tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74168536388676387612023-11-16T05:42:12.067-08:00Los Angeles GraffitiWelcome to my personal blog. It's going to be a random collection of things that I see/do/think with a broad focus on all things artistic and Los Angeles. Look around! Leave a comment!Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comBlogger131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-83322180049806270482014-07-05T17:27:00.002-07:002014-07-05T17:48:52.131-07:00This Is Why We Pay So Much For Rent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZuMogNrDGsmAICXQ2przfeJMUdvvpyLqrrlylcnvMTAFLgAcXNBpq7BrswBhKJeAbMgaMKPyPfW2yMKhJfLAkTGHJ6nUhF5MvRpPqZVI27EAPcG99T32f528zHHE6FsIRvSZfYTqxDQ/s1600/Redondo+Beach+Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZuMogNrDGsmAICXQ2przfeJMUdvvpyLqrrlylcnvMTAFLgAcXNBpq7BrswBhKJeAbMgaMKPyPfW2yMKhJfLAkTGHJ6nUhF5MvRpPqZVI27EAPcG99T32f528zHHE6FsIRvSZfYTqxDQ/s1600/Redondo+Beach+Pano.jpg" height="108" width="400" /></a></div>
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You'll often hear residents of Southern California complain about the high cost of living, but can you really put a price on being able to go to the beach everyday?<br />
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Above is a photo of Redondo Beach, California, one of the many beaches that dot the coastline. The tourists can have Santa Monica and Huntington Beach. We'll keep to ourselves with our "locals only" spots.<br />
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-25109250773892312902014-06-29T13:40:00.000-07:002014-06-29T13:53:35.861-07:00The Batman Exhibit - Warner Bros VIP Studio Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Images courtesy Warner Bros.<br />
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Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour and DC Entertainment are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Caped Crusader with a behind the scenes look at the costumes, vehicles and props of all seven Batman movies in a special attraction called <i>The Batman Exhibit</i>, located on the studio's historic Burbank lot.<br />
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For a limited time, you'll have the opportunity to get up close and personal with six iconic bat suits including the original version worn by Michael Keaton and the final costume worn by Christian Bale in <i>The Dark Knight Rises. </i>A collection of bat-vehicles will also be on display as well as a working bat signal that visitors can operate.<br />
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If you made it out to the <a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-dark-knight-in-los-angeles.html" target="_blank">Dark Knight Legend Exhibit</a> in downtown Los Angeles back in 2012, you'll have seen most of the items relating to the Christopher Nolan-directed movies, except for this epic bat suit armory.<br />
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I highly recommend the Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour, even if it's been a few years since you've been. The museum pieces are always changing (the Batman Exhibit takes up one of two floors), and it's one of the best and most intimate studio tours that I've ever been on. You won't find any ropes or barriers around the displays so you'll have to find a babysitter for the kiddos that are under 8 years old.</div>
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Tickets for the VIP Studio Tour are $54 and reservations are highly recommended. Go <a href="http://vipstudiotour.warnerbros.com/the-batman-tour/" target="_blank">HERE</a> to learn more about the tour and to reserve tickets. </div>
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Head over to <a href="http://collider.com/the-batman-exhibit-images-video-wb/" target="_blank">Collider</a> for extensive photographic coverage of the exhibit.</div>
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<script height="292px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#pbid=26aa5f02d93f4c05a4546f6d5ecb59b7&ec=ZvdGJpbjrMZQzaVdH4zzpadxv9vmT6B_" width="520px"></script>
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This is my new friend, Spoon. I met him in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee while traveling for work. He was out on a walk and had just finished enjoying some yogurt.<br />
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Unfortunately, Spoon doesn't use Facebook or Twitter, but I hope to run into him again one of these days.<br />
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-51537841064582523982013-09-29T21:39:00.000-07:002013-09-29T21:43:53.455-07:00Fly Like an Eagle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Have you ever wondered what it'd be like to soar like an eagle across the open skies?<br />
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-77388847668075715812013-08-13T01:09:00.001-07:002013-08-13T01:12:56.464-07:00Breaking Bad ArtJust to be clear, no bad art was broken during the writing of this blog. Instead, I give you a display of art inspired by AMC's <i>Breaking Bad</i>, now in its final season.<br />
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The art displayed below is from a 2012 show at Gallery 1988 that did not get posted to this blog either because I was too lazy or too busy (you choose), so I figured I would share it now to celebrate the last season of one of the greatest cable shows of late.<br />
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-4574528581888159962013-08-11T18:40:00.000-07:002013-08-11T18:42:50.299-07:00Nightmare Fuel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/08/nightmare-fuel.html"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6Gsl5OZslXG3G5caLTAs-g82WzVzJf48utJzLrgYG6FMt8FR6P1mdjMW8iWz9UrhfC09lCZp37LhgMU3j1E2BuMeWS9NarYoDkvyI6RVDOw_O4kG5sOEEiaW8MIm4W1xNU4YtgEaf4A/s640/Joker.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
This impressive Joker cosplay from DC Comics' New 52 series "Death of the Family" was my favorite during this year's San Diego Comic-Con.<br />
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I called out to Joker while he was arrogantly strutting along the main street and was acknowledged with a gritty and annoyed "WHAT?!" as he looked around to see who dared to bother the King of Crazy. It made it that much more fun that he stayed in character while I asked to take his photo.<br />
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The amazing special effects makeup was done by Los Angeles based Cinema Makeup School. For those of you that aren't familiar with the latest iteration of Joker, he makes his return to the Batman comics by having his face carefully removed, and then proceeds to wear it as a mask as he torments Batman and his colleagues.<br />
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Sweet dreams, little ones!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPleOh_4DQ7dS0FwSz6F3hgoiFzm2IwoStyicZZcMzjheBg_Tre0uit4tVcuZ8MhUJ9ml2BsWZ5Rz3HAGeUEdXL4alKq2PfBoGYkzEcvMbRgW1FlQ7Y87WL5JpFd4MsngCggoXQ0VvXY/s1600/Joker-Death-of-the-Family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPleOh_4DQ7dS0FwSz6F3hgoiFzm2IwoStyicZZcMzjheBg_Tre0uit4tVcuZ8MhUJ9ml2BsWZ5Rz3HAGeUEdXL4alKq2PfBoGYkzEcvMbRgW1FlQ7Y87WL5JpFd4MsngCggoXQ0VvXY/s400/Joker-Death-of-the-Family.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-73231707655069376602013-06-19T18:03:00.000-07:002013-06-19T18:09:36.615-07:00Meet Omm, The Swingin' Scottish Terrier!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/06/meet-omm-swingin-scottish-terrier.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPrBTdeg8CxKTKPqQLAzBAwNd91psK92EKy5rH_-hsJGFrn2ZwfHpkw8wv04SJ6Whc_4MyZrpNp2dcuCjs6Hwh_L3KNPyg5iyWTjg0lygwKAySDaGFEPfAlpgEQdk6KwLrZWpi6VXTJQ/s1600/omm+blog.jpg" /></a></div>
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This is Omm. He's a Scottish Terrier who loves to swing! We've taken care of Omm from time to time when his owners are away and he never ceases to entertain us with his quirky personality! <br />
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Watch a video of Omm enjoying himself on a swing set below!<br />
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<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ot4PYF_nybI?hl=en_US&version=3&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="540" height="304" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br />
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What do you want to see Omm doing next?
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<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/06/california-republic.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2eRbW-AlPDsf7s-IJJvK6cEdcxnp1GiqqzxyIODtup-zGM_YfjpceoxgqGWPOV_9hR75cp-WqxFvE2jLFsbmv8oa3QnQUVTfeo4Lo6kwearEpCt3n0knvb9oyespOmIkGPCbqxtO7fs/s400/California+Panda.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span id="goog_1754868669"></span><span id="goog_1754868670"></span>If I turned this into a shirt design, would you buy it? <br />
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-53727490942334110852013-06-05T14:24:00.001-07:002013-06-05T14:26:29.584-07:00Almost-Free Fun In Los Angeles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/06/almost-free-fun-in-los-angeles.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxuSKQa0vMU94WI61IMlOf1pMgEwaQQATxVQIY1mv8EGgeoUegoLTf2_VRzjRA5iLpWzzeuqXj4OSsZzkj6-cP07T1Q9hGAGo9zA5PmBWh0Bh1DqVgia7-jDKhckt4BZ3itzBO7VcycI/s1600/americana-archie-tucker.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/blog/100-almost-free-things-do-los-angeles" target="_blank">Discover Los Angeles</a> recently published their <i><a href="http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/blog/100-almost-free-things-do-los-angeles" target="_blank">100 Almost-Free Things To Do In Los Angeles</a> </i>compilation, and it's a perfect companion for those upcoming perfect Southern California summer days!<br />
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While the list does contain the usual tourist-y suggestions like visiting the hand prints on Hollywood Blvd., it also features some more locals-only spots like The Paley Center for Media and Grand Park.<br />
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This is one of the better compilations I've seen for low-cost things to do in Los Angeles and is a great resource for both tourists and natives alike. <br />
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Go <a href="http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/blog/100-almost-free-things-do-los-angeles" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a> for <i><a href="http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/blog/100-almost-free-things-do-los-angeles" target="_blank">100 Almost-Free Things To Do In Los Angeles</a>. </i><br />
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[<a href="http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/blog/100-almost-free-things-do-los-angeles" target="_blank"><i>via</i></a>]
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-91958328082909316572013-04-02T13:26:00.000-07:002013-04-02T13:30:03.791-07:00The Unexpected Voice of Asian American Cinema<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-unexpected-voice-of-asian-american.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKkleIO9t3Evot-DNeg_MeVPqtQWjkB_PMw7RvGbycUej_vfO3LkpaC3TsuhBhlGPD9L6USC33pIWCYMH74rDMtanm2mRQpoUPl2jNVacBkhzr3gVcPzi9CSyYvCntImzl3oUfkfzV34/s320/scott4.jpg" title="Scott Eriksson - Asians On Film" width="320" /></a></div>
There are millions of people in Los Angeles, and everyone has a fascinating story about their life or experiences. Meeting new and interesting people has always been something that I love to do because I find inspiration in learning about their unique trials and tribulations. I recently had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Scott Eriksson, the co-founder of <a href="http://asiansonfilm.com/">AsiansOnFilm.com</a>, a site that promotes Asians in the entertainment industry. And yes, Mr. Eriksson is not Asian... not even a little bit.<br />
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Intrigued? So was I. I reached out to Scott mostly to offer my help with Asians On Film because it is unique in that it aims to showcase up-and-coming Asian talent in the Hollywood film industry and encompasses all aspects of the film making process, not just actors. But I also wanted to find out why a non-Asian was working so hard to promote Asians in the entertainment industry to the point where I would consider him the new voice of Asian American cinema. <br />
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Scott's strong love for the unknown and unfamiliar paired with him being a foodie makes having an affinity towards Asian culture inevitable, as Asian food and traditions are considered to be interesting and unfamiliar to most people in western society.<br />
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According to Scott, Asians On Film started as a reference site for... well, Asians on film; kind of like an Asian imdb, if you will. But he credits actor <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0629006/" target="_blank">Dustin Nguyen</a> (from the original "21 Jump Street") for really jump-starting (no pun intended) Asians On Film into what it is today. Dustin introduced Scott to key players in the entertainment industry and encouraged Scott to continue to develop Asians On Film into something bigger. Of course Scott was met with plenty of negativity from naysayers. "And when I hear 'no'," says Scott, "it really lights a fire under my ass!" Yes, that's the only quote that I took away from our deep and philosophical conversation. <br />
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I was very impressed with Scott and admire him for continuing to press forward with the Asians On Film movement. I really do feel like Scott is the new voice of Asian American cinema because he is all about promoting and increasing visibility for Asians in all aspects of film making. He hopes to continue in this manner and vows to never make choices because they "make business sense." <br />
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Help Scott strengthen his grass-roots campaign and triumph over his naysayers by visiting <a href="http://asiansonfilm.com/">AsiansOnFilm.com</a> and sharing the stories you find there. <br />
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You can also follow Asians On Film on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AsiansOnFilm" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/AsiansOnFilm" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. <br />
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Who are some of your favorite Asians on film? <br />
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-58085235734210280562013-03-18T19:58:00.000-07:002013-03-18T20:05:21.512-07:00Discover the Arts in Los Angeles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/03/discover-arts-in-los-angeles.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmry8fu3QWDOV4fYGnK_uIzovKPbgPyxKEL31W5Yrl3kn0DPg3OBT7L4nZ_574NvpQffXLqm8O7ESZVYNiAgw8pZp45lTVCzI3huulSz4HkEg-wvm_5AF67fxSFlf9kdKm96XABm2nmY/s1600/lacma+lights.JPG" title="Lights at LACMA" /></a></div>
L.A. Tourism's annual Discover the Arts in Los Angeles campaign begins today and runs through April 26! This means that a ton of museums in and around Los Angeles are giving discounts on admission and merchandise. The discounts even extend to a few theaters (for plays, not movies). Go <a href="http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/discover-the-arts-los-angeles" target="_blank">HERE</a> for the full list of <a href="http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/discover-the-arts-los-angeles" target="_blank">participating museums</a>.<br />
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If there's an exhibit or a show that you've been wanting to see, now is the time to go see it! <br />
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In the words of my good friend Melissa Summers: "Gosh! Get some culture!" Please follow Melissa's advice and visit a few museums. It'll do everyone some good... especially Melissa, who gets angry when you don't have culture. Don't make Melissa angry. <br />
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<a href="http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/discover-the-arts-los-angeles" target="_blank">Discover the Arts in Los Angeles official homepage</a>.<br />
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<i>[<a href="http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/discover-the-arts-los-angeles" target="_blank">via</a>]</i><br />
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-88493622497375434582013-03-14T14:17:00.000-07:002013-03-14T14:24:38.878-07:00100 Pounds Of Free Bacon!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/03/100-pounds-of-free-bacon.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyNtvHtYZzcCUVhlnnI8UjuWUXXUey5XwBHnOhLG09H1PW057aGpTx_2EHYNTSh-xoA1n7Gg5PKqTT28uqUJSwvkLDQROIswSsjyuyhPol30_oDyXoQOjUAlaYWnqUT_-Ce2vZ0iZMh8/s1600/bacon+social.jpg" title="Bacon Social" /></a></div>
How do you make an already awesome art show even more awesome? Easy: you hand out 100 pounds of FREE BACON!! This is not a joke. This Saturday, March 16th, <a href="http://baconsocial.com/" target="_blank">Bacon Social</a> will be hosting a celebration of art, food, music and culture in the hip warehouse district of downtown Los Angeles. This monthly celebration (read: free bacon every month!) features the work of over 20 local artists and photographers as well as four different band performances, an arcade room, and of course FREE BACON!<br />
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I don't know why I'm only just now hearing about <a href="http://baconsocial.com/" target="_blank">Bacon Social</a>, but I'm not wasting any time in sharing it with my L.A. Graffiti-ers! For a mere $7 cover charge (seriously, this is a CHEAP night out in L.A.) you'll get to absorb some artwork, possibly find something inspiring, and play some arcade games all while sipping on some adult beverages and munching on bacon themed snacks to the tune of four different local bands. Honestly, I don't know where else I would go to get that much value for $7!<br />
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Go <a href="http://baconsocial.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a> to learn more about <a href="http://baconsocial.com/" target="_blank">Bacon Social</a> and this month's featured artists and musicians. There's even a page where you can apply to have your own artwork or music featured at the next Bacon Social!<br />
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Don't forget to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/158311777656467/" target="_blank">RSVP</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/158311777656467/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> so you can invite your friends and let them know that you're going out to get some free bacon!<br />
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If you see me at Bacon Social, make sure you stop me and say "hi"!<br />
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<i><a href="http://baconsocial.com/" target="_blank">[Via]</a></i>
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-32011732557478510462013-02-23T17:41:00.000-08:002013-02-23T17:46:58.344-08:00Terminator Too Judgment Play<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/02/terminator-too-judgment-play.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3x1_wZ73TMVWUG4__haOEsqGxD9LVtOd6QF7Y2sukh5RlNcKJgzC3Oa-UyNOOrOzWOcSHKjlwqXTvzl6n1tMPYOYQ38a4ANweqfhLjUGBUtH4WLRbC3rg_bBVldU8mtEDFMbXfQ0c7M/s1600/terminatortoo.jpg" title="Terminator Too Judgment Play" /></a></div>
We've all been there before: a bunch of friends are anxious to go out and do something fun on a Saturday night, but they're all tired of the same old bar scene. "There's nothing to do!" exclaims one friend. "I want to see something exciting and new!" exclaims another. <br />
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Stop your whining! Come with me if you want to live...<br />
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...and experience the most exciting, titillating and hilarious show on the west coast: <a href="http://www.terminatortoo.com/terminatortoo/HOME.html" target="_blank">Terminator Too Judgment Play</a>!<br />
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As you can tell from the title, the play is a comedic interpretation of the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic Terminator 2, with a surprise twist! Ah-nuld was too busy to reprise his role as the Terminator, and his acting wasn't all that fantastic anyways, so someone from the audience is chosen to play the Terminator! That's right, you have the chance to star in a real-life Hollywood play! <br />
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Having enjoyed the production company's previous play "Point Break Live", I had to go see their latest creation. And let me tell you, I was not disappointed! On the way to the venue, I was deciding whether or not to just watch the show or try and become the Terminator, but the performer inside me won and I hopped on stage for the Ah-nuld auditions.<br />
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As you can tell from the picture above, I was the crowd favorite and I did my best to bring humor to the play as Asian Ah-nuld. A scantily-clad Latina maid (apparently those are Arnold's <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/30/us/schwarzenegger-interview" target="_blank">favorite</a>) led me through the play and gave me classic Ah-nuld lines via cue cards. I couldn't have made it through the play without her (Literally. I had no idea what was going on.) so I'm thankful that she was there to make sure I didn't fall flat on my face.<br />
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Terminator Too Judgment Play is one of the most creative and "interactive" plays that I have ever seen. Getting sprayed with water and/or fake blood is almost guaranteed, so make sure you buy a $2 poncho at the door otherwise the cast will make sure you're soaked by the end of the night.<br />
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And while the play is full of jokes and antics, the actors took their performances very seriously. Being backstage with them, I would overhear discussions about comedic timing and choreography, as well as thoughts on how the audience was receiving the play. As an actor, I definitely appreciated their efforts because comedy is probably the most difficult genre to excel in. <br />
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I highly recommend taking your friends/family/first dates to see Terminator Too Judgment Play. It's a hidden gem of Los Angeles that you don't want to miss. Make sure you brush up on the original <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001RIY4WE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001RIY4WE&linkCode=as2&tag=lagra-20" target="_blank">Terminator 2</a> so you'll get all the jokes and references. <br />
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Go <a href="http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/306759" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a> to purchase tickets for <a href="http://www.terminatortoo.com/terminatortoo/HOME.html" target="_blank">Terminator Too Judgment Play</a>, showing every Saturday at Dragonfly in Hollywood. <br />
