If you think you might need a little more info than our LA.Com article gives you, here's a WebMD link to an article about how to prevent a hangover. Here's another about what to do if that didn't work.
Here's another site that has links to more lists of cures.
Want to share your most heartfelt wish with the world tonight? Or are you curious about what everyone else is wishing for? Check out the virtual Wishing Wall, where people from around the world have been leaving messages that will be printed on confetti that will rain down on New York's Times Square.
From The Associated Press:
Messages and wishes for the new year from people around the world will float down on the New Year’s Eve revelers in Times Square when the confetti is dropped. For the first time, anyone can get a message printed on a piece of the multicolored confetti by using the Internet to type a message on a “Wishing Wall Online.” The message-carrying pieces will be mixed among the more than one ton of confetti, organizers said. Messages can be serious or silly, said Tim Tompkins, a spokesman for the Times Square Alliance, which organizes the party. So far, messages have included everything from wanting to be taller or having a smarter boss to healthy children and asking for the safe return of a child from Iraq, he said. “Peace in the World,” reads one posted on the “virtual wishing wall.”
Our "Ask Us" reporter gave the lowdown on gift card rules in Sunday's paper.
The Department of Consumer Affairs’ Web page on gift cards and gift certificates has more information on gift cards and gift certificates.
Here's what reporter Stephanie Walton found out:
Starting Jan. 1, 2008, California consumers will be able to cash most gift certificates with less than a $10 balance. Retailers may pay out the unused portion of the gift card or certificate in cash or by check, according to California Civil Code Section 1749.5. In the case of a gift certificate for a wireless phone provider, the balance may be applied to the consumer’s wireless account if agreed upon by both the wireless provider and account holder. The new law, SB 250, was signed Oct. 13 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and amended California’s gift certificate law. In addition to allowing cash redemption of gift cards, SB 250 also modified the expiration exception for gift certificates for food products. Starting in January, only gift cards for perishable food products will be subject to expiration dates. These cards also are exempt from cash redemption for balances under $10. For the most part, gift cards issued in California don’t expire. State law exempts some cards from the expiration-date ban as well as from the new cash-redemption provision.
Richmond is home to a park extolling Rosie the Riveter's work during World War II, and so is Long Beach. So if you can't make it to Richmond anytime soon, head south a ways. For more on Rosie and homefront efforts during the war, the Richmond site has a wealth of information.
He's likable. He's easy to understand. He's got a terrific beard. He's Robert Krampf. And his videos teach you about the finer points of science using applicable concepts: Pulling a table cloth out from under objects on the table is a lesson on inertia; being stranded on an island and losing your glasses can teach you about lenses; you can also learn that diamonds don't cut glass. Watch his science experiments, learn how to do your own and check out his presentations.
California may undergo an involuntary face-lift because of global warming, but what else could happen and how? Forecast Earth details the science behind the changes and answers frequently asked questions about the phenomenon.
Junglewalk.com is a site for animal lovers. It contains videos and photos of animals in zoos around the world as well as a shopping site.
You may have heard Adil Najam's compelling analysis of the situation in Pakistan on All Things Considered, the afternoon NPR news show, on Friday. If so, you heard him compare Pakistanis' reaction to Benazir Bhutto's assassination to Americans' reaction to the JFK shooting. You also heard about Najam's blog: All Things Pakistan. There, the Boston University professor writes about developments in the country.
It was East Germany's answer to the VW Bug: the Trabant, made from 1957 until 1991, when the collapse of the Berlin Wall and East Germany itself meant people could drive whatever they wanted.
With a two-cylinder engine that produced only 27 horsepower, the Trabant -- nicknamed the Trabi -- topped out at 70 mph. It was light enough, with a hard plastic and cotton fabric body over a steel shell, to get about 35 miles per gallon on the highway.
Many were scrapped in the early '90s, but survivors have rebounded in the past few years; in Germany, in England and in Canada, where a Toronto-based Trabant club buys and sells cars and parts. A story link on the Canadian Web site says the car is easy to work on, a good feature since there are no dealers in Canada, and the last Trabi was built 17 years ago.
Don't expect to see a Trabant club in this country, though. The car had no emissions control system. Still, the English-language site makes for interesting reading. If you're really interested, a few owners have managed somehow to register them in the U.S.
