Los Angeles

"Los Angeles - Sunrise: 6:18am Sunset: 4:54pm" - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

I was wondering whether I'd have more daylight now that I'm moving south 400 mi. The sun actually sets EARLIER in LA than SF right now. However, it rises earlier as well. The difference is approximately 10 more min. of daylight in LA at this time of year. - Spidra Webster

"California, you may have heard, is an apocalyptic mess of raging wildfires, soaring unemployment, mass foreclosures and political paralysis. It's dysfunctional. It's ungovernable. Its bond rating is barely above junk. It's so broke, it had to hand out IOUs while its leaders debated how many prisoners to release and parks to close. Nevada aired ads mocking California's business climate to lure its entrepreneurs. The media portray California as a noir fantasyland of overcrowded schools, perpetual droughts, celebrity breakdowns, illegal immigration, hellish congestion and general malaise, captured in headlines like "Meltdown on the Ocean" and "California's Wipeout Economy" and "Will California Become America's First Failed State?"" - Amani from Bookmarklet

"I always understood the general rule to be: one in 10 people is gay. This ratio, which apparently has been oft-repeated to a point where it still remains lore 10 years after I first heard it (the gay population apparently has not adjusted for inflation), is a nice shorthand for: it could be you. (One of my favoritest people of all time, Jane Lynch, interviewed with Terry Gross on NPR yesterday, and this was her reaction to her 20something realization that she is gay: “Oh man, really?”). The threat that you could be the one left holding the rainbow flag is the greatest fear tactic of all: it results in the simultaneous internalization and externalization of one’s homophobia. This is, in part, what moves certain people to go to the polls, draw the little iron curtain, and, in the comfortably private, if not stuffy, polling station, mark a mark that will seal the fate for all those ones in tens, if not themselves. And they are, of course, protecting the children. Remember the children!" - edythe from Bookmarklet

"With specialty shops popping up all over Southern California, ABC7 and CitySearch.com teamed up to find out which cupcake is best." - Amani from Bookmarklet

"For the past couple of months, two trucks have teased us as they prepped for their debut. The Grilled Cheese Truck tempted us with delicious photos before launching with great success last week. Up next is the Buttermilk Truck, which launches next week Wednesday at The Brig in Venice" - Amani from Bookmarklet

"When U2 returns to Southern California on June 6, it will be a downright intimate affair compared to the band's recent stop at Pasadena's Rose Bowl. Tickets for the band's appearance at Angel Stadium in Anaheim will go on sale to the general public Nov. 9 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster. There will, however, be a myriad of presales, some of which began as early as Tuesday (Nov. 3). The massive U2 FAQ breaks down the various presale subscriber groups. Tickets, not including service charges, will range from $30 to $250. With a concert capacity closer to the 60,000-range, Angel Stadium will be about as small a venue as U2 plays these days. The band's recent Pasadena appearance packed in more than 100,000 people, including Rose Bowl workers and concert staff." - Derrick from Bookmarklet

Times like this I wish I were still living in SoCal. :( - Helen Sventitsky

Missed their show in Pasadena, but it's one of those bands I'd like to see live, even though I'm only really aware of their older stuff. - Derrick

"The city of Los Angeles is currently taking public comments on the newly released draft of the city bicycle plan -- which updates the city's strategy for promoting bicycling in the city via policies, programs and infrastructure improvements. Among the recommendations in the draft are plans for nearly 400 miles of so-called Bicycle Friendly Streets, which would have signage or traffic-calming measures designed to make them better suited to bikes. The plan also includes plans for more bike lanes, safety education and bike parking. Senior project coordinator Michelle Mowery with the city department of transportation calls the draft a big step, but bike advocates criticize the plan for lacking the continuous north-south and east-west bikeways that bicyclists need to navigate the city. "This plan continues the current mishmash of bike routes," says Aurisha Smolarski, campaign director for the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. "Sunset Boulevard has a bike lane, but it doesn't connect... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"Pasadena residents are limited to just one outdoor watering day a week after the city’s first-ever winter water restrictions took effect Sunday. In the summer, sprinklers were allowed to run Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Now residents must choose just one of those days each week to water their lawns, although the restriction does not apply to watering by hand or drip irrigation systems. After Pasadena experienced record-low rainfall two years ago, the city implemented a water conservation plan that required the regulation of sprinkler systems, prohibited residents from hosing down pavement and required the immediate repair of leaky plumbing fixtures. “As far as switching to the winter schedule, we have to be really aggressive about getting the word out since people only just adjusted to the three-day-a-week schedule -- but they’ll get the message,” said Erica Rolufs, spokeswoman for Pasadena Water and Power. “The city overall is using less water in... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

