Who remembers Giggles?

How many of you remember Giggle's? Remember several years back when Giggle's was open to all ages - I believe it was on Tuesday nights during the summers (and spring break). Man, Emily and I loved going to Giggles and doing our thing - of course, it was a whole bunch of Jr High/HS drama but you gotta admit, we had fun. And for most of us, it was our first chance to go to a "club."

Well, what I bet you didn't know all this time was that Giggle's student nights were put on by two community activists (one of them being Dick Seeley - you may remember the name if you keep up with Glendale politics) and the money raised from the event over the years was donated to the Glendale Community Foundation for Scholarships!

So, all that "partying" was actually productive and thanks to us, some high school students will get a couple bucks towards college. Doesn't that make you feel all warm and fuzzy?


(Excerpt from the Glendale Community Foundation website:)

When Marilyn Wiechmann and Dick Seeley began their "Giggles Dance Nights" in 1995, they could hardly anticipate the legacy they would be creating.

And when area students began dancing their brains out at the Brand Blvd. nightclub they could never have imagined that they would be helping future area students.

But that's exactly what they ended up doing by selling enough tickets to the periodic Wednesday night student dances that they were able to contribute more than $3,500 to the Glendale Scholarship Fund at the Glendale Community Foundation.

And when Edmond and Garnik Galoostian began donating the use of their Brand Blvd. business as a safe and secure place for local high schoolers, they simply wanted to help today's kids. But they put in motion the means by which as many as 1,500 kids a year attended the dances, paying $10 at the door for a night of dancing, pizza, soda and pool.

A mixture of students from both public and private high schools in La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta, and Glendale, the dances made an inadvertent profit. When their administration was turned over to the Glendale Family YMCA earlier this year, Wiechmann and Seeley turned to the Community Foundation.

"We felt that the kids who have come to the dances over the years would want the profits to be used for other students," said Wiechman. "So, after talking with staff of the Community Foundation, we found that Chuck Sambar had started an endowed scholarship fund that would provide a steady stream of earnings for future kids. And we liked that these scholarships would be for either college or vocational students."

Seeley added, " The history of the Community Foundation gave us peace of mind that the money will be well used for many years to come."

Response to GNP

Response

A different view on killed journalist

Journalist Hrant Dink, in my book, was a fool ("Murder of editor leaves shock, grief," Jan. 20).

While living in Turkey he threw wood on the fire by writing about the Turkish government concerning the slaughter of Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish forces from 1915 to 1917.

My question to James Arone of Burbank ("Journalist's legacy must live on in struggle," Mailbag, Tuesday) is: Why to you think Dink was a hero?

He is now gone, and he left his wife and child behind.

In my book, a great journalist is loved around the world.

If Dink loved freedom, why did he live in Turkey and think he was going to change anything?

He started a war like he had an army, and lost.

PAUL CARNEY
Glendale

(My response below - please correct any typos or grammatical booboos - also, the reference to the flag in the first paragraph is referencing Carney's initial comments about the flag and his deep respect for it after it was lowered for the Armenian Genocide - and he later commented that people in Glendale must have been raised on the funny farm because of a few letters in the GNP encouraging belief in Santa Claus - he insists the we should stop trying to convince our kids there is a Santa).

It is unfortunate that an individual with such "deep respect for the flag" has such a lack of respect for the values that flag represents (Carney, "A different view on killed journalist" 1/2707) The American flag stands for the freedom of speech, press, religion and assembly. More importantly, the American flag represents our right to disagree with our government, write about our government and work for change in our government. In this country, we not only have the right, but also the duty, to stand up for our beliefs.

Hrant Dink was a hero because he continued to believe in his freedom of speech even under constant pressure and threats from both the Turkish government and radical Turkish nationalists. Dink worked to educate both Turks and Armenians, encouraging a dialogue among the two. He was a brave journalist, a community activist, and a uniter. He represented freedom, liberty, and truth.

Aren't those the ideals this country was founded on?

Hrant Dink WAS respected and admired around the world. He did leave behind a family, just as so many soldiers leave their families to defend their country (and never return). Dink cherished freedom and democracy and tried to change his country from within, the same way the abolitionists fought for emancipation and the Civil Rights movement advanced democracy in our own country. And Dink did have an army, an army of tens of thousands of people who marched at his funeral with signs reading, "We are all Armenian" and "We are all Hrant." If that outpouring of support is not respect and admiration, then I'm not sure what is.

