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At issue: A new purpose for Aliso Viejo Ranch

The City of Aliso Viejo is dicussing plans to build a new facility that includes a Boys & Girls Club on the site where the Aliso Viejo Ranch currently sits. KATIE DEES, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Editor's note: These letters were submitted before the public meeting regarding the Aliso Viejo Ranch project held Tuesday. For information on the meeting and public input, visit

Don't take away our city's only piece of history

While reading the recent article by Kellie Mejdrich about replacing the old Aliso Viejo Ranch buildings with new facilities for the Boys & Girls Club, I was saddened by the thought of bulldozing away the only really historic remnants of our town's roots.

Aliso Viejo is a new town and has no other history of its land's original use, and having attended some of the annual barbecues, square dancing and other fun enjoyments at the old barn and surrounding buildings, I, as an “early” settler here 17 years ago, really loved the family atmosphere of it all.

The town was just being born when I came, and rolling hills and tree-filled dales still were untouched between my house and Ralphs, (then Hughes).

As it grew, so have the trees which replaced the native ones – I hated to see them scooped up and away in the process of leveling and terracing for other homes, as it was for mine.

We know progress is unstoppable, but in the case of our community's truly only symbol of its oldest home – its original, el Rancho Aliso Viejo – (The homestead and presumably bunkhouse, were gone before I had a chance to see them) these relics are irreplaceable.

A community center, designed to fit in with them, would be a very admirable addition, bringing whole families back to the heart of our land and young people could learn its history.

Surely a Boys & Girls Club facility could be built elsewhere, but not on the entire historic land at our town's ancestral heart.

– June B. Peterson is a 17-year resident of Aliso Viejo.

Give the Boys & Girls Club room to grow in young area

As a resident of Aliso Viejo and a past alumnus from the Boys & Girls Club of San Clemente, I'm excited to know that we may share an awesome club experience with many more kids in Aliso Viejo.

As you may know, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley has been in negotiation with the city of Aliso Viejo as a probable contractor to service after-school programs for kids at the ranch site. Currently, the city's population has 12,868 ages 18 or younger – 26 percent of our population.

The club has had a tremendous impact on our kids at the Via Iglesia site. A new facility at the ranch site would allow a great organization like the Boys & Girls Club to make an even greater impact given the opportunity to serve a much larger portion of the city.

A central location would allow many kids to come directly from school.

At the Capistrano Valley site, the club succeeded in bringing more kids off the street and into a positive place for kids. This site was the building blocks and the beginning of a ambitious dream to serve more kids to succeed past high school.

This year, the Boys & Girls Club have been fortunate to have Yossy Rojas, one of their own represented as one of the nation's leading Boys & Girls Club's Youth of the Year.

Imagine hundreds of young leaders, like Rojas, becoming the same role models for younger generations. Imagine the impact in Aliso Viejo. I fully support the city's direction to have the Boys & Girls Club operate the facility.

Matthew Brabeck is a resident of Aliso Viejo and board member with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley.

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Eye on O.C.: Dads showing the way

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Dennis Parrott accepts his award for Father of the Year on stage with his family in attendance as the Orange County American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the Father's Day Council of Orange County announce the recipients of the 2013 Father of the Year award.STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER

Somehow, friends, family members and honorees of the 2013 Father of the Year awards squished themselves into the Commodore Room at the Balboa Bay Resort for a pleasant reception before dinner and the awards ceremony. Organized by the Orange County branches of the American Diabetes Association and the Father's Day Council, the event celebrated fatherhood and supported the fight against diabetes.

Guests spilled onto the outdoor patio for a picturesque view of Newport Bay, an ideal spot for drinks, chitchat and cool ocean air. Maneuvering around the patio quickly became difficult as guests stood shoulder to shoulder, but everyone found themselves near friends and family members.

For the past 11 years, the Father's Day Council and American Diabetes Association in Orange County have recognized the efforts of local men who proudly juggle the responsibilities of being a successful businessman and a good father.

"It's certainly a balancing act and a challenge, but you make it a priority," said Dennis Parrott, one of the honorees and a managing partner at audit, tax and advisory firm KPMG LLP's Orange County office. "There are just certain things you set aside so you can focus on your career and your family."

The council partners with the American Diabetes Association because it sees charity as a necessary component of fatherhood. Funds raised for the ADA will go toward research for a cure, education and advocacy.

"They figured out a really good dad needs to balance his family and career with giving back to the community," said Allison Hickey, executive director of the O.C. American Diabetes Association.

– Benn Hadland,

For the Register

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Initiative sends achievement home for Latino families

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Griselda Melendez, whose son Robert wants to study mechanical engineering in college, participated in the Latino Educational Attainment Initiative. The program provides classes that teach parents about college requirements and how to support students.

By the numbers: Latino Educational Attainment Initiative

8,000: Parents who did the multi-week training.

500: Trainers who teach LEA classes.

143: Schools that have accepted training on LEA.

10: Average grade-level attained by parents participating in LEA study.

Source: Latino Educational Attainment Initiative

Robert Melendez came home from school seven years ago to a question he’d never heard his mother ask before.

“She asked me what my GPA was,” said Melendez, a junior at Santiago High School in Garden Grove. “Once she actually found out more, she pushed me to work toward my goals.”

This was around the time when his mother started taking parenting classes through the Latino Education Attainment Initiative. The meddling was annoying at first, Melendez said. But over the years he began appreciating her support. He now wants to study mechanical engineering at his dream school, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“If my mom didn’t care, I would have been left out. I wouldn’t have been as successful,” he said.

For the past 10 years, parents who took classes through the Latino Educational Attainment Initiative have learned to navigate the complex school system in the hopes of sending their children to college.

The initiative reaches out to parents of students in some of Orange County’s lowest-performing schools, seeking to narrow the achievement gap between students of color and their white peers through a parenting course. The success of the program and its leaders were lauded during a reception at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana on Thursday night.

As part of the initiative’s 10-year anniversary, its leaders presented preliminary findings from a study of the parenting class. The five-week course teaches parents “Ten Education Commandments for Parents” – including directions to calculate a grade point average and a summary of the types of scholarships their children might be eligible to receive.

Early findings suggest that parents who’ve taken the class are more likely to help their children with homework, attend parent-teacher conferences and encourage their children to graduate from college.

The initiative began in 2004 after a series of articles in the Orange County Register identified the root causes of Latino students’ academic struggles. Chief among those was parent involvement. The initiative was formed by local groups including the Orange County Business Council, the Orange County Department of Education and Orange County United Way.

Twenty-eight parents signed up for the pilot class in 2006. During the first class, 1 in 10 parents were able to calculate a GPA. Afterward, 8 in 10 were able to calculate their student’s GPA, said Teri Rocco, supervisor for parent and community outreach at Garden Grove Unified.

“The parents were on fire,” she said. “It’s like I couldn’t give them enough information.”

Since then, about 8,000 parents have taken the class, which is funded mostly by corporate and private donations. Organizers are now looking to revamp the curriculum since parents have so many questions about the state’s new educational standards. Though parents say they’ve seen their children improve academically, leaders in the initiative wanted to scientifically track their progress, said Juan Carlos Araque, a USC professor and former Latino Educational Attainment Initiative chair.

“The quality of the teachers and the level of involvement of parents are the two biggest parts of a student’s success,” he said. “So it’s important to have scientific data to back that up and create a model that is sustainable.”

The study takes place in two Santa Ana schools involving about 120 parents. Researchers hope to show increased student achievement, said Heather Huntley Cova, who got involved with the initiative in 2005 and joined the executive committee in 2007. Final data from the 18-month-long study will include the improvements students made as a result of having their parents in the class.

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5 things to do when stuck in traffic

Five things to do

when stuck in traffic

In-car karaoke: Get out your hits of the '90s and break loose by singing the lyrics out loud — you can do it alone, with your passengers or even with the people in the cars around you. Good mood guaranteed.

Learn a new language: French, Spanish, Cantonese? It doesn't matter. Slip a lesson CD in the audio system and prepare to learn something that will help you tremendously on your next travel adventure.

Do facial exercises: You already know that we should all be doing 30 minutes of activity a day, but did you know that facial exercises are also part of a healthy lifestyle?

Relax your diaphragm: Either by breathing exercises or singing, relaxing your diaphragm is one of the best things you can do to eliminate stress.

Listen to a podcast or an audio book: Is your favorite radio show on during work hours? Is the latest best-selling book gathering dust on your nightstand because you just don't have the time to open it? Get back on top of it while in traffic.

Source: blog.ford.ca

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Mickadeit: Who's that on the OC Fair celeb wheel? Me!

2012-07-18 16:39:00

The OC Fair is of limited interest to me unless there's some controversy – particularly if I can create some where none need exist.

I went the first night with great hope. Saw Todd Spitzer and did my best to bait him. Nothing. Went to see Willie Nelson, hoping he'd toke up on stage. The only tokers were in the audience. Went through the products barns hoping to find some insanely priced thing to feed my disturbing ironing fetish. I was informed I have now purchased (and in some cases repurchased) every conceivable clothes-flattening gadget fair vendors have ever offered.

Sigh. I was resigned to write something positive about the fair or nothing at all.

