Life Style & Travel

CALIFORNIA—19 people across seven states have been affected by an E. coli outbreak linked to Costco’s chicken salads, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Costco stated that the warehouse chain currently uses one supplier for its vegetables used in the chicken salad, which is then nationally distributed. Since the E. coli outbreak, Costco stores nationwide have discontinued the...

UNITED STATES—Many Americans consider Planes, Trains, and Automobiles to be the best Thanksgiving movie of all time. They’re probably right, but I, personally, would rather vegetate through the annual Thanksgiving Bondathon (i.e. James Bond marathon) after a well-deserved feast of tryptophan and stuffing. I guess everyone’s got their thing. This year, however, there’s even more reason to bone up on...

UNITED STATES—One Tuesday afternoon, sunny and cool, lullabied by the sound of cars streaming from the 10 to the 110, I neared the end of another day on my Olivetti. Mac, the electrician, ran into the kitchen. “I was watching the World Series on TV,” he panted, his voice congested with emotion. “The camera started shaking. Then TV went...

UNITED STATES—This really is the best climate for gardening. Even though summers are mild, there are not many plants that want for more warmth. Even though winters are mild, it gets just cool enough for many plants that require winter chilling. Yet, there are a few plants, particularly plants from tropical climates, that can be damaged by frost. The...

UNITED STATES—Millennials might be shocked to know that loads of of today’s violence-filled blockbuster action films were inspired by children’s cartoons. Films like Transformers: Age of Extinction staring street-hustler-turned-actor, Mark Walberg would not have been conceived if the idea hadn’t first been dreamt up to entertain elementary aged children after a tough day of ABCs. Yes, those were the days...

UNITED STATES—In light of the unspeakable terrorist attacks in Paris, it is important for Americans to recognize that these senseless acts of violence were perpetrated on a country that fought shoulder to shoulder with our founding fathers to ensure the ideals we live by today were upheld. Whether you learned the slogan, “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”,...

UNITED STATES—After Lawrence Brown rented his downstairs turret room, it really looked promising for everything being rented out at the house. Then I could screenplay like a monkey’s uncle. The attic room got taken by a white woman, Rachel, a fragile young thing with long fine hair, hairline worry wrinkles around the eyes, and translucent skin. She was deathly...

SANTA MONICA—Paul Cummins is a man whose accomplishments in the educational world are beyond anything most can imagine. He is a long-time Los Angelino and educator who completed studies at Harvard and Stanford. He has worked as a headmaster, and started several charter schools in the Los Angeles region. He co-founded Crossroads School in Santa Monica in 1971 and he...

UNITED STATES—Just as many flowers attract pollinators with color, some types of fruit employ color to get the attention of birds and other animals. Just as many flowers reward their pollinators with nectar, fruit is its own reward to the animals that eat it. The only catch is that those who want the fruit must disperse the seed within....

UNITED STATES—Austere hedonism. It’s an approach that springs from my morning espresso. Alone, beautiful, black and biting. More often than not that single espresso is enough, more than enough, though I balked at it as a caffeine-swilling kid. Take it back; serve me a real cup of coffee—that was my attitude. Now what a difference! That little cup when...