2012: No more math and English remediation at Cal State U?

Cal State to Require Remedial Courses Before Freshman Year (Chronicle of Higher Education)

California State University will require academically deficient students to take remedial mathematics and English classes before starting their freshman year, the San Jose Mercury News reported today. The policy, which will take effect in 2012, aims to reduce the amount of time students spend on noncredit remedial work once they arrive at college, a process that often lengthens their undergraduate years. Roughly 60 percent of Cal State's new freshmen are judged deficient in English, math, or both.

Santa Anita, 1958

Cal State Will Require Remediation Before Enrollment

The California State University System has adopted a new "early start" policy in which those needing remediation will have to complete those courses before the start of their first year at the university, The San Jose Mercury News reported. The remedial courses will be available in the summer, or online to be finished during high school. Cal State officials say that the program will encourage more students to take the necessary steps to truly be ready to start college. But critics fear that the requirements will be difficult for those who must work at jobs after school or in the summer

Alex Chilton, dead at 59

Big Star, 1974

Take care not to hurt yourself
Beware of the need for help
You might need too much
And people are such –
Take care, please, take care

Some people read idea books
And some people have pretty looks
But if your eyes are wide
And all words aside –
Take care, please, take care

This sounds a bit like goodbye
In a way it is I guess
As I leave your side
I've taken the air –
Take care, please, take care
Take care, please, take care

Alex Chilton, Rock Musician, Dies (New York Times)

Alex Chilton, the mercurial if influential rock musician, whose work spanned an eclectic gamut from the soul songs of the Box Tops to the multiple incarnations of his pop band Big Star, died on Wednesday. He was 59 and was living in New Orleans.
. . .
Mr. Chilton, who grew up in Memphis, was just 16 years old when the Box Tops, in which he sang and played guitar, had a No. 1 hit with “The Letter” in 1967. When that group broke up in 1970, Mr. Chilton formed Big Star with Jody Stephens, Chris Bell and Andy Hummel. The band’s first album, “#1 Record,” in 1972, did not come close to fulfilling the commercial promise of its title, nor did the followup releases “Radio City” and “Third/Sister Lovers.” But their music – gentle and introspective songs like “The Ballad of El Goodo”and “September Gurls,” and exuberant anthems like “In the Street” – had a profound impact on generations of pop and indie acts that followed.

Perhaps the surest measure of the tug that Mr. Chilton exerted on subsequent artists can be found in the lyrics of the Replacements – another malleable rock act that moved more hearts than retail units – who sang in their song“Alex Chilton”:

“Children by the million
Sing for Alex Chilton
When he comes ’round
They sing, ‘I’m in love / What’s that song?
I’m in love with that song.’”

Big Star was scheduled to perform on Saturday at the South By Southwest festival in Austin. In a statement, the festival’s creative director, Brent Grulke, said: “Alex Chilton was an artist of the very highest caliber. It’s too early to do much but cry about our loss right now, but he’ll be missed, and missed more as the ages pass and his myth continues to expand – that music isn’t going anywhere. R.I.P. and thank you, friend.”

The Box Tops, 1967

Big Star, 1973

Big Star: Holocaust

“I’m a person of integrity,” says Quisling Boy

I guess the OC Reg’s Jennifer Muir was waiting around all day to see who would get their papers in by 5:00 p.m. to run for OC Treasurer, now that Chriss “corrupt pal of Tom Fuentes” Street has decided not to run for reelection—what with that nasty court case going against him and all. She just reported that four poor souls have made it to the starting line: Four join race to replace county treasurer

Naturally, one of ‘em is our own Dave “pal o’ Fuentes and Quisling too” Lang:

South Orange County Community College District Trustee Dave Lang, 56, is a CPA and shareholder in a small public accounting firm in Irvine. He is just beginning to drum up support, and he admits he'll have to make time to campaign since he's "a CPA during tax season."

"I think I'm very well qualified," Lang said Wednesday. "I'm a person of integrity, which the office needs."

