Do not get arrested in Texas

My friend Richard sent me a link to a video of a purse-snatcher being arrested in Texas. The message is - don't mess with Texas. I got that message when I was arrested there a couple of months ago. It was all a mistake - I had paid the speeding ticket that the bench warrant was issued against. It just took the better part of my day.

I love Texas (did the sarc tag show?)

Technorati Tags: Video

Time Management for Anarchists

I found this article, Time Management for Anarchists, on 43 Folders. I'm a bit of a productivity nut myself. Seeing the anarchists view on the subject is interesting and worthy of a read.

Scott Andrew - lo-fi acoustic pop superhero!

I came across Scott Andrew while reading 43 Folders; he has a good article about productivity in the music business. Scott is an acoustic musician and quite good. I've linked to a couple of his MP3s below:

Holding Back
Brickyard Bend
2 AM

Technorati Tags: Music, Productivity

What can I say

My favorite Mexican restaurant repainted its exterior for the first time in 20 years. I think the owner’s niece did it. A friend insisted that I shoot it, so I did.

Location: East Lincoln Street and Avalon Blvd in Carson, California.

Technorati Tags: Singage, LA Photobloggers

A basic message

I shot this today in Wilmington, a city of churches, bars, and Mexican Restaurants. The farther south you drive on Avalon, the worse the neighborhood looks. Until, in the end, you reach the last chance rescue mission. Wilmington is one of those cities in Los Angeles that even the natives do not visit. It is too far off the beaten path and offers little in the way of amenities – except the Mexican food.

I like the simple yet bold message - forgive someone today.

Location: N. Avalon and G Street in Wilmington, California.

Technorati Tags: Signage, LA Photobloggers, Religion

Truck tire planters

I was driving in Wilmington today when I noticed these truck tired planters while shooting pictures of a nearby rescue mission. The planters are located in front of a used tire, rim, and hubcap store that looked like it came straight out of TJ. I wondered why somebody would bother making these planters and then not tend them – and then I realized that it was a not so subtle attempt to recycle garbage since the establishment they fronted was stacked to overflowing with crap.

Location: N. Avalon and G Street in Wilmington, California.

Technorati Tags: Street Photography, LA Photobloggers

The Election Comes Tuesday

Tuesday marks the California Special Election. One normally sees this woman and her mate holding large read painted crosses. They wave to drivers each weekend from high volume traffic corners. Now it seems they are working for a different cause; Kanhng for a School Board seat.

Tuesday offers a whole slew of special electoral options. The most important of which is if Arnie will continue to dominate California politics. My bet is that he will. Much of what he wants to do is just common sense. I love it anytime we try to simplify government.

I normally vote Libertarian - so nobody I vote for will win. I still vote in every election. I consider it a duty.

Technorati Tags: Street Photography, LA Photobloggers

A new photography project

I will be starting a new photography project this week. I intend to take a twenty picture series focusing on Los Angeles area freeways. I have been fascinated with freeway architecture and utility for as long as I can remember. Freeways offer a combination of ugliness and use that produces interest and even beauty, although the beauty is admittedly in the eye of the photographer and tends to be rare. This shot is typical. A balance between utility and cost – a concrete monolith, now aging, that is ubiquitous and invisible. The only reason we notice it at all, is that on occasion we become stuck in place and must notice.

Do I think it is pretty? No, it is gray, ugly and invisible. I like that.

Location: 91 Freeway transition to the south bound 710 Freeway in North Long Beach.

Technorati Tags: LA Freeways, Photography Projects, LA Photobloggers,, Photography

These things make me feel old

1. Somebody commented on an old blog post about a Chapter 11 sticker I had seen in Long Beach. It thought it meant bankruptcy at the time, It turns out it is yet another local band that I know nothing about.. Chapter 11 plays hip hop and dance hall inspired music – apparently quit well. They are booked at the Blue Café on November 18th. I’m going.
I've linked to a couple MP3s:

Rude Boy
Ease Up
Lion
live and Direct

2. My 15 year old niece Cassie told me about myspace last night while at a birthday party. It seems to be the hot thing for the younger crowd. Of course, I have never heard of it. I happened to open my monthly Wired magazine last night after returning home – myspace is described in a feature article. I am so out of it. Apparently, myspace gets more hits than Google. I need to get out more.

