- KZYX Evening News
- Huffman on Contrails
- Voter's Guide
- America
- Navarro Painting & Sculpture
- Fort Mason Poetry
- Police Calls and Reports
- Hawaiian Adultery
- Point Arena Plastic Bags
- Frisco Class War
- The Wheel Cafe
- Pentagon Questions
MORE INTERNAL TENSION of the bullying and paranoid type at KZYX with John Sakowicz, an old target even though he's a station trustee, the focal point. Management has also picked off former supervisor, Norman de Vall on the suspicion of less than total devotion to management. Captain Queeg! The steel balls, please!
THE AVA, having changed its production schedule, has been able to tune in to the KZYX Evening News. I'm here to tell you I absolutely love it! It takes some getting used to. Hell, what's so interesting about a guy reading press releases and then telling you the weather in Lakeport, as if anybody can possibly care since it's the same weather everywhere east of Highway 101 and pretty much, except for the fog, the same as Boonville. In other words, a kind of rhetorical white noise. But wait. Then this lady comes on talking in the voice of girl child talking about, of all things, wolves in Montana! And the one wolf heavily monitored as he roams, looking for love, between NorCal and Southern Oregon. Well, I can tell you if you're patient enough to absorb a couple of these exposures to his excellency Michael Kisslinger and Little Tweetum, and you're a connoisseur of Mendo-odd, you'll be hooked too! The KZYX news is can't miss! As for station paranoia and all the rest of the incestuous bullshit that goes on there, I think it can be at least ameliorated with uniforms. Uniforms? Yes. Seriously. How about all the staff and all the programmers dressing in tie-dyed jump suits, an immediate visual that says, Yes! Management rules! No dissent! No criticism of the boss! Ever! We are Dead! Etc.
A PERSON CONCERNED about contrails who suspected government planes often fly over Mendoland, wrote to Congressman Huffman's office seeking confirmation of what the constituent assumes is an overflight fact. Huffman's office wrote back:
"I am sending this again, per your request. I will also print them out and mail them to you. I have spoken with the air force base and I have an inquiry in to FAA regarding flights over the county. The Airforce base does not have any planes that come this way and I am awaiting a response from FAA. Anytime a plane flies it must file a flight pattern with the FAA so they should have information if there was something specific happening. I will let you know as soon as I hear anything.
Thank you, Heather"
YEARS AGO, I ran into an old pilot who told me that during both World War Two and the Korean War pilots trained over Mendocino County. He said the terrain resembled Korea, and he had often flown over at night, swooping low in between the ridgetops. About 15 years ago, a military plane appeared beneath Clow Ridge and, as I recall, about that time a military plane shed a part that fell to earth on Clow Ridge.
THE AVA RECOMMENDS
We vote on the assumption that the two-party system has broken down, that Big Money owns both of them to the detriment of most of us. We vote either Green or Peace and Freedom.
GOVERNOR: Luis Rodriguez, Green.
LT. GOV: An office that need not exist, but since it doesn, Jena Goodman, Green.
SEC. OF STATE: David Curtis who, unfortunately, lists himself as a "dad," indicating he's a mawk-brained, aw isn't that cute kinda dude, the type young people would refer to as a "doosh." Or Curtis really believes fatherhood qualifies him for state office, in which case he's mentally disabled. Still and all, he isn't one of them.
CONTROLLER: Laura Wells. Caught a clip of her once on the news. Very smart, all-round impressive. Ms. Wells makes her way as a financial analyst, which means she understands how money works. Her opponents know how to take money but aren't about to manage it in your interests.
TREASURER: Ellen Brown. Another intelligent, capable person who has written a book on banking. The only truly qualified person in the race.
ATTY GENERAL: Kamala Harris. Hey, didn't you just tell us not to vote for Democrats or Republicans because they're basically one party? Well, yes, but I happen to know Ms. Harris in a casual, purely happenstance kind of way and I know for a face-to-face fact she's the goods! Honest, articulate, very smart and unafraid to take on the great malefactors of wealth.
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER: Nathalie Hrizi. "Nat," as we call her, actually works for a living as a school teacher. Probably no match for the thugs of the insurance ponzis, but she's unlikely to be in their pay as Commissioners usually are.
