Mendocino County Today: Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023

Becoming Sunny | Chili Champs | Property Tax | Great Moment | Ward Selling | 2am Club | Grange Events | Conceived Names | Cubbison Complaint | Piano Concert | Shattuck Endorsement | Crows | Thanksgiving Dinner | Blind Farmer | On Suicide | Human Library | Ed Notes | Pozole Dinner | Going Down | On Death | Forbes Field | Beerfest Tickets | Yesterday's Catch | Theodore Penland | Porn Control | Lethal Twin | Wrecking Ball | Call Jared | Help Cat | Huff Backtracks | Strongest Man | Vote Apology | Partial Dip | Ukraine | Marshall Marines | Gaza | Bombing Bernie | Unapologetic Zionist | Wall Reconsidered | Four Wars | Resort Crowd

SHOWERS CONTINUE with embedded cells appearing offshore. Occasional lightning, heavy downpours and possibly even waterspouts remain a threat to near coastal areas through the afternoon. Mild weather and clear skies are expected tomorrow through Thursday morning. (NWS)

STEPHEN DUNLAP (Fort Bragg): Yesterday's 1:30pm downpour brought me .50" then evening showers another .05". While it was pouring in Ft. Bragg it was sunny in Mendocino. On the coast this morning I have 46F under clear skies. We might see a shower early this morning then a bit windy today but dry until later Thursday & Friday morning. A brisk & clear weekend is forecast then maybe more rain next week.

RAINFALL (past 24 hours): Leggett 1.04" - Covelo 0.45" - Willits 0.26" - Hopland 0.26" - Laytonville 0.23" - Boonville 0.20" - Yorkville 0.20" - Mendocino 0.19" - Ukiah 0.13"

SENIOR CENTER CHILI COOK-OFF A HIT

by Renee Lee

Be careful what you wish for! Attendance at the Anderson Valley Senior Center’s (AVSC) Chili Cook Off exceeded expectations by far! The building was bursting at the seams with folks, spoon in hand, eager to sample eleven varieties of chilis entered by our local contestants. Following the tasting/judging, they were then served a bowl of chili with cole slaw, corn bread, and all the fixin’s prepared by AVSC’s very own cook, Bob Vaughan. Many people raved so much about Bob’s chili that they said he should’ve entered the competition too. Fal Allen, manned the bar with local wine, beer and blended margaritas! The tastings ended on a sweet note as guests were treated with mouth-watering brownies baked by Elizabeth Wyant and Jo Athey. 

Angus Fraser’s chili, featuring venison, took top honors by placing him first in the competition. He received $75 cash, a custom-made apron, first place spoon and bragging rights for a year. Jay Newcomer’s chili served with ribs on the side placed second and received a second place spoon and $50. Janet Lombard’s classic chili placed third. She received $25 and a third place spoon. We appreciate the other great chilis entered by Jo Athey, Wynne Nord (2), Saffron Fraser, Julie Winchester, Judy Long, Joe Petelle, and Jennifer Grieco.

The event was such a success that we think we’ll make it an annual event! 

Thank you to AVSC Board members (you know who you are!) for their tireless work, our wonderful contestants, and Violet, Ericha and Rhonda from Savings Bank of Mendocino County (Mendocino Branch) for volunteering. Special thanks to Savings Bank of Mendocino County and Larry Liebig for their support and sponsorship. See you next year!

PS. If you didn’t get a chance to order your holiday See’s Candy at the Chili Cook Off, please contact Renée at 707-895-3609 or avseniorcenter@pacific.net Please order by November 30th for December 9th delivery at the Unity Club’s Holiday Bazaar!

A PROPERTY TAX ‘ERROR’

AVA

I am working on a piece for the Mendocino Voice about the property tax bill error. I have had my property tax bill on the table here for a week now, wondering what to do with it Has anybody out there heard anything more? I have been been calling for a week trying to get basic public info and just CCd Supervisor Dan Gjerde. The press release the county sent out didn't have enough information for the taxpayer to know what to do next. I have been calling and emailing for a week. I also filed a CPRA request last week on the county portal.

Here is my request. You can see the original press release at the end. Am I right to be bemused or should I just be befuddled?

My request:

The Mendocino County Tax collector's office recently sent out a correction. The correction said there were errors in some of our tax bills. The press release lacked basic information I need. Can I have more information ASAP?

Please describe the error so that taxpayers can have basic information. When was it made? By what person? What was the error? Please describe the error. Was it an error in numbers? Could my entire tax bill be off and I need to wait for the corrected version? Is the information online correct? Can I go to the county website and pay the amount specified?

If this error was made by a contractor as the press release seems to indicate, please provide the name of the contractor. How much is this contractor being paid? What other services does the contractor provide to the county for that amount?

How many total tax bills were mailed out at the time of the mistake? For how many different properties? If the county knows this next answer please provide, on how many was the mistake included?

The press release references that this happened to people with “more than one notice.” What is a notice? Is this a reference to the two tax bills we all get every fiscal year? Or tax bills sent to two addresses such as with partner owners? Or does this mean this mistake only happened to people with two properties or more? Or?

Was this error made before or after the removal of Chamise Cubbison? Did that removal play any role in the mistake?

The deadline is fast approaching. Will I still be charged late fees this year if I am unable to figure out how much to pay? What has been done to remedy this?

Original press release:

“It has come to our attention, taxpayers with more than one notice, could see errors on the tax bills, due to a printing error with the contracted vendor.

The corrected tax bills will be prepared and sent to you as soon as possible. To avoid any confusion, we kindly request you use the reprinted bill when sending in your payment.

We understand that errors like these can be inconvenient, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

If you have any questions or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Tax Collector’s office at (707) 234-6875.”

So in conclusion, can I pay my tax bill now or not? A story will be coming..hopefully soon enough for us to pay our bills on time.

Frank Hartzell

Fort Bragg

NATIONAL COMPANY TO BUY WILLITS GARBAGE HAULER

by Barbara O’Reardon

Solid Wastes of Willits owner Jerry Ward informed the Brooktrails Township board at their October 24 meeting that a national garbage outfit was buying out his local company.

The Brooktrails Community Services District received a notification letter from SWOW advising of Ward’s intention to sell to Waste Connections, Inc. Staff is in the preliminary stages of gathering information on the Brooktrails franchise agreement with SWOW to bring forward its transfer to the board for consideration.

Brooktrails General Manager Tamara Alaniz said: “This is something that is coming before you tonight as an informational, introductory item. SWOW is selling to WCI, Inc., and WCI would like to assume the franchise agreement with Brooktrails.

“The other company seems to be established,” Alaniz said. “Its subsidiaries are numerous and are throughout other areas. In the franchise agreement there are specific terms that have to be provided to us so that we can make the transfer to another franchisee. This is not asking for action on this tonight.”

Alaniz said her office had been working with Ward and WCI, and she expected to bring a new franchise agreement to the next meeting. “Representatives from WCI will be here to answer questions at the meeting,” she said.

Jerry Ward stepped to the podium and answered the question posed by Director Ralph Santos, “Where is WCI, Inc. located?” Ward said: “WCI is a New York Stock Exchange company, and their main headquarters is in Houston, Texas. They operate under different names throughout; they use a centralized management and they keep the names local. They bought out the Ukiah operator about a year and a half ago and the name is ‘Waste Solutions.’

“They bid on the contract with the county when the City of Fort Bragg and the surrounding area was up for bid and I bid on it too,” Ward said, “but I wasn’t successful…. Waste Connections is in all 50 states. They just bought out my friend in St. Helena who is retired, too. They now control Lake County, and they operate in areas of the Bay Area as well. 

“When they take over SWOW they will be handling the whole county. It will be called ‘Redwood Waste Solutions,’ but it is a Waste Connections company. 

“It’s coming down to just large companies now,” Ward continued. “The little ma and pa companies are having difficult times. It’s with a heavy heart that I’ve had to do this. I really didn’t want to sell but it’s just getting more and more difficult for me.

“I’m sort of being pushed out because of interest rates. Right now interest rates are 8.6%, and a year and a half ago they were 4.2%. That’s $15,000 to $16,000 more per month! Workers’ comp doubled, and fuel’s back up. I need six trucks to be replaced next year because of carbon compliance. Those are $300,000 trucks.

“I just don’t have the wherewithal to do those kinds of things. If I did I wouldn’t be selling. It’s just time, and a lot of my family are saying, “It’s time. I hate to give it up but I have four grandkids too. It’s a new time in my life. 

“All of the employees will be rehired, at the same rates and same benefits. And, they are promising brand new trucks.”

Director Ed Horrick voiced the appreciation of the board, saying, “Jerry, we just want to thank you for the many years of excellent service.”

Ward responded: “I appreciate all of the compliments that I’ve received from this board as well as from the Willits City Council. And, we’ve had a lot of really good customers.

“Hopefully, Waste Connections can go up a notch higher, and we will have better equipment,” Ward said. “I’ve emphasized to them that we have a good reputation here, and I want that to continue. They are not buying the corporation. They are buying the assets. They do want the name and my Skunk.” That mention of the SWOW logo brought solid laughter from all in the room.

Editor’s Note: More on the October 24 Brooktrails meeting to come in next week’s Willits Weekly. Also: Jerry Ward spoke to the Willits City Council last week, at their October 25 meeting, to give them the news about the new owner who wants to continue garbage services for the City of Willits. Waste Connections is already picking up garbage in the 95490 area outside city limits.

(Courtesy, the Willits Weekly)

MILL VALLEY! (The last authentic place left in the town)

AV GRANGE EVENTS;

November Pancake Breakfast, this Sunday the 12th, the 2nd Sunday of November 8:30-11:00

All the fixin's plus wonderful live music of the Deep End Woogies. So boogie on down.

Note that following the November breakfast there is a Memorial for Annie Stenerson from 1-4. We think she would appreciate the combination. In her honor wear something red to grace the occasion.

* * *

December Pancake Breakfast: 

Special Note: There is a date change to the December Pancake Breakfast

Sunday, December 3rd we'll be flippin' the flapjacks. Mark your calendars.

The date change is needed to celebrate the holiday season with the entire Community, see below

Sunday December 10th will be the Annual Foodshed and Anderson Valley Grange Holiday Dinner.

The whole valley is invited. It’s free, with turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes provided. If you are able to bring a side dish please do. This has become a display of all manner of potluck delights provided by YOU. It is quite a display of home culinary skills.

Many volunteers are needed and soon. An automatic signup sheet will be posted soon via the Grange email and Foodshed email, or if you'd like to help out but are digitally compromised, give Capt Rainbow a call, 707/472-9189.

Laura Baynham, Anderson Valley Grange #669 Post Box 363 Philo, CA 95466 707-684-9340

BETSY CAWN: Did the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors ignore this completely, by allowing DA Eyster to “present” his complaint about Cubbison in the “Public Comment” section of their meeting?

“A 24-hour notice to an employee is required before considering specific compaints or charges against the employee.

“Before conducting any closed session to hear specific complaints or charges brought against an employee, the affected employee must be delivered written notice of his or her right to have the complaints or charges heard in open session at least twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting. Failure to delivery the notice renders any disciplinary or other action ‘null and void.’ This rule does not apply to employee performance evaluations. This rule also does not apply to meetings to decide whether the complaint or charge would justify disciplinary action, as opposed to an evidentiary hearing to consider the complaint or charge.

“(Government Code §54957; Kolter v. Commission of Professional Competence of Los Angeles Unified School District (2009) 170 CalApp.4th 1346; Moreno v. City of King (2005) 127 Cal.App.4th 17; Morrison v. Housing Authority of Los Angeles (2003) 107 Cal.App.4th 860; Duval v. Board of Trustees of Coalinga-Huron Unified School District (2001) 93 Cal.App.4th 902; Bell v. Vista Unified School District (2000) 82 Cal.App.4th 672; Bollinger v. San Diego Civil Service Commission (1999) 71 CalApp.4th 568; Furtado v. Sierra Community College (1998) 68 Cal.App.4th 876.)”

From “The Brown Act Handbook,” prepared by Lozano Smith 2019

[https://www.ttusd.org/cms/lib/CA01902804/Centricity/Domain/38/BrownActHandbook2019%20-%20Lozano.pdf]

OPUS CONCERT THIS SUNDAY, award winning pianist!

Dr. Konrad Binienda, 25th International Chopin Competition winner to visit the Mendocino Coast and Opus Chamber Music Series on Sunday November 12th at 3 PM, Preston Hall. Dr. Binienda will focus on works of F. Chopin and also present I. Paderewski and one of his own compositions. In his program, Dr. Binienda will present the historical background of F. Chopin’s works and discuss the impact of F. Chopin’s genius on the subsequent generations of musicians.

For tickets go to: symphonyoftheredwoods-bloom.kindful.com/e/konrad-binienda-pianist and to find out more about Dr. Binienda: konradbinienda.net

Pumkin pie, to keep with Opus tradition for our November concert, will be available before the concert and at intermission in addition to cookies, tea and coffee. Yum.

More information at symphonyoftheredwood.org 707-964-0898

NO SPECIAL INTERESTS HERE

Dear Editor,

I met with John Pinches, former 3rd District Supervisor, on Friday and went over the County budget. He stated, “It's a mess.”

I am honored that he has given his endorsement to my campaign for 1st District Supervisor. 

I was not asked by anyone or any organization to run for this office. I have been committed to helping our County and spending my time for the last several years learning and speaking out against wasteful spending, the direction of the County, etc. I consider myself a watchdog of the People's money.

I will not be seeking endorsement from any special interests, organizations, unions, etc., as I will not be beholden to any interest other than the People of Mendocino County. I feel that this is a huge problem with our Country and politics that accept endorsements/money in return for favorable votes and outcomes. I am endorsed by the People, like Pete Bushby.

FREE THANKSGIVING COMMUNITY DINNER

For the 27th year, the Fort Bragg Presbyterian Church will host the annual free Community Thanksgiving Dinner for North Coasters, on Thursday, November 23.

A complete Thanksgiving dinner: turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, dinner roll, pumpkin pie, and beverage is available for delivery to your home, between Westport and Albion, beginning at 10 a.m.; curbside pickup at the church, at 367 S. Sanderson Way in Fort Bragg, from 11:00 to 12:30; or in-person dining at the church, at either 1:00 or 2:30, on Thanksgiving Day. Reservations, which are needed for all three options, can be made online, at

https://fbpchurch.org/2023-community-thanksgiving-dinner/,

or by calling the church office, at 707-964-2316, ext. 2. Reservations are required by end of day Tuesday, November 21!

Volunteers are needed throughout Thanksgiving week for a variety of tasks.

Sign up at https://fbpchurch.org/2023-community-thanksgiving-dinner/.

Donations of “Dessert Dollars” can be made in person at Harvest Market, in Fort Bragg, and at Mendosa’s, in Mendocino, as well as online at A Sweet Affair Patisserie’s website (www.ASweetAffairPatisserie.com). For more information, visit the Fort Bragg Presbyterian Church’s Community Thanksgiving Dinner webpage (https://fbpchurch.org/2023-community-thanksgiving-dinner/).

Monetary donations are, of course, welcome; they help with the various costs of providing the many meals to our coastal community. 

You can donate online (click on the “Give Now” button on the event webpage, at https://fbpchurch.org/2023-community-thanksgiving-dinner/), mail your donation to the church, or drop your donation in the mail slot to the left of the church front door.

Thank you in advance for your generous support!

To spread the word, please:

Pass this message along to anyone you think might want to receive a meal, volunteer or donate.

Forward this email to your local mailing list.

Share the event on your social media account.

Display the event poster online or on a wall. (Email me to request a poster PDF for printing or online posting.)

Monica Steinisch <monicast@earthlink.net

SHERIFF KENDALL ON SUICIDE: I’m seeing a lot of arguments of both sides of the suicide coin here. But is anyone truly looking at both sides or simply voicing an opinion they haven’t researched?

I’ve seen more suicide than I want to remember. A few have been folks who were suffering immensely and it was a way to end their suffering. I may not agree with this due to my upbringing however I always understood it and I prayed they found peace and comfort.

Sadly the vast majority of suicides that will always haunt me were folks who had a problem that seemed completely out of their control. Mostly these were young people, teens to late 20’s. Many of the problems they were facing wouldn’t make a hill of beans to most folks my age. Many were people who got into a very low spot without the years under their belts to realize the peaks and valleys will always be here, we just have to move through the low spots to get back into the place we should be.

Young folks who had a break up not realizing their world wasn’t truly ending it just feels like it is. People who allowed their stress and unhappiness to consume them. And some folks who simply didn’t have a friend who cheered them up or helped them through the hard times.

Many of these folks didn’t have the tools to get through the low spots. Without some help and support they made a decision that devastated everyone around them. Anyone of us who has raised children through their teenage and hormonal years has had to do a lot of coaching on these topics. We all pray these kids will gain the experience and resiliency to continue on after we are gone.

Years ago I read an article where a researcher spoke with people who had survived a jump off of the Golden Gate Bridge. I believe every single one of them regretted this decision the moment they stepped off of the bridge deck.

Several years ago The California end of life option act was enacted. This law allows a terminally-ill adult, California resident to request a drug from his or her physician that will end his or her life. I don’t know if I agree or disagree with this but it is the law.

I do know many families who have been devastated due to the suicide of a family member. Many of these victims were teens or very young adults.

So as always the truth for me will always be somewhere in the middle.

Just my 2 cents. Take it for what it’s worth.

ED NOTES

JAYNE THOMAS WRITES: Baseball has passed you by, Bruce? With your long rich history of the game? Michael and I were so angry when they started video replays years ago but after not long, saw that it was a good addition. You have to keep up with technology that’s helpful. So we relaxed. 

And we again were upset with the changes this past year; but again…the no-shift rule is good, the limits on the throws to first base good, larger bases is good, the pitch clock…ok. And players like the changes which to me is more important than that fans agree. The rules were tested in the minors at 8,000 games."

We watched the Gold Gloves awards and were amazed as always at the athleticism and grace of the players. Better than ballet or gymnastics! There is no other sport like this, Bruce. You know that.

It’s the most beautiful game in the world. Watch the Gold Glove awards and come on back! 

LAST TIME I tuned in a game, a guy stole second, sliding head first. It occurred to me that something about the play didn't look right, and then a friend explained they're using gloves with really long fingers, the better to reach the base with before the throw arrives. Long finger base-running gloves, bigger bases, pitch counts etc and so on. I'm done, except for the documentaries on the game that used to be. 

MS ADDS: They haven’t lost me, yet. I’m still a Giants fan, but nowhere near the fan I was back in 1962 when I was crushed when Bobby Richardson caught Willie McCovey’s would-be winning liner at first at the end of the World Series. I watched quite a few Giants games this year, but mainly off DVR so I skipped through a lot of the routine stuff. When the action is good, it’s good. Watching Brandon Crawford field a tough grounder to his right and then laser it over to first is always worth watching, but he’s retiring. But I prefer the less flashy stuff. My absolute favorite play in Giants history was in the 2012 World Series against Detroit when Gregor Blanco’s bunt dribbled down the third base line and somehow stayed fair as Miguel Cabrera and the half the Tiger infield stood around watching it roll, hoping in vain that it would go foul. It finally stopped a couple of inches from the line and the ump theatrically declared it a fair ball! Everybody was safe! Pure, simple, quiet yet thrilling baseball. 

I thought the Atlanta Braves had an impressive lineup this year — they made mincemeat of the Giants — but they lost early in the playoffs. The Giants only had one reliable hitter this year, but he was playing with an injury. Their new rookie catcher Patrick Bailey has promise. There were some other occasional bright spots. I don’t like reliever games at all. I think Farhan Zaidi is a lousy Ops President. And the new GM, Pete Putila comes from the formerly (?) cheating Astros. I thought Zaidi’s abrupt firing of Gabe Kapler, who was a decent manager with a preference for small ball who was dealing with too many freakish injuries, three days before the season ended was very chickenshit. The jury’s out on Bob Melvin. (I’m skeptical.) I don’t like the extra-innings pre-placement of a runner on second; that’s just not baseball. I don’t mind instant replay and call challenges, as long as they don’t take forever. My gripe about instant replay, though, is it tames the game down too much; you seldom get colorful arguing with the umps anymore which used to be a big part of the enjoyment of the game. Where are the spluttering Sparky Andersons, the Tommy Lasordas, the Bobby Coxes…? I don’t see where the new rules and all the analytics make the game any better. The newest rules seem to be designed to encourage a little more base-running and a somewhat faster pace, but I don’t think they’ll make much difference, so why bother? These new billionaire owners and their hired money-managers don’t have any business tinkering with these wonderful old traditions. And giving the umps more tools to nitpick the play with isn’t my idea of an improvement. 

AV UNIFIED’S FREE POZOLE DINNER

Dear Anderson Valley Community,

Mark your calendars and make a reservation to have your family join us for a FREE Pozole Dinner on Tuesday, November 28 from 5:00-7:00 to kick off our “Who is Anderson Valley” exhibition. Ms. Terri Rhoades is cooking the soup in the cafeteria and will serve from 5:00-6:00 while supplies last. Then wander the cafeteria and the high school hallway and view the student work. Most importantly enjoy some conversation and fellowship with your school family. The event is FREE but reservations are required. Please call Miss Celeste or Miss Maribel at 707) 895-3496. If you would like to bring a canned food item for the class competition that would be most welcome. All donations benefit our local food bank.

Start the holidays with a sense of community and join our school family dinner! Call today for your reservations!

Sincerely yours

Louise Simson

Superintendent

DEATH IN A SMALL PLACE 

There is no real way to deal with everything we lose. — Joan Didion

On a Saturday morning almost forty years ago, I was walking up the Manchester Road when Larry Parsons, the famous blind winemaker whose bottles featured braille labels, drove past in a little red car, his blonde daughter at the wheel. I waved, then wondered why I'd waved at a blind man. It was the last time I would see him because an hour later he would be dead.

I continued on up the hill, looking over to catch a glimpse of Buck Clark, the Valley's hardest working senior citizen, spotting him just as he took a whack at a hunk of redwood with his axe. Buck fashioned the best fence posts in Mendocino County, maybe in all of California. 

I thought of my long time neighbor, Denver Langley, who had collapsed and died a few days earlier. Denver was a good neighbor, always generous with the bounty of his annual garden, an unhesitating lender of tools, willing helper with countless numbers of household malfunctions. I thought of the many ways Buck Clark and Denver Langley were alike, rural Southerners who grew up the old-fashioned way, beginning with hard physical adult labor at age twelve or so and continuing to work hard long past the age when most people have retired to soft chairs in front of their television sets. I thought again of how diverse and interesting a place Anderson Valley is with its unusual sociological mix in an increasingly class-segregated time. Anderson Valley's people run the gamut. There is none of the dreary sameness of the suburbs here.

Denver and I bought our places on Anderson Valley Way at about the same time. He'd bought eight acres carved out of one of Archie Schoenahl's old orchards. I managed to latch onto the place next door, a two bedroom stucco job on a well-organized half acre complete with chicken coop and an asparagus bed, that had belonged to a family named Ridgeway. I got my place for a thousand bucks down. For a hundred thousand cash, I could have bought ten Boonville properties at the time. More astute buyers were buying forty beautiful acres on watery hilltops for about the same money I'd paid for my half-acre. Those days are long gone. 

Denver Langley, a genuine Oakie from Muskogee, Oklahoma, went right to work building his house. He helped me add onto my place. Denver told me one day how “some rich doctor” had driven right up to his door and told him to name a price for his property. The doctor was standing there with his checkbook, ready to buy in. I'd often think to myself, here I am in a two bedroom stucco house in a place called Boonville. First guy with a check to show up here and I'm gone to Indonesia. But Denver's son Mike and Mike's wife Patty soon became my good friends. I began to like it on Anderson Valley Way, a peaceful stretch of the old highway to the Mendocino Coast. 

Mike Langley told me a story of how a puzzled visiting Muskogee uncle of his had asked of my place next door, “Say, Mike, what exactly is that place over at the end of your orchard there. They've got every darn thing over there — hippies, n-words, Jews, Chinamen and every once in a while a big ol' hippie runs out and hollers at all of 'em.” I liked that description so much I thought of using it on my letterhead.

So we all settled in here on our pieces of Boonville, different people from wildly different places, geographically and psychologically. A neighborhood: The Billy Owens, the Paul Tituses, the Tony Summits, the Tom Millers, all of the Langleys, the Masons, the Gees, and the Carolyn Eigenmans.

I last saw Denver when he brought his granddaughter over for a little extra reading with my daughter, Jessica. And then he was gone. 

Another kind and gentle man preceded Denver in death by two days; Bill Paula, the kind of guy about whom you've never heard a harsh word or cynical assessment. As the ripples in the Anderson Valley pond spread from these deaths, deaths that had come after long and productive lives, and in the natural order of things, it seemed those that followed were startling, unfair.

One wasn't a death, but a near miss, the details of it still unknown. Javier Estrada, sometimes Javier Cuevas, I was never sure which, shot a man in the stomach in downtown Boonville.

At approximately 11 p.m. Thursday night, two small groups of Male Mexican Adults, “MMA's,” in cop shorthand of the time, walked past each other in front of the Boonville Lodge. There was a brief exchange of words or, as Deputy Miller put it, “pure dumb macho,” when Javier pulled a .45 caliber pistol out of his belt and shot Martin Madrigal in the stomach. Ordinarily you don't survive a gut shot from a gun that powerful, but Madrigal, minus a good part of his internal mechanisms, survived. Javier took off in his spiffy new sports car up the Greenwood Road, heading west. The car was found wrecked near the Fashauer Ranch several hours after the shooting, a big slice of flesh and lots of blood on the driver's seat and dashboard. Javier had managed to make it briefly home to his home on Anderson Valley Way for some hasty adioses, and hasn't been seen since.

I had known Javier for some time. His little brothers Carlos and Saul often visited my house, pleasant and well-mannered little guys. The morning after his older brother was being sought for his terrible crime, one little brother appeared to ask me if I had a tape of the movie, ‘Scarface.’ I had to laugh and say No.

