Most, if not all, surfers in Los Angeles know by now that the County Department of Public Health recommends that ocean water be avoided for 72 hours after a rainstorm. Knowledge, however, does not always equal power. Ever the eternal optimists, many surfers gladly paddle out after a storm, perhaps giving credence to the theory that “ignorance is bliss”. While the County’s warnings about the water are generally widespread, what may prompt these surfers to flaunt the admonitions is a lack of specific knowledge.

According to the County, water directed from the storm drains “can contain disease-causing pathogens”. In other words, the bacteria present in the ocean after the County’s storm drains disgorge all that’s been thrown into them can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, sinus infections, earaches, weight loss and fatigue. The County also warns that contact with contaminated water can lead one to contract Hepatitis A.

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People everywhere, but especially in Los Angeles need to step up the sustainability factor. I just got back from a weekend filled with intense discussions about our role on the planet, how war effects our earth, recycling, and vegetarianism at the Sustainability Convergence in Santa Barbara. With a huge variety of vegan brownies, gallons of soy-milk, a Tofurkey sandwich bar (not as bad as I thought), more vegan brownies, and of course the obligatory dreadlocks and tye-dye, the event helped encourage me to find ways to help our earth in our local cities.

Point is, I’m all for sustainability and recycling, respecting the earth, and sparing animals, but within reason. One great way of using less but conserving more, is by attending Farmer’s Markets.

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I’m not gonna lie to you. I love tomatoes. I love tomatoes so much that I have made it my life’s mission* to convert supposed ‘tomato haters’ into die-hard tomato loving extremists. You heard me right folks, tomatoes are good. I’m not talking about that transparent mushy thing in your hamburger, or the crunchy pinkish thing in your ’salad’. I’m talking about red, juicy, room temperature, giant tomatoes. The kind that have a flavor. They taste like tomatoes, the way God intended them to taste. Not the way Ralphs or Vons intended them, but God.

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When I was much younger, I would follow my mother around the supermarket produce aisle while she picked out fruits and vegetables for the family. She’d rip the husks off of corn to make sure it didn’t have worms, shake cantaloupes to check for loose seeds and manhandle apples to ensure firm flesh. And yet, our fruit and vegetables were no more superior to that of our neighbors. Why not?

There are a lot of reasons, but I’ll give you the two that matter most: 1) Produce harvested prior to ripeness will never have the same flavor as that of fresh-picked, and 2) bashing your fruit around is not a way to determine its freshness. So if all that poking and prodding won’t give you the results you crave, why waste your time? Why not have fresh, organic produce delivered straight to your door?

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Nature Mart
2080 Hillhurst Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 660-0052

I have a secret weapon against my 7-11 addiction. I go to Nature Mart on Hillhurst instead. I know that I can walk in there and pick whatever snack my heart desires and it won’t be bad for me. The food at Nature Mart is organic and free of icky stuff like preservatives, white sugar and pesticides. I figure I’m doing my body a favor by choosing a Synergy kombucha drink and some dried ginger trail mix instead of a Big Gulp and Oreos. Actually, after re-reading that sentence, I realize it’s pretty much a no-brainer, my love for Big Gulps notwithstanding.

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Long overdue is the decision to render all building constructions in strict accordance to Green Laws. Living in one of the most polluted, smog ridden cities…this proposition is the best I’ve heard of in a while.

Buildings will have new requirements: “The checklist includes a choice of such items as low-flow toilets, paints with low emissions, use of recycled materials, efficient irrigation, solar panels and use of natural light.”

Any building larger than 50,000 square feet (there are about 200 constructed annually) will have to respect the checklist. [ Read The Full Story -> ]

When it rains it pours . . . and sends greats heaps of plastic debris into the ocean via our county’s storm drains. Many people don’t realize that the Los Angeles rainfall season runs from July 1 to June 30, thus the measuring for city’s rainfall totals begins in mid-summer. In the last seven months, Los Angeles received almost as much rain as it did during the previous complete rainfall season. The precipitation was a godsend for this city, with its overabundance of lawns and gluttonous greenery. Unfortunately, the rains spelled disaster for our beaches.

