California Declares War By David DeVoss To hear governor Jerry Brown tell it, California is all that stands between the United States and the ruin of the nation. In his recent “State of the State” address, Brown promised to defy Donald Trump, fashioning it as a great patriotic quest: “When we defend California,” Brown said,…
Pasadena Craftsmanship By David DeVoss Every New Year’s Day America turns its attention to Pasadena, California to watch the Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl football game, which this year will showcase Penn State and the University of Southern California. The spectacles are marvelous advertisements for the city, which almost always enjoys winter sunshine while…
Pasadena’s Politicon is the Woodstock of Politics She had given a fairly coherent speech earlier in the day. But it was accomplished with a teleprompter. Now Sarah Palin was in an unscripted “conversation” with Democratic pollster turned college professor James Carville inside a darkened convention hall full of people attending a two-day event called “Politicon.”…
Hard Work U By David DeVoss Both Democratic presidential candidates believe higher education in America should be free at public colleges and universities. Neither is forthcoming, unfortunately, on how to pay for this massive entitlement. Nor have they hinted that students should work campus jobs or give a year of community service in return for…
Dead But Still Alive Mexican artist Frida Kahlo died 61 years ago but today, on the anniversary of her 108th birthday, it’s as if she’s still alive. Or in the words of The New York Times, “Frida Kahlo is Having a Moment.” Wife of Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, Kahlo was famed for her brooding gaze,…
The Star Alliance Deception By David DeVoss We all know it’s difficult to redeem frequent flyer miles. There are space availability issues and black out dates. Don’t even think about using miles for a summer flight to Rome. One credit card company spends most of its ad budget trying to convince customers they actually will…