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Politics: War Is (Not) Over

In case you're too wrapped up in the Tiger Woods distraction, President Obama spoke to our future military leaders last night about committing 30,000 more troops and tens of billions of dollars to the wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  I honestly couldn't disagree/disapprove more and suspect the president's timing for a 2011 withdrawal is politically motivated to make him appear 'anti-war' just in time for the 2012 elections.  Personally, I'd like to see our nation's precious resources be used to protect us from bigger threats like disease, homelessness, and hunger.   What do you think?

Holiday Calendar: UNIQUE LA Holiday Show

If you're still dizzy from Black Friday and have no time to partake in the Cyber Monday festivities, may I suggest your new, one stop shop for all of your holiday gift giving needs.

The 2nd Annual UNIQUE Holiday Show will invade downtown Los Angeles this weekend, December 5th and 6th.  The event, which is home to over 300 vendors hocking everything from clothing, accessories, candy, organics and so much more, has become the West Coast's largest independent design and art shopping event.

With unlimited entry on both days, UNIQUE is only $10 bucks at the door, with one dollar donated to 826LA, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting local youth with their creative and expository writing skills.

Event highlights:
- Shepard Fairey's Studio No.1 has partnered with UNIQUE to give every attendee a free, special edition tote bag.

- For those of you with a greener outlook towards the world, UNIQUE's GREEN ROOM will showcase over 50 eco designers/sellers, with an eco lounge (hosted by YourDailyThread) that will offer FREE magazines/Honest Tea/gift wrapping services and workshops.

- When hunger strikes, check out pop-up locations from Tiara Cafe, Gram & Papa's and Platine Cookies.

- And to commerate your time, stop by the Oh Snap Studios photobooth - which of course, can double as this years holiday cards.

No matter what holiday you celebrate, make sure to check out UNIQUE LA and pick up something for a loved one, coworker or even your cousin's girlfriends eyebrow.

TECH: drive and email

Yes you heard that right. Thanks to the amazing new app drivesafe.ly your incoming texts and emails can be read to you aloud as they enter your inbox. The free version will read you the first 25 words. The pay version, which costs a very reasonable $13.95, will read up to 500 words.

I was very skeptical going into it but after trying it i was instantly hooked. Now you can relax as you drive home from work knowing that if you are needed you'll hear about it as it happens.

New Option-G Apparel

Our good friends at Option-G recently launched the new fall/winter line.  For those who don't know, Option-G Apparel is an extension of design firm Option-G based in Los Angeles and founded by artist, Cole Gerst. The Option-G t-shirt line was started with one intention in mind; to have fun and share their take on the world. The current fall/winter line was heavily inspired by music and nature. Also available from Option-G - new limited edition rock posters from the likes of Death Cab for Cutie, Fleet Foxes, Tokyo Police Club and Cage the Elephant.  Check it out online here.

Good holiday presents...

Put the Needle on the Record


Overloaded


Kissy Kiss

Delicious Foodstuffs: Sweet and Saucy Shop

Sweet and Saucy Shop first came to my attention when my beloved sister bought me a nautical inspired cake for my birthday (love you, sis!).  As I've gotten older, my craving for sweets has lessened, but the cake made by owner Melody Brandon was just to die for.  It was light, moist and not overly sugary... in other words, PERFECT.  All my friends from the party still talk about it and it's no surprise.


My awesome birthday cake

Melody is so amazing even Oprah buys from her.  Check out a clip from The Ellen Degeneres Show where Ellen is presented with cookies from the shop.



The Sweet and Saucy Shop is located in Long Beach near Cal State Long Beach.  Besides the cake studio, they also sell lots of little treats like mini cupcakes, cookies and my favorite, cake ball lollipops! Everyone should stop by and enjoy!



Sweet and Saucy Shop
6400 Stearns St.
Long Beach, CA 90815
(562) 397-9190
Website
Twitter

Photos by: Bonnie Tsang

THE ROLLING STONES: GET YER YA YA'S OUT AT THE MORRISON HOTEL GALLERY, NEW YORK

It’s significant to note that getting one’s ya ya’s out, for those unfamiliar with the term, has to do with behaving in a manner of explicit affrontery to, ahem, polite society. Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out was also, appropriately, the name of a Rolling Stones live album. So it’s fitting that at the exhibition opening celebrating Ethan Russell’s extravagant, transporting new photographic tome, LET IT BLEED: The Rolling Stones, Altamont and the End of the Sixties (Springboard Press), which traces the band’s infamous 1969 US Tour, one of the first images one encounters is that of a louche Keith Richards standing directly beneath a pre-Reaganite anti-drug poster. Just as telling, a nearby placard describes how Mick Jagger, ever the debauched romantic to Keith’s loveable punk, opened a show on the tour by reading Shelley to the applause of thousands of probably wasted rock & roll fans—the Stones always carefully balancing their prodigious depravity with a certain English-middle-class elegance. But the exhibit and book can't help but focus on the epochal tragedy that was the Stones’ free concert at Altamont in San Francisco, which, with Hell’s Angels running amok, resulted in more than 800 injuries, four fatalities, and, one can argue, the virtual death of all that drug-fueled ’60s idealism. Russell’s photos, in fact, are a fascinating document of a band, from stage to studio to luxurious poolside lounging, about to be launched into mega-stardom, never again to share even the vaguest of intimacies with their fans. As for the ya ya’s—Keith, to his credit, has never stopped getting them out. 

