Coachella Valley Weekly - February 6 to February 12, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 46

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Community Events

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com • February 6 to February 12, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 46

saturday FEBRUARY 8 at

Rick Springfield

pg 5

Ozzmania

pg 12

Lulu California Bistro

pg 25

KAOS

pg 26

February 6 to February 12, 2014

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NICK OLIVERI’S MONDO GENERATOR

Coachella Valley Weekly

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com info@coachellavalleyweekly.com

760.501.6228

Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Raymond Bill, Brian Michaelz Classified Manager & Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Features Writer Marissa Willman, Judith Sulkin, Denise Ortuno Neil, Heidi Simmons Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Lola Rossi-Meza, Craig Michaels, Bronwyn Ison, Haddon Libby, Rachel Montoya, Angela Janus, Janet McAfee, Heidi Simmons, Dale Gribow, Raymond Bill, Jack St. Clair, Rob Brezny, Amanda Dorta, Eleni P. Austin, Curtis Hendricks, Noe Gutierrez, Jill Coleman, Jennifer Tan, Sunny Simon, Richard Weiss, Dr. Peter Kadile, Dr. Maria Lombardo, Bruce Cathcart, Patte Purcell, Julie Buehler, Flint Wheeler, John Paul Valdez, Laura Hunt Little, Eric Robertson, Scott Pam, Brian Michaelz, Robin Linn, Rebecca Pikus, Beer Snob, Richard Noble, Karen Creasy Photographers Laura Hunt Little, Lani Garfield, Chris Miller/ Imagine Imagery Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

Contents

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Mondo Generator............................ 3 Events - Living Desert....................7 Sports Scene..................................8 Sports.............................................9 Beer Snob.....................................10 Tat Talk - .......................................10 Music - Rick Springfield...............11 LMS - Ozzmania & Dirt.................12 LMS - TJ Nasty................................13 Consider This ...............................14 Art - Robert Reeves......................15 Pet Place.......................................16 The Vino Voice..............................17 Club Crawler Nightlife.................18 Pampered Palate - Lulu...............20 Pampered Palate - KAOS.............20 Screeners......................................22 Book Review - Herman Koch.......23 Don’t Be Clueless in the CV ........25 Haddon Libby: It’s All Local.........26 ShareKitchen................................26 Dale Gribow.................................27 Safety Tips....................................27 Gaemer Girl..................................27 Community - DHS Spa Tour.........28 Recovery - Ken Seeley.................29 Events - Color in Motion 5K...........30 Health & Fitness ...........................30 Free Will Astrology......................31 Mind, Body, & Spirit.....................31 Life & Career Coach......................32 Beauty..........................................32 Comics - Weiss Cracks..................34

February 6 to February 12, 2014

by Robin Linn

Are Coming this Saturday, Feb. 8th to The Hood in Palm Desert.

Taking a look back into the early days of desert rock with Nick Oliveri.

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native son of the original desert rock scene, Nick Oliveri has been at the epicenter of the hottest and most successful rock bands to come out of the desert. One could write a book on the offspring of the Coachella Valley rock music scene....and one day, I just might. In preparation for this story, I chose to give a general overview of the remarkable music career Nick has led. I also want to invite you to witness the powerhouse that he has built with his band Mondo Generator this Satuday night at The Hood in Palm Desert. MG features David “Hoss” Wright, Ian Flannon Taylor and Mike Pygmie.

Also appearing Saturday is another great desert punk rock band, You Know Who. YKW features bassist Dylan Brown and Greg Saenz (The Dwarves) on drums. Both bands (YKW and MG) feature Mike Pygmie on guitar, known for his string & mind bending metal guitar riffs.

The two groups offer proof of the high level of musicianship that has been cultivated in our desert over the past couple of decades.

Nick’s very first band back in 1987 at age 16 in Palm Desert, was Katzenjammer which featured a young Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Brant Bjork (Vista Chino), John Garcia (Vista Chino) and Chris Cockrell (QOTSA).

They later went on to become the Sons of Kyuss, then Kyuss, and in 1997 they morphed into the desert’s seminal stoner rock band, Queens of the Stone Age. Kyuss was the first desert rock band to gain international success with several records. They left an imprint on the international rock music scene, influencing bands as far away as Sweden (Truckfighters) and carving out a new genre “desert stoner rock”. It’s a sound that blends psychedelia, grunge and punk rock, baked by the desert sun and born from pure twisted imagination.

They truly came up with a new sound all their own. Every member of that band has gone on to achieve great things, and their musical paths have intertwined again and again in the groups Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss Lives and Vista Chino. All bands have featured Nick’s brave and bold bass approach at one time or another. QOTSA, named by producer Chris Goss (Masters of Reality), has featured Matt Cameron from Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, Nick Oliveri ( who was later replaced by Scott Reeder) , and Alfredo Hernandez, who replaced Brant Bjork. QOTSA’s records have landed them on the top the Billboard charts again and again.

They most recently appeared on the Grammy’s and are headlining this year’s Coachella Music

and Arts Festival. The two weekend event sold out within hours of tickets going on sale, and will be bringing over 120,000 visitors to the CV this spring. When Nick left QOTSA, he began touring and recording with The Dwarves, one of the most notorious punk bands on earth.

Known for their shocking and vulgar lyrics, outrageous stage antics, and their pure punk antics, The Dwarves have survived a lot of personnel changes. Sadly, on Feb 2nd, The Dwarves lost veteran Bobby Faust, a loss that Nick and The Dwarves are all just beginning to reckon with.

Nick still records and tours with The Dwarves and also has an acoustic project with frontman Blag Dahlia, The Uncontrollables. He has been recording and touring with Bl’ast, a Santa Cruz based skater punk/rock/metal band. Bl’ast is a project Nick has a lot of enthusiasm for and whose compositions challenge him and push him as a player.

When Nick put together Mondo Generator in 1997, the band featured Josh Homme, Brant Bjork, Rob Oswald, and Karl Doyle. Their first record, Cocaine Rodeo, was released in 2000 and it is nothing short of brilliant. With Mondo Generator, Nick really pursued his own voice as an artist. His raw poetic lyrics are filled with tales of sex, drugs and rock and roll and his earthy guttural bass lines are only topped by his wild and organic live performances. Real life, stripped down, and in Nick’s earlier years as a touring artist, it wasn’t unusual to see him actually stripped down bare, wearing only his bass. He made international headlines in 2001 when he was arrested for playing nude in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Nick is known for his outrageous antics both on and off stage.

He is as authentic a desert rocker as you will ever experience. Nick has emerged as a badass rock musician, turning heads in whatever project he throws himself into, and has earned the respect of some of the world’s most

noteworthy rock and roll musicians.

In 2004, Nick left Queens of the Stone Age and announced that Mondo Generator would become his full-time project. Nick’s views on the breakup are balanced and healthy. He feels that Josh has taken the band in the direction it needed to go to become what it is today. He looks back on his time with QOTSA fondly and treasures the memories. I should also point out he was invited back in 2013 to work on their latest record. Rolling Stone Magazine quotes Josh stating, “reuniting with original bassist Nick Oliveri was one of the easiest things about making Queens of the Stone Age’s new album, Like Clockwork.” Nick continued to move on after the split in several wonderful directions that have shaped him into the player he is today. He went on to record an acoustic record, Demolition Day, and toured Europe with Brant Bjork and Mark Lanegan Band.

He also recorded an EP with Dave Catching, McGuire, and Alfredo Hernández. He toured nationally with Kyuss Lives (Vista Chino) and has been involved in projects with Winnebago Deal, Mark Lanegan Band, Masters of Reality, continue to page 5

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FUNDRAISER Friday February 7th 3pm to 8pm e Learning Tree is teaming up with the SELMA organization to create an annual community tradition of coming together on campus in the name of providing music and arts education to all Coachella Valley students.

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Turbonegro, Moistboyz aka Dickie Moist and the O.T.C. and The Knives, his own solo records, still touring and recording with The Dwarves, and is moving forward with Bl’ast on a new record and upcoming tour dates. Busy man indeed!

In listening to Nick in all of his projects there is certain fire, and incendiary approach, raw and real, his sense of time and phrasing enveloping each line he plays! Working with Hoss on drums over the years in multiple projects, the two have grown to form one of the most powerful rhythm sections on the planet.

Through Brandon Ray Henderson (Parosella, The Pedestrians) I was able to track Nick down late Monday night and ask him some questions.

I also learned that Henderson is featured on 5 of the songs on the 2012 Mondo Generator EP, Hell Comes To Your Heart. There is so much to read about Nick in all of his projects that I wanted to get his take on the music he has made and what his plans are for 2014. Though I have seen Nick in his early years in Kyuss, I have yet to take in a live MG show. Saturday will be my first live experience.

RL: How do you feel growing up in the desert has affected you as a musician and a man?

NICK: I wouldn’t haven’t made music if I hadn’t moved to the desert from LA. I was mad at my parents when they moved to the desert.

I actually didn’t like it for a lot of years. It was hot and I hated it. But I would have never played with Josh Homme, Brant Bjork, John Garcia in Kyuss. And, I would have never played in the Dwarves because Brag Dahlia, singer for The Dwarves took Kyuss out on our first tour back in 1990/91. So living in the desert affected me as a musician because if I hadn’t moved here I probably would still be just looking in the mirror while playing...or pretending to play. Growing up in the desert affected me as a man because I got laid for the first time out in the desert. I sort of did most my growing up outside of the desert playing around the world, and I’m still growing up! But it has affected me as a musician in a BIG way. I probably would have never played if I hadn’t ended up here.

RL: What was it like making music in the desert back in the 80’s.

NICK: In ‘87 we started the band Katzenjammer, which later became Kyuss.

In that band I was actually the second guitar player. Chris Cockrell was actually the bass player, Brant Bjork was the drummer, Josh Homme played lead guitar, I played rhythm guitar and John Garcia sang. We had our first practice at Brant Bjork’s parent’s house and I remember Brant asking me if I would come up and jam. Back in those days if you had a guitar and an amplifier, you could play in a band.

And it was great! We had a great time making music and becoming friends through music.

Me and Brant played baseball against each other. That’s actually how we met. My dad and Brant’s dad were baseball coaches. Yeah...so, it was great making music back in the 80’s and it’s even more fun to think back on it now and get a laugh out of it.

RL: You have played in so many projects.

What has playing in such a diverse array of bands done for you as a player?

NICK: It has really opened up my spectrum.

It’s made me a better player all around. Playing in this band Bl’ast now which is an old SST band, very progressive, hardcore music and all over the map and they’ve been the hardest things I’ve had to do. That and House of Shocks which featured Dave Lombardo from Slayer and Gary Holt from Exodus on guitar. I played bass and that was incredibly hard to do, not being a thrash player, but listening to thrash my whole life...I was very honored and very pleased and couldn’t believe I was there for that. Bl’ast is my newest thing I am doing. I also am doing a new record which I am sending you, Robin, to review. I know you like music that I like and I want to hear what you think about it. These are the rough mixes and not for public consumption, but I really want to hear what you think. ( RL: I am salivating....talk about a job perk!!!)

RL: You are known in the music community for having a bit of an outrageous side..... what do you attribute that to?

NICK: Well, I think a lot of stuff gets blown out in the press...but, yeah...I have a wild side, and I just happen to get caught a lot of times doing some crazy shit. There’s always someone there writing about it or that has a camera. Nowadays, everyone has a phone camera. A phone that comes with a camera...a camera that comes with a phone. So, one day my phone rang and my phone took a picture somehow....and I got in some trouble...and that’s all I’m gonna say about that.

RL: You were arrested while on tour with QOTSA in Brazil for performing naked. Is that something you do often?

NICK: Well I used to do it a lot more... but now that I’m 42 years old, I find it a bit creepy. But I do have fun taking off my clothes because taking off my clothes is a good time and there’s nothing to hold me back. But, I did get busted when I played naked on stage in Brazil at Rockin’ Rio and that was a very scary situation to be honest, because I didn’t know what was gonna happen or where they were gonna take me to. When they took me away from the stage they were bundling me up and beating people up to get them out of the way.

As it were, they wanted me to apologize to an onsite judge that was there with his young daughter. But, in Brazil, they have tits and asses all over the billboards, so I figured it was OK. I had to apologize. I said I’m sorry to the judge, they translated it, and I was set free. I don’t play so much nude anymore. When you’re 26, and then 42---- it’s a big difference. It’s not as

fun to look at anymore!

RL: In The Dwarves you go by the moniker Rex Everything. Where did that name come from?

NICK: That name was given to me by the previous bass player, Pete Strauss who went by the name of Salt Peter. Blag nick named me Rex. I was at Peter’s house and I stood up and knocked over his lamp and he said, “Rex Everything”...and that was my name from that point on. That was back in 1993 and I have been a proud member ever since. Been on all the records and toured with them consistently since ‘93. It’s been so cool to know Blag. He helped me figure out how to finish writing songs...and ending songs before they went on to become 6, 7,8 minute compositions. Get ‘em in, get ‘em out. I owe a lot to him and he’s a great friend of mine.

RL: Of all the cities and countries you have played in, where is your favorite place to perform and why?

NICK: Spain used to be my very favorite place to play. Madrid was a great place to play because we had our best shows in the world there at one time, at least with Queens of the Stone Age. All over the UK was always great.

New York City, Chicago, San Francisco are all always fun places to play. Australia....all of Australia…. Perth, Australia. That was the last place I played with QOTSA in January, 2004. It is coming up on the 10 year anniversary of me being out of that band on the 15th of February actually. But, my favorite shows have been with that band because we had some great experiences and I’ll never forget them. The reasons why....there was a lot of debauchery and things that went on behind closed doors... and I probably shouldn’t elaborate here.

RL: What do you think of the desert scene now compared to the old days?

NICK: Well the new scene is cool because there are all these places to play. There’s Pappy & Harriet’s, The Hood, The Date Shed. There’s Coachella Festival now. We used to have to set up in the middle of the desert somewhere with a generator and do our own Coachella Festivals. Mario Lalli, Brian Maloney (one night only, Brian Maloney) from Unsound, we used to put on all these great shows. You know what I’m talking about....lots of crazy sin in the moonlight. Great times and it just doesn’t happen like that anymore. Maybe today’s kids have their raves....I don’t know. Not my thing.

But we had a great, great goddamned time out there in those days. As far as the new scene, we have some great new bands....like You Know Who, lots of new bands I haven’t really heard. But man...I hope they’re still doing it and flying a flag for the dez.

RL: Who is in the current lineup of Mondo Generator?

NICK: Myself on bass and vocals. David

February 6 to February 12, 2014 “Hoss” Wright on drums, Ian Flannon Taylor on guitar and vocals. He’s my man from Unsound.

He’s been in the band forever. So has Hoss. Ian has put me up at his house and fed me when I was homeless in the old days. He’s the man.

He’s my bro. Big huge heart for Ian. We have the lead guitar wizardry of Mr. Mike Pygmie.

He rocks, he’s a badass. He’s from the You Know Who...and YOU know who that is. He’s playing with us on Saturday at The Hood. He rocks. His band is opening up for us. He’s doing double duties that night. He kills it. We have a great band. We’re killing it too.

RL: Is MG your primary project now and what are your plans for 2014?

NICK: We want to do a new record. We definitely plan to tour. I have a bunch of acoustic dates I’m gonna do. I have four bands right now. Bl’ast, The Moistboyz, Mondo, I also have The Dwarves, and acoustic stuff as well.

I have a new record called just Nick Oliveri. I play everything on it...I play all the drums, all the bass, all the guitar, and all the vocals except one song, I have choruses sung by Blag Dahlia and guest lead guitars by Phil Campbell from Motorhead and Mike Pygmie, and Bruno Fevery from Vista Chino, Steven Haas and Dean Ween from The Moistboyz...so I have a bunch of stuff which I am sending you to review and check out.

As I close I am listening to selections of Nick’s upcoming solo record, Nick Oliveri’s Leave Me Alone. The 8 selections he sent me to sample make up a collection that may be his most cohesive record to date. Perhaps because he plays all the drums, bass, rhythm guitar, and vocals, while guest artists Mike Campbell, Mike Pygmie, Bruno Fevery, Steven Haas and Dean Ween contribute lead solos. I would be lying if I said who played lead on what. I Just know that the music is inspired, well-constructed and Nick has developed his own voice both as a songwriter and a performer that will carry him well into the days to come. He has a lot of pots on the fire...but that seems to be the way of the rock musician in today’s music market place. In everything Nick does...there is a spirit that reminds me of the desert he developed and grew up in that makes him unique. This man is a world class musician that can spread his wings in half a dozen projects and be picked out of each one for his own unique style and sound. His irreverence, real life lyrics, no matter how outrageous they may seem, and his rough tumble approach to his music while still having the refined chops are why his dance card is always full. He is crazy and beautiful.... just like the desert he lives in.

DO NOT MISS Mondo Generator at The Hood this Saturday, February 8th along with You Know Who and Brain Vat. Find event details on Facebook at: facebook.com/events/429494907178694/ facebook.com/events/702861873069472/ Moistboyz features Mickey Melchiondo Jr (Ween), Guy Heller, Stephen Haas and Nick Oliveri and David “Hoss” Ross (Mondo Genertator). Having been a huge fan of Ween, I find this one of the happiest coincidences on earth. Here is the link to P&H’s event calendar: Pappy & Harriet’s Feb 27th. Tickets: ($15) To find out more about Bl’ast, visit them on Facebook at: facebook.com/pages/Blast/44354206391 To read this story next week with streaming videos by all of these great bands, visit my blog at rminjtree.blogspot.com

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February 6 to February 12, 2014

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February 6 to February 12, 2014

FANCIFUL FUN AT FAIRYTALES & FROG DAY AT THE LIVING DESERT ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH

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California Woman 411 with your host Dee Jae Cox

‘Talking to women who lead and inspire’ Saturday’s from 10 – 11 a.m.

KPTR 1450 AM Palm Springs, CA California

CA-WMN-411 www.CaliforniaWoman411.com

Produced by The Los Angeles Women's Theatre Project:

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ids Encouraged to Dress Up for Day of Fun Activities Fanciful childhood fairytales come alive at The Living Desert on Fairytales & Frog Day when kids can dress up as their favorite fairytale character and join Freddy the Frog and his strolling princesses for fun activities highlighted with a “Toad”ally Royal Tea Party. Fairytales & Frog Day is Saturday, February 8th, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The whimsical day of fun will take place at the Miriam U. Hoover Discovery Center and Palm Garden Patio. Upon arrival, children will receive their very own regal crown and souvenir tea cup and enjoy a variety of activities to include keeper chats, face painting, castle and carousel bounce houses, trackless train rides and more.

Real life fairytale costumed princesses and Freddy the Frog will entertain the kids and join them for a festive tea party that will be “Toad”ally Royal.

Some of the participants of the day include: · Aveda El Paseo Experience Center will be providing princess make-up · Clay crafts with Old Town Artisan Studio · Robin Hood Archery and a child-friendly archery booth · Kaminsky Productions hosting a Fairytales & Frogs photo booth · Celebrity story time with radio personality Chad Benson The Living Desert encourages families to come out and enjoy an opportunity to take a walk on the lighter side with Fairytales & Frog Day! Put on your favorite regal costume and join Freddy the Frog and strolling princesses for an activity-filled day. There is no charge to join in Fairytales & Frog Day – it’s included with paid admission to the park and parking is always free. For more information contact The Living Desert at 760-346-5694, or visit www.LivingDesert. org.

OBSERVE JAGUAR, HYENA & OTHER WILDLIFE MEDICAL EXAMS AT THE LIVING DESERT! Great Opportunity for the Entire Family to See and Learn About Wildlife Care When was the last time you saw a jaguar get an annual exam? Get an eye and earful of fascinating wildlife veterinary care at The Living Desert when its male Jaguar, Striped Hyena, Frilled Lizard, Kookaburra, and others, have their annual exams in the coming weeks. Visitors can observe the exams at the park’s state-of-the-art Wildlife Hospital and Conservation Center.

Here’s the schedule of exams for the next couple weeks: · Friday, Feb. 7th: Jacob’s Sheep shearing · Tuesday, Feb. 11th: Striped Hyena annual exam · Wednesday, Feb. 12th: Eurasian Eagle

Owl and Kookaburra annual exams · Thursday, Feb. 13th: Jaguar (male) annual exam · Friday, Feb. 14th: Blue-tongued Skink and Frilled Lizard annual exams The exams generally begin around 9:30 a.m., although exam times may vary depending on a variety of factors.

“At many zoos, the animal health and wellness care is done behind the scenes and visitors don’t have the opportunity to appreciate the quality of veterinarian services and the extent to which we go to ensure the animals at The Living Desert receive the best possible care,” said Allen Monroe, President/CEO. “The viewing windows in our Wildlife Hospital help make this an exciting, rare opportunity for our guests.”

Guests can also explore interactive exhibits on the physiology and veterinary care of animals at the Hospital. Entry to the Wildlife Hospital and Conservation Center is included in the park admission. For information about The Living Desert, call 760-346-5694.

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February 6 to February 12, 2014

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sports scene

sports

by Julie Buehler

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February 6 to February 12, 2014

by Flint Wheeler

www.FlintWheeler.com Financial Advisor representing New York Life. Owner Indian Wells Insurance & Wealth Management. Host of Tilted Sports Radio on Team 1010, KXPS. Former PGA Class A Professional. U.S.P.T.A. Tennis Professional.

Titleist Performance Institute Certified Fitness Trainer

What It Took For Seattle To Win A Super Bowl

ou probably won’t like what you’re about to read, because it’s too true, too real. But I’m going to present some facts and rather than become defensive, I’ll ask you to simply consider the facts and come to a fair conclusion on your own.

The Seattle Seahawks didn’t win the Super Bowl, they took a sledgehammer to Peyton Manning’s face for 60 minutes for the 48th version of the NFL’s championship.

FACT: The final score was 43-8, and the Broncos were the 2.5 point favorites.

FACT: It was the largest win by an underdog in Super Bowl history and by a city that was making only it’s 2nd Super Bowl trip in franchise history with players that had ZERO Super Bowl experience.

The Seattle defense was blazingly fast.

It seemed like there were 13 players on the field rather than the 11 allotted by rules. But this defense has been great all season.

FACT: They boast the best scoring defense in the NFL, best in turnover margin and no team allowed fewer big plays. They have stars on their defensive line, linebacking corp and the best secondary in the NFL. While those aren’t technically facts, they are largely considered consensus among the NFL community and are as close to fact as you can get in a subjectively analyzed world.

Here are some more facts: The Seattle Seahawks lead the NFL in PED (Performance Enhancing Drugs) suspensions. This past November, the team cut ties with starting cornerback Brandon Browner as he stared down a year-long suspension the same week cornerback Walter Thurmond received a 4-game suspension.

FACT: Linebacker Bruce Irvin began the season on a 4-game suspension for PEDs. He had just come off a rookie season that boasted 8 sacks and while the team was questioned for drafting Irvin, he rewarded them in his first year. In his second year they won a Super Bowl.

FACT: In all, the Seahawks have had 7 players suspended for PEDs since 2010, when head coach Pete Carroll took over and one player, Richard Sherman, won an appeal of his positive test because of a leaky collection container. That’s nearly double the amount of players suspended due to substance policies than any other team since 2010, according to research from ESPN’s Steve Martinez conducted using STATS PASS. And I get it, basking in the glow of the Super Bowl win, it’s a difficult time to ask

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OK, so I guess Seattle is good after all…

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some tough questions like, “How much of the Seahawks defensive speed is linked to PEDs?” “How much of their secondary’s ability to run with receivers is linked to PEDs?” or “Does head coach Pete Carroll have institutionalized PED usage within the franchise?”

Most people want to ignore the questions and call those asking them “haters” or claiming “sour grapes” are the motivation behind asking such questions, but hold off on doing that for a moment because there’s a larger point to be made.

While the head coach at USC, Carroll led that program to unprecedented success and while there were whispers of PED usage at USC, it wasn’t until his players got to the NFL that they were caught. Brian Cushing and LenDale White were both suspended for PEDs. In 2009 there were reports that Clay Matthews and Brian Cushing had tested positive for PEDs heading into the draft.

That report was refuted by the league and Carroll, but then some months later, Cushing did test positive and after being named 2009 Defensive Rookie of the Year, served a 4-game suspension to start 2010.

What Carroll did at USC was impressive and so impressive that he brought his coaching staff from USC to Seattle when the opportunity opened up for him. While interviewing him during Super Bowl week, he told me he wanted to keep the “same vibe” in Seattle that was built at USC, he included his strength and conditioning program in that comment and desire to ensure continuity. In all, 9 of the Seahawks 23 coaches from USC are now in Seattle. Those included in the move: Chris Carlisle, head strength and conditioning coach and Jamie Yanchar, assistant strength and conditioning coach. Now, it’s not uncommon for assistant coaches to move with their head coach. In fact, that is very common, what is unique about this situation is the fact that Yanchar had never coached anywhere else but USC. He had been there from 1990-2009, when the move was made. Carlisle had been at USC from 2001-2009. So as we watched the Seattle Seahawks defense perform so much faster and stronger than the Denver Broncos, you could point to the special strength and conditioning program they implemented as a key factor in the disparity between the two teams. It was night and day difference.

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So is it possible that the same successful strength and conditioning program that made USC a national powerhouse is the same program that, when translated to the NFL, sculpted one of the greatest defenses in NFL history out of 3rd, 4th, and 5th round draft picks?

Is it possible that multiple key players on Carroll’s championship teams have been suspended for PED usage and that’s all just a coincidence?

Sure. It’s possible.

Plausible? Not so much.

The problem is the NFL does not even test for a key component that makes NFL players bigger, stronger, faster, and healthier than ever before, HGH. And the NFL also doesn’t punish the franchises for multiple offenders to ensure coaching staffs and others who benefit from players’ improved performances are not secretly condoning PED usage.

Instead, they make millions and billions off the players’ speed and freakish athleticism and turn a blind eye to the cheating in the system.

Just 3 months ago, Pete Carroll and the Seahawks were seriously questioned about the institutional control they had over their players’ uncommonly high PED suspensions and the team, from GM John Schneider and Carroll, vehemently denied knowledge or condoning of PEDs. Now they are being celebrated as genius and gutty. You can believe that if you want, I’m sure some of it is true. But the facts are the facts, no belief is necessary to recognize

that.

There’s no denying the ramifications from lack-luster testing and a head-in-the-sand mentality permanently damaged the game of baseball. I’m hoping the powers-that-be don’t put the NFL through the same tumult, because it’s unnecessary.

We have a world championship team that deserves a lot of credit for a tremendous season and the Seattle fan base that’s been waiting for this championship for decades deserves to be rewarded. Cleanly.

Unfortunately, I’m afraid what it took for Seattle to win a Super Bowl was more than just 60 minutes of flawless football.

But until the NFL stiffens its rules and testing, questions will remain, what’s unfortunate is that more don’t want to hear the answers.

Julie Buehler hosts the Coachella Valley’s most popular sports talk radio show, “Buehler’s Day Off” every day from 3-6 on 1010 KXPS, the valley’s all sports station.

She’s an avid gym rat, slightly sarcastic and more likely to recite Steve Young’s career passing stats than American Idol winners.

Tune in M-F 3-6 pst at www.team1010.com or watch the show on Ustream.

fter collecting his fifth National Football League most valuable player award on Saturday, Manning’s place in the Canton, Ohio shrine is assured but the heavy loss against the Seattle Seahawks has left a cloud over his legacy.

With one Super Bowl win in three attempts, his historical impact will be left for others to debate in the coming years but on Sunday, the only thing on Manning’s mind was where it all went wrong.

“I think we played a great football team,” the 37-year-old Manning told reporters. “We needed to play really well in order to win and we didn’t come anywhere close to that.”

“We weren’t sharp offensively from the get go.” Peyton Said in the post-game press conference.

It was hardly a Hall of Fame worthy first quarter for Manning, who watched the opening snap sail over his head for a safety to put Denver in an early hole.

Manning, who tossed for a record 5,477 yards during the regular season, completed just two passes for five yards and an interception that the Seahawks turned into a touchdown and a 15-0 first quarter lead.

“The turnover on the first play of the game to give them a safety is not the way you want to start a game,” Manning added. “For whatever reason, we couldn’t get much going after that.”

“Give Seattle credit, they are an excellent football team and they caused a lot of our mistakes.”

“At the same time we just didn’t play well.”

The Denver offense managed just 11 net yards in a miserable opening quarter but the misfiring continued into the second when Manning was picked off by Seattle’s Malcolm Smith, who returned the ball for a 69-yard touchdown.

The half ended with the highest scoring offense of all-time held scoreless by Seattle’s top ranked defense and in a shocking 22-0 hole.

MOUNTING PRESSURE The situation soon went from grave to terminal when Percy Harvin returned the second half kickoff for a touchdown, handing Manning an insurmountable 29-0 mountain to climb.

Manning tried, going to the air and

completing 34-of-49 pass attempts for 280 yards, but it was not nearly enough to erase the deficit.

“We got behind early and never could make a run to catch up,” he said. “We knew they were an excellent defense. They executed better than we did.

“Certainly to finish this way is very disappointing. It is not an easy pill to swallow, but eventually you have to.”

Thirteen times Manning has taken teams to the playoffs but he has hoisted the Vince Lombardi trophy just the once, a championship less than little brother Eli, who has twice led the New York Giants to NFL titles.

Two seasons on from missing a year due to neck surgeries, Manning produced a campaign for the ages, setting single season marks for touchdown passes (55) as well as yards.

With the Broncos tipped as Super Bowl favorites right from the start of season, Manning had been under mounting pressure to prove he can also get the job done when it counts and turn his record-smashing campaign into another Super Bowl title.

Manning continued to rewrite the record book at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, setting a Super Bowl record with 34 completions, but a second ring once again slipped through his fingers as Seattle’s ferocious defense left the Broncos quarterback under pressure and flustered.

“He’s disappointed like all of us but he had a tremendous year,” Denver head coach John Fox added. “I told him he had a great season, a record-breaking season, and he just came up a little short tonight.” One can now add to that comment, “Again”.

Flint Wheeler Financial Services Professional Visit www.FlintWheeler.Com

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February 6 to February 12, 2014

Beer Snob

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

By beer snob (trooper)

Path of the Novice

I

t all started in 1994. Wow that sounds like a long time ago. Wait… that is a long time ago. Anyhow I was working two jobs, I would leave the one and walk down Palm Canyon to the other, make a stop on the way at CPK (California Pizza Kitchen) for a pint of beer and a slice of pie, Key Lime to be specific. The pint was always the same.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, it was new to me.

And it was hoppy, bitter and refreshing from standard beers I knew.

Then came the job change. I took over second key of a small bar from New Orleans.

Fat Tuesdays, about five spaces down from CPK right on Palm Canyon. Shortly after that I hired a guy many of you know,

Tat TAlk

Dean McFarlane who is currently running the Purple Room in Palm Springs. For the first time it was not what I could buy, but whatever the rep had access to, and Dean was there making suggestions and pushing the envelope. Now there is no profound moment here, just a toe in the water so to speak. But we did start bringing in some better beer. Early Redhook, they actually had a Rye back then I liked a lot. Murphy’s Irish Stout on tap. And Sierra Nevada.

There were many more beers with Dean and other friends along the way but that is another article to come.

As I sit here today writing this article and working on the next episode of Beer Culture Web show, all I can think is we are in the middle of a beer revolution right now.

Now is the time to find the Novice among your friends and family, and start them on their path to better beer enlightenment.

How you ask? Find the foot bridge beer that works for them. Samuel Adams mixed pack is a great way to go. Work through the four or five styles and find the one they like best, grow from there. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is still one of my first suggestions. Take them down to the local brewery and order a flight of beer. If you are a novice this means 4 to 6 samples of various styles of beer which is a great way to find your palate’s desire.

We, Us, Beer snobs, Beer Geeks, Craft Beer Aficionados, Collectors, Hoarders,

Name: Elias Moreno Where do you tat: Bloodline Tattoo Why did you start tattooing: Art has always run in my family. I started teaching myself and didn’t get very far. Everything I know and learned I’ve gotten from my boss, Chris Reyes, and Mr. Flako.

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Rick Springfield

Home Brewers, Craft Beer Workers, Traders, etc. We owe it to the Craft Beer Community to educate those we meet along the way that are curious but not sure where to begin, to convert those we love. The next time you are standing in the beer aisle choosing your night’s selection, check the person next to you. It may be your chance to start someone on the path to Craft Beer Enlightenment or to be enlightened.

The Path of the Novice always begins the same, with curiosity. This leads to discovery.

Research and education leads to sharing of information, and soon another group of craft beer lovers are holding pairings, craft beer dinners, brewery tours, etc. As I begin this leg of my Beer Journey, I will do my best to keep this column educational, entertaining and rich with information to pique your craft beer curiosity.

by phil lacombe

Elias Moreno of bloodline tattoo

What style of tattooing do you enjoy the most: Anything bright and colorful. I’m really up for a step into color realism.

Who inspires you to tattoo: Without a doubt, my kids.

If you could tattoo anywhere in the world where would you go: Amsterdam

Tell me your favorite tattoo story about one of your clients: I had a client pass out on me. We thought he was going for his water and then TIMBER !!!!

Music

“I actually thought there were better songs on the album than Jessie’s Girl. It was back when radio stations and DJ’s could play what they wanted. They all started playing ‘Jessie’s Girl’ and it hadn’t even been released as a single. I can thank the radio DJs of the world for the success of that record.” hus began my conversation with the first 80s pop/rock star to win my heart and wear out the double A batteries in my Walkman. With the slightest remnant of an Australian accent, the unpretentious, two time Grammy winner, shared openly about the triumphs and struggles that have spanned his 50 plus year career that is still going, still thriving today.

Rick’s love for music began to build steam around the age of 13. “We lived out in the country, in Australia. We didn’t have a TV for the first 9 years of my life. We had a piano. My dad would sing and we’d all join in. That was our entertainment at night. There was always music going on around the house. Eventually, I discovered pop music and then, of course, the guitar. Once you fall in love with the guitar, it’s pretty much a life sentence.”

When his military father was stationed in England, Rick joined various bands and others when they returned to Australia. At 20, he became a member of the pop rock group Zoot from 1969 to 1971. He began his solo career with his début single Speak to the Sky, and it reached the top 10 in Australia. He was only 22 years old when he made the career move to the United States. When asked if he felt intimidated or nervous about that decision, Rick responded, “Not really. It was a bit overwhelming when I first arrived, but it had been my focus for a couple of years. All the bands around were going to England. I’d already been to England as a kid, so I thought I’d try going to America. It was tougher to get in to than England. In England you can just go straight in. In America, I had to write to the Mexican Embassy, the Canadian Embassy; I was even thinking, ‘Maybe I can sneak across the border’. I had no way of knowing how I was going to get in, but I was determined.

Finally, I hooked up with some guys who brought me over on a record deal. It seemed like the obvious next step for me.”

Rick and his label ran into a bit of

T

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

February 6 to February 12, 2014

by Lisa Morgan

on Jessie’s Girl, Battling Depression, 30 Years of Marriage, and over 50 Years of Music. controversy shortly after arriving in America in ‘72 when some radio DJs boycotted his music. “They accused my manager of sending busloads of kids to the record store to buy my single, “Speak to the Sky”, which was a hit at the time. It wasn’t us, but we got hit with that.

Believe me, with the stuff that was going on in the record companies back then, that was nothing,” he laughed. “There were hookers, drugs and money.... Now it’s a completely different animal. Unless you’re the top 3 of a record company, it’s really not worth being on a label. There’s so much to do independently.

It’s a drag that the record industry has gotten as screwed up as it is, but the internet has opened up whole new areas. The peer to peer thing was the way people used to hear music anyway, back in the old days, and it’s kind of gotten back to that. I think if it’s good music, it gets out there.”