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Do you have what it takes to be the Terminator? Prove it. <br />
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-763337522171511732013-02-21T21:43:00.001-08:002013-02-21T21:47:13.074-08:00BAIT x Street Fighter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/02/bait-x-street-fighter.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJz7zXY2KK4JhtIrNOHC3YzXLIwQJWpxy_ZtqYqNAbaGctn2WlCyqasXGCnHfvsSZkADzyAC9bgUZJfpgl7QyCciiuCpFEnurjuBfsBupx-mC2Fypsp7DiRvxfzV_Df-u7t6iP7-67xPE/s1600/ono-san.jpg" title="Yoshinori Ono" /></a></div>
"Street Fighter" was probably the first arcade game that I ever played, and has been a part of my life in one way or another ever since. I remember saving my snack money so that I could stop by the convenience store on the way home from school and play some Street Fighter with my friends. I've owned various iterations of the game over the years and I'm currently refining my button mashing skills with the latest <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002I0K6Q8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002I0K6Q8&linkCode=as2&tag=lagra-20" target="_blank">Street Fighter x Tekken</a> game.<br />
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I only recently discovered that there is a fighting game community (yes, there is an actual community of people who eat, breathe, and sleep fighting games), and when I heard that Ono-san, the producer of Street Fighter, would be at an art show hosted by pop culture store <a href="http://www.baitme.com/" target="_blank">BAIT</a>, I had to go meet him. <br />
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For a man who has been involved with a franchise that has lasted over 25 years and has become a part of American pop culture, Ono-san was extremely friendly, gracious, and eccentric! His charm and charisma put a smile on anyone who was in close proximity. I managed to get an autograph and a quick photo with him before other adoring fans whisked him away. </div>
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After I put my autographed copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002I0K6Q8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002I0K6Q8&linkCode=as2&tag=lagra-20" target="_blank">Street Fighter x Tekken</a> in the car, I went upstairs to enjoy all of the Street Fighter themed artwork from a group of very talented artists. I'd like to share with you some of my favorites from the art show as well as a video re-cap of the event from <a href="http://www.baitme.com/" target="_blank">BAIT</a>. <br />
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Most of the artwork is still on display at BAIT (as of 2/17/13) and they have a working Street Fighter 2 arcade cabinet! If you ask nicely, the friendly BAIT staff will even put free credits in for you! If you're in the Diamond Bar area, give them a visit! Go <a href="http://www.baitme.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a> for more information on <a href="http://www.baitme.com/" target="_blank">BAIT</a>. <br />
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[This story is a part of <a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/02/super-saturday.html" target="_blank">Super Saturday</a>.]</div>
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-73339102581758354002013-02-19T13:52:00.000-08:002013-02-19T13:57:48.534-08:00About a Boy and a Toy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/02/about-boy-and-toy.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircla9UVzSEbMOrGAvzQ5fmkiAmYrY5jYunuyl68dC6Yq9__pJIav4UevjxjV-4_tKkHDf0h3MZGZL0B-XSomuA3F07cjaLqkVyRsqElmudasE72iXmcw-Z9RuLtORkasW9KYF6veHThg/s1600/g1-soundwave.jpg" title="Soundwave" /></a></div>
Let me tell you a story about a little boy who loved playing with toys and using his imagination.<br />
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This little boy grew up in a happy family and never really had much to complain about. His favorite toys were robots from the show "Transformers", and he had most of the popular ones: Optimus Prime, Grimlock, Shockwave, and Thundercracker just to name a few.<br />
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But there was one toy that was always hard to find: his favorite Transformer, Soundwave.<br />
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At 8 years old, this little boy couldn't drive himself to the toy store week after week to see if Soundwave was in stock. He could only wait patiently as he behaved his best, in an effort to be rewarded a trip to that place with all the awesome things. The trips to the toy store came and went, but Soundwave was never there. <br />
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One day, this little boy was invited to a birthday party, and his mom stopped by the toy store on the way home from work to pick up a present. Of course curiosity was always abundant in the little boy and he had to see what present his mom had gotten before it was wrapped up and gifted. <br />
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So he reached inside the bag and pulled out a windowed package with a blue cassette player inside. It was Soundwave! <br />
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Now, this little boy had never made it clear to his parents that Soundwave was his favorite. He was always a rather quiet boy and graciously accepted whatever toys or gifts he was given, with little fuss or complaints. And he was definitely too shy to speak up to his mom now, especially to ask her to go buy another toy to give to the birthday boy while he kept this one for himself. The party was only hours away, and the only thing he could do was watch as the toy was gently lifted from his hands and onto the wrapping paper that was laid out on the table. <br />
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At the birthday party, the little boy eagerly waited for the part where the presents got opened. Maybe he could play with Soundwave for just a few moments and sear those images into his mind. The birthday boy finally unwrapped Soundwave, tore into the box, and tossed the toy aside with little interest. This was the moment the little boy was waiting for: an unattended Soundwave lying on the floor, waiting to be picked up and played with. But what happens when little kids see other kids longing for something? They want it too, for no other reason than to deny that other kid their happiness. And just like that, Soundwave was lifted away from the little boy's hands for the second time.<br />
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As the little boy grew older into adulthood, Soundwave was re-released and re-manufactured, but he was just as popular as before and just as hard to find. Ebay.com had since been invented and people were selling Soundwave for ridiculously high prices, knowing that there were plenty of people that yearned for this elusive action figure. <br />
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Fast-forward a number of years. This little boy, who has become a full grown adult, wandered the walkways of <a href="http://www.frankandsonshow.net/" target="_blank">Frank & Sons</a>, Southern California's largest collectibles show, having accepted the fact that Soundwave was his holy grail and would never be in his possession. Then all of a sudden, his girlfriend looks up and shouts "Soundwave!" They had stumbled upon a booth that was selling a Masterpiece Soundwave, the ultimate version of the original toy, which had been released and imported from Japan only one week before. (Also, the girlfriend had heard the story of this "holy grail" numerous times before, and was probably more excited to stop having to hear about the story than anything.)<br />
