Anti-war protesters have been gathering in Downtown Los Angeles this afternoon; the CHP has blocked off two ramps on the 101 because of the protest. Huge meat recall: Topps Meat Company is recalling over 20 million pounds of hamburger patties that may be infected with e.coli: more than a dozen people have gotten sick. The man who threatened Tom Cruise with extortion for stolen wedding pictures was found dead in his home, an apparent... more ›

6. The couple who were shot and killed by cops in Laguna Beach died in a weird way. The wife was freaking out, cops arrived, she wouldnt put down the gun or stop pointing it at the cops, they shot her, the husband picked up the gun and pointed it at the cops, so they shot him and killed him, and the woman reached for the gun again and the cops killed her. 5.... more ›

The USC student body is shaken and now it's going to cause a stir. At least 300 protesters plan to descend on Traddies, the on-campus bar, for a rally at 6:00pm on Thursday, March 22. According to Facebook, a popular college networking site, an additional 100 people are listed as "maybe" and over 400 have yet to RSVP for the "Boycott Traddies" event. Confirmations are likely to increase after next weekend as students are on... more ›

- If you're looking for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in LA public libraries, you will be sorely disappointed - LAT - Right now Eddie Van Halen is in rehab - TMZ - The USC football lockerroom is colorless, says black Trojan running backs and special teams coach Todd McNair, who dubbed the kickoff team The White Nation, and calls the other black coaches Brojans. Controversy brewed yesterday when one of the students created... more ›

- Mack Reed steps down from LA Voice, hands over the reigns to two new editors, Ryan Knoll and Scott Schmidt. Congratulations, Mack for your years of dedication and great blogging - LA Voice - Ozzfest will be free this year, and it will kick off in LA - Ozzfest - LAPD's story is different than witnesses stories in the death of a 31 yr old who some say was beaten while handcuffed -... more ›

- Bam's Uncle Vincent "Don Vito" Margera will be arraigned next month for allegedly fondling two 12-year old girls and a 14 year old girl last year in Colorado - AP more ›

The Blue and Gold faithful believe their win might have been a program-changing game. And while UCLA played an excellent 60 minutes, LAist wants to caution the Sons of Westwood before they actually believe this is a Rose Bowl season. This is not the same Oklahoma team that has been in two-straight national title games. Rhett Bromar wishes he was half as good as Jason White, or even Josh Heupal. Adrian Peterson may have been held in check by UCLA, but he was playing with a groin injury. And the Sooners were nice enough to cough up three fumbles. more ›

Autumn officially starts this week... what better way to chase away the 5-degree
temperature fluctuation than some hot music? Unless otherwise noted, all performances
are free.

SATURDAY, 9/17

• Listen to Molly Howson & the Grits, Bucksworth, Skeeter Truck, Kingsizemaybe,
  Soda & His
  Million Piece Band, King Straggler, and 50 Cent Haircut at the Third
  Street Farmers Market at 3pm. For details, call (323) 933-9211.
  
• DJs Michael Stock and Benjamin White of Part Time
  Punks continue their two month residency at
  MOCA. The show
  starts at 6pm. Odd Nostrom of Anticon takes the stage at 8pm, followed
  by a screening of Rize.
  The evening is free with general museum admission. Call (213) 621-1734.
  
• Catch the Latin jazz of conguero Francisco
  Aguabella at
  One
  Colorado in Old Pasadena,
  from 9pm to midnight. Call
  (626) 564-1066.
  

SUNDAY, 9/18

• Mews Small & Her Fabulous Females, Brad Kayand Justefanie play
  at Unurban
  Coffeehouse at 1pm. Call (310) 315-0056.
  
• The USC Thornton Wind Ensemble, H. Robert Reynolds, principal conductor,
  and Sharon Lavery, resident conductor, perform works by Lauridsen, Piston,
  Milhaud, Hartmann and Grantham at USC
  Thornton School of Music at 4pm. Call (213) 740-2167.
  
• The Second Annual Bolero Festival features performances by Los Dandy’s,
  Mariachi Divas, Yari More y Su Orquesta, Trio Casablanca and Trio Guadalajara
  in the Exposition
  Park Rose Garden at 6pm. Call (213) 473-2304.
  
• Members
  of Chamber Music Palisades play at the LACMA Sundays
  Live Series.
  The show starts at 6pm. Call (323) 857-6234.
  
• DJs Michael Stock and Benjamin White spin post-punk, mutant disco and
  indie 80s-90s at the echo at 10pm.
  For info, call (213) 413-8200.
  
• Carlos Guitarlos plays at The Liquid Kitty at 10pm. For details, call (310)
  473-3707.
  

MONDAY, 9/19

• The Oohlas continue their residency
  at the
  echo. Doors open at 8pm but there's no cover after 10pm. For
  details, call (213) 413-8200.
  
• Run Run Run also continue their
  residency at Spaceland.
  Doors open at 8pm and the show begins at 9pm. Call (323) 661-4380
  
• One Of The Loudest
  Tragedies Ever Heard take the stage at the
  Silverlake Lounge at 11pm. Call (323) 666-2407