There is a new Web site to help with organizing carpool groups. Users enter their schedules and then send and invitation to friends, classmates or coworkers who may be interested in sharing a ride. In one example given on the site, a user sent the link to parents on her children's soccer team to find out who would be interested in carpooling.
If you don't know where Cooperstown, N.Y., is, read no further.
If you do, you may be interested in What-the-hall.info, a new Web site whose goal it is to make people think about membership in baseball's Hall of Fame. Its creator, Connecticut resident Walter Baranger, came up with the idea at the 2007 Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
There's a section on people who aren't in the hall but ought to be (Curt Flood, Jim Kaat, Buck O'Neil) and another on members of the hall who some feel ought not to be (Bill Mazeroski, Phil Rizzuto and Tommy Lasorda). Did you know the five men who have managed the Dodgers since Lasorda's retirement have all had higher winning percentages than he did?
And there's a new section, since the release of the Mitchell Report, called Chemistry Majors. It has nothing at all to do with sodium, beryllium or strontium.
Looking to build a unique getaway? Even though land is expensive, you don't need to scrimp on square footage. Go up instead of out! That's the thinking here where you can find floorplans to build your very own water tower. If you don't want to build one, you can still enjoy unique pictures of others around the world.
Since crazy lawsuits clog our court systems, some manufacturers go overboard in warning customers how to use their products. They might be getting a little too extreme. Click here where you can read some of the sillier warnings such as, “never use a cocktail napkin as a navigation device!”
"Only you can prevent forest fires." Smokey the Bear first uttered those words in 1944, and more than sixty years later he's still keeping forests safe for everyone. Before you take that trip up to the mountains, read about Smokey's history and see what he has to say about keeping our forests safe from fires
by clicking here.
Have you ever wondered what song was at the top of the charts on the day you were born? Wonder no more. Just type your birthday here and choose either the United Kingdom, the U.S. or Australia. From there you will find out what people were rocking to when you entered the world.
Get a rundown of how people around the world celebrate New Year's. A Mexican tradition is to wear red underwear on New Year's Eve in anticipation of finding love in the new year. In Turkey, families often gather together and eat -- you guessed it -- turkey. And in Korea, at least one grandmother warns against sleeping on New Year's Eve lest your eyebrows turn white.
Since you won't get a full rockin' New Year's Eve of Dick Clark this year -- Ryan Seacrest is helping out the longtime host -- check out this video.
It's a look back at "American Bandstand," which Clark hosted for more than 30 years. There's a series of videos about that classic show on YouTube. For more, click here.
It's the dead of winter and you're not a basketball or hockey fan. And you can't wait for baseball's spring training to start. It's time to look at the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico. It's the Mexican Winter League, which is about to start its playoffs. How else can you learn that a longtime major league star is hitting .365 in Hermosillo, that Erubiel Durazo has 11 home runs for those very same Orange Growers (Naranjeros), or that former Angels World Series star Benji Gil is hitting .233 in Culiacan. You may want to brush up on your Spanish, but baseball fans should understand enough of the site to get their fix. And you'll be surprised at the names you recognize. Who is that Fernando Valenzuela who is 0-1 in three games with Mexicali? Yes, it is that Fernando.
If you've looked at all the 2008 cars and still don't see anything you like, how about a new/old Volkswagen Beetle? Not the oft-maligned New Beetle, but a real VW, the kind you saw way back when. The Golden Beetle Car Co. of Billings, Mont., operating from an old JC Penney store, handles everything from paint, interior and engine work to complete body-off restoration. The company will sell you a car or restore yours. Most VWs sold by Golden Beetle were made from 1965 to 1979. And like your favorite pizza place, they will deliver.
Beware of those stick figures you draw! You never know when they can turn on you. They may appear innocent, but they can be very clever and creative, not to mention down right sneaky. Don't think so? Find out what happens when a stick figure turns against its creator here.
If John Bogert's column made you feel nostalgic about Santa and the most-read editorial of all time, here are some links where you can find out more.
Newseum has an image of the tells what happened to the editorial writer and to Virginia herself after the legendary article was published.
Christmas around the world via webcam.
Put this up on your computer screen while the family is over if you want to induce some optical illusions. Consider it a conversation piece. Find more optical illusions here.
