In remembrance of the many lives lost in the 2004 South Asian tsunami, the public is invited to gather at a candlelight vigil with representatives of Sri Lankan organizations on Dec. 26, 6:30 p.m. at the Santa Monica Pier. Prayers will be offered by several religious denominations (Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Muslim), followed by a moment of silence. Participants will release flowers into the ocean as the memorial service comes to an end. The......

It’s been over two and a half years since the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami killed an estimated 200,000 people. Apart from updates commemorating the anniversary in the mainstream media, new stories of rebuilding and the long-term aftermath have been a challenge to find. This Sunday, a sample sale open to the public for Suba Ude, a cooperative of tsunami-affected seamstresses in Matara, Sri Lanka, will take place at a private residence in Venice. Hosted......

In an alarmist post on Digg.com, someone is feeling like the big one is coming. "Third Earthquake Hits San Fran/Bay Area in Three Days! Exact same spot, and the Bay Area is due for the Big One any day now!" As commenter PunkRampant points out, there should be no worries. "We get weak earthquakes all the time, ~3 magnitude quakes aren't uncommon. This is a good thing, because if the weak quakes suddenly stopped......

On this day in 1979, a two- to three-kiloton nuclear bomb explosion (or something) was detected in the Indian Ocean about halfway between South Africa and Antarctica. No country to date has claimed responsibility. On this day in 1958, Joan Marie Larkin was born in Philadelphia. Upon relocation to Hollywood, Ms. Larkin became better known as Joan Jett and was responsible for blowing up the rock establishment with her all-girl band The Runaways. Now......

Just when you thought Laker media storms had subsided, for a few years at least, we get a coaching crisis. With Rudy Tomjanovich reportedly on his way out, Phil Jackson is said to be "mulling" a return. Jackson is vacationing in Australia with Luc Longley and brought up a return in an e-mail, writing: "[I am] mulling that over in my mind. Luc and I are going for a swim this p.m. [in the]......