The Daily Shazam!

A whale's tail....

2008-09-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

...used to be feet!

via LiveScience:
The first whales once swam the seas by wiggling large hind feet, research now suggests.

These new findings shed light on the mysterious shift these leviathans made away from land.

There is also a link at the bottom to an article about gay whales. I bet Sarah Palin hates whales, just like she hates polar bears. Charlie Gibson should ask her if she does tonight. The American people want to know! Or at least I do...

I (heart) NY

2008-09-11T13:19:00.000-07:00

9/11 anniversaries are always strange days for me, as they should be, I suppose. Last year, it seemed like just another day, maybe with a little more to think about. This year, complex emotions started bubbling up a few days ago and manifesting as a big, sore lump in the back of my throat. In an interview with the BBC from two years ago, my old photojournalism teacher, David Handschuh, one of the first photographers on the scene who ended up crushed by falling debris and fortunately quickly rescued by firefighters, summed up those feelings pretty well:

"I think anybody who is in New York, or who lost somebody or who paid witness that day, has a bunch of little gremlins under their bed, and every once in a while those gremlins leap out and they taunt you and they bite you and they want to play with you.

"So you play with them and then you put them back under your bed and maybe it's five minutes, maybe it's five days, maybe it's five months till they come back out and play, but you've got to confront your gremlins and then say 'You know what, folks, it's time to move on, I'll see you in six months'."

For some reason, that description really works for me, as it was an experience and a psychological, emotional response that I really can’t define in realistic terms. So today, as I struggle to remember every second of that day for no real good reason (such as, What did the people look like that I talked to at the river’s edge as we watched lower Manhattan go up in smoke? Why do I remember walking there, but not walking home?), I’m going to drive those gremlins away with positive thoughts about the city that was, and always will be, my first love. After 9/11, I thought I would never leave. Seven years later, sitting in Los Angeles where I’ve lived for the past five years, I wonder if I will ever return. Here are just a few memories that will forever have my heart:

• The first day of warm weather in the spring or late winter when it seems like the entire city is out to enjoy it.
• The thrill that riding in a car used to bring when it only happened every so often.
• Bagels the size of your face with appropriate servings of cream cheese.
• Roller skating in central park.
• Walking over the Brooklyn Bridge just for pizza.
• The summer of 2002.
• 3 a.m. and still dancing hard with the locals at Black Betty or Stinger Club on a Saturday night.
• The energy of the city. Whether you like it or not, you feel it buzzing around you all. the. time.
• The deli at Greenpoint & Manhattan Ave. in Brooklyn.
• Coffee from carts: light & sweet.
• Running through open fire hydrants.
• Yankee baseball.
• Decibel/Reservoir/Mugg’s/Yabby’s/etc./etc.
• The way I crane my neck and lean upon strangers inappropriately for the first glorious glimpse of the sparkling, still proud, skyline every time I fly home.

A Newspaper Love Affair

2008-08-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

I have a giant crush on the NY/Region section of The New York Times. Perhaps because it reports mainly on New York (duh), which already takes up substantial real estate in my heart. Or maybe because it often seeks out all the fascinating and neglected corners and people of the city that everyone should wonder about, but very few do. Either way, here are a few examples of the good stuff that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. Make sure you check out all the related pictures.

Have Camera, Will Trespass, on Brooklyn’s Waterfront

The Domino sugar refinery has been on the East River for more than a century. Part of the plant is now a landmark, but the windows in this view will be demolished. (Photo: Nathan Kensinger)

The Curious World of the Last Stop

(Excerpt from article, by Andy Newman) Beyond the station gates, a priest dreams of a vineyard. A car bursts into flame. An ancient sign in a boarded-up window opposite the platform reads “Wrestling Weight.” A stuffed bear mans a betting window in a struggling OTB parlor. The dead lie in rows uncounted, and the living mourn and wait and work and love and strum guitars on the front stoop, annoying the neighbors.

There are 24 stops on the New York City subway system past which you can ride no farther. For those who get off somewhere else — almost everyone — the end is just a sign on the train. New Lots: wonder what that’s like. Dyre Avenue? Sounds kind of grim. Middle Village — what is that, a jousting park? As it turns out, the end of the line, like most ends, is a place of abiding mystery.

