The Los Angeles Public Library has faced drastic budget cuts over the past year hurting both library goers and staff.  In 2005, the Mid-Valley Regional branch of the LAPL received a budget of $96 thousand; quite a difference compared to this year's budget of $28 thousand.

In addition to the budget cuts, the library has also had to cut it's hours of operation down.  Wheras the library was previously open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the library was forced to shut down two days a week: Sunday and Monday.  This has hurt students in the Los Angeles area who, in the past, have used the library as a safe place to go after school gets out.

A measure to permanently increase the LAPL budget from 0.0175 to 0.03 percent of the assessed value of property citywide will be on the ballot in March 2011.  According to Senior Librarian Vicki Magaw, this measure would not raise taxes but simply allocate existing funds to the Los Angeles Public Library system.

An interview with Senior Librarian, Vicki Magaw:

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LibraryCuts.m4v (51.71 MB)

The Mid-Valley Regional branch is located at:

16244 Nordoff Street
North Hills, CA 91343

Current operating hours are:

Sunday: CLOSED
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday: 12:30 - 8:00
Wednesday: 10:00 - 5:30
Thursday: 12:30 - 8:00
Friday: 10:00 - 5:30
Saturday: 10:00 - 5:30

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Sources used:

http://www.laweekly.com/2010-12-02/news/l-a-has-a-jammed-2011-ballot/
http://www.lapl.org/newsroom/2010_facts.html

Style and fashion magazines are famous for their portrayal of the woman who can afford to buy anything and everything.  While some of us may wish to have a disposable budget that is fairly endless, very few of us actually do.  This guide is dedicated to all the women who want to look perfect and polished for every occasion without the regret in the form of credit card debt.

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5-staple-pieces-every-woman-should-own-azJhiEbpmBDgBvlhgBDt.zip (44 KB)

1) Boot-cut jeans in a dark wash

A basic pair of jeans can get you through always anything and with various blouses, t-shirts and accessories they can be dressed up or down.  While they can be found at any price point (Target for $19.99 or Shopbop.com for $150) a well-made, more expensive pair can be a great investment that will last you anywhere from 4-6 years.

2) A solid-colored pant suit

Worn as a set, a pant suit is perfect for interviews and corporate office attire or you can wear the pieces as separates and mix them with the rest of your wardrobe for endless options.

3) Sweater

Worn over a dress, with a pair of jeans or with a pair of slacks, a sweater is useful for all occasions.  The basic cardigan isn’t so basic anymore with styles ranging from cropped to boyfriend.

4) Ballet flats

Another staple for both the office and weekends, a pair of ballet flats can go with almost anything.  Perfect for the girl-on-the-go whose superpowers don’t include the ability to spend all day walking in high heels, a pair of ballet flats are every bit as chic and polished as a pair of heels.

5) The trench

A khaki-colored trench goes with everything and can instantly make you look polished and pulled together.  While Burberry made trench coats famous, quality trench coats can now be found at a much more reasonable price point thanks to retailers such as Old Navy and H&M.

<p>Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.</p>

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Among displays at the Al Nodal "Citizen Artists Making Emphatic Statements" art exhibit stood work composed by an organization called Fallen Fruit.  Their mission is to investigate "urban space, ideas of neighborhood and new forms of located citizenship and community."  Though they started by creating maps that publicly pinpointed where fruit trees grew on or over public property in Los Angeles (and encouraging the public to go and pick the fruit, lest it go to waste) they now do everything from nighttime neighborhood fruit tours to throwing fruit jam parties in which citizens are invited to come together, bring fruit and make new friends while also making fresh jam.  Visit their website at fallenfruit.org to find out when the next event near you is taking place or to access maps of your neighborhood's public fruit.

[Information found at fallenfruit.org]

Interview with Fallen Fruit's Matias Viegener

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Sabrina's_Midterm.mov (2.37 MB)

The art exhibit took place at the 18th Street Arts Complex:

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This generation seems to be obsessed with the new world of social networking.  One of the most popular of these social networking sites is Facebook, a site which has inspired a recently released movie titled The Social Network.  If you're not already a member of this international networking tool and are interested in becoming a member and reconnecting with your friends, as well as making new friends, the following steps and video will hep you do just that!

Steps:

1. Go to www.facebook.com
2. Enter your name, email, birth date and sex in the provided fields.
3. Use either the email or search fields to find and connect with friends.
4. Post pictures, view events, make status updates and enjoy your new facebook page.

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How-to.mov (944 KB)

A) Formal Review

Tiny snack.  Large unexpected taste.

With a chalky texture and spicy after-taste, Chana Cracker - an Indian snack - provides an immediate need for water.  It's resemblance to the popular snack Corn Nut makes the small round cracker seem unalarming when you pour it into your hand; however, the moment you pop it into your mouth - expecting a slight crunch - you're met with a surprisingly uncrunchy experience followed by a lingering sensation that can only be described as 'hot, hot, hot'.

Though, I do often find myself sensitive to spicy foods, I've never been so sensitive as to feel like I could down half a bottle of water from one tiny cracker.  At the end of the day, I would advice strong caution in the consumption of Chana Crackers, or at the very least, a warning to those who still intend to try them.

B) Informal Review

Chana Crackers should be sold with a bottle water.

Unless you're having trouble remembering to stay hydrated, I can't think of a single reason to voluntarily eat Chana Crackers.  The Indian snack, which is small and visibly resembles a Corn Nut, has a chalky texture and a bitter, spicy after-taste which lingers long after you've swallowed the small unfrightening looking snack.

It's possible that had I expected such a taste from the snack in question I might feel differently; however, that is not the case and I find myself wishing more and more to never eat it again.

When asked to decipher my biggest strength in the workplace, it didn't take me long to figure out that strength would undoubtedly be my resourcefulness.  I haven't worked very many jobs but there has been a reoccurring theme in each of them: I must use my resourcefulness to teach myself the majority of the job itself, with as few questions as possible.  This scenario brings me back to when I was hired as a Creative Production Intern at a major entertainment company.  I specifically worked in their online division, which focused mostly on creating new websites for the company's various theme parks and resorts.

To tell the truth, I didn't completely realize how much I was teaching myself until about 3 months into the internship, when my fellow intern left to return to school out-of-state leaving me as the only person in charge of inputting copy and formatting.  As months went by and I began to work more closely with the copy writers, I began to learn that what had seemed easy for me to learn and adapt to was something that only left them in confusion.  In fact, there came a point in which the web techs thought it would be easier if the writers just input their copy directly into the system, freeing me up to focus on a few of my other tasks.  In took no time at all before we realized that it would be far more hassle to teach the writers to use the CMS (Content Management System) than to allow me to just input the information myself.

When it came time for me to end my internship, amidst the sadness of leaving a team I had worked so well with, there was also a slight panic over who was going to be able to handle taking care of the CMS.  By this time, I had taken bits of information passed on by various web technicians and combined it with my own technique and system, allowing me to effectively input the data given to me in a timely manner.  My resourcefulness and ability to learn quickly had become a security net for me in the workplace; in fact, had the company not had a strict 12-month policy on interns I'm sure I would still be there, beginning my third year as their Creative Production Intern. 

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