Occupy Sacramento lawyers say they will make a major announcement regarding the upcoming prosecutions of more than 60 people arrested at Cesar Chavez Park since Oct. 6. Wednesday at 8:15 a.m. at Superior Court (9th St. side at 720 9th St.).
Although no details are available, the announcements may involve some dismissals.
Many motions have been filed in Superior Court calling for the dismissal of all charges on the grounds that the law used by the City of Sacramento is vague, arbitrary and “chilling” to free speech.
Josh Kaizuka, one of 36 volunteer lawyers assisting on the case, says a hearing has been tentatively scheduled for Nov. 22.
Kaizuka represents Cres Vellucci, vice-chair of the ACLU Board of Directors in Sacramento. Velluci was arrested Oct. 6 for being at Cesar Chavez Park beyond a curfew.
Kaizuka’s filing says, “(T)here is no doubt that Defendant was participating in an organized meeting intended to vocalize a community’s disapproval of our nation’s distribution of wealth. This dissent was a political statement, and was, by all accounts, conducted in a peaceful manner … defendant was vocalizing his dissent at precisely the place where we, as a community, would expect: the town square.”
He said, in the “Demurrer,” that by arresting Vellucci and 83 others since Oct. 6 at Cesar Chavez Park, city officials and police “impermissibly interfered with constitutionally protected speech, at a place that for over 150 years has been the platform to protest for the right of speech and assembly. Cesar Chavez Plaza, in fact, is built on the location of the original California State Capitol Building site.” Kaizuka called the charges “vague,” and asked the court to throw out the case.
California, the place to be for innovation, is celebrating with SRI International, on the company’s 65 years of transformational innovation.
Stanford Research Institute was established in 1946, to conduct research and development and stimulate the economy after World War II. From then until now, with a name change to SRI (why do companies change their names to unintelligible gobbledygook?) they have been pioneering solutions that became part of our daily lives.
Looking back in time, we find their innovations include interactive computing and the computer mouse in the 1960s to current advances such as the Siri virtual personal assistant, minimally invasive telerobotic surgery, and electroactive polymer “artificial muscle. Their researchers and technogeeks continually push the envelope and move us forward, warping their amazing legacy into a future most of us haven’t even considered yet.
“In today’s innovation-based economy, the world is limited only by people with the skills that allow development of the abundant opportunities before us.”
- Curtis R. Carlson, Ph.D., SRI President and CEO
The SRI approach, known as the Five Disciplines of InnovationZ, is designed to create high-value solutions for clients and partners.
A Sampling of Recent SRI Breakthroughs that Impact Our Lives
Siri Artificial Intelligence
SRI technology is transforming communication and human-computer interaction. Decades of SRI research in artificial intelligence, including leadership of the largest known artificial intelligence project in U.S. history, led to the development of the groundbreaking virtual personal assistant technology called Siri. SRI spun off Siri, Inc. in 2007 to bring the technology to consumers. In April 2010, Apple acquired Siri, and in October 2011, Siri was unveiled as an integrated feature of the Apple iPhone 4S.
Improved Android Video Chat
Earlier this year, SRI video stabilization technology was embedded into Google Talk applications on AndroidZ devices–improving the user experience for video conversations, even if someone is moving.
Co-Developed Cancer Drug
In 2009, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved pralatrexate for the treatment of relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). Research on drugs of this class began at SRI in the 1950s.
Additional SRI innovations span a wide range of technical disciplines and global markets:
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
-- Artificial intelligence for robots (1972): SRI created Shakey, the first
mobile robot that could reason about its actions.
-- Advanced robotics (2000 - present): SRI has pioneered novel
surface-climbing robots, autonomous mobile robots, mapping software, and
medical robotics.
Computing and Internet
-- Banking (1955): SRI revolutionized banking with automatic check
processing and magnetic ink character reading (MICR), still a standard
on today's checks.
-- Personal computing (1968): Douglas C. Engelbart and his team introduced
many of the tools--such as the computer mouse and concepts of multiple
windows and interactive computing--that set the global computer
revolution in motion. SRI licensed the computer mouse technology to
Apple, Xerox, and other companies.
