SEP 4: AQMD Smoke Advisory for LA Area Friday

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
SMOKE ADVISORY Friday, September 04, 2009

Smoke from the Station Fire in the Angeles National Forest continues to cause poor air quality at times in portions of the San Gabriel Mountains (Area 15) and the San Gabriel Valley (especially Areas 8 and 9). High concentrations of fine particulates will occur in areas of direct smoke impacts near the fire, especially in the foothill communities. Control of the Oak Glen and Pendleton Fires near Yucaipa has been substantial, although some areas of smoke may still occur.

While fire control and meteorological conditions have improved air quality, some smoke has settled into the valleys of Los Angeles County overnight near the fires. Onshore ocean breezes by the afternoon are expected to move smoke into the mountains. Prior to the onshore flow clearing the western Basin, smoke will linger in areas of Los AngelesCounty and in the eastern San BernardinoValley near the fires.

Air quality will reach Unhealthy levels, or higher, in smoke impacted areas, especially near the fires. These areas will likely include:

· the San Gabriel Mountains (Area 15);

· the WestSan GabrielValley (Area 8);

· the EastSan GabrielValley (Area 9);

· the Santa Clarita Valley (Area 13);

· the East San Fernando Valley (Area 7);

· East San Bernardino Valley (Area 35);

· East San Bernardino Mountains (Area 38).

In any area impacted by smoke: Everyone should avoid any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should remain indoors. Keep windows and doors closed or seek alternate shelter. Run your air conditioner if you have one. Keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent bringing additional smoke inside.

To view current air quality conditions by region in an interactive map, see http://www2.aqmd.gov/webappl/gisaqi2/VEMap3D.aspx .

For more tips on avoiding health impacts from smoke, see http://www.aqmd.gov/enewsletterpro/t.aspx?S=1&ID=515&NL=1&N=565&SI=1960&ENC=!2!GS!%3fy!6!4!JQ!A!1!JN!%3b!%40!*!D4%2cu!B5%5b!0z!J!-!AC-!.!2%3f!AD!-3!-A2!IE!C%3f%23%3c)!*%24%3b!7

on AQMD’s website.

Posted via email from thelareport's posterous

OBAMA EXPLAINS IT ALL: CAIRO SPEECH DELIVERS BOLD, AMBITIOUS VISION FOR WORLD PEACE AND PROSPERITY BY GETTING PAST THE PAST

The President, Clearly Striving to Improve America's Image in the Eyes of Muslims, Brings Message of Positive Change Overseas; Emphasizes Need for All Religions and Nations To Live and Work Together in Peace, By Finding Common Ground Rather Than Focusing On Differences and Discord

Commentary by Don Rose

President Obama seemed to be, for 54 minutes at least, the World President. While his inspiring speech at the University of Cairo made a special appeal to Muslims in several sections, Obama's message transcended nations, with words undeniable in their logic, delivered with a controlled passion that seemed to be saying, Wake up, world! It's me, Barack, and I believe we're ready for a new way of thinking. Our world can do better. He implored his audience to let go of status quo, and listen to what we know. That we can and should listen and learn from each other. That we all have basic human rights, and no one is more right than others. He gave examples from history showing how numerous nations and peoples have suffered injustices and pain, but we can and must move forward to write a new chapter in history.

Obama often sounded like a kind of world parent, implying that it is time to set aside childish things and grow up on a global scale. For example, he discussed how both Israelis and Palestinians have suffered terribly, but each side must change if there is to be lasting peace. Palestinians must abandon violence, Obama said (pointing out that it was peaceful resistance, not violence, which brought about change for blacks in America) -- but Israel must stop settlements and accept Palestine's right to exist (just as Palestine must recognize Israel). Our President, the man of mixed race, the American with the Muslim middle name, is the one American leader in recent memory who could make such statements with such conviction, imploring Muslims, Christians and Jews to go beyond painful history to a new, peaceful destiny.

Obama ended his exceptional speech with a reference to the Golden Rule, and this seemed to indeed summarize his overarching message. "Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you" are words that transcend borders. The words are ancient, yet transcend time. They still apply here in the 21st century, and are more needed than ever. But perhaps the main accomplishment of Obama's speech was to show how an American President can set out a bold vision to the entire world and challenge all nations to live up to it, without sounding condescending, preachy or demanding. He knows that we are better than we have been.

Sure, some might call Obama's message pollyanna, or criticize him for stating too broad a vision. But that's what I find most endearing about this man who continues to break barriers -- his ongoing, passionate, unwavering Audacity of Hope. He is not afraid to lay out a vision that shoots for the stars. Now we need to build the (international-relations) ship to reach that stellar destination. I just hope the citizens of the world can become as audacious as Obama, because in this time of giant global challenges, audacious thinking may be the best (and only) way to envision the solutions we need to survive as a species.