Then I heard about Greg Kelly, owner of Kelly's Hobby Shop in Tustin. He'd built a 66-inch-tall working model of a Ferris wheel and entered it in the fair's Mechanical Models competition. Emphasis on "working" and "mechanical."

Kelly had spent 450 hours creating the wheel out of spruce, and had taken care to balance it and fit it with a motor so it would actually rotate. He'd installed 24 little seats and in each one placed a cutout photo of a real O.C. person riding the wheel. Sandra Hutchens, Buzz Aldrin, Rick Warren and ... wait... who's that guy in front of John Cappelletti? Why, it's that columnist who's always trying to make a big stink out of nothing.

Kelly's Ferris wheel won first place and two judges' awards – the best he'd done in more than 20 years of submitting models. "I have a bag of second- and third-place ribbons and honorable mentions," Kelly told me. "I'm thrilled, of course."

It seemed like another sickeningly sweet fair story – until I heard the curator of the fair exhibit had decided not to plug in the Ferris wheel and so fairgoers could not see it rotate. It was being displayed stationary.

I'm stuck on the Ferris wheel? And I'm not moving? An outrage!

Wednesday morning, Kelly and I met Fair CEO Jerome Hoban and Fair board member Stan Tkaczyk at the Fairgrounds offices. As we waited for Hoban in the board room, Tkaczyk regaled us about how he'd once had part of a nipple (his, if you're wondering) removed. Then Hoban arrived – none too soon – and handed each of us a bag of OC Fair collector pins. Then he led us to the Fairgrounds entrance. We were to help pass out the pins to the 5,000 developmentally disabled adults and children the Fair was letting in free this morning.

"Part of the deal I cut to get them to meet with us," I explained to the puzzled Kelly, whom I'd forgotten to inform about this little wrinkle. He shrugged and went with it.

We walked up to the gate, handing out souvenir pins like were White House aides handing out presidential cuff links or something. "Best part of my job," Tkaczyk said.

Our little fact-finding group finally made it to the exhibition hall about 9:30. The bright orange wheel was displayed prominently on a table in the center of the room, surrounded by its three ribbons. We ooo-ed and aahed. Kelly turned on the motor. The wheel started turning. We ooo-ed and aahed some more.

But then some of the little seats that were supposed to swivel back into place as the wheel turned suddenly stopped swiveling. A few started twisting, getting stuck in the superstructure. Kobe Bryant, who was riding in front of me, had a particularly troublesome seat and it looked like it might come off its bracket and fall into my seat. I did not want Kobe's likeness in my likeness's lap for the duration of the Fair. I would rather my likeness just be stuck at the top of the wheel where it could make friends with the likeness of someone of a gender other than Kobe's. I noted, for example, that Gwen Stefani's likeness was nearby.

Kelly fiddled with the wheel to get the seats and riders straightened out. I felt bad for Kelly, the most kindhearted of men. He'd been quite satisfied with his ribbons and now I'd dragged him into a situation where it really couldn't be argued that the Ferris wheel should be allowed to run continuously. Another hour of tweaking, I'm convinced, and Kelly would get it set properly, but I felt I'd lost whatever moral authority I had to argue the point.

So we left, and Kelly seemed pleased, and the Fair officials didn't seem too ticked off. I invited myself back for this Saturday's livestock auction, where I'm sure I'll find something else to meddle in.

Mickadeit writes Mon.-Fri. Contact him at 714-796-4994 or fmickadeit@ocregister.com

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Ducks' Perry is sixth pick for Team Chara

Ducks winger Corey Perry, the reigning Hart Trophy winner as the NHL's most valuable player, was taken in the sixth round of the All-Star game fantasy draft by Team Chara on Thursday night outside Ottawa.

Perry will be appearing in his third All-Star game as he leads the Ducks with 22 goals, which put him in a tie for 10th in the league with Matt Moulson of the New York Islanders.

Boston Bruins captain and former Senators defenseman Zdeno Chara announced his selection of Perry, no doubt with some guidance from former Ducks teammate and Toronto winger Joffrey Lupul.

Perry will get a chance to score on Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, who went as the third pick for Team Alfredsson. New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist is Daniel Alfredsson's alternate captain.

Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk was the first overall selection, going to Team Chara. Alfredsson went with Ottawa teammate Erik Karlsson as his first pick.

Here are the rosters for the 59th NHL All-Star game on Sunday at Scotiabank Place:

Team Chara -- Zdeno Chara (Boston); Joffrey Lupul (Toronto); Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit); Tim Thomas (Boston); Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh); Marian Hossa (Chicago); Kimmo Timonen (Philadelphia); Corey Perry (Ducks); Carey Price (Montreal); Phil Kessel (Toronto); Ryan Suter (Nashville); Dan Girardi (N.Y. Rangers); Brian Campbell (Florida); Milan Michalek (Ottawa); Dion Phaneuf (Toronto); Jarome Iginla (Calgary); Dennis Wideman (Washington); Marian Gaborik (N.Y. Rangers); Jordan Eberle (Edmonton); Tyler Seguin (Boston); Jamie Benn (Dallas).

Team Alfredsson -- Daniel Alfredsson (Ottawa); Henrik Lundqvist (N.Y. Rangers); Erik Karlsson (Ottawa); Jason Spezza (Ottawa); Jonathan Quick (Kings); Claude Giroux (Philadelphia); Kris Letang (Pittsburgh); Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay); Brian Elliott (St. Louis); Shea Weber (Nashville); Daniel Sedin (Vancouver); Jimmy Howard (Detroit); Keith Yandle (Phoenix); Patrick Kane (Chicago); Henrik Sedin (Vancouver); James Neal (Pittsburgh); Alexander Edler (Vancouver); John Tavares (N.Y. Islanders); Scott Hartnell (Philadelphia); Jason Pominville (Buffalo); Logan Couture (San Jose).

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Whiting: Point-and-shoot cameras rule in outdoors

A hawk takes flight a split-second after dropping its prey near the Quail Hill Trail in Irvine. I spotted the hawk dropping down and stopped to take the photo. It disappeared into the brush and took off. DAVID WHITING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

I'm running at dusk under a canopy of old oaks when suddenly a screech owl ascends from a thicket, a writhing snake in its talons.

What a photo. Or not.

The problem is I like to travel light and fast. And that means I rarely carry a camera in the outdoors because the professional boxes are too darn clunky and smart phones just can't do the job.

Seriously, try holding an iPhone and shooting the toughest subjects imaginable – the creeping, crawling, flying kind.

But, in truth, point-and-shoot cameras are now at the stage that in many outdoor situations they are better than the big Nikons or Canons. Not only can point-and-shoots, well, shoot great photos in the great outdoors, they also allow you to hold one in your hand while trail running – a critical thing when it comes to photographing the surprise snake or darting deer.

Let's take a look at why point-and-shoots rule for shooting critters in the natural world.

If your hobby is photography and you venture out to take the best photographs possible, it's best to stick with tried and true SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses. These hulking beasts offer pin-point accurate view finders, close-up photos from afar and all the gizmos an aperture-understanding artist needs.

But if you're like me and you want a good workout while also having the ability to shoot some amazing photos, consider a point-and-shoot.

So, how much should you spend?

When I do remember to bring along a camera and I'm not specifically looking to shoot something for a column, I carry an $80 Canon PowerShot A800.

When I know I'm shooting for a column, I carry what I call "the brick" – a high-end point and shoot by Canon. Mine happens to be an old G7, long since updated to the G15. More on high-end point-and-shoots in a minute.

There are several things I love about the cheapo camera and two things I hate. First the hate.

For reasons that are beyond me, camera manufacturers have discarded view finders in favor of screens. It's baffling why more models don't at least offer a cheap view finder just above the lens.

If you've ever tried to shoot a bird in flight, a coyote running, you know it's nearly impossible to track an animal with a digital screen.

Sunlight bouncing off the glass makes this even more difficult.

Tip: Try to find a camera with a view finder. The expensive models should include one. If you already have a point-and-shoot, don't worry about a view finder.

Here's why:

Tip: Turn your shooting finger into a motor drive.

The trick to taking decent photographs of critters – or anything really – in the digital age is repetition. Fire away hoping something comes out right. Taking one photo or 100 costs the same.

For a bird in flight, click away until the subject is too far away to photograph, Then click some more. If you get a single decent photo out of 20, then you've succeeded.

When you get home, load the photos on the computer and discard everything but your best shots.

Unless it's a mountain lion.

That's a shot worth keeping for the story behind the photo.

Another reason for a view finder is that it allows three-points to steady the camera: Your two hands and your brow.

A triangle of support is particularly nice when you have only a few seconds to shoot.

Trying to capture an animal in a tiny screen forces you to hold out the camera, making it much more difficult to keep steady.

A steady camera becomes even more important when you're in the low light of a forest or dealing with a setting sun. The reason?

Low light requires a slower shutter speed. In turn, slow shutter speeds increase the risk of blur.

Another thing to look for in a camera is an ultra-short lag time between when you click and when the camera takes a photo.

This is generally not an issue when shooting people. Humans are relatively predictable. With practice, you can even anticipate the camera's delay photographing something like racing mountain bikers.

