- Laura

Hope everyone’s having a great summer so far. I can’t believe it’s August already! Man the year has flown by…

Favorite movie of the summer: Inception

Favorite song of the summer:  “Shimmery Summery (Sha-La-La Love)” by Viola

Favorite book of the summer: “Just Kids” by Patti Smith

Favorite meal of the summer: The Lemongrass tofu noodle bowl from the Mandoline Grill food truck. To die for.

Favorite activity: rowing out into the middle of the marina with my friends and watching the 4^th of July fireworks

Hope everyone is well and happy and enjoying the gorgeous weather!

Love,

Laura

The Comet – “The Evolution of Brand-Dropping in Music.

Jackie O Media – Music licensing expert Danny Benair answers your questions

Best song ever?
Do You Know the Difference Between Big Wood and Brush by Gary Roberts

Have a listen, Dylan should be taking notes!

Hipstamatic Action
Makes Dodger Stadium look like we are back in the 70’s!!!

Me and Jeff Lynne, Hipstamatic… Just don’t mention The Move!!!

Two days ago I had (I think it’s fair to say), one of the worst days of my life.

The day started out by getting pulled over and ticketed for the first time in my life. I’ve been driving since I was 15 and a half and have never once been pulled over. I was pulled over on my way back from physical therapy where I was treating for injuries sustained from being hit by a drunk driver last year. Oh the irony. (Note to self: a California roll does not count when encountering a stop sign.)

The day progressed and I started to feel a stabbing pain in my lower right abdomen. The pain worsened and I ended up spending the entire night in the emergency room with needles poked in me, and tubes sticking out of me. I’ll spare you the gory details, but suffice it to say – good times were had by all.

Several hundred dollars and a bruised body and ego later I’m counting my lucky stars that I’m going to be OK. Good health can never be underestimated. Every day we spend on earth is a blessing. I’m not a religious person in any classical sense, but I know when to thank the universe, and now is the time. Good times, bad times, it’s all part of it, and every second I have, I am thankful for.

Here’s to good health.

– Laura

I woke up this morning at 5AM to the sound of six helicopters outside my bedroom window. Normally I’d brush it off and think, they must be doing the traffic report, but they didn’t leave. I’m pretty sure they’re still there now.

I live within spitting distance (literally) of the 101 freeway in Hollywood, so I’m no stranger to police chases, fire trucks, car accidents and blood curdling screeches etc. But there was something particularly unnerving about this fleet of helicopters outside my bedroom window this morning. Perhaps it was the ungodly hour of their tirade, or the unrelenting whir of their blades cutting through the smog, but something made me get up and check the news to see what was up.

Have you ever seen the movie “2012”? The one where global cataclysm brings an end to civilization, as we know it through one natural disaster after another? That’s what the news looked like today. Here’s a photo from today’s front page:

Yeah. That’s a giant sinkhole. Have you ever seen anything like this ever?!? There was a tropical storm in Guatemala this past weekend that has killed many and destroyed cities. Oh, also, Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom declared a 15-day state of calamity after a volcano erupted. That’s right – there is also a volcano wreaking havoc on the place. I mean come on! How crazy is that? And that’s only what’s going on in one part of the world. This is why I don’t read the news.

After I briefly skimmed the paper to investigate the helicopter situation (to no avail), I previewed one too many catastrophe and decided to curl back into bed, put a pillow over my head, and try to drown out the sound of the city. It’s mornings like this that make me think about all the things I’m grateful for, of which there are many. I’ll take helicopters over sinkholes any day of the week. Thank goodness this is 2010, not “2012” and I have enough faith in mankind that come what may, we have enough manpower and perseverance to survive whatever mother nature throws at us. My thoughts go out to Guatemala and to all the marine life in the South currently being drenched with oil from the giant spill, and to anyone and everything in pain or struggling to make it in the world – you will. We shall overcome.

All the best for June 2010!

Now I will sink back into books and a dose of bad TV…

Reading…
Syd Barrett: A Very Irregular Head by Rob Chapman

Rob has cleared up a lot of the myth and mystery of Pink Floyd’s Syd Barrett, while adding many facts, so far so good … I will keep you posted!

1. Next time you visit LA – you have to visit:
The Danny Benair Record Club

Stop by!

