Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words

Articles from the April 4, 2016 edition


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  • 3.4 Magnitude Earthquake in Port Hueneme

    Observer Staff|Apr 4, 2016

    An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.5 struck 7 miles west southwest of Port Hueneme in Ventura County early Wednesday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The quake struck at 4:44 a.m. and had a depth of 0.7 miles. Observer readers in Ventura and Oxnard reported feeling the temblor. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. Interestingly, the quake comes at the same time that a volcano in Mexico erupted, 400 miles to the south of the Santa Clarita earthquake's...

  • LA County Board of Supervisors Adopts Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones

    County of LA, Press release|Apr 4, 2016

    LOS ANGELES – April 5, 2016 – On Tuesday, the LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed the final ordinance and program details of the Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone Program. With this new program, property owners can lease their land to farm or community garden operators in order to receive a reduction on property taxes. The principle objective behind the program, enabled by Assembly Bill 551 passed in 2014, is to increase urban access to local fresh fruits and vegetables while...

  • ASSOL Law School a No Go

    Observer Staff|Apr 4, 2016

    George Mason University recently renamed its law school after the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia -- and then quickly realized the acronym that name created was problematic. The school first announced it would change the name to The Antonin Scalia School of Law, or ASSoL, after receiving an anonymous $30 million donation on March 31. Observers took to Twitter to comment on the acronym's similarity to a vulgarity, with many of those tweeting not a fan of the conservative justice. The...

  • First Resettled Syrian Refugee Family From Surge Arrives in US

    Associated Press|Apr 4, 2016

    AMMAN, Jordan – The first Syrian family to be resettled in the U.S. under a speeded-up "surge operation" for refugees left Jordan on Wednesday and arrived in Kansas City, Missouri, to start a new life. Ahmad al-Abboud, who is being resettled with his wife and five children, said he is thankful to Jordan, where he has lived for three years after fleeing Syria's civil war. But the 45-year-old from Homs, Syria, said he was ready to build a better life in the U.S. "I'm happy. America is the...

  • Disneyland Worker Killed in Haunted House

    Observer Staff|Apr 4, 2016

    Police are investigating after a member of staff at Disneyland Paris was reportedly found dead in the theme park's haunted house. The 45-year-old technician is thought to have been electrocuted in the Phantom Manor on Saturday morning between 8am and 9am, just before the park opened to the public. The employee is believed to have been working on lighting at the attraction, which was immediately closed. The ride features zombies, a ghostly dog and a skeletal bride and promises to turn visitors'...

  • 3.4 Magnitude Earthquake in Santa Clarita

    Observer Staff|Apr 4, 2016

    A small earthquake has rattled parts of Southern California, but there have been no reports of damage or injury. The U.S. Geological Survey says the 3.4 magnitude quake hit at 9:50 p.m. Monday and was centered about 4 miles south of Santa Clarita in northern Los Angeles County. A sheriff's deputy in Santa Clarita says there have been no calls as a result of the quake. Interestingly, the quake comes at the same time that a volcano in Mexico erupted, 400 miles to the south of the Santa Clarita...

  • Wright Bros' Patent Application Found

    Observer Staff|Apr 4, 2016

    Archivists looking for them have found Lost plans for Wright brothers' 'Flying Machine' found after 36 years, the Washington Post reports. After being displaying in 1980 Bureau of National Archives accidentally sent them to a limestone Kansas cave where millions of records of less historical importance are stored. No one had seen them since. One recalls the final scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark, where the Ark of the covenant is sent to a U.S. Government storage facility allegedly to be studied...

  • Dr. Henry Oster Spoke About Holocaust at SMC, April 5

    Grace Smith, Santa Monica College|ERROR

    Santa Monica College will present "Even in Hell, There is Hope," a free talk by Holocaust victim Dr. Henry Oster, who survived the Łódź Ghetto, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Death Camp, and Buchenwald. The talk will be held at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, April 5, in Humanities and Social Sciences Lecture Hall 165 on SMC's main campus, 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. Seating is on a first-arrival basis. Dr. Oster will talk about some of his experiences and the importance of holding out hope under the direst...

  • Carpet Questions? Go See Ruben

    David Ganezer|Apr 4, 2016

    My wife finally made me drag that rug in our storage pile downstairs to a rug store. I took it from a client in exchange for $1000 in services about 20 years ago. It's a nice rug, I thought. But it's been, well, lying around ever since. With reluctance and a last yell from the wife, I threw the old rug into the backseat of an Acura, then sped off to Ruben's Rug Gallery & Jewelry. "Hand Wash Carpet & Repair Old & New Silver Handicrafts," says Ruben Saidan's card. Saidian really knows his rugs. He...

  • Airlines Conspire to Drive Up Ticket Prices, says consumer group

    Kevin Mitchell, Business Travel Coalition|Apr 4, 2016

    William J. Baer Assistant Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20530-0001 RE: Airline Coordination on Airfare Policy Dear Assistant Attorney General Baer: I write to you on behalf of corporate, university and government organizations that purchase large volumes of commercial airline services. We have a concern that American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines may have recently coordinated on a complicated and comprehe...

