There are liable to be a lot of frustrated people (like this man) on the roads this weekend during Carmageddon. So Off-Ramp host John Rabe asked Classical KUSC (91.5 FM) morning drive DJ Dennis Bartel what music the station should play this weekend to "soothe the savage commuter."

Off-Ramp host John Rabe rants about an insulting pitch, then presents Andy Kline's public radio twist on the concept of sugar daddies and the women who love them, and prefer them to, you know, actually working or thinking for themselves.

Mark Stambler, profiled on Off-Ramp by food writer Miles Clements, makes award-winning bread in his wood-fired oven in his backyard in Silverlake. It wasn't a problem until he started selling it at a couple local stores. When the County found out, they made him stop. Fair enough, he didn't have any permits and knew it might happen. But Mark says many states make exceptions for people like him under so-called "cottage food" laws, and he's also discovered that the county has conflicting rules that make it very hard for an amateur like him to go legit. He talked with Off-Ramp host John Rabe about it.

Angelo Bellomo is head of Environmental Health at the LA County Public Health Dept. He says there are good reasons for the laws on the books, but he also told Off-ramp host John Rabe that it makes sense to modify the law in the wake of the localvore movement and cases like Mark’s.

Austin Beutner wants to be the next Mayor of Los Angeles. He isn't a member of a political dynasty and he's only served in government for just over a year. But he's already raised over $200,000 in funds and secured at least one high-profile endorsement.

For the Thanksgiving weekend, Off-Ramp presents a night at The Comedy Store, taped this summer before a live audience at LA's oldest comedy club and springboard for Jim Carrey, David Letterman, and many others. The show features 5 of the brightest stand-up comedians around -- Fahim Anwar, Sarah Tiana, Michael Kosta, Freddy Lockhart, and Ian Edwards -- and takes you inside the world of the comedy club, including a freewheeling roundtable discussion about the art of stand-up. Your host for the evening is the affable and British Brandon Christy, who here talks with Off-Ramp host John Rabe about the evening. (Note: there is a two-drink minimum for this edition of Off-Ramp.)

This week, federal authorities dealt what they called a "critical blow" to the Mexican Mafia's operation in Orange County. They charged 99 alleged Orange County gang members -- at least half of whom were associated with the Mexican Mafia prison gang -- with crimes including murder, drug trafficking and extortion. They arrested dozens in a coordinated raid, while others were already in custody, including the primary target of the operation. KPCC’s Frank Stoltze told Off-Ramp host John Rabe about it.

If you’re one of the ball hawks at Dodger Stadium, every game is only about baseball…or baseballs. Ball hawks try to grab as many baseballs as they can.

Indie cinema isn't usually a home for crowd-pleasing Hollywood spectacle. But filmmaker and Off-Ramp correspondent R.H. Greene stumbled onto a gritty fantasia at this year's LA Film Festival. "Leave it on the Floor" was shot on the streets of LA by USC Cinema instructor Sheldon Larry using a mostly student crew. Greene says it's as indie as "Paris Is Burning" and as Hollywood as "Over the Rainbow" and "A Star is Born." (It screens during Outfest on Saturday, July 16, at 9:30pm at DGA Theatre 1.)

Mark Stambler didn’t like the bread he found in stores and restaurants, so he built his own bread oven in the backyard of his home in Silverlake. Food writer and Eat LA contributor Miles Clements finds out how he made it, and tastes the bread -- which won a blue ribbon at the state fair. Click through for more pictures!

His shows told the stories of thousands of Californians and helped millions more learn about California's history. He's reportedly retiring, but he's left his mark on the state.

Hosts Brendan Newnam and Rico Gagliano talk history, booze, food all in the name of winning your next Dinner Party. This week's guest is Ishmael Butler, formerly of Digable Plantes and now of Shabazz Palaces.