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Stolen NASCAR race car recovered by police in Georgia

Written By kolimtiga on Sabtu, 28 Februari 2015 | 23.50

The great NASCAR car search is over.

Police in Georgia found the race car that was stolen Friday from a hotel parking lot near Atlanta Motor Speedway, the site of this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup and Xfinity Series races.

The car, along with the pickup truck and trailer that were hauling it, were  discovered early Saturday about 20 miles from where it was stolen, Morrow police Detective Sgt. Larry Oglesby told the Associated Press. The car, which is valued at $250,000, appeared to be undamaged. The No. 44 Chevrolet was discovered in a wooded area near Loganville, Ga.

Team Xtreme also confirmed the car had been recovered, sharing a photo on Twitter of team owner John Cohen standing next to it with the message: "So Happy to have 'old faithful' back. Favorite race car."

Unfortunately, the team won't be able to compete in Sunday's race. It was forced to withdraw after the car was stolen just hours before Travis Kvapil was scheduled to take part in Sprint Cup Series qualifying Friday.

Although the car was recovered, the thieves made off with other contents that were in the trailer. Team Xtreme spokeswoman Amanda Ebersole said a spare race engine worth $100,000 and racing equipment valued at $17,500 were among the missing items.

Surveillance camera at the hotel showed the truck and trailer being driven out of the parking lot shortly before 5:30 a.m. EST on Friday. The team was scheduled to leave for the track at 5:45 a.m.

"I've been doing this since 1979," said Peter Sospenzo, Team Xtreme crew chief. "I've probably been to 1,200 hotels and 1,200 racetracks. Never once has this happened. It's crazy. But there's a first for everything, I guess."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Artisanal, hand-crafted chocolate is a growing niche

Ryan Berk makes his chocolate from scratch. That means flying to Central America four times a year, hiking over Maya ruins to remote jungle villages and meeting face-to-face with the farmers who supply his cocoa beans.

Roasted back home at Berk's shop, the beans have a habit of enveloping downtown Redlands with a warm smell like brownies fresh from the oven. It's only then that the chocolate maker with the Indiana Jones streak can mix and shape the ancient treat into bars, carefully wrapping each one by hand.

By trading directly with farmers, artisan producers like Berk believe they can ensure fair prices and preserve a source of unique flavors that largely don't exist in a business dominated by Wall Street traders and a handful of multinational candy giants.

"It's a way for us to all profit," said the 31-year-old former chef who opened his shop, Parliament Chocolate, a year ago. "We need the farmers as much as the farmers need us."

Berk's style of chocolate is known in the business as bean-to-bar, and its focus on pure but bold flavors is drawing fans the same way craft beer and artisanal coffee already have. It comes at a time when the larger chocolate industry continues to grapple with overseas child labor, a potential shortage of cocoa and rising prices for both the industry and consumers.

The number of chocolate makers in the United States who identify with the bean-to-bar movement — by either sourcing cocoa directly from farmers or buying it from specialty importers — has grown tenfold in the last decade to at least 60, according to the Fine Chocolate Industry Assn.

Though small, that's still dozens more than in Europe, which has been enjoying the delicacy since the days of Christopher Columbus. It also doesn't include people buying beans and creating exotic chocolate in home kitchens.

"This whole thing started with the idea we could go back to the 1700s and make chocolate on a small scale like they were making it before the Industrial Revolution," said Pam Williams, president of the Las Vegas-based Fine Chocolate Industry Assn. "There is the desire to know where your food comes from and a reaction against mass-produced food in general that's translating over into chocolate."

Though bean-to-bar was a tiny part of the nation's $17.7 billion in chocolate sales last year, Williams says interest has grown exponentially in recent years. That has come, she says, as access to premium cocoa in smaller quantities has allowed small entrepreneurs to enter the market.

The modern-day movement traces its origins to 1997 when the late Robert Steinberg, a physician, teamed with winemaker John Scharffenberger to create one of the most successful bean-to-bar brands: Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker in San Francisco.

The company was sold to Hershey Co. in 2005, demonstrating the financial viability of the niche product. Similar high-end chocolates are now available in myriad specialty stores and supermarkets such as Whole Foods.

Though Berk also makes truffles and bonbons, his main product is plain dark chocolate hailing from a single origin such as Bolivia, the Dominican Republic or Guatemala. That allows him to showcase the region's flavor — be it berries, tropical fruit or even mushrooms. That's in stark contrast to a typical chocolate bar sold at a movie theater, which probably was made with cocoa beans pooled together from various countries and mixed with dairy, emulsifiers and preservatives.

Bean-to-bar chocolate, which can cost two to three times as much as a regular candy bar, tends to have just two ingredients: chocolate and sugar, most commonly at a ratio of 70% to 30%.

The world's biggest chocolate producers — Swiss companies Barry Callebaut and Nestle and the American-based Mars Inc., Mondelez International and Hershey — stake their success on delivering a mainstream product.

But it's also how those chocolate giants source their cocoa that troubles bean-to-bar producers.

About two-thirds of the world's cocoa comes from poverty-stricken West Africa. Their meager earnings have given rise to slave and child labor, many of the workers from even poorer neighboring countries such as Mali and Burkina Faso. Estimates of the number of children working in African cocoa fields range from 500,000 to more than 1 million, according to the International Labor Rights Forum.

In response, chocolate manufacturers have invested in new schools and worked with third-party auditors. Governments have also set price floors for cocoa.

Nestle and Hershey said they have worked on improving yields to boost farmers' incomes. Mars and Barry Callebaut declined to comment. Mondelez did not respond to a request for an interview.

Despite efforts to improve the lot of African cocoa growers, many are still turning to other crops such as palm and rubber.

The cocoa farmers' departure, coupled with drought, plant disease and rising demand for chocolate in emerging markets such as China and India, has the industry worried about a potential 1-million-metric-ton gap between supply and demand by 2020.

In the meantime, cocoa prices remain among the highest in years, prompting Mondelez (maker of Cadbury and Milka), Mars (M&M's, Snickers and Twix), Hershey and Switzerland's Lindt & Sprüngli to raise prices.

One of the industry's answers to the price pressure has been the introduction of CCN51, a controversial cocoa varietal developed in Ecuador. Highly productive and rugged, the plant is being lauded by an industry that regularly loses half its crop to pests and disease.

"Some people have said it tastes like acid dirt," said Ed Seguine, president of Seguine Cacao, Cocoa & Chocolate Advisors in Hanover, Pa. "The concern is it will push out flavor."

That dedication to flavor has inspired small start-ups in the U.S. such as LetterPress Chocolate, which is run out of David Menkes' second-floor apartment in West L.A.

A Sony Pictures animator by day and a chocolate maker by night, Menkes has spent the last few years studying cocoa, exploring Central America and even visiting a cacao boot camp in Hawaii to learn the bean-to-bar ropes.

His laundry room is stacked with plastic tubs full of beans from the Dominican Republic, Peru, Trinidad and Tanzania. He combined a vacuum cleaner with PVC pipes and a paint bucket to blow the shells off the beans. What's left are called nibs, which are ground into cocoa liquor using Indian wet grinders designed for making dosa, a sort of crepe.

"Cacao farmers need to be incentivized to grow high-quality cacao trees," said Menkes, 36. "That means the public needs to be willing to pay more for premium chocolate and understand the difference between good and bad cacao.


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Tour company Best of Morocco went the extra mile for travelers

My friend and I had the opportunity to travel to Morocco. I contacted the Best of Morocco, and they were very flexible and willing to organize my tour according to places we wanted to see and the length of time we were staying. Hafid, our guide and driver, made us feel very safe. The hotels and riads [traditional homes] they chose for our trip were very nice, clean and comfortable. My friend and I are chefs, and Hafid was so nice to us by allowing us to cook with the locals when we visited the desert. Tour prices vary depending on days of travel and accommodations; the website has up-to-date information on attractions, hotels, riads and more.

Best of Morocco, www.morocco-travel.com, 011-212-667-195-783

Karla Lomeli

Covina

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Stolen NASCAR race car recovered by police in Georgia

The great NASCAR car search is over.

Police in Georgia found the race car that was stolen Friday from a hotel parking lot near Atlanta Motor Speedway, the site of this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup and Xfinity Series races.

The car, along with the pickup truck and trailer that were hauling it, were  discovered early Saturday about 20 miles from where it was stolen, Morrow police Detective Sgt. Larry Oglesby told the Associated Press. The car, which is valued at $250,000, appeared to be undamaged. The No. 44 Chevrolet was discovered in a wooded area near Loganville, Ga.

Team Xtreme also confirmed the car had been recovered, sharing a photo on Twitter of team owner John Cohen standing next to it with the message: "So Happy to have 'old faithful' back. Favorite race car."

Unfortunately, the team won't be able to compete in Sunday's race. It was forced to withdraw after the car was stolen just hours before Travis Kvapil was scheduled to take part in Sprint Cup Series qualifying Friday.

Although the car was recovered, the thieves made off with other contents that were in the trailer. Team Xtreme spokeswoman Amanda Ebersole said a spare race engine worth $100,000 and racing equipment valued at $17,500 were among the missing items.

Surveillance camera at the hotel showed the truck and trailer being driven out of the parking lot shortly before 5:30 a.m. EST on Friday. The team was scheduled to leave for the track at 5:45 a.m.

"I've been doing this since 1979," said Peter Sospenzo, Team Xtreme crew chief. "I've probably been to 1,200 hotels and 1,200 racetracks. Never once has this happened. It's crazy. But there's a first for everything, I guess."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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The blood orange, one of winter's great fruits, with 12 recipes

Fruit expert David Karp loves to tell the story about a homeowner who was shocked several years ago to discover that she had a blood orange tree in her backyard. She called the cops because she was sure someone was trying to poison her.

It's hard to imagine that kind of reaction today. Blood oranges -- whether they're the deep crimson Moros, or the less vibrantly colored but usually tastier  Taroccos or Sanguinellis -- are one of the most sought-after fruits of winter.

Let's not pretend that looks have nothing to do with it. Even when they have no more flavor than a run-of-the-mill navel, blood oranges lend drama to any dish. But if you get a really good one – sweet and tart in perfect balance, with a nice berry-flavored kick – you can see what the fuss is really all about.

