Coachella Valley Weekly - October 17 to October 23, 2013 Vol. 2 No. 30

News

Music

Movies

Dining

Community Events

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com • October 17 to October 23, 2013 Vol. 2 No. 30

Saturday, October 19 at Spa Resort Casino Modern English

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Blare The Surface

pg 6

Q&A Mark Canton

pg 8

Copley’s

pg 18

October 17 to October 23, 2013

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“Prost” to Oktoberfest Palm Springs!

October 17 to October 23, 2013

By Denise Ortuno Neil

Coachella Valley Weekly www.coachellavalleyweekly.com info@coachellavalleyweekly.com

760.501.6228 Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Jenna Demarco, Rich Henrich Public Relations and Promotions Manager Lisa Morgan Classified Manager & Nightlife Editor Philip Lacombe Features Writer Lisa Morgan, Marissa Willman, Judith Sulkin Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Lola Rossi-Meza, Craig Michaels, Bronwyn Ison, Haddon Libby, Mike Livingston, 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, John Paul Valdez Photographers Laura Hunt Little, Chris Miller/ Imagine Imagery Distribution Jim Fox Distribution/ William Westley, Rudy Mendez

Contents

Oktoberfest Palm Springs................... 3 SELMAGROWS at COD..................... 5 LMS - Modern English, Lung, PFE.6 LMS - Blare The Surface.................6 Culture - Dancing...........................7 Film - Q&A Mark Canton................8 Community - Solar Farms..............9 Sports Scene................................10 Sports...........................................11 Consider This ...............................12 Valley Rhythms.............................13 Pet Place.......................................14 The Vino Voice..............................15 Club Crawler Nightlife.................16 The Pampered Palate..................18 Screeners......................................20 Book Review.................................21 Haddon Libby: It’s All Local.........23 JPV: It’s Your Nickel......................23 Education.....................................24 Real Estate....................................24 Safety Tips....................................25 Gamer Girl....................................25 ShareKitchen................................25 Health, Fitness & Beauty.............26 Free Will Astrology......................27 Mind, Body, & Spirit.....................27 Life & Career Coach......................28 Ask The Doctor.............................28 Comics - Weiss Cracks..................30

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t’s time to strap on your Lederhosen, dust off that Stein and brush up on a little Umpapa music. For the most popular reason to drink beer is coming to Palm Springs with Oktoberfest 2013. The world renowned festival will be spilling over into our quaint desert area with a modern day Bavarian twist.

Oktoberfest is a long adored German festival created in 19th century Munich Germany, born from love so long ago. When Prince Ludwig married his beloved Princess Therese, he wanted to share his elation with his citizens and threw an elaborate reception outside of the city walls. It was quite the shin-dig with horse-races, dancing, eating and the drinking of their favorite thirst quencher…bier.

The festival was so delightful the first year that they decided to continue it the next, and it became an annual event extending to weeklong festivities. Decades later, Oktoberfest went from being under royal rule to the jurisdiction of the city of Munich itself. The event later incorporated mechanical amusement including a carousel in 1818 and Germanys first roll-a-coaster in 1908 rounding out the full fair feel.

Germany’s Oktoberfest is the world’s largest fair, lasting 16 days from late September to the first Sunday of October.

It had traditionally taken place on October 17th, but eventually was moved to late September to enjoy the warmer temperatures. All along the way, the occasion celebrated using beer as their centerpiece, growing to utilizing large tents to accommodate attendees. The largest tent, The Braurosol opened in 1913. Today, the largest tent holds 10,000 people and

the festival goes through 2 million gallons of beer each year.

German beer has had a turbulent upbringing. Formulated over 3,000 years ago by Germanic Tribes, it has overcome opposition, domination and has finally acquired a balanced existence.

The crafted German beer adheres to strict production rules called Reinheitsgebot, which basically means “Purity Law”. The law was put into effect in the 1500’s, to protect the consumer from drinking less than perfect potions. The beer was relegated to be made from the best and purest ingredients…water, barely and hops.

This law came a couple of centuries after the country implemented a container law, that was imposed to protect the public from wide spread disease like the Bubonic Plague that wiped out over 25 million people in Europe in the 14th century. That law brought Steins into action, as the lid of the Stein would protect airborne illnesses brought

on by a variety of possible enemies, such as flies or people breathing. They were a kind of germ freaks, with absolute good reason.

It’s safe to say that the German Purity law has lent itself to the exquisite beer that Germany produces today, and for that we should be grateful. If great German beer is what you’re looking for, then the 2nd Annual Palm Springs Oktoberfest on Saturday October 19th is the place to be.

The Hocker Production takes place from Noon to 6pm at the Spa Casino in downtown Palm Springs and is set to transport event goers to the 19th century Bavarian culture.

The Palm Springs Oktoberfest is the passion of Executive Producer Jeff Hocker who is of German and Irish descent and is proud to bring part of his heritage to the Coachella Valley. Hocker is in his second year of Oktoberfest in Palm Springs and has some updated treats for this year’s celebration.

One of his favorite parts of the event will be the VIP section, which for $50 includes 10 tasting tickets towards wine or beer (no food), $10 Free Cash Play at the Spa Casino, Crater Lake vodka tastings, entertainment and a souvenir Stella Artois challis. The VIP shows are the highlight of the section and feature Zeldaz Nightclubs own Sweet Louie and the Men of the Hollywood Strip male revue and The Diamond Betty’s from L.A.

who perform burlesque while paying tribute to famous Betty’s from Betty Grable to Betty Page. Also on hand for VIP entertainment will be San Francisco DJ Andy-T. The Palm Springs Oktoberfest will have an abundance of German beers at this continue to page 5

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October 17 to October 23, 2013

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continued from page 3

year’s event, a request; Hocker said was voiced by past attendees. Ask and you shall receive, with a huge selection of beers to choose from including the Coachella Valley’s own CV Brewing Company and Babes crafted German brews, plus beer straight from Germany such as Stella Artois, Becks, Spaten and many more.

There will be plenty of German food to go with the outstanding beer featured at the festival. Favorites provided by New Leaf Catering include Pomme Frites, Knockwurst, German Pretzels and no Oktoberfest would be complete without Strudel. Celebrity chef and sausage aficionado Adam Gertler of Food Network fame and Gertler’s Wurst, will be showcasing four of his delicious sausages. Awarding winning chef Johannes Bachar of Johannes restaurant in Palm Springs will also be delighting with his Austrian cuisine.

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com Music is an intricate part of any Oktoberfest, and the Palm Springs celebration will have an ear full. Two stages will help get the groove going with the Stella Stage, providing traditional music from Bavarian Stew and Highland Way. While the Leffe Stage rocks with Cougrzz and Scott Carter & New Breed.

Oktoberfest Palm Springs is an adult event, with only those 21 and older (proper ID required) admitted. General admission is $20 which includes 2 tasting tickets (no food) and a Stella Artois glass. Additional tasting tickets are available for purchase.

Whether Prince Ludwig threw the first Oktoberfest to celebrate his nuptials or just wanted to party with his subjects, it has become a worldwide phenomenon. It is a full-fledged beer lover’s party done Bavarian style, complete with oversized Krugs. So let

October 17 to October 23, 2013 us all hold up a glass, swing side to side and sing in unison with conviction…”Iche liebe dich bier” (I love beer)....and Oktoberfest is here!

For more information and tickets visit www.oktoberfestpalmsprings.com

Community

SelmAGrows College of the desert

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upport and Education for Local Music and Arts Coachella Valley, chapter 1, is proud to introduce SelmaGrows COD (College of the Desert), chapter 2. The college club President, Jonathan Ybarra is a United States Military veteran who goal is transfer to an Ivy League university. He has taken the SelmaGrows COD club as an opportunity to connect with the Coachella Valley community and obtain letters of recommendation that will connect him with his long term education goals.

You can connect with Jonathan Ybarra by emailing: college.dreams@outlook.com. His desire is to remind us all that, “You have to be the change you want to see in the world.”

– Gandhi SelmaGrows COD Mission: The main purpose of the SelmaGrows COD Club is to support the creation of careers that preserve cultural integrity by providing a localized showcase system of music and arts education opportunities, with the intent of offering volunteer hours, intern hours and letters of recommendation to SelmaGrows COD members.

The club has 170 registered student members and has collected 67 student interns to be connected with Coachella Valley community businesses that are involved in the growth and development of the Support

and Education for Local Music and Arts organization and its respective programs.

These internships currently include the following: Film, Radio, Art, Performing Arts, Music Production, Photo, Culinary Arts, Outreach / off campus events, Murals, Early Childhood Education, & Journalism.

If you are a College of the Desert student interested in joining the SelmaGrows COD club or if you are a Coachella Valley community member interested in accessing and supporting these valuable student intern successes, you can contact the SelmaGrows COD club secretary, Amanda Dorta by emailing selmacod@live.com To connect with Support and Education for Local Music and Arts Coachella Valley, chapter 1, you can email info@selmagrows. org, visit www.selmagrows.org or connect on facebook at Selma Grows.

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October 17 to October 23, 2013

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Local Music Spotlight

by lisa morgan

Modern English, Lung and Pictures From Eden

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hat do you get when you put the son of a Greek goose herder, a Chinese acrobat and the grandson of a Russian migrant farm worker in one room with a drummer?

Pictures from Eden, that’s what! At least

that’s how these self-abasing, immensely talented musicians would describe themselves. Being somewhat close to this band of wacky musicians, I smirked as I pictured the lack of a quick witted response that must have resulted when they answered the phone to hear Brandon Ray Henderson from The Hood Bar on the other end of the line asking, “Hey, would you guys be available to open for Modern English?” This band who has opened for The International Swingers, Missing Persons and Gene Loves Jezebel, found themselves at a loss for words and one liners, but only for a moment. “At first I thought he’d dialed the wrong number,” shared Paul Cotterell, lead singer for the band. “Then I thought it

was just a practical joke. Once it sunk in, I responded with a crafty dance...an Irish jig of sorts. Ultimately, I had to sit down. The jig kinda wore me out.” On a more serious note, the band has been compared to the likes of the Goo Goo Dolls and Train, and will be unleashing as many new songs as their time limit will allow before opening up the stage to the next act; LUNG, a musical experience all their own. You can check out Pictures from Eden on their website: www. picturesfromeden.com/ In case you missed it the first time I wrote about them, Lung has a story that is as unique and unexpectedly beautiful as the music they make together. Full of completely unpredictable melodic and dynamic twists, turns and depths, the life and the music of artists Chris Loung and Ric Chandler, seem to mirror each other. These two artists together, paint with sound much like Picasso painted with a brush and paint - with a depth that is continually revealed

Blare The Surface I

t’s been almost a year now since two players from the band Two Drink Minimum joined forces with bass player, Greg Cabral (also with Ornament) to begin their all original, eclectic rock and roll experiment. From the sound of things, the miles are paying off. With new releases showing a collaboration that is truly dialing in on a signature that is all their own, this very special combination of talents is paving a

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@ The Hood Bar, Palm Desert, Friday Night, October 18th

and rediscovered with each new listen.

Chris Loung’s captivating voice takes you on a cinematic journey in her native French, wherein you eventually forget that the story is being told in a foreign language. With Ric Chandler on drums along with his musical direction and technological genius, this two piece mini-orchestra can overwhelm your senses with sound in a powerful way. This show may be one of the last in which you will get to experience this sonic garden live, as the winter will take them away to the Florida Keys, where fans anxiously await their stay through the winter. I think you will enjoy following their journey via Facebook, as they travel by way of Nashville and Memphis, visiting the roots of Johnny Cash.

Their next project will be a tribute to the iconic American singer in hopes to introduce his work to the younger generation using a unique blend of electronic rock, country and french infusions. With this team’s inspirational talent, I personally can’t wait to see that finished product. Follow Chris and Ric and their music on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lungworld.

Ric Chandler of Lung will be pulling double duty on this musical night, as he is also the touring drummer with the infamous band, Modern English. The English rock band headlining the night is best remembered for their songs, “I Melt with You,” “Hands Across the Sea,” and “Ink and Paper”. Fans and the music industry

@ Plan B Live Entertainment and Cocktails

way that has nothing short of huge potential.

Blare the Surface, also known as BtS, will be unveiling their newest collection of songs at Plan B Live Entertainment and Cocktails in Thousand Palms, this Saturday night. The band consists of front man, Brannon McNeel, who goes by “Brando”, on vocals and guitar, Brad Fleener on drums, and Greg Cabral on bass. When I first heard this band at the Red Barn, the three piece team delivered strong,

have been anxiously awaiting the new album (the first with the original lineup in 25 years) hoped to be released in 2013. This is a feat not easily undertaken considering their touring schedule and the geographical challenges that make bringing all the parties together difficult. If the band can manage to lour Hugh Jones (producer on Melt with You) out of retirement, the release could prove to be a long awaited triumph for a band that just celebrated 30 years in the industry. I just got word from the band that they will be playing 3 new unreleased songs at their live show at The Hood.

For this band and the talented others who will be warming up the stage for them (pardon the predictable close, but I can’t help myself) “the future’s open wide”.

by lisa morgan

original, 70’s psychedelic style rock infused with lush melodic lines and strong lyrics as if they’d been doing this together for years. I was shocked to find out that the soulful lead singer and guitar player was just beginning to get used to the roll of playing lead electric guitar while singing. It didn’t show in his playing or his vocal delivery. Instead, there was nothing but fluidity and an inspiring oneness between the singer, the player and the song not to mention the tight rhythm section.

