tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37069145421069105202024-03-13T23:40:50.433-07:00The Way I See It (The LA Diaries)By David Rosh PinaDavid Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-66524803923178455422014-11-29T10:53:00.001-08:002014-11-29T10:57:47.074-08:00LA HeroesHere you have some heroes, celebrities and fame-seekers. Here they are
the inhabitants of the streets, look-alikes and manic street preachers.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3pavzgl1rCE/VHoVnvwt4rI/AAAAAAAACiQ/tX3e1uVi-qA/s1600/IMG_20140711_141720726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3pavzgl1rCE/VHoVnvwt4rI/AAAAAAAACiQ/tX3e1uVi-qA/s1600/IMG_20140711_141720726.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Batman.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superman.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ACodlYzvTOI/VHoVoa19XoI/AAAAAAAACic/NLMkj8koHAg/s1600/IMG_20140731_172409316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ACodlYzvTOI/VHoVoa19XoI/AAAAAAAACic/NLMkj8koHAg/s1600/IMG_20140731_172409316.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Johnny Depp. </td></tr>
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-16106254302215572372014-11-18T04:01:00.002-08:002014-11-18T09:46:30.789-08:00From Abraham to LA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Abrahamic faiths in Los Angeles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-154HBmwTm5c/VGuEkNNJEtI/AAAAAAAACh4/uS6clQJsso0/s1600/igreja.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-154HBmwTm5c/VGuEkNNJEtI/AAAAAAAACh4/uS6clQJsso0/s1600/igreja.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blessed Sacrament Church on Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arvit at the Jewish Learning Exchange Center on La Brea. Russian Hassidic Minhag. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shia Mosque of IMAN (Iranian-American Muslim Association of North America) Motor Avenue, Palms.</td></tr>
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-5686218118959130162014-11-11T03:17:00.002-08:002014-11-11T03:22:42.383-08:00Who Stopped The Rain?The sky is a dark shade of gray, <br />
it looks like it's going to rain,<br />
I try to say intelligent words, <br />
but it is all in vain,<br />
the wind caresses me,<br />
emotions are flooding my brain,<br />
I just get carried away,<br />
on life's never ending train,<br />
and where this train will take me I don't know,<br />
but it will be fun to see the show...<br />
<br />
What is my head now,<br />
but wind that stands still<br />
wheels under a piece of cow,<br />
or water inside an automobile.<br />
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-9484885761252094212014-11-04T07:19:00.005-08:002015-05-24T04:44:52.873-07:00UrbanI went to Urban Ramen on Sunset Boulevard. As I watched Japanese animation films dubbed in English in plasma screens over the counter I spoke to a very nice landscape architect who told me about the Los Angeles river rehabilitation project she is working on and how it could change the city. She also told me she had been to over 50 ramen restaurants around LA and considered Urban the 3rd best.<br />
I haven´t been to 50 ramen restaurants, I doubt I have been to more than
one but I can tell you Urban didn´t impress me. I asked for the Urban
Ramen (I have it as a principle to always ask for the dish in the menu with
the same name as the restaurant) and I could
taste the broth. Two words - too rich. <br />
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-47038540677734164342014-09-29T16:23:00.000-07:002016-05-23T12:38:47.649-07:00The BirdsCrows are mysterious animals. Sometimes they gather around my Hollywood window crowing like there's no tomorrow. Its a strange phenomenom that makes me loose a lot of sleep in the mornings. Goes to show, Hitchcock's spirit is alive and well in Los Angeles.<br />
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-38632422220577454622014-09-28T01:20:00.002-07:002014-09-28T01:20:10.308-07:00Weird IdeasNear my street in the corner of Fountain and Las Palmas there is a small Chinese grocery shop and across the street a fresh fruit cart salesman. In LA there is this strange street food phenomenon, shopped fruit sold in street corners by Mexicans who place the sliced fruit on plastic cups and add lime juice, salt and ground chile. It's 5 bucks and it's surprisingly good.<br />
There is a farmer's market on Cahuenga and Sunset every Sunday morning. There is an Oyster stand, so my breakfast today was oyster and a Mexican fruit cup. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hgQx29zti5k/VCfEEy7QMZI/AAAAAAAACMw/0T0Z1q8Z-AA/s1600/IMG_20140917_143024567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hgQx29zti5k/VCfEEy7QMZI/AAAAAAAACMw/0T0Z1q8Z-AA/s1600/IMG_20140917_143024567.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water melon, strawberry, mango, lime, salt and chile. Delicious. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruit and oysters. Oysters taste like Portugal.</td></tr>
