although the Huskies had some early chances on offense, Berkeley started attacking down the flanks with Reilly and right wing Willie Vega to pressure the Washington defense. Vega gave forward Giovanni Garcia-Perez and excellent service 20 minutes into the game, but the wide-open Garcia-Perez hit his shot right at Washington goalkeeper Nick Data. 

Nine minutes later, Reilly hit a long left-footed free kick that found the head of the leaping Hill, and the sophomore drove the ball past Data for the game’s first score. 

The ’Jackets would get another score before halftime, as Davis put a high ball behind the defense. Reily rushed past his defender, then hit a volley that rocketed into the back of the net before Data could react. 

For Reilly, Davis and Berkeley five other seniors, Wednesday was the first chance at post-season glory. The ’Jackets haven’t been to the NCS playoffs in five years, so the seniors knew they had to come prepared. 

“I felt it all day, just this tingly feeling in my spine,” Davis said. “We’ve waited a long time for this.” 

“We had so much energy today, it was unbelievable,” Reilly said. “There was nothing in my head today. I just floated around.” 

Hill missed a penalty kick just before halftime, and Juarez was worried that his team might let the Huskies get back in the game. But he didn’t have to worry, as the game’s final goal came in the 51st minute. Davis hit another precise through pass, this time to Hill. Berkeley’s leading scorer sliced past two defenders, then coolly put the ball past Data.  

The Huskies had no answer for Berkeley’s blistering pace, and they got off just three shots on goal in the second half despite pushing more and more players up as time ran down. Berkeley defenders Victor Mendoza, Sam Geller, Roberto Meneses and Chris Darby swarmed any Washington attackers who made it past midfield, giving them no room to maneuver. After a near-disaster against Richmond last week that could have kept them out of the playoffs, the ’Jackets were ready for anything. 

“We used low pressure on them for the first few minutes, then cranked it up to high pressure for the rest of the game,” Mendoza said. “We shut them down all over the field.” 

Berkeley now faces second-seeded Castro Valley on Saturday. Heading into yet another game as the underdog, the ’Jackets sounded anything but meek. 

“They brought their whole team down here to watch us today, so they know what we’re going to do,” Hill said. “We’re gonna bring it to them, so they’d better watch out.” 

Juarez sounded even more confident than his players. 

“This draw couldn’t have been better for us if we penciled it in ourselves,” he said. “I’ve seen Castro Valley play. Unless they’ve done some big things, they’re in big trouble.”


Declare your marital status

Walter Olds Berkeley
Thursday February 14, 2002

Editor: 

 

Shame on Rob Browning for not revealing, in his letter to the Planet (2/7/02), that he is City Councilmember Linda Maio’s husband. 

He is high in his praise for Maio and mean-spirited in his criticism of those who voted differently, yet he never fesses up to being Maio’s husband. 

My wife, councilmember Betty Olds and her colleague Councilmember Polly Armstrong received several phone calls and e-mails urging them to vote against spending more than half a million dollars of taxpayer’s money to replace the communication tower. 

Their votes against further expenditures on the tower represented the opinions of their constituents who elected them to office. 

Olds and Armstrong agree that public money would be better spent to help people in need with housing and services. 

Rob Browning should have the decency to identify himself as Maio’s husband when he sings her virtues in the press. Not to do so is cowardly and deceitful to the public. 

 

Walter Olds 

Berkeley


Compiled by Guy Poole
Thursday February 14, 2002


Thursday, Feb. 14

 

 

Happy Valentine’s Day! 

 

Get Connected: Cooking from the Heart 

6 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Join Pastry Chef Daniel Herskovic, as he instructs how to create a sumptuous meal. $25 includes meal and lesson. 601-7247, dherskovic@yahoo.com 

 

Exploring Old Neighborhoods in the East Bay and Marin 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc. 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

A slide presentation showcasing historic houses, beautiful gardens, parks, waterfalls and more. 527-7377 

 

Grandparent Support Group 

10 - 11:30 a.m. 

Malcolm X School Arts and  

Academics School 

1731 Prince St., Room 105A 

For grandparents and relatives raising their grandchildren and other relatives. 644-6517. 

 

Valentine’s Day Party 

6 p.m. 

Berkeley Fellowship  

of Unitarian Universalists 

1606 Bonita Ave. 

Potluck dinner at 6 p.m.; open mike at 7:30 p.m.; dance music from 9 - 11 p.m. 540-0898, pubsol@pacbell.net. 

 

Fair Campaign Practices Commission 

7:30 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Discussions and Actions include: Regulation and Filing Manual language addressing procedure to retire campaign debt and redesignate surplus campaign funds to a new bank account for future elections; Annual Report to the City Council; Election of Chair and Vice-Chair. 981-6950, attorney@ci.berkeley.ca.us.  

 

Valentine’s Day Love-In 

6 p.m. 

Telegraph Ave. at Haste St. 

Come join into the street corner LOVE-IN, where friends, lovers, mates, and acquaintances will meet to embrace, kiss, and make-out, or watch the sunset and flirt in suggestive attire, contributing to the amorous feelings  

of Valentine's Day at dusk. 848-1985, www.xplicitplayers.com. 

 

People's Park Community Advisory Board 

7:30 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

Unit 1 Residence Halls Recreation Room 

2650 Durant 

Monthly meeting, community invited. The PP CAB reviews and makes recommendations on park policies, programs and improvements. 642-7860, http://communityrelations.berkeley.edu 

 


Friday, Feb. 15

 

 

Berkeley Women in Black 

noon - 1 p.m. 

Telegraph Ave. and Bancroft 

Standing in solidarity with women in Israel and Palestine to urge the end of Israeli occupation of West Bank and Gaza. 548-6310, www.wibberkeley.org. 

 

Hip-Hop Music Workshop 

6 - 8 p.m. 

South Berkeley Community Church 

1802 Fairview Ave. 

Friday Night Art and Dinner Program for youths ages 5 to 14 years old. Hands on experience in various artistic styles. 6 - 7 p.m. art, 7 - 8 p.m. dinner. 652-1040. 

 

Still Stronger Women 

1:15 - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Life of Isadora Duncan, plus film on contemporary creative, therapeutic dances. 232-1351. 

 


Saturday, Feb. 16

 

 

Puppet Show 

1:30 and 2:30 p.m. 

Hall of Health, Children’s Hospital Oakland 

2230 Shattuck Ave. 

Includes puppets from diverse cultures and with such conditions as cerebral palsy, blindness, and Down syndrome. Free. 549-1564. 

 

Launch Party for War Times 

4 p.m. 

Mandela Village 

1357 Fifth St., West Oakland 

A new national anti-war newspaper covering an alternative truth. 869-5156. 

 

BANA, Berkeley Alliance of  

Neighborhood Associations 

9:30 - ll a.m.  

Live Oak Park, Fireside Room 

l30l Shattuck Ave. 

Neighbors are welcome to network and connect on issues with groups across the city. 848-3l75, HCMuir@mindspring.com. 

 

Judi Bari Takes on the FBI 

7:30 p.m. 

Unitarian Fellowship 

Cedar and Bonita St. 

Benefit for the Judi Bari suit against the FBI. $5 - $15. 415-927-1645. 

Habitual Avoidance of Intimacy? 

5 - 6:30 p.m. 

Twelve-step meeting for sexual, social, and emotional anorexia. Open to anyone who wants to recover from habitual avoidance of intimacy. Call first, 548-1285. 

 

Fundraiser for BHS Common Ground Costa Rica trip 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

1924 Cedar St. 

Humongous multi-family Berkeley High School indoor garage sale. Marciagoodman@aol.com. 

 


Sunday, Feb. 17

 

 

Jewish Learning Seminar 

10 a.m. - noon 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

K’Tanim: A Celebration of Jewish Learning for Families with Young Children, Birth to 3. Family activities, songs, stories, crafts, and discussions. $10. To register call: 549-9447 x 104. 

 

Plant Meditations: Cultivating Your  

Relationship with the Healing Power 

of Herbs 

7:30 p.m. 

The Berkeley Psychic Institute 

2018 Allston Way 

Spend the evening exploring the many ways of communicating with the healing presence of the plants. $10 donation, 644-1600. 

 


Monday, Feb. 18

 

 

BART Operates Regular Saturday  

Service for “President’s Day 

Beginning at 6 a.m. until midnight on all five lines. 465-2278. 

 

The East Bay Coalition Against the War Movie/Speaker and Discussion Night 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Fellowship of Humanity  

390 27th St., Oakland 

We will show the Noam Chomsky Video on 9/11 and the War on Terror. Plus guest speaker, Denny Riley, Vietnam Veteran and a member of the Veterans Speaker's Alliance. The film and speaker will take about one to one and a half hours. The rest of the time will be devoted to small and large group discussion about our current struggle in response to “the war on terrorism.” 

 


Tuesday, Feb. 19

 

 

Berkeley Garden Club  

Hosts “Crystal Palaces” 

1 p.m. 

Epworth United Methodist Church 

1953 Hopkins St. 

Ann Cunningham, author of “Crystal Palaces” will present slides of glass houses from the turn of the century to the present. Scott Medburry, Director Strybing Arboretum & Botanic Garden, will talk about the history of San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers including an update on its recent renovation. 524-4374. 

 

21st Century McCarthyism & The Rise of the Global Police State 

6 - 8 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

Wheeler Auditorium 

The following speakers present their interpretations of Sept. 11 and its aftermath: Angela Davis, Diane Clemens and Jennifer Terry. Sponsored by the Departments of Women's Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, & Ethnic Studies, and Professors for Peace. xperales@uclink.berkeley.edu. 

 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church 

941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints and learn what other photographers are doing. 525-3565. 

Wednesday, Feb. 20 

 

Staying Connected: Building A Secular Jewish Life 

7:30 - 9:15 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

An evening of discussion and song with a Klezmer/Yiddish musician. $5. 848-0237 x 127 

 

Institute of Government Studies 

4 p.m. 

119 Moses Hall 

UC Berkeley Campus 

Gerald Gamm lectures as part of the Historical Institutionalism Seminar. 642-4608, www.igs.berkeley.edu 

 

Colonial Courts, African Conflicts,  

and the End of Slavery in the French Souda 

4 - 6 p.m. 

UC Berkeley  

3335 Dwinelle, Level “C” 

A talk by Richard Roberts of Stanford University. Sponsored by Department of History, Department of African-American Studies, and Center for African Studies. 642-8338. 


Staff
Thursday February 14, 2002

 

924 Gilman Feb. 15: One Time Angels, Eleventeen, Audiocrush, Counterfit, Bikini Bumps; Feb. 16: Iron Vegan, Nigel Peppercock, Lost Goat, Iron Lung, Depressor; Feb. 22: Oppressed Logic, Deface, Edddie Haskells, Throat Oyster; Feb. 23: From Ashes Arise, Artimus Pyle, Brainoil, Down in Flames, Dystrophy, Scholastic Deth; All shows start a 8 p.m. unless noted; Most are $5; 924 Gilman St. 525-9926. 

 

The Albatross Feb. 14: Keni “El Lebrijano”; Feb. 18: Paul Schneider; Feb. 19: Carla Kaufman and Larry Scala; Feb. 20: Whiskey Brothers; Feb. 21: Keni “El Lebrijano”; Feb. 23: 9:30 p.m., Dave Creamer Jazz Quartet; Feb. 26: Mad & Eddie Duran; Feb. 28: Keni “El Lebrijano”; All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless noted. 822 San Pablo Ave., 843-2473, albatrosspub@mindspring.com. 

 

Anna’s Bistro Feb. 14: Graham Richards Jazz Quartet; Feb. 15: Ann’s Jazz Standards, Hideo Date; Feb. 16: Robin Gregory, Ducksan Distones Jazz Sextet; Feb. 17: Acoustic Soul; Feb. 18: Renegade Sidemen w/Calvin Keyes; Feb. 19: Ed Reed; Feb. 20: Bob Schoen Jazz Quintet; Feb. 21: Jazz Singers’ Collective; Feb. 22: Fourtet, Hideo Date; Feb. 23: Vicki Burns & Felice York, Ducksan Distones Jazz Sextet; Feb. 24: Christy Dana Jazz Quartet; Feb. 25: Renegade Sidemen w/Calvin Keyes; Feb. 26: Con Alma; Feb. 27: Mainstream Jazz Quintet; Feb. 28: Junebug; Music starts at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., 1801 University Ave., 849-2662. 

 

Ashkenaz Feb. 14: Ascension, $5; Feb. 15: KGB, Solemite, $7; Feb. 16: SFunk; Feb. 17: Roots Science; Feb. 18: The Steve Gannon Band, Mz. Dee, $4; Feb. 20: Hebro, $3; Feb. 21: Ascension, $5; Feb. 23: Tang; Feb. 24: Famous Last Words; $3; Feb. 25: The Steve Gannon Band, Mz. Dee, $4; Feb. 26: Boomshanka, Rare Form, $3; Feb. 27: Mindz Eye, $5; Feb. 28: Ascension, $5; 2367 Telegraph Ave., 877-488-6533. 

 

Cal Performances Feb. 17: 3 p.m., Opera vocalist, Ewa Podles, performs works by Rossini, Chopin and Brahms. $42. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, 642-9988 

 

Cato’s Ale House Feb. 17: Phillip Greenlief Trio; Feb. 20: Anton Schwartz Trio; Feb. 24: Blue and Tan; Feb. 27: Vince Wallace Trio 

 

Club Jjang-ga Feb. 16: Deducted Value, Dopesick, Luxt, Karate High School, Forcing Bloom; Feb. 23: Cheapskate, Eddie Haskels, Resiteleros, Dead Last; 261-1108, savageproductions1@yahoo.com. 

 

Eli’s Mile High Club Every Friday, 10 p.m. Funky Fridays Conscious Dance Party with KPFA DJs Splif Skankin and Funky Man. $10; 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 655-6661 

 

Jupiter Feb. 14: Spectraphonic; Feb. 15: Forest Sun; Feb. 16: Michael Bluestien Trio; Feb. 20: Joshi Marshall Duo; Feb. 21: Spectraphonic; Feb. 22: Ben Graves Group; Feb. 23: Brenden Millstein Quartet; Feb. 27: J Steinkoler Duo; Feb. 28: Spectraphonic; All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m., unless noted. 2181 Shattuck Ave., 843-7625, www.jupiterbeer.com. 

 

Live Oak Concerts Feb. 15: Merlin Coleman with Dan Cantrell, Darren Johnson and Ron Heglin, $10; Feb. 16: Marvin Sanders, Karen Ande, JungHae Kim, $12; All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St., 644-6893. 

 

Old First Concerts Feb. 16: 8 p.m., The Duke and The Lady-Faye Carol, $12; Feb. 17: 4 p.m., Miriam Abramowitsch and George Barth, $12; Old First Church, 1751 Sacramento St., 415-474-1608. 

 

The Rose Street House of Music Feb. 14: 7:30 p.m., “Escape-from-V-day Musical Extravaganza,” with Rebecca Hart, Nicola Gordon, Marca Cassity, Christene LeDoux, Helen Chay, Eileen Hazel, Irina Rivkin; 1839 Rose St., 594-4000 x687, www.rosestreetmusic.com.  

 

The Starry Plough Feb. 14: 9:30 p.m., The Dan Lange Band, Blue Eyed Devils, Missin’ Cousins, $4; Feb. 15: 9:30 p.m., Dickle Brothers, Rube Waddell, Brian Kenney Fresno, $6; Feb. 16: 9:30 p.m. Camper Van Chadbourne, Dandeline, $7; Feb. 17: 8 p.m., Irish Music Session; Feb. 20: 8:30 p.m., Poetry Slam, $5; Feb. 21: 9:30 p.m., Jon Langford, Rico Bell, $12; Feb. 22: 9:30 p.m., 20 Minute Loop, Kirby Grips, She Mob, $6; Feb. 23: 9:30 p.m., Eric McFadden Experience, Mark Growden, $6; 3101 Shattuck Ave., 841-2082. 

 

Tuva Space Mar. 21: 8 p.m., Blues Translation; Mar. 22: 8 p.m., Electro-Acoustic Quartet; Mar. 23: 8 p.m. Solo Guitar Performance, 9:30 p.m. Country, Folk, and Blues Standards. $8 All shows $8. 312 Adeline St. 649-8744, acme@sfsound.org 

 

“The Sex Indie-stry Show” Feb. 14: 9 p.m., The Pre-Teens, Bitesize, Good for You, Shmoogie, and The Clarendon Hills all perform in a benefit for COYOTE, a rights advocacy group for sex workers. $6. The Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, www.stjamesinfirmary.org 

“Concherto Night” Feb. 16: 8 p.m., Empyrean Ensemble perform new American and 20th Century works. $14 -$18. Julia Morgan Theatre, 2640 College Ave., 925-798-1300, www.juliamorgan.org 

 

“Love is in the Air” Feb. 16: 6 p.m., Oakland Lyric Opera presents an evening of dinner, candlelight and flowers accompanied by a musical showcase of Broadway tunes, Italian street songs and nostalgic cabaret music. $65 including tax and tip. Sequoya Country Club, 4550 Heafey Rd, Oakland, 836-6772 

 

“Judi Bari Takes on the FBI” Feb. 16: 7:30 p.m., Alice Littletree and Sherry Glaser perform separately in a benefit to raise money for Judi Bari’s suit against the FBI. $5 - $15 sliding scale. Unitarian Fellowship, Cedar & Bonita St., 415-927-1645 

 

“Bosch Sisters” Feb. 20: 7:30 p.m., Swiss sisters perform piano concert featuring music by Mozart, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Debussy and Poulenc. Donations suggested. UC Berkeley International House, 2299 Piedmont Ave. 642-9490 

 

“Free Men! Free Women!” Feb. 22 through Feb. 23: 8 p.m., Wing It performs a new a combination of dance, song and story. $12. First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, 814-9584 

 

“John Glennon and Erika March” Feb. 24: 5 p.m., A program of French music including the works of Francois Couperin, Chambonnieres, and Muffat. $15 - $18. MusicSources, 1000 The Alameda, 528-1685 

 

“Cosi Fan Tutte” Feb. 22 through Mar. 3: The Berkeley Opera will perform Mozart’s classic opera. $10 - $30. Call for specific dates and times. Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave. 841-103, www.berkeleyopera.com 

 

 

“La Tania” Feb. 14 through Feb. 16, 6 p.m., 7:15 p.m., Acclaimed Flamenco Dancer, La Tania, performs with members of her dance company. $55 dinner included. Cafe de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. 843-0662, www.cafedelapaz.net 

 

“The Ravel Project and Other Performances” Feb. 15, Feb. 16: 8 p.m., Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre will premiere the Ravel Project on February 15th and perform separate selections on February 16. $24 - $46. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-0212 

 

“Here..Now” Feb. 19 through Feb. 24: Tues. - Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m., 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m., 8 p.m., Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs three distinct programs featuring the West Coast premiere of “Here...Now”. $24 - $46. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-0212 

 

 

Theater 

 

Word for Word double bill Feb. 1: 7 p.m., Feb. 2: 5 p.m., Feb. 3: 2 p.m.: Julius Lester’s short children’s play “John Henry”; Zora Neale Hurston’s “The Gilded Six Bits.” Both children and adults will view John Henry together, then the children leave the theatre to participate in art exercises that help them enter the spirit of the play. Meanwhile, the adults remain in the theatre to view The Gilded Six Bits. $16 adults, $11 children. Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave., 845-8542, www.juliamorgan.com. 

 

“Unmasked!” Feb. 1: 8 p.m., Feb. 2: 8 p.m., Feb. 3: 5 p.m.: An evening of two short student-directed plays, “The Lesson” by Eugene Ionesco and “Beyond Therapy” by Christopher Durang. $7 adults, $5 students and seniors. Albany High School Little Theather, 603 Key Route Blvd., Albany, 559-6550 x4125, theaterensemble@hotmail.com. 

 

 

“James Joyce, Marcel Duchamp, Erik Satie: An Alphabet” Feb. 5: 8 p.m., Originally conceived as a radio play, John Cage’s imagined conversations between 15 artistic and cultural figures, their dialogue, historical materials, and musings that Cage simply made up. Director Laura Kuhn, Composer Mikel Rouse. UC Berkeley, Zellerbach Hall, 642-0212, www.calperfs.berkeley.edu. 

 

Oakland Magic Circle hosts its 34th annual Installation Banquet and Stage show, Feb. 5: 7 p.m. Dinner, 8 p.m. Show, Dick Newton, Timothy James, Peter Winch, Dan X. Solo, $20 Adults, $15 Children; Bjornson Hall, 2258 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, 420-0680. 

 

“Every Inch a King” Through Feb. 9: Thur. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 5 p.m.; Three sisters have to make a decision as their father approaches death in this comedy presented by the Central Works Theater Ensemble. $8 - $18. LeValls Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave. 558-138, www.centralworks.org.  

 

“The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek” Through Feb. 10: Wed. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 and 7 p.m., playwright Naomi Wallace’s story about Dalton, a 15-year-old who dreams of escaping to college, and Pace, the town’s 17-year-old tomboy. Stuck in a town with no real prospects, the pair begins a deadly contest of chicken with the daily express train. Directed by Søren Oliver. $30-$35. Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison St., 843-4822, www.auroratheatre.org. 

 

"Human Nature" Feb. 16: 8:30 p.m., X-plicit Players, $15; Art-A-Fact, 1109 Addison St., 848-1985, www.xplicitplayers.com. 

 

“Sisters” Through Feb. 16: Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., The Prozorov sisters look at the gap between hope and fulfillment in their lives. Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattack, www.actorsensemleofbkerkeley.com. 

 

“Night, Mother” Feb. 8, Feb. 15 - 16, Feb. 22 - 23: 8 p.m., A drama exploring one young woman’s decision to take control of her life with one furious and heartbreaking act. Directed by Bahati Bonner. $12, $8 seniors. La Val’s Subterranean Theatre, 1834 Euclid Ave. 496-1269 x1950, nightmother@onebox.com 

 

“Culture Clash in AmeriCCA” Through Mar. 3: Check theater for specific dates and times. The comic trio Culture Clash present their latest collection of political, ethnological and socialogical humor written for and about Berkeley. $10 - $54. Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St., 647-2949, www.berkeleyrep.org 

 

 

“Rhinoceros” Through Mar. 10: Check theater for specific dates and times. An absurdist tragic-comedy about a small provincial town whose citizens slowly but surely transform into large cumbersome rhinoceroses. Directed by Barbara Damashek. $38 - $54. Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St. 647-2976 www.berkeleyrep.org. 

 

“Murder Dressed in Satin” by Victor Lawhorn, ongoing. A mystery-comedy dinner show at The Madison about a murder at the home of Satin Moray, a club owner and self-proclaimed socialite with a scarlet past. Dinner is included in the price of the theater ticket. $47.50 Lake Merritt Hotel, 1800 Madison St., Oakland, 239-2252, www.acteva.com/go/havefun. 

