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Cameras everywhere. As we struggle as a society to come to some resolution in our minds of how much surveillance is too much surveillance, there is a case to look at which points out the usefulness of cameras everywhere.

As Law Enforcement agencies fanned out in search of Sandra Coke, who was missing from Oakland, they changed search venues of interest on a dime. Why? They had surveillance of her car crossing the Carquinez Bridge. That started them in another direction. Add to that, they got camera shots of the suspect in the case filling up the victim’s car with gas at another location.

There are massive traffic control centers in the Bay Area and other metropolitan areas.  All those cameras you see out there…see you. At the same time, the victim’s daughter was using the “Find My iPhone” app to help law enforcement track the path of travel.

So, it makes sense that on one level we can hate the thought that we are photographed almost everywhere we travel. Isn’t the freedom of movement one of the tenets of a free state?  Isn’t that one of the things we would fear if somehow our government was overthrown and we became a totalitarian state? Big Brother. Does it bother you, that government can track you by picking up the ping from your phone?  It knows where you go and it takes your picture.

In my mind, it should bother all of us. But flip it and take it to its most dramatic. What if Sandra Coke was still alive?  What if police and FBI, while combing thru all the surveillance footage, spotted her car, or the gas station camera ID on the suspect? What if law enforcement could respond, just in the nick of time and save her?

Unfortunately it didn’t work out that way, but the chances would be much slimmer without the cameras. Tough one huh? What if surveillance cameras could stop the punks who demonstrate and vandalize businesses time after time, or people who shoot guns at other people?  It would be right there in video. Is that a bad thing?  Isn’t it helpful?

In this case, it should at least aid the prosecution in making sure the right person is on trial, and is convicted and sent away forever. One of my favorite sayings is “life is a series of tradeoffs.” Do we trade off our unwatched freedom of movement for better and more efficient law enforcement?  Wow…what Makes Sense?

 

 

I cut my hair for ‘Locks of Love’ last week. Twelve inches pulled back into a pony tail and snip, it’s on its way to a child who may not be able to afford a wig after treatment for a devastating illness. I look at hair like I look at blood: A renewable resource.

While having my hair cut, my hairdresser mentioned that she was leaving for the 2013 NO BULL Teen Video Awards as a volunteer hair and make-up artist. Okay, she had me hooked and I wanted to learn more from this selfless woman.

Directed by Sundance and Emmy award winning filmmaker, Lee Hirsch, Bully is a beautifully cinematic, character driven documentary. At its heart are those with huge stakes in this issue whose stories each represent a different facet of America’s bullying crisis. Bully follows five kids and families over the course of a school year. Stories include families who have lost children to suicide and a mother awaiting the fate of her 14-year old daughter who has been incarcerated after bringing a gun on the school bus. With an intimate glance into homes, classrooms, cafeterias and principals offices, the film offers insight into the often cruel world of the lives of bullied children.

I truly cannot say that I enjoyed this film. But once in a while I need to see films like Bully. We all do. Without someone or many someones bringing issues like this to the surface, where would we be?  Social injustices buried deeper and deeper? By my very nature I am a “solution seeker.” I watched Bully, intently. I came to the conclusion that it is less of a checklist for eliminating abusive behavior than an emotionally powerful wake-up call for a society too long in denial.

I wondered why this powerful movie was filmed from the perspective of the victims. I did not find any real insight into the Bully. They prey on the small, the weak, the disabled, too smart, too dumb, too ugly, too beautiful, too rich, too poor, sexual orientation or maybe just a different color skin—but why? What makes a Bully be a bully?  Does it start small in kindergarten and end in high school by killing someone or driving them to suicide? I found more questions than answers. What does a bully look like?  I don’t know, but I do know they are on the school grounds and on the school busses. I have four beautiful grandchildren and that scares me, for they are faceless enemies.