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-69035640028693556082014-09-27T21:50:00.001-07:002014-09-28T01:49:39.895-07:00ArchitectureMy latest obsession is architecture. The shapes, the volumes and the textures that shape our shelters and populate our dreams. Los Angeles despite the amazing good weather is full of great architecture. Take a look.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vz-1tcma1v0/VCeNuFjPZcI/AAAAAAAACKQ/_foq8aWt9YA/s1600/IMG_20140813_084932693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vz-1tcma1v0/VCeNuFjPZcI/AAAAAAAACKQ/_foq8aWt9YA/s1600/IMG_20140813_084932693.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spiral staircase.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ua8rm1jJQ4A/VCeN57q0JoI/AAAAAAAACKg/utjJonBSJjk/s1600/IMG_20140813_085117291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ua8rm1jJQ4A/VCeN57q0JoI/AAAAAAAACKg/utjJonBSJjk/s1600/IMG_20140813_085117291.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post modernist building.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OnJ3P7z03vk/VCeN08k88rI/AAAAAAAACKY/0cdz9W3p7Vk/s1600/IMG_20140829_143357421_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OnJ3P7z03vk/VCeN08k88rI/AAAAAAAACKY/0cdz9W3p7Vk/s1600/IMG_20140829_143357421_HDR.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My courtyard during the day...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oyks1SUqYmw/VCeN_ELZNiI/AAAAAAAACKo/MPnZL1w9jho/s1600/IMG_20140829_220242847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oyks1SUqYmw/VCeN_ELZNiI/AAAAAAAACKo/MPnZL1w9jho/s1600/IMG_20140829_220242847.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and during the night. My building has simple practical shapes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dhdnxfrhOFg/VCeONwqSTTI/AAAAAAAACK4/J2XSSoWXJow/s1600/IMG_20140902_113122573-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dhdnxfrhOFg/VCeONwqSTTI/AAAAAAAACK4/J2XSSoWXJow/s1600/IMG_20140902_113122573-1.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Square shaped window.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Triangle shaped window.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bhrDck_tubY/VCeOhDe_LtI/AAAAAAAACLM/fyPbJ98JSfQ/s1600/IMG_20140902_113134174-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bhrDck_tubY/VCeOhDe_LtI/AAAAAAAACLM/fyPbJ98JSfQ/s1600/IMG_20140902_113134174-1.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Circle shaped window.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brusselization kind of projects grow like mushrooms. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kfbnXU0XTHk/VCeO2U70LqI/AAAAAAAACLw/sBwi8zNdkNE/s1600/IMG_20140906_214438885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kfbnXU0XTHk/VCeO2U70LqI/AAAAAAAACLw/sBwi8zNdkNE/s1600/IMG_20140906_214438885.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting usage of light.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bB_FL9moaZw/VCePGeIY-WI/AAAAAAAACMI/qN8fvWag4QA/s1600/IMG_20140910_131014126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bB_FL9moaZw/VCePGeIY-WI/AAAAAAAACMI/qN8fvWag4QA/s1600/IMG_20140910_131014126.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">30's <span class="st">art nouveau building entry with maritime leitmotif in the vitrals.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOgxk68TXnI/VCePUDkiDkI/AAAAAAAACMg/GZO4eWUrLuY/s1600/IMG_20140830_180739142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOgxk68TXnI/VCePUDkiDkI/AAAAAAAACMg/GZO4eWUrLuY/s1600/IMG_20140830_180739142.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New building at day...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B-tNpqBj6z4/VCePTQ8n3AI/AAAAAAAACMY/_1DZz3t7CBI/s1600/IMG_20140902_201111527-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B-tNpqBj6z4/VCePTQ8n3AI/AAAAAAAACMY/_1DZz3t7CBI/s1600/IMG_20140902_201111527-1.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and at night. Notice the clear influence of Venice Golden Lion Winner Ibere Camargo Foundation corner facade by Alvaro Siza (http://upmagazine-tap.com/en/pt_artigos/fundacao-ibere-camargo-2/)</td></tr>
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-83595721367189130052014-09-07T02:35:00.002-07:002014-10-16T06:30:21.965-07:00WalkThe late 18th century French author Xavier de Maistre called one of his classic masterpieces "<span class="st"><i>Voyage</i> <i>autour de ma chambre" </i>something along the lines of "Voyage around my room". Xavier was a poor French sod and lived in rainny18th century revolutionary France, so even if he got out of his room he would probably get his head chopped off by a guillotine. Not I. I live in sunny Los Angeles so </span>this afternoon I went for a voyage, not in my room, but in this beautiful city. Better yet, I walked!<br />
A "walk" is a foreign concept to angelinos since they drive everywhere. Well, their loss! It's a shame people don't walk in Los Angeles. The city has broad clean sidewalks, nice parks, and amazing architecture.<br />
