Author: Anthony Pesce

The anticipated video game L.A. Noire will feature a spectacular re-creation of 1940s Los Angeles. Apparently, the game developers looked at more than 180,000 period photos to make a detailed rendition of our city.

What the content of the game will be, and how it will be played, is still a mystery. The A.V. Club writes:

Not only does it feature an innovative image-capture technology … but its sprawling rendition of post-war Los Angeles is the biggest in-game environment ever created, a near 1:1 block-for-block recreation of the city right down to prices on diner menus.

Read the full story here, and see the YouTube clip above for an idea of what the game will look like.

Some other interesting L.A.-area items around the Web:

O.C. bats have rabies: Several bats in Orange County are testing positive for rabies. The Orange County Register reports:

Two of the bats were found in mid-February, one in March, in Newport Beach, San Clemente and Irvine, though the Orange County Health Care Agency says residents throughout the county should take precautions.

Catholic convention: Tens of thousands of Catholics are descending upon Anaheim for a conference. KPCC reports:

It started yesterday with Youth Day, for about 16,000 high school students. Today is the first day for adults. They come from as far away as Canada, Australia, England, Ireland and Pakistan.

The Valley fair is back: After a cancellation in 2009, and years of shifting venues, the fair is returning. The Daily News reports:

The event that strayed as far away as Castaic and Saugus in the past decade has made a one-year deal to stage its agricultural displays, animal shows and music performances June 17-20 at Birmingham Community Charter School in Lake Balboa.

— Anthony Pesce

Have some news for Linking L.A.? Contact Times reporter Anthony Pesce.

Bike sign activists: Someone, or some group, is posting large signs on L.A.-area streets asking drivers to "please pass with care." Curbed LA reports:

"This week in sign-led activism: From Silver Lake to Santa Monica, someone’s plastering the city with what looks like bikes and sharrows…"

Check out the post here, and a photo of the signs here. The Eastsider LA also has a post about the signs.

The District Weekly folds: The Long Beach Post is reporting that the District Weekly, a Long Beach alternative weekly publication, is shutting down. Here is an excerpt:

The District Weekly was known throughout Long Beach for its no-holds-barred investigative reports into politics and development, as well as a creative and witty style of writing that fit the traditional alt-weekly mold. Its reporters also had a firm grasp on the local entertainment and nightlife scene, also drawing praise for detailed profiles and fascinating features.

Check out the post here, and read the District Weekly here.

— Anthony Pesce

Have some news for Linking L.A.? Contact Times reporter Anthony Pesce.

The Eagle Rock Yacht Club is starting a dodgeball league in Venice. The club known for its Glassell Park dodgeball league is scheduling its first Westside match April 8 at 7 p.m.

Half sport and half social league, dodgeball seems to be getting more popular with Angelenos. Curbed LA reports:

The league will play at the Oakwood Rec Center and the games will be followed by drinking. You can vote on the after-bar when you sign up. Will the Venice crowd be as popular as those Silver Lake dodgeballers?

Read the full post here, and check out the yacht club website for more information.

Some other interesting L.A.-area items around the Web:

St. Patrick’s Day: L.A. Weekly offers a comprehensive list of events throughout the city. Here is an excerpt from their first listing at Spaceland in Silver Lake:

The night’s opener and closer are fine enough — Les Blanks churn out swaggery boot-stomping indie rock, and Francisco The Man specializes in epic alt-Americana — but the highlight of this show will almost undoubtedly be watching the Blasting Company deliver a full set of Balkan blues under an actual roof.

The Times’ Margaret Wappler also has compiled a list of events you can check out here.

Ghosts in Boyle Heights? The Boyle Heights Paranormal Project found a mysterious footprint at the abandoned Linda Vista Community Hospital. KPCC has the story:

The footprint was fresh and surrounded by wet basement dirt. Only the caretaker for the hospital had been around since it was closed in 1991. This footprint seemingly couldn’t have been made by any living person.

New tower in Westwood: Curbed LA reports that a 29-story tower could be coming to the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Gayley Avenue. Here is an excerpt:

Local developer Kambiz Hekmat is considering two options for the corner… A 250-room luxury business hotel OR an 144-unit condo tower.

— Anthony Pesce

Have some news for Linking L.A.? Contact Times reporter Anthony Pesce.