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Needless to say, the little boy spoke up this time and now no one can take Soundwave out of his hands again. (Except for his girlfriend, when she wants to play with it.)<br />
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What's your childhood's holy grail? [This story is a part of <a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/02/super-saturday.html" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Super Saturday</a>.]<br />
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-92230326441600669102013-02-18T13:38:00.000-08:002013-02-21T21:47:53.098-08:00Super Saturday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/02/super-saturday.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAT1S2Kvs5anIvukDrzNod-IBSeg2qCRcFPO4gvE9Hp3B5V1rx8OdSq2bEJGid3N5anC2aoRP2T_xE8eUS8IjveEpg2KbkmNo3_YVBof9Lk2T3n2QmHINpjo0sqtAKJlkk3cM216Blwz8/s1600/manhattan+beach.jpg" title="Manhattan Beach" /></a></div>
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People often ask me, "What do you do for fun in Los Angeles?" <br />
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I always have trouble coming up with a descriptive answer because there isn't a set group of things that I constantly do to entertain myself. I usually end up giving a vague answer like, "I dunno. I like to go out and do stuff; enjoy the city."<br />
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The people who ask me this question are usually trying to get some inspiration to enrich their own lives (except for my parents, who don't understand why I think L.A. is so much fun and just want me to move back home. LOL!), and I really want to help them, but smashing all the things that I do into a few sentences is nearly impossible. <br />
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So instead of trying to come up with an all-encompassing statement about what I do for fun, I'll just take you through one of my regular Saturdays:<br />
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<b>2:00 pm</b> - Went to <a href="http://www.frankandsonshow.net/" target="_blank">Frank & Sons</a>, a gigantic swap meet of everything awesome, with the intention of just looking around/geeking out, but ended up buying my childhood's holy grail, "Soundwave" from the original Transformers cartoon. [Go<b> <a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/02/about-boy-and-toy.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> </b>for the full story.]<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAw3qO84Y4oeOOZwjW3qTwbINz96nrcMQntvYoJu1yn7X1XT6UTj0zeD5xviIEleO-zgQT5BvyUfvP-4yrDuDxchBvZcGNDuslWGpSy4UVqPWQ17_gaFQGIJ38OdMCXNt6MpxE1vspEk/s1600/soundwave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAw3qO84Y4oeOOZwjW3qTwbINz96nrcMQntvYoJu1yn7X1XT6UTj0zeD5xviIEleO-zgQT5BvyUfvP-4yrDuDxchBvZcGNDuslWGpSy4UVqPWQ17_gaFQGIJ38OdMCXNt6MpxE1vspEk/s1600/soundwave.jpg" title="Soundwave at Frank & Sons" /></a></div>
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<b>4:00 pm</b> - Met Ono-San, the producer of the most popular fighting game franchise "Street Fighter" at the <a href="http://www.baitme.com/" target="_blank">BAIT x Street Fighter</a> art show. [Go <b><a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/02/bait-x-street-fighter.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> for the full story.]<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZKvgM3N6QWd_ESym68j43JbTqFjHi7LNMwiph6AFSOxANR5tNofM_hzkBlLf7ixBkkkVPmQY809B5BnuA2KM3K56q9IKfw-DJs4-tPEJIRsFofGzGO_SDRiO6CRdrOQJ29tTvqxiJdA/s1600/ono-san.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZKvgM3N6QWd_ESym68j43JbTqFjHi7LNMwiph6AFSOxANR5tNofM_hzkBlLf7ixBkkkVPmQY809B5BnuA2KM3K56q9IKfw-DJs4-tPEJIRsFofGzGO_SDRiO6CRdrOQJ29tTvqxiJdA/s1600/ono-san.jpg" title="Street Fighter producer Ono-San" /></a></div>
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<b>6:00 pm</b> - Attended <a href="http://www.presspaws.org/" target="_blank">Press Paws</a>, a charity art show dedicated to saving animals with art and videogames.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuLoawuQM_T3viVIFUsox1zKf_fXHo04ubquZ-R-aGRwRdEQFMlTKn-sZXwqqe9bHPnIiScjXK1TCfgA0eksyLI-P1FoFZFBcAX-Ra-8JNJu6CVtR7PRCfLA999p2B1bGNP7e9J9RR6c/s1600/press+paws.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuLoawuQM_T3viVIFUsox1zKf_fXHo04ubquZ-R-aGRwRdEQFMlTKn-sZXwqqe9bHPnIiScjXK1TCfgA0eksyLI-P1FoFZFBcAX-Ra-8JNJu6CVtR7PRCfLA999p2B1bGNP7e9J9RR6c/s1600/press+paws.jpg" title="Press Paws at Gallery Nucleus" /></a></div>
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<b>8:00 pm</b> - Stuffed my face with juicy pork dumplings at the world famous <a href="http://www.dintaifungusa.com/" target="_blank">Din Tai Fung Dumpling House</a>.<br />
<b>[No photo here. I hate when people take pictures of their food. LOL!]</b><br />
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Now do you see why "I dunno. I like to go out and do stuff; enjoy the city." is a perfectly fitting answer? <br />
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What do you like to do for fun? <br />
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-871219340834259782013-02-13T00:11:00.000-08:002013-02-13T00:30:25.321-08:00Perfect Sushi<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/02/perfect-sushi.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCdQNbBw4n1aMcLTSE0INUt0UnY2qXw2jE-SLH6kkWq9Fz1dh228k9uCpisrDP-NkbLhRxRG5DdzcJ2kAMgAvTLqmh3gq9n_hE6Ge_yEuiFsuLWxEj1SFiv3Sr8znTSfU-7utwnZZeMg/s1600/sushi.JPG" /></a></div>
Part of being an artist is never being able to know what perfection is. We all have an idea of what it might be like and we all strive for it, but once we've reached what we think is perfection, we quickly realize that there is still room for improvement. One person who has come close to achieving perfection is Jiro, the main subject of an amazing documentary called <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007UW9VWO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007UW9VWO&linkCode=as2&tag=lagra-20" target="_blank">Jiro Dreams of Sushi</a></i>.<br />
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I finally had a chance to watch <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007UW9VWO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007UW9VWO&linkCode=as2&tag=lagra-20" target="_blank">Jiro Dreams of Sushi</a></i>, a beautifully filmed documentary that focuses on the culinary achievements of 85 year old sushi master Jiro Ono. If you think you've had good sushi, this documentary will quickly make you realize that you have never actually had sushi before, let alone good sushi. Jiro has dedicated his entire life to the pursuit of perfecting the art of sushi, from the selection of the freshest and highest quality fish to the meticulous methods of cooking rice. </div>
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<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007UW9VWO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007UW9VWO&linkCode=as2&tag=lagra-20" target="_blank">Jiro Dreams of Sushi</a></i> is a must-watch movie for all artists. His quest for perfection borderlines on obsession, but is still rooted in the love of the art itself. He doesn't care about money; he only wants to create the most amazing sushi dining experience. But don't let his non-monetarily fueled motivation fool you. A meal at his nine seat restaurant starts at $300 (USD) and requires a reservation made one month in advance. <br />
