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June 30, 2008

BLOGOSPHERE HERE: Tesla's Elon Musk promises sub-$30k all-electric car in less than four years (FROM ENGADGET.COM)

Tesla's Elon Musk promises sub-$30k all-electric car in less than four years

June 29, 2008

DAYTIME EMMY WINNERS "DAZZLED" AT BRITE SMILE’S SUPER SUITE IN BEVERLY HILLS; 2008 DAZZLING DAYTIME EMMY SUITE HOSTS TV STARS, CELEBS, VIPS AND MEDIA

Guests Treated To Luxury Services, Lifestyle Elegance and Great Gifts During Two Day Event

Event Report by Don Rose

(Beverly Hills) – On June 18-19, 2008, BriteSmile®, the world-famous and foremost leader in the teeth-whitening industry, opened its spa doors to host the 2008 Dazzling Daytime Emmy Suite to honor the television industry’s Daytime Emmy Nominated actors, presenters, major Daytime icons/personalities, film stars, producers and industry VIPs. Guests attending this intimate and unique “camera ready” suite in preparation for their red-carpet appearances enjoyed BriteSmile’s ultra-luxury new high-tech teeth whitening process, a plethora of top beauty services for him and her along with fabulous fashion, exotic trips, premium hotel stays, delectable goodies, exotic spirits and more!

Over 200 guests attended the exclusive 2-day suite including 2008 Daytime Emmy Winners, Jeanne Cooper (for Best Actress “Katherine Chancellor” Young & The Restless), Kristoff St. John (for Best Supporting Actor “Neil Winters” Young & The Restless) and Gina Tognoni (for Best Supporting Actress “Dinah Marler” Guiding Light). Adrienne Frantz, Amelia Heinle, Brandon Beemer, Nadia Bjorlin, Bryan Datillo, Crystal Chappell, Carolyn Hennesy, Christian LeBlanc, Don Diamont, Cindy Ambuehl, Darrin Brooks, Diedre Hall, Emily O’Brien, Ashley Jones, Greg Rikaart, Jason Cook, Judi Evans, Kate Linder, Kent King, Leann Hunley, Marcy Rylan, Mary Beth Evans, Melissa Archer, Melody Thomas Scott, Nicole Forrester, Patrika Darbo, Rachel Melvin, Tracey Bregman, Vail Bloom, Shawn Christian, and Tammin Sursock were among the bevy of stars who were treated to ‘the best of the best' products and services.

But the influx of celebs didn't stop there. Actors Ernie Hudson, James Wilder, Lou Ferrigno (the ORIGINAL Hulk!) and Maria Conchita Alonzo joined in on the fun, as did Angie Everhart, Omorosa, Traci Bingham, Reichen Lehmkuhl, Erin Hamilton, Lena Yada and 'Deal or No Deal' girls Leila Milani and Katie Cleary. KTLA reporter Sam Rubin received a teeth whitening, and Fox News' Christine Devine was, well, simply divine!

“I can’t believe I’m going to Spain – I’ve never been there,” said Diedre Hall when she was gifted with a 4 night stay at the Hotel Marques de Riscal. “We’re being treated like kings here – this suite has great stuff for men, too!” declared Kristoff St. John. “This was the best suite we have ever attended!” said Don Diamont. "This generosity is overwhelming!" said Ernie Hudson.

Of course, the many services and gifts provided in the Dazzling Daytime Emmy Suite were the real stars. Spa 415 provided facials for guests, while Nailtini provided picture perfect manicures. HAI Elite gave out their signature hair products (including hair dryers and irons for straightening hair without damaging/frizzing your cuticles). Sensual Mistique Lingerie showed off beautiful corsets, some of the best designs I've ever seen.

Eton of Sweden featured their sophisticated formal shirts (ideal for the red carpet or any other night on the town), including "slim cut" styles that are very flattering and flattening to the physique. The very friendly representative from Eton explained that the cotton they use is woven in a unique way to help prevent stretching and wrinkling. Eton also featured coordinating neckwear and cufflinks.

