First thing Monday, 2.27.06

Billboard Going to New York to evaluate the mayor's school takeover plan, popping the algebra question, Hollywood Hell Week begins, Stacey Snider makes the downward leap—plus The Ointment, tweaking the Trojans, picking on Kate Braverman and Murray Slaughter takes over in the Palisades. Those and some Notes from the Blogosphere when you turn the page.

L.A. quote of the day: "My high school, which was a mile away from the beach, was filled with the sort of natural beauties who have come to personify Los Angeles. The photographer Bruce Weber regularly recruited his models from the halls of Pali High. My gym locker was next to that of a future Playboy centerfold. Everyone was tan and mostly blond and effortlessly beautiful in a way that I would never see again in my life." — Lynn Hirschberg, in the New York Times about Palisades High School in the mid-1970s.

Photo: The Wizard of Odds blog

Today's front pages

New York Times See/Read
Washington Post See/Read
LA Times See/Read
Daily News See/Read
Daily Breeze See/Read
Press-Telegram See/Read
Register See/Read
Star-News Read
Variety Read
Hwd Reporter Read
La Opini�n Read

Slate: Today's Papers

♦ In the first of a set of stories analyzing Mayor Villaraigosa's LAUSD takeover push, the Times looks at how things are going under mayoral control in New York City: "The mayor and his schools chief have alienated teachers, parents and administrators, leaving many in the nation's largest public school system feeling disenfranchised and afraid to challenge City Hall."

♦ The LAT's Steve Hymon gave an algebra pop quiz to Villaraigosa and the Eastside candidates for Board of Education. Monica Garcia and Ana Teresa Fernandez passed, Enrique Gasca flunked, and Villaraigosa and Christopher Arellano chickened out. Councilman Jose Huizar also got it right.

♦ Oscar traffic havoc on Hollywood Boulevard has already begun, a week before the ceremony. A presidential visit (or a mayoral inuguration) doesn't cause this much disruption.

♦ LAT opinion editor Andr�s Martinez roots for Barcelona at Ye Olde King's Head in Santa Monica.

♦ Universal Pictures Chairwoman Stacey Snider makes it official and jumps to Dreamworks as co-chair and chief executive.

♦ Damian Carroll, president of the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats, sends word that the membership endorsed Cindy Montanez in the 20th state Senate district primary.

♦ New Times film critics Luke Y. Thompson and Robert Wilonsky make their first appearance in the new Village Voice, and spur some blog reaction.

♦ First line of Kate Braverman's website bio: "Kate Braverman is a living legend..."

♦ Comedian Steve Tatham today launches daily three-minute video podcasts of fake news on The Ointment.

♦ Dissing USC with a billboard across from the Coliseum. * Added: The Daily Trojan is not impressed.

♦ Pacific Palisades chooses a new honorary mayor: the Love Boat's Captain Stubing and Trinity Broadcasting evangelist.

♦ Daily News publisher Tracy Rafter and managing editor Melissa Lalum join journalism professor Bryce Nelson for a USC Annenberg lunch panel on Tuesday at noon.

Notes from the Blogosphere: David Israel meets David Israel over nosh at Nate 'n Al's and they settle a little issue of some misdirected ASCAP royalty checks...Jill Soloway of "Six Feet Under" keeps up her blog...Matt Szabo isn't an ex-blogger, he's just been busy professionally and intends a return this week...GossipMomma is another growing celebrity gossip site: "By day she is a full time working mother with a nice husband, a cute toddler and a nice home in a nice neighborhood. But by night, she's GOSSIPMOMMA"...Today's Wall Street Journal examines the recent spate of stories about blogs fading away and declares they aren't going anywhere...Save the 76 Ball gets a story in today's L.A. Business Journal.