Perhaps I was raised on the funny farm myself but I don't buy Carney's defeatist pessimism. I was taught that I should be proactive and "Be the change [I] want to see in the world" (Ghandi). After all, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has" (Margaret Mead).

miami plans a celebration

Apparently, Miami is already planning a big party for Castro's death. So unfortunate. Regardless of your views on an individual, I think planning a giant bash to celebrate their DEATH is not very polite (but then again, I'm already sending out invites for bush's demise.... oops, did i just say... i mean type that out? Bring it on murdoch).

Anyway, here is the article: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/01/29/miami.castro.ap/index.html

Oh yes, and this celebration is technically honoring a "free cuba" - what people don't realize is that when Castro dies, every psycho out there will jump in the power race and, if the U.S. is lucky, they can help install one of their own but if not, you're looking at an Iran like situation where the bad just keeps getting worst. And, with all the turmoil and chaos that goes with power changing hands, people will riot, people will die and the future will remain uncertain.

keep dreaming america, keep dreaming.

More Stories from a Cold Place

More Stories from a Cold Place

Fridays are my good days - since we don't start class until 10, I set my alarm for 8:30 looking forward to the extra hour or two of sleep. Unfortunately, I woke up at 7 am - slightly panicked because the bright sunlight convinced me I was late for school. As I tried to fall back asleep I realized it was really warm in my room (and our heater is always on the same temp) so my first reaction was - yay, its a beautiful sunny day - temperatures must be in the 70's and 80's.

Of course, then I realized I'm not in SoCal and bright sunshine + a warm room does not mean warm weather. In fact, today is one of the coldest days of the year. (The "real feel" or "feels like" temps are in the negatives most of the day).

As I started to get dressed, my eyes refused to reconcile the idea of sun and cold. I kept wanting to reach for a cute tank or something but I was able to convince myself to layer a thin long sleeved shirt, a sweater, leggings and then the usual outerwears (scarf, gloves + mittens, beanie, jacket, boots - two pairs of socks). (On a side note, I now appreciate the fat on my thighs because it insulated my legs - apparently, thin leggings are really not sufficient for negative temperatures but luckily my thighs only felt numb on the surface level).

Finally, as I reached the front door, I felt the cold outside air. AH! The good thing about this cold is that your body is okay - the bad part is that your fingers feel like theyre going to fall off. I remeber my roomies telling me that sometimes its so cold your boogers freeze. Well, I was hoping today would be one of those days because with gloves AND mittens on, its quite difficult to wipe the boogers dripping down from your nose. But, no, my boogers haven't frozen yet so I guess that story will have to wait for the future.

On the bright side, I think the pond is finally frozen so maybe i can go ice skaing this weekend in the park. Oh ya and the snow from two days ago is still around. I kept asking people why such small amounts of snow in random places hadn't melted (i mean, you usually expect that a handful of snow on the sidewalk in one tiny spot will melt in the sun). People informed me that the snow hasn't melted because temperatures haven't been above freezing yet...

duh alina.

Because you're too dumb to take care of yourself

I am convinced that our government will go so far in policing our daily lives and activities that people will completely forget how to look out for themselves. Of course, I always complain about the stupid glendalians who expect the police to walk next to them and protect them every second of the day (look, if a car is speeding - don't walk in front of it - because that guy *could* get a speeding ticket if the police were there but I don't think a ticket makes up for your LIFE!) But, its not just in Glendale. It seems that all over the country, people expect the government to tell us what is okay and whats not.

Look, you don't have to tell me McDonald's is bad. I'm a living, breathing, THINKING human being and it seems to me common sense that microwaved, fried food thats so cheap and made so fast MUST be bad for me in some way or another. Even if common sense didn't give it away, perhaps just listening to my body for a split second would provide some clues (you know, that gross feeling you get after you eat a bunch of junk/crap food). I do not need the government to ban McDonalds. ("But what about the POOR, HELPLESS KIDS!?" Um, you said it yourself - kids are POOR. They get their money from YOU. Teach them and regulate... thats why you're the parent and they're the child!)