Finally. I was so jealous of looking at all those lush lawns and hearing my running group brag about their daily watering. Wonder what the City will do with all that lush NON-native vegetation they've planted in all those medians. - Anika

When it comes to do-it-yourself remodeling and redecorating, which projects are money savers and which ones become money pits (or, later, doctor's visits)? We asked Alan Hopkins to cast his votes. For more than a year, Hopkins has been transforming his 1920s bungalow in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of L.A., working nights and weekends with the help of friend David McCoy. They replaced the exterior siding, added insulation, installed new windows, hung new kitchen cabinets and refaced a garden wall, among other projects. Now that the house has a fresh new face, inside and out, we asked Hopkins to score each project on a 1-to-10 scale of difficulty and estimate how much money he saved by doing the work himself. In some cases, Hopkins decided he would have been better off paying a pro to complete certain tasks. - Derrick

Yummy. - Ayşe E.

"To die-hard deli aficionados and sandwich fans, this assertion is heresy. It certainly wasn't what Sax, a Toronto native who now lives in Brooklyn, expected to discover. But in "Save the Deli," a book that traces the rise and fall of Jewish delicatessens from the shtetls of Eastern Europe to the suburbs of middle America, he makes that very claim." - Derrick from Bookmarklet

"In the 1930s there were something along the lines of 1,500 kosher delis in New York," Sax says. "Now, there are about two dozen in all of New York City. That's an 80% to 90% decline. This has been echoed in other cities around the country." Yet Los Angeles delis have managed to thrive in a niche market. Acre for acre, Sax maintains that Southern California boasts "more delicatessens of... more... - Derrick

delis-per-acre is a foolish measure. What would really matter is delis-per-capita. I'm not sure L.A. would still top that list. - Michael R. Bernstein

"SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND -- 9 people are missing after a Navy helicopter collided mid-air with a Coast Guard transport plane, according to the FAA. A search and rescue operation is underway. FAA spokesman Ian Gregor says a Coast Guard C130 transport plane is believed to have collided midair with a Marine Corps AH-1 Cobra helicopter at 7:10 p.m., approximately 25 miles east of San Clemente Island. A pilot reported seeing a fireball in the vicinity of the suspected crash site." - edythe from Bookmarklet

Gah!! :( - Derrick

"He said police were investigating leads and a motive for the attack. They planned to go door-to-door seeking witnesses in the area and were studying images caught on a security tape, which showed the suspect but not the shooting, Cmdr. Jorge Villegas said. The two men, who were both members of the synagogue, were shot in the legs near the temple in the San Fernando Valley, Deputy Police Chief Michel Moore said. They had reportedly arrived in separate cars for the morning service shortly before 6:30 a.m. and were in a stairwell leading up to the synagogue sanctuary when the gunman shot them several times, police said." - edythe from Bookmarklet

"This year, buy your holiday dessert from Project Angel Food. 100% of your $25 pie purchase will provide five free meals to homebound people struggling with life-threatening illnesses. It's a delicious way to help your most vulnerable neighbors. They make wonderful holiday gifts for friends and family too! Choose from these three yummy flavors -- or be an angel and buy them all." - edythe from Bookmarklet

"Happy Halloween from El Sereno. On Halloween night, Councilman Jose Huizar, the LA-32 Neighborhood Council and Collis Ave. residents bring you The Legend of Creepy Collis. From what I hear, this is the coolest thing around. There’s haunted houses, trick-or-treating and a carnival experience. No parking anywhere near there, so be ready to hoof it through El Sereno. The free event, on Collis Ave. between Huntington Dr. and Kendall Ave., runs from 5pm – 8pm." - Anika from Bookmarklet

This is from last year, but it's the same this year. Oh and if you're interested in going, you can park at my house and walk on over. - Anika

"It's time to get into the winter spirit. Beginning this afternoon, an 8,000 square foot outdoor ice rink will open to the public in Santa Monica with the unveiling of a 45-foot ice sculpture in promotion of the Blu-ray disc and DVD release of Ice Age 3 Dawn of the Dinosaurs. Supposedly, the 133,000-pound sculpture of the character Scrat will break the Guinness World Record for Tallest Ice Sculpture." - Amani from Bookmarklet

