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Mendocino County Today: Wednesday, July 19, 2017

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'11-44' (DECEASED PERSON) IN SILVER MUSTANG ON SR-128?

Yes, CHP Discovers Body Near Mile Marker 4.0

The scanner said (7:53 pm) the Anderson Valley Fire Department, CalFire & ground ambulance #7420 were dispatched to the vicinity of mile marker 10 on Highway 128 for the report of an "11-44" (deceased) in a silver Ford Mustang. Law enforcement is also en route.

The reporting party said the parked Mustang was "about mile marker 10 - or 20 minutes in from Highway 1." Dispatch added it was reported off the westbound lane.

Dispatch said (8:22 pm) the vehicle was found by a CHP patrol unit at mile marker 4.0. The plate came back to a 2000 white Mustang registered to a "missing person out of Elk Grove."

Dispatch said it was a "confirmed 11-44." Units were directed to the scene.

MSP just included a map of where the deceased was found - in the Navarro River Redwoods State Park.

The Mendocino County Sheriff/Coroner has been notified.

MORE ON INCIDENT FROM CHP

According to the CHP, they received the call @ 7:42 pm of the Mustang "with a bad smell from the vehicle."

CHP confirmed the person associated with the vehicle is "confirmed still missing."

CHP said (8:37 pm), a passenger of the reporting party of the incident said he was with her in the vehicle. He is on parole (out of Santa Rosa) and spoke with his agent and was advised to call CHP with the information.

(MendoSportsPlus reporting)

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THE GRADE FIRE was declared “surrounded,” by Calfire Tuesday, not quite officially “contained” at 900 acres. No movement of the fire in the last day. The same term was used for the smaller Cow Mountain fire which scorched about 30 acres. Crews were mopping up and extinguishing hot spots Tuesday afternoon. No injuries, no structure damage. A good response, overall. The successful firefight was lead by Calfire with a large crew comprised heavily of local fire and emergency crews.

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FORT BRAGG NOTES

by Rex Gressett

The elected government of the City of Fort Bragg is loaded for bear and they going after Hostility House. The flagship operation of Mendocino Coast Hospitality Center, a 29 bed shelter and soup kitchen on McPherson street, is the only legitimate claim for the larger organization's claim to provide any actual social service. The shelter is in the crosshairs of a City Council frankly intent upon the closure of the facility. On Wednesday, June July 26th, the Fort Bragg Planning Commission is going to consider the revocation of the use permit for the shelter. This would be the development code equivalent of the guillotine. Lynell Johnson, hereditary ruler of the MCHC board, is named as the recipient of the complaint.

Hospitality House, widely and interchangeably known as Hostility House, and its governing organization under the direction and management of the notorious and sultry Anna Shaw, has been the object of intense community controversy, mayor recall enterprises, ballot initiatives, innumerable Public Safety Committee meetings and wide and lengthy public debate.

It was the questionable and scandalous money and power grab by MCHC in the Old Coast Hotel scandal which was the watershed event in current Fort Bragg city politics. It provided a cold million in the form of a forgivable loan derived from CBDG, but coming from the city to lubricate the dramatic expansion of MCHC. By clever connivance that allowed our homelessness monopoly to buy a historic property in the heart of the city. The tax dodge for the original owners took up the slack and gave the only Fort Bragg institution of direct aid to the homeless an instant $3 million dollar asset. This behind the scenes real estate transaction was orchestrated by city hall without public notice until the last legal minute and then slammed past the council only four days after the people of the city found out about it. Famously, the affair skirted by a technically invisible fine hair direct violation of the Brown act. It was a fast, ruthless expression of the inordinate and inexcusable domination of the public process by the whim of the City Manager. But unlike her standard carefully-sanitized agenda, it stank solidly and unmistakably.

The Old Coast Hotel controversy resulted in so much public outrage and opposition that the voters turned the whole compromised City Council out of office as fast as they came up for election. Only Dave Turner survived, by 40 votes, since those dark days, deeply chastened. In two elections the city survived but the council did not. A contentious ballot initiative, Measure U, although laughably flawed in its legal premise, aimed an intentionally fatal missile at what had instantly become a uniquely glorious, elegantly gardened architectural gem of a homeless center.

When the smoke from the Measure U cleared, MCHC got to keep their free hotel. It seemed that Anna Shaw, the MCHC shadowy director and chief strategist, had prevailed. She politicked past the ballot initiative with skill and considerable guile. She went right on to pull down another $186k off the city’s money tree to buy herself and her social service minions a little garden and did that brash theft in the very shadow of the mass electoral execution of the city council that had so generously handed her all that cash.

Long ago, 17 years now, professional managers at Fort Bragg city hall noticed with the calculating insight of a small town Machiavelli that when the city’s largest employer, Georgia Pacific, closed the mill, the resulting impoverishment of the city created a neat opportunity for the city to tap into big healthy federal money pots. The Community Block Development Grant program (CBDG) had actually been created to throw money at the slow eruption of vast urban ghettos. In a clever extrapolation the new City Manager brought in grant writers to drag down free floating federal cash for little Fort Bragg. Taking full credit and following in the constituent padding tradition of urban disasters such as Newark, Detroit and South Central Los Angeles, our smart city management found that they could use all that federal money to buy themselves a constituency. This they did, and the social services industry in Fort Bragg sprouted like mushrooms. The city management built a voting block out of voters affiliated with or dependent on the extensive network of social services agencies that had grown out of the lavish distribution of CBDG (community block development grants) money. Everyone was happy. City management found they could forget the rest of the city. They were unemployed or figuring it out and in disgust not voting.

The ex-loggers and ex-fishermen and the broad wide and deep public that has lived in the city for generations who built their lives on diligent hard work had observed dispassionately the decades-long evolution of their city into a regional social services Disneyland. Many of them did not vote, then they did. It turned out they held the power. They still hold it.

Long before there was ever any such thing as Donald Trump in the political sense, there was bone-deep socially conservative reaction in Fort Bragg.

MCHC and their crude manhandling of the city money machine set in motion a quiet revolution in our local political landscape. Let me give the City Council a little advice even while I observe you finally getting it in gear. The people of Fort Bragg are not here for the money. We are here because we want a safe place for our kids. We live decently and we expect everyone who lives here to live decently as well. It is not asking too much.

They have busted Hostility House for using 34 beds when they are supposed to have 24. They have them on illegal expansion of hours, of having been the object of 187 complaints resulting in charges of disturbance, assault, battery, fighting, verbal threats, trespass and drunk in public

The Planning Commission has expressed concerns about public urination, feces, vomit, dog poop on public and private property, aggressive panhandling loitering, shouting, arguing, littering and public drinking and use of drugs.

The Commission has noted in their use permit violation complaint direct remonstrations from local merchants of shoplifting, vandalism, fighting, and sadly obstruction of sidewalks and sleeping on sidewalks and vehicles.

Next Wednesday night at the Planning Commission meeting all of those things will finally be up for community discussion.

