Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-Pasadena, formally let the world know today that come March 11, he'd like the job being vacated by House Speaker Fabian Nunez.

Assemblymember Anthony Portantino Announces Candidacy for Assembly Speaker

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) announced his intention to run for the position of Assembly Speaker.

“With the date now set by the Caucus, I would like formally announce my candidacy for Speaker of the Assembly. I intend to meet with my Assembly Democratic colleagues to make my case on how to move California forward. I believe my performance to date and my positive, consensus-building approach to tackling California’s challenges shows I have something to offer,” Portantino said in announcing his bid.

The Assembly Democratic Caucus today agreed to hold a vote for Speaker on March 11th.

Despite being a freshman legislator, Anthony arrived in Sacramento with heavy-weight status, drawing attention from the party apparatus for the enormous sum of cash he raised.

Anthony really had no chance of losing to his opponents in late 2006, but raised the money just to show that he could. Trying to find my story from the time but it seems to have escaped the grasp of our internal archive.

Not a lot of attention was paid to Proposition 93, but now that the term limit "tweak" has been defeated, all the uncertain political futures -- from lines of succession to chamber migration -- can be cast.

Voters kept pols like state Sen. Jack Scott, D-Pasadena, from having to make a decision on whether to seek another term -- he's out. Sighs of relief from the likes of former Assemblywoman Carol Liu who can move forward with seeking his seat as planned.

Posted by Todd at 3:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Haven't had a chance to mention much of anything, let alone Saturday's story about the bustle at Obama HQ in Old Pasadena, but the Schiff->Armenian->Obama trickle-down support bore out somewhat on Thursday:

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) endorsed Barack Obama as the Democratic candidate best positioned to bring fundamental change to how the United States addresses issues of special concern to Armenian American voters.

"The Armenian National Committee of America is proud today to endorse Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "Based on his strong record in office, his bold statements as a candidate, and our judgment as to the policies he will pursue as President, we believe that, among a strong field of Democratic candidates, Senator Obama will best reflect the views and values of Armenian American voters."

The official announcement came during a press conference held at the ANCA Western Region headquarters, featuring remarks by Obama supporters, Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) and L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti as well as ANCA National Board Member Raffi Hamparian and Armenians for Obama Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian.

Continue reading "Obamania-n" »

Posted by Todd at 2:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"Just when I think I'm out, they keep pulling me back in."

Because I missed losing half of the most frenetic day in the newsroom ... and because Producer Stuart Johnson made with the puppy-dog eyes, I joined the fine people of KPAS to appear on the new City Beat with the inimitable likes of Tami DeVine, Barry Gordon and Steve Madison of District 6.

Topics included Pasadena Heritage's bid to designate the Central and Lower Arroyo a protected cultural landscape, the YAC and -- as much as I wished otherwise -- Measure D.

City Beat airs on cable channel 55 and streams throughout the week.

Posted by Todd at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Spoke to Adam Schiff about an hour ago before he got on a South Carolina-bound flight, he gave a quick update on agreement for an economic stimulus package:

-- "Rebate checks to 117 million families"
-- "$35 million low-income familes will get tax relief as well."
-- Part of a $150 billion package, "a modest boost" but "given the size of our economy it will be modest but helpful."

UPDATED: Gary Scott, who removed me after lobbying to be included on this blog roll, offers his erudite take:

This is casino economics. Let the drunk who's down $500 at the craps table gamble the house's money and fleece him for another $700 as he tries to dig his way out of the hole he's in.

Posted by Todd at 1:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Federal investigators raided the Pacific Asia Museum this morning and are still there -- we'll have something online shortly.

Federal agents raid Pasadena museum

PASADENA - Federal agents raided the Pacific Asia Museum this morning as part of a multi-year investigation into illegal smuggling of southeast Asian and Native American artifacts.

Officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service and the National Park Service spent the morning rummaging behind the red iron museum's doors, as employees and visitors watched outside.

According to a search warrant, the museum accepted stolen Thai archaeological resources and conspired to falsify tax returns in November 2005.

Employees showing up for work this morning said they did not know what was going on. One employee said she thought all the commotion was from people waiting for a tour.

"We're as interested in knowing the answers as the IRS is," Museum Director Joan Marshall said. "We're cooperating and we're happy to do that."

Photo by Raul Roa, staff photographer: An Immigration & Customs Enforcement special agent, left, and an Internal Revenue Service agent, center, stand in front of the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena on Thursday as an employee enters the building. The officers executed a federal search warrant at the museum.

