Results tagged “israel”

Now that the summer blockbuster season's in gear, it's time to counter-program with an influx of festivals! The Israel Film Festival runs through the 18th at Laemmle's Fallbrook in West Hills & the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills. Highlights include Lost Islands, which cleaned kibbutz at the Israeli box office last year and won four Ophir Awards (Israeli Oscars); The Seven Days, another Ophir powerhouse; and audience favorite & Oscar nominee Waltz With Bashir. Rather than feature one-off screenings of a multitude of films, the festival has a smaller slate (30 films) but more dedicated screening times; a nice touch for patrons with less flexible schedules.

With the heightened sense of urgency that exists throughout the world today, it is easy to be uncertain or afraid. There is a gimme gimme attitude, built partly out of necessity in today’s climate, but also out of generations of relaxed approaches to consumption and spending. That’s why it’s so refreshing to see true stories of unbelievably strong people sacrificing everything they can to help others, many of whom they have never (and may never) meet. With such an ambitious goal, the success is often not in the end result, but in the trying.

World renowned Batsheva Dance Company returns to UCLAlive’s Royce Hall to present the L.A. premiere of MAX on Saturday and Sunday night, Feb. 28-March 1. This new work by award winning choreographer Ohad Naharin is an evening length piece for 10 dancers that continues Naharin’s research into the roots, origins and essence of movement. The highly refined choreography investigates notions of structure, time and space, with each dancer compressing utmost attention inward. Set to original music composed and performed by Maxim Waratt, an onstage awkwardness turns into beauty when performed by this athletic and innovative dance company.

ANSWER LA will be holding a march tomorrow, partially on Wilshire Blvd., that will wrap around Westwood Village streets and stage at the Federal Building. Let GAZA Live, as they are calling it, is part of a larger National Day of Protest with other events planned throughout Southern California.

According to a KCAL9 TV news report, the street is closed to cars from Fairfax Ave. on the east to San Vicente on the West as protesters take over the Miracle Mile area in front of the Israeli Consulate. Police have separated the two groups by 25 feet with rope and in case the demonstration is declared unlawful, the LAPD has set up a special viewing area for the press, they said in a media release. Wow, how thoughtful. (View photos from a recent protest here)

A 3:35 a.m. rant from Roseanne Barr earlier this week: "I said Israel will attack any boat carrying doctors and medical supplies--they have turned away the red cross already and all medical and food assistance. Israel is a NAZI state. The Jewish Soul is being tortured in Israel. The destruction of the jews in Israel has been assured with this inhuman attack on civilians in gaza. Hamas is the street gangs---this is equivilent to los angeles attacking and launching war on the people of watts to attempt to kill the bloods and the crips." Barr planned to travel with pro-Palestinian activists on a protest boat that was trying sail from Cyprus to Gaza, but it was forced to turn back by the Israeli Navy. (h/t Michael Freund)

Once again, a number of protests reflecting both sides of the issue will hit the streets today on Wilshire Blvd.

              

Yesterday Wilshire Boulevard became the scene of two protests over recent rocket attacks and military action between Israel and Palestine. One by Jews for Peace outside the Federal Building in Westwood; the other at the Israeli Consulate sponsored by ANSWER LA. At the latter location, over 500 people--mostly pro-Palestinian--attended making for an "extremely tense" and loud event as each side chanted from their side of the street, said LAist photographer Tom Andrews. Here's some a little slice of what happened...

After rocket attacks and military action between Israel and Palestine that began on Saturday, protests have been lining streets around the world. Two of them are set for this afternoon, the LA Weekly finds. Protesting Israel's counterattacks, Jews for Peace will assemble outside the Westwood Federal Building at 3 p.m. At 4:30 p.m., LA's most widely known grassroots organizing force, ANSWER LA, is sponsoring an "emergency protest" outside the Israeli Consulate.

One of those pesky quality of life complaints we hear a lot about are people who don't clean up after their dog. And trying to get the city to enforce a repeat violator is pretty hard too. You've got to catch the person in the act on film or photo, follow them to their home address or somehow obtain where they live, write a letter to the Department of Animal Services with the evidence and where this person lives. Then the city will send a letter telling that person you can't do that. If they continue, grab that camera for round two.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa left Wednesday on a week-long trip to Israel (the third time during his political career) to learn and bring back security improvements to Los Angeles International Airport and the city's Harbor. He will also be sharing what the city is doing with its "green" and environmental technologies and initiatives.

UCLA Men's Basketball is NO.2 in the Nation -- According to the AP and Coaches polls. The Bruins came out strong at home this past Saturday against the Stanford Trees Cardinals. The Ohio Buckeyes comfortably sit at No.1 following their victory against Wisconsin on Sunday. Our friends over at USC moved up to No.23 following an impressive season both at home and on the road. The Bruins finish their season undefeated at home and...