Many of us in L.A. have never stopped for a minute to make human contact with our neighbors. I’m not even talking about the kind of neighbor that lives in the house next door to you (although it’s pretty pathetic that we don’t even know them, either!), I’m talking about the homeless guy that you see every day and try and ignore.

When was the last time you stopped and realized that there was a real person there?

A few weeks ago, I finally decided to stop someone that I have seen all the time for the last six years, but didn’t even know his name. Take a look and see what I found out…

see you on the freeway

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NCIS Los Angeles (Naval Criminal Investigative Service: Los Angeles) is a new series which is programmed to premier on September 22, 2009. This is a Television series about American police bureaucrats. The show will be broadcast at 9.00 PM on CBS. This Drama series is a spin-off of NCIS. NCIS was itself a spin-off of another drama series of CBS, JAG. NCIS: Los Angeles will be broadcast just after the seventh season series of NCIS. The story of this sequel also revolves around the fictional squad of special agents from the NCIS. The team oversees the criminal investigations which includes corps of both US Navy and Marine.

When it was in production, it was named as NCIS: Legend, NCIS: OSP and NCIS: Undercover. The name, NCIS: Legend was referred to the episode to which the spin-off was done. The filming of the series was started in February 2009 and the characters of the new series were introduced in the two part episode of NCIS which was titled Legend. The first part of that episode was televised on April 28, 2009.

The lead casting of the Los Angeles NCIS show is Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J. Chris is playing the role of Callen, a perplexing lead agent whose talent is prodigy for concealed work. The character Sam Hanna, a special agent, is played by Cool J. According to the story; Sam has command on Arabic and a whiz on Middle Eastern culture. Daniela Ruah and Adam Jamal Craig will be seen regularly in the series as the junior field agents. The characters they are playing is Kensi and Dominic respectively. Rocky Carroll and Barrett Foa will give recurring guest appearances.

Courtesy: Los Angeles NCIS

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Hey, gang, I just put my 15 year old on the plane in Burbank this afternoon and *whew!*, life resumes it’s normal pace again and I can (finally) get back to blogging.

Meanwhile, over the last few weeks, I have been busy taking some great cellflix that I will be sharing with you over the next few days.

Right now, though, I want to give you something to “chew” in (no pun intended), a short (and growing!) list of cool websites that give you the scoop on what you need to know in Los Angeles. Please feel free to add to this list in the comments section.

1. Apartment Therapy L.A. everything you need to know about decorating your space, great stores, great suggestions, great finds, all in the LA style. I never knew I cared so much, but I am an addict now!

2. BargainsLA.comas they call themselves: The Premiere Bargain Hunting, Bargain Shopping & Sample Sales Guide to the Los Angeles Area!

I found this site through Apartment Therapy LA. You can sign up for Suzanne’s bargain tips on everything from bargain shopping for furniture, electronics, pet supplies and more! This is a treasure trove of information for the bargain hunter.

3. Daily Candy LA wanna know what’s hip, what’s happening, what’s hot? Sign up for this daily tip and you will be THERE! (along with the 150K+ others who are on the list). Whether you are a service, have a product or a storefront, one small mention in Daily Candy, and you are ‘in like Flynn’. (note the old Hollywood reference)

4. Chowhound’s LA message board leave the restaurant reviews to the reviewers and check out what the real people are saying about the chow in your neck of the woods.

5. Metroblogging Los Angeles- a sort of portal of a variety of L.A. bloggers. Most of them seem to be hip 20-somethings, but I met Heather from heathervescent last summer at the BlogHer conference in San Jose, drinking bright purple-rimmed ‘Yahootinis’ by the pool, so I feel a warmth for her blogging. Check it out, it’s an interesting look at what is happening from many different perspectives. ok, so maybe not so different, but in different voices for sure.

