Columnists

Let's start this week with one final reminder. The Gavilan

In January of 2011, I shared data from the Search Institute indicating that 35 percent of 4th to 6th graders in Santa Clara County felt the adults in their communities valued children and youth and only 18 percent of our middle and high school students felt valued by the adults in their communities. I urged community members, “let’s ask ourselves what we can do to build positive relationships with our youth.” I am very happy to report that many of our community members and organizations have answered the call.

For the next 12 months, I'll be inviting you to my table. Sharing stories, anecdotes, lessons from the kitchen and, of course, recipes from my new cookbook, "Molto Batali" (ecco, 2011). And it's all about family meals.

As an investor, you know that past performance is no guarantee of future success. Expanding that truth, history has no bearing on the future of Wall Street.

"It is now a fact that as a result of birth control, the survival rate among mothers and children is higher. There is less suffering for all groups." - Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger

In any stock market climate, proper asset allocation matters. In

Have you ever thought about adopting a kitty? Kittens come to mind when someone decides to add a cat to their family. And sure, kittens are fun and cute, but they can also be a challenge. Kittens have lots and lots of energy that sometimes leads to destructive behavior. Most kittens need to be trained to use the litter box. And that cute little face? Someday it'll be just another adult cat.

Kaleidoscope: from the Greek kalos, beautiful and eidos, form. A noun meaning a succession of changing patterns or colors; a succession of changing phases or action.

Sometimes, I have difficulty deciding which I like better, comedy or great music. Each has, in its own way, a magical capability to improve my mood and state of mind. A couple of days ago, I was listening to a symphony, Mussorgsky-Ravel’s Pictures at an Exhibition, on my ancient but superb sounding stereo system. My mind was totally consumed with the power and majesty of composition. I closed my eyes and let the notes take me through the Great Gates of Kiev, totally engrossed. I probably was a Russian Cossack in a past life. If you asked me at that moment, I would have told you that music was my favorite and most enjoyable pastime.