Driver Purposely Plows Car Into Crowd in L.A., Injuring at Least 30, Officials Say

Over the weekend, I pitched in on coverage of the driver who plowed a car into a crowd in Los Angeles.

What struck me was how many people in the neighborhood said they weren't surprised, because these incidents are just part of life in LA.

GIFT link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/19/u...

So . . . how many dolls would this buy?

Extremely likely.

I would post some of mine, but they all look like unintentional glam shots, and in retrospect, I'm deeply suspicious of the motives of the photographers who took them. 😂

Hate to say it, but I feel a little sad to be reminded of a time when there was a place for all of us and the values we shared.

I wish I could tell you how much I miss those days.

Hey look!

The local college has a vending machine that sells proven methods to prevent autism:

A little-known fact about me: I had a long run as the queen of L.A. #Earthquake Twitter.

I doubt I can duplicate that success here, but here's the running score on my china cabinet vs. earthquakes, since I've lived in this house:

Earthquakes: 0
China cabinet: 10

Yes. It was cold, so I had to go a little more dressed than I might have liked.

We had heavy cloud cover that day, so 98 percent of the LA crowd showed up wearing black.

I turned up looking more like a Good 'n' Plenty.

Dudamel, it's worth noting, conducted the Mahler without a score.

I'm not sure that the culture retained a well-developed idea of responsibility, as a social construct, past the millenium.

Why is the topic of crop yields and neonics so contentious?

The research has factored into legislative decisions to restrict neonics, and it may continue to play a role as legislatures in four more states debate this session whether to allow the pesticides.

This story started as a routine science piece.

Then I learned that a Canadian scientist had been fired for releasing results to the public, and at least one U.S. scientist encountered intimidation as well.

Here's the story:

NEW TODAY: Beekeepers are reporting substantial losses of colonies this winter, and scientists are scrambling to find out why. 🐝

While I didn't call it a "Manhattan Project of entomology" in the story, I can definitely say that a Dream Team of bee scientists is on the case.

Question of the day:

Did I really need to buy a 72-inch fuchsia-fade Italian silk scarf for the "Mahler Grooves" festival in L.A.?

Yes. Yes, I did.

Where I disagree: That we should foster a separate press to focus on issues for impoverished Americans.

While there's a place for that approach, mainstream publications have lost credibility because they don't cover the Other America.

Editors need to learn to hire beyond their social circles.

America Needs a Working-Class Media Catering to rich audiences is not serving us.

Here's a worthwhile piece from @columjournreview.bsky.social.

For me, one of the great joys of having long experience in the news business is that I no longer have to hide my background from editors and co-workers.

But where I disagree with this piece . . . (NEXT TAKE)
www.cjr.org/analysis/ame...

Yes! Hooray! Yee Hawww! It's great to see this recognition for such a hard-working group.

Good thing I stopped at the store this morning . . .

U.S. Right to Know wins James Madison Freedom of Information Award from the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California chapter for our investigation and reporting on the origins of COVID-19.
Our reporting here:
usrtk.org/category/cov...

Award:
spjnorcal.org/2025/02/12/s...

I mean, I could play it cool about all this, but I won't

Colorado Tesla dealership vandalized in arson attempt, police say A Colorado Tesla dealership was vandalized after someone tried to set it on fire early Friday morning and left graffiti that was “offensive and hateful in nature,” Loveland police said.

www.denverpost.com/2025/02/07/c...

From what I've seen, it bugs the crap out of people.

I've got a different theory: Musk Mystery Theater.

He is performing Trump's story line that governing is easy, and people who hate the complexity of government find this performance reassuring. (See thread in my feed.)

Thanks for confirming.

Oh what a feeling!

"Musk Mystery Theater," take 3/3: 🧵

"Musk Mystery Theater," take 2/3: 🧵

The theory of "Musk Mystery Theater," in three parts: 🧵

"Wait! They didn't tell us Project 2025 would take away our weed!"

- Confused libertarian weed lobby

“I don’t want these ‘tobacco’ huts popping up all over the place selling weed,” he said, adding that he finds it “funny how you never hear about the supremacy of federal law when it comes to legalizing weed.”

- Russ Vought, OMB Director, Life of the Party

Trump's White House Budget Director Says Marijuana Is A 'Gateway Drug' And Pushed To Roll Back State Legalization - Marijuana Moment Another anti-marijuana official is assuming a critical role in the Trump White House, with the Senate confirming a director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) who has called marijuana a “gat...

All right . . . I guess we're back to needing drug laws to oppress vulnerable Americans.
www.marijuanamoment.net/trumps-white...

Lawsuit Takes On Musk Payment System Takeover on Privacy Grounds Giving DOGE access to the Treasury Department’s payment system violates the Privacy Act of 1974 and IRS statutes, three plaintiffs allege.

The news that DOGE has read and write access to critical aspects of the federal payment system makes the lawsuit filed yesterday seeking an injunction against this even more important.
prospect.org/justice/2025...

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