Earlier this year, I reported on Greg Goldin and Sam Lubell’s campaign to launch “Never Built: Los Angeles,” a show about an L.A. metropolis that never was — from an offshore Santa Monica freeway to Frank Lloyd Wright’s imagined downtown master plan. After months of fundraising, the exhibition opened this week at the city’s A+D Museum and runs through October 13, 2013. I spoke to Goldin and Lubell about putting it together. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest
By Daniel Fisher, Forbes Staff
It’s 8 a.m. on a Monday in early July, and 50 people cram into a conference room for the daily credit meeting at the Madison Avenue headquarters of Guggenheim Investments. The mostly young, mostly male analysts don’t wear ties, but they snap to attention as the voice of Global Chief Investment Officer Scott Minerd comes over the speakerphone from the firm’s Santa Monica, Calif. office. The 54-year-old, 300-pound competitive bodybuilder is more commanding in person, but his message today is compelling on its own. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest
Michael Angeli is a television screenwriter best-known for his work on Battlestar Galactica, Caprica, and Monk. But according to a story on Polygon, Angeli is about to move into the realm of writing video games.
At San Diego Comic Con’s Battlestar Galactica panel, Angeli noted that he’s working with Sony Santa Monica on a video game. Santa Monica is best-known for its God of War games, but Angeli stated that the project he’s working on isn’t God of War.
Angeli told Polygon that he’s been working on the game for over two years, and that the team that worked on God of War: Ascension – a team of about 150 people – has fully “transitioned” to his game.
Source: FULL ARTICLE at IGN Video Games
The body of a key witness in James ‘Whitey’ Bulger’s racketeering trial was found dead on the side of a road Wednesday by a jogger in Lincoln, Mass., which is just west of Boston.
The body belonged to Stephen “Stippo” Rakes, 59, who was allegedly extorted by Bulger and considered one of the most determined alleged victims who waited a decade to testify, The Boston Globe reported.
The Globe reported that Rakes has been a fixture for six weeks at Bulger’s trial and was just told recently that he would not get the chance to testify.
The Middlesex County district attorney’s confirmed in a press release Thursday morning the identity of the body. There were no obvious signs of trauma, a statement said. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.
ABC News first reported the link to the Bulger and reported that Rakes was set to testify that Bulger threatened his daughter with a gun and took over his Boston liquor store. Police told Rakes family the cause of death appears to be a suicide, the report said. However, he was missing his phone and wallet, the report said.
Calls from FoxNews.com to the Middlesex District Attorney to confirm the report were not immediately returned.
Bulger, now 83, is accused in a 32-count racketeering indictment of playing a role in 19 killings in the 1970s and ’80s while he allegedly led the Winter Hill Gang. He is also charged with money laundering and extortion.
Bulger’s alleged partner, Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi, was scheduled to testify Thursday — nearly 20 years after they last saw each other. The judge was reportedly in a room at the courthouse Thursday with lawyers.
Their former FBI handler, John Connolly, was convicted of tipping off both men in late 1994 that they were about to be indicted. Bulger fled Boston and was one of the nation’s most wanted fugitives until he was captured in Santa Monica, Calif., in 2011. Flemmi stayed, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to 10 killings. He is now serving a life sentence.
Bulger’s lawyers have strongly denied the prosecution contention that their client was an informant who ratted on the New England Mafia and other criminals. They say he paid FBI agents to tip him off to investigations and upcoming indictments.
In other testimony Wednesday, a former U.S. customs agent said a man Bulger is accused of killing was cooperating with law enforcement just before he disappeared in 1984.
Bulger is charged with fatally shooting John McIntyre, a fisherman from Quincy, after learning that he was talking to authorities.
Former customs agent Donald DeFago testified that McIntyre described drug smuggling and other activities, including a failed attempt to ship weapons to the Irish Republican Army.