Rick is also is an accomplished actor with a comprehensive list of roles on television film and even Broadway. In 1981, shortly after signing with RCA and recording the album Working Class Dog, Rick accepted the role of Dr. Noah Drake on the daytime drama, General Hospital. Neither Rick nor his agent expected the album to do very well, but the song “Jessie’s Girl” went to number one, and for the next two years, Rick simultaneously played the role while touring with his band.

The two complimented each other, boosting the show’s ratings and record sales. I asked him if he had a favorite acting role. “I like the edgier roles,” he shared. “It’s a lot more fun than playing ‘type’.” Rick referred specifically to his part on the hit series, Californication wherein his first appearance was as a “twisted version of myself...a hedonistic Rick Springfield” from the past.

In 2010, with 25 million records sold, 17 top-40 hits, as well as a 1981 Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal for his No. 1 hit single “Jessie’s Girl”, Rick wrote his autobiography, Late, Late at Night. The publication entered The New York Times best-seller list at No. 13, and Rolling Stone named it one of the top-25 rock autobiographies of all time. Rick knew he had an interesting story to tell, but as for its potential he said, “I wasn’t sure how the writing of it would be taken. It’s like a song; you throw it out there, and you don’t really

know if it’s good or really crappy until you get another perspective. The reaction was great, and I was really thrilled to make Rolling Stones top 25 rock and roll auto biographies of all time. That’s such a narrow group. And having written it myself, without a ghost writer, it really encouraged me to write more.

So I did and we’ll see what happens in May. I have my first novel coming out in May called, “Magnificent Vibration” and I’m really excited about that. I used to write as a kid, mainly horror stories, and then songwriting took over.” When I asked Rick, of all the things he has done, if he had to pick only one, what would it be? Rick easily responded, “I love the whole aspect of writing, both songs and prose, because I can do that anywhere, sitting in my kitchen or on the plane.”

In reading Rick’s autobiography, one is immediately confronted with his lifelong battle with depression. “It has been constant in my life. The teen years were pretty terrible.

Actually, my autobiography starts out with me trying to hang myself at around the age of 17. I didn’t know what it was. I was just really down. Depression wasn’t really identified back then. I didn’t really start hearing about it until the late 70s, early 80s. It got pretty tough again in the mid 80s when I was pretty successful and realized success wasn’t going to heal anything. That was a big downer. I went to therapy and took time off from 1985 to 1990 to try and figure out what was going on with me. It was a really instructive time.

Any time you spend in therapy with a good therapist, you learn things. Certainly, as a writer, depression is a great driver. You look in to yourself. If you’re happy, you don’t say to yourself, ‘Why am I so happy?’”, he chuckled.

“When there are problems, you look in and ask, ‘Why am I so depressed?’ Hopefully, then, there are insights.”

I asked Rick if he had any advice for others suffering. “It’s so different for everybody,” he said thoughtfully. “Everybody is in different stages of it. Meditation really helped me. I

try to keep looking forward, keeping in mind that all things pass. It’s impossible for things to stay the same. Everything changes. I’ve known people who have successfully (or unsuccessfully) ended their lives. Not having been that far, I can say it isn’t an answer. It’s kind of a pause button. Our job is to stay on task and figure out how to cope and find the positive side. My positive side is it drives me as a performer and it’s responsible for whatever depth I have in my writing.”

I asked if he had ever considered being anything else besides a musician and getting a ‘day job’, he shared, “There was a point, at a really difficult time, when I was being asked to leave school and I looked through the want ads. I didn’t know how to do anything else.

The only job I really had was when I was 15 years old, watering plants. That was only for about 3 months. There was no drive that made me think I could do that for the rest of my life.”

Married with two children, Rick shared his theory on keeping his family life together in an industry where his successful, 30 year marriage is a rare accomplishment. “The secret? I married my wife. She’s unbelievable.

It’s all a battle though. Our friends who have been together as long will tell you, it’s all a battle. It’s just not something where you get to coast along. My best advice? The only way to stay married is to not get divorced.”

Rick recently received his second Grammy Award along with Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney and the rest of the Sound City Players, Producers and Engineers for BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA for the 2013 soundtrack to Sound City: Real To Reel. Springfield teamed up with Dave Grohl (of bands Nirvana and Foo Fighters) on the Sound City project. The project encompassed a documentary, an album, and the Sound City Players tour as well as a string of critically acclaimed shows with fellow documentary subjects including Stevie Nicks, Trent Reznor, John Fogerty and Lee Ving. The duo co-wrote The Man That Never Was, inspired by a true story from World War II, and has been recognized by critics as one of the best songs on the Sound City album.

Rick shared that working with Dave Grohl “was great.” He went on to say, “He is really a very open musician, loves music and is very talented, not to mention, the guy is a blast to hang out with. We wrote our song for Spin City in a day and a half - that was a new experience for me. The whole band was fabulous.”

Rick is currently touring extensively both with a full band and in more intimate settings, as a solo act. The Coachella Valley will be enjoying the music of Rick Springfield with a full band at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on Sunday, February 16th at 8pm. Tickets are still available and may be purchased online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com or call 800827-2946.

Fans can follow Rick and his many endeavors at rickspringfield.com

11

February 6 to February 12, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Local Music Spotlight

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we play because it’s like being in a time machine. There’s nothing better than being able to go back and relive yesteryear on a daily basis.” I think we can all relate to recollecting our memories of great times and the soundtrack that accompanied them.

Based out of the Coachella Valley, ‘Dirt’ performs the enduring music of Alice In Chains faithfully. With Mike Cordero on vocals, Vince Pacelli on guitars and vocals, Aaron Lee on bass and vocals and Jason Piazza on drums, ‘Dirt’ has the mentality that Friday will be a showcase for these two bands to express their gratitude towards its hometown crowd.

In the early 90’s forming the band was grown out of not wanting to follow any tribute trend of the time. “We wanted to do the next big thing. So Alice was it, that’s how ‘Sludge Factory’ was born, which ended being changed to ‘Dirt’ after a few shows in 1995,” Pacelli admits.

‘Dirt’ understands their place in continuing the legacy of Alice In Chains and in particular Layne Staley, who passed away in 2002. Cordero shares, “A lot of those bands and/or members are not around anymore, so what better way to pay homage to your favorite artist.” Lee adds, “Tribute bands capture a certain time frame that you like about your favorite band.” Piazza follows up with his take on things, “The industry is changing and high ticket prices to see the actual artists have led fans to go see the next best thing, a tribute.”

I asked each member of Dirt what their favorite Alice In Chains song is to perform.

Pacelli: Them Bones – “The opening riff is sick!”

Cordero: Man in the Box – “Has the best crowd response!”

Lee: A Little Bitter – “I’m biased towards this song.”

Local Music Spotlight

by noe gutierrez

Ozzmania and Dirt - Destroy the Date Shed T

he tribute bands ‘Ozzmania’ and ‘Dirt’ will be performing all the Ozzy Osbourne and Alice In Chains classics for a free show on Friday 2/7/14 at The Date Shed in Indio. What you won’t see is a cheap imitation of these hard rock heroes.

‘Ozzmania’ is billed as Southern California’s premiere Ozzy Osbourne & Black Sabbath Tribute band. Formed in 2007, the band is made up of Michael Reade, aka Snozzy Snosbourne on vocals, Metal Mark Knapp as Zakk Wylde on guitar, Patrick O’Brien on bass and Michael Clemens on drums. Ozzmania plans to go extra, extra, extra fuckin’ crazy this Friday night.

Knapp talks about his almost unavoidable desire to play tribute to Ozzy, “Doing an Ozzy tribute wasn’t really a choice for me.

I never even thought about doing a tribute to anybody else. I’ve been a huge Ozzy fan since I was a kid and with my resemblance to Zakk Wylde there was never any choice to make, it just came natural to me. Has it been WAY more challenging than I ever thought it would be? Yes! But it’s also been the most fun I’ve ever had in music.” This is the zeal that is necessary to participate in any music project let alone a tribute artist.

There has been a renewal of interest in tribute bands. This phenomenon has been sustained by fans who reminisce about their pasts with affection. Knapp concurs, “I think people want to see the bands that they grew up with and are familiar with. They want to hear the songs that take them back to ‘the good ol’ days’ and make them happy and I’m so grateful that I have the opportunity to be a part of that.”

There’s also much to be said about classic rock. Its familiar guitar riffs and instantaneously recognizable drum beats are undeniable. Knapp talks about the lure of classic rock music, “I love every song

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Piazza: Sea of Sorrow – “This song fuckin’ rocks!”

Both Ozzmania and Dirt have a high standard of dedication to their respective tributes. The music is ambitious music. It is not easy to play let alone perform. Many hours have been devoted to bring you the best tribute possible. Pay your respects to these fine gentlemen and honor their efforts by showing up on Friday night to the free show at The Date Shed and rocking the fuck out!

Also providing music before, during and after sets will be Desert DJ Entertainment.

See you there!

http://ozzmaniausa.com booking@ozzmaniausa.com Fri. Feb. 7th – The Date Shed (Indio) Sat. Feb. 22nd – Big’s (Fullerton) Sat. Mar. 1st – Paladino’s (Tarzana) Fri. Mar. 14th – Troubadour (Hollywood) http://www.aictribute.net/ dirt@aictribute.net Feb 7th - The Date Shed (Indio) Feb 23rd - Riverside County National Date Festival (Indio) April 5th – Undetermined location (In memoriam to Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley)

February 6 to February 12, 2014

by noe gutierrez

TJ Nasty!

W

hat do you do when little is known about a band and you want to find out what makes them tick and how their sound is developed?

You call them of course. I did just that with guitarist and vocalist Mike Theophilos of the spastic reggae band TJ Nasty! emphasis on the nasty. Stationed out of Palm Springs, TJ Nasty! also has in its ranks Ian Comstock on drums and David Macias on the bass guitar as well as part-time member Bri Cherry on violin.

In order to properly quantify what spastic reggae is you must first see and hear TJ Nasty! They are performing this Friday at The Hood Bar & Pizza along with Derek Gregg’s The Hive Minds and fellow reggae ally Mikey Reyes closing out the night. If you are unable to attend you can access their self-titled EP on Sound Cloud. Specifically, listen to “Get Down Low”, an up tempo and fast paced song with groove as well as “No Job”, a song that has varied tempos, atypical beats and dance persuasion. As Theophilos states, “We want o show the valley this new reggae sound. It’s different; a new rhythm.”

TJ Nasty! is currently working on a ska/ reggae/funk infused new album that will be released within the year.

Theophilos and Comstock were both reared in Palm Springs and attended Palm Springs High School listening to and playing rock music. At 14 years of age they began their own rock band. Not until they were 18 did they enter the reggae realm. Some of their influences include Tool, Incubus, Sublime and Bob Marley, of course.

Theophilos admits that Modest Yahoo and his ‘Live at Stubb’s’ album has had the largest influence on him and his music.

Working full-time as a bartender at Spencer’s Restaurant in Palm Springs has brought much satisfaction to the 27 year old Theophilos. He has done so since he was 21 years old. He also enjoys skateboarding and speed boarding. You can find videos of his antics on YouTube. According to Theophilos, “I prefer fast reggae and fast skating, they complement each other.”

Comstock works part-time while he attends to his higher education. Macias is relatively new to the bass guitar. Known for his vocals and percussive guitar work in Machin’, Macias has garnered praise from his fellow band members with how he embraced the challenge of tackling bass duties after their

original bassist became “out-of-action”.

When not causing a raucous with TJ Nasty! both Theophilos and Macias don their colorful sheaths and perform acoustically as ‘The Green Jackets’ invading open mic nights around the valley.

TJ Nasty! has augmented the valley’s music scene with its unique twist on reggae.

Theopholis shares his preference for the desert, “I like how close knit the desert is.

Playing in Los Angeles as a small fish in a big pond is not as rewarding. Our limited venues allow us to perform with excellent musicians. We all play together and we play for each other. My favorite venues are the Hood Bar & Pizza; the new Hub of the

Desert, the Date Shed; their sound system is amazing, and Schmidy’s is the up and comer.”

TJ Nasty! have broader sights set on their music. Theopholis delineates some goals, “We really want to try and get into some festivals. The Joshua Tree Roots Festival would be great. I wanna get out of the desert once we have a nice piece of audio as well.”

In completing our conversation Theopholis was adamant that I share with CV Weekly readers those who have supported TJ Nasty! from the beginning and those who have maintained the acoustic scene thriving. “John Delaire & Blake Williams have been the band’s strongest supporters from day one.” According to Theopholis, Symara Stone and Giselle Woo are Coachella Valley acoustic royalty.

TJ Nasty! is humble yet hungry. Take some time to listen to their songs on Sound Cloud and make an effort to catch them live this Friday night at The Hood Bar & Pizza. https://soundcloud.com/tjnasty

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February 6 to February 12, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Eleni P. Austin

JOAN JETT & the BLACKHEARTS

Consider This

“Unvarnished” (Blackheart Records Group)

J

oan Jett has been making music for nearly 40 years, and she remains at the top of her game. Jett was born Joan Marie Larkin in 1958, she grew up in Pennsylvania and Maryland. She learned the rudiments of guitar and by the time her family relocated to Los Angeles, Jett was obsessed with Rock & Roll.

It was the early ‘70s, Glam and Glitter Rock was a huge inspiration for Jett. She immediately found a home at Rodney’s English Disco on the Sunset Strip. As the scene was flourishing, Hollywood provocateur/Svengali, Kim Fowley decided to form an all-girl rock band. Jett was recruited for rhythm guitar, and along with Cherie Curie, Lita Ford, Sandy West and Jackie Fox, they formed The Runaways.

Between 1975 and 1979, the Runaways gained local popularity in Los Angeles, but achieved superstardom in Japan. Fowley’s dictatorial management style, coupled with the usual growing pains and a relentless touring schedule, guaranteed the band’s quick implosion.

Joan Jett persevered. First, she produced the Germs’ seminal debut, G.I., then she hooked up with Kenny Laguna. Laguna originally played keyboards for Tommy James And the Shondells, but he quickly moved behind the scenes as an in-house producer/ songwriter for Buddah Records.

Jett relocated to England to begin her solo career. Almost immediately, she realized

WESTFIELD MALL 72840 Hwy 111 #171 Palm Desert, CA 92260 760-341-2017 www.recordalley.com

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art

she worked better in a group setting, so she returned to L.A. and began auditioning players for her band The Blackhearts.

Once the line-up was set, they recorded their debut, “I Love Rock n Roll.” Released in 1981, the title track was a cover of an obscure song by The Arrows. By spring of 1982, the song shot to number one on the Billboard charts. A star was born.

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts stayed at the top of the charts throughout the 80s. On MTV, their brand of boisterous rock & roll sandwiched comfortably between Michael Jackson and Men At Work. By 1987, Joan Jett was co-starring with Michael J. Fox in the Paul Schrader film, “Light Of Day.” Jett remained relevant throughout the ‘90s. Embraced by the Riot Grrrl movement, Jett was revered as their Punk Patron Saint.

She collaborated with the Gits, as well as members of Babes In Toyland, L7 and Bikini Kill.

In the 2000s, Jett continued her frenetic pace, touring and acting. She also produced other artists and had her own radio show on Sirius XM. By 2010 she had co-produced “The Runaways,” a film which chronicled the band’s rocky career. Kristen Stewart (of “Twilight” fame), gave a credible performance as a teenage Joan Jett.

For all her activity, Jett has never been prolific. She has only recorded 10 studio albums. The last one, Sinner, came out in 2006. So it’s wonderful to announce Joan Jett & The Blackhearts are back with Unvarnished.

The album kicks into gear with “Any Weather (606 Version),” a collaboration between Jett and Foo Fighting renaissance man Dave Grohl. Powered by an insistent handclap rhythm, jangling piano runs and downstroke guitar riffs, the lyrics pay homage to a longstanding relationship.

Both “Soulmates To Strangers” and “Bad As We Can Be” explore the intricacies of modern love. The former is co-written by Laura Jane Grace, transgender frontwoman for the Punk band Against Me! On this mid-tempo rocker, slingshot riffs connect with a thudding beat. The lyrics bemoan the stagnation of a relationship… “Our love was invincible, then the cracks started to unglue like me and you/ We were fated to be together, we were fated to be apart/We were soulmates and then we were strangers.

On the latter, Jett flips the script, succumbing to the power of physical attraction. A pummeling backbeat pushes against muscular riff-age that soars over the instrumental bridge. Jett’s come-on is uninhibited…”I’m no good for you and you’re no good for me, let’s be as bad as we can be, you and me.”

Jett has come a long way from three chord mantras like “I Love Rock n Roll. Three songs, “Hard To Grow Up”, “Fragile” and “Different” illustrate her growth as a songwriter and musician.

“Hard To Grow Up” blends circuitous, sinewy riffs with a steady rhythm. The lyrics are sharp and introspective..“I wake up feeling crazy, keep losing people-just lost my mom-So difficult to fathom, that they’re gone/I could go out and party, but nothing kills my pain-so helpless and there’s no one I can blame.” At the end of the track, Jett poignantly wonders “how does it end, this story my friend?”

“Fragile” is also a mordant meditation on mortality. Cloaked in tilting, windmill riffs and

February 6 to February 12, 2014

By rebecca pikus

“WALKING TOUR OF HISTORIC CATHEDRAL CITY COVE HOMES & ARTISTS”

A

a galloping beat, Jett offers this philosophical couplet…”I’m at the point in life now I think about my own mortality and how it all works out/ I lived the best I could, I see myself and wonder was it good enough.” Salted in the mix are a sweet string section and wah-wah guitar.

Finally, a tick-tock beat, accented by cowbell, collides with down n dirty guitar licks on “Different.” The lyrics are a rallying cry for individuality…”Age is not in years it sits between your ears, you see you’re different/ It’s fun to break the mold and see it take ahold and now you’re different.” On the instrumental break the guitar locks into a hypnotic, kaleidoscopic groove as the tune grinds to a hiccup-y close.

