Thursday, January 31, 2008

The Chapin Sisters @ Little Pedro's



Lisa and Blake invited us to see the Chapin Sisters at Little Pedro's (now the Bordello) in downtown tonight. They are a sweet sounding trio of songbirds playing folksy cozy tunes like these. In March, they'll have a residency at the Echo to debut their new album, so see them for free every monday in March.


In other music news, THIS FRIDAY the natural history museum has their First Friday Concert Series. This is by far the most unique venue to see local bands, amongst extinct bears and big cats. A TRAK and KID SISTER will be performing from 7-10pm. All Ages.

Oh! And Arthur Mag is putting on 3 shows at McCabe's. The first one is this Sunday and features three bands I'm eager to see:

Sunday, Feb 3, 7pm - $12 - buy tix here

THE ENTRANCE BAND (righteous psychedelic rock n roll power trio from Laurel Canyon), WHITE RAINBOW (euphoric wide-angle inner/outer vibrations from Portland, Oregon) and WINTER FLOWERS (clear-eyed country folk rock and harmonies from Echo Park).

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Simple way to help stop "scientific" whaling

From Greenpeace...



Dear Friends,

This campaign has always been about saving the whales - for good. We are proud that this year we've saved more than 100 whales here in the Southern Ocean, and I am personally relieved that I wasn't forced to witness a single whale being killed. But our efforts here in the Southern Ocean are just one part of a much larger effort to end commercial whaling forever.



After months at sea, and the last two weeks of chasing the Japanese factory whaling ship, Nisshin Maru, we've almost run out of fuel and have to return to port. The Australian government vessel, the Oceanic Viking, will continue shadowing the whaling fleet, and we are confident that no whaling will take place in their presence. We have put enormous pressure on the Japanese government, and they have made it clear that they want to hide their whaling from the public eye.

Now our attention must turn to increasing public pressure on the Japanese government. We're entering a new phase in our efforts to save the whales, and now we're relying on YOU to take action to achieve our goal of ending whaling, not just this season but forever.

We're turning our focus on Canon, the company known for its high quality cameras and its commitment to protecting endangered species. As the head of the Japanese Business Federation, Canon CEO Fujio Mitarai has the power to influence the Japanese Prime Minister and to condemn whaling. But Canon has refused to take a stand against the killing of thousands of whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Is this really wildlife as Canon sees it?

TAKE ACTION -- Tell Canon to make a picture perfect decision to help end whaling.


It's time to zoom in on a permanent end to whaling. YOU can help Canon see the big picture.

I want to thank you for all of your support for us here on the high seas protecting whales. I hope you'll continue to support whales now by shifting the spotlight to the highest levels of Japanese business and politics, where the fate of whales will ultimately be decided. Whales should be shot with cameras, not harpoons, and Canon should be developing the same conservation philosophy behind the scenes that it uses in its ads.

Sincerely,



Heath Hanson
Boat Driver

Monday, January 28, 2008

Blowing thru our CSA


Heather and I have been eating quite well since we took deliver of our CSA on Friday. So far, we've eaten:

1. Many servings of hash browns using red potatoes & onions
2. Beet & mandarin salad
3. Whole wheat pasta with rapini, garlic, pine nuts, and currants

Tonight my parents, Julia and Bronco came over for dinner. We had a stir fry using the daikon (first time!), some cabbage, garlic, carrots, bok choy, onions, tofu and shrimp. I seasoned it with soy sauce, rice vinegar, chinese 5 spice, ginger powder and red pepper flakes and something else I am forgetting. We forgot to add the jerusalem artichokes we bought today at the farmer's market.

Heather also made a batch of rosemary infused olive oil. If that wasn't enough, we also made a batch of sauerkraut today! The hardest part was finding a store that still sells mason jars. The recipe called for 10 minutes of beating the cabbage until the juice came out. Throw in some salt and caraway seeds and seal it for 3 days to a few months, depending on how sauer you like it.

We still have a bunch of potatoes to get thru as well as turnips, some mandarins, a beet or two and a handful of carrots. I'm surprised how quickly we're getting thru this box!

An Alternate State of the Union


Let's think about these words as we listen to our president give the state of the union tonight. Thanks Jim for forwarding this to me!

Lee Iacocca Says:


'Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'Stay the course'

Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America , not the damned 'Titanic'. I'll give you a sound bite: 'Throw all the bums out!'

You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.

The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq , the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of the ' America ' my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you?

I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have. The Biggest 'C' is Crisis! Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory. Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down.


On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes.

A Hell of a Mess

So here's where we stand. We're immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. We're running the biggest deficit in the
history of the country. We're losing the manufacturing edge to Asia , while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs. Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are in trouble. Our borders are like sieves. The middle class is being squeezed every which way. These are times that cry out for leadership.

