The Zen of the Vanilla Milkshake

Swingers Diner, 2010
Paul Kimball
Friday, July 22, 2011
http://philosopherpak.blogspot.com/2011/07/zen-of-vanilla-milkshake-swingers-diner.html

Swingers - Santa Monica, CA
A "zen" moment

The perfect meal - vanilla milkshake, cheeseburger, and mashed potatoes with gravy!
The best milkshake I've had yet in Los Angeles, where there are so many great ones from which to choose, has been at Swingers Diner, in Santa Monica. The food and service is great as well, and the location - just a couple of blocks from Santa Monica Pier and the Pacific Ocean - can't be beat...

http://www.swingersdiner.com/

Hike to old 'MASH' set launches fundraiser for California parks

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mash-hike-20101031,0,3545674.story

Hike to old 'MASH' set launches fundraiser for California parks
An upcoming two-day film festival will showcase five classic movies filmed in various state parks, with ticket sales supporting the parks.
Bob Pool, Los Angeles Times
October 31, 2010

Supporters of California's parklands called on Hollywood's star power Saturday to kick off a fundraising effort for cash-strapped state parks.

Parks enthusiasts led a hike to the Santa Monica Mountains film set used for the "MASH" movie and television series to draw attention to a two-day film festival planned for next weekend.

Five classic movies that were filmed in various state parks will be screened in studio theaters at Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox.

Those making their way to the "MASH" set at Malibu Creek State Park in Calabasas were shown where various tents that made up the fictional 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital were located for the 1970 movie and the 1972-83 series.

"That's where the hospital was. Right over there was the Swamp; the latrine was back over there," explained actor Jeff Maxwell, who portrayed Igor the camp cook in the series.

Behind him was a replica of the Korean War medevac camp's iconic signpost pointing the way to Boston, Seoul, Coney Island, San Francisco, Burbank and other cities.

The rusty hulks of a vintage Army ambulance and military Jeep left behind by the "MASH" production company stood in the middle of it all.

Maxwell, of Alhambra, explained how actors and crew members would shiver in the 6:30 a.m. cold and then would be baking in the afternoon heat at the remote "MASH" set.

Brian Simson, a medical equipment repairman from Ventura, came with a cookbook written by Maxwell. "I bought it this week online. I'm going to get him to autograph it," he said, flipping through "Secrets of the 'MASH' Mess."

The rugged mountains that surround the filming site were immediately familiar to fans of the show.

"This is fantastic. I certainly recognize the landscape. I'm elated this is available for those of us who became adults while the show was on," said Bill Kormany, a corporate medical director who lives in Moorpark.

The hilltop used as the show's helicopter landing pad was recognized by Daniel Fraser, a Burbank graphic designer. His wife, Cathy, brought him on the hike to celebrate their 11th wedding anniversary.

"I grew up watching the show," Daniel Fraser said as the couple's three children — Michael, 5; Ellie, 7; and Liam, 10 — climbed into the old ambulance.

Brian Rooney, a West Los Angeles "MASH" fan who helped state officials restore the set's old look in 2008, said the film site is the most famous spot in any state park.

"People in England don't know about the Hearst Castle, but they know about where 'MASH' was filmed," said Rooney, who led Saturday's hike.

Carolyn DeVinney, a Culver City resident who is a trustee of the California State Parks Foundation, said money raised by the hike and from ticket sales to the upcoming film festival will be used to help support the parks' operation.

"Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi" will be screened Nov. 6 along with the "MASH" movie and two episodes of the TV show.

Actors Mark Hamill, Elliott Gould, William Christopher and Maxwell will take part in question-and-answer periods following the various screenings.

The 1960 film "Spartacus" and 1968's "Planet of the Apes" will be shown Nov. 7. Film archivist Robert O'Neil will discuss how he restored "Spartacus" and actor Lou Wagner and others connected with production of "Planet of the Apes" will speak, foundation officials said.

Single-screening tickets will be priced at $10 and passes for three shows are available for $25.

"We've chosen films that show off the uniqueness of the state parks," said Manny Grace, a Burbank entertainment lawyer who is chairman of the foundation's film series.

"It's important that we promote the symbiotic relationship between motion pictures and state parks," Grace said.

The 41-year-old foundation has raised some $161 million to support the park system, he said.

bob.pool@latimes.com

Lindsay: "I Wasn't Driving, the Black Kid Was"

http://www.tmz.com/2007/07/27/lindsay-i-wasnt-driving-the-black-kid-was/

Lindsay: "I Wasn't Driving, the Black Kid Was"
Posted Jul 27th 2007
Filed under: Lindsay Lohan, Celebrity Justice

Just before Lindsay Lohan was arrested early Tuesday morning, she commandeered a car and took three men hostage -- this, according to the three men who were in the car with her.

TMZ interviewed all three, and here's the lowdown: Rewind to Monday afternoon. Dante Nigro, Jakon Sutter and Ronnie Blake drove to Malibu with the boyfriend of Lindsay Lohan's assistant. Lindsay and her assistant ran into Dante and friends. Later, the assistant text-messaged Dante, saying Lindsay wanted to invite him to a Malibu party that night.

Later, Dante says, he and his friends drove to the party. Dante and the assistant's boyfriend were let in, but Jakon and Ronnie were rejected and stayed outside. Dante says Lindsay was never without a drink during the evening and he even did a shot with her.

