Latest news with #SoCal
Car and Driver
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Brian Wilson, Beach Boys Singer and Hot-Rod Icon, Has Died at 82
Brian Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys, has died at the age of 82. In the early 1960s, Wilson's music brought SoCal hot-rodding culture to the world. He wasn't a hot-rodder himself, but he did nurture a love for the Chevrolet Corvette. As the co-founder of the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson brought an idealized view of early '60s SoCal living across the United States and around the world: sun, sand, surf, and a hot set of wheels. He died this week at age 82 and leaves behind a catalog of some of the most iconic entries in the American songbook and some of the best summer cruising music ever written. Born in Hawthorne, California, in 1942, Wilson grew up surrounded by drag strips and racetracks, coming of age in the time fictionally portrayed in American Graffiti. Famously, most of the Beach Boys weren't actually surfers themselves, and likewise, Wilson wasn't much of a car guy. However, he grew up steeped in an environment of hot-rod culture, and it couldn't help but percolate into his music. getty images 1963's "Little Deuce Coupe" is probably the best-known car-themed Beach Boys tune. A deuce is, of course, a '32 Ford, the kind of plain-Jane car a youngster could pick up for newspaper-delivery money, then swap in V-8 power and hit the tarmac. That flathead mill was ported and relieved and stroked and bored, and it purred like a kitten until the lake pipes roared. You can thank DJ and producer Roger Christian for most of the hot-rodding jargon on "Deuce Coupe," but it was Wilson who fishhooked catchiness that you just couldn't shake. Again and again, the Beach Boys hit the top of the charts with songs like "I Get Around," "Good Vibrations," and "Surfin' USA." getty images Plenty of other Beach Boys songs reference cars and car culture, including "409," written about a big-block Chevy V-8, and "Fun Fun Fun," with its Ford Thunderbird. "Shut Down," released the same year as "Little Deuce Coupe," features a blow-by-blow street race between a Max Wedge Mopar and a Corvette Stingray. Wilson himself seems to have enjoyed Corvettes, and he owned a few. In 1989, with the popularity of "Kokomo" proving the Beach Boys could still create hits, Wilson produced "In My Car," all about the feeling of cruising in a Vette. A few years later, Wilson ordered his own Corvette ZR-1, cherry red. Considered hugely influential and one of the first music producers to harness studio production as part of the creative process, Wilson changed the landscape of pop music. You can pay him no better tribute than by queuing up some of the Beach Boys' greatest hits, rolling down the windows, and cruising off on a warm summer's eve, looking for a good vantage spot to watch the sunset. Brendan McAleer Contributing Editor Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. Read full bio
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Vision Films to Posthumously Release Thomas Duncan's Feature-length Documentary 'Sound of The Surf'
LOS ANGELES, June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vision Films Inc. ("Vision") has set July 1, 2025 for the North American Transactional VOD release of the documentary Sound of The Surf from the late Thomas Duncan and executive producer John Blair. Written, directed, and produced by Duncan and executive produced by John Blair and Isariya Duncan. A story 17 years in the making, John Blair, of Jon and The Nightriders fame, persevered to complete the film after Duncan's passing in 2021. The use of original music, rare archival footage, photos, and exclusive interviews defines the birth and legacy of the uniquely SoCal surf sound. Unknown to many, the innovative sound of surf music began as instrumental and became a cultural phenomenon almost overnight when the world of surfing claimed it as their own during the transitional time of the 1960's. Witness the rise and influence of the electric guitar and the relevance of the band in pop culture still today while rocking out to the soundtrack. Watch the trailer: HERE Synopsis: In the 1960's, surf music was born in southern California and quickly became a global cultural phenomenon. From the original pioneers to those who revolutionized it, surf music's influence helped to shape an entire generation. Journey back in time with original music, rare archival footage, personal photo collections, and exclusive interviews from surf music legends and their fans. Lise Romanoff, CEO and Managing Director of Vision Films says, "A perfect film for summer – this is one of the most thorough narratives about the birth and meteoric rise of one of the most fun and enduring music genres of our time. Sound of The Surf truly captures the nostalgia of an era but reminds us that the music is still relevant and enjoyable today." Executive Producer John Blair shares, "The development and spread of the surf music genre in the early 1960s had a pronounced effect on the music industry and popular culture. The story is a definitive example of the American Dream, told for the first time in Sound of The Surf." Sound of The Surf will be available on major streaming and cable platforms across North America, followed by DVD on July 1, 2025. About Vision FilmsVision Films is a leading independent sales and VOD aggregator specializing in the licensing, marketing, and distribution of over 800 feature films, documentaries, and series from some of the most prolific independent film producers in the world. Led by Lise Romanoff, Managing Director/CEO Worldwide Distribution, Vision Films releases 2-4 films a month across Theatrical, VOD, DVD, and television platforms. Contact:Andrea McKinnon8184159442396379@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Vision Films, Inc.
