Author Archives: MALA


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Night at the Museum

Night at the Museum

Some weekends I volunteer at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Lately one of the most common questions I get asked is — “Was Night at the Museum filmed here?”

Before I answer that question let me ask — Did you SEE the film?

Because dinosaurs and cavemen running through CENTRAL PARK is kind of a dead giveaway. And no, the National Mall in no way resembles the wooded park featured in the movie. Sorry.

To the father of the four most adorable towheaded children… you should have approached the information desk before taking your kids on an hour-long “remember this from the movie” tour of the museum. I would have been happy to inform you that setting wasn’t DC’s famed natural history museum, but New York’s American Museum of Natural History.

It’s tricky… I know… what with the one word difference in the names — American vs National — and the fact that the museums are located in two different cities 200 miles apart.

Stiller and Williams

I’m real sorry your kids were devasted to learn that Teddy Roosevelt is in NY and not DC, and will no longer trust a bloody word you ever tell them, but really, when in doubt, ask the friendly volunteer first.

That’s all.


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MLK Library

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library received historic landmark status from the D.C. Historic Preservation Review Board — which grants legal protection against demolition.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed the glass and steel building in 1972… in my humble and amateur opinion, not his best example of modernist architecture.

I’ve spent time in this building. While I applaud the effort to save this example of architecture, it should not be the main branch of the DC public library.

1. It’s hard to find what you’re looking for.

2. It’s not a comfortable atmosphere to read in — poorly lit and claustrophic.

3. The few meeting rooms available are dark and gloomy.

4. The current interior layout and placement of resources (computer labs vs. books) does not maximize the use of space.

I’m hopeful that the powers that be here in DC figure out a way to keep and restore the building while providing it’s tax-paying citizens with a decent public library suitable to meet 21st century needs.


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When in Rome…

Rome Rebuilt

Rome Reborn went online today. The 3D simulation shows the ancient city within the 13-mile-long Aurelian Walls as it appeared in A.D. 320. A team of archaeologists, architects and computer specialists recreated the city when it was the multicultural capital of the western world and had reached the peak of its development with an estimated population of one million people.

It’s a nice tie in to my recent addiction to ROME. I’ve watched a lot of miniseries and movies on that great civilization, but HBO’s series truly outshines the others. This stellar program truly depicts the politics, the flavor and day-to-day life of these ancient people. It’s fantastic!

And as a longtime fan of James Purefoy, I’m thrilled to see him in such a meaty role as Marc Anthony.

You won’t regret finding time to check out both the virtual Rome online and HBO’s fantastic  series!


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The Boob Tube

tv

The American Academy of Pediatrics released a report that 90 percent of children under two years of age watch television regularly … and by regular they mean two hours or more per day.

This can’t be good.

It reminds me of the apparatus the Riddler invented to drain the brains of Gotham’s fine residents. Think about it for a second… 9 out of 10 toddlers are getting two or more hours of programming a day.

Though it sounds so wrong I can see how it’s easy to happen. Parents are tired, they’re paying bills on the net or waiting for the pizza deliveryman or talking on the phone and plop the kid in the playpen in front of the tv or strap them into their portable carrier/carseat/stroller command center and turn it to face the pretty pictures and before you know it baby John Doe has absorbed about 90 minutes worth of quality tv in one sitting.

When I reminisce over how I learned to count to 10 in Spanish with the Sesame Street’s Count, I often find that my brothers and I watched a lot more tv growing up in comparison with my friends. But then, we were ages 3 and 5 and watched about 2 hours per day — Sesame Street, the Electric Company and sometimes, if we were lucky, Wild Wild World of Animals.

When I think of childhood, most of my memories are set outside — playing kickball or “Mother May I” or tag or searching for “ancient” Indian burial grounds or walking through various parks and zoos. I grew up on a cul de sac and would often ride my bike or climb rocks or pick flowers or play games like 4-Square with the other kids in the neighborhood. The only time we’d scatter is when one of the big dogs would break a chain and run loose.

When we were forced indoors because of rain or a blizzard, I’d read one of the library books or write letters to Santa or play a highly educational board game like Operation or Battleship or Connect-4.

If I wanted to be alone, I’d color or create illuminated masterpieces on my Lite-Brite.

Though I’d hardly call the alternatives I grew up with high-brow, all these babies sitting in front of the tv for hours and hours just can’t be good.


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Missing in Action

Golden Gate Bridge

Why haven’t I been around?

I was in San Francisco for ten days for work and pleasure. I thought I’d find time to write about my adventures while I was there, but alas, did not and my time there flew by. The weather was glorious. My meetings were a great success.

And no sooner did I step into my apartment and drop my luggage off, was I off again. This time for jury duty.

Alamo Park

Now I’m desperately trying to meet deadlines and salvage what remains of March, as I attempt to recapture all I did and the peace I felt while in California.


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Overwhelmed

 overwhelmed

There are days when I feel there is too much I just don’t know. And at the rate I search, locate, read and absorb, I’m falling way behind.

The information highway is the new autobahn. And while I may have started off going 200mph in a sleek Bugatti, I’ve since traded down to a dependable Jetta, going an average 85mph. I feel I’m struggling to keep up with all of the innovation and information and second-to-second updates.

There are days I actually miss the slowpoke days of (gasp!) the rotary phone, carbon copier and electric typewriter.  I know, I know — it’s almost sacrilege to even think it… but there is something to be said for that slower pace.


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Incompetence

To say last week was pure craziness would be an understatement. Everything happened in threes.
It all began when my best friend called to say she’d lost her job. Then my other good pal lost his. Next my brother decided to up and quit his with no notice. All three in one week!

I’m managing a website redesign. We’re at the tail end of a yearlong process and are finally entering the testing and review phase. The company that is doing the redesign can’t meet its own deadlines which is driving me crazy.

As if that weren’t enough, I’ve organized three programs for this conference in February. And now, all of a sudden, I’m receiving all these speaker changes. So it’s like having to do the same work twice.

And lastly — I’ve got three publications on hold because people can’t seem to edit materials by the deadlines I give them.

I’ve decided that I absolutely hate relying on other people. Especially since they are all making me look very very very bad. Incompetent more like.

On the bright side, it snowed yesterday and is finally beginning to feel a little bit like winter.