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If you feel like you're in a slump or have run out of gas due to the daily grind of life, this movie will definitely inspire you to go out and achieve more.</div>
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So, how many hours are you planning on putting towards mastering your craft this week? <br />
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Go <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007UW9VWO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007UW9VWO&linkCode=as2&tag=lagra-20" target="_blank">HERE</a> to purchase <i>Jiro Dreams of Sushi</i> from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007UW9VWO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007UW9VWO&linkCode=as2&tag=lagra-20" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a>. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQdqt56hG6Wcbd6sJ4VEmip5aZ6Yt8HltdQDC4RIgWBU7fG_o9BbbZvdTLasTNhzNbXgRaHDG96QHiO5VnzMqRmiD3XcgU2qfOGQm2ilEikDBBaBzdbUvtK_DyJMfmnKyAgxJ8tuYVV0/s1600/jiro.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQdqt56hG6Wcbd6sJ4VEmip5aZ6Yt8HltdQDC4RIgWBU7fG_o9BbbZvdTLasTNhzNbXgRaHDG96QHiO5VnzMqRmiD3XcgU2qfOGQm2ilEikDBBaBzdbUvtK_DyJMfmnKyAgxJ8tuYVV0/s1600/jiro.JPG" /></a></div>
[Photos <a href="http://www.magpictures.com/jirodreamsofsushi/" target="_blank">via</a>]</div>
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-57596975190055720102013-02-05T01:45:00.000-08:002013-02-05T01:47:27.734-08:00Rhythm of the Factory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/02/rhythm-of-factory.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDzJzpxremm-zxMs0bSLUMBTyWouyGXmm94dSg57YZRdsN_rr2xbPbKdIQaMqgAk7SVhG0SfvpJ2Vd6MNyY_FH4xXpeweG-V9YbpaWVLGw7Jns9KSCJ3z0e-fod8l4xa_i6PZNE_5rNE/s1600/RB9.JPG" title="Redbull RB9 Formula 1 Race Car" /></a></div>
What does the new Redbull RB9 race car sound like when it's being built from the ground up? Kinda like a techno song...<br />
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-82018011650450911212013-01-04T21:12:00.000-08:002013-01-04T21:13:53.180-08:00Forget About New Year's Resolutions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/01/forget-about-new-years-resolutions.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWRoZYFOtVr00Kj_o7zGc_oqPret4heDj_tFEx4QA_nA-YwTZfoGYsla2CTK_5wARDkBZ0fZD_-wMs8IKMQr8vkQoDbRKmQbWVwhAS1dGSNnwlXYBaqyNUc0Ah0w-MUroMFLmnIjlc5o/s1600/New+Years+Resolution.jpg" title="New Year's Resolution" /></a></div>
It's that time of year again, when most people unsuccessfully try to recall what their resolutions were for the past year, and then come up with a new set of generic and broad resolutions that they plucked off of some motivational poster. I've since gotten off that bandwagon and I'm here to help you turn your resolutions into actual, measurable goals that you can accomplish and be proud of.<br />
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The problem with most resolutions is that they're not specific enough. They usually sound something like, "I want to be a better person" or "I want to be more out-going!" But what exactly does that mean? How do you measure your "out-goingness"? You can't. That's why it's much better to set very specific goals, even if it's as outrageous as the picture above, because at least you know exactly what you're working towards. If your "resolution" is to be more out-going, set a goal like "I'm going to go out with friends at least once a week" or "I'm going to say 'yes' to every other invitation for a group outing after work." The more specific, the better.<br />
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OK, so we've got the specificity part down, but if you don't track any of your progress, you might as well pin one of those motivational posters on your bathroom wall and call it a productive year. Tracking your progress doesn't need to be complicated; it can be as easy as making a mark on a calendar. This lets you literally look back on the year to see what you've accomplished. Just make sure you don't use one of those tear-away daily calendars because sifting through a pile of 365 pages can be a pain. ;-)<br />
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I'm happy to report that in 2012, I achieved my goal of having 35% of my acting auditions be theatrical auditions! (Theatrical = TV and film) It's kind of a weird goal to have because I'm not really in control (or am I?) of what kinds of auditions I get called in for, but it's definitely a good indicator of forward progress. Three years ago, 0% of my auditions were theatrical auditions. In 2011, 25% of my auditions were theatrical. And in 2012, 35% of my auditions were theatrical, with me being called in for major titles like Showtime's "House of Lies", Fox's "The Mindy Project", and DreamWorks' "Need for Speed". If I can keep this up, I should be at over 50% theatrical auditions in a couple of years! <br />
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Let me be proof that setting specific goals and tracking them throughout the year helps one stay focused and successful in pursuing one's dreams. <br />
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Tell me about your goals for 2013 and your success stories from 2012 in the comments below!<br />
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-84922977887425126762013-01-01T23:45:00.001-08:002013-01-02T00:18:57.570-08:00NYE 2012 With Mickey Mouse And Friends!<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/01/nye-2012-with-mickey-mouse-and-friends.html"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUiQnCnj3t-icOqX_iIi9JuWv-vv1c4jHLW2EsyKWEBN9xOHoJ_bKzEUEhAavKkdJ0y4StIg12IBYEvu84EgzgVyXuJwRrsyHr91MX3Lbr01P75xekJCpjA66hqXApe6UcLvZ8-zHx9U/s1600/NYE+Disney.jpg" title="New Year's Eve 2012 at Disney" /></a></div>
Planning something to do for New Year's Eve is always tricky. There are lots of things to ponder, for example, do I really want to pay $100 to get into a crowded nightclub with a bunch of drunk, sweaty people just to have some cheap champagne in a plastic flute? Or do I want to stay at home and watch New Year's Rockin' Eve, fall asleep at 11 pm and then wake up feeling like an old person?<br />
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Well, this year, we decided to ring in the new year at Disneyland! Yes, the tickets for admission are really expensive, but let's face it, if you want to go out and have a good time on new year's eve, you're going to have to spend money. <br />
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We had heard stories of Disneyland actually closing its doors early on new year's eve due to being over capacity, but we decided to give it a shot anyways. Sure enough, as we were riding the tram to the front gate, an announcement was made saying that the park was no longer admitting new guests. It actually worked out well for us because we enjoyed ourselves in the non-crowded, but equally as fun Disney California Adventure and rang in the new year with an amazing fireworks display and water show! (Plus, you can buy alcohol at DCA, unlike the completely dry park of Disneyland.)<br />
