DATA: MapLight Launches Federal Lobbying Database

 

 

September 5, 2014 - MapLight is pleased to announce the launch of its new federal lobbying database. MapLight's searchable dataset on federal lobbying is made freely available through both a Web interface and a CSV downloadable format, and provides timely information on unions, companies, and organizations that are lobbying the federal government. It includes information on how much money is being spent, which firms are being hired, which issues are being lobbied on, who is being lobbied, and more.

 

View the database here. Data source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives

 

 

Journalists can easily search the database for specific unions, companies, and organizations to determine:

• Which K Street organization(s) they have hired to lobby on specific issues (e.g.,  General Electric for defense issues: Gephardt Group Government, Williams and Jensen, William Ball, Fife Strategies LLC, The Ringo Group LLC)
• How much money they spent on lobbying, broken down by quarter (e.g., National Association of Realtors spent $180 million since 2008;  $23 million in the first two quarters of 2014)

For deeper analysis, journalists can download a spreadsheet (CSV file) containing every filing for a given union, company, or organization since 2008. Additional information contained in the filings includes:

• Who has been lobbied (e.g., U.S. Senate, Securities and Exchange Commission)
• Specific Issues being discussed, from taxation and copyright to specific bills in Congress (e.g., Cyber Information Sharing and Protection Act, Dodd-Frank Act implementation)
• Names of individual lobbyists

Use case: If you were working on a piece on net neutrality you could combine CSV files from companies from a specific industry or set of industries-telecom (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile) with cable (Comcast, Time Warner, DirectTV) to uncover trends in specific fields of the data, aggregate totals, and more.

 

Editor's note: If you use MapLight data, please cite us. MapLight is happy to provide additional details to journalists regarding specific lobbying data (specific issues lobbied on, government entities lobbied, and lobbyist names) and to perform custom research inquiries on the data. Please do not hesitate to call us if we can be of assistance.

 

Methodology: MapLight analysis of lobbying disclosure filings from the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Lobbying totals represent money paid by an organization to each lobbying firm for services on all issues . Organizations report total lobbying expenses as a lump sum, which includes both in-house lobbying expenses and amounts paid to (and reported by) lobbying firms that they employ. MapLight calculates a given organization's in-house lobbying expenses by subtracting the total income reported by the lobbying firms that it employs from the company's total reported expenses. In general, filers may round their spending and expenses to the nearest $10,000, and we treat the designation of "Less than $5,000" as a value of $0. MapLight updates its lobbying database daily to capture amendments. Full reports are due on the 20th day of January, April, July, and October.

  

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Department of Education Image of the Week

 

All 53 contestants of the 2015 Miss America competition stopped at ED's headquarters in Washington, D.C., during their tour of the city to discuss STEM education and careers for young girls and women. (Photo credit: U.S. Department of Education

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BLAME ME

by Michael Douglas Carlin

IT IS ALL EVERYBODY ELSE'S FAULT

The blame game is alive in America. It isn't your fault. None of it. You didn't do anything to deserve this. There are so many to blame. The list is endless. And if you really want to blame someone, then blame me. I did it. Whatever it is that causes you unhappiness, I was the one that made it happen. It was a conspiracy of so many of us that just wanted you to be unhappy, and you are right about not having anything to do with it.

That is not what America really is all about.

America is all about taking responsibility. Standing up and being accountable. Taking matters into your own hands. Working hard to achieve results. Taking whatever circumstances you have today to create a better more prosperous tomorrow.

I was on a radio show throughout the state of Texas. They wanted to begin with some California bashing. I told them not to ever count California out. We have a resiliency that they will see come out over the course of the next several years.

The situation in California may look bleak right now, and we may have questions about how we got here, but we all know that we did this to ourselves. We all share in the responsibility for the failures in California, but, when it turns around, and it will turn around, we will also be able to claim our share of the victory.

Turning California around begins with us all understanding where we are and taking responsibility for ourselves, our families, and our communities. Then, we will all join together to work hard and to make our tomorrows more prosperous.

America always wins; California always wins. Because we win together. Because we take responsibility for our failures and turn them into our successes.

FROM BELOW

God said "Forgive" But, I made them boil up inside

Hold on to their anger and hate denied at the Pearly Gate

God said Turn the other cheek I made them fight back and seek revenge

Blood soaked and drenched, fists clenched tight

I lead them to a life of living hell

All in the know say let it go

But, anger destroys so keep it in

At the Judgment Bar

Blame it all on me

See if they let you in

--

Send us your news story by putting the Headline in the Subject and the Article in the Body of the email by clicking on this link.

© 2014 Michael Douglas Carlin. All Rights Reserved.

What Hangs On Your Wall Says So Much More About You Than You Know…

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

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words. What Are Your Pictures Saying About You?

By Michael Douglas Carlin

Bank of America in Century City has had numerous complaints about the art displayed in the back of the bank. Customers complain to Anthony, the branch manager, about the Bank taking TARP money while at the same time displaying art worth millions of dollars.

Too pricy of art might send the wrong message to your customers. Cheap art might also send the wrong message. The fine line that says community might be at your doorstep today. How about art that speaks to your clients and employees about the human condition? How about art that documents what is happening to animals on our planet? How about art that documents the changes that are happening to our MOTHER EARTH?

I grew up in a lighting and grip house in Burbank. My father was a lighting director and I spent many days working with photographers. I have worked with hundreds and I have grown to know the good ones from the bad just by being present at the photographing event. The bad ones often get occasionally lucky with a random shot that gets acclaim. The good ones don’t take pictures…they make pictures. I was never able to put this into words until I heard Colin Finlay tell me this over lunch one day. Taking pictures has the connotation of being a spectator at the event. Making pictures brings the photographer into the fabric of the event as a participant.

I knew there was something different about Colin Finlay and his work when I saw his photos. I have seen literally millions of photos in my lifetime and I recognized that a high percentage of his photos were exceptional if not brilliant. I only came to understand him as a photographer when I actually was present at one photographing event. I arranged for Colin to visit “Star Echo Station” in Culver City. I was introduced to “Star” by Stephen Nemeth at his birthday party a couple of years ago and grew to love the place. This is where animals that have been illegally brought into the country are confiscated and sent.

