Mendocino County Today: Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023

Drizzle Eve | Pet Marshall | VSO Move | Cooking Supper | Brooktrails Nativity | Professional Squatter | Coyote Couch | Ed Notes | Ivy Hill | Homeless Scene | Hare Christmas | Yesterday's Catch | Niner Injuries | Light Pollution | Crossroads | Nellie Nowlin | Pleasant Rep | Holiday Stress | Marco Radio | Langlois Bridge | These Times | Spaghetti Factory | War Blues | Moondog | Israeli Error | Giant Haggis | Santa's Bag | War Prayer | Gaza March

LIGHT RAIN AND DRIZZLE will gradually build in today and Christmas with generally muggy weather. A much windier and wetter storm is expected mid week. (NWS)

STEPHEN DUNLAP (Fort Bragg): On the coast early this Christmas Eve morning I have 40F under clear skies. Clear skies will give way to "drizzle" of all things later today & Christmas day. Wednesday is looking very wet then more rain Friday & Saturday.

UKIAH SHELTER PET OF THE WEEK

Marshall is a big boy: 110 pounds of big boy! But—he’s mellow and has good indoor manners. Marshall loves to lay his big ol' head in your lap—he’s sooo charming! Mr. M knows sit and shake, and our great volunteers are working with him on his leash manners, where we discovered he’s much more comfortable using a harness than a collar. We bet this fab looking dog will be a loyal companion. Marshall is a mixed breed, 2 year old, very good dog. For more about Marshall and all our adoptable dogs and cats, head to mendoanimalshelter.com. 

For information about adoptions, call 707-467-6453. Check out our Facebook Page and please share our posts!

GABRIELA VALLEJOS-PERMENTER:

Important Message For Mendocino County Veterans And Their Caregivers… 

Robert & I were just informed by our Veterans Service Officer, that Mendocino County Board has planned to Move our VSO Office that’s been located at 405 Observatory Lane, Ukiah, to a smaller space and give our office to Air Quality Control. We completely disagree with this decision and We ask that if you also disagree please call Mendocino County Board of Supervisors 707-473-4221. Mendocino County Veterans have had this building for 15 years. It’s familiar to us, it’s spacious and it’s a location that holds all of our important information. We already called and certainly let the person on the other end of the phone know how we feel. She took Roberts name and information, make sure the Veterans Voice is Heard. Please let’s keep our VSO AT 405 Observatory Lane, Ukiah, and not somewhere Else!

ED NOTE: Air Quality Control itself should have been disbanded years ago. Talk about a do nothing agency….

LAWFARE TIMES

AVA, 

Glad to read that your tooth issue is resolved. 

I've had migrating wisdom teeth issues and allowed them to jut their way out as they cracked other teeth for room. Insane toothaches followed and constant Listerine and baking soda toothpaste drenching worked to eventually stop the pain and infection. We're living in “For my friends--everything. For my enemies--the law!” lawfare times. That's why I like watching old Perry Mason reruns-even prosecutor Hamilton Burger would approve of justice over winning (he was really good at that). 

A probably made in China Nativity scene photo for the AVA today and good cheer.

Jeff Goll

Willits

THE DEADBEAT FILES Beware of large school bus & squatter.

Dear Neighbors,

We had a long ordeal ending in court yesterday to oust a hostile “professional squatter” after months of abuse.

And we now know that we are not his first victims. “I’m not a victim, I make victims,” he says.

A very unpleasant and expensive time. A truckload or two of garbage and abandoned stuff awaits us to haul away now.

Anyone want lots of bus seats stuffed under redwood trees? Or maybe a visit by the county? Fraudulent flyers about you with attempts to take over your property? There may be more damage and theft yet to be discovered.

Watch out...he’s back on the road looking for the next naive land owner. If he comes to you, my advice, from experience, says, “don’t let Ed (Hare Krishna Dayal) on your land” (or others without a contract). He knows his legal rights (professional squatter) and will use them if given a chance until you pay him off, get sued or win against him in court.

Please warn your neighbors, family and friends..this is not an isolated incident.

Sojourna Lee RN

Fort Bragg

* * *

To: Sojourna Lee <chilipickles@gmail.com>

Ms. Lee,

As someone who professes to be proficient in nonviolent communication, your leadership and involvement in this whole fiasco has been disappointing. Especially since you spent most of the time that Mr. Lewenetz was at Meadow Farm on vacation elsewhere while he worked to improve things there with apparently no charge to Meadow Farm. Also, you are well aware that Mr. Lewenetz has permanent brain damage from an auto accident and doesn't always relate well to others. He can come off as rather blunt and direct.

But that's not his fault.

After attending the court proceeding with Mr. Lewenetz to watch the proceedings as an outside observer, I had the opportunity to give a somewhat objective viewpoint on the proceedings. To be clear, earlier this morning I was going to not publish this report of what I saw and go on my way, but your biased accounting and potentially libelous statements about Mr. Lewenetz has compelled me to speak out. The following is what I have observed;

Meadow Farm, A Christmas Story

On December 21 of this year I had the opportunity to observe an Unlawful Detainer case at 10 Mile Court House here in Fort Bragg. The Unlawful Detainer was filed by attorney Jone Lemos for John Risk, the Treasurer and one of the current residents of Meadow Farm Community Land Trust located out Pudding Creek Rd. just northeast of Fort Bragg. The defendant in the case was Edward Lewenetz, who was invited to Meadow Farm by Sojourna Lee, the Secretary and also a current resident of Meadow Farm. Mr. Lewenetz arrived last August to be a participant in the farm activities, and from his perspective, become a permanent resident and beneficiary of one of Meadow Farm’s primary purposes which is to provide low income housing for those in need, primarily seniors.

In the court proceeding against Mr. Lewenetz, it was claimed by the plaintiff’s representing Meadow Farm via their attorney Jone Lemos that MF had the right to expel the defendant from the property when there was no more work for him to do based on California Civil Code of Procedure 1161(1) which provides:

“A tenant of real property, for a term less than life...is guilty of unlawful detainer: (1)When he or she continues in possession...without the permission of his or her landlord… including the case where the person to be removed became the occupant of the premises as a servant, employee, agent or licensee and the relation of master and servant, or employer and employee, or principal and agent, or licensor and licensee, has been lawfully terminated or the time fixed for occupancy by the agreement between the parties has expired….

Ms. Lemos was well prepared and presented her case. She called both John Risk and Sojourna Lee to the witness stand to state what they claimed to be the truth of the matter, which was that Mr. Lewenetz was an employee who was working for a space to park his bus and food from the garden. And though Sojourna Lee testified that he had done excellent work on all of the tasks he had taken on, the farm had no more work for Mr. Lewenetz, and he needed to go.

Both John Risk and Sojourna Lee corroborated each other’s testimony on the witness stand as could be expected since they are husband and wife, and between them they have controlling votes on the Board of Directors, as well as being two of the only four residents on the 28 acre property known as Meadow Farm Community Land Trust. The other two residents on the farm are Jesse Stafford who is Ms. Lee’s former partner and Lee Mical who is Ms. Lee’s adult son.

When it came time for Mr. Lewenetz to present his case, he read a prepared statement in which he stated that he was invited to Meadow Farm as a permanent resident and to replace the current manager Jesse Stafford. He stated that he was never invited as a temporary employee. Mr. Lewenetz stated facts that showed that had he been an employee there would have been an employer / employee process that involved an IRS W-4, workers compensation and that Meadow Farm would have to be registered with California EDD in order to employ him. He stated that even if what the plaintiff’s claimed was true, that he had traded skilled labor for a place to park his bus and receive vegetables from the garden, trade is taxable and should he injure himself, insurance needs to be in place.

Sadly, Mr. Lewenetz didn’t have the benefit of an attorney in the proceedings as legal aid had declined to represent him in the case and he didn’t have the assets to hire an attorney. Since Mr. Lewenetz didn’t have any witnesses to corroborate what he claimed to be the truth about being invited by Sojourna Lee and John Risk to be a permanent resident, Judge Clayton Brennan of 10 Mile Court decided in favor of the plaintiff based on Ms. Lemos’ presentation and the only two testifying witnesses in the case, John Risk and Sojourna Lee.

It seems interesting though that so much time and legal expense would be incurred by a nonprofit organization in this case to prove that Mr. Lewenetz was an employee without the benefit of all of the normal employee benefits. The plaintiff basically proved to the court and made public knowledge that Meadow Farm has under the table live-in employees who work for a place to camp that they can expel from the property at will and there is no insurance.

