MCT: Wednesday, June 12, 2019

• Coast Toasty
• Daisies
• Gouging People
• Haschak Appearance
• Ed Notes
• Mendo Circus
• Howe Speculation
• Delta Blues
• State Street
• Dracula
• Dimmick Reopening
• Brooktrails Salaries
• Disaster Planning
• Tree Removal
• Yesterday's Catch
• Events Unfolding
• Sinking Ship
• Mueller Mum
• Homelessness Myths
• Poetry
• Travel
• Shameful Congress
• Johnny Applesauce
• Paperboy
• Terry Halbardier
• Oligarch 9

IF IT'S A HUNDRED DEGREES in Frisco, it's 105 most places in Mendo. Which it was today (Tuesday) and only a few degrees cooler in Fort Bragg and other communities up and down the Mendocino Coast. Temperatures in San Francisco reached 100 F on Monday, which was 3 degrees higher than the maximum temperature at Las Vegas and equaled the high at Sacramento, according to AccuWeather.

THE HEAT ALONG THE COAST was freaky. Eureka's high of 85 smashed the previous record for the day, 69 degrees, set back in 1936. Fort Bragg's high was 89 degrees, attained at 7pm! The National Weather Service explained it thusly: "This unusual coastal warmth is due to a westward shift of the inland thermal trough, and also a lack of onshore flow to help bring the cooler marine airmass onshore."

WEDNESDAY IS PREDICTED to be another 100-plus degree scorcher for inland Mendo. Then on Thursday, there’s supposed to be a break, down into the low-90s, for the next few days.

‘GOUGING PEOPLE WHO DON’T PARTICIPATE’

by Mark Scaramella

We couldn’t help laughing several times during the Board of Supervisor’s Cannabis Tax Appeal Board discussion on Tuesday. (Humor is where you find it, and this particular source never disappoints.)

First, during public expression, there was Fort Bragg grower Jude Tillman of Fort Bragg making a perfectly reasonable request for a refund. She'd paid lots of money for the County's Track and Trace system which never materialized.

Response from the Supes? Thank you. (The Grand Jury recommended that speakers at least get a response, but the mere thank you is all most speakers get regardless of the legitimacy of the issue they raise.)

Several pot growers objected to the $5,000 minimum grower cultivation tax, which applies even if they didn’t grow anything.

There was a near-collective response to this one: Too bad, pay up.

Supervisors McCowen and Gjerde claimed that Mendo’s taxes are “bargain basement” compared to neighoring counties, and that pot growers are famous for selling out the back door to the black market, so no sympathy for you, suckers.

Mendo apparently thinks that they’re being fair to the local pot growers trying to get legal by even setting up an appeals process, however slanted.

But the funniest part of the discussion was the Appeals Board’s fee to apply for leniency. Unhappy about getting dinged five grand for a product you didn't produce? Here’s what Mendo offers:

Staff suggested an “Appeals Board” made up of CEO Carmel Angelo, Planning Director Brent Schultz, and Ag Commissioner Harindar Grewal (or designees thereof).

Tax Collector Shari Schapmire and Planning Director Brent Schultz were worried that the appeals board would have to deal with a flood of applications, which might involve time-consuming inspections by staff who are already overloaded trying to process hundreds of permit applications — to little effect.

Supervisor Ted Williams alone seemed to grasp the obvious contradictions in the entire approach.

“I would prefer that we treat the legal market as legal,” said Williams tautologically. “Prohibition is over. The idea that an applicant may have done something in the black market and therefore we need to make sure the County gets its take doesn't sit well with me. In Mendocino County we need to accept that the people of the state have decided that cannabis has a legal market and we presume when someone signs under penalty of perjury that they did not cultivate that that's adequate proof. I don't think we can ask somebody to come before an appeals body and prove what they didn't do. There is a practical concern there. Do we need photos that they flew over throughout the summer and took photos of their land to show there were no any plants down there? And out of general fairness, some people will have more evidence than others. I don't see how we can do that. It’s a fine concept. But when you start looking at the details I don't see how it can possibly come together. It will be a can of worms that opens up even more questions about what do you do with the evidence, and if it's really enough for an appeal. Could it be half an hour — or 17 hours? We need to cut down the scope of this process.

