Eighty-four. The DMV wants to test me every two years.  I spend all my driving, dodging younger drivers! Merced: Young driver locked up...

I’ve now read all of Chris Whitaker’s books, published as of 2025.  I read his most recent book first and his debut novel last.  However,...

My previous two columns have dealt with becoming an expatriate. But as we just celebrated the Fourth of July, it seems appropriate to...

Poor Manco Kapak. He’s just making a night deposit at the bank when he gets held up by a thief who steals his $20,000. Then he gets...

Across California, fear is rising among immigrant families — not just from federal raids and deportation threats, but from state policies...

Last week, I presented one list of countries to which American citizens are currently moving. Of course, there are other lists, based on...

When I started this column on Sept. 15, 2021, I tried to find authors whose debut novels were published after the turn of the century....

Originally published July 20, 2013. • • • Last Tuesday my calendar reminded me that on that day in 1981 folk singer Harry Chapin died. If...