But anticipating when a bobcat will pop up? Good luck with that.

Our photo editors call the cheaper cameras "moment missers."

My Canon PowerShot is a moment miser. My G7 less so.

Now the love.

Light and small, it's tough to beat a camera that you can forget about while running, cycling or hiking.

Especially if the alternative means leaving your camera at home.

Shooting critters means shooting fast. Forget about the manual settings and set your point-and-shoot on auto. Let the computer be your Ansel Adams.

But do one thing first: Turn off the flash. That's usually symbolized by a lightening bolt on the back of the camera.

The problem is that flashes will light up the foreground and turn the background into darkness. This is a bad thing with animals because they are usually relatively far away – like more than 10 feet.

When you do want to heighten a dark foreground, flip on the flash.

Which brings us to the three main things to remember when you shoot.

Lighting: I often forget to try to have the sun at my back. Try to remember.

While you rarely have a choice when shooting animals, shooting into the sun is generally great for only one thing – silhouettes.

Get close: Again, this is a tip almost impossible to accomplish with animals, but it's one of the most important things that the Register's professional photographers have taught me.

If you think you're close to your subject, get closer.

People want to see feathers, fur, eyes. Animal or human, faces matter.

Rule of threes: Once again, you likely won't have much choice when shooting beasts of the Orange County wild. But if you can, shoot your subject off-center.

Put another way, divide the photo into thirds, horizontally and vertically. Where those lines intersect, the eye tends to focus. And that is where you want to focus.

Time and again, I hear so-called camera experts advise not to worry about the number of pixels on a camera, that anything more than eight megapixels is too much.

That is true when sharing photos of family, friends and food. But for the great outdoors, I prefer 12 megapixels and sometimes wish I had more.

Rather than using my zoom – and I do use it – I often "zoom in" by cropping.

Zooms are of limited use. If you can hold your camera perfectly steady, they are fine. But that's extremely difficult when you're moving your camera to follow a moving critter.

The more pixels you have, the closer in you can crop without getting a fuzzy image.

The best thing for shooting wild animals is to grab your camera and go.

Shoot like crazy if you see something flying, slithering or running through the wilderness.

Later, tone and crop your favorite photos.

If you'd like, share your photos with me, and I'll share them with readers. More awareness and appreciation about our wildlife is always a good thing.

Perhaps we should call these cameras shoot-and-points.

David Whiting's column also appears on News One on Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays; dwhiting@ocregister.com

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Pujols knows all eyes are on his swing

The Angels' Albert Pujols is congratulated after hitting an RBI sacrifice fly in the first inning Tuesday. BEN MARGOT, AP

OAKLAND – Like farmers looking for any wisp of a cloud on the horizon that might bring a drought-breaking rainstorm, the Angels have watched for any sign that Albert Pujols is ready to break out.

Even fly outs to the right side of center field have been hailed as possible portents, signs that the pull-heavy swing that led to so many pitches rolled over to the left side of the infield had been recalibrated.

But Pujols himself insists he has not gotten caught up the search for some magic

"You can't worry about mechanics and stuff," Pujols said before Tuesday's game. "You just go out there and hit. As long as you take your swings and prepare yourself for each game, the last thing you want to be thinking about up there is mechanics and things like that.

"Hitting is hard. But you have to keep it simple. As much as you know it's hard, you have to really keep it simple and go out there and put good swings together. Sometimes, you're going to feel good and sometimes you won't – most of the time you won't. The times when you don't feel good is when you have to survive until you can get that good streak going."

Pujols dismissed the idea that he has been in survival mode longer this season than ever before. His former manager Tony LaRussa was at Monday's game in Oakland and spent some time with Pujols. But Pujols said LaRussa did not offer any hitting advice or swing corrections.

"No, Tony's somebody that I love and respect like a father," Pujols said. "Only God knows my swing better than myself."

The only mistake Pujols would admit to in the worst stretch of his career is a loss of patience at the plate. He walked just six times in his first 136 plate appearances this season (after averaging one walk every 7.6 plate appearances for 11 seasons with the Cardinals) and went 14 games and 61 plate appearances between walks at one point in late April and early May.

"If there's anything I had to tell myself it was to be more patient. I wish I'd done that in April," he said.

Pujols said he doesn't "like to look too much at video" of his own swing but recognized that he was "expanding the strike zone" by swinging at pitches he would normally ignore.

"Forty thousand people watching at the stadium could see that. People watching on TV could see that," he said. "I'm not doing that right now. I'm just putting good swings on it. Whenever it clicks, it clicks. Sometimes it takes awhile."

There have been signs recently. His solo home run in the third inning Tuesday was his third in the past week, gave him hits in 10 of his past 11 games and 15 RBIs over his past 16 after driving in just two in the 18 games before that.

Former Angels Dick Schofield and Nick Gorneault will represent the Angels at the annual draft June 4-6. Schofield is currently a hitting coach in the Angels' organization (Arizona Rookie League). Gorneault spent 10 seasons as an outfielder in pro ball including eight in the Angels' organization, making the majors briefly with them in 2007.

Neither will have anything to do for awhile.

Because of their offseason free-agent binge, signing Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson, the Angels surrendered their first- and second-round picks in this year's draft. Their first selection will not be until the third round, the 114th pick overall.

The first round will be televised on MLB Network beginning at 4 p.m. (PDT) on June 4. Rounds 2 through 40 will be available on June 5-6.

Erick Aybar left Tuesday's game with a right knee contusion after being hit by a pitch in the seventh inning. Scioscia said after the game that Aybar "will be fine" and could play Wednesday. ... Pujols' home run against the A's was the 449th of his career. That ties him with Vladimir Guerrero and Jeff Bagwell for 35th place on baseball's all-time list. ... Vernon Wells underwent surgery Tuesday morning at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles as scheduled. The procedure to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb took 30 minutes and the recovery is expected to take eight to 10 weeks.

Angels right-hander Dan Haren (1-5, 3.47) is scheduled to start against A's right-hander Jarrod Parker (1-2, 3.90). Game time is 12:35 p.m. and it will be broadcast on FSW, KLAA/830 AM and KWKW/1330 AM in Spanish.

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By press time, Henley’s attorney had not returned calls seeking comment for this story.

Attention-getting lawsuits are fine and all but don’t guarantee votes. For DeVore, who freely admits he can’t possibly raise enough funds to match Boxer (first quarter fund-raising reports showed DeVore raised only $132,000 to Boxer’s $4.6 million campaign chest), such frankness and low-level efforts, little by little, eventually can translate into a political movement. What turned DeVore on to the possibilities of technology to wage unconventional campaigns was a cable commercial filmed in 2002, when he lost a race for an Irvine City Council seat by about 150 votes. “I wanted to do an intro piece—you know, me, my wife, two daughters and dog introducing ourselves,” he recalls.

The results were a disaster. The DeVores’ dog, Moxie, wouldn’t bark on cue, while one daughter kept preening herself on-camera. After seeing the footage, it occurred to DeVore that the outtakes were much more interesting than the boilerplate offerings he originally intended. The finished product: the bloopers, with DeVore telling viewers, “Support Chuck DeVore: Help him hire professional actors and trained dogs.”

Chuck DeVore
John Gilhooley
Chuck DeVore
DeVore spreads his Internet gospel
Christopher Victorio
DeVore spreads his Internet gospel

“I went to a town-hall meeting for seniors a couple of days later,” DeVore recounted. “A lady got up, and, in the tone of the ‘Where’s the beef?’ lady, asked, ‘Where’s Moxie?’ Everyone in the room laughed. They had seen the commercial and liked it.”

Two years later, DeVore became a state assemblyman.

“Modern campaigns have degenerated into a two-part process: You raise obscene amounts of money, and then you spend them on very costly consulting, polls and paid advertising,” he says. “You bombard the voters with prepackaged and crafted messages. This is not what our representative democracy was supposed to be. The intent was that the voters could interact with their elected representatives and ask them tough questions in unscripted environments.

“I’m not a self-funded candidate or a celebrity, but I do hold a consistent set of principles that I feel very comfortable articulating,” he adds. “What works for me is that people are attracted to that, even if they don’t agree with everything I believe in. Because it’s the real me, not a focus-group-created phony.”

*     *     *

Orange County GOP chairman Scott Baugh has known DeVore for better than a decade through their work on the party’s Central Committee; they gave him a 2007 Assemblymember of the Year award. “Given that he holds a position in a minority party, there are always challenges in getting his legislation through, but Chuck’s undaunted by the deck that’s stacked against him and doggedly pursues legislation that he believes makes California better,” Baugh says. “He participates in party activities, is always helpful; he’s always willing to show up and give a speech and carry the flag. When it comes to campaigns, there are a lot of elected officials who don’t show up for the precinct walks; Chuck DeVore, without fail, will show up.

“I’m glad he’s [running for Senate],” Baugh adds. “Chuck is tenacious, and he will beat on the drum and beat the message across. He’s being innovative, and he has good issues that need to be brought to the forefront. He has a good a shot as anyone right now. We will always stand behind Chuck—we don’t get involved in primaries, but certainly we’ll stand with Chuck.”

