12.12.2005
presents
giving presents is an age old tradition of a means to pay reverance to someone for something. the world has transformed it into an absolute bottom line fattening scheme...greedy bastards. who could blame them? if you didn't make your year in sales, the last of the year is the absolute last time to do it before the end of the fiscal year, right? makes me not want to get anything at all, for the sheer principle. damn my principles.
12.09.2005
Holiday...er Christmas Cheer
Oh man...tis the time of year! As you're reading the article, keep in mind a few more perspectives:
1. Seperation of church and state, according to US law - where do you draw the line and how far do you want to interpret it?
2. If schools are truly wanting to be more multi-cultural than have celebrations for all the damn holidays - Kwanzaa, Hanukah, Pagan Solstice & Christmas.
3. Does it really matter what stores/companies are doing? Is it not enough that you stay true to your own beliefs and keep your traditions strong in your families? How big of a battle are you looking to fight?
A Very Wary Christmas
Retailers and governments heed the wrath of Christians who seek recognition of the sanctity of the occasion. Attorneys are standing by.
By Stephanie Simon
Times Staff Writer
December 9, 2005
PARKER, Colo. — Christmas is back.
A few weeks ago, banners outside every Lowe's store in the nation announced a sale on "Holiday Trees." Hundreds of Christians called to complain that the home-improvement chain was shunning Christmas.
The banners came down. Now the fake firs and pines are clearly labeled "Christmas Trees."
Target, too, started the season with a generic marketing theme. It pushed holiday plates, holiday leggings, holiday ornaments, holiday trees — with nary a mention of Christmas. Then, more than 500,000 shoppers signed an online pledge to boycott the chain. This week, Target promised to bring more Christmas into its stores as Dec. 25 approaches.
For the third year in a row, Christians nationwide have mobilized to put the holy back in the holiday. And they are winning battle after battle.
Their most publicized victories have come in the retail realm, where they have urged stores to acknowledge that the December shopping frenzy is not just about scoring a cheap DVD player, but also about celebrating Christ's birth.
Walgreen Co. says it's too late to change this year's "holiday" circulars, but in response to dozens of customer complaints, it has promised to bring back the word "Christmas" in its 2006 ads.
Macy's — the subject of a small boycott last year — sent activists a letter touting its use of "Merry Christmas" in ads, store windows and a TV jingle. A Macy's executive vice president, Louis M. Meunier, pledged that the company would use Christmas in even more marketing next year.
Defenders of Christmas hailed the news with triumph.
But they haven't stopped at the mall door.
At least 1,500 attorneys have volunteered to sue any town that tries to keep Nativity scenes out of its holiday displays. About 8,000 public school teachers stand ready to report any principal who removes "Silent Night" from the choir program.
The volunteers are armed with a seven-page memo that lays out the case for Jesus in public school concerts, for creches in the classroom and for mangers in city parks (as long as the religious references are balanced with secular songs and decorations).
The memo was written by the Liberty Counsel, a nonprofit law firm based in Orlando, Fla., that is affiliated with the Rev. Jerry Falwell. The firm won a federal ruling in 2003 that said several Massachusetts high schoolers' free-speech rights were violated when they were suspended for distributing candy canes adorned with religious greetings.
This week, the Liberty Counsel won against two Florida towns that had agreed to let locals decorate a public park with a Christmas tree and a menorah but not a Nativity scene. The nonprofit law firm had no sooner filed suit in federal court than the towns reversed course and permitted a display depicting Jesus' birth.
Liberty Counsel President Mathew D. Staver has also threatened to sue two Wisconsin elementary schools over choir concerts he says deny the religious nature of Christmas by featuring songs about Santa instead of Jesus.
One of the districts Staver has questioned does include the religious song "Angels We Have Heard on High" in a "holiday sing." But he remains convinced that secularists have declared a "war on Christmas," in some cases going so far as to change the lyrics of songs like "Silent Night" to remove any reference to Christ's birth.
"People often think the safest route is to censor Christmas," Staver said. "But to be inclusive, you need to recognize all aspects of the holiday."
That message has even made its way into politics. After a decade as a generic holiday tree, the twinkling conifer at the Capitol is a Christmas tree once more, thanks to a request by House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).
Some Christian leaders have taken their campaign to the White House, expressing outrage this week over the annual White House greeting card, which offers wishes for a happy "holiday season." President Bush, they said, had better start wishing them a "Merry Christmas" instead.
Such demands have some skeptics crying Grinch.
"To call out a team of lawyers to insist that people say 'Merry Christmas' — what could be less in the Christmas spirit?" asked Jeremy Gunn, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief.
"Don't they have anything better to do?" he asked.
Christian activists respond that this is one of the most important causes they can imagine.
In their view, God, prayer and faith have been unfairly pushed out of the public square — out of classrooms, city halls and now shopping malls — in the name of multiculturalism.
"Even people who aren't normally churchgoers are saying they're sick of it," said Jennifer Giroux of Cincinnati, who has begun marketing $2 rubber bracelets stamped "Just Say 'Merry Christmas.' " In her first week in business, she sold about 5,000.
She and others see the secularization of Christmas as political correctness gone mad. Tying their campaign to such commercial yardsticks, such as the number of times the word "Christmas" is mentioned in an advertising circular, is their effort to elevate the holy, they say, by making sure no shopper, parade-watcher or first-grade choir student can forget what all the tinsel and trimmings are about.
That means insisting that everyone call Christmas "Christmas" — and nothing else.
"Christmas is not a holiday. A holiday is when you take a day off work and run around playing," said Randy Sharp, director of special projects for the American Family Assn., which led the Target campaign. Using the word "holiday" for Dec. 25 devalues "our nation's most holy day," Sharp said. "And I take offense."
Shoppers rushing into a Lowe's in this suburb south of Denver tended to agree.
"We're celebrating Christ's birthday," said Renee Tillitz, 34. "This is not just a time to buy people a lot of junk."
"It's Christmas! It's Christmas! So call it Christmas!" Dick Warner, 77, fairly shouted.
The defenders of Christmas take pains to explain they're not asking to monopolize the season. They say they'd welcome store displays wishing customers a Happy Hanukkah or a Blessed Kwanzaa or even a Joyous Pagan Solstice along with a Merry Christmas. What they object to is the rigorously neutral message that has become common.
"Renaming a Christmas tree a holiday tree doesn't make any more sense than taking a menorah and renaming it a candlestick," said Staver of the Liberty Counsel.
The law firm and other groups have used the "battle for Christmas" as a fundraising pitch. Some activists have also tried to turn the campaign into a political issue. Fox News Channel host John Gibson came out with a book this fall called "The War on Christmas: How the Liberal Plot to Ban the Sacred Christmas Holiday Is Worse Than You Thought."
Critics on the left say right-wing leaders are creating a crisis to rile voters.
If so, it hasn't worked on Mary Rittler, 78.
She prefers "Christmas" to "holiday," but as she pushed her cart through a Lowe's parking lot, Rittler said the semantic scrap seemed much ado about nothing.
Then she paused.
Musing aloud, she said there was one holiday battle that seemed to her worth fighting.
