In Los Angeles, ‘tiny homes’ spring up for homeless people

LOS ANGELES — In a parking lot in Los Angeles, a village of miniature prefab houses has sprung up, one of several sites in America’s second-largest city where so-called “tiny homes” are being put up to help the homeless get back on their feet.

The City of Angels has a large homeless population, second only to New York. Tens of thousands live rough — their tents, and their distress, are plain for any resident or visitor to see.

In the Tarzana neighborhood, 76 tiny homes paid for by the city have been erected. Each is 64 square feet (six square meters), and is equipped with two beds and shelving as well as air conditioning and heating.

Each one costs $6,500 and can be set up in just 90 minutes. Toilets and showers are shared, and state-of-the-art washing machines face large, bright orange tables under umbrellas. The set-up feels a bit like a campground.

Zuri-Kinshasa Maria Terry, 46, has just moved into the Tarzana development.

The former stripper says she ended up on the streets a year ago, after two weeks in intensive care because she had contracted Covid-19, and waited two months for the tiny home village to open.

“It was the scariest thing in the freaking world to be out there,” Terry told AFP, adding she was “still grasping” the fact that she had found a steady place to live.

In addition to allowing a certain privacy, she said the main advantage of the tiny homes is “safety,” as compared to either living on the street or in a traditional shelter.

‘Building a case plan’

The Tarzana site is guarded 24 hours a day, and while residents do not get to keep the keys to their tiny homes, they can lock it from the inside, explains Rowan Vansleve, chief finance and administration officer of Hope of the Valley, a non-governmental organization that manages the development.

The process begins with “a really hot shower, getting a great meal and then building out a case plan” to help the new resident get out of their precarious situation, according to Vansleve.

“Once you’ve got a case plan, we’re going to assign you a tiny home and you’re going to work that plan however long that takes,” he added.

Residents have access to medical care and therapy, and three meals a day are provided. They are given lodging for three months at a time, which is renewable until the resident finds permanent housing, according to Brandon Hanner, the NGO’s program manager for the Tarzana site.

Roots of the crisis

The first village of tiny homes in Los Angeles opened in early 2021 and several more followed.

Similar initiatives have sprung up in recent years elsewhere in California, including San Jose, and in Seattle.

For those who advocate for the homeless, the projects are a mixed bag.

Mayer Dahan, founder of the Dream Builders Project, says the tiny homes can be “a very positive transition” for some, but he said he worried about “the concept that solutions could be found by trying to resolve the symptoms, as opposed to the underlying issue.”

For Shayla Myers, a senior attorney at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, one problem is that “there is far too little affordable housing for people to exit out of these shelter facilities and into permanent housing.”

While acknowledging that tiny homes are a better option for some, Myers insisted that these homes are in fact “incredibly expensive” because of the operating costs — and that California must do more.

“There is no way to solve the homelessness crisis without addressing the root causes, which are poverty, wealth inequality and a lack of affordable housing options,” she said.

But the city wants to move quickly to clear its sidewalks of encampments, especially after a judge ordered such a move, saying at least some of the homeless need to be placed in housing by the fall — and using very harsh words for the city’s strategy on the crisis thus far.

Terry said she is very aware that tiny homes are far from a perfect solution, but for the time being, “it works.”

She hopes to do training to become a real estate agent, once her situation stabilizes.

“I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy,” she said of living in the streets.

Agence France-Presse 

California’s largest wildfire burns nearly 115,000 hectares of land

Two blazes mercilessly charring northern California have grown so rapidly that they became the US state’s largest in recorded history Monday, authorities said.

Collectively dubbed the Mendocino Complex, the wildfires have burned through 283,800 acres (114,850 hectares) — an area nearly the size of the sprawling city of Los Angeles — and are just 30 percent contained, according to state fire authority CalFire. Two people have died in the inferno.


“Today a higher pressure system brought warmer weather, drying, and strong winds to the region,” CalFire said in an evening update.



“Tonight fire crews will try to take advantage of the lower temperatures to increase suppression and hold current containment lines.”

It was the second fire to break records in the fire-prone, most populous US state in as many years, following the Thomas Fire in December 2017, which stood at 281,893 acres.

Further north in the state, the deadly Carr Fire has scorched more than 164,400 acres of land since July 23, and killed another seven people along the way.

Its intensity was so great at one point, that it generated a tornado-like whirl of fire — as well as its own weather system.

Authorities say it was triggered by the “mechanical failure of a vehicle” that caused sparks to fly in tinderbox-dry conditions.

The fire has razed more than 1,600 buildings, including some 1,000 homes, state officials say.

More than 14,000 firefighters were battling the blazes across the state.

Several thousand people have been evacuated as the fires swept across the state, although some have been given permission in recent days to return to their homes.

The wildfires are “extremely fast, extremely aggressive, extremely dangerous,” said Scott McLean, a deputy chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

“Look how big it got, just in a matter of days… Look how fast this Mendocino Complex went up in ranking. That doesn’t happen. That just doesn’t happen.”

President Donald Trump raised eyebrows by tweeting about the wildfires inaccurately, claiming there was not enough water to fight them and appearing to place the blame on environmental laws, not climate change.

“California wildfires are being magnified & made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which aren’t allowing massive amounts of readily available water to be properly utilized,” Trump said.

“It is being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Must also tree clear to stop fire from spreading!”

In fact, “we have plenty of water to fight these wildfires, but let’s be clear: It’s our changing climate that is leading to more severe and destructive fires,” Daniel Berlant, CalFire assistant deputy director, told The New York Times.

In an unrelated long-running dispute, farmers have demanded more water to irrigate crops for years, while environmentalists say diverting more water to crops would kill off fish stock and hurt rivers.  /vvp

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Major grudge match for Garbrandt, Dillashaw tops UFC 227

LOS ANGELES — Cody Garbrandt and T.J. Dillashaw have one of the UFC’s most compelling feuds of recent years. This beef is rooted in betrayal and tribalism, and it led to the demolition of a once-cordial relationship between training partners.

The feud persisted even after Dillashaw knocked out Garbrandt and took his bantamweight title belt last year, following months of verbal sparring and pre-fight scuffling.


Their rematch at Staples Center on Saturday night is the main event of UFC 227. It’s also the chance for a particularly personal victory for both men, who declined to shake hands at their ceremonial faceoff Thursday in downtown Los Angeles.


“I prefer to be respectful,” Dillashaw said Thursday. “I prefer to be a martial artist, so I like a respect level, but I don’t mind the drama, either. I’m going to use it to my advantage.”

Garbrandt (11-1) and Dillashaw (15-3) actually have plenty in common. They’re both well-conditioned, gifted strikers who became elite competitors at Team Alpha Male, Urijah Faber’s famed gym in Sacramento. They’ve also both become first-time fathers in the nine months since their last bout.

But they simply haven’t gotten along ever since Dillashaw won the bantamweight title and also left Alpha Male in 2014. To make an epic story short, Dillashaw says he was thrown out because he wouldn’t break ties with coach Duane Ludwig, who had just split acrimoniously from Faber. Several Alpha Male fighters, including Garbrandt, say Dillashaw turned his back on them.

“Let him say what he wants, but that motivates me,” Garbrandt said. “If you say you’re going to ruin my career and basically take food out of my child’s mouth, that’s fine. I didn’t need any more motivation with my new son, and while I’m coming off my first loss, I’ve been more motivated than I ever have out of any win.”

Any viewer of the pay-per-view show can’t miss the clear contrast between Garbrandt, the rural Ohio product with prominent neck tattoos, and Dillashaw, the clean-cut college graduate with a California surfer look. But the rematch primarily is a collision of two fighters with legitimate reason to think they’re the best in the 135-pound division.

Garbrandt rocketed to the top of the class, winning the belt less than two years after entering the UFC. He lost his title in equally stunning fashion last November to Dillashaw, who reclaimed the strap he had lost to Dominick Cruz nearly two years earlier.

During his ascent, Garbrandt appeared to be the archetype of the most compelling lighter-weight fighters. He was slick, athletic, stylistically well-rounded and powerful enough to generate knockouts — and he looked the part of a mixed martial arts star, right down to those tattoos that spread down his resplendently multicolored arms. Garbrandt’s neck is covered by large wings flanking a diamond, with the words “SELF MADE” atop his sternum.

He seemed ticketed for superstardom — until Dillashaw, the former Cal State Fullerton wrestler whose only losses in the last six years were on debatable split decisions, wrecked the narrative with his fists.


Immediately after their bout at Madison Square Garden, Garbrandt claims he tried to quash their grudge, but Dillashaw rejected him. Dillashaw says he isn’t to blame for not wanting Garbrandt around him.

“You’ve got me by the throat before, and that pushed me overboard,” Dillashaw said, recalling a past scuffle between the two. “What’s changed now? Just because I slapped you upside your face, what’s different? Why have you got to be fake?”

While Garbrandt doesn’t accept the blame for this state of affairs, he insists he has grown and changed since his wife, Danny, gave birth in March to their first child, a son named Kai. But Garbrandt also angrily declined to apologize this week for a series of racially insensitive tweets from his early 20s.

“I’ve never felt entitled to anything in my life,” Garbrandt said. “I feel like everything happens for a reason. I’ve been given second chances my whole entire life. … T.J. is a tough adversary. He’s skilled. He’s a good competitor. He doesn’t like to lose either. That’s what’s great about this rivalry.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Four travel destinations inspired by 2017 Oscar nominees

From Los Angeles in the United States with Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land”, to Kolkata, India with Garth Davis’ “Lion”, this year’s Oscar nominees give travel-hungry moviegoers a taste of all kinds of global destinations. Here’s a look at some of the locations where this year’s Best Picture nominees were filmed.

“Lion” directed by Garth Davis
Kolkata, India

This true story of a young Indian boy fostered by an Australian couple treats viewers to landscapes in India and Australia. While the Tasmanian capital, Hobart, and Melbourne, in the state of Victoria, are good options for a trip to Australia, the child’s search for identity also takes moviegoers to the heart of authentic, rural India, on location in the city of Kolkata. Visitors can take in the local architecture, stroll over Howrah Bridge (crossed by millions of Indians every day) and admire the reflection of the trees in the water surrounding Victoria Memorial.

“La La Land” directed by Damien Chazelle
Los Angeles, California, U.S.

This Oscar favorite, with no less than 14 nominations, pays homage to Hollywood musicals of the 1940s and 1950s with a romantic tale that takes viewers on tour of Los Angeles. The movie was filmed at no less than 40 different locations in the City of Angels. One iconic setting, seen on the movie poster, shows a spectacular view over the San Fernando Valley. Scenes were also filmed at The Lighthouse Cafe, a club where legendary artists such as Miles Davis previously performed. Note that this nightclub is no longer a jazz club, and now plays salsa, reggae and country music. The Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park is also a must for visitors following in the footsteps of Mia and Sebastian. In addition to must-visit L.A. filming locations, visitors to the city can enjoy a trip to Universal Studios, a stroll along Hollywood Boulevard and a trip to Beverly Hills.

“Manchester by the Sea” directed by Kenneth Lonergan
Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, U.S.

The American town that lends its name to this feature film is like a character in its own right in the movie’s narrative. However, the film’s main scenes were filmed a few miles away in Cape Ann. Still, moviegoers can be assured that some movie scenes were also filmed in Manchester-by-the-Sea, as well as Gloucester, Essex, Rockport and Beverley. The nearest major U.S. city is Boston, an hour’s drive away. A trip to this former colonial city should include a stroll around the stylish neighborhood of Beacon Hill, plus some chill-out time in the U.S.’s oldest public park, Boston Common. Other sights include Trinity Church and a student-led tour of Harvard.

“Hacksaw Ridge” directed by Mel Gibson
Sydney, Australia                                                                                                              
The historical war movie directed by Mel Gibson was filmed in the region of Sydney, New South Wales, where the battlefields of the Second World War were recreated. In fact, the production team set up in Goulburn, around 121 miles southwest of the stunning Australian city, famous for its iconic opera house. Scenes were also filmed in Bringelly and Richmond on the outskirts of Sydney. For a first trip to the Australian city, must-visits include The Rocks, a historic part of town previously inhabited by the first British settlers. Head to the Central Business District to visit the Sydney Opera House, Hyde Park and the Sydney Tower Eye for 360-degree views over the city. JB

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

‘Stairway to Heaven’ plagiarism trial underway

LOS ANGELES, United States — Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Robert Plant appeared in court Tuesday to defend “Stairway to Heaven,” one of the most iconic songs in rock history, from accusations of plagiarism.

The two artists, dressed in black suits, arrived to a throng of reporters at Los Angeles federal court, where a jury of four men and four women was selected ahead of opening arguments in the high-profile case.

Spirit, a psychedelic band from Los Angeles that enjoyed a niche following but never attained the superstardom of Zeppelin, claims the iconic melancholic guitar riff that opens “Stairway to Heaven” was lifted from its instrumental track “Taurus.”

Spirit’s guitarist Randy Wolfe — who went by the nickname Randy California — never took legal action and died in 1997, but a lawsuit was filed by his trustee Michael Skidmore, who was present in court Tuesday.

“It’s going to be a short trial. No foreplay. In and out,” said Skidmore’a attorney, Francis Malofiy.

Attorneys on both sides said they expect the trial to last about five days.

In a magazine interview just before his death, California said it was clear when one listens to the two songs that “Stairway to Heaven” was a “rip-off.”

“And the guys made millions of bucks on it and never said ‘Thank you,’ never said, ‘Can we pay you some money for it?’ It’s kind of a sore point with me,” he said in the interview, quoted in the lawsuit.

After two years of legal proceedings, a judge stopped short of agreeing that the song was copied, but said there was enough of a case for a jury trial in Los Angeles.

Spirit’s representative “failed to proffer evidence of striking similarity, but he has successfully created a triable issue of fact as to access and substantial similarity,” US District Court Judge Gary Klausner said in a ruling in May.

The judge said the two sides had “vehemently contested” the question of whether Led Zeppelin had access to 1967’s “Taurus” before recording “Stairway to Heaven” in London in December 1970 and January 1971.

‘Deep-rooted history’

Led Zeppelin was the opening act for Spirit when the hard British rockers — Plant, Page, John Paul Jones and the since deceased John Bonham — made their US debut on December 26, 1968 in Denver.

But surviving members of Led Zeppelin submitted testimony to the court that they never had substantive interaction with Spirit or listened to the band’s music.

Led Zeppelin argued that the opening of “Stairway to Heaven” — a descending sequence mostly in the A minor key — had been used in music for centuries and that the lawsuit ignored the rest of the song, which builds over eight minutes.

The judge disagreed, writing that the two songs had additional similarities, including the bass line.

Skidmore has not specified the total in damages he is seeking, but various stories in the music press have posited a possible settlement at anywhere between a symbolic $1 plus a writing credit to as much as $40 million.

The lawsuit, originally filed in Pennsylvania, speaks of Led Zeppelin’s “deep-rooted history of lifting composition from blues artists and other songwriters who they have repeatedly failed to credit.”

It lists disputes over 16 other Led Zeppelin songs, many of which were settled by giving the complainant a songwriting credit and royalties, including classics “Whole Lotta Love” and “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You.”

“Randy California deserves writing credit for ‘Stairway to Heaven’ and to take his place as an author of rock’s greatest song,” the lawsuit asserts.

The case comes amid a rise in such copyright hearings, with the family of Marvin Gaye last year controversially winning more than $7 million from a jury over the song “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Ed Sheeran faces $20M copyright suit over song ‘Photograph’

LOS ANGELES — British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is facing a $20 million lawsuit alleging he used another song as the basis for his international hit “Photograph.”

The suit accusing him of copyright infringement was filed Wednesday in Los Angeles by Martin Harrington and Tom Leonard, composers of the song “Amazing.”

City News Service cites court documents that say “Amazing” and “Photograph” are nearly identical in pitch, tempo and structure.

A message seeking comment from Sheeran’s representatives wasn’t immediately returned Thursday.

“Amazing” was recorded and released as a single by Matt Cardle, winner of the 2010 season of TV’s “The X Factor.” Cardle is not a party to the lawsuit.

“Photograph” topped pop charts throughout the world and sold more than 3.5 million copies.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Tickets to Kobe’s last game won’t come cheap

HOLLYWOOD — Seeing Kobe Bryant wear the purple and gold for one last time won’t come cheap.

Resale tickets for Bryant’s final NBA game at Staples Center here Wednesday night come at a hefty price with seats at the uppermost level of the Arena going for over $700, and it doesn’t get cheaper from there.

Lower level tickets, where you have a better view of the playing court, are being sold up to $10,000 at TicketExchange.com.

Since the five-time champion announced he will retire at the end of the current season, Bryant has been given a fitting farewell at every arena during the Lakers’ road games.

It’s no surprise than in this sprawling city of Los Angeles, the anticipation to see its longtime basketball hero don the iconic Lakers’ jersey for the final time is much more intense.

According to a report from ESPN.com, LA will rename one of its train stations down to the “Kobe Station” and will start changing the signages to bear the Bryant’s name early Wednesday.

Wednesday’s game against the visiting Utah Jazz will also be the Lakers’ last this 2015-2016 season after failing to make the playoffs with a 16-65 record, the second worst in the league and good for dead last in the Western Conference.

The Lakers’ record will hardly matter, though, with all eyes on Bryant, who is one of the greatest and most thrilling players to ever set foot in the NBA.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Pacquiao attacker references LGBT controversy

HOLLYWOOD—Security is going to be tight for Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas from now on after a man attacked the eight-division champion at a parking lot of a Japanese restaurant Sunday afternoon.

Pacquiao had just finished lunch at Kabuki Restaurant on Vine St., here and greeted well-wishers before heading for the parking lot where his Ferrari was stationed. According to some witnesses, all of a sudden, a tall, decently dressed man around 35 to 40 years old lunged at the boxer and tried to throw a punch.

Fortunately, Edward Lura, Pacquiao’s longtime friend, was able to ward off the Caucasian-looking attacker.

Other members of Pacquiao’s security detail joined the fray and subdued the man, according to David Sisson, Pacquiao’s personal assistant, who witnessed the incident that occurred around 3 p.m.

The attacker continued screaming at Pacquiao, referencing the LGBT controversy he sparked with his comments about same-sex marriage.

“F**k you, f**k you Pacquiao. You homophobic…”

Pacquiao remained calm and told his security not to hurt the man.

“Let him go. Don’t hurt him.”

Other eyewitness accounts, however, said the attacker merely verbally abused Pacquiao before he was whisked away by security personnel.

Security personnel heeded his call and just pushed the man away as Pacquiao left the premises of the Japanese restaurant where members of his entourage usually had lunch after attending church service.

Sisson, son of American missionaries based in General Santos City, added that Johnny Bantilan, a former boxer and Pacquiao’s friend, had to be restrained from going after the attacker.

The commotion, which drew the attention of restaurant personnel and customer, was apparently an offshoot of the LGBTbrouhaha involving Pacquiao last February.

Pacquiao remained calm throughout the incident and even joked that the attacker was not an enemy but a fan.

“He’s a fan. He was saying Pacquiao, not f**k you,” Sisson quoted Pacquiao as saying.


source: sports.inquirer.net

LOOK: List of nominees in main Grammy categories

LOS ANGELES, United States — Rapper Kendrick Lamar leads nominations for Monday’s Grammy Awards with nods in a near-record 11 categories, although he faces stiff competition from Taylor Swift.

Here is a list of the nominees for some top categories at the 58th Grammy Awards, which will be presented at a gala ceremony in Los Angeles:  




 


Album of the Year

– Alabama Shakes, “Sound and Color”

– Kendrick Lamar, “To Pimp a Butterfly”

– Chris Stapleton, “Traveller”

– Taylor Swift, “1989”

– The Weeknd, “Beauty Behind the Madness”

Record of the Year (for single)

– D’Angelo and the Vanguard, “Really Love”

– Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk”

– Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud”

– Taylor Swift, “Blank Space”

– The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel My Face”

Song of the Year (for songwriting)

– Kendrick Lamar, “Alright.” Songwriters also include hip-hop producer Sounwave and pop star Pharrell Williams

– Taylor Swift, “Blank Space.” Songwriters also include Swedish production team of Max Martin and Shellback

– Country and folk songwriters Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna and Liz Rose, “Girl Crush.” Song performed by group Little Big Town

– Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth, “See You Again.” Songwriters also include hip-hop producer DJ Frank E and songwriter Andrew Cedar

– Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud”

Best New Artist

– Courtney Barnett

– James Bay

– Sam Hunt

– Tori Kelly

– Meghan Trainor

Best Pop Solo Performance

– Kelly Clarkson, “Heartbeat Song”

– Ellie Goulding, “Love Me Like You Do”

– Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud”

– Taylor Swift, “Blank Space”

– The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel My Face”

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

– Florence and the Machine, “Ship to Wreck”

– Maroon 5, “Sugar”

– Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk”

– Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar, “Bad Blood”

– Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth, “See You Again”

Best Rock Album

– James Bay, “Chaos and the Calm”

– Death Cab for Cutie, “Kintsugi”

– Highly Suspect, “Mister Asylum”

– Muse, “Drones”

Best Alternative Music Album

– Alabama Shakes, “Sound and Color”

– Bjork, “Vulnicura”

– My Morning Jacket, “The Waterfall”

– Tame Impala, “Currents”

– Wilco, “Star Wars”

Best Rap Album

– J. Cole, “2014 Forest Hills Drive”

– Dr. Dre, “Compton”

– Drake, “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late”

– Kendrick Lamar, “To Pimp a Butterfly”

– Nicki Minaj, “The Pinkprint”

Best World Music Album

– Gilberto Gil, “Gilbertos Samba Ao Vivo” (Brazil)

– Angelique Kidjo, “Sings” (Benin/Luxembourg)

– Ladysmith Black Mambazo with Ella Spira and The Inala Ensemble, “Music from Inala” (South Africa/Britain)

– Anoushka Shankar, “Home” (India/Britain)

– Zomba Prison Project, “I Have No Everything Here” (Malawi)

Best Dance/Electronic Album
– Caribou, “Our Love”

– The Chemical Brothers, “Born in the Echoes”

– Disclosure, “Caracal”

– Jamie XX, “In Colour”

– Skrillex and Diplo, “Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack U”

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

‘Spotlight’ bags SAG top prize

LOS ANGELES—“Spotlight,” a drama about sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, landed the top prize on Saturday at the 22nd Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards that also saw black actors score major wins.

The SAG Awards, seen as a bellwether of the all-important Academy Awards, were being closely watched as they were taking place amid a controversy over the lack of diversity in this year’s list of Oscar nominees.

“Spotlight” took the prize for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture, the SAG equivalent of an Oscar.

It bested “Beasts of No Nation,” a drama about a child soldier; “The Big Short,” about the subprime mortgage crisis; “Straight Outta Compton,” a biopic about the NWA rap group; and “Trumbo,” about the life of acclaimed screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who was the target of a witch-hunt during the McCarthy era.

In the acting honors, Leonardo DiCaprio won the best actor award for his portrayal of fur trapper Hugh Glass in the revenge thriller “The Revenant.”

DiCaprio, 41, an Oscar favorite for the gritty survival story, beat competition from Bryan Cranston (“Trumbo”), Johnny Depp (“Black Mass”), Michael Fassbender (“Steve Jobs”) and Eddie Redmayne (“The Danish Girl”).

In the best actress category, Brie Larson won for “Room,” in which she plays a kidnapped young woman living in captivity with her son.

But perhaps most notable at the star-studded ceremony were the number of black actors honored as Hollywood reels from a fierce backlash over the lack of diversity in the Oscar nominations.

Idris Elba scooped two awards, one for best supporting actor for Netflix’s “Beasts of No Nation,” and one for best actor in a TV series for his role as a detective in the British crime drama “Luther.”

‘Diverse TV’

“Welcome to diverse TV,” joked Elba, who was passed over for an Oscar nomination, as he presented an award during the ceremony at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium.

Uzo Aduba took home the award for outstanding actress in a comedy series for her role as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren in Netflix’s prison comedy-drama “Orange is the New Black.” The TV series also won for the second consecutive year for best comedy ensemble.

“Look at this stage, this is what we talk about when we talk about diversity—different race, color, creed, sexual orientation,” actress Laura Prepon, who plays Alex Vause in the series, told the audience, referring to the #OscarsSoWhite controversy.

Viola Davis won best actress for legal drama series “How to Get Away With Murder,” while Queen Latifah won for outstanding actress in a television movie or miniseries for her role in HBO’s “Bessie,” a biopic of the blues singer Bessie Smith.



‘Society of trending topics’

“We’ve become a society of trending topics,” Davis told reporters backstage after her win, addressing the diversity controversy.

“Diversity is not a trending topic…. Regardless of what’s going on at the Academy (of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences), we will always find a way to be excellent,” she added.

A number of actors, including Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, have said they will not attend the Oscars ceremony on Feb. 28 over the diversity issue.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which picks the Oscar winners, has responded to the criticism by vowing to make major changes to promote diversity. AFP

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Celine Dion leads music world in mourning Paris during AMAs

Celine Dion on Sunday led the music industry in an emotional tribute to the victims of the Paris attacks, as the American Music Awards (AMAs) heard appeals for a peaceful world.

The Canadian singer sang Edith Piaf’s classic “Hymne a l’Amour” (“Hymn to Love”) in French at the star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles, which went ahead barely a week after the assault on a concert hall and other civilian targets across Paris.

In front of a screen flashing images of Paris that culminated with the Eiffel Tower in the French flag’s tricolor, Dion sang the song of lost love as some members of the audience were seen in tears.

Dion was introduced by the actor and musician Jared Leto, who recalled playing with his band Thirty Seconds to Mars earlier this year at the historic Bataclan theater that saw the heaviest death toll in the November 13 attacks.

Some 130 people died but “another seven billion will forever be scarred by this horrific and senseless tragedy,” Leto said.

“France matters, Russia matters, Syria matters, Mali matters, the Middle East matters, the United States matters — the entire world matters. And peace is possible,” he said to applause.

Leto also took aim at anti-foreigner sentiment that has emerged in the wake of the Paris attacks, which was claimed by the Islamic State group.

“Many of us here are the sons and the daughters of immigrants,” he said, pointing out that late Apple innovator Steve Jobs was of Syrian heritage.

Music ‘positive’ amid tragedy

The tribute was a rare somber note in the made-for-television gala, although the electronic producer Skrillex also referred to world turmoil as he accepted an award for his work with pop celebrity Justin Bieber.

“There is so much negative stuff going on in the world, so it’s up to us to be positive,” Skrillex said of musicians’ role.

The rap duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis also took to the stage to debut a new song, “Kevin,” a politically charged tale of drug addiction’s toll in modern America that featured the soul singer Leon Bridges.

The American Music Awards are designed as a glitzy extravaganza and, unlike the more prestigious Grammy Awards which will take place in February, the winners are determined by voting from fans rather than the music industry.

For the second straight year, British boy band One Direction won Artist of the Year.

The prize comes just after the band released its latest album, “Made in the A.M.,” that the group says will be its last before a hiatus.

Pop superstar Taylor Swift won three awards, more than anyone else, including favorite album for her blockbuster “1989.”

Surprise moments

Ariana Grande, the child star turned arena-packing pop singer, beat out Swift for favorite female pop or rock artist.

The 22-year-old, initially at a loss for words, thanked her gray-haired grandmother who had been sitting next to her in the audience.

“I think I owe a lot of this to my nonna,” Grande, who is of Italian descent, said in reference to her grandmother.

“She told me, ‘Ariana, I went on the computer and voted, so I think you’ll win.'”

In a sign of the burgeoning US market for country music, the award for favorite new artist went to Nashville crooner Sam Hunt, who outpaced emerging stars in other genres including The Weeknd who won in the two R&B categories.

In one of the moments that drew the most attention on social media, young singer Charlie Puth passionately kissed Meghan Trainor after they sang together.

Puth and Trainor, who has become a star in part due to her struggles with body image, had teamed up for his song “Marvin Gaye,” which uses the name of the legendary “Let’s Get It On” R&B singer as a euphemism for sex.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Hollywood ‘stands in solidarity’ with France, says Academy president

Hollywood stands in solidarity with France, the head of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences said Saturday at a star-studded gala honoring three top figures in the industry.

“All of us here stand in solidarity and support of France and the French people,” Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs said at the Governors Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

“So as we gather here to celebrate our history and some of the people who have made it, we also mourn those who died.

“We send our deepest affection to our brothers and sisters in France.”

Filmmaker Spike Lee, who received an honorary Oscar at the gala for his contribution to film, said he was also moved by Friday’s terror attacks that left at least 129 dead — especially since his daughter is an exchange student in France and had just left the country on the day of the attacks.

“My heart goes out to all the people of Paris,” Lee told AFP. “I’ve always loved France.

“The French have always treated me very well and Vive la France.”

Also awarded an honorary Oscar at the event was actress Gena Rowlands, whose rich film career includes 10 movies she made with her husband John Cassavetes.

Film star Debbie Reynolds, who did not attend the ceremony because she was recovering from surgery, received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her work in raising public awareness of mental health issues.

Oscar winning actress Cate Blanchett paid a glowing tribute to Rowlands, 85, saying she had had a profound influence on her acting career and that of many others.

“When I see the work of Gena Rowlands, the intense authenticity, and the immediacy of her acting, it seems to me to be the closest that anyone has ever come to capturing on film that special quality, that presence.”

“So Gena, for what you have given me, for what you have given all of us, and perhaps most importantly for what you have given the craft of acting, a very sincere and deep thank you,” Blanchett added.

Rowlands, who received best actress nominations for 1974’s “A Woman Under the Influence” and “Gloria” in 1980, both directed by her late husband, said she was honored to finally receive the golden statuette.

“You know what’s wonderful about being an actress is you don’t live one life, you live many lives and for that you have to thank the writers,” she said to a standing ovation.

Rowland’s son, Nick Cassavettes, who directed her in her last movie “The Notebook” in 2004, said: “First Oscar in the family. All I can say is it’s about damn time.”

Three-time Academy winner Meryl Streep paid tribute to Reynolds’ philanthropic contributions, notably through the Thalians, a charitable organization she founded to raise awareness and provide treatment to those suffering from mental illness.

Streep also spoke of the “astonishing” collection of Hollywood memorabilia the “Singin’ in the Rain” actress had amassed over the years.

“Debbie Reynolds’ preservation fight must be recognized and rewarded,” Streep said.

Receiving his award, Lee, America’s best-known black filmmaker, whose movies often focus on hot-button issues such as racial tensions, spoke of his struggle to make it in the film industry.

“Our parents told us from an early age that we had to be 10 times better than our white classmates,” said Lee, who earned Oscar nominations for “Do the Right Thing” (1989) and “4 Little Girls” (1997).

He added that while Hollywood was moving to integrate African-Americans, women and other minorities, it still had a long way to go.

“Everybody here probably voted for Obama,” he told the audience of actors, producers and other industry professionals.

“But when I go to offices (in Hollywood) I see no black people,” Lee said.

“It’s easier to be president of the United States than be a black studio head.”

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Kanye West rants at VMAs, Miley Cyrus flashes breast

Taylor Swift won video of the year, Miley Cyrus briefly flashed one of her breasts and Kanye West ranted at the MTV Video Music Awards.

After Swift won the top prize for “Bad Blood,” Cyrus was backstage speaking and hiding behind a curtain, but one of her breasts appeared onscreen before the camera cut away. MTV said the clip will be removed from all future broadcasts.

Cyrus closed the show at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles with a performance, which started with the line: “Yeah, I spoke pot.”

She’s not the only one: West, who said he got high before going onstage on Sunday, gave a rambling speech as he apologized to Taylor Swift for taking her microphone in 2009, admitting “I don’t understand awards shows,” bashing MTV, and claiming he would run for president in 2020.

Swift presented West with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award on Sunday night at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

“This arena tomorrow is gonna be a completely different setup, this stage will be gone. After that night, the stage was gone, but the affect that it had on people remained,” West said of running onstage during Swift’s speech at the 2009 VMAs. “The problem was the contradiction. The contradiction is I do fight for artists, but in that fight I somehow was disrespectful to artists. I didn’t know how to say the right thing, the perfect thing.”

It was just one of the dramatic moments at the awards show. Nicki Minaj called Miley Cyrus out at the MTV Video Music Awards after the 22-year-old said in an interview that the rapper was being a poor sport about not receiving a nomination for video of the year.

After collecting best hip-hop video for “Anaconda” on Sunday, Minaj told the audience: “And now back to this b—- that had a lot to say about me a lot in the press. Miley, what’s good?”

Minaj’s microphone was cut off, and Cyrus fired back with “we all know how they manipulate” words during interviews, referencing a pre-VMAs interview in the New York Times. Cyrus then stumbled over her words as she tried to read from cue cards about voting for the artist to watch award.

“I lost this award in 2008 and I was fine with it. Whatever! Because it’s no big deal. It’s just an award and I persevered,” she yelled, appearing to look over at Minaj.

She ended with: “Congratulations Nicki.”

In the recent interview, Cyrus criticized Minaj for her “pop star war” with Swift that began in July. On the show, however, that “war” appeared to be over, with Swift joining the rapper during her performance of the “The Night Is Still Young.” Both in red, Swift performed some of her hit, “Bad Blood,” and the two closed with a hug.

The beef began in July when the nominations were announced and Minaj, who had one of the most viewed videos of the year with “Anaconda,” was not up for video of the year. She tweeted that slim women easily earn top nominations and said black female entertainers don’t get enough credit for their influence on pop culture. Swift, the top nominee with 10 nods, thought the rapper was referring to her and they traded words online, but later apologized.

Swift’s wins included best female video and pop video for “Blank Space” and video of the year for “Bad Blood.”

“I know there’s been a lot of discussion about this video and what it means, but I’m just happy that in 2015 we live in a world where boys can play princesses and girls can play soldiers,” she said onstage after winning the top prize.

Justin Bieber returned to the big stage with slick dance moves to his hit “Where Are U Now” and new single, “What Do You Mean.” He was emotional by the end of the performance and cried onstage.

Tori Kelly was a vocal powerhouse during her performance of “Should’ve Been Us,” ending in a cappella to a rousing applause. The Weeknd’s smoky performance of “Can’t Feel My Face” was energetic and smooth, and even West, Swift and Selena Gomez got out of the chairs to dance to the upbeat track. And Demi Lovato brought a sexy vibe when she sang her anthemic “Cool for the Summer” outdoors with background dancers wearing bright colors that added to the song’s summer-feel.

Cyrus hosted the VMAs two years after she stole the show with a risque, but memorable performance with Robin Thicke, and a year after winning the top prize for “Wrecking Ball.” She took a selfie with people in the audience and asked them to yell: “Marijuana.”

“Ellen, you ain’t got nothing on this,” she said.

Cyrus announced at the end of the show that her new album is available online for free.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Johnny Depp weds Amber Heard—reports

LOS ANGELES, United States – Hollywood superstar Johnny Depp has married actress Amber Heard in secret at their home in Los Angeles, US media said Wednesday, ahead of a larger bash at the weekend.

Depp, 51, and Heard, 28, got engaged in 2012 and plan a bigger wedding this weekend on Depp’s private island in the Bahamas, People magazine reported, citing a source.

Depp, a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild winner, was married previously to Lori Anne Allison and has dated a string of glamorous and famous women including Winona Ryder, his co-star in “Edward Scissorhands,” British model Kate Moss and French actress and singer Vanessa Paradis.

Depp has two children with Paradis.


He and Heard, who tied the knot on Tuesday, met on the set of the film “The Rum Diary” in 2011.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Winners at the 22nd annual MTV Movie Awards

Winners at the 22nd annual MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday:    



















— Movie of the year: “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.”

— Best female performance: Jennifer Lawrence, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.”

— Best male performance: Josh Hutcherson, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.”

— Breakthrough performance: Will Poulter, “We’re the Millers.”

— Best kiss: Emma Roberts, Jennifer Aniston and Will Poulter, “We’re the Millers.”

— Best fight: Orlando Bloom and Evangeline Lilly vs. Orcs in “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.”

— Best comedic performance: Jonah Hill, “The Wolf of Wall Street.”

— Best shirtless performance: Zac Efron, “That Awkward Moment.”

— Best villain: Mila Kunis, “Oz the Great and Powerful.”

— Best on-screen transformation: Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club.”

— Best musical moment: Backstreet Boys, Jay Baruchel, Seth Rogen and Craig Robinson perform in Heaven, “This is the End.”

— Best cameo performance: Rihanna, “This is the End.”

— Favorite character: Tris, played by Shailene Woodley in “Divergent.”

— Best scared-as-s— performance: Brad Pitt, “World War Z.”

— Best on-screen duo: Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, “Fast & Furious 6.”

— #WTF moment: Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Wolf of Wall Street.”

— Best hero: Henry Cavill, “Man of Steel.”

— Trailblazer award: Channing Tatum.

— Generation award: Mark Wahlberg.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Fast and Furious’ star’s death ruled accident

LOS ANGELES—”Fast and Furious” star Paul Walker died of “traumatic and thermal injuries” in a fiery car accident, coroners said Wednesday, as the film franchise’s makers said they were shutting down production for now.

A preliminary autopsy report confirmed that Walker, 40, was the passenger in a $400,000 red 2005 Porsche Carrera GT driven by his friend Roger Rodas when it crashed at speed Saturday in Santa Clarita, north of Los Angeles.

Rodas died of “multiple traumatic injuries,” according to the preliminary autopsy results, while Walker’s cause of death was listed as the “combined effects of traumatic and thermal injuries.”

The results of toxicology tests are still pending, and could take six to eight weeks, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office said, ruling both deaths as accidental.

The star’s death stunned fans of the high-octane series, who have flocked to the spot where he died, contributing to a growing makeshift shrine where co-stars including Vin Diesel have come to pay their respects in the days since the crash.

It was a huge blow to studio giant Universal, for whom the franchise is a huge money maker, in an industry increasingly dependent on lucrative blockbuster sequels.

Universal Pictures announced Wednesday they have shut down production of “Fast and Furious 7″ following Walker’s death.

“Right now, all of us at Universal are dedicated to providing support to Paul’s immediate family and our extended ‘Fast & Furious’ family of cast, crew and filmmakers,” said a statement by Universal Pictures.

“At this time we feel it is our responsibility to shut down production on ‘Fast & Furious 7′ for a period of time so we can assess all options available to move forward with the franchise.”

Shortly before the crash, Walker had been at an event to raise money for victims of Suppertyphon “Yolanda” (international name: “Haiyan”) in the Philippines for Reach Out Worldwide (ROWW), a non-profit disaster relief group the actor founded.

The actor was taking a Thanksgiving break from filming the seventh “Fast and Furious” movie, which had been scheduled for release in July.

The filmmakers added: “We are committed to keeping ‘Fast & Furious’ fans informed, and we will provide further information to them when we have it. Until then, we know they join us in mourning the passing of our dear friend Paul Walker.”

Walker raced cars, described himself on Twitter as an “outdoorsman, ocean addict,” and “adrenaline junkie,” and did many of his own movie stunts.

Due to appear in non-action film

In a departure from his action movie roles, Walker is due to appear in “Hours,” an independent movie set for mid-December release about a father who struggles to keep his ailing infant daughter alive after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005.

Walker was also scheduled to star in the 2014 crime-action film “Brick Mansions,” a remake of the 2004 French movie District B13.

Before his “Fast and Furious” breakthrough, Walker appeared in TV commercials as a child, and was in several 1980s TV shows.

He became a teen heartthrob, appearing in such movies as “Pleasantville” (1988), “She’s All That” and “Varsity Blues” (both 1999).

The first “Fast and Furious” movie appeared in 2001. The series, with its focus on fast cars, tough guys, sexy starlets and exotic locales, is one of Hollywood’s most successful global franchises.—Michael Thurston

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Paul Walker dies in car crash during charity event for Philippine typhoon victims

“Fast and Furious” star Paul Walker is, indirectly, the latest victim of supertyphoon Haiyan/Yolanda. According to reports from multiple sources including his official Twitter page, the actor was at Santa Clarita, California, for a car show to support relief effort for Philippine typhoon victims. He had been taking friends out for rides in his Porsche when he met with an accident. It was not verified who was driving the car or why the accident happened. Paul Walker was 40 years old.

Walker’s representatives posted online, using the actor’s official Twitter and Facebook account, “It is with a truly heavy heart that we must confirm that Paul Walker passed away today in a tragic car accident while attending a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide.”

“He was a passenger in a friend’s car, in which both lost their lives.”


Ame Van Iden, the actor’s publicist, said the accident happened Saturday afternoon (US time) in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department said the crash happened in community of Valencia. The Santa Clarita Signal reported a red Porsche crashed into a light pole and tree and burst into flames.

TMZ, the first entertainment website to break the news, said Walker was in a Porsche when its unidentified driver supposedly lost control and crashed into a tree.

The same article said Walker was in Los Angeles for “a car show to support the Philippines typhoon relief effort.”

The actor, together with his co-stars, earlier urged people to help the Philippines in the aftermath of what is now considered among the world’s strongest typhoons that left more than 5,000 people dead in the country.

Walker is the founder of Reach Out Worldwide, a humanitarian aid organization formed in 2010 to help victims of the Haiti earthquake. The organization has already sent medical teams to areas affected by the super typhoon “Yolanda.”

