Jerry Brown on CNN’s State of the Union, August 7

(The Democratic governor’s body language is worth note.)    Read more »

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Today’s Latin Lesson Is Rarely Heard in Political Discourse: “Vox Stellarum”

Vox Stellarum

“Music of the Spheres”    Read more »

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State Short of Cash Collection Estimates by Nearly $539 Million, Controller Says

The state’s July revenues were down $538.8 million — 10.3 percent — below projections from the recently passed state budget, according to a report on the previous month’s cash balance issued August 9 by State Controller John Chiang.

“While July’s revenues performed remarkably similar to last year’s, they still did not meet the budget’s projections,” said Chiang in a press release.    Read more »

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All Good Advice…

“Work hard at work worth doing.”

*****

“Do the best you can in every task, no matter how unimportant it may seem at the time. No one learns more about a problem than the person at the bottom.”

*****

“Each of us brings to our job, whatever it is, our lifetime of experience and our values.”    Read more »

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Voting Changes for New Citizens, Write-In Candidates and Mail-In Ballots

August 8 is California Voter Day – at least for Gov. Jerry Brown.

The Democratic governor signed seven bills changing everything from the ability of new citizens to vote to how votes for write-in candidates are counted.

All seven are non-controversial Assembly measures although similar measures had been vetoed by former Gov.    Read more »

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Bill Vetoed to Add the Homeless to List of Those Protected From Violence

While agreeing that the state’ estimated 157,000 homeless are subject to violence and intimidation, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed legislation August 5 that would have expanded the protections of some of the state’s civil rights and hate crime laws to persons who are homeless.

“It is undeniable that homeless people are vulnerable to victimization but California already has very strong civil and criminal laws that provide sufficient protection,” the Democratic governor wrote in his veto message.    Read more »

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Temporarily Closed Roseville DMV Office to Close Permanently — In Theory

Among the state property slated for disposal in the indefinite future is the Roseville Field Office of the Department of Motor vehicles.

It was added to the state’s “For Sale” list in 2010. The state hopes to reap $1 million from the sale.

This is the same office that was closed July 26th through August 1 after a student driver crashed into the building, creating a 4-foot by 5-foot hole.    Read more »

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More Properties Placed on the State’s Not Exactly Brisk “For Sale” List

Six sites have been added to California’s list of surplus properties and two removed under legislation signed August 4 by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The measure – AB 1272 by Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, a Torrance Democrat – is the annual compendium of properties the state Department of General Services wishes to dispose of.    Read more »

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Today’s Latin Lesson Is Very Deep

 De Profundis

“Out of the Depths”

(“De Profundis” is the opening line of Psalm 130, which reads:)

Out of the depths I cry to you, lord;

Lord, hear my voice.  Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

If you, lord, kept a record of sins, lord, who could stand?    Read more »

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Hal Holbrook Bringing More of a Member of the Masthead of California’s Capitol to Life    Read more »

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