Michael Higby's Absolute Random Nonsense

What's Cookin' Today on CRN: 7/25 Cyber Bullying, Busy Moms, Jim Fiolek, Gary P...

2011-07-23T13:44:00.000-07:00

What's Cookin' Today on CRN: 7/25 Cyber Bullying, Busy Moms, Jim Fiolek, Gary P...: "What's Cookin' Today Hour ONE: Author & Behavioral Expert John Greenburg Talks About Cyber Bullying There is a growing problem among teens..."

Fantastic Car Detailing!

2011-07-04T12:55:00.000-07:00

The shine is like glass

I don't usually plug businesses on this blog but when I find a good one I will.

Recently I had the opportunity to get my Ford Explorer detailed at Detail 301 in Beverly Hills. Located deep below Rodeo Drive in the garage for trendy shops, Detail 301 provides all the usual car wash and detail services you would expect. It's sister business, AutoVault, stores some fairly high end autos for celebrities and other movers and shakers when they're not driving their favorite Bugatti, Porsche, Lamborghini, etc.

Nice clean interior

The difference here between Detail 301 and even high end car detailers around town is, well, the detail. The crew spent nearly five hours on my car, getting it more than just polished but clean down to every nook and cranny. By the time they were done, it literally seemed like I had a new car.

At $235 for an SUV ($215 for passenger cars), it's not cheap. It's Beverly Hills, people. However when you consider the average detail job at your local car wash is about $75 - $115, factoring in the high level of work Detail 301 performs, I actually find this a bargain. Unless you routinely drive through mudholes or you allow your eight year old to eat ice cream cones daily in the back seat, this clean job is going to last for a while and you may not need as many car washes going forward.

Hot looking tires!

I highly recommend Detail 301. While you wait, you can window shop at Armani or hang out at the nearby Starbucks and gawk at the rich and fabulous.

Detail 301 is located at:

440 North Rodeo Drive (parking garage for Brooks Brothers)
Beverly Hills
(near Santa Monica Blvd)
310-859-0703

An Elevatingly Strange Experience

2011-06-10T10:34:00.000-07:00

My office recently relocated to a brand new, modern, high tech office building.

One of the cool "tricks" the building has is the elevator speaks out the floor you've arrived at when the doors open.

I'm on the sixth floor, and everyday when I exit on my way to the office, a pleasant voice announces we've reached our destination by proclaiming "sixth floor."

This morning however, as the elevator reached my landing, the message was "sixth level."

Immediately, as I exited, I thought that was odd. "Doesn't it normally," I said in my mind "say "sixth floor?"

As soon as that thought crossed my mind I heard the elevator say "Floor. Going down."

Not only can my elevator talk it appears it can read minds. I need my coffee, stat!

What's Cookin' Today: 5/23 Robin Dunne, Jacqueline Maduneme, Ballard Inn...

2011-05-21T23:58:00.000-07:00

What's Cookin' Today: 5/23 Robin Dunne, Jacqueline Maduneme, Ballard Inn...: "What's Cookin' Today Hour ONE: We're Talking With Actor Robin Dunne! Actor Robin Dunne returns as forensic psychiatrist Dr. Will Zimmerma..."

Florence Henderson On CRN Radio!

2011-05-19T21:09:00.000-07:00

What's Cookin' Today: 5/20 Jason Cameron, Florence Henderson, TLC's Fabu...: "What's Cookin' Today Hour ONE: DIY Host & Dog Lover Jason Cameron Talks With Us About Dog Parks! The local dog park is the perfect place ..."

Salmon Recipe

2011-05-09T22:12:00.001-07:00

This is pretty simple.

Alaskan (preferably) Salmon Steaks
Lemon Slices
Cilantro Sprigs
Lemon juice
sea salt
black pepper

Preheat oven to 350

Place salmon in glass baking dish.

Drizzle a small amount of olive oil on each piece of salmon
Sprinkle sea salt and black pepper
Squirt some lemon juice on the salmon
Place one lemon slice and one sprig of cilantro on each steak

Bake for 15-25 minutes depending on how many steaks

What's Cookin' Today: 5/9 Joe Washington Helps Us Spruce Up for Summer, ...

2011-05-08T17:26:00.000-07:00

What's Cookin' Today: 5/9 Joe Washington Helps Us Spruce Up for Summer, ...: "What's Cookin' Today Hour ONE: Joe Washington, Emmy-winning Original Host of HGTV’s Groundbreakers, Tells Us How to Tidy Up Our Yards for ..."

Stephen Lynch - Down to the Old Pub

2011-03-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

test can you see it?

2011-03-04T13:43:00.001-08:00

test

He was standing in a lot...

2011-02-24T14:05:00.001-08:00

Joshua was waiting for Kimberly.

She had taken him to a field near her home. Overgrown with weeds, a cat ambled by, otherwise the place was sort of hauntingly beautiful.

I didn't mention that amongst that sea of unmaintained, tall as your knees grass, was a line-up of every vehicle Kimberly had ever owned. Starting with a much rusted out 84 Rabbit to a still fairly decent looking Lexus.

When Kimberly bought a new car, she never sold the old one. Instead, she deposited it on the unused swatch of land her father had bought in 1973.

Joshua scanned each vehicle, each different, each the same in the their abandonment.

