City of Pasadena position available: The Court Jester is a journey-level professional position designed to highlight absurdity and make frank yet witty observations about civic life in the City of Pasadena. Continue reading “Wanted: Court Jester”
Category: Around Town
The Free Speech Continuum
Alert: Pasadena-specific content. Contains references to the deep recesses (dirty cracks?) of the Pasadena, California blogosphere.
Is Ann Erdman the owner/author of Pasadena Newer Progressive? If you think so, you’re wrong. Ann Erdman has nothing to do with the Pasadena Newer Progressive. Continue reading “The Free Speech Continuum”
The Cover Up: A Mountain of Evidence
My name is Neob and I am from the planet JohBirSo. I have tied Kelly up (for her own good!) and taken over her blog. She will be released depending on how she treats my dog, Precious. Continue reading “The Cover Up: A Mountain of Evidence”
Obon Festival in Pasadena
Call me old fashioned, but I do enjoy my local Obon Festival. The Pasadena Buddhist Temple is holding its Obon this weekend (Saturday and Sunday)—details here.
The best teriyaki chicken east of the international dateline is being prepared right now. Thanks to a mild on shore flow, the whole neighborhood smells like teriyaki. If you’ve never seen taiko drumming in person, it’s worth stopping by. They have bonsai and ikebana on display, and there are karate and aikido demonstrations. We may even see the return of the Elvi dancers.
Photo courtesy of this site.
You can see my photos of last year’s Obon here.
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Did you see Sandy Banks piece, A lesson in Senate hearings, in the LA Times today? Here’s a quote:
“Over the course of my career as a journalist, I have learned that people can see the same set of facts differently. That doesn’t mean they are racist or stupid or hard-hearted,but that their unique experiences have primed them with particular expectations, fears, and sensitivities.”
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I’m going to repeat myself. “I have been a contributer to Pasadena’s Political Underbelly but have not posted there recently. Even though I am a contributor, I don’t have the ability to delete or edit posts written by others. This post (note sound of “wicked power-mad laugh”) makes that quite clear.”
In other words, I am not Dormitas. But you knew that, didn’t you?
The Disrepute of Blogging
Thank You
Many, many thanks to those of you who responded to my request for money to help three kids go to summer day camp at El Centro. They are there now, and they are having a great time. Not only that, the kids get fed twice a day, and the report from them is, “We even get seconds!” My goal was to raise $300, and I raised $140. I’m happy with that amount. Church of the Angels has agreed to provide the rest. Continue reading “Thank You”
Pasadena Chalk Festival 2009
I generally dread summer heat. This year I didn’t bother. Why dread it when it is inevitable? Why waste a good, cool spring dreading the white sky and hot temps of Southern California?
2009 Best in Festival, 1st Place – Mucha by Arlou Somo
More photos after the jump. Continue reading “Pasadena Chalk Festival 2009”
Fussing and Fighting, My Friend
This is the post you’ve been waiting for.
I have bad news. We are all racists.
I know, I know. You don’t want to be a racist (I don’t either). You think it is despicable to demean the humanity of another person, or to think of an entire group of people as inferior. Or perhaps you are a member of a group that has been victimized by another group, and you carry hate inside you, even though you don’t want to. Continue reading “Fussing and Fighting, My Friend”
Photo Friday
Blah, blah, blah. I’ve got too much work to blog properly, but I owe you an update. My friend A is doing well, though she will never return to her doctor again (she’ll get a new one). Sample conversation with Doc prior to recent surgery:
A: But I’m still having pain—something isn’t right.
Doc: Oh, everything is fine. You’ll be fine.
A: But I don’t feel well. The pain comes and goes, and sometimes I’m nauseous.
Doc: Don’t you know how many of these surgeries I’ve done? You’re fine.
A’s ovary had become engorged with blood and she had a small cyst. So they took out the ovary and the cyst. In a subsequent visit to the ED, the physician there (different guy) told A that they didn’t take out the cyst, but that it is very small. A was (quite understandably) very upset to hear this news, so she jettisoned her doc and has been going to County for her follow-up.
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It’s the economy, stupid: Today is trash day on my street, and in the 10 minutes that it has taken me to write this, two guys have come by to rifle through our bins. I heard a couple more people earlier—You locals (or anyone with curbside recycling) probably have had the experience of waking up in the early morning light to the sound of your empties clinking their final farewell to you. The last guy had long arms and gloves…essential for reaching down to the bottom where the last two plastic bottles were lurking (tonic water, if you must know).
And now, as promised, the photo (courtesy of The Scout):
WriteGirl in Pasadena
Thanks to Susan, I’ve known about a wonderful organization called WriteGirl for some time. Now it’s time for me introduce you to WriteGirl:
WriteGirl is a nonprofit organization for high school girls centered on the craft of creative writing and empowerment through self-expression. Through one-on-one mentoring and monthly workshops, girls are given techniques, insights and hot tips for great writing in all genres from professional women writers.
In case you missed Susan’s lovely post, let me also invite you to a fun event happening at the Pasadena Playhouse on Sunday, May 3: Continue reading “WriteGirl in Pasadena”
West Coast Grrlie Blather 