Associated Press is going after Shephard Fairey for copyright infringement for appropriating their Obama photo for his iconic Hope poster. Fairey has always been forthcoming about the shot by photographer Manny Garcia, who was on assignment for AP when he snapped it at the National Press Club in DC three years ago.

Fair use doctrine, which allows exceptions to copyright law, comes into play here, as Fairey’s lawyer said in a statement.

From AP:

“We believe fair use protects Shepard’s right to do what he did here,” says Fairey’s attorney, Anthony Falzone, executive director of the Fair Use Project at Stanford University and a lecturer at the Stanford Law School. “It wouldn’t be appropriate to comment beyond that at this time because we are in discussions about this with the AP.”

I guess the Warhol estate is quaking in their boots over this. Yeah, right.

[Addendum: Sean just sent me the original uncropped AP photo. Click through to see it. Also some added info regarding the history of appropriating photography.] Read the rest of this entry →

I just heard this, and don’t know what else to say except… shit. Lux died this morning from a pre-existing heart condition, he was 62. I met him a few times through friends and he was incredibly cool, and there’s no arguing how important The Cramps are. He’ll very truly be missed. From MTV.com:

Born Erick Lee Purkhiser, Interior started the Cramps in 1972 with guitarist Poison Ivy (born Kristy Wallace, later his wife) — whom, as legend has it, he picked up as a hitchhiker in California. By 1975, they had moved to New York, where they became an integral part of the burgeoning punk scene surrounding CBGBs.

Their music differed from most of the scene’s other acts in that it was heavily steeped in camp, with Interior’s lyrics frequently drawing from schlocky B-movies, sexual kink and deceptively clever puns. (J.H. Sasfy’s liner notes to their debut EP memorably noted: “The Cramps don’t pummel and you won’t pogo. They ooze; you’ll throb.”) Sonically, the band drew from blues and rockabilly, and a key element of their sound was the trashy, dueling guitars of Poison Ivy and Bryan Gregory (and later Kid Congo Powers), played with maximal scuzz and minimal drumming.

Because of that — not to mention Interior’s deranged, Iggy Pop-inspired onstage antics and deep, sexualized singing voice (which one reviewer described as “the psychosexual werewolf/ Elvis hybrid from hell”) — the Cramps are often cited as pioneers of “psychobilly” and “horror rock,” and can count bands like the Black Lips, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, the Reverend Horton Heat, the Horrors and even the White Stripes as their musical progeny.

Remember the May Day Melee?  In a visible display of What Happens When LAPD Gets Scared of Large Gatherings, the police on duty monitoring the 2007 May Day rally in MacArthur Park launched an out of control, freaked out display of force in response to “agitators” who allegedly threw bottles at them.  As a result, nine separate lawsuits were filed against the city.  The LA City Council voted today to settle all nine for $12.85 million.   That is a lot of money.  In even worse news, it still has to deal with 27 other lawsuits stemming from the incident.  In even worser news, this settlement comes right after the City Council approved $20.5 million to settle a Rampart-related case brought by officers who claimed they were falsely arrested and otherwise mistreated.

In case you’re one of those types of people who think that immigration rally-goers deserve whatever punishment the riot-geared cops dole out, lest we forget the clip that forever erased all feelings of annoyance I’ve ever had towards one Ms. Christina Gonzalez of Fox 11, circa John Beard:

As you certainly know already Indie103.1 is off the airwaves in LA, but still broadcasting online. Which is great if you are sitting at a computer all day, but what if you are out in the wild somewhere? Well if you have an iPhone today is your lucky day. Thanks to Boogah for tipping me off to this Indie103.1 iPhone App (link goes to iTunes Store) which will play the stream right to your phone. It requires wi-fi or 3G though, just too much bandwidth needed for Edge. Enjoy!

Blossoming Pear Tree, North Hollywood

I happened to notice that within the past few days the beautiful pear tree in front of my house is full bloom. It’s definitely happened early, which means it will be full of glossy, green leaves soon. I’m not complaining.

From an article in today’s NY Times about the $900 billion (and counting) economic stimulus package wending its way through the U.S. Senate:

The Senate also approved, by 52 to 45, an amendment by Senator Tom Coburn, Republican of Oklahoma, stripping out a $246 million tax break for Hollywood production studios that would have allowed greater deductions for movie production equipment and other costs.

This is a crazy show. As if NOFX weren’t unhinged enough, to commemorate 25 years of NOFX, they’re doing a special show, which will include the FOUR eras of NOFX, with the former members showing up to play a few songs from the time they were members.

The 3 piece era 1983-1885: Fat Mike, Smelly, Melvin

Casillas era 1985-1988: Dave Casillas, Fat Mike, Smelly, Melvin

Kidwiler era 1988-1991: Steve Kidwiler, Fat Mike, Smelly, Melvin

El Hefe 1991- present: etc etc etc.

Wanna win tickets? Tell me your absolute favorite NOFX lyrics ever. We’ll randomly pick a few winners to get plus-ones to the show. Info here.

There’s been a lot of questions and not many answers so far in regards to what may or may not be a string of assaults in the Silver Lake area. Earlier this week Chal posted an email circulating about the issue which caused quite a ruckus in the comments. This morning, some further info was posted in that thread as well about a joint meeting between CD4, Tom LaBonge, the LAPD and YOU! (should you choose to attend). Now, my guess here is that if there *weren’t* a string of assaults happening these folks would simply say “what?? um, no.” to the questions. But, if something weird is up, that kinda justifies talking publicly about it. So, if you want to check it out, here’s the scoop:

Los Angeles Police Department
Office of the Fourth Council District
Office of the Thirteenth Council District
Invite you to a Special Silver Lake Community Meeting

Thursday, February 5, 2009
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Ivanhoe Elementary School
2828 Herkimer Street
Los Angeles, CA 90039

All neighborhood residents are invited to discuss recent crime activity in the Silver Lake community.

