- Rain Coming
- Leo Hartz
- Friday Film
- Boonville Redemption
- Meet Huff
- Cry Boys
- Northcoast Dems
- Random Thoughts
- Parvo Outbreak
- Coon Bros
- Against AF
- Yesterday's Catch
- Cubs Fans
- Church Urethane
- Unhinged Moderators
- Ukiah Players
- Seed Bombs
- Killer Tunnels
TWO STRONG PACIFIC FRONTS will move across the northwest California interior. The first will arrive on Thursday, followed by the second on Saturday which will bring periods of heavy rain and gusty winds to upper elevations. 3 to 5 inches of rainfall is expected across the valley communities Thursday through Sunday. However, heavier rain is likely across southwestern slopes of the interior mountains where a total of 5 to 7 inches may be observed. Although small creeks and streams may become full, large mainstream rivers will remain well below monitor stage. (National Weather Service)
THE MAN found dead in the Upper Peachland, Boonville, last week has been ruled a suicide. He has been identified as Leo Hartz, 39, of Shine On Farm, Philo.
GREG KROUSE, looking askance, “I was wondering if you could mention our First Friday special film this Friday Oct 14th, at 6 and 7 PM at the AV Grange hall. The film is The Lunchbox, is a warm Indian movie about two strangers who get connected by an accidental message in a lunch box and the use of the same for a sort of lunch box internet. Six PM is a short social hour followed by the film at 7 PM.”
SPEAKING of movies we’ve got Pat Boone, Ed Asner and Diane Ladd starring in a made-in-Boonville epic called, “Boonville Redemption,” now available on DVD. We’ve annotated the press release’s account of the film’s story line to bring it more into line with Boonville’s contemporary realities.
“Thirteen-year-old Melinda is angry about the hand life has dealt her. Born out of wedlock and scorned by many, she struggles to find out who she is in this world, to herself, her family and to God. Melinda desperately wants to know what happened to her real father.
(Paternity is a tricky subject in the Anderson Valley, always has been.)
“No one will tell her. Alice, Melinda's mother, feels that God has abandoned her because of her past decisions, so she now relies on superstitions to deal with her guilt and get her through the day. Maddox, Melinda's stepfather, is the top employer in Anderson Valley. He lords his control over the small town of Boonville. The local pastor is the only person who doesn't treat Melinda with disdain. But he is mysteriously killed and Melinda is left with no one to talk to.”
(References to ‘top employer’ could be to the Roederer Winery, a French Catholic imperial enterprise located in Philo, and undoubtedly hostile to American fundamentalism. Several Boonville pastors of various denominations have in fact disappeared over the years, but are rumored to have merely opted for anonymous new lives in the fleshpots of San Francisco.)
“Mary is Melinda's ailing and sometimes delusional grandmother. Under much protest, Melinda is sent to take care of her. Mary shows Melinda the love and acceptance that the girl has never experienced. When Grandma Mary is delusional, she speaks in a long forgotten language of the valley called "Boontling." With the discovery and understanding of Boontling, Melinda begins to learn about her father. Melinda is happy at her grandmother's and never wants to return home. She enjoys the peace of no longer being under the heavy thumb of Maddox. But that comfort is soon ripped from her with Grandma Mary's sudden passing.
(Boontling being heavy on ethnic slurs and sexual innuendo, Melinda undoubtedly got an earful from ol’ gran.)
“Now determined to do all within her power to find her father, Melinda's bravery compels some of the townspeople to reveal the dark secrets that they have kept for years. Her example gives them strength to bring the truth to light and ultimately to find forgiveness and redemption. Along with Boonville's residents, Melinda learns that when you look for the truth, that's where you'll find grace.”
(It’s probably wiser to look for the truth than find it, discovery being a disillusioning experience. Here at Boonville’s beloved community newspaper, if we revealed even half of the ‘dark secrets’ we know, we couldn’t leave our office without Seal Team Six and an armored vehicle.)
O BOYBOYO. “You're Invited! Coffee with Congressman Huffman in Boonville on Tuesday Oct. 18. “As part of my ongoing public outreach throughout California's 2nd Congressional District, I will be hosting "Coffee with your Congressman" at the Boonville Hotel on Tuesday, October 18. I look forward to answering your questions and sharing recent updates from Congress on the work I’m doing on behalf of California’s North Coast. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and join me for what I hope will be an informative and lively discussion. If you have questions, please contact my San Rafael District Office at (415) 258-9657. Hope to see you there. — Congressman Jared Huffman”
TAKE THIS, BOYS
NORTHCOAST DEMOCRATS have long called themselves "progressives," another term made meaningless by people who, at their very best, are barely liberals, let alone the Super Libs implied by "progressive." Used to be we had real liberals. Strange as it may seem today, we once had a bona fide liberal representing the Northcoast in Congress — Clem Miller. He was the last one, and he died in a plane crash in what? '63? His name was still on the ballot, along with Republican challenger, Don Clausen. Clausen went to Congress as the first NorCal person to lose an election to a dead man, Miller.
* * *
OUR PRESENT-DAY CONGRESSMAN, JARED HUFFMAN, full-time gofer for the wine industry, is a veritable portrait in political courage set alongside our Assemblyman, Jim Wood, and our State Senator Mike McGuire, both out of Healdsburg or, as some people call it, "the Carmel of the North." Wood and McGuire both abstained on the recent farmworker overtime bill. The wine industry opposed the bill, and Wood and McGuire wouldn't dare vote no. But abstentions? These guys give gutlessness a bad name.
RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM A FAILING MIND
Number 1. Excited headline from the Press Democrat: "American Airlines nonstop to Phoenix from Sonoma County Airport." There's that much traffic between the Rose City and Phoenix? I spent a couple of days in Phoenix once, and found the place so unrelievedly awful I was tempted to start walking home to Boonville a half hour after I got there. I'd flown down to see my cousin, Jim, who'd just been released from the federal prison at Lompoc where he'd been confined for three years for refusing to register for the draft, the first, and perhaps only, guy from Arizona to take on the Vietnam War. His face regularly appeared on the front pages of the Arizona papers as Public Enemy Number One. He was about 19 at the time, and a Trotskyist. Jim's sentencing judge was so nonplussed at his stand he sent Jim to a nut house for observation, adding six months in the violent psycho ward to his three-year prison sentence. Cousin Jim arrived at Lompoc the day my youngest brother was leaving the prison. Younger brother had been sentenced to 18 months out of San Francisco where, from the early 1960s on, opposition to the war was fierce. Cousin Jim eventually received a Presidential pardon and became, you guessed it: a lawyer. My brother said he wouldn't pardon the government and didn't care if they pardoned him or not.
Number 2. The Mendocino schools — the la di da "village" of Mendocino schools that is, and if you enjoy seeing old timers sputter and stomp their feet, be sure to call it "Mendocino Village," which they remember as "Mendacina," which was before the town got all candy-assed, are soliciting busybodies to sit on a "wellness committee." (Wellness. Strike one.) Unless he has communicable leprosy or is otherwise actively diseased, my kid's "wellness" is my business, not the school's. Unless the school is force feeding their students sugar-coated grease sticks, young people arrive at school with their eating habits already established. A kid raised on fast food is never going to eat an apple. (And most store-bought apples are so bad they might as well be fast food.) Seems to me the sedentary aspect of young lives is more worrisome. Bad food can be burned off if the kid is up off the couch and moving around, but anymore, unless the child is into sports, lots of kids don't get any exercise at all. Factor in the psychotic input they gaze at all day on their electronic gizmos, and it's a marvel the young 'uns do as well as they do.
A DOG at the Ukiah Animal Shelter has died of parvo, prompting the following statement on the Shelter's facebook page:
"It is with great sadness that I must tell you Seth did not survive. He died very early this morning even though he was receiving all of the best treatment available. Seth was a very sweet, gentle soul who will be missed by staff and volunteers.
