"Pamet Harbor Sunset"

Painting by Sue Brehant is a beautiful example of her work.

Museum of Russian Icon

Faberge Miniatures of the Imperial Coronation Regalia, from 1900 St. Petersburg, Russia, are some of the numerous works of art that the government has refused to loan to American museums for fear they would be seized.

"The Tree of Life"

"The Tree of Life" blossomed for its Los Angeles premiere on Tuesday evening, attracting industry types to the heart of the city for a glimpse at Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

On Wilshire Boulevard, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art hosted the red carpet and screening for Terrence Malick's epic, which received the Palme D'Or at this year's Cannes International Film Festival.

"intense focus on image"

A new memoir from an embittered former aide to Sarah Palin includes a trove of e-mails that vividly illustrate her intense focus on image and depiction in the media.

The e-mails, apparently from the former Alaska governor, portray Palin as nearly obsessed with her political adversaries and consumed with every slight, real or perceived.

The unpublished manuscript, obtained by POLITICO, reveals Palin, as a candidate for governor, penning letters-to-the-editor in praise of herself, to be sent under other names. It blames the candidate for inflaming, rather than ignoring, scurrilous rumors. And it quotes her pledging to avoid appearing on any network other than Fox News, referring to the rest as “the bad guys.”

The content of the unpublished manuscript, written by Frank Bailey, was first reported by the Anchorage Daily News.

A Palin ally, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that Bailey and Palin corresponded and that the former aide had access to Palin’s passwords and her e-mail account. But the Palin ally said that the content should be viewed through the lens of Bailey being “the quintessential disgruntled employee,” who had been denied senior jobs he sought, cut out of Palin’s vice-presidential campaign, and been caught up in the “troopergate” scandal — details Bailey confirms in the proposed book, which is titled “In Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin: A Memoir of Our Tumultuous Years.”

Bailey’s 456-page manuscript is in the tradition of juicy political tell-alls by former allies turned enemies. Yet despite the intense interest in his subject, Bailey, who has reportedly been marketing his draft since the fall of 2009, has had difficulty selling it to a publisher — a likely reflection of his primary focus on the small world of Alaska politics. He co-wrote the book with Jeanne Devon, publisher of the anti-Palin website Mudflats, and Ken Morris, a Palin critic and former Wall Street executive.

But in addition to his detailed treatment of Palin’s rapid home state ascent, Bailey, a former Alaska Airlines manager who worked on her 2006 gubernatorial campaign, also shares scores of e-mails he claims are from Palin that reinforce the worst perceptions of her.

The former governor has pointed to her portrayal in the news media to explain her sagging poll numbers. But in Bailey’s manuscript it’s her own apparent words that do the greatest damage.

Much of the proposed book’s text focuses on the topic that, he writes, ultimately consumed her governorship: The maintenance of her public image, an obsession with rumors about her family, and her frustration with her portrayal in the media.

"The Best Picture that won no other Academy Award"

Rebecca is a 1940 psychological/dramatic noir thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock as his first American project, and his first film produced under his contract with David O. Selznick. The film's screenplay was an adaptation by Joan Harrison and Robert E. Sherwood from Philip MacDonald and Michael Hogan's adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's 1938 novel of the same name, and was produced by Selznick.[1] It stars Laurence Olivier as the aristocratic widower Maxim de Winter, Joan Fontaine (above left and below) as his second wife, and Judith Anderson (above right) as the housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers.

The film is a gothic tale about the lingering memory of the title character, Maxim de Winter's dead first wife, which continues to haunt Maxim, his new bride, and Mrs. Danvers. The film won two Academy Awards, including Best Picture out of a total 11 nominations. Olivier, Fontaine and Anderson were all Oscar nominated for their respective roles. Since the introduction of awards for actors in supporting roles, this is the only film named Best Picture that won no other Academy Award for acting, directing or writing.

It was the opening film at the 1st Berlin International Film Festival.[2]

Films al fresco

What better way is there to spend a warm, summer night in LA than enjoying some of cinema's finest with your fellow Angelenos under the stars. And while sitting in a cemetery is great, it isn't your only option for after-dark, non-indoors, film viewing.

There are outdoor movie screenings all over Los Angeles, all nights of the week, all summer long. Some are even free!

For listings around the city click on the heading above.

Photo above is from the classic Harold and Maude.

Celebrating "free spirit"

Lucent Dossier's featured performance on "Lightning in a Bottle's" Lightning Stage. Fire, music, and costumes continue through "The Do Lab's" three-day Lightning in a Bottle festival. For details go to: lightninginabottle.org.

Give it a second look

A businesswoman in the parking garage was the first. The next day it was a landscaper at the gas station. Then the balding guy in the convertible, top down. Over the weekend it was four older women coming from brunch.

They did a double take.

Perhaps they liked the curved silhouette, quiet grace and low-slung stance of the full-size hatchback I was driving. Or maybe they found the car's profile and abrupt rear end excessive, awkward and dominantly avant-garde and wrote it off as just another "look at me" conveyance of narcissism.

But they looked at the 2012 Audi A7. Twice.

And this may be why people will buy this Sportback-hatchback-coupe-sedan thingy. Perhaps because they find Audi A6 too boring or the Porsche Panamera V-6 too costly and lacking the visual panache. Whether you adore or abhor the A7, you can't help but look at it.

By David Undercoffler, Los Angeles Times

The "Art of Flow"

Tao, the Art of Flow is a guide for wisdom seekers, social innovators, visionaries, coaches, CEOs, transformational leaders, facilitators, teachers, meditators, and others who wish to explore their inner nature.

"first-ever Malay­sian gold medallist"

Azizulhasni Awang was born on 5 of January 1988 in Dungun,Terengganu, MALAYSIA. Azizulhasni is a track cyclist representing MALAYSIA and he was a flag bearer for the Malaysian team in the Beijing Olympic Games.

Azizulhasni,winner of gold medals in keirin and 200m sprints at the Asian Championships in April, finished as the best Asian finisher at the Beijing Olympics with a top eight finish. The 23-years-old, is among the 2012 London Olympics gold medal prospects. He made history when he won the main keirin final in the second-leg of the UCI Track World Cup in Melbourne to become the first-ever Malay­sian gold medallist at the World Cup stage. He holds the title of world cup leader in Keirin and is a silver medalist in Men's Sprint World Championship at Poland.

"Screamin’ at Gasoline"

El Segundo’s tranquil Main Street will get revved up on Saturday, May 14, when the sixth annual “California Screamin’” art and hot rod show opens at Gasoline Gallery.

Featuring hot rods, kustoms, motorcycles and lots of eclectic art, California Screamin’ will open with an artist’s reception from noon to 6 p.m. The exhibit runs through June 25 at the gallery located at 423 Main St.

“When Gasoline opened seven years ago, we knew we were doing something different, which is always a risky business,” said Mark Waldman, who with his wife, Taylor, opened Gasoline. “California Screamin’ was designed as a small gathering, sort of a ‘meet and greet,’ giving the fans a chance to be face-to-face with their favorite artists. Last year’s attendance was estimated at around 3,000 people throughout the day … which is funny because we maybe had 300 the first year. Lucky for us, it turns out the Kustom Kulture scene is about as loyal as it gets.”

Numerous artists are participating in the show including Damian Fulton, The Pizz, Keith Weesner, John Bell, Dave Burke, Sara Ray, 3 Sheets, Makoto, Mr. G, James Owens, Ghost, Marco Almera, Bob Dob, Shawn Dickinson, Jimbo Phillips and more.

For more information, call (310) 416-9188 or visit www.gasolinegallery.com.

by Michael Hixon in "The Beach Reporter."

Landon Donovan Trades Jerseys With a Turkish Player, 2010

Actually what the Turkish player said was: "I'd like to have your jersey, I deserve it! I've been chasing it up and down the field all afternoon!"

