GROPAGATE
Editor,
Hands Off!
Ronald Reagan, in his later years as president, favored a nap after lunch to revive his mind for the later part of the day of decisions that was his job. Arising one day from his rest, “Death Valley” Ron recalled a dream in which America, the shining city on the hill, was totally encompassed by a shimmering dome of force field defenses that could shoot down any and all incoming missiles, should the cold war ever turn hot. Within the year plans for a missile shield of rockets and the deployment thereof were underway, Reagan being a man of action before inquiry. To this day we still spend billions trying to defend against the barrage of warheads we imagine threaten us from such adversaries as Persia and the Korean communists. So far we have limited success hitting one at a time, but that won’t do. Our plan to drive our anti-missiles around a 400-mile tunnel in Nevada and Utah turned out to be impractical since the water needed to mix the cement for this blast hardened subway would take up the entire water supply in the entire basin. It was a lovely dream, but it just cannot be done, and continuing to try will only waste time and money needed elsewhere for other priorities.
Which brings us to the dream of another Republican president, George W. Bush who truly believed after 9/11 that a huge highly coordinated super security authority, overseeing all aspects of homeland defense against “terrorism” could make every American safe from the radical bombers of Jihad or domestic disturbance.
To this end the government passed the Patriot Act, allowing for the trashing of most of the constitutional protections afforded us in the Bill of Rights. Besides tapping phones and opening mail without warrants, Homeland Security reinforced airport security with metal detectors and rent-a-guard inspectors who randomly picked people to be searched for possible weapons or explosives. This has yielded millions of propane lighters, nail clippers and pocket penknives, but, as yet, no terrorism suspects. Every subsequent attempted attack has been launched through overseas air terminals. The confiscating of gel shoe insoles in Oklahoma City from a passenger to Denver and the groping of Granny has apparently deterred many mad bombers. To the degree that our actions as a nation overseas continue to make enemies of native peoples, whether through exploitation or global economic tyranny, there will be enemies dedicated to the premise that making Americans afraid and uncomfortable might change our policies back in their homeland.
Modern commerce and travel make small actions easy, and media compound the effect by spreading panic at every firecracker blast. These are the facts, and we had best learn to live with them for the foreseeable future. The real question is how much daily dignity and liberty are we willing to put up with in the ephemeral hope of protection from a police state society that clearly can never do the job. Just what do Americans stand for, and how much?
Travis T. Hip
Nevada City
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LOCALWASHING
Editor:
Please Don't “Buy Local”
If you buy from local branches of Big Boxes and other chain-stores or franchise businesses, you may be “buying local” but you're lining the pockets of distant rich and super-rich investors who don't pay their fair share of taxes; who are responsible for our boom-and-bust economy; and who most-likely never heard of Ukiah or Little River, and surely can't spell Caspar or Boonville correctly.
Many “Buy Local First” campaigns are supported by Big Boxes, Chambers of Commerce and local newspapers who receive dues and advertising from Big Corporate Chains. Chain stores suck out our local dollars every night and send them electronically to Bentonville and points east. I'm sick and tired of hearing “but they are good corporate citizens. They give to local charities blah blah.” That's bullshit. They only give when they can get their smily-faces in the local paper with an oversized check and some poor kids standing by. That's not “giving.” That's advertising.
According to latest study commissioned by Michigan's Local First, “when West Michigan consumers choose a locally-owned business over a non-local alternative, $73 of every $100 spent stays in the community. By contrast, only $43 of every $100 spent at a non-locally owned business remains in the community.”
Don't be suckered by false propaganda that steals a good idea and turns it into just another cynical, misleading corporate advertising campaign. Buying Local means buying from locally-owned businesses so most of your dollars stay in our communities. Know your store owners. Buy from “Mom and Pop” and other family and single proprietor businesses. Run the chain dinosaurs out of town on their slick hineys.
Dave Smith
Ukiah
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SQUEAKMAKER WANTS TO KNOW
Editor,
The October 27 edition of the AVA was a thing of beauty. The New York Times and New Yorker magazine had to wait while I devoured my AVA. Thanks.