Bulger associate Kevin Weeks testified earlier that Bulger interrogated and killed McIntyre while he was chained to a chair. Weeks said Bulger tried to strangle him, but when the rope caused him to vomit, he asked McIntyre if he wanted a bullet in the …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox US News
A former drug dealer testified Wednesday that James “Whitey” Bulger once tried to scare him into paying $1 million by having an associate spin a loaded gun on a table, point it at him, then pull the trigger.
William David Lindholm, testifying in Bulger’s racketeering trial, said Bulger’s associate played a “Russian Roulette”-like game with him in 1983. He said the associate first fired the gun and a bullet went by his head. Then, he spun the gun on the table and pulled the trigger, but the gun did not go off, Lindholm said.
“I was just glad to get out of there,” he said.
Lindholm said he and his partner were major marijuana smugglers who distributed about 85 tons of the drug that summer — without Bulger’s permission. Shortly after that, Lindholm said he was asked to go to a nightclub where he found Bulger and three other men in a small room upstairs.
Lindholm said Bulger pulled two guns out and demanded $1 million. He said he negotiated with Bulger to get the amount down to $250,000 and agreed to pay in installments.
Afterward, he said, Bulger shook his hand and told him he had handled himself well, but also told him what he’d do if he tried to sell drugs on his own again.
“He’d cut my head off,” Lindholm said.
Lindholm was the latest in a string of former drug dealers and bookmakers who have testified that Bulger used threats and intimidation to extort them by demanding lump sum payments or regular “tribute” payments so they could stay in business.
Bulger, now 83, is accused in a 32-count racketeering indictment of playing a role in 19 killings in the 1970s and ’80s while he allegedly led the Winter Hill Gang. He is also charged with money laundering and extortion.
Bulger’s alleged partner, Stephen “The Rifleman” Flemmi, is scheduled to testify Thursday — nearly 20 years after they last saw each other.
Their former FBI handler, John Connolly, was convicted of tipping off both men in late 1994 that they were about to be indicted. Bulger fled Boston and was one of the nation’s most wanted fugitives until he was captured in Santa Monica, Calif., in 2011. Flemmi stayed, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to 10 killings. He is now serving a life sentence.
Bulger’s lawyers have strongly denied the prosecution contention that their client was an informant who ratted on the New England Mafia and other criminals. They say he paid FBI agents to tip him off to investigations and upcoming indictments.
In other testimony Wednesday, a former U.S. customs agent said a man Bulger is accused of killing was cooperating with law enforcement just before he disappeared in 1984.
Bulger is charged with fatally shooting John McIntyre, a fisherman from Quincy, after learning that he was talking to authorities.
Former customs agent Donald DeFago testified that McIntyre described drug smuggling and other activities, including a failed attempt to ship weapons to the Irish Republican Army.
Bulger associate Kevin Weeks testified earlier that Bulger interrogated and killed McIntyre while he …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox US News
James “Whitey” Bulger (BUHL’-jur) will come face to face with his former partner, Stephen “The Rifleman” Flemmi, when Flemmi takes the witness stand this week in Bulger’s racketeering trial.
The two have not seen each other since Bulger fled Boston in 1994. Bulger was one of the nation’s most wanted fugitives until he was captured in 2011 in Santa Monica, Calif.
Flemmi pleaded guilty to 10 murders and is serving a life sentence. He is expected to testify about Bulger’s alleged involvement in numerous killings.
Bulger is accused of participating in 19 killings during the 1970s and ’80s while he allegedly led the Winter Hill Gang. The 83-year-old Bulger has pleaded not guilty.
Flemmi is expected to testify mid-week.
On Monday, prosecutors plan to call a former FBI agent and a relative of one of the victims.
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox US News
SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 21 (UPI) — Television actor Laurence Haddon has died from complications of dementia in Santa Monica, Calif., his family said Tuesday. He was 90.
By NFL.com Wire Reports Police in Southern California say that NBC Sports announcer Al Michaels has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.