Star has the ability to care for wild animals and they provide a sanctuary that school children can visit to learn about the plight of endangered species as well as what we all can do to help heal our environment. I phoned ahead and talked to someone there and suggested that we visit to take some photos. I was informed about the rules and the documents that would need to be signed for us to visit. I suggested to them that they look up Colin on the internet. I got the feeling that being able to take photographs there was a common request and that there had been procedures established to minimize the number that actually followed through.

When we arrived they knew who Colin was and all of the procedure went out the window. They were grateful he had showed up to see what they were doing. The conversation was very genuine. Two great institutions were meeting for the first time. They abandoned all protocol and opened the cages of wild animals and allowed us to enter for a photographic experience I will always remember. I personally witnessed Colin transform into a quiet almost silent communicator of animals. The respect that he gave them from the moment he met them seemed to tell them that he was there to help others understand them. He seemed to ask them for their photo and they responded by giving Colin a performance. Each animal was different. I felt like I could almost understand what each animal was saying but I knew that Colin understood. In that moment I came to understand the emotion that each animal feels. I was always taught that human beings were the only life forms that can feel emotion. On that day this myth was forever shattered in my mind. I felt the enormous intelligence of the birds. I felt the longing of the cats for the days when they roamed free. I felt the sorrow that all animals feel at being pushed off of the face of the Earth.

I had heard Colin say that every time he made a photograph he left a little of himself behind and that every time he also took a little of his subject with him. I came to understand just what that meant, that day at Star Echo Station. I came to understand just how Colin got such incredible photographs of the Polar Bears, Grizzlies, Elephants and all other animals that he established this trance like connection with. Keep in mind that in the wild he often gets 15 feet or less away from some of the most dangerous animals. He told me about being less than 12 feet away from a family of Grizzlies. At any moment it could have gone wrong and he could have been killed.

Colin is no stranger to danger. He has documented, through his photos, both sides of the conflict in the Holy land. Colin has also travelled to Darfur, Rwanda, Northern Ireland and many other places documenting conflict. He has faced numerous situations that seemed hopeless with bullets flying but so far has managed to return with some incredible photographs. Colin has seen man’s inhumanity to man first hand. Colin has witnessed outright genocide. His book “Testify” brought awareness of the conflict in the Sudan where the Janjaweed are being hired by the Sudanese Government to drive the Fur, Zaghawa, and Masalit from their homes and lands, killing the men and brutally raping the women.

I met Colin at Bill Pruitt’s “Men’s Night”. This is a group of Westside men that meet to talk about the issues of the day. That particular night I was with my very good friend Sir Edward and he was sharing the floor with Colin Finlay. Colin spoke first and showed photographs of places Ed had been. Colin captured the images in such a way that evoked a memory response in Ed where he could actually remember the smell he had experienced when he was there. I watched as these men talked about these places…literally dozens of them where they visited hours apart. They talked about details that only someone who had been there would know. The conversation broke down into weeping and an embrace for two warriors who had approached the same issues and places from a different perspective and had drawn the same conclusions. To this day the two men are still very close and will forever share the bond of the inhumanity they witnessed. A part of both of these men was left behind at each place they visited and a part of that place will forever remain with them. Ed brought relief into these dangerous places and Colin photographed them but both men came to understand that we as human beings can’t allow this type of criminal activity to continue and both men are champions of ending it forever.
What you have on your walls says a lot about you…I suggest that you allow a part of Colin Finlay and the places he has documented to speak to your employees and clients that you join with all of us in ending the tragedies that have been allowed to go unchecked – until now.

The Century City News is hosting a VIP reception for Mr. Finlay on September 23, 2009 at 6 PM to be held at Cal National Bank on the corner of Avenue of the Stars and Santa Monica Blvd. (1800 AOS). The event is sponsored by The Century City News and Cal National Bank additional sponsorship opportunities are available. I am personally inviting every reader of the Century City News to attend the event. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet one of the world’s most active eco-warriors. Meet someone who has actually travelled to the four corners of the world to see with his own eyes what is happening to our planet and hear his message of hope that we can turn it all around before we reach the tipping point. Reach out to your friends from around the city and invite them out to hear first hand accounts of ecological disasters and recovery opportunities.
For more information on Mr. Finlay I refer you to his website at www.colinfinlay.com

Aaron Cohen 2010 Citizen of the Year

(This article originally appeared in the May 10th, 2010 edition of the Century City News)

Aaron Cohen - The Promise of America

By Michael Douglas Carlin

The Promise of America is that no matter what your current station you can take advantage of the opportunities in front of you right now and make your life better through working hard and obtaining an education. Aaron Cohen is not only a believer in this promise but an achiever of this promise. Now we are celebrating Aaron as the 2010 Century City Citizen of the Year, an award given by the prestigious Century City Chamber of Commerce. Aaron is an unprecedented two time recipient of this award. Each award was twenty years apart signifying that Aaron not only made it but he maintained his position in life and within the Century City Business Community. In any other country this would be a story that would become a legend, myth or fable. In America this is a common story about a man that began in the most humble of circumstances and rose to greatness. Common because others have achieved the same result from their hard work and dedication but uncommon because from a purely numbers standpoint this story isn’t repeated near enough in America or the rest of the World.

Aaron began life in Bulgaria and at the age of 10 dealt with Nazi occupation for two years. He took advantage of an opportunity to leave for Palestine. At 15 ½ Aaron did time in a British Jail for protesting against the policy of not letting Holocaust Survivors come to Palestine as outlined in the British White Paper of 1939. Aaron joined the Israeli Underground becoming one of the most elite commandos. They were known as Palmach and they fought against the armies opposed to the formation of Israel. They passed a single machine gun from village to village to give the appearance that their firepower was greater than it actually was. Aaron would volunteer for these dangerous night missions where failure meant certain death. Together with his battlebuddies they defeated the armies of Syria, Sudan, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq to bring the dream of a sovereign nation of Israel into being against all odds. While in Israel he was one of the founders of the Kibbutz Urim. In Israel he met a woman that would change his life forever. He married an American with full intention of settling in Israel but was sent for when she visited home.