Today I walked from Hollywood to Wilshire (Miracle Mile). I walked through the La Brea tarps, went to LACMA (<span class="st">Los Angeles County Museum of Art)</span> and afterwards I went to my favorite LA pub Molly Malone's for a beer. There was a concert there today by an artist called Ali Handal so I enjoyed an unexpected side of Molly Malone's - live music.<br />
On my way home through Fairfax I gave Curry Wurst a second chance. I had it before and found it overpriced. Today, with more time, I found this restaurant named after the typical working class German dish it serves, still overpriced (here it's 10 bucks but in Berlin it's 5 euros!) but its food a lot more soothing. <br />
It was a pleasant night to walk. To be repeated.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The always pleasant LACMA.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very dangerous monument to have in a city with seismic problems.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite pub Molly Malone, the same from Dublin's fair city where the girls are so pretty.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lkvhzrVRZVE/VAwjyK3zjJI/AAAAAAAACFE/MD02mfC93aU/s1600/IMG_20140906_195607984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lkvhzrVRZVE/VAwjyK3zjJI/AAAAAAAACFE/MD02mfC93aU/s1600/IMG_20140906_195607984.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ali Handel is a great singer songwriter but her lyrics are about how she didn't make it in music industry which is sort of insulting to her audience. A nice lady seating behind my table told me Ali is the wife of a famous magician. Imagine if the husband started his acts going "I wish I had made it". </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-68H0MtVqwGE/VAwljCmd-SI/AAAAAAAACFY/0teX5mwxXOY/s1600/IMG_20140906_210730583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-68H0MtVqwGE/VAwljCmd-SI/AAAAAAAACFY/0teX5mwxXOY/s1600/IMG_20140906_210730583.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second chance to Curry Wurst went well. From Berlin with love.</td></tr>
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-39867813011834195802014-08-24T02:44:00.001-07:002014-10-16T06:35:55.077-07:00AzedehOn Friday, I went to hear Azedeh at Room 5 on La Brea. Room 5 is a small bar with a lounge on a first floor. I walked in half way through the concert and found my friend Eli Ziv in the first row hearing the music and crying. I thought "it can't be that bad" but when I sat next to Eli he whispered to me "These love songs are breaking my heart because I am remembering my girlfriend." Hearing such high praise for the music made me listen more carefully to the set. <br />
Azedeh is a young English girl who sings love songs with guitar and piano, no band. She follows the American performing mantra, scream till you drop and abuse the high notes, but by God does she do it well. She has complete control of the instrumental part, complete control of her voice and complete control of her audience (which was full of fans). Lyrics could also be a bit more imaginative than "I love you so, so much, I can't live without you" but, alas, her target audience eats it up just as well. - Azedeh, love, if you are looking for someone to write lyrics for you I am available and I leave here my application. - As for me, I liked the concert, I liked Azedeh's boots and was even the first one to start singing a spontaneous happy birthday to Azedeh that was joined by the rest of the audience. <br />
I have a feeling we will hear more of Azedeh in the future. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loved the boots</td></tr>
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-73686516496643812842014-08-23T14:24:00.000-07:002015-02-18T13:34:15.326-08:00Black FoodWhenever I get back to Portugal I always hear stupid stereotypical shit like "You need to eat here, before you go back to America and eat those hamburgers". The notion that just because corporate America exports a particular German dish then all you eat in America are German cow meat dumplings, is ridiculous.<br />
There is an unparalleled variety of ethnic cuisines represented in the United States, on this post I will focus, nevertheless, on this morning's brunch (another unique American invention the fusion of breakfast and lunch). There is a universe of typical American cuisine areas of expertise, from the roasts, to pies all the way to cajun. But today I went to one of the best African American fried chicken joints around. That's right my European friends, there is such a thing as African American cuisine, though I'll just call it black because I am not PC. Black cuisine basically involves fried chicken with various types of gravy and soft bakery, from biscuits (American for scone) to pancakes and waffles.<br />
