May 2014

Have you ever had that awkward feeling right before an anticipated moment, because you knew everyone around you was anticipating it too? No? Well welcome to your wedding night!

My family and I grew up in very traditional Christian homes, so the ideas of sex were taboo until marriage—or at least they were supposed to be! But with the wave of technology and the change in censorship within the entertainment industry it is easy for a girl to research what she was going to be up against.

My engagement to my husband was the hardest two years of my life. I held on so tightly to my Christian values that the moment my wedding day came I had just three things on my mind; I couldn’t wait to say “I do,” I couldn’t wait to eat, and I couldn’t wait for my wedding night. I had overloaded my brain with so many cosmopolitan articles on what to do and what not to do that I was like a kid who couldn’t keep still during church because she knew was getting ice cream afterward.

Needless to say my mother and a slew of other family members were just as excited…Hold up, huh? I was completely unprepared for the transformation that my family seemed to undergo in a matter of seconds. They went from the Huxtables to the Kardashians over the course of a 30-minute ceremony. Everyone I knew was celebrating our soon-to-be-consummated marriage by shouting bedroom tips to us as we got ready to settle in for the night. When we go in our room we were followed by that same overly excited crowd who were interested to see how equipped our suite was setup for the evenings “activities,” and after being pleased with the room they all left out with quiet chants and well wishes for a “successful” night.

As they closed the door we could still hear the lingering sounds of a few people outside of our room, but were they listening? No, instead they were discussing—dare I say—different “positions” and “maneuvers” that I could try that worked for them. My husband and I just awkwardly looked at each other as the last voice we heard was a little boy talking to his mom saying, “I know what their gonna do.”

As my husband walked over to me, small beads of sweat began to form on my brow. I had a lump in my throat and swallowed loudly as I imagined my family members in their rooms right up above us with an over turned glass on the floor listening just long enough to tell when “it” had begun.

As he got closer I closed my eyes tightly. I had been waiting for this moment for what seemed like forever and now that my family was waiting for it too, I could literally climb under a rock. When I opened my eyes my husband said “So is everyone expecting us to…” “Yep,” I assured him. He shook his head and said “I’m starving you want to eat?” And that was how we spent our first night as husband and wife–watching TV and eating…until we were sure everyone else was sleep.

The moral of this cautionary tale? Beware of the Kardashians in your family!

I recently attended a most interesting and informative medical meeting. It was like going into the future of medicine and seeing what the best doctors will be doing in the next 20 years.

The course was given buy the American Academy of Anti Aging Medicine and was on the subject of Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement. One might ask why a dentist is going to an advanced medical course on hormone replacement. As you may be aware, most of my practice deals with pain, muscle malfunction, arthritis and sleep disorders. Many, if not most, of these problems can either be caused or made worse by hormone imbalance, or can lead to that imbalance.

There was an overwhelming amount of information which will take months to review, but I did come back with some pearls that explain how to handle not only some of my most challenging cases, but how to achieve my goal of finding the deep underlying cause of my patient’s symptoms. The ideal plan is to permanently resolve the malady and possibly avoid having the symptoms return or show up somewhere else in the body.

In my article last fall I pointed out that inflammation has been found to be the world’s number one cause of death. Chronic inflammation can alter the chemistry of the part of the body with which it is associated. For example, a chronic bladder infection can potentially lead to bladder cancer by reducing the oxygen in that area. Cancer thrives on anoxia. (Previous articles that I have written can be accessed on aliveeastbay.com.)

Chronic pain, caused by inflammation, can stress the adrenal glands. Many of you know the multiple effects of imbalanced cortisol and adrenaline, not to mention the many other hormones these glands produce. These glands can not only be compromised by chronic inflammation, but can also be negatively affected by the emotional problems associated with that pain and fatigue. The hormone imbalances that result then potentially influence the neurotransmitters in the brain. As you can see it really gets complex, challenging even the famous Dr. House of the television series.

