I've been looking for a kids' book that's about eating animals. There are plenty of books about eating vegetables and fruits, and books about why they are good for us, but I cannot find even one book for toddlers that explains the whys and wherefores,... Continue

It was recently announced that a mega-wealthy, former bank CEO and his wife have donated $185 million to UCSF for the creation of a new institute of neuroscience, not surprisingly to be named after them. Their gift represents a new high for UCSF "philanthropy", and follows... Continue

Population pressure plus expanding tourism is quickly pushing Sonoma Valley beyond its carrying capacity. This happened in the Napa Valley years ago, as anyone who has navigated Hwy. 29 in June or July has discovered. For those who commute to work in San Francisco or... Continue

My wife and I recently traveled to Seattle to visit her ninety-six-year-old Godmother, and along the way found ourselves hungry at the airport. The options for eating at airports have improved immensely, but our particular American penchant for fast food still dominates. Airports, naturally, include... Continue

In the garden Amid the whispering bamboo and Wind chimes He sits and enters the samadhi Called "nothing happens" [caption id="attachment_65846" align="alignnone" width="420"] Kurt von Meier, PhD - Circa 1966[/caption] I've become an object of study in an anthropological research program. Seriously, two earnest doctoral professors... Continue

Of all pursuits, mathematics may be the most remarkable. I'm not talking about the simple mathematics of calculating the tip on a restaurant tab; that type of calculation is the simple arithmetic of utility. I'm talking about the mathematics of theoretical physics, a realm reflecting... Continue

At a recent Planning Commission meeting, a proponent of a development project under review dismissively referred to project opponents as a "vocal minority." Another said that the proposed project's neighbors were only selfishly interested in "their own backyards" rather than the good of the community... Continue

The decision by a community to commit itself to historic preservation is a commitment to enforcing rules. Unless rules are created that define what contributes to historic preservation and what does not, the entire effort becomes impossible. Here in Sonoma we use various methods to... Continue

Oh, the stories we tell ourselves! Some of them are funny, some not so much, and some of them are, well, are downright dangerous. It's not like this is something new. Human beings have been dubbed "toolmakers" but our real and original talent is making... Continue