Well, that tears it. Obviously, Dave, a guy who's been known to invoke the Lord in his role as community college trustee, doesn’t believe in God, cuz, if he did, he would surely believe that some serious fire and brimstone is headed his way saying something as absurd as, “I’m a person of integrity.”

(THE SAGA OF INTEGRITY BOY: Starting in 1996, David Lang was strongly supported by a group of faculty especially at Irvine Valley College. He was a strong and consistent voice of opposition to the "board majority's" Brown Act violations, its occasional disastrous misjudgments (e.g., supporting' Frogue's "Warren Commission" forum, despite warnings), and, especially, its support of Raghu Mathur (first as IVC President; later as district Chancellor). Five years ago, he suddenly changed tack, allying himself with Wagner, Fuentes (Mathur's most ardent supporter), and Williams, becoming the swing vote for Mathur's contract renewal. Since then, Lang (that "changer of men") has been a steadfast supporter of the hated Mathur, even as Mathur's boners and outrages piled up. Back in '05, there was a tense meeting in Laguna Beach in which many of Lang's longstanding faculty supporters asked him to explain himself. He offered no coherent explanation. Soon, the notion surfaced that Lang had political ambitions: he sought to become the Orange County Treasurer, and he had made some adjustments in order to eventually secure that office. —And now, of course, he is a candidate for OC Treasurer.)

(Apparently, DtB’s 1st reference to the rumored Fuentes/Lang “Treasurer” pact occurred in March of 2006, here)

She likes her job

JUST GOT BACK from my deposition—by the opposing side—for the “prayer” lawsuit. As expected, it was pretty grueling, but, if the peevitude of the Bad Guys' attorney is any indication, it went well.

Evidently, the maximum amount of time for deposing a plaintiff is seven hours, and they did use up all of those hours in my case. Whew!

And guess what! These dang district lawyers seem to spend all of their time reading Dissent the Blog! Most of the questions were about blog posts.

"Did you write this blog post?"

"Yep."

"Do you see paragraph 2, where you say such-and-such?"

"Yep."

"What did you mean by that?"

That's pretty much how the thing went. But who knew it would be all about this blog?

SOMETIMES, the depo was downright thrilling, like a Perry Mason episode. The lawyers would menace each other, spitting forth such remarks as, “I don’t care what you think, counselor!” and “if you do this I will bring you up for sanctions!”

Golly! During a break, I asked my attorney whether this kind of banter is unusual. “Nope,” he said. "Not with this case."

During one exchange of these pleasantries, I couldn’t help but break into a huge smile, watchin' 'em go at it. I looked over at the court reporter, who, I assumed, was also marveling at the fine display of venomous spewage, but she seemed utterly oblivious to it. Later, I asked her if she liked her job. “Yes,” she chirped. Then I asked, “Does part of your brain actually listen to this stuff as you write it down?”

“No!” she said.

Ha!

Man, these big, fancy law firms that the district hires are sittin’ in clover. The depo was done in a gorgeous office space on the eighth (and, I think, seventh) floor of a magnificent office tower very near the Mother’s Market in Irvine (near Jamboree and the 405).

The view was spectacular. I kept gawking at it, which seemed to annoy the opposing attorney, who seemed beyond appreciating such things and who wore jeans and had the bearing and civility of, say, a Mafioso.

Well, that’s how I spent my Wednesday. Pretty cool, eh?

Images for a warm Tuesday evening

Got some images here for you.

Irvine Valley College's theater people (aka "the thespians") have displayed the same dang photos in their box display at the center of building A200 for--well, I figure it's been at least 15 years. The Reb insists this stuff has been hanging around for a lot longer that that.

It's like these two-dimensional performers—and IVC's neglectful theater people—are stuck in a time warp.

The Reb asserts that the children of these performers are now attending the college. Could be.

(We're pretty sure that nobody in the Theater area reads this blog. So we're not too worried about offending them here or alerting them to our machinations.)