PS. Dear Abby: My hernia is still aching and my stomach makes squeaks. My wife hollers at me and my kids are all freaks. Every side I get up on is the wrong side of the bed so I finally decided to write you instead.
Signed, Squeakmaker
Dear Squeakmaker: You have no complaints. See, you are what you are and you ain't what you ain't. So stop lookin’ for bad luck and stompin’ on good! Signed, Dear Abby.
Tim Moriarty
Watsonville
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THE LONG ROAD TO PHILO
Good morning, Mr. Anderson.
For the past few weeks, the AVA issue for Nancy MacLeod and William Allen (Box 602) has been arriving at the Philo post office two and sometimes three days later than the other Philo bound issues.
A “need to know” debriefing of the Philo Post Master has determined that for some unknown, possibly nefarious purpose, an agent at the central processing facility has been separating the MacLeod issue from the usual Philo stack and secreting it into a different shipment.
I need not remind you that WE ARE AT WAR! and this suspicious activity may be the work of THE TERRORISTS WHO WANT TO COME HERE AND KILL US!
Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to discover the reason for this activity, and its agent, and to terminate both with “extreme prejudice.”
As always. should you or any of your AVA Force be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your action.
Good luck, Bruce.
(This e-mail will self-destruct in 30 seconds...)
Nancy MacLeod
Philo
Ed note: Your subscription record was somehow miscoded to the wrong outgoing mail bag sending it to the infamous Petaluma Processing Facility on its way to Philo. It is now fixed and you should get your paper on Wednesdays with the other Philo subscribers.
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WHAT AMERICA NEEDS NOW
Yo Editor,
What the masses really need is a solid dose of nonduality; i.e. the turiya (4th dimension). Reality beyond third dimensional phenomena. The third dimension will always be maya, or samsara, no matter what happens. This is the basic teaching of Vedanta, the path of the jnani, the message of Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi, and all the rishis. Established in the constant, one is liberated, regardless of the ongoing phenomenal changes which will continue indefinitely, until at last this creation is reabsorbed back into Brahman at the end of the yugic cycle. The individual has a choice to either identify with the Absolute or with the physical/mental phenomenalogical. That choice makes the entire difference.
Craig Stehr
Oakland
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THANKS FROM THE BUCIOS
To the Anderson Valley Community and surrounding areas
The Bucio Solano family is writing these words of gratitude for all the moral support, financial support and prayers that you have given to us.
It is beautiful to see how our community can join together and create an event like the one that happened on October 2nd for our dear daughter Leslie Bucio Solano.
We thank all the people who helped to put this together and everyone who participated.
We don’t have enough words to express our gratitude!
Thank you with our entire heart! God Bless you!
Sincerely,
Noemi Solano & Alfredo Bucio
Boonville
PS: Leslie is stable and continues with her treatments.
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DEEP APPRECIATION
Editor,
On behalf of the extended Pedersen family, I would like to thank everyone for their outpouring of love, affection, and support during this time of loss for us all. Thank you to all of you who came to celebrate Dean’s life, particularly to the multitude of musicians who participated in the wonderful musical tribute. Thank you, as well, for all of the delicious food, the photos, memories, and gifts of remembrance. We continue to be comforted by the knowledge of your affection for Dean.
Please know that Dean loved you and I love and am grateful to you all. No matter how much one knows that one lives in a unique and beautiful community and that one is cared for, sometimes it takes something of monumental proportion like this to really know it. And I do.
With sincere gratitude,
Claudia Pedersen
Elk
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THE KENT STATE HEARING
Editor,
Today, December 1st, Congress is set to examine the Kent State Tape.
The government crossed the line in the killing of four young people in the killing of our Allison as she rallied against the war on May 4, 1970. A civil rights battle on US soil in our times Kent State is personal for us yet important for all.
Representative Dennis Kucinich upon learning of the new audio truth discovered in the Kent State Tape launched a Kent State congressional inquiry and scheduled a hearing calling for swift examination of the new evidence found in the Kent State Tape, scheduling a Kent State hearing before Congress before the Domestic Policy subcommittee for Wednesday, December 1st.
Yet in these political times with Congress soon adjourning for 2010 and our government’s concerted effort to keep truth at Kent State covered up Kucinich’s Congressional Kent State Hearing is AT HIGH RISK OF CANCELLATION.
Allison’s family asks all who read this LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. Join our urgent Kent State Call-2-Action Demand Truth at Kent State in 2010. Send a note to http://kucinich.house.gov/Contact/. Make a call to 202-225-5871. Send inbound calls to Representative Kucinich. HOLD the KENT STATE HEARING this week, on Wednesday December 1st at 2pm.
Arthur Krause knew the importance of the Kent State Tape. My dad knew it held the truth of what happened at Kent State even though back in 1970 and until just recently truth from the Kent State Tape was locked up in a jumbled maze of analog antiquity. Dad passed away over 20 years ago. He knew the truth in the Kent State Tape.
A patriot and WWII soldier, Dad believed the American dream. When Allison his firstborn a freshman at Kent State University was protesting the Vietnam war on her campus he never anticipated the American apocalypse our family would endure at the hands of our government.
Like Sandy, Jeff and Bill our Allison was shot dead at Kent State, homicide by national guard gunfire. Dad knew they got away with murder at Kent State University just after noon on May 4, 1970.
Over the next ten years Dad sought truth and justice at Kent State demanding to know what happened to our Allison, taking it to the courts yielded only road blocks, cover-ups and threats. Every effort to uncover and face of the deadly inhumanity of Kent State was completely thwarted.
A series of seamless stonewalls never examining the wrongs of Kent State. No accountability for the killings of Kent State. Not one person or group ever held responsible. Not one apology uttered.
Yet governmental claims were consistent: There was no order to fire. The Guard reacted to sniper fire. The Guard felt under attack from the students.
A government-fabricated pack of lies that has now transformed into the recorded history of the killings of Kent State. That is — until 2010 and the examination of the Kent State Tape.
40 years after the shootings the Kent State Tape that Dad held so dear was finally examined using tools of state-of-the-art audio technology unlocking the true record of what occurred at Kent State on May 4, 1970.
Sounds expertly analyzed by world-class forensic scientist Stuart Allen commissioned by the Cleveland Plain Dealer to explore the Kent State Tape for the very first time.
Whether copy or original is moot. Truth is recorded in the Kent State Tape. A tape does not remember, forget or change its story. The Kent State Tape does not lie.
At the Kent State Truth Tribunal in NYC October 2010 with Stuart Allen examining, hearing and unraveling the labyrinth of deadly sounds including shots and national guard commands and a violent altercation with FBI-paid Terry Norman all contributing to the shootings at Kent State 1970.
The government denied orders to fire were isolated, heard and verified orders of Guard, Prepare to Fire, orders of Alright, Guard, Fiii— with the last word of the deadly order stepped on by a barrage of 67 shots over 13 seconds.
At unarmed students changing classes at noon; At unarmed students more than a football field away; At unarmed students rallying against the Vietnam War; At unarmed students rallying against the military occupation of their campus in a battle where American dissent was also slaughtered.
Laurel Krause
Fort Bragg
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Memo Of The Week
From: Sheriff Allman to all employees
Subject: Board of Supervisors meeting, November 30, 2010.
As the holiday season fast approaches I truly wish you and your family a happy and safe holiday. The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office is very fortunate to have so many dedicated employees. I am very proud of every employee we have and I am very fortunate to be your Sheriff. As your Sheriff I have told you many times that if there is bad news to be told you would hear it from me first. Rumors can easily ruin organizations and I have the responsibility to be up front with each of you. Your dedication to our organization has allowed us to provide the necessary public safety to our citizens and visitors and your work is very appreciated. Thank you.
Unfortunately, on Tuesday, November 30, 2010, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors will consider a list of possible layoffs from our organization. Every position that the Board of Supervisors will be considering for a layoff is a critical position for our agency. While no names have been placed on the list of possible layoffs, the list includes six clerical positions and eight eight peace officer positions from Patrol. Any deputy sheriff on the list who has worked in the jail would be offered a position in the jail which would create a possibility of layoffs of corrections deputies.
I assure you that I will fight every possible layoff which has been proposed. I will be in the board meeting all day on the 30th fighting to keep our organization doing our essential and necessary duties. The 10% reduction which DSA and MCLEMA (Law Enforcement Management Association] took reduced the number of layoffs from 28-14.
While this news comes at a horrible time for everyone, it comes at a very horrible time for the employees who are facing a possible layoff. Emotions will be high and morale will be low. I am sorry that we are in this position but you can be assured that I will do everything I possibly can to prevent any of our employees from being laid off. If you are considering leaving our agency for any reason, I ask that you contact me directly so any cost savings will be used to save other positions.
The Board of Supervisors will be hearing this matter at 0945 hours on Tuesday, 11/30/10. If you are off duty you are welcome to attend this meeting and speak if you desire. I welcome your contacts with any of the members of the Board of Supervisors before the meeting so they can hear your concerns.
I am very proud of what we accomplish every day and assure you that your accomplishments do not go unnoticed. Please continue to do your job and serve the public in the highly professional manner in which you conduct yourself every day. Together, let's stay focused on our duties and get through this intact.
Tom
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ALL THAT FLITTERS
Editor,
It's understandable that after 42 years Dorothy Schmitt would have a fuzzy recollection of her unheralded starring role in the 1968 movie “Gold.”
In her November 17 letter responding to my November 3 critique of the movie, Dorothy claims that my description is way off base and that I should “interview someone who participated in the production.”
My description was taken verbatim from the DVD cover and I didn't need to interview the filmmakers because they talked to me via “freaked out bonus features” on the DVD including “commentary with director Bob Levis and star Gary Goodrow, special commentary from Upright Citizens Brigade founding members Matt Walsh and Ian Roberts and Bob Levis’ 60 minute interview from New York City Cable TV.”
Dorothy claims to have been one of the film's producers along with Bill Desloge and Bob Levis but her only mention in the film credits is as one member of the large supporting cast.
She claims that Bob Levis was a little theater flunky with no film experience but in his 2008 New York City Cable TV interview togged in Bermuda shorts, “Gold” logo T-shirt, and tootling Dylan's “Blowing in the Wind” on his harmonica, Levis portrayed himself as “Gold’s” majordomo. He had gone to a New York City Museum exhibit in 2007 featuring a 40th anniversary retrospective of the 1967 “Summer of Love” and was appalled at the exhibit’s lack of candor about the revolutionary aspect of the counterculture so he unearthed his 1968 movie “Gold” and had it converted to DVD to show the world what the real revolution was all about.
The DVD cover says it all: “Gold is an indulgent, energetic, 90 minute blast of counterculture craziness. The revolution has begun — clothing optional.”
As the movie clearly shows, the real “revolution” was about demanding the right to go nude in public.
Michelangelo Antonioni first American film, “Zabriskie Point” (1970), scripted by a luminary ensemble including the AVA's Fred Gardner, is a realistic riff on revolutionary rhetoric. “Gold” is just silly.
Dorothy Schmidt's description of “Gold” differs significantly from the DVD. She had the choo-choo segment at the end of the movie rather than at the beginning.
Since the story of “Gold” was improvised on a daily basis with no script it's understandable that the end product is incoherent and incomprehensible to all but an enlightened few.
While the skinny dipping scenes were indeed beautiful, it's quite a stretch for Dorothy to characterize starker dog paddling in a ranch pond as “nude water ballet.” For a stunning view of genuine erotic water ballet check out Julia Adams in “The Creature from the Black Lagoon.”
All that flitters is not “Gold.”
Bottoms up!
