Coachella Valley Weekly - December 9 to December 15, 2021 Vol. 10 No. 39

coachellavalleyweekly.com • December 9 to December 15, 2021 Vol.10 No.39

Nancy Sinatra

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Winter Wonderettes

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Desert Air

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Christmas Dining at Fantasy Springs

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Modernism Week

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December 9 to December 15, 2021

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JA NUA RY 2 6– 3 0 , 2022 pa l m s p r i ng s, ca

T I C KET S & I NF O: OA S I S MUS I C FES T I VAL. COM

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December 9 to December 15, 2021

BY ESTHER SANCHEZ Coachella Valley Weekly (760) 501-6228

publisher@coachellavalleyweekly.com coachellavalleyweekly.com facebook.com/cvweekly twitter.com/cvweekly1 Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Kirby, Raymond Bill Club Crawler Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Head Music Writer Esther Sanchez Head Feature Writer Crystal Harrell Feature Writers Lisa Morgan, Rich Henrich, Heidi Simmons, Noe Gutierrez, Tricia Witkower Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Eleni P. Austin, Craig Michaels, Janet McAfee, Bronwyn Ison, Haddon Libby, Sam DiGiovanna, Dale Gribow, Denise Ortuno Neil, Rob Brezny, Dr. Peter Kadile, Dee Jae Cox, Angela Romeo, Aaron Ramson, Lynne Tucker, Aimee Mosco, Michelle Anne Rizzio, Ruth Hill, Madeline Zuckerman Photographers Robert Chance, Laura Hunt Little, Chris Miller, Esther Sanchez Videographer Kurt Schawacker Website Editor Bobby Taffolla Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

CONTENTS

Murkocet ........................................................ 3 When Tides Turn ............................................ 4 In The Name Of The Dead ............................. 5 Consider This - Nancy Sinatra....................... 6 Winter Wonderettes ...................................... 8 Pet Place ................................................. 10-11 Club Crawler Nightlife................................. 12 Desert Air at PS Air Museum ...................... 13 The Vino Voice ............................................. 14 Pampered Palate - Fantasy Springs Xmas. 15 Screeners ..................................................... 16 Safety Tips .................................................... 17 Cyber Corner ................................................ 17 Cannabis Corner .......................................... 18 Swag For The Soul ....................................... 20 Free Will Astrology ..................................... 20 Modernism Week ........................................ 21 Send Me A Trainer ....................................... 21 Haddon Libby .............................................. 22 Dale Gribow ................................................. 22

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lthough based in Arizona, the band called Murkocet has become well known over the past several years in the Coachella Valley as somewhat of a staple metal band on the local music scene.

This quartet comprised of vocalist Richie Jano, guitarist Nate Garrett, drummer Cooper Osborn, and bassist Austin Van Haaren. After over a year of not being able to perform in public venues, like most bands they are glad to be back in action and are raring to go as the headliners of one of the first, big metal shows the desert has seen in a while. I had a chat with Murkocet frontman, Richie Jano regarding how the guys have adapted and continue to do so.

CVW: I know that you guys as a band are based in Arizona but have done a lot in the Coachella Valley. How did that come about?

Jano: “I grew up in the desert. I went to La Quinta High school. I lived here my entire life but ended up at ASU. We just started playing here in the desert because a lot of people didn’t realize that I was in a band so we decided to start playing here too. It ended up being fun so now we play here all the time.”

CVW: So how did you guys get together in AZ and become a band?

Jano: “You know…you just start meeting people. I started the band and met a few people on craigslist…as people went in and out of the band, we started meeting new people who were a better fit…that’s just what happened over time. Now the guys that are in the band currently have been here for two or three years so it’s just about finding a fit.”

CVW: If you were to have to categorize Murkocet in a genre or sub-genre, what would you say it was?

Jano: “American Metal.”

CVW: Do you remember the first real show you guys ever played as a band?

Jano: “Yeah, it was at a place called The Red Owl in Tempe. It was a battle of the bands and we won.”

CVW: Your very first show was a battle of the bands?

Jano: “Yeah, it was a qualifying round and we won. Then six months later, we won the final, too. It was pretty awesome.”

CVW: That’s super brave to be putting yourself out there to be judged like that for a first show.

Jano: “It was pretty cool. It was nerve wracking though. I never played live before that. We practiced and stuff but we didn’t actually perform live.”

CVW: I admire and envy that confidence and it totally worked out! Now let me ask you this… Have you ever thought about what would have happened if it just went horribly wrong?

Jano: “Well, when I look back at it, I think that if we played a battle of the bands now, it would be different. Back then I don’t think that we held ourselves to that high of a standard so, I wouldn’t come down on everybody like, ‘You guys all f***** it up.’ There was plenty of time for us to get our whole situation straight to make it what it is today.”

CVW: Yeah, but have you ever thought about what it would be like if you didn’t win and it didn’t work out that way…do you think it would have set you on a different path, or do you think that it wouldn’t have mattered?

Jano: “I guess you’re probably right. I guess if you think of it like that, it was a catalyst and jump off point for us.”

CVW: Let’s fast forward a few years from when you started and first won that band battle in 2013. You guys started doing a lot of shows in the Coachella Valley, and things were working out for you guys. I know you won some competitions and acquired some accolades. Then Covid happens. What happened to Murkocet during that time?

Jano: “The band was fine. The band is still fine. It was what happened everywhere else around the band everywhere else that wasn’t fine. Venues stopped throwing shows, stuff just got really stale and boring and no one was able to do anything. You have to consider that our band was playing 20 to 30 shows every year even when we weren’t going that hard… just to be smacked back into playing just 2 to 4 shows in a year was just all bullshit.”

Jano continues: “It never used to be a problem until this all happened and if it wasn’t for all of the places closing down we would probably have just done what we have always done which is play regardless of how everyone felt about getting sick, or wearing masks or getting vaccinated. We didn’t give a shit. So it was really just everyone around us. Honestly, we just all enjoy playing and we know how fun it is. Even if there are only 10 people at the place we play at, we still have a lot of fun playing together as a band anyways so it’s like, what is ultimately more important to us. Anyone who is there and can see us playing knows that too.”

Jano continues: “That’s why it's hard for us to just give in to all of this shit. ThisCcovid stuff because it’s all bullshit. I went to a show last night and there was like a hundred people there not wearing masks and nobody gave a shit and we could have all been doing the same thing for the past 2 years. But nobody did because everyone was scared and all of the establishments didn’t want us to play anymore. But now it seems like everyone is pretty much over it so hopefully things can

get back to normal.”

CVW: Did you guys use any of that time away to do anything else as far as the band is concerned?

Jano: “Yeah, we hang out and I go over there and we have a bunch of demos recorded. It's been hard, financially with people going in and out of jobs. One thing I think that most people don’t understand about being in a band that strives to have quality recording, sound, videos, merch, etc. is that it’s expensive as hell. Even the people around musicians don’t understand how much it costs. That bill for an album of 12 songs with the right guy doing the right job is probably going to be around twelve grand.

Bands don’t recover from shit like that so it’s hard to go and record new music when you’re not playing shows and selling merch. Covid crippled the music industry pretty good.”

Jano continues: “On top of that, Facebook makes it impossible to even get people to see anything you post anymore so to get people to click on your links to get revenue from streams and views is borderline impossible too. It’s hard to survive with such a massive drop in awareness. The reality is that it all comes down to individually being grateful and thanking all of the people that do support you. Making sure that when you see them that they know you and you know them and they are happy with the show. You know… make sure that you kind of nod at them.

That’s the best way I can describe it because at the end of the day you want them to come back to your show and tell their friends. You can’t rely on the internet to do it for you or services and stuff that you pay for. It comes down to trying to be a humble person who just makes sure that you thank everyone for their support every time they do come out because ultimately, without those people, I don’t know how things could continue.”

You can see Murkocet perform this Saturday, Dec 11th along with In the Name of the Dead and When Tides Turn at The Hood Bar in Palm Desert.

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LOCAL MUSIC

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onsidering all the ins and outs, ups and downs, sweat, tears and downright commitment it takes to make a band work, When Tides Turn is an aptly named group of metal musicians who have been throwing their all into this project throughout all of the changes that have been hurled at them over the past few years. From geographical distances to resuming rehearsals post-shutdown, the members of this band are as focused as they are enthusiastic about getting back to the business of making music and performing for their beloved fans.

This coming Sat, Dec 11th, When Tides Turn will be joining fellow desert metal groups, Murkocet and In the Name of the Dead at The Hood Bar in Palm Desert to rock our socks off in an attempt to bring us back to the heartfelt, blood curdling lifestyle of going to the metal shows that we miss dearly.

The band’s lineup consists of Ismael Garcia on vocals, Desiree McCaslin on drums, Darin Comorre on rhythm guitar and backup vocals, Thomas Cazares on lead guitar, and Josue Hernandez on bass. When Tides Turn as an entity, originally hailed from the state border town of Blythe, CA, which runs along the Colorado River. The name itself was intended to reflect the idea of the unassumingly strong undercurrent of the river itself. Throughout many life circumstances, happenstance and destiny, these artists have found each other. Over the past several years, they have established themselves as a relatively constant force on the Coachella Valley music scene and beyond. Just as comfortable performing on a big stage as they are at a backyard party…When Tides Turn puts on shows full of dynamic energy, charisma and heart. When you have been to one of their shows you know they have given it their all and your soul has been properly rocked.

I got to hang out with the band at their rehearsal space, Tracker Studios where we discussed their musical journeys as individuals, getting through this god awful pandemic and general band goals on the horizon.

CVW: Desiree, it’s often said that the drummer is the heart of the band and you exude that energy for sure. As one of the founding members of this group from back in the Blythe days….let’s talk about how you got into drumming and eventually came to become a staple of the CV metal scene.

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ARTICLES & PHOTOS BY ESTHER SANCHEZ

McCaslin: “As far as the band is concerned, it basically started as friends from High school getting together to play music. We started booking gigs in our hometown which eventually led to us playing gigs here in the valley which got us affiliated with the local scene. We really fell in love with this scene and made friends with other bands. Actually, the first show we played out here was with Sleazy Cortez, In the Name of the Dead and Departed.

Garcia: “It was a backyard show somewhere off 4th St. and Grapefruit Blvd. in Coachella. They were making burritos out there and everything. It was awesome. A great place for a first-time gig out here for sure.”

McCaslin: “Just like Murkocet, who we will be playing with on Saturday, we know what it is like to drive across that freaking desert to rehearse. I did that for a while when I worked out there. We used to practice in Quartzite, AZ….TJ (Thomas Cazares) used to drive way over there to practice. It took a lot of commitment. We put a lot of miles on our vehicles for sure. We made sacrifices. It was all in the effort to get our sound out there and it’s been totally worth it.”

McClasin continues: “As far as how I got into music and drumming specifically, I would say that my dad always had a huge music collection….A lot of Motown and oldies in general. That influenced me a lot. I started

playing drums around eleven years old. I had been banging on pots and pans for as long as I can remember. My mom went ahead and got me my first drum set when I was eleven. It was funny because at first, my parents argued over her getting me the drums because my dad didn’t think I was actually going to commit to playing them, but my mom didn’t back down.

Fast forward….my dad still apologizes about that to this day so that’s cool. He’s really glad that my mom didn’t listen to him on that one and, like I said before, he was a big inspiration to me when it came to music in general.”

