Featuring the Legion of Honor and the Exploratorium
By: Kevin L. Nichols
Lately "stay-cations" have become more popular due to the sagging economy and the rise of gasoline prices. Bay Area families have to weigh the pros and cons a lot more carefully in order to determine what destinations they will frequent with the hope of saving a few pennies. Many will have to reconsider that annual Hawaiian or Orlando vacation this year. Nevertheless, all is not lost because San Francisco happens to still be one of the largest tourist attractions in the world. Here are two reasons why:
The Exploratorium
Founded in 1969, the Exploratorium still represents the best and brightest of California scientists and inventors. It is similar to a "declassified" (low level security clearance required) of a national research and/or weapons laboratory such as Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory or Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in that it has numerous experiments where everyday people can explore. Some of the amazing exhibits on hand can teach people about the intricacies of light in conjunction with the human eye, sound in relation to our ears, and the behavior of liquids, solids, and gases through various hands on and engaging experiments.The learning never stops and it is applicable for all ages. The Exploratorium is reasonable priced and parking is free. This is one location stay-caution that you will not forget.
The Legion of Honor
The Legion of Honor is tucked away in a hidden area of the city near the Golden Gate Bridge. Its approach is mesmerizing with a beautiful overlook of the San Francisco Bay and notable landmarks of the city. It was originally built to commemorate Californian soldiers who died in World War I.
Rodin's Thinker, greets you as you enter the courtyard approaching the entrance. The Legion of Honor is a sophisticated museum which contains various paintings, ancient artifacts, murals, and sculptures. In addition to the mature artwork, it also has featured exhibits as well. I had they pleasure of having a docent lead tour of John Baldessari: A Print Retrospective from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation. This was a fascinating tour of one of our local artist's collection. Schnitzer signature pictures use black and white photographs of usually random photographs where he infuses colorful objects, including dots, in innocuous places.
If you love art and would like to be exposed to a variety of masterpieces, you will not be disappointed by visiting the spacious and eclectic Legion of Honor on your next visit to The City.
Copyright 2009 – KLN Publishing, LLC – All rights reserved.
These economic times require us to be more creative in finding worthwhile entertainment than ever before for ourselves and our families. This is why it is important to explore our local gems that we often take for granted as Bay Area residents. Recently, I visited the DeYoung Museum nestled in the gorgeously revamped Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, and I must say that it was a breathtaking experience.
First of all, the lines were not long. The entire museum has been upgraded such that it has a state of the art cafeteria and restroom facilities (which are always nice while visiting with children). Further, most visitors are respectful of the rules, meaning that they speak quietly amongst themselves, the docents are extremely helpful, and the fact sheets placed next to the exhibits are highly informative.
Below, please find some of the magnificent ancient African masks, artifacts, and rugs that I found intriguing:
One piece that I found particularly provocative was Aaron Douglas’s oil on canvas “Aspiration” (created for the Texas Centennial in 1936). Despite knowing many of the purchasers, such as Dr. and Mrs. Coyness Ennix, Jr., Nichole Ennix, and organizations such as the NAACP and the Black Chamber of Commerce, I was deeply moved by what it represented. Essentially the piece articulates Douglas’s conceptualization of the connection between African/Egyptian and African American cultures and their respective historical progressions from slavery to freedom. It is deeply seeded with images of the “lone star” representing Texas, shackles, the North Star that led slaves to freedom, and the ancient pyramids in the distance. It was truly inspiring.
In the near future, I hope to share my thoughts on the King Tutankhamun Exhibit also featured at the DeYoung and I encourage you all to visit the museum to share in this once in a lifetime experience.
Copyright 2009KLN Publishing, LLCAll Rights Reserved. www.klnpublishing.com
* by Marci Alboher, Working the New Economy, on Fri Aug 28, 2009 3:52pm PDT Creating a LinkedIn profile is pretty straightforward when you have a job with a well-defined title. But I’ve been getting questions lately about how to create a profile on LinkedIn when what you're doing isn’t so tidy. Two scenarios that come up a lot are how to create one of these profiles if you have a slash career (e.g. yoga instructor/caterer), or if you’re unemployed (or, as some say, consulting).
There’s some overlap between the two scenarios because in both cases you are taking what feels like a standard tool and tailoring it to fit your needs. And the good news is that when you spend a little time with it, LinkedIn allows for a lot of customizing.
Here are a few ideas:
Play with your status updates. If you’re looking for opportunities, mention that in your status update so that your connections are reminded of it. The example above, which says "on the prowl for career and/or entrepreneurial endeavors," is a good model.
