The Botany of Desire is a new documentary that explores the history and evolution of some most common plants today: apple, potato, tulip and cannabis. Michael Pollan, the director, tells the story from the plant’s point of view and explores how we, humans, helped these plants to evolve and succeed. This exceptionally well done documentary presents some interesting facts from the plant’s history and science. The author connects these most popular plants with our drives and desires and assigns each one to a specific plant which managed to dominate it.    more »

San Francisco Rail Road junk yard in Bay View has become a home to a heard of goats, who from time to time go on weed removal assignments, all green and organic solution to poison oak and other unwanted weeds. "Poison oak is actually good for goats," says David Simon..   more »

Today I was walking along the sidewalk in Los Altos, California, heading to the local store. My dog Fila was walking beside me on the short leash, something I insisted he'd do when I walk fast....   more »

Every time! Whenever I go anywhere...   more »

The nature came alive on my birthday (as it always does!) May 14, 2009. It rained in both countries Ukraine ...   more »

About two months ago my dog Fila had his gum swollen refusing to eat hard food. I took him to the vet, we did a whole bunch of things including shots, blood tests and sedated ultrasonic teeth cleaning. That was about $600 in total.   more »

As many as a thousand fires are burning in California right now. The smoke adds additional haze to the sky, making the air difficult to breathe in. It is not as bad here in the Bay Area, but the Big Sur is burning!!! .. as well as south and north of Bay Area... We need some rain!!!! Send it to us, please....   more »

In the times of the full moon and the celebration of the Earth Day, it was especially wonderful to hear the Abbot talking about not taking the Earth for granted at the Buddhist monastery called "The Green Gulch", the green, self-sustained community of monks teaching compassion, open-mindedness and respect for each other and other living beings.   more »

This weekend I visited California desert. Palm Springs area is full of resorts and casinos, and other than that, a whole lot of nothing. Well, that's not really true. If you look closely, you might discover giant flying cockroaches near your hot tub. For some reason, they like the water. Must be the desert...   more »

The duck series was shot by Jeff Sutton in Palm Springs' resort Westin. It was a story to be told about humans and animals, particularly, happy humans and hungry ducks :) Watch for yourself...   more »

Bay Area has welcomed another earthquake this evening - 3.0 with the epicenter near San Jose. It was about 10:40 pm and I was sitting on my bed, playing with my laptop. When suddenly, I felt my bed shake from side to side. It was a good shake and then waves of trembling came downward. It didn't last long. But it was noticeable for everyone to run out of their rooms and the dog to run up the stairs barking...   more »

I and Maggie celebrated Winter Solstice this year by going to the Buddhist temple in the north bay called Green Gulch or Green Dragon temple. It was a beautiful cleansing experience which allowed us to get rid of stress accumulated this year and reconnect with nature and ourselves.   more »