So, what is being done about this national crisis? The Bully Project is an all-out war on the problem. To start with, over 2 million kids in schools all over America have screened Bully since it was released in 2012 and it doesn’t stop there. If you have a few moments go online and check it out!  You can even view the winners of the 2013 NO BULL National Education Conference and Teen Video Awards. I watched them and was amazed at the talent and conviction of these teens. I am inclined to stand back and let these kids find the solutions. One high school slogan: ”The bystander stops the bully,” is right on target!

School is back in session. Let’s raise our awareness of this diabolical issue. If everyone becomes part of the solution, we may not need a sequel to this eye-opening film. As always you can voice your opinion by emailing me at Chastings@rockcliff.com

Looking back over my years of wandering around this beautiful planet, I find that a great deal of my fondest memories dwell on some small plot of land – completely surrounded by water. You guessed it – ISLANDS! Now I know a lot of my readers will immediately focus on Hawaii. I have no problem with that, but eight or ten islands are head and shoulders stronger in my memory. The reasons for this are that each of these spots of land tickled my fancy or generated some emotion inside of me. And, they remain at or near the top of my “island” list.

Bear with me while I dredge up a few specifics about an island or two. Perhaps during your travels you stopped off at one or more of these isles, and I can shake a memory out of your storage banks.

Certainly the British call their land “an island.” I’m going to ignore that definition – it’s too big for me to include. But it has two very interesting islands just off its shores.

One of these gems is referred to as the Channel Islands – a group located in the English Channel. The one I particularly enjoyed was the Isle of Jersey. This island was occupied by the Germans during World War Two, and the remnants of their occupation have been preserved. Guns, uniforms, and an underground hospital – all well worth the visit.

Another enjoyable island off the British coast is the Isle of Man. This outcropping lies between England and Ireland in the Irish Sea. It, too, is loaded with early history. Certainly the Viking influence is mixed in with the British and the Scottish. There is a highway circumventing the island which gives you a great variety of scenery, from huge rock outcroppings to sandy beaches. The low rolling hills amid quaint little cities give it a life of its own. (For those of you who remember the movie Waking Ned Devine, it was filmed in the Isle of Man.)

For those of us who love animals, Kangaroo Island – a short sea trip from Adelaide, Australia – has to be near the top. Here, wandering around totally unchecked and free are wallabies, wombats, koalas, echidnas, as well as the island’s namesake – the kangaroos. No zoo in the world can come close to this collection of free-ranging animals on this small spot of land. Barb got to hold a baby wallaby in her arms, and it cuddled up like a little baby. That feeling is not to be missed.

It was not easy to call Kangaroo Island the best collection of free-ranging animals I’ve visited. The Galapagos run a very close second. The huge lumbering turtles and the blue-footed boobies have to make you smile. The animals, totally unafraid of humans, are a joy to behold. A seal lumbered out of the ocean up to the swimming pool of our hotel – and actually did a few laps in the water. Hard to believe. There are approximately twenty-one islands in this archipelago, and many are populated by only some specific species. Darwin wrote a book about the islands, and I can understand why.

There are innumerable tropical islands that are perfectly suited for relaxing. I could mention many, but the two that stand out for me are Rarotonga (part of the Cook Islands group), and the other – almost on the opposite side of the world – is St. Maarten in the Caribbean. One of the features that made Rarotonga unique for me was the preponderance of churches on this little bit of land. These white-painted houses, with their steeples and bells, are hard to resist. Although the language is quite different, the music tells the story. Most of the singing is acappella – with a leader as soloist and the congregation responding. .

St. Maarten is quite different. This island is owned by two European countries – France and the Netherlands. More on the expensive side and certainly quite cosmopolitan in the cities, but very friendly and congenial off on the back roads.

I did not mean to ignore the Mediterranean Sea. Perhaps the best of many in this body of water, in my opinion, is Malta. It strikes a classic balance between sophisticated cities with elegant food and rolling hills with farms plowed by horses. A horse carriage trip around town is a must to study the history of this island. There are sites predating Christ and going back into early recorded history.