I went for brunch at "<i>Roscoe's Chicken n'Waffles</i>" in Hollywood. In LA it's very hard, almost impossible to find a restaurant that is not a chain even if it's a chain of two, so this is not the only <i>Roscoe's</i> around. I was seated as soon as I arrived, I ordered an Arnold Palmer to drink and an <i>Obama's Special</i> - it wasn't an Italian restaurant or else it would have been the <i>Scalia veal</i>. The Obama had three pieces of chicken wings a waffle with butter and maple syrup. The flavor fusion may shock some of you on the other side of the pond as it shocked me when I got here, but I assure you it is delicious.<br />
The only problem with <i>Roscoe's</i> is the price, 14 dollars plus tip is not a good price, specially when another black restaurant that
uses biscuits instead of waffles, <i>Honey's Kettle</i> in Culver City, matches the quality and portion size for less than 12 dollars. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-slZsmFNWW3A/U_kDYElOMnI/AAAAAAAACDA/VPSiFvWvyXY/s1600/IMG_20140823_122846083-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-slZsmFNWW3A/U_kDYElOMnI/AAAAAAAACDA/VPSiFvWvyXY/s1600/IMG_20140823_122846083-1.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the Obama Special.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butter and maple syrup for the waffle and three chicken wings. What it lacks in sophistication it makes up in flavor.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oNdR2Or0cNY/U_kDkom5agI/AAAAAAAACDY/oLi5DsS-3AY/s1600/IMG_20140823_125130733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oNdR2Or0cNY/U_kDkom5agI/AAAAAAAACDY/oLi5DsS-3AY/s1600/IMG_20140823_125130733.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bass player outside, sharing his groove with the surroundings.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0bWdV57NKbM/U_kDo5_8ULI/AAAAAAAACDg/cQy39dpBR0U/s1600/IMG_20140823_125147675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0bWdV57NKbM/U_kDo5_8ULI/AAAAAAAACDg/cQy39dpBR0U/s1600/IMG_20140823_125147675.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xup3pfnEJMU/U_kEG3dWqEI/AAAAAAAACDo/tmU8pn_AvL4/s1600/IMG_20140719_200308023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xup3pfnEJMU/U_kEG3dWqEI/AAAAAAAACDo/tmU8pn_AvL4/s1600/IMG_20140719_200308023.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Honey's Kettle </i>chicken with biscuit and gravy, just as good and much cheaper.</td></tr>
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-26396103560706490062014-08-19T02:59:00.003-07:002014-08-20T00:39:35.784-07:00DronesThey call them drones but they are not automatic mechanical devices resembling a human or an animal. Drone is the pompous name given to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to make them sound less threatening. UAVs allow surveillance and occasional attacks (with missiles) on the enemy. They have been in vogue in Afghanistan, Iraq and Gaza. They spare costs, risks and to a lesser degree lives in the security forces using them but they have been highly criticized by human rights organizations who find the capacity of a bureaucrat to kill people in a different continent with a joystick, reckless and dangerous.<br />
Everyone who lives in Los Angeles is familiar with the extremely noisy
helicopter flights over the houses that bother people in the middle of
the night and help create the XXIst century concentration camp mood of
the city. Once, when someone broke into my building's garage and got inside my car the police had nothing better to do than to fly an helicopter over my building the day after the break in happened. I don't know if the thieves were scared wherever they were, but my neighbors were certainly bothered. <br />
When you study the history of empires, from Rome to America passing by Portugal, Spain, Holland and Britain, you learn that military technology developed to be applied on the far corners of the empire is always applied later on back home in the center of the empire. It is no secret that LAPD officials have recently travelled to Israel to get training and to purchase drone technology. Yesterday while walking down the street I spotted my first drone. Small and silent, I almost missed it. Big Brother is watching us a lot closer. <br />
Things might not get safer but they will certainly get a lot less noisy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1-k_gqgm5FU/U_Md8_MayTI/AAAAAAAACCg/sOu1gjBj3oQ/s1600/IMG_20140816_220439113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1-k_gqgm5FU/U_Md8_MayTI/AAAAAAAACCg/sOu1gjBj3oQ/s1600/IMG_20140816_220439113.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you spot it?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-phnoTWVhpE0/U_MeB9Alm-I/AAAAAAAACCo/ZdIL7L-5yug/s1600/IMG_20140816_220443133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-phnoTWVhpE0/U_MeB9Alm-I/AAAAAAAACCo/ZdIL7L-5yug/s1600/IMG_20140816_220443133.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silent Big Brother in the sky. </td></tr>
