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.

New and old takes on Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol"

Judge James Reese fights for literacy ... all-star Night Before Christmas, an Off-Ramp holiday tradition ... A Christmas Story: Dylan Brody and Dylan Thomas ... EatLA eats a lot of sandwiches ...

Milton Love's new fish book ... the violinist and artist recall the making of Harbor Freeway Overture mural ... Stan Kenton's Centennial ... As San Fernando Turns ... Word Banishment ... Arboretum weathers the storm ...

Off-Ramp commentator Milton Love, UCSB marine biologist, on his new book "Certainly More Than You Want to Know About the Fishes of the Pacific Coast."

Leonard Maltin on the 2012 Movie Guide ... Pasadena's Fork in the Road sticks it to Grinches ... Bronze Mirrors at The Huntington ... John Lennon predicts his shooting in 1964 ... Feeling Groovy under LA's 7th Street bridge ... Landry and Summers Occupy the studio ... Occupy LA Ousted ...

A night at The Comedy Store, with host Brandon Christy and comics Ian Edwards, Sarah Tiana, Michael Kosta, Fahim Anwar, and Freddy Lockhart.

EatLA ... moving the Dodgers ... "Judas" remembers Crystal Cathedral Passion Play glory days ... Dale Hopper asks, "Where's my flying car and my robot pal?" ... Ilsa Setziol remembers Katherine Siva Saubel, Cahuilla Indian elder ... AEG sued over allegedly destroyed art ...

Occupy LA with Sam Slovick ... Pigeon Fanciers ... "David Dean Bottrell Makes Love" and "Boston Legal" ... ride a dung beetle at LA Zoo's new carousel ... Jazz at the A Frame: great jazz in a livingroom ... Artist Ed Moses picks 3 favorite spots for Pacific Standard Time ...