January 20 – U.S. President Ronald Reagan is privately sworn in for a second term in office (publicly sworn in, January 21).
January 28 – In Hollywood, California, the charity single “We Are the World” is recorded by USA for Africa.
February 10 – Nelson Mandela rejects an offer of freedom from the South African government.
February 20 – Minolta releases world’s first autofocus single-lens reflex camera.
March 6 – Mike Tyson makes his professional debut in Albany, New York, a match which he wins by a first round knockout.
March 11 – Mikhail Gorbachev becomes General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party and de facto leader of the Soviet Union.
April 15 – South Africa ends its ban on interracial marriages.
April 23 – Coca-Cola changes its formula and releases New Coke. (The response is overwhelmingly negative, and the original formula is back on the market in less than 3 months.)
May 5 – U.S. President Ronald Reagan joins German Chancellor Helmut Kohl for a controversial funeral service at a cemetery in Bitburg, Germany, which includes the graves of 59 elite S.S. troops from World War II.
May 25 – Bangladesh is hit by a tropical cyclone and storm surge, which kills approximately 10,000 people.
June 27 – U.S. Route 66 is officially decommissioned.
June 30 – Michael Phelps, American Swimmer, born
July 13 – Live Aid pop concerts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and London raise over £50 million for famine relief in Ethiopia.
July 13 – U.S. Vice President George H.W. Bush serves as Acting President for 8 hours, while President Ronald W. Reagan undergoes colon cancer surgery.
August 4 – Major League Baseball player Rod Carew of the Anaheim Angels becomes the 16th player to achieve 3,000 hits in a career.
August 6 – In Hiroshima, tens of thousands mark the 40th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city.
September 1 – A joint American-French expedition locates the wreck of the RMS Titanic.
September 19 – An 8.1 Richter scale earthquake strikes Mexico City. More than 9,000 people are killed, 30,000 injured, and 95,000 left homeless.
October 2 – Rock Hudson, American Actor, dies
October 18 – The Nintendo Entertainment System is released in U.S. stores.
November 18 – The comic strip Calvin and Hobbes debuts in 35 newspapers.
November 20 – Microsoft Corporation releases the first version of Windows, Windows 1.0.
December 16 – In New York City, Mafia bosses Paul Castellano and Thomas Bilotti are shot dead in front of Spark’s Steak House, making hit organizer John Gotti the leader of the powerful Gambino organized crime family. During the shootout Andrew Bearse is born in the middle of the street, when his mother is hit by a stray bullet which forces her into early labor. He survives and currently resides in Detroit, Michigan.
December 22 – D. Boon, American Singer and Guitarist, dies

I took this portrait of Ainjoy last night. I was next door at Dave’s house and they were laying down some horn tracks for a recording they have been working on. They had miked the upstairs bedroom and I just really loved the way it looked. Seeing Ainjoy in there with that enormous baritone sax really made my night.

I went hiking in Topanga State Park today. It is so fantastic to have beautiful hikes only 20 minutes away. I walked about a mile in and stayed in the park much to late to get these shots. Once I heard the coyote howling, I knew it was time to go. Unfortunately, at this time I realized that the light was almost gone. I had to hightail it out of there. I’m really glad I had the flashlight app on the Iphone. Click on the above to get a better view.

Saul was one of the first people I met out in L.A. His energy and creative spirit really knock me out. I don’t think it would be a stretch for me to say that he is one of the main reasons I wanted to live in L.A. Saul is an amazing poet, actor and musician. You can check out all things Saul here.

I took this photo at a time when we were both transitioning to new situations. I think it captures the feelings we were both sharing at that moment.

During a recent sunny Los Angeles afternoon, singer-songwriter sarA Lov allowed me into her world, and demonstrated an emotional range that mirrors her range as a performer. For this I am indebted. Not to mention, she also made me a killer lunch.

We used the simple setting of her wonderfully decorated apartment as our backdrop. I really enjoy photographing people in their homes. It provides a level of personal insight into the portrait. As a side note, sarA has a really dynamite art collection. Some of which you can see above.

You can check out all things sarA here. Also look for her upcoming full length cd release: “Seasoned Eyes Were Beaming” dropping next month. I can attest to the beauty of this music.

I have a piece in the Austin City Hall show that opens this evening. The show will be up for a year, but this is the only time you will be able to roam freely throughout the entire building.
Go and check it out, it is always an interesting exhibit.

We’ve been having a surge of weather here lately. The first few weeks I was in L.A. were beautiful, serene and sunny. The last week has been rainy, windy, and chilly. I keep having to temper my thoughts with the fact that it is February. Although everybody is talking about how unseasonable the cold has been.

I have really been enjoying watching it all from my window. I think this image captures the unrest I have been witnessing.

photo taken by scott g. this evening in my apartment.

Well, it took me a little while to get here but I finally found the grungy side of Los Angeles. I went to take some photos down by the L.A. River for possible cover art for my friend Scott’s upcoming cd. There is a whole other world of photos possibilities down here. I spent the day driving around and taking photos of burned out cars, homeless camps, and general seediness. The melancholic beauty of this photo really gets me.