LAPD's latest toy : interactive crimemaps.

How safe is your neighbourhood? Go check it out with LAPD's latest online tool: www.lapdonline.org/crimemap/

Here is how West-Hollywood scores.

$2000 / 2br - *JIM MORRISON "THE DOORS" last U.S. home!*

I was toying around with Rentslicer. The real estate site that offers just a tad more by linking their offerings to Google maps. It allows you to discover a neighbourhood and see what the local real estate market has to offer.

While virtually wandering around are hood I discovered that Jim Morrisons last US home is just a few blocks away. It's a small world.

http://www.rentslicer.com/view-listing.html?id=771379

Rock Legend JIM MORRISON "THE DOORS" former West Hollywood apartment is available for month to month. It is located in the landmark building, Cheri Amour, known as "JIM MORRISON'S LAST KNOWN U.S. RESIDENCE" where he resided from 1970- March 1971, 4 months prior to going to Paris, where he reportedly died.
Following Jim's departure, there have only been a couple tenants, as they chose to remain longterm tenants. In 2005, for the first time in history, the building was opened up for tours, along with daily or weekly lodging in Jim's former apartment.
Only for the most discerning individual(s), Jim's former unit will be shown by appointment only. Since we provide daily tours of the property for $10 per person, in order to view the apartment you must pay the tour fee. We do not accept credit cards or personal checks. You also have the option to submit a rental application sight unseen. Only qualified applicants will be considered. (Note: the interior of the Jim Morrison unit will NOT be included in the tours, once the unit is rented.)
Recognized globally amongst rock 'n roll fans, the rental price for this special fully furnished turnkey 2 BR/ 1 1/4 bath celebrity apartment is $2,000 per month. In the case of multiple applicants, priority will be given to the best offer above the asking price.
For tour details & to learn more about this landmark building, go to our website: CHERIWOODS.COM and click on "THE DOORS" link. To schedule a tour for viewing:
Phone: (818)225-5347 daily after 10:00 AM
E-Mail: CHERIWOODS1@YAHOO.COM

Flickr retrievr Sketch tool : awesome technology

Combine a webbased sketch tool and patern recognition and you get : Flickr retrievr. An online tool that lets you draft and on the fly analyzes your dribbles and scans for similar paterns in Flickr's extensive Interestingness library.

http://labs.systemone.at/retrievr/

Progressive

tip number 1 fro those who move to the US of A:

(not the music)

Shop around for car insurance. There are plenty of insurance companies and the price differences in car insurance quotes are significant. Most companies will give online quotes via their websites, which makes it a lot easier to contact many of them.

We were lucky with Progressive Insurance, but than again, it goes on a case by case basis. So others might have great deals for you as well.

Do your homework, it is worthwhile!

Hard drive recovery 101

It had to happen. My laptop external 160 GB USB hard drive died. With it it took numerous pictures, an entire iTunes library (crippling my iPod) a slew of video's and who knows what more files. In these situations one only get's to know what's lost when you need something, you search for it and realise that it was on the particular hard disk that crashed.
Will start to look for some hard drive recovery service. Hopefully some expert can bring my data back. Fingers crossed.

Couleur locale of Nouvelle Cuisine?

Couleur locale of Nouvelle Cuisine?, originally uploaded by _esse.

The local Los Angeles restaurant guide can be found at the reception desk of most local restaurants. It made me laugh big time when I entered the sushi place around the corner. The waitress was clueless.

Surf's Up on Wikipedia

Sony Pictures Animation's upcoming surfing pinguin movie has got it's page on Wikipedia.org:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surf's_Up_(film)

Hilde's Clematis picture made it into Flickr Interestingness

Great news, Hilde's picture is doing realy well and made it into Flickr's Interestingness category of October 24!

Clematis. Beauty lies in the details.

Clematis., originally uploaded by fuxiafun.

Hilde took this beautifull picture last weekend in the garden of the Getty museum. A marvelous oasis of peace and nature in the middle of a megapolis.

Penguins. The real deal.

Today there was a press conference at Imageworks to introduce the press to Sony Pictures Animation upcomming Surf's Up animated feature.

Not the tradtional red carpet, but a better suited for the occasion blue carpet was rolled out to welcome the press.

Some extra palmtrees, a hammock and last but not least a couple of real penguins were present to establis the setting of the movie.

No picture unfortunately, that's the policy.

Laser etched Powerbook!

http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2005/11/laser_etched_powerbook.html

CG in India : India's growing role behind Hollywood

$1.35 an hour, that's what entry level artists in the CG industry in India get paid. http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/03/12/yourmoney/movies13.php

Darth Vader tries to clean the Black Sea with Brita Filter.

