This post was originally published at Scientific American.
California condors—North America's largest birds, with a wingspan of up to 2.8 meters—were almost wiped out by poaching, DDT and lead poisoning before all of the remaining birds at the time were brought in from the wild in 1987. Captive breeding programs have increased the number of condors dramatically since then, and according to the April 30 census cited by The Oregonian, there are now 226 California condors living in the wild in California, Arizona and nearby Baja, Mexico. An additional 179 birds live in zoos and breeding centers. The population has increased more than 20 percent in the last two and a half years alone.
But condors still face threats on several fronts, chief among them the continued use of lead bullets by hunters in Arizona. California banned lead ammunition in the condors' habitats in 2007, but efforts to limit its use in Arizona have so far failed. Condors, as scavengers, eat the carcasses of animals killed by lead ammo (or the "gut piles" of innards left behind by hunters) and often die as a result. At least 22 of the condors released in Arizona have died from lead poisoning, according to a report from MSNBC. Up to 95 percent of the birds in the state have lead present in their blood, and a painful and sometimes fatal process called chelation is often used to remove the lead from their bodies in both states.
Source: www.motherjones.com
Sustainable Furniture from Cisco Home - Examiner
Slideshow: See Anne Hathaway's timeless, classic beauty.
'Les Miserables' star shines
Source: www.examiner.com
California Water Service Group's President & CEO Peter C. Nelson to Succeed Retiring Chair Robert W. Foy - Yahoo Finance
SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwire -05/22/12)- California Water Service Group (CWT) today announced its Board of Directors' plan to combine the roles of Chairman and President & Chief Executive Officer and have President & Chief Executive Officer Peter C. Nelson succeed retiring Chairman Robert W. Foy, effective May 22, 2012. Douglas M. Brown will continue to serve as lead director.
Foy, a 35-year Board veteran who has reached retirement age for directors, expressed confidence in the decision: "Pete has demonstrated his leadership ability and we are confident that he will do a fine job as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board. It makes good business sense to streamline decision-making and capitalize on Pete's extensive experience and expertise."
Nelson was elected President & Chief Executive Officer of California Water Service Group in 1996. Prior to joining the company, he had increasingly responsible positions in engineering, construction management, marketing, corporate and diversification planning, finance, operations, and general management at Pacific Gas & Electric Company.
Nelson holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Davis, and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He serves as director of the California Chamber of Commerce and chairs the organization's Water Resources Committee. He is also a director of the California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy, a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum, and an advisory council member at the Center for Public Utilities, New Mexico State University. Past affiliations include president of the National Association of Water Companies, director of the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency, and founding director of the Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Leadership Group.
Douglas M. Brown, who joined the California Water Service Group Board of Directors in 2001 and is currently the Dean of the Anderson School of Management at the University of New Mexico, will continue to serve as lead director.
California Water Service Group is the parent company of California Water Service Company, Washington Water Service Company, New Mexico Water Service Company, Hawaii Water Service Company, Inc., CWS Utility Services, and HWS Utility Services, LLC. Together these companies provide regulated and non-regulated water service to approximately 2 million people in more than 100 California, Washington, New Mexico and Hawaii communities. Group's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CWT."
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("Act"). The forward-looking statements are intended to qualify under provisions of the federal securities laws for "safe harbor" treatment established by the Act. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections, and management's judgment about the Company, the water utility industry and general economic conditions. Such words as expects, intends, plans, believes, estimates, assumes, anticipates, projects, predicts, forecasts or variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from what is contained in a forward-looking statement. Factors that may cause a result different than expected or anticipated include but are not limited to: governmental and regulatory commissions' decisions, including decisions on proper disposition of property; changes in regulatory commissions' policies and procedures; the timeliness of regulatory commissions' actions concerning rate relief; new legislation; changes in accounting valuations and estimates; the ability to satisfy requirements related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other regulations on internal controls; electric power interruptions; increases in suppliers' prices and the availability of supplies including water and power; fluctuations in interest rates; changes in environmental compliance and water quality requirements; acquisitions and our ability to successfully integrate acquired companies; the ability to successfully implement business plans; changes in customer water use patterns; the impact of weather on water sales and operating results; access to sufficient capital on satisfactory terms; civil disturbances or terrorist threats or acts, or apprehension about the possible future occurrences of acts of this type; the involvement of the United States in war or other hostilities; restrictive covenants in or changes to the credit ratings on our current or future debt that could increase our financing costs or affect our ability to borrow, make payments on debt or pay dividends; and, other risks and unforeseen events. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the cautionary statements included in this paragraph. The Company assumes no obligation to provide public updates of forward-looking statements.
