A few days ago I had to take my car to the shop.  With my handy Flip camera, I took some random shots as I walked from Echo Park to Silver Lake, along Sunset Boulevard. 
 
I really do believe that the best way to learn a city is to walk it:  whether it’s along Chong-no in [...]

“Oh, how they COURT me!” – Nigella Lawson, cooing over her homemade holiday potato skins while wearing her trademark skin-tight cashmere sweater.
 
It is the season for sharing good times and food–or staring at Nigella again as she enchants you with her holiday recipes.  She makes everything appear so sensuously magical and easy, including running to [...]

I’ve seen enough.  Hand me the keys.  I’m taking ooh-vah. – Tabatha Coffey, star of Bravo’s hit reality series, Tabatha’s Salon Takeover, to another clueless owner as she is gob-smacked, once again, by a poorly-run hair salon . . .
 
I know there are far more serious issues going on right now, such as the climate [...]

While most European Union member states are flummoxed in trying to reach that 20% renewables goal by 2020, Spain is quietly a leader in the race.  The country aims to have 30% of its electricity needs met by renewables by the end of 2010.  Spain is only second behind Germany in sourcing wind energy, and [...]

The debate over climate change and energy independence is often divisive and polarizing.  First we must confront the apathetic and the nay-sayers, which has not been easy in the USA with the purported “Climate-gate” bruhaha and our concern over 10% unemployment.  The Obama Administration has not been very helpful with its “green jobs” rhetoric–I think [...]

Unless you have been asleep the last 50 years, you probably have heard that Los Angeles has a bit of a traffic problem.  The glorification of the “car culture” has taken a toll on Angelinos and its visitors.  Road rage is even more on the rampage, parking is a constant hassle, and residents who thought [...]

Last week’s posting on raising funds through LinkedIn really hit a nerve.  I got an overwhelming response, most of them in the context of “Wow, I had no idea,” and these were from professionals of impressive backgrounds.  As I have stated, I think the flock of “I need $3 mil” postings on LinkedIn is because [...]

It has happened to all of us.  You walked into a “green” event for which you paid US$20, stood around bored, and thought, “Should’ve stayed home and freed some space on the DVR.”  True, part of the problem is that online calendars are choc-a-block with such events, and in a down economy, you have everyone [...]

Third in a review of public transportation projects around the world.
 
Santiago is the Athens of South America.  I say that because most visitors dismiss the city as a crowded, polluted, and dull eyesore.  But like Athens, once you get past the smog and do some exploring, the city offers much for the visitor.  Old neighborhoods [...]

Imagine that you are a school teacher or a non-profit, and you rarely have the budget for school supplies or office equipment.
 
Suppose you own a business that either is relocating, or you have excess inventory for which you see no other choice but disposal.
 
Finally, you are the administrator in City Hall struggling with rapidly-filling landfills.
 
Have [...]

The past few weeks have been disheartening for those who believe climate change is a real problem.  While I prefer to push clean technologies by arguing for energy independence and keeping our dollars at home, the scientific evidence behind climate change has always made sense to me.  So depending on how you feel about the [...]