"You talk about offended — I'm offended when stores start putting up Christmas lights in November," she said. "Let Thanksgiving have its day."
1. Seperation of church and state, according to US law - where do you draw the line and how far do you want to interpret it?
2. If schools are truly wanting to be more multi-cultural than have celebrations for all the damn holidays - Kwanzaa, Hanukah, Pagan Solstice & Christmas.
3. Does it really matter what stores/companies are doing? Is it not enough that you stay true to your own beliefs and keep your traditions strong in your families? How big of a battle are you looking to fight?
A Very Wary Christmas
Retailers and governments heed the wrath of Christians who seek recognition of the sanctity of the occasion. Attorneys are standing by.
By Stephanie Simon
Times Staff Writer
December 9, 2005
PARKER, Colo. — Christmas is back.
A few weeks ago, banners outside every Lowe's store in the nation announced a sale on "Holiday Trees." Hundreds of Christians called to complain that the home-improvement chain was shunning Christmas.
The banners came down. Now the fake firs and pines are clearly labeled "Christmas Trees."
Target, too, started the season with a generic marketing theme. It pushed holiday plates, holiday leggings, holiday ornaments, holiday trees — with nary a mention of Christmas. Then, more than 500,000 shoppers signed an online pledge to boycott the chain. This week, Target promised to bring more Christmas into its stores as Dec. 25 approaches.
For the third year in a row, Christians nationwide have mobilized to put the holy back in the holiday. And they are winning battle after battle.
Their most publicized victories have come in the retail realm, where they have urged stores to acknowledge that the December shopping frenzy is not just about scoring a cheap DVD player, but also about celebrating Christ's birth.
Walgreen Co. says it's too late to change this year's "holiday" circulars, but in response to dozens of customer complaints, it has promised to bring back the word "Christmas" in its 2006 ads.
Macy's — the subject of a small boycott last year — sent activists a letter touting its use of "Merry Christmas" in ads, store windows and a TV jingle. A Macy's executive vice president, Louis M. Meunier, pledged that the company would use Christmas in even more marketing next year.
Defenders of Christmas hailed the news with triumph.
But they haven't stopped at the mall door.
At least 1,500 attorneys have volunteered to sue any town that tries to keep Nativity scenes out of its holiday displays. About 8,000 public school teachers stand ready to report any principal who removes "Silent Night" from the choir program.
The volunteers are armed with a seven-page memo that lays out the case for Jesus in public school concerts, for creches in the classroom and for mangers in city parks (as long as the religious references are balanced with secular songs and decorations).
The memo was written by the Liberty Counsel, a nonprofit law firm based in Orlando, Fla., that is affiliated with the Rev. Jerry Falwell. The firm won a federal ruling in 2003 that said several Massachusetts high schoolers' free-speech rights were violated when they were suspended for distributing candy canes adorned with religious greetings.
This week, the Liberty Counsel won against two Florida towns that had agreed to let locals decorate a public park with a Christmas tree and a menorah but not a Nativity scene. The nonprofit law firm had no sooner filed suit in federal court than the towns reversed course and permitted a display depicting Jesus' birth.
Liberty Counsel President Mathew D. Staver has also threatened to sue two Wisconsin elementary schools over choir concerts he says deny the religious nature of Christmas by featuring songs about Santa instead of Jesus.
One of the districts Staver has questioned does include the religious song "Angels We Have Heard on High" in a "holiday sing." But he remains convinced that secularists have declared a "war on Christmas," in some cases going so far as to change the lyrics of songs like "Silent Night" to remove any reference to Christ's birth.
"People often think the safest route is to censor Christmas," Staver said. "But to be inclusive, you need to recognize all aspects of the holiday."
That message has even made its way into politics. After a decade as a generic holiday tree, the twinkling conifer at the Capitol is a Christmas tree once more, thanks to a request by House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).
Some Christian leaders have taken their campaign to the White House, expressing outrage this week over the annual White House greeting card, which offers wishes for a happy "holiday season." President Bush, they said, had better start wishing them a "Merry Christmas" instead.
Such demands have some skeptics crying Grinch.
"To call out a team of lawyers to insist that people say 'Merry Christmas' — what could be less in the Christmas spirit?" asked Jeremy Gunn, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief.
"Don't they have anything better to do?" he asked.
Christian activists respond that this is one of the most important causes they can imagine.
In their view, God, prayer and faith have been unfairly pushed out of the public square — out of classrooms, city halls and now shopping malls — in the name of multiculturalism.
"Even people who aren't normally churchgoers are saying they're sick of it," said Jennifer Giroux of Cincinnati, who has begun marketing $2 rubber bracelets stamped "Just Say 'Merry Christmas.' " In her first week in business, she sold about 5,000.
She and others see the secularization of Christmas as political correctness gone mad. Tying their campaign to such commercial yardsticks, such as the number of times the word "Christmas" is mentioned in an advertising circular, is their effort to elevate the holy, they say, by making sure no shopper, parade-watcher or first-grade choir student can forget what all the tinsel and trimmings are about.
That means insisting that everyone call Christmas "Christmas" — and nothing else.
"Christmas is not a holiday. A holiday is when you take a day off work and run around playing," said Randy Sharp, director of special projects for the American Family Assn., which led the Target campaign. Using the word "holiday" for Dec. 25 devalues "our nation's most holy day," Sharp said. "And I take offense."
Shoppers rushing into a Lowe's in this suburb south of Denver tended to agree.
"We're celebrating Christ's birthday," said Renee Tillitz, 34. "This is not just a time to buy people a lot of junk."
"It's Christmas! It's Christmas! So call it Christmas!" Dick Warner, 77, fairly shouted.
The defenders of Christmas take pains to explain they're not asking to monopolize the season. They say they'd welcome store displays wishing customers a Happy Hanukkah or a Blessed Kwanzaa or even a Joyous Pagan Solstice along with a Merry Christmas. What they object to is the rigorously neutral message that has become common.
"Renaming a Christmas tree a holiday tree doesn't make any more sense than taking a menorah and renaming it a candlestick," said Staver of the Liberty Counsel.
The law firm and other groups have used the "battle for Christmas" as a fundraising pitch. Some activists have also tried to turn the campaign into a political issue. Fox News Channel host John Gibson came out with a book this fall called "The War on Christmas: How the Liberal Plot to Ban the Sacred Christmas Holiday Is Worse Than You Thought."
Critics on the left say right-wing leaders are creating a crisis to rile voters.
If so, it hasn't worked on Mary Rittler, 78.
She prefers "Christmas" to "holiday," but as she pushed her cart through a Lowe's parking lot, Rittler said the semantic scrap seemed much ado about nothing.
Then she paused.
Musing aloud, she said there was one holiday battle that seemed to her worth fighting.
"You talk about offended — I'm offended when stores start putting up Christmas lights in November," she said. "Let Thanksgiving have its day."
12.01.2005
Challenge
The Joe and I have the task of preparing New Year's Eve dinner for the Bernardo/Domingo clan camping trip. I was thinking of putting a creative spin on things and making "good luck" dishes from various cultures after watching a few programs on The Style Network, The Food Channel, HGTV, and The Travel Channel.
I'm torn between how much preparation and research it's going to take and how much all the flavors are going to mix well with each other. So far, I've found out that noodles are for long life in the Chinese culture. I've only uncovered a few desserts from the Philippines. My mom always makes arroz caldo for the New Year. We'll see how this one goes.
Anyone else got any resources?
I'm torn between how much preparation and research it's going to take and how much all the flavors are going to mix well with each other. So far, I've found out that noodles are for long life in the Chinese culture. I've only uncovered a few desserts from the Philippines. My mom always makes arroz caldo for the New Year. We'll see how this one goes.
Anyone else got any resources?
11.20.2005
California, Sweet California!
I can firmly say that I've been to Utah and will NEVER live there! I was in Provo from Monday of this week through Thursday. I was there for supervisor training with the AmeriCorps*VISTA Program.
The people I was with were great! I met a number of colleagues in various nonprofit and public organizations throughout the West Coast. Why were the Californians the rowdiest?! It was great networking with a ton of people who were going through similar professional and community challenges! Admist all the negativity you hear regarding the United States, it was also wonderful and affirming to see other people who are dedicated to creating better communities in our nation. So I guess I was kind of proud to be an American during the time I was at the training.
Some interesting haps- figures that the Californians would get stuck in the room with the worst heating. It was as cold in our workshop room as it was outdoors. It was in the 40s the entire time with a bit of snow and tons of sun. The best part of the room were the windows that looked out onto the mountains a few miles away. The air was super thin since we were at a higher elevation. I decided to do a little yoga one morning and I almost died because the air was so thin.
Here's a picture of the hotel with the mountains in the background. The picture is from Marriott's website. As you can tell, it was probably taken in a non-winter month since there isn't any snow on the peaks. At least I got some use out of my cutsy red coat!
I went up with my workshop group to the Sundance Resort during the last night we were there. Too bad we got there AFTER the sun had set AND it was snowing. We walked around a bit and checked out the restaurants, deli, lodge and shop. It was cute, with a creek flowing through the middle of the resort. We ended up eating at The Foundry Grill. I had the salmon and one of the best pinot grigio's I've had in such a long time! I can't remember the name of the maker, though!!! It was so buttery, fruity and softly scented, I'm almost tempted to call the resort to find out where the heck I can get a bottle of it! So yes, eating at one of the best restaurants in the area totally made up for the hotel banquet food we were being fed the entire duration of training.
I totally felt like I was in "Oldtown America." The street behind the hotel had restored buildings with some stores that had been there since the 1800s. I guess things don't change very quickly in Provo. I went to a bar with three peeps on Tuesday night and shared a pitcher of Polygamy Porter, proudly dawning the tagline "Why have just one?"
It tasted like a fruitier and lighter version of Guinness. The other interestingly named brew was 1st Amendment Pale Ale. Benjamin Franklin appears on the bottle of this drink. Apparently it was in protest of some kind of alcohol tax in Utah. Each bar charges a sort of cover charge but I think I remember it being called a "membership fee." Nonlocals get a card that states they've paid the membership fee so they can come back for the duration of the card. Not sure what the story is behind this one.
Just as I was getting used to the thin air, it was time to get home. I came home to 80 degree weather...THANK GAWD I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA!!! I'm never leaving this god-forsaken state!
The people I was with were great! I met a number of colleagues in various nonprofit and public organizations throughout the West Coast. Why were the Californians the rowdiest?! It was great networking with a ton of people who were going through similar professional and community challenges! Admist all the negativity you hear regarding the United States, it was also wonderful and affirming to see other people who are dedicated to creating better communities in our nation. So I guess I was kind of proud to be an American during the time I was at the training.
Some interesting haps- figures that the Californians would get stuck in the room with the worst heating. It was as cold in our workshop room as it was outdoors. It was in the 40s the entire time with a bit of snow and tons of sun. The best part of the room were the windows that looked out onto the mountains a few miles away. The air was super thin since we were at a higher elevation. I decided to do a little yoga one morning and I almost died because the air was so thin.
Here's a picture of the hotel with the mountains in the background. The picture is from Marriott's website. As you can tell, it was probably taken in a non-winter month since there isn't any snow on the peaks. At least I got some use out of my cutsy red coat!
I went up with my workshop group to the Sundance Resort during the last night we were there. Too bad we got there AFTER the sun had set AND it was snowing. We walked around a bit and checked out the restaurants, deli, lodge and shop. It was cute, with a creek flowing through the middle of the resort. We ended up eating at The Foundry Grill. I had the salmon and one of the best pinot grigio's I've had in such a long time! I can't remember the name of the maker, though!!! It was so buttery, fruity and softly scented, I'm almost tempted to call the resort to find out where the heck I can get a bottle of it! So yes, eating at one of the best restaurants in the area totally made up for the hotel banquet food we were being fed the entire duration of training.
I totally felt like I was in "Oldtown America." The street behind the hotel had restored buildings with some stores that had been there since the 1800s. I guess things don't change very quickly in Provo. I went to a bar with three peeps on Tuesday night and shared a pitcher of Polygamy Porter, proudly dawning the tagline "Why have just one?"
It tasted like a fruitier and lighter version of Guinness. The other interestingly named brew was 1st Amendment Pale Ale. Benjamin Franklin appears on the bottle of this drink. Apparently it was in protest of some kind of alcohol tax in Utah. Each bar charges a sort of cover charge but I think I remember it being called a "membership fee." Nonlocals get a card that states they've paid the membership fee so they can come back for the duration of the card. Not sure what the story is behind this one.
Just as I was getting used to the thin air, it was time to get home. I came home to 80 degree weather...THANK GAWD I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA!!! I'm never leaving this god-forsaken state!
11.13.2005
Weekend with the Fam
Spent the weekend with the Family, my mom's side, to be exact. I didn't grow up with them so times spent with this side are greatly cherished. I love visiting everyone in Los Osos. This is the view of Morro Bay with Morro Rock from Los Osos. We decided to make a stop in Santa Barbara since we had plenty of time to get up to my familys'. Chris and I parked along Ocean Ave., near Downtown. We parked and took a walk to the pier, hoping to grab a taste of good seafood from one of the places that was featured in an episode of $40 a Day with the overly chipper Rachael Ray. Folks, the fresh seafood at the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company at the end of the pier is no joke. All the prices are super affordable because they always sell the stock for the day. They just have counters to sit at, as well as public tables on the pier so plan accordingly. The crabsalad sandwich was super yummy and my friend was diggin' the calamari sandwich. Their market rate steamed lobster with salad was featured on the show. Market rate means that the price of the lobster is less during peak season (Oct.-Mar.), which also means that it's best to get the lobster then as opposed to any other time of the year. Having gone to school in San Francisco, Chris and I were both glad to be next to the clean ocean again. The sun felt so good on my skin, especially since I spent the last four days indoors, trying to recover from a cold. I just wanted to glab a blanket and sleep in the park until the sun went down and then continue our drive to Los Osos. We went in search of a gelateria on or near State St. after lunch but to no avail. We ended up at the Costco in Goleta to grab a cup of frozen yogurt before we proceeded northward. Thank goodness I remembered the exit! Thanks, UCSB Alums!
