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Posts published in “Essays”

Barbie Turns 50!

Guess who just turned fifty?  Barbie Millicent Roberts. Most of us know her simply as “Barbie.”  In 1959 Mattel stunned the Betsy-Wetsy toy world by introducing a doll with a grown-up shape squeezed into a…

Time to Tax Alcohol Fairly

Like many people with a drinking problem, our nation itself is in denial about what alcohol abuse costs. With a looming 'financial Armageddon' upon us, it's time we confront the issue. I started drinking alcohol…

What We Have Here Is…

Mr. James Houle, Concerned Citizen, began the meeting last week by asking the Board of Supervisors to reconsider Ordinance 4168, a 2006 stipulation making County CEO Tom Mitchell the County's top disaster management man. Mr.…

Waterboarding Mendo

If you'd been forced to take a lower paying job because of the looming Great Depression Two, and your bank told you that if you didn't make a payment like right now you'd lose your…

The Inevitable Knocks

Two more senior department heads left County employ this month. Long-time Agricultural Commissioner Dave Bengston retired two weeks ago, and Human Resources Director Linda Clouser has resigned to take a position with the State Court…

What Time Does The Ship Sink?

Last week's swearing in ceremony for the 2009 Board of Supervisors was a childish affair in two ways, literally and figuratively. There were children in the room and there were the child-like proceedings. Children led…

Great Moments in Public Radio

KZYX, January 1, 2009. Wildoat Living. Host: Joanna 'Wildoat' Cummings. Cummings: How can we use communication and connecting with each other to continue to fuel our level of energy for, for, for making changes in…

Christmas Morning Beating

CHUCK BUSH writes in the Kelley House Calendar column in last week's Mendocino Beacon "...So whatever destruction of the Indians was caused by the military and the settlers it wasn't even close to being as…

Quick Draw Wattenburger

JIM WATTENBURGER no longer functions as County supervisor. He decided, he said, to retire after one four-year term. Wattenburger has now attended his last meeting as an elected official. His four years in office paid…

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