text: Sony KDL-46V2500 46" BRAVIA® 1080p LCD HDTV Zoom Front Back Facing left Mounted on a wall Remote Side Side A/V jacks Photos Videos Item #: 15846V2500 Review Summary 8 people say DISCONTINUED This item is no longer available to purchase. Contact us for other options Call Email Original price $2,499.99 Shop all All TVs Shop all All TVs x By buying this product you'll earn up to 2000 Rewards points. When you sign up for a Crutchfield account, you'll be enrolled in Crutchfield Rewards. You'll earn one point for every dollar you spend on gear from us. You can turn your points into Rewards Cards that you can use toward future purchases. You can sign up for an account now, or after you complete your purchase (you'll get credit for the points either way). Sign up for a Crutchfield account Overview Details Customer Reviews Articles & Videos Accessories Our take on the Sony KDL-46V2500 by Steve Kindig Sony's lowest-priced 1080p BRAVIA TVs deliver performance that's only a slight step down from the top-of-the-line XBRs. The biggest difference between the two lines is the styling: "V-Series" models like the KDL-46V2500 replace the XBRs' wider "floating glass" cabinet with a space-saving bottom speaker design that lets you maximize screen size for your location. More pixels + more colors = more realism The KDL-46V2500's "Full HD 1080" screen resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels provides about twice as many pixels as you get with typical 40" LCDs. That higher resolution gives images lifelike clarity, detail, and dimensionality. If you're comparing 1080p models, look carefully; while all 1080p TVs display 1080p signals, only advanced models like the KDL-46V2500 can accept 1080p signals directly. For an exceptional 1080p video source, check out Sony's Blu-ray Disc player. The advanced fluorescent backlight improves image quality two ways. First, it's a "wide gamut" design that produces a wider range of hues colors look both deeper and more accurate. Also, the light level is adjustable, so you can choose a brighter picture for daytime viewing, or lower the brightness to enhance the contrast when viewing with the lights dimmed. BRAVIA Engine cleans up low-quality signals You'll want to feed the KDL-46V2500 as much high-quality material as possible, like DVD movies and HDTV programs. But realistically, you'll probably still be watching some regular (analog) programs for a while yet. That's when you'll really appreciate Sony's powerful BRAVIA Engine circuitry. It applies frame-by-frame digital processing to enhance contrast, reduce noise, and ensure natural-looking color. The future-ready set of audio/video connections is heavy on HD-compatible connections, including two component video and two digital HDMI inputs for your most advanced video gear. The natural ruggedness of LCD panels helps the KDL-46V2500 excel as a total entertainment display. Connect your PC and/or video game console and work or play for hours if you like LCDs are immune to screen burn-in. Learn about the ins and outs of HDMI connections at CrutchfieldAdvisor.com. Shop our selection of HDMI cables. See more info on this item Highlights:46" widescreen HDTV (16:9 aspect ratio)built-in digital (ATSC) and analog (NTSC) tuners for over-the-air TV broadcasts (antenna required)built-in QAM cable TV tuner receives unscrambled programs without a set-top box (cable service required)S-PVA (Super Patterned Vertical Alignment) LCD panel for improved off-axis viewing1920 x 1080 pixels8-millisecond pixel response time1300:1 contrast ratio (7000:1 dynamic)178°(H) x 178°(V) viewing angleWide Color Gamut fluorescent backlight for extended color rangeBRAVIA Engine digital video processingbuilt-in stereo speakers (10 watts x 2)multibrand remote controlpicture settings memory for each video input7 A/V inputs, including:3 composite video (2 rear, 1 side)2 S-video (1 rear, 1 side)2 component video (accepts 1080i/720p/480p/480i signals)2 HDMI digital audio/video inputs (accepts signals up to 1080p)PC input: analog RGB (D-Sub 15-pin)RF input for antenna/cable signalsoptical digital audio output for Dolby® DigitalEnergy Star® compliantdetachable swivel stand (stand "footprint" is 21-5/8"W x 13-1/8"D)wall-mountable (bracket not included)44-1/4"W x 29-1/4"H x 4-5/8"D (31-5/8"H x 13-1/8"D on stand)weight: 66.2 lbs. (without stand)warranty: 1 year parts & labor in-home serviceOur 60-day money-back guarantee Tip: For a list of over-the-air digital TV stations you can receive, as well as antenna recommendations for your location, enter your zip code in AntennaWeb's mapping tool. FREE scheduled delivery to your door: This item will be delivered to the door of your house or apartment. Available to physical addresses in 50 United States only. Limited delivery available to Alaska and Hawaii for $99 per item call 1-888-955-6000 for more details. Sorry, we can't ship to P.O. Boxes or freight forwarders. Delivery takes 5-7 business days once your order has been processed. Extra charges may apply to items that must be carried up more than 5 flights of stairs. Allow extra time for delivery to remote addresses. Free return shipping not available with this model. Hands-on research from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?) Features and specs chart | What's in the box? | In-depth notes Features and Specs Display Screen Size Loading... 46" Screen Design Loading... Flat Aspect Ratio Loading... 16:9 Screen Resolution (pixels) Loading... 1920 x 1080 Screen Refresh Rate Loading... --- Backlighting Type Loading... --- 3D Loading... --- Features Instant Internet Movie Streaming Loading... --- Wi-Fi Loading... MHL-compatible Loading... --- Picture In Picture Loading... No Parts Warranty Loading... 1 Year Labor Warranty Loading... 1 Year Type of Warranty Service Loading... In-home Connections Total Video Inputs Loading... 7 HDMI Inputs Loading... 2 Component Video Inputs Loading... 2 Composite Video Inputs Loading... 3 RF Inputs Loading... 1 PC Input Loading... Yes Ethernet Port Loading... Yes USB Port Loading... Yes Optical Digital Audio Output Loading... 1 Rear Coaxial Digital Audio Output Loading... None Analog Audio Output Loading... 1 Rear Power Consumption Estimated Yearly Electricity Use (EnergyGuide) Loading... Not Given Estimated Yearly Energy Cost (EnergyGuide) Loading... Not Given Dimensions & Mounting Information Width (inches) Loading... 44-1/8 Height with Stand (inches) Loading... 31-5/8 Height without Stand (inches) Loading... 29-1/4 Depth with Stand (inches) Loading... 13-1/8 Depth without Stand (inches) Loading... 4-5/8 Stand Width (inches) Loading... 21-5/8 Weight with Stand Loading... 66.2 lbs Weight without Stand Loading... Not available Wall Mountable Loading... Yes Wall Bracket Included Loading... No Pedestal Stand Loading... Y Product Research What's in the box? Download owner's manual 46" Widescreen LCD TV Wireless remote control (RM-YD012) 2 "AA" batteries 8.25' AC power cord with in-line ferrite core 5.25' HD15-to-HD15 cable with two in-line ferrite cores (has a D-sub 15-pin connector on each end) 9.75' 75-ohm coaxial cable (has a threaded "F"-type connector on each end) Support Belt Securing screw Wood screw Cable holder Operating Instructions (English) Operating Instructions (French) Quick Setup Guide (English) Quick Setup Guide (French) "Installing the Wall-Mount Bracket (English/French) Warranty sheet Consumer 1 Year Warranty sheet (for Canada) "Required Public Statement for GPL/LGPL Licensed Software Used in this Television" sheet (English) "Required Public Statement for GPL/LGPL Licensed Software Used in this Television" sheet (French) Online product registration sheet Our Product Research Team At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box, verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices. Features Mounting Options Inputs and Outputs Notes Features BRAVIA Engine Full Digital Video Processor: This television uses Sony's BRAVIA Engine full digital video processor for crisp and clear images. Several special picture enhancement technologies are integrated into the processor to create better gradations and details, enhance contrast, dynamically improve color, and reduce image flicker. NTSC/ATSC/QAM Tuners: The TV is equipped with an analog NTSC tuner, a digital ATSC/8VSB tuner, and a digital QAM tuner for receiving unscrambled digital cable channels. It is not CableCARD compatible. You do not need to connect an external HDTV set-top box in order to receive High-Definition programming. Native Resolution: The KDL-46V2500 has a full HD native resolution of 1920 x 1080 with over 2 million pixels (more than twice the pixels of 720p HDTV). The TV's two HDMI inputs can accept 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p signals, and the two component video inputs can accept 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i signals. Picture Mode: You can select one of the following picture modes: Vivid: enhances picture contrast and sharpness Standard: displays a standard picture for typical viewing environments Custom: allows you to store your preferred settings for Backlight, Picture, Brightness, Color, Hue, Color Temperature, Sharpness, and Noise Reduction. Advanced Video Settings: In addition to the Picture mode, the Advanced Video Settings menu also features the following: Black Corrector: enhances black areas of the picture for stronger contrast Advanced Contrast Enhancer: automatically optimizes the backlight and contrast Gamma: adjusts the balance between bright and dark areas of the picture Clear White: emphasizes white and light colors Live Color: makes colors more vivid and reproduces clear skin tones Color Space: select the range of color reproduction from Wide to Normal MPEG Noise Reduction: reduces the mosaic effect picture noise in MPEG-compressed video Screen Modes: You can choose from the following Screen Modes: With 4:3 Sources: Wide Zoom: Enlarges the center portion of the 4:3 picture proportionately, while the left and right edges of the screen are stretched to fill the screen Normal: Displays the 4:3 picture in its original size with black bars at the left and right sides to fill the screen Full: Stretches the entire 4:3 picture horizontally only to fill the screen Zoom: Enlarges the entire 4:3 picture proportionately to fill the screen (useful for watching Letterbox movies) With 16:9 Sources: Wide Zoom: Enlarges the picture to fill the screen with minimal distortion Full: Displays the picture at its original size Zoom: Enlarges the picture proportionately, both vertically and horizontally CineMotion 3/2 Pulldown Processing: This function optimizes the display by automatically detecting film content and applying a reverse 3-2 pulldown process. Moving pictures will appear clearer and more natural-looking. Steady Sound: Steady Sound equalizes volume levels so there is consistent output between programs and commercials. Surrround Effects: To enhance the sound, you can choose one of the following effects: TruSurround XT: Adds a three-dimensional sound to stereo programs Simulated Stereo: Adds a surround-like effect to mono-channel programs BBE: To give the sound more impact, you can add BBE, which compensates for phase effects in speakers. You can select High, Low, or Off. Light Sensor: In the menu, you can activate the automatic picture brightness control. A light sensor measures the amount of ambient light in the room and adjusts the picture brightness level accordingly. Favorite Channel: This feature allows you to store and quickly access 16 of your favorite analog channels and 16 of your favorite digital channels. Freeze Function: This function allows you to temporarily capture a program's picture by "freezing" the image. When the picture is frozen, the audio continues normally. Input Label: Each of the six video inputs can be labeled with names (VCR, DVD, Satellite, etc.) instead of video 1, video 2, video 3, etc. Timers: There is one event timer and a sleep timer built in. The event timer is set for the day, time, channel, duration and volume. The sleep timer switches the television off after a specified amount of time. The sleep timer can be set to 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, or 120 minutes. Parental Control: You can select a viewing limitation based on the TV and movie ratings. Three presets are available (Child, Youth, and Y. Adult) or the limitation can be customized to specific industry ratings. The control is accessed and protected by a 4-digit password. Mounting Options Removable Stand: The display comes mounted on a removable tabletop stand. There is also a support belt supplied that bolts to the base of the stand and is attached to the back of the shelf on which the TV sits. The stand allows the TV to be swiveled 15° to the left and right. The stand can be removed for wall mounting the TV. Optional Wall Mount Brackets: The stand can be removed, allowing you to wall-mount the TV using an optional wall-mount bracket. The TV has 6 threaded screw holes with a horizontal spacing of 16-1/8". The vertical spacing is 9" from top to middle screws, 12-1/16" from top to bottom screws, and 3" from middle to bottom screws. The screw holes all accept M5 (5mm) screws. Inputs and Outputs Notes HDMI: The KDL-46V2500 features two HDMI inputs. One input also has left and right RCA audio jacks. The HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) terminals provide an uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface. With an HDMI-to-DVI cable, you can connect the TV to a DVI-equipped A/V component. When connecting to a DVI-equipped component, the RCA audio inputs are used. Note: The HDMI input will accept 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, and 480i signals. It will not support a PC. Component Video Inputs: The component video inputs will accept 1080i, 720p, 480p, and 480i signals. PC Input (RGB): A 15-pin HD15 jack allows you to connect your personal computer to the display. There is also a corresponding stereo mini-jack (3.5mm) for the computer's audio signal. Side Panel Inputs: For convenience, there is an A/V input on the left side panel of the TV. Included are stereo RCA inputs, a composite video input, and an S-video input. Headphone Jack: Along with the A/V input on the left side of the TV, there is a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack. When headphones are plugged into the TV, the speakers are muted. Audio Outputs: These stereo RCA audio jacks allow you to listen to the TV's audio through your stereo system. In the menu you can set the output to Fixed (volume controlled by the receiver/amplifier) or Variable (volume controlled by the TV's remote control) operation. Note: You must turn the TV speakers off in the menu in order for the audio outs to function. Review this product Submit a review and then enter to win a $500 rewards card Sony KDL-46V2500 Reviews Average Customer Review: 8 people say: Review this product: Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences about this product. Please be sure to focus your comments on the product itself. Read our Review Guidelines for more information. Review title * Email Your email won't be visible. Please use the email address that is associated with your order. Display name (e.g., JohnD) Your review will be signed using the display name and location * Your location (e.g., Charlottesville, VA) * Your rating Click on a star to rate the overall product on a scale of 1-5 1500 characters left * Your review Attach a YouTube Review Crutchfield Video Review Guidelines Only submit videos that you made or are authorized to use. Do not submit videos that contain music, video or visuals that are copyrighted and belong to someone else. Please see our Review Guidelines for more information. Submit the URL of your YouTube™ video review or product demonstration. e.g., "http://www.youtube.com/v/o79TWHh598U" 500 characters left Pros 500 characters left Cons * Agree to Terms By checking this box you agree your review becomes the property of Crutchfield, that you are over 18 years of age, that you own or have owned this product, and that you are located within the United States or its territories. Please see our Review Guidelines for more information. We reserve the right (but are not obligated to) review all submissions and edit or remove any review in any manner which we deem necessary. Your review should be posted within seven days. Filter by rating: 5 Star: (0) 4 Star: (0) 3 Star: (0) 2 Star: (0) 1 Star: (0) 5 out of 5 Great TV! Written By jason, Atoka, TN on Tuesday, August 28, 2007 Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?) After spending several weeks researching HD LCD TV's, I decided on this one from Sony. I have NO complaints whatsoever!!! The TV has lived up to everything Sony has claimed and easily lives up to the reviews posted. Very easy to operate, install, and of course ENJOY! Thanks to the Crutchfield Advisor for assisting me with my purchase. This is the reason I come back to Crutchfield for all my major electronic needs. Just another satisfied customer!! p.s. The Xbox 360 looks AWESOME on this TV!!! 8 out of 8 people found this helpful Was this review helpful? Yes | No 5 out of 5 Exactly what I was expecting... Written By Stephane, Houston, TX on Monday, August 27, 2007 Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?) Excellent buy. Very satisfied with this unit. Good price, excellent quality. Exactly what I was expecting! HDTV programs are stunning. 4 out of 4 people found this helpful Was this review helpful? Yes | No 5 out of 5 Great LCD Written By Bill, Fargo, ND on Thursday, August 23, 2007 Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?) I wasn't planning on purchasing this particular model, but the Crutchfield rep I worked with highly recommended it. I'm glad I opted for his suggestion. I'm very happy with it. Thanks Crutchfield !! 3 out of 3 people found this helpful Was this review helpful? Yes | No 5 out of 5 "The LCD HDTV" Written By Edwin, Hilo, HI on Sunday, July 22, 2007 This is one of the best HDTVs out there. My fiance Rose and I are soooo glad we got this t.v. We had a 50" SXRD and it failed on us. This t.v. by far is so awesome. Very crisp, smooth, and light. So good, so sexy bottom line!!! 6 out of 10 people found this helpful Was this review helpful? Yes | No 5 out of 5 GREAT Hi Definition TV Written By LJ, Charlottesvillle, VA on Monday, February 12, 2007 This is a GREAT high definition TV. The picture is tremendous, colors and picture definition as good as any plasma I've seen. Good value, as the basic engine and components are the same as the XBR minus a very few bells and whistles for less money. I like the case around the screen, the XBR is too wide, and this matte finish is nice because it does not reflect light (lots of windows in the room). DVD's on an upconverting DVD player are incredibly clear. Looks great wall-mounted, I would recommend having Crutchfield install as they did a great job. We are VERY happy with this TV. 28 out of 28 people found this helpful Was this review helpful? Yes | No 5 out of 5 Sony KDL-46V2500 Written By Brian, Keller, Tx on Sunday, February 04, 2007 Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?) Superb quality, great value, competitive price. Extremely pleased. 6 out of 11 people found this helpful Was this review helpful? Yes | No 5 out of 5 Excellent Written By Sean, Potomac, MD on Thursday, January 25, 2007 Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?) excellent TV, great picture. The Sony Bravia V series is the brightest picture on any LCD I've seen on the market today. The color and contrast is with par and possibly better than many plasma displays. it is exactly the same as the XBR series except for the glass cabnit and and extra HDMI input but, 2 inputs is sufficient since most audio recievers have HDMI switching included 19 out of 20 people found this helpful Was this review helpful? Yes | No 5 out of 5 Best 46" Television on the Market Written By Matt, Charlotte, NC on Saturday, December 30, 2006 I spent the majority of the past three days trying to pick the right television. In the end, it took me three purchases, but the Sony 46" Bravia (non-XBR) was the best option. Here are just a few key points:1) if you are deciding between 40" and 46", go with 46". It looks dramatically better.2) This TV has (in my opinion) a much cleaner look than the XBR version (which has the silver and clear glass). 