I'm Gone. Please Rob Me.

Updating your status frequently online could cost you. Multiple stories have surfaced about individuals being burglarized after posting their "out-of-town" whereabouts on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Now insurance companies are getting in on the action. "(Some) predict that after customers get burglarized and file claims on stolen property, the insurance companies will probably investigate to see whether the customer broadcast information over social networks in a way that constitutes 'negligence.' They could also make 'social networker' the homeowners insurance equivalent of 'chain smoker' in health insurance -- a category of customers who are charged higher premiums."

Read more here.

Balmy Breezes

A recent trip to Oahu was made even better by some helpful locals who provided great recommendations and tips to make the most of a three-day weekend.

Car rental: Little Hawaii Car Rental Co. Tae, the owner, was personable and willing to work with our schedule. He also provided a local's perspective on where to eat, where to stay and where to drive our awesome little rental car. Locally owned and operated, Little Hawaii offers a fleet of MiniCoopers at a reasonable price. If you've never driven a Mini, Oahu is a great place to start. There is no better way to explore the island than with the top down and warm tropical breezes blowing through your hair.

Scuba Diving: Oahu Diving. Erik, our guide was super flexible, knowledgeable and

accommodating. For $89, which included all equipment, he arranged two dives to the Koko Craters and The Rock Wall in Hawaii Kai. The latter is teaming with life; and with 100 foot visibility, divers will have no problem seeing a variety of species - including green sea turtles, reef sharks, spotted moray eels, sea urchins and schools of colorful fish.

During our "off-gas" break in between dives, Erik tied a bait line in open water and encouraged the divers to jump in with just fins, masks and snorkels. Out of the deep blue emerged two four-foot-plus sand sharks. However irresponsible it was of him; it was exhilarating for us divers, to say the least.

Special Event: Midnight Yacht Party. Shane Curtis is the brainchild behind FireWater Events. Four times a year, locals and visitors alike can climb aboard a three-story yacht and party the night away in style. The next event is coming soon - likely April timeframe. To stay in the loop, be sure to join the mailing list, by sending an email to firewaterevents@gmail.com.

Best place for sunset: Sheraton Waikiki has a great view and happy hour specials at The Edge bar, adjacent to the lovely infinity pool.

Best lava flows: While it's a bit far to drive JUST for the alcoholic libations, hands-down, Turtle Bay Resort had the best lava flow of the MANY my girlfriend and I tasted during our short stay.

Best kayak rental: Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks, Inc. This place came highly recommended by locals and received five star reviews from previous customers. Kailua is a gorgeous little beach community with mature trees, breathtaking vistas and lotsa' shops and restaurants from which to choose. It's one of the places we wish we could have spent a little more time...

Best free exhibit that I would have happily paid $20 to enter: Pupukea Tide Pools.

After spending $13 each to enter the Waimea Botanical Gardens in order to see a waterfall overflowing with pasty-white tourists, we high-tailed it out of there and stumbled upon the surreal Pupukea Tide Pools. As tiny sea creatures playfully darted among the rocks and soft, pale sand, we thought we entered another world - one where it was hard to tell where the sky ended and the water began.

Aloha.

Sick of Suck

I have to get something off my chest. There are so many untalented hosts and entertainers on television these days, and they're not only employed, they're winning AWARDS.

This inspired me to create my own awards program. I hereby introduce the SUCKIES. 

And the nominees for "People With No Talent, Who Should Just Go Away" are...

Taylor Swift. I mean. Really. I'm not sure who should have won album of the year at this year's Grammy Awards, but I'm positive it's not someone who delivers an embarrassingly off-key performance alongside rock legend Stevie Nicks. Just recalling every excruciatingly off-tune note in Swift's rendition of of "Rhianna" sends chills down my spine.

Most every hot "exotic" female supermodel host on every standard-format Bravo! show. Notice I will not have to exclude Heidi Klum because she's no longer ON Bravo! - not to mention, she's smart and entertaining.

Some of the other hosts though...

- Top Chef's Padma Lakshmi: much better than when she first started but still terribly phony, unanimated, cold and contrived.

- Shear Genius: Camila Alves... really? I'm sure she is a nice woman, but last I checked a "host" should be required to speak. I felt the better part of the (one) episode (I endured) was spent waiting for her to complete a full sentence. Pity, too. Save for Alves' mediocre communication skills, the show is somewhat entertaining.

