Congratulations to the Valencia High School (VHS) Academic Decathlon (AD) team for their third place finish in Orange County and for qualifying to participate in this year’s California State Academic Decathlon in Santa Clara! Kudos to all of the coaches and members of this outstanding team of young scholars for a success that reflects well … Continue reading Congratulations to the Valencia High School Academic Decathlon Team
Category: Reflection
General Thoughts
Nancy Watkins for OCBE
Nancy Watkins is an extraordinary educator who has dedicated her life to improving public schools for everyone. I have had the privilege of knowing Nancy as a colleague, mentor, administrator, and friend for the last twenty years. No one is more qualified to serve on the Orange County Board of Education (OCBE). No one is … Continue reading Nancy Watkins for OCBE
The Spirit of ’72
On this Thanksgiving weekend, one of the things for which I am most grateful this year was the WUHS class of 1972 50th reunion. When the planning committee asked me to be one of the emcees for the event, I prepared a brief introductory statement. The right moment for making this statement, though, never seemed … Continue reading The Spirit of ’72
Rules of the Road Runner
Chuck Jones created the brilliant Looney Tunes series, “The Road Runner.” The 9 rules that guided the cartoon express a moral gravity worth considering. Rule 3 seems particularly relevant to our time!
Jay Chen for Congress
Over the next few weeks, voters in the newly redrawn 45th Congressional district will have the opportunity to send Jay Chen, a uniquely gifted lawmaker, to Washington. His resume is beyond impressive. Details of his various policy positions can be found on his website, http://www.ChenForCongress.com. On Sunday, September 25, I experienced the joy … Continue reading Jay Chen for Congress
A Celebration of Douginess
On May 20, a small group of friends and family gathered to celebrated Doug's retirement from Myovich Trucking. Cindy did a great job of organizing the event at Kyle and Niki's house. Here are some pictures along with Cathy and my reflections on being Doug's elder siblings. I hope that someday Cindy and her kids … Continue reading A Celebration of Douginess
Raisin Prophecies
In 2019, Mark Arax published the definitive work on the story of water in California, The Dreamt Land: Chasing Water and Dust Across California. He has recently published what might be seen as a distillation of this magnificent book in an article for the MIT Technology Review. As a distillation, the most essential themes from … Continue reading Raisin Prophecies
Essential Fascism: A Response to Goodfellow
Sam G (I like the Lord of the Rings echo here!): You have always maintained an appropriate caution in drawing parallels between the fascism that emerged in interwar Europe and similar elements in the US political landscape of the present. What emerged in the Nazi period, for example, drew from foundations deeply set in medieval … Continue reading Essential Fascism: A Response to Goodfellow
Thank you, Myoviches of Montenegro
February 17, 2020 Dear Mijovići of Montenegro (as well as other friends and family): This letter began as an effort to send New Year’s wishes to all the Mijoviches of Montenegro and thank you once again for the hospitality shown us during our time with you. This letter also intended to convey further information that … Continue reading Thank you, Myoviches of Montenegro
Etiologies 