Coachella Valley Weekly - December 19 to December 25, 2013 Vol. 2 No. 39

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www.coachellavalleyweekly.com • December 19 to December 25, 2013 Vol. 2 No. 39

Drop Their Debut Album

“MANNEQUIN”

Bridger

pg 4

Strung Out

pg 5

Street Life Project

pg 6

C.A.S.A.

pg 7

Purple Palm

pg 18

December 19 to December 25, 2013

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Coachella Valley Weekly

Sun and Sail Club

By Noe Gutierrez Cover & Photos by CHris Miller

Their Debut album Mannequin is now available for digital download

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760.501.6228

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

Contents

Sun & Sail Club................................. 3 LMS- Bridger..................................4 LMS - Strung Out.............................5 Community - Desert Arc ...............6 Community - Street Life Project...6 Community - C.A.S.A. ...................7 Don’t Be Clueless in the CV ..........8 Tat Talk - Savage............................9 Sports Scene................................10 Sports...........................................11 Consider This - Pearl Jam............12 Pet Place.......................................14 The Vino Voice..............................15 Club Crawler Nightlife.................16 Pampered Palate ........................... 18 Screeners......................................20 Book Review.................................21 Haddon Libby: It’s All Local.........23 It’s Your Nickel..............................23 Dale Gribow.................................24 Real Estate....................................24 Safety Tips....................................25 ShareKitchen................................25 Gaemer Girl - Tearaway ..............26 Happy Hour Hotspot - VUE.........26 Free Will Astrology......................27 Mind, Body, & Spirit.....................27 Life & Career Coach......................28 Ask The Doctor.............................28 Comics - Weiss Cracks..................30

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icture this; Chris Miller, the phenomenal photo-journalist, and I are driving a long dirt road onto a sprawling horse property with acres of hills and valleys. We see both farm and wild animals as we continue the search for our human counterparts. We pull up to park and in the distance is a far-out oddity, a robot. This is a perfect manner in which to describe the band and sound that is Sun and Sail Club.

Chris and I were invited to witness a video shoot on the property of Scott Reeder for the song ‘Hunted’ off their debut album Mannequin, released on November 19, 2013

by Satin Records. Without revealing too much about the video, it’s directed by a Swede and in the end the robot kills the band. Sun and Sail Club includes in its ranks Bob Balch on guitar and vocoder (Fu Manchu), Scott Reeder on drums (Fu Manchu, Smile) and the “other” Scott Reeder on bass and production duties (ex-Kyuss, The Obsessed, ex-Unida).

I know what you’re thinking. That must be some kind of typo. There indeed are two Scott Reeder’s in Sun and Sail Club. This fact has been discussed within the band and if ever someone called out to either Reeder it is agreed that it is Balch who will respond accordingly. Reeder, the desert icon, respects his namesake, “I think with each of us it’s the “other” Scott Reeder,” Balch jokes, “If you guys had the same

December 19 to December 25, 2013

middle name I’d probably just move to Mexico.” For the sake of confusion, we will refer to each Reeder with their respective roles.

Balch found the inspiration for the band name from an exclusive venue by the same name in Orange County that Balch could not get into. Once you listen to Mannequin you will find that it is not like anything you’ve ever heard. It’s no coincidence that there is a robot in their inaugural video. After hearing the album you feel as if you are riding a space ship fueled by dynamic rock and narrated by a cyborg. Balch has taken the giant leap for rock and introduced heavy music fans to the vocoder. This apparatus that reproduces human speech was used for musical applications as early as 1968. Reeder the bassist shares his take on the vocoder, “People relay the vocoder to electronica. I was sitting there when this guy did those parts and I took my headphones off as he was melding his clean guitar going straight into this box and filtering it through the construct of his voice.

To me that is the most beautiful pure melding of sound. Aren’t our instruments supposed to speak? For that to be forming words is awesome. To me it’s refreshing not to have some guy not yelling in your face.”

Balch has no qualms about the lack of conventional vocals, “It’s an instrumental record. I think a lot of people get hung up on

the idea of a front man and some guy who’s gonna help solve their problems and scream their pain away. I thought it would be a cool mix to take the top part of that and put it on the bottom part of something heavy and fucked up. The human element is stripped a little bit.”

Balch is no stranger to the vocoder. Fu Manchu used it once before in 2000 on a recording. “I love when bands poke at their fans. I wrote it to give to my guitar students.

Here’s something weird for you.” For those who are concerned about using the vocoder exclusively, Balch admits there will likely be traditional vocals on the next album.

In determining a studio and producer to record Mannequin, Balch had only one preference; The Sanctuary, bassist Reeder’s acclaimed studio attached to his home. Balch also had a secondary reason he chose The Sanctuary; Scott Thomas Reeder the musician.

Balch knew that if he could get Reeder to listen to the tracks he would consider recording bass parts on a song or two. I asked Reeder how long it took for him to think over performing on the record, “By the end of the first chorus,” he responded.

Reeder plays the bass left-handed ergo using a left-handed bass. However, he distinctively strings his basses upside down.

In sitting with the band in the studio for this interview Reeder shared with us what he believed was a great time in his career. “Right now is capping off one of the favorite weeks of my life.” He had just returned the night before from The World Famous Whiskey A Go Go where Jake E. Lee’s Red Dragon Cartel performed. Reeder recorded the bass parts on the song “War Machine” from Red Dragon Cartel’s debut album. Earlier in the week Reeder was informed that the soundtrack to Sound City: Reel to Real received a Grammy nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media. Reeder performs bass on the song “From Can to Can’t”. Corey Taylor, Dave Grohl and Rick Nielsen are also featured on that track. The song went to number one on rock radio charts in the U.S. Reeder shares his dream like experience in participating in the soundtrack recording, “I got a text one night real late and I was asleep.

Who the hell’s texting me this late? I look and it’s Dave Grohl. OH SHIT! He spelled it out and asked if I wanted to play on the soundtrack and I texted him back, FUCK YES! By the time I woke up in the morning I had the demo, and I listened to it as I was feeding the horses and imagined what lines I could weave in there. I was in the studio with him within a week. He already had Corey come in and do his parts and Rick Nielsen on a whole reel of tape. The first rock concert of my life was Cheap Trick.

To get to play on a track with that Rick was insane. When I finally got to hear the final mix I was like HOLY SHIT! That was a pretty high pressure situation to walk into. They had cameras all over the place. I didn’t realize at the time but there were casino cameras in every corner of the room. When I finally got down to tracking they brought in a camera or two right in your face, Butch Vig next to you at the board and that Dave guy breathing down continue to page 5

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December 19 to December 25, 2013

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Local Music Spotlight

Bridging the Gap

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fter listening to their practice, while sitting around a tray of home-made nachos, I had the opportunity to interview what I can call the best new rock band in the Coachella Valley. This band is Bridger.

Consisting of Jim Cathcart and Jacob Miller equally handling guitar and vocal duties, Dan Wheat on the bass as well as vocals and Katie Cathcart on the drums and vocals, Bridger is getting set for their debut this Friday at The Hood in Palm Desert. Having a collective sound combining punk, modern rock and even some thrash metal, Bridger has a sound like no band this valley has ever heard.

Beginning just a few short months ago, Bridger has already found a sound and energy all their own. When asked how they came together, Jim stated, “It was a jam, kinda like how Jacob originally started playing with Katie and I.” Jim, Katie and Jacob were members of the band Jekkel, prior to starting this project. “It was just through jamming. Jacob was jamming with Katie, and Katie was just like, ‘We should jam with him.’ Then, while I was in LA, they asked you (points to Dan) to jam. And you had already played with Jacob before so you already had that chemistry, and our friendships really grew once we started playing together.”

After listening to the band practice, I can definitely say that this band has some of the best energy I’ve seen, and you can feel their bond through the music. All throughout my interview, I couldn’t stop myself from telling them how much I was blown away by their sound. Every song is like a jackhammer to your chest and you can feel their enthusiasm in every note played.

To get a little more in depth with the band, I asked where they draw inspiration for their music. “I get it from these guys (points at the rest of the band). I feel like at this point in my life, I’ve been exposed to so much, and I love so many different things that each one of these guys brings out a different side of me and that’s what makes our music a blend,” Katie responded.

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“There’s just way too much stuff that inspires me to say, ‘Oh, I get it from this.’

Realistically, it has a lot to do with these guys and my mood that day. That’s the inspiration, because there’s just so much going on in here,” added Dan. With that response, I could understand how their music created such a profound reaction for me. With each member drawing inspiration from one another, each individual’s energy and dedication to their craft is compounded by the next, creating a massive wall of dynamism that very few bands can recreate. To finish out the subject of inspiration and their music in general, I asked the band one of my goto questions, if they had to describe their music in three words, what would they be?

After a few minutes of conversation, Jacob simply stated, “Buy The Album. We’ll let you decide for yourself.” That’s a truly profound statement in the sense that the band as a whole wants their fans to create their own descriptions of the music. Considering I’m one of the few people who have heard the band so far, I will add my own three words.

Absolutely Mind Blowing. It’s as simple as that.

Things haven’t always been easy for the members of Bridger, specifically for Katie.

A few years back, Katie was in a terrible accident, which nearly lost her the use of her left hand. I asked Katie if she would elaborate on what happened, as well as her road to recovery. To this, she began, “My senior year of college, someone was driving recklessly, knocked me over and totally trashed my hand – nerve and tendon damage.” “The glass exploded into her hand,” her brother Jim added. Continuing her narration, Katie said, “When the car flipped, to keep my body from going into the ground, I put my hand out. I watched the window break into it and had to turn away. In that moment, I had to look down because I thought, ‘Okay, do I need to pick up my fingers?’ It’s just weird the things that you think of. It was the worst experience ever. After that, it didn’t seem so bad, because they just stitched it up. And then the following week, when I went to get the stitches out, I couldn’t move my fingers, and they go, ‘You need to go to the hand surgeon tomorrow.’ It was all very, very fast. That moment when [the surgeon] was like, ‘We’ll try to do what we can, but it’s really going to be up to physical therapy and we’re just trying to save the fingers. I’m not saying that you won’t be able to play drums again. That’s our goal, but I’m not going to make any promises.’”

For most people, a statement like that from any doctor could be a career ending blow. This is not the case for Ms. Cathcart, who continued, “I feel like it was a huge growing moment for me. I think that when [Jekkel] came back, it was just this resurgence. I was just like, ‘Okay, I’ve worked so hard to get my hand back, and I’m with my brother and sister, and I wanna

By eric the red photos by laura hunt little

do this.’ There’s a reason why I can still.

Different people have different challenges.

It was heartbreaking when that didn’t work out the way we were hoping, but in the long run, it’s all about being happy. Every band goes through transformations, everybody grows in different ways. And when we came together as Bridger, it was that moment where it was like, ‘Yes… Now it all makes sense, all the trials, all the tribulations.

This feels good!’ I feel like this band is my reward. And I wanna put this out there, if anyone has any issue with your hands, Eric Freedman with the Hand Associates is phenomenal, he is the guy to go to. Their therapy support is amazing.”

With their debut show just around the corner, I was curious to find out what the band’s overall goal was. “We’re going to start with a bunch of California shows and

then probably take it on the road, said Jim. “It’s really just about making good songs and playing with each other. I love the idea of pushing it to the limit and taking this as far as we can. At the end of the day, if it’s only the four of us playing in a room and writing stuff together, I’m totally happy. It makes sitting at a desk and making phone calls and emails all day long that much more special.”

Katie closed it out by simply stating, “I just want people to have fun watching us.” Be sure to catch the debut of Bridger this Friday, December 20th at The Hood Bar & Pizza. It is a free show, 21 and up, also featuring Burning Bettie and more to be announced. The band is offering a free copy of their EP to the first 100 people at the door, so be sure to get their early and get a copy!

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your neck. It was awesome. The pressure was good. I watch that video and you can see my hands shaking. I threw in some nods to Zeppelin with the bends and a nod to Cheap Trick with the octaves. There’s a Mary Poppins melody in there too. I am so thankful my Mom got to see this before she passed.”

As most of you should know Reeder played bass for Kyuss from 1992-1995.

Reeder recollects the backing they received from Dave Grohl, “People might not have ever known about Kyuss if it wasn’t for that guy.

When Nirvana was blowing up he was going into record stores and buying Blues For The Red Sun. We were on the road pushing that record. He would go in and buy every copy of the CD and he would give it out to people.

He’d give it to press people and bands that led to a tour with Metallica. Then Metallica talks about Kyuss. Then I get to audition for Metallica. A lot of that goes back to Dave Grohl.”

Balch is originally from Orange County and now resides in San Diego. He is the creator of the website PlayThisRiff.com. Created in 2009, Balch interviews musicians like Megadeth and Exodus and provides subscribers lesson videos on how to play guitar. Beginner, intermediate and advanced players are all welcome. There are over 70 bands represented and over 2,000 lesson videos to watch. Balch also teaches private guitar lessons to all ages and levels.

In describing Balch, Reeder the drummer, who is also Balch’s band mate in Fu Manchu shares this, “Bob is kinda like this unsung weapon that Fu Manchu has because he

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com can get on any stage with anybody and play anything at any time and kinda own the style.”

Reeder the bassist continues the tribute to Balch, “Bob is the only rock guy that I’ve ever heard that can play stuff like my grandpa who is 98 years old. My grandpa is a great jazz guitarist. My grandpa would love this stuff.”

Reeder the drummer is also an avid music instructor. He teaches private drumming lessons to all ages and categories through the internet, in studio or in people’s homes six days a week. Reeder recalls his attraction to drumming, “My grandfather used to lay linoleum tile and hardwood flooring with these big tubs with glue in them. After they were emptied, my cousin and I would set up makeshift drum kits. I started taking lessons at age 7.” Reeder is voluntarily single, an avid outdoorsman and has a couple of dogs. His early trio band, Smile, are reuniting for some live shows and potentially new material.

I asked Reeder about his approach to performing, “I don’t like to over-rehearse. At a certain point you can rehearse a couple of times. If you do enough homework on your own and the quality of the people you play with kind of dictates your performance.”

Reeder is reveling in the production of

Local Music Spotlight

December 19 to December 25, 2013

Mannequin, “Sun & Sail Club is in a way an exercise for some of the most ridiculous riffs you can write and try and put drums to them.

It is stylistically not contained to one style.

When we do more recordings there will be a lot more variance. I want people to know it’s all over the map. You should not expect one particular thing.”

Reeder states that Fu Manchu are currently whittling down a bunch of songs. There is a live concert in the works in Orange County in February 2014. Two weeks after the show they will enter the studio to record an album that will be released in April, 2014. They also plan to release a second album towards the end of the year. 2015 is the 25th anniversary of Fu Manchu. They will commemorate this milestone by re-issuing their live album.