As a bit of a back story, prior to Mr. Lewenetz’ arrival to Meadow Farm, he had invested everything into a 2009 school bus to live in, which he drove to Meadow Farm and used as his residence. This meant that he only needed water and power connections where he parked his bus in the field. California DMV is going through problems with diesel buses and trucks right now in their ability to register them effectively based on new emission standards. Mr. Lewenetz’ bus is one of those problem vehicles that DMV has been trying to get resolved. But currently, it is not registered to be on public roads until DMV does some magic which they are supposed to be in the process of.

Ironically, Mr. Lewenetz had asked John Risk to help him with the scanning and sending of the documents to DMV. Which, Mr. Risk promised to do and never got around to doing because he was on extended vacation with Ms. Lee, while never acknowledging to Mr. Lewenetz that the documents were never sent to DMV. So Mr. Lewenetz was waiting around for over a month for something that was not coming.

Mr. Lewenetz is now working with DMV directly after finding out from them that no documents were ever sent on his behalf by Mr. Risk. But in the meantime he now has to drive his bus illegally and park it somewhere while he attempts to resolve the problem and spend what he doesn’t have on a motel room. He has already left Meadow Farm as of today Dec. 22, honoring the Judges decision. A less reputable person would have waited for the sheriff to evict him, which the Sheriff's department informed Mr. Lewenetz would be around January 9 because they don't like to evict people over the holidays.

Bruce Broderick

Fort Bragg

ED NOTES

NOT THAT MANY of us around anymore, but I'll bet those of us still upright would like to see a restoration of the FloodGate as it was with the Averys and the Paulas, a unique little country grocery and six-(?)-stool counter with Brad Wylie at one end and Mick Bloyd at the other. Failing that, Kathy and Jerry Cox's Floodgate Cafe.

MAZIE MALONE. Now if that isn't the coolest name since Stella Dallas, I defy you to name one cooler.

GRAMMARIANS, your opinions please on those ubiquitous television ads reading, “Stand Up To Jewish Hate,” and on through several more ethnic hates we're advised to stand up to. 

A STRICT CONSTRUCTIONIST, or literalist, take your pick, like me thought at first glance I was somehow besieged by Jews, which, grammatically, is what “Stand Up To Jewish Hate” means.

WHAT'S INTENDED by the message, I have to suppose, is “Stand Up Against The Hatred Of Jews,” and Muslims, and Hispanics, and Blacks and Asians and Hatred period.

FROM THE NYT: During the first six weeks of the war in Gaza, Israel routinely used one of its biggest and most destructive bombs in areas it designated safe for civilians, according to an analysis of visual evidence by The New York Times. The video investigation focuses on the use of 2,000-pound bombs in an area of southern Gaza where Israel had ordered civilians to move for safety. While bombs of that size are used by several Western militaries, munitions experts say they are almost never dropped by U.S. forces in densely populated areas anymore. The Times programmed an artificial intelligence tool to scan satellite imagery of south Gaza for bomb craters. Times reporters manually reviewed the search results, looking for craters measuring roughly 40 feet across or larger. Munitions experts say typically only 2,000-pound bombs form craters of that size in Gaza’s light, sandy soil.

IN A FEW WORDS, Northcoast old timer, Ernie Branscomb, nails the disappearance of fish from Northcoast streams: “Nice fish story about the Eel River and my Dad, Everett Branscomb, and my Uncle Eddie Downing. That’s back when anybody could catch a fish. I think that the fish disappearing goes far deeper than the dams on the rivers. The ocean is way overfished by foreign trawlers. And the ocean is sick.”

WILLIE BROWN said years ago that homelessness is a federal problem, way too big and costly for local municipalities, yet here we are with local municipalities (like Ukiah) and their cadres of self-profiting helping professionals pretending they and their schemes can get everybody indoors.

IN A POLL taken just after the dramatic Colorado Supreme Court ruling barring Donald Trump from the ballot in the state, over half of Americans approve of the justices disqualifying him.

THAT COLORADO RULING ought to scare all of us, unless you want judges deciding who can run for office.

THE FOUR Democrat solomons said Trump can't run in Colorado because he attempted an insurrection aimed at overthrowing the government. Thing is, he hasn't been tried let alone convicted as an insurrectionary, which will make the Colorado judicial insurrection null and void.

ONE MORE TIME: An insurrection occurs when armed men plan to attack and hold a government headquarters then do it. Trump incited a riot on January 6th, not an insurrection. The rioters had no plan. Obviously. Trump's attempt to find votes to get him past Biden is more like an insurrectionary move than January 6th was.

IF DEMOCRATS keep on using government to slay the Orange Monster they'll probably get lots of insurrections, real ones. 

THE AV FIRE DEPARTMENT is trying to hire a mechanic, but the perfectly qualified guy who said he was interested in the work soon said he refused to do all the required insurance paperwork. Good for him. It's past time to just do it, and let our occupying army of a so-called government impose whatever penalties on the off-chance they even become aware of the alleged violation. So long as we comply with bullshit rules the rules will keep on coming.

ELEANOR COONEY

Here's what readers are saying on Amazon about IVY HILL:

“What a phenomenal read, takes me back, takes me forward, takes me exactly where I needed to be without knowing it. So, what can I say about this book without ruining it for you? First off, read it yourself. It’s funny, it’s sad, it’s real, it’s life. And, for me anyway, there is a certain familiarity, nostalgia, understanding, and peace. Really good, guys, really good.”

“I read this book in two sittings. Could have done it in one sitting, but I didn't want it to end too quickly. Yes, it is a story of coming of age, but the exceptional insight into each character sets it above other such stories.”

“I couldn’t put it down. And now that I have finished it I feel like I lost a friend.”

“This was a great read…could not put it down…didn’t want to finish it…”

“An easy read because you get totally absorbed in the characters. Very well written.”

HARE, HARE CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas~

Just sitting here right this moment in the common area of the Building Bridges Homeless Resource Center in sunny Ukiah, CA , tapping away on the public computer before continuing with morning ablutions. Awoke late today, following an evening of coughing and expectorating as a result of taking everything possible for chest congestion and its attenuating inconveniences. But then, behind it all, the Hare Krishna maha mantram quietly goes on…and on…and on… No longer identified with the body nor the mind…Immortal Self I am! Ready for spiritually sourced direct action to destroy the demonic and return this world to righteousness. ~Merry Christmas~

Craig Stehr <craiglouisstehr@gmail.com>

CATCH OF THE DAY, Saturday, December 23, 2023

LARAN BEDELL, Tulsa, Oklahoma/Ukiah. Probation revocation.

SHEATON BRICE, Willits. DUI.

NORA CARRASCO, Willits. Assault with deadly weapon not a gun on police officer, battery on peace officer, disorderly conduct-alcohol&drugs, conspiracy, resisting.

MICHAEL JONES, Fort Bragg. Parole violation.

JOHN LIVINGSTON, Redwood Valley. Resisting.

NICOLAS MARTINEZ-LOPEZ, Ukiah. Battery with serious injury, vandalism.

SHANE MILLER JR. Ukiah. Domestic abuse.

ANA MOLINA-LOPEZ, Ukiah. DUI.

LISA OCHOA, Ukiah. Domestic battery.

MICHAEL OLVERA-CAMPOS, Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol&drugs, paraphernalia, parole violation.

BRENDA POINDEXTER, Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol&drugs.

DANIEL ZAPATA, Laytonville. Domestic battery, child endangerment.

NINER ROSTER STATUS for tomorrow's game against the Ravens

NIGHT SKIES

Editor: 

Gerald Waxman, a popular professor and director of the Santa Rosa Junior College planetarium, died in 2009. As he was dying, his wife, and my neighbor, Pam Zimmerman, helped him publish a book based on the astronomy classes he taught. I am sorry I never got to meet Waxman, but I’m inspired by his book. Zimmerman told me he spent a lot of time staring at the night sky.

I, too, am a star gazer. I want to stargaze while sitting in my own backyard. Sadly, in the six years I’ve lived in Santa Rosa, light pollution has increased, making it harder to see the stars and planets. Besides blocking our view of the universe, light pollution disrupts wildlife, wastes money and energy, impacts human health and contributes to climate change.

Towns and cities around the world are working to reduce light pollution. Glen Ellen is one of them. Santa Rosa should join this movement. Dark Sky International, darksky.org, has ideas and suggestions for cities and citizens to reduce light pollution. If Gerald Waxman were still alive I believe he’d be advocating against light pollution.

