Photos from Skid Row Los Angeles

A few months after my son Bryan was killed while street racing in Azusa I met Sammy Maloof and Janeen Ferdinand, and from the beginning of our relationships they welcomed me into their circle with open arms and hearts. I kept the two at a distance, not certain I wanted what they offered to me at no cost, unconditional love.

On November 13th, 2011 I joined the Sammy Maloof Racing Team on Skid Row and photographed what I witnessed, and I have been at their sides every Sunday since then.

Janeen requested I begin taking photos of the nearby streets to give people an idea of the need, and the need is great as the Midnight Mission and Union Rescue Mission are over flowing with hungry and homeless Americans. Stay tuned, as I will add many more pictures to my Skid Row Collection on Flickr every Sunday night.

And big hat tip to the Los Angeles Times for the extensive coverage of the homeless living on the cold streets of Los Angeles.

Mark Lacter: Bad times for L.A. nonprofits that help people in need

Sandy Banks: On skid row, helping the most needy of the 99%

Don Staggs and Haunted Orange County

Don Staggs a former pressman at the Los Angeles Times is also a Psychic and Paranormal Investigator, and I have been told he appears on television occasionally regarding his teams work. Not being a television user I have never viewed his work, maybe I’ll break down and watch one day?

This weekend (Saturday February 4th, 2012) Don and his team of investigators will offer an insiders look for the first time of six Victorian homes, with all proceeds benefiting their friend Donn Shy, to defray medical costs.




Tickets are limited to sixty individuals and can only be purchased online at http://www.hauntedorange.com/heritagesquare.htm

LA Times: Layoffs, Sabotage and Suicides?

by Steven Mikulan on January 31, 2012

Ed Padgett was driving in the rain to a union meeting when the L.A. Times called to tell him he was fired. The pressman, a third-generation Times employee, listened in shock last December to an HR woman’s voice explain he was being dismissed for “safety violations, dishonesty and suspicion of sabotage.”

That last charge had a bittersweet irony. Padgett had been at the paper for more than 39 years and had done everything he could to help it prosper – even as members of the corporate wrecking crew that drove the paper into bankruptcy were still counting their money.

“It was similar to jumping into an icy cold pool of water,” Padgett recalls. “I felt like crying because I’d been there so damn long, but I soon got over it.” He drove on to his meeting in La Mirada, but hasn’t been back to the Times printing plant on Olympic Boulevard to clean out his locker.

Continue reading by clicking here

Tuesday Morning in the Blogosphere

• Hedger pausing on print - New York Post
• Gannett Misses Earnings Targets - Paid Content
• Tribune bankruptcy bill hits $231 million - Romenesko
• Newspapers alive and well for readers - Your West Valley
• High-stakes labor battle coming to California - Mercury News
• LA Times Has a Record Year on the Web - Matthew Fleischer
• New York Times Looks at Purchase of U.S. Newspapers - OB Rag
• Bad times for L.A. nonprofits that help people in need - Mark Lacter
• Albany Times Union Invests in Print Despite New Media - Chronicle
• Editor: social media "more dangerous" than print media - Australian
• Times employees' suit over Zell deal officially wrapped - Kevin Roderick

Kris Novy Feat Jahmark Gimme that Soul Extended Mix

Reggae meets Techno as Jahmark crosses cultural and musical barriers

Paraiso Music
404 W. 4th Street #8
San Pedro, California 90731
Phone 310.809.5810 FAX 866.855.6119
missmarjel@yahoo.com

Reggae meets Techno as Jahmark crosses cultural and musical barriers with
“Gimme that Soul” a collaboration with Kris Novy, holds steady at #9 on the
Polish Music Charts for three weeks.

For Immediate Release: Los Angeles, California (January 30, 2012)

GIMME THAT SOUL by Kris Novy featuring Jahmark was released November 21, 2011 in Poland by Universal Music Polska / Magic Records as a collaboration. It debuted at #12 on Polish DJ charts and rose to #9, holding that position for three consecutive weeks. The upbeat, song has become a dance floor anthem. Getting a lot of radio airplay on Polish airwaves and being requested heavily at regional House / Techo parties.

Jahmark and the Soulshakers are a very popular Los Angeles based, traditional roots reggae band. Jahmark is the driving force behind the group, as he is band leader, guitar player and lead singer. With more than seven full length reggae albums under his belt, he became interested in exploring and being creative with other genres of music.