And he waited for Kimberly. He would wait for a while.

My Favorite Christmas Carols

2010-12-15T22:28:00.000-08:00

Thought I would share my top five.

Bing Crosby and David Bowie - The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth. This inter-generational classic was shot just a few months before Crosby died. It was Bing's kids who suggested Bowie for the duet. It's just fantastic.

Christmastime is Here from a Charlie Brown Christmas - Hauntingly beautiful and chock full of oh so warm childhood memories.

The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole - One of my favorite orchestrations of a song, lyrics capturing a true family holiday and the utter coolness of Nat.

The next two go together. Just before all the merriment dies down and we move to the reason for the season, we get close to the end of the day on Christmas Eve and the hour that God becomes man, born as a child, to wash us of our sins, O Holy Night, the dénouement of the story with the song reaching it's final praiseful cresecendo when indeed the Savior is born. This version, is by artist Josh Groban.

And finally, as the Savior is born and resting in his manger, we know must become very quiet, reflect, be with those we love and fall into adoration of Him and feel the peace embedded in Silent Night (the story of it's composition is a blessing itself). Having once sang this song at midnight, Christmas Eve, on the steps of a 200 year old church in New England at five below zero, it will always signify the coming of Christmas to me. Here is the song in both it's original German as well as English versions.

There are many, many other holiday themed songs and multiple recordings of such that I enjoy. I hope you enjoy my favorites here though. I would be delighted if you commented and noted some of yours.

The Covenant Prayer

2010-10-04T14:44:00.000-07:00

From Kay Warren...

Thank you Jesus that you are all knowing, all powerful and capable of keeping that which is given back to you. You hold my life in your hands. Order my steps rightly, and lead me with your heart of compassion. I remain yielded. I choose forgiveness for those I worked for in the past, and I choose your grace. You have promised us that you would not leave us or forsake us. Thank you that you do not change. Guide me through this turbulence in the journey called life, and lead me homeward to that place in heaven. Amen

Narcissism

2010-10-04T12:27:00.000-07:00

In taking inventory of my actions as much as I hate to admit it narcissism (a tool beautifully designed by the Devil perhaps) is behind much of what I think is behind my fears and wants. It drives incorrect modes of thinking, is what leads us to escape the truth and puts a wall between us and God as well as those we love. The crazy self fulfilling prophecy of narcissism of course is that we refuse to admit we've fallen victim to it. But those things that we wish to control, surely because we would be better at controlling the situation and can't fathom any other outcome are a direct result of a level of malignant narcissism, at least for me anyway.

I found the following bible verse spoke to me on this topic.

Philippians 2:1-30: "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ..."

And the great thing about perhaps being willing to give up those old egotistical ways is that I can humbly admit I might even be wrong about the above. Doesn't matter. God is right and his truth is the truth for me whether I get it the first, second or even 54th time.

My Hebrew Name

2010-09-14T20:36:00.000-07:00

My Hebrew Name is:
Michael
Michael means "who is like God?" Michael appears in the Bible as a member of the tribe of Asher (Numbers 13:13). Michael is also the name of an angel and messenger of God, whose task is to act as the "defense attorney" for the Jewish people. Michael stays on our right side as we sleep at night; the right side is always associated with mercy and kindness.

My Hebrew Birthday is:

23 Tishri (5725)

On this Date in the Jewish Calendar:
Simchat Torah
Simchat Torah celebrates the completion and beginning of the annual Torah reading cycle. In the synagogue, all the Torah scrolls are taken out of the Ark, and the congregation dances "seven circuits" with great joy and song.

On this Date in Jewish History:
In 67 CE, Roman soldiers captured Gamla, a fortress in Israel's Golan region, and killed all its inhabitants. The ancient historian Josephus Flavius, a leader of the Jewish revolt against Rome, fortified Gamla as a main stronghold in 66 CE. The Romans attempted to take the city by means of a siege ramp, but were turned back by the defenders; only on the second attempt did they succeed in penetrating the fortifications and conquering the city. Thousands of inhabitants were slaughtered, while others chose to jump to their deaths from the top of the cliff. The location of ancient Gamla was discovered in archeological excavations during the 1970s; the remains have been preserved as a national park.

A Moving Story of Love

2010-09-13T21:34:00.000-07:00

Normally this blog, when I do write, covers things that are more upbeat and light hearted.

This particular post however does not fit that characterization at all but it was something so compelling that I had to share it with you and this is really my only forum to do so.

I received in my in-box today photos were so touching and made me nearly cry that I feel I must share them.

Marine 2nd Lt James Cathey of Reno, Nevada was killed August 21st, 2005 by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations near Al Karmah, Iraq.

When his body was returned to Reno family and friends met were on the tarmac to meet the casket as Marines lowered it from the plane as stunned passengers on the plane watched.

The night before the burial of her husband's body, James' wife Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. 'I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it,' she said. 'I think that's what he would have wanted'

The photos taken by Todd Heisler of The Rocky Mountain News, are incredible and moving.

JP Myers A Blog: The Long Hot Summer

2010-09-06T23:26:00.000-07:00

JP Myers A Blog: The Long Hot Summer

AT&T: You won't?