Photo: A dodgeball league game at the Bellevue Recreation Center. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times

There were 10 homicides in Los Angeles County last week, bringing the monthly tally to 28 and the yearly total to 119, according to the Times’ Homicide Report database. From Jan. 1 to March 14 of last year, there were 157 homicides. There were 198 in 2008.

Last week’s killings included Ryan O’Connell, 29, who was shot March 13 in the 1500 block of West 12th Place in Pico-Union. Police said he was visiting friends when he got into an argument with someone who shot him.

Miguel Gonzalez-Cervantes, 39, was stabbed in the 15300 block of South Washington Avenue in East Compton. Detectives said he got into a fight with his roommate, Alejandro Estrella, 21, which escalated to the stabbing.

Robert Acosta, 20, was shot in the head in the 6000 block of Templeton Street in Huntington Park, according to coroner’s records. He died March 14 at 1:16 a.m.

The Times’ Homicide Report provides an interactive map and database of all homicides in Los Angeles County reported by the coroner since Jan. 1, 2007. Are you interested in finding homicides near you? Search the database for an address.

— Anthony Pesce and Sarah Ardalani

Chart: Comparing the number of homicides in Los Angeles County
between Jan. 1 and March 14 for the last four years.

TooManyBunnies is gearing up for Easter. The rabbit rescue crew anticipates parents will purchase the adorable pets for their children on a whim — and then realize they are in over their heads and abandon them.

This can become a problem for the small animals, which do not fare well on their own in the urban jungle, The Daily Breeze reports. Instead, The Breeze writes, parents should consider borrowing a rabbit to see if they can handle it:

Those interested in fostering an Easter bunny to see if a rabbit is the right pet for their household can do so for free. The rescue group will provide the cage, food and hay for rabbits who have all been fixed and trained to use a litter box like a cat.

Read the full story here.

Some other interesting L.A.-area items around the Web:

Where is biking dangerous? BikesideLA has worked with Los Angeles Police to map bicycle collision data for the city. Here is an excerpt:

East Hollywood, the de facto center of bike culture in LA, has plenty of accidents. As always, the problem is we don’t know how many cyclists ride these streets, so the data does not give relative risk.

Backhoe accident: Parts of a backhoe were dangling from an El Monte overpass Monday, shutting down Santa Anita Avenue. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports:

A big rig carrying a backhoe smashed into a railway overpass Monday afternoon and then drove away, leaving behind the backhoe.

"Roller pigeon" intervention: A former L.A. gang member is reaching out to at-risk youth with pigeons. CBS reports:

It just may be the most unconventional gang-prevention program in the country. Using donations and some of the money he makes from selling his pigeon magazine, Wilson provides kids with the food, the pens, even the birds.

— Anthony Pesce

Have some news for Linking L.A.? Contact Times reporter Anthony Pesce.

Photo credit: Los Angeles Times

City Councilman Paul Krekorian is taking advantage of Google Maps to show residents progress on street resurfacing efforts and to publicize locations for sandbag pickups.

LAist writes that the effort is a positive step, but calls on the councilman and his colleagues to make more data publicly available:

This is a simple idea, but one that’s much needed. Residents in other parts of the city should demand this sort of transparency for their neighborhoods (we’ll be bugging Paul Koretz, that’s for sure). The unfortunate thing is that Krekorian’s staff are the ones creating these while this data should be provided to the public (and council offices) through the city’s in-house technology agency.

Read the full story here.

Some other interesting L.A.-area items around the Web:

Pool of spaghetti sets record: A Garden Grove branch of restaurant chain Buca di Beppo filled up a swimming pool with more than 13,000 pounds of pasta to beat a Guinness record. KPCC reports:

The spaghetti will not be wasted but donated to the local agricultural community and used for animal feed, said Steve Cervenka, vice president of Buca di Beppo.

Medical marijuana school: A Sunset Beach school opened recently to teach people how to use medical marijuana. The Orange County Register reports:

Cannabis State opened Friday in Sunset Beach and on Sunday will be holding its first class: an introduction to medical marijuana. The school’s founders hope local seniors will be among their first students.

"Charmed" manor attracts fans: The Eastsider LA reports that the Angelino Heights Victorian house featured on the TV show "Charmed" is attracting fans. Here is one fan’s You Tube video, and an excerpt from the post:

The show’s final episode aired four years ago but passionate fans continue to search out the "Charmed House" and have posted videos of their visits on YouTube.