He arrived in New York not speaking the language, with no money, no education and no job. But what he did have was a willingness to work hard and to learn. Three days after his arrival he was in school learning English. He worked a factory job during the week, went to school at nights, and worked a second job on the weekends to make ends meet. At the factory he was named a management trainee just prior to the end of the Korean War. When the war was over he was laid off. He vowed that he would never be laid off again. He came to the west coast where he learned how to clean windows and floors.


There are many people from that era that would love to claim that Mary Pickford gave them their start but Aaron was blessed to be able to work for Mary cleaning her house -this lead to other celebrities that needed their homes cleaned and then to Mary’s first commercial building. Aaron landed a contract to clean all of the Hamburger Hamlets and according to his philosophy that all anybody wants to see is a hard working honest guy he landed all of Buckeye Realty’s buildings. He sold his business and stayed on to manage it. Now he hails from ABM the largest maintenance company in the business. The company has expanded their offerings to include security, engineering, and parking to compliment their stranglehold on the maintenance business.

Aaron’s favorite claim to fame is that all three of his kids graduated from the same High-School. Three years to the day after Aaron arrived in the United States he was made a U.S. Citizen. He credits his teachers. One teacher gave him the book he needed to complete the course at a time when Aaron couldn’t afford the book on his own. All of his teachers, and he remembers every single one of them, instilled a deeper appreciation in our Country. In Century City Aaron is known for his patriotism. He regularly leads the Century City Chamber of Commerce Meetings Flag Salute. Then at the end he thunders “AND GOD BLESS AMERICA AND GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS.” Every time Aaron sees any uniformed soldier he stops everything and politely addresses them thanking them for their service. When it comes to the buildings in Century City there isn’t a single one that his sweat hasn’t been left in. Aaron is a proof that the promise of America is still alive.

Kids Win With South Central Los Angeles Peace

(This article originally appeared in the March 9th, 2010 edition of the Century City News) - Special thanks to literary agent Mickey Frieberg for arranging this interview

By Michael Douglas Carlin

Just another day. Gary Robinson, nick named “Nugget”, pulls up at the local grocery store. He’s there buying a few things for the wife and kids. He doesn’t think much about the 15 rival gang members hanging out in front of the store. After all, peace had just been negotiated. This store is part of the fabric of the neighborhood. Nugget emerged from the store with a couple of bags of groceries. He got the groceries stowed safely in the back seat. Then he opened the driver door of his Buick. He heard a familiar sound. Instinctively he looked up and knew he was in trouble.

Nugget was known in his neighborhood. He was always a leader. At a very young age Nugget formed “The Junior War Lords”. They began stealing bubble gum, and soda but the pattern of unchecked petty crimes escalate to robberies, extortion, and murder.

Where the rival gangbangers had just stood was a lone gangbanger standing with an assault rifle. He was there on serious business. Standing there Nugget knew that his death would most assuredly be avenged. You would think that this knowledge would be comforting but so many things had recently changed. He felt like there was so much more to do, yet a single bullet would end it all. There was a pause, a hesitation. Neighborhood kids came around the corner and grasped what was about to happen. They were used to this sort of thing in their neighborhood. They ran off beginning to shout, “they killed Nugget, they killed Nugget.”

At eight years old Nugget had become fascinated with the gangster life style. He watched the Hollywood glorification of the underworld. His favorite television show was “The Untouchables”. He saw Meyer Lansky’s gangersterism glorified as he rose to become a millionaire through applying the principles of that gangersterism. Most of all what resonated with young Nugget was the respect of others that being a gangster commanded. Gangsters were shown to their table in the popular club while others waited in line. They were given fruit on the street from vendors, they were greeted everywhere with respect. Nugget joined the Raymond Avenue Crypts becoming a full fledged gang member. He continued to read every book about gangsterism and collected television shows and movies. Much of what this gang learned came from what Nugget researched and he became a leader to be feared or to be silenced.

Nugget had accepted his fate and made no attempt to take cover. News began spreading through the neighborhood. This was a small town trapped in a forgotten part of the big city. The hub in this neighborhood has always been Helen Keller Park. The park had become notorious as a killing zone. A gang member might be killed there in the early evening but even the police were afraid to enter the park at night and they would simply leave the body until morning to begin their investigation. Those investigations were merely paperwork for the files. A dead man in South Central was never treated like a dead man in Beverly Hills or Santa Monica.

A hit, which this undoubtedly was, necessitated success. This wasn’t a kid. This was a hardened criminal, recently paroled that knew how to use a weapon. The hesitation was the only moment of respect that would be given. The chamber was loaded with a click and the bullets began to fly. The trigger was squeezed and casings spun out of the weapon. Each crack sent another casing airborne. Then one by one they began to hit the ground. Flames were coming out of the barrel of the rifle that seemed continuous. That thundering rat, tat, tat that every gangster television show was known for was playing out on a street in South Central Los Angeles. This time the bullets were lead and cutting through Nug’s Buick. When the thundering gunshots ended the silence gave way to the casings landing and bouncing on the concrete. Twenty seven casings lay strewn all about the scene.

At 11 Nugget was in the neighborhood when a car loaded with his friends pulled up. The stolen car had already committed half a dozen robberies and other crimes when Nugget climbed in expecting a joy ride. Instead what he got was an arrest a few miles later that resulted in a seven month legal battle. A postal worker saved Nugget’s life when he told the jury that Nugget wasn’t the kid that committed the crime. But seven months in the Youth Authority turned Nugget into a General Patton, a Luciano, a Lansky, a Scarface. Now Nugget employed his knowledge about gangsterism to charge shopkeepers for protection. From there they entered the drug trade which was the hottest thing to hit America. Nugget was out of control. Soon he was known to law enforcement and was picked up on an old homicide charge but after a stint in jail it became obvious that there wasn’t enough evidence to get a conviction so he was released. But the life of crime continued and it wasn’t long before he faced new charges that resulted in a conviction. Prison meant new connections and education about becoming a better criminal. Upon Nugget’s release from prison he met a woman that would change everything. He was always too busy being a gangster to settle down with any one woman that fly right and left at a man with that type of power. When Shonda became the apple of Nugget’s eye he attempted to kidnap her. Problem was she wasn’t havin’ it. Never before had he met a woman that he wanted that he couldn’t have. Her refusal made him want her all the more. When she asked him if he was a gangster he lied and told her he had nothing to do with the gangs. Then one day she saw a duffle bag filled with assault rifles. She said, “I thought you weren’t into gangs.” He came clean with her but she was already in love with Nugget.

