Carolyn Kellogg

DCist helps us make more sense of the world this week. Posts like this concert review are the reason for Scott Stapp. DCist also enumerates the reasons for playing ultimate frisbee, Condi's tight buns, their love of a local convenience store, and their jealousy of a person in Seattle calling the city. We documented graf artist Banksy's most recent visit to LA in one two three posts. We also found the best possible use...

One-time congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham has been sentenced to more than 8 years in jail for taking $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors. His crime included not paying $1 million in taxes. Cunningham told the court that he'd fought in Vietnam "because it was the right thing to do." If that was the case (and we think it's an arguable point), his moral compass has since slid out of whack. Maria Elena Durazo...

Starting this Saturday, dogs can go offleash at the Culver City Dogpark. The new offleash area is called The Boneyard, and it's got separate areas for little dogs and bigger (25 lbs and up) dogs. Bring your own plastic poop bags and let the pups run and sniff to their doggy hearts' content from dawn to dusk. (Tennis balls not included). pooch Pico's photo taken by mylerdude...

MySpace just can't win this week. First the community of Calabasas was alarmed enough to hold a vigil for two missing teenage girls; the parents insisted they'd been cyber-napped by someone on MySpace. Turned out the two had girls had taken off together for a little romantic R&R. Yesterday an Orange County middle school student posted threats against a classmate on MySpace; he and 20 kids who viewed the threats have been suspended. Overreaction?...

Rapper Tone Loc turns 40 today. Music geek favorite Robyn Hitchcock is 53. Jessica Biel, "7th Heaven" girl turned movie starlet, turns 24 today. Actor David Faustino is now 32. He probably doesn't want to be known forever as the awkward Bud Bundy from "Married...With Children," but, well, sorry Bud. Public Radio's This American Life host Ira Glass turns 47; this spring his show is shooting a pilot TV version for Showtime. John Carter Cash,...

No donuts for five officers and 14 others caught in a home-robbery scheme that lasted for more than two years. The nineteen posed as cops conducting raids; the crew was led by former LAPD officer and Golden Gloves boxer Ruben Palomares. Thomas O'Brien, head of the criminal division for the U.S. attorney's office in LA, told the LA TImes, "While this story sounds like a script from 'The Shield' or 'Training Day,' it actually...

Who on earth falls for those get-rich-quick Nigerian e-mail scams? A wealthy 89-year old physiciatrist in Orange County. In court papers, his son alleges dad lost $3 million to "The General." The dad's lawyer says the son is carrying out a "vendetta" against his father. Someone is greedy. Probably two someones. West Hollywood to get rid of Dicks? The WeHo City Council is considering changing the name of Dicks Street; a resident has complained...

The last place Elizabeth Short was seen alive was meeting someone for a drink at the fancy downtown Biltmore Hotel. Now its Gallery Bar serves a dark drink called The Black Dahlia in her honor. The Black Dahlia is made with citron vodka, Chambourd and a spash of Kaluha, served in a large martini glass and garnished with a curl of orange peel. Despite its dark overtones, it's a sweet drink, almost like a grape...

Bryce Dallas Howard (daughter of Ron) turns 25 today. She's doing both artsy and big-budget stuff; soon she'll be in both As You Like It and Spiderman III. Coldplay's Chris Martin celebrates his 29th birthday today. Jersey hair rocker turned actor Jon Bon Jovi turns 44. And rock icon Lou Reed is now 64. OG SNL comedienne Laraine Newman turns 54. Recently she's appeared on "According to Jim" starring Jim Belushi, the icky-but-living brother of...

A year ago, people in New Orleans were celebrating like crazy, going to parades, lifting their shirts, collecting beads and other plastic trinkets, all the while drinking with reckless abandon. We admire those who are there keeping the tradition alive there today, Fat Tuesday, and for the rest of Mardis Gras. Here in LA we can celebrate the undying New Orleans Mardis Gras spirit too. An excellent musical lecture from jazz pianist Henry Butler...