Star-studded visit ... Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's April 20 visit to campus to tout alternative fuels was free of the mechanical mayhem of his movies, but did attract some fans. The movie-star-turned-politician autographed a Terminator DVD for Andre Chakhovskoi of the Technology Transfer Center. Chakhovskoi said his son -- a computer science major at UC Davis -- put him up to it, although he added that he's been a Schwarzenegger fan since seeing Running Man while in college in Moscow.
That same Hydrogen Highways ceremony cast at least one "extra" in a VIP role -- 13-year-old Charlotte Krovoza, daughter of Joe Krovoza, at the Institute of Transportation Studies, and Janet Krovoza, assistant dean in the College of Engineering. Charlotte had by chance found a seat among the VIPs, who Schwarzenegger then invited to the stage. "I think the Governor was surprised to see her there, but she was thrilled," Janet said.
Can you hear me now? ... With the popularity of cellular phones increasing, demand for pay phones has dropped. This academic year about 80 of the 119 payphones available around campus were removed. The phones were not being used much, and MCI had asked UC Davis to pay the difference between a unit's actual revenue and MCI's cost to maintain it. After the phase-out, the campus added eight emergency phones and 11 courtesy phones in locations deemed most critical.
A new 'racquet' ... Art Williams, recently retired from Human Resources, reports he blinked and suddenly found he was the new tennis coach of Pioneer High School in Woodland. He is relying on the skills he learned teaching tennis while in college, years ago. His co-retiring spouse, Georgina (formerly of Environmental Science and Policy), is pitching in by finding people to donate their old racquets to the cause.
Hard to break the stereotype ... It's not often that lab coats make the front cover of a national magazine other than Scientific American. But Biological Sciences Dean Phyllis Wise and her lab were all over the cover of Parade (which claims 78 million readers) in late March for research involving the female reproductive system and the brain. During the photo session, Wise said she tried to avoid standing with folded arms in a "classic scientist" pose. On page four there's another photo of Wise -- this time with her arms folded.
Sweetening your health … UC Davis research may make people worldwide think twice about how they sweeten their foods. The Irish Times, Time magazine, Reuters Health, CNN and the LA Times were among media to recently publicize results of a study by nutrition researcher Heidrun Gross, working with Carl Keen. Gross monitored the effects of consuming buckwheat honey. Volunteers consumed at least four tablespoons of honey a day. After four weeks, Gross found a link between that consumption and increased levels of anti-oxidants in the volunteers' blood. The regimen added about 250 calories to participants' daily diets. Not too bad considering U.S. Department of Agriculture surveys show Americans consume about 20 teaspoons (6-7 tablespoons) of sugar a day, at about 20 calories per teaspoon.
A lion's share of attention ... As mountain-lion conflicts rise, Wildlife Health Center director Walter Boyce has become the go-to expert. He recently was interviewed on national TV with scarred lion-attack survivor Anne Hjelle and is getting calls from police chiefs with lion problems.
High stakes … There's finally an opportunity to buy that dream boat, and with a little luck the price tag could be only $100. A 21-foot Mercury MerCuriser speedboat is being raffled off with proceeds benefiting UC Davis Athletics and the UC Davis School of Law. Tickets go for $100 each, and the drawing will be held after 300 of them are sold. The boat, which, by the way, comes with a 315 HP V-8 engine and trailer, is valued at about $30,000. To date, some 100 raffle tickets have been sold. To get a ticket, call (530) 752-2699.