Comedy: Kevin Nealon, at the Ice House.  The Ice House Comedy Club is thrilled to welcome acclaimed comic and actor Kevin Nealon.  The SNL alum and Weeds star will headline one night only on Saturday, August 30.  Tickets are $25 and are available at the Ice House box office or by calling 626-577-1894.  VIP tickets will also be available for an additional $5.  This is a Special Event show. 

The Ice House Comedy Club is located at 24 N. Mentor, Pasadena.

Community: Youth Fest LUAU, at Day One.  Celebrate the end of another successful Youth Month at the Day One Community Luau. The event will feature hula dancers, a fire eater, a giant inflatable slip & slide, games, and plenty of food and drink, all free to the community on Day One's great lawn at 175 N. Euclid Ave (2 blocks north of Paseo Colorado on Euclid Ave)! August 29, 5:00-8:00 pm.

Day One is a nineteen year-old community-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to reduce the problems associated with alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. Day One convenes, develops, coordinates, and provides prevention services. For more information about Day One and their programs call (626) 229-9750 or log onto www.dayonepasadena.org. 

Cuisine: Thursday Wine Tastings, at Vertical Wine Bistro.  On the first Thursday of each month Vertical Wine Bistro treats patrons to a free 1 ounce pour of two featured wines. As an added bonus a representative from the vineyard takes on the role of guest sommelier, pouring the wine and describing its origins. On September 4, 5:30-7:30 pm, Kazia Schulhof of Trefethen Family Vineyards will be pouring her award winning wines from Napa.  

A top a flight of stairs in Old Town Pasadena you’ll find a new approach to the good life, where small-plate bistro fare is paired with a dazzling selection of more than 400 wines from around the world.  The menu is designed to show that food can easily be paired with wines, and the rustic small plates provide an excellent base to experience the many flavors of wine.

Located at 70 N. Raymond Avenue.  Open for lunch Tuesday-Friday from 11:30 am to 2 pm.  Open for dinner Tuesday-Sunday.  Find out more at www.verticalwinebistro.com.

Culture: Journeys: The Silk Road, at the Pacific Asia Museum.  Every work of art at Pacific Asia Museum has taken a long journey from its original maker and purpose. Many of these objects were taken along The Silk Road, the fabled trade route that linked Europe with Asia for more than a thousand years.  The new gallery provides children and families a dedicated space where they can play, look at art in a different way, and become inspired. 

This exhibit offers visitors a real "hands-on," multi-sensory experience. Visitors can view Chinese ceramic camels from the museum's collection; explore the "Traveler's Alcoves," featuring a different Silk Road traveler such as a Buddhist monk, a spice trader, and a silk maker; dress in Silk Road-inspired clothing; play with a number of objects; take in the smell of various spices; and touch samples of jade, gold and silk.  The "Trader's Tent" encourages further interaction and play, where children and adults can come together, explore materials, trade, and tell stories.

Pacific Asia Museum is at 46 North Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, California 91101.  Museum opens Wednesday through Sunday 10 am to 6 pm.  Admission is $7 general, $5 students/seniors, and free for children ages 11 and younger.  Admission is free every 4th Friday of the month.

Information from: Pasadena Now! www.pasadenanow.com.

Did you ever wonder where the lesbian literature is  hiding ? I did. Not for long, I have to admit, but yes, I did. I've never really been into any kind of soap or romance lit (it's just a question of taste). I personally am a lot more into coming of age, XXe century, contemporary and young adult fiction. But sometimes, I think every reader likes to read something lighter, just for entertainment. So here is a list of a couple of authors who write books on lesbianism, and especially on black lesbians (just because it's somewhat harder to find then just lesbian books). Enjoy. :D

The Gilda Stories: A Novel by Jewelle Gomez.

Abeng by Michelle Cliff.

Bliss by Fiona Zedde: Zedde's first fiction effort features Bliss Sinclair, a New York publishing executive that is looking for love in all the wrong places. After dumping her boyfriend and in turn being seduced and abandoned by Regina Velasquez, a lesbian player into sex but not into long-term relationships, Sinclair travels to her birthplace, Jamaica, in hopes of restoring her emotional balance. Love enters Sinclair's life in the sexy person of Hunter Willoughy, a Jamaican woman who is all about loving women.

