Over $100,000 worth of opium was discovered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers last week "inside rattan furniture that was shipped to a Los Angeles International Airport cargo facility," reports the Daily Breeze. The shipment was comprised of 22 small rattan stools that were determined to be disguising about 18 pounds of the drug. The stools originated in Thailand; anomalies on the X-Ray scan led officials to probe further and find the opium. more ›

Earlier this month, the Rock 'N Roll Summer Circus took place at The Echoplex, hosted by Eli Chartkoff from The Monolators with main stage performances by Marvelous Toy, The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra, Fol Chen, and The Henry Clay People as well as sideshows by the Natural Disasters, Downtown/Union, The Damselles, Les Blanks, and Roadside Graves. more ›

The two anonymous bloggers at the popular vegan blog, Quarrygirl, went all out and published a large investigative report today, finding that a handful of vegan restaurants, mostly Thai in nature, are in fact not vegan. more ›

A family hired forensics expert said today that he believed David Carradine's death was not a suicide, but the cause of death could not determined until he received more information from Thai authorities, the Associated Press reported today. Carradine was found hanging dead last week, with ropes tied around his neck, wrists and genitals, in a Bangkok hotel. Thai officials original suspected suicide, but later said it could have been accidental, too, because the way he was found indicated a possible act of auto-erotic asphyxiation. It could be a few weeks before the private forensics expert receives more information from Thailand so he can complete his report. more ›

Tonight will be relatively low-key with regards to the music scene. We've got Laura Marling's second night of a two-date stint at the Hotel Cafe. Brian of the Movies will be playing with his band Very at Echo Curio, opening for Thailand. And Abe Vigoda and Moonrats will be playing for free at USC's Ground Zero. You can't beat that lineup. But we suggest you pay the Echo a visit to sample the relatively eclectic indie rock bill. LA-based Voxhaul Broadcast, who pretty much serve as the West Coast's answer to the Walkmen, will be opening for the roisterous and bluesy Rumspringa. more ›

Los Angeles resident Douglas Campbell embarked last year on The Tuxedo Travels (subtitled: Two Fools. One Adventure. No Idea), along with a crazy British chap named Heath. more ›