Playinla's Weblog

L.A. SUMMER CONCERTS!!! by Jessica Cruz

playinla — Wed, 14 May 2008 01:11:58 +0000

Ok, besides all the wonderful attractions LA has to offer, I believe all the summer music tours and festivals are the highlight of year. It’s the one season that boasts the faces of many well-known, unknown, and orchestra artists in this area. Some that I shall be attending are KROQ’s Weenie Roast y Fiesta (to kick off my summer), the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, Projekt Revolution, all the summer festivals of different ethnicities, the Vans Warped Tour, and whatever other opportunities I can get my hands on! If you’re a music lover, you will know of many more shows than what I’ve just listed here. These are just a few well-known names that most know about. Nothing beats getting ready to go see a show on a hot, summer, LA day. It’s perfect.

http://losangeles.metromix.com/events

http://golosangeles.about.com/od/losangelescalendar/tp/ConcertSeries.htm

http://www.kroq.com

L.A. WEATHER!!! by Jessica Cruz

playinla — Wed, 14 May 2008 00:53:42 +0000

I don’t mean to constantly rant, but hey, it’s LA and it’s what we do. So a couple of weeks ago the weather was disturbingly hot (in the 90′s-100′s), and it had been that way for a while. Tell me why, as of maybe a week ago now, the weather decided to drop fifty degrees. And that is not an exaggeration. Guess what, by the end of this week it is supposed to be up in the high 90′s and reportedly, even the 100′s–a sudden 50 degree spike! $*(&#(*&#@()*&#@*()&!!!!!!! Let the hot weather reign over LA (i hate the cold)–BRING IT ON! What I vehemently disagree with are the extreme weather fluctuations. It’s making a lot of people sick, myself included, because our bodies are playing catch-up. I know, I know–it’s something we cannot control, but it does make one (me) aware of what is currently causing our environment to act strange. We all know or don’t, but, not to sound like tree-hugging preacher, it’s how we’ve mistreated our environment. Regardless of “weather” you believe in “going green” or that it is a capitalist brain-washing scheme, it’s very apparent everywhere and I, for one, do believe in “going green” to help contribute to the attempt of saving our planet.

In case you were curious, check out www.weather.com

p.s. The weather is changing every hour. Better just to not inquire and flip a coin instead–you’ll have better odds of knowing that way.

“15 minutes of fame” by Vicky Willim

playinla — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:51:30 +0000

On another note…the scariest part about the show (THE HILLS) is the huge response the show receives. Finding myself bored in a long line in front of the cash register I am always looking for some quick entertainment. Grabbing one of the gossip magazines tends to fulfill the need for quick entertainment. Lately, all the candidates from the show are all over the INTOUCH (and other wasting paper) magazines. The show is actually really popular and somehow it must spark some interest people. I think this is a 21^st century phenomena, where people can actually be famous for a persona they create in the mass media. Paris Hilton, Nicole Richi and the list goes on. Neither one of them has actually contributed something significant, but their omnipresence. What kind of an impression that leaves on me…here “if you are persistent enough to draw a lot of attention on you, people will start recognizing you.” The idea of fame is embedded in our mind frame that even little girls don’t want to be a little princess anymore, but a Hannah Montana replica (double life of an international pop star/sell out). Maybe Andy Warhol was right we are all looking for our 15 minutes of fame. A wikipedia source says “It refers to the fleeting condition of celebrity that attaches to an object of media attention, then passes to some new object as soon as the public’s attention span is exhausted [which seems like an eternity in Paris Hilton’s case]. The phrase is often used in reference to figures in the entertainment industry and other areas of popular culture.” The affluence of celebrities that let us take a peek in their life and some rich people (“celebrities”) that have no talent (at least they hide their talent very good from us) are claiming fame. It seems like a disaster and leads me to another topic on this blog. I might jump to conclusions, but maybe this is why we have so much traffic. An overpopulated city of individuals that try to become famous in a mass fabricated media industry is trying to get around town? Are “15 minute celebrities” and the ones that are about to come, polluting not only mass media but LA traffic? Hhhmmmm …

More Media Influenced L.A. Stereotypes by J. Smith

playinla — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:37:12 +0000

I completely agree with Susan. I must admit that I have not watched not even 10 seconds of any of these types of shows, because I can feel my IQ dropping after about 3 seconds. The stereotypes on shows like The Hills and Laguna Beach (or whatever the hell it’s called), give young L.A. people a very bad name. There are many young adults who work hard, go to school, and generally strive for more in life than a Gucci bag. Most of the people come from rich families and generally their biggest problem in life is where there going to spend their summer vacation. I’ve gathered this information from previews alone. Perhaps, I shouldn’t judge them if I haven’t even viewed one full episode. So, maybe one day I’ll buy some nerf balls (to throw at the television), have a few beers,and give one of the shows a chance.