-- Internet (1969): SRI received the first transmission on the ARPANET, the
Internet's predecessor, and ran the Network Information Clearinghouse,
which assigned domain names, for decades.
-- Wireless communication (1977): SRI sent the first transmission across
three disparate networks: satellite, the ARPANET, and packet radio, in
what is known as the first internetworked connection.
-- Speech translation (2007 - present): SRI is deploying technology on
mobile devices to enable real-time communication in local languages. In
1994, SRI spun off market leader Nuance Communications to bring its
speech technology to market.
Defense
-- Aviation (1950s): SRI developed electrostatic discharge rods to protect
airplane wings from radio interference and static electricity. These
devices are now standard on aircrafts, spacecraft, and tankers.
-- Radar (1960s - present): SRI radars are used by the military for
long-range and concealed-target detection. SRI also operates major radar
research facilities for the National Science Foundation at locations
around the globe, from Greenland to the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto
Rico.
Education
-- Longitudinal studies (1978 - present): SRI conducted the first
Congressionally mandated longitudinal studies of youth with disabilities
to improve the U.S. education system.
Entertainment
-- Movies (1959): SRI won an Academy AwardZ for co-developing the
TechnicolorZ electronic movie print timer, which allowed the film
industry to bring accurate color movie prints to theaters faster.
-- Broadcasting (1997): SRI Sarnoff, as part of an EmmyZ Award-winning
consortium of electronics and telecommunications companies, developed
the U.S. high-definition television (HDTV) standard.
Biomedical Sciences and Health
-- Drug discovery (1970s): Halofantrine, discovered and developed at SRI,
has saved countless lives as a treatment for drug-resistant malaria.
-- Minimally invasive surgery (1990s): SRI developed the first robotic
surgical system, now used by surgeons around the world. SRI spun off
Intuitive Surgical to bring the technology to surgeons and patients.
Vision and Image Processing
-- Real-time video processing (1984 - present): SRI Sarnoff developed the
first computer system capable of performing sophisticated visual search
tasks in real time. SRI's work in computer vision technology augments
the way people sense, analyze and react to the world around them.
-- Augmented reality (1993 - present): SRI Sarnoff delivered the first
system to insert virtual advertising in a live video broadcast as part
of the scene. Today, this technology enables immersive training: users
see the real world and computer-generated avatars simultaneously.
-- Biometric identification (1996 - present): SRI Sarnoff pioneered iris
recognition at a distance for user identification at ATMs and other
applications.
(100BKM)- The 100 Black Men of Sacramento Chapter and The Superior Court of Sacramento County invite you to the Fourteenth annual “Youth and the Law Forum. Get the “real deal” from a diverse group of Law enforcement personnel on site, including Judges, Sheriff’s Chief Deputy (Ret.), Police Officers, Narcotic/Gang Detectives, Probation Officers, and Correctional officers from the State Department of Juvenile Justice and State Prisons.
The forum topics include
Don’t be in the wrong place at the wrong time
How the criminal justice system works
What happens if you go to prison.
Prison cell tours will be given to all youth in attendence
The Youth and the Law Forum begins at 8:45am at the Lorenzo E. Patino Hall of Justice (County Jail), 651 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814. This is a free event for youth up to eighteen years old. All youth and parents can attend the forums and Parking is available and lunch. Early registration is encouraged. Please go to www.sac100.com to get a copy of the registration form. Attendance will satisfy the requirement to apply for the 100 Black Men scholarship.
Next week, there is a free educational workshop on Wildfire Preparedness and Protection.
Tonya Hoover, Acting State Fire Marshal will open the program at 9:30 a.m. and State Senator Ted Gaines, Roseville, Chair of the State Senate Insurance Committee will speak at 11:00 a.m. The program is presented by the California Fire Safe Council and Farmers Insurance. All Fire Safe Council members, homeowners, business owners, renters and media are invited.
Other Speakers Include:
Tom Harbour, Director of Fire &Aviation, U.S. Forest Service will discuss the federal cohesive fire strategy program, and
Daniel Berlant, Cal Fire, who will present the new property owners Ready-Set-Go program endorsed by the California Fire Chiefs Association and Cal-Fire.
A panel of experts will discuss fire insurance and state laws.
Candy Miller, Executive Director for the Insurance Information Network of California will discuss her organization and its role in insurance communications.
Bruce Patton, the California Department of Insurance will discuss property owners and the role of the DOI,
Michael Paiva, Farmers Director of Government Affairs will discuss legislation.
Molly Mowery, Firewise Communities and Phyllis Banducci, CAL Fire, will discuss California Firewise Communities.
Frank Stewart, California Fire Safe Council Board member and registered Professional Forester and Rob Griffith, Assistant Director, Fire & Aviation Management, U.S. Forest Service will update the group on land Stewardship Contracts and Agreements.Strategies for Successful Fire Safe Council Fundraising will conclude the program.Farmers Mobile Claims Center Bus (MCC) will also be featured at the Conference. Conference attendees are invited to tour the MCC. It is 46′ long and is equipped with state-of-the art satellite communications equipment; seven claims stations; water, supplies; satellite laptop and telephone capability for use by all, and a built in grill to serve meals to those in need.The event is October 6, 2011, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m, at the Forest Service Wildland Fire Training Center, 3237 Peacekeepers Way, McClellan Business Park, Sacramento.Register for the Conference
Farmers Insurance Group of Companies is the country’s 3rd largest insurer of both personal lines passenger automobile and homeowners insurance, and also provides a wide range of other insurance and financial services products. Farmers Insurance is proud to serve more than 10 million households with more than 20 million individual policies across all 50 states through the efforts of over 50,000 exclusive and independent agents and nearly 24,000 employees.
You may think you have prepared your family and your home, ready for the next earthquake, but you are wrong.
The California Emergency Management Agency says you are “Totally Unprepared” because no matter how well you think you have prepared, it is highly likely you’ve overlooked quite a few things.
Just when you think you have done all you can to prepare for an earthquake, “Totally Unprepared” comes in to show you what you may have missed. In this week’s video, hostess Susan Jekarl introduces us to the Gingery family – a family that has taken several important steps to prepare for disaster.
Following a ride in the “Big Shaker”, they quickly discover there is still work to be done.
The Gingery family has taken great care to secure heavy items such as bookshelves and televisions in case of a quake. However like many Californians, they have overlooked a number of little things throughout their home which also pose a big danger. Over the next couple weeks, Totally Unprepared will get them on the right track.
Gingery Family is Totally Unprepared: Episode 1/3
The “Totally Unprepared” campaign is a year-long collaborative effort between the California Emergency Management Agency, the California Seismic Safety Commission (CSSC) and the California Earthquake Authority (CEA). It is a unique and insightful multimedia campaign which aims to help Californians better understand their risk of earthquakes and how to prepare for them.
Based on recent research about what does and does not motivate people to prepare, “Totally Unprepared” uses social media, video, and mobile applications to increase pervasiveness of earthquake preparedness issues. A special 30-minute program is also being aired on twelve California Public Television Stations throughout the month of September.
Connect with Totally Unprepared for the latest information and resources at the following websites:
For more information about preparing for earthquakes and other hazards, visit www.calema.ca.gov.
The California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) coordinates overall state agency preparedness for, response to and recovery from major disasters. Cal EMA also maintains the State Emergency Plan, which outlines the organizational structure for state management of the response to natural and manmade disasters.
A message from CEA: With earthquake insurance from the CEA, you and your family will have the financial strength to rebuild. Working with our network of leading insurance companies, we provide claim-paying power and expert service. Together, we’re providing peace-of-mind no earthquake can shake. For more information, visit www.EarthquakeAuthority.com.
CAL FIRE is increasing staffing due to predicted dry lightning and strong winds throughout Northeastern California.
Starting Wednesday evening, an upper level low will approach the California Coast drawing in monsoonal moisture, which is predicted to trigger dry lightning across the Northeastern section of California including Lassen, Modoc, Siskiyou, & Shasta Counties. In response to the predicted dry lightning, CAL FIRE is moving fire engines and resources into the areas expected to see an increased fire danger.
