Hollywood Hills Sunsets

R.I.P. Bettie Page

LA's I.C.E. squad cracking down on illegal Canadians

Thanks Cole!

I would say that I'm pro-union

Attractive Girls Union Refuses To Enter Into Talks With Mike Greenman

It makes no rational sense to live in a place so dangerously unstable.

I love Martini Shot, one of the programs I podcast that is broadcast on KCRW.


This is Rob Long with Martini Shot on KCRW.

Southern California is burning again, just like last year. But unlike last year, when the heart of the blaze was tony, expensive Malibu, this year, maybe in honor of the universally diminished financial picture, the blazes are mostly in Sylmar.

Last year, when the fires hit Malibu, I went to Shutters Hotel on the Beach to have dinner with a friend from out of town.

The place was packed with rich people – seriously rich people – camped out in the lobby after evacuating their houses along the Pacific Coast Highway. Incredibly beautiful women and their perfect children milled around merrily, comparing iPhones and James Perse pullovers. Surfer dudes sat outside, on the patio, knocking down Mexican beer and telling filthy jokes.

A few days later, the Malibu fires were joined by fires in the Valencia area – a community of million-dollar McMansions – the gold coast of San Diego County, and the swish areas of Orange County. At a certain point last year, there were so many expensive areas blazing away and so many displaced, homeless rich people that it felt a little like the southern California version of Hurricane Katrina – sort of “Katrina II: The High Net-Worth Edition.”

That night, I took the dog out for an illegal walk on the beach. I live in Venice, which isn't a fire zone but lies just low enough to be officially a flood plain. (In Los Angeles, it seems that each area has its own designated natural disaster: fires in the canyons; mudslides on the hills; floods along the basin; and, of course, earthquakes all over town.)

Silhouetted against the Malibu hills in the distance, I could see flames licking the ridge, lighting up the night sky. It's a pretty amazing sight, to stand ankle deep in the Pacific Ocean, watching flames leap off a distant hillside. Natural historians insist that this kind of thing would happen twice a year at least, and did, before people and irrigation dotted the brown hills with million dollar houses. They tell us that this isn't really a place for people to live and work. And it must be true: Los Angeles does its best to drive us all out and back where we came from with all sorts of biblical weapons – fire, mud, shaking the earth beneath us. But we stick around and write our pilots and make our movies, we go to yoga and buy electric cars, we eat salad and drink vitamin water. And we try not to notice the place burning and shaking and sliding.

Also: we have other disasters on our minds. With the global financial meltdown, recession, and the collapse in advertising rates, it's looking like a very tough 2009 following a very tough 2008.

Maybe that's a sign. Look, I've been living and working in Los Angeles for almost 18 years. As they say about comedy writers and dairy cows, I've had some “good, productive years.” But with the city on fire and an industry-wide contraction about to get even more contracted, it's hard not to ask yourself: “Is it time to go?”

Hard, but not impossible. You have to put some effort into it, some commitment, but it's possible to ignore the constellation of raging natural disasters, all of which are screaming at you to pack your bags and get out. You just have to take the dog to the beach, throw a tennis ball, and turn away from the burning hillside. Plug in your iPod, unroll the yoga mat, and get into half-pigeon. It's the smart thing to do. Because as anyone who has ever dated a rail-thin actress will tell you, this is a binge-purge kind of town. The hills are either soft and green or brown and firebox-dry. When the money isn't roaring torrentially into your bank account, it's racing out to pay the nanny and the yard guy and the BMW and the jumbo mortgage. If the phone isn't ringing a lot, it's probably not ringing at all.

It makes no rational sense to live in a place so dangerously unstable, just as it makes no rational sense to work in a business where fortunes are made and lost at the whim of a focus group. But for those of us who work here – that is, for those of us who realize, deep down, that we have no other marketable skills – you adjust to each disaster, whether natural or career. You refuse to see symbols in the earthquakes. You ignore the message in the mudslide. When the canyons burn, you spend a few nights at Shutters, head back home, and start again. When one network passes on your script, you wait a day, and then you pitch it to the next one.

And that's it for this week. Next week, the high seas. For KCRW, this is Rob Long with Martini Shot.

How do you hug a wall?

Shari, Nicole and Kristen are working on Women of Manhattan, the play my Moonstruck writer John Patrick Shanley.
Something really resonated with me in their scene in class tonight. I guess I just really saw myself in Rhonda.
An excerpt:

RHONDA. I know what you think this is, but it's not. I don't keep the sneakers because I love him.