1720 North First Street
San Jose, CA 95112-4598
Shannon Dean
(310) 257-1435
Source: finance.yahoo.com
Test results show California's school-age English learners making progress - San Jose Mercury News
LONG BEACH — English-language learners in California schools showed gains this year, but still fewer than half were ready to join a fluent classroom, according to state test results released Wednesday.
The results of the 2011-2012 California English Language Development Test (CELDT) showed that 39 percent of the 1.2 million English learners tested were eligible to join a fluent classroom, up from 34 percent in the 2010-2011 school year.
Local school districts likewise showed improvement, though some, including Long Beach, still fall below the state average.
State Superintendent Tom Torlakson said the overall results show promising gains.
"We want every English learner to become proficient while making progress in all academic subjects," he said in a statement. "These results are making important strides toward English language fluency, which will help them tremendously as they work toward their educational goals."
The state Department of Education's CELDT is given to English learners in kindergarten through the 12 th grade each year to help determine whether such students are ready to enter a fluent classroom. School districts also take into consideration scores on other state tests, as well as the opinions of teachers and parents, when placing students.
Students in grades two through 12 must score at the early advanced or advanced level to meet the CELDT criteria for English-language proficiency.
The number of English
learners scoring at the advanced levels has jumped by more than 9 percent since 2006.Los Angeles County showed gains this year with 38 percent of students meeting the CELDT criteria, up from 34 percent the previous year. The county tested more than 333,000 students.
The Long Beach Unified School District scored lower than both the state and county with 35 percent of its students who were tested meeting the criteria, up from 30 percent the previous year. The school district tested 16,000 students.
LBUSD spokesman Chris Eftychiou said the school district's criteria for testing and placing students is more rigorous than the minimal state standards, which may account for the lower CELDT scores.
Eftychiou said the more rigorous program is designed to help English learners boost their skills before they transition into fluent classrooms and help with overall academic performance.
"If the LBUSD criteria to redesignate students were lower, these students might have exited (the English learner program) but would then likely struggle as reclassified students," he said.
In ABC Unified, 48 percent of students tested met the CELDT criteria this year, up from 45 percent in 2010-2011.
Bellflower Unified saw some of the highest percentages in the area with 49 percent of its students meeting the criteria, up from 45 percent the previous year.
In Downey Unified, 42 percent of students met the criteria, up from 37 percent. In Norwalk-La Mirada Unified, 42 percent met the criteria, up from 38 percent.
An estimated 44 percent of students met the criteria in Paramount Unified, up from 39 percent the previous year.
California is home to the nation's greatest number of students learning English.
More than 23 percent of students enrolled in California public schools are English learners, and the majority - 71 percent - are enrolled in the elementary grades, according to the state Department of Education. An estimated 83 percent of English learners speak Spanish as a first language.
kelly.puente@presstelegram.com, 562-714-2181, twitter.com/kellypuentept
Source: www.mercurynews.com
Painting the Express blue - Malaya - Online Edition
Painting the Express blue
By A Web design Company
WHEN everything’s falling into place for Rain or Shine, it is practically unbeatable.
The Elasto Painters showcased this anew by coasting to a 102-96 victory over Air21 last night to solidify their hold of the top spot in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The victory, Rain or Shine’s third, came because the team is clicking on both ends of the court, according to coach Yeng Guiao.
“We’re playing the kind of game we want,” said Guiao after his team matched its best-ever start under him in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup.
