Today: November 21, 2024
Today: November 21, 2024

Latest From Nahal Garakani

Political

When Election Results Sting: A Mental Health Roadmap for Political Disappointment

As the nation awaits the results of hard-fought midterm elections, mental health experts are offering guidance on managing potential disappointment, anger, and anxiety if one’s preferred candidates or outcomes do not prevail. “It’s normal to feel let down if your candidates lose,” said Lynn Bufka of the American Psychological Association. “Allow yourself to feel those emotions rather than bottling them up.” Naming specific feelings like betrayal, anger, or fear can paradoxically ease their intensity, according to Jenna Glover of Headspace. “It levels you so you don’t get lost in the swirl.” Experts advise unplugging from a relentless election news cycle

When Election Results Sting: A Mental Health Roadmap for Political Disappointment
Crime

Chaos Erupts: Officers Caught on Camera Fighting Football Fans After Game

Online videos capture Jacksonville police officers getting physical with fans after the Georgia-Florida college football game on Saturday. “We had reports of unruly behavior and people refusing to leave after the final whistle,” said Melissa Bujeda, spokesperson for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, according to CNN. “Some fans became combative when ordered to leave the area.” Multiple videos depict chaos in the streets near TIAA Bank Field. One video shows a cop pushing a fan to the ground. Another clip records a cop throwing punches at a fan who was already being held back by other officers. The University of Georgia

Chaos Erupts: Officers Caught on Camera Fighting Football Fans After Game
Local

LA Dodgers Meets Street Art: New Mural Honors Pitching Legend, Fernando Valenzuela

In the heart of Boyle Heights, a lively new mural capturing the essence of Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela graced the neighborhood walls on a sunny Sunday afternoon. The two completed panels, masterfully crafted by muralist Robert Vargas, brought to life Valenzuela’s iconic pitching motion and celebrated his legendary career. Fans from near and far congregated around the mural’s location on the Boyle Heights Apartments, just a stone’s throw away from the renowned Mariachi Plaza, eager to witness the unveiling. At the event, Vargas shared his plans to commence work on a third panel, further immortalizing the beloved pitcher’s legacy. “My

LA Dodgers Meets Street Art: New Mural Honors Pitching Legend, Fernando Valenzuela
Entertainment

Grammy Nominations 2025: Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' Dominates with 11 Nominations, Makes Country Music History

The Recording Academy revealed its 2025 Grammy nominations Friday morning, with Beyoncé’s bold venture into country music earning her a field-leading 11 nominations, challenging genre boundaries and potentially adding to her record-breaking 32 Grammy wins. The superstar’s “Cowboy Carter” garnered nominations across pop, country, and general field categories, including Album of the Year, while her breakout single “Texas Hold ‘Em” secured spots in both Record and Song of the Year races. The nominations reflect the Recording Academy’s growing embrace of genre-fluid artistry, particularly notable as Beyoncé becomes the first Black woman to compete in multiple country categories. The nominations showcase

Grammy Nominations 2025: Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' Dominates with 11 Nominations, Makes Country Music History
Uncategorized

Flight Hack: Why Travelers Are Playing 'Check-in Chicken' to Score Better Seats

A new strategy called “Check-in Chicken” is emerging among air travelers seeking premium airplane seats without the premium price tag, though aviation experts warn the approach carries risks. The trend, which has gained significant traction on social media platforms, involves deliberately postponing online check-in until the last possible moment. The theory? As other passengers claim the standard complimentary seats early in the process, only the more desirable – and typically more expensive – seats remain available for last-minute check-ins. “It’s a game of aviation chicken,” says TikTok travel influencer @cheapholidayexpert, who has helped popularize the method. “By postponing check-in until

Flight Hack: Why Travelers Are Playing 'Check-in Chicken' to Score Better Seats
Local

How Copper Theft Is Derailing LA's Smart City Dreams

The soaring value of copper wire – now worth $4.50 per pound on the scrap market – has turned Los Angeles’s street lights into lucrative targets for thieves. With a single theft potentially generating thousands of dollars through illegal scrap dealers, criminals are systematically stripping the city’s electrical infrastructure, pushing critical technology upgrades years behind schedule. “Thieves can make hundreds of dollars in minutes by stripping copper from our infrastructure,” Council member Traci Park told Crosstown L.A. This high-profit, low-risk crime has led to an 800% increase in copper theft since 2017, according to NBC4, as thieves target easily accessible

