| Dec 30, 2015 | Rights / DemocracyMy 9-year-old daughter hunkers down for hours with the Warriors books. She’s on her fifth run through the dozens of tomes in this series that our local libraries keep handy about clans of cats who want nothing to do with people. Poring over them does wonders for my...
| Jul 15, 2015 | Environment / HealthWhen you read this, I’ll probably be out in the wilderness on a 220-mile hike along the John Muir Trail. Embarking on this journey through California’s breathtaking Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks reminded me of a conversation I had in Mexico...
| Nov 25, 2014 | Economy / BusinessMost Americans — from the Obama family in the White House to my little family in Texas — will get a much-deserved break from work on Thanksgiving Day. But millions of others won’t. Understandably, firefighters, police, and hospital workers will stay on the job....
| Jul 23, 2014 | Environment / HealthThis time of year, sunblock is part of the daily routine for many Americans. Wake up, slather it on, and go outside. For those concerned about the chemicals we put on our bodies, sunblock represents a double-edged sword. On one hand: what kind of chemicals am I...
| Jul 22, 2014 | Rights / DemocracyWhen I heard our Congress critters are taking an extended vacation for all of August and part of September, I had two incongruous reactions: gratitude and anger. Gratitude, because their vacation gives us a five-week break from the spectacle of right-wing mad dogs in...
