Today marks the beginning of the 3rd National Gathering of Slow Money. Slow what? Think slow food first. Now think of the farmer that needed the loan to fix the barn where he milked the goats. Can you picture the farmer explaining artisanal goat cheese at the local Bank of America with Blossom and Buttercup in the lobby? Yeeeeah. Not so much? more ›

If it happens, some are calling it the end of California's avocado dominance. The state's $300 million-a-year industry -- it brings the United States 90 percent of the nation's avocados, much of it from Southern California coastal areas -- has been facing competition from Peru since January. But competition is not what the industry is, at least, publicly fearing, it's what imported avocados can bring. more ›

Senator John McCain made a jingoistic off-cuff joke during President Obama's health summit yesterday. "There's two examples right now of medical malpractice reform that is working. One's called California, the other called -- called Texas," he said. "I won't talk about California, because the Arizonans hate California, because they've stolen our water," he said before going on about Texas. more ›

Apparently, the ballot initiative that passed last November to make cages more livable for farm animals, notably chickens and hens, is confusing farmers. The Assn. of California Egg Farmers says the prop guides space via a “broad principle” but not much detail more than that, says the LA Times. And now there is more legislation about eggs from Assemblyman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael). He wants eggs imported to the state to be produced under humane conditions and farmers say they won't support it until they get clear instructions on how to deal with being more humane within the state. Prop 2 will go in effect in 2015. more ›

Tucked secretly away amongst residential condos and too-snug street parking sits The Schindler House, a small artistic enclave that is part of the larger Mak Center. The unobtrusive works of modern beauty blend seamlessly with the grass and garden that occupy a worthy portion of the smallish plot. And perhaps it is here, on the oblong lawn as the sun sets over consistently progressive West Hollywood, that films like The Garden truly deserve to be screened. more ›

It's not just oil and gas, it's everything. And food is especially not safe. Bill Lapp of Advanced Economic Solutions (he was previously the chief economist for ConAgra Foods Inc.) said that food prices in the U.S. will rise 9% per year through 2012, reports Reuters. more ›