3) With the speakers mounted below the screen, Sony smartly saves horizontal space. In my case, I couldn't purchase the 46" XBR because it was too wide (due to the floating glass and speakers to the left and right).The screen on this is beautiful. LCD is the right choice, especially if you will connect a computer (like I have done with a Mac Mini). 105 out of 113 people found this helpful Was this review helpful? Yes | No Add accessories for the Sony KDL-46V2500 Add Accessories Add a Warranty Connect your HDTV to your home theater receiver or compatible sound bar with an optical digital cable, and get high-quality sound. See all categories & accessories Connect your HDTV to your home theater receiver or compatible sound bar with an optical digital cable, and get high-quality sound. Optical Digital Cables Wall-mounting your flat-panel TV? We carry a wide range of sturdy mounts. TV Wall Mounts Protect your investment from power surges and interference. Power Protection Replace all of your remotes with just one that is easy to use and easy to set up. Home Remote Controls Optimize the picture quality of your new TV or tune up your home audio system for maximum performance. CD & DVD Care Get free HDTV in most areas with an antenna. TV Antennas Safely clean your TV. (It works well with computers too.) Screen Cleaning Keep the area around your wall-mounted TV looking clean with solutions that help conceal the A/V cables and power cord. Cable Management Use coaxial RF cables to connect your TV to an antenna or wall cable TV outlet. Coaxial RF (F-type) Cables Connect your non-HD video sources to your TV with composite video cables. Composite (RCA) Video Cables Have your new TV installed by qualified professionals. Professional Installation Use high-quality, shielded cables for clean, noise-free audio connections. RCA Audio Patch Cables Monster Cable 400dfo Optical digital audio cable (2 meters/6.6 ft.) 21 people say Your Price: $49.95 Add to Cart AudioQuest Cinnamon OptiLink Optical digital audio cable (1.5 meters/5 feet) Options 1.5 meters/5 feet-$78.99 3 meters/10 feet-$108.99 5 meters/16.4 feet-$158.99 Optical digital audio cable (1.5 meters/5 feet) Optical digital audio cable (3 meters/10 feet) Optical digital audio cable (5 meters/16.4 feet) 3 people say Your Price: $78.99 Add to Cart AudioQuest Forest OptiLink Optical digital audio cable (3 meters/10 feet) Options 1.5 meters/5 feet-$34.99 3 meters/10 feet-$48.99 5 meters/16.4 feet-$74.99 Optical digital audio cable (1.5 meters/5 feet) Optical digital audio cable (3 meters/10 feet) Optical digital audio cable (5 meters/16.4 feet) 19 people say Your Price: $48.99 Add to Cart AudioQuest Vodka OptiLink Optical digital audio cable (1.5 meters/5 feet) 1 person says Your Price: $228.99 Add to Cart CableTruth 303T Optical digital audio cable 3 people say Your Price: $19.99 Add to Cart Sanus LT25 Tilting wall mount for 37"-90" flat-panel TVs 28 people say Your Price: $199.99 Add to Cart Sanus XF228 Full-motion wall mount with dual articulating arms for large flat-panel TVs 2 people say Your Price: $599.99 Add to Cart Monster PowerCenter AV 750 Surge protector 7 people say Your Price: $49.99 Add to Cart Panamax M5400-PM Power line regulator and surge protector 6 people say Your Price: $739.99 Add to Cart Panamax M5300-PM Power line conditioner and surge protector 14 people say Your Price: $539.99 Add to Cart Panamax MR4300 Power line conditioner and surge protector 1 person says Your Price: $299.99 Add to Cart Panamax MR5100 Power line conditioner and surge protector 1 person says Your Price: $439.99 Add to Cart Panamax MR4000 Power line conditioner and surge protector 1 person says Your Price: $199.99 Add to Cart Monster PowerCenter™ AV 625 Surge suppressor 1 person says Your Price: $29.99 Add to Cart Monster Core Power® 1200 AVU Surge protector with built-in USB charging Your Price: $59.99 Add to Cart Monster Core Power® 600 AVU Surge protector with built-in USB charging Your Price: $39.99 Add to Cart Monster Core Power® 800 AVU Surge protector with built-in USB charging Your Price: $49.99 Add to Cart Universal® MasterControl RF-20 Multibrand remote with learning capability 17 people say Your Price: $79.99 Add to Cart Monster HDTV Calibration Wizard Easy-to-use TV setup DVD 28 people say Your Price: $19.95 Add to Cart Channel Master CM-3000HD SMARTenna Omnidirectional indoor/outdoor HDTV antenna 18 people say Your Price: $59.99 Add to Cart Monster ScreenClean TV cleaner kit 6 people say Your Price: $14.95 Add to Cart Sanus ELM101 Screen care kit for TVs and monitors 4 people say Your Price: $9.99 Add to Cart Wiremold Flat Screen TV Cord Cover (CMK30) Conceal your wall-mounted TV's audio/video cables 15 people say Your Price: $21.49 Add to Cart Monster Video® 2 Coaxial Cable Single RF cable with F-type connectors (2 meters, 6.6 ft.) 4 people say Your Price: $29.95 Add to Cart Monster Video® 2 Composite video cable (2 meters, 6.6 ft.) 1 person says Your Price: $29.95 Add to Cart Premium Flat-Panel TV (30" or greater) + 6-Speaker A/V Installation 1 person says Your Price: $599.99 Add to Cart Deluxe Flat-Panel TV + A/V Hookup Installation 1 person says Your Price: $349.99 Add to Cart Premium Flat-Panel TV Installation (Wall Mount) Your Price: $449.99 Add to Cart Basic Flat-Panel TV Installation (Pedestal) Your Price: $279.99 Add to Cart Premium Flat-Panel TV + 5-Speaker A/V Installation 2 people say Your Price: $799.99 Add to Cart Deluxe Flat-Panel TV Installation (Wall Mount) 4 people say Your Price: $319.99 Add to Cart Monster Cable Stereo Audio 200i Stereo interconnect cables with RCA plugs (2 meters/6.6 ft.) 13 people say Your Price: $29.95 Add to Cart Why choose SquareTrade? The #1-Rated Protection Plan Thousands of people have reviewed SquareTrade Protection Plans — and made us #1. 5-Day Service Guarantee & Free Shipping We'll repair or replace your item in five business days or less after we've received it, or your plan is free. And, as always, we pay for all shipping. Protection from Normal, Everyday Use Repairing your average mechanical or electrical failure can cost as much as buying a new device. With SquareTrade, you're covered — including parts and labor. 3 Year Protection Plan Your Price: $159.99 Add to Cart 4 Year Protection Plan Your Price: $199.99 Add to Cart For a more in-depth review and enhanced detailed information on the Sony KDL-46V2500, please visit the Crutchfield website product page (/ISEO-rccbcspd/p_15846V2500/Sony-KDL-46V2500.html ). x Sorry, the Sony KDL-46V2500 is no longer available for purchase. Looking for a similar item? Shop All TVs Or, you can still... Write a review Purchase product accessories Download product manual Go × Front Back Facing left Mounted on a wall Remote Side Side A/V jacks


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Cause or effect? While driving home from Supercar Sunday at VCR, we spotted this burned out Hummer H2 limo on the side of the road near the heart of the wildfires in Southern California.
Was this behemoth the cause of, or alternatively, a victim of the fires? Perhaps neither. It may have just been a coincidence that the lengthy SUV lay smoldering on the shoulder near thousands of acres of brush near Mulholland Drive. Perhaps. But one thing's for sure – the party's over for this limo. Here's hoping that anyone that happened to be inside made it out safely.

subset: commoncrawl


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Is Johnny Depp dating Amber Heard?
Happier times, Johnny Depp with Vanessa Paradis
However, in June this year, the actor's rep announced: 'Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis have amicably separated. Please respect their privacy and, more importantly, the privacy of their children'.
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Select your preferred location and we'll note which parts are ready to be picked up TODAY.
Pushrod, Replacement, 5/16 in. Diameter, 7.325 in. Length, Chevy, LS, Each
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Chevrolet Performance offers a complete line of heavy-duty pushrods for most GM engines. They are designed to deliver outstanding performance in high performance street and competition applications. Made of high-quality materials, these pushrods are available in a variety of styles to suit your needs.
Some parts are not legal for sale or use in California on any pollution-controlled motor vehiclesBack To Results


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"dap·per/ dean"
dapər/ den
noun: ideal perception of oneself in dress, appearance, or bearing.
dapperdean is a collector of age and character. dapperdean is a rotating closet of classic and proper vintage accessories.
follow. like. dress.
dapperdean shop
When is it finally going to be spring? The fashion blogs say it is time for spring clothes, but it's still freezing...


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John Silvester Google+
John Silvester is a Walkley-award winning crime writer and columnist. A co-author of the best-selling books that formed the basis of the hit Australian TV series Underbelly, Silvester is also a regular guest on 3AW with his "Sly of the Underworld" segment.
Naked City
Police hit the road to turn wild ones into mild ones
John Silvester Most crime squad offices are a little bit battered and frayed at the edges - much like the detectives who inhabit them.


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Laurel Canyon After the Riot (Film Set)
As we drove along Laurel Canyon on a sleepy late summer afternoon, our surroundings suddenly started looking more than a little dangerous. Apparently, both sides of the street between Oxnard and Victory had been prepped for a large post-riot film shoot. We hope you enjoy the calm before the storm. Any idea what's being filmed? Please comment below. [Update: twitter user @withers1r identifies the film as Straight Outta Compton--the film that made the news in August when a drive by shooting happened in front of cast and crew. So much for plans to keep filming in Compton.]
If video is not visible below, click here.
For the most unusual tours of Southern California, from true crime to architecture, literary L.A. to hot rods, adobe days to moon flights, join us on the Esotouric bus.
