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Posts published in “Essays”

The End of the Ruffing Reign

The forced retirement of Linda Ruffing, the long time Fort Bragg City Manager, becomes, at long last a reality at Monday night’s City Council meeting. Tabatha Miller, Administrative Director from Havasu City, Arizona, has been…

The Mournful Twang of Lesbian Banjos

I am at heart a homebody, and never more content than when lolling around the domicile with a cool and refreshing tipple in the company of a cat, though I generally like one in better…

Drought Bound?

It was a dry Anderson Valley day in late January this year. The morning temperature was crisp, the sun warming, and the light and shadows bright and deep in the forest where I was piling…

Superbowl Goose Step

Donald Trump leads by example. He does so with his thumbs. He leaves it to others to jump in the cockpit of the bombers or helm the submarines, shoulder the AR-15s or don the helmet…

New York

I was walking down the street with my friend and a guy asked us for money.

“I can give you some food,” I said. He walked on, then turned back and said, “You got a samwich?”

The Tire Baby of the 1920s

When I was of preschool age in the 1950s my mother's method of discipline when we traveled about in public was to inform me that if I didn't behave myself I'd have to sit in…

The Way It Works

A ragged 10-year-old boy is picking barefoot through an ocean of trash, patiently searching for anything of value that his family can turn into food or shelter. He steps on what turns out to be…

Fong Wan’s Herbs

You never know what you'll run across. While researching other matters I found this item in a March, 1925 publication, with the headline, “Woman Turned to Stone.” Who could resist reading on to learn about…

The Smoking Life

Advertising has come a long way since the days when they'd just brashly trumpet the superiority of the product in a general way, saying things like: Buy this doohickey right now. It will improve your…

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