World renowned techno/house producer, Alexander Perls of Track One Recording has been working with Jahmark for a few years. They actually met through myspace, where Mr. Perls stumbled upon some of Jahmark’s original songs and was impressed with the texture and tone of Jahmark’s voice. He invited the Jamaican native to record in his Hollywood studio. They worked on five songs together and Mr. Perls sent the songs to European record labels. Universal Music Poland was instantly interested in Gimme that Soul for their up and coming Techno recording artist, Kris Novy.

Kris and Jahmark have never actually met face to face. They shared music files over the internet until they came up with something that the artists and Mr. Perl’s were pleased with. Jahmark points out: “This is the same way the Gorrillaz got their start, being that their band members lived in different parts of the world they shared music files over the web until they got themselves a collection of cohesive songs. There is something very spontaneous and magical about that type of process which seems to appeal to the high-tech masses of today.”

The song, Gimme That Soul, was put out on 60-song compilation CD, Europa Plus, Super Collection Winter Dance Volume 2. The song is available on itunes and other digital retailers and also it’s free to listen to here on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/embed/MyaB5_-mPAA




# # #
If you would like more information about Jahmark, or to schedule an interview, please contact Paraiso Music: 310-809-5810 - missmarjel@yahoo.com

Friday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

My son Nathan (from left) myself, and grandsons David and Bentley

• Could you recap the Rudd Davis saga? - Gannett Blog
• Miami Herald to build a new printing plant - Miami Herald
• Lee Enterprises refinancing takes effect January 30 - Reuters
• Mary Melton on What’s Wrong With the Times - Frying Pan News
• The day Facebook became concerned about privacy - Romenesko
• LA Times Loses NY Bureau Chief Geraldine Baum - Pandora Young
• Adam Jacobi says CBS fired him over Paterno death report - Poynter
• NY Times Struggles After Janet Robinson's Departure - Huffington Post
• Couture Planet produces bags from recycled newspapers - Boston Globe
• Brian Williams sends off George Lewis on 'Nightly News'- Kevin Roderick

Dirty Ol' Krows Playing at City Lights Feb. 3rd, 2012

Alex Dominguez, a newsprint handler at the Los Angeles Times, also enjoys singing and playing guitar in his band Dirty OL’ Krows. I haven’t had a chance to hear Alex play in almost four years, and enjoyed his previous band The Highland Band as they rocked the night away in Rancho Cucamonga.

The Dirty Krows will be playing next Friday February 3^rd at City Lights, which is just north of the 60 Freeway. If I’m free I plan on attending and enjoy their music.

Baby Come Back Home - Chili Most

I find it so gratifying to share artwork with my readers without asking for anything in return from the performers. As you know I met Chili Most at the Los Angeles Press Club three weeks ago and found him to be extremely friendly and talented, and may get together with him next week for a chat over lunch. Give his video a spin and see what you think about Baby Come Back Home?

Wan- Ifra survey shows newspapers still reach larger audience than internet

VIENNA , Oct. 12, 2011 (Press Release) - Newspaper circulation declined in print world-wide last year but was more than made up by an increase in digital audiences, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) said Thursday in its annual update of world press trends.

"Circulation is like the sun. It continues to rise in the East and decline in the West," said Christoph Riess, CEO of WAN-IFRA, who presented the annual survey Thursday at the World Newspaper Congress and World Editors Forum in Vienna, Austria.

The survey found:

• Media consumption patterns vary widely across the globe. Print circulation is increasing in Asia, but declining in mature markets in the West.
• The number of titles globally is consolidating.
• The main decline is in free dailies. "For free dailies, the hype is over," said Mr Riess.
• For advertisers, newspapers are more time efficient and effective than other media.
• Newspapers reach more people than the internet. On a typical day newspapers reach 20 percent more people world-wide than the internet reaches, ever.

• Digital advertising revenues are not compensating for the ad revenues lost to print.
• Social media are changing the concept and process of content gathering and dissemination. But the revenue model for news companies, in the social media arena, remains hard to find.
• The business of news publishing has become one of constant updating, of monitoring, distilling and repacking information.
• The new digital business is not the traditional newspaper business.

Mr Riess's presentation focused on six key areas: the media consumption shift; economic developments; newspaper circulation and number of titles; advertising expenditure by media; newspaper revenue; and internet versus mobile.