Incidentally, the connection between deep red color and berry flavor is actually tenuous. Both blood oranges and raspberries get their color from a naturally occurring pigment called anthocyanin, but it's nearly flavorless.

But because this pigment doesn't react well to heat (it turns from vivid crimson to bruised purple), you're best off using blood oranges in dishes that are raw or only very briefly cooked. One classic dish, happily simple to prepare, is a salad of sliced blood oranges with shaved fennel and black olives -- dressed only with a little very good olive oil.

Here are a dozen others, just to get you started.

How to choose: Unfortunately, there's no reliable way to predict from the outside how deeply colored the inside of a blood orange will be. You pays your money and you takes your chances. So select them just as you would any other orange – you want fruit that's heavy for its size and that's firm, with no soft spots.

How to store: Blood orange peels are somewhat thinner than that of some other orange varieties, so it's best to store these in the refrigerator, wrapped in a plastic bag.

Are you a food geek? Follow me on Twitter @russ_parsons1

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Driver in Metrolink derailment leaves jail as probe into crash continues

Written By kolimtiga on Jumat, 27 Februari 2015 | 23.50

Freed without charges after days in jail, the pickup driver in this week's Southern California train derailment is focused on how the train's passengers are faring, his son said.

"My father and the rest of my family are praying for everyone's speedy recovery and our concern and thoughts are with the victims of the accident and will be until all of them return to health," said Daniel Sanchez, whose father, Jose Sanchez-Ramirez, was driving the truck involved in Tuesday morning's crash in Oxnard.

Ventura County prosecutors announced Thursday that they would not charge Sanchez-Ramirez with a crime at this point in connection with his truck becoming "stuck" on the railroad tracks and the resulting crash of a Metrolink train that injured dozens.

Ventura County Dist. Atty. Gregory Totten said the ongoing investigation was "complex" and that he would wait until it was finished before making a final determination on whether to file charges against Sanchez-Ramirez, 54.

"While charges will not be filed at this time, the arrest of Jose Sanchez-Ramirez by the Oxnard Police Department was clearly appropriate and lawful," Totten said.

Sanchez-Ramirez's attorney, Ron Bamieh, said his client would appear in court on May 4.

"The failure to file charges at this point does not preclude them from filing charges later," he said. "I know there's great concern for the engineer. ... We're all praying for his health."

The derailment occurred before 6 a.m. near the crossing at 5th Street and Rice Avenue. Sanchez-Ramirez's Ford F-450 was hauling a trailer when, according to his lawyer, he mistakenly turned and drove onto the tracks and became stuck. Sanchez-Ramirez was in the area for work and thought he was turning onto 5th Street, Bamieh said. 

It was only after he couldn't dislodge the truck and couldn't find anyone in the area that Sanchez-Ramirez walked away to find help, Bamieh said.

After Sanchez-Ramirez left, officials said, the first Metrolink train of the morning out of east Ventura barreled into his truck. Three passenger cars, designed with the latest crash-protection technology, tumbled off the tracks and onto their sides. A fourth car and the train's locomotive also derailed.

Federal investigators continue to investigate the incident.

Investigators said Thursday they intended to obtain Sanchez-Ramirez's cellphone records to determine whether he was using the device or accessing any street maps at the time of crash.

Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board said preliminary information from the train's data recorder shows its horn sounded 12 seconds before impact and that the throttle was moved into the idle position 11 seconds before the crash. The train's emergency brakes were applied eight seconds before it hit the truck, they said.

The Metrolink train was traveling 56 mph when it hit the truck, well below the 79-mph speed limit, Sumwalt said. A 31-year-old student engineer was operating the train at the time of the crash, he said.

A forward-facing camera showed the truck's headlight and emergency flashers were on as the train approached, and the grade-crossing arms had come down down and all signals were working as designed, he said.

The truck was facing the train and its passenger-side tires appeared to be straddling the southern rail while the tires on the driver's side were outside the rails.

Sumwalt said investigators believed Sanchez-Ramirez was driving south on Rice Avenue and may have intended to turn right on East 5th Street, but instead made the turn about 55 feet short of 5th Street onto the railroad tracks.

"One of the things we'll be looking at is how could a driver believe that that was a road," he said.

In all, 50 people were involved in the collision and derailment; 28 were hospitalized.

Two passengers remained in critical condition Thursday, including the train's engineer, who was clinging to life, officials said. The 62-year-old was transported Thursday to a specialized care facility, a Ventura County Medical Hospital spokeswoman said.

The engineer has 42 years of experience and is ranked No. 1 on the Metrolink seniority list, said Robert Sumwalt, a National Transportation Safety Board member.

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Sammy Hagar rocks downtown Las Vegas with his new band The Circle

Sammy Hagar will take a different approach to concerts when he brings his new band The Circle to the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center in April.

The Red Rocker teamed up with Michael Anthony, the bassist who has played with him for the past 30 years in bands including Van Halen and Chickenfoot; Vic Johnson, the guitarist from Hagar's band The Wabos; and Jason Bonham, the drummer and son of iconic Led Zeppelin drummer, John Bonham.

Hagar was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Van Halen in 2007 and has 25 platinum certifications on sales surpassing 40 million.

Hagar plans to take fans through his four-decade career, playing songs from his band Montrose, his solo career, Van Halen and more. Hagar teases that the addition of Bonham to his group opens the door to Led Zeppelin songs as well.

The concert, scheduled Saturday, April 11, will take over the 15,000-seat open-air events center that is part of downtown's D Las Vegas. Hagar threw his birthday bash there in October.

Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 27, starting at $63.75.

Tickets: Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, (702) 388-2100

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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U.S. atheist blogger killed in stabbing attack in Bangladesh

Assailants hacked to death an American atheist writer and blogger of Bangladeshi origin and seriously wounded his wife Thursday night outside a book fair in Dhaka, the South Asia nation's capital.

Avijit Roy, 42, a champion of secularism and outspoken critic of Islamists, was repeatedly stabbed by at least two attackers at the Dhaka University campus. His wife, Rafida Ahmed Bonya, was hospitalized with multiple wounds.

Ansar Bangla-7, believed to be an Islamist group, claimed responsibility for the attack in a Twitter posting, said Shibli Noman, assistant police commissioner for the Ramna zone.

No immediate arrests were made, police said.

Sirajul Islam, the police officer in charge at the Shahbag station, said two bloodstained butcher knives and a shoulder bag were recovered at the scene. Handles of the butcher knives were wrapped in paper, he said.

The attack occurred on a footpath outside the Teachers-Students Center on the campus about 9 p.m., authorities said. At least two assailants struck Roy with machetes from behind, slashing wounds into his head. They also struck his wife when she tried to save him. Bonya, 40, suffered injuries in the head and lost a finger, Islam said.

The couple was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where Roy died about 10:20 p.m., officials said. Bonya, herself a writer and blogger, was being treated and was listed in serious condition.

Witnesses said police officers and others were nearby when the attack occurred but did not attempt to intervene despite Bonya's screams for help.

Roy, son of professor Ajay Roy, who taught physics at Dhaka University, moved to the U.S. in 2007, gained citizenship and had worked as software engineer. He had been previously threatened by Islamist fundamentalists, said family members and fellow bloggers.

"His writing drew the ire of religious fanatics," Baki Billah, a blogger said.

Noman, the assistant police commissioner, said the attack bore the hallmarks of assaults that have been linked to Islamist militants. "Whoever they are, we'll trace them," he said. 

A Twitter account named Ansar Bangla 7 posted a photo of a bloodied Roy and Bonya, saying: "May be its Avijit Roy's bloody wife Husband's Head. #Beheaded He was a top Target 4 last 3/4 years." 

Roy, whose writings included the books "Virus of Faith" and "From Vacuum to the Universe," flew to Bangladesh on Feb. 16 to attend the book fair and planned to return to the U.S. on March 4, said his younger brother, Anujit Roy.

Last year, Rakamari.com, an online bookstore, was forced to remove Avijit's books from its list following threats by Shafiur Rahman Farabi, a fundamentalist blogger.

Farabi was arrested for posting provocative comments on his Facebook page supporting the killing of blogger Ahmed Rajib Haidar in Mirpur on Feb. 16, 2013. He was later released on bail.  

The attack on Roy resembled the assaults on Haider, professor Humayun Azad of Dhaka University and blogger Asif Mohiuddin, said Koushik Ahmed, another blogger.

Azad was hacked by assailants in 2004 as he was leaving the annual book fair. He died later in Germany while undergoing treatment for his wounds.

Kader is a special correspondent.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Lupita Nyong'o's Oscars gown goes missing

Remember Lupita Nyong'o's gorgeous Oscars dress, the one encrusted with 6,000 pearls? The dress (estimated to be worth $150,000) has been reported missing from the London West Hollywood Hotel, and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department is investigating the disappearance as a theft. [Los Angeles Times]

Madonna says she is done with capes after the wardrobe malfunction that caused her fall at the Brit Awards. The cape was supposed to come off when a backup dancer tugged it, but it had been tied too tightly and she tumbled over, causing whiplash, she says. [BBC News]

People -- lots of 'em -- are spending time arguing on Twitter and other social media over the color of a dress in a photograph. Really. [Los Angeles Times]

Retired publishing mogul John B. Fairchild has died at age 87. The family business, Fairchild Publications Inc., published magazines and trade papers including Women's Wear Daily. [WWD]

The Apple Watch, coming in April, is being touted the old-fashioned way: with a 12-page advertising spread in Vogue. [The Cut]

Giuliana Rancic was trying to channel her late "Fashion Police" co-host Joan Rivers when she said Zendaya's Oscars night dreadlocks made her think of weed and patcholi. That her attempt to be edgy backfired isn't surprising. "Giuliana is trying to be Joan. She can't be," a source told People. "No. 1, she is not that funny – and she shouldn't be. That's what happens when you let a news anchor do a comedy show." [People]

Bethann Hardison, advocate for more diversity in fashion, has teamed with Models.com editor in chief Stefan Moskovic on Diversity Rules, an online series that spotlights ethnic models to show designers and the media how many choices they have. [WWD]

Kim Kardashian's bare rear end didn't break the Internet when she posed for Paper magazine last year. Now she's trying to break Instagram, it seems: She posted a photo of herself in a skimpy thong to celebrate reaching 27 million followers on Thursday. [People]

Photographer Mario Testino is to be honored with a special presentation at International Center of Photography's Infinity Awards in April. The annual event is the center's primary fundraiser. [WWD]

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Consumer prices plunge 0.7% on cheaper gas costs

Written By kolimtiga on Kamis, 26 Februari 2015 | 23.50

A plunge in gas prices last month lowered consumer prices by the most in six years. But excluding the volatile food and energy costs, prices rose.

