not in Kansas

not in Kansas
Originally uploaded by faria.

I came across this crazy elaborately painted car as I was walking around during my lunch break.

The car's antenna ball is a cheeky witch, and both front and rear are decorated with characters from the Wizard of Oz. The front says Surrender Dorothy, and the rear says Dont make me get my flaming monkeys

I really want to meet the guy/gal who owns this car. Hopefully they don't mind me photographing it!

Mosaic created with fd's Flickr Toys.

small gods

small gods
Originally uploaded by faria.

There are billions of gods in the world. They swarm as thick as herring roe. Most of them are too small to see and never get worhsipped, at least by anything bigger than bacteria...

These are the small gods - the spirits of places where two ant trails cross, the gods of microclimates down between the grass roots...

Because what gods need is belief, and what humans want is gods.

Terry Pratchett, 'Small Gods'

Chinatown kitsch. downtown LA.

Flying through the Skyway

Flying through the Skyway
Originally uploaded by faria.

The CSULA bus station skyway overlooking the 10 freeway.

After climbing multiple flights of steps to reach the skyway (the elevator takes too long and is usually not in operation), you can see the cars whizz by beneath you.

On windy days, the dust blows into your face as you cross the strip. Someone's bookbag is always open and their papers fly loose everywhere and it feels like snow. The closest thing to snow we'll ever get here in LA.

Just me and the bus driver

Just me and the bus driver
Originally uploaded by faria.

on a magical mystery tour.

One thing's for sure, he isn't starring in the movies.
'Cause he's walkin' in L.A.

Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., only a nobody walks in L.A.

~ Missing Persons, 'Walking in LA'

I guess I'm a nobody!!

Morris, darkly

Morris, darkly
Originally uploaded by faria.

What does a scanner see? he asked himself. I mean, really see? Into the head? Down into the heart? Does...[it] see into me -into us- clearly or darkly?

from A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick
--
The movie was decent although I felt the pace was rushed. In this case, the written word has the advantage over the big-screen because you can gradually watch Bob Arctor unravel and disintegrate as the two hemispheres of his brain split.