So Merriam-Webster's word of the year is w00t. Sort of uninspiring, right? As in, aren't there thousands of other words that communicate so much more, mean so much more than the gamer battle-cry for "yes! i just killed your guy and i still have seven lives left!"?!?!? Surely there are more important things that happened in the word world than this, we kept thinking. Surely there were actual words that should have won. "Facebook" was......

After LA Animal Services released their latest statistics, The Daily News ran a story with this headline: "Animal Deaths Rise in L.A. Shelters". Yet, the number of animals euthanized in Los Angeles has dropped by 20% this year - a hard-won statistic for Ed Boks, general manager for LA Animal Services. Since Los Angeles adopted a no-kill policy 10 years ago, the number of euthanized animals has dropped from 65,000 to 15,000 a year.......

It all started with Anthony Bourdain's Mexican border episode of his show No Reservations. At one point he picks up a riding crop in a leather shop. He slaps it confidently against the palm of his hand, and says, "Yeah, this is coming home with me." I've always been attracted to his superior punk New York attitude. But the "whack" of that riding crop took it somewhere new. I confessed to my boyfriend, "I'm sorry......

I am thankful for… Thanksgiving - even though I think it’s a stupid holiday, and I pretty much hate all the food associated with it - for giving me the opportunity to spend the day with family that I love and actually enjoy being around. I am thankful every day that I am able to make a living being creative and doing something I love. (Except for when I’m on strike) I am thankful......

I’m grateful that three years ago when everyone was telling me I ought to suck it up and buy a house, that I resisted – because a year later, when I left my job, no mortgage meant I could take a year off from work, work on a novel, start blogging, and – most importantly – find my inner (and outer) slacker. I’m happy to live in the U.S. of A., even though this......

that L.A. is less crowded on Thanksgiving. for my friends & family (including my cat). for the Dodgers (2008 will be awesome--GO BLUE)!! for the 1st amendment. for LAist. Happy Thanksgiving! May you eat, drink & be loved today!! CANstruction Thanksgiving dinner photo by Jennifer Saxon for LAist.......

Hearts of Darkness is such a perfect complement to Apocalpyse Now that it's hard to watch one without thinking of the other. Though it's not the greatest print, the former is finally available on DVD. Now that the year is coming to an end, people are starting to talk about Oscar contenders. Why is the superb Rescue Dawn being left out of the mix? Live Free or Die Hard doesn't play like a Die......

CAT POWER - Werewolf &righticonhover=0x333232&text=0x333232&slider=0xF2F2F2&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0xFFFFFF&loader=0x838383&soundFile=http://aprodxn.com/laist/Cat Power - Werewolf.mp3"> GUANA BATS - Werewolf Blues &righticonhover=0x333232&text=0x333232&slider=0xF2F2F2&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0xFFFFFF&loader=0x838383&soundFile=http://aprodxn.com/laist/guana batz - werewolf blues.mp3"> BUSH - Mouth (American Werewolf in Paris) &righticonhover=0x333232&text=0x333232&slider=0xF2F2F2&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0xFFFFFF&loader=0x838383&soundFile=http://aprodxn.com/laist/Bush - Mouth - An American Werewolf in Paris.mp3"> HALLOWEEN SOUND EFFECTS &righticonhover=0x333232&text=0x333232&slider=0xF2F2F2&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0xFFFFFF&loader=0x838383&soundFile=http://aprodxn.com/laist/Halloween Sound Effects - 17 - Werewolf at Midnight.mp3"> CRAMPS - I Was a Teenage Werewolf &righticonhover=0x333232&text=0x333232&slider=0xF2F2F2&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0xFFFFFF&loader=0x838383&soundFile=http://aprodxn.com/laist/The Cramps - I Was a Teenage Werewolf.mp3"> CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL Bad Moon Rising &righticonhover=0x333232&text=0x333232&slider=0xF2F2F2&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0xFFFFFF&loader=0x838383&soundFile=http://aprodxn.com/laist/CCR - Bad Moon Rising.mp3"> VIOLENT FEMMES......

