Eliza spoke of suffocation from the stench hovering around the stables on a hot summer day. Everyone knew her. She drew sympathy from local Indians, the Mexican elite, soldiers, and American settlers. California was restless in the mid-19th century, as people from all backgrounds rummaged... Continue
Columnist
Like Jack ferrying a donkey to market, trading it for magical beans and then escaping the confines of conventional society in ‘Jack and The Beanstalk’, the giant he disturbs is analogous to the giant gray-market behemoth suddenly disrupting our economy, stomping on established forms of... Continue
Earlier this week I attended Troop Fourteen’s Court of Honor in which six young men became Eagle scouts. The Boy Scouts of America has in interesting history and is rather dear to my heart. Growing up in San Francisco I spent every Tuesday evening in... Continue
I’ve spent considerable time with my granddaughter watching Sponge Bob Square Pants, the kids’ cartoon show featuring an ensemble of recurring characters living in the undersea fantasy town of Bikini Bottom. It’s wacky, weird and colorful, but also presents a coherent vision of moral character... Continue
Over the last six weeks I have been doing phone banking for the primary election, working off a database of prospective voters which shows the approximate age, gender and party affiliation of all the voting members of the household. The data point of that real-time... Continue
Though it is supposed that rationality and logic comprise a monolithic structure apart from feelings and emotions, the truth is that our rationality sits upon emotional structure. This is most evident in attachment to scientific rationalism, and its reliance on empirical “fact-based” data. I put... Continue
For many parents around the Valley, this is the week their little ones have waited for and dreamed of, for what seemed an eternity -- summer vacation. Throughout the summer there are endless events that promote history in one way or another. Do visit... Continue
Why do people make such odd comments after the death of friends? It kind of throws me: “Oh well, she wasn’t into health foods and fitness” or “He stressed too much…” Maybe it’s true but isn’t it odd – blaming and criticizing dead community? Hey,... Continue
Richard Wagner, the German musical genius of dubious personal behavior, wrote and produced some of the most stunning and memorable operas ever performed. Among others, “The Flying Dutchman” and his “Ring Cycle” of four operas, running a combined total of over 20 hours, contain soaring... Continue
Dear Bonnie, I have some tax problems and find that I will soon have to deal with the people at the IRS. Needless to say, I’m terrified. Do you have any good advice for me? - Susan P, Sonoma Dear Susan, I’ve got plenty of... Continue