This represented a significant shift from past versions of the world press trends survey, which WAN-IFRA has been carrying out since 1988. Long a statistical compendium of information from more than 200 countries, the 2011 report focuses on the 69 countries that account for 90 percent of global industry value in terms of circulation and advertising revenue. "We're concentrating on value rather than volume, focusing on key numbers in key markets," said Mr Riess. "Our approach puts a premium on insight over numbers." This reflects feedback from industry stakeholders, as part of the new WAN/IFRA review. But the survey will continue to monitor all countries.

Continue reading by clicking here

Tuesday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

Sammy Maloof doing what he enjoys every Sunday,
feeding the homeless on Skid Row Los Angeles

• The Plight of Philadelphia newspaper Racks - Tumblr
• Washington Post’s shrinking newsroom - Romenesko
• State College newspaper prints 7,500 more papers - Poynter
• What newspapers have to learn from magazines - Editors Weblog
• GCI plan could be biggest news revamp in five years - Gannett Blog
• KPCC hires former Times Editor Russ Stanton - Los Angeles Times
• Daily News Columnist Dennis McCarthy To Retire - Matthew Fleischer
• Online newspapers visited by half of European Internet users - Biz Report
• Newspaper to fill niche with $99-a-year literary offering - Chicago Tribune
• KPCC hires Russ Stanton, ex LAT editor, as VP of content - Kevin Roderick

Are you ready to stop smoking? - Safe Cig

With smoking cigarettes becoming taboo at most public places there is an alternative with Safe-Cig, an electronic cigarette that can be used everywhere but inside the cabin of a jet.

Take a look at this product that will pay for itself within weeks of the initial outlay, which omits a slight scent that is not offensive to non-smokers.

Click here to visit Safe-Cig

Flappers Comedy Club - Claremont

The Blogging Pressman meets Comic Laura Hayden

Since becoming unemployed six weeks ago I’m forced to watch how I spend my money, so when I received a call late Friday afternoon from Flappers Comedy Club with the offer of ten free passes, how could I say no? My former colleague at the newspaper Victor Banuelos joined me Friday, with Tim Russell, Richard Olmeda, and Linda Olmeda jumping on board for the Saturday night show.

The Flappers Club in Claremont is a well-organized showroom that seats maybe just over one hundred guests, and makes for an intimate evening. With some very great choices for snacks or sandwiches that are priced from $7.00 to $15.00, it’s an idea way to spend very little money and yet have a great time.

Our host of the show, Laura Hayden, ran the show like the professional she is and broke the ice for the comic’s before they stepped onto the stage for their performances. Using a bit of crowd work she engaged the audience getting everyone prepared to laugh and have a good time.

Some say the hosts are at the bottom of the pecking order, which I disagree, as the hosts can make or break the show and should be rated on the same level as the headliner. I look forward to seeing Ms. Hayden again, and hope to see her as the headliner.

William Randolph

Upon first sighting Mr. Randolph I mistook him for a former colleague, Pete Mastin, as they have a similar gait and appearance. When William stepped on stage I assumed he would be a hack, was I ever wrong. Once he got into his routine there was no turning back as he had the crowd in tears from laughing so hard. His style is a dry type of humor that grabs the audience and doesn’t let go. If you have the opportunity to see his show I highly recommend you do so, you won’t be disappointed.

Flappers has two locations, Claremont and Burbank with shows almost daily, visit their website and see what I mean. Click here FLAPPERS

Saturday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

I appear to cross paths with more former Los Angeles Times employees than most? Here's Eddie Amaro at the West Covina VFW, Eddie worked at the LA Times owned Recycler.

• Newspapers, “truth vigilantes” no more - Salon
• Death? There’s an app for that! - The Final Edition
• Newspapers in Japan defy West's media malaise - Shingo Ito
• If you're looking for someone to report and write - Journalism Shop
• Online Ad Spend To Pass Print in 2012 - Newspaper Death Watch
• Detroit Media Partnership calls furloughs 'imperative' - Gannett Blog
• 16th anniversary of New York Times website, a look back - Steve Myers
• Washington Post fails to tell readers about price increase - Romenesko
• Artist Reflects on a Year’s Worth of LA Times Portraits - Richard Horgan
• Portland Newspaper Guild Rejects 50 Changes To Contract - Media Bistro

Feeding the Homeless on Skid Row Los Angeles

With rain falling throughout Los Angeles at this moment, there is a small chance we will be rained out tomorrow in our efforts to lend a hand to the homeless and hungry. I have a feeling the rain will subside long enough that we can setup the grill and tables to distribute the famous Sammy Maloof burgers between 5:00 p.m. and until the food is exhausted.

