Halloween 2010Earlier today artist and animator Armen Mirzaian was laid to rest at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills. He had been killed in a car accident only a week before. Armen was once a co-worker of mine on a project I did a few years ago. While I didn't know Armen very well outside of the office, his comical drawings and kindhearted humor always made my day.The number of people that came to pay

While Rankin-Bass gets all the love for their classic 1964 stop motion version of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer", the above featured animated short by Max Fleischer Studios was actually the first telling of the original story as written by Robert May in 1939. May, a 34 year-old copywriter for the Chicago based department store Montgomery Ward's, was assigned to create a property in-house that could

I'm utterly shocked and deeply saddened to hear yet another friend has passed on into the light this year. While Rik Sharaj may have gone on to become one with Shiva his music will forever live in my heart. Namaste, dear Rik. At every full moon I will remember you with joy and I will listen for your song amongst the stars. You have been such a sweet blessing to me and everyone in the community.

The comic book art and animation community suffered a tragic loss on Wednesday when Clément Sauvé passed away at the young age of 33 after a struggle with cancer. I met Clément only once and worked with him if however briefly on "G.I. Joe Renegades" last year but in that short time came to recognize a highly gifted artist with a wicked sense of humor. My deep condolences to his family and friends

To my great sadness today I discovered that actor Jack Danahy, a friend and colleague, passed away some time over the holiday season due to complications of lung cancer.Jack was quite a conversationalist and it was through our mutual fascination and enjoyment of butoh that we connected.  But it was his love of evolutionary anthropology and his observations of humans as a species that really got

A year ago this week my friend Hollis Hawthorne fell into a coma as a result of a motorcycle accident she suffered in India. Her progress has been slow but steady and both her friends and her family have been blogging about it and documenting every milestone. For instance, recently her friends blogged as of the beginning of this year, she's been singing and humming to songs she listens to on her iPod.In

I first met Martin Bosworth (aka @martinboz) a year ago this month at the L.A. Tweetup, a face-to-face social networking meetup for Los Angelenos. So in a weird way it seems fitting that I learned of his recent death on Twitter.Bosworth was a managing editor at the consumer advocacy site ConsumerAffairs.com. He also posted to his personal blog Boztopia. In the short time that I knew him, I found him

It was a super wet rainy day for a meet up with Aldrine Guerrero from Ukulele Underground who's here in SoCal to attend NAMM. Since I don't play the uke (and have no plans to) I thought I'd just come to see his live show on Tuesday at DiPiazza's in Long Beach. But then I saw that there was going to be meet up and since it was MLK Day which meant I was free I was like, well why not go? Eddie would!

Change in the world can only happen one step at a time. We all can make that difference. Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty. Join my Kiva lending team today. Kiva also has fabulous gift certificates perfect for the holy days.

Above is an audio recording of the review of "A Serious Man" with the only person to leave a comment on my blog to a Be My Guest screening of the latest Coen Bros. movie. The theater was not as full as some of the other previous screenings I've seen these past few weeks either. But I attribute this apparent lack of interest to the busy-ness of the holiday season and not so much the film per se.

Who wants to Be My Guest to a SAG Awards screening of the new Coen Bros. movie "A Serious Man"? It screens on Monday, 14 December at the ArcLight in Sherman Oaks located at 15301 Ventura Blvd. As with all guild screenings this is sure to overbook so meet me early in line at 6:30pm to connect and play catch up before the holy day madness. Immediately following there will be a 40 minute Q&A session

My friend Blue won my latest contest to be my guest at a special advance screening of "Sherlock Holmes". Afterwards we have a chat about the film.

This video features the winner to the "Be My Guest" series special advance screening of Warner Bros. latest film "Sherlock Holmes" directed by Guy Ritchie that's scheduled for release on Christmas day. What's totally cool is that there will be aQ&A immediately following with the film's star Robert Downey Jr.So lucky winner, you, hit me on Facebook so we can plan ahead for our rendez-vous. It's

Leave a comment below to win a chance to be my guest at a very special advance screening of Warner Bros. latest film "Sherlock Holmes" directed by Guy Ritchie that's scheduled for release on Christmas day. There will be Q&A immediately following with the film's star Robert Downey Jr. These screenings ALWAYS overbook and I anticipate this one will be no different. The winner should plan on meeting

This past weekend the Hello Kitty Three Apples Exhibit launched at Royal/T, a unique art space in Culver City. It's a killer place with a cosplay cafe that is utterly fantabulous. While I was there I got to meet one of my creative idols Yuko Yamaguchi (aka Kitty Mama) Hello Kitty’s head designer and her friend the seriously awesome Simone Legno of Tokidoki who were both signing autographs at the

Joseph Lawrence Huckins15 December 1978 - 30 April 2009Some very dear friends suffered a heavy loss last week when their brother Joseph Huckins passed away in a tragic work related accident. This is the obituary as featured on Placeropolis.com. You are sorely missed, Joey.Photos: Tony Tohono and Burntown.Music: Gleam Remix by Etherine available at Magnatune.com

Avast! Set yer native tongue ter pillage ye olde Facebook. This video tutorial will be teachin' ye how!

