John Rabe's veg oil diary ... Charles Solomon on the pros and cons of animation art auctions ... beer tasting for women ... Frank McCourt's secret plan backfires ... Madeleine Brand can't break up with her car, but she kinda wants to ... Tess Vigeland of Marketplace Money tals carbuying strategies ...

In-depth Off-Ramp interview with Newton Minow, 85, on his "Vast Wasteland" speech of May 9, 1961. It shook up the television industry and is considered one of the most important speeches of the 20th century. Many of its criticisms are true of television today. Off-Ramp host John Rabe also talks with broadcast historian Robert Thompson, and actor Don Murray, who took a role in episodic TV because of the speech. He says TV was a "vast wasteland" for actors, too.

Driving with stuntman Jim Wilkey, art with Robert Williams, OCMA's California Pacific Triennial, and the best stuff that was never built in Southern California.

Larry King on almost 80 years ... dishing on Deitch ditching MOCA ... called a "cracker," Clay Russell tells us about his eureka moment ... why did a Lomita builder collect 55,000 dresses?

My Lunches with Orson ... the life of a mattress ... Ruby Wax, poster child for mental illness ... El Macho, El Insulting? ...

An in-depth interview with writer Harlan Ellison ... a glorious reprint of a classic guide to California ... the OCMA Triennial, Pt 2 ... how to design a space suit for the movies ...

LA's first gay citywide elected official ... how the SCOTUS decisons will affect married homosexuals at tax time ... Happy birthday ZIP Code! ... the lasting impact of a huge neck tattoo ... Eric Garcetti's week.

Jody Stephens, only surviving band member Big Star's debut album, talks with LA Record's Chris Ziegler ... intrepid intern Robert Garrova learns to curl at a bonspiel ... Val Kilmer talks with John Rabe about becoming Mark Twain for his one-man show "Citizen Twain" ... Gavin Newsom on the Prop 8 decision

The Art of Wealth tells the untold story of the Huntington family ... ethics and the OC Register ... Texas Loves Lyla! at the Hollywood Fringe Festival ... Bottle Tree Ranch ... Tyris continues his evolution from South LA to college student ... James Gandolfini, c 1990 ... 16-year old starts her own vegan bakery

Chopper pilot Bob Tur to become Zoey Tur ... Clay Russell says, "Ask me about my suicide attempt." ... Gee, Dad, it's a Wurlitzer ... Basketball's biggest fan ... Dylan Brody and the lure of Armageddon ...