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Cheated Out of AP Exams
Jul 16, 2008 | 10:26 PM PST
Category:
News
Imagine..you're a high school honors student who studies all year to pass advanced placement tests for college credit, only to find out the test was disqualified and you have to take it again. That's the issue facing 375 students at Trabuco Hills High in Mission Viejo. The reason..ten students reportedly cheated during the exam that wasn't closely watched by administrators. To boot, they didn't even find out if they passed. How devastating? Consider that many of these students are just a couple weeks from entering college. Yet, here they are, cramming to study..again and praying they pass. If they don't, no college credit and they'll likely have to take those courses in college AND PAY FOR THEM! That could run more than $30,000. To add insult to injury..it was the honest students who apparently ratted out the cheaters and for their honesty..the New Jersey based Educational Testing Service throws out all 690 test scores. Some students took FIVE AP exams. The school also shoulders a big part of the blame...failing to implement proper testing procedures that may have lead to the cheating. What a nightmare! The students and their parents hope a last ditch court battle will result in validating the test scores. It's a long shot. In the meantime..it's time to study and pray for a miracle! What a way to start your college career!
Up..Up...and Away...
Jul 7, 2008 | 11:50 PM PST
Category:
News
Did ya see it? Up in the sky..it's a bird..it's a plane...it's a guy in a lawn chair? Yep.. a crazy fellow from Oregon finally made his lawn chair helium balloon flight to Idaho. What a sight! A handmade chair with about 160 giant helium filled balloons attached, allowing him to soar across the sky. It was quite a sight, though it didn't look too safe. Landing was tricky...he had to pop or shoot out the balloons one at a time. It just goes to show that the spirit of adventure...or foolishness..is alive and well in the U-S-A!
You May Have Already Won...or Not!
Jul 3, 2008 | 11:54 PM PST
Category:
News
I don't know about you...but I've been receiving a lot of mail lately telling me I'm in the running to receive tens of thousands of dollars or more. To find out, all I have to do is send $10-$25. Sounds like a scam to me. My advice to you..DON'T PAY THE MONEY! Some of these offers are from outside of the United States. Maybe it's legit..but it smells to me. The best thing you can do....recycle the paper..if you know what I mean.
No Where to Run or Hide
Jul 1, 2008 | 11:13 PM PST
Category:
News
Who robs a mailman? Well..three guys apparently did and tried to getaway by driving through the South Bay. Big Mistake. There's not a lot of outlets and the further south you go, your chances of escape lessen. You've got the beach to the west and many streets with twists and turns that lead to dead ends. You guessed it..our three amigos wound up cornered near a gated community only to be sniffed out by a couple of K-9s more than willing to take a few bites out of crime. Thankfully, the postman wasn't hurt. What these suspects may not know is that stealing mail from a postal carrier is a big time federal offense...punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Hope it was worth it!
Look Ma..No Handsfree
Jun 30, 2008 | 11:57 PM PST
Category:
News
For all the hype on the new state law regarding handsfree calling while driving, I betcha we'll still see plenty of folks on the road with their ear to a phone. Well...that is..until they see a cop. I liken it to the seat belt law. Many folks did buckle up..but many did not...unless they caught a glimpse of a black and white in the rearview mirror. I think both laws are good ones...but it's hard to believe legislators dropped the ball by not addressing texting. While we're at it...it seems to me the root of many problems stems from folks fumbling with the phone while dialing, opening/closing, etc. We shouldn't need a law to tell us how to act. Common sense should rule. But here we are...legislating behavior because enough people fail to use their noggin!
Make Money with Returns??
Jun 16, 2008 | 10:58 PM PST
Category:
News
Such is another sad tale of hassle when attempting to return an item for a refund. There I was at a major electronics store In the OC wanting to simply return an unopened desktop hard drive with the original receipt. Then....the clerks tells me that since I purchased the item in L.A. County, my refund would be calculated using the lower OC tax rate. Huh?? This was real simple. Just credit the exact amount back to the credit card I used. No..I was told...the "computer" won't let us do that. So, if I wanted the refund, I would have to donate the difference of 45 cents to the store. Now, that's not a lot, but it's the principle of the matter. Why should I have to pay extra to return an item that is "welcomed" at any of these chain stores as long as I had a receipt? I refused, deciding, I wouldn't give them the satisfaction or my 45 cents. Before I left, I asked, 'What if I buy a bunch of items at this OC store and return them to a L-A County store? I could MAKE money by returning them where the sales tax is higher.' The manager said, 'yes, that's true.' And I said, 'that's ok?' And suprisingly, he said, 'yes!' Now, I don't advocate anyone doing this. I should point out that I have returned items from other stores, purchased elsewhere with a different tax rate and never encountered a problem. Go figure.
