BUENA PARK – Riders were spun up in the air, turned upside down and spun around on the new “Sol Spin” ride at Knott’s Berry Farm.

The farm quietly opened the new thrill ride Friday, after getting the okay from state inspectors.

Construction for the new ride started in the fall last year, at the same time the Knott’s started work on a new restaurant. The heavy rains over the winter stalled work on the restaurant, but the ride was completed in time for the upcoming summer season.

The new ride sits on the concrete platform where the Windseeker ride once stood, during its short stay at the theme park.

That ride had several breakdowns, causing state regulators to ask for many changes to its evacuation procedures. Knott’s removed the ride shortly after that.

Sol Spin sits in the Fiesta Village of the theme park, near the merry-go-round and the Jaguar roller coaster. Riders can go as high as six stories into the air while spinning around.

There is a minimum height requirement of 54 inches to go on the ride.

Zac Posen did not have final cut.
“It’s scary,” Posen said, a few days before “House of Z,” a documentary following his meteoric rise as a 21-year-old fashion wunderkind and, subsequent, very public humbling, premieres tonight at the Tribeca Film Festival. He signed over his rights and put his faith in director Sandy Chronopoulos after working with her five years ago on a segment for Canadian TV as part of a charity event through Rogers Communications. “Sandy and I had built a level of trust,” he said. “I thought she was smart and sensitive.”
But she didn’t go easy on him.
“House of Z” is not a glossy “Dior and I” or “September Issue.” While ultimately redemptive, the documentary offers an unfiltered, at times unforgiving, look at Posen’s history. “Fashion has a dark side,” warns Posen in the opener. “It’s not all runways, lipstick and fishtail gowns.” There is a fair amount of that, but the film features just as much struggle, including a spate of bad collections, negative press and stifled resources that drove a painful rift between Posen and his mother, Susan, and sister, Alexandra, with whom he started his business.
The film is well-done, set with a compelling narrative arch and

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Phoebe Neuman

ANAHEIM — For an Angels team that placed one relief pitcher on the disabled list when the day began, a 13-inning game was not what the doctor ordered.

They didn’t even win. Jose Bautista’s three-run home run off Jesse Chavez was the crushing blow in the Toronto Blue Jays’ 8-7 victory at Angel Stadium.

The sheer duration of the game — 5 hours, 36 minutes — dwarfed its details. By the time Friday turned to Saturday in the 12th inning, the Angels were already coping with the effects of a short start by Alex Meyer.

Six relief pitchers saw action in the game. Chavez (1-3), Sunday’s scheduled starter, was forced to take over in the 13th. By then, the Angels had surpassed the Houston Astros for the most innings pitched by a bullpen in the American League this season.

“You still have to do your job out there and throw strikes,” Chavez said. “Unfortunately I wasn’t able to throw enough quality ones to keep us in the ballgame.”

Bautista’s first home run of the season spoiled a resilient effort by the Angels. Twice, they fell behind the Blue Jays in the top of an inning, only to tie or take the lead in the bottom.

Even after Bautista’s home run sent much of the crowd home after midnight, the Angels managed to load the bases in the bottom of the 13th. Kole Calhoun delivered an RBI single. Mike Trout was clipped on the arm by a Joe Biagini fastball, forcing in another run.

But Biagini came back to strike out Pujols and retire C.J. Cron on a fly ball to end the game.

Trout’s fifth home run of the season and a bases-clearing double by Pujols highlighted the Angels’ 11-hit attack.

Meyer was his usual self in his 2017 debut: flashes of brilliance interspersed with flashes of frustration.

In 3 ⅔ innings, the towering right-hander walked four batters and struck out three. It continued a trend that was dormant since spring training, when Meyer walked 10 batters and struck out nine.

“I just felt like I lost control on the release point of my breaking ball,” he said. “That led me to kind of lose my fastball also in the third and fourth inning.”

Meyer cruised through the first two innings, beginning every batter with a strike. He began Chris Coghlan with a strike to lead off the third inning too, but ultimately walked him on a 3-2 count. The next batter, Ryan Goins, drew a walk on the last of nine pitches. Coghlan and Goins came around to score, respectively, on an RBI groundout and a wild pitch.

