MCT: Friday, February 28, 2020

• Rain Horizon
• Wash Hands
• Tip-Jar Thieves
• 70s Vehicles
• Market Plunge
• Trimmers Trimmed
• Disc Golf
• Debris Removal
• Science-Based Medicine
• Hobo Highway
• Fire Monies
• Cannabis Equity
• Peterson Retired
• Dry Feb
• Domestic Violence
• Cannabis Tax
• Police Reports
• Yesterday's Catch
• Movie Review
• Rodin Endorsement
• Dad Talk
• Likes Mari
• Propaganda Nonsense
• Lightning Bolt
• Superdelegates Prefer
• Assange Trial
• Relax Book
• Dope Board
• Iberian Pigs
• Chaotic Climate
• McGovern Rally
• Cancer Center
• Pence Virus
• Decadent Language
• Cemetery Club
• Godwin's Law
• Found Object

WARM AND DRY conditions will continue today, but cooler and breezier conditions will develop Saturday and Sunday. A gradual warming trend is expected to resume Monday through Thursday, with little rain expected. Chances for rain are increasing for late next week and weekend. (NWS)

IT'S HERE. PANIC SPREADS, although the virus isn't fatal except in the medically vulnerable. California health officials are monitoring 8,400 people for coronavirus symptoms after their arrival on domestic commercial flights, Governor Newsom said Thursday. The state currently has only about 200 test kits, an “inadequate” number, but has been in “constant contact with federal agencies” that have promised to send a fresh supply of kits in coming days, he said at a news briefing in Sacramento. The US federal government said it is dispatching test kits nationwide and promised funding legislation within the next two weeks. California officials said 33 people had tested positive for the virus in that state, but five had since left the state. On Wednesday, California reported the first known case of the virus in the United States of unknown origin. The patient had not recently traveled to an area with a reported outbreak, and was not exposed to another known infected person. Dr. Sonia Angell, California's state public health officer, said local, state and federal health investigators were contacting and isolating individuals who may have been exposed to the patient in what could be the first US case of local “community spread.” The news comes shortly after it was revealed that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) took several days to test the woman, who is a resident of Solano County outside of Sacramento. She was admitted into UC Davis Medical Center on February 19. On Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence convened his first meeting of the Coronavirus Task Force one day after President Donald Trump made him the government's point-person for the epidemic. Pence named a seasoned medical professional as his chief adviser on the response and said Trump had “tasked us to take every step necessary to protect the health of the American people.”

FROM FORMER SHERIFF TOM ALLMAN’S FACEBOOK PAGE:

The shout-outs for the correct answers will happen later today, but let’s go ahead and start today’s Coronavirus Trivia contest. First, some basic facts:

Males are more susceptible than females

Smoking and drinking decrease your immune system (and increase your susceptibility )

Prednisone also reduces your immune system

Ok, here is the question for today (2/26/20)

IMMUNE SYSTEM STRENGTHENING

What vitamins can you take which will strengthen your immune system and can possibly help protect you during an exposure to this virus?

1) Iron

2) Vitamin C

3) Calcium

4) all three taken responsibly

The Coronavirus Trivia contest started off with a great deal of interest and great answers! Shout-outs are going to those who knew that the virus hits older people more than younger one. Keeping your immune system strong is key. Vitamins are great, smoking and drinking are not so great. My motto? “Coronavirus, it’s nothing to sneeze at”.

Todays Coronavirus Trivia Question is about the transmission of the virus. Asymptomatic is a medical term word describing “without symptoms”. A person carrying the Coronavirus can be asymptomatic and can infect many others without knowing that they are a carrier.

COVID 19 is another name for the Coronavirus.

Today’s question is…..

Question #3: How long has it been determined that a person can be a carrier of the COVID 19 without showing any symptoms?

A) 24 hours

B) 72 hours

C) One Full Week

D) Approx 2 weeks

Good Luck!

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FORT BRAGG RESPONDS TO CORONAVIRUS:

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATE

In the past several days, novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has moved closer to our community with nine confirmed cases of COVID-19 in California. One of those nine cases may be the first person-to-person transmission of the virus, seven are travel related and the other is from person to person exposure within the household. While the health risk to the general public remains low, the City of Fort Bragg and the Mendocino Coast District Hospital recognize that this is a serious public health concern and encourage everyone to take the common-sense precautions that prevent the spread of all infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

Wash hands with soap and water frequently.

Avoid touching eyes, nose and/or mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces.

Protect others if you are sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough, by staying away from work, school, stores and other public venues.

If you are caring for an individual who may be more vulnerable, such as children, the elderly or individuals with compromised immune systems, please take extra precautions.

The Mendocino Coast District Hospital has been closely following all updates from the CDC and local Public Health Departments regarding the newest corona virus. A plan has been developed to care for any suspected COVID-19 infections which includes coordination with the Public Health Department. To reduce the risk of spreading the virus, the Hospital requests anyone who has traveled to mainland China within the last 14 days or has had close contact with someone who has traveled to China, and who has symptoms of respiratory infection (cough, fever, shortness of breath) to please notify staff immediately when entering the hospital or clinic, and be prepared to wear a mask, use hand gel on entry to the Hospital or Clinic, and follow triage procedures to minimize exposure to others.

The hospital is further restricting visitation to patients to reduce the risk of transmission. Please do not bring children under the age of 14 or come to visit patients if you are ill.

