Category: 2009

How the World Stays Healthy

How the World Stays Healthy

How do those darn Europeans stay so healthy and lean? What are they doing and where can I get some? Who is the healthiest in the world? Obesity ravages the U.S. as now the number one most preventable form of death. How horrendous! Nationally and globally, heart disease is the number 1 killer. We need to find out what these Europeans are doing fast and take notes. Let us visit the top 5 healthiest countries in the world and further explore what they are doing so right in order to make our wrongs just a bit less wrong so to say.

France

The French stand first on our list for their fantastic low rates of heart disease. Their secret lies in their slow dining habits, their amounts of walking, and their daily glass of wine. A French diet is widely known for having high amounts of fat, which is acceptable when combined with their other habits. A combination of small portions, longer mealtimes and extra walking incorporated regularly is the French lifestyle. By extending mealtime out the body is able to best assess when it is truly full, thus avoiding the empty calories of overeating. Overeating is notorious in the US simply due to the constant rush and supersized meals we have grown accustomed to. To cap off a day, our French patrons of health partake in moderate amounts of wine which are helping keep heart disease at bay. They are able to do this because they save so many calories throughout the day with the aforementioned. Only 7 percent of the French population are obese while we Americans push 22 percent and beyond, seemingly due to their ability to slow down and enjoy their lives, saving countless calories.

According to the University of Pennsylvania and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Paris, size does matter. Researchers compared the size of portions at 11 eateries in Paris and Philadelphia and discovered the average size of a French meal was 277 grams, compared with an American portion of 346 grams?a meal larger by 25 percent. Supermarkets also sold larger items in Philadelphia. “Of the 17 items Rozin picked out, 14 products were larger stateside. For example, a carton of yogurt was 82 percent larger in Philadelphia. A soft drink was 52 percent bigger.”

All information published in the September 2007 issue ofPsychological Science.

Japan

The Japanese are renowned for the long life span of their citizens. On average their life expectancy is over 86 years old, along with Japanese women holding the honor of longest life expectancy in the world. This honor comes from their low-cholesterol diets and high amounts of exercise. The Japanese diet is rich in rice, fish, and seaweed, which have long been known to keep heart disease and cancer in check. Their government has taken a fervent interest in keeping the blue collared employees active with government-sponsored pre-work workouts. This has helped many generations of Japanese maintain good health although the intentions of the government aren’t all noble; you see, a healthy employee is a productive employee, so it’s a win – win here. Unfortunately, Western influence is making its way into their lives by raising rates of diabetes, thanks to our high-fat Western foods taking over their shores. Seven million Japanese currently suffer from diabetes with it spreading faster into Asia and many other regions in the world.

Iceland

Iceland is known for hold the lowest infant mortality rate in the world due to its top notch natal care with just 2 deaths before the age of 5 (compared with the United States’ 7) for every 1,000 live births. Iceland offers extensive pre- and post-birth medical care funded by the government, explaining much lower levels of stress, not to mention the three months of guaranteed professional leave for each parent at 80 percent of their salaries. Studies have shown that the less stress or more control you have over stress in your life is directly correlated with a healthier weight and over all disposition on life. This basically implies that since you feel happier over all, you are much more likely to continue to take good care of yourself and respect your body.

Sweden

Sweden falls on our list for its h igh cancer survival rates and nearly 100 percent child immunization. Once again we can thank their government who spends nearly 14 percent only for healthcare. The country’s 9 million citizens receive cutting-edge medical technologies treatment, paying only 15 percent of the bill, if any at all. The people of Sweden are smart because they believe in holistic social care. There attention and care range from happier professional lives to better street lights in order to encourage evening walks, resulting in healthier, happier citizens, and of course, ultimately lower medical bills.

Italy

Italians round off our list with their extremely well rounded lifestyles. Italians first and foremost take great honor in being connoisseurs of food, and so expectedly they dine leisurely, savoring each bite they partake. Focusing on the enjoyment of the meal allows for better nutrient absorption, fosters sound eating habits, and of course, ensures that you stop when you are truly full to conserve calories. Italians eat only at mealtimes; and if they were to snack, their choice would most likely be fruits or nuts. The Italian culture believes in full balance of quality and quantity while enjoying simple, fresh food. They don’t diet, which is a fantastic idea due to the fact that radical unbalanced dieting usually does more damage to your metabolism than not dieting in the first place. An Italian meal is known for its daily fresh dark green veggies, rich fruits, and highly healthy unsaturated fats, such as virgin olive oil, a fantastic anti-inflammatory. To top it all off of course are the high amounts of walking about the city. Italians don’t seem to be in as much a rush as we seem to be. Maybe we should slow down a bit. Slowing down seems to be a running theme with these healthy Europeans.

Table

http://www.johnpirelliosia.org/osia/Culture/how_italians_stay_slim.htm

www.cdc.gov

Written by Anthony Heredia

Why is He Losing Weight Faster? How Girls Can Catch Up

Why is He Losing Weight Faster?

How Girls Can Catch Up

Welcome to a new year full of prosperity coupled with wonderful new levels of health, dear ladies of Agenda. We address the age-old question of why we cursed men hold this unfair advantage in the battle of the bulge and further yet, how to help you reap said benefits. The truth of the matter is that men do have major weight-loss advantages over you lovely ladies, combined with disadvantages as a woman. Fret not though, as there is always a way. The first male advantage involves body composition, enabling men to burn calories at an accelerated rate in comparison to women. Specifically, I am referring to greater amounts of muscle mass, extremely efficient fat burning marvels. Every extra 1 lb of lean muscle devours an extra 50 calories a day by simply existing. Might not sound like much, but should you add an extra 5 lbs of lean muscle mass to your body (which visually is one toner leg), you would burn an extra 500 calories a day. In one week’s time you will have burned 3500 calories, 1 lb of fat, simply due to you having one gorgeously toned leg. (I recommend you tone both together though. Might look odd if you don’t.) This either means you can eat an extra sandwich with 2 pieces of fruit, staying exactly the same size or change no eating habits and naturally lose nearly 1 lb a week. Not bad.

Men have been genetically designed by nature to hold and build more muscle mass, testosterone being the key player in all this. Women on the other hand are predisposed to store and retain fat due to higher levels of estrogen, a hormone that works to keep the fat on a woman’s body so it’s easier for her to become pregnant. That means women have to work harder to lose weight at the same rate as men. Realistically, women do take longer to add on the same muscle a man undergoing the same approach would; yet she will reap the same benefits once packing that gorgeous muscle. Do take note to remember that the male body originated as an expendable yet efficient hunting, gathering, defending machine. Ladies, you were beautifully designed to survive and bring in new and wonderful life into our world. Aesthetics were unfortunately not part of the original grand scheme of things. Take up any complaints with the big architect on that one.

A second grand advantage revolves around men naturally designed for more active lives, combined with faster response to exercise. Women have a lower tolerance for exercise due to smaller lung capacity, leading women to feel as though they are working harder than men even if the women are working at the same level. This makes exercise feel extra difficult in heat and high humidity. Under strenuous, unbalanced conditions, a woman’s body will enter starvation mode easier than a male’s, slowing the metabolism to hang onto more fat in the hopes of self preservation. Research has found that on average the metabolism of a man is 5 to 10 percent higher than that of a woman of the same weight and height. The American Journal of Physiology found that women burn an average of 16 percent fewer daily calories than men. Researchers found that a woman’s resting metabolic rate was 6 percent lower than that of men, along with 37 percent fewer calories burned during physical activity. They inferred that women were simply not moving as much as the men, thus burning fewer calories.

A woman’s edge in weight management stems from her uncanny intuition. Women tend to be more attentive to what’s going on with their bodies and are better able to make the connection between food and emotions, a male weakness. Bottom Line: How to level the playing field.

  • Fat-Ravaging Muscle. Build that fat-burning body sculpting muscle mass so that you can eat more guilt-free and reach the highest tiers of your physical goals. I recommend finding a good class in your gym, a credentialed trainer, or a fun DVD program. Strength training can be tricky and one of those things you don’t want to learn by trial and error, as you can get very hurt. Be safe, but go hard. You won’t regret it.
  • Extend Your Cardio. New studies reveal that 60 minutes per day minimum for 5 days a week to reap the benefits you seek. Once you are happy with the body that is unfolding, you can pull back to maintenance workout time, which is 3 times a week at your 60 minutes. If you have trouble with that, increase your time incrementally, or dividing up the time in the same day is fine as well.
  • Realistic Goals. A realistic rate of loss is 10 percent of your body weight over a few months or 1/2 to 2 pounds a week. Pushing your body to lose too much too fast with unhealthy tricks is the reason people yo-yo. Treat your body right.

Make healthy living a routine. Women are much more disciplined and patient than most men, so make sure to capitalize on this fact. Keep a food diary to keep yourself accountable, make healthy choices a habit as brushing your teeth so that you no longer think about it. It becomes second nature. Choose water over empty calories and educate yourself on all your new changes. Don’t just listen to us health nuts. We read the books, but if your interest should spark, ask why and find your answer. By educating yourself you become that much more committed to yourself. Not a bad investment, I say.

Written by Anthony Heredia

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle David Wroblewski

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

David Wroblewski

If your requirement for a good book is that it ends happily, you will want to skip David Wroblewski’s The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. However, if like me you savor good writing for the sake of good writing, great descriptions of the Wisconsin countryside in the 1970s, descriptions of its memorable characters, and beautiful, free-flowing writing, you won’t want to miss it. All of these things kept me reading and hoping to be in the end rewarded for my patience and dedication. Besides, Oprah said it was a great book, and it’s rare that I have disagreed with her.

This is the tragic story of Edgar Sawtelle, a young boy born without a voice but with a special gift and love for training dogs. He is the only child born to parents who before his birth had undergone the loss of a number of babies either through miscarriages or still birth. Perfect in every way, but without speech, he learns to communicate with sign, both with humans and the Sawtelle dogs, a fictional breed of dogs that has been in his family for three generations.

My requirement for a good book is not that it always ends happily (thus is life), but that it ends satisfactorily. That does not happen here. After we journey with Edgar in his coming-of-age story, we return with him to his home where everything literally goes up in smoke. Even the records of five generations of Sawtelle dogs go up in flames.

Edgar’s father dies suddenly and mysteriously; but supernaturally, he returns to his son and tells him he was murdered. He is charged to find the evidence because no one will believe him without it. In town he encounters a store owner with whom he has another supernatural experience. From her he learns what the evidence of his father’s murder is that he should look for. When he can no longer stand being at home around his mother who has now befriended his uncle, he begins sleeping in the barn. When another fatal accident occurs, he flees, taking three of the dogs from the litter he has birthed and trained with him. On his journey he encounters Henry, and when he leaves to return home, two of the three dogs choose to stay with Henry. He finds the evidence he has been looking for, but what good is evidence if no one knows about it? Not even his mother.

So when everything goes up in flames, the dog that returned home with Edgar leads the other dogs away in the direction of Henry’s place, we suspect, as that is not really clear.

We are left with so many questions. Perhaps Wroblewski planned it this way for a sequel. Don’t count on it. What was the point of a coming-of-age story only to end with the death of the hero without his acting on the knowledge he has gained, especially about himself? Nothing is resolved, and I am left unsatisfied . . . because the book has ended with no plot resolutions.

Reviewed by Lee L. Peoples

My Interview with Matt Ventimiglia of the Griffith Observatory

Matt Ventimiglia is a man who has hitched his wagon to a star, literally, from traveling the globe to see the eclipses in the best possible locations, as near as Baja, California, to remoter places like Australia and the high Arctic Ocean; a star gazer who shares with others his vast knowledge of the universe. When talking with Matt, it is difficult to spend less than an hour listening to his fascinating stories about the universe. He is an expert on film, an excellent photographer, and, what I believe to be, a true renaissance man in an age where the mediocre is more the norm than not.

I met Matt Ventimiglia at the Griffith Observatory recently, one Saturday in January. He was behind the information desk answering one technically challenging question after another being thrown at him from my sister’s father-in-law, who used to work as chief engineer for a contractor of NASA during the early years of space travel. I was engaged in listening and adding a few volleys of my own while discovering that Matt had a keen interest in following eclipses throughout the world. He’s been to seven thus far, from Australia to Zambia. He’s worked at the Griffith Observatory since it reopened in 2006 and has known its current director, Edd Krupp, for 20 years. He understands the heavens and quotes poetry. He is a science fiction buff and has actually worked with the likes of Ray Bradbury for a thesis he’d written on “The Adaptations of Moby Dick,” and he met Leonard Nimoy as an extra in a documentary filmed at the Griffith Observatory and shown in its Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater.

I was intrigued by Matt’s statement that we are all made of stardust and are all a part of this vast universe.  We talked about the continuous present of Bruce Kawin, professor of literature and film studies at the University of Colorado in Boulder.  [Check out his books at Amazon.com, especially Telling it Again and Again: Repetition in Literature and Film (1972)] and compared it to totality, the point when the sun is completely eclipsed by the moon or where the full moon can be eclipsed by the earth’s shadow, rendering the moon dark.  (As seen from the moon, the sun is being eclipsed by the Earth . . . .) Totality is the point where it seems you are witnessing eternity.

Matt is a graduate student studying paleontology at CSUN (California State UniversityNorthridge) and is very busy. I was very fortunate that he found the time to speak with me about his travels, astronomy, literature, film, and the Observatory. What follows is our dialogue.

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How long have you worked at the Griffith Observatory? What are your most memorable moments?

I’ve worked there for about three years although I’ve patronized the place ever since moving to Southern California in 1979 and have known its current director, Dr. Ed Krupp, for nearly 20 years.  Most memorable moments include watching the last transit of Mercury (Nov 8, 2006), seeing Comet McNaught (Jan/Feb 2007, visible in broad daylight through binoculars), and lecturing to the public in the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater.  I met Leonard Nimoy while appearing behind him as an extra in the documentary film we show in his namesake theater.  Finally, I always enjoy it when succeeding to explain in simple terms a scientific concept or natural fact a patron was previously unaware of.  You can always tell when you’ve achieved success by the way they offer sincere thanks.  This is very satisfying.

What are you doing there now, and what are your future plans and adventures? And you also referenced Carl Sagan for one of the shows.

I recently filled in for a few of the “Let’s Make a Comet” presentations in the LNEH theater when the “trained” presenters couldn’t attend. But these programs are now being presented only for school groups on weekday mornings, so I won’t be doing it again until possibly Spring Break or summer when regular public “holiday” programming resumes.

I only wish Carl Sagan were alive to see what a monster he’s created . . . ME!  I spoke with him several times over the years before he died, but I don’t think he would have remembered me among the throngs of his admirers.

I work Observatory weekends for the remainder of this month but will limit my time to Fridays or Sundays only during the spring semester.

I understand you follow eclipses worldwide. Tell me about your first eclipse in 1991.

I had no idea what to expect other than the photos I’d seen.  It was a long one, nearly 7 minutes of totality, seen from a cruise ship between Baja and mainland Mexico.  I was not planning to photograph the eclipse, just watch it with a spotting scope, but then realizing I would have plenty of time, I attached a camera and captured a pretty good shot at 400mm.  It was a surreal experience watching the eclipse next to John Astin (Gomez Addams on the TV show “The Addams Family”), whom I’d met on the cruise!

What brings you back again and again?

The glory of it all . . . !

Why is it so addictive?

There’s no describing it in words, but when you see your first, you’ll understand . . . !

Totality sounds so romantic, like the point in time where everything stops. Explain “totality” and what your experience is at totality.