It becomes very clear that giving a prescription for pain or tension may make the patient happy today, only to suffer more tomorrow. My hope is that medicine in the future will not only correct the cause of the symptom, but address the side effects that came about as a result of endocrine and/or neurological disturbances created by the trauma or disease.

In my practice, learning more about hormones allows me to be aware of the need to refer to other practitioners in order to help expedite the healing process through the stimulation the body’s own defenses. It becomes quite clear that merely attempting to handle a TMJ or fatigue problem by the traditional dental procedures, without attempting to make a complete diagnosis of the condition, could actually exacerbate the true cause and worsen the symptoms.

Let’s take a look at three very well known hormones; Estrogen, Progesterone and Cortisol. Imbalances in any of these can cause mood swings, anger, stress, headaches, muscle cramps, clenching and grinding of the teeth and more. My new patient, initial medical/dental history has many questions that do not relate to dentistry and regular medical problems. In the course on hormones a lot of time was taken teaching us about little signs and symptoms that are unique to these imbalances and how to recognize them.

When signs of these imbalances are found I let my patients know I can help a little and many times a lot, but I may need help from other professionals. The need for a patient to change their diet and/or lifestyle may become of extreme importance in these cases.

No longer should practitioners in any field of medicine or dentistry limit what they notice to merely that field. As professionals we have an obligation to attempt to be aware of signs and symptoms that are being revealed as we treat a patient. That patient’s body may be crying out for help in the form of a symptom such as pain or inflammation. We ought to listen the body crying out, rather than saying, “shut up and take this.” Listen! Then work on a diagnosis or refer to someone who can.

The other day I had a patient tell me that she was actually thankful that she had developed TMJ issues. Without having found my practice because of her TMJ dysfunction she wouldn’t feel so well overall. She said that my commitment to her treatment has changed her life. The gratification coming from this compliment is priceless to me.

It is possible to enjoy life again.

For more information about my center, please visit www.aodtc.com.

 

I’m a voracious reader, so I was assuredly sucked in by the title. I wanted to see The Book Thief while it was still in the theaters but it must have caught me at a busy time because it came and before I knew it, it had left. My Granddaughter read the book and loved it so my desire to see it had not waned. The moment I got my little Netflix notice, followed quickly by Redbox, I carved out the time.

Nazi Germany during World War II was a horrible place. The Book Thief treats it lightly. I’m not saying that they gloss over anything but the book was written for a preteen to teen audience. If you are looking for gore you aren’t really going to find it here. After it was over, I realized I was more than okay with that. I’ve seen Schindler’s List, even the Disney film, Boy in the Stripped Pajamas, and though I believe everyone needs enlightenment, The Book Thief probably falls short of bringing that to the table.

Liesel (Sophie Nelisse) is a young girl who is sent to live with new parents. On the way there her younger brother dies on the train and is buried in a field. Liesel finds a book and hides it away. Though she cannot read yet, this begins a journey of a love of reading. The war takes her through death and loss, fear and distrust to love and endurance. As she moves from reading to storytelling and on to writing she found that words can be used for both good and evil.

Hans, her new father is as kind, gentle and loving as her new mother, Rosa is hurtful, brash and hard. Played by Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson, the two prove to be the seasoned pros they are. There are two other pivotal players. Max, played by Ben Schnetzer, is a young Jewish man who was the son of an old friend of Hans and Rosa. He shows up on their doorstep near death and at great risk to the family, they take him in and hide him. Max encourages Liesel in her reading and writing, always asking her to describe things to him; teaching her to not just look but observe. The other is Rudy (Nico Liersch), literally the boy next door. He befriends Liesel as soon as she arrives at her new home and doesn’t let go. They forge a great friendship that changes her life.

Death is the film’s omniscient narrator. He says he rarely gets involved in the lives of those he ultimately takes but does take an interest in Liesel and her circumstances. World War II saw many acts of unheralded courage of Germans helping Jews. Liesel’s was a testament of the endurance of a spirited and courageous young girl.