2009-10-03T13:39:00.000-07:00

This is a series of ads run by AT&T in 1993 (notice that Tom Selleck is the announcer?). The campaign is somewhat remarkable is the technologies and products feature are ones we take for granted now and did not exist back then. Well except for the video payphones.

Among the technologies predicted that would not exist for at least another five to ten years later were wifi, tablet PCs, GoToMeeting/WebEx, Google Book Search, Google Health, GPS, FastTrak and on-demand digital cable.

The only thing they were off on was they didn't anticipate that cell phones would be ubiquitous as well as internet based videoconferencing features of applications such as Skype and GoogleTalk) so need for the video payphones.

As fun as these ads are however at least one critic, Cory Doctorow, wrote in 1996 how the ads display a sense of hubris by an old-world corportate behmoth like AT&T and that just envisioning internet-era analogues of existing technology signifies the company missing the point of the internet. Like Edison's idea of "opera by telephone" at the turn of the last century or the "big beautiful tomorrow" campaigns of the sixties its corporate claptrap that wasn't getting the true innovation going on in the workshops and garages of the tinkerers, if only government and big business would get out of the way.

The irony of this of course is that while AT&T "celebrated" new technologies and innovation, they pursue policy positions against concepts such as net neutrality trying to stifle new-world companies like Google (who has created a hell of lot more amazing things in 11 years than AT&T has in 125 years) rather than trying to compete in the marketplace. Even in the video we see predictions of two applications developed not by Ma Bell but Google, Google Book Search and Google Health.

So how about AT&T just go back and fire up Mr. Bell's lab?

Panera Bread's Toilet Gender Discrimination

2009-08-30T18:21:00.000-07:00

I sent the following email to Panera Bread's customer service department just a few moments ago:

I'm a regular customer at Panera and sometimes come to use the wifi to do work on my computer in your pleasant environment. When I sit for several hours I usually buy a meal a well as drinks and sometimes another meal or snack later.

Today I have done just that at your North Hollywood location when I ordered a meal. I asked to use the restroom and was told it was not working. I asked if i could use the women's restroom and was told no that was not allowed. I was told to go to the Coffee Bean next door which wasn't practical since I had ordered a meal and had my computer out which I wasn't about to either leave unattended nor pack with me to go to the Coffee Bean.

Therefore I am forced to finish my meal and then leave unable to finish my work and having a less than pleasurable experience at Panera. I will probably be back but this is a bit disappointing. I also find it discriminatory to provide restroom facilities to one gender but not another.

Stalker or Brilliant Marketing?

2009-08-30T17:18:00.001-07:00

A guy meets a girl on a plane and for whatever reason doesn't get her digits. So he takes to posting up flyers around Venice a month later searching her out. Is he a crazy stalker OR is this perhaps a brilliant viral marketing campaign for Southwest Airlines? (Props to Sean Bonner at Metblogs)

Remember When The Phone Was Black and Plugged Into The Wall?

2009-08-16T18:43:00.000-07:00

I decided it was time to make some changes to my mobile devices which include:

A Samsung Instinct smartphone - basically Sprint's imitation of the iPhone.
A Sprint aircard
AN Asus Eee PC
An iPod Touch

I figured that if I could upgrade my aircard to a Sprint Mifi, I could then downgrade my Instinct to a regular phone (for phone and texting only) and downgrade my plan. With the always on wifi from the Mifi then my iPod touch would become the device for mail and other computing on the road. However I would eventually need to upgrade to the new iPod Touch later this fall so that I could gain the camera and microphone the my iPod is currently lacking.

Another option I had considered was upgrading to the new BlackBerry Tour. The bottom line was that I was growing tired of the Instinct and it wasn't the greatest phone for email. You can only watch so much Hannah Montana on Sprint TV.

The one issue however was that the Sprint MiFi card is $299. I figured that not only would I be spending the $299 for that but at least that amount in a couple of months to upgrade the iPod.

So I ruled out the mifi option considering that Sprint's 4G network, currently in testing in Baltimore, will be available in about a year or two and that at that time even better iPods will be out and I'll have had my aircard long enough to get the upgrade rebate to mifi at even faster speeds.

So I figured out the best option was to upgrade the Instinct to a Blackberry Curve. I really don't need the international functionality of the Tour and the Curve does everything I need and much better than the Instinct.

I was able to turn in my Instinct for $50, so with the rebate on the phone, it makes the BlackBerry free (before sales tax). So my main investment - after sending off the sales tax on the entire value of the purchase (which I don't understand) to Arnold - was $35 for a car charger.

Now you may be asking why not just switch to iPhone. I would - but I hate AT&T. So there.

Random San Francisco street

2009-07-16T17:20:00.001-07:00

The Chieftain Irish Pub in San Francisco.

2009-07-16T14:44:00.001-07:00

Gas line in San Francisco

2009-07-16T13:55:00.001-07:00

Leaving San Jose but first, Denny's.

2009-07-16T10:34:00.001-07:00

Downtown Salinas

2009-07-15T16:05:00.000-07:00

Ostrich in Santa Ynez. I got to feed them, they sure like to eat!

2009-07-15T11:17:00.001-07:00

The Hitching Post. I ain't drinking no Merlot!

2009-07-14T20:14:00.001-07:00

Greetings from Solvang!