Despite DeVore’s eternal optimism and Baugh’s support, DeVore’s campaign for Senate must deal with far more obstacles than a state assembly member usually faces. There’s no guarantee DeVore can even secure his own party’s nomination. So far, he’s the only Republican who has established an official committee for the Senate race. But it’s just a matter of time before other candidates emerge—and the polling isn’t favoring DeVore. According to a May Field Poll, DeVore would pull in only 9 percent of the votes in a hypothetical Republican primary featuring two people rumored to be seeking the GOP’s senatorial candidacy, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Hewlett-Packard head Carly Fiorina. Even worse, the survey found only 18 percent of California voters surveyed even have an opinion of DeVore—meaning that few people have ever heard of him outside the 70th Assembly District.

DeVore is fully aware of the challenges ahead, even from his own party. (The Lincoln Party, the county’s premier conservative kingmakers, did not return calls for this story.) “It’s common knowledge that the National Republican Committee is actively recruiting big-government Republicans” to run for California’s senatorial primary, he says calmly. “People are going to do what they’re going to do. What I look to is that never in the history of California, with the exception of the actors [Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Murphy], has there been an individual who had no public experience who won statewide office. And any time a multimillionaire has run a self-financed campaign for Senate or governor, never once have they won. My job is going to be to convince people that I am the future of the party.”

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Philadelphia vs Toronto Recap - Raptors Win 108-100

DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points for Toronto on Friday, leading the Raptors to a 108-100 victory over Philadelphia at Air Canada Centre.

The Raptors were a 7-point favorite in the win, and managed to turn a profit for their supporters. The combined score went OVER the total, which closed at 201.5.

Terrence Ross had 24 points for Toronto and Amir Johnson chipped in with 17 points. Kyle Lowry had 11 assists for the Raptors, while Jonas Valanciunas was the team's top rebounder, grabbing 13 boards.

Philadelphia got 23 points from Tony Wroten in a losing cause and another 21 points from Evan Turner. Tony Wroten contributed 5 assists for the 76ers, while Evan Turner had 10 rebounds.

Toronto led at halftime, 56-48.

Toronto had a 47-42 advantage in the rebounding department as they won the battle in the paint.

Next game, Toronto takes its act on the road to face Chicago looking for another win. For Philadelphia, they head home to face Portland.


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Internet economy

OECD Recommendation on Cross-border Co-operation in the Enforcement of Laws Protecting Privacy

OECD governments have agreed on a new framework for co-operation in the enforcement of privacy laws.  The initiative is motivated by a recognition that changes in the character and volume of cross-border data flows have elevated privacy risks for individuals and highlighted the need for better co-operation among the authorities charged with providing them protection.

Embodied in the new OECD Recommendation, the framework reflects a commitment by governments to improve their domestic frameworks for privacy law enforcement to better enable their authorities to co-operate with foreign authorities, as well as to provide mutual assistance to one another in the enforcement of privacy laws. The Recommendation is grounded in the 1980 OECD Privacy Guidelines (1980), which remain an influential statement of the foundations of privacy protection more then 25 years after their adoption.

The Recommendation was developed by the OECD Committee for Information, Computer and Communications Policy (ICCP), through its Working Party on Information Security and Privacy (WPISP). The work, conducted in close cooperation with privacy enforcement authorities, was led by Jennifer Stoddart, Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

Initiatives to implement the Recommendation are already underway. The OECD has developed two model forms to facilitate privacy law enforcement co-operation. The first is a form to assist in the creation of a list of contact points in each country to co-ordinate requests for assistance. The second is a form for use by an authority in requesting assistance to help ensure that key items of information are included in the request.

The 29th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners to be hosted by Commissioner Stoddart in September 2007 in Montreal will be a key opportunity to progress the cooperation globally. The Recommendation will also be introduced at regional events such as the APEC privacy meetings in June 2007.

Further information about this OECD intiative, including a background report and other materials, is available at

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10-Foot-Tall ‘Superweed’ Grows Resistant To Roundup

superweeds roundup

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Superweeds possibly caused by gentically modified plants and glyphosate chemical pesticides are a growing problem, according to agriculture experts, with huge weeds becoming more prevalent in pastures and fields around the globe.

Increased exposure to chemical pesticides and to herbicide-resistant (genetically modified) crops is being blamed for the growth of the superweeds, says Natural News. One weed, the Palmer amaranth pigweed, reportedly can grow 10 feet tall at an inch per day rate and possesses stems thick enough to damage agriculture equipment.

For the past 15 years, many farmers have used GMO seeds that are genetically modified to be resistant to Roundup, a popular Monsanto chemical herbicide. Monsanto also makes the seeds, and they are dubbed “Roundup Ready.”

Weed management professionals are reportedly growing more concerned about the superweeds problem and seeking new ways to combat the issue. Some farmers are going back to the old-fashioned method of hand weed pulling or expensive mechanical tilling practice to combat weeds without using chemical herbicide.

Superweeds have become so prominent that the subject became a primary topic during a recent American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition, the largest science and industry society in the world. Some agriculture professionals note that the costs associated with battling weeds has doubled, and in some instances tripled, in recent years. During that same time span, crop yields have allegedly experienced significant declines.

New Survival Seed Bank™ Lets You Plant A Full Acre Crisis Garden!

“The problems associated with herbicide-resistant weeds are spreading and intensifying, especially weed species resistant to multiple products, including the mainstay of 21st century agriculture, the herbicide glyphosate,” said Bryan Young, Southern Illinois University Plant Soil and Agricultural Systems professor. “More than 200 individual weeds species have been confirmed resistant to at least a single herbicide, with infestations covering millions of acres in the United States and 60 other countries.”

Weed management near corn crops, he said, has become even more difficult due to the use of Roundup Ready-style herbicide-resistant weeds. The superweeds are growing more quickly than the crops they surround, and in most cases, the unwanted farm inhabitants are also larger in size than the edible and money-generating crops. Corn, and other crops, are forced to compete with superweeds for soil nutrients and moisture can’t be killed even with multiple rounds of Roundup.

The agribusiness industry is reportedly in the process of developing a new line of herbicides that will allegedly “sidestep” the resistance defenses of superweeds.

“The biotech industry is taking us into a more pesticide-dependent agriculture when they’ve always promised, and we need to be going in, the opposite direction,” Bill Freese of the Center for Food Safety said in 2010.

Although gardeners and farmers traditionally look at weeds as foes, Secret Garden of Survival author Rick Austin begs to differ.

The war against weeds makes no sense,” Rick Austin said told Off The Grid News. “The ‘weeds are bad and gotta be pulled’ argument is just plain wrong. The truth of the matter is that weeds are nature’s way of taking soil that is depleted and without ingredients and micro-organisms. Nature hates a vacuum. In the natural course of things, weeds are the first thing to go into an area that has been devastated after a fire or clear-cutting, for example. Weeds live and thrive when no other plants will. A difficult bare patch of soil with an annual crop like corn, needs the benefits of the natural role weeds play.

“Weeds are stronger and healthier, and try to take the crappy soil and turn it into something that other plants can use in the future. They break up soil that may be too hard or compact. They make the soil better and allow water to get into the ground. When people pull weeds, they are doing exactly the opposite of what they need to do to make the soil become more fertile. In permaculture, or a food forest, weeds are still flowering when everything else has gone. If you pull out the flowering weeds, then there is no reason for predatory wasps to show up. Pests are most attracted to crops without predators, like wasps nearby.”

© Copyright Off The Grid News

  1. Mess with Mother Nature and she will find some way extract revenge.

  2. timothy brandt MD

    This is called “evolution.” Nature is a dynamic balancing act. Every change must be counterbalanced by a reciprocal change. The slowest antelope must be faster than the fastest lion or it becomes a victim, erasing it’s genes from the pool. [BTW- this author completely misunderstands the concept of “superweed.” They’re not bigger & stronger, just resistant to the particular herbicide.]

    We shouldn’t stop using herbicides because resistance is increasing in the gene pool. We need to keep developing new herbicides. Use of herbicides increases yield, which means more food from fewer acres. That’s good for the environment where loss of habitat is the biggest problem facing the Natural World.

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Save Article Instructions

IAGC: Atlantic OCS seismic moot point without leasing

The International Association of Geophysical Contractors applauded the US Department of the Interior’s Mar. 28 announcement that it was beginning an assessment of possible environmental impacts from future seismic surveys on the South and Mid-Atlantic US Outer Continental Shelf. “Unfortunately, this announcement is anticlimatic, now that the [Obama] administration has removed any leasing along the Atlantic seaboard from now until 2017,” IAGC Pres. Chip Gill said.

Gill conceded that applications to conduct geophysical activity on the Atlantic OCS remain on file with the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, but added that they were the result of industry interest after congressional leasing moratoriums expired and presidential withdrawals were lifted in 2008.

“Geophysical contractors acquire nonexclusive geophysical data for license to the oil and gas industry as well as acquire it as a service to oil and gas companies,” Gill said. “Therefore, contrary to the statements [by US Interior Sec. Ken Salazar and BOEM Director Tommy P. Beaudreau], we do not expect seismic surveys to be conducted for years, and thus we don’t expect it to be available to help the federal government evaluate the resource base anytime soon.”

