Author: Becca

news

And you thought plastic was safe

Becca

When I was in college, Nalgene bottles were THE thing to keep your water in. I don’t know why. Maybe because it was fun to throw them from the 10th floor window to see if it was REALLY true that they were unbreakable. Maybe it was the cool colors. Who knows.

Now–six years later– we learn that not only do they suck, but they are bad for our health.

The LA Times (my new place of work on Mon and Tues) did a story about the danger of plastic. Here’s the main point:

“The first large-scale human study of a chemical widely used in plastic products, including baby bottles and tin can linings, found double the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and liver problems in people with the highest concentrations in their urine, British researchers reported Tuesday.

The findings confirm earlier results obtained in animals, increasing pressure on the Food and Drug Administration to limit use of the chemical Bisphenol A, commonly called BPA.”

AWESOME.

While it concerns me a little that it is in things like sunglasses, it is really worrisome that some stupid trend while I was in college could have cost me my health. These days, there is a replacement “cool water bottle” (it’s aluminum, I think) I think I’ll pass on the whole thing. Maybe I’ll just drink from rivers… or something.

Uncategorized

This city on the screen

Becca

I love LA. And no matter how many movies are made with this city as the background, I can never get enough of it.

The Soloist is the next film I’m very excited for. Not only does it show a whole lot of LA, but it is about journalist Steve Lopez (played by Downey, Jr.) You know you’ve made it when they made a movie about you….

Here’s the trailer. Try to enjoy the great shots of LA:

news, politics

Liar, Liar pants on fire

Becca

I’ve been out of the country more times than vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. And that was BEFORE the news discovered that she’s actually been exaggerating her ONE overseas trip.

According to news reports, she actually DID NOT go into Iraq. And her trip to Ireland? oh yea, that was just a refueling stop. If I counted all the places I’ve refueled or changed plans… well, I’d have been to a lot more places.

Knowing what the rest of the world is like is a VERY important point for the leaders of our country. We’re already filled with such American-centric people, we don’t need them running our country. I love the U.S. compeletly, but you must know how the rest of the world lives.

This woman just gets worse and worse….

film

Meg Ryan, Jada Pinkett Smith- The Women interviews

Becca

Meg Ryan
By Rebecca Ford

At a popular café in Beverly Hills, the waiter reaches over my shoulder to point at the photo of Meg Ryan on my table.

“She comes in here a lot,” he says, but after a pause adds, “Well, she used to, but not anymore. I don’t know where she went.”

That seems to be the general consensus about Meg Ryan, one of the top earning women actresses in Hollywood, whose celestial curls, startling blue eyes and sweetheart smile were once gracing the nearest movie screen hit after hit. From When Harry Met Sally, to Sleepless in Seattle, to You’ve Got Mail, there seemed to be no stopping Meg Ryan….

See the rest at The Cinema Source

 

And on Jada Pinkett Smith here

Other

Yay!

Becca

I had grand plans to write a celebration blog when I reached 4,000 hits, since I missed all the other milestones, but alas I missed that one too. So here’s to 4,111 hits.

Thanks to all those who’ve checked this site out. I’m not sure why you do it, but I’m glad you do.

whoo hoo!
whoo hoo!
news

The Re-education of the Female

Becca

On the radio today I heard about a book called The Re-education of the Female. I thought, this must be a joke. No one in modern society could get away with writing this book. Even if for some unknown reason it was published, no one would read it, right?

But here it is, on Amazon, for $10.40.

First time author Dante Moore claims that he tells women what men are really thinking–in the most blunt and honest way possible. What a kind man for providing his infinite wisdom on poor little women. Moore, who has never been married, says the book will help women find “a man of quality.”

Here are some great quotes for you:

“Here’s a little secret, ladies. Men never really ask for anything. They command. And believe me, what you won’t do, ten broads around the corner will.”

“The fatter you get, the more you decrease your potential single-man pool. Let me give you an example. When you go to the grocery store to shop, do you pick out the nastiest-looking, most rotten, smelliest fruit or meat you can find? Oh you don’t? Why not? It’s the same with men when they see baby-elephant-sized, out-of-shape women.”

If that is the was a “man of quality” thinks, then I’ll pass.

Moore claims he’s never been in real love, and that’s why he’s never been married. He does seem to also think he is God’s gift to women, ready to bestow his wisdom on us. Thank you Dante, for making a buck of the insecurities of women. What a novel idea.

The Washington Post did a little piece on this genius. Read it here.

**UPDATE: As you can see in my comments, THE Dante Moore himself visited my blog, and had some pretty vapid, pathetic things to say. Check out my response here.

A novel idea
A novel idea
politics

Aaaaahhhhnold Strikes Again

Becca

If I could pick one person to represent California abroad, it would be Arnold. He has such an excellent track record: polite to women, smart about politics, very articulate and has gotten a whole lot done in office….right.

So, seeing as the Austrian-born governor sat down with the German magazine Der Speigel, I am not surprised that he gave some real gems of new quotes.

He doesn’t talk to the Republican Party–because they are crazy (politically). Nevermind that he is a part of that party. What a party pooper.

Of course, he went on to call Sarah Palin a “good looking woman” because, really, to Arnold, every woman running for office should be judged only on her looks. But wait, he also says she is “feisty.” Good. Glad we cleared that up.

Maybe something was lost in translation? Somehow I doubt it.

Lots of people in Los Angeles–dare i say California– have problems with their identity, with consistency of their statements, and with being misogynistic pigs. I just wish we weren’t represented by one.

politics

This is our moment

Becca

When I talk to my parents and grandparents,
They remind me
That I never lived in a world
Before the internet,
Before itunes, iphones and ipods,
Before people of all color could go to school together.

I missed Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech,
And the protests against the Vietnam War,
And watching a man land on the moon.

I missed it all.

But for my generation, this may be our moment.
This may be the moment that our children ask us about.
Because for them,
Every president WON’T be a white male.
For them,
Diversity and optimism
Will be as common and widespread as itunes and iphones.
Or so I hope.

news, politics

Return of a serial killer?

Becca

I watch waaaaay too much Law and Order, the Closer, etc. I’m the first to admit that.

But an article in LA Weekly published today is a quick reminder that Los Angeles really is the city straight out of the movies. According the the Weekly, a serial murderer, who was MIA for 13 years, is back. Yes, a serial murderer. And no one–the police cheif, city council members, or our celebutant-mayor seem to be too concerned. Maybe it’s because the murders aren’t in Beverly Hills or Westwood. Maybe they think there are more serious matters to attend to (like reelection campaigns). But last time I checked, no one here wants to live a non-fiction version of their favorite television show, so maybe somebody better get on the ball here.

animals

Meow

Becca

I’ve always said if I became a multi-millionaire (ok, doubtful) I would buy a big house with a lot of land and adopt a lot of shelter pets to save them from their terrible living conditions and imminent death.

Well, someone beat me to it.

Four hours north of Los Angeles, Cat House on the Kings sits as a hidden oasis for hundreds of cats. While at first she may seem like a “cat lady,” this woman has given these animals an opportunity to have a life–a healthy, enjoyable life roaming the lands and climbing trees.

At the no-kill shelter, all the animals are adoptable. I’m not sure how she handles the costs, and time it takes to care for all these animals, but this is clearly a woman doing good. They take donations. Actually, they need donations to survive.  Here’s a video of this amazing shelter: