Pixeltown

The Week in Review 11.13.09.

2009-11-14T00:30:17Z

SoCal Week in Review gives you the week's best Southern California links, articles, and web-related curiosities.

]]> After a prolonged break, we're starting back up with a string of typically absurd Los Angeles stories. Most unfortunately, it's time to rethink your allegiance to the Spider Man, as Peter Parker--or some much less intriguing imposter--was arrested and charged with battery on Hollywood Blvd this week. Suspiciously, Mike Tyson is facing similar allegations after the ex-heavyweight champion was also on the attack at LAX. Coincidence? We think not.

But hey, don't think you can trust regular Joes, either. Not these days, anyway, especially after the arrest of a Riverside local who decided it was a good idea to parade around in stolen military garb. Not such a big deal? Federal authorities would beg to differ. In fact, those Navy Crosses and Purple Hearts attached to his breast pocket might just land him in jail... for a year.

Yep, we're telling you, you can't trust anyone these days. Police even nabbed a real life conman this week. I mean, really, could you make this stuff up? The alleged crook seems to have proven that all you need in order to pull off large-scale heists is a suit, a clipboard, and some confidence. Before his arrest, the conman had stolen $10,000s of dollars from salsa bands, Israeli basketball teams, Mexican soccer teams, and even the detectives themselves. Quite the coup, indeed.

Not all of our ragtag richies are so bad, however. Even David Beckham is starting to get some love. Who would have known that all it took was a little bit of effort from the man who has thus far been paid $250 million to sit courtside at Laker games? Our love for celebrities, of course, seems admittedly less hilarious after reports surfaced that Mr. Jackson's funeral (the smaller one) cost an absurd amount of money ($1 million). Gah!

Still, you have to feel worried when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar drops the news that he has a rare, albeit treatable form of leukemia. Though he remains one of the city's most under appreciated athletes, Kareem's understated manner does at least make him one of the its most loved.

So it's with Kareem in mind that we express our concern over the news that blacks in Los Angeles are not getting those free H1N1 shots at quite the same rate as the larger Los Angeles community. Although blacks do make up nine per cent of the L.A. population, they have thus far received only 2.5 per cent of the vaccinations thus far. Of course, reasons abound--as you can imagine.

Ex-Police Chief Bratton has just left the building, but people are already dissecting the reasons why crime decreased over the course of his Los Angeles tenure. And sure, smart policing played a role, but these other factors. An aging population? An influx of criminally-averse illegal immigrants? Whatever the reason, one thing's certain: criminals continue to hate prison. Many hate it so much, in fact, that inmates are beginning to prefer the death penalty to a lifetime in county jail.

Speaking of criminalization, it's worth wondering whether the all-out legalization of marijuana might reduce use among teens. Joel Stein of Newsweek Magazine certainly thinks it could. And we have to admit that buying some pot does seems easier for a 14 year-old, these days, than obtaining liquor.

Of course, you might remember that the reason pot legalization is making so much headway is because, well, California has no money! Unfortunately, that $700 billion in federal stimulus money isn't really helping either. Why? The city's decentralized approach to federal bills is making managing grants utterly impossible! Even San Diego has received more money than Los Angeles, and we're the second biggest city in the country!

Anyway, Californians don't really need a bar graph to understand things aren't going well. A string of polls conducted by USC and the L.A. Times has indicated, sadly, that most Californians believe the state's best years have already come and gone. With a 53% increase in applications for the Cal State University system this year, you'd have to think that many administrators and soon-to-be rejected students must agree.

So, could the imposition of a "Millionaire's Tax" increase state-level revenue and save the state? Some think the tax could have the wealthy heading for income tax have, otherwise known as Nevada. Personally, we'd guess that our richie neighbors enjoy the beach a tad too much, but, hey, a mass exodus of dystopic proportions? We wouldn't be surprised. Not these days, anyway.

This image was taken by flickr user erjkprunczyk. It was used under the Creative Commons license.

The SoCal Spin 10/23

2009-10-23T21:13:52Z

SoCal Week in Review gives you the week's best Southern California links, articles, and web-related curiosities.

]]> Please, is it possible for this city to make it through a single week without some sort of public relations nightmare? Obviously not, as TMZ's Harvey Levin might tell you after the Managing Editor of the gossip site--without a touch of irony-- declared that he will be pursuing legal action against the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department after police apprehended his personal phone records last month. So what do authorities hope to find, exactly, in these tapes? The plan is to discover how Levin was able to recover classified information concerning Mel Gibson's 2006 drunk-driving arrest.

That whole "balloon boy" story certainly took a dive into the bizarre this week when the Henne family's one-time landlord came forward to describe the father of the "weird" ex-tenants as an "angry" person and general "opportunist." And what of the fact that the parents had once moved to Burbank with acting aspirations? Well, let's just say this whole thing feels increasingly like another Wife Swap audition.

Of course, rare bits of honesty do remain here and there in Southern California. Echo Park artist Shepard Fairey, for one, admitted his illegal use of an AP-licensed photo as the basis for the "hope" poster that now famously depicts President Barack Obama in red, white, and blue. But is honesty always the best policy? It did hurt, after all, when soon-to-be ex-Police Chief William Bratton quite forth-rightedly stated his preference for the East Coast last week, a place where "things get done." Los Angeles, Bratton explained, has more or less remained "a city that doesn't work" throughout his tenure here. Ouch.

