Hell May Not Have Frozen Over - But It's Snowing On Mars!

Yes, when the impossible seems to be happening all around us - just another sign of the Apocalypse.

PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has detected snow falling from Martian clouds. Spacecraft soil experiments also have provided evidence of past interaction between minerals and liquid water, processes that occur on Earth.

A laser instrument designed to gather knowledge of how the atmosphere and surface interact on Mars has detected snow from clouds about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) above the spacecraft's landing site. Data show the snow vaporizing before reaching the ground.

"Nothing like this view has ever been seen on Mars," said Jim Whiteway, of York University, Toronto, lead scientist for the Canadian-supplied Meteorological Station on Phoenix. "We'll be looking for signs that the snow may even reach the ground."

One of the First Great Preservationists Passes at 100

Margot Gayle was one of the first advocates for the preservation of Victorian architecture in New York and she is also an excellent example of how much a single dedicated person can do.

September 30, 2008
Margot Gayle, Urban Preservationist and Crusader With Style, Dies at 100

By DOUGLAS MARTIN
Margot Gayle, who marshaled shrewdness, gentility and spunk to save the Victorian cast-iron buildings of New York — using a little magnet as a demonstration device — in a crusade that led to the preservation of historic SoHo, died Sunday at her home in Manhattan. She was 100.

The death was announced by her daughter Carol.

Ms. Gayle began her mission in the late 1950s, when a group of neighbors gathered in her Greenwich Village apartment to plot how to save the Victorian-Gothic curiosity that was the Jefferson Market Courthouse around the corner.

A half-century later, not only was the courthouse preserved (as a library), but so were scores of iron-framed buildings, Bishop’s Crook lampposts, stately public clocks and many other wisps of a past that Ms. Gayle had deemed worth keeping.

“Why not let people in the future enjoy some of the things we thought were extremely fine?” she said in an interview with The New York Times in 1998.

Ms. Gayle’s crowning achievement was helping to win the establishment of the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District, encompassing 26 blocks in what was originally an industrial quarter known as Hell’s Hundred Acres. The designation not only preserved important buildings and artifacts, it also saved SoHo from the kind of large-scale urban renewal that occurred north of Houston Street.

“It would be hard to find a district that was so single-mindedly engineered and promoted as that district was by Margot,” Harmon H. Goldstone, a former chairman of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, said in an interview with The Times in 1988.

Much more at the above link...

Jim Newton Returns To LA Times!

It's been a long time since some good news has come out of the Los Angeles Times, but the return of Jim Newton is the best news I have heard in some time. Below is announcement from LAT Times publisher Eddy Hartenstein:

From: Hartenstein, Eddy
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2008 11:50 AM
Subject: Editorial Pages Editor
I’m pleased to announce that Jim Newton has agreed to return to The Times to resume his duties as editor of the editorial pages. You all know Jim, so no introduction is needed. I would like to note that his decision to rejoin our enterprise, despite the demands of his book-writing career, is a vote of confidence in what we are trying to accomplish.

He’ll start on Monday and report to me. In the meantime, Jim asked that I send along this note:

“As you all know, The Times has a special claim on my heart and I’m convinced that Eddy represents our best chance for sustaining and building great journalism. Given that, I’m delighted that he’s offered me the chance to return, and I’m thrilled to move back into my old office—the best in the building. See you all in a few days.”

Please join me in welcoming Jim back to the team.

eddy

More details and some commentary at the LAO link above.

Free Downtown COMEDY WALK - Tonight! And Two TV Stations Will Be Filming Us Tonight!

Yes - six free venues with 25 comedians all within 1/2 block of 5th and Spring! 8:30 PM - 10 PM Tonight Thursday September 18th! Go to www.comedywalk.com to print your free ticket that will also get you one dollar off per person for any order at Julie Rico's WEENEZ at 5th and Spring Tonight!

*** COMEDY WALK SHOW FOR SEPTEMBER 18th 2008 ***

COMEDY WALK in downtown Los Angeles is the biggest monthly comedy festival in the world and largest comedy event in Los Angeles. Two dozen comedians from comedy clubs, television and movies. A Los Angeles Times "Best Bet". As seen in The Onion and Hollywood Today. Your best chance to see who's funny and hot in L.A.

Please put COMEDY WALK in your calendar. See you there?

For FREE TICKETS (and pictures and links for all the comedians):

www.comedywalk.com/2008/09/ or call 323-960-7773

Who... This month's featured performers include Jessica Glassberg, Johnny Dam and Keith Ashton. Jessica Glassberg is the head writer and a performer in the Jerry Lewis Telethon. Johnny Dam hosts the politically incorrect radio show DAMnation. Keith Ashton performs at The Improv. Full list of comedians below...

When... Thursday, Sept. 18th, 2008, 8:30pm-10pm

Where... This month's show is presented on six stages centered at the New Los Angeles Theatre Complex, 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, and surrounding venues, from 8:25pm to 10pm. There's plenty of parking in the neighborhood for about $5, but check you're not parking in one of the few lots that closes early. This month's COMEDY WALK is the third Thursday instead of our usual second Thursday with Art Walk. Neighborhood galleries will be open on the 18th before COMEDY WALK for you to take in the art scene.

