How is it so easy to kill?

Coping with murder

Man, I've already felt as if I was going through some sort of mid-life crisis the last several months. Little seems to make much sense these days. So, yesterday, I decided serious change was in order.

Thus, I went down the street to grab a few beers to celebrate the first step of my great transformation. As I left my house, I noticed several youngsters hanging out. Immediately, they checked me out, and I knew trouble was back in the neighborhood.

An hour later, one of the youngsters was dead.

I couldn't help but wonder, as I watched one teenager crawl across the ground, taking his last breathes, was it worth it? Was it worth wanting to be a tough guy?

And, as I sit typing this, his homies are drinking and smoking at his vigil across the street, exactly where he died less than 24 hours ago, and I can only wonder, how long until the next shots are fired. How can it be so easy to kill?!

Cheap South Pasadena chinese food

Loving Golden China

Hard to beat Golden China's great lunch specials, and the food is actually pretty good. Love the spicy garlic shrimp and the fish in black bean sauce. And the beer is cheap for a restaurant.

Anyway, feels good to get out of the house, still trying to recover from yesterday.

While Golden China is right off Fair Oaks, its also not a bad walk from the Mission Metro station.

An omen

What a message

So, the gang wars continue in Northeast LA, but its just another dead gangster, right?

What kind of message are the gods sending me? Death isn't far? Move or else?

Dos cervezas mas

Hola, mi amiga?

Hablo espanol un poquito, pero cuatro cincuenta para dos Miller Lites? Que pasa, mija?

Loco no? Tiempo para cerveza de Dans.

YT is dead?

My back is against the wall. Aim has been taken.

Change. It makes for great conversation, but it's almost impossible to achieve. Inevitably, experts claim, fear's grimy grip chokes our dreams.

Well, YTsWorld is changing.

Anyway, almost 5/6's through my Stella. Yes, I'm a drunk. An addict. Who isn't these days? Booze, weed, prozac, high fructose corn syrup and caffeine. Is there really much difference? Besides, I'm just trying to be honest.

Still, that's no excuse. Besides, I'm bored. Tired. Sick of the status quo I've accepted.

I'm not sure what happens from here. Perhaps I'll eventually crawl back under the rock of my status quo yet again, but not without a fight, and not without some blatant honesty along the way.

A little right, and a whole lotta wrong. That's the new YTsWorld.

A few pints at Alcatraz Brewing Co

$3.00 pints

Returning to LA on the 5 and ran into a wall of traffic, so I stopped by the Block in Orange. Fortunately, even though I can't take the Metro, I'm not driving; therefore, I'm drinking.

I've had the Searchlight and the Extra Special Bitter, the later of which I really liked.

Service has been great and I've even spent a few moments with the brewmaster discussing beer. 

Happy hour from 4 - 7 M-TH, all day Friday and Sunday. That's my kind of happy hour.

Not the meaning of life

Is my whole theory wrong?

I think I'm going through a mid-life crisis. Whatever that means. I mean, if you pay attention, life is pretty much just one crisis after another.

Anyway, gonna hit a few of my favorite Old Town favorites for some answers.

Skipping the sun: Belgian Fest and soccer at Luckys

I choose Belgian beer

Its like summertime today in Southern California, but am I taking advantage of the gorgeous weather?

No. I'm watching soccer at Lucky Baldwins and participating in Belgian Fest, which goes on through at least Feb 28. Love watching the European football fans, but I could care less who wins.

Anyway, I'll probably finish my LB trip out on the patio so I can enjoy the weather a bit before heading back to the office, where I'm sure I'll be oh so productive.

There a lot of great beers on tap at LB's, but if you are not familiar, just start out with the Maredsous 10, and everything else will fall into place. Trust me. I'm a doctor, or at least I've played one for Halloween.

Thoroughbreds Club a good deal, but

Free everything

At the Santa Anita Race Track, again. Only came because my Thoroughbred membership entitled me to free parking, free clubhouse entry, and a free program.

Overall, however, I think dollar days on Fridays is a better deal. Everything might have been free today, but at $6.00 a beer, costs quickly add up, especially if you enjoy some action on the races.

Killer boobies - News Favs

Kaboom!

Let's face it. Most of the time the news is just bad news that we really don't need to hear about.

Toyota recall? Whatever. 10,000 people die every year due to SUV design defects and no one cares, so how important can the Toyota recall really be?

First ever Tea Party Convention? I'd rather be tea-bagged.

OK. Jon Stewart calling Bill O'Reilly and FOX a "cyclonic perpetual motion machine" that has "taken reasonable concerns about this president and this economy and turned it into a full-fledged panic attack about the next coming of Chairman Mao," is definitely up there.

Still, my favorite news story has to be exploding boobies. Women terrorists getting exploding breast jobs? Gives whole new definition to killer boobs.

