Carol Connors is the Forrest Gump of popular music in the second half of the 20th century. If you look close enough at many major events and figures, she is there. Sang on a Billboard Hot 100 number one hit? Check. Collaborated with Phil Spector? Check. Dated Elvis? Check. Co-wrote multiple hit songs, including the theme from Rocky? Check. Paved the way for contemporary female songwriters? Check. I spoke with Ms.

Linda Hirshman would have turned 80 this month. But that birthday was not to be. She died in late October, her life memorialized in a major New York Times obituary with this headline: Linda Hirshman, who challenged stay-at-home mothers, dies at 79. The sub-headline, aptly, called her a “feminist provocateur.” Linda’s cancer, once vanquished, had returned with a vengeance; and after many ups and downs, hopes raised and dashed, it became clear that this time it would be terminal.

Ted Kaye is the secretary of the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) and author of “Good” Flag, “Bad” Flag, which outlines five basic principles of exceptional flag design. Ahead of the 2023 LA Kit release by the LA Galaxy, Ted stopped by to talk about the symbolism and uniqueness of the flag of Los Angeles, the process of improving it, and the power of flags as representative of the tribes to which we belong.

Does the world really need another gift guide? I’m not sure, to be honest, but I hope that this one might give you some ideas for things you wouldn’t otherwise have thought of. What you’ll find here are items that either I already have and wholeheartedly recommend because I actually use and love them or things that I covet. What you won’t find is a list of stupidly expensive gifts by designer brands that you already know.

French cuisine is great, but not my favourite. When I crave food, it’s usually not French, whether it’s a hot summer day (perfect time for some leaves with laab) or a freezing cold winter evening (time for a bubbling bowl of kimchi jiggae!). However, it is hard to ignore the impact that French cuisine has had on the art of cookery. More specifically, the French cooks were the ones to really get things in order, defining methods and precise definitions for stocks, mother sauces, cutting techniques and the organisation of a kitchen.