Zami: A New Spelling of My Name (Crossing Press Feminist Series) by Audre Lorde.

The Gilda Stories: A Novel by Jewelle Gomez : The central character of this multiracial, feminist, lesbian vampire romance fantasy travels through time and leads multiple lives. Throughout her lives, Gilda is a woman of African descent with strong feminist traits and a sense of loyalty to her friends and family, both mortal and immortal. In her first life, she is a runaway slave in Louisiana in 1850, not yet a vampire, not yet named, who stabs a rapist/bounty hunter in self-defense. Rescued and adopted by Gilda, a vampire who runs a brothel, she soon becomes a vampire herself and adopts Gilda's name. Subsequent lives take Gilda to California in 1890, Missouri in 1921, Massachusetts in 1955, New York in 1981 where she does a stint as a cabaret singer, and into the future in New Hampshire in 2020 and up to the year 2050. Gomez provides an unusual twist to the erotic vampire novel, introducing issues of race and sexual preference, but there is no attempt to address these issues except as fodder for an ultimately uninteresting romance novel.

Leave of Absence by S. Renée Bess.

Undercover by Laurinda D. Brown.

Yesterday was a beautiful day on campus and a blessed feastday for me.  Thanks again to all for the notes and messages, especially to PJ who hosted a mini-reading of The Confessions in his dorm as a way of paying homage to the great Augustine.  Would there have been a good, local brew on hand, I'm sure we would have toasted to good ol' Gus, the patron of brewers, but unfortunately the circumstances weren't right.  (And neither were our ages.)

The highlight of the day for me, aside from having only one class, was the evening Mass I attended at a nearby dorm chapel.  Due in part to some new and courageous leadership in that residence hall, but more so because of the work of the Spirit, I believe, a liturgical and spiritual renewal has been astir among the men who live in that dorm and the community of worshipers who participate in its spiritual life.  There is almost a sense of monasticism and community in that dorm that makes for a rhythmic and authentic mode of fraternal life.  As a non-resident and frequent visitor to that hall, I've always marveled at the joy and awe that such a community inspires.

What do I mean?  In terms of liturgy, the dorm offers a full schedule of myriad prayers and devotions to the dorm and campus community.  In addition to daily Mass, lauds, vespers, and compline are prayed regularly throughout the week.  The recitation of the Rosary precedes each Mass.  And as with many of the dorms on campus, priests-in-residence are always on hand to hear confessions.  Yesterday,  a prie dieu was used during the communion procession and the rector mentioned in his homily that a weekly Latin Mass in the Ordinary Form will be celebrated once a week as well.

Other dorm events I have attended in the past include the "Last Blast before the Fast" (a donut feast on the eve of Ash Wednesday), the traditional Lamentations service at midnight to usher in the Lenten season, and exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.  (This lineup of Masses, prayers, and devotions trumps most American parish schedules these days!)

In terms of architecture and aesthetics, the seating design, altar arrangement, and accoutrements of the chapel, while far from ideal, are better than many of the odd and contemporary arrangements in some dorm chapels.  For example, the presidential chair, flanked by two chairs for servers, faces the altar and not the congregation.  The musicians and the piano are at the rear of the chapel, not at the front.  A beautiful set of the Stations with traditional sketchings line the walls of the sanctuary.  The rector is known to wear a soutane and fiddleback from time to time.

These classical elements of the Roman Catholic tradition are beautiful and edifying components which, when integrated with prudence and accompanied with catechesis,  can help cultivate an authentic liturgical and spiritual life in any community.  The sad state of Catholic culture and liturgy experienced by those in my generation has been marked by innovation, unorthodox teaching, and a skewed sense of what it means to be Catholic and in the world.  A renewal of our Catholic identity, without abandoning the progress of recent years and 'turning back the clock' as it were, can be achieved by means such as those seen in this model dorm.

On a Catholic campus that boasts a wide range of Masses, devotions, apostolates, and ministries, each reflecting both the diversity and common mission of the Church, it is encouraging to see the Spirit genuinely at work in the hearts of my colleagues and neighbors on campus.  My fervent hope, though, is that those who share the ardent desire for authentic Christian living and Catholic culture do not congregate at the expense of fellowship with other Catholics; salt, leaven, and light are needed in many bland, flat, and dark corners of our Church and campus.  The great task of evangelization must be taken up with humility and a willingness to put out into the deep (Lk. v:4).

All in all, it was a beautiful day to honor my patron, who so ardently desired that God be loved and praised in all things and in Truth.  May Holy Father Augustine, model of all virtues, pillar of the true Faith, and noble defender of Holy Church, intercede for us always.  May he inspire us by his humble life, rouse us with his zeal for the Gospel, and  confirm us in charity.  Amen.

As reported earlier last week, the Aasha Project worked hand in hand with our partners at ELITE youth to organise one of the biggest tournaments of the year.  The Official Press Release from ELITE YOUTH is pasted below:

"After the huge success of the last two years Elite Youth in partnership with Brick Lane Youth Development Association (BLYDA) welcomed the third annual Tower Hamlets Community Cup last weekend. Once again the tournament attracted over fifty teams from across the UK, from under 11 to under 16 years old.

The event saw more than five hundred and fifty young people enjoy a day of football and great social fun. The event was aimed at building better community relations and understanding between the various ethnic groups living in the borough and to develop partnerships and raise awareness of local organisations and businesses. The tournament this year was kindly sponsored by Canary Wharf and the Tower Hamlet Primary Care Trust who provided the trophies and soccer balls for the all participants.

Abdal Ahmed, who organised the event said:

"It was so pleasing to see that the tournament every year attracts so many teams from many different backgrounds across the UK. This is credit to the staff and volunteers at Elite Youth who work around the clock to ensure the smooth running of the event. The Tower Hamlets Community Cup is now a brand name and I hope we can continue to progress and develop in years to come".

Joe Ahmed, manager of All Stars S.L from South London said:

"I would like to thank the team for working so hard on the day. It was the best run and managed tournament any of our youth teams have played in. It was very impressive"

The mayor of Tower Hamlets Cill Mohammed Abdus Salique was present to hand out the trophies to the winners and runner-up. He said

"It is such a pleasure to see so many young people in one place enjoying themselves, you [young people] should be proud of your achievements and each and every participant is a winner here today for your hard work and effort"

The overall winners and runners up of the Tower Hamlets Community Cup 2008 are as follows:

Winners,  ( Runners - Up)
Under 11: Victoria Park United, London (Shadwell YO, London)
Under 13: Globe Town, London (MUL, London)
Under 14: Clichy, London (Shoreditch FC, London)
Under 16: Future Legends, Coventry (Fitzrovia, London)

If you would like more information on the Tower Hamlets Community Cup or any other services offered by Elite Youth please call Abdal Ahmed on 020 7247 8080 or via Abdal.Ahmed@eliteyouth.org"

mcsn poster

frets poster

Senator Barack Obama has officially accepted the presidential nomination from the Democratic Party (on the 45th anniversary of "I Have a Dream" no less) and has made history in the process. America is making history. We like to talk about how far ahead some European countries are in terms of racial equality, but none of them have done this. This country has such a long, checkered past of intolerance and hate (genocide of Native Americans, slavery, lynchings, Jim Crow, Japanese internment camps, etc) and we still have a lot of work to do on that front, but to have a black man be this close to being commander in chief is awe inspiring.

My father, who is in his 50's, was in the Detroit Public Schools system when Brown v. Board of Education required schools to be integrated. He was bussed to an all white school and his white classmates would literally spit on him. His white teachers deliberately selected black students for corporal punishment whether they deserved it or not. Today's racism is a lot more covert, but blatant, over-the-top, government sanctioned racism is not ancient history. To be able to hear the not-so-distant memories of overt racism by my elders (and I actually have my own stories too) and then sit here, no STAND here, and watch Barack Obama accept the Democratic nomination for president is incredible.

And Barack Obama is not just some generic, fill-in-the-blank, token black guy being thrust out there for the sake of saying "Look we let black people do stuff." He has substance, drive, passion and I believe, a sincerity that people in my generation have never seen in a politician on a national scale. This upcoming contest in November will be the third presidential election that I have been old enough to vote in and it is the very first time that I don't feel like I'm going for "the lesser of two evils." That's not to say that I agree 100 percent with everything Obama has said, but I truly believe that he is not just the best candidate of these two people, but that he is the candidate who can get this country going into a positive direction.