“November of next month, we’ll be coming up on a year since we first started playing together. We’ve definitely switched gears a little bit,” says Cabral of how the group has grown over the year. “Many of the songs have taken on more textures and have even more grit to them. They’re more aggressive, and that fits really well with the lyrics. Right now we’re really just beginning to break through the crust that surrounds the cream of our sound. It’s been really cool.”

I asked Brando how he felt about the bands newest uploads and progression. “We have a lot of other new tracks that aren’t uploaded that we’ll be playing at the show. It’s definitely experimental with a lot of different influences.

We’ve been stepping away from the comfort zone, taking on a lot of new rhythms and

melodies. There have been a lot of boundaries that had to be broken, especially since I only started playing guitar seriously two years ago.

It took a while for me to get comfortable playing and singing and working the pedals. I definitely have to think while I’m playing; it’s not second nature yet. I’m always pushed to do something different...pushing past the boundaries drives me. Like any artist, I’m never really satisfied anyway. You always have new ideas and attempt to make them come to life. I love the challenge and the thrill; constantly pushing forward to having it really mean something in the end.”

The immediate aspirations of the band are simple: Play weekly and get back into the studio to record their rapidly growing list of songs. “The tracks we have, we did ourselves,” says Brando. “I’d like to get back in and have someone besides us record and mix.” That may be the case, but the band did a great job producing four new songs and a video that can be found on their Reverbnation page.

Check it out for yourself. If you like it, I highly recommend getting down to Plan B to hear the live version. You will NOT be disappointed.

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/blared. thesurface?fref=ts On Reverbnation: www.reverbnation.com/ blarethesurfacemusic

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Culture

October 17 to October 23, 2013

By Heidi Simmons

Dancing, Dancing, Dancing

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ant a great way to meet new people, get into shape and learn a skill that is envied and admired? How about dancing? But if twerking or freaking is too aerobic and you rather look at your partner and hold him or her when you dance, maybe the Salsa, Fox Trot or the Swing would suit you. After all, ballroom dancing has been around for centuries and it never goes out of style.

“Ballroom dancing is about being in sync with your partner and enjoying the music,” said David Himmler, ballroom dance instructor at the Palm Desert Community Center. “It’s a great way to build self confidence and social interaction skills.”

Growing up in Chicago, David was interested in girls but not interested in football, so his mother suggested he take dance lessons. It worked. He had more dates than the quarterback and he’s been dancing ever since. At age 15, David studied dance at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio learning and mastering every dance they taught.

Besides being a certified professional dance instructor, David has a doctorate degree in ancient languages. After he retired from a career in education, he came to the CV and went back to his love of dance. He’s been teaching dance here for 15 years -- 11 of those years at College of the Desert. “Dancing is a great way to keep active. It’s good for you physically and mentally. It’s low impact and it keeps you agile,” said David.

His classes often have couples preparing for their wedding day. “When they take the dance floor at their reception, they want to look good and feel good,” said David.

In partner dancing one must lead and one must follow. For David, that is the only rule.

It does not matter to him if it’s traditional, as in the male leads and the female follows, as long as the couple can agree who will do which. “It is always interesting to see partners learn together. Couples can really find out a lot about themselves through dancing.” David offers a private lesson package for the bride and groom and their wedding party.

Whether teaching in the community center or privately, David carefully breaks down the steps for each dance and both parts. He teaches mostly beginners but can teach all levels. Classes usually have more women to men and ages vary from 20s to 70s. He starts each session teaching one dance and generally lets the class choose the second dance. “Classes develop personalities and often become friends and go out dancing together,” said David.

Mellissa Ballard took David’s ballroom dance class at College of the Desert eight

years ago. Mainly a Hip Hop dancer, she wanted to learn something new. “I wanted to take ballroom for the discipline and structure,” said Mellissa. “David is a very patient teacher. He jokes around with you to break down any barriers and makes you feel comfortable. He is very easy going.”

Today Mellissa is a Special Education teacher at John Glenn Middle School and is a part time professional model and dancer.

She loves Salsa dancing and has competed in Interpretive Ballroom dance. She still pops in for a class with David now and then, and has substituted for him over the years.

Mellissa has noticed an increase in young males taking the class, noting that there is no stigma for guys taking dance these days.

For David, he hasn’t a favorite dance.

Whatever he is dancing at the time becomes his favorite. He loves to get into each dance and feel the music and the energy in the moment. He explains, “It is about letting go, enjoying your partner and feeling the music.” Music is important to David. Growing up in house where his father was a professional classical musician and his mother loved pop, he uses a mix of contemporary music as well as Oldies injecting the class with fun rhythms and energy.

The class starting October 22 will begin with the Rumba. David teaches two new dances every session. Classes are every Tuesday from 7:00 to 8:45 pm for six weeks.

The cost is $65 per person. Lessons are taught at the Palm Desert Community Center located at 43900 San Pablo in Palm Desert. For more information or to enroll, call 760 329 7727.

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October 17 to October 23, 2013

film

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

By Robin E. Simmons

Q&A WITH “ESCAPE PLAN” PRODUCER MARK CANTON Robin: Is there an ultimate personal film you’d like to produce?

Mark: No. I’m always looking for new material. Most of the movies I produce are very different.

Robin: Yes they are.

R

obin Simmons: Do you remember the first movie you saw in a theater?

Mark Canton: Yes. (Laughs. Long pause) Robin: Well? What was it?

Mark: The first was SHANE. Actually, the first two I saw were SHANE and OLD YELLER.

Robin: Good ones. I think the first movie I saw in a theater was PETER PAN. Mark: There you go!

Robin: Made a huge impression -- I was amazed to see drawings come to life.

Mark: Right. Of course.

Robin: How did you get involved in the film business?

Mark: I got involved in the film business because I grew up in the film business. My father won a 1939 Oscar© for producing a short subject on the artist Vincent Van Gogh. He had a public relations and marketing firm that represented many of the great directors and actors of the time.

Robin: So it was a family business.

Mark: Yes, a family business.

Robin: What was the first movie you worked on?

Mark: The first movie I worked on was PAPILLON. Not a bad start.

Robin: No kidding! What was you position?

Mark: I was assistant to the director [Franklin J. Schaffer].

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Robin: Where was PAPILLON filmed?

Where was the prison?

Mark: Jamaica.

Robin: How did you get involved with ESCAPE PLAN? Mark: I developed it with Randall Emmett.

Robin: So it was an original idea?

Mark: It was an original screenplay

by Miles Chapman and it was not getting together. So Robbie Brenner [with whom I produced THE GETAWAY] asked me to help.

Randall Emmett and I developed it for two or three years. It’s a great story. I love it.

Robin: Were other actors attached for the two leads?

Mark: I brought in the talent.

Schwarzenegger and Stallone. That was my job.

Robin: What was main location for ESCAPE PLAN? Mark: New Orleans. We shot the prison at NASA, which was pretty amazing and fantastic.

Robin: Having seen the trailer in a theater several times, I noticed people kind of, uhm, snicker when Schwarzenegger’s face comes on the screen. Is there anything tongue-in-cheek about this movie?

Mark: I can’t answer that because we got great research on the TV spots and trailers. People really responded positively to the movie because, frankly, it is excellent.

I think people were reacting to Arnold because he has a different look. Has grey hair. I think people are surprised because it’s a whole new look for him.

Mark: We have the new 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE which is just awesome. You’ll find some of the movies I produce have a lot of testosterone, but there’s diversity as well.

So there’s no ultimate movie. I’m just happy and privileged to do the movies I do.

Robin: Have you considered writing or directing?

Mark: [Laughs] I consider it every day at every meeting.

Robin: Seriously?

Mark: Sure. But it never quite comes to that?

Robin: What’s the greatest pleasure of producing for you.

Mark: I’m still a fan. I love going to the theater and seeing people eating popcorn and drinking their sodas and loving the movie [I made].

Robin: What about new technology? Is that a factor in a movie’s success?

Mark: Getting the “landscape” right is important. I think that’s what gets them to work so well. The new 300 will raise the bar even higher.

Robin: Does it look kind of similar?

Mark: Kind of. But it has its own standards. We really raised the bar high.

Robin: Does it continue the story of the first 300?

Mark: Our stories deal with mythology and history but they have to have a foundation of authenticity. I think that’s what makes them work so well.

Robin: The world of the story has to be real somehow.

Mark: That’s right.

Robin: How do you feel about 3D? Mark: When it’s used right, it makes a big difference. The new 300 does that. But 3D’s been a rocky road at times. And I think a big corner’s been turned with GRAVITY.

Robin: Yes a breakthrough in technology.

Mark: Brilliant.

Robin: So beautifully rendered. Kind of a metaphor for our lonely journey through the cosmos.

Mark: I agree.

Robin: It resonated deeply in the audience without them even knowing it.

Mark: A very important movie.

Robin: Do you think movies can change the way people think about things in the real world?

Mark: Yeah, GRAVITY does that. When you see important movies that are coming up like DALLAS BUYERS CLUB. People need to use movies as education as well and I think that works.

Robin: What’s next for you on the horizon.

Mark: We have the new 300 coming up and a movie with Fox called SITE 146 and a TV show with “stars” that I can’t mention at the moment. I plan to make a few more movies with Randall Emmett, he’s a bright guy.

Robin: Anything you want to say about ESCAPE PLAN?

Mark: Mikael Håfström is a brilliant director and I always wanted to make a movie with Sly and Arnold. It was a rare thing and a privilege. Their likes do not often come around. It was a genuine thrill for me. I’m very excited about this one.

Robin: Was there any creative input from the leads, especially Stallone?

Mark: Of course, always. And brilliantly so. It’s a great story and according to research there’s a big audience that wants to see it.

Robin: Yes, right now, one internet survey has it at 97 per cent! I hope it’s a big hit. See you at Cinemas Palme d’Or following the Oct 19, 7 pm screening of ESCAPE PLAN. Thanks for taking the time to chat.

Mark: Thank you.

Community

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

October 17 to October 23, 2013

By Heidi Simmons

Here Comes the Sun!

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or many, the joy of year-round sunshine is why we live here in the Coachella Valley. And for that very reason, the CV is becoming the hot spot for solar farms. With wind and solar, the valley is now producing more renewable kilowatthours than any other place in the country!

The latest addition is the 2.9 megawatt solar energy system off Dillon Road in Desert Hot Springs -- the city’s first large distributed generation solar project. Set on 14.4 acres, the grid-tied solar photovoltaic system will contribute over 6,000 megawatt hours (or six million kilowatt hours) of clean energy annually to the utility grid. That is the equivalent to planting 3642 acres of forest, or removing 926 cars off the road, or providing 611 single-family homes with energy for a year. Considered small distributive generation, the solar energy produced is used to directly aid or offset the existing load on the grid enhancing stability across the region and throughout state.

The project, which began in 2011, is expected to be on line before the end of the year. Privately owned and funded by New York based ConEdison Solutions, the estimated cost of building the solar farm

is eight million dollars. ConEdison has a power purchase agreement with Southern California Edison for 20 years, which is the minimum life expectancy of the farm.

Solar panels work when the photovoltaic cells capture electrons from the sun and convert them to energy. The solar farm is divided into 20 sections with a total of 10,000 solar modules on racks mounted with pylons buried five to eight feet deep in the soil. The panels are set with an automated single-axis tracking system, which follows the sun from its rising in the east, to its setting in the west, or 0 to 45 degrees.

There are 221 rows with 26 combiner points similar to a household electrical panel. The energy is then combined and inverted from direct current (DC) to alternating current

(AC). Two transformer pads directly feed the energy into the grid. This electricity is then used by local residents and businesses.

Solar production is 20 percent less in the winter due to the angle of the sun and potential cloud cover. The photovoltaic panels are cleaned twice a year. The system is electronically monitored for efficiency and damage around the clock but requires no personnel on site.

At the recent construction celebration, Desert Hot Springs Mayor, Yvonne Parks said, “This project is a vital piece of the economic rebirth for the city of Desert Hot Springs. This project confirms our team can successfully entitle and permit a new use for industrial land and begins to open up our Dillon Industrial Corridor.” Parks went on to say the sales tax from the project would provide essential services that directly benefit the community.

Riverside County supervisor John Benoit said, “Eastern Riverside County is the largest Federal solar energy zone in the country. It’s remarkable to see renewable energy showcased in our natural setting being utilized.” He added there are some holdups that include the need for additional transmission and that financing has been a problem, but was encouraged by the success of the Desert Hot Springs solar project.

Rebekah Rodriguez-Lynn, Deputy District Director for US Congressman Ruiz said the Congressman was thrilled with the jobs and clean renewable energy being created by the project. Lynn said that Ruiz is on the House Committee on Natural Resources and has asked the House Committee on Ways and Means to do a tax restructuring to give more credits to renewable energy.

She added that Ruiz has backed an initiative to get money for green jobs training as well.

Borrego Solar Systems, Inc. played an integral part in the development of the property and project. Besides the design and installation of the solar system, they helped obtain financing and led the building and approval process. Established in nearby Borrego Springs in 1980, the company has since completed 1,000 solar power installations totaling nearly 90 megawatts across the country. Borrego Solar headquarters are now in San Diego.

