Imagine you're a little kid minding your own business (wait, what kid minds their own business?) and playing on the school yard when a rambling, confused, and chain-smoking woman shows up in a skimpy outfit looking for her kids. No, scratch that--looking for her lawyer's kids. Oh, and that woman just happens to be Britney Spears. That was the scene earlier this month at an elementary school in Beverly Hills, as described this week by......

A different kind of web-server: Los Angeles based social networking site MySpace is getting served with subpoenas in the case of the teenager who committed suicide following a friend fake-out that was allegedly helmed by a classmate's parent. All I wanna do is BANG BANG BANG BANG! and take your...Fritos? Two Lancaster gang members have been convicted for killing a kid over his junk food. Laquane Keith and Reno Williams shot and killed 18-year-old LeMarcus......

In order to inspire you to get those last-minute cards in the mail today, here are four very personal holiday messages to and from your favorite musicians. WILD BILLY CHILDISH AND THE MUSICIANS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE - A Quick One (Pete Townshend's Christmas) The garage-spawned Childish remains up to no good in his latest venture, the quite fab Christmas 1979. For this one, he reimagines the final third or so of The Who's......

After a five-week hiatus, LAist is back to taking you on its weekly trip down to Orange County to uncover the unique dining experiences that await adventurous eaters willing to explore beyond the county line. I’ve always had a certain fascination with crepes. Not sure exactly why, perhaps it’s the simple elegance that a crepe has, its delicate buckwheat consistency and taste that can be deliciously served with virtually any kind of filling, whether sweet......

The nightmares of all nightmares have happened. Ohio State will now be in the BCS Championship game by virtue of being ranked third in the BCS and both #1 Missouri losing to Oklahoma and #2 West Virginia losing to Pittsburgh in the Backyard Brawl. How the fuck is this happening? I thought once the Buckeyes lost to Illinois at home on November 10 they would effectively be gone from any discussion about a National......

All I wanted was a deep-fried turkey blowing up. Just a little cautionary video. Instead I got a Frosty the Snowman gay suicide, nazi gingerbread, and a drunk interfering with a newscaster. Bonus!......

For what seems like the 300th time this year, Hollywood is giving us a movie based on a graphic novel. That movie is 30 Days of Night and stars the lethally inexpressive Josh Hartnett as a small-town sheriff charged with the task of protecting Barrow, Alaska from a rampaging horde of hungry (or is thirsty?) vampires. All I can say is, "at least it's rated R". I'll probably sit this one out and wait......

Alright I am going to try something that I have never done...the clock has just struck midnight and the glorious date of Oct 10th is upon us meaning, In Rainbows. The new offering from Radiohead is officially available via their website for download. I have just downloaded the album, which I paid a healthy sum of $10 bucks for. I am going to liveblog and review each track as I listen to the album......

A few weeks ago, while perusing the offerings behind the glass at the Surfas café, I noticed a bowl of green grains labeled “Freekah salad”. “What’s that taste like?” I asked. “It’s easier if you just try it,” said the friendly lad behind the counter, handing me a spoonful. I ate it. I frowned. Then I smiled. “Did you add that smoke in a bottle stuff to it? It’s so smoky!” “Nope,” he said.......

In the last segment of TWISM, we mentioned a few tracks that may (or may not, let me know!) have set the mood for an evening of glorious love making. This week we’re raising the bar a little bit. Oh hell, I’ll just be blunt and get to the point; this week we’re gonna talk about music to fuck to. Now we all know that music is one of the more subjective mediums of......

Today is what would have been the anniversary of Charles Bukowski's 87th year on this planet, had he not passed away in 1994. I really wish I had it in me to writing something amazing in honor of the man, but I'm not sure it can be done. What can you write about a man who revolutionized literature with a style that has yet to be rivaled? All I can think to do on......

Sometimes the things that strike me funny are hard to explain. All I can say is, I have new tennis shoes... And pay special attention to secret sauce guy. This is a Jack commercial from 1970, and it's clear that we the people of 2007 are not doing nearly enough drugs. Tacos 2 for 99, Jack in the Box... Bacon Cheddar Tato Wedges, Jack in the Box... Midnight at the Drive-Thru window, Jack in......

Fact: John McClaine would beat the piss out of Jack Bauer. I know what you're gonna' say: "But c'mon Henry, Jack withstood Chinese torture. They've got that water on the forehead trick and shit" Oooh, Big deal. I bet Jack wouldn't trade 15 nights of Chinese torture for a single night in Nakatomi Plaza. If you've even seen the preview for this movie, you may have noticed that John McClaine surfs a goddamn jet......

It’s not even worth bringing up his name anymore. The story got old about two seconds after hit the air the first time, and about four weeks before all of this ridiculous war of words, MySpace baiting, YouTube disparaging business became headline news. Trade him. Don’t trade him. Whatever. All I know is that I miss the old Lakers. I’m not talking about the Showtime Lakers of the 80s (though those were some of the......

written by Jenn Sherry for LAist All I have to say is The Do LaB knows how to party. And I’m not talking Sunset Strip or even Vegas party, I’m talking about that scene in Matrix Reloaded where thousands of people are dancing like sexy savages to bass pumping house beats party. The kid sister of Burning Man, Lightning in a Bottle is a green, giant, outdoor adult playground, where you can dress the......

by Rory Freedman Don’t let your panties get in a bunch because I’m writing what seems like a “religious” blog. Typically when people ask me what religion I am, I say “vegan,” because my decision to abstain from eating, wearing, and using animals has shaped me more than anything else in my life. And these principles have affected every aspect of my life, including my spirituality. One of the benefits of choosing veganism as my......