Javier was a handsome young man of about twenty. He worked for me once for several weeks, as part of my periodic efforts to establish a reasonable semblance of order among the weeds that seem to be taking over my place. We became friends after a fashion. Over cokes and coffee we would hurl ourselves at the language barrier, seldom surmounting it.

When I learned that Javier had shot an acquaintance, maybe even a friend, in front of the Boonville Lodge, I was surprised. It seemed beyond the possibilities of his character, at least what I had observed of it. But I'd noticed that he'd stopped working and, without any visible means of support, appeared suddenly in his expensive little car.

It is said that Larry Parsons spent his final hours enjoying the company of a new lady friend in his rented home on Manchester Road. Larry had separated from his wife, Nikki, leaving her and his winery at the top of the Holmes Ranch for a rented house on the Manchester Road. Dale Campbell, a Boonville realtor, was the property agent. Piling irony upon coincidence, Campbell was himself to die the same afternoon Larry died in a car crash. Campbell was carried off from a massive heart attack.

Early Saturday morning, Larry and his new lady friend, Christy Williams, had decided to take their children to Marriott's Great America. Miss Williams had just moved herself and her two children in with Parsons.

Somewhere between Boonville and the crest of the little rollercoaster hill outside of Yorkville, Miss Williams became incapacitated and unable to drive. Larry’s daughter, Michelle Parsons, a fifteen-year-old student at Anderson Valley High School, who was living on Manchester Road with her father and his new love interest, found herself at the wheel of the little car, which contained Larry Parsons senior and Larry Parsons junior, Michelle Parsons, Miss Williams and her two children. The underage and unlicensed chauffeur, Michelle, had lost control of the speeding vehicle, which went airborne, turned over twice before slamming into an ancient madrone. The blind winemaker was dead.

Passersby dragged the injured parties from the wreckage. Michelle, in a state of shock, pleaded with them to wait for the EMT's before anybody attempted first aid. She said she was going for help and was next seen at Ukiah General Hospital an hour later being treated for her injuries. The little red car was crushed like an accordion.

The first call from the scene was placed by a weekender who called for the 911 emergency number from the 894 Yorkville prefix. Rescue units were therefore dispatched from Sonoma County while units from nearby Yorkville and Ukiah were called some minutes later. Soon, Anita DeWitt and Renee Diamond from Yorkville were on the scene. Their deft first aid work was noted by the crowd of onlookers. 

Altogether, 33 specially-trained personnel were to appear at the accident, including two helicopters. The aircraft ferried off the most seriously injured who turned out to be, aside from the deceased Larry Parsons, Miss Williams and her nine-year-old daughter; the child suffered two broken arms, two leg fractures and a ruptured spleen. Her mother was in serious condition with a variety of injuries from which she eventually recovered. The two thirteen-year-old boys sustained cracked ribs and broken hips. The rescue and removal of the injured was coordinated by Fire Chief Dave Hutchinson and Cecil Gowan of Anderson Valley. Larry Parsons was the only fatality.

That afternoon, about five, Dale Campbell, the local realtor famously busted for a large pot gro not long before, complained to his wife Betty that he was tired and not feeling well. Dale had made the complaints after an hour or so of working with his weedeater out in his yard on Lambert Lane. Suddenly he was gone, a quiet man who always had something funny to say.

A Spanish-speaking high school kid told me, “Two weeks ago, I played soccer with Javier.” I replied, “Last week Dale Campbell told me a joke, Larry Parsons gave me two bottles of wine, Denver Langley talked to me about getting his garden in, I expressed my sympathies to Butch Paula on his dad's passing, and I'd waved to Javier as he passed by in his new sports car, thinking to myself how dashing he looked in it. 

(Bruce Anderson)

2024 BEERFEST TICKETS NOW ON SALE!

Get your Boonville Beerfest tickets starting today

Beerfest is returning to the Anderson Valley on Saturday, May 4th, 2024. The theme? Still working on it… trying to be creative and connect the month of May with The Fourth and Be clear we’d like to spend it With You, but in a way that encourages people to dress up and be festive. It’s a puzzler. We’ll keep you updated.

In the meantime, you can NOW purchase tickets for Beerfest at early bird pricing (limited time only).

And when you do, know you're contributing to some excellent causes. Together we raised over $50,000 for local charities last year, bringing the event's lifetime total to almost $1.8M raised. Cheers to you for that.

BUY TICKETS (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/26th-annual-legendary-boonville-beer-festival-general-ticketing-tickets-731239927307?aff=oddtdtcreator&mc_cid=4c6395e27e&mc_eid=UNIQID)

CATCH OF THE DAY, Monday, November 6, 2023

JOEL ALVAREZ-LOPEZ, Ukiah. Pot possession for sale, conspiracy, probation revocation.

SETH COSTA, Ukiah. Probation revocation.

ALEXANDER FOUCAULT, Redwood Valley. Failure to appear.

TERRELL JOHNSON JR., Harvey, Louisiana/Ukiah. Pot possession for sale, conspiracy.

SHEILA OWENS, Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol. 

DEVON THIBODEAUX, New Orleans, Louisiana/Ukiah. Pot possession for sale, conspiracy.

RONALD VALENTINE JR., Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol. (Frequent flyer.)

CHRISTOPHER WEST, Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol, resisting. 

DEB SILVA WRITES:

The Civil War Picture

I was surprised to see the Civil War veteran's picture in Sunday's MCT. I know that picture well.

The picture was in a Life magazine article, August 20, 1956, upon the death of the last member of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). The GAR was a fraternal organization made up of Union soldiers who fought in the Civil War.

Obviously, the picture was taken long before 1956 and may have been featured in an earlier edition of Life of another magazine. The picture you printed has been colorized. They didn't have color pictures back in those days.

The reason I know all this is because my Great Grandfather, Theodore A. Penland, was the last Commander of the GAR and a photo of him attending the Last Encampment of the GAR is on the page next to the photo you published. The Last Encampment was held in Indianapolis IN, August 28 to September 1, 1949.

I'm attaching two pages of photos with the 1956 article and the one page of the September 12, 1949, article. If you would like to see the entire 1956 article, I can scan the other pages.

ON-LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY

How is it that PornHub is free?

It costs money to traffic women, hire cameramen and crews, and host a giant website. Lots of money.

And yet, it is free, even to minors.

And now there are reports that young men brought upon porn can’t get it up for actual women, and that young women, brought up on porn, aren’t as interested in real life sex, since they think it involves violence, degradation, and pain.

That’s one way to decrease population growth. It’s actually more effective than trying to sterilize the younger generation by convincing them to amputate body parts and take dangerous, sterilizing drugs.

‘DONALD TRUMP & THE SPECTER OF JONESTOWN: Experiencing His Lethal Twin’

by Timothy Stoen

On YouTube

This one-hour video seeks to answer the most urgent — and overlooked — issue facing the American voter in 2024: Is Donald Trump’s Psychological Instability a Nuclear Danger to American Survival?

On YouTube at: https://youtu.be/FdE9TyPO_GI.

I KNOW ABOUT THE PENDULUM THEORY — politics swing left to right, imperfect democracy to fascism — but no one could have predicted the current wrecking ball. What to do about it? Keep your head up, or down if you are passing the Proud Boys on the street, and make good trouble wherever and whenever you can.

— Joan Baez, on Trumpworld, NYTimes, 11/4

JEFF BLANKFORT: 

It is important to call members of Congress in their local offices because, in the end, "all politics is local." For example, last Monday, on our local NPR station where I used to have a program, I called on listeners to call Jared Huffman to sign HR 786 calling for a ceasefire and then called his office and left a message that I had done that.

As far as I know, he hasn't signed HR 786 yet--the House only works 3 days a week--but he was one of only 28 Democrats and the only one in California to vote against a resolution that would have punished defenders of Hamas. Tomorrow I'll call his office and thank him and ask people on the air to do that as well while repeating the call for supporting a cease fire.

HUFF APOLOGIZES FOR HIS CORRECT VOTE

Rep. Jared Huffman backtracks on vote concerning campus antisemitism

The referendum in question is House Resolution 798, which condemned the support of Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations at institutions of higher education.

by Phil Barber

Rep. Jared Huffman has cast thousands of votes during his 11 years in Congress. He had never publicly apologized for one until Monday.

“I screwed up folks. I hope that by owning my error and issuing this apology I can somehow lessen the pain and confusion my vote has caused,” Huffman, D-San Rafael, wrote in an open letter to his “friends in the Jewish Community.”

The referendum in question is House Resolution 798, which condemned the support of Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations at institutions of higher education.

The resolution passed with overwhelming support Thursday. But there were 23 votes opposing it, generally from the most reliably liberal U.S. Representatives, such as Maxine Waters of Los Angeles County, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri.

Huffman’s votes frequently align with that bloc, and he also voted no on HR 798. But, the congressperson said, he quickly came to regret the decision.

“In the moment, without adequate reflection, I assumed that my long-standing opposition to BDS and other forms of antisemitism would speak for itself and that I could base my decision on the technical merits of the measure (which did include some factual errors and mischaracterizations),” he wrote in his open letter. “In doing that, I missed the forest through the trees.”

BDS refers to “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions,” a Palestinian-led movement promoting economic measures against the nation Israel over its longtime occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.

That movement, and the roiling, frequently bloody conflict that underlies it, has been at the forefront of the news since Oct. 7, when the Palestinian liberation group Hamas staged a series of surprise attacks in Israel, killing more than 1,000 Jewish civilians and, according to the Israel Defense Forces, taking 240 hostages.

Israel’s response has been massive and violent. The Israeli offensive has displaced more than 1.5 million Palestinians, according to health officials there, and has killed more than 10,000 — many of them children.

The events have sparked fierce debate, and a rash of antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents, all over the world.

In Santa Rosa on Sunday, more than 200 people gathered in Old Courthouse Square to urge local congressional leaders, including Huffman, to demand the Israeli government order a cease-fire in Gaza. It was the fourth consecutive Sunday of downtown demonstrations.

It was in this highly charged atmosphere that the House voted last week on whether to censure antisemitic statements on college campuses.

Huffman confirmed in a phone interview Monday with The Press Democrat that the urgent humanitarian concerns of the region led to a rushed vote, and that he felt the wording of the resolution was in some ways flawed.

His thought process on Thursday’s referendum was reflected in his initial public statement regarding the resolution.

“Unfortunately, the GOP’s H. Res. 798 ... suggests the problem is about liberal college campuses,” Huffman posted to his website Friday. “Moreover, the resolution inaccurately describes several incidents as having been ignored or condoned by colleges (e.g., Brandeis) when in fact these colleges did seriously confront the incidents. And it is silent on Islamophobia even as the Council on American Islamic Relations reports a spike in problematic incidents.”

Monday, he acknowledged he had nonetheless made a mistake.

“I should have focused on the fact that this vote, despite the measure’s imperfections, was taking place in a moment when the Jewish community is feeling an unprecedented amount of fear, trauma and abandonment,” he wrote in his statement. “It was seen by many in the Jewish Community as a test of where members of Congress stand on growing scourge of college antisemitism.”

The Press Democrat reached two Jewish faith leaders Monday, but both declined comment. One cited, in part, the threat of harassment or violence in the current moment.

Huffman emphasized that he wants to show empathy and solidarity for American Jews.

“That’s why I am so disappointed in myself for approaching the H.Res. 798 vote technically and without enough circumspection,” he wrote. “I unintentionally conveyed indifference to a problem I actually care a lot about.”

(pressdemocrat.com)

LETTER FROM REP. JARED HUFFMAN

To my friends in the Jewish Community:

I want to apologize for my ill-considered vote on H. Res. 798 which has caused pain and confusion in the Jewish Community, including among many people I regard as dear friends and allies. Bottom line: I should have voted the other way. In the moment, without adequate reflection, I assumed that my longstanding opposition to BDS and other forms of antisemitism would speak for itself and that I could base my decision on the technical merits of the measure (which did include some factual errors and mischaracterizations). In doing that, I missed the forest through the trees.

I should have focused on the fact that this vote, despite the measure’s imperfections, was taking place in a moment when the Jewish community is feeling an unprecedented amount of fear, trauma and abandonment. It was seen by many in the Jewish Community as a test of where members of Congress stand on growing scourge of college antisemitism. I know what a scary and traumatic time this is for many in the Jewish Community because I’ve spoken to countless friends and constituents about it, including specific conversations about college antisemitism. I want to show empathy, solidarity and support for the Jewish community especially at this time. That’s why I am so disappointed in myself for approaching the H.Res. 798 vote technically and without enough circumspection. I unintentionally conveyed indifference to a problem I actually care a lot about.

I’ve cast thousands of votes in my 11 years in Congress. Many have been controversial and some have been unpopular. But this is the first time I’ve come to regret a vote within hours of casting it – and the first time I felt compelled to apologize. I screwed up folks. I hope that by owning my error and issuing this apology I can somehow lessen the pain and confusion my vote has caused.

I stand firmly and unequivocally against antisemitism in all its forms and locations. This has always been a core value for me, and I will do everything I can to make that more clear going forward. Please stay in touch with your thoughts and input, and feel free to share this with others. Input is always welcome at Huffman.house.gov.

Respectfully,

Rep. Jared Huffman

UKRAINE, MONDAY, 6TH NOVEMBER

A criminal probe is under way after a Russian missile attack killed 19 Ukrainian soldiers attending a ceremony for military honours on the front line.

The Kremlin says President Vladimir Putin has not made any announcements that he will run for another term despite a media report saying he will.

Moscow says it successfully test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads from one of its submarines.

Russia bombards the Ukrainian grain port Odesa.

— Al Jazeera

GAZA 

A military spokesman said Israel had “completed our encirclement,” while the U.S. Secretary of State warned Iran against widening the conflict. Gazan health officials said the death toll there had exceeded 10,000.

Israel’s military cuts off Gaza City from the rest of the enclave.

Blinken reports ‘progress’ in efforts to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza.

In rally outside Israel’s Parliament, hundreds demand more action on hostages.

The Statue of Liberty Is the Setting for an Israel-Hamas War Protest

The State Department has approved a $320 million sale of guided bomb equipment to Israel.

In word and in deed, the U.S. reinforces its resolve to Iran.

More foreign citizens are allowed to leave Gaza.

When the phones in Gaza go out, family members far away fear the worst.

(NYT)

BOMBS AWAY ON GAZA, Bernie Declares

ISRAEL’S GAZAN SLAUGHTER, BERNIE SANDERS & A CEASEFIRE

by Ron Jacobs

In late October while his military bombed the people of Gaza around the clock in response to the Hamas October 7, 2023 massacre of Israelis, Benjamin Netanyahu told the world that “our civilization is at stake.” Therefore, Israel would continue its bloody massacre in Gaza and the West Bank. I think it’s reasonably safe to assume Israel’s prime minister was talking about a certain civilization; one that includes among its fiercest champions the governments of Great Britain and the United States. These two “civilized” nations are known by many for their genocidal wars on the people whose land they have taken for their own (temporarily or forever) than most anything else; genocides they wash over while simultaneously celebrating them. Yet, due to Washington’s military might and Britain’s historical role as the mightiest of empires, they place themselves above the rest of the world, deciding who will live well and who won’t.

For the sake of that rare reader who might not be familiar with the history involved, let’s review. Israel has been occupying Palestine since 1947. This means it has been stealing land, taking it by force, expelling Palestinians from their homes and killing a lot of them in the process. Israel has attacked Gaza several times, killing thousands. Nothing has changed for the better as far as the Gazans are concerned. The current slaughter is an amplified version and continuation of this history. The same can be said for the other parcel of Palestine in the West Bank, where settlers and the Israeli military continue to steal land and brutalize those whose lands they are stealing. Since the latest round of bombing began in Gaza, the brutality of the occupation has ramped up considerably in the West Bank, with over one hundred murders of Palestinians and multiple arrests.

According to information from the American media giant Bloomberg, one scenario for the post-massacre Gaza would involve putting a multinational force consisting of army units of the United States, France and Great Britain into Gaza. Another possibility, according to the article, is that Gaza will be brought under the control of UN troops. This would occur after the enclave is completely cleared of resistance elements—an exercise left exclusively to the IDF. In other words, after the Israeli military kills another several thousand Palestinians, another occupying army would move into Gaza. While the makeup of any United Nations forces remains unclear and therefore, difficult to predict its allegiances, if a multinational force composed of US, British and French forces went into Gaza, their allegiance to Tel Aviv would instantly make them nothing more than an imperial occupying force. These three nations are a primary cause of most of the region’s troubles, both historically and in the present day. Such a move would not bring a genuine peace. However, they would provide the Israeli state with a greater cover and backup for its ongoing illegal occupation, siege and oppression of the Palestinians.

I’ve written emails to Vermont’s senator Bernie Sanders. I’ve argued with some of his supporters and staff. While I am not naive when it comes to Bernie Sanders’ acceptance of US imperialism and its military manifestations around the globe, I didn’t think he had lost his moral compass. I didn’t think his many years in the swamp of the US ruling class otherwise known as the US Capitol had made him blind to a wanton massacre of human beings because of where they lived. After all, he did oppose both invasions of Iraq in word, if not consistently in deed. In other words, he opposed the resolutions that legalized both invasions, but usually voted for funding the military once it began its exercise in killing. He even pushed through legislation condemning the US arming of Saudi Arabia in its war against Yemenis. Then again, in 2015 as he began his first campaign for president, he was quoted on ABC: “”I believe that the United States should have the strongest military in the world. We should be working with other countries in coalition. And when people threaten the United States or threaten our allies, or commit genocide, the United States, with other countries, should be prepared to act militarily,” he continued. One wonders however, as Israel’s bombing of Gaza approaches genocidal proportions (and is probably being done with genocidal intent), how Sanders reconciles his belief that the US should stop genocide when it is funding Israel’s massacres in Gaza as I write.

After a month of continuous bombing of the trapped population in Gaza; after at least 10,000 Palestinian deaths (murders, in my mind) and threats of annihilation on a biblical scale, Bernie finally suggested what the media calls a humanitarian pause. We are told the purpose of this pause would be for humanitarian reasons: get patients out of bombed out hospitals, bring in food, water and other life-giving materials for the displaced, and maybe get some of the hostages out of Gaza. Then the bombing can begin again. While this is good, it is not nearly enough.

There needs to be an immediate ceasefire and a withdrawal of Israeli forces. A few members of the US Congress have prepared a resolution demanding a ceasefire. The bombing has to stop. The starvation has to stop. The attacks on schools, ambulances, hospitals and homes have to stop. The fact that Sanders resists adding his name to this resolution is a gross moral failure on his part. No matter how repulsed one might be by the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, the mass murder being perpetrated by US weaponry and the Israeli military is morally unacceptable. Likewise, while supporting that murder might be seen as politically shrewd in the United States, it is potentially ruinous internationally. Then again, that’s never seemed to matter in the long run. US and other western politicians remain steadfast in their defense of empire and its wars, impoverishment and environmental degradation. The only thing that ever put a pause on their inhumane acts and policies has been massive and militant protest. Bernie knows this because at one time he joined protests against those acts and policies. We’ll see how he votes on any upcoming bills giving more aid to Israel’s slaughter. When one of your closest advisors calls himself an “unapologetic Zionist,” as longtime Sanders confidant Richard Sugarman did in a December 2012 newspaper article (The Wondering Jew, Seven Days, K. Picard, 12/12/2012), voting against the Israeli colonial project might take more resolve than Sanders possesses.

(CounterPunch.org)

THE FOUR WARS

by James Kunstler

“There has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefited.” — Sun Tzu

China’s grand strategy to take its turn at dominance over the global scene depends on bogging down the USA in four wars at once. How’s it working so far? Pretty darn well. Amazingly, China hardly had to lift a finger to make it happen — though it did write some bank checks to the soulless old grifter sitting in the White House. Our country has arranged its collapse and downfall masterfully on its own.

War No. 1: There was absolutely no need to start the war in Ukraine, you understand, which has by now not only bled Ukraine’s young male population to the bone, but drained our own military of field weapons and ammunition. After the Soviet collapse, Ukraine existed as a poor backwater in Russia’s orbit, causing no trouble for anyone — except itself, due to world-beating corruption — until the USA started a push to include it in NATO. Our neocons made it clear that the purpose of this was to hem-in and weaken Russia. (Why? “Reasons,” they said.) This policy alarmed and infuriated the Russians who made it clear that NATO membership wasn’t going to happen.

The US persisted, engineered a coup in 2014 against the Russian-leaning president Yanukovych, and spurred his replacements, first Poroshenko and then Zelensky, to pound the ethnic Russian provinces of the Donbas with rockets and artillery for years on end. Meanwhile, we trained, armed, and supplied a large Ukrainian army and refused to negotiate the NATO expansion in good faith until Mr. Putin had enough in 2022 and moved to put a stop to all this monkey business.

After some initial mis-steps, the Russians began to prevail in early 2023. Now, there is a general consensus that Russia controls the battle space with its superior ordnance and troop strength, and the conflict is close to being over. Our NATO allies are not hiding their disgust over the fiasco. Ukraine is wrecked. What remains is how the “Joe Biden” regime reacts to yet another major overseas humiliation. As I see it, Mr. Putin must do his level best to not rub it in, since our country is in the throes of a psychotic fugue and might be capable of world-ending craziness.

War No. 2: Little more than a month ago, the Middle East was thought to have reached a moment of praiseworthy stability, according to White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. We awaited an upgrade of the Abraham Accords normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Then, the savage Hamas operation of October 7 blew it all up. The Israeli-Palestinian quandary seems to have no possible solution.

The Palestinians want their own state, of course, but they push to establish it in the entire territory that Israel occupies now. (From the River to the sea….) The Israelis have no intention of being pushed out, and they resist other possible divisions of the land there that might serve to satisfy the Palestinians wish for a country of their own. Israel understands that a basic tenet of jihadi Islam, expressed clearly and often, is to exterminate the Jews, and there is no way around that. Israel’s adversaries don’t seem to understand the meaning of “never again.”

Israel now must deal with the latest affront to its existence and its clear goal is to disarm and destroy the Hamas terror organization. To the world’s horror, they are going about it brutally in Gaza because Hamas is dug-in in a vast tunnel network under the civilian overlay of houses, shops, schools, and hospitals. What else might Israel do? Probably seal off the tunnel system with Hamas in it, creating a gigantic graveyard of Islamic martyrs — a recipe for future cycles of vengeance.

As you can see, there appears to be no way this ends well for anyone. Other big Islamic players wait on the sidelines, making only threatening gestures so far. I doubt that Iran will risk its oil infrastructure and its electric grid to intervene. And despite Mr. Erdogan’s drum-beating and his large army, the Turkish economy and currency (the lira) would collapse if he jumped in. Egypt has zero appetite for war. That leaves Iran’s proxy, Hezbollah, on Israel’s northern frontier. If they amp things up enough, Damascus and Beirut could become ashtrays.

So, I would expect that Israel grinds on methodically to put Hamas out of business and the region returns to its miserable stalemate status quo until the next generation of angry Palestinians starts a new cycle of violence. Meanwhile, Israel has its own fractious internal political problems to contend with. And also meanwhile, the Palestinians and Israelis compete by birth-rate to out-populate the other side — a contest that might stop suddenly with the economic collapse of the US and Europe, and the end of current global economic relations, including an orderly oil trade, that has produced nearly a century of global super-prosperity allowing populations to expand as they have. (There is also Israel’s 90-percent Covid vaccination rate to consider, with its detrimental effects on health and reproduction.) In a desperate scramble for resources that follows, things that can’t go on, stop.

Bringing us to War No. 3: The US Government’s war against its own citizens. This has been going on since Mr. Trump stepped onto the scene, and has included a semi-successful war against Mr. Trump personally — except that not only has it failed to put him out of business as a politician, it has substantiated many of the claims he made about corrupt and perfidious government that resulted in his election in 2016. All of that has only enhanced his polling numbers. And the lawless, bad faith court cases lodged against him have demonstrated the US government’s grievous fall into willful malfeasance that has the DOJ arresting and unfairly persecuting hundreds of innocent Americans that support Mr. Trump.

A big part of the government’s war against US citizens has been the bizarre Covid-19 episode and the long-running effort by public officials to deceive the population about it, including lockdowns and destruction of small businesses, the dishonest suppression of viable treatments, gross censorship about the harms of the mRNA vaccines, and trickery around the origins of the vaccines in the back rooms of our Department of Defense.

Another front of this war is the wide-open Mexican border, a lawless state of affairs created as deliberate policy by our cabinet secretaries, and done at a time when there is tremendous animus against the US from many other nations who send thousands of sketchy young men into our country with no attempt by our border officials to determine who they are.

It looks like “Joe Biden’s” hash will be settled shortly when the House, reorganized under a young and vital new speaker, reveals the Biden family’s bank records and begins the process of impeaching the president for bribery. “Joe Biden’s” party pretends that this is not happening and appears to have no plan to deal with consequences. For the moment, they still stupidly tout him as their candidate for the 2024 election, another arrant falsehood you can add to the thousand-and one affronts against the public that this party has tried to put over. Many Americans suspect there will not be a 2024 election, specifically that whoever is president in the coming year will invoke yet another national emergency order to postpone it on spurious grounds. Many are also far from persuaded that the 2020 election that installed “Joe Biden” was honest and legitimate.

Which brings us to War No. 4: The American peoples’ war against a government gone rogue. Obviously, it is not underway yet, but it’s easy to see how it might develop. I think it could commence in the aftermath of a financial calamity that is visibly brewing in the debt markets. The net result will be a collapsed standard-of-living for everyone in the USA, the breakdown of supply lines and daily business, and a very sharp loss of legitimacy for the people who have been in charge of anything in this country.

We emerge from this catastrophe a nearly medievalized society with a steeply-reduced population, unable to resist China’s attempt to colonize us. Pretty scary, huh? Just let’s keep doing what we’re doing.

(kunstler.com)