2012年3月22日

BBQ 季節開始!

好吧,我承認,其實應該是Memorial Day才開始,但是加州這邊天氣已經開始飆上70度了, 這麼好的天氣,早兩個月開始BBQ應該也ok吧.

今天我收到一個newsletter. 我覺得是很好的BBQ準備文.
Secrets of the Char-Broil All-Stars: DivaQ

如果有看過BBQ Pitmasters這個節目的話,可能會對Diva Q有點印象. 這個團隊是第一季裡面唯一非美國的隊伍(加拿大). 隊長Danielle Dimovski也是加拿大很有名的BBQ專家之一.

她最大的成就應該就是去年的美國國慶日的時候. 美國駐加拿大大使David Jacobson辦了一個BBQ比賽, 是由三個美國這邊的BBQ團隊對上加拿大的三個團隊. 這個大使大概想說BBQ這種活動美國應該是躺著也會贏吧. 他找了John Woods這個BBQ專家來舉辦這個活動, 這專家也和大使一樣, 自信滿滿,大言不慚的在電視上說美國隊應該不會遇到什麼挑戰.

這可惹惱了Danielle Dimovski. 她在活動前一天晚上就開始在大使館場地準備, 徹夜守在BBQ爐邊,整個晚上只花了三個小時小睡片刻和洗個澡.

最後結果,加拿大團隊在三個項目全拿, 美國隊被剃光頭. 活動主辦人John Woods沮喪的說他要回家吃烏鴉. 這還不是最糟糕的, 問題就是因為之前自信滿滿, 大使館竟然邀請了4000名賓客來參加. 這下子美國隊在國慶日慘敗給加拿大的新聞也傳回華盛頓DC, 上了報紙.
Smoke Signals: Canada grills U.S. in BBQ

2012年3月21日

13 Things Diet Experts Won't Tell You About Weight Loss 減重專家不會告訴你的十三件事

今天雅虎專欄裡的文章: 13 Things Diet Experts Won't Tell You About Weight Loss (減重專家不會告訴你的十三件事)

我不是同意他說的每一項,但是重點的幾項倒是說的很清楚. 重點在第五,七,九項, 尤其是第五項. "Exercise alone is not an effective weight loss tool -- you have to pair it with the right diet." (只有運動的話並不會有效的減重-你必須要搭配飲食控制)

我之前減肥的時候, 前三個禮拜做P90X做到都快虛脫了,那三個禮拜體重才少兩磅. 後來開始算卡路里之後, 一個禮拜就可以少兩三磅. P90X的Tony可沒有很清楚的告訴你這一點,廣告裡都在講說這運動可以燒多少卡, 然後說送你一本食譜, 其實最重要的是那本食譜.

所以其實第五項應該要再稍為改一下: 只有飲食控制才能減重以及維持減下來後的體重, 另外搭配運動來改進體型.

女生應該最明顯,同樣都是110磅(五十公斤)的女生,偏偏這個人的牛仔褲另外一個人就是穿不下. 這就是運動的功效. 大家都知道脂肪的比重比較輕,同重量的脂肪體積也同重量的肌肉多, 所以同樣重的人, 比較有在運動的還是會比較有形的.

2012年3月8日

Huntington Library 一日遊

最近去了一趟Huntington Library. 十六年前剛來美國的時候來過一次, 最近因為一個朋友搬來這附近, 大家有討輪要去搶免費票.就這樣, 上個月二月一號上網搶了三月一號的票(美各越第一個禮拜四有免費票,但是要前一個月的第一天早上九點上Huntington Library的網站去搶票)

正值茶花季節, 院內還有工作人員介紹各式各樣的茶花,而且介紹的阿姨會講中文，可以直接用中文問她問題。

另外還可以參觀這裡珍藏的首批活體字印刷的聖經，美國只有十一本。其中一本就在這裡

很不錯，值得來看看.

其實洛杉磯還有很多博物館都有提供這樣的免費日. 以下是我在about.com找到的資料.

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Museum Free Days Around Los Angeles

Free Admission Days at Los Angeles Area Museums

(source: http://golosangeles.about.com/od/losangelesmuseums/a/MuseumFreeDays.htm)

Always Free

California African American Museum, Exposition Park, Downtown Los Angeles

California Science Center, Exposition Park, Downtown Los Angeles

UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History, Los Angeles

The Getty Center, Brentwood, Los Angeles

The Getty Villa, Pacific Palisades

Griffith Observatory

Hollywood Bowl Museum

The Los Angeles Fire Department Museum, Hollywood, only open Saturdays 10-4

MOCA Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood

Paley Center for Media, Beverly Hills

Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Fullerton

The Nethercutt Collection and Nethercutt Museum, Sylmar

Santa Monica Museum of Art (Suggested $5 donation), Santa Monica

STARS Center Sheriff’s Museum, 11515 Colima Rd. at Telegraph Rd., Whittier

Weekly Free Museum Days

Free Every Wednesday

Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology, Claremont - Free Wednesdays

Free Every Thursday

Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Downtown Los Angeles - Free every Thursday from 5 to 8 pm

MOCA Geffen Contemporary, Downtown Los Angeles - Free every Thursday from 5 to 8 pm

Skirball Cultural Center - Free Thursdays noon - 9 pm

UCLA Hammer Museum - every Thursday

Japanese American National Museum, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles - Every Thursday 5 to 8 pm, and 3rd Thursday all day

Free Every Friday

Long Beach Museum of Art - Free Friday

Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach - Free on Fridays, check website for Free Family Sundays

Monthly Free Museum Days

George C. Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits, Los Angeles - Free the first Tuesday of the month

Natural History Museum, Exposition Park, Downtown Los Angeles - Free the first Tuesday of the month

Craft and Folk Art Museum, Mid Wilshire, Museum Row, Los Angeles - First Wednesday

Huntington Library, Collections and Botanical Gardens, Pasadena - Free first Thursday of the month. Free advance tickets required beginning Sept 6, 2007, available beginning the 1st of the preceding month (i.e. August 1 for Sept 6).

Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena - 1st Fridays from 6 to 9 pm

Bowers Museum, Santa Ana - First Sunday of the month is Target Free First Sunday.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) - Mid-Wilshire, Museum Row, Los Angeles - 2nd Tuesday, check for other sponsored free days

Autry National Center: Museum of the American West in Griffith Park, Los Angeles - the 2nd Tuesday of the month

Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden - free every 3rd Tuesday of the month

Japanese American National Museum, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles - 3rd Thursday all day

Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena - 4th Friday

This information was accurate at the time of publication, but museums change their free day availability based on sponsorships. Please check with venues for the most current information.