A Duckworth in LA

Tuesday, August 29, 2006 at 4:47 PM
I'm in Los Angeles, California!

On Friday August 25, 2006 I left Austin at 11am CST and drove for 13 hours. I stopped 57 miles outside Tucson, AZ at a rest area and slept in my truck for 7 hours. Then I woke up, stretched, and then got back in the car and drove for 11 more hours til I arrived here in San Pedro, California at 6pm CST (4pm PST) on Saturday August 26, 2006.

The Trip:
I have to thank my mother for the Evil Eye that she gave me. It did its job, and nothing bad happend to me along the 1,500 miles that I travled alone across the desert to reach the Pacific. No muggings, no flat tires, no wrong turns, and I even got a full 7 hours of sleep in my truck. I'm not a superstitious person, but I'll take all the help I can get.

After I left my great friends, who helped me pack my truck and wished me on my way, I stopped at the local 7/11 to fill up on gas. I decided to keep a log of the stops for gas that I made. Below is a chart of the collected data.

Location --------- Odometer --- Gallons --- Price per Gallon

Austin, TX................76,247............. 12.715.............. $2.79
Junction, TX............76,398..............7.760............... $2.99
Ft. Stockton, TX.....76,247..............10.896.............. $2.95
Sierra Blanca, TX....76,247...............8.416.............. $3.09
Deming, NM............76,947...............9.674................$3.05
Tucson, AZ..............77,177...............11.242.............. $2.71
Yuma, AZ.................77,405..............11.849...............$2.87
Oceanside, CA.........77,621..............11.071................$2.87
San Pedro, CA.........77,700..............-------...............-----

So, a few stats...
Total Distance: 1453mi.
Total Gallons Purchased: 83.623
Average Miles per Gallon: 18.9
Average Price per Gallon: $2.925

This trip was my first long distance road trip alone. I don't have a CD player in my truck, and unfortunately I didn't have any cassettes to listen to. (HA!) I had to rely on radio. As you can probably imagine, most of the time there weren't many radio stations to listen to (except near major cities), so I had a lot of time with Bryan's brain; thinking about where I was going, what it would be like, and what I would do when I got there.

Some of the interesting things I noticed along the way included:
Texas doesn't seem to ever end, and when it does it's obvious. New Mexico is better to drive through in the dark. Arizona really looks like the picture on the license plates. There was a really cool cartoon like, mile long stretch of desert outside Yuma, AZ, giant sand dunes and all. Right before you get to San Diego on I-8 you have to cross a small mountain range with the craziest mountains I have ever seen. It literally looked like a gigantic pile of boulders. No kidding. Southern California, from San Diego to Los Angeles is just one huge stretch of civilization. It's truly an incredible testament to Urban Sprawl.

After 24 hours of driving, and a 7 hour sleep in the middle of no where, I arrived at my destination, San Pedro, CA. I am currently staying with Shelley Smith, a reporter for ESPN. My dad was friends with her when they both lived in the Denver, CO area during grade school. I went to visit my grandfather (who still lives in the Denver area) in July at the same time that my dad was in town for his 30 Year High School Reunion. I got to meet a lot of my dad's old friends, including Shelley Smith. I mentioned to her that I was planning on moving to LA in a month or so and she was very gracious to offer me a place to stay while I look for employment. I have to say, my dad really hooked me up on this one. This is one of the best things that has or could have ever happend to me.

After waking up on the second day of my drive all I could think about was how nice it would be to take a shower once I got here. I really hate being dirty. I don't know how the europeans do it. Once I got through Arizona though, I started thinking about how I hoped to god she has the internet. I have a serious addiction to the internet and that was a very big concern of mine. Once I arrived I saw a computer. Sitting there in all its glory, next to it the beautiful blinking lights of a cable modem router. I put the shower idea on the back burner and checked my email, chatted with some friends, and checked out the recent news before I did anything else.

I went to In-N-Out Burger for dinner, a West Coast favorite. It was delicious.

Also, Shelley has 2 cats. An older grey cat named "Buster" and a little tabby kitten named "Tatum." Like most animals, they love me.

Life is grand.

Day 1 (August 27th, 2006):

My first full day in LA was a very eventful one. A friend of mine, Stephanie, moved out here right after we graduated in May. She lives in Sherman Oaks, near Burbank, CA. I figured she'd be a good person to start off with. We chatted online and she told me that her and her roommate, Debra, had planned a day of events. They invited me along and I was more than happy to come.

The first thing we did was visit the Animatronics exhibit at the Academy of Motion Pictures in downtown Hollywood. It was really frickin' cool. I got to see the original Yoda, the animatronic mask used in Harry and the Hendersons, Doc Oc from Spider-Man 2, as well as various other props from movies you've probably all heard of.

After we left the exhibt we went to Cabo Cantina on Sunset Blvd. They have a happy hour every day from 4-7pm that includes a buy one get one free on every drink. I had 2 margaritas and 2 beers. MMmmmm!

Then we made a really brief stop at a bar in Hollywood (I think it was called I Bar). It was only 6:30 and the friends that Stephanie was looking for weren't there, so we left. (Plus they gave me a hard time for wearing shorts and sandals. Listen to me door men across the globe, when I am wealthy enough, I am going to make a point to always wear shorts and sandals to bars. So be prepared.)

After leaving the retardo bar we went to a Comedy Club on Ventura Blvd. Stephanie and Debra knew another girl who was performing in an improv show. It cost us $7 each, but it was 2 hours long, I was laughing, and so it was definitely worth it.

Finally, after the improv show we visited another friend of their's. We watched the end of the Grammy's and then I drove home. (I also saw the craziest car wreck ever on the ride home. One car slammed into the back of the other and burst into a huge ball of fire.)

Day 2 (August 28th, 2006):

My second day in LA was a little more relaxing. First of all, before I did anything else, I figured I would try to get a job interview. There is a good website on line, EntertainmentCareers.Net, that has all kinds of jobs. I found 3 that I applied to. (Thanks to Stefan for helping me update my resume.)

I visited another friend of mine, Courtney, who lives in Huntington Beach, CA which is about a 45 min drive from where I am. After making my way down into Orange County, Courtney and I went to a bar called Sharkeez in downtown Huntington. We had some margaritas, chilled out for a bit, did a little shooting the shit, and headed back to her place.

At her place we played some Ping-Pong and watched Bill Mahr (who is really on the top of my "Very Happy With You" List right now.)

After that I went to the grocery store, VONS. Picked up some food and headed back to Shelley's. She hadn't been home the first 2 nights I was there and she left me a key under the mat. She must have arrived while I was out, because she was there when I got back. We talked for awhile, but then it got kind of late and she went to bed. I fed my internet addiction for a bit, but then I too had to retire.

Day 3 (Today):

Today I haven't really done much. Kinda putzed around on the internet, took a nap on the porch, and I am going to have dinner (Steak!) with Shelley here in a minute.

This blog post has probably been the most time consuming thing I have done all day. It's a long one.

Also!! I got a job interview for tomorrow. World Race Productions, the company that makes the Emmy winning reality series The Amazing Race, called me back after I sent in my resume. I am to meet with "Chris" at 3pm in the China Airlines building in El Segundo, CA near LAX. I am interviewing for a Production Assistant position. You can find the posting here.

Well, that's it for now. I'm sure that I will read over this and realize I missed something, so I'll be updating in the future. Comments please!

How did this happen? Oh, that's right.

Monday, August 28, 2006 at 12:16 AM
Well, I just wanted to make a quick update to inform the 3 people who read this (I know it is actually probably more than that. I'm tracking you guys!) I am currently living in Los Angeles, California. Technically I live in San Pedro at the moment, but also technically it is in Los Angeles county and was actually annexed by the city of Los Angeles in 1909.

I have to say one thing about Los Angeles. IT'S HUGE!

I mean, I knew it was big, and I expected lots of people, but I don't think you can really understand the scope I'm talking about unless you've seen it with you own eyes. The Romans would be crapping their pants.

Basically, here is the run down. On Friday August 25, 2006 I left Austin at 11am CST and drove for 13 hours. I stopped 57 miles outside Tucson, AZ at a rest area and slept in my truck for 7 hours. Then I woke up, stretched, and then got back in the car and drove for 11 more hours til I arrived here in San Pedro, California at 6pm CST (4pm PST) on Saturday August 26, 2006.

So, now I am preparing to look for a job and a permenant residence. I will get back to this later. I will tell you all about my drive, all about my first days in LA, and all about my plans for the next few weeks. Hold on tight, it's about to get a lot more interesting.

1994 - The year I discovered Hair Gel

Monday, August 21, 2006 at 4:10 PM
I had a fairly normal, fairly good childhood. Every morning, since kindergarten, I would simply wake up and put on some clean clothes and head to school. I never put a second thought to how I looked or really even how others percieved me.

My first glimpse into the world of vanity occured in the middle of my 4th grade school year. One day, out of the blue, two other kids (who I would hesitate to call "friends," although at the time I guess I thought they were, or at least hoped they were) asked me "Hey Bryan, how come you never comb your hair?" I was dumbfounded. I couldn't even comprehend the question they had asked me. I was like "What? My hair?" Touching the top of my head in confusion. I looked at the other two boys, Richard Leon and Maxwell Rush, and they had perfectly sculpted little boy hair dos. This was the beginning of at least 3 years of extreme vanity for myself and at least a few residule years before I really understood the complex nature of the beast.

Anywho, I went home that day and asked my mom, "Mom, how do you comb your hair?" Well, she showed me. I practiced, I stroked, I brushed, and eventually I gelled. I went through a variety of hair gels, trying to get the perfect mallibility and sculptability necessary to achieve my cosmotological needs. Eventually I had done it. I had achieved what I considered to be the perfect hair.

It looked like this.



