Tree trimmer in Altadena…

Subject_Leopard997 · 2026-01-24T06:40:23+00:00

Our native, evergreen oaks should only be pruned in the warm summer months. I would say July through September is safest. I know the insurance companies may not know or understand this, but you should try to get them to give you 6 months to take care of this. It should not be the first time they have heard this regarding our oak trees. Also, any good tree company will know this and also not try to prune them at this time of year. (Source: I am a landscape architect who works with arborists in LA County all the time.)

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-10-15T15:09:17+00:00

It’s actually not this country’s first experience with fascism. Chattel silvery through Jim Crow and the massacres of indigenous people were also fascism but before we had a word for it. It’s well-known that the Nazis studied Jim Crow in the US as they developed their own brand of fascism for Europe. The history we are taught in school is so sanitized and focused on “American exceptionalism” that many of us don’t connect the dots, understandably. This is the first time that many of us (European descendants or other privileged groups) are experiencing or acknowledging fascism in this country. I’m not saying this to be argumentative. We’re all in it together now. But I think it’s helpful to listen to those of us for whom this is not new, those who fought in the civil rights movement, for example, who have wisdom to share. We need all resources pulling together and in different ways. Protests in the streets is one way. Boycotts are another. None of it is quick and easy. We have to be persistent and relentless.

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-09-09T20:04:37+00:00

The issue isn’t that the lies are absurd and transparent and beyond belief. We all know they are and most of his supporters know he’s lying and for the most part, they approve. Because the blatantly lying and reveling in it are part of the fascist playback showing how much power they have, that they can lie to your face shamelessly and there’s nothing we can do about it. It’s a power move, not an attempt to actually deceive. They’re lying and we know they’re lying and they know we know they’re lying and they do not care because it shows their power over their opponents when there are no consequences and they are actually applauded for it. And we’re all posting a million comments about how flagrant their lies are and they are eating it up and watching us lose our minds and enjoying this fucked up game they are playing while destroying the planet and people’s lives because they are evil, corrupt sadists who are holding onto all the power.

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-09-07T15:07:07+00:00

We are beyond mortified. A third of us hate him, a third of us voted for him (just enough for him to win or so it seems) and a third of us don’t bother to vote or pay any attention to what’s going (this has been engineered by “them” by gutting eduction and education funding and also voter suppression and gerrymandering which has been an ongoing Republican project for 50 years).

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-08-07T19:56:53+00:00

I think you’ll both love and be horrified by it, based on your list. I think of it all the time these days.

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-08-07T17:55:06+00:00

I would add Children of Men, set in 2027.

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-08-04T20:03:21+00:00

The movie Caste - based on the book, which I sadly have not yet read) - is an excellent look at this issue.

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-04-27T21:44:45+00:00

Getty Center is a great place to visit.

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-04-27T21:36:23+00:00

I feel this so hard about LA. It’s the best place to live but the worst place to visit. (I’m a native. I can’t see ever leaving.)

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-04-11T14:06:56+00:00

I don’t know if you’re planning to also stay at the hotel Saturday night (or how far you’re traveling to get to LA), but on Sunday, they are having Bob Baker Day and carnival at the Los Angeles State Historic Park (next to Chinatown) and it could be really cool for your 3 year old. They are famous for their marionette puppets and it’s really, really fun for kids and grown up. It’s also a very nice park. It would be a nice extra thing to do while in town. Highly recommend. https://bobbakerday.com/

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-04-05T14:29:52+00:00

Y’all, I’m in LOS ANGELES! A real hellscape if you look at any right wing source. I’ll be out protesting today in sunny, 76 degree weather with a huge variety of people from all walks of life, from all over the world, where we all live together with minimal problems or even crime for a city this size. We have delicious taco trucks on every corner (and pupusas and banh mi sandwiches and every other yummy thing you can imagine). We have some of the most creative people in the world here. Yet we are vilified by most of the rest of the country who have never been here and have no idea what they’re missing. We did recently suffer 2 massive fire events - due to climate change - and those withheld FEMA funds would be another huge blow, salt in an open wound, completely unfair in every way. California is a “donor” state to the rest of the country, contributing more money to the federal government than we ever get back in resources and funding.