Nina McCullough the local Public Affairs Regional Manager for Southern California Edison and a board member on the Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce said the project was part of a program with Southern California Edison called CREST -- California Renewable Energy Small Tariff which provides standardized fixed price energy payments to qualifying renewable energy generators of 1.5 megawatts or less in their service and distribution territory.

The Desert Hot Springs solar project has two CREST contracts for one megawatt and 1.5 megawatt. Although the CREST program is now closed, the DHS facility is one of the first to come on line. McCullough said, “This project will provide clean power to SCE customers and help meet the renewable portfolio standards of 33 percent renewable.”

The Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce hosted the event. Heather Coladonato, President/CEO of the Chamber said, “The chamber is excited for this solar project, along with future corridor projects, as they continue to create jobs and generate additional tax revenue in the city.”

Desert Hot Springs is on the sunny side of the valley and the city’s outlook on renewable energy appears very bright indeed.

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October 17 to October 23, 2013

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

sports scene

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

by Julie Buehler

What’s In A Name?

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ecause the government shut down and nobody asked, I’ll volunteer my best advice to solve the problems in DC. The Washington Redskins don’t have to change their name.

They don’t have to apologize and the President of the United States of America should NEVER care enough about this minuscule issue to utter even three words concerning the matter.

If I were POTUS and some White House reporter asked me, “Do you think the Redskins should change their nickname?” My response would be swift and direct, “My day is occupied by making sure Americans don’t die oversees, ensuring your children aren’t saddled with insurmountable debt and keeping the petty asswipes in congress from caving in on themselves. You think I care what an NFL franchise is calling itself?”

Instead Barry offered some tepid remark and tossed kindling on the flames of a fakecontroversy created by a very vocal tiny minority.

Don’t agree? Consider some basic facts.

The Redskins are an NFL franchise and like most sports franchises (with very few exceptions) are a privately held company.

Therefore, the branding, public image and public relations are entirely up to the owner of the company. In this case, it’s a guy named Dan Snyder. He made his large fortune as a self-made advertising and media mogul, so he knows a thing or two about communication.

He’s ardently defended the nickname without wavering and claims the 81-year history of the franchise defends the legacy and honor of Native Americans rather than denigrates them. He claims the name originated in 1933 with four of the franchise’s players and head coach having Native American descent. And he claims that in the 70’s, as the helmet designs were being created, the Red Cloud Athletic Fund was consulted and helped the team develop it’s branding.

Snyder can defend the name all he wants and it’s probably good for public relations that he remains receptive to the conversation, but the reality is: it’s a private company. He’s the owner. The team might have “Washington” in front of the name, but the city doesn’t own the team. Snyder does.

For those who feel strongly about any insult levied by the nickname, it is well within the public’s right to boycott and let their voice be heard in REAL terms. Make the market place reflect the sentiments of those who support changing the name.

Instead, a vocal minority has generated a fake-controversy where the media jumps on a PC topic and hashes it out to get reaction and ratings rather than resolutions.

The fact is, most people, most Native Americans polled do NOT find the nickname offensive. More specifically, 90% of Native Americans thought the Redskins name was not offensive, this according to an Annenburg Public Policy Center study.

But facts seem irrelevant in debates about political correctness. Even if 99% of people found the name to be acceptable but a vocal

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1% got everyone talking in circles, it’d still be considered “controversial.”

The PC concept that anything offensive must be controlled to avoid offending anyone is ridiculous, and even more maddening, enforced with brazen hypocrisy.

The hip-hop community frequently uses racial slurs and abusive language, yet that’s rarely questioned in the mainstream.

Miley Cyrus prostitutes herself on stage in front of 13-year-old fans and now she’s celebrated on the cover of multiple magazines and hosting Saturday Night Live.

You walk into an Abercrombie & Fitch and immediately have to wonder if you’re at a softporn expo. Offensive? Maybe to some, thing is, if it DIDN’T sell, it wouldn’t continue. But it does, so it will.

And the same can be said for the Redskins nickname. In the private market place, where there is demand, there will be supply. As long as football fans are paying for the Redskins, they will keep supplying that brand.

Little known FACT: of the NFL’s Top 10 AllTime Single-Season Home Attendance Records, the Washington Redskins own ALL 10 records.

Which means, no team in NFL history had more fans file through their turnstiles than that Redskins did in 2007 (1st), ’08, ’06,’ 04, ’05, ’09, ’10, ’03, ’02, and ’01.

Snyder bought the team in 1999.

So while Barry and the rest of the political machine in Washington shut down to common sense and negotiations in a governmental standoff, there’s at least one guy in DC who knows how to turn a profit and get people working.

At what point can we shut down the mind numbing train wreck of “political correctness” and allow common sense to dictate reality?

Given the facts, the polls, and the numbers, the Redskins shouldn’t change a thing, except maybe their defensive coordinator.

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.

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sports

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October 17 to October 23, 2013

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

Don’t get comfy NFL fan, Predict the Unpredictable…

G

enerally, I’m not a big surprise guy. I don’t really see the point in it. I don’t particularly like surprise parties. Simply tell me you want to throw me a party; I’ll pay for it, help plan. Let’s try to stay away from any trickery or sneaky stuff. I’m not a fan of people hiding behind the sofa and waiting for me to get home then yell “Surprise” and we all eat cake.

Then inevitably I spend the rest of the night apologizing for not keeping in touch with most of the people in the room. My point is surprises, more often than not, lead to disaster. No one gets a warning when their being audited, arrested, divorced, or attacked by a shark. Wouldn’t we like to have seen that coming? I’m just not a big surprise guy. Yet, I love football! And all it has done so far is surprise me.

This season has been unbelievable as much as you can predict it will be unpredictable. You know Peyton Manning won’t win the Superbowl this year. That story is to perfect. What makes the NFL equally maddening and captivating, it’s one surprise after another. Only 20 of 74 number one seeds have ever won a Superbowl. Want a better one? That same 20 out of 74 number one seeds have lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Last year Baltimore was a wild card team. Nobody outside of the city of Baltimore thought they were going on to win the Superbowl heading into the playoffs, nobody. They shouldn’t have won it. Peyton had them beat in Denver, Brady and the Patriots were heavy favorites and should have taken care of the Ravens. Even in the big game itself, they were 4 point underdogs to the 49ers.

Three years ago, the Giants were 7-7, they won the Superbowl. In the last 13 years only two number 1 seeds have won it.

Peyton can’t win it this year. Predictability isn’t an ingredient that goes into the recipe for winning it all. In fact, predict the unpredictable, find that 50-1 underdog and mortgage the house on it.

History proves that at this time of year, more often than not, we have no idea who’s going to win it. Remember the 18-0 Patriots? Even as a two touchdown favorite they lost to Velcro on their helmet Giants.

Remember the year Arizona went to the Superbowl? In that year, 2008 regular season, they lost 4 out their last 6 games.

They gave up 56 points to the Jets while getting humiliated. Then they lost 47-7 at New England, followed by losing 48-20 in Philly.

The Cardinals went 9-7 that year and won the Superbowl. I’m sure we ALL saw that coming, right? Denver running the tables and winning it all is too perfect of a script.

As fans, we very rarely have perspective on

sports. We love this Sunday, last Sunday, and what’s for dinner. That’s about as wide a perspective as we cast. It’s at this point in the season we need to take a look at who we may be missing. This morning I wrote down 7 teams, that if they were to win the Superbowl, I wouldn’t be surprised. In no particular order they are; 49ers, Seahawks, Saints, Broncos, Chiefs, Colts, and Patriots.

Then there’s 5 “Keep your eye on” teams; Lion, Bears, Packers, Cowboys, and Bengals.

You can’t tell me that onv any given Sunday, one of those 5 couldn’t beat one of the 7 best.

Then there’s the rest of the NFL, roughly 20 ‘thanks for playing’ teams that don’t matter. But I guarantee you that somebody in that elevator music group will end up shocking everybody. What is known about this great sport is that the NFL is anti-happily ever after, its anti-Disney. In fact, I’d argue, the NFL is anti-everything falling into place just the way we think it is supposed to. The NFL loves the romance and marriage then a week later the catastrophic divorce. Their product lives and dies on the trials and tribulations of our expectations. Anybody see Denver take on the hapless Jaguars this week. Vegas had Denver favored by 27 points, the highest spread in almost 30 years. The Jags kept it close the whole game and even through the 3rd quarter I was saying, “Wow, the Jaguars have a shot”. The Jaguars covered easily. History, over and over tells us, the only thing predictable is the unpredictable. Enjoy the ride.

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October 17 to October 23, 2013

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Eleni P. Austin

NEKO CASE

“The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You” (Anti- Records)

N

eko Case has been making music for a living since 1997. Born in Virginia in 1970 to teenage parents, Case was raised in Tacoma, Washington.

Following a desolate childhood, Case left home at age 15. Initially she gravitated to the nascent Grunge scene of the Pacific Northwest.

In the early 90s, Case attended the Emily Carr Institute Of Design & Technology in Vancouver, B.C. It was there that Case began pursuing a career in music. Her debut, The Virginian was released through the tiny Canadian label, Mint in 1997.

Case’s sophomore release, Furnace Room Lullaby, was a canny mix of sharp originals and trenchant cover songs. She had settled on a style, best described as Country Noir.

More albums followed, Blacklisted in 2002, The Tigers Have Spoken in 2004 and The Fox Confessor Brings The Flood in 2006.

Not only was her solo career flourishing, but Case also moonlighted as a featured vocalist in the ad hoc Canadian super group, The New Pornographers. ( The band has recorded five albums since 2000.)

In 2009 Neko Case released her most ambitious effort, Middle Cyclone. A more Pop orientated affair, the gamble paid off.

Not only was the album a commercial hit, but Case was also nominated for a Grammy in the Contemporary Folk category.

The last few years Case has been busy recording and touring with The New Pornographers and participating in John Mellencamp and Stephen King’s all-star project, “Ghost Brothers Of Darkland County.” But more recently she suffered a bout with depression following the deaths of her emotionally distant parents and her beloved Grandmother.

Case struggled to create her new album, and that’s even reflected in the lengthy title, The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight,

The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You. The album opens with the one-two punch of “Wild Creatures” and “Night Still Comes.” Anchored by a waltz-y, seesaw cadence and lush harmonies, “Wild Creatures” is a lonely Cri de Coeur for emotional independence… “I’m not fighting for your freedom; I’m fighting to be wise.”

“Night Still Comes” is a minor key masterpiece. Descending piano chords collide with swirling, slightly spiritual vocals.

Case demands that her quirky charms be acknowledged… “If I puked up some sonnets, would you call me a miracle?”

Case’s stream-of-conscious lyrics often tackle serious topics. Gender politics are thoroughly examined from each side on “I’m From Nowhere,” and “Man.” Spare and austere, “I’m From Nowhere,” is cloaked in torch and twang. Case starts off with an amusing aside… “I remember the ‘80s, I remember it’s puffy sleeves.” Then she goes on to assert her autonomy.

With “Man,” Case flips the script, adopting a masculine point of view, swaggering and posturing. The music

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Consider This

matches her macho mannerisms, blending blitzkrieg guitars and whip crack percussion.

Four tracks, “Calling Cards,” “Local Girl,” “Where Did I Leave That Fire” and “City Swans” beautifully blend the ache of heartbreak with incandescent melodies that completely seduce the listener.

“Calling Cards” recalls a failed relationship with a fellow songwriter…

“Every downtown, every truck stop, every heartbreak I love you more.” Case’s tone is both sincere and sarcastic, but the lyrics are enveloped in a loping backbeat, sparkling guitars, elegiac trumpet fills and yearning Wurlitzer runs.

“Local Girl” is a defiant treatise on hypocrisy, but Case’s indignation is camouflaged by Girl Group harmonies and Surf guitar riffs. Powered by whimsical clavinet and ping-ing sonar samples, “Where Did I Leave That Fire” finds Case turning her waspish tongue on herself…. “I wanted so badly not to be me.”

Finally, “City Swans” weds jangly guitar and plinking piano to a locomotive rhythm.

As the whole enterprise gathers speed, piano and guitar lock into a soaring groove and Case’s crystalline vocals cascade over this shimmery delight.

Case matches her sweetest, most infectious melodies to harrowing, real life scenarios on both “Bracing For Sunday” and “Nearly Midnight In Honolulu.” Anchored by a galloping gait, sunburst guitar licks, elastic bass lines and a honking horn section, the former details a grisly, backwoods murder.

The latter is stark and beautiful. An angelic acappella number, casually narrating a vignette of child abuse that Case had actually witnessed in Hawaii.

Case continues her tradition of including an eclectic cover song on each album. In the past she’s tackled artists as disparate as Queen, Ernest Tubb, Tom Waits, Loretta Lynn and Sparks. This time she works up a tender version of “Afraid,” originally written and recorded by former Velvet Underground chanteuse, Nico.

The album closes on a hopeful note with

by Lola Rossi-Meza

Valley Rhythms

Gloria Irwin, owner of Affordable Liquidations by JJ Valentine, Helps Musicians Relocate

F

ormer entertainer from the 1970s knows how valuable her help is to the many entertainers over the years.

Cousin to the legendary Mahila Jackson, Irwin has helped liquidate the estates of Liberace, Stephen Wolf keyboardist,

“Ragtime.” Lithe and elegant, anchored by a metronome rhythm and “Penny Lane” style trumpet fanfare, the tune pays homage to the percolating delights of that most American of musical idioms.

