Lisa Glatt, professor of creative writing at Cal State Long Beach, is on her way to the big time - and we couldn't be happier for her. Glatt's novel, A Girl Becomes a Comma Like That, has been optioned by Andrew Wagner. We're a big fan of Lisa's because whenever we see her at a local reading, she commands the room with her intense stories and mordant wit. It doesn't matter who she reads with,......

Her music has been called haunting and timeless, and the new Bat For Lashes single "What's A Girl To Do," certainly falls under those descriptions. If Dario Argento directed music videos, this dark, ethereal promo for "What's A Girl To Do" could be it.......

As the month of February rolls around, I can’t help but think of all the crazy things that have happened during the overly optimistic January. Late nights and early mornings, cheap concerts, and drinking all New Year’s Resolutions away with a bottle of Jack, ah, everything 2007 is meant be. So I welcome February, the month of love and Black history, to devote oh-so-much fun and laughs to a few more amusing hip hop......

A Word or 33: Is anyone watching "Idol"? I can't believe it's back, I just haven't accepted it. Maybe when Diana Ross comes on as a consultant, perhaps after she sues "Dreamgirls," then I might consider it. Today - Wednesday - January 17th, 2007 Lakers @ Spurs (KCAL, 6:00 p.m.) "Foreign Correspondent" (TCM, 7:00 p.m.) A '40s classic from Hitchcock. "American Idol" (Fox, 8:00 p.m.) Season premiere part deux. "Armed & Famous" (CBS, 8:00......

A Girl Walks Into a Bar (Exam) reads the Wall Street Journal (so we don't have to). She snips parts of a story about not passing the bar -- one guy made it after taking the California bar 47 times. Jaguar Edu blogs about conscientious street vendors in Lincoln Heights. Slate combines two recent scientific studies and comes up with the booze-n-coffee diet. Better than Atkins! Local nouveau horror producer Gregg Hoffman (Saw, Saw II,......

Sample these tracks and let us know what's in your iPod playlist this week. The Shore | Local Rock Hard Road [download | watch video] Formed in Silverlake during 2002, The Shore's hard work paid off when they were signed to the Maverick label. Listen to "Hard Road" from their self-titled debut. If you like what you hear, you can see them at Spaceland on November 16. Judd and Maggie | Folk Perfectly [free......