As this low moves into Nevada on Thursday, it will shift winds to the northeast creating breezy and dry conditions Thursday night into Friday across most parts of Northern California, including the areas where the dry lightning is predicted to hit. In addition to the prepositioning of fire engines, CAL FIRE is also staffing all reserve fire engines, staffing additional inmate fire crews 24 hours a day, and plans to hold all personnel on duty.
In addition to department preparations, CAL FIRE is in close communication with local, state and federal partners including the U.S. Forest Service, the California National Guard and the California Emergency Management Agency.
“The forecasts indicate weather conditions could be similar to the lightning siege we experienced in 2008 when the state saw nearly 2,000 lightning sparked fires,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, director of CAL FIRE. “CAL FIRE’s firefighters are ready to respond if more fires do break out, but we especially need the public to be extremely cautious, because we don’t need any additional fires.”
CAL FIRE urges Californians to remain extra fire safe and help prevent new fires.
A few helpful reminders and safety tips include:
Any mowing or weed eating should be done before 10 a.m. (and NEVER during extremely dry conditions).
Never use lawn mowers in dry vegetation.
Ensure campfires are permitted and, if so, be sure to extinguish them completely when done
A recent survey, conducted by the Performance Marketing Association, Inc., of California’s online Affiliate Marketing industry has confirmed what experts have been attempting to convey all along with regard to the implementation of an affiliate nexus tax; a nexus tax unquestionably harms Affiliate Marketers.
Rebecca Madigan, executive director of the Performance Marketing Association, Inc. (PMA) stated, “Unfortunately the survey results have confirmed what our members have predicted all along, an affiliate nexus tax will immediately reduce the income of these small California companies, forcing them to make tough business decisions; such as hiring freezes, laying employees off, or moving out-of-state. For example: 37% lost over half their income; 22% closed their affiliate businesses; almost 32% have moved or are planning on moving.”
Further, proving that such a nexus tax will not generate additional sales tax revenue for the state of California, Board of Equalization Member, George Runner noted last week, “As of today we’re not aware of a single online retailer that has registered with BOE to collect sales tax because of ABX1 28. According to Board of Equalization staff, the number of out-of-state registrations in July 2011 was actually lower than July 2010.”
Madigan added, “Learning from history, we know ABX1 28 will not persuade out-of-state retailers to start collected sales tax. We know this because other states that attempted to pass similar laws arrived at the same result, no new sales tax revenue materialized. It is our hope that the empirical data will compel members of the Legislature to reflect upon this issue and create a win-win situation for the state. Because right now all we have is a dramatic decline in the incomes of 25,000 small businesses, companies leaving the state, and no additional sales tax being collected.”
“So, as this final week of the legislative session concludes, the PMA is urgently calling on all California Legislators to closely examine the motives behind the recent gut-and-amend of Assembly Bill 155. Enough politicking, let’s concentrate on getting these 25,0000 Affiliate Marketers back in business and doing what it takes to get California’s job base and economy back on track,” Madigan concluded.
The survey was conducted the week of August 29, 2011, with a sample size of 500 Affiliate Marketers in California, representing about 2% of the entire industry.
The Performance Marketing Association (PMA) is the national trade association representing affiliate marketers. The not-for-profit trade association was founded in 2008 by the leaders of the performance marketing industry. The PMA gives performance marketers a unified voice to address issues and challenges facing the industry.
Five-year-old Sacramento boy, Neel Singh Pannu is to feature in an inspiring profile on the Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon. The 46th annual MDA Labor Day Telethon, airs entirely in prime time on a single evening, Sunday, Sept. 4.
Broadcast from the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas, it will air from 6 p.m. to midnight in every time zone, including Sacramento’s KQCA, Channel 5.
Pannu is affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness and degeneration. DMD is one of the more than 40 neuromuscular disorders in MDA’s program.
“Super Neel” (as he calls himself) Not one to let muscle weakness slow him down, can be shy at first but quickly becomes an extrovert once he warms up.
His parents, Kulwant and Sukhbir Pannu, are Subway restaurant franchise owners and active MDA volunteers in the Sacramento area. Pannu also has an older sister, Amanbir.
About the MDA Labor Day Telethon
This year’s Telethon includes an outstanding lineup of top stars, including Celine Dion, Lady Antebellum, Jennifer Lopez, Darius Rucker and Jordin Sparks. Also look for profiles of individuals and families affected by neuromuscular diseases, important and groundbreaking research updates, and presentations by MDA’s national sponsors.