Looking for Christmas stories beyond "A Visit from Santa Claus" or "A Christmas Carol"? Wacky Anne's Christmas Library says it has the biggest collection of Christmas tales on the Internet: short stories, the Christmas chapters from classics like "Little Women" and "The Wind in the Willow," and more. The site offers Christmas tales for every age.
The site also includes the following: a Music Room, which contains lyrics for Christmas carols and digital files of holiday music; the Kitchen, with its Christmas recipe collection; and a list of Christmas links.
To learn how to take a good picture of your house's Christmas lights and other useful tips, go here.
OK probably not, but it's fun to look through Onecoldhand.com's listings anyway.
Here are the details from The Associated Press:
Jennifer Gooch’s mission was to create a simple Web site where people could go to find their lost gloves. Even if no happy reunions ever took place, she was just content to spread a little goodwill.
But just a month since www.onecoldhand.com went live, the Carnegie Mellon University art student is busier than ever. She’s reunited four gloves with their owners, is working on similar sites for cities around the globe, and is planning a book to showcase her found gloves.
The first glove match was made about a week ago, when a CMU intern from Germany heard about the site and checked it out for her missing beige glove. She found it on the page, under the description “woman’s leather glove with bling.”
Sarah Altmeyer said she bought the gloves a few years ago in Germany, but later lost one at Carnegie Mellon’s Simon-Newell Hall. She heard about the Web site Gooch created and thought she’d check it out.
Much to her joy, she found the missing glove there. “It was a very popular glove. I was actually kind of happy it was our first reunion,” Gooch said.
At 5 p.m. today, UCLA meets No. 19 BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl. Get live blog updates once the game starts. And get the latest news and thoughts on the Bruins any time at the Inside UCLA blog.
Nearly 6,000 California cases were reported in a confidential, nationwide list of 24,500 teachers who have been punished for a wide array of offenses. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune in Florida created a searchable database of the teachers’ names after waiting years to get the list, which it received from the Florida Department of Education.
The list, which is the only nationwide effort of its kind, does not include why any of the teachers were disciplined. Sexual misconduct, financial misconduct, criminal convictions and other misbehavior all can result in disciplinary actions.
The association that maintains the list offers it to state education agencies to provide warnings about teachers with past problems. It is not usually available to the public.
Julio Bocca, who — among many other accomplishments — enjoyed a 20-year run at the American Ballet Theater, will close down the widest avenue in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for a final, open-air performance. “Many people can dance, but what Julio communicates to the audience with his dance steps, his face, and his body, it’s mystical. He’s touched by God,” veterinarian Raul Hourcastagne, 59, who drove more than 100 miles with his family to see Bocca, told The Associated Press. You can see him, too, if only online, at the Web site for Bocca Tango, one of the dancer's most recent works.
You’ve read a lot lately about toxic toys and how to avoid them. But here’s a new resource worth taking note of. At www.momsrising.org, a family advocacy Web site founded in 2006, learn how to use a text-messaging system that will tell you instantly whether a toy is safe to buy.
It uses a database that was created earlier this month by the Michigan-based nonprofit Ecology Center and contains 1,200 toys tested by the center and other environmental health groups countrywide. You can search by product name, brand or toy type.
Scientists in California have uncovered the best evidence yet that cosmic dust in the early universe mostly came from the explosions of giant stars. The Spitzer Space Telescope recently detected large amounts of space dust — 10,000 Earth masses’ worth — in the supernova remnant Cassiopeia 11,000 light-years away. And online, you can see what the scientists see.
It would be so much easier to exercise if only you had someone to do it with. That’s where Exercise Friends comes in. You can search by gender, age, activity and/or location for a friend who will share your common fitness goal.
TV and movie memorabilia, backstage tours, red carpet bleacher seats and autographed posters will be up for bidding starting today as the Screen Actors Guild Awards begins its annual auction to benefit the SAG Foundation, City News Service reports. Different items will be featured as the weeks progress. You can bid online through Jan. 31.
One of the auction’s highlights is the chance for one bidder to attend the SAG Awards ceremony, scheduled for Jan. 27, as well as take a backstage tour during rehearsals, walk the red carpet and attend the post-awards gala. Bidding for this package takes place from 10 a.m. today through 10 a.m. Sunday.