I remember one elderly Englishman in a documentary called “The Great Eclipse,” by far the best documentary on eclipse watching, the “Woodstock” of eclipse films . . . secondhandVHS tapes may still be available . . . check Amazon.com, who described it as feeling like he was about to die.  You could do nothing to stop it, but time itself seemed to freeze . . . .

I know this is not what totality means, but I think I’ll change the meaning a bit for a poem or song.

You’re not far off the mark.  Also, a tradition for lovers has developed: to “pop the question” following totality, during the exit diamond ring, especially if the guy doesn’t yet have the ring to produce. The eclipse diamond ring becomes the proxy . . . .

Would you consider shooting a documentary about one of your eclipse cruises?

Although I am somewhat of a trained filmmaker, I actually prefer still photography because of its ability to freeze and preserve moments of time.

During our discussion at the Observatory, you quoted a verse to me by Walt Whitman about a blade of grass being made of stardust and compared it to people being made of stardust. Could you expand on that?

The quote is from “Leaves of Grass”:  “I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journeywork of the stars.”  But Whitman didn’t mean that grass was made of stardust.  He just meant that grass was as interesting to him as stars.  I’d agree on some level, but I also think we are actually made of stardust, born from the Big Bang and nuclear reactions within stars, the heavier elements coming from supernova . . . . Whitman also wrote a poem called “I Heard the Learned Astronomer,” where he disparages science and scientists.  The caricature of his astronomer is a guy too obsessed with numbers and seemingly oblivious to the beauty of the universe.  I can forgive Whitman for that, though. He just met the wrong astronomer, and first impressions are always blinding . . . .

I understand that you are studying paleontology. That seems very different from astronomy.  What draws you to that field of study?

Both subjects are similar in that they involve processes spanning extreme passages of time, but also because they both try to ask the most mysterious questions: How did life come about and develop into what it is today, and is there life elsewhere in the universe?

You mentioned your interest in math. What specifically do you love and dislike?

I like the way it models how the mind works; its attempt to order things with symmetry and logic and the joy you get learning something new through derivation or visualizing geometrical relationships.  I don’t like long, tedious calculations with long, tedious numbers . . . .

Tell me a little about your first thesis, “Adaptations of Moby Dick” from your degree in cinema history and criticism, 1984.

I wrote it while consulting with author Ray Bradbury, who wrote the screenplay for the 1956 John Huston film starring Gregory Peck.  Bradbury is still a close acquaintance. In fact, I’ll be calling him at noon today.  Looking back on it now, the thesis is rather wordy and immature.  Yet because it was apparently the first thesis to cover the topic of film, theatrical, musical, comic book and illustrated adaptations, it was mentioned by Prof. Elizabeth Schultz (University of Kansas) in her book Unpainted to the Last: Moby Dick and 20th Century American Art.

You mentioned your love of a very unique instrument you play, called the Theremin, and that i t is in two theatrical films that you know of,The Delicate Delinquent, starring Jerry Lewis, and a foreign film (Argentine) La Nina Santa (The Holy Girl), where a street musician plays the Theremin.  What do you love about the instrument, and would you be willing to record a song or two?

There are also documentaries such as “Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey.” What I love about it is the tonal quality, like a violin with one string, using vibrato to emulate the human voice.  I also have fond memories of its use in 50s science fiction film soundtracks, although this is considered rather vulgar by some , but the Theremin is no longer used as a serious concert instrument; so why not celebrate its place in popular culture?

Yes, I would love to record . . . when I can find the time to practice . . . !  I’m a bit rusty right now.

When we spoke at the Observatory, we talked about the eternal now.  You quoted from the movie, The Thin red line.  Could you expand on that?

The monologue from The Thin Red Line that most relates to this question is when Pvt. Witt describes watching his mother die and how she seemed to accept it calmly. Witt mentions never seeing any sign of “immortality” in his daily experience, but hoped he could face his own death with the same “calm, because that’s where it is, the immortality I hadn’t seen . . . .”

I don’t really know how one can apply the concept of “continuous present” (see critical writings of Bruce Kawin) to my philosophy of life other than to savor pleasant moments and measure them unflinchingly next to the unpleasant.

Where have you traveled to see the eclipses?

1991 Cruise ship Viking Serenade off Baja between mainland Baja and the Gulf of California

1996 The one I took my parents to, seen north of the Galapagos Islands aboard the tour boat Corinthian

2001 in Zambia near Lusaka (the capital)

2002 in Australia in the southern Outback

2005 North of Pitcairn Island on the cruise ship Paul Gauguin

2006 North Africa in Libya, south of Tobruk

2008 in the high Arctic Ocean

Where will you see your next eclipse?

My next eclipse trip will be in July, a cruise from China to the eclipse maximum southeast of Japan.  The tour will begin in Beijing at the Great Wall.

Tell me about your most memorable eclipse moment.

The most interesting one seen from northern Iceland in 2003 on the last day of May, rising before annularity, appearing like a neon hula hoop, partially obscured by clouds.  I loved the coincidence of seeing the annular solar eclipse (a solar eclipse in which the moon covers all but a bright ring of the sun around the circumference of the moon) from Iceland on the same day as in the movie, Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959), on the “calends of June” (The last day of a month is called the “calends” of the next month; for example, the 31st of June is the calends of July) that the expedition enters the earth from inside the caldera of Snæfellsjökul, a name which refers both to the icecap on top and the summit of the volcano.  The film version altered the novel’s calends of July (the 31st of June) to June, the 31st of May.  I just loved the coincidence of seeing the annular solar eclipse from Iceland on the same day . . . .