2009-07-14T16:47:00.001-07:00

Pea soup and red cabbage. My slightly Danish DNA is kicking in.

2009-07-14T14:09:00.001-07:00

Signing the guest register

2009-07-14T14:02:00.001-07:00

Just arrived in Buellton for pea soup.

2009-07-14T13:50:00.001-07:00

Healthy snacks for the road. Thanks Dr. Talli!

2009-07-14T11:32:00.001-07:00

First stop of road trip

2009-07-14T11:29:00.001-07:00

Hitting the road soon.

2009-07-14T10:09:00.001-07:00

I'll be posting my vacation updates here at this blog (woo hoo!) which will feed to Twitter and Facebook. Web 2.0 vacation! Hoody hoo!

Test.

2009-07-12T22:28:00.001-07:00

Barney Miller Episode One

2009-04-12T20:32:00.000-07:00

Placement

2009-04-12T17:22:00.001-07:00

Danke Schoen

2009-04-12T17:01:00.000-07:00

My Twitter Drama Reality Show

2009-04-11T18:25:00.000-07:00

mayorsamAn ex-girlfriend calls to tell me her trouble with her current men. She was with one guy for years before she knew he was married. So...

mayorsamthen she hooks up with another guy she met and fell "in love" with and he moves in after a month or so of dating. this was "the one"....

mayorsamthen last night they have a fight and he disappers. So she tells the original guy she'd come back to him IF he promises to get divorced and

mayorsammarry her. In the meantime the new guy finally shows back up but she's kicking him out. Her rationale for dating losers: she's 33 and wants

mayorsamkids. She said "I was hoping something would happen with you (me)." I'm so not going there. I told her she needs to work on HERSELF, stop

mayorsamdating losers and she'll find what she's looking for when she least expects it. It's all about respecting yourself and never settling.

mayorsamBy the way I turned down her offer to be her backup valentine on Valentines' Day

mayorsamAnd I turned down her offer to go out tonight, though I don't have specific plans, I'm looking for a martini or a margarita or both...

mayorsamnot drama.

I Want My Carbon Offsets!

2009-03-28T16:00:00.000-07:00

Saturday night is something called Earth Hour where we are all encouraged to turn off the lights for an hour to apparently "make a statement."

I was invited to an Earth Hour party and today on my cell phone got an SMS via Evite that the party was cancelled. If a Google search generates 7 grams of CO2 how much does an Earth Hour party evite times 100 guests including invitation, responses, reminders and cancellation?

When I'm working, writing, on the computer, etc. - event at the office - I prefer minimal light. At home while blogging I typically only see by the light of the computer monitor and turn on and off lights as I pass through rooms. I bet doing that everyday saves a lot more energy than one Earth Hour party!

I also walk to work everday, generally driving my car at most two to three times a week. I last filled up the tank on March 8th and I have about a third of a tank left (mainly due to two business related trips to the Westside/South Bay earlier in the month and a trip to Gardena for a memorial service last weekend). Even when I do drive, mostly on the weekends, it's almost always patronizing businesses in my zip code.

I also use cloth grocery bags. I got started on that shopping at HOWS but my collection now includes Ralphs, Walgreens and Superior Produce Market. I keep enough of them in the car, buy extras when I need and always chastise the checkers "Yes I want you to use the cloth bag and not the plastic or paper."

So all of these things are helping the environment and saving me money, time, hassles, etc.

Don't make a "statement" by going to a party to be cool. Make a statement by living your life. Ed Begley, Jr. is one of the few environmental activists who actually practices what he preaches.

Which leads me to the conclusion - why must we have the government force us to do these things?

Who do I send my invoice for my carbon offsets to?

Bad Man Hates the Girl Scouts!

2009-03-28T14:38:00.001-07:00

Girl Scout Cookie sales are down this year and blogger David Markland, also known as CEMETERY WHITE GUY (CWG), isn't helping. Markland, on his Twitter page, is directing folks to a website with recipes for making your own versions of the classic snacks, saying "Who needs the Girl Scouts?"

David Markland, why do you hate the Girl Scouts?

ABC7 reports some 40,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies remain unsold in Los Angeles.

Gift of Caring

Photo by Valley Doll

Girl Scouts have been selling cookies as a fundraiser for nearly 90 years. Profits earned from the sales of cookies fund an amazing number of programs that really develop the young girls into leaders. Its the very best of volunteerism and civic involvement. An interesting fact, is that though Girl Scout Cookie sales is a nationwide tradition, all of the profits earned locally stay locally with the regional council and the local troop. The national Girl Scout organization earns it revenues from a license fee paid by the bakers contracted to manufacture the cookies. Also, the cookies are trans-fat free. The Girl Scouts' website has a comprehensive FAQ about cookie sales.

If you want to help the Girl Scouts reach their goals and buy some more cookies, visit Valley of the Doll or Valley Doll's Twitter page for updates later. Or you can go to the Girl Scout Cookie Booth Locator by clicking here.