SHOOTING IN WESTWOOD VILLAGE: SHOTS RING OUT ON BROXTON NEAR LE CONTE; POLICE ARREST SHOOTER

Report by Don Rose, in Westwood, around midnight Friday night / Saturday morning

I was drinking the new Vivatto beverage (a delicious banana-chocolate blend) at the Starbucks next to the historic Fox Theatre (Broxton at Weyburn) when several people came running into the store. They said they heard a shot. A few minutes later, gathering courage and curiosity, I headed outside. I noticed that, in those few minutes I had waited, Broxton had been roped off (to stop car traffic -- foot traffic was still allowed) between Weyburn and Le Conte.

I talked with a man who works at Habibi Cafe, a popular hangout for food and drink located on that stretch of street. He said he heard at least four shots fire, and he pointed to a tree that got belted with a bullet (southeast corner of Broxton and Le Conte). There were now about a dozen cops on the scene, some squad cars and an ambulance. The man from Habibi said the police got the gunman -- but the strange part, he said, was that the gunman just had lunch at the Habibi Cafe earlier that day, and seemed perfectly fine.

O WILL GO WITH JOE, ON TO THE DEMO SHOW; WILL FIGHTIN' BIDEN, NOW OUT OF HIDIN', WIDEN OBAMA'S LEAD?

News and Commentary by Don Rose

It's finally official: Barack Obama has tapped veteran Senate colleague Joe Biden to be his Vice Presidential running mate.

The choice brings a wealth of experience, especially in foreign policy, an area which some feel is a weakness for Obama. Biden's selection also gives further evidence that this is indeed The Year of the Senator. Two Senators now sit atop the Democratic party ticket, another Senator sits atop the GOP ticket, and a fourth Senator (Hillary Clinton) came in a very close second in the Demo race -- and still may be a powerful force at the upcoming convention in "Dem-ver", given her huge block of delegates (a mere 300 or so behind the presumptive Democratic nominee).

My only beef with Biden is the way he gave misdirections leading up to Obama's official announcement. If Joe did know he was a go, why tell the press "I'm not the guy"? Can't a veteran politician give vague comments that sound definitive yet leave the door open without being untrue? Like, "Look you guys, I am not running for Vice President." Technically that's true. No one actually runs for Veep anymore, they get appointed/anointed (unlike back in the day, when the VP used to be the guy who came in second in the general election, even if the Prez and V.Prez were from different parties -- yep, this was way way back in the day).

Speaking of back in the day, the election of 2008 is becoming more and more like the election of 1960. As with Obama-McCain, the Kennedy-Nixon battle of 1960 was in large part over experience. There are other similarities between Barack and Jack, too. For starters, the last 3 letters in their first names. Okay, that was a stretch. But seriously, parallels abound. When he ran for Prez, JFK was, like Obama, a young, thin, handsome Senator with two kids who raised doubts in many voters' minds about experience, and toughness when dealing with enemy nations (USSR/Cuba for JFK, Iraq/Iran for Obama). Another striking similarity: each triggered issues about religion. For Kennedy, it was his being a Roman Catholic and would he be beholden to the Pope over the interests of US citizens. For Obama, as that recent sold-out New Yorker cover tried to satirize, it is those lingering false allegations about him being Muslim, not Christian.

Just as Kennedy did by picking Lyndon Johnson, Obama got pragmatic for his Democratic mate and chose a fellow Senator, one with more experience, to be Veep. And for his acceptance speech, Obama opted to deliver it in a stadium. Who was the last candidate to accept his party's nomination in a stadium? You guessed it: JFK. So... if 2008 is indeed a rerun of 1960, then Obama will win in an extremely close race, and Joe is just Biden time till he inevitably becomes President. You heard it here first.

Some other interesting notes, from USA TODAY's coverage of the Biden VP pick:

"Like Obama, Biden burst onto the political scene as a wunderkind: he was elected to the Senate in 1972 at the age of 29. He attained the constitutional age of 30 required for senators before his swearing-in."

"Biden is running for re-election for his eighth Senate term this year, but Delaware law will allow him to seek both his Senate seat and the vice-presidency."

"The Obama campaign used excitement over the vice presidential announcement to create an elaborate cellphone number harvesting system, telling supporters they could be among the 'first to know' if they sent a text message from their portable phones to the campaign. But the text message went out in the wee hours of Saturday morning, well after many news outlets named Biden as the running mate late Friday — proving that the political rumor mill remains more efficient than the high-tech information highway."

While this last point may indeed be true, you gotta give huge kudos to the politicos in Obama's camp for dreaming up the whole text-the-Veep idea. First, it further bolsters Obama's brand as "man of the future" (e.g., new technologies -- well, at least newfangled to many voters in McCain's demographic) -- and it also gives Barack a huge base of cell phones to text GO VOTE reminders to come November. Or perhaps they'll use each of those cell numbers to text a $5 gas voucher on Election Day; that would really seal the deal. Too techie? Then just mail me 20 quarters. Now that would be change I can believe in.

