You've seen the pictures and the video of people lining up for hours at Indy Mac in Pasadena right here on KTLA and here's this photo by Al Seib / Los Angeles Times on Friday.

It is worse today. Tensions rising as hundreds of people are trying desperately to get their life savings out of the failed bank. The only hope to get whatever they can out of the bank and into their own hands. If they had more than 100K they get 50 cents to a dollar. The pictures are alarming to me. As if the United States of America has regressed to the days of the Great Depression, or more so a Modern Depression.

Then there was the comment made by the retired Texas senator Phil Gramm last Friday: that America is a "nation of whiners" and said we were in a "mental recession." 

I just can't believe that at this moment in time there is a denial of a recession. Where today, people are again lining up in front of IndyMac to take their money elsewhere and perhaps stuff the money under their mattresses. If you are one of these people worried about your money even at other banking institutions and have any questions about whether your deposits are insured, consult with your bank or contact deposit insurance specialists at 1-877-ASK-FDIC.

What's next? Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae had shares slump at the opening of the markets today. General Motors, also this morning, has cut salaried payroll by 20 percent and proposed selling assets to raise at least $15 billion in the next 18 months.

And on top of that last week U.S. Airways said they will drop their in-flight movies from domestic flights starting November 1st. The airline says this will save them about ten-million-dollars a year. We all know that airlines have been feeling the hit for quite some time now. Cutting corners where ever they can.

So, here's dictionary.com's definition of recession: Economics. a period of an economic contraction, sometimes limited in scope or duration. And lets compare it to the definition of depression: Economics. a period during which business, employment, and stock-market values decline severely or remain at a very low level of activity.

Tell me, where do you think America is now?

This Saturday I will participate in the Vagina Monologues as a narrator to benefit the Center for Pacific Asian Families (CPAF). It is a charity that is vital to the Asian Pacific Islander community here in LA, helping victims of abuse and sexual assault break the cycle of violence and help women and children get back to a life of dignity and become survivors.

I participated last year in the Vagina Monologues to raise funds for CPAF with V-day's first all Pan-Asian cast. It was a powerful experience. If you have never seen the Vagina Monologues, I hope you can come this weekend. I think more importantly, the experience of hearing the words of this particular performance is something not only women can empathize with but an experience men should be part of as well.  Its not a play for everyone but from the audience reaction last year, I believe that you would walk away pensive, moved, and enriched, having laughed and cried.

Let me tell you more about the charity CPAF. The organization has been helping the Los Angeles community for 30 years now. They are a non-profit and all of their services are free. The agency specializes in assisting Asian and Pacific Islander women and families who are survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. What is incredible about this organization is that they are multi-lingual and can serve you in the language you feel most comfortable using.

I am a very visual person. I want to see things with my own eyes.  So, I went to CPAF and had a tour of their facilities. It's safe house is discrete and you would never know that their building is a shelter for women and children hiding from their abusers. As it should be. I spoke with some of the women there and heard their stories of abuse, sexual assault. Some women who come through this place are foreigners who didn't know that CPAF existed until the police called and advised them to get help. However, the police calling, the ER calling, its not a situation that is ideal. Women need to know that there is help, before it escalates to an ER or LAPD call.  CPAF can help. They can get you legal help. They even helped one of the women I spoke with get a divorce from her abusive husband. Free of charge. They sent her to vocational school to get her life started so she wouldn't have to remain dependent on her abuser. For Free. They housed her, fed her, gave her therapy, taught her English. All for free. You can leave your abuser. You can be a survivor, not a victim. To know more about CPAF and the great work they are doing here is a link to their website  www.cpaf.info

And they can only do all this good with donations. So, why not come to the Vagina Monologues, see a great performance and at the same time your support at V-day this weekend will support the women who need CPAF here in Los Angeles.

I hope to see you this weekend at the Aratani Japan America Theater in Downtown Los Angeles. Tickets available for 2PM Matinee and 8PM performance Saturday, March 15, 2008. Please log onto www.cpaf.info for more ticket information. Thanks for reading this, and for your support of one of my charities.

--Cher

Just a quick note since I am on vacation for the rest of the week. My blog is due tomorrow... and technically since I am on vacation I should be free from blogging. But why forgo the opportunity to ask Mark this: Since you are so talented and eloquent in your own blogs, could you please write my blog this week? Or your ghost writer? Thanks ;-)

See you all Monday morning. Have a wonderful week everyone!

Cher

Yesterday, I gave a talk to the Cabrini Literary Group in Burbank and was a wonderful way to spend a dreary afternoon. The topic that had been given to me: "Passport to the World." The woman who enlisted me to volunteer, Regina is part of the Cabrini Mission, and is a long time friend. Regina was in awe of the production of this years Tournament of Roses parade and its theme "Passport to the World" and wanted this to be the topic for the literary group's meeting. When I took a look at the flyer's promoting the event I noticed that the literary group was more of a philosophy group and pondered how my speech would go. It was only when I arrived at the meeting location in Burbank and met all the women, that my speech came together. Sometimes it just happens that way.

The group of about 20 women have met on a weekly basis since 1954. They are all senior citizens, smart and graceful women. I wasn't expecting that I would have something to say to them that would be of interest but I pushed through anyway. We had lunch first, and I was able to talk to the women one-on-one and found their bond in this group fascinating. 

When I was introduced, I realized, what they have, this bond, is something that I am apart of to, and that is KTLA.  Though I have been only part of the KTLA community for 3 years, I feel that I am part of a family. Much like the group I spent my afternoon with yesterday. I told them that it is amazing to learn how many years many of the employees have dedicated to KTLA. We even have a plaque in the garden that has all the names of the employees with service from 10, 20, all the way up to 60 years of service. And many of those people are still here. Stan Chambers is one of them that most people would recognize, but there are many others behind the scenes as well.

We all have bond together some how, some way.  We, that work in news, are your "Passport to the World."  We are giving you an inside look at what is happening outside of your backyard. And we have been doing so at KTLA for 60 years. So maybe we are your bond to the rest of the world or to those in your backyard, your neighbors, your community.

What was most compelling about my afternoon with the women's group was when I asked them about how certain current events are affecting them, from the recent declaration of independence of Kosovo to the resignation of Fidel Castro. The discussion went on for nearly 2 hours. We debated, they expressed their opinions. There was a lot of disagreement as the conversation went from international affairs to the affairs right here at home. But most importantly, we had a bond, we were talking, even through we are generations apart. These amazing women were my passport to the world yesterday and they were right there: in my backyard. And it made my world that much more fulfilled to have spent time with them.

Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day... I want to let you know I feel really bad for the guys out there that have to spend an arm and a leg just so their girlfriend or wife will get flowers and chocolate.

Lets talk about the chocolate factor first. I LOVE my chocolates. In fact, it is hard for me not to have a piece on a daily basis. But have you heard? There was a story in the news the other day that there is chocolate price gouging. Here is an excerpt from the BBC news story on line

Chocolate producers blame the soaring price of cocoa for price rises

German officials investigating possible chocolate price-fixing have raided the offices of some of Europe's biggest confectionery companies.

Nestle, Mars and Kraft confirmed that competition officials visited their German headquarters last Thursday.

Four other chocolate companies were also examined by the German Federal Cartel Office.

Nestle said it was cooperating with authorities and that price rises were due to rising costs of raw materials.

"There have been, worldwide, hefty increases in the price of cocoa. That naturally leads to the adapting of prices," Nestle spokesman Francois Perroud said.

So, I looked up some of the outrageous prices online. Can you believe delivery of those heart shaped boxes of chocolate can start at $85.00! Its important to know how deep some of our men have to dig into their pockets this time of year. Its nice to get chocolates, but really-- I think that $85.00 is a little too much.

And what about roses? According to the L.A. Times today, "American's will spend a record $9 Billion on fresh flowers this year, more than ever before." My middle name is Rose (it is, really) and I love my roses, but to have them delivered... ladies, do you know that your man is spending at least $79.99 for only a dozen red roses? I just find this kind of spending unnecessary.  There are places here in Los Angeles where your man can go and buy 50 red roses for $24.00. That is not a typo. Go to the flower market in downtown L.A. There is a small admissions charge of $2.00 and there you can find the freshest, largest variety of bouquets for your loved one... and deliver it yourself. Not only do you save $53.99 on the cost of delivery, but your woman will probably have more roses than anyone else at her work place. Plus, there is the extra bonus of having you personally deliver it with a kiss. Now isn't that romantic?

Happy Valentine's day all! I hope the men out there don't break the bank. Remember, you can do all that you romantically want to do, without spending the extra dough.