Politics

I got up early on Sunday morning and ventured out into the rain to catch the opening ceremony for the New York AIDS Walk 2013. I was rewarded for my effort with these fabulous performances by Alex Newell ("Unique" on the television show Glee), singing "I Know Where I've Been" and "You'll Never Walk Alone" by legendary vocalist Martha Wash. Newell definitely lives up to his "unique" billing and even gets a standing ovation from Miss "It's Raining Men" herself. And be sure to listen to Wash's absolutely beautiful solo rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone" at the closing of the ceremony.WATCH:More...

The Accidental Locavore knows this is going to ignite (pun intended) a controversy, but since it's almost Memorial Day and the start of the grilling season, let's talk about gas vs. charcoal. As it happens, we have two grills, a massive gas one that takes a rotisserie (more about that later) and a smallish Weber kettle.Most people have the perception that gas is faster. Light the burners, close the lid, and in about 10 minutes you've got a nice hot grill. Well, if you think about it, charcoal isn't too far behind. If you use a chimney, it generally gets all the charcoal (real charcoal, not briquettes) going in about the same time (and without the use of lighter fluid, which is not a flavor profile you want to strive for). Yes, you then have to dump them out and wait for the grill to heat, probably another 10 minutes but that gives you a few minutes more prep time.More...

In the aftermath of the Boston attacks, the whole world struggled to put together the pieces inthe hope of uncovering what placed the Tsarnaev brothers on a road of radicalization andMore...

Every small and emerging business dreams of someday entering The Fortune 500. Fortune magazine's 58th annual ranking of the 500 largest US companies is now on newsstands, and although the top spot is occupied by a familiar name, Wal-Mart, making it to this prestigious list is not a guarantee a business will stay there. Only 57 companies appearing in the inaugural 1955 Fortune 500 have been on it every year. Though there are many factors contributing to the approximately 89% Fortune 500 attrition rate, my applied research and direct experience leads me to conclude the volatility is due to a stale business model.The prevailing model organizes a business and its critical human capital around functions and industry experience. For instance, a medical devices company looking for a sales VP will look to hire someone who has already sold for a medical device company and previously managed medical device sales people. Though apparently logical, this traditional approach is based on utterly flawed thinking as it assumes a static environment. As evidenced by Fortune 500 churn rates, building and sustaining growth is anything but static as companies that once held dominant positions perished while new entrants disrupted entire industries allowing them to enter the hallowed Fortune 500 halls. My first conclusion, supported by evidence, research and experience is those intimately familiar with an industry are least likely to change an industry as they are most captive to industry convention.More...

Beware: Some Spoilers Ahead!More...

Moore, Okla. -- As lightning danced in a dark sky Tuesday morning, Laroyce Evans approached a chest-high fence, gave a quick look around, and then vaulted over it into a field strewn with bits of insulation and debris.He was headed to the strip of damaged and destroyed houses visible on the far edge, maybe 100 yards away, to look for a friend who Evans said he last spoke with Monday afternoon, shortly before a monster tornado roared through here.More...

"We ask these men and women (veterans) to leave their families and their jobs and risk their lives to fight for our country. The last thing they should have to do is fight for a job when they get home."-President ObamaMore...

Asthma is the most chronic childhood disease.More...

In 2012, Matt Rutherford became the first person to solo circumnavigate North and South America. He completed the non-stop 27,000 mile journey in 10 months in a tiny, old sailboat.During the course of his epic journey, the then 31-year-old capsized in the Arctic battling waves, avoided being smashed by a tanker and navigated a maze of icebergs large and small. In South America, he experienced Cape Horn's famous beauty and cruel winds. He also faced the literal doldrums - areas near the equator without any wind. And all while spending more than 300 days in complete solitude.More...

It's time for Angelenos to go to the polls and cast their votes for a new mayor. But recent surveys are showing that going to the polls is what many of us aren't planning to do. This means the small percentage of us who do vote will decide the fate of our city, which is currently facing big challenges, as well as big opportunities, in the upcoming years.I will acknowledge that I decided last summer which mayoral candidate I would support. My friend Daphne Brogdon and her husband, Mark Peel, owner and executive chef at Champanile invited a group of prominent LA-mommy bloggers to a meet and greet with Eric Garcetti. There were about thirty of us in attendance representing many voting districts in Los Angeles.More...