The San Francisco Experience

A recently published study by The Policy Institute, Kings College London, focuses on misperceptions of crime, race, religion and life in London. It seeks to set the record straight with fresh, objective data. Mike Wendling who lives and works in London shares his impressions of life in the Capital 2026.

Photo credit David Monaghan

When Mt. Lassen erupted in May 1915 it caught the imagination of the American public. Nearby San Francisco was hosting the Panama Pacific Exhibition to celebrate the 1914 opening of the Panama Canal. It was also a statement to the world that San Francisco had fully recovered from the destructive 1906 earthquake. But the massive volcanic eruption reminded San Franciscans of the unpredictable power of Mother Nature. And in 1916 Lassen Volcanic became a National Park.

The Abraham Lincoln Brigade was a group of about 3000 young, idealistic Americans who volunteered to fight in Spain against the fascists. When they returned in the late 1930s they maintained their social activism with support for the great causes of the 1950s, 60s and beyond. A memorial to their memory is under threat in San Francisco as a park is re-configured.

Fisherman's Wharf is San Francisco's top tourist destination with over 13 million visitors annually - more than one million every month. It is also the City's historic working water front. Set up in 2005, the Community Benefit District (CBD) is overseeing a revitalization of this colorful and iconic San Francisco neighborhood.

Women have played a major role at the National Security Agency as technology innovators, contributing to the Nation's security. Eileen Buckholtz recounts their contributions with a series of 29 profiles of former colleagues, mentors and co-workers. She was one of the first women to graduate with a degree in Computer Science in 1969 and had a 30 year career at the Agency.

Rick Lefkowitz captures 1970s Los Angeles in his debut memoir. Accessing Rock legends was easy as he and his best friend Moxie discovered on their travels around LA. It was an open, more friendly city versus today and one where he could chase his dreams to write songs and make music. Mick Jagger, David Bowie, B.B.King, the Dooby Brothers - he met them all !

New Zealand's Golden Visa program is structured to attract high net worth individuals and families to relocate to this stable, safe and civil South Pacific island nation. The Active Investor Plus Visa has two categories - Growth and Balanced and require an investment of NZ$ 5 million and NZ$ 10 million respectively. And home purchase for properties valued at NZ$ 5 million are also permitted.

Justice Nechtem during her distinguished judicial career has championed innovative approaches to improving outcomes for vulnerable children and families throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and across the nation. She continues to advance the conversation through her podcast " By Her Honor".

Britain's tabloids developed a shorthand argot to cram racy and punchy stories into frontpage headlines. Often suggestive and cheeky, it is a writing style that has withered under the weight of Political Correctness, hypersensitivity and trigger happy offense taking. Christopher Gage shares his thoughts on the demise of Tabloid English from his recent essay in "The Spectator", one of the UK's oldest magazines.

Breanna is a classically trained opera singer and graduate of CalArts Institute and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She was the first trans woman to sing the National Anthem for the Oakland "A"s, the San Francisco Giants and the San Francisco Deltas.