A little later Williams added, “Farmers across the country have crop loss. It's recognized. The idea that we are going to somehow treat this agricultural product differently — We have a lot of cultivators staying in the black market. They look at the process and they just roll their eyes. They say there's no way they can get through it. Our goal should be to try to bring in as many as possible. The more burdens we have, the more we complicate the process, the less uptake there will be. If we tell a cultivator that if they lose their entire crop they're still paying the full amount, that's not an incentive to participate.”

Supervisor McCowen said he thought the appeals fee might be around $1,000 based on the County’s other appeals processes.

“I'm new here,” replied Williams. “I completely missed the estimate on the $1000 appeal. That seems outrageous. You have somebody coming forward saying, I didn't grow, I couldn't have; look at this, I only had eight hours — and you are going to charge this individual $1000 to make the case that in eight hours he didn't cultivate cannabis? There are some just cut and dried out of general fairness — it's like if we were to send a tax bill to somebody who didn't build a house and charge them $1000 to prove that they didn't build the house. It's just — it doesn't matter what Humboldt or Sonoma counties are doing with their tax rates. Out of general fairness I don't think we can be gouging people who didn't participate. You get into some of these others like, Did they grow quality weed? Was it a good year? I can understand that that is very murky and you can't ask staff to go out there and make a determination. But where they didn't cultivate? There were no plants? You can’t ask for $1000.”

Although Supervisor John Haschak seemed vaguely sympathetic to some of Williams’ positions, Williams’ argumenets mostly fell on deaf ears among his colleagues.

After a prolonged and mostly irrelevant bureaucratic discussion — typical of everything the County tries to do with pot regulation as they blame the state for the overly complicated and endlessly fluid rules involving the miracle drug — the Board approved the staff proposal to set up an appeals process and turn the problem over to the three most expensive officials in the County who, the Auditor will insist, must charge a fee based on “full cost recovery” for the — what? — 17 hours of appeals board time?

The other humor in this discussion was the serf-like obsequiesness of the gouged growers. Here they are being pushed even further down the rabbit hole, yet they reminded us of the famous quote from a former writer with the AVA, ‘Pathetic Doug’ Holland who, after attending a sedate protest in San Francisco in the 90s, said it was as if the protesters were asking, “Excuse me, officer, are we chanting too loud?” Or, according to the Supe's rules of meeting decorum, “Are we twinkling too loud?” How much of this will the pot growers who are trying to go legit going to tolerate?

Staff was directed to come back with an appeals process and a proposed fee for the appeals. We’re sure that CEO Angelo, Planning Director Schultz and Ag Commissioner Grewal will 1) appoint some poor, overworked staffers to conduct the hearings, and 2) deny almost everyone no matter what the pot growers pay for their appeals or offer as “evidence” that they didn’t grow anything, and 3) gouge hell out of the appellants.

After all, without “gouging people who didn’t participate,” as Supervisor Williams described it, Mendo can’t provide those important services the County provides, as Supervisor McCowen described them.

HASCHAK SPEAKS!

ED NOTE: The American Association of University Women, Willits Branch should know that Supervisor Haschak is THIRD district supervisor, not fifth.

ED NOTES

THE AVA TELEPHONE remains out of service. Day Two with no phones. We apologize to all you people who haven't been able to reach us telephonically. I called AT&T's service number yesterday only to be told the earliest a "technician" could get to Boonville was Wednesday, June 19th "by 5pm." Then Bill Ray, the Willits writer and poet, e-mailed me to suggest I play the age card, although Bill didn't put it that bluntly. He told me that AT&T must act pronto when an elderly customer's phone is down. If the elderly customer's phone is not restored as soon as reasonable, the elderly customer can file a claim against the notoriously….well, probably not wise to insult them overtly or they'll hand me a spool of thread and a couple of coffee cans. "Here ya go, Pops. Communicate with this."