After seeing my friend Hollis Hawthorne in the hospital I went to go meet up with some friends for brunch in the Mission district of San Francisco. Quite serendipitously I walked past this bakery and I was like "mmmmmm...cookies"! Who doesn't like cookies? Right? ZOMG...they were the best cookies EVAR! As it turns out Anthony's Cookies is brand spankin' new and now they're open for business! Come

More information about BYOBW here.

On Saturday April 4th 2009, there were massive pillow fights in cities world wide! More info at http://pillowfightday.com

Two months ago I got a fantastic makeover by Billy Van Roy from Art Lab. Last week he wrote on my Facebook wall inviting me to come in for an update. He's so awesome. Look what he did for me! Art Lab 1410 Montana Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90403 310-394-5200 http://artlabsalon.com

Recently my friend Hollis Hawthorne suffered severe trauma to her brain from a motorcycle accident while traveling in India. Though she has no health insurance, Stanford Medical has offered to take her case and treat her. Now all Hollis needs is an air ambulance from Pondicherry to Palo Alto.Please help if you can by making a donation at FriendsofHollis.com.

This video (and the ensuing playlist) is dedicated in loving memory to Lou Genise who passed away from cancer after battling the disease for many years.  The intro with Lou playing guitar is inter-cut with clips of his friends at his funeral. Rest in peace, Lou. You are missed.

A brief tutorial on how to set up your phone to receive SMS messages from Twitter.

For my friend Yayoi who lives in another state.

A how to video for my friend Yayoi who lives in another state.

I've received numerous questions on how to make the "Obama Icon" as featured on PasteMagazine.com. It's a pretty easy application if you know what levers to pull and button to push. My friend Vicki was unable to save her icon so I made this video to help take her the through steps. Get your own icon at http://obamaiconme.com

Suzy said "Tanja come get a makeover from my friends at Art Lab in Santa Monica." So we did! Thanks, Art Lab. I feel like a sexy poodle! Woof! Art Lab 1410 Montana Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90403 310-394-5200

Lonely? Single? Looking for love? Come join us for a Valentine's Day event like no other.Meet and tweet with us on Saturday, February 14th for a heartfelt afternoon of food, friends, fun and a little "Love On The Run". We'll be mixing it up with drinkies, sweet nothings and candy hearts in a "Love" themed web 2.0 meets real life treasure hunt.Meet some new peeps, enjoy some old favorites, and re-discover

This playlist features 27 videos I produced from October to November of this year as part of YouTube and PBS's project "Video Your Vote". With my little Flip camera in hand I went all around my city and talked to friends and strangers about what they voted for. It's worth noting the question was "What do you vote for?" as I feel that voting is a private act. It was interesting to me that many people

Filmed on location at the Glow Festival in Santa Monica, California on 19 July 2008.

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play Got any free advice? Share it with us at FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play Kent likes to keep it simple.

Click to Play Karine says: "Turn that frown upside down!" Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Mary Cervantes shares her experience and hope in surviving cancer.

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play Free advice for athlete's foot. I'd actually heard this one before! Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play While taking my car in for repairs, Jim, my mechanic gives me some advice. Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play I wonder if Marla always listened to her mother. Just sayin'! Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play Writer Bill Taub shares with us some writing tips he received from a colleague. Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play Sorry about the audio here. This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play It's Friday and it's time to kick things up a notch. Turn your grief into gratitude and GIVE THANKS at: http://GiveThanks.tv This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt.

Click to Play I think this might be the fourth piece of free advice devoted to the subject of music. Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://freeadvice.tv

Click to Play It's worth noting that this piece of free advice comes from a therapist. He ought to know! Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

In this video, I sit down with Pamela Morency of www.CreatingClarity.us to learn a few things on how to de-stress and de-clutter.

Click to Play Kasey's got some pretty smart free advice. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play All you foodies out there, Dan's got some free advice on how to make the perfect pancake! Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play Carlotta offers up some free advice for parents. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play Ellen has excellent advice for single ladies on a budget. What do you want? It's free! Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://freeadvice.tv

Click to Play But Rachel, the best things in life are free. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://freeadvice.tv

Click to Play Shamika was pretty tired when I asked her for free advice. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://freeadvice.tv

Click to Play I could surely use some advice on how to spell "brechtian". Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://freeadvice.tv

Click to Play While shopping at a major discount department store I met Linda who started giving away a ton of free advice. This is one piece I was able to capture on tape! Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play Liberte el consejo en español. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play Yi Lin has what could be categorized as "classic" free advice. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play While getting coffee, I receive this free advice from George. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play John put his free advice down in writing. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://freeadvice.tv

Click to Play Feeling like the whole world just doesn't understand? Patrice's advice is a reminder we're never alone. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://freeadvice.tv

Click to Play Tony says "Just do it!" Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play Free advice from the therapist to the stars. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://freeadvice.tv

Click to Play Joanne continues our series of free advice from hikers along the Pacific Crest Trail. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://freeadvice.tumblr.com

Click to Play Senator completes our series of free advice from hikers along the Pacific Crest Trail. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://FreeAdvice.tv

Click to Play Forget "Hints from Heloise" because this advice from Charity is strictly for the ladies. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://freeadvice.tumblr.com

Click to Play I met Sharon while hiking a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail with a friend recently. She leads a series of videos of hikers I met on the trail that day. Dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. http://www.OttoSchutt.com

Click to Play Casey continues our series of free advice from hikers along the Pacific Crest Trail. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://freeadvice.tumblr.com

Click to Play Charles thinks his advice isn't really advisory in nature. What do you think? Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://freeadvice.tumblr.com

Click to Play Priscilla's free advice is simple: Go with the flow! Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://freeadvice.tumblr.com

Click to Play Brian's advice is about how men can avoid being stupid. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://freeadvice.tumblr.com

Click to Play I met Davis at a coffee house on my way to work. This is one of two takes. He introduced me to his coffee klatch and so a series of videos featuring Davis and his friends can seen on our YouTube channel at this url: http://tinyurl.com/4q375b Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://freeadvice.tumblr.com

Click to Play While grabbing a slice of pizza with a friend, I met Susan working behind the counter who had this piece of free advice. Got any free advice? Share it with us at http://freeadvice.tumblr.com

Click to Play Ilya gives some heartfelt free advice over a slice of pizza. Got free advice? Share it at http://freeadvice.tumblr.com

Click to Play I ran into Marie Francoise at a local health food store where she enthusiastically offered this free advice. She's sure not camera shy! Got any free advice? Please share it! http://freeadvice.tumblr.com

Click to Play Actor Tony Edwards offers up some free advice when the cat has got your tongue. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://freeadvice.tumblr.com

Click to Play I met Olivia M at my local library and we started a conversation about free advice. As we were leaving, she agreed to this recording as long as the camera was placed at a distance. Got free advice? More info: http://FreeAdvice.tumblr.com

Click to Play Marvin's advice is short but sweet, but oh so profound and true. Got any free advice? http://freeadvice.tumblr.com

Click to Play Following a free classical music concert given at my local library, Natalia from the Los Angeles Flute Ensemble offers up this advice to her fellow musicians. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://freeadvice.tumblr.com

Click to Play Juana shares some free advice at a recent dinner party. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://freeadvice.tumblr.com

Click to Play Friends Quin and Helen share some free advice at a recent dinner party. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at freeadvice.tumblr.com

Click to Play Free advice from writer Steven Paul Leiva. Got any free advice? Share it with us! Details at http://freeadvice.tumblr.com

The Free Advice Project is a study on free culture. The inspiration for the project came from the expression “Information wants to be free” which was coined by Stewart Brand when he spoke at the first Hackers’ Conference in 1984. Flash forward to current day where various tech pundits believe the value of all things digital is trending towards zero, the Free Advice project questions the future

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: GiveThanks.TV

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.TV

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: http://GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play Share what you have to give thanks and gratitude for at GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt. Give thanks at: GiveThanks.TV

Click to Play Share what you have to give thanks and gratitude for at GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play Share what you have to give thanks and gratitude for at GiveThanks.tv.

Click to Play Share what you have to give thanks and gratitude for at GiveThanks.tv

Click to Play Share what you have to give thanks and gratitude for at GiveThanks.tv.

Click to Play Share what you have to give thanks and gratitude for at GiveThanks.tv.

Click to Play Share what you have to give thanks and gratitude for at GiveThanks.tv.

Click to Play Share what you have to give thanks and gratitude for at GiveThanks.tv.

Click to Play Share what you have to give thanks and gratitude for at GiveThanks.tv.

Click to Play Share what you have to give thanks and gratitude for at GiveThanks.tv.

Better quality video available for download here.More info here.

This series of videos is dedicated in loving memory to Otto Schutt, a mountain of a man and a pillar of love, strength and hope to his family and friends. More information at The Give Thanks Project website.

Yesterday was Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry's so I took my mother down to their local scoop shop at the Sherman Oaks Galleria. There I discovered from store manager Tricia that it's more than just a show of customer appreciation, it's a movement to make poverty history.Not to be out done, today is 31 Cent Scoop Night at Baskin Robbins. Participating stores will reduce prices of small ice cream

Today I offered to buy my mom a coffee. The local Starbucks is just down the road and across the street from it is McDonalds. I had heard that McD's "Premium Roast" was kicking ass on SBUX's newest coffee blend "Pike Place". As things turned out my mom prefers McD's coffee (and has for years) so that's where she wanted to go. Starbucks Coffee vs. McDonald's Premium Coffee Taste Challenge ( polls)