John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald, Sirhan Sirhan, Adam Lanza, Jerad Loughner, James Holmes, William Spengler. What do these infamous names have in common? It is list of insignificant losers who made a name for themselves by committing heinous crimes killing prominent people or innocent citizens and children. Instant fame by using a gun -- gun fame.

Last week I went to my two granddaughters' preschool Christmas parties. There were more parents and grandparents than kids. Lots of pictures, presents and the kind of treats we only see at Christmas. Maybe I should say “holidays.”

Does the city owe the Chargers?

We are moving through time, and so far it seems to be a one-way street. Our world is changing.

Elections should be about the future, not the past. But we have to look at both to decide whom to trust as our next president.

Writers are told to write what they know. Recently I became very familiar with a medical condition known as stroke. Well, in fact I had a stroke. As bad as that may sound, by some amazing stroke of luck I seem to have zero side effects.

With enthusiasm I welcomed Mitt Romney's selection of Paul Ryan as GOP candidate for vice president of the United States. Maybe, at last, we could finally begin a real discussion of great political import rather than a campaign based on platitudes, gaffes and one-liners.

After another gun disaster in our country, is it time to consider if this is the new normal? Are we going to have innocent civilians killed by some heavily armed crazy person every few months?

Various polls show that President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are very close in the presidential contest. Meanwhile, across the country, conservatives are doing well in electoral contests for state and federal offices. With the conservatives energized by the possibility of replacing Obama and gaining control of both houses of Congress, my question is this: Who benefits if the GOP wins big?

Balboa Park, the gem of San Diego, is a topic of much discussion lately. At issue is the idea of limiting the Plaza de Panama to an automobile-free zone. It's a worthy idea making the center of the park an entirely pedestrian-friendly plaza.

A polling company called, asking about the mayoral race and whom I favored. Actually, the questions regarded which of four individuals I favored or disfavored and how strong my feelings toward the candidates were — as in “slightly disfavor” or “strongly favor.”

Last week, I attended an event where Ann Coulter was the featured guest. The event was billed as “Hope for Change,” sponsored by radio station KCBQ 1170-AM. Coulter was joined by local conservative talk show host Mark Larson.

On April 5, the California Public Utilities Commission held hearings regarding the “Wildfire Expense Balancing Account” and whether it should apply to San Diego’s 2007 fires. There were two hearings before Public Utilities Commissioner Timothy Simon and an administrative law judge.

Last week, I paid $3.49 per gallon for gas in New Mexico. Throughout the state of New Mexico, the price is about $3.59 per gallon for regular unleaded. Can anyone explain why it is almost $1 per gallon more in San Diego? And typically at least 50 cents more across the United States?

I thought this was all resolved in the United States years ago. But apparently many people want to shrink the rights of American women and control their health and reproductive choices.

Sound familiar? These are the words of the Stephen Stills/Buffalo Springfield song “For what it’s worth” circa 1967-1968. Are we in the new 1960s?

In his inaugural speech, former President John F. Kennedy said, “Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans — born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace.”

We hear the term a lot these days. In the newspapers, on TV and especially talk radio. But what does the noun “conservative” mean, and does it mean the same thing to everyone?

Marley was dead. There is no doubt whatever about that. And so was Ebenezer Scrooge. In fact, dead 168 years since that fated Christmas, 1843.

There has been interesting news lately that The San Diego Union-Tribune has been sold to Douglas Manchester — perfect timing for our mayor and his desire to end his tenure with a new library, new football stadium and an expanded convention center.