Forget about blaming Congress or Obama - the reason Washington can't settle on a spending reduction plan is that Americans pretty much like things the way they are, at least according to a recent Pew Research Center poll.

It's the bane of any prognosticator: No matter how often you're right, there's always another election/game/award around the corner that could easily upend your record.

The two most vulnerable areas, at least in theory, are security screening and air traffic control. But no one really knows how it might shake out. Seems that Washington can't even stage a full-blown fiscal emergency without mass confusion.

They've been going up all week, but only by penny or half-penny increments each day and that usually signals a run-up is about to peak out.

That would be counting households with some sort of broadband connection to their television. The networks have been after Nielsen to add these viewers, who are being lost in the traditional measuring methods.

When someone in high heels strolls into the terminal and asks for assistance, you know something's not quite right.

Each 30-second spot is going for up to $1.8 million as advertisers look to Oscar night as a kinder, gentler version of the Super Bowl.

The answer is..... I'm thinking, I'm thinking. Elected officials say it will be devastating. Economists say it will noticeably dampen the recovery. The rest of us are scratching our heads.

With so many alternatives, the updated PlayStation, however it's received by the gaming cognescenti, will have to convince consumers that it's worth spending several hundred dollars.

A number of comments have come my way on the city's plan to remove a traffic lane on portions of Westwood Boulevard and Sepulveda Boulevard and add a bike lane.

We know all about the glamorous soirees during and after the ceremonies - as well as numerous events on Saturday - but the Oscar hubbub is happening all this week, with several dozen functions.

Here's one of the thorniest aspects of the recovery - and one of the least understood. Whatever the explanation, the economy is not about to shift into higher gear unless bankers become more comfortable with the current environment.

The season three finale drew huge ratings. But quick, can you name the local station that carried "Downton"? That's a problem.

The city is being divided again - this time between bikers in search of more space and motorists looking to hold onto what little space they have. I'm on the motorists' side.

Academy members have until 5 p.m. today to cast their votes, but the prevailing view is that the Ben Affleck-directed thriller has all but locked up the top prize.

But the penny-a-day increases would suggest that prices might be peaking out. Of course, that still leaves an average gallon of regular at $4.298.

The latest poll, taken by SurveyUSA for KABC, shows City Councilman Eric Garcetti at 26 percent and City Controller Wendy Greuel at 23 percent. After that it's Republican Kevin James (14 percent.)

He made Los Angeles a legitimate NBA town and helped turn pro basketball into a multi-billion dollar industry.