by The Editors on January 10, 2008
Our favorite Carlsbad life sciences firm, Invitrogen, has done some shopping. They recently bought CellzDirect, a company that “focuses on hepatocytes that are widely used to predict a compound’s effect on liver metabolism” for $57 million in cash.
“CellzDirect’s high-value products and services will greatly complement Invitrogen’s market-leading portfolio of complete cell systems, including primary cells, media, matrices and growth factors,” said Greg Lucier, Invitrogen’s chairman and chief executive officer, in a statement. “The purchase of CellzDirect follows our strategy of investing in high growth areas of the market, specifically specialty cell systems.”
We’re don’t even know enough to comment on it, but Lucier makes it sound great.
[Link: Local Tech Wire]
by The Editors on January 10, 2008
[Editors’ Note: Carlsbadistan reader Regis Weber pointed out that the LA Times has made an adjustment to the story we originally linked to here with the words: “FOR THE RECORD: Beaches: An article in Thursday’s Section A on the state budget mistakenly said that several Southern California beaches were among the state parks Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposes to close. State beaches in Southern California would remain open under the governor’s recommendations, but the number of lifeguards would be cut 50%.]
According to a story in the LA Times, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is today expected to propose shutting 48 state parks — including Carlsbad State Beach as part of his solution to the state’s fiscal crisis.
The cuts, described by officials familiar with the governor’s proposals, are so deep that some in the Capitol are already dismissing the plan as a ruse — an attempt to stir up so much public demand for a tax hike that the governor will ultimately be able to break his pledge not to take that route.
We guess the upside would be no pay parking meter at the Tamarack Beach parking lot.
[Link: Los Angles Times]
by The Editors on January 10, 2008
On Friday, January 25, 2008 at 7 PM, the Museum of Making Music welcomes award-winning guitarist Muriel Anderson for an evening of memorable music. Muriel will be joined by Thom Bresh, son of the legendary Merle Travis. Tickets are $20 for general, $15 for Museum members and $8 for students. Reservations are required. Follow the jump for the complete details.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 8, 2008
RV’s were enough of a money pit in the first place without the ground opening underneath them. But that’s exactly what happened at an RV storage lot in Calavera Hills (off Tamarack) when a 70-foot-deep sink hole opened in the ground overnight.
Steve Plyler, water superintendent for the Carlsbad Water District, said an 8-inch water pipe burst at about 7:30 p.m. Monday, punching a hole through a concrete retaining wall that holds up the hillside asphalt driveway and causing the pavement to drop away. “We’re still trying to ascertain exactly what happened,” Plyler said. “But it’s pretty clear that the pipe burst.”
Until this gets fixed no RVs will be able to enter or leave the facility. In fact, the live in caretaker Andy Masters is stuck there.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on January 8, 2008
One of the best golf teachers in the world, Jim Flick, 77, is now offering up his knowledge five-and-a-half days a week at TaylorMade Golf’s Carlsbad headquarters.
In 1990, a struggling and frustrated Jack Nicklaus solicited some advice from Flick on the driving range before the Golden Bear’s Champions Tour debut. Something clicked with Flick. Nicklaus won the tournament, and he and Flick have worked together ever since.
In 2002 Flick was named as the ninth member of the Golf Teachers Hall of Fame. If only we’d played golf. At $300 an hour we’re sure we could tune up our swings, no doubt. Click the link for the rest of the Jim Flick profile.
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
by The Editors on January 8, 2008
Carlsbad-based Luminous Medical has developed a new glucose measurement system for hospital patients that the medical equipment world is raving about.
Luminous has now developed what it claims to be the first-of-its-kind automated glucose measurement system that continually takes blood samples from a patient’s IV system, analyses the blood using near-infrared spectroscopy, then sends the blood back to the patient. . . . The net result is a system that accurately and precisely reports patient glucose readings without the need for frequent calibration and allows for automated, frequent measurements.
While we’re guessing few people understand any of this, it is just one more reminder of how Carlsbad-based high-tech businesses are making the world a better place.
[Link: The Engineer]
by The Editors on January 6, 2008
There’s nothing better for the old men of Carlsbad than a beauty pageant. And we can all thank the Carlsbad Lions Club for keeping the tradition of scantily clad, pretty young things rolling with the 54th Annual Miss and Teen Carlsbad Scholarship Pageant.
With $3000 in educational funding as it’s ruse, the event will be held at 6 p.m. March 22 at the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center, 3557 Lancer Way. All single girls, ages 13 to 26, and residing in Carlsbad are eligible.
An orientation will be held at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Harding Community Center, 3096 Harding St., and rehearsals will begin Feb. 5. Entry deadline is Feb. 19. Miss and Teen winners will receive cash scholarships of $2,000 and $1,000 respectively, and many other prizes.
Sadly, there is no “swimwear” or “talent” competition. Just “sportswear” and “evening gown.” But don’t get bummed. We’re sure the girls will be doing their best to look hot for the judges.
[Link: North County Times and Miss Carlsbad]
by The Editors on January 5, 2008
The bluffs between Carlsbadistan’s sidewalk up top and the sea wall below may be getting a make-over according to a Barbara Henry story in the North County Times.
Responding to requests from Tamarack Beach residents and the city’s beach preservation committee, a superintendent for North County’s coastal state parks said this week that he was organizing a community planting event for Earth Day in April. . . . His “No. 1 priority,” Superintendent Brian Ketterer said, would be beautifying the eroded stretch of coastal bluffs between Pine and Tamarack avenues.
Hopefully, Brian’s idea of “beautify” is the same as ours. Then again, if we all help on Earth Day, then we can make it exactly what we want (one way or another).
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on January 5, 2008
In November The Carlsbad City Council voted to accept the build-out of the Ponto Vision Plan and part of that plan requires upgrades to La Costa Avenue. Problem is, La Costa Ave. is technically in Encinitas. The Carlsbad City Council decided that developers would only have to pay 27 percent of the estimated $5.34 million upgrade and Encinitas would have to pay the rest. Not so, says the Encinitas City Council. In fact, they believe it so strongly that the City of Encinitas has filed suit against The City of Carlsbad.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Superior Court, says the proposed, 50-acre Ponto resort in south Carlsbad would introduce up to 70 percent of future traffic onto La Costa Avenue; Carlsbad has proposed that developers cover 27 percent of the cost of improving the road. . . Citing state law, Encinitas is demanding that Carlsbad require Ponto developers to pay proportionately for improvements to La Costa’s intersections at the Coast Highway and at Vulcan Avenue, one block to the east.
The City of Carlsbad had not had enough time to go over the suit to make a comment in time for the North County Times story. Anything that slows this development down is fine with us. Let the lawyers pile on.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on January 3, 2008
Carlsbad’s Phoenix Footwear has announced the sale of their Altama military footwear division to Tactical Holdings, Inc. for approximately “$15 million in total consideration,” according to a press release on Fox Business. Phoenix purchased this company on July 19, 2004 for approximately $35.3 million.
Commenting on the transaction, James Riedman, Phoenix Footwear’s Chairman, said, “The sale of Altama is an important part of continued improvements to our capital base. In addition to the direct cash it raises, it is expected to offset all of the capital taxes which arose from our gain earlier in the year with our Royal Robbins divestiture.”
So you’re saying a $20 million loss in value over three years is a good thing?
[Link: Fox Business]
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