Actor Ashton Kutcher has joined other A-listers and signed up for a suborbital trip into outer space via Virgin Galactic. He ranks as the company's 500th customer. Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic, blogged about Monday's "great news." more ›

With Virgin Galactic now taking reservations for outer space, billionaire voyager Richard Branson has turned his attention back to planet Earth with the launch of Virgin Oceanic. As it turns out, he would like to be, under the sea, in an tiny flying sub craft built for one. more ›

Common, Colbie Caillat, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Robin Thicke, Taryn Manning and Justin Long were among the stars who came out to support Richard and Eve Branson's 4th Annual Rock the Kasbah fundraiser for Virgin Unite at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Thursday night. more ›

Many people in Los Angeles consider a trip downtown as practical as visiting the moon, which may explain why it was never a big deal to Buzz Aldrin. "I used to come down to the Midnight Mission, I had a lot of friends working there," recalled the astronaut. Another charitable cause brought him back on Monday night, a fundraiser gala that generated over $300,000 for Virgin Unite and the Eve Branson Foundation. The charitable arm of Sir Richard Branson's empire supports social and environmental causes, including health care in rural parts of Africa. more ›

North County just can't catch a break lately: another fatal freeway pileup near Antelope Valley today, this one involving eight vehicles and at least one fatality. The freeway has been closed in both directions. Things Not Worth Beating Someone With a Hammer For: six dollars? A group of males accosted and hammered a man in Canoga Park last night; then they blew the cash on penny candy and stamps. Not really, but six bucks??... more ›

Photo by Lush.i.ous via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr more ›

Sir Richard Branson's SFO-based harem of nubile air carriages wants you on board. Beginning this morning, cut-rate tickets are on sale for LAX-SFO flights on Virgin America. 5 flights daily are scheduled to shuttle between the two airports starting August 8 -- with coach seats going for $44 each way (before tax). First-class Virgin tickets are also offered at the introductory price of $149 each way. While numerous airlines have been grounded, bought out, or... more ›

A Word or 56+/-: Even the movie selections suck tonight unless you want to watch an Ida Lupinow filmfest on TCM, which I really don't want to do. I'm superexcited to see Parker Posey on Late Late and hopefully I'll catch Feist on Conan after switching over. Tonight - Tuesday - June 12th, 2007 Mets @ Dodgers (PRIME, 7:00 p.m.) Angels @ Reds (Fox Sports, 7:30 p.m.) On the Lot (Fox, 8:00 p.m.) The... more ›