Opinion

The recent struggle between the leaders of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District made a big impression on me. Those who follow the district know by now that PVUSD Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez was abruptly fired by the Board of Trustees in a split 4-3...

Corruption runs deep As a Progressive I enjoy watching the Republicans and Democrats (Hillary, Trump and Biden) accuse each other of corruption. Of course both sides are correct.  If you doubt this, go to opensecrets.org to find lists of their big-money corporate donors. Corrupting corporate money...

We are again just weeks away from another presidential election. An election that won't be decided by a plurality of the popular vote, but by what even our Supreme Court has referred to as the “anachronism of the Electoral College.” A perpetual majority of voters...

Director Matthew Vaughn’s second foray into Mark Millar’s comic book world of secret agent tailors does some wacky things that, even in this over-the-top universe, seem way out of place. And that’s too bad, because there are some great pieces littered throughout that could’ve made a great movie.

Major bush fires continue to burn in Australia garnering worldwide concern. Thus far 24 fatalities have been reported, including three volunteer firefighters, and experts are assuming that entire species of animals and plant life will be wiped out by the fires, according to various...

What is wrong with us? One hundred days into 2023. One hundred and fifty mass shootings under our belt. More than 11,500 people killed by gun violence thus far. Across our country, “Amazing Grace,” our new national anthem, is heard more often than the “Star...

According to the California Strawberry Commission, about 90% of all strawberries in the U.S. are grown in California. The fruit thrives in the state, due to its need for year-round moderate weather, which allows its roots to grow strong and stable.  On the Central Coast, consistent...

When everyone has what they need to thrive, we all benefit. That core belief is part of what our group, Rise Together, an initiative of Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, is all about. Our intercultural, multi-generational Rise Together coalition has built bridges and trust...

“Hard is stone, soft is water; water will wear away stone.  If one has plumbed the mind, the Enlightenment of Bodhi is certain.” If true entrusting is at a distance, intensive listening to the Buddha Dharma ends in entrusting due to the Buddha’s compassionate...