Today’s Latin Lesson Gets This Hint: “Nothing (Here) But Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos”

Filum Viae

“Center of the Road”    Read more »

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A Round of Mango Mojitos on the House: Infusion Is No Longer Rectification!

Gov. Jerry Brown has made California safe for lemoncello lovers and imbibers of Martian Martinis, bacon bourbon, cucumber gin, Bloody Marys tingling with habanero vodka and even Mona Lisa Green Monsters, margaritas infused with medicinal marijuana.

Up until the Democratic governor signed SB 32 on September 21, any cocktails made with “infused” alcohol sold by bars and restaurants violated state law.    Read more »

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Fingerprints? Recipients and Providers of In-Home Care Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Fingerprints!

More than 400,000 low-income elderly Californians who receive in-home care through the state – and their caregivers — will not need to submit fingerprints to receive the services, under legislation on Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk.

The fingerprinting requirement was approved as part of the budget for the fiscal year that ended June 30, ostensibly to combat “fraud” allegedly occurring in delivering In-Home Supportive Services, the fastest growing social program in the state budget.    Read more »

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Today’s Latin Lesson Is Not Eased By Repeated Anecdote

Onus Probandi

“Burden of Proof”    Read more »

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State Unemployment Rate Inches Up in August

California’s unemployment rate increased slightly form 12 percent to 12.1 percent in August, a loss of  8,400 during the month, according to a September 16 report issued by the state Employment Development Department.

The state’s workforce, not counting seasonal farm jobs, was just over 14 million — a net year-to-date gain of 98,500 jobs over 2010.    Read more »

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Should A Search Warrant Be Required For Cell Phones and Handheld Computers?

Legislation that would require a search warrant before examining the content of a cell phone awaits action by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The measure – SB 914 by Sen. Mark Leno, a San Francisco Democrat – would overturn a 5 to 2 ruling by the California Supreme Court in People v. Diaz upholding the right of law enforcement to conduct a warrantless search of the phone’s content.    Read more »

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More Voluntary Check-Offs Vie for Space on State Tax Forms

Californians feeling generous on April 15 could kick in for other causes besides sea otters under bills awaiting action by Gov. Jerry Brown adding voluntary check-offs to state tax forms.

On September 1, the Democratic governor signed a bill extending the stay of the Sea Otter Fund on Page Three of the Franchise Tax Board’s Form 540 until 2016.    Read more »

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Today’s Latin Lesson Is How Rumors Spread

Ore Tenus

“By Word of Mouth”

(Literally: “Merely From the Mouth”)    Read more »

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State’s Fiscal Picture a Bit Brighter in August, Says Controller

California’s August revenues were nearly $135 million above the projections in the recently enacted budget, State Controller John Chiang announced September 9.

Income taxes were above projections by $127.4 million.  Sales taxes were up $8.6 million and corporate taxes were up $46.7 million, Chaing said in his monthly cash statement.

Revenues collected in July, however, were nearly $539 million less than anticipated in the budget.    Read more »

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Chief Executives Cannot Live By Kale Alone

Gov. Jerry Brown spent part of Sunday September 11 at the Yolo Land Trust’s Annual “Day in the Country” fundraiser at Park Winters, an 1865 Victorian near Winters.

The Democratic governor, who was not accompanied by First Lady Anne Gust, practiced the diversity he says he prizes, sampling a broad swath of the creations by chefs from various Northern California eateries.    Read more »

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