We have seen a lot of parvo in the last month all around the county. Please make sure your dogs are FULLY vaccinated. Seth's case is unusual as he was an adult dog who did get parvo, most likely due to an incomplete vaccine series as a puppy. So please complete the series on your puppy and vaccinate your adult dogs yearly for the first few years and every three years after that. Talk to your veterinarian and be sure your dog is protected."
We will all miss Seth very much, he was loved by staff and volunteers. Please know our shelter is taking this matter very seriously. We want to thank you all for your support during this difficult time. Questions or concerns can be directed to 707-467-6453.
— The staff of Mendocino County Animal Shelter
COON BROS CAUGHT & CAGED
FARM BUREAU OPPOSES AF (NOT AG)
Dear Editor:
At the September Board of Directors meeting, the Mendocino County Farm Bureau Board voted to take an official position against Measure AF, which would through the ballot initiative process, attempt to regulate medical cannabis cultivation, processing, testing, distribution, transportation, delivery and dispensing county wide.
Mendocino County Farm Bureau is highly concerned with how cannabis regulation, both at the state, local and possibly federal levels, will impact land use and natural resources within Mendocino County. There are a number of unknowns with how cannabis permitting processes will impact timber production, agricultural lands, range lands and rural residences. There are questions on how water rights, property tax discounts (Williamson Act/Timberland Production Zone), water quality compliance and other programs will be implemented. It is unclear how these issues will ultimately be affected by new cannabis regulations. However, a sure bet is that Measure AF is not the solution!
There are a number of concerns with Measure AF, but the main issue is that the initiative circumvents the county public ordinance development and revision process and by doing so prevents public comment on how the entirety of the county would like to see medical cannabis regulated. If Measure AF passes it would supersede the medical cannabis ordinance(s) that the county is currently drafting and would nullify the input already provided by the public, including the concerns expressed by Farm Bureau, other organizations, county government departments and numbers of citizens. Plus, if AF were to pass, the county could not consider amendments until June 1, 2018. Finally, Measure AF, as a ballot initiative, does not have to undergo review through the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) even if significant land use changes are proposed.
The county cannabis ordinance revision and development process will not be perfect. No one interest will have all of their asks included in the final product. However, unlike Measure AF, it is a public process that allows for multiple opportunities for participation through written or oral comments. Cannabis is not going away in Mendocino County, but a democratic process will promote smart policy and better stewardship of our lands and resources. If the citizens of Mendocino County defeat Measure AF, it is equally important to continue to engage with the county as the ordinance process moves forward over the next few months.
Please take a moment to visit the NO on AF Committee website at http://www.votenomeasureaf.org/ and join Mendocino County Farm Bureau and many more in VOTING NO on MEASURE AF on November 8th!
Sincerely,
Frost Pauli President
CATCH OF THE DAY, October 11, 2016
![Collett, Harnett, Kull, Langenderfer](https://i0.wp.com/www.theava.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Bkg11a.jpg?resize=478%2C184&ssl=1)
DANIEL COLLETT, San Diego/Ukiah. Vandalism.
JAMES HARNETT, Ukiah. False ID, probation revocation.
JASON KULL, Palm Harbor, Florida/Ukiah. Failure to appear.
BRANDON LANGENDERFER, Laytonville. Under influence, paraphernalia, probation revocation.
![Owen (Oct. 11), Owen (Sep. 28), Reeves, Slagle](https://i0.wp.com/www.theava.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Bkg11b.jpg?resize=478%2C184&ssl=1)
NATALIA OWEN, San Francisco/Willits. Under influence, evidence tampering*, false ID, resisting.
WILLIAM REEVES, Covelo. Probation revocation.
JUSTIN SLAGLE, Redwood Valley. Domestic battery.
(*Perhaps the “evidence” is her hair. This is the 18-year old gal who was arrested last month for trying to stiff a San Francisco cabbie out of his fare for driving her to Mendoland. She failed.)
GO, GIANTS!
(written before the Giants Major Tuesday Night Fail)
I've said it before, but not for a while.
Living downtown, I don’t come into contact with obnoxious Cub fans very often. Those of my friends who are Cub fans actually were very supportive in 2005. So if the Cubs win it, I will try to be happy for them. But I can’t root for the Cubs. Why? (Don’t bother to subject each of these reasons to rationality.)
- In 1969, Ron Santo absolutely humiliated his teammate, Don Young, in a post-game press conference when Young didn’t make a play in center field leading to a Cubs loss. I was rooting for the Cubs that year; not instead of the White Sox, but in addition. (long story) But I was so appalled at Santo that I immediately got off the Cubs bus. I was delighted when the Mets caught and passed them in September.
- Their uniforms and logo are stupid.
- Their "cubbies" nickname is infantile and stupid; so is their victory song.
- Their re-building effort had an unfair advantage given that their fan base would put up with excessive intentional losing for so long. (I know that we are debating whether or not the White Sox should rebuild along similar lines, but I also find teams tanking generally to detract from my enjoyment of the sport.)
- Look, every team has stupid and unsophisticated fans. But it seems to me that Cub fans carry it to extremes, a function, I think, of their bandwagon mentality. So idiots go to the ballpark, and every time there is a fly ball to short left, they scream as if it will be over the left field wall.
- They throw home run balls back. Fucking stupid!
- Without getting overtly political, I don’t like the Ricketts family. (Laura might be ok.)
- And I’m with Josh, although I haven’t experienced it personally much. The obnoxiousness of neighborhood superior fans can be infuriating. One of my sons lived about four blocks east of Wrigley back in 2003. He was walking to meet some folks for dinner on a Saturday night when the Cubs were playing a playoff game. The game was ending as he walked by Wrigley. A Cubs fan was high-fiving everyone in sight and tried to high-five my son. My son did not raise his arm, while pleasantly saying "Sox fan." The response was "go back to the ghetto." I know it was aberrational, and least to that extreme. But it is not unheard of either.
There’s undoubtedly more. I don’t find the Cubs interesting, but I’m working on being pleasant if they win the World Series, for the sake of my Cub fan friends. But, man, it’s hard.
–Jayne Thomas
HOMELESS DESPERATE UNDERPRIVILEGED
by “King” Arthur USA
HDU This acronym does not mean Homeless Desperate Underprivileged, they are my words. The Historical board in Mendocino refused the appeal of St Anthony’s Church sign because of the material HDU high density urethane used in the construction. Although the basis of the sign is made of solid wood, posts, the small letters are made of HDU. This material will last longer than wood because of the climate here on the coast.
The Church has been ordered to take down the sign or a lien could be placed on the Church “Longer” was is not operative word in the Historical board’s vocabulary. Wood is wood and weather is weather, not “whether” or not another redwood wood tree needs to be cut down to appease within keeping with historical buildings in the town of Mendocino. “We must keep with tradition” and I agree otherwise, large apartment blocks and corporate resorts could soon blanket cover the beautiful unspoilt Northern California coast, yet common sense did not prevail as I pleaded to the Historical board. “St Anthony's church and the Priest, Father Lou, ex Vietnam veteran and one of the most generous, kind, server to the poor and the community here in Mendocino is not selling burgers or merchandise to the tourists, it is providing a service for people who are homeless, desperate, underprivileged and help to all here in Mendocino.”
St Anthony’s Church is giving compassion, faith, hope, humanity and practical help to society. It does not judge, colour, creed, or question, ask how, why and where. I have personal experience of homelessness. I came to St Anthony’s Church for help and one will never know what homelessness is like until one has experienced it. So when the historical board thinks of high destiny urethane on the St Anthony’s Church sign then have a thought for the people who struggle in this life. They have not been born into a privileged life, or afforded a lifestyle that can sit on boards voluntary and make “corporate” decisions without thinking of the financial burden suffered in this world today. Show some common sense for a Church that gives not take away. The Church was here long before the (“hysterical” as some call people call it) Historical board started. I hope these committee members never have to go to a church for help and if they did they would find a welcome Hand, Deserving, and Understanding that at this moment is not in their mindset. HDU A further update to the story, A very generous person has provided the finance to have a new sign made out of wood and last week at the historical board meeting they have agreed to the plans and siting.