Until now, fans refuse to believe news of the actor’s death, thinking it is another hoax.

But Walker’s representatives said on Facebook, “We appreciate your patience as we too are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news. Thank you for keeping his family and friends in your prayers during this very difficult time. We will do our best to keep you apprised on where to send condolences.”

Walker was working on the latest “Fast & Furious” movie at the time of his death. He also starred in the suspense drama, “Hours,” a movie that is set for release this month.

source: motioncars.inquirer.net

Gasol racks up 24 points and $24,000 for ‘Yolanda’ victims

MANILA, Philippines — Pau Gasol came up big on Saturday, scoring a 24 big points en route to victory — not only for the Los Angeles Lakers, but for the Filipinos as well.

Gasol’s pledge to donate $1,000 for every point he scored against Golden State was already a gesture worth praise, but the Spaniard still took that extra mile to help.

“I definitely had motivation of scoring tonight for the Philippines,” Gasol said after the 102-95 win at home in Staples Center.

It was only Gasol’s third 20-point scoring night in 13 games this season for the Lakers, and he even finished just a shade under his season-best of 25.

Gasol also had 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block to rally the Lakers, who still.

In total, Gasol is donating $24,000 to UNICEF to help in the continuous relief efforts, two weeks after super Typhoon “Yolanda” caused wide-spread damage in Eastern Visayas.

Gasol’s efforts, though, didn’t just stop after that win. He encouraged his 2.3 million Twitter followers to help as well — something he has been doing for the past week.

Some of his followers had offered at least a dollar for every point he scores or two for every rebound he gets — to which Gasol answered, “every bit counts.”

Former Lakers coach and legend Phil Jackson was one of those who pledged, offering $50 for every point and rebound Gasol chalks up.

Jackson also said he’ll add $1,000 for every charge Gasol would draw but the Laker star didn’t take one that night.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Nominees in main Emmys categories

LOS ANGELES—Following is a list of nominees announced Thursday in the main categories for the 65th annual primetime Emmy awards, to be handed out in Los Angeles on September 22:








DRAMA SERIES:

“Breaking Bad”

“Downton Abbey”

“Game of Thrones”

“Homeland”

“House of Cards”

“Mad Men”

DRAMA ACTOR:
Hugh Bonneville, “Downton Abbey”

Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad”

Jeff Daniels, “Newsroom”

Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”

Damien Lewis, “Homeland”

Kevin Spacey, “House of Cards”

DRAMA ACTRESS:

Claire Danes, “Homeland”

Vera Farmiga, “Bates Motel”

Michelle Dockery, “Downton Abbey”

Robin Wright, “House of Cards”

Elisabeth Moss, “Mad Men”

Connie Britton, “Nashville”

Kerry Washington, “Scandal”

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA:

Bobby Cannavale, “Boardwalk Empire”

Jonathan Banks, “Breaking Bad”

Aaron Paul, “Breaking Bad”

Jim Carter, “Downton Abbey”

Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones”

Mandy Patinkin, “Homeland”

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA:

Anna Gunn, “Breaking Bad”

Maggie Smith, “Downtown Abbey”

Emilia Clark, “Game of Thrones”

Christine Baranski, “The Good Wife”

Morena Baccarin, “Homeland”

Christina Hendricks, “Mad Men”

COMEDY SERIES:

“The Big Bang Theory”

“Girls”

“Louie”

“Modern Family”

“30 Rock”

“Veep”

COMEDY ACTOR:

Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock”

Jason Bateman, “Arrested Development”

Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”

Matt LeBlanc, “Episodes”

Louis C.K, “Louie”

Don Cheadle, “House of Lies”

COMEDY ACTRESS:

Tina Fey, “30 Rock”

Laura Dern, “Enlightened”

Lena Dunham, “Girls”

Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie”

Amy Poehler, “Parks and Recreation”

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY:

Adam Driver, “Girls”

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, “Modern Family”

Ed O’Neill, “Modern Family”

Ty Burrell, “Modern Family”

Bill Hader, “Saturday Night Live”

Tony Hale, “Veep”

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY:

Mayim Bialik, “The Big Bang Theory”

Jane Lynch, “Glee”

Sofia Vergara, “Modern Family”

Julie Bowen, “Modern Family”

Merritt Wever, “Nurse Jackie”

Jane Krakowski, “30 Rock”

Anna Chlumsky, “Veep”

MINISERIES OR MOVIE:

“American Horror Story: Asylum”

“Behind the Candelabra”

“The Bible”

“Phil Spector”

“Political Animals”

“Top of the Lake”

ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE:

Michael Douglas, “Behind the Candelabra”

Matt Damon, “Behind the Candelabra”

Toby Jones, “The Girl”

Benedict Cumberbatch, “Parade’s End”

Al Pacino, “Phil Spector”

ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE

Jessica Lange, “American Horror Story: Asylum”

Laura Linney, “The Big C: Hereafter”

Helen Mirren, “Phil Spector”

Sigourney Weaver, “Political Animals”

Elisabeth Moss, “Top of the Lake”

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Labor Day sale: $849 round-trip from L.A. to Peru on Lan Airlines

Typically, good sale airfares to South America start from Miami. But Lan Airlines launched a Labor Day sale on tickets to Lima, Peru, that show good savings for travelers in Los Angeles and San Francisco too. Round-trip cost for the West Coast cities is $849, but only for a limited time.

The deal: In this sale, prices for round-trip flights to Lima start at $599 from Miami, $749 from New York and $849 from L.A. and San Francisco.

When: Tickets must be purchased by 8:59 p.m. Pacific time Tuesday for departures between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30. Travel must be completed by Dec. 10.

Tested: I found availability for the sale price for nonstop flights from L.A. to Lima leaving Oct. 17 and returning Oct. 24. On Lan, you can check two bags free. In a check of comparative fares for the same dates, I found the same low price on Taca Airlines, but that requires a layover in El Salvador; nonstop flights cost more than $200 extra in my test.

Contact: Lan Airlines, (866) 435-9526

source: latimes.com