Glo To Sleep graciously gifted guests with their unique sleep-aid product. Shaped like oversized glasses but made with a very soft Nerf-like material, you put their product on over your eyes before going to bed, and the small lights inside guide you to a deeper and more restful sleep.

Other sponsors included Nicole Barr Belts, Hotel Marques de Riscal, Caribbean Escapes, Hotel Le Petit, The Cheesecake Factory, Poleci Couture Clothing, Beautorium, Porsche Design, Tarte Enbrightenmint, Twisted Silver, Choconella, Honest Tea, Fancy Flip Flops, Syrup Swimwear, Olivier Napa Valley Orange Honey Grilling Sauce, AIRA Signature Mink Eyelashes, Liz Alpert of Jewelry of The Spirit, Electric Body Healthy Skin Care®; Twin Magic Lashes, Friar Tux, The Charlie Lapson Collection (who showed off their signature handbags and clutches for the ladies and watches, plus beautifully crafted wallets and messenger bags for gentlemen), Heavenly Sinful Jewels; Lowd Suga’ Boutique Jewelry Designs handcrafted by “Days Of Our Lives” star Arianne Zucker; The Devani Couture Footwear Line; Model In A Bottle (our pick for best named product at the Suite!), Vinomex’s super premium Tequila; PAMA Pomegranate Liquer; Hypnotique Liquer and Fred water.

Refreshments were plentiful at the Suite as well. Aroma Café Culture provided the java and BODEGA provided the sin with the amazing chocolates they are famous for (including my favorite, the Dark Bark with Almonds, which is almost addicting). The two-day affair was catered by Michael Ferradine and Raymond Sage of Sage Restaurant and Lounge.

The 2008 'Dazzling Daytime Emmy Suite' was produced by Anita Talbert and Doris Bergman. Westside Today was the media sponsor.

June 21, 2008

JUN 19-29: LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS TO WESTWOOD; DAY ONE LAFF HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE 45TH ANNIV BYE BYE BIRDIE SCREENING, YOUTUBE & TARGET ROOMS

Day One at the LA Film Fest is always fun, as Westwood Village wakes up for 10 days to double its pedestrian population (perhaps even triple it). 5 to 8 was the Diversity Expo, which took over half of Broxton Avenue with booths and free drinks to entertain festivalgoers. The other half entertained a large crowd on chairs and makeshift frontrow couches to show the classic movie "Bye Bye Birdie" on its 45th anniversary. Conrad Birdie, Elvis Presley, get it? Conrad wears gold jumpsuits, sports slicked back black hair, sings with a swagger, woos Ann Margaret, okay okay you get it already. The songs are still great, and the audience clapped after every musical number. (When will someone release a music video DVD that includes all the best musical numbers of a Hollywood classic -- or a Hollywood studio? Does The LA Report have to think of these things all the time? Steal this idea, will ya, someone?)

Another highlight of LAFF Day One was the YouTube room, located on Westwood Blvd, a couple doors south of the Target Red Room. YouTube is entertaining LAFF folks every night during the fest, with live entertainment and more. The Target Red Room is the annual funpacked food-music-drink-dance space, this year located on Westwood Blvd in the space vacated by Hollywood Video after its demise. LAFF Passholders can get in; two specially colored passes get 1 guest in too. Once inside, it is pure fun vibe time, and again this year the yummy snacks are provided by Archer Farms (great chocolate chip cookies, sea salt pita chips, rosemary garlic potato chips, fruit bars, pomegranate green tea, and much more). I am writing this from the Red Room's three Macs, set up near the door where you can blog as you bop to the DJ's cool tunes (perhaps the best string of continuous rock/pop tunes I have heard any DJ play, ever -- I liked every song but one (yep: Journey) - she even played a rare Beatle alternate version of "A Hard's Day's Night"). Wait... now it's The Monkees. Coolness! (Other Red Room sponsors include open bar helper Tommy Bahama Premium Rum, Smart Water, and Stella Artois -- and of course Target!).

One more note: we hear that the lead actress in the film BAGHEAD did a great job; her name is Elise Muller! Look for her in this movie at LAFF.

June 19, 2008

HARRY SHEARER, SIMPSONS VO STAR AND RADIO SHOW HOST, GETS STAR ON WALK OF FAME; OVER 20 PERFORMERS HONORED WITH ONE OF HOLLYWOOD'S HIGHEST KUDOS

KCRW’s Harry Shearer to receive Hollywood Walk of Fame star; Host of flagship public radio station’s “Le Show” among over 20 performers and personalities named by the star committee today

Shearer will also emcee LA Press Club Awards this Saturday night, June 21st

Radio personality... actor... author... director... comedian... musician... philosopher... political satirist... multi-media artist... and one of the best “voices" in the business (just ask “The Simpsons”), HARRY SHEARER is one of the most prolific entertainers of this – or any – generation. Today, The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce's Walk of Fame Committee announced that Harry Shearer is one of two LA-based radio personalities who will be honored with a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame next year.

For 25 years, Harry Shearer has been dissecting headlines, impersonating news makers, creating topical songs, writing/acting/producing sketches about political figures, news anchors and entertainers, and inventing unique feature segments and characters for Le Show, his weekly Sunday morning program, produced for and distributed nationwide by 89.9 KCRW-Santa Monica and www.KCRW.com. Le Show is one of the station’s most popular podcasts—available here: (www.KCRW.com/etc/programs/ls). He writes, produces and presents all of the material on the show himself.

Vogue magazine called Le Show “a wildly clever, iconoclastic stew of talk, music, political commentary, readings of inadvertently funny public documents or trade magazines and scripted skits.” Los Angeles Magazine described Harry’s talent for writing and performing this way: “Shearer is a one-man renaissance assault force on the conventions of our culture and a much-needed antidote to the current gloom and doom.”

An LA native and child actor, Shearer appeared on radio with Jack Benny and in the pilot episode of TV’s “Leave it to Beaver” as Eddie Haskell. A political science major at UCLA in the early 60's (where he was a writer and editor for the school's humor magazine), Shearer also did graduate work at Harvard and served a political internship in Sacramento. As a freelance journalist, Shearer covered the Watts riots for Newsweek before teaching high school English for two years in South Central Los Angeles. He cut his performance and satirical teeth with the legendary 70s stage troupe, “The Credibility Gap,” writing for, producing and performing on their albums and tours.

Shearer’s TV work currently includes “THE SIMPSONS,” the longest running primetime animated series, where he is never seen but always heard as three of the show's leading characters (Mr. Burns, Smithers and Ned Flanders) as well as dozens of other "friends" who visit the Simpson family. Other television credits include “Saturday Night Live,” “Murphy Brown” and “Chicago Hope,” to name just a few, and he starred in his own HBO hour-long special: “Comedy Hour Live: The Magic of Live.” He is a two-time Cable Ace Award winner for his rap music video “Shredding Party,” and “The News Hole,” a current events gameshow. These days, he appears in his own productions on “My Damn Channel,” an Internet-based entertainment website.

Shearer earned multi-media artist status by creating several acclaimed museum exhibits of public figures, captured via satellite in silence as they waited for their television interviews to begin. The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles presented Shearer's installation, Wall Of Silence, featuring key figures from the O.J. Simpson trial in their least soundbite-stealing moments.

Shearer, along with his wife, singer-songwriter Judith Owen, created Courgette Records; among other albums, they released Shearer’s CD “Songs Pointed and Pointless,” which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2007. His new CD, “Songs of the Bushmen,” will be released July 7 as a digital download at www.harryshearer.com.

Today’s announced Walk of Fame star-honorees: Harry Shearer, Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy, Cameron Diaz, Robert Downey Jr., Tim Burton, Leslie Caron, Charles Durning, Ralph Fiennes, William Petersen, Kyra Sedgwick, John Stamos, Mark Burnett, Chuck Lorre, Kenny "Baby Face" Edmonds, Dave Koz, The Miracles, Doug Morris, Rush, Shakira, KFI radio personality Bill Handel.

June 18, 2008

JUN 18: ROCKSUGAR PAN ASIAN KITCHEN THROWS LAUNCH PARTY IN CENTURY CITY; NEW EATERY OPENS TO PUBLIC JUN 19 WITH TASTES FROM A HALF DOZEN ASIAN NATIONS

Event Report and Restaurant Preview by Don Rose

(June 18, 2008 : Century City, CA) Tonight, the most spacious and lavishly decorated Asian restaurant in Los Angeles (not to mention the tallest and tastiest) launched in grand style, as RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen held its kickoff VIP party, one day before it opens to the public. The guests in attendance were a vibrant, energetic mix of VIPs, media, agents, foodies, performers and celebs. Hundreds of hungry partygoers mixed and mingled within the sumptuous space, enjoying some of RockSugar's signature dishes, including a square curry-beef-in-dough appetizer, salmon wraps, fried rice with perfectly prepared shrimp (our fave), spring rolls, chicken samosas - and for dessert, terrific tofu cheesecake and coconut donut holes. Yum and a half!

Everywhere you went, animated conversations flowed as plentifully as the drinks, as the open bar and tantalizing tastes kept the energy level high (as did the DJ). We enjoyed chatting with Peter Mehlman, former Seinfeld writer (who now does, among other creative pursuits, very funny commentaries on occasion for NPR's Day To Day show), Greg Lindsay (actor/director who was a regular on the TV hit Las Vegas and has a new film he directed coming out soon), and Daniel Maltzman, a hot LA artist with a killer studio full of stylish pop paintings, known for graciously opening his studio for charity events (and who has a cool line of wildly styled wristbands, each quite unique and fun to wear).

The LA Report recommends you come visit this new and highly anticipated addition to the Los Angeles dining scene. Not only is the food fantastic, but the decor is as delightful and delicious as the dishes. According to OpenTable.com, RockSugar opens to the public on June 19th (for dinner), with lunch service beginning on June 21st. The blogosphere is buzzing about this place, which has ties to the Cheesecake Factory franchise.

More about the restaurant

RockSugar is an upscale casual destination from restaurateur David Overton and Singapore-raised, New York-trained chef Mohan Ismail (Spice Market, Tabla, Blue Hill). The new eatery showcases the cuisines of Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and yes, even India. Drawing upon "memories of family meals his mother made," Mohan's dishes are served "Asian family-style" to create "an atmosphere that encourages sharing and conversation." RockSugar, which takes its name from an ingredient used by Asian chefs, features a full bar with an extensive wine list and exotic cocktails -- plus an onsite bakery that creates fresh desserts blending French flair and Asian influence.

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Cuisine: Asian, Pan-Asian, Thai
Neighborhood: Century City
Menu: View menu on restaurant's website
Price: $31 to $50
Website: http://www.rocksugarpanasiankitchen.com/
Email: 6001MGR@RockSugarPanAsianKitchen.com
Phone: (310) 552-9988

Hours of Operation:
Lunch: Monday - Sunday: 11:30am - 5:30pm
Dinner: Sunday - Thursday: 5:30pm - 10:00pm, Friday - Saturday: 5:30pm - 11:00pm
Payment Options:AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, Visa
Executive Chef: Mohan Ismail
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Offers: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Late Night, Non-Smoking Area, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Parking: Public Lot
Parking Details: Public and Valet Parking available at the mall.

Private Party Facilities: A lovely private dining room features a secluded patio lined by a tranquil water wall. Multi media capabilities make the room an ideal setting for a wide range of occasions including meetings, viewing parties, cocktail receptions and dinners.
Private Party Contact: Reservationist (310) 552-9988

RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Westfield Century City Mall, Los Angeles, CA 90067. (310) 552-9988.

June 15, 2008

JUN 15: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS SPORTS CENTRAL TODAY (NBA FINALS IN LA, US OPEN FINAL ROUND GOLF IN LA JOLLA)

Tiger Woods takes his third round lead into the final day today, Sunday, one shot ahead as of Saturday's end. Odds are Woods will win, but tune into TV to see.

