What to Wear to a Pin Up Pageant

It’s amazing how a just a small application of blood-red lipstick, an animal print form-fitting outfit, big hair and a pair of four-inch platform heels can quickly transform the average girl into a car show modern pin up.

With this type of transformation, for the novice modern pin up such as myself, suddenly the day turns into a whirl-wind tea cup ride of people wanting to take pictures posing with you, pictures of you with their cars and pictures of you doing the most humdrum tasks: such as eating, sitting, pouring beer, drinking and walking.

This is what happened Saturday, Sept. 25, while participating in the pin up pageant at the Yolo Throwdown in Woodland, CA.  The Yolo Throwdown is a music festival and car show featuring classic cars, food, vendors and a handful of excellent bands such as the Cockfight Kings, The Fortunate Few, and the Cash Prophets, (an exceptional Johnny Cash tribute band!)

The pin up pageant offered an opportunity for me and the five other pin up hopefuls to wear 1950s period inspired clothing and model to a crowd of cheering fans and admirers.  The crowd of some 200 onlookers cheered loudly as all the pin ups nervously stood in line waiting for the chance to pose for the cameras.  Voting for the pin up was determined on the amount of cheers each contest received as she posed. 

Although the pageant was a close finish, unfortunately not everyone can be crowned the Yolo Throwdown Pin up Queen.  Needless to say I was robbed of this victory!  But Laura, the Pin up in the blue polka-dot cocktail dress, was deservedly crowned the winner.

From an anthropological viewpoint, there are only a few different types of people that regularly frequent the car show events.  There are the old men gathering around the exposed hot rod engines, drinking coffee at 2 p.m. and reminiscing about the cars they bought and sold throughout their lifetimes.

There are the middle-aged men hovering over the hot rods and muscle cars, balancing on the brink of a mid-life crisis, remembering their high school days and dreaming of the chance to relive them.

Then there are the “rockabilly” or “greasers” usually the band members or band followers, reliving the 1950s era subculture, wearing cuffed Levi’s 501 jeans, plain T-shirts or pearl button western shirts, slicked back hair, chained wallets and Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars shoes.

And last but not least, there are the women of the car shows.  Not the women who are paid to be there in their scantily clad outfits and bikinis.  The women, who like the men, live and breathe the car show culture.  Women, who glamorously wear vintage clothing, embody the 1950s era yet add the modern twist of tattoos and body piercings.  Women who represent the modern day pin up.

Pin up art originated in the early 1900s as glamorous drawings and paintings of models; an era when even the slightest exposed skin on a model was viewed as seductive art.  The pin-up art gained popularity in the 1940s and 50s with models such as Betty Grable, Rita Hayworth and Jane Russell boosting the morale for troops off fighting WWII.

During WWII and the Korean War many pin up models inspired artwork painted on the front of bomber and fighter planes, known as nose art.  The nose art distinguished each plane and its crew from other similar planes, sometimes taking on the persona of a popular cartoon character, a girl friend, a popular actress, or the plane itself.  Unfortunately after the Korean War, the Armed Forces did away with the pin up nose art.

Although the original era of the pin up is gone, the spirit of the pin up is still highly visible as the modern day pin up in the car show culture.

Drug Cartel violence silences “El Grito de la independencia” in Juárez, Mexico

"Mexicanos! Viva los héroes que nos dieron Patria! Viva Hidalgo! Viva Morelos! Viva Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez! Viva Allende! Viva Aldama y Matamoros! Viva la Independencia Nacional! Viva Mexico! Viva Mexico! Viva Mexico!”

Once a year on the evening of Sept. 15, Mexico’s president marches with the nation’s flag onto the National Palace balcony, overlooks Zocalo square in Mexico City, ceremoniously rings Hidalgo’s bell and chants the above “el grito de la independencia” to thousands of celebrating Mexican citizens below.

The “el grito de la independencia” is the literally the “cry” and bell tolling for independence first yelled by Catholic Priest, Father Miguel Hidalgo, as a call to arms in response to the impending Spanish Army invasion 200 years ago.  Father Hidalgo’s battle cry convinced the people to fight against Spain and after 10 years of war lead to Mexico’s independence from 300 years of brutal Spanish rule.

