Super Happy Fun Blog!

So what's the scoop Humboldt County?

2011-04-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

Hank Sims fired?

Bob Doran doing something illegal?

Heraldo outed?

Protestors INC protesting anything and everything for money and prizes?

This blog is now rated "R"

2011-03-18T09:58:00.000-07:00

After many moons, I checked back to this blog, only to find that it is now rated "R" and has been put on the blogger naughty list.

To think, after so many years, people still are trying to shut me down any way possible.

And it's strange to see how little "progress" has happened since I've left Humboldt County.

Gotta go.

Really, a update.

2009-09-07T13:40:00.000-07:00

That's all folks! Later this week, enjoy fine video from your bedroom to my camera to the people of YouTube!

In other news...

2009-09-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

In other news, Carson Park Ranger was kicked out of WalMart the other day for trying on girls panties.

While they were wearing them.

LOL

2009-09-07T13:35:00.000-07:00

Europe's racism problem.

2008-07-23T12:56:00.000-07:00

Since my words won't do much, how about some Youtubes?

Max Molsey of FIA (and father was a Nazi Supporter) in Nazi Camp Orgy

ESPN covers Racism in Soccer

Monkey chants each time a black player touches the ball

Serbia has a KKK group?

Spanish man racist attack on South American girl

Talk show about racism in football (soccer)

Enjoy the comments on this one.

Europe's shame is great.

Story about NorCal firefighters in action

2008-07-08T01:18:00.000-07:00

ELK, California: When he spotted a small fire two weeks ago atop a steep hill outside this blocklong town, Charlie Acker, 57, the president of the local school board and a volunteer firefighter, jumped inside his stubby red 1965 fire truck and, with a skid and a prayer, drove up the severe incline to check out the situation.

Knowing that every other volunteer firefighter in this community of 100 residents was battling a larger blaze nearby, he used his cellphone to call his wife. She roused a crew of young kayakers who cater to tourists in this picturesque old logging town at the edge of the Pacific, some 140 miles, or 225 kilometers, north of San Francisco, and joined Acker on the line.

The state fire agency, CalFire, had promised to send a helicopter, but just as Acker was waiting its arrival, it was diverted, he said, "to a higher rent district" in another county. When he radioed for more firefighters and an air tanker with fire retardant, he was sent 13 state prison inmates and told he was on his own.

For two weeks that has been the case here in Mendocino County, known for its majestic redwoods, prized grapevines and pungent marijuana plants. Resources have been stretched thin since lightning ignited about 1,100 fires throughout the drought-ridden region.

While the few cities in this county have paid firefighters, in the small communities that dot this region, fires are fought mostly by trained volunteers.

To fight the 123 fires that have been burning over 41,000 thickly wooded, mountainous acres, or about 17,000 hectares, there was only one helicopter, no air tanker with fire retardant and no one tending to 17 of the fires. But help began arriving on Sunday: 15 helicopters, 3 air tankers and the promise of 200 National Guard soldiers. Tracy Boudreaux, the public information officer here for CalFire, said that with 1,700 personnel already working on the fire lines, the county could use twice that and more fire trucks and water tenders. The fires are 45 percent contained with only two fires unattended.

When the lightning fires struck in June, Acker said, "The entire governmental system broke down; we had to rely on ourselves and our neighbors."

Residents ran tabs at local stations to pay for gasoline for fire engines. Merchants placed tall jars on counters seeking contributions.

A restaurateur offered firefighters free meals.

The owner of a hardware store refused payment from volunteer firefighters for crucial supplies. When a local radio station called for money to help defray firefighting costs, people descended on the Redwood Drive-In, known for its malts, shakes and curly fries, and donated more than $4,000.

Landscapers whacked and carted away brush around houses free of charge. A caterer fed 150 volunteer firefighters daily. One market delivered submarine sandwiches to the weary workers, while residents baked gooey cakes and made quinoa salads. A fire chief's wife grilled steak fajitas for a crew of inmates. Another woman delivered tinctures and balms to firefighters to soothe sore muscles and dry throats. On a map in the Boonville firehouse, a sign offered free massages.

When the blazes broke out, Leggett, population 300, had more fires than firefighters until an unsanctioned call went out on local radio and some 40 people with rakes and shovels began showing up at the firehouse every morning.

Residents expressed both pride and shock that they mostly had to fend for themselves. "This community of rugged individualists pulling together is part of the reason we love where we live," said Deborah Cahn, who with her family owns Navarro Vineyards. "But isn't this what government is supposed to do?"

On June 21, traffic on CalFire's Web site was so heavy that Boudreaux, the public information officer, could not log on to order equipment. "You got what you got," she said she was told when she called. "Nothing else is coming."

Boudreaux said: "With the number of fires in Northern California, the resources were limited. It has been phenomenal that we have avoided potential catastrophic disasters to life and structures." Only two homes have been destroyed in the fires.

"This is not a normal situation for CalFire, one of the largest fire organizations in the world," she continued. The lack of resources has been "shocking across the board," she said.

Cahn said that when she spotted smoke near her ridge, the 911 operator told her no resources were available. It took three days before firefighters were available to find and fight the blaze. Bob Roland, a 63-year-old retired aerospace executive and volunteer firefighter, died Thursday, apparently of a heart attack, while folding hoses at that fire.

Colin Wilson, the fire chief in Boonville, described managing about seven fires with 30 firefighters working continuously for several days. "We knew we had no resources," he said.

Throughout the siege, firefighters have had to attend to medical emergencies unrelated to the fires. When he was off the mountain, Acker said he helped a woman who thought she was suffering a stroke.

Instead, he said, she was having a strong reaction to a birthday cake laced with marijuana. Michael Maynard, a fire captain with CalFire who was checking on his parents' home in a rural development built a few decades ago, said he jumped through flames to save four residents, one in capri pants and flip-flops, who were fighting a fire on their own.

"It was a little hairy," Maynard said. "I wouldn't do it again."

Larry Tunzi, 49, a cattle rancher and volunteer fire chief in Comptche, a nook where everyone knows your name, stood on a ridge top recently and counted 30 fires to be fought by his crew, which included a carpenter, a butcher, a nurse, computer programmers and Wally Stubbs, a 70-year-old retired chief operating officer of a manufacturing company. Many ended up working 60 hours on the line without going home.

With two other volunteer firefighters, Patty McCummings, 53, a real estate agent, spent one night with little water and only hand tools fighting back flames that jumped a line on a ridge that "was steeper than a cow's face," McCummings said. Tunzi called their efforts "the last stand at Tank 4 Gulch."

During a break, Stubbs said, "I've never been prouder of working with any people than I was with this group."

As David Severn, part of an all-volunteer ambulance crew in Boonville, said, "Fending for yourself in this community does not mean you're standing alone."

Link Here

FBI Party Van visits Humboldt County.

2008-06-25T10:20:00.000-07:00

I will have to disagree with 4chan on this, it is pretty funny to see what happens when it's parked nearby!

So where is the Party Van headed today?!?!?!?!

Arcata's only superhero taking day off, FBI zerg rushes.

2008-06-24T10:23:00.000-07:00

It seems that "ReeferGirl" Arcata's only superhero (pictured above) has taken the day off, slept in too late, is baking cookies and herself, and has allowed the evil FBI to zerg rush the area. Oddly enough, even with 2 weeks of notice that "Something Wicked" was blowing this way, pot growers are still caught flat footed and holding the bag. Turns out these brain-trusts have been using the US mail to MAIL their drugs across the USA and not knowing, or caring, committed some crimes, or something.

North Coast Blogthing is ON THE SCENE. Or something, and Humboldt County is in a panic. Ed Denson has been reported to be "happy as a pig in shit" because with all the new drug cases he will get, he will be able to upgrade his older Volvo to something with better mileage.

Heraldo has been rumored to have also been targeted in these raids, and Mark Lovelace himself was picked up for walking around town going, "Dude, where is my house???"

Arcata is in chaos. ReeferGirl, WHERE ARE YOU?

Shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits.

2008-06-23T00:03:00.000-07:00

May 12, 1937 - June 22, 2008

State's rights VS The Federal government

2008-06-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

Joel "Carson Park Ranger" Mielke has been at it once again, trying to play both sides of the field. He complains that the DEA raid is wrong and that "where are all the state's rights conservatives"? As we all know that state's right lost the war in 1865, and has been under the Federal government rule since then, but the flip-flopping fish of the left can't figure that out. Do I believe in state's rights? You bet. Did state's rights lose in the war of Northern Aggression?, yeap, will the south rise again? Doubt it.

But let's just say another state came up with a different law, say, New York city, that in order to sell a car in that state, it couldn't have airbags or smog equipment on it? Would the flip-flopping fish still cry out "STATE'S RIGHT?" or would they scream out "FOR THE GREATER GOOD?" You know what they would say right now.

They pick and choose from the salad bar of laws that they want to have enforced, and complain when people don't find the fish as enjoyable as them.

Fun fact:

Proposition 22 passed with 61% of the vote in California.
Proposition 215 passed with 56% of the vote in California

Prop 22 gets overturned, and people aren't protesting in the streets about overturning a legal vote in California. Prop 215 goes against federal law, people acted surprised when the DEA comes knocking.

Sun Valley, bad wrap or bad company?

2008-06-18T14:10:00.000-07:00

As everybody has heard, Sun Valley has lost almost 300 employees. Illegal employees. But is Sun Valley really that bad? I've talked to a few of the new employees, and there does seem to be some problems. No training at all on equipment ranked very high on the top of the list of complaints, it also seems that they are working 6, 10 hour shifts, with rumors that they will be paid under the agricultural workers guidelines, which allows this workweek without overtime being paid. One person wasn't very happy that on Monday the Sun Valley CEO talked about getting H2B visas for all the displaced workers, which because of the 10month here/2 month there would also allow Sun Valley to bypass getting insurance for employees (Sun Valley wants a 12 month period before they are allowed insurance) Other people have talked about how the machines are set up for smaller people, and might be under OSHA guidelines for a safe workplace. Mislabeled, or not even labeled at all power cut off switches are another problem. Safety does come first at Sun Valley, with a chance to win a car if there are no reported injuries, and a $1000 check for anyone turning in someone that has faked a injury or workman's comp claim. Which some people have taken as a idea to keep quiet about getting hurt on the job as a pay off for a chance at prizes. Sun Valley has done some brainstorming and have started looking into making a daycare for employee's children and the vacation cap will start NEXT year, but not this year.

Anyone else hear of anything coming out of Sun Valley? How are you new employees liking it?

Modern IKEA abortion for sale in Eureka.

2008-06-05T16:17:00.000-07:00

3666 J street, Eureka CA

Looks like Timothy Wetzel is selling his place in Eureka. You all might remember this fine fellow from this blog I made a billion years ago, in which Timmy said he supported graffiti, and that removing it was a crime. I hate to say, but the real crime is what you did to that house. Some parts are fine and dandy, but other parts, damn. Do you own stock in IKEA?

That place is so ugly it can be a modern art masterpiece.

Prop 215 and you, and Kevin Hoover, and the Arcata Eye, and....

2008-06-05T14:58:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems that Kevin Hoover has pissed off the growers in Arcata (Or mostly Nick Charles and Tad from the sounds of the Rants and Raves posting on our local Craigslist) with his anti-215 abuse stand.

I'm laughing. But in order to cut through the bullshit, some Pro-215 abuse people have posted a nice letter to use if you get a anti-215 abuse letter:

Americans for Safe Access
Joseph D. Elford
Staff Attorney
Americans for Safe Access
1322 Webster St Ste 208
Oakland, CA 94612
(415) 573-7842
March 1, 2005
Name
Address
Dear Name:
I am an attorney for Americans for Safe Access -- a Bay Area-based non-profit that
advocates for medical marijuana patients. Name, a tenant of your property, recently
contacted Americans for Safe Access. We have informed Name of his rights as a medical
marijuana patient under state law and provide to you the following information.
Under California law, “seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain and use
marijuana for medical purposes where that medical use is deemed appropriate and has
been recommended by a physician who has determined that the person’s health would
benefit from the use of marijuana. . . .” Cal. Health & Safety Code § 11362.5(b)(1)(A).
While landlords have some discretion to determine whom they lease to, that discretion is
not unlimited. In particular, under California Civil Code § 1942.5(c), “[i]t is unlawful for
a lessor to increase rent, decrease services, cause a lessee to quit involuntarily, bring an
action to recover possession, or threaten to do any of those acts, for the purpose of
retaliating against the lessee because he or she . . . has lawfully and peaceably exercised
any rights under the law.” See Barela v. Superior Court (1981) 30 Cal.3d 244, 252; Rich
v. Schwab (1998) 63 Cal.App.4th 803, 810-11. Furthermore, under the Bane Civil Rights
Act, it is illegal for anyone to “interfere[] by threats, intimidation or coercion, with the
exercise or enjoyment of any constitutional or statutory right. See Cal. Civil Code § 52.1;
Bay Area Rapid Transit District v. Superior Court (1995) 38 Cal.App.4th 141, 144.
Because California law now provides for the rights of seriously ill Californians to cultivate
and possess marijuana for medical purposes, Cal. Health & Safety Code §
1322 Webster St. Ste 208
Oakland, CA 94612
www.SafeAccessNow.org
Phone: 510-251-1856
Fax: 510-251-2036
September 16, 2005
Page 2
11362.5(b)(1)(A), the eviction or threatened eviction of a qualified marijuana patient
simply for exercising these statutorily-conferred rights constitutes unlawful retaliation and
violates the Bane Civil Rights Act. Violation of these provisions may subject the violator
to compensatory damages, punitive damages and attorney fees. See Cal. Civil Code §§
52.1(h), 1942.5(f) & (g).
I write to request that you not take any action that would result in the eviction of
name for his cultivation or possession of medical marijuana, thereby ignoring his status as
a qualified patient. While I appreciate that your drug possession policy is motivated by
the best intentions, I believe that it in this particular case it must be reconsidered. I hope
that we can work together to resolve this matter in a cordial and expeditious manner.
Sincerely,
Joseph D. Elford
Staff Attorney
Americans for Safe Access
(415) 573-7842

Seems rather legalish and all that, so I thought that I'd cut through the bullshit and if you get a pro-215 abuse letter like the above from your renter, feel free to post their information here on this forum, along with any and all pro-215 abuse grow houses and contact the following below:

DEA: San Francisco Division (415) 436-7900

or:

Drug Enforcement Administration
Office of Diversion Control
2401 Jefferson Davis Highway
Alexandria, VA 22301
(800) 882-9539

or:

http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/contactinfo.htm

Remember boys and girls, the Federal government trumps State government! If they want to play rough, let the DEA come in and fix the problems. Federal "pound me in the ass" prison Vs. not being a complete fuck-head. The choice is yours.

And remember! Operators are standing by!

Anon.r.mous to Eureka Reporter, you fucked up.

2008-06-05T10:13:00.000-07:00

Trying WAY too hard here people. Doesn't anybody at the ER know how to run a forum, or at least a commenting system? I guess not. Don't even waste your time with your weak-ass bullshit style commenting system. Want my phone number to comment, ya right.

Truth of the matter is you don't know shit about internet law. See that fellow above? That's what you did to the commenting system, and it will never come back. Save your man-power and spare dollars and invest in something else.

Eureka Reporter, you have lost the online commenting wars to the Times-Standard, who doesn't even use their own system. How sad is that. If you where smart, you'd buy a topix account as well and just use that.

June 4, a date to remember.

2008-06-04T14:22:00.000-07:00

On this date, June 4, 2004, Marvin Heemeyer set out on a mission.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Heemeyer

It is said that if you listen close, you can hear the rumble of the large diesel approach whenever a city council wrongs the people it was meant to protect.

"I was always willing to be reasonable until I had to be unreasonable," Heemeyer scribbled. "Sometimes reasonable men must do unreasonable things."

Times ARE changing.

2008-06-04T14:04:00.000-07:00

When we lauded Arcata's manufacturing sector, it seemed obvious enough. After all, Arcata is the home of Wing Inflatables, probably Humboldt County's only military contractor. It's got Wallace and Hinz, Sunfrost, Fire and Light. For Christ's sake, it's even got Amulet Manufacturing, makers of heavy bulldozer add-ons. And Eureka has ... ? But none of that overwhelming anecdotal evidence was good enough for The Mouse. Until we came up with some hard numbers, he said, he would continue to plug his ears and whistle.

Hank Sims Story here

Wing Inflatables hasn't changed

Wallace and Hinz, they are now at 100 Taylor Way, Blue Lake.

Sunfrost hasn't changed.

Fire and Light hasn't changed.

Amulet Manufacturing, moved out of state.

Edeline Enterprises, gone.

Britt Lumber, gone.

High shipping costs? Just plain bad luck?

One thing is for sure, times are changing.

Commentary - Peter Schweizer: Conservatives more honest than liberals?

2008-06-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON (Map, News) -
The headline may seem like a trick question — even a dangerous one — to ask during an election year. And notice, please, that I didn’t ask whether certain politicians are more honest than others. (Politicians are a different species altogether.) Yet there is a striking gap between the manner in which liberals and conservatives address the issue of honesty.

Consider these results:

Is it OK to cheat on your taxes? A total of 57 percent of those who described themselves as “very liberal” said yes in response to the World Values Survey, compared with only 20 percent of those who are “very conservative.” When Pew Research asked whether it was “morally wrong” to cheat Uncle Sam, 86 percent of conservatives agreed, compared with only 68 percent of liberals.

Ponder this scenario, offered by the National Cultural Values Survey: “You lose your job. Your friend’s company is looking for someone to do temporary work. They are willing to pay the person in cash to avoid taxes and allow the person to still collect unemployment. What would you do?”

Almost half, or 49 percent, of self-described progressives would go along with the scheme, but only 21 percent of conservatives said they would.

When the World Values Survey asked a similar question, the results were largely the same: Those who were very liberal were much more likely to say it was all right to get welfare benefits you didn’t deserve.

The World Values Survey found that those on the left were also much more likely to say it is OK to buy goods that you know are stolen. Studies have also found that those on the left were more likely to say it was OK to drink a can of soda in a store without paying for it and to avoid the truth while negotiating the price of a car.

Another survey by Barna Research found that political liberals were two and a half times more likely to say that they illegally download or trade music for free on the Internet.

A study by professors published in the American Taxation Association’s Journal of Legal Tax Research found conservative students took the issue of accounting scandals and tax evasion more seriously than their fellow liberal students. Those with a “liberal outlook” who “reject the idea of absolute truth” were more accepting of cheating at school, according to another study, involving 291 students and published in the Journal of Education for Business.

A study in the Journal of Business Ethics involving 392 college students found that stronger beliefs toward “conservatism” translated into “higher levels of ethical values.” And academics concluded in the Journal of Psychology that there was a link between “political liberalism” and “lying in your own self-interest,” based on a study involving 156 adults.

Liberals were more willing to “let others take the blame” for their own ethical lapses, “copy a published article” and pass it off as their own, and were more accepting of “cheating on an exam,” according to still another study in the Journal of Business Ethics.

Now, I’m not suggesting that all conservatives are honest and all liberals are untrustworthy. But clearly a gap exists in the data. Why? The quick answer might be that liberals are simply being more honest about their dishonesty.

However attractive this explanation might be for some, there is simply no basis for accepting this explanation. Validation studies, which attempt to figure out who misreports on academic surveys and why, has found no evidence that conservatives are less honest. Indeed, validation research indicates that Democrats tend to be less forthcoming than other groups.

The honesty gap is also not a result of “bad people” becoming liberals and “good people” becoming conservatives. In my mind, a more likely explanation is bad ideas. Modern liberalism is infused with idea that truth is relative. Surveys consistently show this. And if truth is relative, it also must follow that honesty is subjective.

Sixties organizer Saul Alinsky, who both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton say inspired and influenced them, once said the effective political advocate “doesn’t have a fixed truth; truth to him is relative and changing, everything to him is relative and changing. He is a political relativist.”

During this political season, honesty is often in short supply. But at least we can improve things by accepting the idea that truth and honesty exist. As the late scholar Sidney Hook put it, “the easiest rationalization for the refusal to seek the truth is the denial that truth exists.”

Peter Schweizer is the author of “Makers and Takers: Why Conservatives Work Harder, Feel Happier, Have Closer Families, Take Fewer Drugs, Give More Generously, Value Honesty More, Are Less Materialistic and Envious, Whine Less ... And Even Hug Their Children More Than Liberals” (Doubleday).

Discuss

Mark Lovelace's dream for Humboldt County.

2008-06-02T10:45:00.000-07:00

A vote for Mark Lovelace is a vote for hive cities and massive arcologies. Don't worry, people like him will still be able to live in his nice home on the outskirts, but the common man and woman will be confined to this. Maybe if we are lucky, we will be allowed to go outside and see grass and trees for ourselves, if we are good and loyal subjects.

This man and his family knows what's best for YOU. Mark Lovelace/Big Brother 2008!

Your FREEDOMS end NOW!

This ad was paid for by Arcologies Construction Union 571, Iosif Vissarionovich Jugashvili Support Group and Earth First!

Prop 98/99 update

2008-05-23T11:01:00.000-07:00

Dear CoMO-CAL E-mail Network Member:

Just 11 days until June 3rd

If you know anything about

Thomas Coates of Coates and Arroyo

please give us a call at 800-929-6061 ASAP. He has donated almost one million dollars in the last week to the YES on 98 campaign and we want to know who he is. Do you know what mobile home parks he owns? Or other information? Anything would be helpful. ASAP PLEASE.

Click this link to see who has contributed to Prop 98.

THANK YOU!!!

The CoMO-CAL Team

Frank Wodley, Chatsworth, President (818-886-6479)
Bob Hites, Marysville, Vice President (530-743-2965)
Sally Studer, Modesto, Vice President (reach thru CoMO-CAL)
Milt Burdick, Brea, Legislative Committee (714-572-0253)
Steve Molski, San Diego Rep (619-427-1221)
Ray Chavira, Antelope Valley Rep (661-946-8109)
Dave Loop, Aptos, Consultant & Contributor (831-688-1293)
Rosemary Tomai, Sonora, Consultant & Contributor (209-532-0889)
Jerry Lenhard, Escondido, Consultant & Contributor (760-745-3734)

College of the Redwoods under the EPA watchful eye

2008-05-15T20:11:00.000-07:00

It seems that with all the problems at College of the Redwoods, from a leaky pool getting uncovered, to child abuse at the CDC, you'd think it was bad this year at the College of the Redwoods.

Well, it's about to get really really really bad. Turns out that the College of the Redwoods has been dumping chemicals into a protected stream and wetlands area.

For YEARS.

What makes this really good about this is that the chemical trail and stream leak was right next to the Child Development Center. It is unknown at this time if the chemicals could have, or did damage anyone at the CDC, that the staff hadn't stomped, but look for another hefty fine of our taxpayer's money to pay for someone else's mistake.

