Jim Lange, 'The Dating Game' host, dies

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jim Lange, the first host of the popular game show "The Dating Game," dead at 81. He died Tuesday morning after suffering a heart attack, his wife Nancy told The Associated Press Wednesday. Though Lange had a successful career in radio, he is best known for his television role on ABC's "The Dating Game," which debuted in 1965 and on which he appeared for more than a decade, charming audiences with his mellifluous voice and wide, easygoing grin. He also played host to many celebrity guests. Michael Jackson, Steve Martin and Arnold Schwarzenegger, among others, appeared as contestants. Even a pre-"Charlie's Angels" Farrah Fawcett appeared on the program, introduced as "an accomplished artist and sculptress" with a dream to open her own gallery. The show's format: a young man or woman questions three members of the opposite sex, hidden from view, to determine which one would be the best date. The questions were designed by the show's writers to elicit sexy answers. "I've never been out on a date before. What do two kids like us do on a date?" a teenage Michael Jackson asked one of his potential dates on a 1972 episode of the show. "Well, we'd have fun," the girl answered. "We'd go out to dinner, and then I'd go over to your house." Lange was born on Aug. 15, 1932, in St. Paul, Minn., where at 15 he discovered a passion for local radio after winning an audition at a local station. "They wanted a boy and a girl," he said in a 1992 interview with the Bay Area Radio Digest. "They wanted the boy to do sports and the girl to do the dances and stuff that was going on in the Twin Cities — very sexist — and play music once a week." He hosted that show for two years before attending the University of Minnesota and doing a three-year stint in the Marines, according to the Bay Area Radio Museum. His big break on network TV came in 1962 when he was made an announcer and sidekick on "The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show." Later, after "The Dating Game" brought him national recognition, he also hosted the game shows "Hollywood Connection," ''$100,000 Name That Tune" and "The New Newlywed Game." Lang also worked as a disc jockey for decades in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, and upon his retirement from broadcasting in 2005, he was the morning DJ for KABL-FM, which specializes in playing classics from the Big Band era to the 1970s. "As much as he's known for his television work, his real love was radio," his wife said. "He loved doing local radio, especially before it was computerized." Lange himself once told the Bay Area Radio Digest that his favorite aspect of the medium was that "you don't have to worry about lighting directors and cameramen or script writers and all that." "Good radio is still the most fun," he said, "It always will be. Plus, you don't have to wear makeup and you don't have to shave." Lange is survived by a sister, five children, two stepchildren and four grandchildren. Associated Press writer Andrew Dalton contributed to this story,

The Restaurant Guy, a plate of goodness!

I did not want to stop reading this book. It was like drinking an expensive bottle of Merlot. Fantastic book, fantastic people. Noel is the best restaurant guy around, and you really need to hear some of his stories from back in the day, and I promise you won't be bored... I couldn't wait for the next page to start. Noel Stein knows the restaurant business like noone else. An exceptional raconteur, he gives the reader an inside look of how restaurants operate and packs the book with great gossipy tidbits about everyone from Hugh Hefner to Bill Cosby. This book should be made into a movie.

Marina del Rey to get a modern makeover

The marina remain trapped in era when kitschy nautical and Polynesian themes were in vogue. Now county planners are pushing to make it relevant once more. But some older parts of the marina can feel like an anachronism. Wood-shingled buildings sit empty behind caution tape on Panay Way. Water drips over the buzz of a freezer at a neglected ice cream shop hidden inside Fisherman's Village. The county's new planning document for Marina del Rey acknowledges that the area's architecture and infrastructure is "dated" and said a key goal is to "create a vibrant destination." All of the marina's restaurants, retail and other attractions are on L.A. County-owned land, with merchants operating on long-term leases. Consequently, government officials can play a major role in the future look of the area. The vision statement is expected to guide the county's lease negotiations in the coming years. More than a third of the marina's leases are set to expire over the next decade, and officials can demand that lessees revamp their property to match the new plans. For some longtime business owners, deciding exactly how to modernize is a struggle. More than 40 years after it opened, fishing nets still form a tangled web over the weathered wharf posts that stand at the entrance to the Warehouse. Inside the restaurant's dimly lit waiting area, faded pictures framed by tiki wood show people from around the world holding up the restaurant's menu and grinning in their straw hats and oversized sunglasses. The drinks come with stirrers made to look like tiny mermaids. Owner Marti Spencer said that the restaurant was a hot spot for first dates in its heyday, but "it was a time and place that I don't think will probably ever exist again." Today the Warehouse still has loyal customers, most of them older. Spencer said she knows she needs "to appeal to the young." But Spencer said the restaurant's lease expires in 2022 — and she wondered how management can balance the needs of longtime clients and new diners. "It is what it is. It's an old warehouse, and all we do is refurbish the furniture. The structure as it stands is how it was originally built," she said. "How much can you really change the Warehouse without the public that has grown up with the restaurant saying, 'Oh you took that away, or changed that?'"

