I start the New York Times Crossword every day (I can't always finish) and have often fantasized about throwing down with the real puzzle masters at the American Crossword Puzzle… Read the rest of the article: Photos & Recaps from the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament

Clam Lynch is a wildly-creative artist and actor…and therefore terminally broke. He’s also a dad who is trying to raise enough cash to move from San Francisco to Utah to… Read the rest of the article: Get yourself a Clam bag

The new Beach House video for "Wishes" was directed by Eric Wareheim and features Ray Wise.

Sound it Out # 43: Junip – “Line of Fire” (MP3) Junip is a band from Gothenburg, Sweden, comprising members Elias Araya, Tobias Winterkorn, and José González. Though their first EP came out… Read the rest of the article: Junip – “Line of Fire” (free MP3)

I'm going to be cooking a dinner featuring locally-produced honey at canelé restaurant in LA next Tuesday, February 19.  The restaurant has a program called "Friends Cook", where they invite neighborhood… Read the rest of the article: Amy cooks at an actual restaurant

Sound it Out # 42: Helado Negro – “Dance Ghost”(MP3) Helado Negro is the musician alter ego of the visual/experimental artist Roberto Carlos Lange.He’s the son of Ecuadorian immigrants who… Read the rest of the article: Helado Negro – “Dance Ghost” (free MP3)

Sound it Out # 41: The Cave Singers – “Easy Way ”(MP3) I’ve gone on about my love for The Cave Singers here before. What’s changed: They’ve added bassist & multi-instrumentalist Morgan… Read the rest of the article: The Cave Singers – “Easy Way” (free MP3)

On the rare occasion, a dreamy, jangly, coming-of-age pop song can make me dance like a moron in the kitchen. Download “Teenage”, put down the knife, press play, and behold… Read the rest of the article: Veronica Falls "Teenage" (free MP3)

Sound it Out # 39: Guided by Voices – “She Lives in an Airport ”(MP3) Dayton, Ohio’s legendary Guided by Voices broke up in 2004. Over the course of a… Read the rest of the article: Guided by Voices – “She Lives in an Airport ” (free MP3)

Every once in awhile, though, an indie artist is brave enough to put their music up against the 4th quarter sludge heap. Lord Huron’s record came out about a month ago and it’s all I want to listen to.

Chaos the Great Dane is about to have puppies. Watch one dog become several…live!

Lego reenactment of the Red Bull Stratos jump. Scale 1:350.

Video artist Netia Jones holds a 21st century-style Wild Rumpus in the LA Phil’s production of Oliver Knussen’s opera version of Maurice Sendak’s Where The Wild Things Are.

I love firemen! I love brotherhoods! I love gay marriage! This ad has everything!

Justin Timberlake just unveiled a video that shows off the new MySpace beta. It appears that they're hoping to build on their popularity with musicians and the UI looks pretty nice.… Read the rest of the article: The new MySpace (Video)

  Sound it Out # 37: Jenny O. – “Automechanic” (MP3) I posted Jenny O.’s first single almost a year ago. At that time, Jenny was just getting started – she had… Read the rest of the article: Jenny O. – "Automechanic" (free MP3)

Sound it Out # 36: Earlimart – “97 Heart Attack” (MP3) Aaron Espinoza and Ariana Murray make records as Earlimart and also help other artists make theirs. Aaron owns The Ship Recording Studio in… Read the rest of the article: Earlimart – “97 Heart Attack” (free MP3)

Sound it Out # 35: Divine Fits – “Would That Not Be Nice”  Divine Fits is a great band that plays melodic indie rock. I saw their seventh-ever live show… Read the rest of the article: Divine Fits – “Would That Not Be Nice” (free MP3)

Sound it Out # 34: Diamond Rings- "I’m Just Me” (MP3) When I was a naive and confused tween, I yearned to lose my virginity to Boy George. I later… Read the rest of the article: Diamond Rings- "I’m Just Me” (free MP3)

Back in May, I posted about a nearby Little Free Library I happened upon, and promised to open my own. Well, we did it yesterday. You can see it in person here.