Of course, Jett’s forte is stripped down anthems accented by overpowering hooks.

She delivers on the album’s best tracks, “T.M.I.” and “Reality Mentality.” Anchored by a chunky backbeat, rumbling bass lines and strafing guitar, “T.M.I.” recalls the bubblegum crunch of The Sweet and the Ramones.

Jett’s lyrics offer a smart-ass take on social media… “Don’t need to know just what you’re up to, who you eat or what you screw/ Type away your privacy, don’t you care about your dignity, sharing all indignities/You make the scene to be seen.”

“Reality Mentality” is a trenchant take on celebrity. Candy coated guitar licks wash over a stomping martial cadence as Jett offers cautionary words…”It’s getting sticky out there, now it’s buyer beware/ Star machinery is employed, say hey enjoy the this show of schadenfreude.”

Unvarnished closes with the sweetly baroque “Everybody Needs A Hero.” Jett’s tomboyish rasp takes on a tender tone as she gently croons. Holding out for a hero, (not in a strident, Bonnie Tyler way), she seems to be channeling Nico, Marianne Faithfull and Nick Drake. A surprisingly wistful conclusion to a great album.

There have been myriad personnel changes since the the 80s, but the current Blackhearts line-up has been together for several years.

Guitarist Dougie Needles, drummer Thommy Price, Kenny Laguna handling keys and bassist Acey Slide offer an adroit support system for Jett.

Unvarnished is a triumphant return for Jett, an accomplished effort from a Punk pioneer.

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

rtists Simeon Den & Peter Palladino, (along with Judy Penny) were the Creators of the Annual Cathedral City Cove Artists Homes Tour. Peter & Simeon are the Unofficial Mayors of Cathedral City Cove. They single-handedly have been Revitalizing their beloved Cove. They are also the Founders of the Agnes Pelton Society, (Agnes Pelton was a famous painter who lived & worked in the Cove many years ago). They own & occupy her beautifully renovated & restored Historical Home, Studio, & Sculpture Garden. The focus of their Home Tour is to produce a Community Event & Grassroots Movement to alter (the sometimes negative) public perception of Cathedral City -- and the Cove in particular.

There are over 50 Artists & Designers living in the Cove, and this year’s Home Tour is special because they are also featuring, in addition to Fine Art -- Music, Dance, Children’s Art-Making, and Folk Art. “Embrace the Art, Music & Dance” is this year’s Theme. The public is invited to visit historic adobe, pre-WWII, & MidCentury homes & studios of professional Cathedral City Artists, & view Sculptures, Paintings, Photography & Folk Art; & Tour the remarkable home of the celebrated Desert Painter, Agnes Pelton.

The public will also be able to attend Open Rehearsals of 2 resident Performing Arts groups: “The Dance Program”” and the “Desert Winds Freedom Band.” In addition, they can experience a Folk Art Garden and a Children’s Art Workshop. They also will

be privileged to see an Avant Garde Botoh Dance Performance of Moving Sculpture by the “DiosGracias VoceDans Theatre” in the Agnes Pelton Sculpture Garden.

The featured artist is Sculptor, Robert Reeves -- who lives & works in the Cove. His unique hand-crafted Fine Art Furniture, “The Contour Collection” is represented by the Stephen Archdeacon Gallery in Palm Springs. Other Artists will be represented, including Painter Liz Brown, who also lives & works in the Cove. Liz is also a Designer and founder of Midnight Raven Design in L.A. Again, let me emphasize in my column that the public loves to visit Artists Homes & Studios -- to have the opportunity to have a dialogue with the Artist, see how they create, what materials they use, where they get their inspiration from. We are blessed indeed, here in our beautiful Desert, to attract so many incredibly talented Artists.

Agnes Pelton Society’s Walking Tour of Historic Cathedral City Cove Homes & Artists is on Sunday, February 23, 2014 from 11:00am-3:00pm. Tickets are $15 (children free), available on the day of the Event at the Farmers Market, fronting the Imax Theater (Hwy 111 & Cathedral Canyon Dr.) Cathedral City, Ca -- and online at www.

AgnesPeltonSociety.com

Wedding Show Hosted by Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs & Wedding Warriors Free Admission PA L M S P R I N G S

Sunday, February 23rd, 2014 11:30am – 3:30pm

Grand Prize Giveaway!

Meet with the pros to learn how to make your wedding rock!

See Meet

Fashion Show with top designers and the hottest trends photographers, DJs and more

Sample Gourmet cakes and food

Plus… get a swag bag with great giveaways while supplies last!

For more information visit www.weddingwarriors.org

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February 6 to February 12, 2014

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PET PLACE Royal Treatment at Barkingham Palace Pet Hotel

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by Janet McAfee

Y

ou and your well behaved pooch are invited to celebrate the third anniversary party of the Pet Hotel at Barkingham Palace in Palm Desert on Valentine weekend, February 15 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. This swank pet hotel takes the quality and level of care for your pets to a new level. Owners Marty and Lori Weiner clearly love animals, and three years ago they had a vision of a place where pets could go and have a happy, healthy and enriching experience while their owners work or travel.

Lori Weiner explains, “We’ve grown by word of mouth and tripled our business due to the level of care and love we show these animals while they stay here. Each animal gets one-on-one time and individual needs are accommodated. Once we had a dog who had never been away from home, and when she became stressed in her private room, we decided to keep her in a bed next to the front desk staff.”

When you first enter Barkingham with its rich purple and gold interior and tasteful art, you know this establishment is a far cry

Here’s Johnny Johnny has waited 2 years for his forever home. The Barkingham Palace Pet Hotel rescued this sweet, playful 4-yrold Terrier from the old Indio Animal shelter. Johnny is well cared for, but hopes for a family to be with. Call (760) 537-1172 if you are interested in adopting him.

beautiful bella

This fabulous 1-yr-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi mix girl dreams of a home! She is dog ID #A1001448. Bella is a calm, loving dog who would be a great walking buddy! Go visit her the Coachella Valley Animal Campus, 72-050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, (760) 343-3644. She is dog ID #A1001448.

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from the boarding kennels of yesteryear.

Classical music and the scent of aromatic oils create a soothing ambiance. Happy four legged guests retire for the night in cozy suites named “Prince Charles of Tails” and “Wolfminster Labby” after a busy day at the fitness center and playing with other dogs in the lovely dog park. A doggie treadmill works off those extra pounds. Time now to relax and switch on the large flat screen television and catch an episode of Animal Planet, but

not before checking in by webcam with the “folks” who are vacationing abroad.

Lori Weiner envisions developing a complete wellness center for dogs with an emphasis on nutrition and homeopathic healing. All the guests dine on high quality grain free food. Some dogs book a spa treatment which includes essential oils that keep them healthy. The facility offers a free class on therapeutic oils called “Doggie and Me”. They use all non-toxic products including a 360 degree steam cleaner on the flooring that kills all communicable diseases.

Many new amenities have developed at Barkingham over the past three years. An agility program provides additional exercise and skills. Puppy socialization classes are now offered on Tuesdays and Thursday.

There is even a movie night with popcorn to keep the pups entertained! The Pet Hotel at Barkingham Palace is truly a gem in the world of pet care. The best advertisement of all is to see the returning guests happily wagging their tails as they enter.

Cats are also cared for at Barkingham.

Upstairs “InterCATinental” provides a separate area with kitty condos for feline guests. Spacious climate controlled cages are available to board your bird. Staff is on duty

24 hours a day and cameras throughout the building provide safety and security for your pet.

The Weiners are big supporters of animal rescue organizations. They have rescued and found homes for many rescue dogs over the years. They rescued Johnny, the little brown terrier pictured on this page, 2 years ago from the Indio shelter. Johnny receives excellent care, but they believe he deserves a family of his own.

A Bible verse inscribed in large lettering over the dog park captures the spirit of the loving care provided, “The Animals of the Field will glorify His Name. He will give them Water in the Desert” (Isaish 43:20). The pets give The Barkingham Palace Pet Hotel a “Five Woof” rating!

The Valentine themed anniversary party on February 15 is a great opportunity for you and your pet to visit The Pet Hotel at Barkingham Palace. This fun filled day includes music, food, shopping, and agility demonstrations. Joe Baldino, our wonderful local guitarist will perform. Famed local artists, Karen and Tony Barone, will present their new 6 foot Golden Retriever sculpture.

You can bring your dog in a «royal” costume and enter the contest for the “King” and “Queen” of Barkingham palace to win fabulous prizes. Proceeds from the $20 contest entry fee benefit animal welfare groups. Loving All Animals and Living Free will bring some wonderful rescue dogs for adoption.

WHAT: 3rd Anniversary Pawty Celebration at the Pet Hotel at Barkingham Palace WHEN: Saturday, February 15, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm WHERE: 34-550 Spyder Circle (corner of Dinah Shore, just east of Monterey), Palm Desert COST: There is no cost to attend, $20 fee for contest. Pet products available from vendors.

CONTACT: You can contact the Pet Hotel at Barkingham Palace at (760) 537-1172

February 6 to February 12, 2014

by Rick Riozza

In the Mood for Wine Clubs

W

E KNOW—you’re a wine lover and wish to try new wines but you find yourself in a bit of a rut buying the same or similar ones continuingly. Or maybe you’ve been so busy that you find less and less time to shop around for wine. Add to the fact that perhaps you need a break from all that busyness and it would be nice to meet up socially with like-minded vino lovers.

So how does the idea sound of having a wine expert choose your wine, order it and deliver it; then occasionally, meet up with the expert and others at a local venue to enjoy that wine. These are major reasons wine lovers join a wine club. Wine clubs have been around for a while now, and they are the perfect solution to a problem like this. Most people even say that joining a wine club is the perfect option for those who wish to know more about wine.

The new wine club in town is called Mood Wine and their members are affectionately known as “Moodies”. This wine-themed social group meets up quarterly to enjoy and discuss the wines they’ve just purchased, to sample tasty wine pairing dishes, and to join in fun conversation.

A couple of years ago, Patrick Bartlett, a WSET graduate chef and wine educator, started Mood Wine with his partner, photographer/graphic artist Jake Stanford, here in the Palm Springs area. Their goal was to connect wine lovers to fine wines, and vine lovers to each other. Bartlett is also a seasoned winery management consultant, wine event planner, and social media specialist. And Jake is a true artist behind the camera. Follow him at www. moodcreative.co/jake/ and take in the view.

At Mood Wine, there is no membership fee, but the Moodies agree to buy the “club wine package” of three bottles four times a year. The selection of boutique and artisanal wine is California, West Coast and international, and, discounted at least 20%.

According to Bartlett, ‘The “Red Wine’ club typically cost around $100 four times per year. The ‘White Wine’ club cost around $75 four times per year. Some members belong

to both clubs because they enjoy the wines selected.

“The idea was to make it a social wine club and not just another box of bottles” says Bartlett. “The first 45-60 minutes are for socializing and enjoying tasty nibbles and reception wine.” He then leads the group through a tasting of each of the current three club wines paired with a gourmet bite that he has prepared as well. Bartlett often conducts fun culinary discussions enlightening the group to wine culture, geography, and travel.

The group is made up of both singles and couples and growing. “We have over 60 people from all walks of life and the networking opportunities for those in business are great,” comments Bartlett.

“And by the way—there is no shipping charge when picking up the wine at the event.” The club generally meets at “the Loft” in Palms Springs but other venues— such as local restaurants, are varied to add to the experience.

Lori Cohen-Sanford of Nourishfoods, says, “We moved down from the Settle area over a year ago and joined the club to meet up with other wine lovers in this area. We didn’t know much about California wine but Patrick has acted as a personal “wine concierge” for us customizing our wine collection. We enjoy his wine and food “bites” tasting at our wine parties and we’ve come to know a large cross-section of people here in Palm Springs socially and business-wise as well.”

Activities and services seem to be evolving. Bartlett tells us, “We’ve launched a new program via Mood Wine – Wine Wedding Registry. It’s super simple. All you do is contact us, we set-up a link for your invited guests to shop, and they in turn click on the link and shop in increments of $25.

Then after the wedding the couple shops for wine from our extensive wine catalog via our many distributors.”

To learn more about Mood Wine and the “art of living well” go to www. moodwine.com.

Besides the social aspect, others

advantages to wine club membership are the access to small-production “boutique” wineries, for connoisseurs who want specialty wines not widely available at retail, and wine newbies who want selections that will help them explore and refine their tastes.

Some wine clubs are established by wineries to primarily assist in selling wine and providing discounts to their loyal clients.

The Tulip Mania Wine Club is run by the Tulip Hill Winery, a boutique winery that produces close to 20 different wines and offers tastes in its tasting room located at The River at Rancho Mirage. Membership includes receiving four bottles of wine shipped four times a year at a 20% discount.

Members are invited to the tasting room

for complementary tastings, wine release parties, and exclusive winery events.

Other wine clubs are casual meetings where wine is offered. The Palm Springs Public Library Wine Book Club is more of a discussion group celebrating books and wine. This group meets at Azul Tapas Lounge on the last Wednesday of each month (unless otherwise noted) at 6:00 p.m.in the dining room. All attendees must be 21 years of age to attend. Wine and other food items are available for a nominal fee. Neither wine tastings nor purchases are required to attend the club, which is FREE and open to the public. For the list of monthly book selections go to www. palmspringslibrary.org and click on Book Clubs.

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February 6 to February 12, 2014

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Club Clu luubb Crawler CCr Craw raaw wle wl w ler Nightlife Nig NNi iigggh ght httltlilliiifffee ht COUNTRY WESTERN(CW) VARIETY / DANCE(VD) ROCK N ROLL(RR) PIANO BAR(PB) JAZZ(JZ) POP ROCK(PR) BLUES(BL) CLASSIC ROCK(CR) CABARET(CB) LATIN ROCK(LR) REGGAE(RG) ACOUSTIC (AC) METAL(M)

THUR FEBRUARY 6 29 PALMS INN; 29 PALMS; 760-367-3505 Bev and Bill 6pm (JZ) ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Reunion w/ DJ Day in the Amigo Room 10pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Paul Elia 7-10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Paula Prince 7pm (PB) BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 John Stanley King 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6pm DESERT FOX; PS; 760-325-9555 Thirsty Thursdays w/ The Hive Minds 8pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-9920002 Lola Rossi, Rob Carter and Denise Motto 5-9pm (JZ) EUREKA; IW; 760-834-7700 T.B.A. 8pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 Industry Night w/ Karaoke in the Lobby 7pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Industry Night

w/ DJ Angelique 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank Di Salvo 6pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke w/ Roberto 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 Hot Rox LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen in the lounge and Tom on the patio 6pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Country Night w/ Brian Jones 8pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 8-1am (LR) MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm (PB)(VD) MIRAMONTE RESORT; IW; 760-341-7200 “Sassy & Sultry” featuring Gina Carey 5-8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm (PB) PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Jeffrey Foucault w/ Bill Conway 8pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 Machin’ 7pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross 6pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Spaghetti Western Night 5pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 8-12am VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Carolyn Martinez & The Trio 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-9pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Casey 5:30pm WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 Michael Keeth 6-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Yve Evans Jazz 6pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Singles Night 9pm

FRI FEBRUARY 7

18

19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ T Bone 9pm 29 PALMS INN; 29P; 760-367-3505 Dana Larson 6pm (AC) ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Jesus Sons w/ Permanent Record DJs 10pm Amigo Room AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Karaoke w/ AJ The KJ 8-12am AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Nash 8pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Sean Tomlin 10pm BILLY REED’S; PS; 760-325-1946 Live Music 6-10pm BLUE BAR, SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-7755566 DJ PWee 8pm (VD) BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 The Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm

CLINIC BAR & LOUNGE; PS; 760-864-4119 Cosmic Disco w/ All Night Shoes 9pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 Ozzmania (Tribute to Ozzy) and Dirt (Tribute to Alice in Chains) 8pm DICKIE O’NEALS IRISH PUB; PS; 760-3252600 Lassie Jo’s Best Damn Karaoke 7pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 Dude Jones 9pm HAMILTON’S; LQ; 760-698-8303 Comedy Night 7pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 DJ Colourvision 9pm Lobby, DJ Shasta & MC Esjay 11pm Lobby THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Mikey Reyes, TJ Nasty and The Hive Minds 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank Di Salvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Live DJ 8:30pm (VD) KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 T.B.A. 7:30pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen 6pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Kool Breeze 9pm THE LOUNGE; AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Shaken Not Stirred 9pm (VD) MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm (PB)(VD) NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm (PB) PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 T.B.A. 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 The Roadrunners 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Cal King and Sam Outlaw 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 Leo Gosselin 6pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 T.B.A. 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 8pm, Scott Carter Sidebar Lounge 10pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Sprung Monkey and Whiskey & Knives 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Country Night w/ Walt Young 5:30pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. (JZ)(RR) TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 The Refills 9pm

TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 Tilted @ Night 10pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE; MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 The Rick Whitfield Band 10pm (VD) VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Pat Rizzo & All That Jazz Band 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 T.B.A. 1:304:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Inca Kings 5:30pm, John McCormick & The Mac Band w/ DJ Randy Johnson 9:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Dan Horn, Joseph William Kennedy, Daytime Moon and A Live DJ 9pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760-5642201 Rob & jb 7-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Rose Mallet 6:30pm (JZ) ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Girl’s Night out w/ The Men on the Hollywood Strip 9pm

SAT FEBRUARY 8

19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 9pm 29 PALMS INN; 29P; 760-367-3505 Beverly & Bill 6-9pm (JZ) ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 DJ Casual Touch noon poolside, Stronghold Reggae 10pm amigo room AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Cabaret on the Green w/ Les Michaels & Joel Baker 7-10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 T.B.A. 8pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Dimensions 10pm $5 cover BILLY REED’S; PS; 760-325-1946 Live Music 6-10pm BLUE BAR; SPOTLIGHT 29; IND; 760-7755566 DJ PWee (VD) BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Steve Madaio 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CLINIC BAR & LOUNGE; PS; 760-864-4119 House Party w/ The House Whores 9pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6:30-9:30pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 What the Funk and Long Duk Dong 9pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm DICKIE O’NEALS IRISH PUB; PS; 760-3252600 T.B.A. 8pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 T.B.A. 9pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 The Refills 8-11pm THE GROOVE LOUNGE; SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ 8pm HAMILTON’S; LQ; 760-698-8303 Timepiece 9pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 DJ Colourvision w/ DJ Kid Wonder, 11am poolside, 9pm Lobby THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Mondo

Generator, You Know Who, and Brain Vat 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank Di Salvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 T.B.A. 8pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 T.B.A. 6pm, Karaoke w/ Roberto 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen 6pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Kool Breeze 9pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Shaken Not Stirred 9pm (VD) MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm (PB)(VD) MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm (PB) PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 T.B.A. 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 Scott Carter 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Shadow Mountain Band 5pm, Cal King and Andrew Sheppard 8pm PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-228-1199 Scarlet Roads 9pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Aisle of View 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 The Gand Band 9pm RENAISSANCE PALM; PS; 760-322-6100 Art of Sax featuring Sax Man Will Donato & Eddie Reddick 7-10pm (JZ) RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 T.B.A. 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross, Starlite Lounge 5pm, Esjay Jones, Sidebar Lounge 10pm, DJ Shasta, Starlite Lounge 10pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Wyte Gye and DJ Ray 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Karaoke w/ Milly G 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Music 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 The Mighty Delta-Tones 9pm TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 Tilted@Night 9pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE, MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 DJ Hektik 10pm (VD) VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Pat Rizzo & All That Jazz Band 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Rob & JB 1:30-4:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Jeff 5:30pm, Slim Man 9:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Red’s

Rockstar Karaoke 9pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760-5642201 Alex Drizos 7-10pm (LR)(PR) WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Stanley Butler Band 7pm (JZ) ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ PJ 9pm (VD)

SUN FEBRUARY 9

29 PALMS INN; 29P; 760-367-3505 Bob & Allison Garcia 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Ace Hotel 5th B-day Blowout w/ DJ Ron Cameron, poolside noon, Intoxica Radio Live w/ Howie Pyro 10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 The Judy Show 7:30pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Steve Madaio 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT; PS; 888999-1995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 9pm (LR) CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Hal Sweasey 6pm

February 6 to February 12, 2014

COME JOIN US FOR THE FUN!!

