Elite vs Elitist

Aaron Sorkin’s getting a bum rap for his acceptance speech at Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards. In his remarks, the screenwriter encouraged his daughter to emulate the many well-educated actresses in the room*, saying I want to thank all the female nominees tonight for helping demonstrate to my young daughter that elite is not a bad…

Delicious Dinner

We had the most divine meal this evening: –Quinoa salad with mint, lime and cherry tomatoes –Roasted shiitake mushrooms –Arugula with dried cranberries, crumbled goat cheese, pistachios and balsamic vinaigrette –Steamed brussel sprouts marinated with olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic and honey –Thick slices of La Brea Bakery whole grain bread SO YUMMY!

Guest Post: Why Every Business Should Have A Social Media Policy

My friend and college classmate Michelle Sherman is special counsel in the Government Contracts and Business Trial Practice Groups in the Los Angeles office of  Sheppard Mullin, where she specializes in complex litigation matters and white collar/criminal defense. She posted this very useful article on the firm’s Cover Your Ads blog today, and graciously agreed…

Craig Ferguson on Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show

Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show, which recently celebrated its 1-year anniversary, continues to impress me with its no-b.s., conversational, audience-participation format. Writer / actor / comedian / Late Late Show host Craig Ferguson sat down with Pollak on June 20. The resulting 90 minutes must surely be Ferguson’s most personal, frank, revealing interview ever. Sure, he…

Great Vegan/Veggie Dining in Los Angeles – at a DINER!

Those following this blog for some time know that my husband and I try to follow a predominantly animal-free diet. We do this for health reasons. We occasionally and selectively enjoy cheese, ice cream, and very occasionally some seafood, poultry or meat. But our preference is for fruit, veggies, legumes and grains. Our college-student son,…

Love is…

… when you and your spouse are trying to remember the name of an obscure place in New York, but can’t, so you give up. And hours later, one of you remembers the name, calls out just one word across the house, and the other answers, “right!”

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My Follow Philosophy

Everyone has his or her own policy about following people on Twitter. Here’s mine: I follow accounts that speak to my personal and/or professional interests. They can be news feeds; fellow entertainment and media types; punsters; those who share my hobbies and passions; public figures I admire; friends of friends. But there’s always a specific…

Mary

My brilliant, brave and beautiful friend Mary Herczog lost a rare battle today, and to an especially unworthy opponent: breast cancer. She fought it heroically, and with great humor and style, for a dozen years. It finally got the better of her this morning. I met Mary through an AOL message board, not long after…

Six Months On

For those following along at home: I had my six-month post-op visit with Dr. Friedman (my oncologist) yesterday. “You look perfectly normal,” be pronounced upon examining me for any signs of recurrence. Pause. “Well, actually, I can only speak for your vagina. Whether YOU are normal or not I’m unable to vouch for.” Gotta love…

Shagadelic, baby

My favorite new iPhone app is PhotoTropedelic by Larry Weinberg ($1.99). I’ll say upfront that v1.0 auto-adds a credit to your photos – BOO for a paid app –  but the developer  heard the cries of his public and has submitted a 1.1 revision which he promises will eiminate this annoyance. Here are a few…

How the International Medical Alliance is Assisting the Haiti Relief Effort

… and how you can, too. I received this email late on Saturday from Lee Kagan, our personal physician and longtime friend: Dear Friends: The photo below was taken today (Saturday, Jan. 16) at the hospital in Jimani, Dominican Republic, where a medical team from the International Medical Alliance (www.imaonline.org) is now working. The town sits…

Heartbreak

A dear friend, who’s three years my junior, learned yesterday that the breast cancer she’s fought fearlessly for a dozen years will soon have the last laugh. She sent a typically wry email around to announce this news to her “Best Beloveds.” In it, she muses about how best to use her remaining time. “Does…

The Known Universe, Scientifically Rendered For All to See | American Museum of Natural History News

A welcome, perhaps even necessary, bit of perspective as we ring in the New Year, this short film vividly depicts the Universe as scientists best know it. Produced by Michael Hofman and directed by Carter Emmart, it’s well worth six minutes of your time. Click left or below to view. The Known Universe Scientifically Rendered…