Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Some tips for navigating the family holiday

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

()

This week Salon published a great essay by Wil Wheaton about Thanksgiving with his family. It serves as an excellent model for being mature when your parents' political views clash with your own; if you've ever been tempted to storm out and drink schnapps behind the garage until it's time for dinner, this might help. The politics in question was the execution of Tookie Williams, and over on Wil's blog there's an excerpt, if you aren't subscribed/don't want to get a day pass to Salon. The upshot? Sometimes, it's ok to put the politics aside. And DON'T YELL.

Often when family discussions heat up — or hit an unbearable lull — someone decides a family trip to the movies will be a nice break. Of course there's your Kong and your Geisha, but why not go from the frying pan into the fire and see a nice dysfunctional family movie? Currently playing is the Connecticut-style The Family Stone; the set-in-Pasadena Rumor Has It opens tomorrow. We can't vouch for the Oscar-worthiness of either of the films, but chances are those families will be more screwed up than yours.

Really, don't go sneaking schnapps; it's just too high school. A visit to the nearest bar with a sibling — well, that's a holiday tradition.

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist