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
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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
The wealthy and powerful expect to get what they pay for, and most often they do, spending billions on lobbying and campaign donations to guide the hand of government. Though lip-service is paid to the free market, tax rules, land-use law and public policy all... Continue
The most recent meeting of the Wine Country Chapter of the Association of Professional Fundraisers (AFP) featured two nonprofit social media experts, Alice Ferris and Jim Anderson from GoalBusters Consulting of Flagstaff, AZ. Throughout their presentation, Anderson reiterated, “ Social media is not only for... Continue
Though not recognized as an official sister-city, Benicia and Sonoma are quite connected. Benicia was founded in 1847 by three key figures in Sonoma’s history, Mariano Vallejo, Thomas O. Larkin and Robert Semple. Dr. Semple, a year earlier, was one of the bear flaggers responsible... Continue
The subject of two articles in today’s newspaper have been conflated in the title of this column. Article one involved the prospect that as the world’s population reaches 8 billion people, the need for a protein-rich food source will create an international diet of bugs.... Continue
Citywide celebrations broke out last week in San Francisco and across the nation with the Supreme Court decision to invalidate DOMA and Prop. 8. I share in the joy of the many gay couples who can now have their personal relationships dignified with legal sanction. ... Continue