St Anthony’s Church was started in 1852 http://stanthonysofmendocino.com/ and the Historical board was formed in the 1970s.
ON LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY
Let’s look at the debate without the shrill hyperbole.
Anderson Shtupper wasted no time to bring up the p*ssy comment. When he received an apology, he did not relent, he used it as an opportunity to recover any journalistic credentials he never really had. So intent on throwing out his “tough” questions he ignored, and cut-off, the answers.
Here’s the thing, Trump was not a politician at the time. he was a jet-setting billionaire bon vivant running a beauty pageant. He was not a public official. If it was Mick Jagger, or Snoop Dog it would not matter. It would be laughed at.
The total hypocrisy is the fact that in the audience was a former president, and potential first-philanderer, who penetrated an intern with a Cohiba and then placed it into his mouth before receiving oral sex in a government office. He had sex (oral) with an intern in a government office, but they dare bring up Trump carrying on about grabbing a girl’s “p*ssy”? Really.
Men do at times talk this way. If people, and especially women, don’t think they do, then they are only lying to themselves.
We then have Clinton blaming the Russians again. We then have her defend the totally ironic position of American strategy to defeat Assad, allow the destruction of Syria, the spread of ISIS, rather than defeating ISIS first. The insane US policy of WANTING Assad, first and foremost, to fall is the cause of the dire situation in “what is Aleppo?” Here’s the answer: Aleppo is when you are not content with initiating and fomenting regime change in a part of the world despite the deaths and suffering of millions.
The media last night set the tone so they could lament it in a week’s worth of press afterward. “Scandalous” by their very making. It took 2 unhinged moderators to deliver it. Now, more hypocrisy and feigned indignation… to sell, sell, sell the spectacle. Wake up dummies.
PRIVATE LIVES PRIVATE LIES
Private Lives Private Lies is an original play that protrays real issues within the LGBTQ community. A talented group of 17 actors dispersed throughout the different vignetttes will give you a deeply felt experience of the dynamics that play out in our relationships. Playwright Dianna L. Grayer wanted to bring the lives of LGBTQ people to the stage to show the pain and struggle due to hatred and the inability to be real and authentic. With four sold out shows and four standing ovations, this play has proven that it has the power to touch hearts, change minds, and change lives, no matter who you are. We've all been touched by relationship discord, rejection, addiction, and discrimination - Private Lives Private Lies gives you ways to heal, grow, and change, just by speaking your truth and being yourself! Private Lives Private Lies is educational, therapuetic, entertaining and moving! Get ready to laugh and cry!
Sponsored by Ukiah PFLAG
Sonoma County, CA (OPENPRESS) Oct, 2016 - The talented collaboration of Sonoma County actors and Playwright Dianna L. Grayer is proud to present “Private Lives Private Lies,” an original play about the struggles and joys from the perspective of eight LGBTQ characters. The show will take place during the weekend of October 22-23, 2016, at Ukiah Players Theatre, 1041 Low Gap Road, Ukiah. The play will begin at 7pm on Saturday, October 22nd and on Sunday, October 23rd, the show will begin at 2pm. Tickets are $20 and are available online at Brown Paper Tickets - http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2510068 - and at the door. Dr. Grayer says, “Private Lives Private Lies explores relationship discord, addiction, discrimination, and rejection in the lives of 8 LGBTQ people - the struggles they face and the joy that comes from being authentic and free. It is educational, therapeutic, hopeful, and entertaining, and pulls from every emotional realm, including love and laughter!” Playwright Dianna L Grayer's motivation for writing this play was to bring LGBTQ relationship dynamics to life while tackling some of the issues behind the masks that everyone wears - gay or straight. There will be a networking table for people to access resources that can help empower and support those in the LGBTQ community and their allies.
MONARCH RESCUE SEED BOMBS
On Thursday, October 20th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm the Mendocino County Library, Ukiah Branch is hosting a Maker Space-Monarch Rescue Seed Bombs.
Enjoy this hands-on event. Make Seed Bombs filled with Monarch Butterfly habitat restoration seeds. You will take these clay capsules home to your gardens and neighborhoods to create beautiful, beneficial habitat for butterflies.
This event is family friendly, free to the public and sponsored by the Ukiah Valley Friends of the Library.
BROWN ADMINISTRATION APPLIES FOR PERMIT TO TAKE ENDANGERED SPECIES IN DELTA TUNNELS
by Dan Bacher
Governor Jerry Brown and other state officials have constantly claimed the Delta Tunnels project will “restore” the Delta ecosystem, but they revealed their real plans on October 7 when the administration applied for a permit to kill winter-run Chinook salmon, Central Valley steelhead, Delta and longfin smelt and other endangered species with the project.
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) submitted an “incidental intake” application for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) in alleged “compliance” with the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) in order to build the Delta Tunnels, also known as the California WaterFix. In other words, they are applying for a permit to kill endangered species in the construction and operation of the three new water intakes on the Sacramento River and other facilities planned as part of the multi-billion dollar project.
The state and federal water export pumps on the South Delta that deliver subsidized water to corporate agribusiness interests on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley have killed hundreds of millions of fish over the past several decades. These fish include Sacramento splittail, a native minnow; endangered species such as winter-run Chinook, spring-run Chinook, Central Valley steelhead and Delta and longfin smelt; and introduced fish including striped bass, threadfin shad, American shad, black bass and white catfish.
The California WaterFix website announced, “Consistent with the federal Endangered Species Act process where DWR and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation recently submitted the California WaterFix biological assessment addressing incidental take of federally-listed species, DWR has submitted this application to DFW in compliance with Section 2081(b) of CESA to address incidental take of state-listed species for the California WaterFix.”
“As identified in CESA, projects that may cause ‘take’ (translate: killing) of a state-listed species must obtain authorization from DFW prior to implementing the action,” California WaterFix officials stated. “Because California WaterFix would potentially cause incidental take associated with its construction and operation, DWR is required to apply for an incidental take permit (also known as a 2081(b) permit.”
Key elements in the 2081(b) application include “documentation that the impacts of the incidental take are minimized and fully mitigated; funding is available for the minimization and mitigation measures; and incidental take authorized by the permit would not jeopardize the continued existence of a CESA-listed species,” the officials declared.
The California Code of Regulations (Title 14, Sections 783.0 - 783.8) provide details on the application and review requirements related to the 2081(b) permit.
For the complete incidental take permit, appendices and figures, go here: cms.capitoltechsolutions.com/…
Responding to DWR’s application for an incidental take permit, Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta (RTD), noted, “The California WaterFix , aka the Delta tunnels, was sold as protecting fish. All the years of propaganda about how Delta Smelt would do better were laid out month after month for Californians. Well, the WaterFix has applied for a take permit to kill DeltaSmelt with the tunnels.”
As DWR submitted it’s application, Delta and longfin smelt, winter-run Chinook, and other fish species continued to move closer and closer to the abyss of extinction.
The population of Delta Smelt plummeted to a new low in the annual spring survey conducted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The 2016 Spring Kodiak Trawl (SKT) index, a relative measure of abundance, is 1.8, a decrease from the 2015 index (13.8) and is the lowest index on record.
Only thirteen adult Delta Smelt, an indicator species that demonstrates the health of the San Francisco Bay-Delta, were collected at 8 stations contributing to the index in 2016. “This is the lowest catch in SKT history, and a steep decline from the 2015 then-record-low catch of 88,” said Scott Wilson, Regional Manager of the CDFW Bay Delta Region, in a memo.
“Once the most abundant species in the estuary, we can now name smelt rather than count them," said Bill Jennings, Executive Director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA).
