What's cheap and fun to do in SoCal during the summer?

That is a personal thing as to what you like to do. I like to go to the Bolsa Chica wetlands. I also like going to the shooting range or going fishing.

I would say a drive up, or down, the coast but with gas prices that isn't so cheap.

You could go to the beach or just travel and see everything thats there.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.