How Copper Theft Is Derailing LA's Smart City Dreams
Entertainment|WrittenByLAPost

Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping Music And Not Everyone’s A Fan

Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing songwriting, causing huge upheaval in the music industry. Demonstrations of new software demonstrate how technology can generate creative melodies, imitate distinctive vocal styles, and produce entire instrumental songs with little assistance from humans. Tech developers praise the democratizing power behind these tools to open music creation to more people. “We always knew technology would disrupt our business,” said an April statement from Universal Music Group (UMG), the label titan representing mega-stars like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Kendrick Lamar. “But AI threatens to fracture the fragile bonds between artists and fans.” The company has led lobbying

Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping Music And Not Everyone’s A Fan
Food|WrittenByLAPost

 L.A.: Where Sushi Dreams Are Made

It only took 50 years for sushi to go from being a strange, exotic dish to a regular part of American cuisine. The delicious Japanese cuisine is thought to have first arrived in America in the late 1960s from Kawafuku Restaurant in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. Noritoshi Kanai, a Japanese immigrant, opened Kawafuku to serve local Japanese businesses. However, the restaurant quickly became popular with Americans. Now staples in sushi, Kanai fearlessly imported marine urchin from Santa Barbara and fatty tuna belly from fishermen on the East Coast who had tossed the cutaway. Kawafuku ushered in the first wave of

 L.A.: Where Sushi Dreams Are Made
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

First In-N-Out to close permanently

For the first time in its 75-year history, the iconic West Coast burger chain In-N-Out announced it is permanently closing one of its restaurants – the lone Oakland, California location – on March 24 due to rampant crime plaguing the area. In a statement, In-N-Out Chief Operating Officer Denny Warnick cited the alarming frequency of “car break-ins, property damage, theft, and armed robberies” victimizing customers and employees as leaving them “no alternative” but to shutter entirely. He confirmed that despite being a busy and profitable venue, the company refuses to “ask [customers or staff] to visit or work in an

First In-N-Out to close permanently
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Experts Link Social Media to Uptick in Teen Eating Disorders

New research shows that TikTok’s algorithms promote unhealthy eating and unrealistic body image among vulnerable teens. Based on their analysis of popular nutrition and weight videos, researchers from the University of Vermont claim that the “For You” feed, which never ends, contributes to harmful diet culture by subjecting young users to moralized, oversimplified messages from unqualified influencers. Led by senior author Dr. Lizzy Pope, director of UVM’s Didactic Program in Dietetics, the team raised alarms over TikTok overriding legitimate experts to promote thinness and restrictive dieting as the sole path to health. Researchers warn TikTok may fuel disordered eating and

Experts Link Social Media to Uptick in Teen Eating Disorders
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Does social media harm mental health?

A controversial new study from Oxford University experts says that more people using the internet has not really changed global mental health trends. The large study of over two million people from 168 countries, which was published in Nature Human Behaviour, tried to settle different ideas about how technology affects people’s minds. Even though they don’t see a clear threat, experts agree that they don’t have enough data to measure the effects in the real world. “There is no smoking gun to confirm that digital technologies are dangerously messing with the human psyche on a grand scale,” said co-author Andrew

Does social media harm mental health?
Technology|WrittenByLAPost

Why we're going numb to the world's pain

In a world that is becoming more and more connected, people are becoming more overwhelmed by disasters to the point that they shut down emotions to cope. Researchers see this as a sign of “compassion fatigue,” and with that comes serious consequences. Experts are now scrambling to counter this emotional numbness and reinvigorate human empathy. “When someone has compassion fatigue, they feel like there’s a lot happening and they don’t know where to start and what to do, so sometimes they will turn off their emotions,” said Gabriela Murza, assistant professor at Utah State University who educates on trauma impacts

Why we're going numb to the world's pain
Education|Economy|WrittenByLAPost

These Associate majors hit $100K

New research reveals associate degree holders in specific lucrative fields like physical science technologies or radiation therapy out-earn the average bachelor’s graduate just a few years after finishing cheaper, shorter two-year programs. Analysis by former Department of Education expert Michael Itzkowitz’s HEA Group spotlights 17 specific majors where mid-career pay surpasses typical four-year degree incomes, defying stereotypes about vocational credentials’ diminished value. Findings emphasize that college major factors as heavily as institutional prestige for many careers, informing cost-benefit calculations amid spiraling university tuition rates. “With associate degrees, oftentimes the major matters more than the institution itself,” Itzkowitz explained of the