3. I actually visited myspace this morning – I give up. I am old and the world is full of 14 to 24 year old kids.

At least I can still listen to Rage Agaist The Machine - Take the Power Back still rocks - even if I don't.

Technorati Tags: Deep Thoughts, Music, Long Beach

No Drugs In Here

I was walking through a parking structure yesterday when I noticed this truck. As I passed I stopped to try and decipher the secret bumper sticker message represented in the trucks back window.

Bob Marley Revolution = He (I’m guessing here) thinks of himself as a social revolutionary
SEPULTURA = A band, but it is not known to me.
KPFK = Left wing nutball radio for Southern California
Rage Against The Machine = A good band – but focused on social issues. Again, the driver thinks of himself as a social revolutionary.
Bob Marley = The driver might just like to smoke a little weed – or maybe he likes Reggae too. Who Knows?
Free Tibet = ah, the social protest bumper sticker of the year. (or was that of five years ago?)

My analysis: A major drug risk. I think the cops might pull this guy over every time he drives by.

Technorati Tags: Street Photography, Bumper Stickers, Drugs

Drink with the guys at gameworks

I got together with a few of the guys last night. We caught up on what had been happening in our lives. Two of my friends are getting married. Three had started interesting new jobs. Three are sure that the Lakers will suck this year. Two had traveled to Europe recently. Two had travel to Mexico and Panama. One was on a protein diet and could not drink. One had upgraded his boat with big new engines. We were all doing new and interesting things. It was great.

We talked office politics because at one time we had all worked together. We talked about national politics because none of us are happy with the situation we currently find our country in. We talked of mutual friends, of books and scotch whisky and the best cigars available. We talked about sports and how, even though he is fat, we miss Shaq. We toasted our health, our friends, and our life choices, but most of all we toasted each other. For the few hours that we were together, it was good times again. I miss these guys, I really do.

My congratulations go to Dave - the big white guy in the back row center - he will be married to a beautiful woman in December. I wish him the best of luck.

Technorati Tags: Deep Thoughts

Faithful Should Listen to Science

In the 17th Century the Catholic Church denounced Galileo for supporting Copernicus' discovery that the Earth revolved around the sun. The Catholic Church later apologized for its error. Now, the Catholic Church is asking the faithful to listen to science - it seems Evolution might be a good explanation for how life evolved over time (at least Pope John Paul II thought so). Another key point - rejection of science leads to fundamentalism. Well duh.

Technorati Tags: Intelligent Design, Religion

Samantha Burns and Deep Thoughts

Every now and then I look at the blogs that refer traffic to my blog. Most are well... ordinary. Samantha Burns on the other hand, is quite interesting. She posted on Saturday Night Live's Deep Thoughts Archive, and that is enough to win her my everlasting patronage. I laughed and laughed. I love Deep Thoughts – Jack Handy is a god.

One of my Favorites:

I hope if dogs ever take over the world, and they choose a king, they don't just go by size, because I bet there are some Chihuahuas with some good ideas.

Detritus

I am not sure if detritus is the right term, it is not exactly decomposing organic matter, although it was made from wood pulp. It reminds me of what I think of when I see the word detritus used in print, so I thought it an apt description.

Newspaper High Rise

It seems that the usual eyesore of 40 feet of consecutive newspaper racks has been replaced by the new eyesore of newspaper high-rises. At least this one is not selling porn. But then again, in upscale areas of Orange County (where this was shot), porn would not be allowed… well maybe anyway.