On October 7, Tom Cannon on the California Fisheries Blog responded to the Sacramento Bee’s report on August 31 citing claims by Dr. Ted Sommer of the California Department of Water Resources that Delta smelt are starving.
“Dr. Sommer related recent success in stimulating the north Delta food web by increasing flow through the Yolo Bypass in July as part of the state’s new strategy to help Delta smelt,” said Cannon. “I had reported earlier on the experiment and the strategy. While Dr. Sommer was not implying that just adding some fertilizer to the north Delta would save the smelt, he was deflecting discussion and treatment away from the overriding cause of the collapse of Delta smelt: lack of spring-through-fall outflow to the Bay.”
“During August of this year, the normal heavy hand of Delta exports again reached out to degrade the critical habitat of what few smelt are left,” Cannon said.
To read the complete article, “Are Delta Smelt Starving,” go to: calsport.org/…
The Delta smelt collapse is part of an overall ecosystem decline driven by water diversions by the federal and state water projects. The CDFW's 2015 Fall Midwater Trawl demonstrates that, since 1967, populations of striped bass, Delta smelt, longfin smelt, American shad, splittail and threadfin shad have declined by 99.7, 98.3, 99.9, 97.7, 98.5 and 93.7 percent, respectively, according to Jennings.
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Background on the Delta Tunnels
The Delta Tunnels plan, Governor Jerry Brown’s “legacy project,” is based on the absurd premise that diverting more water out of the Sacramento River before it flows into the Delta would somehow “restore" its fish populations and ecosystems.
In reality, the construction of the two 35-mile long tunnels under the Delta would hasten the extinction of Central Valley steelhead, Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon, Delta and longfin smelt, green sturgeon and other fish species. The project would also imperil the salmon and steelhead populations on the Trinity and Klamath rivers, a fishery that for thousands of years has played an integral part in the culture, religion and food supply of the Yurok, Karuk and Hoopa Valley Tribes.
To read a transcript of my testimony before the State Water Resources Board regarding the petition by the Department of Water Resources and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to add three new points of diversion from the Sacramento River for the Delta Tunnels, go to: www.dailykos.com/...
Now that Seth has been called home to Jesus (all dogs go to the Christian Heaven, not that other place, Allah forefend), let us turn our prayers to the plight of poor old Sutter, Gov. Brown’s sister’s dog, an adorable old corgi, who has been rushed to a veterinary hospital in Sacramento, where he was diagnosed with inoperable cancer.
“He’s a real fighter,” the Gov. tweeted yesterday, so we can only hope he bites the vet before he gets the lethal injection…
Wrong again, Señor McEwen.
Seth’s full name is Al-Seth Bin Mohammed.
As I compose this missive, he is already working his way through 72 virgin cocker-spaniels.
kelb en-Nasrani –?
Voulez vous coucher avec mon chien?
That’s kelb en-mulahad, Sir.
And although I haven’t been with that particular chien, there were many others.
I venture to remind Believers that the heavenly manifestation of bounty awaiting the True Martyr is not ‘virgins,’ as written, but ‘raisins.’ Deeply sorry for any misunderstanding, I’m just saying.
Damn.
I should have read the small print more carefully.
The Giants playoff was run was a total fluke. They got lucky with the Mets, were out played in games 1 and 2 by the Cubs, were constantly on the ropes in game 3, got lucky again…And then there’s game 4, a three run lead in the ninth, Romo is no closer, Lopez is way long in the tooth, Lee who?, Smith who? and Strickland…a one trick pony the league figured out almost immediately…Go Cubs!
Total bummer! It rankles me still, and will for weeks whenever I think about it. Put it on Bochy. Why yank Moore? Or why not at least wait until the first hitter in the 9th? If he looks weak, if the first guy tees off on him, then go to the bullpen? Post game comment agreed, or at least Pete Rose did. He said he would have stuck with Moore, who was sailing along with a 3-run lead. But give it to the Cubs. They took full advantage of Bochy’s screw-up. And who would have expected Crawford to make that wild throw to first on the DP? PS. Trade Belt for a lights out reliever. Romo’s finished. Lopez is over. I feel most sympathy for Conor Gillaspie. He was on an MVP trajectory. 4X4 and that truly great play at third?