CVW: Darin, you play rhythm guitar and do some backup vocals. When did you

decide to start playing music?

Comorre: “I started playing guitar around ten years ago. I grew up in Idyllwild, which you know is an isolated little town and there just wasn’t much to do. I was always drawn to music, so, when I was around ten years old my foster mom bought me a guitar for Christmas. I played around with it for a while and eventually got into metal. I remember watching Randy Rhodes and I just lit up like Christmas. Next thing you know, I was buying a Dimebag Dean guitar with every penny I could save up and I have been playing every day since.”

CVW: Ismael, you’re the frontman of this outfit. How did that happen?

Garcia: “It really started with a craigslist thing where someone was trying to start a band and that situation actually didn’t work out but, connections were made. At first I was contacted to possibly do vocals for this band and I wanted to but they were all in Blythe and I was here in the valley so it wasn’t going to work at that time. It didn’t really work out until the whole relocation and here we are.”

Garcia continues: “As far as getting into music, I picked up the trombone in school. I was always really interested in music and my parents always had music around. I first sang in a rendition of Grease when I was in High School. It was a lot of fun.”

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com CVW: That type of singing and music is a far cry from what you do now with When Tides Turn with all of the screaming and growling that’s required for your guys’ sound. How did that transition come about?

Garcia: “That is something I definitely had to develop on my own in my own time; starting out in the shower and whatnot. My mom is a Jehovah’s Witness so she wasn’t exactly thrilled with that style of singing so it wasn’t until I moved out that I really went ahead and started practicing more and developing that skill. She didn’t exactly see it as singing at the time but she has come around over the years and is very proud when she gets to see me perform.”

CVW: Thomas, AKA, TJ….you aren’t exactly a newbie to the local scene, right?

Cazares: “I was born and raised out here and went to Indio HS. I used to play in bands out here ten years ago. One of them was called, Here Comes the Chaos and another

one was Darkness Awaits. It’s always been metal stuff. I started playing guitar in high school. I started playing because there was a talent show...It was like a battle of the bands type of thing. I was really inspired by other kids who were doing it. I felt like, if they could do it, so can I. So I started playing guitar. My brother actually played guitar at the time and he was pretty good but, I wasn’t interested until that show at my school. But, I was lucky because I was able to use his guitar to practice and stuff. Eventually I got my own guitar and kept going.”

CVW: Josue, you’re the bassist but, you came in as a fan at first, right?

Hernandez: “I grew up out here. I had seen When Tides Turn a few times and was a fan. Desiree and I met because we ended up working together. When we met I was like, ‘Yo, dude! You’re that drummer!’ We started talking a lot and knew we were both into metal. Meanwhile, I am friends with the

owner of Mas More Better Skate shop in DHS and I volunteered to help him get some shows going and do some promoting. I found out that When Tides Turn needed a bass player so I just put myself out there and said, ‘Hey, just in case...if you need me to jump in for a backup and help you guys out.’ I didn’t want to step on any toes. I just volunteered.”

Hernandez continues: “As far as getting into music... My dad played music for a long time. We are from Mexican descent and he played a lot of Mexican music. The accordion, actually and he was in a band. I know that I get a lot of my passion for music from him. I started playing guitar in middle school. Later, once I got into High school I decided that I really wanted to be a part of something, you know? That’s why I wanted to start a band and it was something that I kept trying to do but it just never worked out so I sort of let go of the idea after a while. Then all these years later... this happened. And it’s been super cool.

ARTICLE BY ESTHER SANCHEZ

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overs of live, local music have been chomping at the bit for the return of shows and are ready to get rowdy! This coming Saturday, Dec 11th, the guys from, In the Name of the Dead will join along with fellow metal acts, Mukocet and When Tides Turn at The Hood Bar in Palm Desert to give all the metalheads the fix that they have been craving for some time.

Respected by metal enthusiasts throughout the Coachella Valley and beyond since 2009, ITNOTD has been busting out eardrums with their notoriously epic levels of volume and hardness that are not for the faint of heart. If you were to find yourself close to the stage at one of their shows, the sweat would be thick and the testosterone, palatable. The strong will survive and have harrowing tales to tell.

In the Name of the Dead consists of Robert Wood on bass/vocals, Justin Cira on drums along with Reuben Torres and Luis Diaz both on guitar. I chatted on the phone with both Wood and Cira about their continuing journey as a good ol’ fashioned, thrashy, metal ensemble and how, being the true musicians that they are, rocking crowds and melting faces feeds their souls.

CVW: Eleven years for a band shows quite a bit of longevity. Who actually started up the band in the first place?

Cira: “That would be myself along with my

buddy Chris who was the original guitarist.

Then we brought in Luis, shortly afterward Rob followed. A couple of years after that, I was actually fired from the band. Five or six years later I was invited back….several lineup changes later, here we are.”

CVW: You guys are playing the Dec 11th show at The Hood Bar and Pizza which will be one of the first, relatively big metal shows in the valley since shut down. I have been talking to a lot of musicians about their experiences during the pandemic and what they did as performers during that time. What happened with ITNOTD during quarantine?

Cira: “Well, at the beginning it was pretty much nothing. It was a good six to eight months before we got the courage to come back together and start playing again. It was weird because it wasn’t just like jumping back on the bike. We tried jumping on the bike but there was no seat on it. Once we got going it was pretty slow. There were still no shows.

Beforehand we had been preparing to record, writing some songs and stuff, getting all that set up when the pandemic hit and we took a break.”

Cira continues: “We really came back into it slowly and were definitely a bit rusty and had to sort of re-learn a lot of the work parts of it but it definitely felt good to be playing again. That was the best part. We are getting

the ball rolling, learned a couple of new songs and little by little have been doing what it takes to grow back that leg that was cut off.”

CVW: This upcoming show at The Hood is getting a lot of hype because there have only been so many shows to see up until recently.

Have you done any other shows lately?

Wood: “Yeah, we recently did Synergy Fest in Coachella which was pretty cool, outdoor fest with a lot of cool people. That was actually the first stage show we had done since the shutdown. We have actually played three or four shows…about once a month lately in smaller settings.”

CVW: You mentioned earlier that you guys were planning to start recording new material before the shutdown and had to put that off. Does that mean that you will

December 9 to December 15, 2021 Everyone has been so warm and welcoming and it feels good to be a part of it all.”

CVW: You guys have been through a lot of circumstances to be the band that you are today and now that situations are opening up for artists to do what they do again, what’s on the horizon for WHen Tides Turn?

McCaslin: “During Covid we all had to work our jobs and weren’t able to get together for a year. Now that we are back we are practicing more than we ever have and we are trying to focus on writing more than we ever have. We put in a lot of work. It takes a lot of dedication and passion and we are lucky that we mesh together so well. That helps a lot.”

When Tides Turn will be performing this Saturday, Dec 11th along with Murkocet and In the Name of the Dead at The Hood Bar in Palm Desert. Follow them at facebook.com/ WhenTidesTurn. artists.landr.com/628810066223 @WhenTidesTurn·Band

LOCAL MUSIC

be playing these new songs at the upcoming show?

Wood: “Yes. We had a couple that we had worked out pretty solid and had performed at our last shows, pre-pandemic but since we got back into the swing of things we have been able to work on more stuff so, we will definitely have a couple of newer songs in our set at The Hood this weekend and we are definitely excited to have the opportunity to play for everyone again.”

If you are looking for an amazing night of metal music, kinship and drinks…join the boys from In the Name of the Dead along with When Tides Turn and Murkocet this Saturday at The Hood Bar in Palm Desert. You can also follow whatever it is that they are up to these days at facebook.com/InTheNameOfTheDead.

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CONSIDER THIS

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f you think Nancy Sinatra’s musical career begins and ends with her #1 smash hit, “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’,” then you haven’t been paying attention. Although she was born into musical royalty, she mostly made her own way throughout the Swingin ‘60s.

The eldest child of Frank Sinatra and Nancy Barbato, Nancy was born in New Jersey, but grew up in Los Angeles with her younger siblings, Frank, Jr. and Tina.

Her singing career began in her late teens.

Initially, she was paired with prolific producer, Tutti Camarata, who’d had some success with Disney star Annette Funicello.

They recorded a few songs that were wellreceived overseas but seemed a bit too treacly and teenage for her.

Nancy struck a bargain with her dad, if he signed her to his label, Reprise Records, she would be responsible for paying her expenses and covering her recording sessions. She floundered for a bit, but then label President Jimmy Bowen suggested she collaborate with Lee Hazlewood. The Oklahoma-bred producer/ singer-songwriter had been making hits in Hollywood for about a decade, most notably with Duane Eddy.

Lee auditioned a few songs for Nancy and she was in. He quickly enlisted guitarist Billy Strange to work on new arrangements. Her first single, “So Long, Babe,” b/w “If He Loved Me,” began inching up the charts and soon she was booked on TV shows like Hullabaloo and Shindig.

Her follow-up single, “These Boots Were Made For Walkin’,” released just ahead of her first official long-player, Boots, was a game-changer. Both the single and the album shot to the top of the charts. That was just the beginning. Nancy released a string of albums throughout the ‘60s that included indelible songs like “How Does That Grab You, Darlin,” “Sugar Town,” and the theme song from the James Bond film, “You Only Live Twice.” She teamed with her dad for her second #1 hit, the ballad, “Somethin’ Stupid.” She also partnered with Lee Hazlewood for a series of arch duets; “Summer Wine,” “Jackson,” “Some Velvet Morning” and “Sand.” Around the same time, she launched her acting career, appearing alongside Peter Fonda in The Wild Angels and Elvis Presley in Speedway.

When she married in the ‘70s, she deliberately cut back on making music, preferring to concentrate on family.

Throughout the decades, her influence was felt. Her songs were featured in films like Full Metal Jacket and Kill Bill. In 2004 she released a self-titled album which found her collaborating with a younger generation of admirers like Morrissey, Jarvis Cocker of Britpop sensations, Pulp, Pete Yorn, Steven Van Zandt and Bono and The Edge from U2.

Recently, Light In The Attic Records released a career-defining retrospective, Nancy Sinatra: Start Walkin’ 1965-1976.”

Simultaneously, they offered up an expanded edition of her trailblazing debut, Boots. Up until the Beatles’ groundbreaking Sgt. Pepper album, records typically included one, maybe two hit singles, and the rest of the long-player consisted of

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NANCY SINATRA

filler. Although Boots arrived a year earlier, it’s clear that Lee and Billy took care with the song selection. Lee picked each song, but Nancy retained veto power.

Boots opens with “As Tears Go by,” a nascent composition from Mick Jagger and Keith Richards that was a hit for Marianne Faithfull in 1964. The original was a lachrymose ballad (the Stones recorded their own version a year later, only marginally dirtying up the pretty). In Nancy’s hands, it opens with her breathy croon atop courtly Spanish guitar and lowing bass notes. But it quickly shapeshifts, layering in thwoking percussion, sparkly keys and sundappled guitars, locking into a breezy Bossa Nova arrangement. Her sanguine contralto radiates such self-assurance that lyrics like “My riches can’t buy everything, I want to hear the children sing, all I hear is the sound of falling rain on the ground, I sit and watch the tears go by” feel less maudlin and more contemplative.

Nancy stakes her claim in the firmament of the burgeoning Pop/Rock scene by assertively covering songs by acknowledged master craftsmen, The Beatles and Bob Dylan. Not once, but twice does she redefine hits from the Fab Four’s catalogue o’ hits.