Sun and Sail Club are a blast of heavy and dark air to us rock fans that are looking to expand our heavy music palette. Once the vinyl record is available (January, 2014) there are plans to perform live in and around Southern California in early 2014. One of Balch’s guitar students once asked as he was climbing the stairs to his lesson, “It sounds like you’re killing fucking aliens up here, what are you doing?” Balch wants to “make something that you can’t compare to anything”. Reeder the bassist has not recorded a full length album in quite some time. With honor he shares his pride,“To crawl out from under my rock and be involved in something crazy like this, it feels good. I’m really proud to work with these guys. I would have been proud to just be the engineer recording this stuff. To get to play on it and play it live soon is exciting.”

Mannequin 01. Lagrimas De Dios 02. Held Down 03. Whites Of Your Eyes 04. Gang Justice 05. It’s All Your Fault 06. La Muerte De Un Planeta 07. I’m Not Upside Down 08. Season In Hell 09. Inside The Machine 10. Hunted 11. La Risa De Satanas You can download the album Mannequin on: iTunes, Amazon and Google Play Bob Balch: www.playthisriff.com playthisriff@gmail.com Scott Reeder (the Bassist): scottreeder.com

by eric the red

Strung Out

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n recent days, we’ve been honored by a number of amazing bands, who in their own right can be considered punk rock royalty. This next week, our valley has the privilege of hosting a show with 2 amazing bands; Riverside’s Voodoo Glow Skulls and Simi Valley’s Strung Out. I had the pleasure of speaking with Jordan Burns, the drummer for Strung out, and got the lowdown on what the band is working on, his opinion of social media and what he’s working on aside from the band.

While speaking with Jordan, I wanted to find out what it was like on the road with Voodoo Glow Skulls. He stated, “Well, it’s funny because other people mention that it’s a tour or whatever and it’s funny, because I don’t even look at it as a tour, because a tour is going out [on the road] for like, a month. So I look at it like we’re just doing these three shows together, but we’ve done some shows together with Voodoo [Glow Skulls] and we’ve known those guys for a long time.” Good buddies, just out to have a good time and rock out. That sounds like a recipe for a good time, if you ask me. He continued by stating, “They’ve been around since we have, pretty much, and it’s fun to play with them. I think it’s a good package and in today’s times I think it’s important to try and team up with other good bands that people are still caring about to make a good

show for the fans that are going to buy tickets.”

On the subject of social media, Jordan had an interesting view on its use, as well as how bands can improve their fan base. Jordan said, “I think when you look at social media, it’s really hard to grasp what it really means. Some bands have a huge amount of “likes” on their Facebook page, but they don’t draw that many people. Then there are other bands that are gigantic and they don’t have that many likes.

It’s an interesting thing, you know? I don’t know how it gets measured.” He continued by adding, “It’s like a machine that you’ve gotta keep feeding and give info to the people, and always constantly posting information. It’s

time consuming, but then again, it’s part of the times. I think a lot of new bands try to do it, and the problem is that there are so many bands out there that try to use social media to promote themselves that I think people kinda get on overload and are quick to blow things off instead of taking a listen. I come from that old school and I think it’s interesting when you see the bands that are working hard handing out flyers and posting on billboards. It almost seems to be non-existent these days.”

Continuing our conversation, I asked Jordan if he could let me know if the band was getting ready for a new album. “Yeah,” stated Burns, “that’s actually what we’re fully focusing

on right now. We’ve been doing quite a bit with that, rehearsing every day and a bunch of preproduction. We’re shooting to start recording at the beginning of January, so we definitely will have a new release for 2014. It’s been quite a while since we did a new record and everyone’s getting excited about it. It’s a lot of work. We’ve been busting ass trying to put all the material together and get everything sorted out.”

That is some amazing news for Strung Out fans worldwide! New tunes to come in 2014!

To finish out our discussion, I asked Jordan what his dream show would be. He says, “It’d be fun to do something like a NoFX, Lagwagon, Millencolin, Propagandhi, Pennywise, Bad Religion, some sort of festival like that and let’s put it in Russia, cause we’ve never been there.”

That would be an insane festival, to say the least.

Make sure to catch Strung Out, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Assuming We Survive and Drop The World this Saturday, December 21 at The Hood in Palm Desert. Doors open at 8pm. This show is 18 and up and is $15 at the door. Also, make sure to check out MotoXXX.com, Jordan’s motocross company, which he’s been running since 1994.

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December 19 to December 25, 2013

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Community Community By Denise Ortuno Neil Hot Turkey Dinner and Gift Baskets For Desert Arc Clients The Street Life Project Making a Difference

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esert Arc is pleased to announce that 50 of its neediest clients with developmental disabilities were treated to a special holiday luncheon and received wonderful large gift baskets at Palm Desert Resorter Country Club this past Tuesday, December 17th. The event was organized by Ms. Ernie Rubin and her sister Teddie Rozell, who brought together a group of local philanthropists to sponsor the event and participate in the luncheon program.

“We decided to have this Christmas party for the Desert Arc clients who are the most in need,” said Ernie Rubin. “Originally they were just going to have hotdogs and hamburgers, but then Harry Farber said ‘why don’t we try and give them a hot meal’ and so he and John DeLazzer from the Legends Golf Group got the money together so they could have this hot turkey meal.”

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It was a joyful occasion and very inspiring to see the Desert Arc clients walk in with smiles on their faces knowing they were going to enjoy a hot meal and receive a gift basket.

Desert Arc is one of the largest and oldest non-profit agencies in the Coachella Valley.

Now celebrating its 54th year, Desert Arc provides social services, vocational training and employment opportunities for 600 clients with disabilities. It operates from its central campus in Palm Desert, a satellite facility in Yucca Valley, and a new Recycling Center in Indio. In addition to vocational training and employment opportunities Desert Arc provides a full year-long schedule of social activities, sports, art and music activities for its clients. Desert Arc’s mission is to “enhance the quality of life and create opportunities for people with disabilities”.

n the streets of the Coachella Valley, under bridges and in camps, there are people living a different life than most.

They have come on hard times for a multitude of reasons and no two stories are the same. But thanks to the dedication of the Street Life Project, this population of the Coachella Valley has a chance to move forward in their lives with hope, friendship and faith, all through the word of God. It was over a year ago, when Christian Jelmberg started Street Life Project, but the vision came well before the inception. He had the vision after encountering a homeless man outside an eating establishment. In an instant, he saw the fruition of Street Life Project come to life, touched by God, he moved forward with his quest. “I didn’t think I could do it with working a full time job because the vision was so big and seemed overwhelming, but I took a leap of faith and I started it… it’s been amazing. God just keeps providing the people to make it happen,” said Jelmberg.

Jelmberg moved to the desert from Arizona seven years ago, where he was a successful business owner. He came to the desert to be near his family, where they now have their own real estate company, the Jelmberg Team.

Jelmberg is familiar in assisting the homeless, having worked with other organizations in the past. But what makes Street Life Project different is an approach that not only helps to nourish the bodies and souls of those in need immediately, but also gives the ones that they help a desire to pay it forward to others.

The organization is a movement of hope, friendship and faith, built with a foundation of volunteers who go out into the community to help those in need. They literally go out to the streets, under bridges and in homeless camps every Tuesday night at 6pm to lend a helping hand, “We go deep into places that the public doesn’t see, people drive by and never know that they’re there,” said Jelmberg.

They distribute food, clothing, toiletries and supplies to between 140 to180 people a week in the areas of Coachella, Indio and Palm Springs. But Street Life Project goes further; they provide life coaching and spiritual guidance to the ones that they help, even providing transportation to Sunday church services. Many of those in need find it difficult to get back on their feet due to a lack of simple resources. It is difficult to find a job in today’s job market without being able to look presentable, and without having a resume. That’s where Street Life Project comes in. They help those who are ready to move forward in any way that they can. Volunteer’s help with writing resumes, job searches and even provide transportation to job interviews. For those who need assistance in drug rehabilitation, Street Life Project helps them to get into a program and after completion into transitional housing, so they don’t go back on the street, before helping them find employment. After they get a job and start to make an income, Street Life Project will assist them

in finding permanent housing. Street Life Project is with them from start to finish.

The organizations success rate is high and growing. Jelmberg spoke of many who have been helped through the Street Life Project, including a man named Michael who once worked on El Paseo before falling into tough times. Jelmberg met him some time back while doing outreach and wanted to know why he wasn’t getting off the street, the answer sparked Jelmberg to help even further.

Michael said who would hire him the way that he looked, and how would he put together a resume without resources to do so? Then Jelmberg came back with questions for Michael. “What if you dressed well, what if I gave you a suit to wear, what if we helped you get job interviews and if we helped you find a place to live would you do it?” asked Jelmberg, Michaels answer was a resounding “Yes” as his eyes lit up with hope. “He was so excited that someone cared enough to put the resources there,” said Jelmberg.

Jelmberg made good on his promise and helped Michael get off the streets, find a great job and move forward in his life. “To actually have an impact on someone’s life is amazing,” said Jelmberg.

Michael was the first homeless person to be helped off the streets by the Street Life Project. There are many more that followed.

Jelmberg is quick to say that the homeless stereo type is not reality. Although there are some who suffer from drug addition, there are more that are just in need of a second chance that have come upon difficult times, people just like you and me.

The beauty of Street Life Project is that those who have received assistance to get off the street, in turn help others do the same, “It’s a ripple effect,” explains Jelmberg.

His goals for the Street Life Project are ambitious, including acquiring a van and facility to accommodate those in need. He wants to expand the organization in a way that it can be replicated in other cities across the state and country. He is building a model from A to Z so that other likeminded individuals can grow his vision of the Street Life Project.

The organization is always looking for more volunteers, as they are the heart of Street Life Project, as well as donations from food to clothing.

They are in need of people with special skills as well as those who just want to help. They are looking for volunteers in the areas of Outreach Services, Guidance Services, Health & Beauty, Transportation, Marketing/Media and Fundraising.

Street Life Project is moving at lightning speed, gaining recognition and support from local communities and beyond. Their progressive message of hope, friendship and faith is changing the lives of not only those who gain from their assistance, but for those who are giving it. As Jelmberg said, “God deserves all the credit, this is the most inspiring thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

For more information on how to donate and volunteer visit www.streetlifeproject.com

Community

Spotlight on CASA

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t’s not well known to most, but behind the scenes of the foster care system there are people at work insuring the rights of children who are sometimes left without a voice. They are the advocates at CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, and they are introducing new board members and a special fundraising event in January 2014.

The organization was started in 1976

by Superior Court Judge David Soukup, establishing the advocacy program that assists abused and neglected children to have a voice in court. CASA now has 900 programs across the United States and has helped over 288,000 children.

Deborah Sutton-Weiss, CEO of CASA of Riverside County, recently announced new board members to the organization which includes, Ralph Squaliance-PS Radio Station, Dr. Eric Davenport, Nosente UhutiExecutive Director of Bent not Broken and Jack Emmerling, CASA Advocate Ret. Teacher.

They join existing members, Board President -Gary Sheperd, Ret. Judge Sheldon and Reggie Cameron- PS pride coordinator.

CASA is proud to have the addition of their new board members and looks forward to spreading the word about their organization.

Weiss is adamant that they are always in

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

December 19 to December 25, 2013

By Denise Ortuno Neil need of volunteers to become advocates to insure that foster care children don’t fall through the cracks of the court system. They have 300 advocates throughout Riverside County now, but need more. There are 4,000 children in foster care in the county, with 1,800 of them coming from the Coachella Valley.

The process is simple for those interested in working with these children who need a voice in court. It consists of passing a background check and 30 hours of training.

It is a small price to pay for helping to change the life of a child. The volunteer work is perfect for retirees and college students who want to gain experience and understand the court system. Although the advocates are not paid, the work that they do is invaluable and extraordinarily rewarding. Weiss also wants to spread the word about CASA to local communities, for as much as they help foster children, they are not well known to the public, they are the secret weapon in foster care. “It is very important for the community to know who we are,” said Weiss.

To help bring CASA into the spotlight, there will be a fundraiser at Hamilton’s in La Quinta on Friday, January 17th 2014, with An Evening of Comedy with Justin Rivera from America’s Got Talent and Comedy Central.

The show will also feature The Wood Doctor and Roscoe, the Emmy Award winning Carl and Buzz, comedy by Richard Weiss and

special guest appearance by radio personality JJ Cioffi. Seating begins at 7:30 with the show starting at 8pm. Tickets are priced at $10 and can be purchased online or at the door. The organization is still looking for raffle prizes for the event to increase fundraising.

The rate of foster children is on the rise, and the need for more advocates goes along

with the increasing numbers. But as the amount of expert advocates at CASA grows, the voices of children in need will only get louder.

To purchase tickets and to find out more on how to volunteer and donate visit www.casariversidecounty.org.

California Woman 411 with your host Dee Jae Cox

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

KPTR 1450 AM Palm Springs, CA California

CA-WMN-411 www.CaliforniaWoman411.com

Produced by The Los Angeles Women's Theatre Project:

www.lawtp.org www.californiawoman411.com

7

December 19 to December 25, 2013

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Don’t Be

CLUELESS IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY

EVENT CALENDAR 2nd Annual SANTA PAWS 5K RUN/WALK TO BENEFIT GUIDE DOGS OF THE DESERT Spread the cheer-Santa Claus is coming to town! Join us for the 2nd Annual SANTA PAWS 5K, Saturday, December 21st in Palm Springs-BENEFITTING GUIDE DOGS OF THE DESERT. Awesome fun event -Santa suit, event shirt, Santa photo, goodie bag and milk and cookies at the finish line. Run solo or as a team-medals 3 deep in 5 year age categories, team trophies, dog prizes and more. Pet adoption on-site by Bandit’s Pet Rescue. Runner, walker, stroller and doggie friendly event. Elf Dash for kids! Make this your family’s new holiday tradition. Register today at www.racewire.com or www.active. com. Race capped at 1,000. Sign up today! For more info call Molly Thorpe 760-413-6508.

Saturday December 21st, 2013 9AM at Mizell Senior Center, 480 Sunrise Way, Palms Springs (Corner of Sunrise and Ramon Rd).

Entry Fee: $35.00. $40.00 on race day.

“Litters”-Teams of 6 or more run tethered for $30.00 per runner. Awards to the top three teams. Special Trophy for the Most Tethered Runners.

Elf Dash $5.00 10yrs and under. Includes Elf hat, holiday button and special treat!

Dash is after Santa Run at approx. 10:30.

Early Packet Pick-Up Friday December 20th at Running Wild 611 S. Palm Canyon 11AM-6PM Race Day Registration begins at 7:30AM. Plenty of free parking is available.

Last year over 400 Santas took off from the Mizell Center in Palm Springs for a 5K Run/Walk/Stroll. A great time was had by all including the team from Running Wild who tied themselves together with a long strand of tinsel garland. They called themselves a Santapede. This year more Santas, a Team category and an Elf Dash. Don’t be shy, come on out, it’s great holiday fun!