Gill also questioned Interior’s decision to limit activity to South and Mid-Atlantic OCS. “We continue to urge the administration to expand the scope of its environmental review to the North Atlantic Planning Area,” he said. “If [it] is not included, we hope the government will allow individual project-specific environmental assessments to go forward that will facilitate geological and geophysical operations [there].”

Contact Nick Snow at nicks@pennwell.com.

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Unit Petroleum to buy Anadarko basin assets from Noble Energy

Unit Corp. subsidiary Unit Petroleum Co. has agreed to buy oil and natural gas assets in the Anadarko basin from Noble Energy Inc. for $617 million.

The transaction involves properties in western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. The properties include Noble Energy’s interest in about 900 producing wells on 84,000 net acres.

Closing is expected in September, and the acquisition will have an effective date of Apr. 1, Noble Energy said. As of Apr. 1, net production was nearly 60 MMcfd of gas equivalent and net proved reserves were 250 bcf of gas equivalent. Production is 65% gas, 27% NGLs, and 8% oil.

David L. Stover, Noble Energy president and chief operating officer, said the sale is part of the company’s previously announced noncore divestiture plan.

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Make a donation to OHCHR

Human Rights Council – Universal Periodic Review

· The Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group concluded its 4th session this afternoon after having reviewed the fulfillment of human rights obligations in 16 States and adopting reports for each State review.

· During the two-week session, which began on 2 February, interactive discussions between the States under review and the Working Group, comprised of the 47 members of the Human Rights Council, and observers, were held during which a wide range of human rights issues were raised.

· Speaking at the close of the session, MARTIN IHOEGHIAN UHOMOIBHI (Nigeria), President of the Human Rights Council, who noted that with the conclusion of the 4th session the Human Rights Council had now reviewed the human rights records of 64 States, one-third of the way to reviewing the human rights records of all 192 UN member States. During this session, the Human Rights Council witnessed an exceptionally high number of interventions during the interactive dialogues. The high number of speakers and the high level delegations attending the reviews highlight once again the increasing importance the international community attaches to this process, he stated.

· The fourth group of States to have their human rights records reviewed under the UPR process were, in order of review: Germany, Djibouti, Canada, Bangladesh, the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, China, Nigeria, Mexico, Mauritius, Jordan and Malaysia.

· This afternoon, the Working Group also adopted, ad referendum, the reports on the Mexico, Mauritius, Jordan and Malaysia. All reports were prepared and presented by groups of three Council members, or troikas, who served as rapporteurs for each of the country reviews.

· Adoption of report on the Mexico: The three Council members serving as the troika for the report on Mexico are South Africa, Pakistan and Nicaragua. Introducing the report CARLOS ROBELO RAFFONE (Nicaragua) recalling that the report contained all the interventions made by delegations during the review, expressed full appreciation to Mexico for the excellent review and process it carried out. Representing the State under review LUIS ALFONSO DE ALBA, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations Office at Geneva, thanked all participating States as well as members of civil society for their valuable role in the UPR of Mexico. The OHCHR was also to be thanked for preparing the review process effectively. Dialogue and cooperation with all stakeholders enhanced the understanding of the progress made and challenges to be overcome to ensure the realization of human rights for all people. Mexico has benefited from this exercise, which not only took the form of the interactive dialogue but also continued through an encounter with NGOs and other human rights bodies on a meeting held on the same day of the Mexican review. Mexico, as of now, accepted the great majority of recommendations made and included in the report. Mexico was more convinced than every that this UPR process was able to contribute effectively to promote and protect human rights throughout the world.

· Adoption of report on the Mauritius: The three Council members serving as the troika for the report on Mauritius are Zambia, Malaysia and Slovakia. Introducing the report ANTON PINTER (Slovakia) thanked the delegation for its constructive cooperation and flexibility in the course of the preparation of the report. It was noted that the report was divided into three categories: the recommendations which enjoyed the support of Mauritius; those which will be examined by Mauritius; and those taken note and commented on. It was noted that Mauritius did not reject any recommendation. Representing the State under review, JAYARAMA VALAYDEN, Attorney General of Mauritius, said his delegation benefited greatly from the discussions this week and provided a good opportunity to evaluate the reaction of the international community to the efforts of the Government of Mauritius for the promotion and protection of human rights. Many of the recommendations made will prompt Mauritius to do even more for its citizens. The UPR process has illustrated that Mauritius remained committed to international human rights law and to providing its population with the highest level of civil and political rights, as well as economic, social and cultural rights.

· Adoption of report on the Jordan: The three Council members serving as the troika for the report on Jordan are Burkina Faso, Japan and Mexico. Introducing the report MABEL GOMEZ OLIVER (Mexico), after thanking the State under review and members of the troika for their participation drafting the report, said the report was a reflection of the discussions held during the interactive dialogue that took place on 11 February during which 53 delegations participated with comments, questions and recommendations. She then read out some oral amendments. The troika was convinced that the UPR process would bring positive results to Jordan. Representing the State under review, MUSA BURAYZAT, Director of the International Relations and Organizations Department and Director of the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Jordan, said his country was fully supported to the UPR and has helped increase awareness in Jordan of all human rights questions. The fact that the issue of the UPR had been ion the public agenda in Jordan had increased citizens’ awareness on the issues at hand. This general check up on human rights in the countries helped let the people know where the country stood and informed them of the obstacles to overcome. The UPR had made it possible for Jordan to engage with the international community in a constructive fashion. Jordan was grateful for having been afforded the opportunity to inform the international community not only of the commitment which existed at the highest political level but also the serious efforts the Government was undertaking and the tangible progress achieved in this regard.

· Adoption of report on the Malaysia: The three Council members serving as the troika for the report on Malaysia are Egypt, Qatar and Nicaragua. Introducing the report HISHAM BADR (Egypt) thanked the State under review and the OHCHR Secretariat staff for the work in preparing the report and then made some slight oral amendments. Representing the State under review, TAN SRI RASTAM MOHAMED ISA, Secretary-General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, said his country has benefited from the many constructive suggestions and recommendations. Malaysia has done its utmost to accept most of the recommendations mentioned in the report. The entire UPR process has been very beneficial to Malaysia. The process of preparing the UPR report gave Malaysia the opportunity to assess and reflect on its achievements and shortcomings in the promotion and protection of human rights in the country. The UPR had offered an environment of cooperation and consultation as envisaged by the Council in the creation of the process. While some may be disappointed with the process, the issues raised during the Malaysia review, for example, gave holistic consideration covering a wide range of issues in the areas of social, economic, cultural, civil and political rights.

· The next session of the UPR Working Group will take place from 4 to 15 May during which the next group of 16 States will have their human rights obligations reviewed. The States to be reviewed during the next session are, in order of review: Central African Republic, Monaco, Belize, Chad, Congo, Malta, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Chile, Viet Nam, Uruguay, Yemen, Vanuatu, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Comoros and Slovakia.

Additional information on the Universal Periodic Review mechanism can be located at the UPR webpage - http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/UPRMain.aspx. To access the webcast for the UPR session please visit http://www.un.org/webcast/unhrc/index.asp.

See also

UPR home

UPR Sessions

(search by country)

UPR implementation (information provided by States)

UPR Fund for Participation

UPR Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance

Calendar of reviews for 1st cycle
(2008 to 2011)

Calendar of reviews for the 2nd cycle
(2012 to 2016)

Background documents

Basic Facts about the UPR

NGOs and NHRIs

Contact information

Media information

Related links

UPR Extranet

Human rights in the world

External links

Feature stories

Feature stories


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Oh, You Hipster You And Your Wooden Handlebar

We feel that riding the hipster hate train is getting a little old. Not because we like them any more, but just because we get it already. So it’s with a little bit of nonchalance that we bring you news of what we would normally consider outrageous: £245 oak handlebars. Yeah, that’s about $387 for a wooden stick. Granted, it’s a very pretty stick, shaped properly and made to fit an over-sized (31.8mm) stem. Made by London-based Deer Runner, it is “crafted from 4mm plied oak oil treated for weather protection.” And the brakes? Hipsters don’t need no brakes, guys. They ride fixies, remember? That’s those bikes with just one gear and where deceleration is accomplished by pushing your feet in the opposite direction, in case you’re not familiar.

So yeah, $400 wooden handlebars. Hit the jump for more pictures and links.

[ Product Page ] VIA [ LikeCool ]

  • DavidPeachy

    Love the handlebars, and im sure if this is he feel and look you are going for the £245 would be money well spent. What happens if the handlebars split are they a laminate?


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Flashback: "Beverly Hills, 90210": "Pilot"

By admin Published: August 12, 2008

With the venerable Fox show getting a makeover in the coming season on The CW -- and with ongoing tales about the return of stars from the original series -- it seemed like a good time to revisit the original, one episode at a time. ...

I'll be watching episodes in order, starting with the two-part pilot. All viewing will be from the DVD releases, so I may not be saying much about music because of substitutions on video. (There's a scene in the pilot, for instance, where a spoken reference to music does not appear to fit the track being played.) You can also follow along via, which has episodes in its TV Classics area; Hulu also links to those.

So let's see how I can make this work.

