"LA Weather On My Mind"

The weekend forecast for Los Angeles is:

On The Spot Weather

Friday Feb 11 

Sunny
High 71°F
Low 50°F
Precip:   10%

Saturday 12 

Mostly Sunny
High 74°F
Low 50°F
Precip:   10%

Sunday 13 

Partly Cloudy
High 75°F
Low 52°F
Precip:   20%

What else is there to say?

"Survey Says"

I luv a fun survey! I just saw this one on my friend Charlotte's blog page. I've altered some of the questions alittle and dropped one that referenced something from a stupid TV show I never watched. The survey is all about your senior year.

1. What year was it? 1984/85
2. What were your 3 fav bands/musicians? Culture Club, Pat Benatar, & Cyndi Lauper
3. What was your fav outfit? black, tight-ass jeans, black-t, and either a black or white karate uniform top (wierd, but cool)
4. What was up w/ your hair? Actually, it was very low-key, kind of Shawn Cassidy like
5. Who were your best friends? Hm? Stephanie, Carol, Jennifer, David, Patty, Debbie, Robin, Melissa . . . I don't remember
6. What did you do after school? very little
7. Where did you work? work?
8. Did you take the bus? Hell no, I had a '73 Honda Accord hatchback
9. Who did you have a crush on? I was way too repressed for crushes
10. Celebrity crush? Hm? The bionic man
11. Did you fight with your parents? daily
12. Did you smoke? only when I was with the burnouts in the school parking lot
13. Carry your books in a backpack? No, I often forgot to bring them to class and often failed classes
14. In a clique? I knew people in cliques
15. Were you popular? I'm sure people look at me in their yearbook and wonder if I was even really there
16. Who did you want to be like? Didn't really know, still not entirely sure
17. What did you want to be? fashion designer
18. Where did you expect to be at the age you are now? definitely dead

"Dumb, da, da, da . . . D-u-m-b!"

I'm a moron. No, seriously, I have some sort of intellectual flaw or resistence to adaptation. See, I'm originally from the far south (no, that doesn't explain it) where it never gets cold and it only snows on TV. I've lived in Chicago for thirteen years and there are still times when I do the dumbest things. It took me almost eight years to get a proper winter coat. You know, first I went for looks and then I got one of those marshmallow man jackets, then, eventually settling on a vintage p-coat. However, my most recent blunder takes the cake. It all started with my very dirty car. Really, really filthy, snow stained, can't see through the windsheild dirty. It hadn't been washed since early fall. I tend to follow the line of thinking that once the weather goes bad (ie fall, winter, spring - rain, snow, rain) that there's no point in having the car washed when it's just going to be messed up again in a few days. Anyway, Dalloway (yes, I've named my car after the Mrs. She's a very literary, old Volvo) was looking grungy and driving sluggishly. Although, I think the main impetus for me was the fact that I was having trouble seeing out the windshield. One of Dalloway's ticks is her windshield wipers work, okay, but the one on the driver's side is slightly warped, so that with each stroke it leaves a streak right at eye level. Alright, so I took her to the touchless, drive through place near my apartment. I sat there contemplating whether to do the four or five dollar wash. The five gives you a forty-five second blow dry. I opted for the five and the wash proceeded. Dalloway seemed quite pleased at first but then as we proceeded to have her dried off, the force of the air on her wet skin caused an instant sheet of ice to encapsulate the entire car. I was suddenly trapped in a giant, mobile ice cube. I was, to say the least, disturbed by this turn of events. At least, I reasoned, Dalloway was clean beneath her half inch sheet of ice and hopefully, once it melted, she'd be spotless. I'll let you know in the spring.

"Anxiety"

I'm feeling anxious about everything right now. I'm returning to my late graduate studies, which I abandoned in a state of disinterest and problems with my program. I was led to believe that things had improved within the program but I found out over the weekend that one of the last two classes I need to finish this thing had been cancled due to lack of enrollment. This has been a problem since I began this program, especially in my concentration. I've been able to combat it by taking independent studies in lieu of classes but it was the class format I wanted from this program. In some ways, it feels like it was all a waste. But, I also feel like not completing it now, when I'm nearly there, would be a greater waste. I'll be through by September. It's funny, this situation seems to be reflective of much of the years I've spent in the midwest. It's always been a place of tenuous possibilities that crumble under the oppressive weight of reality. I feel kept down by so many forces from the harsh climate to unsteady employment to a general lack of enthusiasm to being here. It seems like my life has been swallowed up in the abyss of the midwest. Hours are eternal here but there's never enough time. The days seem shorter than they are ever long. I always miss the summer and dread the winter. This past weekend, we had an extreme blizzard blow through that buried us all in piles of snow. That's how I feel. Buried.

