The Feast of the Epiphany, or Three Kings' Day, is a celebration of the visit of the Magi, wise men from the East, to the baby Jesus the second Sunday after Christmas. In our current age of skepticism and science, the Magi demonstrate how faith and reason can work...
I watched President Trump's speech on illegal immigration the other evening and heard Senator Schumer and House Speaker Pelosi's responses. I think both sides made some good points. President Trump, I agree with you that we have a humanitarian crisis at the...
I visited a factory today. Giant robots did all the mixing, pouring, packaging, and even shrink wrapping. It was amazing! The final product? Grind up 48,000 tons of fresh jalapeño peppers, add vinegar, salt, sugar, and garlic and you get — you guessed it — one of...
"The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupery is a story written in 1943 about a little prince who lives on a tiny planet. One day a rose pops out of the soil, dazzles him with her beauty, and perfumes his whole world with her scent. But he grows mistrustful of her...
Last Saturday I went to the grand and historic San Gabriel Mission Playhouse to see "The Nutcracker" Ballet performed by the Pasadena Dance Theatre. It is a truly lovely production of a traditional Christmas favorite. "The Nutcracker" is a charming story about a...
Home-cooked tofu, crispy and fried, Dripping with soy sauce with rice on the side, Tender fish flaky, with a macadamia crust. More baked olive-brushed brussels? Okay, if I must. Aunt Jane shows pictures, to Japan she has been. Uncle Jerry took her to see...
You might have seen me around campus, slowly walking to the library or wrapping my arms around my head and freezing as the bell rings. You might be wondering, "Who is that guy? Could it be one of those kids with autism in room 112?" I am Peter Tran, a student on...
"Box crayons, box crayons!" I grab my mother's wrist and stare into her eyes. "Peter, do you want another turn to play with your box of crayons? You can have it by earning 100 points." "Work, work," I mutter. The words start tumbling over each other. I can’t get them...
Walking into the Mission San Gabriel Archangel is like stepping back 200 years into the early days of Alta California history. Founded in 1771, it is the fourth of a chain of 21 missions began by St. Junipero Serra, a Franciscan friar, to bring Catholicism to the New...
My dad is a paradox. He doesn't say much, but has a big presence. He doesn't smile at us or praise us much, but we know he loves us and would do anything for us. He seems stern and tough, and hisses in disapproval at our smallest errors, but he is also totally...
