RIP Tookie Williams

I had mixed feelings about the execution of Tookie Williams, co-founder of LA's notorious Crips gang. Recently he has been spotlighted by the Jamie Foxx film, Redemption: Gangster, Death Row Inmate, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee...

The truth is I thought he Tookie Williams was of more use alive than dead. Could he have had a dialog with the Crip gang members today to try to forge some peaceful solution to the conflict in LA? May be, may be not, but executing him could also ignite fury and further alienate inner city youth around the city.

The other view point that was very clear was that Tookie Williams only sought forgiveness after he was imprisioned and there is no doubt he is a murderer. However, he may not have killed the 4 people he was accused of murdering. Since he was imprisoned he has repented and even written a book to help keep the youth off of the streets which was nominated for a Nobel prize.

As reported in the Guardian newspaper: As Schwarzenegger made the final execution decision Leftwing councillors in Graz, his hometown, announced that they are seeking to strip Schwarzenegger of his Austrian citizenship. In a further protest, they also want to rename the local sports complex, now the Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium, as the Tookie Williams Stadium.

In a act of pride, Schwarzenegger wrote to the Graz governor: "in order to spare the responsible politicians of the city of Graz further concern, I withdraw from them as of this day the right to use my name in association with the Liebenauer Stadium. . . . I expect the lettering to be removed by the end of 2005. The use of my name to advertise or promote the city of Graz in any way is no longer allowed," continued Arnold. "Graz will not have any problems in the future with my decisions as governor of California, because officially nothing connects us any more." And just for good measure he returned the "Ring of Honor" he was given in 1999 for the "pride and recognition" he brought Graz.

Lowrider baby, word!

...I finally got my Grey Ghost out of the box. After trying to assemble it I decided that a trip to the bike shop was in order. I had no tools, and to be honest, no clue! Two hours and $50 later the bike was in one piece and I was riding around Melrose like a dickhead. But the bike is still a classic.

I had a slight bit of hassle as the back wheel was bust out of the box. But Manny from Spokes n Stuff was cool enough to call his Schwinn rep and got a replacement wheel for free, even though I didn't buy the bike from the shop.

Guns, Gin & Juice, and Girlies

Tonight was James Lavelle's last night in town. He'd been writing and recording his album in California so Jason took the opportunity to send him off with a trip to the LA Gun Club down in Little Tokyo. What a laugh. That place has become every visiting Brit's destination spot...I mean who in the UK has ever shot a Desert Eagle or a Bretta? It's gotta be done, mate!?

I took James down memory lane when I said Nick and I went to his Fulham office to play him music demos in the 90s and how I went to see Fraser in the Oxford St. office he shared with James a few years later with Dex. "Man, that's just at the start of Mo' Wax", he said. Ol' Skool!


Check these photos and don't miss the video clip to watch Stevio x Raging Bull! That bad boy is the Raging Bull .457 (bigger than a .357 Magnum) Get your ear muffs to the ready...

After the shooting extravaganza we headed to The Standard Downtown for food and drinks. At the bar we met a couple of James' mates. One was a pornographer (aka Jonni Darko XXX). The other, a DJ for the Hollywood celebs from Hull. That was the start of an interesting evening ;-)

The DJ's girlfriend arrives - all made-up and a little high. It's 2am and she's just come from work..."where's that?", I ask innocently..."Spearmint Rhino!" Of course I had something to say about that as I chatted about the artform of stripping?! She pressed up on me and asked "do you want a dance?" Gulp, "Uh...nope!" I said nodding my head! Hah! I wandered over to the safety of the lounge, but encountered the DVD player and a test disc. The other pic above is of Johnni's catalogue of material. It's pretty heavy stuff...

That was enough of LA life for one night...I left before it got too heavy so I could live to tell the story ;-)