Use slashes or vertical lines between your different titles. Twanna Hines, a dating advice columnist, uses vertical lines to separate her various identities (including “sexpot,” which may not be an official job title, but gives you a good idea of what she’s about). I’m partial to slashes myself, and recommend keeping it to no more than three or four at any one time.
Be creative with the “Current” section. If you are between positions, consider identifying yourself with a title that reflects your desired position (e.g. “marketing director seeking opportunity in consumer products”). If you’re consulting or available for freelance work, give your consulting business a name and list it as a current position. This is also a great spot to list anything you’re doing on the side -- a column you write for a trade magazine, an officer position in your university alumni organization, significant volunteer work. Feel free to use several lines to describe your current positions.
Don’t forget to include websites. At the bottom of your LinkedIn profile, you can list a few Websites. If you have a side business or an organizational association with a Website, include it there. If you don’t have any websites associated with your work, use that spot to link to any other social networking profiles you want to highlight.
Include relevant keywords. If you have a few things going on in your career, make sure that you’ve sprinkled around relevant terms from your various interests throughout the profile and in the list of specialties at the bottom of the summary so that your profile will come up in searches on the site.
Tweak your summary section often. Use the summary section to tie things together and tell a story about what you’re doing or want to be doing. And get used to tweaking that often. Every six months I seem to shake up the mix of things I’m doing, and I specifically mention that in the summary section of my profile.
Focus on your recommendations. Though it’s nice to collect recommendations all the time, it’s especially helpful to have a few solid ones when you’re looking for new opportunities. If you can identify a few people who you know think highly of you, ask if they’d be comfortable writing one for you. If you want people to think of you for more than one kind of opportunity, make sure that you have recommendations that reflect those various skills. While you’re at it, cruise around the site and leave recommendations for those who’ve made a positive impression you.
One final thought: While these tips are focused specifically on LinkedIn, the ideas behind them apply to any site where you’re creating a profile from a template.
Have any of you devised creative ways to customize your LinkedIn profile or other online profiles?
Going GreenOne can assume that most Bay Area families own either one or two automobiles.
Many people rent cars for a myriad of reasons. Some rent them for longer trips or if they need more space, while others rent cars to prevent further wear and tear on their own cars. Some want the comfort of driving a newer vehicle with more technological amenities, such as GPS and satellite radios.
Having these luxuries, however, can get expensive. Not to mention, some people want to reduce their carbon footprint and improve the environment. Moreover, what about those who only need a car for a few hours and do not want to pay for gas, additional auto insurance and the increased depreciation on their vehicle? Many turn to car sharing.
Going GreenCar sharing is not a new concept, but it is growing very popular here in the Bay Area. In conjunction with the recent “going green” philosophy, this phenomenon allows individuals to rent cars for a short period of time, such as one to three hours, for a fraction of the cost of owning a car or renting a car from a traditional car rental company. In addition to a $6 to $12 hourly rate depending on what car is chosen, gas and insurance is included in the rental price. Unlike most rental car companies, these cars are usually eco-friendly cars (either hybrids or low emission/ good gas mileage vehicles). This service provides its members with 24/7-access to a fleet of unattended vehicles from convenient locations, such as BART stations or parking lots in urban areas. Two leaders in this industry are local companies named City Car Share and Zipcar.
Both companies offer a seamless process to get you in a vehicle as quickly and efficiently as possible. You can fill out a simple application online or over the phone, pay a nominal registration/membership fee and then you will either receive either a “fob” (City Car Share) or an electronic “key” (Zipcar), much like a credit card, that unlocks the doors of the each vehicle at the time of your reservation. Then you reserve the vehicle of your choice at the location of your choice. All cars are required to have at least a half of a tank of gas in them and are equipped with credit cards to replenish it before you return the vehicle. It’s also nice to have an adapter in each vehicle for your iPod.
Recently, my two boys, ages 5 and 8, and I test drove both and here is what we thought of our experience:
City Car Share
Our first introduction to the car sharing concept was with City Car Share. Its mission is “to improve the environment and quality of life in the Bay Area by promoting car sharing as a means to reduce automobile dependence, ownership and usage.”
We picked up a 2006 Honda Element at the North Berkeley BART Station. This probably was not the appropriate vehicle to test drive since the rear seats were harnessed on the ceiling when we arrived. With two small rambunctious boys, patience was not on our side. Nevertheless, we figured out how to readjust the seats and were on our way.
The process was seamless. One fact that resonated with us was that City Car Share is the only nonprofit car sharing organization, is certified green, has affordable rates and offers discounted rates to other nonprofit/community-based organizations.
