Author: Alfredo Casuso

2027: A Real Cause for Celebration 
by David Eugene Perry

I love history. As a boy in 1976, I sat in front on the TV with a cassette player recording Walter Cronkite’s “Bicentennial Minutes.” I had been anticipating a joyous celebration of our country’s Semiquincentennial this year: had been.

As is made more embarrassingly clear every tweet, the current president— legally elected in truth — is not up to nor interested in the unity, dignity and gravitas this moment deserves. Therefore, I have decided to focus on another important anniversary: not the start of our fight for freedom but rather its aspirational one for true equal justice under law.

In 2027, the United States reaches a quiet but profound milestone: 240 years since the signing of the U.S. Constitution, the document that reshaped the nation’s future and laid the foundation for American democracy as we know it. That noble dream put to parchment has been having a rough go lately. Perhaps it’s time for a little historical review.

The Constitutional Timeline:

The creation of the Constitution was not a single moment, but a deliberate process that unfolded over several critical years:

• May–September 1787 – Delegates convene at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, originally tasked with revising the Articles of Confederation.

• September 17, 1787 – The U.S. Constitution is signed, establishing a new framework for federal government based on separation of powers, checks and balances, and popular sovereignty.

• June 21, 1788 – Ratification achieved when New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to approve the Constitution, meeting the threshold required for it to take effect.

• March 4, 1789 – The Constitution officially goes into force, marking the beginning of the federal government under its new structure.

• December 15, 1791 – The Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments) is ratified, safeguarding fundamental liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and due process.

The Birth of the American Presidency:

Alongside the Constitution emerged a brand-new institution: the presidency.

• April 30, 1789 — George Washington is inaugurated as the first President of the United States in New York City.

• 1789–1797 – Washington serves two terms, establishing enduring precedents: the Cabinet, civilian control of the military, judicial independence, and the peaceful transfer of power.

Why 2027 Matters:

While the nation rightly commemorates 2026 as the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, 2027 marks something equally vital, if not more so: 240 years since Americans committed to governing themselves under the rule of law rather than the tyranny of individuals.

The Constitution’s endurance is not accidental. It survives, if not at the moment thrives, because it balances stability with adaptability. It’s a framework strong enough to have guided us for 239 years — and if we recommit to it — able to outlast the current president and his consciously cruel regime. 

The United States of America was birthed during the Age of Enlightenment, albeit an “Enlightenment” that confined millions of humans to chains and servitude. We didn’t always “get it right.” But, as we approach the anniversary of our often stilted attempts at a more perfect union, let us concentrate on fulfilling — and expanding— the inalienable rights of the Our Constitution. That — especially if this year’s midterms give us hope for such a fulfillment — will be worth bunting and fireworks galore.

David Eugene Perry is an award winning author and longtime communications strategist. Originally from the Commonwealth of Virginia, he cherishes his state’s motto and flag: Sic Semper Tyrannis / This Always to Tyranny, with a despot and his fallen crown under the feet of the Roman Goddess of Virtue.

From Builders to Bon Vivants: A Union Square Hotel Steeped in San Francisco History

San Francisco is a city that reinvents itself—but its most compelling places never forget where they began.

At the corner of Powell and O’Farrell, just steps from Union Square, stands a hotel whose walls have quietly witnessed more than a century of the city’s evolution. Long before it became the beloved Villa Florence, and long before its current life as The Barnes, this building was known as The Manx—and its story begins in the aftermath of catastrophe.

Built for a Reborn City (1908–1909):

The building opened its doors in 1908, just two years after the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. In a city racing to rebuild itself, The Manx was originally designed to house bridge builders, engineers, and tradespeople—the men shaping the new San Francisco skyline.

By 1909, The Manx had transformed into a full-service hotel, quickly becoming a lively gathering place in the heart of Union Square. Its spacious lobby, modern comforts, and central location made it a favorite for travelers arriving by rail and streetcar, eager to experience a city very much alive again.

“Meet Me at the Manx”:

In the early 20th century, The Manx was more than a hotel—it was a landmark. Advertisements encouraged visitors to “Meet me at the Manx,” a phrase that captured its role as a social hub for locals and visitors alike.

During Prohibition, like many San Francisco institutions, the hotel gained a quieter, more clandestine reputation. Behind closed doors, a hidden speakeasy kept spirits—and spirits—high, offering refuge from the bustle of the streets outside.

War, Strategy, and Secrecy (1940s):

History took a dramatic turn during World War II, when The Manx served as the U.S. Navy’s West Coast headquarters. Decisions made within its rooms played a role in the Pacific theater, adding a layer of national significance to the building’s already rich story.

From roaring nightlife to wartime strategy, the hotel adapted—always remaining at the center of San Francisco’s unfolding narrative.

The Villa Florence Era (Late 1980s–2022):

In 1987, the hotel entered a new chapter when it became the Villa Florence Hotel, embracing an Italian-inspired elegance that would define it for more than three decades. With its European warmth, ornate interiors, and the beloved Kuleto’s Italian restaurant, Villa Florence became a favorite among visitors who wanted boutique charm with a deep sense of place.

For many San Franciscans and returning guests, Villa Florence wasn’t just a hotel—it was their hotel.

The Barnes: A New Chapter, Same Soul:

Today, the building lives on as The Barnes San Francisco, part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection. While the name has changed, the spirit remains unmistakably tied to its past.

From builders and bridge men to wartime strategists, from Prohibition-era revelers to generations of travelers, this corner of Union Square has always been a place where stories converge.

The Barnes doesn’t erase that history—it inherits it.

