Surf Girls by Mike Baird

Harmony Outhouse by Kevin Cole

Cedar Waxwing by Cleve Nash

Montana de Oro by Earthly Images

Double-crested, Brandt, and Pelagic Cormorants by Maggie Smith

Back Tomorrow by Chuck Abbe

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Peregrine Falcon Image on Banner by Cleve Nash

Ask the Doc by Dr. Robert Swain

Picture this.  The inside of our body is waging a constant war.  Just like any war, the side that is better prepared and supplied wins the war.  A prime example is what is happening in other countries with the revolutions going on.  The better prepared side wins the battle.  So here is the scoop when it comes to your chances of getting cancer.  If your body is stronger than the cancer cells, you reduce the risk of getting cancer.  "So how does one build a stronger body?," you ask. Read More

Behind the Badge by Richard Hannibal

In Chino, California, six-year-old Jose Verduzco was diagnosed with stage-four brain cancer. He bravely endured daily chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Jose's love of playing baseball was replaced by four major brain surgeries. The tumor was removed, but it grew back within six days. After a two-month hospital stay, Jose was finally allowed to come home to his family, whose finances have been hit hard by Jose's health problems.  Read More

Best Friends by Malcolm Riordan, DVM

Dogs have it in them to 'wolf' food down when the occasion presents – there may not be another chance for a long while.  And when chewing on an object, things can get so intense, appetites can become so stimulated, that reflexively a dog will just swallow the item. The lack of experience and innate curiosity of young dogs leads to a philosophy of eat it now, and ask questions later. Whatever the reasons, we have all heard stories of things dogs have eaten and how it either passed or had surgery to remove it.  Such stories seem to give bragging rights to the owner - owing to the significantly heightened status of dogness that is achieved with such feats. Read More

California State Parks

The second shoe has (figuratively) dropped for our state parks once again, parks are on the chopping block and are being disproportionately and provocatively targeted in the state budget.  Governor Brown made an early release of his Fiscal Year 2012-13 state budget.  Read More

Double Vision by By Shana Ogren

Last year I stumbled upon a collection of letters that I had stored in a closet at my father's house.  I found them just in time – they were letters that I had instructed my Arroyo Grande high school juniors to write to themselves in the English class I taught.  I told the students that I would keep the letters private and sealed, and deliver them the letters in five years, in the year 2011. Read More

Feel Better Forever by Brian Dorfman

Medical misdiagnosis and treatment errors are all too common in our health care system today.  In my last stint at the San Diego clinic, in early February, there were four new cases that fell into this category. As we saw a total of 10 new patients in that nine-day period, a full 40% were either misdiagnosed or provided ineffective treatment. You may think this is a strong claim to make without a medical degree, but I'm assured that my take on the situation is correct because we have, in fact, been able to resolve these cases that have eluded many others. Read More

Go Green by Lawson Schaller

In 1941 Henry Ford built a car with a plastic made partially from hemp and wheat straw.  The extraordinary versatility of industrial hemp is absolutely fascinating.  Given our growing dependence on petroleum for plastics, adhesives, etc., it is exciting and comforting to know that we have sustainable and renewable alternatives available. Read More 

The Human Condition by John Bullaro

Last year this court stripped from voters the likelihood they will have enough clout to elect a president. The law flowing from the decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission is clear: The longstanding limit on corporate and union money in federal elections has been lifted. The court said restriction on corporate donations to political campaigns is an unconstitutionalrestriction of free speech.   Read More

Medical Myth Busting by Dr. Steven Sainsbury

Once again, a warning. Myth-busting is dangerous work. We love our myths, and hold on to them tighter than a winning lottery ticket. But ultimately, you will find that discerning fact from fiction is empowering, and frees us up for bigger and better things—like potty-training. Read More

Observations of a Country Squire by George Zidbeck

Likely, now and then, here and there, we step into a circumstance unintentionally and find egg on our faces with many a witness ogling our discomfort.  Our cheeks redden and, if the situation stimulates gossip, later retellings renew a facial flushing. However, given my age and high level of maturity, I'm not prone to self-consciousness within most human settings and climate. I'm not immune though. Allow me to put my ego front and center while recapping a recent episode.  Read More

Slo Coast Cooking by Elise Griffith

Our strip of coastline might be considered a high cost of living area, yet we have a bounty of fresh foods available year round and some of the best neighbors anyone could wish for! Our next door neighbor volunteers every week at both the local Thursday Farmer's Market and the Friday Senior Food Program.  Still active at 90, Boomer occasionally stops by with free, overflow produce. One recent delivery included a half crate of ripe grape tomatoes. You may be asking, "What on earth could I do with so many tomatoes?" Read More

Surfing Out Of The Box by Katie Finley

Last month I highlighted the difference between being a surfer, and someone who surfs. This, for some, might not seem that important, but it makes a difference when you are dating someone or are married to someone who is a surfer verses someone who just surfs. As I said before, I have had eight years of experience with being married to a surfer. Over the past month, I have met many wives who have been married to their surfer husband's a lot longer then that, so I know I have some stuff to learn! Please keep sending me emails if I didnt cover something on one of my articles. The next time the surf is good, I might be writing an article again for my husband! Read More

Under the Tongue by Christine Nielson

Some war stories I've heard from Central Coast theatre company members (PCPA, SLO Little Theatre, The Great American Melodrama) are that the costume designer quit the week the show opened, taking the costumes with her/him; the cast works all day and all night to recreate something like the original designs; doubts are high, but by opening, the entire cast is costumed, and the audience is none the wiser. The magic of theatre. Read More

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