• 14 flat screen televisions • NTN Trivia and poker with QB1

While you are here you can try one of our ten tap beer selections from a frosty cold glass or choose one of our 30 tequilas or vodkas to make your favorite cocktail.

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12105 PALM DRIVE DESERT HOT SPRINGS

(760) 251-2644

continue to page 24

19

February 6 to February 12, 2014

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The Pampered Palate

Lulu California Bistro

W

hen people find out that I write restaurant reviews, they ask me to recommend the best restaurant in the valley. After I finish laughing I say, I could tell them where to go every night of the week for a month and not hit a bad restaurant. One of them I am adding to that list is Lulu California Bistro. Location, location, location, in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, on one of the most busy corners of the “main drag”, Arenas and South Palm Canyon.

My wife and I were seated in a beautiful booth, with a view of Palm Canyon through the windows past the patio. Ricky, our server’s assistant, was there immediately to ask us if we preferred a bottle of sparkling or plain water.

We asked for sparkling, and as he went to get it, Jessica arrived with a warm friendly smile.

We like to ask for recommendations, and

20

Jessica was not shy to tell us what she thought was best for our tastes. For our first appetizer, we had the most popular, an Avocado Tuna Tower which was finely chopped seared tuna, inner mixed with avocado, in a tower shape.

Alongside the tower were seaweed, ginger, wasabi, soy sauce, and crispy wontons. Our second appetizer was Filet Mignon Skewers: thin strips of filet on skewers, stabbed into a baked caramelized apple. Both of these dishes had us understanding why Lulu’s has award winning chefs, led by executive chef Arturo Casillas. After the appetizers, Jessica told us we had to try the Lobster Salad, so who were we to argue. The salad had whole chunks of lobster, large shrimp, mixed baby greens, passion fruit, mangos, strawberries, blueberries, cherry tomatoes, in a tortilla bowl; with a passion fruit vinaigrette dressing. We could have ended the

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The Pampered Palate

By David Wayne meal there and been completely satisfied.

Jessica had not steered us wrong up to this point, so we totally allowed her to choose our entrees. I had Pork Chops, grilled and served with baked apples in a syrup glaze, mashed potatoes, and mixed vegetables. It was a ten ounce pork chop that was thick, juicy, and oh so tender. My wife had their Maui Onion Gorgonzola Pear Pizza, on a gluten-free crust.

I feel like the name says it all, and yes it was as good as it sounds. Jessica had my wife doing some wine tasting, and brought her three glasses with a few sips each of: Chalone Pinot Noir, Vina Punta Nino Chile Cabernet, and Domino Merlot. Each glass of wine seemed to compliment the other, and left my wife very pleased. She also had a Key Lime Pie Martini, that too was as good as it sounds, and a very beautiful drink.

We were full and very satisfied, but for the sake of the review, of course we had to have dessert. We had two; the first was one of the best desserts we have ever had, called Floating Island. This tasty treat was in a margarita style glass with crème brulee cream, a floating meringue, nuts, agave nectar honey, and a strawberry on top. The second dessert was their gluten-free Flourless Triple Chocolate Cake: a brownie style first layer with a second layer of thick chocolate mousse, and topped with dark chocolate. The cake was rich and very delicious.

With a friendly staff that provides great

February 6 to February 12, 2014

By Raymond Bill

PS Underground Brings “Kaos”

I

service, a great location, and a soothing fun atmosphere, Lulu’s is one of the premier restaurants in Palm Springs. Our thanks to General Manager Willie Rhine for having us dine in his fine establishment. If you are on the East side of the valley, you can visit their sister restaurant, Acqua Pazza in Rancho Mirage.

200 South Palm Canyon, Palm Springs Reservations: 760-327-5858

have been bragging about PS Underground for quite some time now however, many are still uncertain as to whether they should attend one of these events. This past week, this wandering supper club succeeded in hosting one of the best dinner shows our valley has seen.

For just a few nights, co-founders, Michael Fietsam and David Horgen, presented their latest installment, “KAOS”. This dining adventure featured fine cuisine and entertainment that left their guests, including myself, in awe.

A day prior to the event, I received an email disclosing its location along with the instruction to dress for a dinner party but with something amiss. Guests arrived with mismatched shoes, earrings and even colored contacts. Adding to the chaos of the appropriately named theme, one guest arrived with her top completely inside out!

This broke the tension as we all mingled over martinis guessing each other’s wardrobe malfunction.

As we proceeded to the dining area in the adjacent room, we admired one grand table

photos By bruce feagle

to accommodate the entire group. The menu before us would note the many courses we would receive but little did we know the order in which we would receive them would be random. The food was presented elegantly as if it were being served in one of the desert’s finest restaurants. We began with a terrine of roasted and chilled beets with herbed goat cheese. Incredible! Other courses included Seared Duck Breast with a Bacon Red Wine and Honey Gastrique, and Seared Jumbo Scallops with a Lemongrass Brown Butter. We enjoyed our desert early in the meal, a Meyer Lemon Mousse, and also out of order, were a Dutch Mustard Soup and Wild Rocket Salad. The food was simply perfection.

What was truly amazing about our experience was the entertainment between courses. It was reminiscent of a trip to the circus, complete with a trapeze-like ring and acrobats in full costume. These limber ladies danced and twirled before us in the center of our large dining table, capturing our attention and filling our faces with childlike wonder. One of the performers balanced on a ball and danced around the perimeter of the table and again on the table before us, never stumbling or falling out of character. Other performers danced with illuminated hula hoops and bongo drums. It was spectacular!

I cannot say enough about how remarkable this experience was. PS Underground continually exceeds my expectations, making it the best dining venue in the Coachella Valley. There is no competition. PS Underground will be featuring an encore performance of “KAOS” February 27th for those that missed out.

Visit www.psunderground.com or like them on Facebook for more information.

“THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD THE WEST HAS TO OFFER!” Our wonderful staff is committed to giving you the best dining experience. We have a nicely stocked bar and great desserts as well. Our authentic mexican food main courses are truly mouth watering.

We have an award winning sweet corn tamale that you just have to try for yourself.

Once you dine at Pueblo Viejo Grill, you'll be back for more soon!

3PM TO 6PM

$2 DRAFT BEERS $5 APPETIZERS

2 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU:

36901 COOK ST. STE.#3 PALM DESERT, CA 92211 (760)836-1133

81931 HIGHWAY 111 INDIO, CA 92201 (760)342-5900

WWW.PUEBLOVIEJOGRILL.COM

21

February 6 to February 12, 2014

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Movie Reviews with Robin E. Simmons

Screeners No. 98

REMEMBERING PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN (1967-2014)

T

n

r t a in me n te t

E

he news of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s sudden demise last weekend from an apparent heroin “overdose” (is there a normal dose of heroin?) was a punch in the gut. Here was a guy who was clearly at the peak of his considerable powers. He had fame, respect, money, kids and a job he loved. Why oh why is the high of life not enough? Especially for a guy like Hoffman who so clearly loved what he did so very well.

Many critics and fans consider Hoffman the best of our contemporary actors on stage and screen. On the occasion of Hoffman’s death, Steve Martin tweeted praise about his singular Willy Lowman in “Death of a Salesman.” There was an immediate outpouring of similar sentiment by coworkers, fans and friends -- famous and not.

Although Hoffman was not particularly handsome, nor did he have a compelling voice, he connected with us by being utterly ordinary in an extraordinary way. Even in lesser roles, he intuitively exposed his complex humanity in subtle and sly ways.

I think of his smaller parts, such as Brandt,

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the obsequious factotum to the actual big Lebowski in the titular 1998 film. Hoffman’s persnickety yet unctuous mannerisms are so perfect, especially in the light of the film class and cultural differences as a whole. In many ways, he’s the flip-side, the reverse image, of Jeff Bridges’ Lebowski. I wonder what thought went into Hoffman’s considerations for Brandt. I don’t recall seeing any such directions in the screenplay.

By my count, Hoffman has been in over 60 films. An avid lover of the stage, he has appeared on stage dozens of times -- most to some kind of acclaim. Not bad for a public life cut off so early. I have not seen all of Hoffman’s movies, but certain titles pop up when I think of him.

I recall first noticing Hoffman in SCENT OF A WOMAN (1992). It was his first big movie, although he acted in several very minor films before that.

A few years later I noticed him as Dusty, the storm chaser in TWISTER (1996), a film that had no pretensions of being anything beyond an effects driven thrill ride. I thought to myself, “that’s the same guy that was in Pacino’s movie. He’s pretty good. I like that guy. There’s something about him.” To me, he was the most interesting character.

I don’t know why I thought that, but the movie came more alive when Hoffman was on screen – even with the big tornadoes trashing everything. There was something authentic about his geeky frat boy misfit.

And then came BOOGIE NIGHTS (1997).

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22

The movie put P.T. Anderson and a reinvented Mark Wahlberg on the map. Even with all the controversy and the bold, sexualized themes of identity and loneliness, I noticed Hoffman’s Scotty, the gay boom operator in love with porn star Dirk (Wahlberg). I think his performance in this film was the big break for Hoffman. He was clearly a force with which to be reckoned. Pathetic Scotty demanded our understanding and stole our empathy.

In HAPPINESS (1998), Hoffman is Allen, an overweight boyfriend who puts a curse on the girl who just broke up with him. He curses her family too. Some unsettling things unfold in this controversial dark, uhm, comedy from the mind of Todd Solondz.

What more can possibly be said of Hoffman’s almost supernatural embodiment of writer Truman Capote in CAPOTE (2005)? His galvanizing portrayal of Capote, not just in mannerism and voice but also in his tortured soul, won him a Best Actor Oscar©. It’s been said of Hoffman that he had the ability to molecularly adjust his very being in the process of pretending to be another. If proof were needed, see again this film with that thought in mind.

I think of Hoffman’s over-extended broker Andy Hanson in Sidney Lumet’s BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOUR DEAD (2007). This thriller is the one about two distressed brothers who decide to rob their parent’s jewelry store. Naturally, it all goes very wrong. The banality of evil is certainly a primary element of this disturbing film.

Throughout, Hoffman’s gives off a rising vapor of desperation rarely seen on screen.

I didn’t like that he made me feel in my gut what that horrible emotion was like. But I admired his ability to make me feel it.

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Hoffman is Father Brenden Flynn, an accused pedophile, in DOUBT (2008). Meryl Streep is strict principal Sister Aloysius, with whom Hoffman’s progressive Flynn faces off in a 1964 Bronx parish. I’ve seen this film with multiple audiences and there was ALWAYS a heated discussion about Flynn’s guilt or innocence. Both sides felt the answer was “obvious.” It’s not, thanks to Hoffman’s rare skill at conveying a fierce ambiguity that allows for our increasing concern for all those affected by the charges.

In JACK GOES BOATING (2010), Hoffman

directed himself as a simple, introverted 40 something limo driver, Jack, who makes a heroic effort to go on a date. It’s a memorable performance, a middle-aged, coming-of-age odyssey set within a few Brooklyn blocks.

There’s no residue of Hoffman’s retinue of previous characters, ticks, mannerisms in THE MASTER (2012). His arrogant manipulator Lancaster Dodd has been widely understood to be a riff on Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. When Hoffman’s on screen, it’s easy to see how dangerous it is when certain pathologies collide. And how easily one can be seduced and abused by a well-dressed madman.

Hoffman knew how to read between the lines of a play or movie script and inject his own DNA into the character he was playing.

Or was it the other way around? On the other hand, maybe Hoffman himself didn’t have a clue and it was all an unconscious thing that only happened on stage or in front of a camera during the moment of performance.

When asked, Hoffman seemed unable to articulate how he could so seemingly effortlessly become other people. It’s as if he went somewhere and returned to the screen or stage with wisdom about what it means to be human.

Whatever the process, his mostly soft-spoken characters with a lazy voice generated an uncanny sense of concern and often empathy in the audience. For an actor who made no special effort to change his physicality, he became a truly different person from role to role. Hoffman said he had insecurities and fears like everybody, but got over it. “I was interested in the parts of me that struggled with those things,” he said. He admitted the process of becoming a character was torturous, but the end result so beautiful he had to do it. He said, “I am grateful to feel something so deeply. That’s my life.”

We will see Hoffman on the big screen through 2015. Besides the two part MOCKINGJAY sequels to the “Hunger Games” franchise, Hoffman has completed John Le Carré’s claustrophobic thriller A MOST WANTED MAN, in which he plays a surly German spy. He plays a small time con artist in the completed GOD’S POCKET, based on the popular Pete Dexter novel.

Philip Seymour Hoffman was a mysterious traveler to other worlds who brought back treasures and secrets about our collective humanity. He allowed us a rare peek into the strange, many faceted soul we share. He was our mirror. And he will be missed. RIP. RobinESimmons@aol.com

Book Review

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

February 6 to February 12, 2014

By Heidi Simmons

A Delicious Dinner to Digest

S

ome books are easy to devour.

Herman Koch’s The Dinner (Crown Publishing Group, 320) is an appetizing read that satiates in a fresh and organic way.

Koch entices the reader from the beginning by slowly disseminating information in tasty little bites. Rather than chapters, he cleverly divides the book into courses, making this dinner a hell of a meal. It is not until desert is served and the check comes that the reader gets the entire picture. It is impossible to talk about this book without giving the story away and altering the pleasure of the read.

The entire narrative is told from one person’s point of view. Paul Lohman is telling the story as best he can. He and his wife are meeting his brother and sister-inlaw for dinner at an upscale, overpriced, trendy Amsterdam restaurant. His brother, a popular member of Parliament, is running for Prime Minister and is considered the likely candidate to win.

But this dinner is not about enjoying the company, haute cuisine or political campaigns. There is an unfortunate situation that must be dealt with and the moral dilemma is eating away at this foursome. Their sons, three cousins, have

The Dinner

By Herman Koch

Fiction

done something despicable and it seems they have gotten away with it. For now.

The horrific act was recorded on a cell phone. The footage was uploaded to YouTube -- as if bragging -- and went viral. It was then picked-up by all the media outlets.

Police aired available surveillance film of the event hoping to get information about the culprits from the public. However, the footage is too grainy and distant to identify the hoodlums. But the parents are sure they know; a familiar shoe, a hat, a gesture.

The public is outraged at the terrible behavior by these young unknown teens and demand they be caught and punished.

The children’s actions spark public debate about the nation’s youth, the plight of the less fortunate and the country’s future.

As the couples move through their courses at dinner, they share inane chatter and polite conversation. It is a struggle to get to the real reason for their night out.

What to do about their children? Paul is not sure who at the table really knows the truth. He remains in denial and wants to help his son. Paul wants to believe his wife is still innocent and doesn’t yet know about the incident. He is suspicious and cynical of everyone at the table. Tension and emotions rise until the issue is finally put on the table.

Paul is not willing to give up his son.

His brother, however, is, even at the risk of ruining his career and the scandal that will certainly ensue. This makes matters complicated for the adults and the issue becomes very personal and extremely intense.

The Dinner is involving. The chapters are short and wonderful to savor. As Paul reveals information about attending the dinner and who they are meeting and why, the story slowly builds and connects.

For any parent, this story is scary.

Raising kids is a challenge. How we affect our children’s behavior and what we pass on genetically is always something parents

consider. Every parent wants to protect his or her kids. For most parents, our hope and goal is to raise responsible and compassionate human beings. But what if we don’t?

Koch weaves a compelling narrative that feels like the reader is experiencing it first hand. The character, Paul, may be telling us what he thinks is going on, but the reader is allowed to draw his or her own conclusions.

We are engaged with all the characters and the whole ugly mess. Now the reader must see this through. But the problem is up to the characters to solve. The reader must wait, even with page turning speed.