The kids were running through the neighborhood shouting that Nugget had been killed. Anyone listening that night had heard the gunshots. Like all neighborhoods people were coming out of their homes to see what was happening. News about Nugget was something that spread like wildfire. He had always been a person that the neighborhood looked up to as well as being the man that many looked to for protection. Sirens filled the night air alerting the neighborhood that something was amiss in their world. News travels fast in a tight knit community. Police cruisers were traveling toward the sound of the gunshots with their lights ablaze.

Nugget had gone back to prison. Upon his release he was hired to his first honest job in telecommunications. That didn’t stop his involvement in gangs and the duffle bags filled with guns were still around. This time something was different. His relationship with Shonda was bringing him to a new place in life where he wanted something more. At church he complained that no one was preaching the “real sermon”. He was called out to leave his life of being the “Beast” and become submissive to God. He became a coach to a baseball team that was comprised of all of the “bad seeds” – the kids the other teams didn’t want because they were troublemakers. The Helen Keller Oriels first practice was an all out brawl. Nugget recalls it as just like the “Bad News Bears”. Malcolm was on that first team and he remembers it well: “Nugget was so well respected in the neighborhood that we all listened to him. He was able to give us the discipline that we needed. We came together as a team.” The first three games were lost but this team gelled and never lost again. They swept through every team that had labeled them as “bad seeds”. Each win brought the taste of retribution without any bloodshed. The kids were learning the benefits of peace and Nugget was there to teach them the new way. Nugget and the kids had found a path to become respected without any killing.

Several seasons later came the true test. Taco came to practice without his cleats. Nugget asked him why he showed up to practice unprepared. Taco said, “I got my cleats in the car.” “Well go and get them and come back here ready to play.” Taco went off to the car but before he could get his cleats a 2000 Impala came up with the windows rolled down. Shots rang out and Taco lay dead in the street. Nugget felt as if he had sent Taco to his death. He was mad…real mad. Every fiber of Gangster rose up within Nugget that day and he began assembling the retribution crew. Shonda saw the duffle bags come out again with the rifles. War had been sparked and the entire crew wanted to avenge the death of Taco by shedding more blood.

Shonda put her foot down. “There will be no more killing. That ain’t gunna solve it. Nugget! You are the only man that can bring peace – they respect you – they will listen to you.”

“Peace? Nobody wants peace. War is what we all want.”

“You always say you are a leader so show it now. Make peace! Do it for me and your babies. Taco won’t be coming back to the park no matter what but you can save other kids lives by choosing peace. You can give Taco’s death a new meaning.”

Shonda was able to talk sense into her husband and Nugget made the choice for peace. He got on the airwaves and plead for peace. Fox news and various radio stations carried his appeal for peace. Nugget backed by his wife was able to broker what at first was a fragile peace. Another drive by shooting happened as bullets flew at Taco’s house but the peace held.

Four weeks later Nugget found himself standing in the parking lot of the local grocery store with glass all around him, twenty-seven bullet casings lying on the ground, milk pouring in the backseat of his car from a bullet-hole but not a single round had touched him. Soon the police cruisers and entire neighborhood arrived to witness the scene. The community had heard the shots and the early rumor of his death but Nugget was very much alive. With this miracle Nugget was now more committed to peace.

What had begun as a truce between two rival gangs with a 30 year history of violence has evolved six years later to affect 38 gangs that have signed on to the peace. Bloods and Crypts walk freely in the neighborhood that would have meant certain death just a few years ago. Now they play sports together and take out their differences on the baseball field, basketball court, or football field. To date thousands of lives have been saved.

Nugget asks his kids if they want to make $145 a day selling crack, $80 a day working at McDonalds or thirteen cents a day in Federal Prison. He wants them to see a job at McDonalds as a real opportunity. Malcolm says, “this is a catalyst for something bigger. Helen Keller was known for overcoming obstacles. Helen Keller Park is where the inner-cities began overcoming our obstacles.” Nugget now runs CURE and you can help him bring peace to other neighborhoods within the inner-cities by getting involved with him giving the gift of sports to other “at risk” kids. They need uniforms, equipment and transportation to keep the programs going. Donate your time or money to help keep the PEACE. To reach Nugget you can call him at 323.765.7520.

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.

The Century City Chamber of Commerce has ratified the induction of the non-profit “Arts & Cultural Affairs Council.”

(This article originally appeared in the June 2nd, 2009 edition of the Century City News)

By Heather Ryland

Hello Century City! I’d like to introduce you to the newest member of our glorious community.

The Century City Chamber of Commerce has ratified the induction of the non-profit “Arts & Cultural Affairs Council.”

The new CCCC Arts & Cultural Affairs Council has plans for a grand kick-off event this fall that will include a rare exhibit of beautiful photographs from the renowned celebrity photographer, Frank Worth. The event includes large candid photos of Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe and Sammy Davis Jr. to name a few favorites.

The event will be open to the public, with more information coming, as it becomes available, but currently it is planned that each attendee will be given a lithograph print of the photograph of their choice, among other surprises.

The concept for the ACAC began as an insightful glimmer in the eye of our very own publisher, Michael Carlin, who had a distinct idea of the positive impact that an Arts & Cultural Affairs Council would have on Century City. His enthusiasm spilled over into many conversations around town, which included Xiliary Twil, but it wasn’t until Carlin discussed his idea with Jean Tardy-Vallernaud of Gainsborough Capital that the idea began to build into a reality.

Mr. Tardy-Vallernaud quickly saw the value in the project and discussed it in detail with Carlin until they believed that the concept was evolved enough to bring in other members and begin implementing a plan.

