Movie Dime: In Bruges Trailer
Well, since I mentioned it in the last post (Street Art Dime: Edgar Muller 3D Pavement Art Appreciation), I figure I’ll stick the trailer here.
I laughed heartily during several scenes and enjoyed the movie, but if you don’t, well then… you’re out of an hour and forty-seven minutes! No, but if you really don’t; I’m sorry for your loss. Now, go karate chop a midget and have a giggle!
For the Harry Potter fans, the guys who play “Mad Eye Moody” and “Voldemort” are in this movie. Good ol’ English accents.
Street Art Dime: Edgar Müller 3D Pavement Art Appreciation
This is a piece by Edgar Muller, one of his 3D pavement paintings that were part of a series that he did around the world.
I can only imagine that this was one of many of these types of pictures. There has to have been a line forming to the left of this picture or at least there should be, because this is exactly the touristy type of thing that I would line up for.
What I like about street art and Edgar Muller’s work in general is the direct interaction that people can have with the pieces. This type of street art is easily accessible since it’s outside for public consumption and, especially large pavement paintings, cannot be “owned” like say a Picasso or a Van Gogh.
You think these people hesitated for a second before stepping off the curb into the painting? I would. Even though you know that it is the sidewalk, there’s something about the visual image of a drop that creates that seed of doubt in your mind– that once you step off the sidewalk you’ll fall.
Imagine driving along, turning your head for just a moment to look at your friend who is impersonating Colin Farrell’s character in In Bruges (If you haven’t seen it, I’d recommend it. It’s a Dark Comedy.), and then seeing that sitting in the middle of the road… SCREECH!
It’s both beautiful and tragic that these works of art fade away and will only last in pictures and memories.
For more: http://www.metanamorph.com/and google Edgar Muller, enjoy!
LA Public Transit Dime #2: Why isn’t LA public transit seen as a model of sustainable transportation like San Francisco or New York?
1. There is the lack of a thriving urban core like Manhattan or Downtown San Francisco. Although there is a growing urban core in Downtown Live and the increase in loft apartments throughout downtown Los Angeles.
2. The existing urban sprawl and population density of the area was built around the car. In the past, people would go to work in Downtown and drive out to their nice suburb home, which, even today, is easily and usually only accessible by car.
3. A major obstacle for increasing ridership is that everyone is already in a car. There have to be legitimate reasons to get car owners out of their cars and into public transit. In a pinch, I’d take a car before I’d take the bus. Presently, there are several obstacles to that:
a. Time and convenience. It seems that a majority of the trips people take from home to their points of interest are faster in a car than on public transportation.
b. Freedom and control. There is freedom and sense of control tied to cars that allow people to come and go as they please.
c. Social stigma of public transit. A large demographic that takes public transit is forced to take it because they simply can’t afford a car. As a result, using public transit is seen as a symbol of poverty and restriction, where a car is a symbol of wealth and freedom. Who wants to wait at a bus stop when everyone else is speeding past you in their car?
It even leads to people coming up with notions that big windows on buses are placed there to embarass the riders ie Ludascris’s character, in the movie “Crash,” saying: “The only reasons there are big windows on buses is to humiliate people of color reduced to riding them.”
But have hope! The whole “only poor people take public transit idea” is not an unchangeable idea since demographics in D.C. and New York metros tend to have a better mix of socioeconomic backgrounds, and it gets even better when one looks abroad at the London Tube or Paris metro.
The future may hold a more public transportation friendly Los Angeles as more drivers increase freeway traffic congestion and urban planning and development builds more centralized points of interest that will accommodate the use of public transit.
Tales of epic traffic are no fun…cue the Chinese traffic jam that went on for 9 days and spanned 60 miles last August. Eek… what would have happened if you ran out of gas?
LA Public Transit Dime #1: It’s #3 in the nation.
Recently, I had a conversation with a guy who was in the transportation industry. He seemed quite knowledgeable and dropped a fact that surprised me: Los Angeles (LA) and Portland have the same percentage of their respective population riding public transit—about 11%. In addition, he was saying that LA public transit is one of the best and most comprehensive public transit systems in the country.
Why’d it surprise me?