The EPA are already on the case.

Another story not covered in local papers.

2008-05-02T11:33:00.000-07:00

Project Chanology

This has been an on-going event for the last couple of months, yet I haven't seen any coverage from the local papers, even though there is a large underground Scientology bunker not that far south of us here in Humboldt County.

"Church of Scientology" vs Anonymous computer nerds. I guess they are backing their actions eh Marcy Burstiner?

Don't think being anonymous is good? When the church found out the real names of some of the people (name fagged), they sued them in court, and went as far as killing their pets.

But don't take my word for it:

http://www.enturbulation.org/

http://www.xenu.net/

http://www.whyweprotest.net/

http://www.xenutv.com/

And remember, it isn't the religion that they want to get rid of, it is the church (cult) forcing people to pay to be "better" in their church and copyright issues. religion is meant to be free, not for profits. And "Fair Game" needs to stop. You'd think the crazy hippies around here would be all up in arms over a evil corporation that has killed, murdered and harassed people illegally.

Even the BBC is fair game.

BBC Story

There Will Be Lawyers.

2008-04-23T09:56:00.000-07:00

In one of the biggest OOPS! of the last year, and the final nail in my Resident Owned Parks INC (ROP) and Arcata Mobile Home Park story, I have some final information, as well as some voting information to pass on. It seems that the City of Arcata also agreed that $541 a month for park rent was too much for the space alone, and they never allowed that to be charged. The park rent for space (private owned trailer) was to be $351 a month, but the problem at Arcata Mobile Home Park is that there is a few park owned trailers. ROP took the prices for the trailer and trailer spot rent and made it park wide. Overcharging some people who lived in the park almost $200 a month. The City of Arcata also does share some of the blame, as they allowed ROP to be the only contact and never sent any information to the park people themselves. To date, there has been no improvements to the park, and by most people's accounts there has been a overall lack of upkeep of the park by management and still no paperwork has been sent out to park residents from ROP. No new rules, no old rules, the park floods when it rains, and the management has informed park people that if they have a problem with flooding, to buy a pump and deal with it themselves. Not in writing, because they can't even update the park rules and mail them out like they are legally required too.

OOPS!

And in a double slap to the face,it seems that Paul Pitino has bypassed going door to door in the park, the Mobile Home Park that he helped send down the river and stuck to "richer, better looking areas" or at least that's what the person who visited my house thinks after seeing my Paul Pitino's greatest hits flyer and handout in my groovy pad.

"Why didn't Paul visit us at the trailer park???"

"Because only trash lives at a trailer park and you people don't know how to vote, duh!"

What a bummer, and a lie, but that's how they feel like they have been treated. Oh well! OOPS!

Now I'd like to post some information that I've been getting emailed so maybe you people will feel better about something when you vote next year.

*****************************************

Dear CoMO-CAL E-mail Network Member:

With less than two months before the June 3rd Primary Election, we must remain focused on Proposition 98 and 99. In a park of 200 spaces, residents could lose $10 million in equity (when they go to sell). This is staggering! And the loss of rent control is just one aspect of Proposition 98 that will impact us in a negative way.

It is important that we all do our part getting the word out. Remember if Proposition 99 (the GOOD ONE) gets more votes, it prevails. The next issue of our newsletter, THE VOICE, has some good advice from attorney William Constantine (Santa Cruz). Your email copy will reach you before May 1st. Please read it.

If you need fliers or window signs for your park, just call or email us. We will immediately send off a box to you, no charge! We have already delivered 5,000 - our goal is 15,000. Time is running out, don't wait!

We ask you to forward this "Alert" to any mobile home owner. Just use the "forward email" link at the bottom of this page or simply forward it using your email carrier.

It is our goal to share information with and unite all mobile home owners through out the State of California.

We welcome your comments. Call us at 1-800-929-6061 or email us at comocal@yahoo.com anytime and we will respond.

Thank You,

The CoMO-CAL Team
Frank Wodley, President
Bob Hites, Vice President
Sally Studer, Vice President
Milt Burdick, Legislative Committee
Steve Molski, San Diego Rep
Ray Chavira, Antelope Valley Rep

All Mobilehome Owners will be affected if 98 passes

This is a portion of an email we received from Attorney William Constantine of Santa Cruz. It makes a very good point:

The figure that I use is that there are a million people living in mobilehome parks in Californa and, of course, they are not all on rent control. So your figure may be right that it may be that145,000 are on mobilehome rent control, I do not know since I have not calculated that figure.

Mobilehome owners in non-rent control parks are also endangered by 98 because it is the threat of mobilehome rent control being adopted that often keeps rents in many non-rent-controlled mobilehome parks reasonable. In fact, WMA, the park owners' group, urges their members in non-rent-controlled cities to show restraint on rent increases in order to avoid the adoption of rent control that may result from a park owner giving outrageous rent increases in a single park in a non-rent-controlled city. That has happened in many places. So, if 98 passes that threat will be gone and mobilehome owners in non-rent-controlled cities will also suffer.

Moreover, 98 will also likely eliminate the Mobile Home Residency Law's just cause of action provisions and state statute, and local ordinances, that can be used to require park owners to pay fair market value to the homeowners if they close the mobilehome park. It will also enable park owners to change the zoning of mobilehome parks to other uses even if they are currently zoned for only mobilehome park use and their cities are strongly opposed to those changes. These factors combined, will allow park owners to evict tenants and convert mobilehome parks to other uses if it is profitable for them to do so.

Thank you for your efforts, I will keep you on my e-mail list for alerts.

Will Constantine
(831) 420-4431
WConst1238@aol.com

HELP SAVE MISSION VALLEY VILLAGE MHP

Mission Valley Village Mobile Home Park

6892 Mission Gorge Road

619-546-7636 619-269-6719 (Fax)
San Diego, CA 92120

To Whom It May Concern:

Hello from the Mission Valley Village Mobile Home Park in San Diego.

As some of you may already know, despite all of our communications with the previous land owners of our park, informing them of our desire to purchase the park, along with meeting all the required state criteria to qualify to make this request, and finally making the offer to match any offer they might receive from any other potential purchaser (and being prepared to provide the funds for purchase), they sold the park privately. We were denied our First Right Of Refusal, while the park was being sold in secrecy to a developer who builds apartments

Within two months of purchasing the park the new owners, Archstone Smith held a meeting (April 2007) along with armed guard security, they announced to the all senior residents a "One Year Notice" of their intent to close the park. They stated a relocation package would be presented in 1-3 months and that all of us should plan to be out of our home in two years.

We were and still are determined not to be displaced without a fight to save our homes, and this much needed form of affordable housing for senior citizens in San Diego. Our HOA (Home Owner's Association) had already surmised what the previous owners were planning (the sale of the park) when they suddenly raised our rents 66% within three years. The HOA filed a lawsuit against the previous owner in January 2007 for the failure to maintain the property, evidenced by raw sewage spills and power outages. Despite these facts the sale of the park was completed. Therefore, the HOA added to the lawsuit damages resulting from being denied our First Right Of Refusal to purchase the park.

We were hoping that the State of California would see what is happening to Senior Citizens and pass a good "First Right of Refusal Law". The Western Mobile Home Park Owners Association (WMA) will spend millions of dollars to fight any bill that will give the home owning residents participation in the future of the park and defeated the FRR bill.

A year has gone by and still no relocation plan has been sent to City Hall. The new owners have petitioned the Community to "Initiate the Removal of the Mobile Home Overlay Zone" law that is on this property as it is on all of the San Diego Mobile Home Parks (MHPs). This special zoning is meant to protect the MHPs from this very kind of modern day piracy. The former park owners, who we are suing, have held deposition sessions with us for three months now.

This is theirway of increasing our legal cost in the attempt to bankrupt our funds as well as our spirit and therefore force us to forfeit our lawsuit. In addition we have offered Archstone Smith, the new park owners the same amount of money they paid for the park to avoid loosing our homes and the closing of the park, to this date they have not acknowledge our offer.

Initially there were 115 homes in the park. We now have 100 homes left. Within days of the announcement of the parks closer, we had three deaths and two heart attacks brought on by the stress to our residents, due to the instant uncertainty of their future and the fear of the loss of their homes. Others have sold their homes for whatever the new owners would offer. Neither they nor their families could deal with the stress and fear of not knowing what will happen to them. For some, this was their life's savings and they will be unable to buy another home. Their only choice is an institutional facility or returning to their children who are most often already over burdened with financial stress. We need your help now!

Our goal as we pursue our lawsuit is that the damages will be great enough to result in making any park owner in California think twice about not offering the First Right Of Refusal to their residents. We want all park residents to have the opportunity we were denied. This is the original intention of the First Right of Refusal (FRR) Law without additional variations sponsored by WMA.

We are sponsoring a variety of events to raise Legal Funds for our very expensive but valuable lawsuit. We urgently need about $20,000. We would like to acknowledge the generous donation of $1,000.00 from COMPAC, the $1,000.00 Karaoke fundraiser from Old Cliffs MHP, and the several donations that have been sent to our legal fund. Without those donations we would have been forced to abandon our lawsuit.

We are asking for your support, we will accept and appreciate any donation you are able to contribute to our legal fund. Please help us to prevail in our fight to make California a better place for all mobile home owners.

We would appreciate whatever you can give a dollar or two or a hundred or more from a club or chapter. COMPAC sent us a check for $1,000 and others have also sent us help and every cent will go into our Legal Fund. Help us to prevail in our fight and make this State a better place for all Mobile Home Owners.

Please mail donations to:

MVV HOA LF
6549 Mission Gorge Rd.
P.O. 173
San Diego, Ca. 92120

Sincerely,

Homer Barrs,

HOA, President

THIS IS HOW YOU CAN HELP US

GET INFORMATION OUT
Here's what to do:
a. Email CoMO-CAL to let us know you're willing to work on this.
b. We will immediately email you a listing of parks - with the number of spaces - in your city or county.
c. Decide what parks you would like to work. I'd pick the larger parks first. Let us know.
d. Check out the park first. Does it have space numbers and a single address? Or individually named streets?

If it has space numbers, we can generate names and phone numbers for residents living there - up to 100/park. We do not know these residents and they are not CoMO-CAL members. But they SHOULD be concerned about Proposition 98.

The next step is to phone these residents, telling them about Prop 98 and 99 and asking them to help work their own park, i.e. distribute fliers and talk to their neighbors.

Once you have at least one contact in a park, we will supply you as many fliers as you require. We can also send window signs.

HELP US GROW OUR LIST OF CONTACTS

Send us information on names of residents if you have a park directory

Send us email addresses - we will include them on our FREE Alert list.

Remember, we have only a month before voters vote by absentee ballot. A large group of voters are still undecided. We can make a difference.

Dear CoMO-CAL E-mail Network Member:

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS

1) We need volunteers to phone mobilehome owners in parks across the state of California, to alert them to Proposition 98 and 99, and to introduce them to CoMO-CAL. All you need is a phone. If you don't have free long distance, we can give you lists of residents in parks in your local calling area. We will also give you suggestions how best to make these calls.

2) You all have a computer. We need volunteers to generate phone lists - this can be done on your computer - we will show you how. It takes about 5 minutes to generate a list of residents (up to 100) and phone numbers in any individual park.

3) We need volunteers to distribute fliers about CoMO-CAL and the propositions.

This project is important to help defeat 98, pass 99 and build CoMO-CAL. If you can give us an hour or two, or more, please call Frank at 1-800-929-6061, or Bob Hites at 530-743-2965.

We thank you

The CoMO-CAL Team

Frank Wodley, Chatsworth, President (818-886-6479)
Bob Hites, Marysville, Vice President (530-743-2965)
Sally Studer, Modesto, Vice President (reach thru CoMO-CAL)
Milt Burdick, Brea, Legislative Committee (714-572-0253)
Steve Molski, San Diego Rep (619-427-1221)
Ray Chavira, Antelope Valley Rep (661-946-8109)
Dave Loop, Aptos, Consultant & Contributor (831-688-1293)
Rosemary Tomai, Sonora, Consultant & Contributor (209-532-0889)
Jerry Lenhard, Escondido, Consultant & Contributor (760-745-3734)

And THANK YOU to the many who contribute,distribute,
and support our efforts to inform, communicate
and unite mobilehome owners in California

L.A. City Council Opposes Prop. 98

By Agustín Durán

The Los Angeles City Council approved yesterday a motion against Proposition 98 upon considering that it would eliminate rent control and would affect more than 628,000 low income families in the city.

Eric Garcetti, president of the Council was the author of the resolution that opposed Prop. 98.

"What this resolution does is alert the people of the true impacts Prop. 98 will provoke in the case the measure is approved," expressed July Won, spokesperson for Garcetti.

"Although officially the city does not have the jurisdiction over the state measure, the fact that the entire City Council opposes sends a message to the voters that will could heard around the state, and prevent its consequences," indicated Won.

The measure will be submitted to an electoral vote this June 3.

According to the campaign Internet page in favor of Prop. 98, this will return the right of the landlords to protect their property from the government or developers that try to profit from taking property to accomplish projects, except for public benefit.

On the same page, Cesar Engriquez, resident of National City , emphasizes in a video that Prop. 98 focuses on the subject of social justice.

"Not the government nor the private industry should have the right of practically making us disappear [their properties] for the benefit of few," said Enriquez in the video.

Never the less, Larry Gross, director of the Coalition for Economic Survival (CES), expressed that huge development companies wants the people to believe it [Prop. 98] protects property, when in reality it does totally the opposite."

"The only thing these developers are looking for is to eliminate rent control that for years has impeded them from increases their gains indiscriminately," he expressed.

"If the voters approve Prop. 98, what it is doing is leaving 600,000 families unprotected and out on the street without any resources to keep their landlords from evicting them," he added.

Additionally, he indicted that proof of this is that developers have been 80% of those supporting the measure.

Never the less, as part of their campaign, the sympathizers of Prop. 98 unveil on their site, the testimonies of owners of homes and businesses who don't want to lose their properties to a condominium project National City .

The director of the coalition expressed he will ask the Council take on a more active role, now that they have analyzed how the consequences of Prop. 98 will be awful for the city.

Non Profit Housing Developers May Be Selling Out The Poor

East Bay Independent Media 4/15/08
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/04/15/18493004.php

by Lynda Carson ( tenantsrule [at] yahoo.com )

Tuesday Apr 15th, 2008 4:06 PM

The cancellation of a meeting meant to teach people about the disastrous effects of Prop 98 at Housing California's annual conference, leaves many to believe the poor have been sold out!

Prop 98 - Non Profit Housing Developers May Be Selling Out The Poor
By Lynda Carson April 15, 2008

Oakland - Housing California , a non profit organization which claims to be the leading voice for affordable homes and an end to homelessness, is holding their annual affordable housing conference called "Reframing Affordable Homes." The annual conference is held on April 28/29/30 in Sacramento , CA .

Housing California expects more than 1,200 developers, business leaders, affordable-home advocates, government officials, service providers, and consumers to show up for their convention that will hold at least 78 meetings, workshops and training sessions during their 3 day conference.

A twenty page pamphlet titled "Reframing Affordable Homes," and mailed out by Housing California, details the agenda for the conference, while promoting their event for those that may be interested.

In the twenty page pamphlet, out of all 78 meetings, training sessions or workshops scheduled, only one of them has been cancelled. This was the meeting that was meant to teach people about the disastrous effects of Proposition 98, the California Property Owners and Farmland Protection Act or (CPOFPA), which if passed by the voters in June would kill rent control, tenant protections, and inclusionary housing laws.

Berkeley and Oakland received copies of the pamphlet from Housing California as recent as April 14, 2008.

On page 5 of the pamphlet, which had scheduled a meeting called, "Session 1" for Tuesday April 29, from 10:40am till 12:10pm, it states that the meeting called, "June Ballot Measures Prop 98 and Prop 99," has been canceled.

Housing California annual event called Reframing Affordable Homes is being sponsored by Citi-Bank, Wells Fargo, Wa-Mu (Washington Mutual), US Bank, Union Bank of California , Wachovia and Community Economics, among others.

Grass roots housing activist's who are not housing developers are already crying foul and are questioning why this important meeting has been cancelled by Housing California, and it's sponsors.

The banks and lending institutions have been involved in evicting millions across the nation due to homeforeclosures, and many believe that so-called non profit housing developers are so cozy with the banks and lending institutions, that Prop 98 is too hot for them to handle or to controversial for them to speak out against.

Meanwhile the fate of millions, including the poor, elderly and disabled are being placed at risk by Prop 98 if passed, and many are wondering if the non profit housing developers in California are going to sit back and watch the poor be flushed down the toilet by the proponents of Prop 98.

Lynda Carson may be reached at tenantsrule [at] yahoo.com

Save Rent Control in California: Fight Prop. 98

Live Journal Blog 4/15/08

http://community.livejournal.com/blackfolk/6038268.html

Save Rent Control in California : Fight Prop. 98

Proposition 98, disguised as "eminent domain reform," is a nefarious scheme by wealthy California landlord associations to end rent control state-wide. Aside from invalidating current rent control laws and prohibiting future ones, Prop. 98 would jeopardize renter protections like just cause for eviction ordinances, 60-day notice requirements, and the return of security deposits; prohibit affordable housing requirements in new developments; and put environmental and living wage regulations at risk.

Just Cause Oakland is a mass-based organization dedicated to fighting for affordable housing for low-income people of color in Oakland . We are reaching out to friends, supporters, and volunteers to join us in our fight against Prop. 98 on the June 3rd ballot.

With such wide-reaching effects, it's important that as many folks as possible get involved in defeating this measure. We will be walking precincts in West and East Oakland and phone banking over the next 8 weeks to mobilize residents to vote NO on Prop 98 in June.

We will be having a training on our electoral work for volunteers this Wednesday, April 16th, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Just Cause office ( 1611 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 415 , in downtown Oakland ). This training will give some background on the work JCO has done in the past to protect affordable housing in Oakland , give information on Prop. 98 and the competing measure, Prop. 99, and help prepare volunteers for the fieldwork we'll be doing over the next two months.

If you'd like to RSVP for Wednesday's training or find out more about our upcoming electoral work on the NO on 98 campaign, please call Lauren at the Just Cause Oakland office at 510-763-5877 or email lauren@justcauseoakland.org.

Dear CoMO-CAL E-mail Network Member:

Santa Cruz Attorney Mr.William Constantine has sent out another memo regarding Proposition 98. It suggests that some park owners may immediately start evicting residents if Proposition 98 passes, as well as decontrolling the space when they sell.

His views are supported by the Western Center on Proverty and Law. This is serious stuff. Although the memo is quite long, we publish it in it's entirety below.

We continue to ask you to help us organize. Please read "We are in a war," by CoMO-CAL President Frank Wodley

Also, Mr. Donald DeVore, a long time advocate for mobilehome owners, has written a terrific book "Mobile Home Wars." It is 192 pages (pdf) or 52 full pages in M.S. Word. Please take a look below, we have published the table of contents.

We thank you for your participation in our e-mail network. Please send this alert to other mobilehome owners in your address book. Our goal is to reach as many as possible. Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

The CoMO-CAL Team

Frank Wodley, Chatsworth, President (818-886-6479)
Bob Hites, Marysville, Vice President (530-743-2965)
Sally Studer, Modesto, Vice President (reach thru CoMO-CAL)
Milt Burdick, Brea, Legislative Committee (714-572-0253)
Steve Molski, San Diego Rep (619-427-1221)
Ray Chavira, Antelope Valley Rep (661-946-8109)
Dave Loop, Aptos, Consultant & Contributor (831-688-1293)
Rosemary Tomai, Sonora, Consultant & Contributor (209-532-0889)
Jerry Lenhard, Escondido, Consultant & Contributor (760-745-3734)

And THANK YOU to the many who contribute,distribute,
and support our efforts to inform, communicate
and unite mobilehome owners in California

WE ARE IN A WAR & WE NEED AN ARMY

We never bargained for this. We purchased a home in a mobile- home park thinking it would be a good experience. Many of us, especially those in parks where we rent our space, have found a living hell - managers rule by intimidation, residents are afraid to do anything but hide in their homes, some have committed suicide, etc. It is not a pretty picture. And now we are again threatened with a loss of rent control and much of our equity.

WE NEED AN ARMY

I have written "we can't fight a war without an army." We are growing - we have made many terrific contacts and continue to build our network, but much more work is ahead of us.

A couple days ago we asked for volunteers. A few emailed that they would help, but we need many more.

Now we have found an easier way to build our base of mobilehome owners - our goal is to reach every mobilehome park in California (4,822).

We ask you to help us help you. You all have internet access. You will also need experience with Microsoft EXCEL spreadsheets. Let us know if you can help with this project, please.

This work can open the door for you in your park. For instance, follow the procedure below to gather information on residents in your park. Let's say you want to have a meeting in your park to form a homeowners group, but are afraid to distribute fliers. No problem, send us the list of names and addresses and we will do a mailing for you - with your letter and information.

This work can help you form a "task force" in your community. We can help you connect with residents in other parks, and build our base across the state. This is important - please volunteer to help.

This is the procedure:
a. Go to http://www.hcd.ca.gov/ParksListing/faces/parkslist/mp.jsp to identify parks in any city or county in California.
b. Why not start building a data base in your city or county? How? Simply select a park in your city, get it's address.
c. Go to http://www.phonenumber.com/ (FREE) and use the reverse address function - type in the address of the park.
d. You will get up to 100 names of residents, with phone numbers and space numbers.
e. Input that information, one resident at a time, onto an EXCEL spreadsheet.
f. Please send us the spreadsheet to build our data base. We can generate labels to mail these residents information about 98, 99 and CoMO-CAL.
g. One park might take an hour of your time, but this will contribute to a permanent data base.

I thank you,

Frank Wodley

Frank Wodley
CoMO-CAL President

****************************************************

Speed up!

2008-04-23T09:46:00.000-07:00

Eye Editorial: Slow the hell down – April 22, 2008

Arcatans do care for each other, at least when they aren’t behind the steering wheel of a car. That’s when they turn into speed limit-disregarding, gas pedal-flooring, stop sign-running, bicycle lane-swerving, speed hump-ski ramping, pylon-slaloming, cat-flattening, kid-endangering rock ’em-sock ’em robots. Jabbering on cell phones.

More people can and should ride bikes and walk about our community, but that’s kind of hard to do with two-ton SUVs careening around within feet of your soft mammalian flesh.

The oilmen in the White House have given up any pretense of acting in citizens’ interests. They’ve systematically suppressed alternative energy strategies while purposefully pillaging environmental values, and now they’re letting their billionaire buds rack up record profits while fuel prices – and because of that, food prices – climb. But hey – it’s nothing a few new wars can’t make worse.

Meanwhile, we have our own low-intensity war between speeding vehicles and public safety going on on Arcata’s streets. Your City government is spending a lot of time and money that it could well use for other things on figuring out ways to get you to drive more safely. How about trying out this avant-garde notion without the accursed nanny measures?

Cut 10 miles per hour from your average speed. Use that stick on the side of your steering wheel that makes the red lights go blinkety-blink on the back of your car. You’ll save gas and probably notice scenery you haven’t fully appreciated at traditional velocities. Besides, it may be you on the bike within a few months.

Arcatans need to quaff a tall, frosty glass of slow the hell down.

Our city government shouldn't be worried about the speed of cars on the road, they should be worried about the quality of roads under our tires. I don't know who was having his or her time of the month special time with Aunt Flo when they wrote this story, but the people on bicycles and the walkers are pretty damn scary. Name the last time you saw a person on a bicycle stop and put their foot down at a stop sign and signaled their intent? How about a person crossing the street? Just the other day I almost took some asshole out in Arcata because he was talking to his buddy, then his cellphone and without even looking one way before crossing the street he stepped off the curb and almost ran into the side of my vehicle. I almost got hit by a stupid fuck on foot.

But no, somehow speeding in Arcata is GWB's fault, let's start a war over it. GJ GG NEXTMAP Arcata Eye.

Always know who your bedfellows are.

2008-04-03T23:36:00.000-07:00

Domain Name: LOVELACEFORSUPERVISOR.ORG

Registrant ID: GODA-045097023
Registrant Name: Aaron Antrim
Registrant Organization: CAF
Registrant Street1: 1445 Chester Avenue
Registrant Street2:
Registrant Street3:
Registrant City: Arcata
Registrant State/Province: California
Registrant Postal Code: 95521
Registrant Country: US
Registrant Phone: +1.7078223184
Registrant Phone Ext.:
Registrant FAX:
Registrant FAX Ext.:
Registrant Email: caf@humboldt1.com

http://aaron.arcatacommunity.org/

http://www.green-wheels.org/blog/1

Green Wheels is an affiliate of the Northcoast Environmental Center.

Green Wheels has come under the NEC umbrella as a fiscally sponsored project.

It is like play the Kevin Bacon game with non-profits around here.

100 beers at the Arcata skatepark on a Sunday.

2008-03-31T11:16:00.000-07:00

While some Eureka people look to Arcata's skatepark as a wonderful thing, as seen in the video above, Pabst Blue Ribbon is still the drink of choice.

Beers, no helmets and a free taxpayer supported skatepark. If you were really smart, you could leave it open 24 hours a day so you can score your dope at midnight. Hell, it's a great idea!

And remember folks, skateboarding isn't a crime!

Rainbow Ranch and Rodoni.

2008-03-30T10:37:00.000-07:00

More shit has been tossed around in print and on the blogs about this deal then Rodoni's cows toss out their asses at the Rainbow Ranch. A lease entered in 1969 (can most of you bloggers remember 1969?) for $350 a month, plus upkeep for 9,000 acres with no services. Today everybody still thinks this is a complete sweetheart deal. But in 1969, Rodoni was paying what would be valued today $2,075.22 plus upkeep. Most people have no idea that roads aren't cheap to fix, and I guess everybody on the blogs knows how to grade a road and upkeep a cranky old 'dozer.

In this STORY here, they talk of a ranch paying $17,000 a year to run cattle, want to know what that would have cost in 1969 a month?

$277.56

Maybe you should ask him about his sweetheart deal.

I still love this though.

Paul Cienfuegos

Is this a trick question?!!!

It is unbelieveable to me that Rodoni could have gotten away with this outrageous conflict of interest all these years. I live in a 500 square foot apartment, and I pay lots more per month than does Roger, and he gets 9,000 acres and a big house!

How in heavens name could the commission that examines conflicts of interest have ignored this for so long? Perhaps they too are in cahoots with the corporation that owns Humboldt County. It truly boggles the mind!

Every Maxxam Corporation-related vote he has ever taken should now be rendered invalid. And if there’s one public official in the county who it’s time to recall from office, it’s Roger Rodoni.

But Paul, you have electrical power, and you don't have to fix roads or outbuildings. And let's be honest, you aren't very honest about your conflicts of interest.

Inflation Info from here, not my ass

God damned Biodiesel!

2008-03-30T02:34:00.000-07:00

Gelling

The cloud point, or temperature at which pure (B100) biodiesel starts to gel, varies significantly and depends upon the mix of esters and therefore the feedstock oil used to produce the biodiesel. For example, biodiesel produced from low erucic acid varieties of canola seed (RME) starts to gel at approximately −10 °C (14 °F). Biodiesel produced from tallow tends to gel at around +16 °C (68 °F). As of 2006, there are a very limited number of products that will significantly lower the gel point of straight biodiesel. A number of studies have shown that winter operation is possible with biodiesel blended with other fuel oils including #2 low sulfur diesel fuel and #1 diesel / kerosene. The exact blend depends on the operating environment: successful operations have run using a 65% LS #2, 30% K #1, and 5% bio blend. Other areas have run a 70% Low Sulfur #2, 20% Kerosene #1, and 10% bio blend or an 80% K#1, and 20% biodiesel blend. According to the National Biodiesel Board (NBB), B20 (20% biodiesel, 80% petrodiesel) does not need any treatment in addition to what is already taken with petrodiesel.

To permit the use of biodiesel without mixing and without the possibility of gelling at low temperatures, some people modify their vehicles with a second fuel tank for biodiesel in addition to the standard fuel tank. Alternately, a vehicle with two tanks is chosen. The second fuel tank is insulated and a heating coil using engine coolant is run through the tank. When a temperature sensor indicates that the fuel is warm enough to burn, the driver switches from the petrodiesel tank to the biodiesel tank. This is similar to the method used for running straight vegetable oil.

Enough said.

Maybe I should be upset at this Global Warming snap we had.

Fitna

2008-03-27T11:59:00.000-07:00

Fitna

Trucker Strike set for April 1st.

2008-03-24T14:44:00.000-07:00

What started as a small, online grassroots effort now appears to have the potential for something bigger.

Dan Little, the owner/operator of a livestock hauling company in Carrollton, Mo., estimated Tuesday that at least 1,000 other truckers from across the United States have committed so far to joining him in a strike on April 1.

Although none of the truckers interviewed Tuesday at the Iowa 80 Truck Stop, Walcott, which is just off Interstate 80 west of Davenport, has heard of the intended strike, some said they would shut down, too.

Weldon Kinnison, a Virginia trucker who was hauling soft drink from Indiana to Denver, heard about the plans for a strike for the first time Tuesday while stopping at Walcott.

“I’m an owner/operator with the American Truckers Association,” he said. “I’d park my truck for a week with the cattle haulers.

“The fuel is too high, and there’s no reason for it. I don’t listen to the CB (radio) that much, but I guess I’ll start now.”

At issue is the rising cost of diesel fuel, which has reached or exceeded $4 per gallon in at least 17 states. But Little does not expect his strike to bring down the per-gallon price of gas, nor does he expect to have any effect on the oil companies.

“What I would personally like to see is our federal and state governments, until our economy recovers, suspend federal and state fuel taxes,” the 49-year-old said. “The second thing I’d like to see is an oversight committee for truck insurance, which is part of what’s taking us down.

“The average owner/operator is paying $600 to $800 a month for truck insurance. It’s based on personal credit, which means the monthly cost is going up for a lot of truckers because their credit is going down.

“Everything in the world is going up (in price), except for what we do. I lose money if I start my truck, and that truck is paid for — free and clear.”

Mike Hills, a driver from Wyoming, Iowa, said he also would shut down to support Little and the others — if he could.

“I can’t strike with them because I’m company,” he said while at the Walcott truck stop. “If I owned the truck, I’d strike with them. As far as I’m concerned, the gas prices are driving the economy.

“It might be a good thing if the drivers strike. They can’t make payments. Maybe if the oil companies bought all the trucks, things would change. Everything in this country is trucked.”

Hills then removed his wristwatch, using it to explain his point of view: “Every piece of this watch was trucked from somewhere. If you can’t keep up with the trucks, we’re all screwed — not just this country, but the world.”

Keith Deblieck, the owner of a trucking company out of Geneseo, Ill., said that, for many drivers, the time for a strike has come.

“They ought to strike,” he said. “We all ought to. They lose money every day they go out.”

But officials from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association are encouraging truckers to find options to a strike. The trade group represents the interests of more than 160,000 small business trucking companies and drivers.

“If we told our operators to shut down, we’d be slapped with a lawsuit because of anti-trust,” said association spokeswoman Norita Taylor, adding that a poor economic outlook and rising fuel prices are creating “a lot of emotions” among truckers.

“It’s hurting these people who are living paycheck to paycheck,” she said. “People are upset. What can we do?”

One thing the association is trying to do is talk to lawmakers and truckers about making sure that surcharges being charged to shippers are getting back to the people who paid for the gas. Surcharges are supposed to compensate for high fuel charges, but they must be negotiated with each shipper, and the truckers who pay at the pump aren’t always first in line to receive the surcharges.

Even when the surcharges do make it back to the driver, they are not enough.

“I turn down loads every day,” Little said. “The loads aren’t the problem — never have been.

“It’s the only thing I know how to do, driving a truck. But I sold my trailer the other day, and I’m not buying another one until something gets done.

“In no way, shape or form do truckers want to hurt this country. My whole deal on this thing is that I’m shutting down on April 1. Call it a strike, a shutdown or just flat-ass going broke.”

Jim Johnston, president of Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, warned that a strike “is not the answer,” saying, “Calling for a strike without the support of the majority would show weakness rather than strength, and the result would be increased economic hardship to the small percentage of truckers who do participate in the shutdown with no gains to justify their sacrifice.”

Little said he has no other choice.

“Our federal government is subsidizing railroads, airlines, banks and farmers,” he said. “Meanwhile, we’re being taxed to death.”

Well folks, it looks like the end is here. Stock up on fuel and food before the first.

Boycotting the Beijing Olympics

2008-03-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

It's time.

After reading about their treatment of cats and dogs. Their human rights abuses, and how they keep trying to kill us all with lead. Screw China.

Yeah the video is from fucking Pee-duh, and as much as I hate their shitty group, I thought you might like to see this. Who the fuck am I kidding, you don't want to see this, but damn it you need to:

And now you want to sue me for giving you PTSD.

Maybe this video can cure you of depression:

Here is what they are saying, dirty words ahead

Oh yeah, free Tibet or something.

Happy Candy Day

2008-03-23T16:51:00.000-07:00

See you at the club tonight.

What happened to the Locals Only rule?

2008-03-20T15:12:00.000-07:00

Reading the papers gives you a very odd view of Humboldt County. Most of the people causing problems around here, well, aren't locals. The Arcata Endeavor helps more non-locals than locals. Some fellow, who never has worked in the area, says that we need to pay people $10 an hour to work and live in Eureka. Arcata City Council gave away two chunks of land, 1.5 million dollars, and put the lives of 56 families in a non-local non-profit, for what?

What is it about this area that brings in non-locals by the boat-load?

Your guess is as good as mine.

First time I saw Obama's name was on a pair of big tits.

2008-03-19T13:23:00.000-07:00

PIMPS WHITE WOMEN AND BLACK WOMEN!

(I don't support anything other than this is a crazy video and should be must see TV)

Alligator on the Zipper

2008-03-19T12:18:00.000-07:00

Women truck drivers aren't usually thought of as American folk heroes, yet the seven women portrayed in the documentary film Alligator on the Zipper evoke the qualities of modern day cowboys. Courageous, tough and with a fierce love of freedom, they heed the call of the road that speaks to their independent spirit.

One such driver is Patsy Van Flateren, a Belgian immigrant whose drive to succeed and overcome an abusive past has propelled her to build a successful flatbed trucking business. Another tale from the road features Jackie Wheeler, a former actress whose dream is to appear on Oprah to tell her story of how she rose from being a trucker to a millionaire by inventing a lifesaving device for drivers. The stories of these women and five others give us a candid look into the rarely viewed lifestyle of women truckers. The open highways of America are where these independent women reinvent and transform themselves and reach for their dreams.

Just as an "alligator on the zipper" refers to a blown out tire in the middle of the highway, it also references the omnipresent danger that comes from hauling their rigs long distances. The freedom of the road is empowering yet it also brings risks.

http://www.alligatoronthezipper.com/

Sounds like a neat movie, thought it might tie in well with my current work here at the Super Happy Fun Blog.

I wonder if these women could get Patty Berg's Woman of the Year award?

Links about STAA trucks and Richardson Grove, a year in review.

2008-03-15T17:38:00.000-07:00

Starting from the newest to one year ago.

Offtracking

Test Drive

Salzman has an Opinion

STAA means driver protection

Bigger Trucks = Less Traffic

RV vs Truck tire weight and road damage

Picture Guide to STAA trucks

F.U.D. from Paul Cienfuegos and Richard Salzman

Sue NEC first?

Cattle Trucks no STAA trucks

Salzman's Letter

Cattle Truck, Cows go Moo

Mike Thompson and Patty Berg don't like the Environment

Polish Truck Drivers in Humboldt County, the real deal

Word of the day: OFFTRACKING

2008-03-11T16:52:00.000-07:00

Off-tracking

Off-tracking is when the rear wheels of a tractor-trailer follow a different path than the front wheels while making a turn.

But what does that really mean? Guess what, I have pictures!

Richardson's Groves low-speed causes more offtracking problems, one because of it's tight corners, and two, it's low speed. What it means it the corners need to be wider, and gentler so you don't have people sharing the same lane. You ever see the sign on the back of the trailers that say "Wide Right Turns?" That's offtracking.

Put up or shut up time?

2008-03-07T11:50:00.000-08:00

NJC Story here

"The next time you pull up alongside one of the new trucks, roll your window down," said Rob McBeth of O&M Industries. "There's no comparison with the old trucks — they're so much quieter."

I DARE the enviros to do a test. First I want them to rent a brand new off the lot Volvo 670 make about an hours worth of runs around the county in it, then rent a older truck, say a 1979 GMC with a 6-71...

Well maybe I can help you!

Volvo at idle and inside shots

Volvo driving and even engine braking

1979 GMC making some noise.

Isn't that a nice sound?

Now let's be honest, the enviros want the older two-stroke diesels to be running around Humboldt, otherwise they wouldn't be trying so hard to pressure Caltrans to not to do anything. But this seems pretty dramatic here:

Dan Baleme, owner of One Log House Espresso & Gifts, expects to close his business and lay off his employees while the project is completed. Why? "Caltrans has never been good at communicating with local businesses," he said on Feb. 28. "Our business went down to about 10 percent of normal the other day, when they were doing core samples; they blocked the road right at [the Grandfather Tree] with a flagman, so my driveway was blocked." Baleme further alleged that repeated attempts to address more efficient traffic control have gone unheeded by Caltrans.

Talk about taking your ball and going home....

But don't worry these people are welcome in Humboldt County!

Enviros and no-growthers crack me up. I think it is time that THEY put there theories to the test.

Oh, only one problem with the story though, the new trucks have new engines which already meet the new standard (2007) there was a major change at that time, the next major step is in 2010, where the big trucks will most likely be cleaner then your Pruis...

(ab)Using children for your goals

2008-03-06T11:37:00.000-08:00

They say, a picture is worth a thousand words, I don't agree with that statement always, but this picture from the Eureka Reporter (I'm going to guess it was taken by Cerena Johnson, at or around the 5th of this month) tells me something. Fir kids not being in school, they seem downright unhappy, nowhere near as happy as their older commissars standing in the back row. I mean look at the children, they look like they want to be anywhere but there, but that commissar in the back, you can she her face, she is happy as can be, fighting the good fight. It isn't the first time commissars have been used to (ab)Use children for their goals, There have been other times.

Using children as meat shields is a horrible act, no matter who is doing it. What I don't understand is what are the children in Humboldt County going to do if they aren't college bound? Work at Moonrise herbs for the rest of their life? Northtown books? NEC? There are less and less higher paying jobs in Humboldt, and they want to limit their access to getting out and getting some kind of job or skill that can make them money. The lucky few get their 215 cards and start their own grows I guess.

Only in Humboldt County is being a drug dealer good and honest way to make a buck and serving your country by joining the Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines or Coast Guard, shameful and wrong.

Better than Enterprise

2008-03-05T22:20:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I get back to more serious posts.

My turn to make Kym cry.

2008-03-05T09:33:00.000-08:00

As I gathered my baby in a basket and headed out of the room ashamed and still crying, the only person left, a massive truck driver in red suspenders and logging boots clinched the humiliation by calling out nastily, “If I cry, can I get my ticket reduced too?”

Blog here

You should feel ashamed, you put on the waterworks for a ticket reduction for a crime you did commit. You have a driver's license, and "not knowing" doesn't make you less guilty. By adding in the part that you were getting ready to drop a kid is just another ploy to pull at people's heartstrings.

Another story here

This part cracks me up the most:

Actually, I haven’t even looked. For all I know, the taillight is in perfect condition. I’ll have to look tomorrow. I hate to drive the thing but eventually it will come up so I better get it fixed.

Kym - February 19, 2008 at 6:15 pm

God damned, you are a hazard on the road lady. Start looking at what you are doing and look after your cars and trucks. Getting pulled over and warned to fix a taillight then not even checking it is a sign of disrespect for everybody else on the road. Don't be a jerk, take some person responsibility and pull your head out.

Mr. Show covers Humboldt County

2008-03-04T14:14:00.000-08:00

Let's be honest, I swear these people where my camp councilors when I used to go to summer camp at Arcata Redwood Park. Is this off topic? Not really, when you look at the letter Richard "Ellis D Trails" Salzman wrote me the other day. The sound is a little better on this on, but it doesn't have the first part.

And remember, as our DA Paul Gallegos and his buddy Ken Miller aways say, never take more than you can handle and always know your dealer.

Salzman does have an opinon on large trucks though.

2008-03-03T03:19:00.000-08:00

Rethink bigger trucks on roads

Letters to the editor, Eureka Times-Standard
Article Launched: 08/15/2007 04:15:29 AM PDT

The recent bridge collapse in Minnesota brought to light the consensus among civil engineers that the single biggest factor in structural fatigue of bridges (and deterioration of roads in general) is large truck traffic.
In light of this tragedy, and with this information, maybe we should be reconsidering our rush to realign Richardson Grove or to promote the development of a container ship terminal on Humboldt Bay, both of which will put more and bigger trucks on our roads and over our aging bridges.

Richard Salzman
Sunny Brae

Dunno what to think about the email below, but trucks and Great Whites are two different things.

Salzman speaks out.

2008-03-03T03:15:00.000-08:00

from Richard Salzman
to anon.r.mous@gmail.com,
date Sat, Mar 1, 2008 at 5:35 PM
subject clarification and statement

Not for publication.

Dear Mr. Smith,

fyi, Redwood Progressive is community bulletin board that I monitor as a service to invited subscribers. I not necessary agree with everything I post. For example, I posted notice from the Kucinich campaign even thought I was supporting Edwards. Have said that, just because there already a lot of great white sharks in the local surf, does not mean that we should want more.

-----

Richard W. Salzman
1751 Charles Ave
Arcata Ca 95521

rs@salzint.com
707.822-5500 (phone &fax)

------

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:

This communication constitutes an electronic communication within the meaning of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 USC 2510, and its disclosure is strictly limited to the recipient intended by the sender of this message. This communication may contain confidential and privileged material for the sole use of the intended recipient and receipt by anyone other than the intended recipient does not constitute a loss of the confidential or privileged nature of the communications. Any review or distribution by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient please contact the sender by return electronic mail and delete all copies of this communication.

STAA trucks mean more protection for the drivers, legally.

2008-02-29T17:16:00.000-08:00

Your Rights Under the STAA: Refusing to Drive Under Bad Weather

Winter is now in full swing and truck drivers will face snow-covered, icy roads throughout the Plains, the Northeast and the West. At times, they will face the decision of whether or not it is safe to drive. Of course, the driver’s decision may differ from his dispatcher’s decision. When this conflict arises it is generally the driver’s decision that will legally control who is right and who is wrong.

The United States Code of Federal Regulations [49 C.F.R. §392.14] provides in pertinent part as follows:

Hazardous conditions; extreme caution. Extreme caution in the operation of a commercial motor vehicle shall be exercised when hazardous conditions, such as those caused by snow, ice, sleet, fog, mist, rain, dust, or smoke, adversely affect visibility or traction. Speed shall be reduced when such conditions exist. If conditions become sufficiently dangerous, the operation of the commercial motor vehicle shall be discontinued and shall not be resumed until the commercial motor vehicle can be safely operated.

This regulation does not provide a clear test for when a driver shall discontinue operations due to bad weather.

The Surface Transportation Assistance Act (known as the STAA) prohibits an employer from disciplining or firing a commercial driver because that driver refuses to drive a commercial motor vehicle on the highways in violation of Federal safety regulations. The STAA also prohibits an employer from disciplining or firing a commercial driver because that driver refuses to operate a commercial vehicle when he has a “reasonable apprehension” of serious injury to himself or the public because of the vehicle’s unsafe condition.

When a driver claims that he has been wrongfully disciplined or fired in violation of the STAA, his case may be heard by officials of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The DOL has decided only a handful of cases where a driver has been fired for refusing to drive due to bad weather.

In Cleary v. Flint Ink, Corp. (1996), a driver refused a dispatch scheduled to depart at midnight. On the morning of his scheduled departure, the driver saw the beginnings of a major snowstorm. He watched a televised weather report predicting heavy snowfall for the area of his scheduled run. The driver telephoned his supervisor at 8:15 a.m. and asked to have his run postponed. Not surprisingly the supervisor told the driver he could not delay his run, but gave him the option to leave immediately. The driver refused and reiterated his refusal to leave at midnight. Ultimately the driver was fired for his refusal to drive.

The Secretary of Labor upheld the firing. While acknowledging that a driver is protected when he refuses to drive due to adverse weather conditions, the Secretary found that the driver’s refusal to drive in the Cleary case was not reasonable under the circumstances. In ruling for the employer the Secretary of Labor stated:

“Given the evidence presented and the changing nature of the weather it was not reasonable to assume that the roads would be unnavigable 16 hours after [the driver’s] decision not to drive. Cleary should have waited until later in the day to observe the progress of the storm and make his decision based upon the most recent information available.”

In the case of Robinson v. Duff Truck Line, Inc. (1993), a motor carrier fired a driver because the driver did not even attempt to drive in what he claimed was bad weather. The carrier argued that the language in the regulations that says “the operation of the commercial motor vehicle shall be discontinued” when weather is sufficiently hazardous meant that the driver must at least start a run before refusing to drive due to hazardous weather.

The driver, Robinson, testified that television stations issued weather warnings advising against driving on the highways which were on his route due to icy conditions. Based on this he refused to drive and the carrier fired him.

