Life Style & Travel

UNITED STATES—Millennials might be shocked to know that loads of of today’s violence-filled blockbuster action films were inspired by children’s cartoons. Films like Transformers: Age of Extinction staring street-hustler-turned-actor, Mark Walberg would not have been conceived if the idea hadn’t first been dreamt up to entertain elementary aged children after a tough day of ABCs. Yes, those were the days...

OAKLAND—The 2015 National Poetry Slam (NPS) is currently being held in various venues throughout Oakland from August 12 to August 15. Although the registration period for teams to compete is over, tickets to the multiple slam competitions and finals that will be held Thursday, August 13 through Saturday, August 15 are still available for purchase online at www.NPSOak.com.  Prices range from...

CALIFORNIA—The recent avian influenza epidemic has caused a price increase in eggs across the nation. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), there are two types of avian influenza classified as H5N1; one strain is highly pathogenic and capable of producing rapid widespread disease, and the other is a lower risk. The influenza virus is highly susceptible to mutation,...

HOLLYWOOD—No more dashing and didactic figure has haunted Hollywood than Cary Grant. Of the two screen actors Marlon Brando watched carefully, one was Cary Grant, the other Spencer Tracy. Alfred Hitchcock himself said, “If I could have chosen, in life I would have preferred to be Cary Grant.” Cary Grant wasn’t always Cary Grant, suave and debonair: he was Archibald...

SAN FRANCISCO—After dancing for 20 years, Hard of Hearing (HoH) dancer, instructor and DJ, Burnie Gipson, was awarded first place at the 2015 American Lindy Hop Championships (ALHC) on Sunday, September 13.  Over the past three years, Gipson, 44, had been both a judge and instructor for the championships; this was his first year as a competitor. Although his background is in authentic Swing...

OAKLAND—The Los Angeles-based ASL Cabaret will be coming to Oakland today for a free matinee show at 3:15 p.m. at the Shadow Ultra Lounge in Chinatown.  The group normally hosts an American Sign Language (ASL) show every third Sunday at Cafe NELO in downtown Los Angeles. This year, they are in town after being invited by organizers of the 2015...

CALIFORNIA—On June 3, 2014, tax officials sent a 16-page report to Blue Shield California, the state’s third largest insurer. The tax board did not comment on why blue shield was audited, but after consideration it was decided that the non-profit health plan provider would now have to pay state taxes. They had earlier cited confidentiality reasons for not making...

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK—Two squirrels were discovered to have been killed by a plague at Yosemite National Park’s Tuolumne Meadows Campgrounds on Friday, August 14. According to the National Park Service, Tuolumne Meadows Campground will be closed from noon on August 17 to noon on August 21. All individuals who held camping reservations were contacted by the park services to have...

UNITED STATES—While Audi has always been considered the standard bearer of interior design, their exterior designs have not always progressed without hiccups. Case in point: the Audi TT. With its low to the ground, love-it-or-hate-it hunkered down stance, the TT was Audi’s first attempt at a compact sports coupe. In order to minimize the risk involved in entering a new...

SAN FRANCISCO—Celebrating the one-year anniversary of ASL Epic and honoring Deaf Awareness Night, ASL Epic will be hosting a special open show on September 27 from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Sweet Inspiration Bakery in the Castro area.  The night will begin with an ASL "gather and chat" for the first hour at 7:00p.m. From 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m....