Molly Martin

Santa Rosa

GARY EVAN SMITH:

Nellie E. Nowlin born in 1895 up in Harris, California. To William Spencer Nowlin and Annie Matilda Akesson Nowlin. Lived most of her adult life in Northern Mendocino County. At the south end of Laytonville, sits a blue house at Davidson lane and that was her last home. I have been in there years ago. Auntie Nellie was a midwife at Sherwood for Dr Babcock. She was married to Elton Dean and a Terwillger. From my childhood pov, I always remember her with a button unbuttoned! Also, this huge garden with huge plants in it. A common feature for all my great aunt's. Anytime anyone turns on the tears family members would say “turned on those Annie Nellie tears” ...but I think thus photo captures something real about women in those times - practical, strong independent in their own way. They all hunted for their food, gardened, made their own clothes and raised children theirs and others. My gramma and her siblings had these piercing eyes with a certain look - like those stories we told. They knew!

ON-LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY

Just yesterday I had a long conversation with a girl in the Philippines. A customer cable rep as my internet was acting up. She was the most pleasant rep I have ever talked to. These people take a lot of shit as everybody that calls them has a problem. I started out that way but she was just too nice to give a hard time to. We talked about where we lived, weather, and such. Must have been a slow day. What surprised me the most was as we ended the call she wished me a “Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”. She doesn’t know me. It was a pleasant surprise from the droll “happy holidays.” I know many Filipinos are Catholic, left over from the Spanish empire days.

MEMO OF THE AIR: Christmas in the rubble. The 2023 MOTA Xmas special

Here's the recording of last night's (Friday 2023-12-22) eight-hour-long Memo of the Air: Good Night Radio show on 107.7fm KNYO-LP Fort Bragg and KNYO.org: https://tinyurl.com/KNYO-MOTA-0572

Go to my weblog for a synopsis of the entire extravaganza. It's voluminous; I don't feel right stuffing my publicity with it. But I'm happy to read your writing on the radio. Just email it to me and that's all you have to do.

Besides all that, at https://MemoOfTheAir.wordpress.com you'll find a fresh batch of dozens of links to worthwhile items I set aside for you while gathering the show together, such as:

A short family film of a fraught Christmas night. (18 min.) https://nagonthelake.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-family-circus.html

Robert Earl Keene – Merry Christmas From the Family. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P37xPiRz1sg

Trombone and Spanish guitar duet, Waltz of the Flowers. I'm told it takes tremendous skill and control to play a trombone this quietly, which is why you don’t see very many duets of these instruments. (via b3ta) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpTZUHR5rik

And rerun: The Singing Dundee Sisters. One magical Christmas in 1947. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSBpvh4y_lU

Marco McClean, memo@mcn.org, https://MemoOfTheAir.wordpress.com

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

George Carlin's wife died early in 2008 and George followed her, dying in July 2008. It is ironic George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent and so very appropriate. — Mary Massey

An observation by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. 

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. 

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. 

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. 

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete. 

Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. 

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. 

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away.

— George Carlin

THE OLD SPAGHETTI FACTORY circa 1971 located at 478 Green Street Between Varennes Alley and Grant in North Beach, San Francisco

From 1956 through 1984, the Old Spaghetti Factory was North Beach’s hub of artistic activity, opera, flamenco and cabaret, attracting artists and writers, neighborhood folks, Bohemians and Beats. (And, yes, a film has been made. Look for the next screening of “ The Old Spaghetti Factory” (2009) by filmmakers William Farley, Mal Sharpe and Sandra Sharpe.)

It was designated San Francisco Landmark No. 127 in 1981 on the basis of its significance as a cultural and social center in North Beach.

(Photographer credit: © 1978 by Ira Nowinski the Old Spaghetti Factory)

TALKIN’ WORLD WAR III BLUES

Some time ago a crazy dream came to me
I dreamt I was walkin’ into World War Three
I went to the doctor the very next day
To see what kinda words he could say
He said it was a bad dream
I wouldn’t worry ’bout it none, though
They were my own dreams and they’re only in my head

I said, “Hold it, Doc, a World War passed through my brain”
He said, “Nurse, get your pad, this boy’s insane”
He grabbed my arm, I said, “Ouch!”
As I landed on the psychiatric couch
He said, “Tell me about it”

