Criticism

For nearly four years, liberal activists who follow the federal courts have repeatedly pronounced themselves disappointed with President Clinton. To fill vacant seats on the federal bench, Clinton and his advisors have sought out veteran prosecutors, experienced judges and state officials. They have shied away from liberal academics and civil right activists. Nonetheless, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.

What are the riskiest theme-park attractions in Orange County? Not Disneyland's Space Mountain, or even Knott's Berry Farm's pulse-pounding Montezooma's Revenge. No, those most fraught with peril probably are among the slowest-moving anywhere, the ones that try to convert sacred Native American rituals into entertainment for park guests: Disneyland's "Spirit of Pocahontas" show and Knott's Mystery Lodge and Indian Trails.

Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern have their share of detractors. Limbaugh can be bombastic and fiercely partisan and occasionally indulge in rumor-mongering. Stern can be rude and crude and occasionally obliterate the boundaries of good taste. But to call them "hatemongers," as veteran columnist Carl Rowan does, is unfair. It also misses the point of what they do and why millions of loyal fans tune in each day.

A group of 41 film stars and directors--including Barbra Streisand, Paul Newman, Richard Gere and directors Sidney Pollack and Oliver Stone--released a public letter condemning China's recent efforts to hinder the release of an upcoming Martin Scorsese film about Tibet's Dalai Lama. Chinese officials recently expressed their displeasure that Walt Disney Co. is releasing the film about Tibet's exiled leader, who won a Nobel Peace Prize for drawing attention to China's occupation of his homeland.

As expected, Southern California Edison has formally protested the proposed merger of San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas, saying the union would undermine the free market for energy the state is trying to create. The merged company, which would be the largest utility in the country, based on customer count, would control Southern California's natural gas pipelines and storage, giving it the "ability and incentive . . .

Accusing music giant MCA of reneging on a promise that it would not distribute offensive material, a trio of rap critics Tuesday expressed displeasure with the recent release of albums containing violent and profane lyrics. Former education secretary William J.

Adversaries of explicit music lyrics are expected to attack MCA Music Entertainment today at a Washington news conference organized by former drug czar William Bennett and C. DeLores Tucker, chairwoman of the National Congress of Black Women.

It's been a given in Hollywood for years that Walt Disney Co. is tight with a dollar and generally pays its employees less than the competition. This long-felt sore spot has been made particularly raw for the rank and file at Disney lately with the company's short-term president, Michael Ovitz, walking away with the richest golden parachute Hollywood has ever known.

Deep inside Intel's gleaming headquarters, an azure-streaked temple to Silicon Valley's innovative spirit and corporate profitability, Hans Mulder's team is a mini United Nations. A German, a Swiss, a Turk, two Indians--and one native-born American--work under the Dutchman's direction to help keep the world's largest computer chip maker competitive. "If you want to be in high-tech, you come here," says Mulder, a bespectacled computer architect with a doctorate from Stanford University.

Seated beside her teacher-turned-tutor, an impish first-grader named Irma pages through a picture book about bears, using the illustrations to guess at the words. Behind a one-way glass, 10 veteran Los Angeles teachers--with several master's degrees in reading among them--watch and take notes, looking for tricks to help them with their own struggling students.