Wednesday links

Not just a semi-vacation week, but a travel day too.

• The New York Times catches up on David Shaw, General Motors and the Getty probe.

• Author and former LAT Book Review Editor Jack Miles posts a revealing entry at the David Shaw memorial page. Also, a Food section appreciation by John Balzar and a nice letter to Romenesko from former LAT and current NYT staffer David Cay Johnston.

• PEN USA has moved to the campus of Antioch College in Culver City.

• Ruthie Ellenson's book The Modern Jewish Girl's Guide to Guilt, a collection that includes original essays by L.A. writers Aimee Bender, Lori Gottlieb and Gina Nahai, will be released by Dutton on August 22.

• Lawrence Hurley is the new reporter in Washington for the L.A. Daily Journal.

• Franklin Avenue catches the Daily News trying out its new website design for a few hours.

• Missed this when it ran on Sunday, but wished I hadn't: the Times' Roy Rivenburg exposed the guy who didn't invent the TV dinner or get a star on Hollywood Boulevard—even though a lot of obit writers said he did.

• Mayor Villaraigosa will go live on tonight's KCAL-9 news at 9 p.m. for a Q-and-A with political reporter Dave Bryan.

• Chief Bill Bratton and Bob Hertzberg are expected to join in a discussion tonight of the recent books by Joel Kotkin (The City: A Global History) and Joel Siegel (Prince of the City: Giuliani's New York and the Genius of American Life.) The private event is hosted by David Abel of The Planning Report and Metro Investment Report and Brenda Levin.

• Is the LAPD's John Miller leaving for the staff of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff? People seem to think so. Email to Miller as-yet unanswered.