"Holiday Organ Spectacular"

On Wednesday, December 9 at 8:00pm, the LA Philharmonic’s Holiday Organ Spectacular welcomes David Higgs to the instrument of the hour, soprano Lisa Vroman, Mindy Bell on the harp, and percussionist Bernie Dresel. To help you kick off the holiday season, they’re giving tickets away to Wednesday’s performance!

What the College Times has to say about "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1"

For those keeping score, "Breaking Dawn" is missing the interesting indie edge that director Catherine Hardwicke brought to the first film. It does not flat line as badly as the second, "New Moon," which would have died without the werewolves' bite. It loses the brief emotional uptick of No. 3, "Eclipse," which saw the cast blossom into actual actors. So in the "Twilight" pantheon, "Breaking Dawn Part 1" is at best a draw. Hopefully they'll fix what's wrong before next year's finale, because I really can't take another broken heart.

"for the “Dexter” fan in your life?"

The holidays are fast approaching, so why not pick something up for the “Dexter” fan in your life?

In tandem with this season’s return of the Ice Truck Killer, Showtime is now selling “Dexter” merchandise perfect for those who prefer Brother Brian to Brother Sam.

We’re a fan of the stylish Ty Mattson Season 1 silk screen print, but the “Thumb” drive might be this season’s perfect stocking stuffer for those with dark senses of humor and important files to back up.

"An invitation to delve ever deeper into Dexter's world"

If you were harboring any suspicions that Dexter Morgan would be captured and put on the chopping block this season, you might want to get a new theory: “Dexter” has been renewed for two more seasons, Showtime announced today. After a bit of a scary period wherein it seemed unclear whether star Michael C. Hall would return to the show, Seasons 7 and 8 are now locked down, with production on Season 7 beginning in 2012 in Los Angeles. Seasons 7 and 8 will consist of 12 episodes each. “On behalf of the entire ‘Dexter’ family, we relish the invitation to delve ever deeper into Dexter's world,” said Hall.

Season 6 of “Dexter” has been doing well, most recently delivering its fifth consecutive week of growth. Season-to-date, the series is averaging 5.12 million weekly viewers on all platforms, making it the highest rated season yet, according to Showtime.

What a great show !!!

"it's every man for himself"

The Walking Dead Board Game is here to give you your zombie fix and because there's a solitaire-play option, you can do it even if all your friends have been eaten. In this game, you're fighting your way through walker-infested Atlanta with your team of survivors. Grab weapons, collect supplies, find safe places to rest. Watch your back, though. When supplies run low, it's every man for himself.

Bond . . . James Bond

Dupont James Bond pen set, $4,000-$5,000, available from Bonhams auctioneers starting Dec. 6

"Mama’s boy to the end"

The Hollywood Forever Cemetery is the final resting place of many important figures in movie history, like directors Victor Flemming (Gone With The Wind and The Wizard of Oz) and Cecil B. “I’m ready for my close-up Mr.” Demille (The Ten Commandments and The Greatest Show On Earth), and actors Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks and Peter Lorre. But only one star haunts the cemetery: Clifton Webb. He was a popular actor who received three Oscar nominations but never won. While most of his counterparts are satisfied with being immortalized on film, Webb prefers to be immortal in ghost form. His apparition has been seen roaming the Abbey of the Psalms, where he is buried, along with his mom, Maybelle. Mama’s boy to the end.

"Fall Magic"

Photo by CaptPiper/Flickr

Getting into the "Holiday Spirit" in Munich, Germany

"Nader's Raider"

The former "Nader's Raider" who used California's initiative process to regulate auto insurance rates is headed back to the ballot. This time he's spoiling to take on health insurers.

Harvey Rosenfield, the combative attorney and consumer advocate who wrote California's landmark Proposition 103 more than two decades ago, is preparing a ballot initiative that would force health insurers to get state government approval before they could raise premiums.

Stricter controls are needed to put some restraints on a industry that's reaping fat returns for shareholders and multimillion-dollar salaries for executives while consumers struggle to pay for coverage, Rosenfield said. In California, average premiums for family coverage rose 7.5% in 2010, according to the California HealthCare Foundation. They increased by 3% nationally for the same period. About 1 in 5 Californians, or 7.2 million, have no health insurance.

Daimler will axe its Maybach superluxury brand

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Daimler will axe its Maybach superluxury brand after years of losses and moribund sales, replacing the car with more expensive models of its Mercedes-Benz S-Class flagship saloon starting in 2013.

"We held extensive discussions internally about which way would promise the greatest success in the luxury segment, and we came to the conclusion that the sales chances for the Mercedes brand were better than that of Maybach," Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

"It would not be sensible to develop a successor model for the current Maybach," he added, according to an excerpt of the interview, which will be published in the German daily in full on Saturday.

Instead, he plans to extend the number of S-Class derivatives from a current three to six in order to boost the model's volume, possibly even doubling it to 80,000 cars a year.

A spokesman for the company declined to comment on which new S-Class derivatives would be added on top of the existing saloon, long-wheelbase saloon and the coupe, sold under the CL-Class nameplate.

"Maybach sold cars upwards of 300,000 euros, but what we want to do now is move into the 100,000-300,000 euros segment -- where the annual volumes are in the thousands and not the hundreds," the spokesman said.

BMW debuts i8 plug-in hybrid and i3 all-electric cars

There's a lot of redefining going on at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show, particularly among performance- and luxury-oriented auto makers as they fold fuel efficiency and sustainability into their designs.

Kate Winslet is set to see the doomed ship ‘Titanic’ for real – courtesy of billionaire Sir Richard Branson

The Virgin boss had recently divulged his plan to join other tourists paying 38,000 pounds each for a submarine 12,500ft dive to the wreck of ‘Titanic’ in the North Atlantic, the Daily Mail reported.