Obama's speech last night was phenomenal. He was poignant and practical and really tough on the Republicans. I have not doubts about his ability to run this country effectively and compassionately and repair our global reputation. America does deserve better than the last eight years. We need a president who can make the next eight years as tremendous as the last eight were disastrous.

We know what happens to a dream deferred. It does fester like a sore. It does sag like a heavy load. It does explode. Langston Hughes was right about all of those things. What he didn't mention was how that dream turns into a nightmare and perpetuates cycles of poverty and despair that strangle the forward progress of countless families in this country. For black children to see someone who looks like them within reach of being the leader of the free world is like injecting a big dose of "YES, WE CAN" into their brains and into their hearts. They can truly believe that there are no limits to their potential. That's a beautiful thing and it's priceless.

Your life has value.

You have every potential to create your own amazing future."

So glad you have visited our weblog!

What is Japan Alive all about?

Who are we?

We care about LIFE. We are concerned with every life, however little or old or successful or messed up or hidden, because we believe that there is immeasurable value in each person that's alive. 

We particularly focus on issues such as youth and their sexuality, and we work to help and support those who have become pregnant in difficult situations but would like to find different options available to them. 

If you would like to find out more about what exactly we do, feel free to contact us!

And, we welcome any financial support.

America, we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate, and so many veterans to care for. Not with an economy to fix and cities to rebuild and farms to save. Not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend. America, we cannot turn back. We cannot walk alone. At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise -- that American promise -- and in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess.

Thank you, God Bless you, and God Bless the United States of America.

~Democratic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama, DNC 2008 Acceptance Speech~

SEJAK beberapa tahun terakhir, Youngsters pasti kerap melihat berita di berbagai media massa tentang bencana alam yang silih berganti menggempur berbagai belahan bumi. Baik itu banjir, tanah longsor, kekeringan, badai, dan sebagainya.
Selain pengaruh perubahan iklim, kekerasan yang dilakukan manusia terhadap alam baik itu penggundulan hutan, pencemaran laut dan sungai, ataupun polusi udara juga memberikan andil terhadap kerusakan bumi.
Sebagai generasi muda, Youngsters pastinya nggak mau kan hanya berpangku tangan menyikapi kerusakan bumi serta perubahan iklim yang terjadi belakangan ini? Karena sebenarnya, ada banyak hal yang bisa dilakukan untuk ikut menahan perubahan iklim yang sedang terjadi saat ini.
Misalnya aja dengan ikut mencegah kenaikan suhu permukaan bumi akibat efek rumah kaca. Yakni dengan mengurangi carbon foot-print masing-masing pribadi. Sebut aja dengan hemat air, hemat listrik, mengurangi konsumsi makanan yang pake kemasan plastik dan sebagainya.
Selain itu, Youngsters bisa juga menjadi konsumen hijau dengan selalu menerapkan prinsip reduce (mengurangi), reuse (menggunakan kembali), dan recycle (mendaur ulang).
"Urutan prinsip konsumen hijau ini nggak bisa diubah. Urutan pertama harus reduce, kemudian reuse, baru terakhir recycle. Prinsip ini bakal dipake saat konsumen mengonsumsi apa pun. Nah, bagi Youngsters yang emang peduli ama lingkungan bisa menerapkan prinsip konsumen hijau ini," jelas Mas Harry Surjadi dari Knight International Journalism Fellow.
Setiap saat, manusia mengonsumsi banyak produk. Orang, sehari tiga kali harus makan dan diselingi camilan. Selain makanan, kita juga butuh sepatu, baju, tas, dan banyak barang-barang lainnya setiap waktu.
Persoalan terbesar yang dihadapi konsumen hijau adalah kemasan plastik. Misalnya tas kresek, kemasan botol air, kemasan mi instan, pembungkus makanan, dan sebagainya. Walau lumayan praktis, tapi plastik ternyata memberikan dampak lingkungan yang luar biasa.
Itu karena, waktu udah jadi sampah, kemasan plastik nggak bisa membusuk bahkan hingga ratusan tahun. Artinya, kemasan plastik lebih banyak merugikan dibandingkan manfaatnya. Sehingga, penggunaan kemasan plastik harus dikurangi.
Kalaupun terpaksa harus mengonsumsi produk yang menghasilkan sampah terutama plastik, sebisa mungkin mengimbanginya dengan menerapkan reuse atau menggunakan kembali. Misalnya aja dengan menggunakan produk model isi ulang.
Dan kalo nggak bisa dipake ulang, barulah Youngsters harus menerapkan sistem recycle alias mendaur ulang. Itu artinya, produk yang dibeli haruslah dengan bahan yang bisa didaur ulang.
"Jika semua orang termasuk Youngsters mau menjalankan prinsip konsumen hijau dalam kehidupan sehari-hari, itu berarti kamu-kamu udah memberikan sumbangan yang besar bagi lingkungan. Tentunya termasuk menerapkan prinsip efisien dalam penggunaan energi," jelasnya. (*)