— Anthony Pesce

Have some news for Linking L.A.? Contact Times reporter Anthony Pesce.

Map: City Councilman Paul Krekorian’s Google Map of street resurfacing progress.

Between 10% and 12% of the parking meters in Los Angeles fail at any given time, according to a recent study.

Officers aren’t supposed to give parking tickets to drivers parked at broken meters, but some residents complain the city is doing just that.

On Thursday, we asked readers to share their thoughts about the issue. Among the 76 responses, many recounted receiving tickets at broken meters and expressed frustration. Others called on lawmakers to stop nickel-and-diming residents to generate revenue. Here’s a sampling of responses:

brodie012: If the meter don’t work, then the spot is free. You can’t tell it’s out of order until you get out of the car. I refuse to get back in the car, merge back into traffic and scrounge for another spot. That is criminal.

Marc Glassberg: I was parked on a side street off Sunset and Highland in Hollywood last summer and the parking meter was bagged and labeled as broke. But I STILL FOUND A TICKET ON MY WINDSHIELD. I wound up paying $65 after sending in a defense to the parking commission.

Susan: I received a ticket on La Brea one afternoon last fall after parking at a broken meter that "fixed" itself 20 minutes later. However, I had multiple witnesses including a business owner who saw the "dead" display. AND I had snapped a photo of the display with my iPhone. With witness statements and the dated (& GPS info) photo I was able to protest the ticket and had it dismissed.

Richard: Perhaps it is time to pass an initiative restricting what is charged and the fines that can be levied against those who violate them. Parking fees and tickets are not supposed to be used for revenue. Neither are traffic violations.

Want to weigh in? Share your thoughts below. Or read the original post and join the conversation there:

Photo credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

The Orange County Register has a fun video report from the Mascot Mayhem contest in Anaheim. Mascots, marching bands, and cheerleaders from Big West Conference schools gathered to compete for the top spot in the conference – earning a trophy and bragging rights. Spoiler alert: Cal State Northridge’s Matty the Matador won.

See the embedded video, or find it here.

Some other interesting L.A.-area items around the Web:

Leaf blower drama: A 1998 Los Angeles ordinance bans the use of gas leaf blowers near homes, but some residents are complaining that the loud contraptions are making a resurgence. The Eastsider LA reports:

"But what are residents to do since not many expect the city to devote more resources to police the illegal blowers? One person suggested a public shaming of residents whose gardeners use the illegal blowers and another proposed offering rebates to purchase electric powered machines."

[Corrected at 6:30 p.m. March 12: A previous version of this post incorrectly reported that it was a Silver Lake ordinance that banned the use of gas leaf blowers near homes.

How crazy is L.A.? The Daily Beast has ranked the nation’s craziest cities, and Los Angeles comes in at number 27 – but we were ranked No. 5 for eccentricity. Here is an excerpt:

Las Vegas, New Orleans and New York all put in solid top ten showings. The least offbeat city should raise some eyebrows. And the one that falls furthest south of normal? Here’s a hint: it’s a bit north (and east) of Austin and better known for chili than crazy.

City Year accounts: Good Magazine is publishing firsthand accounts of what it’s like to work for City Year in Los Angeles. Here is an excerpt:

An alarm sounds loudly in my ear. I groan as I blindly fumble to turn off my phone. I wonder if it is really morning already. I was up late writing a lesson plan, and I feel as if my eyes only closed for an instant.

— Anthony Pesce

Have some news for Linking L.A.? Contact Times reporter Anthony Pesce.

Video: The Orange County Register

UCLA administrators halted the Undie Run — a finals week tradition in which students sprint across the campus in their skivvies — after problems of vandalism and interference by non-UCLA students.

But the Daily Bruin is reporting that UCLA could bring a version of the event back to the Westwood campus in the spring as long as students behave themselves. The Bruin reports:

Although Undie Run was canceled last June … some UCLA students organized and participated in their own "Underground Undie Run" in the fall quarter. The run resulted in a number of minor arrests for violations such as jaywalking. … If students’ actions this quarter are problematic, then the university will not be interested in working to develop an event for spring quarter.

Read the full story here, and if you don’t know what the Undie Run is, see Times coverage here.