"Golden Globes, Movies, and Good Friends"

I'm not going to give you a run down of the entire Golden Globe ceremony. Fact is, I didn't watch it. I've come to find award shows so boring no matter who or what may be up for an award. However, I will say that I'm delighted by the results that I've found on the GG website this morning. Here are some highlights as they matter to me:

Best Picture/Comedy: Sideways (Duh!)
Best Screenplay/Comedy: Sideways (Double Duh!)
Best Supporting Actress/Drama: Natalie Portman for Closer (didn't I say she was the best thing going in that movie)
Best TV Drama: Nip Tuck (nice surprise, not nearly so predictable)
Best TV Comedy: Desperate Housewives (yes, I am a victim to this show too)

I was also delighted to see that Jason Bateman got one for Arrested Development and Angelica Huston for Iron Jawed Angels. Even though, I know, these awards aren't really given out purely based on merit, it seems this year's crop of winners come closer to the mark than of late. It'll be interesting to see how closely the Oscars line up or diverge.

I also caught Kinsey this weekend with my friend Charlotte. The film was highly praised by a very good friend (who shall remain unnamed). We both found it disappointing. I thought the pace of the film was all wrong. I thought if all the R rated material had been removed (mostly some images and some language) it could have been as successful as a made for TV movie or made for cable (with everything left in). I understand the challenge of doing a biopic in two hours but it's the choices of what to cover and what to skip that will keep my interest or loose it. It was clear to me from this director's point of view how important Kinsey's childhood was to the man he becomes and yet, it was entirely skimmed over in the course of ten minutes. Also, his marriage that forms much of the emotional conflict in the film doesn't receive nearly as much screen time as the syncopated interviews (so boring). I thought Liam Neeson's portrayal of Kinsey was flat. It didn't matter how interesting Laura Linney was because she was acting in a vacuum. In the end, I'm so glad I saw it as a matinee at the Davis ($5). As I look back over the past film season, I can only think of three films that I really enjoyed and those were: A Love Song for Bobby Long, Sideways, and Spanglish in that order. This weekend, I'm looking forward to the opening of the Henry Darger docu-drama In the Realms of the Unreal at the Music Box. Don't know who Henry Darger is? Shame on you!

"My Jet-Set Life "

Oh god, it's hard to come back to the regularity of everyday life after spending two weeks jetting around the US. I've only been away for two weeks but it seems like I've been away forever. Returning to the office this morning, in some ways, felt like my first day of work. Everything seems unfamiliar and simultaneously, sadly familiar.

My first week away was spent in sunny Florida. I flew down the Monday before Christmas so as to avoid weekend travel mess. I hadn't been back to Florida in about seven years but the lay of the land was still pretty much the same. As I drove my rental car from Orlando over to the east coast where my parents live, I remember feeling slightly apprehensive and expectant that it was going to be another week of familial stasis. What I mean is, when one returns to their family after a long absense, whatever issues that were present when one left are still in the air when one returns. My family doesn't communicate about much, at least not much of any real importance. I think this is true of many families however sad it may be. It's about keeping the peace. It's almost accepted that certain known subjects should not be raised. For us, those would be politics, religion, and personal life. Therefore, we spend our time together eating and playing cards. Thankfully, I enjoy both of those activities and my mother is quite a good cook.

I spent a lot of time driving around to old haunts, walking the beach, and digging through boxes of things I left at my parent's house. In one box, I had saved all the notes I ever received while in high school. I browsed through my year books and considered the lack of significance of my class ring. I had reams of miscellaneous papers from school and early years of college before I left for Chicago. Some of my early attempts at writing were downright embarrassing but I've kept them all the same. I also had a box of receipts dating back into the late 70s. Those went through my father's shredder. I had to clean the thing out twice just to get through it all. Why did I hang on to those?

