SMARTMETER OFF
Editor,
Recently PG&E initiated two versions of Robo calls to PG&E users, who either do not have a SmartMeter yet or on the SmartMeter Delay list. In the former situation, Willits folks received a call if they did not have a SmartMeter that threatened power interruption if a new Smartmeter was not installed. The PG&E installation phone number was provided. PG&E can not do this for two reasons. One the Opt Out provision is not completed and a Calif. Public Utility Commission (C-PUC) decision based on a family that perished using candles post power termination. Be sure if you do not want a SmartMeter to get on PG&E’s free delay list by calling their 800 number and being adamant about what you want. Ask for a confirmation number.
The second robo-call told delay list ratepayers that C-PUC had a final version of the inflammatory Opt Out proposal PG&E gave to C-PUC President Michael Peevey last Spring. The original version charged Opt Out ratepayer $130 per meter initiation fee (gas and electric) and $40.00 per meter per month and required that all houses had a radio off SmartMeter. The current Option comes after very heated testimony by many counties and cities, anti SmartMeter organizations and even C-PUC’s Division of Rate Payers, all concerned about the charge which most felt should be free. Further most did not want the radio off SmartMeter vying for the old Analog or non digital meters. This new Option cost $90.00 to initiate and $15.00 per month requires the radio off SmartMeter and allows low income families through CARE a no fee version. It costs as much as it does to have trash pickup service 3 visits a month. Most folks do not want the added charge in this economy. Furthermore, PG&E uses their technician to convert the SmartMeters whereas they used modestly trained Wellington to install SmartMeters. It is basically a means to kill the Opt Out option. What was also not addressed in this latest option is that communities could opt out together and sensitive folks would have special boundaries with no charge and no SmartMeters. The latter is crucial in high density situations. Mendocino County and Fort Bragg are against the Opt Out Charge.
A special update meeting on PG&E's "smart meter" program will be held Friday, December 9, 2011 from 1:30 pm -3:30 pm at the CPUC Building Golden Gate Room (Ground Level) 505 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco. This is an important place to have a final say.
Aside from the radio (wireless) concern, the digital impact is crucial as many sensitive folks remain ill with SmartMeter off situations. The cause is switching electrical transients from the digital power supply that create Dirty Electricity that pollutes all circuits in a house (resource S. Milham’s book “Dirty Electricity.”) This dirty energy is found in house circuits with any digital component plugged in. Dirty Electricity has been shown to cause cancer, and exhibit all the symptoms of wireless (sleep disorders, headaches, heart arrhythmia, and cognitive problems.) Unlike personal electronics, a SmartMeter can not be turned off.
PG&E is not listening nor is the so-called regulators C_PUC headed by once Executive of Con Edison, Commission President Michael Peevey. Complaints have been heavy regarding overcharges, damage to equipment including meter fires, concerns around privacy, trespass and health issues (over 45,000 in 2009.) Many folks have become Electrically Hyper Sensitive (EHS) and unable to be around AC power of any kind nor wireless. The symptoms can range from those above plus nose bleeds, and seizures. Many victims have left good jobs and homes searching for SmartMeter free and AC safe situation. With PG&E decision and the newness of this situation for the US both situations are difficult to secure. President Peevey has allowed two sick victims certified Analog meters. A Doctor at the Ft Bragg Health Clinic can test and provide victims with EHS assessments that could allow them to get the Analog meter. America has sustained a health blow via a lying industry (wireless) that falsifies scientific data and attempts to intimidate independent researchers (See Devra Davies book “Disconnect”.) That is why only recently the World Health Organization supported the fact that wireless radiation is a carcinogen in the same class as DDT. There are 3 replicated DNA damage studies based on low level radio Frequency (RF) radiation by respect scientists, whose studies were peer reviewed by other scientist in their field and allowed to publish. There are some 4000 independent studies pointing toward problems. Dr. Magda Havas of Trent University, Canada, did an eloquent small double blind study using the common DECT or remote phone as a RF source, and an electro cardiograph (EKG) machine to monitor heart rate. She marked the EKG chart every time she turned on or off the DECT phone with code and noted how subjects felt as well. Only a couple of the 24 subjects noted any changes, however the Cardiologist that received the blind study noted that 70% of the subjects were showing serious differences in their heart rate. One woman’s rate doubled with the DECT phone and she noted uncomfortable sensation. Another study combined epidemiological research that noted the percent of EHS in a variety of countries. Whereas many were between 5-10% now, a significant linear trend was found that points to 50% of the citizens in wireless environments being EHS by as early as 2017.
If this concerns you, you should contact CPUC with your concerns. We feel it is equally important to contact Governor Jerry Brown as he oversees CPUC. With the ongoing problems with Smartmeters and gas lines during the oversight of President Michael Peevey, we feel he should be removed from office. Furthermore CPUC is a very vulnerable and important Commission that should have the greatest democratic process. Continued industry paid junkets for the commissioners underscore a concern. Therefore we feel that C-PUC should have a rotating Presidency amongst its commission every 2-4 years. Your letters and calls will make a difference. If you agree, please take the time out of your busy schedule and insure democracy and safety are allowed. A model letter is available at:
www.refusesmartmetersmendo.blogspot.com .
Phone numbers for CPUC Commissioners: Mike Florio 415-703-1840, Catharine Sandoval 415-703-2593, President Michael Peevey 415-703-3703, Timothy Simon 415-703-1407; Mark Ferron 415-703-2782. public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov . Postal Service: CPUC Public Advisor, 505 Van Ness Avenue, Room 2103, San Francisco, CA 94102. Governor Jerry Brown
State Capital, Sacramento, CA 95814; 916-445-2841
Refuse Smart Meters Mendocino
Greg Krouse (refusesmartmeters@saber.net )
Philo
PS. Part of the damages caused by Smartmeters has to do with poor installations. Fires have started via arcing connections that have been widened to facilitate installation improperly, (One case at a Fire Chief’s home and more locally at Coddingtown.)
New SmartMeter users should watch for power interruption (indicative of arcing) in 220 volt circuits like electric ovens, stoves and heaters and interruption of GFI outlets (outlets found near sinks or outside for protection from shock.) Check for heat at the meter and shut off power and call PG&E if heat is present. Damage to anything electronic should be noted. Interference with wireless devices is possible. Residents should watch for sleep disorders, nightmares, inability to sleep, headaches, ringing in the ears and nose bleeds. Contact PG&E and EMF Safety Network www.emfsafetynetwork.org and TURN The Utility Reform Network (www.turn.com .) The health issues can happen adjacent to PG&E access points (antennae on poles.)
In the October Opt Out C-PUC meeting, SmartMeter industry representatives admitted that SmartMeters do “chirp” or communicate with other meters many times a minute. The total operation per day is 45 seconds, but as many as 20,000 pulses could occur. In a recent study using an EHS medical doctor, they discovered that constant RF had no impact, but pulses caused seizures, heart arrhythmia, cognitive problems and discomfort using low level RF. Further, industry reps admitted that the meters could use 2 watts of power whereas they previous said they only used 1. PG&E admission that 16,000 SmartMeters erred to larger charges per overheating in hot weather in Bakersfield is beyond the amount of error documented in PG&E Structure study that re-benched tested the meters at rate payers expense. TURN is pursuing this inaccuracy.
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SECRET SUPPORT
Editor,
Anderson Valley Adult School gives a big, heartfelt thanks to:
• The Boonville Hotel for hosting the lively book release and book signing celebration for the 10th Anniversary Edition of the Secrets of Salsa cookbook. They shared their kitchen for hours before the event with bags of tomatoes, chiles, onions, and more while salsa sisters Cyd Berstein, Linda Brennan, Gail Gester, and Benna Kolinsky worked with Iriana Camacho, mother and daughter, and Emilia Espinoza and daughters Alondra and Esmeralda who volunteered to make the some of the six new recipes for tasting. The Hotel also provided other savories, sweets, and beverages to complement the luscious new salsa recipes.