Blinded!

My camera died. Well, sort of, the least I can say is that it got seriously handicapped. The wide angle lens' USM motor is broken so I need to focus manually.

As if that wasn't bad enough, the tele-photo 28-200 started acting strange too. Lot's of autofocussing issues, plenty of over exposed pictures. No patern in the errors which makes it really hard to diagnose.

To be contiued...

Trailer's out !

The Surf's Up trailer is out.
Go watch it on Apple's site:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/surfsup/

Or on the official Sony Pictures website:
http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/surfsup/index.html

Joshua Tree National Park : rock climbing

Rock climbing, originally uploaded by _esse.

Last weekend we headed for Joshua Tree National Park with a merry bunch of 16.
It was our second visit to the area, first one was a quick drive through with an occasional
stop on our August SoCal road trip. Our first impression than was nice, but not standing out
like the other National Parks we had done that far. More like a blend of some of the other
more spectacular parks.

This time however we had more time to spend and as a bonus, Tim, Nathalie and Christophe,
all seasoned rock climbers were in our party.

After setting up camp Saturday at noon we did some reconnaissance for good climbing spots,
which is a bit... well euh, superfluous, cause Joshua Tree is scattered with rocks, all of them
making sweet climbing opportunities of various levels of difficulty.

Saturday night we were lucky to join a stargazing party, organized once a year by a local club.
So the computer graphics geeks went to check out the stargazing geeks and their toys.
We got to see all kinds of constellations, nebula and even a comet, tail included.
Because of the remote location and the absence of any artificial light for thens of miles
JT is a sublime setting for all that.

Sunday we went for the real work and most of us went rock climbing under the great
guidance of Tim. Lots of fun. Beats indoor climbing by far. At the rock we met a crazy
free climbing dude which was almost

After breaking up camp around 14.00 we headed for the Cottonwood area of the park
to top of the day with a last hike. We got a bit surprised by the fast setting sun which
made we had to find our way back in the dark.

A smooth ride and a couple of hours later we were back in the entertainment capital
of the world. (?!?)

Pictures to follow soon.

Surf's up Surf Day : pictures and more

Last week Tuesday (september 19.) was Surf's Up surf day. The entire team headed for Malibu beach to do some serious field research. Boards, wetsuits, instructors, beach babes, food and beverages, a sandy beach and a gnarly wave, all ellements were present. Icing on the cake: the directors (Chris and Ash) and part of the cast (voice actors) + the amazing surf pro Rob Machado (www.robmachado.com) were there too.

While Rob Machado was surfing circles around us we were trying to survive one of the nastiest waves of Southern California. Not and ideal place for beginners, a while ago a pro broke his neck at that very beach, sets of waves were rolling in a very irregular pace. On top of that the wave was very violent, standing up out of nothing and breaking just seconds after, washing away all in it's path, each time resulting in a barage of surferless surfboards popping out of the wave like colorful popcorn.

Result: 1 stiched arm, 2 broken toes and 1 ripped out toenail. Word goes that the producers canceled all further events till the entire flick has been canned.

Nevertheless a wonderfull day with a magnificaent crowd. Who else get's paid to go surfing in Malibu except for Surf Pro's? And than again they don't get to work on the first animated surf feature.

Thank you Surf's Up production team for making this all happen!

Some pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikborzi/sets/72157594292117506/
http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/litow2nd/album?.dir=/1bb8scd&.src=ph&.tok=phEz_hFBSJePfltL
http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/davidstodolny/album?.dir=/ac1fscd&.src=ph&.tok=phy5BiFBs_w7fLGP








Rob Machado ripping it up on Sony Surf's up Surf Day.
(picture by Daniele Tosti)

Sunset over Two Harbours

sunset, originally uploaded by _esse.

Just a view we wanted to share with all of you guys. This was the sunset over Two Harbours (Catalina Islands) this weekend.

If yuo like the picture and you want to support it, please go 'fav' and comment it on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/esse/248020389/

Hollywood self-relativism

Hollywood self-relativism, originally uploaded by _esse.

Found this quite funny base line of a hotel around the corner:

If we were any more Hollywood, our pool would be shallow at both ends.


www.sunsetmarquishotel.com

Chakra Cleansing

Chakra Cleansing, originally uploaded by _esse.

Spiritualist Sandra is pushing through a big marketing campaign. I found this under my windshield wiper in the parking lot of Traders Joe in Culvercity.

I wonder if she could cure my camera which behaves like it's under a voodoo-spell.