We had no idea that Sarah Shroud, former Iran hostage/UC Berkeley hiker, was so delightfully wacky. Take, for example, the song she just released about her ordeal. It's called "Piece of Time" (which we first mistook for Ashlee Simpson's "Pieces of Me," which, of course, would have been several shades of brilliant.) Written while she was held captive, Shroud's ditty is also about the two men with whom she illegally crossed the border last year, Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer. more ›

In an effort to ease prison overcrowding, a panel of federal judges "tentatively ruled that California must release tens of thousands of inmates." (Please release Susan Atkins! Please release Susan Atkins! Please release Susan Atkins!) Though a hard number will be decided on later, the plan is to significantly reduce the numbers of inmates in two to three years. According to AP, the judges went on to say that "no other solution will improve conditions so poor that inmates die regularly of suicides or lack of proper care." Released prisoners will be of the low-risk variety. Serial killer Richard Ramirez, at right, will remain incarcerated. more ›

If you've noticed over the past couple of days, it's smells a bit smoky, a bit ashy in Baghdad by the Bay. It seems, according to CBS 5, Northern California is suffering from about 950 wildfire right now.The top half of the state is, in essence, on fire. Yikes! So far, Carmel Valley residents have been forced from their homes due to the massive blaze in the Los Padres National Forest over in Monterey County, which is the largest blaze yet. more ›