Posted by Todd at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

What was nothing more than a little story by Janette Williams about a popular(?) reality show filming a scene on the steps of City Hall has rocked the far reaches of the Realityverse.

Posted by Todd at 4:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Good to see The Pasadena Thorns Web site still exists! Go Thorns!

Posted by Todd at 3:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Someone called last week when Bobby Fischer died who'd been friends with him during his Pasadena days:

Fischer then went into hiding, apart from one impulsive television appearance and the occasional game. He had already renounced his Jewish heritage by joining a sect called the Worldwide Church of God, based in Pasadena, to which he donated a large chunk of his winnings. In 1978, he sued a magazine that had criticised the church, but then accused the church of reneging on a promise to finance the lawsuit.

In May 1981, he was wandering around Pasadena, shabbily dressed and with a flowing beard, when a policeman spotted him and thought that he might be a bank robber. He was arrested after refusing to answer the lawman's questions. A year later, he described the experience in a diatribe which he published under the title, "I was tortured in the Pasadena jailhouse"

Posted by Todd at 2:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Parade as stress test for color television:

New York Times
Monday, January 4, 1954
Television in Review: NBC Color
Tournament of Roses Parade is Sent Over 22-City Network
by Jack Gould
Severe Test Passed - New Year's Program, a 'Bevy of Hues'

Color television's most exacting test came with the National Broadcasting Company's outdoor pickup of the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena California. The New Years Day Program was the first prolonged presentation of color video under circumstances where, unlike a studio show, neither lighting, nor movement could be controlled. All things considered, the results were exceedingly good.

The Tournament of Roses parade had the largest audience thus far, probably several thousand persons to see color TV at one time. The American Telephone and Telegraph Company, in a amazingly speedy engineering accomplishment, put together a color network of twenty-two cities to which the Radio Corporation of America had rushed equipment. A number of set manufacturers also held demonstrations of color receivers in different cities.

With so many sets in operation, each subject to relatively critical tuning controls and possible vagaries of electronics, the quality of the tinted images from Pasadena undoubtedly varied on some receivers. But, overall, there is no question that the essence of the parades panorama of color was projected successfully on home screens some 3000 miles away. In comparison the monochrome pictures seen on existing receivers seemed virtually meaningless.

As the two NBC color cameras scanned a succession of elaborate floats, assorted military units, and other parade features, the scene was a veritable bevy of hues and depth; at other times the close-up was better. Occasionally there were overcasts of one tint or another but these disappeared with movement of the camera.

To concentrate so much color information within the frame of a small screen would be difficult for even the most gifted artist doing a "still" painting. To do it with constantly moving pictures seemed pure wizardry. Especially interesting from a technical standpoint was the remarkable stability of the individual colors as the NBC camera moved quickly from left to right and back again. On one set at least there was no perceptible streaking.

The Tournament of Roses parade, received locally from 12:15 to 1:45 P.M., did emphasize several problems for the home viewer. In the broad daylight and sunshine, it was necessary to draw the shades and cut out all glare if the colors on the TV screen were not to be washed out. This frankly, was a nuisance.

Another difficulty related to the size of the picture. The disadvantage of a small color image - roughly 12 1/2 inches - was much more noticeable with the parade than with earlier studio programs. And, since it is necessary to sit much farther away than from a black and white set, one wonders how big a color tube will be practical. Finding a happy compromise between picture size and viewing distance could be tricky for the engineer and the viewer, particularly if the latter must start rearranging furniture again.

Continue reading "SEVERE TEST PASSED!!eleven!" »

Posted by Todd at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Fortunately many indulgences of years' ends past counter the fact I'll be asleep by midnight to get a pre-sunrise start tomorrow.

As much delight I take in covering Pasadena, working the obligatory parade day coverage also comes at the cost of carousing. A fortuitous convergence of friends in town this weekend made for a Saturday evening well-spent at the Molino House. Bilious, rabid props to Caroline An for picking up my weekend shift in exchange for undisclosed concessions from myself.

Posted by Todd at 12:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My open letter to East Pasadena, at least those in the Hastings Ranch area:

Your galaxy of lights, constellations of incandescent color illuminated my earliest holidays. What happened? Forged from the marketplace of neighborhood competition, the once-inventive displays and original exhibitions have been either discarded or replaced with identical, store-bought pablum. I lost count of the identical, inflatable fixtures festooning the fronts of your homes.