Once the backbone of the council was established, including such members as Susan Bursk; President & CEO of the Century City Chamber of Commerce, Susan Coddington; Founder of CDG Interior design, Stuart Denenberg; Owner of Denenberg Fine Art, Lynn Eastman; Sr. Private Banker, Wells Fargo Bank, Myself; Heather Ryland; Managing Editor of CCN, Scott Schaefer; Senior curator of Paintings at the J. Paul Getty Museum, Christine Steiner; Attorney and Professor of Arts and IP Law, Xiliary Twil; Former Gallery Curator and Art Maven, Leslie Wright; VP trust & Estates, Bonhams & Butterfields, and Boryana Zeitz; Trusts & Estates Attorney, Kattan Muchin significant ideas began to pour in and the ball began to roll uphill.

The council’s mission states plainly its grand aspiration; “The mission of the Arts & Cultural Affairs Council is to enhance quality of life and provide leadership in Century City and its surrounding communities through the promotion and support of a broad range of artistic activities and initiatives. As a development arm of the Century City Chamber of Commerce, the Council will serve as a catalyst for and a major contributor to the economic and cultural vitality of this community and all its adults and children.”

With this purpose, the council started on its path to implement a process of networking together the resources available to the community. One of the projects the council has set out to create is a directory that will enable artistic and cultural groups to connect with each other and the public in a concise and effective way, creating a bridge with a solid foundation between community members and artistic organizations wishing to inspire and educate them.

All members of the surrounding communities are encouraged to become a part of this directory to promote themselves, their organizations, or to learn more about upcoming events that will be happening within Century City. If you would like to sign up for more information, send a request to ccn.editor@gmail.com. The registry of current artisans along with their profiles and events will soon be listed on the ACAC website and once the information has been accumulated for six months, the Art Registry of Century City will be will be made available at various locations.

To pinpoint the focus even more, the council has an Arts and Cultural survey that is also available to the community with details at ccn.editor@gmail.com, as well.

The council is excited to offer the survey as a unique opportunity to delve into the heart of the community by asking individuals what is needed and desired artistically to improve the quality of life for our citizens. “The purpose of this assessment is to reveal the needs, wants, challenges and personal vision of the Century City community. “

“The timeliness of this assessment is key. It will help our community take a critical step towards arts and cultural development in the future, in a manner that will positively impact the artists, residents of the community and visitors to Century City and the neighboring communities, like nothing we have seen in the past. “

The bullet points below are just an example of the anticipated benefits the Art & Cultural survey will produce for the Century City community:
• Reveal the skill sets already present to better aid individual artists, cultural groups and the community to coordinate their efforts.
• Provide insight into the challenges associated with developing a strong economic base related to the arts.

• Create an opportunity for the professional development of artists and cultural groups.

• Encourage arts groups to take stock of their strengths and challenges, and share best practices with neighboring communities.

• Help determine the direction for arts and cultural planning.

Los Angeles has always been a diverse cultural and artistic playground and with Century City being a main artery, it leaves no reason for it not to become the artistic hub of the greater Los Angeles area. What is being called for is a revitalization of the creative use of the city with such projects as painting classes for children, adult art workshops, public sculpture, first Friday openings, film and concert venues, summer night dances and most importantly it inquires of the community itself to become a part of its own positive change.

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.

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

Investing Your Wealth With Transparency & Simplicity

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

By Michael Douglas Carlin
When it comes to wealth planning strategies in and around Century City you don’t have to look too far to find many competing voices. But what do you do with a pile of money today? It seems very complicated. Preservation of capital has become a risky business in today’s climate. Do you invest in real estate? Spanish bonds? The stock market? Europe? China? Or stuff your money in your mattress? What was once so easy has become confusing. Developing a strategy to mitigate risk and earn a return on a portfolio of investments seems to be the common desire among the wealthy. How to achieve this?

Beverly Hills Wealth Management, Founded in early 2010, has answers to the tough questions today’s investors ask. Looking at BHWM as a startup can be misleading. The company was formed by Mag Black-Scott former Vice-Chairman of Morgan Stanley. I recently got a chance to sit with her for a few moments. Mag and the BHWM Investment Management team get it! They understand what is happening on the global landscape and the need for investors to employ a global strategy in their financial plan. Mag and her company facilitates and enhances this on every level. The three years for Mag has been a whirlwind of activity as she has navigated the complexity of investing to boil it down for her clients to make it simple and understandable. BHWM now has five locations including their flagship office on Beverly Drive just south of Wilshire. Now there are San Diego, Roseville, CA, Phoenix, and Jacksonville-Florida offices. Soon there may be New York, Chicago, and San Francisco offices.

None of these offices handles any cash. They partner with global, trusted custodians who transparently look after their client’s wealth with their global reach. The relationship between wealth management advisors and clients is a sacred trust. This trust is the cornerstone upon which BHWM is built. Simplicity comes from transparency and honoring this sacred trust. Though their approach is sophisticated nothing ever needs to be too complicated to understand. But all of that comes from the wealth of experience learned over decades in the financial services industry by each of their hand-picked investment advisors and the management of the company that includes Mag. Currently they are handling the investments of private investors, institutional investors, small and medium sized businesses, and public agency funds and all of their services are geared toward facilitating the largest of clients as well as the smaller investor with a growing portfolio of a few million dollars and everything in between. “Behind the construction of client portfolios is a clear and concise approach which speaks to the underlying philosophy and process…In line with client objectives, we create diversified, less volatile portfolios that offer the potential for higher returns with lower risk over time. Thoughtful Portfolio design, risk management and planning are of the utmost importance in optimizing the best outcomes for our clients.” ….says Mary Kusnic, BHWM Wealth Advisor

The company is about to unveil a new proprietary software application called Maestro. This will provide an entire array of products to investment managers that will level the playing field by providing them with all of the advantages of larger institutions. One of the features is that they can provide instant access to an entire range of products and services under a password single set of credentails. This application should be unveiled in the first quarter of 2013. Says Chief Information Officer, John Stuart, “Educating clients on the importance of business process, security, and governance at their wealth management relationship is not something that has been important in the past. Professionals with the ‘Maestro Federated Advisor’ designation will be offering an enterprise level of infrastructure , security and access to clients that demand an independent advisory relationship.”