Heaven's Angels

A companion in the hands of Rescue Ink member Desi Calderon. Photo by Librado Romero/The New York Times

These are a few of my favorite things

2008-08-20T15:46:00.000-07:00

Whiskers on four-earred, extremely photogenic kittens.

And skateboarding turtles seeking love.

You're not so special

2008-08-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

But this little guy is!

From Reuters: It had been thought only chimpanzees, dolphins and elephants shared the human ability to recognize their own bodies in a mirror.

But German scientists reported on Tuesday that magpies -- a species with a brain structure very different from mammals -- could also identify themselves.

"It shows that the line leading to humans is not as special as many thought," lead researcher Helmut Prior of the Institute of Psychology atGoethe University in Frankfurt told Reuters.

He is probably also smart enough to not eat lunch at his desk, reducing the risk of getting lentils all up in his keyboard. Like I just did. Dammit.

Holy Egyptol-awesome!

2008-08-06T13:07:00.000-07:00

Tiny mummy DNA testing to find out if fetuses in King Tut's tomb are his kids. This is part of a wider mummy DNA testing project, which leads me to the question - If we can extract DNA from mummies, does that mean we can clone them?? If so, can they please come back with the knowledge of how they built those damn pyramids? I really need to know.

P.S. King Tut, if your cloned self is reading this, I'm still angry about the 2005 LACMA exhibit with the false title: "King Tut Returns." Neither you, nor your flashy sarcophagus, was there! Returns my ass. Email me if you want to make good on that promise. We'll get coffee - you'll love it.

Bonafied Lovin'

2008-07-31T13:36:00.000-07:00

It was Halloween weekend, 2005, when I was first introduced to Chromeo at their show at Little Pedro’s, the “oldest bar in Los Angeles,” which is sadly, no longer Little Pedro’s. LP and I had quite a night that evening, including being forced to watch a short film about a mail-order girlfriend who only had a head and yearned to have a complete body, as well what I’m convinced was a real zombie sighting. Nonetheless, what I remember most is our instant obsession with Chromeo, mostly due to the song “Rage.” We were pretty angry back then.

Three years later and the sassypants dance pop duo still has me hooked and screaming like a 12-year-old girl in their presence. Which I did pretty consistently at their show last night at the Fonda. If you aren’t already in love with them, here are 8 outstanding character traits that may sway you to wanna be their Tenderoni.

Pride in their appearance: See manicured facial hair in the pic above. Also of note – Pee’s correct preference in baseball teams.

Bromantical: Best friends since high school, they still high-five each other during songs like it’s their first time on stage together.

Quality Musical Preferences: They cite “Cool It Now” by New Edition as a major influence. Also Hall and Oates.

Play Well With Monsters: They’ve been on Yo! Gabba Gabba. Which I’ve also, unabashedly, seen live.

Well Educated: Dave 1 is pursuing a Ph.D. in French literature at Columbia University. How do you say “Do me” in French?

Use cutting-edge technology: Talk. Box. Yes!

Shamelessly Nerdy: “I’m a big-time Paul Simon fan. Big Phil Collins fan. I’m a big Jodeci fan, too. The Show, The After Party, The Hotel album? I wish Paul Simon would call me up and say he wants to do a joint with me.” - Pee Thug, in an interview for Tastes Like Chicken

Magical: They have the ability to make every single person dance at a show in Los Angeles. This is simply unheard of. And therefore can only be explained through magic. Or strobe-light induced seizures.

Dreams do come true

2008-07-30T14:13:00.001-07:00

Behold! A robot that maybe, just maybe, is capable of loving me back just as much as I love robots. Well maybe not THAT much, but he could at least pretend.

From CNET: Swathed in white Egyptian cotton, it looks like a slightly forlorn cousin of ET. Its nervous system is made up of five small computers that work together to produce reactions. Motors move its eyelids and hands and make its little red, rubber heart beat--more slowly if you cuddle it, and faster if you shake it, yell at it, or otherwise stress the poor little guy out.

More on this cute lil' British (!) emobot at www.heartrobot.org.uk. Christmas really isn't that far away...

In case this question keeps you up at night...

