Andy Sternberg

David Hiller may be the most pessimistic man in the newspaper business. The Tribune Company exec who took over as publisher of the Times when Jeff Johnson was forced out for refusing to roll heads down Spring Street, appears neither ambitious, nor comfortable. His rambling rhetoric (listen below) largely expressed that he "just doesn't get it" and that even he can't wait to get his butt kicked back to Chi-town after the TribCo pinches itself...

It's been widely reported this weekend that Tom Cruise is the "Jesus Christ of Scientology." Indeed, church leader David Miscavige told a UK paper: "Tom has been told he's Scientology's Christ-like figure.... Like Christ, he's been criticised for his views. But future generations will realise he was right." Without getting ideological, not only do we doubt that Jesus ever got down in his tighty-whities to Bob Seger, we're pretty sure that Tom Cruise left the...

LA's Lavender Diamond has headlined shows in London and supported the Decemberists on their U.S. tour last fall. But tonight is their first-ever headlining gig in Los Angeles, with The Finches and Winter Flowers at Safari Sam's. We last caught up with Becky Stark, Lavender Diamond's 25-year-old frontwoman with the delicate voice in June 2005. Last weekend, we were lucky to chase her down near chicken corner for an update. So, what's up with you...

Seriously, folks -- friends don't let friends sit through State of the Union addresses sober. In fact this year, we fear that the more SOBER you are, the more sick you might get. Here are a few SOTU drinking games to help keep it real. Play one or play them all. DrinkingGames.us: The State of the Union Drinking Game 2007 Notes: This long guide is very easy to reference but will undoubtedly require a...

Those are the headliners, other confirmed acts via the preliminary lineup ("subject to changes and additions") posted this morning at coachella.com: The Jesus and Mary Chain, Tiesto, the Arcade Fire, Interpol, Manu Chao, Willie Nelson, Air, Happy Mondays, Decemberists, Faithless, Gotan Project, the Good, the Bad and the Queen, Paul Van Dyk, Arctic Monkeys, Roots, Jarvis Cocker, Sonic Youth, Crowded House, Placebo, Satellite Party, Stephen Marley feat Jr. Gong, Kings of Leon, DJ Shadow,...

(If YouTube vid is missing, click here to watch via Yahoo!) We think LA should have its own football team -- in fact, it's the perfect added-value for whomever is lucky enough to win the bid on the LA Times. In the meantime, we will be watching -- and we'll give credit where credit's due. Peyton Manning, it's amazing how you can be in all those commercials AND burn the Pats at the same...

The password for Goldenvoice's presale is... roxanne. Could there possibly be any more of a hint at a Police reunion? Also allegedly reuniting -- Rage Against the Machine, The Stooges (again)... Not a whole lot is confirmed but all we can say is THREE DAYS -- can you handle it? Presale ends at 8 PM for the 3 Day pass @ $199. April 27-29. UPDATE: Kevin at the Times' Buzz Bands blog sez: Damon...

Lately it seems that the LA Times' A Section has at least one Iraq-related article on nearly every page. While the rest of the media world speculates on the fate of the TribCo and the designs the Times' potential suitors may have in mind, is the paper covering Iraq better than anyone else? The general trend of newspapers focused on cost-cutting and boosting readership is to expand local coverage. But as recently as last...

Not to pooh-pooh the gang sitch in LA, as yes, Coulter is a bimbo, but it was only yesterday that Mayor Tony said the following (regarding the 204th Street gang -- not WeHo's licensed weed vendors) with FBI Director Robert Mueller at his side:"We have a message for these gang leaders: We are coming with everything we have. We are coming with services and suppression, and we are putting you out of business." See...

If your trek home involves a jaunt through the mountains you may want to consider camping out at the office. Winter Weather Advisory after the jump. photo by Shay Thomason today in Santa Clarita via flickr. More photos of today's wintry weather here and at cbs2.com....