August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009[
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
The "Dog Days" Of Summer Are Finally, Here!
This is the time when tourists roam the streets of the Financial District and sidewalk cafes are crammed and instead of ordering Lattes, you're ordering Frappuccinos. . .and dogs are wearing sunglasses. Well, at least pigs aren't flying! LOL
Seriously - thanks Kelly and Alx for this adorable submission.
What will your pooch be wearing this summer?
Friday, June 19, 2009
"Mercury In Retrograde"
Overheard in the food aisle at Walgreen's on Drumm Street. . .Paula Froelich (Page Six)has a new book on the New York Times' Best Seller List.
I'm going to pick up my copy this weekend.
Check it out at:
http://www.amazon.com/Mercury-Retrograde-Novel-Paula-Froelich/dp/1416598936#
xoxo
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Pardon Me, Miss - Is That the "Catahoula" Choo-Choo?
Oh, sorry - that was the "Chattanoga" Choo-Choo. Anyway, this coffee is so good, it will conjure up favorite songs, tunes, jingles - you name it.
According to Wikipedia (TM), "Catahoula" means:
The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog or Catahoula Cur, is named after Catahoula Parish in the state of Louisiana in the United States. Of remaining dog breeds, the Catahoula is believed to have occupied North America the longest, aside from the dogs descended from Native American-created breeds. The breed is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the "Catahoula Hound" or "Catahoula Leopard Hound".
Well, this coffee is NOT a dog. Far from it.
The best part is -- this is not any of that big company coffee. We're talking independently owned, operated and roasted.
This stuff is part of the new wave of "small roasteries." My favorite blend is the "Lola," but there are many to choose from and "Timber" is always experimenting and coming up with roasts that are sure to make you howl "NOW, that's a good cup of coffee!"
Catahoula Coffee
12472 San Pablo Ave
Richmond, CA 94805
510-235-0525
Call for hours.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
"OIL" That And A Loaf of Bread
This olive oil is definitely "All that" and then some. My friend, Greta, bought me this lovely Arbequina Stonehouse Olive Oil (and a bottle of Stonehouse Balsamic Vinegar) for my "39th" birthday. Then she threw in the fresh lavender just to see me blush!
Greta knows how much I love this stuff, because whenever we go to the Ferry Building, I stop by their store and have a "sample" taste. So. . .I guess, she thought that they might begin to notice that I'm a "frequent sampler," and kick me out of the place. That's why she got me my very own bottle.
This stuff is good! Thanks, Greta. You know how to make an old girl smile.
Love, peace and olive oil!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Business and Regulatory Confusion
In the overregulated and hyperlitigated society in which businesses now exist, businesses of all sizes are now struggling with new statutes and regulations, sometimes hastily written and poorly thought-out, and coming from different legislative bodies. As a result, well-meaning businesspeople cannot always abide by the law--despite their best efforts--because they're no longer sure what the law even is anymore.
In the first instance this week, a client of mine hired me to help him legally set up a franchise he was trying to create. He had a brilliant idea, he had a business plan, and he even had his first interested franchisee. All he needed to know was what laws to follow, for which reason he needed my advice.
Unfortunately for my client, however, the answer was not so simple. Starting at the state level, he learned he was subject to the North Carolina business opportunity laws, made to protect (legislators believe) potential franchisees who need to be protected from themselves. The business opportunity statutes outlined about four pages of information that needed to be contained in a franchise offering circular, which had to be provided to the potential franchise purchaser at least 48 hours prior to the person signing a contract.
The state laws, however, were the easy ones. We then researched the applicable federal rules, promulgated by not legislators but the Federal Trade Commission. Those regulations outlined more than 40 pages of information that needed to be contained in the franchise offering circular, which had to be provided to a potential buyer at least 14 days ahead of time.
Which rules apply? Well, all of them, and my job is to come up with something that assimilates all of the rules together. My client is a professional and a businessman, as are his potential purchasers, and all intelligent enough to make their own business decisions about whether to enter into a franchise agreement. Both our state and federal governments, however, have driven up transaction costs by dozens of pages of requirements for a franchisor before he even enters into a contract. He has to provide, in essence, potential purchasers a background history of himself, his criminal past, his civil litigation past, company financials and even personal bankruptcies. The state, in addition, requires the franchisor to register and, in certain cases, to be bonded.
In a second instance this week, an institutional client needed help in determining what rules needed to be followed in response to new state and federal regulations that had been hastily promulgated to resolve a perceived crisis. Sitting around the table were various board members of this client company, the vice president and president of the company, and the company's compliance officer. The federal regulations contained certain requirements, the state statutes required others. Some at our table argued that the state statutes ruled; some that the federal regulations preempted state law. Finally, after much research and talking to both state and federal regulators, we finally received the satisfactory answer we needed, but not without the employment of numerous man-hours and the stress of all involved who, despite their differing interpretations, were all working their hardest to have their company simply abide by the law.
It's a truism that we, as citizens, are presumed to know the law and that "ignorance of the law" is not a defense to a violation thereof. In this time of heightened government regulation, however, businesses (small ones especially, I fear) run the risk of violating laws because those laws have become so (1) conflicting; (2) multitudinous and (3) poorly written and hard to understand.
What can a business do to keep itself safe in these hyperregulatory times? Here are a few ideas:
1. Stay informed. If your business is part of an industry or trade association, stay abreast of all current developments. Read your industry association periodicals, attend "recent development" seminars sponsored by your industry, and, if necessary, call your industry association's attorney (every association should have one) to be updated on new laws and regulations that may affect your business.
2. If in doubt about the law, take the more conservative interpretation. Many businesses have, in the past, ventured into gray areas of law, especially when dealing with taxation issues. In the present environment, however, with a federal government full of anti-capitalist goons who are already suspicious of business, you have to be on the defensive. If you're not sure about the interpretation of a law, take the more conservative interpretation. At their worst, politicians are looking for scapegoats to punish, and "corporate America" is a current target. At their more innocent, politicians are looking for more sources of revenue. When it comes to taxes, you'd better believe they're going to take the more government-friendly interpretation of rules. When looking at violations, expect the government to be less friendly and to assault alleged violators with heavier fines, penalties and punishments--regardless of whether the violators even knew they were violating a law.
3. Have your attorneys more closely involved with regulatory review. It sounds self serving, but believe it or not, it gives me no pleasure to say that. I hate the idea that small businesses should keep a lawyer on retainer simply as part of their daily business in order to weave through an increasingly complicated morass of regulation. But in the current climate, stakes are too high not to understand laws affecting your industry. Have an attorney readily at hand who understands your business, one whom you can call if you have any questions. It's not cheap, but it's less expensive than hiring a lawyer to defend you when the government comes after your business for violating its laws.
Times are not easy. The economy is still struggling, and legislators are doing their misguided best to regulate the economy into health. In these times, businesses need to be at their most vigilant in following and understanding laws that affect them.
In the first instance this week, a client of mine hired me to help him legally set up a franchise he was trying to create. He had a brilliant idea, he had a business plan, and he even had his first interested franchisee. All he needed to know was what laws to follow, for which reason he needed my advice.
Unfortunately for my client, however, the answer was not so simple. Starting at the state level, he learned he was subject to the North Carolina business opportunity laws, made to protect (legislators believe) potential franchisees who need to be protected from themselves. The business opportunity statutes outlined about four pages of information that needed to be contained in a franchise offering circular, which had to be provided to the potential franchise purchaser at least 48 hours prior to the person signing a contract.
The state laws, however, were the easy ones. We then researched the applicable federal rules, promulgated by not legislators but the Federal Trade Commission. Those regulations outlined more than 40 pages of information that needed to be contained in the franchise offering circular, which had to be provided to a potential buyer at least 14 days ahead of time.
Which rules apply? Well, all of them, and my job is to come up with something that assimilates all of the rules together. My client is a professional and a businessman, as are his potential purchasers, and all intelligent enough to make their own business decisions about whether to enter into a franchise agreement. Both our state and federal governments, however, have driven up transaction costs by dozens of pages of requirements for a franchisor before he even enters into a contract. He has to provide, in essence, potential purchasers a background history of himself, his criminal past, his civil litigation past, company financials and even personal bankruptcies. The state, in addition, requires the franchisor to register and, in certain cases, to be bonded.
In a second instance this week, an institutional client needed help in determining what rules needed to be followed in response to new state and federal regulations that had been hastily promulgated to resolve a perceived crisis. Sitting around the table were various board members of this client company, the vice president and president of the company, and the company's compliance officer. The federal regulations contained certain requirements, the state statutes required others. Some at our table argued that the state statutes ruled; some that the federal regulations preempted state law. Finally, after much research and talking to both state and federal regulators, we finally received the satisfactory answer we needed, but not without the employment of numerous man-hours and the stress of all involved who, despite their differing interpretations, were all working their hardest to have their company simply abide by the law.
It's a truism that we, as citizens, are presumed to know the law and that "ignorance of the law" is not a defense to a violation thereof. In this time of heightened government regulation, however, businesses (small ones especially, I fear) run the risk of violating laws because those laws have become so (1) conflicting; (2) multitudinous and (3) poorly written and hard to understand.