The Book Thief is the telling of a horrific event as seen through a child’s eyes that would not only be appropriate but enlightening for the whole family. There is also a Discussion Guide on the film’s website, if you want to make it a learning experience.

Delicately done. Elegantly simple. Readily available. I approve. Send me your thoughts and comments at chastings@rockcliff.com

 

 

 

April showers have brought far more than spring flowers to the farmers’ market. Strawberries are suddenly everywhere—more plump and tender than ever. Produce aficionados also stand ready for the arrival of early summer crops like tomatoes, zucchini, and stone fruits like nectarines, peaches, plums and pluots. But right now it’s hard to think about anything other than locally-grown apricots and cherries—those perennial favorites with only the briefest of seasons.

Apricots date back at least 4000 years, when they were discovered on the mountain slopes of China. From there, apricots traveled across the Persian Empire to the Mediterranean. Spanish explorers introduced the fruit to California in the 18th century, and apricots became an integral part of the Mission Santa Clara gardens. Recorded history indicates the first major California crop was produced in 1792. By 1920, when fertile farmland was still relatively inexpensive, the California apricot literally flourished in the Santa Clara Valley. However, due to rising property values, housing expansion, and industrial growth following World War II, many California apricot farms abandoned one valley for another—the San Joaquin Valley.

Today the San Joaquin Valley produces 95% of the apricots grown in the United States, and most of these farms are still small, family-owned businesses. The demand is high and the inventory is low, so it pays to shop for fresh apricots sooner rather than later, before the crops are snatched up by commercial canners and other food preservers.
Not only delicious but amazingly versatile in the kitchen, velvety California apricots are one of the healthiest and most beneficial fruits available. They are filled with disease-fighting anti-oxidants and are rich in beta-carotene, Vitamin C, potassium, iron, Vitamin A, copper, and lycopene. They are also high in fiber and low in saturated fat and sodium.

Unlike those anemic, cottony little rocks we see piled high at most supermarkets, tree-ripened apricots are golden-orange in color, aromatic, and honey-sweet. (Due to their fragility and need for special handling, these apricots rarely make it to supermarkets.) On top of that, growing them is a labor of love, as the apricots on each tree ripen randomly, in their own sweet time. This means the same trees must be hand-picked four to five times during the 2-month harvest to ensure that each apricot has reached its potential.

A good apricot is such an ethereal delicacy that eating it out of hand is often the ultimate luxury. But once in a while it’s exciting to celebrate the season by creating a homey dessert for a chilly evening—a private little dessert that doesn’t have to be shared with anyone.

This basic crisp recipe will carry you through the summer months, switching out the apricots as other stone fruits become available. It requires no exotic ingredients, is assembled in minutes, and bakes to perfumed perfection while you’re eating dinner. You can play around with the topping to suit your taste, adding a few chopped walnuts or other aromatic spices, like ground cardamom or freshly-grated nutmeg.

This crisp is comforting and satisfying on its own, but even better when served with a spoonful of cold vanilla-flavored yogurt or a scoop of ice cream.

Easy Apricot Crisp-for-Two

For variation, add a few blueberries or pitted cherries to the apricots.

1/2 pound firm-but-ripe apricots (about 4 large apricots)
4 tablespoons light brown sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes, well-chilled
3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons old-fashioned rolled oats (oatmeal)
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Grease two 1-cup ramekins or gratin dishes.

2. Halve and pit the apricots. Working over a bowl, cut the apricot halves into 1/2-inch-thick wedges. Add 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar to the bowl and toss gently to mix. Divide the apricot mixture equally between the ramekins.

3. In a medium bowl, combine the butter and flour. Using a pastry blender or your fingertips, cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons brown sugar, the oats, salt, and cinnamon. Scatter all of the mixture evenly over the apricots in each ramekin and bake until the topping is golden brown and the apricots are just tender and bubbly-hot, about 20 minutes.Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

“My parents moved from San Francisco to Mountain View when I was five…Silicon Valley for the most part at that time was still orchards—apricot orchards and prune orchards—and it was really paradise.” –Steve Jobs
Smithsonian interview, April 1995

The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad and Prospect, is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For specific crop information call the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at 1-800-949-FARM, or visit their web site at www.pcfma.com. This market is made possible through the generous support of the Town of Danville. Please show your appreciation by patronizing the many fine shops and restaurants located in downtown Danville. Buy fresh. Buy local. Live well.

