March 11 - March 17, 2012

Friday, Mar. 16
Just never went anywhere ratings-wise.
Because Goldman clients don't really care.
Rich homeowners are choosing to build massive basements.
The old Borders store on Sunset and Vine is being replaced by a Walgreens superstore, and I can't help feeling something is amiss.
The endless debate about the use of facts, exaggerations or outright lies in pursuit of the greater truth.
Pretty embarrassing moment for the acclaimed radio magazine.
Kyle Hunter says he was passed over for jobs because he wasn't a hot chick
Gas prices start to fall, consumer mood dips, warning on American Airlines bankruptcy, and Wozniak waits in line for an iPad.
Thursday, Mar. 15
They're talking about the middle of next month, at the earliest.
Merely orbiting around the Earth might not attract much interest.
Apple stores in 10 countries, including the U.S., will be opening at 8 a.m. on Friday to accommodate the crowds. Several major retails, such as Best Buy, RadioShack, and Wal-Mart will be selling the tablet as well. From the WSJ: The Cupertino, Calif., company said in recent days it had sold out of its allotment of iPad preorders, saying that interest among its customers was "off the charts." The company has since said new preorders...
Talk about the end of an era:
The real business media was ignoring this guy.
The WSJ's tech columnist really likes the latest version, especially the display.
More good news on jobs, Freedom may be up for sale, Korean Air's downtown development could be pared, and Brown's revised tax plan.
Wednesday, Mar. 14
Inbound traffic was down in L.A. and Long Beach.
This isn't the way to restore fiscal sanity in Sacramento.
NYT columnist David Brooks has a good take.
Has the entertainment industry lost as many jobs as reported by the state?
Simply put, not many of them are making it.
The price for unblended gasoline has been falling sharply.
This is a big deal in the mayor's effort to mass transit projects completed in 10 years instead of 30.
The Socal housing market had its best February in five years.
No real way of verifying much of the information, but it's still pretty cool.
Stinging exit from Goldman, gas prices level off, Brown to rewrite tax initiative, and California construction employment is up.
Tuesday, Mar. 13
The latest round of so-called stress tests worked out well for 15 of 19 banks.
You still hear concern about a pullback, but for now there's just a lot of encouraging news. Today's rally was buttressed by good economic numbers (retail sales), a generally positive Fed statement, JP Morgan announcing a big boost in its dividend, and several large banks disclosing that they had passed the Federal Reserve's so-called stress tests (the Fed is about to report the results of those tests). Add to all that is Friday's strong employment...
A lot more than what we pay at the pump.
In theory, the government is liable for less money, but only if the 7.5 percent return is met.
Once again, Nevada is tops, at 12.7 percent.
Sales in the state totaled a record $5.3 billion last year, up almost 200 percent from 2010.
Author David Rothkopf will be looking at big government vs. big business during the next Live Talks Business Forum this Thursday morning at the downtown City Club. Rothkopf, author of "Superclass: The Global Power Elite and the World They Are Making," will be in conversation with LAT columnist David Lazarus. Breakfast is at 7:45 and the program begins at 8:15. Click here for tickets....
As could be expected, there's been a backlash against the initial snarky comments.
Pickup in retail sales, banks ignored foreclosure errors, LAFD provided inaccurate data, and Casden appears out of Dodger bidding.
Monday, Mar. 12
Why is there barely a drop in the way people view the economy?
The mayor says commercial property owners are benefiting at the expense of homeowners.
The Kiss rocker will be backing something called Rock & Brews in El Segundo.
NYT columnist Mark Bittman says it's not half bad.
February tax receipts came in 3.2 percent below the governor's budget projections.
Here's a case where reality is all but irrelevant in the context of an election year.
More details on mortgage deal, gas prices keep inching higher, Hollywood in a funk, and pot legalization efforts face hurdles.
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