 

Film 

 

Pacific Film Archive Feb: 14: 7 p.m., The Perfumed Garden; Feb: 15: 7 p.m., Rendezvous in Paris, 9:05 p.m., Autumn Tale; Feb. 17: 3 p.m. The Testimony of Taliesin Jones, 5:30 p.m., The Atonement of Gosta Berling; Feb. 19: 7:30 p.m., Prisoners of War; Feb. 20: 3 p.m., The General, 7:30 p.m., Kristin Lucas Simulcast Town Meeting; Feb. 21: 7:30 p.m., Kristin Lucas Workshop; 2527 Bancroft Way, 642-1412. 

 

“Human Rights International Film Festival” Feb. 22 through Feb. 24: Nine provocative films will be shown, many followed by question and answer sessions with local and visiting filmmakers. Check theater for films and times. Pacific Film Archive, 2527 Bancroft Way, 642-1412  

 

 

 

Exhibits  

 

“Rhythms” Through Feb. 2: Art installation of sculpture, neon, music and video projections by Kati Casida; Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St., 845-5373 

 

Pro Arts: “Juried Annual 2001-02” Through Feb. 2: Exhibition of painting, sculpture, mixed media, photography and more by Bay Area and regional artists; Pro Arts, 461 Ninth St., www.proartsgallery.org. 

 

“All Grown Up” Through Feb. 2: New paintings and drawings by Amy Chan. Thurs. 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., Fri -Sun 1 p.m. -6 p.m., 21 Grand Ave., Oakland, 444-7263. 

 

“Water Media” Through Feb. 8: An exhibit by Christine “Caipirinha” Mulder. Capoeira Arts Cafe Gallery, 2026 Center St., 666-1349 for hours. 

 

“New Work by Dennis Begg and Steve Briscoe” Through Feb. 9: Dennis Begg’s sculpture. Steve Brisco’s paintings. Tues. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Traywick Gallery,1316 10th St., 527-1214. 

 

“Enduring Wisdom: Artwork and Stories by Homeless and Formerly Homeless Seniors” Through Feb. 15: 18 homeless and formerly homeless elders reveal how they learned and applied wisdom that is timeless. Mon. - Fri. and Sundays 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Free. St. Mary’s Center, 635 22nd St., Oakland, 893-4723 x222. 

 

“Envisioning Ecology” Through Feb. 15: Paintings by Michelle Waters. Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave., 548-2220 x233. 

 

“The Other 364 Days: A Day in the Life of the Queer Community” Through Feb. 16: An exhibit of black and white photographs by East Bay photographer Limor Inbar-Hansen. Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Sat., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Photolab Gallery, 2235 Fifth St., 644-1400, limor@indelible-images.com. 

 

“Adventures in La Land” Through Feb. 23: Installations by Suzanne Husky and Paintings by Amy Morrell. Tues. - Sat., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 4920 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, 428-2349. 

 

“Transformations: Through the Eye of a Needle” Through Feb. 23: Two-person exhibition by Rebecca Bui and Linda Lemon including procelain and fabric dolls and mixed media works on handmade paper. Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland, 836-0831, www.artolio.com 

 

“Ton of Joy” Through Mar. 1: Group show of twelve painters and sculptors: Simone Anders, Susan Brady, Erin Fitzgerald, Karen Frey, Kei Hanafusa, Nancy Legge, Burke Rainey, Robin Sebourn, Kristen Throop, Clay Vajgrt, Whitney Vosburgh, Ann West; Mon. - Sat., 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Hollis Street Project, 5900 Hollis St., Emeryville. 

 

“Celebrating the African Diaspora” Through Mar. 1: A Black History Month Exhibit celebrating the contributions of Africans in America and throughout the Diaspora. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; University of Creation Sprituality, 2141 Broadway, Oakland, 835-4827 x31 

 

“Ansel Adams in the University of California Collections” Through Mar. 10: A selection of photographs and memorabilia presenting a different perspective on Adam’s career as one of the leading figures in American photography; Through Mar. 24: “Migrations: Photographs by Sebastiao Salgado,” over 300 black-and-white photographs of immigrants and refugees taken by the Brazilian photographer. Wed. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., $4- $6. The University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

 

“A Retrospective Show” Through Mar. 13: The Women’s Cancer Resource Center “The Art of Living Black,” an Open Studios event for local African American artists. The Gallery features a retrospective show of the work of the late Jan Hart-Schuyers. Mon. - Thurs. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sat. 12 - 4 p.m., Women’s Cancer Resource Center, 3023 Shattuck Ave., 548-9286 x307, www.wcrc.org. 

 

The Richmond Art Center Through Mar. 16: “The Art of Living Black 2002: The sixth Annual Bay Area Black Artists Exhibition and Art Tour,” group exhibition of 81 artists; “Introspección Dual: Recent Painting by Verónica B. Rojas and Santiago Gervas”; “Transmutations: Recent work by Tim Jag”; “The NIAD` Family,” Artwork from the National Institute of Art and Disabilities; “Still Here,” collaborative art project about AIDS in the 21st century; “Girls in the Hall,” artwork by girls incarcerated in the San Francisco juvenile justice system; Tues. - Fri., 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Sat. noon - 4:30 p.m.; The Art of Living Black Art Tour Weekend: Mar. 2 and 3, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; 2540 Barrett Ave., 620-6772, www.therichmondartcenter.org. 

 

“Stas Orlovski” Feb. 16 through Mar. 23: New work by Stas Orlovski featuring a series of large paintings and drawings examining the relationships between body and landscape and eastern and western aesthetics. Tues. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Traywick Gallery, 1316 Tenth St., 527-1214 

 

“Average Female (Perfect)” Through Mar. 24: Manhattan-based artist Sowon Kwon projects footage of the first ever perfect-scoring gymnasts: Romanian, Nadia Comanece and Russian, Nelli Kim at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Kwon superimposes over the gymnasts a hand-drawn outline of the “average” female body to direct the audience’s attention to the gymnasts’ movements throughout their performances. Wed. - Sun 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., $4 - $6. University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

 

"Earthly Pleasures" assemblage and photographs by Susan Danis, Through March 30: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mon. - Sat.; Sticks, 1579 B, Solano Ave., 526-6603.  

 

“Domestic Bliss” Through Apr. 4: Collection of abstract paintings and mixed medium by Amy St. George. Albany Community Center Foyer Gallery, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany, 524-9283. 

 

Trillium Press: Past, Present and Future Feb. 15 through April 13: Works created at Trillium Press by 28 artists. Tues. - Fri. noon - 5:30 p.m., Sat. noon - 4:30 p.m.; Kala Art Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave., 549-2977, www.kala.org.  

 

“The Legacy of Social Protest: The Disability Rights Movement” Through April 30: The first exhibition in a series dealing with Free Speech, Civil Rights, and Social Protest Movements of the 60s and 70s in California. Photograghs by: Cathy Cade, HolLynn D’Lil, Howard Petrick, Ken Stein. The Free Speech Cafe, Moffitt Undergraduate Library, University of California-Berkeley, hjadler@yahoo.com.  

 

“The Art History Museum of Berkeley” Masterworks by Guy Colwell. Faithful copies of several artists from the pasts, including Titian’s “The Venus of Urbino,” Cezanne’s “Still Life,” Picasso’s “Woman at a Mirror,” and Botticelli’s “Primavera” Ongoing. Call ahead for hours. Atelier 9, 2028 Ninth St., 841-4210, www.atelier9.com. 

 

“Jurassic Park: The Life and Death of Dinosaurs” Feb. 2 through May 12: An exhibit displaying models of the sets and dinosaur sculptures used in the Jurassic Park films, as well as a video presentation and a dig pit where visitors can dig for specially buried dinosaur bones. $8 adults, $6, youth and seniors. Lawrence Hall of Science, Centennial Dr., above the UC Berkeley campus, 642-5132, www.lawrencehallofscience.org 

 

“The Image of Evil in Art” Feb. 7 through May 31: An exhibit exploring the varying depictions of the devil in art. Call ahead for hours. The Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, 2400 Ridge Rd., 649-2541. 

 

“The Pottery of Ocumichu” Feb. 7 through May 31: A case exhibit of the imaginative Mexican pottery made in the village of Ocumichu, Michoacan. Known particularly for its playful devil figures, Ocumichu pottery also presents fanciful everyday scenes as well as religious topics. Call ahead for hours. The Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, 2400 Ridge Rd., 649-2540 

 

Readings 

 

Boadecia’s Books Feb. 9: 7:30 p.m., Loolwa Khazzoom reads from her new book “Conseqence: Beyond Resisting Rape” which takes a street savy look at street harassment. The evening will include a screening of the film “War Zone” and several spoken word presentations. Free. 398 Colusa, Kensington, 595-4642 

 

Cody’s on Fourth St. Feb. 15: Nuala O’Faolain talks about “My Dream of You”; Feb. 19: Tracy Hogg will tell “Secrets of the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers”; Feb. 21: Dan Bessie discusses Alvah Bessie’s Spanish Civil War Notebooks; Feb. 27: 6 p.m., Rodney Yee brings “Yoga: The Poetry of the Body”; Feb. 28: Rosemary Wells talks about children, children’s books, and the importance of reading; All events begin at 7 p.m. unless noted and ask a $2 donation. 1730 Fourth St., 559-9500, www.codysbooks.com.  

 

Cody’s on Telegraph Ave. Feb. 7: Mark Kurlansky considers “Salt: A World History”; Feb. 11: Edward O. Wilson discusses “The Future of Life”; Feb. 12: Frances Moore Lappé and Anna Lappé offer “Hope’s Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet”; Feb. 15: Cindy Engel describes “Wild Health: How Animals Keep Themselves Well and What We Can Learn From Them”; Feb. 19: Robert Cohen reads from “Inspired Sleep”; Feb. 22: “The Whole World is Watching,” a panel discussion with Harold Adler, Leon F. Litwack, Charles Wollenberg, Hollynn D’Lil, Ronald J. Riesterer and Cathy Cade; Feb. 25: David Henry Sterry describes “Chicken: Self-portrait of a Young Man for Rent”; Feb. 26: Carter Scholz reads from “Radiance”; All events begin at 7:30 p.m. unless noted and ask a $2 donation. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852, www.codysbooks.com.  

 

Coffee With a Beat Feb. 2: Julia Vinograd, Shauna Rogan; Feb. 9: Sydney Bell, Debrale Pagan; All readings 7-9 p.m., free and followed by open mike. 458 Perkins, Oakland, 526-5985.  

 

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore Feb. 5: William Chapman presents slides and reads from his book, “The Face of Tibet”; Feb. 7: A panel of female travel writers read from their works published in “The Unsavvy Travelers”, a chronicle of hilarious tales of cathartic misadventures on the road; Feb. 19: Christopher Baker, author of “Costa Rica: Moon Handbook” presents a slide show demonstrating what makes the Central American country so appealing; Richard Sterling, author of Lonely Planet’s “World Food: Greece”, presents a culinary tour revealing the culture and character of Greece through the medium of her cuisine’s; Feb. 28: Terrence Ward reads from his book “Searching for Hassan: An American Family’s Journey Home to Iran”; All readings are free and start at 7:30 p.m., 1385 Shattuck Ave. at Rose, 843-3533. 

 

Shambhala Booksellers Feb. 3: 7 p.m., William Peterson will read from his latest book “Voices in the Dark: Esoteric, Occult & Secular Voices in Nazi-Occupied Paris 1990-1994”. Free. 242 Telegraph Ave., 848-8443 

 

 

Poetry 

 

Poetry Flash @ Cody’s Feb. 6: Adrianne Marcus, Diana O’Hehir; Feb. 10: Cathy Coldman, Judith Serin; Feb. 13: Murray Silverstein, Gillian Wegener, Helen Wickes; Feb. 17: Sharon Doubiago, Doren Robbins; Feb. 20: Linda Elkin, Steve Rood; Feb. 27: Stephen Kessler and John Oliver Simon; All events begin at 7:30 p.m., $2 donation. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852, www.codysbooks.com.  

 

Tours 

 

Golden Gate Live Steamers Grizzly Peak Boulevard and Lomas Cantadas Drive at the south end of Tilden Regional Park Small locomotives, scaled to size. Trains run Sun., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rides: Sun., noon to 3 p.m., weather permitting. 486-0623. 

 

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Fridays 9:30 - 11:45 a.m. or by appointment. Call ahead to make reservations. Free. University of California, Berkeley. 486-4387. 

 

Museums 

 

Habitot Children’s Museum “Back to the Farm” An interactive exhibit gives children the chance to wiggle through tunnels, look into a mirrored fish pond, don farm animal costumes, ride on a John Deere tractor and more. “Recycling Center” Lets the kids crank the conveyor belt to sort cans, plastic bottles and newspaper bundles into dumpster bins; $4 adults; $6 children age 7 and under; $3 for each additional child age 7 and under. Mon. and Wed., 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tues. and Fri., 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thur., 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2065 Kittredge St. 647-1111 or www.habitot.org. 

 

UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology Lobby, Valley Life Sciences Building, UC Berkeley “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” ongoing. A 20 foot by 40 foot replica of the fearsome dinosaur made from casts of bones of the most complete T. Rex skeleton yet excavated. When unearthed in Montana, the bones were all lying in place with only a small piece of the tailbone missing. “Pteranodon” A suspended skeleton of a flying reptile with a wingspan of 22-23 feet. The Pteranodon lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. Free. Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 642-1821. 

 

UC Berkeley Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthropology will close its exhibition galleries for renovation. It will reopen in early 2002.  

 

Oakland Museum of California Feb. 14: 1 p.m., Diane Curry shares her experiences researching photographic archives for the history of Oakland, free; Feb. 17: 12 - 4 p.m., A family program in which artists engage families in creative projects inspired by the work of California African American artists; 2 - 3 p.m., Artist Raymond Howell discusses his creative process and artistic techniques. $6 general, $4 seniors and students with ID. 10th & Oak St., 238-2200, www.museumca.org 

 

Holt Planetarium Programs are recommended for age 8 and up; children under age 6 will not be admitted. $2 in addition to regular museum admission. “Constellations Tonight” Ongoing. Using a simple star map, learn to identify the most prominent constellations for the season in the planetarium sky. Daily, 3:30 p.m. $7 general; $5 seniors, students, disabled, and youths age 7 to 18; $3 children age 3 to 5 ; free children age 2 and younger. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Centennial Drive, UC Berkeley, 642-5132, www.lhs.berkeley.edu. 

 

Send arts events two weeks in advance to Calendar@berkeleydailyplanet.net, 2076 University, Berkeley 94704 or fax to 841-5694.


‘Sweetheart commissioners’ leave on peace mission to Japan

By Hank Sims Daily Planet Staff
Thursday February 14, 2002

Two Berkeley citizens will be leaving for Japan on a mission of peace today. 

Leuren Moret and Robert Rose, members of the Citizens Environmental Advisory Commission and the Peace and Justice Commission were invited to attend the “Linking Peace and Life Conference,” which will be held in Tokyo on Feb. 17. 

Moret and Rose are both active members of the Berkeley peace movement, but they are also sweethearts. 

The two were appointed to their commissions by Councilmember Dona Spring, who has been an active figure in the budding Japanese peace coalition. 

Moret said on Tuesday that they were invited and sponsored by the National Assembly of Exchange for Peace and Democracy, a Japanese anti-war non-governmental organization. 

“My purpose on this trip is to inform and encourage as many citizens and activists as I can — to act locally but to think globally,” she said. 

Moret and Rose will be in Japan the same time as President George W. Bush, who will be kicking off a tour of Asia on Feb. 17. The president is expected to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to discuss the Japanese contribution to the rebuilding of Afghanistan. 

The conference comes at a time when Japan is debating the future of its military, Moret said. Koizumi recently came out in favor of revising Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, an anti-war provision, which was placed there after World War II. 

Spring received a visit from two members of the Japanese parliament after her proclamation against the war late last year. She said the Japanese peace movement was born in response to that. 

“There are issues Japan has in the Asian continent,” she said. “It would like to flex some military muscle.” 

Moret said she would give a speech on why Berkeley took an active role in opposition to the recent war in Afghanistan — through the actions of the City Council and Congresswoman Barbara Lee. 

“It will be about the unique combination of things in Berkeley that made these things possible,” she said.  

Rose was appointed to the Peace and Justice Commission only recently. He said Berkeley holds high stature in the global anti-war movement. 

“People are going to be turning to Berkeley for answers in the near future,” he said. 

In addition to attending the peace conference, Moret and Rose will carry a letter from Spring to representatives from Sakai, Berkeley’s sister city in Japan. 

“We would be deeply honored if other elected officials and community groups in Japan and throughout the world would consider endorsing the ‘Berkeley Resolution’ along with Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan,” the letter reads. 

Koyu Furusawa, a visiting professor of environmental socioeconomics at UC Berkeley and a Japanese citizen, showed up at a Tuesday event to see Moret and Rose off. 

Furusawa said he has participated in anti-war demonstrations in Berkeley and hopes to “stop war in Japan and the U.S.” 

“In Japan, we are very stimulated by Berkeley’s activities,” he said. 

 

Contact reporter Hank Sims at hank@berkeleydailyplanet.net


BHS girls soccer team take down tough opponents in NCS

Jared Green
Thursday February 14, 2002

Freshman Dea Wallach scored the game-winning goal in the second overtime period to give the Berkeley High girls’ soccer team a 1-0 first-round 3A North Coast Section playoff victory over Castro Valley on Wednesday night. 

Junior forward Annie Borton dribbled down the right side before hitting a cross to wide-open Wallach. The freshman calmly took a touch to settle the ball, then slid it past Castro Valley goalkeeper Melissa Onstad to put Berkeley up a goal in the 93rd minute.  

“That was one of those goals you don’t want to miss,” Wallach said. “It was wide open.” 

Although Castro Valley would threaten the ’Jackets’ goal several times before the final whistle, they couldn’t punch one in. 

“That was a long game to play, and our team stepped up big-time,” Berkeley head coach Suzanne Sillett said. “The game started opening up as it went on. I just didn’t want a shootout.” 

What was a tightly played affair in the early stages turned into a sloppy game of kickball at the end of regulation, as both teams tired and started to push forward to get the deciding goal. In the final three minutes before overtime, each team got off four shots. Castro Valley’s Brooke Katich looked like she had a breakaway, but Berkeley defender Rebecca Williams chased her down to snuff the chance. Then Berkeley midfielder Veronica Searles put forward Maura Fitzgerald through, but Fitzgerald hit her shot right at Onstad and the game went into extra time. 

Neither team got off a shot in the first 10-minute overtime period, and Wallach’s shot was the first of the final period. 

The win was especially satisfying for Sillett and the three returning starters from last season. The ’Jackets lost 1-0 to Amador Valley on a late goal in the NCS first round a year ago, a tough loss that has inspired the ’Jackets this season. 

“It’s so nice to finally win an NCS game,” said Borton, one of the holdovers from last season. “It was really hard to lose that way last year.” 

Sillett was impressed by her team’s composure down the stretch, if not their play at the game’s start. 

“We looked terrified for the first 10 minutes,” she said. “But we settled down nicely and came up with a big win.” 

Berkeley may have started slowly, but they had the run of play for most of the game. They outshot Castro Valley 7-1 in the first half, with Fitzgerald getting a couple of good shots off and Wallach just missing on a Borton cross. They continued to apply the pressure in the second half, with Borton and Fitzgerald causing havoc up front. 

“I felt like we were pretty much in control of the game,” Borton said. “We gave them a couple of scary chances, but when we played our game we got things going.” 

The ’Jackets move on to play the No. 1 seed in the region, EBAL champion California. The game will kick off at 7 p.m. at California High. 

“Unfortunately, our reward now is to play the top seed at their place,” Sillett said. “But we’re sure happy to be going there instead of going home.”


Public transit better than parking lots

Eleanor Gibson Berkeley
Thursday February 14, 2002

Editor: 

 

Forum correspondent C.M.Woodcock (Feb. 11 Forum) is on the right track to chide UC Berkeley’s transportation director for suggesting more parking lots.  

A better idea is to provide public transportation for faculty and staff.  

My suggestion is to offer various-sized campus buses at commuting hours so faculty and staff can leave their cars at home.  

An additional transportation solution would be to ban student cars. UC Davis and many other universities and colleges do this.  

Their students manage to walk or ride bikes.  

Thus, faculty, staff, and student cars would not take up city parking spaces near campus – or precious spaces on campus. 

 

Eleanor Gibson 

Berkeley 

 


Protesters urge for civil liberties locally

By Devona WalkerDaily Planet Staff
Thursday February 14, 2002

As Washington lawmakers strategize about increasing efforts abroad to wipe out terrorism, several East Bay activist picketed outside the Oakland Police Department demanding its end here. 

“Who’s the biggest terrorist, don’t you tell no lies? John Ashcroft and the FBI,” chanted about two dozen members of the All People’s Coalition on Tuesday evening before marching to City Hall to continue their protest at a pending council meeting. 

The group claimed there were several detainees at the North County Jail a few blocks down from the 455 Seventh St. location, and they were there to pressure City Councilmembers to end their participation in the Anti-patriot Act. 

“We want Oakland to take the lead of other cities like Portland, and say ‘we are not going to be a party to these civil liberty violations,’” said Coalition President Olefundi Bakari. 

The coalition has been in communication with various members of Oakland’s City Council including Council President Ignacio De La Fuente. De la Fuente is also the chair of the city’s committee on community and economic development. 

“He said he would think about it, but since then has not returned our phone calls,” Bakari said. 

Little information is available about how many, if any detainees are actually in custody at the Oakland site. 

In December U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld set up several key principles which were to be followed — including “the presumption that suspects are innocent until proven guilty and there would be a requirement of a unanimous verdict for the death penalty,” according to documents taken from the U.S. Defense web site.  

Additional measures include the fact that tribunals would be open to the public unless classified information was discussed and there would be an allowance of hearsay evidence. 

But since embarking upon the rounding up of detainees to be questioned in relationship to terrorist activities, specific information about who and how many are in custody has been difficult to ascertain. 

Officer Kevin Cartensen of the Oakland Police Department said he is not aware of there being any political detainees at the facility. 

He would not comment any further on the demonstration, other than to say that a few officers were being dispatched strictly as a safety measure.  

“[Protesters] will probably leave in a little while,” Cartensen said. “And we have police officers standing by to make sure everything is kosher.” 

But according to Bakari the Oakland Police Department has a contract with the Federal government and the north county facility undoubtedly has some of the 1,500 nationwide detainees locked up there. 

“They are being taken off the streets, away from their families. They are not being arrested. Sometimes they are not being given access to legal representation,” Bakari said. “We don’t know how many exactly, but we get calls from family members who tell us their loved ones are missing and it’s obvious.” 

De La Fuente was unavailable to comment. 