Zipcar
Zipcar’s slogan says that they “are redefining the way people think about transportation.” They offer a range of fun cars such as Mini-Coopers to premium BMW 300 series.
We test drove a hybrid Nissan Altima and my boys loved it immensely. None of us could hear the engine and felt that we were definitely doing our part of reducing congestion by sparing the environment from another low gas mileage/gas guzzling vehicle on the road. The reservation process was simplistic and the vehicle was practically brand new.
Overall, the car sharing concept is a reasonably priced alternative to owning a vehicle if you live near a metropolitan area with a sophisticated public transportation system. According to City Car Share, “the American Automobile Association estimates that the nationwide average monthly cost of owning a car is $500” per month, so $50 to $60 a month for car sharing is a viable option.
For more information about car sharing, visit www.citycarshare.org and www.zipcar.com.
Kevin L. Nichols is an author and the president/CEO of KLN Publishing, LLC, located in San Francisco. For more information, www.klnpublishing.com.
According to recent data by the state Department of Education, about 17% of California students drop out of high school. But, if you're African American and live in Alameda County, that number shoots up to about 35%, likely higher if you're a Black male.
The Twenty-First Century Foundation's Black Men and Boys Initiative and Actor-Director Mario Van Peebles invite you to participate in a free public screening and discussion about new ideas to improve educational outcomes for African American boys in Oakland.
BRING YOUR "A" GAME is a new documentary film that, in Van Peebles' words, "sheds light on the resilience and influence of Black males." The film will be used as a springboard for discussion and more importantly, action.
The film is hosted by Van Peebles and includes innovative special effects and interviews with prominent Black men such as Ice Cube, Lupe Fiasco, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Cornell West, Spike Lee, and others. Its message, one that President Obama has spoken about, is clear: a high school diploma is not enough. We must bring our "A" Game!
EVENT INFORMATION
WHERE: Oakland Musuem - James Moore Theatre 1000 Oak Street Oakland, California 94607
WHEN: Saturday, September 19, 2009 9:00AM-5:00PM for YOUTH 9:00AM-12NOON for ADULT STAKEHOLDERS
Open to African-American males between 9th and 12th grade. Lunch (for youth only) will be served.
By: Pang Ly, Esq.andKevin L. Nichols1 Some social networking sites (“SNS”) are still in their teenage phase: crushes, gossip, sportsstats, and local flavor are their typical posts. Most SNS’ casual approach to communicating isnot the standard communication style among lawyers particularly when “communicating” inwriting. How then as legal professionals can we appropriately utilize the tool for job searching?By understanding and finessing the social features particular to each SNS, you can effectivelyuse the SNS tools in a focused manner for your own ends. Make sure the social networking youengage in achieves two goals: (1) identifies persons of interest (“POI”) and (2) revealsnetworking opportunities.
LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and JDSupra are four commonly used SNS which you can easilydabble in and employ for your own purposes including a job search.
LinkedIn LinkedIn is the most professionally focused SNS with its online resume functionality. Anythingyou would include in your resume and experience section, you can certainly enhance withLinkedIn’s features including showcasing glowing recommendations from colleagues, clients, orpast employers as part of your profile. Indeed, you can send an email containing LinkedInstandard text requesting a recommendation or choose to write your own request for arecommendation.
This SNS’s underlying goal is to reduce the "6 Degrees of Separation" by allowing individualmembers to mine the connections of existing relationships and request introductions to meetpotential employers, clients, or other resourceful people. Rather than cold calling companies,etc., LinkedIn facilitates introductions that broaden your contacts. You can easily find peoplewho you went to school with or have worked with and add them to your network. You caneasily upload your contacts from other sources such as Gmail or Yahoo. LinkedIn also has jobpostings, calendar of events, and updates about your contacts so you can keep current.
Practical Tips: 1. Your LinkedIn account should have a professional headshot, detailed resume,solid recommendations, and a careful edit of interests. Employers glean a lot ofinformation from the profile listing, so show off a little and put your best footforward. Warning: do not get too personal here– save that for Facebook if youwant to go there. 2. A useful function of LinkedIn is the contact settings “expertise requests”. Thisenables you to identify a person as a specialist in their field, and regardless ofwhether the person is outside of your network, the setting is an excellenticebreaker by facilitating an easy introduction. People appreciate having theirknowledge valued and are eager to share about their practice. Once you haveidentified a POI, then schedule an informational interview. If nothing else, youwill make a new friend. 3. Ask a contact to forward your resume to HR. Oftentimes a firm will have an opening and, instead of blindly sending your resume to HR, LinkedIn can help you identify a POI in the company. For example, a law firm just posted an advertisement for a senior associate because the previous one, whom is in yournetwork, was recruited in-house. You ask your contact to forward a detailedintroduction to the hiring manager about you and your ability to fill the vacancy.Assuming that their departure was a pleasant one, you have spectacular inroad toa position that no one else would have.4. Ask for introductions. Really extend yourself and ask your existing contacts tointroduce you to POIs. LinkedIn makes it easy to get third parties introduced intoyour network. 5. Keep track of events or job posting within your area of interest.
