Consider the neighbors who like to party. Their guests fill up the parking in the neighborhood, and they make noise until the late hours. The party is great, and the guests, let’s say 60, come and have a wonderful time, partying the night away. So 60 people had a great time. Meanwhile the families in the neighboring homes cannot have a reasonable enjoyment of their evening from 6pm on due to the loud music and voices. They might not be able to find parking, their own guests had to walk blocks, perhaps. So maybe 5 to 10 people who live right next door to the party were greatly inconvenienced and lost a few hours of sleep. Some probably had to go to work the next day and weren’t rested enough.  And perhaps a few more neighbors had somewhat of a lesser inconvenience being further away.

Is it OK to have a party now and then? Sure. Nobody is going to take that away from people. But when it continues, weekend after weekend, the neighbors begin to lose enjoyment of their home, and cannot find parking for their guests, it becomes a nuisance, the police may often have to be called in order to quell the noise.  It could even lower property values in the area (ask people who live near fraternity houses near colleges if this is the case).

The Family Festival seems to be something like having a neighbor who has parties every weekend. Once and a while is fine, but every week starts to become a nuisance, especially if it’s not an appropriate venue. Maybe a park, beach, or a public place specifically meant for partying is better for having lots of guests and loud music. By the same turn, maybe the Family Festival is better on a more infrequent schedule - or maybe a more appropriate location.

Therefore, here is my humble suggestion: Why not have the Wednesday Night Family Festival and Farmer’s Market down on Whittier Boulevard? There are plenty of vacant car lots that could accommodate the festival and not interfere with businesses in Uptown. If Uptown businesses want to participate, they can go get a booth (very few do not, anyway, even though they can get a spot for free).

This leaves Uptown with business as usual (however good or bad), but might increase visibility for the Farmer’s Market to new customers (like East Whittier residents and people driving through town) by being on the boulevard, and then Family Festival could have more freedom over what types of businesses it could include. Then Uptown could bring in a true “California Certified Farmer’s Market” for a second time each week (in addition to the Friday morning market).

My thoughts are that if the festival hurts even one business, then it’s not fair to hold it every week just because a few do better on Wednesday nights. I always think there is a chance that I, or anyone else, may not have complete information, but I don’t think it’s very nice for a group to continue activities that benefit themselves while hurting their neighbors.

~~ pixelgal

Disclaimer: Pixelgal’s thoughts and ideas do not necessarily represent those of ShopWhittier.com or its owner(s).

Yes, a wedding has it’s serious points, too - but by the time you hit the aisle, you already know all of that. With that said, enjoy this cute video:

The music is “Forever” by Chris Brown. Look how happy the guests were and how much fun the wedding party seems to be having!  The original post of the video has had over a million hits and the song has hit record sales on iTunes due to the popularity.

Yes,  I had to go purchase the “Forever” song on iTunes, too.

Think about what else we can do to have a little extra fun in our daily lives and in special events, too. We don’t need to turn every occaision into a circus, but how much fun would it be to add just one extra touch to make an occaision come to life?

Let us know where you find your healthy eats in and near Whittier by replying to this post. What are your secrets to eating healthier in a society where it’s common for people to eat fast food day in and day out?

You might know that eating fruits and veggies is good for you. You might know that eating organic, fresh, locally grown foods is even better. But you might not know the dark, dirty secrets of the agricultural industry that are revealed in the film “The Future of Food.”

You will find this film to be of interest if you are into healthy food, agriculture, science, law, ethics, farming, or politics.

It’s not JUST about selling fertilizer. It’s not JUST about genetically modified food. And Genetically modified foods are not JUST a simple matter of breeding this plant with that plant. Oh no. This is about big companies creating foods that HAVE to be sprayed with chemicals; they sometimes won’t grow unless they ARE sprayed. This is about farmers not being able to create their own seeds to grow diversified crops. This is about only having 4 types of potatoes, when two hundred years ago there were dozens of varieties. YES this is a problem.

Don’t take my word for it.  Watch the film.

Really, you have to see this film.

~pixelgal

PS: I know I am not going to make the right choices all the time about what I eat. But this film has lead me to some conclusions. It is dangerous to let companies PATENT life (a seed). It is dangerous to us as humans and it is dangerous to farmers. Farms represent one of the most fundamental needs of humans and of civilizations, and big corporations are being allowed to basically own and control farmers and farms, and therefore own and control civilization.

Just watch the film. Let’s talk about it.

You are wondering… “What on earth is pixelgal talking about?”