Here are some other interesting L.A. items on the Web:

Abandoned diver sues: A scuba diver who says his boat left him behind on a dive in 2004 is suing. The Orange County Register reports:

A scuba diver left at sea by a charter boat crew in 2004 thought he would never make it back to shore, his attorney told a jury Tuesday. … The trial will deal with his allegations of negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Art Walk tonight: Blogdowntown has a good preview of what to expect at tonight’s Downtown Art Walk. Here is an excerpt:

For those making their first visit, the Artwalk Lounge at 5th and Main may be a good first stop. Others will feel free to pick their favorite gallery and start from there.

Hollywood rental guide: Curbed LA has put together a guide to five new rental buildings opening up in the heart of Hollywood. The prices are sky-high, but the bloggers note that the buildings should be ripe for haggling. Here is an excerpt:

Within a roughly two square mile area between Highland Avenue, Hollywood Boulevard, Franklin Avenue and Gower Street, five new rental buildings have either just opened, or will open in the next few months. What does this mean for you, young whippersnapper? Competition. Which can translate into move-in deals.

— Anthony Pesce

Have some news for Linking L.A.? Contact Times reporter Anthony Pesce.

Photo: Several hundred students participated in the June 2006 Undie Run. Credit: Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times

Google Maps has a new feature: bike routes. The service aims to help bikers navigate urban streets more easily and is now available in 150 cities around the country, including Los Angeles.

The routes automatically help bikers avoid steep hills and try to direct travelers to dedicated bike paths or streets that are bike-friendly. The service is not yet available on mobile devices like the iPhone or BlackBerry, but you can still plan a trip from a computer. Wired magazine has an inside scoop on the new tool:

Google kicked its bike-mapping effort into high gear in October when it started using improved datasets that provided more specific information about trails, street details and more granularity on college campuses. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy provided Google with information on 12,000 miles of bike trails nationwide, and the League of American Bicyclists helped gather data on bike lanes and so forth.

Read Wired’s full story here, and check out the new map tool here.

Here are some other interesting L.A. items on the Web:

Public transit layoffs: Good magazine is reporting projected layoffs at public transportation agencies around the country, and California cities are leading the pack. Here is an excerpt:

Buses, trains, and subways are efficient and clean ways of moving people around. But unfortunately, state and federal funds are what keep these systems afloat, and they’re drying up. As a result, so are public transportation jobs.

Senior (citizen) prom: The annual Senior Citizen Prom in San Pedro is just around the corner. The Daily Breeze reports:

It’s that time of year again for the Senior Citizen Prom in San Pedro.

Kathy Carcamo’s Leadership Class at San Pedro High School invites seniors to come eat, dance and enjoy themselves at the annual event.

New PETA office coming to Echo Park: After donating $2.5 million to the cause, Bob Barker is slated to appear at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Echo Park for the new PETA headquarters. The Eastsider LA reports:

The Eastsider reported last December that the animal rights group had purchased a former mattress showroom on Sunset Boulevard and planned to relocate 55 employees — including some 40 members of its East Coast headquarters staff — to the Echo Park building.

— Anthony Pesce

Have some news for Linking L.A.? Contact Times reporter Anthony Pesce.

Image: An example of the new bike route feature on Google Maps. Credit: Google Maps

More breaking news in L.A. Now: 

Plea deals in works for defendants in ‘bling
ring’ celebrity burglaries case

Corey Haim apparently overdosed on
prescription drugs, law enforcement sources say

Couple at helm of Irvine firm arrested in
$8-million Ponzi scheme targeting Korean Americans

Authorities search for armed men in Norwalk
home invasion reported by 7-year-old boy over cellphone

O.C. dentist who killed three patients could
be released from prison

Actor Corey Haim died of apparent drug
overdose

L.A. wants to quit or alter two bank deals

1972 — Alcala is convicted in the
1968 rape and beating of an 8-year-old girl.

Nov. 10, 1977 — The body of 18-year-old Jill Barcomb
is found in the Hollywood Hills. She had been sexually assaulted,
bludgeoned and strangled with a pair of blue pants.

Dec. 16, 1977 — Georgia Wixted, 27,
is found beaten to death at her home in Malibu. She had been sexually
assaulted and strangled.

1978 — Alcala appears in an episode
of “The Dating Game” as Bachelor No. 1.

June 24, 1978 — Charlotte Lamb, a 32-year-old legal
secretary from Santa Monica, is found in the laundry room of an El
Segundo apartment complex. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled
with a shoelace. 

June 14, 1979 — Jill Parenteau, 21, is
found strangled on the floor of her Burbank apartment.

