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Recurring Columns

ON THE SILVER SCREEN: HIGH NOON

By Brian Lafferty

 

July 9, 2012 (San Diego) – Leave it to Oliver Stone to take sleazy, salacious, and lurid material and transform it into art. Very few filmmakers can make graphic violence so lyrical without pretension the way Stone does in Savages. On the surface the film is trashy, but if you look deeper, this trash has class.

 


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FROM THE CHIEF’S CORNER: POOL SAFETY GUIDELINES

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna  East County Magazine “In-House” Fire Chief
July 9, 2012 (San Diego's East County) -- The National Safety Council reports that 600 children and adults drown annually in swimming pools, 330 in home pools. By communicating these pool tips effectively as well as using common sense, your backyard pool can be a safe and pleasurable experience for children as well as adults.

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FROM THE CHIEFS CORNER: THE HEAT'S ON!

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna : East County Magazine “In-House” Fire Chief

The Heat is On!  Triple digit temperatures expected beginning Sunday and into next week!

July 8, 2012 (San Diego's East County) -- If you work or play outside in the summer or areas that are warm all year you should know about heat stress safety tips. Heat stress is caused by over exposure to hot climates. You might not think it is possible but you can suffer from heat related injuries inside as well as outside. Heat stress occurs when your bodies core temperature rises above normal. Follow these heat stress safety tips to prevent an accident. 


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MARKETING MATTERS: TAKING THE SUMMER OFF?

 
Tips and tricks for business success and growth
 
By Rama Beerfas
 
July 6, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) –  It's summer once again and it's easy to be distracted by the idea of beaches, poolside lounging, picnics and long vacations. After all, if the kids can do it, why can't we?
Well, we can. In fact, we should. Some time away from work can renew your perspective, recharge your willingness to work on the business, and give you some new insights as you involve yourself with things outside the scope of your usual workday.

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FRONT AND CENTER: TIME TO GIRLCOTT THE MILITARY

By Rick Rogers, DefenseTracker.com

July 3, 2012 (San Diego)--The scourge of sexual assaults in the military seemingly cannot be stopped.

With the military unable or unwilling to protect our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters, it’s time women refuse to join the military and to disband the farcical Uniformed Code of Military Justice – an inadequate and unequal court system more interested in protecting the military than dispensing justice.

Cut off from it fastest growing pool of recruits – women – we’d find out exactly how fast our military leaders could correct this national embarrassment.  


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WRITER'S CALENDAR

 

 
LITERARY EVENTS
News and Calendar Items for San Diego County Book Lovers July 1 thru July 8, 2012
 
July 5 (Thursday, 7:30 pm) – Warwick's will host writer and photographer Mark Johnson who will discuss and sign his book Argyle Armada: Behind the Scenes of the Pro Cycling Life. This event is free and open to the public. In order to be signed the author's most current title must be purchased from Warwick's.

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FROM THE CHIEFS CORNER: 4TH OF JULY SAFETY TIPS

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna  East County Magazine “In-House” Fire Chief
July 2, 2012 (East County) -- Each year, especially during the early summer weeks around the Fourth of July, thousands of people are treated in emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries. While some are minor, many of these injuries are serious, for example, resulting in burns or blindness. In 2008, seven deaths from fireworks-related injuries were reported; perhaps these could have been prevented.

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EARTHTALK® E - THE ENVIRONMENTAL MAGAZINE

 
Written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss

Dear EarthTalk: Who are the “Clean Air Ambassadors” and what are they trying to accomplish?
                                                                                          -- Brenda Coughlin, Pittsburgh, PA

June 29, 2012  -- Clean Air Ambassadors are everyday folks from across the U.S. who have committed to speaking up for everyone’s right to breathe clean, healthy air. The effort is part of the “50 States United for Healthy Air” campaign, a joint endeavor of Earthjustice, the American Nurses Association, the Hip Hop Caucus, the National Council of Churches and Physicians for Social Responsibility. In the spring of 2011 these Ambassadors—people from all 50 states and every walk of life—convened in Washington, D.C. to ask members of Congress, leaders at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and high-ranking officials in the Obama administration for stronger protections against air pollution.

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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: THE BAD NEWS TEDDY BEAR

By Brian Lafferty

 

June 29, 2012 (San Diego) – The average person would likely perceive teddy bears as cute, innocent, and sentimental toys. What about someone with a devilishly twisted sense of humor like Seth MacFarlane?

 


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FROM THE CHIEF'S CORNER: STRUCTURE TRIAGE DURING WILDFIRES

 

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna
East County Magazine “In-House” Fire Chief
June 28, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--The last couple issues we discussed how you as a homeowner living in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) can create defensible space as fire season truly is “year – round.”

 


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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: UNPRETTY IN PINK

By Brian Lafferty

 


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FRONT AND CENTER: FIGHTING PAY, REGIONAL DEFENSE SPENDING, ETC.

 
News for our troops and veterans
 
By Rick Rogers
 
June 25, 2012 (San Diego)--It’s nearly impossible for the casual reader to keep up with important military and veteran stories. 

I follow this stuff for a living, and most days it’s like drinking from a fire hose.

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BIRD TALK: THE BLACK CROWNED HERON

 

 
 
By Greg Dunne
                                                
June 26, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--Although the Black-Crowned Night Heron is mostly nocturnal and not commonly seen by the casual observer, it can also be seen during the day.  

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A CAPITAL IDEA

 
 
June 24, 2012 (San Diego) -- Ironically, the only president who didn’t live in Washington was Washington. During George Washington’s administration the nation's capital was situated in Philadelphia.
 
In 1788 Maryland and Virginia in 1789 donated a hundred square miles of land to the American government to be used for a capital city. George Washington chose the territory contributed by Maryland, and title to Virginia’s land was returned to that state. Before Washington, D.C., was established, the early congresses had met in Philadelphia, Lancaster, and York, Pennsylvania; Princeton and Trenton, New Jersey; Baltimore and Annapolis, Maryland; and New York City.

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DREAM DOGS: LOOKING FOR FOREVER HOMES

 
June 23, 2012 (Blossom Valley) -- Maya is a two year old German shepherd/ husky mix that has the body of small shepherd and the mind of a smart husky, making it easy to teach her anything. She bonds very closely, and is a love bug when cuddling is concerned. She would like a home where she can act as a companion to her new owners, joining them in their day to day life.

This wonderful girl is a diamond in the "ruff"!!

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FROM THE CHIEF’S CORNER: BEFORE A FIRE REACHES YOUR HOME

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

East County Magazine “In - House Fire Chief”

June 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--Don't assume that someone else has already called. Describe the location of the fire, speak slowly and clearly, and answer any questions asked by the dispatcher.

Here are additional tips to take to protect your home and your family: 


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AMERICAN TRIVIA: LADY LIBERTY

 
June 15, 2012  (San Diego) --San Diegans Richard Lederer and Caroline McCullagh are the proud parents of a bouncing baby book, American Trivia: What We All Should Know About U.S. History, Culture & Geography (Gibbs Smith Publisher, 2012). Over a span of a year, the co-authors will share with you their journey through American history. You can order inscribed and signed copies of the book by writing to richard.lederer@pobox.com.

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KELLY’s TRIPS AND TIPS: PLACES TO MAKE MEMORIES

By Kelly Wiebolt
 
June 14, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--Here are some wonderful place to share & explore with your children, grandchildren or your “inner child”. They will cherish the memories and they will get to know their parents, grandparents and culture better. Have a little fun...explore together!

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FROM THE CHIEF’S CORNER: CREATING DEFENSIBLE SPACE—WILDFIRE SEASON!

 

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna,  East County Magazine “In-House Fire Chief”
June 13, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--Summer is here and brush fires are already happening throughout San Diego, Southern California and historic fires currently burning in Colorado and New Mexico.
Resources are being stripped from local areas and it’s important that homeowners do their part to mitigate the threat of wildfire protecting their property and to those that fight these fires with limited budgets due to our economy.

