Gendy Alimurung

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"I Survived Japan's Tsunami" T-Shirt: Too Soon?

What do you think, too soon? This "I Survived" Japan's tsunami t-shirt was designed by Bill Wyatt (formerly Billy Tsangares), owner of Los Angeles t-shirt shop Y-Que Trading Post. Remember the Free Winona tee? Yup. He did that one, too. Are the shirts poor taste? Or are they art? Wyatt......
Favio Zelaya and Angie Rodriguez star as George and Emily.; Credit: GENDY ALIMURUNG

Our Gritty Town

For their school's first play ever, the drama club at Animo Pat Brown Charter High School in South Central Los Angeles chose Thornton Wilder's Our Town. How unoriginal, right? Wrong. They recast milquetoast Emily Webb as a voluptuous Latina with bangs over one eye. Their narrator spoke in both English......
Credit: Photos by Gendy Alimurung

Kobe Bryant Bangs The Drum For Turkish Airlines: Et Tu, Kobe?

Why is Kobe Bryant banging on this drum? He's the "global brand ambassador" for Turkish Airlines now. He was at the inaugural flight ceremony launch not too long ago. He appeared onstage at the Paramount Studios lot. He shook hands with the chairman of the airlines as the first flight......
Credit: Chandi Lancaster's Vampire Teeth Bike Shorts modeled by Mandisa Wright

Vampire Teeth Bike Shorts: For Sporty Goths?

See these amazing vampire teeth bike shorts? They bring up so many questions. (Who wears them? Vampires? Goths? Do Goths need bike shorts? Do they ride bikes? Do they only bike at night?) Their maker, 35-year old Chandi Lancaster of Brooklyn, New York, graciously answered a few. A lover of......
Unicorn Magic Baking Company's Kaycee Wysaski

Cakes of All Colors, Delivered With a Song

Contrary to popular belief, the cakes baked by Unicorn Magic Baking Company do not contain actual unicorns. "Eww. That's gross," says Dani Forlizzi, scrunching her nose. "We like unicorns. We don't want to eat them." Forlizzi and co-owner Kaycee Wysaski do not chop or slice or grind or purée or......
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Keeping Bookstores Alive with Ken and Barbie Mummies

A bit of spectacle, a bit of soft sell, plus drinks and perhaps a cheese plate. At bookstores, those elements come together these days to form what are known as "events." They have become de rigueur for booksellers hoping to avoid Chapter 11. This year, Vroman's Hastings Ranch in Pasadena......
Lorraine Jonsson: Once bit

Lorraine Jonsson's Miraculous Survival

Even as the poison made its way up her leg, into her heart and brain, ripping through cells along the way, Lorraine Jonsson did not hate the snake that bit her. "This is horrible," she thought. "This is not good. This could be it." Then, a curiosity satisfied: "So, this......