Colin Finlay to Speak at the Annenberg

(This article originally appeared in the September 9th, 2009 edition of the Century City News)

COLIN FINLAY is one of the foremost documentary photographers in the world. He has been awarded the prestigious Picture of the Year International (POYi) honor six times.

For more than twenty years, Finlay has documented the human condition with compassion, empathy and dignity. He has covered war and conflict, disappearing traditions, the environment in both its glory and its devastation, genocide, famine, religious pilgrimage and global cultures. In pursuit of his passion, he has circled the globe twenty-seven times, in search of that one photo that will be a testament to the depth of human will and compassion, of hope and of an informed collective consciousness.

His work has been honored by prestigious organizations such as the Lucie Award/IPA, POYi (Picture of the Year International), New York Art Directors, Photo District News (PDN), Applied Arts, International Center for Photography, and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

His photographs have been featured in Vanity Fair, TIME, U.S. News and World Report, American Photo, Los Angeles Magazine, Asia Week, World Health Organization, UNICEF, Photographic Magazine, Communication Arts and Discovery.

Currently, Finlay is also a partner/collaborator at Definitive Stories, a partnership that produces and curates stories from around the world, using emerging technologies.

Finlay’s second book “Testify,” is a collection of images from seventeen years of photojournalism around the globe, and was published in 2006.

“Darfur: Twenty Years of War and Genocide in Sudan,” Finlay’s third book, was published in July 2007, by powerHouse. Co-produced with Proof and Amnesty International, this book brings to light the history of war by eight world-renowned photographers and writers. Established by Finlay, Proof is a non-profit organization established to create awareness on the issues faced by populations in post-conflict societies and to encourage social change through photography.

In 2007, Finlay also premiered 12°N x 23° E, 64°S x 60° E, a photo essay that features contrasts between photographs taken in Sudan and Antarctica. The essay, which is also produced as an art installation book, was curated by Definitive Stories. The book shows cause and effect and allows the viewer to explore and discover their own conclusions on climate change.

She came to be known by me and only me as the flycatcher. I photographed from within, as her soul slowly tore itself from her body. I sat with her in the suffering of her silence. There was no language between us. There never could be. Her name, yes her name. In her open wounds, of which there were many, flies would be drawn. Their tiny legs, swallowed, dragged down into the puss became trapped. The flycatcher would study one wound in particular. It was at the base of her inside right ankle. The place where earlier a three to four foot worm had been dutifully extracted. Although sometimes the parasite simply ate itself out of the body. She harvested from this hole two to three flies a minute. She would carefully capture them, placing one after another into her mouth. She sat alone in the black heat. Nobody came near her. They simply waited. For her next was the devils tail. Inevitable “Inconvenient Truth” I believe Al Gore would call it. This is where her essence would fall from within her. The rectum, the lower bowels, are simply no longer be held by the body, and what was once inside is now out. Death, I wish was quicker.

But now, she lies within me. Folded into my soul, her and the thousands of others. I do not reject. I now accept their souls as one within me. The courage to live with what I’ve seen.
- Colin Finlay

There was a time, when those who came to spawn were the only ones. They were soon followed by the fish who swim as rainbows, those who came to swallow the egg. Then came the bears with their dusted coats of caramel, all gathered for hibernations harvest. They dove out from the shores of the Kirkuit as brilliant acrobats into their shared river of life. All of them feeding a hunger that time alone and consequence has brought. As it has brought me. I am compelled however to speak of truth. I am here to witness beauty, sidestepping my stock and trade of tragedy. In these first days of fall, as the leaves of cottonwood turn to trees of golden fire I wade out into the water in my chest waders to swim with the bears. The camera I have brought with me lies at the fringe of irrelevant…I am now one with the water as they are. This river of autumn’s gold.
- Colin Finlay

You will die. Man will see to that. You have beneath your paws oil, and this is something we kill men, women and children for. And death, it will not discriminate and it will not be quick. You are to be protected under the endangered species act, but the caveat is that you are the only animal where your environment does not have to be protected. Inuit elder’s are said to be reincarnating into your very essence. To know what it is that you feel, to learn from within your soul. Inhabit your eyes, to understand your pain, and the hunger that consumes you, joining you in your plight.

The scientists that I have worked with, your brothers of great empathy, they have been studying you since 1969 and tell me that by 2015 half of the bears in my photographs will be gone and the entire population will be extinct by 2040. I have now heard that since our conversations that number has been reduced downward to 2035. The ice bear will be gone, bred in captivity and living in zoos of white paint and swimming pools so that we can go visit her polar majesty. I am glad that I saw you when you were once free. Where I stood with you in the deep silence that is the Arctic, your infinite horizon, the land that you walk upon, your home. I arrived into your winter, to hear your breath, to see your offspring and the mother that you are, to witness, with guilt, knowing that my species will usher your sacred lives down the vast unlit halls until the last flutter of your heart dies within you.
- Colin Finlay

I found the “Lords of Africa”, and they sleep there under clouds of guilt with their innocence. Ancient infants, caught between two worlds. One that wants them and one that does not. Refugees of the Great Plains, the savannah, limbs cut from the tree of life. They whisper now into the thunder and I am here to photograph their voice.

Drought, it has come to Tsavo, the worst since 1850 and the water, the commodity that it is, is now precious and fought over. Man triumphs here, bringing down the Lords because they drink too much water, leaving less and less for his goats and cattle who do not belong here in the first place. Felling grace, leaving the infants to die of starvation. At times the tusks are taken and the Ellie’s, as the babies are known, are driven off leaving the men to butcher in peace, these harvesters of the land whales. Leaving behind what they think is a lesser god to man.

And from this darkness comes 22 baby elephants, more than twice the number they have ever had since opening in 1975. Lula, the most recent refugee to arrive, timid to stand amongst the others keeps her red jacket on the longest. Eyes still withdrawn, sucked in, closed to what she must have seen as her mother was killed before her. I don’t know how she stands with her pain, how she could allow the touch of another human, another voice. I was gifted time with them, these “Lords of Africa” and in that time I would be changed forever. I couldn’t help but be as Lula and the others folded me into their world.

From this silence came Kalama, she dropped her head and gently pushed me. From side to side she rubbed against me, seeing just how much my body would give. An early assertion of her strength, her power over me, and once I knew my place, once I was approved, she broke, gently wrapping her trunk around my wrist and lower forearm pulling me towards her. The bond. She wanted to suckle from my finger and for a brief moment I became her surrogate mother. She raised her trunk, using it to anchor or balance herself against my chest as she continued to suckle. A few minutes later, her eyes closed and I felt more of her weight upon me. She was asleep now as I held her in my arms. I brushed a fly away from her eye and felt for the first time in my life what it must be to be a parent. Her silence now sleeps with me in my heart, this gentle “Lord of Africa” and I am grateful to have shared in a love so unique.
- Colin Finlay

September 23rd - 26th is Colin Finlay in Century City Week
23rd - VIP Reception at Cal National Bank 6pm - 1800 Avenue of the Stars
24th - Lecture 6:30-8pm at the Annenberg Space For Photography 2000 Avenue of the Stars
26th - Workshop 9am-4pm at the Annenberg Space For Photography 2000 Avenue of the Stars

Jeff Garrison is Fiscally Green®

(This article originally appeared in the August 25th, 2009 in the Century City News)

Stonefield Josephson’s President Promotes His Firm as:
“Accountants for Your Green World”

Is accountant and Stonefield Josephson President Jeff Garrison more plugged in to his solar panel than his calculator? Does he prefer a carbon footprint analysis to an audit analysis? Is Garrison, in fact, the green accountant ambassador? While the White House appointment has yet to materialize, it is clear that Garrison’s interest and activities in eco-friendly arenas beyond spreadsheets is altering the geeky, numbers-obsessed image of the accountant, while doing something good for the environment.

“I’ve never worn a pocket protector,” he says. Instead, Garrison, who has led the Los Angeles-based full-service accounting firm Stonefield Josephson since 2002, prefers to spend quality time with his kids and run on the beach with his dog. You can see him doing so in an advertising campaign to show the firm’s personality. “Accountants aren’t dorks,” says Garrison.

To prove it, the company maintains a “Back Porch” section on its website (www.sjaccounting.com) to showcase the private passions of its CPAs, which range from art collecting to surfing to cooking. On the site, CPAs offer recipes for paella, chicken tarragon, and other favorite dishes, and Garrison himself suggests wine pairings. Exposing the firm’s soft side helped it reach its annual revenue, says Garrison, as well as attract clients from successful rock acts and the hippest clothing venues to numerous “green” companies.