 


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EDUCATION TOUR: DON’T JUDGE A FISH BY ITS ABILITY TO CLIMB A TREE

 
Education News and Notes
 
By Anat Tour, math teacher and children’s author/illustrator
 
June 12, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--With the end of the school year arriving, be sure to view the Khan academy video (below) to prepare for tests or simply get ahead for the next school year!

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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

By Brian Lafferty

 

June 11, 2012 (San Diego) – I attend every screening with a pen and small notebook in hand. I have a strong visual memory, but it never hurts to jot down certain things I may later overlook. For Prometheus, I wrote only three brief sentences before I put the notebook down. This film had the tractor beam effect on my eyes. I sat fully entranced, unable to look away.

 


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EARTHTALK® E - THE ENVIRONMENTAL MAGAZINE

 
Written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss

June 11, 2012 ( Norwalk, CT) --  Dear EarthTalk: I own a small business and would like to do what I can to minimize its impact on the environment. Can you help me? -- Jacob Levinson, New York, NY
 
There are many ways to green up any business, large or small—and an added benefit might just be saving money. Just like individuals, businesses can measure their carbon footprints to get a sense of where they are starting from and to get some initial ideas of areas to focus on to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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CHIEF’S CORNER: WHAT TO DO DURING A WILDFIRE

By Sam DiGiovanna
June 10, 2012 (San Diego County) 
  • Listen to your portable radio for reports and evacuation information.
  • Back your car into the garage or park it in an open space facing the direction of escape.
  • Close garage windows and doors, but leave them unlocked.
  • Confine pets to one room.
  • Arrange temporary housing.
  • When advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
  • Wear protective clothing.
  • Take your emergency kit.
  • Lock your home.
  • Follow the evacuation route that your local officials have identified.

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FROM THE CHIEF’S CORNER! BARBECUE SAFETY TIPS

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

 
June 7, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--It always pays for consumers to be aware that following a few simple safety precautions will help ensure that their outdoor cooking remains trouble-free and enjoyable.

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HOME VIDEO HERALD: THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN (BLU-RAY)

By Brian Lafferty

 


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MARKETING MATTERS: SOLID INFRASTRUCTURE IS CRUCIAL TO SUCCESSFUL MARKETING

 

 
Tips and tricks for business success
 
By Rama Beerfas
 
June 5, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) –  I've been working with several start-ups recently who are looking to put together a marketing plan. Their goals are lofty, but they have the willingness to work to achieve those goals. The problem is that they are not yet ready for the type of strategic marketing plan that will actively attract prospects.

 


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HOME VIDEO HERALD: RAGE IN HEAVEN (DVD)

By Brian Lafferty

 


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EARTHTALK® E - THE ENVIRONMENTAL MAGAZINE

 
by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss

Dear EarthTalk: How do I learn about what pesticides may be on the food I eat?
                                                                                      -- Beatrice Olson, Cleveland, OH

June 3, 2012 -- Along with the rise in the popularity of organic food has come an increased awareness about the dangers lurking on so-called “conventionally produced” (that is, with chemical pesticides and fertilizers) foods.

 


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GOOD MONEY: BUSINESS OWNERS’ SUCCESSION PLANNING—STEPS TO PREPARE FOR A SUCCESSFUL EXIT

 

A column written for the East County Magazine
“Your guide to financial planning & socially responsible investing” 

By: Judith L. Seid, CFP ®
President, Blue Summit Wealth Management
 
For a Successful Business Exit
 
May 30, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--Most business owners are too busy working IN their business that they forget to work ON their business.  It is crucial to protect the asset that you likely have spent the majority of your life building and have a disproportionate share of your wealth tied up in. And yet, studies show that somewhere between 70 – 90% of business owners have not thoughtfully planned for their inevitable business exit and even those that do plan, oftentimes wait until the 11th hour.

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LIFE ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM: YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN

By Brian Lafferty

 

May 28, 2012 (San Diego) – In November of 2007, Dad called me. He informed me that he put our Rancho Peñasquitos house of twenty years on the market. I was surprised because it was so abrupt, but I understood that it was time for my parents to move on.

 


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