The Labor Department said Thursday that the consumer price index fell 0.7% in January, the sharpest drop since December 2008. Tumbling prices at the pump drove nearly all of the decline.

Core prices, which exclude food and energy, rose 0.2%. The cost of clothes, hotels and restaurants all rose.

Overall consumer prices have slipped 0.1% over the past 12 months. It is the first yearly drop in five years. And over the past year, core prices have risen just 1.6%, below the 2% level the Federal Reserve considers optimal for a healthy economy.

Excessively low inflation is complicating the Fed's decision on when to begin raising the short-term interest rate it controls. Most analysts think the Fed will start to raise rates from record lows in June or September. But persistently low prices could delay that decision.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen told Congress this week that she expects the effects of falling gas prices to fade in coming months, causing inflation to creep back toward the Fed's 2% target.

Most economists agree. Paul Ashworth, chief U.S. economist at Capital Economics, expects core inflation to rebound to 2% by early next year.

"There is little danger that this temporary bout of falling energy prices will develop into a more insidious … deflation spiral," Ashworth said.

Deflation, which occurs when prices are broadly falling, can feel like a good thing to consumers but can be damaging for an economy. Declining prices can lead consumers to delay spending as they wait for better deals. That slows growth and forces companies to cut wages. Japan has struggled to escape a deflationary, slow-growth trap for more than two decades.

Yet Ethan Harris, global economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, says price declines driven by cheaper gas typically don't cause deflationary spirals. Instead, lower gas prices free up more cash for Americans to spend, which tends to strengthen economic growth.

In addition, there are already signs that oil and gas prices have leveled off after collapsing nearly 60% from July through January.

Gas prices had fallen in January to an average of $2.03 a gallon nationwide, the lowest level in five years, according to AAA. But the average reached $2.33 on Wednesday, up 6 cents in just a week.

Oil prices topped $50 a barrel Wednesday, up from a low of $44 in January.

Other factors, particularly rents and hotel costs, are pushing up core prices. A measure of rents rose 0.2% last month. Hotel prices jumped 1.3%.

The vacancy rate for rental apartments fell to 7% at the end of last year, the lowest level in 25 years, according to Joseph Carson, U.S. economist for asset manager AllianceBernstein. That caused the average rent in 2014 to rise 3.4%, the sharpest increase in six years.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Kuwait-born Briton identified as Islamic State's 'Jihadi John'

The man with a British accent who appears in Islamic State videos showing American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and others being beheaded in Syria has been identified as Mohammed Emwazi, a Kuwaiti-born British citizen, according to a Western official in Washington.

Emwazi is in his mid-20s and grew up in London. Hostages had given him the nickname "Jihadi John." He was identified by British security forces several months ago, the official said Thursday, but his name was kept secret to help intelligence officials better track his communications and movements.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal assessments.

Emwazi was identified earlier in the day by the Washington Post, which quoted "friends and others familiar with his case." He was believed to have traveled to Syria around 2012 and later joined Islamic State, the Post said.

The BBC also named him and said he is known to British security services who chose not to identify him earlier for "operational reasons."

The network reported that plain-clothed police officers visited the family home in west London on Thursday morning but found no one at home. Neighbors said they had not seen family members in a few days nor Emwazi for several years.

The Obama administration refused to confirm the reports. National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said in a statement that the killing of American citizens by Islamic State remains an ongoing investigation.

"We will not comment on ongoing investigations and therefore are not in a position to confirm or deny the identity of this individual," she said. "As the president has said, no matter how long it takes, the United States will not rest until we find and hold accountable the terrorists who are responsible for the murders of our citizens."

The British government also was "neither confirming nor denying speculation over the name" of the man in the beheading videos, Jessica Jennings, a spokeswoman with the British Embassy in Washington said in a telephone interview.

In London, the advocacy group CAGE, set up by a former Guantanamo Bay detainee, gave a news conference to describe its contact with Emwazi.

"The Mohammed I knew was extremely kind, extremely gentle, extremely soft spoken," CAGE Research director Asim Qureshi said.

He explained that Emwazi first visited CAGE in the summer of 2009 after attempting to travel to Tanzania with friends. Emwazi told CAGE's staff that  they were detained at the airport and sent back to the Britain, where he was quizzed by MI5, the domestic intelligence service.

Quershi said Emwazi was repeatedly asked what "type" of Muslim he was and informed that authorities believed he was traveling to the region with the intention of joining militant group Shabab. MI5 officers also asked Emwazi if he was willing to become an MI5 informant, Quershi said.

He lived in Kuwait for a time, returned to Britain in 2010 and was prevented from returning the the Persian Gulf nation, Qureshi said. Emwazi disappeared in 2013, he added.

Emwazi's family is still not convinced that their son is the man pictured in the beheading videos and known as "Jihadi John," Qureshi said.

"How can it possibly be that these two people are the same person," the family said, according to Qureshi. "Lots of questions remain about what happened after he left for Syria."

"Jihadi John" first appeared in a video showing the beheading of Foley last August. He spoke to the camera with a strong English accent.

He appeared to brutally kill Foley and was later seen in other videos that showed the slayings of Islamic State hostages, including Sotloff, British aid worker David Haines, British taxi driver Alan Henning and U.S. aid worker Abdul Rahman Kassig.

In the recordings, he stands menacingly beside his victims, clad head to toe in black with his face masked by a balaclava and only his eyes visible.

Authorities used voice analysis to try to identify him, and former hostages were interviewed to gather any clues about his real identity.

Boyle is a special correspondent and reported from London. Staff writer Bennett reported from Washington.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times

8:30 a.m.: This article has been updated with statements from Asim Qureshi.

7:35 a.m.: This article has been updated with a Western official in Washington confirming the identification of the British suspect.

7:15 a.m.: This article has been updated with the refusal of the British Embassy and the Obama administration to confirm the reported identity of "Jihadi John."

The article was originally published at 4:11 a.m.


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Easy dinner recipes: Paella makes a great one-dish meal

Paella's always a perfect choice when you want to dazzle dinner guests but don't want to spend all your time in the kitchen. Many versions can be made ahead of time, giving you ample time to enjoy your company as well as the meal.

Arroz con chorizo y camarones: According to creator Mayi Brady, "This rice with chorizo dish -- think of it as a simple paella -- calls for Spanish chorizo, an aged sausage which is firmer than Mexican chorizo and less spicy. It's available at Spanish and some Latino markets. If you can't find it, substitute Portuguese linguica sausage, often available in supermarkets."

Paella de mariscos: Chef Joe Miller's seafood variation is bright with color and flavor, and can be made in less than an hour. Make it ahead of time if you'd like; the paella will keep for up to two hours at room temperature before serving.

Rice salad, paella style: Cook rice as you would pasta to bring out the perfect texture in the grains, then drain, adding saffron and red onion to gently infuse flavor before cooling the rice. Before serving, add red pepper strips, chorizo, calamari and mussels, flavoring the salad with vibrant red pepper strips, fresh lemon juice and parsley. It's a dramatic presentation, and no one has to know how easy it was to put together. You can find the recipe below.

RICE SALAD, PAELLA STYLE

Total time: 40 minutes, plus cooling time | Serves 6 to 8

    2 tablespoons olive oil
    4 ounces Spanish chorizo, cubed
    1/2 cup dry white wine
    1 pound mussels in shell
    1/4 pound calamari, cut into rings and bite-sized pieces
    0.2 grams saffron threads
    1/2 cup diced red onion
    2 cups long-grain rice, rinsed well
    Salt
    3/4 cup sliced bottled roasted red peppers
    1 tablespoon lemon juice
    1/2 cup chopped parsley

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.

2. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chorizo and cook until it begins to brown and render fat, about 5 minutes. Add the white wine and increase the heat to high. When the wine is bubbling, add the mussels, cover and cook until the shells open, about 5 minutes. Add the calamari and cook until the edges curl, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat.

3. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the chorizo, mussels and calamari to a bowl, cover tightly and refrigerate until needed. Add the saffron threads to the liquid in the pan and return to the heat. Simmer until the liquid is reduced by half to about one-third of a cup.

4. Place the red onion in a strainer and rinse under cold water to remove some of its "bite."

5. Cook the rice as you would pasta: Add the rice to the boiling water and cook until it is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Do not overcook or undercook it; the rice should be soft all the way through but should not be beginning to "explode" at the ends.

6. Line a jellyroll pan with a kitchen towel. Drain the rice and rinse it quickly under cool water, then spread it over the kitchen towel. Cover with another kitchen towel and gently pat dry.

7. Transfer the rice to a large mixing bowl. Pour the saffron liquid over the rice, add the red onion and stir gently with a wide rubber spatula to coat evenly. The rice should be a uniform golden color. Season to taste with about 1 teaspoon of salt, and set aside to cool completely. (The recipe can be prepared to this point up to one day in advance and refrigerated tightly covered; bring the rice back to room temperature before finishing the recipe. You may need to add a little olive oil to finish.)

8. Add the red pepper strips, lemon juice, parsley, chorizo and calamari to the rice, and stir gently to mix well. Season to taste. Transfer to a large, flat serving bowl, and scatter the cooked mussels over the top. Serve at room temperature.

Each of 8 servings: Calories 355; Protein 15 grams; Carbohydrates 46 grams; Fiber 2 grams; Fat 10 grams; Saturated fat 3 grams; Cholesterol 57 mg; Sugar 1 gram; Sodium 601 mg.

Love cooking as much as I do? Follow me @noellecarter

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Consumer prices plunge 0.7% on cheaper gas costs

A plunge in gas prices last month lowered consumer prices by the most in six years. But excluding the volatile food and energy costs, prices rose.