Here are a few selected booths operating the rest of the weekend (there are many, many more)

Ralphs at Ventura and Vineland in Studio City/North Hollywood until 6:00 p.m. tonight
Western Bagel at 19500 Plummer in Northridge until 5:00 p.m. tonight
Trader Joe's at 9290 Culver in Culver City until 4:00 p.m. tonight
Bristol Farms at 606 Fair Oaks in South Pasadena from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. tonight
Studio City Farmers' Market at Ventura and Laurel Canyon from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Sunday

Perhaps Markland has an opportunity to redeem himself however, he has already offered to purchase some Samoas this weekend. Maybe a few cases David?

Meghan McCain Hater Flap Can Kiss MY Fat Ass

2009-03-16T21:29:00.001-07:00

"You know the difference between a dentist and a sadist don't you? Newer magazines."

-Jerry Seinfeld

Dr. Flap is at it again. No better than the shrewtastic Laura Ingraham decided the only way she could debate Meghan McCain's views on what the Republican Party needs to do by calling McCain "fat," our favorite blogging dentist can only do as well to call her a "moron."

Here's the rub. Flap must be breathing in too much of the twilight sleep gas. Meghan McCain is an intelligent writer who clearly makes the case why the Republicans must make radical changes to bring in young people, moderates, libertarian leaners and disaffected Democrats. The problem is old farts like Flap and bitter women like Ingraham just don't get it. And they are so at the peril of the party.

Kiss my fat ass Flap! (With all due respect because most of the time you're right but this time you're acting like a Mayor Sam dum dum.)

Barack the Magic Negro

2008-12-29T22:01:00.000-08:00

Big furor over a video making the rounds, Barack the Magic Negro, a parody of Puff the Magic Dragon. The tune satirically takes makes the case from the point of view of Reverend Al Sharpton that Barack Obama is an "acceptable Black man" compared to himself.

Though the piece was initially distrubuted as part of what was thought to be a joke by some dinosaur Republicans down South, it's actually based on an essay about Obama in the LA Times almost two years ago.

The story by David Ehrenstein paints the President-Elect and then underdog candidate in the archetype of what's referred to as "the magical negro," which Wikipedia describes as a "mystical stock character in fiction who, by use of special insight or powers, helps the white protagonist get out of trouble." Indeed as Ehrenstein points out Obama as a real life "magical Negro" is "there to assuage white "guilt" (i.e., the minimal discomfort they feel) over the role of slavery and racial segregation in American history, while replacing stereotypes of a dangerous, highly sexualized black man with a benign figure for whom interracial sexual congress holds no interest." Certainly Whites can feel comfortable voting for Obama over previous candidates such as Shartpon or Reverend Jesse Jackson who have darker skin and unlike Obama's cosmpolitan upbringing had a more typical African American upbrining in "the hood" scare Whites, regardless of their degree of simpicato with their politics and can't bring themselves to vote for them.

This is a tough pill to swallow but Barack the Magic Negro - even if it was unintentional on the creator's part - brings up these uncomfortable realities about race relations. That even in a post-racial word many Whites are indeed drawn to the "magic negro" that they can warm to and hope erases any innate bias they may still have.

The good news is that as society becomes even more diverse old stereotypes will fall away and distinctions will blur. And to a degree, the election of Barack Obama helps to that end helping to erase the racism of some whom opposed him and the guilt of some of who supported him.

By the way Ehrenstein isn't thrilled with Barack Obama these days, primarily over his selection of Pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at Obama's inauguration.

Gavin and His SUV

2008-11-22T23:55:00.000-08:00

Zuma Dogg caught Gavin Newsom driving his state-of-the art SUV and parking in a fire lane in Malibu this past summer. Now the San Francisco Mayor is taking heat back home for the SUV use and for having what appears to be an excessive use of security personnel. KGO television takes the Mayor to task and even quotes the Dogg in their report.

Black Women Marrying More White Men

2008-10-16T21:12:00.000-07:00

This report details a sharp increase in the number of Black women who are marrying White men.

It's an interesting concept because it was about 60 years ago that the final miscegenation laws were overturned.

It reminds me of the current debate over same-sex marriage. Many of the arguments made against interracial marriage are similar those being made today by the supporters of California's Proposition 8 which would overturn a recent court decision allowing same-sex marriage.

I think about how interracial marriage was once similarly taboo in society. If things hadn't changed my brother wouldn't have married a beautiful Black woman with whom he has had two great kids.

Perhaps someday we'll look back on the opposition to same-sex marriage the same way.

The Audacity of Non-Conformity

2008-10-12T17:32:00.000-07:00

In 1984, at the age of 20, my first time being old enough to cast a ballot in a Presidential election, I found myself mostly alone supporting Walter Mondale against Ronald Reagan.

Most of my friends were on board with The Gipper and had one hell of a rally for him at Pierce College 24 years ago.

Still, I fought on as a member of "Youth for Mondale" running sound trucks in Spanish in East LA, painting signs for Mondale's appearance in Pershing Square the afternoon before election day and helping to arrange an appearance by Gerarldine Ferraro at Valley College.

But all the cool kids were for Ronnie and all the hot girls liked the cool kids who were bucking for the GOP. On the other hand I was teamed up with soon to be aging hippies, feminists with facial hair and members of the chess club hoping we could elect Jimmy Carter's VP as President.
Election night I did get to "celebrate" in the Mondale suite at the Biltmore Hotel and before heading down to the main celebrations in the hotel ballrooms I called into my answering machine at home to check the messages (no cell phones or voice mail back then of course) and heard a message from my two Republican roommates saying "Sorry about that Mike! We're here with the girls at the Century Plaza and having a great time."