Bahooka 2014: Where's Rufus?
When the Bahooka tiki restaurant in Rosemead closed in March 2013, there was one burning question on longtime patrons' minds: what would happen to Rufus, the enormous, elderly, carrot-eating Pacu fish who welcomed guests from his tank beside the cash register?
Rufus' fate has been subject of a Column One Los Angeles Times article, an online "let's move Rufus" campaign and much chatter in the Tiki community. Earlier this year, the property's current owner, Alan Zhu, declared his intention to keep Rufus in the new Chinese restaurant and to move him to a larger tank.
But a visit on May 5, 2014 revealed an empty, gutted Bahooka with no sign of Rufus or any fish tanks.
If video is not visible below, click here.
Contentious recent discussions on the Tiki Central message board include the claim, supposedly made by a former Bahooka kitchen staff member, that Rufus has been released into a koi pond in Long Beach.
We do not know if this is true. We sincerely hope it is not, as such a transition would certainly prove fatal to Rufus, a warm-water fish.
Our question to Alan Zhu, owner of the Bahooka property and Rufus: Where's Rufus? Unless you provide Proof of Life -- a photograph of Rufus with today's newspaper -- we can only assume the worst.
Stay informed about the search for Rufus on the Tiki Central message board.
Please use these hashtags in social media to help raise awareness that Rufus is MIA: #saverufus #wheresrufus #rufusProofOfLife
Happy 31st, dear Union Station... oops, make that 75th!
On the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of the opening of L.A.'s grand Union Station, we bring you a psychedelic flashback from the building's 31st year, when the editors of The Los Angeles Times' "Home" section sent a trio of Boho-fabulous models (and a puppy) to the Station for a holiday pictorial entitled
And by all accounts, these pretty youngsters do. Languid in double-knit, tweed and suede, they lounge against the cool, sound-baffling wall panels (made, they say, of corn) and in the broad brown armchairs, and caper trackside on a luggage cart.
Dresses by Alvin Duskin from Bullock's Wilshire. Menswear from Joseph Magnin. Photos: Jean Pagliuso. Copy by Alan Cartnal, whose California Crazy didn't "play" in New York, but what does New York know of the West? Listen:
"Give an elegant lady a train station and she knows what to do with it. Anna Karenina knew. Carole Lombard knew. Eva Marie Saint knew. And in more recent times, Barbra Streisand knew. Train stations have class. And thanks to the return to popularity of all aspects of the American panorama, the young have rediscovered the style of Union Station. It's not just a "Brief Encounter"--but the current craze for old movies with ultra-romantic themes leads us back to where the romance started--in a train station. We may be living in a city on four wheels, and in an era when a trip to the airport can end up an international incident, but at the Union Station you encounter a world away from protest. Architectural students aside, the eclectic mixture of styles in the station, the laziness of the Mission architecture, the luxury of the lavishly upholstered chairs, the musical comedy "big number" proportions of the monumental hallways, the graphics of a streamlined "pardon me boys" type of world, recall a time that has been replaced by Autopia. And the people of Union Station. The red caps. The ticket agents. The women who still remember it all and who sit elegantly, their elbows propped "just so" on the warm wood of the arms of their chairs, heads tilted back, cigarettes lighted, the smoke drifting to the art deco ceilings. It all seems like something out of the stylized illustrations in Harper's Bazaar and Vogue of the '30s--it is. And with every designer heralding a return to that style, Union Station seems more fashionably romantic and ready for a renaissance than ever. You'll love it because it seems to have been done out of love. Out of times when presidential candidates toured the country and paused at every "whistle stop." When peroxided blonde movie stars crossed the country, inviting reporters to a special news conference about the 20th Century Limited. Of the boys returning from World War II meeting families and sweethearts at the Union Station. Strangely enough, in a city which is supposed not to have history, Union Station has history. And it makes it as warm as its almost-Rembrandt lighting, with the sun sifting through its rococo windows playing games that just don't happen with utilitarian design. It's a pre-buttoned-down Los Angeles. And to those who want a taste of history--the young--a meeting place with times gone by. A mood that is just right for fashion tastes that remember what Richard Avedon did for Audrey Hepburn with just a little steam from an El Capitan. People on the screen who have had anything to do with trains have enjoyed themselves. They didn't need a message, because they had a medium. The Union Station is the ultimate ambience for a fashion age of "anything goes"--the heralding of a neo-romantic feeling for a return to the style of the '30s."
What's so marvelous about this pictorial is that it could have been shot last week. Timeless then, as now, as on the day it was dedicated, it is the last of the great American train stations, and the best part of Los Angeles. Happy anniversary, baby. Please don't ever change.
Scroll down for bonus holiday gift ads from this Christmas 1970 edition.
An Esotouric Road Trip: Santa Maria to Guadalupe
Over the Labor Day weekend, the Esotouric gang set off to explore some gems off California's beaten paths, bound for neon signage, petrographs (so much more delicate than their cousins, the -glyphs), peculiar Victorian mansions, thrift shops, mid-century time capsules and a lesser-known residence from the office of the great Mayan Revival architect Robert Stacy-Judd.
This is the second of several blog posts in which we'll share our discoveries. Check out our road trip photo sets here and here.
Departing the vast Carizzo Plain and the ruined, yet still lovely, Painted Rock, we cut towards the vast agricultural lands of the Central Coast, and the agricultural city of Santa Maria.
Since its founding in 1917, the Inn has served as home base for many Hollywood film crews, stretching back to the silent era, when the nearby Guadalupe dunes stood in for Egypt, Arabia and other exotic lands.
While the Inn has been expanded in recent years, with a modern facade and tower, a long beamed parlor remains just off the main desk, decorated with historic photographs, Anglophile murals and notable pages from the Inn's guest register.
Why yes, that is William Randolph Hearst's John Hancock. Even a fella with a castle spends the occasional night on the road.
We liked our cozy second story room above the quiet courtyard in the historic section and the sincere graciousness of the staff. If you should find yourself in the middle of the state, we certainly recommend the Santa Maria Inn as a pleasant place to linger.
We got an early start the next morning, bound for the handsome Spanish Colonial Revival City Hall complex.
The offices were shut, but there was much to admire in the exterior ornamentation.
Then we rambled around in one of our favorite thrift shops.
And admired the magnificent old Haslam block, which at the time of our visit was seeking new tenants.
For lunch, we stopped in Guadalupe, a charming little early 20th century downtown that's suffering mightily due to civic dysfunction and the state's earthquake retrofitting requirements.
We've blogged about Guadalupe before. A hike along the boardwalk through the dunes, a visit to the little museum and leisurely chats with local shopkeepers are among our favorite ways to spend a few hours off the grid.
On previous visits, we'd have gravitated towards the Far Western Tavern at meal time, but after 54 years, the family pulled up stakes and built a new restaurant in upscale (comparatively) Orcutt.
Happily, El Tapatio was open for business, grilling up perfect fluffy chiles rellenos with a side of fresh corn tortillas. When we raved to our waitress about the fare, she blushed and agreed her grandparents are geniuses.
We've photographed the dune walk on past visits, so left our gear stowed on this one. The sands don't change much from year to year, and if the zipping swallows above our heads were the grandchildren of birds we met previously, it didn't show.
This is how we remember it, anyway.
An Esotouric Road Trip: From Taft to Painted Rock
Over the Labor Day weekend, the Esotouric gang set off to explore some gems off California's beaten paths, bound for neon signage, petrographs (so much more delicate than their cousins, the -glyphs), peculiar Victorian mansions, thrift shops, mid-century time capsules and a lesser-known residence from the office of the great Mayan Revival architect Robert Stacy-Judd.
This is the first of several blog posts in which we'll share our discoveries. Check out our road trip photo sets here and here.
Due to the heat wave, we set the alarm and left Los Angeles before dawn. Our first destination was Painted Rock, a little-known Native American site in the midst of the dusty, alkaline Carizzo Plain, and we hoped to arrive before the area became completely inhospitable.
The morning light was beautiful as we pulled into the handsome downtown of the booming Kern County oil town of Taft. We had a quick breakfast of eggs, home fries, biscuits and honey at Jo's Family Restaurant, where the petroleum-themed decor was enhanced by the lively conversations from tough old oil men and women clustered around nearby tables. Jo's, by the way, is a bullying-free zone.
We'd been admiring the back side of the old Fox Theater through the diner window, so after breakfast we stretched our legs with a stroll along Center Street.
The Fox is a beauty, with fine neon scrollwork and a generous exterior lobby. There has been a theater on this site for about a century.
Naturally, we were concerned to see the marquee sporting a message urging that we HELP SAVE THE FOX.
There was nobody on the street to ask why the Fox needed saving, but fliers in nearby shop windows expanded on the message: if they keep taking their movie-going business to Bakersfield, Tafties risk losing their hometown screen.
The Fox has had some challenges in recent years, semi-dodging a foreclosure bullet in 2010.
Happily, just this week the theater completed a successful Kickstarter campaign to finance an upgrade to a digital projector, which will allow them to book new releases. One hopes this will cut down on the need to travel to Bakersfield on date night. Why not drop in for a show some night and help keep the Fox alive?
Next, we took advantage of a uniquely Taft photo op…
And admired the local color in a shop window…
Then we rolled out of town, making a couple of stops to admire the scenery before the land opened up all around us, with nothing as far as we could see.
