Over the weekend, I pitched in on coverage of the driver who plowed a car into a crowd in Los Angeles. What struck me was how many people in the neighborhood said they weren't surprised, because these incidents are just part of life in LA. GIFT link: www.nytimes.com/2025/07/19/u...

So . . . how many dolls would this buy?

Hey look! The local college has a vending machine that sells proven methods to prevent autism:

A little-known fact about me: I had a long run as the queen of L.A. #Earthquake Twitter. I doubt I can duplicate that success here, but here's the running score on my china cabinet vs. earthquakes, since I've lived in this house: Earthquakes: 0 China cabinet: 10

This story started as a routine science piece. Then I learned that a Canadian scientist had been fired for releasing results to the public, and at least one U.S. scientist encountered intimidation as well. Here's the story:

NEW TODAY: Beekeepers are reporting substantial losses of colonies this winter, and scientists are scrambling to find out why. 🐝 While I didn't call it a "Manhattan Project of entomology" in the story, I can definitely say that a Dream Team of bee scientists is on the case.

Question of the day: Did I really need to buy a 72-inch fuchsia-fade Italian silk scarf for the "Mahler Grooves" festival in L.A.? Yes. Yes, I did.

Here's a worthwhile piece from @columjournreview.bsky.social. For me, one of the great joys of having long experience in the news business is that I no longer have to hide my background from editors and co-workers. But where I disagree with this piece . . . (NEXT TAKE) www.cjr.org/analysis/ame...

U.S. Right to Know wins James Madison Freedom of Information Award from the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California chapter for our investigation and reporting on the origins of COVID-19. Our reporting here: usrtk.org/category/cov... Award: spjnorcal.org/2025/02/12/s...

I mean, I could play it cool about all this, but I won't

The theory of "Musk Mystery Theater," in three parts: 🧵

"Wait! They didn't tell us Project 2025 would take away our weed!" - Confused libertarian weed lobby

“I don’t want these ‘tobacco’ huts popping up all over the place selling weed,” he said, adding that he finds it “funny how you never hear about the supremacy of federal law when it comes to legalizing weed.” - Russ Vought, OMB Director, Life of the Party

All right . . . I guess we're back to needing drug laws to oppress vulnerable Americans. www.marijuanamoment.net/trumps-white...

The news that DOGE has read and write access to critical aspects of the federal payment system makes the lawsuit filed yesterday seeking an injunction against this even more important. prospect.org/justice/2025...

Headline of the day by Brian Kaylor . . .

These challenges are always so tempting

Jesus, never check email during a layover. My queue included demands from: -My lawyer -My tax preparer and -The enthusiastic lady who's trying to sell me drapes Never in my life have I been so close to walking out of an airport, renting a car and vanishing for an unspecified amount of time. 🚗

Bayer has restarted efforts to push for legislation that would limit liabilities in lawsuits against the company. Here's our story on the topic from @usrighttoknow.bsky.social. In the next take, I'll show you how much money the Bayer PACs gave Missouri lawmakers. 1/2 usrtk.org/pesticides/p...

Update: We found out where the rest of the roof ended up. It flew over the fence into the neighbors' pool. 🪁

Sunset through the smoke layer, from the foothills east of Los Angeles #SoCalfires

When part of your roof ends up in a tree #SoCal #Windstorm

Back in the spring, I served as concertmaster for a local orchestra. In the fall, I withdrew from the group to handle fallout from an event that was -- well -- operatic, in scope. That's why it's been great to break out the concertmaster chops to think about Strauss. 🎻 youtu.be/KP_iXnCSCsI

If you know me from Twitter, you would probably guess that I've been wanting to try out the Star Wars Intro Generator for years. ⚔️ Finally, I've found a topic that's worthy. #HealthInsurance

As I'm preparing my holiday music challenge, I've pulled some old video out of the archives. In 2021, during the last days of the lockdown, I taught myself how to play the violin again after 25 years away. Here's how it went. www.threads.net/@rebecca.ran...

The view from the In-N-Out Burger, Upland, California, December 2024

In 2016, I went into combat with an insurance carrier and fought until I won. Now I want you to know how to fight these companies. Here’s how to start: #HealthInsurance www.threads.net/@rebecca.ran...

Hello to the potbots and the new friends from the cannabis community! Here's my favorite dispensary mural, shot at the edge of the Mojave Desert, Riverside County, California, December 2019.

As you may know, Thanksgiving is a big week in the cannabis industry. Here's the map of dispensaries in Southern California, courtesy of @weedmapsofficial.bsky.social. That "Great Wall" you see? That's East L.A. That's right. Eastside pride. 🍊

Sonoran desert, Western Slope of Colorado, August 2024.

Ventura Harbor, April 2019.

No cheering from the press box. Anyone who is there to make friends, or who thinks it's their job to handle a source with loving care, needs to be pulled off the story. Handling a topic with appropriate sensitivity is one thing, but if you're a reporter, you got no friends at work.

Foothill Boulevard, Pomona, California, April 2019.

Strip-mall brisket, Kansas City, Missouri, March 2017.

Social media, as religious denominations: ⛪️ 💵 LinkedIn: Prosperity Gospel 🧵 Threads: Confessional Catholicism 🤳 Instagram: Evangelical Mega Church ▶️ YouTube: Also Evangelical Mega Church 📱 TikTok: Scientology 🦋 Bluesky: Mainline Protestantism 😡 Twitter/X: Church of Satan

English Landing, Parkville, Missouri. I miss the river.

Post you from a different era challenge (Yes, the old standby . . . )

#Mood, Ventura County Coast, 2019

wow we've been ordering some weird shit lately

Mood

If you're not familiar with our work @usrighttoknow.bsky.social, here's a look at the front page:

Did a drive-by past Twitter today, and here's what I saw:

The good news: After the apocalypse, we'll still have fudge

That feeling when you start a new platform . . . It's like those crazy shots they used to set up in the bars in Texas. They would pour a line of butane around the glass and throw a match . . . and then you had to reach through the flames

Oh my God I can't go anywhere

Hoping my exes won't find me here . . .

Hi, I'm Rebecca, and I am not doing one more platform. 🚫⌨️ Also: How many minutes of video can we post here?