Press "Enter" to skip to content

Posts published in “Essays”

The High Cost Of Pot Clean-Up

Environmentally harmful marijuana production has again been documented, this time before the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, and a state official has estimated that it will cost between $3 million and $5 million…

The Organs Of Houston

Any musician on the road, especially one who plays the organ, frequently confronts the contrast between suburban periphery and urban center—or what’s left of it. Typically the best instruments are in venerable churches in the…

How Stupid?

“Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn’t music.” — William Stafford A recent phone conversation with a friend caused me to comment, “How could they have been so stupid not to…

Postcard From The End Of America

As every story is a meandering road, each road is also a story, or, more accurately, an infinity of stories. An abandoned trail that leads from nowhere to nowhere, with no wayfarers, only a rare…

River Views

The next time you venture to Mendocino you’ll want to step inside Frankie’s Creamery. If you have never been to Frankie’s, what’s wrong with you? — ice cream from Cowlick’s, good pizza, all sorts of…

Prohibition ’37: Anslinger’s Testimony

Continued from last week’s AVA —the House Ways and Means Committee Hearing at which the prohibition of marijuana was considered by Congress. Narration by Fred Gardner. * * * DOUGHTON: Mr. Anslinger, the committee will…

Prince’s Sign O’ The Times

When The Artist Again Known As Prince first exploded into superstardom three decades ago, I had just moved to San Francisco and his music — “Purple Rain,” “Little Red Corvette,” “1999” and so forth, was…

-