After the most recent rainstorms in January, the banks of the Ballona Creek flood control channel were covered with litter. (One can only surmise that other channels were also lined with trash.) The birds and other indigenous wildlife could not escape it. The trash was everywhere.
An inquiry to the County of Los Angeles about the problem resulted in the following response from Gary Hildebrand of the County’s Department of Public Works:

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The first thing you will see at the Los Angeles County Arboretum are the peacocks. They’re everywhere. They’re fearless. And, as I observed, they don’t jaywalk. And while the novelty of the majestic birds never really wears off (mostly because one can never forget their existence, because no matter where you turn, there’s a damn peacock), the truly moving sights of the arboretum are, believe it or not, the flowers. [ Read The Full Story -> ]

Near the beaches it’s still a sunny but a bit chilly with highs around 68 degrees and lows about 50, and a nice wind around 6-9mph. Hollywood should get a bit warmer, hitting highs of around 74 today, but dropping way down to 49 tonight, with a cool 5mph wind. The Valley won’t get quite as warm, around 72, and will drop into the low 40’s tonight and get winds during the day of up to 20mph, and during the night 0f 16mph.

The weekend looks like it will be almost exactly the same in each place, maybe a touch warmer, but still chilly at night. With no clouds and the sun shining, it would be a beautiful weekend to get out and do something outdoorsy.

Traffic: Actually looks a little better than normal today, lots of people taking a three day weekend apparently.

• Collision on the 210W before N. Allen at 7:42am - Nothing reported - Traffic  slowed into the 40’s.
• Hit-and-Run on the 10W off Ramp at 5th street at 7:32am - No injuries reported - Traffic unaffected
• The 405S is stop and go all the way from the 101 down to LAX; the 10E is slow but not completely stopped East of the 110 ; the 101W is slightly jammed near the 405, but doesn’t last long; and there is major slowing on the 110N all the way from the 105 to the 10.

***Photo by Miky Jpeg via Flickr

Weather today, is pretty much the same wherever you go. Sunny, with a light wind around 5-7mph, possibly getting up t0 18mph in the Valley. Highs around 67 degrees, unless you’re by the beaches it’s 63 degrees. Will get chilly again tonight, lows in the mid forties. Overall, a beautiful day.

• 101N - Collision before Santa Monica at 7:37am - Ambulance responding - Traffic to a near stand still
• 60W - Collision at S. Soto at 8:1am - No injuries - Some slowing
• 118E - Collision at Kuehner at 7:39am - Ambulance Responding - Some slowing in traffic
• 118E- Collision at Hayvenhurst at 7:57am - No injuries - No slowing
• 405S- Collision at W. Centinela at 7:57am - Ambulance Responding - Slowing around 20mph
• 710N - Collision before Bandini at 7:44am - No Injuries - Little Slowing

Photo by Miky Jpeg via Flickr

Today, looks a tiny bit warmer then yesterday. Sunny everywhere, but with a chill.

Near the beach you’ll see highs near 64 and lows near 43, with winds up to 11 mph during the day and slowing down to around 6 mph at night.

In the valleys there will be highs near 61 lows near 41, with winds up to 17 mph during the days and slowing to around 7-9mph at night.

Traffic:

• 101W near Tampa - Collision at 7:56am - Lanes 1-4 are all shut down - Traffic nearly stopped behind accident to the 405.
• 10E past S. Hoover - Collision at 7:41am - Ambulance responding - Slowing to around 25mph
• 101N by Glendale - Collision at 7:53am- Ambulance responding
• 895 N. Alvarado at 7:43am Hit and Run
• Accident on Mullholland Highway at Stunt Rd. at 7:10 - Ambulance responded
• 101S From Gower to Benton is near stand still.
• 10W From the 110 to Washington is nearly stopped.

Photo by Miky Jpeg via Flickr

Today, looks a tiny bit warmer then yesterday. Sunny everywhere, but with a chill.

Near the beach you’ll see highs near 64 and lows near 43, with winds up to 11 mph during the day and slowing down to around 6 mph at night.

In the valleys there will be highs near 61 lows near 41, with winds up to 17 mph during the days and slowing to around 7-9mph at night.

Traffic:

• 101W near Tampa - Collision at 7:56am - Lanes 1-4 are all shut down - Traffic nearly stopped behind accident to the 405.
• 10E past S. Hoover - Collision at 7:41am - Ambulance responding - Slowing to around 25mph
• 101N by Glendale - Collision at 7:53am- Ambulance responding
• 895 N. Alvarado at 7:43am Hit and Run
• Accident on Mullholland Highway at Stunt Rd. at 7:10 - Ambulance responded
• 101S From Gower to Benton is near stand still.
• 10W From the 110 to Washington is nearly stopped.

Photo by Miky Jpeg via Flickr