The Carizzo Plain is a sprawling expanse of Nationally protected land, east of Taft, nestled between the Temblor and Caliente mountain ranges. To visit Painted Rock, you need to obtain a BLM pass code, which opens the mechanical gate on the far side of Soda Lake.
In case we didn't realize how wild things are inside the gate, a lone pronghorn antelope saw us coming, paused for a moment, then bounded across the road and into the sands beyond, all proud horns and powerful legs. His silhouette was familiar from many petroglyphs we've seen. The visitation was quick, so all we have to show for it is some blurry cell phone video, from which this screen grab comes.
We drove on, towards the massive rock formation rising up from the plain. The landmark called Painted Rock is a remnant from the floor of an ancient sea, and once teemed with fish and animal life.
The walk out to Painted Rock isn't a long one, but the sun was already beating down, and we were glad for our hats and water bottles.
The broad path was dotted with animal scat of various sizes.
We didn't see any burrowing owls, but found fluffy evidence of their presence.
Finally, we arrived at the u-shaped opening into the ritual space, then stepped into the sheltering shade. It seemed the perfect place to rest, light a fire or pray to ancient gods.
Unfortunately, Painted Rock is not a pristine example of the art work of pre-conquest Californians. Around the turn of the last century, Anglo visitors carved their names--some quite artfully-- into the soft stone…
…and at least one heartless pilgrim emptied his shotgun into the wall.
Still, some striking figures remain visible. The form below reminded us of the powerful spirit on the cave at Tomo-Khani, though without a guide, its significance remained elusive.
Deep in the shelter of the rock, a delicate spirit object hung from a bit of hand-wrapped twine. Made of feathers, shells and hand-carved wooden beads, it swung as a mute reminder that this place is still alive in the heart of native people, and used for rituals that retain their power in this strange new world.
But it was getting hotter, and the road beckoned. A pair of crows wheeled off the top of the rock and shrieked at us. It was time to go.
So we headed back down the path, with the broad Carizzo Plain before us, and a millennium of traveler's memories at our back.
Next stop: Santa Maria, and one of the oldest hostelries remaining in the Central Valley.
Photos by Chinta Cooper and Kim Cooper.
Sister Aimee's Castle
At the end of May, the Esotouric crew had a rare opportunity to tour a Southern California landmark which has long obsessed us: Sister Aimee Semple McPherson's 1929 Moorish-style castle, perched high above Lake Elsinore.
The property has been in private hands for decades, including several years when it was inhabited by squatters. It has only recently returned to the possession of a Foursquare Gospel congregation, which has begun the process of restoring the property and intends to open it up for occasional tours. (Sign up for the Esotouric newsletter if you'd like to stay informed about tours of the house.)
Sister Aimee's Castle is a truly fascinating place, and our visit did nothing to dispell our obsession. Although located in remote Riverside County, it is a house born of Hollywood. In the late 1920s, the famed radio evangelist was in desperate need of a private retreat away from her Echo Park church and neighboring parsonage, where she could relax with her family and avoid the prying eyes of reporters. When, as a marketing ploy, the Clevelin Realty Corporation offered her several plum plots at the tippy top of the newly formed Country Club Heights District, Aimee gratefully accepted.
The developers knew that Aimee would build something spectacular, but her collaboration with the little-known architect Edwin Bickman took spectacle to a new level.
Recently returned from a trip to the Holy Land, Aimee chose to build a sprawling residence inspired by the Moorish architecture that had thrilled her soul--but carefully calibrated to serve as a machine for living for her very unusual Southern California family. To tour the Castle today is to feel as though you were being guided through the property by Aimee herself.
Aimee's Castle is intended to be "read" from bottom to top. The narrative begins on the road into Lake Elsinore, where flashes of white walls, blue tiled domes and golden spires draw the eye, and the heart, towards the peak.
Once she reached the hill, the whole valley was spread out beneath her, allowing an easy scan of the bare hillsides for any reporter who might be lurking.
But should a stranger be seen, there was nothing to fear. The enclosed garage would simply swallow up Aimee and her big car. Once inside, she was safe within the cocoon of her own making, and the story of the house began to unfold.
Remember: bottom to top. From the garage, she mounted steep steps to enter an astonishing fantasia: a rough-hewn concrete ascending tunnel, inspired by the Via Dolorosa, the path of Christ's journey through ancient Jerusalem.
But instead of climbing to Golgotha to be crucified, Aimee rose up to the top of the mountain, where she was perfectly safe. The next private space is a tiled and vaulted exercise room, where the wee evangelist could strengthen her body for the spiritual trials which lay ahead of her.
Then upward again, into the house itself. Through cool hallways, into ornate doorways...
...until finally the heart of the house is revealed. A great room, open onto the sky and the lake below, its vault painted with intricate, gem-like Islamic figures, the walls fresco'd with illusionary folds of patterned cloth.
A later owner painted over these fantastic wall treatments, but we suspect they're still hidding under the whitewash, until the glorious day when careful hands and gentle solvents can bring them back into the light again.
At one end of the great room is a neat little atrium, with a deep central fountain, tiled all around. (The murals are new, restorations suggestive of what was there before.)
On opposite sides, shuttered windows lead into two bedrooms: Sister Aimee's room on the lake side, and her childrens' room on the hill side. This ingenious structure allowed mother and child to call to each other across the open air, while each retaining their privacy.
Central to the atrium is one extraordinary large tile panel of a friendly little griffin with irridescent wings.
Tile is everywhere in Aimee's Castle, much of it in the geometric Moorish style. The tile was so remarkable that we returned a few weeks later with our friend Brian Kaiser, Southern California's tile expert, to ask his opinion on what we had seen and how the current owners can best maintain and preserve what they have.
Brian knew from the moment he arrived that the trip was worth his time. For at the very front of the house, nestled above a boat-shaped pond, is an astonishingly rare Rufus Keeler dolphin waterspout for Calco, one of only four known to survive. This masterpiece of the terra cotta arts was cast in a single piece (the cracked fins were caused by the wall settling), hand-glazed, and repeatedly fired at low temperature over many days. There is no one alive who has the skill to replicate this delightful object--even if there were, the cost of production would be so great as to be beyond the means of any but the richest patrons. Brian is an expert on Keeler's work for Calco and Malibu, and lives in the potter's home in South Gate.
Back inside, here is Aimee's glorious green sink.
And her deep bathtub...
...with its delightful little sea creature spout.
The little fishy gazes across the tub and up to a witty crescent moon window.
At the other end of the great room, down a few steps, is the square jewel box dining room, with its soaring, mirrored ceiling and mock-fabric wall treatments.
Look up!
But the story of bottom to top doesn't end with the beautiful, but really rather modest living quarters. For Sister Aimee had a private space, at the very top of the Castle, where she could be alone with her faith. And upon reaching it, we realized that the entire Castle had been built to create this spiritual space at its highest point.
Up on the roof, between the domes and the minarets, is a little tower room, painted with flames. Inside, only a kneeling chair and the sky. Here, Sister Aimee prayed and planned for her holy work in Los Angeles late into the night. She never needed much sleep. And there was so much work to do.
Lake Elsinore didn't become the exclusive retreat the developers had hoped for. The stock market crashed, and the depression came, and then the lake itself dried up for a time.
After a few years, Sister Aimee sold her Castle and used the proceeds to feed the people of Los Angeles. A reclusive lady lived there for many years, and when she died, the squatters moved in. But somehow, they seemed to sense that the Castle needed to be cared for, and they were gentle with the house and with the furnishings and art within. Perhaps they sensed the genius of the house, who died in Oakland not long after she left this place behind. We certainly sensed her all around us as we moved through the palace of her dreams.
Let us leave her there, with late night thoughts of the great work to be done.
See all of Chinta Cooper's photos of Sister's Castle here, Kim Cooper's photos here, and Richard Schave's tile details here.
An Esotouric Road Trip: In Search of the Site of the Babalon Working
In late May, the Esotouric gang embarked on a California desert journey more demanding than many border crossings. It proved more rewarding, too.
Our destination was Little Petroglyph Canyon, a National Historic Landmark located deep inside the Naval Air Weapons Station at China Lake.
We were hoping not just to view the largest accumulation of Native American rock art on the planet but also to find some evidence to support a theory that has grown out of our Pasadena Confidential tour research into rocket scientist Jack Parsons and his metaphysical activities of the mid-1940s.
The core story is well known: in early 1946, Parsons was living communally on Pasadena's Millionaire's Row, and with L. Ron Hubbard as his frequent partner, engaging in magical experiments derived from the work of Aleister Crowley.
Somewhere out in the Mojave Desert, Parsons and Hubbard enacted the Bablon Working, a sex magic ritual which, Parsons was convinced, resulted in the manifestation of the woman who would become his widow, Marjorie Cameron.
Nobody knows where in the 25,000 square miles of the Mojave this ritual took place. But as we dug deeper into the history of aerospace in Southern California, we became aware of a site which seemed to throb with unusual possibility.
Although not himself an academic, Jack Parsons did much of his rocketry research at CalTech and with the CalTech-associated firms of JPL and Aerojet. As the race to develop bigger and faster rockets was run, the scientists abandoned the suburban arroyos of Pasadena and decamped for the secure and forgiving expanses of China Lake.
