Someone's Dream Bed

From Apartment Therapy

From FailBlog.com - Diva Gina

Sadly, only in Los Angeles...

From Colorofchange.org

Dear friend,

On New Year's Eve, Oscar Grant was shot execution-style by a transit
police officer in Oakland, California. He was shot in the back while
face-down on a subway platform--unarmed and posing no threat.

Twelve days later--despite several videos showing exactly what
happened--the officer who killed Grant hasn't been arrested, charged,
or even questioned. He quit the force and has refused to speak. The
District Attorney has done nothing.

It's time to demand that California Attorney General Jerry Brown take
over the case and arrest Grant's killer, and to ask that the US
Department of Justice launch an independent investigation into the
conduct of local authorities. Please join me:

http://www.colorofchange.org/oscar/?id=2085-704439

Oscar Grant is the third man murdered by BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit)
police in the past 17 years. All three victims were Black and none
posed a serious threat. In each case, BART and county authorities have
failed to hold the officers accountable.

In the previous cases, BART's internal investigations concluded that
the officers felt threatened by the victims and were justified in
pulling the trigger. It's unbelievable given the circumstances of the
killings:

- In 1992, 19-year-old Jerrold Hall was shot in the back by a BART
officer as he tried to leave the parking lot of a station. The officer
was responding to reports of an armed robbery and said he suspected
that Hall and a friend were involved. The officer tried to detain the
two, Hall ran and then the officer shot him in the back and killed
him. Hall was unarmed, but the officer said he thought Hall was on his
way to get a gun and return for a showdown.

- In 2001, a mentally ill man named Bruce Seward was the next victim
of the rogue force. Seward, 42, was naked and had been sleeping on a
bench outside the BART station when an officer approached him. Seward
did grab the officer's nightstick at one point, but there were several
options for subduing him. Instead, the officer shot and killed him.

In addition to BART's internal investigation, Alameda County's
District Attorney is also investigating Oscar Grant's murder--but the
office's record on investigating police killings is horrible too. In
both cases just described, the District Attorney bought BART's
argument that the officers felt threatened. As a result, the cops were
cleared of any wrongdoing.

In the case of Grant's murder, the DA has already let 12 days pass
while doing essentially nothing--the officer who killed Grant is able
to travel and leave the state, and he's free to talk with other
officers and attempt to construct a story to justify his killing of
Oscar Grant.

The problem with Alameda County's DA goes beyond BART police murders.
In the past two years alone, there have been 11 fatal police shootings
in Oakland (not including that of Oscar Grant). When asked, the
officials at the District Attorney's office could not remember a
single case in the last 20 years where an on-duty cop had been charged
in a fatal shooting in Alameda County. It gives the clear appearance
that the District Attorney's office just doesn't have the will to
prosecute police crimes.

California's Attorney General needs to step in now and arrest Oscar
Grant's murderer. And the US Department of Justice should investigate
the failure of the authorities in Alameda County to act. It's the
first step towards justice. After that, we will push for systemic
changes to create public accountability for BART and other police
departments. Creating those structural changes will be a much longer
fight, but Oscar Grant's tragic death is a wake-up call that should
give us a real chance to help prevent this from happening again.

Please join me in demanding justice, and then ask your family and
friends to do the same:

http://www.colorofchange.org/oscar/?id=2085-704439

Thanks.

Marmol/Radzinger Desert Hot Springs Home

By local Los Angeles architectural firm, Marmol-Radziner . This home has suffered some severe price chops but still basks in all its desert glory.

See the listing here: Architecture For Sale

Camel Festival

Almost like the hearings on Capitol Hill, but fun!

George the Giant Lobster Is Free!

In happy news, George, the 140 lbs. Giant Lobster, was given freedom from his life in a tank at a NY seafood restaurant. Lobsters grow a pound every 7-10 years. So at 20 lbs, George probably has some great stories about the industrial revolution.

See more here: Huffington Post

Golden Globes 2009

30 Rock's Tracy Morgan Acceptance Speech

Congratulations to the casts and crews of 30 Rock and Slumdog Millionaire for their sweeping and deserving wins of the Golden Globes.

To the Screen Actors Guild,

Thank you for postponing your strike vote so that the Golden Globes could happen. Too bad your strike could possibly devastate this entire city over the non-potential that the internet will overtake television as our primary brainwasher within the next 3 years. Please vote wisely and take into consideration that the families of your crews may go through harsher times during your strike. And by the way you have taken up way too many parking spots in our building!