SO, THIS MORNING, Day Two of no phones in the very nerve and news center of Mendocino County, I played the elderly card. Big time. When someone named Aaron in whatever or wherever place far, far away finally came on the line after endless bilingual "menus," I did my best Elderly Act, complete with wavering, confused voice.

"I'm 80 years old, son, and I live alone in a remote town called Boonville, the center of a drug region called the Emerald Triangle where I'm surrounded by menace, and I'm 80 years old and alone and people try to sneak up on me late at night to steal my geraniums and I can't call for help and the other night I heard them out there but I couldn't find my shotgun….." At this point the guy broke in, understandably exasperated, "What number are you calling from, sir?" I said, "I, I, I….I think I have it written down here somewhere…." I could hear the guy sigh. I began to recite," 707 895 uh, wait a minute…." Louder sigh from the AT&T guy. "Oh, here it is — 3016." The AT&T guy, and rather snappishly I thought, and can we have a little more professionalism out of these boiler room slaves?, said, "Because you are elderly, sir, it is AT&T's policy to have someone out to you by 5pm today." It's 4:59 as I write this, and I'm still waiting. I'll try again in the morning, Day Three of pure treachery and agism from AT&T.

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ADD to the bottomless list of things I didn't know: Convicted arsonists have to register with the Sheriff's Department. Mendo is home to 11 registrants, but unlike pervs the names and addresses of fire bugs are not made public.

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MOST REPORTS on this episode read this way: "The New York Times will stop publishing political cartoons weeks after it apologized for an anti-Semitic illustration featuring President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."

HUH? How exactly is this drawing anti-Semitic? Of course as soon as I saw it I knew the professionally and perpetually offended would claim it's anti-Semitic, but all it depicts is the well-known relationship of the U.S. and Israel. I thought it was kinda dumb myself because it should have had Netanyahu walking Trump since the true relationship is the Israeli tail wagging the American dog.

A NEW YORK TIMES CARTOONIST, now former Times cartoonist, Patrick Chappatte wrote. "I’m putting down my pen, with a sigh: that’s a lot of years of work undone by a single cartoon - not even mine - that should never have run in the best newspaper of the world. I’m afraid this is not just about cartoons, but about journalism and opinion in general.We are in a world where moralistic mobs gather on social media and rise like a storm, falling upon newsrooms in an overwhelming blow. "

I THINK the only reason the drawing shouldn't have been run by the Times is because the cartoonist reversed the true nature of the relationship, and even then it was simply a statement of the obvious, not anti-Semitic.

THE Portuguese cartoonist who drew the image, António Moreira Antunes, told CNN that he did not intend for the image to be anti-Semitic.

CHAPPATE is correct about censorship, certainly, an old fact of media life on the Northcoast.

THE BARBARA HOWE CASE: SOME SPECULATION

CHUCK DUNBAR: A couple of thoughts about the Barbara Howe issue:

Like the editor, I also wish we could know the whole story here. Having worked for the County in CPS for nearly 2 decades, I saw lots of strange, unfair, and sometimes downright cruel treatment meted out by managers/bosses. This general theme was commonly known and commented on by line staff. Most of us just hunkered down and kept doing the job we were paid to do as best we could. Of course, it’s worth saying, there were some managers who were smart and knowledgeable, and who treated staff with respect and fairness. It always seemed to me that the managers of the first type were engaged in truly self-destructive acts, when they treated staff badly. The consequences of their acts redounded to them in diverse ways, but staff generally came to disrespect and devalue them, even if it was kind of covert. Managers who treated staff well reaped, as anyone can imagine, the rewards that come with respected, happy staff. It’s really pretty simple.