June 20, 1979 – Robin Samsoe, 12, disappears near
the Huntington Beach Pier. Her body is found 12 days later in the Sierra
Madre foothills.

July 24, 1979 — Rodney James
Alcala, an unemployed photographer, is arrested at his parents’ Monterey
Park home.

September 1980 – Alcala is convicted of the 1978
rape of a 15-year-old Riverside girl and sentenced to nine years in
state prison.

June 20, 1980 — Orange County Superior Court Judge
Philip E. Schwab sentences Alcala to death after he is convicted of
Samsoe’s murder.

July 11, 1980 — The Los Angeles County district
attorney’s office files murder, burglary and sexual assault charges
against Alcala in the slaying of Parenteau.

April 15, 1981 — The L.A. County district attorney’s office
tells a judge that prosecution of Alcala in the Parenteau case could
not proceed because a key witness admitted that he had committed perjury
in another case.

Aug. 23, 1984 — The state Supreme Court reversed
Alcala’s murder conviction in connection with Samsoe, ruling that the
jury was improperly told about Alcala’s prior sex crimes.

June 20, 1986 — For the second time, Alcala is
convicted of Samsoe’s murder and sentenced to death in Orange County
Superior Court.

Dec.
31, 1992 — The California Supreme Court unanimously upholds
Alcala’s death sentence.

April 2, 2001 — A federal appellate court overturns
Alcala’s death sentence in the Samsoe case, ruling that the Superior
Court judge precluded the defense from presenting evidence “material to
significant issues.”

June 5, 2003 — The Los Angeles County district
attorney’s office files murder charges against Alcala alleging that he
killed Wixted during a burglary and rape.

Sept. 19, 2005 — Additional murder charges are filed
against Alcala in connection to the deaths of Barcomb, Wixted and Lamb.

Jan. 11, 2010 — Alcala’s trial for the five murders
begins. He represents himself.

March 9, 2010 — Alcala is again sentenced to death.

— Kimi Yoshino

For Times coverage of the Alcala sentence see: Orange County jury orders death for Alcala for third time. Click here for more
photos.

State Sen. Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) voted against a bill that would have allowed same-sex marriages in California. The bill was later vetoed by the governor. Ashburn also was among the minority in voting against legislation last year that designated May 22 of each year as Harvey Milk Day.

On Monday, Ashburn told a Bakersfield radio station that he’s gay. His statement comes several days after he was arrested on drunk driving charges after allegedly leaving a gay bar in Sacramento.

Yesterday we asked readers: Is it really a big deal? Should it hurt his political career? Did he do the right thing in his radio interview?

Asburn was called a hypocrite in many of the 17 responses, and a few comments were supportive of the senator. Here are some of the responses:

Joseph said: The disgrace is driving while drunk, not in being gay. No one cares about the latter.

AWilliam said: If the senator hid his sexual orientation from the people in order to win the election, he should bear full political responsibility for his decisions–especially if he fought against rights for his homosexual peers while taking full advantage of the friendships and lifestyle that being homosexual brought.

Mindy said: It absolutely is a big deal – not because he’s gay, but because he felt compelled to live closeted for so long while he voted with incredible hypocrisy.

Cassie Reader said: Did he do the right thing in coming out? I believe so, better to not keep skeletons in your closet, especially if was was arrested outside a gay bar, it is better not to have rumors going around, instead, man up and say that its true

Want to weigh in? Share your thoughts below. Or read our coverage of the senator and join the conversation there:

Conservative lawmaker comes out of the closet. Is it really a big deal?

PolitiCal: GOP state senator comes out of closet in aftermath of drunk driving arrest

Photo: Roy Ashburn. Credit: California state Senate

 

In the letter published in the student newspaper New University, Oren says he would meet the students who interrupted him as long as the tone stayed civil. Here is an excerpt:

I would willingly return to your campus and meet with those individuals whose views may not agree with mine as long as we respect the decorum of dialogue and free speech. Middle East issues are not devoid of emotion or nuance. Only with respect and sensitivity from all sides can we attain the conditions necessary to tackle one of the great issues of our time and realize the vision of peace.

Read the full letter here.

Here are some other interesting L.A. items on the Web:

Ugly dog contest: Rascal, a tiny, toothless Chinese Crested, won an ugly dog contest in San Diego. Examiner.com reports:

There are no ugly dogs, in the opinion of San Diego Dogs Examiner. However once a year here in San Diego county we pretend there are, and throw a party to celebrate them, all in the name of charity. The Del Mar Kiwanis Club, founders and organizers of the 15-year-old event, gives prizes to the dogs and their people, and proceeds from the party go to animals in need.

A bright new WeHo hotel: A new hotel, restaurant and condo development is in the approval process for West Hollywood. It includes an LED video screen wrapped along the top of the entire development. Curbed LA reports:

Last week, Kanner Architects’ LED-glowing House of Blues project, a development that’ll offer 149 hotel rooms; 35,000 square feet of commercial-restaurant space — including a new 6,200-square-foot live music venue, 40 condos, 5 affordable units and 22 affordable units off site at 990 Palm, went before the West Hollywood’s Planning Commission.

Hipsters attempt annual "Iditarod": L.A. Weekly has a fun photo essay of a group of hipsters running around Venice in brightly colored costumes, pushing their peers in the annual "Urban Iditarod." L.A. Weekly reports:

The L.A. Urban Iditarod celebrated its 4th anniversary with another epic pub crawl-meets-shopping cart race in Venice. Luckily this year the cops didn’t show up until the end of the 3rd watering hole at the Waterfront Cafe. Team’s themes ranged from Jersey Shore to Teletubbies and participants sang, danced, drank and raced toward the finish line. Photos by Colin Young-Wolff.

— Anthony Pesce

Have some news for Linking L.A.? Contact Times reporter Anthony Pesce.

Photo: Students walk to class at UC Irvine. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

There were 18 homicides in Los Angeles County during the first week of March, according to the Times’ Homicide Report database. The year-to-date total of homicides for the county is 108 – down from 138 for the same period last year and 161 in 2007.

Last week’s killings included Ronisha Chatman, a 22-year-old
woman who was shot in the stomach. Chatman was shot in the 44500 block of 15^th Street East in Lancaster and died March 2 at 8:15 p.m., according to coroner’s records.

John Feehan, a 47-year-old
man, died from "multiple penetrating wounds to the left side of the head and neck," according to coroner’s records. Feehan sustained his injuries in the 10000 block of 253^rd Street in Harbor City. He died March 3 at 11:40 a.m., according to coroner’s records.

Juan Sanchez, a 20-year-old man, died after being shot in the head. Sanchez was shot in the 1200 block of East 68^th Street in Florence-Firestone and died March 7 at 3:17 a.m., according to coroner’s records.

The Times’ Homicide Report provides an interactive map and database of all homicides in Los Angeles County reported by the coroner since Jan. 1, 2007. Are you interested in finding homicides near you? Search the database for an address.

— Anthony Pesce

Chart: Comparing the number of homicides in Los Angeles County between Jan. 1 and March 7 for the last four years. Credit: Ken Schwencke / Los Angeles Times

Retail developer Rick Caruso – famous for building The Grove and the Americana at Brand – is expanding his retail and restaurant empire to airports.

Roger Vincent, of Times’ blog Money & Company, reports that Caruso has hired a new vice president for airports and is setting his sights on Los Angeles. Is LAX next?

Read the full post here.

Photo: A fountain at the Grove is one of the touches Rick Caruso’s retail developments are known for. Credit: Alexander Gallardo / Los Angeles Times

A live video feed of barn owls and their chicks from the Starr Ranch Sanctuary is gaining traction on the Web.

The Orange County Register is reporting that the live feed, which has gone relatively unnoticed on the Internet for three years, is now garnering thousands of hits a day. This isn’t the first animal video feed to go viral – I’ve seen puppies and bald eagles before – but it’s certainly unique. The Register reports:

During mealtime, viewers watch the chicks compete for a rat or other small mammal, hunted and brought to the nest typically by the male owl. In the tussle for food, smaller chicks don’t always get to eat. …

Read the full story here.

Here are some other interesting L.A. items on the Web:

Funeral street car discovered: One East L.A. resident has unearthed a 101-year-old street car built to ferry mourners to cemeteries. The Eastsider LA reports:

The Descanso — originally named Paraiso — and a second car served Evergreen Cemetery in Boyle Heights as well as other burial grounds in East Los Angeles, said Ralph Melching in a story posted on the website of the Pacific Railroad Society.