 

Contact reporter: devona@berkeleydailyplanet.net 


Piedmont penalty kick ends Panthers’ season at NCS

By Dean Caparaz Daily Planet Correspondent
Thursday February 14, 2002

A controversial penalty kick just seconds before halftime gave Piedmont a 1-0 playoff win over St. Mary’s on a cold Wednesday night, ending the Panthers’ season. 

The loss in the first round of the 2A North Coast Section playoffs gave St. Mary’s a final record of 9-10-2 on the season. Piedmont improved to 10-6-3 and will play a second-round game against Las Lomas on Saturday. 

Piedmont also avenged a 1-0 loss to St. Mary’s during the regular season. In the earlier meeting, Piedmont missed a penalty kick that would have tied the game. 

This time, Piedmont’s Gabe Arce-Yee converted the 45th-minute penalty kick past goalkeeper Nick Osborn after the referee ruled that Stephon McGrew fouled the Highlanders’ Brian Trowbridge just inside the penalty area. Trowbridge had made a 50-yard run down the left flank before encountering McGrew. 

“I thought that Stephon was just still going forward, and the guy dove after that,” St. Mary’s coach Teale Matteson said. “The fall was not affected by that. [The referee] was on top of it. He called what he saw.” 

“I thought it was outside the box,” Piedmont coach Pat Keohane said. “I didn’t know it was inside the box.” 

Trowbridge’s run was one of many Piedmont had on the night. The Highlanders’ Simon Campodonico, in particular, tore down the flanks time and time again, as St. Mary’s played with its four midfielders close to the middle of the field. In the earlier meeting between the schools, Piedmont could not take advantage of the flanks on the narrow confines of St. Mary’s field. Piedmont’s field is wider than St. Mary’s field, but Matteson wouldn’t use that as an excuse. 

“It was a non-factor,” he said. “We made the adjustments.” 

Osborn did not save the penalty kick, but he was the Panthers’ best player in the game. Of his several saves, none was more brilliant than the one in the 58th minute, when a perfect Piedmont free kick found the head of Campodonico, whose header was going into the goal before Osborn somehow dove to the right in time to deflect the ball wide of the goal. In the process, the keeper banged his head into the goalpost, and the match had to be stopped for a couple of minutes before Osborn was judged ready to play.  

“Their keeper is a pretty awesome guy,” Keohane said. “That was a great save.” 

Osborn saw plenty of the ball because Piedmont had most of the possession in the game. The Highlander midfielders and forwards made the Panthers chase and chase and chase while creating numerous chances. St. Mary’s, playing for the counterattack, had only a handful of chances. When St. Mary’s did get the ball in attacking position, forwards Pat McMahon and Andrew Nackerud was usually surrounded by defenders and took a tough shot that was off the mark. 

“I thought their backline was vulnerable,” Matteson said. “They played a couple of offside traps that prevented us from being able to get a line on the goal. We didn’t quite have our midfield control at the point where we could get the shots off that would have really tested their keeper.” 

The Panthers’ last chance came on a long ball that Daniel Penza launched from just inside his team’s half to teammate Luis Perez on the left flank. Perez’s shot deflected off of a Piedmont player over the goalline for a St. Mary’s corner kick. Andres Alegria took the ensuing corner, which a Piedmont defender cleared to midfield. St. Mary’s defender Brendan Slevin lofted the ball back into Piedmont’s penalty area, but goalkeeper Brett Baker caught it. 

“Great season,” Matteson said. “Good experience. It’s too bad we couldn’t move onto a second-round postseason game. That was our goal, and we’d liked to reach it next time.”


DEA bust, a crackdown on the sick

Don Duncan Alliance of Berkeley Patients Berkeley
Thursday February 14, 2002

Editor: 

 

On behalf of the patients, care givers, and physicians represented by the Alliance of Berkeley Patients (ABP), I would like to express our outrage at the DEA's attack on medical cannabis patients and providers.  

Tuesday's raid at a medical cannabis dispensary in San Francisco and several area homes and businesses makes it clear that the DEA has no regard for the will of the voters or the laws of our state. 

California voters know that medical cannabis helps alleviate pain and suffering for thousands of our friends and loved ones. Federal officials must realize that we will not tolerate a federal crack down on medical cannabis. 

We urge President Bush and DEA Administrator Asa Huthchinson to abandon this misguided attack on California patients and adopt a federal policy based on compassion, cooperation, and common sense. 

 

 

Don Duncan 

Alliance of Berkeley Patients 

Berkeley 

 


City staffers are ready and wheelin’

By John GeluardiDaily Planet staff
Thursday February 14, 2002

When most of us daydream about vacationing, the scene is usually set with plenty of sunshine, white sandy beaches and exotic fruit cocktails festooned with paper umbrellas. 

Few of us, especially since the Sept. 11 tragedies, would think of actually spending precious vacation time on a humanitarian mission in the heart of a Muslim country. Even more so, a country the president of the United States recently singled out as a member in the “axis of evil.” 

But that’s exactly what Berkeley’s Current Planning Manager Mark Rhoades and Electronic Media Manager Patrick DeTemple will be doing for the next eight days.  

The two leave this afternoon for Iran, where they will join other volunteers to deliver 400 critically-needed wheelchairs to hospitals and humanitarian organizations.  

“We think it’s a great cause,” said Rhoades, who will be accompanied by his wife, Erin Banks. “We’re looking forward to experiencing a whole new culture and religion.” 

Rhoades and DeTemple are involved with the Wheelchair Foundation, a nonprofit founded two years ago by philanthropist Kenneth Behring. In the short time since its inception, Behring’s organization has delivered more than 35,000 wheelchairs to disabled people in 80 countries. 

Rhoades and DeTemple first became interested in the nonprofit last year when they attended a fundraiser organized by Soheyle Modarressi, president of the Oxford Development Group. 

Modarressi, a native of Iran, had recently taken a trip home where he visited a hospital with more than 700 patients and only two wheelchairs. After returning he heard about the Wheelchair Foundation and decided to do something.  

Modarressi organized the fundraiser with the help of the Persian Center and Ahmad Behjati, the owner of the Sante Fe Grill. About 150 people attended the event, which raised $75,000.  

The Wheelchair Foundation matched those funds, and together they purchased 1,000 new wheelchairs. Last November, the first 500 wheelchairs were delivered to Iran. Rhoades and DeTemple will be accompanying the second shipment. The cost of a single new wheelchair is $150.  

“This is a clear and straight forward charity,” said DeTemple. “It’s a clear response to an important need.” 

Wheelchair Foundation organizers have set a goal of providing wheelchairs to the estimated 100 million people worldwide who do not have use of their legs.  

“People get very excited about this program because for a relatively small amount of money you can have a profound and lasting impact on a person’s life,” said Fred Gerhard, the distribution manager for the Wheelchair Foundation. “The results are very tangible, you literally transform a person’s life in a second.” 

Both Rhoades and DeTemple said they’ve been concerned since President George Bush designated Iran, along with North Korea and Iraq, as part of the “axis of evil” during his State of the Union address on Jan. 29th. Bush accused the three countries of producing weapons of mass destruction. 

Bush’s comments have stirred angry responses from Iranian leaders and heated anti-American rallies throughout the country last Monday during the 23rd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. 

Undaunted, both DeTemple and Rhoades said they don’t expect to encounter any hostility although they have some anxiety about the trip. 

“I suppose I could of done without the developments of the last 10 days,” said DeTemple. 

For more information about the Wheelchair Foundation call (925) 275-2170. Or go to www.wheelchairfoundation.org.  

 

Contact reporter: johng@berkeleydailyplanet.net


Is it time to harvest urban forest?

Charlie Smith Berkeley
Thursday February 14, 2002

Editor: 

 

An urban tree emergency is rapidly developing. Many of the trees that were planted a century ago have developed problems in their old age. They need to be taken down safely before they come down unexpectedly and do extensive damage. 

I suggest that there should be an organized and systematic effort to identify, prioritize, and anticipate the trees which are likely to come down. 

The annual conferences and the Tree Failure Reporting system of UC Co-op Extension have been a good first step about the problem.  

Tree diseases are killing different kinds of trees. Old dead trees should be taken down promptly. One park agency contracted with a tree removal firm that did the job just for the wood. This might be done on private property in the cities. 

Skilled woodsmen know how to make trees fall a so they will do the least damage. Climbing trees to take them down is slow and dangerous. 

The necessity for this tree harvest cannot be ignored. 

 

Charlie Smith 

Berkeley 

 

 

 


Today in History

Staff
Thursday February 14, 2002

Today is Thursday, Feb. 14, the 45th day of 2002. There are 320 days left in the year. This is Valentine’s Day. 

 

Today’s Highlight in History: 

On Feb. 14, 1912, Arizona became the 48th state of the Union. 

 

On this date: 

In 1778, the American ship Ranger carried the recently adopted Stars and Stripes to a foreign port for the first time as it arrived in France. 

In 1859, Oregon was admitted to the Union as the 33rd state. 

In 1899, Congress approved, and President McKinley signed, legislation authorizing states to use voting machines for federal elections. 

In 1903, the Department of Commerce and Labor was established. 

In 1920, the League of Women Voters was founded in Chicago; its first president was Maude Wood Park. 

In 1929, the “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” took place in a Chicago garage as seven rivals of Al Capone’s gang were gunned down. 

In 1945, Peru, Paraguay, Chile and Ecuador joined the United Nations. 

In 1962, first lady Jacqueline Kennedy conducted a televised tour of the White House. 

In 1979, Adolph Dubs, the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, was kidnapped in Kabul by Muslim extremists and killed in a shootout between his abductors and police. 

In 1990, 94 people were killed when an Indian Airlines passenger jet crashed while landing at a southern Indian airport. 

Ten years ago: American speed skater Bonnie Blair won her second gold medal of the Albertville Olympics, in the 1,000 meters event. The former Soviet republics of Ukraine, Moldova and Azerbaijan rejected a proposal for a unified army, sharply rebuffing Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin. 

Five years ago: American Airlines and its pilots union continued contract talks as the clock ticked down to a midnight strike deadline. (The pilots did strike, but President Clinton immediately intervened, ordering a 60-day “cooling off” period.) 

One year ago: A Palestinian crashed a bus into Israeli soldiers and civilians standing at a bus stop in Azur, Israel, killing eight. (The driver, Khalil Abu Olbeh, was later sentenced to eight life terms.) The Kansas Board of Education approved new science standards restoring evolution to the state’s curriculum. 

Today’s Birthdays: TV personality Hugh Downs is 81. Actress-singer Florence Henderson is 68. Country singer Razzy Bailey is 63. Jazz musician Maceo Parker is 59. Movie director Alan Parker is 58. Journalist Carl Bernstein is 58. Actor-dancer Gregory Hines is 56. Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., is 55. TV personality Pat O’Brien is 54. Magician Teller (Penn and Teller) is 54. Cajun singer-musician Michael Doucet (Beausoleil) is 51. Actor Ken Wahl is 45. Actress Meg Tilly is 42. Singer-producer Dwayne Wiggins is 41. Actor Enrico Colantoni is 39. Actor Zach Galligan is 39. Rock musician Ricky Wolking (The Nixons) is 36. Tennis player Manuela Maleeva is 35.


What is a Democracy?

Isaac Jones Berkeley
Thursday February 14, 2002

Editor: 

 

After reading your article “Prop. 215, what?” many questions came to mind, and I’m hoping the Daily Planet might be able to help. As far as I knew the State of California voted yes on medical marijuana. I heard in spring of last year that the supreme court had ruled that the clubs distributing to patients were not covered under prop. 215 and that by the end of April 2001 the supreme court would rule on the proposition itself. I must have missed the news in the weeks that followed because I haven't heard either way on the subject, but I am still curious. Was the State of California unconstitutional by legalizing marijuana for medical use? Does federal drug law over ride the vote of the people? When did the U.S. people vote to illegalize marijuana? Shouldn't the law reflect the will of the people? And if it doesn’t, what exactly is a democracy anyway? Please if you have any answers to these queries, let me know. 

 

Isaac Jones Berkeley 

 


Oakland’s Chinese New Year doesn’t stand up to China’s celebration

By Kelly Virella Special to the Daily Planet
Thursday February 14, 2002

OAKLAND – The streets of Oakland’s Chinatown were strewn Wednesday with the red flakes of firecracker wrappers used to celebrate the beginning of the Chinese New Year. But Chinese who’ve celebrated the New Year in China said the day barely seemed like a holiday.  

“In China you get seven days off to celebrate,” said Lilly Chen, 30, who was working Wednesday at the Great Wall, Co. gift shop on Webster. “In the U.S.: none.”  

Stores in China usually close for the holiday, which is traditionally reserved for visiting, feasting, worshipping and gift-giving with family and friends.  

In Oakland, however, capitalism trumped tradition and many stores remained open including the banks, which posted their next holiday as President’s Day.  

“We’re here trying to make money, trying to work,” said Helen, a salesperson working at Kim Phuong Jewelry on Franklin who asked that her last name not be used.  

The two other jewelers on Kim Phuong’s block were also open.  

“Holidays mean more persons around,” Helen said. “We want to make money.”  

She and her coworker laid six lottery tickets on their New Year’s altar, hoping the gods would bless them with a win. 

Chinese-American families had the chance to celebrate New Year’s Eve by having dinner together, and last weekend the city hosted a festival that featured a dragon dance, martial arts shows and food.  

This weekend, a parade is scheduled that will feature a lion dance, said Chen. But many said they felt robbed of a genuine New Year’s Day experience.  

In China, “Kids run around in the streets,” said Warren Kwong, owner of Shoe House on Ninth Street. “People dress up. But here it’s just like usual.” 

“If you take the day off, you go get some tea, some dim sum,” said Milton Fong, owner of Mei Wei Flowers, which opened on Chinese New Year for the first time in 28 years yesterday. “But there is no lion dance, no special firecrackers.” 

“Back there (in China) people were just way more hyped up about it than over here,” said Raymond Wu, owner of a RKI Innovations Group, a company that imports blankets.  

Firecrackers ward off evil in traditional Chinese New Year celebrations, but California law prohibits using them without a license. So many of the East Bay’s Chinese Americans curtailed, and in some cases forewent, using them in their festivities. Restrictions like these make it difficult for them to carry on their tradition, some have said.  

“You’re in the minority,” said Miranda, a shopper who asked that her last name not be used. “You’re not in the majority. You have to do what they say.”  

“Americans – they understand the holiday,” said Kwong, but he added, they don’t give you the time off or the firecrackers to celebrate it. 

Holidays also need people and many said that it’s hard to feel the day is special when no one is celebrating it outside of Chinatown.  

“If you want to take a count of people celebrating, you go from here (Harrrison) to Broadway,” Wu said. “You go back to China the whole country is celebrating.” 

Some said the United States should make the day an official holiday.  

Blacks, she said, have Martin Luther King’s birthday, which everyone celebrates.  

“They should have a day – Chinese New Year – day off,” said Phyllis Lau, who was working at United Commercial Bank yesterday. “It’s a very big holiday.”  

 

 

 


Protesters rain down on Lab’s tritium

John Geluardi Daily Planet staff
Thursday February 14, 2002

About 10 members of the Committee to Minimize Toxic Waste demonstrated outside the Lawrence Hall of Science Wednesday afternoon to call attention the oxidation of tritium just down the hill at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. 

The protesters were wearing raingear fashioned into costume Hazmat suits, which came in handy during the afternoon rains. 

LBNL is oxidizing about 5 liters of mixed waste, which includes tritium. The lab’s goal is to heat the mixed waste until the organic materials are burned away, leaving only the tritium. The isolated tritium can then be shipped to a low-level waste site where it will be buried and allowed to decompose naturally. 

According to the lab, the experimental process is safe and will only release a small percentage of the tritium into the atmosphere, an amount well below EPA standards. 

CMTW are skeptical of the lab’s claims and point to an incident in 1998 in which elevated levels of tritium were released during a similar process. 

The protest was also timed to coincide with a visit by the Environmental Protection Agency, which was surveying two tree groves between the Hall of Science and the laboratory. The tree groves are being sample to determine if they contain tritium. 

The Lawrence Hall of Science is visited by over 150,000 children each year.


Californians rush to buy tickets for $136 million SuperLotto

By Christina Almeida The Associated Press
Thursday February 14, 2002

LOS ANGELES — Californians lined up at liquor stores and supermarkets Wednesday in a last-minute rush to buy tickets for a $136 million SuperLotto jackpot. 

“The first thing I would do is rent a limo to drive me up to Sacramento to claim my prize,” said Derrick Bean, 36, of Los Angeles. “I wouldn’t want to fly. I would want to take my time and drink champagne the whole way.” 

Californians developed Lotto fever after no ticket matched all six numbers in Saturday’s $88 million drawing, making Wednesday’s Lotto the second-largest in state history. The biggest, $141 million, was won last year by Al Castellano of San Jose. 

When Wednesday’s winning numbers were drawn at 8 p.m., many stopped what they were doing to watch on television. The numbers were one, four, 19, 28 and 46 and the “mega number,” which was also four. To win the jackpot, a person must hold all six. 

Unless the winner comes forward, it won’t be known until Thursday if any tickets sold contained all six numbers. 

In Hawthorne, hundreds lined up at Bluebird Liquor, which is listed as one of the state’s luckiest retailers on the California Lottery’s Web site. The store has sold three winning tickets for jackpots in the past decade, ranging from $1.2 million to $16 million. 

Lucretia Payne of Los Angeles has purchased Lotto tickets at several locations statewide, but always comes to Bluebird when the jackpot is big. “It’s like going to Vegas and going to the hottest machine,” she said. “Your odds are better.” 

How much of the jackpot a winner would actually take home would depend on whether the ticket holder — or holders — chose the cash option or 26 annual payments at the time of purchase. 

The cash option would result in a lump sum payment of about $67.5 million — or $49 million after taxes. The 26 annual payments would start at about $3.3 million and grow to $6.8 million, before taxes. 

At Bluebird, some customers rub two bluebirds perched on a cigarette display near the Lotto machines for luck. 

As dozens packed into the small store, owner Frank Kumamoto joked, “We do sell whiskey, too.” 

People spent close to 90 minutes waiting to get into the store Wednesday afternoon. Many talked about how they would spend the money if they won. 

Emily Baltazar, 26, and Katherine Lopez, 26, both of Pasadena, mapped out what they would do if they won millions. 

“I would retire,” said Baltazar. “That sure sounds nice.” 

Lopez said she would buy a house and help out her parents. 

David Campion, 39, of Lakewood attended Ash Wednesday Mass before stopping by Bluebird Liquor and said a little prayer for Lotto luck. “Whoever wins, hopefully they need it and they will help others. Hopefully, it’ll be me.” 

At the Cutting Board Deli in downtown Los Angeles, owner Anne Wu said she had sold more than 4,500 tickets for Wednesday’s drawing, compared to about 1,200 for a normal jackpot. 

——— 

On the Net: 

California Lottery: http://www.calottery.com 


Father in toddler murder case had other child die

By Ron Harris The Associated Press
Thursday February 14, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO — The father accused of starving his 19-month-old son to death and neglecting a dozen other children was also investigated 12 years ago for the mysterious death of an infant daughter. 

San Francisco police investigated in 1990, but authorities listed the cause of that child’s death only as “sudden death in infancy” with no outward signs of bodily injuries. 

The child was kept in a crib for three days before authorities were notified. The mother told police she waited “since it takes that length of time for the soul to leave the body,” according to the coroner’s report. 

Police asked cult expert Margaret Thaler Singer to interview the baby’s mother after she fled Wright’s home. Wright was already keeping at least three other women through a mixture of charm and psychological coercion, Singer said. 

The mother said Wright was attractive because of his strong convictions, which included the promise to “help them work off their white karma,” according to Singer. 

Wright, who is black, told the white women in his home that white men in America oppressed black men and that the way to cleanse themselves was “by taking care of him physically, financially, sexually,” Singer said the woman told her. 

Wright later moved his family to a Marin County suburb, where the group grew to four women and 13 children before one of the children died in November. 

Wright, 45, and Carol Bremner, 44, were part of a living arrangement that included Deirdre Wilson, 37, Kali Polk-Matthews, 20, and Mary Campbell, 37. All five were to enter pleas in Marin County Court Wednesday, but a judge rescheduled that hearing for Feb. 21. 

Wright, Bremner, Campbell and Wilson were arrested Friday after being indicted on one count of second-degree murder and multiple counts of child endangerment. Polk-Matthews, also arrested Friday, faces similar, lesser charges. 

Polk-Matthews is not known to have any children. Campbell was shown by DNA test results to be the mother of the child that died in November. 

The surviving 12 children were taken from their secluded Marin County home following the infant’s death. Authorities discovered the children — ranging from 8 months to 16 years — malnourished with several of them suffering from rickets, a softened-bone condition rare in the United States. 

Outside court Wednesday, Bremner’s lawyer said the health troubles were minor, and any vitamin deficiency was probably due to a strict vegetarian diet. 

Attorney Jack Rauch said Bremner led a normal life but the group was secretive because they knew outsiders would frown on their relationships. 

“My client has been together with the gentleman for 20 years,” Rauch said. “She’s raised two happy, healthy teen-age daughters who are very devoted to her.” 

The children were apparently home schooled, Rauch added. 

San Francisco police were familiar with Wright before recent events. He was the focus of a 1993 child neglect report in San Francisco by a next-door neighbor. 

Investigating officers said there were no obvious signs of abuse or malnutrition on any of the children, but after they left, Wright threatened to kill the neighbor, according to police reports. 

Charges were eventually dropped against Wright and Wilson, who allegedly tried to stop officers from arresting Wright. 

The youngest of the defendants in the most recent case is Polk-Matthews, who graduated from exclusive Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco in 1999 with childhood friend, Heather Pon-Barry. 

Pon-Barry said she last spoke to her friend over dinner in the summer of 2000, when Polk-Matthews told her she was “very interested in purifying her body.”


LAX evacuated after cylinder found

By Raul Mora The Associated Press
Thursday February 14, 2002

LOS ANGELES — A terminal at Los Angeles International Airport was evacuated for an hour Wednesday when a cylinder was found in a planter near a second-floor entrance. The plastic object turned out to be harmless and no flights were delayed. 

Airport police described the cylinder as similar in size and appearance to the housing of vehicle location transponder systems, which are used by transportation companies and the airport, said Nancy Castles, spokeswoman for Los Angeles World Airports. 

The city Police Department, which sent a bomb squad to inspect the object, identified the cylinder as a noise detection instrument used to monitor sound levels. 

The discrepancy could not be immediately resolved. Both agencies agreed, however, that the object was not a threat. 

“We quickly determined it was not dangerous,” said Officer Guillermo Campos, a spokesman for city police. 

Castles said commercial vehicles that serve the terminals have transponders so that companies can track them. The airport also uses transponder equipment to count those vehicles to assess fees, but the cylinder was not airport equipment, she said. 

Castles said the airport does not use noise monitors in the central terminal area. 