Moore was at, I think, 118 pitches. He had been in some jams. Crawford’s mistake was the difference in the inning. Trade Belt? It is not the way the Giants do things. What do they have in the farm system? Nothing impressive that I have seen. But the Giants build from their. I would say the Giants need pitching. They have two good starters. Moore might make it to three. No one else. Without a closer and a setup guy, the bull pen will continue to look triple A.
It boiled down to the bull pen. The Giants have no closer. I think there were 29 blown saves during the year. Cut that number in half, and the Giants win their division. So it will be interesting to see who the Giants pick up for a closer, and who they let go. Cassia will be gone unless he has more time under contract.
Excerpt from a longer piece from Yahoo Sports:
So came the second guessing: “You think the Giants should have just stuck with Matt Moore in the ninth?”
A postseason clincher without an appearance from coulda, shoulda or woulda is like a night at the club without a Drake song — it ain’t happening, as much as you might like it to. But this question was legit. It was the first one pitched to Bochy in the postgame press conference.
“That’s a lot of work he did,” Bochy said of Moore. “At that point where he’s at, he did his job. We were lined up. I would like to think you’re going to get three outs there. We couldn’t do it. Because of the job he did, we had all the guys set up, we just couldn’t get outs.”
Now, we have every reason to trust Bochy’s postseason decision-making, but this still seems like something to consider beyond, “He did his job.” A point-counterpoint seems in order:
Point: Moore had thrown 120 pitches, the second-highest total of the season for him and tied for the second most of his career. He threw 120 in a June 2013 game when he was with the Tampa Bay Rays and threw 133 on Aug. 25 with the Giants, as he tried to close out a no-hitter against the Dodgers.
Counterpoint: Well, no better time than the postseason, right? Fact is, Moore hadn’t worked through too many laborious innings before he was pulled. He hadn’t allowed a run since the fifth inning and a baserunner since the sixth, when Dexter Fowler drew a four-pitch walk. That inning, Moore still only threw 12 pitches. He threw just seven pitches in the seventh inning, then 13 in the eighth. It wasn’t like he soldiered through a 30-pitch inning before he was pulled.
Point: The heart of the Cubs’ order was coming up in the ninth: Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Ben Zobrist. Forget that they were a combined 1-for-8, you don’t want that group facing Moore in the ninth inning. Not for the fourth time in the game with 120 pitches already spent.
“Failing mind”…My thoughts exactly, I think.
PPS. As soon as Bochy went to the bullpen I knew we were screwed. I’d have put money on the Cubs right there before Romo threw a single pitch Another thing: Notice that Bochy NEVER does a safety squeeze? Or any kind of squeeze. Totally predictable. Never does the unexpected.
I agree; as soon as Bochy started his maniacal mixing and matching I knew the Giants were finished. Perhaps the only good thing that will come from this loss is that, for once, the Giants will part ways with their aging and, for the most part, ineffective free agents. The Giants tend to sign “these guys got us there” to grossly overinflated contracts purely for sentimental reasons despite evidence of declining production (Aubrey Huff, Marco Scutaro, Tim Lincecum, to name just three). The only free agent who should be even marginally considered for a return engagement is Blanco. I know it’s not my money, but if the Giants really want to send a positive message to the fans who provide their endless cash stream, they should swallow hard and buy out Cain’s contract and cut him loose. Why waste a roster spot on someone who is a lifetime sub .500 pitcher and hasn’t had a winning season or sub 4.00 ERA since 2012? The guy hasn’t pitched more than 90 innings since 2013 and, during those three years, statistically has been the worst starting pitcher in baseball when his annual salary is part of the formula. If the cheapo As can cut Billy Butler and his remaining $10+ million, the Giants, whose revenues are at least twice that of the As, can do the same with Cain.