Also today is the do-or-die last-home-game-of-2008 for the Lakers in their playoff faceoff against the Celtics. Down three games to one, the Lakers better get it together. When the going gets tough, the tough pass the ball to Kobe, and the Celtics know it, so it may be time for some surprises from Phil Jackson and company.

Sunday, Jun 15, 2008, PGA U.S. Open Golf Tournament. Location: 11480 North Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA. Also, National Basketball Association NBA Finals. 6pm. Game 5. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics. Location: Staples Center. Downtown Los Angeles, CA.

June 13, 2008

JUN 16-17: HOME MEDIA MAGAZINE PRESENTS DVD CONFERENCE "TransFORMATions": THE 7TH ANNUAL HOME ENTERTAINMENT SUMMIT

A major home entertainment industry event returns to Los Angeles on June 16 and 17, 2008 when Home Media Magazine presents the Seventh Annual Home Entertainment Summit: transFORMATions

Event posted by Don Rose

This year’s summit, again held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, California, is a favorite of The LA Report, and will examine several key issues facing the future of home entertainment. Consumers, media outlets, bloggers, industry experts and studio representatives will be on hand to weigh in on these issues.

Another highlight of the two-day event is the fourth annual DVD Critics Awards, honoring the best DVDs and high-definition discs of 2007, as chosen by a panel of DVD experts and entertainment journalists.

Other highlights:

* A State of the Industry presentation, looking at both the domestic and international facets of home entertainment.

* Panels examining the challenges in transitioning from DVD to Blu-ray Disc, and what it will take for America to convert, as well as new innovations of Blu-ray Disc spurred by the Internet and increased interactivity.

* A look at the state of electronic sellthrough, and why it hasn’t caught on with movies as it did with music.

* The It’s Blu cocktail party, celebrating the end of the format war with a selection of special “Blu” beverages and snacks.

The summit is produced by Home Media Magazine in cooperation with DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group. Registration fees are $595 for DEG members and $645 for nonmembers. Cost to attend only the dinner and cocktail party is $200 if registered before June 9, $250 after.

For more information on Home Media Magazine's TransFORMATions conference, please visit the official TransFORMATions website. Additional details are also available at HomeMediaConferences.com and by contacting Kristina Kronenberg at kkronenberg@questex.com or 714-338-6743.

June 12, 2008

JUN 14: GOURMET ON FIRE, GOURMET MAGAZINE'S HOT CHIC FOOD/WINE EVENT, AT LOEWS SANTA MONICA BEACH HOTEL

Gourmet on Fire, hosted by Gourmet Magazine, will take place Saturday June 14th, 2008 and run from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, featuring excellent food, libations and a sensational summer sunset setting

Event posted by Don Rose

Gourmet Magazine invites you to join them for Gourmet on Fire, a wonderful poolside sunset event featuring some of the city’s hottest chefs. Attendees will enjoy excellent cuisine, wine and cocktails, in a sensational location (the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel). Participating chefs include Akasha Richmond, executive chef of Akasha; Govind Armstrong, executive chef Table 8; Gregory Foos, executive chef of Ocean & Vine, Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel; Joe Miller, executive chef & owner of Joe’s Restaurant; Katsuya Uechi, executive chef, Katsu-Ya; Neal Fraser, executive chef & co-owner of Grace and BLD restaurants; Zoe Nathan, pastry chef, Rustic Canyon Wine Bar and Seasonal Kitchen; and Michael Green, Gourmet Wine & Spirits Consultant.

A portion of the event’s proceeds will go to the Southland Farmers’ Market Association.

To purchase tickets and for more information, including a full list of participating restaurants, click here.

Gourmet on Fire will be held at one of The LA Report's favorite locations, the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel (1700 Ocean Ave). The cost: $100 per person. Event Link. (Thanks to SocialDomain.com and GourmetScoop.com for event information.)