(hey, speaking of BlogHer, the blogging conference that had over 700 WOMEN in attendance last year, will be having it’s business version in NYC in March and yours truly is thinking of showing up. My dad will be out of town and so I would have his delightful 32nd floor apartment all to myself. yes.)

see you on the freeway

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The important thing to note is that Medical Marijuana is approved in California, so much so that patients who reside here no longer suffer from chronic pain associate with some of the otherwise critical illness that other persons throughout the world suffer with, and if they do they still have one other option that probably the rest of the world does not. The remarkable thing about this is that here in California since Marijuana use is legal, doctors here prescribe the drug for many patients and in doses that can be altered according to the severity of the condition, here in California there are not restricted by guidelines nor just restricted to prescribing a substitute, the only limitations faced here are faced by the authorities who have to determine whether person grow the drug for medicinal purposes or recreational ones – and even that has been made simple as there are institutes here who specialize in prescribing this drug as a natural course of their treatment program and for patients of institutes such as these they are actually given identification card.

Whilst it had been hoped, that by now after some 40 years, the plant would have been accepted globally for it’s remarkable medicinal use against Chronic Pain, Aids Related illness, Mood Disorders, Wasting Syndromes, Chronic Muscle Plasticity and Intractable Nausea, the important thing to note is that is has not been accepted.

Whilst it had been hoped, that by now after some 40 years, the plant would have been accepted globally for it’s remarkable medicinal use against Chronic Pain, Aids Related illness, Mood Disorders, Wasting Syndromes, Chronic Muscle Plasticity and Intractable Nausea, the important thing to note is that is has not been accepted.

What more could the Federal Government need as proof, they themselves have done their own research and produced their own reports yet still all they are willing to allow is a substitute, that does not do as much as using the plant it self, it is widely noted that persons who use the pill complain that it does not work as effectively and that they still suffer quite enormously, it has already been proven that this drug is less toxic than most pharmaceutical drugs in current use, that said – one wonders what is the important thing to note here, why it is not being allowed or is it that it is being allowed but slowly and cautiously.

In California these question are no longer and issue and Medical Practitioners here swear by the drugs prolific healing powers and are moving full steam ahead, patients here also swear by it’s healing powers for want of a better description and have chosen in many instances to grow the plant themselves – the important thing to note is why then does the rest of the country need to put together petitions in order to ask the Federal government to grant them use of the drug not just by themselves as they maybe suffers of Chronic pain but they have seen it necessary to even rally the support of the families, relatives and love ones as they try to win this battle, the simple solution would be to uproot and move the California, but the right solution which of course is the important thing to note is to fight for equal rights and justice for all.

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For the better part of more than four decades, there has been a War raging between Medical practitioners and the Federal Government, with the only casualties being the patients that continue to suffer -In almost every part of the county except for California many doctors have become frustrated with the mere fact that as practitioners they cannot prescribe a safe and reliable cure – The most significant or unbelievable factor, is that, there is to date no historical data that proves marijuana has ever been administered in a fatal dose – if this is a fact then it begs us to ask the responsible question as to why do we still have persons who continue to suffer, especially since the drug is less toxic than most pharmaceutical drugs in current use, and is certainly helpful for some patients, including those with wasting syndromes, chronic muscle plasticity and intractable nausea.

In 1999, a report commissioned by the White House, proved what has already been stated above. Medical practitioners in California are probably the only ones seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, since there is no state regulation or standard for the cultivation and/or distribution medical marijuana, and in some areas within California there is an allowance of up to 99 plants – giving physician the ability not to just prescribe the use of the drug but prescribe more in exceptional cases, there is yet still some hope for some as there is also a substitute available that may aid some but for chronic suffers the cry remains the same, the substitute does not work as effectively as the plant itself.