Seriously, I don't know if homeowner turnover or aging is a factor in the darkening of Pasadena's Nor'easter climes, but the whole thing is looking shabby, apart from a few proud hold-outs.

Too many Frosty the Wal-Mart Doppelganger clones, so few ass-kicking displays of American holiday independence. Don't let your next Christmas be an inflatable one.

Posted by Todd at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

So I sat on the phone with editor Kate Kealey struggling with a football metaphor for the headline for Thursday night's Rose Bowl-USC story, but "incomplete" just didn't lend itself to pithiness.

This Trojans-at-the-Rose-Bowl thing is a case study in the political paralysis that takes hold when no one wants to "be the bad guy." No one wants to offend or slight. Getting past the question of whether USC was really serious -- their aggressive approach signified willingness -- the real issue was UCLA.

But UCLA didn't want to be the bad guy and outright say "no." The all-boys club of the The Rose Bowl Operating Company didn't want to say "no" to USC.

Nor were they interested in putting their only real tenant in the position of having to be the bad guy.

What entertainment transpired during the closed session meeting, I can sadly only speculate upon. They were supposed to adjourn at 6:30 p.m. At around 7 p.m., all but Chairman Bill Thomson and stadium general manager Darryl Dunn (maybe one more) came out and took their seats. After 15 minutes, they all got up and went back because Thomson wasn't returning.

It was bizarre. By 7:45 p.m., they were back out with a non-statement statement which little satisfied the assembled media: We didn't say no and we didn't say yes. Which is really no, without having to say it. It was like staring at a tasty dessert and pretending not to want it. UCLA appointee WIlliam Cormier wasn't present immediately after they returned from closed session, likely reporting to his bosses. (Not to suggest any official would consider applying disclosure rules differently.)

That's politics. Never a straight answer. The board and Thomson do deserve credit for doing the right thing and not leaving it at 'We have nothing to report in accordance with the Brown Act' and leaving the room seething. They took questions. But instead of bringing resolution to the whole thing however, they confused some people into taking it at face value, which is why people of authority loathe real journalism. They much prefer a transcription service.

Rose Bowl passes on USC lease

PASADENA - Trojan football remained homeless Thursday night after the Rose Bowl passed on a lease offer extended by USC.

Although the stadium's board voted unanimously to turn down USC's offer - yet left the door open - it was the 800-pound Bruin in the room that weighed on the decision.

"The Rose Bowl Operating Company believes its best interest at this time is to allow USC and the Coliseum Commission to continue its negotiations at this time," said RBOC Chairman Bill Thomson, before going on to say that USC should have further talks with UCLA.

Under the Rose Bowl's contract, UCLA's blessing would be needed for the stadium to host another team.

Addressing board members before the meeting, a USC spokeswoman said her school admired "the deference that this body has shown to UCLA" but reiterated the sincerity of USC's interest.

Continued ...

Continue reading "Trojan interruptus" »

Posted by Todd at 11:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Visiting City Hall online, I saw the home page is currently this image of a Trojan looming over the Rose Bowl. Someone is having fun.

The only thing that's going to bring Trojan football to the Rose Bowl next year is if the USC paints itself into a corner with this all-or-nothing campaign to win concessions from the Coliseum. And despite efforts by the Governor and Mayor (who always get their way, right? <.<), it sounds like they could end up with nothing, aka our beloved Rose Bowl.

Coliseum commissioners receive threats

The bitter standoff between USC and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum intensified Thursday as members of the stadium's governing board reported getting death threats from angry fans while legislators worked behind the scenes to revive negotiations.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are looking for ways to help broker a deal that would keep USC from moving its home games to Pasadena's Rose Bowl.

If anything, relations between the university and stadium officials appear to be growing more acrid.

But then again, someone suggests L.A. Times editors are frustrated USC alums who've had enough with the Coliseum Commission.

Posted by Todd at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett writes to the fans today.

Dear Fellow Trojan:

It gives me no pleasure to write a letter of this kind, but there are issues facing our university that you need to understand. The University of Southern California has been negotiating diligently for months, trying to renew USC’s lease with the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and trying to get guarantees that USC’s football team and fans can enjoy home games in a completely renovated and improved stadium.

Of course our beloved Rose Bowl is probably just being played to wedge concessions from the Coliseum, despite USC's Dickey assurances to me -- with deadpan sincerity -- the deal was go from their side and only depended on Pasadena approval.

Posted by Todd at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

I'm savoring the irony that as one of the most ambivalent, least sports-literate person in the media, I have the juiciest story of the day:

UPDATED: Since appearing here and on our web site just before 5:30 p.m. this story has shot all over the place. Always oddly thrilling.