Neko Case made this album with her longtime backing band, Jon Rauhouse and Paul Rigby handle guitars, Kelly Hogan provides backing vocals and Tom Ray plays bass. There were a plethora of special guests on hand. A veritable who’s who of indie rock: A.C. Newman from New Pornographers, Jim James, Bo Koster and Carl Broemel from My Morning Jacket. Joey Burns and John Convertino from Calexico.

M.Ward from She & Him and Steve Berlin from Los Lobos.

Neko Case has been quoted saying that creating this album was “like birthing an albatross.” Although these songs are suffused in melancholy, Case’s exquisite sense of melody, coupled with her smoky vocals and crisp instrumentation make The Worse Things Get…. an unmitigated triumph.

October 17 to October 23, 2013

Woodie Putman, as well as many others and now including me, Lola Rossi.

Thanks to vocalist Elaina Beck who introduced us, Irwin is currently orchestrating an estate sale for me personally, by appraising my items and calling in the buyers. The sale is to take place in my home at 73-532 Terraza Drive in Palm

Desert on Thursday, October 17, through Sunday, October 20, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

A very unusual column this week, but one I felt has merit, especially growing up with such a musical background.

Born in my “neck of the woods”, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and raised in Palo Alto, California, Irwin has four brothers and one sister. Her mother was a Registered Nurse and her father was a Doctor of Pathology at Stanford University Hospital in Palo Alto. As a child, she grew up singing in various gospel choirs. She attended Ravenswood Elementary School in Palo Alto, where she was a child prodigy in dance under Miss Jones. The family relocated to San Francisco, where she attended Balboa High School and studied choreography.

After graduation, she attended De Anza College in Cupertino, California, near Santa Cruz, where she continued to study dance.

“Due to an unfortunate spinal injury,” said Irwin, “Dance was no longer my dream. So I decided to leave De Anza and attended the College For Appraisers in Brea, California, for two years.” There she began to learn all about appraising antiques collectibles, personal property and gemology. During this time, she met her

husband, Robert Irwin, an annuity specialist and former Oakland Raider. They married on December 22, 1984 and moved to the Desert because of their business interests.

On a personal note, Loving All Animals would really like them because they are big

animal advocates, having seven beautiful dogs as part of their family.

After graduation, she became a member of the American Society of Estate Liquidators, ASEL, and along with her husband, opened an estate liquidation house in Desert Hot Springs. “Because we both had injuries over the years, we would travel to Desert Hot Springs to enjoy the healing waters at The Spa. We decided to move there and opened our business, Chocolates For Breakfast in Yucca Valley.” After four years of a successful business and very tired of the commute, they relocated to 66-420 Pierson Boulevard at Cactus in Desert Hot Springs with a new name, Affordable Liquidations. (760) 2852925.

After my involvement with the Angel View Crippled Children’s Foundation’s history book project, this seems very ironic that they are just across the street from the first Angel View thrift store, where the unsold items will be donated. Try to stop by my home and see all the various collectibles, musical instruments, memorabilia and “one of a kind” unique items. You never know who may be there, Gloria’s husband and some of his friends are planning to drop by, see you there.

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

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13

October 17 to October 23, 2013

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PET PLACE

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Janet McAfee

Keep benji inside!

T

wo weeks ago this column focused on the safety and health reasons for keeping a domestic cat indoors. There are also compelling reasons for including your pet dog as an inside “member” of the family. If it is so important that your immaculate home never have a muddy paw print or a stray dog hair, consider getting another type of pet such a bird or tropical fish. While it’s great exercise for dogs to enjoy the run of a fenced in secure back yard, most outdoor dogs suffer physically and psychologically

Crosby & Nash, Missing Stills!

Stills got himself a new home, and we are left to “Carry On” singing as a duo at Loving All Animals in Palm Desert. Crosby is the gorgeous gray guy, and Nash is wearing his tuxedo. We are a pair of 3-monthold male kittens . Please adopt us together so we can entertain you .We promise to “Love the One We’re With!”. We are neutered vaccinated and microchipped.

Call (760) 834-7000.

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when deprived of social contact.

Most Coachella Valley residents are wonderful pet owners, and their dogs are treated like part of the family. Dogs are pack animals, and want nothing more than to be by your side and involved in as many of your activities as they can. They are highly social creatures, born to be part of a pack or a human family.

It is a sad sight when you see a neighbor’s dog tied to a post day after day, forlorn and bereft of human companionship. Some of these animals become a neighborhood nuisance, barking at all hours of the night.

Under California penal code section 597, it is illegal to tether or chain a dog to a doghouse, post or other structure for longer than 3 hours in a 24 hour time period. You can report such treatment to animal control.

Some people were raised by parents whose admonition, “Dogs belong outside!” still rings in their subconscious. Some of you grew up on farms and rural areas where the dogs mingled with other local animals outside and appeared to be quite content.

However, we live in a geographical area of extreme weather where keeping a dog outdoors can jeopardize his health and even his life. Leash laws now forbid dogs from roaming neighborhoods.

The desert heat is reason enough not to leave your dog outside during the summer season. Dogs do not sweat the way humans do. Rising temperaments can cause a multitude of medical problems and even premature death. Think about a dog having to drink hot water out of his bowl in the sizzling summer weather, and worse yet having the water dry up and evaporate.

Out of sight, out of mind, it’s easy to forget to supply food and fresh water when you’re busy and don’t even see your dog.

Ironically, keeping an outdoor dog for

home security doesn’t do much good when the burglars break into the dwelling where the valuables are kept. Outdoor dogs are such indiscriminate barkers, and no one can tell if they are barking at a prowler or a child riding a bicycle down the street. An inside dog is a true deterrent to thieves. Outdoor dogs may be stolen by thieves with a variety of sinister motives.

Small and medium sized dogs are subject to prey. Coyotes kill many Coachella Valley

rapunzel Just like the fairy tale character, sweet Rapunzel will charm you.

Run don’t walk to the Palm Spring Animal Shelter to adopt this stunning little dog. She is beautiful blend of Maltese/ Poodle/Bichon, weighing about 20 pounds, only 1 1/2 years old. Shelter located at 4575 E. Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, (760) 416-5719.

pets every year. Tiny dogs may be seized by bird of prey such as hawks and owls. A friend of mine experienced the horror of hearing her Yorkshire Terrier cry out amidst the flutter of wings, and the dog disappeared in a matter of seconds.

Bored and lonely, outdoor only dogs develop numerous bad habits.

They dig holes in the yard. They can become destructive and chew on all kind of objects, including the patio furniture. They bark day and night, disrupting the neighborhood.

They usually lack socialization, and fail to bond with their families. The internet has a wealth of dog training assistance so you don’t need to resort to dumping Benji in the back yard due to behavior issues.

Here is the best reason of all for keeping your dog in the house with you. He will become your loving companion, amazing you with his unique personality, comfort you when you are sick, and communicate with you without speaking in ways you could never imagine.

October 17 to October 23, 2013

by Rick Riozza

DIAL M for MONDAVI at the MONTAGE

L

aguna Beach Ca. I know many of you readers commiserate and empathize with my arduous work day of wine tasting and food sampling, but please be comforted with the fact that, on occasions, there are some perks to the wine & food writing business.

We CV Weekliers got a great exclusive on the latest wonderful wine event in Southern California, where I was invited to a private luncheon featuring Michael Mondavi and his wines at the beautiful Montage Hotel & Resort in Laguna Beach.

Most of you lifetime wine enthusiasts— like myself, have watched the famed Mondavi family grow, prosper, and intrigue us, as their life has been displayed on the pages of Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and all of the other wine publications for over the past 40 years.

The patriarch Robert Mondavi bespoke California wine history as do his two sons, Michael and Tim who were at dad’s side making and producing their world famous wine for so many years. The Robert Mondavi Winery Company went public in 1994 and then in 2005, the world conglomerate Constellation Wines purchased it all—which included the most recognizable wine name around.

Michael Mondavi was involved prior to the Constellation purchase where he left the vineyard and winery to take on sales and marketing and the business life of the wine. M by Micheal Mondavi is a limited production of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and marks his return to the vineyards, winery, and winemaking after 30 years.

The luncheon was held at the exclusive Loft Restaurant to begin around 11am at the Loft Restaurant which has spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. It’s nestled at the Montage which sits perched on a costal cliff and possesses stellar beach resort architecture.

I arrived early ( you know how traffic can be ) and that really worked well, for I got to meet and chat with Mr. Michael Mondavi one-on-one. It was all I could do to hold back on a myriad of questions about his family and all of the great

vintages that he was in on back in the 70s and 80s.

He was obviously here to promote his new line of wines, which was exciting in itself, and too, he was very generous as well with his time to discuss “the old days”. As we talked, a wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé was poured. The wine, Isabel Deep Rosé 2010, was made in the saignée style from the premium grapes used to make his world class wines discussed below.

But one could tell by Mondavi’s exuberance in discussing this new era of his personal winemaking that he is as happy and satisfied as can be. As we sat tasting and discussing his wines, Michael waxed nostalgic referring to the really important things that he has learned throughout the years and making special references to what his grandfather taught him about nurturing the land.

“My grandfather taught me to respect the soil and to make sure you leave the land in better shape than you receive it. He recognized respect for the soil as the first step in making great wine that has a true sense of place.” Michael went on to say, “I am proud to carry on that tradition and it shows in every glass of the wine that we are now producing.”

Indeed, our intimate luncheon group enjoyed glasses of M by Michael Mondavi’s inaugural 2005 vintage and the 06, 07, and the newly released 2009. The early vintages are aging beautifully in a very Bordeauxesque fashion.

All of the wines embody what a great wine should be: complex, individual, and subtle. The 2009 showed bright floral notes that are balanced with hints of currants, spices, and dried berries—just layers and layers of flavor.

The reason for these complex but balanced wines is what Mondavi says is vineyard management that goes “back to the future” where each vine is pampered, each grape

is lightly squeezed to determine the perfect ripeness for picking, and even the grape skins and seeds are chewed to determine the ultimate character of the wine.

How fortunate we were to be enjoying the time with a great winemaker and his selection of wines. And of course the Montage provided exquisite cuisine that included Green Farms Heirloom Tomatoes with Italian Burrata and Aged Balsamic, Grilled Skirt Steak on Blue Cheese Focaccia, and a Sea Salt Caramel Mille Feuille.

Fortunately for our wine savvy desert area, we can enjoy these Michael Mondavi

wines which are served at the Colony Palms Hotel in Palm Springs, the Eldorado Country Club in Indian Wells, sommelier Paul Bologna carries them at the JW Marriot Hotel and Resort in Palm Desert, and sommelier Fred Gerber has them on his impeccable wine list at Cuistot Restaurant also in Palm Desert.

Here’s to great Cabernet Sauvignon!

Cheers!

Rick is your sommelier-about-town who conducts and entertains at various wine events and tastings.

Contact winespectrum@aol.com

15

October 17 to October 23, 2013

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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.

PLAYOFFS I THE PLAC S E TO BE

12105 PALM DRIVE DESERT HOT SPRINGS

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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 OCTOBER 17 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 Lilli Rose 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 CENTRAL PARK; PS; 760-866-9166 Live DJ 6pm CLINIC BAR & LOUNGE; PS; 760-864-4119 Open Mic 8pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6pm DESERT FOX; PS; 760-325-9555 Thirsty Thursdays 8pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm DILLON ROADHOUSE; DHS; 760-251-1991 Karaoke ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-992-0002 Lola Rossi, Rob Carter and Denise Motto 5-9pm (JZ)

THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Deadend Paradox, Piss Drunk and The Whiskey Pistols 9pm HOO DOO LOUNGE@THE HYATT; PS; Adon Icon, Sara Groban, Jamal Coleman and many more 6:30pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-3456466 Frank Di Salvo 6-9:30pm 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/ Jimi Nelson 8pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-9991995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 8-1am (LR) MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760325-2323 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) O’LEARY’S; PS; 760-325-4913 Karaoke 9pm THE OUTPOST TAVERN; C.C.; 760-328-9004 Karaoke w/ DJ Stuart 8pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Lia Rose 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Open Mic 8-11pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 Lola Rossi & Denise Motto 6:30-10:30pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Hot as Hell Pool Party w/ Tribe-O 7pm 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; 760-341-3560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 8-12am VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-9pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 Michael Keeth 6-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Bill Saitta Jazz 6pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Mr. Miami’s B-day 9pm

FRI OCTOBER 18

16

October 17 to October 23, 2013

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 Tashaki Miyaki w/ DJ Infinity Jacuzzi 10pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Karaoke w/ AJ The KJ 8-12am AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Francesca Amari 8pm

BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Shon 10pm BILLY REED’S; PS; 760-325-1946 Live Music 6-10pm BLUE BAR, SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-5566 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 CENTRAL PARK; PS; 760-866-9166 Live DJ 10pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 DICKIE O’NEALS IRISH PUB; PS; 760-325-2600 Lassie Jo’s Best Damn Karaoke 7pm DILLON ROADHOUSE; DHS; 760-251-1991 EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 Dude Jones 9pm HAMILTON’S; LQ; 760-698-8303 Karaoke 8:30pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Modern English, Lung and Pictures From Eden 8pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-3456466 Frank Di Salvo 6-9:30pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Live DJ 8:30pm (VD) KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 T.B.A. 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 LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Hot Sauce 9pm THE LOUNGE; AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-9991995 Shaken Not Stirred 9pm (VD) MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760325-2323 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) O’LEARY’S; PS; 760-325-4913 T.B.A. 9pm THE OUTPOST TAVERN; C.C.; 760-328-9004 Karaoke w/ DJ Stuart 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 T.B.A. 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760-3450222 Brad & Buddy Mercer 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Walter Clevenger & The Dairy Kings 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760-3271161ext.230 Bill Baker 7-11pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 T.B.A. 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross, Starlite Lounge 6pm, Mercedes Moore, Sidebar Lounge 10pm ROCKYARD@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 800827-2946 SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 The Vibe 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 5:30pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341-3560 Demetrious and Co. (JZ)(RR) TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 212 Band 9pm TILTED KILT;PD; 760-773-5458 Tilted @ Night 10pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760-3282300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE; MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-755-5391 The Rick Whitfield Band 10pm (VD) VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Scott Carter 1:30-4:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 T.B.A. 9pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760-5642201 Rob & jb 7-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Sharon Stills Trio 6:30pm (JZ) ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Girl’s Night out w/ The Men on the Hollywood Strip 9pm

SAT OCTOBER 19 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 Boss DJ Brian J Waters poolside noon, Valida 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 The Derrick Lewis Quartet 8pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Social w/ Pawn & AimLo 10pm BILLY REED’S; PS; 760-325-1946 Live Music 6-10pm BLUE BAR; SPOTLIGHT 29; IND; 760-775-5566 DJ PWee (VD) BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Steve Madeo 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 CENTRAL PARK; PS; 760-866-9166 Karaoke w/ Karaokie Jo 6pm CLINIC BAR & LOUNGE; PS; 760-864-4119 All Night Shoes 9pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6:30-9:30pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm DICKIE O’NEALS IRISH PUB; PS; 760-325-2600 Karaoke Show 8pm DILLON ROADHOUSE; DHS; 760-251-1991 EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 T.B.A. 9pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 T.B.A. 8-11pm THE GROOVE LOUNGE; SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ 8pm HAMILTON’S; LQ; 760-698-8303 Andrea Drea 9pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Scarlett Roads 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-3456466 Frank Di Salvo 6-9:30pm 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 Hot Sauce 9pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-9991995 Shaken Not Stirred 9pm (VD) MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760325-2323 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 Oktoberfest all day THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm (PB) NYPD; PS; 760-778-6973 Live DJ 9pm O’LEARY’S; PS; 760-325-4913 T.B.A. 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 T.B.A. 9pm (AC) PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760-3450222 Radio 60 6:30pm

PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Shadow Mountain Band 5pm AK & Her Kalashnikous 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Blare the Surface 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760-3271161ext.230 Bill Baker 7-11pm 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 DJ Shasta, poolside noon, Martin Ross, Starlite Lounge 6pm, Mercedes Moore, Sidebar Lounge 10pm, DJ Shasta, Starlite Lounge 10pm ROCKYARD@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 800827-2946 Triple 7 and Damage Inc. A Tribute to Metallica 7:30pm ROC’S FIREHOUSE; PD; 760-340-3222 SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 R Buckle Road 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm

continue to page 22

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October 17 to October 23, 2013

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

The Pampered Palate

By Raymond Bill

copley’s on palm canyon

F

or most of last season, I heard much buzz about a newer restaurant with great food and ambiance that has been increasing in popularity among locals.

This season, I decided not to wait to see why Copley’s on Palm Canyon has become so successful. The bar was set high and I made my reservation for my date night in Palm Springs. The city was alive with tourism and the weather was perfect for dining under the stars.

My date and I were cordially greeted

by Greg, an always pleasant and smiling manager or host. The courtyard entry is spacious, offering room for dining as well as several sitting areas for socializing, perhaps with a cocktail or after dinner drink. The option was clear and we selected a seat on the patio. We were immediately greeted by a service assistant with bread and water.

We even shared in a dialogue with some friends dining nearby.

Our server was confident and attentive without being overbearing. We were truly at ease. After taking our time with a cocktail, and hearing about the one nightly special, we placed our order. Shortly after, a duo of ravioli arrived placed in front of me.

One filled with creamy ricotta and the other with English peas and tarragon, both were stacked upon a celery root puree with a light drizzle of sauce. I am not sure if the pasta is housemade but they were incredible and well-presented. My date would have the wedge salad with a garlic bleu cheese dressing. While I am not a fan of iceberg lettuce, my date enjoyed her dish.

The wine selection by the glass is minimal but they make up for it in value and quality. I enjoyed a very reasonably priced Pinot Noir to pair with my entrée of braised Veal Cheeks with a veal reduction and garlic mashed potatoes. My meal was accompanied by a lobster tail and when I asked how it was presented with the dish, our server described it as a 5 oz tail.

What arrived was likely half the size and slightly over-cooked. The delicateness of the lobster was lost in the strong flavor of the veal and the sauce; however, the veal was truly delicious. It was tender and rich with flavor. My date ordered the Colorado rack of lamb and it was a hit! The lamb was

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Palm Springs SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013 10:00 AM-3:00 PM cooked at the right temperature and had a perfect herb crust. We were very happy with our selections.

A dessert selection would not be easy as there were so many that stood out as potential favorites. We shared the Toffee & Date English Sticky Pudding with vanilla ice cream. It was superb and a perfect finish to our date under the stars. I was impressed with the attentiveness in the staff. They seemed to work well with each other and all were focused on the guests. Overall, I would definitely go back to Copley’s.

Whether for drinks outside by the fire, or dinner with friends, Copley’s is a beautiful restaurant to visit. Open seven nights each week from 6pm and located at 621 N. Palm Canyon Drive. Make reservations online through open table, or visit www. copleyspalmsprings.com

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October 17 to October 23, 2013

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Movie Reviews with Robin E. Simmons

ORDEAL AT SEA

same frantic, herky-jerky often telephoto close style under the assumption it ramps up the sense of immediacy and drama. It doesn’t. This film does not do for Phillips’ dramatic story what ZERO DARK THIRTY did for the killing of Osama bin Laden. No surprises here. We really learn nothing other than sometimes the U.S. government rescues a private citizen in distress in a remote place. But we already knew that.

The best scene in the entire film was the cool professionalism and compassion a Navy nurse offered Phillips in the infirmary after he was rescued. It choked me up.

It turns out the young woman (Andrea Phillips, R.N.) is the real thing on a U.S. Naval vessel. A suggestion: If you choose to see this realistic dramatization, be sure to bring some Dramamine® in the event of motion sickness. Now playing.

CAPTAIN PHILLIPS

n

r t a in me n te t

E

Director Paul Greengrass likes to create documentary-like dramas based on real, newsworthy situations. His FLIGHT 93 was memorable for the same reasons. It was a big story in 2009 when cargo captain Richard Phillips was kidnapped by Somali pirates and then rescued by the might of the U.S. government and a SEAL team’s skill.

Tom Hanks plays Phillips with dignity and fear. It doesn’t hurt that he also bears a striking resemblance to the real Phillips.

The plot of the film is hardly existent. He’s kidnapped, endures terror and is rescued.

It’s all very straight forward and at least 30 minutes too long. It’s a visceral experience for Richards as well as the audience.

Much of the movie is shot at sea with a jerky, hand-held cameras. A Steadycam© mount would’ve helped a lot. At the evening screening I attended on opening weekend, the audience was sparse. As the credits rolled, some audience members complained of headaches and one woman said she was feeling queasy and couldn’t even look at the screen during the last 40 or so minutes because of the constant, unsteady scenes. Greengrass directed the second and third BOURNE movies in the

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20

reviews than Tom Hanks’ film! The core story is about the ongoing negotiations between a Danish shipping CEO and the pirates. But the two main characters are the CEO (Søren Malling) and the chief cook Mikkel (Pilou Asbæk) held hostage on the cargo vessel. We learn a lot about both men and see the toll the lengthy, monthslong negotiations take on both men when the pirates demand $15 million for a ransom. This movie was shot in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa on the real MV Rozen, a cargo ship that was actually subject to a hijacking. Some of the real crew played crewmembers in the movie. There is at least as strong a sense of verisimilitude as in Greengrass’ film. While they were shooting the movie, “over 1,000 persons were being held hostage less than 250 miles away and no one was doing anything about it,” according to director Tobias Lindholm.

This nicely photographed film has already been discovered by many and is gaining a strong word-of-mouth praise, of which I add my recommendation. Don’t miss this nailbiting, tense, gripping thriller. Magnolia.

Blu-ray.

PACIFIC RIM

THE CONJURING

I liked this alternate Somali hijack story more than the well-received CAPTAIN PHILLIPS. This may not be an overt action film but it is excruciatingly tense and compelling. It has received even better

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Monsters (Kaiju) and robots go head-tohead in this action packed spectacle that looks even better in 3D on the hi-def home theater screen. Here’s the story: Legions of the monstrous creatures have started rising from the sea, starting a war that has taken millions of lives and is consuming humanity’s resources for the foreseeable future. As a last resort to combat the Kaiju, humans devise Jaegers – massive robots – that are controlled by two humans sealed in the “neural bridge.” But the Jaegers are defenseless against the monsters. On the brink of defeat, the human defenders have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes – a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi) – who are teamed to drive a legendary but obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind’s last hope against a near certain apocalypse.

The Blu-ray 3D combo pack has a ton of extras: An excellent audio commentary by director Guillermo del Toro, The Director’s Notebook, Drift Space, The Digital Artistry of Pacific Rim, The Shatterdome, Focus Points, Deleted Scenes and Blooper Reel.

Warner Bros. Blu-ray 3D.

Book Review

October 17 to October 23, 2013

By Heidi Simmons

Witches A

Directed by James Wan (SAW, INSIDIOUS), THE CONJURING stars Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as Ed and Lorraine Warren as professional demon hunters called to a case they (the real Warrens) have kept locked up in their files because it was “too dangerous” to tell until now. Before there was Amityville, there was Harrisville. Here is the true(?) story of the Warrens helping a family in a secluded (isn’t it always?) farmhouse terrorized by a dark presence with a complicated past dating to the Selma witches. When they are forced to confront a demonic entity, the Warrens find themselves caught in the “most horrifying case of their lives.” Wan is a strong director.

He gives this story a terrific old school feel that does not rely on guts and gore for its jolts. And there are jolts. Warner Bros. Bluray.

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For those longing for a sexy reboot of the same titled cult fave starring Alyssa Milano (1995), here, just in time for Halloween, is a 2013 direct-to-video starring Sharon Hinnendael as Charlotte, the beautiful but timid teen fresh out of Catholic school who is beginning college life. But, and this is a big one, an ancient evil has followed her.

Tormented by nightmares and tempted by forbidden desires, her only solace, satisfaction and ultimate satiation from the dark dreams is a “hunger for sensual pleasures and blood lust” -- as the press release likes to remind us. Need I say more?

I think you get the picture. Anchor Bay. Bluray.

Comments? RobinESimmons@aol.com

black silhouette of a hunched woman flying on a broom while hideously cackling, hair aloft, frock flapping as she sails over the world below is one of the iconic images of Halloween. The witch! Although frightening and hardly a creature you want to meet, it is the ordinary appearing witch next door that we most fear. In Anne Rice’s epic tale, The Witching Hour (Random House, 1056 pages) the reader is introduced to a very serious coven of witches.

The story is driven by two beautiful, intelligent and successful people who come together in a most unexpected way.

Rowan Mayfair is out on her yacht when she pulls Michael Curry from the freezing waters of San Francisco Bay and brings the man back to life after resuscitation.

What seems purely a coincidence is really an evil orchestration to manipulate the innocent two in order to bring back Lasher, a powerful entity and ancient master of an infamous witches coven.

When Michael recovers he now has psychic powers and is challenged to understand his near death experience. He is certain he was in contact with someone

the witching hour By anne rice fiction

on the “other side” and made a promise he cannot recall. When Rowan is compelled to help Michael understand his visions, they become lovers. They soon realize they both have roots in New Orleans, which leads to a very specific house. And to both their surprise, discover Rowan is a witch.

She is not just any witch, Rowan is the only living heir in a matrilineal line of powerful and wealthy witches with a documented history back to sixteenth century France. A group called the Talamasca, with their own extra sensory abilities, have been keeping track and monitoring the coven in detail since its beginnings.

It is through the concise records of the Talamasca that we learn about witches and their abilities to cure and curse. Their knowledge of illness and healing is often misunderstood leading to their capture and burning at the stake. Other times the witches’ power is misused or manipulated.

Sometimes there is a fine line between good and evil acts. The coven was driven out of Europe to the island of Saint-Dominique (now Haiti) before settling in the southern United States.

When Rowan realizes she is pregnant, she and Michael marry and move into the magnificent New Orleans mansion built by her Mayfair family. Rowan takes possession of the house and her role as head witch in the Mayfair legacy.

Michael restores the house and garden to pristine condition. But all is not well. Lasher, whose presence haunts the property, also wants to be restored back to being human so he can take his rightful place as the coven master. Unfortunately for Rowan, the only way to do that is through a human fetus. Hers.

