Badge

First, Apple's Jonny Ive, the man credited with being the design genius behind the company's products, got a knighthood. That's Sir Jonny Ive, thank you very much.  Now the British designer has received another honor from his home country: a Blue Peter badge. To which U.S. readers may ask: "What's that?"  QUIZ: Test y our Apple knowledge Good question. "Blue Peter" is a children's TV show that has been running in Britain for about 50 years. The badge is presented to people for inspiring kids.

About Olivia Wilde's baby bump   - girlfriend is rocking it, and she happens to think so too. The pregnant actress opened up about her pregnancy - she's expecting her first child with fiance Jason Sudeikis -  to Lucky magazine , for which she serves as May cover star ahead of the June opening of Paul Haggis' "Third Person," which costars her, Liam Neeson, James Franco, Mila Kunis and Adrien Brody. The "Rush" actress told the fashion mag that she was surprised by how much she wanted to show off her burgeoning belly, which she did flawlessly on the award circuit this year.

WASHINGTON -- Members of Congress who were hit Thursday with sanctions by Russia celebrated their standing as a badge of honor, pledging to continue pressing for Ukraine from their spot on President Vladimir Putin's enemies list. "I guess this means my spring break in Siberia is off," quipped Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who just returned from leading a group of lawmakers to Ukraine with Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.). House Speaker John A. Boehner's spokesman said the Ohio Republican was "proud to be included on the list of those willing to stand against Putin's aggression.

WASHINGTON -- Members of Congress who were hit Thursday with sanctions by Russia celebrated their standing as a badge of honor, pledging to continue pressing for Ukraine from their spot on President Vladimir Putin's enemies list. "I guess this means my spring break in Siberia is off," quipped Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who just returned from leading a group of lawmakers to Ukraine with Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.). House Speaker John A. Boehner's spokesman said the Ohio Republican was "proud to be included on the list of those willing to stand against Putin's aggression.

The sister of a slain police officer whose badge has become an issue in a bruising political campaign criticized the Los Angeles Police Department on Monday, saying it should have pursued a criminal investigation of a man now running for City Council. Karen Kubly, herself a retired LAPD officer, said the contest between businessman Rudy Martinez and Councilman Jose Huizar has stirred up painful memories about her brother. In 1979, David Kubly took part in a high-speed chase that ended when the suspect's car crashed into a Pep Boys auto shop on Crenshaw Boulevard.

A badge of honor? Is that what North is hiding behind now? The last time he pleaded his case he was wrapped in the flag and wearing his uniform for the first time in years as he proclaimed his divine right to subvert the will of Congress, his voice all atremble. Where's the honor in smuggling cocaine to finance an illegal war? Pardon North? Come on, America, let's do our patriotic duty: Impeach Reagan before he has the chance. STEPHEN C. LEE La Habra

The likeness of the Los Angeles Police Department's badge depicted on the front page of The Times' sports section on Feb. 6, coupled with the motto of the LAPD shown under the picture of the brawling hockey player, is an affront to the men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department. Police officers everywhere are charged with the responsibility of keeping the peace. It is only after the peacekeeping fails that our role turns to that of "enforcing the law." The Times' casual and thoughtless depiction of a police badge is harmful and counterproductive to the role of the police officer in our society.

For years, the Dibble sisters kept their grandfather's badge safely tucked away in a jewelry box. A Los Angeles firefighter, he was killed in the line of duty in 1935. His silver badge, a photo and stories passed down by relatives were the only mementos left of him. A year ago when the devastating Sayre fire ripped through the Oakridge Mobile Home Park, Cher and Pamela Dibble lost their home and their cherished keepsakes. "We were left to dig through nothing but ashes with our two hands," said Cher Dibble.

A former Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent pleaded no contest Thursday to unlawfully displaying a badge while allegedly trying to pull a woman over in Pomona. Ruben Zacarias, 81, waved a school district police badge at a woman driving on the 57 Freeway last July and said he was a cop, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. Zacarias, who was superintendent for 2 1/2 years before being bought out of his contract by the school board in late 1999, was fined $250 and must pay a $100 restitution fee. Superior Court Judge David Brougham also ordered that the badge -- which was seized by the California Highway Patrol -- be returned to the school district, according to Deputy Dist.