Lebih Baik Naik Angkot atau Sepeda
ADA banyak hal yang bisa kita lakukan untuk turut menyematkan bumi dari kerusakan. Sebab, ada banyak hal kecil yang kadang kita sepelekan, ternyata punya kontribusi besar terhadap kerusakan bumi. Padahal, hal kecil itu dilakukan banyak orang.
Lantas, apa yang bisa kita lakukan untuk menyematkan bumi? Ini dia beberapa di antaranya:
Kurangi penggunaan alat listrik yang pake freon seperti AC dan kulkas. Freon bisa menipiskan lapisan ozon yang berfungsi menahan paparan sinar matahari. Pilih juga alat rumah tangga yang ramah lingkungan dan hemat energi. Matikan alat listrik saat nggak dipake.
Budayakan hemat listrik dan air. Semakin banyak listrik dan air yang dipake, semakin besar juga energi yang dibutuhkan sehingga semakin memperbanyak gas rumah kaca yang diemisikan. Hemat juga pemakaian tisu, kertas atau produk lain yang butuh banyak sumber daya alam dalam produksinya. Pake lagi, belakang kertas yang udah dipake.
Jangan buang sampah sembarangan dan budayakan hidup bersih dan peduli lingkungan sekitar. Habiskan selalu makanan biar nggak menumpuk dan jadi sampah.
Kurangi kebiasaan pake kendaraan pribadi saat pergi sekolah. Kalo pake kendaraan pribadi, ajak temen-temen satu jalur untuk berangkat bareng. Bisa juga naik angkutan umum atau mobil antar jemput sekolah. Kalo jarak sekolah dekat, bisa naik sepeda atau bahkan jalan kaki. Nggak cuma hemat, juga bebas polusi kan?
Kurangi jajan makanan atau minuman dengan kemasan plastik. Secara, plastik punya andil besar terhadap kerusakan lingkungan karena nggak bisa didaur ulang dan susah diurai mikroorganisme.
Jadilah konsumen hijau. Melalui konsep reduce (mengurangi), reuse (menggunakan kembali) dan recycle (mendaur ulang).
Perluas wawasan tentang lingkungan dengan terlibat langsung dengan organisasi lingkungan hidup. Seperti WALHI, WWF, GreenPeace, dan sebagainya. Bekali diri dengan berbagai pengetahuan tentang lingkungan.
(berbagai sumber)

Kenali Keamanan Plastik dari Simbolnya
DALAM kehidupan sehari-hari, Youngsters pasti sering bersentuhan dengan plastik. Baik itu botol air mineral, botol jus, tempat makanan, dan banyak lagi. Plastik bukan saja menjadi masalah lingkungan karena sulitnya diurai oleh mikroorganisme, tapi juga bisa membahayakan kesehatan lho.
Itulah kenapa setiap orang harus selalu meneliti jenis plastik atau bahan yang dipake khususnya jika dipake sebagai wadah makanan atau minuman. Yakni lewat simbol yang tertera pada wadah plastik.
Nah, biar Youngsters nggak salah pilih bahan plastik, gimana kalo kita mengenali simbol plastik berikut tingkat keamanannya?

