Frederick Douglass, one of America’s great thinkers, in the “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass,” told a story of how he became educated enough to not only escape the actual bonds of slavery, but the mental ones as well. » read more

National politicians are delighted to come to California to raise campaign money. As Mitt Romney showed recently, some of them are perfectly happy to take shots at the Golden State once they leave. » read more

There were no cameras around to record whether President Obama was winking when, on his first full day in office, he signed an executive order and two presidential memorandums declaring that “every agency and department should know that this administration stands on the side not of those who seek to withhold information, but those who seek to make it known.” » read more

Forget Donna Summer, for a minute. The real disco diva was Sylvester. Yeah, Sylvester was a dude, but he was as glamorous and self-appreciative as any female singer of the era who pulled on a sequined dress and moaned or yelped into a microphone. » read more

Lockheed Martin reports that the four-week-long Machinists' strike hasn't put much of a dent in productivity at the Fort Worth aeronautics plant.

Factory operations continue with salaried employees handling critical tasks. As of May 14, the company reported that the flight line completed 33 ground engine flight run tests, almost double the 17 planned for the period. » read more

We were driving down the road when the old Eurythmics song “Sweet Dreams” came on the radio.

I turned it up.

Some of them want to use you! I sang along loudly. » read more

The following editorial appeared in the Kansas City Star on Thursday, May 24: » read more