Watch the U.S. population increase in real time, as — balancing births, deaths and immigration — one resident is added every 12 seconds.
More than 12 percent of that population lives in California, whose population has grown by
3.9 million since the 2000 census — an 11.5 percent increase that was announced Wednesday. Find more detailed facts about California population growth and demographics, which you can filter by county and city.
Did whales’ ancestors look like overgrown, long-legged rats? One scientist thinks so. According to research published today in the journal Nature, what might be the missing link between whales and land animals looks like a long-tailed deer without antlers. And recently found fossils back up the idea, which pushes aside the theory that the hippo might be the whale’s closest land relative. See what you think. Check out the origins research, which includes diagrams and family trees.
Every year around this time, the online indie-music magazine Pitchfork publishes its picks of the 50 best albums of the year. Test your indie pedigree by seeing how many of the albums you own -- or just how many artists you've heard of. A twist for 2007 is that you can vote for your favorite album as well.
Pitchfork is well-known for its thoughtfully written reviews. It's also a great place to check up on news about musicians who don't usually show up on mainstream radars.
We've had a few storms already, and predictions are that we'll have more this winter. After last winter's dry spell and because of Californians' inexperience driving in the rain, here are some pointers to keep you safe on wet roads.
You've no doubt heard by now that Peter Jackson, the Academy Award winning director, is on board to make "The Hobbit" in two movies. You'll be able to dress up and wait in line for midnight showings twice more if all goes to plan -- once in 2009 and again in 2010. Get all the dirt on Middle-earth's return to the big screen at the official "Hobbit" blog.
The first three hours are critical once a child is abducted. You can possibly help save a child with a cell phone and by signing up here. By entering your local zip code(s), you will receive a text message and are only notified when there is an alert in your area.
Sen. Joe Lieberman — the Democrat-turned-independent who was Al Gore’s running mate in 2000 — is crossing party lines yet again. This time, he’s siding with a Republican, endorsing Arizona Sen. John McCain in the upcoming presidential election. Wondering who else has endorsed McCain? Consult this list of Congress members’ druthers among White House candidates. You might also want to know who state politicians have sided with.
A law allowing deer and elk hunts to continue indefinitely on Santa Rosa Island (part of the Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California) is in Congress’ sights. Passed last year, the law isn’t likely to survive the week. Sen. Dianne Feinstein has included a repeal in a spending bill that could pass the House momentarily and the Senate within several days. Find out more about the island at a site that includes a slide show of its landscape, visitor information and fun facts. (Did you know the world’s most complete pygmy mammoth specimen was found there in 1994?)
Wish Google had a little more sass? Meet Ms. Dewey. A quirky site that puts a face on the traditional search engine, Ms. Dewey may take a little longer to return your results, but she’ll entertain you in the meantime.
The things you can do with a hula hoop, a little talent and lots of flexibility. Just ask Elena Lev, with the Cirque du Soleil, who manages to twirl a hula hoop while barely moving and folding her body into impossible positions at the same time. Check out the video and see for yourself.
You can still buy tickets for Cirque's Corteo show plays until Dec. 23 in Orange County.
You can soar like an eagle. Meet Tilly, a specially trained golden eagle who wears two cameras weighing less than two ounces on her back as she soars and swoops through beautiful countryside, floating on air currents, searching for food.
It has been a scary year for parents and toy companies. Here is some info on how to make the kids happy and safe:
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has a list of recalled toys and some toy safety shopping tips.
Mattel has a list of toys recalled by Mattel.
The Toy Industry Association has lots of links to companies that sell American-made toys.
Toy Tips has report cards for toys and lists of appropriate toys for a variety of age groups.
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio has a list of the Top 10 myths about toys.
Dr. Toy shares advice about choosing the best toys for your child.
Toy Wishes magazine is compiling a list of the most-wanted toys of 2007.
Map out how you're going to decorate your cookies, or just enjoy the decorating process while bypassing the mess. Drawing on the icing is harder than it looks.
That all-night study strategy or paper writing may be taking away your edge in college.
