Women Who Lead. Women Who Inspire.

Hedy LaMarr (1914 - 2000):  Film Star and Inventor of WiFi

 

 "Any girl can be glamorous.  All you have to do is stand still and look stupid."  - Hedy Lamarr

Her remark  reflects the dissatisfaction felt by Hedy who was unable to escape a caged world of superficiality and artifice.  The photo above certainly shows a glamorous looking Ms. Lamarr.  I'll leave it to the reader to determine the level of intelligence reflected in the late actress' countenance. 

Ms. Lamarr obviously didn't spend a lot of time standing around.  Along with a successful acting career during Hollywood's Golden Age she was also an inventor.  Her best known co-invention was broad spectrum hopping which was patented in 1942.  This is the technology used in today's GPS systems, cell phones and WiFi networks.  Hedy signed her patent rights away to the U.S. Navy during WWII.  She was not publicly recognized for this achievement until the 1990s.

If you don't have time to read about the achievements of this remarkable woman,  Hedy's Folly: The Life and Breakthrough Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, the Most Beautiful Woman in the World is available at Audible.com.  Richard Rhodes, a Pulitzer Prize winning author, wrote this biography. 

Hedy Lamarr Foundation

The Official Site of Hedy Lamarr

"Any girl can be glamorous. All you have to do is stand still and look stupid.

Hedy Lamarr

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/hedylamarr100500.html#gsLrleBSidFkOT4h.99

Therm-A-Snap™ Thermal Bags

If you're looking to keep foodstuffs at an appropriate temperature while bringing them home, or,  to the office here's a convenient, inexpensive way:  reusable Therm-A-Snap Bags™.   Per the Bag's U.S. distributor, a food's temperature (hot or cold) can be maintained for up to 3 hours while stored in the Therm-A-Snap™ product.  Among other retailers, the bags can be found at Whole Foods markets in the Los Angeles area.  Whole Foods offers the bags in 2 sizes:  15" x 12" x 6" & 20" x 20" x 7".  Check your local store for availability. 

Mine are from the  West Los Angeles store located at:

11666 National Boulevard
(corner of National & Barrington)
Los Angeles, CA 90064
310.996.8840
310.996.9510 (fax)
Store hours: 7 am to 10 pm / seven days a week.
Cafe hours: 7 am to 8 pm

Public Transportation is available to the National Boulevard store using the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, Route # 8.

Below is a link to the Whole Foods website where a store locater  can be found.

 <www.wholefoods.com>

More information about the bags can be found on the Thermasnap company website:

<http://www.carrycool.net>

The Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden (UCLA Campus)

This seven-acre outdoor, living museum is part of the UCLA campus in West Los Angeles.  Home to over 5,000 species of plants - the gardens are a great place for a relaxing walk surrounded by lush greenery.   Entry is at at the corner of Hildegard and Le Conte.  Public transportation is available via:

- Big Blue Bus Lines 1,2,3,8 & 12, and

- MTA Bus Lines 2, 302 & 305

Admission is free.

For more information (including hours and upcoming events), a link is provided below:

http://www.botgard.ucla.edu/bg-home.htm

The AmeriBag® Healthy Back Bag® Tote

I received one of these as a gift for my most recent birthday and I love it.  The AmeriBag® "Healthy Back Bag®" has a patented, ergonomic design that contours to the natural curve of the spine.  The design of the bag is such that its weight is evenly distributed (as opposed to being at the ends of the straps).  

The product is available in a variety of colors, materials and sizes.  The interior is well planned (it includes a key fob) with lots of organizer pockets.  

There is a shoulder strap pad that comes as an accessory.  It keeps the bag in place and provides added comfort. 

More information can be found at:  http://www.ameribag.com

Here's to a lighter load,
Alma

The Full Cupboard of Life

“The Full Cupboard of Life: More from the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency”

I just finished ‘reading’ the audio version of Alexander McCall Smith’s most recent release from the Mma Precious Ramotswe series. (Partly due to the fact that the next book in the series, “In the Company of Cheerful Ladies”, is due out this April and I wanted to be ready.)

I am such a fan of audio books. When stuck in traffic they’re such a mental health break in the car. Plus, I don’t know if it’s from being read to sleep as a child, however listening to them at night has lulled me to sleep on many a restless night. Not that that’s the only time I listen. I have found this to be such a versatile way to keep up with my reading list.

This 5^th volume in the series brings few surprises. Mma Ramotswe continues to be one of my favorite literary characters. Her strength, her honesty, her generosity make me continue to look forward to each new novel. I admire Smith’s writing for one of the primary reasons I enjoyed reading the work of James Michener. Both authors share (d) the ability to explore culture and history in their novels in a way that breathes life into the data. Though I have never been to Botswana, reading Smith transports me to the world of the ‘Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency’ in Gaborone, Botswana.

My favorite of the five Mma Ramotswe books so far is “Morality for Beautiful Girls”. We’ll see what number 6 holds.

Wishing you happiness always,

Alma