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-90659942130545222422014-08-17T02:55:00.001-07:002014-08-17T12:05:25.726-07:00Sonos StudiosI called my friend Eli Ziv this evening to meet at Sonos Studios an acoustically designed gallery that celebrates music listening. So I got in Sonos Studios and saw a bunch of people lying down in mattresses hearing repetitive new age music (weird sounds but I will call it music) and elliptical art videos projected on big screens. It was as if I was in the Twilight Zone. The environment was exotic and I even tried to meditate but the reason for the line outside will remain a mystery to me. Conversation about the Middle East conflict was interesting but Eli tried to throw a shoe at me. Considering his object selection I think Eli is becoming an Arab, who says there is no hope for the Middle East conflict?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-itrtWFchfNE/U_B5GhlEvLI/AAAAAAAACBg/K18GIj37Dkc/s1600/IMG_20140816_231424843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-itrtWFchfNE/U_B5GhlEvLI/AAAAAAAACBg/K18GIj37Dkc/s1600/IMG_20140816_231424843.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The DJ was an old fart in a cathartic state, and if you heard his music selection you would understand why.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tj9vy0a2txg/U_B5D9TjheI/AAAAAAAACBQ/UxWLJXAF3ls/s1600/IMG_20140816_231456538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tj9vy0a2txg/U_B5D9TjheI/AAAAAAAACBQ/UxWLJXAF3ls/s1600/IMG_20140816_231456538.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If the video artist was trying to hypnotize the room she achieved her goal. I myself saw her work and felt like going to sleep.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KIL6q7Mz2_c/U_B5L8ekMLI/AAAAAAAACBw/T4XzIE1hIwY/s1600/IMG_20140817_014824535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KIL6q7Mz2_c/U_B5L8ekMLI/AAAAAAAACBw/T4XzIE1hIwY/s1600/IMG_20140817_014824535.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sphere with lights, everything new age.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-vP-uxFx_8/U_B5P6eql9I/AAAAAAAACB4/_GmYXewFH9g/s1600/IMG_20140817_014832567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-vP-uxFx_8/U_B5P6eql9I/AAAAAAAACB4/_GmYXewFH9g/s1600/IMG_20140817_014832567.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People laid on mattresses on the floor hearing repetitive new age noises (music) and watching repetitive patterns projected on the screens. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R8mcnMOBVb8/U_B5VCVimoI/AAAAAAAACCA/-yUgLk5oa6E/s1600/IMG_20140817_014840853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R8mcnMOBVb8/U_B5VCVimoI/AAAAAAAACCA/-yUgLk5oa6E/s1600/IMG_20140817_014840853.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aspect of the room.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry for the bad quality of the picture, but when we left the Sonos Studios there was a Grammy winner trying to get in. I would have loved to see that suit lying on the floor with the other hippies but, alas, one can't get everything.</td></tr>
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David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-13769998896900625132014-08-16T19:55:00.004-07:002015-02-18T13:53:49.579-08:00UnderwearThere are three signs of the arrival of the apocalypse, Snoop Doggy Dog making a reggae album, RuPaul coming out as straight and me writing a post about underwear. So, in face of the title of this post, we arrive at two conclusions, one the end is near, and two the future of the world is in the hands of RuPaul. If the first conclusion worries me the second leaves me extremely comfortable with the future of our species.<br />
Today, I woke up and said to myself "it's time to buy underwear", I could have said something else like "it's time to watch a movie", or "it's time to get a foot massage" but instead I thought I might as well buy underwear. Social norms tell us that underwear has a sexual connotation and as such it is mainly a female concern. Women worry about which underwear they should use, so they can look more attractive to their partners, though for most men <i>lingerie</i> (if it's a word for fancy underwear it should be in french) is a hassle and something that is separating them from a naked woman.<br />
Straight men don't care about underwear, specially theirs. There is in the US nevertheless, a rule, a female imposed rule - NEVER WEAR SPEEDOS. Now Speedos is a brand of swimwear but what Americans mean with this expression is don't wear jokey briefs. Women in America think jokey briefs make men look effeminate, just like scarfs. Whenever you use a scarf in America women always ask you if you are European or gay. So men don't care about male underwear but in America women do. American women don't want men to look gay or European when they take their clothes off to have sex with them - making sense?<br />