2008-07-23T16:14:00.000-07:00

Now you have an entire book to answer this is and many other questions I can't imagine anyone really thinking about. Like the burning "What do dead people wear?" Answer: Nothing. They are in energy form. Energy likes to be nekkid. WTF?! Who has time to think about this? Furthermore, why didn't I think of this brilliant book idea? Basically the author can say anything she wants, since she is talking about dead people. Who is going to call her bluff? Damn. Another great idea that should have been mine. I love making stuff up!!

P.S. - The answer is yes, they do watch you shower. They are also able to watch you have sex. So... now you know.

So You Think You Can Dance

2008-07-18T16:23:00.000-07:00

For as long as I can remember, I've had a not-so-secret dream of being a back-up dancer. I never really thought about for who or how I would do it. And in fact, it was just recently that I realized this dream would never come true - probably because I've only taken three dance classes in the past ten years, mostly dance alone and on my bed and I'm not very flexible. Therefore, I've been living vicariously through Jon Chu's YouTube page. It's an honorable second place to my number one dream.

Jon Chu is the director of Step It Up 2: The Streets, aka, one of the best movies ever. It came out on DVD this week and tonight I will likely watch it over and over again in an attempt to learn the moves. Or a move, at least. And you should celebrate this special occasion by watching the video below of the Adam/Chu Dance Crew (ACDC). It's part of an ongoing dance battle between them and Miley Cyrus. For reals. Prepare to have your mind blown. You can thank me later by buying me an ACDC t-shirt.

For all of Chu's coolness, hit up his YouTube at: www.youtube.com/user/jonchu?ob=1

Go! Weekend Awesomeness

2008-07-18T12:35:00.000-07:00

Tonight (Friday):

America Cinematheque presents the Old Pasadena Film Festival. Tonight they are screening the amazing and terrifying 70s classic thriller, Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Better yet, it's on the rooftop of the Schoolhouse Garage! I don't really know what that means, but it sounds scary. 10pm. Free. More info here.

Saturday:

The Angel City Derby Girls take on Denver's 5280 Fight Club in the Hollywood Walk of Maim roller derby bout! ACDG's Hollywood Scarlets all-star team is bringing glamour and guts in what's sure to be an awesome fight to the win. Join them afterwards at their star-studded afterparty held poolside at the Sheraton LAX. Don't miss out on the action-guaranteed on the track, and at the bar. Click here for more info, including a link to tix.

Afterwards, head north up the coast, where Santa Monica is up all night for Glow. Running from 7pm - 7am, this music and arts party is centered around the brand new, super shiny ferris wheel on the pier. According to their site "Glow takes its spirit from the fabled grunion that live in local waters and come ashore several times a year to spawn in the sand creating a momentary sensation of iridescence." So basically some animal is coming to the beach to do it and also sparkle. I'm down. There will also be all kinds of installations and entertainment, including pirate lullabies, an orchestra playing from baskets on the ferris wheel and a "neptune's lair" under the boardwalk. How rad is that? Answer: pretty f-ing rad. Click here to get yer Glow on.

Sunday:

What's better than topping your weekend off with a ton of wine and some good music at the Hollywood Bowl? Dancing to Sharon Jones at the Hollywood Bowl with a ton of wine, that's what. When she sings, you'll swear she invented funk and soul herself. And if she and her fantastic band, The Dap Kings, don't make ya move, you better check your pulse. Check your attitude at the door and get ready to get down. Feist will also be there. She's pretty. $16 tix were still available this morning. 7pm, Hollywood Bowl

Gratuitous video of the day

2008-07-17T11:33:00.001-07:00

If you haven't seen this video yet, you are probably leading a miserable existence. So here you go, sad friends. Cuddle-worthy boy kittens + hilarity + rollerskates = Thank you, New Zealand!

Space for Sale!

2008-07-17T10:03:00.000-07:00

In honor of tonight's full moon, I'm letting you in on a little secret. You can own the moon! Yes, you! Well, at least a part of it.

For only $22.49, you can own an acre on the moon and even get a deed with your name on it. Holy crap! What will you call your lunar stake of land? Mine will be the Galactical State of Owl.

This is not a joke, despite my tendency to make up lies under the evil forces of a full moon. Go here to find out more, like how there is also going to be Internet on the moon by 2010!! Hooray! www.lunarembassy.com