DRUGGED AND CRAZY
Dear Editor:
Once again “our” DA tries to strike fear in the hearts of those who care about mentally ill people, re: his comments about Billy M. Norbury. Such willful ignorance and disdain about mental illness dominates Eyster's “thinking.” Apparently his has not heard of Dual Diagnosis, the co-morbidity of substance abuse and mental illness. Many mentally ill people utilize alcohol and other drugs for brief respite from their constant suffering. To state “substance abuse is self-imposed mental illness” exemplifies Eyster’s ignorance. The suggestion anyone would “self” impose mental illness supports the myths and stigmas of mental illness. It's doubtful any mentally ill person in Mendocino County could have a fair and unbiased trial. Is the jury of this trial comprised of Norbury's peers? Let me guess…
The psychosis inherent with Schizophrenia is glaringly evident in Norbury's history; does anyone on the jury, the judge, defense or prosecution suffer from paranoid delusions, hear “voices” or behave with violent outbursts? Does anyone sane assume we all live with the unrelenting fear “they” are out to get us? Does a sane person tear at their clothes, break into copious sweat or “talk” with hand signals? If so, please stand and be counted.
When has Eyster not slept for four days? If he has, he'd probably experience exhaustion, confusion and feel highly stressed by “every day life.”
Norbury manifested bizarre behavior, with family and friends reporting “big clues about schizophrenia.” If so, wouldn't living with people close be (hopefully) a “font of knowledge”? Is this courtroom biased and afraid of mental illness? Does the court assume mental illness is contagious?
The precious and irreplaceable life of Jamal Andrews might have been saved by knowledgeable law enforcement; rather than the law educated for a true protection and service it appears there is no help for the severely mentally ill. What horrific tragedy and grief will haunt Jamal's family for generations; perhaps this wouldn't have happened if the pleas for help by Billy M. Norbury's family were answered. Reminds me of other families in Mendocino County begging those in “power” to respond.
So much for “protection and service.” So much for justice being blind, without prejudice; meanwhile Douglas Losak (apparently not a person of color) is treated with kid gloves… His story would be far different if it weren't for his standing with DA Eyster. Yep, it all depends on who you know and the perks of the insider. Otherwise, lots of luck.
Elizabeth Ryan
Fort Bragg
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PATRIOTIC PLONKING, PLEASE
Editor,
As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Canadians and Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods —
merchandise that has been produced at the expense of Canadian and American labour. This year will be different. This year Canadians and Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Canadians and Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by Canadian and American hands. Yes there is!
It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? Everyone — yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local Canadian or American hair salon or barber?
Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.
Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, Canadian and American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.
Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down your dollars on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.
There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants — all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big national chains — this is about supporting your home town Canadian and American with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.
How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the Canadian and American working guy?
Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.
My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.
OK, you were looking for something more personal, local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, pottery, and beautiful wooden boxes.
Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.
Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.
Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.
You see, Christmas is no longer about draining Canadian and American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about us, encouraging Canadian and American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Canadians and Americans we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. THIS is the new North American Christmas tradition.
This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?
BUY CANADIAN & AMERICAN — BE CANADIAN AND AMERICAN — The job you save might be your own.
Robin Lindsey
Boonville
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A CLEAN VOTE
Editor,
From http://powerofnarrative.blogspot.com/:
…it doesn't matter a damn whether Obama or Romney wins. They are both perfect embodiments of the corporatist-authoritarian-militarist system that's wrecking ever-increasing areas of the world, as it lays waste to America at home. That's why one of them will win, and you won't. I won't, either. Too bad for you.
But one of those two bastards is notably more useful to the ruling class than the other. That would be ... that's right: Obama. If you thought it was Romney, you've absorbed the propaganda, baby. Gotta watch that. The ruling class is vicious, deadly, eternally greedy for power and wealth — and they are not remotely stupid, not when it comes to getting what they want. They're the ruling class, right? Not stupid. From their perspective, the very best thing about Obama is that so many people who are not members of the ruling class think that Obama is on their side. Even after Obama has systematically betrayed all those “ordinary” people for the last four years, they still think he's really on their side. He just couldn't do what he wanted to do — which happens to be exactly what all those good liberals and progressives wanted him to do — because: a) evil Republicans; b) evil Republicans left a really, really, huge mess; c) evil Republicans kept messing with him; d) evil Republicans kept stealing his toys; and e) evil Republicans.
