Monday 11/14/16 Ian Scheffler and I chatted about his book, "CRACKING THE CUBE: Going Slow to Go Fast and Other Unexpected Turns in the World of Competitive Rubik’s Cube Solving."

“Scheffler provides the first comprehensive book on the global phenomenon of speedcubing. Much has changed since the first world championship was organized in Budapest in 1982. But the emotions were all there already—good to see they haven’t cooled in over three decades. The cubing community is growing ever larger, younger—and faster!”—ERNŐ RUBIK, creator of the Rubik’s Cube

If you missed Ian Scheffler on today's show, listen here!

CRACKING THE CUBE: Going Slow to Go Fast and Other Unexpected Turns in the World of Competitive Rubik’s Cube Solving (Touchstone; on-sale October 18, 2016; $26; Hardcover; ISBN: 978-1-5011-2192-0) by Ian Scheffler dives into the colorful world of Rubik’s Cube. Invented in 1974 by the reclusive Hungarian architect Ernő Rubik, the puzzle was famously popular in the 1980s. It has since come roaring back, inspiring competitions around the world, not to mention robots, movies, and Edward Snowden. As Scheffler shows, this bout of Cube Fever is anything but nostalgia.

When Rubik invented the Rubik’s Cube (or, rather, his Cube) in his mother’s apartment, out of wooden blocks, rubber bands, and paperclips, he didn’t know if it could be solved—let alone that it would become the world’s most popular puzzle. Since its creation, the Cube has become many things to many people: one of the bestselling children’s toys, a symbol of intellectual prowess, a frustrating puzzle with 43.2 quintillion possible permutations, and now a worldwide sporting endeavor. The World Cube Association (think FIFA, only with Rubik’s Cubes) hosts scores of competitions throughout the U.S. and in dozens of countries each year, across six continents.

Challenged by a childhood friend, Toby Mao, who turns out to be one of the fastest cubers in the world, Scheffler attempts to break into speedcubing—think chess played at the speed of ping pong—while exploring the Cube’s rise to iconic status around the globe and the lessons that can be learned through solving it. Scheffler’s goal is to solve the puzzle under 20 seconds—the equivalent of running a sub-four-minute mile. After two years, he finds himself on the cusp of success, only to discover that speedcubing is far more challenging than he ever imagined. (Scheffler does eventually go “sub-20,” averaging 18.96 seconds at the Liberty Science Center, in December 2015.)
En route to going “sub-20,” Scheffler encounters legendary figures from the Cube’s first wave of popularity and the contemporary stars of its underground culture, painting a vivid picture of the diverse community dedicated to solving Rubik’s masterpiece as quickly as possible. (Among some of the most famous cubers are celebrities including Will Smith, Justin Bieber, Ryan Gosling, the rapper Logic, and NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.) To his own surprise, Scheffler journeys to Budapest to meet Rubik. Like Willy Wonka, the inventor guards his privacy, and hasn’t been interviewed at length since 1986, when John Tierney of the New York Times profiled him for Discover Magazine. Now in his seventies, Rubik is still tinkering away with puzzles.

In CRACKING THE CUBE, Scheffler reveals that cubing isn’t just fun and games. It’s a way of life for many around the world. Readers meet Dr. Jessica Fridrich, who won the Czech National Championship as a teen in 1982. Now an engineering professor at Binghamton University, Fridrich accidentally popularized the fastest method of solving Rubik’s Cube. Minh Thai, a Vietnamese refugee and winner of the inaugural Rubik’s Cube World Championship, held in Budapest in 1982, today owns a wholesale fragrance business in Los Angeles but still solves his Cube twenty times before bed each night. Eva Kato of New Jersey leads the vanguard of female cubers—she’s the second-fastest in the world—while Kentucky’s Lucas Etter holds the world record for the quickest single solve, 4.90 seconds—and he’s only fourteen years old. What’s more, for over a decade, students at UC Berkeley have enrolled in a popular mathematics class called “Learn to Solve the Rubik’s Cube,” the final for which is simple: solve Rubik’s Cube or you fail.
For Scheffler, the road to “sub-20” is not just about memorizing algorithms or even solving Rubik’s Cube. As he learns from the many gurus who cross his path, from pint-sized kids to engineering professors, it’s about learning to solve yourself.

Ian Scheffler’s ties to the Cube go back to his childhood, as does his interest in math, science, and engineering. In 2008 his team won the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl, a Jeopardy-style competition, and he traveled as a delegate to the 49th London International Youth Science Forum. He has written for The New Yorker, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, and the Los Angeles Review of Books. He holds a degree in English from Columbia University, where he co-edited the Columbia Review. He lives in New York City.

New York Times bestselling crime novelist Linda Fairstein joined me Monday 11/14/16 at 9:30am pst!

Did you miss Linda Fairstein on today's show? 

Listen here!

New York Times bestselling crime novelist Linda Fairstein has written her first series for young readers. Into the Lion’s Den is the first in a new mystery series for young readers ages 8-12 that Publishers Weekly calls a “modern-day Nancy Drew.” Featuring a smart and plucky young detective named Devlin Quick, the series follows Devlin and her best friend Booker, as they use their wit and cunning to solve crimes across New York City with a little help from Devlin’s Police Commissioner mother.

Linda Fairstein is best known as the New York Times bestselling author of the Alex Cooper mystery series for adults. Linda worked at the Manhattan District Attorney's office as the head of the Special Victims Unit from 1976 to 2002. Devlin Quick is her first book for children. She lives in New York, NY, where the Devlin Quick series is set.

Linda Fairstein first dreamed of writing mysteries in the sixth grade. A voracious reader of Nancy Drew, Linda penned her first caper for kids, The Secret of Apple Tree Farm at the age of 11. “The books I remember most vividly—and fondly—from my childhood were Nancy Drew mysteries,” said Linda Fairstein. “My two careers in sleuthing—first in the courtroom, and then in The Alex Cooper series of crime fiction—are both the result of my affection for that smart young woman and her friends.”

In Into the Lion’s Den, twelve-year-old Devlin Quick is prepared for a quiet summer day at the New York Public Library when her friend Liza witnesses something strange: a blade falling to the floor of the rare (and expensive) books room, a book left behind with a page meticulously torn out, and a man in a serious hurry to get out of there. But he has no briefcase—nothing in his hands at all, in fact—and he doesn't appear to be hiding anything. Any other kid might shrug this off, but Devlin Quick is not any other kid, and she knows she has to bring this man to justice. But who is he? What did he steal from the library—and why? And what could the page—an old map—possibly lead to? With her wits, persistence, and the help of New York City's finest (and, okay, a little assistance from her Police Commissioner mother, too), Dev and her friends piece the clues together to uncover a mystery that's bigger than anyone expected—and more fun, too.

Linda drew inspiration for the novel from one of the first cases she prosecuted—that of a map thief—and her subsequent fascination with Forbes Smiley, one of America’s most notorious art thieves. The novel is also peppered with interesting facts about the New York City and Brooklyn public libraries and the many literary and historical treasures within their walls.

Perfect for upcoming best of November book round-ups and holiday gift guides, Into the Lion’s Den is will appeal to fans of spunky sleuths and clever capers. Linda will visit schools, bookstores and libraries this fall to discuss Devlin Quick. Go to www.lindafairstein.com for a full list of events.

Jill Pauletich-Ragan, the talented writer/director of the short THE WINDOW and writer of the new pilot THE VENUE, Monday 9:15am on KUCI 88.9fm!

If you missed Jill on today's show, 

listen to our conversation here.

About Jill Pauletich-Ragan 
Jill Pauletich-Ragan is the wife of rock musician Chuck Ragan and is the talented writer/director of the short THE WINDOW and writer of the new pilot THE VENUE, dealing with her own experiences, as her husband's road manager.

