It looks like a string of violent robbery attacks have been happening in Silver Lake. Coblogger A and I both live within the vicinity of these attacks and I’m not really worried or scared because, it sounds like these hoodlums are gonna get caught and they’d be really fucking stupid and crazy to go up against the Silver Lake vigilante task force that I’m sure is now on patrol. This link takes you to a report of the attacks and an interview with a guy who was beaten two blocks from my house.
Silver Lake by the way is an umber-hipster neighborhood of Los Angeles and it’s kinda like Williamsburg and the Upper Eastside had a three way with a Philadelphia suburb and spawned Silver Lake. There’s actually a lake, a super stinky dog park, coffee shops, Trader Joes, Spaceland, and hipster families with strollers.
I didn’t know about these attacks until a few minutes ago and I did notice a few more cops than usual cruising around the TJs the other day. I'm sure the neighborhood is upset and everyone’s been talking about it but, since I’m usually on my bicycle or hiding out in my hot tub I didn’t know anything about it. My neighbors haven’t even been talking about. So I was wondering how this could have been happening under my nose for weeks and somebody just randomly emailed me about it?
It made me think about that thing that happened in Queens a long time ago when a woman was beaten and robbed in the middle of a housing project and nobody called the cops because, everyone assumed someone else would call the cops. I wonder if the internet is doing the same thing. Maybe everyone assumed everyone else knew what was up so word didn’t spread via the internet. And since we mainly use the internet to communicate and gossip we don't have those chances to meet up on the street corner and talk about this and that. Sometimes I feel like I’m on my own private little planet that’s revolving around a sun that glows at my fingertips. I can just be myself all day and still be connected to so many people. But, maybe this whole email, blog, twitter, whatever stuff isn’t really connecting us at all but, pushing us away from each other. The gravitation of ourlives does bring us together and sure we do connect via emails and evites and stuff but, maybe we are missing something these days. LABlogitude feels like a corner to gossip on but, it still takes a lot of time and energy for me to get over here sometimes. I wish I had a corner to gossip on like they did in Edward Scissorhands.
On a lighter side and still in true blog form, Yirko and I are gonna check out this Korean BBQ and Tofu Taco truck from the future coincidently in Silver Lake on Friday. . . We’ll see you on the corner shortly. ..
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Collision
I had to wrestle my way onto the freeway this morning only to find myself parked on the 10 with every other asshole trying to inch their way to the west side. I found out on the radio that someone heading the wrong direction on the freeway collided with another car at a high speed, head on. Both drivers were killed. All eastbound lanes and two west bound lanes were closed for much of the day.
Here is the story as reported by the L.A. Times
Sunday, January 25, 2009
22 Hours, Part V
5 30 a.m. Hit snooze.
6 17 a.m. Run out of my apartment with everything I need for the day.
6 19 a.m. Turn back because I decided I want to wear a different pair of shoes.
6 26 a.m. Run to catch rapid bus pulling up to the stop.
7 08 a.m. Step off bus on the Westside.
7 14 a.m. Verify with barista that she makes my coffee a double.
7 30 a.m. Begin mandatory harassment training module. Interrupted by a call from my friend who tells me annoying stories about her colleague.
10 02 a.m. Lead call with client and subcontractor.
12 49 p.m. Eat brussel sprouts and tofu at my desk while drafting an email.
3 p.m. Meeting.
4 p.m. Conference call.
5 13 p.m. Dash out of my office and head down to Wilshire to catch the 720 bus.
5 25 p.m. Ask a woman at the stop about the 920 express bus that’s passing by and she uses all the English she knows to tell me she doesn't speak English. I repeat my question in Spanish and we look at the maps together.
5 56 p.m. Step off at Wilshire and La Brea and head up to a private party on the 6th floor of a nearby office building.
7 p.m. Discuss horseback riding with two other partygoers.
8 17 p.m. Catch a 20 bus at the stop where I arrived earlier.
8 38 p.m. See an apple core near the back door of the bus.
8 41 Disembark from bus at 6th and Hope and walk southwest.
8 54 p.m. Enter Figueroa Hotel bar and bouncer tells me I look much younger than what my ID says. I take this with a grain of salt.
9 07 p.m. Sit next to a chatty man at the bar and buy a glass of Australian red wine on his recommendation.
9 27 p.m. The person I’m supposed to meet shows up and conversation ensues.
12:37 a.m. I realize that I’ve missed the last train and look up bus schedules on my phone.
1 01 a.m. Stop for an early breakfast at The Pantry. I’m sitting where I can see the grill through a window and the cooks are just feet away from me.
2 24 a.m. Catch a 20 bus and ride it just a short way.
2 51 a.m. Catch a 4 bus. Driver says it’s not in service. I’m confused but realize she’s referring to the fare machine. There are two women sleeping in a seat near the back door.
