January 2008 Archives

Attended the 10 a.m. conference at Monrovia City Hall to hear about this new task force planned to quash the out-of-control gang violence going on, it was light on details but with clergy, school, police and city officials on hand, it was an opportunity for a lot of questions to be asked.

By noon was down at the crime scene where Brandon Lee was killed Tuesday night where Brandon's father Willie Lee was sobbing and embracing Jeanette Chavez, mother of 16-year-old Sammantha Salas killed Saturday night. Incomparable Star-News photographer Walt Mancini took this picture as they sat, rocking and crying, a marked bullet hole over their shoulder.

"There's not much to say other than stop the violence. You're hurting innocent kids, you're hurting innocent people. Keep God in your life," Willie Lee, Jr. said.

Brandon Lee on random MySpace profile

To the language and content sensitive: Don't go there.

UPDATED: Collectively, we're somewhere in between 19th Century notions of what a newspaper and journalism means and the 21st Century landscape of content immediacy and iterative reporting. There aren't road signs here. The editorial discomfort over posting this picture without further comment had more to do with context, and that thinking is correct. It wasn't well communicated, but it probably would help if the phone on my desk actually worked.

So here's the image purported to be Lee in a Du Roc Crips T-Shirt. It's not posted to be sensational or to "criminalize" the victim. Brandon should not be dead today. Period.

However the narrative regarding what is happening in Monrovia and unincorporated "No Man's Land" has its inconsistencies. One of those is the extent to which innocents or "innocents" are being caught in the crossfire. It's an uncomfortable, difficult-to-process space that someone like 16-year-old Sammantha Salas could be gunned down in front of her home through no fault of her own. And that someone might have considered her a target by association. Police and family, as per tomorrow's story, link her father to a checkered past.

I'll try to explore some of these things in tomorrow's story.

Brandon Lee was 19 and it confounds reason that he would be murdered. Except his own gang connection might have run more deeply than his family thought. More than the police -- who now say they believe he was a full-fledged member of the DuRoc Crips -- other, more personal connections make that link, including the content of his makeshift memorial at the site of his murder. And at some point, he stood and posed for this picture. Does it tell the complete story of Brandon Lee? No, but it can't be ignored either and illustrates another facet.

Real reporting got'ya down? Too hard?

Not so! Especially with these handy Internets at our fingertips. Not when you can re-report the actual work done by actual reporters. Except would-be plagiarists are usually savvy enough to rewrite the copy and make a phone call of their own, even throw in a few "such and such told us in an exclusive interview."

Which makes for an entertaining (some might assert troubling?) lapse by Pasadena Now, as recounted by our Public Editor Lawrence of Wilson:

Rewriting someone else's stories is one thing. Simply stealing them word for word is another. We all know that the one-man-band news site Pasadena Now doesn't have much staff, whether in Bangalore or Pasadena. That's why they can't cover the news like a professional organization. It's tough all over, but our science and health writer Elise Kleeman, a Caltech grad and extraordinary professional journalist, worked hard recently to get the long covered-up story about a huge back-pay settlement Huntington Hospital has been ordered by a court to pay its nurses.

Here's a couple excerpts for comparison's sake -- Larry posted both stories in full.

From our by-lined story by science reporter Elise Kleeman:

Superior Court Judge William MacLaughlin, who ruled in September that the hospital was attempting to dodge overtime laws, sided with the employees again in accepting their calculation of the underpaid wages.

Huntington lawyers had argued the restitution amount should be decreased by approximately $20 million.

The class-action lawsuit, filed by four former Huntington nurses, charged that the hospital failed to pay adequate overtime for 2,117 employees between 1999 and 2004.

"We're very pleased," said Joseph Antonelli, lawyer for the nurses. "I think it's going to be a landmark decision because there hasn't been a trial court decision on this issue before."

And from Now's "staff report:"

Superior Court Judge William MacLaughlin, who ruled in September that the hospital was attempting to dodge overtime laws, sided with the employees again in accepting their calculation of the underpaid wages.

Huntington lawyers had argued the restitution amount should be decreased by approximately $20 million.

The class-action lawsuit, filed by four former Huntington nurses, charged that the hospital failed to pay adequate overtime for 2,117 employees between 1999 and 2004.

"We're very pleased," said Joseph Antonelli, lawyer for the nurses. "I think it's going to be a landmark decision because there hasn't been a trial court decision on this issue before."

Score one for these fine, vast Interwebs!

Reports in that Monrovia City Council members are meeting at the community center there, despite no public notice as required under the Brown Act. Someone at the center confirms to Molly that the entire council is meeting currently and that it's open to the public. No notice was ever posted, however.

UPDATED: 7:50 p.m.: City tried to deny access to reporter Robert S. Hong before relenting. WTF?

Just back from southeast Monrovia and unincorporated parts. Police had left Almond Avenue, but a photographer served to clue me into the crime scene. Despite being told "no one is talking," I managed to score an invite into the bullet-scarred home where Brandon Lee, 19 of Duarte, was shot in front of last night.

A couple of Brandon's relations lived there. His great-granduncle in-law(?) provided some contact information that eventually led to his parents. Emerging from the home just after 10 o'clock, I ran into Frank Girardot who'd come out to put his eyes on some of the crime scenes.

Fed some info back to the newsroom for some of the web updates your seeing now, some of which I've gone back and tweaked a bit once back in the office.

Brandon was to be a linebacker at PCC next semester, his father said, and the bullets which killed him weren't the first to cut short his ambition. Last summer, just before he left for junior college in Fresno, Brandon was shot in the arm. His father blames Latino gangs for both incidents. He says Brandon wasn't a banger, but hung out with them.

Don't have details on this image but photo dug it up from their archive of sports coverage.

Not much time for posting as I'm headed back out to unincorporated Monrovia-Duarte-Arcadia again today.

Cyclical violence between black and Latino gangs has gotten out of control and it was clear that Saturday's shooting of two 16-year-old girls was not going to go unanswered.

Today's story provides some context and has some uncharacteristic comments from law enforcement. When these people say it's "degraded into a race war" they're not engaging in hyperbole.

Here's something from August 2006 when we were in between cops reporters:

Police fear vendettas
Star-News (Pasadena, CA) - August 18, 2006
Author: Kenneth Todd Ruiz Staff Writer
DUARTE - Nine days after three people were caught in the crossfire of a decades-old feud between two gangs in an unincorporated area known as " No Man's Land ," a heavy police presence has yet to net any arrests. Two people were killed the night of Aug. 9 and a third hospitalized in what police said was part of a long cycle of retaliation between predominantly African American and Latino gangs.

Nicole Kaster, 22, was socializing with friends in front of their home on Shrode Avenue when she was shot to death just after 1 a.m. on Aug. 10.

Several hours earlier, 54-year-old Michael Minor was hit by a bullet and killed while asleep in bed a few blocks away, not long after another man was shot in the head while washing his car in southeast Monrovia. He survived.

Minor and the first victim were black. Kaster was white, but a number of her friends were Latino.

None were gang members, police said.

After three generations in a home built by her father when Shrode Avenue was little more than orange groves, Vivian Kaster, 55, wants to sell the home and get out. However, she has a more immediate concern: figuring out how to pay for her daughter's funeral.

"She got along with everyone," Vivian Kaster said. "But it's been so bad down here, so bad down here. I didn't want her standing down there."

Vivian Kaster was trying to get a loan Thursday so she could bury Nicole at nearby Live Oak Cemetery, where her son and husband are also buried.

"Just when I think I'm out, they keep pulling me back in."

Because I missed losing half of the most frenetic day in the newsroom ... and because Producer Stuart Johnson made with the puppy-dog eyes, I joined the fine people of KPAS to appear on the new City Beat with the inimitable likes of Tami DeVine, Barry Gordon and Steve Madison of District 6.

Topics included Pasadena Heritage's bid to designate the Central and Lower Arroyo a protected cultural landscape, the YAC and -- as much as I wished otherwise -- Measure D.

City Beat airs on cable channel 55 and streams throughout the week.

So the primary purpose to speaking to Adam Schiff yesterday before he winged down to South Carolina was to discuss his new role on the House Permanent Select Intelligence Committee and the investigation of destroyed CIA interrogation tapes.

