As it gets closer to Halloween for LAist, a contributer recollects her tale of staring down the serial killer, Richard Ramirez, otherwise known as the Night Stalker. Must think happy thoughts -- okay, free organic chocolate chip cookies for Los Angeles -- now that's a happy thought. Other happy Los Angeles thoughts include an interview with Jack Kehler of The Big Lebowski (he was the Dude's landlord), a beautiful and magical photographic moment in Venice......

-- Fog City Notes has a crush. Also, our favorite Little Debbie outlet, Rainbo discount bread store, is closed. Dude. [Fog City Notes] -- Castro residents are scared poopless want more info about safety regarding Halloween night. [SFGate] -- SOMA fire "sends residents fleeing." Yikes! [Examiner] -- Surprise, surprise. The N-Judah was down today. [N-Judah Chronicles] -- Nauseatingly pimped Lexus sedan crashes into building. [Oakland Tribune] -- Beyond Chron has issues with Proposition 93.......

Yesterday, on Treasure Island, the Governator pretty much gave an example of just why he's crushing Phil Angelides in the polls. With San Francisco in the background, Gavin Newsom and Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez at his side, and Bush's poodle Tony Blair live via video feed, the Governator signed a bill making California the toughest state on carbon dioxide and other gases emissions. Hell, maybe the toughest locale ever. But wait, that's not all. He will also sign a bill later this week that will forbid state electric utilities from buying electricity from high-polluting plants elsewhere. ...

Put this in the category of something we're shocked-- shocked! to discover, but it turns out that all of those California government officials who have been going around pledging fealty to being Green drive gas guzzling cars. We all know about Arnie's love of the Hummer (we mean the car-- get your heads out of the gutter people!) but his security detail drives a 2005 Ford Excursion that gets less than 11 miles per gallon. Speaker Fabian Nunez, co-sponsor of the big global warming bill that will be signed tomorrow, drives a 2003 Ford Explorer that gets about 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. Two other sponsors of the bill drive Jeep Cherokees. Also of note is Oakland Assemblywoman Wilma Chan who does the commute four times a week in 2004 Lincoln Aviator that gets 13 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway. Hmm...just think how much damage to the arctic will be done just in all the politicians showing up to sign a bill to purportedly save it. Won't somebody think of the polar bears? ...

Remember way back to this spring when there was a Democratic primary? And that one guy who looked like Phil Rizzuto beat the Really Boring Guy to take on the Governator? Whatever happened to him? Yes, it's only been a few weeks into the main part of the campaign for Governor, that being after Labor Day, but questions are already being asked about whether Phil's campaign is either doomed or just F-----.. ...

Well, Randy Shaw apparently got the news that the Gavster's strategists are looking into the possibility of running for the Democratic nomination for the gubenatorial race next year. He writes in Beyond Chron: The prospect of a tossup primary followed by an easy general election victory is no doubt what is motivating the Newsom camp to look closely at the race. The Mayor’s ambitions for higher office have been no secret, and if he......