Well, the whole thing started at 3 o’clock fast
It was all over by quarter past
I was down in the sewer with some little lover
When I peeked out from a manhole cover
Wondering who turned the lights on

Well, I got up and walked around
And up and down the lonesome town
I stood a-wondering which way to go
I lit a cigarette on a parking meter and walked on down the road
It was a normal day

Well, I rung the fallout shelter bell
And I leaned my head and I gave a yell
“Give me a string bean, I’m a hungry man”
A shotgun fired and away I ran
I don’t blame them too much though, I know I look funny

Down at the corner by a hot-dog stand
I seen a man
I said, “Howdy friend, I guess there’s just us two”
He screamed a bit and away he flew
Thought I was a Communist

Well, I spied a girl and before she could leave
“Let’s go and play Adam and Eve”
I took her by the hand and my heart it was thumpin’
When she said, “Hey man, you crazy or sumpin’
You see what happened last time they started”

Well, I seen a Cadillac window uptown
And there was nobody aroun’
I got into the driver’s seat
And I drove down 42nd Street
In my Cadillac. Good car to drive after a war

Well, I remember seein’ some ad
So I turned on my Conelrad
But I didn’t pay my Con Ed bill
So the radio didn’t work so well
Turned on my record player—
It was Rock-a-day Johnny singin’, “Tell Your Ma, Tell Your Pa
Our Love’s A-gonna Grow Ooh-wah, Ooh-wah”

I was feelin’ kinda lonesome and blue
I needed somebody to talk to
So I called up the operator of time
Just to hear a voice of some kind
“When you hear the beep it will be three o’clock”
She said that for over an hour
And I hung up

Well, the doctor interrupted me just about then
Sayin’, “Hey I’ve been havin’ the same old dreams
But mine was a little different you see
I dreamt that the only person left after the war was me
I didn’t see you around”

Well, now time passed and now it seems
Everybody’s having them dreams
Everybody sees themselves
Walkin’ around with no one else
Half of the people can be part right all of the time
Some of the people can be all right part of the time
But all of the people can’t be all right all of the time
I think Abraham Lincoln said that
“I’ll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours”
I said that

— Bob Dylan (1963)

REBECCA SOLNIT: 

What's striking about this letter from six congresspeople is that it reflects the reality that there aren't really two sides, when it comes to outcome, if not intention, since Israel is devastating its own security and standing in the world through the mass killing of civilians. And as the six say, “you can't destroy a terror ideology with force alone. And it can, in fact, make it worse.” 

Obviously the main case against the war is the rights and value of life of the civilians being killed, but.... Germany is still paying reparations to Holocaust survivors all these decades later (and has also lost its mind about what antisemitism is and is not); the consequences of grave human rights violations can last. I believe this war is terrible for Israelis and they will pay for it in various ways for a long time.

IN THE ANNALS OF SCOTTISH FOLKLORE, Scotty, the Southern Giant Haggis, etched his name with the grandeur of his sizable and spherical form.

Amidst the rolling hills and untamed landscapes of the Scottish Borders, he made his abode within the sanctum of the Haggis Wildlife Foundation.

It was there, in the bygone days, that Scotty, a living legend, captivated the imagination of those who tread upon the ancient Scottish soil.

His tale unfolds against the backdrop of a bygone era, concluding in the year 1901, when the great Southern Giant Haggis breathed his last, leaving an indelible mark on the historical tapestry of Scotland.

THE WAR PRAYER

by Mark Twain

It was a time of great and exalting excitement. The country was up in arms, the war was on, in every breast burned the holy fire of patriotism; the drums were beating, the bands playing, the toy pistols popping, the bunched firecrackers hissing and spluttering; on every hand and far down the receding and fading spread of roofs and balconies a fluttering wilderness of flags flashed in the sun; daily the young volunteers marched down the wide avenue gay and fine in their new uniforms, the proud fathers and mothers and sisters and sweethearts cheering them with voices choked with happy emotion as they swung by; nightly the packed mass meetings listened, panting, to patriot oratory which stirred the deepest deeps of their hearts, and which they interrupted at briefest intervals with cyclones of applause, the tears running down their cheeks the while; in the churches the pastors preached devotion to flag and country, and invoked the God of Battles, beseeching His aid in our good cause in outpouring of fervid eloquence which moved every listener. It was indeed a glad and gracious time, and the half dozen rash spirits that ventured to disapprove of the war and cast a doubt upon its righteousness straightway got such a stern and angry warning that for their personal safety’s sake they quickly shrank out of sight and offended no more in that way.