“Green business has moved rapidly from the periphery to the mainstream,” Garrison states. “It now holds promise for businesses of every size in every sector. There is, in fact, a growing trend in which more and more people are deciding whether or not they use a company based on its environmental orientation. I believe that if companies don’t alter their habits to fit in with the changing viewpoint of the population, they will soon be left behind by their quicker, smarter rivals. Being more environmentally friendly makes great business sense in many ways.”

Stonefield Josephson takes its commitment to the preservation and restoration of the planet seriously. Its sustainability practice, termed Fiscally Green®, and under Garrison’s leadership, is working to implement sustainability techniques and promote environmental responsibility within both home and office. It is introducing eco-friendly business practices and developing strong business alliances with like-minded companies that share the firm’s passion for protecting the environment and promoting responsible ecological practices that benefit the commercial sector and the community at large.

By reducing waste, developing energy conservation efforts and facilitating community outreach programs, Stonefield Josephson is committing to sustainability as a path to creating business value. Employee engagement in sustainability is an essential component of Stonefield Josephson’s green initiative – one that creates an energized and passionate team environment. “Encouraging our employees to reduce their carbon footprint, and guiding them in how to do so, is just one of the ways we’re making that happen,” notes Garrison. “Stonefield Josephson is proud to be one of the first accounting firms to embrace sustainable practices and become responsible stewards of the environment.”

“Green is a path for creating significant, durable business value,” states Garrison. “Green represents a way of seeing our business and the challenges it faces through a new lens that can bring exciting new opportunities for us into focus. Green business offers opportunities to put money back in the pockets of owners, shareholders and employees by cutting wasteful spending on excessive resource use. We are sold on green’s triple bottom line (TBL) of economic, environmental and social benefit – not just for our clients, but also for ourselves.”

While Garrison is all for the warm, fuzzy aspects of the sustainability movement, his level of expertise runs deeper and continues to deepen and evolve over time. He explains, “Fiscally Green® is dealing regularly with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, with emphasis on: Title IV: Energy and Water Development, IRS codes, and U.S. Treasury grants. If all these green opportunities don’t create a warm, green feeling in business owners’ hearts, they will most certainly create a warm, green feeling in their wallets.”

Garrison concludes, “Embracing a greener lifestyle isn’t just about helping to preserve equatorial rain forests, it can also mean improving your health, padding your bank account, and, ultimately, improving your overall quality of life. Bottom line for our firm -- green business is smart business. Going green provides cost savings as well as a competitive advantage in the marketplace.”


For more information or questions about Fiscally Green® or Stonefield Josephson, please contact Jeff Garrison, President, at 310.432.7456 or jgarrison@sjaccounting.com.
Stonefield Josephson, Inc.
2049 Century Park East
Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90067

Have You Had Your Mammogram This Year?

(This article originally appeared in the April 7, 2009 edition of the Century City News)

By Michael Douglas Carlin

There is a brave woman on the front cover of the Century City News this issue. Brave not because she has abandoned what society calls decency by shedding the wig and embracing her cancer. No she is brave because she has stared down the Grim Reaper that came a callin’ for her a wee bit prematurely. She was recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer and she embraced her situation willing to follow the advice of her team of doctors and fight – for her life. Three weeks ago she was declared “Cancer Free” and has so far won her fight. The threat of cancer is never fully gone.

But the question is put to all of you by Kimberly Michel because she cares about each of you. Have you had your mammography this year? Early detection could save your life. It is a topic that nobody wants to discuss and yet too many of us mourn our friends that have stared at the Grim Reaper and not been victorious. Too many lives have been cut short by the most deadly killer for women. Kim is also brave to buck societal pressures to cover up and hide behind the wig. But those of you who know her and are able to call her a friend also know that this is a woman that is “salt of the earth” even though she has achieved the upper strata of success. She is hoping by shedding the wig she can help to save a few lives. One of those lives might be yours. Have you had your mammography this year? Seriously, have you?

I met Kim a number of years ago when I started this paper. I met her through my Rotary Club as one of her agents is a Rotarian. I was invited into her company, Michel Financial Group, the Mass Mutual Representative on the West Side of Los Angeles. I knew then that I was in the right place because each and every person at the company had such positive energy. I discovered that all of them followed the lead of Kim who is the General Agent of the Company. Over the years I have become a friend and fan of both Kim and the company and the news that Kim had been diagnosed with breast cancer was very troubling to me. Kim is a woman who has given back to an extent that is certainly not common in our society and she truly is a “pillar of the community”. The day I learned about her battle I felt our community was being shaken. How could someone that is so good be battling something so bad?

One of the ironies is that a particular organization that both Kim and I have worked for is the Lorraine Jackson Foundation that provides scholarships for children that have lost a parent to breast cancer. Kim was extremely involved prior to any awareness that she would be stalked by the disease. Thankfully her children may never qualify for those scholarships. Will your own children qualify? Have you had your mammography this year?

Many of you that know me also know that I participate in humanitarian causes. This past week our little team shipped a container that has 2 echo cardiogram machines and a couple hundred boxes of “single use” medical supplies that will save an unknown but significant amount of lives. I bring it up because those lives are a world away from our community. If we reach out to save them but lose our friends and neighbors in the process how much meaning will it all have? I am grateful that my friend, Kim, elected to take on the fight with breast cancer and has won. What would our community be without all of the Kimberly Michel’s in it? Get that mammography today!

I recently had the opportunity to sit behind closed doors and ask all of the inappropriate questions about Kim’s battle. Kim was very candid and if you want someone to talk to about her battle with the disease I invite you to call her up and talk. She will be most accommodating.

Kim is a mother, a wife, and a business woman. She never thought she would have breast cancer. She has been faithful about going to her screenings every year and in spite of them was diagnosed with two tumors in each breast that have been present for seven or eight years. They were missed because they were deep within the tissue. Her doctor’s appointment for “Hot Flashes” is what led to the discovery of the tumors. She was seeking hormone replacement therapy when the doctor said I think you need to go in for an MRI this Saturday. She quickly assembled an entire team of female doctors that developed a battle strategy that included radical mastectomy and chemotherapy. The result was that Kim needed eight days off every six weeks. The entire process was very painful for her and for the entire family but as a result she tells us that they are all so much closer now. There were a few moments of levity when her five year old grabbed the wig and put it on running around the house yelling “I’m the mommy! I’m the mommy!”

Kim talks about her husband and tears well up. “Tom was a rock. He learned about having to be the daddy and the mommy in our household.” Tom authored a number of letters he called care pages sent out to family and friends to update them on Kim’s progress. Through it all he kept his sense of humor. He learned that you can’t rush cancer. Cancer takes the time it takes. He has learned that you have to wait things out. Tom and the kids were exposed to the indecency of cancer as during those eight days off Kim would go through various stages of the chemotherapy and some of them were not that pretty.

Kim is in the business of selling insurance. As we look out her window we see Insurance giant AIG and that brings up talk of the times we live in. One thing she tells me about her brush with death is the experience she had with healthcare. A single bill she received for $116,000 for a five day hospital stay was renegotiated by the insurance carrier down to $8,000. I didn’t get it at first so I asked her to explain. If you went into the hospital as uninsured you would have paid $116,000 for the services. When her health insurance company got the bill they called up the hospital and negotiated the bill down to $8,000. Kim said, “Our healthcare system is broken.” But that doesn’t mean that Kim didn’t have an appreciation for being insured to the hilt. As an insurance executive she is a believer in being well insured and she has great coverage. Her own experiences have bolstered that belief and she wants to help everyone be prepared for the unexpected. She also wants you to get the medical attention that you need in time to save your life. Have you had your mammography this year?

Like the optimist I have always known Kim to be she tells me about the positive things that have come from her bout with Breast Cancer. She talks about her kids being better kids, the 25 pounds that she has lost, and not having to shave her legs. Now when Kim sits in traffic she no longer gets irritated by it – “Traffic? Big Deal!” Her child was called into the Principal’s office twice in one day… she wasn’t happy but she was slightly amused. The lesson for Kim is that in the grand scheme of things LIFE IS SHORT AND IT’S PRECIOUS. Not just her life but yours. She has taken her wig off to reveal the smooth bald and the now furry bald head that brings awareness to the issue of breast cancer. She is wearing her baldness to save lives. As we part Kim says, “Thank God for hot flashes!”

JMB LEADS IN SUSTAINABILITY

(This article appeared in the May 14th, 2012 edition of the Century City News)

JMB THE PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY

By Michael Douglas Carlin

Those are pretty heavy words – “The Pillar.” In the case of JMB these words have never been more fitting. Their position in the community has been earned over a lifetime of doing the right things for Century City, Los Angeles, California, America and now Mother Earth. On numerous occasions they have transformed patches of dirt into architectural works of art. They have earned a reputation of improving society every time they embark on a venture. They have risked billions of dollars and been tenacious to unveil skyline transformations that rewarded the risk handsomely. Each of their Century City investments improves the revenue of the City of Los Angeles, adds upscale office space, and converts a patch of dirt to the highest possible use.

No wonder politicians flock to them, investors court them, top managers vie for positions in their company, and vendors struggle to get their attention. JMB has roots to almost every single building within Century City. They have placed their mark indelibly upon the landscape of what has become the financial capital of the West Coast. The entire time they have been working hard to bring the dream of Century City to fruition it has been an uphill battle. Yet JMB has always found a way to win. They worked with local neighborhood groups on the details of every project to design and fully integrate their buildings into the fabric of the community.

But what would we expect from the pillar of the community? The have brought tax revenues, created jobs, added value, put capital to good use, and provided an increased quality of life for so many people. But there is so much more that JMB has done as the pillar of the community. For years they maintained the common areas within Century City at a substantial cost that will never be repaid. Now they are leading the way through their sustainability initiatives. Constellation Place was the first building in Los Angeles to become LEED EB Certified and in 2010 they attained LEED EB Gold Certification. They installed solar panels on the rooftops of two parking structures that reduce daytime demand of energy by 29%. And recently they have installed Bloom Fuel Cell Power Generators that power 33% of the building’s power demand and reduced emissions by 30%.

When we look at what is wrong with America let’s put it into context of what is right with America. Hardworking people continue to improve patches of dirt into their highest uses. They get well paid for being risk-takers. We need to celebrate their accomplishments and encourage more of this sort of activity to get America back on track. Perhaps Judd Malkin, Jody Talintino, Vallery Hall, and Sarah Shaw are interested in running for a higher office… perhaps their plan for a better tomorrow is a good one and we should all get out of the way and let them continue doing what they have proven they can do… to perfection.

JMB Installs First of its Kind Bloom Energy Fuel Cell Servers in Los Angeles to help reduce carbon footprint by nearly 30 percent in its Constellation Place Office Building

JMB Realty announced the reduction of Constellation Place’s carbon footprint by nearly 30 percent through the installation of Bloom Energy ServersTM. The state of the art fuel cell power generators will produce 400 kW of power and supply approximately one-third of the building’s electrical demand.

“JMB is excited to be Bloom Energy’s first high-rise, class A office installation. As the first of its kind in Los Angeles, Constellation Place continues to set a precedent in its ongoing commitment to green technology and reducing its carbon footprint,” said Sarah Shaw, Vice President Development and Operations for Constellation Place. “These servers, combined with the existing photovoltaic system, enable JMB to offer its tenants a greener office environment while generating significant savings.

Bloom Servers, adapted from NASA technology, each occupy a space equivalent to the size of an average parking space and contain thousands of Bloom fuel cells - flat, solid ceramic squares made from a sand-like powder- which convert air and natural gas into electricity via a clean electrochemical process, while reducing carbon emissions.

Bloom Energy is a Distributed Generation (DG) solution that is clean, reliable and affordable all at the same time. Bloom’s Energy Servers can produce clean energy 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, delivering faster payback and greater environmental benefits. And while other DG systems may require lengthy installations, sunny locations, or demand for consistent heat load, Bloom Energy systems are easy and fast to install, practically anywhere. “JMB is demonstrating that building owners and operators can create value from clean and reliable sources of energy,” said Bill Thayer, Executive Vice President Sales and Service at Bloom Energy. “Serving its tenants and its own environmental goals affordably makes this a perfect project for Bloom Energy. We are proud to work with a leader like JMB.”


With this energy-producing initiative, JMB Realty joins an elite list of Fortune 500 Bloom Energy customers including E-Bay, Fed-Ex, Google, Staples and Walmart.

About Constellation Place

Located in the heart of Century City on Constellation Boulevard, Constellation Place was built by an affiliate of Chicago-based developer, JMB Realty Corp. In June 2008, Constellation Place became the first high rise office building in Los Angeles to receive the USGBC LEED® Silver certification in the existing building category. Constellation Place has since gone through the recertification process and achieved LEED® Gold Certification.

Eco-Warrior Leads Assault On Climate Change

(This article appeared in the January 24th, 2012 edition of the Century City News)

By Michael Douglas Carlin


Ask David Nahai about the state of affairs in America and he thunders back, “Congress needs to get its act together.” He is referring to the gridlock that paralyzes our political system and he is referring to the uncertainty of Congress ignoring important issues that need solutions now. David Nahai is the foremost authority on the two problems that are facing humanity and he hails from Century City. Where humanity will get energy and water are daunting challenges that face us for our future. David is optimistic that solutions are available but we need to make many changes in how we live. “There is a tremendous interplay between water and energy, 20% of California’s energy is spent to pump water from one place to another.” Clearly the cheapest and cleanest energy unit comes from the energy unit that isn’t used. Changing how we get our water could provide us with significant savings on the energy frontier. David is an expert in the field of water and energy and he talks fluidly about both sides of the equation – production and consumption. Clearly he knows how to preserve every drop of our precious resources… but he also has a vision for how humanity will conquer the daunting challenges that face us.

He encourages small businesses and individuals to make changes now that are voluntary warning that down the road those changes may become obligatory. David proudly wears the monikers of environmentalist and entrepreneur. He tells everyone that going green is a double entendre – meaning that you reduce humanity’s carbon footprint while at the same time making money. The green rush in California is fueling our economy. The green rush is our future.

He speaks candidly about DWP’s challenges that lay ahead. Coal will soon be eliminated as an energy source and DWP is working hard to transition to cleaner sources of energy. David refers to the DWP website for a wealth of information about rebates and incentives for going green. This information is a great resource to make more money or to shave the costs of any household or business. He is quick to point out the green initiatives at Watt Plaza where he offices. Watt has been one of the early adopters of green technology to conserve water, recycle, and reduce their carbon footprint.

With Los Angeles being the tipping point of the world on the green frontier, we in Century City might just be the tipping point of the tipping point. David is available as a lawyer and consultant. He speaks regularly at green conferences worldwide. For more information about David go to
www.davidnahai.com

Biography

H. David Nahai has an extensive record of success in both the private and public sectors, as a lawyer, CEO, government official, environmentalist, business owner and community leader.

Nahai is a partner in the law firm of Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith and is a co-chair of the Firm’s national energy, environmental, water, and real estate practice. Nahai is also the President of David Nahai Consulting Services, LLC and is Senior Advisor to the Clinton Climate Initiative.

David Nahai Consulting Services advises and assists public and private entities involved in the environmental sector, with particular emphasis on renewable energy, energy efficiency, water conservation and wastewater treatment and recycling projects.

The Clinton Climate Initiative is a division of the Clinton Foundation. The mission of the Clinton Climate Initiative is to bring about the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale through specific project partnerships with governments around the world.

Until October, 2009, Nahai served as the Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the largest municipal utility in the United States. In this capacity, Nahai oversaw more than 9,000 employees and an annual budget of more than $4.5 billion. Nahai resigned as CEO in October, 2009, but served as consultant to LADWP until December 2009.

Nahai was nominated as LADWP’s CEO by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and confirmed by the City Council in 2007. He served for two years on the LADWP Board of Commissioners prior to becoming CEO. He was appointed to the Board in 2005 and became Board President in 2006.
Nahai led an overall transformation of the LADWP that included the unprecedented expansion of the utility’s renewable energy portfolio; the origination and execution of the City’s groundbreaking Water Supply Plan; the attainment of historic reductions in water consumption in the City; the realization of record breaking energy efficiency levels; and the launch and implementation of water and power infrastructure improvement programs. Under his leadership, the LADWP increased its renewable energy portfolio from 3 percent in 2005 to around 15 percent by the end of 2009, and achieved the completion of Pine Tree, the nation’s largest municipally owned wind farm, and the Lower Owens River Project, viewed as the most extensive river restoration program in the United States. Additionally, Nahai oversaw the creation of the Los Angeles Solar Plan, the most ambitious solar program of any municipal utility in the U.S. Under Nahai’s leadership, LADWP garnered numerous environmental awards, including the 2008 Climate Change Leadership Award from Green California and the 2009 Los Angeles Heritage Award from Project Restore.
In addition to his expertise in the energy field, Nahai is widely recognized as a leading expert on water issues. He served for over 10 years on California’s Regional Water Quality Control Board, which safeguards the quality of surface, ground, and coastal waters in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, an area with over 11 million residents.

At the Water Quality Board, Nahai served under three different Governors. He was first appointed by Governor Pete Wilson, and re-appointed by both Governor Gray Davis and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Nahai was elected to an unprecedented four terms as Chairman of the Board in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2006.

Nahai is credited with reinvigorating the effectiveness of the Water Board and spearheading some of its most aggressive programs, especially in the area of coastal protection. During Nahai’s tenure, the Board was awarded the Environmental Leadership Award by Keep California Beautiful, in appreciation of the Board’s pioneering work in the area of urban run-off pollution. The Water Board’s prestigious annual awards have been named the “H. David Nahai Water Quality Awards” in recognition of his service. He resigned from the Board in 2007, upon accepting the CEO position at LADWP.

Nahai began his career in the private sector as an attorney three decades ago, working at some of the United States’ largest and most respected law firms. He started at Loeb & Loeb and was a partner at Memel, Jacobs, Pierno, Gersh & Ellsworth, at Finley, Kumble et al and at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan. In 1992, Nahai formed Nahai Law Corporation, specializing in real estate, corporate, environmental and commercial law. He divested his interest in the firm in 2007.

As a transactional real estate and environmental lawyer for 30 years, Nahai has represented clients and performed transactions at the highest levels, working on complex matters and supervising teams of attorneys. Nahai is an AV rated lawyer.

Nahai has been the recipient of numerous awards and commendations. In 2003, he received the Environmental Champion Award from the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters. In 2008, he was honored as an environmental leader by Heal the Bay. He has been twice honored for community leadership.

Nahai sits on the Boards of the California League of Conservation Voters and Heal the Bay, and has served on the Boards of numerous charities, including the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, the Iranian American Jewish Federation, and the Jewish Community Foundation.

Nahai holds graduate and post-graduate degrees in law from the London School of Economics and the University of California at Berkeley, and was a Visiting Scholar at Berkeley.

Nahai is a frequent speaker and radio and television guest regarding environmental, climate change, water, and energy issues.

6 Easy Steps to a Great Presentation

(This article originally appeared in the Feb 8th, 2013 edition of the Century City News)

by David Ackert

We’re advisors. We have advice to share. But if no one knows that, our intellectual capital sits in our heads collecting cobwebs.

Typically we demonstrate our expertise during a “free consultation” where we pitch our capabilities in an effort to dazzle a prospective client. But this kind of forum doesn’t provide much leverage. Presentations, on the other hand, are a great way for us to share our message with a large number of people, brand ourselves as experts, and generate new business prospects.

The introverts among us often shrink away from this strategy. Perhaps you feel that you don’t have the polish or the stage presence or the courage to stand in front of a group and put on a show. Fear not. Your next great presentation can be as simple as a free consultation in a group setting. Here are 6 easy steps that will unleash your wallflower power:

1. Introduce yourself
2. Pose a problem or challenge to the room that falls inside your area of expertise
3. Ask the audience to take a minute to write about a similar situation they’ve seen or experienced
4. Tell them to turn to the person next to them and share details about this problem
5. Call on one or two of your audience members to share what they just discussed with the person next to them
6. Finally, give your perspective on the problem

In just a few minutes, you’ve shown the audience what it’s like to work with you, while also branding yourself as an authority on a relevant topic. Now that they’ve seen you in action, they’re much more likely to come up to you after the meeting with a request for your help (with the problem they just identified in your presentation). The best part is, they did most of the work. All you had to do was do what you do best: advise.

Cultivating Love Is Like Growing Flowers

(This article was published in the Century City News on April 17, 2012)

No matter who tries to tell you different, love at first sight is a myth. Love is not something that just happens, and building relationships that last a lifetime takes work. They don’t just spring into being, but they do grow like flowers if you give them what they need.

Just as love lies in everyone’s heart, every seed contains the flower it may become when given the right conditions. For a flower, those conditions include water, oxygen, sunlight and nutrients. Give a seed the right proportion of sunlight and dark, the right amount of water and a nutrient-rich growing medium and you’ll be rewarded with a strong, healthy plant that flowers and sets more seed. A plant can grow without the optimal mix of those conditions, but a lack of any one of them will result in a stunted plant, or one that is all stem and no leaves or one that wilts without ever flowering.

Love is no different. It requires specific conditions to blossom and set seed. Those conditions include trust, faith, honesty and respect. If you don’t provide each of those conditions for your relationship, you’ll still have a relationship and you may have something resembling love. But just like a plant deprived of sunlight or water will grow stunted and crooked, so a relationship without faith and respect and trust will never fulfill its potential.

Of the four qualities that help nurture love, the most important is respect. Love cannot exist without respect. It’s a prerequisite. Relationships without respect are unhealthy and harmful to the persons involved in them. When you respect another, you listen to them and consider their needs and desires and work to earn their respect. All of those things are vital to growing health relationships.

Many people exist under the misconception that respect is something that must be earned. In fact, respect is something that should be given freely. Unless you are open to respect, you’ll be shutting out any possibility of allowing love to grow to its fullest potential. If you only respect those who have earned your respect, you could be closing out many possibilities for loving others.

Like love, trust, honesty and faith also depend upon respect to grow strong and health. These four pillars of love lean upon each other and together, they create an arbor on which love can climb and grow and flower.

If you want love to flower in your life, if you want to build relationships that last for a lifetime, practice respect. Learn to respect everyone around you for the simple fact that they are, like you, a person.

About Dr. Jackson:

A veteran of 25 years of business ownership experience. A member of the United States Naval Submarine Service from 1979 to 1985. Founder and Chairman of G.E. Jackson & Associates, Inc., as well as River Eagle Media Group, LLC www.rivereaglemedia.com and The Examples of Excellence Foundation, Inc. www.examplesofexcellence.org And a member of Rotary International. A lover of life, nature, people, and the positive light in each and every one of God’s greatest creation - Humanity!

Century City Real Estate Report

(This article was published in the Century City News on April 17, 2012)

By Bess Hochman

Positive Signs Of Real Estate Recovery On Luxury L.A. Westside

Recently sales from the beach to Bel-Air and Beverly Hills have been seeing a resurgence of activity not seen on the Westside since the height of the real estate bubble five years ago. Some attribute that to the stock market rebound and lower prices attracting the high end buyer. We are even seeing multiple offers!

Case in point, a 5 bedroom post and beam residence in Beverly Hills designed by A. Quincy Jones asking about 6.5 Million Dollars stimulated several offers last month. It was reported to be under contract at over the asking price going out at 6.625 Million Dollars. Real Estate agents from Brentwood, Bel Air, Beverly Hills and the Pacific Palisades are all reporting movement on the high end in their neighborhoods.

Another optimistic sign is houses are on the market for a shorter period of time before selling according to Realtor.com. It reported the median number of days a Westside home sat on the market about a year ago was 115 days compared with only 88 days now. The numbers reflect a 23% decline year over year in the number of days on the market before a home goes under contract.

More signs of a real estate recovery are reflected in reports and comments made by respected real estate tracking services in the last couple of weeks. These reports include studies concerning rent increases, housing affordability and foreclosure rates.

USC’s Lust Center for Real Estate expects rents in Los Angeles will rise by about 8% in 2012 with total growth of 9.6% by the end of 2013. This is more evidence that we are in a real estate upswing. While this is not good news for renters, it is a good incentive to buyers of investment properties. The rise in rents in Los Angeles, Orange County and other areas of Southern Californian reflect a national trend in the apartment sector.

The fact that housing affordability is at its highest level ever is another positive for the market says mortgage tracker CoreLogic. In spite of concern about another wave of foreclosures, Realty Trac which tracks foreclosures, reports foreclosure activity during the first 3 months of the year hit its lowest quarterly total since the last quarter of 2007. While foreclosure activity remains high by historical levels, it is lower than the peak levels over the last few years.

According to Realtor.com data showing the Westside median list price down about 5% from a year ago, reduced prices are attracting more interest. With high end sales on the rise, buyers are no longer assured that the house they saw on the market last week will still be available a few weeks later. Keep in mind the high end market is not reflective of all price spectrums so be sure to consult a real estate expert in your area to provide you with current information about sale trends in your neighborhood.

To find Luxury homes and condos, including short pays and foreclosures in your area or for a free consultation, contact Bess at 310.291.4111. Bess Hochman is a Real Estate Broker & top producer for more than 15 years. Bess is also distinguished by holding a law degree. Her high-end clientele include celebrities, attorneys, and other professionals that understand the value of a real estate broker with legal expertise and experience. A native of Beverly Hills, Bess credits her success to repeat referrals by her satisfied clients.