EQUALIZATION BOARD, 2ND DISTRICT: You'll have to write someone in here. The choice is between a career officeholding Democrat and a wacky Republican, pardon the redundancy, called James Theis, who says he's an "organic foods manager," meaning he wears surgical gloves when he stacks the tofu and reads Ayn Rand on his coffee breaks.
CONGRESS: Another write-in although it's tempting to vote for Dale Mensing, a supermarket cashier but a Republican, meaning he must have some real life work experience from which he has obviously drawn the wrong conclusions. I can just hear him at the register: "Psst. Did you know that Obama isn't even a citizen? Elect me and I'll tell everyone why Building 7 collapsed." Andy Caffrey of Garberville is also running again on a Dope Is Good platform. Sorry, Andy, look what's dope done to your hometown and the rest of the Emerald Triangle. Incumbent Huffman, who may actually be incumbent Mike Thompson, has performed as all Demo Party hacks perform, unfailingly taking his cues from party central. No indication from the robotic former volleyball player that he represents anything but more of the same.
STATE SENATOR: Write someone in, although a friend whose judgement I trust said Derek Knell, a Democrat, was the most impressive of the candidates at the recent Ukiah forum.
ASSEMBLY: Write-in. Amusing as perennial recreational candidate Pam Elizondo (The Flower of Laytonville!) can be, she's about as green as Colin Kaepernick.The old girl would be a hoot in office, though.
STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS: Write-in. Too depressing to even joke about. The latest test scores reveal that only a minority of children are even reading up to grade level. And these three cretinous career "educators" think all the system needs is a little fine-tuning.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS: Kathy Wylie. Despite a limping prose style, a capable person and clearly the pick of this particular litter.
5TH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR: Dan Hamburg is running unopposed, which again demonstrates that, well, Hamburg should not only be opposed, the pious crackpot shouldn't be in the job in the first place. Write in Mark Scaramella.
ASSESSOR-CLERK-RECORDER: Robin Sunbeam, simply because she's willing to challenge mortgage fraud. Nothing against incumbent Ranochak who's been good at the job, but given the times go for the insurgent at every opportunity.
AUDITOR-CONTROLLER: Write-in. Incumbent Weer is same old, same old, and a minor contributor to THE ENTROPY! .
DISTRICT ATTORNEY: David Eyster is running unopposed because Mendocino County's lawyers, as a group, are a club-like gang of electoral wimps. It's hard to believe that not one of them would run against Clay Brennan for the Superior Court sinecure, but none did. Of course there's no real reason to challenge Eyster who's done a good job, but one would think the DEAD DOG faction unhappy with the DA's pot prosecution policy, a faction that includes a bunch of cops and at least one lawyer, would run their lawyer buddy against Eyster. Woof-woof, Dead Dogs! Yer really a buncha poodles. Eyster for DA.
TREASURER-TAX COLLECTOR: Shari Schapmire is running unopposed. And why not. She's doing fine. Go ahead for the incumbent.
PROP 41: Vet's Housing. Of course. Yes. (The state has floated so many bonds over the last 50 years and, like Mendocino County is so thoroughly broke via pension obligations, what's one more mound of debt? It's all going to come crumbling down, probably sooner than later, especially now that our government is simply printing money to keep the ever larger balloon in the air. When that baby pops the only people likely to be unaffected are those people with chickens and a cow in their backyards.)
PROP 42: Public records, open meetings etc. No. Net effect would be to encourage government non-compliance. Public Records Act is fine as it is.
AMERICA
America, you ode for reality!
Give back the people you took.
Let the sun shine again on the four corners of the world you thought of first but do not own, or keep like a convenience.
People are your own word, you invented that locus and term.
Here, you said and say, is where we are. Give back what we are, these people you made, us, and nowhere but you to be.
— Robert Creeley
CULTIVATE, POLLINATE, ART
Rebecca Johnson
rebecca@rebeccajohnsonart.com
http://www.RebeccaJohnsonArt.com
VERY GOOD POET in a very nice space. Be there or be squarer than you are.
Judith Ayn Bernhard—Poetry Reading
I hope you'll join us on Thursday, May 15 2014, at 6:30 PM when Judith Ayn Bernhard will read a selection of new work and poems from her new book, Prisoners of Culture (CC Marimbo, 2014), at Readers Bookstore at Fort Mason Center. Reading on the same bill will be Julie Rogers. This event is part of the weekly Thursdays at Readers Series hosted and curated by Jack Hirschman. Friends Literary Director Byron Spooner will host.
Thanks,
Byron Spooner
Literary Director
Friends of the San Francisco Public Library
438 Treat Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94110
byron.spooner@friendssfpl.org
www.friendssfpl.org
(415) 810-4974
ON APRIL 27th at about 9:45 PM Ukiah Police responded to the Ukiah Valley Medical Center, at 275 Hospital Drive, for a combative subject. Officers arrived to find hospital employees holding 33 year old Ramon Alcazar on the ground. Officers learned Alcazar ran crazily into the Emergency Room yelling angrily he was going to kill everybody. Hospital staff wrestled him to the ground and awaited police arrival, and Alcazar was placed under citizen’s arrest for threats.
* * *
ON APRIL 28th at about 3:55 PM Ukiah Police responded to the area of Gobbi and Leslie Streets for a subject yelling and throwing garbage cans. Officers contacted 20 year old Darrell Fredrick Pike, who was immediately confrontational with officers and threw his backpack on the ground. Pike displayed symptoms of having used a controlled substance and was taken into custody. Pike struggled with the officers and had to be taken to the ground, and he threatened to harm the officers. Pike was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance and resisting arrest. On April 29th Ukiah Police responded to Nokomis School at 495 Washington Avenue for a subject sleeping in the field. Officers were then advised the suspect had pulled a knife on the school principal, and then fled the location. Officers learned the principal was standing with the subject in the school field, after he woke up, waiting for the police to arrive. The suspect suddenly had a box cutter in his hand and began waiving it at the principal threatening to kill him. The suspect then fled. The suspect’s description matched Pike, and his identity was later confirmed and a Be On the Look Out was issued for the arrest of Pike. On April 30th at about 6:10 PM Ukiah Police responded to Wal Mart, at 1155 Airport Park Boulevard, for a shoplifter. Officers saw store employees had detained Pike, and learned the employees had observed Pike select over $70.00 in merchandise and leave the store without paying. Pike was detained and returned to the store. Pike was taken into custody for the previous charges of brandishing a knife and threats, and for the current charges of burglary at Wal Mart. Pike resisted being taken into custody and again struggled with officers. Pike was found to possess a large machete concealed inside his pants, and was additionally charged with possessing a prohibited weapon.
* * *
ON MAY 8, 2014 at approximately 1pm a Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputy and two Fish and Wildlife Wardens were dispatched to a residence in the 25000 block of Barnes Lane in Covelo, California regarding a reported domestic dispute. Upon arrival the Deputy contacted a female adult victim who stated that William Reeves, 20, of Lakeport, an ex-boyfriend, had been visiting her and that during that visit an argument occurred. The female adult victim told Reeves he needed to leave, at which time he accused her of stealing his digital music. When she denied stealing the music, they got into an argument and then he grabbed her and threw her to the ground. The female adult victim got up and went outside the house to call 9-1-1. While calling 9-1-1 on her cell phone Reeves threw a rock at her, missing her, and then walked up behind her and punched her in the back of her head while she was speaking to a 9-1-1 operator. The female adult victim in the case suffered only minor injuries. While speaking to the female adult victim the Deputy and the Wardens saw Reeves walk out of the house. When they called out to him to come speak to them, he ran back into the house. The Deputy and the Wardens then gave chase. Once in the house Reeves ran into a room and told the Deputy and the Wardens that he had a gun. The Deputy and the Wardens backed out of the house awaiting additional law enforcement personnel. While barricaded inside the residence Reeves told the Deputy and Wardens that they would have to shoot him and that he was going to burn the house down. During the incident Reeves started a small fire in the residence and he stated that he wanted law enforcement personnel to shoot him. Additional personnel from the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office arrived, including members of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) and the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT). Following approximately 6-hours of negotiating with Reeves he voluntarily walked out of the house and was arrested peacefully. Reeves was arrested for Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Intimidation of a witness, Felony Vandalism, Arson to an inhabited structure, obstructing or delaying a Peace Officer and for having an outstanding arrest warrant (obstructing or delaying a Peace Officer). Reeves was to be held at the Mendocino County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. (Sheriff’s Press Release.)
* * *
ON MAY 9, 2014 at about 1:05am Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputies responded to an apartment complex in the 6000 block of North State Street in Calpella, California regarding a possible domestic violence incident in progress. Upon arrival Deputies contacted a 36 year old adult male and Erika Nunez, 33, of Calpella, who were occupants of an apartment identified as being associated with the call for service. Deputies learned the pair were living together at the apartment while involved in a dating relationship. The adult male told deputies he and Nunez had been involved in a domestic argument. The argument escalated which resulted in Nunez becoming very agitated. Nunez grabbed a kitchen knife and attempted to assault the adult male with the knife. The victim was able to evade Nunez's attack with the knife. Nunez then discarded the knife and grabbed a barbeque fork and again attacked the adult male in attempt to assault him, however the adult was able to evade her efforts. Deputies did not observe any visible injuries to either the adult male or Nunez. Deputies subsequently arrested Nunez for assault with a deadly weapon and she was booked into the Mendocino County Jail to be held in lieu of $30,000.00 bail. (Sheriff’s Press Release.)
* * *
POLICE CALLS AS OF FRIDAY MORNING
DUI ARREST — Caller in the 600 block of North Orchard Avenue reported at 10 p.m. Tuesday that an "intoxicated, elderly man" was about to drive away. An officer responded and arrested John L. Tyler, 64, of Ojai, on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was booked into Mendocino County Jail.
SUSPICIOUS 911 CALL — Dispatcher reported at 10:27 p.m. Tuesday that a person calling 911 from the Sunrise Inn on South State Street was making suspicious comments. An officer responded and arrested a 39-year-old woman for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
BREAKING WINDOW — Caller in the 700 block of South State Street reported at 10:58 p.m. Tuesday hearing someone breaking a window in the area. An officer checked the area but did not see anything suspicious.
HOLLERING IN THE CREEK — Caller in the 700 block of Sidnie Court reported at 3:43 a.m. Wednesday that people in the creek were yelling and causing a disturbance. An officer responded and the group left upon request.
BROKEN WINDOWS — Caller in the 1300 block of South Dora Street reported at 6:39 a.m. Wednesday that two windows on a car had been broken. The call was later canceled.
SHOPLIFTER — An officer responded to Kohl's on North Orchard Avenue at 11:13 a.m. Wednesday and arrested a Talmage woman for shoplifting. She was cited and released.
WINDSHIELD BROKEN — Caller at Nokomis Elementary School reported at 12:56 p.m. Wednesday that a family member just broke out the windshield of her car with his hands. An officer responded and took a report.
BEDROOM WINDOW BROKEN — Caller in the 200 block of Observatory Avenue reported at 4:36 p.m. Wednesday that someone had just shattered her bedroom window.
DUI ARREST — An officer stopped a vehicle in the 900 block of North State Street at 11:51 p.m. Wednesday and arrested Ashley Lenhart, 27, of Ukiah, on suspicion of driving under the influence. She was cited and taken home.
Reports prepared by the Ukiah Police Department regarding calls handled by the Fort Bragg Police Department.
CAR BROKEN INTO — Caller in the 400 block of East Cypress Street reported at 5:46 p.m. Wednesday that a car had been broken into, and that the only thing missing was change from the center console. An officer responded and took a report.
* * *
POLICE CALLS AS OF SATURDAY MORNING
MAN BANGING ON WINDOW -- Caller at a motel in the 1000 block of South State Street reported at 4:35 a.m. Thursday that a man wrapped in a blanket was banging on a window. An officer responded and the man left upon request.
TRANSIENT IN FIELD -- Caller at Pomolita Middle School reported at 9:34 a.m. Thursday that a transient with a long, brown ponytail was loitering in the field. An officer responded and took the teens he found there back to Ukiah High School.
CAR HIT BUILDING -- Caller in the 700 block of South State Street reported at 10:02 a.m. Thursday that an elderly woman had backed her car into a building. An officer responded and took a report.
TRESPASSING -- Two callers in the 500 block of Perkins Street around 11:30 a.m. Thursday reported that a man with long, brown hair in a ponytail was harassing customers and refusing to leave. An officer responded and arrested a 38-year-old Ukiah man for resisting arrest and disturbing a business. He was booked into Mendocino County Jail.
DRUNKS IN PARKING LOT -- Caller in the 100 block of South Orchard Avenue reported at 4:30 p.m. Thursday that two intoxicated men were sitting near a grove of trees in the parking lot. An officer responded and arrested two 50-year-old Ukiah men for being drunk in public.
MAN PICKING FLOWERS -- Caller in the 800 block of West Standley Street reported at 5:03 p.m. Thursday that possibly drunken man was leaning on fences and picking flowers out of people's yards. An officer responded and reported that the man is disabled.
SOME of the native judges and justices of the peace of the Kau district have been rare specimens of judicial sagacity. One of them considered that all the fines for adultery (thirty dollars, for each offense) properly belonged to himself. He also considered himself a part of the Government, such that if he committed that crime himself it was the same as if the Government committed it, and of course, it was the duty of the Government to pay the fine. Consequently, whenever he had collected a good deal of money from other court revenues, he used to set to work and keep on convicting himself of adultery until he had absorbed all the money on hand in the paying of the fines. The adultery law has been so amended that each party to the offense is now fined thirty dollars; and I would remark in passing that if the crime were invariably detected and the fines collected, the revenues of the Hawaiian Government would probably exceed those of the United States. I trust the observation will not be considered in the light of an insinuation, however.
— Mark Twain, June, 1866; from "Letters from Hawaii"
WAY TO GO, PA! You can't run the place but you got plastic bags under control.
PUBIC NOTICE DATE: May 9, 2014
FROM: CITY OF POINT ARENA REGARDING: NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT ORDINANCE CITY OF POINT ARENA, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT ORDINANCE
SUMMARY NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on May 27, 2014, the City Council of the City of Point Arena will consider adoption of Ordinance No. 220, said ordinance having been introduced for first reading (by title only and waiving further reading of the text), on April 22, 2014.
THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WILL ADOPT CHAPTER 8.30 ENTITLED "DISPOSABLE BAG REDUCTION" TO TITLE 8 “HEALTH AND SAFETY” OF THE POINT ARENA MUNICIPAL CODE. This Ordinance is Categorically Exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) [Cal. Code Reg; Title 14; Sections §15307 & 15308] and Will Include Both Retail Establishments and Restaurants A certified copy of the full text of this proposed ordinance is available at the office of the City Clerk, 451 School Street, Point Arena, during regular business hours. Phone: 707 882.2122 Email: Ptarena@mcn.org Dated: May 9, 2014 Hunter Alexander City Clerk
COMMENT OF THE DAY
I just walked past Local Mission Market on my way home, and found a gentleman scrubbing angry graffiti from the front of the business. Local Mission Market moved to my neighborhood less than a year ago, and sells very organic, local and expensive meat, hummus and jam. I once bought $5 English muffins there, and they were delicious.
San Francisco seems to be in the throes of a class war. There’s a palpable, much publicized rage over tech workers with lots of money moving into San Francisco and turning the city into a really classy Whole Foods, with a Peet’s Coffee on the parking level. $4 toast had the populace up in arms, Google buses are virtual Trojan horses from Silicon Valley, and I recently met the world’s worst tech person at the SFMoMA party, who made me want to graffiti hate speech on his smug little face.
I walked back to Local Mission Market and spoke with owner Yaron Milgrom, who seemed justifiably in a bad mood.
Milgrom owns four business in the Mission, including Local Cellar, Local Mission Eatery, and Local’s Corner, in addition to Local Mission Market. According to Yaron, last night a protest of his businesses was organized by the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (San Francisco Chapter). ACCE is “focusing on stopping foreclosures, expanding definitions of education, helping everyone access healthcare, increasing job availability and holding banks and politicians accountable,” according to its Facebook page, where last night’s protest is listed on its Events Page. The protest was organized in conjunction with the group Our Mission No Eviction.