There are a number of resources available for up-to-date information on COVID-19:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

California Department of Public Health

Mendocino County Public Health Department

Questions regarding the City of Fort Bragg’s monitoring of COVID-19 should be directed to Tabatha Miller, City Manager at (707) 961-2829. Questions regarding the Mendocino Coast District Hospital response efforts should be directed to Wayne Allen, CEO at (707) 961-4610.

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DONUT SHOP THIEVES FOUND GUILTY

Ukiah, Thurs. Feb. 27. - With a jury trial scheduled to begin this coming Monday staring them square in the face, the two tip jar thieves -- two local men who achieved notoriety on social media -- each decided Thursday afternoon to waive his right to a jury trial and each admitted criminal responsibility at the felony level.

Defendants Ryen Lee Delgado, age 35, and Colton James Smith, age 31, both of Ukiah, were convicted by plea of being co-conspirators in a felony conspiracy to commit misdemeanor theft from Sunny's Donuts, said criminal conspiracy having occurred during the very early morning hours of November 21st of last year.

The store video of the pair stealing from the graveyard shift clerk at the doughnut shop created quite a stir at the time and went viral locally.

See: facebook.com/115373965147061/videos/773251769816332/

Defendant Delgado had already been convicted of a separate burglary in the second degree, a felony, and was pending sentencing when he committed the doughnut shop theft at issue. He will be sentenced on both cases on March 25, 2020 at 9 o'clock in the morning in Department H at the Ukiah courthouse.

Defendant Smith — the man who set the stage for the theft and the tattooed man wearing the Lakers jersey in the video — will be sentenced at 9 o'clock in the morning on April 10, 2020, also in Department H.

The prosecutor handling this case is District Attorney David Eyster.

DA Eyster said late Thursday afternoon, "I hope this outcome serves as a wake up call to deter would-be thieves from preying on the local shopkeepers who work hard to serve all of us, shopkeepers trying to make an honest living."

The law enforcement agencies who worked up the case and gathered the evidence for the DA were the Ukiah Police Department and the DA's own investigators. The DA also extended kudos to the local Facebook community whose members provided important information and leads at the time.

Mendocino County Superior Court Judge Carly Dolan will be the sentencing judge on March 25th and April 10th.

PARKED CARS UNDER STREETLAMPS

designyoutrust.com/2018/10/parked-cars-under-streetlamps-in-1970s-new-york-city/

FREE FALL FRIDAY: New York markets were braced for another sell-off on Friday after stock prices across Asia and Europe tumbled following a week that has seen some $5 trillion wiped off the world economy. Traders had been growing in confidence that the coronavirus outbreak had been confined to China, but fresh outbreaks in Italy, South Korea, Japan and Iran have seen confidence collapse amid fears it could cause a major slowdown in global industry. Markets in Japan and Shanghai closed almost 4 per cent down on Friday, those in Europe were headed for their worst week since the 2008 crisis, while Dow Jones and S&P 500 futures - effectively bets placed on where the market will head next - were down 2.5 per cent, in a sign of things to come.

FLOW KANA CLOSES TRIMMING OPERATIONS IN WHITETHORN FACILITY

A spokesperson for Flow Kana has confirmed that the company is moving trimming operations to their Mendocino facility. “It’s just been really challenging to staff the facility to productive levels so we’re moving those operations,” she told us.

kymkemp.com/2020/02/25/flow-kana-closes-trimming-operations-in-whitethorn-facility/

DISC GOLF AT AV BREWING

March 7th, at the Brewery, we are having an annual disc golf tournament. It’s part of the NorCal Winter Charity Series (NWCS) for us disc golf geeks. This year the organizers elected to donate all proceeds to Sarah Ryan! The catch is that we need players! There are multiple divisions to play in, including “recreational.” You don’t need to know how to play and it’s always a lot of fun! YOU MUST REGISTER BELOW

$20 buy-in plus any donations. All for Sarah. Register below and come play!

facebook.com/events/626103124896906/

LODGE FIRE CLEANUP UPDATE:

After speaking with Farmers Insurance Company yesterday, we are roughly a week away from debris removal from December 5th's downtown structure fire at the PicNPay/Lizbby’s complex. A contractor has been found, approved by the insurance company, and they are in the final stages of permits with Air Quality. This is their last step before hauling away the aftermath. They estimate contractors will start moving in next week but no later than the following week.

— Anderson Valley Fire Chief Andres Avila

A READER WRITES:

I detest pseudo-scientific nonsense like homeopathy, refusing vaccines, anything Gwyneth Paltrow peddles, and promoting acupuncture as appeared in the Valley People column Feb. 19. The good folk at the senior center will be tossing away their money which I’m certain could be better directed towards their wellbeing, like perhaps a good massage, a relaxing soak in a hot tub, a couple of hours at a good movie, etc. You cannot talk sense into the true believers, but one can hope, perhaps just out of curiosity, some will take the time to review the best analyses of this practice, and thus I recommend the website Science Based Medicine with this excellent overview. There are also many articles on the site on acupuncture over the years they can access. To pay for this “treatment” and not do some investigation, is lazy, to say the least.

sciencebasedmedicine.org/reference/acupuncture/

THE GREAT REDWOOD TRAIL PROPAGANDA MACHINE is working overtime to convince us that it’s a “great” idea with lots of “great” benefits. Otherwise, somebody might think that the $4.5 million squandered on three miles of the seldom visited Hobo Highway could have maybe gone for more beneficial stuff, like housing, potholes, ambulance/firefighting services… (For perspective, Mendo’s highly touted Measures D&E, which are semi-earmarked for firefighters, will only bring in about $1 mil or so.)

