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If the shoe fits

I was standing in the shower the other night when I peered down at my feet. They Have carried me through life and I had never thanked them. They seemed so far away, way down there, I guess I forgot about them. I apologized: “You’ve been... Continue

What I did on my summer vacation

As summer closes, the family took a little excursion to the northern frontier, winding our way out of Seattle to the little town of Monroe, Washington.  A McKale family reunion brought first, second and third cousins together from all over the U.S.  Washington has unique... Continue

The consumption spiral

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

Millennial generation supports causes, not groups

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

The notebooks of von Meier

“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

Hotel wage agreement could set Wine Country standard

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

The process in place is corrupted

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

What kind of money person are you?

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

A little bit of this and that

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

Marking territory

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