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JUDY VALADAO on next week's meeting of the Fort Bragg Planning Commission:

The problem (as I see it) is that people are getting way off the subject at hand. The Planning Commission meeting IS NOT about the Hospitality Center, IS NOT about the Old Coast Hotel. The permit HAS NOT been changed to allow the violations. The Organization is asking for an amended permit that would allow them to continue as they are. THE REASON for the Planning Commission meeting is because THERE ARE VIOLATIONS happening and the Organization of course would like to continue their merry way of doing things and running the House as is. In other words they are in violation of their use permit but now want permission to continue to be in violation which would then make it ok. A list of violations are listed in the notice of the hearing. THE REASON for letters is to ask the Commission to NOT ALLOW THE CURRENT USE AS IS but instead amend the permit TO ONLY ALLOW 24 BEDS, ONLY FEED THOSE OCCUPYING THOSE BEDS, HIRE SECURITY AT THEIR EXPENSE AND TO HAVE QUALIFIED PEOPLE IN CHARGE. The Hospitality House IS NOT going away, that isn't the issue. THIS IS A HEARING ON A PARTICULAR ITEM, so why would one want to speak of something not pertaining to the issue at hand?

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Fort Bragg Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing at a regularly scheduled meeting on WEDNESDAY, July 26, 2017 at 6:00 PM, or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard at the Town Hall, at the corner of Main and Laurel Streets (363 North Main Street), Fort Bragg, California. The public hearing will concern the following item:

APPLICATION NO.: Use Permit Modification (USP 9-03/17)

OWNER: Mendocino Coast Hospitality Center (MCHC)

AGENT: Lynelle Johnson

REQUEST: City instigated modification of Use Permit to address Use Permit violations and nuisance conditions resulting from the operation of the Hospitality House. The Use Permit violations include: a. An illegal expansion of the number of beds from 24 to 34 in violation of the Use Permit special condition for the facility; b. An illegal expansion of the hours of service and an expansion of the dining area in violation of zoning ordinance's limitations on non-conforming uses. The following nuisance conditions have been identified: c. Over the past year, 187 calls for service the Police Department to the Hospitality House to address a variety of issues, including: disturbance, assault, battery, fighting, verbal threats, suspicious people/ vehicle, trespass, drunk in public, etc. d. Urination, feces, vomit, dog poop on public and private property; e. Aggressive panhandling, loitering, shouting, arguing, cursing in the public right of way; f. Littering; g. Public drinking & drug use in the public right of way and on private property; h. Trespassing, shoplifting, vandalism and fighting on private property; i. Sleeping on sidewalks, in vehicles, and on private property; and j. Obstruction of sidewalks and alleys with personal property.

LOCATION: 237 North McPherson Street APN: 008-155-11

ZONING: Central Business District(CBD)

LOT SIZE: 7,000 Square Feet.

GETTING OFF THE ISSUE is only causing confusion and means nothing more than venting. Getting off the issue will not mean anything to the Planning Commission. They are there to hear the issue at hand. Should they allow the organization to continue as is, or should they amend the permit with strict guidelines?

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LITTLE DOG SAYS, “Kinda worried about my new friend Skrag. He's getting his two squares a day but look how thin he is. I hear he leads a wild night life, roaming around looking for fights, chasing the ladies. No wonder he looks so ragged and sleeps all day.”

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IT TOOK AN HOUR AND HALF OF SPEECH MAKING AND WORDSMITHING Tuesday morning, but no substantial changes were made to the mental health ballot measure that will appear on the November ballot. Third District Supervisor Georgeanne Croskey thought it was important to emphasize the mental health training facility aspect of the measure while Sheriff Allman suggested that the general public could be trained to assist with the mentally ill until the pros took over responsibility for them. (We interpreted the Sheriff's remarks to mean that it might be possible to train ordinary citizens to, ah, cool out, on-site, persons suffering psychotic breaks. In far flung Mendo, if an outback mental case suddenly nuts up in, say, deep Spy Rock, it would be a while until emergency services could arrive.)

THE NEW AND IMPROVED BALLOT MEASURE the Board finally approved is a long-overdue upgrade of county mental health services. The question now is how much the measure's advocates promote it and whether voters in an off-year election will support it to the tune of a two-thirds majority. In 2016 Sheriff Allman went out on his personal time to gather signatures and talk up the initiative, and it was largely his remarkable individual effort that nearly passed the measure its first time around. It will be interesting to see if the same level of enthusiasm and effort can be mounted this year by the other officials who now, some belatedly, support the idea.

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WHEN WE FIRST SAW these charts we thought we were being pranked. But then we watched today's (Tuesday's) meeting of the Supervisors where an obviously sincere, un-ironic Diane Curry of the county's Ag Department explained, at some length, these clearly insane visuals illustrating a startlingly unworkable procedure supposedly aimed at legalizing pot patches. In the Supe's chambers, nobody laughed, but here in Boonville, watching the proceedings from our office bunker, today's discussion among the county's political leadership and bureaucrats led inescapably to one conclusion: These people are objectively crazy, and these objectively crazy people have come up with this crazy process which only a crazy person could think was viable. We laughed long and loud.

"And this is just the Ag Department part," said Ag Commissioner Diane Curry

PRE-CHARTS, pre-pot licensing processes, pre-group insanity, the assumption was that Mendo would legalize the miracle drug simply to fatten the county's depleted coffers. And indeed, 600 or so saps ponied up a collective million dollars to begin the licensing process the above charts describe. How many growers have made it to the end of the maze? One. 599 are stuck at one point in the process or the other. I doubt the application fee is refundable.

CAN YOU SAY BAIT AND SWITCH? What has happened here, is all these people have paid an average of three grand simply to apply for a permit while the county has steadily changed the rules, moving the goalposts back and up, adding more requirements including, and get this, handicap access to growing sheds. So while these 600 applicants negotiate an insanely impossible process they are all arrest-eligible.

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INTO THE STREETS, FORT BRAGG!

On Tuesday, August 1, residents in neighborhoods throughout Fort Bragg and across the nation are asked turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors, friends and Public Safety personnel. The Fort Bragg Police Department and Neighborhood Watch will be hosting this year’s celebration of National Night Out at Bainbridge Park, 300 N Harrison Street, in Fort Bragg between 5:00p.m.-7:00p.m. Please join us and enjoy some food, prizes for the kids, and get to know your neighbors and Public Safety personnel a little better!

National Night Out, is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) and co-sponsored locally by the Fort Bragg Police Department and Fort Bragg Neighborhood Watch. This event will involve over 16,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world. Millions of people are expected to participate in this year’s “America’s Night Out Against Crime”.

National Night Out is designed to: (1) Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; (2) Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime efforts; (3) Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and (4) Send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

https://www.facebook.com/FortBraggPD/posts/1472110466161753

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U-TURN ON HWY 1 ENDS BADLY

[click to enlarge]
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TRY THIS, SHERIFF: Re: $73,643.18 to Provide Infrastructure for Secure Internet Connection and Lease of Eighty (80) Edovo Tablets for Inmate Education…

Here’s how I’d do it: two redundant competing internet services plugged into a dedicated bridged router ($1500/yr). A range extender or two for every block of living units (say $500). 100 Kindle Fire tablets and 100 USB keyboards ($10,000). That’s only $12,000 a year even if you give away all the tablets and replace them with new ones every Christmas. Put an IT kid on retainer for another $8000 a year for three days of setup (plugging everything in and initializing the tablets) and the occasional remote or on-site troubleshoot. This totals only a little more than a fourth of the asked-for money. What am I missing?