Mag was previously officed in the Sun America Center from 2004 – 2008. Mary Kusnic is a longtime Century City resident and stakeholder that gives back to our community. I have included both of these amazing women’s bios here.

Mary Kusnic
Wealth Management Advisor
Mary Kusnic has over twenty years experience working with mid-market, emerging and growth-oriented companies, including private and public financing. She provided administrative and portfolio management services for Registered Investment Advisors, Business Managers, Non-profit Organizations, High Net Worth Individuals and Families, Family Offices and Corporate Clients.

As a consultant to Institutional and High Net Worth Clients and Families, her work includes retirement and estate planning, wealth and liquidity management, philanthropic and tax-advantaged strategies; and asset management for tax exempt asset pools including Foundations, Corporate and Private entities, Public Pension and Taft Hartley organizations.

Mary holds the 7, 22, 63 and 65 licenses and is a CFP candidate. Prior to joining Beverly Hills Wealth Management, LLC, Mary was a Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Beverly Hills, CA. and Merrill Lynch’s Private Client Group in Century City, CA.

Margaret (Mag) Black-Scott is the founder of Beverly Hills Wealth Management LLC, a Registered Investment Advisory firm. Formerly she was a Managing Director and Vice Chairman of Morgan Stanley & Co. Mag has over 35 years of financial services industry experience.

Mag was born and educated in England receiving a diploma in Business Administration from Rotherham Technical College, England. She earned her MBA at Jacksonville University, FL. and completed post-graduate work at Wharton, University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard Business School.

She was adjunct Professor at Jacksonville University, teaching both credit and non-credit courses. She has given financial and estate planning seminars all over the country, and is a past recipient of the coveted “EVE” Award as Jacksonville’s Business Woman of the Year.

She presented a daily television program on financial affairs in Los Angeles, California for 2 years. In Jacksonville, she was Business Editor of Channel 7 (PBS) and made regular guest appearances with WJXT TV Channel 4, a CBS affiliate at that time.

BHWM History
Beverly Hills Wealth Management (BHWM) was formed by Mag Black-Scott, former Fortune 50 Vice Chairman, to meet the needs of High Net Worth clients, Trusts, and Institutions across an open environment with experienced advisors, offering advice that is appropriate, understandable, transparent and beneficial to clients. Each of our employees has an extensive history in the financial services business, and an impeccable professional and personal record.

Our Culture
“Ours is a culture of shared values, attitudes, and practices with the goal of helping clients achieve their stated objectives. We have a culture of mutual respect, of our colleagues, our clients and the source of their wealth plus the trust they place in us to manage that wealth to their own benefit. We strive to serve client needs well and promptly and to exceed their expectations – in short to conduct first class business in a first class way.”….Mag Black-Scott...

BHWM Private Trust
Beverly Hills Wealth Management (BHWM) Private Trust (CA domiciled) provides trust solutions for clients whose financial, family, or business needs require the services of a professional fiduciary through its association with National Advisors Trust Company, the largest federally chartered trust company created by registered investment advisors for the benefit of their clients. Beverly Hills Wealth Management, LLC is a shareholder of National Advisors Trust and intimately involved with their operations and Trust expertise, a true Trust partnership between Client, Trust Administration, investment management. BHWM Private Trust works with estate planning professionals on a local level to provide the consistent Trust services required by our multi-generational clients.
By working together, BHWM Private Trust, National Advisors Trust and the estate planning professional are able to build a strong foundation for the client by providing a solid trustee and investment management solution while helping clients protect their wealth and remain confident about the future of their estates. BHWM and BHWM Private Trust affords the opportunity for bi-furcation of the duties and responsibilities – trust administration & investment advisory.

Beverly Hills Wealth Management “Trust | Simplicity | Experience”

Keith Chagall Plays Century City

(This article originally appeared in the Jan 15th, 2013 edition of the Century City News)
by Michael Douglas Carlin



I met Keith a number of years back at what I consider to be the magical summer of my time spent in Century City. There was an entire group that hung out on the patio at the Century Plaza Hotel where he would play during happy hour. He truly made our time there happy and this led to a friendship as I have followed him throughout the number of gigs where I have enjoyed his music.
My aunt is a Keith Chagall groupie. I got into her car the other day and on the CD Player was Keith’s new album, “She’s Incredible.” My aunt was singing along with Keith and she knew all of the lyrics to his
music. It brought a smile to my face that I was able to introduce music to her that is making her happy.

Now Keith plays at Westfield Century City on Fridays and Saturdays from 12 – 2pm. I like to end my week listening to his music and relaxing in the food court and grazing on all of the new food options available inside the mall. It is a great way to reward myself for every action packed week.

Keith also plays other luxury high-end venues such as the Fairmont, Huntley Penthouse, etc. where is tropical lifestyle music sound appeal have prospered all of his clients.



American Federale

(This article originally appeared in the Jan 8th, 2013 edition of the Century City News)
By Melody Johnson

The typical L.A. Story. Michael Carlin is sitting with a friend at a sushi bar and in walks Oliver Stone. It sounds like the set up to a joke but it is in reality a true story. Stone told Carlin to follow the story. And that advice brought us American Federale.

Twelve years ago this story began on a street corner in El Paso, Texas. A Suburban arrives and equipment is stowed in the back. A blindfold is placed over Carlin’s eyes and the adventure is afoot. The interview proved worth the risk as former Federale, Lobo, told his story that included torture, extortion, bribes, and over 22 gun battles during his time in the Chihuahua State Police as well as the Mexican Federal Police.

Lobo gives us insights into his many exploits and shows us a glimpse into the culture of corruption that exists in Mexico today. He tells us about working to protect Drug Lords and take them down when they fall out of favor. He was complicit only because going against the grain would have cost him his life. What began as a youth’s quest for excitement and a life of rubbing elbows with the rich and powerful transitioned into Lobo being tortured to within a breath of losing his life. How he escaped death is still unexplained and qualifies as a miracle. His life was often spared during his ten years by mere chance. He tells us that all of his friends from that era are now dead and they all died very violent deaths. Many of them with their entire families… “Capone Style.”

