Gentrification

Venice Blvd demolition
Originally uploaded by Seagreen Digital

I've got a love/hate relationship with gentrification. I miss funky old Abbot Kinney, but I do love all the yummy restaurants there now. Am I sad that they shut the XXX video store near my house? Yeah, not really, Just about anything would be a welcome improvement. Still, I can't stand the sterilization. I hated watching Santa Monica fall to it. It starts with the buildings but then it works it's way into the people. Remember the Soviet Republic of Santa Monica, well it's more like Manhattan Beach now. No more Homeless in the parks, rent control, liberal politics....and when you're raised on that stuff you miss it when it's gone.
BMW's (with the exception of really old ones) give me hives and I know they are coming. I was run out of south side Santa Monica by them years ago, and I know the signs. I really don't know where I could go to escape them now. Venice is gasping it's last breathes. I thought I was safe here in the flats of Mar Vista, but alas every community council meeting talks about how to get rid of the motor home people and the graffiti. Maybe I just don't know any better. It's not like I don't get that it's hard to look at that stuff. But shouldn't we...just because it's no longer in our city doesn't mean it's not still happening. People are still homeless, rent is still to high, and George f...ing Bush is still president. I think it does people good to see the real world instead of some white washed version..Maybe it will motivate them to do something about it, other then run them off.
I'd rant more but I need to go to the new coffee shop for a latte and a croissant.

adolescents

Anyone else out there living with a peri-adolescent? Mine isn't in full bloom, shall we say, but there has certainly been a lot of door slamming and "You're A Bad Mommy" around this house. She's four so I don't really take it (that) to heart, but god it's a window into what my life will be in ten years. I think I've been dreading her actual adolescence since, ooh, I conceived her. Is it possible that awful teenage years skips a generation, like twins.

Where I dread, I'm sure my mother can't wait for me to get my pay back. See, I was not what you would call an exemplary teen, by parental standards (I was having a great time). I wasn't too bad, but I'm sure Mom and Dad breathed a sigh of relief when I just managed to graduate high school by the skin of my teeth. Followed by a few years living in Hollywood, hanging out on the Sunset strip. A period during which, a family friend told me, my mother was certain I was going to show up on her door step, pregnant, any day.

So, you see I've definitely got it coming to me, and when it hits I'll have no recourse. I've been thinking about getting rid of the evidence, those report cards have got to go. Course by then she'll probably have figured out what a slacker poster child I really am and rebel by going to Harvard...It's possible!

Clustering

I saw this writer on the The Daily Show awhile back talking about how people cluster into like minded groups. Which I have to admit I'm totally guilty of. I'm noticing, now that I'm reading blogs by people near and far, that I don't like dealing with divergent opinions. I have to think, should I counter their opinion, and if so how strongly. I don't love arguing so it's not my nature to speak up when I can just as easily lurk.
How dangerous is that? I don't mean to say that we should all be confronting each other, I am a firm believer in tolerance. Still, I hate to think that I may reach a point, where no opinion, no matter how appalling could raise my response. I'll be looking for the happy medium, tolerance with kind objections.
Care to join me?

Vodka, comrades!

Vodka, comrades!
Originally uploaded by brickfrenzy

Here's a little helpful hint I found in the most recent edition of Cook's Illustrated, a magazine I highly recommend.
Apparently Vodka is made better by charcol filtering, the more times through the filter the better the vodka. The magazine took the cheapest vodka they could find and ran it through a brita water filter several times, then did a blind taste test. The results showed that it was on par with high end vodka in mixed drinks and cooking, but if you're doing shots better to stick with the good stuff.
I predict a run on brita water filters.

Dogs

Just thought I'd throw out a note about dogs. I had a email from my cousin today, her sweet Boxer Roxi passed away over the weekend and her heart is breaking over the loss. It made me wonder "Why do we form such strong attachments to our pets?"

I must admit to an adoration with my own dog George. Having an animal in your life is so special. I don't know what the connection is exactly, but even after our George eats his third hose in about a month, digs holes in the lawn, and chews the teak patio set, we can't help but laugh it off (we also started putting the hose in the garage, no one can call us slow on the up take). Still he wakes us in the morning with a big wet kiss and snuggles up on the couch and all is forgiven. He is our perennial child and an indisputable member of the family. I couldn't recommend the experience enough and with rescues all over town it couldn't be easier to find the right animal for you.

International peace day event

peace dove
Originally uploaded by kafka4prez

USA, California Los Angeles
Group name: Dr. Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots
Group size: 2,000
Contact person: Darlene ZavalneyPhone: 310-519-1150
Email: DarZavalney@aol.com -->Website: RootsandShoots.org

On Sept 21, 2008 youth organizations from all over California will get together in Griffith Park from 11am to 4pm to celebrate all they have been doing to create peace. There will be live music,art&crafts and a giant peace dove parade.


Each year, in support of the United Nations International Day of Peace, Roots & Shoots members and friends come together to promote peace. All over the world, young people craft Giant Peace Dove Puppets from reused materials and fly the Doves in their communities. From the top of Mount Kilimanjaro to the low plains of Kansas, Peace Doves fly, held high by hopeful hands.
Make peace possible!

International Day of Peace

Imagine... the wall of peace and freedom
Originally uploaded by lucy_vis

Did you know peace day is September 21st and has been since 2002? Actually it's been in September since the 80's but in 2002 the United Nations made it officially on September 21st. I for one, had no idea. To learn more, you can go to http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org/
It happens to fall on a Sunday this year. What could we do for peace that day??? I'm open to suggestions...I've yet to find anything on the net happening in my area, but if I do I'll post it.
Off the top of my head, I'm thinking have a get together with a suggested donation to be given to an organization like Amnesty international...I don't know what do you think?