This year, the same “el grito” celebrating the bicentennial of Mexico’s independence and the centennial of Mexico’s revolution was recited by mayors, governors, and dignitaries in cities throughout Mexico and the United States.

With the exception of Juárez, Mexico, where the drug cartel’s escalating violence unfortunately forced the mayor to cancel most of “el grito de la independencia” celebrations for the first time since the revolution.

For the safety of the Juárez citizens, Mayor José Reyes Ferriz urged that residents remain at home or travel to El Paso for the celebrations.  Mayor Ferriz conducted a formal “el grito” celebration to a solemn, empty and heavily guarded city center for local broadcast.

The increasing turf war violence between rival Juárez drug cartels and the declared war on drug trafficking by the Mexican government has resulted in nearly 30,000 drug-war-related deaths since 2007.  President Felipe Calderon has dispatched almost 50,000 federal troops and police to nearly 18 states in Mexico to quell the cartel violence.

With no real end in sight, the war on drugs promises to be another long and bloody battle for Mexico’s history.

Traditional dancers celebrate "el grito" in Sacramento



As Juárez citizens watch the festivities from the meager safety of their homes, Mexico City spent a rumored $40 million on “el grito” festivities including air acrobatics, parades, music, dancers, and a spectacular fireworks display for the hundred of thousands of spectators.

Just across the US border from Juárez, in El Paso, Texas, thousands gathered among a sea of red, white and green flags to celebrate with music, food, traditional dancing, and cheers of Viva Mexico!

In Sacramento thousands of cheering Mexicans and Mexican-American citizens celebrated at the state capitol with traditional dance, music, food, and listened to “el grito” recited by Mexican Consul General Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez to while mariachi bands played Mexico’s and the United States’ national anthems. 

With Juárez's ominously silent "el grito" celebration as a constant reminder of the current and past struggles of Mexico's history, officials stress the importance of maintaining the concentrated effort to win the war on drugs.



The PhlagleBreast is Best

Breast-Feeding:  All mammals do it!  In fact mammals are the only animals on Earth that do it!

Breast milk is full of much needed antibodies, fats, proteins, and minerals important for the development and growth of a baby.  Breast-feeding has been proven to reduce viral infections in infants, reduce childhood obesity and diabetes, protect against allergies and reduce the risk of heart disease. 

So why then, if it is so beneficial and natural, is there is such a stigma when talking about breast-feeding?

The California State University, Sacramento, University Union's annual Phlagleblast open house was no exception to the breast-feeding stigma.  As the event kicked-off Wednesday, September 15, with hundreds of students racing through three floors of the Union in search of free stuff and stamps to complete their scavenger hunt "game cards," one important student service was completely overlooked: The Mother’s Room.

The Mother’s Room, one of nine on campus, is located on the first floor of the University Union and is available as a quiet and relaxing place with a couch, rocking chair, sink and mirror for nursing mothers. The key can be easily retrieved from the information desk, as the room must be kept locked to keep out sleepy students in search of the perfect napping spot.

According to the University Union Information Desk, the purpose of the Phlagleblast event was to showcase and introduce new and returning students to the many different student services available for little to no cost at the University Union.

When asked why such an important student service would not be showcased at an event where hundreds of potential, perhaps one day, expecting mothers or unexpectedly-expecting mothers would see and learn about the room’s availability, no one could give a definitive answer.  

Emails to the director of the University Union, Bill Olmstead, about nursing mothers on campus and the mother’s room went unanswered.

Emails responses from the director of the Women Resource Center were uninformative and disheartening.

“Having been a nursing mother myself, I would have been somewhat dismayed to have someone inquire about what is a personal health matter for some,”  said WRC director Alysson Satterlund.

Dismayed?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies should be breast-fed exclusively for the first six months and continue for at least 12 months.  Yet, only 13.6 percent of babies are exclusively breast-fed in the US, and only 22.7 percent are breast-fed to 12 months old.