Barbara Howe must have been treated pretty badly. She’s clearly very upset and very angry. With fellow medical professionals supporting her, it seems a shame it happened. Yet, if the allegations about messages sent to Tammy Chandler-Moss by Ms. Howe are true, I wish she’d not sent them. That kind of quasi-Voodoo stuff might well be fantasized by someone treated badly, and who had lost a job she may well have loved. But to put such vindictive threats/predictions in writing several times goes over the edge– pretty self-destructive and hard to take back once it’s done. (I recall, many years ago, working for a mean, crazy boss, who treated me like crap. It was a social service job I loved and worked really hard at. When I began fantasizing ways to do the guy in, I knew it was time to leave, and did so—one of the best moves I ever made, led to a better professional life for me for many years. While I would have loved to have gotten even in some way with the guy, I was lucky enough to avoid that trap.) Without knowing the whole story, I think this mess is pretty emblematic of what goes on in Ms. Angelo’s workplace. Lots of mean-spirited stuff has occurred over years, as a good number of folks have commented on in the AVA. That’s the real shame, and we deserve better of our local government.

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MARK SCARAMELLA: I agree that Ms. Howe’s text messages don’t help her situation. But the key to understanding them, to me — arguably speculative — is her use of the phrase “spreading Carmel’s poison,” followed by “it is killing you. Dis-ease is in your near future.” And later, “I am certain it [presumably “Carmel’s poison” or maybe the “dis-ease”] will involve your stomach. Some sort of stomach cancer.” It seems to me that Ms. Howe was angrily (sort of) warning Ms. Moss-Chandler about what the physical ill-effects of blindly doing the CEO’s bidding might be, metaphorically, not threatening to literally poison her, a ridiculous interpretation. Ms. Howe then proceeds into what Ms. Moss-Chandler took as veiled threats, but could also have been predictions of the effects of the kind of workplace stress that is created by having to constantly do whatever the CEO orders you to do for fear of immediate dismissal yourself, no matter how vindictive or counterproductive it may appear, especially if promises were made by Ms. Moss-Chandler to Ms. Howe in the time leading up to her firing (i.e., the reference to “trust”). If top managers have to tippy-toe around on egg-shells under the constant threat of being bounced outtathere with no notice — as demonstrated several times in the last couple of years — it’s not hard to imagine how that kind of pressure-cooker feeling could affect someone physically over time. CEO Angelo cut her teeth by stepping up in 2010 to make substantial staff cuts. She’s clearly a person with no hesitation to fire people who she feels have crossed her in some way. There are other implications of this stressful situation which I could speculate further on, but that can wait.

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CHUCK DUNBAR: Those are interesting thoughts, Mark, about Ms. Howe’s possible intentions. And they actually fit with my–admittedly limited– knowledge of Ms. Chandler-Moss (or is it Moss-Chandler?, have seen it both ways) and her manner with and treatment of staff. I have in the past heard from a few of my friends (who remained at CPS after I left) that she is pretty staff friendly and is not an autocrat at heart. They actually liked her and had no real complaints about her. This feedback was from some time ago, so is not especially current. I once saw her speak at a mental health meeting, shortly after she was hired. She came across as an apparently good-hearted person, speaking with a good deal of warmth and humanity. I remember being struck by this and thinking that maybe she was a breath of fresh air. In contrast for sure, is Ms. Angelo’s manner. Her cold, arrogant persona is not hidden–it’s right there for all to see. More to be revealed in this sad story.

STATE STREET BLUES

To the Editor:

Well, I hate to be ‘negative’ but seriously, people — State Street racetrack is certainly not bicycle nor skateboard, much less dog or chair - or pedestrian - ‘friendly.’ (I’m glad, I must say, we’re figuring out which trees to plant…where?) Dare we mention emergency response? Gosh almighty, residents are already aware of increased traffic, speeders, lousy, inattentive drivers, side streets, alleys, parking lots — are all shortcuts. Already crammed. Congested. There are no shortcuts. We’re so busy…

And exactly how does our ‘streetscape’ help local businesses? (And thus ongoing Palace fantasy?)