USC in talks to begin ‘08 season at Rose Bowl

By Kenneth Todd Ruiz
Staff Writer

PASADENA — USC is seeking a two-year agreement to bring Trojan football to the Rose Bowl next year, stadium officials confirmed Tuesday.
USC’s frustration with the Coliseum Commission has led to recent talks about bringing the team to Pasadena which will culminate early next month at a meeting of the Rose Bowl Operating Company, according to USC Senior Vice President for Administration Todd Dickey.
“Although we have been a faithful tenant of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for 80 years, we must now seek other alternatives for the good of our football program and our fans,” Dickey said.
Rose Bowl management isn’t ready to count Trojan ticket sales before they’ve hatched, however.
“It’s unfortunate that the Coliseum Commission and USC are evidently at an impasse, and we recognize the goal of both parties to work things out,” said Rose Bowl stadium General Manager Darryl Dunn. “We think it’s likely they’ll be able to resolve their differences.”
Any Trojan incursion into the lair of the Bruins would depend on UCLA’s comfort with the plan.
“They’re our primary tenants,” Dunn said.

Continue reading "Trojans at the Rose Bowl?" »

Posted by Todd at 5:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

For everyone to start complaining about how early the rites of FestiChristmakuhzaa marketing have begun yet again.

Immortal Dodger Tommy Lasorda will weigh in at the Old Pasadena Tree Lighting Ceremony, which also kicks off the Charles "Chuck" Cherniss Tournament of Toys, one of my Google alerts reports. Full disclosure: The Star-News is a sponsor of the annual charity event.

P.S.: Dear One Colorado, you should renew your domain name before it gets shanghai'd by someone.

Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda Joins Old Pasadena's Tree Lighting Ceremony

Old Pasadena is pleased to announce the addition of Baseball Hall of Fame Manager Tommy Lasorda to the One Colorado Tree Lighting Ceremony, Friday, November 23 at 6:00 P.M. The Tree Lighting Ceremony culminates a day of holiday festivities throughout Old Pasadena featuring spectacular performances, Santa's arrival, live reindeer and real snow. All activities take place Friday, November 23, from 4:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. and are free and open to the public.

Everything kicks off at 4:00 P.M. with Old Pasadena's own winter wonderland located on Holly Street between Raymond and Fair Oaks. Kids can play in 30-tons of real snow, see live reindeer fresh from the North Pole, ride a holiday choo-choo train, draw in a kids' art area sponsored by The Armory Center for the Arts, and enjoy live music at this spectacular children's winter playground.

Posted by Todd at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I ended up checking out Vicente Fox's appearance at Caltech, as per this story that didn't make it into the paper.

We were going to have a photo run, but despite Caltech assurances, Fox's PR people banned any photography inside Beckman Auditorium. Because ... there is so much commercial appeal to a picture of the ex-prez in front of a red curtain ...

Yelling things out in support of Fox was fine, but if you yelled out anything critical or insulting, a big goomba gave you the arm-walk out of the room. Best moment goes to Caltech Pres Jan-Lou Chameau, for pointing out that vocal criticism of public figures is de rigueur in his home nation.

Fox: Immigration debate flawed
By Kenneth Todd Ruiz, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 10/16/2007 10:00:59 PM PDT

PASADENA - Isolation, not immigration, poses the greatest threat to the United States, former Mexican President Vicente Fox said Monday night at Caltech.

Fox underscored ascendant aspects of Mexico's economy and criticized the construction of a border fence, the war in Iraq and what he characterized as "misinformation" in the debate about immigration.

"Immigration is not only an issue of legality and illegality, it's human histories and it's families divided," he said, while urging further unity in North America in the face of consolidating centers of economic and political power in Europe and Asia.

Although the audience inside Beckman Auditorium was mostly favorable to Fox, about one dozen protestors rallied outside and security removed one man from inside before the former president even took the stage.
"He's a thief. He has no shame. Don't listen to him!" the unidentified man shouted during opening comments by Caltech President Jean-Lou Chameau.

"This reminds me of France," Chameau said.

Continue reading "Online only" »

Posted by Todd at 12:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Big names descend on Pasadena today.

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox gives a free lecture @Caltech's Beckman Auditorium at 8 p.m.; Governor Arnold is at the Western Justice Center at the moment.

