The opportunity to write for the 'L.A. Weekly' has been one of the better breaks that has come my way in a long time.

We Americans are hard on almost everything. We are hard on our vehicles, our marriages and our heroes. Mostly, however, we are hard on ourselves.

Nelson Mandela will always be the face of South Africa. The traveler passing through the country will see Mandela's face almost everywhere he looks. Truly, the man is omnipresent.

I live my life through the prism of capitalism and physiological limits and eventualities. In all of that, there is no spirituality required. No God and karma is needed for the numbers. I live my life by the numbers. Not only am I an American, I am an Americanist.

I have to do things for myself, and if those standards are set high, then it's up to me to pass or fail.

I think politicians get hamstrung by the nature of politics when the private sector can really do great things.

Nothing moves me more than the history of the United States.