Friday desk-clearing

♦ The Los Angeles Times and four other news organizations—the New York Times, Washington Post, ABC and Associated Press—will pay Wen Ho Lee $750,000 in a settlement over stories about the scientist being probed as a Chinese spy. The U.S. government will pay Lee $895,000.
♦ "In L.A.’s ever-shifting gaze of 'cool,' Culver City has come into focus as the Next Big Thing for the art world. And frankly, to me that makes about as much sense as a bullet train to the Salton Sea." (L.A. Alternative)
♦ "Very few people arrive in Hollywood already in their 40s and succeed in becoming producers....So let’s pay attention to the story of Scott Steindorff." (Tommywood, Jewish Journal)
♦ Phil Angelides, Steve Westly and Schwarzenegger senior advisor Mike Murphy will appear on a special "NewsConference" Saturday at 6:30 pm on NBC 4.
♦ AreYouKidding.net is a new anonymous website satirizing media with a focus on Los Angeles.