November 22, 2008

Billboard, Schmillboard

One of the first things you notice when you travel off the rock is that billboards are everywhere. At first it's sort of a culture shock - huge, towering signs are encouraging you to watch Quantum of Solace or to buy GEICO insurance. Even retail signs and window dressings are ten times larger and flashier than in Hawaii.

I know we'll probably never approve the use of billboards in Hawaii because it obstructs our natural beauty (or so that's the argument), but after my recent trip to San Francisco and Los Angeles I think it might be cool to have at least a couple signs. I mean, Hawaii Rent-All can't continue to have the monopoly on unique signage, can it?

Here are some interesting and funny signs I saw while traveling the roadways of SF and LA. Some are billboard advertisements that tower several stories above the road. Some are just cool store names. Others are painted (or wallpapered) onto the side of buildings.

Here's a night shot of Union Square in SF. I'm atop Macy's on the Cheesecake Factory balcony, almost eye level with some of the other stores. However, as you can see, these buildings are huge and they're all sporting some cool billboards.


This is thug life Obama. It was spray painted on the sidewalk at Haight and Ashbury. Awesome huh? He's even got a blacked out tooth, which could either mean he's missing one or that it's gold capped. Which do you think it is?


A Venice resident has taken a more celestial view of the president-elect.


This was plastered on the side of a building. Whether you're an Obama or McCain supporter, you gotta admit that if you saw this you'd definitely remember to vote. "Let's Get Ready to Rumbleeeeee!"


This was another poster that was all over LA. I saw one as large as the Obama vs. McCain wall painting but just couldn't get that shot.


In L.A., they take advertising to the next level. This was on Rodeo Drive and while I don't know what the product was, it definitely was the way to go. I saw a pap chasing after this van so I snapped a shot too. Who knows? It could've been someone famous.


I have no clue what the product is, but I thought it was funny!


This was a store on Melrose Avenue, I think. Gotta love it.


I think this one was advertising some modern art exhibit using local newscasters as the subject.


When would you ever see a huge guitar like this?


At Universal Studios, they used the entire building as a scene from The Simpsons.

November 21, 2008

Life Imitates Art?

I know I promised to post something about my vacation, but I just read this bit of news online that is very disturbing and horrifying. According to the article, a Florida teen broadcasted his suicide online. Viewers logged on to watch, and there's conflicting reports that people actually witnessed the suicide as it happened. Of course, many believed it to be a hoax at the time.

The article indicates that this is not the first time someone's broadcasted a suicide online, but it's the first I've read about it and it's completely unbelievable to me. How can someone do this - both commit suicide as well as share it with the world? Was it his attempt at a last hurrah? Was it to get the attention that he may have craved? And why would people log on to view such a thing? This makes Untraceable, starring Diane Lane, more and more plausible. Has society's morals been degraded so much that page hits increase with the prospect of another person's death?

While there are tons of films and tv series that portray similar situations, this is the first I've read of it in real life. Is this an example of life imitating art? Or are there numerous examples that have caused the media to show more and more graphic images? Are today's kid's so numb to feeling emotions that anything filtered through a screen is automatically dismissed as being fake? If so, we're in for a bumpy ride because today's youth is the most technologically advanced generation ever.

November 16, 2008

Holiday Greetings from the Obamas

Well, I'm back from vacation and have pretty much recovered from all the fun I had. I promise to blog about some of the interesting things I noticed in Los Angeles and San Francisco in the near future. For now, I'll just leave you with a brief message from our next president. Happy Holidays everyone!