Modern Times

Re: Patrick Azadian's From The Margins column ("Manners gone in thin 'ear' ", Aug. 7). In this article, Mr. Azadian takes the readers by the "ear" and walks them through a carnival of images and its corresponding emotional impacts. He skillfully slips in a "double entendre" and uses the exaggerated visual of "the red underwear" and the "WOOOAHAHA" to create the vivid coloring and the burst of cheering sounds experienced in a fun excursion kind of a situation, to create a longer lasting impression in the unsuspecting reader's mind.

Temple Sinai of Glendale will hold its annual Tu B'Shevat Seder and Dinner on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 6 p.m. at the temple, 1212 Pacific Ave. The holiday, also known as "New Year for Trees," was originally created as a way of calculating the age of fruit trees. Thus, it is customary to celebrate by enjoying fruits grown in the Holy Land during biblical times, such as figs, grapes, dates and olives. In modern times, Tu B'Shevat has come to symbolize the Jewish commitment to protecting the earth and its bounty.

A new exhibit opened at the Petersen Automotive Museum last weekend that features American convertibles. Called Going Topless In Style: The American Convertible, it will run through Oct. 7. Southern Californians have always considered convertibles the ideal vehicles for the area's mild climate and vast network of scenic roads. Going Topless in Style will celebrate our fascination with convertibles by presenting a wide variety of domestically produced ragtops that illustrate the development of the body type from the first versions built during the early twentieth century to modern times.

Thank you, Mr. Brandstater, for the history lesson. Your Community Commentary ("Opponents of Patriot Act 'ill-informed'," Aug. 17) is filled not only with irrelevant tidbits on American history, but it smacks of Cold War-era fear tactics, which have no place in public discourse today. Your attempt at invoking irrational sentiments by connecting a legal association with communists is utterly laughable. I mean, the communists are no longer communists in places they used to rule.

Unbeknownst to most Glendale residents, a snow-covered winter wonderland lies hidden deep within the city. In this holiday village, the snow falls freely while villagers tend to their yule-tide tasks — and the entire city is under the careful watch of Glendale resident Terri Jowdy. Jowdy has been collecting articles to add to a pint-sized village inside of her home for 16 years, and can now fill five picnic tables with her miniatures, which come from a company called Department 56. "Each one has its own special box, and I take them out every year," Jowdy said.

Jacqui Brown The lessons he learned during Sunday School were the inspiration for Glendale author Brad Brown's four-novel series about life in Monument, a fictional town founded in 1926 and modeled after the Mayberry-like quaintness of Burbank. In Brown's third novel, "Upon This Rock," Ian Block, from whose perspective the stories unfold, explores the past and uncovers the roots of five prominent families in Monument, a town that is spiraling toward modern times.

WESTERN FASHION RAISES FUNDS Friends of the Autry are "Puttin' on the West" at this year's annual Fashion Show and Luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 25 at the Autry National Center in Griffith Park. Autry National Center staff members will strut their stuff down the runway with the latest in contemporary western wear. From frocks to frontier pants and cascading fringe, the fashions of the West continue to make a statement in these modern times.

When Jeff Lushbaugh ran for a Glendale City Council seat back in 1999, I was pretty tough on him. I thought he had almost as little knowledge of the city itself as he had of the top issues, and wrote back then, "He makes me grumpy." Now Lushbaugh's unique name is back in the news, albeit in news that's followed only by a handful of legal specialists and activists in 1st Amendment issues. Lushbaugh scored 209 votes in 1999, 10 votes ahead of the last-place finisher in a pack of 13. In a recent decision from the California State Court of Appeal, Second District, Lushbaugh came in last in his case against Home Depot.

During their annual convention, progressive Baptist leaders last week continued a call for an end to the war in Iraq, adding that American resources, including its troops, could be better used elsewhere. Those troops, they insist, should be brought home. What do you think? Just weeks earlier, the largest Protestant body in the country, the Southern Baptists, also had an annual convention and passed resolution No. 13, expressing deep gratitude toward President George W. Bush and our troops in Iraq for their difficult struggle against international terrorism, and for liberating that particular nation from dictatorship.

