Column

I first heard about Beyond the Mask by word of mouth. The film was brought to the screen that night by a homeschool group. I have to admit that I was sitting in my seat to support a cause, only half expecting to see a film I actually enjoyed. By the time it was over, the audience was standing and cheering. Delightful, simply delightful!

Fast forward three years and I watched it again at home. Delightful, simply delightful!  Before you think I’m just getting dotty, I want you to know that I truly enjoyed it as much the second time as the first.

Beyond the Mask is a delicious bite of Colonial America.  It begins in India with the East India Company running amuck so to speak. William Reynolds (Andrew Cheney) is on the payroll of that notorious company as an assassin and all around bad guy. After fourteen long years, William is ready for his life to change, really change, from the inside out; a change of heart so to speak. He tries to quit but he’s too valuable to the company and he knows too much, so the assassin is hunted by assassins. That is just the first five minutes! They believe him dead until he pops up in England, impersonating the Vicar who gave his life to save him. At this point, though undeserving, he is quickly falling in love with the beautiful, both inside and out, Charlotte (Kara Killmer). 

The plot takes us from England to Philadelphia where we meet Ben Franklin, George Washington, and yes, the beautiful Charlotte has crossed the pond with her uncle, Charles Kemp (John Rhys-Davies) as well. Tension is high in the Colonies. The Continental Congress is working on the Declaration of Independence. Much is at stake; the birth of a nation. 

No spoiler alerts here! Now, I want to give you a little back story about this film. I believe I’m one of the few people who actually watch the credits after the movie. I’m a curious sort. This time I was rewarded and the whole home schooler thing fell into place.

I would like to tell you a little of what I found out about the Burns Family.
Dr. Chad Burns (rocket scientist) was on his way to NASA when his life took a sharp turn. Chad’s filmmaking began with family and continues with family.  Chad’s father and uncle got their families together for holidays, and the nine cousins inevitably ended up working on some sort of project. One year they built a log cabin. The next year they wrote a script and acted it out using the cabin as their set. Then came a Civil War movie. All this time Chad thought of movies as a family hobby. For a career, he dreamed of being a NASA rocket scientist.  Now he is a filmmaker extraordinaire, and yes, the family is still working together.  My challenge to you?  See how many of the Burns Family you can count in the credits of this action-adventure treasure.  Oh, yes… the Burns were homeschooled!

By the way, right after I streamed Beyond the Mask, I went online and purchased my own DVD.  This film is beautifully done, family fare with the benefit of a little history of our amazing United States of America. Happy July 4^th.  Be happy and be proud! As always, I welcome your comments at carolyn@carolynhastings.com.

Veteran, First Generation American, First Generation College Student, First Generation Ivy League Graduate

Soldiers join the armed forces for many reasons. Adam Pawlowski was inspired to enlist in the Marines after hearing a recruiter speak in his American Politics class.

While preparing to deploy to Iraq, Adam was involved in a severe training accident in the Arabian Sea and contracted compartment syndrome in his left thigh. The injury went undiagnosed by surgeons for hours threatening to result in an amputation of Adam’s left leg. Following medical evacuation, and eleven surgeries, his leg was saved. He spent the next year at Balboa Medical Center learning how to walk again.

After his honorable discharge, Adam decided to continue college and was accepted to Columbia University with a major in Political Science. The culture shock that many veterans face during the first year was daunting, but he persevered. It was at school that he met fellow Sentinel Pete Kiernan who told him about Sentinels of Freedom (SOF) and how much they had helped him.  Adam applied and was accepted into the SOF program in August of 2017. SOF was able to help Adam with his rent until his graduation from Columbia this past May. In addition to the financial support, Adam benefitted from both networking and mentoring opportunities, as well as personal support from the SOF team.

Recently, Adam proudly represented SOF at the New York Institute of Technology Veteran’s Gala in New York. His dedication to the SOF program as an ambassador is his way of giving back to other veterans.

Adam is not only a first-generation college student and graduate, but also a first- generation American. He is incredibly driven and passionate and shows amazing strength and dedication.

To read about other veterans’ journeys, and Sentinels of Freedom’s programs, please visit our website at www.sentinelsoffreedom.org.

It seems like everything is coming up bubbles. Sparkling wine has reached a pinnacle of popularity. No longer saved for just moments of celebration, sparkling wine is a great choice to bring joy to every day moments. Lucky for us, there is a wealth of sparkling wines to be had, from sea to shining sea. What a joy it is to be able to taste all the many bubbles our amazing world offers.

Effervescence LA launched its inaugural Champagne and Sparkling Wine Celebration at the beautiful Avalon Theatre at Hollywood and Vine in Los Angeles. The first of its kind, Effervescence LA was the USA’s premier comprehensive epicurean event centered on champagne and sparkling wine.

The three-day affair included two incredible walk-around wine tastings with the best bubbles the world has to offer, as well as gourmet meals prepared by acclaimed chefs, private tastings, master classes with world-renowned champagne experts, and finally, an elegant Champagne Gala Dinner at the popular Republique restaurant. Truly an epic weekend!