Posted by Todd at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Opting to leverage my soul-crushing insomnia into journalistic opportunity, I wandered out from Casa del Todd and walked three blocks north to Vroman's to scope out the scene of tomorrow's PlayStation 3 iPhone Halo 3 Bill Clinton.

By 3:30 a.m., 26 souls awaited His Presence on the Boulevard sidewalk. Some were collectors, others just wanted to bask in His Mojo and the only person I met actually from Pasadena admitted to being paid $40 by a friend to get a book signed.

From El to Arr: Bob and Janice of Santa Clarita wait with Joe Freedman of Cypress and Ernie Soto of Ontario. They arrived around 9 p.m.

Posted by Todd at 4:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Paul Little's comment reminded me I had a photo of him and PUSD Trustee Scott Phelps from the '05 Follies

Given that the theme of this year's show, "Pasablanca," is a take-off of black and white films of the '30s and '40s, I couldn't possibly imagine who will be cast in Humphrey Bogart's role ...

Proceeds of the Oct. 21 show benefit the senior center. Ann, who writes the script, gets a hand this year from Director Jerram Swartz and music director Barry Gordon.

Participants in recent years: Sue Mossman, Rich Boccia, Tim Brick, Scott Jenkins, Percy Clark, Kevin Uhrich, Larry Wilson, Nina Chomsky, Bill Bogaard, Cynthia Kurtz, Tom Coston, Hall Daily, Victor Gordo, Michele Bagneris, Chris Holden, Kicker Mckenney, Richard Gray, Kellye Wallett, Paul Little, Jan Sanders, Scott Phelps, Darryl Dunn, Rick Barr, Martin Gordon, Rich Roche, Jim Plotkin, Monsignor Tobias English, Roberta Martinez, Arnie Siegel, Paul Lines, Richard Bruckner, Barry Gordon, Lena Kennedy, Teresa Lamb Simpson, Sid Tyler, Fred Messick and others.

Posted by Todd at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

What part of "public property" does this man not understand?

Access to information -- for all -- has long been under assault. We have to fight more than ever for access to meetings, public records from City Hall, the school district, the police department, the federal government ... and with fewer resources with which to do so.

As reporters we're not entitled to any privileged status, but exercising the legal entitlements held by every citizen is part of our job. This is the fundamental stuff of democracy here -- how to know what the hell your government and the people in it are doing.

Yet we grow increasingly indifferent to these notions and shrug off our Duty to exercise our Rights. We are to blame for allowing it to happen. Freedom is like that novice writing advice: Show me, don't tell me. Talkin' about ain't no substitute for doin' it.

If you don't like it, move to Myanmar.

In that vein, my first ever Banana Republic Award goes to this security guard, who works at Indymac on Lake Avenue between Colorado and Union, who took it unto himself to prevent Star-News photographer Sarah Reingewirtz from taking a picture from the sidewalk today as a fire crew searched for the source of a fire inside.

Sarah tried to explain the concept of a public street to the man. "Now you're just being silly," was the scofflaw's reply.

Posted by Todd at 1:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

ACT sponsors Dennis Kucinich this weekend at the home of political consultant Fred Register. My first question to Fred was if Elizabeth K. would be there. He couldn't confirm her attendance either way. :(

IN THE FIRST OF A SERIES HOSTING THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES PLEASE JOIN US AS ACT PRESENTS

DENNIS KUCINICH -- PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR PEACE

SATURDAY AUGUST 11, 2007, 2-4PM

AT THE HOME OF JEANNE AND FRED REGISTER 2345 MIDLOTHIAN DRIVE, ALTADENA,
CALIFORNIA

$25 PER PERSON, OR $40 TO JOIN ACT AND ATTEND EVENT

ALL PROCEEDS TO FUND ACT-ENDORSED 2008 CANDIDATES

RSVP BY PHONE AT 626-797-7021 OR RSVP BY MAIL: P. O. BOX 40074, PASADENA
CA 91114-7074

Posted by Todd at 6:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

A worn park brought back to life with music for the masses? Sound familiar?

MacArthur park has been Levitt-ised and kicks things off today:

Councilmember Ed P. Reyes and the Friends of the Levitt Pavilion - MacArthur Park ... Wed., Aug. 8, at 8 a.m. will kick off of a free concert series at the newly-renovated The Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts at the MacArthur Park Bandshell at the northwest corner of the park, near the intersection of W. 6th St. and S. Park View St.

The summer concert season, which runs Aug. 8 - Sept. 16, includes 30 free weekly-themed evening concerts. The World Music, Dance Rhythms, Música Latina, American Roots and Children's Night concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Sunday concerts begin at 6:30 p.m.