Many mothers forgo breast-feeding due to a lack of support at work, or in this case school, negative reactions in public, misconceptions about formula and other obstacles.  Legislations has been passed in many states to protect women's rights to breast-feed in public and ensure that employers support and encourage breast-feeding at work.

So how do breast-feeding mothers, expectant mothers, and someday expectant mothers find out about the service’s available for breast-feeding around the CSUS campus?  Apparently not at the open house.



What Happened to the Art?

Second Saturday
Beautiful scenery,tasty food and vibrant bands
Looking for that unusual gift
Or just want to be part of the riff
Talk,skip,jump or dance your voice your choice
A place to meet or have a seat
Fair warning Zombies have been spotted
Around and within the crowd
So if you like the mix with a slight twist
Second Saturday is the place to be

Poem by Alfred Guajardo

The poem by local Sacramento poet and artist Alfred Guajardo describes the, at one point in time, cultural epicenter of the Sacramento art scene, Second Saturday.  A local art event marred by this weekend's tragic ending.

At approximately 12:13 a.m. shots rang out among the large late night Second Saturday crowd on 18th and J Street, leaving Victor Hugo Perez Zavala, 24, dead and three others injured. 

So what happens now after the police have left, the crime tape is rolled up, the streets have been cleaned, and the evidence of Second Saturday's ill-fated series of events are washed away?   Does the city of Sacramento save or scrap the Second Saturday Art Walk? 

The small venue Second Saturday Art Walk was originally created for local midtown Sacramento businesses and art galleries to draw potential customers and showcase local artists.  Since Second Saturday's inception the art enriching event has become so successful that it draws nearly 15,000 people each month to the Midtown area.  With crowds of that magnitude bringing in much needed businesses as well as the typical problems associated with large crowds.

Many local residents worry that the event has lost its original art roots and has turned into more of a street party complete with under-age drinking, shoplifting, noise complaints, public urination, and fights.

This Second Saturday's event was no exception to the problems yet, was actually considered one the most relatively successful Second Saturday events, with only one complaint police call and one police response for a fight.  That was until the shooting two hours after the official closing of the art walk event.

And now comes the finger pointing.

Some say there are not enough police on patrol to control the large crowds which congregate and loiter in front of businesses.  However, the Midtown Business Association paid for five extra police officers to patrol the Second Saturday crowds, bringing the total to a reported 26 officers this past Saturday.

Others feel the under-age kids are causing problems with drinking and fighting.  Yet, the city and police officers were enforcing a curfew for under-age event goers this Saturday.

Many believe the bars and nightclubs are over-serving the patrons and allowing fights to break out.  However, most drinking establishments bring in extra security and staff to deal with the over-indulged crowds.

Others feel that the gangs and thug-wannabes have overrun the event and should be shut down just as the New Years Eve Ball Drop and Thursday night market on K Street were in the past.

Mayor Kevin Johnson, in his infinite wisdom and apparent lack of a budget crisis, has convened a task force to study and present solutions for the security and crowd problems of Second Saturday and vows to continue Second Saturday events.

Hopefully Johnson's task force will see the need to bring the Second Saturday Art Walk back to its roots of being about art and music.

Nishiki Sushi Happy Hour

A great sushi restaurant is hard to find, especially in a city that’s home to over 20 high-quality sushi restaurants within a 5-mile-radius.  For the unemployed starving college student, a great sushi restaurant at happy hour prices is even harder to find.

And so begins the search for the “holy grail” of Sacramento sushi happy hour.

Nishiki Sushi, located on the corner of 16^th and P Street, hosts a daily afternoon happy hour, from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., consisting of discounted rolls, hand rolls and starter appetizers.

The overall atmosphere of Nishiki Sushi is fun, laid back and welcoming.  A young smiling hostess greets every guest at the door and the big Italian bartender loudly shouts hello across the bar in a bad, jokingly fake Japanese accent.

When eating alone, I find that it’s always easier to sit at the bar; or as in this case the hostess leads me to an empty seat at the sushi bar, directly in front of a three-tier water fall fish tank. 