Contact Bess:310.291.4111.E-mail: Bess.CenturyCityNews@yahoo.com
* The sources of information may or may not have been based on information from the combined /Westside Multiple Listing Service as of 4-13-12. Some listings may not be available as of publication.
c. 2012 Bess Hochman
---------------------------
“Bess is a master negotiator!” says Michael Donaldson, attorney & author of Negotiating For Dummies

Supreme Court decision in Brinker v. Superior Court provides clarity to employees and employers, will reduce costly litigation

(This article was published in the Century City News on April 17, 2012)

In a unanimous ruling, the California Supreme Court determined in Brinker Restaurant v. Superior Court that employers are “not obligated to police meal breaks and ensure no work thereafter is performed.” Among other issues, the court finally answered the question of what it means to “provide” a meal break. The court’s opinion stated that an employer satisfies this obligation if it relieves its employees of all duties, relinquishes control over their activities and permits them a reasonable opportunity to take an uninterrupted 30-minute break and does not impede or discourage them from doing so.

“We commend Brinker for seeing this case through the judicial process to an end that will benefit employers from countless industries,” California Restaurant Association President + CEO Jot Condie said. “Employers have spent millions fighting and settling frivolous lawsuits on these issues and now have some clarity on how to move forward in compliance with the law.”

The court ruled that employers aren’t required to ensure that no work is done during a meal or rest period. The ruling provides much-needed clarity and relief to operators on an issue that has plagued the California courts with countless lawsuits that have been a significant source of costly class-action litigation for numerous industries.

Employers wishing to capitalize on the flexibility that Brinker provides should immediately ensure that they have written policies in place advising employees of their right to take meal and rest breaks, and emphasize the timing of those breaks. The court also made clear that employers may not in any way pressure employees to work through their meal breaks by way of “ridicule or reprimand.”

“It’s more important than ever to train management staff on the proper way to handle these breaks,” said Condie. “The bottom-line from Brinker is that those 30 minutes belong to the employee and they can choose for themselves how to spend that time.

“We’re hopeful that as the second-largest private employer in the state, the restaurant industry can get back to dedicating more time and resources to employing Californians, reducing the state’s nearly 11-percent unemployment rate, and helping the economy recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression,” Condie said.

Social City News by Marci Weiner

(This article was published in the Century City News on April 17, 2012)

By Marci Weiner

GENESIS AWARDS & JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
Multi-talented Carrie Ann Inaba, best known as one of the three judges on Dancing with the Stars,served as Host for the 28th Genesis Awards. These awards are presented by the Humane Society to honor news and entertainment media for raising public awareness of animal issues.

This year’s recipient of the prestigious Wyler Award was Ian Somerhalder, Star of the TV hit series the Vampire Diaries. He was recognized for his dedication to animal advocacy and spreading the word about such issues as shark fining, fur in fashion and endangered species.

Other awards were presented to Rise of the Planet of the Apes (Outstanding Feature Film) The Colbert Report ) whaling issues) and the Ellen DeGeneres Show for Outstanding Talk Show, which dealt with dog fighting and puppy mills.

Among the celebrity presenters were Bill Maher, Jason Ritter, Sophia Bush, Rose McGowan, Mobyand Cloris Leachman – but the one who received the most applause was adorable Uggie, the show-stealing terrier from The Artist. Everyone wanted to pose with the precocious pup.

Kudos to Beverly Kasky, senior director of Hollywood Outreach Program and producer of the Genesis Awards – which will premiere as a one-hour special on Animal Planet on May 5th.

Another event, which you won’t want to miss, is the 7th Annual LA Jewish Film Festival, which runs from May 5-10th. They kick off their excellent line-up of 26 films with an opening night star-studded red carpet celebration and premiere of the authorized Documentary, Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom. Some of the celebs who are in the film, will participate in a discussion proceeding the film, including Theresa Russel, Mamie Van Doren, Marian Collier and Jill Vandenberg Curtis. Others invited to attend include: Shirley Jones, Theo Bikel, Hugh Hefner, Consul General of Israel, Tia Carrere, and the stars of The Artist, Penelope Ann Miller & Ed Lauter. Wonder if Uggie will be in attendance?

For a full schedule of the films and events being offered, please check out their website www.lajfilmfest.org Remember their motto: “Our films aren’t just selected, They’re Chosen.”

Love Buzz - RECEIVING FROM THE HEART

(This article was published in the Century City News on April 17, 2012)


By Anita De Francesco, MA
Relationship Specialist

Are you a giver or a receiver? It is said that giving is a way to open to the higher power while receiving is a way to connect to the universe. When we receive we allow the positive flow of another’s gifts to circulate through our system. We give ourselves the permission to let someone in. I believe if we can’t receive then we lack a sense of worth, loss and possibly guilt. Some people would rather give because they don’t know how to receive . When we receive there is a warmth in the heart that begins to open up with joy; a warmth that surrounds the chest and heart areas with love and attention and a feeling of love that circulates through the rest of the body. Is this hard to receive? Receiving comes in many forms such as taking a compliment, or a material gift or a smile or even a touch. When we allow ourselves to receive there is a certain love that we show ourselves that no one else experiences but you. Receiving is a way of connecting and opening your heart to your own feelings. You may not like a gift that someone gives you but the question is how well do you receive it? Do you receive it with anger, disappointment, and frustration or with love even if they didn’t know what you needed or wanted. Did it ever occur to you that people are trying their best to please us in any way they can. When you go to a restaurant and you didn’t like the dessert that was homemade from this family owned restaurant; do you label it as being bad food or do you instead say to your heart, they tried their best to please me the customer and they did put effort into it and I should appreciate them for their love; they are doing their best. We forget to look at what other people have available to give from their hearts. We only give what we are able to and what we know. When we receive we teach ourselves and others the real meaning of love and in essence we get smarter and sharper.

Are you a terrible receiver and caught between the heart and the words thank you? Do you over give and forget you have boundaries? Giving and receiving are what connect us to the fundamental experiences of life and interdependence. When we give unconditionally we also long to receive deeply and liberally and to feel the meaning of being touched, nourished and transformed by others. It is others who help us transform into the next dimension of our being.

Let us take it a step further, are you a giver or receiver in the bedroom and do you have a hard time asking for what you want and deserve to receive? This practice of receiving begins in everyday life activities before it can even have affect in the bedroom. Receiving can be challenging as we live in a world of selfishness and when we receive with open heart it can sometimes look like selfishness. To remove the selfish and get away from the “take” requires intention and love. Good intention when giving helps people open to a different level that allows them to feel and appreciate. This can be contagious. If we are cold hearted and hateful then receiving can get lost and become taking. There are takers out there and we need to teach them to appreciate everything even the little things that they are given from others and the universe. The universe gives us so much everyday; and yet we don’t take notice. The old saying is better to give then to receive is not true. It is good to have a balance between the two. When we allow ourselves to receive our levels of dopamine rise which is the hormone of feeling good. Receive with confidence and courage. Anthropologist Marcel Mauss examined gift economics and concluded that there is no such thing as a free gift. He claimed that one has no right to refuse a gift, if so it shows a fear of having to reciprocate. So when you receive do you feel obligated to give back such as in holiday or birthday times? The old tit for tat theory. If you receive with open heart and confidence those false feelings of obligation will dissolve. We give to show love and affection and we should also receive with those same feelings. In China the practice of reciprocity is so profound that it is the basic rule of being a person. They believe in repaying ones gratitude with more than what they received. For example if they honor one arm they repay back in honoring ten arms. Every culture has its own way and values when it comes to giving and receiving. In China they also believe in refusing the gift over and over before finally receiving it. I guess working for it so to speak, climbing the ladder of karma and worth.

Sometimes receivers feel weaker and fear having to let down their ego in order to be humble and kind. Part of receiving is giving up control, resistance, armor and defense. Even when we give advice people reject that because of their frail egos may have to open to the heart of receiving. If we are not a good receiver we can lose respect from others in the sense that they may take advantage. Everyone deserves to receive in many ways which says I can and deserve to receive love.

Receiving is one of the most intimate gifts of life and if you miss this part of it you are not living. My advice is to accept what your partner is giving and find the connection. Receiving can heal your pain and is very empowering so I recommend faking it for a while until that heart opens and connects to the whole experience
Do you feel stuck and in a rut, depressed or anxious or overall sluggish? I practice Reichian, Gestalt, somatic movement, and counseling/bodywork integrative therapies which involves focused breathing to help stimulate the emotions thus re-patterning the nervous system. I help you to focus on the negative voices and thoughts that create the stress and to resolve those unwanted interruptions that get in the way of your life process. Those stiff armored muscles that block sensation and energy flow will eventually soften.