Carlin also takes us into Border Mexico as he risks his life to capture images that bring this story to life. His many trips into Juarez and Ojinaga bring us behind the scenes where we see Military, Federal Police, State Police and Municipal Police that are known to be on both sides of the law. The blurry lines we see in this documentary teach us that Anarchy truly isn’t the answer. We learn from the film that the blurring of lines that is happening in America today may lead us to bad places and we have the ability to make choices today to lead us to more defined lines and a more orderly and peaceful society.

What I learned from my interview with Carlin is that corruption touched his family during America’s own lawless period in the 20’s when his great grandfather worked for Al Capone. “My grandfather used to pick me up and put me on the counter when he would make me pancakes and tell me stories about his childhood. When he was young his father received a telephone call and went off to work for Capone and was never heard from again.” Carlin’s grandfather drowned his sorrows in alcohol and that dysfunction touched every generation of his family down to and including him.

The ramification of the violence in Mexico has led to a hundred thousand widows and orphans and the impact will never be fully comprehended. Fixing corruption may take many generations at a cost of billions of dollars. Is the quick money from the drug trade really worth the immediate gratification? The audience can draw their own conclusions.

This film is not for the weak willed or squeamish. It is a hard-edged film that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Anyone wondering about Border Mexico, Immigration, Drug Policy, or lawlessness must add this film to his or her watch list. The film is set to be released in early 2013 and will be entered into the Cannes Film Festival.

The film is available on Amazon, iTunes, and GooglePlay.

The Secret of the Holy Grail

Dear Knights and Prospective Knights,

You are part of the making of history. The Knights of Malta have a legacy of rendering aid on the field of battle, and that tradition continues today with every Knight that declares a life of service to help the plight of the less fortunate. The oath as it is written in this book, Rise a Knight, when exercised by Knights, leaves humanity and the planet better off.

But there is a more profound principle at work here—a secret that will change the world and bring about an unprecedented era of world peace.
Dan Brown touched on this in his book and subsequent movie, The Da Vinci Code, but slightly missed the mark. He correctly postulated that the Holy Grail is the vagina or female form. He also glossed over the true motivation behind the Inquisition—the oppression of women. Smart men knew that the only way to control humanity and leave power in the hands of the few was to oppress women. Peace and prosperity comes from women being empowered and equal.

Our new order is one voice to empower women, as all who take the oath agree not to discriminate against any human for any reason. Imagine a playing field level for all of humanity. Moving in this direction brings us closer to Thomas Jefferson’s postulation where he declared, "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men (humans) are created equal."

It wasn’t true when he wrote it. It isn’t true now…but it ought to be. We are part of the historic event ushering in an era during which it will become true. All humans will be created equal, and opportunity will leave no one behind.
We are also part of an era of responsibility, in which every human takes an oath to "first do no harm," and all of us police each other from harming our environment.

Plants, animals, and humans will all benefit from the coming era of peace and prosperity.

Each and every time you Knight someone (men and women) and get them to take the oath, we incrementally move toward more peace and prosperity. We move toward a better world than has ever existed.

This movement is the Holy Grail. It is the "Stone Cut Without Hands" that rolls forth until it consumes the entire world. It is what men and women have dreamed of for thousands of years, and it is within our reach.

I invite you all to share this message with everyone you know and to ask them to take the oath, kneeling as a mortal and rising to a life of service wearing the mantle of Knighthood.

Where men have oppressed and exploited women in the past, I invite you to embrace a new, unprecedented era of empowerment and equality for all of humanity that will lead to greater harmony between flora and fauna and the greatest peace and prosperity the world has ever known.

THE PONZI BOOK: A LEGAL RESOURCE FOR UNRAVELING PONZI SCHEMES

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

By: Kathy Bazoian Phelps and Hon. Steven Rhodes


Now Available at www.lexisnexis.com/ponzibook

Electronic versions also available
www.theponzibook.com

“The Ponzi Book is an invaluable resource for lawyers and judges enmeshed in the thicket of Ponzi scheme litigation. Clearly written and accessible, the book provides key insights into Ponzi cases and how they differ from ordinary bankruptcy litigation.”

Kenneth N. Klee
Klee, Tuchin, Bogdanoff & Stern LLP
“The Ponzi Book is one stop shopping for the facts needed to understand the complex fall-out from a collapsed Ponzi scheme as well as the legal strategies that exist and are required to unravel it.”
Irving H. Picard
Trustee of Bernard L. Madoff
Investment Securities, LLC


Sign up for The Ponzi Blog at www.theponzibook.blogspot.com

“There’s little doubt that Charles Ponzi would be proud of how his infamous brainchild has grown and developed over the years, becoming more complex in execution and breadth. Indeed, the perpetuators of his schemes have grown ever more sophisticated in their efforts, making Mr. Ponzi’s modest beginning look almost quaint in retrospect. With the multi-billion dollar Ponzi schemes that have become unearthed since the capital market meltdown of mid-2008, the legal and financial complexities in their unwinding have become a specialty unto themselves in the law.
“Fortunately for the professional faced with the daunting task of unwinding (or defending) the Ponzi scheme, help has finally arrived! The Ponzi Book: A Legal Resource For Unraveling Ponzi Schemes by Kathy Bazoian Phelps, Esq. and Judge Steven Rhodes is a unique, and the definitive, resource in this area. The book is well organized, exhaustively researched, and covers areas well beyond the obvious in such matters, such as privilege issues, litigating against foreign nationals and obtaining discovery from abroad (as we now know, fraud knows no national boundaries), and the tax issues that come with such schemes. It is in all respects the ‘go to source’ in these matters, and my law firm will have copies in all offices where we have bankruptcy professionals. Frankly, I wish I had written it!”

Thomas J. Salerno
Partner, Co-Chair International Insolvency Practice Group,
Squire Sanders

Worldwide Board President of Legal Administrators Keynoted Leadership Luncheon

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

Legal Volunteer of the Year Awards - April 10

The International Board President of the Association of Legal Administrators presented the Volunteer of the Year award to Luci Hamilton, Director of Administration and Finance at Karlin & Peebles in Beverly Hills, at the Leadership Luncheon hosted by the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators (GLA ALA) on April 10, 2012 from 11:30-1:30 at the Omni Hotel located at 251 South Olive Street in downtown Los Angeles.