Leading 2-0, Blue Jays starter Mat Latos gave the lead right back in the bottom of the third inning.

A single by Martin Maldonado, followed by walks to Yunel Escobar and Calhoun, loaded the bases for Trout. Latos got Trout to fly out to right field before Pujols made him pay, stroking a double inside the left-field line. All three runners scored and the Angels led 3-2.

It was Pujols’ 604th career double, passing Cal Ripken and matching Paul Waner for 13th on baseball’s all-time list. Pujols’ three RBIs gave him 1,831 for his career, tied with Manny Ramirez for 18th all-time.

Pujols had only three hits in 17 career plate appearances against Latos prior to Friday. He finished 3 for 7, raising his batting average to .203.

Meyer did not allow another run, but he continued to labor in the fourth inning. With two outs, Coghlan drew a walk on Meyer’s 75th pitch. That loaded the bases. Angels manager Mike Scioscia decided he’d seen enough, and Jose Alvarez came in from the bullpen to record the final out of the inning.

The Angels took a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning on a solo home run by Trout, his fifth of the season. The Blue Jays scored an unearned run against Yusmeiro Petit in the sixth inning to draw within 4-3.

Escobar was batting in the bottom of the sixth inning when a strange incident occurred. The fourth pitch he saw from Toronto pitcher Danny Barnes was a 91-mph fastball high and tight. The ball didn’t touch him, but Escobar spun out of the way to avoid getting hit.

After visiting with an Angels trainer, Escobar returned to the batter’s box and grounded out two pitches later. But Cliff Pennington took over at third base in the top of the seventh inning, and the Angels said Escobar was forced to leave due to dizziness.

“I think trying to jerk out of the way (of the pitch) he just felt like he got a little dizzy,” Scioscia said.

Toronto shortstop Troy Tulowitzki would leave the game with an injury of his own. After he advanced from second to third on a Cam Bedrosian wild pitch in the eighth inning, Tulowitzki was immediately replaced by a pinch runner. The Blue Jays said he had tightness in his right hamstring.

On Bedrosian’s next pitch, Justin Smoak lined a double into right field that scored two runs. Both runs were charged to Angels reliever Bud Norris, who began the inning with a 4-3 lead but recorded only one out.

Down 5-4, the Angels got even against right-hander Dominic Leone with a two-out rally in the bottom of the eighth.

Danny Espinosa walked. The next batter, Jefry Marte, doubled off the left-field wall — a foot short of a home run and inches inside the yellow foul line. A video replay confirmed the ball was fair, and Espinosa scored from first base to tie the game 5-5.

If Chavez is unavailable, Daniel Wright seems the most likely candidate to start Sunday’s game. The right-hander was lined up to pitch that night for Triple-A Salt Lake and has already made one appearance for the Angels this season.

Wright allowed three runs in four innings for the Angels on April 13. He was 1-1 with a 10.80 earned-run average in two starts for Salt Lake, and made a pair of starts for the Cincinnati Reds last season.

Scioscia wouldn’t rule out Chavez starting Sunday, saying only that “we’re going to sort some things out. We’re going to see how everything lines up and see how he feels.”

As the Angels’ locker room emptied in the wee hours, Chavez said, “it’s the last thing on my mind right now.”

While they made a few fans nervous by starting their set about 10 minutes late, things went a lot smoother for Radiohead during weekend two of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

Sound issues stopped the headliner’s set twice last week forcing the band to also exit the stage twice.
This weekend however, about 30 minutes into their Friday night set, everything was going off without a hitch and unlike last week the band kept it’s momentum with songs like “Daydreaming,” and “15 Step.”

“I heard about what happened last week and I was getting a little worried when they weren’t starting,” Los Angeles resident Justin Linares said. “But they’re sounding good.”

This is the third time the band has headlined Coachella. They performed at the Indio music festival in 2004 and 2012.

And while last week they may have lost a few fans on Friday night who were drawn to the  dance music performances at the Sahara tent, with Empire of the Sun and Dillon Francis slotted opposite Radiohead, this Friday the band played before a large crowd who were sparred last week’s sound troubles.