Flash forward nearly a quarter century with middle age set in and well into a personal political transformation expressing support for the Republican ticket, including a woman only eight months older than I.

Yet all the cool kids are once again on the other side, supporting the historic and hip candidacy of Barack Obama. Though I know many GOP supporters, given where I live, the business I'm in and the circles I travel in, I'm nearly audaciously alone. The hotties for the most part are Democrats too.

This time, for the most part, with far more going on in my life than in 1984, I only have time to fight the fight digitally, suffering the slings and arrows of the Democrats with keyboards. I've lost a few friends because of this election but most of us are mature enough to agree to disagree.

Soon it will be over and life will go on. But nonetheless despite the current state of my political awareness I continue to find myself mired in non-conformity.

And I like that just fine.

10 Reasons to Date a Lesbian

2008-05-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

I found this gem on Craig's List.

After over 10 years of exclusively dating women, I am done. The pendulum is definitely swinging in the other direction. Although I have to admit that dating girls was a lot of fun, especially during my college days, the prospects are just not that bright headed into my 30’s. Fortunately, in the meantime, a lot of you guys have finally grown up and become considerably more interesting as dating material.

You may also be wondering why you would want to even try dating a lesbian. I mean really, from a guy’s perspective, what’s the attraction, right?

So here is my list –

10 REASONS TO DATE A LESBIAN:

1. I don’t hate men. This is because, unlike most straight women, I don’t have an ex-boyfriend or an ex-husband who has cheated or otherwise done me wrong. Instead, the men I’ve chosen to spend time with have always been my friends. We’ve drunk beer together, gone camping, and talked about girls. I only have good things to say about the guys I know.

2. I’ve never been a gold digger. At no time in my life have I been under the impression that Prince Charming would show up and take care of everything. Instead, I’ve developed my independence and learned how to do things for myself. I would still love for you to take me to dinner on occasion, but I don’t need you to support me.

3. I don’t mind getting dirty. I can go camping, hiking and fishing without worrying about my nails.

4. I’m still feminine. I may not coat my face with tons of makeup, but if you think all lesbians are butch, you have a lesson coming to you. For the record, I’m tall, blonde, fit, athletic, attractive, and look great in tall boots and a short skirt.

5. I don’t call myself bisexual. Bi chicks have a reputation for cheating on their husbands and being incapable of sustaining meaningful relationships with women. It may be a generalization, but I’ve met enough of them to know that I don’t ever want to date one or to be called one. It’s just not my style.

6. You never have to wonder if I slept with that other guy. I didn’t.

7. I’m also not dragging around some other guy’s kids.

8. I don’t play games. Honest. Having only dated women, I never learned how to manipulate a guy.

9. I’m more interesting than most of the girls you’ll meet in PB. I’m smarter than them too.

10. You’ve secretly always wanted to be with a lesbian but never thought you’d have a chance.

At this point, you are probably wondering what the down side might be… here it is.

3 REASONS NOT TO DATE A LESBIAN:

1. I may not be attracted to you. It’s true. Then again, how many dates have you been on with straight women who lacked the necessary chemistry too? The only way to find out is to try, right?

2. I am an unabashed feminist. If I cook for you, you might have to do dishes.

3. I don’t know all the moves. In fact, I’m pretty clueless when it comes to guys, whether it be flirting over drinks or lights out in the bedroom. As they say though, practice makes perfect.

So what do you think? Still interested? If you are, let’s give this a try.

Monkey Business

2008-05-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh have trained monkeys to control robotic arms with their brain waves. Could they perhaps teach monkeys to run the City?

Jack Sheldon Film Now Playing

2008-05-28T00:15:00.001-07:00

I had the opportunity to join Rita of Sunland a few months back at the premiere of Doug McIntyre's and Penny Peyser's homage to legendary jazz artist Jack Sheldon, the biographical Trying To Get Good: The Jazz Odyssey of Jack Sheldon. Now if you want to see the film now is your chance. There are a number of screenings scheduled from this Friday the 30th through June 19th at The Westwood Crest Theatre.

Shrinking Me

2007-10-23T21:44:00.000-07:00

This personal blogging thing is new to me and its about to get a whole lot newer. I've been blogging for years about politics and perhaps occasionally wrote about something different. And this blog started off with me just posting silly stuff I found on the internet but now it seems to be adding another dimension.

Most people in my personal life know that a significant major change has happened to me over the last 14 months. But I've rarely discussed it in the blog-la-sphere. But here's a shot.

Since early August of last year, I've lost nearly 180 pounds. I have shrunk tremendously and its radically altered my life. I have a ways to go but its a day at a time and yes I feel amazing while also scared, confused and more.

As time goes on I will share more with you about it and how I did it. Of course I will be more than happy to help anyone else facing their personal battle with the bulge. I've also finally added an exercise program to my repetroire and if anything blogging about that will keep me on it (as you will expect me to right?).

Te Amo

2007-10-23T20:51:00.000-07:00

Though I am pure gabacho through and through (at least as far as I know), I grew up in el barrio surrounded by Latino culture that I ultimately fell in love with.