Schiff joins probe of CIA tape destruction

By Kenneth Todd Ruiz, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 01/24/2008 11:39:59 PM PST

PASADENA - When Congress reorganized the intelligence community in response to 9/11, it might have disrupted traditional chains of command and precipitated a breakdown in accountability, Rep. Adam Schiff said Thursday.

Speaking a day after his first House Intelligence Committee briefing, Schiff said its investigation into destroyed recordings of CIA interrogations would help determine whether Congress' authority over various agencies has been eroded.

"We want to get to the bottom of what tapes existed, what happened to them and why were they destroyed," said Schiff, D-Pasadena. "After the reorganization, is there a clear chain of command such that junior officers and senior officers understand their obligations to the Congress?"

Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Schiff, a former federal prosecutor, to the House Permanent Select Intelligence Committee late Tuesday.

Spoke to Adam Schiff about an hour ago before he got on a South Carolina-bound flight, he gave a quick update on agreement for an economic stimulus package:

-- "Rebate checks to 117 million families"
-- "$35 million low-income familes will get tax relief as well."
-- Part of a $150 billion package, "a modest boost" but "given the size of our economy it will be modest but helpful."

UPDATED: Gary Scott, who removed me after lobbying to be included on this blog roll, offers his erudite take:

This is casino economics. Let the drunk who's down $500 at the craps table gamble the house's money and fleece him for another $700 as he tries to dig his way out of the hole he's in.

Hugh Hoyland better clear some board space for this one:

British newspapers went crazy Wednesday morning about an image from Mars that appears to show a humanoid figure descending a shallow hillside.

The "alien" is actually a blurry detail in a huge panoramic photograph snapped on the edge of Mars' Gusev crater by NASA's Spirit rover in early November, and posted on NASA's Web site on Jan. 2.

Federal investigators raided the Pacific Asia Museum this morning and are still there -- we'll have something online shortly.

Federal agents raid Pasadena museum

PASADENA - Federal agents raided the Pacific Asia Museum this morning as part of a multi-year investigation into illegal smuggling of southeast Asian and Native American artifacts.

Officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service and the National Park Service spent the morning rummaging behind the red iron museum's doors, as employees and visitors watched outside.

According to a search warrant, the museum accepted stolen Thai archaeological resources and conspired to falsify tax returns in November 2005.

Employees showing up for work this morning said they did not know what was going on. One employee said she thought all the commotion was from people waiting for a tour.

"We're as interested in knowing the answers as the IRS is," Museum Director Joan Marshall said. "We're cooperating and we're happy to do that."

Photo by Raul Roa, staff photographer: An Immigration & Customs Enforcement special agent, left, and an Internal Revenue Service agent, center, stand in front of the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena on Thursday as an employee enters the building. The officers executed a federal search warrant at the museum.

What was nothing more than a little story by Janette Williams about a popular(?) reality show filming a scene on the steps of City Hall has rocked the far reaches of the Realityverse.

From Magic Mountain to the Rose Bowl stadium, here's a map of Stage 7 of the 2008 AMGEN Tour of California.

Apparently the Pasadena Bizarre News is a holiday tradition at City Hall. Too damn awesome. Most entries mock stories of mine from the past year, as well as the work of Janette Williams, Robert S. Hong and former reporter Mary Frances Gurton. I've opted to take it as homage. ((Erdman: You'll pay for this! >:D))

Click the image or here for the full version.

Photo actually by Tracy Lowe.

Copies of the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report are available at libraries and City Hall, but why not just warm up your Acrobats and visit the Rose Bowl's online repository.

Good to see The Pasadena Thorns Web site still exists! Go Thorns!

Someone called last week when Bobby Fischer died who'd been friends with him during his Pasadena days:

Fischer then went into hiding, apart from one impulsive television appearance and the occasional game. He had already renounced his Jewish heritage by joining a sect called the Worldwide Church of God, based in Pasadena, to which he donated a large chunk of his winnings. In 1978, he sued a magazine that had criticised the church, but then accused the church of reneging on a promise to finance the lawsuit.

In May 1981, he was wandering around Pasadena, shabbily dressed and with a flowing beard, when a policeman spotted him and thought that he might be a bank robber. He was arrested after refusing to answer the lawman's questions. A year later, he described the experience in a diatribe which he published under the title, "I was tortured in the Pasadena jailhouse"

Updated: "Marijuana Man" turned out to be none other than Martin Truitt!