Annular eclipses seem to be very special. How many have you seen?

I have seen a total of four annular eclipses, two on the Pacific coast (California and Mexico), one in New Mexico, and one in Iceland.

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“Descend, bold traveler, into the crater of Snæfellsjökull, which the shadow of Scartaris touches before the calends of July, and you will attain the centre of the earth; which I have done.”

– Arne Saknussemm of

Journey to the Center of the Earth, Jules Verne, 1864

After spending time with Matt Ventimiglia, I believe I just ascended from the depths of the earth to encounter a taste of the heavens. And you can read his article about his last eclipse adventure in “Griffith Observer,” a monthly issue put out by Griffith Observatory. Details at http://www.griffithobs.org/

*Note:  Matt Ventimiglia works as a tour guide for Griffith Observatory, however he is not an official representative.

See the image gallery related to this interview

Interviewed by Lisa Trimarchi

Insights – Righteous Wars

Righteous Wars

I have been feeling a lot of anger lately over the many conflicts in the world, the many wars. I have been feeling that unless mankind learns to handle our differences civilly and without violence, we will be our own end. The environment is groaning because of our greedy misuse, and with the factor of war added in, it starts to rapidly decline.

I have heard reports of the conflict on the Gaza Strip, and I know there are justifications on both sides for the continued dropping of bombs. One is the occupied, and the other is the occupier. Both are harassing each other. I know how I would feel if my freedom were taken away: I couldn’t feed my family and I couldn’t get proper medical care. I would feel desperate.

I know also how I would feel if I had to run to a shelter every day, my neighbor’s child was killed by a terrorist’s bomb, or the place I go to shop was blown up by a suicide bomber. I would want revenge.

I understand the anger on both sides. However, from the perspective of an outsider, I wonder if there is any other way to solve these problems than by the dropping of bombs and the use of white phosphorous. When you bomb your enemy, you create more enemies for generations to come.

So it is on both sides: hatred and violence fueled by a seeking of retribution for the killing of innocents. The sad thing about that is that when you become the aggressor, you become like the very enemy you detest. You become enmeshed in the tar of distaste by killing innocent children, women . . . ? civilians that appear a lot like the ones you lost. And where is the end to revenge?

It is a faulty premise to assume that if you hit your enemy with an iron fist so severe as to insure your enemy cannot retaliate, your enemy will not retaliate.

I heard an argument recently that intrigued me. Instead of isolating and imprisoning your foes, why not talk to them and include them into your society? That way you could get to know each other and learn to live together. We have the same problem here in America. We want to isolate ourselves from those “others” across the border, across the sea, in our own cities across the tracks and in the ghettos.

Until we realize that those of us that we choose not to see are also our brothers, we will always be in conflict, because that person wants what you want, an equal chance at the resources that provide you with a good quality of life. If this man cannot feed his family, cannot safely educate his children, and cannot safely get needed medical care, this man will more than likely become your enemy. If this woman finds that each of her children dies a violent death, she will not only help your enemy but take up arms herself.

People do not easily accept a lesser status in society while they see others doing well. They begin to think that they should have what you have, and they will seek to obtain it. What are we going to do with that fact?

How can I feel satisfied with my level of comfort when others are suffering so much? We must find a way to include others in our prosperity and well being; and believe me, a warm bed, a dry roof, and plenty of food are prosperity enough for some. Can’t we at least share that much?

Can’t we also provide the same level of safety and education that we enjoy and have access to? Can’t we rise above ourselves and live peacefully by negotiation and dialogue rather than by the use of weapons and bombs?

There are no righteous wars, only a descending into depravity by continuing to kill, murder, and maim innocents in the effort to obtain land, resources, and political advantage. Shame on us until we learn to live in peace and communicate even with those we find the most distasteful; because until we do, we are doomed to extinction at our own hands.

Lisa Trimarchi

Where in the World Would You Go for Inspiration?

I have never been out of the country. Unfortunately, my fear of flying (well, fear of going down is more like it) has hindered my exploration of the world. About five years ago, I could have traveled with a friend, and a group of other Jewish adults, to the motherland – Israel. For the most part, it was a free ticket because it involved committed studies and group activities. Now, I kick myself. My hairdresser, whose homeland is Jamaica, always reminds me that I am welcome to go with her whenever I want to – she goes at least once a season, and says that she can just see my sitting by the clear, blue water writing in my journal. And that I CAN imagine.

So with 2009 here and incredible opportunities that have been finding me, I must overcome all of my “what ifs” so that I can fully enjoy the twists and turns of life – and be ready for anything and everything.

Having attended several LA Fashion Week shows through Agenda, I can only imagine the beauty and excitement of Milan Fashion Week. I also envision how it would feel to stroll and skip on the streets of Paris, and then maybe make a trip from there to Brazil so that I can bask in the sexiness of babes and beaches.

While I understand that international travel has its own challenges, frustrations, and even dangers, the inspiration from visiting another country would do wonders on my soul; interesting trips and experiences would only inspire me as a writer, a business owner, and as a person who wants to know what it feels like to be a foreigner. I firmly believe that men and women who seek success can only do so by expanding their horizons and creating new friendships and industry relationships at every chance they get.