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If you're looking for something to do next year for NYE, I highly recommend visiting Disneyland with some friends for an unorthodox, yet magical evening.<br />
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Here's what the countdown looked like at Paradise Pier:<br />
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-27644002877596990822012-12-30T22:59:00.000-08:002012-12-30T23:13:25.561-08:00The International Circus: Formula 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-international-circus-formula-1.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNi_UxJsmkSYN6GSl727sKkzdwugr8Xj5SnvIViXgxUFXciggx_fWePDzbkA6C0q-4FwDxzbK_fV8mI6v-MgkGpMQEgC_fnqxnR0UNoxWFRbz7gDkv5c8YyxBsVwm3Ju8x7qYHkBBvHqo/s1600/Formula+1.jpg" title="Ferrari Formula 1" /></a></div>
During this past Thanksgiving holiday, I flew back to Texas to visit the parents and to attend my very first Formula 1 race. Of course, spending time with the family and eating home-cooked meals is always a treat, but throw in a Formula 1 race at a brand new, purpose-built race track (arrogantly named Circuit of the Americas) and you've got one very happy gear head!<br />
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Formula 1 has always had a reputation for being full of drama. With its millionaire playboy drivers and roster of rival teams, the organization's nickname of "The International Circus" is all too fitting; and this time around wasn't going to be any different. The top two drivers were going into the United States Grand Prix with a very small points difference (most points wins the championship), the race was going to be at a track that no one has ever driven on, and it was being hosted in a city that has never hosted an event of this magnitude.<br />
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I was skeptical at whether the city of Austin would be able to handle the influx of race fans, especially since I've always known Austin to be a small-ish college town with a hippie vibe. When I tried looking for a hotel about three months before the race date, I found everything within an hour and half drive to be sold out or absurdly priced (1 star motels were asking $250+ per night). Things weren't looking good for the city of Austin and my friends who live there were ready to hunker down for that weekend.<br />
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Much to my surprise, the experience in Austin was extremely pleasant! Included with my race tickets were directions to a park and ride location where free shuttles would take us to the race track. I dreaded the line and the wait for the shuttles, imagining the most packed summer day at a brand new ride in Disneyland, but in reality, we never stood still in the line. In fact, we were always walking at a fairly brisk pace and eventually piled onto a nice charter bus for our 20 minute ride to the race track. <br />
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The race track itself was beautiful and new, and the track staff were kind and understanding. At every event that I've been to, people have never been allowed to stand on the stairs or take photos from a crossing bridge, but the staff at the Circuit of the Americas didn't seem to mind when people did so, as long as they were out of the way of foot traffic. The attendees were, for the most part, courteous and aware of their surroundings, except for that father-son combo that plopped down in their lawn chairs right in front of me, obscuring any view I had of the race. Other than that, everyone had a mutual understanding that we were all here for the same reason: to enjoy the sights and sounds of Formula 1.<br />
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Speaking of sights and sounds, the race was like nothing I've ever experienced before. I've been to my fair share of auto races and I've even ridden inside some real race cars, but there's nothing that can prepare you for the vibrations in your chest as one of these engineering marvels screams past you at 200 mph. It's amazing what today's engineers have accomplished with an engine that is smaller than what's inside of a baseline Toyota Camry. A lot of people have asked me about the race, probably hoping for some detailed description of my experience, but all I'm able to come up with is that is was two hours of sensory bliss. It's something that can't be explained in words.<br />
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I must say that I was very satisfied with the race and impressed with how the city of Austin handled the event. Some of the locals that I spoke with felt that the city over-prepared, but I thought it was just right. It could have been a major fiasco with people coming in from all over the United States and Mexico, but the city's organizers planned for just about every scenario. Kudos to you, Austin. You'll be seeing me again in 2013. <br />
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I leave you with a short video of footage that I shot from various places around the track. It really doesn't convey the power and ferocity of these million dollar works of art and technology, but maybe it'll inspire you to go experience it for yourself next year.<br />
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See what it's like to drive on the Circuit of the Americas in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008BT80O0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lagra-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008BT80O0" target="_blank">F1 2012</a>, available for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008BT80O0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lagra-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008BT80O0" target="_blank">Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008BT80O0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lagra-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008BT80O0" target="_blank">Playstation 3</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008BT80O0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lagra-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008BT80O0" target="_blank">PC</a>! <br />
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<i>[Photo via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CircuitofTheAmericas" target="_blank">Circuit of the Americas</a>]</i><br />
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-47936397505800605172012-12-17T21:20:00.003-08:002012-12-17T21:24:38.609-08:00Cranberry Wakeboarding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2012/12/cranberry-wakeboarding.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3IiIe96air7JEZDYytF8uRxcWQP78JIQaYZl_OxojVX7n3nhflUFNK8ult7npa2IP9iwEzHGg7ofE1AD86GrzXS8MNgQ0eWEuDN6YyRDhJoNZRoLPybuLsbDoiuK6mO-w6SdSHX4mRU/s1600/cranberry+wakeboarding.JPG" /></a></div>
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Who knew that wakeboarding across a pond of cranberries could be so beautiful? Thankfully, someone at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MTST70/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000MTST70&linkCode=as2&tag=lagra-20" target="_blank">Red Bull</a> wondered what that would be like and headed to Wisconsin with a high speed camera to find out. I've always been a fan of Red Bull, not necessarily for their <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MTST70/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000MTST70&linkCode=as2&tag=lagra-20" target="_blank">energy drink</a>, but for their presence as probably the world's best known marketing machine. They've produced some of the most amazing videos and special events in recent years.<br />