Rowan hopes to defeat Lasher but she is unsuccessful. Michael battles the demon

witch Lasher, but is left alone in his beautiful home believing Rowan is a good witch and will someday return. The Witching Hour is the first volume in Rice’s “Mayfair Witches” trilogy.

This story could be told in half the pages or less. But then it wouldn’t be Anne Rice. Rice clearly has a love for history, architecture, New Orleans and San Francisco. She obviously enjoys writing about beautiful things and is a romantic who indulges in the details. And she does it exquisitely. The restoration of the mansion is better than a Home & Garden TV episode.

Though The Witching Hour lags in parts, and there are sequences that are impossible to put down. The imagery is so rich you can smell the pungent lantana, feel the salty ocean breeze and taste the velvety wine.

Make no mistake, the novel must be given ample time (and it takes time to get through a thousand pages). If you have patience for it, the book can wrap around you and pull you in with the grip of a supernatural spell.

Witches are a curious bunch and it is hard not to find them intriguing. They have been a part of our world since the start of history.

They are human and not immortal. Some are good, others are evil. It is a clan that is dominated and run by women. Perhaps what scares us most about witches is that they are mysterious creatures. If we do not fully understand them, maybe it’s that we simple choose not to.

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ING R

October 17 to October 23, 2013 continued from page 17 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; 760-341-3560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Mighty Delta-Tones 9pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE, MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 DJ Hektik 10pm (VD) VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Rob & JB 1:30-4:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760-5642201 David & Olivia An American Duo 7-10pm (LR)(PR) WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Stanley Butler 6:30pm (JZ) ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJs 9pm (VD)

SUN OCTOBER 20 29 PALMS INN; 29P; 760-367-3505 Bob & Allison Garcia 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Intoxica Radio Live w/ Howie Pyro 10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 The Judy Show 7:30pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Steve Madeo 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 DILLON ROADHOUSE; DHS; 760-251-1991

Sunday Jam 4-8pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 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; 760325-2323 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 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 Tibor & Friends 7-11pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-4080 Gary Staonis & JJ Sansaverino, Sidebar Patio, 5pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Eddie Gee 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341-3560 Smooth Brothers (RR)(LR) TWIN PALMS BISTRO; PS; 760-322-0700 Jazz Sundays w/ Tibor Lesko & Friends 11-2pm and 5-7pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Scott Carter 1:30-4:30pm, Rob & JB 4:30-9pm, DJ Idol Eyez 9-2am WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Line Dancing w/ Tina 5:30-9pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760-5642201 Michael Keeth 6-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Barry Baughn Blues Band 6:30pm

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MON OCTOBER 21 29 PALMS INN; 29P; 760-367-3505 Bonnie Scott 6pm (AC) ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Sissy Bingo w/ Linda Gerard 7-9pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Industry Night 9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 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; 760-341-3560 T.B.A. 6pm 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 Jam Night 8pm

TUE OCTOBER 22 29 PALMS INN; 29P; 760-367-3505 T.B.A. 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Ace Karaoke with Kiesha 9pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Bella da Ball Dinner Revue w/ guest performers 7:30pm (CB) BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Forbidden Lounge 8pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-992-0002 John Stanley King 5-9pm (JZ)(BL) FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com INDIAN CANYONS GOLF RESORT; PS; 760833-8700 DJ Randy Johnson 6-9pm 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; 760-325-2794 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 Night 9pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341-3560 Demetrious and Co. (RR)(JZ) TAQUERIA GUERRERO’S; TP; 760-343-5971 DJ Keith 9pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-2am, Scott Carter & The New Breed 9-2am WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 John Boliver 6pm (JZ)

WED OCTOBER 23 29 PALMS INN; 29P; 760-367-3505 Bobby And Randy (BL) 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 John Stanley King 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick

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The Successful

Haddon Libby:It’s alllocal

H

ave you ever wondered how your routines compare with people who are among the most successful in their careers and lives?

Laura Vanderkam, a nationally recognized writer who regularly questions the status quo and tries to help her readers in rediscovering their passions in the pursuit of a more meaningful life, has spent her career analyzing this. Her books What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast and What the Most Successful People Do on the Weekend explore this.

During the week, people like Frank Lloyd Wright and Disney CEO Robert Iger wake up by 5am each day. In the first three hours of their days, they do things like exercise.

Working out early avoids daily distractions that keep them from staying fit. In general, successful people wake up before 6am.

In addition to exercise, the successful use this quiet time to visualize, map out and prioritize their daily activities. Planning out the day helps them in having a positive approach to their daily workload.

Before heading to work, most have a healthy breakfast and spend some time with family. Throughout the day, they continue

October 17 to October 23, 2013

eating healthy foods as this helps keep their bodies and minds strong.

Successful people typically tackle their most unpleasant tasks early in the day and early in their week. Delaying unpleasant tasks burdens the mind and drains energy that can be better used on more productive and pleasant tasks.

Lastly, successful people find time at the end of their days to wind down and unplug.

Relaxation time away from work is critical to success at work.

So what do these successful people do on the weekend? Vanderkam states that the weekend needs to be about reflecting, planning and recharging.

First and foremost, the successful use weekends to reconnect with friends and family. Exercise and physical exertion are

also important as a fit body helps you to have the stamina and health necessary to be at maximum effectiveness at work.

Do you have a passion that you cannot pursue doing the week? The successful use the weekend to recharge and do things that they most enjoy. As an example, Malcolm Forbes rode in a motorcycle club on weekends right up until his death in 1990 at the age of 71.

When possible, they take weekend vacations. This also means putting down the SmartPhone and disconnecting from the little issues that can zap your weekend recharge time. They also avoid weekends packed with chores.

The successful use weekends to volunteer and help nonprofits in fundraising activities. Not only does this keep their lives in perspective and bring personal satisfaction but this also provides an effective and relaxing way to network.

Successful people typically enjoy human interaction, networking and meeting new people. In general, the successful socialize actively on weekends. Vankerkam puts socialization very close to sex on the list of weekend ‘to-do’ activities.

Lastly, the successful like to do things like gardening, playing sports and cooking on weekends.

Outside of these practices and behaviors Monday through Sunday, successful people

do not want to retire. While the average American retires at the age of 61, the successful typically wait until after the age of 70. While they may gear down their activities toward the end of their careers, they enjoy what they do and want to work in order to stay active.

It is worth noting that successful people are typically frugal and bargain shoppers.

Why waste money when a less expensive option is available?

By planning your time smartly, you are more likely to avoid the traps of wasted time and energy while enjoying life more and entering the ranks of the most successful.

john paul valdez:it’s your nickel

Are we in danger of a default?

N

o. Absolutely not! There is no possibility of a default. It cannot happen. Essentially, you would be adding risk to a financial instrument that is defined as being free of risk, hence negating the existence of all the economies of the entire world. That is a tall order. An immediate international financial collapse would ensue, including a total depression here in the US. I can explain it in a few other perhaps more easily understood ways.

Each of these explanations is still the same thing. Essentially, if in theory (because you can’t in real life) a default were to occur, we would fail in our own promises as a nation. We would put into question the “full faith and credit of the United States.” In other words, we would be telling the world

that the promise of America to pay its debts is a lie, and that any currency they hold in dollars is worthless. That’s a problem.

With this last credit issue at hand, one should understand that the specific financial instrument at hand is the Treasury Bond which is how the US issues its debt. If, as a country, we cannot honor our debt then no country would be willing to use the US dollar as a reserve. As it stands the US Dollar and the Euro are largely the only two major reserve currencies. Some people might include the British Pound Sterling, but that economy is miniscule by comparison.

Lastly, you will hear irresponsible news people say things like, “we can’t just keep printing money in the basement!” While it may be counter intuitive, we can and we

no one, no US government, will ever “default” on the US debt ever. Even the THREAT of default moved our bond ratings into poorer and riskier territory, making our taxes and prices higher for us folks here in the US, and an actual default is simply not possible until the bitcoin takes over as the world’s currency. Oops, that’s another column too. will continue to do exactly that. You see ALL nations “print money in the basement.”

Nixon ended the gold standard many years ago, and a government’s promise to pay is the only thing backing ANY currency in the modern day world.

If you wish to purchase gold or other commodities to avoid such basement printings, it can be done, but such investment strategies will be the subject of a future column on commodities, and the proper way to invest in them as a hedge against currency fluctuations or inflation or as a diversified portfolio is beyond the discussion here.

In short, just go to sleep knowing that

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October 17 to October 23, 2013

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

education

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by curtis hendricks

New Hope at Hope Academy Charter W

ith more than one month of the school year behind us, it is time to assess your child’s position in his or her current school. Is your child happy in his or her current school? Does the school cater to your child’s academic needs?

Has your child had difficulty? I strongly suggest that you talk to your children about the school they attend and their thoughts on how they are at school. Many students will not speak up because they feel there are no other options. You have options!

In our beautiful Coachella Valley, we have many options other than the traditional public school. Many private schools span our valley, giving you the options that many areas cannot offer. Private schools hold an additional fee for attendees, but many parents are happy to pay the extra amount if their children are receiving the academics they need. Some of the private schools in our area are also religious driven schools. A new option that has opened up to the public is Hope Academy Charter in Palm Desert. A short distance up HWY 74, Hope Academy Charter is found next to St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, where Haystack and HWY 74 meet.

Hope Academy Charter is a nonreligious, free independent public charter school with full Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accreditation. The focus at Hope Academy Charter is independent study with enrichment classes and extracurricular activities. The daily routine here is like no other in the valley. Kindergarten through eighth grade has three-hour enrichment classes from nine o’clock in the morning too noon. The students are welcome to be picked up at noon, or stay for extracurricular clubs and study hall offered by the teachers

and on campus tutors. Students come home on Fridays with a week’s worth of homework due the following Friday.

During the course of the week, teachers will “enrich” the classroom lessons with projects, reinforcement activities, and hands on learning. Each student also is given a twenty-minute weekly one-onone appointment with their teacher. Hope Academy Charter also strives to teach the individual rather than the collective with tailor-made assignment sheets. Hope Academy Charter also offers an independent program for ninth through twelfth grade students. High school students are given

Real estate

By Bruce cathcart

The Government Shutdown

A

s I write this article “we the people” are still suffering at the inability of “they the politicians” to come to any common sense solution to re-open the portion of the federal government that has been shut down due to a disagreement over the ACA (Obamacare). At this point it is easy to say that more fear than actual harm has affected real estate transactions and the Coachella Valley housing market thus far. Of course all that can change if the government shutdown is not resolved in the very near future.

The majority of the real estate transactions using financing in the Coachella Valley utilize mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration commonly known as FHA loans. The FHA has stated that they will continue to process and approve loans throughout the shutdown, which they have done so far. However, the FHA normally employs 8,709 employees and due to the government shutdown and mandatory furloughing the FHA now has only 337 employees. The FHA insures about 60,000 loans each month and as the FHA

24

was never quite the model for efficiency with such a large reduction in their work force “some delays are expected”.

The same is true for the Veteran’s Administration (VA Loans) where their staff has also been skeletonized but continues to process loans, albeit at a much slower pace. In addition, veterans who apply for their loan guaranty certificates of eligibility and certificates of reasonable value, two documents required from the VA for processing VA loans, are also being delayed.

There are very few projects in the Coachella Valley that utilize the Department of Agriculture (Rural Development or RD Loans), but bad news for those that do as Rural Development is closed until the shutdown ends.

Another issue facing buyers using financing is their lender’s need to verify their tax returns. Lenders must submit borrower’s IRS form 4506T to the IRS for processing. The IRS considers this nonessential and is not expediting these forms at this time. While this is still true for FHA and VA loans, the government backed mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac said last week that lenders could continue to issue new loans without the IRS verification. Buyers will still have to complete the required paperwork, but the verification can come after the government shutdown ends.

Here in the Coachella Valley we have

weekly assignments and meet with their instructor on a one-on-one basis, once a week for one hour.

Hope Academy Charter brings a breath of fresh air to the academic neighborhood in our Coachella Valley. With a school wide goal “DRIVIEN,” which is an acronym that you should discover at the school for yourself, Hope Academy Charter is ready to teach in ways other schools have failed in.

For more info contact: Ericka Steele (760) 848-8993 or email Hopeacademycharter. com.

another issue that affects properties that are located on Indian leased land.

There are two types of land; fee simple land, which is owned by the individual homeowner; and leased land, which is owned by another entity and leased to the homeowner. Primarily in Palm Springs, but also scattered throughout the Coachella Valley, there are many houses and condos that have been built upon Individual Trust and Tribal Trust lands that are subject to a land lease. These properties cannot be transferred or mortgaged without the consent of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Due to the government shutdown no transfers are being approved at this time.

Unless something changes transactions of properties on Indian leased lands will not be able to close until the government shut down ends.

So far all this adds up to more delays in the loan process for transactions on nonIndian leased lands and a delay until the government shutdown ends for transactions

on Indian leased lands and transactions using RD loans. Cash sales and sales with conventional and jumbo financing are relatively unaffected. In addition, the interest rate has remained unchanged thus far throughout the shutdown. All this can change for the worse if the Federal agencies that affect these issues remain closed for a much longer term.

This week’s real estate tip: Buyers and Sellers of properties in the Coachella Valley with transactions utilizing FHA, VA or RD loans or on properties where Indian leased land is involved should prepare themselves for delays in their closings. As always, your trusted real estate agents and loan officers will be able to advise you in these situations.

