Invisible L.A.

Charlton Heston was president of the National Rifle Association from 1998 to 2003. He delivered an historic address concerning 2nd Amendment Rights to Keep and Bear Arms saying “I have only five words for you: From my cold, dead hands.” Heston added: “You are of the same lineage as the farmers who stood at Concord Bridge” at the start of the American Revolution.

Heston starred in classic science fiction films and disaster films between 1968 and 1975 including Planet of the Apes (1968), Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), Soylent Green (1971), The Omega Man (1973), Earthquake (1974), and Airport (1975).

Charles Heston starred in sucessful western, action and historical films in the 1950s and 1960s.

Heston made a cameo appearance in the 2001 remake of Planet of the Apes. In the film, he plays a chimp who introduces arms to his species by giving a pistol to his son, General Thade.

His last film role was an uncredited appearance as the voice of nobleman in Shrek 2 (2004) .

In 1944, enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces. He served for two years as a B-25 radio operator/gunner stationed in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands with the Eleventh Air Force as a Staff Sergeant.

Dominicana Cigars has officially launched Cigars to the Stars(TM) and their newest addition to their Cigar Catering(R) service featuring on-site Cigar Rollers and Cigar Servers for special events. Cigars to the Stars(TM) events are similar to consumer promotions however, they are catered to the luxury of red carpet celebrity events.

An event for Fox 24 including the producers and the show’s cast enjoyed a Red Carpet event at trendy Les Deux in Hollywood. Cigars were hand rolled for everyone. Another cigars event was rolled out at the Playboy Mansion in last August.

The company prefers to work with high end event planners and is selective in what events they will cater to. CF Dominicana Cigars is introduced to new cigar lovers at every party, wedding, anniversary, red carpet event and celebrity function.

CF Dominicana Cigars
Phone: 888.467.8400
Fax: 917.386.2686
Available Mon - Fri from 10am to 9pm ET, 9 to 6pm PT. Sat/Sun from 10 to 4pm ET, 9 to 2 PT

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP has announced that Bill Peters has joined the Los Angeles office as a partner. Peters is recognized as one of the top outsourcing lawyers in the country. He was formerly a partner with O’Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles, where he served as co-chair of that firm’s Transactional Intellectual Property Practice.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher practices in corporate transactions, labor and employment, litigation, public policy, real estate, and tax. The firm has about 900 lawyers and 14 offices, including Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., Orange County, San Francisco, Palo Alto, London, Paris, Munich, Brussels, Dubai, Century City, Dallas and Denver.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
333 S. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90071-3197
+1-213-229-7000 (Phone)
213-229-7520 (Fax)

Best Picture
Michael Clayton

Best Director
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen - No Country for Old Men

Best Actor
Johnny Depp - Sweeney Todd

Best Actress
Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Best Supporting Actor
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Charlie Wilson’s War

Best Supporting Actress
Ruby Dee - American Gangster

Best Original Screenplay
Diablo Cody - Juno

Best Adapted Screenplay
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen - No Country for Old Men

The issue at large about the beef that the processing company Hallmark Meat Co. and their distrubuter Westland had provided was that many of the cows were downed cattle. The downed cattle pose health risks or pose a higher risk of contamination of E. Coli, Salmonella or mad cow disease. The downed cows wallow in feces and their immune systems are low and or weak, hence picking up such diseases.

The USDA is investigating into the issue along with Senator Diane Feinstein of California. The USDA has suspended the operations of Westland and Hallmark until the federals have completed a full investigation. Jack In The Box, the fast food chain is also affected by the downed cows and has stopped taking orders from the companies.

I am so psyched and ready for this concert. Especially to hear from Aretha and her thoughts on the faux pa that Beyonce did at the Grammys. Beyonce and Tina Turner did a duet and Beyonce referred to Tina Turner as “The Queen”. Tsk, Tsk, Tsk. It now has sounds of some kittens hissing and lionesses roaring in this little tit for tat.

Can I say wow and wow again. OK, ok. So there are many diva’s that are in their own right. But there are only a handfull that actually hold such honorable titles and never to be passed off to other divas. Can I say that Aretha is truely the “Queen of Soul”.

Now if you are wondering if I am dissing Tina. I am soooooooo not. Her sounds are original, classy, soothing and classic. But would see Tina’s music more on the lines of classic rock than soul. So two seperate music genre’s and two different diva’s that hold their own. And never ever can be compared. EVER. Tina the “Diva”(BTW - your still hot looking in your 60’s) and Aretha the true “Queen”.

But the only reason I can go is that I found a place where I am pretty much paying for 2 tickets for 1. The tickets are going for $55 - $85. I was able to get the 2 tickets for about $65 through a program that I am with called Gold Star Events. Which provides discounted tickets to local concerts, plays, events, operas, ballets, comedy shows, sporting events. Even Vegas shows. You can find tix for such events in major cities such as Seattle, New York City, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Fransico, Boston, D.C and Las Vegas. I have used them for a few things already and love it. Many of the tickets I get are anywhere between 10% to 50% off regular ticketed price.

So off I go to get ready. Cause I soooo R - E - S - P - E - C - T ‘ya Aretha. All praises to thee

Govenor Schwarsneggar unvieled the program at 9:45 AM. Where only a select few attendees(less than 30 people) met with the California Govenor. And at 12:00 PM there was a News Conference held to discuss and introduce more of the program to the public.

If I can’t make it to “Little Saigon”(Westminister), Alhambra or El Monte for this delicious soup. Than I go to local Pho’ restaurant near where I live. Pho 2000. They have several locations. The one I would frequent moved due to the high rise condos being built on Western and Wilshire. So I go to Pho’ 2000 other location which is on Vermont and 7th. It isn’t as busy as the Western and Wilshire location when it was opened. But nonetheless, is a good place to get a deceint bowl of your favorite type of Pho’.

Pho’ is a basic broth and noodle soup. One may have ox tail, steak or seafood as the meat of choice. When the bowl of soup arrives to you at the table, you smell the fragrance of the broth, meat, onions, anise seed, ginger and nuc mum(fish sauce). You may add some additional things that the waiter/waitress brings to your table. Usually, you may fresh sweet basil, green chile and bean sprouts. Some others may offer cilantro and thinely sliced onions as well. As far as condiments go, one may hoisen(a sweet thick soybean sauce), nuc mum(fish sauce) and siracha chili sauce. My favorite Pho’ is the Pho’ Tai, than the Pho’ Chicken, than the Oxtail.

I also do like ordering on ocassion the egg rolls with romaine lettuce and nuc mum dipping sauce.I also like ordering the “Bun Thit Nuong and Cha Gio”. Which is grilled pork chop, egg rolls and vermicilli noodles. For those who are crazy about coffee, I would recommend drinking the cafe’ su da. Which is the Vietnamese Iced Coffee. Patience is the key with this drink. It is recommended to order the coffee at the time of your pho’ order. By the time you are finished with the soup, the coffee would have finished dripping into you coffee cup from the Vietnamese coffee maker. At the bottom of the cup is a spoonful of condensed milk. Once you have the amount of coffee. Stir and add the coffee mixture to your glass of ice and stir again to get the full taste.

Having Pho’ is a wonderful dish to experience. If you ever get a chance to sample or eat some. Go for it. It is worth the taste and experience.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has been on strike since, November 5, 2007. The current strike of the 2007 -2008 season has been going on for 13 weeks and 4 days as of February 8, 2008. And it is estimated that the strike has cost the economy in the ball park figure of $1 Billion dollars to date. There are over 12,000 writers who have joined the strike. And as side note the WGA has contract negotiations every 3 years.

The last writers strike was in 1988. Lasting 21 weeks and 6 days. And costing the economy about $500 million dollars(about $870 million in 2007 money).

Once the strike has been settled, only a few shows will remain. Many of them either cancelled permanently or to be picked up next season. So many disappointments to many of the viewers of many television shows. A handful will be picked up for next season while others have either been axed or doom is looming over. Many of the shows have aired their remaining written shows that were written and filmed prior to the November 5, strike. Here is a list of shows that have a few remaining weeks to be seen before the end of the season.

The writers strike is against, Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents 397 American film and television producers. Some of the most influential companies out of the AMPTP are: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer(MGM), NBC Universal, News Corp/Fox, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, the Walt Disney Company, and Warner Brothers.

Of course one of the many reasons to the writers strike is the residuals due them from DVD sales. Some of the other reasons due to the strike is union jurisdiction over animation and reality tv show writers. And of course last, but not least compensation from usage of the writers work being used via the internet. Such as through Youtube or other such internet outlets.

The major part of the strike maybe resolved, but with a few strings still needing to be tied up on the smaller issues between the AMPTP and the WGA. So keep your fingers crossed that the WGA can get the 12,000+ writers back to work. And for all of America’s favorite shows to get back on the tube/tv.

So how are you going to vote? Who are going to vote for? Do you know about any of the current presidential candidates and what they stand for? Do you know about any of the propositions and measures? So get out and research. Than go to your designated polling place and vote.

You may also find out which Presidential Candidates were certified to be on the current 2008 California Primaries at the California Gov page for elections.

You may find a list of the current propositons at California’s Voter Guide. There are 7 Propositions which are 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96 and 97.

Proposition 91: Transportation Funds

Proposition 92: Funding, Governance, Fees For Community Colleges

Proposition 93: Term Limits For Legislators In Office

Proposition 94 - Proposition 97: Amendment To Indian Gaming Compact
Proposition S (Los Angeles)

If you need to find out where your polling place is to vote in Los Angeles, you may visit LA Vote.
Or call the following phone numbers to find out. (800) 815-2666 (Local Callers Only) or (562) 466-1310