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Starters
If you don't know what day this is...
Nobody can help you.
Politics
Supes also approve Grand Avenue
Antonovich casts the only no vote of the day against the big Eli Broad/Related Companies project on Bunker Hill. LAT, DN Background on the project at LAT
There is no Wi-Fi plan for Los Angeles
There was a press conference, but details have yet to be drafted let alone finalized. Daily News says the service would be free at lower speeds, Times isn't so sure. Check back in 2009. LAT, DN
Meanwhile, Mayor Villaraigosa tells LA Observed he's not much of an internet user himself.
Meanwhile, Mayor Villaraigosa tells LA Observed he's not much of an internet user himself.
Living wage redux at LAX
The City Council gave first passage to the replacement ordinance for raising pay at LAX hotels, but the chamber of commerce was not reassured. Parks, Smith and Zine voted against. It comes up for final passage next week. LAT, DN
Media
Clive Cussler stumbles on the stand
Attorneys for Phil Anschutz decline to cross-examine the author they are suing over the financially disappointing film Sahara. Cussler, who is 75, appeared confused at times. LAT, Variety
SAG goes digital
The online casting directory iActor will include head shots, resumes and video and audio clips of individual actors. LAT
Personal take
Spelling errors at Van Nuys High School
The blogger at Lornamatic spotted 26 misspellings in the school's online rules and policies page. Too many, she says.
Please understand that I don’t intend to make fun of the school or this situation, because it is evident throughout the page that intentions are in the right place. In Los Angeles, there are plenty of people for whom English is not a first language. And in any urban high school there are certainly bigger problems to solve besides some typographical errors on a webpage.
But the point is this: that’s no excuse. If you can’t afford a spell checking program, hand it to your coworker. Even one editing pass will help root out these errors and will go a long way towards cleaning up your document.
If your school is public and underfunded, turn it into a classroom project. Now you are teaching English grammar, helping your school save money, and communicating the importance of doing a project well. You’re helping create a civic pride in your school, and showing your students how to project a positive and respectable image, and to do good work, even with a lack of resources.
Police beat
Omar Sharif a threat to valets
The actor was ordered to attend anger management classes and serve two years' probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor battery charge for hitting a parking valet at Mastro's in Beverly Hills. The valet says Sharif got mad when his SUV wasn't waiting for him. Sharif's lawyers say the valet became angry when the actor tried to tip him with European currency. LAT