The drive along the coast is always breathtaking, rain or shine. You move from one beachside city to another until you curve inland through the mountain tunnel near Vandenberg AFB. Acres of farmland and rolling hills are passed on the drive up to Los Osos. We were tempted to stop at a winery but didn't think of it until we passed the last one in Santa Maria. Oh! Before I forget, if anyone wants to try a winery in Paso Robles, Eos Estate Winery is THE place to go to, especially when you want a great bottle of muscato and muscat canelli, a great dessert wine!
Uncle Andoy, Auntie Linda and Uncle Ray are all farmers. It's wonderful eating there. Not only do they live near the ocean so all the seafood is fresh, but all the vegetables and fruit are also very sweet, crisp and taste the way they used to when I was a kid. Very few experiences compare to being with them...everything about the visit is so down to earth.
My cousin, Ellaine, and I were joking about how her parents had invited the village to her sister's babyshower. The village was truly present yesterday. They helped with all facets of the festivities, down to cooking through the night to ensure that there was plenty of food for everyone at the party. Our families share the same experiences - descending from those who learned to live off the land, living in a 3 bedroom house with a small family in each room during the first years of our lives, growing up with an extended family, calling our parents' comadres and compadres "auntie and uncle" or "lolo and lola" because they looked after us (physically, mentally and spiritually) when our parents couldn't. I see us continuing the same traditions, hoping to extend that feeling of a village to our friends and family members who are not Pilipino. This is, indeed, one of the very many factors that make me feel proud to have been raised the way my brothers and I were. I come from a family of very strong individuals, people who have weathered way too many storms to count.
Everyone is getting older and hopefully a little wiser. My aunts were trying to marry off their sons for some reason. I couldn't help but think that maybe it would be worthwhile for my male cousins to leave home and figure out how to live on their own before they start looking for someone else to be their pseudo-moms. It's one thing to leave home for whatever reason and then come back to get your bearings, with the intention of leaving again. It's certainly another issue of never wanting to leave home until you potentially find "the one." Leaving home or just releasing yourself from your safety net has a ton to do with personal growth. Not being able to find "the one" has a hell of a lot do with that, as well. Questions or implications of marriage and/or children were rampant all weekend, as well. How could they resist with two grandchildren on their way? I think everyone is starting to feel rather aged. They want to see their family blossoming beyond their children. Um...that won't be happening for quite some time so no matter how many questions or implications keep coming, they just keep sliding off my back.
Funny moment #1
I was enthralled with the National Geographic Channel's show, Taboo . The program was about various cultures around the world including insects and spiders and other venomous creatures in their regular diets. I was so into the show that at one point, my mom shoves sinuman (sweet rice steamed in banana leaves) in my face and I jerk back thinking it was something as foreign as what I was watching on the television. That's the last time I'll be watching something like that before I sit down to eat.
Funny moment #2
Of course, the karaoke machine needs to break out at some point during a Pilipino gathering. Aunti Linda went so far as to make a contest out of it. The top three singers received cash prizes. Too bad I was still congested. After the sangria was whipped out and some line dancing started, I would have whipped all of the drunk aunties to an oblivion.
Many thanks to Auntie Amy who let Chris and I crash at their house. People were packed at Uncle Andoy's house. The bathrooms were madhouses and I didn't want to stick around to see what they were going to be like in the morning. Overall, the weekend was a wonderful end to the my ill-stricken week. Can't wait to hang out with the other side of the family come Christmas time.
11.09.2005
It's raining, it's pouring and all LA natives think the sky is falling!
The one thing LA natives can't do is drive in the rain. The non LA natives know this and get freaked out so everyone gets all screwy on the roads during showers. This entire area is not built for water. The streets get flooded, the highways get flooded, backyards get flooded, garbage cans get flooded, critters' homes gets flooded. It's big news when it rains down here! All the stations think they should be outside IN the rain when they talk ABOUT the rain!
I'm feeling a little better today. Nasal passages have opened up and I can breathe out of my nose, finally!!! Maybe my sense of taste is back. My nose is still itchy and red. Yes, my only sickness for the year, damnit!
Would going to work for half the day today be overdoing it? I'm not completely sure if my director would like me being there but I know I have some cleaning up to do so I'm going anyway. Besides, I have to close tomorrow night for some event so I won't be going in until around noon or so.
Back to the grind...
11.08.2005
the one thing i hate about being sick is losing my sense of taste. and with that goes your sense of smell and the ability to breathe out of your nose. sucks when you're trying to get to sleep. i currently have a bag of used tissue next to my bed...blech. at least i only get sick once a year so this better be the one time this happens! this probably also means that i should really start taking better care of myself, including ending all the excuses of not being able to exercise. a little at time, right...as long as i don't get this sick again, i'm all for it. i feel like i've been a hermit for the past two days. i only went out today because i needed to pick something up from a friend. even then, i felt like i was walking under water because my ears are plugged. i'm having the time of my life right now!
11.06.2005
Remembering our Ancestors
Dia de los Muertos, aka Day of the Dead, aka Feast of All Souls just recently passed. It's an indigenous celebration that was passed to The Church by colonized ethnic groups who continued to practice this tradition long after they become christianized. It's a time to remember our ancestors, all of the struggles they endured in their lifetime and remembering that we stand on their victorious shoulders.
I was completely amazed at the traditions of this celebration when I was in the Philippines in 2003. I grew up knowing very little about this tradition. As far as I knew, you're supposed to build altars to your ancestors during special occassions and place the same food and beverages on the altar as that which the entire party would be eating. In the Philippines, not only was food placed on altars but an all out party was hoppin' at the cemetary. If it hadn't rained the night before, I'm sure they would have had karaoke machines bumpin' until sundown. Family members from afar came home for the occassion to help clean the debris on ancestral gravesites, decorate them, light candles in their ancestors' memories and take time to truly remember them.
My lovely friends introduced me to Dia de los Muertos in college. It was so similar to Pilipino traditions, it was not hard to embrace it. Besides, with all the pasteles y decoraciones hermosas, who could resist?
To my dearest Lola, Lolo and Uncle Gimo, thank you for your strong spirits. Your loving memories lives on in me and inspires me everyday of my life. Lola, you inspire me to be as great of a woman as you were in your lifetime. My most vivid memories of the Philippines are of you. Lolo, you inspire me to seek the truth in all that I do. Uncle Gimo, you remind me to live life to it's fullest and find the silver lining in everything. I miss all of you dearly but I know you're always with me and will always be there when I need a kick in the ass to keep going. I promise to share the gifts you've given to me to others I encounter in my lifetime.
I was completely amazed at the traditions of this celebration when I was in the Philippines in 2003. I grew up knowing very little about this tradition. As far as I knew, you're supposed to build altars to your ancestors during special occassions and place the same food and beverages on the altar as that which the entire party would be eating. In the Philippines, not only was food placed on altars but an all out party was hoppin' at the cemetary. If it hadn't rained the night before, I'm sure they would have had karaoke machines bumpin' until sundown. Family members from afar came home for the occassion to help clean the debris on ancestral gravesites, decorate them, light candles in their ancestors' memories and take time to truly remember them.