Michael Buble: Crooner, schmooner. Again, seems like a nice enough guy; but the first time I really heard this guy sing was on Saturday Night Live a couple of weeks ago. I thought he was having an off-night, or maybe his mic was turned down or maybe he wasn't the best live performer. Wrong. He always sounds that way. Flat, fake, weak, cheesy, blah.

Joan Rivers.

Our final painfully untalented nominee is TV host Olivia Munn. If Munn was as powerful an orator as she is gorgeous, she'd be the female version of Walter Cronkite. But she's not and she won't. In fact, she should never be allowed to hold a microphone in her hand. Ever. Unless it's off. Yet, she was not only hosting a pre-show at the Grammies, she was interviewing people LIVE on the red carpet. Her interaction with celebrities was uninformed, lazy, disinterested and at times downright rude. (To Munn's credit, she looked great... And she was probably drunk.)

Phone lines are now open. Cast your votes today.

Tune in next year, when 2011 nominees will most likely include the entire cast of "The Jersey Shore." (Oh sure, those kids are entertaining now...)

The Martyr of Mass Media

We are in the age of democratized media and instant information. And apparently, this world has no place for print publications.

In a recent survey, 75 out of 124 journalist responded, and only a quarter of them said they expected newspapers to survive the current economic crisis.

Imagine: there will be no such thing as newspapers or magazines in the very near future. According to one journalist, the very notion of print publications by today's standards seems "quaint and wasteful." Our children - already bombarded with pop-up ads, videos games and interstitials - will never read the Sunday paper, subscribe to Highlights Magazine in its print form or complete a crossword puzzle in the New York Times.

In today's world, faster information seems to trump accurate reporting. What standards will emerge to police unfounded or inaccurate news? What outlets will reign supreme in terms of a "trusted news source?" Will it all be a matter of opinion, based on user comments and feedback? Will it be based on sheer reach or audience following? Finally, what the hell constitutes "news" these days anyway? (Living in Los Angeles, it's usually the latest celebrity-related gossip.) Where will we go for "real" news? Will we pay for it? If we don't pay for it, will the credible news sources be forced to shutter altogether because they can't afford to pay their researchers and journalists?

Hedging their bets that sheer volume - and not research or valid reporting - will prevail in the battle for viewership, Time Warner Cable announced recently it will carry various News Corp.-owned channels, including Fox stations and cable channel FX. That's right - more "fair and balanced coverage" in more places than we can escape...

What does the future hold?

As predicted years ago, the major media outlets will converge. The networks - the media powerhouses - will control the Internet.

The Internet will not operate ten, even five years from now, the way it does today. There's a rise in counterfeit sites that have been set up to steal unsuspecting consumers' information. In fact, in 2009, cybercrime grew larger than the illegal drug trade. And a recent report revealed that not even virus-immune Macs are safe. Even the seemingly fun and innocent Facebook is tackling hacker issues and has readily admitted to sharing users' information.

Back in the day, when the Web was new - there was a resounding credo: "you can't tax the Internet!" Fast forward to recent years. Sales tax is common, as are exorbitant shipping and handling charges. As long as there are revenue channels, there will be people seeking to monetize, exploit and hack them. Ready to ruin it for the rest of us.

So we should enjoy this: the heyday of the Internet. The age of instant information, online check-ins, automatic bill pay, social media interconnectivity and relying on YouTube as a search engine and free entertainment portal. It's not going to go away, it's just going to become more risky, expensive and complicated to play.

The departure of print publications draws an interesting parallel to this new era of democratized, always-on media. It's a symbolic farewell to a simpler time, where a reliable, trusted source delivered accurate, important news when and where we needed it.

What does the future hold for our news sources? No one can be sure, but it most certainly will involve Internet "news sites" like TMZ.com, as they report on important topics such as the sordid details of a philandering golfer and his scorned Swedish wife.

Think it's tough now? The future will require a even greater sense of filtering, to discern real news from white noise.

Christmas is Coming

In the 2009 installment of "Festive or Tacky," we present some of the South Bay's finest displays of holiday decor. You be the judge...

Christmas in Southern California: festive or tacky?

All Hail the GastroPub

There's been a rash of new restaurants opening in and around Los Angeles. The formula: relatively cheap eats, one or two steps above bar food; a great wine menu and even better beer selection. Mix it all together and what do you get? The GastroPub.

My personal favorite: Simmzy's in Manhattan Beach. The pulled pork panino and ginger chicken sandwiches are sure bets. Be sure to order the Haystack as well - a mound of shoestring fries with bleu cheese and chives.