“We had balanced scoring, good ball movement and switching well in defense,” he added. “The only thing I’m not happy about is we missed a lot of free throws. But aside from that, I’m happy with the result.”
So sharp were the Elasto Painters they bucked 10 missed charities to post as much as an 84-64 spread in the third quarter and went into the last 5:07 of the game with a very comfortable 98-80 cushion.
Air21 was in the game only in the first 25 minutes. Once Rain or Shine’s sizzling game kicked in for a 71-53 difference, there was very little doubt right of the coming outcome.
Import Jamelle Cornley scattered 21 points and 14 rebounds. The markers were five below his average, but he had plenty of help this time.
Jeff Chan wound up with 16 anchored on a 5-for-9 three-point shooting, Gabe Norwood added 13, all in the second half, and Ronjay Buenafe 11 despite going 0-for-7 from beyond the arc.
Import Zachary Graham led everybody with 37 points and 20 rebounds but only Paolo Hubalde was the lone other double-digit scorer for Air21 with 10 and all were made in the first half as the Express dropped to a 1-2 win-loss slate.
“Their import is a fantastic scorer, one who carried the team on his shoulders with his scoring ability,” noted Guiao. “But the gameplan was really to shut down Ren-Ren Ritualo and (Mark) Isip, who always played well against us. We really prepared in defending (against) those two.”
The strategy was carried out to the letter as Ritualo was held to only nine points and Isip just two after notching 17 in a 97-86 win over Talk N Text last Saturday.
Guiao said the lopsided outcome is no real gauge of the kind of game Air21 is capable of.
“Air21 is a deceivingly strong team,” pointed out Guiao. “One would think they’re an easy team to play, but when you play them papahirapan ka.”
It was therefore imperative for his team to keep its focus. “One thing we hand in mind was that nobody relaxes, mentally, even if we had a good lead. We should achieve what we’ve set out to do.”
Norwood was at the forefront of that crucial third quarter assault, when he scored nine of his points, including a picture-perfect alley-oop dunk and a triple.
Ryan Arana, Jervy Cruz and Chan also lent big hands, with the latter completing a four-point play and nailing a shotclock-beating triple for that 20-point spread, 1:21 left in the period.
Cornley’s twinner sandwiched three-point plays by Jireh Ibanes and Buenafe that spelled a surge that plucked the E-Painters from a 78-90 count and into that 98-80 lead.
Source: www.malaya.com.ph
California cities lose latest effort to keep redevelopment money - LA Observed
This is funding for projects that the cities say had been conceived before the state killed off redevelopment agencies. But a Superior Court judge would not grant a request from Glendale, Pasadena and other cities to block the payout of property taxes later this week to schools and local governments. Keep in mind that the California Supreme Court has already ruled that the state is entitled to the money. From the LAT:
Cities believe some of that money belongs to them and should be used to pay for local projects such as parks, affordable housing and freeway intersections that had been agreed upon before Gov. Jerry Brown won his battle to eliminate California's 400 municipal redevelopment agencies late last year. Brown argued that the state can no longer afford redevelopment, and the $5 billion in property taxes they take in each year will now flow back to school districts and counties. But cities and the state have been fighting for months about the way the agencies are being dismantled.
More lawsuits are expected on individual projects.
Source: www.laobserved.com
California Senate Primary: Welcome to Crazytown - Mother Jones
It's easy to see why credible GOP candidates might turn down the opportunity to face Feinstein. California is very blue territory, and President Barack Obama is expected to carry the state easily this November—and increase Democratic turnout. In 2010, an election year that was disastrous for Democrats almost everywhere outside of California, Feinstein's Senate colleague Barbara Boxer won reelection by 10 points. The Republican candidate Boxer crushed was Carly Fiorina, a world-famous multimillionaire executive. None of the GOPers lined up to face Feinstein are so prominent—or well funded.
This year, the bigwigs at the state Republican Party are pulling for Elizabeth Emken, a financial analyst who once lobbied for the autism advocacy group Autism Speaks. Despite a relative lack of political experience—she came in fourth of four candidates in a Republican congressional primary in 2010—Emken may be the most mainstream of the GOP contenders. "All of the candidates are certainly interesting people, but Emken's our guy," says Micah Grant, deputy communications director of the California Republican Party, who claims he is "extremely confident" about the GOP's chances to take this seat.
But for the GOP to be successful in the fall, one of its candidates has to survive the top-two primary. Emken is polling at just 2 percent—leaving an opening for just about any of the other 13 Republicans to seize a spot on the November ballot. A handful of competent but largely unknown candidates, including Oceanside businessman Dan Hughes, end-the-fed libertarian Rick Williams, and tea partier John Boruff are also polling in the 1-2 percent region. The rest of the GOP field is a potpourri of true believers, conspiracy theorists, and novelty candidates, each one bringing a strikingly unique profile to the party.
One of the most recognizable GOP candidates is Orly Taitz, a dentist and former real estate agent who entered the national conversation in 2009 as a leader of the birther movement. In 2010, Taitz mounted an unsuccessful bid to become the GOP nominee for California secretary of state—she was defeated by a 3-1 margin by Damon Dunn, a former professional football player. She is now upbeat about her prospect for unseating Feinstein, citing her supposed search-engine-mentum.
"Based on looking at the Google searches, you see that there is more interest—worldwide interest, actually—in my candidacy than Feinstein's," contends Taitz, the self-described "anti-establishment candidate" who says she is taking on the "the official California GOP puppet," meaning Emken.
Taitz's platform includes offering tax credits to companies that eschew outsourcing, kicking off a trade war with China, and starting an ambitious desalination program (similar to those found in Israel and India) to solve water shortages.
And she has not given up birtherism, declaring that the long-form birth certificate Obama released is a fraud. She promises that she'll take the issue all the way to Washington, provided she topples Feinstein and Obama beats Romney. "I will bring this challenge to the floor of the Senate…and intend to call an emergency hearing," Taitz tells Mother Jones. "Forgerygate is 100 times bigger than Watergate. President Obama would be smart to leave [office] before the 2012 election and get a pardon from Biden."
Orly Taitz isn't even the most colorful Republican candidate in the race. That honor probably goes to Nachum Shifren, an Orthodox rabbi who previously made a failed run for California state Senate in 2010. As a public figure, Shifren stands at the cultural intersection of surfer bro, Hasidic Jew, and far-right agitator.
At times, it sort of seems like Shifren's bio was stolen from a Dos Equis commercial. He's worked as a competitive swimmer, a Malibu lifeguard, a language teacher, a rabbi, and served in the Israeli Defense Forces. Over the years, he's cultivated a reputation as the "surfing rabbi" of California…and of the entire world, really. Shifren started Jewish Surfers International, an organization he used to "take people surfing" so that they "get turned on to the divine energy of the ocean." He's authored two books, including 2001's Surfing Rabbi: A Kabbalistic Quest for Soul.
Shifren is also known for his ultra-conservative tendencies and extremist ties. When he's not espousing tea party values or getting chummy with politicians like Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), he can be found railing against Muslim communities. "I am an Islamophobe!" he proudly shouted in front of a crowd of supporters in San Mateo in early May. One of Shifren's pet causes is supporting the English Defence League (EDL), an anti-Muslim protest movement in England that has been described by the Observer as a "dangerous cocktail of football hooligans, far-right activists and pub racists."
"[Muslims] eat each other alive, like the dogs that they are," Shifren said on stage at an EDL rally in 2010. "We shall prevail, we will not let them take over our countries. We will never surrender to the sword of Islam." The Shifren campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
For Republican primary voters in California who don't think Shifren's Shariah-takeover narrative is conspiratorial enough, there's another candidate to consider: Robert Lauten. He regularly blasts Feinstein for having "blood on her hands" for supporting "Obama's unconstitutional Libya war" and "Obama's unconstitutional Syria war." (For the record, the Obama administration has not, as of press time, intervened militarily in Syria.)