My lovely friends introduced me to Dia de los Muertos in college. It was so similar to Pilipino traditions, it was not hard to embrace it. Besides, with all the pasteles y decoraciones hermosas, who could resist?
To my dearest Lola, Lolo and Uncle Gimo, thank you for your strong spirits. Your loving memories lives on in me and inspires me everyday of my life. Lola, you inspire me to be as great of a woman as you were in your lifetime. My most vivid memories of the Philippines are of you. Lolo, you inspire me to seek the truth in all that I do. Uncle Gimo, you remind me to live life to it's fullest and find the silver lining in everything. I miss all of you dearly but I know you're always with me and will always be there when I need a kick in the ass to keep going. I promise to share the gifts you've given to me to others I encounter in my lifetime.
11.02.2005
I'm totally bummed that I can't travel right now, at least not as extensively as I want. I kind of feel like just isolating myself from everyone else so I don't have to feel envious of other people's whereabouts. Many factors come into play as to why I can't go very far - money, time, money, time, money.
At this point, I would be completely satisfied with being able to just relax and take a little break from work. I've been working my ass off this past month. All for the greater good but god damn it...it hurts sometimes. And to top it off, my mind has gotten so used to thinking very quickly and shooting off in different directions at one time that when it is time to just chill out, it takes a while for me to get into that mindset and the next thing I know it, it's time to go to work again.
I try to stay away from discussions about the area I work and/or any issues pertaining to it. But I've found that when opportunities arise, you gotta take advantage of it...or do you? I've really tried to stay concious about dividing my personal time with work but it really does get to you after you spend more of your time at work and find yourself with less personal time as usual.
I have the entire week of Christmas off. It seems so far away. I haven't seen my family in about a month or so, not since my parents came down here to move my brother into school. He comes around whenever he can but I think I particularly miss my cousins. Those bastards went to the big sumo convention in Vegas last month. V is getting bigger by the day, I'm sure and I have yet to see her. I haven't been to San Francisco in months. I miss my friends...I miss being with people who just know me, the ones who need no explanation of how I feel or what I'm feeling...they just know. Even planning time to see them feels like additional effort I can hardly extend right now.
Desire...wanting to roll into a ball and wait for the new year to come.
At this point, I would be completely satisfied with being able to just relax and take a little break from work. I've been working my ass off this past month. All for the greater good but god damn it...it hurts sometimes. And to top it off, my mind has gotten so used to thinking very quickly and shooting off in different directions at one time that when it is time to just chill out, it takes a while for me to get into that mindset and the next thing I know it, it's time to go to work again.
I try to stay away from discussions about the area I work and/or any issues pertaining to it. But I've found that when opportunities arise, you gotta take advantage of it...or do you? I've really tried to stay concious about dividing my personal time with work but it really does get to you after you spend more of your time at work and find yourself with less personal time as usual.
I have the entire week of Christmas off. It seems so far away. I haven't seen my family in about a month or so, not since my parents came down here to move my brother into school. He comes around whenever he can but I think I particularly miss my cousins. Those bastards went to the big sumo convention in Vegas last month. V is getting bigger by the day, I'm sure and I have yet to see her. I haven't been to San Francisco in months. I miss my friends...I miss being with people who just know me, the ones who need no explanation of how I feel or what I'm feeling...they just know. Even planning time to see them feels like additional effort I can hardly extend right now.
Desire...wanting to roll into a ball and wait for the new year to come.
11.01.2005
Erwin Federizo, one of my favorite visual artists right now, did this
and this
I love his style! I even ended up purchasing a print from him at FPAC this year. His designs are very fluid and historical in context. He had this great graphic of halo halo which I'm told is also in his kitchen at home. The artists that stand out to me have distinct touches to their work. If I like artists' work enough, I should be able to see or hear their work and pinpoint exactly who created it.
Erwin will be designing ads for Addidas and other big accounts for an ad agency in The City for the next month. Congrats to him! If he ever starts his own business again, I'm soo going to advocate for people to work with him!
and this
I love his style! I even ended up purchasing a print from him at FPAC this year. His designs are very fluid and historical in context. He had this great graphic of halo halo which I'm told is also in his kitchen at home. The artists that stand out to me have distinct touches to their work. If I like artists' work enough, I should be able to see or hear their work and pinpoint exactly who created it.
Erwin will be designing ads for Addidas and other big accounts for an ad agency in The City for the next month. Congrats to him! If he ever starts his own business again, I'm soo going to advocate for people to work with him!
10.27.2005
10.26.2005
Maybe I'm not understanding something but how can one be working on a political campaign but not be fully engaged in the process by not being a registered voter? Doesn't that defeat the purpose? The rules can't be changed if you don't play the game first...right?
Ok...another random story...
This article should have been titled, "Outlawing Magic."
Before you build anything, shouldn't you automatically think to check with The City, especially when the safety of a child is involved? "Outlawing Magic?!" COME ON!
Not in My Neighbor's Backyard
By Martha Groves
Times Staff Writer
October 26, 2005
The mansionization battle rustling the leaves of North Barrington Avenue is something new even for Brentwood.
It's a dispute not over a 12,000-square-foot neo-Tudor monster or a towering modernist cube, but over a backyard treehouse for an 18-month-old girl.
This being Brentwood, of course, the edifice at issue is no ordinary treehouse.
When Les Firestein, a television producer, and his wife, Gwyn Lurie, a screenwriter, wanted to do something really special for their daughter, Sydney, they enlisted their friend Roderick Wolgamott Romero.
Romero is a renowned builder of elaborate treehouses for such celebrities as Sting and Donna Karan. His work can be found in the "fantasy gift" section of this year's Neiman Marcus holiday catalog. Beginning price: $50,000.
In the backyard of the Firestein-Lurie home, which sits on a tree-studded half-acre north of Sunset Boulevard, Romero and his buddies built a roughly 10-foot-by-10-foot structure of reclaimed wood, salvaged windows and vintage stained glass from Buenos Aires that would quicken the heart of any fun-loving child or parent. The treehouse includes a viewing deck bordered by a railing crafted from tree branches from the backyard.
In return, Romero asked for a week's worth of lodging and all the Baja Fresh meals he could eat. With his tattooed arms and braided, knee-length hair swept up under a tweed cap, Romero and his pals worked for days, even in the rain.
Richard Fleming, the couple's next-door neighbor and a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, was not amused.
He feared that children could perch in this aerie and look in on him and his wife in their backyard pool and hot tub. He suspected, also, that city codes had been violated.
Enter the city of Los Angeles. As the treehouse neared completion last Thursday, city inspector Thomas Sze arrived on the Firestein-Lurie doorstep, responding, he told them, to an anonymous complaint.
"Oh, that's big," Lurie said he told them after looking at the treehouse and the much larger platform on which it rested. Sze also expressed concern about the structure's safety. On Friday, he delivered a written order that all work be halted.
"We're requiring plans and permits if [they] want to continue," Dave Keim, the city's chief of code enforcement, said in an interview Tuesday. "We'll work with them to try to legalize this…. It's not going to be easy."
The city does not require permits for nonhabitable structures less than 8 feet square, but Keim said the treehouse exceeds that size and therefore requires city permission. Firestein and Lurie can appeal whether a permit is required.
