ArtLung Blog

Trains, Wicked

2009-01-07T20:51:59Z

I remember taking the train, trolley, and buses in San Diego, and 10 years ago I used to take a bus from Cheviot Hills to downtown L.A., but for the past few years I’ve been doing a driving commute. I took Metrolink Ventura Line to work this morning. I got off at Union Station and transferred to the Metro Red Line subway. I was impressed by how well it all ran.

Here are a few photos from the trip that don’t necessarily represent the trip very well:

Why did I take the train? Because I wanted to carpool home after Wicked tonight with Leah and Al. Coincidentally, the Hollywood & Vine Metro station exits directly across from the Pantages:

Belated Fun Holiday Animation

2009-01-05T04:29:22Z

Seasonal Short from Trevor Van Meter on Vimeo.

via Drawn!

Sinfest Comic from 28 Dec 2008

2009-01-04T17:36:10Z

I really liked this Sinfest comic, turning Buddha into the little drummer boy, drumming a Japanese style Taiko drum. I keep re-reading it and figured I should post a link:

Lego Penrose Triangle (via B3ta)

2009-01-03T22:29:11Z

I want this kit!

source: b3ta board

What’s a Penrose Triangle?

Leah’s camera est non mortuus

2009-01-03T18:44:01Z

Leah’s camera, a Canon 30D has been dead for two months, about which she’s been very sad. The error was “Err99” – a mysterious error message others have had with other Canon cameras. She had looked at some forums and tried some things but had no luck fixing. We’d talked about having to take it to Samy’s Camera in L.A. to get it looked at.

I’ve not given it much thought or used my troubleshooting skills on the thing, but last night, as part of a lovely 4-day holiday weekend, I applied myself to the problem.

It appears to be fixed now, as a result of upgrading to the 30d’s firmware up to 1.0.6. The instructions on the Canon website were easy-to-follow and it seems to have worked.

For those of you disappointed by the lack of photos from leah, the good news is we may see pictures from her again soon.

Renaming

2009-01-02T20:58:04Z

I have this concept of a post where in an Andy Rooney-esqe manner I complain about things that get renamed. But really I’m not complaining so much as I think of things with their original name. Some examples of this are:

The Del Mar Fair has been renamed “The San Diego Fair” and calling it “San Diego” just sounds wrong given that it’s held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

Another one is Qualcomm Stadium, which to me will always be Jack Murphy Stadium.

ArcLight Hollywood will always be just the Cinerama Dome to me.

Grauman’s Chinese Theater was renamed Mann’s Chinese Theater for a few years, but now it’s been re-renamed (un-renamed?) to Grauman’s Chinese Theater. I’ve no right to complain about that one.

$year++

2008-12-31T17:32:31Z

Happy New Year from El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de la Porciúncula, Alta California, Los Estados Unidos, La Planeta Tierra!

Steampunk Exoskeleton

2008-12-31T06:51:35Z

(Actually, it appears to be a hundred (give or take a few decades) year-old diving suit. Via rcs)

A Wand’ring Minstrel I

2008-12-30T22:17:34Z

One of the my habits, when I work in a place with a walkable, entertaining area around it, is to wander around at lunch. Sometimes such wanderings turn into blog posts.

This is another.

I have had the opportunity to wander about in Downtown San Diego (near the Gaslamp Quarter, and near Santa Fe Station), Downtown Los Angeles (near Central Library), Ojai (there’s not much in Ojai so it’s easy to walk that), and a little Mid-Wilshire in L.A. for a while. When I worked as a Respiratory Therapist taking a walk on a lunch break was really not feasible, since I was usually on a pager and needed to be available for emergencies.

I really appreciate the opportunity to take a walk. Now that I’m working in Hollywood, right on Sunset Blvd, I’ve had the opportunity today and yesterday to do a little wandering. I even got to visit my favorite newsstand for decades (yes, decades) World Book & News. I passed at least 3 dozen places that will sell you a lovely postcard of the Hollywood Sign or a portrait or Marilyn Monroe. I also passed a bunch tattoo parlors, wig shops, g-string vendors, and storefront electronics shops. I also passed an official Scientology place where I could have had a free (imagine!) personality test. I heard several different languages: Japanese, Spanish, Russian (pretty sure), English of course—often these voices belonged to folks taking pictures of the Stars on the sidewalk. Jimi Hendrix was one I saw some tourists being photo’d with. It was a pleasant walk.

I was not asked for any dough from panhandlers, though I saw a few such unfortunates. Also unfortunate were some teen runaways, distingusihed by rather dirty clothes and a vacant or stoned look in their eyes. Sad, and a Hollywood tradition.

I wandered about, enjoying a Tiger’s Milk lunch and a Mountain Dew, and made my way back eventually. It’s a bit less tasty than the free lunch they provide at the dayjob, but it’s probably net better for me to take a walk accompanied by some sugar and caffeine than free food+sitting. Maybe. In either case, walking around is fun.

Title of post from The Mikado, Act I, Part II

Amoeba in the Morning

2008-12-30T16:58:25Z

I think if you had told me in 1991 that in 2008 I’d be working right next door to a major record (read: music and movies) store I’d have been delighted.

Heck, I’m delighted now. It’s where I pulled off the major coup of getting Leah a copy of Savannah Smiles for our Anniversary last week. She was impressed.

Shh! don’t tell.