Nice weather we're having, isn't it? It's no wonder Angelenos have been flocking to the Pacific shores for some fun in the sun. Here's a look at some photos taken in these first few days of 2012 as we enjoy a bit of summer in January, courtesy the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr. more ›

Last night marked the series finale of "The Pacific", and while we've expressed frustration with accuracy, and a general feeling of apathy for the characters, last night's episode was probably the best one - without a shot being fired. [Spoiler Alert] As we saw these men return to the States, reintegrate (or not) with their families, we finally felt some real empathy for them. It was very well done with the exception of the myriad of post-scripts preceding the credits. more ›

The TV Junkie Plan: "How I Met Your Mother", "Rules of Engagement", "24", "Nurse Jackie", "United States of Tara", "Chelsea Lately", Letterman (Mickey Rourke), Fallon (Sarah Silverman, Joan Rivers) more ›

The TV Junkie Plan: "X-Play", "Samurai", "Lost", "Southland", "The Daily Show" (Jude Law), Letterman (Jimmy Kimmel and Snoop Dogg), Fallon (Kristen Stewart and Dr. Drew). more ›

As expected, the North American West Coast is seeing some tsunami activity following this morning's deadly 8.8 earthquake off the coast of Chile. At around midday those in beach communities in Southern California began to see a change in the Pacific as a series of surges hit the shoreline. The activity is hard to uniformly predict, however we're largely looking to experience 2-4 foot surges for a period of about two hours. more ›

The massive early-morning quake off the coast of Chile has dozens of Pacific-bordering nations on alert as the shifting of plates are causing tsunami conditions in the water. The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center issued an advisory for the North American West Coast, though it is important to note that while the effects can be dangerous, they are not expected to be devastating here:

Tsunami Advisory means that a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near the water is imminent or expected. Significant, widespread inundation is not expected for areas under an advisory. Currents may be hazardous to swimmers, boats, and coastal structures and may continue for several hours after the initial wave arrival.

A tsunami advisory has been issued for the California coast this morning following the overnight magnitude-8.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of Chile, according to the LA Times. "An advisory means there may be strong currents, but that widespread inundation is not expected to occur." more ›

No, really - did some memo go around saying all film festivals had to be scheduled within the same two-week period? The Polish Film Festival continues, flanked by the South-East European Film Festival & the last stands of the Los Angeles Jews & the Pacific Asian subcontinent. But with all the talk of Iran lately, the Noor ("light" in Arabic) Film Festival may prove the most noteworthy. While stark, realistic Iranian New Wave films by the likes of Abbas Kiarostami & Mohsen Makhmalbaf have nabbed accolades at Western film festivals for decades, less "artsy" films like the historical epic Flags of Kaveh's Castle & crime thriller In The Dark reveal a different side of the country. This theme of revelation & East-West conflict motivates much of the festival, coming to a most human (and most absurd) head with Donkey In Lahore, undoubtedly the first and only documentary to follow a Gothic Australian puppeteer, his teenaged Pakistani fiance & her traditional Muslim family.
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An LAPD officer who patrols in Pacific Division (e.g., Venice, Playa del Rey), was arrested yesterday morning by Internal Affairs for attempted rape. "Based on preliminary information, it appears that a sanctioned LAPD Pacific Area holiday party had concluded and several Department employees were participating in an unofficial 'after party'" at a hotel near LAX, said the LAPD in a statement. "When allegations of criminal activity came to light, proper notifications were made and on-duty police supervisors and Internal Affairs Division investigators were dispatched." Eduardo Bermudez, 29, has been with the LAPD for two years. He was booked at Men's Central Jail and held on $100,00 bail. more ›