Superstars -- Playing and Modeling for the World

A Salute to the "Great American Pastime"

Major League Baseball Logos

"Cubbie Gold"

April was a great month for the Cubs young middle infielders Starlin Castro and Darwin Barney. Castro was featured on this month’s cover of Sports Illustrated and Barney was named the NL Rookie of the Month. Not only are the number one and two hitters in the Cubs lineup having spectacular individual starts, but they are proving to be the best offensive duo of middle infielders in the NL Central.

The combination of Castro and Barney lead all NL Central combinations of middle infielders in runs, hits, average, and surprisingly runs batted in. These offensive numbers are extremely impressive considering the NL central contains many offensive powerhouse middle infielders, such as Rickie Weeks and Brandon Phillips.

Despite the fact that the Cubs as a team are at the bottom of the NL in runs scored, the duo have scored a combined 33 runs (Barney with 15 and Castro with 18 runs scored). The next closest duo would be a tie between the Brewers’ Weeks and Yunesky Betancourt and the Astros’ Angel Sanchez and Bill Hall with 29 runs scored. Castro actually leads all NL central shortstops in the category and only Weeks and Phillips have more with 21 and 22 runs scored.

Nobody comes close to the amount of hits the two “cubbies” have put up with 72 (Barney with 32 and Castro [above] with an amazing 40). Castro tied a major league record having 40 hits in the month of April by a player 21 years of age; Alex Rodriguez broke the record in 1997.

Castro ‘s tally of 40 hits is a division best with only three other players having more than Barney (Phillips has 34, while Weeks and Neil Walker from the Pirates have 33).

The amazing number of hits for both players have translated into a terrific start in their batting average as Castro is hitting .315 and Barney .317; combined they are hitting a division best .315. Only Brandon Phillips is hitting better than either of them at a .340 clip, and the only other middle infielder in the division that is at the .300 mark is Weeks, who is dead even at .300.

The surprising statistic is the fact that the duo is tops in combined runs batted in by middle infielders with 26. This is shocking because Castro and Barney are the number one and two hitters in the order. They are expected to get on base and score, which they have had no problem doing, but driving in runs has been an unexpected bonus, especially for a team that has been struggling to plate runs thus far this season. Barney and Castro are second and third on the Cubs in runs batted in; Alfonso Soriano leads the club with 21 largely due to his impressive 11 home runs he has batted in.


The Reds and Astros’s are very close behind the Cubs with 25 RBI’s between the middle infielders.

The only thing you would like to see Castro and Barney (above) do more of is take a walk. Both players do an excellent job making contact with the baseball, but Castro’s OBP is .341 and Barney’s is .340. These are respectable OBP but this is largely due to them getting hits; Barney has only taken 3 walks while Castro 4. You want to see your number one and two guys in the order work counts and draw lead off walks to rattle pitchers and throw them off their rhythms. However, both players do not strike out very much. Actually, they both have only struck out 10 times, so if they keep making contact and getting on base, why complain about their approach?

The first month of the season has been rough for the Cubs; however, Castro and Barney have given the Cubs some positive buzz with their hot starts. If Castro can continue to avoid the sophomore slump and Barney continues his impressive rookie campaign, the young infielders give the fans and organization hope for not only a competitive season but also a bright future.

"A New Executive Jet"

Nevada-based Aerion Corporation is championing the comeback of supersonic air travel in the form of a new executive jet.

The company says it has already received $US4 billion in orders for the Aerion Supersonic Business Jet, which it expects to be launched in 2014.

At its top speed, the company says the jet will shave about three hours off the flight time between Paris and New York.

Advertisement: Story continues below In theory, you could take-off from Paris at 8am and touch down in New York in time for a breakfast meeting.

"Wind Farm Offshore Wales Prestatyn Rainbow" ???

2009 Giro d'Italia, Stage 7: The riders faced a long, treacherous descent to the finish.

"Golden Touch"

Vernon Wells Sr.'s portrait of the 2010 NL gold glove team.

Dan Haren's special gift for his wife, Jessica

Vernon Wells Sr.'s portrait of Angels pitcher Dan Haren with his wife, Jessica, and children Rhett and Ella, and in the uniforms of the four major league teams he's pitched for.