(This is the same reason I support the legalization of drugs even though I don't prefer to do them myself. This is the same reason I don't think cigarettes should be illegal even though its the most disgusting thing in the world.)

But, every week it seems the government and stupid pathetic interest groups with nothing better to do are going a step further - regulating the foods we eat - and theyre doing it becaus(can you believe someone filed a suit against Oreos? I mean honestly, did anyone think Oreos are good for you? Hm, ditch the carrots - lets have some COOKIES!)

Now, they're trying to ban the games you play - because (god forbid) you might hurt yourself. (See Article) A group apparently started at BU (I'm sorry, I do apologize for our stupidity and over regulation) has apparently succeeding in convincing major retailers to take "drinking games" off their shelves. Why? Because people die playing drinking games. Well guess what, there was this dude named "darwin" and he predicted "survival of the fittest" - if you're stupid enough to drink yourself to death playing beer pong, you're probably better off dead. (Or at least not reproducing). And if Target doesn't sell beer pong - it doesn't mean that people won't play beer pong. People have drank themselves silly since before Target existed - and long before "Beirut" was the popular thing to do at a college party. And our great great great grandchildren will likely be getting drunk and stupid long after we're buried in the ground (unless, of course, they find more interesting methods for becoming intoxicated).

Anyway, I just had to rant. I'm absolutely furious with these stupid idiots trying to regulate what we do. Point is, it doesn't work. Second point is, the more they do it - the more reliant people become. Pretty soon, people won't think to wipe their own ass after taking a shit unless the government or some "shit" interest group comes up with a law or policy forcing people to.

As my 7th grade choir teacher once said - in other countries, people still have common sense - they see some newly planted grass and think, "hm... I shouldn't walk on that because I might kill it - I should let the grass grow" - but here in America, people see newly planted grass, look around for a sign that says "Do Not Walk On Grass" and, when they don't see a sign or rope taping it off, they figure - "well, no one told me not to" - and go ahead and walk all over the grass.

Idiots!

Obnoxious Herds

I typically like to study in the 12th floor lounge... its quiet in here. All 11 of us in here are quietly reading or typing (and often napping between pages)... So here I am, enjoying my fascinating con law reading (sarcasm) when in come 3 girls. Not sure where they came from but they came to use the vending machines. Of course, only ONE of them wanted a soda - the other two were apparently there for moral support. Its like the "lets go to the bathroom in a group" epidemic is spreading to vending machine outings.

Seriously, ladies, you can walk to the bathroom by yourself... unless you need to ask someone if your ass looks too big in your jeans. Even that should be resolved BEFORE you leave the house because by the time you're out - even if someone does say your ass looks too big - you are stuck in what you are wearing.

Similarly, do not walk into a quiet study lounge and giggle and chat with your ladies while people are studying. Granted, we sometimes talk in here - but quiet whispers (level 1?) - not "outside" or even "classroom" voices.

The ladies thankfully left (I'm still trying to figure out why there were three girls here to get one soda from the machine) and a few minutes later 3 more people come - this time 2 of them got something and the 3rd watched. Seriously.... stop with the vending machine field trips!

The worst but most amusing distraction is when someone tries to get snacks from the machine and the item gets stuck. Classic example: yesterday some guy walks in - neatly dressed with his laptop case slung over his shoulder. He tried to get some skittles but alas the skittles were too comfy on their little vending machine ring. So he very calmy and quietly walked to the nearest table and took the bag off his shoulder and then walked back to the machine. As he took his last step toward the machine, he suddenly charged at it like a pissed off football player, literally slamming into the machine and lifting it off the ground a bit. The Skittles fell. He instantly regained his composure, quietly picked up his Skittles, grabbed his bag and exited the room.

Others aren't so fortunate. I've seen people ram themselves into the machine time after time. Some solicit the help of others... getting three people to help rattle the machine. I myself had a problem once but didn't want to get in a David and Goliath battle with a machine twice my size so I just figured I'd get a second bag and both would fall. Well, that failed. But i'm stubborn. Lets just say, I ended up with four bags of chips. Did you know the flavors in the back aren't always the same as the flavors in the front?

Finally...

People claim the world is coming to an end. First it snowed in the deserts of Nevada... next we had snowfall in Tuscon, Arizona and of course, I heard those accounts of snow in Malibu, California. Holy cow, the sky is falling!

