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Gas Leak

Audience Spills Oil on Actors and Loads Them Into Body Bags, in a New Play About the BP Oil Spill. Really.

When the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded in 2010, most Angelenos experienced the oil spill's devastation secondhand through TV news reports, newspaper articles, and online photos and videos of the damage. In L.A.'s site-specific production of Caridad Svich's The Way of Water, Opera del Espac ... More >>

Congress Insider Trading: L.A. County Senators, Representatives Respond (or Don't)

NorCal's Nancy Pelosi finds nothing shady about her convenient investment in Visa.​As we learned on "60 Minutes" last night, many of the politicians we've elected to U.S. Congress have clearly been using their backdoor V.I.P. passes to gather exclusive intel on when to buy and sell stocks, bon ... More >>

The Big Fix review

NorCal's Nancy Pelosi finds nothing shady about her convenient investment in Visa.​As we learned on "60 Minutes" last night, many of the politicians we've elected to U.S. Congress have clearly been using their backdoor V.I.P. passes to gather exclusive intel on when to buy and sell stocks, bon ... More >>

Eddie Izzard at the Hollywood Bowl

What makes Eddie run?

William Barry Wise, Worker at Carson BP Refinery, Crushed to Death by Railcar

terrapsych.comBP's refinery in Carson, where Wise was killed.​A longtime employee of the BP refinery in Carson died early yesterday morning while on the job. The L.A. County Coroner identifies him today as 54-year-old white man William Barry Wise, an Irvine resident. BP spokesman Walter Neil ... More >>

Jesse Marquez: Thorn of Industry

terrapsych.comBP's refinery in Carson, where Wise was killed.​A longtime employee of the BP refinery in Carson died early yesterday morning while on the job. The L.A. County Coroner identifies him today as 54-year-old white man William Barry Wise, an Irvine resident. BP spokesman Walter Neil ... More >>

Rodney King Beating: 20 Years Later, Here Are 5 More Violent California Cops Caught on Video

Before there were cell phones​Today's the 20th anniversary of L.A.'s infamous brush with rock bottom: The 1991 brutal police beating of Rodney King, an act of unabashed racism by a group of four white LAPD officers whose 1992 "not guilty" verdicts gave way to the devastating L.A. riots. As th ... More >>

Hydraulic 'Fracking' -- New Oil-Drilling Technique -- Could Create Jobs, Poison Tap Water in California

What's a little contamination in the name of the drill?​The nation was abuzz yesterday with highly unsustainable news of a fresh way to squeeze millions more barrels of oil from the deepest Earthstuffs of America the Beautiful: It's called hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking" among Big Oil exec ... More >>

BP Puts Monster SoCal Refinery -- 25 Percent of All L.A. Gas -- Up for Sale

terrapsych.comBP Carson Refinery: officially on the market​It's easy to hate BP. Those jerks made the glistening Gulf of Mexico into a goopy seafood dish that lined our nightmares in black slime and swallowed helpless baby animals whole. And that was just the view from unaffected California, ... More >>

(VIDEO) Gas To Reach Five Dollars Per Gallon By 2012, Says Ex-Prez Of Shell Oil

Jon Hofmeister, earning his way back into heaven one BP lecture at a time​Former Shell Oil president Jon Hofmeister, who likes to dole out scandalous dirty-energy news items now that he's not not trying to run a scandalous dirty-energy corporation, had something very scary to tell North Caroli ... More >>

Need A Crack Pipe? Arco Gas Station Near Watts Middle School Reportedly Has Them

ReelUrbanNewsBP spills oil on our shores and apparently sells us crack pipes too. ​You would think our British friends over at BP had enough bad press over that whole Gulf oil spill thing to get a handle on its image, particularly in the U.S. Nothing a few mil thrown at a good P.R. or "crisis ... More >>

Greens Vs. Big Oil and Prop. 23

To save California's global-warming law, a 23-year-old finds his rage — and 60,000 friends

The Thursday Edition: A Roundup of Newspaper Food Stories

SapphireBlue22stack of newspapers​What's the country reading today food-wise? Here's a roundup of some of the food-related stories from other newspapers, many of which print their food sections mid-week. And remember, even if you don't actually buy papers these days (or not; this paper is free ... More >>

Stage Raw: Voombodian Women from Outer Space!