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Check out the video below to learn a little bit about cranberries (they don't actually grow under water!) and enjoy one of the most artistically pleasing wakeboarding sessions ever!<br />
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</div>Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-24852059138476801002012-12-04T21:17:00.000-08:002012-12-05T08:16:25.349-08:00The Dark Knight In Los Angeles!<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-dark-knight-in-los-angeles.html"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWozIXY0wxZJ4PUdK3MS9S1S5yY61FkaLTkML-QoZTabMxHtyhodEyCnljD4BKHE-4FB6DlG7mQmiVd4cJqQzh2aMSfe6ytPK8LV59PIbXVjrPo1OHu4xrmrMy6Eauc1qeatV63A6LSyc/s1600/The+Dark+Knight+Legend+Exhibit.jpg" style="text-align: center;" title="The Dark Knight Legend Exhibit" /></a></div>
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To celebrate the Blu-ray/DVD release of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004LWZWGK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004LWZWGK&linkCode=as2&tag=lagra-20" target="_blank">The Dark Knight Rises</a><span id="goog_1654725465"></span><span id="goog_1654725466"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a>, Warner Brothers has put together an amazing treat for Batman fans and movie buffs called "The Dark Knight Legend Exhibit."<br />
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This COMPLETELY FREE, mind-blowing exhibit can be found in downtown Los Angeles at the L.A. Live event deck and features original artwork, costumes and props from Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, and seven Batmobiles from the television and theatrical life of the Batman franchise. This may be the last time that you will see all seven Batmobiles together as the Batmobile from the 1960's television series is heading off to auction early next year.<br />
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Being able to experience events like this is part of the reason why I love living in Los Angeles. It truly was a treat to see the exhibit, not only for the geek in me, but also for my artistic side because seldom are you able to get so close to such amazing works of art. I literally stood in front of Batman's costume for a few minutes and just marveled at the insane level of attention to detail while trying to wrap my mind around the kind of talent that is required to create something like that.<br />
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While "The Dark Knight Legend Exhibit" is considered a pop-up event, nothing about it felt pop-up-ish. Warner Brothers really put some effort and money into making this a high quality exhibit. Is it a cleverly disguised marketing effort to get you to buy the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004LWZWGK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004LWZWGK&linkCode=as2&tag=lagra-20" target="_blank">Blu-ray/DVD</a>? Of course! Did it work? You betcha! After spending about an hour or so inside the exhibit, with the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008645YEE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008645YEE&linkCode=as2&tag=lagra-20" target="_blank">action-packed soundtrack</a> from the Batman movies playing in the background, I've never wanted to watch a Batman movie more in my life than in those moments after leaving the exhibit.<br />
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"The Dark Knight Legend Exhibit" is a must-see event for everyone!<br />
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The exhibit runs from now until December 14, 2012 and the hours of operation are from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm daily. L.A. Live is located at 800 W. Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90015.<br />
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Please enjoy some photo highlights from the exhibit:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNxIJCVuff7mUJc7UH6gHx0VP7vVxmYswnMueOODMWnLROsADN4Z20pdIYmeKcDhL0oIBjKfZVDnZIJeTemoKnQ6S1cqaj7E-AulobIE2ooAWomPgK5eWYXcBIgdnt0EJYdQduIV7sNg/s1600/Batman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNxIJCVuff7mUJc7UH6gHx0VP7vVxmYswnMueOODMWnLROsADN4Z20pdIYmeKcDhL0oIBjKfZVDnZIJeTemoKnQ6S1cqaj7E-AulobIE2ooAWomPgK5eWYXcBIgdnt0EJYdQduIV7sNg/s1600/Batman.jpg" title="Batman" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4DIusFzojy3ZeDDyGRlia6Zzq6PMWCw0k0fJ4xM66Ofjs3QI0eKrizzXbifXJHVbF6aAEeIcqeP86VLSdlr6Magb6Pm6bocqGMod74zFtIEK72Ho7tRlLrOtrgYC1fGBSyVcpgnnVIE/s1600/Joker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4DIusFzojy3ZeDDyGRlia6Zzq6PMWCw0k0fJ4xM66Ofjs3QI0eKrizzXbifXJHVbF6aAEeIcqeP86VLSdlr6Magb6Pm6bocqGMod74zFtIEK72Ho7tRlLrOtrgYC1fGBSyVcpgnnVIE/s1600/Joker.jpg" title="Joker" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CB3OoMCU72baDElPmrRtcj_j9jBxYBrV4HotRZdMM04rU4-9b18DAdmU6LX6IdpROaP-nN95zfeYDO-yaDwtp2UEjkrRR6-2YbrArbyUhfP8rbtt7zkNMynjfGqgnnfpGH8xkWsvjq0/s1600/Bane.jpg" title="Bane" /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedcML7B95yVw5wqOg7LqUmqZFBmxSZ6EuwKj42W7qzAqmVaofAdOdfUe2q7zcxyeoaY_BDK_4qA290VDjzz9xvzqJo8zyPa-_-752zrOgmagow8IY4av9o45C0kV6CUofCS3KWWguPrU/s1600/Batpod.jpg" title="Batpod" /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAlHyrmywA9VtdWPWSv2IQD_g8ufMFrN68oT8P2rM2Qy1bQCgVXYWODIkCHR5N729eJtC7NyWY9UO4jnXsgaeiaUR3zxtqwy49QbnkSqwJa0tli4YlImlqTtRtt4IA8Fjy0Mu_P1YI1c/s1600/The+Tumbler.jpg" title="The Tumbler" /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUHzQyys_MJIc4KnI5lOawFV6mqoaHYgcEJLFuajZ2spCAE04bipz-S98YcPP7K1DDNblkUQR5djtm0wzsRy0vf3fG2zjayjeXT2PGeaWtz91UWAGWEOUuX8SSFtk8C8_Nz3BAfkmiz0/s1600/Catwoman.jpg" title="Catwoman" /><br />
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-41696670236520688662012-11-12T21:11:00.000-08:002012-11-12T21:27:46.844-08:00Epic Fantasy Battle<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2012/11/epic-fantasy-battle.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEE5CKr5EPsQ0Wbo1UyC9ChrS9VphzTsctAjDUh6dwPgUhUBjOhWM7TndoKh8Ul_r5Wjaq7zEAgPbQiLvOpGb2Rr3hAmd6DgNe2wCqu7HBx94PBd_Vo6AkerPF2fBORygHHrMs_D-swMI/s1600/Final+Fantasy+XIV+A+Realm+Reborn.JPG" /></a></div>
Square-Enix recently released the newest trailer for their upcoming Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG), Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, and I must say this is probably THE most beautiful and epic game trailer I have ever seen!<br />
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Check out all of the epicness for yourself below!<br />
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Cheninatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225884099058689909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416853638867638761.post-43643274501802314162012-10-19T23:30:00.001-07:002012-10-19T23:33:08.046-07:00Space Shuttle Endeavour's Trip Across Los Angeles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lagraffiti.blogspot.com/2012/10/space-shuttle-endeavours-trip-across.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhtyFm1ggn2FbunSddc7obuk5icOHsFqBp8ClpO-idWw7VnPaeFYM4GKx4r765jS_8KmemftpmGVjJvh5_1AGOWN7Q4ZrHqEhiucesr5SUEvLhAPnsAPxdRCUUSNe0HZJWFpI3RdhksA/s1600/Endeavour.JPG" title="Space Shuttle Endeavour" /></a></div>
Watch an amazing time-lapse video of Space shuttle Endeavour's last journey through the streets of Los Angeles.<br />
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