I have only two friends left in Florida, who are this older couple that I befriended when my parents first moved to Melbourne ( little beach town, not to be confused with Australia). Their house, which sits on the river, was badly damaged in the series of hurricanes that passed over the state last summer. But Lock and Suzanne are built of stronger stuff than hurricanes and are using the calamity as a chance to do some remodeling. That's a life lesson if I ever saw one and, really, is the way I live my own life. When life throws a pie in my face, I eat it off. No, no, no, I'm not all smiles all the time. I get upset and disgruntled but that usually passes pretty quick and I move on. Life's too short and seems to be speeding up the older I get. I choose to laugh in the face of adversity! HA!

Got off on a tangent there. Anyway, I quickly got myself out of the sticky situation of "family" and zipped off Christmas Day to spend a night at the airport before catching an early flight Sunday morning for Los Angeles. Now, I had never been to LA before and had heard quite a mixed bag of propaganda both for and against the city. But, I have to say that I have never seen a more beautiful place. The views and drives around town are amazing. The people were very friendly. There wasn't nearly the amount of wealth that I expected to be confronted with or health junkies. I would say the majority of LAers are like most places, middle of the road folks trying to get by. But if you are trying to get by, then you might as well do it in a place that is as beautiful as LA. Mountains, and ocean, excellent weather, and good company. What more could you ask for? Still unsure or think it's all hype. Well, stay tuned and I'll post some pix in the next week. Better yet, ignore the hype and check it out for yourself. Rent a car and drive baby, drive. Drive Sunset north to the Pacific Coast Highway, then keep going to Malibu. Go to the Getty Museum, which sits on a mountain and has some of the most amazing architecture you may ever see (not to mention the art). Eat out at Mel's and Norm's. Stay in West Hollywood (WeHo) at the Valadon where you'll have a suite with a fireplace. Hang out in Los Feliz at Psychobabble and have dinner at Kitchen. Then go for a drink and a laugh at the Bonaventure Hotel's revolving lounge (aka the It's A Living building). Spend a day at the Santa Monica pier and walk (or rent a bike) down to Venice Beach. If you must shop, skip the Beverly Center and go to the Farmer's Market, the Grove, and the Promenade. If you're there on a Monday night, go to The Joint in south Beverly Hills and jam with some of the great musicians from 70s rock bands. Go hiking in the Hollywood Hills early in the morning. LA is movie and TV land but that is only a portion of the town. It is also a fantasitic, inclusive, liberal-minded community that enjoys some of the best living anywhere. I expect to be living there within the year.

"Buy Blue Buy Blue Buy Blue Buy Blue"

Blue voters now urged to buy blue

By Jennifer Skalka
Tribune staff reporter
Published December 14, 2004

For despondent Democrats there's a new treatment, if not a cure, for their lingering Election Day blues. Think retail therapy.

A Web site called Choose the Blue is offering shopping advice this holiday season, providing information about which companies' employees give to Democrats and which prefer Republicans.

Costco workers gave more to Democrats, for example, while Wal-Mart's preferred Republicans, according to campaign finance records. Donna Karan's people lean left. Fruit of the Loom's give to the right.

For Ann and Bill Duvall, the site's creators, Nov. 3 brought great disappointment--and a call to action.

"We woke up that morning just really devastated and depressed, and in some ways I'm grateful that we came up with this idea because that's where we've been able to put our energy," Ann Duvall, 56, said.

So Choose the Blue is self-help meets activism meets consumerism. Its goal is to shift vast amounts of wealth to people who support the Democrats' cause.

Using information from the Federal Election Commission Web site and the Center for Responsive Politics site, www.opensecrets.org, the Duvalls give their fellow Democrats a gift that could keep on giving.

"If each American who voted for John Kerry spends $100 in 2005 on a blue company instead of a red company, we can move $5 billion away from Republican companies and add $5 billion to the income of companies who donate to Democrats," they say on the site.

In the few weeks since the Duvalls launched the site, it has gained growing notice in the blogosphere. Blogs with names like Angryfinger point to it for inspiration. The Duvalls have heard that their effort was mentioned on Air America, the liberal radio station.

Within days of the election, the Duvalls asked 10 of their friends to review their Web site and tell them what worked and what didn't. Whether the friends spread the word or bloggers stumbled upon the unpublicized Choose the Blue site is unclear. But shortly thereafter the Duvalls, who split their time between Silicon Valley and Idaho, started getting e-mails from strangers thanking them for their work.

At its peak, the site received more than 300,000 hits in one day, said Ann Duvall, a mother of three and grandmother of four. Typically between 100,000 and 200,000 sets of eyes peruse it daily.

