Opinion: Semiquincentennial — our presidents mirror us, as a nation
Throughout the 250-year history of our great country, our presidents have represented us to the rest of the world as our primary spokesmen. Some have been eloquent statesmen, others have had a more “down home” approach to expressing their philosophies, hopes, and dreams. George Washington “Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant […]
Book Talk: ‘The Last Mandarin’
In mid-April, 1989, student-led vigils were held in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. Over several days, the vigils following the death of Chairman Hu, evolved into a major protest, calling for political reform and greater freedom for the people. A young woman, who was identified as the primary organizer, escaped from China with her young daughter Alice […]
Opinion: Graduation address — a lesson learned
We’ve all been there, perhaps as graduating students, perhaps as the parents or grandparents. Graduation day. We managed to get through college, and/or we watched our offspring complete a course of study. It’s a proud day. And it is always capped off by optimistic speeches, either by a student who prophesies a brilliant future or […]
Book Talk: John Grisham, ‘Rogue Lawyer’
Some “lawyer books” present a noble, highly principled litigator who enters the courtroom to fight for truth, justice, and the American Way. A kind of Superman with a degree from Harvard Law. That ain’t Sebastian Rudd, the protagonist in John Grisham’s Rogue Lawyer (2015, 388 pages in paperback edition). At best, Rudd is a cynical […]
Opinion: Animal killers of human beings
When I saw a question posed: “What animal is the greatest killer of human beings?” My knee-jerk reaction was other human beings. I suppose that I thought about the number of murders that occur in the U.S. annually and extrapolated that to the rest of the world. But that is the kind of assumption and […]
Book Talk: Margolin, ‘A Matter of Life and Death’
This is the fourth book in the Robin Lockwood series, but — like the other three — it can easily be read as a stand-alone novel. Usually, I recommend reading series in order, but Margolin is different from many other “series” authors. You can pick up any one of his books and enjoy it without […]
Opinion: Drones fly on Fourth of July
I think that everyone knows that the grasslands surrounding our city are bone dry. And one of our most highly treasured days of national recognition is July 4, the day that we celebrate our independence from the British monarchy. Moreover, this particular Fourth of July will be extra special because it is our semiquincentennial, the […]
Book Talk: J.A. Jance, ‘Shoot Don’t Shoot’
Shoot Don’t Shoot (1995, 403 pages in paperback format) is the third book in Ms. Jance’s Sheriff Joanna Brady series. In Desert Heat, her husband Andy, Sheriff of Cochise County, is murdered; In Tombstone Courage, she is elected the new sheriff in a matter of weeks. (Desert Heat was reviewed in this column on March […]
Opinion: Bullet train’s new strategy
It’s been a year since I revisited my old standby topic for this column: California’s High Speed Rail Authority (CAHSRA). That’s because nothing much has happened. Oh sure, if you drive up and down the valley, you can probably see people working on various projects every day. They have jobs to do, and they are […]
Book Talk: Haylen Beck, ‘Lost You’
From the very first chapter, we know that this book will not have a happy ending. A woman stands on the edge of a roof, seven stories above the ground. She has a child in her arms. When asked about the child, she tells the officer, “He’s my son.” The officer tries to talk her […]