First up is a playful take “Daytripper.” While the original employed a fusillade of guitars to open the song, Nancy and company get their point a across with harumph-ing trombones, some sly guiro action, and a pummeling backbeat. Rather quickly, a brassy fanfare, descending bass lines, shang-a-lang guitars and plinky piano are folded into the mix. Nancy’s mien is derisive as lyrics dismiss a commitment-phobic hipster; “Got a good reason for taking the easy way out, got a good reason for taking the easy way out/He was a daytripper, one way ticket yeah, it took me so long, but I found out, I found out.” The horn section shadows Nancy on the verses, acting as a wordless Greek chorus. On the break, salty horns are matched by a peppery big beat.

Toward the end of the album, she tackles “Run For Your Life.” Countrified acoustic guitars partner with stinging electric riffs, tensile bass, frowzy horns, Honky-Tonk piano and a boomerang beat. Although the original lyrics were equal parts misogynist and slightly homicidal, Nancy cannily flips the script, warning a faithless swain that she won’t tolerate any misbehavior; “Well, you know that I’m a wicked chick and I was born with a jealous mind, and I can’t spend my whole life trying just to make you toe the line/You better run for your life if you can, little boy, hide your head in the sand, little boy, catch you with another girl, that’s the end, little boy.” The tempo accelerates on the break, downshifting into a Watusified feel.

Nancy joined a long line of Dylan admirers like Johnny Cash, Joan Baez and The Turtles when she put her imprimatur on “It Ain’t Me Babe.” Once again, she zigs where the others might have zagged, choosing to couch the melody in a fluttery Samba arrangement. Syncopated horns fall in line with tinkly percussion, Paisley keys and a walloping beat. Dylan’s cranky kissoff amps up the vitriol. But Nancy’s smooth

“BOOTS” (LIGHT IN THE ATTIC RECORDS)

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croon takes the sting out of blunt couplets like “Go way from my window, leave at your own chosen speed, I’m not the one you want babe, I’m not the one you need/You say you’re lookin’ for someone who’s never weak but always strong, to protect you and defend you, whether you are right or wrong, someone to open each and every door, but it ain’t me babe, no, no, no, it ain’t me babe, it ain’t me your looking for.”

The best tracks showcase Nancy’s ability to hopscotch genres. “So Long, Babe,” her first collaboration with Lee Hazlewood, blends scratchy guitars, shivery strings, sprightly keys, upright bass, tumbling drums and a hint of trumpet to create a CountryPop symphony. Addressing a wayward beau, her manner is equal parts empathetic and aloof; “I know you’re leaving babe, goodbye and so long, you never made it babe, I wonder what went wrong, they never understood your songs, here’s what you do, just walk away and leave ‘em, and let ‘em follow you.”

The flipside of the “So Long, Babe” single, “If He’d Love Me,” deftly switches gears. A lush Torch song, it weaves a tapestry of swirly strings, delicate percussion, thunking bass, sugar-rush guitars and a relaxed ticktock rhythm. Much like Mr. Mojo-Risin,’ Nancy wallows in the mire, soaking in the heartache and caressing lyrics like “Here I am, all alone and crying, bluer than I’ve ever been, in my heart it feels like I’m dying, thinking what might have been, if he loved me like I loved him.”

The Statler Brothers’ hokey “Flowers On The Wall” is completely recalibrated.

Spiraling guitars collide with brass accents, wily bass and a tom-tom beat, creating a Bluegrass-Mariachi hoedown. Nancy’s voice drips with sarcasm as she reassures a former flame that, despite his absence, her life is action-packed; “While you and your friends are worryin’ ‘bout me, I’m havin’ lots of fun, countin’ flowers on the wall, that don’t bother me at all, playin’ solitaire ‘til dawn, with a deck of fifty-one, smokin’ cigarettes and watchin’ ‘Captain Kangaroo,’ now don’t tell me I’ve nothin’ to do.”

Of course, the record’s piece de resistance remains the title track. Some 55 years later, it’s lost none of it’s allure.

Rather famously, Lee Hazlewood wrote the song and was hoarding it for himself, but Nancy accurately argued that a man singing that song “was chauvinistic and ugly, but a little girl singing it gave it a whole different thing.” Clearly, she made her point. The

song opens with that iconic quarter-tone bass line, jangly guitars fall in, tethered to a clip-clop rhythm and a tambourine kick.

Much like Aretha Franklin did with Otis Redding’s “Respect,” from the minute she opens her mouth, Nancy takes ownership of this song. With an authoritative growl in her voice, she never backs down. Syncopated horns punctuate each neatly-turned phrase as her suspicions mount; “You keep lyin’ when you oughta be truthin’ and you keep losin’ when you oughta not bet, You keep samein’ when you oughta be a-changin,’ now what’s right is right, but you ain’t been right yet/These boots are made for walkin’ and that’s just what they’ll do, one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.” As the song nears completion, she’s tossed this sad Casanova to the curb; “Are you ready boots, start walkin.” The horn section revs, locking into a Go-Go groove and Nancy Frugs off into the sunset.

Other interesting tracks include a springy take on the Knickerbockers’ taut Garage Rocker, “Lies,” then there’s the glossy “I Move Around.” Finally, “In My Room” evinces a Spectorian Wall Of Sound majesty without the Wagnerian heft.

Boots originally ended on “Run For Your Life,” but the reissue includes two bonus tracks to close the set, “The City Never Sleeps At Night” and “For Some.” Lee Hazlewood originally wanted the former to be the “A” side of the “Boots..” single, Nancy disabused him of that notion and history is on her side. It’s just a bit of Bubblegum fluff. The latter, she recently dismissed as a “terrible, terrible song.” It does just kind of sit there. A little too Doo-Wop-y for the Swingin’ ‘60s.

Nancy Sinatra took control of her career early on and was sharp enough to trust Lee Hazlewood’s vision. What Lee characterized as a dumb sound,” which didn’t mean stupid, so much as uncomplicated. Shaping that sound were a loose collective of musicians informally known as The Wrecking Crew.

They included bassists Chuck Berghofer, Donald Bagley and the incomparable Carol Kaye, drummers Hal Blaine and Donald “Richie” Frost, guitarists Al Casey, Nick Bonny, Jerry Cole, Ervan Coleman Donnie “Dirt” Lanier, Lou Morrell, Donnie Owens, Bill Pitman and Billy Strange, Don Randi and Larry Knechtel on keys. Emil Richards, Gary Coleman and Frank Capp on percussion.

A string section that included Emmet Sargeant Joseph Ditullio, Jesse Erlich and Joseph Saxon on cello and William Miller on violin. A horn section comprised of Roy Caton and Oliver Mitchell on trumpet, Plas Johnson on Saxophone, Lew McCreary on trombone, plus Richard Perissi on French Horn.

All of these elements coalesced on Boots, which made a lasting impact, paving the way for everyone from Blondie’s Debbie Harry to Madonna to Lana Del Rey. Nancy Sinatra remains a trailblazer, a legend and a badass. Don’t let anyone tell you anything different.

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December 9 to December 15, 2021

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December 9 to December 15, 2021

N

o matter our faith or beliefs, there is no denying the spectacular beauty of the holiday season. Wrapped in glittering tinsel, sparkling lights and falling snow, (if only in our imaginations.) December can be a magical time. No other time of year will the song ‘Walking in a Winter Wonderland,’ inspire such warm wishes and hopeful thoughts.

And there's no better way to ease into the magic of the season than with Roger Bean’s holiday comedy classic, the Winter Wonderettes.

Presented by Desert Theatreworks, and directed by Raul Valenzuela, this trip down memory lane features an outstanding and memorable quartet. Sassy Cindy Lou, edgy Betty Jean, pregnant (again) Suzy and serious Missy are the entertainment for Harper’s Hardware annual holiday party and they are not shy when it comes to sharing stories about their lives. Breaking the fourth wall and including the audience as fellow Harper’s employees, this group makes sure that no one is left without a smile and a little holiday cheer.

Performed with such charm and talent, Keanna Garcia, (Suzy,) Emily Unnasch, (Cindy Lou,) Kelly McDaniel, (Betty Jean,) and Verity VanDams, (Missy,) circa 1960, put their own spin on classic Christmas songs and weave together a light-hearted night filled with laughter and holiday spirt. Magic really does happen when the right actors are paired together with the right script. This quartet will make you forget all of your troubles and take you back to a bygone era. Phil Murphy’s lighting design and Jeff Mazer’s projection design, will give you a chill from those snowflakes drifting down upon the stage.

Garcia, Unnasch, McDaniel and Van Dams are all beautifully accomplished singers, each lending their character’s unique personality

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BY DEE JAE COX to the standout performances. Valenzuela’s staging keeps this production moving quickly and the choreography is easily performed by this talented cast.

In 1999 Roger Bean first introduced his “Marvolous Wonderettes,” to the world. His sequels include Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns, Wonderettes: Dream On, and Wonderettes: Glee Club Edition, as well as the Winter Wonderettes. Inspired by the girl-groups of the 1950’s and 60’s, the Wonderettes present a musical journey that is really fun to watch.

The holiday rendition of this group features standards such as "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," and "Run, Rudolph, Run," as well as obscure works like "We Wanna See Santa Do the Mambo," and "Christmas Will Be Just Another Lovely Day," The music also bring an international song and dance flare to the show with tunes such as “Oh Tannenbaum.”

Live musicians for this show, Douglas C. Wilson (Conductor/keyboards,)Michael Cundri, (piano) Joseph Sexson, (drums) and Marypaz Holguin, (bass/saxophone) provided a wonderful, festive ambiance.

The Winter Wonderettes is running December 3-23, 2021, and is highly recommended for audiences of all ages. If you want to feel that holiday spirt, this is the show to see.

Desert Theatreworks is located at the Indio Performing Arts Center, 45175 Fargo St, Indio, CA. For show and ticket info please visit www. dtworks.org.

Dee Jae Cox, is a playwright, director and producer. She is the Cofounder and Artistic Director of The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Project. losangeleswomenstheatreproject.org And Co-Creator of the Palm Springs Theatre Go-To Guide. palmspringstheatre.com

BREAKING THE4TH WALL

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December 9 to December 15, 2021

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December 9 to December 15, 2021

PET PLACE

O

n October 19, 2021, this beautiful female German Shepherd was brought to the Riverside County shelter in Thousand Palms. She was evaluated by the shelter staff and deemed to be a healthy, happy dog. However, the stray dog was not microchipped, and no owner came to claim her. The weeks passed, and potential adopters pass by Pepper’s kennel, often preferring to adopt a small dog or a young puppy.

How long can a shelter dog wait and still have hope that someone will come for her?

How long can a large dog mentally survive in a shelter kennel without becoming

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PEPPER DREAMS OF A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!

stressed? Why are so many German Shepherds in shelters?

Pepper is becoming kennel stressed in spite of enjoying walks provided by shelter volunteers. I visited Pepper, and she appears to be a friendly and calm animal.

Upon intake, her age was estimated at 3 years, but she may be between 3 and 5 years old.