Facebook Facebook ("FB") is perhaps the most popular SNS today with many features to keep friends andfamily current about your life. Individuals can post events, share photos, play games, postrelevant articles, YouTube clips, and other video, and create groups for worthy causes ornetworking. Members are able to update their "status" by sharing their moods or current activity,to which others may comment and respond accordingly.This SNS tends to be less professionally oriented, however, many professionals maintain both awork oriented LinkedIn page and a friends and family/interest group oriented Facebook page.Thus checking out and being open to both SNS provides a way in which to become betteracquainted with your professional contacts. FB also has many settings to address privacyconcerns; the settings allow you to manage who has what level of access to your personal information and details of your life which are on display. Manage appropriately!
Practical Tips: 1. By updating your status, you can let your network know that you are looking for aparticular opportunity and those who frequently read what is going on in other'slives, can respond to you with either referrals, connections, or helpful informationthat you may use to achieve your goals. 2. Belonging to the professional groups, alumni associations, affinity groups, etc.,you can learn about social mixers and events that can allow you to meet the rightpeople and open up the appropriate doors for you to walk through. 3. Search for POIs. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that you actually knowsomeone who can put in a good word for you. 4. Look for events posted regarding your practice areas. Even bar associations andgroups have FB listing networking functions. 5. Sometimes receiving "friend requests" from bosses or co-workers can beunsettling so please visithttp://www.examiner.com/x-11864-Office-PoliticsExaminer~y2009m6d23-The-politics-of-Facebook-friends-from-your-jobfor some helpful tips.
Twitter Twitter is a site that allows individuals to post short, roughly 160 character messages, containingtheir thoughts, services, needs, feelings, etc. to their "followers" as well as the rest of theuniverse. This is like sending an instant message to everyone you know and depending on yoursettings, the entire world. Thus, it has upsides and downsides.Recently, it has grown in popularity due to celebrities such as Ashton Kutcher's race to beatCNN to 1,000,000 followers, or Oprah Winfrey sending her first "tweet" (message) on hershow. Even President Obama tweets!
Millions of people read each others tweets and links to various articles, pictures, and othercontent on the web. A more focused Twitter for legal professionals isLexTweetwhich gatherslegal tweets. However, it is difficult to measure how effective this tool is with advancing yourcareer as unlike LinkedIn and FB, Twitter is one way conversation. It can help keep you onpeople’s minds if you use it to provide focused information that they want to see; you can thinkof it as targeted direct marketing lite.
Practical Tips: 1. Update your status and let your network know that you are looking for aparticular opportunity. 2. Keep posts professional because tweets are searchable. 3. For a handbook on how to use Twitter, please visit http://mashable.com/guidebook/twitter/
JD Supra JD Supra is a SNS focused on the legal community and allows lawyers to showcase their workproduct. Its motto is: “Give Content. Get Noticed.” and is intended for lawyers to reallyhighlight their legal acumen and the SNS is a searchable database of court filings, decisions, andarticles submitted by the individual members. Employers will appreciate reviewing your workproduct and evaluating your abilities. This can be used for marketing yourself by remindingpeople of the client alerts or talks you have given recently. Providing value is key.
Practical Tips: 1. Remember that everything that you post is being "published" and discoverable.That being said put your best article, case or result out there. Prior work is a greatway to sell your skills to a potential employer. Remember to keep it current. 2. Identify POIs and make networking connections. With the working understanding of SNS, make sure to use it in an overall diligent job search.
SNS can be leads on hidden job opportunities and they can also enhance your ability to positively stand out from other candidates. Here are some great jobs posting sites to get youstarted, and you just might find that dream job:
Please find some information that I received for your review. Please contact Anne below with inquiries.
Very truly yours,
KLN
Hi Kevin,
I work with Groovy Griot, a production company in New York and we released a new film in the Bay Area on July 31 entitled, "Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love." The film is a documentary about Senegalese music superstar, Youssou N'Dour. The film has won numerous awards on the festival circuit and it opened in New York and Los Angeles to much acclaim. The film is an entertaining, compelling documentary and it sends a message of positive change through music. Here's a link to a review of the film in the San Francisco Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/31/MV35190UNA.DTL .