Uncle President!
Jun 12, 2008 | 5:42 PM PST
Category:
News
8th grade graduations can be fairly boring, unless the commencement speaker is your uncle who happened to be the immediate past President of the United States! Such was the case at Riviera Hall Lutheran School in Torrance Thursday. Bill Clinton spoke to the class, including his nephew, Tyler, son of Roger Clinton, the prez's brother. If you were driving in the area, you may have noticed several squad cars outside the school, no parking signs and a security detail befitting of a...well..U.S. President. Yet, it was pretty low profile, mainly because it was a private affair, tickets only and no media allowed inside. One thing's for sure, it'll be a commencement these soon to be high schoolers will never forget.
No Bull!
Jun 11, 2008 | 11:46 PM PST
Category:
News
An amazing story? A bull thought to have perished in the deadly Esperanza Fire of 2006, is found safe and sound roaming near San Jacinto. But wait...this is a wild animal..it doesn't need humans to survive. His 20 month adventure is evidence of that. In fact, the bull was no worse for wear, even a little fatter. The problem he may face now is getting used to his new confines. Once you've had a sense of freedom, getting fenced in could take some getting used to. Of course, as we all know, time is not on the side of any branded and tagged bull....and.. that's....no bull!
Judge Jails Tardy Lawyer
Jun 6, 2008 | 10:50 PM PST
Category:
News
Show up late, go to jail... A judge in Compton is did just that. Seems that one attorney showed up one too many times late or not at all, so the judge tossed him in jail alongside the client he was representing. At one point, the lawyer was allowed out to defend his client in court and then escorted back to his cell. Whadda ya think? Did the judge go too far? Or was it about time? Well...attorney or not, if you have someplace you're supposed to be at, at a specific time, you should be on time. Now if only patients had some sort of recourse sitting in a waiting room for a doctor...or customers sitting at home waiting for a technician or worker to show up.
Justice At Work
Jun 4, 2008 | 11:14 PM PST
Category:
News
Ever had to appear in court? Go before a judge? Recently, I spent a morning observing court proceedings in L.A. Superior Court, mostly misdemeanors and infractions. You'd be surprised what goes on in there. Not the nature of the cases themselves, but how they're conducted and how the defendants react.
I saw one guy who needed to make some sort of restitution. He'd been there several times only because he kept forgetting who to pay or didn't bring enough money. This time was no exception. He was short by fifty cents. Luckily he had a buck in his pocket or he'd be making a return trip. He was quite jovial, joking with the judge, who kept things light and even laughed at his jokes. No one said these proceedings had to be dull and mundane.
I also noticed that if you're a first timer and don't know a lot about your rights or the law, you can become easily confused and it might cost you...money and/or your freedom! Court is not the place where you learn about your rights or what to do. The judge that I observed wasn't about to instruct defendants on the law or answer a lot of questions.
I'm no lawyer, but here's some things I think might help if you have to go before a judge. First, do your homework. Know what you're accused of, the penalties you might face and what you might expect during your appearance.
It seems many folks appearing for infractions and some misdemeanors do so without having an attorney. For the most part, that might not be a bad thing. However, it depends on the violation.
If a discrepancy arises in court or you are confused to the point you don't know how to plead or what to do and you can't seem to get an adequate answer, you might consider requesting a continuance. That way, you'll have time to figure out what to do.
Oh..and don't wait until the last minute to show up in court. A lot of ticketable offenses give you time to appear. Waiting until the last day doesn't give you a lot of leeway in case you can't make it. By all means, notify the court if you can't. I saw one judge issue bench warrant after bench warrant AND either increase the bail or revoke it altogether.
For the best advice on what to do in court, consult an attorney.
If you've never been to court, as a defendant or an observer, I would suggest you sit in and watch your judicial system at work. It's an eye opening experience and as a member of the public, you are entitled to view the proceedings without having a connection to what's going on. Be sure to turn off your cellphones and refrain from talking, especially to the defendants and court officers.
Go ahead..who knows..you might learn something and even find it quite amusing.
