Natasha Richardson and Defamer

With all due respect to the late brilliant actress Natasha Richardson (R.I.P.), I cannot help but be befudddled by Gawker/Defamer's very poor (hopefully accidental and not contextual) same page advertising.  Oy.  There are systems in place to avoid something like this, people.

Gay Rights Are Civil Rights

Atwater Village

Lord, I do love Atwater Village. We've lived here ten years this coming May, and it has changed remarkably. On Saturday afternoon, I just loved that we were working on our front yard, staining our gate and our neighbors were out in force, planting new plants, working on their cars, just being present. We all were present and out in the street and it felt great.

Getting Interviewed By The New York Times

Ah, so that happened. A few weeks ago, out of the blue, a NY Times reporter gave me a buzz at work. I was so flummoxed by it, I actually asked him to prove that he was a reporter for the Times. Somehow, I believed him.

Anyway, he was doing a story on Gay Marriages and Engagements and wanted to know more about our relationship. I gave him a brief rundown of our lives together, when we got engaged (on the day the California Supreme Court announced the legality of marriage, in front of cheering strangers) and our actual marriage ceremony. A good story. No. Really. He was intrigued and we arranged to be interviewed by him the following week.

We spoke to the man for about an hour one morning. We shared a lot, were engaging, were funny and had the guy just seemingly really interested. After the hour, he said he'd call back in the next week or so if he had any further questions and said that if the paper wanted to, they'd send a photographer. We were thrilled.

Then, no call. No photographer. And, this evening in the Times, the article and no Miles and Carl. We're on the cutting room floor on the NY Times.

And it really doesn't matter because we still have each other and it's Valentine's Day and we're going out in our little L.A. neighborhood for some so-so Mexican food and some really fantastic margaritas and that's just gonna be great.

Silver Lake Violence

Apparently, there's been a noticeable uptick in violent crime in Silver Lake and all those who walk in the neighborhood should be aware. It's a big city. Be aware.

The Los Angeles Times Is Dead.

Long live the L.A. Times.  Today it was announced that the local news section was being discontinued and would be observed into the front section, making the front section more focused on local news rather than national and global.  Other than a few remaining columnists and photographers, the paper is dead to me.

Next time I get a subscription notice, I will not renew.  Well done, Tribune Company and Sam Zell. You killed an institutuion in less than a decade.

Obama Inauguration and the L.A. Times

As much as I detest what Sam Zell and the Tribune Company have done to hack away at the once really great Los Angeles Times, today's Times reaffirms my belief that the Times can still be a great newspaper and, in fact, today it is one, once again...at least for the day.

The Times sent several of their remaining top-notch reporters and columnists to DC and is fairly bulging with exhaustive coverage -- from a personal perspective, a local perspective, a national perspective and an international perspective. It's the kind of coverage that really only a big metropolitan paper can deliver.

More than that, though, is the the photo on page A25 by the Times' Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Carolyn Cole -- it's black and white, expands across the width of the paper and is absolutely timeless.  There is no possible way this image can be conveyed any better than in a newspaper.

So, kudos to the Times and Ms. Cole and, maybe, we can say that there now is also some hope for the Times.  I encourage you to go out and buy it today.

* Corrected for grammar, etc.

President Obama

Proud To Be An American

It's been almost 8 years and, now, finally, I am proud to be an American again. May Obama have the wind at his back, for he will need it.  Fingers crossed.

Middle East Horror

This poor palestinian doctor who worked both for Israelis and Palestinians came home to discover his daughters all killed by Israeli bombs.  Absolutely dreadful.   When will both sides have enough of this madness? Ever?



More here.

Fix It!

Campbell's Soup Stands Up Against Hate

Yep, soup is mmm mmm good, especially when the leading maker and American icon of soup, Campbell's stands up against the hate-mongering assholes of the ironically named American Family Association.  You see, the AFA requested that Campbell's stop advertising in the Advocate, the long-running Gay and Lesbian News Magazine.  Well, Campbell's basically told them to go fuck themselves, but somewhat more diplomatically.  Perhaps, this could be another turning point where corporate America realizes that there's more profit in inclusion than exclusion.  Suck on that, haters.

Abandoned Animals

As the economic crisis that the Bush administration has tragically lead the nation into worsens daily, people more and more are abandoning their animals. It's really sad for the animals and for them.  Other than the city pound or simply abandoning them to the street, I wonder if there is any city or private service that will take them in until things get better.

Anyway, Will Campbell has seeing a lot more of it and he's been trying to help,one animal, one person at a time.

Obama Inauguration

There's no denying that a lot of people are upset by Obama's choosing Rick Warren to give the opening benediction at his inauguration, but, perhaps, he is thinking bigger picture. After all, now with all the protests about it popping up, Warren has already begun to make changes in the language he uses to speak of the "others" (read: gays and women who value choice, muslims, et al). Just by asking him to be part of the big show, Warren has had to move to the center, however slightly, and that, I think, we can agree, is a good thing.

Meanwhile, Obama has decided to take the oath of office using the bible that Lincoln used...and he's the first president to do that. Now, that's just effing cool.

DWP: Do As I Say Not As I Do

Even though we've had some good rain in the last couple weeks doesn't mean we still shouldn't conserve water. In fact, the L.A. DWP will be the first to encourage its clients to do so by buying low flush toilets, planting more trees to absorb water and installing drought tolerant landscaping (among many other things).

That's all fine and good and reasonable advice, but just a look at the front lawn of the DWP station in Atwater Village will reveal that they don't really practice what they preach.

Shouldn't they?

Obama Is Time's Man of the Year

During a year when print journalism seems to matter less and less, it's still nice to see this positive recognition. It may help in building more momentum to move his agenda forward. Lord knows he'll need it.

Atwater Village

Atwater Village has an anthem and the Newbie has the scoop!

Jim Morrison

This small editorial piece in the NY Times today is reflective of what newspapers do better than most.  It also speaks to what is now, more often then not, lacking from the LA Times -- a good nugget of a story, told from an interesting angle that makes people think about life in a somewhat different way. 

That this really LA story was told by the NY Times and not the LA Times is indicative of so much.

Los Angeles Times

The great many people who Zell has had shitcanned this year have had their severance checks frozen!  I'm not shocked, but I am appalled.  Until now, I've been a loyal (though surely disappointed) subscriber to the Times.  Now, though, I think it may be time to cancel my subscription, until the people who made the paper what it was, are fairly reimbursed.

Now, Eli Broad or David Geffen or Ron Burkle or somebody else out there, won't you please save the Times?  The Paper will (probably) never achieve 20% annual growth, but it's still profitable and relative and important to the city.

Help!

City of Angels Half Marathon

It's been a busy week in Atwater Village.  First, the annual Christmas Tree Lighting, which was well-attended with 1,400 people enjoying the festivities (though, I still don't know why they can't start things later in Atwater on weeknights -- a lot of people have to work, you know!) 

Then, last night, many shops and galleries stayed open late, offered beer and wine and showcased local bands and dancers. 

And, finally this morning, the third annual City of Angels Half Marathon ran down by the river and over the Hyperion Bridge. It was a glorious site.

After it all, I walked back through our weekly Farmers Market, picked up some flowers and headed home.

I think our little Village is quite nice.