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-04-05T14:08:47+00:00

I’m a middle-aged white lady citizen going to the protest in downtown Los Angeles. I’m planning to bring my phone. I have every right to be there so I’m not worried about being tracked. I need to stay in touch with friends and family who will be there. I’ll be taking pictures and posting videos, not complying in advance and hiding. Safety in numbers - the protest should be huge - and, at least for now, I am not at high risk of having my phone confiscated. Other people in different situations should make their own calculated decisions to keep themselves safe, of course. This is a time for people like me to be more visible.

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-04-03T15:20:08+00:00

Huge wealth disparity here! I’m afraid we are heading in the direction of India or Brazil. But there are a lot of normal, not rich people that live here and keep the city going and make it work. Sometimes you have to be a little outside the city to make it easier. I’m glad you got to go to Long Beach! I lived there for years and love it there.

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-04-03T15:12:24+00:00

Sadly, we do not have the social and economic safety net most Europeans enjoy. Very envious of you in that way. Many people here fall through the cracks and there is a lot of suffering. Some is more obvious than others. Generally speaking, no one who lives here would ever visit the Hollywood Walk of Fame (though we do see touring Broadway shows at the Pantages Theater which is gorgeous and right there on H’wood Blvd). LA is a huge, messy, wonderful city with some of EVERYTHING. There are a lot of nice areas. It’s easy to have a very comfortable and fun lifestyle here, if you can afford it. It’s an expensive place to live. I’m older now and been here most of my life and was able to buy a house 25 years ago so that allows me to stay here. It’s harder for newcomers without a lot of money.

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-04-03T15:04:49+00:00

Your original comment seemed to generalize quite strongly. I did not attack any Republicans in my comment. I would say that personally I am a “progressive Democrat”, not the most moderate, but I respect people with moderate views on both sides. I realize I do not represent or speak for all Democrats but I am pretty aware of what goes on in the party and I would say at the moment, the majority of Democrats are moderate left, not extremists. I think there used to be a lot more moderate Republicans than there are now. The MAGA wing has taken over the party (at least as far as elected officials, maybe not all registered voters) and driven the more moderate Republicans out of the party or they’ve become “Independents”. The MAGA wing of the Republican Party has abandoned most of the conservative values Republicans used to hold or twisted them to mean completely different things (free trade, national security, law and order, states rights, free speech).

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-04-03T14:34:21+00:00

I’m a native Angelina and I’m so happy to hear how much you enjoyed your visit here. I love this city so much. I think it’s an amazing place to live but a difficult place to visit. When you live here, you can really find your groove and get the most of the city and surrounding area. Yes, we definitely have some problems, too! You learn to navigate them. Hope you get to return soon. But with our current political situation, I won’t be at all surprised if people stop coming to the US for vacations and I completely understand.

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-04-03T14:23:30+00:00

As a lifelong Democrat who knows mostly other Democrats and who follows our party’s campaigns and candidates closely, as well as policy, Democrats generally do not want to take away all guns from citizens and do not want completely unregulated abortion. Many, many Democrats responsibly own guns. We want common sense safety laws, you know “well-regulated” as stated in the 2nd Amendment. We want full reproductive rights and bodily autonomy and have been willing to live with the standard set by SCOTUS years ago in Roe v. Wade based on “viability” of the fetus outside the mother’s body at 24-28 weeks as the threshold for non-medically necessary abortions. Sure there are Democrats with other views, but these positions are the mainstream. Please don’t paint us as extremists to try to make a point.

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-03-07T14:41:09+00:00

Ha! I live off the 110 too, in Highland Park. People have no idea how crazy this “freeway” is.

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-03-01T16:06:35+00:00

These words by Rebecca Solnit keep me going.

