Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Starting with the #3 song at the top of the Billboard chart right now, "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons, climate change is on the very forefront of my mind. It should be on the forefront of everyone's mind any time they breathe in air. 

Recently, I heard about the California coast having a ban on offshore drilling since the 1969 oil spill off the Santa Barbara coast which ranks 3rd largest in American history after the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010 & the 1989 Exxon Valdez disasters and is said to have attributed to the start of the Environmental Movement. The California offshore drills still standing are grandfathered in.

Offshore Fracking is now in the news for the California coast.

On-shore Fracking diagram.

I first head of this method for extracting Oil on the Jimmy Fallon show with Yoko Ono & Sean Lennon singing 'Don't Frack My Mother'. It surprises me that the 2 conversations I had with adult acquantances in the last 2 days had no concept or clue of what I was talking about. It helps our consumption of oil but does not help our environment. Taking too much of anything can be a very bad thing.

Today, on NPR, I was listening to a report regarding the Fukushima Power Plant which has been spewing radioactive contaminated water which leaked tons of water from their storage tank which is now in the Pacific Ocean. New York Times -Japanese Power plant

Now I am not one who has been convinced of environmental issues because others say I should be or that it is something you can believe in or not. I was a believer in the 3rd grade when I wrote my report on the deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest. The impact it has on its native peoples, environmental destruction it has for the native species and animals as well as the destruction of trees depleting oxygen levels in that remote part of the world. This I learned at the age of 7. 

I was further educated with the banning of CFCs -chlorofluorocarbons- because of their destructive makeup which helped create a hole in our Ozone layer. Then, or somewhere around the same time, Recycling was taking the stage in my hometown which was way ahead of the curve. Going on to College, my first degree of choice was in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. The first subject tackled was Global Warming as a scientific fact not a belief.

CFCs- Hairspray of choice for the 1980's

A report was leaked today on the study of human environmental impact with Anne Curry reporting Carbon Dioxide Emissions directly impact the heating of our atmosphere caused by humans, specifically.

It's easy to be apathetic and ignorance is bliss. However, the environment won't be the problem of the living people today but after we are gone. I'm not a dramatist of our environmental issues but find it to be quite unhealthy to spread any non-caring attitude to the problem. Just like anything, face the challenges and conquer them.

Friday, July 5, 2013

It's the day after 4th of July. Bratwurst, Potato Salad & Lemonade. Fireworks & Music. Nothing says Liberty so much as a $199.00 deductible to replace an iPad screen :(

or, find out on the 4th that your rent has increased....

...Liberty is of course one of the greatest achievements of America. Though the lady liberty was conceptualized & gifted by the French, she is all that represents America and its finer points. 

Sometimes liberty presents challenges but the pursuit of happiness remains. 

One band I'm totally in love with for the last several months is the LA band, Dawes. It's not usually the music which is my cup of tea but I do have a side that speaks loudly to kicking back on a porch in the summer months & taking in the summer breeze. This is the band which is great for that or good for a great summer potluck!

...from a window seat is a perfect tune.

Monday, May 20, 2013

City elections for Los Angeles tomorrow which includes our next Mayor. Get out and vote Angeleno's!

Devastating to see and hear about the Tornado's ripping across the country. If you've ever been in or near a Tornado- it is terrifying. Especially, when it's nighttime. My heart goes out to them.

No Thanks!

Last night was the Billboard Music Awards- who knew? I hadn't seen any  advertising or media relaying the event. With so many ways to advertise, social media & entertainment television shows, you'd think one would hear about it. I'm not too far from the pulse of Pop Culture.

At 54, it's Madonna

Either way, it opened with Taylor Swift. Toward the middle to end it was Madonna & Justin Bieber. The end, Nicki Minaj. Quite a range of diverse talent and say what you wish but it was way more interesting & fun to watch than the finale of Celebrity Apprentice- All Stars!

It's almost June! Time fly's. Summer will be here before we know it. Looking forward to it!

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Paper Aeroplanes.

Tangible yet imaginative. Realistic but figurative. Playful with err on the side of serious. Escapism and not too far.

Light. Material accessible. Sense of adventure.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

I can say I'll be voting for Wendy Greuel for Los Angeles City Mayor in the next elections. However, not because she is female. Simply because she has been city controller and has a handle on finances for the city plus I think she is the strongest candidate. I heard a spot on the local news about feminism and how she basically needs to be elected because she is a woman. That's what I got from it anyway. This is after Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg was standing up for women's rights on 60mins. recently. She's got one of the best ranking jobs in the world- and she makes her husband do the laundry. What is it women are asking for?