JUDY. Uh-huh.

RHONDA. I didn't love him. Not in a way that led anywhere. I mean, I loved him but it was like trying to hug a wall. How do you hug a wall?

JUDY. I don't know.

RHONDA. I guess my big mistake was I revealed myself to him. That's where I really went wrong. You know, that thing that most people can't do? That thing that's supposed to be like the hardest thing to get to with another person? It took me time, but I struggled and strove and succeeded at last in revealing my innermost, my most personal soul to him.

BILLIE. And what is that?

RHONDA. Never you mind.

JUDY. And what did he do?

RHONDA. Nothing. Zip. Nothing. He just sat there with a coke in his hand like he was watching television, waiting for the next thing. Like that was a nice stop on the way to WHAT I CAN'T IMAGINE! The whole thing with him was such a letdown. But why am I surprised? You know? I mean, here I was congratulating myself on being able to show myself, show my naked self to a man. But what's the achievement? I chose to show myself to a wall. Right? That's why I was able to do it. He was a wall and I was really alone, showing myself to nobody at all. How much courage does that take? Even when I got it together to throw him out, and I made this speech at him and got all pink in the face and noble as shit. He just said alright and left. What did I delude myself into thinking was going on between us if that's how he could take it ending? "Alright. Just lemme get my tools together, Rhonda Louise, and I'll get on to the next thing." You know how in that one school a thought you're the only thing real in the world, and everything else is just a dream? All these people and things, the stars in the sky, are just sparks and smoke from your own lonely fire in a big, big night. I always thought what a lotta intellectual nonsense that was until Jerry. I mean, to tell you the naked truth, I'm not even sure there was a Jerry. It seems impossible to me that there was. Sometimes I think I just got overheated, worked myself into a passion and fell in love with that wall right there. It must've been! It must've been that wall and me, crazy, loving it cause I needed to love. And not a human man. I couldn't have poured everything out to a really truly human man, and him just stand there, and take it, and give nothing back. It's not possible. But when I get too far gone in that direction of thinking -- and alone here some nights I do -- at those times it does me good to look and see these sneakers there sitting on the floor. His sneakers. He was here. It happened.

Sorry guys, "I forgot"

make your own, make one for a friend HERE.
Thanks Jennrock

Obama on the Left, McCain on the Right. We can talk politics all night and You Can Vote However You Like... Yeah.

thanks JENNROCK

I Love the Griffith Observatory

Some pics from my phone.

Happy Thanksgiving!

NDP, Liberal & Green

I use quizzes to determine whether he's the one, whether I'm a go getter, which Sex and the City Character I am (I still disagree with the results that I'm Carrie), so why not use it for the upcoming Election?

I was always an NDP supporter in highschool but I attributed that to being young and idealistic. Seems not much has changed, I'm just a little older and idealistic.
Despite agreeing with a lot of NDP platforms, I tend to vote Liberal (along with the rest of my riding).

Find out whose politics you really agree with
Take the Quiz

***This quiz does not provide a thorough analysis of party platforms, so please seek further information before deciding whom to support on voting day. Please also note that the Bloc Québécois is not fielding candidates outside Quebec.***

You tell 'em, Ms. Atwood!

To be creative is, in fact, Canadian
Mr. Harper is wrong: There's more to the arts than a bunch of rich people at galas whining about their grants
MARGARET ATWOOD
September 25, 2008
What sort of country do we want to live in? What sort of country do we already live in? What do we like? Who are we?

At present, we are a very creative country. For decades, we've been punching above our weight on the world stage - in writing, in popular music and in many other fields. Canada was once a cultural void on the world map, now it's a force. In addition, the arts are a large segment of our economy: The Conference Board estimates Canada's cultural sector generated $46-billion, or 3.8 per cent of Canada's GDP, in 2007. And, according to the Canada Council, in 2003-2004, the sector accounted for an "estimated 600,000 jobs (roughly the same as agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, oil & gas and utilities combined)."

FULL STORY

World's Largest Particle Accelerator fires up in Geneva... Canadians helping out... (along with 8000 others from 85 other countries)

U of T physicists part of international team
By Kim Luke, posted Wednesday, September 3, 2008

On Sept. 10, an international team of scientists that includes members from U of T's Department of Physics will fire up a machine that they believe will answer some fundamental questions about the structure of the universe.