Authorities this week released photos of a man and woman suspected of stealing two duffel bags during a private party at Raging Waters for Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies and their families. The bags contained hundreds of dollars worth of personal items, including two sheriff's deputy badges and sets of identification. Dozens of families were at the San Dimas water park on Sept. 22 when the bags disappeared, KTLA reported. “When badges are stolen it's very concerning to us because people can use these things and they can pose as deputy sheriffs,” said Sheriff's Deputy Johnie Jones.

Beginning Friday, thousands of rainbow "ally" badges will be passed out to Los Angeles Unified teachers and staff members that they can wear to identify themselves as allies of  gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students. The "Out for Safe Schools" initiative coincides with National Coming Out Day on Friday and was announced Thursday by leaders of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the school district. "We want all our youth and staff to know that it is safe to be you in LAUSD," Supt.

Under the Los Angeles city charter, the mayor has no formal power over the Los Angeles Unified School District. But this has not stopped mayors - including Richard Riordan and Antonio Villaraigosa - from using the bully pulpit and the power of office. With his recent appointment of veteran Superintendent Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana as his deputy for education, Mayor Eric Garcetti has signaled that he, like his predecessors, is going to take a keen interest in education. However, instead of using all of his political energy on the school district, Garcetti and the city would be further ahead by connecting schooling to out-of-school learning, making Los Angeles a more educational place to grow up. As David Rattray, senior vice president of education and workforce development at the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce, told me in an interview, "The mayor is perfectly positioned to connect the schoolhouse to the community and link what students know to high-paying jobs.

Over the past few years, James Badge Dale has quietly and effectively become one of the most versatile young actors working today. He was brilliantly sleazy as Michael Fassbender's womanizing boss in Steve McQueen's 2011 drama "Shame. " Last fall, he stole a brief but memorable scene from under the nose of Denzel Washington as a gaunt, cynical hospital patient dying of cancer in "Flight. " And this summer, he's demonstrating his skillfulness as Guy Pearce's ruthless henchman in "Iron Man 3," as the no-nonsense U.S. Army Ranger stationed in Korea who falls victim to zombies in "World War Z," and as the strong, silent and tough Texas Ranger Dan Reid, older brother of the lawyer (Armie Hammer)

KABUL, Afghanistan - - Mohammad Aziz Ayob adjusts his Boy Scout scarf, leans over and settles a sapling into the dry Kabul soil as two NATO helicopters pass overhead, the clack-clack of their blades echoing off the neighboring mountains. Bobbing green shirts and matching caps may seem a bit incongruous in a war zone, but organizers of Afghanistan's nascent Scouting program say its emphasis on community service and self-reliance is sorely needed in a society scarred by decades of violence.

Her father was a fireman, her mother was a teacher, and her brother was a sheriff's deputy. It's hardly a surprise that Terri McDonald would follow the family and wind up working in California government, in her case moving up the ranks through the prison system and now as the "assistant sheriff for custody," the woman brought in to clean out the Augean stables of the L.A. County jail system. Out of high school, earning her way through college, a friend told her about “a pretty good job that pays a little better than Burger King,” and she she began working in a mental health facility.

The movie crew scurried to set up camera dollies and lights in the lobby of the faded Baltimore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The scene to be filmed at the 113-year-old lodging house at the corner of 5th and Los Angeles streets would depict a good Samaritan leading a drugged-up woman from skid row to get her off the street during a chilly winter's night. The good guy was being played by David Marroquin. The heroin-addicted young woman was portrayed by Mary Morales. Marroquin is a 30-year-old officer with the Los Angeles Police Department whose beat for the past 4 1/2 years has been an eight-square-block area of skid row. When off duty, he is one of L.A.'s legions of aspiring filmmakers, writers and actors - but with a twist: his police beat is his inspiration.

First, Apple's Jonny Ive, the man credited with being the design genius behind the company's products, got a knighthood. That's Sir Jonny Ive, thank you very much.  Now the British designer has received another honor from his home country: a Blue Peter badge. To which U.S. readers may ask: "What's that?"  QUIZ: Test y our Apple knowledge Good question. "Blue Peter" is a children's TV show that has been running in Britain for about 50 years. The badge is presented to people for inspiring kids.