On Friday evening, Effervescence LA invited guests to sample fantastic fizz from around the world in the Sparkling Wine Extravaganza Walk-Around Style Tasting. Guests were treated to just about everything under the sun that sparkles. From sparkling sauvignon blanc from New Zealand and Spain’s celebrated cava to spritzy green wine from Arizona and California’s best bubbles, it was a fabulous celebration of superb international sparkles.

Some of the featured countries represented were Italy, France, England, Austria, Spain, USA, Australia, New Zealand and more. All wines were included in the ticket price and guests were treated to a smorgasbord of delicious meats, various cheeses, and crusty breads to complement their tasting selections.

Saturday’s Grand Champagne Tasting offered the very best of France’s Champagne region, in all its shimmering glory—a grand tasting tour of the most celebrated wine region on earth. The evening was merry, as guests were treated to champagnes from fine small producers, mid-size champagne houses, as well as the legendary names of Champagne.  Among the prestigious houses represented were Dom Perignon, Krug, Barons Rothschild, Ruinart, Moet Chandon, Bollinger, and Billecart-Salmon.

As in the Sparkling Wine Extravaganza, a beautiful selection of delectable meats, tasty cheeses, and yeasty breads accompanied the champagne as well as iced fresh oysters on the half shell. What a treat! Servers shucked tasty oysters all evening and visitors indulged in their briny goodness—a decadent and perfect pairing with champagne!

The Master Classes included topics such as the differences between sparkling wine and champagne, an exploration of chardonnay in Krug (chardonnay is one of the primary grapes used in the crafting of champagne), a study of mature champagnes, and even a pairing seminar of Krug champagne and classical music. Dining events featured a “Krug Lovers” Dinner with Chef Casey Lane, a Billecart-Salmon Collector Champagne Luncheon with Chef Walter Manzke, and the Champagne Gala Dinner with Chef Walter Manzke on the final evening.  Each was the opportunity to be educated and indulgent at the same time—a win-win, any way you look at it.

If you are a lover of sparkling wine, look for Effervescence LA next year, or better still, let’s organize an Effervescence East Bay and bring the celebration here!  “Effervescence East Bay” has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? Connect with the best of the bubbles at www.effervescenceLA.com. Mention that the East Bay would like to have its own Effervescence. You won’t want to miss one moment of this action-packed weekend dedicated solely to the celebration of bubbles. The best is yet to come.

May all your happy moments be joyous, and all your pain, champagne….

Cheers!

 

 

I have a question. Since just about everyone I talk with seems to agree that living in California is just too expensive, why is it that in every election cycle do voters either keep voting for tax-and-spend politicians, or worse, directly for more taxes?

I have come to the conclusion that most of these voters don’t realize the relationship between the cost of living and taxes, and that many Californians suffer from a cerebral blind spot when it comes to understanding that the current leadership in Sacramento is mostly comprised of an inept cabal interested in only two things: power and their own egos.  

According to a recent report by the federal agency of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), a family of four living in San Francisco, San Mateo, or Marin counties that earned less than $117,400 per year is considered “low income.” In Santa Clara County, the low income threshold is $94,000, and in Alameda and Contra Costa, it is $89,600. While out-of-state friends and relatives have a hard time believing these figures, you know this is no joke. For many, it is not uncommon to ask at month’s end, “Where did all the money go?”

Kudos to author and columnist George Kapus for keeping us all up to date on Sacramento’s latest tax-and-spend shenanigans ( see his article in this issue). The more we know about this, the better chance we have at people wising up and voting some of these folks out in the next election.

It might not be so bad if we were really getting something for our money, but the fact is, California rates near the bottom in nearly every metric compared to other states. In a recent survey in U.S. News and World Report, in a ranking that combined education, health care, economy, opportunity, infrastructure, crime and corrections, fiscal stability, and quality of life, California ranked 32^nd. In the “quality of life category,” we ranked dead last—50^th!

How about all the politicians’ claims that California “leads the way” when it comes to the environment? NOT.  California also ranked last in urban air quality and 45th in “low pollution health risk.” (Maybe it’s because we’ve replaced that “bad” cigarette and cigar smoke with that “good” (spelled $$) pot smoke.

As George Kapus points out, taxes aren’t collected from us in just the more obvious ways. When you consider that the cost of everything you buy and every service you receive is taxed at every level of distribution, in multiple ways, you can begin to see why everything here is so expensive.

Venture Capitalist Timothy Draper’s proposal to split California into the separate states did qualify for the November ballot (http://Cal3.com). While that political cabal will do everything in its power to discredit the idea, and it has little hope of actually becoming a reality, if enough Californians voted “yes,” it might send a message that things need to change in Sacramento.

Or, we could just go with plan B, and vote for some fiscal conservatives for a change!     