Reports coming out of California show that the top medical uses of the drug are as follows:
• 40% Chronic Pain
• 22% AIDS-Related
• 15% Mood Disorders
• (23% All other categories)

This leaves law enforcement with only one issue where the drug is concerned and that is differentiating whether or not a person possesses the drug for medical or recreational purposes.
In 1968 Medical Practitioner thought, that this plant was well on it way to being established as a plant for medical use some five years after they initially indicated what it can do – but some 40 years later – Medical Practitioners in California seem to be the only one’s who have been successful – in case you did not know after the passage Compassionate Use Act 1996 – Proposition 215 it is now legal for patients to speak with their physician regarding the use of medical marijuana, the good news is that for patients in California they have found the cure for their chronic pain, and suffering with certification going as far as the issuance id card for patients using the drug and full support for California medical centers established solely for this purpose – all other as person especially desperately ill people are left as at 2002 – with the support of their friends, families and loved ones to deliver a case in order to petition the government not to deprive, them of medicine that relieves their suffering.

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The oomph factor destined to celebrities is surely not gifted. The reason behind the glamorous look of the celebrities is an invisible diet and work out schedule which makes them appear sensational on the screen. But have we ever wondered how the celebrities maintain such great figure?

The secret behind it is the low calorie diet. This low calorie diet keeps the celebrities in the limelight for long time. The Atkins diet has become a popular celebrity diet, which emphasizes on low carbohydrates diet with high proteins.

Celebrities never compromise or miss their workout schedules. It is a well known fact that a celebrity’s career depend upon the on screen charisma and the radiance and sparkle that they reflect when shot for a magazine cover or model on tube. An inside secret that got revealed in a recent interview of a celebrity was that many of the celebrities today are following Sensa diet plan which makes them hold their gradual but inevitable aging process for a longer tenure.

The 5-Factor Diet is another popular plan that actors such as Jessica Simpson, Mandy Moore, Eva Mendes, Alicia Keys, John Mayer, Kanye West have used to keep fit. The 5-Factor Diet is a simple diet based on common sense. Each meal should include the 5 basic food groups of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, fat, and fluid. A Los Angeles Celebrity like Eva Mendes an American actress of Cuban descent born in Miami, Florida come were raised in homes having a rich tradition of ethnic cuisine. Cuban food such as the Cuban Sandwich and the side orders of white rice with black beans (arroz moros), tostones (fried green plantains), fried yucca or sweet potatoes, and red beans are high in carbohydrates and it’s fine to eat the comfort foods in moderation. That’s where the 5-Factor plan helps celebrities with a hectic schedule.

Certain celebrities opt for whole grain diet or diet including cereals, vegetables and fruits. They may also go for yoga and meditation to be in shape. A strict diet plan is not a compulsion but intake of fruits and salads is always recommended by the nutritionists.

Due to hefty work schedules the celebrities usually do not get ample time to sleep. Other natural methods to maintain weight too get ousted due to regular page 3 parties and necessary presence in the social ambit. Thus following a Sensa diet celebrities manage to get the required nutrients and vitamins which make them glow and appear pleasing at any hour of the day.

The rejuvenation of the body and the mind is achieved through the massages at the spas. The celebrities also have a personal trainer who helps them in getting a good toned and fit body. Self-denial from the dairy foods is the fad among many of the celebs. Having the meals at home is diet tip given by the celebrities. Therefore, if you want to achieve the figure of your favorite celebrity then you should surely follow a diet plan which comprise of a healthy diet and a regular workout.

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I am an avid reader of blogs— I have to be, as a blogger– but also, it’s my passion to find out what’s going on. It used to be I would read bullitin boards and the local free newspapers around where I lived or was visiting to find out what was happening, but now I can do it in my P.J.s. and I like that.

So, last week, when I got an update from one of the myriad of food blogs in L.A. (I wish I could remember which one) and they were talking about a new concept in dining that is sweeping the country; underground restaurants, I knew I was in!

There’s a lot of snobbery and dissing of these roving eateries in the food review world, but I was curious and wanted to see what it was all about, to judge for myself. So I called my friend Anne Block, who is a fabulous tourguide in L.A. and beyond, and owner of Take My Mother Please* custom tours (and who by the way, will be one of my regular guest bloggers on this site) and said, “let’s go!”. She was in, too. She’s like that.