The Secretary of Labor rejected the carrier’s argument that a driver must at least begin his run before he can refuse to drive due to bad weather, stating that it would create an absurd situation of drivers being compelled to take their vehicles at least out of the terminal gate.

Sleet, Rain and Snow

Eash v. Roadway Express, Inc. (2001) was a case before the U. S. Department of Labor wherein the employee, Larry Eash, refused a dispatch based on inclement weather. Eash was assigned to a bid between Copley,Ohio and Pittsburgh. When Eash woke on Jan. 14, 1999, he saw sleet and rain mixed with snow outside his home. Weather reports on the local radio station indicated that freezing rain was moving east toward Wooster,Ohio. A television news report indicated that driving was dangerous in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. Eash observed freezing rain outside his home. He continued to monitor television and radio weather reports which advised against travel due to snow and freezing rain.

Several times during the day that Eash was scheduled to work, he called the employer and attempted to be relieved of his work responsibilities due to bad weather. Eash advised the persons that he spoke with that he believed the weather conditions made driving dangerous. His employer ignored his requests to be relieved from work until the inclement weather conditions cleared.

Eash left his home in his personal vehicle and began the 20-plus mile drive to Roadway’s terminal at Copley,Ohio. As he attempted to drive to work, freezing rain accumulated on his windshield, window glass and outside mirrors; he could barely see the road ahead of him because of the accumulated ice on the windshield. He could not view the side mirrors on his car because of the accumulated ice, and lost control of his vehicle at one point after driving about six miles from home.

He then called Roadway and told the dispatcher on duty that he was not going to report to work because driving conditions were dangerous. Roadway issued a “Letter of Warning” to Eash for his “Failure to report to work after accepting a work call on 1/14/99 at 19:55.”

An Administrative Law Judge of the DOL found that Eash “failed to establish that the type of weather conditions existed that would have made it unsafe to operate a commercial motor vehicle on Jan. 14, 1999.” However, the Judge found that Roadway had illegally disciplined Eash because “a reasonable person in [Eash’s] situation could have determined that a bona fide danger of accident or injury to his person existed and complainant had a reasonable apprehension of serious injury to himself or to the public because of the vehicles’ unsafe condition.” The judge ordered Roadway to remove from its files the warning letter that it issued to Eash.

When You Can Refuse To Drive

From these cases we can discern several rules about when a driver can refuse to drive due to adverse weather conditions.

*
A driver may refuse to start work if the weather is sufficiently hazardous at or near the time he is scheduled to begin as to make it unsafe to operate a commercial vehicle on the highways.
*
A driver cannot speculate unreasonably into the future regarding what the road conditions will be beyond a few hours.
*
A refusal to drive due to adverse road conditions must be reasonable. The refusal should be based on the driver’s personal observations, weather reports from the radio and television, calls to the Department of Transportation or Highway Patrol, if possible, and information received from other drivers if such information is available.
*
Additionally, the driver should be able to articulate for a Court the precise facts that led him to believe that it would have been unsafe for him to operate a commercial vehicle on the highways.

Remedies

If an employer illegally fires or disciplines a driver for refusing to drive a commercial vehicle in dangerous weather, the driver can seek relief under the STAA. A driver must file a complaint with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration within 180 days after he receives notice of the illegal discipline. OSHA will investigate a complaint filed under the STAA and thereafter issue a decision. If any party objects within 30 days to OSHA’s decision, the case will be assigned to an Administrative Law Judge for consideration. The STAA provides broad relief to an employee who is successful in proving that he was illegally disciplined or fired. A successful claimant is entitled to reinstatement, expungement of his work record, back pay, other damages, attorney fees and legal costs.

Ultimately, the professional truck driver is the best judge of whether road conditions are so hazardous that he should not drive. He must act reasonably under the circumstances. If he acts reasonably in refusing a to drive due to dangerous weather conditions, and clearly conveys his reasons for refusing to drive to his employer, then the employer may not legally fire or discipline him for refusing to drive because of hazardous road conditions.

Paul O. Taylor is an attorney with the Truckers Justice Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. He can be reached at 651-454-5800.

Bigger STAA trucks mean less truck traffic.

2008-02-25T17:12:00.002-08:00

Most of the items getting trucked in and out of Humboldt County are under 80,000 pound gross. Sun Valley would have a hard time stuffing enough flowers in the back of a trailer to try and overload a truck. They would, and have said, that they could use 160 trucks less per year with the longer trucks. Why is this? It's because they are using more space than weight. I'd be surprised if the trucks leaving Sun Valley had more than 10,000 pounds in the box. Wood chips can be heavy, but for the most part, they aren't leaving Humboldt County. I bet most of the weight of chips comes from water anyway.

Things that are heavy are liquid and foodstuff. Which for the most part are going to be items coming into the County. Those prices might drop once they don't have to have special equipment to come into Humboldt County. Fuel is cheaper in Crescent City right? STAA trucks can get into that town believe it or not. Less trips also equal less wear and tear on the roads, less fuel burned and maybe, less costs at the stores.

So far, I haven't heard anything at all to disprove my information that I've posted here.

Some of this:

or more of this:

and this:

Let's bring Humboldt County into 1983.

What causes more damage to the roads?

2008-02-23T16:18:00.000-08:00

As you see above, a standard "18 wheeler" 80,000 pounds spread over 18 tires. 12,000 pounds on the steers, 34,000 pounds on the drives and tandems.

Here is a RV. Taken from information off their website, this RV can have 16,600 pounds on the steers, 20,000 pounds on the drive 14,000 pounds on the tag axle and haul another 15,000 pounds spread across as few as 10 tires. That's 4,444 pounds per tire for the semi truck and 6,560 pounds for the RV.

The working trucks pays over $12,000 a year in taxes to fund highways, I'm pretty sure the RV doesn't. Guess who wants more RVs into Humboldt County over large trucks? I guess we should tax the busniesses who cater to RV more for the road damage their customers do each year.

Sounds about fair doesn't it?

Anon.r.mous' helpful picture guide to STAA trucks.

2008-02-23T03:01:00.000-08:00

As you can see above, the ENORMOUS interstate highway sized trucks really aren't that much larger than the trucks that can currently get into Humboldt County. It's just the room for the sleeper. The Volvo VNL 300 (above) has a wheelbase of approx 166" and the VNL 670 (below) has one of approx 221". You can order them longer or shorter. We already allow large STAA style trucks into Humboldt County, and have for years. Some of the longest trucks on the roads are moving vans, which are allowed, and have been allowed on 101 for years. So far, the chaos that the special interest groups such as Paul Cienfuegos and Richard Salzman support has failed to happened, for years. YEAR these trucks have been coming in and out of Humboldt County (moved Richard Salzman's home up here my guess) without the problems or death of companies in Humboldt County.

Also, even though the size is under '65 feet, the truck in the first picture is not legal to drive in California, the tandems are not set for California's '40 bridge law, but would fit under California Legal Only law. Let's stop pussy-footing around the subject that the lies that the no-growthers are spreading. And let's not even cover the lies about emissions or fuel mileage that they are spreading.

It's time to bring Humboldt County into 1983.

F.U.D. from Paul Cienfuegos and Richard Salzman

2008-02-20T12:50:00.000-08:00

Word of the day is ENORMOUS!

From: Paul Cienfuegos (please direct replies to Paul at: )

Dear friends,

Two VERY IMPORTANT public meetings are taking place in the next seven days regarding major development issues in our county. I want to URGE each and every one of you to prioritize attending both of them, and speaking your mind. Both are quite far along in their planning, and the public's forceful opposition is needed NOW before either of them gets approved.

#1 is a CalTrans public meeting tomorrow eve at 6pm (Wednesday the 20th) re: the widening/straightening of the road through Richardson Grove to make it possible for ENORMOUS interstate highway sized trucks to reach our communities.

#2 is a County Board of Supervisors Public Hearing (perhaps the very last one!) next Tuesday the 26th at 130pm re: the proposed DanCo mega-development in and around the existing town of Samoa, which will quadruple the number of homes to 400+, plus an indoor soccer arena, conference center, RV park, new business district, and much much more.

Details about both meetings are below. PLEASE try to attend and speak out in opposition at both of these upcoming meetings. Grassroots democracy is the best mechanism we have left to stop these two projects. Please join your neighbors in saying a big bold NO! And if you can't attend, please consider mailng your written comments ASAP, so they become a part of the official written record. More details about both meetings are below.....

Awesome! Indoor soccer and a new RV park! Full sized STAA trucks, sounds like a great bunch of meetings towards PROGRESS!

CalTrans Public Informational Session on Richardson Grove road widening
Wednesday the 20th (TOMORROW) at 6pm, at Wharfinger Building in Eureka:

CalTrans has scheduled a public informational session from 5 to 8pm tomorrow eve, to share its plans for two highway projects. From 6 to 7pm, the meeting will focus on a frequently misreported plan to widen and straighten the road through Richardson Grove on Highway 101, just south of Benbow in southern Humboldt. CalTrans has been getting kudos from everyone from enviro groups to the State Park and business organizations for claiming to have figured out how to make the road legally accessible to "STAA" trucks (which are increasingly the industry standard) without cutting down any of the big redwood trees lining the road. But two of us spent a recent afternoon looking at CalTrans' stakes in the ground, and we think they're lying about not having to cut any large redwoods down.

STAA (Surface Transportation Assistance Act) trucks are ENORMOUS trucks by local standards, but the powers-that-be (County government, the governor's office, Mike Thompson, the Chamber of Commerce, etc) are insistent that allowing these trucks into our rural communities will be good for us, whether we like it or not. The local press has framed the road widening as critical for the survival of our local businesses and cattle haulers, but the cattle haulers already receive an examption to the truck length rules. And although it's true that our local businesses sometimes have to pay for their freight to be transferred to smaller trucks before it reaches Humboldt communities, the problem is much less critical than some local business organizations claim.

The REAL REASON that this road widening/straightening is being put on the fast track for approval is that Home Depot and other big box corporations will not send their trucks down non-STAA approved roads. So the best way to assure that our rural way of life becomes a thing of the past is to widen the road through Richardson Grove. In addition, STAA truck access is a critical component in turning Humboldt Bay into a major commercial port that can compete with other west coast ports. In other words, the widening of the road through Richardson Grove is one of the key infrastructure improvements needed to make Humboldt look more and more like the larger urbanized areas to the south. (STAA trucks are commonly as long as 75 feet, and believe it or not, there are currently no legal maximum length laws, so they could potentially be even longer than that! Details: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/trucks/truckmap/truck-legend.pdf.)

Local residents have been overwhelmingly opposed to this vision for the future of our county for at least 40 years, when they successfully defeated a proposal in 1968 (I believe) to widen the road through Richardson Grove. And again in 2003, when the vast majority of comments at two public hearings (Eureka and Ukiah) were a resounding NO.

It's time once again to let CalTrans know, loud and clear, that our county is not for sale to the big trucking companies, or the big box stores, or to economic growth models that turn our rural communities into just another urban landscape.

We need dozens and dozens of local residents to come out to this public meeting tomorrow eve at 6pm, and say NO loud and clear. Support the "No Build Alternative". Say NO, we don't want a wider straighter road through Richardson Grove, even if it can be done without cutting any of the larger trees (which probably isn't true anyway!). NO, we don't want enormous STAA trucks driving through our county. We want our quality of life protected. We want to continue to live in a rural and clean environment. And we're willing to pay a little bit more for our consumables in exchange for that peace and quiet. For 40 years, the people of our county have kept that road just the way it is. Let's do it one more time!

STAA trucks really aren't any larger than the trucks that come into Humboldt County already. SWIFT and GTI already haul '53 foot long trailers into the area with their aging COE fleet, and some of the other trucking companies use '48 foot long trailers with their sleeper tractors already. Don't see you guys complaining about the size of the newer RV coming into the area. And for the record, STAA trucks ARE the standard, and have been since 1982 (well, really since they moved to '53 trailers and standard tractors with sleepers) But if these envro nuts want the older trucks with the older, non-smog engines to be running around, that's fine I guess, seems the cheaper things are in the stores is bad for you, but not as bad as having clean air.

Board of Supes Public Hearing on Samoa Mega-Development Proposal (from DanCo)
Next Tuesday the 26th at 130pm at the County Courthouse:

The County Board of Supervisors has scheduled what may be the very last opportunity for local residents to impact the decision on the proposed mega-development that DanCo has been working on now for a number of years. Many locals believe this proposal was tabled when the CA Coastal Commission stated its opposition to building houses in the tsunami zone. Nothing could be further from the truth. This ever-changing proposal is about to receive its FINAL approval from the county's decision-makers.

The planned development is ENORMOUS, encompassing 173.2 acres. It would create 308 new homes (or 380, depending on which copy of the proposal that you read). Plus an indoor soccer arena, a new retail business district and town square, an RV Park, conference center, lodge, and much more.

Traffic through Manila is already atrocious, since Highway 101 became a safety corridor between Arcata and Eureka. Every few minutes, Manila's children and teens dodge cars as they try to cross this 55 mph highway that splits our town in two. Imagine how much worse this will become when there are hundreds of new homes just down the road in Samoa. Not to mention that Samoa will become a major tourist destination. (Humboldt County has never seen a land use proposal this grandiose, as far as i know.)

In addition, Samoa hosts many historical toxic sites from its company mill-town past. There is currently no requirement to clean up these toxic sites before building on top of them, believe it or not! And the Board of Supes appears gung-ho to give the green light to this outrage, regardless of the impact to our neighboring communities. Think this project won't impact Arcata or Eureka residents? Think again. Highway 255 will be funneling many more hundreds of cars each day and night onto both towns' streets.

Details about the Samoa Master Plan Project can be viewed online at: http://co.humboldt.ca.us/planning/samoa/default.asp or at Kinkos in Eureka.

Primary objectives of the "Master Plan" include (from the document):

1. Create a strong linkage and relationship between the ocean, town and bay.
2. Create a strong central streetscape running north-south through the town.
3. Provide a range of uses that will maximize market opportunities, while enhancing the financial viability of the existing town.
4. Maintain the "Coastal Sea Town" image and character of the town.
5. Maintain the historic character of the town.
6. Create significant buffers between the town and sensitive natural areas.
7. Buffer non-compatible uses from each other.
8. Create a strong tourist/retail core for the town.
9. Create strong relationships between future tourist accommodation, tourist retail uses, Historic/Cultural uses and recreational uses.
10. Enhance the existing town's economic viability through new residential, commercial and industrial development.
Current Samoa residents have been generally too scared to speak up in opposition to this development - a classic company town reality - as no one owns their own home (yet). So if you know any Samoa residents please urge them to attend as they may not even know about this Public Hearing.

If you can't attend the Public Hearing but still wish to comment, please make nine (yes, 9!) copies and send or deliver them to:

Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, 825-5th Street, Eureka 95501
no later than this Thursday afternoon.

I've only seen teens cross the street after looking both ways out there on 255, but let's be honest, traffic has always been heavy out there with the chip vans running through there all the time, Paul just doesn't want any growth, and wants his investments to gain in value is all. So why the lies? Paul thinks that trucking outfits would be taken over, and that children and teens (but not adults and old people) will get run over if these go through? Why the scare tactics?

As with the Richardson Grove proposal, our local elected and appointed officials are moving forward rapidly to approve this mega-development. It's almost too late to stop them. Somehow they believe that the "economic growth" that both will bring will benefit you and I. But there's plenty of research now from across the US that demonstrates overwhelmingly that growth for growth's sake is the ideology of the cancer cell. That you can't ever get your quality of life back once it's overrun by giant chain stores and the giant trucks that service them. By traffic that increases constantly, filling every new road that's built or widened. Is this really what we want our county to become? I think not. If you agree with me, please turn out at BOTH PUBLIC MEETINGS and let the decision-makers know how you feel, loud and clear.

Thanks for reading all the way to the end!

Paul Cienfuegos
Manila resident

Wait, Paul Cienfuegos, you aren't just a Manila Resident, you are much, much more than that! You are all these things below:

Paul Cienfuegos, Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County, Citizens Concerned About Corporations, DA Gallegos Supporter, and much, much more.

It's sad really, Paul bashes all these things, but have you ever been to a OceanSpray cranberry farm? Nice wandering gravel road through the short oaks with the deer and other wild animals running around? Naw, you haven't. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if the only time you leave Humboldt County is when you and your buddies take a tax-free, all paid trip from one of your many "non-profits". People need to understand that Paul Cienfugos' job is to stop growth and spread lies in Humboldt County, that's what he does for money. Salzman does it for fun, Cienfuegos does it for cash.

Don't support hidden corporate rule, don't support Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County dba CCAC dba 100fires dba Northtown Books dba.....

Oh yeah, you didn't know that this all came from a push to have protection for his business interests? Let's be open about the dirty tricks in the open.

A way too common sight at AMP

2008-01-22T13:15:00.000-08:00

Continuing with the purge that happened at Sandpiper Park in Arcata, Arcata Mobilehome Park is getting cleared out. With the assault that is going on out at the Blue Lake Mobile Home Park, the trend that Humboldt County has towards mobile home parks is starting to look pretty clear cut. Yes, don't tell me that the Blue Lake park is on Blue Lake Casino's new parking lot, and that's special land or anything, it doesn't fly with me. After seeing what the Arcata City Council holds dear.... Well read about it here:

Mark Wheetley, mayor

* improving roads and trails

* affordable housing

* continuing to address grow houses

* expanding regional coordination

* more community involvement

* youth master plan

* potential for an open space/ regional park

Alex Stillman, vice mayor

* landscaping round-abouts on Guintoli Road, a major tourist area

* waste reduction

* utilities user's tax

* encouraging eco-tourism

Michael Machi

* Humboldt State University contributions to housing market

* constructing a new facility on the fire department's new property

* Teen center and teen council, apart of Youth Master Plan

* first time buyer home program

* business loan program

Harmony Groves

* Bicycle Friendly Communities award

* plastic bag fee

* ban on Styrofoam

* restaurant composting program

* continuing with green house gas reduction

Paul Pitino

* bathroom for downtown arcata

* the Endeavor's relocation

* the state budget's affect on Arcata

* parks master plan

* parking master plan

You can see that only two people don't have their heads completely in the clouds and aren't dreaming of Santa Claus bringing gifts of joy to them this year. Eco-tourism? Landscaping? Plastic Bag Fee? Well I guess that just sums up everything. I would like to thank NORTH COAST JOURNAL for a nice story on the park in Blue Lake, that was good. I would also like to thank the people who have emailed me about these stories about Resident Owned Parks, INC, Maurice and Diane Priest and the Parks in California that are SUING Resident Owned Parks, INC (ROP) to keep them out of their parks. Because if you live in a ROP park, this is what it's going to turn into.

I hope that someone with land and or money in Humboldt County will be able to support the displaced people of the three parks in Humboldt County, Arcata Mobile Home Park, Sandpiper Park, and Blue Lake Mobile Home park.

Dan Hauser joins forces with ROP. More mobilehome parks to be screwed over on the way?

2007-12-28T11:24:00.000-08:00

Dan Hauser and Steve Gullage Join ROP Board of Directors.

Dan Hauser, a former mayor and state legislator, and Steve Gullage past president of Golden State Manufactured Homeowners League, have joined the ROP Board of Directors.

Dan Hauser graduated from Humboldt State University and served two terms on the Arcata City Council from 1974 to 1982. From 1978 to 1982 he was mayor of Arcata. He was elected to the California Legislature in 1982 representing the 1st Assembly District for 14 years. His Assembly District included Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties. Dan served a total of 14 years in the Assembly until termed out in 1996. For nine years he chaired the Committee on Housing and Community Development where he offered significant legislation involving mobilehome and mobilehome parks. During his Assembly career, Mr. Hauser, (a Democrat) had a total of 306 pieces of legislation signed into law by Republican governors. Following his service in the California Legislature Dan was Executive Director of the North Coast Railroad Authority and General Manager of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad. For the last five and one-half years before his retirement he was the City Manager for the City of Arcata. His extensive experience as the author of mobilehome legislation, and his expertise in local and state government gained during his career as an elected official serving the City of Arcata and the State of California will be a tremendous resource to ROP.

Lifted from a earlier post in a different thread. Pretty neat. If he was such a awesome mobilehome legislation author, why didn't he ask the Arcata City Council to rent control the parks in Arcata instead of the mess they have now?

Sidenote, I was told by a source that the whole ROP takeover of the park and the complete mess of stories about the park wasn't the first time that the local newspapers completely missed the story and caused havoc at the park. Seems that there was a story done a couple years back about how Micheal Manchi killed a grant and that the mobilehome people where all going to get evicted because they couldn't get their sewer system replace and put on city sewer. Turns out this was nothing more than a scare story and that the park now also has the highest rate of sewer in the city as well for trailer parks, about $20 per trailer per month.

Good job local reporters and newspapers, you all get cookies this year.

How did this pass Eureka Reporter Editors?

2007-12-28T11:19:00.000-08:00

There are many organizations here that offer help: St. Vincent de Paul, the Rescue Mission, Medical Mobile, the Multiple Assistance Center, the Salvation Army and other wonderful individuals and groups. They see human beings, not burdens. They are the angels of Eureka who offer love, kindness and hope.

R.E.N.
(name withheld by request)
Eureka

What kind of crap is this? withholding names now by request? Hot damn, so I can run letters to the editor now and withhold my name? Not the best move, after dropping the hammer on that retard Salzman for writing letters under other people's name.

REAL LIFE LULZ

2007-12-26T13:12:00.000-08:00

Mad Props for Mad LULZ.

The highest priced Trailer park in Humboldt County.

2007-12-08T09:09:00.000-08:00

A little while ago, I talked to someone through email about a mobile home park in Arcata that had a rent increase from $200 a month to $541 a month. Turns out, that was just the tip of the iceberg. The City of Arcata has turned Sandpiper RV park and Arcata Mobile home park into low income housing, but the funny thing is, they are now the highest priced parks in Humboldt County. I was also told that the people in the park had gone to all the local papers, after they had pushed for the park to be bought in many different stories to do a follow-up. So far, no stories have come out that have been as probing as the fluff pieces that first hit the newspapers in 2006. Then I started getting more and more information, and I grew upset at the standard reporters in Humboldt County, this is going to be a name and shame for a lot of local papers, and a sad tale of suicide, cover-ups, and government and non-profit abuse.