The Labor Department said Thursday that the consumer price index fell 0.7% in January, the sharpest drop since December 2008. Tumbling prices at the pump drove nearly all of the decline.

Core prices, which exclude food and energy, rose 0.2%. The cost of clothes, hotels and restaurants all rose.

Overall consumer prices have slipped 0.1% over the past 12 months. It is the first yearly drop in five years. And over the past year, core prices have risen just 1.6%, below the 2% level the Federal Reserve considers optimal for a healthy economy.

Excessively low inflation is complicating the Fed's decision on when to begin raising the short-term interest rate it controls. Most analysts think the Fed will start to raise rates from record lows in June or September. But persistently low prices could delay that decision.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen told Congress this week that she expects the effects of falling gas prices to fade in coming months, causing inflation to creep back toward the Fed's 2% target.

Most economists agree. Paul Ashworth, chief U.S. economist at Capital Economics, expects core inflation to rebound to 2% by early next year.

"There is little danger that this temporary bout of falling energy prices will develop into a more insidious … deflation spiral," Ashworth said.

Deflation, which occurs when prices are broadly falling, can feel like a good thing to consumers but can be damaging for an economy. Declining prices can lead consumers to delay spending as they wait for better deals. That slows growth and forces companies to cut wages. Japan has struggled to escape a deflationary, slow-growth trap for more than two decades.

Yet Ethan Harris, global economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, says price declines driven by cheaper gas typically don't cause deflationary spirals. Instead, lower gas prices free up more cash for Americans to spend, which tends to strengthen economic growth.

In addition, there are already signs that oil and gas prices have leveled off after collapsing nearly 60% from July through January.

Gas prices had fallen in January to an average of $2.03 a gallon nationwide, the lowest level in five years, according to AAA. But the average reached $2.33 on Wednesday, up 6 cents in just a week.

Oil prices topped $50 a barrel Wednesday, up from a low of $44 in January.

Other factors, particularly rents and hotel costs, are pushing up core prices. A measure of rents rose 0.2% last month. Hotel prices jumped 1.3%.

The vacancy rate for rental apartments fell to 7% at the end of last year, the lowest level in 25 years, according to Joseph Carson, U.S. economist for asset manager AllianceBernstein. That caused the average rent in 2014 to rise 3.4%, the sharpest increase in six years.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Consumer prices plunge 0.7% on cheaper gas costs

A plunge in gas prices last month lowered consumer prices by the most in six years. But excluding the volatile food and energy costs, prices rose.

The Labor Department said Thursday that the consumer price index fell 0.7% in January, the sharpest drop since December 2008. Tumbling prices at the pump drove nearly all of the decline.

Core prices, which exclude food and energy, rose 0.2%. The cost of clothes, hotels and restaurants all rose.

Overall consumer prices have slipped 0.1% over the past 12 months. It is the first yearly drop in five years. And over the past year, core prices have risen just 1.6%, below the 2% level the Federal Reserve considers optimal for a healthy economy.

Excessively low inflation is complicating the Fed's decision on when to begin raising the short-term interest rate it controls. Most analysts think the Fed will start to raise rates from record lows in June or September. But persistently low prices could delay that decision.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen told Congress this week that she expects the effects of falling gas prices to fade in coming months, causing inflation to creep back toward the Fed's 2% target.

Most economists agree. Paul Ashworth, chief U.S. economist at Capital Economics, expects core inflation to rebound to 2% by early next year.

"There is little danger that this temporary bout of falling energy prices will develop into a more insidious … deflation spiral," Ashworth said.

Deflation, which occurs when prices are broadly falling, can feel like a good thing to consumers but can be damaging for an economy. Declining prices can lead consumers to delay spending as they wait for better deals. That slows growth and forces companies to cut wages. Japan has struggled to escape a deflationary, slow-growth trap for more than two decades.

Yet Ethan Harris, global economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, says price declines driven by cheaper gas typically don't cause deflationary spirals. Instead, lower gas prices free up more cash for Americans to spend, which tends to strengthen economic growth.

In addition, there are already signs that oil and gas prices have leveled off after collapsing nearly 60% from July through January.

Gas prices had fallen in January to an average of $2.03 a gallon nationwide, the lowest level in five years, according to AAA. But the average reached $2.33 on Wednesday, up 6 cents in just a week.

Oil prices topped $50 a barrel Wednesday, up from a low of $44 in January.

Other factors, particularly rents and hotel costs, are pushing up core prices. A measure of rents rose 0.2% last month. Hotel prices jumped 1.3%.

The vacancy rate for rental apartments fell to 7% at the end of last year, the lowest level in 25 years, according to Joseph Carson, U.S. economist for asset manager AllianceBernstein. That caused the average rent in 2014 to rise 3.4%, the sharpest increase in six years.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Lady Gaga to star in 'American Horror Story'

Written By kolimtiga on Rabu, 25 Februari 2015 | 23.50

Prepare yourself, Little Monsters. Your leader is about to bring her special brand of scary to prime time.

Lady Gaga, the chameleon-like rock star who has boosted her career by crooning with Tony Bennett, will star in the fifth installment of FX's "American Horror Story," producers announced Wednesday.

No details were immediately available on her role or the premise of the latest installment of the limited series, which is set to premiere its next season in October. The franchise changes locations and storylines each season. 

The announcement came just a few days after Gaga set the twitttersphere on fire with her sweeping performance of songs from "The Sound of Music" at the Oscars ceremony. She is also scheduled to go on tour with Bennett during the coming months.

Perhaps she caught the acting bug from her fiance, Taylor Kinney, who stars in NBC's "Chicago Fire."

Gaga is not the first rocker to bring star power to "American Horror Story," which is executive produced by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. Stevie Nicks also made her acting debut on the series.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Easy dinner recipes: Tempting gluten-free salmon ideas in an hour or less

It's Gluten-Free Wednesday. Even if you have no intention of giving up gluten entirely, lighten it up a little with one of these three tempting salmon recipes. Each can be ready, from start to finish, in an hour or less.

Smoked salmon hash: Hash is a great option when you want something simple -- it's one-pan comfort food. In this take, combine cold-smoked salmon with butter-crisped Yukon gold potatoes, red onion, capers, fresh herbs and hints of horseradish and mustard, and serve alongside tangy creme fraiche.

Oven-steamed salmon with dill mayonnaise: If you're looking for easy, dinner doesn't get much better than oven-steamed salmon, according to Food columnist Russ Parsons. With his recipe, you simply steam salmon on a baking sheet in a 250-degree oven over a baking pan filled with boiling water. The salmon is ready in about 20 minutes, when the fish just begins to flake. While it's cooking, whisk together a quick dill mayonnaise (mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, fresh chopped dill and shallots and a little lemon juice), and you're good to go. Simple, right?

Roasted salmon with red pepper hazelnut pesto: Roasted red peppers are a perfect smoky base for this rustic sauce, brightened with a little lemon and dotted with fresh chopped chives. But it's the toasted hazelnuts that take this pesto to another level. Enticingly fragrant, they lend a wonderfully rich depth to the finished sauce. We loved this pesto served over roasted salmon, though it would pair equally well with other fish, poultry or roasted vegetables. You can find the recipe below.

THYME CAFE & MARKET'S ROASTED SALMON WITH RED PEPPER HAZELNUT PESTO

Total time: 1 hour | Serves 4

Note: Adapted from Thyme Cafe & Market

3 red bell peppers, roasted, peeled and seeded (about 2 cups)

2/3 cup toasted hazelnuts, chopped

1 clove garlic, chopped, more to taste

Zest and juice of 1 lemon, or to taste

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

1/4 teaspoon salt, more to taste

Freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup olive oil, more or less to taste, plus more for drizzling over the salmon

1/4 to 1/3 cup chopped chives

4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets

1. In a blender, combine the bell peppers, hazelnuts, garlic, lemon zest and juice, cider vinegar, one-fourth teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper. Pulse to combine. With the blender running, drizzle in the olive oil to emulsify and form the pesto. Taste, adjusting seasoning and flavoring as desired, and adjusting the thickness of the pesto with additional olive oil. This makes a generous 2 cups pesto, more than is needed for the remainder of the recipe; any leftover pesto can be covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days.

2. Remove the pesto to a bowl and stir in the chopped chives.

3. Heat the oven to 425 degrees.

4. Place the salmon fillets on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet and drizzle the top of each fillet with a little oil. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper over each fillet.

5. Place the fillets in the oven and roast until the salmon is cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.

6. Plate the salmon and drizzle a little pesto over each fillet. Serve immediately.

Each of 4 servings: 560 calories; 37 grams protein; 6 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams fiber; 43 grams fat; 8 grams saturated fat; 94 mg cholesterol; 3 grams sugar; 321 mg sodium.

Love cooking as much as I do? Follow me @noellecarter

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Four Wesleyan students arrested after bad batch of Molly sickens 12

Four Wesleyan students, including a Southern California man, have been arrested on drug charges in connection with a bad batch of a party drug that sickened a dozen people last weekend.

Twelve people -- 10 students and two visitors -- were taken to the hospital over the weekend after taking the party drug Molly. Two were still hospitalized Tuesday night, university officials said, and "have made progress."

Three men and one woman were arrested Tuesday night, according to police in Middletown, Conn. The students arrested were Andrew Olson, 20, of Atascadero, Eric Lonergan, 21, of Rio de Janeiro, Zachary Kramer, 21, of Bethesda, Md., and Rama Agha Al Nakib, 20, of Lutherville, Md.

The students face charges ranging from obtaining or supplying drugs to possession of less than a half ounce of marijuana. Lonergan faces 16 counts of obtaining or supplying drugs and possession of a controlled substance; his bond has been set at $100,000.

Olson is being held in lieu of $150,000 bond on two counts of possession of a hallucinogen and one count of sale of a hallucinogen.

All four were immediately suspended pending formal hearings, Wesleyan University President Michael S. Roth said in a statement Tuesday night. "We take very seriously the allegations concerning the distribution of dangerous drugs," Roth said.

"We are relieved to know that all but two of the students hospitalized over the weekend have been released and are doing much better... None of us want to see arrests on our campus, but even less do we want to see ambulances rushing from our residences with students whose lives are in danger."

