Soledad en masa

Today the L.A. Times’ website is linking to this article over at Metromix. The article is of little importance and relevance. The article is accompanied by a gallery with the accompanying image.

The caption reads for this picture reads: Where am I? A Kanye concert?

She is referring to Kanye West’s most recent album, Graduation, and the second single, Stronger, which features a teddy bear wearing white shutter shades on the cover of the single. Here’s West wearing the shutter shades:

The first time I saw West wearing these kinds of shades, I had to laugh because they became very hip for people to wear. I knew I had seen that style before.

Then it clicked. You know what you people who wear this kind of shades look like? You look like the back of a late-1980s Ford Mustang GT.

Seriously, that shutter look is ugly. Stop wearing the shades. You all look like idiots. It looks great on cars, not on you.

First image is taken from Los Angeles Metromix’s gallery accompanying the article. Photo is by Michelle Lanz. Second photo, Kanye West, is taken from the Hip Hop Chronicle. Third photo, that of the 1987 Ford Mustang, is taken from the Mustang Source.

I have lived most of my life in the outskirts. I have never enjoyed being in the spotlight or being part of the large group because I feel uncomfortable at being looked at by everyone or I feel slighted, somewhat left out. Birthday parties, large celebrations, you name it, I prefer being on my own than within a group. At most parties you’ll find me against the wall, talking to people or looking at the group. When I went to birthday parties as a smaller child, I tried my best to play with other small children, but Fate decided that most children at these parties were either newborns or older by about four years, which at the age of six is a tremendous difference. I also don’t have any much close family in Los Angeles, thereby isolating me more. Read the rest of this entry »

Yes, you read right. Last night, I was checking out the Metro 2008 Draft Long Range Transportation Plan (website here, download here [PDF]) and I found something that made me do a double-take. On page 35, there is a graph describing high priority regional projects. One of the current ones is a maglev train connecting Downtown Los Angeles and Santa Ana that would run through South Gate. Yup, through South Gate, directly connecting one of its busiest intersections (Firestone/Atlantic) directly with Downtown L.A. and Santa Ana.

Though it is a long-range and currently unfunded project, I want it built BADLY because it would directly join South Gate with Downtown L.A. (no need to take the Blue Line if I don’t want to) and Santa Ana. Also, at the corner of Atlantic and Firestone a shopping center will be built soon, the Gateway and it would serve to bring even more people to the shopping center and without the need to drive.

View Larger Map

I created a map of the proposed project all the way to Downtown Santa Ana (the graphic says it will end in Western Santa Ana) based on the alignment presented in the image above. Once in Orange County, I followed the right of way. The right of way used once the maglev heads southeast out of Hollydale is the old Pacific Electric right of way.

I am ecstatic to see the day when I can leave my house in South Gate and go to Downtown L.A. without a bus. Let’s start building many train projects, not only in the county, but in the state. High speed trains, more commuter trains, subways, light rail in dedicated routes, a train to Las Vegas, let’s build it all. With rising gas prices, this is one of the best ways to alleviate the pressure.

Someone outside my house is blasting low-quality reggaeton right now. To you I dedicate this:

I cannot wait until I get my driver’s license sometime this summer so I can drive around and blast my Chalino, Gavilancillo, and other assorted Mexican music outside your house.

Oh, and I want the freedom to drive places, albeit with limits (gasolina).

Video of the week is back this week to show this gem. I am part of the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán Yahoo group and one of the members just uploaded a video of Mariachi Vargas before a concert. Seeing them at the San Antonio Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza made them seem like actual people, but seeing this video made them humans.

They eat!!! They ARE human after all!