BUSINESS
April 30, 2013 | By Chris O'Brien, Los Angeles Times
At times, Andy Shih still finds himself overwhelmed by the groundswell of interest in autism apps he's seen in the three years since Apple Inc. released the first iPad. In his role as senior vice president for scientific affairs at Autism Speaks, a national advocacy organization based in New York, Shih helped organize a "hacking autism" event in San Francisco with cosponsor AT&T Inc. that drew 135 developers. It was the group's third event, following previous hackathons co-sponsored with Hewlett-Packard Co. and Microsoft Corp.
BUSINESS
April 26, 2013 | By Ricardo Lopez, Los Angeles Times
The gig: Christopher Thornberg is founding partner of Beacon Economics, a Los Angeles-based economics consulting firm. Since its founding in 2007, Beacon has provided economic analysis and forecasting for cities, counties and corporate clients. He also worked as chief economic advisor to the state Controller's Office from 2008 to 2012. While he was at the UCLA Anderson Forecast, he began sounding the alarm about an impending housing market crash - and the ensuing recession.
BUSINESS
April 23, 2013 | By Don Lee, Los Angeles Times
WASHINGTON - The richest 7% of American families saw their average wealth soar 28% from 2009 to 2011, while the remaining households lost 4% of their net worth over the same period, according to a new report. The analysis of Census Bureau data by the Pew Research Center draws on the most recent statistics on wealth. The findings throw into stark relief the dramatically uneven nature of the recovery. The economy officially emerged from recession in mid-2009, and since then, affluent families have benefited handsomely from recovering stock prices and surging gains in bonds.
OPINION
March 3, 2013
Re “ Seniors vs. kids claim is a sham ,” Business, Feb. 27 As a senior, I am concerned about my Social Security and Medicare benefits. However, I am also concerned about the future prosperity of my children and grandchildren. Your writer correctly points out that the chatter about “generational theft” in the debate over national fiscal policy is an intentional distraction. This false proposition that we must choose between spending on seniors' benefits or spending on our children's futures diverts attention from the national economic policies of the last 30 years, which have damaged the economic security of most Americans.
NATIONAL
February 23, 2013 | By Melanie Mason, Los Angeles Times
WASHINGTON - One of the key players in a special Democratic congressional primary Tuesday in Chicago comes from New York. That city's mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, is using his vast wealth to challenge a candidate running on a gun rights platform in the first election since the school shooting in Newtown, Conn. - a move that underscores his crusade to serve as a political counterweight to the National Rifle Assn. The NRA has chosen not to counter Bloomberg's ads attacking its preferred candidate, former Rep. Debbie Halvorson, and liberal Chicago districts are an imperfect test case.
SPORTS
February 19, 2013 | By Eric Pincus
The NBA has revamped its NBA.com website with a wealth of statistical data. Powered by software from tech company SAP, the site now makes available every box score dating back to the inaugural 1946-47 season (including Kobe Bryant's 81-point game ). Bryant's career night can also be visualized as a shot chart . The Lakers All-Star shot 12 for 15 at the basket but hit only one of four jumpers near the free throw line. "NBA.com/Stats provides our fans and media with the definitive tool for accessing our entire up-to-the-minute history of official NBA statistical information,” said NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver.