Like water circling the bathtub drain, our consumer society expends a lot of energy but ultimately spirals down a bottomless hole, and unless more water is continuously added, nothing but an empty tub remains. Of late, the “water” being added is money printed by the... Continue
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Leaders of nonprofit organizations who want to connect with supporters in their 20s and early 30s, known as the Millennial Generation, need to share information about their cause, not the organization itself, and they had better be sure their websites are updated regularly, according to... Continue
“Ashes to ashes, shed to shed.” So go the notebooks of Von Meier. For over 40 years my friend Kurt von Meier kept a daily notebook. A compulsive documentarian, he stored his filled notebooks in file boxes, and as they accumulated, placed the boxes in... Continue
The community discussion on the Sonoma Hotel project can expect to be more fully informed, thanks to the decision of the City Council to authorize a community and financial impact assessment by a professional consultant. Following the announcement of a legally binding private agreement between... Continue
How is it that time after time governmental process and policy results in harm to the public? Hearings are held, reports commissioned, experts consulted, and yet decisions are constantly made that endanger health, despoil the environment, cause economic hardship and erode public confidence in the... Continue
Learning to deal with finances is something that should be taught in school. The senior year of high school should focus on “real life.” I mean, c’mon, who cares when and why the Magna Carta was signed when much hotter issues await the attention of... Continue
First, an update regarding recent events in Egypt. On July 3, the army took control of Egypt, relinquishing the democratically elected President of his duties. Some have called this action a coup, while others consider it a needed action to prevent a civil war. Regardless... Continue
Males of many species mark their territorial boundaries. The other day my wife accused me of marking mine. I will confess to feeling shocked by her comments at first. The shoes I leave under the coffee table in the living room, a pile of mail... Continue
Why are there ‘fat people’ jokes and stereotypes? People shouldn’t be criticized for being heavy. Whatever happened to the voluptuous woman? Why is it in fashion to judge rotund people? Doughnuts exist for a reason. Ever heard of comfort food? I’m upset about it. I’m... Continue
Last week I addressed the unofficial sister-city relationship between Sonoma and Benicia. This week I do the same with Napa Valley. In my twenty years living in Sonoma Valley I have heard about a good healthy rivalry with our neighbor to the east. Though geographically... Continue