Are Community Colleges Expensive?

The SacBee has an editorial praising the selection of Jack Scott as the new community college chancellor for the state of California. In the piece, this passage caught my eye:

With an economic downturn drawing more students, tough budget times driving higher fees and a need to weld California’s diverse population into an educated citizenry, community colleges need a champion who can bring people together around a new, more focused mission.

I’ve heard people worrying about “higher fees” for community college students a lot. No doubt fees are higher and have been growing in recent years. I just can’t help but ask: are they actually “high” or are the fees just growing? Let’s look at the numbers…

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Mosley Murderer Has Price on Head

Let’s hope someone turns in this evil person:

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George and Marilyn Brumder Trust PUSD

I used to think that people like this must be employed by the school system, but now I’m starting to wonder. The Brumder’s wrote this amazing letter to the Star-News:

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The Proctor Is In: Recall Madison?

Should Councilmember Steve Madison be recalled? One of my readers thinks so:

Steve Madison reeks of shear arrogance. He should either vacate his seat or a recall petition should be started. City council is supposed to be a “part-time” position though it really is more of a full-time commitment and he can’t even honor that. PATHETIC. How can anyone of at least average intelligence even consider Madison as a possible viable mayoral contender. He may contend but he won’t give the time commitment that is required. Bottom line is this, If he can’t make council meetings due to his workload how the hell is he ever going to put in the time required to be an effective Mayor. The Mayor of Pasadena is not a part-time job.

More here.

- AP

aBSURDIST mODERN aRT

[pick one, Originally uploaded by lemurdillo]

The Pasadena Museum of California Art has an odd sign composed of 25 smaller traffic signs, over the entrance to its parking garage on Union Street. The signs normally inform and warn drivers of upcoming hazards or things that may require a driver to be prepared for. I could go on and on about the meaning or interpretation of this particular work of modern art, but I won’t. Often, whimsy speaks for itself.

Oh, and the museum has “real” art too, not just the abstract stuff.

FC Entrepreneur: Ponzi Pasadena

Wanna make some money off the downturn in the housing market? Here’s how!

[Note: You may face up to 180 years in jail]

The Proctor Is In: Bizzibiani

The Aaron Proctor Interview Series rocks with former PUSD Board Member, Bill Bibbiani:

The Proc: Do you think Barney Rubble was a bad influence on Fred Flinstone?

Bib: Everyone needs a willing Stooge.

More here - plus check out Mayor Bogaard’s reaction to my stick figure drawings.

- AP

Motion Picture Of The Day

These guys are absolutely crazy. And they have made an awesome video to prove it. And the music sucks.

[P.S. That’s Eaton Canyon, in case you were wondering. And we claim no responsibility for anyone who herniates while laughing at the comments the guys make at the beginning of the video–C]

PUSD on the Hook and Letting Gifted Students Down

Not only is PUSD looking at tab of $15,000 that Rythms of the Village walked away from, but the district is a poster child for neglect of its gifted in an LAT article:

If you reviewed Dalton Sargent’s report cards, you’d know only half his story. The 15-year-old Altadena junior has lousy grades in many subjects. He has blown off assignments and been dissatisfied with many of his teachers. It would be accurate to call him a problematic student. But he is also gifted.

Dalton is among the sizable number of highly intelligent or talented children in the nation’s classrooms who find little in the standard curriculum to rouse their interest and who often fall by the wayside.

Ouch. Of course, I gotta say, this Dalton kid doesn’t impress me in some ways:

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New City Manager of Pasadena Already Selected?

Say what? A reader sends in this tip:

I heard something that’s more than a rumor: they’ve picked a new city manager.  All I know is that it’s a woman that is the ex- city manager of Glendale.  Apparently she was named on Wednesday last week, and they’re putting together the press releases.  Keep your ears open on this one… it’s from a fairly reliable source.  I don’t know why there hasn’t been anything out on this yet.

Well, Pasadena, what do you have to say for yourself? Can this be? Is this a violation of the Brown Act? Isn’t there some way we can all this a scandal, grow irate, and protest?