From The Associated Press: A new survey says those who never study all night have slightly higher GPAs than those who do. A survey of 120 students at St. Lawrence University, a small liberal arts college in northern New York, found that students who have never pulled an all-nighter have average GPAs of 3.2, compared with 2.95 for those who have. The study, by assistant professor of psychology Pamela Thacher, is to be included in the January issue of Behavioral Sleep Medicine. “It’s not a big difference, but it’s pretty striking,” Thacher said. “I am primarily a sleep researcher, and I know nobody thinks clearly at 4 in the morning. You think you do, but you can’t.” A second study by Thacher, a clinical psychologist, had “extremely similar” results showing lower grades among the sleep skippers.
So our advice is to study smarter by checking out the advice offered by Study Guides and Strategies.
With the holidays and the end of the year looming, it's time to think about giving. The public radio show "Marketplace" provides some guidance on charitable giving and offers a surprising discovery: that charitable individuals and nations prosper. So the more you give the more you get.
What can you do with a bunch of coins? Well, you could roll them and take them to the bank. Or, you could stack them. And stack them. And stack them some more.Check out the gravity-defying pictures from around the world of coins stacked in all sorts of amazing configurations.
Virtually, of course. And in elf garb. This has been floating around online for a couple of weeks, courtesy of OfficeMax. You'll want to have a couple of photos ready to upload to make it personal. We're at a loss for how to further describe this one, so just go have a look.
It's sad but true. The holidays are high season for burglars who will steal even the presents from under your tree. Security World offers these reasons why: "Our homes become more vulnerable to theft because of the fact that we are out shopping, or at social gatherings and celebrations."
Protect your valuables and yourself by following these guidelines.
For 95 years, the U.S. Postal Service has been intercepting letters from children to Santa Claus. Some get written answers but some need more. That’s where groups like BeAnElf.org come in.
BeAnElf was founded in 2004 by Patrick Reynolds, who turned his back on his family’s tobacco business and went out to preach a smoke-free message.
Being an elf is simple, it fits into almost any budget and there is security for elf and child built in at the post office, Reynolds said.
Postal workers give volunteers a choice of letters from children who need food, shoes, clothes or just reassurance that someone cares. The elves buy gifts, wrap gifts and deliver them, Reynolds said.
Post offices in nearly every major city in the country can choose how to run their Operation Santa programs. In Los Angeles, there are Santa workshops set up at a couple of postal centers. Check here for Southern California locations.
The widow of actor Buddy Ebsen — who lived in Palos Verdes Estates and was best known as the “Beverly Hillbillies” patriarch — is unpacking memorabilia from his career and preparing to sell it next year. But you don’t have to strike Texas tea to get a closer look at Ebsen mementoes. Take a stroll through the online, interactive Buddy Ebsen Museum, which includes videos and objects from Ebsen’s stage, film and TV work (such as the hat he wore in the film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s" — in 3-D), as well as artifacts related to his hobbies and his home.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and country singer Alan Jackson make guest appearances in the newest White House doggie video on the Web, The Associated Press reports.
President Bush, his wife, Laura, and their daughters, Jenna and Barbara, also play roles alongside Barney (shown with the president above center) and Miss Beazley, the first family’s Scottish Terriers. In the video, “Barney Cam VI: Holiday in the National Parks,” the two pups aspire to become junior park rangers and scamper around the White House as it is decorated for the Christmas holidays.
“Junior park ranger? OK, Barney, now you’ve gone country,” Jackson says.
Blair is shown congratulating Barney and Miss Beazley on becoming junior rangers.
“Well done,” the former prime minister says. “As someone born in Edinburgh, Scotland, it’s always good to see the Scots doing well.”
It’s Merriam-Webster’s online Word of the Year (as voted by visitors to its Web site), but do you know what “w00t” means? According to the dictionary, it “first became popular in competitive online gaming forums as part of what is known as l33t (‘leet,’ or ‘elite’) speak — an esoteric computer hacker language in which numbers and symbols are put together to look like letters.” And it’s an expression of gaming joy, as in “we owned the other team.” Find out what words round out the top 10.
Since the Sept. 11 attacks and the anthrax scare, the Pentagon and the Postal Service have refused to deliver mail addressed simply to "Any Wounded Soldier" for fear terrorists or opponents of the war might send toxic substances or demoralizing messages. Mail must be addressed to a specific member of the armed forces -- a rule that some well-meaning Americans find particularly painful during the holiday season. But fortunately, there are plenty of message boards and e-mail sites to help fill the void. A search for "e-mail troops" brings up dozens of options. Here are a few that can help you get your holidays messages to our military members:
-- At www4.army.mil/ocpa/tooursoldiers, you can post and read messages to troops.
