Many companies adopted DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs in response to pressure born from mass movements against police violence and for racial justice that spread through the U.S. in 2020. At Dr. Bronner’s we too were motivated to expand initiatives to foster a greater awareness of social and racial justice in our company, and to improve and take additional steps to reach more diverse communities in…
Well folks, grab your raincoats, your rubber duckies, and maybe a kayak if you’re feeling adventurous—because the wettest storm of the season is rolling in like a drunk uncle at Thanksgiving! That’s right, an atmospheric river—which, for those of you keeping score at home, is basically a sky river that forgot where it was supposed to go—is heading our way. Now, up in Northern California,…
The virus was moving faster than expected. Across the country, emergency rooms were filling up with feverish patients, their bodies wracked by chills and muscle pain. Some had difficulty breathing. The U.S. winter virus season had arrived in full force—and by at least one metric, it was the most intense in fifteen years. The data was unambiguous. One of the key indicators of flu activity—the…
A smattering of Ramona folks, hats in hand and grins wide, gave a hearty cheer on February 4th as they hitched themselves to the notion of reviving their long-dormant Ramona Grange. It was a sight fit for a painter—some twenty souls gathered in a meeting hall, bent on deciding the fate of a once-thriving society of farmers, ranchers, vineyard keepers, and assorted agricultural folk. At…
Elon Musk’s role as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE, is on the surface a dramatic effort to overhaul the inefficiencies of federal bureaucracy. But beneath the rhetoric of cost-cutting and regulatory streamlining lies a troubling scenario. Musk has been appointed what is called a “special government employee” in charge of the White House office formerly known as the…
The Musk/Trump administration is running into roadblocks in the courts and getting pummeled in public opinion polls. Much of legacy media has succumbed to their madness and we’re seeing more instances of gorilla dust* being kicked up. (* A term popularized by Ross Perot referencing the tactic of male gorillas kicking up dust to confuse challengers.) While many seemingly tactical actions are being called out,…
Immigrant rights advocacy organizations, including the California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC), Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) and Vera Institute of Justice, issued the following statement regarding a bill approved by the state Legislature and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom today that would provide $25 million to protect immigrant Californians and other vulnerable communities threatened by the Trump administration’s policies: We are thankful that the state…
Cute Cakes Bakery leaves them wanting more and that’s not a good thing True story courtesy of r/DoWeKnowThemPodcaston Reddit: “My cousin put a deposit for about $700 on a wedding cake through Cute Cake Bakery in Escondido – they had good reviews and cute cakes. Their TikTok is here. Turns out, they declared bankruptcy about a week later and have been basically ghosting weddings that…
Presenting three variations of a comedic theme…(Three AI versions of the same story illustrating different approaches for experimental purposes.) (Jerry Seinfeld) So the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, right? It’s losing money. Big surprise. The city decides, ‘Hey, let’s find someone new to run this thing!’ So they open it up—anyone, step right up, take a shot! And you know how many takers they…
Fear of insurrection? Had enough of that whole free speech thing? Don’t like people getting together for social interaction, fun or education? A controversial San Marcos conditional use permit requirement barring community group gatherings came under legal challenge this week at San Diego federal court. Shera Sandwell, owner of non-profit Bheau View Ranch, which she founded in 2000, represented by litigation attorney Jeremiah D. Graham,…