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Posts published by “Malcolm Macdonald”

Sequoia National Park

Last month I spent several days in Sequoia National Park. When most folks hear that name they think: big trees. Yes, the world's largest tree, in terms of volume, the General Sherman Tree, does stand…

Prescription Drugs

Outside the robins are gobbling hawthorn berries, one after the other. The tree will be bare in another day. Hawthorn berries contain the same antioxidant, oligomeric procyandins (OPCs), as grapes, as well as the flavanoid…

Sequoia Explorers

August, 1875 — While my great-grandfather John Robertson was herding every sort of livestock from oxen to turkeys overland from Little Lake (Willits) to Mendocino Coast boom towns like Pine Grove, a fellow Scotsman named…

The Central Committee

Great Uncle John used to tote his gallon jug to Newgard's Store in Albion once a month to refill it with whiskey. In local election years he packed that jug to town every week. One…

More Turbulence At Coast Hospital

After sitting through the Mendocino Coast District Hospital candidates' forum on October 6th, I promised myself I'd say something positive or at least charitable about said facility. So here's what I can say: Only one…

Words and Deeds

According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus told his followers (as recounted by the King James translation), “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it…

Fort Bragg City Council Race Heats Up

On September 27th the five candidates for three seats on the Fort Bragg City Council appeared at a League of Women's Voters forum. Their statements and responses to audience questions can be viewed on the…

Eleven Days

What's the connection between a 16th century Pope and the songwriter of “War,” Edwin Starr? Absolutely nothing, of course. As any Baby Boomer can tell you, “Absolutely nothing,” is the lyrical response line to Starr's…

Wake Up, Dan Hamburg!

I started out to write about something more benign this week, but I can't stand it any longer. Wake Up, Dan Hamburg! Wake the freak up! You've been attending Mendocino County Mental Health Board meetings…

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