Google has been getting a lot of flack lately, mostly because of the two-Internets plan it announced with Verizon last week, and its efforts to compete with Facebook. The latest challenge comes from Oracle, another Silicon Valley giant, which is suing Google for patent infringement.
Lifestyle News - page 129
In 2009, San Jose decided that one of the best ways to become energy independent was to be the first city in the U.S. to generate its electricity through an organics-to-energy biogas facility. This vision will come a step closer when the city receives a $1.9 million grant from the California Energy Commission to construct a biomethane production demonstration project.
Two San Jose men appeared in court yesterday over ownership of an 840 lb. monster emerald found in the emerald forests of the Amazon. The enormous, 180,000 carat rock was first found in Brazil in 2001. At the time, a mining expert from San Jose named Ken Conetto allegedly made an agreement with the actual miners that proceeds from the sale of the rock would be split between them. He says they shook on it, and that was that.
The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden was placed on probation just five years ago by All-America Rose Selections, a nationwide association of rose growers. Yesterday, it was named “America’s Best Rose Garden.” It’s quite an achievement considering that parks and gardens have been pruned in the budget during these difficult economic times. The award citation praises the garden for its “beauty” and “creativity,” but no less for its “overall contribution to the community.”
The monstrosity that is California’s 15th state Senate District stretches over strategic portions of Santa Clara County, Monterey County, Santa Cruz County and San Luis Obispo County, clear into Santa Barbara County. And for many, including the Democratic former assemblymember running to represent the district, this poster child for bizarre gerrymandering is a good illustration of everything that’s wrong with California politics.
This year’s San Jose Jazz Festival features everything from funk gods George Clinton, Maceo Parker and Tower of Power, to a whole stage devoted to blues, to salsa, to…oh, yeah, jazz! Besides the Mothership landing, highlights to watch for include bassist and producer Marcus Miller performing the music of Miles Davis.
Looking for a new home in San Jose? This is when to buy. Real estate search company Trulia reports a 13 percent increase in price reductions in July and August. Discounts are highest for luxury homes, valued at $2 million or more, where prices have gone down by as much as 14 percent.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger dropped by the San Jose-Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday to get some ideas on how to handle the state’s budget crisis. Despite the economic crunch, San Jose and Silicon Valley are the most important sectors for growth in California’s ailing economy, with green tech creating ten times as many jobs as any other sector in the state over the past ten years.
San Jose Giants second baseman Charlie Culberson was drafted by the same organization that drafted his father. Baseball is a family affair for the Culberson family. His father and uncle both played baseball professionally, and they are just two of many who provide Culberson with support from his hometown in Calhoun, Ga.
Larry Pegram, head of the Values Advocacy Council, has received the backing of Mayor Chuck Reed in his bid for a City Council seat. Pegram will be facing Don Rocha, Business Development Officer for San Jose’s Redevelopment Agency. “I need his help at City Hall in the difficult budget years ahead,” Reed said.