 

 

Massage therapy is more than often seen as an expensive pampering service rather than something people do to give themselves a little relaxation or just a chance to escape reality for even an hour. I’ve spoken to many people who say that they haven’t ever experienced a professional massage and my response, aside from shock or bewilderment, is typically, “you really don’t know what you’re missing!” Massage therapy is much more than just a chance to relax and unwind, it’s a chance to realign and restore your body and mind as well.

With that being said, massage therapy is much like physical therapy in that it helps facilitate the healing process for an injury or reoccurring pain you might be experiencing. Regular massage therapy can help reduce blood pressure, alleviate stress, and boost the auto-immune system. It helps break down lactic acid build-up, helps to break down scar tissue, increases the muscles range of motion thus elevating pain, increases circulation providing much needed blood and oxygen to the muscles, among other things. Seeing a massage therapist once or twice a month has been proven beneficial to countless clients here at Healing Hands Day Spa, but also around the world. With the ability to customize a massage to fit your needs, it’s pretty much guaranteed you’ll be kicking yourself for not trying it out sooner!

There are varying techniques for massage, the three most common being Swedish, a light pressure, therapeutic, a medium pressure, and deep tissue (exactly as it sounds – a deeper, more intense pressure). We offer lymphatic massage to help get rid of excess fluid build-up (it also helps with cellulite, wink, wink), aromatherapy with various scent options, foot reflexology and my personal favorite, hot stone massage. You can book a 50 minute massage for those days you don’t have a lot of time, an hour or up to 90 minutes on any type of massage. We even offer a 30 minute neck, back and shoulder massage for those days you need to squeeze some relief into your schedule. I truly believe that massage is a necessity, not just a luxury.

Over at Healing Hands the skilled massage therapists are happy to cater to your personal needs regarding any service you decide to get. We believe your personal health and overall comfort is incredibly important, so give us a call at 925-362-9892 or visit our website at www.healinghandssalon.net for more information. We look forward to making you a believer, too!

In May we remember and pay tribute to our mothers. It makes sense to just think back on a couple of memories and what our moms did for us and mean to us.

My mom is an amazing 93 years old. She is still loving, sharing, passionate and full of ideas. This has been the year that she decided to put a group of her original poems and parodies together into a book. I offered to help and it has been an interesting ride. Her material is very good. She is passionate—almost to distraction and aggravation. When she is on the path of an idea, she is a pit bull. After our conversation and work sessions, I walk out of my home office and my wife looks at me with a smile. By now, I know what she’s going to say. “Sweetheart, you’re so much like your mom.” I have to look back on life to know that it makes sense that that is a wonderful compliment.

For example, Mom taught me at an early age that I was a terrible liar. She told me that everybody could see it on my face and hear it in my voice. She said that I should never try it because people would be able to tell. Now I’m not going to say that I’ve never told a little white lie, but mom scared me enough that even the thought of trying to wiggle out of a situation makes me very uncomfortable.

She also taught me some semblance of humility by telling me when I dabbled in a “shouldn’t dabble area,” it was her fault. She’d tell me, with a smile on her face, parents always made mistakes with their first child (me, oldest of four boys) and that she had really messed me up. It always made me stop. I don’t know that I understand it totally today, but it did make me think.

Mom had a lot to overcome. When she was 32 years old she contracted Polio. At first doctors told my dad that she wouldn’t survive. She did. Then they told him she would spend the rest of her life in an “Iron Lung.” She didn’t. They said she would be paralyzed for the rest of her life. She isn’t. She is still going strong. Her life experiences taught all four of us about work ethics and working through things. She always told us to be creative, work hard, think and not to listen to people who said we wouldn’t be able to do something.

