Start your engines: The Red Bull soapbox races in Downtown L.A.

It’s a clown, it’s a giant nose, it’s a massive cob of corn! This afternoon, expect to see the unexpected at the Red Bull Soapbox Race in Downtown L.A.

The popular national competition, held at 5th Street and Grand Avenue this year, is a wacky and crazy event. More than 40 amateur racers build outrageous, human-powered vehicles -- in the shapes of baby carriages, bunk beds, jail cells, Pac-Man, and more -- and compete in a downhill speed race. See more images in our soapbox race photo gallery.

Participants enthusiastically don costumes, act out skits and play soundtracks in hopes of gaining more points for the competition. The first-place team will win a trip to a NASCAR race. Race admission is free to the public.

What wild soapboxes have you seen today or what were your favorites from past races? Who are your favorite contenders? Share your thoughts here.

Photo: The Speed Racer team pushes its handmade soapbox racer back up Grand Avenue after a test run down the hill. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times.

African American man in Ku Klux Klan outfit challenges limits of free speech

An African American man who refused to remove his Ku Klux Klan uniform while appearing before the  Los Angeles City Council prompted several council members to walk out of the meeting. Michael Hunt (yes, I know -- let's be mature about this) has a history of testing the limits of his 1st Amendment rights.

It was at least the second day that Michael Hunt, who recently challenged the city’s vending ordinance in federal court as a violation of his rights (video of the arrest that sparked the challenge can be seen above), had worn the outfit to the meeting, leading council members to seek advice from the city attorney about their legal options.

Hunt submitted a card to speak during the public comment period and was called to the microphone by Councilman Dennis P. Zine, who was presiding officer.

“Mr. Hunt, you’re going to have to remove your hood,” Zine told Hunt twice.

“No, this is part of my 1st Amendment privileges,” Hunt replied.

After Hunt refused to remove his hood, several council members left the chamber in protest, including Councilman Greig Smith and the chamber’s three African American members, Bernard Parks, Jan Perry and Herb J. Wesson Jr.

The incident sparked a debate in L.A. Now over what constitutes protected speech.

Fox 11's Jillian Reynolds: Time to grow up?

Jillian (Barberie) Reynolds of Fox's "Good Day LA" is one of the most recognizable faces in local news.  She's also one of the most outspoken, as evidenced by a recent appearance on Howard Stern's Sirius satellite radio show.

Reynolds spoke candidly about not only her colleagues (calling KTTV co-host Dorothy Lucey "very Christian and Bible-thumpy"), but also about her romantic past and present (memorably recalling fantasy play with her husband, Grant Reynolds, including one occurrence when he held a gun to her head).

It's perhaps the most outlandish, but hardly the first, time Reynolds has spoken up about topics her Fox bosses might prefer she avoid. She's previously mentioned her desire to pose nude for Playboy magazine. 

In James Rainey's latest column, he wonders if -- especially in the light of a recent layoff in which about one-quarter of Reynolds' colleagues were told they'd lose their jobs and the on-air revelation that is expecting her second child -- it's time for the bad girl of local news to grow up a little.  What do you think?  Share your thoughts here.

Photo: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Angelenos out on the town, and on a budget

We all know the drill when it comes to consuming culture here in Southern California.

The sun, surf and heart-stopping Griffith Observatory views on a clear  day are free for the taking, but for most everything else, you pay premium. Whether it's a visit to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion or Disney Hall, taking in a movie at the ArcLight, or -- gulp -- going to see the Lakers play at Staples Center, your trip out on the town is likely to set you back. 

The L.A. Times staff has scoured the cultural landscape in search of off-peak-hours museum prices, free outdoor concerts and movie-ticket giveaways. 

Do you know of a great bargain that we've missed? Let us know here.

Photo: Violinist Hilary Hahn and singer-songwriter Tom Brosseau perform at Amoeba Music's free concert series.  Credit: Christine Cotter/Los Angeles Times.

Is 'Ratatouille' really gay? (Not that there's anything wrong with that)

We've got a live one over at our food blog, The Daily Dish.

Is the Academy Award-winning "Ratatouille" really a gay-coming out story? Ostensibly, the movie is a straight-forward tale about a rat whose true passion lies in the kitchen. But Times Staff Writer Betty Hallock found out about an upcoming lecture at UCLA that portrays the film as a homosexual coming of age, with a heavy dose of Oedipal and race conflicts.

Readers were divided. Here's what a couple had to say:

Says SaMo:

When I first saw the movie, I too thought there was a gay subtext in the fact that the rat, by its very nature, does not "belong" in the kitchen. The movie suggested that even this supposed taboo could be overcome...But it does the gay rights movement a disservice.  [That] to me was the problem with the movie: it set up an impossible to overcome hurdle. I don't want rats cooking for me, so I really couldn't root for Remy to succeed.  But I'm all in favor of gay people doing anything they want: marrying, adopting, fostering children, whatever.