The Venue is your backstage pass into the dynamic and provocative world of rock 'n' roll, as experienced by first-time club owner and single mom EMMA ROMANO, who transplants herself and five-year-old son off the tour bus and back to her hometown of Oakland after a life on the road tour-managing her rock star ex-husband. She opens up a rock 'n' roll club and struggles fitting in with conventional society.

Mentored by the late James White (screenwriter of RAY) who helped her to develop the project, Jill recently made the short film, The Window, that has played in several prestigious film festivals, amng them: Carmel Int'l Film Festival, Edmonton Int'l Film Festival, Dances With Films, and Sacramento Int'l Film Festival. The Window is a valentine to the power of love that he discovered no matter how old you are -

ABOUT THE WINDOWThe following summary about Jill's film is an excerpt from an article written about the La Femme Film Festival on broadwayworld.com.


"The Window", written and directed by Jill Pauletich-Ragan, is a valentine to the power of love that can be discovered no matter how old you are. The charming feature introduces us to Edith, a widow who watches the world from her dining room window every day all alone, until one morning she is surprised by Emilio, a dashing senior who finds unique ways to woo Edith and shake up her world. Since making its debut at the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at Cannes, the film has had a successful festival run and competed in several prestigious film festivals including the Carmel International Film Festival, the Edmonton International Film Festival, Hollywood's Dances With Films Festival and the Sacramento International Film Festival where it won he The Grand Jury Prize for "Best Short." (Oct. 23, 10:00 am)

Comedian, Julie Kidd is the CEO of Funny Mom Productions featuring "Funniest Housewives” and “Single Mom The Musical!" She joined me TODAY 11-7-16!

If you missed Julie on today's show, listen here!

About Julie Kidd

Comedian, Julie Kidd is the CEO of Funny Mom Productions featuring the fantastically entertaining “Funniest Housewives” and “Single Mom The Musical”. She was recently crowned the Hilarious Housewife on ABC’s The View. In addition, her jokes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Reader’s Digest and Modern Mom Magazine as well as numerous comedy books including, Comedy Thesaurus, She’s So Funny, Mom This Jokes For You, and Loves Funny That Way. TV credits include The View, Life Moments, Iyanla Vanzant, and Next Big Star.

Julie will be talking about the upcoming Funniest Housewives show at the Brea Improv on Dec 6th at 8pm. Tickets HALF-PRICE!

Link to buy tickets and use code word FUNNY to receive discount https://www-funniesthousewives-com.seatengine.com/shows/45229

www.FunniestHousewives.com

 

Architect Christopher Mercier joined me on KUCI 88.9fm Monday 11/7/16 9:15am pst!

If you missed Architect Christopher Mercier
on today's show, listen here!

Architect Christopher Mercier, AIA, left Frank Gehry’s Gehry Design Group in 2002 to establish his own architecture practice to create (fer) studio: Form, Environment Research. Their goal: to design contemporary spaces for creative clients, and to re-imagine and re-purpose existing structures, preserving their history and character while adapting them to modern use.

In projects large and small, (fer) studio has designed upscale homes, hotel and hospitality projects, academic and industrial buildings; they even have plans for a large-scale community development called Cedros Market, near San Diego.

Based in Inglewood, California, (fer) studio is at the epicenter of a new wave of urban renewal and restoration. The architecture firm is part of a surge of urban explorers (and intrepid investors) including many writers, artists, designers and entrepreneurs who have discovered the city in their search for affordable live/work spaces and brick-and-mortar retail storefronts.

Mercier wants (fer) studio to be an active and vital part of the community’s transformation. “We want to be part of the re-development of Inglewood,” he says. (fer) studio has consulted with the Mayor of Inglewood and other city officials. “Part of the problem has been that it has no sense of place, no sense of identity,” Mercier explains. “We want to take this place, which has a lot of potential- -good scale and walkability, and bring in a transit hub. If people live, work and shop in a community, it is healthy.”

(fer) studio is staffed by 14 architects, and divides its talents between residential, commercial and hospitality projects. (fer) studio has designed two well-known local restaurants, Father’s Office in Culver City and Connie & Ted’s in West Hollywood. They are the architects behind, the newly opened Officine Brera, an Italian restaurant in downtown Los Angeles’ arts district. Officine Brera is housed in a 1920s industrial building that once was home to the Gas Company. “Officine Brera is a mixture of adaptive reuse set against the influx of a new contemporary geometry that fuses together,” says Mercier.

(fer) studio brings the same design philosophy to its residential projects as well, designing houses for clients in Venice Beach, Fullerton, California, La Canada Flintridge, Santa Monica, and Mulholland Estates in the Hollywood Hills.

“It varies from year to year, but our practice usually breaks down to 20 to 30 percent residential, 20 to 30 percent hospitality, and the rest creative office spaces,“ says Mercier. Some of the “creative office spaces” they have designed include a new lobby and reception area for noted business woman Sunnie Kim’s Hana Financial in downtown Los Angeles, and Smashbox Studios in Culver City.

Other recent or currently developing projects include The Hayden, a 30,000 square foot creative office adaptive reuse project in Culver City in the Hayden Tract.

(fer) studio strives to combine environmental sensitivity and trend-setting vision in every project, no matter how large or small and develop a dialogue between interior and exterior space that morphs through the façade.”

ABOUT (fer) studio

(fer) studio began as a one-person firm, headed by Christopher Mercier A.I.A. in 2002. Mercier had worked with renowned architect Frank Gehry at his Santa Monica studio before striking out to establish his own practice.

(fer) stands for Form, Environment and Research, the principles that describe the firm’s design philosophy. Firmly rooted in contemporary modernism, (fer) studio is dedicated to the idea that Form helps to shape the world, and can have a profound ability to positively impact contemporary experience. Through intensive research and the study of the site and environmental conditions, along with extensive client input, each project emerges as appropriate and unique.

(fer) studio’s projects have included “ground up” construction, as well as the rehabilitation and adaptive re-use of a wide range of building types: residential, commercial, hospitality and academic. (fer) studio is passionate about urban design and development and the development of sustainable, livable cities.

In 2005, Douglas Pierson joined (fer) studio (another Gehry alumni). In May 2016, Pierson and Mercier amicably ended their partnership when Pierson moved his family to North Carolina for personal reasons.

Based in Inglewood, California (fer) studio is poised at the tipping point of the latest wave of urban renewal in Southern California. For decades, Inglewood, like Silverlake, Culver City and downtown Los Angeles, had been an underpriced and under-developed urban desert of empty storefronts and a deserted main street. In recent years, Inglewood has been discovered by urban explorers (and intrepid investors): writers, artists and entrepreneurs have arrived in search of affordable live/work spaces and retail storefronts. Mercier and Pierson have participated in various local design projects, including the “Inglewood Living City,” an urban design project (fer) studio developed for the city, as well as a similar project proposal the firm has submitted to Solano Beach called “Cedros Market.”

In 2005, (fer) studio submitted a letter to the City of Inglewood’s Planning Department suggesting the city develop a Live/Work Zoning Ordinance to assist the artists relocating to the area. In 2014 (fer) studio began consulting with the city on a regular basis to see the ordinance through City Council’s approval in 2015.

One of (fer) studio’s local clients was the Three Weavers’ Brewing Company, an artisan brewery and tasting room that opened in 2013. “It was a small project for Doug (Pierson) and I,” Mercier says modestly. “We were basically paid in beer. Three Weavers is a great local hangout and a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. We want to be part of the redevelopment of Inglewood, and we want (fer) studio to be the ‘go-to’ firm for the community.”

Today, (fer) studio is a 14 person firm, dividing its time between various residential, hospitality and commercial projects. Completed restaurant projects on Mercier and Pierson’s roster include the popular Father’s Office in Culver City, Connie & Ted’s in West Hollywood and the newly opened Officine Brera in downtown Los Angeles. All three projects took vital clues from the local urban environment, and intense owner involvement informed the design strategies that made each space unique.