At one point, Lindsay's assistant and her boyfriend walked outside and got into an argument. Lindsay came out and got angry at her assistant. The assistant then said, "I quit," which enraged Lindsay.

Ronnie says Lindsay looked "very messed up" and "raging."

Dante and crew were ready to leave. The GMC Denali they were in belonged to Dante, but he was sitting in the front passenger seat. Ronnie and Jakon were in the back seat. The assistant's boyfriend was behind the wheel. The keys were in the ignition when the assistant's boyfriend got out and continued the argument with his girlfriend. She then got in her car and left.

According to the group, Lindsay suddenly jumped in the driver's seat of the Denali, started the engine and began driving -- chasing the assistant's car. Ronnie says he was so fearful, he jumped out of the vehicle as it accelerated. Just as he hit the ground, he says Lindsay ran over his foot and just kept going.

Dante and Jakon say Lindsay then hit Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. Dante says he tried to grab the wheel, prompting Lindsay to say, "If you touch me I'll sue you." Jakon says they pleaded with her to stop.

Dante says they were going 100 mph. They say Lindsay caught up with the assistant and began doing circles on PCH, around the assistant's car.

They say at one point, Lindsay boasted, "I can't get in trouble. I'm a celebrity. I can do whatever the f*** I want."

The now former assistant finally lost Lindsay on PCH. Dante says Lindsay thought the assistant was going to her mother's house in Santa Monica so Lindsay went there. It just so happened that the assistant's mother was pulling into the driveway as Lindsay arrived.

Dante says the mother panicked at Lindsay's crazy driving, and backed out of the driveway in fear -- not knowing who was behind the wheel. The guys say Lindsay then began to chase her at speeds of up to 80 mph through Santa Monica, blowing multiple red lights.

Dante realized the mother was driving to the police station and warned Lindsay if she didn't stop she'd get in hot water. He says Lindsay responded, "I'm a celebrity. I'm not going to get in trouble."

The two cars stopped in a parking lot near the cop shop. When police arrived, Dante says it seemed as if Lindsay told officers, "I wasn't driving. The black kid was driving."

Dante and Jakon say they saw Lindsay flunk the field sobriety test. They say when she tried touching her nose, she almost fell over.

As Ronnie put it "It was pretty much the worst night of my whole summer."

Lohan's reps had no comment.

Lohan Hit With Drug and Alcohol Arrest

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/24/ap3945866.html

Associated Press
Lohan Hit With Drug and Alcohol Arrest
By BROOKE DONALD
07.24.07

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - The troubled saga of Lindsay Lohan took another dangerous turn early Tuesday when police charged her with drunken driving and cocaine possession after a frightened woman dialed 911 to report being chased by Lohan's SUV.

Less than two weeks out of rehab, with another drunk driving case pending, Lohan had a blood-alcohol level of between .12 and .13 percent when police found her about 1:30 a.m., Sgt. Shane Talbot said.

Authorities had received a 911 call from the mother of Lohan's former personal assistant, said Officer Alex Padilla. The assistant had just quit hours before, he said.

"The mother was afraid," Padilla said. "She wasn't quite sure what was going on so she called the police saying she wanted to make sure everything was going to be OK."

The woman apparently didn't realize it was Lohan who was behind her, Padilla said.

Police said the woman drove her black Cadillac Escalade into the parking lot of Santa Monica's Civic Auditorium, about a block away from the Santa Monica Police Department, followed by Lohan driving a Denali sport utility vehicle. Authorities arrived and saw Lohan and the woman in "heated debate," Padilla said. Lohan and the woman each had two passengers in their vehicles, Padilla said.

After a field sobriety test, the 21-year-old movie star was booked on two misdemeanor charges of suspicion of driving under the influence and driving on a suspended license and two felony charges of possession of cocaine and transport of a narcotic, Talbot said.

During a pre-booking search, police found cocaine in one of Lohan's pants pockets, Talbot said.

Several hours later, Lohan was released on $25,000 bail.

A call to Lohan's publicist, Leslie Sloan Zelnik, and attorney, Blair Berk, were not immediately returned.

Padilla said he didn't know why Lohan was trying to catch the woman, whom he didn't name.

Last week, Lohan turned herself in to Beverly Hills police to face charges of driving under the influence in connection with a Memorial Day weekend hit-and-run crash.

Lohan lost control of her 2005 Mercedes SL-65 convertible and crashed into a curb and shrubs on Sunset Boulevard, police said. Lohan's blood-alcohol level at the time of that crash was above the legal limit, authorities said, but they wouldn't disclose how high it was. She also faces a misdemeanor charge of hit and run in that case.

A court date was scheduled in that case for Aug. 24.

Lohan left Promises Malibu Alcohol and Drug Rehab Treatment Facility on July 13, after a stay of more than six weeks.

When she left, Zelnik said Lohan would voluntarily wear an alcohol-monitoring bracelet.

"In part she is wearing the bracelet so there are no questions about her sobriety if she chooses to go dancing or dining in a place where alcohol is served," Zelnik said in a statement at the time.

Padilla said he wasn't sure if Lohan was wearing it when she was stopped early Tuesday.

In January, Lohan also had checked into rehab for substance abuse treatment.

Associated Press Writer Jeff Wilson contributed to this report.