’06: Was it so Horrorble?

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members and ex-members of Mara Salvatrucha

The Annenberg School at USC is hosting the Getty/TNT/Canon/LATimes World Press Photo Award-Winning Images of ’06 thru Feb. 1 and it’s bloody horrifying. And not just because TribCo axe-man David Hiller is in town (photo below — James O’Shea was on hand but held fire, er, I mean he didn’t speak). Matter o’ fact, USC’s Annenberg School is the only host of this traveling Dutch-based show in the U.S. other than the United Nations building in New York (on arguably international soil).

This is the third consecutive year that the Annenberg School has hosted this event and it may be the last — Dean Geoffrey Cowan is set to depart at semester’s end and quite frankly, the subject matter displayed is rather alien to the American media’s penchant for truthiness.

The exhibit is open to the public, and unfortunately, only until Feb. 1, at which point the Annenberg lobby will again be flooded with plasma-vision “Situation Room” action — where fake boobs are born with Wolf Blitzer’s blessing. For directions, use this GMap.

OMG hiller

More photos of the photos after the jump. Continue reading “’06: Was it so Horrorble?”

CJR: Give it Up Already, TribCo

An unsigned editorial in the Columbia Journalism Review declares that the Tribune has to pull out of the newspaper business entirely — in addition to relinquishing ownership of the LA Times ASAP.

Meanwhile, I got a voicemail today from an LAT subscriptions-bot saying that my Fri-Sun subscription (which costs $1.25/wk — offer is here) will now include Thursdays at no additional cost. Any chance I can donate these free papers to ensure the job security of my favorite columnists that have not yet been laid off?

The CJR article is here. Kevin Roderick summarizes and points to additional links at LAObserved here. A thoughtful post at labrainterrain on the depressing state o’ the Times. Also, Mack at LAVoice.

la times flickr photo by debaird
photo from debaird’s flickr.

Ringing in ’07: Best Year Ever?

I say it every year, but there’s really no doubt — 2007 is bound to be the best year ever. Any day know the NEW new beginning will be upon us with the announcement of Barack Obama‘s run for president, da Bears are in the playoffs and as far as the Cubs are concerned, after 99 years, I’m thinking Next Year is Here!

Here are a few photos from my New Years commemorations. As can be seen in the flickr slideshow below, a hot date to the Flaming Lips / Gnarls Barkley / Cat Power blowout at the new USC Galen Center was followed up New Years morning by my first trip to the Rose Bowl with my Dad and brother-in-law, to witness the Trojans (who I’m supporting w/ my grad school tuition) clobber the Wolverines (pops’ alma mater and the second sports team I ever saw in person –after the Cubs).

Highlight of the Lips’ set was a killer spot-on cover of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody — second song of the set. Click here to see 4 minutes of it. More from the show on YouTube: Flaming Lips, Gnarls Barkley, Cat Power.

Here’s to a happy 2007 — the best year ever?!?!?