But when you look around, you've got to ask: 'Where have all the leaders gone?' Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point.

Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo? We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened.

Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the hurricane, or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm.

Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen again. Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.

Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when 'The Big Three' referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more important, what are we going to do about it?

Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debt, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry.

I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a change?

Had Enough?

Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope, I believe in America . In my lifetime I've had the privilege of living through some of America 's greatest moments. I've also experienced some of our worst crises: the 'Great Depression', 'World War II', the 'Korean War', the 'Kennedy Assassination', the 'Vietnam War', the 1970s oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with 9/11. If I've learned one thing, it's this: 'You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action. Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for our children, we all have a role to play. That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a call to 'Action' for people who, like me, believe in America . It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let's shake off the crap and go to work. Let's tell 'em all we've had 'enough.'

Excerpted from 'Where Have All the Leaders Gone?'.
Copyright (c) 2007 by Lee Iacocca. All rights reserved.

Friday, January 25, 2008

A Box of Organic Wonder


Heather's christmas present arrived today. I got her a trial membership to Tierra Miguel's CSA program. The box was heavy and when I got it back to the gallery, Heather and I opened it and marveled at the amazing cornucopia of vegetables (and mandarians!) that lay before us. The box includes:

carrots
cabbage
daikon
rosemary
garlic
mandarins
onions
red potatoes
radishes
rapini
turnips
beets

Heather is currently reading the newsletter that came with the shipment, including recipes! We have to get a crock pot or else!!! For anyone who says they are too busy to shop at farmer's markets, consider joining a CSA. I found this one thru localharvest.org



In other news, the heavy rains last night and today have flooded our backyard, and I am a little worried that our citrus grove may suffer casualties. I'm considering getting a pump to drain the swamp...

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

L.A. Voters! Today is the registration deadline


I'm making it real easy for you to register. Just click on this link to fill out an APPLICATION FOR A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT FOR THE FEBRUARY 5, 2008 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Tom Cruise expounding on Scientology

Lose 41 pounds! Of Junk Mail That Is!


Here's a great idea. If you get tons of junk mail, you can pay a small fee to have your name taken off dozens of direct mailer's lists. This website, www.41pounds.org makes it easy to remove 85-90% of all junk mail. Plus, they donate 1/3 of the fee to an environmental group of your choice. Not bad...

Also, you should consider opting out of pre-approved credit card offers. This free service is run by the big 3 credit reporting agencies. Not only will you stop receiving junk mail from these jokers, you also reduce the risk of identity fraud.

Any even stronger protection against identity theft is a credit freeze. Brrrr!!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

I just got on the radio!


Pat Morrison had a show about gas prices, gas tax and fuel economy standards. I got on the air and said that since I now use my scooter for most local transportation, I see tons of people driving around in large vehicles alone, and support continuing increase in gas prices to change consumer behaivor. Which brings me to this point: US automakers do not understand their customers. The automakers that spend millions fighting increased CAFE standards fail to see that their model line is not what consumers want. Toyota is now the largest automaker, and their investment in hybrid technology will continue to pay off as we move into a post-carbon economy. Ford, GM and the others (including Toyota!) fighting increased fuel economy standards have their head in the sand. The economic woes of Detroit is directly correlated to the fuel economy of their model lineups. Maybe I am wrong, but unions should be supporting increased fuel economy. The line that CAFE standards will hurt Detroit makes no sense. Rather, they fail to recognize that gas guzzlers are not going to sell when oil is at $100/barrel.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

My birthday is coming up soon....ish.


What is this strange machine, you ask? Just the future of city commuting in a post carbon world. An all electric moped (combination motorcycle and bicycle), Electrobike’s Pi has a range of 30 miles on a full battery and goes up to 20mph. For more oomph, they sell a gas/electric hybrid that has 30 horsepower and can probably go 90mph!

Available at DWR
for $8000.

And If you're looking for even more power????


You need an honest mechanic!


Just heard a report on Offramp that EZ Lube, a company that was cheating customers for years recently settled a lawsuit for $5 million. The settlement changes how they have to do business. Joel Grover and Matt Goldberg at KNBC investigated EZ Lube in 2003, showing videos of technicians selling un-needed services, and charging people for services that were never made. Some customers even reported their engines blowing up a week after their car was serviced there. Need a good mechanic? Go see Jim Matson.

Poke for Votes

Here's a great website that lets you check your voter registration status. If you're not registered, you can quickly get registered. You can also "poke" your friends and help them make sure they are also registered to vote. VOTE POKE

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Want to live 14 years longer?


It's easy. Do these 4 things and you'll live 14 years longer.

1. Eat fruits and vegetables

2. Drink 1-14 alcoholic drinks per week

3. Refrain from smoking

4. Exercise


These are the results of a health study in England that studied the health habits of over 20,000 people. It's one of a few studies out there that tries to analyze the combined health effect of multiple behavioural factors.