What can a business do to keep itself safe in these hyperregulatory times? Here are a few ideas:
1. Stay informed. If your business is part of an industry or trade association, stay abreast of all current developments. Read your industry association periodicals, attend "recent development" seminars sponsored by your industry, and, if necessary, call your industry association's attorney (every association should have one) to be updated on new laws and regulations that may affect your business.
2. If in doubt about the law, take the more conservative interpretation. Many businesses have, in the past, ventured into gray areas of law, especially when dealing with taxation issues. In the present environment, however, with a federal government full of anti-capitalist goons who are already suspicious of business, you have to be on the defensive. If you're not sure about the interpretation of a law, take the more conservative interpretation. At their worst, politicians are looking for scapegoats to punish, and "corporate America" is a current target. At their more innocent, politicians are looking for more sources of revenue. When it comes to taxes, you'd better believe they're going to take the more government-friendly interpretation of rules. When looking at violations, expect the government to be less friendly and to assault alleged violators with heavier fines, penalties and punishments--regardless of whether the violators even knew they were violating a law.
3. Have your attorneys more closely involved with regulatory review. It sounds self serving, but believe it or not, it gives me no pleasure to say that. I hate the idea that small businesses should keep a lawyer on retainer simply as part of their daily business in order to weave through an increasingly complicated morass of regulation. But in the current climate, stakes are too high not to understand laws affecting your industry. Have an attorney readily at hand who understands your business, one whom you can call if you have any questions. It's not cheap, but it's less expensive than hiring a lawyer to defend you when the government comes after your business for violating its laws.
Times are not easy. The economy is still struggling, and legislators are doing their misguided best to regulate the economy into health. In these times, businesses need to be at their most vigilant in following and understanding laws that affect them.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
The Birds In San Francisco - No, this is not a Hitchcock Movie
Thanks to Ana Costa for the "heads up." (Pardon the Pun)
This seems like something out of the movies, except it isn't. A blackbird is "swooping" down on unsuspecting pedestrians at California and Front Streets in the Financial District and giving them a surprise "kiss."
Not exactly what I would call a "love bird."
Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRp_D1g7Bv0
Be careful out there. . .
This seems like something out of the movies, except it isn't. A blackbird is "swooping" down on unsuspecting pedestrians at California and Front Streets in the Financial District and giving them a surprise "kiss."
Not exactly what I would call a "love bird."
Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRp_D1g7Bv0
Be careful out there. . .
Friday, June 5, 2009
Beverly Johnson's New Single Featured This Weekend
Greetings friends & Family!
My new single has been released and will be featured on two radio shows this weekend, 6/6/09. See the links below. If you miss the show "live" it will be recorded so you can catch it throughout the week as well. Thanks for all your Love & Support!
Cheers,
Beverly
JAZZMATRIX RADIO
All radio shows will be automatically updated every Sunday evening in Southern Cal
http://www.jazzmatrix.com/wonderbev
EARLY A.M. ATTITUDE SHOW
This program is aired each Saturday from 6-8 am in Australia Please listen in!! and also recorded for later listening. Just go to the website!
http://www.smoothjazz905.com
SATURDAY 6 JUNE 2009
Smooth Jazz 90.5 Australia Program
Gregg KARUKAS - Manhattan
Sonia EDEN - Never Play The Fool Again
Dave KOZ - All I See Is You
Oli SILK - This Was Then, That Is Now
Sammy MORALES - How Could You Walk Away
Torquato MARIANO - So Far From Home
FOURPLAY - The Yes Club
James COLAH - Say It Back (voc. Rachael Bell)
Daniel DOMENGE - Smoothjames
Patrick YANDALL - Full Force
Tim BOWMAN JR. - All I Need Is You
Jeff KASHIWA - The Lucky One
Richard ELLIOT - People Make The World Go Round
Beverly JOHNSON - Betcha By Golly Wow
RIPPINGTONS - Age Of Reason
Cecil RAMIREZ - Grasshopper
BASIA - Blame It On The Summer
Chris STANDRING - That's What I Thought You Said
Mindi ABAIR - Lucy's
J.P. DeLAIRE - The Game Of Love
Keiko MATSUI - Bridge Over The Stars
PIECES OF A DREAM - Soul Intent
BASIA - Love Lies Bleeding
BONA FIDE - Club Charles
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
We All Have Our Limits - "Miss Otis" really regrets. . .
