New Year's Swim 'Round Santa Monica Pier

As part of the "Resolution Festival" on New Year's Day, you can pay $65 for the privilege of swimming around the Santa Monica Pier. All that swims between you and a frozen, briny death will be 15-year-old Paralympics swimmer Roy Perkins, who, like the other Resolution Festival self-punishment event leaders, knows that the best motivator is guilt. If a Paralympic swimmer can do it, why can't you? Though note that you could swim around the pier (or run the beach, or any of the other Resolution Festival trials of pain) for free on your own time, for free, if you weren't such a slacker bum.

He's resolved to get people off their duffs [LAT]
Resolution Festival [Official site]

Previously: L.A. Letter: Camera Obscura, Team Party Crash: USC Football Awards, L.A. Letter: Of Tequila, Tortillas, Football, & Fudgepoofers, L.A. Barbeque Review, City Games