My Roadkill Habit

November 4, 2016.Reading time 1 minute.

We all have secret habits. Mine was a habit with a purpose. For several years I stopped my SmartCar by the roadside to gather recently perished beings into my arms, bring the beings home, and do whatever was necessary to pass their contributions on to others. “My Roadkill Habit” is the title of a recent essay, a national finalist […]

Stop the press! Gorgeous storybook on the Waterdog by SJSU students

July 14, 2016.Reading time 1 minute.

What happens to Waterdog (a.k.a. the California Red-bellied Newt) when he tries to hook up with Little Frog? And then runs into Bullfrog and Water Snake? This traditional story, told by Elizabeth “Belle” Lozinto Cordova Dollar [Dry Creek Pomo] to UC Berkeley linguist Robert Oswalt is depicted in a storybook produced for the Grace Hudson […]

A new definition of homeland security

June 26, 2016.Reading time 2 minutes.

There once was a Lass with a Tiny Home On Wheels (a converted shuttle bus) who needed a place to park her Home. She lived happily amongst the redwoods…until the rain and the shade and the damp (and the very, very long drives to work) drove her inland, to drier climatic regimes and shorter commutes. […]

Peacocks! Squirrels! The dangers of introducing non-native species.

June 4, 2016.Reading time 1 minute.

Once upon a time there was this peacock who came to Buddhaland…becoming a tourist attraction but wrecking havoc on the local ecosystem. After studying about food webs, ecological balance, and invasive species, my students made a film about what happens when peacocks are introduced to Northern California. During our last week of the AP Environmental […]

Student video revives ancient language

May 25, 2016.Reading time 4 minutes.

Animated videos posted on YouTube are helping to revive ancient languages, nowadays spoken mostly by tribal elders. Hupa, Pomo, Miwok, and Wukchumni are among hundreds of languages native to tribes and tribal communities throughout California. According to criteria set by the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organization (UNESCO), every tribal language in California is considered […]