I don't think I would take a page from this during such bleak economic times, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. . .if the letter below is true. . .this gal has chutzpa! Check out this letter allegedly written by a former Bingham legal secretary in New York.
Before I go on, I need to say that I have enjoyed and mostly still enjoy working at Bingham. Through some early rough patches, and over mergers, there were times when I did not think I would stay. What has kept me from straying? You may say DUH, the economy - well that's now. Let me digress for a moment. I am a fierce believer in competence, loyalty, integrity and values, truly to a fault. I have been told that I hold people to such high standards that I cannot handle it when they fall from grace (hey, it's hard to be me). Why am I telling you this? It relates directly to why I have remained with Bingham for so long. The quality of the majority of Bingham's people. CHARACTER.
So why had I been asking myself lately if I am the "non-Stepford employee"? Admittedly, I am not a natural conformist (maybe it's the "Sag" in me). Perhaps, my time out on leave shielded me from this defensive personal change, or maybe (which would be typical of me) I had taken a SPE day when the alien pods arrived and snatched bodies. I then became completely disturbed by this entire notion. Our category, the mid to upper-middle class, and the up, up and upper class who are still employed must be cataleptic. Otherwise, we would merely be shallow, self centered and slightly morally twisted.
I was not alive during some of humanities more troubled times, plagues, WWI, WWII, including the Holocaust or The Great Depression. What little I do know about these times has been from documentaries or stories told from elders who gathered for card games on cardboard boxes by candlelight. Stories that echoed the character of the people of those times. There was no pretense of the "greater good" but the actual desire. People were grateful for clean water and to break a simple loaf of bread.
Now in "these" trying times we whisper our fears while sitting over our three dollar lattes, on our high-speed computers, yapping on our cell phones and blackberries, watching hours of garbage television and reality shows, playing video games and exercising with our Wii, and feel sorry for ourselves because we eat sushi one less time per week.
Laboring coal workers and factory line workers in small towns rightfully "fear" the loss of their jobs. We are fortunate to have superior upper tier management and a stable company (and health benefits). Although what we do is of importance, in most cases and with only a few exceptions, please let us not take ourselves so seriously as to think that we are boldly impacting the greater good and positive evolution of the human race or the planet.
So, although I am grateful for my job and middle class life, I realize that living daily in fear and conforming to play a Stepford role will not ensure either. Besides, I value and respect too many of the people at Bingham. I'll stick with good old CHARACTER.
Before I go on, I need to say that I have enjoyed and mostly still enjoy working at Bingham. Through some early rough patches, and over mergers, there were times when I did not think I would stay. What has kept me from straying? You may say DUH, the economy - well that's now. Let me digress for a moment. I am a fierce believer in competence, loyalty, integrity and values, truly to a fault. I have been told that I hold people to such high standards that I cannot handle it when they fall from grace (hey, it's hard to be me). Why am I telling you this? It relates directly to why I have remained with Bingham for so long. The quality of the majority of Bingham's people. CHARACTER.
So why had I been asking myself lately if I am the "non-Stepford employee"? Admittedly, I am not a natural conformist (maybe it's the "Sag" in me). Perhaps, my time out on leave shielded me from this defensive personal change, or maybe (which would be typical of me) I had taken a SPE day when the alien pods arrived and snatched bodies. I then became completely disturbed by this entire notion. Our category, the mid to upper-middle class, and the up, up and upper class who are still employed must be cataleptic. Otherwise, we would merely be shallow, self centered and slightly morally twisted.
I was not alive during some of humanities more troubled times, plagues, WWI, WWII, including the Holocaust or The Great Depression. What little I do know about these times has been from documentaries or stories told from elders who gathered for card games on cardboard boxes by candlelight. Stories that echoed the character of the people of those times. There was no pretense of the "greater good" but the actual desire. People were grateful for clean water and to break a simple loaf of bread.
Now in "these" trying times we whisper our fears while sitting over our three dollar lattes, on our high-speed computers, yapping on our cell phones and blackberries, watching hours of garbage television and reality shows, playing video games and exercising with our Wii, and feel sorry for ourselves because we eat sushi one less time per week.
Laboring coal workers and factory line workers in small towns rightfully "fear" the loss of their jobs. We are fortunate to have superior upper tier management and a stable company (and health benefits). Although what we do is of importance, in most cases and with only a few exceptions, please let us not take ourselves so seriously as to think that we are boldly impacting the greater good and positive evolution of the human race or the planet.
So, although I am grateful for my job and middle class life, I realize that living daily in fear and conforming to play a Stepford role will not ensure either. Besides, I value and respect too many of the people at Bingham. I'll stick with good old CHARACTER.
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