We’ll, we do it sometimes. We don’t mean to, but it happens, doesn’t it? I made a mistake last month and you guys caught it. If I were truly devious, I would say I did it on purpose to see if anyone was really reading this nonsense. I am happy to say you are reading it, so Thank You. Let’s look at famous faux pas in history.

 

1. Most famous error in World Series history occurred in 1986 when Red Sox first baseman, Bill Buckner let a slow roller go through his legs and allowed the winning run to score for the NY Mets. Who hit the slow roller?

 

2. I was there and saw it happen on 10/25/64 at Kezar Stadium when the 49ers faced the Vikings. After a short pass to 49er Billy Kilmer, the ball was fumbled and picked up by a Viking defensive end. What does he do but run the wrong way to the 49er end zone. Who was this otherwise fine football player who became famous for running the wrong way?

 

3. In the early 30s, a pilot allegedly flew the wrong way. He was supposed to be flying from the East Coast to the Midwest, but ended up flying to Ireland. This was in the days when flyers did not cross the Atlantic without fan fare. Always referred after this as “Wrong Way,” who was he?

 

4. One of the most somber of Alfred Hitchcock’s movies was 1957’s “The Wrong Man.” Who played the wrongly accused man, who is finally freed in the last scene?

 

5. Super Bowl XXXVIII had its biggest controversy during the halftime when Janet Jackson’s wardrobe “malfunctioned” while being yanked on by a famous singer. Who was he?

 

6. The annual Oscar telecast is usually fairly reliable for not messing up award winners, but last year they did a doozy. The wrong movie was named as the Best Movie of the year, the most important award. The winner was “Moonlight,” but the presenters announce “LaLaLand” as the winner. After a short period, the winning name was announced. Who were the oblivious presenters who announced the wrong name?

1. Organic skin care products are predominantly plant based and only last one month if real organic. Many women and men are allergic to them because they are heavily scented with flowers and plants. People can break out with pimples, blackheads, rashes and bumps. Fact: Organic skin care does not have any beneficial anti-aging properties.
2. Nutrients and Vitamins backed by science pharmaceutical based skin care products are the only products that work to reduce, repair, smooth fine lines, lessen aging skin and to promote and improve skin health.
3. Using melons, Brazilian mushrooms, platinum powder, or deep sea black caviar eggs or gold dust in products is not only a gimmick and incongruous, it cannot do one single thing to reduce wrinkles, fine lines or repair aging skin.
4. Topical Antioxidants in your skin care products that include Ester-C, DMAE, Lipoic Acid, Co-Enzyme Q-10, and Neuropeptides not only improves the skin it can reverse the signs of aging and provide unmatched environmental protection. Fact: Antioxidant technology in skin care has become the new standard in reducing aging skin, accelerating cellular renewal and in maintaining a healthy and youthful complexion.
5. Topical Skin Oils are not healthy for the skin—period.  Topical Skin Oils that are used for skin care and moisturizers only suffocates the surface of the skin, thus the skin dries to a sand paper-like dryness. It can cause large pores, skin bumps, rashes, breakouts and dermatitis problems. Fact: Using oils as moisturizers causes the skin to breakdown and suffer injury.  
6. Using scrubs and exfoliating every day minimizes skin congestion, breakouts, and improves normal skin function. Fact: Exfoliating everyday improves the skin, lessening wrinkles, fine lines, breakouts, and dryness.
7. Ester-C is healthier for the skin than straight Vitamin-C in skin care products. Ester-C has a smaller molecular texture to penetrate deeply into the surface of the skin to improve the cellular function, while Vitamin-C is more of an inhibitor and will not provide the skin with antioxidant protection. Fact: Using Ester-C is far superior to Vitamin-C.
8. Using harsh products to dry out skin when breaking-out is not only going to produce more oils and more breakouts, it breaks down the protective surface making the skin more tender and prone to constant irruption. Using products for sensitive skin is better than acne-related products.
9. You should never use moisturizers around the eye area. The eye area is fragile and delicate and should be treated with products that are specifically formulated for the eye area. Moisturizers are too thick, thus you can actually suffocate this delicate area drying it out causing wrinkles fine lines and puffiness.
10. New customers come in all the time to our beauty boutique asking us why they can’t get their skin smooth and youthful looking while using everything they can to make their skin look better. We advise them to go simple and let them know if they are over cleansing, excessively moisturizing, overloading or over-lapping peels, or over doing laser resurfacing treatments or microderm abrasion. All of these can cause the surface to facture, which increases thinning of the surface and collagen break down. Balance is everything. They need to get on a regime that is not only simplified, but effective for the health of the skin.

The Rouge offers skin care consultations for all skin types. While they use many different types of cleansers, serums and moisturizers they don’t have a one-size-fits-all system. The Rouge is a professional, state board regulated, science-backed pharmaceutical, advanced skin care beauty boutique. It offers women the finest and most beneficial superior skin care available and is effective and simplified for every skin type and or problem.