Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,
When I saw The Rumblers on the cover of the April 11 issue of NOHO>LA I was very interested in what the article had to say. I have had more then one encounter with The Rumblers and none of them were positive. I have seen this pack of these aging greasers at different rock shows around L.A. and have seen them act like drunken bullies everytime. They use their "tough guy" attitudes to intimidate both men and women and get physically aggressive with people without any provocation.
I respect the basic ideals of the car culture, focusing on the simpler American lifestyle and hard work, however The Rumblers trash these ideals with their “frat-guy” gang mentality and desperate need to call attention to themselves. These guys are in their ‘30s and ‘40s. Isn't it time to grow up a bit?

Hellooooo nurse!
Allow me to say that your April 11th “Hunk of the Month” was an excellent choice. Is that hot-rod hottie, Dano available and when is his next show with Horchata? I'd like to check him, ahem, his band out! He could be my road captain any day of the week.........meeeeeeeeeow!

Dear Readers,
The Rumblers are still rumbling in our readers’ ears. Those bad boys sure know how to have a good time! Speaking of Bad, if anyone knows where Joe Dallesandro is, would you please ask him to call us?
- Annie

Cecily Speaks
by Cecily Knobler
Track 5

“Six Feet Under” is starting in three minutes and there is so very much to do. I turn my ringer off, light some candles and head into the kitchen to refill my glass of Peach Snapple. As I pour, the loudest and most foreign guitar riff comes from what seems to be my stereo and as usual, I drop my glass and scream. “What the...those bullshit hidden tracks....every bloody time!” Don't they realize that I have very high blood pressure and could literally have a heart attack? If a CD says it has 14 songs on it, then I am not impressed when the 15th number pops up after 45 minutes. I-am-horrified.

CDs are not the only culprit. People also can and have often demonstrated the “hidden track” phenomenon. Take, for example, Trevor Nelson. We dated briefly two years ago, but he broke up with me for another comic who wore funny hats. Like that was her “hook”; she wore goofy hats on-stage and talked about how men are this way, but women are this way...sh** like that. Oh and she was also the kind of chick who didn't GET that you are supposed to be QUIET at Largo...one of those who doesn't even THINK to listen to the lyrics. I digress. So he dumped me for her and I was truly heartbroken. Just when my diary hand had taken all it could, he called. “Blah, blah, blah...I'm so sorry...blah, blah, blah...let's have sex...” And much like in response to hidden track 15, I was shocked and annoyed. (However, unlike the mystery track, I did have sex with him.)
Is the intention to catch you with your guard down? Wait just until you've fallen asleep or moved on and then pop up with a “Hey, I’m still here…”?

Worse than Trevor and more recently, I broke up with a guy we’ll call Leon. He disappeared for awhile and I enjoyed the silence. Lo-and-behold, when I least expected and during a very intense game of computer FreeCell, he startled me with the dreaded Instant Message. This particular bonus track was the worst yet. A little box came up that said, "Leon has sent you an instant message. Will you accept?" I considered my options. I could, of course, easily reject the message. I could also call the police. I opted to hear him out, more out of boredom than curiosity. And you know what it was?...an emoticon with a winking smiley face! That's it. THAT was my bonus track after so much time had elapsed. So as not to encourage, I quickly signed off and turned on NPR.

No CDs, as I'd had enough surprises for one day.
- Cecily Knobler is a stand-up comedian, and former morning host on KZLA.

Daily Dudes
by Dru Gash

Below: Hila Niver and Joe Benjamin
The lovely couple is visiting Hila’s parents who live in Beverly Hills. (That’s it, Joe, milk that puppy for all it’s worth). They say they are enjoying her parents’ bathtub because her parents have no pool or Jacuzzi, and it’s big enough for two. Joe and Hila both live in San Francisco. He works at one of the oldest night clubs in S.F. called 1015 Folsom (it’s a cool place. I myself have stumbled out of that place many times and, oh, hey, Frank, I really did not know she was your sister.)

When Joe and Hila are here in L.A. and when they are not in Hila’s parents’ bathtub, they like to go to her brother’s house and watch reality TV shows and play Misfit covers between the commercials. (Boy, these two are just too exciting for words!) Joe says, “Sometimes nothing is a pretty cool hand”- Paul Newman, Cool Hand Luke. Hila says, “Don’t go to the circus.”

The 6th Element
by Juan Maldonado
A Bad Rap
The stigma still remains. No matter how hard the culture tries to break free of its grip, its own reputation follows closely like a dark shadow. Some of it is justified I suppose; the culture brought it upon itself when it let some of its participants disrespect women on record, when it allowed a full blown war between the East and West Coast, and while it continues to perpetuate the ideals of greed, violence and contempt for its own people.

