Action Shot!

Here at CHANFLES! we don’t pretend to bring you late breaking news and we often fail at even mentioning old but relevant news. Some blogs try to be like newspapers, especially now that the newspapers are dropping the ball on the news, but that’s not our angle. (C’mon now, lets not allow this format to denigrate into simple news gathering, okay?) Instead, we focus on delivering a hot slice of the quotidian like nobody else can deliver: absurd, useless, typical, inane, and utterly common tidbits about daily life in a neighborhood of average working people. You may not find any meaning in it, but someday (I’m sure of it) digital archaeologists will be scouring the vast pools of ancient hard drives trying to excavate some sense of daily life back in the 21st century, some record about the majority of inhabitants in the city of Los Angeles that happened to live their lives out of the noticeable spotlights of the major industries. You know, all those minor characters that just happened to play an insignificant role in the ALL IMPORTANT NARRATIVE SOMEONE ELSE WILL DECIDE IS THE STORY OF LOS ANGELES. Shit, all they did was bring you your plate, pick up your crap, move your stuff from here to there, raise your kids; you know, stuff you could do if you were one of the lesser beings and had time to deal with those common human tasks. But glory only goes to those that aim for glory. The history of this era will be written, as always, by the ones in power or those closely associated to that mechanism of so-called meaning. Those mofos have a secret lock on worthiness, I’m telling you. Only they know how to turn a teen-pregnancy into a rally cry for a vice-president.

Despite that sad understanding of the world around us, and painfully aware that glory will be ours 500 years from now (give or take a century), sometimes the crew here at CHANFLES! does happen upon news in the making, breakthrough stuff that could be classified as “exclusive”. Like for instance, this action shot of a colchonero revealing a secret colchon moving strategy of using balconies instead of the hard slog up those cramped stairs. Oye, compa, you might want to help your pal with the mattress instead of smiling for the camera, que no? Still, we appreciate your gracious spirit, all power be to thee.

That’s your action shot! Film at 11. (Give or take.)

(PS. By “crew” and “we” I mean only me. CHANFLES! is still trying to find the marketing strategy where one fool “mouthing off” without any ads still pays off big time.)

Posted in Analysis, Chanfles, Fotos, Lincoln Heights, This Chicano Life | 10 Comments

Scenes From A Moving Vehicle

I seem to find myself within the Personal Armored Space of an automobile quite often nowadays, I suspect that the sinister plot of the work week might have something to do with this predicament. And though I’d rather be walking, biking, and snapping photos up and down the “grittiest urban settings” of my fair Lincoln Heights (side note to that link: fuck your fake Eastside!) I’ve decided to just go with the flow and allow my camera access to the car world around us. Car based photos tend to be quite bad by their very nature but they can still capture some sense of the reality we experience in our daily lives. Much can happen getting from one place to another. Moments of truth, seconds of the surreal, it all takes place.

I was thinking of writing something for those car transport haters, something to put things into context, but I can’t be bothered at the moment. Without further ado, click ahead for a gang of pics from a vehicle!

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Posted in Eastside, Fotos, Greater Los Angeles | 6 Comments

Huevos Rancheros: Koras Restaurant

I could just say nothing. But I’ll say something.

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Posted in Analysis, Fotos, Huevos Rancheros, La Comida, linux/tech, This Chicano Life | 16 Comments

Oh Dear

(Breathe in, breathe out. Composure.)

Over at LA Eastside, I mentioned that I’m not a huge fan of the works by ALZA but noted that his aesthetic basically defines the look of Northeast LA, and increasingly, some of the Eastside. Waltarrrrr of 90042 doesn’t care much for his signs, and is fuming over the decidedly stupid “care” fix on some mural tagging. Considering that these types of aerosol murals and my preferred painted signs are considered illegal, I would still rather see this type of impromptu artwork instead of the blank walls the paperwork process of the city bureaucracy practically imposes.

But still, when one of my favorite places to eat gets ALZAfied, that’s not easy to stomach.

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Posted in Analysis, Fotos, La Comida, Lincoln Heights | 8 Comments

El Difunto Don Ramon

20 years ago, the legendary actor and comedian Ramón Valdés, better known as “Don Ramon” on the Chavo Del Ocho TV series, passed away due to lung cancer. Though he had a tendency for doling out coscorones to El Chavo (ouch!) I can’t let the day go by without acknowledging and paying my respects to the talents of this comedic genius. His character was beloved by many as he represented the (barely!) working man, having to fend of the landlord coming for the rent, constantly mocked and corrected by the cultured class (Prof. Jirafales), and forced to hold in his rage against the verbal and physical attacks of the aspiring middle class, aka Dona Florinda. Despite his daily struggles to make ends meet and being lumped into the category of mere Chusma, the man was honest and retained a kind heart. It’s not the sort of role I expect to see on TV anytime soon.

To get this commemorative party started, check out the homage video clip above, with a great song by Los Mox! that celebrates ‘Ron Damon’. Then click ahead for some more clips, pos si quieres.

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Posted in Chanfles, videos | 4 Comments

Burrito Vegetariano 2.50


click here for larger (but still blurry) pic

The new sign at Llamarada includes a bold and strong embrace of the veggie customers, no doubt my friends and I have played a hand in this welcome addition to their always sparse menu. It’s not hard to influence culture, food or otherwise, you just have to be a participant.

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments