s there anything more refreshing than a cold beer at the end of a long day? How about a glass of red wine? If you can’t decide, you’re not alone. Charles Bamforth, head of the UC Davis brewing program, discusses this dilemma in his newest book titled Grape vs. Grain: A Historical, Technological, and Social Comparison of Wine and Beer, which aims to correct common misconceptions held by the general public about both beverages.

Today “Scale Insect (Coccoidea) Systematics,a New Synthesis“ Penny Gullan 122Briggs,12:10to1p.m. Sponsored by the entomology department

The University of California Center in Sacramento is here to stay. In a May 6 reception held at the center, UCCS staff as well as alumni, students and various state dignitaries gathered to commemorate the program’s achievement and proclaim it a permanent asset to the University of California.

Zhongli Pan, a UC Davis food science professor was in Shaanxi Province, China on May 12 when he felt vibrations crawl up his body. Having overheard a discussion on earthquakes just a day earlier, Pan thought it was coincidental and ignored the movements.

A lucky few find their passion early in life and are able to follow it their whole lives. Master brewer Michael Lewis, UC Davis professor emeritus of brewing science, is one such person. He was awarded the 2008 Brewers Association Recognition Award at the 25th annual Craft Brewers Conference in mid-May.

Life, Liberty and Love. You’ve heard many of the sayings conceptually tying the Ls together. “Give me liberty or give me death,” “A life without love is no life at all,” etc. I believe it is rightfully so. Each one has a distinct identifiable characteristic, yet to separate one from the others makes the remaining empty.

Is the universe getting larger and faster? The universe might not operate under the rules scientists have given it. Ten years ago, astronomers and cosmologists discovered that galaxies other than our own are actually accelerating away from the center of the universe.

esidents and businesses of the Santa Cruz mountains are just beginning to assess the damage done by the recent Summit forest fire, which started May 22 and destroyed 4,270 acres in a week. The first major fire of the season in Northern California destroyed 36 houses and 64 outbuildings, forcing 1,000 people to evacuate their homes. It cost an estimated $16.1 million to suppress.

The Davis Parks and Community Services Department is proposing a new permit policy for organized special events and gatherings held at city parks and greenbelts. The draft policy states that the use of a greenbelt with 30 or more participants, a neighborhood park with 50 or more participants or a community park event with 100 or more participants [would] require a permit. The policy would not apply to designated picnic areas and athletic fields.

The 2008 baseball season ended for most of the UC Davis baseball team Sunday when it fell in the Stanford Regional elimination game to the host Cardinal. But for a lucky seven, it’s far from over.

A bill protecting medical marijuana patients is making its way through the California legislature. Assembly Bill 2279 would make it illegal for employers to discriminate against medical marijuana patients. It would allow patients to bring lawsuits against employers who have fired or not hired them because of their status as medical marijuana patients.

In the spring of2007,Brandon Brown was at a crossroads. Academics were about to keep him off the football field for the season.Despite having a full scholarship to play cornerback at UC Davis,he was struggling to make ends meet financially.And there were family issues back home inLos Angeles.