Opening Day at Eldorado Polo Club Sun. January 5. Matches at 12pm & 2pm Public Welcome/Free Tailgating Eldorado Polo Club is pleased to announce the launch of yet another exciting season of world class polo right here in the Coachella Valley. For over 50 years players from all over the world and across North America have gathered in the Desert to compete in one of the most thrilling horse sports on the planet, and this season will be no exception.

Opening Day at Eldorado Polo Club is Sunday, January 5th and will feature polo matches at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM. The easy to find entrance to the club is on Madison St in Indio between Avenue 50 and 52, the

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public is welcome to attend and admission is free!

Sunday Polo is a must do activity during the winter months in the Desert. Guests can enjoy the full service Club House restaurant or pull up their vehicle on the elevated berm and tailgate in style. In addition to polo, guests can experience wine tasting and be able to purchase the fine cigars of Payne Mason. Be sure not to miss the famous halftime divot stomp of the 2pm match and enjoy a complimentary glass of Teqava Sparkling Tequila. Sunday Polo continues every week until March 30. Club House Restaurant reservations can be made at (760)-831-POLO. Eldorado Polo Club is also home to the Cantina which boasts a field-side patio in which guests can enjoy up close polo action with matches at 12pm Saturday and 10am Sunday throughout the season. The Cantina is open Tuesday through Sunday for breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring live music after Sunday Polo. It is a great place to rub shoulders with the players or hang out with friends and family in a relaxed atmosphere.

Eldorado Polo Club welcomes everyone to come and experience the excitement of polo this winter. Eldorado is also available for weddings, special events, corporate functions or group polo outings.

Eldorado Polo Club 50950 Madison St, Indio CA 92201 Between Ave 50 & 52 (760)-342-2223 www.eldoradopoloclub.com IT’S BACK! FANTASY SPRINGS’ IMPROV COMEDY SERIES MAKES A COMICAL RETURN FOR THE 7th SEASON You’ll be laughing all the way to the slots in the coming months. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino’s Improv Comedy series opens for a 7th season on January 10th with some of the biggest names in comedy.

Top-name comedians such as Fritz Coleman, Dat Phan, Rondell Sheridan, Jack Gallagher, Bob Zany and many more, will hit the stage and make audiences roar with laughter. You’ll see well-known acts, as well as get introduced to some rising stars in the industry.

The Improv series runs every Friday and Saturday night through April 12th. Three comedians perform at every show, which take place each Friday at 9pm and Saturday at 8pm & 10pm. Tickets are $20 per show and are available by calling 800.827.2946 or online at www.FantasySpringsResort.com.

Guests must be 21 or older to attend Improv performances.

Returning for the 5th Year, Desert Hot Springs Spa Tour!

Celebrating the beautiful healing hideaways of California’s Spa City, the Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce along with the Hoteliers Association of Desert Hot Springs will host the 5th Annual Spa Tour on Thursday, January 30, 2014 from 5pm to 8:30pm.

Overlooking the Palm Springs area, Desert Hot Springs is home to dozens of boutique resorts known world-wide for their natural, healing, hot mineral waters and represent various styles to include Mid-century Modern, Moroccan, casual, classic and clothing optional. Spa Tour is an amazing opportunity to see several of these properties in one evening, and the beauty that rests within.

Tickets are available for the 5th Annual Spa Tour and can be purchased MondayFriday from 9am to 4pm by calling the Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce at 760-329-6403 or in person at 11-999 Palm Drive, Desert Hot Springs. Available ticket levels and prices are as follows: VIP Tour: $125 if purchased by December 31, $150 from January 1st Guided Tour: $40 if purchased by December 31st, $50 from January 1st Self - Guided Tour: $20 if purchased by December 31st, $30 from January 1st All ticket sales are final and nonrefundable Pete Carlson’s Golf & Tennis Hosts 10th Annual Golf Expo At College of the Desert’s College Golf Center on February 7 and 8 , With the Latest Golf Equipment, Instructional Clinics, Food, Entertainment and PGA Pros in Attendance.

The Public Is Invited to Attend This Free Event Pete Carlson’s Golf and Tennis hosts its 10th Annual Golf Expo at College of the Desert’s College Golf Center in Palm Desert on Friday and Saturday, February 7th & 8th. Hours are from 9am to 4pm.

The event is free to the Public and always well-attended. College of the Desert Golf Center is located at 73-450 Fred Waring Drive. Contact Pete Carlson’s Golf & Tennis for additional information at 760-568-3263.

“This year’s Expo promises to be one of our largest and most exciting for golfers of all levels,” says Pete Carlson. “As our store celebrates our 33rd anniversary, we are glad we can once again bring this free golf event to the community,” Carlson adds.

The public is invited to test the latest golf equipment from the top manufacturers in the industry. Golfers can have their new golf clubs custom fitted using the latest technology. The Expo offers golfers the chance to test drive a large selection of equipment, purchase equipment at special pricing and get expert, personalized club fitting. In addition there is entertainment, food and PGA Pros in attendance.

Manufacturers attending include Adams, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones, Callaway, Cleveland, Cobra, Mizuno, Nike, Ping, TaylorMade, Titleist and more.

Pete Carlson’s Golf & Tennis, celebrating

its 33rd Anniversary this year, is home to thousands of top name brand golf and tennis items, including equipment, accessories, footwear, designer active wear and more. Pete’s 14,000 square foot store is located at 73-741 Highway 111, Palm Desert, California, 92260. Hours are Monday through Saturday 9am to 6pm, and Sunday 11am to 5pm. For more information, call 760-568-3263 or 800-600-3263 or visit www.petecarlsonsgolf.com.

THE 2014 MAYOR’S RACE, SWIM AND WELLNESS FESTIVAL Join Mayor Steve Pougnet and the City of Palm Springs Saturday, January 11, 2014 at Ruth Hardy Park in Palm Springs. The event is sponsored by The Clinton Health Matters Initiative, part of the Clinton Foundation.

In its third year, the Wellness Festival is part of a year-round Healthy Planet, Healthy You series of events. “Health and wellness programs for our community are a priority for us. Working with the Clinton Foundation Health Matters initiative ensures we reach our fullest potential in improving the health of our citizens,” says Mayor Pougnet, “This event is for anyone who wants to learn about wellness and start setting goals to live a healthier lifestyle.” The event offers courses from a free 1K fun run for kids and 5K and 10 mile course for those seeking to start the year off right and commit to a healthy lifestyle.

Online registration on Active.com has already seen early registration for this marquee running event. The course takes runners through one of the most scenic courses in Southern California including part of Indian Canyon. Each year the event has grown, with over 600 participants in the 2013 Mayor’s Race.

At the Wellness Festival, the main stage will highlight a variety of fitness options to help warm up the runners as well as any one who is attending. Scheduled to appear are Billy Blanks, the creator of Tae Bo® Fitness, the revolutionary total body fitness system that has helped millions of people around the world get in shape and feel great. Pilates sensation Cassie Ho, teacher of POP Pilates, whose Blogilates YouTube channel has helped a world-wide audience get in to shape.

Doonya creators Priya Pandya and Kajal Desai, whose Bollywood-inspired workout program is changing the face of fitness and building community through dance will be there to get you moving.

New this year is the 1pm Swim challenge at the Palm Springs Swim Center. The Palm Springs Piranha swim team will host the event.

The Piranhas are a 40-year-old organization that offers swim lessons, water polo and adult swim classes.

The Mayor’s Race, Swim and Wellness Festival is a City of Palm Springs program created to raise awareness on the connection between sustainability and wellness and to reduce childhood obesity, which has become a health crisis pandemic across the United States. Registration for the Mayor’s Race is available now through YourSustainableCity. com or on Active.com.

tat talk

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

December 19 to December 25, 2013

by phil lacombe

Savage (aka Raymond Gomez) from Art & Ink eventually started tattooing and it was hard at first. I went years off and on and it wasn’t easy. I was self-taught, as years went by I got the hang of it and just stayed with it and got better and better. Now I’ve been tattooing out of shops since 2007.

What style of tattooing do you enjoy the most: I enjoy it all. I don’t stay to one style. I do a LOT of black and grey west coast style tatts ... But I like traditional Japanese tattoo art and color. I just enjoy tattooing all styles.

Who inspires you to tattoo: I try to be inspired by other artists I work with and

N

ame: Raymond Thi Gomez .... I go by (SAVAGE).

Where you tat: I currently tattoo out of Art & Ink Tattoo Studio in Coachella and Indio.

Why you started tattooing: I’ve always drawn, but I started by drawing pics for people when I was 17 and they would get them tatted. A year went by when I turned 18 my parents got a tattoo kit. So I

never to be seen again. That one always comes to mind.

Art & Ink Tattoo: 51645 Harrison Coachella, CA 92236 Phone- (760) 398-3238 Email- info@artandinktattoo.com Website- www.artandinktattoo.com

artists I see. The art of tattoo keeps me inspired to keep at it. There’s so much you can learn and different styles you can apply to tattooing.

If you could tattoo anywhere in the world where would you go: I would like to tattoo in Japan, Mexico City or South America, just to see all the different artists and styles. Hopefully, this next year I’ll be going around the world.

Tell me your favorite tattoo story about one of your clients: I have a funny story.

One time at the shop some guy was going to get a tattoo on his arm, nothing big just a small tattoo. I did one line and he said ‘Forget this, it hurts!!’ He got up, paid me for the tattoo he didn’t get, and jammed

9

December 19 to December 25, 2013

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

sports scene

by Julie Buehler

L

et’s say you’re Mr. or Ms. Most Eligible Bachelor/Bachelorette in your hometown.

Let’s say you think rather highly of your well-dressed, Audi-driving, Harvardeducated self and are seeking a new special someone in your life.

Let’s say you think most members of the opposite sex would drop their current partner for a chance to call you their oneand-only.

Now, let’s shift to reality.

In reality, you WERE a 10, but after some years of neglect are now a 6.5, topping out at a 7 when fully dressed up for the holidays.

In reality, yes, you have the latest Audi and $400 jeans and all the financial trappings that others deem important, but NEWSFLASH Copernicus, so does the majority of the people you’re looking to woo. So that’s not a selling point, you actually kinda look douchey trying to push that.

In reality, as you begin perusing your dating landscape and other eligible bachelors/bachelorettes see you coming, they bolt the other direction, straight into the arms of their current suitor and sign extensions with THAT relationship.

This past week the University of Texas and their head football coach Mack Brown decided to end his tenure as coach. It came after more than a week of speculation that Brown would step down, denials of such reports, statements from the athletic director and president supporting Brown and a flurry of media speculation as to who would replace a man that had yet to be fired.

Texas, under the impression that any coach would drop their shorts to become the next leader of one of college football’s most illustrious programs, began compiling a wish list of top-named coaches who should replace Brown. Alabama head coach Nick Saban became a hotly debated name on the table.

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December 19 to December 25, 2013

by Flint Wheeler

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

Titleist Performance Institute Certified Fitness Trainer

Way To Fumble Texas… The Stupidity Required To Screw Up Firing A Coach

Only problems were 1) At the time, there was no coaching vacancy 2) Saban was already so well established at Alabama, he wasn’t going to up-and-leave for Texas and 3) because the speculation swirled, Saban promptly received contract extension.

Same scenario for the likes of Jim Mora at UCLA, Jim Harbaugh with the San Francisco 49ers and other coaches that were on Texas’s list to replace Mack Brown. So to be clear: Texas was getting turned down before they even had a job opening to offer.

Thinking they were the top program in the nation that could flaunt contracts upwards of $10 million per year, Texas ended up bungling the firing of Mack Brown by leaking it to the media a week early, dissuading would-be candidates from negotiations because they earned contract extensions and ultimately cast a cloud of suspicion across the program for handling this transition so badly.

Texas turned out to think its program is a 10, but in reality, even dressed up in the Alamo Bowl swagger, is now a 7.

Texas figured it could woo top coaches with oozing bundles of cash, neglecting to realize the NFL, Alabama and UCLA are also very well endowed and most of all, Texas failed to understand the manner in which a coach is fired or replaced is perceived by other coaches to be an important matter.

No one wants to be publicly embarrassed by their employer and once a program shows it’s lack of foresight and lack of loyalty, it raises red flags in the coaching community.

Texas is hoping for an A-lister to replace Mack Brown, they think they deserve a 10.

But reality is, they’ll be lucky to net a 7.

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

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

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

sports

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Tennis anyone? Apparently not…

I

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f you have watched any of the major tennis tournaments on TV the few past years, you may be wondering, “Where are all the Americans?” Sadly, the majority of them have either packed their bags and gone home, or moved on to the next tour stop before even reaching the second round.

There has been much talk this year about the sorry state of American tennis, particularly men’s tennis. For example, no American male has won Wimbledon since 2000 (Sampras) or the US Open since 2003 (Roddick), and only one American male reached as high as the quarterfinals of a major tournament in the last few years, (Roddick in the Australian Open).

At one time, there was no shortage of American men reaching the quarterfinals of any one of the major tournaments. For the last few decades, Connors, McEnroe, Courier, Agassi, and Sampras dominated the rankings; in fact, it was highly unusual (and unlikely) if one of them did not reach the finals. As the greats retired one by one, the torch was passed to Andy Roddick and James Blake, who have both had their ups and downs and have more than likely already peaked. Next in line are the likes of Sam Querrey, Jon Isner, and Mardy Fish (although at 28 he’s probably too old to win a major title) all ranked in the top 20.

American women have fared a bit better, but there is concern. The Williams sisters have been on top so long that we seem to take them for granted and assume that they’ll always be there. Yet, Venus’ career appears to be slowing down, and Serena’s injuries have prevented her from playing some key tournaments.

We’ve hardly heard from Melanie Oudin, the next ranked American woman, at all this year.

She was the darling of the US Open where she reached the quarterfinals, only to run into Serena. Vania King is coming along; however, she hasn’t survived many first round matches in any of this year’s majors.

Perhaps, we should look at the next generation behind Querrey, Isner, and Oudin to define the future of American tennis.

Upcoming players such as Ryan Harrison, Denis Kudla, and Jack Sock are all American juniors who sampled success at this year’s US Open. And don’t forget America’s Junior Fed Cup team, which recently placed 4th in the world team championships and included Kyle McPhillips and Krista Hardebeck.

So, what’s going on? Of course, there is no single reason why we’re experiencing a drought of success. One argument is that the sport appeals to a more global audience, making it unlikely that one country will rule the game as it did in the past. Another is that America’s top athletes aren’t taking up the game. There is a lot of competition among other sports such as soccer, basketball, football, even lacrosse; all vying for the country’s top athletes. According to Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive of the United States Tennis Association’s Community Tennis program, the biggest challenge is to get kids to compete in the 10-and-under age group. The Quick Start Program, launched in 2008, puts younger kids on smaller courts using smaller balls. (Baseball and soccer both have programs for younger children that use smaller fields and smaller balls). Starting in 2012, 10-and-under competitions will use this format. The United States Tennis Association believes that this move will not only attract more players but also create a larger pool from which to draw.