At least the "city that doesn't work" is inching closer to having itself a new NFL stadium, with Gov. Schwarzenegger signing legislation this Thursday exempting the proposed stadium from state environmental laws. Depending on your disposition, I suppose this could be either a win or a loss, but at least it doesn't appear to have involved the foul play allegedly endured by Staples Center owner Tim Leiweke this past June. According to Leiweke, L.A. City Attorneys threatened to "go after" the AEG President if he didn't agree to foot the bill of Michael Jackson's funeral. Talk about big government.

If corruption does continue to poke its head, it might well be time to turn over to the oversight page of the LAPD playbook. City Council themselves are already hot on this idea, proposing that a third-party inspector begin to regularly audit the Department of Water and Power. But could an audit of LAUSD also be in order? With veteran substitute teachers now being kept out of the classroom against their will, maybe so.

By the way, it's not 1980 anymore, so that whole thing between Northern and Southern California? Forget it; our problems no longer revolve around catty regional loyalties. Instead, we've got to figure out how we'll be dividing this finite water supply of ours among all too many lawns and fish. Got to believe this could be an important (first?) step towards thinking of this state as a single entity. Well, that or the ever-present fear of quakes.

And, really, it's been all but impossible to ignore the current national coverage of our local marijuana tribulations. Proponents of hyperbole are even suggesting the use of the word "war" to describe forthcoming events--a little extreme, I have to say---but regardless of your positioning, it's no doubt a surprise to hear that 74% of L.A. County voters support the use of medical marijuana (54% are in support of all-out legalization). So who are we fighting again? If you want to get caught up on all this drama, KCET's Brian Doherty synthesizes this kind of info better than anyone.

Elsewhere on the health front, H1N1 clinics have been set up around L.A. County for the uninsured, so get the word out to the youngins please, because it's them who'll be getting sick. And as for last week's AIDS Walk, I'd like to attribute the 20% drop in donations to a temporary decrease in disposable income, rather than some sort of declining awareness.

However, we don't want to leave you on the regular downer, so if you're searching for something brighter, check out this wonderful collection of fantastic Los Angeles street art. Yeah, there might be a lot going wrong these days, but at least the people throwing this stuff up are holding the whole culture thing together.

This image was taken by flickr user erjkprunczyk. It was used under the Creative Commons license.

The SoCal Spin 10/16

2009-10-16T19:22:58Z

SoCal Week in Review gives you the week's best Southern California links, articles, and web-related curiosities.

]]> It only took one hot air balloon and a couple minutes for Falcon Henne to launch into internet infamy this Thursday, as reports stated that the six year-old from Colorado took to the sky by means of his father's hot air balloon. As we all now know, the reports were off base--the child was instead in the attic--but, as KCET's Ophelia Chong notes, the most remarkable aspect of "Balloon Boy" might just be the speed with which that news spread.

Back in the Golden State, disillusion with our government is running rampant, although you already knew that, didn't you? A Field Poll this week reported that approval of the state legislature is now set at an utterly abysmal 13%, with the Governor's 27% not doing that much better. Yep, things are reaching a crisis point. So should we expect some bi-partisan ventures in the near future? Don't get ahead of yourself.

Maybe you're of the disposition that the government remains fundamentally sound and that it's Californians themselves that are politically incompetent. Well, you would then be in disagreement with the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court. Yes, Ronald M. George went on record this week officially assailing our "dysfunctional" government up in Sacramento, stating that anything short of fundamental reform would render the state ungovernable in the future. Could this be a strike against complacency?

Schwarzenegger, to be fair, did indeed buckle down at his desk this week, as the Governor sifted through hundreds of bills and vetoed a good number of them in the process. A bill honoring gay-rights activist Harvey Milk and the first piece of explicit anti-paparazzi legislation are among the notables that made it through, although the latter does seem to hint at Arnold's implicit Hollywood bias.

We know this is getting repetitive, but with the financial belt of the entire city tightening more every week, various officials and experts are considering increasingly, err, creative means to place a couple extra bucks in the city's pocket. One study has surprisingly indicated that leaving homeless persons out on the streets--as is our tendency in Los Angeles--costs the city more than putting them up in a housing shelter. If that's the truth, then it's definitely time to provide the struggling with some long overdue public service.

Additionally, KCET's Brian Doherty reports that some relief is on the way to Los Angeles schools in the form of federal subsidies. Unfortunately, the city's Chief Financial Officer believes that "this is a crisis averted but [only] delayed," a sentiment seemingly in agreement with a new UCLA proposal to increase tuition for some of the school's more lucrative majors. Desperate times do seem to call for innovative measures.

And, shock and awe, even Hollywood is suffering in this economic climate, with the number of production days down 14.3% this year. All those fears of Hollywood bolting out of Los Angeles do sadly seem to have some bite to them. City Council, however, has instead turned its attention away from Hollywood and towards a newly proposed idea to ban convenience stores in South Los Angeles, a suggestion that has quickly drawn criticism as unnecessarily paternal and maybe just a little racist?