A few days ago, at the Reb’s prompting, a few of us were examining the display. We stood back as though we were patrons of an art museum. We marveled at its antiquery, its ridiculosity, not to mention its abject cheesery (what is this, freakin' "Guys and Dolls"?).

While we were jawing, I grabbed my key ring and looked for a key that might open the display (see the two locks?). I found a tiny, silvery key. Don't remember where I got it. Something told me to try it. I stuck it in the lock, and—what do you know?—it turned!

We swung open the door and then marveled at these faded artifacts, seen unobstructed for the first time in, um, decades or something. We sniffed the stale air, noted the dust.

Everybody started staring at my mystery key. "Where'd you get that!" they barked.

"Um, I was the chair of the School of Humanities and Languages once," I offered.

"Yeah, for like five minutes," said a peevish Rebel Girl.

Well, we left word with the dean—about this absurd display, about my key, about what use might be made of this nifty display box—and then disappeared into Spring Break.

* * * * *
Late last week, we started finding these very attractive fliers (see below) around campus. As you know, Saddleback College's Santander, Spain, "study abroad" program is now legendary, owing to the brutal demagoguery of a certain mean-spirited trustee—and the vigilance (and camcorder ownership) of two Dissenters.

Before that absurd/terrible/wonderful moment (about five years ago), the Saddleback program was merely "highly-regarded and very popular."

Now, it's mythic.

Nice flier. OK, I made one tiny change. Just couldn't leave it alone.

A picture of some oaks down the hill from my place, taken a week or so ago

“I was used,” he said

Supervisors strip Street’s investment authority

OC Reg “Watchdog” reporter Jennifer Muir reports that

County supervisors [today] unanimously voted to revoke Orange Countys Treasurer-Tax Collector Chriss Street’s authority to invest county funds.
. . .
Supervisors said … that while Street has done a good job as treasurer, the move was needed to prevent the public and investors from losing confidence in the county’s investment pool….

“It’s a sad day,” Supervisor Bill Campbell said.

Street recommended last week that the board temporarily remove his ability to invest county funds, but he suggested handing over that authority to the county’s elected Auditor-Controller David Sundstrom. The board rejected Street’s plan and instead gave investing authority to the county’s Chief Financial Officer Robert Franz. Street was not at the supervisor’s meeting.

Street was the court-appointed trustee for the End of the Road Trust, successor to the bankrupt Fruehauf Trailer Corp., from 1998 until creditors forced him out in July 2005. Supervisor John Moorlach hired him as the county’s assistant treasurer in January 2006, in effect making Street his designated heir in the June 2006 election.
. . .
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Richard M. Neiter ruled that Street wasted millions of dollars trying to create a truck-trailer manufacturing business that he could run, rather than liquidating assets as he was hired to do. And he found that Street used trust money to pay for everything from fancy dinners to parking tickets.
. . .

And the judge dismissed Street’s sworn explanations for his conduct as “absurd”, “inconceivable” and “incredulous.” He wrote that Street’s conduct as trustee “amounts to gross negligence and willful misconduct.”

Moorlach said he’s known Street since 1994, when he ran against Robert Citron for the treasurer. Citron’s risky investments later drove the county into bankruptcy, and Street, Moorlach said, was one of the few people who knew what Citron was doing.

But Moorlach says that when Street expressed interest in running for treasurer, he never told Moorlach about his issues with Fruehauf.

“I was not informed properly. I was used.” Moorlach reiterated Tuesday. “Fruehafuf [sic] was not a fly on the wall in a room. It was a Doberman Pinscher.”
. . .
Supervisors Bill Campbell and Moorlach called for Street’s resignation after the ruling. Street declined, and he’ll remain in office until the beginning of 2011. He has decided not to run for reelection, and the filing deadline to fill his open seat closes Wednesday.

