Memorial Day Weekend Annual Pool Party

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel 

7000 Hollywood Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 466-7000

For the past 5+ yrs., The Memorial Day pool party has been held at the legendary Roosevelt Hotel @ Tropicana Bar in the heart of Hollywood. It’s an anticipated check-in to guarantee fun in the sun, food, drinks, entertainment, and beautiful people along with iSpy celebrities.  As a local getaway, it’s a wonderful escape to poolside lounging, where people can kick back without a worry and have a cocktail, or Cool-off and take a dip in the always perfectly temperature pool, all while enjoying the scenery. Good times, Good food, and Good looks are spot-on the menu.

Time & Place

Located on Hollywood Blvd, Guests traditionally book the weekend to stay on the premises for the entirety of Memorial weekend, 4 days and 4 four night. Rooms vary in price ranging from $285- $425 per night.  

Who are the attendees?

California natives are known to book in advance, to ensure admittance to the Tropicana Bar or one of the well known Night Clubs. The MDW scene has been the party of the year, we now find returning guests visiting from NY, San Francisco and Miami. Beautiful people from across the map that want to relive the party fun of the previous year and reconnect with other partygoers they have met.

How is Quality of the stay? 

Upon arrival Valet is ready to receive your car, bellboys are attentive to handle luggage and front desk is awaiting to check-in your RSVP. All swiftly executed within minutes of your arrival just in time to start the party. The rooms are decent with a choice of a poolside cabana for instant pool mingling, duplex suite or penthouse for some reclusiveness. Maintenance is good, house keeping, room service and front desk are always on-call. Down comforters and cozy pillows is a recipe for a sleep-in.  

Does this hold up to past events?

From the vibe of the scene, some returning guests were not pleased with this years’ pool party, complaints related to additional charges for the pool access that now required bracelets. This includes limiting 2 wristbands per room at $40 dollars each. Others felt, the quality of Tinsel town glam has faded, and the music wasn't hoppin' as the previous year with guest DJs. Perhaps they need their previous promoters to revamp this once awesome party scene.  All in all, food, drinks, and an amazing pool are guaranteed! 

[LifeStyle]

MLV

The Truth About Tarot

Video: The Origins Of Tarot

Throughout the ages many people have been skeptical about the nature of Psychic Tarot readings. Some are simply superstitious; others fearful, and the curious tend to be psychic fanatics. However, there are a few misconceptions related to the Tarot in regards to its origin and purpose.

In my opinion, the misconceptions are the product of uninformed individuals. The lack of knowledge hovers a dark cloud on a mystical subject. For example, Tarot is not a religion. Nor is it a byproduct of Satanism. Its origins stems from many different avenues. In designing the Tarot gypsies and Egyptians tried to formulate various card combinations to correlate every possible life circumstance a person may experience. Another assumption is a tarot reader can fix your problems. Tarot cannot undo any misfortune of mishaps or rectify the circumstance of bad choices. Nor can it promote better health or riches.

So what’s the Purpose? Why would a person turn to Tarot?

It is primarily due to stress, uncertainty or perhaps anticipation that people are motivated to seek some sort of guidance. This may very well relate to Career, Love, Health, or Simply Life direction. With a personal interest I’ve been a student of tarot for many years. With that I find the following most accurate:

Tarot is a tool based on spiritual energies. The pulling of the cards is to offer insights to any inner being. It is designed to subconsciously expose an individuals’ old way of the past, revealing one’s potential and challenges they may hold within the present. A tarot reading is a mere prediction, like checking the weather forecast, you’d like to know if it’s a sunny day, in hopes of going to the beach. A tarot reading will always point to the condition of a person's immediate future, in effort to guide the seeker towards a spiritual path; yet, the Tarot is not the final predictor of any outcome, only the potential, for it is truly the individual who is the infinite author of their own destiny.


[Opinion]


MLV

Journalism: Interviewing Tips

Journalism and New Media
Interviewing Tips - Handout

When scheduling an interview it's important to research your subject
in order to be prepared.

It's important to:

- Listen By listening it helps the interviewer to form additional
follow-up questions. In addition it encourages the interviewee to feel
comfortable, allowing them to give more info, since they feel as
though the interviewer cares.

- Be Prepared Questions, have them ready.