Homeless video profiles: A former homeless man and drug addict has started a website to feature the stories of homeless people. KPCC reports:

A former Hollywood insider, Horvath has been a drug addict, con artist and, for a brief period, homeless. He says he’s left that life behind, and these days, he’s drawing on his dark past to inspire his Web site–Invisiblepeople.tv. The site is a collection of YouTube-length video profiles of homeless people he’s met across the country, and it’s become a surprise hit in social media circles.

Song bird smuggler sentencing: A man caught smuggling song birds into Los Angeles is scheduled to be sentenced today. KPCC reports:

The colorful singing birds are sold to collectors and exhibitors in the United States for up to $400 apiece… The investigation started in late 2008, when Customs officials at LAX discovered luggage allegedly abandoned by [Sony] Dong containing 18 birds, five of which were dead, court papers show.

— Anthony Pesce

Photo: The device Sony Dong used to smuggle song birds into Los Angeles. Credit: U.S. Attorney’s Office

Have some news for Linking L.A.? Contact Times reporter Anthony Pesce.

Photo: The device Sony Dong used to smuggle song birds into Los Angeles. Credit: U.S. Attorney’s Office

A day of passionate protest against education funding cuts attracted thousands of demonstrators Thursday to generally peaceful rallies, walkouts and teach-ins at universities and high schools throughout California and the nation.

From Los Angeles to New York and from San Diego to Humboldt County, students, faculty and parents at many schools decried higher student fees, reduced class offerings and teacher layoffs in what organizers describe as a "Day of Action for Public Education."

L.A. Now had comments from students, parents and concerned taxpayers with a range of opinions. Here are some of the highlights:

Debbie said: "At least these kids are seeking an education vs the gang banger sitting in prison that we are paying $50,000 per prisoner per year for! … Maybe the kids trying to get an education should just drop out, commit a crime and have the taxpayer pay for them forever!"

Tornadoes28 said: "Rallies against education cuts = rallies for cuts in other programs such as aid to families with children, etc. Think about it. What do these protester’s suggest?"

CSUN Protester said: "We are tired of not being listened to. We are tired of being taken advantage of. If blocking traffic is the only way to bring attention to the budget cuts, then blocking traffic is what we will do."

j. davis said: "Only 500 protesters show up at UCLA? Another 500 or so people walk out at LAUSD? The numbers don’t lie. NOBODY CARES! … Why not cover the amount of taxpayer money lost by sending out extra police to deal with the knuckleheads who would be better served by going to class or studying."

Want to weigh in? Share your thoughts below. Or read our coverage of the protests and join the conversation there:

Rallies across California decry education funding cuts

Education protesters arrested in Northridge and Oakland

Photo: Demonstrators at Pershing Square in Downtown Los Angeles. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Two life-size Oscar statues made to resemble skeletons were found Thursday morning – one atop Runyon Canyon and one in the parking lot of Mel’s Drive-In in Hollywood.

A plaque at the bottom of the statues read: "Beauty is one snip away," signed by a British artist named "D*Face." The Wrap told NBCLA:

They are the work of a U.K.-based artist who goes by D*Face, said a person with knowledge of the plot to emplace the statues on Thursday morning. The 6- to 7-foot figures, made of a painted resin, were crafted in the United Kingdom and shipped here…

Read the full story here.

Here are some other interesting L.A. items on the Web:

Is your house Tweeting? A house for sale in Malibu is tweeting from @villacascata. It only has 46 followers, but it got the attention of Curbed LA:

The houses are becoming sentient–and they’re micro-blogging. A $13.95 million house in Malibu has its own Twitter acount, which unfortunately is actually written in the third person.

Destroyer Dewey to be commissioned: A new ship is set to be commissioned off the coast of Seal Beach, complete with cannon fire. The Orange County Register reports:

Seal Beach residents may hear a series of loud booms Saturday morning while the destroyer USS Dewey is being commissioned at the naval weapons station. Gregg Smith, a spokesman for the base, says, "There will (be) a saluting battery shooting off ceremonial cannons (firing blanks) during the event. Up to 19 shots."

Local barista champion: A Silver Lake barista came in second place at a regional competition, and is advancing to the championship round. NBCLA reports:

Ran Willbur’s love of the bean is so intense, he said it’s one of the main reasons why he did so well at the 2010 Western Regional Barista Competition. … As part of the competition, Willbur had to come up with 12 drinks: four espresso, four coffee and four signature drinks.

— Anthony Pesce

Have some news for Linking L.A.? Contact Times reporter Anthony Pesce.