It seemed highly probable that Parsons, with his deep interest in psychic phenomenon, magic and spirituality, would be drawn to the remarkable rock carvings left behind by the Coso People. These images are located just a short flight from the headquarters of the Naval Station.
And this was enough to compel us to book one of the occasional guided tours provided by volunteer historians, to pack up our proof of US citizenship (passport or voter registration card will do) and stay the night in a quiet Ridgecrest hotel. Just past dawn, we gathered at the Maturango Museum for orientation, then presented ourselves at the Naval base gate for a search of our car and a humorless lecture on what would happen should we break a limb or a rule. Then our convoy was waved on towards the ancient world beyond.
As we were forbidden to take photographs on the ride out to the heritage site, we cannot show you the wide expanse of dry lake bed, the dense Suessian forest of thousands of Joshua Trees or the skinny wild horses who greeted us with flared nostrils as we climbed. Nor can we share the seemingly abandoned military equipment, or the distant bunkers which shimmered, ghostlike, in the sun.
But we can show you the petroglyphs. And signs of Jack Parsons or not, the Little Petroglyph Canyon is one of the most extraordinary places we have ever laid eyes on. This ancient river bed, dry and sandy now and dotted with massive smooth stones that tell of centuries' wild flow, is surrounded by high rock walls, deep brown and ochre and slashed with fissures in which small plants and lichens grow. The shadows move fast inside the canyon, changing the walls as they pass.
And on those walls, some bright as if they were carved this morning, others only visible through the yellow cast of our polarized sunglasses, are thousands of carvings left behind by the people of the place over untold generations.
There are fields of numberless dots, counting something significant but long forgotten. Broad swaths like patterned blankets. Capering sheep with long curving horns. Men shooting at the sheep with primitive rock throwing sticks, and then with bows and arrows. Wriggling snakes. Tight nesting coils. Fish traps. Rows of walking men, disappearing around a bend in the rock. Tall shamanic figures, their heads alive with light.
The walk isn't easy.
Soft sand over smooth basalt tires the ankles, and demands close attention even as the stories in the stone do the same.
We shimmy down a double height, narrow gully in the rock, taking care not to land in stagnant puddles in which bits of dead things float. Someone has propped a skull on a boulder.
A helicopter bobs above, taking a break in its murderous search for wild horses, annoying the ravens who nest on high.
And at the end: the void. The river used to terminate in a massive waterfall that poured life-giving fluids onto the fossil-rich lakebed below. We stopped a few feet back, awed by the view and conscious of all the forward rushing energy of aeons past, before turning back and returning to the trailhead as the sun crested the center of the canyon and the way back seemed suddenly long and rough indeed.
There aren't many spots in Southern California where you can have an experience this close to time travel. We won't soon forget the power and beauty of the place.
Okay, but what about Jack Parsons? Did we abandon our search for 20th Century remnants as we boggled at carvings believed to be as much as 10,000 years old?
We did not. For smack in the middle of the path, high on a huge boulder, we found unmistakeable evidence of Parsons' scientific peers.
The nuclear equation E=MC2 has been beaten into the rock--not with the smooth lines of the ancient petroglyphs, but in jagged pointillism, a sharp metal tool point driven into the surface again and again and again.
Later research confirmed that it's believed that someone aware of the Manhattan Project entered the canyon some time before the Nagasaki blast and left this message for future generations.
We found a few other recent markings on the stones. Not many--the isolation and secure nature of the site has protected it from desecration. But at one spot we found the dates 1934 above 1946.
We also found two initials, low on a rock in a side passage at the mouth of the canyon. They were almost the first thing we saw upon beginning our trek.
JP. The letters beaten into the stone with the same bold technique as the famed equation further along the wash.
Jack Parsons? We'll never know for certain. But of all the moderns who came to this place, only one took the time to inscribe their personal mark for future dwellers to see. That person shared the initials of the man whose shadow we sought.
We knelt in the sand and ran our fingers over the markings, then rose and continued on into the canyon where time telescopes.
See all of Chinta Cooper's (and a few of Richard Schave's) photos from our trip here.
And if you'd like to tour the Coso Petroglyphs, click here.
Villa Aurora: Kim and Richard Hear A Ghost
In early June, the Esotouric gang set off on a tour of Villa Aurora, the sprawling Spanish-Colonial Revival estate in Pacific Palisades that was for decades the home of the German emigrés Lion and Marta Feuchtwanger--he a journalist and novelist, she an athlete.
Lion's pointed criticism of Hitler's rise had landed the couple in concentration camps, and it was only through the efforts of powerful friends that they escaped with their lives. They entered the U.S. through Mexico, due to the vile immigration quota system which blocked the escape of thousands of less connected Jews.
Villa Aurora was built as an L.A. Times-sponsored showcase house in 1928, by a developer who soon went bankrupt. When the Feuchtwangers purchased it in 1941, it was a dilapidated, out-of-fashion pile half swallowed by underbrush.
Although the Feuchtwangers' architectural tastes ran to modernism, a mock-Spanish castle better suited Lion's need for wall space to house the tens of thousands of books that informed his historical novels. And the stunning views out over the Pacific were some solace. They made a home of it, and never left.
L.A.'s German and Jewish colony -- Bertolt Brecht, Thomas Mann, Stefan Zweig, Arnold Schonberg, Franz Werfel, Charlie Chaplin, Albert Einstein and others -- gathered frequently in the grand salon with its built-in pipe organ and broad terrace. Mann called it "truly a castle by the sea."
Lion and Marta lived together in the Villa Aurora until his death in 1958, and she stayed on. Marta had already donated Lion's books and papers to USC, and on her 1987 passing left the house as well, intending that the school maintain it as a tribute to her husband's work.
USC countered that it would just as soon sell the house and move the books downtown.
It looked as though the lights would soon flicker out at Villa Aurora.
But Marta had many friends, and had kept her husband's rebel spirit alive. A cultural preservation campaign was launched, a rare collaboration between book-loving Angelenos and the German government and intelligentsia. With Mayor Tom Bradley's support, City Councilman Marvin Braude successfully sought to have the house declared an Historic-Cultural Monument. This bought time against any demolition attempt. In Germany, millions were raised.
The result was the establishment of Villa Aurora e.V., a non-profit organization that maintains the property, hosts visiting German artists, and stages cultural events. USC owns Feuchtwanger's books, but many of the less delicate and valuable volumes from his working library still line the walls, between sculptural busts of Marta at all ages, and the bits of driftwood she collected on her shore walks.
Villa Aurora is home to one of the largest collections of intact tile from Harry C. Hicks' mid-range Hispano-Moresque line, and the primary reason for our visit was to view this installation in the company of our favorite Southern California tile expert, Brian Kaiser.
It truly is an extraordinary display, although the years, and perhaps mineral seepage from the hillside, have not been kind to massive murals in the front courtyard.
But most of the tile has held up beautifully, as it was meant to do, and the house itself is rare time capsule, an astonishingly lovely place with a story that cannot fail to touch a visitor's heart.
After climbing the winding hillside road, which the Los Angeles Times installed for the many thousands of visitors who toured their Demonstration House in the spring of 1928, we gathered in the secluded entry courtyard with our tour guide Mona, and a small group of German visitors, who fortunately did not object to the tour being given in English.
After introducing us to the history of the Demonstration House and the Feuchtwangers' life in exile, our guide opened the door to Marta's sitting room, and ushered us inside. We remarked upon the handsome red tile floor, the busts of Marta, the stunning wood- and ironwork and the moist, chilly air.
And then the odd thing happened.
Richard and I are cat people. Brian is, too. The tour was suddenly even more interesting. We were eager to meet the Villa Aurora's resident pussycat.
"Where's the cat?" interrupted Richard.
"There is no cat," said Mona.
"But we heard the cat," I insisted.
"There's a small dog here, but no cat." said Mona, a little confused and perhaps unnerved. We let the matter drop. But later, we heard the cat mew again, in the kitchen. We never saw or heard the little dog, who was far away upstairs in the visiting artists' living quarters. And as it turned out, nobody else had heard the cat, not even Brian.
The cat's call came from around this spot.
Later, we found a photograph of Lion Feuchtwanger holding a handsome black pussycat. Perhaps this was the spectral spirit who called out to us as we entered the Villa Aurora.
The house is packed with charming, thoughtful details.
Hand-painted ceilings.
Cast-iron door knobs.
Regal gargoyles who take rainwater in through their bottoms and spray it out their mouths.
A stylized, inverted swastika tucked beneath one of the bookshelves.
Bathrooms to die for.
Roof tiles hand-shaped on site, on the broad thighs of the workmen.
And a delightful photo of a grinning Lion with his beloved tortoises, who had the Villa Aurora phone number written on their shells, in case they should wander off into the canyon.
Villa Aurora is open for private tours by appointment, and hosts regular screenings and events. To learn more, click here.
And to see all of the photos from our visit, click here.
An Esotouric Road Trip: The Trona Pinnacles
In late May, the Esotouric gang set off on a desert road trip, with our compass set to points unusual and mysterious.
You won't find many stranger, or more awe-inspiring, attractions in Southern California than the Trona Pinnacles, the towering remnants of hydro-chemical activity on an ancient lakebed.
