March 2010 Archives

Those of you with braincells enough to recall the 1960's will certainly remember those Bay Area musical pranksters, the Rubinoos, who have been making beautiful noise for some four decades now. Right about now, those selfsame genius-minds (Jon Rubin and Tommy Dunbar) have crafted a must-have children's album -- Biff-Boff-Boing! -- which is equal parts superb musicianship, clever lyrics and an approach to young minds that is amusing without being juvenile or condescending. Nice trick, that!

Educators dig it as much as kids do, and adults will not cringe at the music - which is as palatable as the 'Noos more mature work. The boys also are judiciously hep when it comes to choosing covers -- their version of The Who's "Boris the Spider" is some top-shelf brew, as is their peppy take on "Witch Doctor."

I tested the disc on my niece and nephew and they immediately started two-stepping like mad, then confiscated the product for themselves (I will be sending a bill to my brother to cover the lost promo). And while this collection is a surefire shrimp-pleaser, I urge you to visit the Rubinoos' website for a taste of their big-folks fare. Immature or all growed-up, these fellers is guaranteed to move you to smile, whether you are old-school or pre-school. Excuse me now, I gots to go eat my Gerber strained peas.

More and more golfers are toting handheld GPS devices nowadays, or those who ride in carts might even find one dangling from the roof. For those who don't depend on satellites, the Bushnell Tour V2 Slope Edition is the only way to go short of having a caddie with a notebook and local knowledge up the wazootie. Aim the device, press a button, bounce the beam off the flagstick (or tree or Some Dude Putting on the green) and less than a second later you have the distance without having to rely on the yardage number on the sprinkler head.

The V2 has three targeting modes, depending on what you're aiming at. The PinSeeker mode captures the flagstick itself without inadvertently calculating background distances. Scan mode enables one to pan across the landscape as the LCD continuously updates yardages to trees, bunkers, etc. And Slope mode provides a "compensated distance" that figures in the degree of incline or decline. All they need to add is a digital anemometer and you'd have every variable covered! Maybe that's next....

This objet d'art is sleekly designed, fits nicely in the palm of your hand and is accurate to within a yard. Despite the laser, it is safe for use and doesn't require a reflective prism. Now if I could only learn to swing the club -- the V2 gives me one less excuse for missing greens. Dangitall! Ya just cain't win......

File this one under best-kept secrets (I'm not so sure I want to disclose this highly sensitive 411!) -- the JCC at Milken in West Hills is an all-around cultural gem, but its fitness center is what drew my attention. With a Jr. Olympic sized swimming pool, a well-equipped workout room and a full menu of classes and amenities, this place is a classy alternative to the "meet markets" that pass for health clubs nowadays. You want to find an insignificant other, feel free to go to 24-Hour Fitness or TGIF's -- this place is for the safe and sane.

The X-Factor is Good People -- both members and staff -- which the JCC has in abundance. First man to meet is a walking advertisement for fitness and grace -- the inimitable Tommy Allegood, fitness center director. Tommy or Dave Daglow can be your personal trainer for a reasonable tariff, or you can work out to your own rhythm in the Cybex and Precor-equipped facilities (free weights too). Tai Chi, aerobics, yoga and pilates classes abound, and there is also the new In Touch Massage and Day Spa to get out the kinks after a grueling workout.

You'll generally see me shooting rainbow 3-pointers in the 12,000 sq. foot gymnasium, where you'll also find Russian basketball guru, Igor Korolev, running his acclaimed Royal Basketball School for upcoming Kobes and LeBrons (for kids from 5 to 17). Or try Jody Polacheck's new Centerpeace LA, a mind/body enhancing, hour-long resistance interval workout that promotes core strength as a means to better posture and cardiovascular well-being. What could it hurt?

In short, great things are hatching at this top-notch facility. To take a tour, contact the estimable Mr Allegood at tallegood@jccatmilken.org. Your body will thank you later....

With so many high-end and increasingly affordable projectors on the market nowadays, the only thing standing between you and your ability to host the coolest cinéaste soirées in the neighborhood is your very own gleaming white screen to throw the images onto. Which is the why the benign geniuses at Epson came up with the Duet Ultra Portable Projector Screen, a Fabergé egg that goes from a compact, totable tube to an 80-inch ivory rectangle in no time flat. Amazing grace....

The Duet offers both standard (4:3) and widescreen (16:9) formats, depending on how wide you open it up. A sturdy tripod base ensures that Fido won't knock Fellini over onto the coffee table, or better yet, there is mounting hardware if you happen to have plenty of available wall-space. The screen itself is a taut, brilliant white when fully extended, with nary a wrinkle or a pock-mark. And it stores as easily as it deploys, easily standing up in a closet corner.

Epson also makes some fabulous multimedia projectors if you really want to support their stock price. The Duet itself can be had for about a C-Note or slightly higher. Get out the old canola oil and use the savings to buy that high-end organic popcorn they hustle you at Whole Foods. And don't forget to invite me to the Italian Neo-Realism Festival in your backyard. Arivederci!