She left a career that she loved in music, writing, and singing to take care of her four boys, but she never stopped performing. She would perform for the neighborhood kids. We would have a household full of friends wanting her to help plan games. When she went back to work part time teaching music, she figured out that the rhythms and beats of music might help kids learn how to read. She actually ended up helping a number of kids who were disabled, in some way, learn to read through music. It was amazing to watch.

Mom would take us on a camping trip to the beach. The fog would roll in, the wind would blow, and we would be freezing. She would say, “What an adventure! Isn’t this fun?”

As adults, with our own families, we love to see her and talk with her. She brings an energy; a love and excitement about life that renews us with every breath. She is an amazing woman.

So, to the mothers in my family—my unbelievably wonderful wife, daughter and daughters-in-law—I love you all.

To mom—you still are my inspiration. When Janet tells me I’m just like you, it is the greatest compliment I could ever receive. I think it Makes Sense.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Editor’s note:  Alive is proud to be publishing Ed’s moms book.  Laughter All The Way: Poetry, Puns, and Parodies, by Marty Baxter is available now on Amazon, and other online retailers.

Dear HSSS,

I’m newly single and ready to start dating, but I feel intimidated by the dating sites showing beautiful people who seem so much more interesting and accomplished than me. How are we average folk supposed to compete?
JJ, Livermore

He Said: You’re not AVERAGE! Everyone has unique characteristics and if you don’t recognize yours, how exactly do you plan on impressing anyone? The online dating world is an easy way for people to “highlight” their personalities and share them, using profiles that show the best of the best from that person’s life. You shouldn’t feel intimidated if you haven’t traveled the world or swam with the dolphins. You’ve done some great things too, I’m sure, and if you haven’t, get out there and make some memories. Then go on a few dates and share those stories and see who likes you for you. Stop viewing yourself as average; that won’t get you anywhere!

She Said: The truth is, most people are up-selling themselves on these sites, sort of padding their resumes, if you will. You could do the same –use a photo that’s 10 years old and photo-shop it, call yourself a yogi because you took a class or two once, claim not only to love sushi but to make it as well (how hard could it be?), OR you could be more honest and tell it like it is. Sure, you’re going to get fewer “hits” but it’s going to be a case of quality over quantity. And use those dating sites sparingly. You might have better luck joining a club or taking a class and meeting people of similar interests who will get to know the real, anything but average, you!

Dear SSHS,

My dad read something on my social networking site that he didn’t like and now he’s taken my phone away for a week. Isn’t that invasion of privacy?
A.M. age 15, Danville

She Said: Privacy is not a right when you’re under 18. Many parents are afraid to parent their teenagers, but it’s really the job of your mom and dad to know who your friends are, what you’re doing after school, etc. Checking things out on your computer and phone may seem like a violation of your rights, but that’s just called good parenting. Be thankful your dad loves you, and use common sense: don’t disclose so much…but maybe keep your diary hidden!

He Said: Here’s an interesting statistic: there are almost three billion internet users in the world with potential access to what any person posts online. So the reality is, you’re invading your own privacy anytime you post something personal. Social network sites are not private! If you really have something you don’t want your parents to see, then I agree with Robin, don’t share it at all. Your parents are only doing what I wish more parents would do. It’s their job to help you navigate this crazy world and help prevent trouble if they see it coming.

Robin Fahr and Shawn “Shizzo” Alikian host Conversations and He Said/She Said seen daily on Tri-Valley TV, Channel 30. Send your questions to www.AskHeSaidSheSaid.com.

 

 

Without a doubt, the least known and least understood of all the Western World’s instruments, are the oboe and the bassoon. These instruments of ancient origins are indispensable and are respected components in today’s symphony orchestras and concert bands. Composers and arrangers write parts for the oboe and bassoon in most serious musical compositions.