Apparently, I am in the minority regarding my opinion of shows like this because they are extremely popular. I haven’t the slightest clue why. Unfortunately, if creators are making money off the dumbing down of American youth, there will be more “reality” based shows like these. What a Pity!

The Hills- The Hoax by Susan Santos

playinla — Wed, 07 May 2008 03:55:20 +0000

This post is going to be regarding the show The Hills on MTV. Now I understand these girls families have money and that the probably allows them to have better options in housing, lifestyle, and jobs but geez. I am the same age as these girls and the life that they depict of a 21 year old living in LA is unreal. Then people wonder why others get the impression that they can move to Hollywood or LA and become famous. Because shows like this provide stereotypes and images to people that are from other places that this is what the city has to offer an average person of the characters’ age. Now that I’m thinking about it I’m considering the stereotype of LA that is often depicted in forms of entertainment such as movies and music. Well Tupac songs…To Live and Die in LA? If you’ve never hear it, go listen to it just to hear about the lifestly that people in LA are living according to the rapper. Or how about the movie the Holiday? Again this goes along with the image of LA that The Hills provides. It’s funny because the character lives next door to famous people in the firl industry and it’s funny because when I go travel places and people hear where I am from..they often ask if I know any celebrities or if I’ve been to x club that they saw on some tv show or in some magazine.

Just think about the subject or these stereotypes of the city..comment on others that you have.

Where is Everybody Going? by Susan Santos

playinla — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:45:17 +0000

Have you ever been driving on a freeway in LA and wondered where all the hundreds of cars that you see in front of you stopped in traffic are going? I find myself driving into or through LA on a weekly basis and always either caught in traffic or slowed at some point. It makes me wonder where could all these cars be going? I understand that there are millions of people in LA and even more travelling through to get to other places but when is it to a point that there are too many cars on the road?

I have knowing that I have to leave my house, in Ventura County, an hour and a half early sometimes just to get into town depending on what time and day it is. What baffles me is that even when it’s not rush hour time or even a Dodger game there is still tons of cars on the freeways.

What’s even worse is that LA is trying to encourage people to “go green”. They are promoting this environment preserving campaign and putting the image of the “environmentally safe” city all throughout the media. If people were to just adjust their schedules a little bit to where they can carpool I’m sure this would have a lot larger affect. Yah when you’re driving you see a lot of hybrids but you also see a lot of trucks. I’m sure that if people just found a way to cut down on the cars on the freeway, people would be less bitter about traffic and more efficient at “going green”.

Traffic and the large population of cars in the city is my least favorite thing about LA. As a matter of fact, it makes me hate the place at times. Besides carpooling and public transportation, theres not much we can do about getting people off the roads but I wish there was because this issue makes me avoid driving through the city as much as I can yet I am still forced for school. So I will just keep my bitterness to myself and hopefully you all can relate to my issues in some way.

Think Before Teaching L.A.U.S.D. by J. Smith

playinla — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:04:37 +0000

Test, test, test, and more test. I have been married to a Teacher for the past 11 years, and never have I witnessed any organization where, in order to stay employed, one must continue to take exams. Exams, mind you, that one must pay for, without benefit of a refund, if one does not pass the test. Exams, supposedly set up to make one a better teacher. The Los Angeles Unified School District is making a killing off the money it continues to make off of these useless exams. But, as a parent of 2 children attending an L.A.U.S.D school, I’m not sure where the money goes. I can understand the initial CBEST test teachers have to take to become employed, but my husband knows a teacher who has been teaching for over 30 years, whose job is in jeopardy because of yet another exam that all teachers are required to take. After 30 years, I’m pretty sure she knows how to teach. The test cost $291.00 of non-refundable love. So, not only does one have to study and stress about the test itself, one must also stress about the almost $300 it cost. So, even if a teacher passes this test, there is always another one lurking around the corner. I, myself, am never teaching for L.A.U.S.D. What about you?

Go to www.lausd.org to find out all the madness one must go through to teach for the district, not to mention endless mandatory credentialling courses. If you’re a lousy teacher, a test or a class is not going to make you less of a lousy teacher. One can be a great teacher, but a lousy test taker. So, which would you want for your child? With as much as someone has to go through, one would think that teaching was a financially lucrative profession, but most of us know that is far from the truth. So, give the teachers a break, and cut down on the exam taking for already qualified personnel.