Says Storm:

Okay, really I am gay and I did not see any kind of coming out from the RAT. You could apply the rats self awareness to simply growing up...this is a big push....Really, just let it go...stop looking for the gay angle.

-- Rene Lynch

Photo credit: Disney/Pixar

Readers defend Chris Brown in the Rihanna incident

R&B superstar couple Rihanna and Chris Brown have recently found themselves even more in the spotlight due to their private-turned-public "disturbia" situation. After reports surfaced that Brown allegedly injured the singer to the point where she had to be treated at a "major medical facility" after a quarrel, readers took to the blogs to surprisingly defend the male sex symbol. Since the emergence of the story, we've received over 150 comments regarding the situation. 

WHITNEY wrote: I'M STILL GOING TO SUPPORT CHRIS BROWN UNTIL THE END. I DONT CARE IF HE DID IT OR NOT. OBVIOUSLY SHE PROVOKED HIM AND EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES SO, IM NOT GOING TO DOWN TALK HIM NOR TRY TO BRING HIM DOWN LIKE THE WHITE MEDIA IS GOING TO. HE'S STILL A KID. KIDS MAKE DUMB CHOICES EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. GIVE THE KID A BREAK IT'S HIS FIRST TIME IN HIS 4 YEAR CAREER.

shukura wrote: By the way, from what I understand Chris Brown is not from the ghetto and and domestic violence happens everywhere. For anyone to suggest that only ghetto people hit their mates is ludicrous. Gosh, why do people always have to resort to racism when something happens in the news. It gets old and very tired.

Damn shame wrote: This man is facing allegations, yet we don't know all the facts and some have already tried and convicted him. This is why I hate the feminazi movement. Don't get that confused with women't rights either. And yes, I am a woman.

Lindsey wrote: I really hope sometimg about this isn't true
I've been crying about this all day and would like to know the whole story.
Chris is a good guy that I would never think would do this. 

Bentiz Lapor wrote: Poor Chris. His life wasn't easy and I understand his step dad beat his Mom which he hated. Clearly, Chris has some very deep scars that he thought he had a handle on, but doesn't. He will need to get help so he will learn how to control his temper (if he did hit her). I'll bet Rhianna was the one who hit him first and then he flashes back to childhood, and before you know it Rhianna has a black eye and a scratch on her face. I blame both parties for letting an argument escalate to that point. Sometime it's best to just close your mouth(Rhianna). Takes two to argue. Plus, if you can't get along then you shouldn't be together in the first place.

Some readers did side with Rhianna and were quick to defend her against the Chris Brown fans. See their comments after the jump...

Mother of 8 ... and 6 More?

Although the news that a woman recently delivered eight babies at the Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Medical Center was surprising enough, a new revelation about the family has our readers taking to the comments boards. The 33-year-old woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, already has six children -- ages 7, 6 , 5, 3 and 2, with the youngest being twins -- and still lives at home with her parents in Whittier, Calif.

It is unclear whether the woman is married, and she has yet to release a statement. However, L.A. Times reporters were able to speak to Angela Suleman, the proud grandmother of 14, who stated that  "it's going to be difficult" raising more than twice the number of children in the Brady Bunch. Our readers had no difficulty expressing their opinions about this ever-expanding family.

Allen wrote: Perhaps I'm somewhat ignorant in these matters, but I simply cannot fathom why a woman who already has six young children would be undergoing fertility treatments, which, from what I understand, can greatly increase the liklihood of multiple births. I'm not about to suggest to anyone how many children are enough, but I just can't comprehend why a person in her position would be pushing for multiple additional children.

mariamawit wrote: god bless you & ur baby:s ii wish that was me !

Disgusted in LA wrote: This woman should be sterilized!!! She has no sense of personal responsibility whatsoever. Who's going to raise all those children? Who's going to support them? An Iraq contractor? It will fall on the already burdened taxpayers, including those very people who have deferred having children because they CAN'T AFFORD ONE CHILD...let alone FOURTEEN!!!

Dave wrote: Great! And how much of our tax dollars her new 8 CHILDREN cost the taxpayers. Mom needs to have her tubes tied and Dad needs a vasectomy. NOW! Having FOURTEEN children in this day and time is TOTALLY WRONG AND IRRESPONSIBLE!

Tlcb wrote: I'm sorry,for the way some folks worry about the mighty dollar,and not the welfare of a human being,if god thought this was wrong he would not of let it happen.What if she would of had these babies the natural way,would you be thinking the same way,if anyone wants to have 14 children that seems to me it's there business.I think it's awful the way people think of money instead of life,I'm sure she know's how she will take care of these babies,love of a family is priceless.Love one another bets out the mighty dollar by far!!!