While you're at it, read Michael Pollan's new book, "In Defense of Food" where his advice for healthy living boils down to these words:

EAT FOOD, NOT TOO MUCH, MOSTLY VEGETABLES.

Monday, January 7, 2008

Bookie Calls it for Obama, Game Over?


From the trusted news outlet, Fox Business, comes this story:

DUBLIN, January 7, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Ireland's largest bookmaker, Paddy Power, are today claiming that the Democratic Nomination race is well and truly over and are already paying out on Barack Obama to be the successful Democratic nominee.

The early payout signals a massive EUR50,000 ($75,000) payday to lucky punters who backed Obama over the recent number of weeks at various odds ranging from 4/1 to 4/9.

The unexpected decision by the Irish bookmaking firm comes almost a week after the Iowa primary election and just a day before the New Hampshire primary election where Barack is now the odds on favourite at 1/12 to demolish his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Paddy Power, said: "From a betting point of view we reckon that it's game over for Hillary. With each passing day Obama is looking more like a certainty to get the Democratic vote and as far as we're concerned he's already past the post. So well done to all who backed him, your winnings await!"

Barack Obama has also overtaken Hillary Clinton for the first time in the betting to become the next US President. Paddy Power now make him the odds on favourite at 10/11 to become the first African-American President over Hillary Clinton who has now drifted to an incredible 5/2.

    LATEST 2008 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BETTING

http://www.electionbetting.com

New Hampshire Democratic Primary
1/20 Barack Obama
7/1 Hillary Clinton
40/1 John Edwards
150/1 Any Other Democratic candidate

New Hampshire Republican Primary
1/14 John McCain
6/1 Mitt Romney
16/1 Any Other

Michigan Democratic Primary
4/7 Hillary Clinton
5/4 Barack Obama
14/1 John Edwards
40/1 Any other Democratic candidate

Michigan Republican Primary
6/4 John McCain
2/1 Mitt Romney
9/4 Rudy Giuliani
7/2 Mike Huckabee
33/1 Any other Republican candidate

Florida Democratic Primary
8/13 Hillary Clinton
11/10 Barack Obama
22/1 John Edwards

Democratic Nominee for President 2008
4/9 Barack Obama
13/8 Hillary Clinton
14/1 John Edwards
25/1 Al Gore
100/1 Evan Bayh
100/1 Bill Richardson
100/1 Tom Daschle

Republican Nominee for President 2008
11/8 John McCain
5/2 Rudolph Giuliani
7/2 Mike Huckabee
4/1 Mitt Romney
12/1 Ron Paul
25/1 Fred Thompson
125/1 Sam Brownback

Next President?
10/11 Barack Obama
5/2 Hillary Clinton
11/2 John McCain
10/1 Rudolph Giuliani
11/1 Mike Huckabee
14/1 Mitt Romney
25/1 Ron Paul
25/1 John Edwards
33/1 Al Gore
50/1 Fred Thompson
125/1 Bill Richardson
125/1 Tom Daschle
125/1 Evan Bayh

Winning Party
2/5 Democrats
7/4 Republicans

Name the final two candidates to contest the 2008 US Presidential
Election
5/2 Obama v McCain
4/1 Obama v Giuliani
5/1 Clinton v McCain
11/2 Obama v Huckabee
6/1 Obama v Romney
8/1 Clinton v Giuliani
10/1 Clinton v Huckabee
12/1 Clinton v Romney
16/1 Obama v Paul
33/1 Clinton v Paul
33/1 Obama v Thompson
33/1 Edwards v McCain
50/1 Edwards v Giuliani
66/1 Clinton v Thompson
66/1 Edwards v Romney
66/1 Edwards v Huckabee
150/1 Obama v Brownback
180/1 Edwards v Paul
300/1 Clinton v Brownback
350/1 Edwards v Thompson
1000/1 Edwards v Brownback

For all the latest in US Politics visit our dedicated microsite - http://www.electionbetting.com

SOURCE Paddy Power Plc

Friday, January 4, 2008

Winter Harvest

Yesterday I picked tangerines from our tree for about half an hour. Ended up with a large shopping bag full. Want Some?

Thursday, January 3, 2008

$50 for Free Checking?


Wachovia is giving new customers $50 to open a free checking account with them. I've been with Wamu for years, and don't plan to change that for now, but why not get $50 for free? You have to call Wachovia and open the account over the phone ( (800) 922-4684 ) because they don't have any place to enter the offer code on their website. The offer code is ATM2 and the offer expires 1/31/08. Thanks to Bank Deals for letting me know about this!

UPDATE 1/12/08 Wachovia takes their time paying you the $50 bonus. Mark your calendar 120 days out, and don't bounce a check, your account must be in good standing or you'll lose the bonus.