Co-hosts for the six-hour broadcast are Nigel Lythgoe(“American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance”), Nancy O’Dell (“Entertainment Tonight”), Alison Sweeney (“The Biggest Loser” and author of “The Mommy Diet”) and television producer Jann Carl.
Approximately 150 “Love Network” stations will carry the Telethon from coast to coast, and it will be seen around the world via live streaming at mda.org.
This year’s Telethon will feature special behind-the-scenes segments from the show on the Association’s website www.mda.org and social sites Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. “Telethon Extras” will provide visitors with insight on living with a neuromuscular disease, information on current research and interviews with celebrities, sponsors and MDA families from backstage during the Telethon.
California Assemblymember, Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward), last week requested the Joint Legislative Audit Committee audit the Physical Therapy Board of California (PTBC).
In a letter written in May, Hayashi asked for an investigation into the relationship between the PTBC and professional organizations within the profession, as well as the board’s handling of complaints against physical therapists.
The California Physical Therapy Association (CPTA), which represents physical therapists, says it will cooperate with the Physical Therapy Board of California, if asked.
“As charged by the Legislature, the PTBC is responsible for protecting the public and consumers from the unprofessional, incompetent and criminal practice of physical therapy. Although CPTA is not always in agreement with the PTBC, our organization fully understands and respects the authority of the PTBC and its mission to protect consumers and enforce the law.”
- Dr. James Syms, PT, DSc, ATC, SCS, CPTA President
The cost of the audit, scheduled to be completed by spring 2012, is estimated to be almost $190,000.
Dr. Syms said “CPTA believes compliance with California laws and regulations is a critical responsibility of any state licensing board and the decision to audit a licensing board should be taken extremely seriously to ensure the audit is being performed in the public’s interest and not to intimidate or influence the actions taken by a board or its staff.”
In June 2011, Hayashi proposed the legislation “Physician Self Referral for Profit” bill (AB 783), that died in Committee. CPTA believes her decision to request the audit may have been largely based on policymakers’ vote against her proposed bill.
Because the Moscone-Knox Act prohibits medical and podiatric corporations from employing physical therapists, the PTBC has a responsibility to alert physical therapists to examine their employment relationships.
It has been suggested that a small number, perhaps around two percent of California physical therapists are employed illegally by medical and podiatric corporations. Assembly Member Hayashi’s thinks many more, perhaps thousands of physical therapists will be impacted if the current law is enforced.
The California Physical Therapy Association says it serves members and assists non-members to comply with the current law, which prohibits medical and podiatric corporations from employing physical therapists. Dr. Syms says the association is interested in reviewing the audit report next spring.
A propane rail car tank caught fire late yesterday morning while it was being inspected. Since then, fire crews have continuously applied 5,000 gallons of water per minute to keep the tank cool to reduce the internal pressure. The application of water to the tank will continue during the hot tap operation. Residents were warned to expect to see dense black smoke during the procedure, this is normal and expected.
Calfire says the specialized response team from Texas has completed building a retention pond near the railroad tank car. Workers are preparing the surface of the tank car in order to tap into it, using the “hot tap” process. They will connect pipe to the tank car in order to drain the propane into the retention pond, where it will be burned off. Residents can expect to see dense black smoke during the procedure, this is normal. If the plan stays on schedule the tank car is likely to be emptied by tomorrow morning.
During the hot tap operation, fire crews will continue to apply 5,000 gallons of water per minute to keep the tank cool in order to reduce the internal pressure.
The mandatory evacuation order of 4,800 homes and businesses in Lincoln remains in place and will be reassessed after the hot tap process begins. The Red Cross continues to support evacuees with multiple services out of the three established evacuation shelters.
“Based on the estimated quantity and burn rate of the propane, there appears to be no significant impact to air quality or health risks due to toxins at this time,” explained Tom Christofk, Placer County Air Pollution Control Officer.
Lincoln schools will be closed the remainder of the week and anticipate opening on Monday. City Hall is closed. There is no anticipated time for reopening.
