According to a Valleywag tipster: FYI - I've heard the word from my peeps over at Yahoo Search Marketing in Burbank CA that the layoffs are going down as we speak, and people are being let go today. They're apparently walking the people into a meeting room, and then walking them out of the building. And according to an SFist tipster: [Layoffs will] occur over the next few days as employees are sent packing.......

LAist was comped front row seats by the Dodgers due to Malingering being struck by a foul ball last week, and she came back with some great photos, and earlier made fun of 4th of July on Venice Beach. But the biggest stories of the week was that the Mayor's Hot Tamale was revealed, and that a Kwik-E-Mart was erected in Burbank. Phillyist was busy doing the Fourth of July up right, exercising their......

Though SFist can't possibly imagine why, there are in fact human settlements outside the immediate vicinity of the city. Life is rough out on the frontier, but these terraformed colonies all enjoy the basic necessities of life -- potable water, M-class atmosphere, and copious art shows. And if you think you can tear yourself away from your precious Mission neighborhood for just one day, we heartily recommend a trip up the 101 to A......

A truculent teenage girl threatening to kill herself after a fight with a relative was rescued from the Redwood Shores swamp after she stormed onto a small island in the marsh and refused to come in. The authorites were unable to follow her footprints to the island because the mud would not support an adult's weight. She was finally picked up by an air boat. Keep an eye out above on your way to Target -- the rain has caused a cliff collapse on Avalon Canyon, and a 75-foot tree fall on a Colma home. And Oakland's new interim police chief is looking to reduce homicides by almost 1/3 for this year (from 88 in 2004 to 60 in 2005) as part of his plan to reduce crime in general. His conclusion -- it all comes down to narcotics enforcement. ...

Thanks to The Standing Room for the picture tip! When Friendster goes bad -- a Cupertino child molester registered on Megan's List has been arrested for contacting other listed sex offenders and asking them out. Glen Westberg allegedly emailed five other listees, told them they looked cute, and asked them to check out his listing (and note how well-built he was). We really fear for the future of social networking. Cardinals, lock the doors......