This is an exciting style of writing. It is brave to convey so little information. Koch trusts his reader to follow, not only what is on the page, but also what is between the lines. He believes the reader will empathize, understand and follow each character’s predicament. Koch masterfully gives the reader insight into the situation and our own place at the table.

After you digest The Dinner, be sure to make reservation to dine out with someone who has read the book. You will want to discuss what you have consumed. It will certainly provide a delicious conversation.

23

February 6 to February 12, 2014 continued from page 19 FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 DJ Colourvision w/ Kid Wonder 11am poolside INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Ted Herman’s Big Band w/ Frank DiSalvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Open Jam 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Sunday Jam 4-8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Golden Era Karaoke 4-7pm, Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 The John McCormick Band 7pm THE NEW YORK COMPANY RESTAURANT; PS; 760-778-7789 Lili Rose 7pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 Longest Running Jam Session in the valley. Hosted by JB, Sign up 6pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Sunday Band 7pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 Sharon McNight-Twisted Xmas 6pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-3274080 Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 3pm, Will Donato’s Art of Sax Sidebar Patio 5pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Eddie Gee 7pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Acoustic Open Mic hosted by Walt Young SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Smooth Brothers (RR)(LR) VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Jazz Time Band 2-5pm, John Stanley King 6pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Scott Carter 1:30-4:30pm, Rob & JB 4:30-9pm, DJ Idol Eyez 9-2am

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VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Ben 11am, The Carmens 6:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Line Dancing w/ Tina 5:30-9pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760564-2201 Michael Keeth 6-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 The Smooth Brothers 6pm

MON FEBRUARY 10 29 PALMS INN; 29P; 760-367-3505 Bonnie Scott 6pm (AC) ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Sissy Bingo w/ Linda Gerard 7-9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Hal Sweasey 6pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Ron Kalina’s World Class Jazz Trio 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Gregg 5pm, lounge, Bob Allen 6pm outside patio NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 7pm (PB) SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 T.B.A. 6pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 T.B.A. 7pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-2am, Michael James & 3sum 9-2am WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 Art of Sax 8-11pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Trish Hatley Barney McClure Jazz 8pm

TUE FEBRUARY 11 29 PALMS INN; 29P; 760-367-3505 T.B.A. 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Ace Karaoke with Kiesha 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Mikole Karr’s Jazz Quartet 6pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Bella da Ball Dinner Revue w/ guest performers 7:30pm (CB) BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Vinyl Sessions 8pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-9920002 John Stanley King 5-9pm (JZ)(BL) FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Hal Sweasey 6pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke INDIAN CANYONS GOLF RESORT; PS; 760833-8700 DJ Randy Johnson 6-9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Michael D’Angelo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Ted Quinn’s Open Mic Reality Show Jam 8pm (VD) KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Dana Larson 6:30pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Gregg 5pm, Bob Allen 6pm outside patio NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Tim Burleson 7:45 (PB) PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 Eclectic Tuesdays. Singer/songwriter night. All acts welcome. Hosted by JB, Sign up 7pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Open Mic 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Open Mic

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www.coachellavalleyweekly.com 8pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. (RR)(JZ) VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Rodeo Drive’s Happy Hour Cabaret 4pm, Michael Dees & Trio 7pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Live entertainment VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Einstein 5:30pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Trish Hatley 6pm (JZ)

WED FEBRUARY 12

29 PALMS INN; 29P; 760-367-3505 Bobby And Randy (BL) ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 The Hive Minds 10pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Mikole Carr AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Paula Prince 7pm (PB) BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Nicky Vallee & Willy B 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CLINIC BAR & LOUNGE; PS; 760-864-4119 T.B.A. 9pm ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-9920002 Rose Mallet 5-9pm (JZ) FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm HAMILTON’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL; LQ; 760-698-8303 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 8:3012:30am THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Open Mic 8pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Rich Bono & Poupee Boccaccio 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Live Music (RR) KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke w/ Roberto 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-

2794 Hot Rox LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen in the lounge and Tom on the patio 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 “Sing Jam” w/ Michael Healy 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Golden Era Karaoke 4-7pm, Karaoke 8pm-1:15am Singles Night !!!

THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm (PB) NYPD; PS; 760-778-6973 Live DJ 9pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-288-1199 Karaoke w/ KJ Ginger 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760-327-1161ext.230 Michael Holmes Trio 6:30pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-4080 Martin Ross, Starlite Lounge 5pm, Open Mic w/ Esjay Jones, Sidebar 7pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 D Phillips Band 9pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Straight Ahead Jazz (JZ) VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Pat Rizzo & All That Jazz Band 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-2am, Nite Fixx 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Ben 5:30pm WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 Art of Sax 7-10pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Karaoke WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Brian Nova Trio Jazz 6pm

Don’t Be

CLUELESS IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY

EVENT CALENDAR

Sunday, February 9, 3pm. The Steinway Society of Riverside County presents the Annual Doctors of the Desert Concert.

Seven local physicians and a dentist will pluck off their surgical gloves and minus their white coats, fingers flying (Liszt!), or quietly making their point, the esteemed musicians, perform to ensure that music and arts is available in our local schools.

Public education has cut back on the arts, as you know, and the society produces six inschool programs for 20,000 local students..

We’re not talking “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” but the 3 B’s---Bach, Beethoven, Bartok, traditional American jazz (Gershwin!) and folklorist songs, perhaps even from Pete Seeger!

Guest artist and a Steinway Festival winner Joel Oswari will also perform. Honoring local philanthropist Helene Galen with the Patron of Music Award at the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences, Eisenhower Medical Center, 39000 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage.

Open seating. $ 50 ticket, per person. Call, 760-341-4130. SteinwayRiverside.org Monday, February 10, 10am- 3pm. “A Taste of Bridge” seminar by Audry Grant, International Celebrity Bridge Educator, award-winning author. Program includes

textbook, software, luncheon! Poker?

Canasta? Been there. Done that. Bridge is a game for brainiacs. And you’ve always yearned to learn. This program benefits Type 1 Diabetes research through the City of Hope. Reservations required. $90. Call 76 0-779-1801, dlong@coh.org. Desert Horizons Country Club, 44900 Desert Horizons Dr., Indian Wells.

Friday & Saturday, February 14 & 15, 8:30am-4pm. Up, up and Away in loops, dipping over the runway at 200 mph, whirling dangerous rolls and other elaborate maneuvers as amazed fans cheer the derring –do these masters of the air star plane models piloted by the Coachella Valley Radio Control Club members. “Monstar Jet Jam2014” is action-packed, exciting heart-stopping entertainment and a terrific Valentine’s Day treat for the whole family with awards, refreshments and featuring flyers and their model airplanes from all over the Southwest. Limited grandstand seating, so bring chairs. $ 5 parking fee, with 50% and all other donations going to the Wounded Warrior Project. “These planes replicate the flight of a real jet with their sound, speed and beauty,” says Dan Metz, president of the local club. For more info, call 760-340-0836, or go to cvrcclub.com.

Two day event at the Canal Regional Park, Coachella.

Saturday, February 15, 11am-4pm.

February 6 to February 12, 2014

by Diane Marlin-Dirkx Fashionista Alert! Recently, we noted the most encouraging, albeit brief, item in another weekly, namely Time magazine. In a bold humongous font, the headline unequivalently screamed— the clarion call even heard by those in the back of the plane, “In 10 minutes, you could be dead without the proper clothes.” We wanted to leap out of our seat, thrust a well-manicured fist in the air and echo the sentiment with “Amen Chanel!” until proper decorum and something else stopped us in our beautifully shod un-sneakered tootsies. The discovery that the message came from the Indianapolis mayor warning citizens---not about the dress code in his fair city—but about the “polar vortex“ that plunged temperatures to -50 degrees F. We don’t know about you, but as we look out at sunny skies and feel the feathery 75 degree warmth tickle our bare arms, well, we’ll play nice, keeping this info to ourselves and go about our business. Read on for the best of the Coachella Valley that you’ll want to make your business in the weeks ahead.

“The BFF Event” (Beauty, Fashion & Fitness with your BFF)! You’re invited to this absolutely free event produced by Contour Dermatology on a Saturday that is full of surprises and prizes! And so much more.

Corral you posse and head out to hear speakers who are experts in their fields, get inspired by the newest trends at a fashion show, meet vendors with the latest health and fitness ideas, attend workshops and gather up prizes. Benefitting The Palm Springs Art Museum, the event is being held at Contour Dermatology, 42-600 Mirage Rd., Rancho Mirage. More info, call 760416-6971, or contourderm.com.

Saturday, February 15, 8am-Late Afternoon. Go take a hike! Find your Bliss.

Legend has it that Lost Horse Mine is one of the easier mountains to climb in Joshua Tree National Park. Join expert hiker and knowledgeable historian Chris Metzger in an 8.5 mile route that travels over a high ridge to a remote valley and to the mining and camp ruins of the Optimist Mine.

Metzger will keep the hikers moving as he tells stories of the mine and its cast of characters. Everyone on the trail must be in good physical condition and comfortable spending the day walking up to ten miles in the park. Meet at Joshua Tree Visitor Center, 6554 Park Blvd., Joshua Tree. $ 50 for JTNPA/ PINE members. $60 for non-members. Info, call 760-367-5535. Or register online, go to joshuatree.org Saturday, February 15, 7pm. No time for Nashville on your travel itinerary? Grab your main squeeze, fire up the buggy and make the day after Valentine’s Day, a hearty country treat. Tribute artists Brian McCullough and Kelly Vohnn will perform as Roy Orbison and Reba McEntire at the Indian Wells Theater at Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus. McCullough has been traveling and singing Orbison’s richly

melodic and challenging songs since 95, developing a special 2 hour show dedicated to his music. Vohnn is a noted country artist, also known for her spot-on impersonations of Patsy Cline, Shania Twain, Madonna and McEntire. Named Nashville’s “Entertainer of the Year,” Vohnn has been recognized for her charity work by the prestigious Caesar’s Entertainment in Las Vegas, where she now lives. Tickets are $ 35or $40, parking is included. Call the Indian Wells Theater box office, 760-341-6909. Address of the campus is 37-500 Cook St., Palm Desert.

Thursday through Sunday, February 13-

16. Online Complimentary Day Pass! The Palm Springs Art Museum will have a booth at the Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, coming to the Palm Springs Convention Center. The February 13 Opening Night Preview will benefit the museum, and they are pleased to provide a link to print out complimentary day passes to this event. While there, stop by the museum’s booth to receive more information on upcoming events and exhibitions. Meet 55 prominent national and international galleries. Explore 1,000+ important contemporary works of art. Enjoy inspiring panel discussions, impressive sculptures, installations and performance art. Receive a special Valentine’s Day gift! The Day Pass give you access to any one day of the fair, Friday and Saturday, 11 am-8pm, Sunday, 11am-6pm. Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 N Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs, For more info, call 800-211-0640. For Day Pass, go to: psmuseumdayps14.eventbrite.com For more event details, see the fair at palmspringsfineartfair.com “Don’t Be Clueless” wants to remind you that press releases for inclusion should be in to the Coachella Valley Weekly at least two weeks ahead of the scheduled event!

Thanks!

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February 6 to February 12, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Abbott & Costello Math

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bbott & Costello have a great routine where Lou Costello makes 13 x 7 = 28. While you and I know Costello to be wrong, he provides ample proof that his math works.

Last week, the County of Riverside came out with new unemployment numbers for the region that show the unemployment rate dropping to 8.9% for December, down 2% from a year ago. This improvement was done by reducing unemployment by 40,000 people despite the growth of the population base by 30,000 to 2.3 million people and creation of only 17,000 jobs over that one year period. Mathematically, 7,000 people went missing. Where did they go?

Before asking Costello, we have another problem with County statistics. The County states that 71.1% of the county’s population is participating in the worker pool (known as the Participation Rate). For the State, the average participation rate is approximately 65% while the national number is 63%, both historic lows. Given that our County has a large number of families with children and an above average number of retirees, it is hard to believe that our county has more working age people than other places. Also missing from statistics is the large number

Haddon Libby:It’s all local

of undocumented people living in the County.

Different State statisticians have stated that the real unemployment rate (also known as the U-6 unemployment rate) in our County is 25%. How can the official number be 8.9% when the unofficial number is 25%. Also, if 71% of all people are of working age, that would mean that the real participation rate should be 87%?

Something is wrong.

The problem can be found in how the County estimates employment levels - they poll a small number of people. It seems clear that the sample group is not representative of the population. Stated differently, County statistics are no more than a calculated guess based on bad data.

This apparent understatement of unemployment levels means that special government funding for high unemployment areas goes away. Because Los Angeles County has a true (U-6) unemployment rate of 20%, they receive special federal assistance. The loss of this special status represents a loss of more than $100 million in additional monies for Riverside County alone. The misleading unemployment rate also masks more serious problems inside of our local economy.

This masking of real unemployment

was at least twice as much. In truth, at least 1 in 7 Americans nationally want full-time work while that ratio increases to 1 in 4 for the Coachella Valley!

Despite our critical need for more federal assistance and a greater sense of urgency in addressing the problem, resources are being reduced due to a poor survey method that by definition artificially understates the gravity of local employment problems.

By the way, those 7,000 missing people exist - you just can’t use Abbott & Costello math to find them. The nice thing about Abbott & Costello math is that you can also forget a whole lot of other folks who are hurting badly due to the longest economic slump in 80 years.

levels is nothing new - it has been going on since the Kennedy Administration with the elimination of ‘discouraged workers’ being the biggest adjustment. Since Obama came to office, the exclusion of workers via the Participation Rate as well as the inclusion of workers as employed when they have only part-time work but want full-time work has made unemployment numbers look much better than reality.

While the headline unemployment rate (U-3) in December for Riverside County was 8.9%, 8.3% in California and 6.7% nationally, the real (U-6) unemployment rate according to definitions prior to fifty years of tinkering

ShareKitchen

ShareKitchen Awarded Non-Profit of the Year!

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t the Orion Awards on January 31st, ShareKitchen won the award for Non-Profit of the Year. The Orion Awards is an annual gathering of the Cathedral City Chamber of Commerce. The award is in recognition of ShareKitchen’s efforts having helped start over two dozen new businesses here in the Coachella Valley over the last fifteen months and for proactively working to get the food truck ban lifted in Riverside County.

Senior Meteorologist and host of “Eye on the Desert” for CBS Local 2, Patrick Evans, was the Master of Ceremony for the event.

Patrick is also a ShareKitchen client having taken family recipes for Italian Sausages and creating his signature brand of Fulvio’s Homemade Italian Sausages. Available for less than a month, his product can already be found at more than one dozen local restaurants as well as the Real Italian Deli on Portola Avenue in Palm Desert.

Looking for more SK clients? CV BBQ, is very active catering events around town and can be found Thursday nights at the Palm Springs Villagefest. Sylvia Garza’s Que Mami Organics sells her handmade Red Enchilada, Tomatillo, Roasted Tomato and Mole Sauces at the Certified Farmers’ Markets in Palm Springs, Palm Desert and La Quinta each week and Harvest Health Foods in Palm Desert.

New on the scene, South Texas BBQ can be found at the Cathedral City Farmer’s Market each Sunday and Just So Sweet, sweet treats and gourmet popcorns, is at the Open Air Market at the Spa Resort Casino each Saturday in Palm Springs.

Lori Cohen-Sanford of Nourishfoods regularly teaches classes at the Savory Spice Shop on El Paseo and serves as guest chef for the Certified Farmers’ Markets.

For more information on any of these clients and our many others or if you know of someone who would like help in starting or building their business, visit ShareKitchen.org.

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Dale Gribow On The Law

Why Can’t I Find a Lawyer to Handle my Accident Case?

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focus a large amount of my practice on collecting compensation for accident victims. However, it is currently more difficult to address the problems of claims strategies used by insurance companies than ever before. For this reason and those expressed herein, many desert lawyers, who do not focus on accident cases, are reluctant to accept them unless they are large.

When I first started practicing, I would send in the medical bills and the insurance company would offer 3-4 times the medicals as a settlement. Those days are gone.

Now we see $9000 in medicals and the insurance company will offer $5000. That is not enough to pay the doctors and legal fees, and clearly there would be no money for the client.

The attorney is thus left to try to find a way to generate “some money” for the client and it often involves asking the doctors to cut their bills.

Most lawyers feel it just is not worth it to have to argue with doctors to cut bills, or argue with insurance companies or defense lawyers to put money on the case. All the while, the client is unable to understand why their case is not worth more money etc. This unfortunately happens too often with low value cases.

People have read about a spilled cup of coffee generating millions of dollars in a jury verdict.

The average person does not know, however, that the judge ultimately cut down the verdict to a few hundred thousand dollars. The reason for the excessive verdict was that McDonalds had had thousands of complaints that their coffee

safety tips

Golf Safety

This safety article is dedicated to one of the best people in the world. My Dad Frank DiGiovanna!

He loves to golf and was instrumental in helping me write this.

G

olf really is a very safe sport and if you follow a few basic safety rules injuries can be reduced or eliminated.

Swinging of metal clubs propel golf balls at high speeds. If you’re in the way of either you’re in danger. Following a few basic guidelines can help ensure your safety and that of those around you on the course. Keep Track of Those Around You. When a golf club is in your hands and you are preparing to swing, it is your responsibility to make sure that your playing partners are a safe distance away from you. Never swing a golf club when another golfer is close to you. Practice makes perfect but be a little extra cautious on practice swings, when it’s easy for golfers to let their guard down. Don’t hit your ball until you are confident that any golfers up ahead are out of your range. Be Heads Up. Even when it’s not your turn to hit, stay aware of your surroundings. Fore Pete’s Sake, Cover Up When You Hear It! Yell “Fore” as loud as you can if suspect someone may be in danger. This is the universal word of warning in golf. If you hear it, cover up, cover behind your golf bag, tree, cart, (or friend) and cover your head with your arms. Make yourself a smaller target, and protect your head.

Patience: A virtue desired by many possessed by few! Yes, there are those occasions when a very slow group is ahead of yours, and frustration takes over. We’ve all seen it or know them. That “special” person who gets angry and tee’s up intentionally

was too hot—McDonalds had made a business decision that they can get more cups of coffee from a bag of coffee at high temperatures than lower temperatures.