Coming up... Our October 16th show is Momedy, a theme of Mom Comedy and will be centered at the Tower Theatre. Our November 13th show, right after the presidential election, has a theme of Comedy for Peace and will be centered at the Palace Theatre. November will feature Middle Eastern comedians. Different acts and different venues each month. Another performer every ten minutes on six stages. Print the 1-page PDF program with schedule at www.ComedyWalk.com.

Sept. 18th COMEDY WALK Comedians:

COMEDY WALK Comedians Sept. 18th:

1. Dallas Amsden - Hollywood Improv www.myspace.com/dallascomedy
2. Keith Michael Ashton - http://www.myspace.com/keithmichaelashton http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=405282331
3. Aurelio Miguel Bocanegra myspace.com/aureliomiguelbocanegra
4. Roz Browne - ABC The View, Merry Wives of Comedy Show, Laugh Factory, Ice House www.rozbrowne.com
5. Jeff Capri - www.jeffcapri.com
6. Competitive Awesome - Sketch comedy, Monster Office, Treasure Quest, comedy.com, The Newest New News (NNN) www.competitiveawesome.com
7. Johnny Dam - http://johnnydam.com/
8. Celeste Davis - The Improv myspace.com/theofficialcelestedavis
9. Brian Farrell - www.myspace.com/65047864
10. Grace Fraga - Laugh Factory, Comedy Store. www.gracefraga.com
11. Chris Gehrt - The Comedy Store, The Hollywood Improv, The Ice House, Club Aura www.youtube.com/ChrisGehrt
12. Jessica Glassberg - Head writer & performer The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, History Channel History of the Joke w/Lewis Black, Laugh Factory, The Improv, Comedy Store, Governor's Comedy Club www.jessicaglassberg.com
13. Karen Haber - TV shows such as Eek!Stravaganza and London Underground and movies including My Stepmother Is an Alien
14. Gayla Johnson - BET Comic View, The Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory, The Ice House - www.GaylaJohnson.net
15. Stogie Kenyatta - USO comedy tour in Tokyo, Japan and Okinawa www.stogiekenyatta.com
16. Carl Kozlowski - Laugh Factory, The Comedy Store, The Ice House, Comedytime - www.americasfunniestreporter.com
17. Stevie Mack - Steviemack@Night airing daily at www.steviemack.com
18. Sardia Marley - The Laugh Factory, Comedy Store, Improv and The Ice House www.sardiamarley.com
19. Lisa Mesa - Laugh Factory, Westside Eclectic, Ha Ha Comedy Club - http://lisamesa.blogspot.com
20. Jodi Miller - The Comedy Store myspace.com/jodilmiller
21. Dave Mishevitz - The Comedy Store. "We Love You Mrs. Bevins" a documentary about one of his many comedy trips to Iraq with Comics on Duty at Amazon.com www.myspace.com/daveiscomedy
22. Tim Powers - National Lampoon on XM radio, Hollywood Improv, Comedy Store, the Ice House, Improv Olympic, Second City L.A., Upright Citizens' Brigade www.timisfunny.com
23. Maury Rogow - Entourage, Style Network host, Oceans 13, HaHa, Improv, Comedy Store
www.youtube.com/mrogow2
24. D' Sean Ross - hosts every other Sunday at the Laugh Factory
25. Mikey Scott - The Improv, The Comedy Store, Room 5, Queers of Comedy www.queersofcomedy.com
26. Larry Vazeos - myspace.com/larryvazeos
27. Bill Word - National Lampoon Comedy Radio www.killerkomedy.com


This Month's Venues and Hosts:

Venue 1: Downstairs Theatre #3
Host: James Moorer
The New LATC
514 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
200-seat theater

Venue 2: Red Dot Room
Host: Yasmin Spain
Weeneez
500 S Spring St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
1,500-sq.ft Seated

Venue 3: The Onion Room
Host: Dr. Dennis Neder
Spring Arts Tower
207 W. 5th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
1,400 sq. ft. SRO

Venue 4: The Chicken Room
Host: Mary Nicole Walker
Spring Arts Tower
215 W. 5th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
1,000 sq.ft. SRO
Wrangler:
Camera:

Venue 5: The Secret Room
Host: Hillary Layman
Rowan Building
460 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Venue 6: The Underground Vault
Host: Gabrielle Pantera
Taping comedy talk show Gosh! TV
The New LATC
514 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
1,000 sq. ft. SRO

SPECIAL THANKS to Jose Luis Valenzuela, Mark Friedman, and William Flores of The New LATC, Paul Su of Spring Arts Tower. Tom Gilmore of Gilmore and Associates. Brady Westwater of the Historic Downtown Los Angeles Business Improvement District (BID)and the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council (DLANC). For the City of Los Angeles: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, District 9 Councilwoman Jan Perry, District 14 Councilman Jose Huizar. For the Cultural Affairs Department: Executive Director Olga Garay, Assistant General Manager Saul Romo.

A big thank you to the many volunteers who make COMEDY WALK possible as a FREE event!

Executive Producer Robin Rowe, Casting Director Gabrielle Pantera, Associate Producer Brian Frederick, A production of MovieEditor.com.

And The Winner In The Browser Wars Is....

Google's Chrome! And it ain't even close. Totally blows away the 'competition'.