Could humans get out their clogged emotions, and become calm like a cat? Even though they can be messy, feelings matter. They convey passion, they help us know what moves us, what makes us wake up, what causes us to fall in love or choose... Continue
Columnist
The Board of Supervisors approved a new housing plan cycle that dramatically increased the number of state-mandated housing units in the county from 515 in the prior eight-year planning cycle to 3824 in this cycle. This is a great victory for housing advocates. Credit to... Continue
As an event floral designer, I have become very familiar with event venues and hotels. I see work cultures where employees and vendors are treated with respect and those where the opposite is true. I recently attended a Sonoma Hospitality Association event where the topic... Continue
The word “woke” is getting lots of airtime these days. The GOP uses it derisively as an insult, indicating that woke is synonymous with leftist attitudes and beliefs about family, religion, patriotism, gender, and politics. In other words, that woke means liberal, and liberal means... Continue
While headed to our town’s historic one-screen movie house the Sebastiani Theatre to see Barbie, in walking meditation I purposefully inhabited the mystery of multiple selves: my biological self whose feet touch the ground, my imaginary self as an idea, and my quantum self as... Continue
We like to think we know a lie from the truth, or think there is a gray area where we just can’t make a judgment. Sometimes we tell little lies, to avoid hurting someone’s feelings or just to get out of something. These little lies... Continue
In a recent essay about how consumerism is ecocide, I introduced the topic of “enough,” that unless humanity can stem its seemingly insatiable desire for more, we’re doomed. In response, a reader asked me to explore “enough,” what it is, who gets it, and who... Continue
Here’s an update on several topics of interest to residents of the First District. Broadband Progress – The Board of Supervisors has approved an agreement between the County and Golden State Connect Authority on expanding broadband internet infrastructure, as well as $1.5 million in American... Continue
The public education system in the Golden State of California used to be legendary, a creative mecca in the 1950s-70s. In developing the world’s top creative economy, California was envied for Educational R&D. It prioritized students’ critical thinking skills and creativity, improved instructional methods for... Continue
Many years ago when we first moved to the Springs, I was out for a walk. I saw this bumper sticker: “Militant agnostic, I don’t know and neither do you.” The car and the agnostic are long gone, yet the line stays with me. My... Continue