Police say they have executed four search warrants at locations in and around the campus to look for more evidence.

"We are tasked with holding people accountable for their actions, as we attempt to rid the campus and our city from those dangers," said Middletown Police Chief William McKenna in a statement Tuesday night.

The students are expected to appear in court March 3.

For more breaking news, follow me @cmaiduc

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times

8:24 a.m.: This story has been updated with comments from Wesleyan University President Michael S. Roth.

This story was originally published at 8:11 a.m.


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Easy dinner recipes: Tempting gluten-free salmon ideas in an hour or less

It's Gluten-Free Wednesday. Even if you have no intention of giving up gluten entirely, lighten it up a little with one of these three tempting salmon recipes. Each can be ready, from start to finish, in an hour or less.

Smoked salmon hash: Hash is a great option when you want something simple -- it's one-pan comfort food. In this take, combine cold-smoked salmon with butter-crisped Yukon gold potatoes, red onion, capers, fresh herbs and hints of horseradish and mustard, and serve alongside tangy creme fraiche.

Oven-steamed salmon with dill mayonnaise: If you're looking for easy, dinner doesn't get much better than oven-steamed salmon, according to Food columnist Russ Parsons. With his recipe, you simply steam salmon on a baking sheet in a 250-degree oven over a baking pan filled with boiling water. The salmon is ready in about 20 minutes, when the fish just begins to flake. While it's cooking, whisk together a quick dill mayonnaise (mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, fresh chopped dill and shallots and a little lemon juice), and you're good to go. Simple, right?

Roasted salmon with red pepper hazelnut pesto: Roasted red peppers are a perfect smoky base for this rustic sauce, brightened with a little lemon and dotted with fresh chopped chives. But it's the toasted hazelnuts that take this pesto to another level. Enticingly fragrant, they lend a wonderfully rich depth to the finished sauce. We loved this pesto served over roasted salmon, though it would pair equally well with other fish, poultry or roasted vegetables. You can find the recipe below.

THYME CAFE & MARKET'S ROASTED SALMON WITH RED PEPPER HAZELNUT PESTO

Total time: 1 hour | Serves 4

Note: Adapted from Thyme Cafe & Market

3 red bell peppers, roasted, peeled and seeded (about 2 cups)

2/3 cup toasted hazelnuts, chopped

1 clove garlic, chopped, more to taste

Zest and juice of 1 lemon, or to taste

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

1/4 teaspoon salt, more to taste

Freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup olive oil, more or less to taste, plus more for drizzling over the salmon

1/4 to 1/3 cup chopped chives

4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets

1. In a blender, combine the bell peppers, hazelnuts, garlic, lemon zest and juice, cider vinegar, one-fourth teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper. Pulse to combine. With the blender running, drizzle in the olive oil to emulsify and form the pesto. Taste, adjusting seasoning and flavoring as desired, and adjusting the thickness of the pesto with additional olive oil. This makes a generous 2 cups pesto, more than is needed for the remainder of the recipe; any leftover pesto can be covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days.

2. Remove the pesto to a bowl and stir in the chopped chives.

3. Heat the oven to 425 degrees.

4. Place the salmon fillets on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet and drizzle the top of each fillet with a little oil. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper over each fillet.

5. Place the fillets in the oven and roast until the salmon is cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.

6. Plate the salmon and drizzle a little pesto over each fillet. Serve immediately.

Each of 4 servings: 560 calories; 37 grams protein; 6 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams fiber; 43 grams fat; 8 grams saturated fat; 94 mg cholesterol; 3 grams sugar; 321 mg sodium.

Love cooking as much as I do? Follow me @noellecarter

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Lady Gaga to star in 'American Horror Story'

Prepare yourself, Little Monsters. Your leader is about to bring her special brand of scary to prime time.

Lady Gaga, the chameleon-like rock star who has boosted her career by crooning with Tony Bennett, will star in the fifth installment of FX's "American Horror Story," producers announced Wednesday.

No details were immediately available on her role or the premise of the latest installment of the limited series, which is set to premiere its next season in October. The franchise changes locations and storylines each season. 

The announcement came just a few days after Gaga set the twitttersphere on fire with her sweeping performance of songs from "The Sound of Music" at the Oscars ceremony. She is also scheduled to go on tour with Bennett during the coming months.

Perhaps she caught the acting bug from her fiance, Taylor Kinney, who stars in NBC's "Chicago Fire."

Gaga is not the first rocker to bring star power to "American Horror Story," which is executive produced by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. Stevie Nicks also made her acting debut on the series.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
23.50 | 0 komentar | Read More

Alaska become third state to legalize recreational pot use

Written By kolimtiga on Selasa, 24 Februari 2015 | 23.50

The recreational use of marijuana became legal in Alaska on Tuesday, but many regulations are still being drafted and police in at least one major city will enforce a ban on using weed in public places.

Alaska is the third state in the nation to legalize recreational use of marijuana, still a federally prohibited substance. Colorado and the state of Washington have also allowed the recreational use of the drug.

In Alaska, anyone older than 21 will be allowed to possess up to an ounce of pot and have up to six plants growing on private property. However, buying and selling the drug remains illegal.

Alaska's Alcoholic Beverage Control Board is set to meet Tuesday to consider how to deal with many of the issues surrounding legalization. Gov. Bill Walker filed legislation on Monday to create a marijuana control board, similar to the body that controls alcohol sales.

"Now that the campaign is over, it's time to establish a robust regulatory system that sets an example for other states," said Taylor Bickford, spokesperson for the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, which spearheaded the successful referendum last fall that led to the legalization. Voters in the Republican state voted for legalization, 52.15% to 47.85%.

"A regulated marijuana market will generate millions of dollars in tax revenue and create good jobs for Alaskans," Bickford said in a statement. "Law enforcement will be able to spend their time addressing serious crimes instead of enforcing failed marijuana prohibition laws. We look forward to working with state officials and other stakeholders to ensure the new law is implemented responsibly and in a way that reflects the will of the voters."

In January, local officials passed an ordinance making smoking marijuana in public a violation, punishable by fine of $100.

The ordinance defines a public place as "a place to which the public or a substantial group of persons has access and includes, but is not limited to, streets, highways, sidewalks, alleys, transportation facilities, parking areas, convention centers, sports arenas, schools, places of business or amusement, shopping centers, malls, parks, playgrounds, prisons, and hallways, lobbies, doorways and other portions of apartment houses and hotels not constituting rooms or apartments designed for actual residence."

Police in Anchorage have said they will enforce the public smoking law. 

Even though the sale of marijuana is banned, private exchanges of homegrown pot are permitted.

State regulators are still drafting rules covering taxation and sale of marijuana, which must be adopted by Nov. 24.

Applications for the first business licenses will not be accepted until February 2016, and marijuana won't be legal for sale until at least May 2016.

In addition to Colorado and Washington, Oregon voters in November approved a measure similar to Alaska's, though the drug becomes legal in July.

A ballot initiative legalizing marijuana possession but not retail sales was overwhelmingly approved in Washington, D.C.

Supporters of legalization are eyeing campaigns in California, Arizona, Nevada, Maine and Massachusetts.

Follow @latimesmuskal for national news.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Tired of spilling your coffee? Try a latte instead, scientists say

If you've ever had your coffee suddenly slosh out of the drinking hole or over the cup rim and onto your pants, you know the struggle. But according to a team of physicists, there's an easy solution: Buy a nice, foamy latte instead.

The findings, described in the journal Physics of Fluids, show that a thin layer of foam over a moving liquid's surface can dramatically cut down the slosh. The discovery could be useful for far more than just coffee, such as providing ideas for alternative ways to safely transport enormous containers of oil and gas.

Study coauthor Emilie Dressaire, a mechanical engineer at New York University Polytechnic School of Engineering, said she first noticed this phenomenon while grabbing her coffee at a drive-through. The man handing her the drink gave her a stopper to keep it from spilling — but then told her she wouldn't need it, because she'd gotten a latte.

"That got me thinking, 'Well, what does he mean by that?'" Dressaire said. "And then I realized what he meant was the foam of the latte was going to prevent spillage while I was driving around."

Lead author Alban Sauret, currently at the French National Center for Scientific Research, had also had a similar experience in the pub – he'd noticed that Guinness, a very foamy beer, was highly slosh- and spill-resistant, Dressaire said.

The scientists knew they needed to test this strange phenomenon in the laboratory. They filled a narrow rectangular container with a mix of water, glycerol and Dawn dishwashing detergent. They used a needle to inject 3-millimeter bubbles into the bottom of the container, which floated to the top of the fluid to form a foamy layer.

The scientists then shook the container to see what happened. They tried two types of jostle, either jolting it quickly or rocking it steadily back and forth, and then took video footage of the waves that formed in the fluid using a high-speed camera. The sudden jolt helped them measure how long a wave lasted after a shake; the steady rocking motion helped them measure a wave's maximum height.

(Both are movements your coffee cup might experience, by the way: The sudden jolts might be the kind your coffee cup experiences when your car goes over a bump, or if you suddenly start or stop walking; the rocking motion might be akin to a steady walking gait.)

The scientists found that a mere five layers of these tiny bubbles were enough to reduce the wave height tenfold. That means that with a generous layer of foam on top, the liquid's scary mini-tsunamis were roughly a tenth as high. Any more than five layers didn't seem to make much difference, the team found. This was specific to their narrow container, Dressiare pointed out: The exact optimum number of layers varied given a container's size and shape.  

Also, all bubbles were not located equal: The foam in the middle didn't help dampen the sloshing very much. Most of the work was being done by the foam around the edges, in contact with the container walls. The scientists think it's because the edge foam helps dissipate the sloshing liquid's energy through friction.

While the scientists have solved the messy mystery of humanity's liquid fuel, their finding could actually be useful for managing the transportation of a whole variety of energy-rich fluids, particularly tanker ships full of oil and gas. That's because the pressure on a tanker's walls from all the sloshing could eventually cause a rupture. And, unlike coffee, fuel is very explosive.

"When you think about your cup of coffee, you can see that the motion can get pretty violent," Dressaire said. "Imagine the same thing but at a much larger scale … you're going to generate forces against the walls of the container that are going to be really high every time the ship hits a wave. So the motion of the liquid inside the ship can lead to structural damage and it can also can disturb the motion of the ship itself."