BEST BET: The Eagle Rock High School Jazz Band (pictured) will perform at "Jazz Celebrations" at 5 p.m. Sunday at First Lutheran Church, 1300 E. Colorado St. The band holds the distinction of earning one of the top three placings in the annual Monterey Jazz Festival High School Competition for 17 years in a row. Parking is free and a donation will be taken. For more information, call 240-9000. TODAY A rummage sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Koopmans Hall at the La Crescenta Presbyterian Church, 2902 Montrose Ave., in La Crescenta.

For its spring concert, the Towne Singers will perform a musical history of choral music starting from medieval times and running through the present, completing the show with a piece the group commissioned last year. It will be the world premiere of the piece, contemporary composer Eric Whitacre?s ?Seal Lullaby,? based on a Rudyard Kipling poem. Being the first group to sing the piece is a privilege, Glendale choir member Julie Kirby said. ?I love the melody and the words,?

A new exhibit opened at the Petersen Automotive Museum last weekend that features American convertibles. Called Going Topless In Style: The American Convertible, it will run through Oct. 7. Southern Californians have always considered convertibles the ideal vehicles for the area's mild climate and vast network of scenic roads. Going Topless in Style will celebrate our fascination with convertibles by presenting a wide variety of domestically produced ragtops that illustrate the development of the body type from the first versions built during the early twentieth century to modern times.

Unbeknownst to most Glendale residents, a snow-covered winter wonderland lies hidden deep within the city. In this holiday village, the snow falls freely while villagers tend to their yule-tide tasks — and the entire city is under the careful watch of Glendale resident Terri Jowdy. Jowdy has been collecting articles to add to a pint-sized village inside of her home for 16 years, and can now fill five picnic tables with her miniatures, which come from a company called Department 56. "Each one has its own special box, and I take them out every year," Jowdy said.

During their annual convention, progressive Baptist leaders last week continued a call for an end to the war in Iraq, adding that American resources, including its troops, could be better used elsewhere. Those troops, they insist, should be brought home. What do you think? Just weeks earlier, the largest Protestant body in the country, the Southern Baptists, also had an annual convention and passed resolution No. 13, expressing deep gratitude toward President George W. Bush and our troops in Iraq for their difficult struggle against international terrorism, and for liberating that particular nation from dictatorship.

Temple Sinai of Glendale will hold its annual Tu B'Shevat Seder and Dinner on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 6 p.m. at the temple, 1212 Pacific Ave. The holiday, also known as "New Year for Trees," was originally created as a way of calculating the age of fruit trees. Thus, it is customary to celebrate by enjoying fruits grown in the Holy Land during biblical times, such as figs, grapes, dates and olives. In modern times, Tu B'Shevat has come to symbolize the Jewish commitment to protecting the earth and its bounty.

Jacqui Brown The lessons he learned during Sunday School were the inspiration for Glendale author Brad Brown's four-novel series about life in Monument, a fictional town founded in 1926 and modeled after the Mayberry-like quaintness of Burbank. In Brown's third novel, "Upon This Rock," Ian Block, from whose perspective the stories unfold, explores the past and uncovers the roots of five prominent families in Monument, a town that is spiraling toward modern times.

WESTERN FASHION RAISES FUNDS Friends of the Autry are "Puttin' on the West" at this year's annual Fashion Show and Luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 25 at the Autry National Center in Griffith Park. Autry National Center staff members will strut their stuff down the runway with the latest in contemporary western wear. From frocks to frontier pants and cascading fringe, the fashions of the West continue to make a statement in these modern times.

Re: Patrick Azadian's From The Margins column ("Manners gone in thin 'ear' ", Aug. 7). In this article, Mr. Azadian takes the readers by the "ear" and walks them through a carnival of images and its corresponding emotional impacts. He skillfully slips in a "double entendre" and uses the exaggerated visual of "the red underwear" and the "WOOOAHAHA" to create the vivid coloring and the burst of cheering sounds experienced in a fun excursion kind of a situation, to create a longer lasting impression in the unsuspecting reader's mind.

Thank you, Mr. Brandstater, for the history lesson. Your Community Commentary ("Opponents of Patriot Act 'ill-informed'," Aug. 17) is filled not only with irrelevant tidbits on American history, but it smacks of Cold War-era fear tactics, which have no place in public discourse today. Your attempt at invoking irrational sentiments by connecting a legal association with communists is utterly laughable. I mean, the communists are no longer communists in places they used to rule.