Pepper did not engage with the other dogs in the Big Dog Playgroup, preferring to sit quietly nearby, not providing much information on how she gets along with other dogs. She is now listed as “Needs Rescue” for a private animal rescue

group to take her. Private adopters can also adopt Pepper, after a proper meet and greet to ensure a good match, and signing a standard adoption waiver that they understand her issues. Out of the shelter environment, 95% of rescued dogs transform into the loving companions they were meant to be.

German Shepherds are my favorite breed. I was raised by a German Shepherd, and Boy saved my life when I was a baby.

They are one of the smartest breeds, fiercely loyal, people oriented, adaptable to so many situations, and have lively personalities. They brilliantly learn training commands and quickly becoming house trained if not already trained. They are heroes in the military, in law enforcement, in search and rescue operations, and can detect some cancers quicker than scientific laboratories. Devoted companions, dogs like Pepper make wonderful family pets.

Pepper’s beautiful photo shows the fall leaves. Now fall has turned to winter, and she still waits. You can also see how her ears are bitten by flies, evidence she was likely kept as an “outdoor only” dog.

Pepper needs a home where she can exercise in a back yard, but she also needs a home where she will live indoors to enjoy the human companionship she loves.

German Shepherds need to exercise their brain and their brawn.

There are more German Shepherds than ever in public shelters. Some people don’t understand that the cute little German Shepherd puppy they adopt may become a large size very active puppy. The television program Game of Thrones resulted in the overbreeding of both German Shepherds and Huskies, creating too many dogs with not enough homes. “Outdoor only” dogs like Pepper are more likely to escape due to loneliness and boredom in addition to unsecured fencing.

Pepper would make a great family pet and hiking companion. She would do great in a “one dog” home, and probably do well with another calm large dog. If you have another dog, bring them with you to the shelter to ensure a good match.

Riverside County Department of Animal Services is offering No Fee adoptions through December 20 due to the recent influx of dogs, especially large breeds.

MEET CHIP

SWEET SAMANTHA

Chip would love to be your hiking buddy and best friend!

He’s dog ID#1648556. This handsome 5-yr-old German Shepherd boy waits at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus, 72-050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, www. rcdas.org, (951) 358-7387.

Open 10am-4pm Mon - Sat.

Samantha, a 5-yr-old female German Shepherd, is 65 lbs of doggie love. Fill out an adoption application at www.psanimalshelter. org and visit her at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter located at 4575 E. Mesquite, Palm Springs, open Wed Sun. (760) 416-5718.

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BY JANET McAFEE Come meet Pepper at 72-050 Pet Land Place in Thousand Palms between 10am to 4pm Monday through Saturday, (951) 358-7387. She is dog ID#A1645576. The shelter also has a foster program to help you become a “foster failure”!

Given the second chance home she deserves, Pepper will become the “best friend” dog she was meant to be after a few days in your home. Her grateful heart may transform quickly when she senses your intent, and in turn she will bring you holiday joy. Sometimes good things come to those who wait. Christmas is the time for miracles, and Pepper dreams to have a loving family for the holidays.

Janetmcafee8@lovingallanimals.org -------------------------------------------------Here is a partial list of Inland Empire shelters and rescue groups where you can adopt a wonderful dog or cat.

COACHELLA VALLEY ANIMAL CAMPUS – This county shelter is now open for walk in visitors 10am-4pm Mon through Sat. You can view the animals at all four Riverside county shelters at www.rcdas.org, and get the ID number, 72050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, (760) 343-3644. (Public) PALM SPRINGS ANIMAL SHELTER – This shelter is open every day except Tuesday. View their animals online at www. psanimalsshelter.org, 4575 E. Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, (760) 416-5718. (Public) DESERT HOT SPRINGS ANIMAL CARE & CONTROL - Open daily 9:30-4:30. View their animals at www.cityofdhs.org/animal-carecontrol.com, 65810 Hacienda Ave, Desert Hot Springs, (760) 329-6411 ext. 450.

ANIMAL SAMARITANS – Call for an appointment to adopt. View their animals at www.animalsamaritans.org. Email acorrow@animalsamaritans.org to foster.

Located at 72307 Ramon Rd, Thousand Palms, (760) 601-3918. (Private) CALIFORNIA PAWS RESCUE - Call for an appointment to adopt. Located at 73650 Dinah Shore, Palm Desert. View their animals at www.californiapawsrescue.com, (760) 656-8833. (Private)

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HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY – Call for an appointment to adopt a dog or cat. This shelter has lots of big dogs and some cats. View some of their animals at www.orphanpet.com. Located at 17825 N. Indian Canyon, Palm Springs, (760) 3290203. (Private) KITTYLAND – The shelter is closed so call for an appointment to visit and adopt a cat.

Located at 67600 18th Avenue, Desert Hot Springs, www.kittylandrescue.org, (760) 251-2700. (Private) FOREVER MEOW – Foster based rescue for cats located in Rancho Mirage. Contact them at www.ForeverMeow.org, (760) 335-6767. (Private) PRETTY GOOD CAT – Foster based rescue for cats located in La Quinta.

Contact them at www.prettygoodcat.com, (760) 660-3414 (Private) BFF4pets – Foster based rescue for dogs and cats located in La Quinta. Email them at rescues@bff4pets.com, (310) 431-7818 (Private) LOVING ALL ANIMALS – Call for

December 9 to December 15, 2021

appointment to visit and adopt dogs.

Located at 83496 Avenue 51, Coachella, www.lovingallanimals.org, (760) 834-7000.

(Private) ANIMAL RESCUE CENTER OF CALIFORNIA (ARC), Foster based rescue for dogs and cats in Indio. www.thearc-ca.org, (760) 877-7077 (Private) LIVING FREE ANIMAL SANCTUARY – Large outdoor shelter for dogs and cats up Hwy 74, Mountain Center, view animals at www.living-free.org, and call (951) 6594687. (Private) MORONGO BASIN HUMANE SOCIETY – Located at 4646 Sun View Rd, Joshua Tree, www.mbhumanesociety.com, call between 11am-2pm (760) 366-3786 (Private) CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ANIMAL SHELTER – The shelter is now open for Walk in visitors 12 – 3pm Tuesday through Saturday. Google “City of San Bernardino Animal Shelter” for website to view animals and get the ID number of the animal you want to meet. Located at 333 Chandler Place, San Bernardino, (909) 384-1304 or (909) 384-7272. (Public) SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER AT DEVORE – Shelter is now open for walk ins 7 days a week. Call (909) 3869280. View animals at www.sbcounty.gov/ acc and get the ID number of animal you are interested in adopting, 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino (Public).

DREAM TEAM ANGELS RESCUE - Foster based rescue located in Grand Terrace/San Bernardino area. Contact them through website www.DreamTeamangelsrescue. com, (360) 688-8884. (Private)

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December 9 to December 15, 2021

Thursday, December 9

Chef George’s – Marc Antonelli – 6:30pm Cunard’s Sandbar – Bill Baker – 6pm Jazzville @ Agua Caliente – Phat Cat Swinger – 7pm Lit @ Fantasy Springs – Rob Staley – 7pm O’Caine’s – Midlife O’Crisis – 6pm Plan B Entertainment & Cocktails – Saints and Rebels w/ Daytime Moon – 9pm Shanghai Red’s (Palm Springs) – Lisa Lynn and the Broken Hallelujahs – 7pm

Friday, December 10

Bart Lounge – DJ Manny – 8pm Casuelas Café – Live Music – 7pm Chef George’s – Lizann Warner – 6:30pm Cunard’s Sandbar – Bill Baker – 6pm El Paseo Gardens – Derek Jordan Gregg – 3-6pm Four Twenty Bank – Saint Steel Wood – 6pm Lit @ Fantasy Springs – The Dudes of San Diego – 9pm

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O’Caine’s – Craic Haus – 6pm Rockyard@Fantasy Springs – Don’t Look Back (Boston Tribute) and Know Illusion – 7pm Tack Room Tavern – TBA – 8pm The Nest – Nikki Dickinson – 6pm The Village – Rob & JB – 5:30-8:30pm, Rapmarz – 10pm, DJ LF – 10pm, DJ Gio the Ace – 9pm Twelve @ Fantasy Springs – Mark Gregg and Co. – 7-10pm

Saturday, December 11

Ace Hotel – DJ – noon – poolside Bart Lounge – More Bass w/ DJs Femme A, Sugar free, Meowsenburg, Optimistgrind and FrankthaDank – 8pm Big Rock Pub – 212 – 9pm Casuelas Café – Live Music – 7pm Chef George’s – Michael D Angelo and Tim Burleson – 6:30pm Coachella Valley Brewery – “Laughs and Drafts” Comedy Night – 7:30pm Cunard’s Sandbar – Bill Baker – 6pm Desert Fox Bar – TBA – 7pm Four Twenty Bank – Luniz – 6pm

Lit @ Fantasy Springs – The Dudes of San Diego – 9pm O’Caine’s – St. Christopher’s Bazooka – 6pm Palm Canyon Roadhouse – Beau McDougall CD Release Party – 9pm Rockyard@Fantasy Springs – Bruno and the hooligans (Bruno Mars Tribute) and Steel Rod – 7pm The Hood – Murkocet, When Tides Turn and In the Name of the Dead – 9pm The Nest – TBA – 6pm The Village – Rob & JB – 1-4pm, Rapmarz – 10pm, DJ LF – 10pm, DJ Gio the Ace – 9pm Twelve @ Fantasy Springs – Mark Gregg and Co. – 7-10pm

Sunday, December 12

Bart Lounge – Latina Night w/ DJ LF – 8pm Casuelas Café – Barry Baughn Blues Review – 5:30pm Coachella Valley Brewery – Acoustic Afternoon w/ Matt Davin, Kelsey Manning and Mario Quintero – 3pm

Kitchen 86 – Jojo Malagar – 7pm Melvyn’s – Mikael Healey – 5pm Palm Canyon Roadhouse – Mikole Kaar Jazz Show – 2pm, Sunday Night Jam w/ Derek Jordan Gregg – 6-11pm The Nest – Jojo Malagar – 7pm The Village – Rapmarz - 10pm

Monday, December 13

The Village – DJ Gio the Ace – 9pm

Tuesday, December 14

Casuelas Café – Desert Suite Band – 5:30pm Chef George’s – Lizann Warner – 6:30pm Cunard’s Sandbar – Bill Baker – 6pm Lit @ Fantasy Springs – Brad’s Pad – 7-10pm The Village – DJ Gio the Ace – 9pm

Wednesday, December 15

Casuelas Café – Lisa Lynn and the Broken Hallelujahs – 6pm Chef George’s – Tim Burleson – 6:30pm Cunard’s Sandbar – Bill Baker – 6pm The Cantina – T- Bone Karaoke – 7pm The Village – DJ Gio the Ace – 9pm, Banda Revolucion – 10pm

EVENTS

O

n December 10 and 11, the first-ever Desert Air music event will debut at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

Desert Air will be a dance music getaway experience presented by Splash House and Goldenvoice.

Notable electronic acts and critically acclaimed DJs will perform in one of the most unique open-air venues, on the tarmac of the Air Museum from sunset through the evening surrounded by the historic aircrafts, the airport runway, and the panoramic shadows of the San Jacinto mountains. Desert Air is also the first standalone music festival to be held at the Air Museum.

“I have always wanted to do more in the desert and at the Air Museum beyond summer.