Finally, if you like your overviews in the form of policy memorandums, then check out this annual report just issued by the Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs. Topics include Economic Development, Housing, Health Insurance, and the DREAM Act. In just thirty pages, you'll be transformed from laymen to Los Angeles expert. Or, at least, you'll feel like you have been, and isn't that good enough?

This image was taken by flickr user erjkprunczyk. It was used under the Creative Commons license.

Newsflash! It's Raining in L.A.!

2009-10-14T20:04:11Z

The folks at LAist share some timely comedic takes on the recent rain:

It rains and all of the sudden there are crashes everywhere. In fact, there were 186 between midnight and earlier this morning. All this ridiculousness means fodder for comedians and the like[.] [full item]

Visit Curbed LA, L.A. Now and LA Observed for more.

The SoCal Spin 10/9

2009-10-09T21:28:57Z

SoCal Week in Review gives you the week's best Southern California links, articles, and web-related curiosities.

]]>

Believe me, the Golden State is a mess in more ways than your fingers can count. And if you're hoping to brush-up on the state's larger trending topics, check out this fantastic summary on the current state of California. Sadly, its less-than-fantastic conclusions will leave you wondering if California could become the country's first failed state.

At least Sacramento is attempting to capitalize on the continued slow growth of the stock market, as it plans to sell $4.5 billion worth of government bonds to those searching for a more secure investment. As long as Wall Street remains unpredictable, expect people to bite at these bonds fast.

Of course, the central question concerning this bankruptcy we are trying to lift ourselves out of is whether taxes remain too low or spending has run too high. Does the possibility of sending an aging Roman Polanski to prison demonstrate a fiscally unsound desire to imprison criminals when we can't afford it?

Outside of state government, more waste could be looming alongside an initiative war. Are these initiatives legitimate efforts to enact change? Or are they political tools meant to injure political opponents?

That Gavin Newsom hasn't quite hit his stride yet could be considered an understatement, and some see his call into Bill Clinton as a cry for help. Let's be honest, the man has been less than a fundraising machine since his declaring his decision to run for governor. So is an implosion impending for the San Francisco Mayor?

Hey, kudos to him anyway, as Newsom signed onto the US Conference of Mayors initiative to limit greenhouse gas emissions alongside Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Is anyone else surprised that it's been city mayors who have take the environmental lead in recent years? Can someone wake-up the senate house?

Los Angeles city government hasn't taken pro-green ground on all fronts, however. District Attorney Steve Cooley recently declared all medical marijuana dispensaries to be illegal and, with over 800 flourishing dispensaries city-wide, might be readying a cultural war of sorts.

Conversely, there's another industry in Los Angeles that city officials are bending over backwards to accommodate. Fears of the film industry outsourcing increasing amounts of work have city council scrambling to create incentives to remain in L.A. All the fuss, to be honest, still seems a tad premature.

Educational reform of any sort, however, is more than overdue. One school's decision to divide classrooms into distinct male and female learning environments hence has researchers and parents alike intrigued as to the results. Are boys and girls developmentally hindering one another?

Finally, if you think this texting while driving debate only hinges on the actions of your teenage daughter, think again, as the Metrolink has installed cameras into its trains to dissuade its employees from putting the lives of hundreds of people at risk. Hm, I guess it's not all the fault of those irresponsible adolescents.

This image was taken by flickr user erjkprunczyk. It was used under the Creative Commons license.

SoCal Week in Review 10/1

2009-10-01T23:29:52Z

SoCal Week in Review gives you the week's best Southern California links, articles, and web-related curiosities.

]]>

This week's arrest of Director Roman Polanski on charges of rape has Hollywood up in arms, exhibiting a deep and almost bizarre divide between the entertainment industry and Middle America. Should a tarnished career be punishment enough for "great artists" like Mr. Polanski? Or are celebrities receiving unfair preferential treatment in the court of law?

Either way, Polanski would be far from the lone sex offender in the Golden State. In fact, California's disturbing number of recently-released sex offenders has become somewhat of a logistical nightmare for law enforcement officials, who annually oversee the discharge of 120,000 inmates--a national high.

Unable to get a word in edgewise on that hot button issue, City Council has instead reverted back to the safer issue of tagging, proposing a bill that would require all new buildings to have an "anti-grafitti coating." Any chance they're a little annoyed with this bit of anti-Villarraigosa vandalism?

But let's not think that the bigwigs downtown are only going after the little guys, as Federal Judges upheld a ban this week on those hideous digital billboards we saw springing up all over town this summer. A small victory against corporate obstruction.

Not all federally-related news this week has been so light-hearted, however, as American Apparel was forced to fire 1,800 employees amid a sweeping immigration crackdown by the Obama Administration. The company's downtown factory had been one of the largest remaining in Los Angeles.

Just in case you forgot, the Los Angeles economy is still tanking, with nearly six unemployed persons for every job opening. Can you see a correlation between the dragging economy and UCLA's recent recognition as the most "economically diverse" top-tier university in the nation? We can. And by the way, are you wondering how that stimulus money is helping the city?

So yes, the economy is falling apart, but that's not the only thing. As our very own Brian Doherty so eloquently relays, pipes throughout the city aren't holding up either. Potential causes? Too many to count. But isn't that a bad thing?