As reported, there will be no Brea Lions Orange County All-Star Football Game this year after organizers cancelled the tradition-rich game a few weeks ago. But there was hope that the game would be played in late June, and coaches were asked to nominate players. Brethren Christian’s Pat McInally was selected to coach the South all-stars and accepted the post.

I worked as the South chairman, so below are the nominees that I collected. There is no game but these players earned their nominations and deserve to be recognized. All schools in the South except Laguna Beach responded, so here is what I can share. And I hope to add the Breakers’ players soon.

As has become the practice, the nominees came from the pool of players willing to play in the game.

I also hope to share the North nominees but that was handled by another media member this year.

2017 SOUTH NOMINEES

Coach: Pat McInally, Brethren Christian

Aliso Niguel – Sam Marrazzo (6-4, 280, OT), Andre Cotton (6-1, 190, RB), Drake Diaz (5-11, 225, DL), Marshall Boyd (6-0, 200, DE), Jacob Real (6-4, 190, FS)

Beckman – I’Jon Akahi (5-11, 195, RB/LB/S), Liam Molina (5-8, 160, WR/K), Dean Nagle (6-3, 211, QB), Trenton Rasmussen (6-3, 240, OL/DL)

Brethren Christian – Jordan Leonard (RB), Nathan Sagastume (ATH), Dante Sanchez (LB), Joey Gutierrez (QB), Levon Lester (CB/RB)

Calvary Chapel – Bryce Debernarde (6-2, 205, LB)

Capistrano Valley – Clay Eggeman (6-0, 160, K), Juan Manzo (6-1, 230, DT), Matt Slymen (6-2, 260, OG), Rafael Ramos (5-9, 175, CB/WR), Tim Anderson (6-5, 270, OT)

Capistrano Valley Christian – Dawson Piper (6-2, 185, ATH.), Garin Green (6-2, 195, RB/DB), Nolan Kahal (6-1, 215, LB/FB/TE)

Corona del Mar – Jaydin Moses (6-0, 210, LB/S), Arwin Rahmatpanah (6-0, 275, C), Teddy Barber (5-8, 200, LB), Bryce Clabaugh (6-0, 200, DE), Mickey Quinn (6-0, 200, LB)

Costa Mesa – Roman Ayala (6-0, 215, DE)

Crean Lutheran – Robert Briones (6-2, 210, DE/LB)

Dana Hills – Davis Degroote (6-0, 185, LB), Ryder Lynch (6-0, 180, WR/DB)

Edison – Kenny Carmichael (6-1, 200, DE/OLB), Shaun Colamonico (5-11, 160, WR), Jonathan Moreida (5-11, 200, LBFB), Garrett Weichman (6-3, 280, OL), Spencer Bazer (5-9, 210, DL)

El Toro – Conrad Frick (6-4, 250, OT), AJ Aguilar (5-11, 195, OLB), Tyler Romo (6-1, 215, OLB)

Estancia – Tyler Ross (6-1, 180, ATH), Eric Carrasco (6-1, 180, WR/QB)

Fountain Valley  – Angel Hernandez (6-1, 190, ATH), Scott Craig (6-2, 260, OL/DL),George Sykes (5-0, 208, RB)

Huntington Beach – Derek Thomas (6-2, 210, DE), Jonah Apelu (5-11, 235, DT), Payton Marlow (6-5, 250, DE/TE), Chase Elliott (6-2, 210, TE/LB)

Irvine – Brent Miller (5-9, 165, RB/SS), Luke Coleman (6-0, 210, DE/LB)

JSerra – Nick Callen (5-9, 170, RB), Ryan Hickey (5-9, 190, FB/LB)

Laguna Beach – No response

Laguna Hills – Zac Crowe (5-9, 190, RB/LB/SS), Branson Weems (6-1, 185, WR/S/P), Charlie Borrego (6-1, 230, DE), Matt Davisson (6-2, 230, LB/TE), Logan Montgomery (6-0, 175, WR/ATH)

