Walking

WASHINGTON - Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana said they improved his strength and posture. Celebrity Kim Kardashian boasted they allowed her to ditch her personal trainer. But federal and state officials said the rocker-bottom Shape-ups and other toning shoes made by Skechers USA Inc. don't live up to the hype from the company and its high-profile endorsers. On Wednesday, the Manhattan Beach company agreed to pay $50 million to settle false-advertising allegations by the Federal Trade Commission and the attorneys general of 44 states, including California, as well as the District of Columbia.

SAN DIEGO - With the Angels scrapping for the run that might have won Sunday's game, Manager Mike Scioscia essentially took the bat out of the hands of his hottest hitter, Mike Trout . Trout had singled twice and homered as he waited on deck in the 11th inning. The Angels had one out, Bobby Wilson on first and Ryan Langerhans at bat. Scioscia called for a sacrifice. Langerhans delivered the bunt, Wilson took second, and the San Diego Padres took advantage of the open base by walking Trout intentionally.

Long Beach Airport (LGB) this week will open a new parking structure, bringing all airport parking on-site and within walking distance of the main terminal building. But it will also shut down its cheapest lot. The new Lot B parking garage, under construction for more than a year near the terminal, holds about 2,000 cars. Airport spokeswoman Kim McMahon said the lot will open at 12:01 a.m. Friday. On the same day, remote parking Lot D at Lakewood Boulevard and Conant Street will be closed, although of course cars already parked there can remain until they exit, McMahon said.

Ten more days until Matt Kemp is eligible to return from the disabled list. But as Kemp remains stuck on the railing of the Dodgers' dugout recovering from a strained hamstring, something strange is happening. The Dodgers continue winning. The Dodgers' 6-5 walk-off victory over the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals wasn't the most aesthetically pleasing of their National League-leading 26 wins, but it was probably their most significant. Immediately after closer Kenley Jansen served up a tying solo home run to pinch-hitter Lance Berkman in the top of the ninth inning, the Dodgers loaded the bases for catcher A.J. Ellis, who drew a walk-off walk off Fernando Salas.

When the White House sent a last-minute invitation for Asif Ali Zardari to attend the two-day NATO summit, they were taking a highly public gamble. Would sharing the spotlight with President Obama and other global leaders induce the Pakistani president to allow vital supplies to reach alliance troops fighting in Afghanistan? But long before the summit ended Monday, the answer was clear: No deal. Zardari's refusal to reopen the supply routes left a diplomatic blot on a summit that NATO sought to cast as the beginning of the end of the conflict in Afghanistan.

"Selling L.A. " reality show viewers may wonder if any of the featured homes actually sell. Although perhaps not in time for the closing credits, some houses under consideration for the show do find a buyer outside the roving eye of the camera. One home that agent Rebekah Schwartz was promoting to HGTV for its 15 minutes of fame was the Marina del Rey pad that former Laker Lamar Odom rented a few years back. Listed at $1.995 million in January, it closed early this month at $1.825 million.

Brian Price, once a wrecking ball on UCLA's defensive line, has beaten long odds to return to the NFL after two off-season surgeries aimed at keeping his hamstrings attached to his pelvis, rather than breaking loose and coiling down the backs of his thighs. For Price, who will start at defensive tackle Sunday for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his excruciating recovery was a 10-step process. Meaning just two months ago, he could run only 10 steps. "You have these doubts in your head at times," said Price, a second-round pick of the Buccaneers in 2010 who, because of his congenitally malformed pelvis, spent the last half of his rookie season on injured reserve.

If you like seeing the sights on foot but hate loading yourself down with guidebooks, Google Maps has come out with a "walking" option. You can search for directions between two points and get directions for traveling on foot. What's hot: Besides the directions, you can personalize your map. Go to the "My Maps" section, click "Browse the directory" of interactive content, and select from many pages of features to add to your map, including weather reports, hotel locations and webcams.

A small wooden cabinet went up for auction on EBay. Inside were two locks of hair, one granite slab, one dried rosebud, one goblet, two wheat pennies, one candlestick and, allegedly, one "dibbuk," a kind of spirit popular in Yiddish folklore. The seller, a Missouri college student named Iosif Nietzke, described the container as a "haunted Jewish wine cabinet box" that had plagued several owners with rotten luck and a spate of bizarre paranormal stunts.

Walking is good for your head. Sure, we knew about the improvements it can provide to aerobic capacity, not to mention muscles and joints, but two recently released studies show that walking can enhance brain function too. Walking or other repetitive exercise can change the brain in a number of ways, says Dr. Gary Small, professor of psychiatry and aging at UCLA's Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. The heart pumps more blood, affecting not only muscles but also the brain.