UPDATED: Free evening concerts at Pasadena's Levitt Pavilion are online here.

Calendar/schedule for the new location in MacArthur Park, courtesy of the Ed Reyes media machine.

Posted by Todd at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Eye Level Pasadena has pictures from Saturday's Really Really Free Market.

Proctor For Mayor Proctor in St. Louis has two new top-ten lists: New Features at City Hall and Reasons I should be the Rose Parade Grand Marshal

Our fine media syndicate has launched another blog, this time it's reporter Frank Girardot with a crime blog at Crime Scene.

West Coast Grrlie discovers architecture in Arcadia.

Posted by Todd at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The New 7 Wonders experiment has ended. Great Wall, Colosseum and The Taj? Sure. Petra, Machu Picchu and Chichen Itza? Amazing sites, but meh, there are greater "Wonders."

Christ Redeemer? Now is it just me -- a mere minion of the Godless press -- or is one statue a hella lame Wonder?

Of course Cambodia doesn't have the tourism nor did it orchestrate a campaign as did other countries in the running -- votes were apparently subsidized in Brazil -- but not including the ancient and expansive Khmer temple complexes collectively known as Angkor Wat is absurd.

I've visited a number of the sites that were under consideration. Getting up close to a place like the Taj Mahal cuts through all cliche and oversaturation to evoke true awe and wonder.

But I've actually toured and retoured the complexes around Siem Reap/Angkor Wat on two separate Cambodian incursions, because their wonder occupies an entirely different scale.

Here's a link to the Cambodia section of articles and pictures on my now defunct travel site.

So I've been, er, wondering what people vote as the Seven Wonders of Pasadena? Or should we say the San Gabriel Valley? (Does imagination and wonder exist east of the 605?)

What do you think? Any suggestions? (Let's pretend to be serious for a moment.)

To qualify it has to be something humans have inflicted upon the environment (aka "man made") such as City Hall, the Rose Bowl or the Colorado Street Bridge.

If leaving a comment is too "public" feel free to e-mail me at todd.ruiz@sgvn.com.

Oh, and remember, Friday is the deadline
for submissions to the Peppermint Gardens contest.

Posted by Todd at 9:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (41)

Hey the Foothill Cities Blog headline ("The Proctor is In")was good enough for the Weekly to lift ("Proctor's in at City Hall").

The Noticeable One is begrudgingly settled into St. Louis and has resumed tele-blogging Pasadena at ProctorForMayor.com.

Apparently he has a new preoccupation: http://www.proctorformayor.com/2007/07/06/nevermind-the-bogaards/

Is everyone ready for the experience? I mean, Aaron Proctor & The 11% Experience! My fake band that I wish were real.

This is what my first album, entitled “Nevermind The Bogaards” (Sex Pistols reference for those not inclined) would contain:

1. “Stand & Deliver” (cover of the Adam Ant classic, of course)

2. “I Left My Parking Permit On El Molino”

3. “West Coast Gothy Blather”

4. “Crown City Rockers” (A parody of “Clash City Rockers” by The Clash)

5. “Mr. Touchdown USA” (Victor Gordo tribute)

6. “The Pomona Bloggin’ Blues” [featuring Publius]

7. “Chris Holden (Out For A Hero)”

8. “Affordable House of The Rising Sun”

9. “Murder Bus 187″ [featuring Master P-Little]

10. “Incense & Peppermint Gardens”

11. “I Love You With 11.2% Of My Heart” (Proctor’s Love Theme)

12. “Fly Me To The JPL”

13. “It Ain’t Easy Bein’ Green Party” (duet with Koebel)

In stores now! Only three easy payments of $21.99 + shipping and handling!

Posted by Todd at 4:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So Prentice Deadrick didn't write me back about his new opportunities, or why he left CCAFS. In the year or so I covered the Pasadena Unified School District -- even while Prentice was school board president -- he never returned a phone call on a wide range of issues, yet publicly complained about being misrepresented.

I thought I'd slipped into Bizzaro Pasadena when he rushed out of a school board meeting late last year to ask why I posibly could have said such in a Nov. 24 story:

After resisting for months the replacement of embattled Superintendent Percy Clark, Deadrick stepped down from the post of president after a majority voted to do so.

Deadrick, who has not granted an interview since shortly after he assumed the post of board president in May ...

But this update is about something much more important than my complaining. And we'll get back to Prentice.

This update is about no less than the salvation of the human race: THE TUNGUSKA BLAST(TM)!

