Dave Malkoff's Blog

This juvenile Gray Whale has been breaching for the past day or so just inches off the Malibu Pier.
Out news helicopter got this shot just before noon today.
Gray Whales typically migrate north to Alaska around Feb-Mar so this is not unusual. It is exciting, however, to see them come in this close to shore.
Be the first to know when whales are sighted around Malibu by following the pier's twitter feed @MalibuPier

 

WATCH THE VIDEO AGAIN

Spikey (not Vernon), the German Shepherd, is back at home today with his family after a long adventure. He got out of the Medina family's in Downey during the storms, got into the the rushing Los Angeles River and had to be rescued by an LAFD chopper. During the rescue, Spikey attacked the paramedic-on-a-string who dropped down out of the sky with a helicopter roaring above to rescue the dog. The video's worth watching again.
 

Josh Groban


Celine Dion

Brandy

(AP) Twenty-five years after star-studded anthem "We Are the World" raised millions of dollars to aid famine relief in Africa, celebrities of a different generation were set to gather Monday night to re-record the charity tune to benefit Haiti.

Among those scheduled to perform on the revamped track the night after the Grammy Awards were Akon, Jason Mraz, Bono, Wyclef Jean, Carlos Santana, Enrique Iglesias, Usher, Toni Braxton and Lady Gaga. The session will be held at the same recording studio where the original was cut -- the historic A&M complex in Hollywood.

Quincy Jones, who produced the 1985 anthem, announced last week that he planned to redo the song to benefit recovery from the deadly Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti.

The session was all the talk at Sunday night's Grammy festivities. Music producer RedOne said being asked to participate was "the biggest honor a musician can ever do."

"Having Quincy, our father of music ... and Lionel Richie asking me to contribute and help, I said of course, because this is not about me," he said. "It's about Haiti."

Written by Michael Jackson and Richie, the original "We Are the World" thundered up the charts when it was released on the radio and in record stores in March 1985.

An unprecedented number of top pop musicians gathered at A&M the night of Jan. 28, 1985, following the American Music Awards, to record the tune. The song featured 45 American superstars, including Jackson, Richie, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan and Cyndi Lauper.

The record raised more than $30 million for USA for Africa, a nonprofit organization founded by the singers to fund hunger relief in African nations.

(© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Today on the USC campus, more than 800 music-minded high school kids from all over Southern California got the chance of a lifetime. All around the country the Grammy Foundation sets up pannels with current and legendary music insiders. We spent some time today at the music publishing pannel Big Jon Platt, Warryn Campbell, Melanie Fiona & Lamont Dozier. Want to hear what advice they have for the next generation of artists? We'll have a full report TODAY at 3PM on KCAL9 News.

 

Juan Barreto/Getty Images

Here are some ways to donate to the relief efforts from where you are sitting right now:

The Red Cross - To help with relief efforts, text "HAITI" to "90999" and $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross, charged to your cell phone bill.  You can also give online, via phone or even through wire transfer. Donate to the Red Cross

Yéle Haiti - Founded by musician and U.N. Goodwill Ambassador Wyclef Jean, Yéle's is "a grassroots movement that builds global awareness for Haiti while helping to transform the country through programs in education, sports, the arts and environment." Donate to Yéle Haiti

Doctors Without Borders - DWB is an international medical humanitarian organization founded doctors and journalists in France in 1971. The organization currently has staff on the ground in Haiti working to stem possible loss of life. Donate to Doctors Without Borders

Mercy Corps - Mercy Corps is described as hodgepodge of about 3700 professionals working to help millions in crisis around the world. The group is sending an emergency team to Haiti to help provide food, shelter and other aid. Donate to Mercy Corps

Other Ways To Help Haiti:

• Donate To The American Red Cross
• Charity Navigator
• Action Against Hunger
• Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund
• American Jewish World Service
• CARE
• Beyond Borders
• International Medical Corps
• Oxfam International
• Samaritan's Purse International Relief
• Ben Stiller's 'Stillerstrong' Foundation
• AmeriCares Disaster Relief & Humanitarian Aid
• MercyCorps Emergency Response
• Salvation Army Relief Fund
• World Vision
• Doctors Without Borders
• UNICEF In Haiti Children's Fund

More On The Haiti Earthquake:

• Death Toll Unclear As Earthquake Hits Haiti
• Obama Calls For Swift, Direct Action To Help Haiti
• Reactions & Resources On Crippling Quake
• Slideshow: Earthquake Smashes Haiti 
• Twitter Feed Of Images From Haiti
• TwitPics From Haiti
• More TwitPics From Haiti
• YouTube Amateur Videos, Reactions
• Facebook Users Offer Help, Encouragement

Videos On The Devastation:

• Special Report: Obama On Haiti
• Fast Facts About Haiti
• Massive Earthquake Strikes Haiti Capital
• World Vision Rep.: Quake Victims Slept Outside
• American Husband Rescues Wife From Rubble
• Raw Video: Major Quake Hits Haiti (graphic)
• Hillary Clinton Pledges Relief For Haiti

Bloggers In Haiti React:

• Dispatches From A Fragile Island
• NPH Saint Damien Hospital In Haiti Blog
• The LiveSay Haiti Weblog
• Peter Daniel Goes To Haiti
• Project MediaShare Blog
• Real Help For Haiti
• Steve's Haiti Blog

Haitian News On Earthquake (In U.S. & Abroad)

• Haiti Action Network
• The Daily Haitian Times
• The Haiti Star
• Haiti Press Network (non-English)
• Caribbean Daily News
• More: National Geographic | CIA Factbook

Some Fast Facts About Haiti
(Source: CBS "The Early Show")

• Borders the Dominican Republican on the Island of Hispaniola (between Cuba and Puerto Rico)
• About the size of the state of Maryland
• Population estimated at around 9 million (more than 2 million live in capital city Port-au-Prince)
• Considered the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest in the world (i.e., 70% of the population earn $2.15 per day; half of the population is employed)
• Has high infant mortality rate (60 per every 1,000 births); 10 times that of the United States
• Highest rate of HIV infection in all of Americas
• Infrastructure ranks among the worst in the world
• Hit by four different hurricanes that hit in 2008 that had left 800 dead

Some of those working in Haiti in a humanitarian capacity have contacted the media to share their stories and experiences.

Frank Thorp, a former CBS News employee, spoke with "Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez Wednesday morning about helping to rescue his wife, who is working in Haiti through Haitian Ministries for the Diocese of Norwich. Frank's wife, Jillian, was in the organization's building when the earthquake hit and was immediately buried by rubble. Watch video of Thorp's rescue tale

Joel Trimble, founder of Haiti for Christ, also spoke with "The Early Show" Wednesday morning and shared his harrowing tale of living through the magnitude-7.0 earthquake. "It sounded like a freight train was coming through my house," Trimble said, speaking via Skype. Watch video of Trimble's account
 
Maggie Boyer, Communications Director for World Vision, also shared her experience. "It felt as if a truck had hit a wall," Boyer said through her organization of the initial tremor. "There is extensive damage in the city. People are getting ready to spend the night in the streets. They are not comfortable staying in their houses." Watch video of Boyer's story

Produced by Nicola A. Menzie

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Some of the first photos from the Eureka Earthquake didn't come from the traditional media or even a grocery store security camera. They came from Twitter.

These were taken by bestselling author Amy Stewart for goes by @AmyEureka on twitter more of her photos are available there.
For this story we talked to twitter genious and mommy blogger Jessica Gottlieb  you can also follow her @JessicaGottlieb.

For what it's worth, I'm on faceboook and twitter myself. Links over here ============>>>

 

 

Looking for an LA food truck on Twitter? Try these links...

• Don Chow Tacos  (MEXICAN)
• Calbi BBQ  (BBQ)
• Cool Haus (ICE CREAM)
• Green Truck (SUSTAINABLE)
• Let’s be Frank  (HOT DOGS)
• Nom Nom (VIETNAMESE BAGUETTES)
• The Franken Stand (SPOOKY FOOD)
• The Border Grill (MEXICAN)
• Fish Lips Sushi (JAPANESE)
• King Kone (ICE CREAM)
• Dosa Truck (SOUTH INDIAN)
• BarbiesQ (BBQ)
• Frysmith (FRENCH FRIES)
• Bool BBQ (BBQ)
• Get Shaved (SHAVE ICE)
• Lomo Artigato (JAPANESE)
• Sweets Truck (COFFEE HOUSE)
• India Jones (INDIAN)
• Grilled Cheese Truck (COMFORT FOOD)
• Also try HUNGRYTRUCKS a Twitter account that follows all the trucks in West LA

 

UC Davis researchers have identified 10 locations in California where autism has been found to occur at a higher rate than in the region's surrounding areas. Most of the areas, or clusters, are in locations where parents have higher-than-average levels of education. For more on the findings click here.

It's another season of Survivor and this time YOU could be the sole Survivor winning $1,000,000!
CBS2 and Morongo Casino Resort & Spa want to know WHO YOU ARE and WHY WOULD YOU MAKE THE ULTIMATE SURVIVOR…it's time for the Survivor Open Call!

Date: Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Time: 9am-3pm (line cut-off)
NOTE – you will not be able to stand in line before 6am on 12/29

Location: Morongo Casino Resort & Spa
49500 Seminole Drive
Cabazon, California 92230  [CLICK FOR GOOGLE MAP]
888-MORONGO 
www.morongo.com

Attire: Casual

Open Call Audition Process:
Participants will fill-out an *application and then be asked to discuss who they are and why they would make the next ultimate Survivor for up to 2 minutes on-camera. CBS2 will submit all eligible on-camera entries. Applicants must be present to apply.

* Applications may be downloaded HERE and filled out in advance of the Open Call. Applications will also be available at the Open Call to fill out.

Traits that a Contestant Must Have:
• Strong-willed
• Outgoing
• Adventurous
• Physically and mentally adept
• Adaptable to new environments
• Interesting lifestyles, backgrounds and personalities

Age and Citizenship Requirements:
• All applicants must 18 and over at the time of application, except that if you reside in one of the five states listed below, you must be at least the following age:
Alabama: 19 years or older
District of Columbia: 21 years or older
Mississippi: 21 years or older
Nebraska: 19 years or older
Wyoming: 19 years or older
• All applicants must be United States citizens and be living in the United States.
• All semi-finalists must have a valid United States passport. (It is not required to have your Passport or photo with you at the Open Call, but is VERY HELPFUL.)

Grand Prize:
The Sole Survivor will win $1,000,000.

Participants may experience a long waiting period before their Open Call audition.

If you have previously applied for Survivor and you were a finalist in Los Angeles, please do not reapply.

All decisions made by the Producers are final and not subject to review or appeal.

All applicants must authorize Producers to conduct a background check.

The Survivor location for taping has NOT been disclosed.

For further questions, please call 818-655-2705.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)