MARILYN, MICK, KAT AND HARRISON: HOLLYWOOD STAR NEWS

Tuesday August 5 is the 46th anniversary of iconic actress Marilyn Monroe's untimely passing. A memorial hosted by the Marilyn Remembered fan club begins at 11 a.m. in the Pierce Brothers' chapel in Westwood.

That evening, at 10:30 pm on Time Warner Cable, there will be a special broadcast of 'The Ultimate Marilyn - Volume 3' hosted by actor Harrison Held featuring Monroe friends and colleagues. Stanley Rubin (esteemed producer of 'River of No Return'), actress Kathleen Hughes ('Universal's Marilyn'), Sylvia Barnhardt (hairdresser to the stars and 'the woman who made Marilyn blonde'), actress/artist Diana Herbert (from Marilyn's first film 'Scudda Hoo, Scudda Hay') and renowned author John Gilmore ('Inside Marilyn Monroe') are all part of this exciting, informative and entertaining show. Marilyn fans may also watch it online in the very near future at www.HarrisonHeldStarMedia.com.

Speaking of Hollywood icons, Kat Kramer (daughter of legendary director/producer Stanley Kramer as well as Katharine Hepburn's god-daughter, singer, actress and producer) is very pleased to announce the trailer for her new web series entitled 'My Duet With Mick'! Inspired by the acclaimed film 'My Date With Drew' about pursuing one's dreams, Ms. Kramer's goal is to get legendary rock star Mick Jagger to join her in a duet, performing one of his songs on her CD entitled 'Gem Stone', a collection of Jagger songs she has covered. Proceeds from the CD will go to Music Education.

EARTHQUAKE ROCKS LA, 11:42AM, JULY 29; LATEST LA QUAKE, MAGNITUDE 5.4-5.8, LASTS SEVERAL SECONDS, SOME PHONE SERVICE OUT IN GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA

I am currently in Encino, and it felt like a rolling earthquake up here on the 4th floor on an office building near Ventura and Woodley. Not intense, more of a gentle shaking and wave-like motion. Time duration of the quake: several seconds that felt like 45 seconds, but was probably more like 15. --News flash reported by Don Rose.

//////////////

UPDATE 1:

According to KNBC.com, this late-morning quake may be an aftershock to a lighter one this morning:

Magnitude-5.6 Earthquake Strikes Los Angeles
POSTED: 6:02 am PDT July 29, 2008
UPDATED: 11:48 am PDT July 29, 2008

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. -- A strong earthquake has shaken Los Angeles.
The quake was measured at magnitude 5.6

Live Video

San Bernardino Quake - The USGS says a 3.1 magnitude temblor registered at 5:04 a.m. Tuesday, 10 miles northeast of Barstow and Interstate 15 in San Bernardino County, about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles.

UPDATE 2:

from LAist.com:

That was a 5.8 magnitude earthquake out of the Chino Hills area that struck at 11:42 a.m., according to the USGS. It was a nice and long one too. 10 seconds? 20 seconds? (or maybe out time perspective was skewed). CBS2 on air live is reporting that there are some cell phone tower outages and a 3.8 magnitude aftershock as already occurred.

UPDATE 3:

from CNN.com:

A magnitude-5.8 earthquake has struck just east of Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake's epicenter was about 2 miles southwest of Chino Hills and about 5 miles southeast of Diamond Bar, the USGS said. The center was about 7.6 miles deep. A 5.8 quake is considered by the USGS to be "moderate," which can cause slight damage to buildings and other structures. full story

UPDATE 4:

The week: Stories and photos from July 27 - Aug. 2
San Diego Union Tribune - Aug 03, 2008
It was felt from Los Angeles to San Diego, and as far east as Las Vegas, 230 miles away. About 30 aftershocks quickly followed, the largest at 3.8...

THE ONION MOVIE DVD: A NEWS SATIRE WONDER, A FUNNER SUMMER STUNNER, LIKE AN SNL-DAILYSHOW LOVE CHILD ON STEROIDS (IF YOU DON'T LAUGH, YOU MAY BE DEAD)

http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/305252/The-Onion-Movie/trailers

The Onion Movie (it's about time!) stars veteran actor Len Cariou as the news anchor (remember Len in "Executive Decision" when he made all those super serious executive decisions?), and Steven Seagal (yes, I said Steven Seagal -- who ALSO happens to be in "Executive Decision"). Watch the trailer above, and you will understand (and laugh your ass off). I can't wait to get my hands on this DVD. It should make for a funner summer, and help me forget how much gas is a bummer. ---D.R.