“A dirty car, the desert, and our water” by Vicky Willim

playinla — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:02:19 +0000

Okay I get and I understand that a new BMW looks best when its polished and clean, but how many times can you wash your car in a matter of a week? I mean seriously…how relevant is a bug spot on your car? MUST YOU REALLY HOSE DOWN THE ENTIRE CAR? At least twice a week after I get home from school or work, I witness my very ambitious neighbor scrubbing down his new car. I live in the Antelope Valley, which is considered to be desert, a place where we really should not take water for granted. Just because we can go to a faucet and water flows, does not mean that there is an endless quantity available. Today…yes. Tomorrow…should be, but what about the future? We face a really rapid population growth in Southern California and the South West. Water management was an issue over the last couple of years and maintains to be a rising issue. The human being is about the only living organism that does not modify its way of behavior according to its geographical environment. Animals are great in accommodating to their environment. If the climate and its geographical region are not appropriate to its natural habitat…you are most likely not to find that specific animal in that region. This makes me really wonder “why the stubborn human being needs to feel like it is superior to its nature. Well, the simplest answer to that is: because we can!!! However, the one thing that makes us superior to animals, we are not quite able to use to our advantage sometimes. The human individual is able to critically evaluate the consequences and make adjustments according to the best result possible.

I believe in the advantage that we can almost travel and live anywhere we want. Still, if we make the decision to make an oasis out of the desert…well then please think about desert appropriate water management. Back to my neighbor, it’s not whether you wash your car, but how and how often. Maybe it’s human selfishness that truly lives up to an ideal that requires maintaining certain social expectations and our reputation. But what it all comes down to is that in the end we hurt the environment more than our ego and reputation. I rather drive a dusty car then picturing myself living in the dystopia that leans on to the idea of the Water world movie (sometime in the near future). It only takes a little bit of research and awareness to what is essential, as opposed to what is nice to have. If the rest of the Southern California can use its water more efficiently, it should be safe for decades. This awareness should not only be the job of scientists and engineers, but us the population of Southern California. It is the little things that make an exception. For more info and how to actively conserve water follow these links.

http://www.monolake.org/waterconservation/

http://www.monolake.org/socalwater/index.html

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/D82F298A04CC06408525742B006A66E4

…and just in case my neighbor ever decides to read this I am dedicating this to my beloved neighbor… #3 in how to conserve water ”Don’t run the hose while washing your car. Use a bucket of water and a quick hose rinse at the end. Saves 150 gallons each time. For a two-car family that’s up to 1,200 gallons a month”.

Rant by Jessica Cruz

playinla — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:40:51 +0000

Ok,

Besides not getting paid enough, where are we going to find the money to pay an obscene amount of money for rent? A friend said over dinner the other night “people don’t move to LA for cheap rent and no traffic”. He’s right. I understand that property is hot down here, but come on. Yah, prices are going down due to our crazy economy, BUT, for all of us college students in business school about to lose our jobs because of the economy, i.e. banks are going bankrupt, which means no home loans, which means no one wants to buy homes, which means our dollar value goes down, which means no one has the money to spend which means many companies (where we work at opening to start a career there or SOMETHING) suffer. That leads me to reiterate my statement above that with cutting hours and/or losing jobs, even less money is coming in to be able to afford to live. I, personally, have considered leaving and moving to Boise, Idaho, where I can get a two-bedroom, two-bathroom, beautiful and spacious home for rent at $800-$1000 as opposed to a crappy studio apartment in LA for $800-$900–but I’m addicted to what LA has to offer, so bottom line, I just have to shutup and accept the high rent. Just my rant for the day.

Los Angeles Laker Fans by J. Smith

playinla — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:13:58 +0000

As I watched the Lakers beat the crap out of Denver, I noticed how little the people in the front rows cheered for the Lakers, I mean really cheer. The enthusiasm was underwhelming. Why is it that the richy rich L.A. people, who can afford those seats, don’t seem excited to be there!! Get off your sorry behinds. IT’S THE PLAYOFFS, FOR HEAVENS SAKES!! I believe the game was tied at halftime, but when the Lakers began to soar they couldn’t put their $30.00 drinks down long enough to get up and yell. Play after marvelous play,buts were glued to the chair. Maybe I’m a bit of a Laker fanatic, but come on people. On the other hand as I watched other playoff games, Boston v. Atlanta, for example, the Boston fans where loud and proud. Is it that L.A. is so known for glitz and glamour that these people don’t even understand the game enough to cheer? I’m not talking about the fans in nosebleed country, those are the ones that can be heard through the television. The working stiffs in the upper levels appreciate the game of basketball. If only, even for one little game, the richies could be stuck in nosebleed and the common folk, like myself, could sit in the front rows. We would show our Lakers true fan support. I mean, really, this team was not even supposed to make the playoffs, let alone be the first seed. What do you think?