Non-Fiction

Reflections in Tram Seven, Prague, Czech Republic.

The skeleton of last summer's papyrus and a rainbow combine to bridge the seasons.

A dizzying view of a redwood tree.

At the Manzanita Lake entrance to Lassen Volcanic National Park, someone has posted cautionary advice about being prepared for sudden changes in weather. Is it the advice of a furry rodent in shades and ski boots?

A nasturtium that survived the winter.

My husband's Polish family gave me the gift of a recipe for golumpki, a cabbage roll that will undoubtedly be served in Heaven.

Almond blossoms announce the arrival of Spring in the Central Valley of California

His actions can arguably be the greatest of anyone to lead to American victory, but in the end, his motivations were selfish, his courage and ability a commodity to be purchased. The story of Benedict Arnold is indeed a tale of "selfish courage."

A seagull rests in the sunlight at Santa Cruz.

An angel crowned with snow watches over a grave in Prague.

A lemur at Micke Grove Zoo examines a scent marking on a branch.

We remember him as a traitor, but few people recall that Benedict Arnold was one of the greatest heroes of the American Revolution, or why he turned against the young nation he fought so bravely for.

A street in Prague on a rainy night

No sore muscle hurts as much as that Failure does. But what if success becomes the whole point of your actions? Can you only see who you are in the mirror of failure or success?

Anyone who has been involved in a family squabblecan attest that family fights are often the nastiest. So it was with WWI. In the end, this family feud costs the lives of over eight million soldiers.

Dennis Smith, who believes that "through art we have the means to peacefully consider violence," has created a war memorial that fills the observer with reverence and tranquility.

Their job is to protect U.S. coastal areas, but the Coast Guard had direct involvement with the invasion of Normandy and has participated in all the wars in which the U.S. has been involved. Take a look at the forgotten branch of the U.S. military.

How can you prevent bot abuse and control the manner in which the program is manipulated? How can you stop it from annoying people, especially in heavy forums discussions with emotional significance? Can a program simulate tact? Read on. Part 2 of 2.

Whatever is in the water is going to have Kodiak to deal with!

All the cool kids are doing it... creating artificial intelligence programs that respond to complex input as a person, or animal, or imaginary character might. What are some of the concerns in designing such a program? Part 1 of 2.

Light and shadows in the morning sky

How important is balance when riding a bike? Riding safely, especially at freeway speeds, isn't just a matter of not leaning too far to the left or right. Too much weight toward the front or the back can also have disastrous results.

October 13 is the birthday of the United States Navy. Take a brief look at the history of one of the best military organizations in the world.

Birds and sails ride the winds and waters of the San Francisco Bay.

A water lily blooms in a shaded pool.

This summer my brother and I learned we had won the Federico Fellini award for the script we had co-written, <em>Pirates of the White Sand</em>. Just writing the thing together had been a great experience, but now we were going to make a movie. A <em>movie</em>. I jumped a plane to be there for pre-production.

The War of 1812 brought the U.S. into the international scene, solidified it as a nation, and led to the organization of a professional army. It's arguably one of the most important events in the history of our nation, but it also is one of the least remembered.

Why do bikers wave to other bikers? Do they all know each other? Nope. It's one part courtesy, one part superstition.

Looking for a small-scale gardening project with a large-scale reward? Try easy to care for herbs for year-round fun.