Power once again aproblem in California
SACRAMENTO “”mdash; California’s power grid manager has
issued a power watch, urging residents to cut back their
electricity usage.
There was little immediate danger of blackouts, spokeswoman
Stephanie McCorkle said Sunday.
Industry experts, citing improvements in transmission lines and
the construction of new power plants, said a repeat of the rolling
blackouts of 2001 is unlikely this summer.
Nevertheless, California’s power market is still in flux,
transmission bottlenecks persist, and customers have been falling
out of the habit of conserving.
McCorkle said as temperatures climb into triple digits,
consumers should reduce usage, particularly from 4 to 6 p.m.
through Wednesday. Suggestions include: raising the thermostat when
no one’s home, putting off doing laundry or running the
dishwasher until off-peak hours.
“Super Freak” singer leaves the music
behind
Funk legend Rick James peaked in 1981 with “˜”˜Super
Freak,” a song so enduring that a strain of its
infectious bass line powered the MC Hammer hit “˜”˜U
Can’t Touch This” nearly a decade later.
But James’ career never had the staying power of his
signature hit, and the singer’s life and music languished
through cocaine addiction and a prison term. In his final days,
James made a comeback bid that included playing along with routines
by comedian Dave Chappelle that parodied his history of erratic
behavior.
James, who was 56, died in his sleep Friday at his residence
near Universal City, said publicist Sujata Murthy. He lived alone
and was found by his personal assistant, who notified police, she
said.
“˜”˜He created another kind of rhythmic style for
R&B music,” said Smokey Robinson, who recorded
“˜”˜Ebony Eyes” with James.
“˜”˜Rick was very unique in his presentation and he was
very instrumental in the careers of a lot of other Motown
artists.”
Hammer’s “˜”˜U Can’t Touch
This” earned the Grammy for best R&B song in 1990
for both Hammer and James.
Bush and Kerry to visit California this
week
SACRAMENTO “”mdash; President Bush and Sen. John Kerry will take
a day or two this week away from the so-called battleground states
and campaign in California ““ home to 36 million people,
roughly one in seven Americans.
The two could cross paths in the Los Angeles area at the end of
the week “”mdash; Bush coming in for a fundraiser in Santa Monica
and Kerry for a stop on his “˜”˜Believe in
America” cross-country tour.
California dutifully provides more campaign cash than any other
state ““ Kerry has raised over $23 million here, Bush nearly
$17 million ““ but its combustible mix of challenges does not
factor on either candidate’s agenda right now.
Absent a real campaign in California, national party leaders are
gamely trying to come up with a positive spin on the state’s
role in election 2004, beyond being being the nation’s
political cash cow.
Reports from Bruin wire services.