Layering bubbly foam over the liquid fuel in these tankers, Dressaire said, could potentially help reduce any dangerous sloshing.

In the meantime, has this study changed the way she drinks coffee?

"I am clumsy enough, so I stick to lattes," she said with a laugh. But she did note that beers with a finer foam, such as Guinness, are less sloshy — probably because the tiny bubbles have a higher amount of surface area in contact with the container walls.

"This study has also made me choose my beers differently," she said.

Follow @aminawrite for more science news you can drink.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
23.50 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tired of spilling your coffee? Try a latte instead, scientists say

If you've ever had your coffee suddenly slosh out of the drinking hole or over the cup rim and onto your pants, you know the struggle. But according to a team of physicists, there's an easy solution: Buy a nice, foamy latte instead.

The findings, described in the journal Physics of Fluids, show that a thin layer of foam over a moving liquid's surface can dramatically cut down the slosh. The discovery could be useful for far more than just coffee, such as providing ideas for alternative ways to safely transport enormous containers of oil and gas.

Study coauthor Emilie Dressaire, a mechanical engineer at New York University Polytechnic School of Engineering, said she first noticed this phenomenon while grabbing her coffee at a drive-through. The man handing her the drink gave her a stopper to keep it from spilling — but then told her she wouldn't need it, because she'd gotten a latte.

"That got me thinking, 'Well, what does he mean by that?'" Dressaire said. "And then I realized what he meant was the foam of the latte was going to prevent spillage while I was driving around."

Lead author Alban Sauret, currently at the French National Center for Scientific Research, had also had a similar experience in the pub – he'd noticed that Guinness, a very foamy beer, was highly slosh- and spill-resistant, Dressaire said.

The scientists knew they needed to test this strange phenomenon in the laboratory. They filled a narrow rectangular container with a mix of water, glycerol and Dawn dishwashing detergent. They used a needle to inject 3-millimeter bubbles into the bottom of the container, which floated to the top of the fluid to form a foamy layer.

The scientists then shook the container to see what happened. They tried two types of jostle, either jolting it quickly or rocking it steadily back and forth, and then took video footage of the waves that formed in the fluid using a high-speed camera. The sudden jolt helped them measure how long a wave lasted after a shake; the steady rocking motion helped them measure a wave's maximum height.

(Both are movements your coffee cup might experience, by the way: The sudden jolts might be the kind your coffee cup experiences when your car goes over a bump, or if you suddenly start or stop walking; the rocking motion might be akin to a steady walking gait.)

The scientists found that a mere five layers of these tiny bubbles were enough to reduce the wave height tenfold. That means that with a generous layer of foam on top, the liquid's scary mini-tsunamis were roughly a tenth as high. Any more than five layers didn't seem to make much difference, the team found. This was specific to their narrow container, Dressiare pointed out: The exact optimum number of layers varied given a container's size and shape.  

Also, all bubbles were not located equal: The foam in the middle didn't help dampen the sloshing very much. Most of the work was being done by the foam around the edges, in contact with the container walls. The scientists think it's because the edge foam helps dissipate the sloshing liquid's energy through friction.

While the scientists have solved the messy mystery of humanity's liquid fuel, their finding could actually be useful for managing the transportation of a whole variety of energy-rich fluids, particularly tanker ships full of oil and gas. That's because the pressure on a tanker's walls from all the sloshing could eventually cause a rupture. And, unlike coffee, fuel is very explosive.

"When you think about your cup of coffee, you can see that the motion can get pretty violent," Dressaire said. "Imagine the same thing but at a much larger scale … you're going to generate forces against the walls of the container that are going to be really high every time the ship hits a wave. So the motion of the liquid inside the ship can lead to structural damage and it can also can disturb the motion of the ship itself."

Layering bubbly foam over the liquid fuel in these tankers, Dressaire said, could potentially help reduce any dangerous sloshing.

In the meantime, has this study changed the way she drinks coffee?

"I am clumsy enough, so I stick to lattes," she said with a laugh. But she did note that beers with a finer foam, such as Guinness, are less sloshy — probably because the tiny bubbles have a higher amount of surface area in contact with the container walls.

"This study has also made me choose my beers differently," she said.

Follow @aminawrite for more science news you can drink.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
23.50 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tired of spilling your coffee? Try a latte instead, scientists say

If you've ever had your coffee suddenly slosh out of the drinking hole or over the cup rim and onto your pants, you know the struggle. But according to a team of physicists, there's an easy solution: Buy a nice, foamy latte instead.

The findings, described in the journal Physics of Fluids, show that a thin layer of foam over a moving liquid's surface can dramatically cut down the slosh. The discovery could be useful for far more than just coffee, such as providing ideas for alternative ways to safely transport enormous containers of oil and gas.

Study coauthor Emilie Dressaire, a mechanical engineer at New York University Polytechnic School of Engineering, said she first noticed this phenomenon while grabbing her coffee at a drive-through. The man handing her the drink gave her a stopper to keep it from spilling — but then told her she wouldn't need it, because she'd gotten a latte.

"That got me thinking, 'Well, what does he mean by that?'" Dressaire said. "And then I realized what he meant was the foam of the latte was going to prevent spillage while I was driving around."

Lead author Alban Sauret, currently at the French National Center for Scientific Research, had also had a similar experience in the pub – he'd noticed that Guinness, a very foamy beer, was highly slosh- and spill-resistant, Dressaire said.

The scientists knew they needed to test this strange phenomenon in the laboratory. They filled a narrow rectangular container with a mix of water, glycerol and Dawn dishwashing detergent. They used a needle to inject 3-millimeter bubbles into the bottom of the container, which floated to the top of the fluid to form a foamy layer.

The scientists then shook the container to see what happened. They tried two types of jostle, either jolting it quickly or rocking it steadily back and forth, and then took video footage of the waves that formed in the fluid using a high-speed camera. The sudden jolt helped them measure how long a wave lasted after a shake; the steady rocking motion helped them measure a wave's maximum height.

(Both are movements your coffee cup might experience, by the way: The sudden jolts might be the kind your coffee cup experiences when your car goes over a bump, or if you suddenly start or stop walking; the rocking motion might be akin to a steady walking gait.)

The scientists found that a mere five layers of these tiny bubbles were enough to reduce the wave height tenfold. That means that with a generous layer of foam on top, the liquid's scary mini-tsunamis were roughly a tenth as high. Any more than five layers didn't seem to make much difference, the team found. This was specific to their narrow container, Dressiare pointed out: The exact optimum number of layers varied given a container's size and shape.  

Also, all bubbles were not located equal: The foam in the middle didn't help dampen the sloshing very much. Most of the work was being done by the foam around the edges, in contact with the container walls. The scientists think it's because the edge foam helps dissipate the sloshing liquid's energy through friction.

While the scientists have solved the messy mystery of humanity's liquid fuel, their finding could actually be useful for managing the transportation of a whole variety of energy-rich fluids, particularly tanker ships full of oil and gas. That's because the pressure on a tanker's walls from all the sloshing could eventually cause a rupture. And, unlike coffee, fuel is very explosive.

"When you think about your cup of coffee, you can see that the motion can get pretty violent," Dressaire said. "Imagine the same thing but at a much larger scale … you're going to generate forces against the walls of the container that are going to be really high every time the ship hits a wave. So the motion of the liquid inside the ship can lead to structural damage and it can also can disturb the motion of the ship itself."

Layering bubbly foam over the liquid fuel in these tankers, Dressaire said, could potentially help reduce any dangerous sloshing.

In the meantime, has this study changed the way she drinks coffee?

"I am clumsy enough, so I stick to lattes," she said with a laugh. But she did note that beers with a finer foam, such as Guinness, are less sloshy — probably because the tiny bubbles have a higher amount of surface area in contact with the container walls.

"This study has also made me choose my beers differently," she said.

Follow @aminawrite for more science news you can drink.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Tired of spilling your coffee? Try a latte instead, scientists say

If you've ever had your coffee suddenly slosh out of the drinking hole or over the cup rim and onto your pants, you know the struggle. But according to a team of physicists, there's an easy solution: Buy a nice, foamy latte instead.

The findings, described in the journal Physics of Fluids, show that a thin layer of foam over a moving liquid's surface can dramatically cut down the slosh. The discovery could be useful for far more than just coffee, such as providing ideas for alternative ways to safely transport enormous containers of oil and gas.

Study coauthor Emilie Dressaire, a mechanical engineer at New York University Polytechnic School of Engineering, said she first noticed this phenomenon while grabbing her coffee at a drive-through. The man handing her the drink gave her a stopper to keep it from spilling — but then told her she wouldn't need it, because she'd gotten a latte.

"That got me thinking, 'Well, what does he mean by that?'" Dressaire said. "And then I realized what he meant was the foam of the latte was going to prevent spillage while I was driving around."

Lead author Alban Sauret, currently at the French National Center for Scientific Research, had also had a similar experience in the pub – he'd noticed that Guinness, a very foamy beer, was highly slosh- and spill-resistant, Dressaire said.

The scientists knew they needed to test this strange phenomenon in the laboratory. They filled a narrow rectangular container with a mix of water, glycerol and Dawn dishwashing detergent. They used a needle to inject 3-millimeter bubbles into the bottom of the container, which floated to the top of the fluid to form a foamy layer.

The scientists then shook the container to see what happened. They tried two types of jostle, either jolting it quickly or rocking it steadily back and forth, and then took video footage of the waves that formed in the fluid using a high-speed camera. The sudden jolt helped them measure how long a wave lasted after a shake; the steady rocking motion helped them measure a wave's maximum height.

(Both are movements your coffee cup might experience, by the way: The sudden jolts might be the kind your coffee cup experiences when your car goes over a bump, or if you suddenly start or stop walking; the rocking motion might be akin to a steady walking gait.)

The scientists found that a mere five layers of these tiny bubbles were enough to reduce the wave height tenfold. That means that with a generous layer of foam on top, the liquid's scary mini-tsunamis were roughly a tenth as high. Any more than five layers didn't seem to make much difference, the team found. This was specific to their narrow container, Dressiare pointed out: The exact optimum number of layers varied given a container's size and shape.  