Who Is You? #14

I want to make friends with someone with the same name as you so I can have a buddy to call "Seabass" as a nickname. Sounds so tough sort of.




You = Sebastian the Crab from the Little Mermaid.

New Years Eve Charles

You can see Charles' directorial work here: Cerritos Burritos

This kid is amazing. (Old videos)

"Nothing Compares 2 U" Cover

By Gavin Castleton

International Spy Museum

Dear Secret Agents,

I'm planning a trip to your museum of espionage. Consider your phone shoe secrets foiled, my friends. I'm going to learn about the secret history of your secret history from people just like you at the International Spy Museum in Washington DC. OK, so who's coming with me?

Post Christmas Dilemma

So I got what I wanted: a Nerf gun. And now that the damage is done, I guess I'll go back to work.

I hope everyone is surviving their first day back at work. Happy Blue Monday!

2009

I hope every enjoys the new year and their opportunity to take on new goals. Like going to the dentist or avoiding dairy.

This Is Where We Live - 4th Estate

This Is Where We Live from 4th Estate on Vimeo.

Marisa

And a home video of my Christmas in the Bay Area ...

OK, so it's not an actual home video from Christmas, but actually the overture to Jesus Christ Superstar. Close enough.

Christmas in the Bay Area/Sacramento was lovely. It was cold enough to wear everything in my suitcase at once, but it was worth it.

While times are hard, my family decided to be a little more innovative with their gift giving. For instance, Auntie Beth stitched up some amazing stuffed dolls from old sweaters and blankets. Tita Mynna and Dawn treated the family to sushi. Auntie Des and Brice managed to challenge the entire family to a walk-off. My mother, though, probably wins the award for strangest presents given this Christmas.

Some of her notable gifts:
• "potato battery" for my Uncle Les - My uncle has a knack for gadgets and manages to have latest and coolest toys before anyone else. As a joke, his wife/my aunt suggested that what he needed was electricity. To which my mom responded confidently, "I can make that!" And packed a potato (on which I drew his face) and a couple copper wires creating a working potato battery.

• Polveron and Food For the Gods for Auntie Des and Auntie Risa - Favorite Filipino snacks packed to perfection by my dad.

• Doily for my Auntie Beth - My mother told my aunt, "For you, I'm going to make a doily!" Doubtful, yet nicely, my aunt replied "Really?". My mother actually made one.

• Beibi Brews Beer for Uncle Brice - When asked what he liked, Uncle Brice answered, "I like beer". So my mom said, "I can make that." And on Christmas, Uncle Brice unwrapped 3 bottles of Blue Moon re-labeled by my mother. The sharpie and masking tape labels read "Beibi Brews" (Beibi = her nickname) and taped them all over the bottle.

• "Super Titi" and Jello Shots for Uncle Monch - Who knew that there were Shrimp chip snacks called Super Titi? My mother apparently. She only bought these because "Titi" was in the name. To those who aren't familiar with Filipino slang, "titi" refers to a penis. Well to go further with this elaborate filthy joke present, her jello shots were made in her easter egg jello molds. So when anyone looked at the present, my mother helpfully reminded, "SEE, THEY'RE EGGS!" to make the ultimate phallic experience.

So afterwards we make hot chocolate and churros (from scratch-- we wouldn't have it any other way!) shaped like sperm and crucifixes (for Grandma). Played with Kristen's batwings, nerf guns and r/c tarantula (Yes, that was from us) Watched more Mamma Mia Sing A Long and Jesus Christ Superstar. (My father proudly reminds me that he was a priest in his high school production of the rock opera. This is evident in his memorization of EVERY LYRIC) Gotta love my family! (The only people reading this...)

Cher Draws Little Anne

By the very talented Cher Grepo

Wild Eyed

Because my good friend, Eric, is visiting from Tokyo. I'm paying tribute to one of the phrases he says a lot- "wild eyed". For most part, describes most homeless and/or drunk hooligans who are ready to give a pounding. So here is a collection of people with wild eyes.

Because Everyone Loves Poo

The Sprinkle Brigade is here to provide you with the true definition of street art: dog poop sculptures. While we may just dismiss these abandoned terds, the Sprinkles see art.

Thanks, B