At least MOCA has some elevating news: they'll be staying in business. The contemporary art museum reported that they have raised $60 million since last December, a month when their endowment fell as low as $6 million and they temporarily toyed with the idea of becoming a contemporary foreclosure exhibit.

And just in case you thought Los Angeles was running the way of a second-tier city, let's present a power-player counterargument. Google and Microsoft are currently in a (probably fierce, right?) battle to take-on the city's extensive e-mail list, a highly-prized asset thank you very much.

Finally, Laker fans--surprise, surprise-- enjoy getting rowdy and illegal when they win championships. Oh mob mentality, when will you ever leave us?

This image was taken by flickr user erjkprunczyk. It was used under the Creative Commons license.

Socal Week in Review

2009-09-24T22:19:05Z

SoCal Week in Review gives you the week's best Southern California links, articles, and web-related curiosities.

]]>

Backing down on the state park issue after several months of vehement criticism, Gov. Schwarzenegger has requested that the Department of Finance minimize the number of total park closures and cut alternative areas of the budget instead.

And in life after the Governator, former eBay CEO Meg Whitman has thrown herself into the gubernatorial race, vowing to cut 40,000 state government jobs and lower state taxes on behalf of the Republican Party.

Whoever does "win" the title of California Governor will have their hands full, as the unemployment rate in California arrived at a seventy-year high this month. What's to blame? Take a look at our state's strong ties to the recently-decimated construction industry.

With the economy in disarray, the federal government supposed this is the time to bust a mob. A thousand law enforcement officers descended on and indicted 88 suspected members of the infamous Avenues gang. The suspects' criminal activity allegedly reaches back into the 1990s.

But could it be that the true battle against crime should be waged in the classroom, rather than the streets? A study this week found that criminally-prone high school dropouts cost the state $1.1 billion annually in additional law enforcement.

So all we have to do is curb the dropout ? Doesn't seem that easy, especially as recent budget cuts now have kids sitting on floors in classrooms with fifty students to a single teacher.

Even in the midst of this budget mess, some kids are trying to do good, launching a website to combat obesity through increasing awareness. And they still say these kids these days are all a bunch of good-for-nothings.

Actually, doesn't it seems like it's the older crowd that is increasingly obsessed with 'mindless' social networking sites these days? At the Skirball this week, it was adults who gathered for a two-day conference focusing solely on, you guessed it, Twitter.

Someone is still angry at ACORN about their, er, ties to prostitution. Graffiti reading 'ACORN Funded Prostitution Zones' popped up throughout Echo Park this week, but we'll do our homework before believing it, thanks.

Finally, the idea of building a NFL stadium right outside of Los Angeles is now much closer to reality. With the Trojans and Bruins already dominating the region's football landscape, does the city have room for another team?

This image was taken by flickr user erjkprunczyk. It was used under the Creative Commons license.

Interview with "Militant Angeleno"

2009-09-23T19:17:49Z

Welcome back to "Better Know a SoCal Blogger" on KCET.org! Every week we will be featuring one of the city's many fascinating and first-rate blogs. This week we are speaking with the anonymous writer of Militant Angeleno, a mysterious blogger who offers readers a native's view on L.A. in hopes of making them all more militant fans and citizens of the region.

]]> The Basics

Blogger Name: Militant Angeleno

Official Blog Name: Uh... "Militant Angeleno" :)

When did you start blogging? The Militant actually started blogging in 1994. However, there were no such things as "blogs" back then, but he was definitely writing, and people were reading his adventures and observations in Los Angeles back then. The Militant Angeleno blog, as we know it today, goes back as far as June 2007 though.

Do you have a day job? He may or may not have one...

How many hours do you spend online/ on your computer? Far too much to mention. It also helps (or doesn't help) that he now has a smartphone with 3G internet access...

Where do you do your blogging from physically? The Militant blogs from the Militant Compound. He cannot specify an address for privacy and security purposes, but he can tell you that it's within a 5-mile radius of the KCET studios.

What are you reading? This email!

Link to your first post: Here

The Lowdown

What is your blog about?

Militant Angeleno is about Los Angeles, seen from the point of view of a native who was raised in an unspecified ethnically diverse neighborhood in the city and shares his perspective through his own eyes. He loves to write about places and subjects that most other Los Angeles blogs don't even have on their radar.

Who is your ideal reader?

Well, there's two ideal readers -- one is the similarly militantly-inclined native Angeleno who also feels like a foreigner in his or her own blogosphere. Many of them are excited that the Militant represents their voice. The other ideal reader is the recently-transplanted hipster who thinks they live in "The Eastside" and is entitled to everything, and thinks they know all they know about Los Angeles. The Militant really likes to piss 'em off.

Besides your own, what's your favorite Los Angeles blog?

He has a few. One that stands out is laeastside.com, because, like the Militant's blog, it represents local voices and perspectives that don't normally get heard. The Militant feels at least partly responsible for inspiring those folks to get out there, and is glad they are on the blogosphere. We need more diverse voices out there, especially from parts of town where you don't expect bloggers to live in. The Militant also reads laist.com. He used to *really* hate them a couple years back but recently they've gotten more in touch with the real Los Angeles, its history, cultures and issues in its posts. They deserve much Militant props for turning it around.

What is a one misconception people have about you from your blog?

That the Militant doesn't own a car. He does, but he doesn't drive it as much as everyone else. He's yet to visit a mechanic!