Milgrom was unsure if the graffiti, some of it obscene, is directly related to the organized protest or the work of some scoundrels who seem to think vandalism is a better addition to the neighborhood than an organic wine place. He pointed out that he hasn’t evicted anyone. “I’m a renter as a business owner. I’m a renter as a tenant.”
He went on to say that ACCE has accused him of discriminating against patrons in his restaurant. You can read details of those claims right here on Latin Bay Area. Milgrom claims to have met with representatives of the group who made demands, some of which he agreed with, such as sensitivity training. “I believe in diverse neighborhoods. I don’t believe in hateful speech.”
I’ve left a voicemail for ACCE, as well as District 9 Supervisor David Campos, for their thoughts on the graffiti. I’ll update the post if I hear back. Really, I can’t imagine any organized community group would condone, much less encourage a crime, against a business. It’s pretty dumb that someone took the opportunity of a peaceful and legal protest to think that the best way to preserve the vibrancy of our neighborhood is to spray-paint “DIE” all over a grocery store. What do you think?
My vote? If you don’t like Mission Local Market, just go to Casa Guadalupe like everyone else.
THE WHEEL CAFE
by Alberta Cottrell
The long highway comes to an end at the threshold of a sleeping town named Cloverdale. It is almost 3am as I drive slowly down Main Street. The town is the entrance to the Northern Coast of California and the end of the world for many. At the end of town I will turn west to cross a few ridges and a valley to reach the ocean.
Main Street is long, but it is only one of a few streets in town. The only lights are the all-night gas station and the Wheel Cafe with its red and blue neon sign. The fluorescent spoked wheel glows against the backdrop of the hills encroaching on the town. The cafe is the size of a boxcar and is set back off the road behind a dirt parking lot the size of a large football field. The Wheel lights the path to its door. Several cars and four large trucks are parked in front. I decide to stop before I drive the small road over the hill.
Inside is a counter with stools, a small grill, a coffee maker, a coke machine and a jukebox. The coke refill containers and other supplies are precariously stacked beside the coke machine. I guess there is no back room. A sign points outside to the restroom. The coffee maker is a three-potter, with two pots filled with coffee and a third in progress. The walls are covered with clocks, all of the same design — an inch slab from a redwood tree with your favorite picture laminated on the face. Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and others look down at the activity inside the Wheel.
Every customer gets a cup of coffee and decaf is not served here. The only delay in service is Helen as she waits for you to pick your stool. The coffee is a dollar but there is no limit. It is good and will definitely keep you awake.
The Wheel is full — teeming with business. Ten of the twelve stools are occupied. There are no tables, only stools. Helen keeps busy sliding gracefully up and down the counter collecting the gossip and filling the cups. Helen slides between the counter and grill because this full-bodied woman would not fit the other way.
The cook is drawing cartoons from his stool behind the grill. Occasionally, he passes them out. The cartoons philosophically capture the most recent conversation and are passed up and down the counter. They become part of the conversation.
The UPS crew arrives and they fill in the empty stools. They talk about Joe who is currently recovering in the hospital after hitting a deer. His girlfriend, Arlene, has been out to see him many times this week. Nobody's seen his wife. The important question is: "Does his wife have blonde or brunette hair?" Joe will be OK, and he will be out of the hospital in time to go to the hearing on, "Why did he hit the deer?" and "How did the UPS truck roll over the cliff?" UPS management thinks Joe was going too fast. He should have had his high beams on. With high beams he would have seen the deer sooner and avoided the accident. Joe says his high beams were on and maybe he knocked them off during the ride over the cliff. Besides, he saw the deer clearly jump off the upper hill directly into his path and freeze. The discussion continues on about the reactions of a large empty truck and trailer when you hit a deer. The cab was destroyed before it rolled over the side.
Everyone is curious about where I am from and where I am going. Someone from the rear end of the counter wants to know, "Why am I hauling 4x8 beams, 2 ladders and a black cat?" The conversation turns to truck companions — dogs. No one knows of anyone having a cat. We discuss the shed my family is building on our small acre. The same man from the far end says, "A family that works together, fights together." Everyone laughs.