I am not going to mention Ann Coulter's visit to LA this week or the location. To be honest, I am at a loss for words with THAT woman. I mean does someone ever anger you so much that your nose just twitches and your head shakes side-to-side like a horse swatting a fly and shivers are sent through your whole body? Yup, that pretty much sums up Ann for me. I went to......

What happens when you run one of the largest, "extremely lucrative" networks of invite-only, torrent-based music piracy? Interpol comes knocking at your door. Next thing you know all of your properties, including that covert warehouse in Amsterdam where your server is based, are seized in a raid-like manner. As though you were exporting/importing pounds of Class A drugs. Last night around 2 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, OiNK was officially taken off the web. By......

Whether or not the movie Hard Candy frightens you is going to depend entirely on whether or not you have testicles. My male friends cringed throughout this movie and tell me it scared the hell out of them. I had an entirely different experience. It was the first thriller I have ever watched without being frightened. The entirety of the film is based on the interplay between two characters alone together in an isolated house.......

Let's start over, shall we? Disney is investing $1.1 billion into California (Mis)adventure, the ghost town of an amusement park next to Disneyland. The Rose Queen for the Pasadena Rose Parade was announced this morning and her name is Dusty. We just love that name for a girl. Staring now, there is no excuse for anyone of any age to ever go "I don't get blogging." The world's oldest blogger celebrated her birthday this......

Current Carolla co-pilot Danny Bonaduce will not be charged with felony battery for tossing "Survivor" contestant Jonny Fairplay onto a stage at the Fox Reality Really Awards Monday. Prosecutors said Fairplay "initiated contact and acted offensively." How much of a dude is Bonaduce for throwing a guy on a stage and getting the prosecutors to say the other guy was offensive? A man died today after his plane crashed into the median divider at......

If you've missed Ken Burns' latest sprawling effort on PBS, you can catch it today when it drops on DVD. Silver Surfer was better than the original Fantastic Four, but that's not really saying much. Got to love Doug Jones, though. 1408 was a surprise summer hit. I think it'll work even better when you're watching it alone at home with the lights turned off. Entourage was never the same after the Aquaman arc,......

The Flickr Related Tag Browser, a much easier way to look at photos in Flickr....

Artist: No Age Album: Weirdo Rippers Label: Fat Cat Records Release Date: 08/28/2007 Perhaps you had a chance to see No Age at one of their shows at the end of the August at the Troubador or perhaps the Fuck Yeah Fest. If you missed them you'll have a chance to see the LA-based duo of Dean Spunt and Randy Randall (frickin' love that name) again but until then you should consider giving their......

How the two best shows happening tonight are still not sold out is beyond me. If you dont wanna be outside listening to the pretty music coming from the pretty boys of Air you really should check out the Rentals at the Music Box. Word is there will be some special guests. The Rentals, Goldenboy, Copeland @ The Henry Fonda Air @ The Greek Cat Power @ Avalon Muse @ Irvine Meadows B-52's @......

Artist: Sunset Rubdown Album: Random Spirit Lover Label: Jagjaguwar Release Date: October 9th, 2007 Sunset Rubdown is the brainchild of Spencer Krug, member of major indie band Wolf Parade, and seemingly half a dozen other outfits. Instead of the pseudo-dance rock of Wolf Parade, we have a much more lyrically-driven product in Sunset Rubdown. Krug's curious copious screeds are lengthy and complex, and run the gamut of fable-telling ("The Mending of the Gown") to nearly......

Built to Spill, Camper Van Beethoven @ Henry Fonda Wolf Parade, Holy Fuck @ El Rey OK Stranger, Voodoo Organist, The City Drive, The Mercy Kiss @ Safari Sam's The Brunettes, Ferraby Lionheart, Mezzanine Owls @ The Troubadour Death to Anders, The Transmissions, Health Club, One Trick Pony @ Spaceland The Starfuckers, Hypernova, Panic Club, Resistance, Vicious Licks, Drills @ Cat Club The Watkins Family Hour @ Largo Height, Pillow Fight Fight @ The......