Maybe, then, our hope lies in the NEXT, next generation behind Querrey, Isner, and Oudin. Yawn, my apologies, American tennis fans, it’s gonna be awhile.

11

December 19 to December 25, 2013

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Eleni P. Austin

PEARL JAM

“Lightning Bolt” (Monkeywrench Records)

Consider This

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

December 19 to December 25, 2013

H

as it really been 22 years since Pearl Jam released their debut, Ten? It seems like only yesterday when the Seattle five piece (along with Soundgarden and Nirvana) introduced the Pacific Northwest Grunge scene to mainstream America.

There’s a bit of a “Cinderella” element to Pearl Jam’s origin story. Guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament rose from the ashes of Mother Love Bone. (They had released their debut before their lead singer, Andrew Wood died from an overdose, effectively ending the band.)

Hooking up with Gossard’s childhood friend, guitarist Mike McCready, the trio wrote and recorded a five song demo.

They gave it to Jack Irons, hoping the original drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers would join the band. Irons passed, but handed off the demo to basketball buddy, Eddie Vedder of San Diego. Following a productive surfing session, Vedder wrote lyrics to all five songs and added his vocals.

The slipper fit and Pearl Jam was born.

Although Ten arrived a full month before Nirvana’s epochal sophomore effort, Nevermind, it was the Aberdeen trio that garnered the lion’s share of press and sales.

Pearl Jam didn’t really break through until 1992, by then their sales had surpassed Nevermind. If Nirvana was seen as the Beatles of the scene, Pearl Jam were content

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12

to be viewed as the Grunge equivalent of the Who. By the release of their second album, Vs., Pearl Jam seemed hell bent on defying conventions. At a time when MTV made or broke bands, Pearl Jam steadfastly refused to film promotional videos. They were the first band to play the Indio Polo Grounds (with American Music Club and Eleven), essentially setting the stage for the massive Coachella Festivals.

Five years after the music industry stopped mass producing vinyl LPs, Pearl Jam insisted their third effort, Vitalogy be available only on vinyl a week before the CD was released. The LP debuted at #60 on the Billboard charts.

When they discovered Ticketmaster was unfairly tacking on service charges to already inflated ticket prices, they fought back. Taking their case to the Department Of Justice, the band declined to perform in venues that sold tickets through Ticketmaster. They didn’t win the battle, and they lost a lot of money. But they retained their integrity.

By 1996, original drummer, Dave Abbruzzese was out and old pal Jack Irons was in. The band collaborated with Neil Young on his Mirror Ball album, and released their most experimental effort to date, No Code. Infused with World Beat rhythms and influenced by Eddie Vedder’s work with Qawwali master, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the album was artistically satisfying but not commercially successful.

The band spent the next ten years recording and touring. Jack Irons quit, and ex-Soundgarden drummer, Matt Cameron

found a permanent home. The studio albums flowed; Yield 1998, Binaural 2000, Riot Act 2002 and Pearl Jam in 2006.

Not only did Pearl Jam encourage fans to record their live shows, the band itself began professionally recording each show.

Between 2000 and 2001 they released 72 live bootlegs!

A key to this band’s longevity is creative space. Each band member has taken time for side projects and solo efforts.

When Soundgarden reformed, recorded an album and toured, Matt Cameron was able to participate. Pearl Jam’s last effort, Backspacer, (2009) was buoyant and joyful.

Now the band has returned with their 10th studio album, Lightning Bolt. The opening track, “Getaway” manages the neat trick of being a full-throttle rocker with a potent message about blind faith… “Everyone’s a critic looking back up the river, every boat is leaking in this town/Everybody’s thinking that they’ll all be delivered, sitting in a box like lost and found.”

With two tracks, the band dives headlong into the mosh pit. “Mind Your Manners” proves these fortysomething millionaires are still hardcore punkers at heart. The instrumentation is a collision of live wire percussion and skittery guitar riffs that boomerang around the frenetic melody.

Eddie Vedder’s familiar familial angst is on full display in “My Father’s Son.” A piledriving back beat and Punk Rock riff-age neatly package his bitter denunciations…

“Now father you’re dead and gone and I’m finally free to be me/ Thanks for all your fucked-up gifts for which I get no sympathy.”

Pete Townshend and the Who remain a

profound inspiration for Pearl Jam and it’s evident on two songs, “Swallowed Whole,” and “Lightning Bolt.” The former blends chiming acoustic riffs, flailing power chords and anthemic choruses that echo the “Who’s Next” era of the seminal British band.

The latter opens with percussion that crackles and thunders along with arching, windmill arpeggios. The track downshifts on the instrumental bridge to highlight tinkling piano notes that recall Quadrophenia’s feverish “5:15.”

The best tracks here are the ones that stretch the boundries. “Infallible” locks into an elastic see-saw rhythm and infectious melody that will burrow into your brain.

The lyrics offer up this philosophical nugget… “By thinking we’re infallible, we are tempting fate instead.”

“Yellow Moon” owes a debt to the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The modal melody is pensive and haunting, powered by cascading piano fills and soaring guitar.

Vedder’s vocals pay homage to the moon in a devotional Qawwali style. It’s simply beautiful.

Finally, “Let The Records Play” is Pearl Jam at their most playful. Like the bastard child of Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and Aerosmith’s version of “Big Ten Inch Record,” the track positively swaggers.

Anchored by a chunky backbeat and wah wah guitar, the lyrics celebrate the joy of listening to vinyl.

Other interesting tracks include the contemplative “Sirens.” Moving with the grace and majesty of an ocean swell, the melody crests peaks and crashes.

“Pendulum” blends carefully calibrated percussion with quicksilver guitar and Vedder’s stentorian vocals. On “Sleeping With Myself” a jaunty, Ukulele melody belies lyrics of heartbreak and lonliness.

The album closes with “Future Days,” a lovely benediction powered by intertwined piano, acoustic guitar and sweet violin.

Somewhere along the line, Pearl Jam has evolved from young Grunge guns challenging authority and kicking against the pricks. Now they are the elder statesmen of Rock & Roll. The gravitas suits them.

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December 19 to December 25, 2013

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

PET PLACE

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Janet McAfee

Johnny and Shawna Seek Home for the Holidays

T

wo little dogs in the Coachella Valley are still waiting for a home, two years after they were rescued from high kill shelters. While other dogs dream of a new bone or a squeaky toy in their Christmas stockings, Johnny and Shawna’s hope is for a family and a home where they belong. Maybe this season their dream will come true.

The dogs are safe and well cared for at The Pet Hotel at Barkingham Palace.

Indeed, they are treated like royal residents at this fabulous facility, with access to a wonderful indoor dog park, healthy food, and 24 hour care. They romp and play together enjoying their days in each other’s company. However, there is no place like a home. Dogs are pack animals and want to bond with humans who they regard as their pack leaders. Lori Weiner, owner of Barkingham Palace, explains, “I want them both to get good homes. We’ve taken good care of them here, but they need a real home. It’s time they become household pets rather than pet hotel residents.”

Is December a good time to adopt a new pet? Should you give a pet as a gift? In the past, some organizations concerned about

Adorable Poodle

Fabulous fluffy fellow, just a kitten at 4 mos old, hopes to play at your home for the holidays! Cat ID#A1068557 at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus, 72-050 Pet Land Place Thousand Palms. Call (760) 343-3644

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buyer’s remorse the day after Christmas, discouraged adoptions during the holiday season. Selecting a pet should be well thought out any time of year and with commitment. For the right person, a shelter pet could be the “purrfect” present. Just exercise some common sense, and don’t present your mother-in-law who is allergic to animals with a new puppy on Christmas morning. If you have children, take them with you to select a shelter dog to ensure it’s a good match.

Studies show that pet adoptions during December are as successful as any other time. Michael Arms of the Helen Woodward Animal Center in San Diego founded Home 4 the Holidays adoption program. Arms noted that at any given time there are 8 million homeless pets in the United States and between 4 and 5 million are euthanized every year, which adds to the urgency of finding more homes. Iams provided financial support, and today over 4,000 animal welfare organizations receive marketing, media, and event planning assistance to increase their December adoptions. Now in its 14th year, Home 4 The Holidays has facilitated the adoption of over 8 million rescue animals. These festive events make getting a rescue pet an enjoyable experience and groups offer training support to reduce returns. December is about the celebration of new life and giving, and there is no better time than now to adopt a homeless animal.

Johnny and Shawna would love to get a home this season. Johnny, the tan terrier, was rescued from the Indio shelter 2 years ago. His little female buddy, Shawna, was rescued a week later from the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms.

Lori Weiner pulled them from these shelters when she became concerned they might not get out alive. Lori has taken in many foster dogs, and Barkingham Palace offers

them a lot of exposure to animal lovers.

Meanwhile, other fosters have gone happily to adoptive homes. Johnny and Shawna remain behind, still hopefully wagging their little tails at visitors, believing with the optimism and trust of a dog that someone will come for them.

The two terriers are now about 3 years old. They are little dogs, weighing about 8 pounds, a good size for a travel buddy.

Johnny is the more active of the two. He’s a playful, outgoing character who loves to run through the indoor dog park and play with the other small dogs. Shawna also loves to play but is a calmer dog. She bonds easily to people, and loves to be held on a lap. Lori would love to see the two get a home together, but they can be adopted separately.

Why haven’t they been adopted by now?

Coachella Valley residents favor the “white fluffy” dogs such as Bichons, Maltese, and Poodles. Sweet pooches Johnny and

by Rick Riozza

A Heavenly Italian Christmas Dinner at Pinzimini

I

Shawna have been to numerous adoption events only to get passed over time and again. They are terrier mixes, and can’t be identified as a specific breed. Black dogs like Shawna are less likely to be adopted for a variety of reasons. One needs to meet them in person to experience their sparkling personalities. As mixed dogs, they are more likely to enjoy good health and be free from any genetic problems.

Do you have room in your heart and room in your home for Johnny and Shawna?

Contact Lori or Amanda at The Pet Hotel at Barkingham Palace at (760) 537-1172 if you would like to meet them. The Pet Hotel is located at 34550 Spyder Circle (corner of Dinah Shore, past Sam’s Club) in Palm Desert. There is a nominal adoption fee to help cover the costs of their spay, neutering, and vaccinations. Johnny and Shawna will bring joy to your home this holiday season and for many years ahead!

December 19 to December 25, 2013

t’s always fun to imagine spending the holidays in Italy—but getting the entire family over there defies logistics. Of course, San Francisco isn’t too far away and they’ve got great Italian fare & haunts all around town at the best restaurants and at great hole-in-wall places; and think about North Beach and at the Wharf. But sometimes just getting the time and entire family over there still defies logistics.

All right—all right! As we’re wont to do, let’s keep things a little easy and simple this year. The rationale is: “Let’s just take a break from the madness and humbly appreciate the Lord’s bounty of food & wine with family & friends.” (And bless you folks who give to the homeless.)

Pinzimini [Peen-zuh-Mee-nee] at The Westin’s Mission Hills Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage is the good news that we can enjoy the dining here and envision ourselves in Florence with all the sights & sounds, smells & tastes, feel and—have I mentioned the vino! I assure you: this will be your season’s holiday restaurant treat, and, your reason to get out and dine here more often during the rest of the year.

Pinzimini provides an encounter of dining in an Italo-modern calming atmosphere while enjoying a menu featuring a variety of top quality grilled meats, exceptional salads, simple pastas and traditional dishes for a comprehensive Tuscan-style dining experience. A veritable Italian abbondanza awaits, but allow me to suggest some particular courses per il periodo natalizio—for the Christmas season.

Holiday cheer dictates us to immediately enjoy the Zardetto Private Cuvée Prosecco.

The chilled bottle displays a sleek & artsy label and brings a quick Milano-chic look to our table top. A perfect light sparkler for the season. Its bouquet boasts cherry-almond scents while still playing coy with a fresh and delicate flowery backdrop. Its palate is dry, tantalizing and fruity—easy to drink, with light acidity.

The Zardetto craves the Chef’s Antipasti Tasting Platter: Here you enjoy Polpo—grilled octopus; Polpette—veal & beef meatball; Datteri Locali, made with Rogue River blue cheese, handcrafted pancetta, and dates; Olive Misti, Carciofi Arrosti—which are brick oven roasted artichokes with olive oil, lemon and parmigiano cheese; Fiori di Zucchini Fritti—crispy zucchini blossoms, ricotta, mozzarella in arrabita sauce; and, the famous Creminelli Artisan Salumi plate consisting of Sopressata, Mortadella, Prosciutto, and other deliciously cured meats.

And speaking of blossoms, the next wine on your table can supply wonderful aromas of citrus blossoms and green apples. It’s Michele Chiarlo’s Gavi, made from the Cortese grape, that’s fruit-driven with crisp acidity. That gets us thinking about fish, and, the focus would be the citrus.

Another wonderful and tasty white is the Mastroberardino Greco di Tufo. Straw-yellow in color, Greco di Tufo is a wine that recalls a vast expanse of beach in its saline notes along with aromas of apricots and peaches.

On the palate, experience pale gold flavors of pear skin and almonds, soil and light toast, showing great structure and zesty acidity, leaving an overall impression of complexity and elegance. Pairs perfectly with seafood & grilled fish so why wait?

Both the Branzino Agrodulce—whole roasted sea bass with roasted fennel, crispy sage, citrus and a sweet & sour sauce, and, the Salmone alla Griglia—grilled salmon with salsa verde & grilled lemon, are wildly delicious and prepared brilliantly. And it’s a good time to introduce Chef de Cuisine Shawn Aoki. The San Francisco California Culinary Graduate is a great chef and we’re happy having him down here! And if you don’t know, the resort’s Executive Chef is the James Beard Honored Joel Delmond.

Chef Shawn presents the whole roasted sea bass as though it just came up from the beautiful sea coast of Bolgheri. Easily a scrumptious meal for two. And do keep the Gavi and/or the Greco di Tufo chilled: it’ll continue to cleanse the palate no matter what you’re having.

Actually—as soon as you are seated, I recommend ordering your Italian red wine and having it uncorked and decanted, or, simply have your server provide a large pour

into the wine glass where it can aerate—as will the remaining wine in the bottle at the same pace as well. Italian red with its complex fruit & earth and vibrant acidity is always and classically a food-friendly wine.

The Frescobaldi Tenuta Castiglioni is what they call a “Super Tuscan” where the Italian Sangiovese grape meets up with old-vine French grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This is a world class wine and now’s a great opportunity to enjoy it.

To match with this wonderful wine, the Bistecca alla Griglia—an aged rib eye with Barolo mushroom sauce and grilled lemon, or, the Braciola di Maiale—a bone-in pork chop alongside lemon gremolata & mostarda, are fantastic.

Both meats are tender, juicy and flavorful, exquisitely prepared with their respective sauces, which brings out the latent mushroom & forest notes in the wine. The grilled char on both meats simply added to the complexities of the plates.