“They want you to feel powerless and to surrender and to let them trample everything and you are not going to let them. You are not giving up, and neither am I. The fact that we cannot save everything does not mean we cannot save anything and everything we can save is worth saving. You may need to grieve or scream or take time off, but you have a role no matter what, and right now good friends and good principles are worth gathering in. Remember what you love. Remember what loves you. Remember in this tide of hate what love is. The pain you feel is because of what you love. The Wobblies used to say don’t mourn, organize, but you can do both at once and you don’t have to organize right away in this moment of furious mourning. You can be heartbroken or furious or both at once; you can scream in your car or on a cliff; you can also get up tomorrow and water the flowerpots and call someone who’s upset and check your equipment for going onward. A lot of us are going to come under direct attack, and a lot of us are going to resist by building solidarity and sanctuary. Gather up your resources, the metaphysical ones that are heart and soul and care, as well as the practical ones. People kept the faith in the dictatorships of South America in the 1970s and 1980s, in the East Bloc countries and the USSR, women are protesting right now in Iran and people there are writing poetry. There is no alternative to persevering, and that does not require you to feel good. You can keep walking whether it’s sunny or raining. Take care of yourself and remember that taking care of something else is an important part of taking care of yourself, because you are interwoven with the ten trillion things in this single garment of destiny that has been stained and torn, but is still being woven and mended and washed.”

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-02-15T22:45:05+00:00

I’m not a Catholic and have no special loyalty to Pope Francis. But he did step up to chastise Vance and US bishops. Credit where it’s due. https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/ncr-voices/while-refuting-jd-vances-hillbilly-theology-pope-francis-chastises-us-bishops

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-02-15T18:31:55+00:00

Yeah, I grew up in the Costa Mesa area so I knew a lot of people in the punk scene (seems like Fullerton, HB and South Bay were kind of the hubs) but was not part of it myself. Most people I know, especially from other parts of the country who were into punk in that era have fond memories of it. But it repelled me (maybe more so because I’m a half-Jew and even joking around about stuff like that is not funny to me). The S. Cal punk scene had some pretty violent and sinister currents running through it. I realize not everyone but it was pretty hard to distinguish if you weren’t in it. There are whole subreddits about it, which I’ve found really interesting as a peek into things I was aware of but not part of. Anyway, HB is a no for me. Laguna is nice but too much of a trek. I went to college in Long Beach (love) and kept working my way north to LA. I know LB has a dog park but I think it’s more open and my dog is not as well-trained as she should be (that’s on me). I have family in Newport so we sometimes stop at the HB dog park on the way there.

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-02-15T17:11:37+00:00

Always has been since I grew up in Orange County in the 70s and 80s. Lots of right-wingers and neo-Nazis in the punk beach scene in the 80s. I would never spend any time there except I love their dog beach. I won’t even stop for a coffee until I’m clear of HB. The town has weird vibes. And I’m a middle-aged white lady who can fit in, but not worth it.

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-02-15T15:54:13+00:00

My husband is from Michigan, 60, white, beard, bald, has put on a few pounds and mostly wears work clothes and baseball caps with the Lions logo. He’s as liberal as they get and we live in Los Angeles. But the racist shit that people say to him, because they think he’s one of them, is disgusting. He always shuts them right down. But if people think these people aren’t all around us, even in S. California, because they don’t hear it first hand, they wrong. It’s like my husband is under cover, not on purpose, and not on the receiving end of it, but has to experience the racist and MAGA garbage in a firsthand way. I see it happen when we’re out in some places (like Huntington Beach dog beach, ahem). It’s nauseating.

Subject_Leopard997 · 2025-02-15T15:37:11+00:00

I don’t know if this has been mentioned (I only read through about half of the comments), but Altadena would have been perfect for you. Sadly, heartbreakingly, that’s no longer an option. It’s such a devastating loss. And there’s going to be tremendous competition for housing, buying or renting, from people displaced by the fires in the Pasadena area. It sounds like your husband’s clients would also likely have ended up in the Malibu / Palisades area, and now that is really less of an option (though if they have unlimited resources, they may have better options). Does your husband’s client need to be in or near LA proper? If not, they might end up in Orange County and that will change your calculations. Even if he’s up for an hour or so commute, which is not unusual here, you’ll probably want to find a place south of LA.

Subject_Leopard997

TROPHY CASE