Because boxer shorts are a fashion statement that disappeared in the 90's, Americans came up with the boxer briefs, which are jokey briefs that go slightly down the thigh covering a bit of the upper leg. That small piece of fabric makes the difference between a gay, European man and a MAN. H&M has specialized in boxer briefs and it struck up contracts with David Bekham (who played soccer in America but actually played football in Europe) and film studios like Warner Brothers and Lucas Film to produce movie themed boxer briefs. That's right. Not only won't you look gay and European with H&M underwear you will also entertain your partner with film commercials before you have sex, or at least make her think she is getting laid with David Bekham (who is European). I have some boxer briefs from H&M but they don't last long and soon get holes in them.<br />
When visiting American Apparel some years ago I found out they had really cool jokey briefs. Now they are back in fashion because of the whole retro thing. I bought a pair then. They were comfortable, and really well done - they are produced in downtown LA. I still have the pair I first bought and I have bought many American Apparel jokey briefs since and they have all lasted years.<br />
So this morning I went to American Apparel to buy another pair of jokey briefs but I bought them with the colors of the American flag because I don't want my female partners to think I'm European!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red and Blue like the stars and stripes!</td></tr>
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David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-12749799019832250172014-08-16T01:48:00.000-07:002014-08-20T01:00:34.422-07:00The Dirty Babayan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I met Sam Babayan a year ago on The Euro Luau For Carmen (http://thewayiseeitla.blogspot.com/2013/07/yesterday-my-friend-benjamin-organized.html) a gentleman and a scholar Sam played then a great set under the LA night stars and I promised him I would comeback for more.<br />
As I am a man of my word, yesterday, I went to hear Sam's band <i>The Dirty Diamond</i> play at the <i>Harvelle's</i>, a small Rock and Blues joint on 4th Street, Santa Monica. The diamond may be dirty but the sound was as clean as a marine latrine after inspection. <i>Dirty Diamond</i> has a tight sound, a great lead guitarist and Sam's astonishing voice. It also helped the fact the previous act Duane Betts and his band were also pretty good.<br />
The environment was OK, though it wasn't exactly a rock crowd attending. It was more older people and some slick thirty year old rich boys, but as long as I can find my beer and hear the band, alles kosher.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam talking to his audience.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Techno club babes? No it's just Duane Betts schmoozing after his gig.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Make no mistake The Dirty Diamond is a great band.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't look at the camera, dude!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the concert's alignment, what else do you want?</td></tr>
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-25695863547148581202014-08-09T03:15:00.001-07:002016-05-23T12:41:45.669-07:00Lena Fayre at Voila!Yesterday, at around 9 PM, I was walking around Beverly and La Brea, LA's little Jerusalem, (yes, I will consider Pico and Robertson little Tel Aviv) and I passed by a place called Voila!. It was full of pretty well dressed people in total contrast with the orthodox surroundings. I approached Voila's door and the blond hipster at the door asked me "are you here for Lena?" - Was I ? - "Yes" I answered and I got in.<br />
It was the launching concert of the new album of an artist called Lena Fayre. Voila! is a vintage art gallery that evolved into a furniture and lighting design space. The owner is European and you can clearly feel that reference in the vibe of the place. The room was crowded and the walls were full of art. The music was very ten's, meaning very blend and repetitive. It could play on NPR and you wouldn't even notice. A kind of androgynous Florence And The Machine.<br />
I got a grapefruit vodka, sat down, and listened to the concert as it was being recorded and live streamed. I thought how strange it was to be in a hipster party in the middle of a Jewish orthodox neighborhood. I took two pins from Lana and a white rose before I left and tried to walk in a vodka straight line back home. Check the Voila! Gallery next time you are in West Hollywood. It's definitely worth a visit. <br />
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-25182693278175208842014-07-18T00:39:00.002-07:002014-07-18T12:43:20.843-07:00Culver City's BacaroCulver City is a suburb of Los Angeles that separates Mid City from Santa Monica. Like so many other parts of Los Angeles, Culver City grew in the early twentieth century with the help of the film industry. Metro Goldwyn Mayer had their studios there and though the only thing that survives from that era are Sony Studios, a replica of Scarlett O'Hara's house from <i>Gone With the Wind, </i>and a cute lion statue, there is still an aura to the place.<br />