Out Today (The Baby List) Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha (Fat Possum (Ryko)) LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver (Capitol) Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Living with the Living (Touch & Go) Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (Sony) I'm from Barcelona - Let Me Introduce My Friends [US Bonus Tracks] (Mute U.S.) Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Junk Culture (Caroline) El-P - I'll Sleep When You're......

It's all Sondra Prill all the time here at LAist. At least for a few days. Who is Sondra Prill? A Florida woman with a lot of chutzpah and very little self-awareness, who made a slew of karaoke videos for her cable access show back in the 1980s, many of which have been resurrected on YouTube. All I can say about her take on this Bette Midler song is: God is watching us.......

Still wondering what to give your sweet transgressive for Valentine's Day? Filthy, lovable, mustachioed filmmaker John Waters is releasing A Date With John Waters, a stirring yet suitably bizarre compilation album of his favorite love songs. To celebrate the album's release Waters will be at Amoeba Records in Hollywood tomorrow, February 6 at 6 PM, signing CDs and posing with fans in a Valentines setting. The album spans oddities such as the first record......

So back in November we asked the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, who oversees Neighborhood Councils, for a quick 5 question interview... LAist: Okay, so what the heck is a DONE Advocate and what are these Neighborhood Councils all about? DONE: ... LAist: Why should our readers get to know their Neighborhood Council? DONE: ... LAist: What is one step our readers can do right now to participate to help mold the future of Los......

I have no idea what this movie is all about. All I know is it starts off with the monkey reading LAist and it runs over 9 minutes long. And it belongs as a 4:20 Video... don't you agree? video via oosoom......

LAist is currently looking for a few good contributers. Do you have what it takes? Q. Why should I write for LAist? A. LAist is one of the hottest blogs in town. Just over the last twelve months our page views have continued to climb, increasing each month. This month we have quadrupled in popularity compared to last year at this time. This means that what you write will actually get read - one of......

USC: Unfortunately, such events are all too common on the streets of L.A. - and the result is too often handwringing followed by inaction. But this was so public, and so blatant, that surely this will result in real repercussion for the officers involved. Right? While UCLA police have announced they will launch their own investigation, anyone with the most cursory knowledge of the City of Angels won't hold their breath for the outcome......

Steven Rosenberg of the Daily News was right when he commented on my blog about receiving an abnormally large amount of political mailers this election season. Today, I opened my mailbox to find no bills, letters, credit card offers or Bed, Bath & Beyond coupons. All I found were 7 political mailers; 3 of which were variations of Yes on 87 ("Less Foreign Oil. Cleaner Energy"). I'm not trying to be antagonistic about this,......

Back in February, I got an e-mail with the subject line, "blog tip." With a link to the blog, all the e-mail said was, "just some information - nothing flashy. Glad to know you. LACN." Overtime, the anonymous LACityNerd became an authority to all things, city of Los Angeles. I don't know who the nerd is. I don't even know if the nerd is a male, female, child or beast. All I know is......

late night thoughts... Today, Castaic is on fire. The one year I spent there was pretty much fireless. All I experienced were the 2005 rainstorms. I lived on a slanted street called Cascade. That rainy winter, it literally became that. DR Horton built the 10-year-old tract in the Hillcrest neighborhood. I would walk down the street and recognize my rented house in various forms: inverted, inverted retrograde, one shade brown lighter, etc. My house......

Hi, smelly sticky green bud. Hi LAist. So how are you doing, you sexy thing? I'm doing great, LAist, because West Hollywood just made me legal. No, no. I believe yesterday they just passed a resolution that advises the Sheriff's Dept to busy itself on more serious crimes. Whatev. All I know is I'm gonna get hiiiiiiiiiigh tonight. Par-tay on Santa Monica Blvd. Weed, isn't there always a party on Santa Monica? Haha yeah......

Checking out the rants & raves board on Craigslist, LAist found out that May 1 has been designated "A Day Without An Immigrant." The organizers are setting up a nationwide general immigrant strike and boycott. The website actionla.org gives details on the coordinated boycott which is being organized around four points: "No Work, No School, No Sales, and No Buying." According to ActionLA: We will settle for nothing less than full amnesty and dignity......

Jen Sincero is a musician, sexpert, and the author of the bestselling book, The Straight Girl’s Guide To Sleeping With Chicks and the semi-autobiographical novel, Don’t Sleep With Your Drummer. She currently hosts a weekly sex talk radio show called Dr. Happypants on killradio.org. Living in Sin is her weekly advice column for LA's sexually curious, confused and constipated. Got a question for Jen? Ask her. We promise to be discreet (all questions will......