These Associate majors hit $100K
Political|Local|WrittenByLAPost

As California's primary nears, here are key dates and must-knows

Every other year, residents of California participate in the statewide primary election. On March 5, 2024, Californians can vote in presidential and local elections, as well as other statewide issues. With mail-in ballots going out next month to all 22 million registered voters, the election also brings some new voting rules and key deadlines that will test the state’s dedication to encouraging participation. To register in California, you must: You can easily register online through the Secretary of State’s website. You can also sign up in person at county offices, the DMV, post offices, or public libraries. The key dates

As California's primary nears, here are key dates and must-knows
Food|Entertainment|WrittenByLAPost

Blazed buffalo wings: The new high flying Super Bowl snack

Just in time for the biggest sports event of the year, a new THC-infused buffalo wing sauce is hitting the shelves, promising to spice up Super Bowl parties across Chicago and “revolutionize” the cannabis industry. Cresco Labs, one of Illinois’ most prominent cannabis companies, has partnered with local restaurant Fifty/50 in Wicker Park to produce “Good News THC Buffalo Sauce” – a 100mg THC, 10oz jar of buffalo wing sauce meant to coat 20-24 wings. With 3-5mg of THC per wing, the sauce provides a buzz and the traditional spicy kick of buffalo flavor. The new product launch taps into

Blazed buffalo wings: The new high flying Super Bowl snack
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Will you get a $550 check? Michigan tax rebate payments start arriving soon

Beginning February 13, over 700,000 low and middle-income Michigan families will start receiving tax rebate checks averaging $550 under an expanded state tax credit program. The extra cash comes from $1 billion in tax cuts signed into law last year by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. It represents welcome relief for households facing rising costs of living statewide. The payments originate from enhancements to Michigan’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which benefits lower wage earners. The state matched the credit to 30% of the federal EITC amount from just 6%. The change created billions in tax savings that officials now return directly

Will you get a $550 check? Michigan tax rebate payments start arriving soon
Health|WrittenByLAPost

New study shows black teens crumbling under an "avalanche" of trauma

A new study in JAMA Psychiatry sheds light on the alarming effects online racism has on Black adolescents’ mental well-being. Researchers discovered that Black children and teenagers who encounter racial discrimination online may develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The research involved 525 African American adolescents aged 11-19. Heading the research was Dr. Ashley Denise Maxie-Moreman, a child psychologist from Children’s National Hospital in Washington D.C. Dr. Maxie-Moreman acknowledged cyberbullying troubles all children but emphasized for African American minors, web-based racial harassment poses heightened hazards. The participants reported several PTSD symptoms in response to online racism, including feeling on

New study shows black teens crumbling under an "avalanche" of trauma
Entertainment|WrittenByLAPost

The 2024 L.A. concert schedule offers something for everyone

Los Angeles is widely acknowledged as a significant center for entertainment, especially in light of its well-known music sector.. From little venues along the Sunset Strip to big stadiums hosting notable bands, Greater LA offers a variety of concert and entertainment locations ideal for famous performers and emerging talents. This year presents another selection of must-watch shows in different music styles, such as rock, hip-hop, and classical.  The Hollywood Bowl is arguably the most famous of Los Angeles music venues. The curved, shell-shaped open-air theater located in the Hollywood Hills has welcomed a wide range of performers, including Billie Holliday

The 2024 L.A. concert schedule offers something for everyone
Local|Entertainment|WrittenByLAPost

Where legends were made: Inside LA’s iconic entertainment venues

Los Angeles has been a major cultural center thanks to venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, The Wiltern, Greek Theatre, Los Angeles Theatre, and Hollywood Palladium. Notable performances and cultural events have occurred in its famed theaters and concert halls, leaving an indelible mark on history. Their unique architecture and rich histories have hosted unforgettable concerts, movie debuts, and star-studded events – propelling the city into an international entertainment epicenter. For almost a century, these landmarks have fuelled Los Angeles’ ascent to become the world’s entertainment capital. The breathtaking shell-shaped outdoor stage of the Hollywood Bowl became a live music