For a side dish treat, try the Risotto del Giorno prepared with herbs, Pinot Grigio, and Grana Padano cheese and the Polenta Fritte which is a crispy polenta.

Perhaps the crowning dish on the menu is the Bistecca alla Fiorentina. A plate for two, it’s a Tuscan-style olive oil marinated 38oz Porterhouse steak roasted with sage, rosemary in brown butter with Pizimini’s own Barolo mushroom sauce. My son Paolo comments that it compares to the Bistecca he recently had in Italy. Rare to medium rare, carved and emersed in the pomegranate red wine mushroom sauce, the platter is fabulous—è semplicemente favoloso! e Buon Natale!

Pinzimini · 71333 Dinah Shore Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA · 760.770.2150 Rick is the desert’s “sommelier-abouttown” hosting, conducting, and entertaining at wine events & tastings.

Contact winespectrum@aol.com.

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December 19 to December 25, 2013

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

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

THUR DECEMBER 19

29 PALMS INN; 29 PALMS; 760-367-3505 Bev and Bill 6pm (JZ) ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Reunion w/ DJ Day in the Amigo Room 10pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Lilli Rose 7-10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Paula Prince 7pm (PB) BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 John Stanley King 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CLINIC BAR & LOUNGE; PS; 760-864-4119 Open Mic 8pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6pm DESERT FOX; PS; 760-325-9555 Thirsty Thursdays 8pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm DILLON ROADHOUSE; DHS; 760-251-1991 Karaoke ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-9920002 Lola Rossi, Rob Carter and Denise Motto 5-9pm (JZ) EUREKA; IW; 760-834-7700 The Hive Minds 8pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Tattooed Nanny 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank Di Salvo 6-9:30pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke w/ Roberto 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen in the lounge and Tom on the patio 6pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Country Night w/ Jimi Nelson 8pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 8-1am (LR) MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm (PB)(VD) MIRAMONTE RESORT; IW; 760-341-7200 “Sassy & Sultry” featuring Gina Carey 5-8pm

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NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm (PB) O’LEARY’S; PS; 760-325-4913 Karaoke 9pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Nathan Rivera & Jessie Andra Smith 7pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760-327-1161ext.230 Machin’ 7pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross 6pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Spaghetti Western Night 5pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 8-12am VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-9pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Casey 5:30pm WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-3285955 Michael Keeth 6-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Bill Saitta Jazz 6pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Singles Night 9pm

FRI DECEMBER 20

19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ T Bone 9pm 29 PALMS INN; 29P; 760-367-3505 Dana Larson 6pm (AC) ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Goldstar w/ DJ Glowing Andy 10pm Amigo Room AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Karaoke w/ AJ The KJ 8-12am AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Keisha D CD Launch Party 8pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Guest DJ 10pm BILLY REED’S; PS; 760-325-1946 Live Music 6-10pm BLUE BAR, SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-7755566 DJ PWee 8pm (VD) BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 The Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael

Wright 9-1am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 Merry Metal Xmas w/ Remnants of Man, Sangre and Drop the World 8pm DICKIE O’NEALS IRISH PUB; PS; 760-3252600 Lassie Jo’s Best Damn Karaoke 7pm DILLON ROADHOUSE; DHS; 760-251-1991 EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 Dude Jones 9pm HAMILTON’S; LQ; 760-698-8303 T.B.A. 8pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Bridger & Burning Bettie 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank Di Salvo 6-9:30pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Live DJ 8:30pm (VD) KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 T.B.A. 7:30pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen 6pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 New Breed 9pm THE LOUNGE; AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Pop Vinyl 9pm (VD) MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm (PB)(VD) NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm (PB) O’LEARY’S; PS; 760-325-4913 T.B.A. 9pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 The Hive Minds 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 Family Jewels 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Far East & The Southerntier 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760-327-1161ext.230 The Gand Band 9pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Wooden Nomad, Brain Vat and Fever Dog 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 8pm, T.B.A. Sidebar Lounge 10pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Sean Wheeler & Zander Schloss w/ Machin’ and Spankshaft 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Country Night w/ Walt Young 5:30pm

SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. (JZ)(RR) TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Stereoflux 9pm TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 Tilted @ Night 10pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE; MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 The Rick Whitfield Band 10pm (VD) VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Scott Carter 1:30-4:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Inca Kings 5:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 T.B.A. 9pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760564-2201 Rob & jb 7-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Rose Mallet 6:30pm (JZ) ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Girl’s Night out w/ The Men on the Hollywood Strip 9pm

SAT DECEMBER 21

19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 9pm 29 PALMS INN; 29P; 760-367-3505 Beverly & Bill 6-9pm (JZ) ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 T.B.A. 10pm amigo room AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Cabaret on the Green w/ Les Michaels & Joel Baker 7-10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Derrik Lewis 8pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Guest DJ 10pm BILLY REED’S; PS; 760-325-1946 Live Music 6-10pm BLUE BAR; SPOTLIGHT 29; IND; 760-7755566 DJ PWee (VD) BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Steve Madeo 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CLINIC BAR & LOUNGE; PS; 760-864-4119 All Night Shoes 9pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6:30-9:30pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm DICKIE O’NEALS IRISH PUB; PS; 760-3252600 T.B.A. 8pm DILLON ROADHOUSE; DHS; 760-251-1991 EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm EUREKA; IW; 760-834-7700 The Vibe 3-7pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 T.B.A. 9pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 T.B.A. 8-11pm

THE GROOVE LOUNGE; SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ 8pm HAMILTON’S; LQ; 760-698-8303 Kal David 8pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Strung Out, VooDoo Glow Skulls, Assuming We Survive and Drop the World 8pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank Di Salvo 6-9:30pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 T.B.A. 8pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 T.B.A. 6pm, Karaoke w/ Roberto 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen 6pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 New Breed 9pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Pop Vinyl 9pm (VD) MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm (PB)(VD) MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm (PB) O’LEARY’S; PS; 760-325-4913 T.B.A. 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 The Hive Minds 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 D Phillips Band 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Holidaze w/ The Blank Tapes featuring Evan Aproberts, Mystic Braves, and DJ Darren Rademaker 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Tattooed Nanny 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760-327-1161ext.230 The Gand Band 9pm RENAISSANCE PALM; PS; 760-322-6100 Art of Sax featuring Sax Man Will Donato & Eddie Reddick 7-10pm (JZ) RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 T.B.A. 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross, Starlite Lounge 8pm, T.B.A., Sidebar Lounge 10pm, DJ Shasta, Starlite Lounge 10pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Up The Irons & Barflys 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Karaoke w/ Milly G 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Music 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 The Mighty Delta-Tones 9pm TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 Tilted@ Night 9pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm

VIBE, MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 DJ Hektik 10pm (VD) VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Rob & JB 1:30-4:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Jeff 5:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760564-2201 Abie Perkins 7-10pm (LR)(PR) WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Brian Nova’s Xmas show 7pm (JZ) ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJs 9pm (VD)

December 19 to December 25, 2013

COME JOIN US FOR THE FUN!!

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

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

PLAYOFFS I THE PLAC S E TO BE

SUN DECEMBER 22

29 PALMS INN; 29P; 760-367-3505 Bob & Allison Garcia 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Intoxica Radio Live w/ Howie Pyro 10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 The Judy Show 7:30pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Steve Madeo 6-10pm continue to page 22

12105 PALM DRIVE DESERT HOT SPRINGS

(760) 251-2644

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December 19 to December 25, 2013

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

The Pampered Palate

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

December 19 to December 25, 2013

By Raymond Bill

Purple Palm Restaurant at Colony Palms Hotel

O

ne of the most enticing amenities Palm Springs has to offer is its variety of boutique hotels and restaurants. As a local, one can indulge in a mini vacation to include spa packages

and fine dining without leaving the valley.

A new favorite of mine is the Colony Palms Hotel on Indian Canyon Drive downtown Palm Springs. Recently, I enjoyed a most memorable meal at their Purple Palm

Restaurant. With their warm, inviting space heaters and surrounding garden ambiance, dining outside adjacent to their large pool and multiple cabanas was a no-brainer.

When entering the main lobby of the hotel for the first time, it can be difficult to find the restaurant. Fortunately, the valet is pleasant and accommodating, guiding guests through the main entrance to their back pool area. My date and I immediately noticed the bar that is half inside the dining room and half outside to accommodate poolside guests. We were seated and greeted by Will, our charming server and bartender. With our menus before us, we were impressed with the selections available. We began with a couple starters while enjoying our cocktails. Mushrooms, sautéed in butter and white wine with garlic and shallots were placed before us with grilled baguette bread dressed with chevre goat cheese. We would also enjoy fried Manchego cheese with a creamy romesco sauce and crispy chorizo. The flavors were rich and quickly stimulated our appetites!

After our starters, we were impressed with two of their most popular salad selections; the Purple Palm salad and their Roasted Brussels Sprouts salad were simply divine. Most impressive was the Brussels Sprouts salad with a creamy garlic vinaigrette, crumbled cotija cheese, pepitas and crisp pancetta. Most places, including my most recent employer, that offer this seasonal dish fail to prepare the Brussels sprouts correctly, leaving the product bitter and firm. This was, however, amazing! Both salads offered the perfect balance of sweet and savory with great texture combinations.

While the wine list is undergoing some changes, there are still many selections and Will was quick to offer tastings so that we would make the best selection for our meal.

Pleased with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc, we eagerly awaited our main course. Timed

perfectly, my lovely companion would receive a pasta special of Buccatini with housemade pesto and sausage while I was presented with their famous Bouillabaisse.

Before me was a large bowl of seafood including salmon, whitefish, scallops, mussels, clams and dungeoness crab leg, finished with grilled baguette bread for dipping in the delicious broth. My entrée was as delicious as it was beautiful.

With only enough room to share a dessert, we ordered the Brioche Brulee.

Fresh baked brioche bread soaked in crème anglaise and carmelized, accompanied by sweet blueberry compote. With a hot espresso and after dinner cocktail from our talented bartender, this meal was superb.

This is not a grand dining venue it was quite romantic for us; at the same time a larger group of diners were thoroughly enjoying a more festive evening.

Dinner is offered nightly from 6pm; however, breakfast is available between 8am and 11am, and lunch served between 11am and 4pm. Small bites are offered from 4pm to 6pm. Located at 572 N Indian Canyon Drive, the Colony Palms Hotel should be on your list for a great getaway with a truly delicious cuisine. Visit online for more details and a peek at their menus at www.colonypalmshotel.com/dining

“THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD THE WEST HAS TO OFFER!”

RISE INTO FALL Enjoy CooLER WEATHER, bEAuTifuL sunsETs And THE bEsT viEWs in PALm sPRings

BAR MENU

$8/$10/$12 APPETizERs 11:00am - Close, Mon-Sat in designated bar areas

BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER AND WINE MENU UPDATES

ComE sEE And TAsTE WHAT’s nEW. $36 Prix fixe dinner menu offered too!

3PM TO 6PM

SPECIALTY NIGHTS

$2 DRAFT BEERS $5 APPETIZERS

mARTini TuEsdAys: 2-for-1 well WinE WEdnEsdAys: $12 flights THEmEd HoLidAy EvEnTs

LIVE MUSIC!

TuEsdAy - sATuRdAy 5:00Pm - 9:00Pm

Sun-Mon 7:30am - 4:00pm | Tues-Sat 7:30am - 9:00pm | Reserve by web or phone | Information subject to change VISIT ESCENAGRILL.COM FOR THE LATEST DEALS 760.992.0002 | 1100 CLUBHOUSE VIEW DRIVE | PALM SPRINGS

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Our wonderful staff is committed to giving you the best dining experience. We have a nicely stocked bar and great desserts as well. Our authentic mexican food main courses are truly mouth watering.

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

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

2 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU:

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

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

WWW.PUEBLOVIEJOGRILL.COM

19

December 19 to December 25, 2013

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Movie Reviews with Robin E. Simmons

CHRISTS, CLOWNS, CAROLS AND CLAUSES Some seasonal thoughts on the sacred and the profane

B

OU T

E

LD

20

SO

EMAIL: RANDY@SIR-PS.COM

760-341-3171 44850 San Pablo, Palm Desert

ce

760-340-4864

an

A Simple Sound System to Full Concert Production NO JOB TOO BIG OR SMALL! 74830 Velie Drive, Palm Desert, CA

m

MUSIC LESSONS TOO!!

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg (Knoff, 228 pages) is mainly about women and the challenges they face as equals, not only in their jobs, but also in the home and in the country.

This is not a feminist manifesto, but rather a strategy for women who want to pursue a career as well as maintain a healthy, happy family. Perfect gift for: Working women; businessmen who want to understand the difference between men and women in the workforce; young women out of high school or college; CEOs and managers who take their jobs seriously.

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NEW FOR THE HOME THEATER: ELYSIUM and THE LONE RANGER. HOLIDAY HITS NOW PLAYING: Don’t miss these recommended year-end treats on the big screen: HOBBIT - The Desolation of Smaug, NEBRASKA, SAVING MR. BANKS, THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS and HER. MARK YOU CALENDAR: At Cinemas Palme d’Or on Saturday evening, December 21, there will be a screening of the already acclaimed LONE SURVIVOR with guests including producer Randall Emmett. Check theater for details.

Comments? RobinESimmons@aol.com

Anyone who loves and admires all living things; likes dogs; appreciates biology; psychology or natural science.

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t’s that time of year when the obligation of gift giving can take the fun out of the holiday. But there is a simple solution for the “giver” who is challenged with a variety of finicky “receivers.” And it only takes one shopping trip – to the great bookstore Barnes & Noble.

Books are a wonderful gift idea. They are a personal and thoughtful present that can be opened over and over to thrill, surprise and entertain. I guarantee there is something for everybody. If the books you seek are not on the shelves at Barnes & Noble, no worries, they can be found online and mailed directly to your home or that of the lucky recipient. And B&N will wrap them!

Here are a few selections from my Book Review column over the last year with a brief synopsis and suggestions for who would really enjoy the read. These books are all well-written. Your gift will be appreciated and your giving will be a simple and stress less success.

Nonfiction: Animal Wise: The Thoughts and Emotions of Our Fellow Creatures (Crown Publishing, 304 pages) by Virginia Morell looks at the scientific evidence that proves our fellow creatures with whom we share this amazing planet are indeed intelligent and emotional. Perfect gift for:

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Ralph Fiennes performs the voice of Jesus in an understated, compassionate tone that is humble and powerful. Other distinctive voice talents include Julie Christie, Alfred Molina and William Hurt.

Charles Dickens’ beloved story “Christmas Carol” has been filmed at least five times. I really like the motion capture of Disney’s CHRISTMAS CAROL directed

by Robert Zemeckis. Jim Carrey plays at least five roles.

Terrific production design infuses every scene and the movie actually sticks to the story that Dickens wrote. Originally intended for Imax 3D, the Blu-ray 2D looks great.