Lauten is a staunch advocate for the impeachment of Obama, whom he calls a "warmonger." Much of Lauten's campaign website is dedicated to providing links to outlets such as Alex Jones' Prison Planet and Lyndon LaRouche's LaRouchePAC—two online hotbeds of acute wingnuttery. Lauten also regularly touts his three-step plan for boosting America's ailing economy: reinstate the Glass-Steagall Act, shore up a Hamiltonian credit system, and revive the North American Water and Power Alliance project from the '60s. Lauten's campaign didn't respond to multiple requests for comment.
And for Republican voters in California turned off by tea party champions and conspiracy theory enthusiasts, there's another candidate: evangelical Christian and Afghanistan war veteran Dirk Konopik. If he wins, he vows, one of his top priorities will be to introduce legislation for a total ban on pornography in the United States. By the way, his campaign website is set to a soundtrack of crashing thunder and ominous sound effects.
Source: www.motherjones.com
California offers first test case for Google's robot cars - Fort Worth Star-Telegram
More Americans are starting to pay attention to the lack of privacy while online.
Two events that have been part of this awakening:
1) News that Google's Street View picture-snapping cars also collected private information from homes it passed by.
(Google Street View car from thecarconnection.com)
2) The constant difficulty of maintaining proper privacy settings on Facebook (have you tried to find the privacy settings tab lately?)
Now comes California, usually first in the nation in trends of all kinds, looking at a problem soon to be faced by every other state in the nation. Should it pass a state law that allows robot-driven cars to pararde through its streets?
The obvious beneficiary of this is Google, which wants to deploy the photo-snapping cars without human drivers.
Google is already testing such cars now.
California Senate Bill 1298 is now up for grabs in the State House after unanimous passage in the state Senate. The bill permits "autonomous vehicles" on California roadways.
In a protest letter to the California House Speaker, the group Consumer Watchdog seeks to kill portions of the bill. The group leaders write that the company lost its trustworthiness with the so-called "Wi-Spy scandal, the largest wiretapping effort ever, in which Google's Street View cars sucked up emails, passwords and other data from private Wi-Fi networks in 30 countries around the world." Read a report from the group here.
Google was fined $25,000 by the Federal Communications Commission for obstructing its investigation, Consumer Watchdog reminded the speaker. The company first blamed an engineer, but the FCC later determined that the company was aware of the operation.
The group wants any new law to ban the collection of private data.
The bill is a test case. Even if the House passes the bill, Gov. Jerry Brown would have to sign it into law. Soon enough, the whole world will be watching to see what happens.
Read California State Senate Bill 1298 here.
# # #
The above report comes from Star-Telegram Watchdog columnist Dave Lieber. Reads his reports at Star-Telegram.com. Visit his Facebook page for more stories like this. Follow him here on Twitter @DaveLieber to get news like this.
Source: blogs.star-telegram.com
South Africa deal not to show 'rude' Jacob Zuma painting - BBC News
A South African art gallery has agreed not to display a controversial painting of President Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed after reaching a deal with the ANC.
The painting has sparked fierce debate about the balance between freedom of expression and the right to dignity.
Hundreds of ANC supporters protested outside the gallery on Tuesday.
The painting, The Spear, was defaced last week. It will also be removed from the Goodman Gallery's website.
Under the deal, the ANC has agreed to drop its legal action demanding that the gallery remove the painting from its exhibition and the website.
The red, yellow and black acrylic painting showing Mr Zuma echoing Soviet images of Lenin was taken down after it was covered in red and black paint.
On Monday, South Africa's City Press newspaper said it was removing the image of the painting from its website following threats by the ANC.
In a joint news conference, ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said: "Maybe we should not have gone to through lawyers, we should have talked directly."
Goodman Gallery director Liza Essers said: "I believe in the right to freedom of expression and the South African constitution."
"Brett [Murray, the artist] is very saddened by the hurt that the painting has caused," she said.
The ruling party said the painting was "rude, crude and disrespectful" towards President Zuma and wants all images of the painting online and elsewhere taken down.
In an affidavit served on the City Press newspaper, Mr Zuma said: "The portrait depicts me in a manner that suggests I am a philanderer, a womaniser and one with no respect."