–Marco McClean

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WILDFIRE SOUTH OF YOSEMITE

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7212219-181/evacuations-ordered-roads-closed-in

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CATCH OF THE DAY, JULY 18, 2017

Alvarez, Bettega, Cooper

KELISHA ALVAREZ, Ukiah. Second degree robbery, camping in Ukiah, vandalism. (Frequent flyer.)

PATRICK BETTEGA, Gualala. Burglary.

TIMMY COOPER, Ukiah. Under influence, probation revocation.

Fillion, Hull, Jones

HAZEL FILLION, Ukiah. County parole violation.

JOSEPH HULL, Fort Bragg. Taking vehicle without owner’s consent, probation revocation.

DAMIEN JONES, Willits. DUI.

C.King, E.King, S.King

CURTIS KING, U(kiah. Under influence.

ELIZABETH KING, Redwood Valley. Under influence.

STEVEN KING, Ukiah. Failure to appear.

Nicholas, Ritter, Rodriguez, Rosado

DANIEL NICHOLAS, Hayward/Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol.

GEOFFREY RITTER, Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol, probation revocation.

JESUS RODRIGUEZ, Redwood Valley. Disorderly conduct-alcohol.

SATASHA ROSADO, Willits. Assault with deadly weapon not a gun, Disorderly conduct-alcohol.

RUiz, Sutherlin, Thomas

MARGARITO RUIZ, Willits. DUI.

CHRISTY SUTHERLIN, Ben Lomand/Ukiah. Petty theft.

AUBREY THOMAS, Ukiah. Burglary, failure to appear.

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CLANCY SIGAL HAS... 'GONE AWAY' (1926-2017) RIP

by Peter Dreier

Writer Clancy Sigal died last night (Monday) at 91.

At any given time, I have 10 to 12 used paperback copies of his autobiographical novel “Going Away” on my bookshelf at home. Whenever I go to a used bookstore, the first thing I do is look for, and buy, more copies of that novel. I am not a hoarder. I give the books away to friends. I want everyone to read “Going Away.” Reading “Going Away” — a fictional memoir of his life as a former union organizer and Hollywood agent, who travels across America to visit old friends victimized by the Red Scare blacklist — was transformational for me and for many others.

The novel describes a cross-country road trip that Sigal, then a 29-year old blacklisted Hollywood agent, embarked on in 1956 to visit old friends, and some old enemies, many of them victimized by McCarthyism. Some of his old friends left their leftism behind, but Sigal remained a radical, unwilling to give up hope. In collecting and telling the stories of his comrades, old girlfriends, and new acquaintances, Sigal captured the spirit of the era, much more so than Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road,” to which “Going Away” (which was nominated for a National Book Award) is often compared.

“Going Away” is a soul-searching memoir filled with fascinating characters. Those familiar with the post-war American left will recognize some of them, including the thinly-disguised battles between socialist Walter Reuther and the Communists within the United Auto Workers, but most of the people Clancy portrays are not well-known figures. In “Going Away,” Sigal also chronicles the battles over racism at a time when the modern civil rights movement was just getting started.

Even during that dark time in our nation’s history, he refuses to give in to cynicism, even while recognizing the terrible toll that the Red Scare took on America’s politics and culture.

His view of America is hardly romantic and he is not uncritical of the blind spots of his left-wing friends, but his love of life, fighting spirit, and sense of adventure make it impossible for him to sink into despair, even as he gets ready to escape to England, where he lived for the next several decades.

The novel became something of a cult favorite among the baby-boom generation of radicals in the 1960s and 1970s, but it has remained in print and popular among subsequent generations, too. And rightly so.

If “Going Away,” published in 1961, was the only thing Clancy ever wrote, then, as we say on Passover, “dayenu” — it would have been enough. But in fact he was a prolific writer of fiction, memoirs, biography, film and literary criticism, and political observation. He was still writing — essays, books, and lots of FB posts and emails — up to his death. There is nobody I know for whom the phrase “he lived a full life” is more appropriate.

After moving to LA in 1993, I was fortunate to meet Clancy a few times, but mostly we corresponded by email and via Facebook. He was warm, funny, always outraged, but always with a twinkle of sarcasm.

I don’t recall how I discovered “Going Away,” which I read for the first time in the early 1970s when I lived in Chicago, but I immediately became a Clancy Sigal fan.

I quickly got my hands on “Weekend in Dinlock,” his earlier (1960) novel about the brutal lives of miners in a British town, which has much in common with Orwell’s earlier nonfiction account, “Road to Wigan Pier.” Like Orwell, Sigal goes down into the mine to describe the awful, dangerous, life-sucking conditions that the workers face on a daily basis. But most of the novel is about their lives in the village, their families, their hopes and dreams, their union, and the price they pay (pain, fatigue, injury, lung disease) for doing the work that provides England with heat and electricity. It is particularly relevant today, when Donald Trump is making false promises about reviving America’s coal industry, while simultaneously gutting the health-and-safety regulations that the American mine workers union fought hard for to protect miners from disease, injury, and death.

Two other autobiographical novels — “Zone of the Interior,” published in 1976 (about his involvement in a British therapeutic cult led by psychologist R.D. Laing in the 1960s) and “The Secret Defector,” published in 1992 (about his relationship with writer Doris Lessing and with the British left, and his return to the U.S. in the 1980s) — portray his life as an ex-pat American living in England. (In “The Golden Notebook,” published in 1962, Lessing had already used a fictionalized version of Clancy as her love interest Saul Green.)

I loved Clancy’s 2006 memoir/biography “A Woman of Uncertain Character” about his mother Jenny, a bohemian, union organizer and radical in Chicago, where Sigal was raised during the Depression. It must have been both a painful and liberating experience to research and write that book.

In “Hemingway Lives!,” a work of biography and literary criticism, published in 2013, Sigal celebrated the novelist’s no-frills writing style and his political activism. I was never a Hemingway fan, but Sigal’s book made me rethink my attitude.

Clancy’s final book, published last year, was “Black Sunset: Hollywood Sex, Lies, Glamour, Betrayal and Raging Egos,” a nonfiction memoir of his life as a young Hollywood agent in the 1950s, a period that is considered the film industry’s “Golden Age” but which also was the time of McCarthyism, the blacklist, and the fear of atomic bomb testing and nuclear war. It is filled with great stories about famous actors and actresses and unsung heroes.

Last December, soon after the book came out, Clancy emailed me to ask me to read it and, if I was so inclined, to recommend it to others. Here’s what he wrote: “My latest is not a world changer or contributes to climate change. It’s a lighthearted romp through a very bad time in the Hollywood I worked in when I was, of all things, a talent agent (for Humphrey Bogart among others). I’d been blacklisted but fell through the cracks/ Sweating it out making deals in the boiler room of the Dream Factory while at night organizing a small group of dissident oddballs ‘fighting the power’ of McCarthyism and the real threat of another world war. An American history lesson I hope easy to take. How to keep good people together in a bad time suddenly takes on more significance. My best, Clancy.”

In between these books Clancy — who returned to live in the US in the 1980s, settling back in LA, and teaching at UC-Santa Barbara and USC — wrote and published hundreds of essays about politics, films, and American culture (for a variety of leftist and mainstream British and American magazines) as well as several screenplays, including a biopic about artist Frieda Kahlo.

In 2013, on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, Clancy wrote a wonderfully poignant essay for The Guardian about his participation in that history-making event. Just a few weeks ago, Clancy, who was a World War 2 veteran, published this essay, “Memorial Day: Remembering 70 U.S. Wars, Big and Small,” about American militarism and how wars have been portrayed in Hollywood films.

Ironically, this American ex-pat was probably better known in England than in his native country. During his years in England, Clancy was a frequent voice on the BBC discussing books, films, and politics. To gain an equivalent kind of celebrity or notoriety in this country, he would have had to be a regular commentator on NPR or MSNBC. But he still had many American fans who read his books and articles and marveled at his wide-ranging interests, his brilliant writing, and his perpetual outrage at social injustice.

There will be various obituaries and perhaps memorials about Clancy in the next few days, weeks, and months, but I think the best way to celebrate his life is to organize resistance to Trump and to read his books and other writings. I have extra copies of “Going Away” if you can’t find a copy in your local used bookstore or on Amazon.

(Peter Dreier is E.P. Clapp Distinguished Professor of Politics, and chair of the Urban & Environmental Policy Department, at Occidental College. His most recent book is The 100 Greatest Americans of the 20th Century: A Social Justice Hall of Fame (Nation Books, 2012). His other books include: Place Matters: Metropolitics for the 21st Century (University Press of Kansas, 3rd edition, 2014), and The Next Los Angeles: The Struggle for a Livable City(University of California Press, revised 2006). He writes regularly for the Los Angeles Times, Common Dreams, The Nation, and Huffington Post.)

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ON LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY

I visted India once. At the Imperial Hotel in New Delhi, there was a man to open the door, and then another man to open the next door. There is plenty of opportunity for jobs, it’s just a case of lowering expectations a little, sharing the top 0.1% s wealth back out, and keeping property and food prices down.

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A BLENDED FAMILY

by Mary Moore

It may not be realistic to see one gathering as the culmination of a long lifetime of joy, sorrow, insight and struggle but right now that's how last Saturday night feels to me. Let me explain.

In 1968, after moving to Los Angeles, I married Fred Moore who had been married to Lydia and they had three children. I had three of my own and in 1966 I'd lost them in a child custody case in San Luis Obispo that centered around racism and my involvement in the civil rights struggle four years earlier in 1962. In court I was asked "Have Negroes been in your house in the presence of your children" and "have Negroes been in your house after 9PM"? Those were indeed the "good old days". I left SLO after that and moved to Venice to be near a friend I'd met from CORE. I lived in the Black community and found a job and for a couple of years traveled on weekends back to SLO to see my children. Eventually I found Synanon in Santa Monica and became one of the "squares" (non addict outsiders) that played their weekly "games" which were basically therapy by dope fiends. It was there that I met Fred Moore who was "studying" the new concept of peer counseling while working on his PhD at USC.

After about a year Diane managed to find her way back to me and feeling threatened by that my second husband Forest took off with our son Mark to Oregon and stayed hidden for over a decade. My sons Kenny and Mark remained with their fathers so our original family was separated and changed forever. Around the time that I married Fred, Lydia married Bud Ross who came with five of his own children with Virginia. The 11 children from this blended family were separated by about ten years and grew up together. The core of this new family centered around Fred's three children, Laurie, Greg and Nina, along with my daughter Diane and Bud's youngest son Bart. When we'd go out with those five kids it would confuse the hell out of folks as we looked like some sort of genetic experiment with three mixed race kids along with one white and one black kid with a white mom and a black dad. We didn't really care if folks were confused as we were too busy having fun taking them around to places like Baja Mexico.

In those days mixed marriages and blended families like ours existed but weren't nearly as common as today. So yes, we have made some progress but of course not nearly enough. Flash forward a few decades and both Fred and I as well as Lydia and Bud divorced and the kids grew up and started having their own families. Fred and I were still together when we left Los Angeles and moved to Sonoma County in 1974 but we split a few years later. It wasn't until much later that Bud moved up here and by then he was married to Arlene. Fred remarried briefly but Lydia and I stayed happily single. Both Diane and Laurie followed us up to Sonoma County and settled here while some of this extended family ended up in other places in Northern and Southern California. We stayed loosely in touch and I stayed very close to Bud's youngest son Bart and his new family which included his wonderful wife Valerie and their sons Eryn and Gysai.

I visited them in Zimbabwe in the '80s when the boys were quite young and they were living there for a couple of years. To this day I have a special bond with this dear family that I love as my own. Meanwhile Diane had her own four children: Dillon, Emily, Kyle and Raina and they lived nearby in Graton until we lost her to breast cancer in 2005. As my grandkids grew into adulthood many of them stayed in touch with their "cousins" that were scattered all over the state and now reflect other ethnicities like Mexican, Filipino and Jamaican and who knows what else. And just over a month ago I lost my oldest son Kenny to a sudden stroke at 59. So I lost both my oldest children twice.

So that sets the stage for Nov. 16, 2013 when Bud now living in Windsor turned 90. What a gathering that was and it was then that I reflected on this strange journey called life and realized that in some crazy way I had come full circle. I lost my children 47 years ago because of racism and have worked my entire life against that horrible plague on humanity. And without consciously planning it, I've ended up with a large diverse and blended family that is still keeping in touch and loving each other. And that multi ethnic blend includes both gay, straight and three generations. I have no idea if this is what they mean by the American dream but it sure has become mine.

(Mary Moore is a long-time Sonoma County activist)

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TRUMPCARE COLLAPSED Because the Republican Party Cannot Govern

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/07/trumpcare-collapsed-because-republicans-cannot-govern.html

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BARACK OBAMA CAMPAIGNED for the presidency in 2008 as a peace candidate. He signaled that he would fundamentally change America’s course after the reckless carnage unleashed by the George W. Bush administration. However, by the end of Obama’s presidency, the United States was bombing seven different foreign nations.

https://www.counterpunch.org/2017/07/18/obamas-awol-anti-war-protesters/

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LIBRARY FILM SCREENINGS

Every Sunday, at 2 pm, Ukiah Library offers free screenings of great films. The series, Sunday Matinees at Your Library includes a rotation of PBS documentaries, Indie films, new releases, and PG rated films for families.

July 23rd — The Lego Batman Movie — for families and kids. A cooler-than-ever Bruce Wayne must deal with the usual suspects as they plan to rule Gotham City, while discovering that he has accidentally adopted a teenage orphan who wishes to become his sidekick. PG (1 hr, 45 min)

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‘DOLLAR DAY’ RIDES AT THE FAIR

For the first time, the Redwood Empire Fair is offering “Dollar Day” ride option - a perfect opportunity for everyone - young kids trying out their first rides, those wishing for a nostalgic spin on the carousel or carnival enthusiasts who spend the weekend on the midway.

On Thursday, August 3rd, fairgoers can enjoy all rides at the Fair for just one dollar per ride. Fair guests can save more by arriving before 6:00 pm, when kids and seniors receive free admission. The Dollar Day ride option will be available on Thursday only.

This year’s fair features some exciting new rides. Discounted wristbands are available now at multiple locations throughout Ukiah, including the Fair Office. Wristbands are also available at JD Redhouse in Willits and at Geiger’s Long Valley Market in Laytonville. Wristbands may be used Friday through Sunday.

The Fair opens at 3:00 pm on Thursday and Friday, and at noon on Saturday and Sunday. For more information phone (707) 462-3884 or visit http://www.redwoodempirefair.com/august-fair/.

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ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, CONSUMER GROUPS SLAM PASSAGE OF JERRY BROWN'S UNJUST CAP-AND-TRADE BILL

by Dan Bacher

Over 50 environmental justice and consumer organizations are outraged by the California Legislature’s passage of Big Oil’s cap and trade bill, Assembly Bill 398, while Governor Jerry Brown, legislators and the Western States Petroleum Association are celebrating at the State Capitol.

Governor Brown, Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Assembly Republican Leader Chad Mayes held a press conference following the Legislature's passage of what Brown described as a “landmark legislative package.”

The package included AB 617 by Assemblymembers Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) and Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) and AB 398 by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) – supposedly to “combat air pollution in neighborhoods” and extend California's cap-and-trade program through 2030.

"Tonight, California stood tall and once again, boldly confronted the existential threat of our time," said Governor Brown. "Republicans and Democrats set aside their differences, came together and took courageous action. That’s what good government looks like."

“To me, the most important thing we are doing today in enacting landmark air quality improvements, said Speaker Rendon in a tweet.

After passing through the Senate this afternoon, the bill failed in the first Assembly vote, but then passed the second time through under political pressure, according to Gary Hughes of Friends of the Earth, U.S., a group opposing the market based carbon trading legislation.

“The California legislature has passed a climate deal for billionaires that targets the most vulnerable while giving handouts to Big Oil,” responded Michelle Chan, Friends of the Earth’s Vice President of Programs, after the Assembly vote. “They have ensured that Big Oil can continue to poison our communities and use the global atmosphere as a dumping ground. Their plan would leave the most vulnerable people, both in California and overseas, at risk to the impacts of climate change and the policy itself.”

Food and Water Watch, another group opposing the bill, disagrees with Brown’s contention that the passage of AB 398 was “what good government looks like.” The group pointed out that AB 398 “was written in consultation with the oil and gas lobby and is opposed by more than 50 of California’s leading environmental organizations.”

“This bill makes a bad cap-and-trade system even worse,” said Adam Scow, California director, Food & Water Watch. “It was written with oil and gas lobbyists and keeps us dependent of fossil fuels. The climate crisis demands that the State regulate and reduce pollution, but this bill gives polluters massive loopholes. “

The California Environmental Justice Alliance said in a tweet, “#AB398 and #ACA1 passed. EJ (environmental justice) communities will suffer the consequences, but our spirit is in tact. The EJ community will fight another day.”

Liza Tucker, Consumer Advocate for Consumer Watchdog, described AB 398 as a “pollute and profit” bill. She said Brown’s plan ensures that Californians keep paying the state’s biggest polluters to pollute by banning regulators from ordering refineries and power plants to upgrade pollution controls, and by “pillaging cap-and-trade revenue” to pay for tax breaks.

“The legislation guarantees that the state will never reach its ambitious carbon-slashing goals by 2030. In fact, starting in 2024, lawmakers could redirect revenues away from anti-pollution projects to their own pet projects,” she noted.

Documents obtained by Capitol Watchdog reveal that Brown allowed the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), the most powerful corporate lobbying group in California, and Chevron to put language in the bill exempting oil refineries from air pollution regulations.

“Brown has handed Big Oil a pen to rewrite the law so that it protects refiners from making deep cuts to climate-warming emissions. The legislation blocks powerful Air Districts in the Bay Area and Los Angeles Basin from setting tough limits on emissions, like requiring refineries to install pollution control equipment,” Tucker said.

Read her blog to learn more about “Jerry Brown’s cap-and-trade giveaway” to Big Oil: capitolwatchdog.org/

On July 13, a "broad and deep coalition” of over 50 climate and environmental justice groups announced their opposition to AB 398, “the cap and trade bill that began with a Western States Petroleum Association wish list,” according to a press release from RL Miller at Climate Hawks Vote: climatehawksvote.com/...

The Western States Petroleum Association, as well as big environmental NGOs including NRDC, the Environmental Defense Fund, the California League of Conservation Voters, the Nature Conservancy and Environment California, supported the bill and praised its passage, drawing criticism from environmental justice advocates.

Before the vote, Environment California State Director Dan Jacobson said, “We support AB 398, and we believe that AB 617 is a complementary step in the right direction to improve air quality.”

“We need to do all we can to reduce climate pollution on the fastest possible timeline. California’s cap and trade program is one tool in the state’s toolbox and it needs to be continued in order to help California reach our commitment to reduce global warming pollution 40 percent by 2030,” said Jaccobson. ” (7/12/17)

This is not the first time that Environment California and other NGOs have lauded Brown, who has has received over $9.8 million from Big Oil and energy companies and supports environmentally destructive fracking, for his environmental “leadership.”

For example, an Environment California representative served as the media contact for the Monterey Bay Aquarium-sponsored “Ocean Day Reception” in April 2012 where Brown received an “Ocean Champion” award for his "leadership" in protecting California's ocean waters. Ironically, the event was closed to the press: www.indybay.org/...

Not mentioned in that release from the Governor’s Office was the alarming fact that Catherine Reheis-Boyd, the President of the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) chaired the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative Blue Ribbon Task Force to create faux “marine protected areas” in Southern California from 2009 to 2012. She also served on the MLPA Initiative task forces to craft “marine protected areas” on the Central Coast, North Central Coast and North Coast.

The “marine protected areas” that she oversaw the creation of fail to protect the ocean from offshore oil drilling, fracking, oil spills, pollution, military testing and all human impacts on the ocean other than sustainable fishing and gathering.

Background: California oil lobby tops spending in 2015-16 session with $36.1 million

In spite of California's reputation as a "green leader, Big Oil is the largest corporate lobby in the state and exerts enormous influence over the Governor's Office, Legislature and regulatory agencies.

As usual, the California Oil Lobby was the biggest spender in the 2015-16 legislative session, spending an amazing $36.1 million as of December 31, 2016.

The spending amounts to $1.5 million per month — nearly $50,000 per day — over the last two years. The $36.1 million surpassed the $34 million spent in the prior session, according to an American Lung Association report. “That’s enough money to buy 103,000 goats,” reported Stop Fooling California, stopfoolingca.org.

The Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) was the top overall oil industry spender during the 2015-16 session, spending $18.7 million. As is normally the case, WSPA ranked #1 among all lobbying spenders this session

Chevron, the second overall oil industry spender, spent $7 million in the 2015-16 session. It spent $3 million in 2016, sixth among all lobbyists in the current session.

In the seventh quarter alone, WSPA dumped $2.6 million into lobbying legislators and state officials while billionaire Tom Steyer's Next Generation Climate Action spent an unprecedented $7.3 million, almost 3 times the oil industry group’s expenses.

The spending by Steyer’s group helped propel the passage of Senate Bill 32, legislation that reduces greenhouse gas level to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, in spite of strong opposition by the oil industry.

Since the 2007-08 Session, the oil industry has spent $133 million in lobbying in California.

To read the complete report, go to: http://www.lung

 

30 Comments

  1. mr. wendal July 19, 2017

    re: FORT BRAGG NOTES

    Mr Gressett says “On Wednesday, June 26th, the Fort Bragg Planning Commission is going to consider the revocation of the use permit for the shelter…”

    The meeting is on July 26, not June. The hearing notice says that it is a “city instigated modification of Use Permit…” and it’s good that Ms. Valadao included the actual notice in her comments. Modification does not mean revocation. It looks like the city wants to modify the Use Permit so the Hospitality House will be in compliance with the terms. Why does Mr. Gressett say that the city wants to revoke the Use Permit?

    But I would not trust an organization whose board president says, at public meetings, that they have 24 beds when in reality they have expanded that number illegally by more than 40 percent. It’s hard to imagine any other business in town being allowed to blatantly ignore the terms they’ve agreed to abide by in order to operate and then lie about it at city council meetings without repercussions. They are not honest and that is the heart of the problems with the Hospitality Center. Maybe the city council can see that now.

    The Hospitality Center board and administration have been unresponsive for years to the growing number of complaints. It shows their inability to go beyond their egos to solve those problems instead of acting as if they are being attacked when they are told something they don’t want to hear. In addition to the illegal bed and meal expansion, the other issues listed in the notice showcase the results of the major systemic problems in the Hospitality Center. I hope they will not be rewarded for ignoring their agreements. That would set a bad precedent and reflect badly on the city. If city staff turned a blind eye to these use permit violations I hope that is also addressed.

    These are the people subcontracted with supplying mental health care to people on the coast. That is indeed frightening.

    • Judy Valadao July 19, 2017

      re: FORT BRAGG NOTES

      Rex, I have not heard one person say they want or are considering revocation of the use permit for the shelter…
      Mr. Wendal, you are correct. Modification does not mean revocation and no one (that I know of) is asking to revoke the use permit or shut down the Hospitality House.
      Comments such as the one made by Rex referring to revocation of the use permit is exactly why I felt the need to try and clarify what I understand to be the topic for discussion at the Planning Commission meeting on the 26th. Why does Mr. Gressett say that the city wants to revoke the Use Permit? I suspect it’s because he reports things as he see’s them but not necessarily as the way they are.
      The House is supposed to have 24 beds. That could be 24 people being helped back on their feet and back into a productive life. Instead the House has turned into a gathering station for a lot of those who have no intention of doing anything in the way of helping themselves and in the process creating the nuisance many have witnessed. All the other violations listed simply adds fuel to the fire that something needs to be done. I question why this Organization feels that they are untouchable by any City action for their blatant disregard for the terms of their use permit.
      Did Anna Shaw know that the House was allowed 24 beds and not 34? At the very last Public Safety Committee meeting she was asked “how many beds are in the House?” her answer was “24”.
      I’m surprised they would even ask for any “special
      favors” after their total disregard for the permit they all ready have. They have proven over and over again to be less than truthful even at the Council meetings. This organization needs to be reigned in. Let’s not forget there are people who live and work here who are affected by the mismanagement and total blindness of those in charge. The only people they help are themselves.
      Letters can be addressed to The Planning Commission and emailed to mjones@fortbragg.com or can be dropped off at City Hall. Please give them to Marie Jones.

  2. BB Grace July 19, 2017

    re: TRUMPCARE COLLAPSED Because the Republican Party Cannot Govern

    Bull.

    Neoconcare collapsed because the Republican Party has been infiltrated with new blood pressing for their healthcare plan, Rand Paul MD’s plan, as we’re looking for actual healthcare, not ways to bailout insurance companies.

    Did you see how Neocon McCain needed surgery and was going to miss the vote? So McConnell delayed the vote for McCain, giving Trump the opportunity to call McCain out, wishing him well and saying waiting for him to support Trump knowing McCain is a never Trumper. I love how Trump zings neocons.

    Trump is president because he knew the GOP was a MSM fabrication, like the Wizard of Oz, and like Toto, Trump busted them. Read Rand Paul’s healthcare plan because it’s going to become THE plan. https://www.paul.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/ObamacareReplacementActSections.pdf

    • james marmon July 19, 2017

      I agree with you 100% Ms. BB Grace, but other pieces of the puzzle need to be addressed as well. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Brady wants to move on to tax cuts. He believes that the only way to solve the Medicaid problem is to work people off of Medicaid by creating jobs. 80% of Americans currently receive their Health Insurance through their employers.

      When the smoke clears in Mendocino County and growing marijuana is no longer an option, young men will be looking for work. Sheriff Allman will not be able to build a big enough mental health jail to put them in.

      -The Prophet-

      • Harvey Reading July 19, 2017

        Minimum wage jobs? That is, if any jobs at all will be created.

          • Harvey Reading July 19, 2017

            Yeah, finish the job of ecosystem devastation and make room for more pot farms. Who needs fish, anyway? Grow ’em in hatcheries. Oh, well, global warming will be making it all a moot point, and soon.

      • james marmon July 19, 2017

        Notice that I said Americans, most immigrants automatically get Medicaid, legal immigrants or not. Why do you think they work so cheap? Good benefits.

        • Harvey Reading July 19, 2017

          Oh, please.

        • james marmon July 19, 2017

          Low income workers, immigrant or not, do not pay very much Federal and State income taxes. They get most of their paychecks.

          When I worked at Mendocino County FCS 45% of my paycheck was deducted, I took home less than a lot of the clerical staff and I had a Master’s degree with student aid payments. I was penalized for my children becoming adults and divorcing all my wives.

          James Marmon

          • Harvey Reading July 20, 2017

            In the first place, I do not believe you and will require proof for your statements before I do believe you. That’s similar to my stance with the fellow who bad-mouthed the Canadian health system on this comment section not so long ago.

            I believe that you are simply making up things to make people feel sorry for the poor little picked-on boy you pretend to be I, too was single and paid child support without the option of claiming my kids as dependents. Child support took a big chunk, but the taxes, state and federal were the least of my concerns. I paid in the end about 13-15 percent to the feds and a little less that 2 percent to the state. I worked in a professional classification for the state. So, let’s see some documentation to justify your blabber.

        • michael turner July 19, 2017

          Of the over 500 billion spent on Medicaid in 2016, 2 billion went to reimburse hospitals for costs incurred for emergency services incurred by uninsured patients. Probably a lot of this is for illegal immigrants. This way people giving birth, having appendicitis or heart attacks don’t die in the street, which is what I’m sure the free market crazies would prefer. But illegal immigrants do not qualify for health insurance as is commonly understood. And it’s this reimbursement that helps keep rural hospitals like ours open.

          • james marmon July 20, 2017

            Turner, as soon as there is a pregnancy, they qualify Medicaid, the entire family.

  3. Harvey Reading July 19, 2017

    C’mon Little Dog, that cat looks healthy as can be. And, like it or not, that’s what cats do at night…a lot of humans do, too. Any more food and it’ll turn into just another fat cat and will have to change its name to Pelosi. Do I detect a note of jealousy in you?

  4. Judy Valadao July 19, 2017

    Little Dog, suggest to your friend Bruce that perhaps Skrag needs a trip to the Vet for a little procedure that would halt his wondering nights and chasing women. It would probably add weight to his then body also.

    • Mike Williams July 19, 2017

      Thanks Judy,
      I was just about to suggest the same thing. Come on Bruce, cough it up, we don’t need anymore shelter kittens!
      I’m counting on Little Dog to keep the pressure on the old man!

      • Judy Valadao July 19, 2017

        There is always the Elaine Hawthorne fund. That is what it was meant to be used for. Come on Little Dog, insist on it.

  5. Alice Chouteau July 19, 2017

    The whole discussion of the HH Use Permit is confusing. i appreciate the clarifications from Judy and Mr Wendall. However, I atill want to know the implications of the use of “illegal” for the first two violations noted by the PC. If these actions are breaking laws at any level, shouldn’t there be some legal consequences , some justice applied, by the PC? I hope someone can explain this.
    Also marvelled at Rex’s choice of ‘sultry’ to describe Ms Shaw—“sleazy” seems more accurate, or perhaps “slatternly”.

    • mr. wendal July 19, 2017

      Usually, the illegal code and permit violations are dealt with using progressive enforcement and aren’t charged criminally unless the illegal uses continue after a time limit is passed for corrections to be made. The hearing notice refers to a use permit modification instigated by the city. That’s the friendliest way of dealing with violations – just modify the use permit to fit the current illegal use. Code and permit violations are illegal but consequences beyond remediation are rare.

      The hearing looks to be for nothing more than the city opening the door to say okay to what has been happening illegally and then modifying the permit to make it legal. The fire chief should weigh in on the safety of the much larger number of people living in the dwelling. The nuisance and safety problems caused by the feeding program clients and the Hospitality House’s refusal to acknowledge or begin to address them until the city council became involved is a big red flag showing that their actions, or lack-thereof, contradict their do-good claims. It will be interesting to see how the Planning Commission members view intentional, long-term use permit violations.

  6. Craig Stehr July 19, 2017

    “Develop the witness attitude and you will find in your own experience that detachment brings control. The state of witnessing is full of power; there is nothing passive about it.” ~Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

  7. LouisBedrock July 19, 2017

    A “divining rod” or “dowsing rod” “is a rod, especially a forked stick, commonly of hazel, supposed to be useful in locating underground water, metal deposits, etc.”

    Scientific investigation and anecdotal information indicate that divining rods are as effective at finding water as an Ouija Board is at finding lost spirits.

    I suspect BB Grace relies on both divining rods and Ouija boards for her information.

    For example,

    1. “Neoconcare collapsed because the Republican Party has been infiltrated with new blood pressing for their healthcare plan, Rand Paul MD’s plan, as we’re looking for actual healthcare, not ways to bailout insurance companies.”

    Even if we overlook lexical and syntactic atrocities, this utterance makes no sense. Who is “we”? Who is the “new blood” the old John Birchite fool is referring to? Marco Rubio?

    Actual healthcare would be easy to provide: Medicare for everyone.

    I have Medicare. It’s great. It works.

    2. “Did you see how Neocon McCain needed surgery and was going to miss the vote? So McConnell delayed the vote for McCain, giving Trump the opportunity to call McCain out, wishing him well and saying waiting for him to support Trump knowing McCain is a never Trumper. I love how Trump zings neocons.”

    Apart from the non-sequitur final sentence, how does Grace know any of this?

    Nietzsche wrote, “To become master of the chaos one is…that is the grand ambition here.” Grace is striving to confer her own deranged order on the chaos of the Trump administration. Trump=chaos.

    3. “Trump is president because he knew the GOP was a MSM fabrication, like the Wizard of Oz, and like Toto, Trump busted them. Read Rand Paul’s healthcare plan because it’s going to become THE plan.”

    Notice all the capitals for emphasis. Grace doesn’t want you to miss her brilliant points—whatever the hell they are.

    What does she mean when she says “GOP was a MSM fabrication, like the Wizard of Oz, and like Toto, Trump busted them”?

    I sometimes think Grace is a fabrication. No one can be so stupid or ignorant. Perhaps she’s the fabrication of some lefty satirist that he or she invented to ridicule the inarticulate right wing.

    I’m not sure I understand anything the old idiot writes.
    For example:

    —“I think it’s very important that there is a Jewish state for Islam and Christian states, for humanity really, it’s extremely important that the Jewish people have self determination because if they can not achieve self determination, none of us can.”

    So she thinks Muslims and Christians need their own Jewish states?

    And why would no one else be able to have self-determination if the Jews don’t?

    For humanity? What has Israel done for humanity?

    — “Communism appreciates Islam far more than Christianity or Judaism because Islam does the best job controlling it’s population, gives the state a break and lets religion be the bad guy.”

    Communism is an idea, not a person, and is incapable of appreciating anything.

    Islam controls its population? How? Prove this.

    What in Athena’s name does the last part of the sentence mean?

    And finally, my favorite recent Grace abomination:

    —“The beef against Israel is not with observant Jews, it is with the Atheist Jews who have LBTG parades and consume alcohol, drugs, women exposing their faces and limbs, and the secular towers that rise above the steeples and minarets in THE HOLY LAND is enough to drive zealots out of their minds.”

    I did a search on Google for Atheist Jewish LGBT parades in Israel and couldn’t find anything. I guess one needs a dowsing rod and a Ouija Board to uncover this recondite information.

    The fractured grammar impedes understanding the rest of the sentence, but I suppose that Grace is suggesting that Gaza has no problem with the IDF allowing its inhabitants only three hours of electricity per day in the grueling heat, but really is offended by those atheist LGBT Jewish wenches exposing themselves to Muslim children.

    My goodness, this woman has a very erratic and deranged thought process. And she can’t write a grammatically correct sentence.

    I think she’s lonely. Can someone find another way for her to meet people and make friends? Bingo at the local Temple? A knitting club?

    • BB Grace July 19, 2017

      re: A “divining rod” or “dowsing rod

      Oh you’re good Mr. Bedrock as it so happens that trait runs in my family and I have a cousin who is quite famous for his accuracy.

      Science has become a political art as many scientists are excluded from debating theory
      The IPCC’s Latest Report Deliberately Excludes And Misrepresents …

      http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2014/03/31/the-ipccs-latest-report-deliberately-excludes-and-misrepresents-important-climate-science/

      I rely on White House, Senate, Congress, Government, offices, Fort Bragg City Council meetings, C-SPAN.. long time love with C-Span, Times of Israel, Drudge, Politics1, and then I have net sources, long time relationships with conspiracy wackos.

      1. Ron Paul rEVOLution was not televised. Ron Paul had the votes and did not concede to McCan’t so there was a big fight at the GOP convention. Ron Paul/ Rand Paul, I think you can make the connection? Ron Paul rEVOLution was the best. How I know, I’m on the email list for the White House, Rand, and I get notices all day, updates. I’m happy Medicaid works for you Mr. Bedrock. I’m even happier Trump is kicking butt at the VA fired a lot of people, over 500 in the administration.. And there are Birchers in the basket of Deplorables. I think it’s great. More voices and choices!

      2. White House sends a 1600 every morning and West Wing Reads for the day:

      Trump wishes McCain well, calls him a ‘crusty’ Senate voice …http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/17/politics/trump-mccain-crusty/index.html

      3. The Grand Old Party (GOP) also known as the Republican Party was and still is a Main Stream Media fabrication. But guess what? The White House email today said Trump is changing the FCC regulations and Net Neutrality is a bad New Deal, so it’s looking like the internet is going to change again in a good way http://thefederalist.com/2017/07/19/net-neutrality-nothing-corporate-power-grab/

      Islam is composed of many Muslim states, The US and American have Judeo Christian states, all have had their turns ruling over the Jewish people without their own state, and I think it’s awesome Jews have a state, Israel. May Israel thrive for Israel is what’s right about the Mid East. God Bless Israel, and the USA. When ever I see a shooting or falling star I say, “God Bless The USA”.

      “Communism is an idea, not a person, and is incapable of appreciating anything”. So, why be a communist?

      Israel LBGT, here you go:

      Targeting LGBT and Tel Aviv Gay Pride Isn’t the Key to Israeli …

      http://www.newsweek.com/lbgt-tel-aviv-gay-pride-israel-palestine-peace-624086

      Jun 11, 2017 … Revellers take part in a gay pride parade in Tel Aviv, Israel June 9. … They
      believe the promotion of inclusive equality for Israeli LGBT people is …

      Egypt (and the UN) controls Gaza
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_the_Gaza_Strip_by_Egypt.

    • Harvey Reading July 20, 2017

      Thanks, Louis, I really needed a belly laugh this evening. I was afraid you’d deserted us.

      My Internet provider suffered massive trauma today from unknown–to those of us who pay for it at least–causes, but apparently it’s fixed now, and I had to go into the ‘big” town for supplies this morning–first time in nearly 4 months. I do hate making the trip. Wyoming has some of the rudest drivers in the country, bested in that regard only by California, Utah (the very worst), and Denver (almost a tossup with Utah) in my experience.

      I’d gotten out of the habit of checking grocery store receipts as closely as I did before scanning became prevalent. So, after unloading the car and checking the receipt at home, I discovered that I’d been overcharged $17+ on some meat that was on sale. It appears to be a computer error, since all the clerks do is scan and bag.

      I called the store, explaining that I wouldn’t be back for at least a month, and probably longer. They said that they would be happy to correct the error if I could come sooner. I explained the economics of doing that: $20 for a round trip of 40 miles at 50 cents per mile to get back $17 would put me $3 in the hole. I ended up taking the name of the person speaking with me. I suspect that when I show up in a month or two or three or four, with my receipt, my calculations and the price stickers from the meat that I will be told to go fly a kite, but at least I will be out only the original $17.

      Now, you know you shouldn’t pick on poor Ms. Grace. She chose to go off on a vision quest rather than finish her secondary education, and, in the words of another commenter here, we must “respect that”. Why we must respect that is way beyond my ability to understand, but, since he said it, it must be true. After all, he is a great prophet who can augur miraculously from observations of treefrogs in mudholes surrounded by McDonald’s wrappers…

  8. BB Grace July 19, 2017

    If you would be so kind Mr. Bedrock, could you help me translate this Snopes article? It’s all fake news to me.

    The headline says:

    “Did a Former Haitian Official Commit Suicide Before Clinton Testimony?”

    “FALSE”

    I don’t get it. Is Snopes saying that KLAUS EBERWEIN didn’t commit suicide? Snopes goes on to say:

    “The portion of the article that caught the attention of conspiracy blogs was about “allegations of fraud and corruption” faced by Eberwein about FAES’ management of funds.

    Eberwein was scheduled to appear Tuesday before the Haitian Senate’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the head of the commission, Sen. Evalière Beauplan confirmed. The commission is investigating the management of PetroCaribe funds, the money Haiti receives from Venezuela’s discounted oil program.

    By 14 July 2017, internet sleuths got wind of the news and, perhaps inevitably, built on it: http://www.snopes.com/klaus-eberwein/

    http://canadafreepress.com/article/writing-your-own-suicide-note…before-they-write-it-for-you

  9. Betsy Cawn July 20, 2017

    Brother Bedrock, your brilliance is wasted on attempts to reason with Sister Grace. Indeed, thoughtful deconstruction of Grace’s confabulations is further grist for the mill, as witness today’s regurgitations of mutilated mutterings. Cogent explication, intended to counteract the insidious influence of blithering nonsense portrayed as some form of editorial authority, are for naught — despite your exquisite efforts — no matter how carefully wrought.

    But what a pickle! If we say nothing to counteract delusional statements, we are as remiss as passersby failing to aid a fallen pedestrian; knowing that the hit-and-run driver sideswipes innocent fellow travelers on the path to daily enlightenment (long live the AVA!) only increases the burden of responsibility for which good Samaritans such as yourself have the willingness to ease our horror. In this case, however, all I can add is “good fucking luck!”

    • LouisBedrock July 20, 2017

      “Brother Bedrock, your brilliance is wasted on attempts to reason with Sister Grace. Indeed, thoughtful deconstruction of Grace’s confabulations is further grist for the mill, as witness today’s regurgitations of mutilated mutterings.”

      You’ve lectured me before about this, Good Sister Betsy Cawn, but I just don’t learn. I guess that there are times when I feel I’m drowning in an ocean of stupidity and ignorance–not all of it coming from the demented BB Grace.

      It’s summer. I’m spending a lot of time outdoors on my bike. I’m grateful that at 72 I can still ride a bicycle 40 miles.

      However, I wish I had the power to stop the destruction of the planet by psychopaths like the Trumps, the Obamas, and the Clintons. I wish I were able to educate the fools that support these criminals.

      It’s like I told the young, eighteen year old clerk at the supermarket this morning, “I’m sorry for the world my generation has left you.”

      • sohumlily July 20, 2017

        Thanks for the laughs Louis and Betsy, (and BBGrace, accidentally).

        I think it would give a casual observer, otherwise not acquainted with the ‘Mighty AVA’ a mistaken impression to *not* refute the stupidity.

        And both of you do it so well~

        • Harvey Reading July 20, 2017

          Amen. Praise Allah. The comments make me laugh, almost hysterically, and I consider that a good thing.

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