Professors fight crime with math – using data to predict crime ‘hot spots’

I love this story on ‘predictive policing’. Researchers use data to predict “hot spots” for crime and then send it over to the police. The cops on the beat patrol those areas more often and crime drops. Math for the win. The best way to fight crime is to keep it from happening in the …

How a college campus in the middle of Los Angeles is lowering traffic

The rest of Los Angeles may seem as congested as ever, but traffic at UCLA is the lightest it’s ever been since the university began measuring more than 20 years ago. The 2011 commuting report marks the eighth consecutive year that UCLA’s vehicle count dropped. With an average of 102,000 trips daily, the number of …

Los Angeles Film Festival – June 14-24 – announces 2012 line-up

The Los Angeles Film Festival has announced its full line-up for 2012, which will screen a diverse slate of nearly 200 feature films, short films, and music videos, representing more than 30 countries, along with signature programs such as the Filmmaker Retreat, Poolside Chats, Coffee Talks, music events and more. Items of note: Opening Night …

Super Hero Film Festival – May 18-21 – from the Los Angeles Times

Friday, May 18 7:00 pm – Dawn of the Dead (2004) Special guests: Zack Snyder and Robert Kirkman 10:00 pm – Shaun of the Dead Special guest: Edgar Wright   Saturday, May 19 12:00 pm – RoboCop Special guest: Peter Weller 4:00 pm – A Clockwork Orange Special guest: Malcolm McDowell 8:30 pm – SUPER …

Dodgers new ownership finally takes over

  Stan Kasten As the primary architect of the Atlanta Braves’ dynasty in the 1980s and ’90s, Kasten noted the Dodgers’ fast start in stressing that the goal is to “win now — we’re not going to wait two years.” Mark Walter In the tall, reserved Walter, Johnson can see parallels in ownership style with …

LA Light – the electric radiance of Los Angeles at night

I sought out to capture the electric radiance of Los Angeles at night and paint a portrait of my city. It took me 6 months of on and off shooting to finish this project. Shooting time lapses is a labor of love and a study in patience. This video is dedicated to the memory of my …

Play Me, I’m Yours – thirty pianos across the city for anyone to play

Touring internationally since 2008, Play Me, I’m Yours is artwork by British artist Luke Jerram. For three weeks beginning April 12, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra brings Play Me, I’m Yours to Los Angeles. Thirty pianos, designed and decorated by local artists and community organizations, are featured across Los Angeles County and are available for everyone …

Hello, Silicon Beach – the burgeoning tech scene in Los Angeles

What could be better than beautiful weather, beaches, and your favorite scrappy start-up? Two cities in Los Angeles are slowly becoming hubs of technology, Santa Monica and Venice. In the spread out landscape of Los Angeles these two cities are adjacent close-knit urban areas, with ample office space, coffee shops, restaurants, and apartments. But, not …

LA Times Festival of Books – largest in the country, includes Stan Lee, John Cusack, Betty White, Anne Rice

If you’re free this weekend, April 21-22, 2012, you might want to attend the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. The largest book festival in the country with more than 140,000 attendees, 400 authors, 300 exhibitors, 100 panels, cooking demonstrations, and poetry readings. The festival is a free public event held on the campus of …