Teacher Set Up!
May 29, 2008 | 10:32 PM PST
Category:
News
Talk about a set up!
Someone plants marijuana and a shotgun in the SUV of a popular high school teacher at Sunny Hills High in Fullerton and then calls police to claim the teacher was selling drugs right before teaching history. The teacher is arrested...but now..he's cleared of any wrongdoing.
Police quickly discovered it was an elaborate set up. Unfortunately, investigators didn't find out until after they hauled the teacher out of class, slapped cuffs on him and booked him on drugs and weapon charges.
Now comes the tough part. This teacher and coach must try to regain his good name and position. Yet, the horse is already out of the barn. His mugshot is out there and many folks have already made up their minds.
I would hope all of us in the media who reported the arrest will also report the set up with the same passion and perhaps a little more.
This teacher deserves to move on with his life as quickly as possible as if this horrible tragedy never happened. Hopefully, students, parents, school officials and society will allow him to do just that.
A Lesson for Teacher
May 28, 2008 | 8:31 PM PST
Category:
News
A Fullerton teacher..arrested..suspected of selling drugs before school and then heading off to teach history, before cops pull him out of class and search his car, where they reportedly find marijuana packaged for sale AND an unloaded shotgun. Wow! But that's not the amazing part.
In speaking to several students at Sunny Hills High..they feel it is the teacher who is the victim! They claimed the media, cops and school officials are making too much of this.
What? I tried my best to clarify the situation..that a teacher, a guardian of our kids during school hours, is accused of selling drugs, bringing drugs AND A SHOTGUN onto school grounds! Yet, students maintained the teacher was a nice fellow, who wouldn't hurt anyone and that we should look past what was found in his car in the school parking lot, not to mention the alleged drug deal before heading off to teach history.
This just goes to show how much of an influence teachers have on our children. 99% are the role models you'd hope your kids would respect and emulate. As parents though...you always worry about that 1%!
Another Day at the Beach
May 21, 2008 | 10:56 PM PST
Category:
News
Frustrated at the cost of gas? Bummin you can't travel cuz you can't afford to drive/fly? Why not head to the beach? As I zipped along the Coast Hwy between Newport and Huntington Beach, I watched waves 2-5' crash ashore, putting on a show for only a few. I thought..here's a great getaway! The beautiful ocean, sun and sand...what more do you need? And you can't beat the price...free! Well, not taking into account costs you might incur to park at the beach and buy snacks..but hey..it's still quite a bargain. I'm sure many a soul will venture out this Memorial Day weekend...some to camp. If I may pass along one bit of advice...be careful if you head out into the surf. As a former lifeguard, I just cringe when I hear of drownings, that for the most part, could've been prevented. So..check with the lifeguard for conditions, know your limitations and for parents...one simple rule...WATCH YOUR CHILDREN AT ALL TIMES!!! I can't tell you how many times in covering drownings or near drownings where people told me they looked away for just an instant. THAT'S ALL IT TAKES!! Sorry..don't mean to be preachy. Just hoping to prevent a needless accident. Another day at the beach should be filled with fun..not tragedy. Enjoy!
Ready for West Nile Virus?
May 20, 2008 | 11:48 PM PST
Category:
News
It's early...but the West Nile Virus is back..at least in parts of the OC. 16 dead birds tested positive..four in one Garden Grove neighborhood. Experts say they don't know why, but that it's likely we'll see a lot more now and into the summer. Don't panic though. Yes, humans have died from West Nile, but that is very rare. What can you do? Don't leave any standing water around your home where the disease carrying mosquitoes like to breed. Also, limit your exposure outside when mosquitoes are prevalent. If you do head out where mosquitoes are present, wear repellent and long sleeve shirts and pants. Finally..if you see dead birds around your home, especially crows, call your local vector control office.
Memorial Day Getaway?
May 19, 2008 | 11:51 PM PST
Category:
News
So..are you heading out of town this holiday weekend? I've spoken with a lot of people who say that current gas prices will keep them from going anywhere far. I don't blame them. With gas now hovering at $4 a gallon, many of us are making changes. Jaunts of 100 miles or more can get pretty expensive, especially since most of us don't drive hybrid's or motorcycles. And have you priced an airline ticket lately. They're skyhigh! Even for the short hops. Multiply that by two or three or more and family air travel is out of the question. Will gas prices change the way you do things.....forever?
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