Photo by Kevin Cole:        Big, Bad & Ugly Surf Contest 2009

Photo by Dennis Young:        Morro Rock

Photo by Malcolm Riordan:        USCG Surf Boats

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Peregrine Falcon image on banner by Cleve Nash

Art Talk by Jayne Behman

Making a list, checking it twice, and giving of your time. Plenty of thought goes into acquiring that "perfect" gift for that wonderful someone. Then you have the task to find the store that sells this prize. You wind your way through isles of hectic holiday shoppers, secretly hoping that the article you want remains available. Thankfully there is one left. You grab it. Only after waiting in a long cahier line is the purchase completed. (This scenario certainly makes the case for the growing popularity for purchasing items via the internet!) One gift checked off the long list, lots more to go.

Your job as giver is not complete.  Read More

Genie's Pocket by Jeanie Greensfelder

Constraints

Two Dalmatians dart at me,
racing across a lawn.
Standing still on the sidewalk
I await their attack.
Within leaping distance
they halt, barking their desire.
I notice their battery collars—
an invisible fence contains them.

 Read More

Great Shots by Jerry Kirkhart & Steve Corey

Our photo editors bring you some of their favorite coastal images for the month. This month's featured local photographers include Cleve Nash, Cheryl Strahl, Anita Ritenour, Alan Vernon, Marlin Harms, Jerry Kirkhart, Beth Sargent, Pam Link, James Crawford, Teddy Llovet, Ashala Tylor, Mike Baird, Dawn Beattie, Linda Tanner, Barb Ignatius, Howard Ignatius, Donald Quintana, Steve Corey, Ken Bondy, Andrew Reding, and Liz Haslam. See More

Insights - an Interview by Vicki León

Turning Weapons Meant to Destroy Us Into Art Meant to Restore Us

Back in the 1980's, I was a no-nukes activist during the years before Diablo Canyon was fired up. Thus my journalistic curiosity was aroused when I heard about local entrepreneur Paul Ogren's brainchild, called From War to Peace. Our fascinating, at times provocative interview provides food for thought—and scope for action, too. Read More

One Poet's Perspective

It's near Thanksgiving, a time to inventory people, places, and things that enrich our lives. About twenty-five years ago, a friend and I were talking of death.  She matter-of-factly said,  "When we die, the body is simply afterbirth."  Those words stayed with me.  It wasn't surprising then, when in meditation, a flood of gratitude for many of the people, places, and things I treasure poured through me.  So this poem was a natural birth. Read More

Photo by Howard Ignatius: Valencia Peak