Hot off the Press: LAPD gun buyback edition

Steve Lopez checks in on that LA high school class that went one-week without electronic devices: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lopez6-2009may06,0,6709880.column. Everyone should do this.

Compton is cracking down on garages converted to bedrooms: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-compton-garages6-2009may06,0,7137858.story. As the story says, it's very common in Southern California for people to live in garages, converted or not.

Two Vietnamese men tried smuggling live birds into the US. One of them had 14 concealed in his pants: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-songbirds6-2009may06,0,1286630.story. Wow.

The Governator and his tenure: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/06/us/06arnold.html?_r=1&hp. I like Gray Davis' quote about how to be a successful governor in California: “You need rain in the north and a strong economy. And there is nothing you can do about either one.”

Stimulus dollars may be used to erect a fence on a bridge in Akron to keep people from jumping: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/06/us/06akron.html?ref=us. The ironic, funny thing about this (yes, I think it's funny) is the bridge is called the All-American Bridge...and people jump from it!

The Governator thinks California should study legalizing marijuana: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/07/us/07arnold.html?_r=1&ref=us.

The Obama administration may rescind stimulus money given to the California if the state doesn't restore wage cuts given to home healthcare workers: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-health-cuts8-2009may08,0,4592200.story.

A judge rules that LAPD offices should be paid for putting on their uniform: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-policedress8-2009may08,0,2060482.story. I'm a little confused by this. When exactly do bulls clock in?

California could be broke by July: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-california-budget-crisis8-2009may08,0,7342537.story. I want out of this state.

As if it hasn't been hard enough for Katrina victims to rebuild, they are now being kicked out of their temporary trailers: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/us/08trailer.html?_r=1&ref=us.

To cut back, officials in Riverside County (a God-awful, shitty place) are wiping their asses with less: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/us/08toilet.html?ref=us.

The Obama administration promised alt energy jobs, yet it is cutting alt energy funding: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/science/earth/08energy.html?ref=us. Ah, politicians.

Environmental reports show Iowa ash coal pits pose a huge health hazard: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090508/NEWS/905080387.

Chrysler's bankruptcy is wreaking at odds with California's lemon law, leaving customers stuck with defective cars: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lemonlaw9-2009may09,0,3217006.story.

Anaheim's Latino population has tripled since 1980: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-anaheim-latinos9-2009may09,0,5124639.story.

More construction on the 405, this time to finish the final stretch of a carpool lane stretching from El Toro to San Fernando: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-carpool9-2009may09,0,6799634.story. Trips to the Westside have been hell the entire time I've lived here because of 405 widening south of the 10. This widening is north of the 10.

This is kind of stupid. UI Athletic officials are interested in hosting World Cup games at Kinnick Stadium: http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20090509/NEWS01/905090320/1079. Iowa City has no chance of playing host to the likes of Brazil, England, and Italy, but Kinnick may make a good soccer venue. It's big yet intimate; fans are close to the action. I wonder what the pitch dimensions would be.

A vanity plate combination involving tofu is causing quite a stir in Colorado: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-tofu10-2009may10,0,216272.story.