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- The dog walker who discovered this week's severed head in Bronson Canyon reportedly posed for a trophy photo with the head that is being shopped to tabloid websites. Update: She says she took no photos, and the photo agency that claimed she did stopped answering questions.
- Johnny Otis "wore many hats, often all at the same time: musician, bandleader, promoter, R & B innovator, talent scout, deejay, activist, journalist," writes Erin Aubry Kaplan. "His influence on my life in L.A. and on the city that I grew up loving and questioning in equal measure is incalculable."
- Google says that 4.5 million visitors signed its online anti-SOPA petition on Wednesday. Doesn't look good for Hollywood.
- Anne Fishbein's photo slide show to go with Jonathan Gold's fitting tribute to Angeli Caffe and Evan Kleiman in the LA Weekly. Previously on LAO
- KPCC has added public radio reporter Vanessa Romo to its education coverage pod. Her personal blog.
- New York Times bureau chief Adam Nagourney tweets, "Never really thought I'd be writing about @hughhefner, or visiting the Playboy Mansion a 2nd time, but...charming."
- The General Services Administration is moving ahead with plans to build a long-stalled federal courthouse at 1st and Broadway in the Civic Center.
From Mark Lacter at LA Biz Observed: Mayoral candidate Austin Beutner's lunch speech, Villaraigosa deputy Matt Szabo looking at City Council run, plus more.