Will And Kate's L.A. Lodging

Prince William and his wife Catherine will be staying at the British Consul General's Hancock Park residence during their three day visit to the Los Angeles area.
LAPD will cordon off the street and arrest any trespassers. A small viewing area will be set up for the public at the NW corner of June street and Sixth street, just far away enough not to see the home.
Traffic in the Hancock Park area will be Carmaggedon-lite for the duration of the Royals visit.

The British Consul's humble abode.

The Royal entrance.

LAPD en garde.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2011

La Brea Tar Pits

Afternoon at the La Brea Tar Pits.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2011

405 Preparing For Carmageddon

The 405 freeway preparing for a 2 day closure, from July 16 and 17th, lovingly referred to as "Carmageddon" by KNX news radio. The 10 mile closure, from the 10 to the 101, is expected to wreck traffic havoc upon Los Angeles, and residents are asked to stay away from westside.
Local bars and area near the 405 are offering specials to entice residents to stay off of the roads and have a place to hang out.

Pre-Carmageddon.

Say goodbye to the Mulholland Drive bridge as we know it.

Prepping the Mulholland Drive bridge for demolition.

Snake warning near the Carmageddon epicenter.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2011

Whitey's House

Outside views of the Santa Monica apartment building where fugitive Whitey Bulger and his girlfriend Catherine Grieg were living.
The couple used the names Charles and Carol Gasko to hide their identity. They also paid the $1145 dollar rent in cash every month, and lived there since 1996.
The FBI found $800K cash along with 30 firearms inside the apartment. Whitey Bulger and Catherine Grieg are now in federal custody back in Boston.

Whitey's house.

Boston sticker on a car parked in the driveway.

The Gasko's, Whitey and Catherine, in apt. #33.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2011

Feds Seize Mongols Logo

A federal judge in L.A. ruled in favor of the U.S. governments efforts to sieze the trademarks of the Mongols motorcycle club. The Mongols were involved in racketeering, drug trafficking, hate crimes against blacks, fire arms violations and assaults.
In 2008 the ATF and FBI arrested 61 Mongol members, under "Operation Black Rain," and shut down their operations. As part of the indictment against the Mongols, the Justice Department seized the Mongols intellectual property including their logo. Wearing or displaying a Mongols logo or "colors", a Ghengis Khan character riding a chopper, would now be illegal.
The Mongols formed in the L.A. area in the early 1970's and are mostly comprised of latino members.

Federal property.

"Operation Black Rain."



Photos by Ted Soqui © 2008

The Rio Hondo

Saw this cool looking horse back rider on the Rio Hondo trail, while I was riding my bicycle.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2011

Phonehenge West (Updated)

Alan Kimble Fahey, creator of Phonehenge West, was taken into jail by order of a L.A. County Superior Court Judge today. Fahey was convicted last month of 12 misdemeanors including building code violations for building un-permitted and un-safe structures on his property. He also failed to comply with court orders to stop all work on his property and turn off the power after the convictions. Prosecutors argued that Fahey was ignoring the law and acted as he was above the law. Supporters of Fahey felt the court acted too harshly, and believe the one-of-a kind structure's mechanical issues could be resolved.
A bail hearing is set for July 27.

The creator of "Phonehenge West," Alan Kimble Fahey, was convicted of three misdemeanors today, for not complying with the building and safety codes of Acton, CA., a small desert community just north of Los Angeles.
Fahey was repeatedly cited over the last few years by Acton building and safety officials to cease construction of his massive structures, many of them considered unsafe by the officials.
The "Phonegenge West" compound has taken Fahey over 30 years to construct on his sprawling 20,000 foot California desert property. Fahey is now facing prison time along with fines for the misdemeanor convictions, and the structures may have to be torn down. Supporters of the "Phonehenge West" project believe the buildings should be saved, and consider them works of art. Most of the structures are constructed with telephone poles and other strange industrial materials.
Prosectors in the case may file more charges against Fahey,  he will be sentenced on July 8, 2011.

Phonehenge.

Phonehenge structure.

A giant crane and black widow.

Phonehenge

Phonehenge.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2011

Angeles Crest Highway Re-Opens.

A seven mile section of Angeles Crest Highway re-opened to the pubic today, after a 18 month closure due to heavy rain and damage from the Station Fire.
Took a drive up and down the newly repaved section today and shot this video.



Video by Ted Soqui Films © 2011

John Edwards Indicted

Former presidential and vice-presidential candidate John Edwards was indicted today for federal campaign charges today by a Federal Grand Jury. Edwards was charged with 6 counts of conspiracy, receiving illegal campaign contributions, and making false statements. The case was tied in with a sex scandal involving Edwards, his campaign manager attempted to cover it up with campaign money.
Edwards is expected to plead not guilty.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2007

John Edwards

Spring Wave Day In LA

Surfrider beach wave.

Point Dume.

The Bu.

Point Dume.

Point Dume.

Point Dume looking south.

A decent sized and rare springtime south swell is hitting the beaches of L.A. County this week, producing some fine waves. Hundreds of surfers took to the water from Will Rogers to Point Dume. The swell is expected to last till late Thursday, and a deep marine layer should also hit the coast tomorrow according to KCBS weathercaster Jackie Johnson.


