Pacific Time - Los Angeles Times

With summer so close you can almost feel it kissing your skin, we look at a couple of ways you might want to lose yourself in the season -- reading and at the movies. Books editor David Ulin talks about some of our picks for the 92 days of summer. And Hero Complex blogger Geoff Boucher breaks down "popcorn month" at the movies. And we talk tech with reporter David Sarno, who will be blogging from Apple’s developers conference WWDC on Monday.

In every election season, the Los Angeles Times editorial board studies the issues and offers its educated and informed recommendations. Editorial writer Robert Greene leads the endorsement process and explains some of the endorsements for California's June 8 primary.

This week, we talk with columnist Michael Hiltzik about the fumble that is the effort to get professional football in Southern California. And we get a special story-behind-the-stories introduction to covering Iran with Beirut bureau chief Borzou Daragahi, a few words from editor Russ Stanton on the recent Los Angeles Times editorial awards for 2009. And finally, a little extreme fast-food dining with Adam Tschorn for dessert.

This week, we get an update on from state reporter Cathleen Decker on the California governor’s race, from reporter on the marijuana beat John Hoeffel on the voter split on legalizing pot, from health reporter Shari Roan postpartum depression for daddies and from business reporter Tiffany Hsu on becoming your own fashionable power station.

Veteran Supreme Court reporter David Savage talks about the nominee to replace the retiring Justice Stevens. Consumer columnist David Lazarus gives a piece of his mind about transit solutions in Los Angeles. John Horn talks about the glory and the glare of the premiere spotlight at Cannes. A longtime visitor to the San Gabriel mountains supports an effort to preserve them from pollution and population growth. A reporter digs deep to explore his own roots.

This week, we touch on the mercurial stock market with Business columnist Tom Petruno, get a dispatch from the oil-slicked gulf region, hear from Pakistan on possible ties to the Times Square bomb, from Sacramento on how it could become tougher to be a teen in California and about a San Diego rasta man's battle with the tax man. Then we get our geek on with Hero Complex blogger Geoff Boucher on "Iron Man 2."

Reporter Ken Ellingwood gives a status report from Haiti; Sacramento Bureau Chief Evan Halper elaborates on the governor's endorsement of the national healthcare plan; Data desk editor Megan Garvey fills in some details from our Homicide Report for the city's chalk outlines; Metro assistant editor Carlos Lozano explains the influence of reactions to Arizona's new immigration law on this weekend's May Day march; Readers Representative Deirdre Edgar and Assistant Managing Editor for copy desks Henry Fuhrmann pull back the curtain on L.A. Times style and terminology. The podcast wraps up with a trip to the farmers market with Food editor Russ Parsons and a little tick talk with fashion reporter Adam Tschorn on what's happening in men's high-end wristwear.

Foreign Editor Bruce Wallace talks about an L.A. Times exclusive on revelations and repercussions of a secret prison in Baghdad; City Editor Shelby Grad details developments in crimes that seem to point to hate groups in Hemet; Sacramento Bureau Chief Evan Halper on California's pension problems; entertainment reporters Richard Verrier and Matea Gold on a new dimension in theater entertainment and the "Situation" with New Jersey's new TV reality; and a remembrance of late LAPD Chief Daryl Gates from columnist Patt Morrison.

London bureau chief Henry Chu on the plume of volcanic ash across the pond; reporter Cara Mia DiMassa discusses the recent spate of earthquakes; reporters Ralph Vartabedian and Ken Bensinger on the latest Toyota news; reporter Michael Rothfeld shares his insights on the state Democratic convention; reporter Joe Flint has details about Conan O'Brien's "very funny" choice to move to TBS; and reporter Mike Anton on how surfboard manufacturers are looking to ride the eco-friendly wave.

Foreign Editor Bruce Wallace looks at world news from the past week; Business columnist Tom Petruno discusses how mutual funds did this past quarter; City Hall reporter Phil Willon and columnist Steve Lopez give their slightly different takes on the city's budget crisis; and Hugo Martin has some tips on getting hotel deals.

Moscow bureau chief Megan Stack on the roots of the violence in Russia. usiness columnist Michael Hiltzik on challenges facing healthcare implementation. Sacramento bureau chief Evan Halper with a preview of the USC-Los Angeles Times poll and technology reporter David Sarno on the iPad.