With a new event brand, it allows us to get creative beyond our established foundations on Splash House and delve into new lanes of programming that we may not have otherwise on the existing festival. Likewise, it positions Splash House as a larger curator of electronic

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music programming and experiences in the desert, which is inspiring in its own right,” stated Splash House Founder & Producer Tyler McLean, who is now also producing Desert Air. Desert Air is an underground dance music program positioned as a destination travel experience in Palm Springs. The music programming paired with the travel experiences and overall beauty of Palm Springs is designed to make for a special weekend.

The music line-up is sure to get attendees in the spirit of the festival from some of the world’s best genre artists invited, ranging from Innervisions’ icon Dixon, the magnanimous and playful German producer DJ Koze, the Bronx’s prodigal house sons The Martinez Brothers, South Korea’s music-fashion globetrotter Peggy Gou and enigmatic Detroit tastemaker Moodymann.

In addition to big names, there will also be a collection of underground artists sure to impress in the Desert Air lineup. Compton’s Channel Tres will bring his Detroit-house

inspired vocals and live show to center stage alongside Ninja Tune’s Grammy-nominated disco infused Jayda G, London’s one to watch TSHA, Canadian deep house DJ/producer Patrick Holland, cutting-edge Manchester trio Mason Collective, German producer and singer Perel, the shapeshifting Chris Stussy, and PVBLIC XCESS’ Chloé Caillet.

The Desert Air music festival will debut with an all-new stage and production build different from previous Splash House and Goldenvoice productions. It will be the biggest installation ever for the Palm Springs Air Museum.

Desert Air has also put forward the event as an equal parts travel experience as it is a music festival. Daytime Affairs at Desert Air is a curated set of local experiences to encapsulate the spirit of Palm Springs to outside visitors.

Daytime Affairs includes activities such as mezcal and wine tasting, warbird rides, rooftop yoga and sound bath, guided trail hike, and a guided architecture bike tour.

Rooftop Power Yoga Palm Springs will be held under a clear desert morning sky for yoga flow and sound bath with Kim Funkey.

It will be located above the palm trees in the Uptown Design District with unobstructed mountain views. The class includes energetic cleanse and introductions, gentle yoga flow, guided Shamanic journey meditation, healing sound bath, and a discount for a pre or post experience caffeine fix at Cafe La Jefe, the coffee shop located downstairs.

Guests can also book a seat on one of the legendary fighter planes at the Palm Springs Air Museum to experience first-hand what it is

December 9 to December 15, 2021

BY CRYSTAL HARRELL like to fly in one of the fastest propeller planes ever built. Attendees can choose between the T-6 Texan and the PT-17 Stearman while learning more details on the planes and ride.

The cost for the experience is 195 dollars per person for PT-17 Stearman and 495 dollars per person for T-6 Texan.

Collectively, the Daytime Affairs act as an opportunity for fans to take in all that Palm Springs has to offer while they are in town for the music.

“The immediate focus is having a successful year one with a great experience for those who make it out. We certainly believe there is opportunity to grow this in future years, as we did with Splash House, and we’ll build on it one year at a time,” said McLean.

General Admission pass prices start at 130 dollars plus ticketing fees. VIP passes start at 230 dollars plus ticket fees. Hotel Packages start at 750 dollars for two people and 1,050 dollars for four. Packages include two-night accommodations and Desert Air passes.

Attendees will have the convenience of resort-style accommodations and a site situated just minutes from the heart of Palm Springs. Desert Air package partner hotels this year are The Saguaro and Renaissance.

Proof of full vaccination will be required to enter the Desert Air venue. For more info and pricing, visit desertairfest.com.

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December 9 to December 15, 2021

THE VINO VOICE

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BY RICK RIOZZA

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE A CAB SAVVY CHRISTMAS!

H

old the Presses! Hold those wine bottle gifts! The news is out: California’s Napa County’s 2018 vintage happens to be one of the best in recent years! Perhaps one of the best in recent history! Hyberbole— you contend!? Hey—I’ve been around the California’s wine scene for over 40 years now and I have to say these ‘18 vintage Cabs remind me of the 1974s, 85s, and the 97s as to quality, taste profile and enjoyment.

There you go! You new wine lovers can catch up quick with the stellar capability of California Cabernet Sauvignon. And especially the stuff that comes out of Napa Valley. Cheers to you!

Okay—I’ve been so impressed with a new Cabernet Sauv in my wine bin, and, the wonderful California wine history that surrounds the winery that I wish to make it my top story for the new month: “The story of Ehlers Estate is one of passion, patience, and hard work, intertwined like the tendrils of robust vines that have been part of the landscape here since the mid-1800s.”

That’s how this California wine story begins: “It was the lure of winemaking that tempted Bernard Ehlers to buy a small, dying vineyard in the late 1800s and embark on a quest to create the winery that continues to bear his name. He replanted his newly-acquired 10acre vineyard, established the olive grove that still thrives today and in 1886 completed construction of the stone barn that is now our beautiful winery building. His original Bale Mill Winery continued to operate long after his death, run by his wife until the 1920s and then by successive new owners who took advantage of its prime location and unique terroir.

“A century later, another husband and wife team discovered the lure of this idyllic spot in the heart of the Napa Valley. French entrepreneurs and philanthropists Jean and Sylviane Leducq saw the potential for this region to produce wines with the power, balance and structure of the finest Bordeaux bottlings they knew and loved. Over several decades they patiently built a contiguous wine estate – common for French chateaux but increasingly rare in California.

“With the help of renowned enologist, Jacques Boissenot, they gradually acquired individual local vineyards as they came up for sale and replanted with the most suitable clones and rootstock. By the turn of the century, they had created the 42-acre estate we farm today, with Bernard Ehlers’ original stone barn and vineyard at its heart and the Ehlers name once again poised to grace wine labels. The 21st century began with the release of the very first vintage from the Leducqs' new Ehlers Estate.”

For those of you wine enthusiasts who appreciate a good background story to assist in the complete enjoyment of the juice—there you go. I particularly bring this up because Ehlers wine and story was not on my radar. But after enjoying their 2018 Napa Cab and their 2016 Portrait Red Blend, I now realize this winery is one to follow, get to know, visit—when things get visiting again, and to enjoy their portfolio of wine. You serious wine collectors and Cab lovers should have this producer on their radar.

What was especially impressive in the flavor profile of the 2018 Ehlers’ Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($72), is that it brought back to me the very similar profile that we enjoyed with the classic 1974 Heitz Cellars

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Martha’s Vineyard Cab Sauv. Back in the day, I was privileged to have a full case of the stuff—along with a magnum whose label was signed by Joe Heitz. I had come across the case & magnum in the late 80s from a wine auction.

Anyway, the stunning panoply of harvest dark fruits, complexities and over-all feel was something no one forgets. If I possess any particular wine gift, it’s my weird memory of vintage wine flavors of the past. When we recently poured the 2018 Ehlers’ Cab—the taste and spirit ‘74 Heitz Martha’s Vineyard came rushing back, flooding my mind and soul. As one can tell, we really had a fun and enlightening time enjoying the wine.

Often times we wine columnists need to readdress the winery notes of a particular wine, in this case, they are totally right on: “The 2018 Ehlers' Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is our only non-Estate wine. Approximately 18% of the grapes for this wine were sourced from vineyards in Oakville and Yountville. The wine exhibits dusty aromas of dark and red berries, dry herbs, and spices in deep dark garnet; black pepper and cedar, with hints of cherries, round out the nose. The first sip is earthy, mineral with pencil shaving and dust. Blueberries and dark chocolate accompany the long after taste.

It’s medium to full-bodied with spices and cedar, boysenberries and dry herbs like thyme and rosemary. Good tannins and structure.

Enjoyable now, it will open up with decanting and will age well for 15-20 more years.”

And it’s nice to see that the Ehlers’ winery agrees on the vintage: “2018 was a perfect vintage from a weather standpoint. Cooler nights and mild daytime temperatures in August helped to retain the beautiful natural acidity and delicate flavors and aromas of the fruit. The excellent weather conditions allowed for less irrigation and longer hang time for the grapes. This helped gain more concentration of fruit character in the wine during fermentation.

We were able to pick at the perfect time in sugar, flavor, color, and tannin ripeness without losing acidity. Varietal: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon (18% non Estate) and 14% Cabernet Franc. 61% New French Oak, 39% used French oak for 22 months.

Looking forward to visiting the Ehlers Estate Winery. 3222 Ehlers Lane, St. Helena, CA 94574. 707-963-5972 info@ehlersestate.com.

We’ll continue to cover red wines next time.

Cheers!

“bESt SUNDAY bRUNCH”

great food! great drinks! great fun!

the deSert Sun

award-winning

big beautiful

plenty of Cool and

Comfortable

Indoor & Covered outdoor SeatIng

is our

HOURS MONDAYFRIDAY:

11 am - closing

SATURDAY & SUNDAY:

9 am - closing

WEEKEND BRUNCH:

9 am - 2 pm

D O W N T O W N PA L M S P R I N G S 760 327-LULU (5858) L U L U PA L M S P R I N G S . C O M

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L

et the world-class team of chefs led

by Executive Chef Freddy Rieger at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino take care of your Christmas brunch, lunch and dinner.

Chef Freddy’s team has curated menus featuring delicious options for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Dec. 24 and 25.

Christmas Eve – The Fresh Grill Buffet features a special Christmas Eve dinner from 4 – 9 p.m. Come hungry as soups, salads, a variety of chilled seafood will have you coming back for more. The carving board includes roast prime rib and maple-roasted turkey breast along with sides to compliment the savory selections.

Chef specialties include grilled to order “Churrasco-style” New York steaks, filet of sole Florentine and char-grilled carne asada.

There’s also an array of Italian, Asian and Latin

dishes. Dessert options feature a chocolate fountain surrounded by a spread of cakes, pastries, sugar-free selections and much more. $34.99 adults; $24.99 children; children 3 and under are free.

Christmas Day – The Fresh Grill Buffet begins with a brunch served from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., then dinner is served from 3:30 – 9 p.m.

Brunch features a selection of breakfast specialties such as made-to-order omelets, smoked bacon, biscuits and gravy, apple pancakes, blueberry-cheese blintzes and much more.

Soups and salads along with chilled seafood pair perfectly with carving board favorites like roast prime rib, honey-dijon baked Virginia ham and maple-glazed turkey breast.

Chef’s specialties includes stuffed pork

December 9 to December 15, 2021

PAMPEREDPALATE

tenderloin with chorizo, roasted red peppers and Manchego cheese, Mediterranean seafood cioppino and sides such as corn bread stuffing with maple-roasted sausage, homestyle mashed potatoes with pan gravy and vegetables. A delicious selection of Italian, Asian and Latin options are offered as well.

For dessert choose from Bananas Foster, yule logs, pastries, Christmas cookies and a chocolate fountain. $39.99 adults; $29.99 children; children under 3 are free.

POM features classic beef Wellington with an 8 oz. filet mignon, spinach-mushroom Duxelles, crisp and flaky puff-pastry, sautéed

asparagus with a port wine demi-glace. The regular menu is also available. Dinner is served from 5 – 11 p.m. $46 per person.

The Bistro offers a gourmet seafood mixed grill with Adriatic-style marinated and grilled Maine lobster tail, Cape Cod diver scallop and jumbo Gulf prawn served with lemon zest crushed potatoes, broccoli-cheddar soufflé, drawn Plugra butter and Dijon piccata sauce.

The regular menu is also available. Dinner is served from 5 – 10 p.m. $65 per person.

Reservations are recommended and can be made via telephone at (760) 342-5000 or online at FantasySpringsResort.com.

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December 9 to December 15, 2021

SCREENERS

THE PURCHASE PRICE (1932) In this Warner Brothers melodrama, Barbara Stanwyck plays a torch singer who leaves the city after an affair with a married gangster played by Lyle Talbot.

Stanwyck ends up in North Dakota as a mail order bride; where she meets and to her astonishment falls in love

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No. 503

PRE-CODE DELIGHTS (PART 3) to end her illicit relationship with underworld kingpin Ed Fields (Lyle Talbot). But breaking up with such a powerful man won't be easy. In an effort to escape, Joan travels to North Dakota to be the mail-order bride of wheat grower Jim Gilson (George Brent). Although it's a long way from

with a farmer played by George Brent.

Restoration has addressed pinholes in the borders and background and one in the image area; the borders have been airbrushed and now the card displays beautifully. Fine/Very Fine.

Nightclub chanteuse Joan Gordon (Barbara Stanwyck) desperately wants

BY ROBIN E. SIMMONS the seedy streets of New York City, Joan's less than lustrous past resurfaces when Eddie shows up to bring her back.

SAFETY TIPS

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f you haven’t already, many of you have been thinking about pulling out those holiday decorations. ‘Tis the season’ but let’s exercise some safety sense to ensure your holidays don’t end up tragically.

Between 2015-2019, U.S. fire departments responded to an average 160 home fires that started with Christmas trees each year. These fires cause both deaths, and injuries, along with $10 million in direct property damage annually. Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in almost half of home Christmas tree fires. Nearly one in five Christmas tree fires was started by decorative lights. Almost two of every five home Christmas tree fires started in the living room.

Let’s start from the inside and then to the outside: Inside: Use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory.

Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare

CYBER CORNER

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GIVING THE GIFT OF SAFETY!

wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets.

Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.

When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label “Fire Resistant.”

When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness.

When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and heat vents. Heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water.

Do not block doorways. Avoid using candles.

Outside: Make sure that the strings of lights you are using outside have built-in fuses on the lines.

Check the actual plug. Make sure you are using lights designated for outdoor use only.

Use UL or approved Christmas lights and decorations only.

When using a ladder use caution. Ensure it is safe and secure on even ground. Avoid

December 9 to December 15, 2021

FROM THE CHIEF’S CORNER

using ladders in wet areas or lawns where the soil is soft. Have an additional person “foot/ secure” the ladder and look out for energized power-lines above.

Looking for a last minute gift? Listen up and look no further: https://lnkd.in/ gCqYGW8 There’s a lot more to cover, so most importantly, use good common sense,

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he name "phishing" is a variation on the word "fishing," as criminals dangle a fake "lure" (a legitimatelooking email, website, or ad) in the hopes that consumers will "bite" and provide the details the criminals seek – such as credit card numbers, account numbers, passwords, usernames, or other sensitive information.

The term was introduced in the mid-1990s by hackers attempting to dupe AOL users into divulging their login credentials. The "ph" was presumably inspired by the word "phreaking," short for "phone phreaking," an early method of hacking that involved playing sound tones into telephone handsets to get free phone calls.

It is one of the common forms of cybercrime in which your sensitive and personal information can be stolen. Phishing scammers pose themselves as major corporations or other trustworthy entities to trick you into voluntarily providing information such as your website logins and credit card numbers. The majority of phishing scammers can contact you via text or email.

A phishing email is a fake or fraudulent email message that appears to be sent by a legitimate source, for example: your bank, the IRS, and Social Security, just to name a few. These emails include messages that request sensitive personal information in a variety of ways. You may not be able to tell the difference between a legitimate email and a phishing email if you don't look closely at the emails you receive. Scammers work hard to make phishing emails look as authentic as possible, and that's why you should be cautious when opening such suspicious emails and clicking links contained inside these emails.

Few phishing scams have been effective enough to make headlines but here are a few that did: In 2016, hackers succeeded in persuading Hillary Clinton campaign chair John Podesta to hand over his Gmail password, with what was perhaps one of the most significant phishing attacks in history.

BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA following all safety directions & warnings, visit: https://lnkd.in/gBCCjfQE for additional holiday safety information!

BY DENNIS SHELLY

The "fappening" attack, in which private photographs of a variety of celebrities were made public, was initially believed to be the result of a security flaw on Apple's iCloud servers, but it was instead the result of a series of successful phishing attempts.

Employees at the University of Kansas fell for a phishing email in 2016, handing over passwords to their paycheck deposit records and missing pay.

According to the 2019 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, phishing was involved in about a third of all attacks in the previous year. This figure rises to 78 percent when it comes to cyber-espionage attacks.

The bad news for 2019 is that its perpetrators get a lot better with the well-produced, off-shelf software and frameworks. The frequency of phishing scams has risen substantially in recent months, with businesses undergoing average attacks of 1,185 per month, according to the latest data from the report. In addition, 38% of respondents said they have seen a coworker being attacked in the last year. As a result, 15% of companies are already spending

one to four days investigating malicious threats during what is still a precarious and frustrating era for many.

The 2020 Phishing Attack Landscape Study, commissioned by GreatHorn and conducted by Cybersecurity Insiders, polled 317 experts from the cybersecurity sector, ranging from executives to IT protection specialists, for their personal encounters during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study detailed how businesses fared in the face of phishing attacks throughout the pandemic, as well as how time and resources budgeted for cybersecurity activities changed over time, and asked participants to rate their level of sensitivity and proficiency in detecting and preventing phishing emails.

The findings revealed a significant rise in the number of targeted phishing attacks, as well as a significant increase in the amount of time spent on threat mitigation, removal, and additional incident response, highlighting the risks that businesses that do not emphasise employee cybersecurity awareness.

How to Spot Phishing Emails?

Scammers keep on changing their tactics all the time, but certain signs can help you spot phishing emails.

Check the Sender’s email address first. Mismatches in the sender's address, a suspicious path between sender and recipient, and the use of an unusual email client are all possible signs of a phishing email.

Check the email’s header. Mail headers contain a lot of information that can be used to spot possible phishing emails. Some of these are easy to read and understand, such as the DKIM and SPF sections can state that verification was successful or not. Other headers need some understanding of their use to be helpful in the email analysis.

Be alert when you receive Emails demanding urgent actions. Phishing emails often threaten a negative outcome or a loss of opportunity unless immediate action is taken. Attackers often use this technique to induce recipients to act before they have had a chance to examine the email for flaws or discrepancies. In 2019, this tactic is believed to be responsible for at least half of all cybercrime-related business losses.

Beware of suspicious attachments.

Collaboration tools like SharePoint, OneDrive, and Dropbox are also used for the majority of work-related file sharing. As a result, internal emails with attachments should be treated with caution – particularly if the extension is unfamiliar or the one usually associated with malware (.zip, .exe, .scr, etc.).

Requests for login credentials, payment information, or sensitive information via email. Emails requesting login credentials, payment information, or other sensitive data from an unexpected or unfamiliar sender should always be handled with continue to page 18

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December 9 to December 15, 2021

CANNABIS CORNER

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he Christmas tree is decorated, stockings are hung by the fireplace, mistletoe is dangling from the kitchen doorway waiting for a lucky winner, cookies are baked, and the eggnog is favored with 9-delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) with a sprig of cinnamon. Creative juices are stoked. How do I wrap a marijuana gift?

Do I wrap a picture with cash and say which dispensary to go to? Dispensaries do not give out gift cards. How about one bottle of infused beer? Which is better, dark chocolate or milk chocolate with THC? A topical is more universal plus, it is easy to wrap. Or I can forget about wrapping and pay for a mail-order of fancy soap bombs, gummies, or flower. I can add in the instructions: “Do not open till Christmas.”

I will try several of these ideas. Which will you try?

Feeble Federal Fortitude Attempts If only the federal government would give America a gift and pass the M.O.R.E. Act that allows legal banking for marijuana, research access to quality marijuana products, and the prescribing of marijuana for PTSD by the veteran’s administration.

Currently, state sales taxes are paid with multiple boxes of cash. Research uses the oregano-like substance cultivated and manufactured by the government at the University of Mississippi. And veterans are forced to opt-out of the Veteran’s Health Administration to buy medical marijuana for effective treatment.

The current plethora of pharmaceuticals

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HOLIDAY PREPARATIONS: MISTLETOE, CANNABIS AND LAST-MINUTE LAWS

has not arrested PTSD and the suicide rate for over twenty years. (Veterans 30/100,00 versus 17/100,000 in the general population). With post COVID rates and vaccination restrictions, the military is dying literally and figuratively. Instead, the House tacks amendments onto the military appropriations bill hoping the Senate will do the same. Promises made, promises unkept.

Another federal debacle is the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) locking horns over who is

CYBER CORNER continued from page 12

caution. Spear phishers create fake login pages that resemble the real thing and send an email with a link that takes the recipient to the fake page. If a recipient is redirected to a login page or informed that a payment is due, they should not enter any information until they are confident the email is authentic.

Most of the Attacks are carried out automatically. Scammers don't have to monitor inboxes or send tailored responses when they use phishing attacks. They just send out thousands of carefully crafted messages to unsuspecting recipients. As a result, there's no need to filter out potential respondents, as doing so decreases the pool of prospective victims while also assisting those who did not fall victim to alert others to the scam.

How to identify real and fake companies’ emails?

Recognize real vs. fake companies’ emails. You can identify phishing emails from the companies that appear illegitimate because: Legitimate company emails: do not ask for sensitive information via email.

Legitimate company emails: normally address you by your name.

Legitimate company emails: have email IDs with domain names.

Legitimate company emails: know how to spell.

Legitimate company emails: do not force you to visit their website.

Legitimate company emails: would not give you unsolicited attachments.

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Legitimate company emails: links match legitimate URLs. What to do if you suspect an email is a phising attempt?

Don’t open it. Just delete it. Sometimes just opening the message may execute harmful files. So if not sure just toss it!

Mark it as SPAM. Whether you access your email online or via an email client installed on your computer, almost all email client’s have an option to mark an email as spam, this deletes the email and permanentally removes it from your inbox.

Never click links. It’s highly likely these phising emails and embedded links are malicious and are designed to cause you, your collegues, and the organization harm.

These links usually direct you to fraudulent websites and ask you for your login information and Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

EggHead IT is here to help. We understand there is no “one fits all” solution to phishing scams and prevent phising attacks, we provide consultations and support that’s custom-tailored to you.

We are the team can help prevent such exposure and offer education and defenses to keep you safe.

Have a suggestion for our next article or have questions regarding e-mail security?

Please contact us by calling (760) 205-0105 or emailing us at tech@eggheadit.com and our Eggsperts are happy to help you with your questions or suggestions.

IT | Networks | Security | Phones | A/V | Integration

responsible for conducting an independent, peer-reviewed study on the medical potential of marijuana. The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) sent a letter to a division of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on December 1, 2021, asking that it settle a years-long dispute over an alleged violation of the Information Quality Act (IQA) regarding cannabis.

CEI has been pushing both agencies to facilitate a peer review of the scientific evidence that’s been used to deny petitions to reschedule marijuana. Federal law mandates such a review, but both agencies have deferred responsibility to one another.

What is ironic is the Government has patents on cannabis CBD paid for with your tax dollars. Write to President Biden to fix this.