Here is a screenshot of the Militant Angeleno's blog.

You refuse to reveal your identity; how has this helped you when it comes to writing blog entries about L.A.?

Oh tons! The Militant can get away with so much stuff. :) He is also insult-proof. A few years ago on another blog, someone called the Militant a certain ethnic slur. The Militant just laughed because that slur may or may not been so far off the mark. No one knows what the Militant is exactly, so ad-hominem attacks really won't work!

There is a downside, in that there are limits to the extent that he can connect with people. It's like being Batman, or (more Los Angeles-specific) Iron Man - except that the Militant isn't rich. It can be lonely being a Militant sometimes. But that's the price a Militant must pay.

As a native born Angeleno, what were topics you thought the media or other blogs were not covering?

There's a multitude of layers to this City that most people are unaware of. There's many cultures and sub-cultures here that don't get much recognition, yet the Militant already sees how they contribute to our urban tapestry. People who are ignorant about Los Angeles love to stereotype it, but really, you can't. It's not one thing, it's many things.

What is a "militant" Angeleno and how does being militant improve our city?

Militant Angeleno (small "m") is one armed with a sense of local history, civic knowledge and participation, and local pride. A militant Angeleno does not let people's ignorance or denigration of the City go unchallenged. A militant is also constructively critical of what does go wrong in this City, but is more involved in making things happen and making things work than placing the blame. A militant knows the past, works in the present and is always looks toward the future. And a HUGE Dodger and Laker fan too. :)

You bike and take public transportation a lot, do you believe this is really a growing trend for Angelenos with a future, or is it still out of the norm?

It is a growing trend. Or not even a trend, but a lifestyle shift. He sees more people bike, and not just hipsters on fixies, but teenagers. That's encouraging since they can get around and explore the city before they know how to drive (and the ability to drive doesn't necessarily help one know the city, as we all know...). There was no Red Line or bike culture when the Militant was a teenager. There's still a psychological barrier to cycling, but it will gradually erode. There used to be a huge reluctance to take transit when Metro Rail started nearly 20 years ago, now taking the train is less of a big deal that it used to be. We already have one of the largest transit systems in the US. not bad for just 20 years.

Who has been your favorite Dodger?

Right now, it's Orlando Hudson. O-DAWWWGGG!!! He's got a great attitude. Kemp, Manny and Kuroda are also faves. The Militant's all-time favorite Dodgers growing up were Steve Garvey and Fernando Valenzuela.

Your blog seems to really capture the essence of Los Angeles, but: How do you make time to attend all the events?

Thanks! But even the Militant knows his limits! Not even he can attend all the events! But it just goes to show how much activity and vibrancy is going on in this city.

The ever mysterious blogger, the Militant Angeleno gave us this picture of his workspace.

Who is the ultimate militant Angeleno in your eyes?

There is none really, But if you combined Huell Howser's curiosity and historical knowledge, Edward James Olmos' dedication to community service, Tom Bradley's heart, Ruben Salazar's courage, Ed Begley Jr's environmental dedication, Patt Morrison's intelligence and wit, Fr. Gregory Boyle's soul and Tommy Lasorda's passion, that would be the ultimate militant Angeleno right there!

The Militant hopes that some of these kids today will be true Militant Angelenos when they grow up.

What is you favorite corner, neighborhood, or spot in Los Angeles?

The Militant has many. He loves his own neighborhood, and is very active in it, but obviously can't reveal where it is. He can tell you that he digs Downtown Los Angeles, Leimert Park, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, East Hollywood, NoHo, Boyle Heights, Mid City, Little Tokyo and Koreatown.

Finally, what is it about L.A. that inspires you to blog?

It's diverse, it's dynamic. Nothing's set in stone yet. There's way too many opportunities. A lot of people complain how "Los Angeles doesn't do _____ right," but really we're still learning.

That's exciting stuff for a Militant.

We'd like to thank the Militant Angeleno for participating in this installment of Better Know a SoCal Blogger. Make sure to check out his militant blog!

Disparate Parts

2009-09-17T22:48:30Z

The SoCal Week in Review gives you the week's best Southern California links, articles, stories, and other web-related curiosities.

]]> If you've got a sweet tooth for scandal, then there's seemingly no better time to be alive, what with Joe Wilson hollering, Serena mouthing off, and Kanye, well, being Kanye. But don't be deceived, it's not just celebrities that are having all the fun. Reports of Wells Fargo executives throwing "lavish" parties at a repossessed beachfront Malibu home have infuriated tax payers, who you might remember bailed out the struggling business last year to the note of $25 billion.

But don't think for a second that it's only the financial sector that is doing a less than perfect job of adhering to company protocol. Tapes have surfaced of the community organizing group ACORN willingly guiding two disguised vigilante activists through the legalities of creating a prostitution establishment in San Bernardino , giving rise to mores issues than you can count.

Some are doing their best to bring burglary back into fashion, albeit in different ways. Nabbing ten original Warhol paintings (count 'em!) from a dedicated and now surely depressed art connoisseur? Check. Robbing a San Diego bank with tubes up your nose and an oxygen tank in hand at the tender age of seventy? Double check. No wonder watchdog journalism is all the rage.

