Blog Posts

  • Toto’s Tale

    There’s been a lot of talk on internet blogs about a spate of Oz based movies reported to be in production. Here’s a link to one of them: http://blog.moviefone.com/2010/05/19/whats-up-with-all-the-wizard-of-oz-spinoff-movies/ It just so happens that I was inspired a few years ago by my little rescue terrier, who came with the name Toto, to begin retelling… Read more

  • Cohousing

    I recently attended a talk at the Museum of Art and History presented by Walnut Commons. Walnut Commons is a group of Santa Cruz people who have just purchased property downtown and are proceeding with plans to build a downtown cohousing community. The speaker was Charles Durrett, architect and author who has designed cohousing in… Read more

  • Operation Redwood

    Operation Redwood by S.Terrell French is an excellent middle grade novel which I recently read and then field-tested on each of my three grand-children ages nine to thirteen with enthusiastic results. The characters are well drawn. The lively action begins when city boy Julian Carter-Li intercepts an e-mail meant for his uncle from Robin, a… Read more

  • Here on Earth

    Before I take a two week hiatus for travel, I want to say something about a new book by science writer, explorer and conservationist Tim Flannery. It’s called Here on Earth, and is subtitled A Natural History of the Planet. Sounds ambitious, doesn’t it? I learned a lot reading this book, which is easy to… Read more

  • Peace Chorale Tenth Season

    The Peace Chorale is open to everyone who wants to sing. It’s been a wonderful experience for me for the past two years. I hope some of you will join this year. Below is an invitation to the upcoming retreat. The Santa Cruz Peace Chorale invites all current & prospective singers to their annual Singers… Read more

  • More on the Yucatan: birds

    After my June trip to the Yucatan I wrote up a little report on the birds I’d seen there. I’m posting it for anyone who’s interested. I wasn’t on a birding trip, and had to fall behind whatever group I was with when I was trying to look at some bird. Also I’m an amateur.… Read more