I must ask:

Does anyone doing the ‘planning’ actually walk anywhere in Ukiah? (Besides to and from your vehicle?)

I have no payback nor payment for my info/opinion. I’m retired. I do love to walk as long as I am able. I also love/hate Ukiah. We have such talent, vision, gumption (that’s a Scottish word, I guess) and we squander our resources, our wisdom, and what really works. Rather than narrowing our major artery, prettifiying and creating yet more obstacles and distractions, how about enforcing a sane urban speed limit.

P.S. Challenging as it is and will be at the heart of the matter of safely traversing Ukiah’s byways (by any means) eliminating the ‘fast’ lane is genius. No passing. No u-turns. Excellent. Perhaps it will help steady and pacify the eager stream of traffic too, rather than further frustrate and clog each rather confusing intersection, no matter how gaily painted. Folks can accept a few extra moments in crossing town and appreciate a sound arrival and a safer community.

Let’s not clog courts either with lousy drivers but do have them watch awful real time footages, maybe change for the better, for a change. The diversity of the elementials (vehicles, direction, purpose, people) problematically proposes a creative, flexible, viable infrastructure. I feel we are yet band-aiding, albeit with really cute ones.

Amy Deese

Ukiah

NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

To the Editor:

Brooktrails has announced rate increases for water and sewer again; an increase of 22 percent for the Water Monthly Service Charge; 5.3 percent for Water Usage Charges, and 9 percent for Sewer Monthly Service Charge.

These increase were announced in a mailer sent to Brooktrails customers May 10, and various reasons are stated for the increase.

Customers should know how much we are paying for Brooktrails water and sewer employees, Utility Department workers.

Here are the amounts we are paying in compensation to each of the Utility Department workers as of August 2018, reported by the California State Controller, Betty Yee, at publicpay.ca.gov.

Brooktrails

• Utility Superintendent – $138,491 annual compensation
• Water Utility Operator lll – $114,568 annual compensation
• Water Utility Operator lll – $108,762 annual compensation
• Water Utility Operator lll – $102,018 annual compensation
• Water Utility Operator ll – $73,394 annual compensation

Willits

• Utilities Superintendent – $108,191 annual compensation
• Chief Water Operator lll – $95,249 annual compensation
• Chief Sewer Operator lll – $92,837 annual compensation
• Water Operator ll – $87,220 annual compensation
• Water Operator lll – $83,416 annual compensation
• Water Operator lll – $71,418 annual compensation
• Sewer Operator ll – $71,687 annual compensation
• Sewer Operator lll – $69,203 annual compensation
• Sewer Operator lll – $50,313 annual compensation

Brooktrails average Utility Department worker compensation – $107,446

Willits average Utility Department worker compensation- $81,059

The median household income in 2017 by Data USA for Mendocino County – $46,528

We are paying four out of the five Brooktrails Utility Department employees over $100,000 per year. The Utility Superintendent at $138,491 makes more than the Brooktrails General Manager at $128,091. Eight out of a total of 18 Brooktrails employees are paid more than $100,000 per year; nine out of 78 City of Willits employees make over $100,000 per year.

Our Brooktrails Utility Department employees do a great job, and their service is appreciated, but the salaries and benefits costs we are paying are out of line for the area. How many non-government employees living and working in the Willits/ Brooktrails area do you know making more than $100,000 a year with the benefits, including retirement benefits we are paying for these government workers?

Brooktrails is holding public hearings on these rate increases May 28. You can voice your opposition to these increases and call for a salary and benefits cost freeze on the Brooktrails Utility Department, including cost of living adjustments for 5 years in lieu of these rate increases to bring them in line with Willits and hold down our costs.

Enough is enough. This is a product of the Brooktrails Board of Directors.