We work with a former adjuster who we pay to assist with the correct “buzz words” for our settlement demand letter. We want the insurance company to settle our cases and low ball our CV brethren.[GG1] Today, insurance companies use a computer program called Colossus. The adjuster plugs in the medical bills, the injuries, amount of damage to the car, and who the doctor is and how well he/she writes a report. The computer then spits out a dollar settlement amount they can offer, a ridiculous amount, and the adjuster has very little authority to go higher.

Insurance companies tend to look at whether one went to the hospital by ambulance or by car THAT DAY. They also look at the amount of property damage. In most instances, we will not accept an accident case where the damage to the car is less than $5,000. This occurs because California juries have been finding for the

by Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna hitting into the slow-playing group ahead. If you’re ever tempted to do this, don’t! It’s very rare, but golfers have been killed after being struck by golf balls. Many have been injured. Just take a deep breath and enjoy the scenery.

Drive Safely. Driving a golf cart isn’t a difficult thing to do. Observe all safety rules.

Don’t hang your feet out of the cart while it’s in motion; don’t go off-roading over bumpy terrain; don’t drive at full speed around curves or down steep hills. Don’t let small children drive the cart. Don’t drive the cart if you’ve had a few too many beers. And watch out for other golf carts at points where paths cross. Sunscreen!

Protect your skin by always using a strong sunscreen. Wear a wide-brimmed cap to keep the sun off your face. Add Fluids ... (No, not Beer!) the Right Kind of Fluids. If you’re playing golf under the sun on a hot day, you’ll be sweating off a lot of body fluids. Stay hydrated! Drink plenty of water.

Lightning. At the very first sign of lightning, head for the Clubhouse. If caught out in the open and unable to find shelter, get away from your clubs, your golf cart, water and trees, and remove metal spikes if wearing them. If in a group, group members should remain at least 15 feet apart. If you feel a tingling sensation or the hair on your arms stands up, crouch in a baseball catcher’s position, balancing on the balls of your feet. Fold your arms in front of your knees, keep your feet together and your head forward. Love you Dad! Be Safe and Have Fun! Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna and his Dad Frank.

February 6 to February 12, 2014

by Dale Gribow Attorney at Law insurance company and against the driver on rear end accidents……..so why should they offer money?

In a trial the attorney for the injured party cannot mention insurance, and the jury is under the impression the plaintiff is suing the individual who caused the accident.

Insurance companies know that accident cases are expensive to get to trial and that most lawyers will fold their cards when they get a low ball offer.

In addition to what has been mentioned already, insurance companies low ball based on how much of the medical bills are for diagnosis versus physical therapy. Obviously, a patient that sees a physical therapist and has a bill for $5,000 is more injured than the party that gets an MRI etc. and receives a bill for $5,000 for only the 45 minutes test. A medical bill from an orthopedist or internist is worth more than a chiropractic bill.

Insurance companies also look at the type of injury and the age of the claimant. Soft tissue/ whiplash injures are not worth as much as broken bones. If a victim is 80 years old, many companies will not offer any money. They gamble that the claimant will not live to get to trial, or by the time the case comes to trial the victim will not remember anything.

We had a case a few years ago where our client developed Alzheimer’s/Dementia two years after the injury and did not remember anything. The children did not want to put their parent through a trial. I had invested about $10,000 of my money in costs up to that point when they said let’s drop the case.

A lawyer has to weigh the cost of bringing a case to court versus the potential settlement/jury

Gaemer Girl Dead Rising 3

verdict. With recent case law, the attorney for the victim can only submit to the jury the medical bills that have not been paid by insurance. Thus, if you have $20,000 in medicals and Medicare paid all but $1,000, then the jury will get the $1,000 bill. However, the lawyer now has to deal with Medicare, which can easily take many calls over a 6 month period to Medicare to determine the lien that has to be paid back to them.

The insurance companies over the years have placed numerous initiatives on the ballot and spent many millions of dollars on them. The average person thinks that whatever insurance companies propose is fair… UNTIL they or their loved ones are in an accident. Then they cannot understand why there is no offer or a low offer.

California needs a new initiative to bring back “BAD FAITH” which forced an insurance company to fairly handle claims. An initiative also took that away from us a few years ago.

Remember, when you drink don’t “pull a Bieber” and get behind the wheel and have an accident or get arrested for a DUI: DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE, CALL A TAXI………

IT IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN HIRING ME! If you have any questions regarding this column or ideas for future columns, please contact Dale Gribow Attorney at Law at his NEW number 760 837 7500 and or his new email: dale@dalegribowlaw.com

by Jennifer Tan aka mrs. fett

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here has always been a certain amount of stress that has surrounded playing any of the Dead Rising titles, but I can assure you, you do not know stress, until you play DR3, in a pitch black room, on an Xbox One, all by your little self. “One of the most anticipated Xbox One titles” -Game Informer. And appropriately so, the game brings to life every new, technological advancement the Xbox One has to offer.

Available exclusively for Xbox One, Dead Rising 3 marks the return of one of the most popular zombie video game franchises. Set 10 years after the events of Fortune City in Dead Rising 2, players are introduced to Nick Ramos, a young mechanic with a strange tattoo and a mysterious past, who must find a way to escape a city full of zombies before an impending military strike wipes the city of Los Perdidos, California, and everyone in it, off the map. Nick can’t do it alone – he must join up with other survivors to stay alive. They must fight their way out before it’s too late.

Think sneaking around a mall trying to find a weapon without making a sound is difficult? Try doing while not making a sound in your house as well. With the Xbox One Kinect, not only will zombies react to sounds and movements in the game, but the will

also find you, if your cat so much as sneezes in your living room. The Kinect sword cuts both ways though. Using motion gestures, you can command your posse to safety or defense, and even taunt your zombie foe, with whatever creative insults you can come up with.

It’s cool! There’s back up. With Xbox One SmartGlass, you can have an even more connected Dead Rising 3 experience. Use your SmartGlass enabled device to connect to the Zombie Defense and Control network and gain access to exclusive missions, new weapons, powerful military support features and more!

I really didn’t think the Dead Rising series could reach a point where I’d rate it more than a 7, but I proudly give this game, an 8.75. The immersive experience the Kinect brings to this title, the explosively huge world to play in, and an endless combination of weapons make it non-stop fun!

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February 6 to February 12, 2014

Community

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by heidi simmons

Welcome to the Vortex: Desert Hot Springs Spa Tour

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t is a balmy evening as the spa tour begins at the world famous, sprawling Two Bunch Palms Resort. Hot mineral water moves along a stream toward a grotto, vapor drifts above the surface. Clouds spread behind San Jacinto, thin in the Banning Pass and curl around San Gorgonio. Long rays of sun illuminate the green lawn and sparkling warm pools.

The unobstructed view from the property is spectacular. As the sun lowers, the sky fills with variegated blue, mauve and orange. The mountains are purple silhouettes framing the valley floor. On this night, there is wind.

Contrary to the belief of outsiders, it is not always windy in Desert Hot Springs, but this night it is – and for the occasion, it’s perfect!

It is the type of wind you feel standing on a bluff above the ocean or at the top of a ski slope. Intermittent gusts are strong enough to blow your hair about your face and ruffle your clothes. The sound of the wind moving in the mature trees and native shrubs is soothing. These active molecules seem to surround you as if to emphasize your presence in the moment. It’s energizing, peaceful and meditative. And this is what the Desert Hot Springs spas are all about.

Once referred to as Spa City, Desert Hot Springs has long claimed to be situated in a vortex that promotes health and wellness.

The theory is: The city’s natural elements of mineral water, unspoiled mountain and desert expanse, its elevation, earthquake faults, wind and sunshine create a significant energy field.

It’s believed the vortexes are negative ion generators influenced by magnetic forces, which produces positive energy, well-being and healing.

Desert Hot Springs sits on two aquifers, which are divided by a tectonic fault. One side is hot water and the other is cold. Due to the depth of the aquifers, layered, decomposed granite serves as a filter eliminating sulfur odor and bad taste. Experts say the water has a perfect balance of PH and Alkalinity. This produces silky mineral water good for the body inside and out.

Soaking in geothermally heated water, the body is able to better absorb minerals like Lithium, which is known to elevate mood.

Relaxing in natural hot water increases blood flow, re-generates cells and increases the body’s natural ability to heal. It also aids in cleansing and detoxing the body.

The Angel View Foundation was established in Desert Hot Springs for these curative elements. Established in the 1950s, Dr. Robert Bingham began by treating polio patients.

There are 24 spas and hotels that vary between six and 110 rooms. The spa tour visits ten. The guides, all wearing spa robes, host groups on luxury Cardiff busses. Jody Weikal is a guide. His business, Palm Springs Errands & More, is a member of the Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce. “It’s really nice up here,” said Weikal. “Some people have the

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wrong idea of Desert Hot Springs. It’s a great community and the spas are amazing.”

The first stop is at Cabot’s Old Pueblo Museum. In 1913, Cabot Yerxa was one of the first to make Desert Hot Springs his home.

With the help of a local Native American, Yerxa discovered water on his property -- both hot and cold. He called his homestead Miracle Hill.

Although there is no spa on the property, it is apropos to start the tour here. The Pueblo is a journey back into time. Today it is owned and operated by the city as a Non-Profit Foundation.

Caddy corner from Cabot’s is Miracle Manor Retreat. This spa sits on a knoll with spectacular mountain and valley views. The hot water comes up 400 feet to fill the pools.

With only six rooms, this Mid-century style spa has a natural opulence with elegant aesthetics. It prides itself on peace and quiet.

The owners’ goal was to create a spa where guests could find “peace of mind through vastness of space.”

The Spring Resort and Spa is a tranquil and spacious retreat with only 11 guest rooms plus two villas. Water emerges from their well at 170 degrees. The rooms are beautifully and minimally appointed. This is a lush hide-away that offers an array of spa services. An elegant and inviting place, the benefits of the vortex begin when you walk into the courtyard.

Just a street below, surrounded with a myriad of tall trees, the Hacienda Hot Springs Inn and Spa is a much more casual retreat.

Step through the gates at the Hacienda and you enter a charming and eclectic oasis. Their well provides hot water around the clock.

With only ten rooms, the property feels very communal. There is an outdoor dinning room and a BBQ. This is a retreat that’s a perfect destination for family reunions, private parties and weddings.

El Morocco Inn and Spa is a quintessential boutique spa. It feels exotically Moroccan.

Beautiful lanterns, billowing curtains and colorful Persian rugs surround the courtyard

pool. One of their many spa treatments includes a mud body mask using clay from the Atlas Mountain in Morocco. The spa, fed by their own well, fills at 104 degrees and seats 20 people. The swimming pool is 90 degrees.

Every night, they serve a complimentary Morocco-tini. When you toast at El Morocco, you say, “Here’s looking at you kid.”

Anahata Springs Spa & Resort is a Zen based, clothing optional retreat. Catering to couples, it focuses on spirituality and sensuality for those seeking an atmosphere to reconnect and relax. Anahata is the name for the heart chakra. It is a friendly, relaxed and open place with 14 rooms.

Living Waters Spa is also a clothing optional resort. They pump pure hot mineral water at the rate of 20 gallons per minute through its pools. For 18 hours, the hot mineral water fills its pools under pressure and leaves under gravity. The water feels like satin. The husband and wife owners are passionate about water and massage. They offer individual, couple and even a four-hand massage.

The Mid-Century Modern Desert Hot Springs Spa has the most pools and 50 rooms.

It has five hot tubs, a large exercise pool, a cold plunge pool and children’s pool. Its sister hotel, Miracle Springs, also offers multiple pools of varying temperatures. With 110 rooms, the facility offers ballrooms, banquet space, a restaurant and full spa treatments.

The Aqua Soleil Hotel & Mineral Water Spa is a casual yet elegant retreat with colorful modern rooms and suites, some with private spas. It has full service spa treatment rooms, a bar and restaurant. They use organic spa products made locally in the CV. On weekends they have an inflatable big screen and show movies. It has a hip and energetic feel. It is already nearly booked for the Coachella and Stage Coach festivals.

All the boutique spas have a specific feel.

Each resort radiates a distinctive character and has a health component. Most offer day spa packages. There is so much more to these

wonderful spas, it is worth staying and getting acquainted.

Desert Hot Springs Mayor, Adam Sanchez was at the closing party at the Miracle Springs.

“I’ve witnessed the growth and development of the smaller spas and the investments the spa owners have made. I know how much time and energy goes into developing the spas to make them unique,” Sanchez said. “They’re not doing it because they’re getting rich, they’re doing it because they really believe in the healthy lifestyle. People come from all over the world to enjoy the spas.”

The Spa Tour is sponsored and organized by the Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce. Chamber President Heather Coladonato said, “This tour opens the doors to our boutique spas and larger hotels. It invites guest to come see what sits behind the gates and walls,” said Coladonato. “It’s important that people understand the unique nature of this destination and experience our award winning water. It also reminds us to take a moment to really take care of ourselves.”

The money raised from the Tour supports the Hotelier Association and the Chamber.

They use the funds to help market DHS. They also donate money to the high school ROTC. Students, in uniform, stand at each spa property. They politely give directions and assist guests on and off the busses.

With hundreds of people moving from spa to spa, there was one snafu. Bonnie Kodesch started the tour at Desert Hot Springs Spa. “We’d only seen two locations and when we came out of the last spa, there was no bus,” said Kodesch. “We waited in the cold. We had no guide and no bus! And no one to call.” A bus finally showed up and Kodesch finished the tour. She thought most of those on her bus just went home. Coladonato apologized and instructed those affected to contact the Chamber. “With the popularity of the event, we are always doing our best to improve the experience,” Coladonato said. “We will continue to evaluate the format and make adjustments.” Over 700 people attended with very few complaints. Tour options were VIP, guided or self-tour.

Kimberly and Joel Peterson have lived in DHS for 19 years and finally took the VIP tour.

“We have driven past these spas and never knew what was inside,” Kimberly Peterson said. “We’re tired, but we had a lot of fun.”

Leaving the after-party, the Petersons clutched their gift bags filled with spa goodies and plush spa robes that came with the cost of the VIP ticket. In addition, they won a raffle prize for a spa stay and treatment at the Hacienda.

By the end of the night, the wind had mellowed and so had the guests. New friends were made and new places were discovered.

The Desert Hot Springs Spa Tour is a great way to meet the good people of DHS and experience its fantastic resorts and retreats. It is a beautiful hillside community on the sunny side of the Coachella Valley, rich with natural resources and hidden treasures.

Recovery

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

February 6 to February 12, 2014

Article & photos by richard Noble

Interventionist, Ken Seeley of the Emmy Award winning show, “INTERVENTION” talks with Richard Noble about addiction, Justin Bieber, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Sober Residences in the Coachella Valley

Richard: How long have you been in the Coachella Valley?

Ken: In 2010 we came down from LA for a weekend, bought a house and never went back to LA. Two years ago we sold our LA “weekend” house and live here full time now.

Richard: What is Ken Seeley Communities?

Ken: Ken Seeley Communities is a Community that supports the recovery process. We do interventions, detox, sober living, life skills, monitoring and case management, everything except for treatment.

Richard: Are the incorporated cities doing enough to provide substance abuse services?

Ken: Unfortunately, cities often don’t have money as more and more budgets are cut. There is also a lot of misunderstanding - people feel as though addiction is a choice so why should we fund services for that.

We believe that if we can do a better job of educating people and catching addiction early, the financial impact of addiction (health care costs, court costs, etc.) for public entities and cities can be lessened.

Richard: How is heroin affecting the Coachella Valley and what are our resources to deal with it?

Ken: There are not many free resources to help and it is a growing epidemic. People are dying every day, it is heart breaking.

Richard: How are sober residences becoming an important and integral part of the communities and how can we be supportive?

Ken: Sober Living’s and Sober Residences are so important for people in early recovery.

You just do not become an addict overnight so 30 -90 days treatment is just the beginning of treatment from addiction. Recovery is a process and you need the support of your peers and a sober environment is where you get this. Going home without a solid foundation in recovery to old triggers without support normally ends in relapse. Using your peer support and remaining accountable to your recovery has been proven to lead to higher statistics for longer recovery.

Richard: Do you miss Intervention and will your fans see you on TV again?

Ken: Hopefully one day we can get another show on the air. I feel the Intervention show helped millions of people get sober and it was an honor to be part of.

Richard: Substance abuse is treatable.

How do you handle those that reject treatment?

Ken: No one just stops using. The reason everyone ask for help is they feel enough pain from behaviors and seek help to get out of the pain. I work with the families to create a bottom that every addict has to hit, ROCK BOTTOM. Richard: What do you love most about your work and life here in the Coachella Valley?

Ken: I feel it is a healing place in the valley it is a very spiritual place. The Recovery process is a spiritual process and what a better place to heal. There’s lots of recovery and love in the Valley.

Richard: Are you available to speak with police departments, families, businesses and others?

Ken: I am always willing to help spread the message of hope and recovery. It is an honor to be able to do this work and love to

reach the people that are suffering and the families.

Richard: I love your new Phone App for i911 and Ken Seeley Communities. Can you explain what it does and who can use it?

Ken: Ken Seeley Communities APP is to help stay on track with your recovery plan.

You can check in at your recovery meetings, drug testing appointments and can give you reports for anyone you like to show you’re participating in your recovery Richard: What are your feelings about Justin Bieber?

Ken: Very sad that it looks like he is heading down that road. Hopefully he has people around him that will reach out and help him.

Way too many celebrities are dying from addiction. When are people going to stop enabling? If someone has ever been in recovery from an addiction please reach out to a professional if they have one drink. You cannot take the chance of playing Russian roulette with these people’s lives. The addict always thinks they have it under control but as CNN reports, every day 75 people

overdose. Philip Seymour Hoffman is one of these statistics now. If only someone would have stood up to him when they first found out he relapsed. It only takes one person to start the process to help an addict. Why not let it be you? Call and see what you can do if you know someone that parties too much or is addicted. Save a life. Speaking up is the only way to get these numbers to go down instead of watching them grow.

