When you mention Los Angeles to people in any other country in the world, immediate references are made to Disneyland, Baywatch, and of course, Hollywood. None of which of really paint an accurate portrait to those of us who actually reside here. I haven't been to see Mickey for over...

I hit the big "four O" last year and -- let's face it -- you start to question a few things when you get to that no-longer-in-my-thirties place in life. Examples of questions that run through your mind include "Will I ever have kids?" and "I love my career, but...

Now more than ever it's excruciatingly clear that our educational system is in deep peril. We operate within a system strapped for money, increasingly ruled by standardized tests, underpaid educators and under-performing students. Some might say the concept of arts within schools is simply an extravagance we can't afford and...

My sixty-something father is on a motorcycle trip around the country, on his way to the greatest mother of all motorcycle gatherings, Sturgis. I know, I thought the same thing, "Isn't that the humongous gathering of a million bikers?" Yep, black mountains and big sky country, Harley's, Hells Angels, hot...

There are people in the world I call connectors. They eat, sleep live and breathe with other people in mind.

There are some who connect from a place of greed and self-centeredness and who are motivated by a "What can I get out of this? "attitude. And others who...

Get ready Tweeters your microblogging world is about to bust open wide to a size yet to be measured. Ashton Kutcher ("@aplusk") and Twitter co-founder Evan Williams ("@ev") are set to get their Oprah on Friday in Chicago. Hold on to your Crackberries.

The minute I read the "@ev" posting...

It is no secret these days many of us feel as though the wheels are falling off around us. And by definition, they are.

We are facing some deep life challenges; loss of income, homes, savings and our overall basic sense of security. These economic chronicles have become like a...

Even if you are a super nerd, geek, and gadget addict, The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is enormous and overwhelming. CES is the world's largest consumer electronics trade show. Think 2.2 million square feet of stage space featuring the latest gadgets, gizmos, and tech goods you can ever lay your...

The See and Sprout Project is a creative collective, international exchange I originally launched for tsunami orphans in Khao Lak Thailand affected by the 2004 Asian tsunami. I bring digital cameras to youth in underdeveloped countries and teach kids how to use them.

This project is dedicated bringing together...

Confession: I've never been an official member of the Cult of Kelly Slater.

For those who live under a rock, or maybe just far from water, Slater holds the nine-time ASP World Surfing title, which yes, basically makes him the Demi-God of surfing. Truthfully, I never really understood the...

Venice is known for its beaches, surf culture, design and gathering of hipsters and hippies, so, it's no secret we love a good green store, fresh organic produce and delicious food to boot. But nothing beats the opening of our new Whole Foods Venice Store -- it's an irresistible eco...

It's no small feat to throw an impressive bash in Tinseltown. It's either been done before, or it's about to be. And let's face it, Angeleos are as jaded as they come; a "star-studded event" is as common as a double iced latte and a fat-free muffin around here. For...

I get it, someone on the U.S. Olympic Committee was tired of seeing U.S. athletes walking the worldwide runway in basic track suits and
Style savvy berets at recent opening ceremonies, so the Olympic Committee drafted the United Lord of Preppy, Ralph Lauren to design a...

Sometimes I have to remind myself that I really am living the dream. Aside from all of the "things" that I have and wonderful people in my life, above all, I am healthy. We generally take that for granted. While I've always had an idea of what cystic fibrosis was,...

1. My dog needs to get a job

My dog clearly is not one of those hyper, panic, and paranoid over reactive, super-barking, warning dogs. She pretty much just snoozed right through the first few seconds of the quake, until I called her name and summoned her (in my most...

I've been accused of accomplishing more in one hour than the average person does in a day. I have that disease of being slightly over productive, I'm a dedicated list maker, and super task master. I have no idea what made me this way, but this is how it's always...

With the recent passing of model Ruslana Korshunova, the discussion of depression and suicide surface once again.

For some reason I feel as though we are hearing about more depression and suicide than ever before and I am feeling there's a lot of knocking at depressions door and no...

We aren't going to get tired of hearing it, we shouldn't get tired of hearing it; Tim Russert was the real deal. I believe Tom Brokow said it best yesterday when he said "He was a man with a profoundly moral center." In today's media and political environment that really...

I know it sounds slightly sketchy, but I assure you it's true. I slid over to a friend's place Sunday afternoon and hit the condo complex pool, it was a nice sunny warm day in Los Angeles one where if you aren't at the pool or beach you kind of...

Who says you can never go home? I'm home and it's just fine:

Having been born and raised in the islands, a large number of us leave home to go kick some big city ass, because we think living here on the rock all our lives, we've somehow missed...