Yesterday, LA Observed's Here in Malibu eulogized the city's indie bookstore Diesel, who will be closing soon, following "a protracted legal skirmish" mixed with recession-era low sales. The store, which has been open for seven years, is in a retail center that became a "ghost town" after new ownership took over the property. more ›

Today was the day that Metro symbolically hauled off their last remaining diesel bus, taking it out of service, and becoming the only major transit system in the world to operate only on clean-air vehicles. This marks the realization of a commitment made by the transit agency in 1993 to rid their fleet of pollution-causing buses. more ›

Californians continued to drive less last November, according to state numbers on gasoline and diesel use released today. 1.170 billion gallons of gasoline were consumed compared to the 1.246 billion gallons the month before and the 1.198 billion gallons in November 2008 (2.3% difference). That all equates to $72 million in estimated taxes the cash-strapped state did not get. Diesel consumption also dropped by 3.2% compared to the year before, according to the Board of Equalization. more ›

Although gas was about 40-cents cheaper the year before, gasoline demand last October declined 0.4 percent when Californians used 1.246 billion gallons of gasoline compared to 1.252 billion gallons the same month in 2008, according to a state report released today. That percentage difference means about a $27 million difference in taxes collected by the state. "The October decrease in consumption is the first decline in six months," said the California State Board of Equalization. "The previous five months showed small increases in consumption when compared to last year." Use of Diesel, which generally follows economic activity during a recession, was down by 11.1%. more ›

The first day back to work & no bookish events to distract! more ›

With around 84% of all cancer risk from air pollution due to diesel exhaust, the Port of Los Angeles Clean Truck Program began today immediately banning 2,000 trucks made before 1989. And By 2012, the new law will ban any truck that doesn’t meet the cleanest 2007 emission standards, ultimately taking 16,000 dirty-diesel trucks off the road. The trucking industry fought the plan saying it would "place an unconstitutional and unfair economic burden on port truckers." Compliance checks were in order today but cargo was reportedly moving smoothly. more ›

Candace Bushnell discusses and signs One Fifth Avenue 7pm @ Vroman's more ›

Todd Komarnicki discusses and signs War 7pm @ Vroman's more ›

Diesel, A Bookstore, one of the lesser known (but not for long) indie bookstores in Malibu has announced plans to bring indie lit to Brentwood by setting up shop in a 1,500 square foot space in Brentwood Country Mart. more ›

There were nearly as many people on stage as in the crowd at the Echo last night to witness the phenomenon that was a 35-minute set from Dark Meat, the 17-piece psychedelic rock collective from Athens, Georgia. more ›

Some of our favorite independent bookstores in LA (Skylight Books, Vroman's, Diesel, Book Soup) have been targeted by scammers claiming to be some of our favorite writers. more ›

The United States Postal Service furthered its efforts to embrace new, green technologies this week, even as these technologies eat away at the USPS' age-old business model of letter delivery. more ›