WOW! That's early! Oh..movie tie-in. LOL - Anika

all the way until jan 31st too. - Amani from IM

"MAZER OPEN HOUSE! Sunday, November 1, 2009 2-5pm The Early History of Feminist & Lesbian Centers in Los Angeles (1969-1975) Learn how and why L.A.’s earliest feminists and lesbians created Centers—as energy hubs of women’s rap groups, CR, programs and social services. A panel of women will talk about how the women’s and lesbian feminist movements were born and grew up in our city. Coming together to compare the stories they lived and their memories that have created the folklore of feminism in L.A. Panelists include: Carolyn Weathers, Ariana Manov, Del Whan & others, with moderator Jeanne Cordova. Come to hear what it was like, or bring your stories & memories if you were there too! Panelists will also present the recently re-discovered original Crenshaw Women’s Center front door sign. Panel starts at 3pm." - Anika from Bookmarklet

"Get ready for some breakfast street food. Eater LA confirms that "Team Buttermilk Truck has officially confirmed the mobile vendor's November 11 launch date." And it won't just be pancakes and applewood sausages. At night, look out for chicken and waffles and the Buttermilk Brick." - Amani from Bookmarklet

"The forecast is calling for a heatwave. Why? Because soon we’ll be flying from the Golden State to Florida’s Gold Coast: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Miles of beaches, warm ocean water, and easy access to Caribbean cruises. Introducing nonstop flights from San Francisco and Los Angeles from only $99*. So book a seat now, because this will be the hottest ticket from coast-to-coast. Nonstop service begins November 18th." - Amani from Bookmarklet

"Presented jointly by Paul’s Photo and the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, the LA Zoo Photo Day is a fantastic photo opportunity for film and digital photographers of all levels of expertise. Paul's staff of experts and representatives from the greatest brands in photography will be on hand to assist you for a full day of photography and education. The Los Angeles Zoo offers photographers the opportunity to capture “natural looking” wildlife photos right here in the city. The Los Angeles Zoo Photo Day provides photographers the tools required to create fantastic photos. Hands-on workshops and staffed stations are ideal for the novice photographer who desires to learn the basics of wildlife and nature photography. The LA Zoo Photo Day offers an opportunity for the accomplished shutterbug to explore new horizons while focusing on the art and science of outdoor photography." - Anika from Bookmarklet

"Photographers enjoy use of the photo day stations and equipment, continental breakfast, catered lunch, T-shirt and a full day of photography. Guests receive continental breakfast, catered lunch and early admission to the zoo only. For further information or to reserve by phone, please call 323/644-4703. You can also click here to print out a registration form (.pdf). Cost to attend is... more... - Anika

"For the fourth time in less than six months, a student from one Palo Alto high school has committed suicide, authorities say. The boy stepped in front of a train at the same location where three other students have killed themselves since May. CalTrain spokeswoman Tasha Bartholomew said the latest suicide of a student from high-performing Gunn High School occurred at 10:50 p.m. Monday. Another Gunn student, a boy, 17, killed himself the same way at the same spot at 8:20 a.m on May 5. His death was followed by the suicide of a girl, 17, on the tracks at 9:59 p.m. on June 2. The third suicide occurred at the same location on Aug. 21 at 10:45 p.m. Palo Alto police told the San Jose Mercury News that police are limiting publicity about the suicides for fear of a growing cluster. "The research we're being told is that the more we talk about it and romanticize it, the easier it is that mentally ill or depressed people will make that leap,'' Sgt. Dan Ryan was quoted as saying. "We're taking a stand and not releasing more information."" - edythe from Bookmarklet

:( - RAPatton from iPhone

"For the uninitiated, Mr. Wood was a filmmaker who pooled all his resources to make movies in the '50s and '60s; the thing is, the films aren’t very good. In fact, they're legendarily "bad", at least by any conventional definition -- glued together with the no-budget, eager showmanship that later gave him the unfair title of "Worst Director Ever" and a fervent cult following from Glenn Danzig to Tim Burton. But let’s destroy the “so-bad-it's-good” term. Ed Wood made lovable movies with strong atmosphere, awkward dialogue, implausible plots and a static style that is as strange and seductive as it is hilarious. It's been 50 years since he made his magnum opus, Plan 9 from Outer Space -- with an all-star cast of Tor Johnson, Vampira, Criswell, Bela Legosi -- and we're here to celebrate with a rare 35mm screening! After the intermission, stick around for Tim Burton's genius love letter to Wood, in the form of Johnny Depp in the starring role of Ed Wood!" - Jandy, ConcertMaven of FF from Bookmarklet

Ooh, ooh, want to go! - Jandy, ConcertMaven of FF

I like watching this with a car buff friend of mine. That way you see not only the sudden changes from night to day, but he calls out how the car changes make and model. - Spidra Webster