Helen tells us about the lady in jail. She shot her husband in the back of the head. The police took four hours to show up and by then the lady's sister had cleaned up the mess and even the husband. The police have lost the remaining evidence. Everyone is laughing and asking, "Who is the policeman?" I silently wonder why she shot her husband.
Everyone who leaves the Wheel stops to talk to the black cat watching us from the dashboard of my truck. The cat talks back to each visitor.
The lady down the street from Mike (his shirt says, "Mike") just found out that her husband's girlfriend is five months pregnant. The girlfriend lives two blocks away from the Wheel. For a moment I think we are going to visit her, en masse.
Ernie arrives and he knows the policeman. He is the same cop who got the "Policeman of the Year” award last year. A chorus asks, "Why was he Policeman of the Year?" Ernie pauses holding everyone in suspense, but he is going to tell us. He was the policeman who had the gun battle with a guy who tried to rob the gas station across the street. It took the policeman 17 shots before he hit the thief. The laughter is so loud the gas station attendant should be able to hear us.
Helen was on the Big Spin and won $20,000. Everyone has heard the story before, but ask her again about all the details. Channel 5 from San Francisco was up yesterday to film the town and interview the people about the impending shutdown of the lumber mill. From the conversation, I guess that Channel 5 interviewed at least half of the residents.
George and Al are getting read to leave soon. They are going "over the hill" too and they want me to leave before them. I ask why? George doesn't want to pull over on "that road" (Highway 128) to let me pass. We agree to leave at 4am. That gives Al enough time for another cup of coffee. I order toast. George has some of my toast. He doesn't ask.
As we leave, everyone talks to my traveling companion. I hurry on my way to avoid having George and Al on my tail going over the hill. Then minutes later I see the lights of two lumber trucks coming up quickly. George flips his lights as he closes in. I pull over to keep from slowing them down. George passes. But Al slows to a crawl, waiting for me to pull back onto the road. Now I'm trapped between them and I decide they have planned the trap. So off we go.
I am pushing to keep up, but George slows the pace when I fall too far behind. My black cat can't decide who he wants to watch, the many colored taillights in front or the headlights in back. George hits a skunk and I dodge what's left. I remember the Joe-and-the-deer story and decide not to worry. My companion howls as the smell from the skunk permeates the truck. We pass a raccoon sitting alongside the road. He is smarter than the skunk and decides not to risk his life between all those wheels.
We are traveling fast, slowing only for the sharp curves. The trip goes quickly as I sit cradled between the two trucks. George honks and Al flips his lights as I turn off the main road towards our cabin.
My cat smells our redwoods and gets excited. I wonder if Joe will get fired or will he only get suspended for a few days? I could join the others to watch them pull Joe's truck out on Friday.
Later when driving north along the coast road, a lumber truck filled with redwood trees honks loudly. I guess it's George or Al.
DEAR COLLEAGUES:
I was invited by a member of the Council on Foreign Relations to attend the meeting below. As some of you know, I do a continuing series of shows that I call, "War Is a Business, and Business Is Good". This is entirely in keeping with the theme of my show, "All About Money". War is a business. Big business. The defense industry is one of our nation's top industrial sectors. It's one of the drivers of of economy. If I attend this meeting, is there any question that any of you would like me to ask on your behalf? This meeting is unprecedented access for me. This meeting is also a public meeting, and it will be hard for any of the panelist to dodge a question. The meeting is not for attribution, which means that I can't record the meeting or quote a source by name. But I can try to get answers for you to tough questions. You can then try to build a story or a show based on those general responses, providing they can be collaborated. Let me know.
Thanks, John Sakowicz
New York Meetings, Robert B. McKeon Endowed Series on Military Strategy and Leadership; General Raymond T. Odierno, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army; General James F. Amos, Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps; General Mark A. Welsh III Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force; Admiral Robert J. Papp Jr. Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard; Vice Admiral Michelle Howard; Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy; Mary M. Boies, Counsel, Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP Presiding.
The Robert B. McKeon Endowed Series on Military Strategy and Leadership features prominent individuals from the military and intelligence communities. Wednesday, May 14, 20145:30 to 6:00 p.m. Reception 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. Meeting 7:15 to 8:00 p.m. Cocktail Reception at the Harold Pratt House, 58 East 68th Street, New York, New York 10065
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