I'm a confessed plant lover, what my late friend Keith Cahoon called a "Hortisexual." This passion does not include sex, but has led to what I've called the infidelity of "Multiple Simultaneous Relationships with Plants." Though I've never cheated on my wife, I've been unfaithful... Continue

"Name?" The barista behind the counter asked without looking up from his touch-screen. "Blythedale, with a 'y'. Lucius Blythedale," I answered. "Lucius Montgomery Blythedale, to be precise." The barista didn't miss a beat. "One Chicken Artichoke sandwich, smoky barbecue chips, one chocolate cake pop and... Continue

Getting people out of cars and into mass transit is good for air quality, may reduce road congestion, and encourages public transportation. These are all good effects, but systems like SMART also affect growth and development patterns. Unless extreme care is taken in the planning... Continue

We've told ourselves that people are the greatest for so long, most of us actually believe it. Religious narratives puff us up with tales of being made in God's image, having dominion over nature and even existing in non-material heavenly dimensions. With tales like that,... Continue

Only in America could an arrogant businessman who inherited substantial wealth from his father become elevated to celebrity status and then leverage that fatuous fame to run for President of the United States and lead the polls in the Republican primary race. We've known The... Continue

The CEO of Cambrian, a biotechnology company, wants to upgrade the human race. His plan to is to make genetic engineering available to everyday people in a process he calls "democratizing genetics." In homage to his namesake, Austen Heinz of Cambrian might someday appear in... Continue

Oliver Sacks, the best-selling author/neurologist, has died. In his inimitable style he wrote about his impending death from metastatic cancer in articles in the NY Times, and as it true of all his writing, his keen observation and fondness for humanity jumps right off the... Continue

I'm dreaming about my great-great-great granddaughter. "Shame," she says, "How could you?" Of course she's talking about the ruination of the world, and I know that. "What can I tell you," I say gently, "The unnatural world moves too quickly." And then I'm awake and... Continue

At last night's Sonoma City Council meeting my appeal of the Planning Commission's approval for a use permit allowing Williams-Sonoma to hold 15 events with as many as 80 guests in the garden at their retail location was upheld. This decision has an effect on Williams-Sonoma,... Continue