"So thank God Griffith Park- known for it’s day-time kid friendly array of museums, carousels, and pony rides- has acknowledged this lack of wholesome fun! You don’t need to drive all the way to Disneyland or leave the house with more then $5 a person, because this event is right in L.A’s backyard! Since 2001 Griffith Park has transformed their miniature train rides into a night time Halloween extravaganza. Griffith park operates three separate train rides throughout the year, for Halloween they overtook the miniature train rides located adjacent to Travel Town. Located in between the Forest Lawn Dr. exit and the Victory exit off of the 134 FWY on Zoo Dr. is the Halloween Train. This attraction is perfect for everyone. It’s intention is not to be scary, just fun and creepy. The entire ride takes about 15-20 min. to complete." - Anika from Bookmarklet

"Saturday Fantasy guest speakers Joshua Dysart and Joshua Hale Fialkov will be signing books and hanging out at STORIES Bookstore after their panel discussion at our film festival. STORIES is located a few doors down from Rec Center Studio at 1716 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026. A limited number of copies of their books will be available for purchase. Big thanks to Liz, Claudia and the folks at STORIES for hosting this book signing! Coupons for STORIES Bookstore Cafe will be available at Saturday Fantasy Film Festival with general admission ticket." - Derrick from Bookmarklet

My friends who run this non-profit are throwing a film festival shindig in Echo Park this Saturday. Comic book lovers rejoice! If you can come out, we'd love to see you. Should be fun. Click through for more info. - Derrick

I read Elk's Run. It was OK - RAPatton

"Nelson's investigative coverage of the civil rights movement and Watergate helped solidify The Times' reputation. Its Washington bureau grew into a journalistic powerhouse under his leadership." - edythe from Bookmarklet

"An aggressive reporter who had exposed abuses at Georgia's biggest mental institution, Nelson went on to break major stories on the civil rights movement for The Times, particularly in his coverage of the shooting of civil rights worker Viola Liuzzo and the massacre of black students at South Carolina State College in Orangeburg." - edythe

"Jack Nelson led the Los Angeles Times Washington bureau during much of the time that the paper's reputation for national reporting was growing, and before that was known for his breakthrough reporting on civil rights battles in the South. He stories after the 1972 Watergate break-in were the first to link the burglary "right to the heart of the Nixon reelection campaign," David Halberstam wrote in "The Powers That Be." Nelson died at age 80." - edythe from Bookmarklet

"Sometimes, I feel like I’m the only person who ever has noticed the large ‘Jesus Saves’ sign downtown. When I point it out, people often ask me how long it’s been there. I shrug. I have no idea. Seems like forever to me. It stands out to my eye, but I guess to others it’s just more sight pollution; one more ad, one more neon sign. Today, while walking down Broadway, I saw it from a different angle." - Anika from Bookmarklet

Update on the history of this sign can be found in the link above. From Will Campbelll: It originated with the Church of the Open Door whose building, completed in 1916 was located on Hope Street next to the Central Library. As dj ernie pearl said, it was torn down in 1985, but on the ground floor of the high rise built in its place you’ll find a small room inside which a video plays detailing the history of the site. The room’s door never closes. - Anika

"But even I am flabbergasted at what Farrar’s attempted: setting the words of Kerouac to music. The album “One Fast Move or I’m Gone: Kerouac’s Big Sur,” primarily composed by Farrar with collaboration from Gibbard, sounds like the perfect storm of awesome. Apparently the two musicians realized their mutual love for the writer of “On the Road,” while they were involved in the production of a documentary of the same name about Kerouac (which screens tomorrow at Arclight with a Q&A with the director & producers; the film includes reflections on Kerouac by Tom Waits, Patti Smith, Sam Shepard, and more). The duo is bringing their makeshift band, which is composed of other Death Cab, Son Volt, and Mountain Goats members, here to LA for two of the 6 US dates they’ll be playing. They’ll be at Largo at the Coronet this week on the 22nd, and the El Rey on the 23rd. I am SO there." - edythe from Bookmarklet

"The Balboa Sports Complex at 17015 Burbank Boulevard in Encino will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Veterans Memorial Auditorium at 4117 Overland Ave. in Culver City will receive patients from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The vaccination program will expand to 13 sites Saturday. A full list of H1N1 inoculation sites scheduled through early November is on the department's website. Those without access to the Internet can call 2-1-1 to find their nearest H1N1 clinic." - edythe from Bookmarklet

"Six-year-old Jazzy strolls along Main Street with her owner in downtown Huntington Beach on Sept. 22, 2009, during Tuesday night Surf City Nights. Dogs are no longer welcome to walk along the street near the food vendors at the weekly Surf City Nights, a move that is causing howls of outrage. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)" - edythe from Bookmarklet