First, some background:

STARDATE 1908: According to historians Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, it was none other than the Vulcans -- in an act of benign intervention to protect pre-warp, Western civilization -- behind 1908's mysterious meteor impact in Siberia.

Little did we know, one century later, the "miracle of 1908" would be the key to a new era of personal fulfilment.

Little did we know, that blast would nurture "thousands of herbs, roots, and fruits reborn from the ashes of the mysterious Tunguska Event" [sic] infused with what scientists discovered as "the ten most concentrated with therapeutic properties and natural nutritional benefits." [sic]

Okay, grammatical failures aside, that sounds pretty damn good.
Better. Faster. Stronger. The Tunguska Blast(tm) will set us free!

And there is one man in Pasadena who wants to share its power to "boost your energy and stamina," "support your immune system," "increase your mental clarity," "enhance your physical performance" and "much more!"

That man is Prentice Deadrick, Tunguska Blast!(tm) salesman and multi-level marketer.

Little did we understand the true virtue of the Vulcans' act. Is Prentice their instrument on Earth?

He didn't reply to my e-mail, but he did reply to Janette Williams' request for comment re: accusations of academic misconduct made against former Pasadena Councilman Isaac Richards -- now Isaac Haqq -- at a charter school listing Prentice as Chairman of the Board.

Prentice's statement wasn't terribly interesting: "I have no comment on the matter. Thanks"

But his e-mail signature/footer:

Prentice D. Deadrick
PDD Consulting-Cyberwize Services
575 Cliff Drive.
91107
Office: 626.351.2022
FAX: 626.351.0746
Cell: [Redacted]
http://cyberwize.com/prenticedd

From Prentice's section at the CyberWize home page:

"CyberWize is the first company to tell the story of the miracle of 1908 in Tunguska, Russia. Now the event that changed history nearly 100 years ago is ready to change your future."

Of course there are skeptics (Romulan agents no doubt!!1!) always quick with their hurtful and damaging accusations of "scam." They also mention terms like "pyramid scheme" but I'm pretty sure this has to do with a crater, not a pyramid.

I tried to join the CyberWize movement, but got stuck at the part where it asked for $1,200 to "automatically activate three Tracking Positions by fulfilling the one-time 600 personal BV requirement." (I think this is jargon for how many people would be healed)

Click the "continue reading" link below to see what more credible sources had to say, such as the Better Business Bureau, the Economic Crime Division of the Florida Office of the Attorney General and much, much more!

Continue reading "Catching up with Prentice" »

Posted by Todd at 6:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Were Dennis truly a menace to the power elite of the Democratic Party instead of a fringey, conscience candidate ... his appearance Sunday in Altadena probably would be neither free nor open to the public.

Posted by Todd at 9:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Drama-free agenda + Obamania = hour-long council meeting.

Apart from a scintillating discussion of solid-waste franchising (apparently 40+ outfits hauling trash means a lot of big, polluting trucks) the council hardly met Monday.

At least three members beat a hasty exit to share a moment with presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama.

Councilmen Chris Holden, Steve Madison and Mayor Bill Bogaard were at the fund raiser where Barack reportedly introduced Bill with an enthusiastic "Give it up for Bill Bogaard!"

Technorati Profile

Posted by Todd at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Not sure how to feel about this. Last time I saw the POPS was at the Rose Bowl during last year's Conflagration of July, wincing beneath an uninspired fusillade of poppy anthems.

Richard "Richie Ramone" Reinhardt was a smoking fast drummer, but he technically stopped being a Ramone 20 years ago when he quit the band.

The Pasadena POPS Proud to Announce Richie Ramone of The Ramones Featured Artist with The Pasadena POPS

Legendary Ramones punk-rock drummer Richie Ramone drum solo of West Side Story.
WHERE: Descanso Gardens.
WHEN: Friday August 17, Saturday August 18, and Sunday August 19.

May 29, 2007 -- To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the musical West Side Story, Richie Ramone, acclaimed punk rock drummer from the Ramones, performs the WORLD PREMIERE of the "Suite for Drums and Orchestra based upon Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story arranged by Ron Abel under the direction of Richie Ramone".

The shows will delight music fans of all genres. For three sensational nights in August, the 17th, 18th and 19th, when classically trained Richie Ramone of the world famous Ramones takes the stage at Descanso Gardens, the styles of punk rock and classical will finally merge in a moment that will be nothing short of historical.