ACCORDING to a recent presser from North Coast Opportunites, “The Great Redwood Trail-Ukiah is open to the public, but for staff at North Coast Opportunities, the project won’t be complete until the corridor has been transformed into a community space with a park like setting.” The goal of the money wasted on the trail supposedly has something to do with global warming and “placemaking.” Not only will people “walk and bike more” (which they won't), but “approximately 40 oak trees will be planted that will not only provide shade but will also sequester 1.3 million carbon dioxide equivalents over their lifetime.” Wow! 1.3 million carbon dioxide equivalents! From just 40 trees (over hundreds of years)!

THE NCO presser continues (these agencies and the people involved are interchangeable), “The goal is to have at least 40 oak trees, hundreds of native plants and thousands of native grasses planted before this year’s rains end.” (Funny, we didn’t think they’d started to begin with.) And, “Using native plants will create a low maintenance, climate friendly, linear park.” (A “linear park,” aka some macadam along the Ukiah railroad tracks.) “Volunteers will help to hand water plants through the first few summers,” NCO continues, “then they should be able to survive without water. The plants would look better with a little summer water, but they should survive on their own, and irrigation just wasn’t in our budget.”

Their “budget” was $4.5 million but they couldn’t find any money for irrigation. Hundreds more miles of “linear park” are envisioned as part of the Great Bosco Bailout, er, Great Redwood Trail. Meanwhile, local needs which could make very good use of those millions remain ignored and underfunded.

ACCORDING TO SECOND DISTRICT SUPES CANDIDATE and Lead Trail Promoter Mo Mulheren, this kind of humongous waste of time and money is “great,” but she's not alone in hyping the boondoggle — Supervisor McCowen, and the usual inland Democrats are also all the way on board.

(Mark Scaramella)

ACCORDING TO A RECENT ARTICLE in the Chico Enterprise Record: “Several government agencies are asking PG&E to cover some of the costs associated with wildfires it sparked with faulty equipment. Most notably, FEMA is asking for $3.9 billion under a federal law that requires it to seek recovery from entities that cause a disaster. If it does not get money from PG&E, it may have to ask victims themselves to pay it back for some of the expenses, like emergency rentals, that were covered several times over. Cal OES is asking for $2.6 billion, but that will likely be amended because some of the expenses are also being counted in FEMA’s claim. Cal OES’s total is closer to $250 million. Cal Fire also has a claim.” … “FEMA is also seeking to get paid separately from victims, said David Passey, a FEMA spokesperson. He said PG&E and the main committee representing victims reached the arrangement that bundled all the claims together “with no input from the federal or state government. The federal government’s position is that its claims should be treated separately from the wildfire victim claims and not channeled to the $13.5 billion wildfire victim trust established under PG&E’s plan.”

MENDO has approved a Cannabis Equity program that would provide some subsidies, technical assistance, loans, grants and fee reductions for certain qualified individuals who meet some very strict poverty and criminal history criteria.

“Program Eligibility: Those who meet any of the following qualifications shall therefore meet the qualifications for Mendocino County’s LEP and become eligible for consideration for funding and services provided therefrom: a. Any individual and/or entity that has obtained or applied for a permit/license (either temporary or permanent), and the permit/license is for a business located in an area in Mendocino County with a poverty rate of 20% or above. b. Have engaged in or are currently engaged in small-scale cultivation of cannabis on property in Mendocino County owned, leased, or with the express permission of the owner, with a cultivation area less than 10,000 square feet; c. Any woman, person of color, or LGBTQ individual who has or worked in, or currently works in the cannabis industry in Mendocino County; d. Any individual who has obtained or applied for a cannabis permit in Mendocino County, or who has worked in or currently works in the cannabis industry, and was arrested and/or convicted of a non-violent cannabis-related offense, or was subject to asset forfeiture arising from a cannabis-related event; e. Are a person who experienced sexual assault, exploitation, domestic violence, and/or human trafficking while participating in the cannabis industry; f. Have become homeless or suffered a loss of housing as a result of cannabis enforcement.”

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We can’t find Mendo’s actual form or on-line website to apply, but the program is (or will be) managed out of the County’s Cannabis permit office. Based on a quick review of other counties which have implemented similar equity programs, it appears that the process of applying for — much less actually receiving — any benefits is as complicated, daunting and cumbersome as the pot permit program itself. (We looked at LA County and Oakland which are described as model equity programs.)

The County’s full “Mendocino County Cannabis Local Equity Program Manual V1. 2/18/2020” — without any acual application forms — can be found buried deep in the agenda packet for last Tuesday’s Board meeting for those interested.

Oh, you have until March 9, 2020 to apply. Good luck.

(Mark Scaramella)

REMEMBER CHARLES PETERSON, one-term Fifth District Supervisor from Point Arena in between Norm de Vall and David Colfax? According to his facebook page, Peterson is “retired” and living in Thailand.

MARSHALL NEWMAN NOTES:

Everyone will be talking about this dry spell soon enough, but one element that San Francisco weather forecasters have mentioned is – despite this being a leap year – this has been the driest February in San Francisco since 1854.

NEED TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAWS and how to get protection? Visit http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-domesticviolence.htm for information and get help at the Court's Self-Help Center or from Project Sanctuary, a great organization serving Mendocino County residents.