And what better way to do so than in a new place where you can open your eyes to new styles, new languages, new mannerisms, new senses of humor, a new fashion of politics, and new (tasty!) dishes.

Think I have a thirst to travel? You can bet your Manolos on that.

If you have a great international traveling trip that you would love to share with Elana, please contact her at elana@talkingchic.com. She may even quote you in her next column!

Elana Pruitt

Bollywood’s Pooja Batra – Brains, Beauty, and Talent Crossing Continents

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is the home of Bollywood star Pooja Batra. Mumbai’s population alone is 13 million. And if you take into account the entire population of India being over 1 billion, one could say that Pooja Batra is a bigger celebrity than any one star here in America. Naturally, Hollywood crosses continents, and most blockbusters are translated into several different languages across the globe. But for the dense population that exists in India, becoming a superstar there really carries a lot of weight. I recently interviewed Pooja Batra in her lovely American home, and got a crash course in Bollywood.

When looking at Batra’s background, it’s no wonder she took the title of Miss India and stole the hearts of millions on the big screen. Her mother, Neelam Batra, had preceded her a generation prior as a Miss India before Pooja took the crown. Pooja attended Kendriya Vidyalaya, was a good student and athlete, and ultimately received her MBA in marketing from Symbiosis College. She modeled professionally, and after her Miss India victory, catapulted to stardom. In her career, she starred in 22 films, won Best Supporting Actress and was nominated as Most Promising Newcomer forVirasat. In 2006 she was nominated for Best Actress for Taj Mahal-An Eternal Love Story.

At the time of my interview with Pooja, she was preparing to go home to India to climb the base camp of a mountain. She was very excited about it. It was the first time she was officially trekking.

“Every time I go back to India, I read the scripts to see if there’s something I want to do. It’s just great to go back home.”

Tell me a little bit about your acting career.

After you win a title like Miss India, a lot of people come up to you and ask you to be part of a movie. I did train to be an actor. I got my diction, voice coaching, and whatever the norm was [so that I could be prepared]. My first movie led me to more and better films. I did 22 films, so that was a great journey in my life.

You must have been doing five or six films a year.

I literally did do five or six films a year! That was a busy phase. And I enjoyed it while I was doing it. It’s just a phenomenal profession to be a part of. It’s amazing to emote and make people happy, cry, set up emotions. It’s such a huge industry. I was lucky that I was part of it.

How did you get your first role?

I auditioned for it and my director was looking for a fresh face. He somehow liked me without makeup. He liked my expressions, and he said, “You’re my girl.” So there I was. He liked the innocence.

What was it like to win Miss India?

It was probably the best phase of my life. I was 17 when I won it, and for me, everything opened up [after that]. I could practically do anything I wanted. I went from being a nobody to suddenly people knowing my name. I was lucky because there were so many beautiful girls.

When did you land your first role?

I think I was 21. I modeled for about five years and I did not want to get into the film industry. I didn’t know much. I wanted to get the experience of traveling. And modeling is very female based. It’s great money, traveling, and I made great friends. I was enjoying that. When a good role came, I made the transition.

Tell me about the films you’ve been in.

I don’t know if you know about Bollywood movies. They’re mostly singing and dancing. They’re like Moulin Rouge, for a lack of a better example. It’s more like a fantasy land where they take you and they show you the love and emotions. They come up with amazing story lines, sets, and songs.

You’ve lived here for how long?

Three years. I go back and forth to India.

Are you still making films now?

I am involved right now in helping my fellow producers and actors in India get here. A [while back] I helped a producer acquire two Hollywood actors for a Bollywood movie. I knew their agents and managers, and I sort of put the deal through. So this is the first time in a proper legit Bollywood movie that Hollywood names?and big names?did cameos. That’s what I did. I am helping as much as I can because I’m proud of who I am. If somebody needs anything from here, I help them. I helped to acquire Sylvester Stallone and Denise Richards for this project.

Are you looking to possibly do films out here?

Yes. I would love to. It’s just a different setup here. The market hasn’t really opened up to me or my kind of people. So until it does, I’m polishing my craft.

You’re right. It’s an untapped demographic in film.

A little bit in television because the scale at which Indians are doctors and lawyers. They would try and show them, but not as much.

You don’t really see them starring as much.

Not as much, but maybe it will open up. Because now anywhere you go, the fifth person literally is an Indian.

In regards to having a hand in merging American stars with Bollywood, you have moved from beauty queen–to being in front of the camera–to literally being in the background.

Only vocationally. This is something that fell in my lap. I took it as a challenge and I did it. It was fun. It’s a great achievement, a sense of validation. And then it does [well] for everybody. It opens up another country and fan base for them (India), which is huge. India’s booming right now. They have the money. Their technicians are amazing. Their stories are great. So why not?

How would you say the transition was from India to the United States?

It was very hard. The first three years of my coming here and trying to adjust were miserable. People couldn’t understand my accent. It was hard. Just the sense of belonging didn’t happen. I think I had to get out of the mold of just being in my community and friends. I had to figure out how to be a part of society. In New York it was so easy. Anybody from any part of the world can come there and be a New Yorker. Here, it’s a little hard. The first two years were hard, but now I love it. I have great friends, a great husband . . . I have a good setup, and now I just love it.

India has the densest population in the world?

Yes, per square foot. I think China has the most.

