1914: 28 men set off to cross Antarctica and wind up with an even greater accomplishment by failing in their original mission.

Time machines: "Classic Dining: Discovering America’s Finest Mid-Century Restaurants;" the 25th anniversary of "Star Trek: The Next Generation;" and the frozen wing of the Alexandria Hotel, locked in space and time since 1938.

Pasadena artist Kenton Nelson ... Hipstamatic & Instagram v News ... new voting tech via crowdsourcing ... Giant Rock = Boffo Muz Biz? ... RIP Firesign Theatre's Peter Bergman ...

Blind mezzo-soprano Laurie Rubin's new album, "Do You Dream in Color?" ... the music of "John Carter" ... a last Bookmobile ... the Flying Pigeon's bikes for the citizen cyclist ... What is Steam Punk? ...

Assemblyman Mike Gatto proposes cottage food law for home cooks ... why is this man fascinated with Apocalypitc visions of the 1970s ... Materials and Applications intrigues Silverlake, world ... The Jazz Bakery gets a new home, at last ...

Tim Robbins with Off-Ramp host John Rabe, in-depth

Rabe (again) takes up the cause of stopping handicap parking placard abusers ... LA's condom law and its impact on the porn industry ... Autumn de Wilde photos of a pig slaughter in a tasting room? ... the Pasadena Conservatory screens for dedication, not talent ... Tim Robbins and The Actors Gang bring back 1984.

In a special Off-Ramp podcast, John Rabe's (mostly) uncut interview with Cheech Marin about Chicano art, including an exclusive tour of Marin's huge Chicano art collection, and his memories of Cheech&Chong.

Cheech Marin gives Off-Ramp an exclusive tour of his Chicano art ... Lincoln Elementary 5th graders on love and Valentine's Day ... Love among the Bonobos ... Nico Case reborn ... "Finding Nemo's" flexible sexuality ...

Lisa See talking with Off-Ramp host John Rabe about Shanghai Girls and Dreams of Joy, two bestselling novels about the Chinese-American immigrant experience.