But that’s only one side of the culture; people on the outside looking in somehow miss all the positive aspects of hip hop. They overlook the emcees that speak out for social justice, the rappers that decry fellow hip hoppers who push ignorance, the ones who preach to the youth about self-respect, education and living their lives in a positive manner. Somehow, all of that goes unnoticed.

Case in point, a recent news article reported that Woodbury High School in New Jersey halted the painting of a mural that was to depict the images of four hip hop stars that passed away. Students were painting murals of Eazy-E, Tupac, B.I.G., and Big Pun alongside existing murals of Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles. The mural was stopped because a school social worker objected. Her reasoning, hip hop murals may send young black males the wrong message. Sadly, I agree with her, to a certain extent.

Let’s face it; the aforementioned rappers did not present themselves in the most positive light. However, I would argue with that particular Woodbury social worker that not all hip hop artists “send the wrong message” to the youth. As stated earlier, there are plenty of positive artists out there that are concerned with our communities and make it a point to send positive messages through their music. But somehow the media does not focus on these individuals as much as they focus on the ones who push negativity.

To the Woodbury High social worker objecting to the hip hop mural I say, why not continue the mural and put up some positive figures that the kids can look up to? Why not put up RUN-DMC, KRS-ONE, or Chuck-D? Kids are going to continue to listen to hip hop regardless, why not point them in the right direction? Have them look up to positive figures in hip hop instead of knocking down those you don’t approve of. We as adults have to give them other options. Don’t condemn a whole movement because of the actions of a few. By doing that you may also be silencing the voices of those who may be able to reach the youth in a positive manner

Do-it Yourself Acupressure
by Allison Howard
Cupping
Q I’ve heard about something called cupping in Chinese Medicine. My sister came back from an acupuncture and cupping session with bruises but feeling so much better. What is this treatment? It sounds medieval but if it works…
-Wondering in Woodland Hills

A Cupping is an ancient Chinese bodywork technique dating back thousands of years. A durable, rounded glass cup is placed on a specific point and suction is applied. The cups are placed over traditional acupuncture points but they treat a larger area of the body than the individual points. Using a flame to take the oxygen out of the cup creates a vacuum and the cup is quickly placed on the point site. (Don’t worry; the cup itself doesn’t heat up.) This technique can be used not only for tense, tight and injured muscles but is also very effective to rid the body of colds, flu and phlegmy chest congestion. The suction cups draw qi and blood to the surface of the skin and at the same time release muscle tension, tightness and toxins. It’s also very effective for muscles that are in spasm. Cupping is used much more in China today that it is in the U.S. probably because it can leave marks. (Here in Los Angeles especially, we’re a little less forgiving about bruises than in Beijing.)

Chinese medicine looks at the body as having areas of deficiency and excess or sometimes both. This excess can be called lack of movement or stagnation. Cupping is especially helpful in the treatment of local qi or blood stagnation in the channels.

This is not just a Chinese technique. It has been used in the folk medicine of many countries including France, Iran, Eastern Europe and the U.S. It’s used widely around the world because it works so well. A word of caution though: don’t try this at home. Very thick glass is used for cupping and a standard drinking glass could shatter under the pressure of the suction.

Editor’s. note I had this done recently for a bad neck ache, and it really works! And the giant hickies on my back were gone in a few days. - AM
–Allison Howard, L.Ac. is a licensed
acupuncturist & herbalist practicing on Riverside Dr. in No. Hollywood. 818-508-0885 or email allipuncture@msn.com.

Greta Blackburn's Stay Youthful!

Diabetes
Dear Greta,
My mother has diabetes and she has recently contracted blisters on her feet from ill-fitting shoes. I am her primary caregiver and I worry about things like this, since I’ve heard the horror stories about amputations in diabetics. (Also, I worry for myself down the line, given the genetics involved.) How do I stop her foot condition from getting worse?
- Good Daughter in Grenada Hills

Dear Good Daughter,
Diabetes, the seventh leading cause of death in the US, is no stranger to American women. About 8.1 million or 8.2 percent of all US women have diabetes, and a third of them don't know it, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Because women who live with diabetes face a host of health concerns, the last thing they may want to worry about is their feet. But for diabetics prone to insensitive feet, poor shoe fit can cause foot problems ranging from discomfort and blisters to ulcers and even amputation.

Preventive foot care is critical for diabetics if they want to stay whole, healthy, and mobile since those with reduced foot sensation may unwittingly allow foot problems to develop. Studies show that just seven lbs. of pressure for seven hours, which is common in poorly fitting shoes, can start the destruction of skin cells.

Blisters often result, which can lead to foot ulcers and in some cases amputations. More than half of all non-traumatic lower extremity amputations occur in those diagnosed with diabetes, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's 1999 Diabetes Surveillance Report.