1. Simbol PETE atau PET (polyethylene terephthalate) biasa dipakai untuk botol plastik yang jernih atau transparan atau tembus pandang. Misalnya aja, botol air mineral, botol jus, dan hampir semua botol minuman lainnya. Botol-botol dengan bahan PETE atau PET sebenarnya hanya boleh sekali pake aja. Terlebih kalo tampilan botol ini sudah baret-baret dan punya "umur" yang udah lama. Kalo udah kayak gini, mendingan botol dibuang aja. O ya, jangan pernah menggunakan botol ini untuk tempat air hangat atau bahkan air panas.
2. Simbol HDPE (high density polyethylene) biasa dipakai untuk botol susu berwarna putih susu. Sama seperti plastik dengan simbol PETE atau PET, HDPE juga direkomendasikan hanya untuk sekali pake.
3. V atau PVC (polyvinyl chloride) adalah plastik yang paling sulit didaur ulang. Misalnya plastik pada pembungkus (cling wrap), dan botol-botol. Kandungan dari PVC yaitu DEHA pada plastik pembungkus bisa bocor dan masuk ke makanan berminyak saat dipanaskan. Kalo udah gitu, bakal membahayakan kesehatan ginjal dan hati lho. Serem banget kan?
4. LDPE (low density polyethylene) biasa dipakai sebagai bahan tempat makanan dan botol-botol lembek. Barang-barang dengan kode ini bisa didaur ulang. Atau bisa dibilang tidak dapat di hancurkan tapi tetap oke untuk jadi tempat makanan.
5. PP (polypropylene) adalah pilihan terbaik untuk bahan plastik terutama yang berhubungan ama makanan dan minuman. Misalnya aja sebagai tempat menyimpan makanan, sebagai botol minum dan paling penting botol minum bayi alias dot. Bahan dengan simbol ini biasanya transparan yang tidak jernih atau berawan. Nah, kalo kamu pengen beli barang berbahan plastik, pastikan ada simbol yang satu ini.
6. PS (polystyrene) biasa dipakai sebagai bahan tempat makan styrofoam, tempat minum sekali pakai, dan lainnya. Bahan Polystyrene bisa membocorkan bahan styrine ke dalam makanan ketika makanan bersentuhan dengan wadah ini. Dan ngerinya, bahan Styrine berbahaya untuk kesehatan otak dan sistem syaraf. Karena berbahaya, bahan ini harus dihindari pemakaiannya. Bahkan, banyak negara bagian di Amerika sudah melarang pemakaian tempat makanan berbahan styrofoam termasuk China. Selain tempat makanan, styrine juga bisa didapatkan dari asap rokok, asap kendaraan dan bahan konstruksi gedung. Nah loh!
7. Other (biasanya polycarbonate) bisa didapatkan di tempat makanan dan minuman seperti botol minum olahraga. Polycarbonate bisa mengeluarkan bahan utamanya yaitu Bisphenol-A ke dalam makanan dan minuman yang berpotensi merusak sistem hormon. Jadi, hindari bahan plastik Polycarbonate ya.

(berbagai sumber)

Manfaatkan Situs sebagai Sumber Informasi
UNTUK bisa memberikan kontribusi terhadap kelestarian lingkungan, pastinya Youngsters butuh pengetahuan sebagai pendukung. Sebab, berbekal pengetahuan yang cukup, seseorang biasanya akan bisa lebih banyak melakukan hal positif dibandingkan orang dengan pengetahuan terbatas.
Lalu, gimana dong caranya kita mendapatkan banyak pengetahuan tentang lingkungan hidup? Tenang, kali ini Tribun akan membagi sejumlah situs yang menawarkan berbagai informasi tentang lingkungan. Ini dia situs yang bisa jadi referensi informasi kamu:

1. Ecokids: http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/index.cfm
2. http://www.care2.com/channels/ecoinfo/kids
3. http://www.youngreporters.org/
4. http://www.enviroliteracy.org/article.php?id=221
5. http://www.silverlf.com/barrick/kidsgarden.htm
6. http://earthday.wilderness.org/
7. http://www.sierraclub.bc.ca/education/ed_students/
8. http://www.enfo.ie/kidslinkpage1.htm
9. http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/home.htm
10. http//www.walhi.or.id
11. http//www.akuinginhijau.wordpress.com
12. http//www.foei.org.

Source: neisha-diva.blogspot.com, 11 Juni 2008