"Pilot," Original airdate Oct. 4, 1990.

Synopsis: Minnesota twins Brenda and Brandon Walsh (Shannen Doherty, Jason Priestley) have moved to California and are juniors at West Beverly High School in Beverly Hills. Brandon is 30 seconds older than Brenda. Both were "achievers" in Minneapolis; Brandon worked for the school newspaper and was a cross-country star, while Brenda was in drama club, and both had good grade points. Brandon is a bit of a geek, with a monster-face alarm declaring "wake up." Brenda, meanwhile, is promptly pegged as the more socially conscious, obsessing over what she will wear to school; she asks to skip school to go shopping. She later explains to Brandon that this is her chance to start over, to "be somebody."

But they are not prepared for the upper-crust at West Beverly, represented at first by expensive cars. (When we see the faculty arrive a bit later, their cars are noticeably shabbier.) There are also indications that West Beverly has some racial diversity; two African-Americans in designer suits are seen walking across the campus, as are two young men in Arab garb. But the students we get to know in the pilot include Steve Sanders (Ian Ziering), the sports-car-driving ex-boyfriend of Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth), a pretty blonde who has just gotten a nose job and is more interested in nightclubbing than school. (Kelly's posse includes Donna Martin, played with no distinction by Tori Spelling.) Also, David Silver, a non-cool freshman who loves the idea of West Beverly, even though he and best friend Scott (Douglas Emerson) are out of the social elite. Also on the outside is Andrea Zuckerman (Gabrielle Carteris), who is smart -- editor of the school paper, the only one in Spanish class who actually knows Spanish -- but poor. The last big revelation in the pilot is that she is using a fake address to get to attend West Beverly. (Dylan McKay, Luke Perry's character, is not in the pilot.)

Brenda and Kelly meet and bond when Kelly keeps a fat girl from sitting with her in chemistry class -- by claiming the seat is saved for then-stranger Brenda. Brandon and Andrea, who has an almost immediate but unspoken crush on Brandon, meet through the newspaper. And Steve and David interact after Steve, drunk at a party, is driven home by David; even though David damages Steve's car, they reach detente. There are also notes about the Steve/Kelly past; she dumped him, but he insists that he dumped her and that she was "bad in bed."

The major plots in the pilot involve Brandon and Brenda facing Beverly Hills temptation. For Brandon, that takes the form of lonely rich girl Marianne Moore (Leslie Bega), while Brenda is drawn to handsome lawyer Jason Croft (Maxwell Caulfield).

Marianne is sexually aggressive with the virgin Brandon; he urges her to slow down, and she is grateful for someone who likes her for herself, not for sex. But when other students wonder if Brandon is getting after it with Marianne, he does not deny it, and the false story flies through the school -- even getting them declared "wild things" on the school's radio station.

Brenda, meanwhile, has met Jason after slipping into a club with fake ID; Kelly, who planned the club outing, is turned away at the door. Brenda pretends to be a college student. They keep dating, and Brenda's schoolwork suffers. But -- at Kelly's urging -- Brenda decides she has to confess, not least because she thinks she is in love with Jason, and she is ready to let him be her first sexual relationship. But when she does tell him that she is a 16-year-old high school junior, Jason is infuriated and takes Brenda home, shattering her dream of intimacy. After a teary (but hardly confessional) moment with her mom, Brenda gets back to work on her chemistry assignments.

Marianne, meanwhile, confronts Brandon over what people are saying about their relationship. Ashamed, he goes on the radio to declare that nothing happened between them. But when he asks Marianne to go out again, she declares that she is going to try to spend the evening alone -- and when he asks if they can go out later, she gives him a gentle "I'll call you." When trying to explain himself to Andrea, Brandon follows her home, learning her address secret but promising to keep it.

And so life begins at West Beverly.

Thoughts: I remember disliking this when it first aired, but it doesn't seem quite as bad now. Doherty and Priestley are pleasant enough. The much-joked-about age difference between actors and real high-school students, especially in the show's later years, is not so glaring here. Green and Spelling were 17 when the show premiered, Garth was 18, Doherty 19, Priestley 21. On the other hand, Zierign was 26 and Carteris was 29.

And, in the context of current TV and films, the "90210" pilot now looks a bit quaint, and surprisingly gentle. There are social standards -- the fat-girl scene, for one, and a hot party comes with the declaration of "no freshmen" -- but Brandon and Brenda slide into the system remarkably easily. And while the overall argument is that the Walsh kids are not Beverly Hills scale -- their shared car, for one thing, is shabby -- they can conveniently become well-heeled, especially when you look at Brenda's extensive wardrobe for her dates with Jason. The show also indicates that the Walsh parents (Carol Potter, James Eckhouse) are hands-on -- several discussions of curfew, including Mom asking Kelly about it, to Kelly's surprise -- in contrast to Kelly's laissez-faire mom and Steve's unseen, famous-actress mother; but curfew-breaking seems remarkably easy, and Pa Walsh is very little seen. As I said, there are nods to diversity -- including significant air time for the school's vice principal, who is African-American, and a black deejay on the school radio station -- but the core cast is still white.

-- Look for Oscar-nominated actor Djimon Hounsou, billed only as Djimon, as the club doorman who lets Brenda but not Kelly in.

-- Leslie Bega was a veteran of high-school series, having co-starred on "Head of the Class."

-- The reference to Brenda being in the drama club in Minnesota establishes a theatrical element in Brenda's life that will be revived in the new, CW "90210," where Brenda comes back to direct a school production.

-- Maxwell Caulfield also did the old-guy/young-woman thing as singer Rex Manning in "Empire Records." Creepier there, though. In real life, he is married to actress Juliet Mills, who is 18 years his senior.

-- "Marianne Moore" is also the name of a renowned poet.

Next up: "The Green Room," which introduces Dylan McKay.

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Yellow Stoneware Dog Bowl
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Yellow Stoneware Dog Bowl
 Price:  $34.95
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Yellow Stoneware Dog Bowl

Yellow Stoneware Dog Bowl Size Chart
Size Diameter Height Bowl Capacity
Medium 7 1/2" 2" 3 1/2 cups
Large 9" 2 1/2" 5 cups

Like liquid sunshine, this buttery warm retro dog dish is sure to brighten your morning routine! Made to the exacting standards of the J.A.Bauer Pottery company, from the 1880's, this unique bowl is perfect for every kitchen and every canine!

  • The Yellow Stoneware Dog Bowl is available in a 3 1/2 cup capacity medium or a full 5 cup large size!
  • Made from the highest quality stoneware, this bowl is almost too good to put on the floor!
  • Dishwasher safe!

Shipping Information:   This product will ship in 3-5 business days
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bon voyage

sweet anarchy

pink monday

11 Fun Facts About the Muse

In case you wanted to learn more about me...well, here it goes!

First, I must thank Diana from The World Around Her for tagging me in this awesome post. (Diana, you know you're one of my all-time faves!).
*FYI - you should read my answers...they're pretty good (toot, toot).

1. If you could meet anyone in the world, living or dead, who would that person be?
Is it weird if I say that I don't really want to meet anyone? What if I meet them and then they suck as a person and I'm forever disappointed? But if I have to answer, I suppose it would be cool to meet my mom back when she was like 26. I didn't know her then so I'd like to see what she was like when she was my age.

2. Why did you start blogging?
I get this one all the time. I started the Muse because I have a degree in journalism and no one wanted to pay me for it. So I started to write on here because this was an outlet where I could say whatever I wanted, and eventually it turned into this gorgeous fashion mecca that you see before you.(RHOA: Making it Rain)
3. If you became extremely rich by winning the lottery would you help people from your past that popped up again?
If I were extremely rich then I would definitely help relatives who popped up out of the blue. As far as ex-friends go, the jury is out on that one. I'd rather give the money to people who are deserving of it and who need it more. Honestly, I would just give it to the poor, my family, my close friends, and use the rest to pay bills so that the only thing I had to work on was my genius...aka, my blog.

4. From when we were little girls till we are grown women we dream of future baby names, what are some that you thought of?
I have a list...a long list, but I don't want to reveal them. Not because they are as crazy as Audio Science and Pilot Inspektor, but because I don't want any of you stealing them from me! I will tell you that my family has a tradition of giving their kids 'C' names so I'm definitely going that route.5. On that note, would you be upset if a friend took your future kid's name that you really loved and wanted to use if she had a baby first?
See! This is exactly what I was talking about in question #4. My friend can't take the name because she'll never hear it. But if for some reason she has the same name idea, then I will just quietly change the name I was thinking of and none would be the wiser.

6. Do you have any tattoos or would like to get any, if so what are they?
Yes and yes. I have 2 -- the first was senior year of college and it's a pisces symbol with hearts. The second was a year after I graduated college and it's butterflies on the back of my neck. I'd like to get a third down the right side of my torso--thinking about words instead of images this time. The hubs won't get a tattoo because he's afraid of needles. I mean, puked in a bucket when we first started going out, afraid.7. Are you obsessed or do you like to follow the life and career of any celebrities?
No. I don't have to elaborate, right? I mean, I think Ryan Gosling is gorgeous, and I would love to have his babies and name them Pilot Inspektor, but I'm not obsessed.