The Angels lost Thursday because they couldn't see into a blinding sun and because pitcher C.J. Wilson couldn't seem to find home plate. The Chicago White Sox took advantage, using sun-caused misplays and six walks in less than four innings by under-the-weather Angels starter Wilson to earn a 6-1 victory at Angel Stadium. Wilson, battling a stomach virus he said nearly caused him to pass out in the first inning, fell behind, 1-0, in the third on a two-out walk to Paul Konerko and a run-scoring single to right field by A.J. Pierzynski.

"Selling L.A. " reality show viewers may wonder if any of the featured homes actually sell. Although perhaps not in time for the closing credits, some houses under consideration for the show do find a buyer outside the roving eye of the camera. One home that agent Rebekah Schwartz was promoting to HGTV for its 15 minutes of fame was the Marina del Rey pad that former Laker Lamar Odom rented a few years back. Listed at $1.995 million in January, it closed early this month at $1.825 million.

ARLINGTON, Texas - C. J. Wilson, working on no days' rest, silenced a hostile Ballpark in Arlington crowd with 5 2/3 solid innings Saturday, and Mark Trumbo hit a two-run home run and sparked a two-run rally with a walk to lead the Angels to a 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers. The Angels also got 3 1/3 hitless innings from their bullpen, including 1 2/3 superb innings from right-hander Ernesto Frieri, to trim Texas' American League West lead to seven games. Wilson, the former Rangers ace who signed a five-year, $77.5-million contract with the Angels in December, became the first pitcher in franchise history to start consecutive games after a 1-hour, 56-minute rain delay in the first inning cut his Friday night start short after 22 pitches.

SAN FRANCISCO - Dustin Moskovitz, at 27 the world's youngest billionaire, gained fame and fortune after founding Facebook with Mark Zuckerberg. He also gained the "Facebook 15. " He packed on the extra pounds while chowing down on free snacks and guzzling four sodas a day at the social networking giant. Today, Moskovitz is a svelte version of his former self. He runs Asana, a start-up named after the Sanskrit word for traditional yoga sitting positions. That's fitting since the company holds twice weekly group yoga classes at its San Francisco offices.

Summer in Bhutan means red, white and pink poppies are blooming in the Himalaya's high passes. What better time for a walk in the flower fields? Amanresorts offers two poppy treks that combine hiking and tent camping with stays in their luxury resorts. Participants on poppy treks walk three to five hours each day at elevations ranging from 9,800 feet to almost 15,000 feet. Trails to the poppies (no, they're not the opiate kind) wind through pastures as well as pine, cypress and rhododendron forests, and up to mountain passes.

Hunter Virant, Camarillo High's standout left-handed pitcher, decided he needed to be a little emotional Tuesday against Oxnard in a game for first place in the Pacific View League. "I've never really gotten pumped up like that," he said. "I was yelling and trying to get everybody fired up. " A nine-inning game that featured a pitcher's duel between Virant and Oxnard's Oscar Sandoval provided plenty of tension and excitement. In the end, a bases-loaded walk in the top of the ninth gave Camarillo a 3-2 victory and a one-game lead with one to play.

If you want to see Napa in a new light, take an "edutainment" walking tour and discover the historic buildings, the river and a brew pub. History can be entertaining, at least the way George Webber tells it. It's a fun two hours for the entire family. Napa Walking Tours, (707) 694-5097, http://www.napawalkingtour.com; tours at 10 a.m. daily; $20 per person, 16 and younger free. Debra Renick, Ventura

Setting the pace Getting 10,000 steps per day roughly coincides with the latest U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommendation that adults get a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. The key word here is "moderate" -- not all steps meet that requirement. Shuffling around the kitchen making dinner is hardly equivalent to racing to catch a bus or walking an energetic dog. Any movement is good, of course, but to make the steps count as beneficial as possible, they should be fairly sustained.

This is how all new beginnings should be. All energy and smiles and positive vibes. Stan Kasten is on the move and taking it all in. He's greeting season-ticket holders as they enter the stadium. He's meeting with ushers, security personnel and ticket takers. He's walking the loge, the reserved and the field levels. He's talking to fans and ushers and complete strangers, and welcoming them all to Dodger Stadium. An attractive woman walks up and hugs the new team president.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Midway through the second half Wednesday, the Clippers bench looked like a hospital waiting room. Mo Williams was dealing with a right forearm contusion. Eric Bledsoe had a left elbow contusion. And Nick Young's right (shooting) thumb was sprained. The three of them sustained their bumps and bruises during the Clippers' 105-98 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum on Wednesday night in Game 2 of a Western Conference first-round playoff series.