I could go on and on, but I’m getting this urge to go into my picture gallery and relive a few of the pleasant times I’ve spent in these places. Maybe I should check my atlas for island I’ve ignored.

 

 

I begin in the middle. I want to stop before I have started this month to acknowledge my time here with you. This marks the 13^th month that I have been writing for Alive. I am not one to acknowledge a milestone on credit, so hence the 13 months as opposed to the more popular one year mark.

My time with you has been spent well. I have continued to hone my writing craft and used my time with you as a Swiffer to my experiences in the restaurant game. So much so that I turned the Buson Burner up under my manuscript on the topic and have been fortunate enough to partner up with Eric and Alive Book Publishing to make the book dream a reality. Stay tuned for release dates and availability.

Okay, down to business.

I walked into Fresh Millions in San Ramon exactly ten days and two dining experiences after my co-worker. Twice she came back into the office saying, “Toby, you have no idea how right in your wheel house this place is!” As usual (except with wagers on The Bachelorette) she was correct.

So I went, and immediately felt that I had seen this place before. After the necessary research needed to order at the counter flawlessly, and after my selections were mentally ticked, I allowed my thoughts to wander back to where I had seen this healthy oasis. It had to be on one of those food network shows. The type of competitions that have entrepreneurs appeasing to the generosity of the food moguls that have come before them, in the hopes of securing the start-up capital to their dreams; the next “Chipotle” that will have mini-mall shoppers lining up. I was so convinced of this, that by the time I ordered from the jovial young lady at the counter, I was sure that she was the owner and I had seen her pleading with Gordon Ramsey….Suffice to say, I was wrong.

This is a pop-up (true to the definition). It wasn’t there yesterday, I swear, but now the second one is open in Dublin, and this is a franchise. “Join our team,” is not an invitation to work the wok.  This is the answer to the question that has loomed over so many of us: “Isn’t there something besides McDonalds?”

Here’s the deal: It’s fast, cheap, healthy and good.

If you recall, I am the, “let’s slow down at all costs,” guy, but mostly because quality seems to suffer, the faster we go. In relationships, business, technology, food…I digress. But not here.

Fresh Millions refers to the endless possibilities of the create-your-own menu and it does not disappoint. For the person whose tie is already flying behind them in an extra hurry to get through life, there are pre-set menu items, but for my under $10 you can’t beat the make your own salad or bowls.

Bowls: Start with your base: Noodles, Brown Rice, White Rice or Spinach. Add you sauce: Teriyaki, Sweet and Sour, Spicy, etc. Add your protein: Chicken, Beef, Shrimp, Bacon or Eggs. Then dive into their “mix-ins”! Over 40 prepared fresh, some organic, additions they throw into your bowl by the handful…not pinch. Then simply take a number. I have deduced that your raw bowl goes back to the kitchen in the searing hot wok waiting to blend your textures and flavors. Is there really a faster, fresher way to cook than by wok…NOPE! Help yourself to a complimentary glass of fruit infused water and wait the meager four minutes (give or take) for your creation to arrive at your table piping hot and mounded over the bowls edge.

Substitute “bowl” with “salad” and add dressing choice.

I think “millions” refers to the people and money that will flock to this place.

 

San Ramon: 2550 San Ramon Valley Boulevard, Suite #B2, San Ramon, CA

Dublin: 6599 Dublin Blvd, Suite F, Dublin, CA 94568

 

We all remember how the Super Bowl ended. The 49ers had three shots to score from the five yard line, failed to do so, and lost the ball on downs. The Ravens were able to run out the clock, giving up an intentional safety along the way, and win Super Bowl XLVII 34-31.

It is tempting to think the 49ers are in good shape to win this season’s Super Bowl.  They dominated the Ravens in the second half and they’ve improved both years under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. The quarterback is an emerging star and the defense is notoriously stingy.

History, though, would beg to differ.

** Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, 28 of the 42 Super Bowl losers haven’t won a playoff game the next season. Twelve of those teams missed the postseason and 16 lost their first playoff game.

