I'm now representing the Artists Marlana and Sienna !!!! They may be the next Pollack or Rothko or Jasper Johns???
Marlana signs her art sometimes the way DiVinci wrote..mirror image..blows me away!
A Conversation with Charles Munger
Charles T. Munger, vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., is the business partner of Warren Buffett and a major contributor to Berkshire Hathaway's legendary performance record. Forbes lists the self-made Munger as one of the 400 richest people in the United States. At todays DuBridge lecture, Mr. Munger will be joined on stage in conversation by Dr. Thomas A. Tombrello, Chairman of the Division of Physics, Math and Astronomy, the William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor and Professor of Physics at Caltech.
Charlie Munger is the founding partner of the Los Angeles law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson, which he left in 1965 to focus on investing. He has been Berkshire Hathaway's vice chairman since 1979, and is also chairman and CEO of Berkshire subsidiary Wesco Financial Corp., based in Pasadena.
Munger is known for mixing advice with humor. In the book Poor Charlie's Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger, edited by Peter D. Kaufman, Munger comments on his business, the stock market, philanthropy, psychology, money management, technology and other topics. He also provides tips on finding happiness: "A lot of success in life and business comes from knowing what you want to avoid: early death, a bad marriage, etc." The book takes its title from Poor Richard's Almanack, published by Benjamin Franklin, who has served as an inspiration to Munger.
We would love a copy but it runs between $50 and $200 on Amazon.com. Charlie - please re-publish.
LeapFrog, Michael Milken, Lowell Milken, and Larry Ellison, Sponsor Education.com
What new parent has not heard of Leap Frog? We have a Leap Frog Globe, Full set of Leap Frog DVD's, Leap frog Phonics thing that attaches to our magnetic kids pin board, Word Whammer, 3 readers with lots of books and cartridges in Spanish and English. We live in New Zealand. Why do the kids need Spanish? Donnell as anglo as she is, was born near the Mexican Border and with very strong SoCal links, thinks it is good for the kidlets to have an ear for the accent. LeapFrog Enterprises, is a leading developer of technology-based learning products and today announced its sponsorship of the new Learning to Read center on Education.com as part of LeapFrog's ongoing commitment to providing parents the best learn-to-read tools for their children. This new reading resource will provide easily accessible, high-quality educational and developmental reference and editorial content that address the critical and often challenging topic of learning to read.
The publicly traded company is majority owned by Knowledge Universe, Inc., a private company with worldwide interests in education-related businesses. Knowledge Universe was founded by financier Michael Milken, his brother Lowell, and Larry Ellison, founder of the software firm Oracle Corporation.
As a trusted leader in creating fun and engaging learning experiences for children, LeapFrog is uniquely positioned to team up with Education.com, a comprehensive, one-stop destination that allows parents to take an active role in their children's education from pre-school through grade 12.
"LeapFrog is excited about our work with Education.com on this important initiative that delivers on our core mission of making learning fun while helping children reach important educational milestones," said Zachary Fisher, vice president of corporate strategy and business development at LeapFrog.
The LeapFrog learning brand is trusted by parents, valued by teachers, and loved by children around the world. With almost 35 million educational platforms and almost 90 million interactive books and games in homes worldwide, and multi-sensory technology in over 100,000 U.S. classrooms, LeapFrog looks forward to sponsoring the new Learning to Read resource for parents who want to take an active role in their children's education.
"Every parent has questions concerning their children's education but is unsure where to find answers. Those who turn to the Web find that educational resources are fragmented and inconsistent," said Ron Fortune, CEO of Education.com. "The ultimate goal of Education.com is to empower parents to help their children. Education is not strictly limited to academic instruction, so whether it's helping parents choose a school or helping keep kids happy, healthy and motivated, our hope is to provide a resource that minimizes the time spent searching for answers and allows for more time to focus on a child's education."
According to a recent Education.com survey conducted by Harris Interactive(R), 74 percent of parents of children ages 18 and under said they wished they had a single resource they could turn to for information and answers about education and 96 percent of parents believe they need to take an active role in their children's education in order to fill in the gaps in public school education. LeapFrog looks forward to building on the relationship with Education.com to find unique and effective ways to assist parents with learning solutions for their children.
Ed Roski's Majestic Realty Foundation Hosts Inner City Students Enjoy Leadership Training Camp
For the fourth straight year, the Majestic Realty Foundation hosted kids from the inner city for a weekend camp for 82 students from the Los Angeles Youth Leadership Council (LAYLC) at the Salvation Army’s Camp Mt. Crags in Malibu Canyon. The theme for this year’s camp was “Do the Right Thing”--a theme reinforced throughout the weekend. Whether taking part in traditional leadership training activities, or jumping headlong into new experiences, like morning yoga or tightrope walking, the students had a weekend they will never forget—especially those who had never been to sleep-away camp.
“I learned to find my inner-self by testing myself on the ropes course,” said Bryon Herrera, 16, who represents Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) on the LAYLC. “The leap of faith activity was really challenging and I think I matured a little at camp. We talked about what we wanted to be when we grew up and what college we want to go to.” Herrera, who shared at camp that his goal is to attend UCLA and study world history, is a junior at Miguel Contreras Learning Complex.
Founded and sponsored by the Majestic Realty Foundation, the LAYLC is an informal team-building and leadership development organization that brings together high school students from six inner city youth centers: Bresee Foundation, El Centro del Pueblo, HOLA, Para Los Niños, Salesian Boys & Girls Club of LA, and the Salvation Army/Red Shield.
An annual highlight for LAYLC members, the Majestic Realty Foundation’s weekend camp includes leadership and goal-setting workshops, along with team building activities, mountain biking and moonlight scavenger hunts.
New to camp this year was a workshop on violence prevention facilitated by Brandy Davis, supervising attorney from Break the Cycle, a recent foundation grantee, along with yoga classes taught by instructors from the non-profit Y.O.G.A. for Youth program, and with nutrition classes led by representatives from the E.N.E.R.G.Y. (Eating Nutritiously, Exercising Regularly and Growing “Y” –isely) program of QueensCare Family Clinics.
"These students are amazing," said Meghan Loper, LAYLC program coordinator from the Foundation. "They look beyond any hardships or challenges they face in their personal lives to develop a wide range of skills that will help them become the leaders of tomorrow.” Although they are all from the inner city, LAYLC students attend 33 different LAUSD schools.
Whether trying the ropes course, the obstacle course or karaoke, or participating in workshops, the campers tested their limits, learned about teamwork and ultimately came away with new skills and memories to last a lifetime, Loper said.
In keeping with the LAYLC’s theme of leadership development, campers were instructed and mentored throughout the weekend on the art of goal setting.
"As they scaled the rock wall, solved the scavenger hunt or walked the tight rope, they had to focus on their goals," Loper explained. "It was great to watch them encourage each other, work together and solve problems, learning along the way that lasting friendships can transcend the boundaries of schools and neighborhoods."
In addition to providing camp opportunities, LAYLC also offers its young members the chance to take part in college tours and visits from high-profile guest speakers, such as public officials, business leaders and other decision makers. In turn, students receive leadership training, including pointers on public speaking, economic literacy and civic affairs. The students are then encouraged to become active in their communities.
"Through the LAYLC, we like to say that we are investing in tomorrow's leaders today. We are hoping to help create a future generation that is active in the community," said Fran Inman, president of the Majestic Realty Foundation. "We want these students to know that their voices matter and that the issues that concern them concern us all."
Tom Gores Platinum Equity to acquire PNA Group
Platinum Equity announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire PNA Group, Inc., a leading processor and distributor of steel products with annual revenue of approximately $1.2 billion. The seller is TUI AG, the largest travel and tourism company in Europe, which has been divesting non-core industrial holdings in order to focus on its core tourism and shipping sectors.
“We are very enthusiastic about the steel and steel services sector”
PNA Group processes steel and distributes it to fabricators, manufacturers and distributors, primarily in the United States. The company comprises three independent business units:
-- Feralloy, headquartered in Chicago, which provides hot-rolled coiled steel, galvanized and other rolled steel, and hot-rolled pickle;
-- Delta Steel, headquartered in Houston, which provides steel structural beams, channels, tubes, plates and hot-rolled coiled steel;
-- Infra-Metals, headquartered in Atlanta, which provides steel structural products.
Platinum Equity Chairman and CEO Tom Gores views PNA Group as a strong platform for growth in the steel services industry, said Jacob Kotzubei, senior vice president for mergers and acquisitions at Platinum.
"We are very enthusiastic about the steel and steel services sector," Mr. Kotzubei said. "Platinum's transition and operations expertise will help ensure a smooth separation of PNA Group from TUI, and we are excited to work with the management teams at each of the three business units to build enterprise value through both organic growth initiatives and potential add-on acquisitions."
The acquisition of PNA Group, which is subject to regulatory approval and normal closing conditions, will significantly increase Platinum's operations in the steel and steel services sector. In December 2005, the firm acquired ESM Group Inc., which provides a variety of products and services to the steel production industry, including desulphurization and secondary metallurgy services, caster segment maintenance, equipment design and manufacture, as well as the supply of specialty magnesium to non-steel related industries.