Point of View

  LAUREL CANYON—Over the last few years I and neighbors have complained that homeowners are moving into the neighborhood and putting up fences, gates and barriers to trailheads all over the Santa Monica Mountains.  Recently there was a hearing where the MRCA testified that their preliminary review disclosed property on Mulholland Terrace encroached on park property. In anticipation of the hearing...

UNITED STATES—Almost every American in the country has been talking about Disney starlet Miley Cyrus who has made a radical transformation since shedding her image as the goody to shoes on “Hannah Montana.” Let’s face it, at some point all child actors have to grow up and the transition from child actor to adult actor is not an easy one. ...

UNITED STATES—The stop and frisk program inNew Yorkhas raised many eyebrows in the previous weeks, especially with news that a federal judge has ruled the tactic unconstitutional in the state. The tactics of the stop and frisk program are notably known to most scholars from the United States Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio, which indicated that authorities have...

  LAUREL CANYON—When you get an email from Tommy of the Canyon Country Store, it gets priority.  I’ve only known Tommy as a person who gives to the community and cares about the locals, so when he asks for help you help out.  He sent out a link to Gray August, a non-profit that is protesting a food festival in...

UNITED STATES—When I was a kid, we had something called a typewriter. There were shiny new marvels, like the Selectric my mother used at work, and there were old models like the manual Royal we had at home on its cast iron stand with wheels. They all worked more or less the same and if you got one, you...

LAUREL CANYON—You’d think it was the Deepwater Horizon all over again when you talk to the neighbors.  Arguments between old buddies, calls for criminal indictments, the canvassing of neighbors, flyers left with those who didn’t answer their doors. What’s all the stink about? Well, the hills are witnessing a population boom among skunks, and people are not happy.  At all.  Spring...

UNITED STATES—Most people these days do not even understand what debate is. They seem to think it is some kind of verbal brawl where orators sling verbs and analogies at one another in an attempt to win some kind of prize. That is not debate. Classical debate begins with opponents returning to first principles. They march backwards together until...

UNITED STATES—We know America is in dire straits when you have large metropolitan cities filing for bankruptcy.  Last week, news surfaced over the world about the city of Detroit, Michigan filing for bankruptcy.  It is the largest municipality in the history of the country to do so.  So what does this mean for citizens of the ailing city that...

UNITED STATES—We all have freedom of speech, but is it ever a good idea for politicians to comment on public affairs that have such decisive reactions from the American public. The verdict in the Trayvon Martin case has sparked so much outrage, to the point where protests and marches have taken place all over the country.  A bigger issue...

UNITED STATES—Before we can consider why people lie, we must consider and agree upon what a lie is. Being called a liar is a serious charge. It is one that impunes one’s character and motives. Being called a liar when you believe yourself innocent is heartbreaking. Being called a liar when you know that you have lied feels like...