EFTA00773184.pdf

From: "Los Angeles Times" <[email protected]> To: "jeeproject®yahoo.com" <jeeproject®yahoo.com> Subject: Top of The Times: Friday July 31, 2009 Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:36:01 +0000 Jobs Cars.com Real Estate Apartments Shopping I Weather Traffic ADVERTISEMENT Top of the Times Today's Headlines I Friday, July 31, 2009 Today's Headlines Business California/Local Sports Movie Reviews new Opinion Arts and Entertainment National World Today's Headlines California's higher education system could face decline By Larry Gordon, Gale Holland and Mitchell Landsberg The state's budget cuts to the three-tiered system -- UC, Cal State and community colleges -- may threaten the system's world-class reputation and the future of a generation of students. Afghanistan faces growing addiction problem By David Zucchino With poppy production still high, and opium and heroin cheap and easy to get, more Afghans, including increasing numbers of women, are becoming addicted. Help is very limited. Iranians de& authorities to mourn those slain in the unrest By Borzou Daragahi and Ramin Mostaghim Thousands flood a Tehran cemetery on the 40th day since the killing of Neda Agha-Soltan. Their defiance sets the stage for protests next week, when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is to be sworn in. 'Cash for clunkers' program runs out of gas By Martin Zimmerman and Tiffany Hsu and Jim Puzzanghera EFTA00773184 The government's program burns through its $1-billion budget in less than a week as car buyers swarm dealerships. Federal officials are scrambling to find more money to keep it going. Bailed-out banks paid billions in bonuses last year study shows By Walter Hamilton The report from the New York attorney general heightens pressure to rein in Wall Street pay. The House votes today on a bill that would let shareholders vote on pay packages. Many doubt it would help. More Today's Headlines California/Local Behind the caricatures, real journalists with feelings By James Rainey Sure, journalists can be pushy louts, too hurried or self-important to worry who gets in their way. But movies and pop culture tend to fixate on the reporter as loud, conniving or politically sold-out, at the expense of images that are much more subtle and true. Pocket farm could end up dig on the vine By Martha Groves A Culver City restaurateur is growing produce on a pastoral slice next to his cafe on National Boulevard. But officials say zoning prohibits raising crops for sale within city limits. Release of Michael Jackson autopsy results postponed indefinitely By Harriet Ryan and Richard Winton Court records indicate investigators are looking for evidence of communications between the performer's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, and other health practitioners. Release of Michael Jackson autopsy results postponed indefinitely By Harriet Ryan and Richard Winton Court records indicate investigators are looking for evidence of communications between the performer's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, and other health practitioners. More Califomia/Local News Movie Reviews ADVERTISEMENT 'The Cove' documents shocking dolphin slaughter By Kenneth Turan Filmmakers assemble a team of experts to surreptitiously capture the events. Review: 'The English Surgeon' By Betsy Sharkey EFTA00773185 The Geoffrey Smith documentary shows the human and medical side of a British neurosurgeon's annual trips to Ukraine to aid patients in a failing medical system. 'Thirst' is a vampire movie with intellectual heft By Betsy Sharkey Park Chan-wook's funny and erotic vampire tale takes on issues of morality and mortality. More Movie Reviews Arts and Entertainment L.A. as filtered by love in '(500) Days of Summer' By Christopher Hawthorne "(500) Days of Summer" is a movie about obsessions -- gentle, often charming and non- stalkerish obsessions, for the most part, but obsessions all the same. Chief among them -- after romantic love, the subject that stands always at the heart of the story, its existence always up for impassioned, practically theological debate -- is architecture. Review: 'Funny People' By Betsy Sharkey Sad really, but this change-up from comedy king Judd Apatow is a slog. Even Adam Sandler can't save it. Some 'niche' Emmys will be presented before broadcast By Matea Gold The academy's decision -- a move to court mainstream viewers -- rankles the likes of HBO and the Writers Guild. More Arts and Entertainment News National Obama cheers a 'teachable moment' over beer with Gates Crowley By Peter Wallsten and Mike Doming For the professor and policeman who joined the president at the White House, the discussion of race and policing will go on. Liberal Democrats threaten to reject House healthcare compromise By Noam N. Levey and James Oliphant Dozens say they'll vote against a plan that includes concessions to Blue Dogs. The dispute could jeopardize a long-held goal of the left. Alaska Natives try to halt proposed Pebble Mine By Kim Murphy A coalition of village corporations and others files suit to put an end to drilling and exploration for a copper and gold mine above Bristol Bay -- a sanctuary for wild salmon. EFTA00773186 More National News World In Japan etting ready for the Big One By John M. Glionna Many believe a massive earthquake is due any time in Tokai, an area south of Tokyo that sits atop a precarious confluence of tectonic plates. One worried mom has taken preparations into her own hands. Venezuela home builders face new hurdles By Chris Kraul and Mery Mogollon In a country badly strapped for housing, the government of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez orders large refunds to buyers of new homes. U.S. signs U.N. pact on disabilities The step by the Obama administration is in contrast to the Bush administration, which had refused to sign the treaty. The pact lays out the rights of the world's 650 million disabled. More World News Business On Balboa Island vacationers live large By Hugo Martin But the downturn has started to affect the O.C. tourist haven. While some beachfront homes still rent for $5,000 a week, others have cut rates. Shoppers go for discount souvenirs and eat out less. Koreans build a beat box By Dan Neil The 2010 Kia Soul Sport is the latest four-cornered 'tween-mobile on the market and the carmaker's answer to the Scion xB. California's default rate soars to 9.5% By Peter Y. Hong Delinquencies in June are up sharply from a year ago, when 6% of borrowers were behind on their loans. Coffeepot maker vents about doing business in California By Michael Hiltzik Costly housing, heavy traffic, skewed spending priorities are a bitter brew for Wilbur Curtis Co. Only its deep roots in the state keep it from moving. More Business News EFTA00773187 Sports Manny Ramirez reportedly on 2003 list of positive drug tests By Bill Shaikin He and David Ortiz, teammates on Boston's World Series championship teams of 2004 and 2007, are both said to be among the 104 players on the list that was supposed to remain confidential. Lamar Odom is back with Lakers By Broderick Turner Odom says he wanted to stay in Los Angeles. His contract reportedly is worth $33 million over four years. Manny Ramirez was a bigger cheater than we thought By Bill Plaschke Is the shame that Ramirez and David Ortiz brought to two of the most celebrated World Series titles in recent history going to spread to the Dodgers? More Sports News Opinion Obama's evenhanded Mideast policy The president's approach isn't anti-Israel; it's a balance that could tip the scales toward a two- state solution. Wild horses aren't ecological villains By Stephanie Boyles A Times editorial makes the troubling assumption that mustangs are pests that irrevocably damage our public lands. The EARLY Act is not what the doctor ordered By Steven Woloshin and Lisa M. Schwartz The proposed $45-million legislation to increase awareness about breast cancer means well but would do more harm than good. More it) Here is a PDF image of today's front page Our home page is www.latimes.com About this Communication: EFTA00773188 You are receiving this email because you opted-in to receive Top of the Times. 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