- Environment keep in mind of the location where the interview will be
held. Its important to hold an interview in an Non-controlled
environment, while being mindful of possible different styles. For
example if the interviewee is an intimidating persona, then hold the
interview in a neutral environment.

-Aspect Practice Non-Judgement, make sure not to card-stock to avoid
propaganda... Best to avoid biases.

-Have Questions ready, actively listen to pose follow-up question.

-Avoid yes/no question, pose Open Ended Questions, to get a more
elaborate response. This helps to get more of the story.

-Allow room for Silence, this motivates the interviewee to filled the
void by speaking more.

The more comfortable the interviewee, the more likely they are to open up.

Euthanasia: Ideal or Ordeal?
Tuan and Misty, reminisces of the time they forestalled against their will upon deciding whether euthanasia was the only solution for their beloved dog

        There will come a time when your heart will tell you, its time to let your pet go. Excruciating pains, horrific surgeries, unbearable weeping... it's just not worth the selfishness of trying to maintain the life of your pet. Tuan and Misty, are two different people residing in different states, however, coincidently they both had to suffer the same decisive obstruction. When they first befriended their pet, it never came to thought for Tuan or Misty that their pet would be diagnosed with a tumor. It also never came to thought that they must eventually debate with the ethics of euthanasia. Spottie was diagnosed with a tumor in his hip and BooBoo's tumor was spreading on his leg. As they became aware of their pet's tumor, fear of losing a companionship lurked in their home and though they fought to save their pet through surgical operations, nothing could revise their pet's faith. Their companionship with their pets for more than fourteen years was the main reason forestalling their final decision: euthanasia or not, that was the question.

The word euthanasia comes from the Greek meaning of "good death." It is the act of putting to death painlessly, usually from animal suffering, esp. an incurable diseases or condition. Based on the AVMA guidelines for euthanasia, the methods are proven quick and painless. Though it may be disturbing to the observer during the process, the pet is not experiencing any pains or distress. Euthanasia was, considered an act of mercy, distinct from animal slaughter, being performed for purposes. There are two main types of euthanasia: the injection or the gas anesthetics. The injection is of pentobarbital or sodium thiopental that creates unconsciousness, which then is followed by a respiratory cardiac arrest within 30 seconds. The gas anesthetics, such as isoflurane/sevoflurane, is used as an inhalant on the pet which gives the same results of a cardiac arrest.

The frustration, uncertainty and guilt of putting their dog down, consumed their mind and thoughts. To answer the question to their debate, Spottie and BooBoo was a victim of euthanasia. There were challenges when making the decision, and it never really is an easy decision. The truth is quite doleful when they realized that euthanasia was the sole answer. Misty responded in regards to BooBoo, "His walk was limited, his eyes filled with life, while his body was out of sorts. I didn’t want BooBoo to merely exist and suffer. I had to decide when it was time. I didn’t want him to have a slow death, and yet I didn’t want him gone too soon. It was difficult."Misty was present during the euthanasia process. She mentioned that the first shot caused BooBoo to slip into a slouch position, while the second shot was the hit that made everything become still. She remembered, "I felt him pass away in my arms as his spirit ascended up and through me.  It was intense yet peaceful." In reflecting Tuan's experience, he barely wanted to speak about the occurrence. 

Through a positive perspective towards the situation, Spottie and BooBoo no longer must suffer the vengeance of their tumors. Even pets know and can feel when they no longer can endure and when it is time. Pet death, like other losses, requires that the bereaved adjust to the often severe consequences of that loss. It still holds pain to both their hearts that they had to lose their pet, however, its a beautiful relief to know that their pet no longer has to suffer the pains of the tumors. A pet will always be part of someone's family and heart. Today, Tuan and Misty still keeps their pets in remembrance to their hearts.

Video sources: 

YouTube - saying goodbye to Pluto before he gets put to sleep

YouTube - an in-home euthanasia

YouTube - pet euthanasia, the sad truth

YouTube - pet euthanasia, perspective from a professional

References: 

avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf

mercatornet.com/articles/view/lets_put_this_pet_theory_to_sleep/

americanhumane.org/animals/stop-animal-abuse/fact-sheets/animal-shelter-euthanasia.html

pettrustlawblog.com/articles/general/pet-euthanasia/

www.peta.org/issues/default.aspx

Written and Edited by: Remedy Huynh, Research by Misty LaVina & Juan Padilla, Intro/Headlines Brainstromer: Jason Lopez