** Seven of the 46 Super Bowl losers returned to the Super Bowl the next season. They went 2-5. The two teams to win it: the 1972 Dolphins and the 1971 Cowboys.

** The last team to play in a Super Bowl the season after losing it: The 1993 Bills, who lost back-to-back big games to the Cowboys.

Injuries to quarterbacks have factored into it. Tom Brady went out for the season with a knee injury in the first regular season game after New England lost Super Bowl XLII to the Giants;  Donovan McNabb missed seven games, Rich Gannon nine games and Kurt Warner 10 games after the Eagles, Raiders and Rams respectively, lost Super Bowls.

There is also a lot of luck involved in getting to the Super Bowl. Teams have to negotiate a 16 game season and then win two or three playoff games against top competition, often on the road. That is difficult to repeat.

Team chemistry is also an issue with contracts often dictating that key players move on. Age can be a factor as well since Super Bowl teams tend to be experienced, and there is a thin line between experienced and old.

Off the Bench says that the 49ers are in better shape to beat the odds than most. Health is an imponderable, but quarterback Colin Kaepernick is young and that somewhat lessens the chances that he’ll get hurt. No key players have left and the one major change, kicker, is likely to be an upgrade from what was a weakness last year. Defenses tend to be more consistent than offenses, and stopping opponents was the 49ers strength. The main concern is that if Kaepernick gets hurt there is no Alex Smith waiting to step in.

On the flip side the 49ers division is getting stronger with the Rams on the rise and the Seahawks featuring an elite young quarterback. They will also play a first-place schedule which the NFL makes more difficult to promote parity.

Still, the 49ers have an elite coach in Harbaugh and a young team that has become used to winning. That formula should take them to the playoffs, and from there anything can happen. It will be a fascinating story to follow in January and February.

As many of my readers know, I have been practicing in the field of TMJ (the joint that attaches the lower jaw, mandible, to the temporal bone of your head) for 35 years. Over those years I have seen the usual fads come and go from simple little splints that attach only to the front teeth to full coverage splints.

Anything will work occasionally because most TMJ is simply because it is not natural to hold the teeth together. Just putting something in that interrupts this habit can sometimes work.

There is no “one size fits all” orthotic (splint) that works for everyone. One of my goals in treatment is to diagnose the underlying cause of why each patient has destructive oral habits and work on the factors causing the dysfunction. Over the years, working as a team with other specialists, I was getting very good results. Some patients, though, did not respond well or would have the symptoms come and go.

It was when medicine brought sleep apnea to the forefront and developed ways to diagnose and treat this problem that I got to the “root” of the problem. One finding was that during one’s waking hours, pressure when clenching reach forces in the area of 200 pounds per square inch. During sleep, by contrast, forces can reach over 700 pounds per square inch. Those that add grinding to their bad habits can literally grind their teeth to the gum line. These heavy forces can seriously exacerbate damage to the joints and disks.

A major factor causing this is that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has an effect on the brain, not letting it go into deep sleep mode in order to be awake enough to prevent suffocation.

Part of my initial exam questionnaire contains a test that is quite good at seeing the need for a sleep study. Most people go in for a study because of their friends that are kept awake with their snoring. I have found non snoring patients with acute OSA because the obstruction is below the tongue and palate where snoring occurs.

Treatment of the OSA using a dental appliance can not only bring the apnea under control, but help prevent any further damage to the teeth and joints. One comment I get from my OSA patients is that before the appliance they rarely dreamed and could not remember their dreams. “Now my dreams are much better, they are in color and I remember a lot of detail.”

One very important factor in the treatment of TMJ is that treatment of the bite by reconstructive dentistry, surgery, orthodontics or endodontics should not be attempted until a complete diagnosis has been made. I do not feel a diagnosis in possible, unless obvious, like trauma, until the symptoms are gone. Then the practitioner can register the bite, mounting the patient’s dental models on an accurate articulator in the pain free position.