The highly anticipated $8-billion Large Hadron Collider (LHC), located under ground at the France-Switzerland border near Geneva, is the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator as well as the most complex science experiment ever developed. Its main purpose is to explore the validity and limitations of the Standard Model, developed 30 years ago, which still provides the theoretical picture for particle physics.

FULL STORY

I take my coffee black, like my President.

"Change your Clothes and the Country will follow" is the philosophy behind online retailer 44th President.
Shirts conceived by Shari's husband Dan and modeled by her son Morgan.
Since I can't vote, I'll at least wear my politics.
I'm getting this one:

BREAKING the CYPHER Aug 9 & 10 2008

Saturday Aug 9, 2008 8PM
Sunday Aug 10, 1008 7PM
El Portal Theater
North Hollywood, CA

Cast: ME! Kujo, Peppa, Bailafuco, Catfox, Duo, Looner, Val Pal
TICKET INFO




“Reclaiming hip hop... by expanding the idiom’s creative horizons...” -Lewis Segal, Los Angeles Times

BREAKING THE CYPHER rocks the stage with a fresh and expressive vision of hip hop culture. Artistic Directors Amy “Catfox” Campion and Jacob “Kujo” Lyons harness the extreme physicality of breaking (aka breakdancing) into a multi-media performance that features spoken word and rhymes, a DJ, three exclusive dance videos, and ground-breaking choreography. “Breaking” is the style of dance. The “Cypher” is the dance circle where breaking happens in its most exciting form. BREAKING THE CYPHER means to dance in the circle. But it also means to break away from limitations, to redefine one’s self, and to manifest a new and vibrant style. BREAKING THE CYPHER pays homage to breaking’s history while transcending the limits of tradition to seek its essential creative spark.

My thoughts exactly. Thanks Beeeee.

Finally saw Dark Knight. I guess I wasn't the only one having trouble hearing what was going on...

Bees! Bees! Bees! Yo, I found some nectar!

Got this one from my sister in T.O. xxoo



Bee-Boy dance crew drops dead.

It is a fact of nature: When a honey bee returns to the hive after finding a good source of nectar, it will perform a unique dance for its hive mates, detailing the distance, quality and quantity of the new food supply.

Sadly, honey bees are mysteriously vanishing in staggering numbers - a crisis known as Colony Collapse disorder - which is alarming considering honey bees are responsible for pollinating one-third of our natural food supply.

Learn more at http://www.helpthehoneybees.com

My friend Kaz played this for me before a night out for bowling at Lucky Strike. It's just so infectious (fashionable, fashionable, fashionable..... people!) and I now brush my teeth to it every morning.

On another Canadian note, I'm going to see Feist and Pacifika at the Hollywood Bowl tomorrow! I <3 the Bowl.

Barack the Vote - B-rock & illary take on McCain

Thanks for the link Shabba-Doo

This is the Obama musical tribute America's been waiting for! Super fresh, super funky with a twist of humor to boot! Can B-Rock and Illary beat McPain and his crew in the ultimate B-boy battle?

Keith deftly handles the current Presidential election with an homage to the George Kranz classic "Din Daa Daa." Notice the tribute to the classic '80s movie Breakin, as Keith plays three characters in this parody masterpiece. Keith says "Vote Obama!" Hope you enjoy the fun!

The Audacity of Hope

it's like that, Comrad.

I love this clip - Thanks MATT!
I just saw the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and think it would be a far better film with a little Russian B-boying, rather than random Peruvian Capoeira creatures hiding out in Mayan ruins.

What would you do if you saw 5 dogs locked in a car?

What would you do if you came home one night at 1:00am and saw a car parked in your apt building's parking lot with 3 full size dogs and 2 little dogs (total 5) locked in a car with the window's rolled down 2 inches?
The dog are barking at you like crazy as you walk by...
thoughts?

They're Baaaaaaaack! Youuuuuuuuuuu!

While the Soulja Boy part is good, I really prefer the U Can't touch this bit.
They should have these guys at the opening ceremonies for the Olympics. Thx for the link Jenn.

Tips for Cellphone Users (that's pretty much all of us these days!)

I haven't tried any of these out to verify of they work or just fodder for future Mythbusters episodes...


5 Things You Never Knew Your Cell Phone Could Do!

FIRST - Emergency

The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an Emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to
Establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly, this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it out.


SECOND
Have you locked your keys in the car?