The rage sitting in the muscles will unfold allowing more feelings of pleasure, more creativeness, freeing blocked energies and sexual dysfunction. Modern society has forced the human character to live in unnatural ways holding back basic needs and instincts. This process of breathing deeply sends messages to the brain which is an effective way to release anger, to let go of baggage, and to feel more alive and trusting thus living in a higher self esteem.

Anita De Francesco, M.A.
www.tantrawisdom.com
info@tantrawisdom.com
310-210-1464

Century City Real Estate Report

(This article originally appeared in the May 1, 2012 edition of the Century City News)

New Projects Planned For Century City Could Impact You

By Bess Hochman

With the resurgence of real estate development, active members of our community are monitoring projects in Century City that are in various stages of development. There has been particular concern about how these projects could negatively impact our infrastructure including our streets and flow of traffic.

Chicago based developer and Landlord JMB has scrapped its plans to build luxury residential high rise units for a high rise office tower instead. It plans to take advantage of the high rents that Century City commands along with vacancy rate stabilization across the office sector.

JMB had received approvals earlier to build 2 high rise towers and one 12 story loft condo building at Constellation and Avenue of the Stars, formerly the site of City National Bank and the Constellation Club. Now JMB is planning a 37 story office tower called “Century City Center.” Given its scale and intensive commercial use, the new project raises significant traffic impact issues.

There is still uncertainty and controversy over the proposed Constellation Boulevard site of the subway line under development. This location for the subway stop in the heart of Century City

is just steps away from the JMB project and from the Westfield Shopping Mall.

There has been a contentious dispute between those who support the Century City subway stop site and the Beverly Hills Unified School District because the location of the proposed Constellation site requires tunneling under the Beverly Hills High School. The school district would prefer the subway stop to be located at Santa Monica Blvd.

Both JMB Realty and Westfield Corporation own real estate properties in Century City which would benefit greatly from the Constellation stop as the Westside extension of the new subway line. The school district is fighting this location raising safety and construction issues like the sinkhole created in Hollywood related to subway tunneling there. There is also the methane gas risk arising out of the oil fields under the high school.

Another developer changing course is the owner of the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel, a landmark site. He has backed down from his original proposal to demolish the Hotel and is instead planning a high rise development next to it.

A third project located at the eastern border of Century City where it adjoins Beverly Hills is progressing. Plans are being finalized with the City for construction of about a 39 story residential 1, 2 and 3 bedroom condo project. The units will range from 1600 to 2000 square feet and start at an average of 1.5 Million Dollars.

To find Luxury homes and condos, including short pays and foreclosures in your area or for a free consultation, contact Bess at 310.291.4111. Bess Hochman is a Real Estate Broker & top producer for more than 15 years. Bess is also distinguished by holding a law degree. Her high-end clientele include celebrities, attorneys, and other professionals that understand the value of a real estate broker with legal expertise and experience. A native of Beverly Hills, Bess credits her success to repeat referrals by her satisfied clients.

Contact Bess:310.291.4111.E-mail: Bess.CenturyCityNews@yahoo.com

* The sources of information may or may not have been based on information from the combined /Westside Multiple Listing Service as of 4-27-12. Some listings may not be available as of publication.
c. 2012 Bess Hochman
---------------------------
“Bess is a master negotiator!” says Michael Donaldson, attorney & author of Negotiating For Dummies

LOVE BUZZ - SOUL MATE WHOLENESS

(This article originally appeared in the May 1, 2012 edition of the Century City News)

By Anita De Francesco, MA
Relationship Specialist

Some of us are still wondering when that true soul mate will enter our lives and help complete the wholeness that we so desire. It can take a lifetime and going through many failed relationships to finally connect with the right one. I often wonder how people even know what a true soul mate is. I hear some folk talking about their relationship they are still in which began at age 16. And how so many of us wanted to stay with the sweet sixteen lover forever. What makes a soul mate so special and how do we attract this person? Yes it has been a long journey for some of us and so long that we’ve forgotten what it was like to be desired, wanted, to have a man pull the sweater over your shoulder and have a woman look you in the eyes and say she loves you and means it. Some are in relationships because they have stopped growing and basically just exist with someone. After being married for so many years you may wake up one day and find yourself wanting a new relationship.

One thing about love is that you have to be ready or you will attract temporary and sometimes trouble. Soul mates are all around you, your best friend, your parents, your co-workers and so on but romantic soul mate is deeper and more of a yearning. I believe romantic soul mate requires us to go deep inside and face ourselves with love and understanding before we can attract our true mate. It is important to have healthy, bonding loving relationships with those around you. This is a pre-requisite for the soul mate to enter your life. The quest for love and happiness is really a yearning for wholeness. Having a soul mate can help you open up to a new exploration of the heart and find real true love that is beyond the ordinary. Sounds like the fairy tale but why do some of us get it and others continue to suffer.

The law of attraction is the new way to get what you want from love to career and so on. So how do we attract this power? One thing first is to identify your patterns in your last relationships. When we break patterns all kinds of possibilities show up. Let’s start by changing the places we go. Explore new territory and make new friends. Invite yourself in to connect with others. Go to different meet-up groups and try different types of dance places like ballroom or salsa. All of these things are to help you break patterns and make change, so we have begun. Sex sails with a partner when you have things in common. If you like to golf then go to those places, do things that you like to do and connect to people this way. If you like drama then join a theatre group. Start doing things that turn you on, stop following what your friends like.

Next let’s identify our challenges, insecurities and fears; begin to make a list. It is important to be honest with your challenges and facing them so that you don’t get into the habit of projecting onto your partner. Look at why your last few relationships have failed. Also make a list of what you past lover found irritating about you. Focus on the things you don’t like so that they don’t outweigh the things you do like in a mate. There should be some sort of balance.

Next let us focus on communication, openness and honesty. Begin with trusting yourself and cultivating this within and you will in turn begin to trust your mate. Learn to accept criticism and truth. Be upfront and communicate just what you need and want and where you are in your life. Be adaptable and open until you mesh as one with your mate. Be open to try new things your mate introduces to you.

Know your preferences such as what you want in a mate. If you want a non-smoker than put that out there. Make a list of what you will put up with. If you like to travel, best to find someone who does as well or you will be alone. Know what you like and find that in your mate. If you get someone who matches you at 40 percent it could work with some adjustments.

Let go of the past lovers that you still think about. Remove those energetic hooks that keep you connected. Energetic hooks in you or in someone else can prevent you from meeting someone. Before you can attract your soul mate you need to be ready on an emotional and physical level. You need to have your home ready as if this soul mate is already living in there. I suggest clearing the bedroom and make this area nice and ready. Get some real nice sheets and fancy curtains and rugs. Adorn it with flowers and candles and talk as if this person was in the room there with you. Write him/her poems about your feelings and how you can’t wait to be together one day. Use your imagination to create what you want, that is what it is for. Oh and go out and buy a new bed and fancy it up, and keep it sacred and pure for that soul mate to arrive.


Do you feel stuck and in a rut, depressed or anxious or overall sluggish? I practice Reichian, Gestalt, somatic movement, and counseling/bodywork integrative therapies which involves focused breathing to help stimulate the emotions thus re-patterning the nervous system. I help you to focus on the negative voices and thoughts that create the stress and to resolve those unwanted interruptions that get in the way of your life process. Those stiff armored muscles that block sensation and energy flow will eventually soften.

The rage sitting in the muscles will unfold allowing more feelings of pleasure, more creativeness, freeing blocked energies and sexual dysfunction. Modern society has forced the human character to live in unnatural ways holding back basic needs and instincts. This process of breathing deeply sends messages to the brain which is an effective way to release anger, to let go of baggage, and to feel more alive and trusting thus living in a higher self esteem.