Where legends were made: Inside LA’s iconic entertainment venues
Local|WrittenByLAPost

6 Hot Springs just outside of LA!

A relaxing alternative to a pricey spa day is California’s hot springs. They let you get away from everyday life and enjoy nature. People in Los Angeles are lucky to live near some of the most beautiful natural hot springs. These six natural hot springs are the perfect place to get away for a cheap getaway.  Just a short drive from LA in San Bernardino County’s Mojave Desert rests Tecopa Hot Springs, a stunning aquatic gem with grass-lined pools in a shade of aquamarine. Four million years in the making, the piping hot, mineral-rich waters and panoramic Death Valley views

6 Hot Springs just outside of LA!
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Instagram's game-changing move: New teen accounts tackle online safety crisis

Instagram has taken a major step towards addressing teen safety concerns with the introduction of Instagram Teen Accounts on September 17, 2024. This new feature is designed to automatically place teens in safer online environments and provide parents with greater peace of mind about their children’s Instagram experiences. Teen Accounts come with a suite of built-in protections, including private accounts by default, stricter messaging settings, and enhanced content filtering to limit exposure to potentially harmful material. The launch of Teen Accounts represents a significant shift in how the platform approaches youth safety, responding to longstanding concerns about the risks teens

Instagram's game-changing move: New teen accounts tackle online safety crisis
Economy|Food|WrittenByLAPost

Hidden fees and false promises: L.A. County takes aim at Grubhub

A convenient app for ordering takeout has turned into a bait-and-switch scam. That’s the allegation in a lawsuit filed this week by Los Angeles County against Grubhub, the nation’s largest food delivery app. The suit accuses Grubhub of layering on hidden fees, falsely claiming drivers receive healthcare benefits, and misleading both customers and restaurants to pad its profits. The lawsuit lands amid growing outrage over Grubhub’s business practices. Customers have complained of inflated costs and orders never delivered. Restaurants say they’re getting gouged by unexplained fees and refunds. And drivers claim Grubhub’s healthcare and fair pay promises are an “outright

Hidden fees and false promises: L.A. County takes aim at Grubhub
Economy|Sports|WrittenByLAPost

No sky-high rides to Dodger games as the stadium halts its gondola project

An ambitious plan for an aerial gondola transit system connecting Dodger Stadium to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles has been put on hold. The plan was hailed as an innovative way to solve the long-standing traffic problems around the stadium. In February 2023, Eunisses Hernandez, a Los Angeles City Council member, officially presented a motion calling for more thorough research into the possible adverse effects of building the $125 million project. Specifically, Hernandez asserts the voluminous final environmental impact report compiled by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) fails to adequately address resident worries over exacerbating quality-of-life

No sky-high rides to Dodger games as the stadium halts its gondola project
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Breadcrumbing: The dating trend that leaves you starving for more affection

The damaging dating phenomenon labeled as “toxic breadcrumbing” leaves individuals struggling between optimism and despair. Breadcrumbing involves pretending to be romantically interested by sporadically offering attention that ultimately leads to nothing substantial. This manipulative conduct compels targets to fixate on someone incapable of making a genuine commitment. While breadcrumbing can happen in other contexts, it most commonly occurs in modern dating, where technology makes offering fleeting spurts of affection easy. The psychology behind why it works involves “intermittent reinforcement.” You keep trying for more when rewards come randomly, like from a slot machine.  Breadcrumbing takes an insidious emotional toll. Targets

Breadcrumbing: The dating trend that leaves you starving for more affection
Entertainment|Food|WrittenByLAPost

Your salt container is more useful than you think

The Morton Salt shaker revelation has sparked imaginative speculation around other possible hidden features in everyday household items. TikTokers have taken to testing hunches as some wonder if the handhold indents reveal storage for extra packets. Or if the ridges circling chapstick tubes could pull off to store tiny snacks. Online discussions have brought whimsical ideas ranging from secret tools tucked in potato chip bags to unfoldable drinking straws hiding in the cardboard of toilet paper rolls. This flood of creativity signals that while advancing technology shoulders much future innovation, consumers still appreciate cleverness in simplicity. “I love those videos

Your salt container is more useful than you think

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