Firestein, whose credits as a TV producer and writer include "The Drew Carey Show" and "In Living Color," said his rights have been violated. "We just want to make this a magical place," he said. "It's as if the city has come in and said: 'We're outlawing magic.'
"And where do we go from here? No viewing platforms? No climbing in trees? No swing sets? No children playing? It is, figuratively and literally, a slippery slope."
The slope on which the Firestein-Lurie treehouse sits is dramatic. The steep hillside spills down from the back steps of their house to an expanse of green dotted with a play set, a trampoline inserted directly into the lawn and a picnic table. The rear is lined with towering eucalyptus trees. A moss-covered path zigzags from the main house and deck to the grass.
From down below, one can look back up the hill to the underside of the platform that supports the treehouse. The platform, which by the city's estimation is 20 feet by 30 feet, vaguely resembles a ship, with its "prow" pointing toward the lawn. It is more or less triangular, built around three eucalyptus trees. The platform's beams rest on a system of steel rods that have been inserted into the trees. An arborist assured the homeowners and the builders that the poles would not harm the trees.
The windows of the treehouse face onto the Firestein-Lurie property. The treehouse originally had a rear window that overlooked Fleming's property. After Fleming complained, the builders repositioned it. Firestein and Lurie have also vowed to plant trees and vines to mask the view of the treehouse from Fleming's property.
The couple expressed surprise that the situation has come to this, given their efforts to keep neighbors informed of their intentions — and given the care they say they've taken to ensure that the treehouse is safe.
Shortly before Firestein and Lurie moved in in August, the couple who sold them their house held a dinner party to introduce them to the neighbors. Fleming and his wife were there. When Firestein and Lurie announced their plan to build a treehouse, Lurie said, one neighbor offered to create a piece of art for it.
Fleming, however, said the treehouse plan "never crossed these ears." If it had, he added, "I would have raised questions immediately."
Dressed in blue scrubs, Fleming stood on his front lawn one recent afternoon and said that "it may turn out to be fine."
After living cheek-by-jowl with neighbors at the beach for several years, he said he values the privacy that this leafy Brentwood neighborhood affords. So does his wife, Margaret Michaels.
The dispute has taken much of the fun out of the treehouse experience for Firestein and Lurie.
They have received encouragement from their neighbor to the south, Craig Butler, a graphic designer.
"I think it's really beautiful," Butler said. "From my vantage point, it is so well integrated, non-obtrusive and very charming. It's like a little clubhouse."
His wife, Alexis, however, noted that in this neighborhood, residents crave total privacy. "Whether it's beautiful or not is not the issue," she said. "If I thought they were looking into our pool, it would be upsetting."
Ok...another random story...
This article should have been titled, "Outlawing Magic."
Before you build anything, shouldn't you automatically think to check with The City, especially when the safety of a child is involved? "Outlawing Magic?!" COME ON!
Not in My Neighbor's Backyard
By Martha Groves
Times Staff Writer
October 26, 2005
The mansionization battle rustling the leaves of North Barrington Avenue is something new even for Brentwood.
It's a dispute not over a 12,000-square-foot neo-Tudor monster or a towering modernist cube, but over a backyard treehouse for an 18-month-old girl.
This being Brentwood, of course, the edifice at issue is no ordinary treehouse.
When Les Firestein, a television producer, and his wife, Gwyn Lurie, a screenwriter, wanted to do something really special for their daughter, Sydney, they enlisted their friend Roderick Wolgamott Romero.
Romero is a renowned builder of elaborate treehouses for such celebrities as Sting and Donna Karan. His work can be found in the "fantasy gift" section of this year's Neiman Marcus holiday catalog. Beginning price: $50,000.
In the backyard of the Firestein-Lurie home, which sits on a tree-studded half-acre north of Sunset Boulevard, Romero and his buddies built a roughly 10-foot-by-10-foot structure of reclaimed wood, salvaged windows and vintage stained glass from Buenos Aires that would quicken the heart of any fun-loving child or parent. The treehouse includes a viewing deck bordered by a railing crafted from tree branches from the backyard.
In return, Romero asked for a week's worth of lodging and all the Baja Fresh meals he could eat. With his tattooed arms and braided, knee-length hair swept up under a tweed cap, Romero and his pals worked for days, even in the rain.
Richard Fleming, the couple's next-door neighbor and a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, was not amused.
He feared that children could perch in this aerie and look in on him and his wife in their backyard pool and hot tub. He suspected, also, that city codes had been violated.
Enter the city of Los Angeles. As the treehouse neared completion last Thursday, city inspector Thomas Sze arrived on the Firestein-Lurie doorstep, responding, he told them, to an anonymous complaint.
"Oh, that's big," Lurie said he told them after looking at the treehouse and the much larger platform on which it rested. Sze also expressed concern about the structure's safety. On Friday, he delivered a written order that all work be halted.
"We're requiring plans and permits if [they] want to continue," Dave Keim, the city's chief of code enforcement, said in an interview Tuesday. "We'll work with them to try to legalize this…. It's not going to be easy."
The city does not require permits for nonhabitable structures less than 8 feet square, but Keim said the treehouse exceeds that size and therefore requires city permission. Firestein and Lurie can appeal whether a permit is required.
Firestein, whose credits as a TV producer and writer include "The Drew Carey Show" and "In Living Color," said his rights have been violated. "We just want to make this a magical place," he said. "It's as if the city has come in and said: 'We're outlawing magic.'
"And where do we go from here? No viewing platforms? No climbing in trees? No swing sets? No children playing? It is, figuratively and literally, a slippery slope."
The slope on which the Firestein-Lurie treehouse sits is dramatic. The steep hillside spills down from the back steps of their house to an expanse of green dotted with a play set, a trampoline inserted directly into the lawn and a picnic table. The rear is lined with towering eucalyptus trees. A moss-covered path zigzags from the main house and deck to the grass.
From down below, one can look back up the hill to the underside of the platform that supports the treehouse. The platform, which by the city's estimation is 20 feet by 30 feet, vaguely resembles a ship, with its "prow" pointing toward the lawn. It is more or less triangular, built around three eucalyptus trees. The platform's beams rest on a system of steel rods that have been inserted into the trees. An arborist assured the homeowners and the builders that the poles would not harm the trees.
The windows of the treehouse face onto the Firestein-Lurie property. The treehouse originally had a rear window that overlooked Fleming's property. After Fleming complained, the builders repositioned it. Firestein and Lurie have also vowed to plant trees and vines to mask the view of the treehouse from Fleming's property.
The couple expressed surprise that the situation has come to this, given their efforts to keep neighbors informed of their intentions — and given the care they say they've taken to ensure that the treehouse is safe.
Shortly before Firestein and Lurie moved in in August, the couple who sold them their house held a dinner party to introduce them to the neighbors. Fleming and his wife were there. When Firestein and Lurie announced their plan to build a treehouse, Lurie said, one neighbor offered to create a piece of art for it.
Fleming, however, said the treehouse plan "never crossed these ears." If it had, he added, "I would have raised questions immediately."
Dressed in blue scrubs, Fleming stood on his front lawn one recent afternoon and said that "it may turn out to be fine."
