CHRIS CORNELL

Still R-O-C-K-S!!! Check it out - http://www.chriscornell.com/media/

Happy Valentine's!

Valentine's Day. Good or bad - it's here this year directly after Friday the 13th.

It's my belief that if you're single in autumn - you should NOT get back on the dating wagon from October's Sweetest Day (by the way, what kind of bullshit holiday is that?) to February's Valentines. That got you past the holidays and you would avoid the pressure of either expecting something from any new beau (even one you only went out with once) or wondering if you should buy something for whomever you happened to be dating.

It makes me sad now when I see the Valentines produced for the young 'uns. They are all based on TV shows or other generic product nonsense. Some might be funny - but they aren't the same as the now seemingly antique ones that had sentiment without corporate brand promotion.

Ahhh - I am dating myself. No pun intended.

If you have a special someone - do something thoughtful. And have a good night ;)

Rainy Day LA

And a pretty cold one too. Hail sprinkled our porch while gusty winds howled and blew the tarp off a huge bldg lying in wait to be finished when the economy changes. Too bad they didn't realize it sooner and never started - then we still coulda had an uninterrupted mountain view. I knew things had stopped when "La Cucaracha" didn't play three times a day outside my house - that's the announcement when the Mexican taco truck swings by. It moved on to a condo a couple of streets over.

I have to say - that in our neighborhood - the food comes to you: a myriad of taco trucks (the Korean one with bulgogi is all the range on twitter now - hundreds of people show up!), I had the BEST chicken quesadilla ever at the fancy one with seats and track lighting outside the subway stop at Vermont/Wilshire - nothin' like it after a couple of drinks! And there are men pushing ice cream carts who ring a little bell to let you know they are passing by (I think I wrote about this already :) AND women who make bacon-covered hot dogs by bus stops. It's a sin that something that smells soooooooo good is sooooooooooooooooooooo bad for you! And then there's all the produce they sell on the sidewalk - although that can be hit or miss. Same with the candy/produce trucks that move from street to street.

Still, pretty cool. When you're hung over or feeling lazy or wanting an ice cream on a hot day - just wish and it will arrive... Ah - if only my script sale were that easy.

MISTRESS MISTRESS

A friend of mine - who sometimes freelances as a Dominatrix - has a provocative blog on the Beauty and the Dirt web site. Read it, it you dare ;)

http://www.beautyandthedirt.com/2009/02/06/mistress-mistress-3/

BLACK DYNAMITE RED BAND TRAILER! Boobs! Kung-Fu! Street Smack Talk!

This is hilarious! A 70's style blaxsploitation drama/comedy/kung-fu/street/corruption/revenge/ sex stud movie feast!

And hooray for red band trailers (don't watch around the young 'uns)!

http://defamer.com/5138020/why-black-dynamite-was-the-most-nsfw-fun-we-had-working-at-sundance

Vimeo vs. YouTube

I just learned today that Vimeo is the new YouTube.

So like Friendster was replaced by MySpace was replaced by Facebook - will everyone shift? Or is YouTube's hold too strong?! Stay tuned.

And enjoy this video sent by my friend Aaron. It's super cool!

Bubblicious from Rex The Dog on Vimeo.

HILARIOUS Journey Remake - Frame for Frame with Wigs!

This has been on youtube for months, but I just noticed when Bruce posted it on Facebook.

Super funny! Makes you miss the 80's and the art school + theatrics + overwrought drama videos had back then.

Note - the Steve Perry guy looks more like Josh Homme of "Queens of the Stone Age" than Perry, but the crunched mullet wig is priceless as is "The Flock of Seagulls" hair on the chick going her "Separate Ways" in white pumps and a tight skirt.

Rock Star/Rapper Extravagace Extravaganza

Funny article on the often ridiculous extravagances of rock stars and rappers.

David Lee Roth's purchase of paternity insurance 'cause of all his fooling around, however, was a wise choice. I'm surprised they insured him!

http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/getback/75945/to-be-young-a-rapper-a-rocker-and-rich/

Obama the Rock Star

Wow. I've never seen anything like it. T-shirts, commemerative printing plates, lotteries to win tickets to the event, buttons, posters, parties, parades, people inviting strangers into their houses (via Obama's web site) to celebrate the inauguration.

It is definitely THEE rock event of the season.