• Anderson Valley Brewing Company for the beer to warm the wet, chilly day.
• Tim Glidewell for his magical touch on the video camera and the six-minute showpiece on the salsa preparation and the event.
• Linda MacElwee and Benna Kolinsky for capturing the still shots on their cameras, the photos will soon be added to the new salsa website (www.secretsofsalsa.com ).
• All the local merchants who continue to sell the book--now with 31 outstanding, unique salsas.
With State economics as they are, Secrets of Salsa is now playing a greater and greater role in keeping our adult education classes open. Thank you so very much for your part in it. It is much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Barbara Goodell
Boonville
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HALF PAY
To the Editor:
I work for Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency and it is a sad day for all of Mendocino County.
The majority of the employees of SEIU #1021 work for HHSA. They help provide services to the neediest of the county residents. They help low income residents, they provide services and support for the elderly and they protect the children of this county.
A few years back they voluntarily took Voluntary Time Off (VTO) to help the county out with their budget. They have been recently going through a proposed budget deal with the BOS over the last year and, as most of you know they recently were given a 12.5 percent pay cut. They are the lowest paid of all county employees and this is how the Board of Supervisors (BOS) thanked them.
I know that things got intense between the BOS and the Union; however the BOS needed to act as leading adults in the community and not stoop to such a low level. This is going to affect most of the county businesses as spending will be down; this will happen as most staff will have a hard time making ends meet and some will even lose their homes.
Personally, between paying for part of my insurance and having my spouse on my insurance (as he lost his job 3 years ago), my overall taxes that are taken out, contributions to my retirement fund (yes I do contribute out of my earnings which equals 11.9%) and now the 12.5% pay cut — all this adds up for me personally is 48.5% less that I will take home. Most staff has the same losses as I do, more or less. The strange thing is that most of the pay at Health & Human Services (HHSA) is financed through state and federal monies, not the county. I am not sure how much this 12.5 percent pay cut for HHSA employees is really going to help out the county budget, but I do know it is not going to help the local economy and local businesses.
There are really a lot of folks that don't realize it yet that they got a pay cut too. I also know that there will be actually some HHSA employees that will be eligible and applying for the very same services that they help provide to the less fortunate citizens of the county.
I state again, this is indeed a sad day for all of Mendocino County. What kind of a world are they creating now? I will continue to go to work and hold my head high and help the less fortunate of this county, as I have personal integrity. I will try my hardest to keep smiling and support those that I supervise and my fellow workers. But I must admit, I have to personally dig deep. I will survive some way and I hope most employees of HHSA can do the same. Keep the faith everyone, because you are the heart and soul of Mendocino County. Remember to take care of yourselves, because you deserve it.
Pam St. Martin
Willits
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BANKING FOR DUMMIES
Editor,
Heidi is the proprietor of a bar in Detroit. She realizes that virtually all of her customers are unemployed alcoholics and, as such, can no longer afford to patronize her bar.
To solve this problem, she comes up with a new marketing plan that allows her customers to drink now, but pay later.
Heidi keeps track of the drinks consumed on a ledger (thereby granting the customers loans).
Word gets around about Heidi's “drink now, pay later” marketing strategy and, as a result, increasing numbers of customers flood into Heidi's bar. Soon she has the largest sales volume for any bar in Detroit.
By providing her customers freedom from immediate payment demands, Heidi gets no resistance when, at regular intervals, she substantially increases her prices for wine and beer, the most consumed beverages.
Consequently, Heidi's gross sales volume increases massively.
A young and dynamic vice-president at the local bank recognizes that these customer debts constitute valuable future assets and increases Heidi's borrowing limit.
He sees no reason for any undue concern because he has the debts of the unemployed alcoholics as collateral!
At the bank's corporate headquarters, expert traders figure a way to make huge commissions, and transform these customer loans into DRINKBONDS.
These “securities” then are bundled and traded on international securities markets.
Naive investors don't really understand that the securities being sold to them as “AAA Secured Bonds” really are debts of unemployed alcoholics. Nevertheless, the bond prices continuously climb — and the securities soon become the hottest-selling items for some of the nation's leading brokerage houses.
One day, even though the bond prices still are climbing, a risk manager at the original local bank decides that the time has come to demand payment on the debts incurred by the drinkers at Heidi's bar. He so informs Heidi.
Heidi then demands payment from her alcoholic patrons. But, being unemployed alcoholics — they cannot pay back their drinking debts.
Since Heidi cannot fulfill her loan obligations she is forced into bankruptcy. The bar closes and Heidi's 11 employees lose their jobs.
Overnight, DRINKBOND prices drop by 90%.
The collapsed bond asset value destroys the bank's liquidity and prevents it from issuing new loans, thus freezing credit and economic activity in the community.
The suppliers of Heidi's bar had granted her generous payment extensions and had invested their firms' pension funds in the BOND securities.
They find they are now faced with having to write off her bad debt and with losing over 90% of the presumed value of the bonds.
Her wine supplier also claims bankruptcy, closing the doors on a family business that had endured for three generations, her beer supplier is taken over by a competitor, who immediately closes the local plant and lays off 150 workers.
Fortunately though, the bank, the brokerage houses and their respective executives are saved and bailed out by a multibillion dollar no-strings attached cash infusion from the government.
The funds required for this bailout are obtained by new taxes levied on employed, middle-class, nondrinkers who have never been in Heidi's bar.
Now do you understand?
Irv Sutley
Glen Ellen
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MODERN DAY HUGO
Bruce,
RE: Extradition of Chris Diaz.
Where is Victor Hugo when we need him to write the Texas sequel to “Les Miserables”? When casting the part of Inspector Javert, he could use Brown County Sheriff Bobby ‘We'll find him and he'll be back in custody’ Grubb.
Miguel Lanigan
Clearlake Oaks
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REFLECTING FOOL
Dear Editor:
I received this via an email from an old friend in New Mexico:
I pointed at two old drunks sitting across from us in a bar and told my friend...
“That's us in ten years.”
He said : “That's a mirror…”
Best regards,
Bart Boyer
San Diego
PS. Yesterday, scared Europeans moved massive amounts of cash from euros to dollars. The stock market soared. On public radio somebody asked, "What's going on? The dollar's not on a very sound footing." The reply, "The dollar is the best horse in the glue factory." Good response, I thought.
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CUT THEIR SALARIES
To the Editor:
Of all the nerve. The county administration blaming people it just cut 12.5% off of their wages for the county's credit problem? That's nuts.
How about taking some responsibility yourself? The Union was ready to take a 10% cut months ago, but the county would never bargain in good faith. Their salaries are way more than most and they only took a 10% cut and imposed 12.5% on everyone else. And then to blame employees for their financial problems? How about looking in the mirror?
I agree that the BOS is in trouble and them and the CEO all need to get some real jobs. Why don't they try working for everyone else's wages? Am I angry or what?
Harvey Baumoel
Ukiah
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NO, VIRGINIA
Editor,
I'll never forget the look on my little sister's face the day I told her that there was no Santa Claus. I can't remember if I told her because it was time for her to know (I think she was about 5), or if I was just being cruel. I am, after all, a boy. Well, first there was shock, then the look of resignation as the logic became apparent. The quivering lower lip, the tears welling up in her eyes; it is almost exactly what happens when I tell people there is nobody running the asylum we call the United States of America, or for that matter, The World. More precisely, The Generals run this country, just like in most other corrupt and lawless countries in the world. Oh, we have laws all right, but they only apply to the unwashed, unelected, and un-wealthy. Our elected "representatives" couldn't reign in the War Machine even if they wanted to, and most of them don't want to.