SUPERVISOR TED WILLIAMS commenting on Facebook about Mendo’s failed pot permit program: “Public safety, roads, homelessness and so many other needs could benefit from cannabis taxes, but our program has left tens of millions of dollars uncollected. By my estimate, less than 5% of cultivation has transitioned to the regulated market.”

MUZZLE BOTH BEASTS

On Thursday, February 27, 2020 at approximately 8:01 A.M. Deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a report of a fight between two subjects, one of whom had an aggressive pitbull in the 1300 block of North State Street in Ukiah. Deputies responded to the area and contacted a 53-year-old male who stated he was in an argument with a male subject, subsequently identified as Benjamin Kimpton, 39, of Ukiah.

During the argument, Kimpton commanded his pitbull to attack him. As one of the Deputies was obtaining the 53-year-old male's statement, a second Deputy contacted Kimpton nearby. Kimpton was carrying a large pitbull dog on his shoulders and would not obey the Deputy's verbal commands. Kimpton walked away from the Deputy and refused to follow lawful commands. Both Deputies followed Kimpton as he continued walking away from them. At one point Kimpton put his pitbull down and let it loose. The dog approached the Deputies in an aggressive manner; which caused the Deputies to deploy their pepper spray in self defense. Kimpton continued his attempt to flee the area with the aggressive dog by his side and Deputies were forced to deploy a Taser — which had no effect. As Kimpton approached a local restaurant open for business, Deputies deployed a second Taser which caused Kimpton to stop and fall to the ground. The pitbull fled the area after the second Taser deployment. Kimpton was secured in handcuffs and placed in the back of a patrol car. Deputies observed Kimpton displayed objective signs of being under the influence of a controlled substance. During their investigation, Deputies learned Kimpton attempted to command his pitbull to attack the 53 year-old male and had physically assaulted a 48 year-old old male the night prior, causing injury to an area of his head. The Deputies also learned Kimpton was on active probation in Mendocino County. As Deputies continued their investigation, they developed probable cause to believe Kimpton committed the crimes of Assault With Deadly Weapon, Not Firearm, Resisting/Delaying a Peace Officer), Probation revocation, and Under Influence of Controlled Substance. Kimpton was arrested and transported to the Adventist Health Ukiah Valley hospital where he was medically cleared for incarceration. Kimpton was then booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was held in lieu of $30,000 bail.

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KNIFE ATTACK

On Sunday, February 23, 2020 at about 12:16 AM Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to a disturbance at a residence in the 100 block of Faull Avenue in Ukiah. Deputies were advised Nichole Birdsall, 47, of Ukiah, had entered a residence without permission and was attacking subjects inside with a knife.

While responding, Deputies were advised Birdsall had also sustained an injury to her abdomen. When Deputies arrived, they found Birdsall in the rear bedroom with a stab wound to her abdomen. They further located a 47 year-old female with multiple lacerations to her arms and legs in the same bedroom. Deputies learned the 47 year-old female and Birdsall had been in a prior dating relationship, which had ended some time ago. The 47 year-old female had obtained a restraining order against Birdsall, which had been served. Deputies learned the 47 year-old female and a 63 year-old female were sleeping together in their residence when they awoke to find Birdsall standing over them holding a knife in a downward stabbing position. Birdsall began yelling "I am going to kill you." The 63 year-old female was able to call 911 as Birdsall attacked the 47 year-old female with the knife. The 47 year-old female and Birdsall were immediately transported to the Adventist Health Ukiah Valley hospital for treatment of their injuries. Birdsall was medically cleared and booked into the Mendocino County Jail on charges of Attempted murder, Assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, Battery causing serious injury, Burglary, and Violation of a Domestic Violence Protective Order, where she was to be held in lieu of $1,000,000 bail.

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PRIMO CANDIDATE FOR OUTTAHERE

On Sunday, February 23, 2020 at about 2:05 AM Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to a disturbance at a residence in the 5000 block of Agnes Lane in Calpella. Upon arrival Deputies contacted and 18 year-old female and her mother. Deputies learned the 18 year-old female was sleeping when she was awakened by her ex-boyfriend, Armando Gonzales, 19, of Ukiah, who was opening her window.

Gonzales entered her bedroom without permission and began physically assaulting her by placing one hand around her throat and hitting her in the head with a closed fist. Gonzales then fled the location after taking her cellular phone. The 18 year-old female had visible redness and complained of pain. Gonzales was contacted at his residence in Ukiah and questioned about the incident. Gonzales gave the 18-year-old female's phone to Deputies, which was later returned to her. On the phone there were text messages from Gonzales to the 18 year-old female a short time prior to the attack stating he was going to come kill her. Gonzales was arrested for burglary, robbery and domestic violence battery. He was booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held in lieu of $150,000 bail.

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SWAK

On Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at approximately 3:07 P.M., Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to a reported unwanted subject sitting in a vehicle in the 6800 block of North State Street in Ukiah. Upon arrival, Deputies contacted an adult male identified as Charles Schlapkohl, 49, of Ukiah, in the company of an adult female.

During the contact, Deputies learned Schlapkohl was restrained from being within one-hundred yards from the adult female due to a served domestic violence restraining order. Schlapkohl was also found to be on formal probation out of Mendocino County, with specific terms to obey all laws. Schlapkohl was subsequently placed under arrest for a violation of the protective order and for violating his terms of formal probation. A search of Schlapkohl was conducted incident to his arrest and Deputies located suspected methamphetamine on his person. Schlapkohl was subsequently booked into the Mendocino County Jail on a No-Bail status for his probation violation.

