Featured

HELLO AMERICA!—I had not saved very much money from working in the Desk Set, which meant that I had to get another paying gig as soon as possible.  I was sharing a studio apartment with actor Jim Ransom, who was about to go on the road with another show.  I was offered roles in several small theater shows.  One...

HOLLYWOOD—Being powerful in Hollywood, these days is not easy. The entertainment industry relies on an “IT” factor for the stars to sell their products that are stubbornly hard to quantify. Celebrities have it overnight, and could lose it just as easily. A celebrity's  reliability at the box office has faded in recent years, and the traditional label system is...

SWEDEN—IKEA and LEGO have collaborated to create a playful storage solution, BYGGLEK, which will be available to purchase at IKEA retail shops in the U.S. and Europe (except Russia) starting October 1. BYGGLEX boxes contain one set of three small boxes, two sets of bigger boxes, and one set of LEGO bricks. The boxes have LEGO studs on the top...

SAN FRANCISCO—Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) has been temporarily closed, and is offering the free online streaming service #MuseumFromHome on their website from September 2 to October 7. The selected videos are from the past decade, and they will rotate weekly. The first week, from September 2 thru September 9, “Mike...

CHICAGO, IL—The city of Chicago saw a total of 40 people shot and six people killed as of Monday, September 7. One victim was found shot to death on September 6, in University Village on the West Side, Chicago police reported. At around 3:26 a.m. officers found a man on the ground with two gunshot wounds to his head, and...

SAN FRANCISCO—A decision to open city-owned gyms in San Francisco led to private gym-owners to call out city leaders. Privately owned gyms across the country have remained closed since shelter-in-place orders went into effect in March because of COVID-19. City officials from San Francisco recently opened city-owned gyms and are allowing city employees to use them, but still prohibit...

UNITED STATES—Dates, coconuts, acai berries and palm oil grow on palm trees. All are rare in local home gardens. The palms that are popular in much of California are almost exclusively ornamental. Very few of them produce useful fruits. Despite the similar pronunciation, such palms are not at all related to pomes. Some of the more familiar fruits happen...

SAN FRANCISCO— On Wednesday, September 2, San Leandro Police Officer Jason Fletcher was charged with voluntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Steven Demarco Taylor. Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley informed the press on Wednesday that her office filed the felony complaint against Fletcher. The shooting transpired on April 18 around 3:12 p.m. at a Walmart located at...

SAN FRANCISCO—The SF Public Health Department released a letter which has allowed SF residents to visit their loved ones at nursing homes outdoors. The decision went into effect on September 5, and comes after the city of San Francisco released a new set of updated COVID-19 rules last week. Under the new rules for visits outlined by the San Francisco...

CHICAGO—A man was shot and killed by officers from the Chicago Police Department after he allegedly lunged at officers with a knife. The incident occurred on Saturday, September 5 at around 1:40 a.m., as police officers were responding to a report of a person stabbed near 49th Street and Lavergne Avenue, the Chicago Sun Times first reported. According to...