Was a Soggy L.A. this Week

We Angelenos are so pleased that the "sunny" is back in "Sunny Southern California." But, what's up with the L.A. Times? Today's front page photo is the fire department rescuing a dog from the river with a helicopter--that's the best we have to offer?

Up in Smoke
During this soggy week, the Los Angeles city council managed to enact a smoking ban for outside eateries--bummer for us cigar smokers. However the Cigar Rights of America advocacy group is claiming victory for smoking also being allowed in bars. Mean while, Los Angeles County finally tackles the fast-increasing cannabis club issue with a ban on new clubs. And I so liked the cannabis prescribing clinics sprinkled on the ocean front walk at Venice Beach--they add color and smell to the area.

Late Night TV
This week, Conan O'Brien agreed to vacate his Tonight Show throne back to Jay Leno, and in doing so the gets a $33 million dollar "party prize."

Palos Verdes Party House
Melahat Uzumcu gets fined only $500 and three years informal probation for renting out her 7,000 sq. ft. Palos Verdes estate (located in a residential area) for block buster parties. And she couldn't understand why the neighbors (actual residents of the area) complained about the noise and traffic. Get a clue babe!

Roman, Come Home
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge said no to Roman Polanski's request to be sentenced in absentia. Roman wants to stay in Switzerland under house (chalet) arrest rather than to return to Los Angeles to face the music. Roman was busted over 30 years ago for boinking a 13-year old girl and fled the country prior to his sentencing. You can run Roman, but you just cannot hide from the LAPD, LASD, and all the other folks that want to see you fry.

Piece of the Silver Screen Lost
This week Los Angeles lost Jean Simmons, she was 80--enjoying a career that spanned over 60 years including 55 feature films and numerous television productions. Jean Simmons was am important contributor to Hollywood's flourishing post WWII era. She appeared opposite Laurence Olivier in Hamlet, and appeared in such movies as Guys and Dolls (with Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando), The Robe (with Richard Burton), The Big Country (with Gregory Peck), Desiree (with Marlon Brando), Angel Face (with Robert Mitchum) and Spartacus (with Kirk Douglas).

Deserts, Pawns & Corruption

Just Deserts: Last week I told you about Wells Fargo Bank Senior Vice President, Cheronda Guyton that thought it was okay to keep a foreclosed Malibu, ocean-front, property of the market so she could personally use the house on weekends--well, Wells Fargo fired her this week. They just got too much heat over the flap. All right WFB! And here is the real question, "Will they secretly hire her back in six months after everything cools down?" Don't be surprised if they do!

Is He a Pawn? My perspective is that this week Jay Leno allowed Kanye West to use Jay's new show for an amazing PR stunt. Let's face it, Kanye's insurrections have become common--nothing new there. And Jay allowed himself to be a pawn for another of Kanye's insincere public apologies. From a PR stunt perspective, Kanye really kicks ass!

Class Act: We lost Patrick Swayze this week, a true Hollywood class act. Many thanks to all the idiots in the tabloids for the unnecessary circus around his passing.

In Hot Water with the Feds: L.A. Politician, Mark Ridley-Thomas is under Federal investigation for "improprieties" in L.A. area elections, L. A. contractor relationships, and with union leaders proven to be corrupt. Well Mark, take a little--but don't take a lot. When you only steal a little, nobody notices.

Have a great weekend, Ed