Living adjacent to the smoggy I-5 Freeway has been harmful to one Los Angeles woman and her son.

L.A. Weekly has a fascinating story about how a mother, Fay Green, and her young son moved into a new housing project in Lincoln Heights. The building looks great on the outside, but living next to the din of the freeway is causing health concerns. L.A. Weekly reports:

The bedroom of her young son, who has a sinus problem, requires extra attention so he can breathe; Green herself suffers from asthma. She says these sicknesses started before she moved to Avenue 26, erected less than 100 feet from one of the world’s busiest, and filthiest, freeways, used by 285,000 vehicles per day. But when the weather is hot, or other conditions create smog, Green notices that many of her kids start to cough. She won’t feel well, either.

Read the full story here.

Here are some other interesting L.A. items on the Web:

A new WeHo park: West Hollywood may set up a temporary park in the 1300 block of N. Laurel Avenue, on the site of a future senior housing complex. Curbed LA reports:

Financing issues, rising costs, and the loss of a $4.2 million HUD grant have made a groundbreaking date for the facility far from clear. On Monday, the City Council voted to consider turning over the site — at least temporarily — to the public.

Pasadena could ban smoking: Next month, Pasadena will consider a citywide, complete ban on smoking. The Pasadena Star-News reports:

Options the city will consider at the next meeting, along with the outright city ban and single-family home ban, will include a ban on smoking in apartments, requiring a certain percentage of smoke-free units, or requiring owners to have smoking and non-smoking units in different parts of the building.

Preserving an Inglewood landmark: Residents are starting an effort to preserve and restore the Inglewood Fox Theater. The Daily Breeze reports:

Supporters hope to preserve and restore the Fox as a multipurpose entertainment and special events venue. … The theater, at 115 N. Market St., has been vacant for decades but its original Baroque-Deco-Moderne interior is intact and the building is in good condition, preservationists say.

— Anthony Pesce

Have some news for Linking L.A.? Contact Times reporter Anthony Pesce.

OK Go’s new music video has been making its rounds on the Internet lately, and for good reason – it features an amazing Rube Goldberg machine that’s synchronized to the music of their new song "This Too Shall Pass."

But did you know the video was filmed in an Echo Park warehouse, and the Rube Goldberg machine was designed by an L.A. firm? The Eastsider LA has a breakdown of the locals OK Go used to film the video, and Wired Magazine has a detailed explanation of how the whole thing works:

For nearly four minutes — captured in a single, unbroken camera shot — the machine rolls metal balls down tracks, swings sledgehammers, pours water, unfurls flags and drops a flock of umbrellas from the second story, all perfectly synchronized with the song. … The wooden tracks used to guide metal balls at the beginning of the video had to be cleaned and waxed to keep dust from slowing down the balls and making them stick. And the angle of that board was set at a precise 3.4 degrees of incline, which was perfect for the timing but sometimes led the balls to jump the track.

Read the full story from Wired here.

Here are some other interesting L.A. items on the Web:

Bald Eagles – live: A webcam on one of the Channel Islands is broadcasting live video and audio of two Bald Eagles incubating their eggs. Laist reports:

Once ousted from Southern California’s existence, thanks to the harmful chemical DDT, bald eagles have been making a comeback in Channel Islands National Park… a webcam (complete with sound!) has been set up for scientists and the public to monitor the action, if you will, in real time.

Students celebrate Dr. Seuss: Students gathered in their pajamas at Frank Woodruff Elementary school to read Dr. Seuss and raise money. The Long Beach Press Telegram reports:

Tuesday’s read-a-thon with pledges gathered per page raised funds toward a replacement for the school’s 20-year-old marquee… Students and faculty wore pajamas and held their favorite stuffed toys during the hourlong event.

"90210" house for sale: The beach house featured in the original "Beverly Hills, 90210" is up for sale. The price for a piece of television history? $10.5 Million. The Huffington Post reports:

We all remember Donna Martin and Kelly Taylor’s picturesque Beach-side shack; well, now this little sliver of television history can be yours… The 6-bedroom, 5-bathroom Hermosa Beach property sits on 136-feet of beachfront sand, complete with panoramic views and wrap around patios and decks.

— Anthony Pesce

Have some news for Linking L.A.? Contact Times reporter Anthony Pesce.

Video: OK Go’s new video, "This Too Shall Pass."