An OC computer legend is back in the game. AST Research cofounder Safi Qureshey has a startup that is working on the elusive “last 10 feet” of the digital home. Irvine-based Quartics is already shipping some wireless products and is close to rolling out a device that will wirelessly connect PCs to flat-panel TV screens. Qureshey is backed by VCers Enterprise Partners and Foundation Capital and is working with U.S. and Asian manufacturers …
Think nothing of it, Gov. Schwarzkopf: During his remarks at last week’s landmark-designation ceremony at Crystal Cove, Gov. Schwarzenegger inadvertently referred to The Irvine Company chief Donald Bren as Donald Trump. The guv didn’t catch himself, and there was no reaction from Bren …
The bipartisan campaign to renew Measure M, the half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, has hit a partisan pothole. Irvine Councilwoman Christina Shea and Irvine mayoral candidate John Duong, both Republicans, are objecting to Measure M ads in the Larry Agran-inspired Hometown Voter Guide that tout their Democrat rivals Sukhee Kang, Beth Krom and Mary Ann Gaido. The guide indicates that Measure M “paid for and authorized” the spots, but M campaign organizers told the Insider that an Agran-affiliated group, not they, footed the bill. M campaigners did say that they welcome support from politicians of all stripes. Duong acknowledged it might have been clever of the Agran camp to align with a popular measure that he and Shea also support. But he said the appearance of partisanship could hurt M, which needs a two-thirds vote to pass …
This week on “Inside OC”: Krom vs. Duong. Next week: Pat Bates vs. Cassie DeYoung (OC supe race) …
OCer and SEC chief Chris Cox gets a 75% job approval rating from 381 senior finance execs queried by Grant Thornton. That’s better than the 66% approval for predecessor William Donaldson in last year’s poll …
Three OCers made the Daily Journal’s list of California’s Top 100 Lawyers: John Hueston, lead government prosecutor in the Enron case and now partner with Irell & Manella in Newport Beach and L.A; Mike Flynn of Stradling Yocca and Joseph Re of Knobbe Martens …
American Cancer Society chapters have been changing the name of their Cattle Baron Balls because of research linking red-meat consumption to colon cancer. Detroit now calls itself the Auto Barons, Long Beach is the Saddle Barons and Modesto is the Sundown Celebration. Only the originators of the fund-raising concept, the Dallas Cattle Barons, appear to be stickin’ to their guns. The OC event, which has raised $4.3 million in eight years, has been renamed simply the Barons’ Ball. The theme for the Oct. 21 Newport Dunes shindig, er, make that gala, is Hollywood. But the pig races survive. In fact, this year the porcine contestants will be named after celebrities and agents. More info at www.ocbarons.org or call (949) 261-9446.
