The Ghetto Blue is also a moving swap meet, where passengers hustle to sell watches, pairs of white cotton socks, incense, Kool cigarettes, lotions, batteries, tapes, CDs and chocolates. ‘What you want? What you need?’ Bus tokens, which come in bags of 10 for $11, become a form of currency here, like food stamps. People peddle them for a small cash profit. ‘Tokens?’ one woman asks anyone on the train within earshot. A couple of Mexican youths rush over and pull out bags of them. The transaction goes down like a drug deal, both participants looking over their shoulders for authorities as they quickly exchange the goods.

originally posted by xowie

Pit bulls are not mean dogs, at least not where humans are concerned, but when they decide to rebel against this selfish appropriation of their souls, they can kill. This, to me, is comforting: The ultimate decision about animal happiness lies with the animals themselves.

Also in the Weekly, goodbye to local wild man, and my hero, Zorthian.

originally posted by daiichi

"She crawls her way or stumbles or whatever to the fridge," Pauly said. "She doesn't want anyone there. I mean, last night I finally had a conversation with her, and she finally agreed last night, because she's mentally fine, even though she's Mitzi Shore — I mean Mitzi Shore's a little nuts, everyone that knows her knows that — but mentally she's actually sharp, when she's on, she's still that same person. So legally they can't take her away."

originally posted by xowie

Fabulous l.a. travel pullout, Judith Lewis, ed.

originally posted by xowie

There are no animal "owners" here. Anyone who cohabits with an animal is known as an animal "guardian." People who are disabled or senior citizens sharing a rent-controlled apartment with an animal in West Hollywood can't be evicted. The city even provides pooper-scoopers and trash bags in parks so pet owners can clean up after Fido. And other measures are under consideration to prohibit what many see as mutilations, according to City Council members.

originally posted by xowie

Psychic Doppelgängers: A Tale of Two Deans by Judith Lewis.

(Referring to this Dean, btw.)

originally posted by xowie

"You've got these kids running around breathing in air, exercising," he said. "The stupidity of Beverly Hills High School baffles me."

originally posted by xowie

Theodore Marcus “Teddy” Edwards, 1924-2003.

originally posted by xowie

Teddy Edwards was a friend of mine. He was a jazz legend and a brilliant, dapper, sweet man.

Teddy’s All Music Guide and Lycos entries

Gallery 41 clips

Timeline (c/o Saskia Laroo)

Teddy’s “official” site

Liner notes to Teddy’s Ready

Jazz Weekly interview

Teddy and Sweets Edison

* * *

L.A. Times obituary by Lynell George

Remembering Teddy Edwards by Len Dobbin.

Goodbye Teddy Edwards by Greg Burk

• • • 
      
      Teddy Edwards: Dextrous saxophonist by Steve Voce
      
      Jazz star had roots in Detroit by Mark Stryker

Activities director Priscilla Yablon points out that there is no bingo at Sunset Hall, for that would be regarded as an activity far too frivolous for people still occupied with the unfinished business of saving the world. You will never see sports or soap operas on the television in the common living room. It broadcasts only news programs.

originally posted by xowie

So I’ve been reading the excellent Word Freak by Stefan Fatsis, and studying two-letter word lists, but still can’t beat Janie at Literati. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, a basketball coach is losing his job, maybe, under the watchful eye of the Coach Wooden Pyramid of Success, which does not seem to apply to Scrabble, by the way. Also, what the heck, here’s an entertaining metafilter thread that might come in handy for some trivia contest yet to come.

originally posted by xowie

"He'll have jazz playing up his ass all day long! Man, he'll be sorry he met me, 'cause I don't let nobody run my life for me. I'm a man. Can't he see that? I'm a man. And I ain't doing nothing just 'cause some bus driver says so."

originally posted by xowie

I am not rich, famous or heroic. No one pounds at my door—thank God—asking for either my sperm or my autograph.

originally posted by daiichi

Best be bumpin your ride, homie.

originally posted by xowie

“All the Saints of the City of the Angels is a poetic and historical road trip through the City of Los Angeles, California, exploring our cultural and spiritual heritage by traveling through our 85 streets bearing the names of saints.” Though I’ve only been to LA once (when I was four, and the cylons on the Universal Studios tour scared the sh!t out of me), recent developments in my life reveal more and more connections with that place. [via Pop Culture Junk Mail]