Also, all bubbles were not located equal: The foam in the middle didn't help dampen the sloshing very much. Most of the work was being done by the foam around the edges, in contact with the container walls. The scientists think it's because the edge foam helps dissipate the sloshing liquid's energy through friction.

While the scientists have solved the messy mystery of humanity's liquid fuel, their finding could actually be useful for managing the transportation of a whole variety of energy-rich fluids, particularly tanker ships full of oil and gas. That's because the pressure on a tanker's walls from all the sloshing could eventually cause a rupture. And, unlike coffee, fuel is very explosive.

"When you think about your cup of coffee, you can see that the motion can get pretty violent," Dressaire said. "Imagine the same thing but at a much larger scale … you're going to generate forces against the walls of the container that are going to be really high every time the ship hits a wave. So the motion of the liquid inside the ship can lead to structural damage and it can also can disturb the motion of the ship itself."

Layering bubbly foam over the liquid fuel in these tankers, Dressaire said, could potentially help reduce any dangerous sloshing.

In the meantime, has this study changed the way she drinks coffee?

"I am clumsy enough, so I stick to lattes," she said with a laugh. But she did note that beers with a finer foam, such as Guinness, are less sloshy — probably because the tiny bubbles have a higher amount of surface area in contact with the container walls.

"This study has also made me choose my beers differently," she said.

Follow @aminawrite for more science news you can drink.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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What to expect at China's Universal Studios Beijing

Written By kolimtiga on Senin, 23 Februari 2015 | 23.50

Officially we know little about the $3.3-billion Universal Studios Beijing theme park planned for the Chinese capital, but unofficially we have plenty of clues.

Located in the eastern suburb of Tongzhou, the 1,000-acre project announced by Universal will include a theme park, shopping center and hotel. After that, the speculation starts.

Although no specifics have been revealed, Universal Studios Beijing is expected to feature movie-centric rides borrowed from the theme park chain's locations in Los Angeles, Orlando, Japan and Singapore while also introducing new attractions reflecting China's cultural heritage.

The Chinese park is expected to open in 2019, although no official date has been set. Site clearance has been underway for nearly a year.

The only hint of what's to come is provided by a bird's-eye illustration of the Beijing park that upon closer inspection reveals plenty of hints but few concrete details. The concept art shows a circular park layout with several of Universal's signature attractions arrayed around a central lagoon.

But as any theme park enthusiast will tell you: Never put too much stock in the initial concept artwork. Everything, including the park layout and the ride lineup, should be considered highly speculative and subject to change.

Worried about Chinese ride manufacturer knockoffs and theme park copycats, Universal may have simply presented a collection of familiar attractions that have nothing to do with the final plans -- all to build suspense, throw off the competition or confuse Internet snoops. Those five years provide plenty of time for Universal Creative officials to change their minds and go in a  different direction.

Indeed, Universal's announcement may be nothing more than a shot across the bow to its Chinese rivals, including Disney, which is working on a Shanghai park set to open by 2016, and Six Flags, which is eyeing a 2018 debut in Tianjin.

It's also possible Universal Studios Beijing will never materialize. Universal has a long history of announcing or proposing theme parks that never come to fruition -- in South Korea (2007), Dubai (2007), Philippines (2008) and India (2010). An indoor park in Russia -- announced in 2012 and set to open in 2018 -- is the latest Universal park to show little to no progress.

With all those caveats in place, let's take a land-by-land look at What We See and What Could Be in the overview illustration of Universal Studios Beijing:

Main entrance

What We See

Crossing a footbridge from a CityWalk shopping center, the entrance promenade of Universal Studios Beijing features the familiar spinning globe icon and a themed hotel hovering above the park's main gates.

Just inside, a shop and restaurant-lined main street paying homage to Hollywood Boulevard is reminiscent of Universal Studios Singapore. An outdoor music venue that has all the hallmarks of Universal Music Plaza Stage at Universal Studios Florida can be seen near the top of Hollywood Boulevard.

What Could Be

The Singapore park plays host to a theater on Hollywood Boulevard that might house a behind-the-scenes Special Effects Stage or Horror & Makeup Show in Beijing.

A roller coaster off the main entrance is less likely of an option, although the Hollywood section of Universal Studios Japan features Hollywood Dream and Space Fantasy, two highly regarded rides. Likewise, the Hollywood-themed Rip Ride Rockit coaster would fit thematically in the area. Rethemed versions of all three coasters could eventually be incorporated elsewhere in the Beijing park.

Madagascar

What We See

Moving to the right around the Beijing park, the concept art shows a tropical jungle-themed land that looks like a dead ringer for Singapore's Madagascar, complete with the Madagascar: A Crate Adventure water ride and King Julien's Beach Party-Go-Round carousel.

Far Far Away

What We See

Continuing counter-clockwise, the 13-story Far Far Away castle from Singapore is clearly visible in the Beijing concept art. The fairy tale land is expected to be home to a "Shrek 4D" movie, a real-time interactive "Donkey Live" show and an Enchanted Airways family coaster.

What Could Be

What can't be seen in the illustration but can be found in Singapore is a Ferris wheel themed to the DreamWorks animated movie franchise, which could be replaced by the spinning flat ride seen in the Beijing concept art.

The Singapore park plans to open the Puss in Boots Giant Journey inverted family roller coaster by Italian ride maker Zamperla in 2015.

The Lost World

What We See

The precipitous drop of the Jurassic Park River Adventure shoot-the-chute water ride is visible in the top right corner of the Beijing concept art.

What Could Be

What can't be seen but could be hiding in the heavy foliage is a suspended coaster like Singapore's Canopy Flyer or Pteranodon Flyers at Florida's Islands of Adventure.

What would also fit nicely in Beijing's Lost World is a kiddie spinning ride like Singapore's Dino-Soarin' that lets riders pilot a pteranodon.

Singapore rather incongruously tucks the Waterworld stunt show into its Jurassic Park land. The real question with a Waterworld attraction in Beijing is whether Universal wants to keep promoting one of the most expensive cinematic flops of all time. At this point, most visitors are probably unfamiliar with the 1995 post-apocalyptic action film -- especially in China.

What might fit better in a Lost World land populated with dinosaurs is a King Kong attraction, which can be found in California and is reportedly under construction in Florida. A King Kong dueling coaster was proposed for Universal's canceled Dubai park.

Ancient Egypt

What We See

The Egyptian tomb-like architecture of the ride building in the back left corner of the Beijing illustration looks like a perfect location for a Revenge of the Mummy indoor coaster.

What Could Be

The blue outdoor coaster to the right of the Mummy ride has led some theme-park enthusiasts to speculate that the Beijing ride might be a version of Florida's Dragon Challenge.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

What We See

If the new Beijing park does come to pass, it will be hard for Universal to back away from delivering Hogsmeade Village and Diagon Alley on opening day.

Both of Florida's Harry Potter lands -- complete with the groundbreaking Forbidden Journey and Escape From Gringotts rides -- are clearly illustrated in the Chinese concept art.

A footbridge connects Hogwarts Castle to Hogsmeade Village, which hugs the waterfront next to the Flight of the Hippogriff family coaster.

A keen eye can clearly make out the Hogwarts Express monorail attraction traveling between the castle and a replica of King's Cross Station adjacent to the wizarding warren of Diagon Alley.

What Could Be

What remains obscured in the Beijing illustration underneath the exploding fireworks beyond Hogwarts Castle are two large attraction buildings -- one that looks like a gray-stoned fortress and another massive structure painted in warm golds and browns.

SciFi City

What We See

The red and blue metallic figure of Optimus Prime can be spotted standing atop the entrance to a Transformers ride in the SciFi City section of the Beijing illustration.

The familiar green track and launch tube of the Incredible Hulk coaster stretches out into the lagoon with a version of the Men in Black interactive dark ride nearby.

What Could Be

What's missing from SciFi City are the Terminator 2:3D show (removed from California but still operational in Florida and Japan) and the Battlestar Galactica dueling coasters (which have proved problematic for Singapore).

Of course, the presence of a coaster themed to a Marvel Comics character would likely be a problem for Universal (more on that later). One interesting solution making the rounds in the blogosphere would be to convert the Hulk coaster to a Men in Black theme as Universal proposed in Dubai and re-create the MIB dark ride with a Ghostbusters back story tied to the upcoming movie reboot.

Unknown land

What We See

The last area in the park remains the biggest mystery of all. Located to the left of the entrance promenade, the colorful land presents limitless possibilities but the illustration provides few clues.

What Could Be

So what could it be? A copy of the Simpson's Springfield area in Florida and soon California? Or maybe a Sesame Street attraction like the one in Singapore? Or even a kids zone themed to Woody Woodpecker, Curious George, Barney, Peanuts, Hello Kitty or Dr. Seuss?

Of course, Universal could always change its collective mind and go in another direction with the Beijing park. Similarly, the creative team or the financial backers could insist on adding a ride that doesn't fit into any of the anticipated themed lands. An attraction based on "Despicable Me" or "The Fast and the Furious" films might make sense for a Beijing park, but where to put them?

There's always the possibility that the Chinese have a hankering for some old movies like "Back to the Future," "E.T." or "Backdraft," but don't hold your breath waiting for those classic attractions to make the Beijing ride lineup.

Even less likely would be a revival of the "Miami Vice" stunt show, "Swamp Thing" stage musical or "Murder, She Wrote" mystery theater (yes, those all existed at some point at a Universal Studios theme park).

What seems fairly clear is that Universal won't be adding any attractions in Beijing based on Marvel Comics, now owned by rival Disney. That means no Spider-Man dark ride, Incredible Hulk launch coaster or Doctor Doom drop ride in China.

MORE

32 best new theme park additions of 2015

Disneyland 2055: What the future may hold for the original Disney park

21 creepiest abandoned amusement parks

> Follow the Los Angeles Times Funland theme park blog on Twitter, Facebook and Google+

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times

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Alejandro Inarritu celebrates a big, and bilingual, win for 'Birdman'

"It's so good, it feels like Mexico today," Alejandro G. Inarritu joked to reporters backstage after winning the Oscar for directing. "I haven't been speaking English."