I am talking about a historical re-enactment group called the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA).

Most people have never heard about the SCA, yet it has over 30,000 members, worldwide, along with many more who participate with the group, but are not members. The group focuses on volunteerism in order to run events, as well as devoting tremendous man-hours to school demos that illustrate the arts and sciences of the middle ages in Europe at schools all over the U.S. (and the world).

The SCA is often confused with various “Reniassance Faires”. The difference is that Ren Faires are more commercial, devoted to putting on a show for the public, whereas SCA members are devoted to re-creating the best features of the middle ages, and attempting to exemplify those features. They study chivalry (politeness, courtesy), the arts, martial arts, and sciences. In essence, SCA members entertain themselves, whereas Ren Faires entertain paying customers. (This is a broad generalization, but you get the idea)

If you missed the Ren Faire this year or you yearn for more history or a deeper experience or understanding of the past, you should check the calendar for Southern California (Caid).

The best way to get involved is to find a link or e-mail address for Newcomers in your “barony”, which can be found here for Angels. Attending Newcomers meetings gives you a good idea about what the SCA is, and how you can become a part of it.

Without going into further detail about the SCA, why am I discussing it here? It’s a good group of people that happen to live in our community and in nearby areas. The focus is on education and the arts, and attempting to extend the highest courtesy possible. It’s something grand to do on weekends, like heavy weapons tournaments, archery, art and science competitions - all while wearing clothes in the style of centuries past, far beyond the style of the Elizabethan England. It’s a community that exists in parallel with the modern world. If you work hard at it, you can become a King or Queen, or receive a peerage (a title) for arts, sciences, service or combat (a Knight).

Lastly, it’s escapism, which I am really into. Only this is a healthy form of escapism where you can learn, serve the community, and make long-lasting friendships. It seems like almost everyone has an interest in the arts, crafts, dance, music or martial arts. The SCA is a great place to enrich the education and socialization of growing children, while fostering their interest in history, arts, crafts, sciences and volunteering.

While this is not a thorough description of the SCA, perhaps it piqued your interest. And on that note, I leave you with a video to watch. The original intent, I think, was to go to an SCA event and make a big funny joke out of it, but it turned out to be a really good journalistic piece.

Notes: I will say that the reporter says the main focus is on fighting, but truly there is much more to do than that. And the harpsichord thing… well that could not have been an approved weapon.

Look out for Diploma Mills
First and foremost, if you are going to get an online degree or certification, ask the following question: Will it be respected and meet the expected requirements? Make sure that you are not getting a “degree” or certification from a diploma mill. If you are being sold a degree based solely on your “real life” experiences, then this is probably a paper degree that won’t qualify you for much except to look good on your office wall.

Is the school respected?
Next, if you choose the “Online Degree”, take into consideration that the best, most well known schools that offer real degrees for online courses are well known for that type of degree. This is not to say that the degree is worthless. If you do the work, then you have learned the subject matter and are qualified for the degree. Unfortunately, there is rampant cheating going on with this sort of education, and that is also well known. So if you flaunt that degree from “well known online school,” people may question whether you really completed the course material, and that degree may not qualify you for the position you seek. Many people who simply need a degree in order to get higher pay at work or to add weight to their resume will find that  an online degree is just fine, but it’s not well respected everywhere.

Online can be OKAY
On the other hand, if you are attending a well known, bona fide brick and mortar school, such as a Cal State University or other reputable college, and you happen to take a few online courses, it will probably not look at all objectionable to a prospective employer.

Once you decide whether you need something pretty on your wall or you need to really be qualified (or somewhere in between), you will probably find that you can do some of the course material online, even for brick and mortar schools. Students are demanding this, and even though it is far from ideal, schools are complying.

Things to look out for
There are some things to look out for when taking online courses, which I learned from my personal experience. If you like to participate in class discussion  and ask many questions, Online courses may be frustrating for you.  You may find the online experience to be somewhat unresponsive and slow because you like interaction. If you are too busy to take the face to face class, perhaps try a hybrid class that has some meetings (besides exams). Many students I have talked to have said that, especially in technology courses, it is much easier to learn when the instructor is teaching you, in person. The visual and auditory elements of the classroom are extremely valuable in learning.

