Did I Participate in a Ponzi Scheme? Former Loyola Marymount University student Darrin Monet needed a way to pay the bills, so when he heard about a “money-making opportunity,” he jumped at the chance. But a few days and $125 later, his initial excitement turned into hesitation and eventually disillusionment as he began to see the business for what it was. Monet takes us into the world of multi-level marketing.

The Beautiful Truth of ‘Fruitvale Station’. Looking to squeeze in one last movie before summer’s end? Fruitvale Station, based on the story of Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old Hayward man who was shot to death by a Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer on New Year’s Eve in the first hours of 2009, may stray from the real-life story.  But, writes California editor Joe Mathews, we should watch it for its pitch-perfect portrayal of California in all its cockeyed optimism.

Getting Off My Duff in Carson. Two hundred eighty-five homes in Carson sit atop a former oil tank farm owned by Shell Oil. The soil and groundwater are contaminated, but Shell Oil claims there’s no immediate health risk. Carson resident Jose Luis Gonzalez writes about the City Council’s declaration of emergency on Shell Oil and admits he ought to get off his duff about it.

National Wildlife Federation California Director Beth Pratt. Before participating in a panel about wildlife in Los Angeles, Beth Pratt reminisced about her favorite cartoon, waxed nostalgic about New England, and revealed her go-to karaoke song.

What Can the Balkans Teach Us About Intervening in Syria? As we continue to contemplate whether or not to intervene in Syria, General Wesley Clark—who led the NATO campaign in the Kosovo war—shares the lessons he learned back in the 1990s. He writes that responding to Syrian use of chemical weapons is not without risk, but in the words of President Clinton: “Where we can make a difference, we must act.”

Next week …

Julie Prieto on how we got Mexico to stop hating the U.S. …

Ralph Womack on gangs in Stockton …

On Friday at Grand Park, Libros Schmibros founder David Kipen visits Zócalo to discuss our fascination with the Santa Ana winds and what it says about L.A. life.