It was recently reported that the world's oceans now contain three times as much methyl mercury as they did before the industrial revolution. Oceanic mercury becomes highly toxic methyl mercury due to the chemical action of sea water, and methyl mercury causes cognitive impairment, sometimes... Continue
Columnist
Our society is so permeated by commerce that business metaphors are regularly applied to non-business situations. Thus we "profit by experience," "calculate our losses," and "take stock in the situation." Another common phrase concerns "the business of government," but in addition to being metaphorical, it's... Continue
This week I attended the North Bay Labor Council Pancake Breakfast, and as always I enjoyed the political buzz and the sense of camaraderie at this lively annual event. We heard brief and rousing speeches by Congressional Representatives Mike Thompson and Jared Huffman and County... Continue
Does your favorite nonprofit’s mission statement still accurately reflect the true purpose of the organization? Oftentimes, organizations change or expand the services they provide and the ways they provide them to accommodate the changing needs of the communities they serve. However, the leadership rarely takes... Continue
Just when I was finishing this column the earthquake hit. So, now my writing rolls a different way. Good God, what a week! The world is upside down with beheadings, hangings, rocking and rolling in the middle of the night. Everyone I talk to is... Continue
Dear Bonnie, I lost my job and am now on unemployment. Do I have to pay taxes on that? I understand that there are all kinds of other tax issues that can come up. What do I have to be on the lookout for? Vince,... Continue
I have been known to recklessly pull over at a moment’s notice when I see those telltale metal plaques situated along the side of a less-traveled road. In some instances, despite the cries of my fellow passengers, I have driven miles out of my way to... Continue
Being a grandfather provides the opportunity to experience contemporary fairy-tale movies, and suffice to say, the stories have changed. The German fairy tales compiled by the Brothers Grimm were indeed quite grim; Sleeping Beauty, for example, included episodes of potential infanticide and cannibalism alongside the... Continue
Welcome to my new monthly column in the Sonoma Valley Sun. I’m calling it “Board Walk” because I think it is important that I “walk the talk” as your Supervisor. I am launching this column because I found that many people have the same questions.... Continue
All language is metaphor, and for that matter, so is every word in every language. We humans are metaphor-makers, and making metaphor means making meaning. Words create a nominal, or language-based reality which generates internal image-ideas. Through a process of fine-grained description we jointly settle... Continue