The Tom Bradley International Terminal was evacuated at 7:20 a.m. Hundreds of travelers left the building as police cars and the bomb squad arrived. 

“Everybody just basically started going down the steps on either side of the lift and quite calmly proceeded to the exit,” said Anton Schwpers, 44, of South Africa, who arrived from Hawaii with wife before flying on to London. 

Other airport buildings remained open for arrivals and departures. 

Joey Sanchez, 20, who works in a sunglasses store in the terminal, said many of the evacuees were fellow employees. 

“There’s also been a lot of cutbacks on a lot of flights, usually at that time the airport is jumping, but today that was not the case,” Sanchez said. 

The evacuation came a day after the FBI’s most recent warning about possible terrorist activity in the United States. 

The agency warned of a possible attack “on or around” Tuesday, based on information obtained from interviews by U.S. officials with detainees in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and in Afghanistan. 

Attorney General John Ashcroft urged Americans to adopt “the highest state of alert” in the search for 17 men possibly linked to Osama bin Laden’s terrorist network, believed responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks. 

“We certainly want to err on the side of caution,” police Lt. Horace Frank said. 

Frank said evacuees were moved to other parts of the airport. 

The international terminal was evacuated on Dec. 25 after someone reported finding a “suspicious package” that turned out to be wrapped Christmas presents. 


Gov. Davis shows support for high-speed trains

By Steve Lawrence The Associated Press
Thursday February 14, 2002

SACRAMENTO — After months of scraping for money, the project to link California’s major urban areas with trains traveling at more than 200 mph may be headed back on track, despite a worsening state budget. 

During the 2001 energy crisis, Gov. Gray Davis cut the project’s budget to only $1 million, barely enough to pay for the state’s high-speed rail board and its small staff. But there was no money for environmental impact statements needed before the state could consider laying tracks, and legislators failed to find more money. 

This year, however, after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks disrupted the state’s airline system, Davis has sought the full $8.46 million requested by the board. Project supporters are hopeful that lawmakers will agree, despite a projected $10.5 billion revenue shortfall in the coming fiscal year. 

“All of a sudden the governor loves us,” said Mehdi Morshed, the board’s executive director. 

Morshed said the $8.46 million would let the board complete at least a draft environmental impact report by June 2003. Then would come more detailed planning to pinpoint potential routes and clear the way for construction, probably in segments, Morshed said. 

“When you get to the project level then you actually have to do engineering work and figure out exactly where it is within an inch. How many feet from (existing) railroad tracks it is? What kind of sound wall do you need?” 

The 700-mile, $25 billion system would link California’s major urban areas with trains traveling at top speeds of more than 200 mph. Supporters see it as a much-needed alternative to highways and airlines as the state’s population grows an estimated 65 percent by 2040. 

Until this year, Davis’ support had been lukewarm at best. Shortly after taking office in 1999 he referred to the project as a space-age “Buck Rogers” system and said he’d prefer to improve commuter trains. 

In 2000 he approved $5 million to begin environmental studies although rail planners initially sought $10 million. 

Last year planners requested $14 million to continue the studies but initially got only the $1 million from the state to pay for board expenses. 

The planners eventually managed to scrape together about $4 million for environmental work by scrounging state and federal money. They also cut costs by dropping dozens of potential routes from consideration and settling on electric- and diesel-powered trains instead of the futuristic magnetic levitation system. 

Sandy Harrison, a spokesman for the state Department of Finance, said in the past the administration has questioned how much the board actually needed for its work in a particular fiscal year. But Davis decided to support the $8.46 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1 to let the board finish its impact statement, Harrison said. 

Spokeswoman Hilary McLean said Davis has always supported high-speed rail. 

“If you look at his budgets over the last several years he has clearly demonstrated a commitment to providing California commuters with options,” she said. 

She said the Buck Rogers comment was just an “off-the-cuff remark” apparently generated by the overall cost of the project. 

The real test for the project will come after Davis unveils revised revenue projections in May and lawmakers focus on exactly how much they’ll have to cut. But Davis’ support makes the project “much more viable,” Morshed said. 


Family of slain CIA officer contend Lindh is a traitor

By Jennifer Loven The Associated Press
Thursday February 14, 2002

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — They showed up, unannounced, to call John Walker Lindh a traitor. The mother, father and widow of slain CIA officer Johnny Micheal Spann have a score to settle — and no hesitation about saying so. 

“John Walker is a traitor because of the way he lived,” Spann’s mother, Gail, said Wednesday. “If you go back from the time he was 16 years old and just go through his history, you know, what more could I say? It’s so simple and I hope that all Americans will feel the same way that I do.” 

She and Spann’s father, Johnny, had traveled from Winfield, Ala., to see how Lindh would respond to the allegations against him. The elder Spanns watched quietly alongside Spann’s widow, Shannon. Their presence in the small courtroom and before reporters outside afterward made a dramatic statement as Lindh proclaimed himself innocent of conspiring to kill Americans and supporting the Taliban and terrorist organizations. 

Spann and Lindh crossed paths in November in Afghanistan, in a prison where the young American Taliban soldier was being held with fellow fighters. 

Spann and another CIA agent tried, apparently unsuccessfully, to interrogate Lindh. Later that day, during an armed rebellion in which the prisoners took control of the compound, Spann became the war’s first combat casualty. 

Lindh, meanwhile, disappeared with other captives into a prison basement where he was discovered almost a week later. 

Spann’s death left three young children without a father, including his and Shannon’s 8-month-old son. Gail and Johnny Spann also now are raising their son’s two young daughters from his first marriage, orphaned when their mother died of cancer five weeks after Spann was killed. 

Though the government’s indictment does not directly accuse Lindh of killing Spann, it cites his presence at the bloody uprising as a reason for the murder conspiracy charge. If convicted on all 10 counts, Lindh could end up with multiple life sentences. 

Spann’s widow said that would not be enough for a man who “dedicated his life” to waging war against the West and Americans. Shannon Spann — a CIA employee herself who lives in northern Virginia — would rather see Lindh accused of treason, which could result in his execution. 

“We expect Mr. Walker to be held personally responsible for all of the things that he has done,” she said calmly. “Certainly I should have preferred the death penalty myself.” 

The defense contends Lindh intended to fight the anti-Taliban northern alliance, not Americans. 

But Spann’s family made it clear that is not their view — and said they hope the court will agree. Spann’s father said on ABC’s “Good Morning America” he considers Lindh responsible for his son’s death as an accomplice. 

“We sent our sons and our daughters and our husbands and our wives and our fathers and our mothers to a faraway land to fight this terrible evil so we could continue to live and enjoy the freedom that we live in today,” Johnny Spann told reporters. “As we all know, freedom’s not free. Bodies have come home draped with flags. Mike’s was the first. ... Americans will not tolerate traitors.”


First Lady gives motherly take on American Taliban

The Associated Press
Thursday February 14, 2002

CENTURY CITY — As a mother, First Lady Laura Bush said she feels sympathy for the American Taliban’s parents, but said they also serve as a valuable example of how important it is to pay attention to adolescents. 

She described John Walker Lindh’s predicament as a “sad” journey, saying his story provides a couple of lessons for parents. 

“Make sure your children are mature before you allow them to do certain things,” Bush told the San Francisco Chronicle. Her remarks came Tuesday at the Town Hall of Los Angeles. She had previously only expressed sympathy for Frank Lindh and Marilyn Walker. 

Having spoken frequently on family values, her comments about Lindh came after she had criticized Lindh’s parents for being too lenient. The Marin County couple allowed Lindh to go to Yemen alone at 17 to study Arabic. 

Lindh trained in an al-Qaida camp in Pakistan and stayed after he was told Osama bin Laden “had sent forth some fifty people to carry out 20 suicide terrorist operations against the United States and Israel,” the indictment charges. 

If convicted, Lindh faces up to life in prison. 

“As all parents know, there’s a certain time when children are not going to do what their parents want them to,” said Bush, whose own teen-agers’ foibles have been the subject of news coverage. ”(They) get to a certain age where it doesn’t matter what you say to them.” 

Lindh pleaded innocent Wednesday to conspiring to kill Americans. He appeared in court in Alexandra, Va. on a 10-count indictment that included charges of aiding a terrorist organization. 

“In some ways, it’s sort of the extreme of what American parents want their children to do ... travel the world,” Bush said.


Finance committee chairman pushes Bush to protect lumber, steel industries

By Katherine Pfleger The Associated Press
Thursday February 14, 2002

WASHINGTON — Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus told the Bush administration Wednesday that congressional support for its trade policy could melt away if it fails to protect the U.S. lumber and steel industries from cheap imports. 

“It is clear that in both of these areas — lumber and steel — other countries are simply taking advantage of us,” Baucus, D-Mont., said at a Finance Committee hearing. 

The administration has been negotiating with foreign governments to try and stop cheap lumber and steel products from being dumped in the U.S. market. Grant Aldonas, Commerce Department undersecretary for international trade, assured the committee that the administration is working diligently to make certain trade laws are obeyed. 

On March 21, the U.S. government is expected to wrap up its investigation into Canada’s alleged unfair export of softwood lumber, which is commonly used in home-construction. The Commerce Department could issue duties in May. 

The U.S. industry has accused its northern neighbors of dumping cheap wood and taking advantage of unfair government timber subsides — accusations the Canadians deny. 

As the March deadline looms, Aldonas said the administration is sending a delegation to Ottawa next week to continue talks with Canadian officials. 

“We are going to make progress on doing something fundamental,” Aldonas said after the hearing. “We recognize the deadline. The question is: can we push ahead?” 

Both the lumber and steel industries have gotten the ear of Congress members who want to make sure constituents in their states aren’t hurt by how the administration negotiates the trade disputes. 

The United States is in talks with foreign governments, including Japan and China, about their steel trade. Separately, President Bush could decide in March to use tariffs or other measures to curb imports. 

Aldonas said the talks alone don’t suggest that other countries are fairly going to shoulder the world’s burden of excess steel. “The real question is: Are other countries going to belly up to the bar and share their fair share?” 

Baucus said the situation isn’t “rocket science.” 

“It is government policy in every government to have a strong steel industry,” he said. “It’s machismo,” which creates an excess capacity on the market. 


Both SoCal fires nearly surrounded

The Associated Press
Thursday February 14, 2002

FALLBROOK — Firefighters appear to have finally gained the upper hand on a blaze that destroyed 36 homes and consumed 5,000 acres in the town known as the “Avocado Capital of America.” 

The fire, 90 percent contained late Tuesday, was expected to be surrounded by Wednesday night, authorities said. The blaze did most of its damage in its first few hours Sunday as it exploded in canyons about 40 miles north of San Diego and quickly roared down on dozens of homes. 

On Tuesday, firefighters felled dozens of charred oaks and eucalyptus trees while damage assessment teams stepped over mounds of avocados covered in ash in order to survey the destruction. 

Thirteen people, including two firefighters, were injured. Suppression costs topped $1.1 million, most of which will be covered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, authorities said. 

The damage also included 17 outbuildings, 22 vehicles, one motor home and two fire engines, according to the California Department of Forestry. 

More than 500 firefighters remained on the line Tuesday, aided by 11 helicopters. But those numbers were expected to shrink as the fire burned uninhabited areas of the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. 

The cause remained under investigation. 

Authorities believe it began at Evans Ranch, a 25-acre persimmon and avocado grove where the manager and his son burned wood cuttings Friday. 

“We’re certain this is the area of origin,” said CDF fire investigator Tom MacPherson. 

But Luis Rueda, 19, said the fire he set with his father “was completely extinguished by 3 p.m.” 

Peter Lissaman, 70, who moved into his home two months ago, said he watched the fire break out Sunday in an area where people had been burning trash two days before. 

“I think somebody is very culpable in this,” he said. 

Farther north, a 2,400-acre fire in Anaheim Hills was expected to be contained by Wednesday night and put out by Friday, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Stephen Miller said. 

The fire was started Saturday by sparking power lines, which were knocked down by fierce Santa Ana winds, he said. One firefighter sprained an ankle fighting it, and suppression costs totaled about $461,358. 


HP earnings soar and beat expectations

By Brian Bergstein The Associated Press
Thursday February 14, 2002

SAN JOSE — First-quarter profits at Hewlett-Packard Co. more than tripled on strong computer and printer sales to consumers, beating analysts’ recently raised forecasts Wednesday. Even so, executives said HP still needs to buy Compaq Computer Corp. to solve long-term problems. 

HP is fighting hard to rally support for the $22.6 billion Compaq deal against intense opposition from dissident director Walter Hewlett, who said the strong earnings report proved that HP would be fine without taking on Compaq. 

Chairwoman and chief executive Carly Fiorina carefully used the earnings report to tout HP’s execution in a tough atmosphere and to lament the company’s holes — notably in business PCs, networked data-storage systems and low-end servers. 

“These results demonstrate we know our business — better than anyone else,” she said. “The simple fact is, HP has a lot going for it, but there are also significant areas where a lot more is needed. And with Compaq, we have a detailed plan, not just platitudes, to address them.” 

In the three-month period ending Jan. 31, HP reported net income of $484 million, or 25 cents per share, compared to $141 million, or 7 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter. 

Revenue dropped 8 percent to $11.4 billion. 

Excluding acquisition-related charges, HP said it earned $564 million, or 29 cents per share, down from $812 million, or 41 cents per share, a year ago. 

Analysts were expecting earnings excluding charges of 25 cents per share, according to Thomson Financial/First Call. The estimate had been 16 cents until last week, when HP said consumer demand for printers and computers had been surprisingly strong. 

Indeed, the company’s printers, digital cameras and consumer PCs were among HP’s best performers in the quarter, which included the holiday shopping season. Margins and revenues in high-tech services also rose, but servers and data storage continued to slump. 

HP shares rose 21 cents, or 1 percent, to close at $20.98 on the New York Stock Exchange in advance of the earnings report, and were up to $21.05 in the extended session. Compaq gained 28 cents, 2.5 percent, to close at $11.40, and hit $11.65 in after-hours trading. 

HP said its outlook for the rest of the year remains cloudy because of unpredictable market conditions and weak technology spending by businesses. Second-quarter revenue is expected to be down modestly from the first quarter, with margins and expenses about flat. 

Even the impending earnings report didn’t quiet the infighting over the Compaq acquisition Wednesday, as six HP directors accused Walter Hewlett of going too far in his criticism of Fiorina. 

The directors sent Hewlett a letter complaining that he has mischaracterized the amount of time HP spent formulating its long-term strategy before the Palo Alto-based company decided to buy Houston-based Compaq. It also said he has suggested falsely that the board has just rubber-stamped Fiorina’s decisions. 

“You have insulted our personal commitment and fiduciary responsibility which each of us take very seriously,” the letter said. 

Hewlett, eldest son of an HP co-founder, threw some punches too. He ran a full-page newspaper ad that said complex technology mergers never work out and that HP is overpaying for Compaq. 

He also called for HP to adopt a more measured approach, with smaller acquisitions, key investments in printing and a goal of “profitability, not scale in PCs.” 

“We believe that trying to out-Dell Dell, while at the same time trying to out-IBM IBM, is a strategy that will leave HP doomed to be a leader in nothing,” Hewlett said in a statement. “No company can successfully be all things to all customers.” 

——— 

On the Net: 

http://www.hp.com 

Pro-merger site: http://www.votethehpway.com 

Anti-merger site: http://www.votenohpcompaq.com 


Bill Gates pitches Visual Studio.NET to software developers

By May Wong The Associated Press
Thursday February 14, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO — Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday launched its biggest weapon yet in its battle to dominate the emerging Web services market. 

In a keynote speech before thousands of developers at the VSLive! 2002 Conference, Microsoft’s chief software architect Bill Gates pitched the company’s new Visual Studio.NET as “the most comprehensive development tool of all time.” 

Visual Studio.NET is a bundle of tools Microsoft bills as the cornerstone of its .NET strategy — its vision that one day all business and personal data will be automated and accessible via the Internet. 

Microsoft hopes to encourage people to use its software products and platform to build this massive Web services world. Launching the developer tool kit was the first major milestone. 

Under development for more than four years, the new set of Web tools aims to help developers build Web service applications on the .NET platform. The tools compete with Microsoft’s existing products as well as rival technologies — including Sun Microsystems — that are based on the popular Java programming language. 

While Visual Studio.NET uses Microsoft’s own software programming languages, including a new Java-like language dubbed C (pronounced C-sharp), Microsoft claims the developer product has a key advantage over rivals: It supports 20 programming languages, including Java. That means developers can easily use their existing skills to build Web service applications. 

Gates also touted the tool as highly efficient, noting with a smirk that the product has garnered several awards even before its launch. He presented videos featuring customers, including Loreal and Merrill Lynch, describing how the Visual Studio.NET and .NET framework tools cut down their coding time by 20 percent to 50 percent. 

Momentum is building for the product, Gates said, citing how more than 3.5 million beta test versions already have been distributed. 

The company expects 2 million developers to adopt the technology within the year, which would make it the fastest growing developer tool ever, said Tom Button, Microsoft’s vice president of developer marketing and enterprise tools. 

Analysts so far are impressed with the product and deem it a “credible threat” to Java-based products. 

“It is significantly more advanced and more capable than any of the tools in the Java world,” said John Meyer, senior analyst with the Giga Information Group market research firm. 

Winning the trust of consumers and businesses to rely on Microsoft’s products and services also will be critical, especially as Microsoft works to recover from security holes and flaws found in its other products. 

Gates acknowledged the inherent security challenge for the Web services’ strategy: “We think of all these services as reliable and trustworthy as phones or electricity are today,” he said. “There will be a lot of hard work on the part of Microsoft here.” 

———— 

On the Net: 

http://www.microsoft.com/net 


Prop. 215, what?

By Hank Sims Daily Planet staff
Wednesday February 13, 2002

Protesters in SF advocate for medical marijuana, while the DEA raids Bay Area clinics and scares Berkeley patients 

 

Agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency swooped into the Bay Area on Tuesday, raiding medical marijuana facilities in Oakland and San Francisco and arresting four men. 

The raids, which occurred just as the federal government asked citizens to be on the highest alert for imminent terrorist attacks, set the stage for DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson’s long-planned speech at San Francisco’s Commonwealth Club Tuesday evening. 

The raids have left local medical marijuana patients frightened, according to one caregiver, and the local clubs scrambling to ensure that their patients have access to marijuana in the event that the DEA conducts additional raids in Berkeley. 

California voters approved Proposition 215 in 1996, which legalized medical marijuana in the state. The federal government has not accepted the validity of the law, and conducted crackdowns on medical marijuana clubs in West Hollywood in October. 

The main raid occurred at San Francisco’s Harm Reduction Center, a medical marijuana facility on Sixth Street between Market and Mission streets. Agents took 630 marijuana plants from the site and arrested Richard Watts, the club’s executive director.  

Also among the arrested was renown marijuana guru Ed Rosenthal of Oakland, a long-time columnist for High Times magazine and the author of several marijuana-related books. According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Rosenthal was charged with cultivating more than 100 plants.  

A second man, Kenneth Hayes of Petaluma, was arrested in Canada and charged with being Rosenthal’s accomplice. 

In a separate case, James Halloran of Oakland was arrested and charged with cultivation of more than 1,000 plants.  

It is unclear whether Rosenthal, Hayes and Halloran were connected with the Harm Reduction Center or any other medical marijuana club. 

DEA spokesman Richard Meyer told the Associated Press that the arrested were drug “smugglers.” 

“They all are connected with marijuana smuggling,” Meyer said. “We’ve said all along the cultivation and distribution of marijuana is illegal regardless of state or local law. Our job is to enforce federal law.” 

Debbie Goldberry of the Alliance of Berkeley Patients said that their club, which has offices on Ashby Avenue, has long had an emergency action plan in place, in the event of a DEA crackdown.  

“We’re very well prepared,” she said. “We have a phone bank, we have lawyers that are willing to represent the cause. Our main concern is that our patients do get their medication even if our offices are raided.” 

Goldberry said that medical science had long established that marijuana had medicinal properties, and that the federal government’s persecution of patients was obstinate and unjust. 

“The fact that they keep doing this despite the science, despite the will of the people, is absurd,” she said. “We’re getting a little bit fed up.” 

Councilmember Kriss Worthington said on Tuesday afternoon that he would be going to a 5 p.m. San Francisco rally outside the Commonwealth Club. Most members of San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors were expected to attend. 

“The U.S. government is facing budget problems just like everyone else,” Worthington said. “It’s a colossal waste of money to do what they’re doing.” 

Hutchinson’s Commonwealth Club speech, entitled “Let’s Don’t Punt on the Third Down,” was supposed to be on the future of the DEA and its relationship with drug enforcement in California. 

 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

 

Contact reporter Hank Sims at hank@berkeleydailyplanet.net 

 

 


Jets no trouble for Berkeley girls in final preview

By Jared Green Daily Planet Staff
Wednesday February 13, 2002

Despite some sloppy play and a short bench, the Berkeley High girls’ basketball team easily beat Encinal, 64-43, in a preview of next weekend’s ACCAL championship game. 

Senior Kalyca Seabrook led the ’Jackets with 15 points, also racking up 6 rebounds and 3 steals. Classmates Sabrina Keys and Angelita Hutton were also in the spirit of Senior Night, scoring 13 and 10 points, respectively. 

Encinal, which has already clinched the ACCAL regular season title, will face Berkeley next Saturday for the league’s automatic North Coast Section playoff bid. The ’Jackets (17-7) were given “competitive anomaly” status before the season, allowing them to face each ACCAL team just once rather than the usual home-and-home series, with their games not counting in the league standings. The ’Jackets are essentially an independent team, much like the football team at De La Salle High. But they will still get a shot at the league’s automatic NCS bid after each season. 

After four minutes of play, the outcome of the game was nearly certain. The Jets spotted Berkeley a 10-0 lead, committing five turnovers before getting on the scoreboard with a Marquita Price 3-pointer. That was the only basket they would score in the opening quarter, with Berkeley senior Myette Anderson giving her team a 14-3 lead with a putback at the buzzer. 

Berkeley started to relax in the second quarter, and the Jets showed some firepower with 16 points in the quarter and went into the locker room with a 26-19 deficit despite shooting just 20 percent from the floor. It helped that the ’Jackets weren’t much better at 36 percent. 

“I was a little upset with the defense we weren’t playing in the first half,” Berkeley head coach Gene Nakamura said. “They weren’t driving and they had no inside game, but we were letting them shoot unguarded from the outside.” 

Encinal actually managed to cut the Berkeley lead to three points early in the third quarter, but the ’Jackets immediately woke up and put together a 10-2 run. Although Encinal’s Shafon Rollins hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer, Berkeley had built a 47-33 lead that wouldn’t get any smaller in the fourth quarter. 