Beware: Sometimes the professor is lazy too
(My apologies to all the great online instructors out there, but this happened to me) If the instructor has all the homework due at the end of the term, avoid that class unless you are already familiar with the material and just need to get the class under your belt to meet a requirement. If you really need to learn the material or it’s completely new to you, do NOT take this class. If you cannot get feedback about your assignments within a couple of weeks of the start of the course, you will find it difficult to learn, and you will have no idea what your progress is. I just completed a course like this. I have no idea how I will do - but I used the course as a guide and crutch to force myself to learn the material.

Find out about your instructor
Check out Websites such as RateMyProfessors.com. Some of the entries are ridiculous, but you can get a general idea of what’s going on with a particular instructor. You have to take into consideration how well you can deal with circumstances. If you are more easily frustrated, you are likely to identify with the more negative comments.

Make sure you meet the requirements
If you are going to learn a particular software program, be sure you can get your hands on the version that is being taught in the course. If you cannot, and you have a later version, be prepared for at least some frustration and technical difficulty or wait until the course catches up with the software (or be prepared to go use the lab at the school). I was lucky enough that the instructor for one of my courses was understanding in that if our software was a later version, and some tools had been left out, she did not mark us down for not completing that portion of the coursework. But not all instructors are as understanding and you might have to figure a way out of that problem.

Persistence pays off
Lastly, if you are going to take online courses, you must be diligent, read carefully, and look everywhere in the different parts of the course to cover all your bases. You may need to read announcements, emails, assignments, calendars, message boards and/or participate in online chats and discussions. It is easy to miss something - and sometimes courses are broken or the instructor forgets to update dates and assignments for the new semester. So you have to be on your game. Do the assignments and tests as early as possible. If you wait too long, there might not be time to ask questions before things are due. Instructors do not have to be on call 24 hours a day to answer your questions. Sometimes posting your question in the discussion board is the best way to get an answer.

My husband happens to be teaching an online course, and I am very proud to say that he is very responsive to students, checking email every day and responding. I even chewed him out, reminding him that he is NOT on call 24/7. I do admire his work ethic, though. NO, I am not taking HIS course (different school).

Just because it’s online does not make it easy
The drop rate for online courses is huge at the community college level (based on some statistics I found plus personal experience), compared to face to face courses.  I am sure that this relates to the fact that people that are already busy, work full-time and have family obligations tend to take these courses, in addition to students who hope to just get by because attendance is not required or thought it would be easier. These students are likely to have reasons to drop the course, and it takes self-discipline and time in order to pass and get the most out of them. If you are not self-disciplined, either get over it, or don’t take an online course.

Sometimes you have to drop
Drop a course if you are not giving it the attention it deserves or you aren’t understanding it from the get-go, or you can’t get past the first few obstacles.  Familiarize yourself with the drop dates as soon as you are registered. If you find that an online course is not cutting it for you, DROP it. Please don’t leave it sitting there without addressing it. It could screw up your GPA. These are not virtual grades, so don’t treat them as such. You could get dropped by the professor for non-participation, but he or she may have a good reason NOT to do you that favor, so don’t count on it.

If you simply enjoy learning and you tend to learn a lot on your own anyway, think of an online course as a guided self-help method of learning. This could be a great way to enhance your job skills or get a taste of what a particular field or course of study involves! Rio Hondo, Fullerton and Long Beach City Colleges, along with many other California Community Colleges, are offering hundreds of online courses that can help you to further your career or enrich your life. Check them out!

For Pedestrians:

First, although pedestrians have the “right of way” over vehicles (EVEN if they are jay-walking), this does not eliminate responsibility on the part of the pedestrian.  You have to stop, look both ways for traffic, and if you see someone that you think will wait for you, MAKE EYE CONTACT. If you do not see them looking at you, they may not see you due to obstructions, sun glare or distractions.

Second, teach children to WAIT for cars to pass. Cars do not have the right of way, but you wait for them to pass, unless you have made eye contact and you can SEE that they have stopped for you.  Always assume that vehicles do not see you.

Lastly, some etiquette. Go quickly across the road. You don’t have to run, but moving expediently is always polite. Don’t cross on a diagonal. Always walk straight across the street or within the crosswalk. This may save you a few steps, but takes longer to cross the road; it’s sort of rude to make people wait longer, when they stopped for you. In busy areas this can be a problem, as you are not as visible (or expected) outside of a crosswalk.

For anyone, crossing the street, waiting for a signal or the bus.  DON’T stand ON the curb!!  Stand back a few feet! Do you see the black rubber on the curb, there? That’s from cars coming too close.  Stand on the curb, and you are asking to have your face wiped off with a truck’s side mirror. Plus, as a driver, we don’t know if you are planning to cross or just standing there, adding confusion.

