Jim Glynn

For her Capstone Project, high-school senior Pippa Fitz-Amobi has chosen to research the missing-person’s report of Andie Bell. It is believed that Salil Singh was somehow implicated in her disappearance and death, and — as a result — Sal committed suicide. She is warned by her advisor that this is a very sensitive issue in their otherwise quiet and peaceful Connecticut city of Fairview.

In my darkest moments, I wonder if there will be generations of human beings who will live a full life to follow today’s older generations. There is an existential question that is not being addressed seriously enough by those in charge (or who think they are in charge) of today’s powerful artificial intelligence systems.

Remember the ABC TV hit “Moonlighting?” It aired from 1985 to 1989, so you’d have to be 50-ish if you do. But to have understood the interaction between the characters played by Cybill Shepard and Bruce Willis, you’d have to have “50-ish” in the rear-view mirror. It was one of those well-written and well performed shows that actually made watchers believe that opposites attract. So, when I recently read Paul Levine’s “Solomon vs. Lord” (2005, 373 pages in hardback format), I thought that I was e

Meltzer notes his twentieth year of publications, not with a Preface or Prologue, but with Acknowledgments at the front of the book. He uses five pages to thank the people who have helped him over the decades, as well as his readers who have made him a bestselling author. I thought it was a nice touch.

There is a feeling of national unhappiness in the two major political parties. The king-makers, campaign organizers, and deep pockets on both sides are aware of it. And they are also concerned about the possibility of a third party entering the race for President of the United States this year.

“Forget it Steve, I’m not having sex in the ocean.” After Victoria rejects Steve’s invitation with, “There’s seaweed. And sea lice. And sea urchins,” she says the five words that turn Steve’s hot blood to ice: “Steve, we need to talk.” Those are the opening lines in Paul Levine’s sequel to “Solomon vs. Lord.” The first nine words are an excellent hint about the relationship between Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord, partners in a law firm and a terribly mismatched couple in their private lives. Vi

I suppose that Jonathan Santlofer’s “The Lost Van Gogh” could be considered a stand-alone mystery, but I strongly recommend reading his earlier novel, “The Last Mona Lisa” first. Although “The Lost Van Gogh” (2024, 311 pages in softcover) is not advertised as a sequel, it most definitely is. And that’s probably why I enjoyed it so much. I knew the characters, understood what they’d been through before their “current” situation, and was aware of the varied relationships among the players.The book

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune File PhotoAttendees join hands and unite as they sing “We Shall Overcome” at the conclusion of the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at MLK Middle School in 2024.On Aug. 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. and gave a speech that will remain in the global memory forever.That day, his “I Have a Dream” message reached 200,000 people who were gathered before him, mostly composed of those who parti

The Madera Tribune File PhotoSen. Anna Caballero presents 2023 Humanitarian Award recipient Alisha Brown with a certificate during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s sentiments will reverberate at the annual celebration, sponsored by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Local Host Committee, at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School, 601 Lilly Street, beginning with a reception at 2 p.m. on Sunday, and the program at 2:30.The theme for this year’s remembrance is “The D

Is it possible for a state to produce too much energy? The knee-jerk answer is “No.” But, in reality, California produces far more energy from a renewable source than we can use. The production of electric energy in California is our Gordian Knot, a seemingly unsolvable problem. And the heart of the problem is that electricity from a renewable source, specifically the Sun, unlike energy from petroleum, like gasoline, cannot be stored for any appreciable length of time. Shannon Eddy, executive di