Think there's nothing you can do to help fight hunger in New Orleans in 1 Minute?
Starring - Wilton Yeung
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Statistical Information Provided by: The Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, www.no-hunger.org
Special Thanks: Linzy Cotaya and everyone at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, and Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Help the City of New Orleans
Think there's nothing you can do to help the City of New Orleans in 1 Minute?
Starring - Alex Marshall-Brown
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Statistical Information Provided by: The Greater New Orleans Foundation, www.gnof.org
Special Thanks: Martha Landrum and everyone at the Greater New Orleans Foundation, and Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Starring - Alex Marshall-Brown
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Statistical Information Provided by: The Greater New Orleans Foundation, www.gnof.org
Special Thanks: Martha Landrum and everyone at the Greater New Orleans Foundation, and Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Diary of An American Shopper - New Orleans Edition
Diary of an American Shooper - New Orleans Edition
New Orleans has always intrigued me. How could it not? It's a city with so much history. It invented a style of architecture, a style of music and a style of food. To me that's up there with the big boys - New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. I had always wanted to visit the city - I remember back in high school while working on our spring musical and bored with rehearsing, I tried to convince a friend of mine to drive with me down to Mardi Gras. He refused. So I waited.
Last summer, we finally got to visit and I wasn't disappointed at all. New Orleans is one of those cities that keeps it's past fresh within it. I felt the same thing when I visited London for the first time. It made sense to me that this was the city that spawned Charles Dickens, Jack the Ripper, the Clash, Alfred Hitchcock and Ian Fleming . New Orleans' history made sense to me too. This city housed Truman Capote, Anne Rice, Stephen Ambrose, John Besh, William Faulkner, Lee Harvey Oswald, Louis Armstrong, Wynton Marsalis and James Booker just to name a few -for a full list visit. There is this overwhelming vibe of "cool" that hangs in the air. The balconies drip with the ghosts of culture. It seems that this city is built upon remembering it's history. One legend leaning on another to bring us to today. If you get the chance to visit this city, you won't be disappointed (word of advice - try to avoid it in the summer if you aren't good with the heat). Listen to some music, sample some pralines, eat some beignets and have some chicory. Take home a piece of art to remember this great city. I'm sure you'll find it as welcoming as I did.
There are local candy artisans, coffee roasters, musicians, painters and writers all selling treasures for you to take home. I found an awesome painted panel for my friend. I found it right off of Jackson square in the French Quarter. We turned the corner and there were a bunch of Jazz musicians singing and selling their cd - a great gift for jack. We sent home pralines from Southern Candy Makers. And of course we sampled some beignets and chicory at Cafe Du Monde.
And who can forget this is the land of Tabasco. We also found an amazing autograph store called Vintage 429. It was amazing. They had autographs from presidents ranging from Thomas Jefferson to Obama. They had a flag signed by all the Apollo astronauts, not to mention the countless celebrity and sports stars. There were so many autographs they were running out of room. It's heartbreaking that this city and region keeps getting pummeled with hardship after hardship. It doesn't seem fair. Don't let the history and culture fade, visit this region. Support the people of New Orleans. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Atlantic vs Pacific - My Ocean is Better than Yours
ALICIA: So in the On the Leesh office, Melissa has the title of - among other things - odd man out. This means that she was born and raised on the West Coast. From time to time, we enjoy throwing it down on who's got it better. Is it Edy's or Dreyers? Is it Biggie or Tupac? Is it the Atlantic or the Pacific? In honor of our third oceans week, here's a sample of how Melissa and I throw down. Feel free to weigh in.
MELISSA: While I may be the only West Coast born gal in the office it doesn’t take a genius to understand why the West Coast easily beats out the East Coast. In Ocean v. Ocean I will take the Pacific any day. While I could go on an on by listing all the reasons why the West Coast is great, I would rather send out a rebuttal to Arinella’s slanderous statements about my Beloved Pacific.
ALICIA: Our ocean is older - whether or not this fact is true, we have a longer history of writing stories about our ocean.
MELISSA: Oldersmolder. Everyone knows that younger is hipper. While your Ocean may be in it’s 70's and 80's we are still in our prime 40's. And everyone knows that 40's is the new 30's and who doesn't have a rockin time in their 30's? We may be young but what we lack in age we make up for with amazing scenery, fantastic waves and Sea Otters. (I mean come on. Who doesn’t love a Sea Otter)
(Sea Otter from Northern Pacific Ocean)
ALICIA: Our ocean is more romantic. It's grey and stormy. It pounds against the rocks. That is exactly how I felt after my last break up.
MELISSA: Atlantic more romantic than Pacific? Yeah right! I got engaged on the beach of the Lost Coast in Mendocino, CA and let me tell you there is nothing more romantic. Sky High Rocky Mountains, sprawling beaches and sun for miles and miles. Hmmm…Let's see ladies, would you rather your man proposed to you on the grey, stormy and temperamental beaches of the Atlantic or on the soft sandy beaches of the Pacific, under a crystal blue sky and epic moss covered mountains? (Please See Photos)
(This is a picture taken from the southern route of the Lost Coast from Wikipedia)
(This is one of my personal photos from my engagement trip to the Lost Coast. In June 2005. This is over looking the beach and mountain range covered in beautiful morning fog. And still that Epic Blue Sky. Also that man in the R of the photo is now my husband.)