-- Took some pictures of the Doo Dah for eventual posting, including the chicken standing in as Wayne Lusvardi.

-- Reports of Sierra Madre blogger Jim Snider's suicide death(?) are true.

In a ... unique ... account of a conversation with Molly Okeon, a Foothill Cities poster openly contemptuous of Jim channels a VH1 narrator and appears to credit her for terminal spiral (emphasis mine):

Months later I had an opportunity to ask the author of this article, Star News staff writer Molly Okeon, what it was she saw of value in The Cumquat when she wrote this obvious puff piece. Her answer was that she wrote what she was told to write, and that this article in no way reflected her personal views on the matter. She seemed to want to make it known to me that it wasn’t her idea, and that she shouldn’t be held accountable for it. When I asked who it was that was interested in publicizing Jim Snider’s on-line venture, and why she was asked to relay the desired message, she declined to answer. It was only later that she would redeem herself, as you shall see. ... On July 1, 2007, an article entitled “Planned Web Site Raising Concerns,” appeared in the Pasadena Star News. It would rock what was left of Snider’s world. Molly Okeon now had her second cover story on this fellow, one that was decidedly less flattering to its subject.

On deadline for the work product people actually pay for, but wanted to take one second to post Wayne's response to the Chamber release re: Measure D:

Citizens for Responsible Government Wayne Lusvardi, Chair

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2008
STATEMENT ON PASADENA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SUPPORT FOR MEASURE D - PASADENA'S TELEPHONE AND INTERNET TAX
PASADENA, CA - On the eve of an economic recession, the Chamber Board is endorsing a poorly written telephone and Internet tax that never expires and uses one of the highest tax rates in California.

Wayne Lusvardi, Chair of Citizens for Responsible Government said, "It shouldn't surprise voters that under former Pasadena City Councilmember Paul Little, the Chamber is suddenly more concerned with increasing the tax revenues of the City of Pasadena than it is in protecting the revenues of Pasadena's small business community. Voters should also be aware that the Board of the Chamber contains numerous individuals who do not live in the City of Pasadena and other individuals who have siginificant economic ties to City government."

The City of Pasadena lawyers who drafted Measure D have already admitted in writing that although the Council has exempted "initial access" to the Internet, Measure D continues to authorize a tax on Internet usage in the same way that it taxes telephone usage. It is an indisputable fact that Measure D taxes Internet use as neither the City nor the Superior Court contested CRG's ballot Rebuttal statement stating such.

Finally, the City has annual budget surpluses far in excess of the amounts it would receive under Measure D. Therefore, Pasadena does not need Measure D to maintain existing service levels. In addition, Measure D contains no guarantees that any specific amounts would be spent for police, fire, street repair, parks or libraries and the City.

Chamber pres Paul Little indicates the "Internet tax" argument from Measure D opponent Martin Truitt was very convincing. Just not as intended:

"Many Pasadena retailers see imposition of a tax on Internet-based purchases as a leveling of the retail playing field, since online sales transactions as a rule are not taxed but local sales are subject to state and local levies. A book seller in Pasadena, for example, is at a market disadvantage compared to Amazon which can sell the same item yet charge 8.5% less because the online transaction is not subject to California or Los Angeles County sales taxes. Likewise, a local music store may feel that taxing downloads is akin to imposing the same tax burden on Internet transactions that their customers currently pay for cds purchased over the counter."

"The decision to subject Internet sales to taxation is one that will be made by the Federal government, not local jurisdictions, regardless of passage of Measure D."

He does think Martin is incredible though, as per the full release which follows:

PASADENA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR EXTENTION OF UTILITY USER TAX

Board votes to support Pasadena's Measure D citing confidence in
City government and support for existing levels of service

PASADENA, CA – Bill Podley, Chair of the Board of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association, today announced that the business organization's Board of Directors voted overwhelmingly to endorse passage of Pasadena's Measure D, the extension of the city's Utility User Tax. "After hearing presentations from both the supporters and opponents of Measure D, our Board wanted to voice its support for continuation of the Utility User Tax," Mr. Podley said in announcing the decision. "The Board feels confident in the leadership of the City. We also have serious concerns about potential impacts on the quality of life in our city should the measure fail at the polls in February."