Photos by Ted Soqui © 2011

New Era For The L.A. Lakers

The L.A. Lakers announced their new head coach today, Mike Brown, who was signed to a three year contract with an option for a fourth year. Details of the contract were not disclosed.
Brown was introduced by Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak, he answered questions from the media.
Brown told the media that he would not run the triangle offense anymore, and would introduce more defensive play. The offense would still run through Kobe, with more penetration in to the painted area to get more offensive options.
The press conference was held at the L.A. Lakers practice court in El Segundo.

Mike Brown.

Jim Buss, Mike Brown, Dr. Jerry Buss, and Mitch Kupchak.

World Championship trophies watch over the press conference.

On the walls of the practice court.

Dr. Jerry Buss' Rolls.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2011

Art In The Streets @ MOCA

Graffiti and street art from the "Art In The Streets' show at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. The show runs from April 17 through August 8, 2011, and features some of the world's best street artist including Banksy, Sheppard Fairey, and Retna.

Banksy

Neckface

Mister Cartoon

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2011

LAPD Still Confident

Chief Beck and his detectives.

Wanted poster on Mariposa Ave.

Ramirez and LAPD sketch. 

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck faced the media today and stated he is confident that Giovanni Ramirez is still one of the main persons responsible for beating Giants fan Brian Stow. Although Chief Beck is now calling for more investigation in to the case against Ramirez, who was arrested last Sunday.
"A score of detectives" are still investigating the beating case, along with "700 clues that are coming in from the public" claims Chief Beck.
Ramirez faced a line up yesterday, and Chief Beck stated he was satisfied with results, although he would not clarify the results.
Ramirez has lawyered up and states he was at home with his 10 year old daughter at the time of the beating on March 31, 2011. He is also willing to take a police polygraph to prove his innocence. Ramirez is being held for a parole violation and for the vicious beating, with bail set at 1 million dollars.
Two other suspects still remain at large, one woman get away driver and one male latino.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2011

Highland Theatre Re-Lit

The 502 light bulb sign above the Highland Theatre building was re-lit today. The lighting was part of a project to help preserve signage along Route 66. Hundreds of HLP residents watched along Highland Park's Figueroa Ave., and joined in on a impromtu countdown as the sign was lit by city officials.
The local high school band from Franklin High provided their musical talents during the ceremonies, and a local baker gave away samples of his red velvet cake.

Photos and footage by Ted Soqui © 2011

The Highland Theatre sign re-lit.

Franklin H.S. Band.

HLP Color Guard.

Long time HLP resident enjoying some red velvet cake.

Snotty Scotty & The Hankies Play At Save Dave

Snotty Scotty & The Hankies performing at the Save Dave Melrose event in Altadena.

Footage by Ted Soqui © 2011

Three Arrested In Connection With Ktown/Wilshire Crime Spree

An emotional LAPD Chief Charlie Beck read a brief statement from the family of Gabriel Ben Meir who was slain by three robbers last Sunday. Gabriel Ben Meir, a TV producer for MTV, was found dead on a sidewalk in the early morning hours near his mid-Wilshire home last Sunday. Chief Beck also commended the men and women of the LAPD, who worked around the clock to capture the three murder/robber suspects.
Arrested are Richard Edward Anderson of Reseda a 33 year old male black, Destiny Young of L.A. a 29 year old white female, and Jabaar Vincent Thomas of L.A. a 26 year old black male. All will be charged for multiple counts of robbery and murder.
The three suspects committed at least 11 crimes with a shotgun between the dates of 4-29-11 through 5-10-11, many of the robberies only yielded small amounts of cash.

LAPD Chief Beck

LAPD map of the 11 robberies and homicides.

Photos and video footage by Ted Soqui © 2011

Shotgun Crime Spree In Koreatown

A series of nine armed hold-ups have occurred in the Koreatown/Harvard Heights/West Adam section of Los Angeles since 4-29-2011. LAPD officials believe three suspects are responsible for the crime spree, and a tactical alert was called in the Ktown area as LAPD searched for the suspects.
They are described as black males around 5'9" tall in their mid 20's, one suspect was detained then arrested today in a supermarket parking lot near Washington blvd. and Tenth Ave.
The suspects used several different single barrel shotguns and rifles, firing and killing one victim, another victim who fought with the robbers was shot at but not injured.
So far the LAPD has not tied in the recent murder of Gabriel Ben Meir, a beloved MTV producer, who was killed on a sidewalk near his mid-Wilshire home. Ben Meir was shot in the head execution style with a shotgun around 1:30am, neighbors found his body around 6:30 am Sunday morning.
Most of the robberies have occurred in the early morning hours, with two in the evening.

Press conference at LAPD Olympic station.

LAPD map of the nine robberies, minus the Ben Meir killing.

LAPD map detail of robberies # 2 and 3.

LAPD map detail of robbery #4 with an image of one of the robbers.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2011

Indonesian Dancing

Burat Wangi perform Javanese dance and music at the California Institute for the Arts.
This video was shot on the Canon 5D Mark II camera.

Video by Ted Soqui © 2011

5-1-2011

Mission Accomplished!

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2011