100,000 years ago, the interior of California was dotted with a network of interconnected inland seas. The ancient seas are gone, but the mineral excrescences that formed over tens of thousands of years still stand sentinel in a vast and windy landscape, far from human habitation.
In 1968, these tufa formations, the result of calcium-rich ground water meeting the alkaline sea, were designated by the Department of the Interior as a National Natural Landmark.
To visit the Trona Pinnacles, one leaves the sleepy military town of Ridgecrest and heads east, passing through a dramatic, wind-formed landscape that suggests cathedrals in the rock.
The BLM road to the Pinnacles is gravel, dust and ruts, and slow going with a conventional vehicle. Visitors must be conscious of heat, wind, rain and the precise moment that the sun will set, and should allow at least an hour round-trip once leaving the paved highway.
Still, there is something extraordinary in slowing to a crawl to approach these ancient monuments, which loom ever larger on the sandy plain, throwing off wild shadows as their details come into focus. For this is how the Pinnacles appeared to those approaching on horseback a century ago, or to walkers earlier still.
Worried our car might not be happy climbing up again, we parked on the ridge overlooking the plain to hike down to the dry lake bed. Richard noticed the dust of another car approaching, and stayed on the ridge until he could make eye contact with the newcomers. (Oddly, they never got out of their car, and soon turned and left.)
These would be the only other people we would see for our entire visit, save the solitary young man in the 4WD truck who arrived as we were hiking back, then disappeared onto the darkening dry lake bed bound for points unknown.
The Pinnacles are spread out over a rise in the flat landscape, with soft-packed sandy paths that lead up to the peaks and astonishing views out across the desert. The wind out here is like a living creature, whistling in our ears and shaping the ancient mineral towers. How many more centuries will they stand, before nature finishes breaking down what she has created?
We wandered around for some time, marveling at the strange forms that are designated as Towers (tall and slender, up to 40' high), Tombstones (fat and wide, up to 30' high), Ridges (like mountain ranges, up to 140' high) and Cones (little mounds, up to 10' high).
Then the sun moved, and the shadows shifted, and we knew it would soon be dark and cold on the ancient plain.
Trudging back through the dust, we spied a gangly lizard that took off running, so fast and frantic that it seemed to be flying on the ground.
And a little armored beetle, its shell a beautiful ridged black, like a Japanese warrior girded for battle.
Dusty and awed, we crawled back along the gravel road to rejoin the flow on the highway and the modern world.
The Trona Pinnacles are standing now, as they have for thousands of years, each day a little smaller, a little different. They were standing when the Caesars ruled, and will be standing when the Caesars have been forgotten. And you should see them if you can.
See all of Chinta Cooper's photos from our trip here.
And if you'd like to tour the Trona Pinnacles, visitor information is here.
An Esotouric Road Trip: Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park
In mid-May, the Esotouric gang set off to hike in one of the most sacred and seldom-visited of California's 49 State Historic Parks: Tomo-Kahni.
Located at the end of a steep dirt road on a ridge of the Tehachapi Mountains, Tomo-Kahni was for centuries the winter settlement of the Kawaiisu people, a tribe of hunter-gatherers famed for their basketry skills and high protein trade goods, including chia seeds and pine nuts.
Despite the coming of the Spanish and later the Americans, the tribe maintained their ancient seasonal traditions through the early 1900s, living in simple juniper bough huts, some of which which still survive in the form of stone circle footprints.
But Los Angeles' insatiable thirst for water brought industry to the little town of Tehachapi, and the younger Kawaiisu began to migrate down to take high-paying jobs in the Monolith Portland Cement Company plant. The Owens Valley aqueduct was built from good Tehachapi limestone, and by the time it was finished, so was the old life up in the mountains.
Kawaiisu still live in the region, but have adopted modern ways. It was the tribal elders who worked with anthropologists and the State Parks Department to ensure that Tomo-Kahni was preserved as an interpretive site for future generations to explore.
Tomo-Kahni isn't like other State Parks. You don't pull up to a paved parking lot dotted with interpretive signs and rattlesnake warnings, and you won't meet other hikers, their dogs or loud children on the trail. The only access to this sheltered spot is on the occasional tours hosted by trained guides who can interpret the fascinating artifacts that dot the hillsides leading up to the grand spirit cave at the mountain top.
We left Los Angeles early to join our group at the Tehachapi Museum, located just off the charming main drag in Kern County's decommissioned Depression-era library. After a brief orientation and gear check, drivers were provided with directions to the semi-secret site, and our caravan took off down the highway. We passed the hulking Monolith plant, then swung up into Sand Canyon, with its hand-painted protest signs opposing wind farming. And soon, we were bouncing up a rough sandy road to the trailhead gate.
Our little group set out along the park's unusual powdery red sand path, which in the wet season expands to many times its volume and releases old artifacts hidden deep within.
The treeless, scrubby hills had once been heavily forested with pine and oak, but the massive 7.7 earthquake of 1952 altered the water table, and Tomo-Kahni lost its live-giving open stream. While plants still grow, including some stands of reeds clearly sapping up the subterranean remnants of the old flow, the landscape is today much changed from that which sheltered the Kawaiisu.
Soon we came to a colorful lichen-dotted flat rock ledge, which our guides informed us had been the communal grinding station. Hundreds of deep bowls worn into the sandstone rock face provided a surface against which to mash nuts and acorns for cooking and storage, as well as a social space for the tribal women. The past was powerful as we peered into the natural bowls scraped from long use by the original Californians.
But our destination was higher, and the day was getting hot. We shouldered our packs and trudged up the shadeless paths, bound for Medicine Cave at the top of the mountain ridge.
The Kawaiisu believe that a powerful spirit called Grizzly Bear ushered all of the spirits of the animals out of the underworld through a narrow gap in the rocks high atop Tomo-Kahni. As each spirit emerged, it chose an animal to inhabit--although some became locked within stone forms, which explains the rabbit and turtle-shaped boulders near the Medicine Cave.
Approaching Medicine Cave is an intimidating experience. High in the rocks sits a massive raven's nest, its tender residents guarded by fierce black parents. As the path switches back, a visitor feels exposed upon the open hill, knowing that the holy place is just around the bend and out of sight. Gnarled, wind-hewn boulders suggest monstrous faces and hulking forms.
And then we arrive. Medicine Cave is a broad, shaded opening in the ancient stone, with deep overhangs giving way to the mystic fissure from which the Kawaiisu say all life emerged. It was cool in the shelter of the rock, and strange. On the walls are ageless pictographs: spirals, handprints, prey animals stalked by hunters and a strange splayed figure that might represent a pelt or sea mammal or the formless spirits waiting in the rock.
Medicine Cave is a living temple. Although access is limited for the general public, members of the Kawaiisu tribe still visit this ancient place to pray and leave offerings.
The sight of a thread-wrapped medicine bundle reminded us of the great power this sacred place still possesses for the people of the mountain. After a short break to rest, eat and chat with our fellow travelers, we quietly gathering our things, and started off back down the path.
There was one last site to see on the path back. Nettle Spring is a deep split between two rocks, lined with the spiky nettle bushes that were used for fiber and medicine. Tribal elders say this was a place where women retreated for ritual purposes. The rock here is heavily scored with vertical lines covered over with red pigment, but the meaning of these marks remains elusive.
It felt strange to climb into our car and drive back into the 21st Century--even so sleepy a 21st Century as is found in the village of Tehachapi.
We stopped in at Kohnen's German bakery for hearty sandwiches, beer and old world pastry, to ease ourselves back into the now as gently as possible. Then it was off on another adventure… but that story will have to wait for another day.
See all of Chinta Cooper's photos from our visit to Tomo-Khani and Tehachapi here.
And if you'd like to reserve a spot on one of these very special excursions into ancient California, more info is here.
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And The Olympian of Olympia, Washington has a blog post titled "Sen. Baumgartner pushes back at Supreme Court's ruling on taxes, files bill to reduce bench from 9 justices to 5."
You can view the proposed legislation at this link.
Posted at 10:34 PM by Howard Bashman
My earlier coverage of today's Seventh Circuit ruling appears at this link.
Posted at 04:33 PM by Howard Bashman
According to Barrett's essay, "Rodney Smolla, the attorney representing [the lawyer-blogger involved in the Virginia case], told Bloomberg BNA that he and his client plan to seek U.S. Supreme Court review of the Virginia ruling."
Posted at 04:26 PM by Howard Bashman
The U.S. Senate's official roll call vote tally can be accessed here.
Posted at 03:28 PM by Howard Bashman
And The New York Times has a news update headlined "Arkansas Adopts Strictest Abortion Law in the U.S."
Posted at 03:25 PM by Howard Bashman
And Ryan J. Reilly of The Huffington Post reports that "Chris Coons Plotting Legislative Response If Voting Rights Act Is Gutted."
Posted at 03:24 PM by Howard Bashman
Politico.com reports that "Senate Republicans maintain filibuster on Caitlin Halligan."
Roll Call reports that "Senate Republicans Block Obama Court Nominee."
At "The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times," Todd Ruger has a post titled "GOP Senators Again Block Halligan Nomination to D.C. Circuit."
And The Hill has a blog post titled "GOP blocks Halligan's nomination to DC circuit court."
Posted at 01:14 PM by Howard Bashman
And The Hill has a blog post titled "Holder defends prosecution of Web activist Swartz."