Was that an interesting change for you the first time you came here?

Yes, because I am used to a lot of people around me, in front of me, everywhere. Here, when you come per square feet, people are limited. Even when you go out driving, there’s one person in the car as opposed to the entire family like in India. But L.A. does have a somewhat dense population.

As far as acting, you’re on hiatus until a break comes for you out here?

I would say yes. If something good comes from India, I’m more likely to do a project from start to finish. In India everything depends on the actors. They do six to seven movies at a time in a year. Not just one at a time. So when you get a movie, you’re literally going back every month. And that’s not cost effective for the producer or for me.

What is casting like in India?

It’s very lenient. There are no proper casting directors. My casting for my movies consisted of sitting across from the director. He would look at me and he’d say, “Okay, she can doexpressions.” Or I’d just learn a monologue. Here, it’s a totally different process. The filtering in over here is very hard. It’s almost unheard of to give somebody a break. Here, even if you see a pretty girl, she’s done a body of work already.

It seems as though the film industry in India is very similar to how the movie industry originally started in Hollywood.

That’s exactly how it is in India right now. The movie-making style is old Hollywood, old classic Hollywood.

Yes, very glamorous, I think.

Realistic films work [in India] but not as much. The audience wants to see “happy.” The audience wants to see Switzerland. The audience does not want to see the streets of Bombay [Mumbai].

Obviously there are films that are made that are serious.

Yes, lower budget, independent films are more realistic.

Highest High

I have had amazing highs in my life: making a box office hit, winning Miss India, acting out a good scene. But the highest high? It’s really like a series of highs. So far I would say the highest high was winning my pageant. I was stunned.

Lowest Low

A movie not doing well. But this is so temporary. It’s the living in the now and being present now and being happy in the moment. That’s what is most important. You could hit the highest high, but if you’re not enjoying it, there’s no fun in it.

When you go back to Mumbai, you’re very recognizable. What is that like?

It’s a good feeling. People come up and ask me how I’ve been, what am I working on next . . . . It’s nice.

What advice would you give to someone who’s aspiring to accomplish what you’ve accomplished?

I would say go for your dreams and your goal, and be prepared. Do your homework and do your research. Life is very short. If you don’t take chances, you’ll never know. What matters most [in acting] is if you’re able to convey the emotions when portraying a character.

What was your most challenging role?

My most challenging role is still to come. If I’ve done it, it’s not challenging anymore.

Visit www.poojabatra.com for updates and to learn more about Pooja Batra.

See the fashion editorial of Pooja Batra photographed by Ash Gupta Studio 838.

Interviewed by Kaylene Peoples

Great New Look for your Getaway . . . or Even Staying Home

JAGGED Is the Great New Look for your Getaway . . .

or Even Staying Home

I just had the best haircut ever – from Jeffrey Jagged.  Hey, with a name like that, he’s GOT to be a hot stylist!  And he is!

Jeffrey Jagged got his start in New York City in the early 90s, styling wigs for some of the colorful downtown “glitterati.”  He was also a fashion stylist in the Big Apple, where he rubbed elbows with celebrity stylists Danilo, Rodney Groves, and Oribe.  After classes at NYU, the Fashion Institute of Technology, and The Aveda Institute, Jeffrey did more training with Bumble and Bumble, Vidal Sassoon, and Goldwell.

In 2002, Jeffrey moved to Los Angeles. His work as a freelance stylist includes clients such asGuess, Ed Hardy, Nike, Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics, and Too-Faced Cosmetics. His work appeared inRollingStone, InStyle, American Salon, and Australian Marie Claire. With his “passion for fashion,” Jeffrey has also worked Fashion Week in New York City, working under the inimitable Bob Recine.

As part of the Hollywood scene, Jeffrey worked on television shows such as America’s Next Top Model, Europe’s Next Top Model, hosted by Heidi Klum, Australia’s Next Top Model, Search for the Next Pussycat Doll, Girlicious, and The Ellen Degeneres Show. He has also been in front of the camera, hosting beauty segments on live local TV, as well as on the Telemundo network. In addition, he has written beauty columns for Westside Woman.

What he likes best though, is making clients look fabulous and super hot.  Jeffrey has a rare combination of creative vision, technical flexibility and contemporary sensibility.  Some of his celebrity clientele includeNicole and Kimberly from the Pussycat Dolls, INXS, Terri Nunn/Berlin, Blair Underwood, Kelly Hu, JC Chavez, Joey Fatone, Debi Mazar, Kirstie Clements (editor-in-chief of Australian Vogue), Navi Rawat, Jayma Mays, Jamie Chung, Brian Krause, Bree Turner, and Emily Harper.

So whether you are off for a vacation or just staying home, why not treat yourself to a fab new cut or color from Jeffrey. And make sure you tell him Marilyn Anderson from Agenda Magazine sent you.  You’ll get extra special TLC and a great look for the spring to put a spring in your step!  Call for an appointment with Jeffrey Jagged at:

The Bungalow
8310 Beverly Blvd, 
Los Angeles
323.655.4040 / www.Jeffreyjagged.com

“MINSKYS” Brings Old-Fashioned Fun to the Ahmanson

“MINSKYS” Brings Old-Fashioned Fun to the Ahmanson

Reviewed by Marilyn Anderson

It’s a time of extreme financial hardship, but the owners of a struggling theater think people will want to escape their woes and buy tickets to be amused and entertained.