I didn’t know where to start looking, but as it turns out, The Ghetto Gourmet, normally based out of San Francisco, was holding an event every night this week in Los Angeles. We signed up right away at the reasonable cost of $42.00 and made our battle plan for the evening.

What is an underground restaurant? It’s a roving dining experience where chefs, waiters and entertainers come together in different people’s homes and offer a prix fixe [the fancy way of saying fixed price] dinner to hungry and adventurous guests. Often the menu is posted on the internet or in a confirmation email (if you are lucky enough to be privy to the super-secret lists I keep hearing about). They operate in a quasi-legal atmosphere and have been compared to speakeasys of the Prohibition Era and the early verison of raves.

 Here’s what I found when googling around:

Bruce Frieseke, head chef at Manzanita [an underground restaurant in Silicon Valley in California], believes the appeal of underground restaurants comes largely from diners’ shifting attitudes toward the entire restaurant scene. “I think this is part of a trend,” he says, “even in traditional restaurants, to make the dining experience more homey.”

This change toward wanting a dining experience to be more comforting and less highly formalized is a welcome one, according to many restaurateurs. Taking a restaurant out of the traditional context and putting it–quite literally–in a homier setting allows people to relax. Providing this type of low-key atmosphere is much easier when running a restaurant out of a basement or a garage, and these illegal dining spots are rapidly gaining cult status.

So…what was it like, I hear you wondering? It was SO MUCH FUN! Anne and I were among the first to arrive, as we wanted to make sure we got comfortable seats. Jeremy Townsend, the host of GG, was there to warmly greet us and, as we would later discover, to memorize the name and occupation of every single guest. (the night we were there, there were over 30 people). We chose a table in the stylish Silver Lake living room and opened our delicious wine.

The food was very good, local Chef Anita Bergman offered up a delicious 4 course meal, well described at our tablemate H.C.’s L.A. food blog here. But to me, the most fun part was the way Jeremy worked the crowd. His warm and engaging energy and personality made the night what it was.

Of course, sitting in a strange house with people you don’t know can be quite awkward, but the way it came down, it was as if we were at a party of good friends and so there was little or no social anxiety. (I am sure the 5 bottles of wine at our table helped!). By the dessert course, we were exchanging email addresses, phone numbers and promising to stay in touch. We all left with a sense that we had participated in something that was out of the ordinary.

The cool thing is, Jeremy not only tracks down local chefs, but also local entertainment wherever he hosts his soirees. The other night, we were regaled with the caffeinated song stylings of Mr. Jose Promis and the quite politically incorrect comedy of Ryan Stout. (I did laugh anyway, I admit). Was he funny? Ummmm, not really, but I am one of those people that figures it’s good to laugh when you can. It feels good.

I like what Jeremy does and I really appreciate where he comes from. He is most excited that he can bring crowds of people together all over the country (and soon the world!) and create a magical evening where everyone is involved and everyone goes home happy. That IS a good mission, Jeremy! Thank you, and I will be back again for sure.

see you on the freeway…

jessica

PS Tonight, Anne has invited me to see a funky slideshow offered up by Charles Phoenix at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. I can’t wait! He is known for his retro-snarky (in a loving way) look at America and Americana in the 50′s and 60′s and I am hoping to scoop and interview for you with him!

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The La Marathon 5k Run / Walk is scheduled for Sunday, March 2th 2008. at Gil Lindsay Plaza, Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa, Los Angeles, CA 90015

A full morning of fitness and family fun will begin at 6:30am with Adai Lamar, 102.3 “Radio Free” KJLH “Adai and the Home Team” morning show anchor. Adai Lamar will guide participants through the morning’s activities. Musical entertainment by 50’s-present day cover band, the Grizwalds, will follow. A warm up, led by certified yoga instructor, Crunch trainer and fitness guru, Sahara Ali, featuring a hoola-hoop workout will get the runners ready.

Many 5k participants also participate in the Acura L.A. Bike Tour.