Paul Trexel

Brooktrails

AN EVENT WORTH ATTENDING…

TREE REMOVAL GRANTS

The County of Mendocino has secured grant funding to support removal of dead or dying hazardous trees on private property within the 2017 Redwood Complex Fire footprint. The County has partnered with the Mendocino County Resource Conservation District (MCRCD) along with the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council, who will be administering the program on behalf of the County. As part of the program, the MCRCD will be conducting public outreach and seeking eligible participants.

To be eligible for the program, participants must meet the following requirements:

• Properties must be located within the Redwood Complex Fire Footprint

• Participants must own the property on which trees are proposed for removal

• Participants must either a) contribute a cost share of $200 per tree, with a maximum contribution of $600 total, or b) agree to dispose of felled trees

Trees eligible for removal must meet all of the following requirements, to be verified by a Registered Professional Forester:

• Be assessed as dead or dying

• Be at least 10 inches in diameter and 20 feet tall

• Be located within 300 feet of a residence or proposed building pad

• Structurally threaten the residence or building pad

Interested participants are to contact Imil Ferrara, MCRCD Project Coordinator, at firesafe@pacific.net to receive the application by mail or email.

This project is funded by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as part of the California Climate Change Investment Program. “This program will be a big assistance to property owners in the fire affected area in aiding of removing dead or dying trees as a result of the 2017 fire with a minimal contribution. I am very proud of staff’s hard work and efforts spent in securing the grant,” stated Nash Gonzalez, Recovery Director.

For more information, please contact the Mendocino County Executive Office at (707) 463 4441 or ceo@mendocinocounty.org.

(County Presser)

CATCH OF THE DAY, JUNE 11, 2019

SONO CARRIGG, Ukiah. Parole violation, resisting. (Frequent flyer.)

JOHN GRAHAM, Ukiah. Controlled substance, paraphernalia, probation revocation.

JOSH HILL, Willits. DUI, no license.

GLENN JENKINS, Willits. Suspended license (for DUI), no license.

ANGEL MILLER, Ukiah. Parole violation.

WINDY VINSON, Redwood Valley. DUI.

ON LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY

It’s nice to see a few comments beyond the usual Deep States, rah rah Trumpers, and Hillary bad/me mad. Yes, the Clintons are bad, no bankers were jailed by Obama, and Obama sold Boeing 737max overseas and removed FAA oversights. And Trump, well, the list is still being written and too long to fit in a book, let alone a comment section.

My 2 cents as this unfolds (and it is unfolding rather quickly):

get rid of your debts

take care of your health

move to somewhere liveable

make a few preps (the list is insanely long and personal)

develop community relationships

don’t believe in political explanations (any), or solutions

live each day deliberately

etc etc etc

WHY DOESN'T ROBERT MUELLER make the case for a criminal prosecution? His reasons are primarily political although they are couched in legalistic terms within a system where the line between law and politics is not easy to draw. His concern is with the unintended consequences of recommending the indictment of a sitting president. It might do more harm than good. "We recognize that a federal criminal accusation against a sitting president," the report states, "would place burdens on the president's capacity to govern and potentially preempt constitutional processes for addressing presidential misconduct." At the same time it notes that "a president does not have the immunity after he leaves office." Furthermore, given "the facts known to us, and a strong public interest in safeguarding the integrity of the criminal justice system, we conducted a thorough factual investigation to preserve the evidence when memories were fresh and documentary materials were available." In other words, if Trump weren't president he would be prosecuted; when he ceases to be president he should be prosecuted; while he remains president, other means are available to remove him from office — and that would make a prosecution possible. The Mueller report even in its redacted form is damning. Trump is not fit to be president. He has attempted to obstruct the legal system and to intimidate and coerce the people who work for him. Trump has told people to lie — including people who reported to him in his capacity as president — and he has done it often. The evidence is here. But on the question of whether he should be impeached, Mueller does not speak. That too is above his pay grade.

