Discovering Simón Bolivar
Venezuela President Hugo Chávez pictured with a painting of Simón Bolivar in the background. Photo: AP By Ralph E. Stone March 28, 2010 In 2007 and 2008, my wife and…
Nordic Mysteries: The Millenium Trilogy
The movie and the book introduce Lisbeth Salander, played by Swedish actress Noomi Rapace. She is a unique figure in fiction. She is Goth-like in appearance, autistic and bisexual with…
Constitutional Convention Needed
to Address California Budget Crisis
Cartoon courtesy Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com By Ralph E. Stone March 22, 2010 Fasten your safety belts. It’s budget time again in Sacramento. Prepare for a repeat of last year’s contentious…
Israel’s Snub of US, Mid-East Peace
Heard Around the World
Vice President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Photo: Flash 90 By Ralph E. Stone March 14, 2010 In President Obama’s June 2009 Cairo Islam speech, he called for a…
A Toast to Saint Patrick
San Francisco's 159th Annual St. Patrick's Day Festival will be held on Saturday, March 13th, 2010 at Civic Center Plaza, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Festival takes place…
Time for a Study of the Effects
of San Francisco Rent Control
All San Francisco properties with a first Certificate of Occupancy that was issued prior to June 13th, 1979 are subject to rent control. If a rental unit was in regular…
Tiger Woods’ Mea Culpa
Tiger Woods By Ralph E. Stone February 20, 2010 I am not a golfer. I have never watched a golf tournament live, or on television. Yet, Tiger Woods became a…