Turns out that some of the park members had a protest at the Arcata City Council before the deal went through, and the city council insulted them for the most part, and had no real idea what was going to happen to the people who lived at the park. They still don't, or they don't care that they have driven off the very people they have tried to protect, I don't know which it may be. Some one in Arcata came up with the idea that the cost for a one room apartment in Arcata is about $541 a month, so they blanket applied that to the Arcata Mobile Home park, raising the base price to over $200 a month more than all the other parks in Arcata, even higher if you factor in that you have to pay for all of your services at AMP, and you get sub-standard sized lots. Most of the people at the park did not know, because they weren't told of the park rent increase until after escrow had closed, but had been told for over a year that it would only go up maybe $100, not $340. The slap across the face is that Arcata now classifies this park as "low-income" to people so that they can get a lower rent of two other levels, $271 and $351, both still higher than the starting rent, and the second level higher then most other parks in Arcata. The fact of the matter is that Arcata City Council has made their low income park the highest priced trailer park in Humboldt County! But that isn't everything, it gets better. People went to the reporters, and they didn't do much. I was told that one person who lived in the park went to the Arcata Eye the day after his friend in the park committed suicide because of the rent increase and they never called him back, another talked to the Eureka Reporter and had a half done story come out, she (the reporter) didn't come back for the second round of interviews after 5pm, after people who worked came home, and are most effected by the rent increase came home. And even the Times-Standard got in on the act, by sending someone out, a real new heavy hitter, who after interviews and phone calls, never even ran a story. The best I was told, was the North Coast Journal. Why is this the best? Well one of the photographers for the first story they ran ( http://www.northcoastjournal.com/072706/cover0727.html ) sold a car to one of the people who lived in the park and never even came back to cover the story again after the park sold!

Resident Owned Parks, the non-profit that now owns AMP and Sandpiper took a lot of taxpapers money as well for improvements to the park, so far there hasn't been a single thing done to the parks. The City of Arcata almost gave Resident Owned Parks enough money to buy AMP outright, yet the residents of the park have to pay $541 a month for the next 30 years with a 3% increase per year on rent. Figure it out and each person is going to be paying over $200,000 per spot in the park. Quite a deal for a piece of land 20 feet by 60 feet that you can't build on. Total price paid for the park is going to be over $7.5 million dollars on $700,000 financed. Your tax dollars at work.

Why hasn't this story been covered, and covered well in the local papers? It isn't like the story wasn't covered heavily before the sale happened, but after the sale, it wasn't newsworthy anymore? More and more people have left the park, Sandpiper park is less than half full now, from what it was before the sale. AMP is getting close to being 2/3 full, there are now more and more empty homes in the park, including the one which a person committed suicide in because of the rent increase would have taken his home away, but still no story.

I would like to thank the following reporters for allowing me to have a story to tell from upset mobile home owners in Arcata, Cerena Johnson, Terrence McNally,
Thadeus Greenson, Bob Doran, Rebecca S. Bender, and many more who never ran stories, never called backed sources, or went to the wrong park and took pictures.

If 78-year-old Dinah Black had to move from her home now, she's not sure where she would go...
....was the first person to have a for sale sign up in her window after the park was given to Resident Owned Parks.

Did someone jump off the Mad River bridge tonight?

2007-12-03T18:23:00.000-08:00

Will we ever know? Looked like it could have happened tonight at about 5:45pm.

Trains don't work.

2007-12-01T12:59:00.000-08:00

http://www.trinityrailwayexpress.org/

http://www.caltrain.org/

Shit man, let's just drive everywhere. One hour waits for services at most bus stops in the county, and let's be honest, the mass transit system in Humboldt is completely broken.

Let's give up on trains, and keep poor people from traveling in and out of the county.

Heraldo is a limp-wrist.

2007-11-30T13:29:00.000-08:00

Why hasn't Heraldo used his magical powers and attacked College of the Redwoods? Is it that he agrees with Joe Porras' "double dipping" (which he just got removed completely from the project fyi) Or that he really doesn't give a shit about the attacks on students on campus? It makes you wonder what Heraldo really cares about. I don't believe it's the people of Humboldt County, but the trees.

Now while I, myself have used this blog to slap down College of the Redwoods, I also have other things in my sights. Not Heraldo, he is a one-trick pony. Too bad.

Please Joel Mielke, stop posting your old link!

2007-11-24T13:30:00.000-08:00

After getting soundly spanked by me a couple of times so far, this has caused Joel Mielke to blow his stack once again. Poor bastard doesn't understand that if he didn't poke me, I wouldn't pimp slap his ass to the back of the bus. So Joel, you gonna make something new, or am I going to have to dig into my bag of tricks and "PWN UR N00B ASS" again and again?

Someone told me awhile ago that I had scared Joel so bad, he removed the numbers on his house. Why that person told me this, I don't care, but Joel, I'm not gonna harm your stupid ass, you big chicken. I have no need to hurt you, I just want to embarrass your ass for the rest of the time you spam that same old link.

Come up with something neat, new and different, you are boring me.

Carson Park Ranger said...

Ah, the poor, gutless Anon-R-Mouse, with his adolescent, computer-game avatar.

Sat Nov 24, 09:32:00 AM

Sad Joel, sad, I give you an F for the link, and a D- for the use of "mouse" and another F for even getting my avatar wrong. The post was a fail.

You, dear sir, fail at posting.

New act for the Dixieland Jazz fest? Or anything musical in Humboldt County?

2007-11-24T13:15:00.000-08:00

Kid Koala. Google him yourself slackers.

Sue Northcoast Environmental Center first!

2007-11-24T13:00:00.000-08:00

Richardson's Grove: a bottleneck battle joined
11/22/2007

The California Department of Transportation has proposed to remedy a long-time bottleneck on U.S. Highway 101 that prevents standard-size trucks from entering the county.

This limitation impinges on the cattle business in particular, for it requires its to transport livestock in and out of the county in smaller trucks, then transfer it to standard-size ones once outside the county.

This is costly and time-consuming and puts a damper on sales of Humboldt County-raised beef.

The bottleneck is Richardson’s Grove, easily one of the most beautiful spots on Highway 101. Its cool, semi-darkness gives one the feeling of driving through a great natural cathedral. Caltrans proposes to widen the highway there.

Doing so would make it possible for STAA trucks to come into and out of the county. This would have important long-range benefits for the county’s economy.

Alas, widening the road also will require the removal of several of the grove’s tall redwoods. Caltrans says that it will carry out the project as a “Negative Declaration Environmental Assessment” under the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act (Highway 101 being a federal highway).

Now comes the Northcoast Environmental Center to say that this assessment and these acts “are insufficient mechanisms for exploring the very real possibility of potentially significant adverse cumulative environmental impacts of this project to the ancient redwood grove and the wildlife that lives there, and to Humboldt County as a whole.”

Whew.

These folks are very good at writing Olympic-length sentences.

The long sentence is only a means to a short-term goal, however. That is an environmental impact report, the results of which they will no doubt use to gin up a high-decibel campaign against the project and possible legal action to prevent the Richardson’s Grove widening project to ever begin.

This is the usual course of action of arch-environmentalists so it would be refreshing in this case if they were to suggest an alternative that would relieve the traffic bottleneck while saving the trees.

We are not holding our breath.

Could I sue them for limiting my wages in Humboldt County? Should, or could, they be sued first? Let the big trucks in! And just so you all know, I've been posting about this for longer than the ER.

You are all welcome.

:)

Happy Turkey day!

2007-11-22T12:58:00.000-08:00

Show your thanks to the men and women working today and tomorrow. Show your thanks for the people working far away from home today to make your life better. It's OK, no matter what that loser Cobb has to say, I give thanks that the white man brought me cable TV and the discovery channel.

So the cat is out of the bag?

2007-11-22T03:00:00.000-08:00

College of the Redwoods need a master plan for funds
11/21/2007

Dear Editor,

College of the Redwoods appears to be following Eureka City Schools in its use of our bond money. From the article “From Modernization to Makeover” (The Eureka Reporter, Nov. 12), it’s clear that the trustees of the college have learned little from the recent accreditation problems.

They haven’t created a master plan.

We have a situation where the fox is guarding the hen house, with a university administrator heading the citizens’ oversight committee, and a project director who is the retired facilities chief.

It’s inconceivable that the trustees appointed the person who oversaw the degeneration of the college facilities to its current state to manage the project to fix it. Also, is Joe Porras double dipping, receiving a pension from his work at CR and now getting paid to fix his mess?

It’s time our community awoke to the idea that it’s better for us all to have people in positions of power who represent the interests of the citizens of this community and not the interests of the powers who appoint them. As citizens of a democracy, we have a duty to speak up when we see our resources squandered by those we elected to office.

I would like to see people with planning, construction and building inspection experience on the oversight committee and a project director who is independent enough to advise the trustees on their errors.

Eureka City Schools spent a lot of money having an architect decide what needed to be repaired or replaced. Architects aren’t trained in building inspection, so their decisions for the city schools were based on faulty assumptions. It seems CR is heading in the same direction.

No master plan means no professional avenue to proceed with the spending of the taxpayers’ money. Our tax dollars will be used at the whim of the trustees, or whoever has their ear, instead of in a way that will create a practical guide to the future.

Linda Atkins
Eureka

So when are you people (aka Reporters) going to look into any of this? Joe Porras not only is double-dipping, it he also the person that has allowed the chaos called the Mendocino Coast campus remodel to happen. Problems with the remodel go to Joe Porras, who also is getting paid from the people who are doing the remodel.

Hmmmmmm...

Naw, you don't even care enough to report that they haven't been up to Clery Act standards, and have been informed in writing that they weren't up to standards, you people still haven't done anything.

You gotta love "Higher Learning"

2007-11-13T16:37:00.000-08:00

"Where to get 215 card Arcata"

See:

"Doctor Ken Miller"

This has been your helpful blogger Anon.R.Mous helping HSU students fake illnesses to get their party cards since 1873.

Ask Dr Ken Miller for his student discount and tell him that I sent you for another 50% off his going rates!

How many cars have to be stolen out of the CR parking lot before there is a major news story?

2007-11-08T11:36:00.001-08:00

Just wondering why there hasn't been any coverage. Some poor teacher lost her truck and laptop, with a $2000 no questions asked for the return for the laptop and files, it also lets us know she hasn't been backing up her data.

Or she has nudes of herself on it.

Oh yeah, it must mean there needs to be more than two cars stolen in the last 5 days to make the news, because that's how many have been taken.

Go Go Clery Act! Go Go No statements or posted reports of the crimes on campus.

Why the fuck are you reporters NOT doing your fucking jobs and reporting this shit? Stop fucking around on the internet and fucking report or cover a fucking real story for once? Fucking stop the fluff pieces and do some real reporting for once. Hell, it's your fault that CR has gotten so deep into these issues, because you fuckers haven't pressed the fucking issue in the papers for fucking YEARS.

Worthless fucks, I can find better reporters at Taco Bell.

(I doubt this will get you people off your fucking asses, but damn, what the fuck is with your shit ass reporting?)

Maybe the bloggers should force you papers and reporters out, you don't seem to be doing a good job so far.

The Marijuana Works?

2007-10-14T11:23:00.000-07:00

You always hear stories about how this person had their money, or how they started their company. But is there truth to the stories that Larry Glass' The Works was funded in part by his dealing in the marijuana trade in the early 1970's? Other stores also have those rumors about them, Picky Picky Picky's had that rumor, until the owner was busted in a drug raid, later it was found out that Picky Picky Picky's did make enough money by itself not to be classified as a drug asset and seized, but what about in the beginning? There are other stores, but was Larry Glass involved in the drug trade?

I know Larry Glass reads and posts on the blogs, I would like to see him address these questions:

#1 What was your dealings in the drug trade in Humboldt County?

#2 Any truth that your business The Works was founded, or supported by the drug trade?

#3 At any time did you sell illegal drugs for money, and yes, that includes Marijuana.

#4 Why did you post on Heraldo's blog and not deal just with the newspapers about your pressing issue?

That's a start.

Cattle Trucks, reporters and what it means to you.

2007-10-13T11:08:00.000-07:00

The bill authored by Sen. Pat Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) extends the allowable kingpin-to-rear-axle length for exempted cattle-hauling trucks from 40 feet to 43 feet and also limits the length of the semitrailer to 48 feet in Humboldt, Del Norte and Mendocino counties.

Unnamed Eureka Reporter

While an exemption has been in place to allow 48-foot cattle trailers to travel on U.S. Highway 101 in Humboldt County, the language required that the distance between the kingpin -- where the trailer attaches to the cab -- to the rear axle not exceed 40 feet.

The revised exemption does not change the total length of the allowable cattle trucks, which remains at 70 feet, nor does it alter the allowable cattle trailer length of 48 feet, he said.

Jessie Faulkner, Times-Standard.

Well the bill states this:

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. Section 35401.7 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

35401.7. (a) The limitations of access specified in subdivision
(d) of Section 35401.5 do not apply to licensed carriers of livestock
when those carriers are directly en route to or from a point of
loading or unloading of livestock on those portions of State Highway
Route 101 located in the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, and
Mendocino from its junction with State Highway Route 1 near Leggett
north to the Oregon border, if the travel is necessary and incidental
to the shipment of the livestock.
(b) The exemption allowed under this section does not apply unless
all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The length of the truck tractor, in combination with the
semitrailer used to transport the livestock, does not exceed a total
of 70 feet.
(2) The distance from the kingpin to the rearmost axle of the
semitrailer does not exceed 43 feet.
(3) The length of the semitrailer does not exceed a total of 48
feet.
(c) The exemption allowed under this section does not apply to
travel conducted on the day prior to, or on the day of, any federally
recognized holiday.
(d) The Department of the California Highway Patrol, in
consultation with the Department of Transportation and in accordance
with recommendations from the Department of the California Highway
Patrol's study issued on March 20, 2006, of the effect of the
statutory exemption, shall continue the comprehensive study of the
effect that the exemption provided by this section has on the public
safety during the extended effective period of the exemption, and
make recommendations on future exemptions, including the creation of
a permitting system for cattle truck and trailer combinations meeting
applicable provisions of the federal Surface Transportation
Assistance Act of 1982 (Public Law 97-424), and appropriate safety
improvements. Notwithstanding Section 7550.5 of the Government Code,
the Department of the California Highway Patrol shall report the
findings of this additional study and recommendations to the Governor
and the Legislature on or before January 1, 2011.
(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2012, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2012, deletes or extends
that date.
(f) (1) If prior to January 1, 2012, the Director of
Transportation determines that the only adjustment to State Highway
Route 101 possible to accommodate the truck sizes allowed to travel
on portions of State Highway Route 101, pursuant to subdivisions (a)
and (b) is the removal of any tree that has a diameter of 42 inches
or greater, measured outside the bark, at 12 inches above ground on
the side adjacent to the highest ground level, the director shall
notify the Secretary of State of that determination.
(2) If prior to January 1, 2012, the Director of Transportation
determines that safety improvements to the portion of State Highway
Route 101 described in subdivision (a) have resulted in the
reclassification of the entire segment as a terminal access route
pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 35401.5, the director shall
notify the Secretary of State of that determination.
(3) The notice required under paragraph (1) or (2) shall state
that it is being made pursuant to this section.
(4) This section is repealed on the date the Secretary of State
receives either of the notices described in this subdivision.

Now you read this bill, you find some things that don't quite add up, or are really different. One, the 70 foot total length. That's five feet longer then normal truck traffic allowed into Humboldt County (CA legal 65 foot total) but the trailers are shorter than a standard 53 foot long interstate trailer (48 foot for the cattle trailer) Which means a couple of things, they didn't want to allow sneaking in of full sized trailers OR they had no idea (48 foot cattle trailers are standard all over the United States)

Kingpin setting at 43 feet is three feet longer then king pin settings allowed in California, most states don't have a kingpin law anymore, and people wonder why California has the tightest KPRA in the union.

As I covered before, the 48 foot long trailer is a common cattle truck trailer. Nothing big here.

Now here is the big surprise! The exemption allowed under this section does not apply to
travel conducted on the day prior to, or on the day of, any federally
recognized holiday. What the hell does this have to do with the price of tea in China? Are they trying to limit traffic on non-travel days? Scared that a truck will slam into a snowbird or something? Hey, just fix the god damned road already and stop pussyfooting around the issue.

The clock is ticking down on the life of the COE trucks, and if they don't get that road fixed, freight is going to be a lot harder to get into Humboldt County.

Yeah, there was some errors in the stories, but they are doing a little bit better, still they missed the 70 foot vs 65 foot which is a HUGE deal. And for the love of all things that go moo and eat grass, could you get a god damned picture of a cattle truck and stop printing pictures of flatbeds Times-Standard. It's like saying that you are doing a story on the Hmong New Year and then running a story with a picture of a Native American Pow-Wow.

Forum on racist encounter?

2007-10-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

John Driscoll/The Times-Standard
Article Launched: 10/12/2007 04:15:31 AM PDT

A recent letter to the editor that described an apparent racist encounter at Hiller Park in McKinleyville rubbed Pastor Rod Brayfindley the wrong way.

Salvador Garcia wrote about the September incident in which his young niece and nephew, being watched by Garcia's mother, were called a racial epithet by a white man. The mother took them home out of fear for their safety, Garcia wrote.

Brayfindley said that he'd heard of a racist element in the community -- but this time, the sentiment was put in print.

”If the community doesn't respond, it's like we're saying 'it's OK,'” Brayfindley said.

So Brayfindley has invited religious leaders and the community to come to the Church of the Joyful Healer to take a stand and start a conversation about racism in Humboldt County. It's not a religious event -- but a community gathering to send a message that its ears are tuned for racist language and actions, he said.

Garcia said he talked to Brayfindley earlier this week and learned he was putting on the forum.

”I was a little surprised actually that anybody cared, as much as he did, to put it on,” Garcia said.

Humboldt County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Brenda Godsey aid that she's unaware of any escalation of such problems, but said it's a good thing for a community to get together to discuss potentially serious issues.

”Anytime the community is participating in what's going on in their neighborhoods, good comes from that,” Godsey said. She added, “When good people sit back and rely on others to take care of a problem, bad things go unchallenged.”

If you go:

What: Community forum on racism

When: Sunday, 5:30 p.m.

Where: Church of the Joyful Healer, 2720 Central Ave., McKinleyville

John Driscoll can be reached at 441-0504 or jdriscoll@times-standard.com

Sounds like someone is trying to drum up business for his church. I find it hard to believe that we need a "forum" over one encounter, which may or may not have happened, all based off a letter to the editor. But the best part is the posts on the Times Standard, where people are racist to white people, and then to a Mexican named poster.

I guess there is other things that are more important than this, like the couple of pot stories the Times Standard covered lately. After call, pot is pretty important isn't it?

Willits troll begone!

2007-10-11T11:54:00.000-07:00

What moron in Willits is trolling Humboldt County blogs, thinks that I am someone else, and has a hard time feeding himself?

http://www.willitsonline.com/aboutus.html

Post proof person, or I'll report you to your ISP for LOLZ.

I can't wait till KSLUG tomorrow.

2007-10-07T23:48:00.000-07:00

I figure that the above picture is how all of Humboldt County feels. One way or another.

2007's Worst Humboldt County Professional Reporter Awards!

2007-10-02T04:24:00.000-07:00

It's almost time for the first annual Worst Professional Reporter in Humboldt County Awards! This first year winner will get a free box of dog poop and a request to the editor to get sacked.

In the running this year:

Times-Standard:
Chris Durant
Thadeus Greenson
James Faulk

Eureka Reporter:
Rebecca S. Bender
Cerena Johnson
Nathan Rushton

Arcata Eye:
Daniel Mintz
Jennifer Savage

NJC dba The Journal:
Heidi Walters
Helen Sanderson

Special Running:
Fake Reporter with a Fake Paper: Charles Douglas
I Can't Believe it's Photoshop: Times-Standard
Worst online paper in Humboldt County: Times-Standard
Most Likely to cause a Acid Flashback: Arcata Eye, both in content and color
Worst Name Change/Title Change: NCJ dba The Journal, or whatever the case may be
Paper most likely to cause a stupid sign to be posted in a front yard: Eureka Reporter, runner up Tri-City
Paper most likely to cause an outburst of AMERIKKKA: Eureka Reporter
Paper most likely to not be known about: McKinleyville Press

Add your reporter, newpaper, or comments of what should be added below!

One crazy police video, bet if this happened here, there would be protests.

2007-09-26T21:46:00.000-07:00

Link Here

You have to watch a short little Visa thing, then you have to watch the full video. The officer at the end should get a medal or something!

Another police video. Better in Aussie English, not the one we got first in the States, which was dubbed.

"I AM THE NIGHTRIDER!

Poor baby Larry Glass needs his binky and a bottle?

2007-09-26T00:50:00.000-07:00

Arkley releases aplogy note; Glass not satisfied
by Wendy Butler, 9/26/2007

A document that has become the subject of much speculation among media and debate between an alleged victim and alleged aggressor was released Tuesday to The Eureka Reporter.

Security National co-owner Rob Arkley, through staff, released the Sept. 6 letter he reportedly e-mailed to Eureka City Councilmember Larry Glass:

Dear Larry,

I owe you an apology. Last night was neither the time nor the place for me to bring up how your words and deeds have caused great hurt to my family, specifically my daughters. It was impulsive of me. Unfortunately, when I am impulsive, I tend to be single minded (loud) and empathic (louder). I am counting on you as a father and as a political veteran to understand and accept this apology.

I will not belabor the point that I was trying to make to you last night. As you know, I am more than willing to face the slings and arrows that come my way, especially here in Eureka. It is hard for me to express the pain and outrage that I feel when my wife and daughters are needlessly brought in, as you did. I obviously need to adopt a different and better approach when trying to convey to others why I think that it is unfair that my wife and daughters need to suffer because of this.

Again, my apologies for last night.

vty,
Rob

The content of the letter addresses the Sept. 5 California Coastal Commission reception during which Glass alleges Arkley pushed him twice and threatened him.

Glass filed an incident report against Arkley on Sept. 6 and then within the week asked the Eureka Police Department to pursue a formal criminal complaint against Arkley.

Glass confirmed by e-mail that he originally received Arkley’s letter on Sept. 6. He said it isn’t a “real apology.”

“It should say, ‘I’m sorry I ... 1. physically attacked you twice. 2. I’m sorry I disrespected you by calling you ‘nothing’ and a ‘liar.’ 3. I’m sorry I threatened to destroy you if you didn’t vote for my project. 4. I’m sorry I threatened to destroy your business. 5. I’m sorry I paid to have you followed. 6. I’m sorry I threatened to sue you.’ I feel a real and complete apology would offer some promise of behavior modification for the future. Anyone can plainly see it doesn’t contain any of these. I am still waiting.”

Arkley, through his family spokesperson Steven M. Glazer of Glazer & Associates of Orinda and through staff, has maintained there was no physical altercation and that he is not paying to have anyone follow Glass.

So what is up with the questions about your past coming to light Larry Glass? Did you used to do some questionable actions in your younger years that made you a good deal of money? Now you say that you post on Heraldo's forum, a person that openly attacks the Arkleys but you claim to have stopped supporting that? You also claim to have no idea of who Heraldo is, why are we having a hard time believing you?

And to think that Larry Glass is a MEMBER NOT THE FOUNDER of a non-profit that has done questionable acts as well. Along with not filling any IRS paperwork for the last couple of years.

