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It will take a trial to determine whether there's any truth to charges traveling educator Daniel Roy Smith touched students inappropriately at San Gabriel's Washington Elementary last month.

Either way, it wouldn't be surprising if schools rethink the practice of sending children into portable, enclosed and darkened theaters with a third-party contractor. (Picture of "the bubble" at the preceding link.)

Of course statistics show most sexual abuse occurs at the home, by family or friends. Although I won't be covering the trial any further, I got the sense in court Monday that the defense is likely to bring that fact up and try arguing that Smith -- who has pleaded innocent -- was a convenient scape-goat.

(Picture is copyright Mobile Productions Inc., linked here under fair use provisions.)

Doesn't the New York Times editorial board know this villainous slander makes JingJing(tm) a Sad Panda?

Improving its human rights record isn’t China’s only unmet commitment to the International Olympic Committee. It also promised to improve air quality. Now athletes and their coaches are figuring out how to spend as little time as possible in China’s smog-swamped capital, where they may need masks to breathe.

Beijing also made empty commitments about press freedoms. China has failed to lift fully the reporting restrictions on foreign journalists, including limits on their ability to move freely about the country. Local journalists are as restricted as ever. There has also been increased censorship of the Internet.

The Olympic Committee has not made public its formal contract with Beijing. But a new book called “China’s Great Leap,” edited by Minky Worden, media director for Human Rights Watch, reports that Beijing sought to strengthen its bid by telling the committee — specifically — that awarding it the Games would facilitate human rights progress.

With the Games approaching, China has instead expanded its crackdown on dissidents, tightened controls over nongovernmental organizations and rounded up “undesirables,” such as migrants and the mentally ill.

Not much time for posting as I'm headed back out to unincorporated Monrovia-Duarte-Arcadia again today.

Cyclical violence between black and Latino gangs has gotten out of control and it was clear that Saturday's shooting of two 16-year-old girls was not going to go unanswered.

Today's story provides some context and has some uncharacteristic comments from law enforcement. When these people say it's "degraded into a race war" they're not engaging in hyperbole.

Here's something from August 2006 when we were in between cops reporters:

Police fear vendettas
Star-News (Pasadena, CA) - August 18, 2006
Author: Kenneth Todd Ruiz Staff Writer
DUARTE - Nine days after three people were caught in the crossfire of a decades-old feud between two gangs in an unincorporated area known as " No Man's Land ," a heavy police presence has yet to net any arrests. Two people were killed the night of Aug. 9 and a third hospitalized in what police said was part of a long cycle of retaliation between predominantly African American and Latino gangs.

Nicole Kaster, 22, was socializing with friends in front of their home on Shrode Avenue when she was shot to death just after 1 a.m. on Aug. 10.

Several hours earlier, 54-year-old Michael Minor was hit by a bullet and killed while asleep in bed a few blocks away, not long after another man was shot in the head while washing his car in southeast Monrovia. He survived.

Minor and the first victim were black. Kaster was white, but a number of her friends were Latino.

None were gang members, police said.

After three generations in a home built by her father when Shrode Avenue was little more than orange groves, Vivian Kaster, 55, wants to sell the home and get out. However, she has a more immediate concern: figuring out how to pay for her daughter's funeral.

"She got along with everyone," Vivian Kaster said. "But it's been so bad down here, so bad down here. I didn't want her standing down there."

Vivian Kaster was trying to get a loan Thursday so she could bury Nicole at nearby Live Oak Cemetery, where her son and husband are also buried.

So the primary purpose to speaking to Adam Schiff yesterday before he winged down to South Carolina was to discuss his new role on the House Permanent Select Intelligence Committee and the investigation of destroyed CIA interrogation tapes.

Schiff joins probe of CIA tape destruction

By Kenneth Todd Ruiz, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 01/24/2008 11:39:59 PM PST

PASADENA - When Congress reorganized the intelligence community in response to 9/11, it might have disrupted traditional chains of command and precipitated a breakdown in accountability, Rep. Adam Schiff said Thursday.

Speaking a day after his first House Intelligence Committee briefing, Schiff said its investigation into destroyed recordings of CIA interrogations would help determine whether Congress' authority over various agencies has been eroded.