Measure D will continue the existing Utility User Tax in the City of Pasadena at the current tax rate. Passage of Measure D will ensure the City of Pasadena continues to collect approximately $10 million per year in General Fund revenues that result from the telephone portion of the tax. City leaders have repeatedly asserted that the tax is only an extension of the existing levies and won't extend into other areas, such as Internet use or downloads. Measure D is on the ballot for the February 5, 2008, primary election. "The prosperity of our business community is always at risk from competition and economic forces outside our control," Mr. Podley said. "Our board is very concerned that the services that may be impacted should the City be forced to absorb the loss of $10 million in General Fund revenue. That shortfall could significantly impact the business climate in Pasadena."

In December, the Chamber Board had a presentation from city staff on the history, collection and uses of the Utility User Tax. Mayor Bill Bogaard and Councilman Sid Tyler (District 7) also attended the meeting to ask the Chamber to publicly support passage of Measure D. In January, Martin Truitt spoke to the Chamber's Executive Committee and presented the opposition case that the tax will be extended to Internet use. Mr. Truitt also explained that opponents feel the City has more than enough money in reserves to cover any loss that would result for not being able to collect the UUT.

"It ultimately came down to credibility," said Paul Little, CEO and President of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. "Mayor Bogaard and Sid Tyler made a convincing case that the City relies on UUT revenues to ensure delivery of many of the services those in our city -- businesses and residents alike -- expect to maintain the quality of life and competitive business environment in Pasadena. We were also impressed that the proponents didn't present a 'doom and gloom' scenario of unsafe streets and fewer firefighters, but honestly told us budget decisions should Measure D fail will likely protect safety initiatives already in place in our city."

Maintaining the character of the Tournament of Roses, its new president announces the theme of next year's parade, which just also happens to be a plug for the restaurant chain he owns:

PASADENA - For someone who loves showbiz and sport - and owns a chain of 10 restaurants called "The Hat" - the new Tournament of Roses president couldn't have had too much trouble coming up with the 2009 Rose Parade theme: "Hats off to Entertainment."

Be sure to pack some tofu steaks if you're bound for Peshawar on the tribal frontiere in Pakistan. The two weeks or so I spent there in '01/'02 were among the best of a couple months spent making my way through the Islamic Republic and its hand-me-down bureaucracy.

"Pakistan" as a contemporary, civil nation only exists in strands and zones bounded by its major urban centers, much of the north and west are lawless tribal areas the government has no real authority over. From the eastern border with big-bully-brother India to the tribal boundaries, Pakistan is ringed with tension. It's no more palpable than in Peshawar. Had a lot of fun and incomprehensible moments there.

Get access past the tribal threshold and bounce 15 minutes toward the Khyber Pass into Afghanland and one encounters fantastic open-air markets where weaponsmiths sell handcrafted assault rifles, artillery and most any other weaponry imaginable alongside slow-burning hashish stalls. At the horizon's edge, camel caravans inch smuggled goods over the mountains, past the McPalaces of some of the world's wealthiest drug lords, much as they have for centuries.

Things are getting so much better in Pakistan, , Peshawar is even more fun as the delicate detente between enduring tribalism and the nation-state erodes:

At least one thing is right:

Article missed that Yuki trained as a pharmacist in Japan and then applied the principles and knowledge to preparing healthy food with medicinal qualities.

Here it is, the text of Mayor Bill Bogaard's 2008 State o' the City Address

Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard
State of the City Address
January 17, 2008

"VITAL CONNECTIONS"

This decade has been good to Pasadena. Each year since 2000 has been better than the last. Now, in 2008, we find ourselves in a period of transition and change. In my report, I want to go over the City’s economic condition, review public and private investment, and then talk about some of the challenges and initiatives that make up the City’s agenda for the new year.

Let’s begin with the City’s economic situation.

This fiscal year, the general fund budget is over $210 million, and the total operating budget—including the Water & Power utility—is $560 million. There are 2,400 City employees. At least through December 31, the local economy was strong and dynamic, with an estimated 110,000 jobs.