8. Do you collect anything; i.e. dolls, collectables, animal objects, etc?
I used to collect butterfly memorabilia until everyone found out that I did this and started to buy me all things butterflies for any special occasion. I have butterfly pajamas, bath towels, curtains, slippers, etc. It's intense. So I switched to all things Nightmare Before Christmas. Feel free to send me your Jacks & Sallys.

9. How many states have you been to, do you have a favorite other than the one you live in?
17. I live in California now, but I grew up in Florida so that state still holds a special place in my heart. I do find it interesting that when I look at my North America map, I don't have any pins in the middle America states. Am I missing out? There could be so much to see and do in South Dakota that I will never experience. If you're from middle America, please let me know and tell me all there is to do there.10. When you were little what was your dream career, has that come true or changed?
I think I wanted to be a singer when I was younger, specifically, Aaliyah. And no, that dream has not yet come true, although I do plan on putting up a video of me singing on YouTube some day. That seems to be the new way to get noticed in the industry. But I think I would rather be a magazine boss. Not an editor or an owner...just a boss. I want to be the person who tells other people at the fashion mag what to do without having to do anything myself. Maybe that is the editor.

11. Do you have any secret talents or quirks that you don't tell a lot of people about?
I can crack my wrists nonstop, but I tell everyone about that stupid human trick. Oh, and I can sing too. I can actually sing while cracking my wrists nonstop--it's amazeballs!
So did you learn anything interesting about me? I hope so, because I had a lot of fun writing this. If you want to answer 11 or so questions of your own, then please do. I'm tagging all the muses!

More Musings

35 musings

  1. These were fabulous..really fun to read!! Hope you have a great Monday! x

  2. I did learn more about you, and it was fun! :) I love reading these types of things.

  3. HAHA Cheryl! I learned a lot from this. What an awesome Pisces tatoo. I love C names also, so two thumbs up for you. LOL at the butterfly gifts. I LOVE Nightmare before Christmas. I listen to the soundtrack once a year. It's a classic. Mr. Oogey Boogey Man. HAHAHA Hey, I'm giving away a great necklace today. I know you can rock it. Why don't you enter? Also a cool iPad/Tablet case from Sharp Hill Designs (Saturday's post) Have a great week.

  4. I love getting to know more about you! It's always nice to learn about the person behind the blog. I feel like we would get along beautifully in person.

    Twitter: @GlamKitten88

  5. I can't believe you can crack your wrists! And I love that RHoA clip...good choice.

    Courtney ~ http://sartorialsidelines.com

  6. You have a dregree in journalism? Wow!! That's why your post are so well written! It's good to get you know better!
    Don't Call Me Fashion Blogger

  7. im loving the beautiful fashion mecca aslo known as OhToBeAMuse... and i also have a love for butterflies.I wanted to be Aaliyah too lol i used to walk around with a bandana, baggy jeans, and a tube top. I thought I was IT!
    cute interview!
    have a good start to ur week!

  8. Amazing post, darling!
    Love #2!

  9. I loved learning more about you

  10. hahah, LOVE #10, and the depiction of Wintour. I'd love to see your singing video! So great to read this fun list of fun facts. -xx Happy Monday!

  11. LOLZ...Cheryl, you should totally do a vid of you cracking your wrist and singing at the same time. Amazeballs indeedy!
    PS I love your tats too!

  12. Cracking wrists- never seen anyone doing that. Interesting post Cheryl

  13. This was sweet Cheryl I love reading new things about my fave bloggers.
    I love butterflies too and I have two butterfly tattoos too.

    You should totally upload a video of you singing just because you're Awesome!

  14. this is such a great post... love getting to know more about you!

  15. This was a great tag, it was so interesting learning all these things about you!

  16. This read was a lot of fun! It's so cool because I was able to answer a lot of these questions myself. Enjoyed this post :)

  17. I loved reading more about you. This is such a great tag. I think i might do it myself this week!

    Loving you answers and I have to agree, i think they are pretty good ;) hehe.

    Whats in my purse http://superficialsydney.blogspot.com.au/

  18. Great questions and answers! I was born in Minnesota and lived there till I was 10 and then grew up in Wyoming and moved out when I was 20. I have seen most of the middle/western states. There is so much to see from the Black Hills to Yellowstone! :)

  19. this is really a nice read. hehe

  20. Ah, I love having the chance to learn more about you, Cheryl! You feel the way about butterflies that I feel about owls! :)

  21. loved getting to know a little more about you!

  22. What a beautiful interview!! Love all your answers. :)

    Have a lovely day!

  23. And so I figured some more about my favorite fashion blogger <3 this was fun!
    alsooo, I miss you on my blogggg. How've you been? :)

  24. That was great fun reading. I wish to have a tattoo but my parents won't allow it :(

  25. I loved reading this!!!!!! So much fun!

  26. Hey Girl...I enjoy me some Gosling too! Haha!

  27. oh ym best friend and bf can click their wrists non stop too :p interesting tag :p

  28. This was so fun to read. Now I am curious what those "c" names are. I want to hear you sing!

    Kini Style & The Klury Report

  29. I love reading blogger's personal facts!
    I'm curious what the C names are too lol and I agree, YouTube has made people sensations (i.e. Justin Bieber).

  30. LOVEEE, so funny interview and says so much about u!! R. Gosling thing was the best!:D

  31. cheryl, it's always awesome learning more about our fellow bloggers. :)

  32. I always love to read these types of posts :)

  33. I totally love what you said about your mom. That's a really great person to meet.

  34. So I tagged you but some how never saw this post?!!! I love it, and guess what I have a Pisces tattoo too!

♥ Thank you all for leaving your comments! ♥ Remember to find inspiration in everything! ♥


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Online Highways Home > New Hampshire >

Search Bethlehem New Hampshire

Bethlehem is located in Grafton County, in the heart of the White Mountains. Once within the hunting range of the Native American Abenakis tribe, the town was chartered in 1774 as "Lloyd Hills." In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, the original grant had been lost and this lack of documentation proving clear title deterred early settlement. Nevertheless, in 1787 the first permanent houses were established. The town came to be known as "Bethlehem," for uncertain reasons, and was eventually incorporated on Christmas Day in 1799.

Play a round of golf at Bethlehem Country Club, visit neighboring Franconia or Franconia Notch State Park, or spend a quiet afternoon in the little town of Bethlehem.

Motels, Hotels and Resorts Baker Brook Cabins | Balmoral Inn | The Balmoral |
Shopping Mt. Agassiz Trading Company |

See more New Hampshire Cities and Towns.

07/29 Coming to The area
Taste of the Valley Plymouth NH March21 Experience all of your favorite local flavors. Several restaurants from the region will be there hoping to win your vote in the "Best in Show" competition.
Seacoast Home and Garden Show Durham NH March23-24 The 19th annual show features more than 225 exhibitors showcasing the latest products and services for your home.
Green Mountain Film Festival Montpelier VT March22-31 Culture reigns at the Green Mountain Film Festival, featuring powerful programming on a wide range of subjects, interesting and often unexpected guests, and a convivial atmosphere.
Vermont Maple Festival St Albans VT April26-28 Pancake breakfast and maple buffet, the annual “Sap Run” race, exhibits and sugarhouse tours, antiques, crafts, cooking demonstrations, youth talent, fiddlers’ shows, and a Grand Parade featuring teen “Maple Ambassadors.”
Lethal Beauty: Samurai Weapons and Armor Manchester NH March17-May5 A display at the Currier Museum of Art shows the striking duality of deadly weaponry and artistic beauty from the Samurai culture of centuries past.
New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival Deerfield NH May11-12 Each year the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival lines up a wide variety of presenters to help educate the public on everything sheep or wool related. Your family can take advantage of the many activities taking place throughout the weekend.


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  • News / Press Releases

Search Press Releases

  1. OCU Student Earns Honor Society Fellowship

    Wednesday, July 8
  2. OCU, Youth Orchestra Partner on New Conductor

    Thursday, June 25
  3. Creative Writing Program Hosts Summer Readings

    Thursday, June 25
  4. OCU Earns National Honor for Community Service

    Tuesday, June 16
  5. OCU Mourns the Loss of Michael Schafer

    Thursday, June 11
  6. OCU Named Oklahoma’s ‘Hidden Gem’ College

    Tuesday, May 26
  7. Film Professor Releases Book on Japanese Director

    Thursday, May 21
  8. Private Investor Joins OCU Board

    Wednesday, May 20
  9. OCU Hosts Great Plains Tuba Convention, May 21-23

    Wednesday, May 20
  10. ‘Bachelor’ Host Promotes New Book in OKC

    Tuesday, May 19
  11. Film Festival Director Featured in Lunch Presentation

    Monday, May 18
  12. Inasmuch Foundation Grant Completes OCU Chemistry Lab Funding