ALICIA: We have sharks at a much more manageable size. It's less intimidating to go swimming.
MELISSA: I have several things to say about this but first of all...Yes a Shark maybe scary but it is a SHARK! I mean if it weren’t scary or dangerous it wouldn't be called a shark. It would just be just another fish. I don't know about you but if we are going to have sharks I would rather have a real shark. No one needs nor cares about a very tiny shark.
Secondly according to the International Shark Attack File quoted in Surfing Magazine, "There were a record 84 documented unprovoked shark attacks throughout the world in the year 2000. Of those, 34 (almost half) occurred in Florida."
It would appear to me that while we may have bigger sharks in our Ocean your more likely to get eaten by one in the Atlantic! I will take a big shark over those odds any day.
Shark Jumping photo from - New Smyrna Beach, Florida
ALICIA: Cross it, and you're in Europe. What? Awesome.
MELISSA: HA! Cross it, you’re in Hawaii. More Awesome.
ALICIA: It ranges in color from dark and stormy (see #2) to crystal blue. Pick your passion, you can find it.
MELISSA: We got that too, nothing special there.
ALICIA: We've got the National Seashore, Acadia, Biscayne & Dry Tortugas (the Florida Keys), The Island of Saint John (yup the whole island), the Everglades, Cape Hatteras, The Outer Banks and ATLANTIC CITY - take that!
MELISSA: We have Hawaii, Malibu, Big Sur, The Redwoods, The Lost Coast and many others. As far as having Atlantic City go ahead and claim NJ. No one on our Coast wants it anyway.
ALICIA: We've got the Caribbean and other tiny islands that have made Spring Breakers so happy over the years
MELISSA: We have MEXICO, the epicenter of spring break debauchery. Who hasn’t been to a raucous spring break party in Acapulco, Tijuana, or Puerto Vallarta?
ALICIA: I just wrote Caribbean - what's up billion dollar Disney Franchise!
MELISSA: Oh I am sorry did no one tell you that Disney was started in California? Oh yeah that’s right, IT WAS!
ALICIA: We don't have earthquakes - what's up with those?
MELISSA: Yes we have earthquakes but those are just part of Mother Nature. On the West Coast we appreciate Mother Nature and her need to stretch her legs. Why doesn’t the East Coast let Mother Nature take a walk every once in awhile? You keep her pent up and frustrated. Hence your temperamental and stormy coasts, she’s pissed that you won’t let her out. No one likes a caged animal, come on East Coast, get it together.
Also may I point out that while we do have earthquakes we get hardly any hurricane’s where as the Atlantic is always pushing those baby’s around. Yuck!
ALICIA: We have major US cities - Boston, New York, Providence, Charleston, and Miami
MELISSA: We also have some fantastic Major U.S. Cities i.e. San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, San Diego, Los Angeles and not to mention smaller gems like Malibu, Carmel & Monterey.
ALICIA: Lobster - the real ones. Nuff Said
MELISSA: Dungeness Crab. Back at yah.
ALICIA: According to Wikipedia (which we all know to be accurate) - The estimated population of California, Oregon, and Washington was 47 million. And from EastCoastUSA.com, The east coast population is about 98 million, which is 37% of the total US population. By this fact - people just prefer the Atlantic, Melissa. So, I guess this just about shuts it down? NO COMPETITION!
Keep trying to rock it, Melissa - but you can't compare Love, Alicia the Atlantic Lover
Melissa: No one likes a crowded beach. ;)
Peace out Atlantic. -Melissa. (Pure Bred Pacific Ocean Lover)
P.S. By the way: It is totally Dryers Not Edy’s, Tupac Not Biggie and Best Foods Not Hellmann’s.
MELISSA: While I may be the only West Coast born gal in the office it doesn’t take a genius to understand why the West Coast easily beats out the East Coast. In Ocean v. Ocean I will take the Pacific any day. While I could go on an on by listing all the reasons why the West Coast is great, I would rather send out a rebuttal to Arinella’s slanderous statements about my Beloved Pacific.
ALICIA: Our ocean is older - whether or not this fact is true, we have a longer history of writing stories about our ocean.
MELISSA: Oldersmolder. Everyone knows that younger is hipper. While your Ocean may be in it’s 70's and 80's we are still in our prime 40's. And everyone knows that 40's is the new 30's and who doesn't have a rockin time in their 30's? We may be young but what we lack in age we make up for with amazing scenery, fantastic waves and Sea Otters. (I mean come on. Who doesn’t love a Sea Otter)(Sea Otter from Northern Pacific Ocean)
ALICIA: Our ocean is more romantic. It's grey and stormy. It pounds against the rocks. That is exactly how I felt after my last break up.
MELISSA: Atlantic more romantic than Pacific? Yeah right! I got engaged on the beach of the Lost Coast in Mendocino, CA and let me tell you there is nothing more romantic. Sky High Rocky Mountains, sprawling beaches and sun for miles and miles. Hmmm…Let's see ladies, would you rather your man proposed to you on the grey, stormy and temperamental beaches of the Atlantic or on the soft sandy beaches of the Pacific, under a crystal blue sky and epic moss covered mountains? (Please See Photos)
(This is a picture taken from the southern route of the Lost Coast from Wikipedia)
(This is one of my personal photos from my engagement trip to the Lost Coast. In June 2005. This is over looking the beach and mountain range covered in beautiful morning fog. And still that Epic Blue Sky. Also that man in the R of the photo is now my husband.)
ALICIA: We have sharks at a much more manageable size. It's less intimidating to go swimming.
MELISSA: I have several things to say about this but first of all...Yes a Shark maybe scary but it is a SHARK! I mean if it weren’t scary or dangerous it wouldn't be called a shark. It would just be just another fish. I don't know about you but if we are going to have sharks I would rather have a real shark. No one needs nor cares about a very tiny shark.
Secondly according to the International Shark Attack File quoted in Surfing Magazine, "There were a record 84 documented unprovoked shark attacks throughout the world in the year 2000. Of those, 34 (almost half) occurred in Florida." It would appear to me that while we may have bigger sharks in our Ocean your more likely to get eaten by one in the Atlantic! I will take a big shark over those odds any day.
Shark Jumping photo from - New Smyrna Beach, Florida
ALICIA: Cross it, and you're in Europe. What? Awesome. 
MELISSA: HA! Cross it, you’re in Hawaii. More Awesome.ALICIA: It ranges in color from dark and stormy (see #2) to crystal blue. Pick your passion, you can find it.
MELISSA: We got that too, nothing special there.
ALICIA: We've got the National Seashore, Acadia, Biscayne & Dry Tortugas (the Florida Keys), The Island of Saint John (yup the whole island), the Everglades, Cape Hatteras, The Outer Banks and ATLANTIC CITY - take that!
MELISSA: We have Hawaii, Malibu, Big Sur, The Redwoods, The Lost Coast and many others. As far as having Atlantic City go ahead and claim NJ. No one on our Coast wants it anyway.ALICIA: We've got the Caribbean and other tiny islands that have made Spring Breakers so happy over the years
MELISSA: We have MEXICO, the epicenter of spring break debauchery. Who hasn’t been to a raucous spring break party in Acapulco, Tijuana, or Puerto Vallarta?
ALICIA: I just wrote Caribbean - what's up billion dollar Disney Franchise!MELISSA: Oh I am sorry did no one tell you that Disney was started in California? Oh yeah that’s right, IT WAS!
ALICIA: We don't have earthquakes - what's up with those?
MELISSA: Yes we have earthquakes but those are just part of Mother Nature. On the West Coast we appreciate Mother Nature and her need to stretch her legs. Why doesn’t the East Coast let Mother Nature take a walk every once in awhile? You keep her pent up and frustrated. Hence your temperamental and stormy coasts, she’s pissed that you won’t let her out. No one likes a caged animal, come on East Coast, get it together.
Also may I point out that while we do have earthquakes we get hardly any hurricane’s where as the Atlantic is always pushing those baby’s around. Yuck!
ALICIA: We have major US cities - Boston, New York, Providence, Charleston, and Miami
MELISSA: We also have some fantastic Major U.S. Cities i.e. San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, San Diego, Los Angeles and not to mention smaller gems like Malibu, Carmel & Monterey.
ALICIA: Lobster - the real ones. Nuff Said
MELISSA: Dungeness Crab. Back at yah.ALICIA: According to Wikipedia (which we all know to be accurate) - The estimated population of California, Oregon, and Washington was 47 million. And from EastCoastUSA.com, The east coast population is about 98 million, which is 37% of the total US population. By this fact - people just prefer the Atlantic, Melissa. So, I guess this just about shuts it down? NO COMPETITION!
Keep trying to rock it, Melissa - but you can't compare Love, Alicia the Atlantic Lover
Melissa: No one likes a crowded beach. ;)
Peace out Atlantic. -Melissa. (Pure Bred Pacific Ocean Lover)
P.S. By the way: It is totally Dryers Not Edy’s, Tupac Not Biggie and Best Foods Not Hellmann’s.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Protect Our Dolphins
Think there's nothing you can do to help protect our Dolphins in 1 Minute?
Starring - Melissa Jernigan
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Statistical Information Provided by: Defenders of Wildlife, www.defenders.com
Special Thanks: Lara Koch, Jeff Regan and everyone at Defenders of Wildlife, and Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Starring - Melissa Jernigan
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Statistical Information Provided by: Defenders of Wildlife, www.defenders.com
Special Thanks: Lara Koch, Jeff Regan and everyone at Defenders of Wildlife, and Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Thursday, August 26, 2010
What You Can Do Creator, Jessica Arinella is crowned Live a Damn Citizen Rockstar!
This week, What You Can Do creator, Jessica Arinella was crowned - Live a Damn's Citizen Rock Star! Congrats Jess, and check out her interview.
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