But The Generals are only one of the cabals, cliques, and mafias that are actors on the world stage. The bankers are another, and many corporations have more power and money than whole nations. Then there's the Vatican, The Underworld, and a handful of true Plutocrats (the Queen of England makes 37 million dollars an hour, 365 days per year, on "Crown Investments." Take that, you paltry billionaires!). All of these entities act in their own best interests, sometimes competing, sometimes cooperating; whatever makes the most money. None, I repeat none of these operations have anything at all to do with the welfare of the common person. These entities are motivated entirely by self-interest and operate using belief systems that often are simply superstition. Still, a billion dollars can indeed move mountains, even if the theology if sketchy.
It's only natural that we look for leaders. But if by "leaders" you mean an intelligent, unbiased, imaginative, creative, and courageous person, then we certainly don't have any in the U. S. of A presently runing for office. The people currently elected to positions of power and impunity are mostly lawyers, with a sprinkling of "businessmen." A lawyer is someone who has trained their whole life to argue, not to actually do anything. A businessman is someone who makes money the old-fashioned way; steal it from the suppliers of raw their materials, and perpetrate what can only be called slave or "coolie" labor. That's how you get rich; not by inventing a “better mousetrap.”
So here it is, Kiddies; Obama ain't gonna save you. Neither will a “Third Party,” Big Business, The Churches, the United Nations, Angela Merkel, or the myriad NGO's claiming to Save The World but mostly save their salaries. We are born alone, we die alone. If we are extremely fortunate, we have friends and family to help us through this thing called life. That's pretty much all we got coming to us, American Idol The Lotto notwithstanding. Or should I say, almost everything you have been told about how The World works is incorrect, and if you believe electing a person like (pick one) is going to improve your life or The World, then you probably believe in Santa Claus. Which is why I killed him.
Joseph Thomas
San Francisco
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UPGRADING KZYX
Hola Editor,
Glad to hear that you're feeling better and am sending my wooden nickel's worth for you're consideration in AVA's letters to the Editor.
I read with interest Shiela Dawn's well written coverage of the KZYX November board meeting and was especially drawn to the 4th paragraph dealing with the beginning of the process to develop the station's, “Strategic Plan,” for the coming next half decade 2012-2017. One of the goals noted and a holdover from the 2001 plan was the need to “increase local support.”
I would like to suggest that the Board consider what will surely help further this goal and that is, simply increase community involvement. This is what KZYX has historically lacked, community involvement and a feeling that this station is by and about the folks who live here. No rocket fuel needed. More community involvement equals more community support and here's how:
1) Reinstate the very popular “4th Gate Gazette” show by Beth Bosk interviewing locals.
2) Begin a 5-10 minute daily news show in the afternoon interviewing people on the street on topics of interest to us locals.
3) Stop hiring station managers from out of town. We probably don't need someone from, say, New Jersey calling the shots if we want to be a local by the community run and loved station.
4) Please advise the hosts of Trading Times, a great show and community resource, to cease the divisive, rude behavior of correcting the callers in the use of ‘O’ versus Zeros. We've surely heard enough of that.
5) Involve the listening community and seek input on programming changes before they are put in place.
6) Try listening to KMUD for more clues about what great community radio is all about.
Thank you,
Gary T. Moraga
Spring Grove, Albion
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DELAYED CORRECTION
Dear Editor,
We would like to formally apologize to Christopher, Casie, our grandchildren 'D' and 'K' and to Alan Kiefer and his family for the misrepresentation of Casie's age and the printing of Alan's name in our email to the editor. After further inspection of the email that was sent, the errors were found and a correction email was sent out but must not have received before printing. Please forgive us. Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time.
