This weekend's outline box-office scramble indicates looks like a photo finish between three feel-good comedies targeted at different audiences. "Juno" is indie "First Sunday" is urban. In any other year, the $66. 6 million that tobacco firms spent to defeat it would have been eye-popping. "Pretty good investment," said Jim Knox of the American Cancer Society of California, a champion of the tobacco tax Backers raised $14 million. This year, while not exactly predicting defeat in California, they are not exactly predicting victory either. "The party base is really energized right now," said Los Angeles County Republican Party chief Linda Boyd, who said Palin's presence on the ticket has been particularly welcome. "They have a great belief that McCain is going to win nationally. You can have freckles and red hair and be Mexican -- and you can have very black skin and be Mexican. "Invoking the prejudice that "You can't be too thin, too rich or too white" as a residual "post-colonial mindset" in Mexico, as well as the U. S. , Gleaton said he chose not to classify his subjects as Afro-Mexican, "because that's more the way we see things I don't believe in race. But he's heading to an AFC team that was 4-12 last season, losing eight of its first nine games, and plays in a division owned by the New England Patriots. Had Favre gone to Tampa, which some reports called a near-done deal, he would have been reunited with Coach Jon Gruden on a team that won the NFC South last season and plays host to Green Bay in a Week 4 game. After the deal was finished late Wednesday night, Green Bay General Manager Ted Thompson and Coach Mike McCarthy probably got their first bit of decent sleep in weeks. "Should I wear this dress? What do you think of these heels?" Meanwhile, you're sitting on their bed, legs crossed with your chin on your hands, envisioning the ratty bathrobe you're going to be wearing that night, trying to decide if Chunky Monkey will win out over Cherry Garcia. If that weren't enough, every storefront in sight is exploding in pink and red decorations, and wherever you look there are bouquets of flowers. Don't get me wrong: I do have some hopeless romantic in me -- I just don't think there should be a holiday marketed to the coupled. We just play and don't listen. "Still, Gibson added, "We made a point to come in and quiet them. "That was hard to do in the first half.

I sit here thinking of things, and I laugh. "He's my rock," Kristen says, and then while recalling Sam's words, she adds, "we're a team. "She takes the next few days while everyone gathers from around the country to promise her partner she will do right by him and say goodbye, later adding, "I was lucky to have that. "But there is no hope save those who are counting on just that, maybe a pancreas or a new kidney. "Sam's got such a good heart, he would want to save someone else," she says, and so papers are signed and it's Christmas morning, only three hours into a new day and somewhere the phone is ringing with of all things -- the best news. Back in the hospital, "the respirator is turned off," Kristen says, "and his little heart just won't stop beating He's in such good shape . CLEVELAND -- A little over a month into the season and Cleveland Manager Eric Wedge is searching for answers as the Indians struggle to score runs. Sunday's 2-0 loss to Kansas City provided even more frustration for Wedge . Air board lawyers are confident the state can fend off a legal challenge . 9th Circuit Court of Appeals undid a preliminary injunction, issued last year by a Los Angeles District Court, that had kept the Web search giant from displaying thumbnail-size photographs of images owned by Perfect 10 Inc . combat brigades pledged to the plan, three have arrived and the rest are due in June In all there will be an additional 21,500 front-line U. S troops on the ground, mostly in Baghdad. I don't know how you do it, honestly. "Mark, 32, probably could get a higher-paying job, but he's committed to a teaching career, and they both want Jessica, 31, to be able to stay home to raise their children. Nevertheless, Jessica is using her skills as a former professional ballerina to teach dance to grade-school students. Some of the current generation suffer from the same problems that beset those in the last Internet boom -- many are creating near-identical businesses or have only vague ideas of how to generate revenue. "Tens of millions of dollars are put into them, but they aren't sustainable and they can't continue to go back to the well," said Jon Fisher, an entrepreneur who sold his most recent company, Bharosa, to Oracle Corp.

Simmons also faces a misdemeanor charge of permitting a loaded firearm in a vehicle. Simmons and Hall were arrested Wednesday night after they allegedly robbed a man at gunpoint on a Compton street. Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies arrested the two men after they stopped a car being driven by Simmons and found a handgun and the alleged belongings of the alleged victim, sheriff's officials said. USC Coach Pete Carroll said Thursday night that he was aware of "reports" of Simmons' arrest and that he was attempting to gather more information He declined to comment further. ---- Gary Klein . The officer shouted, saying he could not let my wife into Syria because her guardian was not with her . Pick: Seattle. San Francisco at Miami: After West Coast teams lost their first 16 games in the Eastern time zone, the 49ers finally broke that streak by winning at Buffalo two weeks ago Now comes a tougher task . He said fixing Motorola's operational problems took precedence over repurchasing shares. Motorola had urged shareholders not to vote for the activist investor, saying Icahn was already on too many boards and lacked experience in the wireless industry. . Tens of thousands of Chinese factories have closed this year, and more are at risk as export orders from the United States and elsewhere shrink. Los Angeles CES (11-19), 3 p. m. * Championship Division: Taft (24-3) vs. The contract Fox has with the other BCS bowls expires after the 2009 season. "The media contract alone keeps it off the table until 2014," Hansen said.

Modeled after "Which Way, L. A. ?," with all the guests speaking to the host by phone but on national topics, the show is broadcast live to the East Coast at 11 a. m . They settled here around 1860 just down the Virgin River from the magnificent red rock cathedrals of Zion Canyon, but floods, disease and hostile Indians made the colony unsustainable . I think there's a reason that not many novels are set in L. A and almost every movie is . The Harris fire in San Diego County was 70% contained and was expected to be encircled by Wednesday. It will take months or even years to rebuild the homes, businesses and the Malibu church that succumbed to the 35 fires that swept through seven counties. Bill Peters, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said that if high winds return, the fires could flare up again. "We definitely are closing in on it," he said . put in a redemption order for all clients whose cash holdings were automatically "swept" into the Reserve fund. Because the per-share value of the Reserve Primary fund fell to 97 cents Tuesday, the brokerage's client losses could top $100 million, according to an estimate from FBR Capital Markets. A TD Ameritrade spokeswoman declined to comment on the report but confirmed that redemptions were underway. --josh. friedman. A fourth occupant was severely wounded and is still being treated for head and face trauma. 6, with sales up 130% over the previous week, to 183,000 copies.

But his past statements on the issue and his reported work as a lobbyist fighting federal restrictions on abortion counseling in the early 1990s have raised doubts about his commitment to the cause. Romney, too, faces challenges on the issue of abortion . County residents lived below the poverty line last year, down from 15. 4% a year before . WASHINGTON — As secretary of State in the late 1700s, Thomas Jefferson laid out the initial design, including "public walks" for the area between the Capitol and what is now known as the White House . companies are making it easy for Latino immigrants to continue to speak Spanish. "The Pew study points to some of the long-term problems," said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors conservative immigration policies . back and sent her to a neighbor, who helped her file a missing-person report with the San Diego Police Department. A tearful day blurred to night. Published by the Library of America and edited by former New York Times food columnist Molly O'Neill, this volume is more than an anthology; selection builds upon selection (from Thomas Jefferson's recipe for ice cream to Michael Pollan's musings on the organic frozen dinner) to become a portrait of a nation seen through the prism of food. The girl then told a neighbor and her mother that a man had tried to abduct her. As sheriff's deputies pored through hundreds of tips and reinterviewed neighbors, the sixth-grader's story began to crumble, Amormino said. That there were no witnesses on busy Aliso Creek Road raised questions.

As anyone who heard Welles on talk shows in his later years will know, a display of rueful, self-deprecating and apparently good-natured irony was well within his range But he would have none of it He was too committed to the adversarial mode . "I could have had a radio tower on the back of my buggy and it wouldn't have helped. "Stoltzfus says he sees cars with license plates from Alaska and New Mexico speeding along the winding back roads . Last year, the Ducks knew they were good but wanted to get better to win the cup . In addition, National Amusements has extended more than $100 million in loans to help keep Midway afloat. Redstone was banking on Midway, the creator of the game "Mortal Kombat," to become another juggernaut in his media empire that boasts the CBS network; cable channels MTV, VH1, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon; and Paramount Pictures film studio. "Midway was a top 10 company when Redstone started buying it," Pachter said . It's told in five languages, has four stories and takes place on three continents. "In "Babel," a shooting accident involving an American couple visiting Morocco reverberates for two local boys involved in the incident; the couple's own two young children, who are illegally taken to Mexico by their nanny; and a rebellious, deaf Japanese teenager whose father is sought by the Tokyo police. The film's high-adrenaline trailer, playing up the edge-of-your-seat intensity, helped draw theatergoers over the weekend. You think too much sometimes, I think that's what happens, and you make the wrong decision. "--lisa. dillman--Clippers tonightNew Orleans, 7:30Site -- Staples Center. TV -- Fox Sports West. Radio -- 710. Records -- Clippers 2-11, Hornets, 7-5. Record vs. CLEVELAND -- Off the bat, Ryan Garko's seventh-inning flare to shallow left field Saturday "looked like a bloop hit," Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said.

13 game against USC looming. Ohio State officials remained evasive about Wells' status. "Is he injured or does he just have some pain he can play through?" running backs coach Dick Tressel said Wednesday. If Wells does not play on Saturday, the Buckeyes would probably use four running backs. "If I could get each of them about 15 carries, I'd have a good weekend," Tressel said. Tressel might want to call Todd McNair. In 2005, McNair divvied up the opportunities -- and psychological strokes -- between Reggie Bush and LenDale White nearly to perfection, both tailbacks going into the regular-season finale with the same amount of carries. Against Virginia, the Trojans mainly played four tailbacks . Also, I tend to fall asleep during love scenes (just ask my wife). Seriously, whenever there's a love scene, it's as if they pumped sleeping gas up my nostrils . Falling trade barriers allow cash and commodities to flow back and forth across the region as never before, and the dollar even circulates as the official currency in El Salvador and Ecuador. But the United States is far from triumphant . NEW YORK — The theatergoing public got some good news Wednesday, when a New York Supreme Court judge ruled that "Dr . But Belgrave believed that Jackson's story was significant to black history and that "Thriller" belonged in the exhibit. They note that patients with chest pain are about 100 times more likely to be suffering a heart attack than an aortic dissection. "I'm comfortable that a reasonable juror would understand that Dr. And it joined the European Union-led talks on Iran's nuclear program late in the game Throughout, U. S.

When he follows through you worry he's going to lop off his own noggin. Few of us can aspire to be anything remotely like Roger Federer. Emulating King Roger requires waltzing through whole sets in the hot sun and hardly breaking a sweat It requires clothes that resemble fine linen . Countless seabird colonies and pinnipeds (seals, sea lions and northern elephant seals) can be seen. History: Formed by underwater volcanic activity, Santa Barbara looks like twin-peaked mesa with steep cliffs . Will the Lakers' coach get a contract extension? It's more up to him than the organization, and he is pondering it during his summer retreat in Montana. --TRADES?3 . Two-thirds of women with invasive breast cancer are 55 or older when they are diagnosed, according to the American Cancer Society. "A single study doesn't necessarily translate into truth, if you will," Reynolds said . With production for his NBC series "Heroes" shutting down behind picket lines and rehearsals for his new musical "Atlanta" off for the day, the actor and neophyte stage director is suddenly, temporarily, at liberty. He also said that Australia's Katie Mactier, who won the last World Cup race in Beijing, did some boasting to the international media that may be taped to Hammer's bulletin board. Hammer doesn't have a large team behind her Sparks is the coach. The same witness interceded and Chong left. Redondo Beach police arrested Chong after stopping his car He is accused of having a 0. 11% blood-alcohol level The state limit for driving is 0. 08%. .

importers, it buoys exporters by making their goods less expensive in countries with rising currencies. U. S . Until then, trading is likely to be choppy, he said. "People are on the sidelines," Fullman said . "The fans were great and treated me with respect. "Brand performed light contact drills for the first time since rupturing his Achilles tendon last summer . Previously, she had produced one-act operas that included Gian Carlo Menotti's "Amahl and the Night Visitors" and Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi. "She stayed at USC until 1986, after which she taught voice and piano privately. In 1983 at the University of Judaism, she created an opera ensemble competition, whose judges included opera impresarios, to encourage singers to work together . He coached Little League and always took the boys out in nature. But as the 1980s rolled on, there was no way for Karen to ignore his drinking He was always loaded to some degree, and erratic. The municipal government had to fork out more than $2 million to pay the wages they were owed. "Nobody could find the bosses," Yang said. Other migrant workers were not so lucky. The quarterback likely will miss the rest of the week's team activities. MISCELLANYHatton says no to De La HoyaBritish welterweight Ricky Hatton has rejected an approach for a September bout against Oscar De La Hoya. Hatton beat Juan Lazcano on May 24 to retain his International Boxing Organization light welterweight title and is not expected to fight again until November De La Hoya's scheduled Sept.

would have prefectural meetings during picnics at places like Griffith Park and Elysian Park . The article in the morning paper she'd been reading about some congressman . Such borrowers are charged even higher interest rates than the usual sub-prime candidates. Quality's website still lists the concessions the company was willing to make to do a home loan: "NO minimum [credit] score! No mortgage or credit history required! Unlimited cash out! Current bankruptcy or 1 day out! . John Edwards. And her name is pronounced "Ree -- elle. "Hunter's life has been equal parts magical mystery tour and perpetual job quest . But just as the country starts to enjoy a culture of transparency, vested interests are looking to defang the right to know. That would be a shame. I'll probably see it again on Saturday or Sunday with my boyfriend. " Meanwhile, said boyfriend didn't get to see "Indiana Jones" in the wee Friday hours after all, she said. punk foursome turns it up a notch and stretches out a bit on third album "Come All You Madmen. "SAY ANYTHINGJust think of the Max Bemis- fronted outfit as the tour's lone graduate-level emo band. FIVE MORE WE LIKEThe new music from L. A reggae purveyors the Aggrolites is earning buzz.