Having some experience with being a romantic, its my firm view that love can be expressed far more beautifully in the Spanish language. Indeed, its my Anglo-Germanic ancestors who are primarily responsible for most of the hang-ups we have about sex, feelings, emotions, etc. Latin culture - whether its Americano, Espana, Italia or even the good old French know how to celebrate love and life.

How I long for the opportunity to someday express the words te amo to my soulmate - whether she understands the language or not. And to dance on a balcony after a candlelit wine filled dinner to the tune below.

Its commercial pop and from a movie to boot, but I think La Bella Maria de mi Alma (AKA Beautiful Maria of My Soul) is one of the most romantic songs ever served up by Hollywood. From the 1992 movie The Mambo Kings (based on the FAR better Oscar Hijuelos book The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love) starring Antonio Banderas and Armand Assante as musician Cuban brothers who run afoul of the Havana underworld and are forced to migrate to New York in the early 1950s.

The song is the love anthem of the film and was nominated for an Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe. It details the angst of Banderas' Nestor Castillo who pines for his beloved Maria whom he was forced to leave behind in Cuba.

The song was performed in the film by both Banderas and Castillo but the solo soundtrack version by Banderas is the best. The legendary group Los Lobos recorded a funky English language version for the album but though the performance is awesome (including a haunting flute solo in the bridge that takes the place of the big band sound in the version en espanol), the lyrics themselves are really lacking in the English translation.

Below are the lyrics in both Spanish and English as well as some all three versions of the song via YouTube.

The Spanish lyrics (sung by Antonio Banderas):

Si deseo sonreir
Pienso solamente en ti
En la magia de tu amor
En tu piel en tu sabor

En la isla del dolor
Recuerdo tu calor
Desearia morir
Cerca de ti

Un ardiente corazon
Colorea mi pasion
Deseando compartir
El sentir de este vivir

En las olas de este mar
Sueno en la eternidad
Con cada luna vendras
Con la merea te iras

En un caracol
Pienso oir tu voz
La bella Maria de mi amor

Aunque estemos separados
En un sueno angelicar
Si llego de nuevo amar
No hay razon, proque cambiar

Temo yo permancer
Sin ti en la eternidad
Lejos nos puedon separar
Jamas pudiera olvidar
Tu risa celestial
Tus besos, tu calor
La bella Maria de mi amor

Si no te vuelva a ver
No dejaras de ser
La bella Maria de mi amor.

English performed by Los Lobos:

In the sunlight of your smile
In the summer of our life
In the magic of love
Storms above scattered away

Lovers dreaming in the night
Reaching for Paradise
But as the dark shadows fade
Love slips away

On an empty stretch of beach Mambo Kings - Singing and Dancing
In the pattern of the waves
Drawing pictures with my hand
In the sand, I see your face

Skipping pebbles on the sea
Wishing for Paradise
Sand castles crumble below
The restless tides ebb and flow
Listening to a shell
Hoping for your voice
Beautiful Maria of my soul

Though we'll always be apart
Locked forever in a dream
If I ever love again
Even then, nothing will change

And the taste of you remains
Clinging to Paradise
But as the distance from you grows
All that my heart ever knows
Hunger for your kiss
Longing for your touch
Beautiful Maria of my soul

Filling all my nights
Haunting all my days
Beautiful Maria of my soul.

Bilingual version from the film (sorry the dialogue is not in English - but the song remains in English and Spanish).

Sometimes I wish I grew up about 25 years earlier...

2007-10-23T20:48:00.000-07:00

But then I would be really old now. From "A Summer Place" 1960, one of the coolest romantic movies ever.

One of the most hauntingly beautiful songs ever

2007-10-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

From 1959 - Santo & Johnny's "Sleepwalk." You may never know or remember the name of this song, but you'll know it when you hear it.

The video and audio quality of this clip is not that great, its obviously a copy of a copy of a tape of a live television performance. But of anything on YouTube, its the most authentic.

Nuts To This!

2007-10-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

The goal of this Japanese game show is to perfectly recite a tongue twister - if you don't? You get a good whack in the family jewels from below. Ouch!

Not quite sure what you win though.

The Cuppy Cake Girl Grows Up

2007-10-14T19:45:00.000-07:00

Way before YouTube and not long after Al Gore invented the Internet (I thought you said no politics?) this video of three year old Amy Castle singing "The Cuppy Cake Song" made the rounds first on CD and then online. The song was written and the video produced by Amy's parents in 1994. It's been remade over and over by dozens of kids whose parents hoped to achieve the same level of notoriety for their tyke.

Amy later went on to become an actress, playing Ally McBeal as a child and later a recurring role on Lizzie McGuire for which she won a Young Artist Award.

Amy's now 17 and is still making music videos. But more importantly she's landed the biggest role of her career as a recurring character on the hit soap opera Passions. She's not singing about cupcakes anymore as seen below.

What Is Lorem Ipsum?

2007-10-14T19:30:00.000-07:00

I had to use a little of it to get the blog birthed.

What is it?

Lorem ipsum. According to Wikipedia "lorem ipsum is standard placeholder text used to demonstrate the graphic elements of a document or visual presentation, such as font, typography, and layout."