-- You can do the same at www.emailtroops.com, which also allows troops to respond.
-- And if you register at www.emailourmilitary.com/index.html, you will then be assigned a registered service member -- some of whom may not have access to online message boards -- to correspond with.
Flying can be fun, but it can also be a nightmare, especially if you're stuck in a cramped seat next to a bulkhead. When it comes time to choose your seat, seek out the Seat Guru. The site evaluates each seat on the plane and offers check-in and baggage policies as well as links to the airlines.
When you gotta go, you gotta go, but why not do it in style? Check out the Golden Plunger award winners -- public bathrooms that go way beyond clean stalls and plenty of paper towels. Awarded by The Bathroom Diaries, which rate more than 12,000 public bathrooms around the world, these are the crème de la crème in classy commodes. Read about the one with solid gold toilets and thousands of precious gems embedded in the ceiling. Or the unisex bath with stalls that are see-through ... unless you lock the door.
Changes are likely in store for the Hermosa Beach Surfers Walk of Fame. But although the city tonight may change the governing body and the voting process, the walk, which has inducted more than 40 people since its 2003 launch, will go on. Do you know someone who deserves one of those bronze plaques on the city pier? Download an application and let the city know. Nominations are accepted until May 31.
If you're traveling for the holidays, but hate to leave Fido home alone, you're in luck. Find travel tips and pet-friendly hotels.
An easy way to help your favorite charity is to register for free with GiveSmart. Just like Google, GiveSmart lets you read news, shop and check sports scores. It even gets you a free e-mail address. Then, every time you use GiveSmart to surf the Internet, you raise money for your charity. But, unlike with Google, every time you use GiveSmart to surf the Internet, you raise money for your charity.
There are a lot of interesting, unusual, and downright weird things to be viewed from Google’s sky maps, and someone has put them all together. On the Map of Strange, you’ll find portraits in fields, the largest painted American flag, and happy faces, jet planes and giant bugs on building rooftops. There’s even a guy who has his parking spot marked so large that you can see it from the sky! Guess he doesn’t want any UFOs landing there by mistake.
Because of a fuel-tank gauge failure, NASA on Sunday postponed the space shuttle’s launch until January. But even though Atlantis won’t be going up before the new year, there’s still planning to be done. You can get in on some of the action — in a purely extracurricular way, of course — with NASA's Mission Planner, which lets you plot future space missions. You can also compare your plan with an interactive timeline of the actual flight plan set for Atlantis’ mission.
It’s a health trend that appears to be commercially contagious. Found in baby food, yogurts, snack bars and cereals, probiotics — “friendly” bacteria similar to those found in the human digestive system — are selling well. Experts say they’re generally safe, and in some cases actually helpful. However, more research is needed. This week, top scientists will discuss recent advances at a National Institutes of Health conference. But you don’t have to wait for them. Do some research of your own with an introduction to probiotics.
Companies like corresponding by e-mail and the Internet — and their customers often do, too. But sometimes those methods just don’t suffice. Here’s a list of “secret” 800 numbers for dozens of major businesses, such as Amazon.com, General Electric GE and Starbucks. The site not only lists dozens of companies, their Web sites and their toll-free numbers, but also notes hours when a live person is available and how to get them on the line.
And when you see one, know what you're seeing. There are twinned bows, red bows, primary bows, secondary bows, low bows and something called Alexander's dark band. Learn what these and other ROY G. BIV manifestations look like. Your new knowledge could have come in handy this weekend, and we Southern Californians can hope to be able to use it a few more times this winter.
Going to a performance of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" this holiday season, but need a little background? The Nutcracker Ballet site has a synopsis of the ballet's story, music from its various parts, links to a review of last year's performance by the Los Angeles Ballet, which will perform in Redondo Beach in a few weeks, and a state-by-state listing of upcoming performances, including one at the James Armstrong Theater in Torrance Dec. 9 at 2 p.m.
They're five out of five. They picked Carson Palmer in 2002 and have predicted the eventual Heisman Trophy winner each year since. This year, StiffArmTrophy is predicting Tim Tebow will take nearly 75 percent of the vote. You agree? See if StiffArmTrophy is right tonight at 5 on ESPN.
LA36 is a cable-only station that shows some of the major LAUSD high school football games, including Friday night's final between Carson and Birmingham. The problem is that it is only available in the city of Los Angeles and only to certain cable providers. If you're one of the lucky few who get the channel, check the schedule to see when the game will be rebroadcast.
If not, the video is posted on the Web site, where you'll also find other games from the season.
It was a lovely Sunday morning, with clear blue skies above. All that changed with the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor 66 years ago today. The Naval Historical Center Web site includes detailed images of that day as well as a comprehensive history.
In 2001, the National Park Service archeologist who led efforts to record and preserve the USS Arizona dove to the underwater battleship for a Discovery Channel production. A photographer recorded the visit on video, and you can view the stern-to-bow underwater tour.
The people who re-create Christmas night each year at the Journey of Faith Church in Manhattan Beach have been blogging about the behind-the-scenes efforts of putting on the production.
At the “Journey to Bethlehem” Web site, you can also see photos of the process, in which the Journey of Faith parking lot is turned into to the bustling town of Bethlehem complete with 170 costumed volunteers and 32 animals.
Or, you can see it in person at Journey of Faith Church, 1243 Artesia Blvd., Manhattan Beach 6 to 8:30 p.m. today through Sunday.
Breeze reporter Melissa Evans wrote a story about the project if you want more background.
Scientists and policymakers from nearly 190 nations have converged in Bali this week for a two-week climate-change conference focused on cutting greenhouse gases. The conference, the start of a two-year negotiating process aimed at producing a treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol, focuses on the future, but the problem it tackles is centuries old. Take a crash course in environmental history at www.environmentalhistory.org, an interactive timeline that stretches from the B.C. era (the stripping of forests by ancient civilizations in Greece, Babylon and Italy) to the Industrial Revolution (smog-related deaths in big cities like London) to the future.
Mobmov, “the global guerilla drive-in movement,” wants you to bring back “the forgotten joy of the great American drive-in.” With the help of modern technology, all you need is a blank wall in a parking lot, an FM radio and an independent film. The mobile-movie cause brings together communities in 20 countries, including hundreds of people in the Los Angeles and Long Beach areas. To find a group or start your own, cruise over to www.mobmov.org.
Are you bored? Are you at a loss? Is your creativity sapped? Try the Idea Generator. For us, it came up with "powdery edible website." We're already one-third of the way there. ... Another idea it had for us was "battery operated glitter furniture." We'll let you know how that goes.
Chances are you'll be doing some baking and cooking in the days and weeks ahead. But have you been duped by some dopey myths about the culinary art? An author of books about computers (he cooks, too) thinks you may have been. Peter Aitken reports that the following kitchen-related assertions are false: You can't make a good cup of tea in the microwave; you shouldn't salt meat before cooking it; never put bananas in the refrigerator. Check it out for yourself.
California is one of six states that participates in Google's public sector project, which incorporates public records into Internet search results. While many state agencies have posted such information online, the three major search engines haven't indexed it until recently. Florida is the latest to sign on, but Arizona, Utah, Virginia and Michigan have also joined the effort, which Google hopes will one day include local governments as well.
If you want people to think you’re a rich, fun-loving doctor-type, string up the lights. If you want people to think you’re ordinary, but a good neighbor with no kids, keep it simple, according to a recent survey of people who were shown pictures of either a flashy house or an understated house and asked about what their perception of the owner was.
People who viewed the highly decorated house were more likely to think the owner was:
People who viewed the less decorated house were more likely to think the owner was:
Interstingly, despite the appearance of being a fun-loving guy, more people would want the less decorated house in their neighborhood.
The news over the weekend was that video game heavyweights Activision and Vivendi are planning to merge. You're a gamer, and sure, you like their games, but the one you've always wanted to play is inside your head waiting to be made playable. A blogger who's designed video games for a living has tips for you, even if art isn't your thing (that "worked for Tetris," the blogger writes).
Think the holiday radio waves are all about red-nosed reindeers? Don’t kvetch. It’s time to get your klezmer on.
