Uncouth Reflections

L.A.’s Chinatown

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes:

Went downtown for a Dodger game, but I got there early so I spent a couple hours wandering around Chinatown, which is at the base of Chavez Ravine. Although this area dates from 1938, it’s technically L.A.’s “New Chinatown” as L.A.’s Old Chinatown was razed in the 40s to make way for Union Station.

Click on the images to enlarge.

This is the Thien Hau Temple, a Chinese/Vietnamese religious center that I stumbled across.

Posted in Architecture, Photography | Tagged Chinatown, Chinese religion, Los Angeles, Thien Hau Temple, Vietnamese religion | 3 Comments

The Beach Boys’ Fifth Studio Album: Shut Down Volume 2

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Sax von Stroheim

Sax von Stroheim writes:

The Beach Boys’ second Hot Rod Album.

Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged California, music criticism, Southern California Teenage Life, The Beach Boys | Leave a comment

Parking Structures

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes:

Calder Loth wants to know: Why are so many of our urban parking structures so damned ugly? Great passage: “These vapid works of naked engineering are little more than concrete shelving to store our vehicles, blaring the fatuous rationale that form follows function.” Calder also shares photos of some all-too-rare parking structures that are genuinely handsome — hey, it can be done. I mused about the way a few good-looking parking structures helped transform Santa Barbara back at my old blog. Attractiveness really does play a role in whether a downtown is appealing or not.

Posted in Architecture | Tagged architecture, Calder Loth, parking structures, Santa Barbara, urbanism | 4 Comments

Linkage

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes:

A terrific overview of the U.S.’s history (and challenges) with immigration. One-stop reading for those who want to get up to speed quickly on the topic.
The sad tale of Bodli Joensen, a Danish porn performer who was known, with good reason, as the “boar girl.”
Matt Forney — once known, loved and reviled as In Mala Fide’s “Ferdinand Bardamu” — takes a second look at “Irreversible.“
Has conservatism failed?
Secession news du jour.
Most revealing red-carpet dress ever?
At least where online dating goes, are whites the least “racist” of all the racial groups?
Will Israel go fascist?
Steve Sailer’s take on Obama strikes me as a very sensible one.
Will S. shares some great photos from the World Beard Championship.
The clear-eyed and witty Sasha Castel offers the ladies some guidelines on how to be a good mistress. Why don’t more women know how to play the game?
Gore Vidal, who never went to college and always claimed to despise academics and professors, left all his money to Harvard.
More on Gore.