Remove the lamb from the marinade, brushing off the garlic and some of the herbs, then season with salt and pepper . They bob above dark tufts of black mondo grass. Ground covers of black ajuga and vermilion ipomoea trail around headstones . "I've got to admit, it was getting a little boring without me, but I'm glad to be here now. "Earlier, Romney compared the contest for the nomination to the television drama "Law & Order," in which Thompson portrayed a district attorney: "It has a huge cast, the series seems to go on forever, and Fred Thompson shows up at the end. ""And to think I thought I was going to be the best actor on the stage," Thompson responded with a smile. michael. finneganjanet. hook . The best way to tell how clean a restaurant is, he said with a laugh, is to check the bathrooms. Brian Gregor, 29, an IT specialist and another Pete's patron, said he's skeptical of the grading system. "It doesn't really matter to me if the food's great," Gregor said . Later he said, "I think why people are fighting is there's a group of people that refuse to accept a Jewish state. Tulsa had never managed more than 31 points in 14 previous bowl games. Smith passed for 312 yards and five touchdowns, the last with 3:22 left in the blowout. In the end, Underwood and her label and management team largely went back to the well, choosing songs from many of the same bankable writers -- Hillary Lindsey, Brett James and Steve McEwan, among others -- who contributed to "Some Hearts. "Producer Mark Bright, who handled half the duties on the first album, including all the singles, packs a lot more instrumentation into a far bigger sound this time around.

Yeltsin changed the constitution in the 1990s to amass power . "I do recommend self-exams," says Wiser-Estin, the New Jersey gynecologist . "Any time you get runners in scoring position against Lee, you've got to make it count. "--mike. digiovanna--RELATED STORYIzturis is out: His injury is eerily similar to DiSarcina's in 1995 D5 . K has been Ding Dong dialing lately, calling the numbers in her old address book of her now grown-up pupils when she's feeling isolated . "I've been here five years, and it's been crazy every day. "How did this happen?How did Mitch Kupchak go from being the most ridiculed sports figure in Los Angeles to receiving the conference championship trophy from -- you guessed it -- Jerry West?If you don't think that trophy was a torch, then you haven't been watching. If you don't think Kupchak's ability to both weather a Kobe Bryant storm and create a Pau Gasol storm isn't the biggest reason the Lakers are here, then you haven't been listening. "We've been to a lot of these Finals," said Kupchak, ever the voice of reason. But the only opinion from that office that Democrats released was from 2003. Democrats said this plan was the only way they could see of breaking the current budget impasse, which has stretched on for more than a month since Schwarzenegger called lawmakers back into session. "Sen. "I didn't know that, so I just got mad a little bit and I was just pumped up.

— Even as he mounts unceasing attacks on his Republican rival, Barack Obama is ignoring the person on the ticket who is the center of attention: Sarah Palin. A few syllables are all Obama expends on the Republican vice presidential nominee . Theroux, once a roadie for Fugazi and a familiar face to David Lynch and "Sex and the City" fans, originally planned to use a number of Deerhoof songs in "Dedication's" soundtrack . They are gadflies and rabble-rousers rather than fresh, cutting-edge thinkers . And you'd better hope you don't miss any card payments or you'll get slapped with a passel of late fees and see your interest rate soar to around 30%. "This just makes people be even more disciplined with the program," Somerville said. That, or it results in people's ruin. Ted Grose, a West L. A mortgage broker and former president of the California Assn . You have a guy in charge who spent months on the desk, and it was his first big crowd incident. "In the days after the incident, Bratton said Metro's problems were a concern. "I have put a lot of effort into crime suppression using Metro assets Crime reduction has been the priority. Yet schools still need tuition-paying students to fill classroom and dormitory slots left empty each spring by those who study abroad, take off-campus internships, drop out or graduate in December. So a bargain of sorts is struck: Colleges try to guarantee a fully populated campus, and some students accept an offer to arrive midyear at a top choice school rather than enroll elsewhere in the fall. "We have such an incredibly strong pool of applicants, and we know we have limited space in the fall. Williams, a vice president at Webcor, which is building a massive development at Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, said the L. A.