Farrah Fawcett died this morning in Santa Monica after a long battle with cancer. She was a shining star, who, when she was on, blazed pretty hot. Best known as THE pin-up girl of the seventies in that red bathing suit, with her long, blonde tresses flowing, she captured many boys hearts for the decade. As a little girl, I remember every guy I knew had her poster up in their room.

On the television screen, she was the interesting one to watch in Charlie’s Angels, running around in the sexiest outfits possible, fighting crime with a wide smile and kitten-like sexiness. As girls, we all secretly wanted to be like her.

As an adult, I had an opportunity to work with her.  All my images of her as a vapid, blonde bombshell vanished the minute I met her.  She saw her powerful sexuality simply as a vehicle to ride to foster her work as an actress.  She was an artist to the core. Not only was she a really fine painter, but in her acting and even in controlling her image, she came from a place of creativity, deep vulnerability and rawness.

Her blonde hair and blazingly bright smile were an easy decoy which frequently made people miss the depth of her soul and what she had to say. Yes, she could be difficult and several times on the set I cursed her. However, there was always a reason that turned out to be justified for the delays and the end result was simply stunning.
When I heard she had cancer, I hoped she would beat it. She was an intensely determined woman and I thought she might sail through this one with grace.  Maybe the truth is…. she simply left this dimension for a place where Angels really do rule.  And no Charlie’s tell her what to do!

Just got word via texts and emails that the cold chill of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raided the Angel Toy Factory downtown and possibly another nearby location earlier today.  What of it, Obama?

The details aren’t clear just yet – any one of you readers have more information? – but everyone seems to agree that a number of workers were arrested and are being detained at least one local detention center.  A rally apparently is forming in the area – I’ll update if I receive more details.  In the meantime, if you happen to get caught in an immigration raid, know your rights: handy guides here and here.  Think you don’t need to know becauase you’re a red blooded Amer-i-can?  Think again.

Hat tip to Pasadena PIO blogger  Ann Erdman for the info and LINK she posted to the announcement that American Idol auditions are set to take place at the Rose Bowl Monday June 30.   Pre-registration must be done and will also take place there on June 28 and June 29.

When I told my youngest the news he commented “great we can try out”.  I responded, “Sure I can be one of those no-talent ones they make fun of, repeatedly during the season”.

My little snark…with everyone knowing that the “Rose Bowl” is in Pasadena, why does AI discuss it on the show as an “LA Audition”?  Just asking…

Right after the Lakers’ win tonight, fans, some non-fans, and other folk jonesing for a little mob mentality coalesced to celebrate with a bit of a riot downtown.  Is this scene a sign of class warfare erupting – plebeians angry with the downturn economy and impotent social services using this victory as an excuse to throw rocks at the authorities – or is this just a couple of bum idiots (“knuckleheads” as Chief Bratton called them) who thought a victory dance to the tunes of arson and violence was the appropriate response?  Perhaps a little of both.  In any case, it’s 11:30pm, well after the game, and the news outlets still show people smashing up stores and derailing Metro bus lines.   Now I wonder what these people/we will do when the economy sours even more, the unemployment rates continue to skyrocket, and we find ourselves forced to choose between dinner and a doctor’s visit.  Stay tuned…

I have no words.

Storm wet streets in Arcadia.

Out here in the SGV we’ve had the odd rumble of thunder since late morning.   The actual lightning and thunder with light rain has been going on for an hour.  Enough rain that it washed the dust off the car, but not enough to satiate my garden or end our drought.  Am liking this break in the June Gloom.

Pic by me with the trusty cell phone about 1:30 when we were caught in a quick down pour.

update 2:30PM…here in Monrovia we have heavy rain and rock salt sized hail!

I am so excited to announce that two of the rescued dogs recently featured on LA Metblogs have been adopted!

Congratulations to Blue Bell, who was nearly dragged to death behind a truck back in December, and also to Chuck, who is actually my former foster dog! Both of these lucky dogs are finally out of the shelter and have been adopted into permanent homes – hopefully forever.

Infinite thanks to all the readers who helped spread the word about these awesome animals.

Blue Bell

Chuck

Per the LA Times, the State Supreme Court just issued its decision to uphold the constitutionality of Proposition 8.  It also held that those gay couples who were married prior to the passage of the horrific proposition will continue to be legally married.  The fight continues ….

Update: Now that traffic to the Supreme Court’s decision has died down, you can mosey on over here to read the 100+ page opinion for yourself.  Choiciest quote so far, at page 9:

We agree with petitioners that the state constitutional right to equal protection of the laws unquestionably represents a long-standing and fundamental constitutional principle (a constitutional principle that, as we already have explained, has not generally been repealed or eliminated by Proposition 8). There are many other constitutional rights that have been amended in the past through the initiative process, however, that also are embodied in the state Constitution’s Declaration of Rights and reflect equally long-standing and fundamental constitutional principles whose purpose is to protect often unpopular individuals and groups from overzealous or abusive treatment that at times may be condoned by a transient majority. Neither the language of the relevant constitutional provisions, nor our past cases, support the proposition that any of these rights is totally exempt from modification by a constitutional amendment adopted by a majority of the voters through the initiative process.

