THE HOLLYBLOG

Fire bugs and homeless young people

Russell Smith — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:16:45 +0000

While some wacko pyromaniac was trying to burn Hollywood to the ground. I am still keeping an eye on the concrete hole outside my window. More than ever it has become a small encampment for homeless people, mostly youths. Check out the video of a few denizens smoking a bowl of who-knows-what.

I do not begrudge these unfortunate young people their right to indulge in a little marijuana cigarette to wake up and face the day. Nor do I begrudge them their choice of the lot next door for their encampment. Sometimes they get a little loud. One young lady in particular has the vocabulary of a sailor on leave combined with the volume of a drill sergeant. I’ve been tempted to ask her to keep it down, but it would be foolish of me to engage them in a negative manner. There is only one ending in that scenario. Me calling the police to clear out the whole encampment, which isn’t fair to the majority who are as quiet as church mice. Better to leave well enough alone. Wouldn’t you agree?

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On the northwest corner of Ivar and Hollywood, the Scientologists have their SeaOrg HQ. It’s a nondescript building, giving credence to the saying about the banality of evil. Here’s a picture of one of their viewing devices. Remember to smile and say “cheese,” if you are on the north sidewalk of Hollywood Blvd just west of Cahuenga. I got accosted for taking a picture of it years ago. It’s okay for them to look at you, but god forbid that you look at them while they are looking at you. Smile.

Remember to click on the image to get a better look at the photograph. AND then remember to hit the back button to get back to the blog. Sheesh! Why does everything have to be so complicated? I ask you.

Don’t Fuck With Me! Hollywood Police Community Relations

Russell Smith — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 01:31:51 +0000

It’s open season on anybody who isn’t a cop in Hollywood. Who’s got us in the cross-hairs? Why, it’s the police of course. They treat homeless people like dirt. They treat everybody else worse. Don’t let them pull you over or they’ll tow your car at the drop of a hat. Don’t say anything except, “Sir, yes Sir!” or your ass is grass. Any encounter with a Hollywood cop will end in public humiliation at best, a good beating perhaps and even arrest. Say “Cop!” in Hollywood and it’s as bad as yelling “Fire!” People will scatter like ants in the wake of boiling water. Let’s add some multimedia to this posting to give it some meat, or should I say, “edge?”

When I see a black and white police car coming my way, all I do is lower my head in an attitude of complete submission. To do otherwise is to invite hellfire to rain upon my head.

Then let us not forget about the intrusive ghetto birds, also known as police helicopters. Oh, how they stir up the skies above my head, and shine their lights into my pad. They are responsible for many an interrupted night’s sleep.

How fun was that?

My Cross Street Rocks!

Russell Smith — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 23:21:28 +0000

And at all hours!

Every Sunday to Thursday evening, they’re out there, pulling over scofflaws- people who run stop signs, exceed 25 mph in a residential area and drivers under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol (DUI). Hollywood, in case you haven’t heard, is a cesspool of homelessness, drugs, crime and tourists. They’ve opened up so many nightclubs that on the weekends it is DUI heaven up in here. And you can quote me on that. The cops don’t really enforce the law, so much as pick up the pieces of people who need some repairs, whether it’s their bodies, their cars or both. The sound of the ghetto birds cheers the heart all through the weekend, along with its close friend the siren-bird whose lilting dulcet sounds can be heard all over Hollywood every night of the week.

There he is, our propellor-driven friend, keeping the skies and streets of Hollywood safe.

Quit Telling me I’m Hell-bound!

Russell Smith — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 20:43:57 +0000

Marching Day for the Pentecostals

So what do you think motivates these people? A real need to save souls, spread the gospel, or is it to earn what I call “God Points.” These people are no different from the Catholic Church, which still peddles indulgences. The Catholic form comes in regulating behavior: say the Hail Mary ten times every day and you earn 50 years indulgence! Or something along those lines. They are some suffering from the God delusion and they are trying to push it on others. I find proselytizers annoying, but when I see a crowd like this, I can’t help but laugh.
I’ve accumulated a few funny pictures along the way, so let me present you with the Israelites and Korean Pentecostals, who take the cake for amusing cults.

Korean Pentacostals, © Russell Smith 2011

Israelites, © Russell Smith

The Israelites, © Russell Smith, 2011

So you can see the Pentecostals doing their thing, speaking in tongues, etc. Note the bullhorn near at hand. Now the Israelites got angry with me when I took their picture. Actually only one guy (the Leader?) became agitated. I responded, “Well you are the ones who are looking for attention!” “We’re not looking for attention!” They shouted back in unison, which I found a little creepy, but I said laughing, “You’ve got signs. You don’t want people to look at the signs?” “Get out of here you Devil” said The Leader? getting annoyed at my logic in the face of their outright stupidity, unpatriotic weirdness. I don’t think White people can join this cult, but you never know. There was a Black guy with the Pentecostals. I used to get super annoyed at these proselytizers, and I have them on video saying the stupidest things with me screaming abuse at them. It’s fun to watch but I’m not adding any more media to this post. Hollywood Hugs!

People Like to Stop and Stare

Russell Smith — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:29:52 +0000

So hungry are tourists and locals for some proof of A+ quality celebrity sightings, that they want to know more about Hollyblog.com. Look at the ridiculous state of my tee shirt: so here we are.