Idealism floats in the air despite the economic crisis, people gush about change and have faith that it will happen. It's pretty incredible.

So president Obama (let's face it, Bush is the lamest of lame ducks) you have got A LOT to live up to and the country is counting on you. Here's hoping true change comes in the stodgy and corrupt and self serving political halls of power. I am a doubter, but I want to believe...

2009 so far...

Has been super non-productive. Like I've been sick and spent black holes of time on the internet studying Chinese medicine and mung bean soup recipes. Our apartment is starting to smell like my childhood neighbor Mr. Linke's house - he drove a VW bug and believed in healthy food and supplements in the 70's. I'll always remember his glass eye and that funky nutrious yeasty smell when you walked in his house. Memories last, but memories with scents last even longer. Mr. Linke was definitely ahead of his time. But, alas, I digress...

Now I have PLENTY of stories I want to tell - of the holidays (especially AJ and Alison's teacher stories, but I could never tell them as well as they do, oh yeah, and my brother's Tivo list - let's just say it's "gynormous"), the crazy girl in all Bebe clothing from my real estate classes who wore a beaded harem sheer scarf over her face to take the state exam (she's Hispanic, not Indian) was a story I meant to tell months ago and I still have roommate stories to finish for a friend of mine, but alas, I am a complete slug.

However, I am not slower than the LA Metro subway building. I lobbied amongst friends to pass Measure R and they can't even get it two stops to La Cienega until 2019! And some work won't be done until 2032 - I'll be a certifiable senior citizen by then! Other cities do it in one decade, not three. Ridiculous!

So I hope my 2009 productivity is in like a sloth and out like a panther!

HAPPY NEW YEARS 2009!

Didn't make any resolutions this year, because I usually break them (especially the annual "eat a little less cheese" one). BUT maybe that means I'll actually accomplish a few. Like writing more religiously on my blog.

Got some pictures to share - (not babies or cheesy holiday couple shots, don't worry ;) those'll be up soon!

O.J. Karma - Paint with Hate

With the latest OJ verdict (there is karma - yes!) - I thought you might enjoy another PAINT WITH HATE masterpiece.

As always it is funny, obnoxious and raw - a mix of journalistic details and blood. Check it out!

The Last Legs of Sunset 5

It's always sad when one of your favorite movie theaters is going under, even if you haven't been there in years. You remember films you loved and hated there, the friends and old beaus you saw and argued about the films with, etc.

I had time to kill last week while my car was being repaired so I ventured over to Sunset 5. Hardly anything is left! Virgin Megastore is an empty shell, no more Buzz coffee, no more CPK - pretty much nothing but Sunset 5 and Crunch gym (where they first offered pole dancing classes).

Once Arclight and Landmark hit the scene they robbed from Sunset 5's indie fare, getting the most popular titles in that market. Leaving only the runts of the litter at Sunset 5. I had only heard of one title there and chose the French film - A CHRISTMAS TALE - because of Catherine Deneauve and I also hoped I'd be transported to beautiful Paris via an engaging tale that afternoon.

Not so much. Catherine played a distant mother and grandmother who smoked cigarettes and showed off her stunning legs whenever possible. Her despised (even by her since birth) son becomes the only one who can donate bone marrow to save her life and is invited to Christmas for the first time in years by his suicidal teen-age nephew.

Ominous music and titles introduce each day that week which consist of wife swapping, fist fights, booze and more cigarettes, crying jags mixed with intellectual ponderings, and talk of the new girlfriend having an ass like Angela Bassett. Unfortunately, none of this was ever engaging. I never cared.

It made me long for "Home for the Holidays" or even an afternoon escape with "Four Christmases".

Oh well, found a good mechanic and that was worth the price of admission!

"The Scream" Sunset

LA's sky looks like the background of Edvard Munch's master painting "The Scream" right now. Streaked lines of fuscia, purple, burnt orange, yellow and deep blue in random order.

Incredible!

I'm sure it's still residue from the fires. But from tragedy and ashes, beauty can arise.

Or maybe it's a brilliantly colorful chaotic bkgd to the current world events.

Whatever it is - if you are in LA - run outside NOW!

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE - the year's first must see!!!

On deadline for a project (I can tell 'cause I'm running errands with mad scientist hair and not bathing before the sun sets) so I'll write more on SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE later.