June 10, 2008

JUN 10: LA SIGGRAPH PRESENTS MAKER FAIRE, FEATURING JEFF BOYNTON AND MARK FRAUENFELDER

The Los Angeles Chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH presents "Maker Night" with Jeff Boynton & Mark Frauenfelder

by Don Rose, Editor, TheLAReport.com

MAKER FAIRE Participants also include Circuit Bending - univac; Bronco Table - kingv100; & Ghost Phones - gerG. When: Tuesday, June 10th, 2008. Here is the breakdown schedule:
6:30 - 7:30pm - Social Hour Science Fair
7:30 - 8:30 - Program
8:30 - 9:30 - Meet the Makers
Contact: makers@agentxray.com

Where: WRITERS BOOT CAMP at Bergamot Station Arts Center, 2525 Michigan Ave., Bldg #I Santa Monica, CA, 90404. The directions from the 10 Freeway West:
Exit 10-Fwy at Cloverfield, go Right, / North
Right at 1st-light @ michigan, go to the end of Michigan
Left at Gate, Enter and park towards the South-West end. - FREE Parking
Walk to Bldg. I, the furthest South-West
Public Transit: Use City of Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus, routes 11 or 7.

Fees/Registration: The event is FREE to Los Angeles ACM SIGGRAPH members and $20 for non-SIGGRAPH members. New members that sign up on site and pay the $40 annual membership fee (checks or cash only) do not have to pay the $20 fee.
Makers who present at this meeting will get in for free.

Special Thanks go to Jeff Boynton & Mark Frauenfelder, Craig "Xray" Halperin, Joan Collins Carey, Diane Piepol, and all of the members of the Executive Council and volunteers and MAKERS.

BIOS

Mark Frauenfelder is a writer and illustrator living in Los Angeles, and the editor-in-chief of MAKE magazine (see makezine.com). He is the founder of the popular blog boingboing.net (which has won top awards for three years running at the SXSW conference) and was an editor at Wired from 1993-1998.

For several years, he wrote a monthly technology column for Playboy magazine and has written for The New York Times Magazine, Popular Science, The Hollywood Reporter, and Business 2.0.
Mark is the author of several books, including The Happy Mutant Handbook (1995, Riverhead) a guide to offbeat pop culture, Mad Professor (2003, Chronicle) a book of bizarre science experiments for kids, World’s Worst (2005, Chronicle) a guide to the worst stuff on Earth, The Computer, an illustrated history of computers (2005, Carlton books), and a guide to online tricks and tips, called Rule the Web (2007, St. Martins).

His illustrations have appeared in Wired, The Industry Standard, Children’s Television Workshop, Turner Cable, and Time Warner.

Mark has a degree in mechanical engineering and worked in the diskdrive industry in the 1980s.

Jeff Boynton brings multiple Roland Microcube amps (as many 16) and distributes them throughout the entire space - on the floor, suspended with chains, sitting on shelves, etc. Each circuit bent instrument has it's own amp. It becomes a sort of "surround environment" but with way more "channels". Jeff has built dozens of amazing instruments based on discarded consumer products. He's performed at events ranging from Disney Hall openings to the Doo-Dah Parade. He was in the 80's New Wave band Wazmo Nariz and opened for The Police, Devo and the B-52's.

LA SIGGRAPH presents "Maker Night", Tuesday, June 10th, 2008. 5:30 pm - Makers Load In and Set up; 6:30-7:30pm - Social Hour Science Fair; 7:30-10:30pm - Presentation. Where: The Writers Boot Camp at Bergamot Station Art Center, 2525 Michigan Ave., Bldg #1, Santa Monica, CA, 90404. $20 for non SIGGRAPH members. You can join LA SIGGRAPH for $40 a year. Makers who present at this meeting will get in for free. Contact: makers@agentxray.com.

June 4, 2008

JUN 16: SCOTT MCCLELLAN EXPLAINS "WHAT HAPPENED" AT BOOK TALK/SIGNING, BARNES & NOBLE SANTA MONICA

June featured author addition: Scott McClellan, author of "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception" - arguably the hottest book on the market right now. The former Bush Press Secretary will be speaking/signing his buzz book on Monday, June 16 at 7:00 pm. Location: Barnes & Noble, 1201 Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401. (Personally, I think the title "Dubya Trubya" woulda been betta, but whatta I know.) ---D.R.

