Archive for the ‘Los Angeles’ Category
May 17th, 2010 by chelsea
Some athletes are born; others are made — that’s why Google Bike Maps allows you to choose your route’s difficulty.
The recently developed Beta version is just in time for National Bike to Work Week, providing routes for 150 U.S. cities and 15,000 miles of off-street bike trails, according to an article in Netted.
The new feature is especially convenient in the eco-minded Northwest where bikes aren’t just a mode of transportation — they’re a lifestyle. Simply select “bicycling” from the drop down menu in the directions section, and you’ll see a color-coded list of trails that specify whether it is for bikes only, if it is shared with cars or if it’s preferred for bicycling.
An added bonus: you can choose to avoid hills, too.
Now that’s energy efficient.
Photo via http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com
Tags: bicycle, eco-friendly, Google, Google Bike Maps, green, National Bike to Work Week, Netted, Northwest, sustainability
Posted in L.A., Los Angeles, Orange County, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle | No Comments »
February 2nd, 2010 by chelsea
California is powering up its sustainability movement with a $350 million consumer rebate that will place nearly 200,000 solar water heaters in single-family homes.
The state’s approved lump sum of consumer rebates means California could reduce the cost of a solar-powered system by 35 to 45 percent from state and federal credits, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times. The solar water heater initiative headed by the San Francisco-based Public Utilities Commission marks an aggressive effort to limit dependence on gas-powered water heaters by harnessing the sun’s energy, dubbed the California Solar Initiative Thermal Program.
“Families and businesses up and down the state are saving money and cleaning our air using solar,” Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in the article.
California’s future looks even brighter.
Photo via latimes.com
Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California, California Solar Initiative Thermal Program, solar water heaters, water heater initiative, water heater rebate
Posted in L.A., Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco | No Comments »
January 14th, 2010 by chelsea
L.A.’s skyline is reaching for new heights with its first skyscraper since the 1990’s — the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
The 54-story hotel will open its doors to the public next month, according to an article in the L.A. times. And at $2.5 billion, the towering structure lives up to its ritzy name. The hotel is strategically located near the Staples Center and L.A. Live, an “entertainment campus,” to become the gravitational pull of L.A. fun.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa thanked Tim Leiweke, president of AEG — which built the tower, for carrying the project through and making the area a cornerstone for sports and entertainment.
We’d like to see the view from there.
Photo via latimes.com
Tags: 54 stories, AEG, L.A., Ritz-Carleton, skyscraper, Tim Leiweke
Posted in L.A., Los Angeles | No Comments »
December 1st, 2009 by chelsea
L.A. residents will soon have a place to practice their double axles in style with the region’s first outdoor ice rink.
From mid December through February, the 7,000-square-foot rink will boast skaters of all ages, complete with lessons, demonstrations and skating time with Santa Claus, an article in the Los Angeles Daily News said. With L.A.’s typically mild winters, many skaters will likely be seen gliding on the ice in T-shirts.
“One thing we hope to offer everyone is the nostalgia – the experience of skating outdoors for the holiday,” a U.S. Junior National Pairs champion and the skating director of Woodland Hills Ice said.
Sunglasses or scarves, it’ll be a winter to remember at the new rink.
Photo via woodlandhills.com
Tags: L.A., Los Angeles, skating rink, Woodland Hills
Posted in L.A., Los Angeles | No Comments »
September 1st, 2009 by chelsea
L.A. colleges and universities are getting smart about going green, earning top marks in eco-friendliness.
UCLA snatched ninth place in the Sierra Club’s report card for eco-friendly universities, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times. The university also earned a perfect 10 in waste management – it composts leftover dining hall foods, uses biodegradable eating utensils and recycles water from labs and air conditioning. But California did well overall, with UC Santa Cruz coming in seventh and earned bragging rights for its transportation system, which is specialized with bike shuttles that move up to 300 people around campus.
Kudos, L.A. for continuing the path to a sustainable future.
Tags: green, L.A., Los Angeles, recycle, Sierra club, sustainable
Posted in Los Angeles | No Comments »
July 28th, 2009 by chelsea
Most teens just use media. But 75 amateur DJ’s from Calabasas are creating it – broadcasting their big thoughts on shortwave radio.
Four years ago, science teacher Karl Beutel gave extra credit to his eighth-grade students if they passed the FCC’s amateur radio license test, according to an article in the L.A. Times. Now they’re broadcasting solo and itching to tackle topics like local brush fires or other natural disasters. Their only problem? Their age – they need to be at least 18 to be on the emergency communications network. “I’ve only told one person my age over the radio. But they can hear your voice and know you’re young,” said 16-year-old Trenton Gluck.
No matter, though. Radio is an old medium with a new meaning for these teens. “I always thought that cellphones were the most reliable form of communication,” said Gluck. But cell phones break, and radio is, well, invincible.
To those teens active on the air, we thank you for taking part on the electromagnetic spectrum.
Tags: Calabasas, FCC, L.A., Los Angeles, shortwave radio
Posted in L.A., Los Angeles | No Comments »
April 29th, 2009 by cameron
Staying connected through cell phones and e-mail alone can be exhausting. Twenty two students from a L.A. charter school are choosing to unplug to reconnect.
iPods, PlayStations and TVs are all technological outlets that won’t be used during the week-long experiment. Teacher Shannon Meyer presented the challenge to her classroom as an attempt to prevent kids from experiencing sensory overload, which she said occurs from constant electronic stimulation, according to an article in the LA Times.
Staying unplugged for one week is a challenge for some, but several of the students recognize their lack of face-to-face communication and approach the task optimistically. “I don’t talk to my family anymore, and I don’t know what’s going on in the world,” student Angie Gaytan said in the article. “I want to break free from it because it’s annoying.”
If you’re the type to sleep with your phone under your pillow, a cell phone detox might offer you a better night of sleep.
Tags: Add new tag, cell phone detox, iPod, L.A., LA Times, Los Angeles, PlayStation
Posted in L.A., Los Angeles | No Comments »
March 20th, 2009 by admin
All you need to give DNA 11 is a wee bit of saliva and four weeks later they’ll give you a portrait of your genetic coding.
The one-of-a-kind pieces by DNA 11 get up close and personal with your genes and are created from a palette of 25 colors. The company also creates thumb and kiss prints, using more than a million color options, according to Fox’s Style File.
The company’s co-founder Adrian Salamunovic got the idea when he saw a brochure for DNA imaging software that fellow co-founder Nazim Ahmed was selling. “When I saw the DNA, I saw art,” Adrian said on CNBC’s The Big Idea.
To get started on your own DNA portrait, go to www.dna11.com. Prices range from $169 to $1,000.
If you’re shopping for someone who has everything, DNA 11 is always an option.
Tags: art, California, DNA 11, DNA art, L.A., Los Angeles
Posted in L.A., Los Angeles | No Comments »
January 27th, 2009 by admin
California’s Charles Shaw wine may see its first price change in seven years.
Govenor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed to raise the tax on wine by six times its current amount in an effort to close the gap on California’s budget deficit, according to an article by Jerry Hirsch in the Los Angeles Times.
The news could leave a scar on the $1.99 Charles Shaw wine sold at Trader Joe’s, putting an end to its longstanding nickname of “Two Buck Chuck.” However, it seems that some devoted customers still would purchase the wine regardless of the price bump, according to the article.
With cash needed in California as soon as next month, the change to the wine market may be fast approaching.
Tags: California, Charles Shaw, Los Angeles, tax hikes, two buck chuck, wine
Posted in Los Angeles | No Comments »