By Associated Press Police in Southern California say that NBC Sports announcer Al Michaels has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.
By Evann Gastaldo Al Michaels, the legendary sportscaster who asked, “Do you believe in miracles?” at the 1980 Winter Olympics as the US hockey team beat the Soviets, was arrested Friday night and charged with a DUI, CNN reports. Sources tell TMZ Michaels went through a DUI checkpoint in Santa Monica, California, around…
From: http://www.newser.com/story/166586/sportscaster-al-michaels-busted-for-dui.html
By The Huffington Post News Editors
By now you’ve probably seen a big red ball smushed somewhere it doesn’t belong. The big red dot popped up all over Los Angeles this week, from downtown LA to Santa Monica to Hollywood.
Officially, it’s called RedBall, an art installation by New York-based artist Kurt Perschke. The RedBall is in town to let Golden Staters know that the Powerball lottery is finally opening up to California residents this Monday.
The big red ball will continue north to San Francisco over the weekend and end up in Sacramento. Good luck, California — the jackpot is currently at $50 million.
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Huffington Post
By The Huffington Post News Editors
When she was 14, Mary Williams moved from the poverty-stricken streets of East Oakland, California, to Jane Fonda‘s hacienda in Santa Monica, California, becoming the adopted daughter many people didn’t know the Oscar-winning actress even had. In the Sunday, April 7, episode of “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” Williams and Fonda sit down with Oprah for their first-ever interview together, opening up about Williams’ tumultuous past, her experience with the Black Panthers and what it was like to become an African-American teen in a wealthy — and white — Hollywood family.
In this exclusive clip from the episode, Williams discusses her relationship with Ted Turner, Fonda’s third husband, whom she describes in her soon-to-be-released memoir — The Lost Daughter — as a “true father.” Williams admits, however, that she had reservations about the billionaire media mogul.
“I was nervous about Ted,” she tells Oprah in the clip. “[But] he turned out to be one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met.”
Read More…
More on Oprah Winfrey Network
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Huffington Post
By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
eHarmony Advice: 15 Reasons to Date a Farmer
SANTA MONICA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Unless you suffer from hay fever and hate the country, farmers make pretty great dates. Here are 15 reasons to date a farmer:
1. They aren’t afraid of putting down roots. In fact, your farmer is probably already based somewhere — with long-term plans to stay there.
2. Farmers are fit, toned and tanned. (The “tanned” part might only apply to their forearms. But those forearms are great.)
3. Many farmers subscribe to good ol’ fashioned family values — and will be proud to treat you with gentleness and respect.
4. There’s something sexy about working the land, cultivating plants and raising beef that nourish a nation. Your stomach will benefit.
5. It’s trendy to be eco-aware. Your farmer is as close to being “one with the land” as they come.
6. Free tractor rides.
7. Farmers are traditionally loyal and protective.
8. The rural lifestyle provides plenty of fresh air, vitamin D, and panoramic views with zero skyscrapers in sight.
9. You can visit your date at work — if you don’t mind getting manure on your shoes.
10. Farmers are essentially small business owners. They must have both brains and brawn to keep their farm running successfully.
11. Farmers are community players, often helping out neighboring farms when another farmer is struggling to get their crops in on time.
12. Most farmers want to keep the farm in the family. Thus, they want children.
13. Farmers work hard every single day of the year without complaint.
14. Farmers don’t live in condos.
15. Farmers are trustworthy. If a few dozen cattle can trust the farmer with their lives, surely your date can handle responsibility.
About eHarmony, Inc.