Anita De Francesco, M.A.
www.tantrawisdom.com
info@tantrawisdom.com
310-210-1464

Love Buzz - When Love Fails

(This article originally appeared in the Feb 8th, 2011 edition of the Century City News)

By Anita De Francesco, MA
Relationship Specialist
So you’re looking for the love of your life and you want it to last forever! Now that you’re in this mess for the last year and you discover this relationship is going nowhere and nowhere soon for that matter. It is as if you exist for each other’s time here on earth. Wasting time as some may call it and others may call it growing in time. Well you know that is exactly what we are all doing but sometimes we like to carve out the differences and make each part of our life have meaning, a concern and purpose. Imagine we are all just zombies roaming the earth like a pack of animals and finding and identifying ourselves through the relationships we make.
So now you may have to end this relationship because it doesn’t meet your expectations. You are about to face pain, sorrow, regret, sadness and more. So what do you do now? End it and find someone else or take the time to understand your choices and patterns that you are webbed into. I have been in so many relationships and have grown and learned from every one of them. Some were just for fun and others had more meaning and others I wanted to keep forever. The number one thing to know before going into a relationship is that they do end. Love is a wandering willow, as easy as we get it that is how easy it can get lost. The idea with love is to keep it focused. To keep it focused you must be clear of your insecurities and go beyond all that to find the true meaning of yourself and then love will become more focused. Connecting with someone is to teach you about yourself so that when the right one comes along you are ready. I meet people who dated one or two people and got married and have no real social relationship or sex skills at all and need to be taught. With dating one should put a time on where, when and who you spend it with, because you don’t want to find yourself going past what your clock may be. In other words taking the time to choose the right person. Having the determination that you want to be with this partner then it could never fail. This takes commitment. Pain, sacrifices and disappointments are always going to be a part of love but we need to learn bravery of the heart.
Going a little deeper here with love and relationships; who says that they have to go anywhere. Enjoying each other for who you are and the time that you are given together is also a choice. It is now a time to let go of the expectations and enjoy the moments for what they are. Relationships teach us growth of the soul and spirit.
Love fails for many reasons but a big one is communication. Love dies because we haven’t yet learned how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness, illness and wounds. It fails because of weariness, struggle, and withering. Saying what you wanted to say but couldn’t and saying it from your full being rather than halfway. When you get into the relationship open your eyes and see if it is two or one sided. This is one of the first things to look for. Think about why and what attracted you to this person in the first place. If it was physical in nature then that is what you get and that is not a bad thing but rather an honest thing. But if you looked beyond the physical then there may be something there. You need to establish this territory and you need to be patient. Being patient can mean not rushing into the bedroom, taking the moments and breathing and spacing each other’s interactions. Relationships should involve looking after the interactions of each other about caring and sharing and about affection. There is a certain amount of satisfaction and gratification that go with all this. If you want to sustain and hold onto the relationship here are some tips:
• Take a relationship inventory every 4 weeks. This means assess what you have done and where you think it is going. Make a list of all the good and bad things you like so far.
• Imagine for a moment where you would be if you and this partner lasted and would you like that place. Now be honest with yourself here.
• Every 3 weeks take out the time with your partner for a night of communication about each other. Discuss things and find out where each other is.
• Notice any red flags. Even if you don’t want to see them then write them down on a piece of paper and put them in a drawer for later. Just writing them will help your emotions to acknowledge this later.
• Before going in know what it is that you want, and know how much time you have for this investment.
• Take dating steps and structure and strategize every relationship. There are the sex ones, the casual ones and then the ones to bring home to mom. But mostly honor and love each and every one of them for what they bring you today even if it is the booty call. The honoring and respecting everyone will bring you integrity and pureness and true love. Honor your sluts.
• Understand the misleading moments and arguing. Have the confidence to hail the moment.
• Carve out the time to learn your partner. Pick the date nights that are for fun and sex and then pick those other nights that are for learning more about each other’s mind and then when you get home make some written notes about what you learned
• Another cool thing to do is to share a journal together. For example when you go places you each write a page about how the evening went and you close the book and don’t read it until later. One of you will have to take the responsibility of holding and bringing the journal out on the meeting times. This writing together can teach you so much about yourself.
Isn’t that what it’s all about; the learning of the self. So then how could love fail, it could only get better.
Do you feel stuck and in a rut, depressed or anxious or overall sluggish? I practice Reichian, Gestalt, somatic movement, and counseling/bodywork integrative therapies which involves focused breathing to help stimulate the emotions thus re-patterning the nervous system. I help you to focus on the negative voices and thoughts that create the stress and to resolve those unwanted interruptions that get in the way of your life process. Those stiff armored muscles that block sensation and energy flow will eventually soften.
The rage sitting in the muscles will unfold allowing more feelings of pleasure, more creativeness, freeing blocked energies and sexual dysfunction. Modern society has forced the human character to live in unnatural ways holding back basic needs and instincts. This process of breathing deeply sends messages to the brain which is an effective way to release anger, to let go of baggage, and to feel more alive and trusting thus living in a higher self esteem.

Anita De Francesco, M.A.
www.tantrawisdom.com
info@tantrawisdom.com
310-210-1464

Century City Real Estate - Opportunities In 2011

(This article originally appeared in the Feb 8th, 2011 edition of the Century City News)

According to the recent recap of the 2010 California housing market by the California Association of Realtors (“C.A.R.”) , the year ahead should bring stability and opportunities. The C.A.R. report looked at median price, unsold inventory and sales as prognosticators for the market.
The analysis found that the 21% gain in median price above the February 2009 trough could be a good indication of the beginning of stability in the housing market. The C.A.R expects annual sales and median price in California to rise by 2% this year.
The report explains that the “unsold inventory index” is a good indicator of home prices. When the amount of housing inventory is below a 7 month supply, it usually leads to price appreciation. The November unsold inventory index was 6.2 months. This reflects the amount of time it would take to sell the entire current housing inventory. This number is 13% below the long-run average of 7.1 months and 63% below the recent January 2008 peak of 16.6 months.
It is a positive sign that the unsold inventory index has stayed at a healthy range throughout 2010 between 4.6 and 6.6 months. This is another indication

of the beginning of stability.
Further, sales are also doing fairly well taking historical data into consideration. Year over year sales declined almost 10% but the seasonally adjusted sales in November of last year were up 93% from the trough 3 years ago. This is 19% above the long run annual average over the last 39 years.
In addition, the percentage of distressed sales as compared to total sales declined to 41% from 46% in 2009. Although there is still a heavy volume of distressed properties, the decline supports the forecast that the housing market is heading up.
The California Association of Realtors’ outlook is consistent with the report by the UCLA Anderson School of Business which sees 2011 as a transition year of stabilization. However, there are still uncertainties in the market including shadow inventory which could impact the length of time it takes for sellers to sell their properties.
With so many instances of inflation recently from the price of gas to coffee to hamburgers (the price of the BK Whopper Junior has risen from $1 to $1.49 over the past year or so), when will housing show the same inflation? Now may be a good time to review your options.
With interest rates still at historically low rates, there are opportunities for investors, owner-users and international buyers.
To find short pays and foreclosures in your area or for a free consultation to assess your real estate options, contact Bess at 310.291.4111. Bess Hochman is a Real Estate Broker & top producer for more than 15 years. Bess is also distinguished by holding a law degree. Her high-end clientele include celebrities, attorneys, and other professionals that understand the value of a real estate broker with legal expertise and experience. A native of Beverly Hills, Bess credits her success to repeat referrals by her satisfied clients
Bess won’t let you guess. E-mail: Bess.CenturyCitynews@yahoo.com. Bess may be reached at 310.291.4111.
* The sources of information may or may not have been based on information from the combined A/Westside Multiple Listing Service as of 2-04-11. Some listings may not be available as of publication.
c. 2011 Bess Hochman
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“Bess is a master negotiator!” says Michael Donaldson, attorney & author of Negotiating For Dummies


Michael Douglas Carlin is the director of the movies Luvicide and American Federale. Recently he completed a ten-year stint as the Publisher and Editor of the Century City News. Here his articles turned into three books: Rise a Knight, A Prescription for Peace, and Peaceful Protests.

