One Million Plates For The Arts

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that the California Arts Council released a new automobile license plate design that will benefit the arts in out great state? According to CA.gov, one million cars with California Arts Plates would mean $40 million for the arts which would put California near the top in arts funding rather than dead last. Californians have the power to take our state from last to first in arts funding by choosing the Arts Plates for their cars and supporting arts fro children and a strong creative economy and arts infrastructure.

The plates are tax deductible because they are considered a charitable contribution to the California Arts Council. Businesses and residents looking to support the arts statewide now have an extra incentive to support California arts – and have a cool looking license plate, as well.

Anyone who owns a car can get the Arts License Plate by ordering online from the Department of Motor Vehicles at www.dmv.ca.gov. Fees are $50 for a standard plate ($40 renewal) and $90 for a personalized plate ($70 renewal).

Support our state. Get the new plate!

THE ARTIST

The license plate is designed by California artist Wayne Thiebaud (pronounced 'TEE-boh'), a pop artist contemporary of Andy Warhol and is famous for his still life images of food, especially sweets, painted in bright pastels with thick strokes to give the cakes the illusion of being real.

Mr. Thiebaud was born on November 15, 1920 in Mesa, Arizona. When he was six months old, his parents moved him to Long Beach, California. When he was in high school, Thiebaud apprenticed at the Walt Disney Studio. The next summer he studied at a Los Angeles trade school. From 1938 to 1949, he worked at a cartoonist and designer in California and New York. Mr. Thiebaud earned his bachelor's and his master's at Sacramento State College and in 1960 he became assistant professor at the University of California, Davis, where he remained through the 1970s and influenced a large number of art students.

For more information about this program, please visit the California Arts Council.

For more information on Wayne Thiebaud, please read this in-depth article on ArtworksMagazine.com.

It's Who You Know

Having lived in Los Angeles all my life the one thing I know for sure is that it's who you know. When it comes to getting work at a freelancer – it's who you know. When it comes to getting your kid into a certain school – it's who you know. If you want that promotion at work – it's who you know.

You can have all the right qualifications but if someone knows someone and they want what you want, forget about it. All they have to do is speak up and ask for it and you will be out of luck. If you don't know someone who can help you with your needs you will have to start at the bottom and work your way up. There are too many people who want what you want and those that start at the bottom with you will be hungry and young.

If you are an expert in your field and are currently unemployed it is time to get on the computer, get on the phone and get on with your life by letting everyone you know what you are looking for in a job. While unemployment is at a record high in our great city, 85% of people in Los Angeles still have a job and those people are busy trying to keep it. As the economy begins to slowly repair itself, companies will start hiring more consultants and you want to be on the top of everyone's list when they do.

One of my favorite quotes is "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" because it is so true, especially when it comes to work or your career. No one can read your mind so they have no idea what your goals are, or have been, or how long you have worked to reach them. If you want a new promotion at work you might have to speak up unless someone you know has a crystal ball in their office and can look into the future?

Beware, however, of how you "squeal" because it could rub someone the wrong way and you will just end up sounding like a complainer and no one wants that. Make sure to listen carefully for the right moment to state your case with the right person at the right time. You may only have one opportunity to get your point across. Don't blow it by stumbling your words and/or not being quick and concise. Be strong. Be confident. Be smart.

If you don't know anyone who can help you, do your research and find out who you have to get to know who can help. In general, people can tell when someone is being authentic about wanting to better their careers and getting a leg up and most people will want to help. You just need to make sure to show up on time and turn out the best work possible. The rest is out of your control.

Restaurant Review: BASIX CAFE

DINNER FOR TWO: $40
CLEANLINESS: EXCELLENT
LOCATION: WEST HOLLYWOOD
FOOD: DELICIOUS and THOUGHTFULLY PREPARED


Basix Cafe has been a West Hollywood tradition for over 12 years and prepares flavor-infused, health-conscience cuisine using only the freshest ingredients. Specialties include fresh-baked breads, pastas, sandwiches, wood-fired pizzas and a breakfast that has become a neighborhood favorite.

My friend, Robert, and I went for dinner last night and our meals were DELICIOUS! Unfortunately, we ended up ordering the same thing (that's how good it is) so this won't be a very long review. For dinner, we each had the Blackened Chicken Pasta with cajun-seasoned chicken breast, china peas, mushrooms and roma tomatoes in a garlic cream sauce – $12. The chicken was so yummy! The outside was crispy and spicy but it was tender and juicy, not dried out. And, the garlic cream sauce was bread dipping good. We each added a Caesar Salad for and extra $2.50. 

Robert said the Red Velvet Cake was "to die for" but the piece I got was bland, dry and each layer was a different color reddish-orange, not deep red like a red velvet cake should be. That being said, I will assume I got the last piece of the last cake of the night because the food itself was so amazing and because I love Basix and support their efforts in our community. 

All in all, I would say we had an excellent meal with excellent service and I would definitely recommend Basix Cafe. However, before you order the red velvet cake, make sure you ask if it is fresh and carefully examine it when it comes out. I had mine to go so I did not see it until I got home. My bad.