We could be talking about today, but it’s actually the premise of the new depression-era musical at the Center Theatre Group’s Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.  Based loosely on the 1968 movie, “The Night they Raided Minskys,” and the 1960 book of the same name, the show tells the fictionalized story of real-life impresario Billy Minsky (Christopher Fitzgerald), trying to prevent his burlesque theater from closing down due to the efforts of a hard-nosed politician (George Wendt).

Add to that his romantic interest in the politician’s daughter (Katherine Leonard), who of course doesn’t know his real identity. Then there’s the troupe of hopeful actors who don’t want to lose their jobs, along with a pair of nerds who fall for each other (John Cariani and Rachel Dratch of “Saturday Night Live” fame.)

It’s a simple and formulaic plot, but it works, thanks to excellent performers, snappy songs, and sensational production numbers. The bathtub scene is a splash with girls dancing inand out of tubs. The lobster scene is delicious with humorous clawed costumes, and the button scene . . . well, let’s just say it will keep you hooked.

“Minskys” is an old-fashioned musical for sure, but who says old-fashioned can’t be wonderful.  Apple pie is old-fashioned. Christmas is old-fashioned. Even sex is old-fashioned, but we enjoy them all . . . over and over again.  So just sit back and enjoy an evening of new old-fashioned musical theater that will have you smiling from beginning to end.

The new musical was brought to the stage by members of the same team that had success with another old-fashioned musical, “The Drowsy Chaperone.”  Writer Bob Martin was Drowsy’s co-author and star, and Casey Nicholaw is the director and choreographer.

“Minskys” musical score comes from the acclaimed Charles Strouse, who won Tonys for such classics as “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Applause,” and “Annie.”  The lyrics are by Susan Birkenhead of “Jelly’s Last Jam.”

Unfortunately, “Minskys” run has ended at the Ahmanson, but watch for it to open on Broadway in the future.

Meanwhile, there are a host of other terrific shows coming to the Ahmanson this year.  For those who are watching their budget during the current financial turmoil, check out the Center Theatre Group’s super deal for Hot Tix at only $20.

Here are some of the upcoming shows at the Ahmanson:

Ain’t Misbehavin’
Apr 18 – May 31, 2009

Dame Edna: My First Last Tour
Jun 9 – 21, 2009

An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin
Jun 23 – Jun 28, 2009

Spamalot
July 7 – Sept 6, 2009

Other shows in the 2009-2010 season are August: Osage County;Mary Poppins; Dreamgirls; and South Pacific.

Ahmanson Theatre – Center Theatre Group
601 W Temple St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
www.CenterTheatreGroup.org
Phone for tickets: 213-628-2772 / For Season Tickets call: 213-972-4444

What do Matthew Modine, Annette Bening, and Laurence Fishburne have in common?

You can see them all in person . . . at the Geffen Playhouse!

The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles has just announced its exciting 2009/2010 season, kicking off with the world premiere of Blair Singer’s Hollywood parody Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas, starring none other than Matthew Modine himself.

In the play, Matthew, who used to be on the A-list, tries to get back on any list, by getting involved with a Cause and going to a small South American village to help the natives. This play about celebrity humanitarianism is sure to get both celebs and non-celebs laughing out loud.

Annette Bening will star in their next production, the North American premiere of Joanna Murray-Smith’s The Female of the Species. The comedy was l oosely inspired by a real life incident when feminist author Germaine Greer was taken hostage in her country home by a disturbed student. Ms. Bening plays the part of a kidnapped auteur, famous for such works as “Madame Ovary,” “The Cerebral Vagina,” and “The Complete Insignificance of Male Sexuality.”

The season will end with the extraordinary biography, Thurgood,written by George Stevens, Jr. Tony Award Winner, Emmy Award Winner, and Oscar Nominee Laurence Fishburne plays Thurgood Marshall in the inspiring story of how a boy from the backstreets of Baltimore changed history and became the first African-American Supreme Court Justice. Fishburne played the role on Broadway, where he received a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, and a Tony nomination for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play.

The musical, Nightmare Alley, and one other yet-to-be-announced production will complete the 2009/2010 season, which begins on September 16, 2009.

But don’t wait till then to make your plans for a night of marvelous theater. Get tickets now for one of the following outstanding shows at the Geffen Playhouse:

March 15 to May 24, 2009

LOUIS & KEELY: Live at the Sahara

A vintage love story about musical icon Louis Prima and how he turned 16-year-old Keely Smith into a star. At the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse.

Written & performed by Vanessa Claire Smith & Jake Broder   with Nick Cagle & Erin Matthews; directed by Taylor Hackford.

April 14 to May 24, 2009

The Seafarer — 2008 Tony Nominee for Best Play

A dark humorous story about booze, poker, and redemption, set in Dublin on Christmas Eve. Written by Conor McPherson ; directed by Randall Arney; f eaturing Andrew Connolly, Tom Irwin, John Mahoney, Paul Vincent O’Connor, and Matt Roth.

June 16 to July 26, 2009


Farragut North – West Coast Premiere

A presidential campaign drama written by Beau Williamon and d irected by Doug Hughes, featuring actors Chris Noth & Chris Pine.

Geffen Playhouse
10886 Le Conte Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310.208.5454
www.geffenplayhouse.com