Redwoods and stewardship

“Cutting the burl off redwoods … it’s like cutting off their feet. That’s the source of new roots, to get bigger, to keep growing.”

The California Coastal Redwoods were extensively clear cut around the turn of the century. But, thanks to the Redwood League (later Save the Redwoods) and influential individuals, acres of old growth redwoods still stand. The timber industry and environmental activists continue to spar over the healthiest maintenance plans for redwood forests. Gerald Beranek is an “old logger” who also happens to revere the majestic redwoods, and has published several books on these majestic trees. He shares redwood facts, a little history, and the best way to approach stewardship.

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Fairy Tales and hope

“People do not cherish each other the way they should.”

“Fairy Tales for Life; A Collection of Fourteen Original Short Stories”  recently won first place in the Children’s Book category at the San Francisco Book Festival. Author Linda Champion shares the impetus behind her original fairy tales, which integrate our “real” world with the fairy tale world of magical creatures, and places. Listen to Julie Parker read one of the stories.

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Shades of Blue and depression

“Hope” can be a foreign concept to those in the midst of severe or suicidal depression. Yet, the book “Shades of Blue” offers just that – hope. Thirty-five essays written by individuals with different backgrounds and histories share diverse issues, and how they have managed to, if not overcome them, learned to manage them. Three of the contributing essay authors read excerpts from their essays at the independent bookstore, The Avid Reader, in Davis, California.

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Writers and bellies

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Want an honest, frank opinion? Ask a writer. Over the decades, newspaper columnists have freely offered their (mostly) uncensored opinions every week, to the delight of readers who enjoyed discussing them over their morning coffee, or the office water cooler. Today, readers have the additional option of leaving comments on on-line publications, such as iPinion Syndicate. All media publishers, including iPinion, know that any given subject can be approached from many angles. I met with a few iPinion contributing columnists – David Weinshilboum, Debra DeAngelo, Kelvin Wade, and Carolyn Wyler – to demonstrate iPinion’s diverse personalities behind the columns. I asked them a variety of questions about a single non-political topic: bellies. The result is an intelligent, insightful, and humorous discussion.

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Broken hearts and yoga

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There is no shortcut in moving through loss, whether it be job, relationship, pet, or death. In those moments when you’re home alone, without friends or family beside you, what can you do to ease the pain? Michelle Paisley, certified yoga instructor, offers her insightful book, Yoga for a Broken Heart; A Spiritual Guide to Healing from Break-up, Loss, Death or Divorce,” which offers practical tools.

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Black books and education

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The 2nd Annual Sacramento Black Book Fair – held in eight different venues – offered a plethora of informative, engaging, and entertaining activities from which to choose. The Brick House Art Gallery hosted a fabulous Kids Zone, with African drumming and dance provided by Jodama Drum & Dance, and vendors who introduced community-based organizations, such as Sojourner Truth Museum, Sacramento Area Youth Speaks, Black Child Development Institute, and Read Across Jamaica. Plus, the Crocker Art Museum’s Art Ark made an appearance. You’ll also meet four authors who attended an evening at Underground Books: Nicholas Powers, Cedric J. BoyKakwasi Somadhi, and Sandy Lynne Holman.

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New books and Earth Day

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Looking for new books to read? Authors introduce their books at a recent book fair event. And, in honor of Earth Day, vendors at an Earth Day event share insight, and resources.

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Poetry and roots

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It’s National Poetry Month!  You are invited to listen in to a reading of poems from Mud Cloth Roots authored by mother-daughter poets Dr. V.S. Chochezi and Staajabu, which includes a back story of mud cloth.

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Hikes and stories

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Gifted writer, storyteller, hiker, and mountaineer, Daniel Arnold has published his third book, “Snowblind.” This time around, he has written a collection of fictional short stories that capture of the soul essence of alpine obsession.

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Time outs and deserts

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Even psychologists need advice now and then. When Professor Jacqueline Keller’s friends and colleagues suggested she quit an academia job at which she was clearly miserable, she listened.

After spending seven months in one of her favorite places, she wrote a book about her experience – Death Valley: A Winter’s Journey.

Where would you choose to spend seven months?

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