If movies from the 30's brought magic, then the magic was produced in Culver City. Not exactly the best name for a dream factory, Culver City has recently specialized in restaurants. It's the Abbot Kinney of the middle class. There are bars and the great Kay n'Daves, but today, dear reader, I will talk about the restaurant Bacaro.<br />
Bacaro is an Italian restaurant, and if you follow this humble publication you know my principle - never eat Italian food in the West Coast, California's Italian is Mexican. But Bacaro is interesting for its simplicity. It does not venture into carpaccios or polentas and other truly unique Italian dishes, but it sticks to the simple universal pasta dishes that anyone has already tasted, can cook at home or buy frozen in the supermarket, except Bacaro cooks them really well. The chef has no point to make and does not want to be original. He seams to be telling us "you ate all of these dishes before and probably in more imaginative ways but because you don't have an Italian grandmother like me let me prepare them simply as they should be cooked." And he achieves his goal. The lasagna is great! Entrees are good, decoration is simple and of good taste, the owner waits tables and the prices are acceptable. Good choice!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good rigatoni</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glorious lasagna</td></tr>
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-79743185748900004992014-06-20T20:36:00.001-07:002014-06-20T20:36:05.975-07:00Holy NeighborhoodMy neighborhood isn't pretty or ugly, clean or dirty, gay or straight, forgotten or understood. My neighborhood is diverse like the world, dirty as a war and as real as Hollywood.<br />
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-69628139154370232502014-06-18T23:44:00.002-07:002014-06-18T23:54:28.740-07:00Fox Studios<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hanging around Fox Studios...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, for all you <i>Die Hard</i> fans that is the Nakatomi building behind Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Follow the grey brick road...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">General Lee, is that you?</td></tr>
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David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-44868020041743327792014-06-18T23:41:00.001-07:002014-06-19T00:00:00.079-07:00Cedric the Entertainer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Went for a walk around the block and found Cedric the Entertainer shooting at the local barbershop. Welcome to Hollywood.<br />
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-76107624006590483312014-06-18T23:21:00.000-07:002014-06-19T00:05:10.209-07:00Loosing WisdomI had a wisdom tooth removed. It was painful but I am felling better. I am now officially less wise.<br />
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-40681608759679649422014-06-18T23:03:00.000-07:002014-06-21T15:50:23.956-07:00Bacalhau à Portuguesa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">I went to the only Portuguese restaurant in LA. It's name is Natas. Natas is also the only restaurant to serve Bacalhau (salted cod) in Los Angeles. Bacalhau is Portugal's national dish. Fusing a regular bakery (pastelaria) with a restaurant, Natas belongs to Fatima, a brave immigrant who came all the way from the land of navigators to Sherman Oaks.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">The environment inside Natas is OK, the pasteis the nata (portuguese </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="st">egg tart pastry</span>), that named the restaurant, are reasonable, but the chourico assado (chourizo) that my friends ordered had a horrible presentation and the<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span dir="auto"> Bacalhau à Brás</span></span> I ate had solid pieces of egg in it when the egg yoke should be liquid. The <span style="font-weight: normal;"><span dir="auto">Bacalhau</span></span> didn't taste good and when a friend said about her <span style="font-weight: normal;"><span dir="auto">Bacalhau à Brás "It's like a fish omelet" I knew my friends had just missed a great opportunity to taste real Portuguese food. I'm sorry Fatima, keep up the good work, but </span></span>this is a thumbs down. </span> </span><br />
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David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-55093548781076573252014-05-16T11:49:00.000-07:002014-05-16T16:17:40.066-07:00Kaki Ideas<style>
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David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-45958281079188854082014-04-30T22:39:00.002-07:002014-05-01T17:21:12.042-07:00Water Pouring DownToday I went out to see water pouring down, to see if you were around. I ate something, I breathed the California air, felt the warm sun, I looked back and found water pouring up and up into the sky. I knew it had to stop, but the firemen couldn't do it, free and unbound, up and then down, water flooding the streets. And the tourists next to me all looked an event for all to see. The school kids came out to witness something that free. Today water poured down, and you were not around.<br />