The same owners have added a similar restaurant to the Manhattan Village Mall. Tin Roof Bistro has a great selection of salads and sandwiches, excellent service and nice patio for outdoor dining. Stick to lunch. Dinner was pricey and slightly less appetizing.

Hudson House holds down the fort just over the Hermosa border.

They have a ridiculously cheap Taco Tuesday special and so many creative appetizers, you won't know where to start. It's nondescript. Locals love it.

Bouzy's at Chez Melange - the fine dining restaurant staple near Riviera Village in Redondo - is also getting in on the action. More pub than gastro, this one; there's great food and a nice selection of drinks. Try the truffle parmesan fries and their enormous portion of mac n' cheese. Their creative snack menu includes deviled eggs and spiced pecans.

If pinching pennies is your plan for 2010, consider a GastroPub for a good, hearty meal and relatively inexpensive tab.

Steimel On Stage

Live this weekend for one show only in Los Angeles, St. Louis musician Mike Steimel performs at Molly Malone's. His style has been described as "Jimmy Eat World meets a modern Tom Petty."

Come see for yourself.

Where

Molly Malone's

Molly Malone South 575 South Fairfax Los Angeles, CA 90036

When

Nov 8, 2009 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm (Sunday)

Band bio: Cunningly layered instruments and big sounds penetrate the soul on the freshman solo release “Committed” from veteran performer and songwriter Mike Steimel. With radio-ready tracks and meticulous production, Committed offers up a road less traveled by Steimel but one ready to be discovered by the listener. Stand-out tracks, “Without You” and “Lost and Found” drive home the rock influence of Steimel’s alternatively inspired writing while “My Apartment” synthesizes and shakes you into the dance floor anthem revolution.

Beauty Bargain

Check out the latest beauty bargain sweeping Southern California. (Thank you economic recession.) Several spas in the South Bay and Orange County are offering an unreal promotion of their services in order to attract new business in these trying times.

I can personally vouch for one of the participating centers, Contour - a certified medical spa in Hermosa Beach. I purchased the voucher for $65 and received five treatments. There is no obligation, no hidden fees (except tipping, of course). After one laser hair removal treatment, the voucher paid for itself! For the 30 minute facial, I opted to add on an upgrade and, for a mere $30 more, treated myself to my first ever microdermabrasion. Also experienced my first ever laser genesis for sun damage. (Normally $150 per treatment).

You can sign up as many times as you like (once per spa). Vouchers expire six months from date of purchase.

Now go on. Get beautiful.

Www.spapromotions.com

The Local's Napa

Last weekend, I had the privilege of going to Napa Valley to visit a friend's parents.

Long-time residents and full-time oenophiles, they arranged private wine tastings, tours and lunches with winemakers. We harvested and crushed grapes, experienced a river tour and hiked through the Vaca Mountains behind their home.

Our gracious hosts also shared multiple bottles of wine from their vast collection. Here's a snapshot of many of the wines we enjoyed.

Havens Albarino 2008

Clark Claudon Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Havens Merlot Reserve 2007

Frank Family Vineyards Blanc de Blanc Sparkling Wine

2007 Viognier | Pride Mountain Vineyards

Ridge Vineyards Zinfadel 2006 Old School 2006 Storybook Mountain Vineyards Zinfandel

2006 T-Vine Cellars Napa Valley Zinfandel
HDV Syrah 2007

HDV Chardonnay Estate 2007

1999 Antinori Tignanello Toscana

1999 Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco Conca by Renato Ratti

2006 Jaffe Estate Metamorphosis Cabernet Sauvignon

Due Sorelle Vin Santo
Cosentino Pinot Grigio 2008

Tom Eddy Elodian Sauvignon Blanc (2006)

Tom Eddy Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Tom Eddy Pinot Noir Elodian 2006

Tom Eddy Pinot N

oir Elodian 2004

2008 HDV De La Guerra Chardonnay
Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Allen Vineyard

DuMol Pinot Noir Russian River Valley -- 2004

Jaffe Estate Transformation (2005)

2006 Outpost Zinfandel Howell Mountain

Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon Cave Collection 2003

Far Niente Cave Selection Chardonnay 2006

Far Niente Estate Bottled Chardonnay 2007

Far Niente Cave Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Far Niente Dolce Late Harvest 2005

hope & grace Chardonnay 2006

hope & grace Pinot Noir 2006

hope & grace Malbec 2005