CATCH OF THE DAY, February 27, 2020

JESSE HARNETT, Ukiah. Ammo possession by prohibited person, probation revocation.

KATE KUMMER, Ukiah. Trespassing/refusing to leave.

ANTHONY LANE, Ukiah. Burglary tools, switchblade.

CHESTER REYNOLDS, Redwood Valley. DUI causing bodily injury, second offense in ten years.

GABRIEL ROJAS, Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol, on school grounds without lawful business interfering with peaceful conduct, probation revocation.

CHARLES SCHLAPKOHL, Ukiah. Controlled substance, protective order violation, probation revocation.

JENNIFER SCHMITT-FELIZ, Covelo. Probation revocation.

DEREK SILVA, Fort Bragg. Suspended license, failure to appear.

SPENCER WEBB, Talmage. Probation revocation.

‘THE CALL OF THE WILD’ (2020): A Cinematic Fairy Tale for the Age of Environmental Disaster

by Jonah Raskin

The problem with Jack London has always been that while he was a compelling storyteller with a vivid imagination, he was also a racist, or at least a writer who embraced racial ideas about the superiority of Anglo Saxons and the inferiority of African Americans, Asians and Latinos. Most of the racism that’s embedded in ‘The Call of the Wild,’ London’s 1903 best selling novel, has been expunged from the latest cinematic version starring Harrison Ford as John Thornton, the prospector in the Yukon who cares more for the wilderness and dogs than he does for gold.

Indeed, the 2020 film, which has a computer-generated canine hero, is as politically correct in its own way, as London’s story is politically incorrect at least by today’s standards. Still, no criticism of the movie will prevent London fans from watching it and raving about it, flaws and all. To the faithful, London can do no wrong. He might have clay feet, but he’s still their god.

I saw the movie in Sonoma, California, where London is a local hero and can do no wrong. Not many members of the audience had read ‘The Call of the Wild.’ Also, they don’t know much about London himself, but they think they know that he was a great writer.

This is not the first time that ‘The Call of the Wild’ has been transposed from the page to the big screen. The 1935 version stars Clark Gable, Loretta Young and Jack Oakie. The 1973 remark features Charlton Heston. The 1996 version has a voice over by Richard Dreyfus and stars Rutger Hauer. Each movie carves out a territory of its own, and reflects the era in which it was made. None are true to London’s Weltanschauung, which he forged from his own rough-and-tumble life in Oakland and from his reading Nietzsche, Darwin and Marx.

The latest version offers a fairy-tale for our own era of global warming and environmental disaster. It describes a world with near pristine wilderness, the abundance of wild species, and little if any degradation of the natural world. It’s unreal. In the Yukon in 1898, London witnessed the wanton destruction of the landscape by mining and miners “digging, tearing and scouring the face of nature.” At the same time, London argued that the Yukon offered unparalleled opportunities for capital and labor to work together to create wealth and jobs.

Screenwriter Michael Green and director Chris Sanders are two savvy moviemakers. While their version is a remake, it’s also a critique of ‘The Call of the Wild.’In the novel, Indians kill the prospector, John Thornton. In revenge, Buck kills some of Indians—he’s an Indian killer—and enjoys the slaughter. Monsieur Perrault, the French Canadian mail courier, has been turned into a jolly African-American. His female companion on the trail looks like she might be a Native American, or at least a “half-breed,” as London would have called her.

In 50 books, London never created an African-American character, though an African-American ex-slave raised him and he called himself a “white pickaninny.” He was cheeky.

On screen, Harrison Ford looks and acts like an old explorer. He’s no longer a youthful voyager in outer space, nor an intrepid archeologist. As John Thornton, he plays everyone’s favorite uncle who spouts words of wisdom. “You’re not my pet,” he tells Buck. “Do what your want.”

Teddy Roosevelt, who was no fan of London’s work, would probably be bored out of his mind with the latest movie. More than a century ago, he accused London of faking it as a nature writer. London took the bait, rose to the occasion and defended the veracity of ‘The Call of the Wild’ and ‘White Fang.’

”I endeavored to make my stories in line with the facts of evolution,” he insisted. “I hewed them to the mark set by scientific research.” While he staked his career to pseudo-science, he also touted empire and fumed about the “savages” of the colonial world. Mark Twain and William Dean Howells, formed The Anti-Imperialist League. London never joined. Others founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). London insisted that “colored people” had never advanced, that African Americans were closer to apes than humans. 1903, the year that saw the publication of ‘The Call of the Wild,’ also saw the publication of ‘The Souls of Black Folk’ in which the author, W.E.B. Du Bois, observed, “The problem of the twentieth-century is the problem of the color-line.”

Ironically, though London is best known for his embrace of the wild, he lived like a highly civilized country squire with servants and field workers on a vast estate he called Beauty Ranch where he ruled the roost paternalistically. In an essay titled “The House Beautiful,” he argued that he had to have servants—they were a necessity— but that their rooms would have light and fresh air and not be “dens and holes.” He added, “It will be a happy house—or else I’ll burn it down.” It burned down, anyway, either by accident or arson. By the age of 40, London had burned himself up, but not before he made a fortune as a writer and became world famous on the back of the dog, Buck.

