Art in Deep Koma

I want some more magazine subscriptions. I’m looking more along the lines of Flaunt in their first two years. I was totally obsessed with them especially when they had stuff like the David Bowie coloring book and build-your-own-miniature-Eames-Chair. Some suggestions have been GOOD, Believer. Any others I should check out?

The Dodgers game was fun. It was by no means full which gave it a more intimate feel. I finally gave in and bought a Dodgers fitted cap. I’ve only been going to Dodger games regularly for four years now.

Hard copy archives of the LA Weekly. Stolen from marccooper.com

For years I read the LA Weekly. I loved how they would cover the news not only locally but also internationally. I remember in high school they uncovered the fiasco that was Belmont Learning Center aka the World’s Most Expensive High School. I remember sitting in Government class in my senior year just being steamed that the district would waste all that money on that site when it was like hell to get textbooks for my classes.

They were at their best earlier this decade exposing the Bush administration and being the loudest progressive voice in the city. Every Thursday I made sure to get my hands on the new issue despite the fact I spent most of the workday reading the articles online. Reading Marc Cooper, Harold Meyerson and other writers gave me a lot of motivation that writers can make a difference.

But all that ended in 2005. After three years of anti-trust investigation, New Times and Village Voice Media got the go-ahead from the Department of Justice to merge. At that point, I stopped picking up the Weekly. Knowing what I knew about New Times, I could smell the bloodbath that would ensue.

Former news editor Marc Cooper wrote a detailed piece of this downfall on his blog entitled “LA Weekly: The Autopsy Report.” Reading through it last night made me very sad.

I miss those Thursdays when I would waste the entire day reading stories of the Machiavellian exploits of politicians. I miss picking up that copy of the Weekly from the 7-11 on the way home as I bought a pack of cigs. And probably the worst I miss doing the Boston Globe Sunday crossword they would syndicate every week.

While they still have one of the best listings for local events and perhaps the best food writer in Jonathan Gold, that is not enough for me to pick up the skeletal remains of a rag that was once the most important paper in LA.

Well 2008 has been anally raped by 2009 and here we are. I’m taking a stay-cation from work right now, and hopefully I don’t get sick.

Recently I’ve been doing a lot more walking. I’m amazed that I live only a mile or so away from the heart of Hollywood, so it’s been nice to walk about and not having to worry about how drunk I get. Yes this will probably promote binge drinking a la my Santa Barbara days, but whatever.

Now if only the FedEx guy will get here with my Lakers tix so I can get out into the world.

Here are some albums that I liked in 2008. There weren’t a whole lot of interesting things that came out in 08. But here it is in no particular order.

Deerhoof - Offend Maggie
Diamanda Galas - Guilty, Guilty, Guilty
Magnetic Fields - Distortion
Mae Shi - HLLLYH
No Age - Nouns
TV on the Radio - Dear Science
Xiu Xiu - Women As Lovers
Experimental Dental School - Jane Doe Loves Me
Nine Inch Nails - The Slip

This was my first time ever in New York, and the first vacation I had taken in like forever. The original intent in going to New York was to watch a game at Yankee Stadium before it was destroyed.

Before leaving, the biggest concern I the plane ride. No, I’m not one of those wackos who’s afraid of plane rides. The biggest problem was the fact that I hadn’t been on a plane since I was 14, two years before I started smoking. Fortunately Target brand Nicotine patches helped take the edge off. But I won’t lie - once I stepped out of the terminal at JFK I chain smoked three cigarettes before I hailed a cab.

Once I got my hotel, I was just in awe of the skyline all around me. It could have been the heat and humidity that was suffocating me bit by bit, but I was still in awe.

Thankfully Wifey was there to escort me around during the evenings and donate his NFT guide for my stay there. Although I still opted to get lost when I went out exploring by myself, it was still very useful especially those train maps.

And speaking of the trains, how fucking civilized are they? Oh my word! It was so nice not having to worry about a car or parking or any of that nonsense I have to worry about here in LA. I could just go out, get hammered and know that some how I would be able to make it back to my hotel room.

Here are selected photos of my NY trip. I have more, but they were shit.

I would totally move to New York if the weather was more agreeable and the time zone was better. Seriously, having to stay up past midnight to watch national games? That’s why I love the west coast. (And with that statement, I realize what a pathetic sports fag I am).

Anyhow there it is. It is still a urine drenched city that I always thought it was. Only I really love that urine smell. I guess I’m a piss pig? Um. No comment.

Shit. Now I wanna go back.