It came as no surprise November 30 when Southwestern College’s superintendent Dr. Raj Chopra announced his resignation, effective the same day. Chopra’s contract was not due to expire until June 2012, but according to a …
December 1, 2010
Blog Entries
- Four Notes
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- Venus, Tides, and December Hikes
- Federal Pay Freeze Could Clip Almost $200 Million Annually from Local Economy
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- UpDate San Diego, 12/01/2010
- Further Scheduling Changes in SDG&E PeakShift A1007009 Proceeding
- Lead Indicators Flat; Private-Sector Employment Zooms
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News & Stories
Southwestern College Superintendent Raj Chopra Resigns
Police Don’t Get Their Man in College Area
Shortly after 9 p.m. on Tuesday, November 30, numerous police cars arrived at the corner of University Avenue and 58th Street. After blocking off 58th Street, police cordoned off a block of apartments on the …
December 1, 2010
Chula Vista Prepares for Cross-Border Violence and More
The City of Chula Vista does not want to be “outgunned,” according to councilmember Steve Castaneda. Following that idea, the entire council voted for a no-bid purchase of a Lenco BearCat armored tactical vehicle at …
December 1, 2010
Clairemont Fire the Result of Marijuana Growing Operation
On Monday, November 29, a fire started in the garage of a residence on Mt. Burnham Court just after 9:30 a.m. The garage of the rental home had been used for growing marijuana, according to …
December 1, 2010
Fees Are More Popular than Taxes
"The City needs to stop using the general fund to subsidize services that are funded by user fees in most other cities," said Bob Nelson, chair of the Citizens Revenue Review and Economic Competitiveness Commission. …
December 1, 2010
Bread Quest
Great food is like great sex. The more you have, the more you want. — Gael Greene A toast was made to friendship; glasses full of sparkling gold clinked, and our smiles reflected the warmth …
December 1, 2010
Six Poems by Maram Al-Massri
Six Poems by Maram Al-Massri You must have forgotten your papers and returned to retrieve them. Or a friend must have called and begun to chatter as you were about to leave. Or you must …
December 1, 2010
Sweeter — and More Affordable at Suite and Tender
Suite and Tender is heartily sorry for what it did when it first opened and is doing sincere penance — and doing it well. I would never have gone back, but then I phoned the …
December 1, 2010
Bonita Valley Baptist Church
Membership: 200 Pastor: Jim Carpenter Age: 58 Born: Denver, Colorado Formation: University of Denver, Denver, Colorado; Denver Seminary, Littleton, Colorado; Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena Years Ordained: 33 San Diego Reader: Can you think of a …
December 1, 2010
Can Imperial County Come Back From the Dust?
Driving west on I-8, down from the dry, rugged mountains, diving into what should be a desert landscape 100 miles east of San Diego, the Imperial Valley appears as an agricultural oasis. Miles of irrigated …
December 1, 2010
Going It Alone — San Diego One-Man Bands
“Bands are fun but I’m not really a leader or a follower, so I get along better by myself,” writes Doug Barker, lead man — only man, for that matter — for San Diego band …
December 1, 2010
Point Loma High's Mr. Zeiger Goes Hollywood
Larry Zeiger has wanted to make a music video ever since he recorded his concept album Meetchu in Machu Picchu last year. Not just a video, he says, correcting himself, but a musical film with …
December 1, 2010
East Balboa Park
Balboa Park’s easternmost section, aligned with 28th Street, isn’t well known among most San Diegans, let alone tourists. North Parkians, South Parkians, and Golden Hilliers, along with local golfers, do know of several out-of-the-way features …
December 1, 2010
Human Hibernation, Fleas, Mario Bros.