January 30, 1847: The Naming of San Francisco 

Today in history: On January 30, 1847, the town of Yerba Buena was officially renamed San Francisco. This change was implemented to establish a distinct identity for the growing settlement and to prevent confusion with another nearby town that was to be named “Francisca.” That town is now known as Benicia and was named in honor of Francisca Benicia Carillo de Vallejo, the wife of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. 

The renaming of Yerba Buena marked a significant moment in San Francisco’s history, setting the stage for its development during the California Gold Rush and its emergence as a major urban center. In 1847, San Francisco had about 600 residents, which boomed to 60,000 a decade later during the Gold Rush.

Trump’s Lyin’ Eyes
By J.D. Murphy

In the United States of America, because of Republican control of congress withDonald J. Trump as our 47th president, it simply no longer matters where you live, or what you might happen to believe in, to become a victim of the transparently out-of-control executive and legislative branches of the federal government,manifested by the indiscriminate use—at the cost of billions of taxpayer dollars—of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency againstnot only non-citizen illegal aliens as intended, but all citizens exercising free speech rights in physical proximity to ICE agents.

If you think you are immune from ICE depredations, continue to drive your kids to school; jog; visit your gym; drop off your car for repairs; pick up your laundry; meet a friend for coffee; return a library book; walk to a park; attend mass; attend a doctor’s or dentist’s appointment; renew your driver’s license; pick up a prescription; visit a neighbor; drive to work; change a tire on your E-bike; stare at the moon; watch the news; let the dog out; or chew a gummy—but don’t dare forget for a second that if ICE agents are in physical proximity, your constitutional rights as an American citizen could and will be denied at gunpoint for unknown reasons.

According to President Trump and his Republican confirmed cabinet heads, if you are detained or arrested by ICE, you are now—ipso facto—a legitimate candidate for treatment as a “domestic terrorist.” This highly charged rubric is routinely employed to falsely justify the sometimes-brutal physical violation of the constitutional rights of actual American citizens by ICE.

There are reportedly 3,000 ICE agents presently in the City of Minneapolis,outnumbering local police approximately five-to-one. Local law enforcement is excluded from the ICE efforts to find illegal aliens, thus establishing ICE as an alien force itself. Local citizens of all colors, religions, and partisan political values are on the streets day and night exercising their free speech rights by demanding that ICE to leave their city and state.

President Trump and his lock-step Republican supporters now tiresomely declarethat the exercise of free speech by Minneapolis citizens constitutes insurrection, and therefore can justify the use of the United States military.

President Trump’s perception of ordinary citizens exercising their right to protest the presence of thousands of ICE agents as insurrectionists, unashamedlycontradicts his willful refusal—while observing the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. capitol on T.V safely inside the White House—for more than three hours before he sent a message to the estimated 10,000 “Save America” “patriots” he invited to target the U.S. capitol building, to get on with their day elsewhere.

Trump’s “Save America” invitees were provided inspiration for a threatened outcome of their attack on the U.S. Capitol by the erection of gallows on capitol grounds that symbolized what could happen to Vice-President Pence if he endorsed Joe Biden as the 47^th President of the United States. The instant “Save America” invitees entered U.S. capitol grounds—because their presence and subsequent actions had the imprimatur of the President of the United States—although by the sheer ferocity and viciousness of the attacks on the capitol building and those who protect it, by definition, became insurrectionists—remain lauded as “patriots” by President Trump.

President Trump’s “Save America” ‘patriots” attacked the U.S. capitol with “rocks and bricks; large batteries; unopened canned goods; bats and batons; and flagpoles. Bike racks, and ballistic shields were used to strike the police, as was at least one fire extinguisher. Professional grade fireworks were also used against the police. Human excrement was used… . Green lasers were used against the eyes of law enforcement, and at least one Capitol Police Officer was assaulted with an electroshock “stun gun” weapon. Commercially available defensive “pepper spray,” and its much more long-range and potent variant “bear spray,” was used on January 6^th against the Capitol Police. Fire was used as a weapon to destroy property. There were “five associated deaths, and 140 police officers injured.” There were nine arrests on firearm charges and some 3,071 rounds of ammunition recovered.” The U.S. capitol also suffered $2.7 million in property damage. (Source: Annals of Emergency Medicine.)

Minneapolis “Domestic Terrorists,” citizens remain armed solely with whistles, balloons, phones used video cameras, loud voices, and maybe an occasional snowball.

In response to such pacifist armor, Donald Trump and the Republican majority in Congress now define Minneapolis citizens engaged in their exercise of free speechagainst the ICE occupation as “insurrectionists.” The literally mind-boggling use of such a volatile term mirrors President Trump’s hallucinogenic characterization ofthe attack on the U.S. capitol as a “Day of Love,” and Republican members of congress who continue to describe January 6^th as a “tour,” and the falsely labeledinsurrectionists as solely exhibiting “orderly behavior.”

No American citizen can allow such a travesty and material threat to our democracy to remain unchallenged to the Trump administration. Regardless of partisan beliefs, all will suffer the same deadly consequences to our nation and ourselves in perpetuity arising from such attacks on our constitutional rights. Let’s support each other to come to our senses.

J.D. Murphy is an American businessman, author, and filmmaker best known for co-founding the University of Phoenix. Born in Portland, Oregon in 1946, Murphy studied at San Jose State University and later taught there while running a community mental health program early in his career. In 1976 he helped launch the University of Phoenix with John Sperling, serving in senior administrative roles focused on government affairs and accreditation before resigning in 1997. As a filmmaker and writer, Murphy produced and wrote Valley of the Heart’s Delight (2006) and has authored books including Jury Rigging in the Court of Public Opinion, Mission Forsaken: The University of Phoenix Affair with Wall Street, and American Incendiary Populism.