CHINA CONNECTION: Accompanying U.S. Trade Representative Mickey...

CHINA CONNECTION: Accompanying U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor in Beijing at the signing of the intellectual property rights agreement with China was Safi Qureshey, AST chairman and CEO. The agreement will strengthen copyright protection of American movies, music and computer software. . . . Qureshey was on familiar ground: His Irvine computer company is the No. 1 personal computer vendor in China. Says Qureshey: “As the market opens up, both sides need to maintain an ongoing dialogue.”

SIT DOWN AND PLAY: You think you’re a pretty sharp pool player? U.S. nine-ball champion Earl Strickland appears at Best Billiards in Santa Ana today to take on any challengers who make a small donation to play him. The money goes toward local wheelchair groups. The wheelchair players also have a challenge: cash prizes to anyone who can beat their best. The catch is--you have to play from a wheelchair yourself. . . . Says Best Billiards spokesman Aaron Simon: “Some are so good, I doubt anyone can beat them--even without such conditions.”

NEW COLLEGE CHEER: How often does a president get serenaded? Vera Martinez, above, president of Fullerton College, and Christine Johnson, president of Cypress College, were lauded by local activist groups at a dinner Thursday night, with serenading, poetry, flowers and proclamations. . . . They are the first women--and first minority--presidents of their colleges. Says Martinez: “This is a beautiful outpouring. If this is what trailblazing is about, I’ll be a trailblazer.”

HARRY & GLENN WHO? The Big Band sounds of Harry James and Glenn Miller come alive tonight at the Garden Grove Community Center, with the 16-piece Society for Preservation of Big Bands orchestra. “We want to keep alive the music played in our younger days,” says Bruce Rhinehart, 70. The sax player, a retired optometrist, leads the band, which includes a teacher, a banker and an accountant.