Blogging, Burnout & Hollywood Bowl

I haven't been in a blogging mode lately. Mostly been spending time with friends and family here and there. Maybe it's a social media burnout, or perhaps it's a life burnout. Whatever it is, I don't have much to say these days which is rare. My friends and family say that I always have an opinion about everything, and then we laugh about it because most of the time, we're just shooting the breeze. Nothing serious. Just jabbing each other in good fun.

 

I know that I will eventually get out of this mode. I have no idea when. For now, I must accept that this is where I am. In the meantime, here are a few videos from a Hollywood Bowl event.

It was an event devoted to the music of John Williams—Et, Jaws, Superman, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Star Wars.

They sold lightsabers, and many in the audience bought one as they waved it back and forth. It was no longer white lights from mobile phones that people waved, but rather green, red, and blue, creating a Sci-Fi ambiance.

Resistance is not futile

Wake up! You will lose your country. 

 —Gavin Newsom

Before I get into this, I want to say that I do not support any particular party. I support humane, and intelligent sane politicians with common sense. Unfortunately, the one in office lost all his marbles long ago. 

In general, I find the democrats passive, and the republicans, aggressive. Too bad that they cannot meet halfway. But things seem to be changing in the U.S. Democrats are learning to grow some balls. I guess the level of corruption is too high of a price to pay. (image by: ArtByPam)

Americans have started to speak out fearlessly. They're pulling together in their neighborhoods to fight back ICE. There are massive protests across the nation to fight corruption. Activists, and ordinary people are joining force by getting on the streets to fight a Genocide unseen since the time of Hitler. Perhaps the  democrats such as Gavin Newsom, and Bernie Sanders, for the the first time in a longtime, are starting to act like leaders, asking people to rise, and save their country.

If you give them an inch, they take a mile. Never give them an inch. 

Long ago, I got into an argument with my brother about abortion. It was on the ballad that teenagers would need a parental consent to get an abortion. I voted against this. He voted for it because he had kids, and believed that it was the right thing to do. I asked him what if the teen got pregnant because of incest or rape, and the parents forced her to continue with her unwanted pregnancy. I said this is how they win. They chip away gradually until Roe Vs. Wade is shredded into tiny pieces. 

He now agrees with me because he has seen what has happened to abortion laws, and other laws that have come into play when no one speaks out. They just think, oh, it's something small. I'm not going to worry about it. You see, if you sit back, and think like that, all your rights will be taken away as you have seen in recent times.

I was at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday. They always start with the National Anthem. Except that I couldn't help thinking about the Irony of it all. You know that last verse of "The land of the free, and the home of the brave." All I could think of was ICE in L.A grabbing people off the streets, and sticking them into concentration camps. So, where was this land of the free, and the home of the brave that I was standing up for?

It's important to resist whether it is through the system as a politician, judge, or lawyer, an activist protesting on the street, a journalist reporting the truth, a filmmaker showing the public the hidden agendas of the controlling few, an actor like Al Pacino fighting a corrupt justice system in the movie titled And Justice for All, an artist like Bansky making a political statement by painting murals, a writer spreading the truth no matter how small the audience, or through meditation to tilt the dark energy to light. 

History has taught us that freedom is never free. We must stand up for it. Not just for us, but for the society as a whole. We should be like the Borg Drone named Hugh in Star Trek who learned that "resistance is not futile."

Searching for France in L.A, Part II

Like I said before, I've been looking for France in L.A. So, when I read an article about Beachwood Canyon, and its resemblance to Toulouse, France, I had to pay it a visit. 

On a hot Sunday afternoon, a few weeks ago, I left my house to find out what's so special about the area. To get there, just put Beachwood Canyon Market in your GPS. Beachwood Canyon Drive is the main street that gets you to all the charming narrow side streets, and the instagrammable spots.

As I drove through the narrow curvy streets, and having had to pull over often to let the oncoming cars to pass, I was reminded of my time in France. When my mom visited, she loved my apartment which overlooked an alleyway. Every morning cars would honk their horns at a guy who was delivering bread out of his truck parked in front of a market below my building. He took his time, oblivious of the people who were lined up behind him, trying to get to work.

The homes are different with a lot of character. There are also faux castles in this area.

I wanted to take a photo of the Hollywood sign when I drove up Beachwood Canyon, but there were too many people doing the same thing, and the sun was too strong. So I moved on, and took a photo on my way back.

There is a small market, café, and a vintage shop.

I stopped by the Beachwood Café. All I wanted was two eggs and toast, but I was told that breakfast was over, and the only way I could get eggs was to have it with pancake and bacon which didn't make sense to me. I ordered burrata, instead. I was expecting it to be warm, but it was cold as ice, and served with too many garlic bread. Burrata is best served over a thinly-sliced high quality Italian bread. If you plan to go, don't go for lunch. Get there early when they're serving breakfast.

A lot of history is behind the entire area, but since that was not the reason I was there, I will not get into it. If you're interested, you can find out more on Rebecca's blog. There is also the secret staircases of Beachwood Canyon, and here is how to get there. 

Note: A meter maid waits under a tree to give you a ticket. Make sure to read the street signs carefully before you park. I almost got a ticket, but then I realized that although I was in a 2 hour spot, I wasn't allowed to park there on Sat & Sun.