Oboes and bassoons are members of the oboe family but more specifically, the “double reed” family. They use a double reed made out of cane separated by a very small opening. When the player blows air through the reeds they vibrate against each other, producing a sound or pitch in the instrument. This is in contrast to the single reed of the clarinet and saxophone.

Ancient Origins
The ancestral forerunner of the oboe was an instrument called a Shawm. It was a high pitched double reed instrument from the Medieval and Renaissance periods. Introduced from the Near East in Approximately the 12th Century, it was used prolifically until the 17th Century. By the 16th Century a whole family of Shawms –Soprano through bass had been developed and appeared on the musical scene. These instruments served as the progenitors of modern day double reed instruments.

Oboe
In the 1650’s two French oboists, Jean Hotteterre and Michal Philidor, were credited with the modification of the Shawm and the further development of the oboe. The oboe was officially added to the French orchestras in the 1700’s. The characteristic nasal sound of the oboe is due to the double reed and construction of the instrument that has a conical bore in contrast to the cylindrical bore of the clarinet. The oboe is made in three sections: top joint, lower joint and bell. Fine oboes are usually made of grenadella wood. Student model oboes are usually made of plastic or resin to avoid cracking or splitting.
The modern oboe has a range of more than two and a half octaves. “The oboe is capable for the expression of poignant melodies or short expressive phases,” said Gordon Jacob in Orchestral Technique. “It is also capable of considerable agility and can take part in woodwind dialogues in which little phrases are tossed about.”

English Horn
The English horn is not English and not a horn in the usual sense of the word. It is unknown how it got its name. In actuality it is a lower pitched oboe sounding a fifth below the written note, for example, when a C is played it sounds like a F. It is a cousin to the oboe but is somewhat longer and it shares the same key work and fingering system. It has a conical bore and a pear shaped bell that produces a soft, somewhat melancholy sound. The English horn was accepted into orchestras, circa 1830. A modern day type of English horn was created by French maker, Henri Brod, in 1839. He called it an hautbois alto or a low oboe. It is essentially a solo instrument treated as such in many compositions. A prime example is the slow movement of Dvorak’s New World Symphony.

Bassoon
This instrument is the bass of the double reed family. Its main function is to provide the lower notes of the woodwind group. The dynamic range (volume) is wide. The written lower notes are in the bass clef and higher notes are in the tenor clef. Vivaldi wrote many concertos for bassoon. Mozart and Weber also wrote a concerto for bassoon. Jacob reminds us, “The instrument, once called the clown of the orchestra is worthy of better labels.”

Double or Contra Bassoon
The contra bassoon is the very lowest sounding instrument of the double reed family. It sounds an octave below the bassoon. An older form of the contra bassoon was used by Handel in 1727. Later it was used by Haydn in The Creation and Beethoven in the Fifth and Ninth Symphonies.
A more modern version was developed by Heckel, circa 1880. Composers generally write parts that avoid extreme high or low notes because of poor tone quality on the instrument. Some notes on the contra bassoon are more “growly” and not pleasant to hear thus they are less frequently used.

A good contra bassoon can be almost prohibitive in cost. It is not uncommon to pay $50,000 and up. Consequently, you rarely see one in orchestras and bands that are not of professional status.
Even though the oboe and bassoon are considered the “odd couple” due to their different sounds, they are an important component to make the ensemble complete. These are not easy instruments to learn or play. The musician needs to have patience and self-discipline to master these instruments but they will always be in demand in orchestras and bands.

Mark your calendar for the Danville Community Band’s Annual Free Spring Concert, Sunday, June 8, 2014 at 3 p.m., Community Presbyterian Church in Danville. For information call 925-372-8420.

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net
Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville
Community Band.

 

 

 

The mid-size sedan category is an extremely competitive battlefield of winners and losers. Many have wonderful performance, interior and safety scores. Trying to figure out which one is best suited for you depends on your own personal taste and what matches the features and style of the vehicle with what you are looking for. One option that improves with each remodel and revision is the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu.