Indeed — the first few questions he had faced were from Spanish-speaking media, and the "Birdman" director answered in that language before switching to English.

"I haven't figured out why I did what I did with this film, why I took these chances," he said. "I think it's when you lose fear. ... Fear is the condom of life. It doesn't allow you to enjoy things."

FULL COVERAGE: Oscars 2015

And then, amid his explanation, he mimed taking off said device — hands above the belt, mind you — and tossing it away.

"So I did it without, and it was real. It was making love for sure."

Later in the night, after accepting the best picture prize as one of the producers of "Birdman," Inarritu was asked what the wins mean for him as a Mexican. He responded: "I don't feel different from any of you here. I cannot have this stupid border and passports. Naked and in tighty whities, we are all the same."

OSCARS 2015: Complete list | Show highlights | Red carpet | Quotes from the stars | Backstage | Top nominees | Q&As with the contenders

During his press Q&A for the director award, Inarritu asked a favor of those assembled in the room.

"For me to be here tonight is unreal. I would like if you could say something for me," he said, noting that while onstage he had forgotten to thank one very important person.

"I would like you to say, 'This is for my mom'" Inarritu said, adding: "My mom is part of this journey."

Then he repeated the request -- in Spanish.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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The Travelzoo awards for best travel deals of 2014 go to ...

The Oscars weren't the only awards given out last week. Travelzoo handed out awards for companies providing the best travel deals of 2014. Two hotels and two spas in California as well as Virgin America and Qantas Airways were among the winners.

The online travel deal website says its experts culled through 251,100 deals over the past year to select 85 award winners in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

It ranked companies and their deals by considering "quality, reliability, consistency, competitiveness and broad appeal," according to a Travelzoo announcement. It also weighed feedback from some of its 27 million users in North America.

Best deals from airlines went to Virgin America for a U.S. carrier and Qatar Airways for a European carrier.

Starwood Hotels, which owns hotel brands W, Westin, Le Meridien, The Luxury Collection, St. Regis, Sheraton, Four Points, Aloft, Element, was recognized for offering the best hotel deals.

Other winners include:

--CruCon Cruise Outlet for the best cruise deals,

--Gate 1 Travel for the best deals from a vacation company,

--Tourism Ireland for the best deals from a destination marketing organization.

Travelzoo also awarded excellence awards to hotels which offered good deals and scored at least 95% satisfaction from the website's users.

Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite in Fish Camp, Calif., and the Vintners Inn in Santa Rosa, Calif., made the list as did the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas and The Boulders, a Waldorf Astoria Resort near Scottsdale, Ariz.

Travelzoo singled out Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village in Westlake Village and the Grapeseed Spa at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa in Temecula for the best spa deals.

Info: Travelzoo

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Preview: Clippers vs. Memphis Grizzlies

The Clippers have won four games in a row playing without All-Star power forward Blake Griffin, who had surgery Feb. 9 to remove a staph infection from his right elbow.

They host the Memphis Grizzlies at 7:30 p.m. on Monday at Staples Center.

During their winning streak, Griffin's teammates have stepped up in his absence. DeAndre Jordan has had four double-doubles, including two 20-20 performances, and Austin Rivers had a career-high with 28 points in the team's most recent win, a 126-99 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.

The Clippers (37-19) are in fifth place in the Western Conference, four games behind the second-place Memphis Grizzlies (40-14).

The last time these teams played on Nov. 23, the Grizzlies won, 107-91. In that game, the Grizzlies outshot the Clippers from the field, 49% to 43%, and outrebounded them, 52-32. Marc Gasol had a game-high 30 points and 12 rebounds.

The Grizzlies have won 11 of their last 13 games, beating the Portland Trail Blazers, 98-92, on Sunday night.

After playing the Grizzlies, the Clippers have a four-game road trip, extending from Feb. 25 to March 2.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Where Scott Disick, Kourtney Kardashian, John Legend and more partied in Las Vegas

The stars were out in Las Vegas over the weekend, celebrating birthdays, debuting residency shows, giving private concerts and having a very public date night. Here's what you may have missed.

Reality TV's Sarah Herron, who appeared on "The Bachelor" and "Bachelor in Paradise" celebrated her birthday at Ghostbar at the Palms on Saturday night with her new boyfriend in tow. The two hit the patio on the 55th floor of the resort to take some selfies and Fireball shots.

"Keeping Up with the Kardashians" reality stars Scott Disick and Kourtney Kardashian hit the town together on Saturday night. First they dined at Stack Restaurant & Bar at the Mirage and later walked the red carpet at 1 OAK Nightclub, where Disick, who's becoming a regular, hosted. The couple just had a son, Reign Aston Disick, in December. "Date night" involved a posse of 10 friends, including rapper Mally Mall and his girlfriend. Inside 1 OAK, the couple received a magnum of Dom Perignon Rose Luminous.

At Light Nightclub at Mandalay Bay, house music deejay Morgan Page returned to the decks to kick off his residency on Friday night. Beforehand, he dined at Kumi Japanese Restaurant & Bar with Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh and Tesla CEO Elon Musk and his wife Kimball Musk. At Light, Page played his hits "In The Air" (featuring Angela McCluskey), "Open Heart" (featuring Lissie) and "Body Work" (featuring Tegan and Sara), among others.

At Brooklyn Bowl at The Linq, boy band OneRepublic and crooner John Legend put on a private show for 400 iHeartRadio fans. At the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, '80s icon Billy Idol took over The Chelsea with a sold-out show. The one-time MTV star sang his hits including "Dancing With Myself," "White Wedding Pt. 1," "Mony Mony" and "Can't Break Me Down."

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Campinmygarden.com helps campers find a homey patch of earth

Written By kolimtiga on Minggu, 22 Februari 2015 | 23.50

Are you into extreme budget travel? If you're bored with couch surfing or just want a different style of camping, here's another variation of the sharing economy for you to try.

Name: Campinmygarden.com

What it does: Connects house dwellers (and their backyards) with adventurous campers. More than half of the garden listings are in Europe; the remainder are sprinkled throughout the rest of the world.

What's hot: It's not always just a patch of grass. I found a wide range of yards and accommodations, including a 1930s bow-top Gypsy wagon in North Devon, England; a yurt on a sheepherder's farm in the eastern Pyrenees of France; and a 120-acre plantation in southern India, to name just a few. There's a robust facilities search filter if you're looking for gardens that have Wi-Fi or public transportation nearby, allow dogs or provide hot water and other amenities.

What's not: Not all the listings I was interested in had photos, so that omission hindered my search process. Be aware that there could be cynical listings such as the one I found for camping in the heart of L.A.'s skid row.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
23.50 | 0 komentar | Read More

Campinmygarden.com helps campers find a homey patch of earth

Are you into extreme budget travel? If you're bored with couch surfing or just want a different style of camping, here's another variation of the sharing economy for you to try.

Name: Campinmygarden.com

What it does: Connects house dwellers (and their backyards) with adventurous campers. More than half of the garden listings are in Europe; the remainder are sprinkled throughout the rest of the world.

What's hot: It's not always just a patch of grass. I found a wide range of yards and accommodations, including a 1930s bow-top Gypsy wagon in North Devon, England; a yurt on a sheepherder's farm in the eastern Pyrenees of France; and a 120-acre plantation in southern India, to name just a few. There's a robust facilities search filter if you're looking for gardens that have Wi-Fi or public transportation nearby, allow dogs or provide hot water and other amenities.

What's not: Not all the listings I was interested in had photos, so that omission hindered my search process. Be aware that there could be cynical listings such as the one I found for camping in the heart of L.A.'s skid row.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
23.50 | 0 komentar | Read More

Campinmygarden.com helps campers find a homey patch of earth

Are you into extreme budget travel? If you're bored with couch surfing or just want a different style of camping, here's another variation of the sharing economy for you to try.

Name: Campinmygarden.com

What it does: Connects house dwellers (and their backyards) with adventurous campers. More than half of the garden listings are in Europe; the remainder are sprinkled throughout the rest of the world.

What's hot: It's not always just a patch of grass. I found a wide range of yards and accommodations, including a 1930s bow-top Gypsy wagon in North Devon, England; a yurt on a sheepherder's farm in the eastern Pyrenees of France; and a 120-acre plantation in southern India, to name just a few. There's a robust facilities search filter if you're looking for gardens that have Wi-Fi or public transportation nearby, allow dogs or provide hot water and other amenities.

What's not: Not all the listings I was interested in had photos, so that omission hindered my search process. Be aware that there could be cynical listings such as the one I found for camping in the heart of L.A.'s skid row.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
23.50 | 0 komentar | Read More

Joe Gibbs says no timetable on Kyle Busch's return to NASCAR

NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs said Sunday that doctors told him surgery on driver Kyle Busch's broken right leg "went very well."

But Gibbs said there was no timetable for when Busch would return to driving Gibbs' No. 18 Toyota in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series.

Busch, 29, will miss the series' season-opening Daytona 500 on Sunday. Speaking to reporters before the race, Gibbs said veteran Matt Crafton would replace Busch on Sunday but that the team had yet to decide on a substitute driver for other upcoming races.

"We had so much going on last night it was just to get everything arranged as best we could for today," Gibbs said.

Gibbs said Busch was in good spirits before the surgery at a local hospital Saturday night.

Busch "was kind of light-hearted, joking around with me, talking about wanting to get back in the car," said Gibbs, the NFL Hall of Fame coach who owns a four-car Cup team.

Busch suffered the broken leg, and a broken left foot, when his car was involved in a 10-car crash during a race Saturday in NASCAR's second-level Xfinity Series. His car slid across the infield and slammed head-on into an inside retaining wall.

Asked when Busch might leave the hospital, Gibbs said "whenever he feels like he can travel, we'll get him back to Charlotte" in North Carolina where the team is based.

Busch, whose nicknames include Rowdy, has had numerous run-ins with other drivers in his career. But reigning Cup champion Kevin Harvick told reporters that the NASCAR garage was supporting Busch regardless.

"Whether you like or dislike or somebody on the racetrack does not ever interfere with the fact of doing what's right" in a case like this, Harvick said. "This garage is open arms no matter who it is. You don't ever want to see people hurt."

Follow @PeltzLATimes for more motor racing news

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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