3 08 a.m. Disembark at Sanborn and notice that 4100 Bar is closed and quiet.
3 40 a.m. Change into pajamas and stretch.
3 47 a.m. Lights out. Consider how far I will run the next day before falling asleep quickly.
6 17 a.m. Run out of my apartment with everything I need for the day.
6 19 a.m. Turn back because I decided I want to wear a different pair of shoes.
6 26 a.m. Run to catch rapid bus pulling up to the stop.
7 08 a.m. Step off bus on the Westside.
7 14 a.m. Verify with barista that she makes my coffee a double.
7 30 a.m. Begin mandatory harassment training module. Interrupted by a call from my friend who tells me annoying stories about her colleague.
10 02 a.m. Lead call with client and subcontractor.
12 49 p.m. Eat brussel sprouts and tofu at my desk while drafting an email.
3 p.m. Meeting.
4 p.m. Conference call.
5 13 p.m. Dash out of my office and head down to Wilshire to catch the 720 bus.
5 25 p.m. Ask a woman at the stop about the 920 express bus that’s passing by and she uses all the English she knows to tell me she doesn't speak English. I repeat my question in Spanish and we look at the maps together.
5 56 p.m. Step off at Wilshire and La Brea and head up to a private party on the 6th floor of a nearby office building.
7 p.m. Discuss horseback riding with two other partygoers.
8 17 p.m. Catch a 20 bus at the stop where I arrived earlier.
8 38 p.m. See an apple core near the back door of the bus.
8 41 Disembark from bus at 6th and Hope and walk southwest.
8 54 p.m. Enter Figueroa Hotel bar and bouncer tells me I look much younger than what my ID says. I take this with a grain of salt.
9 07 p.m. Sit next to a chatty man at the bar and buy a glass of Australian red wine on his recommendation.
9 27 p.m. The person I’m supposed to meet shows up and conversation ensues.
12:37 a.m. I realize that I’ve missed the last train and look up bus schedules on my phone.
1 01 a.m. Stop for an early breakfast at The Pantry. I’m sitting where I can see the grill through a window and the cooks are just feet away from me.
2 24 a.m. Catch a 20 bus and ride it just a short way.
2 51 a.m. Catch a 4 bus. Driver says it’s not in service. I’m confused but realize she’s referring to the fare machine. There are two women sleeping in a seat near the back door.
3 08 a.m. Disembark at Sanborn and notice that 4100 Bar is closed and quiet.
3 40 a.m. Change into pajamas and stretch.
3 47 a.m. Lights out. Consider how far I will run the next day before falling asleep quickly.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Friday with a slight chance of Saturday
It's Friday fucking finally!
Anyways, enough about what day of the week it is.
We have a new president and today during one of my rare odysseys in my vehicle I was listening to NPR and heard "President Obama" and then heard President Obama say something.
It was almost surreal. I'm so use to cringing when I hear "President dot. .dot. . .dot. . " and then that voice that just grinds at your soul like knee caps scraping on rough concrete.
So it feels good to have Obama as our President. Pepsi knows it, Ashton knows it, we all know it. What a great day to drink coffee all day. . .
Anyways, enough about what day of the week it is.
We have a new president and today during one of my rare odysseys in my vehicle I was listening to NPR and heard "President Obama" and then heard President Obama say something.
It was almost surreal. I'm so use to cringing when I hear "President dot. .dot. . .dot. . " and then that voice that just grinds at your soul like knee caps scraping on rough concrete.
So it feels good to have Obama as our President. Pepsi knows it, Ashton knows it, we all know it. What a great day to drink coffee all day. . .
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Terror on the Highways
See this garbage on my windshield? Most people call that rain. Around here, we call it armageddon. I have an indoor job thankfully, so my experience with this liquid anarchy maker will be limited to the night time commute. My prayers go out to the bikers, cyclists, peds, bussers, ditch diggers and all the Angelenos who have to be out there today trying not to get run over by cars.
*****
For your listening pleasure, the Beta Band performing Dry the Rain.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Holiday in K-Town
Red Line fare to Wilshire and Vermont: $1.25
Iced green tea at Koffea: $5
Knowing I could call the server from a button on the table: see $5 green tea
After caffeination, I decided noodles were necessary -- and I walked down the street. I felt about like the guy on the screen looks when I tried to pick something from the menu.
Food was tasty. But I still want to know what those pickled yellow things are…
Iced green tea at Koffea: $5
Knowing I could call the server from a button on the table: see $5 green tea
After caffeination, I decided noodles were necessary -- and I walked down the street. I felt about like the guy on the screen looks when I tried to pick something from the menu.
But luckily, they had a “gringo” version.
24 hour and something toilet flush. . .LA to SF to LA
The blogitude got together on Friday night this past weekend as you’ve all read and then the next day I began a whirly toilet flush of a trip.. .
Saturday
8:05 a.m. Wake up and finish reading the Passion for Book club.