  • Griffin Is Back But How Effective Will He Be?

    Mitch Chortkoff, Sports Editor|Apr 4, 2016

    I went to Staples Center Sunday to see a basketball game. Instead, I saw a workout. Blake Griffin was returning to the Clippers after missing 45 games due to a broken hand, a torn quadriceps and a four-game suspension. He was in the starting lineup but as the game progressed I realized he wasn't going to be featured in the Clippers' offense. He was beginning to get back in shape by running up and down the court, making careful passes and only occasionally taking a shot. He took only seven shots...

  • Food Conference Shouldn't Be a Food Fight

    Eric R Gustafson, CEO of an animal fat company|Apr 4, 2016

    VERNON, Calif. (April 4, 2016) – To the Consumer Federation of America: The National Food Policy Conference, which convenes on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., describes itself as "a key national gathering for those interested in agriculture, food and nutrition policy." But this year, "those interested" is looking like an exclusive club. Your organization, the Consumer Federation of America, invited Nina Teicholz, author of The Big Fat Surprise and an enthusiastic champion of meat, dairy and...

  • Propane Rocket Kills T.O. High School Student, 18

    David Ganezer|Apr 4, 2016

    A homemade rocket exploded Monday night at Madrona Elementary School, killing a 17 year old Thousand Oaks High School, and injuring his friend. Police identified the boy as Bernard Moon, 18, and described the device as a "propane filled model rocket attached to a skateboard." The propane propelled rocket appears to have gone off in Moon's hands, said Ventura County Fire Department Captain Mike Lindbery. When the rocket didn't ignite as planned, Moon went to investigate and the device exploded...

  • Das Kapital by Karl Marx: The Process of Capitalistic Production

    Shankaran Menon, Author|Apr 4, 2016

    Some twenty years agone I had read this remarkable book by Karl Marx, merely Volume one of the author's four volumes created over two decades of work in exile, though he made a home of England. They were intended for three printed books. It ended up as six printed books ! Marx himself published only the first book, then had a mild stroke, and was unable to finish the rest. But such an outpouring of heart, intellect, wit, and analysis made Volume one a world classic some years on, though not in...

  • Report: 80 Indians Dead in Temple Fire

    AP|Apr 4, 2016

    A huge fire broke out at Puttingal temple at Paravaur (Kollam District), Kerala early Sunday morning leaving at least eighty dead and over a hundred injured, local media said quoting police officials. The fire took place at around 3.30 am this morning. According to reports, the fire could have been caused due to a blast in the firework stockpile, readied for the temple celebrations. The police had earlier warned temple authorities to restrict usage of fireworks. A building at the temple then...

  • North Korea Mobilizes for First Party Congress in 36 years

    Reuters|Apr 4, 2016

    North Korea is stepping up propaganda a month ahead of a rare Seventh Party Congress in May. An editorial that ran on Thursday in the Rodong Sinmun reflected on the past – particularly on the Third Party Congress held 60 years ago in 1956. North Korea stated the country built a brilliant path to "creation and construction" during the Third Congress, and that the Seventh Congress is to be equally "historical." The editorial also poured scorn on the "U.S. imperialists and South Korean puppets"...

  • Samohi Theatre presents "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"

    Events|ERROR

    Samohi Theatre presents "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" Friday & Saturday, April 8 & 9, 7pm and Sunday, April 10, 5pm Runs through April 16 Tickets: $15 general admission, $10 seniors/students. Early arrival suggested. Information: 310-395-3204 x71241 Santa Monica High School, Humanities Center, 601 Pico Blvd. Opening Night is less than 24 hrs away. Get your tickets now and don't be turned away at the door. Come See Samohi's Hilarious Spring Musical in the Humanities...

  • Feds Set Up Fake Univ. to Entrap Foreign Students

    Observer Staff|Apr 4, 2016

    The University of Northern New Jersey fielded no sports teams, held no graduation ceremonies and had no instructors, classes or degree programs. It did have a very attractive website that promised an "exceptional" education for foreign students wishing to study in the U.S. It was a sham from beginning to end, and it was created by federal authorities, who used it to arrest 21 people on charges they conspired to help more than 1,000 foreigners fraudulently keep or obtain student or work visas...

  • LASD Investigates Unknown Adult Body, Found Burned in Covina

    Deputy Ryan Rouzan, Sheriff Information Bureau|Apr 4, 2016

    Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide detectives are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of an adult that was discovered Friday, April 08, 2016, at 2:04 pm, in the 20900 block of east Mesarica Road, unincorporated Covina. Detectives learned that San Dimas Sheriff Station deputy personnel responded to the location regarding a structure fire call. Upon arrival, deputy personnel saw Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel on scene extinguishing the...