President Zuma, who has four wives, has previously sued local media companies 11 times for defamation.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Furniture Market in China 2012 - Latest Report - SBWire
Naperville, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/30/2012 -- The Furniture Market in China will be boosted by the rising income coupled with booming real estate sector, resulting in increased demand for furniture products.
The report begins with an introduction section, comprising the definition of furniture along with the key characteristics of the overall furniture industry. The report provides an illustration of the furniture industry framework, wherein it depicts the structure of the market, distinguishing between the organized and unorganized sector. The furniture market overview section provides a brief idea about the global scenario and the share of different regions in the global furniture market. This is followed by an overview of the furniture market in China, providing details on the domestic furniture market size in terms of market value and its growth. China’s online travel market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 22.8% annually up to 2015. It also mentions the size of Guangdong furniture market with its growth prospects in 2012. Furthermore, a detailed illustration about the Chinese furniture industry in terms of growth in production volume, industry output value and industry sales output value is covered as well. Additionally, the report provides a description of major furniture production bases and the key furniture trading hubs in China.
The report provides detailed information about the exports and imports of furniture products covering country-wise import and export for the year 2011. Import and export data provided are in value terms.
Factors driving the growth of furniture market in China are also explained in detail. Healthy economy coupled with rising income is providing impetus to the growth in furniture market. China’s GDP is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.68% during 2010-15. Booming real estate sector will lead to increasing demand for products from the furniture industry. Real estate market in China, comprising of residential, commercial and office building sales, has grown at a CAGR of 18.2%. Accelerating urbanization and changing consumer lifestyle will allow the players to increase their customer base. Furniture exhibitions along with strong distribution network provide sales opportunity for the furniture market. Furniture retail sales have grown at a CAGR of 25%. Changing demographics and rising tourism provide opportunities for the players to capitalize upon.
Industry players operating in China also face challenges which are impeding their development and growth. Import dependency for sourcing raw materials and tightening housing measures have been identified as major challenges. This has led to a decline in the growth rate of property sold, adversely impacting the county’s furniture demand. Increasing competition coupled with rising operating costs and the prevailing credibility crisis hampers the growth of the furniture industry.
The report also mentions the government standards adopted for supporting sustainable development of the overall furniture industry. It provides a detail illustration on the Chinese government’s old-for-new furniture subsidy program in 2012.
Emerging trends in the furniture market include rise in luxury furniture market, emergence of newer varieties of furniture, furniture malls, increasing presence of foreign retailers and growing online portals dedicated to furniture products for facilitating the overall functioning and development of the market.
This is followed by the mergers and acquisitions section, illustrating the recent mergers and acquisition activities that have taken place in the furniture market. This section includes the announced date, closing date, target, buyer/investor, seller and deal size.
The competition section outlays the competitive landscape of the furniture industry in China briefing about the domestic and foreign players existing in the market. This section provides a three dimensional analysis of domestic key players’ revenues, profits and market capitalization. The key domestic players are ranked according to the total income and net profit. The report also features brief profiles of major domestic and foreign players in the market and a snapshot of their corporation, financial performance along with the key financial ratios, business highlights and their product portfolio providing an insight into the existing competitive scenario.
Some of the key statistics or factors impacting the furniture market in China covered in the report includes furniture industry framework, share of the global furniture market, domestic market size, Guangdong furniture market size, furniture production volume, furniture industry output value, furniture industry sales output value, furniture production bases in China, top furniture producing provinces, furniture trading hubs in China, furniture export, furniture import, growth of GDP, urban disposable income, urban consumer spending, sales of buildings, floor space under construction, increasing rate of urbanization, share of international visitors in furniture expo, rising retail sales of furniture, young adult consumer base, growing tourism market in China, sawnwood imports, log imports, country-wise imports, floor space sold, list of government standards, share of transactions in online portals, expansion plans and list of furniture mall operators.
Key takeaway section summarizes the entire market in terms of opportunities, trends and challenges persisting in the furniture market in China.
To view the detailed table of contents for this report please visit: http://www.reportstack.com/product/78727/furniture-market-in-china-2012.html
Source: www.sbwire.com
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