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-15965274122027851302014-03-24T01:56:00.000-07:002014-04-30T16:05:29.030-07:00Hearty Cream of Chicken SoupToday I helped prepare a magnificent soup. I didn't cook it, but I was there during its preparation. It was called Hearty Cream of Chicken Soup, a long royal name since this is a queen soup.<br />
To make it you need cream, chicken broth, carrots, potatoes, and of course, my favorite - leek. I haven't had soup in almost a year, and this one was amazing. So much so, that I had to go with my friend pick up ingredients at three supermarkets, Ralph's, Trader Joe's, and my favorite LA supermarket Gelsen's over in Century City. Gelsen's is a bit overpriced (a kind of supermarket for the rich) but its meat, pastry, and bread selection is the best you can find in a Los Angeles supermarket.<br />
Looking for ingredients and slow cooking the chicken was what my Sunday afternoon was pretty much all about. Then we also cooked the bread in the oven and opened a bottle of Tuella. I don't want to be nationalistic, but the Douro valley Tuella, they are selling at Trader Joe's for twelve bucks, is the best red you can find in LA right now in the quality/performance ratio. It's a solid buy that gives you the taste of Portuguese grapes and not the dictatorship of the Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet that passes by variety around here. The meal was amazing, and if everyone could eat this chicken soup I am sure there would be World Peace. Amen.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuella is your best wine guess in LA if you are not rich.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken breasts next to the recipe book before they get added to the soup.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hearty Cream of Chicken Soup Recipe open to make magic. A royal name for a royal soup.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished the product, glorious.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good soup, good wine and good bread. May the games begin.</td></tr>
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706914542106910520.post-74387254994538370542014-03-19T00:17:00.000-07:002014-04-30T16:13:56.409-07:00LessonThe other day I was going home, and when I was changing lanes on La Brea a guy hit my car in the rear left bumper destroying it. I got nervous. I didn't know exactly what to do, but I tried to keep it civilized. We always tend to see the car as an extension of ourselves and seeing the tire of a jeep Silverado destroy my Honda's bumper was like being hit in the face. I told the guy to pull over and I asked politely for his name and insurance. He was a tall black guy, between 18 and 20 probably younger, and acceded to my requests. He said his name was Timothy Thompson, and I photographed his insurance with my phone and also gave him my name and phone number. <br />
As I drove away the guy texted me saying he could fix the damage on his body shop, and I told him it would be better to leave it with the insurance companies. I reached out to "Timothy's" insurance company, and I was told his policy was not active, meaning the guy had no insurance. I called him, but he didn't answer. So I went to the police to warn them there is someone driving a black Silverado with no insurance. The police answered that driving with no insurance is not a crime. Surprised, dear reader? I will repeat it. In the United States unlike Europe there are no friendly declarations, meaning if a driver has no valid insurance that is not a crime. However driving without a license is a crime. Well, it must also be said I didn't ask for his driver's license which was particularly careless of me. But after Timothy's stunt, all I could charge him with was giving me false information, and that might take weeks to get solved.<br />
In the meanwhile, Carmen, my former landlady stepped up to the plate and introduced me to Luis, an amazing mechanic who fixed my damaged car in one day. I paid Luis for the damage caused by Timothy Thompson and so much for compensation.<br />
In the United States kind people, amazing kind people like Carmen (and all of us), have to step up to solve the short comings of an ever smaller state and a system that gives out 300 dollar tickets for jay walking but considers an uninsured driver something normal. This seems to be a country for the Timothy Thompson's of the world and not for the Carmen's. Sic transit gloria mundi.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The damage, that a guy who called himself "Timothy Thompson" made to my car and that I had to pay. Learned my lesson. </td></tr>
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<br />David Rosh Pinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551478729037571208noreply@blogger.com0