In his 1907 book Creative Evolution, philosopher-scientist Henri Bergson describes an impulse of becoming, a universal force that underlies the existence of matter and animates life. When applied to living systems, this force propels life forward, providing elements of purpose without delineating purpose itself. The... Continue
Columnist
One of my last columns got a lot more response than usual. I suppose everyone related to the topic of lost socks in the dryer. I had hoped that the topic was bigger than just that – about how we avoid and hide from talking... Continue
Because few have time to ponder the imponderables one encounters daily, your correspondent ponders in the public’s interest. Recently pondered was the increasingly pervasive use of “bad words” in broadcast and print media, and why they are considered “bad.” Back in the day, saying “poop”... Continue
When I found out on May 28 that 95-year-old Dr. Bob Geiger had passed away, a wave of sadness, nostalgia and gratitude washed over me. I was flooded with memories of a multi-talented man who, foremost, was dedicated to his medical profession, while possessing a... Continue
With the upcoming Governor’s election in California, I watch with curiosity who will vote and who they will vote for. California’s population is comparatively young, with the median age range of 37.9 to 38.4 years. That’s younger than the overall United States, according to World... Continue
Water and Economic Sustainability Then there’s sustainability in an economic context. Presently, Sonoma County’s economy is both dependent on, and intertwined with, wine grape farming and wine production. But who can say this will always be so? Prior to wine grapes, Sonoma agriculture centered on... Continue
I’m in the habit of taking Albus the dog on a two or three-mile run through the mostly deserted and incrementally disintegrating campus of the Sonoma Developmental Center, five or six days a week. Those frequent, regular visits give me a first-hand, evolving image-capture of... Continue
My father was dying in 2010. In the hospital after a systemic collapse, his condition had been stabilized, and he was awake and conversational. At ninety-one years of age, my Brooklyn boy of a dad had already beaten the odds and was still scrappy. “Why... Continue
Recently I read these words: “Our posture is as important, if not more, than our position. We aim to be kind to everyone, even if their views or choices are different from ours.” I have spent some time thinking about what this means. This quote... Continue
Triggers, the spooky new name, the current label for heated, overwhelming emotions. What happens when you pull the trigger? Our language is getting scary. Flare ups can occur over small or large things. A friend might seem bossy, then we build stories in our heads... Continue