11:10 a.m. Book Club starts
Sometime later arrive at Tim’s and drink more moonshine.
1:45 a.m. Arrive at Reece’s and finally crash. I can’t find my toothbrush. I’m bummed for the second time that night.
8:15 a.m. Wake up and Reece makes oatmeal.
Saturday
8:05 a.m. Wake up and finish reading the Passion for Book club.
11:10 a.m. Book Club starts
12 p.m. Meet up with my ride to Long Beach Airport to fly up to San Francisco.
3:45 p.m. Touch down in S.F. Make calls to gallery and friends that I’ll be meeting up with shortly.
4:00 p.m. Get on BART.
5-7 p.m. Pack large concrete sculptures and other artworks.
7:45 p.m. Meet up with my friend Reece.
8 p.m. Go to dinner at some fancy Cinema indoor-outdoor space. Good food. I have a Chimay. Nice small talk and at one point we discuss taking dumps and farting.
9:30 p.m. Say goodbye to gallery owner and her girlfriend. Reece and I head to the Attic.
9:45 p.m. My friend Tim shows up. I haven’t seen him in over 9 years and the last time was in San Francisco.
10:30 p.m. Another guy named Tim buys me a Guinness and the bartender draws a shamrock in it with a goldfish (cracker.)
10:32 p.m. I am informed that Guinness has lower calories and alcohol content than a majority of beers. I am bummed.
10:35 p.m. We leave the bar to go to a graduate art school party.
10:32 p.m. I am informed that Guinness has lower calories and alcohol content than a majority of beers. I am bummed.
10:35 p.m. We leave the bar to go to a graduate art school party.
11:15 p.m. After Tim gets pizza and we spend 20 minutes looking for a corner store and then another 10 minutes looking for parking we find the party.
11:16 p.m. - 12:05 a.m. Tim and I hang out on the sidewalk in front of the party and Tim smokes a joint and I pass a bottle of moonshine around. Tim tells me about his adventures in Alabama and about the $1 dollar special. $1 any hole.
Sunday
12:10 a.m. We finally go inside and Reece and everybody else is in there.
12:15 a.m. Somebody turns off Notorious B.I.G. and the lights come on, the party is over. We protest to no avail and decide to go to Guinness Tim’s house.
Sunday
12:10 a.m. We finally go inside and Reece and everybody else is in there.
12:15 a.m. Somebody turns off Notorious B.I.G. and the lights come on, the party is over. We protest to no avail and decide to go to Guinness Tim’s house.
Sometime later arrive at Tim’s and drink more moonshine.
1:45 a.m. Arrive at Reece’s and finally crash. I can’t find my toothbrush. I’m bummed for the second time that night.
8:15 a.m. Wake up and Reece makes oatmeal.
9:45 a.m. Meet up with gallery owner to get the truck.
10:45 a.m. I’m at the gallery and almost done loading everything in the truck that I can do by myself. I wait for my GF’s brother and wife to show up to help me and in exchange I’m giving them 2 sculptures.
11:45 a.m. All the sculptures are loaded in the truck and I begin my 400 mile drive to Los Angeles.
11:45 a.m. All the sculptures are loaded in the truck and I begin my 400 mile drive to Los Angeles.
11:58 a.m. Going over the bridges out of S.F. it’s a very beautiful day and I can see lots of sail boats and shipping boats on the water. I realize I’m kind of hung over.
12:01 p.m. I’m definitely hung over.
12:01 p.m. I’m definitely hung over.
12:35 p.m. I decide that I will only eat lunch at a Taco Bell.
2:15 p.m. Finally get to a Taco Bell and eat 2 bean burritos, 2 gordita supremes with beans instead of meat, and a medium Mt. Dew. I don’t buy any other caffeine or snacks. I have a water bottle in the truck and some cashews.
2:16 p.m. - 4:34 p.m. Since I have eaten and filled the truck I have nothing else to worry about except when to pee. I have no Ipod. No laptop. No hands free phone thingy. Just me, the road, and occasionally going through the radio stations. I have many interesting thoughts on my life and remember feeling happy but, still a little hungover.
4:35 p.m. I get to the grapevine and found a really good classic rock station that’s playing Pink Floyd. I think about getting a bottle of Coke but, decide not to.
4:38 p.m. Lose the signal to the radio station.
6:15 p.m. In a concentrated daze with a slight electrical feeling in the back of my eyes I park a block from my apartment and turn off the engine. I'm very happy to be back in Los Angeles.
4:35 p.m. I get to the grapevine and found a really good classic rock station that’s playing Pink Floyd. I think about getting a bottle of Coke but, decide not to.
4:38 p.m. Lose the signal to the radio station.
6:15 p.m. In a concentrated daze with a slight electrical feeling in the back of my eyes I park a block from my apartment and turn off the engine. I'm very happy to be back in Los Angeles.
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