Big ticket items

Lately, I’ve been looking at district/college expenditure information, which is routinely provided on board meeting agendas (available here). The amounts can be stunning. Unavoidably, I guess, there are some legal, architectural, construction, or technological support firms that routinely get huge checks from the SOCCCD, i.e., from the taxpayer. No doubt some of these firms do a good job and don’t soak us. Yeah.

I thought it might be interesting to highlight some of these bills. I perused the November, December, and January agendas. Below, I’ve assembled some of the “big ticket” items—plus other items that struck me as interesting for one reason or another. Please remember that all of this information is readily available to YOU at the district website (here).

NOVEMBER 2009 agenda:

0085912 • 10/08/09 • KEENAN & ASSOCIATES • $174,166.00 • PROTECTED INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR SCHOOLS 09/10

Founded in 1972, Keenan has grown to the 17th largest insurance broker in the United States. With a network of offices located throughout California and a staff of more than 600 insurance specialists, Keenan continuously provides unparalleled service and customized solutions to our clients.

Keenan is a full service broker, dedicated to providing superior insurance products and services. Our exceptional growth is directly related to our concentration on meeting the risk management, employee benefits, workers' compensation and property & liability consulting and brokerage objectives of public entities, health care systems and high-tech firms. (Insurance jobs)

0086042 • 10/13/09 • DELL MARKETING L.P. • $167,904.60 • BSTC COMPUTERS

0086043 • 10/13/09 • DELL MARKETING L.P. • $18,802.93 • BSTC COMPUTERS

0086153 • 10/14/09 • ACSIG/EDGE • $126,934.20 • DELTA DENTAL FY 09/10 FUND 01

0086159 • 10/14/09 • SISC III HEALTH BENEFITS • $1,034,409.00 • SISC (PPO) BENEFITS FY 2009/10 FUND O1

0086164 • 10/14/09 • SISC III HEALTH BENEFITS • $212,652.00 • BLUE SHIELD (RETIREE) BENEFITS FY 2009/10

0086209 • 10/15/09 • CLASS LEASING, INC. • $-489,945.00 • VILLAGE EXPANSION PROJECT & PORTABLE BLDG PURCHASE

0086215 • 10/15/09 • LAVEY ROOFING SERVICES, INC. • $183,100.50 • SSC BUILDING ROOFING SYSTEM

0086218 • 10/15/09 • PCN3, INC. • $246,972.18 • BID 296 B200 SCIENCE LAB ANNEX AND B239 CONVERSIO[sic]

PCN3, INC. was founded by Harry Abghari in 1999 in state of California. Ever
since, it has been involved in various public projects as Prime-contractor.
Over the years, it has performed variety of projects some of which are as
follows:
- LAX-soundproofing
- Santa Ana Housing Development
- School Modernization
- Public Park Renovation

0086266 • 10/19/09 • DELL MARKETING, L.P. • $58,623.62 • BSTC COMPUTERS

0086326 • 10/20/09 • EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT DEPT. • $81,992.23 • UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE QUARTERLY P/R TAXES

0086358 • 10/21/09 • DELL MARKETING L.P. • $130,775.10 • BSTIC TABLETS

0086393 • 10/22/09 • CLASS LEASING, INC. • $440,950.50 • VILLAGE EXPANSION PROJECT & PORTABLE BLDG PURCHASE

0086397 • 10/22/09 • NEUDESIC, LLC • $124,003.00 • SOFTWARE ENGINEERING DATA WAREHOUSE DEVELOPMENT

Neudesic is a Microsoft Gold Certified and Managed Partner with a proven track record of providing reliable, effective solutions based on Microsoft's technology platform. Neudesic's technical and industry expertise empowers enterprises to leverage technology to respond to business opportunities with a greater level of efficiency. (About N)

0086566 • 10/27/09 • RGP PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT • $45,987.23 • ATEP PROJECT