Joe Don Mooney
Hopland
PS. Maybe KZYX (aka KZIP) should have a local showing of “Gold” for a fundraiser. I heard that the station was recently knocked off the air for several days by an electrical storm but hardly anyone noticed.
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LETTER FROM ETHIOPIA
Dear Friends and Family,
Thank you very much for your support of my work here. It is truly a rewarding experience. A typical day for me is full, and I always try to move around so that I can give love and attention to as many people as possible. In the early morning, I run across the road to check on some of the babies with my friend, a Canadian nurse. We have been trying to save premature infants in the last few weeks; we have lost some but are trying to keep others alive by inserting feeding tubes and keeping feeding logs with mothers and workers. We sometimes hold and feed them too. For the rest of the morning, I work in an outpatient clinic or the men's ward dressing wounds of all kinds, including bedsores, colostomies, burns, amputations, etc. Also, I assist in bathing patients, moving them, and making fresh beds. I am teaching English class to aspiring nuns; we meet during the morning or early afternoons. After lunch, I feed and play with handicapped girls, some who rarely leave their beds. Then I go down to the women's ward where I do rounds to various rooms to visit patients.
I generally sit with them and talk, distribute Vaseline, or cut and paint fingernails; we laugh, sing, or just enjoy time together. On nice days, we sit out in the sun. At the end of the day, if there is time, I go to the dressing room and cut and fold gauze from huge rolls to be prepared and sterilized for use the next day. I continue to be amazed at how people can survive here when a decent salary for someone with a high school education is around 800 birr/$50 a month, practically nothing. It is very difficult for people with jobs to get ahead, so those who are sick, homeless, or poor have it very rough. All of the money raised will be given directly to the sisters at Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa's home for the dying and destitute. The sisters have asked me to look into buying specific medical supplies or instruments that are very expensive or impossible to get in Ethiopia. These include pediatric blood pressure cuffs, catheters, otoscopes, and a pulse oximeter. Aside from these items that will be bought in the US and brought to Addis, the money will go directly to the sisters. We have agreed that the money will go to medicine, supplies, and instruments for the entire compound so that babies, children, men and women will benefit. I will also be doing one separate shoe drive for people outside of the compound. Most are homeless and many come into the compound for our outpatient clinic we hold 3 days a week. I hope this information gives you an idea of my life here at the compound. See you soon-
Peace and Love,
Leah Collins
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Memo of the Week II
November 30, 2010
Mr. Jim Macrae, Administrator, Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fisher Lane 17-105, Rockville, MD 20857
RE: Anderson Valley Health Center
Dear Mr. Macrae:
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors strongly supports the Anderson Valley Health Center’s “New Access Point” proposal to become a Federally Qualified Health Center. The Anderson Valley Health Center (AVHC) has a long and highly regarded record of providing a broad spectrum of services to an isolated and socio-economically diverse rural community. For thirty-five years it has been the health care home for some 4,000 residents.
But now, faced with the current economic crisis and major state cut-backs in local health care funding, the Center, which does not receive federal funds to defray the cost of providing services to the uninsured and under-insured, is facing a serious threat to its very existence. Remarkable local support and grants have enabled it to survive months of declining funding and increasing needs, but without access to federal resources, it is entirely possible that the Center will close.
We respectfully request your help, and are, of course, available to provide you with any additional information you might find helpful.
Sincerely,
Carre Brown, Chair
Mendocino County Board of Supervisors
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WORD PARTY
Editor,
I know you pay attention to word derivation and arrangement. This may interest you.
Did you know that, the words "race car" spelled backwards still spells "race car"?
And that "eat" is the only word that, if you take the first letter and move it to the last, spells its own past tense, "ate"?
And if you rearrange the letters in "Tea Party Republicans," and add just a few more letters, it spells: "Shut the fuck up you free-loading, progress-blocking, benefit-grabbing, resource-sucking, violent hypocrites, and deal with the fact that you nearly wrecked the country under Bush and that our president is black, so try and get over it."
Isn't that interesting?
Name withheld
Santa Rosa
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