What may sound like simple food to you and I, (hamburgers) happens to be a big treat to the folks living on the streets of Skid Row Los Angeles. Without hearing any feedback it’s rather easy to see the food is appreciated, as we have never brought any food back to the racing shop.

If you would be interested in volunteering any Sunday come to Lamp Village, which is located at 527 Crocker Street, the cross street is 5^th. We set up between 4:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., with tomorrow questionable due to forecasts of rain.

A Conversation with Eric Weiner

Lisa Napoli with Eric Weiner

Last night I attended the Live Talk LA event in Santa Monica courtesy of Kevin Roderick, and it was well worth the forty-five mile drive each way from San Dimas.

I didn’t even note the title of Eric Weiner’s new book as all the events of this type have always been a blast, as well as informative. The book is titled "Man Seeks God: My Flirtations with the Divine,”

Moments after the conversation began Mr. Weiner mentioned that he helped feed the homeless during the Christmas Season, and how good he felt afterwards, he immediately had my full attention as I help feed the homeless every Sunday with Sammy Maloof and friends.

What I assumed would be a forty-five minute conversation turned into ninety minutes, which felt like thirty minutes, as Mr. Weiner was extremely interesting as he explained his research into the different religions around the globe. He said there are nine thousand four hundred and eighty-eight different religions, which he focused on a handful.

But one statement stuck in my mind, he said religious people are happier than non-religious people.

I would highly recommend reading his book, which I didn’t buy last night due to the long line of readers buying the book. Instead I departed with Bianca to grab something to eat.

Support for piracy bills? It's going, going, gone - LA Biz Observed

By Mark Lacter

"It's the predictable but nonetheless stunning fallout to today's protest of the anti-piracy legislation that had been wending its way through Congress (a test vote was being planned in the Senate next week)".

Click on the link below for the complete article

Support for piracy bills? It's going, going, gone - LA Biz Observed

Los Angeles Times Pressmen's Breakfast

The men and women that produced your favorite newspaper, the Los Angeles Times, gathered at Carrows Restaurant yesterday and everyone had a great time seeing their former colleagues.

I would guess there were somewhere between forty and forty-five in attendance, with Richard Olmeda the sole pressman still employed by the newspaper.

Many did not recognize one another as thirty or more years had slipped by and our hair either turned gray or fell out. And with the passing of time we have all gained a few extra pounds here and there.

To remember this event seventy-five photographs have been uploaded to Flickr, just click here to be redirected to the collection.

A BIG thanks to Emmett Jaime III for organizing the breakfast that the men and women cherished so much.

The next scheduled gathering will take place on March 27th, 2012 at Weiland Brewery from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and everyone is invited to attend pressman or not.

Protect IP / SOPA Breaks the Internet

Send your message to Congress by clicking here



The video above discusses the Senate version of the House's Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). In the Senate the bill is called the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA). SOPA has gotten more attention than PIPA because it was moving faster in the legislative process. But PIPA is just as dangerous, and now it is moving faster.

PIPA would give the government new powers to block Americans' access websites that corporations don't like. The bill lets corporations and the US government censor entire websites and cut sites off from advertising, payments and donations.

This legislation will stifle free speech and innovation, and even threaten popular web services like Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.

The bill is scheduled for a test vote in the Senate on Jan. 24th: We need to act now to let our lawmakers know just how terrible it is. Will you fill out the form above to ask your lawmakers to oppose the legislation and support a filibuster?

Stop Internet Censorship

Millions of Americans oppose SOPA and PIPA because these bills would censor the Internet and slow economic growth in the U.S.

Two bills before Congress, known as the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House, would censor the Web and impose harmful regulations on American business. Millions of Internet users and entrepreneurs already oppose SOPA and PIPA.

The Senate will begin voting on January 24th. Please let them know how you feel. Sign this petition urging Congress to vote NO on PIPA and SOPA before it is too late.

Tell Congress: Don’t censor the Web

Fighting online piracy is important. The most effective way to shut down pirate websites is through targeted legislation that cuts off their funding. There’s no need to make American social networks, blogs and search engines censor the Internet or undermine the existing laws that have enabled the Web to thrive, creating millions of U.S. jobs.