Yesterday was a slow day around here—preoccupied with other summer pursuits, you know. We'll see how today shapes up, but here are some morning links...

•  Cars stolen in L.A. last year: 73,071. National ranking: Numero uno.
•  It's the LAT's turn to analyze Villaraigosa's commission appointments. Summary: Some old, some new.
•  Census Bureau validates those who do their laundry in the nude, Meghan Daum writes.
•  The Elegant Variation's Mark Sarvas may stop posting thumbnail blog-reviews of the Times book section each week now that he fits the description of angry ex-subscriber.
•  UCLA Extension, La Opinión and Univision 34 are joining up to offer a professional certificate program in Spanish-language journalism. They say the 30-unit program, which begins in the fall, is one of the nation's first.
•  The L.A. Press Club celebrates its move to a new location with a party Thursday night at the Steve Allen Theater in Hollywood. Blue Cube, a rock band of L.A. Times staffers, performs.
•  Kate Mulgrew talks up her one-woman show about Katherine Hepburn, "Tea at 5," at 11:40 a.m. on KPCC's Airtalk with guest host Patt Morrison. At 2 p.m., Crenshaw High's loss of accreditation is the subject on Talk of the City with Kitty Felde.
•  "Breaking News: Can It Be Fixed? The State Of The News Business 2005" is coming Sept. 12 from the Radio & Television News Association Of Southern California. At USC Annenberg.

And also...

Author Daniel A. Olivas answers questions in this week's LAist Interview about writing and his day job as a Deputy State Attorney General. Q: Best LA-themed book(s)? A: "Instead of listing books, here are some Los Angeles writers who have written wonderful books that take place in this city (or in communities nearby): Luis Rodriguez, T.C. Boyle, John Shannon, Aimee Bender, Michael Jaime-Becerra, John Fante, Susan Straight, Merrill Joan Gerber, Walter Mosley, Lisa Glatt, Bernard Cooper, Yxta Maya Murray, Sandra Tsing Loh, to name but a few. I’m currently editing an anthology of Los Angeles short fiction by Latino and Latina writers so I hope to add to that L.A. list next year."