Sincerely
The Parents of Christopher Diaz
Albion
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DON’T BLAME US, BLAME THEM
To The Editor:
I've been a County employee for nearly 20 years and I'm astounded at how our CEO and Board of Supervisors can complicate and contort even the very simplest story, encouraging misdirected blame and blatant misperception.
Take the current situation between the County and every one of its employee unions, especially the relationship with Service Employees International Union (SEIU): the real motivation for all staff salary cuts isn't the ongoing cost of employees at all (and especially not the assertiveness of the SEIU in fighting unfair salary cuts), it's the county's mistake with the Teeter plan. According to Carmel Angelo, SEIU is to blame for the county's BBB- credit rating but, basically (and here's the take away soundbite), the County got itself into serious debt by making a bad decision about the delinquent property taxes (not high personnel costs) and now the County wants to take money to fix the situation by depriving staff of fair pay for fair work.
That's really it in a nutshell.
They want to fix the Teeter mistake (a non-personnel related boo-boo) by lowering staff salaries. Here is a description of the Teeter story directly quoted from the County of Mendocino's 2010-11 recommended budget: "At the time Mendocino County opted into the Teeter plan, the property tax delinquency amounted to $5.4 million. This amount was paid out to all taxing jurisdictions with funds borrowed from the County treasury. The payments on this note were to be made from the collections of the delinquent taxes, along with the penalties and interest thereon. Instead, the delinquent tax revenues were applied to the County's general fund with periodic payments made when funds were available. This practice caused the balance owing on the Teeter obligation to increase over the years with the addition of each year's tax delinquency, although the interest on the balance has been paid annually. In recent years, the County has attempted to make accelerating payments on the Teeter obligation but the funds have not always been available to do so. The recent economical downturn also shows in the increased delinquency amounts added each year, especially in 2006-07 and 2007-08. The balance on the Teeter obligation as of June 30, 2009, is $11,243,824."
Okay, sounds to me like the Board of Supervisors spent money it didn't have two payout "to all taxing jurisdictions" (the money sure didn't go towards employee salaries and benefits) and now the County wants to pay that money back by taking money directly from the lowest paid county employees. Sort of like parents taking an expensive spa weekend, paying for it from their grocery budget and leaving their kids to go hungry.
Now SEIU and the County began participating in a mandated dispute resolution on December 1, facilitated by the Public Employees Relations Board. The union and the County had previously agreed to a 10% wage reduction by agreeing to a 36-hour workweek but the County later rescinded their support for this. A 12.5% pay cut (with no cut in work hours) has been unfairly imposed. Ms. Angelo says the union's lack of cooperation has caused the County's BBB- credit rating but, if you read the report, the Number 1 reason for the low rating is the Teeter plan.
C'mon Carmel and Board of Supervisors, stop wasting time and agree on the 36-hour workweek for SEIU. Pay us for the hours we work and let us make up our losses with our second jobs. In the private sector, if you work less, you get paid less. The public we serve will adjust to limited program hours, you will get the savings you need, some grant funded staff will lose salary unnecessarily, but that's the best scenario we've got going. Union employees have already agreed to sacrifice. Stop blaming SEIU for your low credit rating. Stop the nonsense. Stop wasting everybody's time and just do it.
Valerie Lawe Cannon
Ukiah
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WHO WROTE SHAKESPEARE?
Editor:
Was Shakespeare Elizabeth's son, lover, or both?
There is a new book out on the Shakespeare authorship question that declares that the author of the Shakespearean canon was Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford (1548-1604) and that he was both the son and the lover of Queen Elizabeth I of England.
The slender book is titled "Four Essays on the Shakespeare Authorship Question" and was written by me, Mike A'dair, of Willits.
The battle over who wrote the works of Shakespeare has been going on for 150 years. For a long time, Francis Bacon was thought to have been the author. Since 1920, Edward de Vere has been the favored candidate. My book explains why de Vere was the real author.
One of the main reasons that the Stratford man could not have been a real author is that the plays are always written from the point of view of the nobility. You look at the plays, all the leading characters and most of the supporting characters are always kings and dukes and princes. The people from the lower classes are almost always portrayed as simpletons: Dogberry, Mistress Quickly, Doll Tearsheet, the nurse in Romeo and Juliet, the gravediggers in Hamlet. Why was the author prejudiced against his own class?
It's not just the idea that the author had to have been from the nobility. There are so many things about Shakespeare, as we know Shakespeare, that don't add up. For example, it appears that he could barely write his name. And we know that his daughters were illiterate. As adults, they sign their names with an X. So how is it that the greatest poet in the English language never taught his daughters how to read?
Like the recently released movie 'Anonymous,' I contend that there was a political conspiracy at the heart of the Shakespeare mystery. Because of the lifelong protection and indulgence that de Vere received from Queen Elizabeth I and because of de Vere's signature which suggested that he was "Edward VII," I contend that de Vere was Elizabeth's son. Like other Oxfordian writers, I believe that Henry Wriothesley, the third Earl of Southampton, was the love child of de Vere and Elizabeth.
Understanding that Southampton was the "Fair Youth" to whom the sonnets were addressed and that Southampton was the son of de Vere and Elizabeth goes a long way toward finally explaining the sonnets. It explains why the poet regarded the young man as being both Royal and his son. He was both. He should have been king of England. Apparently they both should have been.
Henry Wriothesley, the third Earl of Southampton, took part in the Essex Rising, a failed rebellion against Queen Elizabeth and her government that took place on February 8, 1601. As a result of his involvement he was condemned to death and then his sentence was commuted to life in prison. Yet inexplicably he was released from the Tower of London on April 10, 1603, in very nearly the first royal act of James I of England who became King of England after the March 24, 1603 death of Queen Elizabeth.
"Four Essays on the Shakespeare Authorship Question" is, as the title suggests, comprised of four essays. The first essay poses 46 questions about the Stratford version of Shakespeare which suggest that there is "something rotten in the state of Denmark." The second essay offers 48 arguments supporting the theory that Edward de Vere was the real Shakespeare. The third essay explores de Vere's clandestine and sensational relationship to both Queen Elizabeth and Henry Wriothesley, the Third Earl of Southampton. The fourth essay is a brief, comprehensive biography of Shakespeare/de Vere based on 90 years of research and the astounding peeling away of successive layers of falsehood, guesses and disguise.
"Four Essays on the Shakespeare Authorship Question is available at Amazon.com and at the author's website: shakespeareauthorshipquestion.com. The information packed book retails for the modest price of $10.
Mike A'dair
Willits
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SLINGS & ARROWS
Dear Editor,
I got a good laugh from reading your item defending Tommy Wayne Kramer from the slings and arrows of outrageous liberals. There’s only room for one mouthy crank in Mendo and it should be you. You’re much funnier. Maybe you think little Tommy needs big brother Bruce to defend his hiney. And maybe he does. He really is tiresomely dull. Is the color of a grocery store worth writing about? Or the radical idea of letting his dog walk off-leash? I guess he fits in with all the other county boors. Long may they rave.
Anne Montgomery
Ukiah
PS. Certainly a gentleman must protect a lady from being badgered in public. But considering who she married, maybe she likes it.
Ed reply: Seriously, Anne, if Tommy Wayne and Judy Pruden didn't care about how things looked in Ukiah, would anyone? As for the inland liberals, surely you've noted that it's always the warm wonderfuls like Jim Mastin and Shalom Mitsu-CarWreck, not the other side, who come running with the censor's axe. I'm surprised that we don't have consensus on lunatics stalking the relatives of their perceived enemies, but with more loose than locked up anymore I guess I shouldn't be.