-Ken Scrudato, with photos by his satanic majesty Adam Pollock

Free Ice Cream + Free Alcohol = Awesome

Who doesn't like free stuff??  Sure, I enjoy going to shows, but the experience is so much better when useful (or tasty) freebies are offered up to the audience.  This week I went to see Times New Viking and Kurt Vile at Public Assembly. Great show, but thanks to the folks at Babelgum, not only did I get to drink for free, Ice Cream Man was on hand to fill my empty stomach with some mint chocolate cookie goodness.  What's the best freebie you've ever gotten at a concert?  Please share in the comment section below!

 

Who Killed Sgt Pepper?

Once again Anton Newcombe and his prolific, ever changing music project that is the Brian Jonestown Massacre have posted a link to stream their upcoming record Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?. I've been listening all morning and the music is nothing short of brilliant. The record will be available for your personal collection 1/1/10, if WKSP? dropped a day sooner it would easily take the number 1 spot for my Top 10 Album Picks for 2009.

I highly recommend taking the time to check out each track (you have to click each one to listen) and watch the videos for the full experience. 

See if you can catch The Joy Division tribute in track 6 "This Is The One Thing We Did Not Want To Have Happen"

Click HERE to listen to Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?

Delicious Foodstuffs: The Grilled Cheese Truck

Last week, the LA FILTER crew welcomed the debut of the Grilled Cheese Truck in Hollywood.  Our new friends parked their truck right outside our office and served hoards of people eager to try their melts.  Their friend, Del's Lemonade joined in on the festivities.



It was no surprise that the line did not die down one bit during their 3 hour lunch service.  Who doesn't love grilled cheese?!? 

Here's a quick feedback from some of our staff:

"The mac 'n cheese was a hit. People definitely came out of the wood work for this." - Max

"I was a bit disappointed that the sandwich was so simple." - Pat

"The Macaroni Cheese Melt with BBQ pork and caramelized onions was incredible. It was like a whole delicious meal on one toasted sandwich." - Ewan

"Get there early or suffer the consequences - the longer the line, the longer the wait, the greasier the sandwich." - Patrick

"I am a big fan of grilled cheese and was overwhelmed that there were too many choices to pick from! It was one cheese experience." - Ryan

"Magnificent once I got over the texture surprise that my sandwich was stuffed with mac-n-cheese. Yummy spin on spicy bread & Butter pickles, too! Please come back! I want the dessert melt!" - Beth

As for myself, I don't know if I would ever be able to wait in a long line for a simple grilled cheese, but I can certainly make an exception for the perfectly cooked melt with BBQ pork and caramelized onions that I ordered.

Thank you so much to Michele and her team at the Grilled Cheese Truck for making our lunch so unique and memorable!


Stuffed mac n cheese n BBQ pork goodness.

Grilled Cheese Truck online
Grilled Cheese Truck Twitter

An Evening With David Gray

 

A relatively recent LA transplant, I'm slowly making my way through the multitudes of iconic concert venues that this city has to offer. Last week, I was fortunate enough to catch one of my longtime favorites- David Gray, at LA's famed Orpheum Theater. Stopping to get a bite to eat, we arrived just as opener Lisa Hannigan was finishing her set. A Damien Rice fan since O, I was sad to have missed her cello-infused brand of folk.

After taking our seats, with a not-so-rock and roll glass of Merlot in hand, we were ready to settle in for a night of great music. The crowd was a relatively mixed bag, composed of the coffee shop/ LL Bean Catalog crowd, older fans, and just general music appreciators. A common thread, of course was a mutual appreciation for the sometimes underrated talents of this fantastic UK singer-songwriter.

Gray began his set with "First Chance," from his recently released Draw the Line- a great way to open the show. From there, he interspersed new material and old, spending a great amount of time on his critically hailed White Ladder material- a personal favorite album of mine. At the show's climax, Gray had the entire crowd singing along to a quiet rendition of "This Year's Love." The combination of a great venue, a charismatic artist and music I love made this show excellent. Afterward, we got the chance to meet him, and even take a photo. Fresh from the stage, he was as nice as could be. Often, a live show proves that studio tools really make the musician. David Gray, however, proved that many musicians' talents are really showcased on the stage.

Facebook Secret

Anyone who's played the video game Contra will get a kick out of this.  Go on Facebook and type (using the arrow keys) up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, enter, right click.  After that, magic circles will appear and won't go away until you log off or reload the page.  Obviously the folks at Facebook are old-school Nintendo geeks.  Next, they should make it possible to type in 007-373-5963 so Mike Tyson's Punch Out face pops up. 

TECH CONFESSION: I Dont Love the Bold 2

Let me start off by saying if you are upgrading to the Bold2 9700 from a Curve, Tour, Pearl, Storm or any older model this will be the best BlackBerry you have ever owned.