For Drivers:

In busy shopping areas, EXPECT to stop at the crosswalk. If you see people standing there, STOP.  You will be getting out of your car and walking around, as well. Some parking lot karma could be useful here.

The curb lane. This is the implied “extra” lane next to the curb (it’s the right hand side of the right lane). You pull into this implied lane when you are going to turn right. For goodness’ sake… when you pull over there to turn right, DON’T pull left again before your turn. That lane is there so you can slow down and make your right hand turn without slowing down the through traffic. Instead, slow down so that you are not moving too fast to make your turn.

Tailgating. This is the MOST annoying habit. Rear end crashes are the number one preventable traffic accident. Even if the driver in front breaks suddenly, the driver that rear-ends is always at fault (there would have to be some extraordinary circumstances in order for that not to be true). The newest guideline is you should be able to count to four before your car reaches the spot where the other person’s rear bumper was when you started counting. The old guideline was to be count to two (One-thousand-one, One-thousand-two), which is at least an attempt that I will accept over someone driving so close that I can practically tell the color of their eyes in my rear-view.

LOUD MUSIC. OMG!! Allright. First of all, turn down that music when you are in quiet business districts such as Uptown Whittier, and when in residential neighborhoods. Don’t stop in front of someone’s house or at a signal, or drive by the restaurant where people are trying to have a peaceful dinner, with that music blaring, your sub woofer, and your super-special sound system blasting people away. Not only can we hear the noise you so affectionately call music, but it is ABUSE! Sound waves can generate enough vibration to cause damage.  Maybe you think that’s funny. It shakes the walls and windows of homes and businesses. It is stressful. And you know what? I am not going to give a dang when you are 30 and suffering hearing loss. Still think it’s cool?  You could get a ticket for that noise pollution.  One day I may come out of my home, business or car - really angry - and turn into a big green pixelHULK and turn someone’s car upside down because the sound waves were hitting me too hard.

OK. Enough venting.  Your turn!

Disclaimer: There are state laws regarding all of the above items. Please refer to your state’s vehicle code for the actual laws. My post is for entertainment purposes only, and pixelgal is not an authority on laws, anywhere (except in her own reality).

As I take off for the weekend, I thought it would be nice to leave you with something positive and possibly inspirational, to offset all of this “reality.” So I leave you with this YouTube video that chronicles the story of Christian the Lion. Many of you have possibly already seen this story, so for those who have not, and those that wish to see it again, here it is:

You may also be interested to read Anthony Bourke’s account of the experience of raising Christian and their subsequent journey to Africa to visit him after a year in the wild, which can be found at Amazon.com, at the link below.

Or for kids:

(Anything else? I don’t know; I’m just venting)

I’m confused. At least for Californians, how is taking money out of our pockets going to encourage people to spend, thereby stimulating the economy? How is it fair that while Californians begin to worry about the economy, jobs and their financial future, the state just pushes the “raise taxes” button while our President tries to put money back in our pockets? It makes NO SENSE, does it??

In one pocket and out the other?

I’m not giving up that one cent on sales tax, let me tell you! I’ll make up for it by giving up the cheese on my burger or skipping the coffee when I eat out… I know. That doesn’t help local businesses much. I’ll still order the burger, OK? But I am really angry about giving up those three extra cents on the burger. Obviously, my tactics are not stimulating. Besides reenacting the Boston Tea Party, what can I do?

Maybe I will give up my custom license plate next year - it won’t make up for the proposed increase, but I can protest!

. . .

How is our current economy affecting others that live, work and shop in Whittier?

Go ahead. Vent. That’s what we’re here for.

[Pixelgal's opinions do not necessarily reflect those of ShopWhittier.com. Just saying]

Over 20 years ago I lived on Calmada Avenue, South of Lambert, while I attended Whittier High School. I certainly would have appreciated having this trail, back then, to ride my bike to school. I won’t say that I had to walk twelve miles up hill both ways to school and back, but during the last few months of high school I decided to ride my bike instead of depending on the (unreliable) school bus. I regret that I didn’t start sooner, but the Greenway trail would have made my bike ride safer, smoother and more fun, affording me a better way to get myself around and gain a greater sense of independence as I neared adulthood.

As I drive to work these days, I often see mothers pushing baby strollers, along with kids and adults on their bikes at Painter Avenue. I can definitely understand how much impact this new trail may have on the community.

We have talked with several people who use the Greenway Trail and are very pleased with it, some even surprised that it has proven to be a safe and clean place to go.