10AM on Tuesday California’s Supreme Court will issue its decision on Prop 8.

I just received my notice from Day of Decision.org that concurrent to the issuing of the decision there will be rallies either in protest of the decision or support depending on what the content of the decision is. Local rallies will take place in Long Beach, Pasadena, and throughout LA County.

Could happen if the rumor phoned into Josh from Joshcar.com holds true.  In short Daimler Benz is buying 10% of Bay Area based Tesla Motors.  This will provide them with the operating capital needed to start up production of their all electric Tesla S sports sedan.  The rumored location of this production will be the old GM Van Nuys plant shuttered some 20 years ago when Camaro production was shifted elsewhere.

I have found confirmation regarding the purchase of Tesla stock over at Edmonds.com.

Good news for the Valley and LA in general if this holds true.

I want to tell you a little bit about a tall young man I know (pictured at right during the Midnight Ridazz’ “Saftey Ride” of April 2007) who goes by the nom du bicyclette of Roadblock, but has also given other names both real and fictional to various civic committees, law enforcement personnel, census takers, and telemarketers.

Roadblock has been with Midnight Ridazz since the beginning — and I mean that very first 18-mile nightride by the eight original “mommas and the papas” way back in February 2004. He rode his skateboard the entire way.

When Midnight Ridazz blew up huge a couple years later with rides at times drawing more than a thousand cyclists, the founders decided to step back and give the once-a-month phenomenon over to the bike community. From there Roadblock opened up midnightridazz.com as something of a portal and incubator in which people could hatch and grow and celebrate their own rides. Genius.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that in this ephemeral shapeshifting storm known as L.A.’s “bike culture” Roadblock has a place in its center not just for how long he’s been involved in it, but also for his contributions to bettering and broadening it — although he would probably be the first one to roll his eyes and dismiss such a statement as ridiculous.

What I’m also trying to say is we came close to losing him to a hit-and-run motorist early this morning.

Read the rest of this entry →

I didn’t feel this one, but I keep getting IMed about it.

A light earthquake occurred at 3:49:11 PM (PDT) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009.
The magnitude 4.1 event occurred 2 km (1 miles) NE of Hawthorne, CA.
The hypocentral depth is 12 km ( 8 miles).

Did you feel it? Fill out the survey

See the Shake map

According to Wikipedia:

On the afternoon of May 18th Roderick Anthony Burton II, professionally known as Dolla was shot and killed shortly after 3:00 PM near the La Cienga Boulevard entrance of the Beverly Center in Beverly Hills, after a fight between a group of individuals broke out. Witnesses report that a woman was seen firing a handgun. Another source said a male suspect was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport as he attempted to board a flight.

His MySpace page has no more info than that and the most recent entry notes that he had just signed up for Twitter earlier today, about 7 hours ago from right now. I’m not certain, but I don’t recall there ever being a shooting at The Beverly Center that I’ve been aware of so this might be a first in that respect. Unfortunately, rappers getting shot and killed in LA is far from unusual. Dolla was 21.

The LA Times Blog has more info including a photo of flip-flop clad women who are clearly distressed that their shopping experience was interrupted exiting the building.

Or so everyone in my house says.

More to come!

Preliminary Earthquake Report
A moderate earthquake occurred at 8:39:36 PM (PDT) on Sunday, May 17, 2009.
The magnitude 5.0 event occurred 2 km (1 miles) E of Lennox, CA.
The hypocentral depth is 14 km ( 8 miles).

Revision after seismologist review:
A light earthquake occurred at 8:39:36 PM (PDT) on Sunday, May 17, 2009.
The magnitude 4.7 event occurred 1 km (1 miles) ESE of Lennox, CA.
The hypocentral depth is 15 km ( 9 miles).

See the USGS Community Internet Intensity Map for this quake.

Did you feel it? (Fill out the survey)

RIP Dom DeLuise you were my favorite actor in the screwball comedies as I was growing up.  Between all the Mel Brooks and “Smokey and the Bandit” movies you added a lot of laughs to my life.  

I’ve attached one of my favorite clips from “Blazing Saddles” to bring a smile to some faces today.  I ask, what greater achievement in ones life than to bring in laughter and a smile? 

He passed away quietly in his sleep Monday night in his LA home according to his son. All the details and bio in the MSN Movies article that ran moments ago.

(Updated just for lezgull, I searched and found an out takes insanity clip for you, but you have to make the jump). Read the rest of this entry →