Well, when I started my first day of middle school I was ready to take 5th graders by storm. Every morning I would spend every last minute preparing my do, to make it just right. Well, that is, until I missed the school bus a few times. Then the iron fist came down. My dad said to me, "Bryan, If you miss the bus one more time because you were combing your hair, you won't be able to comb it ever again." I was shocked, no, devestated. I would have to maximize efficiency in order to make sure I could maintain perfect hair.

Nonetheless, this was the begining of the end for perfect hair. Soon my love of my perfectly sculpted helmet of folicles began to dwindle. Not too long after that I realized that my hair was perfect as is. Now I have basically reverted to my original style, Old School, if you will. I little shake of the towel in the morning and I'm good to go, but I will never forget those few years in the early 90s when all I wanted was some quality hair gel that wouldn't harden too much, but could maintain structure.

Interesting...

Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 11:27 AM


Who's who in the War on Terror. Click Here.

Domestic Terrorists? Where?! Me?!?!

at 11:12 AM
The government is really just out of control right now. I mean, it's one thing to have your "War on Terror," but some of the things I've been reading recently are just ridiculous.

I have included an article that describe foreign terrorist suspects as being conspiracy theorists.
"After 9/11 and 7/7 Waheed was sceptical about whether Muslims could have been responsible. He watched conspiracy videos on the internet. He believed them and thought they made sense. "
Here is an article that has the Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announcing that future terrorists are domestic, homegrown, and living in our neighborhoods.
"The threat of homegrown terrorist cells may be as dangerous as groups like al Qaeda, if not more so. It is therefore essential that we continue to develop the tools we need to investigate their actions and intentions with the help of our partners, and prosecute those who travel down the road of radicalization."
Could this be any more insane? I certainly hope they aren't going to come looking for me. I might not be on board with whatever plans the Bush's have, but I love this country, and I will only try to defend it's constitution.

JFK's Assasination and The Bush Connection

Tuesday, August 15, 2006 at 2:40 PM
The following movie is probably one of the most interesting videos I have ever seen. I just finished watching it for the first time, and I have yet to follow-up on the information provided, but it does a really great job of raising some questions and putting forth some interesting theories of what happend. (Two things I'm extremely interested in.)

This film suggests that George H. W. Bush was implicated in John F. Kennedy's assasination and gives good reason for him doing so.

I suggest that anyone who is curious about the bigger scope of the world we live in, the power players in the politics of reality, and the assasination of good men should watch this movie.

More Questions from Mainstream News

at 11:27 AM


Good to see another journalist actually doing his job. I got this video from a posting on the Alex Jones' website Infowars.com.
"During a prime time segment on his MSNBC show last night, anchor Keith Olbermann presented ten clear examples where the Bush administration had issued terror alerts days after politically damaging revelations and questioned the credibility of each of the alleged plots' authenticity in light of astounding evidence to the contrary."

Nations of the World

Monday, August 14, 2006 at 8:46 PM
When I was in 10th grade my geography teacher Mr. Vehoeffer let me play this video for its educational qualities. If you haven't seen it, enjoy. If you have, enjoy.



Also, for the sake of academic integrity, I have included a link that describes all the missing countries, those that have changed, and names that aren't countries at all. (Instead territories, regions, or cities)

Tubing in New Braunfels, TX!

Friday, August 11, 2006 at 5:11 PM
One of the things I really wanted to do before I left this great state of TEXAS was to go tubing. I have been tubing on the Guadalupe river in San Marcos, TX before, but I took some advice and drove a little farther south to New Braunfels this time. The Comal River is awesome! I highly recommend that any one looking to go tubing try this tube shop http://www.cornertubes.com/ It's only $10 a person!

Lou Dobbs is the man!

at 5:07 PM
I really enjoy Lou Dobbs. Regardless of the fact that I do happen to agree with him on many of his opinions, it's just really nice to see that someone who works for the mainstream media is more interested in reporting the news, and finding the truth, than just finishing the day and going home.

As I've said before, I don't know the truth about September 11, 2001, but I know the government is lying. Welp, it looks like Lou's with me.

Terror Storm - by Alex Jones

Sunday, August 06, 2006 at 7:45 PM
I had a link to this movie in my blog a few posts back, but I wanted to make a post specifically about it, because I consider it an excellent film that needs to be seen by as many people as possible. Whether or not you are inclined to believe in government sponsored terrorism, this film will open your eyes to undisputed facts about historical government sponsored terrorism, as well as investigate the reasoning for skepticism about the official story about September 11th, 2001.

TerrorStorm is the most recent documentary by Alex Jones, and certainly his best. He has exceptional production quality in comparison to some of his other films, and does an extremely good job narrating this one. I hope that everyone will take some of there free time to try and open their mind.

I also wanted to add this interesting article on CNN. Finally getting some mainstream attention.

New World Order?

at 12:08 PM
Where did the title for the globalist empire come from?



Here is a great link for why you should question the validity of the government explanation of the events on September 11th, 2001.