"We want to get to the bottom of what tapes existed, what happened to them and why were they destroyed," said Schiff, D-Pasadena. "After the reorganization, is there a clear chain of command such that junior officers and senior officers understand their obligations to the Congress?"

Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Schiff, a former federal prosecutor, to the House Permanent Select Intelligence Committee late Tuesday.

Spoke to Adam Schiff about an hour ago before he got on a South Carolina-bound flight, he gave a quick update on agreement for an economic stimulus package:

-- "Rebate checks to 117 million families"
-- "$35 million low-income familes will get tax relief as well."
-- Part of a $150 billion package, "a modest boost" but "given the size of our economy it will be modest but helpful."

UPDATED: Gary Scott, who removed me after lobbying to be included on this blog roll, offers his erudite take:

This is casino economics. Let the drunk who's down $500 at the craps table gamble the house's money and fleece him for another $700 as he tries to dig his way out of the hole he's in.

Federal investigators raided the Pacific Asia Museum this morning and are still there -- we'll have something online shortly.

Federal agents raid Pasadena museum

PASADENA - Federal agents raided the Pacific Asia Museum this morning as part of a multi-year investigation into illegal smuggling of southeast Asian and Native American artifacts.

Officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service and the National Park Service spent the morning rummaging behind the red iron museum's doors, as employees and visitors watched outside.

According to a search warrant, the museum accepted stolen Thai archaeological resources and conspired to falsify tax returns in November 2005.

Employees showing up for work this morning said they did not know what was going on. One employee said she thought all the commotion was from people waiting for a tour.

"We're as interested in knowing the answers as the IRS is," Museum Director Joan Marshall said. "We're cooperating and we're happy to do that."

Photo by Raul Roa, staff photographer: An Immigration & Customs Enforcement special agent, left, and an Internal Revenue Service agent, center, stand in front of the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena on Thursday as an employee enters the building. The officers executed a federal search warrant at the museum.

Updated: "Marijuana Man" turned out to be none other than Martin Truitt!

-- Took some pictures of the Doo Dah for eventual posting, including the chicken standing in as Wayne Lusvardi.

-- Reports of Sierra Madre blogger Jim Snider's suicide death(?) are true.

In a ... unique ... account of a conversation with Molly Okeon, a Foothill Cities poster openly contemptuous of Jim channels a VH1 narrator and appears to credit her for terminal spiral (emphasis mine):

Months later I had an opportunity to ask the author of this article, Star News staff writer Molly Okeon, what it was she saw of value in The Cumquat when she wrote this obvious puff piece. Her answer was that she wrote what she was told to write, and that this article in no way reflected her personal views on the matter. She seemed to want to make it known to me that it wasn’t her idea, and that she shouldn’t be held accountable for it. When I asked who it was that was interested in publicizing Jim Snider’s on-line venture, and why she was asked to relay the desired message, she declined to answer. It was only later that she would redeem herself, as you shall see. ... On July 1, 2007, an article entitled “Planned Web Site Raising Concerns,” appeared in the Pasadena Star News. It would rock what was left of Snider’s world. Molly Okeon now had her second cover story on this fellow, one that was decidedly less flattering to its subject.

SO with this latest malaise comes also my annual health-kick, wherein I go on tobacco hiatus, sleep more and actually exercise my body. However sincere, I doubt it will have me up at the Rose Bowl by 7:45 a.m. to jog with Mayor Bill and Friends, as per this entry in the new Pasadena In Focus:

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A BRISK MORNING WALK TO LIFT YOUR SPIRITS and get your body moving. Join Pasadena’s mayor and special guests for a walk around the Rose Bowl Stadium the first Wednesday of every month at 7:45 a.m. beginning Feb. 6. Special guests, who are prominent Pasadena residents, will strap on their sneakers and join in the fun: John Naber, Olympic gold medalwinning swimmer, on Feb. 6; Larry Wilson, Pasadena Star-News public editor, on March 5; and Gale Hurd, producer of the “Terminator” movies, on Apr. 2. Bring your neighbors, coworkers, friends and family and meet at the stadium’s Gate A for an invigorating workout. Up & Moving Pasadena is a communitywide effort to support fitness for health. For more information visit www.upandmoving.org or call 831-2980.

If you go on Feb. 6, be sure to offer Lawrence a cigar. >:D

I'm going to tell my creditors I've declared a Fiscal Emergency. Everyone's doing it.

Gov. Schwarzenegger Proposes Budget, Declares Fiscal Emergency, Calls Special Session to Immediately Address Current Year Shortfall

Governor’s Budget Reforms Increase Fiscal Responsibility, Restrain Spending

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today submitted his proposed budget for 2008-09, which addresses the systemic problems that drive California’s chronic deficits. At the same time, Governor Schwarzenegger issued proclamations (attached) declaring a fiscal emergency and calling a special session of the legislature to address the current year $3.3 billion budget gap.

Governor Schwarzenegger’s 2008-09 budget proposal takes the difficult but necessary steps California needs to rein in the state deficit and stabilize the budget without raising taxes.

“We are facing a very tough situation, but with tough times come historic opportunities. I am convinced the legislature will help turn today’s temporary problem into a permanent victory for the people of California by joining me to enact true budget reform,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “We simply cannot have a budget system where revenues and spending are not tied together. We must rise to the challenge and fix California’s budget system once and for all.”

Coliseum and USC closer to a deal, Times reports:

In an effort to keep USC from moving its home football games to Pasadena, the Coliseum Commission is expected to deliver a long-term lease proposal to university administrators this morning.

The document, crafted during a special closed-door meeting Wednesday evening, represents a potential step forward in the long and sometimes acrimonious negotiations between the commissioners and the school that has played in their stadium since 1923.

A reader points out the goodwill on tap from our friends in Beijing:

On Wednesday evening, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied permission for the USS Kitty Hawk and its carrier battle group to make a four-day port call to Hong Kong for the Thanksgiving holiday. The 8,000 servicemen aboard the ships -- and the 290 families of crew members who had flown to Hong Kong to meet them -- were left with their Thanksgiving plans in tatters.

* East Pas Councilman Steve Haderlein wrote back too late Friday for me to change his title from "Strip Club Killer" to "Strip Club Assassin" for the Pleasures story.

As of January 25, residents can sleep soundly knowing the very last of Pasadena's problems have ceased to exist because no women will be taking their shirts off in a bar somewhere.

* Production problems result in Saturday's story slugged "DUMPFOLO" NOT ACTUALLY JUMPING anywhere! Yay!

* Some e-mails related to the Measure D story are posted below. I've been meaning to check Wayne Lusvardi's blog, where he's on occasion referred to me as an "ace reporter." For some reason I've never taken it as a compliment. :D

Given blog goofiness yesterday, couldn't post re: former District 2 Councilman Paul Little's return to the Pasadena civic scene in a full-time capacity as CEO of the Chamber of Commerce.

Yes, I dropped an L-bomb in the story. (which is posted below)

My question is: What impact will this have on Paul's participation in Le Blogosphere?

Forget access to City Hall, we can't even get access to the Rose Bowl tonight for the damn Turkey Tussle.

With the stadium unlikely to even be half-full, our photographers and reporters can't get the usual access. Brilliant move!

I'd like to presume it's poor communication/management and nothing to do with what happened last year:

Coach's brother could face charges over tussle Star-News (Pasadena, CA) December 29, 2006 Author: Mary Frances Gurton, Staff Writer Estimated printed pages: 2

PASADENA - City prosecutors are considering filing charges against the half-brother of Pasadena High School football coach Kevin Mills over an alleged assault following last month's Turkey Tussle.
Michael Harrison, 36, of Pasadena is accused of punching Muir High School running back Phillip Morrow in the face mask in the moments after the Nov. 9 matchup between the historic crosstown rivals, according to Pasadena police spokeswoman Janet Pope Givens.

Harrison on Friday denied the allegations, claiming he merely attended the game with his son, a PHS team member.

"I have nothing to hide," Harrison said. "If the police had anything on me they would have arrested me at the time. This is nothing to me. I was just on the sidelines cheering for my son."

Speaking of China, I found a fascinating list on the FDA's site of "refusal actions" detailing what was actually found during its infrequent searches of incoming ships.

"SALTED BEAN CURD CUBES IN BRINE WITH CHILI"
Rejected: The article appears to consist in whole or in part of a filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance or be otherwise unfit for food.