After living cheek-by-jowl with neighbors at the beach for several years, he said he values the privacy that this leafy Brentwood neighborhood affords. So does his wife, Margaret Michaels.
The dispute has taken much of the fun out of the treehouse experience for Firestein and Lurie.
They have received encouragement from their neighbor to the south, Craig Butler, a graphic designer.
"I think it's really beautiful," Butler said. "From my vantage point, it is so well integrated, non-obtrusive and very charming. It's like a little clubhouse."
His wife, Alexis, however, noted that in this neighborhood, residents crave total privacy. "Whether it's beautiful or not is not the issue," she said. "If I thought they were looking into our pool, it would be upsetting."
10.24.2005
Why I Have a Love/Hate Relationship w/USF
LOVE
#1
New Green Class Offered to Students of USF's School of Business and Management (aka McLaren School of Business for the old folks)
by Emily Coon
“The objective is to stay in business indefinitely.” Todd Sayre
This fall, Todd Sayre, associate professor - accounting, launched USF’s first course on sustainable business. Using science and economics, Sayre will demonstrate how sustainable practices make good business sense. Sustainable businesses seek to balance the necessity of economic achievement with environmental quality and social justice. A quick scan of the Dow Jones
Sustainability Index reveals how extensively corporate America is embracing this new perspective. Sayre asserts, however, that education has not kept up with the trend. He is eager for USF to “get on board.”
“The university’s Vision and Mission Statement is a good fit with the principles of sustainability,” he said. The new course boasts a stimulating line-up of guest speakers including the co-founder of Global Exchange and a top executive of Interface. Sayre has been coordinating with USF’s chapter of Net Impact, a national organization that promotes corporate social responsibility, green business, public policy, and legislation. They plan to publicize the speaker schedule as a lecture series open to the public.
Two field trips are planned for the end of the semester. One is to Frog’s Leap Winery, which employs sustainable farming practices such as the use of spiders rather than pesticides. The other trip is to Solar Living, an “off-the-grid” community in Marin.
The sustainable business course has proven popular with undergraduate students and is at maximum enrollment. Says Sayre, “I am excited about the semester. I have many socially aware students.”
#2
USF has increased their ethnic minority recruitment for instructors in the past few years and one of them on the tenure track is Assistant Professor Victor Rios. This picture does little justice to this fine specimen of a homie from around the way turned budding sociology professional with an expertise in gang formation and the juvenile justice system in the United States.
USF Alumni Donnettes, check out the latest issue of "USF in the News," Vol. IV, No. 2. Yes, I must confirm that I would have had further distraction besides the ocean views if this man were around back then.
HATE
eh...check out my other blogs...I've included tidbits on USF's shadiness...I'm sure I can dig up more dirt later. The University has been spending money like water to update dilapidated facilities and actually make it more asthetically attractive to go to school there. I'm sure some kind of drama is bound to come from that. Besides, it's good to still be in touch with faculty and administration.
#1
New Green Class Offered to Students of USF's School of Business and Management (aka McLaren School of Business for the old folks)
by Emily Coon
“The objective is to stay in business indefinitely.” Todd Sayre
This fall, Todd Sayre, associate professor - accounting, launched USF’s first course on sustainable business. Using science and economics, Sayre will demonstrate how sustainable practices make good business sense. Sustainable businesses seek to balance the necessity of economic achievement with environmental quality and social justice. A quick scan of the Dow Jones
Sustainability Index reveals how extensively corporate America is embracing this new perspective. Sayre asserts, however, that education has not kept up with the trend. He is eager for USF to “get on board.”
“The university’s Vision and Mission Statement is a good fit with the principles of sustainability,” he said. The new course boasts a stimulating line-up of guest speakers including the co-founder of Global Exchange and a top executive of Interface. Sayre has been coordinating with USF’s chapter of Net Impact, a national organization that promotes corporate social responsibility, green business, public policy, and legislation. They plan to publicize the speaker schedule as a lecture series open to the public.
Two field trips are planned for the end of the semester. One is to Frog’s Leap Winery, which employs sustainable farming practices such as the use of spiders rather than pesticides. The other trip is to Solar Living, an “off-the-grid” community in Marin.
The sustainable business course has proven popular with undergraduate students and is at maximum enrollment. Says Sayre, “I am excited about the semester. I have many socially aware students.”
#2
USF has increased their ethnic minority recruitment for instructors in the past few years and one of them on the tenure track is Assistant Professor Victor Rios. This picture does little justice to this fine specimen of a homie from around the way turned budding sociology professional with an expertise in gang formation and the juvenile justice system in the United States.
USF Alumni Donnettes, check out the latest issue of "USF in the News," Vol. IV, No. 2. Yes, I must confirm that I would have had further distraction besides the ocean views if this man were around back then. HATE
eh...check out my other blogs...I've included tidbits on USF's shadiness...I'm sure I can dig up more dirt later. The University has been spending money like water to update dilapidated facilities and actually make it more asthetically attractive to go to school there. I'm sure some kind of drama is bound to come from that. Besides, it's good to still be in touch with faculty and administration.
10.20.2005
Went to another fundraiser tonight and low and behold, Big Tone was there! First of all, this is the largest grossing fundraiser in the Asian Pacific American community I have been to, thus far. And it's only their 22nd year doing this. Of course, the politics were steep in this event. (I think I've grown a bit more cynical through all of the things I've been doing in the past few months.) Then Big Tone gets presented his awards and this ass doesn't even remember the name of the damn organization that's honoring him! This fool was apparently involved with the agency over the course of a decade, at the very least! Maybe he should lay off his press events and spend a little more time behind his damn desk.
I think the highlight of the night was when they called my friend's name in a drawing to win a car! It was so freakin' random and she wasn't even there! Her company was there to represent her! My other friend and I screamed at the same time when they called out the name! SO RANDOM! Too bad the ticket was paid by her company after she had pleaded to purchase the ticket to begin with. Maybe next time.
I think the highlight of the night was when they called my friend's name in a drawing to win a car! It was so freakin' random and she wasn't even there! Her company was there to represent her! My other friend and I screamed at the same time when they called out the name! SO RANDOM! Too bad the ticket was paid by her company after she had pleaded to purchase the ticket to begin with. Maybe next time.
Value in Education
As I was driving to work this morning, I was listening to a radio program addressing education in Los Angeles, specifically the significance of Magnet schools in the district. Being a product of them from elementary through high school, I'm all for magnet programs!
According to a UCI professor on the radio show who wrote her dissertation on social ramifications of magnet schools, they began sometime in the '70s to address the need to have integrated campuses within public school districts due to economic, ethnic and other social differences. After the first couple of years they were running, people liked them so much, no one wanted to get rid of them. Then we come to present day and now there is a divide between those who claim that magnet schools and programs are simply for integration purposes and those who emphasize the academic excellence of the programs. In a city as large as Los Angeles, we see stand alone magnet schools, such as Bravo Magnet, that are governed by the same requirements as regular district schools and magnet programs within large district schools, such as the math, science and performing arts magnet programs at Van Nuys High School. The demand for these programs have gotten so high that the process to enroll students have now become quite competitive. The Magnet Program Director of LAUSD tried to explain on the radio show some point system they use to determine enrollment but it sounded a bit too complicated.