No twentieth-century American fiction writer poured out prose more beautiful than London, and no writer was more attached to the notion that someone had to be the top dog. No wonder that his own daughter, Joan, thought that if he had lived into the 1920s he would have become an admirer of Mussolini. The London faithful will have none of it.

Screenwriter Green and director Sanders have made a beautiful movie, and, though it’s not true to London’s political and social ideas, it does honor the spirit of adventure that pushed him to the Arctic and the South Seas. Moviegoers might enjoy the scenery and the special effects that make Buck look and sound like a real dog — almost.

(Jonah Raskin is the editor of ‘The Radical Jack London: Writings on War and Revolution,’ and of ‘For The Hell of It: The Life and Times of Abbie Hoffman and American Scream: Allen Ginsberg’s ‘Howl’ and the Making of the Beat Generation.’)

RODIN FOR SECOND DISTRICT SUPE

Dear Editor:

I am a board member of the Mendocino County Homeless Services Continuum of Care, a collaboration of over thirty-one agencies addressing and finding solutions to homelessness in our County. Mari Rodin facilitates the Strategic Planning Committee of that Board. I want to state what an excellent job Mari has done in that role of creating a draft strategic plan for the MChSCoC. She is prepared, clearly presents the tasks to be accomplished and listens respectfully to input. Her demonstration of these essential skills coupled with her past role as a three-term Ukiah City Council member has fully prepared her to be an excellent Supervisor representing the Second District.

Sincerely,

Judy Albert

Ukiah

CONFIRMATION….

To The Editor

For over 30 years, it has been my honor to represent the people of Ukiah and Mendocino County. After 30 years serving on the Planning Commission, City Council, Board of Supervisors, and numerous other boards, I made the very difficult decision not to seek another term on the Board of Supervisors.

My biggest worry was the lack of a candidate with the experience, qualifications, and proven ability to maintain the fiscal stability, public safety, environmental protection, and responsible land-use policies that I have championed during my time on the Board of Supervisors. Honestly, I’ve been surprised by the lack of leadership shown by Councilmember Mulheren on critical issues like homelessness and the Western Hills Fuel Reduction Project.

For that reason, I was very excited when former Ukiah Mayor and City Council member Mari Rodin announced her candidacy for 2nd District Supervisor. Mari has the knowledge and experience to move our county forward. Importantly, she understands the need for the City of Ukiah and County of Mendocino to work collaboratively on housing, water supply reliability, economic development, and disaster preparedness. No other candidate is prepared to lead this process.

Mari’s grant writing firm has brought in over $100 million in State and federal funds to our community, addressing critical needs in public health and social services. In developing successful grant proposals, Mari has immersed herself in the details of county services and thus understands our community’s most pressing needs. Mari’s detailed knowledge of public health and social services will be invaluable in setting policy and allocating resources to address these needs. No other candidate has Mari’s depth of knowledge on these issues.

Mari Rodin, working as a consultant, drafted Mendocino County’s Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness, incorporating many of the recommendations of the recent County homelessness assessment. No area in the County is more impacted by homelessness than the 2nd District and it is critical that the next 2nd District Supervisor have a comprehensive understanding of the causes of—and solutions to—homelessness. No other candidate is better prepared to address the homelessness crisis than Mari.

Having helped guide the County through the economic crisis of a decade ago, the recent utility shutoffs, and the catastrophic fires of 2017 and 2018, I know what it takes to serve our community in moments of crisis. Mari is the only candidate in the 2nd District race who has the depth of knowledge, experience, and commitment to rise to the task, while also addressing the many other critical issues facing our County.

Mari Rodin is far and away the most qualified candidate for 2nd District Supervisor. Please join me to elect Mari Rodin 2nd District Supervisor.

For Our Future,

John McCowen

Ukiah

ON LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY

To throw around epithets such as “Communist”, “Deep Staters”, even “Socialism” is plainly ridiculous in the American context. The Democratic Party is no more “Communist” than the Republican Party is.

To argue for tax reform – with the rich paying a greater share that they can more than easily afford – and also wage reform, is not a sign of some Bolshevik takeover … it is perfectly valid political position, and one that might have resonance in November.

Quite rightly, the working class (and middle class) are totally sick of the rampages of Republican-led theft of the wealth of the country. Wages are stagnant, under-employment is chronic, widespread, and seemingly intractable.

A couple of years ago, we chatted to a bright but tired receptionist at a holiday lodge next to Glacier NP in Montana. She was doing the graveyard shift for $7.95/hour. The day-staff earned just $7.25/hour. She lived 40 miles away in a trailer, and had two young kids.

People in Australia in such a position would probably earn more like $25/hour plus penalty payments – and the places that employ them don’t go broke. They also have a national health scheme.

These things are possible and achievable – it takes political will, and for millions of people to vote in their own economic self-interest. It has nothing to do with “Communism” and other ridiculous labels. It has nothing to do with ‘freedom’ – or the crazy culture wars that seem to consume so many people.

LIGHTNING BOLT, Bunratty Castle, Ireland

GET YOUR YELLOW VESTS READY!

The NYT interviewed 93 Democrat superdelegates. 84 said they’d ignore a plurality of voters, and instead pick someone who “we could all get behind & celebrate.”