As our economy has transitioned from manufacturing to retail and service activities over the last 25 years, it has become stronger and more diversified. The economy benefits from a balance of retail, financial services, professional services, technology, and educational and cultural sectors. We have strong retail and restaurant sales and low unemployment, although it is this year higher than last. Our continuing low office vacancy has fueled rental rates in Pasadena that are now among the highest in L.A. County.

It should be noted that Pasadena’s performance was stronger than in many other California communities. For example, construction statewide is down 5%, while ours is slightly up. New auto sales in California are down over 5%, though Pasadena’s decrease is less than 2%.

Waiting for confirmation on a Doo Dah related tip .... <.<

Updated: OK, since I haven't gotten a response to inquiries by e-mail or telephone: The rumor was that Wayne Lusvardi had changed his mind and was going to take his seat as Thorny Rose on Sunday.

That, and the much-beloved character "Marijuana Man" is in fact none other than acting city manager / police chief Barney Melekian! dun-dun-DUHN!

Speaking of Bill at the Bowl, it will be interesting to hear how the citizenry is (subtly) reminded to vote YES on Measure D during tonight's State of the City address.

In a true "Web first," the Yes on Measure D campaign site announced support Monday from the Pasadena Unified School District before the Board of Education had even voted on a resolution reportedly authored by board member Ed Honowitz. Ed is a member of the ACT political machine, which holds its share of influence on both the board and council.

Measure D's campaign was being managed by political consultant Fred Register, one of ACT's founders and the mayor's campaign manager.

Fred is Pasadena's antidote to Measure D opponent-in-chief Martin Truitt. They both roll their eyes at the arch-rival characterizations, but it's not the first time they've gone head-to-head.

But it could be the first such match with such a large financial disparity: Martin and CRaG-meister Wayne Lusvardi have next-to-nothing in their coffers.

Which made for a collective "Huh?" when Wayne turned down the potential free-publicity of his Doo-Dah spot, as chronicled in the paper and spilled over into a psychedelic diatribe from one detractor of the event's (de)merits here a few days ago.

Speaking of Molly R. Okeon, here she is soaking up some sun and some mayor at the Wednesday event in the Central Arroyo. I'd been looking forward to a nice plein air assignment, but was preoccupied with chronicling the depths of suffering.

Ulysses flew over the north pole of Sol on Monday, which it has been orbiting for more than a year. It's been more than two decades since my father explained what was so cool about the perpendicular orbit of the satellite, which I think was his first to head as project manager at the lab.

Ulysses launched four years late. It was supposed to be sent on its way during the 11th mission of OV-099, aka Challenger, which as'ploded during the launch of Mission 10 in 1986. At the time, my father said it was a good thing it didn't wait one more mission to blow, because Ulysses would have rained radiological debris back down to Earth.

Which made one thing finally clear: That's why they launch from Florida.

SO with this latest malaise comes also my annual health-kick, wherein I go on tobacco hiatus, sleep more and actually exercise my body. However sincere, I doubt it will have me up at the Rose Bowl by 7:45 a.m. to jog with Mayor Bill and Friends, as per this entry in the new Pasadena In Focus:

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A BRISK MORNING WALK TO LIFT YOUR SPIRITS and get your body moving. Join Pasadena’s mayor and special guests for a walk around the Rose Bowl Stadium the first Wednesday of every month at 7:45 a.m. beginning Feb. 6. Special guests, who are prominent Pasadena residents, will strap on their sneakers and join in the fun: John Naber, Olympic gold medalwinning swimmer, on Feb. 6; Larry Wilson, Pasadena Star-News public editor, on March 5; and Gale Hurd, producer of the “Terminator” movies, on Apr. 2. Bring your neighbors, coworkers, friends and family and meet at the stadium’s Gate A for an invigorating workout. Up & Moving Pasadena is a communitywide effort to support fitness for health. For more information visit www.upandmoving.org or call 831-2980.

If you go on Feb. 6, be sure to offer Lawrence a cigar. >:D

In retrospect, it may have been a mistake to hustle up Fair Oaks early Monday morning to talk to Pastor John McCall while cultivating a cozy internal temperature of 103 degrees.

I'm told today is Thursday. Every moment since Monday afternoon has been a fevered blur and my every slow-stewed sinew aches. In a typical year, only one major malady strikes, but this is like the fourth time since last summer. Janette Williams suggests my plague runs deep and only goes dormant from time to time. But she's Scottish and thus holds many strange, pagan beliefs.