Another inspired version of Scrooge’s harrowing journey toward of self-worth and forgiveness is also from Disney. Check out MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL for an old school animated look. At the time of its release, there was concern from some parents – and then the studio -- that it was far too scary for young kids.

Probably the most critically lauded version of Dickens’ classic tale of redemption is the 1951 production starring Alastair Sim as Scrooge. You might remember him and his bad teeth in the original LADY KILLERS. If you have never seen this version C.C., it is now a fully restored Blu-ray disc and worth finding for the permanent library of holiday films.

On the far end of the musical movie spectrum is the colorized Laurel and Hardy MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS from 1934.

Adapted from Victor Herbert’s operetta “Babes in Toyland,” there’s more of the Holiday Spirit in this 1934 classic than in most of the insipidly lame attempts of movies that exploit the holiday season.

Dum (Stan) and Dee (Ollie) are Santa’s toymakers preparing for the big delivery on Christmas Eve. Mother Goose and nursery rhyme characters are all over the place and Stan and Ollie are in constant trouble (“Is that 100 six-foot toy soldiers or 600 one-footers?”) Silas Barnaby, (remember “the meanest man in town”?), Bo Peep (she’s being forced into marriage by Silas or he will evict Bo’s mom, who is in fact The Old Woman In The Shoe). And there’s Tom Tom the Piper’s Son (Ms Peep’s true love) and the big finale with the creepy attack of the Bogeymen.

This classic has been cleaned up, digitally remastered and colorized and looks about as perfect as the best of old style children’s book illustrations and I bet Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy themselves would approve. Stan once

said he regretted they couldn’t shoot this in color.

It’s certainly no sacrilege. This is one beautiful, Fauvistic fever dream of a movie and a weirdly mesmerizing treat.

That said, there is something else to consider.

For those who dare to read between the lines (or movie frames), this film can be seen as a subversive horror fest that plumbs deeply disturbing psychological and political rarely touched on in contemporary films. It is amazing to me that someone hasn’t examined this in detail.

I have often wondered how much of it may have been intentional -- perhaps from the brilliantly demented mind of Stan Laurel. Only on the surface can this be considered a children’s movie. There’s a saying: “Clowns in clown’s clothing is no laughing matter.”

For those who only see this season as a selfaggrandizing exercise in greed and hypocrisy, I suppose movies like SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS are a fitting reminder of the goofy madness of the forced celebration.

I know some people who have an annual antiChristmas cocktail party with Pia Zadora’s bizarre flick looping silently on a big screen.

However, if you want a vivid reminder of what came of the life of the historical child born (probably in the Spring) in a barn in Bethlehem, take a look at History Channel’s IS THIS THE FACE OF JESUS? A computer artist reconstructs the body and face of the Shroud of Turin and vividly resurrects it. Since this season is at heart a celebration of life’s inherent magic, why not embrace the notion that it’s all a miracle. Open your eyes to wonder and awe.

December 19 to December 25, 2013

By Heidi Simmons

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n

r t a in me n te

I think the most artistic and notable nativity scene is in the opening of BEN HUR (1959). Almost medieval in its stately reverence, there is a power in the iconic images of a babe in a crude manger with royalty kneeling and bringing golden gifts.

The late Robert Ayres, a prolific studio artist who also created the iconic Bonanza burning map logo, designed much of the sequence.

Catherine Hardwicke, an accomplished Production Designer and director of THIRTEEN and TWILIGHT, helmed THE NATIVITY STORY (2006) a

dramatic and richly designed film devoted to the birth of Christ.

A seemingly adolescent KieshaCastle Hughes nicely plays Mary.

The young actress was in fact actually pregnant at the time.

For many, the best Jesus movie is the Russian made MIRACLE MAKER, a stopmotion puppet film that is a wonder to behold.

Book Review

De

efore recorded history, there’s little doubt that our ancestors celebrated and probably sacrificed their kinsmen, virgins and enemies (among other living things) at the time of the winter solstice. This was done in the hope that the “sun would return” and once again the land will blossom. Every once in a rare while, the longest night of the year included a total lunar eclipse. That must have been an extraordinary thing to experience at Stonehenge with one’s fellow pagan brethren.

In the 4th Century when pagan Rome was in a time of supremacy, Emperor Constantine had a vision of a gleaming cross against the sun.

He converted to Christianity and conveniently layered ancient holy days with a patina of Christian meaning, thus making it easier for the Roman hoi polloi, many of whom had already converted to the new religion, to also surrender to his now righteous rule as a representative of The Christ, King of Kings, Creator of the Cosmos. Make no mistake, the Roman Empire is alive and well and still rules millions from before birth to beyond the grave. We crave our stories, superstitions and myths. Without a shared narrative, how else do we derive meaning for our lives? When our stories die, we die.

An alternate god of sorts, Santa Clause has firmly embedded himself into our pop culture and contemporary solstice and Christmas festivities.

You don’t have to be a Christian to beg from Santa.

In fact, Christmas (without Christ) is a big deal in such “unChristian” places as Japan and Abu Dhabi.

All the accouterments of the westernized secular celebration are intact -- from Rudolph to Frosty (just no manger and infant Jesus).

Father Christmas is a different figure than our traditional Santa. Tall and thin, his home base is Eastern Europe. But what’s really interesting is that the source for the St. Nick figure (who is now indelibly merged with Santa in our secular western imagination) was in fact a real person from the 4th Century. Bishop Nicholas of Myra was a Greek who served in Asia Minor. Not much is really known about him but numerous miracles are attributed to him. He was a patron saint to sailors and was rumored to hold a lamp along rocky shorelines during storms to guide men at sea safely home.

I am not aware of any attempt to film this legendary story of what could be the greatest

Christmas movie yet -- “The Man Who became Santa Clause,” you read it here first.

The journey of the Magi to Bethlehem is the subject of the great Italian artist and filmmaker Ermanno Olmi’s 1982 epic tone poem KEEP WALKING (CAMMINA CAMMINA).

Shot in Northern Italy in rustic and rural locations and filled with amateurs, this magical film is spiritually rooted in a way that is open to all faiths. Or to those with no faith. I was reminded at times to Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales” as the Magi interact with a caravan of soldiers, merchants, villagers and assistants following in the direction of a comet.

In my opinion, the best Santa movie is BAD SANTA starring Billy Bob Thornton as a profane, angry, cynical, doomed alcoholic thief who finds the meaning of an authentic Christmas spirit in the unconditional love of a fat, bullied boy. The movie is a masterpiece but certainly not for all tastes. Three editions of the film exist including BAD(DER) SANTA. Although a plethora of movies dealing with Christmas permeate our culture, minds and libraries, many – if not most – are silly, insipid and worse. But there are a few that stand out for reasons that may not at first be obvious.

Screeners No. 91

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Heart of Dankness: Underground Botanists, Outlaw Farmers, and the Race for the Cannabis Cup by Mark Haskell Smith (Broadway, 236 pages) is a fascinating travelogue into the world of growing and selling Marijuana. The author travels to Amsterdam and scours California in search of the perfect high and “artisanal” weed.

Perfect gift for: Adults who are openminded; those interested in the burgeoning business of Marijuana and curious about the medical possibilities; want to learn more about the plant and its potential; hipsters; connoisseurs; those who love to travel; and those who smoke pot.

Fiction: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (Crown Publishing, 419 pages), a husband and a wife must come to terms with their future in this provocative, psychological thriller of crazy love and twisted obsession. Perfect gift for: Those who love a good crime thriller; appreciate the complications of modern marriage; and those who are cynical when it comes to 24/7 media coverage of the murdered and missing.

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter (Harper, 352 pages) spans five decades, incorporates exotic locations and has multiple characters that tell a story about love and ambition around the odd and interesting world of Hollywood. Perfect gift for: Those who love romance; travel; Hollywood celebrity past and present.

The Cost of Living by Rob Roberge (Other Voices, 291 pages) takes the reader on a journey in which characters pay a high price for their addiction, mental illness and dysfunctional relationships. Perfect gift for: Those with an appreciation for the grittier side of life; been in a rock-n-roll band; don’t mind spending time on the wrong side of the tracks dodging on-rushing trains.

Biography: Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson by Jeff Guinn (Simon & Schuster, 495 pages), we get a

sweeping historical account of the man and the era that fed his madness. Perfect gift for: Anyone who came of age in the 60; remembers the horrible crimes; is curious about human behavior; interested in what makes a cult; and those fascinated in the changing culture and history of America’s youth.

Memoir: Unsinkable: A Memoir (William Morrow, 306 pages) by Debbie Reynolds and Dorian Hannaway, is an honest, revealing and fun-filled biography of the life and movies of beloved American sweetheart Debbie Reynolds. Perfect gift for: Anyone who loves film and Hollywood gossip; has an interest in Hollywood history; or someone who has overcome bad marriages and survived major challenges.

Self-help: The Still Point of the Turning World, (Penguin Press, 260 pages) author Emily Rapp struggles to comprehend reality with the pending death of her young son Ronan who is diagnosed with Tay-Sachs, a rare and fatal degenerative disease.

Rapp writes, “It is a unique and terrible privilege to witness the entire arc of a life, to see it through from its inception to its end. But it is also an opportunity to love without a net, without the past, but right now.” The lesson of The Still Point of the Turning World is to live and love fearlessly every moment.

Perfect gift for: Those who wonder why we exist; question reality; are challenged by the notion of God; grieve and search for hope; and the philosophical who seek meaning.

Books make a terrific gift plus they’re easy to wrap. There is no such thing as high or lowbrow when it comes to the reading experience. The people you think are hard to buy for may not be so difficult when you consider there is a book for everyone.

Happy holidays and make time to enjoy a book.

21

December 19 to December 25, 2013 continued from page 17

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And education. Where students in the United States were once world leaders in math, science and reading, we are now 26th, 21th and 17th respectively, as NBC News recently reported. Meanwhile, Fox News reports, leaving you to decide whether those reports are truthful and accurate. I’m especially fond of Fox’ “verifiable” findings that both Santa Claus and Jesus Christ were both white.

I could go on and on with more specific examples but that would mean that I actually have to do the research.

So how do we break this cycle of mediocrity that is turning the greatest country on Earth into a mediocre and apathetic place?

It starts with you. Instead of doing only what others expect of you, think bigger than that and take actions every day that will move you toward those larger aspirations.

If you agree with me that most things

are mediocre, do not just agree with those in positions of power and leadership. Think about things for yourself and see if you can come up with something better…and then do it. If you do the same things in the same way as everyone else, you will be just as mediocre as them.

If you want to be more than mediocre, don’t spend all of your free time watching television, playing video games and doing other mindless activities. Take some of that free time and put it toward being better than the rest at whatever you do. If you ever talk to someone who has created something exceptional, they will tell you that they worked their butt off to get there.

Take some calculated risks. Try new things that take you out of your comfort zone. While the mediocre might think you are weird or different, why should you care?

Unless you want to be just like them, you need to set a different course.

by john PAUL VALDEZ

“BitCoin” has potential to change the world

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Anything coming out of Washington DC these days would be lucky to be called mediocre. DC politicians seem to revel in their abilities when they do the base level of what some of us elected them for.

Nevertheless, we vote for them when they come up for reelection.

As it relates to many rank and file government workers, despite some of the best salaries and pensions in America today, many work four-day weeks at a casual pace.

And products. The quality we get today is seldom as good as yesteryear.

And travel. What used to be coach is first class while coach is now third world.

And healthcare. We pay more per person in the United States than anywhere else on Earth yet our results are middling.

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Haddon Libby:It’s all local

HO HO HUM

his week’s article is going to be mediocre. Hopefully it will rally toward the end although I wouldn’t count on it.

I sort of wanted this week’s article to be better but with holiday obligations and not getting enough sleep and business obligations and some personal stuff, I’m just not feeling it…not to mention does anyone really care whether I write a well-researched and thoughtful article? At the end of the day, this will just be land fill or paper pulp recycled into another paper product. Why bother, you know?

Let us be clear, mediocre should not be acceptable, I know that. While the definition of mediocre says that it means ‘average and not of very good quality’, an awful lot of people think that average is acceptable.

Neither average nor mediocre should be acceptable yet this level of service, product and effort seems to be rampant throughout society.

Customer service offered by most organizations is mediocre. When we go to a restaurant, we are expected to give 15%+ as a tip on service and food that is often mediocre.

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n order to understand what a Bitcoin is one has to have some understanding of currencies in general. First, “Bitcoin” is a brand name. There are several decentralized virtual currencies, which is what a Bitcoin is, but this brand has most of the market as it pushed the idea to where it is becoming more of a household name today.

A Bitcoin started out at about $13 dollars per Bitcoin. Today one Bitcoin is about $735 dollars, and was about $1200 dollars at its high in November. This kind of volatility in a currency is not generally welcome. The whole idea of a virtual currency is however highly valued.

A currency is nothing more than a store

of value. The paper money we recognize as a $US dollar has no intrinsic value. It is simply a promise to pay. The same is true for Euros or any other currency. You must also consider the exchange rate which becomes more apparent if you travel or send money overseas.

The problem has finally arisen, that people no longer believe that the two major reserve currencies of the world (the $US and the Euro) are fail safe. Within the last year our wonderful congress has threatened not to honor our promise to make good on our currency to the outside world on many occasions and that has brought risk into what was previously defined as a risk free financial instrument in a US Treasury Bond.

When you lend money you lend it according to the risk of getting back the value represented by the loan. This is the risk rate. When the US government used to lend to banks they would do so at a favorable Federal Reserve rate approaching zero. These days a zero rate is no longer even theoretically possible because the congress has threatened nonpayment on a previously risk free currency. You can see the difficulties that arise in not raising the government’s ability to “print money in the basement” as many ignorant politicians try to sell this activity. If you stop printing money, you stop paying and you render your own currency worthless. All governments print money.

Getting back to Bitcoins, they are not

subject to a government not paying up.

They exist at the will of the holder whoever that may be. As a result they are a world currency, and they escape being tract easily by governments. People are now trading in Bitcoins on the internet and many charities are receiving donations and political campaigns being funded by Bitcoins.

Thousands of international companies are now accepting Bitcoins in payment for their goods and services.

The eyes of each country’s government are being swiftly open by this activity, as it is an admission that economic sovereignty is a thing of the past. Only, geographic and political sovereignty remain. At some point it will become evident that we are all in this world together. It is this writer’s opinion that we should embrace such changes before our own financial systems exhibit further self-destruction at the will of small groups of people which, in the end, endangers all those around the world depending on us not to do so.

Believe it or not the first Bitcoin was launched in 2009. It’s a brave new world.

23

December 19 to December 25, 2013

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Dale Gribow On The Law Holiday Scams, Part 1

T

hieves are very inventive during the Christmas Holiday Season. Here are some scams going around as of December 2013.

REMEMBER WHAT YOUR PARENTS TAUGHT YOU: If it SOUNDS too good to be true it is a SCAM. For instance: You did not win the lottery in Spain, The Netherlands, Canada or anywhere else. You didn’t buy a ticket did you?

