Photo by Mike Baird:     Surf Girls

Photo by Kevin Cole: Harmony Outhouse

Photo by Cleve Nash:   Cedar Waxwing

Photo by Earthly Images: Montana de Oro

Photo by Maggie Smith: Three Cormorants - Double-crested, Brandt, and Pelagic

Photo by Chuck Abbe: Back Tomorrow

Best Breakfast in Town!

Behind the Badge by Richard Hannibal

Morro Bay has seen an increase in pedestrian related traffic violations. This is obviously a serious matter when 150 pounds of soft flesh meets three thousand pounds of glass, rubber and steel. There are good aspects and bad aspects to living in a small town. Yes, the kicked-back atmosphere is wonderful. But, along with that comes a hap-hazard, lackadaisical attitude towards driving and walking around the city.  Read More

Best Friends by Malcolm Riordan, DVM

Would you call yourself a "dog person" or a "cat person?"  Maybe you would say both . . . or neither? In any case, most of us harbor a suspicion that an exclusive preference for dogs or cats reflects some underlying personality difference in the people who would emphatically declare themselves to be either a dog person or a cat person.  Read More

Body, Mind, Spirit by Nancy Ballinger

[Nancy is taking a break due to illness, but will return when feeling stronger.]

California State Parks

Nature walks, school programs, and a listing of our local State Parks. Learn and play more.

Double Vision by By Shana Ogren

St. Andrew's Abbey is a Benedictine monastery and retreat center in rural Valyermo, California. Father Francis Benedict is a 62 year old monk at St. Andrew's.  Abbot Francis allowed me to interview him at the monastery where he lives and serves.  Read More

Far Horizons

Talk about slippery slopes. The slide from affluence to bankruptcy took less than one year. My ex-wife greased the skids by hiring a shyster divorce attorney, known by his colleagues as Dirty Harry. About this same time my employer—(High-rise Engineering) moved our operation to India. The boss hired a Swami living Sri Lanka to do my job (actually he was an engineer). When I came up air for the third time, a civil law judge awarded our house on the beach in Cayucos, California to my wife, Betsy Gent. She produced a bogus prenuptial agreement with my signature forged. For good measure he threw in the furniture, cars, and a boat. I was grateful he didn't order me to be her man--servant. Read More

Let's Go Green

People can start saving money in the first month after installing a solar electric system.  Over time, the cost difference between paying PG&E and your solar electric system becomes even more significant.  This is why solar is an excellent investment. Many sources and studies show attractive payback periods and return on investment with solar electric systems.  Paybacks are often in the five to seven year time frame.  Future payback and savings are even greater. Once installed, a solar electric system will reliably produce power for decades to come with inflation protection. Read More 

Medical Myth Busting by Dr. Steven Sainsbury

Many years ago, I submitted a 55-Word Essay to a contest in the New Times, here on the central coast. Titled The Transplant, it won honorable mention, and was published in The World's Shortest Stories of Love and Death. It is short enough to repeat here. Read More

Observations of a Country Squire by George Zidbeck

No, I'm not misleading you. Not in any underhanded sense. What I said on my 3rd take last month, regarding Aging on the Squiredom, tied me to a promise to not saddle you with any further comments on my biological clock for the balance of 2011. My current offering relates to some generalized reflections regarding the cultural value a society places on those who served in the military and how such service impacts our perspective on living and dying.  Read More

Surfing Out Of The Box by Paul Finley

This article is my opinions and comparisons of the two most commonly used board construction types on the market. Since I work with both types and see advantages of both, I have tried my best to give a non bias evaluation.Read More

Under the Tongue

During the seasonal conversion from winter to spring, I experience wanderlust. The only cure is to hit the road for a weekend adventure. So buckle your seat belt, we're about to embark on a puzzling excursion to a California dreamscape. Here are two clues: a hidden garden and an inverted world. So pack up your satchel, top hat, cozy apparel and, of course, you'll need a mirror. Read More

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Peregrine Falcon image on banner by Cleve Nash