06-06-2025
- Business
Southern California air regulators weigh a plan to phase out gas furnaces and water heaters
DIAMOND BAR, Calif. -- Air quality regulators in Southern California heard impassioned public comments Friday before an anticipated vote on proposed rules that would curb harmful emissions from gas-powered furnaces and water heaters. The rules aim to reduce emissions of smog-contributing nitrogen oxides, also called NOx, a group of pollutants linked to respiratory issues, asthma attacks, worse allergies, decreased lung function in children, premature death and more. Burning natural gas is also one of the primary drivers of climate change. The South Coast Air Quality Management District estimates that the rules, if passed, will lower NOx emissions from gas-fired furnaces, preventing about 2,490 premature deaths and 10,200 new asthma cases over a 26-year period in the region. The district regulates air quality for 16.8 million people in Southern California, including all of Orange County and large areas of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties — one of the smoggiest areas in the U.S. The proposals come as California moves aggressively to reduce the state's reliance on planet-warming fossil fuels and ahead of a 2045 mandate for the state to have net-zero carbon emissions. The rules would set targets that aim to phase out the sale of gas-powered furnaces and water heaters starting in 2027. It does not apply to gas stoves. The sales target would start at 30%, then grow to 50% in 2029 and end at 90% in 2039. The rules would not be mandated, but manufacturers would have to pay fees ranging from $50 to $500 if they sell gas-powered appliances. That's a significant rollback from the original proposal, which would have required residential buildings to meet zero-emissions standards beginning in 2029 when appliances need to be replaced. The agency amended the rules after strong opposition from Southern California Gas and other businesses. The regulations would impact more than 10 million appliances in an estimated 5 million buildings, most of them residential. Officials and supporters say the rules would reduce air pollution and substantially improve public health. But opponents — including property owners, industry professionals and natural gas companies — fear they could raise costs for consumers and businesses, and strain the power grid by adding more electric appliances. During a packed board meeting Friday, clean air advocates held signs reading 'Clean Air Now," 'Vote 4 Clean Air, Vote 4 Justice" and 'Let SoCal Breath!' Before public comments, board chair Vanessa Delgado thanked the more than 200 people who signed up to speak about the rules, which took more than two years to craft. 'I don't believe that there's necessarily a good or right answer about these rules. I believe that it is very complicated and I know that every single one of these board members are doing what is right to move forward air quality goals in our region," she said. Lynwood City Councilmember Juan Muñoz-Guevara said the rules would be a long-overdue step toward environmental justice for communities like his. 'I've seen firsthand how families in my community are forced to live with the health consequences of dirty air. Our children grow up with asthma, our elders struggle with respiratory illness, and too many lives are cut short," he said. "Gas appliances in our home are one of the largest sources of smog-forming pollution in the region. We cannot meet clean air goals without tackling this.' Peggy Huang, a member of Yorba Linda's City Council, urged the board to reject the rules. 'As someone who's been advocating for affordable housing, this will increase costs for us to meet those goals,' Huang said. Chino's mayor pro tem, Curtis Burton, echoed some of Huang's concerns. He said the rules would 'create an additional financial burden on residents and businesses.'
Vogue
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
A.L.C. Resort 2026 Collection
Andrea Lieberman, like probably every other designer in the world, has tariffs on the brain. 'What you buy and what you put on needs to be meaningful,' she said. 'If you're going to put something in your closet now, it needs to feel special, but not so niche that you can't wear it all the time.' Lieberman's attempt to walk that line comes through in A.L.C.'s resort 2026 offering, a mixture of timeless pieces and festive holiday wear. While the sweetheart midi dress with an ostrich feather-trimmed neckline and the tuxedo-inspired boiler suit are splashy, the outerwear is the true star of the season. A leather bomber with a sloped, lightly cushioned shoulder contrasted with a nipped waist helps her avoid the curse of the costumey, overly padded shoulder. The same masculine-meets-feminine ethos guides her suiting, which pairs boxy blazers with slim-fitting flare trousers. Lieberman's pieces are often inspired by the lax lifestyle and earthy color palette of her California environment. The devastating Los Angeles fires gave her a new appreciation for her surroundings, as seen primarily through her color choices this season. The pale gray-blue that recurs throughout the collection in suiting, dresses, and skirts reminds her of the morning fog that rolls in over the Pacific; clay-colored separates and a green column dress also nod to the SoCal landscape. 'I have such a connection to California, especially that area that was so deeply impacted,' Lieberman says. 'A lot of that happened when we were putting together the color palette. I think it's so intuitive to get that beautiful color of the fog rolling in off of the water and the lusciousness of the green and the soil.'
Los Angeles Times
02-06-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
$207-million Powerball ticket sold in Arleta as Southern California streak continues
Southern California's latest lottery winner hit the jackpot in Arleta, where a Powerball ticket worth $207 million was sold at a 7-Eleven on Woodman Avenue. The lottery luck keeps coming for Southern California, which now boasts two of the four Powerball jackpot winners this year. The previous one was revealed in March, when a ticket worth $515 million was sold in Anaheim. The latest lucky numbers were announced Saturday, and the winning ticket matched all six: 1, 29, 37, 56, 68 and the Powerball number 13. The winner, who has not yet been revealed, can receive the full $207 million split across 30 payments over 29 years or take a lump sum payment of $92.5 million — before taxes, of course. The 7-Eleven gets a $1-million payout as well. In California, retailers that sell winning Powerball tickets get half a percent of the total payout, capped at $1 million. Since the jackpot was more than $200 million, the store got the full bonus. On Sunday, one of the store managers told KTLA it was the most exciting thing that happened in all the years he had worked there. It was, he said, 'quite unbelievable.' The SoCal winning streak dates back to 2022, when Edwin Castro set a Powerball record with a $2.04-billion jackpot. In 2023, a market near Skid Row sold a ticket worth $1.08 billion. A few months later, a store in Frazier Park sold a ticket worth $1.73 billion.