For Officine Brera, located in the downtown Los Angeles Arts District, (fer) studio reimagined the existing space--a 1920s industrial building and a masonry and steel warehouse that once housed the Los Angeles Gas Company as an elegant, Northern Italian restaurant while preserving the industrial character of the 8,000 square foot building using reclaimed wood, concrete and exposed steel.

Other recent or currently developing projects include The Hayden, a 30,000 square foot creative office adaptive reuse project in Culver City in the Hayden Tract.

Mercier and Pierson also designed a 5,000 square foot family home in Fullerton, California, a 4,500 square foot single-family residence in Santa Monica, California, and a renovated lobby/reception area for Hana Financial in a downtown Los Angeles high-rise. (fer) studio recently completed Phase I of the photo studio and office space for Smashbox Studios in Culver City, and a reuse project adapting an existing structure into the Hayden, a creative office complex in Culver City.

(fer) studio’s project mix varies from year to year, but they always strive to achieve a balance of residential, commercial and hospitality projects. “This encourages fresh thinking and helps foster over-lapping ideas between building types that may not happen otherwise,” says Mercier. The architects feel this brings vibrancy to their work.

Today (fer) studio is involved in a variety of projects on a wide variety of scales: from small, sustainable residential spaces to large-scale urban centers. The firm is committed to a contemporary vision of design that continues to expand and evolve with each new project. Mercier brings a unique sensibility and intuition along with years of experience to every commission. (fer) studio is comprised of a diverse collection of young architects, artists, and designers assembled around a design approach utilizing both computer-generated models and hand-built physical modeling to provide a more complex and complete understanding of each project. (fer) studio is a young, eager and contemporary design-focused firm. After fifteen years, it continues to grow, taking on more complex challenges. The firm continues to expand its abilities and create unique contemporary structures that will engage interesting dialogue within the larger architectural community.

*Please note, in June 2016, due to unforeseen familial obligations, Douglas Pierson will be moving his family to North Carolina. After years of a successful design collaboration, Mercier and Pierson amicably have ended their partnership. It is important to list all credit to ‘(fer) studio’ while keeping in mind that Christopher Mercier is now sole principal.

*form- environment- research

http://ferstudio.com/studio/

M. J. RYAN, a leading expert on change and human fulfillment, senior coach to executives, entrepreneurs, and small business owners, and author of "Habit Changers" joined me Monday at 9am pst!

Habit Changers: 81 Game-Changing Mantras
to Mindfully Realize Your Goals

If you missed M.J. Ryan on today's show, listen here!

"From ‘trust your inner GPS’ to ‘presume goodwill,’ these slogans are simple, memorable and remarkably effective. Changing a habit requires going beyond intention to embrace tactics that enable you to consciously achieve your goals. This book will help you do just that, providing actionable strategies that you can quickly incorporate into your daily routine.”–Fran Hauser, Partner at Rothenberg Ventures and former President of Digital Time Inc.

“If you’re ready to live a fearless, awesome life, Habit Changers will help you take control of your destiny and be the badassiest version of yourself, every day. Ryan’s techniques are easy to jump into and they work.” -Jen Sincero, New York Times Bestselling author of You Are a Badass


M. J. RYAN is a leading expert on change and human fulfillment and senior coach to executives, entrepreneurs, and small business owners around the world. Her clients include Royal Dutch Shell, Microsoft, Time Warner, the U.S. military, and Aon Hewitt. She’s a partner with the Levo League career network and lead coach at SheEO, an organization offering new funding and support models for female entrepreneurs. She’s the founder of Conari Press, creator of the New York Times bestselling Random Acts of Kindness series, and author of many books including This Year I Will…

ABOUT HABIT CHANGERS

What would you like to change in your life? Be more focused at work? Communicate more effectively? Find work-life balance? Make smarter decisions? Be more patient with your team or family? Have greater self-confidence? Less stress? Just . . . be happier?