“It is something I am very keen to do. I’m deadly serious about this and I would love to invite Kate to come with me,” Branson said.

“Wouldn’t it be something if the star of Titanic really got to go down to the real ship? I’m going to talk to her but I’m sure it’s an opportunity she will jump at.”

It is one of the most iconic images in film history. When Kate Winslet stood on the prow of the Titanic in the blockbuster 1997 film, it turned her into an overnight superstar.

The SS CATALINA should have become a National Historical Monument

A retro look at the SS CATALINA and SS AVALON. They were called the BIG WHITE STEAMERS. These day tourist steamships operated together from 1920 into the early 1950s — except for WW 2. The SS CATALINA (shown above) continued running into the mid-1970s. They provided daily service throughout the summer from Los Angeles to Catalina Island. The SS AVALON lies at the bottom of the Pacific off the coast of Southern California. The SS CATALINA, after a valiant attempt to rescue it, was taken to Mexico where she is rotting in Ensenada Harbor. There was a big deal about making the SS CATALINA a National Historical Monument. But like most "historical" endeavors in California it got lost in financial problems and endless legal action. Cheers to the memory of these ships and the great people who tried to save the SS CATALINA.

A Reminder of the Glamour of a past era

The lobby and entrance of the Fox Theatre in Detroit – One of the Last Great Movie Palaces.


Elvis Presley at the Fox Theatre Detroit. Circa -- 1950s.

Movie Palaces STAR Again !!!

Steve Needleman is the owner of the renovated Orpheum Theatre, which appears in "J. Edgar" and "The Artist."

(Mark Boster, Los Angeles Times / November 22, 2011)

"powered by compressed air"

LOS ANGELES : The Cadillac Aera concept vehicle won the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge, tying with Smart and besting entries from seven other automakers including Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Maybach. GM Advanced Design has now won the honor more times than any other design team; this is its third victory since 2005.

2010 was the seventh year for the contest, when designers were asked to envision the “1,000 lb. car” and tasked to imagine an efficient four-passenger vehicle that maintained comfort, safety, driving performance and style while not exceeding the weight requirement.

"The Cadillac Aera concept was designed to continue the forward-thinking imagination of Cadillac’s ‘art and science’ philosophy,” explains Jussi Timonen, lead designer for the project. “It's designed as a small city urban vehicle, but we approached this 2+2 touring coupe very much from the brand's luxury perspective. Every detail of the Aera was conceived to minimize the vehicle’s environmental impact without sacrificing the style, comfort and attention to detail that are hallmarks of the Cadillac brand.”

The Aera is powered by compressed air via a highly efficient Pneumatic Drive System that has a 10,000-psi composite air storage tank with capacity for a 1,000-mile range. Flexible, pressurized air cells in the exterior skin, similar to material developed for the NASA Mars Rover airbags, enhance passive safety and interior comfort. The flexible polymer skin optimizes aerodynamics and functions as an ultra-lightweight alternative to conventional body panels and glass.

Aera’s body utilizes a 3D lattice, mono-formed frame that was designed to be similar to configurations found consistently in nature. The structure is formed from unique, alloy-utilizing, semi-solid freeform manufacturing, creating a naturally strong, extremely lightweight frame. All major body parts, including interior components, are essentially “grown” into a single part lattice structure.

The interior is crafted with an ultra-light recyclable polymer that allows for HVAC channels, fully adjustable seating, storage and comfort features all in one mono-form structure. Generous storage space accommodates luggage for two people.

Additional technologies include an all-in-one wheel system that combines rotary actuator propulsion, steering and suspension functions. A drive-by-wire system decreases the mass of electrical components, while vehicle-to-vehicle communication promotes active safety.

"millions of festive lights"

Witness one of Southern California's most impressive holiday light festivals at the historic Mission Inn. Get a view of millions of festive lights, more than 400 animated characters, live entertainment, an ice-skating rink and vendors.

When: Daily : 5 p.m. (ends January 8th)
Price: Free -- Venue: Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
3649 Mission Inn Ave. , Riverside , CA , 92501
Phone: 951-543-9557

In Hollywood, anything is possible!

Now in its 80th year, the annual Hollywood Christmas Parade will wind its way through the heart of Tinseltown with grand marshal Marie Osmond, local youth marching bands, equestrian groups, floats, celebrity guests, civic leaders, novelty acts and more. The event will be broadcast nationwide throughout December. Along Hollywood and Sunset boulevards between Orange Drive and Vine Street, L.A. 6 p.m. Sun. Free curbside seating, $35 for grandstand seating. (866) 727-2331.

http://www.thehollywoodchristmasparade.com.

"one of the American West's most iconic wild animals"

Conservationists touted a major victory Tuesday in their battle to protect Yellowstone grizzly bears when a federal appeals court ruled that wildlife managers erred when they removed Endangered Species Act protection from "one of the American West's most iconic wild animals."

The ruling by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2007 decision to remove the bears from the endangered species list. The court cited climate change as having accelerated a beetle infestation that destroys the bears' vital white-bark pine food source, making the grizzly only the second wildlife species, after the polar bear, to earn protection in recognition of harm caused by global warming.

The three-judge panel took note of conservationists' warnings that the loss of trees in the upper elevations in and around Yellowstone National Park would probably drive the grizzlies to forage in more populous areas, increasing confrontations between the omnivorous bears and the people and livestock in the lowlands.

Grizzlies have killed several tourists and hikers in recent years, forcing parks and wildlife officials to euthanize the bears in record numbers. About 75 grizzlies were killed or removed from the wild in 2010, according to a multi-agency study team.