"FROZEN CHANNEL CATFISH"
Reason: SALMONELLA. The article appears to contain Salmonella, a poisonous and deleterious substance which may render it injurious to health.

Given the past year of poisoned pet food, toxic toothpaste, lead-steeped paints ... imagine a worse headline for your trade image:

"4.2 million Chinese-made toys contaminated with a powerful 'date rape' drug"

Even better, the toy looks like rave candy!

NEW YORK (CNN) -- U.S. safety officials have voluntarily recalled about 4.2 million Chinese-made Aqua Dots toys contaminated with a powerful "date rape" drug that has caused some children to vomit and lose consciousness upon ingesting the contents.

Bindeez, which were named Australia's toy of the year, contain a chemical that converts into a "date rape" drug.

Scientists have found the highly popular holiday toy contains a chemical that, once metabolized, converts into the toxic "date rape" drug GHB (gamma-hydroxy butyrate), U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) spokesman Scott Wolfson told CNN.

"Children who swallow the beads can become comatose, develop respiratory depression or have seizures," a CPSC statement warned.

Ahhh, globalism. All I can say is that there must be a *lot* of lead in China.

At Brookside. Something about a golf-cart shack and the maintenance yard. Fuel burning. Hear its a good sight, going to check it out.

Updated: Last arc of firehose water was landing on the maintenance yard as I winded down from Lida to the NW corner of Brookside. Made it past the ever-skeptical vanguard of police to the ever-smiling presence that is Fire spoke Lisa Derderian who even volunteered to go into the smolder with my video camera to get a few seconds of footage.

It was apparently the place to be ... stadium CEO Darryl Dunn was there fretting over his scorched utility carts and Fire Chief Dennis Downs made it a C.H.A.O.S.-worthy moment (Chief Has Arrived On Scene).

Lisa just called to give the estimated damage: $250,000 to equipment et. al.; $150,000 property damage.

From this day on, the official language of San Marcos will be Swedish. Silence! In addition to that, all citizens will be required to change their underwear every half-hour. Underwear will be worn on the outside so we can check. Furthermore, all children under 16 years old are now... 16 years old!

What laws would you make? Assemblyman Mike Eng wants to know:

ASSEMBLYMEMBER MIKE ENG TO LAUNCH FIRST ANNUAL “THERE OUGHT TO BE A LAW” CONTEST

El Monte, CA – Assemblymember Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) will be introducing the first annual “There Ought To Be a Law” Contest at a press conference scheduled for Thursday, November 8, 2007, at 10:00am. The press conference will take place at his District Office in the city of El Monte and will feature members of the community who support this program.

Google's fire map is getting a lot of play, here it is.

View Larger Map

Seems Bill Paparian's prediction of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's intent to not let the Armenian Genocide bill reach a vote is coming true:

Bill to Condemn Genocide in Jeopardy By ANNE FLAHERTY

WASHINGTON (AP) — A House vote to label the century-old deaths of Armenians as genocide was in jeopardy Tuesday after several Democrats withdrew their support and sounded alarms it could cripple U.S. relations with Turkey.

The loss of support is a major setback to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill, who have fiercely defended the resolution to Republicans and the Bush administration as a moral imperative in condemning the World War I-era killings of up to 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turks.

President Bush called Pelosi on Tuesday to ask her not to call for a House vote on the resolution.

"The president and the speaker exchanged candid views on the subject and the speaker explained the strong bipartisan support in the House for the resolution," Pelosi spokesman Nadeam Elshami said, noting that Bush initiated the phone call.

Armenian genocide resolution clears committee
Kenneth Todd Ruiz
Article Launched: 10/10/2007 03:50:57 PM PDT

WASHINGTON -- A resolution to compel the U.S. government to formally classify the 1915 massacre of Armenians as a genocide cleared a House committee by 27-21 vote.

Amid strong opposition from the White House and Turkish government, the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee approved the resolution which clears the way for it to go to a full vote in the House.

"The United States has a compelling historical and moral reason to recognize the Armenian Genocide, which cost a million and a half people their lives," said the bill's author, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena. "But we also have a powerful contemporary reason as well -- how can we take effective action against the genocide in Darfur if we lack the will to condemn genocide whenever and wherever it occurs?"

More after the jump ...