A bipartisan duo of congressional lawmakers filed a bill on December 2nd that would incentivize states and local governments to expunge cannabis records in their jurisdictions. Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DNY) are sponsoring the legislation, titled the Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing Expungement (HOPE) Act. It would encourage states to provide relief to people with non-violent marijuana convictions through federal grants—the State Expungement Opportunity Grant

BY RUTH HILL R.N. Program, run through the Department of Justice—that would help cover the administrative costs of identifying and clearing eligible cases. The negative reactions to “no bail” and “no prosecutions” for repeat criminals looting our stores during the holidays will relegate this bill to the dust bin of good intentions. The states do not need federal grants to expunge nonviolent cannabis possession.

On another note study data to be published in the print edition of The International Journal of Drug Policy shows that the legalization of marijuana is associated with improvements in police clearance rates for multiple types of violent crimes.

Researchers affiliated with the University of Utah assessed trends in crime clearance rates in Oregon versus control states in the years prior to and immediately following the enactment of adult-use legalization. Their finding largely aligns with the argument made by the proponents of marijuana legalization that legalization would improve police effectiveness in addressing serious crimes, and as a result would increase clearance rates and generate a crime deterrence effect.

Send comments queries to cannaangel16@gmail.com

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December 9 to December 15, 2021

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December 9 to December 15, 2021

SWAG FOR THESOUL

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BY AIMEE MOSCO

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ho you are in your body is only a fraction of who you are in spirit. Your body is a vehicle that houses your soul, so your inner-spirit is able to have a physical experience, an experience coveted by your inner-self. It is an honor to be embodied and exist in an atmosphere that allows you to use your physical senses. It is a very unique, sought-after way for your innerspirit to grow.

It is also hard! Your physical body is vulnerable, and when it is injured, sick, or imbalanced, it is often painful to heal. It requires time, effort, attention, sometimes education, as well as patience to bring your body back into balance. That journey represents opportunities for soul growth and believe it or not, the healing challenges that cause you the most discomfort are considered highly desirable to your inner-spirit.

This is not what most of us want to hear.

We all know what suffering feels like and most of us do everything we can to avoid it! Imagine how wonderful it would be to experience soul growth without deep suffering in our bodies?

The beauty of this new era we are entering is that collective humanity is going to land in a place that will more readily support physical health. We are moving away from arduous learning through body imbalance. We have reached a level of conscious awareness that will allow us to grow from joyful physical freedom as effectively as we did from disease and physical challenge in the old era.

Humans operated with a low level of conscious awareness to engage in the studies of the old era. We had to be hit over the head with our lessons to effectively connect with them. This often resulted in physical pain because it captured our undivided attention.

We have been there, done that with precision throughout the ages and it is now time to put our expanded consciousness to use.

Old habits don’t die without a fight, so the transition to a new way of being could take some conscious effort. The good news though is that the promised land is on the horizon.

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Now it is up to us to use the awareness we have grown into as a way to embody our inner-spirits in the most joyful way possible.

If this sounds like something you are interested in, consider making an agreement with yourself to maintain your highest level of awareness at all times. Practice unyielding mindfulness, meditate regularly to check in with your Higher Self, be looking for the lessons in everything, invite higher understanding into your conscious thoughts and remember above all else that you have earned your spot in the promised land.

In my pursuit to help human beings connect with their highest level of consciousness, I invite you to join Facebook group Evolve through Love hosted by Elizabeth Scarcella and me. Go to www.facebook.com/groups/ evolvethroughlove and share with us.

Aimee Mosco is an Author, Intuitive Channel, Spiritual Teacher and Co-Founder of Intentional Healing Systems, LLC. Aimee’s desire to help others inspired her first book “Gratitude + Forgiveness x (LOVE) = Happiness”. Aimee serves as Vice Chair to the World Game Changers Board of Directors, a charitable CIC based in the UK. Find Aimee at www.ihsunity.com.

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

WEEK OF DECEMBER 9

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky (1932–1986) was experimental and innovative and influential. His imagery was often dreamlike, and his themes were metaphysical. He felt that the most crucial aspect of his creative process was his faith. If he could genuinely believe in the work he was doing, he was sure he’d succeed at even the most improbable projects. But that was a challenge for him. “There is nothing more difficult to achieve than a passionate, sincere, quiet faith,” he said.

In accordance with your astrological omens during the next 12 months, Aries, I suggest you draw inspiration from his approach. Cultivating a passionate, sincere, quiet faith will be more attainable than it has ever been.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware,” said philosopher Martin Buber. How true! I would add that the traveler is wise to prepare for the challenges and opportunities of those secret destinations . . . and be alert for them if they appear . . . and treat them with welcome and respect, not resistance and avoidance.

When travelers follow those protocols, they are far more likely to be delightfully surprised than disappointingly surprised. Everything I just said will apply to you in the coming weeks, Taurus.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini sleight-ofhand artist Apollo Robinson may be the best and most famous pickpocket in the world. Fortunately, he uses his skill for entertainment purposes only.

He doesn’t steal strangers’ money and valuables from their pockets and purses and jackets. On one occasion, while in the company of former US President Jimmy Carter, he pilfered multiple items from a secret service agent assigned to protect Carter. He gave the items back, of course. It was an amusing and humbling lesson that inspired many law-enforcement officials to seek him out as a consultant. I suspect that in the coming weeks, you may have comparable abilities to trick, fool, beguile, and enchant. I hope you will use your superpowers exclusively to carry out good deeds and attract inviting possibilities.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Many sportswriters regard Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player ever. He was the Most Valuable Player five times and had a higher scoring average than anyone else who has ever played. And yet he confesses, “I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. And I have failed over and over and over again in my life.” He says the keys to his success are his familiarity with bungles and his determination to keep going despite his bungles. I invite you to meditate on Jordan’s example in the coming days.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In his poem “Song of Poplars,” Leo author Aldous Huxley speaks to a stand of poplar trees. He asks them if they are an “agony of undefined desires.” Now I will pose the same question to you, Leo. Are you an agony of undefined desires? Or are you a treasury of welldefined desires? I hope it’s the latter. But if it’s not, the coming weeks will be an excellent time to fix the problem. Learning to be precise about the nature of your longings is your growing edge, your frontier. Find out more about what you want, please.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Black is your lucky color for the foreseeable future. I invite you to delve further than ever before into its mysteries and meanings and powers. I encourage you to celebrate blackness and honor blackness and nurture blackness in every way you can imagine.

For inspiration, meditate on how, in art, black is the presence of all colors. In printing, black is a color needed to produce other colors. In mythology, blackness is the primal source of all life and possibility. In psychology, blackness symbolizes the rich unconscious core from which all vitality emerges.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In the first season of the animated TV series South Park, its two creators produced an episode called “Make Love, Not Warcraft.” The story lovingly mocked nerds

© Copyright 2021 Rob Brezsny

and the culture of online gaming. Soon after sending his handiwork to executive producers, Libran co-creator Trey Parker decided it was a terrible show that would wreck his career. He begged for it to be withheld from broadcast. But the producers ignored his pleas. That turned out to be a lucky break. The episode ultimately won an Emmy Award and became popular with fans.

I foresee the possibility of comparable events in your life, Libra. Don’t be too sure you know which of your efforts will work best.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Nobel Prizewinning Scorpio author André Gide (1869–1951) had an unusual relationship with his wife Madeline Rondeaux. Although married for 43 years, they never had sex. As long as she was alive, he never mentioned her in his extensive writings. But after she died, he wrote a book about their complex relationship. Here’s the best thing he ever said about her: “I believe it was through her that I drew the need for truthfulness and sincerity.”

I’d love for you to be lit up by an influence like Madeline Rondeaux, Scorpio. I’d be excited for you to cultivate a bond with a person who will inspire your longing to be disarmingly candid and refreshingly genuine. If there are no such characters in your life, go looking for them. If there are, deepen your connection.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A fashion company called Tibi sells a silver mini dress that features thousands of sequins. It’s also available in gold. I wonder if the designers were inspired by poet Mark Doty’s line: “No such thing, the queen said, as too many sequins.” In my astrological estimation, the coming weeks will be a fun time to make this one of your mottoes. You will have a poetic license to be flashy, shiny, bold, swanky, glittery, splashy, sparkling, and extravagant. If expressing such themes in the way you dress isn’t appealing, embody more metaphorical versions.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “I have pasts inside me I did not bury properly,” writes Nigerian poet Ijeoma Umebinyuo. Isn’t that true for each of us? Don’t we all carry around painful memories as if they were still fresh and current? With a little work, we could depotentize at least some of them and consign them to a final resting place where they wouldn’t nag and sting us anymore. The good news, Capricorn, is that the coming weeks will be an excellent time to do just that: bury any pasts that you have not properly buried before now.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In February 1967, the Beatles recorded their album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in London. A man claiming to be Jesus Christ convinced Paul McCartney to let him weasel his way into the studio. McCartney later said that he was pretty sure it wasn’t the real Jesus. But if by some remote chance it was, he said, he didn’t want to make a big mistake. I bring this to your attention, Aquarius, because I suspect that comparable events may be brewing in your vicinity. My advice: Don’t assume you already know who your teachers and helpers are. Here’s the relevant verse from the Bible: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): According to Professor of Classics Anne Carson, ancient Greek author Homer “suggested we stand in time with our backs to the future, face to the past.” And why would we do that? To “search for the meaning of the present—scanning history and myth for a precedent.” I bring this to your attention, Pisces, because I think you should avoid such an approach in the coming months. In my view, the next chapter of your life story will be so new, so unpredicted, that it will have no antecedents, no precursory roots that might illuminate its plot and meaning. Your future is unprecedented.

Homework Send your predictions for the new year—both for yourself and the world. https:// Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology ---------------------------------------Rob Brezsny - Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

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tarting in December, these in-depth guided architecture tours will provide insights into significant midcentury modern buildings and rich architectural history of the area.

Modernism Week announced that it has partnered with PS Architecture Tours to launch a new series of guided tours in the Palm Springs area that will serve residents and visitors throughout the tourism season, including during Modernism Week. The new, seasonal Architecture Tours by Modernism Week are specially developed tours with an informative and personable guide onboard who will provide details about the important architectural history of the Palm Springs area. Various midcentury modern buildings and other architectural styles will be shown and described in the overall context of development of the Palm Springs region. The 2.5-hour tours are scheduled

to start on December 22, 2021 in time for the holiday season and will cost $110 per person. The seasonal tours will be available through May 2022 and will resume again in the Fall of 2022. The tours are available and on sale now at modernismweek.com <http:// modernismweek.com/>.

Modernism Week is known for producing popular double-decker bus architectural tours during its fall and winter festivals. PS Architecture Tours is known for its intimate, in-depth tours exploring history, modern architecture and design conducted by Trevor O’Donnell. Together, these companies have now formed a series of engaging mini-motor coach tours aimed at a growing audience of Palm Springs visitors and modernism fans.

“We’ve experienced an increased demand for architecture tours and educational programs that extends beyond our annual festival programming,” said Lisa Vossler

SENDME ATRAINER

Smith, Modernism Week Executive Director.

“Modernism Week takes place in February and October, but architectural tourism in the area occurs throughout the year. By creating this new venture, we can produce these exciting, curated tours during the high season and eventually year-round.”

The primary tour offering will be a series of small motor coach tours, seating up to 20 guests, that will survey Palm Springs history and architecture, focusing on the city’s world-famous concentration of outstanding midcentury modern homes and buildings.

The tours will be led by Trevor O’Donnell and a team of skilled, knowledgeable and accommodating professional guides.

Additional offerings will include private tours, special interest tours, educational tours, custom tours for conferences and meetings, and step-on services for visiting groups.

“We saw what the City of Chicago was

December 9 to December 15, 2021

MODERNISM

doing with its world-famous architecture tours and were inspired to create a similar model here,” said Trevor O’Donnell, owner and operator of PS Architecture Tours. “I’ve always believed that architecture tours in Palm Springs should be a community-centered effort focused on education, preservation and community development. Because Modernism Week embodies these ideals, it is the perfect community-based partner.”

PS Architecture Tours was formed in 2014

by Trevor O’Donnell in conjunction with legendary tour guide Robert Imber. Since then, O’Donnell has cultivated a loyal following among cultural travelers from around the world and a collection of stellar reviews from enthusiastic tour guests on Tripadvisor.com and other popular social media platforms.

To receive Modernism Week updates, visit modernismweek.com and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

BY NADIA POPOVA

BENEFITS OF LIGHT TO MODERATE-LOAD RESISTANCE TRAINING

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side from muscular strength, lifting lighter loads with higher reps can improve one’s muscular endurance or having the ability to perform resisted or weighted movements over an extended period of time without getting tired.

More calorie burn plus the “after-burn” effect Using lighter weights can give you more opportunity to do multiple moves, using your whole body in a full range of motion. This makes you burn more calories because you can do more repetitions, with more effort from the lower body, core and the upper body that can increase your heart rate, resulting in a higher calorie burn. Using a pair of two to three-pound of dumbbells while doing moderate to high repetitions of controlled punches, squats and kicks can surely make you burn and sweat more.

You can also safely do more functional movements (bending, pulling, pushing, rotating and walking) that involves more than one muscle group per move. Functional

training strengthens your body to do daily activities like playing your sports, doing household chores (moving your furniture and cleaning your house) climbing up and down the stairs and getting in out of the chair safely and effectively. For example, a squat with biceps curl and shoulder press can mimic a movement of grabbing and lifting a weighted object from the ground By lifting weights you have simpler and a more sustainable approach to healthy living In the end, the most important thing that you need to consider right now is how to sustain your motivation to be active and make your exercise habits consistent. Focus on exercises that you can enjoy and sustain longterm. Explore workouts that you will always look forward to and that can give you right type and amount of challenge. Incorporate a well-balanced and doable exercise program in your weekly routine like bodyweight training, lifting light to moderate weights/using various exercise props. Choose physical activities that you can really enjoy, either alone or with your

friends and family. Older people should focus on simple resistance exercise programs that they can do on most days of the week like Pilates or yoga-based strength exercises that are also focused on balance, body awareness and flexibility.

From one of our clients: "After 1.5 years, I can say that lifting light to moderate weights repetitively for an hour

of exercise session definitely improved my strength, muscular endurance, and muscle definition. I had a harder time getting more muscle definition pre-pandemic when I used heavier weights in the gym."

To have a Free Fitness Assessment/ Consultation please visit our website or call (760)880-9904

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December 9 to December 15, 2021

HADDON LIBBY

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ccording to Morning Consult, 30% of American are less likely to gather with others over the holidays due to Thanksgiving experiences. Morning Consult is a data intelligence company that studies consumer shopping patterns and preferences.

Younger adults remain more willing to travel than older adults who prefer staying home. Morning Consult suggests that this is good news for restauranteurs who can provide meal delivery or pick-up this holiday season.

These findings are bad news for many hotels and cruise lines as 5% of Americans expect to travel this year. While the Coachella Valley may be booming due to our proximity to several major metropolitan areas and our amazing weather, people are generally less willing to travel this year.

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HOLIDAY SHOPPING & TRAVEL INTELLIGENCE

More than half of Americans (57%) did not participate in any Black Friday or Cyber Monday shopping. Of those shopping over the four-day period, one in three did some of their holiday shopping on Black Friday with one in ten nearly completing all shopping. One in four did some of their shopping on Cyber Monday. Part of the reason that Cyber Monday may not have been as successful as many would have liked may be related to price and availability. Only 46% were satisfied with the deals they found on Cyber Monday. Supply issues and computer chip shortages most likely led to fewer doorbuster deals.

About half of all shoppers bought something for themselves on over the Black Friday/Cyber Monday period. Six in ten did their shopping for an immediate family member.

DALEGRIBOW ON THELAW

2021 HOLIDAY THEFTS

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hese are the Best of Times; These are the Worst of Times. It is wonderful when the holidays bring out the best in people who GIVE to others and help feed the poor. However, some see the holidays as an opportunity to TAKE from others.

This taking can occur when groups of 70 enter a Nordstrom and ransack it in both Northern California and the LA. Grove.

However, during the holidays there are those that take advantage and pull SCAMS… especially on the elderly. Thus, the Coachella Valley is a prime target location for scammers who may do the following: CONTACT TRACER: Beware of phony Contact Tracers who pretend they are gathering info about Covid 19, and ask for money or information that can steal your identity or your money. They may request social security numbers, financial info, money immigration status etc. All of these may be necessary for authentic contact tracing, however, they pray on the elderly in the CV. If you are not sure of the legality, contact our local health department to verify that the caller or message is from a valid tracer.

DOGS IN DEMAND: With Covid 19 causing us all to stay indoors, the need for companionship has never been greater. The demand is so great that some shelters have stopped accepting applications from those want to foster animals, and breeders say the waitlist for puppies has skyrocketed.

The problem is that demand like this brings

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What were folks buying?

Apparel was the #1 choice for those shopping in person. Amongst online shoppers, the top purchase was gift cards at. Toys come in second with both online and in-person shoppers.

Four in ten consumers expect to spend less this holiday season due to COVID while 45% said that they will spend the same or more.

Amongst those concerned about rising COVID cases, 38% are spending less.

Of the 57% who did not participate in the four-day shopping extravaganza, the largest group makes less than $50,000 annually and do not have college degrees. Those with post graduate degrees or making more than $100,000 participated the most.

Morning Consult found that 11% of folks were at least half done with their holiday shopping at the end of September with 59% having yet to give thought about it and 12% not participating for a variety of reasons. At the end of October, 20% were at least half done while 44% had done nothing. As of December 6th, 47% were at least half done with one-quarter yet to begin. This large percentage who have not yet begun to shop had incomes under $50,000. This suggests that the balance of the holiday shopping season may be weaker than retailers were expecting.

Amongst those where a member of the household is being laid off, only 32% say that they will be spending less while 56% will spend the same and 12% more. Those fearing a layoff are a bit more cautions with 35% spending

BY HADDON LIBBY less, 53% the same and 11% spending more.

Unless these folks have a money fairy in their families, an awful lot of folks prefer immediate gratification over financial prudence.

After we get through the Christmas holidays, we have New Year’s Eve celebrations.

In a large shift in consumer patterns, only 7% plan on going to a restaurant or large gathering with 19% planning on a small gathering with friends and/or family. Cooking dinner at home is planned by 44% of folks with 13% plan on ordering take-out. The largest group has no plans.

As fewer people plan to travel for the holidays given their Thanksgiving experiences, it seems that the same feeling applies to New Year’s Eve. If anything, more expect to stay in. While this is hard on many businesses, it is probably the safest course of action to avoid drunk drivers if not Omicron.

Haddon Libby is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Winslow Drake Investment Management. For more information on this award-winning business, please visit www.

WinslowDrake.com.

LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF THE INJURED & CRIMINALLY ACCUSED

out scammers.

Some have set up phony websites and fake advertisements for dogs that don’t exist.

Often they want payment up front and never ship the animal they claim to have. This is not to different from the scammers that advertise to rent homes/rooms for Coachella and the tennis tournaments. They get the money and do not produce or have what they promised.

However, these pet scams are not only risky but tear at the heartstrings of those in need of love or a companion.

GRANDPARENT SCAM: There are many of these. Sometimes it is your alleged grandchild or someone calling on their behalf because they have been arrested or in an accident.

Maybe your grandchild fell ill or was injured and was taken to the hospital or jail and needs money. Contact is typically by phone but could come by email or mail. The story will be convincing. They even give the phone number to a partner claiming s/he is a doctor, police officer or lawyer…who needs money.

To protect yourself ask questions that only your grandchild could answer. This could be their first pet or where they went to school.

DISASTER REQUEST FOR MONEY: We all want to help one another during a disaster.

This could be an earthquake or even our Covid Pandemic, where they ask you for money to help your neighbors. The scammer may impersonate a government agency that offers to help, but first demands an inspection fee.

Sometimes it is just a contractor showing up without an appointment offering to do work on the spot…but only if you pay up front.

COVID TEST OFFERED FOR MONEY: A robocall might direct you to a website that looks like a clinic or medical supply company that offers Covid help. This might be supplies or testing etc. They ask you to fill out a form and have you pay up front with a credit card.

SCAM OF ELDERS: Elders are more vulnerable, and susceptibility increases with age. The elderly are more susceptible to investment fraud and romance scams. This results in victims losing thousands of dollars.

There are new scams that occur when the government is sending out stimulus checks and the scammer contacts the consumer to offer to get the money more rapidly with the payment of a fee.

PHISHING SCAMS: Scammers may claim to be from a governmental agency or offer IT support or claim the computer has a virus which will be fixed for a reasonable sum. They may tell you the computer may crash if certain work is not performed…for a sum of money.

Before you agree to a company, either a known or unknown one, you should check AVVO and their website for reviews. Be sure the company you are talking to is the company that will make the move. If you think you have been taken, go to www.protectyourmove.gov.

Research a charity before donating; www. charitynavigator.org and www.give.org are two good resources.

If you paid for a product through any scam sites, report it to your bank, credit card company and the sites below: Inspector General: 800-269-0271 / oig.ssa. gov/report.

Fraud alert hotline: 855-303-9470 / aging. senate.gov/fraud-hotline FTC ID Theft HotlineP: 877-ID-Theft / consumer.gov/idtheft SS hotline: 800-269-0271 / ssa.gov/oig Equifax: 800-525-6285 / equifax.com Experian: 888-397-3742 / experian.com Transunion: 800-680-7289 / transunion. com DRINKING AND TEXTING BOTH CAUSE ACCIDENTS OR MAKE A DRIVER LESS LIKELY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT THAT WOULD NOT BE THEIR FAULT. BEING INTOXICATED IS JUST AS SERIOUS AS BEING INTEXTICATED. A DRIVER MUST DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO AVOID AN AT FAULT ACCIDENT. THE BOTTOM LINE IS “DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE OR TEXT AND GET A DUI OR ACCIDENT... CALL A TAXI, LYFT OR UBER….THEY ARE A LOT CHEAPER THAN CALLING ME” Ideas for future columns contact Dale Gribow 760- 837- 7500 or dale@ dalegribowlaw.com.

DALE GRIBOW Legal Representation Of The Injured and Criminally Accused “TOP LAWYER” - California’s Prestige Magazine, Palm Springs Life (PI/DUI) 2011-22 “TOP LAWYER” - Inland Empire Magazine 2016-19 PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating

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December 9 to December 15, 2021

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December 9 to December 15, 2021

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