Candidates they suggested:

• Nancy Pelosi

• Chris Coons

• Sherrod Brown

• Mark Warner

• Kamala Harris

nytimes.com/2020/02/27/us/politics/democratic-superdelegates.html

HEDGES SUMMATION OF THE ASSANGE TRIAL

"The publication of classified documents is not a crime in the United States, but if Assange is extradited and convicted it will become one. Assange is not an American citizen. WikiLeaks, which he founded and publishes, is not a U.S.-based publication. The message the U.S. government is sending is clear: No matter who or where you are, if you expose the inner workings of empire you will be hunted down, kidnapped and brought to the United States to be tried as a spy. The extradition and trial of Assange will mean the end of public investigations by the press into the crimes of the ruling elites. It will cement into place a frightening corporate tyranny. Publications such as The New York Times and The Guardian, which devoted pages to the WikiLeaks revelations and later amplified and legitimized Washington’s carefully orchestrated character assassination of Assange, are no less panicked. This is the gravest assault on press freedom in my lifetime."

— Chris Hedges

DOPE BOARD CANDIDATES

MCA Board Of Directors Open For Nominations Through March 8

Amplify your voice in Mendocino County’s cannabis trade organization!

(Ukiah, CA - February 27, 2020) The MCA Board of Directors is excited to announce the opening of nominations to the Board starting today through March 8. Nominations must be accepted by March 13 and elections will be happening on March 16. At least two seats are available, including officer positions, for this nomination period. The Board is made up of diverse cannabis industry participants from throughout the county, including a range of cultivation and non-cultivation license holders.

Since the official launch of the MCA Membership Program at the end of 2019, we have worked together with the county and members of our community on important local issues, from presenting an Amnesty Pathway to supporting efforts for the securing of State Cannabis Equity Grant Program funding. This is a great opportunity to join a dedicated group of industry leaders in helping to support and promote the shared interests of our community.

Requirements for Consideration:

● Nominees interested in running for the Board of Directors must be current members of MCA in good standing, or agree to become members upon acceptance of a nomination.

● All Board members must be at least 21 years of age.

● 80% of Board members must reside in Mendocino County.

● At least one representative from each voting district will be seated on the board of MCA.

● 60% of Board members must be industry participants who actually “touch the plant,” and hold cannabis business licenses, or are in the process of applying for cannabis business licenses.

● Board members must attend 75% of board meetings, and provide notice in writing at least 48 hours in advance of missing a meeting, with exceptions for emergency circumstances.

● Board meetings are noticed at least 14 days in advance.

The general duties of the Board of Directors include advancing the mission of the organization, fundraising and financial planning, supporting staff and contractors, monitoring industry trends and creating strategic goals based on them, maintaining strategic oversight of all programs and operations, evaluating the organization’s progress and recruiting to ensure ongoing board membership and development.

Nominations may be made at this link: http://bit.ly/MCA-Board-Nomination-Form

The Mendocino Cannabis Alliance serves and promotes Mendocino County’s world-renowned cannabis cultivators and businesses through sustainable economic development, education and public policy initiatives.

Please email info@mendocannabis.com for more information.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, SPAIN’S PRIZED IBERIAN PIGS BEING RAISED IN CALIFORNIA

An Iberian pig, a breed native to Spain, at Encina Farms of Middletown (Lake County), the first and only commercial farm in California raising such pigs.

sfchronicle.com/food/article/For-the-first-time-Spain-s-prized-Iberian-pigs-14551576.php

A VERY HOT YEAR

by Bill McKibben

This year began with huge bushfires in southeastern Australia that drove one community after another into temporary exile, killed an estimated billion animals, and turned Canberra’s air into the dirtiest on the planet. The temperatures across the continent broke records — one day, the average high was above 107 degrees, and the humidity so low that forests simply exploded into flames. The photos of the disaster were like something out of Hieronymus Bosch, with crowds gathered on beaches under blood-red skies, wading into the water as their only refuge from the flames licking nearby. But such scenes are only a chaotic reminder of what is now happening every hour of every day. This year wouldn’t have begun in such a conflagration if 2019 hadn’t been an extremely hot year on our planet — the second-hottest on record, and the hottest without a big El Niño event to help boost temperatures. And we can expect those numbers to be eclipsed as the decade goes on. Indeed, in mid-February the temperature at the Argentine research station on the Antarctic Peninsula hit 65 degrees Fahrenheit, crushing the old record for the entire continent.

It is far too late to stop global warming, but these next ten years seem as if they may be our last chance to limit the chaos. If there’s good news, it’s that 2019 was also a hot year politically, with the largest mass demonstrations about climate change taking place around the world.

We learned a great deal about the current state of the climate system in December, thanks to the annual confluence of the two most important events in the climate calendar: the UN Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change, which met for the twenty-fifth time, this year in Madrid (it ended in a dispiriting semi-collapse), and the American Geophysical Union conference, which convened in San Francisco to listen to the newest data from researchers around the world. That latest news should help ground us as we enter this next, critical phase of the crisis. …

The warmth we’ve added to the atmosphere — the heat equivalent, each day, of 400,000 Hiroshima-sized bombs — is already producing truly dire effects, decades or even centuries ahead of schedule. We’ve lost more than half the summer sea ice in the Arctic; coral reefs have begun to collapse, convincing researchers that we’re likely to lose virtually all of them by mid-century; sea-level rise is accelerating; and the planet’s hydrologic cycle — the way water moves around the planet — has been seriously disrupted. Warmer air increases evaporation, thus drought in arid areas and as a side effect the fires raging in places like California and Australia. The air also holds more water vapor, which tends to drop back to earth in wet places, increasing the risk of flooding: America has recently experienced the rainiest twelve months in its recorded history.