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ROUNDABOUT ROULETTE
Editor,
We had a great Thanksgiving celebration with family and friends here at Rancho Puerco, home of the Oklahoma Razorbacks on the south slope of Duncan Peak west of Hopland.
Our family wild turkey recipe which has finally evolved to perfection involves soaking the bird in Wild Turkey whiskey for 24 hours then slowly braising it in a wet clay pot.
I wisely stayed ranch-bound for the entire Thanksgrabbing weekend, avoiding the three day "Bleak Friday" greed stampede, and drove to the Mendo Coast on "Blah Monday" for the mushroom walk at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. It's a boom year for wild mushrooms with significant blooms of Amanita phalloides (Death Cap), Amanita ocreata (Death Angel) and boletus satanas (Satan's boletus) — a very bad omen.
On the way to Fort Bragg after the walk, I played roulette on the new Simpson Lane/Highway 1 roundabout, circling the thing over and over in my 1943 Tatra reaching over 60 mph before I figured out how to exit. It was fun though. The roundabout neighborhood is already selling tickets for a New Year's Eve party when crowds can watch the local drunks playing demolition derby roundabout roulette.
Fort Bragg seemed abandoned since the SWAT team shopping mobs blew their wads during the Bleak Friday weekend blitz. It's sad to see so many vacant stores, particularly on North Franklin Street where the city recently spent big bucks on "streetscaping." Even the primo Fort Bragg Bakery and Restaurant is closed. The bread is now only available in stores. Is it the downer economy or the surging gang activity that's keeping tourists away?
The only lively place downtown was the Headlands Cafe which caters primarily to the Occupy Fort Bragg dude and dudette travelers who are always in abundance.
At the northwest corner of the Laurel Street/Highway 1 intersection there is a shocking display of seasonal horseplay in the front window of the Skunk Depot Mall where an inflatable Bad Santa is being fondled and lapdanced by a female reindeer. It's a "dynamic" display, not suitable for children. HO HO HO! indeed.
I planned a wet-my-whistle stop at the North Coast Brewery but it was closed for "remodeling" according to a yellow ABC notice informing the public of a "change in stock ownership." Has the brewery sold out to corporate Big Booze? I hope not. That's what killed the Hopland Brewery.
My spirits lifted at the site of Cafe One — my favorite Coast restaurant — which was open as usual with a small crowd of jovial regular customers.
Another ominous coast sellout occurred recently when legendary KMFB radio was sold to some dudes from Houston. Their new robo format is called "adult contemporary greatest hits" which translates to simpy, mellow, stoner friendly Muzak. Appropriately enough, the new station is called "KUNK, The Skunk." I miss the good old days at KMFB, particularly the Chuck Savage "blast from the past" show. KMFB was the only genuine community radio station in Mendopia. Philo's KZYX claims the title but it's a narrowcasting entertainment outlet for a small elite segment of the local population. It's audio waterboarding. KMFB R.I.P.
On a positive note, "The Skunk" is keeping the versatile, entertaining Lindy Peters — the last "real" DJ — including his sportscasts. He will eventually have to go though as KUNK morphs into a Clear Channel style robo-radio station with no local involvement.
Heading south on Highway 1 past the now abandoned former Georgia-Pacific mill site I was gloomed out by the possibility that it may eventually be occupied by an oil refinery and shipping facility when offshore oil drilling is allowed after the Republican coup in 2012. The site is currently owned by right-wing wackos from Kansas — the snorting Koch brothers — who are waiting for their chance after the election when the offshore oil drilling moratorium will be lifted.
Even if Obummer is reelected, chances are good that offshore oil drilling will be allowed off the north coast to "assure our energy independence in a hostile world." It's a matter of national security.
Happy holidays! It's going to be a Bad Santa Christmas.
Bottoms up!
Joe Don Mooney
Hopland
PS. The Occupy Hopland movement's Bleak Friday attempt to disrupt commerce ended in a drunken debauch at the Hopland Brewery.
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