Also, with the Station Fire all but over, the repairing and rebuilding will now commence. For its parts, the federal government is doing right in providing low interest loans to the 26 commercial properties and 66 homes damaged by the flames--Sit'n Sleep ain't offering a bad deal either--but watch out for amoral illegal contractors willing to take advantage of the already victimized. As for the next potential natural disaster presenting a clear and present danger? Mudslides, coming this winter.

Speaking of disasters, Ben Bernanke is saying that this recession is over, technically speaking, but I don't think Californians could honestly say they agree. The housing market? Throughout California prices are down 11% from July, with some blaming the "thinning inventory of foreclosure properties." And don't get us started on jobs, as our OC Register reports that the number of persons working part-time when they would rather have a full-time job increased 80% this year. Even Kobe said he would consider outsourcing his jump shot to China. There's still quite some work to be done.

Luckily, City Council is trying to get to business. Give them some slack on that budget thing; they are cutting into their vacation time, after all, to get something through sometime soon. For that matter, at least they can agree on some things that are just too important to push back, namely limiting the number of roosters per citizen and finally figuring out just how many people ride their bikes.

On the environmental front, Gov. Schwarzenegger is insisting on switching 33% of our electric utilities over to renewable sources by 2020. Good on him, but do you get the feeling he is putting off closing those state parks for as long as is politically possible? With fifteen thousand Heal the Bay-ers set to march to the shores this Saturday, he might be right to wait another week. Oh, and remember how we're running out of water? A new idea has us looking into wastewater south of the border.

Finally, don't expect to find much good news if your looking in Sacramento's direction right about now. Increasing numbers of furlough days and a potential 30% tuition hike for UCs next year (you read correctly) have workers protesting in San Francisco. That and a proposal for a new and surprisingly regressive tax system have us thinking its going to get worse, not better. Well, at least the Legislature voted to reduce our prison population by some 17,000 inmates this year. If some obscure datasystem can't prove our educational system deserves federal aid, we'll need all the chump change we can get our hands on.

(Gulp.)

This image was taken by flickr user erjkprunczyk. It was used under the Creative Commons license.

Better Know 'SoCal Minds'

2009-08-27T16:05:22Z

Welcome back to 'Better Know a SoCal Blogger' on KCET.org! Every week we will be featuring one of the city's many fascinating and first-rate blogs. This week we are speaking with Craig Matsuda of SoCal Minds, a blogger focusing on Southern California's most "intriguing research, ideas, activity, [and] people."

The Basics:

Blogger Name: Craig Matsuda

Official Name of Blog: SoCal Minds

When did you start blogging? This past March

Do you have a day job? I'm a consultant, free-lance editor-writer, job hunter

How many hours do you spend online/on your computer? 1-12 hours

Where do you physically blog from? My home office

Can you provide a link to the blog's first post?

This is the first one I can find.

]]> The Lowdown:

So, what's your blog about?

It's a search for intelligent life in Southern California --it brings you word about intriguing research, ideas, activities, events and people found at the myriad of universities, colleges, think tanks and cultural and intellectual institutions

Why did you decide to start blogging?

To prove I could; to see if content counts in cyberspace.

And who is your ideal reader?

Smart, engaged, engaging folks with a sense of curiosity, humor and balance.

Can you explain your decision to deal exclusively with Southern California research institutions?

As someone who spent a career in fact-based mainstream media, I'm not great at overt opinionizing. I didn't want to tell you what I think; I'll save that for good friends at the bar. I did want to tell about folks who are doing amazing, long, hard work -- in labs, classrooms, libraries, practice rooms -- digging out stuff, analyzing and testing it and presenting it to the world for civil consideration and discussion. Their efforts are provable, arguable in fact; they often undergo stringent peer review before they publish. The institutions take great efforts, by hiring some talented journalists, to present information in clear, compelling ways. It's all stuff of great value, usefulness to the public discourse.

SoCal Minds performs the commendable service of providing broader context for newsworthy events. Do you believe other journalistic outlets do not adequately address the larger issues at stake when--for example--two journalists are returned from North Korea?

Honey, they shrunk my media. That's what I fear and feel too often when I see the products of the craft I've worked in for a career. It's tough. So I hope my tiny effort can help those who wish to put the news into context for themselves; they can get the expertise, research, detail and depth that will really make daily events make more sense by tapping into these terrific institutions of knowledge. And, by the way, many of them, they're paying for with their tax dollars.

Conversely, do you ever find yourself frustrated with a lack of research in an area that you personally consider worthy of investigation?

I'm rarely frustrated on this account; there's so much intriguing stuff to wander through and wonder about, why be unhappy?

You deal with the research findings of both privately-funded Think Tanks and Public Universities. Do you prefer one to the other?

I'm glad and grateful we've got both public and private research going on and that they find their own unique approaches and funders.

Ever wonder where these blog posts come from? Craig does the majority of his writing here:

Everyone has on opinion on if journalism is dying. Do blogs have anything to do with that?

Journalism, I hope, is changing its delivery method and finding a new business model after a catastrophic collision of new technologies, bad industry choices and leadership and a dire need to maintain traditional news values in confusing, uncertain times. Blogs have great merits of their own; some add journalistic value--that's just not the aim of many.

Can you give us an example of a L.A. Blog that does add journalistic value?

