Earlier this year, I had a snarky exchange with Pete at the annual Labor Day picnic in Foresta, which is a little community in Yosemite National Park in which my family has a home. Pete is an insurance agent and a Republican.Pete is also the chair … [Read more...] about Could Global Warming Melt the Insurance Glaciers?
sacramento, california
Sitting alone in a room
For 3 weeks now, I have meditated alone in a beautiful room in the state capitol and it's been okay. The reader naturally will have two questions, the first is necessary for understanding, the second is the subject of this piece: 1) why are you alone … [Read more...] about Sitting alone in a room
The Ring Cycle–Part I
Spiritual Lessons Learned from Losing Wedding RingsUnlike most women, I have 3 wedding rings, one that my husband of 16 years (living together 20) put on my finger, which was two kinds of gold and we chose together, and a platinum and diamond set … [Read more...] about The Ring Cycle–Part I
C.N.A. vs. Nunez
If it wasn't clear before, the gloves are officially off in the relationship between California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) and the California Nurses Association. Today's Sacramento Bee has CNA openly calling for Nunez (sorry, I … [Read more...] about C.N.A. vs. Nunez
Three Snouts Up for Dirty Story at Capital Stage
(:)(:)(:) for the Sacramento premiere of Dirty Story by John Patrick Shanley at the Capital Stage in Old Sacramento. The production is well-directed, well-cast, and well-acted. However, the play, in this critic's humble opinion, doesn't … [Read more...] about Three Snouts Up for Dirty Story at Capital Stage
The Evils of Having an “Agenda”
Under the heading of "oh, snap," one of the biggest insults one Sacramento insider can dish out to another Sacramento insider is "she has an agenda." I know, because I have one.Apparently, the top goal of many people in public service in California … [Read more...] about The Evils of Having an “Agenda”
14 White Men Hold CA Budget Hostage
Republicans won’t vote for schools & hospitals without the promise of dirty(er) air Sacramento – That’s the headline all the papers should have written today. Instead they wrote about the slugfest between Democrats and Republicans. It’s … [Read more...] about 14 White Men Hold CA Budget Hostage
Three and a Half Snouts Up for “the Golden Door” at the Crest Theater
(:)(:)(:)(;) for The Golden Door directed by Emanuele Crieslese in Italian, now showing at the marvelous Crest Theater in downtown Sacramento (and probably at a theater near you). This film makes captivating cinematic choices as it centers on a … [Read more...] about Three and a Half Snouts Up for “the Golden Door” at the Crest Theater
Health care quagmire screams for public financing of elections
Here's that Cliff's Notes version of an old joke: a U.S. Senator spends his whole life fighting for single-payer (Medicare for all) health care. He loses a lot of battles. Towards the end of his life, people ask the Senator, "will the U.S. ever … [Read more...] about Health care quagmire screams for public financing of elections
Public Outcry: “Garamendi, Name the Smelt!”
Delta--With the number of smelt in the California Delta dwindling daily, the public is an uproar calling for Lt. Governor John Garamendi to name the remaining smelt."Let's get real," said Gloria Gussmacher, a petite resident of the Delta region, … [Read more...] about Public Outcry: “Garamendi, Name the Smelt!”
I love you, Chuck Calderon
I'm here to impart some shocking news. After 15 years of examining Congressmen and California state legislators at close range, I've determined that they are human beings. In fact, I think a mistake that many public interest advocates make (and … [Read more...] about I love you, Chuck Calderon
Mark Leno Ends the Suspense on Clean Money
Having written before how the Assembly Appropriations Committee was keeping me in suspense, I am remiss in not stating precisely that Assemblymember Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, ended the suspense last … [Read more...] about Mark Leno Ends the Suspense on Clean Money