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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2006
Volume 5 Issue 308
Santa Monica Daily Press A newspaper with issues
DAILY LOTTERY 8 10 22 25 55 Meganumber: 22 Jackpot: $52M 13 26 29 31 33 Meganumber: 9 Jackpot: $15M
My homework ate my family BY KEVIN HERRERA Daily Press Staff Writer
2 14 17 21 27 MIDDAY: 8 2 3 EVENING: 7 0 2 1st: 08 Gorgeous George 2nd: 12 Lucky Charms 3rd: 06 Whirl Win RACE TIME: 1.40.94 Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the winning number information, mistakes can occur. In the event of any discrepancies, California State laws and California Lottery regulations will prevail. Complete game information and prize claiming instructions are available at California Lottery retailers. Visit the California State Lottery web site at http://www.calottery.com
NEWS OF THE WEIRD BY
CHUCK
SHEPARD
SMMUSD HDQTRS — Usually, it’s students who complain about being assigned too much homework, but recently, parents of middle schoolers have expressed concern about their children’s hefty workload. Over the last week and a half, parents have been debating on the Internet whether or not the amount of work students are taking home is causing their children’s brains to
burn out, leaving little time for extracurricular activities or f a m i l y bonding. “ D o n’t all students have a right to have the freedom to have a life outside of homework, after spending seven hours in school each day?” asked Laura Mitchell, a selfdescribed “burned-out mom of a
seventh-grader.” “How many of the parents look back and wish we had less free time to pursue our interests?” Mitchell added. “As adults, we often have far too much to do. This helter-skelter society should not be starting in elementary and junior high school. If Sacramento is to blame, then as parents and educators — isn’t it our job — our most
At least three Christian wrestling associations are active in the southern United States, staging matches using traditional pro-wrestling gimmicks (angelic “babyfaces” vs. creepy “heels"; the “injured” star who gamely takes a mauling but wins through sheer determination). In one pointed adaptation, the bad guys strap “Wrestling for Jesus” star Chase Cliett onto a large cross in the ring and beat him bloody, but he is resurrected after a good-guys’ “run-in” from the dressing room. Wrestling for Jesus and Ultimate Christian Wrestling (both based in Georgia), and Texas’ Christian Wrestling Federation, set aside some time each show for their muscular roughnecks to evangelize among their rowdy fans, according to an Associated Press report.
important job on this earth, and in fact, our duty to be strong and audible voices for our children? Can I get an ‘Amen’ from the congregation? “In my humble opinion, too much homework — and not too much television — is the downfall for a close knit family that sits down to dinner and plays board games in the evening.” Mitchell is not alone. Several other posts on the Internet messaging board Samohipals@yahoo.com See HOMEWORK, page 19
ELECTION 2006
Checks, balances & fatigue BY MELODY HANATANI
TODAY IN HISTORY
Daily Press Staff Writer
Today is the 310th day of 2006. There are 55 days left in the year. former Illinois congressman 1860 Abraham Lincoln defeated three other candidates for the presidency. Jefferson Davis was elected 1861 to a six-year term as president of the Confederacy.
Sitting pretty in the Hall of Fame
QUOTE OF THE DAY “Under pressure, people admit to murder, setting fire to the village church or robbing a bank, but never to being bores.” ELSA MAXWELL
Fabian Lewkowicz fabianl@smdp.com Table tennis champion and Santa Monica College alum Jerry N. Davila-Castro (left) is congratulated by current SMC student Alex Lyzlov, 22, after being inducted into the school’s Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday. Davila-Castro, who attended SMC from 1989 to 1993, has won a slew of world medals in his sport despite having been afflicted with infant polio.
AMERICAN SOCIALITE
COMMUNITYPROFILES
A W E E K LY S E R I E S T H AT A P P E A R S E A C H M O N D AY A N D D E LV E S I N T O T H E L I V E S O F P E O P L E W H O L I V E , W O R K A N D P L AY I N S A N TA M O N I C A .
INDEX 2
Prose and Kahn: Lives redeemed
3
BY AMY KAUFMAN
Horoscopes Time off, Cancer
Inside Scoop Feud is the real McCoy
Special to the Daily Press
Commentary Pennies from Rockport
5
Surf Report Water temperature: 65°
22
MOVIETIMES The reel in
23
Comics & Stuff Strips tease
24-25
Classifieds Ad space odyssey
26-31
MONTANA AVE. — If Santa Claus were like other celebrities and try to lay low in Santa Monica, he might look a lot like Kenny Kahn. With frosty white hair and hearty laughter that can fill a room, Kahn is the kind of guy who likes to spread cheer wherever he goes, telling jokes and
Gary Limjap (310) 586-0339
It’s all about you... The client
teasing others about life’s travails. But things weren’t always so cheery for the criminal defense attorney, who was raised on the gang-patrolled streets of East Los Angeles, near his family’s home in the dilapidated housing projects. By day, Kahn’s parents were traveling carnival thieves. By night, they were See PROFILES, page 15 VONS
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CITY HALL — A hefty 32 pages — listing the names of organizations, schools and companies — has dictated campaign financing for the City Council incumbents who are running for reelection on Tuesday. The Taxpayer’s Protection Act, commonly known as the Oaks Initiative, bars city officials from receiving personal gifts from an individual or entity after the official, in this case a City Council member, has voted or somehow taken action to benefit that individual or entity. Santa Monica voters passed the initiative in November 2000. Entities that have received a city contract in excess of $25,000, and their board of directors, trustees, partners and anyone with a 10 percent stake in the entity, fall under the regulations. The result is a 32-page document known as the “Taxpayer Protection Log” that lists the name of the entity, its contract number, description of the contract, council members’ votes on the contract, and the date when the vote took place. The cumbersome process of See CHECKS AND BALANCES, page 17
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