When she stands in as editor, Janette enforces deadlines with cautionary tales of the Kelpie, a "treacherous water-devil who lurks in lakes and rivers."

It's taboo to say something like this on the same day as a tragedy but ...

Pasadena has become such a destination city, people are driving from as far afield as Tujunga to jump to their deaths.

I appreciate that few sentences in this story are burdened down by unnecessary "police said" attributions.

"If you ever put me on your f*-ing blog again, I'll f*-ing find you!"

Not what I expected to hear on my way over to Europane for some lunch with reporter Molly Okeon.

The source of this threat-so-chilling? None other than Weekly staffer Carl Kozlowski, demonstrating the jocular gaiety that earned him "America's Funniest Reporter," or at least, the domain name.

So much for a sense of humor. Especially the day after his story about NYE on the Boulevard ran with a photo provided gratis by your humble narrator.

UPDATED: Molly R. Okeon threatens to threaten me for excluding her beloved "R."

Newsroom science chick Elise Kleeman forwards this interactive timeline of the legal battle maintained by the twenty-eight senior scientists and engineers at suing over "NASA's unconstitutional requirement of invasive background investigation."

One thing I've noticed about the Ron Paul phenomenon -- which has pulled numbers from the Left and Right with popular anti-administration, anti-war sentiments -- is how little many of his newfound supporters know about the man.

Speaking of not taking responsibility for one's printed material, The New Republic decodes some of the Ron Paul cipher:

((Be warned, TNR's server is being crunched by this))

James Kirchick writes:

Antiwar conservatives, disaffected centrists, even young liberal activists have all flocked to Paul, hailing him as a throwback to an earlier age, when politicians were less mealy-mouthed and American government was more modest in its ambitions, both at home and abroad.

The story lays a lot of foundation before getting to its "nut graf" that Kirchick found back copies of Ron Paul's various newsletters and found lots of anti-black, anti-gay and anti-Jewish rhetoric:

What they reveal are decades worth of obsession with conspiracies, sympathy for the right-wing militia movement, and deeply held bigotry against blacks, Jews, and gays. In short, they suggest that Ron Paul is not the plain-speaking antiwar activist his supporters believe they are backing--but rather a member in good standing of some of the oldest and ugliest traditions in American politics.

Team Ron's response: Story is a politically motivated rehash of old news about newsletters topped with "Dr. Paul's" name, but he was totally unaware of the content.

Many refuse to believe reporters have no say in the headlines selected (page designers and copy editors do their best to make something fit the space on deadlines of their own) but I'll take fault for the sub-hed "White won suit against city in 2004." She was terminated previously in 2004 and won the suit in 2007.

Kept rewriting the second paragraph, the "nut graf" which tells the reader "this is what this story is about."

Never too shy to pile on the appositives and dependent clauses at the expense of clarity, I'd left it at:

City officials said Wednesday they were reviewing a claim filed by Karin White alleging she was let go Aug. 30 in retaliation after a jury determined the department violated her privacy by illegally using wiretap evidence to justify a previous termination in 2004.

Which can be read several ways: Was the termination or the legal victory in 2004? Through no fault of an editor, it was streamlined to the latter:

City officials said Wednesday they were reviewing a claim filed by Officer Karin White in which she alleged she was wrongfully terminated on Aug. 30 in retaliation for prevailing against the city in a lawsuit in 2004.

Here's the story:

Officer claims wrongful firing White won suit against city in 2004 By Kenneth Todd Ruiz, Staff Writer Article Launched: 01/10/2008 12:36:30 AM PST

PASADENA -- One year after taking a bullet in the face from her own gun during a struggle with her son, a Pasadena police officer claims she has been wrongfully terminated by the department.

City officials said Wednesday they were reviewing a claim filed by Officer Karin White in which she alleged she was wrongfully terminated on Aug. 30 in retaliation for prevailing against the city in a lawsuit in 2004.

In that suit, a jury determined the Pasadena Police Department violated White's privacy by illegally using wiretap evidence to justify a previous termination in 2004.

Since hiring White in 1996, the department never disciplined White, according to the claim received Monday by the City Council.