Heymatt: Another cold, gloomy day here at the beach. Winter sucks. I’ve been trying to think of a cure short of moving to the Equator. It occurred to me that I could sleep all winter …
December 1, 2010
The Dead Kennedys Live
“There’s always room for Jell-O,” right? That’s what Eric Boucher hoped in 1979 when he adopted that ad slogan to help spread the word in his bid for mayor of San Francisco. This happened during …
December 1, 2010
Jason Blackmore Has Rats Eyes
November marks a decade since singer-songwriter-guitarist Jason Blackmore, known to friends as “Captain Blackie,” left his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, for San Diego. “I didn’t know anybody,” Blackmore says over a beer at the …
December 1, 2010
Brother Ali and the Grouch
In the title track from his new album, Us, Brother Ali raps, “Started rhyming just to be somebody/ To make people notice me at the party/ And not be just a new kid that’s albino/ …
December 1, 2010
Hippie. Dippy. Digi.
Thursday 2House of Blues exhumes Dead Kennedys. The SanFran band was at the eye of the hardcore storm in the early ’80s, churning out punk anthems such as “California Über Alles,” “Holiday in Cambodia,” and …
December 1, 2010
Breakfast in Baghdad at Sagmani's Restaurant
"Yoo-hoo! Hello?” I’m back behind the gas station here, next to the tire shop…in Mr. Sagmani’s place. Yes, his eatery takes a bit of finding. But, for me, it came just in time. Was getting …
Teen Readers Talk Crank and Go Ask Alice
What are you reading? Monica: “Crank, by Ellen Hopkins, and Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous. Crank is about a girl who went from living a normal life, being a straight-A student, to being an every-day …
December 1, 2010
Ruined at the La Jolla Playhouse
If plays are boxing matches with an audience, they all throw punches, some solid, some glancing, some airy nothing. Plays that linger counterpunch. These land on your way out the door, in the parking lot, …
December 1, 2010
Ricochet. Part 1
One year ago I wrote a column about Judy Fridono, a North County certified professional dog trainer, and Ricochet, a golden retriever, canine surfer, and philanthropist at large. Fridono acquired puppy Ricochet to train as …
December 1, 2010
Tijuana's Monte Carlo
Burning bright for seven years, a Depression-era venture in Tijuana lit up the blueprint that Las Vegas would follow. The old Agua Caliente is the subject of Satan’s Playground: Mobsters and Movie Stars at America’s …
December 1, 2010
And the Lord Said Sell
Thirty-Five Years AgoNo matter what obstacles are thrust in front of San Diego massage parlors — police raids, housewife marches, TV documentaries on sin-for-sale — they’re still here with us, flourishing as never before.... “There …
December 1, 2010
Aguilera Floods Burlesque
Burlesque Christina (howl like it hurts) Aguilera plays Ali, short for Alice, a cute-as-pie Iowa waitress with aspirations of Sunset Strip stardom. By means of contrived necessity (that is to say, she walks by the …
December 1, 2010
Rabbi Nehemiah
When the Israelites did that wicked deed [constructed and worshipped the golden calf] Moses sought to appease God, who was angry with them. He said, “Lord of the universe! They have made an assistant for …
December 1, 2010
Scott West Pulls a California Christmas from the Fire
“I remember sitting on Brian’s couch in his studio with a trash can in my hands, in case I were to lose my cookies,” recalls Scott West, who recorded his new California Christmas album with …
December 1, 2010
Un-Sound Wave Hits Mission Beach's Belmont Park
Eric Leitstein spent 13 years building up Canes, the oceanfront venue that brought Prince, Linkin Park, Maroon 5, and Snoop Dogg to Mission Beach. In October of last year, Leitstein was squeezed out when landlord …
December 1, 2010
Bankruptcy — Good for San Diego
Mayor Jerry Sanders, who in reality has no intention of cleaning up the City’s fecal finances, says he opposes a City bankruptcy. Councilmember Carl DeMaio, who does want to deterge the fetid finances (as long …
December 1, 2010
Carlsbad Whistleblower Quizzed Shooter at Kelly Elementary
Stephanie Durkee was tending to children in the school cafeteria when she heard someone swearing. “Fuck AIG!” somebody yelled. It sounded like a man out on the schoolyard. She walked a few steps to the …
December 1, 2010