Does your car have remote keyless entry? This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone: If you lock your keys In the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their cell phone from your ce ll phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other 'remote' for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).

Editor's Note: It works fine! We tried it out and it unlocked our car over a cell phone!'

THIRD - Hidden Battery Power

Imagine your cell battery is very low. To activate, press the keys *3370#. Your cell phone will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you
charge your cell phone next time.

FOURTH
How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?

To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following Digits on your phone: *#06#. A 15-digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhe re safe.

When your phone get stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.

And Finally....
FIFTH - Free Directory Service for Cells

Cell phone companie s are charging us $1.00 to $1.75 or more for 411 information calls when they don't have to. Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle, which makes this situation even more of a problem. When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial:





(800)FREE411 , or (800) 373-3411 without incurring any charge at all. Program this into your cell phone now.

This is the kind of information people don't mind receiving, so
Pass i t on to your family and friends.

She's Good!

So good I wish I'd thought of it 1st! I should do one too and include Tina, Miss Nicaragua and some sushi.

Do your part. Get Tested!

Thanks beeee

At Least there's no Zipper!

Take Levis jeans. Add B-boys. lather. rinse. repeat.
Kujo, Tails and Mosquito (that's his real hair) get into their pants.
Kujo's a 30 take wonder. I'm not sure how hurt he got on takes 1-29...

Bboy Obama - I want him in my crew!

What's not to love?

Artist Site

More Videos

I know this song is from almost 10 years ago, but I've been sleeping on Fiona Apple dismissing her as a more MTV friendly Tori Amos. I really like this song and this video.

Elephant School for the Arts?

Graeme, one of the guys I went to University with posted this on his Facebook.


I didn't know what to make of this, so I did what anyone would do, I Googled it.
Apparently the only thing they couldn't do on their own is pick up a paintbrush.

Get a Ticket outta town! - Tim

Last night we were at Tim's Art Spot and looking up all kinds of dance & circus on YouTube. Ani showed us this clip of the Chinese Acrobatic Ballet. As a group we flip-flopped between being amazed and disgusted. I settled on amazed, although I do believe there seems to be a food shortage - maybe they weren't giving the dancers their per diem?

Legendary B-Boy Frosty Freeze dies in NYC hospital at age 44

Breakdance artist Frosty Freeze dies in NYC hospital at age 44

NEW YORK — Wayne Frost, a hip-hop pioneer known as Frosty Freeze whose acrobatic performance with the legendary Rock Steady Crew in the 1983 hit movie "Flashdance" set off a worldwide breakdancing craze, died Thursday. He was 44.

Frost died at Mount Sinai Medical Center after a long illness, said Jorge (Fabel) Pabon, senior vice-president of the musical group where Frost made his name as a B-boy or breakdancer.

Frost was known for his original style, including acrobatic and fearless dance moves. He toured the world with the Rock Steady Crew and other hip-hop artists, including Fab 5 Freddy, Futura 2000 and Kool Lady Blue.

If I'm arrested, please send me to Filipino prison

Famous youtube-wide for their mass routine of Thriller, the Filipino prisoners are back with their interpretation of the 80s classic "Gloria"

Guest Blog from Randy & Koco

Koco: I would like to admit that I myself have a secret. I'd like to divulge my secret so that I'm no longer living a lie. I'm coming clean and it feels great! I, Koco Limbevski, secretly wish that I was Secretly Canadian
Randy: Alright, with that being said, I'd like to talk about the time that I was in Canada. I really liked that fact that when I was in Toronto, I realized it really is a spotless New York. I enjoyed the nightlife, I enjoyed the food we had at the Chinese Dim Sum. It felt like there were so many different cultures there. It made me feel like I was in New York. However, I am a little upset that I didn't make it to Circa (my former employer's current venture) for that reason, and Sara's family, I will return. Not to mention, Koco heard that there's a really large Macedonian community. I'm trying to convince Koco to come with me to find a wife.
Koco: Convinced.

Dancer Risks Everything

I think they're making fun of me...
I love The Onion.

We Are the World-san

Jennrock of shebang! sent me the link for this fine YouTube find!
Japanese Impersonators perform USA for Africa's "We Are the World"

My vote is for Cyndi Lauper & Bruce Springsteen!

Crotch Burn!

