TGIF! We found a few events around town that piqued our interest, and might tempt you as well. Magnolia Park District holds a neighborhood block party; a program on the cult classic TV show Insight at UCLA; experimental chamber orchestra wild Up in Venice; and digital music and presentations with Interface LA, a discussion on a new guidebook on LA’s ethnic spas; and a Beaujolais Nouveau release party. Read on for all the details. more ›

The L.A. Times made a big step toward boosting its bottom line without laying anybody off today. In fact, Los Angeles Times Media Group announced a significant hire, naming Emily Smith its first ever Senior Vice President of Digital. more ›

You'll never know how much I really love you, you'll never know how much I really care. Listen, do you want to know a secret? The Beatles catalog will finally effing be available on iTunes. more ›

When the city tried to regulate digital billboards earlier this decade, the advertising industry brought on the lawsuits. Out of one big cases, CBS Corp.'s Outdoor division and Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc. landed a major settlement in 2006: 800 billboards could be converted into digital ones. more ›

Yesterday. the City Council extended a three-month moratorium on new supergraphics and digital billboards for an additional 45 days. "The ICO [Interim Control Ordinance] will expire on March 26, 2009, but the legislative process to approve changes to the City’s sign ordinances may not be completed by March 26. If the ICO is allowed to lapse for even one day, a flurry of illegal signs could be installed and be nearly impossible to remove later," stressed a statement from Councilman Jack Weiss' office. This comes as both the Daily News and a follow up from the LA Times attracts attention to chopped down trees on Caltrans property along the 405 freeway near new supergraphics on the Sherman Oaks Galleria. Also: After LAist's ran this story, CBS took down their Dr. Phil supergraphic. more ›

"The billboard industry is like a creature in a science fiction movie that expands to fill any space that you make for it, and then asks, 'Have I got your attention yet?' Yes, the city believes it is fighting 'Swamp Thing.' An extremely wealthy Swamp Thing." That's City Planning Commissioner Michael Woo, as quoted by Curbed LA, at today's billboard press conference dealing with new legislation that proposes to place a two-year moratorium on digital billboards until safety studies come out. As usual, lawsuits from the billboard industry are expected to be filed against such an action. (Photo of digital billboard via Ban Billboard Blight) more ›

Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-West Hollywood) has introduced a moratorium bill that would apply to 877 billboards approved to be converted to digital. "The new law would also prohibit advertising on official changeable message signs, which convey information to motorists about Amber Alerts, traffic conditions, and emergencies," a statement from his office said today. If passed, the legislation will halt the construction and conversion of digital displays for three years, enough time for policymakers to review pending safety studies and potential hazards from the electronic type of ads. more ›

Along with a moratorium on foreclosure-related evictions, the LA City Council yesterday also passed a three-month moratorium banning any new signs (billboards, supergraphics and the conversation to digital billboards) for three months while the City Attorney and Planning Department draft permanent changes to the City’s sign ordinance to better regulate advertising in the City. more ›

That white square thing behind the billboard is a generator. That's right--not only are these bright digital billboards annoying as hell and have the potential to cause accidents, but they're also using up fuel and polluting the air with the generators. Thanks billboard industry. Thanks a lot. more ›

The LA City Council is back from a small recess and today's meeting will not be a light one with two motions being introduced that will address the proliferation of electronic billboards in Los Angeles. more ›

Not about to throw his back out. With the holiday season coming up, many of us become nostalgic with the sights, smells, and sounds of relatives and good times past and present. Some of us turn to photographs to settle these hungry feelings, others slides, others old film reels. The main problem in this endeavor, though, comes when you try to actually find the photos you're thinking of. I know, in my house, we have... more ›

The fact that the good old CD has been on the market for 25 years is the latest factoid to make me feel like I am getting downright old. I didn't actually get on the digital audio bandwagon until around 1989. Up to that point, while there were vinyl albums around the house, my world was all about cassette tapes. These days, I am well-informed / jaded enough to look at any new format... more ›