Lunch Break

Photo is of downtown Los Angeles and the snowy San Gabriel mountains.

Quote: I talked to Jeremy on the phone, and he told me that he discovered that he had a very high level of mercury. So my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer.

David Mamet on HBO star Jeremy Piven leaving his Broadway revival of " Speed the Plow.


F.Y.I.: Piven's role on Entourage is based on real life Hollywood agent Ari Emanuel, brother of real life incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.


Bubble Heads:What throws me about pieces like this: Who saw the housing bubble coming? is that the answer so simple: Anyone with a lick of common sense.

One of the reasons I even give loopy conspiracy theories at least a mental try out is - believe it or not - faith in people. Example: I do not believe Alan Greenspan is this stupid: ...Greenspan continued to deny the possibility of a housing bubble...he said that any comparison between the housing market and a stock market bubble was "rather a large stretch." No it wasn't. At all. It was obvious. So Greenspan either is that stupid, or he was a willing player in the game of inflating the economy recklessly until 2008....

We was robbed! A.P. makes case for USC being A.P. national champs.

Music: Ave Maria on Classical Guitar.