For more information about Basix Cafe, please visit their website at BasixCafe.com.

Does Blogging Really Help With Your Career or Business?

Let's have a discussion. According to an original post on Businessweek.com in May, 2005, then updated by original sources in February, 2008, because the original story got so much online attention, the answer is "Yes, blogging and social media do help with your business."

In the short time it took for the revised article to be published, social networks like Facebook and MySpace, video sites like YouTube, mini blog engines like Twitter – have all emerged and are nourished by users. It goes on to say that whatever your business, blogs are a business prerequisite, no longer an elective. Ideas circulate as fast as scandal. Potential customers are out there, sniffing around for deals and partners. While you may be putting it off, you can bet that your competitors are exploring ways to harvest new ideas from blogs and to find out what you and other competitors are up to.

The article goes on to compare the old model for mass media, to a newer, pumped up version that is turning  mass media on its head. If you set up a free account at Blogger or any other blog services, you immediately see that the cost of publishing has fallen practically to zero.

However, blogs represent power. The divide between the publishers and the public is collapsing and it creates media of the masses. Did you know that General Motors is a leading company when it comes to blog communications? Reportedly, GM is showing a surprisingly nimble touch with blogs and that, on occasion, uses them to steer past their own PR department and the mainstream media.

The bigger point is that the dot-com era was powered by companies – complete with programmers, marketing budgets, Aeron chairs and burn rates. The masses of bloggers are just normal folks with computers: no budget, no business plan, no burn rate and no bubble.

Entrepreneur and founder of Technorati, David Sifry, believes that we are not talking about the same Web, but an entirely new one. And, he believes that blogs are different in the way that they evolve with every posting, each one tied to a moment that is open to the world. As bloggers read each other's blogs, comment and link from page to page, they create a global conversation. Picture the blog world as the biggest coffeehouse in the world.

What does this matter? Think of the implications for businesses of getting an up-to-the-minute read on what the world is thinking. Some film studios are already using blogs to see which movies are generating buzz. Advertisers are tracking responses to their campaigns.

However, the big companies have what bloggers lack: scale, relations with advertisers and large sales forces. And, they can use these sales forces to sell across all media, from general audience to bloggy niches. Apparently, Yahoo and Microsoft have already been investing heavily to position themselves for niche advertising.

The article goes on to make a comparison between MSM – mainstream media – and a new type of media company, Grassroots Media, and how it represents millions of eyewitnesses armed with computers spread around the world. It goes on to compare the process of how stories are produced – a brainstorm, a read, an in-house discussion, interview experts and take their pictures and finally write. The story goes through lots and lots of editing and when proofreaders have had their last look, the finished product is launched into the world. Much like advertising.

If the story were a blog, it would have been posted on Day One, before they did any reporting. The blog world and its host of experts would weigh in, tell them what's wrong and what they are overlooking and it all takes place in the open – it's a discussion. The winners will be those who host the best conversations.

What do you think of this? Do you use the internet for blogging, reading or just looking for information? What types of blogs catch your attention most?

Based on an original story on Bloomberg Businessweek.com, by Stephen Baker and Heather Green – Social Media Will Change Your Business

Illustration by:  Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, after J. Howard Miller

Featured Artist: JENNIFER OGREN NGUYEN

This month's featured artist is accomplished photographer, graphic designer and entrepreneur, Jennifer Ogren Nguyen, a Los Angeles native who received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology; Minors in Communications Media & Ballet. Then later, attended Otis Parsons College of Design where Jennifer graduated with a 4.0 grade average.

Jennifer and I met several years ago when we both worked at Lionsgate and we have remained friends ever since. Today, Jennifer teaches 'Graphics for Merchandising' at Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM), she designs, produces, markets and sells her own line of purses and hair accessorie (she's wearing one of her own headbands in her photo), and she is a proficient photographer. She can tell a story with just one photo, while keeping it modern, relevant and eye-catching. She has many moods – from people, to places, light, motion, music, objects and natural wonders – and has exhibit works in a plethora of art shows. She was even asked to be a photographer for a 2007 Siggraph fashion show.

Some of Jennifer's Photography

Jennifer has worked for some of the biggest agencies in entertainment, including Cimarron Group, Crew Creative, Trailer Park and Picture Mill, to name a few, but she also designs for corporate clients, as well. Her portfolio includes logos for the 52 Annual Grammy Awards, marketing and advertising collateral for Starbucks, and outdoor advertising for the Los Angeles City Zoo, without forgetting to mention her abundance of entertainment experience.

Some of Jennifer's Accessories at RedOstrich.com

Most recently, Jennifer started an online accessories store called Red Ostrich where she makes and sells feather purses and head bands with a vintage vibe. You have check them out! Perfect for gifts and reasonably priced. Something every girl will want.

To top it all off, Jennifer is a sweet girl, easy to get along with and has a great sense of humor. I'm glad we have remained friends and I am happy to feature Jennifer as this month's Featured Artist. Thank you, Jennifer, for being featured on L.A. Link.

To view Jennifer's artwork or photography, please visit www.jenniferogren.com.
To view Jennifer's full collection of accessories and purses, please visit, www.redostrich.etsy.com.