Wendy Greuel

The message gets mixed when supporters argue women need to be included simply because they are women. We've got great women in our world and to me, I see women rising through our ranks every day (my own mother proved to be an example of a breadwinner- she's also a feminist too so I should watch it- but I am giving praise). This may not be true in other countries and a woman has not been US President or Vice President but it can happen in due time. 

Women had a set back way back when the kitchen was the only place for them- we've come a long way. If a woman isn't a feminist, I see a problem there but men must stick with men on the same level. It's a modern world but I'm afraid I won't be supporting others based on race, orientation or gender, ever!

This is not at all what I was going to write about on my entry today but after waking up early to do household chores, I turned on the TV for Meet the Press & thus politics started with my day. 

Do you think Los Angeles is becoming more walkable? Hardly. I woke up this morning feeling like the air was clogged- oh, yeah, that was smog. Evidently, Ed Bagley, activist and actor thinks LA is becoming more walkable. It is by choice as he said. Live closer to work so you can walk more and have shorter commutes. This has always been my motto. If you work in the city, live in the city. If you want to live in the country, work in the country. If you live in one city and work in another city- change it. It's not healthy for you or others around you.

Walkable and Los Angeles shouldn't be used in the same sentence.

I wanted to write about paper aeroplanes, fruit smoothies, fabulous spring weather and my new iMac. C'est La Vie!

Monday, April 1, 2013

April showers bring May flowers- happy April 1st! Spring is definitely here & to stay....until Summer that is!

Last week was big news in gay politics. It's gone to the Supreme Court of the United States! Challenging the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 which restricts the right to marry only between a man and a woman. Evidently the Supreme Court is finding itself in 'uncharted waters'. I won't divulge into debating this issue until the ruling. I for one support gay marriage. If people defend marriage so much to exclude others who would like to have the same opportunity- someone needs to be explaining divorce in as clear a manner.

Pop culture has embraced marriage equality by using this symbol on Facebook showing solidarity.

The subject matter is poignant on the heals of the Pope being replaced after questionable resignation from the church with strict reference to contemporary break down of the Catholic religion. In addition, the Boy Scouts of America delayed the decision to allow (openly) gay scouts. With this, Madonna made a fashion choice last week in a scouts uniform to protest the organizations antigay policies at NYC's GLAAD Media Awards.

Openly gay Anderson Cooper & Madonna on March 16th

Oz the Great and Powerful was observed this weekend with no preconceived notions. A wonderful cast and some scenes were completely enamoring & I was mesmerized. On the flip side, many costume choices were lacking in construction or appropriateness & believability of characters at times were compromised in part by the choices. A very imaginative movie with some really incredible parts, others, not so much. This was a major motion picture and for that, I don't discredit but raise my expectations. I would rate this movie 3.5 stars out of 5- with recommendation. (3D version might be nicer)

Yellow brick road leading to the notorious Emerald City of OZ.

Spring is an awakening which should inspire & bring a new. Take advantage. Fresh flowers always exemplify these charactaristics of the season. I bought some myself!

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Rooting for my Alma Mater today as they enter the sweet sixteen in March Madness NCAA basketball, I'm pleased to say they won by ten to knock out Temple from the tourney. Go HOOSIERS!

Without 6'5" Guard, Victor Oladipo- Indiana University Basketball 2013 season would not be the same. He defends on one end of the court & goes coast to coast for stunts like this!

Will Sheehey is a 6'7" Forward and is the other favorite of mine to watch. He holds his own & is a consistent player. Great win today!

Switching subjects entirely:

As I prepare for the week ahead, I've gone through my 'chores' & found some time to read a great article from a Hawaiian publication my brother sent me about a tree called the Wili Wili. I acquired a forever lei on my recent trip to Hawaii made of its precious seeds.

This highly prized seed lei of Hawaii is  found from a tree which cannot be identified by its exact age. My lei is much larger but basically looks like this. It's really a 'natural wonder' tree. 

Found in remote, arid climates of Hawaii, the endangered tree is becoming scarce without having too much knowledge about it.

Find more information on Facebook.com to support the mission,

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wiliwili-Trees/72224533106?sk=info  

or read the article with Hai On, here;

http://wiliwilitrees.wordpress.com



Me with my Wili Wili lei & other forever lei's. Mahalo!

(check out my new post on http://diversifiedmanner.blogspot.com)