I wish I could have listened to the rest of the show but there were tons of interesting topics there were discussing. The moderator inquired about the overall academic performance of students in magnet schools and programs versus the overall performance of students in non-magnet programs. I think the fact that Bravo Magnet is the second top academic performing school in LAUSD is pretty damn significant. Principal Flores-Torres of Bravo mentioned that there are about 30% "gifted" students enrolled, along with a number of lower performing students. The fact that the school has a mix of academic performance levels is good because those who are not performing so well can get guidance and motivation from their peers who are. Coming from a magnet program within a larger school, all the honor students were typically also enrolled in the magnet programs. Our classes were smaller, we had more group projects and were more often hands-on. Our forest ecology classes contributed to the fire/deforestation research with the Calavares Big Trees Park. The marine biology class contributed to research on the marine life in and near the Monterey Bay Aquarium. How more hands on can you get?
The major question that stood out in my mind during the radio show was, can the way programs are being run in the magnet schools be integrated into regular programs within LAUSD? The Magnet Program Director said that some non-magnet schools are examining ways of using successful teaching methods in regular programs. Can this be a way to advance the overall academic performance of LAUSD? Let's hope so. If these changes are successful, I'm sure other districts will use it as a model to integrate their teaching methods, as well.
The reality of the educational system in the United States is apalling. The fact that some schools who have the resources employ development professionals to aid in finding funds for programs they do not want to cut is clear evidence on how strapped for cash our schools are. The fact that the stupid dork running California's government wants to take more money away from the public school system while his children are safely tucked away in private schools is even more disturbing. And they wonder why California's children are not academically performing as high as other states. Hm...maybe we kept more money in the schools and allowed each child to get a simple text book might help. THINK!
According to a UCI professor on the radio show who wrote her dissertation on social ramifications of magnet schools, they began sometime in the '70s to address the need to have integrated campuses within public school districts due to economic, ethnic and other social differences. After the first couple of years they were running, people liked them so much, no one wanted to get rid of them. Then we come to present day and now there is a divide between those who claim that magnet schools and programs are simply for integration purposes and those who emphasize the academic excellence of the programs. In a city as large as Los Angeles, we see stand alone magnet schools, such as Bravo Magnet, that are governed by the same requirements as regular district schools and magnet programs within large district schools, such as the math, science and performing arts magnet programs at Van Nuys High School. The demand for these programs have gotten so high that the process to enroll students have now become quite competitive. The Magnet Program Director of LAUSD tried to explain on the radio show some point system they use to determine enrollment but it sounded a bit too complicated.
I wish I could have listened to the rest of the show but there were tons of interesting topics there were discussing. The moderator inquired about the overall academic performance of students in magnet schools and programs versus the overall performance of students in non-magnet programs. I think the fact that Bravo Magnet is the second top academic performing school in LAUSD is pretty damn significant. Principal Flores-Torres of Bravo mentioned that there are about 30% "gifted" students enrolled, along with a number of lower performing students. The fact that the school has a mix of academic performance levels is good because those who are not performing so well can get guidance and motivation from their peers who are. Coming from a magnet program within a larger school, all the honor students were typically also enrolled in the magnet programs. Our classes were smaller, we had more group projects and were more often hands-on. Our forest ecology classes contributed to the fire/deforestation research with the Calavares Big Trees Park. The marine biology class contributed to research on the marine life in and near the Monterey Bay Aquarium. How more hands on can you get?
The major question that stood out in my mind during the radio show was, can the way programs are being run in the magnet schools be integrated into regular programs within LAUSD? The Magnet Program Director said that some non-magnet schools are examining ways of using successful teaching methods in regular programs. Can this be a way to advance the overall academic performance of LAUSD? Let's hope so. If these changes are successful, I'm sure other districts will use it as a model to integrate their teaching methods, as well.
The reality of the educational system in the United States is apalling. The fact that some schools who have the resources employ development professionals to aid in finding funds for programs they do not want to cut is clear evidence on how strapped for cash our schools are. The fact that the stupid dork running California's government wants to take more money away from the public school system while his children are safely tucked away in private schools is even more disturbing. And they wonder why California's children are not academically performing as high as other states. Hm...maybe we kept more money in the schools and allowed each child to get a simple text book might help. THINK!
10.19.2005
There's something about the Fall/beginning of the holiday season that jump starts my creativity. As I was getting ready this morning, tons of ideas were flowing through my head as to what I'd like to do for my lovies this season. Maybe it's the motivation and the fact that I should have more free time during these cold months to do stuff. Ah well...default is to just stay in bed, read books and play with my powerbook all day...if only!
10.17.2005
Good times
HOTTIES! This was before the crazy reception at Moonie and Lovella's wedding, the most rowdiest one I've been to, thus far! I clearly remember when this picture was taken.
However, I can't quite remember this one.
However, I can't quite remember this one.
10.12.2005
Teen Beat
That's my friend, Xochitl and I. My sweet little brothers had to dig through the crates for this one! This was before I figured out Johnny Depp is a bit off his rocker. I have no idea why I ever thought it would be cool to take this picture! I'm embracing the phase.
Yes, that's Patrick Swayze in the background...Dirty Dancing phase, before he tried to make an album. There were probably a few New Kids on the Block and Debbie Gibson posters floating around on the walls, as well. I'm owning up to it.
Screw all of the posers!
10.09.2005
Stepped into the Wardrobe
Disney finally hit the jackpot. They're putting out book one of CS Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia" - "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" THIS December!
Before Harry Potter came along, The Chronicles blew all the other similar fantasy tales out of the water. A whole new world is created in the first book, one in which parallels of reality and biblical parabels are perfectly presented in the eyes of a child. It was until later in college that I really started to study CS Lewis and found that he was a devout Christian - OOH! It explains the parallels between God and Aslan's role in the Narnian series. Lewis also wrote numerous papers examining Jesus, Christianity and faith. Lewis' Narnia series was a huge social commentary on political, educational and religious views of man.
In terms of the movie, many of the creative people were the same ones who helped to develop the Lord of the Rings movies so one can clearly imagine the scope of this film's visual effects. I CANNOT WAIT! I remember watching the BBC versions as a child and thinking, "this is great to get visuals of the books." Getting better visuals is astounding. I really hope they remain true to the stories. December can only tell!
Before Harry Potter came along, The Chronicles blew all the other similar fantasy tales out of the water. A whole new world is created in the first book, one in which parallels of reality and biblical parabels are perfectly presented in the eyes of a child. It was until later in college that I really started to study CS Lewis and found that he was a devout Christian - OOH! It explains the parallels between God and Aslan's role in the Narnian series. Lewis also wrote numerous papers examining Jesus, Christianity and faith. Lewis' Narnia series was a huge social commentary on political, educational and religious views of man.
In terms of the movie, many of the creative people were the same ones who helped to develop the Lord of the Rings movies so one can clearly imagine the scope of this film's visual effects. I CANNOT WAIT! I remember watching the BBC versions as a child and thinking, "this is great to get visuals of the books." Getting better visuals is astounding. I really hope they remain true to the stories. December can only tell!
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