I'm afraid I'm addicted to LAObserved, but I'm learning daily about the great stuff out there on Chance of Rain, Zester Daily, and many, many more.....

And lastly, what's your favorite thing to do in L.A., outside of cyberspace?

I love encountering all the different people, cultures, ideas, experiences that coalesce and clash in the Southland. Everyone knows these, good and bad.

A screenshot of SoCal Minds:

We'd like to thank Craig again for taking the time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions. When you are looking for a quick intellectual fix, click on over to SoCal Minds, a fantastic source of SoCal insights. For more about think tanks and research institutions, check out our own Jeremy Rosenberg, who blogs for KCET at Think Tank LA.

Kennedy: "We are not going to let you down, my friend"

2009-08-26T20:56:57Z

As KCET programmer Bohdan Zachary reminds us, those of you looking for ways to remember the late Senator Ted Kennedy, can find a broad range of resources on KCET and PBS:

A rebroadcast of American Experience: The Kennedys follows the Kennedy story from Jack and Jackie Kennedy's White House through the national tragedies of the assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy. It can be watched on KCET beginning at 8pm, or you can stream it online here.
The Newshour offers a special tribute to Kennedy, including footage of the tribute to the Senator at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
Lastly, Tavis Smiley discusses the legacy of the U.S. Senate's "liberal lion" with Georgia Rep. John Lewis and civil rights attorney Vernon Jordan. The tribute also features clips from Tavis' past conversations with the patriarch of the Kennedy dynasty.

Pixeltown remembers the late Senator Ted Kennedy the only way it can: via embedded viral podcast. Below is a clip in which Kennedy speaks to popular Spanish-language radio personality Piolin in East Los Angeles. He sings in that famous Massachusetts accent, and his last words are words to live by:

Pioke622-t
by hotternews

We'll try not to let you down, Senator Kennedy. Rest in peace.

Poll: Should the L.A. City Council take a pay cut?

2009-08-24T21:16:18Z

KCET Local's Brian Doherty has been blogging about City Council member's pay. So we wondered what you thought about it. Should Council members get a pay cut?

Interview with 'Green LA Girl'

2009-08-17T19:16:28Z

Welcome back to 'Better Know a SoCal Blogger' on KCET.org! Every week we will be featuring one of the city's many fascinating and first-rate blogs. This week we are speaking to Seil Ju, the person who started one of the city's best 'green' blogs trying to recycle a broken DVD player.

]]> The Basics

Blogger name: Siel Ju
Official Name of Blog: greenLAgirl
When did you start blogging?
July 2005 -- I just celebrated my 4th blogversary!
Do you have a day job?
Yes -- blogging!
How many hours do you spend online/ on your computer?
About 6.
Where do you do your blogging from physically?
I usually blog at home, though I sometimes bike over to use the free wifi at the LEED-certified Santa Monica Main Public Library.
What are you reading?
Infinite Jest. I've signed up for infinitesummer, and so far, have stayed on schedule!
Link to your first post
Here.

The Lowdown

What is your blog about?

green LA girl's my personal blog about living green in L.A., with news about eco-fashion boutiques, new restaurants serving local and organic eats, green-themed news and events, and a lot more.

Who is your ideal reader?

Anyone interested in living a healthier, happier life in L.A. or beyond. Environmentalism isn't really about sacrificing personal freedom and fun for the sake of the environment, but actually improving your quality of life by rethinking old assumptions about the American Dream. Especially with the economy and housing market the way it is today, many people are discovering they don't really enjoy being financially jailed into isolated homes in the 'burbs that require them to waste hours of their lives stuck in traffic every day. I'd like to think green LA girl helps show people life doesn't have to be that way.

Why did you continue blogging after your first post?

I guess I had more to say -- or really, more to do. green LA girl's partly a way for me to keep track of the changes I'm making in my life and my thinking -- and change just keeps happening.

As a former head of the L.A. Times environmental blog, Emerald City, how do you feel about the death of journalism?

Journalism isn't dead.

Besides yours, what is your favorite Los Angeles blog?

That's a tough question. I like LAist a lot, partly because it simply breaks a lot of useful local news -- much more so than the L.A. Times blogs -- and partly because Zach Behrens and Lindsey Williams-Ross often write about environmentally-related issues, from new storm screens to reduce ocean pollution to farmers' market yummies. I also like Streetsblog L.A. for the same reason except specifically related to car-free living. And I enjoy reading Spouting Off, written by Mark Gold of eco-nonprofit Heal the Bay, simply because Mark's always so unrelentingly angry. His tirade-posts can actually be pretty funny, in a spur-you-into-action-while-laughing kind of way.

What is a one misconception people have about you from your blog?

People like to apply whatever meaning they usually attach to the word green to my blog. For example, I've had a number of Green Party members complain that my blog "should" be about their party and support their candidates (I'm a registered Democrat and have never voted for Nader, though I like the guy when he's not throwing elections).

You present a lot of eco-friendly products on your site, have you tried them all?

I've tried most, but not all, the products I've written about -- and whether or not I've tried a product's usually pretty evident when you read the post. If I'm writing about a new fashion line that's coming out next season, for example, I'm unlikely to have tried on the clothes myself. But I do try to stick to personal product reviews, partly because I don't want to be the kind of shill blogger that simply repackages corporate press releases, and partly because I don't want to inadverdently encourage a reader to buy something I haven't tried that ends up being an eco-dud.