This is how I spent my birthday weekend, taking "vertical dance" from Project Bandaloop in San Francisco. Anna (green), Chelsea (blonde) & I (orange) performed some of the things we learned on the trampoline wall. It's super fun dancing on a trampoline wall but sooooo painful where the harness lies on your waist & crotch.

What's Jill Doing for Earth Hour?

My favourite YA novelist Jill Murray discusses her plans for Earth Hour

"My list may be a little ambitious for just one 60-minute wrinkle in time, but nevertheless, I am willing to share. So without further ado, I give you: Jill’s Earth Hour:

1. Looting in the dark, with my trusty hemp sack and crank-powered flashlight."

READ ON...

Haven't read BREAK ON THROUGH yet? Peruse the first chapter online!

Turn off for an hour THIS SATURDAY

This Saturday night, join Earth Hour by turning off the power for an
hour from 8-9:00 pm local time.

Check out Jenn Hollett's interview in The Toronto Star about Earth Hour:
http://www.thestar.com/article/350831

More info at http://www.earthhour.org

New Music for Lux?

water angels


A new musical take on Lux Underwater directed by Alex Mercado, featuring Lux Aeterna Dance Company.
Submitted to me by WorldCrash via Youtube.
See the original here.
Whaddya think?

I'm ready for my close-up

How's this for camera ready?
I'm all ready for my Bohemia photoshoot!

Due to the Diavolo Door intensive, my body has been embellished by the following:
-sunburn on chest & neck
-scrapes with scabs on both right an left shoulders
-bruises on both forearms
-bruises on the insides of my thighs
-rips on right palm
-rip on bottom of left foot
-various breakouts
-unexplained rash on left elbow

HAWT!
Make-up!

It's as easy as changing a lightbulb

David Suzuki's tips for saving energy

I <3 David Suzuki

Secretly Sara Bellydancing

Pics from last week's Christian Audigier/Ed Hardy Fashion show at the Grove.
More Pics

Bring Carlana back!

Grab your tissues, it's another episode of Oprah's Big Give!
Now, I don't have cable, so I watch the episodes several days after they air online at ABC.COM
I *just* watched the one where Carlana was eliminated and I stick by my opinion that they judges were wrong and Raychell should have been the one going home.



Also, I nominate Sheg for Best Dressed Reality Contestant. He always looks like a high fashion model.

Take the Test

Thanks for the link Jennrock.
This one is dedicated to my Dad.

Bu-rake-dan-su 3-2-1!!!

Anna, Chisa and I auditioned for the American version of this show last week. Probably the most fun I've had at an audition! They didn't have the actual walls constructed (or punnishment pools of water) but they held up diagrams of what the wall cut-outs would look like and we had 5 seconds to get ourselves into the right shape. Hilarity ensues...

It's hard not to feel deflated when even your best isn't good enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P85LoHftEKs
Thx Kater 4 the link via Facebook

Walk it out. Make ya mama proud, take that thing 2 sizes down!

Ok ok. I know this is an old Youtube discovery but it still makes me laugh to this day. After the gun violence below, we could all use some Fosse.

THAT'S whay my rent is so cheap!!!

I didn't realize my neighbourhood & Bank of America had been in the news.

They apprehended the getaway driver a block from my apartment.

Location! Location! Location!

If you were planning a party, a bat mitzvah specifically, where's the last place on earth you would want to have it?
Keep in mind you want to be able to invite all your 12 & 13-year-old friends and make lots of noise and dance a heckuva lot.

From a brief polling of friends, these are some of the places we came up with:
-old age home
-prison
-hospital
and the grand finale:
LIBRARY

That's right folks! Your truly worked a Bat Mitzvah at the LIBRARY on Saturday.
*During the day* while it was *open to the public*.

It was an affair to remember.

Laughter is the best medicine

n

Dear Diary

Dear Diary,
Today I performed 3 shows with Diavolo Education Company at LACES High School in Culver City. It was my first triple with Ani & Chelsea.

Depending on your outlook on life, highlights include:

-kicking Ani in the head during Pink Panther

-lying onstage in bodybags for several minutes waiting for our music to start

-trying to speak into a mic that refused to turn on

-3 successful superman flies

-5 new mystery bruises on my arms and legs that look like domestic abuse

After that long day, I did another show for Bohemia

Goodnight Diary

<3

Joining the Masses

Today I'm joining the masses of typing for anyone who'll click n' read.

Not much to report just yet...

I guess this is somewhat akin to a "mic check... 1, 2"

"Do you copy?"