What does it really mean to be a minimalist? Many people look the part these days. You know them. They look super-cool, dressed in monochrome colors, with strikingly simple accessories in shiny silver on their wrists, arms and necks, usually with a beautifully understated bag and pair of shoes. There are many of them in social media, and their photos always … Read More
How Harry Culver Was a Genius
Second in a series. Re: “One Big Birthday Coming up” Culver City history condensed into a single sentence: “This community was the creation of a realtor, Harry Culver, who foresaw that between Los Angeles and Venice Beach there was an opportunity to grow a community,” Paul Jacobs was saying about Culver City’s birth in 1917. In less than two months, … Read More
Resistance Firm, but Nachbar May Win New Power
The first commandment a raw politician learns on his way to maturity is: A matter that seems settled is not necessarily over. Two weeks ago, the divided City Council provisionally advanced to the November ballot a charter amendment that would transfer hiring/firing authority over the police and fire chiefs from the Council to the city manager. This plan collided with … Read More
Parcel Tax: A Question of Courage
The City Council seems determined not to put an end date on its newly proposed parcel tax. It seems the Council wants to make this parcel tax permanent, without actually calling for it to be permanent. Our members are too scared to ask voters to approve it, as such. That should tell the Council something right there. Don’t try and … Read More
Good Riddance, Rose Says of Chief Complaint
Ten years after the City Charter was heavily amended, the City Council will set about sweeping up the final crumbs from the mess the 2006 Council left. At this evening’s 7 o’clock meeting in Council Chambers, the divided Council is expected to formally advance a proposed major power shift to the Nov. 8 ballot. Two weeks ago, on the shaky … Read More
Go East and West Simultaneously, Young Man
Second in a series. Re: “Is City Hall Changing Directions?” To those denizens of Culver City seeking direction for their lives, the astute Public Works director brings news: The east-facing side of the City Hall building, the giant wall that stares at the Meralta Building, is, to state the non-obvious, the northern side of City Hall, according to the Pubic … Read More
Our Man Loves His Electronic Hobbies
Years ago, when I scanned in 6,000 photos to my Mac, I did it in batches of about six photos at a time on my flatbed scanner. It took at least two minutes to both scan in those six photos, and then separate, crop and orient them using Picasa. So, doing this for all 6,000 photos took 2,000 minutes, or … Read More
Biblical Food for Historic Thought in Israel
Dateline Jerusalem — Living in Israel is living history. Everything in this land relates to Biblical times, from ancient Jewish holy sites to unearthed artifacts from archeological digs to even the plants and trees used in the Jewish diet as described in the Torah (Bible) and Talmud (writings that interpret and explain the Torah). Because I have a particular fascination … Read More
One Big Birthday Coming up
Seated amidst the lush, timeless greenery of the smartly contemporary Raintree condo complexes, it was easy to imagine Paul Jacobs as chair of Culver City’s Centennial Year committee. In the last century, he was the youngest person elected to the City Council, and in both centuries he has been a successful attorney. In both centuries, Mr. Jacobs quietly has been … Read More
Strike up the Band – Salsa Style
Gary Mandell, producer of the Summer Music Festival with the Long, Balky Name, promised to bring variety to the Dale Jones Courtyard at City Hall on six Thursdays in July and August. This evening at 7, a Big Band will be in the klieg lights. Perhaps, though, not the first Big Band image you are thinking about. This is the … Read More