Cooped Up? Get Uncooped.

Does any kid ever write a report about wanting to be an underpaid, bored, fluorescent-light-hypnotized office drone working for some giant soulless corporation when he or she grows up? Of course not. People crave work that is challenging, fulfilling and meaningful, and takes place in a soul-nourishing setting. But how do you find that kind of work? Here are a few places to start looking. Here you'll find work with nonprofits, socially responsible companies, outdoor...

read more

Ancient legal doctrine stirs Delta water fight

read more

You can create a happy home for critters of all sizes and species in your very own backyard by creating a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat. My first step is to get myself a backyard... Here are some PDF tipsheets on attracting birds, butterflies, amphibians and more.

read more

Check out this awesome tool from eNature.com, a site formerly belonging to the National Wildlife Federation (now owned by a privately held company). The tool is called the ZipGuide. Basically, it's a simple search engine. Plug in your email and zipcode, select from the given options, and it will generate a list of your local birds, butterflies, reptiles and more. You can even ask it to show mammal tracks (so you can figure out what...

read more

Last weekend, while hiking (okay, lounging in the sun) in the Tule Elk Reserve in Point Reyes National Seashore, I spotted two white-gray birds circling and dipping overhead. Something about the way they were moving and the shapes of their heads made me think of peregrine falcons, but I had never seen a white falcon before. The above picture is the only one I managed to snap. Identifying a bird when you're bird-challenged like me...

read more

The information I am about to share may cause you to become an addict. You may spend hours fiddling with the controls, creating new stations and proselytizing to non-users. You may alienate your family and friends with your newfound passion.  You have been warned. Behold: Pandora "Pandora's personalized radio service is powered by the Music Genome Project, the most comprehensive analysis of music ever undertaken. Pandora taps into a massive musical collection to deliver a...

read more

If you're like a lot of people I know, you listen to your iPod during your morning commute. What do you listen to? Next time you're sick of all your music, pop on over to the podcast feed of The New School at Commonweal, which features fascinating conversations with a boggling variety of amazing people. Topics covered include: Green chemistry Environmental justice Death and dying - a healer's perspective Bees Permaculture New paradigms in autism...

read more

So I was walking along a quiet rural road this morning on my way to work. Pastureland blankets the rolling hills on either side of the road. Sun shining, birds chirping, brisk breeze off the nearby Pacific - this walk was the perfect way to start the day. Then, not 20 yards in front of me, a big, tawny feline loped across the road and vanished into the tall grass on the other side. A...

read more

Screen glare. Eyes aching.Limbs plead: "Stretch! Run!" Alas, no.Spreadsheets due at 5. ** Miss my outdoor job.Big paycheck difference though.Damn you, student loans! ** Anyone else want to contribute?

read more

I'm sure there's a technical name for it, but I don't know it, so I called it a mini-flower. Spotted yesterday (Sunday, March 16th) at Stinson Beach, California.

read more