START TIMES & LOCATIONS

Acura L.A. Marathon Bike Tour – 6:00am – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Emerald Nuts 5K Run/Walk – 7:30am – Staples Center/L.A. Convention Center

L.A. Marathon Hand Crank Wheelchairs – 7:45am – Universal Studios Hollywood

Wheelchair Race – 7:50amThe Challenge – TBDProfessional Men/Pack – 8:15 am

MARATHON REGISTRATION DEADLINES & FEES
• $100 from December 1st until February 25th at Midnight
• $115 at the Quality of Life Expo, Friday, February 29 & Saturday, March 1

QUALITY OF LIFE EXPO

The latest in running, cycling, health & fitness, travel, lifestyle improvement is featured at the LA Marathon Quality of Life Expo. Exhibitor booths feature sports running shoes to apparel. 2008 marks the 23rd year of the Quality of Life Expo. Over 80,000 people attend the LA Marathon Quality of Life Expo each year.

Los Angeles Convention Center
West Hall
1201 S. Figueroa
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Friday, March 2, 2007 9am-8pm
Saturday, March 3, 2007 9am-5pm**

The Expo is free but the Convention Center does charge $12 for parking. The Marathon derives no revenue from the parking fees.

Registrations for the 5K Run/Walk are accepted online (www.lamarathon.com) or via paper applications through February 15, 2008. Late registration for the 5K takes place at the Quality of Life Expo, Friday and Saturday February 29 and March 1, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Kentia Hall and the morning of the event in front of the Los Angeles Convention Center. Registration on raceday, Sunday, March 2th opens at 6:00am.

Contact Information: (La Marathon 5k Run / Walk)
Phone: (310) 444-5544
Fax: (310) 473-8105
Address: 11110 W. Ohio Ave, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Website: www.lamarathon.com
Email: raceinfo@lamarathon.com

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You can reserve your Greyhound bus seat for an additional $5 per ticket

Reserved seating is sold one way and in select cities on specific schedules. The reserved seat upgrade must be purchased in person at the departure terminal, even if you bought your ticket online. Priority seating may be reserved from 30 days in advance to 45 minutes prior to departure, but you must be present at the gate no fewer than 20 minutes before departure.

GreyHound Bus Tickets amy be purchased at the follwoing location in Los Angeles:

Greyhound Bus Lines Hollywood
1715 N Cahuenga Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 466-6384

Priority seating initiative is available across the United States on the following routes:

Atlanta-Orlando; Atlanta-Charlotte; Atlanta-Savannah; Atlanta-Tallahassee; Baltimore-New York; Boston-New York; Charlotte-Richmond; Chicago-Memphis; Chicago-Milwaukee; Chicago-Minneapolis; Cincinnati, all schedules; Cleveland, all schedules; Dallas-Houston; Dallas-San Antonio; Detroit-all schedules; Houston-Dallas; Jacksonville-Charlotte; Jacksonville-Tallahassee; Las Vegas-Los Angeles; Las Vegas-Phoenix; Los Angeles-Las Vegas; Los Angeles-Phoenix; Los Angeles-Sacramento; Los Angeles-San Francisco; Minneapolis-Chicago; New York-Baltimore; New York-Boston; New York-Philadelphia; New York-Washington; Omaha-Chicago; Orlando-Atlanta; Philadelphia-New York; Phoenix-Las Vegas; Phoenix-San Diego; Richmond-Dallas; Sacramento-Los Angeles; San Antonio-Dallas; San Francisco-Los Angeles; San Francisco-Sacramento; Savannah-Atlanta; Seattle-Portland; Seattle-Spokane; Seattle-Vancouver; Tallahassee-Atlanta; Tallahassee-Jacksonville; Tallahassee-Montgomery; Tampa, all schedules; and Washington-New York.

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I have always been a lover of the Vietnamese soup called Pho’(pronounced “FUH”). I ate it when I was on a dating my husband at the time, who by the way is native Vietnamese. He taught me what to add as far as condiments and how to enjoy this wonderfully fragrant and tasty soup.

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.

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