2. Lately I can’t stop watching:

3. Lately I can’t stop listening to:
New John Grant new Paul Weller,Smoke Fairies,Race Horses…and many more..

4. This year for Record Store Day I …
Bought over $100 in records, but every week is record store day to me!

5. My favorite current fad is:
No fad for me…

6. Gazing into the NEL crystal ball, I predict …
More idiots will get into my line of work, god help bands!

7. If I could have a cameo on any currently running TV show, it would be :
30 Rock,or Mad Men

my role would be: New writer, or hired and fired on same episode…not worrying about it though…

8. Best music placement of the year so far:
That is up to someone else to decide, but I am happy with how things are going!

9. The internet pitstop I spend most of my free time lately:
Los Angeles Dodgers, Facebook, Ebay…

10. When will someone invent …
If I knew then I would just invent it!

11. Mark my words … Up and coming:
My Kreskin talents have left me…BUT! Cate Le Bon is rather good!

12. Best live concert of 2010 so far:
Royal Bangs, Cate le Bon,Smoke Fairies

13. Money is no object, you get any one material item, I would pick :
A Flat in London?

14. Ultimate night out would be diner at (or cooked by): Pizzeria Mozza..

with these 6 people: Dianne, Vin Scully, Jimmy Page, Banksy, Paul McCartney, Sandy Koufax

and then followed by going to: Sweet Lady Lanes

15. OK Stop it already people! … really what’s up with the obsession with:
Jon and Kate

16. Low-brow faves:

beverage: Diet Coke, or real low brow action Tab

food: Veggie Burger

work of art: street art

17. High-brow faves:

beverage: I am so low brow…don’t get very fancy

food: Good Japanese or Mexican

work of art: Banksy

18. Last thing that made me laugh out loud:
Baby

19. Recent best read was:
Apathy For The Devil by Nick Kent, can he come to dinner too?

20. My last “LA” moment was:
Have a member of Survivor as my waitress…

1. Next time you visit LA – you have to visit:
They Getty! It’s free, and always has spectacular exhibits. I recently saw the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibit there and it was incredible.

2. Lately I can’t stop watching:
LOST – so sad it’s coming to an end so soon…

3. Lately I can’t stop listening to:
“Sticks and Stone” by Jonsi from Sigur Ros – I’ve had it on repeat on my iPod for the past 3 weeks – love it!

4. This year for Record Store Day I …
Walked down to Amoeba with my boyfriend, listened to Gary Calamar and Phil Gallo spin some tunes, and bought some awesome records.

5. My favorite current fad is:
Iced coffee with soymilk. Yum.

6. Gazing into the NEL crystal ball, I predict …
More amazing bands, placements, and happy dances.

7. If I could have a cameo on any currently running TV show, it would be: 30 Rock
my role would be: Jenna’s high school BFF in town for the weekend to relive Jenna’s “Romy and Michele-esque” high school days. Hilarious shenanigans ensue.

8. Best music placement of the year so far:
Landing Total Babe’s “Shape Up” on Grey’s Anatomy – this picture of the band watching the episode with their song on it says it all.

That’s what’s it’s all about!

9. The internet pitstop I spend most of my free time lately:
Not that there’s much free time to be had around here, but when there is, I must admit I am a PerezHilton junkie. Tisk tisk I know. I just can’t help myself.

10. When will someone invent …
A time machine. Seriously people, can someone get on that already?

11. Mark my words … Up and coming:
Cupcake resurgence. I’m telling ya, carbs are back in!

12. Best live concert of 2010 so far:
Holly Miranda at Gary Calamar’s Mimosa Music Series. So amazing, and she’s such a cool gal.

13. Money is no object, you get any one material item, I would pick :
An iPad or iPhone. Yep. I’m a lustful closet techno junkie…

14. Ultimate night out would be diner at (or cooked by):

Dinner at home, cooked by my sister Rebecca and I. Preferably Mexican pizzas – yummm!

with these 6 people: My boyfriend Leonard, Rebecca, Chloe, Mum, Dad and myself.

and then followed by going to:
The Arclight in Hollywood to see a movie in the dome. That’s pretty much my perfect evening.

15. OK Stop it already people! … really what’s up with the obsession with:
Justin Bieber’s hair. I mean really.

16. Low-brow faves:

beverage: Stella!!!

food: lime Tostitos

work of art: http://www.blublu.org/sito/video/muto.htm

17. High-brow faves:

beverage: a mojito from the rooftop bar at the Standard

food: Crispy rice topped with spicy tuna from Koi. Oh. My. God.

work of art: http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/leonardo/index.html

18. Last thing that made me laugh out loud:
http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/birdemic/trailer

19. Recent best read was:
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers.

20. My last “LA” moment was:
Hiking up and around the Hollywood sign with stunning 360 views of Los Angeles – just one of the many reasons why I love LA! J