The Jets (18-7, 9-0 ACCAL) made their defensive strategy clear: don’t let Sabrina Keys beat you inside. The Purdue-bound forward was double- or triple-teamed nearly every time she touched the ball, and eventually resorted to heading outside for jumpers. She showed unexpected range, hitting two 3-pointers in the second half, and still managed to pull down 12 rebounds and deal out 4 assists. 

“I was getting triple-teamed all night. I didn’t have any choice but to pass or shoot from where I was,” Keys said. “But we’ll have Devanei (Hampton) back for the next game, so I’ll have more help down there.” 

Hampton,a 6-foot-3 freshman, has been out for three weeks with a knee injury. She had an MRI and has been cleared to practice later this week, but Nakamura isn’t counting on an immediate impact. 

“She’s been off her feet for three weeks. Who knows what kind of shape she’ll be in,” he said. “We’ll play with who we have at the time.” 

Nakamura’s squad, usually packed to the limit, is getting thin these days. He suited up just 10 players against Encinal, after having just eight players available for a game last week. Two players have been lost to grades, and another left the team because of scheduling conflicts. 

Encinal head coach Tanda Rucker, who played at Berkeley High in the early 1990s, said her team isn’t intimidated by Berkeley’s tradition. But she knows her team has a lot of work to do if they are to give the ’Jackets a better game next Saturday. 

“Their defensive pressure forced us into a up-tempo game, which isn’t our strength,” Rucker said. “We need to take care of the ball, and we need to box out on the inside to offset their height advantage.” 

With a spot in the postseason on the line and Hampton back in the middle, Encinal may need more than a better strategy to beat Rucker’s alma mater. 

“I feel like we’re already in the playoffs,” Keys said. “We just have to get comfortable with each other and play better than we did tonight.”


Crowds swarm Migration

By Jia Rhui Chong Special to the Daily Planet
Wednesday February 13, 2002

It was like his 1995 photograph of the railroad station in Bombay where a train had just pulled up: crowds of people anxious to get in. 

Only this was Wheeler Auditorium on the campus of UC Berkeley Monday night. More than 1,000 people waited for hours to hear Sebastiao Salgado, an award-winning photojournalist whose collection “Migration” is on exhibit at the Berkeley Art Museum until March 24. 

His sobering photographs of Rwandan refugees walking past bodies strewn along the road and Brazilian peasants seizing land have inspired a devoted worldwide following. The Brazilian-born Salgado spent six years traveling in 40 countries to capture the faces of the thousands crisscrossing the Third World. 

About 500 of the people standing in the lines that snaked around the hallways made it into Wheeler Auditorium. Another 100 filled three rooms upstairs where live video feeds were set up. The rest had to go home. Around 7:45 p.m., the UC Berkeley police showed up to clear out loiterers. 

The organizers didn’t expect so many to show up. Mike Hahn, a marketing intern at the Berkeley Art Museum, said that they had expected maybe 500 people to come.  

“This was not good planning,” he admitted. 

The good news is that there is another Salgado event. Tonight, Salgado will participate in a panel discussion in the Maude Fife Room, 315 Wheeler Hall, at 4 p.m.  

The lecture will also be Webcasted on media.berkeley.edu. 

Organizers tried to appease the grumbling crowds that lingered after the doors to the auditorium had closed. They had handed out 100 free tickets to the screening, but were mobbed by outstretched hands.  

The hundreds who had to leave with nothing were very disappointed. Some who had been standing in line since 6 p.m. did not make it into the auditorium or get tickets to the movie. One woman came all the way from Sacramento and complained about having to wait hours for her husband to pick her up. 

Daffodil Anjemi had come from Burlingame to see Salgado. When she arrived in Berkeley at 7 p.m., she said it was “mayhem.” 

When she went upstairs to the extra rooms, she could not fit into them either.  

She sighed. “I’ve been following him since I saw his exhibit in Madrid last year.” 


Compiled by Guy Poole
Wednesday February 13, 2002


Wednesday, Feb. 13

 

 

Near-death Experience Support Group 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Church 

1606 Bonita Ave. 

International Association for Near-Death Studies offers a supportive environment for the exploration of near-death experiences. 531-6393. 

 

Peace Walk and Vigil 

7:30 p.m. 

North Berkeley Bart Station 

Peace walk and vigil to demonstrate opposition to war and the U. S. bombing of Afghanistan. www.geocities.com/vigil4peace/vigil.html.  

 

Debate on Prop. 45 

4 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

2050 Valley Life Sciences Building 

Dan Schnur, No on 45 spokesperson will debate Mary Bergan, president of the California Teachers on Proposition 45.  

 


Thursday, Feb. 14

 

 

Get Connected: Cooking from the Heart 

6 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Join Pastry Chef Daniel Herskovic, as he instructs how to create a sumptuous meal. $25 includes meal and lesson. 601-7247, dherskovic@yahoo.com 

 

Exploring Old Neighborhoods in the East Bay and Marin 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc. 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

A slide presentation showcasing historic houses, beautiful gardens, parks, waterfalls and more. 527-7377 

 

Grandparent Support Group 

10 - 11:30 a.m. 

Malcolm X School Arts and  

Academics School 

1731 Prince St., Room 105A 

For grandparents and relatives raising their grandchildren and other relatives. 644-6517. 

 

Valentine’s Day Party 

6 p.m. 

Berkeley Fellowship  

of Unitarian Universalists 

1606 Bonita Ave. 

Potluck dinner at 6 p.m.; open mike at 7:30 p.m.; dance music from 9 - 11 p.m. 540-0898, pubsol@pacbell.net. 

 

Fair Campaign Practices Commission 

7:30 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Discussions and Actions include: Regulation and Filing Manual language addressing procedure to retire campaign debt and redesignate surplus campaign funds to a new bank account for future elections; Annual Report to the City Council; Election of Chair and Vice-Chair. 981-6950, attorney@ci.berkeley.ca.us.  

 

Valentine’s Day Love-In 

6 p.m. 

Telegraph Ave. at Haste St. 

Come join into the street corner LOVE-IN, where friends, lovers, mates, and acquaintances will meet to embrace, kiss, and make-out, or watch the sunset and flirt in suggestive attire, contributing to the amorous feelings  

of Valentine's Day at dusk. 848-1985, www.xplicitplayers.com. 

 

People’s Park Community Advisory Board 

7:30 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

Unit 1 Residence Halls Recreation Room 

2650 Durant 

Monthly meeting, community invited. The PP CAB reviews and makes recommendations on park policies, programs and improvements. 642-7860, http://communityrelations.berkeley.edu. 

 


Friday, Feb. 15

 

 

Berkeley Women in Black 

noon - 1 p.m. 

Telegraph Ave. and Bancroft 

Standing in solidarity with women in Israel and Palestine to urge the end of Israeli occupation of West Bank and Gaza. 548-6310, www.wibberkeley.org. 

Hip-Hop Music Workshop 

6 - 8 p.m. 

South Berkeley Community Church 

1802 Fairview Ave. 

Friday Night Art and Dinner Program for youths ages 5 to 14 years old. Hands on experience in various artistic styles. 6 - 7 p.m. art, 7 - 8 p.m. dinner. 652-1040. 

 

Still Stronger Women 

1:15 - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Life of Isadora Duncan, plus film on contemporary creative, therapeutic dances. 232-1351. 

 


Saturday, Feb. 16

 

 

Puppet Show 

1:30 and 2:30 p.m. 

Hall of Health, Children’s Hospital Oakland 

2230 Shattuck Ave. 

Includes puppets from diverse cultures and with such conditions as cerberal palsy, blindness, and Down syndrome. Free. 549-1564. 

 

Launch Party for War Times 

4 p.m. 

Mandela Village 

1357 Fifth St., West Oakland 

A new national anti-war newspaper covering an alternative truth. 869-5156. 

 

BANA, Berkeley Alliance of  

Neighborhood Associations 

9:30 - ll a.m.  

Live Oak Park, Fireside Room 

l30l Shattuck Ave. 

Neighbors are welcome to network and connect on issues with groups across the city. 848-3l75, HCMuir@mindspring.com. 

 

Judi Bari Takes on the FBI 

7:30 p.m. 

Unitarian Fellowship 

Cedar and Bonita St. 

Benefit for the Judi Bari suit against the FBI. $5 - $15. 415-927-1645. 

 

Habitual Avoidance of Intimacy? 

5 - 6:30 p.m. 

Twelve-step meeting for sexual, social, and emotional anorexia. Open to anyone who wants to recover from habitual avoidance of intimacy. Call first, 548-1285. 

 

Fund Raiser for BHS Common Ground Costa Rica trip 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

1924 Cedar St. 

Humongous multi-family Berkeley High School indoor garage sale. Marciagoodman@aol.com. 

 


Sunday, Feb. 17

 

 

Jewish Learning Seminar 

10 a.m. - noon 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

K’Tanim: A Celebration of Jewish Learning for Families with Young Children, Birth to 3. Family activities, songs, stories, crafts, and discussions. $10. To register call: 549-9447 x 104. 

 

Plant Meditations: Cultivating Your  

Relationship with the Healing Power 

of Herbs 

7:30 p.m. 

The Berkeley Psychic Institute 

2018 Allston Way 

Spend the evening exploring the many ways of communicating with the healing presence of the plants. $10 donation, 644-1600. 

 


Monday, Feb. 18

 

 

BART Operates Regular Saturday  

Service for “President’s Day 

Beginning at 6 a.m. until midnight on all five lines. 465-2278. 

 

The East Bay Coalition Against the War Movie/Speaker and Discussion Night 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Fellowship of Humanity  

390 27th St., Oakland 

We will show the Noam Chomsky Video on 9/11 and the War on Terror. Plus guest speaker, Denny Riley, Vietnam Veteran and a member of the Veterans Speaker's Alliance. The film and speaker will take about one to one and a half hours. The rest of the time will be devoted to small and large group discussion about our current struggle in response to "the war on terrorism." 

 


Tuesday, Feb. 19

 

 

Berkeley Garden Club  

Hosts “Crystal Palaces” 

1 p.m. 

Epworth United Methodist Church 

1953 Hopkins St. 

Ann Cunningham, author of “Crystal Palaces” will present slides of glass houses from the turn of the century to the present. Scott Medburry, Director Strybing Arboretum & Botanic Garden, will talk about the history of San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers including an update on its recent renovation. 524-4374. 

 

21st Century McCarthyism & The Rise of the Global Police State 

6 - 8 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

Wheeler Auditorium 

The following speakers present their interpretations of Sept. 11 and its aftermath: Angela Davis, Diane Clemens and Jennifer Terry. Sponsored by the Departments of Women's Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, & Ethnic Studies, and Professors for Peace. xperales@uclink.berkeley.edu. 

 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church 

941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints and learn what other photographers are doing. 525-3565. 

 


Wednesday, Feb. 20

 

 

Staying Connected: Building A Secular Jewish Life 

7:30 - 9:15 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

An evening of discussion and song with a Klezmer/Yiddish musician. $5. 848-0237 x 127 

 

Institute of Government Studies 

4 p.m. 

119 Moses Hall 

UC Berkeley Campus 

Gerald Gamm lectures as part of the Historical Institutionalism Seminar. 642-4608, www.igs.berkeley.edu 

 

Colonial Courts, African Conflicts,  

and the End of Slavery in the French Souda 

4 - 6 p.m. 

UC Berkeley  

3335 Dwinelle, Level "C" 

A talk by Richard Roberts of Stanford University. Sponsored by Department of History, Department of African-American Studies, and Center for African Studies. 642-8338. 

 


Are tax money doesn’t seem to be going to public education

Michael Larrick Berkeley
Wednesday February 13, 2002

Editor: 

 

I have been conducting an education survey by asking the average, taxpaying Californian; What percentage of the $100 billion state budget goes to public education? The answers are generally in the 5 percent to 15 percent range.  

When I inform them that the answer is 58.4 percent ( 46 percent K-12 and 12.4 percent UC system) the first reaction is disbelief and a demand of proof. After I produce the proof ( easily found on the Internet) they are usually speechless. I typically wait a few moments for the truth to sink in, and then add the fact that the 58.4 billion dollars does not include any Federal education funds or any of the many school bond measures or all the local parcel taxes that get passed each year! This is when they usually say “What the hell are they doing with all that money?” Good question. We should all be asking the same question. Perhaps Loni Hancock, who headed the Western Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Education during the Clinton Administration could tell us. Perhaps Charles Ramsey, a member of the West Contra Costa Unified School Board could tell us why he wants to modify Prop. 13 and make it easier to pass local parcel taxes. For all our Billions of dollars, our education system is at the bottom of the heap. What the hell are they doing with the money! 

 

 

Michael Larrick  

Berkeley


School cuts spur layoff warning

By David Scharfenberg Daily Planet staff
Wednesday February 13, 2002

Superintendent Michele Lawrence warned that the Berkeley Unified School District will layoff a significant number of employees next year, and she cast doubt on the fate of an under-enrolled City of Franklin School at a public forum Monday night. 

Lawrence, who is seeking $5 to $6 million in cuts in order to balance next year’s budget, added that everything from high school athletics to the number of periods offered at Berkeley High School could be on the chopping block. 

“This is big,” said Lawrence, who will propose an initial wave of cuts at the end of the week. “We all have to be prepared for it.” 

City of Franklin, currently a K-6 magnet school which is planning to extend to K-8 by 2003, has only 190 students enrolled, while other schools in the area like Jefferson, with 330, are overcrowded. 

Lawrence indicated that the district is considering a range of options for better utilizing City of Franklin and the surrounding schools. 

Joaquin Rivera, vice president of the Board of Education, got more specific. “Something has to be done in terms of either increasing enrollment, or possibly closing the school,” he said. 

Barbara Penny-James, principal of City of Franklin, declined to comment on the possible closure of the school but suggested that a scheduled June upgrade of the facility and the addition of a “dual-immersion” English-Spanish language program in kindergarten next year might attract more students.  

School board member John Selawsky said layoffs will happen across-the-board, including laborers, teachers and administrators.  

By law, the district must notify certain types of teachers and administrators by March 15 if it intends to lay them off next year. Because the extent of the district’s deficit did not become clear until January, Lawrence and her administrative team have been scrambling in recent weeks to pull together a list of layoffs.  

Lawrence said the district will hand deliver a significant number of notices by the March 15 deadline, but said she hopes to withdraw some of those notices by the end of the year, when the school board votes on the 2002-2003 budget. 

In order to withdraw the notices, the district would have to identify new savings between March 15 and the end of the year. Currently, the district is lobbying the state to forgive its remaining payments on a $1.1 million penalty for filing a staff development document late. 

But, Lawrence emphasized that the district is not counting on help from the state. “They’re not likely to easily forgive,” Lawrence said during Monday night’s meeting. 

Selawsky is also pessimistic, noting that the district has been trying to win forgiveness for months. 

“If it didn’t happen while the state economy was booming,” he said, “I have a hard time believing it’s going to happen when the state economy is not booming.” 

Lawrence floated several other ideas for cuts Monday night, including reductions in the high school athletic program and a cap on the number of periods that BHS students spend in the classroom. 

Science teachers and parents have expressed concerns about the cap, fearful that the high school’s successful, 60 year-old, double-period science program will suffer. 

In interviews Tuesday, Rivera, Selawsky and board President Shirley Issel said it would painful to cut double-period science, and Rivera said he hopes to retain the program at least a couple of days per week. But ultimately, all three said they would support the cap in order to reduce costs. 

School board members Ted Schultz and Terry Doran could not be reached by deadline. 

Members of the public who attended Monday’s meeting made plugs for various programs, from special education to music, offered to lobby the state on the fine forgiveness and expressed outrage at the district’s past fiscal management. 

Carole Bloomstein, librarian at Longfellow Middle School, said the district has been talking about the same financial problems, ranging from faulty payroll systems to improper management of its vacation system, for years and has not made progress. 

“I want to believe,” said Bloomstein, referring to hopes that the current administration will right the ship. “Why should we believe?” 

Lawrence said she will work to make the budget process more transparent so that the public can hold administrators more accountable. 

The superintendent will discuss the rationale for her initial wave of proposed cuts at the school board’s Feb. 20 meeting. The board will likely vote on the layoffs and a reorganization of the central office at its Feb. 27 meeting.  


A history lesson in NIMBY

Peter Teichner Berkeley
Wednesday February 13, 2002

Editor: 

 

Re: Developer Patrick Kennedy’s letter of Feb. 5, in which he invokes the NIMBY slur and disdains the Berkeley Party, Howie Muir and Carrie Olson. 

 

Since the NIMBY expression has often been invoked against our neighborhood near the proposed development for 2700 San Pablo Ave. other Berkeley neighborhoods facing inappropriate development, it might be helpful to be aware of its history.  

The expression of “Not In My Back Yard” (NIMBY) had been a rallying cry for communities to defend themselves against the real peril of corporations dumping toxic contaminants into their communities.  

Typically these communities were blue collar, economically depressed and often predominantly minority. Starting around 1978, due to an alarming increase in miscarriages, birth defects and other significant health effects, the neighborhood of Love Canal in Niagara Falls, N.Y. came to realize that it was being exposed to the toxic waste of Hooker Chemical Co. (which had sold the land to the local Board of Education for $1 and a release from liability). The NIMBY defense appears to have originated with the Love Canal Homeowners Association started by Lois Gibbs. She believed that “people fighting for their own backyard is what democracy is about.” The petro-chemical industry, intent on locating oil, chemical and hazardous waste facilities in targeted communities, cleverly turned the acronym of NIMBY into a pejorative, portraying it as selfish protectionism. The grassroots environmental justice movement then changed their rallying cry to NIAMBY-Not In Anyone’s Backyard. 

I believe that most Berkeley residents desire the predominantly low-rise neighborhoods, to which they are accustomed, as well as a continuity of that scale over a period of time relative to their lives. This in large part is what gives Berkeley its appeal. There is no shame in attempting to preserve our existing quality of life while also attempting to accommodate and protect those who may be less fortunate in our society.  

These are not mutually exclusive endeavors and Berkeley preservationists recognize this. 

While self-proclaimed man-of-the-people Piedmont resident Patrick Kennedy now uses “NIMBY” in attempting to belittle and manipulate Berkeley neighborhoods into bowing to oversized development, the obvious irony should be pointed out that Mr.Kennedy can be assured of never facing a similar struggle as a protected member of his Piedmont enclave.  

For some reason the concept of “smart growth” doesn’t apply to the major traffic corridors of Piedmont. 

At least one other irony presents itself around Mr. Kennedy’s association with the dread NIMBY term and the oil industry. His proposed residential/commercial development at 2700 San Pablo Avenue, as far as is known, still appears slated to go onto a contaminated piece of land as documented by an attachment to the deed and a 1998 report on the results of soil and water sampling. The former gas station is listed as a L.U.S.T. (Leaking Underground Storage Tank) site and although it was certified “closed”, i.e. cleaned up, there is reason to believe this certification was premature.  

In July 2000, The Environmental Working Group issued a report, which details a failure of state regulators to order cleanup or take other legally binding enforcement action on more than 90 percent of the thousands of underground fuel storage tanks known to be leaking toxic chemicals into water and soil throughout the state. It further states that ... “‘closed’ cases don’t necessarily indicate cleanup or action to stop ongoing pollution. In the late 1990s, the state Water Resources Control Board fast-tracked sweetheart settlements for leaking tank sites, closing many cases without adequate review, cleanup, containment, or penalties for the responsible parties.” 2700 San Pablo may be one such example. 

 

 

Peter Teichner 

Berkeley 


Southside Plan debate to focus on development zones

By Hank Sims Daily Planet staff
Wednesday February 13, 2002

The Planning Commission will hold the first public hearing tonight on the Southside Plan, the document designed to guide development in the area around upper Telegraph Avenue for about the next 20 years. 

Debate is expected to focus on whether the plan, which divides the Southside area into four separate zones for development purposes, allows for enough new housing to be built in the area. 

Andy Katz, director of city affairs for the Associated Students of California, said the ASUC had not yet taken a final position on the plan, but he did express some concern about whether it would increase the amount of housing in the area. 

“We’re going to have discussions before we come out with a final position,” he said. “The spirit of the plan is consensus, so we hope the city will work in good faith to make sure that they enact policies that alleviate the housing crisis.” 

John McBride, a Berkeley citizen who has followed the planning process closely, said that many of the properties that will become available for high-density housing under the plan are owned by the university. 

“The ball is in the university’s court,” he said. “Are they serious about housing? The sites are there.” 

Commission chair Rob Wrenn, author of the most recent draft of the plan said on Tuesday that the goal of the plan is to balance the concerns of the university, the students and local neighborhood groups. 

“We’re not trying to create as much housing as possible no matter what,” he said. “Under the plan, there’s the potential to increase the population by about twenty percent. I don’t think you can double the population without destroying the area.” 

The plan called for less dense development away from the high-density corridors of Telegraph and Bancroft Avenues. The goal, Wrenn said, is to “step down” from dense areas into existing single-family neighborhoods. 

The Planning Commission has made finalization of the plan, which has been in development for around eight years, its top priority in the upcoming months. 

 

The Planning Commission will meet at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave., at 7 p.m. 

 

Contact reporter Hank Sims at hank@berkeleydailyplanet.net


Longfellow students gear up for Bay Area Science Fair

By David Scharfenberg Daily Planet staff
Wednesday February 13, 2002

Theo Boguszewski, eighth-grader at Longfellow Middle School, is a little nervous. 

Boguszewski, who won first prize in the eighth grade life sciences category at her school’s fifth annual science fair last week, is headed to the 49th annual Bay Area Science Fair in San Francisco in mid-March. 

“I guess it seems like it’s going to be a lot of people doing really complicated projects, and that’s a little scary,” said Boguszewski, who conducted an experiment on the effects of light and heat on chicken reproduction. 

Boguszewski is one of 250 seventh- and eighth-graders at Longfellow who participated in last week’s science fair, judged by some 50 volunteers from Bayer Corporation, UC Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley Lab and elsewhere. 

Judges selected winners and runners-up in life science, physical science and social science categories, for both the seventh and eighth grades. First-place finishers will go to the Bay Area fair with a chance to advance to the statewide contest in Los Angeles in May.  

“We really encourage the kids to choose their own questions,” said Suzy Loper, a sixth-grade science teacher who helped organize the Longfellow fair. Loper said students get more excited about projects of their own choosing. 

Dante Williams, runner-up in the eighth grade life sciences category, agreed. “You can become more creative when you get to pick your project,” he said. 

Jonathan Cohen, seventh-grade science teacher, said middle school students are particularly interested in social issues, and that the social science category generates some of the most interesting experiments. 

This year some of the top projects in the social science field include a study of peer pressure, an examination of the reliability of eye witness testimony and a look into the effects of different types of dance on mood. 

“I dance numerous times a week and I knew my mood changed when I danced,” said Caitlyn Greene, an eighth grader.  

Greene, who conducted the study on mood at her dance studio, found that jazz dance makes people feel better and ballet makes dancers feel worse. But, she noted that there might be some methodological issues with her study. 

