To tell you the truth I hate to write about loneliness and death again, but it seems that these are inevitable experiences in my life. I sat with Dave Robbins recently, on a balmy evening outside with friends. He was so alive, so reverberating with... Continue
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I am declaring the remainder of August and all of September Ethnobotany months. Ethnology is the study of culture and botany is the study of plants. When the two words are slapped together, it is the scientific study of the relationships that exist between people and... Continue
America is exceptional in many ways, not all of them so good. One way which falls into this "not so good" category is an inordinate pride in speaking and teaching one language only, namely English. Pride is often a good indicator of self-righteousness in individuals,... Continue
Our family vacation to Guatemala and Belize was coming to an end. We arrived in the southern Belize town of Punta Gorda around 9:00 pm. Punta Gorda is where the road ends. This sleepy fishing village is not on the typical tourist itinerary. It's the... Continue
The internet of things had not arrived when NYU professor Neil Postman wrote his 1985 critique of television and its effects on society. I suspect the concerns and predictions he made in "Amusing Ourselves to Death" would have not differed greatly had he seen what... Continue
Why is the subject of poop so important in Sonoma? We take great pride in our lovely town, and we argue constantly about whether to allow dogs on certain paths or not. People aren’t shy about stepping in it – the argument, that is. Some... Continue
Active volunteers are the lifeblood of any nonprofit organization. After the leadership of a nonprofit organization recruits a volunteer, then finds the right match for the volunteer to serve within the organization, retention of that volunteer is essential. And one of the most important ways... Continue
Rarely does a thick tome on economics get noticed by the mainstream press, let alone become a best-selling book that fundamentally shifts political discourse. French economist Thomas Piketty, aided by an elegant English translation, has managed a accomplish that feat. The groundbreaking statistical research done... Continue
Tikal was a spectacular adventure into the jungles of northeast Guatemala. We woke to Howler Monkeys growling high in the trees above. After breakfast we met our driver and loaded the van. Within a few hours we would be in Belize. Belize is just south... Continue
Beginning with painting on rocks and writing code for binary computers, the records of what we know have variously been kept. Between these two extremes are found language, hieroglyphics, cuneiform markings in clay, pictograms, alphabets, printing technology, the telegraph, radio and television; each served as... Continue