The tank is full with live, rubber-banded Dungeness crabs, lobsters, prawns and one of the largest lobsters ever seen.  Seriously, according to the chef, the lobster weighed over 20 pounds.  The smaller lobsters are amusing as they attempt to climb the divider and into the crab tank.  Persistence finally pays off for one of the lobsters and he settles into his new crab domain. 

An energetic sushi chef delivers an overflowing plate of free chilled edamame as soon as I sit down.  Free edamame!  For those who are sushi novices, edamame is a soybean steamed in the pod and served hot or cold with a dusting of salt or other spices.  Normally a serving of edamame will cost patrons $4.

The service is quick and friendly, quite possibly because I am one of only five guests in the entire restaurant.

The $6 bacon wrapped scallops appetizer, on the other hand, takes a little more time and actually comes out after the sushi rolls have arrived.  The four pieces of scallops wrapped in sizzling bacon have to be set aside to cool, are slightly overcooked and have an after taste of burned bacon grease.  Fine if I was eating breakfast, however not so pleasant for a sushi feast.

The Marti Roll consists of shrimp tempura and snow crab rolled tightly in rice seaweed wrap, topped with avocado, steamed shrimp, masago (little orange fish eggs), a spicy cream sauce and a sweet unagi sauce for only $6. 

At first bite the roll has a strange slightly fishy after taste, so I peel the cooked shrimp off the top of the remaining pieces.  The rest of the roll tastes great with the unagi sauce and only takes a few minutes to quickly disappear and be washed down with a pint of Kirin for only $3.

While I’m waiting for the bill, as a pleasant surprise Tony, the big Italian bartender, brings over a round of sake bombs for me and the sushi chef to take.  Some times it pays to be the only patron in a restaurant.

With a bill of only $17, a full belly and an estimated savings of $18, I will definitely be back to Nishiki Sushi to try more happy hour rolls and appetizers.

A Case of the Missing Muse

SACRAMENTO, California - I’ve been through four years of college and all I got was this writer’s block.

This semester started out as any other “new semester ritual” that I’ve encountered in my years as a professional college student; the same excitement and apprehension about new classes, hearing the same grievances about student parking, still dreading the upcoming semester group projects, and always having to participate in the same awkward “introduce yourself and display your most intimate feelings” games the teachers seem to like to play.

Thankfully no one made me wear a name tag this year. I hate that.

The one exclusion to this mundane “new semester ritual” was an elective journalism class, which intrigued me with a semester long writing project. A project that I was actually excited about and couldn’t wait to get started on: writing a blog.

I have always wanted to write a blog yet; have always felt that I had nothing to write about, no direction and nothing exciting enough happening in my life to share in black and white for all to read.

Until now, this was my moment to share my journalism instinct, portray my savvy play on words, and begin a blog with followers and fans to continue writing to long after the class was completed.

To say I have delusions of grandeur regarding my writing career is an understatement.

So on Thursday, after we were given our first blog assignment, to write about our first week of class; I raced home, finished setting up my blog, laughed to myself about all the intelligent and witty topics I could write about, and stared at my fresh blank slate.

Three hours and many deleted lines and headlines later, I was still staring at my not-so-fresh blank slate.

So I put my blog project away for the day. So what if I wasn’t the first student to submit their blog and set the bar for other students to follow? Now I guess at least I got the chance to see what the other students were writing about and to make sure that my topic was going to be original.

So I waited, watched a little television hoping for inspiration, read the first blog, waited for some more inspiration, continued waiting, forgot to do my homework for my Friday class and waited some more.

Until finally it was Monday, less than 24 hours before my deadline, still no sign of inspiration and all I had was my blank slate.

I was crushed. I though maybe I’m not cut out for journalism writing, maybe I’m not as witty and quick as I thought. Then I realized it’s just a mild case of writer’s block.

Writer’s block, that’s my muse for this blog.

Writer’s block, according to Wikipedia, “is a condition, associated with writing as a profession, in which an author loses the ability to produce new work.”

With the deadline now looming only a meager few hours away and the last half of my week spent waiting for inspiration out of my proverbial writer’s block corner, I write about writer’s block hopeful to overcome this condition before the next blog.