Mission Viejo – No nominees

Newport Harbor  – Cole Kinder (6-1, 205, RB), Gage Roberson (6-1, 215, LB), John Lamas (6-2, 255, OL), Mike Jarboe (6-3, 285, OT)

Northwood – Brandon Johnson (QB), Michael Bellas (WR), Ramal Silva (OL/DL)

Ocean View – Chase Foreman (FS), Xavier Salgado (ATH)

Saddleback – Rene Gonzalez (5-9, 175, FB/OLB)

Saddleback Valley Christian – Cade Henjum (6-1, 205, QB)

Segerstrom  – Denilson Santamaria (5-10, 180, RB/CB), JC Caravez (5-10, 165, RB/WR/DB), David Sevilla (5-10, 180, LB), Andrew Magana (5-10, 240, C/DT), Marcos Avaloa (6-0, 185, QB)

San Clemente – Austin Moore (6-4, 234, DE), Brandon Reaves (5-10, 170, ATH), Dayton Romo (6-1, 215, OL/DL), Mario Rossi (6-0, 200, LB), Turner Tonkovich (6-0, 200, C)

San Juan Hills – Cole Suchesk (5-7, 150, RB), Jacob Huff (5-10, 155, WR), Cameron Buchanan (5-9, 170, S), Brady Bjorkman (6-0, 190, WR/RB), Cayden McCluskey (6-0, 185, WR/S/LB)

Santa Margarita – Tommy Parker (OL), Jadon Digravio (LB), Brendan Gibbons (WR/DB), David Chen (DL), Darian Fernandez (DB)

St. Margaret’s – George Krantz (6-2, 195, QB), Nick Amouhkteh (6-4, 230, LB), Auston Locke (6-3, 190, WR), Nick Krantz (5-7, 160, RB/WR), James Eidt (6-0, 190, DE)

Tesoro – Shane Coleman (WR), Andrew Cohen (DE), Gavin Chambers (DL), Graeden Sharpe (RB), Kenny Ramchandani (DB)

Trabuco Hills – Tommy Germain (QB)

University – Hans Valdez (OL), Jalen Robertson (CB), Darrius Outland (DB)

Woodbridge – Connor McBride (6-2, 225, TB/DE), Nate Ledoux (5-9, 150, WR/FS), Chase Bradley (6-3, 220, LB/TE/QB)

It’s been a bad week for Facebook. First, a Cleveland killer livestreamed the act of murder through the app’s Live feature. Then, days later, a shooter in Fresno left behind a Facebook page littered with threats against the president and “white devils.”

In one sense, for the social media behemoth, the storm of dismay and distress won’t be hard to weather. Enforcing corporate norms against hate speech and the like may be difficult to execute perfectly, but doing so will grow more important the easier it becomes to instantly deliver the worst kind of “prohibited content” to the world at large.

But the trouble runs deeper than public-relations crises and speech codes. Facebook’s one-line Twitter bio — “Giving people the power to share and make the world more open and connected” — reveals the problem. It’s not just that the bigger social media gets, the bigger the group of “bad apples” becomes. It’s that social media hasn’t figured out a way to stop its platforms from encouraging people to spread aggression and rancor — two unintended forms of more open connection — with even more velocity than they can offline. The basic pro-social premise of social media, and the huge economy it’s propping up, is under attack.

Befitting social media’s global reach, its dark side has established an international presence. Outside the United States, the issue has already been sharpened considerably. Swedish authorities have had to grapple with several high-profile livestreams of gang rape, one on Facebook and another on Snapchat. There are indications the trend is growing: some Silicon Valley insiders suggest many livestreamed rape incidents have not even made it into the European press. The abundance of caution or sensitivity around releasing reports is understandable insofar as many European officials fear fueling the rise of reactionary parties and ethno-nationalist counter-crime. But at the same time, that objective will prove hard to secure by suppressing the nightmarish attacks, which can be distorted and spread anyway by anecdote, rumor and perhaps even social media.