“If I went to a different studio that focused on ballet, the results would have been different,” she said. 

Annie Snow, a seventh- and eighth-grade science teacher at Longfellow, said these methodological lessons are some of the most important that a student can learn through a science project. 

“Students will say, ‘it didn’t work right,’” Snow said. “But it’s still a science project, and it’s still valid.” 

Stephanie Lowe, an eighth-grader who conducted a study on bicycle helmets and finished first in the physical sciences category, said she learned a lot through her project.  

But she has her eye on another benefit as well. “I think the Bay Area Science fair will be fun because we get to miss school and hang out,” she said.  

 


Today in History

Staff
Wednesday February 13, 2002

Today is Wednesday, Feb. 13, the 44th day of 2002. There are 321 days left in the year. This is Ash Wednesday. 

 

Today’s Highlight in History: 

On Feb. 13, 1935, a jury in Flemington, N.J., found Bruno Richard Hauptmann guilty of first-degree murder in the kidnap-death of the infant son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh. Hauptmann was later executed. 

 

On this date: 

In 1542, the fifth wife of England’s King Henry VIII, Catherine Howard, was executed for adultery. 

In 1635, America’s oldest public school, the Boston Public Latin School, was founded. 

In 1914, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, known as ASCAP, was founded in New York. 

In 1920, the League of Nations recognized the perpetual neutrality of Switzerland. 

In 1945, during World War II, the Soviets captured Budapest, Hungary, from the Germans. 

In 1945, Allied planes began bombing the German city of Dresden. 

In 1960, France exploded its first atomic bomb. 

In 1980, opening ceremonies were held in Lake Placid, N.Y., for the 13th Winter Olympics. 

In 1984, Konstantin Chernenko was chosen to be general secretary of the Soviet Communist Party’s Central Committee, succeeding the late Yuri Andropov. 

In 1988, the 15th winter Olympics opened in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 

Ten years ago: Donna Weinbrecht of the United States won the gold medal in women’s freestyle skiing moguls at the Olympic games in Albertville, France. 

Five years ago: Discovery’s astronauts hauled the Hubble Space Telescope aboard the shuttle for a one-billion-mile tuneup to allow it to peer even deeper into the far reaches of the universe. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average broke through the 7,000 barrier for the first time, ending the day at 7,022.44. 

One year ago: A 6.6 magnitude earthquake shook El Salvador, killing at least 402 people one month to the day after another quake killed more than 800 people. Ivan Lendl was elected to the tennis Hall of Fame along with Mervyn Rose, an Australian star from the 1950’s. 

 

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Lyle Bettger is 87. Singer Eileen Farrell is 82. Former test pilot Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager is 79. Actress Kim Novak is 69. Actor George Segal is 68. Actor Bo Svenson is 61. Actress Carol Lynley is 60. Singer-musician Peter Tork (The Monkees) is 60. Actress Stockard Channing is 58. Talk show host Jerry Springer is 58. Singer Peter Gabriel is 52. Actor David Naughton is 51. Rock musician Peter Hook is 46. Actor Matt Salinger is 42. Singer Henry Rollins is 41. Singer Freedom Williams is 36. Actress Kelly Hu is 34. Rock musician Todd Harrell (3 Doors Down) is 30. Actress Mena Suvari is 23. 


One in four American Indians live in either California, Oklahoma

By Genaro C. Armas The Associated Press
Wednesday February 13, 2002

WASHINGTON — One in four American Indians lives in California or Oklahoma, according to the 2000 census. Cherokee and Navajo are by far the tribes most often checked off on forms. 

A report being released Wednesday shows 4.1 million people claimed to be all or part “American Indian or Alaska Native.” In the 1990 census nearly 2 million people checked off that race, though figures are not directly comparable because of differences in the way race and ethnicity data are tallied. 

California led the nation with 628,000 people identifying themselves as members of the race, followed by Oklahoma with 392,000 and Arizona with 293,000. 

The Census Bureau used a massive advertising and outreach effort to improve its American Indian count, especially on isolated and hard-to-reach reservations. For many tribal governments, results are crucial to secure accurate funding from the federal government, said Louis Tutt, the Navajo Nation’s census liaison. 

The 2000 head count found 298,197 people who were all or part Navajo, a total that includes those people living off Navajo land. 

“We think we have reached 100 percent of the people for the first time,” Tutt said by telephone from tribal headquarters in Window Rock, Ariz. “The result of the count is very satisfying.” 

Among tribal groupings, only the Cherokee, numbering 729,533, surpassed the Navajo. Cherokee Nation spokesman Mike Miller said that while his Tahlequah, Okla.-based government took an active role during census-taking, they think their population was undercounted. 

“The paradox is that there is an undercount here in Cherokee Nation because of its rural nature,” Miller said. The Census Bureau has considered releasing a second overall population count based on adjusted data, which many Democrats say would offer a more accurate count of minorities. But last year the bureau twice recommended against adjusted data. 

The bureau cited much lower undercount rates among minority groups — on American Indian reservations, for instance — among its reasons to stick with the raw head count for redrawing political lines and distributing federal funds. 

The latest report showed that 40 percent of those who selected American Indian or Alaska Native took advantage of a first-ever option to check off more than one race on their form. Because of a long history of intermarriage between American Indians and whites, demographers had predicted that American Indians would have one of the highest percentages of people who were multiracial. 


Senate committee votes to pursue criminal charges against Enron

By Jennifer Coleman The Associated Press
Wednesday February 13, 2002

SACRAMENTO — A California Senate committee, convinced that bankrupt energy giant Enron has destroyed financial documents under legislative subpoena, voted Tuesday to seek criminal charges against the company for concealing evidence and conspiracy. 

Committee members also voted to ask the full Senate to find Enron in contempt of two legislative subpoenas — one issued in June seeking documents related to California’s energy market and the other for testimony about destruction of documents. 

The committee voted 5-0 to ask the district attorney from either Sacramento or Orange County to investigate whether Enron intentionally withheld documents from investigators or destroyed any relevant papers. 

Lawmakers investigating California’s power crisis asked Enron for thousands of documents in June, but the company’s destruction of documents and shredding done by its accountants may have violated that order, Sen. Joe Dunn, D-Santa Ana, said. 

Last month, Enron officials ignored a committee request to testify about which documents may have been destroyed. 

Enron officials didn’t attend Tuesday’s hearing of the Senate Select Committee to Investigate Price Manipulation in the Wholesale Energy Market. Calls for comment were not immediately returned. 

Last week, Enron Vice President Richard B. Sanders wrote Dunn to say there was no reason for company officials to testify because Enron wasn’t “aware of anyone from Enron who made inquiries to Arthur Andersen regarding what documents were destroyed.” 

Andersen was the major accounting firm that audited Enron’s books; Andersen officials have said their accountants shredded some Enron-related documents. 

Larry Drivon, an attorney for the committee, recommended that prosecutors also investigate whether company employees conspired to withhold or destroy documents, which would elevate the crime from a misdemeanor to a felony. 

Enron has now invited investigators to search the company’s document repositories in Portland, Ore. and Houston, Texas, for trading and policy documents they subpoenaed last year, Dunn said. 

The committee also is preparing subpoenas for testimony from Andersen regarding destruction of some Enron documents. 

“I seriously doubt that Enron will ever send us anything more significant than a picture postcard from the Cayman Islands while I’m alive, much less any of the financial documents we are seeking,” said Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Marina del Rey. 

The committee has subpoenaed documents from a half-dozen energy companies as part of the investigation into the state’s power crisis last year, when energy prices soared. 

No company has complied fully with the subpoenas, Dunn said, but some have cooperated more than others. All have done more than Enron. 

The committee has reviewed millions of documents turned over by the energy suppliers, but hasn’t yet been given key internal documents, such as companies’ forecasts for power prices in California, he said. 

In the early 1990s, the energy industry touted deregulation as a way to cut consumer prices by increasing competition, Dunn said. But the committee investigators believe that energy companies’ internal price forecasts will show they were predicting huge revenue increases as California’s power market was deregulated. 

Last summer, the committee asked the Senate to find Enron in contempt for not providing documents. That request was withdrawn after Enron and Dunn reached an agreement  

to keep the documents confidential. 

If the full Senate votes this time to find Enron in contempt, sanctions could include fines, or stripping the company’s authority to do business in California, Dunn said. 

If the full Senate imposes sanctions against Enron, it will be the first time since 1929, when the Senate voted to jail reluctant witnesses during a committee investigation of price fixing and price gouging allegations involving cement sales to the state. 


Apple, Sun, Ericsson in multimedia deal for wireless devices

By May Wong The Associated Press
Wednesday February 13, 2002

SAN JOSE — Apple Computer Inc., Sun Microsystems Inc. and Ericsson Telephone Co. said Tuesday they have teamed up to develop a system for bringing multimedia content such as movie clips to cell phones and other wireless devices. 

Analysts say the three companies are laying their stakes — and jockeying for position against rivals Microsoft Corp. and RealNetworks Inc. — in an emerging market for video applications in wireless services. 

Boosters of the technology envision also cell phone and handheld-computer users sending personalized video clips to each other instead of text messages. 

Dubbed the Ericsson Content Delivery Solution, the system will include Apple’s QuickTime streaming video application, content-distribution software from Sun and wireless infrastructure from Ericsson. Financial terms were not disclosed. 

Under the system, content providers could create video clips using QuickTime and not have to worry about reformatting it to run on different kinds of devices, said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing. The content would be ready for wireless-network operators to send directly to consumer devices. 

“It’s a bridge from media organizations to the mobile networks,” said Patrick Kane, Ericsson’s vice president of strategic business and alliances. 

Kane said some wireless carriers have already shown interest, and he predicted consumers will see multimedia services offered by the end of the year. 

The cost of those services, however, remains unclear. 

“Are the services going to be affordable for consumers, and will the content be compelling enough so that consumers are willing to pay for it? It’s too early to tell,” said analyst Susan Kevorkian of International Data Corp. 

——— 

On the Net: 

http://www.apple.com 

http://www.sun.com 

http://www.ericsson.com 


Enron director reappointed to Qualcomm board, despite objections

By Ben Fox The Associated Press
Wednesday February 13, 2002

SAN DIEGO — A director of Enron was reappointed Tuesday to Qualcomm Inc.’s board over the objections of labor groups and some shareholder activists. 

At the company’s annual meeting, shareholders voted to appoint Frank Savage to another three-year term as a member of the board of directors of the San Diego-based wireless technology firm. Savage, 63, has served on the Qualcomm board since 1996. 

Qualcomm had been under pressure from shareholder activists not to reappoint Savage from the company’s board. He and other members of Enron’s board have been sharply criticized for failing to provide sufficient oversight to prevent the collapse of the energy trading company. 

Two Enron directors, Robert K. Jaedicke and Wendy L. Gramm, the wife of Texas Sen. Phil Gramm, recently resigned from the boards of other companies. 

Savage was elected along with five other nominees, including Brent Scowcroft, who served as a national security adviser in the administrations of presidents George Bush and Gerald Ford. 

Irwin Jacobs, Qualcomm’s chairman and chief executive officer, told shareholders he was aware of the opposition to Savage, but that he has been “an excellent and hardworking board member” and that company officials continue to support him. 

“I do have complete confidence in his integrity,” Jacobs said. 

Savage was not at the shareholder meeting where the vote was announced because of a previous commitment, Jacobs said. The other four nominees all attended the meeting. 

Several shareholders and representatives of labor organizations, whose members hold Qualcomm stock in their retirement plans, rose to challenge the appointment. 

“Do you want to be in bed with skunks like that?” one shareholder told Jacobs during the comment period. 

Eric Grant, 72, a Qualcomm shareholder and retired attorney from Jamul, said Savage and the other Enron directors failed to protect the interests of investors. 

“I don’t think they should put a man who is tainted on the board of directors of Qualcomm,” Grant said. “I think shareholders have a right to say we could do better with somebody else.” 

The exact vote tally will not be announced until Qualcomm’s next quarterly report to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The newly appointed board members will serve until 2005. 

—— 

On the net: www.qualcomm.com 


‘Black, White & Jewish’

By Devona Walker Daily Planet Staff
Tuesday February 12, 2002

Being the daughter of a famous writer, being a BI-coastal child to divorced parents, being bi-racial and being a “movement child” of the sixties has not been easy — being Rebecca Walker has not been easy. 

The intimate details and process of which she poetically unravels in Black White and Jewish, an Autobiography of a Shifting Self, she will tell you, has not been easy for either of her parents to swallow. 

“It’s very difficult for parents to face the negative way their decisions affect their children,” Walker said of how her parents have accepted the release of her National Best-selling book. “No parent wants to hurt their child. It’s been tough. It’s been a challenge.” 

Both parents, Walker said, grew up with their own painful struggles and in a certain way have looked at the life they’ve attempted to provide for her and have wondered what on earth could possibly be wrong with your life? 

The Commonwealth Club, a public forum group, hosted Walker at Berkeley Hillel -The Reutlinger Center on Monday night where she read from her autobiography and took questions about herself and the Third Wave Foundation, a philanthropic group she founded after graduating from Yale University, Cum Laude, in ’92 for women between the age of 15-30. 

Walker’s has been a contributing editor to Ms. magazine since 1989. 

Historically her writing has engaged such topics as feminism, race, sexuality reproductive freedom and domestic violence and has been published in Essence, Mademoiselle, The New York Daily News, Harper's, Sassy, SPIN, The Black Scholar, and various women's and black studies anthologies including Listen Up (Seal) and Testimony (Beacon).  

Considered as a signature voice for the young women's movement, and named in ’96 as one of the 50 Future Leaders of America by Time magazine, Walker’s most recent writing appears to be taking a step back and inside to explore the duality of her existence — and reveals the insecurity of an adolescent who spent many years of her life looking at two cultures from the outside and longing to be apart of either. In Shifting Self she writes about what’s not so apparent about the successful, intelligent and beautiful woman the world sees.  

Years before her parents were separated, Walker details the resentment she experienced from darker-skinned black girls, setting the groundwork for her own self-discovery. 

“It does not occur to me that I’m doing something against the other dark-skinned girls.... It does not occur to me that I am somehow betraying them,” Walker writes about herself and a sense of entitlement that not being perceived as being black gave her. 

She also recalls the invisibility of not belonging and the confusion of living underneath the changing perception of others. 

“What I found in writing this book was that remembering was very painful. I found that in order for me to remember I had to let go... So it was through writing this book that I created a cohesive and surrogate Rebecca and that I was able to let go of experiences that have been so long etched onto my body,” Walker said of her book. 

Walker was born in 1969 in Jackson, Mississippi, to an interracial “movement” couple who married in defiance of Mississippi's anti-miscegenation laws — African-American novelist Alice Walker and white Jewish civil rights attorney Mel Leventhal. 

“Movement folk... In 1967, when my parents break all the rules and marry against laws that say they can't, they say that an individual should not be bound to the wishes of their family, race, state, or country. They say that love is the tie that binds.”  

But she also recalls with the same clarity and honesty the pain of her parents break-up and somewhere in the middle she says she learned when to break those rules in order to find her place in the world.  

In San Francisco her mother struggled to balance the demands of writing with the responsibilities of motherhood, and according to daughter Rebecca Walker it was at times they were so close it was difficult to discern the lines between mother and daughter and to know the limitations of being a child.  

In New York, however, her father had remarried to a more traditional homemaker and this environment she says left her feeling stifled. Walker chronicles the ambivalent relationship she has with her father's new wife, a woman whom she describes as her “white, holier-than-thou, Jewish stepmother,” but in her more vulnerable moments also calls “Mom.”  

Walker describes the paradox of these two existences in passages of the book. “...It is too hard to be the translator between two worlds," she writes. 

In addition Walker talks of difficult early years with her Jewish family, recalling a scene when her Jewish grandmother would occasionally “kvetches] about how ungrateful her daughters-in-law are and how tragic it is that she isn't ever going to have Jewish grandchildren because her sons married shiksas." And pages later revisits visiting her mother’s family in Atlanta and how that intimacy was tainted by discomfort.  

Walker writes, "How do I reconcile my love for my uncles and cousins with the fact that I remind them of pain?"  

In a recent interview, Walker elaborated on that discomfort. “It was painful for my [black] uncles to notice white attributes and characteristics in me. I brought them all this joy, but at the other end were traits [in me] that they thought were dangerous and repulsive. [On the other hand], my blackness reminds my father of a time in his life that is different from the time he lives in now. It reminds him of how committed he was to civil rights and how adamant he was about that work before he became a corporate litigator. One of the profound facts of my body is that it becomes a location, a reminder, particularly for my father, of what he lost romantically and politically."  

The Shifting Self is a story of change, of negotiating with social constructs and coming to the point where you’ve got the upperhand. 

 

contact reporter: 

devona@berkeleydailyplanet.net 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Cold town, warm heart Park City hosts its biggest party ever

By Christy Karras The Associated Press
Tuesday February 12, 2002

PARK CITY, Utah — This town knows how to host a party. 

Long before the Olympics, this mountain ski village east of Salt Lake City was one of the few places in Utah with name recognition. Three ski resorts and the Sundance Film Festival bring thousands of visitors every winter and concertgoers and arts festival patrons in the summer. 

Now, for its biggest party ever, Park City has unleashed all its practiced hospitality. Area resorts are hosting snowboarding, slalom and moguls events, with ski jumping close by at Utah Olympic Park. The city’s Old Town is hosting the fun. 

Park City is hipper, richer, smaller and cooler than its valley neighbors. With the state’s smallest percentage of Mormon residents, the former mining town has never followed Salt Lake’s conservative lead. 

Park City boomed in the 19th century — with many more saloons and brothels than churches — after silver was discovered in the hills, but it was a ghost town by the 1950s. It was revived in the 1960s when the city’s biggest mining company realized snow could be more lucrative than silver and opened a resort. 

Now, it’s one of the nation’s swankiest winter destinations. Average house prices are twice those in the rest of the state, and it’s probably the only place in Utah where Gucci bags and men in full-length fur coats don’t merit a second look. 

During the Olympics, Park City is capitalizing on its history, with entertainment ranging from dancing cowgirls to Budweiser horses trotting along historic Main Street. Sponsors hand out goodies and drinkers occasionally sneak beer out onto the street — a sight unknown in Salt Lake. 

Tight security is still evident; officers clad in yellow parkas roam everywhere. 

Tammy Smith, a police dispatcher from California here to work for the games, was in town to enjoy a day off with several colleagues. She said Park City residents and city officials have been enthusiastic. 

“They’ve made law enforcement feel very welcome. The people here are very gracious,” she said. “Everybody comes up and thanks them for being here.” 

Despite the scope of this party, most residents seem to be taking it in stride. There are crowds, but no bigger than for any other festival here. Perhaps because of the cold or the economy, the place hasn’t been overrun with hordes of visitors. 

Even this bastion of wealth shows signs of penny-pinching. Shops selling expensive wares are relatively quiet. Inexpensive eateries are packed, while upscale restaurants whose meals normally cost upward of $50 are selling pizza and pasta on the street for $6. 

“People, when they find out it’s a set menu at a certain price, would rather buy from street vendors,” said Ryan Wells, a manager at the hip Chimayo restaurant on Main Street. 

A Wasatch Brew Pub booth on Main Street featured the model who graces the company’s ads for St. Provo Girl Pilsner. Ingrid Liepnicks signed posters showing her in a revealing beer-garden barmaid outfit and saying, “I may be from Provo, but I’m no saint.” It was a tongue-in-cheek reference to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are supposed to forswear alcohol. 

A line of men drinking beer stretched toward the door. 

The busiest spot in town was the Roots shop, selling clothing made by the official outfitter of the U.S. Olympic team. There was a line out the door on Sunday. 

Up the street, Salt Lake City resident Mike Christy was trying to sell T-shirts reading “Polygamy is better than monotony.” He said his other T-shirt idea, five linked wedding rings with the slogan “Utah Polygamy Association: Proud supporter of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games” would have gotten him in trouble with games organizers. 

“I heard the state of Utah was going to be distancing itself from polygamy during the games,” Christy said. “I thought to myself, maybe someone less noble could get in on that and make a dime.”


Envisioning more for the Gill Tract for education and vegetation

Lloyd Andres Berkeley
Tuesday February 12, 2002

Editor: 

 

West of the intersection of San Pablo and Marin avenues you can see a small grove of conifers, behind which lie several acres of cultivated land and a small cluster of buildings. This is the undeveloped remnant of the Gill Family Nursery, which once extended west to what is now I-80. The entire property was subsequently gifted to the University of California (the UC Gill Tract) for research and environmental studies.  

UC is now preparing to redevelop 26 acres of this land, primarily as a mixed use of campus housing, retail commercial, administrative offices, etc., ignoring the history of the area and the original intent of the gift.  

The University is also overlooking the fact that 30 percent of the food grown in this country is produced in and nearby metropolitan areas. A nearby food source means reduced transportation costs and quite often fresher food. It makes sense to better understand and improve food production in the metropolitan area to assure that it is sustainable, and focuses on the optimal usage of the soil, water and energy resource.  

The Gill Tract is ideally positioned for just such a research focus – open land, soil free from pesticides and a supportive community and nearby labor source. A university-community research garden would allow faculty researchers a nearby experimental area and an excellent extension educational opportunity.  

But why limit the Gill Tract to experimental gardens. The now empty buildings could provide classroom space for workshops and demonstrations not only by university personnel, but also by local businesses and nonprofit groups, enabling them to exhibit, demonstrate and even sell products needed by the city farmer and gardener. This could include soil and garden mix suppliers, drip irrigation and other water conservation methods (low flush, low flow, etc), vendors of solar and photovoltaic equipment, beneficial insect suppliers (ladybird beetles, green lacewings, etc.) and least toxic pesticides and fertilizers to name a few. Rather than the usual commercial mall, the Gill Tract could become a one-stop ecological/educational mall where questions relating to gardening, food production, food storage and nutrition could be answered. The potential for benefiting the community and providing leadership for other metropolitan areas is exciting. 

The area already has groups that provide gardening and other ecological information, but these remain scattered and often overlooked – city of Berkeley Ecology Center, Bio Integral Resource Center (least toxic pest controls), Tilden Regional Park and University of California Botanical Gardens (information and sources of native plants), California Native Plant Society, California Rare Fruit Growers Society, San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners, among others.  

Is the life we live in our metropolitan areas sustainable, or have we already passed that point? We all agree that a proper mix of clean food, water, air and energy is essential, but how do we arrive at the proper blend on a local and regional level? The Gill Tract offers the university and community an excellent chance to answer these questions. 

 

 

Lloyd Andres 

Berkeley


Compiled by Guy Poole
Tuesday February 12, 2002


Tuesday, Feb. 12

 

 

Wetland Restoration 

10 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

Martin Luther King,, Jr. Shoreline, Oakland 

Restoration activities include planting native and removing non-native plants, shoreline clean-ups, and water quality monitoring. Gloves and tools are provided. 452-9261, mlatta@savesfbay.org 

 

UNtraining White Liberal Racism 

7 - 9:30 p.m. 