COMPREHENSIVE THEATER LISTINGSNEW THEATER REVIEWSTheater FEATURE on Happy Ending and WaterVOOMBODIAN WOMEN FROM OUTER SPACE! Staged reading of Barry Schwam's new play at Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., in Sierra Madre. Sun., 7:30 p.m. $5 (626) 355-4318 AN EVENING WITH PAT BOONE, ... More >>

Stage Raw: Circle X and Bootleg Hook Up to Read Plays

COMPREHENSIVE THEATER LISTINGSNEW THEATER REVIEWSTheater FEATURE on John StepplingCIRCLE X AND BOOTLEG HOOK UP TO READ PLAYS Circle X Theatre Company and Bootleg are joining forces to present a series of Monday night readings of new works, starting September 13, at the Bootleg venue. Playwrights s ... More >>

All My Sons

COMPREHENSIVE THEATER LISTINGSNEW THEATER REVIEWSTheater FEATURE on John StepplingCIRCLE X AND BOOTLEG HOOK UP TO READ PLAYS Circle X Theatre Company and Bootleg are joining forces to present a series of Monday night readings of new works, starting September 13, at the Bootleg venue. Playwrights s ... More >>

LA Weekly Flickr Pool Reader Photo of the Day: BP Oil Spill at Wolvesmouth Dinner

This LA Weekly Flickr pool photo comes to you from of our oft-used photographer djjewelz, who took this at the underground Wolvesmouth dinner from Chef Craig Thornton, formerly of Bouchon. The dish pictured is something of a back-handed homage to the people over at BP: uni "polenta," squid, uni, oys ... More >>

Stage Raw: How Do Actors Do It?

COMPREHENSIVE THEATER LISTINGSNEW THEATER REVIEWSSTAGE FEATURE on My Penis, In and Out of TroubleHOW DO ACTORS DO IT? As told by Alan Mandell, who was among a dozen or so actors auditioning for the movie This Must Be the Place, starring Sean Penn. The role was for a man 94-years old. Mandell, being ... More >>

Stage Raw: James Gammon Memorial

COMPREHENSIVE THEATER LISTINGSNEW THEATER REVIEWSSTAGE FEATURE on Opus, at the Fountain Theatre MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR JAMES GAMMON: Sunday, August 22, 2 p.m. at the MET Theatre, 1089 N. Oxford Avenue in Hollywood. RSVP here Check back Monday night for reviews of: BOY'S LIFE, Howard Korder's 1988 ba ... More >>

Stage Raw: Brewsie & Willie

COMPREHENSIVE THEATER LISTINGSNEW THEATER REVIEWSSTAGE FEATURE ON LINDA PURL'S FESTIVALBREWSIE AND WILLIE ​Poor Dog Group's adaptation of Gertrude Stein's novella, is among the productions being reviewed this week. Photo by Scott Grolier Check back here on Monday night for reviews of THE BAKER'S ... More >>

Stage Raw: Unknown Future, Theater on Seward Closes Its Doors

COMPREHENSIVE THEATER LISTINGSNEW THEATER REVIEWSSTAGE FEATURE on Lieutenant of Inishmore and A Tale Told by an IdiotAN UNKNOWN FUTURE: Theater on Seward Closes its Doors John Fleck performs tonight (Thursday), 8 p.m. with his sardonic one-man comedy about Trader Joe's (and points beyond), Side E ... More >>

Stage Raw: Two Plays by Yukio Mishima

COMPREHENSIVE THEATER LISTINGSNEW THEATER REVIEWSCURRENT STAGE FEATURE on KING LEAR​NEW REVIEW GO TWO PLAYS BY YUKIO MISHIMA ​Photo by Yukata Takeuchi Perhaps most notorious in the West for his sensational, 1970 suicide by seppuku, controversial poet-novelist Yukio Mishima was also a pl ... More >>

Stage Raw: Pasadena Playhouse Emerges from Bankruptcy

COMPREHENSIVE THEATER LISTINGSNEW THEATER REVIEWSCURRENT STAGE FEATURE on KING LEARCAPTURED AURAL PHANTASY THEATER ​CAPT presents a special event tonight (Friday) night, Hooray for Hollywood Extravaganza, celebrating the legends of Our Fair City, In a style mixing radio and vaudeville. The Galler ... More >>

Short Attention Span Dinner Theater: Your Week in Food, 7/6-7/9

In which we highlight the past week in food, either at home or abroad. "The Tam O'Shanter in Atwater Village, owned by the Lawry's family, is also as ersatz as can be, a Disney version of a Scottish inn that in fact started its life as a drive-in restaurant, but something tells me it's the ... More >>

Is Your Olive Oil Really Extra Virgin? U.S. Called a "Dumping Ground for Cheap Olive Oil"

Flickr/Kevan"Extra virgin" olive oil may contain safflower, canola or peanut oil--and there's nothing you can do about it.​BP isn't the only disreputable oil company in the United States. Apparently there are no rules regulating olive oil here. Which means that purveyors can sell consumers any ... More >>

La Nogalera Walnuts: Great For Cooking Cleaning up Oil Spills

Brooke BurtonCan walnut shells really stop oil leaks and filter polluted water?​ Go to the Hollywood farmers market to sample La Nogalera's excellent walnut oil from the Santa Rita Hills in Santa Barbara County, and you may quickly identify the nutritional benefits for salads and vegetable sid ... More >>

The Curious Case of Karen Bass

How a dedicated community organizer becomes an insulated, perk-oriented politician

Theater Reviews: All My Sons, Opus, King Lear: The Madmen

Also, Praying Small, The Fantasticks, Amadeus and more

The Thursday Edition: A Roundup of Newspaper Food Stories

SapphireBlue22stack of newspapers​What's the country reading today food-wise? Here's a roundup of some of the food-related stories from other newspapers, many of which print their food sections mid-week. And remember, even if you don't actually buy papers these days (or not; this paper is free ... More >>

Stage Raw: King Lear

COMPREHENSIVE THEATER LISTINGSNEW THEATER REVIEWSCURRENT STAGE FEATURE ON THE HOLLYWOOD FRINGENEW REVIEW GO KING LEAR: THE MADMEN ​ Photo by Ed Krieger The old loon hasn't looked so good in some time. Bart DeLorenzo's staging for Antaeus Company's Classicsfest 2010 comes with two casts  -- ... More >>

5 Most Disgusting Items In The Trader Joe's Freezer Aisle

Trader Joe's is really inexpensive. To be honest, it is at times somewhat frighteningly so. But we continue to shop there, mainly because of those low prices, their large wine selection, snappy packaging and generally friendly staff. It is a brand we've come to trust, without ever really stopping to ... More >>

Jesus Statue Struck By Lightning; God Is Mad At Us

AP Photo/The Dayton Daily NewsTouchdown Jesus.​First a swarm of temblors rocked the California desert Monday night, prompting the Los Angeles Fire Department to go into "earthquake mode." Now there's news that a beloved Jesus statue (known by locals as "Touchdown Jesus," no less) was struck by ... More >>

Bicyclists Clash with LAPD

Bad blood continues despite attempts at detente

Villaraigosa 'Disappointed' By LAPD Clash With Bicyclists

​Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa this week said he was disturbed and disappointed after viewing video of an apparent clash between police and bike riders in Hollywood May 28 in which an officer threw a kick toward a bicylist and two or three other cops allegedly went after the videograp ... More >>

Bicyclist Who Videotaped Alleged LAPD Use Of Force Files Claim, Says He Was Kicked By Cops

The kick that started a firestorm.​The man who filmed a police officer throwing a kick toward a bicyclist during a protest ride last weekend has filed a claim against the Los Angeles Police Department and the city of L.A. that alleges, in part, that he was thrown to the ground and kicked by at ... More >>

LAPD Officers Involved In Clash With Bicyclists Removed From Duty

​Officers involved in a Hollywood clash with bicyclists protesting British Petroleum's role in the Gulf oil spill over the weekend have been removed from duty as the Los Angeles Police Department continued to investigate the incident, Fox 11 News reported. LAPD Chief Charlie Beck showed up at ... More >>

James Cameron to Plug Oil Spill By Losing His Temper At a Production Assistant

​Federal officials met today with filmmaker James Cameron as they look for ideas on how to plug the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.No really. That happened.Cameron was among a group of experts on deepwater operations and drilling who sat down with officials from the Environmental Protection Agency. No w ... More >>

LAPD Officers In Hot Water Over Bike Ride Incident Caught On Tape

YouTubeAn officer throws a regulation kick.​The Los Angeles Police Department launched an investigation over the weekend after an officer was spotted apparently throwing a kick toward a bicyclist involved in a demonstration against British Petroleum Friday night in Hollywood. At least 400 bi ... More >>

Why Californians Should Be Called In To Stop Gulf Oil Spill

The Deepwater Horizon oil platform went up in smoke last month, causing what could be the nation's largest oil spill.​It's sad watching British Petroleum struggle to stop the month-long Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as the Obama administration stands by, arms akimbo. BP has ... More >>

Fishery Disaster Declared for 3 Gulf Coast States

Food Safety News​ On Monday, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke declared a fishery disaster for three states, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, along the Gulf of Mexico. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody, except maybe BP. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA ... More >>

Blowback: Shaheed and The Arsonists

Car bombs, arson and the history of empire

Two Local Strikes on the Horizon

A pair of labor disputes that could have far-reaching effects on the L.A. economy are edging into the spotlight. Tomorrow morning Local 675 of the United Steelworkers of America will seek a strike sanction from the L.A. County Federation of Labor. The union, whose local and national negotiating comm ... More >>

Hormones and Boogers

A pair of labor disputes that could have far-reaching effects on the L.A. economy are edging into the spotlight. Tomorrow morning Local 675 of the United Steelworkers of America will seek a strike sanction from the L.A. County Federation of Labor. The union, whose local and national negotiating comm ... More >>

Loss and Loathing on the Cheney Trail

The environmental destruction wrought by the vice president’s secret energy plan

Eternity in an Hour

Cruise the Middle East on the Carrizo Plain

It’s the Oil

For all of punditry’s hot air, the root cause remains the same

Kiddie Diesel

A cut-rate, questionable cure for school-bus pollution