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Bird’s Eye View (Sep 7, 2016)

Greetings one and all. Are you are sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin.

I thought it appropriate to give an overview for the uninitiated from the Economist magazine on Saturday of this past week’s Burning Man event in the Black Rock Desert. “One of Nevada’s largest cities exists for only one week each year, built from scratch and then dismantled, leaving only bare desert. Revelers build giant interactive installations, this year including a pyramid complex (complete with catacombs) and a participatory recreation of the Last Supper. Tonight the 90-foot centerpiece structure, a Vitruvian Man, will be ritually incinerated. Burning Man has transformed since a small group of friends first put match to Man on Baker Beach in San Francisco in 1986: each installment brings $50m to the area, and it has spawned many other such ‘transformational festivals.’ But veterans fret that the Hollywood starlets and Silicon Valley bosses it now attracts threaten its original spirit. Despite trumpeting inclusivity, tickets cost hundreds of dollars and attendees are overwhelmingly white; the huge consumption of resources, from water bottles to fuel, might seem more destructive than creative. But try telling that tonight to the 70,000 proud citizens of a city built on ‘radical self-expression’.”

Public Service Announcements. #543. The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital have just one visit this month to the AV Farm Supply on Highway 128, north of Philo: September 22. They will be back next month on October 6 and 20. #544. The Barn Sale is this weekend, Saturday/Sunday, September 10/11, 9am-3pm at The Big Barn next to the St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church Refectory on AV Way just north of Boonville. #545. The Boonville Farmers Market continues every Saturday in the parking lot of the Boonville Hotel, 9.30am-Noon — Cindy at 895-2949 for info. #546. The AV Lending Library run by The Unity Club is normally open on Tuesdays and Saturdays at The Fairgrounds, Tuesday 1.30-4.30pm and Saturday 2-4pm. They are currently closed until after the County Fair. #547. The County Dump is open from 9am-4pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Remember, no dead animals! #548. The AV Grange is having its regular second Sunday Pancake Breakfast on September 11 from 8:30-11am. Prices range from $5-10; kids through hungry folks— a delicious, locally-sourced breakfast of pancakes (gluten free available; gluten extra is not), eggs, and bacon, choice of juice, tea or coffee included.

Here is the menu for the Community lunches and dinners over the next week in the Senior Center at the Veterans Building in Boonville. $6 donation from seniors for lunches and dinners and $7 for Non-seniors for lunches and $8 for the dinners. Tomorrow, Thursday, September 8, the lunch, served by Marti Titus and her crew at Noon, will be Hamburgers on a Bun Banana Split Cake. Then, next Tuesday, September 13, the evening meal served at 6pm, will feature Marinated Tri-Tip Roast with Orange Creamsicle for dessert. All meals include vegetables, salad bar, and fruit, plus milk, coffee, tea, and lemonade. What a deal. it maybe the best value for money you’ll get all week! As this is the 2nd Tuesday of the month, the dinner will be followed by Bingo at 7pm. Tai Chi is now available every Tuesday at 11am, while on Thursdays at 11am it is Kathy’s Easy-stretch Yoga class. Also on Thursdays, the Active Life Club runs from 10am to 2pm and features games, crafts, and music. The Senior Center/Community Bus goes to Ukiah on Monday's and also Santa Rosa on the first Wednesday of the month. These trips fill up fast so don't forget to sign up early at 489-1175. Hopefully you will be able to attend some of these events and certainly the lunches and dinners, and remember. ALL ages welcome! Hope to see you there.

Topics and Valley events at The Three-Dot Lounge: “Moans, Groans, Good Thoughts, and Rampant (yet surprisingly reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley.

…I am reliably informed that for the first time in a few years the AV Historical Society and Museum has secured a booth at the County Fair this year. My close personal friend, Steve Sparks, will be operating the stall, accompanied at times by fellow author Wes Smoot. Feel free to stop by and chat with folks familiar with Valley history and perhaps support the Society by buying a book, or even by becoming a member of this important organization!

…Most of you will be aware that Donald Trump visited Mexico last week to meet President Enrique Peña Nieto. The Republican nominee praised Mexicans as “honest, hardworking people”; then in a speech later that same day, he promised to build an “impenetrable” border wall which Mexico would pay for. Mr Trump said he did not discuss paying for the wall with Mr Peña Nieto; the president said they did and that Mexico wouldn’t. Most regulars at the 3-Dot are in no doubt as to who to believe.

…Those who continue to decry television, without knowing what is offered these days, could perhaps consider what Carl Sagan, creator and presenter of the wonderful series “Cosmos” once said. “Used properly, television can educate and inspire awe as well as any book, painting, or film.” Over the last decade, programs such as The Wire, The Sopranos, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Sex and the City, Deadwood, Entourage, Rome, Six Feet Under, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Dexter, Californication, Homeland, Game of Thrones, Nurse Jackie, Boardwalk Empire, Girls, Treme, True Blood, The Daily Show, Inside Amy Shumer, etc, etc, would certainly seem to support this claim.

…From our 3-Dot regular, The Old Buzzard, comes another in his insightful series. “Signs that the Apocalypse is Approaching.” Buzzard reports, “I do believe that it is written in the Constitution that when toast is served with a traditional American breakfast, two pieces are to be provided. No Amendment has been made to my knowledge. One slice is obviously just not right if the meal is to be devoured completely, including the sauces and juices, and the plate cleaned thoroughly. Consequently this sends a message of appreciation and fulfillment to the cook and server. Let’s not allow this alarming thought of one slice go any further. Otherwise, it would be a very significant sign that the Apocalypse is Approaching.”

I’m outtahere. I’ve got see a man about a sheep. So “Take me drunk, I’m home,” and until we talk again, Be careful out there; if you break a leg don’t come running to me; stay out of the ditches; be wary of strangers with more dogs than teeth; show love to your pets, they will be faithful and true to you to the last beat of their hearts, and remember to keep your windows cracked if you leave them in your vehicle; think good thoughts; Keep the Faith; try to not let life get in the way of living; may your god go with you, and may your dog go with you too. A final request, “Let us prey.” Sometimes poking, often stroking, but almost always humbly yours, Turkey Vulture. still wallowing in the honor of having the second tallest tree (343.6 feet) in Hendy Woods named after me and my ilk. Contact me through the Letters Page or at turkeyvulture9@gmail.com. PS. Time to re-remind those who think badly of us that a fellow by the name of Charles Darwin said about Turkey Vultures, “A disgusting bird whose bald scarlet head is formed to wallow in putridity.”. Thanks for the compliment, Charles. PPS. Keep on humming, Hummingbird. Missing the Venerable Pheasant. On the sheep, Grace.

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