National Geographic may be one of the longest-publishing magazine in history -- first printed in 1888 -- but that isn't keeping it from taking a front seat in the industry-wide drive to innovate for the digital age. From interactive iPad apps to games and plans for digital subscription plans, NatGeo is living up to its shiny reputation and building its brand across the web and new digital platforms in real time. more ›

Happy 41st Birthday to Sesame Street! We grew up watching this show and had our kids watch the program as well after finding it just as educational, relevant, and comforting. Sure, we don't have a lot of emotional investment in some of the newer characters (we need more Guy Smiley!!) but this is still the highest quality program for pre-schoolers available. We're resolved to somehow making it on set in order to fulfill that childhood dream that several million people probably have. Here's to another 41 years Sesame Street! more ›

National Geographic's "Great Migrations" premieres on Sunday at 8pm followed by another new program at 9pm (see the promo vid above). Perhaps the most recent example of such stunning nature photography would be the BBC's "Life" which aired on Discovery earlier this year. I haven't seen the entire series but I was completely bowled over by the footage of everything from wildabeests to penguins. What I do hope to see is some discussion about how humans have affected these ancient migratory paths and to the detriment of these animals. more ›

LA has a diverse cast of characters. Whether it's the characters with stirring stories or interesting occupations or the people who are just simply characters, this town has them all. In an effort to get to know some of those characters a little better, we've created "Seven Questions with..." If you have a suggestion for a future Seven Questions subject send us an email. more ›

National Geographic’s 5th Annual All Roads Film Festival begins tonight and lasts though Sunday at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. It’s a showcase of films from around the world, with a focus on stories from indigenous and underrepresented minority cultures. During the festival, there’ll be music performances, art and, of course, film screenings. more ›

We're well into Shark Week 2008! Last night was a lot of fun and there's more to come tonight, I've highlighted the "Greenland Shark Quest" below as the one to watch. If TV sharks aren't enough, of course Discovery Channel's Shark Week website has a bunch of news, scientific info, and games all tied into Shark Week - my fave is "Go Shark Yourself" which is creepy gross and fun at the same time. Once you've exhausted the resources of the Discovery Channel, don't forget the old standby (and incredible resource) called National Geographic, which also has a website dedicated to sharks: tons and tons of cool pics, a shark attack survival guide, and videos including this insane one of a giant octopus vs. a shark! I don't think I've written the word "shark" this many times in one sitting before. more ›

For twenty-four hours starting tomorrow at noon, 120 scientists, 1,400 LAUSD students and community members will embark on the 2nd National Geographic BioBlitz in the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area (though some say it's essentially a National Park), which stretches from the ocean to Cahuenga Pass at the 101 Freeway. Together they will comb the area, as well as Griffith Park, observing and recording as many plant and animal species as possible in 24 hours. Think of it as part scientific endeavor, part festival and part outdoor classroom. more ›

Now that the writers' strike is over and it's full-steam ahead with the Oscars, you can bet that just about every TV channel is going to dogpile on the gala event. Yeah, the Grammys went ahead without interference but the Grammys are nothing compared to the Oscars. E! and CNN already have several shows lined up (look for Oscar host, Jon Stewart, on Larry King this Wednesday night) ready to tackle the exciting topics of: what will be in the gift bags? Who is Prince going to have perform at his Oscar bash? Where do the stars detox before and after the Oscars? etc. more ›

Hop in your time machine and set the dial back sixty years to December 1947 and the pages of National Geographic magazine. Holiday shopping back then was just as difficult as it is now, especially when you've got people on your list who are hard to buy for. So what's left to get them except this "All in One" trailer that makes the ideal home at the beach, in the desert, or in the... more ›

The LA County Fair comes to end tonight, and if you can't make it or county fairs just aren't your thing, there's plenty of festival happenings today around Los Angeles:Swerve Festival @ Barnsdall Park National Geographic's All Roads Film Festival Feast of San Genaro Italian Festival Abbot Kinney Festival Grand Avenue Festival West Hollywood Book Fair Just Lives Festival Santa Clarita Street Arts Festival Polska Parafia Bazaar SGV Greek Festival Nigerian Independence Day Celebration... more ›

Autumn is upon us and here in LA we are harvesting art, music, and mayhem. For whatever reason, it seems that this is the busiest festival weekend of the year, with something for all ages, in all corners of LA, and all times of day and night. If ever there was a weekend to clone yourself and be everywhere at once, this would be it. Jump right in. Swerve Festival: This looks to be... more ›

Jane Goodall - leading primatologist, National Geographic favorite, TED speaker -- is coming to LA. To Griffith Park. Wow, do we have monkeys? Where are the monkeys in Griffith Park? more ›

8:00pm Going Back to New Orleans UPN/KCOP - Music icon Deacon John Moore documents the unique culture of the Big Easy. 9:00pm Against the Tide: The Battle for New Orleans CNBC - The business side of the New Orleans recovery effort. 10:00pm Still Waiting: Life After Katrina PBS/KOCE An African American/Creole family returns to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, hoping to hold on to their bayou culture. 10:00pm DIY to the Rescue: Katrina Rebuild... more ›

Tonight, Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel presents a story close to home at 9:00 p.m. We just watched a screener and it was a joy. A family drops off a Dalmatian off at Fire Station 29 on Wilshire Blvd. and with good intentions, the firemen of the station took the 3-month-old puppy in. Like, oh my god, so cute! But incredibly wild and unruly. Appropriately named Wilshire, the hyperactive pup took over... more ›

Guest Day Editor Carolyn Kellogg joins LAist with a few posts throughout the day. Read the introductory interview and check out the her litblog. more ›

LAist Editor Tony Pierce has blogged here non-stop for more than a year deserving a well-earned vacation (and did he ever earn it). While out of town, we decided to have a little fun and bring some guest day editors in from around the blogLAsphere. Yesterday was Siel of Green LA Girl, today is Fred Camino of MetroRiderLA. All Aboard! 1. Age and occupation: 26 yearz old. I'm a freelance motion graphics designer, whatever that... more ›

• #147 - A Tallahassee prison warden and two of his assistants were removed yesterday after an inmate had his ass kicked by four guards - NYT • #148 - Crooks stole customer information from the parent company of T.J. Maxx to create credit cards which they then spent on Wal-Mart and Sam's Club gift cards in 50 of Florida's 65 counties. Are these crooks saying that Florida Wal-Mart's are easy to rip off?... more ›

Tonight - Friday - March 16th, 2007 College Basketball: Arizona vs. Purdue (CBS, 4:00 p.m.) College Basketball: Arkansas vs. USC (CBS, 6:30 p.m.) Trail Blazers @ Lakers (Fox Sports, 7:30 p.m.) Take the Money and Run (TCM, 6:45 p.m.) Bumbling bank thief, Woody Allen, is released from prison and continues his crime spree (1969) 20/20 (ABC, 9:55 p.m.) Bawbwa talks to Venezuelan Prez Hugo Chavez Larry King Live (CNN, 9:00 p.m.) thighmistress Suzanne Somers,... more ›

Today - Monday - January 1st, 2007 "118th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade" (the CW, 8:00 a.m. and then again at 10:30 a.m.) from my old hometown of Pasadena "National Geographic's Most Amazing Moments Marathon"(National Geographic Channel, 12:00 p.m.) How will National Geographic be able to top these moments in 2007? It's gonna be impossible. "Dukes of Hazzard Marathon" (CMT, 1:00 p.m.) The marathon includes both the "Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood" and... more ›

In the LA-based movie Collateral, Max (played by Jamie Foxx) had only one way of taking a vacation: vicariously, through a photo of a tropical island in his taxi cab sun visor. Now, in two weeks, Max will have another choice. From National Geographic's All Roads Film Project comes (bet you can't guess it) the All Roads Film Festival. Los Angeles is the first stop of this traveling Film Festival, which goes to various... more ›

Question: Meave Leakey's recent fossil discoveries have been made near Lake Turkana. This lake extends from Kenya into which other country? more ›