The text comes from Cicero's "De finibus bonorum et malorum" though no one really knows where it first came from. It doesn't really mean anything and is geared to approximate the distribution of English letters.

However the literal translation of the standard ipsum is:

"Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

Ipsum to you too!

Lorem Part Deux

2007-10-14T19:00:00.001-07:00

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Maecenas pellentesque est ut diam. Duis et velit vel magna posuere porttitor. Sed vulputate. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Pellentesque consequat lorem vitae nibh. Morbi euismod. Donec luctus faucibus massa. Sed adipiscing nisi molestie dolor. Curabitur erat metus, eleifend volutpat, sagittis eu, sodales vehicula, tortor. Suspendisse pede ligula, molestie ut, eleifend in, euismod ut, velit. Integer dolor turpis, congue in, rutrum in, nonummy ut, elit.

Vivamus nisi elit, tincidunt nec, mollis eget, accumsan vitae, nibh. Quisque sodales, nunc in placerat eleifend, eros lacus vehicula odio, et aliquet augue tortor at libero. Mauris id risus. Praesent elementum dui non lorem. Quisque sollicitudin augue eget lacus. Nam lacus erat, consequat bibendum, euismod vel, faucibus id, dui. Vivamus quam ligula, commodo id, ultrices at, posuere eget, ipsum. Nunc pretium consectetuer nulla. Duis ligula. Nam dapibus semper lorem. Curabitur eu lectus quis augue commodo ullamcorper. Sed quis libero. Etiam vitae arcu. Fusce volutpat risus eu turpis bibendum ultrices. Nullam feugiat faucibus justo. Suspendisse potenti. Fusce posuere risus nec erat pellentesque sollicitudin.

Oh My The Lorem Is Back

2007-10-14T18:59:00.001-07:00

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Mauris varius, arcu et malesuada suscipit, lacus massa tincidunt risus, quis placerat mauris enim sed ligula. Morbi pellentesque. Morbi elementum mauris eu nisl fermentum vulputate. Nullam ut dui eget tellus congue sodales. Etiam tincidunt sagittis neque. Mauris magna mauris, auctor in, porta in, viverra vel, nisi. Maecenas mi. In nunc dui, interdum ut, nonummy ut, auctor sit amet, purus. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Fusce non dolor. Nullam dictum elit in velit. Etiam tempus nibh eu leo. Nunc nisi. Cras convallis, tortor et aliquet fermentum, pede pede adipiscing leo, sed facilisis orci justo eget tortor. Proin at tellus sodales elit sollicitudin pulvinar. Nulla ut elit.

Praesent volutpat. Morbi aliquam malesuada diam. Pellentesque at felis non sem molestie nonummy. Curabitur porttitor sem vitae ante scelerisque varius. Nunc feugiat. Fusce varius tellus nec metus. Suspendisse in nulla. Sed lorem urna, fermentum et, semper sed, vulputate quis, felis. Nulla tincidunt, quam in aliquet pretium, tortor dolor mollis sem, nec pellentesque sem nulla ut elit. Morbi lectus lorem, suscipit id, semper mollis, vestibulum eget, odio. Cras laoreet elit vitae augue. Cras ut ante sit amet dolor egestas vehicula. Proin ullamcorper laoreet sem. Aenean augue. Vestibulum pulvinar suscipit tellus. Aliquam magna eros, consectetuer at, tristique quis, aliquam nec, augue. Nam rhoncus scelerisque orci. Ut eget quam vitae nisi tincidunt ornare.

Sed ac nisl sit amet ante tincidunt rutrum. Pellentesque porttitor nisl. Nunc mollis gravida nisi. Quisque vulputate, quam a suscipit elementum, odio erat vehicula nisl, vitae pretium velit arcu eget mauris. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Pellentesque placerat faucibus urna. Sed mollis. Sed ultricies sem et enim. Proin pede dui, auctor et, feugiat a, egestas sed, leo. Donec libero turpis, venenatis vel, convallis vel, congue eget, tortor. Ut laoreet.

Duis sit amet magna ut orci commodo condimentum. Fusce pellentesque egestas mauris. Nulla elit mauris, dictum at, hendrerit eleifend, ultrices a, nibh. Vestibulum luctus tincidunt est. Sed porttitor. Nulla eleifend, ante dictum dignissim tempor, libero ante venenatis quam, eu aliquam sem purus sit amet magna. Mauris vel mauris. Sed cursus dictum magna. Nullam posuere pharetra tellus. Nullam neque massa, posuere et, tristique vel, aliquam eu, nibh. Donec facilisis purus. Morbi ullamcorper quam. Suspendisse velit. Nunc ultricies accumsan sapien.

Ut velit est, volutpat quis, pulvinar a, cursus ac, lacus. Fusce elit dui, viverra a, sollicitudin condimentum, auctor sed, leo. Phasellus aliquam. Nulla purus lacus, facilisis vel, aliquet sit amet, elementum non, libero. Nunc consectetuer porta eros. Mauris imperdiet ornare dolor. Fusce diam. Fusce et sem eget nibh mattis luctus. Mauris ligula. Nullam aliquam sollicitudin sem. Cras iaculis enim at urna. Suspendisse lacinia dolor sit amet mauris. Maecenas sit amet ante non justo aliquet dictum. Mauris ultricies risus ut dolor.