— David Runciman, “How to get screwed,” London Review of Books

THINK YOU KNOW what's causing L.A.'s homeless crisis? Think again. Here are the three biggest myths about homelessness.

latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-four-homelessness-myths-20190610-story.html

"TRAVEL ISN’T ALWAYS PRETTY. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you… You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind."

—Anthony Bourdain

JON STEWART RIPS CONGRESS During House Hearing on 9/11 Victims Fund, Gets Standing Ovation

Jon Stewart gave Congress an earful on Tuesday, blasting a House Judiciary subcommittee for its seeming indifference towards the plight of 9/11 first responders as he testified on their behalf for the extension of the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund.

The former Daily Show host has long been frustrated with the constant fights on Capitol Hill to provide additional funding to the victims’ fund, letting that frustration boil over during Tuesday’s hearing, which was attended by only five members.

“I can’t help but think what an incredible metaphor this room is for the entire process that getting health care and benefits for 9/11 first responders has come to,” Stewart bemoaned. “Behind me, a filled room of 9/11 first responders and in front of me, a nearly empty Congress."

“Sick and dying, they brought themselves down here to speak—to no one. Shameful. It is an embarrassment to the country and it is a stain on this institution."

Adding that members of the House should be embarrassed for themselves but won’t be, the comedian noted: "Accountability doesn’t appear to be something that occurs in this chamber.”

After mentioning some of the ailing first responders who had traveled to Washington to speak at the hearing and highlighting the sacrifices hundreds made during the terror attacks, Stewart got extremely emotional, needing a few moments to compose himself. “I'm sorry if I sound angry and undiplomatic, but I am angry, and you should be too, and they’re all angry as well,” he declared.

"Your indifference cost these men and women their most valuable commodity: Time,” Stewart exclaimed. “It's the one thing they're running out of."

Assailing the dealmaking in Congress that will cause funding bills to be tied to other pet projects and spending requests, Stewart applauded the first responders who have kept fighting to make sure the victims’ fund won’t run out.

“Thank god for all of these people who will not let it happen,” he emphasized. “They responded in five seconds. They did their jobs with courage, grace, tenacity, humility! 18 years later—do yours!”

Finishing on that note, the 9/11 first responders in the chambers immediately stood up and gave Stewart a standing ovation.

(TheDailyBeast.com)

CLOSURE

Today, from start to now, seems utterly normal, or at least what passes for normal now. I can't remember why I just opened the refrigerator. The little mounds of applesauce in their little bowls look vaguely pornographic, with their proud little snatched saving in the wind like nobody cares, and covered with cinnamon-like powder. Let me tell you, it makes a hell of a show.

The lot of my cohorts here at Grace Manor. I have pretty much revolutionized the ingestion of marihuana products here. Beginning at zero the day I moved into this place, nobody vaped. Ever. Or even knew what one looked like. As of this afternoon, maybe fifteen or twenty geezers proudly share their new games with anyone who seems interested. Which is, of course, how new ideas spread.

A guy can make observation quietly by stepping aside and watch others proselytize for the tests of the day. The real, the current largest success is not thinking of the Orange One once. Great stuff, eh?

(Bruce Brady)

TIMES BILLBOARD and the paperboy model, 1935. Photo Dick Whittington.

A USS LIBERTY’S HERO’S PASSING

“The evidence was clear. Both Adm. Kidd and I believed with certainty that this attack was a deliberate effort to sink an American ship and murder its entire crew. Not only did the Israelis attack the ship with napalm, gunfire, and missiles, Israeli torpedo boats machine-gunned three lifeboats that had been launched in an attempt by the crew to save the most seriously wounded, a war crime. 'I know from personal conversations I had with Adm. Kidd that President Lyndon Johnson and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara ordered him to conclude that the attack was a case of "mistaken identity" despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary'."

consortiumnews.com/2019/06/08/a-uss-libertys-heros-passing/

KNOW YOUR OLIGARCHS (#9)