The Chevrolet Malibu went through a transformation in 2013 and due to the lukewarm reception it made additional changes for the 2014 model year. It’s all about the “POP” and the Malibu just needed a slight push to take it to the next level. The new profile has a sleeker design with a more prominent lower grille, narrower upper grille and shinier chrome accents, as well as a roomier back seat and improved suspension.

The 2014 Chevrolet Malibu is available in the following trim levels: LS ($21,365), LT ($22,452), Eco ($24,682), and LTZ ($26,167). There are also a number of major packages including the 1LT, 2LT, 3LT and 2LZ.
The styling of the 2014 Malibu is clean, and in my opinion, sportier than the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry but falls behind the Ford Fusion. The front end is bold with its large wide-mouth grille and lower front fascia. The rear end molds the tail lights into the rear quarter panels and tailgate. It’s a good looking sedan and front to rear is well balanced, projecting a masculine stance.

The interior is well-accessorized with a contoured, flowing dash that sweeps into the door panels. Silver trim helps accent the gauges and center console. The seats in front are comfortable, however, a person in the six-foot range might find the rear seats a little tight. The gauges pop out like two square bowls dipped with silver trim; not the best look. The center console has a beautiful silver-wood-like finish; however, the best feature is the two cell phone pockets. All interior designers should incorporate a handy place for our over-used telecommunication devices!

My test car was an LT with the 2LZ tipping the $30,000 range, and yet, didn’t come with push-button start or smart door handles to unlock the car. Personally, I like these techy features and think that cars in this price range should automatically come with them. Keyless access with push-button start is available if you up the sticker price. On the other hand, the Malibu did have mobile apps, backup camera, navigation and satellite radio.

The 2014 Malibu is available with three 4-cylinder engine options: 2.5-liter, 2.0-liter Turbo and a 2.4-liter Hybrid. All are mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. My test model had the all-new 2.5-liter Ecotec engine that is rated at 25 mpg City and 36 mpg Highway and generates 196-horsepower. It had decent power and shifted quickly. For 2014, Chevrolet added a smooth operating start-stop engine feature to help conserve fuel. The turbo charged 2.0-liter adds improved performance and ups the horses to 259. Also new for 2014 is a revised suspension that feels much-improved over the previous version and delivers a smooth and comfortable ride.

Room for improvement:

• The rear seat is still a bit snug

Cool Features:

• The hands-free phone displays the picture of the person calling that you have associated with on your smart phone
• Pillow-top front seats

Safety on the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu receives NHTSA 5-Star safety rating. Coupled with technologies that can help avoid collisions altogether, include 4-wheel antilock disc brakes, traction control and the StabiliTrak® Electronic

Stability Control System. Safety doesn’t stop there. Newly available Side Blind Zone Alert uses sensors to let you know when a trailing vehicle enters your blind spot on either side. Available Rear Cross Traffic Alert, new for 2014, notifies the driver to crossing traffic from behind while the vehicle is in reverse. The available rear vision camera assures more confident backups.

In Summary – The 2014 Chevrolet Malibu just keeps improving with age. It offers good performance and styling with a comfortable and high-tech interior. Safety is plentiful with 10-airbags and many other features mentioned above. It offers ecologic engine options that help the Malibu sip gas as it cruises down the road.

Specifications
2014 Chevrolet Malibu LT 2LT 4-Dr Sedan

Base price: $25,215 as driven: $30,125 (including destination and optional features)

Engine: 2.5 liter 4-cylinder

Horsepower: 196 @ 6,300 RPM

Torque: 191 @ 4,400 RPM

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Drive: Front-wheel Drive

Seating: 5-passenger

Turning circle: 37.4 feet

Cargo space: 16.3 cubic feet

Curb weight: 3,532 pounds

Fuel capacity: 15.8 gallons

EPA mileage: City 25/Hwy 36

Wheel Base: 107.8 inches

Warranty: 5 years/100,000 miles powertrain limited

Also consider: Ford Fusion, Kia Optima, Honda Accord, and Toyota Camry

 

The following story was written in 1985 during our first trip to China. It has never been published. We have revisited China several times since then and could not help but be overwhelmed by the change. We attempted to enter the “diplomatic compound” described in this story on later visits, but were rejected. Hope this story will rekindle memories for you as it has for us.

A Touch of Diplomatic Opulence

Traveling in your own Lear Jet, occupying the penthouse suite in a posh downtown hotel, limousine service whenever you go out – dreams of opulence which probably will never be realized by most of us. Yet way down inside rests the hope that winning the lottery or some other quirk of fate will make such a life possible, if even for only a moment. But there is an even higher level of opulence. One that money alone cannot obtain. It is the status achieved with political power. A level of opulence not even winning the lottery can help one attain. Powerful rulers are immersed in this. I had a brief glimmer.

The flight to Bejing from Xian on the Russian built airliner was typical of the other seven flights we had on this trip around China. My knees rested uncomfortably close to my chin, and my row mates’ elbows were very close to my ribs. The orange pop was wet and sweet, and the little bag of gifts was appreciated.

As an old pilot I was convinced that the Chinese commercial aviators were all ex-fighter pilots because of their landing patterns and other techniques. It was, after all, 1985, and China’s entire infrastructure was still becoming familiar with the flood of foreigners that was taking advantage of the fabulous sights and sounds of this vast nation.

The sixteen of us on this trip left the plane and huddled in our usual fashion in the terminal. The hotels we had stayed at had been quite good, but in each instance there had been some slip-ups in which hotel was to be ours. So we patiently awaited our German tour guide’s report now being received some fifty meters from us.

As she approached I felt a measure of comfort because she had a wide smile on her face. “The new Presidential Hotel where we were booked is full with no room for us, but we really made out. They are putting us up for the four days we are here at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse compound.”

Now the Diaoyutai complex is a very prestigious place. It consists of about one hundred acres of fenced-in gardens, streams, and bungalows located about fifteen kilometers from Tiananmen Square. This was the area where diplomats and special envoys visiting Chinese leaders were billeted. For once we were going first class.

The bus which took us from the airport wound through the heavy bike and car traffic of Beijing and headed to the compound. The importance of this area was apparent when we stopped at the guarded gate and were ushered in by the elite guard. The roads were wide and wound among large established trees. Below was one flower bed after the next, with a stream meandering through them. Walking trails were evident everywhere.

We arrived at our “hotel,” a large two story brick and stucco building – built to last. It was architecturally simple in design but solid in detail. The lobby resembled a home more than a hotel. We were each given a room key, and a polite young man directed us to our bedrooms. The accommodation was huge – well furnished with sturdy furniture – and every surface was polished to a shine.

I couldn’t wait to explore the building. Off the lobby was a large sitting room filled with overstuffed chairs. But the real delights were the pictures on the wall. Photos taken in this room by a national photographer. There sat Richard Nixon next to Chairman Li Xiannian. Over here was Henry Kissinger and his aides with his Chinese counterparts. Ambassadors from many countries – along with Chinese dignitaries. One couldn’t help but feel the history of this room.

Later we walked the trails winding among beautiful flower beds and flowing streams. Every so often a group of three or four black limousines would rush by with their country’s flag proudly displayed on the front fender.

Our dinner was also a wonderful experience. It was completely vegetarian, but the various dishes were served in the form of animals. The noodles, for example, were in the shape of a chicken. We felt guilty about disrupting the design as we filled our plates.

During the meal our host introduced us to yet another charming but very dangerous tradition. He gave a short speech praising our nation, and then with a flourish downed a shot glass full of baijiu (strong spirits often made from rice,) and he shouted “Gan bei.” Being responsible guests, we returned his praise, downed the shot, and shouted “Gan bei.” Now the ice was broken. We “Gan bei’d” to each other, to the feast, to the time of year, to our leaders, to our comrades, and… well to our health. It is a wonderful tradition. I felt history wash over me in this place. I felt the past, its struggles and its successes all around me. I experienced a measure of political opulence I will never forget.
“Gan bei!!”