Unusual News
A Push from California for Veterinarians to Lead on Medical Pot for Pets
He’s not exactly prescribing bong hits for pets, but a California veterinarian may be the first in the country to formally offer consultations on how to medicate sick pets using marijuana.
Dr. Douglas Kramer wants to see veterinarians take the lead in using marijuana to treat pets suffering painful and terminal illnesses, rather than rely on the corporate world or well-meaning, but misguided individuals. read more
Oakland Is the Most Exciting City in the U.S.—Really!
Movoto is serious in its praise. It used 10 criteria and applied them to the 50 largest cities in the country. The blog counted parks, bars, movie theaters, museums, theater companies and music venues, and gave brownie points for their presence. Credit was given for population diversity and the percent of young people between 20 and 34. They subtracted points for big-box stores and fast-food restaurants, although Black Friday sales and food-poisoning can be pretty exciting. read more
S.F. Selection of WikiLeaks Leaker as Gay Pride Parade Marshal Is Short-Lived
Manning’s announced selection to be an honorary grand marshal of the June 29-30 event was “a mistake and never should have happened,” Pride Board President Lisa Williams wrote in a prepared statement. Apparently, a rogue group of 15 former parade grand marshals, known collectively as the SF Pride Electoral College, voted to extend him the invitation. read more
Marijuana Farmers’ Market Draws a Crowd Despite Federal Crackdowns
In addition to local pot enthusiasts, buyers for large dispensaries like Harborside Health Center in the Bay Area show up to shop, according to a reporter for Modern Farmer. The professionals rub shoulders with “aging grandmas with short gray hair and faded North Face fleece.”
Rows of booths stuffed with produce like Pineapple Thai, Super Mango and Blue Dream belie the fact that growers and sellers risk arrest, incarceration and heavy fines for their activities. read more
Vehicle Air Pollution Found Farther from Freeways than Expected
If you think that you are safe from freeway air pollution because you live more than 1,000 feet from the source, think again.
A new study published in the journal Atmospheric Environment, based on information gathered by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and UCLA, extends the danger zone to more than a mile away. read more
Lawsuit against Trump “University” Reinstated by Appeals Court
Tarla Makaeff’s lawsuit, filed two years ago in U.S. District Court in San Diego, contends that the school uses high-pressure tactics and false representation to convince students to enroll in expensive classes that resemble infomercials more than seminars.
Makaeff paid thousands of dollars for classes and was told that her first real estate transactions would recoup all her money and more. So she figured that was money in the bank and paid another $35,000 for the “Gold Program.” read more
Black Passengers Sue US Airways for Having to Shed Hoodies in First-Class
Miles (from Long Beach) and MacCraig Warren (from Compton) filed suit in federal court alleging that US Airways discriminated against them last year when airline employees said they couldn’t be seated in first-class while wearing jeans, hoodies and a baseball cap, according to Courthouse News Service.
After getting on the plane, Miles Warren couldn’t help but notice that sitting in first-class with them was the white passenger, still wearing his jeans and hoodie. read more
No Answers for Mysterious Racehorse Deaths on California Tracks
Thoroughbred horses, which rarely just fall over dead, have been doing just that at a surprising rate on California racetracks.
Nineteen horses died suddenly of no apparent cause during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, according to the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB). Another 17 have similarly died in the months since. Only six such deaths occurred in 2010-11 and four the year before that. read more
Kamala Harris Flap Highlights Study that Female Political Candidates Are Hurt by Discussion of Their Looks
As for Harris, she received a personal apology from Obama. But the damage was already done, some analysts say. Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, told the San Francisco Chronicle that drawing attention to Harris’ looks was particularly unwelcome given that she holds “a traditionally-male position like attorney general, the top law enforcement officer in the state.” read more
Inspector General Finds a Wide Range of Prison Employee Misbehavior
A semi-annual report by the California prison system’s inspector general found that sex was a prominent feature in disciplinary cases involving corrections employees, but it was by no means the only way they misbehaved. read more
California Youth Are Eager to Register, but Not to Vote
Young people (18-24) registered in record numbers last year, thanks in large part to online registration, but reverted to slacker form when it came to actually voting. They are a growing part of the electorate (up 13.9% from 2008), but more than two-thirds of eligible young voters failed to vote in November. read more
Seldom Seen Tsunamis Pose Threat to Quarter Million Californians
Tsunamis have always posed a credible threat to California, but delivered little destruction over the past 150 years compared to other natural disasters like earthquakes or fire.
However, a report just released by the U.S. Geological Survey says 267,347 residents are sitting in a 20-county tsunami zone that is “likely to experience” the kind of devastation suffered by Samoa in 2009, Chile in 2010 and Japan in 2011. read more
Golden Gate Becomes First Major Toll Bridge in U.S. to Replace Human Toll Collectors with Machines
Officials say the use of the tag-based FasTrak electronic toll system will save money, with estimates varying from $8 million to more than $19 million over the next eight years. Drivers, including visitors, will have the option of having their license plates photographed and then pay online or by mail.
“I think what it is, sometimes we are the first, if not the only smile they get in the morning,” toll collector Jackie Dean told The New York Times. “And that’s for a lot of people.” read more
Editor of Rancid Student Newspaper Nailed for Trying to Rig Campus Election
Weaver was running for the Associated Student, Inc. (ASI) job, a position that pays $8,000 a year, along with four friends who were seeking other paying positions. The Huntington Beach native installed key logging software on a number of campus computers, obtaining 745 student IDs and passwords, 480 of which he used to cast votes electronically. read more
Man Landed on Oakland’s Most-Wanted List by Mistake, Couldn’t Get off
When the Oakland Police Department put Chau Van on its most-wanted list last year for a brutal attack in February, at least one person cowered in his home, afraid that he could be the next victim of a violent assault.
That man was Chau Van, an accountant incorrectly identified by the police as a wanted criminal and kept on the list for six months despite the city’s knowledge that they had made a mistake. read more
San Diego Eyes Marijuana Vending Machines, but First Has to Legalize Med Pot Dispensaries
Medical marijuana users in San Diego who don’t mind obtaining special scannable prepaid identification card, and are OK with having their picture taken and fingerprints checked, might be able to pick up their stash from vending machines soon.
But first the city council has to approve an ordinance making dispensaries legit. read more