Sunday morning came — next day the battalions would leave for the front; the church was filled; the volunteers were there, their young faces alight with martial dreams — visions of the stern advance, the gathering momentum, the rushing charge, the flashing sabers, the flight of the foe, the tumult, the enveloping smoke, the fierce pursuit, the surrender — them home from the war, bronzed heroes, welcomed, adored, submerged in golden seas of glory! With the volunteers sat their dear ones, proud, happy, and envied by the neighbors and friends who had no sons and brothers to send forth to the field of honor, there to win for the flag, or, failing, die the noblest of noble deaths. The service proceeded; a war chapter from the Old Testament was read; the first prayer was said; it was followed by an organ burst that shook the building, and with one impulse the house rose, with glowing eyes and beating hearts, and poured out that tremendous invocation —

“God the all-terrible! Thou who ordainest! Thunder thy clarion and lightning thy sword!”

Then came the “long” prayer. None could remember the like of it for passionate pleading and moving and beautiful language. The burden of its supplication was, that an ever-merciful and benignant Father of us all would watch over our noble young soldiers, and aid, comfort, and encourage them in their patriotic work; bless them, shield them in the day of battle and the hour of peril, bear them in His mighty hand, make them strong and confident, invincible in the bloody onset; help them to crush the foe, grant to them and to their flag and country imperishable honor and glory —

An aged stranger entered and moved with slow and noiseless step up the main aisle, his eyes fixed upon the minister, his long body clothed in a robe that reached to his feet, his head bare, his white hair descending in a frothy cataract to his shoulders, his seamy face unnaturally pale, pale even to ghastliness. With all eyes following him and wondering, he made his silent way; without pausing, he ascended to the preacher’s side and stood there waiting. With shut lids the preacher, unconscious of his presence, continued with his moving prayer, and at last finished it with the words, uttered in fervent appeal, “Bless our arms, grant us the victory, O Lord our God, Father and Protector of our land and flag!”

The stranger touched his arm, motioned him to step aside — which the startled minister did — and took his place. During some moments he surveyed the spellbound audience with solemn eyes, in which burned an uncanny light; then in a deep voice he said:

“I come from the Throne — bearing a message from Almighty God!” The words smote the house with a shock; if the stranger perceived it he gave no attention. “He has heard the prayer of His servant your shepherd, and will grant it if such shall be your desire after I, His messenger, shall have explained to you its import — that is to say, its full import. For it is like unto many of the prayers of men, in that it asks for more than he who utters it is aware of — except he pause and think.

“God’s servant and yours has prayed his prayer. Has he paused and taken thought? Is it one prayer? No, it is two — one uttered, the other not. Both have reached the ear of Him Who heareth all supplications, the spoken and the unspoken. Ponder this — keep it in mind. If you would beseech a blessing upon yourself, beware! lest without intent you invoke a curse upon a neighbor at the same time. If you pray for the blessing of rain upon your crop which needs it, by that act you are possibly praying for a curse upon some neighbor’s crop which may not need rain and can be injured by it.

“You have heard your servant’s prayer — the uttered part of it. I am commissioned of God to put into words the other part of it — that part which the pastor — and also you in your hearts — fervently prayed silently. And ignorantly and unthinkingly? God grant that it was so! You heard these words: ‘Grant us the victory, O Lord our God!’ That is sufficient. The whole of the uttered prayer is compact into those pregnant words. Elaborations were not necessary. When you have prayed for victory you have prayed for many unmentioned results which follow victory — must follow it, cannot help but follow it. Upon the listening spirit of God the Father fell also the unspoken part of the prayer. He commandeth me to put it into words. Listen!

“O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle — be Thou near them! With them — in spirit — we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it — for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.”

(After a pause.) “Ye have prayed it; if ye still desire it, speak! The messenger of the Most High waits!”

It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said.

(About the Text: According to Albert Bigelow Paine, whom Twain named as his literary executor not long before he died, Twain dictated “The War Prayer” in 1904-05 and intended it to be published then. However, it was rejected by his publisher. It was found it among Twain's unpublished manuscripts after the writer's death in 1910. The essay was published for the first time in 1923 in ‘Europe and Elsewhere.’)