RGP is a specialist in the design and entitlement of community college campuses including master plan development, facilities design, and environmental documentation pertaining to CEQA and regulatory requirements. ¶ Pictorially represented to the left is the new Advanced Technology & Education Park (ATEP) at the decommissioned US Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin. This campus, the third of the South Orance County Community College district, is focused to educate students for careers in the fields of photonics, product modeling, "behind the camera" film and entertainment skills such as set design, costume and make-up, catering, set construction, audio, digital arts and related industry skills. RGP has also completed work on the Victor Valley Community College District Master Plan and the Glendale Community College Expansion Program…. (RGP case study)

DECEMBER 2009 agenda:

0086831 • 11/04/09 • MJ CONTRACTORS, INC. • $81,810.00 • VILLAGE EXPANSION SITE IMPROVEMENT

0086854 • 11/05/09 • IRVINE VALLEY COLLEGE • $115,572.71 • PURCHASE TEXTBOOKS

0086858 • 11/05/09 • KEENAN & ASSOCIATES • $139,333.00 • PROTECTED INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR SCHOOLS 09/10

0086958 • 11/06/09 • HCTD, LLC • $30,000.00 • ATEP PROJECT

[HCTD, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hudson Capital, LLC] Hudson Capital, LLC is a Los Angeles-based private real estate investment firm founded by Victor Coleman and Howard Stern. Hudson Capital seeks to invest primarily in assets focused in the Southern California markets. With over 50 years of combined real estate experience, the founding principals have successfully applied their real estate market knowledge, development and operations expertise in the entertainment real estate market. (Hudson)

0086996 • 11/09/09 • NEUDESIC, LLC • $149,183.00 • STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM YEAR 4

0086997 • 11/09/09 • NEXUS IS, INC. • $137,228.60 • BSTIC LP PHONES

Nexus IS, Inc. provides voice, video, data, and convergence networking solutions in the United States. It offers plan phase services, such as IP communications readiness assessments, IPCC design review and assessment, security architecture assessment, security vulnerability assessment, operations readiness assessment, operations detailed requirements plan, deployment project management, and detailed requirements plans…. (Nexux IS)

0087050 • 11/11/09 • QUALITY OFFICE FURNISHINGS • $51,106.74 • EXECUTIVE ASST. OFFICE IN STUDENT SERVICES

0087066 • 11/11/09 • gkkworks • $46,264.00 • CM SERVICES FOR VILLAGE EXPANSION

gkkworks is one of the fastest growing architecture firms in California. Our belief in the "master builder" concept is supported by inhouse construction professionals. We have offices in Irvine, Pasadena, Riverside and northern California. (gkkworks)

0087131 • 11/12/09 • DELL MARKETING L.P. • $30,902.48 • BSTC COMPUTERS

0087133 • 11/12/09 • ACSIG/EDGE • $127,225.00 • DELTA DENTAL FY 09/10 FUND 01

0087134 • 11/12/09 • ACSIG/EDGE • $42,605.92 • VISION SERVICES FY 09/10 FUND 01

0087140 • 11/12/09 • SISC III HEALTH BENEFITS • $1,036,091.00 • SISC (PPO) BENEFITS FY 2009/10 FUND 01

0087145 • 11/12/09 • SISC III HEALTH BENEFITS • $214,413.00 • BLUE SHIELD (RETIREE) BENEFITS FY 2009/10



JANUARY 2010 agenda:

087274 • 11/20/2009 • JACKSON, DE MARCO, TIDUS, & PECKENPAUGH • 51,130.85

At Jackson DeMarco Tidus Peckenpaugh, we provide practical legal advice and representation in a wide range of legal practice areas, encompassing business and corporate law, employment law, immigration, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, common interest subdivision, land use and environmental regulation, construction law, and tax and estate planning.

