Suddenly it seems everything is artisanal these days. Artisanal beer, biscuits, T-shirts, restaurants . . . the list of products and services touted as “hand crafted” or “artisanal” is almost endless. Rumors still unconfirmed (and which will certainly remain that way) have it that a... Continue

A glance at the school district’s report of its 2016 performance on statewide testing reveals the sad shape of our schools. But if leaky roofs and broken air conditioners are bad, the less-than-standard educational output – what manufacturers might call their “scrap rate” -- is... Continue

It’s OK to say it out loud. They are the darlings of the local economy and of every politician driving under the influence of wine industry campaign contributions, but they can be a pain in the butt. We’re talking about Tourists. Yes, though you might... Continue

In the competition for tourist attention, no place beats Sonoma when it comes to having Local Characters, who have outdone themselves in the latest dust-up over leaf blowers. “The latest” started with a request by several hundred ordinary, sane, City residents who signed a petition... Continue

Recent events have demonstrated that there is a serious flaw in the workings of our constitutional democracy: Namely, no matter how uneducated, misinformed or stupid they may be, everyone who is a U.S. citizen over the age of 18 can register and vote. (Felons, not... Continue

With all the killing and craziness going on, an American optimist is hard to find these days. Even without the prospect of a Trump presidency, pessimism abounds. Yet those who read history know that no matter how bad things seem, they can get worse. Even... Continue

It’s almost impossible to get through a day without encountering another irate citizen of our Valley fuming about being disenfranchised and denied participation in the political process. Over coffee, wine or a GMO taco they fulminate, livid at being deprived of the chance to mix... Continue

Increasingly there is talk of passing strong laws to keep guns away from the mentally ill, but don’t hold your breath. Most mentally ill people are not violent. Some may be very troubled, but as a group they seem to present far less danger to... Continue

“If thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.” -- George Orwell Scientists are making amazing strides in Artificial Intelligence, but what we really could use is more of the real thing. There seems to be plenty of the artificial stuff around, to the point... Continue