Elise Thompson

Old men smile at each other's stories over games of dominoes played on card tables set up on the street corner. Ladies in their Sunday best daintily nibble cake at outdoor cafes, and children run laughing around the fountain in the park. People stop to chat as they meander along the boulevard. This is not a scene from another era; it's a typical Sunday afternoon in Leimert Park....

According to the St Charles Journal, Lori Drew's trial has been postponed from July 29 until Tuesday, October 7. Drew pleaded not guilty on June 16th to charges of internet fraud and conspiracy to inflict emotional distress. Drew also consented to a ban on all internet access or possession of devices with internet access as well as agreeing not to apply form a passport. Charges stem from a MySpace hoax that is believed to have...

Saturday VH1 held its Rock Honors concert for The Who at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion. VH1 had everything running like a well-oiled machine. Photographers were assigned numbers and led onto the carpet in small groups, kind of like boarding Southwest airlines. I was assigned the very last number of the very last group. There was none laster than me. We were led to the back row of a riser, which caused some photographers to insist upon...

According to Yahoo! Tech Flickr (which is owned and operated by Yahoo) has signed a deal with Getty Images to allow users to license its photos for commercial purposes. Jonathan Klein, CEO of Getty told the British Journal of Photographers that Getty will be searching through user photos to select an undisclosed number of photographers who will be signed under the standard Getty contract. Getty told the New York Times that photographers will probably earn...

Photo by d_neeses_pix via Flickr, used with permission Decades after Alice Cooper sang his ode to necrophilia, Wisconsin has finally banned the practice. The Wisconsin supreme court had to get involved after a lower court determined that there was no law on the books prohibiting sex with a dead body. Bad news for a trio of Madison teens who took the bonds of friendship to a whole new level. "Nicholas Grunke... asked the others...

Comparisons to more dangerous activities are frequently made whenever the hands-free cell phone law comes up, like the post yesterday about women painting their nails. Personal sightings of questionably safe activities include drivers reading, eating cereal, doing the crossword puzzle, and masturbating. But the greatest feat of them all has to be the guy who used to commute on the 405 while playing the trumpet. Can anyone top that? Photo by tm_marcello via Flickr...

Last night Mods and Rockers screened Space Movie. Before the film, astronaut Buzz Aldrin gave a brief introduction to the evening, encouraging us to continue space exploration. Then director Tony Palmer did a Q&A with organizer Martin Lewis about the making of the film. Brit Palmer encouraged Americans to have more pride in their space heroes. The lagniappe that has become Martin Lewis' trademark was the NASA footage of "Across The Universe Day" - an...

The Mods and Rockers Film Festival continues tonight with a rare screening of The Space Movie. Directed by Tony Palmer. This 1979 film celebrated the 10th anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on the moon. The spacy soundtrack is provided by Mike Oldfield ("Tubular Bells"). The movie will be preceded by footage from NASA's launch this year of the Beatles' song "Across The Universe" into Deep Space. Tony Palmer will be on hand for a discussion...

The Dominator ran aground on March 13, 1961 at the point between Lunada Bay and Malaga Cove, near Rocky Point. Carrying a load of wheat and beef from Vancouver, B.C, the vessel was trapped by the current after coming too close to the cliffs. Residents have watched over the years as the sea slowly destroyed the wreckage, until finally just a few bits of the hull and bow remain scattered on the shore. More of the boat is visible at low tide. There are two routes by which to access the wreckage today. Experienced hikers and climbers can make their way down the steep cliffs, but must be cautious of the rocky terrain. It is recommended you go at low tide, be prepared to get wet, and keep an eye out for interesting tide pools.

Fourth of July weekend is all about beaches and BBQ. If you want a break from the unrelenting sun, why not cool down in a dim, air-conditioned theater enjoying a salute to American music? Starting Saturday at noon, the Mods and Rockers Film Festival continues with All You Need is Love, a 1977 series tracing the history of American music from vaudeville to rock 'n' roll. Directed by Tony Palmer, the series was conceived by...