Keynoting the luncheon was Karen Griggs, CLM, the National President of the Association of Legal Administrators, an organization with over 10,000 members worldwide. Griggs is the Executive Director of Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice, L.L.C., in Kansas City, Missouri, named as a 2012 “Go-To Law Firm.”

As Volunteer of the Year award recipient, Hamilton is recognized for her work with GLA including her life-changing “Members-In-Transition” program chaired by Hamilton. Hamilton held educational and inspiring gatherings for administrators looking for work and for anyone who believes that we all are in transition as we grow as professionals and leaders. Dedicated to the pursuit of continuing education, Hamilton tirelessly shares her knowledge and expertise for those seeking the ALA service mark of a Certified Legal Manager or CLM. Hamilton attended almost all of the CLM classes, teaching several herself. Hamilton was GLA ALA’s 2004-2005 Board President and additionally volunteers in local and national organizations including Pasadena City College, the Veterans’ Affairs Department, the “Women at Work” high school outreach programs and UN Women – The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
Shaun Morrison, of Glendora, Office Administrator for Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP in Century City, was installed as the 2012 GLA ALA President. Says Morrison of her new role, “GLA has inspired excellence in our profession and I am proud to be President of this compelling organization.”

Cost of the luncheon was $30 for members, $35 for non-members. Event question contact Terri Oppelt, toppelt@strook.com.

For more information, contact:
Shaun Morrison - smorrison@allenmatkins.com - 310-788-2400
Luci Hamilton - lhamilton@karlinpeebles.com - 323-648-4645

ABOUT GLA ALA: The Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators (GLA ALA) is a 350-person nonprofit membership organization that provides opportunities for educational enrichment, professional and personal development, community service, and the exchange of information to improve the quality and professionalism of management in legal services organizations. www.glaala.org

ABOUT KAREN GRIGGS, CLM: Karen Griggs, CLM, is the Executive Director of Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice, L.L.C. in Kansas City, Missouri and the 2012-2013 Association of Legal Administrators National President. Griggs has been a member of ALA since 1984.

ABOUT SHAUN MORRISON: Shaun Morrison is the incoming Board President of GLA ALA. Morrison serves as the Office Administrator for Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP in Century City.

GLA ALA 2012 President Shaun Morrison, Office Administrator for Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP in Century City, with keynote speaker and the National President of the Association of Legal Administrators, Karen Griggs, CLM, and GLA ALA 2011 Past President Jean Jewell, CLM, Administrator of Kelley Drye/White O’Connor, at the Leadership Luncheon hosted by the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators (GLA ALA) on April 10, 2012 at the Omni Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. During the event, Luci Hamilton was presented with the Volunteer of the Year award and Shaun Morrison was installed as the 2012 GLA ALA President. Photo by Jess Block

How to Curb Distraction during Family Time: No Cell Phone Day

5 Tips for Enriching Bonds from Musical Maestro Delfeayo Marsalis

If you're like jazz trombonist and music producer Delfeayo Marsalis, a member of the acclaimed Marsalis family from New Orleans, you appreciate the "old-school" ways of doing things.

For Marsalis, that means doing without automated music created and played at the push of a button, cooking without a microwave and not being too quick to replace a lost cell phone.

"Some people ask, 'How could you go weeks without replacing your phone?' But for me, I look at it as a much needed vacation," he says.

"At the same time, I'm like most other people: when I have a smart phone on me, I find myself checking it frequently."

While Marsalis isn't anti-technology, he fondly recalls a time when more people interacted with others who are right in front of them, rather than staring at a gadget in their hand – especially when it comes to family. The father of a young teenager, he offers the following tips for improving quality time by doing without the ubiquity of cell phones.

•  Consider a "No Cell Phone Day." In fact, that's the name of his new children's book, (www.KidsTownPress.com), about a tech-entrenched father who spends a happy birthday exploring New Orleans with his daughter – without his cell phone. A monthly "no cell phone day" allows you to fully engage with the people around you, whether they're your kids, your parents, or your friends. Without the distractions of work and spam email, you'll can have meaningful conversations and simply spend time laughing with the people you love. You'll have those memories to cherish for a long time to come. If you really want to connect with yourself and loved ones, plan on a regular No Cell Phone Day.

•  Play dates that don't require cell phones. When Marsalis takes his 13-year-old daughter and her cousins out for a fun day out at the mall, followed by a movie and dinner, he makes a deal with them to leave their phones at home.

"We're all together on these occasions, so there's no concern for safety, and it would be sad to go through all the trouble of spending the day together while, half of the time, they're preoccupied with their phones," he says. "In addition to the occasional outing, we set aside time at home when we can't use cell phones."

•  Make dinner time a cell phone-free zone. While food is especially important to any self-respecting son or daughter of New Orleans, sitting down to eat together is a sacred time for every family. Children and adults alike face significant stress and pressures every day in the world outside the home. Closing the doors on that world and coming together for an hour each evening to relax and refresh in the comparative safety of those who most love us is essential to our well-being. 

•  Play "What Do I Know without My Cell Phone?"Research suggests cell phones are compromising the short-term memory of children. More and more of us – children and adults alike – rely on our smart phones, rather than our memories, to retrieve information. Exercising our brains with trivia, math and other cognitive games can help all of us stay mentally sharp.  

•  Most importantly – don't be afraid to be bored! Life doesn't have to be a sci-fi movie all of the time. Ask your child to reflect on their greatest memories to date; chances are 0 percent that the content of those memories will involve cell phones.

About Delfeayo Marsalis

While Delfeayo Marsalis (dmarsalis.com) is known primarily for his work as a jazz trombonist and music producer, and has been involved with youth education for many years. In 2000, he founded the Uptown Music Theatre to provide arts education for the youth of New Orleans. UMT has staged 16 of his original musicals. Inspired by his autistic younger brother, Mboya, Delfeayo has volunteered and presented shows at Children's Hospital of New Orleans, including the therapeutic, "Swinging with the Cool School." "No Cell Phone Day" is his first children's book.

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