Rob wrote: My wife had fertility treatments. However, our Doctor was ethical, and told us only 2 or 3 embryos would be implanted. And if all 3 took, we'd have to go through selective reduction. Since we didn't want to be in that position, we chose 2 embryos and ONE took. I hope the doctor that implanted 8 embryos would receive some sort on disciplinary action. Eight little ones being supported by momma's little heart is insane. The body isn't made to do that. Two or three babies, sure. I wonder what was the purpose of implanting EIGHT embryos was? Stupidity or incompetence, you chose.

Doctors have stated that typically physicians do not implant more than two embryos into a woman younger than 35. Suleman stated that the mother was asked to terminate some of the fetuses, but she  "refused to have them killed."

Did the unnamed mother do the right thing? Should the doctors who performed the in-vitro fertilization be investigated? More importantly, how is the family going to decide which kids have to sleep on the top bunk?

-- Michelle Castillo

Photo: Doctors at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Bellflower announce the arrival of octuplets born to a woman who has six more children. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Case of homeless man burned to death is not forgotten

It may have been a year since the community of Rancho Mirage was shocked by the brutal burning of a local vagrant, but the tragic story of John Robert McGraham has not been forgotten. Police allege that McGraham, a homeless man who suffered from depression, was burned alive on Oct. 9 by another citizen who felt "straight-up personal dislike [toward McGraham]," according to LAPD Deputy Chief Charlie Beck.

After we posted the news that the police have arrested a suspect in McGraham's killing, readers took to the blogs to display their outrage at this crime as well as post messages in honor of McGraham.

Sean K wrote: This guys has GOT to get the death penalty for this. If lighting a homeless man on fire isn't a special circumstance to warrant it, I don't know what is.

mizzle wrote: Both the victim and the murderer are obviously very sick people, and both deserve our sympathy. I'm sure the mental health system has failed to help each of them in turn. The victim went untreated for decades, as the article points out. It was very kind of the neighborhood to help, but he was an accident waiting to happen. And I'll bet the murderer was too.

Charles and the 3 shih tzu wrote: John, may you rest in peace. I used to see you sleeping along Hollywood blvd and Mariposa St. until we moved away. I used to see you once in a while near that area and I just can't forget how your eye's would light up when i would yell to say hi to you.

Tony B wrote: Hopefully, they have the right guy. It'd be a shame from reading these comments if he's not. But, I agree, if he is the guy who did this, the guy should get a gruesome death in return as equal justice.

Was McGraham known and beloved in your neighborhood as well? Post your thoughts on what you feel is a just punishment for the crime.

-- Michelle Castillo

Photo: Mourners gather for the memorial service for John Robert McGraham. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Doctor, cyclists collide over street etiquette

Christopher Thomas Thompson, a physician who resides in Brentwood, told police officers at a preliminary arraignment that he had wanted to "teach them a lesson" when he slammed on his brakes with two cyclists behind him on the road:

"Ron Peterson, 40, broke his front teeth and nose; cuts left scars on his chin, above his upper lip and across the bridge of his nose. The other cyclist, Christian Stoehr, 29, had a separated shoulder that led to surgery, the insertion of metal implants and chronic arthritis and soreness, his doctor told police."

The incident occurred on a narrow, curvy road often populated by drivers and cyclists alike. Last summer, Peterson and Stoehr were riding next to each other on the street. According to Peterson, Thompson barely avoiding clipping the cyclists, and then screamed that the pair should "ride single-file."

Four months prior to that accident, Thompson was implicated in another incident where two (different)cyclists claim they were almost hit by him when they swerved to avoid a storm drain.

Thompson's arraignment began today. He has pled not guilty. Peter Swarth, Thompson's attorney, says that "there is much, much more, and it will be developed in court."

After the jump, see how commenters have been quick to defend both sides of the story.

Sarah Palin effigy: a Halloween trick gone too far?

A West Hollywood home is making news this Halloween season for displaying a mannequin dressed as vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin hanging by a noose. 

According to The Times' story, the Palin effigy "does not rise to the level of a hate crime because it was a part of a Halloween display":

"I'm not defending this; I'm not criticizing it. It doesn't rise to the level of hate crime," said Steve Whitmore, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, who said he went out to the house himself to look at the display this morning. "Now, if there was a crime against bad taste...."

Do you think the Halloween display constitutes a hate crime?  Should the homeowner be forced to remove it?  Or is it just all in good fun?

Update: KTLA has this news report about the effigy with some pretty funny and interesting interviews from the neighbors in West Hollywood:

Photo: Ric Francis / Associated Press