Continue reading "It's a long way from CBGB" »

Posted by Todd at 1:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Pasadena Councilman Victor Gordo likes columnist Robert Rector's suggestion we outsource Pasadena's council. (link is to Bob's blog, where his print columns are archived)

As long as it means taking his $1,270.52/mo to India, where it will keep him lousy with samosas.

"I think we need to establish a task force to review the idea," he says. "That's the Pasadena way."

Weekly Kevin Uhrich spares nuance in his obligatory take on outsourcing Pasadena reporting:

Are rewritten press releases really news? Are two people who happen to live in another country and can apparently write in English better than native-speaking Macpherson really reporters? For that matter, is Macpherson actually a journalist?

The answer to all of those questions is no.

Kevin makes the case for why Pasadena Now isn't journalism, but did anyone ever confuse it with such? It's a community bulletin board where everyone can sound and look as good as they'd like. Which is fine.

James has made it clear he isn't interested in publishing things that might get him "in trouble" and gives the impression he once removed an article after receiving a complaint from the Old Pasadena Merchants Association.

Someday I'm going to publish a coffee-table book of all the outrageous, furious demands that hit my inbox.

My favorite, emergent argument is that long-distance reporting will be "more objective." And it's true, given that self-styled media critics -- the red-faced and sweaty kind that fume about our bias when we don't just reprint The Official Reckoning -- have turned 'objectivity' into a euphimism for superficial and not insightful.

By that logic, I should consider a career as a sports writer, given my complete ignorance of any and all things athletic. But, damn, I'd be objective!

Posted by Todd at 6:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

The medieval malady that has left me stupid-sleepy with the off-brand Nyquil is the chief reason I didn't make mention yesterday of James Macpherson's implausible plan to improve Pasadena journalism..

But I'll confess to other distractions. I spend too much time on the phone, talking to people I have established relationships with in the city I've lived in or near all of my 32 years. From residents and police officers to municipal staff and politicians, I try to construct an an idea of not only what is going on, but why.

Personally, I welcome the participation of two Sahib scribes from the subcontinent. I can't wait to read their dispatches. Jamie's free post on Craigslist has bought millions worth of international publicity, but we'll see if Pasadenans take the bait.

Altogether, I've spent the better part of a year in India. From Lucknow's colonial relics, to Varanasi's mystical ghats, Agra's tourist ghettos, Delhi's choke of Mughal/colonial alienist architecture, Mumbai's cultural surrealism, Rajasthan's fading splendor and innumerable points in between. Shouldered a cherrywood sitar across many longitudes before it made it back to Pasadena. In fact, I've still got time left on my 10-year visa.

I've even written in the past about India's interesting collisions between ancient norms and contemporary culture, the significance of the rise of the BJP/Vajpayee, the inveterate/beloved angst with little brother Pakistan and the open wound that is Ayodhya.

But could I cover the Punjab's Vidhan Sabha? Would Chief Minister Sardar Parkash Singh Badal go off-the-record with me over a carafe of wine? (From my experience in Amritsar -- he might -- but only in his parents' attic with the shades drawn)

Perhaps we've been going about it all wrong. Maybe I've been wrong to think Editor Larry Wilson would write me up if I tried to cover council meetings over the Internet. Maybe ... I can have my cake and eat it to. Get that little studio flat off Soi 7 I've always wanted in Bangkok -and- write for the Pasadena Star-News.

For now, I wish Jamie luck. It seems he's poured all of his time and energy into Pasadena Now. I just hope he understands the critical concept of baksheesh.

For more, read: Foothill Cities' take.

Larry Wilson's column

Posted by Todd at 1:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This from Star-News reporter Molly Okeon:

Former Saturday Night Live cast member Nora Dunn, who was on the popular late-night show from 1985-1990, is apparently a reader of the Pasadena Star-News.

Continue reading "Star power? Get real..." »

Posted by Todd at 4:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm not entirely sure what this is. This YouTube video posted three days ago is either a Dadaist critique of our somnambulent, consumer culture; or just a trio of stoned 20-somethings with a camcorder.

Not to sound paranoid, but I think they might be making fun of us.

Obligatory warning: A saucy expletive is shouted during a particularly harrowing moment as our protagonists contend with the unilateralism of Green Street.

Posted by Todd at 10:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This from Star-News reporter Janette Williams:

The death of Anna Nicole Smith prompted a call from Rose Tree Cottage owner Edmund Fry. He recalled the late starlet’s visit last year to the tearoom, a temple to all thing British on California Boulevard. An autographed photo immortalizing the event is on show with the