Juggling To Freedom

There was a NYT article about Vova Galchenko, a world renowned young juggler that made his way to California through juggling. He's badass. Watch the YouTube clip.

Dice an Onion

Im going to start doing this from now on.

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Classical Music

I finally made a trip to Walt Disney Concert Hall. It was for the LA Philharmonic's Green Umbrella series where they highlight new classical music and hang green umbrellas from the ceiling (oh those crazy artists). I knew someone playing in the show (and my attendance was courtesy of my friend's parents) and was really excited to see him play and also to check out the interior of the space of the building.

The music was interesting and dynamic, if a bit different, but it was incredible to see a familiar face on stage (one of 4 in the quartet). Unfortunately it was a one night only thing. For more on the show you can check out the LA Times review. Also, if you fancy classical music, check out the Calder Quartet.

As for the hall, I was pretty underwhelmed by the interior space (not the hall itself, but the other spaces in the building). The exterior is stunning from every single angle, but the interior left me hanging like the missing hanger steak at the pre-concert dinner. For one, the carpet looked like it got cleaned with buckets of rotting flowers (this was the best pic I could round up on the interweb). While writing this post I learned that it was designed by Gehry himself, which confused me and drove me to investigate further, where I found the following snippet from an LA Times story.

Los Angeles architect Gehry, however, explained how he designed a floral pattern that adorns Disney Hall's carpets and seats in homage to just one woman: the late Lillian Disney, whose $50-million gift in 1987 set the project in motion. The hall is also flower-like in form and is surrounded by lush gardens. "I told her I'd make a flower garden for her," said Gehry, as he leaned into a clear podium with his hands clasped. Gehry described his role in the project as "a great experience, personally."

So, is that how you honor a $50 million dollar gift - with blood red flower petal carpet? Should I expect more from Frank Gehry? Am I totally missing the artistic and symbolic subtleties -is that carpet seen as beautiful in the land of carpet critics? I have no idea. All I can say is that it was offensive enough to me to generate this response and in a space that glorious on the outside, I expected a little bit more...

While you're on earth...

While you're living here on Earth, the Phoenix rover is busily exploring, digging and observing the next furthest planet from the sun. It sits atop the polar region of Mars, where there is a layer of permafrost and who knows what else underneath the dusty red surface of the planet. Permafrost is ice, which is water, which, as far as scientists can project, is the only medium that can allow the development of ferocious but fragile life. At the time of post, the rover has been working away for 3 days, 16hours and 4 minutes.

For all the goodies, pics etc, check out the NASA site.

Pic of the day 5.24.08

When in Santa Barbara, I highly recommend ordering #16 from this place - la super rica. Its almost as fun to say as it is to eat.

Pandora

I've added a new feature to the site! If you look on the right sidebar, you can see a section called "For your listening enjoyment." It basically amounts to links to a selection of stations that I have created on Pandora. I've been a fan of the site for a long time, but haven't spent too much time with the stations so far. Its a really great site, I encourage you all to check it out and build your own sites and if you are feeling mischievous, you now have an option to listen to some of the music that I like while you surf the 'net. You can also add me through my woefully neglected profile.

Happy listening!

Double Knockout

I swear this should be the trailer for a Jean Claude Van Damme movie, or maybe its already been used, I dont know. This is just plain crazy and against so many different odds that it needs to be posted. What happened if you bet on the fight?

Bad tattoos

My buddy just got a tattoo, it was actually the first time I went and sat in on a tattoo session, its pretty interesting. There's a full community of artists and supporters (people cleaning, people hanging, etc). Thankfully his turned out well (as did my sisters) but that is not always the case as this pretty priceless photo gallery poignantly demonstrates.

For more humor on bad tattoos, check out the rest of the Radar Magazine story about the book, No Regrets: The Best, Worst, & Most #$%*ing Ridiculous Tattoos Ever

Garden sunflower

Its hot in LA today, triple digits. Thankfully the earth (and our garden) can handle it. Here's a sunflower enjoying the rays.

Dinner - good

In the mission.

San Fran pics 5.14.08

The hotel room and the view from the event rooftop.

Weeding has its benefits

Yum.

Friday funny 5.9.08

Can't say I like his music (mainly cause I haven't heard too much of it), but I know he's a good guitar player and this video is totally worthwile.

From FunnyorDie

Eat Food, mostly plants

Here's how to eat. Courtesy of the author of "In Defense of Food" Michale Pollan and Google. It all revolves around a central tenant - eat food, mostly plants, not too much.

My friends made the news

A couple of my boys from the minny were featured on the local news in a clip about mpg efficiency and gas prices (they appear about 1:10 into the clip). Love the straightfaced sarcasm from my boy. Hilarious.

Nerd Alert

Is it wrong that I want this?

Cherry Blossoms

Time lapse video of this year's recent cherry blossom bloom at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Better video and more here.

Director cameos in films

Here's a cool post that gathers up clips of some impressive directors and scenes where they make short and sweet (in the case of Peter Jackson and Lord of the Rings) or long and egotistical (Quentin Tarantino in Pulp Fiction) appearances in their own films. Check out more movie stuff over at cineleet.

Sex=Heroin

Wow, I just read one really interesting piece of internet editorial and considering the amount of time I spend on the internet, that is saying something. Its about the "Coolidge effect" which is basically a name for the body's quest for new sexual partners and also somewhat of an explanation of why people pursue new partners compulsively, even if they already have someone. It's not an excuse or even a justification of that behavior, it's an explanation of how that behavior is tied to dopamine's addictive nature, genetic evolution and the human brain. When you have sex with someone new your brain releases more dopamine than it does when you have sex with someone you have been sleeping with regularly. It's a better chemical high. It happens in all animals (though I can't remember if they actually tested it in humans - if you learn it in the article post it in the comments). Of course, it's the end of the article that ties it all together and brings rationality back into the picture (so we all don't run out and sex ourselves silly, fun as it may be), a committed and trusting relationship lengthens life and improves health more than any amount of sex will ever do. Submitting to the Coolidge effect actually depletes health and well being (at least in rats). I knew nothing about the site where all this info came from and it turns out to be somewhat of a hippie, new-age site, but definitely check the out Coolidge effect piece through the link above.

A really really big house

Ready for some Monday ridiculousness? The fifth richest guy in the world is building himself a new home.... to the tune of $2 billion. Its a 27-story tall building in Mumbai without adjective to describe the outrageousness. You must see the video. There are also pictures and more from forbes.com. Some of the amenities:

• Nine elevators


• A ceiling 80% covered in crystal chandeliers


• Finely woven Indian rugs!


• A full fledged movie theater with wine tasting room


• Health club


• and of course a six-story garage

via Kottke

Pics of the day 5.4.08

A low rider gathering in the park.