X-Factor BOOTED by FOX

It's official. Fox has decided to cancel The X Factor after three seasons. The network announced it's decision on February 7. Though the original X Factor has been a solid hit in the U.K. for years, the show never quite caught on when Simon Cowell tried to make the jump across the pond. All three seasons saw fairly low ratings, with this most recent season's numbers coming in particularly low. "I've had a fantastic time over the last 12 years, both on The X Factor and American Idol," Simon said in a statement. "And apart from being lucky enough to find some amazing talent on the shows, I have always had an incredible welcome from the American public (most of the time!)." Up next, the music mogul is heading back to his homeland. "Last year, for a number of reasons, I had to make a decision to return to the U.K. version of The X Factor in 2014. So for now, I'm back to the U.K. and I want to thank FOX for being an incredible partner and I also want to thank everybody who has supported my shows. America, I’ll see you soon!

Robin Thicke Thanks his FANS for their support!

Robin Thicke is thanking his fans for their support following his separation from his wife and canceled tour dates. The "Blurred Lines" singer said that he'd like to "thank everyone for the well wishes these last few days." Thicke and Paula Patton announced they are separating after nine years of marriage. They have a 3-year-old son, and Patton was the inspiration behind much of Thicke's music and appeared in some of his videos. Thicke was set to kick off his tour last week, but he canceled the first two dates because he lost his voice. He also canceled Tuesday's show in Cherokee, N.C., due to "unforeseen circumstances." The 36-year-old says in his post he's looking forward to Thursday's show in Washington, D.C. Patton and Thicke began dating at a young age and were married in 2005. In recent months, their marriage was plagued by rumors of Thicke's infidelity. He was photographed multiple times spending time in nightclubs with other women. The couple stated that their separation was a mutual decision. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Jan Brewer Announces Veto Of Arizona Anti-Gay Bill SB 1062

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) announced her decision to veto legislation on Wednesday that would have allowed businesses to legally refuse service to anyone on "religious freedom" grounds, effectively allowing them to discriminate against same-sex couples. Brewer said the bill had "the potential to create more problems than it purports to solve." "Senate Bill 1062 does not address a specific or present concern related to religious liberty in Arizona," she said. "I have not heard one example where business owners' religious liberty has been violated." The state legislature passed the bill, known as SB 1062, last week. But in recent days, it has come under intense criticism from activists, lawmakers and business interests both in Arizona and nationally. The state's two Republican senators, Jeff Flake and John McCain, called on Brewer to veto it, and major corporations like Marriott, Apple and American Airlines all wrote to the governor and expressed their opposition. Businesses in the Phoenix area were also especially worried, with the Super Bowl set to be held in Glendale, Ariz. in 2015. On Monday, the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee came out against SB 1062, stating,

We have heard loud and clear from our various stakeholders that adoption of this legislation would not only run contrary to that goal but deal a significant blow to the state's economic growth potential. We do not support this legislation." Arizona hasn't been the only state pushing a bill that would allow open discrimination against same-sex couples; similar bills have been popping up in states including Tennessee, Kansas, South Dakota and Maine.

RICK'S ON MAIN 2907 MAIN ST SANTA MONICA BEST KARAOKE SUNDAY NIGHTS 10PM

This really is the best spot for Sunday night karaoke on the West Side. Rick's 2907 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA FOOD SERVED UNTIL LAST CALL (1:20AM)

Chef Jacquelyn Sowards The Taste Season 2 All The Way

Imagine my surprise seeing Chef Jacquelyn Sowards of Southern California on the second season of The Taste, and ABC cooking show with Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson, Ludo Lefebvre and Marcus Samuelson as judges. Chef Jacquelyn is on Nigella Lawson's team. Chef Jacquelyn is one of the most sought after chefs in Los Angeles, Hollywood and Beverly Hills to cater that special event. I needed to plan a private dinner event for 50 guests and I had heard of Chef Jacquelyn and wanted to try her out. After speaking with her (She's very friendly), I booked Jacquelyn and I'm so glad that I did! All the guests at the dinner party were raving about the food and service and how perfect the whole night was. The main thing everyone kept taling about was how great the food was! I would highly recommend booking Jacquelyn and her crew because they do an impeccable job and you won't be sorry! Please tune in to The Taste on ABC! Chef Jacquelyn all the way.

Glory Foods Poor Quality Control Bugs in Product

After purchasing Glory Foods products I found a bug in the product that I purchased. I have eaten collard greens all my life, and never had a leaf crunch in my mouth, until August 5, 2012, and this is how I knew something in the greens should not be there. I spit out the mouth full of greens and this is when I noticed the head half of the bug, and all of a sudden I just started vomitting. Well I called Glory Foods on August 5th and left a message, and noone called me back. I also sent them an email directly to their site, and also to their facebook page. Someone sent me a message stating that someone would contact me soon,and I still have not spoken to a live person. Poor customer service

Happy Birthday Dr King

HAPPY 82ND BIRTHDAY DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, GODS SERVANT!