Times bomb. (L.A. Stories).

A New York Times story last week noted with some surprise that the city of Los Angeles has managed to produce a readable magazine, with real views about a city that writer David Carr posits has "never seemed to have much interest in itself."

But in his profile of Los Angeles Magazine, Carr apparently was confused about attempts by residents of the San Fernando Valley and Hollywood to break away from the city.

Twice, Carr used the word "succession" when he meant to write "secession"--as in, "the city recently attempted, through succession, to cleave itself in half."

"It's easy to do when you're writing fast," said Los Angeles magazine editor Kit Rachlis. "What's somewhat surprising, if not shocking, is that it managed to get past the vaunted New York Times copy desk."

Reached by phone, Carr said he could not comment without talking to his editors.