Richard: If an individual wants to reach out for help for them self or a loved one, how do they emotionally get to that place to ask for help and where could they contact you?

Ken: It is easy, well not for them. Just call, someone will be there to answer your questions. It does not cost anything to make the call. 866-888-4911 and online at: www. thetreatmentcommunity.com Thank you for your questions and spreading the message of hope.

Email: rnoble@intervention911.com http://www.intervention911.com http://www.thetreatmentcommunity.com

“Heroes in Recovery is a movement ignited

by Foundations Recovery Network and the widespread community of those who are in recovery from addiction and cooccurring disorders. We discovered that while 23 million people each year need help for addiction, only 3 million actually seek treatment. We’re looking for the other 20 million– those who may not be seeking help due to the overwhelming stigma that often surrounds substance abuse and mental

health disorders.

Heroes in Recovery has a simple mission: to eliminate the social stigma that keeps individuals with addiction and mental health issues from seeking help, to share stories of recovery for the purpose of encouragement and inspiration, and to create an engaged sober community that empowers people to get involved, give back, and live healthy, active lives.”

FOUNDATIONS RECOVERY NETWORK

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February 6 to February 12, 2014

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events

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By craig michaels

Week of February 6

Color in Motion 5K Makes a Splash in Indio

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unners in this kaleidoscopic event will run, jog, swagger, dance, and sashay their way around the Empire Polo grounds in Indio. The birth of the Color in Motion 5K event originated from a holy festival in India where they would throw color all over festival attendees. Organizers of the Color in Motion 5k decided to take that concept and make it into a fun run for all ages.

Participants are encouraged to dress in white- be it a tee shirt and shorts, football jerseys, or a wedding dress. As they move through the 3.1 mile course,

there is a gradual transformation into a moving Technicolor blur as partakers get color blasted at stations located at every kilometer mark of the run. The race is not timed or limited to just athletes, every age and level of fitness is invited to be active, social, and have a great time painting the town. Once across the finish line, participants can attend the “Color Bash” post-race party with music, dancing, and one last color blast.

Color in Motion 5K is not limited to the Indio area, it’s happening all over the country and at every location it teams up

Health&Fitness

Swim For Health

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s a personal trainer I am frequently asked for exercises that can be done to work the cardio component of fitness without the impact on the joints. That’s when I smile and ask, “Have you tried swimming?” Swimming and water based workouts have many advantages.

They burn calories, increase strength, nurse an injury back to health, develop flexibility, and improve cardio respiratory fitness to name just a few.

It sounds pretty perfect doesn’t it?

Swimming for fitness is ideal for a wide range of people. It is simultaneously gentle and powerful and offers a low impact exercise

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with a local charity to raise both funds and awareness. The Boys and Girls Club will be the beneficiary of this year’s event at the Empire Polo fields. They were selected because organizers of the 5k have had an excellent relationship with the Boys and Girls Club in other cities and respect their hard work. Jim Clark, who joined the Boys and Girls Clubs of America as president and CEO in January 2012, recently attended a race in San Diego and thought it would be fun to bring it to the desert.

The Color in Motion 5k would not be

possible without the support of community partners such as the Walter Clark Legal Group who is the title sponsor. Alex Haagen, the owner of the Empire Polo Club who also has a special relationship with Boys and Girls club was very generous in hosting the event at no cost to the charity.

There is still space to participate in this colorful 5K if you want to gather some family, friends and co-workers. The event begins at 8:00am, Saturday February 15, 2014. You can follow them on Facebook or log on to: www.colorinmotion5k.com . For more information call (509) 392-1699.

Written By: Craig Michaels Musical Affair Entertainment www.musicalaffair.com

by Personal Trainer Karen Creasey

choice. Swimming recruits all the major muscle groups, including the shoulders, arms, back, abdominals, legs, hips, and glutes. And with water being twelve times more resistant than air in every direction, swimming is a genuine strength building exercise.

Because of the muscle recruitment and the water density component (which creates a mini resistance workout for your entire body) calories are quickly burned in a waterbased workout. An easy swim burns around 500 calories an hour, while a vigorous swim could burn as many as 700. Each kick, reach, push, and pull blasts calories and ignites the metabolism into action.

The cardio respiratory benefits of

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

swimming are also notable. When swimming at a strong or fast pace, using most major muscle groups, the heart and lungs will work harder and faster to generate enough energy to keep up. The lungs will strengthen as you breathe more quickly and intensely and the heart will become stronger as it pumps to circulate the oxygenated blood through your body.

When dealing with injuries the exercise of swimming can be ideal. Water buoyancy is very forgiving of weight and weakness in the human body. A swim can provide an excellent workout without the same level of pain or exhaustion that might accompany fitness exercises performed out of the water.

A swimmer can swim almost everyday without risking injury. Water’s neutralizing effect on gravity makes a swimmer virtually weightless, providing a much-needed break to the bones and joints of the body.

Whether you are a beginner or a more advanced swimmer, if you are interested in changing your workout routine and taking advantage of some of these benefits or if you just want more information about how and why to swim call me at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center 760-565-7647.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “You know it’s Saturday when you are wiping off vodka stains from your face with a marshmallow,” testifies the woman who writes the Tumblr blog “French Fries Absinthe Milkshakes.” I really hope you don’t even come close to having an experience like that this week, Aries. But I’m worried that you will. I sense that you’re becoming allergic to caution. You may be subconsciously wishing to shed all decorum and renounce self-control. To be clear, there’s nothing inherently wrong with relaxing your guard. I hope you will indeed give up some of your high-stress vigilance and surrender a bit to life’s sweet chaos.

Just please try to find a playful and safe and nottoo-insane way to do so.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): What is the single best thing you could do to fulfill your number one desire? Is there a skill you should attain? A subject you should study? A special kind of experience you should seek or a shift in perspective you should initiate? This is a big opportunity, Taurus. You have an excellent chance to identify the specific action you could take that will lead you to the next stage of your evolution. And if you do manage to figure out exactly what needs to be done, start doing it!

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): When songwriters make a “slant rhyme,” the words they use don’t really rhyme, but they sound close enough alike to mimic a rhyme. An example occurs in “The Bad Touch,” a tune by the Bloodhound Gang: “You and me baby ain’t nothing but mammals / So let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel.” Technically, “mammals” doesn’t rhyme with “channel.” I suspect that in the coming week you will have experiences with metaphorical resemblances to slant rhymes. But as long as you don’t fuss and fret about the inexactness you encounter, as long as you don’t demand that everything be precise and cleaned-up, you will be entertained and educated.

Vow to see the so-called imperfections as soulful.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “Almost,” writes novelist Joan Bauer. “It’s a big word for me. I feel it everywhere. Almost home. Almost happy. Almost changed. Almost, but not quite. Not yet. Soon, maybe.” I’m sure you know about that feeing yourself, Cancerian. Sometimes it has seemed like your entire life is composed of thousands of small almosts that add up to one gigantic almost. But I have good news: There is an excellent chance that in the next 14 to 16 weeks you will graduate from the endless and omnipresent almost; you will rise up and snatch a bold measure of completeness from out of the ever-shifting flow. And it all kicks into high gear now.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): One of the chapter titles in my most recent book is this: “Ever since I learned to see three sides to every story, I’m finding much better stories.” I’m recommending that you find a way to use this perspective as your own in the coming weeks, Leo. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, it’s crucial that you not get stuck in an oppositional mode. It would be both wrong and debilitating to believe that you must choose between one of two conflicting options.

With that in mind, I will introduce you to a word you may not know: “trilemma.” It transcends a mere dilemma because it contains a third alternative.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In 1984, Don Henley’s song “The Boys of Summer” reached the top of the Billboard charts. “Out on the road today / I saw a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac,” Henley sings wistfully near the end of the tune. He’s dismayed by the sight of the Grateful Dead’s logo, an ultimate hippie symbol, displayed on a luxury car driven by snooty rich kids. Almost 20 years later, the band The Ataris covered “The Boys of Summer,” but changed the lyric to “Out on the road today / I saw a Black Flag sticker on a Cadillac.” It conveyed the same mournful contempt, but this time invoking the iconic punk band Black Flag. I offer this tale to you, Virgo, as an encouragement to update the way you think about your life’s mythic quest . . . to modernize your old storylines . . . to refresh and

© Copyright 2012 Rob Brezsny

refurbish the references you invoke to tell people about who you are.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Food aficionado Michael Pollan says that Americans “worry more about food and derive less pleasure from eating” than people in other countries. If you ask them what their association is with “chocolate cake,” they typically say “guilt.” By contrast, the French are likely to respond to the same question with “celebration.” From an astrological perspective, I think it’s appropriate for you to be more like the French than the Americans in the coming weeks -not just in your attitude toward delicious desserts, but in regards to every opportunity for pleasure.

This is one of those times when you have a license to guiltlessly explore the heights and depths of bliss.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the Inuktitut language spoken among the Eastern Canadian Inuit, the word for “simplicity” is *katujjiqatigiittiarnirlu.* This amusing fact reminds me of a certain situation in your life. Your quest to get back to basics and reconnect with your core sources is turning out to be rather complicated. If you hope to invoke all of the pure, humble clarity you need, you will have to call on some sophisticated and ingenious magic.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “What is the purpose of the giant sequoia tree?” asked environmentalist Edward Abbey. His answer: “The purpose of the giant sequoia tree is to provide shade for the tiny titmouse.” I suggest you meditate on all the ways you can apply that wisdom as a metaphor to your own issues. For example: What monumental part of your own life might be of service to a small, fragile part?

What major accomplishment of yours can provide strength and protection to a ripening potential that’s underappreciated by others?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “To burn with desire and keep quiet about it is the greatest punishment we can bring on ourselves,” wrote the poet Federico García Lorca. I urge you to make sure you are not inflicting that abuse on yourself in the coming weeks, Capricorn. It’s always dangerous to be out of touch with or secretive about your holy passions, but it’s especially risky these days. I’m not necessarily saying you should rent a megaphone and shout news of your yearnings in the crowded streets. In fact, it’s better if you are discriminating about whom you tell. The most important thing is to not be hiding anything from yourself about what moves you the most.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Back in 2002, three young men launched Youtube, in part motivated by a banal desire. They were frustrated because they couldn’t find online videos of the notorious incident that occurred during the Superbowl halftime show, when Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction exposed her breast. In response, they created the now-famous website that allows people to share videos. I foresee the possibility of a comparable sequence for you, Aquarius. A seemingly superficial wish or trivial interest could inspire you to come up with a fine new addition to your world. Pay attention to your whimsical notions.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “I believe more in the scissors than I do in the pencil.” That’s what 20th-century author Truman Capote said about his own writing process. Back in that primitive precomputer era, he scrawled his words on paper with a pencil and later edited out the extraneous stuff by applying scissors to the manuscript. Judging from your current astrological omens, Pisces, I surmise you’re in a phase that needs the power of the scissors more than the power of the pencil.

What you cut away will markedly enhance the long-term beauty and value of the creation you’re working on.

February 6 to February 12, 2014

Mind, body & Spirit

by Bronwyn Ison

LIFE FROM A DIFFERENT VIEW

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iewing life right side up is common for each and every one of us. It would literally be unusual and contrary for us to see things upside down.

Stepping outside of our habitual behavior patterns is challenging and asking you to go upside down may sound utterly crazy.

Balancing on your forearms or walking on your hands is simply an invitation to stir life up a bit. Yes, I am talking about performing a headstand or handstand or possibly a gentler inversion.

Why would I propose such an oddity?

We can attain a different perspective on life when we see things from a different point of view. Performing inversions is certainly not for everyone and caution is absolutely necessary. Inversions are often executed in yoga classes and occasionally in other workout regimens. An inversion is categorized as a yoga pose (asana) in which the head is below the heart. The first kind of inversions that comes to mind is that of headstand, handstand, forearm balance but there are gentler inversions that can be enjoyed. In fact, downward facing, legs up the wall and standing forward folds are just as beneficial. Some people simply do not have the strength to balance all of their body weight onto their arms. This is perfectly fine and other inversions can be performed that are simple.

It is possible certain health conditions would preclude a student from performing an inversion such as a previous injury or illness. You would want to avoid inversions if you have un-medicated high blood pressure, some heart conditions, neck injuries, a recent stroke, detached retina, glaucoma or epilepsy. A professional yoga instructor or fitness trainer should instruct the more challenging inversions. There are several alignment principles that need to be followed when inverting. Securing a guide as well as hands on adjustments can take you to new heights.

Why would we want to invert? There are

numerous health benefits to placing your head below your heart.

When we invert it allows us to reverse the blood flow and improves our circulation.

Gravity is your friend in this case.

We can increase our immunity and prevent illness. The lymphatic system is in high gear. The lymph moves through the body to pick up toxins and these are released by the lymph nodes.

Get ENERGIZED! Flipping upside down can give you a good boost of energy.

RELAX! The calmer inversions (legs up the wall) are cooling inversions and help calm the nervous system and produce feelings of being balanced and calm.

Improves your balance. We could all use a little help in this area.

Along with the five benefits above you can also improve your core strength and confidence. Stay humble and you will recognize you will see things from a different perspective. Plus, inversions are FUN! To learn more about practicing inversions safely visit a yoga studio or consult a fitness professional who knows how to teach and assist you properly. Seeing life upside down may really allow you to see so much more right side up.

Bronwyn Ison is the owner of Evolve Yoga. Bronwyn has been practicing and studying yoga for 14 years. Visit us online at www.e-volveyoa.com or call (760)564-YOGA(9642)

Rob Brezsny Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

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February 6 to February 12, 2014

Life & career Coach

Grace on Ice

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by Sunny Simon

y Canadian-born husband is wild about hockey. I’m wild about the Canadian, but hockey, not so much. In our home, numerous conversations revolve around the game, well mostly he talks and I listen politely faking interest.

The other day John related a hockey story that did catch my attention. Apparently the Anaheim Ducks totally overpowered the Vancouver Canucks. At the point when the scoreboard revealed a 7 – 1 Ducks lead; the players were called off the ice by the team’s manager and given strict instructions on how to deal with any further scoring. No celebratory gestures were to be displayed.

A small smile was permitted, but only when the scoring player reached the bench. My husband explained that during the last three minutes of the game when the score was 9-1, the Ducks made no attempt at further goals and just passed the puck around to run down the clock.

I’ve heard stories of good sportsmanship, but in my book this game was exemplary.

Whether on the ice or skating through everyday life it is our responsibility to display appropriate behaviors. We live in a competitive society and constantly teach our children to strive and reach the top.

There is another lesson we should pass on and role model for our kids involving winning. Victory is sweet and should be savored, but not at the expense of another individual or group. By holding back on the hugs and high-fives, the Ducks demonstrated a powerful life lesson.

Having the grace to refrain from adding humiliation to an obviously frustrating loss, and gently letting the other team exit to lick their wounds without further humiliation was an act of kindness and a strategy earning respect.

Good sportsmanship is essential in the business arena. Zappos is a company that takes the lead in treating competitors

with grace and dignity. It made Fortune magazine’s list of “100 Best Companies to Work For” and will assist a customer in finding a competitor’s product if Zappos doesn’t carry it.

Take a moment and think about how you treat your competition. Are you keeping your actions and dialogue regarding your rivals honest and above board, or are you involved in a cut-throat, winner-take-all battle? Do you go the extra mile and offer advice to others trying to enter your field?

Would you refer a client to a competitor if you could not fulfill their need? Challenge yourself to display a little more grace and good sportsmanship in your business life. Your actions will be noticed and your respect rating will rise.

Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching. More about Sunny at www.raisethebarhigh.com

PSYCHIC READER

beauty

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by dr maria lombardo

Receive The Celebrity Secret Of Permanent Cosmetic Make-Up

Dr. Maria Lombardo, Lombardo Cosmetic Surgery is located in Rancho Mirage.

She specializes in both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures including (but not limited to) facial, body and breast surgery, Botox, Latisse, and hCG diet program.

For a consultation or more information, visit www.lombardocosmeticsurgery.com or call 760-610-8990. Dr. Lombardo will be writing a bi-weekly column for CV Weekly.

How does Botox work for the Frown Lines: “Lift and Separate”

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hose pesky frown lines that lie between the eyebrows have been treated and improved with Botox (and other similar medications) since the product was first FDA approved and widely introduced as a cosmetic agent in 2002.

When you furrow your brow, you push the brows closer together. This action causes the skin between the brows to fold onto itself. When we are young, the elasticity of our skin allows for those brow furrows to disappear after you relax the muscles.

But, as we age and lose skin elasticity, the creases become etched into place with each contraction of the muscle. Even when the forehead is relaxed, the lines can make us look like we are frowning or worried.

The typical treatment for the glabella, the name of the area between the brows, is around 20 units of Botox. It is injected into the muscles and affects the nerves that signal the muscles. After the medication starts to work, usually 3 – 5 days, when you try to frown, the message is prevented from reaching the muscles and there is no

movement. With the skin at rest, not being creased on a regular basis, the wrinkles slowly relax away.

Everyone has these muscles, known as the corrugators, but there are a few different ways that the anatomy of the forehead can vary. Look closely… some people frown and have one, single crease that forms. Others have two parallel creases (this is often referred to as “the elevens”). Some can even have three lines! And to complicate things further, the shape and width of the corrugators can be different from person to person. This is important because the Botox needs to be placed in the right spots, based on your specific anatomy.

So take a look in the mirror… which type are you? In order to prevent improper injection technique and possible problems: always have a physician who understands this special anatomy, and its variations, administer your Botox. As Dr. Bunin of Allentown, PA says, “It is very important to distinguish between these (different types of muscles) to avoid the all too common nasal brow ptosis (droop) and subsequent “spock brow”. Proper placement should give patients what I like to call “the Playtex bra of Botox--lift and separate (the brows)”!”

Call Lombardo Cosmetic Surgery today to make your appointment with Dr. Maria Lombardo – 760-610-8990.

February 6 to February 12, 2014

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