Custom orthotic footwear can largely prevent or reverse ulcers when worn properly, according to a 1995 study. I recommend the Shoe and Foot Interfacing Orthosis (SAFIO) process. SAFIO creates custom total contact inserts that mold exactly to the shape of the foot and shoe.

For more information, contact Riecken's Orthotic Laboratory phone (812) 476-8006; fax (812) 476-4271; visit their web site at www.footcomfortworld.com or write 5115 Oak Grove Road, Evansville, IN 47715.
- Greta is an actress, fitness buff, and nutrition expert. www.fitcamp.com.

Get Real
with Chris

Great Expectations
Before I begin I need to ask your help.
There’s a tremendous shortage of homes for sale. I represent many well-qualified buyers, yet have few homes to show them. If you or someone you know is considering selling a home, I probably have a buyer. Would you contact me so we can see if we can help each other?
Now, on with the show! This week we pick up where we left off. You’ve decided on an agent now it’s time to agree to pay the agent and also learn what to expect for your money.
It’s customary in L.A. to pay a commission to the agents (more correctly, to the brokerages the agents work with). This commission is negotiable by law. However, that doesn’t mean that the best agents will agree to negotiate their commission. Neither does it mean the seller profits by pitting two agents against each other in an effort to get the lowest rate. Try to negotiate but understand the notion that getting an agent for a low fee is assurance that you’ll realize the most money, is truly spurious.
The commission is split between the agents which list and those whom bring the buyer. Most will split again with their brokerages. They’ll deduct costs of selling the home before they know what they’ll get. Your agent typically realizes somewhere between -0% to a little less than 3% of the price depending on the time it took to sell and number of dollars spent.
I can’t tell you what you should pay, but here are some guidelines for what you should get.
You should expect:
•professionalism, integrity, honesty,
•enthusiasm, an open ear, a clear mind, •assistance with your needs, knowledge, well oiled negotiation skills, a strong work ethic, finesse, understanding,
•a sense of urgency as well as pertinent current information,
•impressive color brochures,
•internet virtual tours, networking,
photo ads in the LA Times (for some homes; national publications),
•exposure in more than one multiple listing service, broker’s open houses,
•public open houses (if applicable),
regular communication and feedback, •community based efforts (exposure to church groups, employees at local companies, etc.), signage (if desired),
•a relocation department within the brokerage and chutzpah.
•Add assertiveness, composure, patience, humor, steely nerves and courage.
These attributes and actions will get you the most money for your home and the peace of mind that comes from knowing your investment is protected to the best of your ability.
If you have a Realtor that delivers, a 6% commission could represent a real bargain. If you have a Realtor that drops the ball, 4% could be a rip-off.

- Christopher Bradley is an award winning Estate Agent working with Prudential California Realty, Encino.
Reach him at (818) 929-0180.

That's Amoré
Quick, Concise Love Advice for the Romantically Challenged
by Laura Charelian

The “List”
Dear Laura:
I’ve been seeing a great guy for about two months. Problem: he’s younger than my preferred age, balding, never finished college, and is a Pisces. Should I consider him seriously for the long-term, or hold out for someone who meets more of my criteria?
– S.A., Sherman Oaks

Dear S.A.,
Does this man make you laugh? Is he good at his work? Does he show up on time and treat you well? Is he respectful of his Mama? It sounds like you have “a List.” Most single people have one. Get rid of it. If I had stuck to my list, I never would’ve gone out with the man who became my husband, and would be very sad indeed. Many people looking for love feel compelled to make long specific lists detailing a host of non-negotiable qualities potential loves must possess. They are more committed to the image of the person this list represents than a real, flesh and blood soul mate. I was able to recognize my true love when he came along because I wasn’t looking for someone else.
While there are dangers in being too specific regarding the “who” of true love, I believe it is most beneficial to be clear on the details of the “what.” This is done by distinctly designating your preferences for the relationship itself. Concentrate not on how the perfect person should look, but on how the perfect relationship should feel. What do you want from a lifetime relationship? How do you see yourself and the other person interacting, where do you want this relationship to take you? Do you want children? Where do you want to live? Keep these factors in mind and communicate them at the proper time to potential partners.
Pare any list you make down to three or four pertinent, far-reaching requirements, remembering your goals for your personal and professional life. If you’re serious about a long-term relationship, don’t forget the “5 C’s”: chemistry, compatibility, consideration, communication, and potential for commitment. Concentrating on inner qualities and desires of the heart will ultimately have more impact on the success of your relationship than the other person’s age or hairline. “Love is content, not form.” - Marianne Williamson
- Crave romantic direction? Send your love-related questions or comments to amore@us.inter.net. Laura Charelian is a local writer currently working on her first book on love and relationships.