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Posts published in “Essays”

River Views

About a month ago the FBI declared Assata Shakur, a self-proclaimed revolutionary, convicted murderer and fugitive, a “terrorist” and doubled the bounty for her capture to $2 million.

Prohibition ’37: The IRS Agent Job Creation Act

The hearing at which marijuana prohibition was discussed by Congress in 1937, continued from last week's AVA. The witness, Joseph B. Hertzfeld of the Philadelphia…

Mean Spirits

Yes, I read the unattractive little slips of paper that come with our monthly PG&E bill, and I have no doubt PG&E hopes most customers will toss these little slips without reading their tiny print. Why? Because most of the little slips announce rate increases for things customers should not have to pay for. There is a government entity called the CPUC, which stands for the California Public Utilities Commission, that is supposed to protect the consumer from unnecessary and unjust rate increases, but the CPUC does not protect us because they are in bed with PG&E, literally, and approve anything and everything that PG&E wants to do.

In Search Of Bach’s Brain

Bach was buried on July 31, 1750, three days after his death, on the south side of St. John’s church outside the walls of the city of Leipzig. So-called “extramural” (outside-the-walls) burial became the norm after the introduction of the Lutheran Reformation in Leipzig in the 1530s.

Road Notes: San Francisco-Denver

Picnic on Donner Pass — No meat. Plaque I'd like to see at the Donner Summit: “They Bit off More Than They Could Chew” In…

Caution: Jazz At Work

I never got around to writing my intended tribute to the great American bassist Ron Carter last year at this time on the occasion of…

Still Drug Crazy

Mike Gray died recently at 77 years of age, with prominent obituaries in some publications due to his status as a successful movie screenwriter -…

River Views

During the final weekend of April three abalone divers drowned in accidents off the Sonoma and Mendocino coasts. One of these accidents killed 66-year-old Cedric…

The War On Global Warming

“We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall…

Mendo Broadband Denied

Supervisor Hamburg last Tuesday told his Board colleagues about a Friday, May 17 meeting in Fort Bragg to discuss internet broadband service in the county.…

Prohibition ’37: For The Birds

Continued from last week's AVA: the 1937 Congressional hearing on marijuana prohibition. NARRATOR: The next witness, also from the hemp industry, was introduced prior to…

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