We are trying to get the word out about the film in the Bay Area. I wanted to see if you would be willing to send information about the film to your group members via email or if you would be willing to post something on your linked in blog about the film. Below please find additional information about the film. Please take a moment to view the film trailer by visiting the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK4kE329o28.
Warm regards,
Anne Broecker Groovy Griot 212-222-2336
++++++++ It gives us great pleasure to announce that the new award winning film Youssou N’Dour: I BRING WHAT I LOVE opened in San Francisco (UA Stonestown Twin), Berkeley (Rialto Elmwood) and Monterey (Osio Cinema 6) on July 31 after opening to great success in New York and Los Angeles – “One of the best openings for a documentary so far this year" - Indiewire.
An audience sensation at film festivals worldwide, I BRING WHAT I LOVE takes you behind the scenes and into the world of Africa’s most famous musician: Youssou N’Dour. This never-before-told story follows N’Dour at a turning point in his life and career, as he releases his most personal and controversial album Egypt. But the singer’s hope for promoting a more tolerant face of Islam erupts in scandal and outrage in his native country that rejects the album and denounce it as blasphemous. Part explosive documentary, part stirring drama, I BRING WHAT I LOVE is an unforgettable musical journey with an artist whose courage and conviction shook the music industry and ultimately awakened the world. Watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba49eFI3WsU
If you live in or near San Francisco, go see the film and bring your friends, family and colleagues. The film's beautiful footage, fun beats, and inspiring personal story make it a must-see.
Enjoy the tantalizing beats, be inspired by Youssou's compelling story, but also go see the film because there is more at stake. It’s all too rare that an African or Muslim subject gets this kind of filmmaking and this kind of attention. Amid the images in the U.S. media of African AIDS, war and poverty, this film is a chance for Americans to see a positive, realistic representation of contemporary Africa. In addition, it is all too rare that stories go below the surface and give nuanced views of a more tolerant Islam. Every film is judged by its box office receipts, so please do your part to make this film a success - to show theaters and the media that we want to see films that reveal an entirely new Africa.
SEE THEATER AND TICKET INFO BELOW: San Francisco, CA UA Stonestown Twin 501 Buckingham Way San Francisco, CA 94132 (415) 681-0331 http://tiny.cc/UUvOF Daily 1:00 PM, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00
Opens July 7 at the Roxie Roxie Theater 3117 16th Street, San Francisco, CA (415)-863-1087 http://www.roxie.com Daily at 9:45pm
Berkeley, CA Rialto Cinemas Elmwood 2966 College Avenue at Ashby Berkeley, CA 94705 510-433-9730 http://www.rialtocinemas.com/elmwood Daily 2:30 PM, 4:40, 7:00, 9:30 with Sat/Sun Mat 12:15 PM
Opens in El Cerrito, CA on August 7 Cerrito Rialto Cinemas 10070 San Pablo Avenue El Cerrito, CA 94530 510-273-9102 www.rialtocinemas.com Daily: 2:00pm and 7:00pm
Monterey, CA Osio 6 Cinemas 350 Alvarado St Monterey, CA 93940 831-644-8171 http://www.osiocinemas.com Daily: 12:10pm, 2:30pm, 4:50pm, 7:30pm, 9:40pm
SEE PRESS COVERAGE BELOW: Reel Talk/NBC: June 20th, 2009 “Youssou N’Dour: I Bring What I Love” http://video.reeltalktv.com/player/?fid=28804 - videoid=1127487 CNN: June 13th, 2009 “African Voices: Singing from Senegal” http://edition.cnn.com/video/ - /video/international/2009/06/12/av.a.youssou.ndour.cnn Huffington Post: June 12th, 2009 “Youssou N’Dour and ‘I Bring What I Love’: an Elegiac Meditation on Faith, Islam and Music” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zach-karabell/youssou-ndour-andi-bring_b_214631.html Group sales questions? Email: groupsales@ibringwhatilove.com
Visit the website: http://www.ibringwhatilove.com /and join our email list Join on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20862148780 Follow on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/YoussouNdourDoc Subscribe to http://www.Youtube.com/YoussouNdourDoc for exclusive videos and music!
For more information, questions, and to share your ideas please contact: Anne Broecker Groovy Griot I Bring What I Love Outreach Manager 212-222-2336 anne@ibringwhatilove.com