1840 Alcatraz 

The UNtraining offers personal work for white people to address our unconscious racial conditioning. $10. 235-6134. 

 

Circles of Iron, Cloaks of Power: 

African Colonial Intermediaries in 

the French Soudan, West Africa,  

1890 - 1910 

4 - 6 p.m. 

UC Berkeley  

3335 Dwinelle, Level “C” 

A talk by Emily Osborn of Notre Dame University. Sponsored by Department of History, Department of African-American Studies, and Center for African Studies. 642-8338. 

 

Bruce G. Friedrich 

7:30 p.m. 

First Unitarian Church of Oakland 

Hamilton Hall 

685 14th St., Oakland 

An evening of food, ideas and discussion with the Senior Campaign Coordinator for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). 914-7131, colleen@justgive.org.  

 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church 

941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints and learn what other photographers are doing. 525-3565. 

 


Wednesday, Feb. 13

 

 

Near-death Experience Support Group 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Church 

1606 Bonita Ave. 

International Association for Near-Death Studies offers a supportive environment for the exploration of near-death experiences. 531-6393. 

 

Peace Walk and Vigil 

7:30 p.m. 

North Berkeley Bart Station 

Peace walk and vigil to demonstrate opposition to war and the U. S. bombing of Afghanistan. www.geocities.com/vigil4peace/vigil.html.  

 


Thursday, Feb. 14

 

 

Get Connected: Cooking from the Heart 

6 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Join Pastry Chef Daniel Herskovic, as he instructs how to create a sumptuous meal. $25 includes meal and lesson. 601-7247, dherskovic@yahoo.com 

 

 

Exploring Old Neighborhoods in the East Bay and Marin 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc. 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

A slide presentation showcasing historic houses, beautiful gardens, parks, waterfalls and more. 527-7377 

 

 

Grandparent Support Group 

10 - 11:30 a.m. 

Malcolm X School Arts and  

Academics School 

1731 Prince St., Room 105A 

For grandparents and relatives raising their grandchildren and other relatives. 644-6517. 

 


Saturday, Feb. 16

 

 

Puppet Show 

1:30 and 2:30 p.m. 

Hall of Health, Children’s Hospital Oakland 

2230 Shattuck Ave. 

Includes puppets from diverse cultures and with such conditions as cerberal palsy, blindness, and Down syndrome. Free. 549-1564. 

 

 

Launch Party for War Times 

4 p.m. 

Mandela Village 

1357 Fifth St., West Oakland 

A new national anti-war newspaper covering an alternative truth. 869-5156. 


Man wounded after gunfire sprays through home

By John Geluardi Daily Planet staff
Tuesday February 12, 2002

A man was wounded in the back when his Sacramento Street apartment was sprayed with about 10 bullets at 10:25 p.m. Friday. 

The shooting was the fifth reported in Berkeley in the last three weeks. 

Ramone Morales, 33, was sitting on a living room couch visiting with friends when gunfire erupted from the parking lot behind the small apartment building in the 2700 block of Sacramento Street. 

Paramedics took him to Highland Hospital in Oakland. According to hospital officials, Morales was released on Sunday after some minor surgery. 

Police said they are uncertain if the shooting was random or if the bullets were intended for Morales. 

“The case is under investigation, and right now we don’t know if Mr. Morales was the target,” Capt. Bobby Miller said adding that Morales’s was the only unit hit by gunfire. 

Miller said there were no witnesses to the shooting and currently there are no suspects. 

This incident follows a recent rash of shootings in the city. 

On Jan. 22, Rammar Johnson and Noel Turner, Jr. were found in a vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds to the head at 63rd and King streets. Both men later died.  

In another incident, a man was wounded in the thigh during a domestic dispute on Jan. 28, and on Feb. 5, yet another man was wounded in the thigh by an acquaintance.  

“There is an increase in shootings from last year,” Miller said although he did not have last year’s figures immediately available. “We haven’t been able to distinguish a particular pattern or associate any of the other shootings. So far they appear to be independent of each other.” 

Miller said he was unaware if there has been a history of drug activity in the vicinity of Friday’s shooting. Councilmember Margaret Breland, who represents the neighborhood, did not return calls on Monday.  

Mayor Shirley Dean said she was alarmed to hear about the Friday shooting. 

“I’ve heard it’s possible that some of the shootings are drug related,” she said. “If that’s the case then this is a real wake up call.” 

Dean encouraged anyone who knows anything about the shooting to call the police. “The best way to fight this type of thing is with the help of the community,” she said.  

City Manager Weldon Rucker, who was on the scene of the shooting as police investigated the Friday night incident, said the recent shootings are an indication that there needs to be some changes in the neighborhood. 

“In addition to police we also plan to have City Services take a look at some of the businesses and blighted properties in the area that might be contributing to the problem,” he said.  


Ramsey stands for diversity and inclusion

Robert Cabrera president Berkeley Property Owners Association
Tuesday February 12, 2002

Editor: 

 

I would like to address points made by Paul Hogarth in his letter of 2/2/02. He implies that Charles Ramsey’s campaign is somehow tainted by the support of property owners whom he calls “crapacious and callous” these inappropriate comments send chills up the spine when one considers that Mr. Hogarth sits on a board which is supposed to make unbiased determinations on tenant-landlord disputes. He is a clearly and viscerally biased against property owners. 

Mr. Hogarth tries hard to portray Charles Ramsey’s support as one dimensional (real estate interests); but the standing-room-only Ramsey campaign kick off event two weeks ago told a different tale. If you wanted true diversity in Berkeley that is where you found it: African-Americans, Latinos, labor union representatives, property owners, members of the Berkeley fire department and families lined up to take their assignments to walk precincts. 

If Charles Ramsey is in the pocket of landlords and real estate interests as Mr. Hogarth would have you believe, how does he explain his endorsements by Maudelle Shirek and Barbara Lee, icons of progressive politics in Berkeley. 

Mr. Hogarth states that if any East Bay resident cares about the “housing crisis” they should vote for Loni Hancock. If my memory serves me well, it was Ms. Hancock who opposed the building of the Foothill dorms on UC property – she even went as far as standing in front of the bulldozers to prevent construction. 

Mr. Hogarth is not concerned about student housing, he merely wants more rent control. Here is the paradox: almost all of the rent control programs in the nation (including Berkeley’s started out as a response to inflation – not a housing crisis. That came later. 

Unfortunately, the more rent control a city has, the worse the housing crisis becomes, the more demand that rent control be expanded and enforced more severely (Mr. Hogarth’s and Loni Hancock’s true agenda). 

Playing the rent control card shows how out of touch with the voters the Hancock campaign is by relying on juvenile demagogues such as Mr. Hogarth.  

Mr. Charles Ramsey is a moderate with much more broad appeal in a district where Berkeley represents only one third of the electorate and where he has solid support not only from Mayor Shirley Dean, councilmembers Betty Olds and Maudelle Shirek, but from Berkeley police and firefighters as well. 

Charles Ramsey is ready to take the new 14th District into the 21st century by building bridges to the entire community, while Ms. Hancock wants to drag us back to the ‘60s with the politics of division. 

 

Robert Cabrera 

president 

Berkeley Property Owners Association


County suffers from child care cost, scarcity

David Scharfenberg Daily Planet staff
Tuesday February 12, 2002

Licensed child care in Alameda County is both scarce and expensive, according to a report released last week by the California Child Care & Resource Referral Network, a statewide organization that conducts research on child care issues. 

According to the report, the third in a series of biannual statewide studies, the average cost of full-time care for an infant in the county is $9,501, or 19 percent of the median income. The figure rivals housing costs, falling just below the $11,050 fair market rent for a two-bedroom unit in Alameda County. 

The study, based on 2000 figures, also found that child care is available for only 32 percent of the children in the county who may need it, a 7 percent increase since 1998.  

Shelley Waters Boots, research director for the Referral Network, said the modest increase in child care availability, both in the county and statewide, is disappointing given the recent economic boom. 

“Our expectations were that, because of all the increasing demand, child care would grow to reach that demand,” she said. “But, even in the best of times, the market didn’t respond the way normal markets would respond.” 

Waters Boots said high rental costs, for commercial spaces and private homes that host child care, played a role in discouraging growth.  

Judy Kriege, resource referral counselor for Bananas, an Oakland-based group that helps parents in northern Alameda County find childcare, said low salaries also contributed to the problem. 

“Child care doesn’t pay well,” Kriege said, pointing to statistics from the Referral Network report which show that statewide the average salary for a pre-school teacher is $21,130 and the average salary for an assistant is $17,420. Entry-level public school teachers, by contrast, make an average of $25,433. 

Darlene Percoats, executive administrative director of the Child Educational Center, a child care center in Berkeley, said low salaries make it difficult to find qualified staff. But no matter what the pay scale, she said, it is simply difficult to find people with a passion for the work. 

“You can find a body,” Percoats said, “but quality people who are committed to what they’re doing is something else.” 

Beatriz Leyva-Cutler, director of the Bay Area Hispano Institute for Advancement, a 26 year-old child care agency in Berkeley, said it is particularly difficult to find qualified bilingual staff to serve the needs of her clientele. 

But more than anything else Leyva-Cutler said she needs more funding, both to boost salaries and secure more space. “We’d like to serve more children,” she said, noting that she has 60 families on her waiting list, “but we don’t have the facilities.” 

The city of Berkeley spends over $500,000 per year on child care services, and the state has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into early childhood development in California in recent years through Proposition 10, a 1998 voter-approved cigarette tax. 

Alameda County has received about $20 million per year. Over the course of 18 months in 2000-2001, through its Every Child Counts program, the county spent about $5 million on child care, including $4.1 million in stipends for child care workers who have spent at least nine months at a given center. Stipends range from $500 to $5,100, depending on a teacher’s education level. 

Percoats said the stipends have been helpful in retaining staff in the industry. But ultimately, with salaries still low, she said, it is commitment to children that keeps people in the job. 

 

 

 

 

 


Today in History

Staff
Tuesday February 12, 2002

Today is Tuesday, Feb. 12, the 43rd day of 2002. There are 322 days left in the year. 

 

Today’s Highlight in History: 

On Feb. 12, 1809, Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was born in present-day Larue County, Ky. 

 

On this date: 

In 1733, English colonists led by James Oglethorpe founded Savannah, Ga. 

In 1870, women in the Utah Territory gained the right to vote. 

In 1892, President Lincoln’s birthday was declared a national holiday. 

In 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was founded. 

In 1915, the cornerstone for the Lincoln Memorial was laid in Washington, D.C. 

In 1924, George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” premiered in New York. 

In 1940, the radio play “The Adventures of Superman” debuted on the Mutual network with Bud Collyer as the Man of Steel. 

In 1942, painter Grant Wood, creator of “American Gothic,” died in Iowa City, Iowa, a day before his 51st birthday. 

In 1973, the first release of American prisoners of war from the Vietnam conflict took place. 

In 1999, the Senate voted to acquit President Clinton of perjury and obstruction of justice. 

Ten years ago: Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton released a letter he’d written as a student in 1969 in which he said he had decided to give up a draft deferment in order to “maintain my political viability.” President Bush formally announced his bid for re-election. 

Five years ago: The highest-ranking official to flee communist North Korea, Hwang Jang Yop, asked for political asylum at South Korea’s consulate in Beijing. The Clinton administration gave permission to 10 U.S. news organizations to open bureaus in Cuba. 

One year ago: The NEAR spacecraft touched down on Eros, completing the first landing on an asteroid. Scientists published their first examinations of nearly all the human genetic code. A federal appeals court ruled the Internet service Napster had to prevent users from swapping copyrighted music without charge. A computer virus pretending to be a digital photo of tennis star Anna Kournikova overwhelmed e-mail servers in Europe and North America. 

Today’s Birthdays: Movie director Franco Zeffirelli is 79. Baseball Hall-of-Fame sportscaster Joe Garagiola is 76. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., is 72. Basketball Hall-of-Famer Bill Russell is 68. Actor Joe Don Baker is 66. Rock musician Ray Manzarek (The Doors) is 63. Author Judy Blume is 64. Country singer Moe Bandy is 58. Actress Maud Adams is 57. Actor Cliff DeYoung is 57. Actor Michael Ironside is 52. Rock musician Steve Hackett is 52. Rock singer Michael McDonald is 50. Actress Joanna Kerns is 49. Actor-former talk show host Arsenio Hall is 47. Actress Christine Elise is 37. Actor Josh Brolin is 34. Singer Chynna Phillips is 34. Rock musician Jim Creeggan (Barenaked Ladies) is 32. Rhythm-and-blues musician Keri Lewis (Mint Condition) is 31. Actress Christina Ricci is 22.


News of the Weird

Staff
Tuesday February 12, 2002

An eye for an eye, a pig for a pig 

 

PAINESVILLE, Ohio — A man who called a police officer a pig has served his sentence with a sow. 

A lunchtime crowd — including his daughter — jeered and joked with Steven Thompson on Friday as he stood on a city sidewalk next to a 350-pound pig in a pen for two hours, with a sign reading, “This is not a police officer.” 

Painesville Municipal Judge Michael Cicconetti ordered the sentence instead of jail time following Thompson’s guilty plea to disorderly conduct. 

Thompson, 44, had used the word “pig” while shouting obscenities in a Jan. 28 confrontation with a city police officer. 

“I made a mistake, and now I’m sorry and I’m paying for it,” Thompson said in a speech next to the pen. 

His teen-age daughter and friends from her high school shouted, “Way to go, Mr. Thompson!” 

A farmer from nearby Perry loaned the city the sow, an award-winning Duroc purebred. Painesville is about 30 miles east of Cleveland. 

 

Occupation: criminal 

 

YORK, Pa. — When court clerks asked York County Prison inmate Greg Gould Jr. to list his occupation for a marriage license, he replied “criminal.” 

It was part of a ceremony Jan. 25 held in the basement of the county courthouse. 

“That was a joke. Did they write it down that way?” asked Gould, 30, who was escorted by sheriff’s deputies. 

“Well, he is a criminal,” said York County Sheriff Bill Hose. 

Gould married 27-year-old Valentina Marie Natasha Roberts, the mother of his two children. No family or friends were allowed in the courtroom where the wedding took place. 

Gould was convicted Jan. 10 of multiple robbery counts in a 1999 gas station holdup. His new wife is on probation until 2003; she pleaded guilty to supplying Gould and a co-defendant with handguns used in the robbery. 

Valentina Gould said “it isn’t tough” being married to someone in prison, and she’s standing by her husband. 

“I love him; the commitment’s there,” she said. 

 

Heading out 

 

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland’s former first lady — not the current one — soon will sit for an oil portrait that may hang permanently in the governor’s residence. 

Frances Glendening and Gov. Parris Glendening divorced in November. But the hanging of their official state portraits will go ahead as planned, said officials with the Government House Foundation. The foundation raises money to pay for the portraits and other improvements to the residence. 

The portraits traditionally are not hung until after a governor is out of office. It is not known whether Glendening’s bride, Jennifer Crawford, 35, a former deputy chief of staff, will request a portrait of her own. 

Mike Morrill, the governor’s spokesman, said, “They just got married. It’s not the appropriate time to ask.” 

The foundation so far is not raising money for a portrait for Crawford, said board chairman William Myers. 

The former first lady is known for her work promoting the arts in Maryland. She also initiated a Maryland State Archives research project that became an exhibit highlighting the state’s other first ladies. 

The governor, 59, and Frances Glendening, 50, were married nearly 25 years. He married Crawford, the state’s 56th first lady, last month. 

Frances Glendening said she looks forward to sitting for the portrait and plans to wear “something bright.” 

——— 

ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) — Wanted: ornery felines. 

Researchers have begun recruiting 20 of the most foul-mannered cats in upstate New York for an experiment to see whether drugs will calm their nerves and stop fights. 

Behavior specialists at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine want to test the theory that the scrappy cats are really suffering from social anxiety. 

“We’re looking for 20 real bullies — the ones that start the fights — to see whether cat-to-cat aggression can be reduced with anti-anxiety medication,” said Tracy Kroll, a veterinary resident and researcher in Cornell’s Animal Behavior Clinic. 

The researchers will be using clomipramine, which is used in humans under the brand name Anafranil to treat panic and anxiety disorders. In dogs, under the brand name Clomicalm, it treats “separation anxiety,” when canines find the absence of their owners to be unbearable. 

“Some of the over-anxiety may be territorial or it may start when you bring a new cat into the house,” Kroll said. “Then there’s the so-called redirected aggression, when your indoor cat can’t reach a cat outside the window, so it fights with a sibling or other feline friend inside.” 


FBI says another terror attack may be imminent

By John Solomon The Associated Press
Tuesday February 12, 2002

WASHINGTON — The FBI issued an extraordinary terrorist alert Monday night, asking law enforcement and the American public to be on the lookout for a Yemeni man and several associates who might be plotting a terrorist attack as early as today. 

The FBI scrambled to put the warning out after information emerged that one or more people were involved. Officials said the intelligence, while deemed credible, was not specific about possible targets. 

The alert identified one possible attacker as Fawaz Yahya al-Rabeei, a Yemeni national born in Saudia Arabia in 1979. It listed about a dozen associates of al-Rabeei. 

The bureau planned to put photos and information on a Web site to help Americans identify the possible perpetrators. 

“Recent information indicates a planned attack may occurred in the United States or against U.S. interests on or around Feb. 12, 2002. One or more operatives may be involved in the attack,” the alert to 18,000 law enforcement agencies said. 

The alert asked police “to stop and detain” any of the named individuals in alert and that all “should be considered extremely dangerous.” 

Steve Maviglio, spokesman for Gov. Gray Davis, said all state agencies were on high alert after the FBI issued its warning. 

“We’ve been advised of the specific names on the list,” Maviglio said. 

Law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the alert was prompted by recent information from interviews of detainees in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where several al-Qaida operatives are being held. 

Law enforcement officials said there was no evidence that al-Rabeei had entered the United States. The alert did not say whether the attack was planned or that it involved Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network. Before Monday, FBI and Homeland Security officials had issued three general alerts urging all Americans to be cautious and on the lookout for possible terrorist activities.


Bay Area Briefs

Staff
Tuesday February 12, 2002

Bay Area Briefs 

 

 

Surfers swept away in riptide 

 

SAN FRANCISCO — Ten surfers were plucked from the Pacific Ocean after an unusually strong riptide swept them out and kept them from returning to shore. 

Two U.S. Coast Guard boats training in a nearby area were diverted to the scene Sunday to rescue the surfers, said Coast Guard spokesman Darrin Wallace. 

Wallace said nine of the surfers were picked up off about 300 to 400 yards off the coast of Ocean Beach. One surfer was taken aboard a passing sailboat about half a mile from the shore. No one was injured. 

Wallace said the surfers preferred to be dropped off a few yards from the beach where they were able to swim to shore. 

The Coast Guard also dispatched a helicopter to scan along the coast but found no one else in distress. 

 

 

Oakland library sets them free 

 

OAKLAND — The Oakland Public Library has forgiven almost $120,000 in overdue fines and restored borrowing privileges for nearly 58,000 patrons. 

The amnesty program was mainly aimed at a large number of middle and high school students. Officials hope that forgiving fines will bring students back into the fold. Some 20,000 students had borrowing privileges revoked because of unpaid fines for lost or overdue books. 

Once a patron accumulates $12.50 in fines, library privileges are suspended. 

The Oakland Unified School District co-sponsored the program and publicized it with banners at local high schools. 

 

 

The foundation dilemma 

 

SAN JOSE — The public parking garage being constructed downtown already has a problem: Its foundation was built 5 feet from where it belonged. 

As a result, the project had to be redesigned — and 20 parking spaces disappeared, leaving 755 spaces. 

The seven-story structure was approved a year ago by the City Council. 

The foundation problem has delayed the opening of the project until December — seven months late. And the garage’s estimated cost, first pegged at $31.4 million, has increased to $54.1 million. 

The contractor, Hensel Phelps Construction Co., a national firm with an office in San Jose, blames the mistake on a survey company hired to lay out the foundation. 

Jon W. Ball, vice president of Hensel Phelps, did not want to name the surveying firm or comment on the issue, saying that both companies are in the middle of a disputed resolution. 

The council is expected to vote Tuesday on another $280,000 to pay for work related to the error. 


Stanford OKs ‘living wage’; student group says it’s too low

By Brian Bergstein The Associated Press
Tuesday February 12, 2002

SAN JOSE — Stanford University will require some companies that perform campus work to pay their employees a “living wage,” but student activists who have insisted upon such a rule said Monday the plan falls short of what they wanted. 

Stanford President John Hennessy announced last week that the private university will require that some subcontractors pay workers at least $10.10 an hour with benefits, or $11.35 without benefits. California’s minimum wage is $6.75 an hour. 

The policy will apply to companies that have multiyear Stanford contracts worth more than $100,000 annually and use workers not covered by a collective bargaining agreement. 

Administrators are not certain how many workers would be affected, but Chris R. Christofferson, Stanford’s associate vice provost for facilities, estimated it could be about 100. 

Students on the Stanford Labor Action Coalition complained Monday that the plan does not cover enough Stanford workers. They also said they were not properly consulted on the decision and that the living wage is too low. 

Even people making well above $10.10 an hour in this exorbitantly expensive area struggle to get by, said Molly Goldberg, a Stanford freshman in the labor group. 

She and other Stanford students will ask Hennessy to impose a “prevailing wage,” based on the average pay of similar workers in the region, and ensure a range of other perks. That would go even beyond Harvard University’s recent announcement that it would raise several hundred workers’ pay beyond the “living wage” that its students had demanded during a three-week sit-in last year. 

“We want the university to agree to a code of conduct that addresses more than the wage issue,” Goldberg said. “We want to look at things like education and health benefits, and family leave policies that we also think are important to provide to workers.” 

Stanford’s Christofferson said students’ criticism was understandable but added that the living wage policy is still being finalized, and the minimum pay requirements could rise.


SF city attorney sues PG&E Corp.

The Associated Press
Tuesday February 12, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO — City Attorney Dennis Herrera sued Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s parent corporation Monday, accusing it of driving the utility into bankruptcy through unfair and illegal business practices. 

The suit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, asks PG&E Corp. to return as much as $5 billion to ratepayers. That includes $4.6 billion in dividends and stock purchases Herrera alleges were illegal, plus $663 million in tax payments made by the utility to its parent. 

“What we’re alleging is that PG&E essentially defrauded California ratepayers,” said Marc Slavin, deputy city attorney. The suit alleges the parent company ignored state regulations requiring it to keep the utility financially healthy. 

Greg Pruett, a spokesman for PG&E Corp. said the issues raised already have been reviewed and found to be invalid. 

“It’s unfortunate when such a great city as San Francisco resorts to political tactics by filing this type of a lawsuit as an attempt to obstruct Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s emergence from bankruptcy,” Pruett said. 