Strange bedfellows.

2007-09-25T21:52:00.000-07:00

Joel Mielke AKA Carson Park Ranger is drawing pictures of Rex Bohn. I just don't see how Rex is such a forgiving enough of a man to let this piece of scum do this. Joel is such a huge supporter of Heraldo and Everything Wrong® in Humboldt County, while Rex does so much good work in the area.

Strange bedfellows indeed.

Is Heraldo really Larry Glass? Proof inside!

2007-09-22T19:52:00.000-07:00

Link to the Comment here!

At first look, everything seemed normal. Then on mouse-over, things seemed wrong.

It seems that "Larry Glass" forgot to remove the link back to http://humboldtherald.wordpress.com/ which means that someone didn't quite cover their tracks that well. This isn't the first time goofs like these have been made. Richard Salzman wrote letters to the editor under different names, but forgot about IP addresses. Michael Smith ex Fortuna person posted death threats and then under his name on a forum, under the same IP address, then tried to cover it up with the "I gave my computer away, that's why the IP numbers match!" story, that one was pretty cool. Joel Mielke aka CPR, posted images on one site, leading back to his other site. That was another name and shame time.

Now you see on mouse-over that "boymstlikely2" URL goes to his blog? Now look at Larry Glass and Heraldo. Both go back to the same page, Heraldo's blog.

Oops.

"But Anon.R.Mous, what if Larry Glass just sent that email to Heraldo to post that disclaimer?"

Then that means he sent that email somewhere else and is fake-scared to release it.

"OK, so what if he just sent the disclaimer to Heraldo???"

See above, and then ask why he didn't send it to the papers, just the disclaimer.

"OK, you are wrong, and Larry Glass posted it himself."

Why didn't he send in the disclaimer to the papers, but Heraldo's blog? That would be like Larry Glass sending me press releases!

"Well OK, but you are a FILL IN THE BLANK HERE so I don't have to believe you! NO WAR FOR OIL NOT MY PRESIDENT BU$H = HITLER REPUBLICAN'T etc etc"

Well, ain't America great? Just had to get those comments out of the way so we don't have to rehash them. One thing is for sure, somebody messed up.

OOPS!

UPDATE!
Ultimately, this can all be answered by Larry. If he says he didn't post it, all my money is on Anon.R.
# posted by Anonymous : Sat Sep 22, 10:23:00 PM

Post the IP and the computer specs collected Heraldo, I'll send my IP address and computer specs to any third party you like.

UPDATE II!
Anonymous Says:
September 23rd, 2007 at 3:23 pm

Rose, a more plausible explanation was posted on SoHum Parlance. In short, it was another simple plan hatched by Anon.R. Easily executed.

If true, it means Nick Bravo wasn’t quite so crazy after all, people were indeed out to fake his identity and make him look bad.

And if not, hey, I would applaud Heraldo being Glass, but it wouldn’t change anything. It wouldn’t change the Chamber mixer incident. Don’t blame the victim. It’s repugnant.

This is getting spun like I thought it would get spun. Here is the thing, we are all the victims here! I've already stated I'd do the third party thing, but they won't even answer that.

Or is Heraldo trying to figure out who I am so he can fake some IP numbers?

Update III!
After circling the wagons, the vast left wing blogville still has missed many points.

"OK, you are wrong, and Larry Glass posted it himself."

Why didn't he send in the disclaimer to the papers, but Heraldo's blog? That would be like Larry Glass sending me press releases!

The Arkley's don't send me press releases, and I have a Anti-Heraldoville "sticker" on my page! Larry Glass sends, posts, releases part of a email to a blog, with a anti-Arkleyville sticker, and passes completely over the local newspapers. While Larry Glass can speak to, post at, have relations with anybody he wants, real or online, sending that, posting at the only blog with a anti-Arkleyville sticker is bad form. You all know it. If I was getting press releases from the Arkleys, you people would all be throwing shit-fits, and you know it.

Then again, who is a member, NOT THE FOUNDER, of a group that got investigated for having a secret member list while doing political actions in Humboldt County?

Nope! Everything you claim bad about Arkley has already been done in Humboldt County, from hiring out of the area "legal hitmen" secret member lists, hit-ads run in the local papers... the list goes on and on.

UPDATE IV!

Letter sent out.

Capdiamont talked to Larry Glass who says the letter has been cleared by the lawyers and he released it to the local papers, Larry Glass also claims he doesn't know Heraldo, but is unknown why he thought it was a good idea to post on his blog.

Still, anyone remember "I AM NOT A CROOK!"?

Liberals dumber then Conservatives NEW TEST PROVES!

2007-09-20T17:02:00.000-07:00

Liberal Interpretation
Rigging a study to make conservatives look stupid.
By William Saletan
Posted Friday, Sept. 14, 2007, at 9:28 AM ET

Are liberals smarter than conservatives?

It looks that way, according to a study published this week in Nature Neuroscience. In a rapid response test—you press a button if you're given one signal, but not if you're given a different signal—the authors found that conservatives were "more likely to make errors of commission," whereas "stronger liberalism was correlated with greater accuracy." They concluded that "a more conservative orientation is related to greater persistence in a habitual response pattern, despite signals that this response pattern should change."

Does this mean liberal brains are fitter? Apparently. "Liberals are more responsive to informational complexity, ambiguity and novelty," the authors wrote. New York University, which helped fund the study, concluded, "Liberals are more likely than are conservatives to respond to cues signaling the need to change habitual responses." The study's lead author, NYU professor David Amodio, told London's Daily Telegraph that "liberals tended to be more sensitive and responsive to information that might conflict with their habitual way of thinking."

Habitual way of thinking. Informational complexity. Need to change. Those are sweeping terms. They imply that conservatives, on average, are adaptively weaker at thinking, not just button-pushing. And that implication has permeated the press. The Los Angeles Times told readers that the study "suggests that liberals are more adaptable than conservatives" and "might be better judges of the facts." Agence France Presse reported that conservatives in the study "were less flexible, refusing to deviate from old habits 'despite signals that this ... should be changed.' " The Guardian asserted, "Scientists have found that the brains of people calling themselves liberals are more able to handle conflicting and unexpected information."

These reports convey four interwoven claims. First, conservatives cling more inflexibly to old ways of thinking. Second, they're less responsive to information. Third, they're more obtuse to complexity and ambiguity. Fourth, they're less likely to change when the evidence says they should.

Let's take the claims one by one.

1. Habitual ways of thinking. Here's what the experiment actually entailed, according to the authors' supplementary document:

[E]ither the letter "M" or "W" was presented in the center of a computer monitor screen. … Half of the participants were instructed to make a "Go" response when they saw "M" but to make no response when they saw "W"; the remaining participants completed a version in which "W" was the Go stimulus and "M" was the No–Go stimulus. … Responses were registered on a computer keyboard placed in the participants' laps. … Participants received a two-minute break halfway through the task, which took approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Fifteen minutes is a habit? Tapping a keyboard is a way of thinking? Come on. You can make a case for conservative inflexibility, but not with this study.

2. Responsiveness to information. Again, let's consult the supplementary document:

Each trial began with a fixation point, presented for 500 ms. The target then appeared for 100 ms, followed by a blank screen. Participants were instructed to respond within 500 ms of target onset. A "Too slow!" warning message appeared after responses that exceeded this deadline, and "Incorrect" feedback was given after erroneous responses.

An "ms"—millisecond—is one-thousandth of a second. That means participants had one-tenth of a second to look at the letter and another four-tenths of a second to hit the button. One letter, one-tenth of a second. This is "information"?

3. Complexity and ambiguity. Go back and look at the first word of the excerpt from the supplementary document. The word is either. Participants were shown an M or a W. No complexity, no ambiguity. You could argue that showing them a series of M's and then surprising them with a W injects some complexity and ambiguity. But that complexity is crushed by the simplicity of the letter choice and the split-second deadline. As Amodio explained to the Sacramento Bee, "It's too quick for you to think consciously about what you're doing." So, why did he impose such a brutal deadline? "It needs to be hard enough that people make a lot of errors," he argued, since—in the Bee's paraphrase of his remarks—"the errors are the most interesting thing to study."

In other words, complexity and ambiguity weren't tested; they were excluded. The study was designed to prevent them—and conscious thought in general—because, for the authors' purposes, such lifelike complications would have made the results less interesting. Personally, I'd be more interested in a study that invited such complications—examining, for instance, whether conservatives, having resisted doubts about the wisdom of the status quo, are more likely than liberals to doubt the wisdom of change.

4. Maladaptiveness. The scientific core of the study is a hypothesized brain function called "conflict monitoring." The reason why liberals scored better than conservatives, the authors argued, is that the brain area responsible for this function was, by electrical measurement, more active in them than in conservatives.

The authors described CM as "a general mechanism for detecting when one's habitual response tendency is mismatched with responses required by the current situation." NYU's press release called it "a mechanism for detecting when a habitual response is not appropriate for a new situation." Amodio told the press that CM was "the process of detecting conflict between an ongoing pattern of behavior and a signal that says that something's wrong with that behavior and you need to change it."

The indictment sounds scientific: CM spots errors; conservatives are less sensitive to CM; therefore, conservatives make more errors. But the original definition of CM, written six years ago by the researchers who hypothesized it, didn't presume that the habitual response was wrong, inappropriate, or objectively mismatched with current requirements. It presumed only that a stimulus had challenged the habit. According to the original definition, CM is "a system that monitors for the occurrence of conflicts in information processing." It "evaluates current levels of conflict, then passes this information on to centers responsible for control, triggering them to adjust the strength of their influence on processing."

In experiments such as Amodio's, the habit is objectively wrong: You tapped the button, and the researcher knows that what you saw was a W. But real life is seldom that simple. Maybe what you saw—what you think you saw—will turn out to require a different response from the one that has hitherto served you well. Maybe it won't. Maybe, on average, extra sensitivity to such conflicting cues will lead to better decisions. Maybe it won't. Extra CM sensitivity does make you more likely to depart from your habit. But that doesn't prove it's more adaptive.

Frank Sulloway, a Berkeley professor who co-authored a damning psychological analysis of conservatism four years ago, illustrates the problem. Appearing in the Times as a researcher "not connected to the study"—despite having co-written his similar 2003 analysis with one of its authors—Sulloway endorsed the study and pointed out, "There is ample data from the history of science showing that social and political liberals indeed do tend to support major revolutions in science." That's true: When new ideas turn out to be right, liberals are vindicated. But when new ideas turn out to be wrong, they cease to be "revolutions in science," so it's hard to keep score of liberalism's net results. And that's in science, where errors, being relatively factual, are easiest to prove and correct. In culture and politics, errors can be unrecoverable.

The conservative case against this study is easy to make. Sure, we're fonder of old ways than you are. That's in our definition. Some of our people are obtuse; so are some of yours. If you studied the rest of us in real life, you'd find that while we second-guess the status quo less than you do, we second-guess putative reforms more than you do, so in terms of complexity, ambiguity, and critical thinking, it's probably a wash. Also, our standard of "information" is a bit tougher than the blips and fads you fall for. Sometimes, these inclinations lead us astray. But over the long run, they've served us and society pretty well. It's just that you notice all the times we were wrong and ignore all the times we were right.

In fact, that's exactly what you've done in this study: You've manufactured a tiny world of letters, half-seconds, and button-pushing, so you can catch us in clear errors and keep out the part of life where our tendencies correct yours. And now you feel great about yourselves. Congratulations. You haven't told us much about our way of thinking. But you've told us a lot about yours.

Story Here

I guess Eric is trolling for hits and posts. Notice the header has nothing at all to do with the story, I'm just trolling too. And to see who reads the whole thing before posting.

Sobering Numbers.

2007-09-18T13:38:00.001-07:00

Don't see much coverage of this in any peace march coverage. Why didn't Mr. Moore make a video about this? Where is the outrage? Where are, or where were the marches back then?

Don't worry America, in 2004 only 5,703 fatal injuries occurred on the job, 905 of them truck drivers, 307 of them farmers and ranchers, 109 pilots, 85 loggers, 67 taxi drivers and a handful of fisherman, trash collectors, and steelworkers. (38, 35, 31). In 2004, it was more dangerous to drive a truck then be in combat in Iraq (905 vs 849) but I don't see anyone walking the streets protesting the deaths that happened on the interstates and highways in America.

Still, the most dangers part of most people's life is the drive to work, because in 2004 42,636 people died on the nation’s highways. Still don't see many protest marches about that. I guess the most dangerous job in American would be a truck driver, who owns a ranch, and welds on his truck and likes to bush pilot himself to great fishing spots, for profit.

mresquan, in case you missed it.

2007-09-16T17:51:00.000-07:00

Anon.R.mous said...

mresquan said...

"Frankly, me thinkest you are a coward to run your blog and hide behind a fake name. Me, I am an anon for a reason...I am a private person. We all know who Eric is and who Rose is and who Fred is and who Carson is and who Samoasoftball is.

No you are a coward."

Is anon.R.mous a coward as well?

Wed Sep 12, 10:14:00 AM

I sure am! Then again, don't forget I've had death threats, and some people have even threaten to rape me.

I will admit, my death threat level has gone down some, but you didn't see me calling the police to report a crime did you?

No you didn't. I can take care of myself thank you very much. But I blog under this name, so don't worry your pretty little head, that's someone else raking you over the coals. So your real name is Mark Konkler? I didn't know that.

So what the hell does your name mean anyway?

Sun Sep 16, 05:50:00 PM

Thread here

Really though, what the hell does "mresquan" mean? Mr. Esquan?

War Memorials across North America under attack.

2007-09-14T12:27:00.000-07:00

(CBS13) SACRAMENTO Vandals have hit the Veterans War Memorial at Sacramento's Capitol Park. Veterans say it is a recurring problem and now they're fighting back.

He spent 3 years serving in Vietnam, and now Ken Nelson spends his days taking care of those who didn't make it back.

�This is the second best memorial in the country, Nelson says.

Nearly every day, Nelson protects the more than 5,200 names at the Vietnam War Memorial. But often, while polishing the bronze statues, he finds himself picking up what vandals left behind.

http://cbs13.com/local/local_story_246195056.html

Over the weekend, something happened here at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC. Something destructive. Something dishonorable. Along the foot of the wall, covering a stretch almost two-thirds of the entire monument, an oily substance was spilled on the panels and paving stones that were built to pay tribute to those who gave their lives on the battlefield.

The National Park Service is investigating. Whatever the substance was, it was potent and corrosive. Huge swaths of the wall have been defaced. This is despicable desecration.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Founder and President Jan C. Scruggs said “While it is unclear what transpired, we are heartened by the response of the veterans’ community and the general public. After 25 years, their connection to The Wall remains as strong as ever, and we appreciate that.”

This vandalism comes on the eve of a massive anti-war protest by radicals who have threatened our national monuments before. Those threats motivated veterans, Rolling Thunder members, and military supporters to organize the first Gathering of Eagles. On Saturday, they’ll be back…to protect the honor of the troops and the sacred monuments and war memorials in the nation’s capital.

We’ll be there. Will you? Go to gatheringofeagles.org for more information.

The only local monument to a heroic flight attendant from San Francisco killed in the Sept. 11 attacks six years ago is a North Beach mural that vandals have defaced almost beyond recognition.

Betty Ong, 45, who grew up in Chinatown and North Beach, was a flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11, the first plane hijacked by the terrorists. Just minutes before the plane smashed into the World Trade Center, she quietly contacted authorities and gave a detailed description of the hijackers.

Ong is one of several Chinatown natives depicted in a 200-foot-long, 7-foot-tall mural dedicated to Chinese contributions to American history. Titled "Gold Mountain," the mural also includes educators and nurses, Edsel Ford Fong, a waiter made famous by the late Chronicle columnist Herb Caen, and Larry Ching, the "Chinese Frank Sinatra," who was a longtime entertainer at Forbidden City.

Painted by artist Ann Sherry in 1994 on the side of an apartment building on Romolo Place, the mural has been damaged by taggers numerous times. Each time, Sherry, the building's owners and community volunteers have stepped up to perform touchups - and twice to restore the mural completely.

A section for Ong was added in 2003, when the mural was restored the second time. Graffiti-resistant varnish was added, too. But almost immediately, the mural was tagged again. Sherry patched up the mural, but since January, taggers have struck several more times. Sherry kept returning to make repairs but recently found the damage to be worse than ever before.

"This time, the taggers used paint (mixed) with epoxy that we can't just wash out or remove. We have to completely redo the mural," Sherry said. "We started fixing it ... but the taggers get angry if you remove their graffiti and they just tried to ruin it."

On Monday, Sherry and the Rev. Norman Fong examined the black and gray graffiti that mars Ong's image.

"We can't get this out," Sherry said angrily. "We'll have to totally strip it down and repaint the whole section."

Fong works for the Chinatown Community Development Center, which owns the building where the mural is located and co-commissioned the painting. He said he is discouraged by the repeated vandalism.

"I don't think that that the taggers understand what they are doing, how they are hurting this community," Fong said.

Fong taped a flyer with a photograph of Ong and details about her life and heroism near her section of the mural. He also taped a tulip to the wall.

When Ong was growing up, she used to play on Romolo Place, a steep, narrow street near Broadway and Columbus.

"Betty used to skateboard down this steep hill and pass this wall," Fong said. "No wonder she wasn't scared on Sept. 11 - she must have learned that here."

Ong's sister, Cathie Ong, said the family is deeply honored by the mural but has been hurt by the graffiti.

"Our mother was so upset - she thought it was an attack on Betty," Ong said by phone from New York City. "We had to explain that this was just vandalism that damaged the whole mural and hurts everyone."

Fong wants to put a bronze plaque on the wall honoring Ong and another explaining the mural to passers-by. He hopes that will discourage vandals.

The Chinatown Community Development Center plans to go a step further by installing closed-circuit cameras to keep the mural under 24-hour surveillance.

"We're hoping to discourage the taggers," said Cathie Lam, an organizer with the center. "If we can videotape them doing it, then we can bring that to police and catch the guys."

Capt. James Dudley of the nearby Central Station said he has a sergeant dedicated to fighting graffiti. His officers have arrested six taggers in recent months, but so far the vandals responsible for trashing the mural have eluded cops.

"We're very aware that the Romolo mural has been vandalized in the past," Dudley said. "We've taken great pains to try to identify the monikers and track these people down."

The monikers used by taggers on the mural include "Venski, Shark Lush" and "SRK."

"Venski or Vinski has done a fair amount of damage in this city over the years," said Officer Chris Putz of the SFPD graffiti abatement team. "He has been doing this for years in this city."

But police said that just knowing a tagger's moniker in most cases isn't enough to put together a criminal case; they have to catch a vandal in the act.

It's common for taggers to damage murals, Putz added. "We've kind of reached a new low with that," he said. "They know that by hitting a mural you can't just go paint it out and cover it with gray paint."

The taggers seem to have spared no section of the mural. The image of Eddie Dare, a police officer who was a longtime liaison to the Chinese community, has seen the most damage. Other severely damaged sections include a tribute to the immigration process center at Angel Island and a panel devoted to the Monkey King, a wily character in Chinese legends and many children's stories.

The mural's supporters are undaunted.

"We're not going to give up and let the taggers win," Lam said. "This is not just another piece of artwork. This is our history. This is our legacy. We're not going to let anyone destroy this."
Online resources
For more information on Betty Ong visit:

links.sfgate.com/ZTH
Whom to contact

-- For further information on plans to restore the mural, contact Cathie Lam at: clam@chinatowncdc.org

-- Anyone with information about graffiti vandalism should contact the San Francisco Police Graffiti Abatement Unit at: (415) 278-9454.

Sept. 1, 2007:

ANDOVER — The lyrics of a 1970s protest song and a reference to Iraq were scrawled on the town’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial this week.

“War, what is it good for, absolutely nothin,” was written in red marker along with a peace sign.

Near the base of the memorial where the phrase “our cause is just” is etched, a vandal wrote “just like in Iraq.”

The lyrics are from “War,” a song that Motown soul singer Edwin Starr popularized in 1970.

Michael Burke, director of veteran services, covered the graffiti with blue painter’s tape and paper yesterday, while he decided how to best remove it.

There was no structural damage to the stone monument which was dedicated May 29, 2006, in The Park near the corner of Chestnut and Whittier streets, close to Town Offices.

The Park is a popular teenage hangout on summer nights.

Police Lt. Harry Collins said the vandalism was under investigation.

Burke said he would call in Methuen Monument to assess the damage.

“We could probably scrub it off, but we don’t want to damage the monument,” he said.

In Haverhill earlier this summer, vandals ruined parts of a Korean War Memorial and spray painted a World War II monument.

August 13, 2007 from AM900/CHML:

HAMILTON (AM900 CHML) - A Hamilton monument built to honour sacrifices made by Canadian soldiers at Dieppe has been marred by vandalism a week before its dedication.

Dieppe veteran Jack McFarland says he was devastated when he discovered the waterfront monument had been defaced.

He says someone marred the granite at the centre of the monument and pried off a bronze replica of a badge that adorned one side.

The plaque cost 350-thousand dollars and was unveiled four years ago, on the 61st anniversary of the Dieppe raid.

He says both sides of a city sign pointing to the monument had also been spray painted.

Nice people, really nice. Sounds like there is an effort out there to damage as many war memorials out there that they can. Any pick-up in the local papers? Or do we have any local war memorials? I know we have some anti-war ones. Or do we?

Well, I know what I'm getting for Christmas!

2007-09-14T12:04:00.000-07:00

Mattel recently announced the release of the improved limited-edition Barbie Dolls for the Greater Humboldt County market:

Eureka Barbie: This Barbie now comes with a stroller and infant doll. Optional accessories include a GED and bus pass. Gangsta Ken and his 1979 Caddy were available, but are now very difficult to find since the addition of the infant.

Arcata Barbie: This doll is made of actual tofu. She has long straight brown hair, arch-less feet, hairy armpits, no makeup and Birkenstocks with white socks. She prefers that you call her Willow. She does not want or need a Ken doll, but if you purchase two Arcata Barbies and the optional Subaru wagon, you get a rainbow flag bumper sticker for free.

Bayside Barbie: This princess Barbie is sold only at the Co-op. She comes with an assortment of Kate Spade Handbags, a Lexus SUV, a long-haired foreign dog named Honey and a cookie-cutter house. Available with or without tummy tuck and face lift. Workaholic Ken sold only in conjunction with the augmented version.

Sunny Brae Barbie: The modern day homemaker Barbie is available with Ford Wind star Minivan and matching gym outfit. She gets lost easily and has no full-time occupation. Traffic jamming cell phone sold separately.

Freshwater Barbie:The only independent Barbie. She doesn't need Ken because shes got men lined down the street. She comes with a bong and the crucial chronic.

