My love for dogs started with a one-eyed Chihuahua mix named Oogie when I was a toddler. I have had pups my entire life from small to medium to huge and back to small again! I learned early on how healing and comforting they are and how much unconditional love and joy they bring to us.
Read MoreIn February, I described my knee replacement. The delicate surgery was assisted by a robotic arm that helped guide the surgeon.
Read MoreConfession: I’m a lifelong unicorn fan. I secretly adored them even when I started high school and it wasn’t “cool” to like mythical creatures anymore. When I got married, I even had a mermaid-unicorn cake and a unicorn at my wedding.
Read MoreDuring the past year, the Palos Verdes Historical Society has been busy behind the scenes, preparing for the time when everything opens back up.
Read MoreHappy National Beer Day! A Brief History of Beer With Jim Brown
Read MoreSpring is finally here! Seeing nature rebirth itself in a burst of color and bloom is such powerful medicine to our weary souls.
Read MoreOne thing that’s been really interesting to learn is how my home sets the tone for my day. When I was young and my apartment felt a little bit thrown together, I remember my life feeling a little bit thrown together. But when I started to treat my place with a little more pride, it inspired me to carry myself with a little more pride. I almost felt like I had something to live up to. Simply put, my home had the power to make me feel incredible
Read MoreCarlo Ponti Jr, Sophia Loren's eldest son, is best known for being a prolific Italian orchestra conductor, the founder of LAV, Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra.
Read MorePart 2 of a coastal Oregon photo tour made last August. Part 1 is Photographing the Oregon coast.
Landscape photographers based in the South Bay get endless chances to shoot great seascapes. The creative possibilities from Manhattan Beach Pier to the Peninsula down to Cabrillo are endless. The Beach Cities have been my backyard for over 20 years now.
Read MoreThe Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy invites you to celebrate Earth Day 2021 with a variety of inspiring and engaging activities. On Thursday April 22nd at 7 pm join us for a live Zoom event hosted in partnership with the Palos Verdes Library District, Friends of the Library and the California Native Plant Society.
Read MoreSnakes have fascinated me ever since I held an Anaconda, in Brazil, across my shoulders. Although, it felt slimy, the skin, glistening in the hot sun looked so beautiful. I fell in love with this dangerous reptile only for a moment till it tried to wrap its tail around my arm, crushing my bones!
Snakes predominantly represent re-birth, death, and destruction, due to shedding of its skin and metaphorically "re-born". They hold a significant role in numerous cultures and mythologies. Hindus worship snakes as Gods and refer to them as “Nag Devata” (Snake God)! At Greek hospitals and temples, non-poisonous snakes were used in healing rituals. With the passing of time, snakes have been correlated with medicine.
Read MoreJane Russell was a powerful presence on the silver screen and created a powerful role in “The Revolt of Mamie Stover” in 1956. This stunning green gown was designed by William Travilla who was also designer for almost all of Marilyn Monroe’s films at 20th Century Fox Studios. And since March is the month for Saint Patrick’s Day, green seemed the color to highlight. The gown is of green silk brocade with gold thread woven through it. What makes it really unique is the large strand of gold beading that extends from her hip area and cascades down the front of the gown. Note also that the hand colored images sometimes turn the actual green color to more of a blue -green. And the most interesting part of the costume is that is was not even designed for this film, but instead was for “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” in 1953.
Read MoreMy fifth children’s book, “After the Ark” came out right before Christmas in the middle of our pandemic.
You didn’t know?
I usually send out a trumpeted announcement inviting everyone I know to my house for refreshments, book signings and live reads, but the latest pandemic restrictions have certainly put the kibosh on that lively endeavor.
Read MoreHow Boston Dynamics Taught Its Robots to Dance - IEEE Spectrum
I recently became very interested in robots when orthopedic surgeon Dr. Philip Andrawis explained that I needed a partial knee replacement. The good doctor said that I should not be concerned as he would be assisted by a robot.
Read MoreAs we joyfully anticipate the renewal of spring, there’s a bit more work to be done in the shadow of winter. We are now in Pisces season and its watery energy has many of us out to sea. Emotions are heightened, and the pull of the past and deeply buried feelings are visiting us once again. The question is - what do we do about it? This is where The Moon card is our friend.
Read MoreThe 18th annual LA Harbor International Film Festival (LAHIFF) takes place March 11-14 for the first time via online “virtual” presentation with access to films programmed though internet link(s) provided that will be promoted via printed cards, email and social media preceding and during festival dates.
Read MoreIn the days of my youth, Shakespeare was the center of English literature and thus of English-speaking culture. I turned 20 years old when Shakespeare became 400! We started high school with some mild and weepy astrology, the ‘star-struck love’ of Romeo and Juliet.
Read MoreIn the late 1970’s the Space Division of Rockwell International was under contract to the NASA Johnson Space Center, JSC to deliver a fleet of spacecraft, Shuttle Orbiters. By 1979 the first space rated flight vehicle designated OV-102, Columbia was scheduled to be on station at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Columbia was scheduled to launch in late 1979. It was delivered there on March 25, 1979. There was a problem though, the vehicle was not complete. It had been “shipped short”. There were 7800 tiles missing from the 31,000 that should have been installed, in addition to this hardware shortage of the installed tiles there was a question of their strength and ability to stay in-place.
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