September 30 - October 6, 2012
Saturday, Oct. 6
The good news is that Exxon Mobil's 149,500-barrel-a-day refinery in Torrance is returning to normal operations after being shut down much of the week by a power shortage.
Friday, Oct. 5
The Sean Connery era was mostly tame compared with today's basic smart phone or tablet, but at the time it seemed anything but.
Not unless you're planning to keep the vehicle for many, many years. It's true that fuel costs for all-electric cars are way lower, but there's a problem.
One explanation for the sharply lower unemployment rate is the large number of workers taking part-time jobs, even though many of them prefer full-time work.
Not before they peak out, and it might be a while before that happens. A few days, a week, two weeks - it all depends on when the state's refineries get back to normal.
Not only was September a good month, with the unemployment rate falling to 7.8 percent from 8.1 percent in August, but the government has revised upward the job gains in July and August. Those revisions are significant
Thursday, Oct. 4
The L.A. Kings no doubt wanted to capitalize on being Stanley Cup champions, so the cancellation of the first five games (four of them at home) is less than ideal. But it's not devastating either.
Experts say this is a short-term problem and that prices will begin falling once refinery production gets back to near-normal levels. That could run well into next week.
The El Segundo-based grocery chain now has to "persuade" the chief executive of its British-based owner that it has a future.
He had to file for personal and corporate bankruptcy because of the housing crash. His debt totals $13 million. Is this the sort of guy who should be leading NAR?
Well, the president's chances took a noticeable drop on Intrade, the online trader's market, though he remains the favorite.
L.A. gas prices jump nearly a dime a gallon in one day, Facebook tops 1 billion users, chain stores reporting slower sales for September, and billing questions at L.A.'s Department of Building and Safety.
Wednesday, Oct. 3
In a nutshell, they build upon early 21st century technology rather than piggyback on early 20th century technology.
Growth will not be coming back in any significant way for a good number of years - no matter who is president.
The measure wouldn't go to voters until at least next March, but already you're hearing gripes - mainly from L.A. real estate groups that worry about the effect on home sales.
T-Mobile to merge with MetroPCS, L.A.-area gas prices jump due to refinery problems in Torrance, Dodger owner says there's enough money to make big acquisitions, and food truck operators battling city of El Segundo.
Tuesday, Oct. 2
Despite only so-so numbers from Ford and GM, September car sales turned out to be quite strong overall. It's not the perfect economic indicator, but the steady increases are hard to ignore.
Dispensaries would stay open in the city, pending a ballot measure next year. But it gets complicated because the feds have been shutting down selected dispensaries on their own, citing federal drug laws.
Overall on-location production for the July-September quarter was down 3.9 percent compared with a year earlier. But the numbers tend to be highly seasonal - and volatile.
L.A.'s blistering weather pattern is entering its third month, but temperatures are expected to moderate over the next few days.
So says the California Association of Realtors as part of its forecast for next year. It's worth noting that the CAR, like other housing economists, have been way off in their price projections.
From the little man, an F-you classic: "Why is it always assumed that if someone doesn't succeed it's because he can't, not because he doesn't want to?"
Subdued holiday shopping forecast, council considers action on pot dispensaries (again), Brown vetoes labor-related legislation, and pedestrians accounted for about a third of all traffic fatalities in L.A.
Monday, Oct. 1
It's one thing to be late because of weather - it's another to be late because the pilots are pissed. The airline is basically dying before our eyes.
The idea that high taxes are driving the very wealthy out of the state never made much sense and now there's an analysis from the San Jose Mercury News that concludes as much.
Goodness knows, I wish them the best. But the changes all sound very .... well, 1985-ish (themes days, local stock charts, bigger staffs, etc.). A print-dominated news organization is simply not going to work very well in a digital-dominated time.
The forecasts just seem too high, given that the race remains tight in crucial states like Florida, Virginia, and Colorado. Besides, the media loves a contest.
Encouraging news on manufacturing, gas prices inching higher in L.A. area, Gov. Brown signs extension of film tax credit program, and airlines cut and consolidate schedules.
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The funeral for Mark Lacter will be held Sunday, Nov. 24 at 12 noon at Hillside Memorial Park, 6001 W. Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles 90045. Reception to follow.
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