There’s been a kind of ongoing conversation about a slew of LAPD surveillance cameras that have been installed around Hollywood. I’m of the opinion that they don’t make a shred of difference and in fact make us less safe. Not everyone agrees, but that’s where the discussion comes in. Since we’ve been talking about the LAPD today and just to keep that going, I thought I’d point out an interesting article on the subject that addresses some of my concerns. There are some great comments following the article, as well as on Bruce Schneier’s blog where I found the link.

A hypothesis:

1. Human beings are creative and criminals actively try to get around or disable surveillance.

2. Police have limited resources.

3. If cameras are being monitored, police resources are being directed wherever the cameras are being focused. I’m not just talking about time spent by the video-monitor watchers, but where patrol units are sent to respond. By definition, that excludes every other portion of the world where they aren’t looking, which is inevitably SOMEWHERE (or if cameras are everywhere, then you get lapses like in the Atlanta case), so because of (1) above, criminals are inevitably able to adjust to the new environment.

Ahem:

We’re goin’ to the zoo, zoo, zoo
How about you, you, you?
You can come too, too, too
We’re goin’ to the zoo, zoo, zoo.

Hey, have kids? Are they in need of distraction? Take them to the new kid’s park that opened earlier this month at the zoo, zoo, zoo:

A colorful new children’s park opened at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens March 3 thanks to a generous $250,000 donation to the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA) by prominent attorney Neil L. Papiano…. [The park] incorporates animal-themed climbing sculptures, large play structures, a toddler area, water misters, grassy landscaping, and a large picnic area, is accessible to all children visiting the Zoo, including those with medical and physical challenges.

(full press release)

Your hours at the Indian Film Fest at the Arclight Cinemas get you into the screenings for free. They have a huge slate of offerings.

Their volunteer orientation is this Saturday, April 2nd at 10 AM at the ArcLight. Check out their volunteer page.

The festival runs April 20th to the 24th and features shorts, documentaries and features. Tickets are $11 for individual shows and passes are available.
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Here’s an idea. Take a picture of your crotch, blow it up and mount it on the hood of your car.
Oh never mind, somebody beat you to it.

(NSFW link via fark)

Mack over at LAVoice.org is pissed off that he (and I, and you) have to foot the bill for some members of the LAPD “bending” some of the rules, repeatedly. He asks:

“We paid for the Rodney King beating, and the bill from the resulting riots. We’ll probably pay for the Devin Brown shooting, too. But so far, we’ve agreed to pay $70.2 million to settle some of the lawsuits filed by 214 people - mostly drug dealers, gang members and other crooks, according to the Times - who had their civil rights stomped into the dirt by the cowboys of the LAPD Rampart division.

Did anyone else get the memo on this? A little note in your Los Angeles property or business tax bill saying, ‘Sorry your taxes are higher this week because the Rampart Division CRASH unit was a cesspool of corruption last decade’? Me neither …”

I’ve said this before, but law enforcement is there to, imagine this, enforce the law - not to break it. They have to play by the same rules you and I do, even if some of them like to think they don’t. I’m very pro police officers and happy to give them a certain amount of power to keep things in order, and very anti those who want more power and abuse that which has been entrusted to them.

One thing I’ve noticed about living in LA is how I tend to stay tethered to the beaten path of ‘my neighborhood’. That can be a good thing, but every once in a while I get crazy and push the borders of my universe. Lately, I’ve been exploring downtown which has turned into a wealth of great finds. One place that has really caught my fancy is the Mitsuwa Marketplace at Alameda and 3rd….333 S. Alameda Street to be exact. It’s a super-sized Japanese grocery store attached to a mall in the heart of ‘Little Tokyo”. Although the whole “Little Tokyo” thing is beyond me…the area certainly doesn’t compare to the craziness and bustle of Tokyo….but it IS full of great shiatsu massage joints, shabu-shabu shops and some darn good ice cream!!
At Mitsuwa Market, you get the freshest and cheapest fish and seafood I’ve ever found in LA. Every single time Iíve gone in, the fish is stunningly good. And there is a whole aisle of green tea….nirvana to me. And another whole aisle devoted to Sake and Beer. The produce section always has at least four kinds of mushrooms and if you don’t like to cook….there’s a whole section of prepared yummy looking food to go. Check it out; the parking is free with a receipt from the store.

If you are at all into the architecture of Los Angeles, then Architectural Digest has got your fix. This year, the magazine will be conducting Architecture Days, “including lectures by leading architects, customized tours, receptions in amazing spaces and more” in three major U.S. cities. From April 27th through May 3rd, the events are in LA (then Chicago and NYC).

Special access to amazing spaces organized by architours. Each tour offers the chance to mingle with the project’s designer/architect over refreshments. All tours include shuttle service. Proceeds benefit the Association for Women in Architecture Scholarship Fund.

(via Gridskipper)

Album listening parties seem to be the type of promotional event that record labels seem to be hosting to attract interest in their artists’ upcoming releases.

Geffen is employing that same approach for Garbage’s upcoming Bleed Like Me, whose release occurs the night before the band’s performance at the Wiltern on Monday, April 11th:

4/1 Los Angeles, CA - Underground - 7323 Santa Monica Blvd. W. Hollywood, CA 90046 (between La Brea & Fairfax)

4/9 Los Angeles, CA - Bang! - 7070 Hollywood Blvd.

Vince McMahon and his roster of WWE RAW and SmackDown! Superstars and Divas are currently in town this week since Wrestlemania 21 takes place this Sunday at Staples Center.

Several personal appearances are happening in and around town to promote the pay-per-view. On Thursday at noontime, on Hollywood Blvd. between Highland and Orange, there will be a free preview of WrestleMania 21, including exhibition matches, and at 7:00 PM at the House of Blues, THQ will host its Third Annual Superstar Videogame Challenge.

But apart from Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio, this yearly event really doesn’t have that epic feel of past years. I mean, how can WWE truly “Go Hollywood” without even a cameo appearance by arguably their most successful graduate, The Rock?

Which is why for the first time in several years, I won’t even be watching it. Instead, I’ll be checking out Pro Wrestling Guerrilla’s All Star Weekend this Friday and Saturday at the Hollywood-Los Feliz JCC, featuring a very strong lineup of wrestlers whom many insiders consider to be the best on the independent circuit.

More photos after the jump.
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Here are a selection of photos from last weekend’s sold-out 3rd Annual Lebowski Fest.

More after the jump.
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