Bruce Cathcart is the Broker/Co-Owner of La Quinta Palms Realty, “Your Friendly Professionals” and can be reached by email at laquintapalms@dc.rr.com or visit his website at www.laquintapalmsrealty.com.

October 17 to October 23, 2013

by Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

T

Drop, Cover and Hold On

he 2013 Great California Shake-Out Earthquake drill is Thursday, October 17, 2013, at 10:17 a.m. Everyone is encouraged to practice “Drop, Cover and Hold On” at 10:17 a.m. on Thursday, October 17, 2013.

Preparedness efforts should be practiced through “the week” at work and at home says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

Federal, State, and local emergency management experts and other official preparedness organizations all agree that “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes says Chief DiGiovanna. Great Shake-Out earthquake drills are opportunities to practice how to protect ourselves during earthquakes. You cannot tell from the initial shaking if an earthquake will suddenly become intense…so always Drop, Cover, and Hold On immediately!

DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!), Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and HOLD ON to your shelter and be prepared to move with it until the shaking stops.

If there is no table or desk near you, drop to the ground and then if possible move to an inside corner of the room. Be in a crawling position to protect your vital organs and be ready to move if necessary, and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms.

Do NOT move to another location or outside.

Earthquakes occur without any warning and may be so violent that you cannot run or crawl. You are more likely to be injured if you try to move around during strong shaking. Also, you will never know if the initial jolt will turn out to be the start of the big one…and that’s why you should always Drop, Cover, and Hold On immediately!

Do NOT get in a doorway. In modern houses and buildings, doorways are no safer, and they do not protect you from flying or falling objects. Get under a table instead!

If you are unable to Drop, Cover, and Hold On: If you have difficulty getting safely to the floor on your own, get as low as possible, protect our head and neck, and move away from windows or other items that can fall on you.

In a wheelchair: Lock your wheels and remain seated until the shaking stops. Always protect your head and neck with your arms, a pillow, a book, or whatever is available.

If Outdoors: Move to a clear area if you can safely do so; avoid power lines, trees, signs, buildings, vehicles, and other hazards.

For additional information, please visit www. shakeout.org/california/dropcoverholdon/ for videos demonstrating the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” safety action.

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

Gamer Girl

by Jennifer Tan aka mrs. fett

Theros: War Of The Gods t’s been two weeks since the release of

I

Theros in Magic: The Gathering. Long enough to play the new decks, attend a few events, and the best part, open a sealed booster box! My Golden Hand struck again, pulling mythic rares, and foils left and right.

But first, let’s look at the story!

This set introduces five gods, with abilities unlike anything seen before. Each follow the mechanic of Devotion, which is paid by the amount of their plains symbol in the mana cost of cards in play. As long as your devotion is below a specific number, that god isn’t an enchantment! THIS IS HUGE, for those who don’t like cards like negate, cancel, and murder!

Theros also introduces new mechanics to their creatures as well. Scry allows you to look at a specific number of cards on top of your library, and put any number of them on top, or on bottom in any order. An amazing advantage if you are mana hosed, or tired of pulling enchantments.

Monstrosity is just that. Monstrous. By paying a creature’s Monstrosity cost, that creature becomes terrifying, and in most cases, gains an ability that makes it the ultimate game changer.

Bestow, another mechanic new to the MtG scene, allows a creature to become an enchantment, and attach to another

creature to bump it up even more. There is another perk to this ability, which is that once the targeted creature dies, the enchantment becomes a creature again.

By far, the most sought after and prized card to pull is Elspeth. (Pulled her my first booster draft. Totally amazing!) Next would be the malevolent duo, Erobos, God of the Dead, and Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver.

Prophet of Kruphix is an amazing card giving you ultimate control of the battlefield, but running a perfect green/blue deck can be difficult.

To be honest, I was a little weary about this set and the new mechanics. After mixing things like Shadowborn Apostles, and M14 Hydras, I’m starting to see the method behind this new set’s madness.

For those of you looking for a good Planeswalker Duel, Friday Night Magic is the best place to be. It’s become a tradition to grab an apple juice, and play a Booster Draft every Friday for myself, and I always love a new challenge! See you on the planes, don’t forget your D20!

ShareKitchen

Food Truck Facts

T

he legalization of food trucks in Riverside County, the only County in California with a ban on daily operations, is currently being considered by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors with a final vote on November 5th in Riverside.

With so much information flying around, let’s address the top three myths: Myth #1: Food trucks will park in front of restaurants.

Fact: Food trucks need to make money too and are not going to do that parked in front of a restaurant. Truck operators have the best success in “food deserts” where there are limited food options. Many cities require that food trucks park over 150 feet away from restaurants while some mandate trucks to operate from unused lots creating community food courts.

Myth #2: Food trucks hurt brick and mortar restaurants.

Fact: Cities with vibrant food truck scenes see an increase in overall spending at all restaurants. Consumers who wish to sit down, have service and an adult beverage will

frequent restaurants. Restaurants operating food trucks as mobile marketing increase customer awareness and sales.

As a food truck grows, most open restaurants. Torchy’s Tacos started with a truck in 2006 and now employs 450 people with 11 physical restaurants.

Myth #3: Food trucks are “roach coaches” and a public health risk.

Fact: Food trucks in Riverside County will be required to comply with the same health codes as restaurants. Each truck will be required to have an “A” grade and to display their placard. Trucks operating from Riverside County will have the most stringent laws in the world and will set the gold standard in safety and sanitation.

Food trucks create jobs, taxes and a true spirit of community. Please join ShareKitchen at a fun Food Truck Festival on October 22nd from 8am-2pm at 4080 Lemon Street in Riverside. Let’s show the Supervisors that WE WANT FOOD TRUCKS TOO! Email: angela@ sharekitchen.org for questions or directions. http://www.rivcodistrict1.org/opencms/ District_Events/articles/news_0001.html

25

October 17 to October 23, 2013

did you know?

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

By Denise Ortuno Neil

Uncovering What Lies Beneath Palm Springs

W

hile the busy streets of downtown Palm Springs pitter patter with the sounds of sun seeking tourists, something lies beneath. Is it real or just a pesky rumor that refuses to die? It is a question asked by those who have heard the stories and now it’s time to find out what lies beneath Palm Springs.

I remember many, many years ago hearing the stories and even going on my own Nancy Drew type adventures trying to look for them. I was in search of the tunnels of Palm Springs. It was hard to pinpoint where they were and how to get to them. At one point, I was led to the underground parking structure at the Palm Springs Fashion Plaza, but after driving round and round looking for the magical entrance to the infamous tunnels, my search became fruitless. The leads to the tunnels dimmed after that, as the trail went cold and the stories potency became low.

Where and when the story of the tunnels started one can only speculate as, but with most city stories there is usually some truth behind them and they are started with some spec of reality. Recently my quest for the tunnels has come into focus, and the reality of them is more than clear. The biggest connection to the tale of the tunnels seems to hover around two locations, The Colony Palms Hotel and the previous spot of where Don the Beachcomber used to be. Here’s how the story goes.

The Colony Palms Hotel off Indian Canyon was originally built by Detroit mobster Al Wertheimer of the Purple Gang. Wertheimer came to the desert in 1934, and besides opening what was then called the Colonial House, the visionary mobster also opened the Dunes Club in Cathedral City in 1935, which was a full service casino/ nightclub/hotspot for the well to do celebrity crowd.

Wertheimer opened the Colonial House in 1936, catering to the Hollywood elite and those with wads of cash to spend. The hotel was a beacon for gamblers and for guests that were looking for a little more than just a tan, as the hotel was also fitted with a brothel.

The underground speakeasy at the hotel furnished guests with that extra bit of privacy and exclusivity, hence the underground part.

It is said that old school pioneers and leaders of Palm Springs were less than thrilled with their new criminal minded neighbor, but that didn’t stop Wertheimer from making a go of the sinful spot until it, along with other valley casinos, got raided in 1941, putting an end to unbridled fun in the desert.

After that the hotel was purchased by Robert and Andrea Leeds Howard (owners of the famous horse Sea biscuit) and renamed it Howard Manor.

The new hotel continued to be popular with Hollywood for decades more until 1970, when it was purchased by a new owner and turned into The Palms Health Spa. Don the Beachcomber was opened over 20 years after The Colonial House, and was part of the Tiki inspired franchise. It was a very popular

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club on North Palm Canyon that also waved in the Hollywood who’s who, like most Palm Springs cool spots did back then.

So where’s the connection you might ask?

Well, here is one possibility. The tunnels have been confirmed to exist below what used to be Don the Beachcomber. My sources are more than reputable and there is no question to their validity.

These sources have traveled through a portion of the tunnels, but cannot say how far they go, or where the stem of origin begins.

Being as how the speakeasy was underground, and that Wertheimer was dealing in prostitution, it is easy to come to the conclusion (as one of my sources proposed) that he used the tunnels to go from his hotel, to the area in which Don the Beachcomber was later built. After doing some research I found that the Don the Beachcomber building was adjacent to the Sunset Towers apartments, but was not built until 1952. The dates don’t match up, but just because there wasn’t a building on top of the location, doesn’t mean that the location didn’t exist…there is always the underground. And because that area is near the beautiful sprawling estates of Las Palmas, the theory is even stronger as there would be plenty of places from which to go from the tunnels.

Tunnels in the desert are not as far-fetched as one might think. There are documented sites of Al Capone’s tunnels underneath his old hide-out at Two Bunch Palms in Desert Hot Springs that he no doubt used for a multitude of illicit behavior. It is said that Wertheimer and Capone were both in on the Valentine’s Day Massacre in Chicago. Perhaps they later met up in the desert and Capone gave Wertheimer some tips on tunnel building.

And then there is the huge 13 mile tunnel that runs underneath San Jacinto for the much non-criminal act of distributing water. The tunnel was completed back in 1938 and took six years to complete. It is part of the Colorado River Aqueduct system, and has been looked at as an engineering marvel. The West Portal entrance to the tunnel is in Cabazon and connects to the east portal off Soboba Road near San Jacinto.

Today The Colonial House is The Colony Palms Hotel, which re-opened in 2007 after a 15 million renovation. The hotel is lovely, and harkens back to the glamour it possessed in its heyday…without the gambling and brothel of course. The Purple Palm restaurant sits above what used to be the speakeasy, and hopefully they will re-open it one day as homage to Wertheimer himself.

Without a crystal clear story from those in the know (city officials for instance) on why or how the tunnels came to be, we as the public are forced to come up with our own conclusion, and the weird conspiracy type tales that go with it. But that is what is so enjoyable about our desert area and Palm Springs in particular; it is just oozing with mystery. Until the truth is revealed, there will always be the question of…. “What lies beneath Palm Springs”?

For more information about The Colony Palms Hotel visit www.colonypalmshotel.com .

Health,Fitness& Beauty

Jill Coleman has been a Registered Nurse for over 21 years working at a variety of Southern California hospitals including UCLA’s Heart Transplant Step-down Unit and LAUSC County Hospital’s Trauma Unit. She has studied holistic medicine since the late 1990’s, and in her practice promotes the use of medicinal grade, whole food, organic remedies For more articles on natural health, visit her blog at www.JillColemanRN.com.

Easy ways to eat healthy

H

ere are some tips and tricks to help you incorporate better eating habits.

Nothing replaces the benefits of whole, unprocessed organic food with all the nutrients, minerals, enzymes and phytochemicals our body needs to stay healthy. These are the ‘genuine replacement parts’ the body needs to rebuild and repair.

1. Eat twice as many fresh organic vegetables than fruits, and eat organic meats (grass fed if available) as much as possible. Organic produce has 70% more nutrients than conventional because organic farmers can’t use chemical fertilizers, and the rich organic fertilizers have more nutrients to give the plant. It all starts in the soil!

2. If it is in a package or can, look at the back label: a. The longer the list of ingredients, the more chemicals, additives and fake food. b. Instead of enriched white flour, look for whole grain sprouted wheat for example.

Anything enriched just means that the nutrients have been taken out to prolong shelf life and synthetic chemical vitamins are added to mimic nutrition. c. Instead of hydrogenated oils, look for butter, olive oil or coconut oil. This is real food and the body knows what to do with it. d. Don’t just look at the calorie content. It is more about quality then quantity. Look at the fiber to carb ratio. If the fiber to carb content is less then 2:10, it is not worth your money if you want to eat healthier. In other words, if there is 10 grams of carbohydrates, there should be a minimum of 2 grams of fiber. Usually if the fiber to carb content is 3 to10 or at least 3 grams per serving, chances are the rest of the label will be ok as well. Fiber costs more, so many producers leave it out and put fillers in that are often from bio-engineered soy. 7 Fiber off sets sugar and keeps it from being released into the blood stream too fast, and therefore decreases sugar cravings. 3 The Carbohydrate content is actually

more accurate than the sugar content because it lets you know how much of that food will be converted to sugar once digested.4 3. Prepare healthy meals ahead of time and freeze them. Then heat them up when you get home.

4. Never go shopping when you are hungry.

You will buy more junk foods.

5. Keep it simple; If it’s packaged, read the baggage. If it’s fresh and whole eat until you’re full.

6. Make home-made salad dressings with flax seed oil instead of olive or sesame. You increase the omega 3 oils in your diet. Just keep it refrigerated and don’t heat it.