An incredibly beautiful, sometimes dark and life affirming film all at once. A modern fairy tale with Danny Boyle's signature kinetic and visual style. See it when it comes to your town - it's a cross-over film like LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL and AMELIE. More on it to come...

Nosy Nelly Tours and Scores at McMenamin's Edgefield!

Okay - it is a glorified vacation video.

That said, you are going to get a gander at THEE GREATEST PUB RESORT ON EARTH!!!

Check it out here:

Amazing Sight

So yesterday morning I saw a dude on a unicycle with a coffee in one hand, books in the other AND he was unicycling down a hill during rush hour! He must be both highly balanced and insane!

Haven't blogged in a while - got my real estate license and some funny stories to tell with that one about our ghetto word association practice sessions in Santa Ana.

Gotta study the issues now! But my two cents are yes on 1A (high speed rail) and on R (subway - we need it badly!).

NOOOOOO on Prop 8! And go OBAMA!!!

My Life as a Guru

Here's the latest Nosy Nelly installment as I reinvent myself as a house guru.

Obviously, I am voting NO on prop. 8. Don't make Ellen return her wedding gifts ;)

Walks With Harvey

Things spotted this week:

An older Asian woman softly hitting her butt against a palm tree while a younger Asian woman opened her arms up and out to a palm tree right next to it.
What's with all the tree stuff? Does this have to do with chi? If you know, let me know.

A Hispanic man sleeping face down on the ground in front of a psychic/palm reading house on 6th street/Wilton.

The bed of a pick-up truck jam packed with old televisions - some were huge, just no plasmas.

An African-American dude pulling out of a pkng lot with the rap music turned up BOOMING LOUD. The rap lost its tough effect as it was booming out of a Mini-Cooper. Not so gangsta.

One flute practice and two piano practices.

A bunch of Hispanic kids at a ballooned birthday party. They shouted "puppy, puppy" and walked with gleaming eyes towards Harvey. Unfortunately, I am still teaching Harve how to react to kids (he gets lungy, playful bitey) so I had to lead him off to the children's dismay.

The pooch down the block leaning out of the second floor window. I'll post the picture next time. He's a calm dude perched up there, takin' it all in.

Two Asian woman looking like beekeepers as they wore ultra long visors with material draped around it and their faces. You could only see glimpses of their eyes if you approached them straight on.

An older man walking with a cane up a Griffith Park trail to the observatory. It was super hot and I was ready to turn around when I saw him. Realized I needed to get it in gear and persevere!

Walkin' The Dog (aka Walks with Harvey) - Observations from the City Sidewalk

You definitely learn a lot more about your neighborhood and its inhabitants when you have to walk the dog 3 times a day.

My block is decent, but you turn East and hit pockets of sketchiness and go West a couple of blocks and you're in a whole different world with the tony mansions, perfect lawns and gated patio/pool backyards of Hancock Park.

Things observed/overheard last week:

- A true Tree Hugger - an older, thin Korean man humping a palm tree on Irving Blvd in Hancock Park. He was not merely exercising, his arms were wrapped around the tree and he was violently thrusting his groin back and forth against it. I stayed my distance, but couldn't not watch.

- Hulu Hoop Gal - a middle aged Korean woman swiveling her hips in a gated condo driveway at 3rd/Norton. She had no expression as she calmly kept the hulu hoop in play. She was good.

- a chubby 30ish white dude jogging at Pan Pacific Park that Harvey tried to jump on (he has a thing for runners). The dude used the old "what's your dog's name, what's your name, you wanna go for coffee?" routine. Ugh!

- Old people (one in a neck brace) milling about Griffith Observatory before it opened. They were enjoying one another's company and chatting in the parking lot. It wasn't due to open for a couple of hrs - so maybe someone made a mistake or there was a special event.

- The unmistakable sqwacking of someone practicing clarinet.

- Two people on different blocks practicing piano. One singing along. The one without singing was MUCH better!

- The Halfway House people bumming cigarettes and dollars and looking a little scary at the corner (especially this emaciated Michael Jackson looking dude with pearly white dentures). He greets you with a wide smile when you see him, but there is something really off about him. It's so strong you can feel it just by looking at him. Poor guy.

- The classic cat/dog chase. Had to pull Harvey back from joining in.

Stay tuned for next week's adventures...