Update: At Ars Technica, Timothy B. Lee has a post titled "US Attorney General: Swartz case a 'good use of prosecutorial discretion'; Republican senator says government bullied Swartz for 'rather minor' crime."
At Politico.com, Josh Gerstein has a blog post titled "Holder defends alleged hacker's prosecution."
And at Wired.com's "Threat Level" blog, David Kravets has a post titled "Attorney General: Aaron Swartz Case Was a 'Good Use of Prosecutorial Discretion.'"
Posted at 12:50 PM by Howard Bashman
Update: In early news coverage, Jonathan Stempel of Reuters has a report headlined "Google not liable for vanity search results -- appeals court."
Posted at 11:36 AM by Howard Bashman
Update: The cloture motion failed, as 51 senators voted in favor, and 41 voted against. Sixty votes in favor are needed to invoke cloture. I will link to the official roll call vote tally when it becomes available.
Posted at 10:54 AM by Howard Bashman
Update: You can view the petition for writ of certiorari at this link.
Posted at 08:40 AM by Howard Bashman
The implications of Monday's ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit may be limited due to the fact that the decision is identified as non-precedential.
Posted at 08:32 AM by Howard Bashman
AL.com reports that "Sen. Jeff Sessions opposes D.C. Circuit Court nominee Caitlin Halligan."
Politico.com reports that "GOP opposes nominee over guns."
WSJ.com's "Washington Wire" blog has a post titled "Senate Poised to Block Obama Court Nominee" that begins, "For the second time in two years, Senate Republicans are poised to block the nomination of a former New York state solicitor general to a federal appeals court."
Today's edition of The New York Times contains an editorial titled "Confirm Caitlin Halligan for the Federal Bench."
And online at The Hill, law professor Carl Tobias has a blog post titled "Senate should move quickly to fill vacancies on D.C. Circuit."
Posted at 08:04 AM by Howard Bashman


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May 20th, 2012, 12:17 PM
Great win Lucie! :worship: This is her first singles title win since the summer of 2008. It has been a long time coming, even if it's only an ITF event. lol The second set was quite a roller coaster. Zakopalova led 5-2 after braking Lucie three times before Lucie came back to win the next five games. Hopefully she can take this win and play with more confidence in the regular tour events.


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Insurance is an extraordinarily useful tool to manage risk. When it works as intended, it provides financial protection to insurance buyers as they pay a relatively small premium and get protection against a large loss. Despite this advantage, consumers, insurance executives and regulators broadly misunderstand insurance.
Howard Kunreuther is the James G. Dinan Professor of Decision Sciences and Business and Public Policy at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Mark Pauly is the Bendheim Professor of Health Care Management. This post draws on the authors' book, with Stacey McMorrow, Insurance and Behavioral Economics: Improving Decisions in the Most Misunderstood Industry.


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Design Principles at airhubber
Strive for simplicity
Kill the noise! Design for mobile regardless of platform. Having limited real estate keeps you laser focused on simplicity. We aim to ensure each decision we make is guided by our passion for keeping things simple.
Iterate, again and again
From the start, we wanted airhubber to be a better way to have conversations with those people we care about. We believe we've made a good start but we know that the more the product is used the more we learn and the better we can make it. The spirit of constant iteration and improvement remains core to every decision we make.
Be thoughtful
Each interaction, feature and design element should enhance your experience. We don't want to add anything simply for the sake of adding it. Nothing should stand in the way of your enjoyment of sharing time with those people you care about most.


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Categories > Anime/Manga > Hellsing > Last of the Vampires
An Inevitable End0 Reviews
Integra Hellsing has acheived the one thing she never thought she could: Destruction of all of the vampires. All, that is, except two. But in the eyes of the Queen, Hellsing's mission has not ended...
Edit: This was my first story I wrote for Hellsing. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Hellsing, or any of its characters. Hellsing is (c) Kouta Hirano. This storyline is (c) me.
The drive home was silent.
Walter kept his eyes on the road, and did not inquire as to what the Queen wanted. Sir Integra Hellsing did not offer an explanation.
She sat in the back of the Rolls, and stared at the gun in her lap.
They had found the manufacturers of the FREAK chip, and eliminated them. All of Hellsing threw itself into what Integra did not think could be accomplished in her lifetime- the extermination of all the undead. Every report, every sighting, had been dealt with quickly, efficiently, and totally by the organization she so loved. Her agents had done well.
Now it seemed that they had done too well. Without knowing it, her star agents had signed their own death sentence.
She brooded over the gun, trying to convince herself that this was what had to be done. This was her mission; it was always her mission. Search and Destroy. Well, they had sought, and they'd destroyed... and now there were only two left.
According to the Queen, her mission had not ended yet.
The Lord and Master of Hellsing sat at her desk, the gun in front of her. She'd sent Alucard on a mission, a mission that had absolutely no point. He was chasing ghosts. Hopefully she could do this before he returned.
She lit a cigar with shaky hands, and frowned at them as she perched it on her lips. This is my duty... and she is only a corpse. Integra closed her eyes, and hit the speed-dial to Seras Victoria's room.
A soft knock sounded at her door, and Sir Hellsing flicked some ashes from her cigar as she called, "Enter." A tousled blonde head with bright red eyes poked around the door, quickly to be followed by a body in a Hellsing uniform. "You wanted to see me, Sir Integra?"
Integra sighed, and took another drag on her cigar. "Come in... Seras." Her tone was cold, with an edge of weariness. The other woman seemed startled, but moved into the room. "Shut the door please." Seras complied, puzzled.
Integra laid her cigar in the ashtray, letting it burn unattended. She picked up the gun, and scooted her chair back. "Sir?" Seras began to worry. What the bloody hell is going on here?
Sir Hellsing rose from her desk, and walked around to the front. She perched on the front in a casual pose, the gun dangling from her left hand. "I'm sorry, Seras."
Seras blinked, trying to remember if Integra had done anything that might have upset her lately. "Sorry for what, Sir..." She trailed off as the Master of her Master reached up and ripped the Hellsing coat of arms from the vampiress' sleeve.
She watched in confusion and dread as Integra set the cloth on her desk, and reached out again, ripping its twin from Seras' shirtfront. The vampiress stumbled back, her eyes wide with fear and sadness. Am I being discharged? What's going on?
"Sir Integra, please, what's happening?" Her tone was pleading, and she put a hand over the ripped cloth on her shoulder, as if she'd been wounded. It did not show on the Knight's face, but Integra's spirits fell further as she saw how dear Seras held the crest.
Integra switched the gun to her right hand, and leveled it at Seras' head. Seras screamed, and stumbled back farther, falling to the floor. "Sir Integra! Please! What're you doing?" Her voice was panicked, confused.
Integra cursed out loud, silencing the woman on the ground. Walter will have heard that, and he's probably on the way here. She had to do it now. She began to pull the trigger, her mind flashing back on their first meeting on the stairs, when Seras had protested that she wasn't like other vampires... How Seras refused to drink the blood her body so needed, calling it "inhuman." The terrified vampire on the floor, who had started crying at some point, had never hurt an innocent. But this was her duty.
Integra recited, "Impure souls of the living dead shall be banished into eternal damnation." Seras screamed again, terror flooding her senses.
A single gunshot broke the silence of the night.


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Get your words out with Rachel Cochrane!
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Celebration of the Spanish City Centenary
Recordings from North East writers
Hartley Pit Disaster 1862
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Spoken word website designed and managed by Rachel Cochrane
Reaching out through the words of middle aged housewife Celia
Helix Arts Creative Progression
Recording writing of people who have suffered homelessness
Benchmark, A Radio Play
Benchmark project
Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge
Creative Writing Competition to mark a centenary occasion
Coronation Memories Oral History
A wonderful oral history resource for present & future generations
Meet our treasured team
Audio podcasts to record the views of care home staff
Emily Inspires! Creative Writing Project
National writing competition and creative writing workshops
Recording in the Houses of Parliament
Recording podcast at Houses of Parliament, Votes for Women


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Q:Weeks ago I send a confession about Britney and Kellan Lutz, I hadn't see it, when it will be post?
It might take another week until its posted, actually
It might take another week until its posted, actually
THE INBOX IS CLOSED Please be patient and enjoy our current confesisons and if you have any questions, you can ask them in the ask box. Disclaimer The opinions expressed here do not reflect that of the blog owner. The confessions are submitted by several stans. All confessions remain anonymous unless requested otherwise.
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Name: Kalvin
Considering Kalvin as a baby name?
Below you find information gathered from our name survey where we asked people named Kalvin if they like their name. Parents can use this feedback when considering Kalvin as a baby name.
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12 Responses
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9 Responses
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Distinguishing Between Colic and Other Causes of Crying
Distinguishing Between Colic and Other Causes of Crying
If your baby has colic, you may be concerned that a health condition is causing the excessive crying. Usually a baby with colic is not crying because of pain or physical discomfort. But it is important to be aware that health problems or injuries can cause a baby to cry excessively. And it is important to watch for related signs.
A baby who is in pain may:
Common infections in babies that may cause crying are:
A medical condition such as hydrocephalus can cause a baby to cry excessively.
Injuries that may cause crying and can be difficult to identify are:
eMedicineHealth Medical Reference from Healthwise
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
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