— Bill McKibben, New York Review of Books

2020 IS CANCER CENTER’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR!

It all started in 1995, with a desk, a phone, and a chair. Today, the Cancer Resource Centers of Mendocino County serves over 500 cancer patients each year (541 in 2019) and has offices in Fort Bragg and Ukiah. The vision and perseverence of a group of friends and cancer survivors, led by CRC founder Sara O'Donnell, took root and grew into an established nonprofit that serves anyone in Mendocino County facing cancer: men and women of any age, with any stage or type of cancer, and all of the services are free of charge. There are many things to celebrate: the generosity of our supporters, the devotion of our volunteers, the compassion of our staff and the dedication of our board. We will toast the past and future of the Cancer Resource Centers at Pure Mendocino this year, but I want to extend a special thank you to everyone who helped make this little grassroots nonprofit, our local cancer resource center, the success it is today. To help celebrate our 25th anniversary year, our website has a completely fresh look. Check it out: crcmendocino.org. Thank you for being part of our vision that no one in Mendocino County should face cancer alone.

Karen Oslund

Executive Director

More info/events: crcmendocino.org

QUICK POLITICAL NOTE

by Marshall Newman

You have to admire President Donald Trump for one thing – he has learned from his buddy, Russian President Vladimir Putin. On February 27, President Trump put Vice President Mike Pence in charge of his administration’s response to the coronavirus in the United States, even as he downplayed its potential impact.

His strategy is obvious; give the responsibility to someone else and see how it goes. If the impact is limited, Trump will take most of the credit and claim wisdom in his choice of Vice President. If the coronavirus becomes a pandemic and a major problem in the United States, Trump will deny responsibility and throw Pence “under the bus,” as he has so many in his administration whose actions or words he couldn’t tolerate. The move provides Trump deniability, much like Putin’s use of proxies in the Middle East and elsewhere to do his dirty work has provided him the ability to disavow any involvement.

A sign President Harry Truman used to have on his desk in the Oval Office read, “The buck stops here.” Despite President Trump’s action in “passing the buck” and putting Pence in charge of coronavirus response, he is ultimately responsible.

THE CEMETERY CLUB

Mendocino Theatre Company presents the poignant comedy ‘The Cemetery Club’, 27 February 2020

The Mendocino Theatre Company's 2020 season opens March 5th with Ivan Menchell's “The Cemetery Club”, directed by veteran director Bob Cohen (“Rumors, Ideation”). This warm and poignant comedy about life's unexpected changes explores enduring friendships and the power of love and features a cast of local favorites: Janice Culliford, Raven Deerwater, Jan Saul, Lynn Sotos, and Debra Wagner.

The play focuses on three Jewish widows who meet once a month for tea before going to visit their husbands' graves. Ida (Sotos) is sweet-tempered and ready to begin a new life; Lucille (Culliford) is a feisty embodiment of the girl who just wants to have fun; and Doris (Wagner) can be priggish and judgmental. The three have been friends for years, but when Sam (Deerwater) the butcher enters the scene, a budding romance threatens to destroy the womens' friendship.

Set in Forest Hills, Queens, this story strikes very close to home for director Bob Cohen, who grew up in Queens in the 40s and 50s. "My older brother went to Forest Hills High School and our house was a block from Union Turnpike, which is mentioned in the script," he shared. "My dad's grave is in one of the Jewish cemeteries, Mount Hebron, which could easily be the one where the deceased husbands of the three Jewish women central to “The Cemetery Club” are buried."

Diane Larson (“They Don't Pay? We Won't Pay!, Bull in a China Shop”) has created a stunning set that takes the audience from a spacious Forest Hills home to the park-like setting of a cemetery. Lighting the show is San Francisco-based designer Jeff Rowlings (“Ideation, A Doll's House, Part 2”); sound is designed by Ken Krauss (“4000 Miles, A Doll's House, Part 2”); and the 80s-era costumes are by Summer Makovkin (“A Doll's House, Part 2”).

“The Cemetery Club” plays Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30 pm and select Sundays at 2:00 pm at the Mendocino Theatre Company, 45200 Little Lake Street in Mendocino, March 5 through April 12. The opening night party, which includes champagne, food, and the show, is on March 7. For tickets and information, go to mendocinotheatre.org or phone 707-937-4477. "You'll certainly laugh and you may cry," says director Cohen," but I promise you'll leave the theatre happy that you spent an evening with Ivan Menchell's delightful play."

ON LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY #2

Godwin’s law (or Godwin’s rule of Hitler analogies) is an Internet adage asserting that “As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1” that is, if an online discussion (regardless of topic or scope) goes on long enough, sooner or later someone will compare someone or something to Adolf Hitler or his deeds, the point at which effectively the discussion or thread often ends. Promulgated by the American attorney and author Mike Godwin in 1990, Godwin’s law originally referred specifically to Usenet newsgroup discussions. It is now applied to any threaded online discussion, such as Internet forums, chat rooms, and comment threads, as well as to speeches, articles, and other rhetoric where reductio ad Hitlerum occurs.

Godwin has stated that he introduced Godwin’s law in 1990 as an experiment in memetics.

In 2012, “Godwin’s law” became an entry in the third edition of the Oxford English Dictionary.

FOUND OBJECT