For the second year, XM Satellite Radio is celebrating the Festival of Lights and all that is Jewish with round-the-clock programming at Radio Hanukkah (XM Radio Channel 108). The temporary micro-channel launches at 2 p.m. today with a live White House candle-lighting ceremony. Then, at 5 p.m. daily in every time zone, join celebs such as Dr. Ruth and Matisyahu to light the menorah candles. The program wraps up at midnight Dec. 12.
Don’t have XM Radio? You can listen online. Not sure if you're interested? Download the schedule. Children even get their own playlist, “Hanukids.”
— Contra Costa Times
Living in Southern California, the weather is usually great, even during the holidays. Unfortunately, the traffic usually isn't, especially during the holidays. Traffic.com lets you view real-time traffic information and create custom traffic reports for your regular commutes, saving time and gas. You can even sign up to receive traffic alerts on your phone or via e-mail.
You weren't ever bored in your science class lectures were you? Good, then you'll love these sites that let scientists share their research, teach about the scientific process and discourage fraud. Put on your lab coat: Journal of Visualized Experiments; SciVee; LabAction; and DnaTube.
Here's some background from The Associated Press: Haim Weizman is a chemist by trade and an Internet moviemaker on the side. In his first video, a telegenic narrator in a lab coat swirls a flask as electronic music plays in the background. Created by four science and film students at the University of California, San Diego, the video shows a typical recrystallization experiment straight out of Chemistry 101.
The six-minute epic complete with bloopers got 1,205 views on YouTube, but the number increased fourfold when the video was posted to SciVee, one of a number of online video-sharing startups designed to let scientists broadcast themselves toiling in the laboratory or delivering lectures.
“Anyone in an organic chemistry class anywhere can now perform this experiment by watching the video. There are so many details that it’s hard to describe in a lab manual,” said Weizman, a lecturer at UC San Diego. He went on to produce five more lab-training videos.
As Redondo Beach puts the finishing touches on a new bike path in the northern part of the city, you may be looking for places to ride. Here are some Web sites that can point you in the right direction: a list of 116 trails in the L.A. area; Links to Southern California cycling Web sites; the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. But if two wheels are too many, check out Harvey Mudd College's unicycle club: Gonzo Unicycle Madness.
Human and canine competitors gathered at the Long Beach Convention Center for a contest of national importance Sunday. Here's the story and a complete list of winners. Don't miss the photos. Adorable.
Here in the South Bay, we got rain and some chilly winds, but there were reports of snow in the mountains in San Bernardino and San Diego counties. Before you think about taking on any massively steep slopes, though, check out this video of a snowboarder avoiding an avalanche. Listen for the "crack" of the snow.
It's a busy time of year, and sure to become more hectic once the kids get a break from school. While you’re out shopping, pick up supplies for some fun Christmas crafts, including a pine cone Christmas tree, a 3-D star, a paper plate snowman and a candy train. For instructions and a list of what you need, click here.
Looking for something other than a "World's Greatest" mug for your teacher's Christmas gift this year? Try this site.
At Oxfam America's Online store, you can buy school uniforms, school supplies, a desk and chair or books for a child in one of 26 developing countries the charity supports.
The site also has other unusual charitable gifts, like a can of worms to be sent in your favorite gardening enthusiast's name, or a crocodile in your favorite Harbor City resident.
He wore red, white and blue leathers, he was usually riding a roaring motorcycle, and he always was trying unimaginable feats. Although Evel Knievel died yesterday at the age of 69, it is unlikely that he will be forgotten. Remember the motorcycle daredevil by visiting his official site, which includes photo galleries, articles and videos.
Organize a secret Santa or white elephant gift exchange in your office with SecretSanta.com. And once you've got it all set to go, you'll have to find gifts. Here's something funky. This one's a bit more traditional. That should get you started.
A commonly-held superstition is that if a person says “Rabbit rabbit white rabbit” upon waking up on the first day of each new month, they will receive good luck for the remainder of the month. Wikipedia has origins and variations of the tradition.
With rain comes runoff, and with runoff comes bacteria -- to the beaches. To check up on ocean water quality after it rains or any time, go to the L.A. County Department of Public Health.
Click here for more water quality information and images.
If you would like to report pollution and get beach grades and closures, visit this site.
