The young columnist, Al Martinez, was a fixture of the LA Times for many years. He's in declining health now, and has retired from regular reporting. He remai

The young columnist, Al Martinez, was a fixture of the LA Times for many years. He's in declining health now, and has retired from regular reporting. He remains an icon of LA journalism. His tone has become more serious, but also somewhat more playful, as the stakes have raised. Here is a nice recent piece of his: http://www.laobserved.com/intell/2014/08/always_leave_them_laughing.php http://www.laobserved.com/intell/2014/08/always_leave_them_l...