Sonoma County California

This page explores Sonoma and Jack London from several angles. Sonoma Plaza, Mission San Francisco Solano, local birding and hiking in parks and along the coast, the lighted tractor parade celebrating agricultural heritage, and the French bakery Les Pascals in Glen Ellen, as well as a discussion of wildfire, flood, and seismic risks and why fall is often the best time to visit are discussed. The conversation then shifts to Jack London State Historic Park, outlining its trails, historic buildings, Wolf House ruins, “Pig Palace,” and eucalyptus groves, and summarizing London’s life as an adventurer‑author who became an experimental, sustainability‑minded rancher on his “Beauty Ranch,” where he applied ideas from his travels (like Korean terracing) and attempted—unsuccessfully—to launch a eucalyptus timber business.

The Cultural Fascination with Time Travel Stories: Ethics, Philosophy, and Our Relationship with Time

This post explores how concepts of time shape human culture, ethics, and identity. It begins by discussing the enduring appeal of time travel stories, their philosophical and ethical dilemmas, and their deep relationship with religious ideas and cultural frameworks. The conversation compares sailors’ and space explorers’ experiences of time, revealing the transition from Newtonian absolute time to Einstein’s relativistic spacetime.

Further, the post examines how different cultures’ views of time—linear vs. cyclical—influence rituals around death and the treatment of the deceased, and then addresses the unique human capacity for recording history. It considers why deliberate historical preservation sets humanity apart from other animals, and why falsifying or altering history, especially through time travel, would be deeply unethical and damaging—contrary to our moral and possibly sacred responsibilities.

The discussion concludes by emphasizing the sanctity and importance of historical truth as a foundation of civilization, justice, and human self-understanding.

Trump’s “Freedom Cities”

Trump’s “Freedom Cities” proposal is fundamentally aligned with and directly connected to the technology billionaire agenda for building network states—but with a crucial strategic difference: rather than relying on members to crowdfund land acquisition (Balaji Srinivasan’s original model), the Freedom Cities concept leverages federal land and executive power to bypass democratic approval processes entirely.wikipedia+2 The Network State…

Seattle: America’s Millennial City

The election of Katie Wilson as Seattle’s mayor in November 2025 marks a symbolic and substantive watershed moment: the emergence of the first millennial-led major American city, one explicitly designed around millennial values—not as a generational novelty, but as a coherent reimagining of urban life fundamentally different from the industrial cities of the twentieth century.…

DOGE & Competing on Comanche Time, Gatsby

In 1994, at the age of 49, Jim Clark, owing to a company called Silicon Graphics, was one of the legends of the high-tech world. 20 years later, he became a legend in sailing (see Sailing World  28 October 2014.) Today we view him as a model of the American Dream. American Dream During the…

WTO Palm Oil Standoff

Palm oil imports to the USA are expected to rise following Malaysia’s 2025 tariff exemption, particularly for refining into renewable diesel and jet fuel. This policy shift provides a significant advantage for Malaysian palm oil, especially as U.S. producers look for price-competitive, reliable feedstocks amid ongoing decarbonization targets.mpoc+1​ Expected Importers and Industry Players Cherry Point…

The Macgregor 26X: A Gateway to Mini 6.50 Racing

How Your Dream Cruiser Becomes Your Offshore Racing Academy For sailors who fantasize about the Mini Transat—that legendary transatlantic solo race across 3,000 nautical miles in a diminutive 21-foot boat—the path forward need not begin with a six-figure offshore campaign. Instead, it begins with a humble Macgregor 26X: a forgiving, accessible platform that embodies many…

Greenhouse Gases and Global Warming: Understanding CO₂, Methane, and Water Vapor

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) shows the strongest overall correlation with global warming among greenhouse gases, primarily because it accounts for the largest share of human-caused warming and accumulates in the atmosphere for centuries to millennia. While methane is more potent per molecule in the short term and water vapor is quantitatively the most abundant greenhouse gas, CO₂…

Columbia River Maritime Museum at Astoria, Oregon

The Columbia River Maritime Museum is considered a must-see in Astoria because it vividly interprets the unique and dramatic maritime history of the Columbia River and the surrounding “Graveyard of the Pacific.” It offers insight into exploration, shipwrecks, rescue missions, navigation challenges, and river commerce—anchoring an understanding of Astoria’s pivotal role in Pacific Northwest maritime…

San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio’s cultural and social interests are deeply shaped by its historic River Walk, a vibrant hub that connects people to centuries of indigenous, Spanish, and Mexican heritage. The city is known for its UNESCO-designated missions—including the Alamo—and a thriving blend of traditions seen in its cuisine, celebrations like Day of the Dead, art, and music. German, Mexican, and Tejano influences are present throughout, making San Antonio renowned for communal festivals, unique architecture, open-air markets, and waterfront gatherings that draw both locals and visitors to experience its rich multicultural identity.