Google Local Tips

Local search is essential to small businesses – especially professional services like Attorneys. When someone searches for a lawyer on Google, trends show that they are looking more for a lawyer in their city or metro area rather than search State-Wide. When Google changed their map algorithm to Google Places, it focused specifically on Local Search & enabled businesses to communicate with customers as well as supplement their Google profile information to include hours of operation, photos, videos, coupons and product offerings. We assume Google is serving maps more than 1 billion times a month.
How do you take advantage of Google Local? First of all - List your business in Google Places. Despite being free, I am always surprised & shocked at 1) SEO Companies who are NOT optimizing for Google Places & 2) SEO Companies that charge to optimize for Google Places. Optimizing for local should be a staple of good SEO. If you’re not on Page 1 locally, your SEO company is not doing an efficient job of SEO.
If you’re doing it yourself, Google provides a number of training videos to explore the features, including tools like tracking of actions (meaning how many times users showed interest in your business listing). It also shows information on maps, driving directions or direct clicks, as well as impressions (how many times users saw your business listing as a local search result). Ratings and references are important too, but we’ll get to that later in the article.
While Google Places is important, don’t forget to register at:
* http://local.yahoo.com/
* http://www.bing.com/local/
Next step - Verify Your Business: If you’re not sure if you’re in the maps or not - simply search for your firm name. Just to be sure, include the city or county you are supposed to be listed in.
If you are not listed, have your SEO Company or you fix it. For example, if you’re a tax attorney in Beverly Hills, search for “tax attorney Beverly Hills.” Here, the top local results show (just below Google’s paid search results) as well as a local map on the right, hovering over more paid listings.
If you see your local result, make sure it has been verified or not. If an arrow points to “Business owner,” it means it needs verification. If you don’t see your local listing, create your own.
Google pulls the data on this result (address, phone number) from some of the larger business aggregators like infoUSA or AVVO for lawyers, and attempts to match it up correctly. However, that data could be wrong. If that’s the case, it is important for you to take corrective measures. When you verify your business information in local search results, it helps insure that the information others see is correct. Again, you’d be surprised how many lawyers or other business owners don’t even do this.
Select your categories: When registering, make sure to assign your business to the listed categories that best describe it. You can add up to five categories, and if you’re a lawyer, I would take advantage of the most accurate categories. Again, I am amazed at how many Divorce Lawyers show up in the maps of Injury Lawyers. The more accurate you are, the better for your overall SEO, not just Local SEO.
Add as much information as possible, including hours, payment types, e-mail address, phone number, URL/web address, photos, videos and coupons. Fill out each field, if appropriate.
When you’re done, make videos, upload them to YouTube and link them back into your local profile on Google Places. Screen cam your PowerPoint presentations. You can include up to 10 pictures and five videos.
Get listed in Other Local Directories: Google Places is important, but so are other local business directories like Yelp and Merchant Circle. Here is a list that any good SEO Company should put you in. Again, make sure that all your information is correct, and keep the same formatting across all locations.
* Better Business Bureau
* Brownbook.net
* Citysearch.com
* judysbook.com
* Kudzu.com
* Best of the Web
* local.com
* MerchantCircle.com
* yelp.com
Get Reviews: Don’t be afraid to ask clients for reviews. Offer some kind of incentive for engagement and visits to your website or to do a review for you. Add a friendly reminder with your office invoice mailings or email newsletters asking your customers to review you and their experience. Ask for your clients to do reviews on all of the above local directories, not just Google Places.
One Important Tip: Don’t go crazy & ask all your friends to review you at once. It will put up a red flag in Google’s eyes & it will actually hurt your rankings. (See below).
Top NEGATIVE Factors to HURT your local listing at Google: There’s someone that tries to work the system & push things (I’m sure you get calls from those folks every day saying “I can get you on Page 1 of Google”). However, this latest Algorithm change proved that all the people that were manipulating & ‘spamming’ the maps before are now gone! Still, I feel it’s important to tell you what NOT to do when setting up your Google Map Listing, and what things will affect your rankings in a negative way.
Top Negative Factors
1. Negative Ratings
2. Location Keywords in Categories
3. (800) Phone Number on Website w/o Local Area Code
4. (800) As Primary Place Page Number
5. Multiple Locations on Places Landing Page
6. Multiple Place Pages w/Same Business Title
7. PO Box on Website w/o Physical Address
8. Multiple Place Pages w/Same Address
9. Hiding Address on Your Place Page
10. Multiple Place Pages w/Same Phone Number (Most Harmful)
Dave Hendricks of the Attorney Marketing Network helps firms get new clients by improving their internet presence and drive measurable leads to their business. He presents a regular Attorney Marketing / Attorney Networking Seminar locally at The Law Offices of Magana Cathcart & McCarthy. Google Adwords Certified, Dave is an Internet Marketing Consultant and has over 16 years of sales and Internet experience in the technology space (9 years within the legal market). Each month, there are literally thousands of people searching for a local attorney in all the major practice areas. Dave helps firms take advantage of that search and be found on Google, Yahoo, and Bing, using successful website design, Search Engine Optimization, Google Local, and Pay-Per-Click techniques.

Dave’s next luncheon seminar is Tuesday, February 22th at 12:00 at the Law Offices of Magana Cathcart McCarthy -- 1801 Avenue of the Stars #600, Century City.
Lunch is included, and you will receive a complimentary evaluation of your website by attending. Space is limited, so save your spot by contacting Dave directly at 818-618-2227, via email at dave@AttorneyMarketingNetwork.com , or by visiting www.attorneymarketingwebsites.com to sign up online.



Michael Douglas Carlin is the director of the movies Luvicide and American Federale. Recently he completed a ten-year stint as the Publisher and Editor of the Century City News. Here his articles turned into three books: Rise a Knight, A Prescription for Peace, and Peaceful Protests.

The Six Pillars of Health Management

(This article originally appeared in the February 8th, 2011 edition of the Century City News)

By Herman Kelting, PhD

Have you ever wondered about designing a life plan that gives you the most enjoyment for the remainder of your life? Of course you have! And now, I’d like to help you augment that plan with some ideas about health improvement. I’ve called the model “The Six Pillars of Health Management” because I have found that a combination of six categorical tangible and intangibles should be integrated in a manner that is unique to each of us. And while I can help with describing the six categories, only you can find, with the assistance of other professional assistance, the careful balance among the Six Pillars to promote your well being. Thus, strategic planning and risk assessment, stress and relationship management, environmental quality, and diet form complex interactions that are determinative of your achievements and happiness…and we must accomplish to be happy.

In this, my first article in The Century City News, I would like to begin by introducing each of the Six Pillars and, in future articles, provide more detailed information for each. Indeed, this material is introductory education material. It is ‘introductory’ in the sense of being inherently incomplete requiring further inquiry; but I sincerely hope that the ideas I share with you contribute to a greater awareness of health management issues, provide guidance to improve your health management plan, and permit you to evaluate better professional medical recommendations (e.g., influencing your choice of dental implant material and design).

The Six Pillars of health management are:
1. Strategic planning and risk assessment for improved health
Each day, it’s really important to review your strategic plan for the level of health you wish to have during your lifetime rather than living day-to-day with no long-term vision. Do you wish an active and robust life being professionally productive and doing the things that give you really enjoy…and are you prepared to discipline your daily actions to assure that your daily choices do not undermine your long-run goals? For example, very heavy exercise including contact sports and always eating for enjoyment may provide enjoyment when one is young, but may also promote very serious health consequences in the future. Thus, your daily application of the Six Pillars requires futuristic modeling.
Risk assessment, including both risk analysis and risk management, is an inherent part of a strategic plan. Risk analysis requires assessment of the prospective variation in benefits and injury from Six Pillar behavior, and risk management requires discipline to change behavior to reduce the variance in one’s prediction of good health and personal enjoyment. For example, the research of neuropathologist Dr. Ann Magee discovered serious long-term health problems from contact sports and risk management would suggest avoiding such sports.
In future articles, we would like to expand upon strategic planning and risk assessment because I believe they are under managed and because they drive substantially all human behavior.
2. Exercise
Exercise is a wonderful activity for personal recreation and to enhance one’s perception of well being; it’s important not only during the activity, but to raise one’s energy, focus, and vision in our personal and professional activities.
In future articles, we hope to offer some ideas on the frequency, types, and intensity of exercise and the interaction of exercise with the other Five Pillars.
3. Stress management
Stress management is as important as the food we eat because absorption of nutrients depend upon a general mood of relaxation, and that is often difficult to achieve in a world that seems to demand so much of each individual. Thus, we hope to discuss stress management techniques and show their importance to the other Five Pillars.
4. Relationship management
Our relationships are inexorably related to the other Five Pillars and particularly to our fundamental model of how we perceive others. Thus, it is crucial that one have a strategic relationship plan that results in the best possible voluntary and involuntary relationships. We must realize that it is important to live with a spirit of helpfulness and service to others and to smooth even the most difficult of relationships. Thus, we hope to offer some ideas for a relationship management model that permits one to improve their vision of others.
5. Reduction of pollution
Pollution is a major contributor to health and we hope to discuss its reduction in three general categories: (1) indoor air quality, (2) dental hygiene, and (3) a dietary plan that contributes to cleaning our drive train. Thus, for, example, I hope to discuss a few of the factors that contribute to the best in indoor air quality.
6. Diet and food supplements
A diet which complements the other Five Pillars is difficult to define because the global model of food and food supplements is amorphously large in its dynamic interaction with the other five pillars and our unique physical bodies; “dynamic” refers to daily changes in our physical attributes as we interact with food, undergo stress, have different relationships, and are exposed to environmental factors.
In future articles, I hope to discuss the causes of physical discomfort, different food groups (e.g., enzymes, fats and oils), and food supplements and show their importance to our well being.


Michael Douglas Carlin is the director of the movies Luvicide and American Federale. Recently he completed a ten-year stint as the Publisher and Editor of the Century City News. Here his articles turned into three books: Rise a Knight, A Prescription for Peace, and Peaceful Protests.