A poor widow or bank manager does not need your help to move money from a dead person’s account to another place.

The IRS is not electronically auditing you.

The Jury Clerk never calls for your Social Security number.

Bank and Credit Card companies do not email you to verify your information.

Scam artists use the information obtained above to steal your identity.

Examples of Current SCAMS: 1. NEW CAR INTEREST RATES You decide to buy a car and the dealer says they cannot accept your bank draft/check to pay for the car. They say that although your account might be okay, your bank has a history of bouncing checks and they blame the banking system. They are saying this to get you to buy a car on credit at high interest rates……walk away.

2. The Hotel Receptionist Call: You would normally arrive at your hotel/ motel and check in at the front desk. You give the front desk your credit card for incidental room charges during your stay. When you get to your room you settle in.

The SCAM is when someone calls the front desk and asks for (example) Room 620 - which happens to be your room. When the phone rings in your room you answer it and the person on the other end says ‘This is the front desk. We came across a problem with your credit card information when you checked into the hotel/motel. Would you please provide me with your credit card number and verify the last 3 digits numbers on the reverse side of your card.’

Thinking this is the front desk, you might give the caller your information. But actually, this is a scam where someone calls from outside the hotel/motel and asks for a random room number. They then ask you for your credit card and home address information.

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any years ago I had a real taskmaster for a stepdad. Being the “Tom Sawyer of fence painting” type of kid, he would always say to me, “give a lazy man a job and he will find the easiest way out of it!” The good thing about holiday home traditions is that that by definition they involve doing the same thing year after year. Having the bah humbug attitude this time of year is not an option, especially if you have children at home or a spouse that starts singing Christmas carols the day after Halloween. So this week I thought I would share with all of you my years of experience of finding the easiest way to accomplish a few of my own holiday home decorating traditions with the hope that they will save you time, money and stress.

Hanging outdoor Christmas lights has to be the most time consuming and least favorite of all of my holiday decorating traditions. It turns out that there are actually companies out there that will do this job for you. Unfortunately, I’m too cheap to pay for such a luxury so instead I try to make the job as easy as possible each year. I use little metal cup hooks that are readily available at any hardware store and easily screwed into the fascia board or rafter tails to hang the lights around the outside of

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the house. I install the cup hooks only once, about two feet apart and never remove them.

Now it takes hardly any time at all to hang the lights up. In addition, I highly recommend that the next time you have an electrician out to your house that you offer him a few extra bucks to install an outdoor plug at the top of your exterior house wall where you start your string of lights. This will save you the hassle of first locating an extension cord and then stringing it down the wall, around the house, across the patio and into the garage through the vent.

The tree is the next big issue to deal with and it begins with just picking one out. When I was very young it was our family tradition not to get our tree until Christmas Eve. We would go down to the railroad yard in Los Angeles and make a whole day of getting the tree and decorating it just in time for Santa to show up. It wasn’t until many years later that I discovered that they gave away all the trees they couldn’t sell for free on Christmas Eve and that is why my Dad waited until then to get our

safety tips

by Dale Gribow Attorney at Law You provide the requested information because it sounds so professional and you think you are talking to the front desk.

If this happens to you, please tell the caller that you will be right down to the front desk to clear up any problems. When you get to the front desk ask if there was a problem. If there was none, advise the hotel manager that someone called to Scam you out of your credit card information by acting as a front desk employee. ANYONE traveling should be aware of this SCAM! 3. JURY DUTY: Someone calls pretending to be a court official who says a warrant has been issued for your arrest because you didn’t show up for jury duty. Sometimes they even ask you for a credit card number so they can process the cancellation. If you give out any information …your identity has just been stolen!

4. PHONE OFFERS: If it sounds too good to be true……it is a scam. Don’t fall for the alleged relative/friend who has just had his wallet stolen in Europe and is contacting you for money to get back to the US. Anyone can set up a phony email account to contact you and pretend to be a friend or relative IN NEED. 5. CHECKS: Never put your complete credit card account number on your check when paying a bill. You are better off using your work address and work number on your checks.

By Bruce cathcart

Holiday Home Decorating Traditions

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tree! Today we go up to the Live Oak Canyon Christmas Tree Farm and pick our tree “blind”.

Instead of spending hours trying to choose between seemingly identical, perfect trees, it is our tradition to pick one still wrapped up in twine and surprise ourselves at the unveiling when we get it home and set up in the living room. The real surprise is that every year we end up with a perfect tree in half the time. It is also easier to transport, install in its base, and set up in the house. I have yet to find the perfect artificial tree that can be folded up with all the lights and ornaments on it and stored in the attic without it looking like Charlie Brown’s tree a year later when it is time to set it up again. With new technology each year I am sure that day is coming, but until then there will likely be a real tree in our house.

Hanging the holiday wreath on the front door seems like it would be an easy task of just driving a nail about two thirds up and half way across the door… unless of course you have a metal or glass door, or are just renting your home and want your security deposit back.

Even if you have a wooden door I discovered a few years ago the metal wreath hangers that simply slip over the top of the door and allow you to easily hang just about any size or type wreath your spouse can buy or make. In my house we have a wreath on just about every door (inside and out!) so this is a real door and time saver. Just Google “wreath hanger” to see what I am talking about here. The real secret is to store the wreath and the hanger

December 19 to December 25, 2013

by Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

REPORT POTENTIAL ID THEFT to: Equifax 1-800-525-6285; Fraud Aert 888-7660008; Experian (formerly TRW) 1-888-3973742 to place fraud alert; Trans Union 1-800680-7289 for Fraud alert; Social Security Administration (fraud line) 1-800-269-0271.

And Remember: DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE IN THE CV THIS MONTH, CALL A TAXI… IT IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN HIRING ME! Dale Gribow has been “Rated” TOP LAWYER

by Palm Springs Life Magazine from 20112014 and has a Superb Avvo Peer Reviewed Legal Rating. Dale Gribow has been Man of the Year 7 times including the City of Palm Desert and the City of Hope and Dale Gribow Day has been declared 4 times. He is the only attorney appointed in December 2013 to the Coachella Valley Association of Government’s Public Safety Ad Hoc Blue Ribbon Committee.

This group consists of the police chiefs from every city and the mayor of each city as well as the Sheriff of Riverside County and the head of the CHP and Border Patrol.

If you have any questions regarding this column or ideas for future columns please contact Dale Gribow Attorney at Law at his NEW number 760 837 7500 and or his new email: dale@dalegribowlaw.com

Real estate

together after the holidays are over.

In fact the real secret to making holiday home decorating traditions easier is proper storage. Go to Lowes or Home Depot and pick yourself up several red and green plastic storage boxes this year and label the outside of them as you pack your displays and other treasures away after the holidays. There are reels for light strings and special boxes for ornaments. Make this your “after holiday” tradition and next year you will be glad you did! Happy Holidays!

Real Estate Tip of the week: The two weeks at Christmas and New Years are a great time to negotiate and purchase a home.

There is much less competition and people are generally in good spirits often making negotiations a little easier. Take advantage of this opportunity if you can.

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

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What’s the Best Christmas Present? Safety!

ere all kids at heart, but one of the first questions you should ask “is the Toy age appropriate says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.” It’s essential to adhere to the age guidelines indicated on toy packaging, because even a toy for a 3-year-old could have parts too small for a 2-year-old to handle properly. Are there any small, loose parts that your child can swallow? If you’re not sure, consider the toilet paper tube test: anything that can pass through the tube is too small to be given to a child under 3 years old. Marbles, coins and balls are common culprits.

Could any part of the toy be bitten off and swallowed? Does the toy have a string, ribbon, straps or cord longer than 7 inches?

Is your toy non-toxic? Look for points, edges or breakable parts that could be sharp and avoid those toys for kids under eight.

If you’re considering a ride-on, is it sturdy and stable, and does the recipient have all the proper safety equipment (helmet, kneepads, etc.) required to use it? Does the toy include magnets? Powerful magnets can be fatal is swallowed by children. Could the toy be a fire hazard? Fabric toys should be labeled as flame retardant or flame resistant. And electrical toys with batteries or electric plugs pose a burn hazard so they should be avoided for kids under eight. Does the toy include any throwing or shooting projectiles? It’s best to avoid these toys because they can cause injuries, especially to the eyes.

Want more toy safety tips? Visit ToyInfo.org Happy Holidays!

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

ShareKitchen The Food Trucks Are Coming!

Last Tuesday, December 10th, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 in support of lifting the ban on food trucks across the County. Riverside County was the last county in the state banning this type of business. The lifting of this ban was due to the hard work of Supervisor Kevin Jeffries who represents cities such as Riverside and Lake Elsinore and ShareKitchen’s Executive Director, Angela Janus.

While food trucks will be allowed in the County, it will be up to each city to set their guidelines as it relates to the operations of these mobile businesses. These guidelines will be enacted before next April. The Department of Environmental Health is also establishing their rules and regulations on these food businesses to ensure that Riverside County operates to the highest of standards.

In general, it is expected that food trucks will be required to have insurance against the mishandling of food that creates food borne illnesses. Worth noting, this condition of operation is not required of brick and mortar restaurants.

While the locations where food trucks will be allowed to operate will be set by each city, the County is requiring that

food trucks must have the approval of a property owner before stopping to serve people. It is also expected that most cities will have restrictions so that food trucks do not set-up in front of a brick and mortar restaurant or in front of a school without the permission of that school.

ShareKitchen is currently working to build a state-of-the-art food commissary that will serve as a hub for food trucks, caterers, and food producers. The facility will serve as the home to these businesses while providing educational and food production facilities.

If you are interested in operating a food truck, call Executive Director Angela Janus at 760.459.4259 as she and ShareKitchen are working closely with the Board of Supervisors and Department of Environmental Health on this new business opportunity.

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December 19 to December 25, 2013

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Gaemer Girl

by Jennifer Tan aka mrs. fett

TEARAWAY: A Game Of Wonder

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nyone who knows me knows I have a borderline stalker obsession with Little Big Planet. So, when Media Molecule (creators of Little Big Planet) came out with Tearaway, I bought it. I also bought a PS Vita, JUST to play Tearaway.

And it was worth it!

You play as a You. Not you as in you, but as THE You, which is the name these little creatures give to humans. Ok, so you’re the You, helping your character, either Atoi, or Iota, who is a tiny character made of a message. A message to be delivered to You. As you help your friend deliver their message to You, you run into creatures called Scraps, which are nasty little things that run around stealing colors and pieces of crafts from other creatures.

Now for the fun part! You use every, and I mean every, part of the Vita for this adventure. Your front facing camera captures you, and you are always seen through the sun as you are playing. You REACH, (not literally) your fingers through the game, using the back sensor pad, to squish scraps, roll logs, and bang on drums.

Your messenger was given a mic? Great!

Let’s hear you yell at your Vita like a crazy person, to scare off scraps, and lower bridges. Feeling a little crafty? Great! Jump into crafting mode, grab some scraps of paper, and make yourself an awesome... something! I made a cupcake, and a unicorn horn, that I proudly wore the rest of the game! Draw your shapes, cut them, layer them, and stick them anywhere! This is your world too!

The game took about 5 hours to beat, but the fun didn’t end there. Looking for

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more ways to enjoy this amazing title, I turned to their paper crafting adventures.

While you run around the land of Tearaway, you use a camera, given to you by King Squirrel, to take pictures of characters that lose their color. Of course, the first material I replaced on a white moose was my Star Wars sheets. After you restore color back to these creatures, it saves a blue print for you to print, and bring to life the creatures from your game! Go ahead, build them all!

There is really nothing negative I can say about this game. The world is “crafted” to perfection, in all of its papery glory. The music is uplifting and fun, and makes your adventure whimsical, instead of tedious, and stressful. The only drawback to the game was that it was only 5 hours long. The game scored 9/10, losing 1 point for not lasting the rest of my life.

happy hour hotspot

by Patte purcell

VUE Grille & Bar I

’m impressed! I have written restaurant and club reviews for years but for the first time, I must begin with an accolade. As I stepped into VUE Grille & Bar located in the Indian Wells Golf Resort, I noted a refreshing hip ambiance. The trendy yet luxurious interior gives a nod to the colors and feel of the surrounding desert. Overlooking the Troon golf course and desert mountains, this hotspot offers indoor seating and outdoor balcony seating, complete with fire pits and decorative space heaters while featuring a fresh farm-to-table menu, signature cocktails and craft beers, as well as a new sushi bar.

With seating for 250 and entertainment six nights per week, VUE’s, “Mover and Shaker” Food and Beverage Director, Scott Winant, is now providing a second set of live entertainment and dancing. A Late Night Happy Hour begins the first weekend of January from 9:30pm to 12:30am. Friday nights feature the musical stylings of popular desert entertainer, John Mc Cormick while Saturday nights feature the hottest new show to hit the desert; “King of the Springs,” with National Recording/ Billboard artist, Slim Man, takes center stage to rock the desert with this hot national performance. VUE Grille & Bar has become the hottest new place to mix and mingle and do a little dancing and romancing.

While seated at the bar, I had the opportunity to meet their very talented bartender, Javier Santana (though I call him ‘The Mixmaster’). Never have I met a more knowledgeable mixologist than Santana. He is pushing the envelope when it comes to these over-the-top drinks. No pre-maid mixes, no same old thing, his drink menu is specialized, having created each concoction himself.

Santana explained that they’ve found their customer base to be fans of Manhattans and therefor developed a, “Manhattan Lovers” menu. He explained that the Manhattan is a classic cocktail from the NYC borough of Manhattan. Each of the 5 boroughs has their own cocktail but by far the most popular is the Manhattan, traditionally made with Rye Whisky.

I enjoyed his, “De La Louisiane,” which includes classic spirits and ingredients from New Orleans and incorporates them into a Manhattan. Rye Whisky, Italian Vermouth, Benedictine, Absinthe, Peychauds bitters, garnished with a twist of orange.

The VUE has also reinvented some classics.

From the “Moscow Mule,” to the “Hanky Panky,” these drinks are carefully crafted with amazing little touches. Perfect ice cubes or an orange peeled rubbed glass brings the taste and aroma to a whole new level. All drinks are ‘stirred not shaken’ which means you won’t be getting a watered down drink and portions are also larger than normal. VUE serves premium liquors and Happy Hour Prices are only $7- $8.

Santana has also created one of his famous ‘sours’ as he features a rotating selection every

day. These are handmade with dry shaken egg whites, no mixes here! He explained how sours started in punch bowls in English pubs before coming to America with settlers who turned them into separate drinks. He calls them original American cocktails with a European twist. Delicious!

In addition to a wonderful selection of drinks, VUE Grille & Bar offers an extensive wine selection and a Premium Sake menu.

Enjoying some fresh sushi? Try one of 29 Japanese bottled beers from $5.50 to $7.00, or any of eight draft beers at $6.00.