087278 • 11/20/09 • PCN3, INC. • 187,908.98

087343 • 12/01/2009 • NADEAU ENTERPRISES, INC. C/O CLIENT TRUST MCCLUNG & DAVIS • 36,581.13

We are dedicated to our families, our faith, our town, our state and our country. It is a time for paying attention to our hearts and forgiving those who threaten us. Our only refuge is ourselves. May each of us find peace right now. (McClung & Davis, lawyers)

087361 • 12/01/2009 • NEUDESIC, LLC • 300,950.00

087405 • 12/01/2009 • DOUGHERTY + DOUGHERTY ARCHITECTS LLP • 81,441.56

Dougherty + Dougherty Architects LLP specializes in the design of innovative environments for community and institutional clients. Dougherty + Dougherty is dedicated to designing facilities that meet functional demands, provide for future flexibility, enhance emerging technologies, respond to energy conservation and sustainability goals, and inspire and lift the human spirit…

087407 • 12/01/2009 • gkkworks • 48,149.71

087461 • 12/02/2009 • MJ CONTRACTORS, INC. • 97,335.00

087512 • 12/07/2009 • LLEWELLYN AND SPANN ATTORNEYS AT LAW • 19,046.19

David Llewellyn is a legal advocate, civil rights lawyer and law professor now practicing in Sacramento, California. He has a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of California at Los Angeles, the diplome from the International Institute for Human Rights, Strasbourg, France, a Master of Arts in English literature from the University of Tennessee, a B.A. from William Jennings Bryan College and has done graduate study at Dallas Theological Seminary. He is a member of the faculty of the Chapman University School of Law, where he has taught Constitutional Law and the First Amendment and currently serves as a law professor and legal counsel with the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence. He was formerly Dean and Professor of Law at Trinity Law School, Trinity International University, teaching constitutional law, international human rights, jurisprudence and legal advocacy. Previous to that he was a founder, President and senior legal counsel for the Western Center for Law and Religious Freedom, a public interest law firm….

087582 • 12/07/2009 • THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A. • 98,637.44

087583 • 12/07/2009 • CALIFORNIA POWER PARTNERS, INC. • 127,882.26

Calpwr is an industry innovator with a proven track record of delivering powerful independent energy solutions, faster payback, and superior maintenance to manufacturing facilities, corporate & academic campuses, commercial buildings, hotels & resorts, municipalities, and mid- to large-scale service organizations.

087654 • 12/10/2009 • KEENAN & ASSOCIATES ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE • 139,333.00

087675 • 12/11/2009 • gkkworks • 46,264.00

087677 • 12/11/2009 • HCTD, LLC C/O HUDSON CAPITAL, LLC • 30,000.00

087678 • 12/11/2009 • JACKSON, DE MARCO, TIDUS, & PECKENPAUGH • 49,230.10

087681 • 12/11/2009 • PCN3, INC • 89,707.14

087684 • 12/11/2009 • ACSIG/EDGE • 128,097.40

087685 • 12/11/2009 • ACSIG/EDGE • 42,899.08

087690 • 12/11/2009 • SISC III HEALTH BENEFITS ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE • 1,043,206.00

087695 • 12/11/2009 • SISC III HEALTH BENEFITS ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE • 211,274

087753 • 12/14/2009 • ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD & ROMO • 17,018.36

Over the last two decades, Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo has earned a strong reputation as one of California's most widely respected law firms. Our uncompromising approach to high quality legal work enables us to provide consistently practical management solutions in the areas of employment, labor, construction, education, real estate, general business and business litigation, corporate, taxation, bankruptcy, and immigration.

087767 • 12/14/2009 • DELL MARKETING L.P. C/O DELL USA L.P. • 25,943.45

087780 • 12/14/2009 • NEXUS IS, INC. • 268,630.67

088008 • 12/18/2009 • AUDIO VISUAL INTEGRATION SYSTEMS, INC. • 75,178.88

088010 • 12/18/2009 • DOUGHERTY + DOUGHERTY ARCHITECTS LLP • 81,023.25

088011 • 12/18/2009 • gkkworks • 17,049.07

088223 • 01/05/2010 • ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUDD & ROMO • 12,808.54