There might be some hope. I got rejected from the peer-reviewed art show run by Rex Bruce via his gallery downtown, LACDA- Los Angeles Center for Digital Art. DAH? LACK DAH!

hummingbird 1

Russell Smith — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 03:34:19 +0000

hummingbird 1, originally uploaded by Hollywood Russ.

Don’t you wish you were a hummingbird!

The Artists’ Wall

Russell Smith — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:07:29 +0000

There is a wall on a building on Highland Ave and someone or somebodies put up art. It changes all the time as the owners of the building tear it down, paint over it and otherwise destroy it. I like to photograph it while there’s time. Here are a couple of examples. I hope you love them as much as I do. If you know where the PowerHouse bar is, then you know what I’m talking about. There’s a terrible Chinese restaurant there too. MSG WARNING! See? Lots of little useful tidbits here on the Hollyblog! See!

VIDEO VAULT – RED LINE AND CROSSROADS OF THE WORLD OOOH

Hooray, hooray, hooray

Russell Smith — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:46:21 +0000

Who needs hallucinogens when you live in a ‘hood like Hollywood?

There’s always a friendly face to greet you when you de-subway at the Hollywood & Highland stop on the demonic Red Line. It cracks me up that the guy doesn’t even mention MSNBC. This picture would thrill the pants off of Rupert Murdoch, who is busy putting out a big fire in England. Let me tell you. This guy was proud of his sign. Please forgive my unfortunate use of the word crack!

I hate Madame Tussaud’s! Their figures are not wax. They are plastic. Check out the guy getting his jollies looking at the Asian woman’s body, while she is obliviously taking a picture. (You have to click on the images to get a larger view). Busted! I love candid photography.

Hollywood is larger than life. Life is larger than life, so Hollywood is larger than itself. Sometimes I get sick of all the tourists and crackheads but it really is an amazing place to live. Where else can I buy ashtrays with the Hollywood Walk of Fame on the bottom? There’s been a multi-billion dollar renovation of the town. Hundreds of new overpriced apartment units have gone up. It seems as though the character of the place really is changing. I heard a man once say that “In ten years, Hollywood will look just like Manhattan.” The last time I was in Manhattan I saw a lot of Starbucks, GAPs, and all the rest of the homogenizing chains. But I get what he’s saying. Hollywood will be expensive, flashy with restaurants and nightclubs, goody-goody with its overpriced organic food distributors. Über-gentrification might be a good name for the process.

I am posting once a week in 2011

Russell Smith — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 16:59:06 +0000

I’ve decided that I want to post more in 2011. For this blog, I am participating in the postaweek contest; that is, I will post one blog per week for the Hollyblog. I’ve also subscribed to the Daily Post, in the hopes that it will help me along the way. I also hope to make use of the community of other bloggers.

If you already read my blog, I appreciate comments, stars, ideas and encouragement along the way.

Signed,

Russell Smith

More adventures on L.A.’s subways

Russell Smith — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:07:32 +0000

This time it’s the Gold Line

The whole thing started when this kid was playing music from his “device” very loudly so that it filled the whole train. I approached him very politely. I said, “Sir,” and he tossed me a baleful glance. “Sir,” I repeated and then I continued with “could you please turn your music down.” I did not react. I got closer to him and said, “I guess you didn’t realize I was talking to you. Could you please turn your music down?” Still he ignored me. I reminded him that playing your music loudly will garner you a $250 fine. He responded with, “What are you? The police?” I told him no, but I was a passenger on the train and his behavior was unacceptable. He ignored me. So then I sat down and recorded his handsome mug to share with the rest of you!

If you listen to people on the train, when the camera is down, he wields his plastic three-wheeled skateboard at me like he is going to hit me with it. You can hear and see some of the people on the train react with horror. “Put that away!” One man cries out in a tone that seems to mean business. I’m not the only one who is getting sick of these obnoxious fellow humans. It’s hard to conceptualize that the adolescent brain is shrinking, cutting synapses that are redundant, under utilized, what have you. Just like I was the first t.v. generation, these kids are the first X-box generation. They’ve been exposed to graphic violence, neglected by their parents, etc. It doesn’t lessen their responsibility for their behavior! I am radically pissed.

Look at this doofus punk. As soon as I turned off the camera, the doors to the train opened. Like a cowardly punk-ass bitch (as we say at our garden tea parties) he hits me with his plastic contraption. I forget that many other people have been raised by wolves. This S.O.B. drew blood when he hit me. That is unacceptable. Well, watch the video and enjoy! Remember the face. Beware. This kid is dangerous and crazy. Do not approach unless you are an officer of the law.

defensive wound

It baffles the mind how unsafe the subway system is. That would never happen in Washington, D.C. where I come from. Why? Because … I don’t know why, honestly. Part of the issue is me. I try to stamp out ASSHOLE-ISM where ever it may be. I’m not afraid of people younger than me, or older than me, or of any race or gender. Asshole-ism crosses every strata of society. I know I have an anger management problem, but it irks me that people sit silently and put up with the asshole-ism of the few. If decent folk stick together, then these arrogant, mean, stupid people won’t have the clout that their rotten behavior affords them.