Because I’ve tried to take public transit in Los Angeles and as your primary mode of transportation, it just isn’t practical. Then, to have it compare it with Portland (which, in my mind, has the reputation of being very “green” and environmentally friendly) made absolutely no sense.
So I had to do some research…
Indeed, LA public transit is considered one of the best and most comprehensive public transit systems in the United States.
- LA ranks 3rd in nation when evaluating transportation investment, safety, and ridership. (Source: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2011/02/08/10-best-cities-for-public-transportation)
- LA has the 6th most extensive rail line in the country and spent nearly $11 billion on creating new and extending rail lines in the past several decades (Source: http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jan/13/opinion/op-moore13)
- LA public transit is a pioneer in the public transportation industry with their Cleaner Burning Natural Gas fleet and Rapid Bus Transit Lines (which boast techniques such as fewer stops, lower buses, higher frequency, and traffic light priority to lower travel time).
- LA has about 1.5 million riders every weekday and according to some census data, the population of LA is around 15 million people, that would make it about 10% of the population. I haven’t found anything to substantiate the claim that LA and Portland had the same percentage of their respective population riding public transit, but I figured the guy knew what he’s talking about.
So… what’s wrong with LA public transit? Why isn’t it seen as a model of sustainable transportation like San Francisco or New York? (New York has a transit market share of about 10% (#1), San Francisco 5% (#2), and LA about 2% (#11).)
Tune in next week where I look into the reasons why LA public transit isn’t seen as a model of sustainable transportation.
Health Dime: Best Things to Buy Organic + Easy Rule
Let’s face it: buying organic foods aren’t as cheap as buying conventionally grown foods at the supermarket. So here’s a list of best foods to buy organic:
Celery, Strawberries, Peaces, Apples, Blueberries, Nectarines, Bell Peppers, Spinach, Cherries, Kale, Potatoes, and Grapes
A majority of the “Dirty Dozen,” compiled by the Environmental Working Group, are fruits and vegetables that are prone to having pests, so require higher amounts of pesticides. Celery is at the top of the list since it was the most contaminated fruit and vegetable of 89,000 sampled. Strawberries were found to have up to 13 pesticides on the skin of the fruit, and washing the pesticides off proved to be difficult due to the bumps on the skin.
Moral of the story–
Fruits and veggies: if you’re going to eat the skin, you’re better off buying organic.
Sources:
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20471167,00.html
http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Dirty-Dozen-Foods
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/19/why-organic-_n_837794.html#s255280&title=Beef_
http://www.foodnews.org/
Life Dime: Is the life you’re leading one that you would be proud of?
Lately, I’ve been asking myself that question, and it definitely puts things into perspective.
If not, here’s some wallpaper inspiration:
And here’s a more organized version for the neat freaks (I know you’re out there!):
Source: I don’t really know. I just found them while web surfing. But, they aren’t mine, so just enjoy!
Sports Dime: A marathon ran in 2:03:02.
When I heard about this, I was dumbfounded.
A marathon time that averages about 4:40 minutes per mile. Say what! I was so stunned when I was punching the numbers into a calculator that I had to double check to make sure everything was correct.
Absolutely bonkers! The human body is so amazing…
Source: Getty Images
Geoffrey Mutai ran the Boston marathon in 2:03:02, which qualifies (unofficially) as the world’s fastest marathon time ever. The only reason why it is not officially recognized is because of the rules in place that dictate the race must start and end close to the same elevation in order to discount wind and downhill momentum, which would make it “too easy.”
But the Boston marathon is hardly “too easy,” it has been long considered the most difficult marathon in the US, if not the world due to its hilly course. This hilly course climaxes with “Heartbreak Hill,” which does not sound pleasant, to say the least. And if you’ve ever done hill training, going up the hill can trash your quads, but going down will absolutely obliterate them.
One day, I’ll shoot to run the Boston marathon. But, I think for now, I’ll focus on finishing a full marathon.
Poetry Dime: Anis Mojgani “Direct Orders”
Why are we attracted to certain things? Art, movies, music, etc…
I know why I’m a fan of spoken word poetry and poetry…
Spoken word poetry can be an invigorating force.
Let’s go with a direct example:
Here’s Anis Mojgani’s “Direct Orders.” Rock out!
If you dig it, I recommend Anis Mojgani’s “Shake the Dust.”