 

Now the upsetting part. If you are upgrading from the classic work-horse Bold this may not be the device for you.

 

Let me explain.

 

The Bold is the ultimate device for business and fun. It has enough horse power to run all the necessary programs and sports the biggest screen of any BlackBerry with a keyboard.

 

The keyboard is, for me, perfect. I spend a lot time on email and need a device that feels sturdy and responsive. The Bold is the ultimate device for those that want something that can power through email, while multitasking other programs.

 

The 9700 just isn’t that device for me. It has more power, memory, and camera pixels in the smallest form factor ever and unfortunately that’s the problem.

 

I miss the huge keyboard, the bigger screen and the overall weight.

 

One observation of note, the 9700 is running 5.0 OS which is spectacular. Running a leaked version of this OS on the bold is equally as amazing.

 

Being a tech nerd means always having the newest device at all times. For the first time im sad to say I wont be that guy.

FELA! Brings a New Flavor to Broadway

When you think of Broadway you might think of exaggerated smiling faces, a few sharp kicks and some “happy music” for all the blue hairs in the audience. 

Well hold on to your butts: The Broadway debut of FELA! shatters the norms and raises the bar by presenting something powerful, political, and extremely different.

If you don’t know about Fela Kuti, you could start by considering him a Nigerian Bob Dylan—just substitute in the sax for guitar and a pink suit for black shades, but keep the joint.

In the '60s, Kuti invented afrobeat music, a style that fuses Yoruba music, jazz, and funk, and toured globally, introducing this new type of jazz to people worldwide. While traveling throughout the U.S., Kuti learned of the Black Power movement, and its cause soon became one of the biggest influencers of his music and political views. 

During the '70s, Kuti quit touring and returned to Nigeria to work permanently as an activist.

He opened a club in Nigeria where he wailed nightly, using his music and poetry as a weapon to successfully challenge the oppressive government and like minded establishments everywhere.

The Eugene O’Neill Theater on Broadway has never before witnessed a show like FELA!.  The live afrobeat music, blazing traditional African dance and the (literal) writing on the wall is something that might just turn all the blue hairs to hot pink.

Go see it.  It’s one hell of a party. 

For more info about FELA!, check out the show's official website: http://www.felaonbroadway.com

-Jesse Jensen, Official FILTER Broadway correspondent 

Twilight Swag That Will Make You Question Your Sad Existence Without Vampires or Werewolves

It is no secret that I like (love) The Twilight Saga. Yes, I've read all of the books and have had my tickets to New Moon for weeks (months), but listen, I'm not nearly as crazyface (AWESOME) as most of the Twihard community. Do you want to know what separates us, of course other than age, stalking tendencies, violent hysteria, and questionable tattoos? SWAG. SO, just in case you don't spend your free time googling "Edward Cullen cookie cutters" (not invented yet!), I've compiled some of the best Twi-swag actually available for purchase (mockery):

Life-size cut-outs for those not-creepy-at-all fantasies and photo opps, just $34.99 each! I would love to hide one in my bathroom any time friends visit.

Vamp roll-playing get a little out of hand? No problem. Hide war wounds with these babies for just $7.99 at Borders.


Help your boyfriend actually BECOME Edward (haha, like any of us have real life boyfriends) with an OFFICIAL Forks High Student I.D. and, um, the License to Bite that every vamp carries? Only $1 EACH!

 

Never get lost again trying to stalk the set! Keep a map of Forks on you ring for just $6.50.

And my absolute favorite, the Twilight Million Dollar Bill, which magically only costs $1. Just look at the details!! This is art. True art.

Bonus runners up: "I Drive Like A Cullen" bumper sticker & Team Jacob backpack (complete with wolf clawmarks).

P.S. If you're a fan of "the internet" I'm sure you've seen the ridiculous Twilight panties floating around, but here's the thing - THEY'RE NOT EVEN FOR SALE (um, not that I would buy them if they were...), so they didn't count for this list. Sorry to disappoint the creepsters out there.


Leave more fine examples in creativity in the comments! 

My Morning Jacket Play For American Dad

FILTER favorites My Morning Jacket and Zach Galifianakis are teaming up to appear in a new episode of American Dad. Co-creator Mike Barker tells the story of how it all came together below:

How'd this collaboration come about? Who seduced who?
“Who seduced who?” That makes it sound like this game is already over.  Look, this isn’t over until halfway through a live performance of Steam Engine, Jim reaches into the audience and pulls me up on stage like I’m a pre-cougar Courtney Cox. But if I might be professional for a moment, the word “seduction” implies that there has been some sort of manipulation on either my part or the band’s, when in fact, it’s the two art forms themselves – Writing and Music, that sought each other out.  In the end, we are all just instruments of the Goddess of Art.  I’m not sure who that is, but in my head she looks exactly like Scarlett Johanssen.  

What makes My Morning Jacket a good fit for American Dad?
The best band in the world appearing on the 59th top-rated show on television?  It’s a no-brainer.

If Kiss is the semi-official Family Guy band, does that mean My Morning Jacket is the semi-official American Dad band?
Hell, let’s just make them the official band.  

Tune in to American Dad November 22nd on FOX!