Santa Monica, Calif.-based eHarmony, Inc. (www.eharmony.com) was founded in 2000 and is a pioneer in using relationship science to match singles seeking long-term relationships. Its service presents users with compatible matches based on key dimensions of personality that are scientifically proven to predict highly successful long-term relationships. On average, 542 people marry every day in the U.S. as …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
LaSalle Hotel Properties Announces First Quarter Earnings Call to be Held on April 18, 2013
BETHESDA, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYS: LHO) today announced it will report financial results for the First Quarter 2013 on Wednesday, April 17, 2013 after the market closes. The Company will conduct its quarterly conference call on Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 10:00 AM EDT.
To participate in the conference call, please follow the steps listed below:
1. On April 18, 2013, dial (888) 663-2254 approximately ten minutes before the call begins (9:50 AM EDT);
2. Tell the operator that you are calling for LaSalle Hotel Properties’ First Quarter 2013 Earnings Conference Call;
3. State your full name and company affiliation and you will be connected to the call.
A live webcast of the Earnings Call will also be available through the Company’s website. To access, log on to http://www.lasallehotels.com ten minutes prior to the call. A replay of the conference call webcast will be archived and available online through the Investor Relations section of http://www.lasallehotels.com.
LaSalle Hotel Properties is a leading multi-operator real estate investment trust. The Company owns 40 hotels and a mezzanine loan secured by two hotels in Santa Monica, CA. The properties are upscale, full-service hotels, totaling more than 10,600 guest rooms in 13 markets in 9 states and the District of Columbia. The Company focuses on owning, redeveloping and repositioning upscale, full-service hotels located in urban, resort and convention markets. LaSalle Hotel Properties seeks to grow through strategic relationships with premier lodging companies, including Westin Hotels and Resorts, Hilton Hotels Corporation, Outrigger Lodging Services, Noble House Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Benchmark Hospitality, White Lodging Services Corporation, Thompson Hotels, Davidson Hotel Company, Denihan Hospitality Group, the Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, LLC, Accor, Destination Hotels & Resorts, HEI Hotels & Resorts, JRK Hotel Group, Inc., Viceroy Hotel Group, Highgate Hotels and Access Hotels & Resorts.
For additional information or to receive press releases via e-mail, please visit our website at www.lasallehotels.com .
LaSalle Hotel Properties
Bruce Riggins or Kenneth Fuller, 301-941-1500
KEYWORDS: United States North America Maryland
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:
The article LaSalle Hotel Properties Announces First Quarter …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 2 (UPI) — Beverley Mitchell‘s publicist says the actress has given birth to daughter Kenzie Lynne in Santa Monica, Calif.
By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Marchex Finds 4 out of 5 Mobile Calls Answered by Auto Dealers and Repair Shops Lead to Sales
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)– When employees at auto dealers and repair shops answer the phone, there is opportunity in nearly every conversation to make a sale, according to a data analysis released today by Marchex, Inc. (NAS: MCHX) .
Marchex, a leader in mobile performance advertising, found that consumers now place millions of calls to the auto industry directly through mobile ads. And once consumers connect to a representative over the phone, 79 percent want to buy.
“Our findings underscore how very important it is to be available, in person, to answer the phone when calls come in,” said John Busby, Vice President of the Marchex Institute, the research arm of Marchex. “The auto industry should think of these conversations as money on the table. Every voicemail can cost you.”
Analysts aggregated anonymous data points from more than 65,000 calls placed to auto dealers, repair shops and national call centers. The calls, driven through Marchex’s mobile advertising network, came from consumers engaging with mobile ads via mobile directories, apps, mobile banners and voice search.
Using Marchex Call Mining software, which scans for key words and phrases and voice tonalities, analysts assembled a portrait of consumer behavior and found:
Mr. Busby will be speaking about these findings today at the Mobile Media Summit at Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica.