Often, the biggest obstacle to change lies in our most deeply ingrained habits: those automatic thought processes that operate outside our consciousness, and yet have a profound impact on our behavior, shaping everything from how we respond to challenges to how we engage with others.
The good news is that we can literally rewire our mental habits for the better. In Habit Changers,executive coach M.J. Ryan shares the secret weapon that has helped her highest performing clients improve their focus, better manage under pressure, enhance their emotional intelligence, become more effective leaders, and more.

Inspired by the Buddhist tradition of Lojong, or "slogan practice," habit changers are simple, one-line aphorisms that, when recited, reprogram your brain’s automatic responses. Here, Ryan explains how to use the 81 Habit Changers that have demonstrated the most profound and lasting results. They include:

§ You can’t say yes if you can’t say no
§ Don’t push buttons that don’t need to be
§ Handshake your fear
§ Stand where you’d rather not
§ Remember your highest intention
§ Outsource your worry
§ Reach for the better thought

Our capacity to change is our greatest gift as human beings. Habit Changers will help you take control of your destiny and more easily achieve the success and happiness you desire.

Leslie LaPage called in to KUCI 88.9fm to talk about the La Femme Film Festival and more!

If you missed Leslie LaPage on today's show, listen to our conversation here!


For the past fifteen years Leslie La Page has produced, directed and line produced for Film, TV, Music Videos, commercials and Theatrical productions.

Ms. La Page has produced features nationally and internationally in both the independent and commercial markets.

Ms. La Page has over eight years of production background in independent films, and has served as producer, line producer and film production coordinator on numerous independent feature films for independent production companies as well as Black Entertainment Television Action Pay Per View (BET). While at BET she line produced their entire slate of original programs which aired on their network and received international and domestic video releases. She line produced commercials and promos for the HBO, Lifetime TV and BET, MTV and Nickelodeon.

Her production experience also involves her in the areas of marketing, developing scripts, creating promotional copy as well as promotional feature spots and trailers.

In 1997 Ms. La Page ran and operated TIGER’S EYE SOUND a dialogue editorial company, with her partner Bruce Murphy, editing and working with numerous awarding winning dialogue editors and editing over 20 independent feature films in the company’s first year. Ms. La Page and TIGER’S EYE SOUND dialogue edited such critically acclaimed films as: 1998 Academy Awards Nominee, Best Foreign Film – “Four Days in September”; 1998 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award for “Smoke Signals”; and the film “Dead Man’s Curve” was a Sundance Film Festival Invitee.

In 2003, her Partner Saul Stein, Co-Executive Producer of “The Holy Land” has formed BooYah! Films and have released through Cavu Pictures the critically acclaimed film “The Holy Land”, which opened domestically in July at the Angelica Theatre in New York City and will be rolling out to 45 cities across the nation. She still has her production company Infinity Films which is involved in feature film, music video, and commercial productions.

Ms. La Page also consults independent filmmakers for feature films, script analysis, budgets, independent marketing, and film festivals and currently teaches at the New York Film Academy as an adjunct professor.

She has been a Slamdance Film Festival Programmer for over five years and was the creator and Executive Producer for the Slamdance Filmmaker’s Bootcamp. For the last two years Ms. LaPage holds the position of Director of Programming for the New Orleans Media Experience Film Festival (NOME 2003) occurring in Louisiana October 26- November 1st. Ms. LaPage holding the position of Director of Programming platformed over 65 short films (live action and animation), 10 features, and 5 documentaries. Five out of the ten features platformed at NOME 2003 went on to have theatrical distribution: Show Boy, Nursie, Hungry Hearts, Dog Walker and Flavors.

Ms. La Page holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, Bachelor of Administration in Marketing, Accounting and a Master of Fine Arts in Film Directing from the California Institute of the Arts.