Manila Barbie: This recently paroled Barbie comes with a 9mm handgun, a Ray Lewis knife, a Chevy with dark tinted windows, and a Meth Lab Kit. This model is only available after dark and must be paid for in cash (preferably small, untraceable bills) unless you are a cop, then we don't know what you are talking about.

Trinidad Barbie: This yuppie Barbie comes with your choice of BMW convertible or Hummer H2. Included are her own Starbucks cup, credit card and country club membership. Also available for this set are Shallow Ken and Private School Skipper. You won't be able to afford any of them.

McKinleyville Barbie: This pale model comes dressed in her own Wrangler jeans two sizes too small, a NASCAR t-shirt and tweety bird tattoo on her shoulder. She has a six-pack of Bud light and a Hank Williams Jr. CD set. She can spit over 5 feet and kick mullet-haired Ken's butt when she is drunk. Purchase her pickup truck separately and get a confederate flag bumper sticker absolutely free.

Fortuna Barbie: This tobacco-chewing, brassy-haired Barbie has a pair of her own high-heeled sandals with one broken heel from the time she chased beer-gutted Ken out of Eureka Barbie's house. Her ensemble includes low-rise acid-washed jeans, fake fingernails, and a see-through halter-top. Also available with a mobile home.

"Liberals drive people to suicide."

2007-09-13T10:36:00.000-07:00

At a round table discussion I took in with some people, odd topics started coming up. The suicide rate in Humboldt County came up, and this brought someone eyes back up from looking at the table, to addressing the group.

"You know, I think liberals drive people to suicide."

We waited for this person to go on, and with a wave of the hand, a story started to unfold.

"No, really, they are always looking at the negative, never the positive in life. Look at our local news. You do something good, it's pushed to page four, or forgotten in a day. Death and grief are sellers, not joy and happiness. Humboldt County has a high suicide rate, and we are the most liberal county in California, if not America. Have you ever tried to talk to someone from one of these mounds of liberal groups in this area? If you try to talk to them about another subject other then their single-minded goal and watch their eyes glaze over. It's almost like someone flipped a switch in their heads and turned them off."

I shifted in my chair, turned my head to the side and furrowed my brow in thought.

"It's happened to me as well." Another person spoke up, "I knew someone who died, and all these people started coming out of the woodwork trying to take things from the estate. One person came up to me told me that he was a long time friend, and wanted to buy his Honda and how could I get a hold of the person's family. 'I used to live across the street in that blue house, we used to talk all the time to each other'. I lived in my home for 15 years and never once seen this person before in my life."

"Come on, that doesn't mean the person was a liberal, just a asshole" I spoke up.

"True, but when I tried to talk to this person about their friend, they walked off. Walked right away from me in the middle of talking!"

"Sounds like a complete asshole, still..."

"Look, the bumperstickers on the back of the car was enough to tell me that this person wasn't going to be voting anything other then 'Please keep me in drugs and high as a kite' party. It was just a slap on the face, out of the blue. I've never had someone just walk away when I was talking to them, and never like that."

"Well, maybe that person was just sad about the other person's death?" someone else questioned.

"Yeah, three months after the fact, they shows up trying to buy the car?"

"Ok, settled, the person was a untackedful asshole."

"Well, what about you?"

"I'll I'm going to say is that I've talked to people about hard facts, hard crimes, and if it doesn't fit into their views, they completely shut me off. Not with words, but you are right, their eyes glaze over. But if you hit their favorite subject, they get that 'Wild-eyed' look and can go off for hours. Honestly, I feel they don't give a shit about any other subject other then their own beliefs. It's like dealing with selfish brats, or worse, single child selfish brats."

One person shutters.

"I hate dealing with their children. No does not mean no to them, and if you look at them funny, you are a child abuser. They are the type of people that would blame someone else if their child unplugged the microwave and jammed a fork in the wall socket. Doesn't matter that the child got onto the counter, and did it, it is someone elses fault."

"So what you people are saying is their greatest crimes are to cover up not really caring about the person right there in front of them, but caring what happens on the other side of the planet?"

"No, it's not just that, it's worse then that. You try to talk to them, they don't listen, then they tell you the world is going to end, and they depress you even more. They don't show caring for people right next door, and do nothing but complain and depress people. It is beyond the glass being half full, it is the glass was made from child slave labor and you are a monster for drinking the water that is fluoridated inside."

This got a chuckle out of us.

"Well, that is true in a way isn't it?"

"I'm not going to agree or disagree, but is there any science to back this up?"

"Suicide coverage in Humboldt County doesn't break it down by political leanings. At least I haven't found anything out about it, one thing is sure, if it was out there, and it showed that Republicans would off themselves more then liberals, you know it would be shoved into everybody's faces."

"How true." I muttered. "How true indeed."

Who what, where, when, why?

2007-09-13T00:55:00.000-07:00

Coalition for police review discusses officer conduct
by Cerena Johnson, 9/12/2007

The Coalition For Police Review met Wednesday evening to discuss ways in which to implement a system of monitoring police conduct.

While the coalition did not take any formal actions toward finalizing a police review board, it did move for a release of information involving the death of Martin Frederick Cotton II, who died last month in police custody.

A number of those present were also in disagreement with the manner in which police treat residents, including those who are in jail, homeless or mentally ill — and cited violent incidents and deaths involving Eureka police that have occurred over the past two years.

“It’s just been a nightmare,” one resident said, who alleged she has seen police beatings. “Since I’ve been here, I’ve been horrified.”

Other topics of discussion included lack of access to law libraries within the jail and a call to take a more active role with and on behalf of media.

Some advocated a police review board only if it would allow for police officers to be subpoenaed.

Christina Allbright, chairperson of the Redwood Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and a founder of the Coalition For Police Review, said the coalition allows for the different groups to network and trade resources.

Ultimately, it would be beneficial to have a countywide system of police review, she said.

The coalition comprises local groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Human Rights Commission, Redwood Curtain CopWatch, the Green Party and other groups and residents.

Allbright said part of her effort with the coalition has been “to bring all of the people into the same group so that we can figure out what our common goals are.”

For more information on the Coalition For Police Review, go to www.coalitionforpolicereview.info.

One person on record, one person unnamed? And isn't that website Noel Adamson's? Which Green Party? Where is the meat and potatoes of this story? This group was completely dead in the water for over nine months, and now get coverage again. It's like Dave Berman's party, it sounds large and all knowing, but it is just few few vocal people.

And didn't Cotton die while in jail, which would put him in county, not under control of the police, correct? Yes, he did died under the custody of Humboldt County Jail, not Eureka Police Department.

It's reporting like this that has really started to get on my nerves. Now I don't want to bash Cerena Johnson, but the reporting in Humboldt County hasn't been the best lately. Some news stories have fallen by the wayside, or not been covered because one person's suicide is much more important then other stories that might no be as flashy as something with more meat to it. Fact-checking, or even digging into a story has been replaced with soundbites and MTV style editing. This new crop of HSU students with their first real reporting jobs are going to have to start doing better then this, and I'm eyeing both the Eureka Reporter and the Times-Standard to start helping them learn how to be real reporters, or I'll just stick with the Lumberjack for the quality of shit being pumped out right now.

Gunfire in Arcata! Heads up!

2007-09-12T22:23:00.000-07:00

At about 10:20pm on 9/12/07 five pistol shots rang out in Arcata in the Westwood area. A quick burst of three and about 45 seconds later 2 more rang out. Sounds like Arcata is going to be busy this semester.

Good luck APD, and be safe.

BBQ goodness!

2007-09-12T00:33:00.000-07:00

Beef booth had no place at organic fest
9/11/2007

Dear Editor,

Although I applaud the efforts of Californians for Alternatives to Toxics’ Organic Planet Festival, now in its third year, to create a truly organic, nontoxic event at Halvorsen Park in Eureka, the assertion (in print and on the airwaves) I have heard that the food was all nontoxic (by virtue of being organic) must be challenged.

It is well-known that animal foods, whether they be from organically grown and certified animals or not, are heavily contaminated with viruses and bacteria such as salmonella, listeria, E. coli, campylobacter and streptococcus, which can be harmful, if not fatal, to people, especially given our already overworked immune systems. The urea in animal flesh also contains toxins, being a waste product.

Furthermore, it has recently been shown that cooked animal flesh contains heterocyclic amines, which are carcinogenic chemicals that form during the cooking process. Thus, by not cooking flesh enough, we may expose ourselves to salmonella, E. coli and other pathogens, and by cooking it, we end up eating cancer-causing chemicals formed by heating animal fat.

While I was at the festival, where I thoroughly enjoyed a delicious tofu wrap from The Tofu Shop booth, I heard several attendees commenting on the obnoxious presence and extremely unfortunate placement of the “organic” grilled beef-burger booth, which was spewing meat smoke over the kids’ area all day. Located right at the entrance to the venue, through which everyone had to pass, there was no escape from the noxious fumes being released by the grilling of urea-soaked flesh. We were all forced to place ourselves “in harm’s way” and to be reminded that there are few safe places, even in “eco-groovy” Humboldt County, for vegans, vegetarians or the animals they love and, therefore, choose not to eat.

The statements I made in the second and third paragraphs of my letter are taken from the book “World Peace Diet: Eating for Spiritual Health and Social Harmony,” by Dr. Will Tuttle, Ph.D., page 80. The book is extremely well-documented and can be accessed at www.willtuttle.com for further reference.

Have a heart, Humboldt County!

Martha Devine
Arcata

Wow, I'm glad that we never ate meat and got cancer before people cooked it! Dear Martha Devine, I'll BBQ meat, I'll BBQ tofu, and I'll BBQ whatever the fuck I where I want. I don't understand how you, someone so "eco-groovy" and lives the good life, has gotten cancer herself! I am going to blame cancer on the lack of pirates in the World today, because when we had pirates, we never seemed to have cancer, but now that people are living like cows and eating grass, and there is no pirates, we are having problems with cancer.

So cancer is caused by a lack of pirates in our eco-system. I can back this up with facts.

For my dearest Joel Mielke aka Carson Park Ranger.

2007-09-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

Screw Loose Change

2007-09-10T00:32:00.000-07:00

http://www.lolloosechange.co.nr/

This is a counter-video of the famous "Loose Change 2nd Edition". Using their own video and words, "Screw Loose Change" debunks the theories and statements made in Loose Change 2nd Edition.

Enjoy!

And if that isn't quite enough for you, keep your fork, because there's pie!

http://internetdetectives.biz/case/loose-change

"It was like NASCAR for potheads."

2007-09-07T22:51:00.000-07:00

"Deadheads Are What Liberals Claim to Be But Aren't":
An Interview with Ann Coulter
Taylor Hill
2006-06-23

When I called the Clare Booth Luce Policy Institute, whose chairwoman gives speeches on topics with titles like "The Failures of Feminism", and told the gatekeeper there that I wanted to do an interview with Ann Coulter solely about the Grateful Dead, there was a small pause. Then she recovered and politely told me to send her an e-mail, which she would forward to Ann. That, I expected, would be the end of it.

When I got home that night, and saw an e-mail in my box from Ann Coulter, I thought "how polite of her to send a rejection letter rather than simply ignoring my proposal." Instead, I found that she had somehow written "I'd love to! Good website!" While she was delayed by a round of speeches to make up due to strep throat, and other events life throws out, we kept shooting e-mails back and forth and I discovered a secret that I will reveal despite the damage to her reputation that it may cause: Ann is really cool and really funny. The few friends I talked with about this said "What? You of all people are getting along with Ann Coulter?!" It was easy and simple to do: we never talked policy. It was a joy talking with her, even if we don't agree on everything (most politics, and "Alabama Getaway" sucks).

What followed was the most surreal interview I have ever done in my life. It involves smearing oneself with purple Crisco, Kanye (Ann's a fan), slews of Reagan and Bush appointees leaving the Justice Department to go to Dead shows, lamentation for the neglected "Pride of Cucamonga," getting inside info on the Monica Lewinsky scandal by being a Deadhead, and saying goodbye to Jerry in Golden Gate Park. Some of her answers WILL piss people off, but there's no doubting her tie-dyed credentials – even if the dye is much more red than blue. Her latest book, Godless: The Church of Liberalism, was published earlier this month.

Taylor Hill: When and how was your first Dead show?

Ann Coulter: I have no recollection of it whatsoever, other than that it was awesome.

TH: When and how was your last Dead show?

AC: I have no recollection of it whatsoever, other than that it was awesome. Actually, my last Dead show wasn't quite a Dead show since Jerry wasn't there, but I flew out to the Jerry Garcia memorial in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco with a fellow Deadhead from D.C. the weekend after Jerry went to the great psychedelic rock concert in the sky. The rest of the band played and it was great to be with my fellow Deadheads. It was very sad after Jerry died, not because I felt like I had a psychic connection to him or anything, but only because something really fun I liked to do, I couldn't do anymore. It would be as if all ski resorts just shut down one day. So the Golden Gate Park memorial was a good way to end it.

TH: How many Dead shows did you see?

AC: I used to keep all my ticket stubs from Dead shows – it was just something Deadheads did, like keeping lists of songs – but I didn't know why. So, in a lunatic cleaning frenzy around 1990, I threw them all out – as if a small section of a drawer devoted to Dead ticket stubs was messing up the whole place. After Jerry died, I said, “Eureka! That's why we keep ticket stubs!” These are usually the sort of factual minutiae Deadheads excel at, but I failed because of my OCD cleaning obsession. So I'm not exactly, precisely 100 percent sure. I frantically tried to figure it out by checking with some of my fellow Deadheads after Jerry died and adding up the number of shows we had been to together, and I estimated it was about 67 shows. And they were awesome.

TH: Have you ever seen any of the side projects, like Phil & Friends and Ratdog?

AC: I've seen Ratdog a few times (chicks love Bobby), though no Dead at all since Jerry died. THEY'RE DEAD TO ME NOW! (Joke.) I still listen to Dead tapes and CDs, but no more concerts for me. Of course, I've been working a lot, so basically no more fun for me.

TH: Are there any other jambands you like?

AC: All the usual – String Cheese Incident, Phish, Dave Matthews Band, Blues Traveler, New Potato Caboose. I can't really tell you all the groups I like because have an iPod so have a lot of songs my friends send me and I never really know who I'm listening to. But I try to keep up with what the young people are listening to these days (I love saying that). There’s Jet, Cake, Outkast, 50 Cent, Black-Eyed Peas, Lord Alge, Beck, Kanye West (I like his Jesus song), Missy Elliot, and Eagles of Death Metal. I'm five years behind, aren't I? I'm very busy!

TH: What exactly do you love about the Grateful Dead?

AC: The tie-dye of course. Truth be told I hated tie-dye, though I finally broke down and would wear tie-dyed Dead shirts to concerts solely as a tribute to my fellow Deadheads.

Oddly enough, I like the music. No one believes that I never took drugs at Dead shows (except for the massive clouds of passive marijuana smoke) but I went because I really liked the music. There are various groups I get enthusiastic about for awhile, but of all the music I've listened to over the years, the Grateful Dead is the one band I never grow tired of. Apparently, the same is true of me for ski-lift operators.

Moreover, I really like Deadheads and the whole Dead concert scene: the tailgating, the tie-dye uniforms, the camaraderie – it was like NASCAR for potheads. You always felt like you were with family at a Dead show – a rather odd, psychedelic family that sometimes lived in a VW bus and sold frightening looking “veggie burritos.” But whatever their myriad interests, clothing choices, and interest in illicit drugs, true Deadheads are what liberals claim to be but aren't: unique, free-thinking, open, kind, and interested in different ideas. Also, excellent dancers! Watching a Deadhead dance is truly something to behold.

Somewhat contrary to the image of Deadheads as hippies, the Dead were huge in my hometown of New Canaan, CT, which is a pretty preppie town. We toyed with the idea of making "Truckin'" our prom song with a "Long Strange Trip" theme, but we ended up with some dorky rainbow theme instead. I tend to associate the Dead with lacrosse players and my favorite fraternities, Fiji and Theta Delt.

The one time I missed not being able to go to Dead shows more than any other since Jerry died was during the Clinton impeachment. There was so much viciousness - killed cats, punctured tires, threats, investigations and slander against those of us favoring impeachment. (Anthony Pellicano, you'll recall – the Hollywood private investigator now accused of criminal conspiracy, attempted murder, and making criminal threats – was working for the Clintons during the Monica Lewinsky investigation.) I don't really care what people say about me – I'm a Christian so there's nothing anyone can ever do to me – but I kept thinking: “Boy, would I like to go to a Dead show and dance with happy, friendly deadheads for just one night!”

TH: What's your favorite Grateful Dead album?

AC: I can't possibly pick one favorite. Nor a favorite concert tape. I have about fifty Dead tapes, including the original rap song - Mickey Hart rapping “Fire on the Mountain” - I think at my alma mater, Cornell, before I was even born. It's fantastic. How about that? Just when you thought the Dead could be no cooler – they even invented rap!

My collection of Dead tapes, by the way, was the reason I heard one of the Linda Tripp tapes before Ken Starr did. Tripp's lawyer obviously needed to hear the tape before turning it over to the prosecutor, but he only had an old 1950's tape player and couldn't get it to work and Ken Starr wanted the tape the next morning. He was terrified he'd hit the wrong button and erase the evidence. In the wee hours of the morning, it occurred him, a Deadhead himself, that he knew one person in D.C. who definitely had a tape machine. So, at around 2 AM, he called me and asked to come over to use my tape deck.

My favorite Dead song is the last song I heard, and my favorite concert was the last concert I went to, but among my favorite songs are: “Eyes of the World”, “Loose Lucy”, “Franklin's Tower”, “Althea”, “Fire on the Mountain”, “Deal”, “Sugar Magnolia”, “Unbroken Chain”, “Cassidy”, “Pride of Cucamonga”, “Uncle John's Band”, “Ripple”, “Casey Jones”, “I Will Take You Home”, “Passenger”, “Stagger Lee”, “Tennessee Jed”, “Mississippi Half-Step”, “Good Lovin'” - I even love “Alabama Getaway”, which I gather Deadheads are supposed to spurn for being “commercially successful.” (Of course, we were also supposed to say “Phil makes the band.” I love Phil, but when Jerry died, that turned out not to be true.)

By the way, you did not ask me what my favorite bumper sticker or button is . . . and I know the answers to those questions! Bumper sticker: “Dead For Life”; button: “Jews For Jerry.”

TH: What's your favorite Grateful Dead show, and why? Were you there?

AC: They were all my favorites – especially the shows at Shoreline. It's a beautiful outdoor amphitheater, the Dead's home field, with California chardonnay for sale by the glass (in addition to not being a pot-smoker, I'm not much of a beer-drinker), and I often ran into my college Deadhead friends there. We'd go sailing during the day and see the band at night.

I fondly remember seeing the Dead when I was at Cornell. It was the day of the fabulous Fiji Island party on the driveway “island” of the Phi Gamma Delta House. We'd cover ourselves in purple Crisco and drink purple Kool-Aid mixed with grain alcohol and dance on the front yard. Wait – I think got the order reversed there: We'd drink purple Kool-Aid mixed with grain alcohol and then cover ourselves in purple Crisco – then the dancing. You probably had to be there to grasp how utterly fantastic this was.

Also, I saw the Dead at Sandstone Amphitheater near Kansas City one Fourth of July, and it was an incredibly patriotic experience.

TH: Have you ever talked with any members of the Grateful Dead?

AC: Oh yes, constantly. None of the band members were present for these conversations, but I talk to them. “Good show! Excellent Olympics opening ceremony, Mickey! Nice uniforms on those Lithuanians. Why don't you ever play “Pride of Cucamonga” in concert? The concert hall would go wild and it would make the cover of the New York Times! Did you guys really used to dose people?”

TH: Did the Grateful Dead give you and Al Franken something to talk about
during your debates?

AC: Apart from Al Gore, Al Franken is the most un-Deadhead like person I know of who purports to be a Deadhead.

TH: It's time to name names. Who are the other Deadheads who have infiltrated the conservative movement?

AC: As a Deadhead and a freedom-lover, I am wounded to the bone that you think the two do not naturally go hand in hand. The Deadheads I just met casually and not through conservative politics were almost always right-thinking, whatever they called themselves. Deadheads believe in freedom – not a government telling people how much water they can have in their toilets or where they can smoke or whether they should be allowed to own a gun. (Remember the photos of Jerry testifying before some Congressional committee while chain smoking? Yeah, he'd really bond with Henry Waxman.)

One of my Dead friends I met at Vail made candles for Grateful Dead merchandizing. His daily routine consisted of waking up, smoking a bowl, and turning on the Rush Limbaugh radio show while he made his candles. (It's true. He's so far out there he practices this weird, freaky ritual known as “commerce.” Don't try telling me pot is harmless!)

Also there was a big Deadhead Christian group that handed out terrific pamphlets at Dead shows. Admittedly, many of them found God staring into a puddle while high on LSD, but whatever the path, they were very serious Christians – they made Jerry Falwell sound like a secularist.

Either Bobby or Jerry was asked by a Rolling Stone interviewer to denounce all the Young Reaganites attending their concerts in the 80's, and whichever one it was not only refused to attack the young Republicans, but said he liked some of those “rightist” ideas. Consider that when the Dead decided to do something to save the Rain Forest, they didn't harangue poverty-stricken Third Worlders to give up washing machines and electricity. They did it the free market way: buying up parts of the Rain Forest, parcel by parcel.

And they provided the Lithuanian basketball team – recently liberated from the Soviet yoke – with totally cool uniforms so they could play in the 1992 Olympics.

After Jerry died, U.S. Senator Spencer Abraham (R-MI) gave an incredibly touching tribute to Jerry Garcia and the good work the Dead's Rex Foundation had done promoting the arts privately – in contradistinction to millionaire actresses standing up in $50,000 gowns at the Oscars and demanding that hardworking waitresses and truck drivers be forced to support the arts through government taxation. You can look it up in the Congressional Record.

But to answer your question, Senator, I personally have loads and loads of friends who are right-wingers and Deadheads. I couldn't possibly name them all. For starters, obviously, there's Angela Lansbury. She gave me my first psychedelic tie-dyed tube top at a Dead show just outside Tucson. Just kidding. There are: Peter Flaherty, President, National Legal And Policy Center; John Harrison, top official in the Justice Department under Reagan and Bush and now a law professor at UVA; Jim Moody, MIT grad and libertarian attorney (and Linda Tripp's lawyer); Gary Lawson, former Scalia clerk and currently a law professor at Boston University Law School; Andrew McBride, partner at a DC law firm; DeRoy Murdoch, conservative columnist; Ben Hart, right-wing author of “Poisoned Ivy” out of Dartmouth. Oh, and the conservative talk radio host Gary Stone in Palm Springs is a Deadhead and kindly plays the Dead as my intro music. When I worked at the Justice Department during law school, I'd be leaving with a whole slew of Reagan or Bush political appointees to see the Dead at RFK. Finally, I believe the great New York subway vigilante Bernie Goetz was a Deadhead.