I have seen cases with root canals on many of the posterior teeth, none of which was necessary. In most severe TMJ cases the chief complaint is pain in the muscles associated with the jaws. The same nerves that supply these muscles also supply the teeth. The muscle pain can imitate a toothache. The dentist treats the “tooth ache” by killing nerve of the tooth, but the pain persists, so the dentist goes on to the next tooth and even the next. If pain persists after treatment it never hurts to seek a second or third opinion.

Surgery has been used for TMJ but with mixed results. Properly diagnosed and with a team approach, wonderful results can be achieved. In a small number of cases surgery to correct the bite could also correct the airway. The results have been phenomenal giving the patients, in their own words, “a new life.”  Most of this type of patient displays a severely receding jaw. This “new life” surgery is usually a “new face” surgery and can do wonders for the appearance and personality of the lucky patient.

My initial exam is with no charge in order that the patient can get another opinion.

 

Robert Brown, DDS has a TMJ, orthodontia, and sleep apnea practice in Danville and thoroughly enjoys discussing holistic medicine. You can contact him at 925-837-8048, at info@aodtc.com, or visit his web site at www.aodtc.com.

 

Fall is approaching; it’s time to change it up. When we start wearing fall colors, darker hues just don’t mix well with bright pinks and summer peaches. It’s time to consult with a professional who knows the trends or you may have a great eye for fashion and want to experiment on your own. Whatever you choose make sure you look for key fall inspired color choices that are right for your skin-tone and that balance your individually. Being a make-up artist, my job is not to make you look like someone else, but to give you the tools to look radiant and the best you can be. For me, it’s much more satisfying to highlight your individual beauty than to turn you into somebody you’re not.

On The Fall Runway’s  

Perfect reds, sculpted eyes, exquisite colors, “fashion as art,” aptly describe the fall collections and trends moving forward this season. I have always been drawn to the strength that a visually arresting mix can deliver. That’s why I am so wildly excited about Fall 2013. It’s a season of opulence envisioned through a thoroughly modern lens.

Flawless Skin

Effortless beauty is on the radar this season, both flawless and make-up free looking. Wearing foundation perfectly matched to your skin tone will not only give your skin that natural looking sheen, but your skin will look like your own, only years younger. Nothing enhances a complexion quite like radiant, rosy cheeks. Adding a hint of a fall rosy toned blush will give the cheeks that youthful fresh-faced-look, just in time for fall. Note: I like to apply a swipe of guava shimmer to the skin for a dewy plump youthful complexion.

Enchanting Eyes  

Eye shadows scream color this season! The number one request I hear over and over from my clients is, “Please bring out my eyes.” In response, this season we are using a new technique called, “Couches Des Couleur,” or, “layers of colors.” Using tiered levels of colors, we apply four highly contrasting eye shadow shades, one on top of the other, creating a prismatic effect that draws the attention to the eye, not the make-up. Apply an icy eye shimmer to the lid to complete the look. Ooh La La!!

Captivating Lips

The looks from the runway are often conceptual and serve as inspiration for the season. As make-up artists, we translate what we see into something women can feel comfortable with. It could be a red or a neutral lip color with a swipe of gloss; whatever your style, try tones that are fall-inspired. Red lipstick is everywhere this fall; if you’ve never worn a scrumptious red it is perhaps time to explore a captivating red lip color for fun. We stress to our clients that you want a red that goes with your skin tone not with the dress color. We work with a lot of clients with different taste, so when trying a red lipstick, try several shades until you feel like you own the look. You want to look elegant, beautiful and sexy, not theatrical.

September Updates

The month of September we are offering free make-up updates by Fleur Visage Cosmetics, to help you find your perfect look this fall. With every season brings new colors and different ways to apply make-up, I always advise my clients to have fun with it and experiment. Make-up is a very serious business and I know it may be hard to change, but sometimes change can make you look fresh and updated. It’s time to reinvent yourself, try something different, you never know until you try, you may be surprised and love it!!!