Did I mention the food? Again, I’m impressed! I got to sample some of the fine selections from the lounge menu prepared

by Executive Chef, Cale Falk. I was fortunate to have tried an argula salad with kumquats, steamed manila clams in a mouth-watering broth served with crostini; a lump crab cake with a special sauce. Happy Hour prices range from $7 to $16 for the Lobster Poutine. I savored every bite.

VUE Grille & Bar is located at Indian Wells Golf Resort, 44-500 Indian Wells Lane in Indian Wells. Happy Hour is offered 7 days a week, 3 pm-6 pm, Late Night Happy Hour, Friday and Saturday nights, 9:30-12:30 with Dancing!

Tuesday ~ EINSTEIN (steel drum/ vocals) 5:30pm-8:30pm Wednesday ~ BEN (ukulele/ vocals) 5:30pm-8:30pm Thursday ~ CASEY(acoustic guitar/vocals) 5:30pm-8:30pm Friday ~ INKA KINGS (Peruvian Jazz) 5:30pm-8:30pm Mike Mc Cormick (Hits of the 60’s through today) 9:30pm-12:30am Saturday ~ JEFF (acoustic guitar/ vocals) 5:30pm-8:30pm Slim Man ~ King of the Springs (Pop and Smooth Jazz) 9:30pm- 12:30am (CV Weekly sponsored party featuring Crater Lake cocktails, informal modeling by Kimballs Fashions, and more.

Sunday ~ BEN (ukulele/ vocals) 11:00am-2:00pm CARMENS (Hits of the 50’s-90’s/ dancing/ guitar/ vocals) 6:30pm-9:30pm

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Week of December 19

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Life is best organized as a series of daring ventures from a secure base,” wrote psychologist John Bowlby. Some of you Aries enjoy the “daring venture” part of that formula, but neglect the “secure base” aspect. That’s why your daring ventures may on occasion go awry. If you are that type of Ram, the first half of 2014 will be an excellent time to correct your bad habit. Life will be offering you considerable help and inspiration in building a strong foundation. And if you already appreciate how important it is for your pursuit of excitement to be rooted in well-crafted stability, the coming months will be golden.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Here’s a tale of three renowned Taurus brainiacs: Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill, and Bertrand Russell. They all had IQs over 175 and all made major contributions to philosophy. Yet all three were physically inept. Kant had trouble keeping a sharp point on his writing instrument, the quill, because he was clumsy using a knife. Mill was so undexterous he found it a chore to tie a knot. Russell’s physical prowess was so limited he was incapable of brewing a pot of tea. Chances are that you are neither as brilliant nor as uncoordinated as these three men. And yet, like them, there is a disconnect between your mind and body -- some glitch in the way the two of them communicate with each other. The coming year will be an excellent time to heal the disconnect and fix the glitch.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): A horticultural company in the UK is selling TomTato plants to home gardeners. Each bush grows both cherry tomatoes and white potatoes. The magic was accomplished through handcrafted hybridization, not genetic engineering. I foresee a comparable marvel in your long-term future, Gemini. I’m not sure about the exact form it will take. Maybe you will create a product or situation that allows you to satisfy two different needs simultaneously. It’s possible you will find a way to express two of your talents in a single mode. Or perhaps you will be able to unite two sides of you that have previously been unbonded.

Congratulations in advance!

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “To destroy is always the first step in any creation,” said the poet E. E. Cummings. Do you buy that idea, Cancerian? I hope so, because the cosmos has scheduled you to instigate some major creative action in 2014.

In order to fulfill that potential, you will have to metaphorically smash, burn, and dissolve any old structures that have been standing in the way of the future. You will have to eliminate as many of the “yes, buts” and “I can’ts” and “not nows” as you possibly can.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): When did you first fall from grace? Do you remember? It has happened to most of us. We spend time being privileged or cared about or respected, and then, suddenly, we no longer are. We lose our innocence. Love disappears.

Our status as a favorite comes to an end. That’s the bad news, Leo. The good news is that I think the months ahead may be time for you to climb back up to one of those high states of grace that you fell from once upon a time. The omens suggest that even now you’re making yourself ready to rise back up -- and sooner than you think, there will be an invitation to do so.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Leonardo da Vinci created the painting St. Jerome in the Wilderness around 1480. It now hangs in the Pinacoteca Vaticana, a museum in Vatican City. For several centuries, though, the treasured work of art was missing. Legend tells us that in the early 19th century, Napoleon’s uncle found the lower half of the painting in a junk shop in Rome. Years later he stumbled upon the top half in another back alley, where it was being used as a wedge in a shoemaker’s bench. I foresee the possibility of a comparable sequence unfolding for you in 2014, Virgo. You just may manage to restore a lost beauty to its proper place of honor, one step at a time.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The Italian painter

© Copyright 2012 Rob Brezsny

Tintoretto (1518-1594) was a Libra. He worked with such vigor and passion that he was nicknamed Il Furioso -- The Furious. One of his crowning achievements was his painting Paradise, which is 74 feet long and 30 feet tall -- about the size of a tennis court. It adorns a huge wall in the Doge’s Palace, a landmark in Venice. I propose that Tintoretto serve as one of your inspirational role models in 2014. The coming months will be an excellent time for you to work hard at crafting your own personal version of paradise on earth. You may not be so wildly robust to deserve the title “Il Furioso.” But then again, you might.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Between 2002 and 2009, Buddhist monk Endo Mitsunaga spent a thousand days meditating as he did a ceremonial walk around Mount Hiei in Japan. In 2006, English writer Dave Cornthwaite took 90 days to skateboard across the entire length of Australia, a distance of 3,618 miles. The first man’s intentions were spiritual, the second man’s adventurous. The coming months will be prime time for you to contemplate both kinds of journeys, Scorpio. The astrological omens suggest that you will generate extra good fortune for yourself by seeking out unfamiliar experiences on the open road. To get yourself in the mood, ruminate on the theme of pilgrimage.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Many farms in California’s Tulare County grow produce for supermarket chains. Here’s the problem: Those big stores only want fruits and vegetable that look perfect. So if there are brown spots on the apples or if the zucchinis grow crooked or if the carrots get too big, they are rejected. As a result, 30 percent of the crops go unharvested. That’s sad because a lot of poor people who live in Tulare don’t have enough to eat. Fortunately, some enterprising food activists have begun to work out arrangements with farmers to collect the wasted produce and distribute it to the hungry folks. I gather there’s a comparable situation in your life, Sagittarius: unplucked resources and ignored treasures. In 2014, I hope you take dramatic action to harvest and use them.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Derrick Brown has a poem entitled “Pussycat Interstellar Naked Hotrod Mofo Ladybug Lustblaster!” I hope that at least once in 2014 you will get up the nerve to call someone you love by that name. Even if you can’t quite bring yourself to utter those actual words, it will be healing for you to get to the point where you feel wild enough to say them. Here’s what I’m driving at, Capricorn: In the coming months, you will be wise to shed any inhibitions that have interfered with you getting all of the free-flowing intimacy you’d love to have.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Artists who are content merely to hone their gifts eventually come to little,” says the Belgian writer Simon Leys. “The ones who truly leave their mark have the strength and the courage to explore and exploit their shortcomings.”

I’d like to borrow that wisdom and provide it for you to use in 2014, Aquarius. Even if you’re not an artist, you will be able to achieve an interesting kind of success if you’re willing to make use of the raw materials and untapped potential of your so-called flaws and weaknesses. Whatever is unripe in you will be the key to your creativity.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In 2014, you will have the mojo to escape a frustration that has drained you and pained you for a long time. I mean you can end its hold on you for good. The coming months will also provide you with the chance to activate and cultivate a labor of love that will last as long as you live. While this project may not bloom overnight, it will reveal its staying power in dramatic fashion. And you will be able to draw on the staunch faith you’ll need to devote yourself to it until its full blessings ripen.

Homework: What do you want to be when you grow up? Testify at Freewillastrology.com.

Rob Brezsny Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

December 19 to December 25, 2013

Mind, body & Spirit

by Bronwyn Ison

Move It And Lose It!

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s we approach the years end we generally like to rejuvenate. New Year’s proclamations are set and often kept. Yet, many are broken because we place unrealistic expectations for ourselves.

Planning realistically the changes you would like to make will determine your success.

Commencing with short-term goals may be a route you should embark upon. Many people like to begin the New Year by incorporating cleansing the body. This is cathartic for your mind, body and soul.

There are a myriad of reasons people cleanse their body. Most do so to jumpstart their body for a more active and healthier life.

There are several options to cleansing. Some cleanses are 2-day, 3-days, 14-days, 21-days, etc. Plus, there are several alternatives as to what kind of cleanse you desire. Whichever cleansing/detox you incorporate it should be realistic so you do not become frustrated.

You need to be resolute!

Along with desiring a more focused you in mind, body and soul consider these helpful tips. Cleansing the body naturally enables us to make wiser decisions in our eating, drinking and overall lifestyle choices, to include eliminating alcohol and tobacco.

Eating ORGANIC produce will minimize exposure to pesticides, fertilizers, growth hormones and antibiotics. Ingesting organic produce precludes your anxiety to harmful chemicals. Hence eating cleaner.

Water is ESSENTIAL! You must drink plenty of water to flush toxins and impurities

from your body. Drinking at least 8 glasses or 2 quarts of water throughout your day helps kidney function and keeps your bowels functioning properly, i.e. eliminating waste.

Hydrating the body also makes for a clearer complexion and assists with preventing wrinkles.

FIBER UP! Fiber is a natural cleanser and can regulate your digestive system. You can feel lighter and healthier when your digestive tract is properly functioning. Whole-grain cereals, fruits, vegetables (especially with the skin left on) lentils, beans and almonds are excellent sources of fiber.

ELIMINATE caffeine and alcohol. When you are cleansing you should remove both caffeine and alcohol from your menu. Both impair liver function and preclude your body from being able to cleanse itself. Herbicides and pesticides are used during the growth cycle of the coffee bean. Hence exposing you to these toxins. Alcohols dark in color contain cogeners and develop as a byproduct of fermentation. Coffee and alcohol contribute to dehydration.

While there are several options to cleansing and detoxing these are a few things you can do to get started. Cleansing will be a challenge. Your diligence towards a leaner, cleaner, healthier you will render your commitment worthwhile. Evolve Yoga & Nutrition Consultant, Tiffany Dalton host a Yoga and Winter Cleanse Program. January 11-31, 2014. Visit www.e-volveyoga.com for more information/registration.

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December 19 to December 25, 2013

Life & career Coach

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Sunny Simon

To Enlarge Your Vision, Assemble Scissors and Glue

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hen I first heard about vision boards, the right and left side of my brain began a battle.

My right lobe knew I was attracted to magazines with glossy colorful pictures.

Since childhood I loved the process of cutting, pasting and day-dreaming so why not create a vision board? The left side of my brain countered that posting pictures on a piece of cardboard in the hopes of making dreams come true was utterly illogical. I let the point, counter-point go on for awhile and finally decided it made sense to take a middle-of-the-road approach.

If you are unfamiliar with the concept of a vision board, some say creating one helps manifest things you want in your life.

I totally get it if you are rolling your eyes right now thinking what kind of woo-woo stuff is this? I know some people believe posting a picture of Paris will magically create a trip to The City of Love and Lights.

While I respect their right to espouse the theory, I’m not buying into it.

Why do I create a vision board every year? It helps me expand my thought process. The next twelve months is too beautiful a gift to waste. Creating a poster board with beautiful glossy images aids in

forming my plan for the future. Centering my board on a theme helps me whittle down my broad vision to a few main objectives.

My vision board for 2014 is entitled, “The Year of Completion.” Why? I have started projects that have yet to reach the finish line.

In his book, “Your Best Life Begins Each Morning,” Joel Osteen’s states, “Keep things in front of you that you want to see come to pass.” I’ve taken Joel’s counsel seriously. My board hangs large as life in my office. Each morning it greets me like a stern professor threatening to rap my knuckles if I don’t stop procrastinating and begin working. Gazing at my board helps me visualize success.

Power lies in my intention to accomplish the goals I have set in front of me.

Whether you are trying to change careers, start a business, write a book or get in shape, it pays to repeat a process learned in kindergarten. Take out the scissors and glue and create your vision. Then, boldly hang it as a visual reminder. If you can see it, you can do it! Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching.

More about Sunny at www.raisethebarhigh. com

Ask The Doctor

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Receive The Celebrity Secret Of Permanent Cosmetic Make-Up

by dr peter kadile

Dr. Peter M. Kadile is Board Certified in Family Medicine. He has an integrative, osteopathic medical practice and is also known as the local, house call doctor; Desert House Call Physician. He is on staff at Eisenhower Medical Center and medical director for Serenity Hospice. His office is located in beautiful Old Town La Quinta, 78-100 Main Street, Suite 207, La Quinta, CA 92253. (760) 777-7439.

DesertHouseCalls@aol.com. www.deserthousecalldoc.com.

Dr. Kadile will be writing a regular column for CV Weekly. Please send any medical questions you have to editor@coachellavalleyweekly.com for him to answer.

Dear Dr. Kadile, I’m trying to eat healthy during this holiday season and increase my fruits and vegetables. That includes fruitcake, right?

-Scott, Bermuda Dunes Scott, the classic fruit cake associated with the holidays may contain a lot of fruit, but it also has plenty of sugar, butter, corn syrup and sometimes alcohol such as rum.

A slice of fruitcake may contain up to 410

calories and 13 grams of fat. The typical fruit cake is literally very heavy and you are better off using it for exercise as hand weights. Fruitcakes have also been known to be good doorstops or paperweights.

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Dear Dr. Kadile, my grandmother brings over a great Yule log for Christmas, how many pieces should I have? -Joseph, Yucca Valley Joseph, I’m assuming your grandmother brings over a great Christmas cake and not a large log of wood to be burned in the fireplace. The Yule log associated with dessert is mainly composed of chocolate, heavy cream, butter and sponge cake.

Some recipes may also include pecans and coconut. If your grandmother makes her Yule log from a grocery bought cake mix, it may contain up to 420 calories and 47 grams of sugar! I would suggest you have a very small piece.

Dear Dr. K, is homemade eggnog better?

-Teresa, Indian Wells Well, Teresa, it depends on what ingredients are used for the homemade recipe. Traditional eggnog recipes consist of milk, sugar, raw eggs, and spices, usually nutmeg. Cream or gelatin may be added along with alcohol such as bourbon. One cup of eggnog can have

up to 343 calories and 21 grams of sugar.

The store bought eggnog in a carton will usually contain artificial sweeteners and preservatives. Stick with the homemade stuff, but only have a small cup if you’re worried about your weight.

Dear Dr. Kadile, I’ve heard that mistletoe is poisonous. Is it lethal? -Leo, Cathedral City Leo, mistletoe does contain harmful toxins and the berries are considered dangerous.

But, recent studies have shown that accidental ingestion has not resulted in any

fatalities. A few people have had severe reactions, but a majority had no symptoms or may just have upset stomachs. It appears it is not deadly, but can be hazardous.

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