TH: So, I was talking to Kristy Cottrell, my friend and chairman of the Auburn University College Republicans, and she said she had no good advice for me as she really only listens to country. For someone who only listens to country, what is a good point to break into the Grateful Dead?

AC: Oh, there's a lot of overlap: “Mama Tried”, “Me and My Uncle”, “Dark Hollow”, “Cumberland Blues”, “Tennessee Jed”. I think a country music lover would like a lot of the Dead. She might not like “Space”, but no one who was not on drugs did.

TH: Do you remember the first time you heard the Grateful Dead?

AC: I definitely remember the first time I heard the Dead – the first time the whole family heard the Dead. It was “Uncle John's Band” blasting from my oldest brother's bedroom. The first two albums Santa gave me when I was around 11 years old were Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits and American Beauty. I think my parents' reaction was, “Well, at least they're not listening to the Osmonds.”

http://www.jambands.com/Features/content_2006_06_23.06.phtml

Tell me about your first Dead show. I'm starting to feel the wanderlust again myself. Maybe I should head down to the plaza and see if I can score a dime bag, some shrooms and a couple of hits of LSD*. Go hang out with Jerry for awhile.

*"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." -HST

Times-Standard has gone down like a 2nd street whore.

2007-09-07T12:47:00.000-07:00

http://times-standard.com/

The connection has timed out

The server at times-standard.com is taking too long to respond.

* The site could be temporarily unavailable or too busy. Try again in a few
moments.

* If you are unable to load any pages, check your computer's network
connection.

* If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or proxy, make sure
that Firefox is permitted to access the Web.

IT MUST BE THE EVIL EUREKA REPORTER, ARKLEY, WALMART, HOME DEPOT ARMY!

Oh look, it's gimping back on line as I post this.

I'm so glad that Glass getting shoved is such a fucking important news story that the fellow who hung himself and died doesn't make top news. What about the other news stories that don't make the cut?

SET FLAMERS TO BURN!!!!

Circle-Jerking part II, the return of the crime!

2007-09-07T01:23:00.000-07:00

Glass claims Arkley pushed him
by Wendy Butler, 9/6/2007

A California Coastal Commission reception held at Eureka’s Avalon restaurant Wednesday became the site of an alleged confrontation between Eureka City Councilmember Larry Glass and Eureka business owner Rob Arkley.

Glass told The Eureka Reporter Thursday he’s still in “shock.”

He said he felt Arkley’s impetus for confronting him Wednesday had to do with Security National’s proposed mixed-use Marina Center, which is slated for the “Balloon Track,” an old rail yard located between Washington and Commercial streets along Waterfront Drive.

As previously reported in The Eureka Reporter, the Coastal Commission will have the final word on whether the city of Eureka can change the parcel’s current “public” designation to “commercial,” to allow for the Marina Center’s blend of offices and retail, including SN’s planned anchor store The Home Depot.

SN Vice President of Real Estate and Development Randy Gans was at the Wednesday reception and spoke Thursday on Arkley’s behalf about the supposed altercation taking place at a Coastal Commission reception, which might seem ironic to some.

“They both happened to be at the same place at the same time,” he said in an e-mail response.

When reached by phone Thursday, Glass alleged Arkley was angry and physically pushed him twice.

“Larry distributed materials that personally attack the Arkley family and have been particularly hurtful to his wife and children,” Gans said.

Glass told The Eureka Reporter he at one time carried “anti-Arkleyville” stickers and T-shirts at his store The Works. The stickers, he said, were free. He sold the T-shirts at cost.

Before he was a council member, Glass had been spokesperson for Citizens For Real Economic Growth, which had voiced its opposition to locating a Home Depot on the Balloon Track. It also held a number of community forums and in 2006 created a TV advertisement decrying the Balloon Track’s toxic contamination.

Glass said after Arkley’s daughters came to his store and spoke to him of their concerns, he took the anti-Arkley materials out.

He said at the reception he attempted to have a “dialogue” with Arkley.

Glass said Arkley called him a “liar.”

Glass further alleged Arkley said he was “going to destroy me.”

“If I voted against his project, I wouldn’t have a business anymore,” Glass said.

Further, he said, Arkley allegedly told him he had “been paying someone to follow me.”

Gans told The Eureka Reporter that is not the case.

He said the reason Arkley referred to Glass as a “liar” stemmed from Glass having told Arkley he removed the materials after the Arkley children visited him, “which is not true.”

“I can assure you this was only a verbal discussion,” Gans said. “Rob is acting as a father and Glass is acting like a publicity-seeking politician.”

SN Senior Vice President Brian Morrissey, also speaking on Arkley’s behalf, said via e-mail, “Rob regrets the strong emotions that were exhibited by both parties and has e-mailed Larry his apology.”

Glass said he was not going to press charges, but he did file an “incident report” with the Eureka Police Department.

Eureka Police Chief Garr Nielsen told The Eureka Reporter the report “documents the fact that there was a verbal altercation and potentially some physical contact.”

He said it ends there unless one of the parties wants to pursue it further.

(The Balloon Track is an asset owned within the Security National family of entities and The Eureka Reporter is a member of the Security National family of entities owned by Rob and Cherie Arkley.)

Much adieu about NOTHING. No charges filed, which means Glass can sprout out all kinds of bullshit and get away with it. Still, I'm glad that Glass got called to the mat about his bullshit, it was stupid of him to make up those anti-Arkley stickers and shirts and think that it would be funny and making a point.

Sometimes I wish Humboldt County would burn to the ground so we can start over.

Another new blog in Humboldt County.

2007-09-06T16:59:00.000-07:00

http://arcatamobilehomepark.wordpress.com/

Ouch. All this and backed by the City Council of Arcata? I guess a jump from what $200 a month to like $550 a month is just what the working class jerks in Arcata need! Teach you people to get jobs and employment. You want to work and live in Arcata, it is going to cost you!

Haven't read anything about this in the local papers lately, but I drove by sandpiper the other day and it looked really empty. Anyone have any more information on this?

While the other bloggers are circle-jerking each other at Heraldo's

2007-09-06T16:55:00.000-07:00

BREAKING NEWS: Hanged inmate dies
by Heather Muller , 9/6/2007

The man who hanged himself in his cell at the Humboldt County jail has died.

James Peters, 25, of Hoopa, was pronounced dead Thursday morning at St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka.

Peters was found hanging from a bed sheet in his cell on August 29 in an apparent suicide attempt and was on life support since that time.

Public Information Officer Brenda Godsey from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, which manages the jail, said Peters’ death marks the first suicide at the jail in four years.

Looks like he died, too bad for the family, but another suicide as hit Humboldt County. What are we at again so far this year?

Happy days are here again!

2007-09-05T21:42:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKwzaCb66hw

Enough on that subject, let's move on to something new and different! What is up with all the fireworks going off in Arcata at night all the time now, and is it me or has the amount of police calls gone up in the last four weeks to something really high? I swear every night I hear the police going to something else hauling ass.

The quiet days of summer can't get here fast enough!

We will be back after a word from our sponsor.

2007-09-01T10:43:00.000-07:00

Richard Salzman is a stupid man, and here is the proof.

2007-08-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

Rethink bigger trucks on roads
Letters to the editor
Article Launched: 08/15/2007 04:15:29 AM PDT

The recent bridge collapse in Minnesota brought to light the consensus among civil engineers that the single biggest factor in structural fatigue of bridges (and deterioration of roads in general) is large truck traffic.

In light of this tragedy, and with this information, maybe we should be reconsidering our rush to realign Richardson Grove or to promote the development of a container ship terminal on Humboldt Bay, both of which will put more and bigger trucks on our roads and over our aging bridges.

Richard Salzman

Sunny Brae

Humboldt County already allows 80,000 pound trucks into the area, guess what, that is the normal weight limit for large trucks. The realignment isn't for HEAVIER trucks, but LONGER ones. The weight will remain the same.

Each one of those "bigger" trucks pays over $12,000 dollars a year in road taxes, so the more larger truck traffic, the more money we will have to fix our roads.

So remembers folks, longer isn't always heavier. There will be NO MORE WEIGHT ON THE ROADS THEN THERE ALREADY IS!

A major blow for Global Warming.

2007-08-11T13:14:00.000-07:00

Years of bad data corrected; 1998 no longer the warmest year on record.

My earlier column this week detailed the work of a volunteer team to assess problems with US temperature data used for climate modeling. One of these people is Steve McIntyre, who operates the site climateaudit.org. While inspecting historical temperature graphs, he noticed a strange discontinuity, or "jump" in many locations, all occurring around the time of January, 2000.

These graphs were created by NASA's Reto Ruedy and James Hansen (who shot to fame when he accused the administration of trying to censor his views on climate change). Hansen refused to provide McKintyre with the algorithm used to generate graph data, so McKintyre reverse-engineered it. The result appeared to be a Y2K bug in the handling of the raw data.

McKintyre notified the pair of the bug; Ruedy replied and acknowledged the problem as an "oversight" that would be fixed in the net data refresh.

NASA has now silently released corrected figures, and the changes are truly astounding. The warmest year on record is now 1934. 1998 (long trumpeted by the media as record-breaking) moves to second place. 1921 takes third. In fact, 5 of the 10 warmest years on record now all occur before World War II. Anthony Watts has put the new data in chart form, along with a more detailed summary of the events.

The effect of the correction on global temperatures is minor (some 1-2% less warming than originally thought), but the effect on the U.S. global warming propaganda machine could be huge.

Then again -- maybe not. I strongly suspect this story will receive little to no attention from the mainstream media.

Y2K computer errors "caused" global warming? I await the CNN report.

Henry Reynolds, a lawyer you can trust (to do stupid shit)

2007-08-10T12:23:00.000-07:00

It doesn't take long for provocateurs to crawl out of the woodwork to attack candidates, especially in stealth attacks. With Fred Thompson, they've apparently started before he officially enters the race -- and in one case, race is the operative word. Apparently hoping to confuse web surfers looking for Fred's website at www.imwithfred.com, a new site has appeared at www.imwithfred2008.com -- only this site welcomes people to the Ku Klux Klan, "Bringing a Message of Hope and Deliverance to White Christian America!" It includes links to a variety of disgusting racist sites.

Who would post something like this as a smear on Fred Thompson? Someone a little too stupid to cover his tracks, possibly? A DNS search gives us an answer. The domain name, registered through GoDaddy (no great shock there), belongs to:

Henry Reynolds
500 California Ave. #5
Santa Monica, California 90403
United States

The phone number listed on the domain record, which I won't post here, goes to an answering machine for the "law offices of Henry Reynolds". I left a message asking for comment on this website, and then decided to take a look through OpenSecrets and the FEC to see if Mr. Reynolds has a history of supporting Fred Thompson, or even the KKK. Actually, it turns out that a Mr. Henry Reynolds in the same zip code working as an attorney has a small record of political donations -- but in another direction:

4/6/2005 - $500, MoveOn.org

9/22/2004 - $500, DNC Services

4/5/2004 - $250, John Kerry

FEC receipts for these donations can be found here, here, and here. They have the same address as the domain registration.

So why is a Santa Monica attorney and contributor to the Democrats and MoveOn hosting a website with links to the KKK and white supremacists? Perhaps he'll call back with an interesting explanation -- but it looks like he's conducting underhanded smear tactics in his spare time. Will MoveOn and the DNC reject the politics of character assassination and give back the money Reynolds donated?

UPDATE AND BUMP: Apparently, we got Henry Reynolds' attention. He has had GoDaddy change the domain registration information to list the owner as DomainsbyProxy of Scottsdale, AZ. Too bad I decided to cache the domain registration here earlier, as well as the website.

UPDATE II: Henry's real website can be found here. And guess where Henry's domain now goes? To the John Edwards campaign site! Is John with Fred, too?

UPDATE III and BUMP (5:00 pm CT): It appears Henry has gotten a little angry about all of the attention. The site now features a rather disgusting picture of ... well, I won't describe it, but let's say it represents Henry and his activities very well and very graphically. It is VERY MUCH not safe for work or family viewing. In fact, I wonder if Henry sold this off today to a hard-core porno company as a way to get out from underneath it. No cigar, Henry. Your name is still associated with this. Goat sex, indeed.

UPDATE IV, 5:15 pm: Heck, this is almost like live-blogging. Now the site redirects to a Wikipedia entry for Frederic Jameson, the Marxist literary critic. I guess this is Henry's hero. It beats the last redirect we got from him. I wonder what's next?

UPDATE V: I want to caution people about equating Henry "Goatse" Reynolds to all liberals. Our friends Jazz and Ron at Middle Earth Journal have a good post about this scamster, along with a great tongue-in-cheek "explanation" of the original website that made me laugh out loud. I've also changed the title to show the singular rather than the plural, for fairness' sake.

Story starts here

Copy of page here

Pretty dirty trick, but it seems that Henry Reynolds figured something out. He is a lawyer in the state of California:

Henry Favill Reynolds - #158709

Bar Number: 158709
Address: P O Box 7443 Santa Monica, CA 90406-7443
Phone Number: (310) 393-7052
District: District 7
Undergraduate School: Univ of California Santa Cruz; CA
Law School: Southwestern Univ SOL; Los Angeles CA

But what would give him the idea that he thought this was a good idea? But will these groups give back the cash or not? Only time will tell.

Oh completely awesome, he is a social security disability attorney!

http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/california.html

All the way at the bottom.

Lost in his own little World.

2007-08-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

Lost Cause

Anyway, I finally watched this video all the way though, and I'd like to point out some faults. I've never posted Worth Dikeman's address, and I'm not the one making all the calls. Funny! And to think the UPD hasn't contacted me, since that one email back in, whenever.

Pyscho Stalker Alert

You can't watch this without starting to feel a little bit scared for Harmony Groves. What a creepy fuck.

At least we now know he is German-Irish and won't stop! And his goal is to move. I wish him well on his move on or about the 15th of this month. Goodbye Mr. Bravo, and I'm glad you are leaving. Bye!

Should we have a going away party for Nick Bravo? I think that would be groovy, don't you? It is going to be nice to get back to some real issues at hand after he is gone.

Bored game of connect the dots.

2007-08-05T18:03:00.000-07:00

Letter in today's Times-Standard.

Signed protest and shows that he is a contractor on SaveEurekaWaterfront.Org

Whois information from SaeEurekaWaterfront.org. Shows that the URL was first paid for on 4/16/2006.

Search from here shows that he stopped paying his bond on 06/09/2005 and his license was moved to inactive at that time.

Nothing too impressive there. But if you think about the idea that someone who wants something to be out in the open so much, signed up that he was a contractor to a website that couldn't have been open at the time he still held an active contractor's license shows something a little bit funny. Maybe you could even call it a lack of morals.

Me? I'm just an person who loves to play connect the dots. Looks like I'm not the only one in Humboldt County, reading elsewhere on the Times-Standard, it looks like someone else put some other story together, and outed two other bloggers. Both the NCP and Heraldo.

But I'll let you look for it, after all, hide and seek is another fun game to play. Almost as much fun as Buying a Cup of Coffee.

Reporter gets killed in Oakland, gang-land style.

2007-08-02T14:54:00.000-07:00

Police: Masked Gunman Kills Veteran Oakland Journalist

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Veteran journalist Chauncey Bailey, who recently was promoted to be editor of the Oakland Post, was fatally shot in downtown Oakland just before 7:30 a.m. Thursday in what appears to be a targeted shooting, according to an Oakland police spokesman.

"This is disheartening," said Oakland police spokesman Roland Holmgren, who knew Bailey.

Holmgren said the 58-year-old journalist was shot multiple times in the 250 block of 14th Street near Alice Street, which is near a large post office on 13th Street and a McDonald's restaurant at 14th and Jackson streets.

Holmgren said witnesses told police that a lone gunman dressed in black clothing and black headgear approached Bailey, shot him multiple times and then fled on foot.

Holmgren said he has no initial explanation for the motive of the shooting and no initial knowledge of any threats that had been made against Bailey.

Witnesses said they heard four shots. Bailey was shot once in the back and once in the head, Oakland Fire Department Capt. Melinda Drayton said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

NBC11's Christie Smith wrote in her Reporters' Notebook entry: "I asked a lot of questions because when the police chief and deputy chief show up at a crime scene, you can bet something startling has happened. An Oakland Police officer did not tell me exactly what, but said I would 'unfortunately know the victim.'"

The area also is near Lake Merritt, the Alameda County Administration Building and the main county courthouse at 13th and Oak streets.

The Oakland Post's office is several blocks away at 405 14th St.

Co-workers told NBC11 that Bailey was on his way to work when he was shot. He was supposed to arrive at work at 9 a.m. Thursday morning.

Holmgren said he knew Bailey because Bailey covered Oakland City Hall as well as police matters and described Bailey as "a very assertive person who spoke his mind and addressed controversial topics."

Bailey worked for The Oakland Tribune for more than 10 years before leaving the newspaper in 2003, according to Tribune employees.

He later joined the Oakland Post, which is oriented toward serving the area's black community.

Paul Dodd, publisher of the Post, said Chauncey lives about 12 blocks away from the paper's offices.

"This is a great loss not only for the Post, but for the Bay Area," Dodd said.

He said they were making plans to take the paper national.

Dodd called the shooting surreal. He said Bailey had "a nose for news" and was the hardest working man in journalism.

Dodd said he spoke to Bailey on Wednesday night and he seemed upbeat.

Gwendolyn Carter, the paper's advertising manager, who came to the shooting scene, said Bailey was just promoted to be editor in the last month or two.

Carter said, "Chauncey was a great man and he called me his little sister."

Derrick Nesbitt praised Bailey for helping him get into the news business when Bailey hosted a television program called "Soul Beat."

Nesbitt said, "Chauncey was very controversial and could bring anger out in people."

"I was shocked and saddened to learn of Chauncey Bailey's death this morning. Chauncey contributed so much to the fabric our community, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. It is my hope that the perpetrators of this horrible crime are brought to justice swiftly, and that Chauncey's untimely death will bring our community together and strengthen our collective hand in rooting out this type of violence," said Democratic Oakland Congresswoman Barbara Lee.

Slain Journalist Was Granted Restraining Order

Bailey was granted a temporary restraining order four years ago against an ex-girlfriend whom he said was harassing him, according to Alameda County Superior Court records.

Bailey filed the request for a restraining order on April 24, 2003, and the order was granted April 28, 2003.

In a box on a court form that asked about the nature of their relationship, Bailey checked "We are dating or used to date."

Bailey said abuse included "stalking, calling at home and job at all hours" as well as "unwarranted visits to my home."

Oakland police have not said if they think there could be a connection between the restraining order and the shooting incident at 14th and Alice streets that claimed Bailey's life.

Broad daylight shooting in Oakland. What a way to get killed.

So the "Man" has been chillin' at my blog lately.

2007-08-02T10:04:00.000-07:00

Dear Government types looking at my blog because of Jake Pickering, you have just made this nutcases day. Also while you are here, are you ever going to do anything about the Clery Act out at College of the Redwoods? It is kinda my thing you know, safety and all that.

PS Jake Pickering is a fucking wacko.

This isn't the first time the government has visited my blog, I've had the Pentagon, the Army, and a couple of other branches come here and chill out. This is the first time that they have started looking up our local nutcase Jake Pickering. I hope you like Gitmo Pickering, because they are gonna get you now! YOU HAVE MADE THEIR LIST! I hear they trade bars of soap as cash in the BIG HOUSE Jake Pickering, better stock up now. And learn how to make a toothbrush into a shank.

I hope they are passing him around like a Joke Email on the hill. And I hope they don't think we are all like this moron behind the Redwood Curtain.

Super Happy Fun Blog!

So what's the scoop Humboldt County?

This blog is now rated "R"

Really, a update.

In other news...

LOL

Europe's racism problem.

Story about NorCal firefighters in action

FBI Party Van visits Humboldt County.

Arcata's only superhero taking day off, FBI zerg rushes.

Shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits.

State's rights VS The Federal government

Sun Valley, bad wrap or bad company?

Modern IKEA abortion for sale in Eureka.

Prop 215 and you, and Kevin Hoover, and the Arcata Eye, and....

Anon.r.mous to Eureka Reporter, you fucked up.

June 4, a date to remember.

Times ARE changing.

Commentary - Peter Schweizer: Conservatives more honest than liberals?

Mark Lovelace's dream for Humboldt County.

Prop 98/99 update

College of the Redwoods under the EPA watchful eye

Another story not covered in local papers.

There Will Be Lawyers.

Speed up!

Always know who your bedfellows are.

100 beers at the Arcata skatepark on a Sunday.

Rainbow Ranch and Rodoni.

God damned Biodiesel!

Fitna

Trucker Strike set for April 1st.

Boycotting the Beijing Olympics

Happy Candy Day

What happened to the Locals Only rule?

First time I saw Obama's name was on a pair of big tits.

Alligator on the Zipper

Links about STAA trucks and Richardson Grove, a year in review.

Word of the day: OFFTRACKING

Put up or shut up time?

(ab)Using children for your goals

Better than Enterprise

My turn to make Kym cry.

Mr. Show covers Humboldt County

Salzman does have an opinon on large trucks though.

Salzman speaks out.

STAA trucks mean more protection for the drivers, legally.

Bigger STAA trucks mean less truck traffic.

What causes more damage to the roads?

Anon.r.mous' helpful picture guide to STAA trucks.

F.U.D. from Paul Cienfuegos and Richard Salzman

A way too common sight at AMP

Top Ten stories on the Super Happy Fun Blog for the year 2007

Dan Hauser joins forces with ROP. More mobilehome parks to be screwed over on the way?

How did this pass Eureka Reporter Editors?

REAL LIFE LULZ

The highest priced Trailer park in Humboldt County.

Did someone jump off the Mad River bridge tonight?

Trains don't work.

Heraldo is a limp-wrist.

Please Joel Mielke, stop posting your old link!

New act for the Dixieland Jazz fest? Or anything musical in Humboldt County?

Sue Northcoast Environmental Center first!

Happy Turkey day!

So the cat is out of the bag?

You gotta love "Higher Learning"

How many cars have to be stolen out of the CR parking lot before there is a major news story?

The Marijuana Works?

Cattle Trucks, reporters and what it means to you.

Forum on racist encounter?

Willits troll begone!

I can't wait till KSLUG tomorrow.

2007's Worst Humboldt County Professional Reporter Awards!

One crazy police video, bet if this happened here, there would be protests.

Poor baby Larry Glass needs his binky and a bottle?

Strange bedfellows.

Is Heraldo really Larry Glass? Proof inside!

Liberals dumber then Conservatives NEW TEST PROVES!

Sobering Numbers.

mresquan, in case you missed it.

War Memorials across North America under attack.