Booking a night at Saint Motel

My favorite up-and-coming LA band

Came across Saint Motel a few weeks back and instantly got hooked on the catchy number 'Butch'. In fact, as I hit a wall this morning, at my real job, I threw on Butch and was instantly energized.

Anyway, after my first listen to Butch I bought the album off ITunes. At first, I was slightly disappointed - not in the band though. Saint Motel is oozing in potential. I just thought that a good producer could really help bring their sound together and push them into rock star status.

However, after listening to the album a few times, a few other songs have really started to grow on me, particularly Pity Party as of late.

But that really isn't the point. The point is these guys grow on you. And, one way or another these guys will grow on you too because it can be only a matter of time before Saint Motel moves from up-and-coming LA band to radio stations everywhere.

Don't fight it, just check out the album now and be ahead of the crowd for once.

So, what music is you keeping you alive these days? Rate your favorite music.

Lots of fun at Old Town Pub - Nightlife Hot Spots

No charge!

Stopped by the Old Town Pub in Old Town Pasadena Sunday night. What perfect timing.

Several interesting musical performances. A few magic tricks. And two almost naked girls dancing.

What more do you want?

Rate your favorite nightlife hot spots and photos

Picture of the day

Good thing its not a spelling contest

Caught this sign at the McDonalds on York Blvd in Highland Park. Gave me a good laugh at least.

Have any funny photos? Rate your photos

Caligulove me, please!

Never too old to rock

What do you get when you mix a little Nirvana, Queens of the Stone Age, Led Zepplin and FooFighters?

Do I really need to ask?

Been listening a lot lately to Them Crooked Vultures, and I can't wait to see them live. Still, the album is a joy in and of itself.

But that song Caligulove? Ohhhhhhhh, boy.

What tunes are rocking your world rate now? Rate your music now.

The calm before the storm of politcal discontent

The bias of the LA Times

FOX is biased towards Republicans. Most that watch FOX believe that every station other than FOX is biased towards Democrats.

The Wall Street Journal is conservative. The NY Times is liberal.

Today, news isn't necessarily all that objective. Everyone has some angle to play, and often, money is the driving factor. But does that make it right?

The other day, in an incredibly important special election, Republican Scott Brown upset a Democrat for a Senate seat that has been controlled by Democrats for more than 50 years. Again, the politcal climate in America is shifting - the populace is discontent.

So, of course the LA Times made the election the top story of the day, but just look at the picture that sets off the headline, a dark onimous storm, at least according to the Democrat-siding LA Times.

Of course, maybe it was just a coincidence?

Nevertheless, the majority of Americans seem to be sending a message that they are not happy with Republicans OR Democrats, with liberals or conservatives.

There is a storm of political discontent growing in moderate, populist America, and politics as usual won't provide cover from this blizzard of voter fury.

Great fish and chips

This is my comfort food

As I was a bit tense after leaving the dentist, I decided to stop by Lucky Baldwins for a few quick drinks. And, once I could feel the left side of my mouth again, I realized I hadn't yet eaten much today, and I ordered some fish and chips.

I'm not a big fan of the food at LBs, but the fish and chips is always good. In fact it was the best fish and chips I've had in some time!

Suddenly I'm feeling so much better.

2 hours at dentist for 15 minutes of work

WTF!?

At the dentist for a noon appointment, which means 1:00 PM. Then the dentist will rotate between me and 2 others with appointments at the same time.

I like my dentist, but isn't this ridiculous? I mean this happens EVERY time. Time to find a new dentist?

Damn glad its fricken Friday

The solution to a bad day?

Boy this has been a crappy week! 2010 is going down hill fast.

But at least its Friday.

I don't know about you, but I'll be calling it a day by lunch time. I haven't accomplished all that much this week anyway, and I'm sure not going to accomplish much today.

I'm not even going to check my e-mail. Bam! That'll show 'em! Not, but that's all I got, other than taking the afternoon off.

If you have 'em, send me pictures of your day.

Lunch at Peppers in Arcadia

My first visit

Stopped by Peppers for lunch today. Didn't know what to expect.

Tried the salsa. Wasn't impressed. No tap beer. Still not impressed. Saw the prices, and I was even less impressed.

However, many regulars hang out at Peppers. And once I started interacting with them, everything changed - obviously I was in the bar.

Then my food arrived. Tried a tamale and a chile relleno. Both were huge and my plate came with a ton of beens and rice. While I've had better Mexican food many places, this was at least OK and worth another try.

However, combined with the service and the crowd, I'd give the place a moderate thumbs up.

Still, even if I don't like the food the second time, I'd still go back to hang out in the bar.

A glance inside Discovery

At the Television Critics Association Cable Tour

YT is hanging out at the Langham Hotel, and learning about some of the new TV programs upcoming on Discovery, Animal Planet, Science, Planet Green, etc.

Not too sure what I'm doing here, but this hotel is pretty classy, a little too classy for YTsWorld.

I wonder if the bar is open yet. These Prison Wives - an upcoming program - are making me feel a little depressed.