Extra, Extra: Putting a Price on Love

• Southern California is girding itself for high winds this weekend. Emergency vehicles, such as huge, water carrying planes and an abundance of fire trucks and crews from around the state and country are staying put, in case a fiery after shock occurs, KPCC reports. Be safe and lock up the 10-year-olds. I've been saying they're trouble for years.
  
• There's some sort of strike set to begin Monday. This is not your average work stoppage. No, this involves some of the more imaginative people in the country, whose picket signs should be a reflection of their creativity, Franklin Avenue said.
  
• Noticing the precipitous drop in visitors at the renovated Griffith Observatory, officials there have ditched the parking ban and shuttle bus system. The spots up there, which number about 200, are now free game. Bus service will still run from the Vermont Red line station, but not on the weekends where, presumably, more people will visit the iconic LA landmark. Hmmm, it's an interesting I'm-playing-hard-to-get strategy.
  
• An accident this morning, where pictures of the aftermath look more appropriate for monster truck rallies than a city highway, clogged Highway 99 in Fresno. Two are dead, dozens are injured and officials are calling it one of the worst crashes in 10 years.
  
• An 82-year-old man was forced to pay $12 million to a bicyclist he hit and killed last year. The huge sum was awarded to the deceased man's family to make up for his lost six-figure salary and the love his kids and wife will no longer get, the lawyer said. You can't put a price on love, except when you can. God bless the USA.
  
• The fall-out from Duane 'Dog' Chapman's use of the n-word continued today. The TV bounty hunter and ex-con was nixed from El Cajon's Nov. 19 Mother Goose Parade. Dog called his son's girlfriend an unmentionable slur recently, which resulted in the indefinite hiatus of his bounty hunting show on A&E. It's a sad day for free speech, ex-cons and bounty hunters everywhere. Not to mention resident of El Cajon.
  
• A water main broke in Westwood today, snarling foot and vehicular traffic in a busy part of town. Because Southern California is experiencing a record drought, walkers and drives reportedly sought cover after seeing water fall from the sky.
  
• BarCamp, an "ad-hoc un-conference born from the desire for people to share and learn in an open environment" got underway today at Little Radio in Long Beach. I'm so excited to see what those nerds come up with!
  
• It's daylight savings, time to party! Don't forget to set your clocks back one hour tonight. If you're anything like me, you've spent the good portion of too much time reading about its history. Enjoy the extra hour.
  

Photo by tom.julio via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr