PETA has something to say to those creeped out by the recent spider infestation & exploding engine Mazda recall... Donate your car to us. 65,000 vehicles have been recalled due to potentially serious spiderweb-induced malfunctions, and PETA has posted a notice on its blog offering to accept Mazdas donated by arachnophobic owners who may be itchy about continuing to drive a spidermobile. more ›

Mazda is recalling 50,000 Mazda6 sedans after announcing that a spider could weave a web that might inhibit fuel tank ventilation which could lead to a crack that might lead to a fire. In other words, if you're the driver of a model year 2009 or 2010 Mazda6, zoom on over to your nearest dealer after March 25th for a de-spidering. more ›

A man accused of smuggling hundreds (hundreds!) of tarantulas (tarantulas!) into the United States via U.S. mail was arrested by undercover federal agents yesterday after he arrived in Los Angeles, according to KTLA. Sven Koppler of Watchtberg, Germany has been under investigation since March when a routine search of an international package revealed 300 live tarantulas that were being shipped to L.A. without being declared and without permits. The investigation was aptly named "Operation Spiderman." more ›

It was thanks to the Spider Survey at the Natural History Museum that we know Brown Widows live in California. Before then, when it was discovered by a young student on a museum field trip in Torrance around 2001, there was no official record of it. The lesson of that discovery is that scientists can't be everywhere, but the public at-large can be. more ›

Below the collections of artifacts from around the world, dinosaur bones and historical displays that make up most of the Natural History Museum is a room full of living things. You can still find bones, rocks and artifacts in the Discovery Center, found tucked in the museum's basement, but it's in this interactive room where living animals make their home. From exotic reptiles to turtles and snakes, it's where the public can learn about, not just animals from around the world, but local wildlife. more ›

Tonight at 7 pm, the Graphic Artists Guild is holding a Los Angeles Area Graphic Artists Meet & Greet at Dinah's Family Restaurant1 near LAX. Graphic artists--whether guild members or not--are welcome to attend. A round of complimentary appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided, but there's food and booze available for purchase, too. more ›

Local sex and relationships blogger AV Flox has launched a new naughty site, appropriately called Sex and the 405. It's tagline: "What your newspaper would look like if it had a sex section." more ›