For additional information, please contact the Office of Councilman Tom LaBonge at (213) 485-3337.

Demolition of Sunset Junction’s distinctive former Red Car station & surrounding buildings could change the heart of a historic neighborhood forever

You know this row of buildings. It’s that cute corridor at the terminus of Santa Monica Boulevard, right at Sunset Junction.

Now imagine it gone. Wiped off the map, along with one private residence and the historic Red Car station–everything on the land spanning from the corner of Sunset Blvd. and Sanborn Ave., (former site of Lovecraft Biofuels) to Manzanita Ave. and Santa Monica Blvd, would be replaced by…wait for it…

A four-story (FOUR STORY!), 60-foot-high apartment / retail monstrosity.

A four-story (FOUR STORY!), 60-foot-high apartment / retail monstrosity with ONE SINGLE EXIT / ENTRANCE on Manzanita Avenue.

Hello, traffic and inflation. Goodbye, charm & community. As if those eyesores across from El Cid weren’t enough of an abomination, now they’re going to try to foist this on us?!

SAVE SUNSET JUNCTION! This is going TOO FAR.

All the info you need is here at the Sunset Junction Destruction website. That site informs us that:
A community input meeting is scheduled for the beginning of February 2009. For questions and concerns, and information on upcoming community meetings please direct inquiries to:

Elizabeth.Sharkov@silverlakenc.org, Chair, Urban Design & Preservation Committee
www.frostchaddock.com, developers for the 4000 Sunset Blvd Project

Send email & comments to unsetjunctiondestruction@yahoo.com and they will be forwarded to The Silver Lake Neighborhood Council, Eric Garcetti CD13 and appropriate parties concerned. Thank you.

Now that Gitmo is closed and America has regained its position as the world’s most cuddly superpower, we have nothing left to fear but fear itself, right?

Think again, peacenik! Contrary to what the mainstream media claims, the price of freedom is not $1.05, but eternal vigilance.

Tonight, the Hammer welcomes Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center and Hatewatch, and Chris Hedges, author of American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America, for a free Hammer Forum discussion called Home Grown Hatred: Anger and Alienation in America.

With KPFK’s Ian “Background Briefing” Masters on moderating duty, the two of them will ask the tough questions. Is America home to militant groups determined to overthrow the U.S. Constitution? Are apocalyptic Christians seeking to create a religious state? And is knowing really “half the battle?”

Afterwards, if time permits, they will entertain audience questions about Eagle Eye and whether Shia LaBeouf could possibly get any dreamier.

Legendary Angelyne's legendary Corvette's legendary parking job.

The selfmade billboard superstar Angelyne was spotted at Nature Mart in Loz Feliz this evening with her trademark pink Corvette. Cutter kindly (and quickly, because at Metblogs this is considered breaking news) sent in the pic.

Equality California just sent the news release on Prop 8 Challenges to be heard in CA Supreme Court.  The short of it is that on March 5 the first of the cases that are legal challenges to Prop 8 are to be heard in Supreme Court.  They will be televised on Calfornia Channel so we can watch the proceedings…dry as they may be.  The courts decision is then due in 90 days or about June 5.  We may have June weddings for everyone again if it goes well.

The first of the cases is Strauss vs Horton et al with details on the California Courts Prop 8 page.  

There will be two other cases on Prop 8 also heard that day.  Among them is the case filed by the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles that also are an effort to overturn Prop 8 on constitutional grounds. (I can’t tell you how proud I am to be an Angeleno when the city and county step in the way they did).

Folks, no matter how you slice it this is a civil rights issue and needs to be in the courts to make a constitutional ruling once and for all.  This time they are also looking at the effort to rewrite the constitution to fit some dogma and strip people of their rights.  This is no different than a “jim crow laws” that took court rulings to restore equality and level the playing field for people.   For this reason I have donated to Equality California to continue their efforts.  You may do so too HERE.  Full press release after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry →

I know what you’re thinking: “Hyperbole! My suggestion for Gin and Juice was genius! And Honey Honeydew sounds delicious!” Well, reader, I’m here to tell you that you’re wrong, because when it comes to ice cream flavors, none of us will ever, ever come up with anything that bests this suggestion for Cheerios/Sadness.

As part of its First Fridays program of events, LA’s Natural History Museum is celebrating the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin, as well as the 150th anniversary of the publication of his seminal book, On the Origin of the Species by Means of Natural Selection, this Friday, Feb. 6th. (His birthday is Feb. 12, 1809– the same as Abraham Lincoln.)

It starts with guided tours and lectures on evolution in the early evening hours and then evolves (get it?) into music performances later that night by Jukebox the Ghost and The Bird and the Bee; with DJ sets by The Phatal DJ and DJ Michael Stock in the African Mammal Hall.

Join in as a show of support for evolutionary science as a respected field of study– and also probably some robust razzing of “intelligent design” and “creationism.”  Photo: public domain/Wikipedia

Harper’s Magazine had a piece on Monday by Scott Horton saying the LA Times got played in their Sunday article regarding the Obama administration’s stance on renditions as a  counter-terrorism tool.

The Los Angeles Times just got punked. Its description of the European Parliament’s report is not accurate… But that’s the least of its problems. It misses the difference between the renditions program… and the extraordinary renditions program which was introduced by Bush 43 and clearly shut down under an executive order issued by President Obama in his first week…

These stories are regularly sourced to unnamed current or former CIA officials and have largely run in right-wing media outlets. However, now we see that even the Los Angeles Times can be taken for a ride.