Nature

I was not a particularly word-savvy child. My childhood was less ?Gulliver?s Travels? than it was ?Gilligan?s Island.? But one phenomenon I encountered could consistently pique my linguistic curiosity: It seemed that every cartoon caveman and rudely caricatured Indian said stuff like ?Me ride horse? and ?He go there.? And though I had no concept of terms like ?subject-verb agreement? and ?object pronoun? (I was more steeped in terminology like ?Plop, plop, fizz, fizz? and ?I can?t believe I ate the whole thing?

Open space shows connection to nature In response to your question about whether or not it is appropriate for a city to purchase open space, I want to weigh in with a resounding YES. We must have room to breathe and sustain nature's balance where we live. We live in concert with nature. We are a part of mother earth. While those with money can buy whatever they want, the community must preserve the interests of all. I believe not only is it appropriate for a city to care for its members in this way, it is desirable, and may become imperative.

The new film “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day” is a totally endearing romantic screwball comedy. You wouldn’t call it an earth-shattering, “important” film, but a great way to spend an evening nonetheless. This is due in no small part to the gorgeous Art Deco sets and wardrobe, which are jaw-dropping in every scene. The action all takes place in one 24-hour period in pre-World War II London. Guinevere Pettigrew (played by the incomparable Frances McDormand)

There's plenty to be thankful for this year This Thanksgiving I have a lot to be thankful for. Last year I was sick and in the hospital. I almost lost my leg and my life. I always thought nothing would happen to me. Last year I thought my life was falling apart. I needed help to take a bath or just change my clothes. Now this Thanksgiving I run around like "Happy Feet." I feel like I am blessed to get back on my feet. Each day I feel like it is my job to make someone smile or make their day better.

We're going to go out on a limb here about carob trees. After some discussion, the News-Press has reached the following conclusion: The world is an imperfect place. Things fall apart. Bees sting. Sharks swim too close to shore. Warranties expire. Carob trees die. As much as we'd love to see the trees grace our fair community, healthy and free of blight, the fact remains that carobs aren't naturally suited for our climate. They weaken and begin the slow process of disintegration.

When I was a little girl, my mother was always urging me to go outside and play. Our house was at the edge of suburban sprawl and was surrounded by fields and woods. But books generally grabbed my attention, or sometimes television. Being outdoors on hot, humid summer days in Indiana held little appeal. Beautiful summer days were often lost to me, as I had more books to read than time to read them. But give me a rainy day, and I was in heaven.

Resident worries city work around his hillside property could harm local flora and fauna.NORTH GLENDALE -- A walk through Joe Molina's backyard is like a nature hike through a miniature ecosystem; butterflies alight on honeysuckle plants, palms and oaks grow among meandering trails, and the rush of a nearly 100-foot waterfall can be heard throughout the hillside. But Molina's property is not in the middle of a nature preserve; it is within a five-minute drive of downtown Glendale.

Visual artist Zareh said he doesn't ponder too much before starting to paint or draw. He just goes with what feels natural. At first glance, the recurring shapes in his work, like fish, leaves and circles, seem basic but his message is complex. "What he can't say aloud, he's trying to say in his pictures," said Gayane Galustyan, curator for Harvest Gallery, which is exhibiting 36 of Zareh's acrylic paintings, drawings and three-dimensional mixed media until Sept.