7. When going out to dinner, order salad instead of soup and replace the bread, rice or potato with extra vegetables. Eat all the protein you wish but make sure it is baked instead of fried and not breaded.

8. At home, make meals from whole fresh ingredients instead of out of a box. It will taste better and be much more nutritious.

9. Variety is key. Eat different vegetables and fruits. Change it up once in a while so you get a good mix of different nutrients and minerals every day. If you don’t enjoy vegetables on their own, mix them in an omelet, in meat loaf, or eat more salads. Adding vegetables like zucchini, spinach, onions and garlic to recipes is a great way to increase nutrition. Salads are the easiest way to get fresh raw greens, and all the vitamins and enzymes they contain.

10. Take time to eat slower. Chew your food and really taste what you are eating. Notice the different flavor combinations and how they make you feel. Eating slowly and thoroughly chewing your food improves digestion and you are less likely to go back for seconds.

11. Instead of desert, have some fresh fruit.

Your taste buds replace themselves every 2-3 weeks, so if you can actually train your ‘buds’ to like healthy foods.

Please Join Us For this Special Fundraiser

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Week of October 17

ARIES (March 21-April 19): This is an indelicate oracle. If you’re offended by the mention of bodily functions in a prophetic context you should STOP READING NOW. Still here? OK. I was walking through my neighborhood when I spied an older woman standing over her aged Yorkshire Terrier next to a bush. The dog was in discomfort, squatting and shivering but unable to relieve himself. “He’s having trouble getting his business done,” his owner confided in me. “He’s been struggling for ten minutes.” I felt a rush of sympathy for the distressed creature. With a flourish of my hand, I said, “More power to you, little one. May you purge your burden.” The dog instantly defecated.

Shrieking her approval, the woman exclaimed, “It’s like you waved a magic wand!” Now I am invoking my wizardry in your behalf, Aries, although in a less literal way: More power to you. May you purge your psychological burden.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “You won’t do it at the right time,” warns writer Kate Moller. “You’ll be late. You’ll be early. You’ll get re-routed. You’ll get delayed. You’ll change your mind. You’ll change your heart. It’s not going to turn out the way you thought it would.” And yet, Moller concludes -- are you ready for the punch line? -- “it will be better.” In describing your future, Taurus, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Fate may be comical in the way it plays with your expectations and plans, but I predict you will ultimately be glad about the outcome.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In the coming weeks, you Geminis could be skillful and even spectacular liars. You will have the potential to deceive more people, bend more truths, and even fool yourself better than anyone else. On the other hand, you will also have the knack to channel this same slipperiness in a different direction. You could tell imaginative stories that rouse people from their ruts. You might explore the positive aspects of Kurt Vonnegut’s theory that we tend to become what we pretend to be. Or you could simply be so creative and playful and improvisational in everything you do that you catalyze a lot of inspirational fun. Which way will you go?

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I’m all in favor of you indulging your instinct for self-protection. As a Cancerian myself, I understand that one of the ways you take good care of yourself is by making sure that you feel reasonably safe. Having said that, I also want to remind you that your mental and emotional health requires you to leave your comfort zone on a regular basis. Now is one of those times. The call to adventure will arrive soon.

If you make yourself ready and eager for changes, the changes that come will kick your ass in mostly educational and pleasurable ways.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Who exactly do you want to be when you grow up, and what is the single most important experience you need in order to make that happen? What riches do you want to possess when you are finally wise enough to make enlightened use of them, and how can you boost your eligibility for those riches? Which one of your glorious dreams is not quite ripe enough for you to fulfill it, but is primed to be dramatically ripened in the coming weeks? If I were you, Leo, I would meditate on these questions. Answers will be forthcoming.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): At an elementary school festival some years ago, I performed the role of the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland.

One of my tasks was to ask kids to make a wish, whereupon I sprinkled their heads with magic fairy dust. Some of the kids were skeptical about the whole business. They questioned the proposition that the fairy dust would make their wishes come true. A few were so suspicious that they walked away without making a wish or accepting the fairy dust. Yet every single one of those distrustful kids came back later to tell me they had changed their minds, and every single one asked me to bestow more than the usual amount of fairy dust. They are your role models, Virgo. Like them, you should return to the scene of your doubts and demand extra fairy dust.

© Copyright 2012 Rob Brezsny

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “The door to the invisible must be visible,” wrote the surrealist spiritual author Rene Daumal. This describes an opportunity that is on the verge of becoming available to you. The opportunity is still invisible simply because it has no precedents in your life; you can’t imagine what it is. But just recently a door to that unknown realm has become visible to you. I suggest you open it, even though you have almost no idea what’s on the other side.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In Tim Burton’s film Alice in Wonderland, Alice asks the White Rabbit, “How long is forever?” The talking rabbit replies, “Sometimes, just one second.” That’s an important piece of information for you to keep in mind, Scorpio. It implies that “forever” may not necessarily, in all cases, last until the universe dies out five billion years from now. “Forever” might actually turn out to be one second or 90 minutes or a month or a year or who knows? So how does this apply to your life right now? Well, a situation you assumed was permanent could ultimately change -- perhaps much faster than you have imagined. An apparently everlasting decree or perpetual feeling could unexpectedly shift, as if by magic.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “I need a little language such as lovers use,” wrote Virginia Woolf in her novel The Waves. “I need no words. Nothing neat . . . I need a howl; a cry.” If I’m reading the astrological omens correctly, Sagittarius, Woolf is speaking for you right now. You should be willing to get guttural and primal . . . to trust the teachings of silence and the crazy wisdom of your body . . . to exult in the inarticulate mysteries and bask in the dumfounding brilliance of the Eternal Wow. Are you brave enough to love what can’t be put into words?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “I get bored with the idea of becoming a better listener,” writes business blogger Penelope Trunk. “Why would I do that when interrupting people is so much faster?” If your main goal is to impose your will on people and get things over with as soon as possible, Capricorn, by all means follow Trunk’s advice this week. But if you have other goals -- like building consensus, finding out important information you don’t know yet, and winning help from people who feel affection for you -- I suggest that you find out how to have maximum fun by being an excellent listener.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The last time meteorologists officially added a new type of cloud formation to the International Cloud Atlas was 1951. But they’re considering another one now. It’s called “asperatus,” which is derived from the Latin term undulatus asperatus, meaning “turbulent undulation.” According to the Cloud Appreciation Society, it resembles “the surface of a choppy sea from below.” But although it looks rough and agitated, it almost never brings a storm. Let’s make asperatus your mascot for the next few weeks.

Aquarius. I suspect that you, too, will soon discover something new under the sun. It may at first look turbulent, but I bet it will mostly just be interesting.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Should you try private experiments that might generate intimate miracles? Yes! Should you dream up extravagant proposals and schedule midnight rendezvous! By all means! Should you pick up where your fantasies left off the last time you got too timid to explore further? Naturally! Should you find out what “as raw as the law allows” actually means? I encourage you! Should you question taboos that are no longer relevant? Most assuredly! Should you burn away the rotting pain with a show of liberated strength?

Beyond a doubt! Should you tap into the open secret at the core of your wild beauty! Of course!

Homework: What would be the title of your autobiography? What’s the name of the rock band you’d be in? Testify at Freewillastrology.com.

Rob Brezsny Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

October 17 to October 23, 2013

Mind, body & Spirit

by Bronwyn Ison

THE BEAUTY OF HUMILITY

I

n your lifetime you either have or have yet to experience humility. Being on top of the world at one time or possibly several times in your life makes us feel proud and omnipotent. Yet, what does true humility mean? Fortunately I can speak personally on humility and realized one can be humbled to the core. Each day I feel blessed to have received the gift of humility. How does one possess humility in a society that is so prideful?

According to Wikipedia, humility is the quality of being modest or respectful.

Each of us can attest most people are not modest. The word respect, without the action, is overused and under utilized.

Take a look at PRIDE. Pride may be an operative word. Humility is the absence of pride. Oh, how one can pronounce his chest with robustness. In tandem with a boastful dialogue that is horribly annoying.

This is a true sign of insecurity (which is an entire separate article). This is not to say we cannot be proud of our successes. Nor does this translate to not meeting or setting your goals. Finding the perfect balance between these two worlds is essential.

Needless to say, this is a tall order. Humility encourages us to be honest with ourselves and to recognize we are not better than the other person. Each of us must assess our true talent and weakness. Be cognizant not to compare yourself to the others. Improve and diligently work on how you can become stronger in and magnanimous.

I cannot help to mention, C.S. Lewis said the following about pride: The point is that each person’s pride is in competition with everyone else’s pride. It is because I wanted to be the big noise at the party that I am so annoyed at someone else being the big noise. Two of a trade, never agree. Now what you want to get clear is that Pride is essentially competitive-is competitive by its very nature-while the other vices are competitive only, so to

speak, by accident. Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. We say that people are proud of being rich, or clever, or good-looking, but they are not. They are proud of being richer, or more clever, or better looking than others. If everyone else became equally rich, clever, or goodlooking, there would be nothing to be proud of. It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest.

Once the element of competition is gone, pride is gone.

Practicing humility is obtainable.

Consider thinking of the people in your life.

Why do you like the person? What is special about your friend? Is this person well liked by many or most? Chances are your friend is good to all. They give credit where and when credit is due. They are not boastful.

They do what is expected without making a big deal of their actions. They are charitable and they disengage from trying to one-up someone.

We are constantly evolving. Accept the growth with humility. Smile on your journey.

Bronwyn Ison, Owner of Evolve Yoga. Visit www.e-volveyoga.com (760)564-YOGA

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October 17 to October 23, 2013 v

Life & career Coach

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Sunny Simon

Potatoes Don’t Really Grow Behind Your Ears

T

affects business. Your credibility will never be established if you don’t own up to it.

Swallow your pride; admit the error and work to find a solution.

The next rule in establishing credibility is, no guessing. Trying to sound like an authority when you are not is deceptive and sends misinformation out into the world.

Keep your word. Never agree to a project, offer to help a friend or schedule an important appointment unless you fully intend to honor your commitment.

Conversely, going back on your word is the fastest way to destroy the credibility. One misstep in the follow through department causes customer losses, damaged relationships and severe disappointment to those who counted on you.

Stay true to your word and check your facts before disseminating information.

Protect your reputation and you’ll never run the risk of being called out by a seven year old.

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

PSYCHIC READER

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.

Should you get a consultation?

W

e often hear patients talk about how they have been wanting to do a cosmetic consultation for a very long time but they were “afraid coming to the doctor’s office would be intimidating” or “thought it would be expensive” or “I’m not ready to do a procedure right now”.

At Lombardo Cosmetic Surgery, we always make the consultation process as easy as possible. We offer complimentary consultations for all cosmetic patients both surgical and non-surgical visits. Sometimes a patient comes in not knowing what options are available to them and leave with a recommendation that is different than what they thought was going to be necessary.

When you come in to the office, some procedures like Botox, fillers and peels can be done at the same visit. Frequently, new patients just want more information about products or procedures and plan to do them at a later time. Of course surgery needs to be planned a bit further in advance but some patients are ready to schedule right away. Other patients want to plan for surgery when they have an upcoming vacation or time off work.

Women who come in for a breast augmentation (implant) consultation will try on different implants styles during that first visit to get an idea of what size they want to be. Usually a second “try on” is done before making the final decision on implant size. There is no pressure to make such an important decision at the first visit.

At the time of your consultation, you will need to fill out some paperwork before meeting one on one with Dr. Lombardo. Plan on spending 15 to 45 minutes in the office, depending on what types of procedures are being discussed. A personalized quote will be provided to you after the consultation is completed. Our office manager can schedule your next appointment or discuss outside financing if that is appropriate.

The bottom line is… if you are interested in a cosmetic procedure, surgical or nonsurgical, talking in person and directly to the doctor is the best way to find out all the options. When you have all the information, then decisions can be made about what course of action to take…

Call today for your complimentary consultation: 760-610-8990

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October 17 to October 23, 2013

NEW AGE GLAMOUR

by dr maria lombardo

Joshua Rd

he other day my seven-year old niece Aisalynn was getting ready for bed. She finished her bath when her father inquired if she washed behind her ears. She mumbled an affirmative, perhaps not convincingly, so her father posed the question a second time. Aisalynn then distinctively answered yes in a strong assertive voice and inquired why her father repeated the same question twice. Her dad gave a knowing smile and cautioned that if she neglected washing potatoes would grow behind her ears. Baffled by the statement my niece challenged her father querying him on who told him about this mysterious spud garden. Upon learning this information was gleaned from his grandfather Aisalynn countered, “And did your grandfather also play football without a helmet?”

Apparently grandpa’s garden theory held no credibility to a wise child of seven.

She not only registered disbelief, but thought perhaps the man was guilty of not taking proper care of his cranium.

This amusing incident illustrates the importance of credibility. WikipediA reports credibility is composed of two key components – trustworthiness and expertise. Webster says it’s the “quality or power of inspiring belief.” My simplistic version is this - know what you’re talking about and stay true to your word.

Establishing credibility in our business transactions, the promises we make to others, and the message we send to the world equates to being honorable and trustworthy.

Building credibility is important, but maintaining credibility is vital. You can develop credibility by committing to total honesty. Sounds easy enough, but at times can be a daunting task. For example, say you make a poor decision at work that

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