For more info contact:
John Schatzel
Community Relations Manager
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
1201 Third Street Promenade
Santa Monica, CA 90401
tel: (310) 260-0158
fax: (310) 485-7829
crm2575@bn.com
www.bn.com
www.barnesandnobleinc.com

OBAMA VS. MCCAIN: WHO'S MORE LIKE REAGAN?

"No Pundit Intended" - A Commentary Column by Don Rose

Okay, Obama babes and dudes: I know the title sounds a tad weird. But Barack does share several traits with Ronald Reagan, as does John McCain, his opponent. Question is, who's like Reagan more? Let's explore.

ORATORY
Both Obama and Reagan are famous for being great communicators. McCain is all right, but not all that. Score one for the O man. His Obamatory is glorious.

HAIR
Reagan had great hair. Obama and McCain? Okay, let's skip this one...

CHANGE
Reagan was the "change candidate" in 1980, the outsider looking to come in and change Washington, during a climate of stagflation (low/no growth plus rising prices), oil shocks and turmoil in Iran. Sound familiar? Obama wins again.

FAMILY
Reagan had 2 daughters. Obama has 2, McCain has 3. Obama wins.

OTHER PARTY APPEAL
Reagan was famous for winning the votes of "Reagan Democrats." Obama gets love from a lot of Republicans, who have been dubbed "Obamacans." Yet McCain also has cross party appeal, drawing support from some Dems who see John as a moderate maverick (maybe). Tie.

FINAL SCORE
Obama is the victor. He is more Reaganesque than McCain. Just don't tell anyone I said this; I gotta preserve my street cred and keep my mojo working. Thanks.

June 2, 2008

JUN 2: FORTE ANIMAL RESCUE GALA FUNDRAISER BASH AT MAGGIANO'S

Forte Animal Rescue Gala Fundraiser Bash Takes Place at Maggiano’s Bellagio Ballroom, Located In The Grove Complex

We hear this will be "a GREAT evening for a wonderful cause, with PAWS!" Planet Shark Productions is known for putting on great networking events, so we expect this will be quite a bash. Here is the press release from Planet Shark:

Maggiano's is donating the delicious food and the amazing space and we're still in the midst of procuring additional sponsors (see below for sponsorship inquiries).
NAME: Forte Animal Rescue Gala Fundraiser Bash
DATE: Monday, June 2, 2008 ; 6:30pm-10pm
VENUE: Maggiano's Little Italy Bellagio Ballroom, 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90036 - Phone: 323-965-2777 – http://www.maggianos.com
ENTERTAINMENT : Music provided by Christian Alva & Dj Unit from DiabolicalBeats.com ; Emcee for the evening is Diana DeVille (Programming/On-Air Personality KNAC.com) ; Silent Auction, Doggie Kissing Booth, ‘Speed Petworking’ – and more!
COST: Suggested tax-deductible donation at the door is $20.
AGES: 21+

The evening will benefit Forte Animal Rescue, a non-profit animal rescue organization serving the Los Angeles area - URL: http://www.farescue.org. Maggiano's is graciously donating the food and the exquisite space. There will be a cash bar, DJ (and emcee), and a silent auction plus all other sorts of incredible goodies throughout the night.

RSVP: Sharkzvip1@aol.com

Note About Sponsors: We're seeking sponsors who can provide goods or services that can either be auctioned off at the event or donated directly to Forte. In return, the sponsor(s) will be featured in all press releases & event promos, and have the opportunity for on-site signage, etc. And since the ballroom is equipped with state-of-the-art AV, sponsors will also have the option to loop media at the event. Sponsorship inquiries, please email sohosharky@aol.com -- OR if you'd like to donate your time or talent, let us know via the same email address - and thank you again for your interest and support.

--Sally at Planet Shark Productions los angeles, ca - planet earth http://www.planetsharkproductions.com