Carl’s Jr. enters the sustainable century, Pitch #16

People of every age have been grossed out by a Carl’s Jr. "uber-carnivore" commercial at one time or another. This was a fast food chain that understood its demographic and catered to it. Last month Carl’s Jr. made a big pivot toward a younger and more sustainability-oriented generation when it became Beyond Meat’s largest U.S. …

Organic Learning Garden, Pitch #15

Photo story on the SMC Organic Learning Garden. From the website: This new eco-facility is an opportunity for the entire SMC community to participate in practical learning, to grow our own food, to exercise sustainability, and to better understand food systems and the impact they have on our planet, bodies, and culture. The garden is …

Canvas is the enemy of education, Pitch #14

For many SMC students, Canvas is a convenient one-stop home where they can attend to the many aspects of their semester classes. For me, Canvas is the opposite of education. By 2019 most people understand that with Social Media, you gain easy sharing with friends and relatives, but you pay the price of having to …

Metro Regional Connector, Pitch #12

One major way for students to arrive at SMC is the Metro Expo Line. The 3 westernmost stops on the Expo Line are the Santa Monica Pier, 17th Street – SMC Main Campus, and 26th Street / Bergamot Station – SMC CMD Campus. From there the Expo Line heads East towards its current end at …

SMC Dance Photo Story, Pitch #11

I’ve contacted the SMC Dance Department about working on a Photo Story (or stories) with them. A choreographer & dancers developing a piece and finally bringing it to the Broad Stage at SMC-PAC. Or profiling a student or faculty choreographer/dancer and the path of their career journey. I’ve received a positive response from 2 SMC …

OMG I’m a college student! Pitch #10

In 1973, with my newly minted high school diploma in hand, I enrolled in my first college class: Journalism 1, News Writing, with Marvin Jacobson at East LA College. This semester, a mere 46 years later, I’ve enrolled in Journalism 22, Photography for Publication, with Gerard Burkhart here at SMC. In 1973 Journalism struck me …

Are eScooters Sustainable? Pitch #8

Last year and this year eScooters have invaded Santa Monica in a massive way. They’re fun, friendly, and easy ways to get around Santa Monica. But as renters, users often take little interest in the health and maintenance of eScooters. They get bashed and kicked on a regular basis. Walking down Santa Monica Blvd today …

Independent Film Spirit Awards, Pitch #7

The Independent Film Spirit Awards are happening in a giant tent at the Santa Monica Pier this Saturday. from the website: In keeping with its Los Angeles roots, the Spirit Awards takes place each year in a beachfront tent next to the world famous Santa Monica Pier. 2019 marks the show’s 34th year and it …

The Power of Out, Pitch #6

Each of us has an Identity of many components: gender identification, sexual orientation, political ideology, age, ethnicity, ableness, religion, geeky obsessions, and more. Who we share aspects of our identity with should be a personal choice. Our information should be private by default, and public when we choose. Privacy is essential. However, in this opinion …

Dana Johnson reading, Pitch #4

As part of SMC Associates Spring 2019 Lecture Series: Black History Series: Dana Johnson reading In the Not Quite Dark and Other Stories Author Dana Johnson reads selections from her short story collection In the Not Quite Dark. An English professor and director of the Ph.D. in Creative Writing and Literature Program at USC, Johnson …