The dilemma has begun to ripple through the United States, too: outrage spread across the conservative internet as the Associated Press, reporting on Twitter about the Fresno killer, claimed the man shouted “God is Great” — rather than “Allahu Akbar,” the Arabic phrase he uttered that is often used by Islamic terrorists. So far, the instinct to soft-pedal horrific events for political and cultural reasons does not seem like a durable solution to tamp down social unrest online. Over time, its weakness is likely to grow more pronounced.

Given a set of poor options, however, social media companies may well be inclined to choose the least worst, much as a floundering political campaign will make its candidate look foolish if the choice is calculated to offer the best possible shot at improving his or her fortunes. And like a candidate that can no longer authentically pivot away from a campaign launched on relentless optimism, social media companies are now somewhat imprisoned within a way of seeing the internet that formed during the technology’s formative — but smaller, more innocent — years.

“Facebook stands for bringing us together and building a global community,” as Mark Zuckerberg recently reiterated. “When we began, this idea was not controversial […]. Yet now, across the world there are people left behind by globalizations, and movements for withdrawing from global connection. There are questions about whether we can make a global community that works for everyone, and whether the path ahead is to connect more or reverse course.” To move ahead, Zuckerberg explained, Facebook must continue its job “to help people make the greatest positive impact while mitigating areas where technology and social media can contribute to divisiveness and isolation.”

Zuckerberg admirably understands that the challenges here are thorny even though the tools that will apparently help him achieve his goals are relatively obvious: inclusivity good, sensationalism bad, and so on. But he remains stubbornly incurious — almost as if his goals and his platform require him to be — about the basic anthropological facts surrounding aggression, violence, and the use of communication as a way of access to real violent experiences.

Like many online and off in today’s political culture, Zuckerberg devotes a lot of mental energy to the semiotics of communication — what different units of language or imagery mean, and how our individual and social appetite for meaning leads us to engage and react to different forms of content. Certainly, some critics of social media are right to suggest that social media’s quest to make niceness more universal can itself flatten out meaning and deprive us of deeper sources of significance. But we should go further, because the appeal of antagonism and conflict, online and off, oftentimes has little to do with meaning and much more with mattering — with the substantial, not the signified.

Rather than helping us know who or what we are, fighting helps us know that we are, whether in the rich sense of confirming our existence in a shifting and evanescent world, or the simpler one of enjoying personal power on its own terms. To go one step further, too many social media theorists refuse to consider the “extreme” premise that people fight because fighting is often fun, even when it often becomes, by degrees, painful or horrible.

Perhaps it’s a little unfair to expect social media moguls to prevail over such burdensome philosophical questions. On the other hand, they dove into their now-awkward position of political and cultural world-making. If they can’t admit there are limits to what technology can and should do to ameliorate social disorder, they’ll soon find their life more uncomfortable still.

James Poulos is a columnist for the Southern California News Group.

“It’s about luxury. This woman really wants the best, and these brides come from all across the world, from Saudi Arabia to Israel to Santo Domingo, Peru to North America. It’s the crème de la crème,” said Naeem Khan backstage at his bridal spring 2018 show.

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CHICAGO — Business was bustling at the latest edition of StyleMax.
“The buzz at StyleMax was all about the new brands that buyers were excited about,” said Susan Glick, vice president for women’s apparel at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, where the show takes place and ended its four-day run earlier this month. “Traffic was steady and retailers enthusiastically embraced the daily events including the Montreal Floor Party, all the amenities and the social media seminar. [There were] more lines, more brands, more daily special events than ever. The energy on the trade-show floor reflected the show’s commitment to the total buyer experience.”
More than 350 exhibitors participated in the show, including premium denim lines like J Brand and Frame; jewelry line Soko, founded in Nairobi, Kenya, and Gretchen Scott Designs. Retail traffic was on track, with a slight increase over last year’s show, noted Glick.
“We more than doubled our [fall] business. We were extremely happy with the turnout,” said Judy Walthour, a representative for Dylan, a casual luxury clothing line based in California.
Buyer Lisa Weiss, of Ann Arbor-based Bivouac, said the show setup is designed for an easy shopping experience.
“This show helps me wrap up my fall buys, after attending the larger shows in

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