"This is not a boycott," said Bill Duvall, a software creator who was involved in the transmission of the first e-mail message 35 years ago. "... It's just that we believe it's possible to direct some of your spending so we can begin to at least even the playing field."

Choose the Blue breaks down its information into categories such as automotive, consumer electronics, retail shopping and fashion, and sports. The site's tallies also include gifts from companies to political action committees. The figures for the companies and their employees show the total percentages and dollar amounts given to Republican and Democratic candidates or causes.

Choose the Blue is joined in cyberland by Buy Blue, a site with a similar mission. Its mantra is: "In today's America there's a more powerful act than voting blue, and that's buying blue." It also urges people to have a "blue Christmas" and says: "Find out which businesses have been naughty and which have been nice. Shop accordingly!"

Though experts applaud the initiative taken by creators of these sites, they aren't sure their strategy is sound. After all, Republicans too can take advantage of the information they're providing.

"The question that remains then is which side does a better job of spreading the word to those who are most likely to act on it," said Eszter Hargittai, an assistant professor of sociology at Northwestern University and a faculty fellow in the Institute for Policy Research.

Richard Feinberg of Purdue University said most people don't make their shopping decisions based on personal ideology. They look for the best bargains or the most convenient stores.

"The handful of people that it might influence are already boycotting or not spending money on businesses that they think go against their political grain," said Feinberg, director of the school's Center for Customer Driven Quality. "It's not going to change a neutral person."

Although innovative and purposeful, Choose the Blue illustrates something perhaps unintended about some of the people who voted for Sens. Kerry and John Edwards. As exhausting and frustrating as the loss was for them, they're not done fighting.

Curtis Gans, director of the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate, a Washington, D.C., non-profit, said Choose the Blue is ultimately a sign of that discontent. Gans said the Democrats' future success, however, would not depend on the power of smaller movements. He said the party must re-evaluate its purpose, and with temperatures still high after a close election, raising money won't be its main challenge.

"I think the important thing is for the Democrats to define who they are and to develop a grass-roots organization that isn't dependent on other groups," Gans said.

Still, the power and reach of the blogosphere--the vast universe of Web logs viewed by countless people--is evident in the growing popularity of the Duvalls' site. Already, the couple has been threatened with legal action by one company, which the Duvalls declined to name, that was unhappy with its mention on the site.

Bill Duvall, 59, said the blogosphere promotes the very essence of democracy by giving people a voice who wouldn't normally have one. It provided him and his wife--who are now semiretired--with a prime outlet for their post-election political expression.

Copyright © 2004, Chicago Tribune

"3am or 4am or 5am"

Lately, the strangest thing has been happening with my alarm clock. Okay, it's not really an alarm clock per se. It's actually an old cell phone with an alarm clock capability. I know, how truely pathetic, or certainly odd, that I use an old cell phone as my alarm clock instead of just getting a "real" alarm clock. Well, I have issues (Ha!). I looked for a long time for a real alarm clock I could live with. You see, I hate those digital ones because the light from the LED displays keeps me awake. And, almost anything that isn't digital tends to tick. That ticking drives me crazy, no rest. I eventually found this beautiful crystal clock in a thrift store for a meager amount of cash and bought it before I realized it wasn't an alarm clock at all. For awhile, I was using the alarm clock in my microwave but since that is all the way in the kitchen, I feared not really hearing it. Although, the truth is, I almost always wake up before the alarm clock goes off. Of course, that doesn't mean I want to get up. Also, my "actual" cell phone actualy doesn't have an alarm feature. Life is way too complicated, or I just make it so. So, the strange thing that's been happening lately (no, it isn't everything I've already mentioned) is that the alarm has been going off at 6am, which is when it's set for, but not the "real" 6am. See, quite a few times lately I've been woken by the alarm and the cell phone clock reads 6am while the alarm is sounding but, then, I hit STOP and the clock reads 3am or 4am or 5am. Is that not odd? How could the cell phone's regular clock be correct but the alarm clock be off? Yes, I suppose I should get a "real" alarm clock and be done with it. Maybe I should get one of those fold-up travel clocks that are LED but the screen isn't lighted. Of course, ideally, it would be better if I didn't have to go somewhere else to work. You know, work at home and get up at my leisure. Ah dreams! Oh shit, my boss is giving me the evil eye. Back to "real" work.