    Tuesday, May 12
  13. Student Accepted to Teach For America

    Friday, May 8
  14. Two OCU Alumnae Earn Tony Nominations

    Wednesday, April 29
  15. Commencement Features BancFirst VP

    Tuesday, April 28
  16. OCU Commencement

    Wednesday, April 15
  17. OCU Brings "Brigadoon" to the Stage April 24 to 26

    Tuesday, April 14
  18. TheatreOCU Remembers OKC Bombing Through Art

    Wednesday, April 8
  19. Powerful Prose Examines Powerful Surveillance

    Monday, April 6
  20. Music Professor Releases Seasonal Hymn Series

    Wednesday, April 1
  21. APRIL FOOL: OCU Introduces New Menu for Cafeteria

    Wednesday, April 1
  22. Documentary Series Hears 'Stories We Tell' - 3-31

    Tuesday, March 31
  23. Visiting Artist to Host Spring Landscape Painting Course

    Monday, March 30
  24. OCU Hosts Summer Camp for High School Writers

    Friday, March 27
  25. Kyle Dillingham, Horseshoe Road Return to OCU for Friday Concert

    Wednesday, March 25
  26. OCU Hosts Relay For Life Fundraiser

    Tuesday, March 24
  27. Business Professor Featured in CardHub Study

    Friday, March 13
  28. Faculty Talent Fosters Special Event

    Thursday, March 12
  29. Professor Writes Book about Children in Bible

    Monday, March 9
  30. OCU Opens Student Art Exhibit

    Thursday, March 5
  31. OCU Hosts Exercise Pioneer Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper

    Thursday, March 5
  32. Documentary Series Seeks to Build Bridges

    Tuesday, March 3
  33. OCU to Present Nero-Inspired Opera, March 6-8

    Monday, March 2
  34. OCU Ranked Top School for Finance and Accounting

    Monday, March 2
  35. OCU Presents 'Pirates of Penzance' Feb. 27-March 1

    Wednesday, February 25
  36. President Henry Joins iCivics Board

    Wednesday, February 25
  37. Book Discussion Ends with Family Problems

    Wednesday, February 25
  38. Arbor Day Foundation Honors OCU with Tree Campus USA Recognition

    Wednesday, February 25
  39. Film Series Concludes with 'Ilo Ilo'

    Monday, February 23
  40. Playwright to Attend Work's State Premiere at OCU

    Friday, February 20
  41. OCU Organizes Tour of Germany

    Friday, February 13
  42. OCU Societies to Honor Four at Awards of Excellence

    Thursday, February 12
  43. Book Discussion Calls on 'Roy Rogers'

    Thursday, February 12
  44. OCU Hosts Open Houses for Nursing, Business and Grad School

    Thursday, February 12
  45. Film Series Has Literary Obsession

    Monday, February 9
  46. Film Series Offers 'A Touch of Sin'

    Monday, January 12
  47. News / Press Releases

    Saturday, June 22


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Find better matches with our advanced
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26 Cork, Ireland Man

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I’m looking for

  • Women
  • Ages 24–32
  • Near me
  • Who are single
  • For new friends, long-term dating, short-term dating

My details

Last online
Jul 19
6′ 2″ (1.88m)
Body Type
Mostly anything
Virgo, but it doesn’t matter
Graduated from high school
Rather not say
Doesn’t have kids, but might want them
Likes dogs and likes cats
English (Fluently)
My self-summary
Write a little about yourself. Just a paragraph will do.
I am a little strange... I figure that is a good way to start, that way you are prepared :p

I am from London originally, I moved over to Cork in 2008 for my job, and I love it here too much to leave!

I am very laid back, and open to answer any questions so if there is anything here that is not covered that you want to know, just ask :)

I am getting to the point now where I want to start settling down and finding a nice girl to spend the evenings with, whether that is reading books, watching movies, going out for the night, or even something new and different!

I am a geek at heart, it's true!
What I’m doing with my life
Don’t overthink this one; tell us what you’re doing day-to-day.
Working a full time job, and working with online communities in my spare time.
I’m really good at
Go on, brag a little (or a lot). We won’t judge.
Listening. It is a skill that some people that lost but it is something that I am happy to say I still have. There is not a lot of other stuff that I am good at I don't think.
The first things people usually notice about me
I’m an empty essay… fill me out!
I would have to say my eyes...
Favorite books, movies, shows, music, and food
Help your potential matches find common interests.
I haven't read nearly as many books as I should have, which is a shame, but that's how it is. I am playing catch up, and I will get around to it. I really enjoy reading books by William King (also a few other authors for the 40k universe), Dan Brown, J K Rowling and probably others too!

I am pretty much the same with movies as I am with books, I am still playing catch up on a lot of movies that I have not seen. I like comedy and action films most of all, but I am open to watch anything really. I am quite a big James Bond fan, so I enjoy watching those, some of my other favourites are Fight Club, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The A Team, Lord of the Rings to name a few.

I don't watch a lot of TV, but I do like watching Family Guy, American Dad, 30 rock, Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother and things like that.

As for music, I love music. I will quite literally listen to anything, I have a very varied taste in music too, listening to anything from Skrillex right through to Barry White and everything in between. I also play a little bit of guitar, and I can also play the piano.
The six things I could never do without
Think outside the box. Sometimes the little things can say a lot.
I spend a lot of time thinking about
Global warming, lunch, or your next vacation… it’s all fair game.
All sorts of things. The most common is replaying conversations and thinking about how differently they would have gone if I had said something else.
On a typical Friday night I am
Netflix and takeout, or getting your party on — how do you let loose?
Relaxing after a long week at work!
The most private thing I’m willing to admit
I’m an empty essay… fill me out!
I always wear odd socks... Always.

Oh and I listen to some really bad music... Like... Really bad.
You should message me if
Offer a few tips to help matches win you over.
You are looking for a down to earth guy who is caring and happy to sit and talk to you for hours about anything, everything and nothing at all.


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Find better matches with our advanced
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30 Singapore, Singapore Man

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I’m looking for

  • Women
  • Ages 23–28
  • Near me
  • Who are single
  • For new friends, long-term dating, short-term dating

My details

Last online
Yesterday – 5:49am
5′ 6″ (1.67m)
Body Type
Virgo, but it doesn’t matter
Graduated from university
Rather not say
English (Fluently), Chinese (Fluently)
My self-summary
Write a little about yourself. Just a paragraph will do.
Just a simple person. Being active outdoors, and staying indoors/at home are equally appealing to me. I'm content with a simple life, yet I also look forward to new experiences or thrills.
What I’m doing with my life
Don’t overthink this one; tell us what you’re doing day-to-day.
Figuring out and focusing on the important things in life, while juggling my day job. There is still so much to learn and experience and contribute, but I will take one small step at a time. Seeking to improve myself in fitness, knowledge, skills etc, and taking small steps to give back to society. I consider myself fortunate that my job is able to support my pursuits in some ways.

Taking a break from time to time by traveling. I'm starting with small travels around Asia, prioritizing the more adventurous pursuits while I am still relatively fit and commitment-free. Not that I'm into extreme adventure sports, but just enough to venture off the beaten paths..
I’m really good at
Go on, brag a little (or a lot). We won’t judge.
Reading maps & remembering places (I rarely get lost)
Counting in different languages (Well, useful for travels when paying or bargaining)
Picking up basics for new skills (If only I have the time, patience, or discipline to master them all)
Taking candid shots (Be careful if you find me with my camera)
Figuring out ways to do things better or differently (I'm just lazy, so being efficient helps)
Keeping to beats and rhythm for any music
The first things people usually notice about me
I’m an empty essay… fill me out!
It could be the same bag I always use, or the polo-tee I'm always wearing, or the camera I'm always bringing around.
Favorite books, movies, shows, music, and food
Help your potential matches find common interests.
The 7 Powers of Question, by Dorothy Leeds - probably one of the books which have influenced my life most.

The Guru Investor / The New Buffetology / Rich Dad Poor Dad

Sitcoms, such as "How I Met Your Mother"
Running Man
Travel documentaries on Channel 8/U - there is one almost everyday.
The six things I could never do without
Think outside the box. Sometimes the little things can say a lot.
Family & Friends
Camera (to capture moments around me)
Bicycle (to get around places, be it for daily commute or leisure rides)
Delicious Food (after riding)
Exercise (after eating)
Rest/Sleep (after exercise and everything else)
I spend a lot of time thinking about
Global warming, lunch, or your next vacation… it’s all fair game.
What is the kind of person I want to be? What are the life I want to lead? How can I get to my goals?

How do things work? How can things be done differently?
On a typical Friday night I am
Netflix and takeout, or getting your party on — how do you let loose?
chilling somewhere with good food (hawker food works for me too); or visiting the gym to make up for sessions missed in the week; or
resting at home after a long working week;
The most private thing I’m willing to admit
I’m an empty essay… fill me out!
I can perform mental calculations pretty well, having picked up from abacus classes ago long when I was young.. At least, it is useful for my day job, and splitting bills.

I may be a workaholic, though sometimes not by choice, but I will always make time for what's important in life to me.
You should message me if
Offer a few tips to help matches win you over.
You are positive, supportive and sincere as those are what I bring to relationships which I value.

You are someone who does not mind giving back, and can also be content with the simpler pleasures in life. Of course, you deserve to be pampered too.

You share an interest for traveling. A bonus if you enjoy the outdoors too. You don't mind dealing with the unexpected, or sometimes unstructured trips.

Or if you simply wish to chat. I try to be a good listener.