Slavin said the city’s suit complements another one filed a month earlier before by state Attorney General Bill Lockyer. 

The utility filed for federal bankruptcy protection 10 months ago after soaring power prices drove it into debt.


S.F. Chronicle managing editor resigns

The Associated Press
Tuesday February 12, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO — Jerry Roberts will step down as managing editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, the paper and Roberts announced Monday. 

No replacement was announced. Executive Editor Phil Bronstein appointed senior editor Narda Zacchino as assistant executive editor and Sunday editor Kenn Altine as associate managing editor. 

“Zacchino and Altine will assume many of Roberts’ responsibilities while the paper conducts a nationwide search for a managing editor,” the Chronicle said in a press release. The staff was notified Monday by memos sent by Bronstein and Roberts. 

Roberts’ departure is effective March 1, although Monday was to be his final day in the Chronicle news room. 

“The first thing I’m going to do is take a family vacation in Mexico, and then come back and take a good look at several opportunities that I’m lucky to have in teaching, writing and broadcasting,” Roberts said in his memo. 

Roberts, 53, joined the Chronicle in 1977 and served as reporter, political editor, political columnist and city editor before being named managing editor in 1997. In November 2000, the Hearst Corp., which previously owned the San Francisco Examiner, took control of the Chronicle and installed Bronstein as executive editor. 

Roberts’ departure follows that of Matthew Wilson, who resigned as vice president of news and associate publisher in July. Wilson was the Chronicle executive editor before the Hearst Corp. took over the paper. Sharon Rosenhause, who served as the Examiner’s managing editor under Hearst and as editor of Hearst’s afternoon Chronicle, resigned in March to become managing editor of South Florida Sun-Sentinel. 

——— 

On the Net: 

http://www.sfgate.com 


PayPal may shut down in Louisiana, casting cloud over IPO

By Michael Liedtke The Associated Press
Tuesday February 12, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO — PayPal Inc. warned Monday its popular online payment service is about to be shut down in Louisiana by that state’s banking regulators, casting another cloud over the company’s widely anticipated initial public offering of stock. 

The imminent shutdown of PayPal’s service in Louisiana was disclosed in Securities and Exchange Commission documents. They detail the risks the Palo Alto-based company faces as it tries to overcome the stock market’s distaste for unprofitable Internet companies. 

PayPal had hoped to sell 5.4 million shares at $12 to $14 apiece last week, but a patent infringement lawsuit filed by CertCo Inc. threatened to short circuit the company’s online payment service. That prompted investment bankers to delay the IPO until this week. 

In a counterclaim filed Monday in Delaware, PayPal sought to invalidate CertCo’s patent claim and alleged the New York-based company waited until the last minute to file its complaint to disrupt PayPal’s IPO. 

The delay forced PayPal to disclose several new developments, including word that Louisiana regulators sent a Feb. 7 letter ordering the service to stop brokering payments between online buyers and sellers until the company receives a money transmission license. 

Monday’s bad news might pressure PayPal to lower its IPO price or pull the offering, said Kyle Huske, an analyst with IPO.com. 

“Obviously, you don’t want these kinds of negatives to come out in a panicky market like this,” Huske said. “It’s tough to say what will happen now. It’s all going to depend on the fortitude of the investors that they had already lined up for the IPO.” 

With the latest revisions to its outlook, PayPal now hopes to set the IPO Thursday, paving the way for the company’s shares to begin trading Friday on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange. 

At the current target price, PayPal’s IPO would raise more than $60 million. As of Sept. 30, the company had $138.6 million in the bank and its losses have been steadily diminishing over the past year. 

In its SEC filing Monday, PayPal said it will comply with the Louisiana order forcing it to suspend business in that state when management receives the notice. The company also said it may appeal the Louisiana order in an administrative hearing. 

PayPal’s Louisiana customers accounted for 0.9 percent of the service’s payment volume during the first nine months of last year, according to the SEC documents. The company makes its money by collecting a commission based on the dollar amount of most transactions completed on its e-mail service. 

Although Louisiana represents a small portion of PayPal’s overall business, the company’s regulatory problems in that state might not be isolated, management conceded in Monday’s filing. 

Besides Louisiana, New York also has notified PayPal the company is running an unlicensed banking business. The New York regulators still haven’t ordered PayPal to stop doing business there, which accounted for 6.4 percent of the payment volume handled by the company during the first nine months of last year. 

PayPal said regulators in nine other states and the District of Columbia have indicated the company needs a license to run its online payment service. Those states are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Maryland, Texas, Virginia and Vermont. 

The company said it has already filed, or plans to file, applications in those states and the District of Columbia. Based on management’s analysis, the company also has decided to seek money transfer licenses in Connecticut, Minnesota and North Carolina. 

PayPal already is licensed in Oregon and West Virginia. 

If state regulators determine PayPal has been running an illegal banking business, the company could face substantial fines dating back to when the service began with 24 users in October 1999. The service had ballooned to 12.8 million accountholders as of Dec. 31. 

——— 

On The Net: 

http://www.paypal.com 

http://www.certco.com 


Intel unveils processors for handheld gadgets

The Associated Press
Tuesday February 12, 2002

SANTA CLARA — Intel Corp. introduced a family of microprocessors Monday that promise to improve the performance and increase the battery life of handheld devices such as cell phones and palm-sized computers. 

The Intel PXA250 and PXA210 processors will enable improved music, movies and games on next-generation gadgets, which are expected to become popular as wireless networks are upgraded in coming months. 

“We want to make this explode and be the next $100 billion market,” said Mark Casey of Intel’s handheld-computer division. “To make that happen, you need good clients and a fast wireless connection.” 

The PXA210 will run at speeds up to 200 megahertz and will be used in cell phones, entry-level handhelds and wireless devices. The larger PXA250 will run at clock speeds up to 400 MHz and be part of high-end handheld devices. 

Products built with the new processors are expected to be available by the middle of this year. 

The technology, which is called XScale, is based on the StrongARM architecture that Intel acquired as part of a settlement with Digital Equipment Corp. in 1997. 

Cambridge-based ARM Ltd. licenses its chip designs to semiconductor companies, which then manufacture the processors. 

Intel StrongARM processors are now found in most handheld computers using the Windows CE operating system. 

Most Palm OS-based systems use Motorola Inc.’s Dragonball processor. 

——— 

On the Net: 

Intel: http://www.intel.com 

ARM Ltd: http://www.arm.com 


Toymax stock soars on takeover news

The Associated Press
Tuesday February 12, 2002

LOS ANGELES — Shares of Toymax International Inc. were up 38 percent Monday after it agreed to be acquired by Jakks Pacific Inc. for more than $54 million in cash and stock. 

Shares of the Plainview, N.Y.-based toy company were up $1.17 to $4.22 in afternoon trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Shares of Jakks, based in Malibu, Calif., were down 24 cents to $18.56. 

Jakks announced Sunday it will pay $3 per share in cash and $1.50 in stock to acquire the 64 percent of Toymax controlled by its two founders. The remaining shares will be acquired from stockholders later in the year. 

There is no danger the deal could be in jeopardy if Toymax stock rises above the $4.50 purchase price, according to William Gibson, an analyst for Banc of America Securities, because Jakks signed a definitive agreement with the founders of Toymax. 

Gibson said the purchase, which makes Jakks one of the country’s largest toy companies, was a good deal at a good price. 

“Jack doesn’t overpay,” Gibson said, referring to Jakks co-founder and chief executive Jack Friedman. “He buys right and he’s doing it again” 

Jakks announced Monday it has signed a deal with The Walt Disney Co. to develop arts and activities products and junior sports toys based on Disney characters, including Winnie the Pooh, as well as characters from new films.


Opinion

Editorials

Cabinet member, trailblazing Common Cause founder dead at 89

Staff
Monday February 18, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO — John W. Gardner, a trailblazing advocate of democratic participation and volunteerism who became known as “the father of campaign finance reform,” died Saturday. He was 89. 

Gardner helped launch Medicare, founded Common Cause, led the Carnegie Corporation and kept engaged in the nation’s intellectual life until he was bedridden in January from complications with prostate cancer was first diagnosed two years ago. 

He died about 3:30 p.m. at his home on Stanford University’s campus, according to his daughter, Francesca Gardner.Gardner was secretary of health, education and welfare at the height of President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society and the cabinet’s token Republican. It was a post he occupied from Medicare’s first year in 1965 until he resigned in 1968 after concluding Johnson should not run again. 

“We are going to build a true ’citizens’ lobby — a lobby concerned not with the advancement of special interests but with the well-being of the nation,” Gardner said in 1970 as he introduced a group that quickly became a player in national politics. 

Gardner was secretary of health, education and welfare at the height of President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society and the cabinet’s token Republican. It was a post he occupied from Medicare’s first year in 1965 until he resigned in 1968 after concluding Johnson should not run again. 

Gardner said that in his youth he preferred reflection to action. But World War II — he served as a Marine officer in Europe — jolted him into a more activist role. Gardner is survived by his wife of 67 years, Aida; two daughters, Stephanie Gardner Trimble and Francesca Gardner and his brother, Louis. 

 


Ask the Rent Board

Staff
Saturday February 16, 2002

 

Question: 

I moved out of my apartment last month after living there almost three years. My roommate – who also signed the lease – stayed and found someone to replace me. Although the landlord has approved of my replacement, he refuses to take my name off the lease and put the new person on. Am I still responsible for rent if the new person fails to pay? Doesn’t the landlord have to put the new person’s name on the lease? 

 

Answer: 

If the lease you refer to is the one you signed three years ago, and assuming it is for the typical one-year term, it has converted to a month-to-month rental agreement. This means once you give your landlord 30 days’ notice that you’re moving, you are free from your obligation to pay rent when the 30 days are up, even if you are still named on the original lease. If the landlord accepts rent directly from the new person, she has gained all rights and assumed all obligations under the rental agreement, even if she is not acknowledged as a tenant in an amendment to the agreement. 

However, if you signed annual leases each year, then you remain liable (with your roommate) for rent payments until the lease ends. By approving a replacement, your landlord has agreed to either a sublease or an assignment of the lease. Under a sublease, your replacement is a subtenant who pays her share of rent to you or your roommate; but you remain responsible for paying the full rent to the landlord, even if the subtenant doesn’t pay you. Under an assignment, you have given the new person all your rights to live in the apartment for the rest of the lease term. Your replacement will pay rent directly to the landlord, but unless the landlord releases you in writing (which effectively takes you off the lease), you are still liable for rent if she defaults.  

 

Question: 

I’ve been paying rent to my landlord by check since I began renting from her two years ago. Yesterday my landlord called to tell me that she wants me to start paying rent with a cashier’s check, even though I’ve never bounced a check. She says she has had problems with other tenants’ checks so she wants everyone to pay the same way. Can she require this of me? 

 

Answer: 

It depends. In Berkeley, a landlord cannot make a substantial change in the terms of a lease or rental agreement, so if your agreement allows for rent to be paid by personal check, the landlord cannot change that provision. But if your agreement requires payment by cashier’s check, the landlord may be able to enforce the original terms of the agreement. 

 

You can e-mail the City of Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board at rent@ci. berkeley.ca.us with your questions, or you can call or visit the office at 2125 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA. 94704.


UC class debates Prop. 45, term limits ballot measure

By David Scharfenberg, Daily Planet staff
Friday February 15, 2002

Experience or new blood? That was the question at the heart of a debate on Proposition 45 in Professor Alan Ross’s “Election 2002” class at UC Berkeley Wednesday. 

The measure on the March 5 ballot would allow termed-out state legislators to seek four more years in office if a number of voters in their district, equivalent to 20 percent of those who voted in the last general election, sign a petition to get the incumbent on the ballot. 

Members of the state Assembly are now limited to three, two-year terms and state senators are limited to two, four-year terms. 

Mary Bergan, president of the California Federation of Teachers, which is supporting Prop. 45, said the measure is important because it would create a more seasoned legislature. 

“Just as in teaching, we think that in legislating, experience counts,” said Bergan. “We have, in many ways, a real revolving door in Sacramento. 

“(The state legislature) deals with a lot of very, very complex issues,” she continued. “They’re not mastered overnight.” 

But Dan Schnur, a political science professor at UC Berkeley and spokesman for the “No on 45” campaign, said the measure is simply designed to prolong the careers of out-of-touch career politicians. 

“A career politician can’t understand, like a citizen politician can understand, the wants and needs and dreams of ordinary people,” he said, arguing that the legislature benefits from a regular influx of community activists and businesspeople with recent, “real life” experience. 

Schnur cautioned that, if voters pass Proposition 45, politicians will only seek further term extensions. 

“They’re asking for four years,” he said. “But do you think someone who’s been in office since 1964 is going to say, ‘thanks for the four years, I’m going home to find a regular job?’ ” 

According to a Field Poll released last week, only 19 percent of California voters said they had heard anything about Proposition 45. 

When they were read the measure, 52 percent supported it and 37 percent opposed. But when they were told that Proposition 45 might cost California counties several hundred thousand dollars to implement, the numbers changed dramatically. Only 40 percent supported and 45 percent opposed. 

The Field Poll also recorded continued support for the concept of term limits, first enacted in California in 1990. Sixty-four percent of respondents said they like the idea of term limits, with 31 percent opposed. 

After the debate, Schnur said public support for term limits will work in his favor, but acknowledged that a massive fund-raising deficit could work against the “No on 45” campaign. 

“If we only get outspent four to one, we can beat this thing,” he said. “If we get outspent seven or eight to one, it’s going to be tough.” 

According to the latest figures available from the state, proponents of Proposition 45 have a multi-million dollar advantage, and are outspending the opposition by well over the eight to one ratio cited by Schnur. 

Charles Ramsey, running for the 14th District state Assembly seat to replace termed-out legislator Dion Aroner, said he supports Proposition 45. 

“I think term limits have been a disaster for the citizens of California,” he said, arguing that veteran lobbyists know more about the ins and outs of the legislature than representatives. 

But Schnur argued that when both legislators and lobbyists have been around for a long time, they tend to develop cozy relationships. 

“People who find that a compelling argument can vote people out,” said Loni Hancock, another candidate for state Assembly who supports Proposition 45. “Now, you have a situation where legislators are learning on the job and lobbyists are the ones with the institutional memory.” 

Dave Brown, the third candidate for Aroner’s seat, also supports the ballot measure, arguing that it may represent “the best of both worlds.”  

With more terms, Brown noted, a legislator could serve 10 years in the Assembly and 12 years in the Senate, for a full 22 years in office, creating a number of legislators with extensive experience. 

At the same time, he argued, there would be a consistent flow of new voices into the chamber.


News of the Weird

Staff
Thursday February 14, 2002

Stop! or I’ll dry you 

 

PENSACOLA, Fla. — A school crossing guard last year discovered he could slow down speeders by taking aim at them with a hair dryer resembling a radar gun. 

Now, he’s got the real thing. 

Six fifth-grade students at Suter Elementary School sold lemonade and collected donations to raise $93.93 for the radar gun that they presented to Dale Rooks on Monday. 

“It looks just like a hair dryer, and I don’t mean that to be funny,” Rooks said. 

Rooks still cannot write tickets, but he can tip police to any habitual speeder he identifies with the radar gun, police Capt. John Mathis said. 

“We’d try to assist in actually clocking that individual,” Mathis said. “Any effort he can do to assist us is certainly welcome.” 

 

Not a lucky day for 

one lottery thief 

 

LITTLE FERRY, N.J. — A man who allegedly stole dozens of lottery tickets from a Little Ferry store was captured several hours later when he tried to cash in a winning ticket at another local business. 

Tyrone Bennett, 39, of Paterson, allegedly took the tickets from the Village Market store on Saturday after he used a rock to break a window. Investigators recorded the serial numbers of the stolen tickets and alerted state lottery officials about the theft. 

Several hours later, Bennett allegedly brought the winning ticket to another unidentified store and tried to claim a $12 prize. 

The store’s lottery computer recognized the stolen ticket and told the clerk not to pay the money. The clerk, though, asked Bennett to fill out a claim form and he complied, listing a local address where he was staying. 

Bennett was arrested within the hour and charged with theft, burglary and possession of stolen property. 

 

Spelling lesson 

 

MADRID, Spain — The government couldn’t help but chuckle last week when students opposed to reforms aimed at raising education standards released a flier calling for demonstrations with a glaring spelling mistake. Now it’s the government’s turn to blush. 

A letter written in Catalan, signed by Environment Minister Jaume Matas and sent to tens of thousands of homes in northeastern Spain, contained 13 spelling errors and two geographical errors. 

The letter defends a controversial hydrological project in which water is to be diverted from the Ebro River, which flows through the Aragon and Catalonia regions, to the Mediterranean coast. 

Education and Culture Minister Pilar del Castillo, the architect of the education overhaul, reacted to the flier by saying, “Students who call demonstrations are the ones who get the worst grades.” She has said repeatedly in recent days that Spain’s schools are churning out uneducated young people. 

Responding to minister Matas’ multiple slip-ups, a Socialist Party leader in Catalonia, Jaume Antich, said: “Are you trying to prove Pilar del Castillo right when she talks about low cultural levels? In view of this letter, I don’t know if you’d pass the exam she wants to reinstate.” 

——— 

STUART, Fla. (AP) — A jury has awarded $50,000 to a couple who sued officials in the town of Sewall’s Point for displaying a picture of their house at City Hall with the words: “Our view of the hillbilly hellhole.” 

Residents Blaine and Sally Rhodes had asked jurors to award them more than $15,000 in the defamation lawsuit against Mayor Don Winer and clerk Joan Barrow. 

The suit claims Winer and Barrow ridiculed and harassed the Rhodeses and invaded their privacy by displaying an 8-by-10 photo of their house, given to the officials for Christmas in 1998. 

The photograph of the back of the Rhodes house showed a damaged floating dock hanging from a tree. 

“It’s a great burden off my shoulders,” Blaine Rhodes told television station WPTV. Government officials “have to be held accountable for their actions, just like you and me.” 

The Rhodeses’ neighbor, Jann Levin, took the photograph and wrote the caption. She has reached an undisclosed settlement with the couple. 

Michael Piper, attorney for Sewall’s Point, said the caption was “a classic statement of opinion, and opinion is not defamation.” 


News of the Weird

Staff
Wednesday February 13, 2002

A missing heart 

 

CORAZON, N.M. — The U.S. Census Bureau has missed a lonely heart in northeastern New Mexico. 

The bureau reported in February that there were only four communities in the nation with the word “heart” in their names. 

Corazon wasn’t on the list. 

Corazon — Spanish for “heart” — is in San Miguel County, about 40 miles southeast of Las Vegas. 

But there isn’t much left of the community — mostly rubble and old wooden rafters. 

A book called “The Place Names of New Mexico” says Corazon had a post office from 1903 to 1909. 

“People in Las Vegas have heard about the ruins out there, but they don’t talk a lot about it,” said Gus Pacheco, an area resident. “And there are fewer and fewer old-timers around here. We have a funeral almost every month.” 

For the record, the four “heart” places listed by the bureau were Heart Butte, Mont.; Sacred Heart, Minn.; South Heart, N.D.; and Heartwell, Neb. 

 

 

Get the public out on their porches 

 

ERIE, Pa. — Fences may make good neighbors, but a city councilman says front porches make better neighborhoods. 

Jim Casey wants Erie to study whether the city should require all new homes to be built with front porches. 

“The public today, they’re all withdrawing into their homes because of television, computers and all these other sophisticated mechanisms we have,” Casey said. “We need to get out and meet our neighbors. If porches can help us get back to that good quality of living, then good.” 

Homes with porches look nicer and encourage neighbors to interact, Casey said. 

Erie’s City Council is expected to consider the idea Wednesday. 

One Erie builder called Casey’s idea “off-the-wall.” 

“We have enough regulations as it is,” said Charles Buckeye of Buckeye Builders. 

Porches should be a homeowner’s choice, he said, adding that each owner’s lifestyle is different.  

He’s got a porch, he said, but when he finds the time to sit down, it’s usually in the backyard. 

——— 

LUDINGTON, Mich. (AP) — It’s not your ordinary lawn ornament. 

Since 1947, Henry Marek has kept a World War I-era cannon in his front yard. 

Marek obtained the cannon in 1942 for $25 as scrap from the Work Projects Administration. Over the years it has become a Mason County landmark. 

But a Defense Department worker happened to notice the cannon last week, knocked on Marek’s door and told him that the cannon is government property. That means it could be seized and destroyed. 

That’s when Marek brought out his heavy gun — U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, who has ridiculed the government’s sudden interest in the weaponry. 

“This cannon has been in the community for more than 50 years without a problem,” Hoekstra said Monday in a news release. “And the only problems surrounding this cannon now are being caused by the government.” 

Hoekstra said the cannon’s breech was welded shut and its barrel was cut, making it unusable as a weapon. His office contacted the Defense Department and expects a quick resolution to the matter. 

“At a time when the Defense Department is fighting a war against terrorism, it seems strange they would want to fight Mr. Marek over an 80-plus-year-old cannon that was long-ago disabled,” he said. 

——— 

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Take that, Osama bin Laden. 

A bill introduced Monday in the Minnesota House would put bin Laden’s image on a state lottery scratch-off ticket. Players would discover any winnings by scratching off “and thus obliterating,” as the bill notes, bin Laden’s face. 

Sixty percent of the proceeds — the maximum allowed under the state Constitution — would go to anti-terrorism efforts. 

The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Rich Stanek, is a Minneapolis police officer who also is pushing for a broad new state security plan. It has a price tag of $25 million to pay for training and equipment, although a state budget deficit has made funding scarce. 

Stanek said he’s gotten nothing but positive reactions to the bill. 

“Can you imagine the guys sitting in the American Legion, how they’ll respond?” asked Stanek. “They might go out and buy 100 tickets.” 

If the bin Laden idea falls through, Stanek said he still wants a themed lottery ticket. Like what? “Three cruise missiles is a winner. I don’t care.” 


Chinese usher in Year of the Horse

The Associated Press
Tuesday February 12, 2002

BEIJING — The Chinese-speaking world ushered in the lunar Year of the Horse with dancing dragons, caroling soldiers and all-night fireworks barrages. 

As midnight on Monday approached — and with it the year 2002 by the traditional lunar calendar — the growing crescendo of fireworks explosions in Beijing sounded like the unbroken roar of a jet engine. 

The night sky burst with red, yellow and green as residents set off private displays all over the capital, ignoring a ban that outlawed fireworks in all but a few public places. 

The celebrations picked up again Tuesday morning. In Longtan Park on Beijing’s south side, thousands beat drums and gongs while watching lines of red and blue-dressed dragon dancers. 

On Monday night, China’s leaders formally celebrated in the Soviet-style Great Hall of the People in Beijing’s central Tiananmen Square. The hall was decked in bright red — the traditional color of celebration and of the Communist Party.