About Marchex
Marchex, Inc. delivers customer calls to businesses and analyzes those calls so companies can get the most out of their mobile advertising. Marchex supports its customers through a unique technology platform that has three primary components: (1) Call Analytics, which powers all of our advertising solutions, and allows partners to leverage data and insights that accurately measure the performance of mobile, online and offline call advertising; (2) Digital Call Marketplace, which …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Nippon Life Insurance Company to Acquire Minority Stake in Post Advisory Group
Deal broadens Post Advisory Group’s distribution in Japan
DES MOINES, Iowa–(BUSINESS WIRE)– The Principal Financial Group (NYS: PFG) today announced its subsidiary, Principal Global Investors, LLC, a leading global asset manager, has agreed to sell a minority stake in Post Advisory Group, LLC (Post) to Nippon Life Insurance Company (Nippon Life).
Post is a leading manager of high-yield fixed income based in Santa Monica, Calif., with approximately $11.8 billion in assets under management1 and additional offices in New York and London. Nippon Life is a leading global financial services firm headquartered in Osaka with total assets of more than $600 billion. The transaction will bring significant new distribution opportunities for Post’s products and enhance Nippon Life‘s fixed income investment products.
“We are very pleased Nippon Life has chosen us to be its high yield partner,” said Larry Post, founder and chief investment officer of Post. “This is a tremendous vote of confidence in our firm and it extends the geographic reach of our broad menu of high yield products.”
“We are delighted with our new partnership with Post and intend to keep accelerating our efforts in growing our asset management business field,” said Yoshinobu Tsutsui, president of Nippon Life. “This transaction marks a new milestone in our history with the Principal Financial Group and we hope to further strengthen our relationship going forward.”
“Nippon Life has long been a valued partner of the Principal Financial Group, and this transaction will serve to deepen and strengthen that relationship,” said Larry Zimpleman, chairman, president and CEO of the Principal Financial Group®. “Post Advisory Group has already been successful in bringing high yield solutions to a market that is in need of yield-oriented products. Japanese investors will now be positioned to take even greater advantage of this key offering through Nippon Life‘s networks and relationships.”
The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2013.
For more news and insights from the Principal Financial Group, connect with us on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/ThePrincipal.
Forward looking and cautionary statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements as to operating earnings, net income available …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Aura Completes Repayment in Cash of the $3.6 Million Senior Convertible Secured Notes Issued in September 2011
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Aura Systems, Inc. (OTCBB: AUSI) is pleased to announce today that it completed the repayment in cash of the entire $3.6 million secured notes that were issued in September 2011.
The notes were required to be paid in twelve equal payments. At the Company’s option, each payment could be paid in cash or stock. The Company elected to make all twelve payments in cash.
Mr. Melvin Gagerman, Aura’s CEO said, “We are very pleased to have completed the payment program and were able to repay the entire $3.6 million secured convertible notes in cash in a timely manner without causing any dilution to our shareholders. We would like to take this opportunity and publicly thank the lenders for their support, trust and fair dealing. We would also like to thank MDB Capital in Santa Monica, California, who helped arrange the convertible notes as well as participated in a portion of the notes directly.”
Mr. Gagerman added, “We are looking forward to our new fiscal year that started on March 1st. We have a new President Dr. Ramesh Misra, a new VP of Sales and Marketing Mr. Damon Haber and expect to add additional senior management shortly.”
For more information on Aura Systems, Inc. visit www.aurasystems.com.
Aura Systems, Inc.
Melvin Gagerman, Chairman and CEO
310-643-5300 x171
mgagerman@aurasystems.com
or
Cipora Lavut
404 539-2161
clavut@aurasystems.com
KEYWORDS: United States North America California
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:
The article Aura Completes Repayment in Cash of the $3.6 Million Senior Convertible Secured Notes Issued in September 2011 originally appeared on Fool.com.
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Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
LOS ANGELES, March 28 (UPI) — Emmy-winning screenwriter Fay Kanin has died at her home in Santa Monica, Calif., the Writers Guild of America announced. She was 95.
LOS ANGELES, March 28 (UPI) — Emmy-winning screenwriter Fay Kanin has died at her home in Santa Monica, Calif., the Writers Guild of America announced. She was 95.
