Press "Enter" to skip to content

Columnist

Our Mandala of meaning

All objects are devoid of inherent meaning, which is to say for example, a chair is not a chair except in the mind of the perceiver. To a squirrel, a chair is simply something namelessly convenient upon which to settle while cracking a black walnut;... Continue

Election hairball – or is it just me?

By the time you read this, the election will be over (or will it?)  I don’t know what the outcome will be. But one thing I do know is that if we, the people, don’t speak up, we’re in doo-doo much deeper than any argument... Continue

The politics of have-not

As income inequality continues to grow in America, with millionaires and billionaires increasing their record-setting ownership of the nation’s wealth, the sharp divide between haves and have-nots played-out in the reelection of Barack Obama. Despite record-setting expenditures, the haves were unable to purchase the presidency;... Continue

Unnatural selection

Charles Darwin introduced the concept of natural selection to describe the mechanism of evolution and the ways in which life on earth reflects a continuum of time and change. His theory challenged generations of belief in an absolute, immutable order of existence, and in his... Continue

2012 election: Social Darwinism vs. the social contract

The historical task of the progressive movement is to facilitate the evolution of American society and its economic substructure to meet the social, economic and environmental challenges of the 21st century and to finally break the grip of corporate control so that our political process... Continue

And long may it wave

Sitting in the hot tub watching the afternoon wind whip a flag flying atop a 40-foot bamboo pole in my garden, I thought about waves. Flags wave in the wind, a convergence of weight, length, wind speed, and air turbulence. If the right proportions of... Continue

Can’t afford tax bill? Don’t panic

Dear Bonnie, I just filed my tax return and found that I owe, but don’t have the money to pay. Are they going to take the money out of my bank account? Anonymous, Sonoma Dear Anonymous, If you are unable to pay your tax liability, your... Continue

Guttenberg’s end

Roughly 500 years ago, Johannes Guttenberg introduced moveable type and the modern book was born. Guttenberg hoped that his invention would make the Bible more available and help sustain and enlarge the Catholic faith, but ironically it was reformer Martin Luther who used moveable type... Continue

Leaving a lasting legacy

By now, you have likely seen the banners all around the Plaza and read the announcements in the paper. You may have even received an email or a personal invitation from your favorite nonprofit organization to attend an event to introduce you to philanthropic legacy... Continue

The mother of us all

Acre for acre, natural rainforests contain more biological diversity than any other place on earth, both plants and animals. The rainforest is the likely mother of us all. Only a small fraction of the many rainforest species are identified, yet modern civilization is systematically destroying... Continue