Jason Toney

Our friends in the Nation's Capital launched their first foray into audio posting with a dcist podcast. It should become a regular feature of the site (and something we're thinking about doing here) and the inaugural episode focuses on the local music scene and a discussion with one of the planners of the Katrina Benefit that DCist co-sponsored earlier this month. Very cool. Slightly related, Wired says there's a wee bit o' money to...

LAist could have once been accused of being obsessive about coffee but lately we've kicked the habit. The same can't be said for green LA girl, who has made local fair trade coffee a delicious cause worth fighting for. Her recent discussion of why some local bean brewers don't go for fair trade certification is illuminating of how the entire industry works. Digging around her site, we found her guide to living more green...

- The police had a very tough weekend. - While gamers are getting a Hollywood makeover, Hollywood is having a religious conversion. - Potholes around town are being filled while we type this... - ...although maybe its with water instead of whatever streets are made of as it has just begun raining (and lightning a bit) out here in the Valley. Is it moist where you are? Downtown skyscrapers from the recently "losangeles" tagged...

We've talked quite a bit about how a natural disaster might effect Angelenos should one hit since our nasty hurricane season has been so tragic this year. Well, since it is always earthquake season around these parts, the California Earthquake Authority is seeking to lower earthquake insurance rates throughout much of the state. Doug Simpson notes that less than 15% of California homeowners have quake coverage. Well that just seems silly. We all know...

Jen Sincero is a musician, sexpert, and the author of the bestselling book, The Straight Girl’s Guide To Sleeping With Chicks and the semi-autobiographical novel, Don’t Sleep With Your Drummer. She currently hosts a weekly sex talk radio show called Dr. Happypants on killradio.org. Living in Sin is her weekly advice column for LA's sexually curious, confused and constipated. Got a question for Jen? Ask her. We promise to be discreet (all questions will...

- If you are reading this, you probably don't need this info but maybe you can share, Santa Monica College is offering free ESL classes, no questions asked. - If we knew you could sue for being rejected, LAist would probably date more. (via SoCal Law) - Notre Dame's Catholic schools are accepting Hurricane Katrina evacuees onto their campuses. - Despite Lloyd Grove's vehement denials, Jossip thinks he has good reason to head west....

With HBO's summer fare off the air, we've had a hole in our Sunday TV viewing. That all changes this Sunday when Larry David, Cheryl Hines and the rest of the wacky LA characters in their lives return for the 5th season of Curb Your Enthusiasm. To celebrate Larry's neurotic revival, we're giving away 3 copies of the complete season 4 DVD collection. All you've got to do is answer a question about one...

We all know the Mayor has a mega-watt smile and has been a political celebrity since his election last May but the question remains: does he have comic timing? Well, we'll all get the chance to find out when he makes an appearance on The George Lopez Show on October 5th. He plays himself in the episode in which George Lopez is impersonating him. Reality Show Bounty Hunter "Dog" is also in the episode....

LAist was at The Comedy Central Stage at The Hudson last night and Illeana Douglas read aloud: Los Angeles is Magic. It's yellow-orange-red and the smog makes everything blurry in a good way. I hate when people come to Los Angeles and just bitch, bitch bitch. I know it's not New York. I know it's not Chicago. Yes, some of the people here are fake. Shut up and go home. Those are Jill Soloway's...

Have there been a lot of vehicular fatalaties at Sunset and Highland recently? Driving home last night, we came across one of those fancy Traffic Safety Signs we love right before the intersection that read, "Stop At Red Or You'll End Up Dead". That's awfully harsh isn't it? It's also well before the red light on a busy street that we'd bet sees more lookie-loo fender benders than red light runners but maybe we...