Best bike route?

Riding toward the beach on California -- a residential street a block north of Wilshire in Santa Monica. That street has a big wide bike lane, lots of trees, a nice ocean breeze, and few cars. Plus it's a slight downhill! I've figured out that the people who complain about how the City of Santa Monica isn't bike friendly are for some reason choosing to duke it out with the cars on Wilshire or Santa Monica Blvds. instead of simply cruising down California or Arizona a block away.

Is it easy to be green?

Yes, with caveats.

What is the one "green" activity that anybody in Los Angeles can do?

Go to the farmers' market and enjoy a fresh piece of local, organic fruit.

Is green your favorite color?

No. My favorite color is dark red. I actually can't even wear most green hues without looking vaguely Martian --

Finally, a view of the Green Girl's Workspace:

Pixeltown thanks Siel for participating in our segment 'Better Know a Blogger!' Check out her blog here.

Poll: What do you think of the new L.A. Times website?

2009-08-13T21:05:40Z

As a reader, what do you think?

Interview with 'Loteria Chicana'

2009-08-11T20:02:18Z

Welcome back to 'Better Know a SoCal Blogger' on KCET.org! Every week we will be featuring one of the city's many fascinating and first-rate blogs. This week we are speaking to Cindy Mosqueda, who blogs about L.A. through the lens of family relations, Chicano culture and loteria.

The Basics

Blogger Name: Cindy Mosqueda
Official Name of Blog: Loteria Chicana
When did you start blogging? November, 2001
Do you have a day job? Yes, I'm a PhD student in education. I also work for an academic support program for college students in the sciences.
How many hours do you spend online/ on your computer? Too many.
Where do you do your blogging from physically? I do most of my blogging from home. Sometimes I'll get an idea at work and will post from there.
Do you have a picture of your desk? I don't have a photo of my desk. It's way too messy. [It's okay Cindy, our desks here at Pixeltown are not so tidy either!]
What are you reading? I just finished reading David Sedaris' "When You Are Engulfed in Flames." Now I'm reading "The Prodigal Tongue: Dispatches from the Future of English" by Mark Abley. He interviewed me for a section on Spanglish, so it's fascinating to read what I said a few years ago.
Do you have a link to your first post? Here. I later purchased my domain and moved my blog [to loteriachicana.net], the first post is here.

]]> The Lowdown:

What is your blog about?

My blog is mainly autobiographical with a sprinkling of some opinion and news about current events. I love re-telling stories about events in my and my family's life. I also like writing about little known aspects of Mexican and Chicano culture. For instance, I recently wrote a post about "arracadas jerezanas" a typical earring worn by women from Jerez, Zacatecas. I also post a lot of photos.

Who is your ideal reader?

That's tough to answer. My ideal reader would hopefully be engaged and be able to relate to the topics I write about. He/she would also comment and continue the discussion. I really enjoy the feedback. In a sense, it keeps me going.

Why did you start blogging?

I've always enjoyed writing and have kept a journal since I was in middle school. I liked the idea of blogging and the quickness with which I could write something on my computer. If I tried to write as fast as I typed, I'd get a hand cramp. I'm a pretty open person and enjoy sharing, so blogging seemed like a natural fit.

Loteria is a game comparable to Bingo, do you feel that blogging is just another version of journalism?

My first instinct is to say no (but there are parallels to opinions writers). Journalists strive for objectivity, but as a blogger I don't feel the need to cover all sides of an issue. If I want to talk about immigration, I'm going to discuss my family's story and experience. I don't need to include a quote from some conservative anti-immigrant group. Most blogs are not filtered by an editor and most bloggers do not get paid for their words. Many of us don't run ads.
In some sense, there are parallels. Bloggers are telling stories about their communities and covering events that might not be covered by the mainstream media.

Besides yours, what is your favorite Los Angeles blog?

Chanfles! and Chimatli . I also really enjoy LAEastside (I'm also contribute to this group blog).

What is the one misconception people have about you from your blog?

That I have it all together.

You family pops up on your blog a lot, how much do they influence what you write about?

I have several family members who regularly read the blog, so I steer clear some of topics I don't feel like sharing with my mom or uncles. I also consider their thoughts and feelings when I write about something family-related. Sometimes, I'll fact-check in an effort to do a little triangulation and make sure my I'm retelling the story as it happened.
They also provide a lot of material and sometimes suggest "you should write about the time that we..."

Where is the Chicano movement heading now?

I'm not sure. There was a lot of momentum a few years ago in the push for immigration reform. It's died down a little bit, but hopefully with the new administration it will begin again. I think Chicanos are still facing many of the same issues we faced at the height of the movement. Workers are still exploited. Our schools are still underfunded. We're still underrepresented in state colleges and universities. On top of that, there's new things to address, like the physical health of our youth. We've made inroads in electoral politics, but we need to keep our representatives accountable.

Do you still play Loteria?

Yes! Last time I played was on Father's Day. We played for money (a quarter per game) and I won a few dollars.

Pixeltown would like to thank Cindy for contributing to our 'Better Know a Blogger' series! Check out her colorful blog here.