But, alas, I'd like to happily announce that the world is not coming to an end after all. It FINALLY snowed in Boston. (Yes, you poor cali folk got the snow before our freezing cold city in the North east). So, hopefully, the rest of the country will slowly return to its normal climate and let us be miserable with our wonderful snow!

Honestly, I'm so excited. There were so many days of "snow shower" (which basically means you sorta see some snowfall for ten minutes if you leave the house early enough in the AM but no snow on the ground...). And there was one day (or maybe two?) when it actually did snow for a little bit but not enough to cover the ground for more than 30 minutes. And, what made it worse was that no snow doesn't = warm weather. I mean, we've been having daytime highs in the 20's and 30's. (btw, note the "daytime high" since so many of you in warmer climates like to say - "well we get the 30's too!" - ya, thats your overnight low.) At one point, Tania asked if I was still loving Boston and my still painfully frozen fingers typed out "NO!!!"

But this morning that changed. I woke up feeling miserable and sick (yes, again) and started to get dressed. As I was debating what to do with my hair I glanced out the window and noticed lots of white. Wait... white? Yay! Snow! It took me a second to register white = snow (ya, you try sitting through my con law class and having any brain cells left for anything else).

I shouldn't be so giddy about snow since I just came from Maine where there was lots of powder (blowing in your face) and great single digit temperatures with sub-zero windchill. But that was a ski lodge. You expect snow. Its always there. Its different to see snow from your bedroom... in a regular city... on your regular commute. It was so perdy! All the rooftops and trees and the ground and streets. I walked outside to see the neighbors shoveling snow and cleaning off their cars (boy am I glad I didn't bring my car!). Everyone was smiling and excited...I think the snow and cold just makes you hyper. And of course, I had a wonderful walk to the T stop with the powder snow crunching under my boots (don't you LOVE that sound/feeling?).

And when I got to school I noticed that the Charles River was covered in white.... from riverbank to river bank (trees, shore and river). I didn't even think it was possible for the river to freeze. But apparently its frozen and covered in white! I can't wait to get a camera so I can snap some pictures for ya'll.

Anyway. All I can say is, yay for snow. And yay for Boston.

Microsoft - a losing battle.

I know, tech is totally not my thing and i should just stay out of it. But the Apple v. Microsoft ordeal is just too interesting.

In sixth grade, my teacher had a computer in the classroom - of course, it was a Mac. He loved his Mac and would give us little demo's on Macs and "email" (a bizarre concept to me at the time) and would talk to some of the techy kids in our class about the Mac v. PC. A few years later, my parents bought a computer (Tandy? or something....) - and I was disappointed. The Mac format seemed so much easier to use - drop down menus etc. And just as I started to get used to using Windows... windows began tweaking its programs (suddenly there was drop downs and a start menu... hm). I remember being a kid and thinking... Gee, is Microsoft copying Mac?

Years went by - Microsoft built its empire/monopoly and then, Apple started to make its comeback. The comeback was pushed along with the release of the Ipod which soon took over the mp3 player market leaving other (some even better) players in the dust.

Since then, Microsoft seems to be losing ground and popularity - yes yes, I know, Microsoft is still huge - its on every computer and Microsoft owns everything. I got it. But did you read the Zune reviews? The basic consensus is that Microsoft took everything that users don't like about the ipod (that stupid wheel thing) and COPIED it and then took everything that people LOVED about ipod and, well, CHANGED it. They can't yet compete with the extensive iTunes store and every "innovative" thing they tried to add on Zune was a pathetic attempt to be cool (yay, you can "send" your music to your friend's zune - but they can only listen to it 3 times - even if it's not copyrighted material!!!! - so whats the point? no one will ever use it!). Zune will fail unless some rap group comes out with some catchy jingle about it (hey, it worked for vans and nikes didn't it?). And, while microsoft was busy trying to copy the iPod success formula, Apple was busy creating the awesome iPhone and apple TV. (Check out the iPhone on their website... its pretty neat though I'm not a fancy phone person myself).

So sad that Microsoft lacks such innovation! Apparently they've created a new Word program... and (SURPRISE) it resembles the Apple formats (ribbons instead of drop down menus). And, according to the first review i've read... it sucks.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/01/04/technology/wordreview_fsb.fsb/index.htm?postversion=2007010513