The Christian Science Monitor

Val Kilmer Tells Us Why the World Needs Another Mark Twain Solo Show

How a Sardine Surplus in India May Change Our Daily Diet

Sardines may not be what's for regular seafood dinners in Los Angeles, unlike in Mumbai where there is plenty to be found at a local wholesale fish market. There is a more direct tie, however, between L.A. and Mumbai seafood supplies than a comparison of what goes onto one's dinner plate. As reporte ... More >>

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Puts Another Leg Into National Politics

By Andra Lim Antonio Villaraigosa continues to get cozy with the Obama Administration. Tomorrow, Villaraigosa and White House big shots -- including U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar -- will meet in Los Angeles with hundreds of local leaders to talk about issues significant to the Hisp ... More >>

2012 James Beard Foundation Award Nominees Announced: The Mozza Edition

Yesterday the James Beard Foundation announced its 2012 nominations for book awards, journalism, design and graphics, broadcast and media, and restaurant and chefs. It is a very long list. There were also awards given for lifetime achievement (Wolfgang Puck!) and humanitarian of the year (Charlie Tr ... More >>

Top 10 Food-Related Lawsuits of 2011

Taco BellTaco Bell gives thanks for being sued over the contents of its meat​A look at this year through the lens of the food-related lawsuits is like watching the first season of The Killing: an exercise in frustration, bewilderment, and, occasionally, excitement. From the mother who sued N ... More >>

Great White Shark Population in SoCal Increasing? Research Says No

egotvonline.comSomebody's mad​Three shark sightings off the coast of San Diego in the last two weeks led to binocular-wielding tourists staking out areas like Mission Beach and La Jolla in hopes of catching a glimpse of a fishy dorsal fin. The Los Angeles Times reported in their story coverin ... More >>

Ruben Flores-Villar, San Diego Immigrant With U.S. Citizen Father, Must Return to Mexico After Supreme Court Deadlock

It's back to Tijuana for Flores-Villar​Bad news for immigrants hoping to inherit U.S. citizenship from their dads, even though their moms are foreigners: After five years in court, the Flores-Villar case is finally dead. Its rejection was completed by a 4-4 deadlock in the Supreme Court toda ... More >>

Asian, Latino Voters Are Less Liberal -- But Not When It Comes To Republican Whores

Image de DenverDid I forget to tell them how much I hate Arizona?​Not shockingly, the Republican candidates of California are in a state of confusion after the ransacking they received on Election Day 2010. They can't understand why, when Latinos and Asian-Americans report being politically l ... More >>

Web Surfing: A Roundup of News from L.A. Food Blogs & Beyond

-- Local food stylist Adam C. Pearson gets hauled off a plane for his tattoos. [Daily Dish] -- A profile of The Spotted Pig's April Bloomfield. [The New Yorker] -- A fat tax? No. Let's be free! [The Christian Science Monitor] -- Lindsay Lohan kicks her dad out for showing up unannounced with Chin ... More >>

Three Reasons California's Pot Legalization Effort Failed

California loves its pot, so why didn't we legalize it?​Last week we took a look at some of the factors behind the failure of California's pot legalization movement. This week the Christian Science Monitor considers Prop. 19 and comes up with three reasons why it didn't pass: The federal go ... More >>

Twitter Kicks California Secretary Of State's Ass In Real-Time Election Coverage

Even Ah-nold chooses Twitter on Election Day​On California Secretary of State Debra Bowen's most important night of the year, her prehistoric website was handling the traffic like the 405 freeway at 5 p.m. The standard map and chart features were wiped inexplicably, then replaced by a ghetto P ... More >>

Froot Loops, Other Kellogg Cereals Recalled

Flickr/ZanastardustConsumers have complained of a waxy, metallic or soapy odor and taste. ​ Do not open that box of Apple Jacks. According to a report Friday in the Christian Science Monitor, Kellogg Co. is recalling the apple-cinnamon-flavored cereal along with Fruit Loops, Corn Pops and Hone ... More >>

Love Salty Snacks? You May Have Superpowers

Flickr/Dana MoosA selection of deep-fried, salty snacks.​ If you crave Planter's peanuts, hanker for bacon and relish potato chips, you may be a "supertaster." A Penn State study published in the journal Physiology & Behavior on June 16 found that some people experience the taste of salt mor ... More >>

Ex-LA Weekly Writer Scott Foundas Wins 'Critic Of The Year' Award

Scott Foundas.​Film writer Scott Foundas won the "print critic of the year" award at the Los Angeles Press Club's third annual National Entertainment Journalism Awards Thursday night for his body of work published in LA Weekly. He left the paper at the beginning of the year to take over associ ... More >>

Is Mickey Kaus Pulling A Ralph Nader On Barbara Boxer?

Sen. Barbara Boxer.​With Barbara Boxer suddenly against the ropes in the polls, is Democratic opponent and mega-blogger Mickey Kaus pulling a Ralph Nader in his recently launched campaign against her? In other words, will he spoil her parade and open the door for a Republican to take over her ... More >>

For Your Reconsideration: Wha?

Our guest critic champions an unheralded 2008 masterpiece

Cat Cafe: Los Angeles Needs One, STAT

Here is a business idea for those casting about for things to do in the economic downturn: start a cat cafe. Japan has one. No, correction, they have seven. Seven places where visitors to the cafe pay $8-$12 an hour to sit with cats and drink tea with cats and read comics with cats and pet the cats. ... More >>

Everybody in The Fishtank!

What to do in Los Angeles this week

The Critics Speak

The First Annual L.A. Weekly Film Poll

Steven Vincent’s Final Days

Dealing with threats in Iraq

Two Americas, Two Lists

Lights . . . Camera . . . Hit the Dirt!

In Baghdad, a perilous rebirth of feature filmmaking

Revising History

The real Jessica Lynch story

The Back Story

Let a hundred pipelines bloom

The Back Story

Peace is patriotic

The Back Story

The Back Story

A week 11 reading list