Spoon - "The Underdog" Spoon @ Henry Fonda The Airborne Toxic Event @ The Viper Room I'm a Bird You're a Bird @ The Cat Club 14 Year Old Girls @ Pehrspace Lucinda Williams @ El Rey Gram Rabbit, Donita Sparks @ Spaceland Metal Skool, Zombies Ate My Nation @ Key Club Todd Rundgren @ Grove of Anaheim Doug Benson, Patton Oswalt @ Largo The Happy Hollows, The Western States Motel, Tigers Can Bite......

It's amazing that the best rock record to come out in 2007 is by a band a gray haired guy who shreds harder and better than kids half his age. The return of the OG lineup of Dinosaur Jr. is something that should be celebrated, experienced, and savored. Beyond is old school grungy rock with omg guitar solos that twist and spiral and soar like nothing that is being played by today's mascara-wearing youth.......

Stevie Wonder never ceases to amaze. He is a true icon, a kind spirit, and funny. The man is really funny and the crowd loves him. I think the concert of the summer has to be Stevie Wonder at the Greek this past Wednesday. I'm not just saying that because I went with a superfan who drove all the way from Colorado to see this show or because everyone seemed to know every word......

We're still kind of obsessed with the cooking videos over at imcooked, especially the oddly soothing clips of Thai street vendors cooking their wares: in the video above, check out a fried mussel dish prepared in less than four minutes. The LA Times heads north this week to seek out culinary finds in Ventura and Santa Barbara, respectively: first at new vegan restaurant, Mary's Secret Garden, and then at the Santa Barbara outpost of......

Sex is something that drives us, empowers us and gets us into really stupid situations with people we have no business seeing naked. Jen Sincero is the bestselling author and sexpert with the carnal knowledge you need. Ask her your questions (all are posted anonymously). Cuz there's no such thing as being too good in bed. Dear Jen, One afternoon I found myself waiting for your column to arrive in my inbox. Since that......

Local cat and local dog snuggle. Yes, that dog does look like Salacious Crumb from Return of the Jedi.......

The Fiona Apple comparisons are inevitable. As soon as Sara Bareilles opens her mouth, she reveals the vocal depth of Apple with the pop sensibility of Rachael Yamagata and Regina Spektor and the soulful sultriness of Norah Jones and Feist. In fact, on her website, she says: "I write mostly on piano and I'm a girl, so lots of people say it's Norah Jones, or Fiona Apple. That's fine. I love Norah's subtlety and......

Spice girl, newlywed, and new mama Mel B is being outted by her former lesbian lover who is revealing information about their two year love affair and Mel B's "fragile" state of mind - Daily News Britney Spears got pulled over last night on her way to her favorite party spot, Las Vegas. Britney got out of it, claiming she was being chased by the paparazzi - Dlisted Pete Doherty checks into rehab finally, lets......

Following in the footsteps of Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, and Nicole Richie, Bill Murray could face a drunk driving charge after he drove a golf cart along a downtwon street in Stockholm, Sweden and refused a breath test - Yahoo News Rapper Foxy Brown has been sentenced to jail, Rikers Island to be more specific, after violating her probation. She is currently three months preggers - TMZ Lindsay Lohan can relax a little more in......

Our friends over at Slashfood just turned us on to a fun new website, imcooked, a web community for sharing video recipes. In the clip above, Christopher Walken prepares a roasted chicken with pears - and you know what? He looks to be a pretty good amateur chef! I'm only wondering why, at the end of the video, he decides to dump his cat on top of the chicken. Maybe he's short on dining......

Maxwell Lemuel Roach was born on Jan 10, 1924 in New Land, NC. He would go on to become one of the all-time great masters of rhythm. Max Roach's command of instrument, and his musicality as a drummer -- anchored and accelerated the evolution of jazz and moreover everything that is good music. A primary catalyst of the progression of bebop to hard bop -- Max Roach made the drums the hottest instrument on......