So the point is that with Obama as president, the ruling class can screw you over about 20 gabillion times more than if Romney were president. Because lots of people will believe that Obama isn't trying to screw them. That opens up tons of possibilities. And the liberals and progressives help a whole huge bunch — c'mon, give credit where it's due — because when Obama wrecks whatever is left of the safety net, gives trillions of dollars and other goodies to all his best friends and, let us not forget, murders more and more people with those keen drones (and probably some bombs and missiles in a few select lucky countries before he's done), all the lefties (I use the term, uh, flexibly) will sigh once or twice, look kinda sad, and then after a while, they might murmur ... “evil Republicans!”
(— Arthur Silber)
* * *
I voted early Tuesday morning. I had intended to vote for Obama because of all the reasons I had been repeating to more cynical friends for several weeks: women’s rights, judicial appointments, a more human tone.
But when I was in the voting booth, I suddenly felt a choking rage about this lying corporate lawyer masquerading as a community organizer. I tried to think of one decent thing he’s done in the last four years and couldn’t come up with any. A lousy health care plan that will enrich insurance companies, expansion of Bush’s imperial wars, the NDAA, conversion of our public school system into a charter school system — now we have EMOs to go along with our HMOs. His non-signing of the Employee Free Choice Act, which would have made it easier for serfs at places like Amazon.com and WalMart to petition for a union, his tacit approval of further concentration of the media, his forging of a national security state.
I could go on, but you get the picture.
I voted for Jill Stein. She has more cojones than the four men running for the offices of President and Vice President from our “one political party with two right wings” as Gore Vidal described it.
Jill Stein advocated policies I believe in. She has integrity, dignity courage, and intelligence. Mother, doctor, activist in the Green Party, she had the temerity to demand entrance to the Presidential debates which by mutual agreement of the two major parties were closed off to everyone else. For this impertinence, Ms. Stein was arrested and spent about eight hours handcuffed to a chair. God bless America.
I don’t expect to wake up tomorrow morning and learn that Jill Stein is the President of the United States, but I can go to bed tonight not feeling dirty.
Louis S. Bedrock
Roselle, New Jersey
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GIANTS V. POLITICS
AVA,
The SF Giants eked out a division lead from the Dodgers through August, kept us on the edge of our seats through the pennant race in September and grinded their way through the post-season in October. An arduous three months for a baseball fan, especially in an era where the daily grind of baseball from March to October is seldom understood by the lay. I'm exhausted and partied out. It feels great because we won. I enjoy the catharsis of baseball because when it is done you are satisfied and can move on to bigger and better things. It helps when your team wins of course, but as die-hard fans we help them win, so there.
What I fail to comprehend is the sport of election season. Everyone thinks they are doing something huge. From the college kids with delusions of historical importance to the feeble minds warning us that Hurricane Sandy was a ploy to alter election results. The innocence of baseball is that it knows itself to be just a game but still has the power to imbue people with rich reflection and memory, whereas politics takes itself completely seriously and will only continue to fill us with remorse and regret.
Nate Collins
Berkeley
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THE GARDEN PATH
Dear Editor:
I always find a lot of amusement in politics and Karl Rove has provided a big laugh by his post election antics. He made a fool out of himself by his outburst on Fox News when they called Obama the winner in Ohio. It also showed how flawed was his polling system. Since then he has been trying to spin his abject failure in the Presidential and Senate races. The latest spin is the Obama people were suppressing voters. Now it is a funny thing about billionaires — they like a good return on their investments. For the estimated $400 million that was run through the two Crossroads organizations all they got for their investment was a couple of House seats. In other words Turd Blossom took them down the garden path. The only real winners were the ad agencies and the TV stations. My biggest laugh was the way Rove screwed the billionaires - couldn't happen to a better bunch of people.
In peace,
James G. Updegraff
Sacramento
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SCHOOL BOARD UPTICK
Editor,
WAY TO GO, AVUSD Board of Trustees!
Regular Meeting on 11/5/12 shows marked improvement in:
• Time spent deliberating, debating, discussing agenda items (up by 26 min. since from 2min on 12/11)
• Time attending to input from: Union reps (employees), fellow Board members, Administrators. Dialogue at meeting?
• Public Notification of meeting; including activity board @ High School campus.
• Number of referrals to “place on next month's agenda” from Trustees and Public up by 4 from 0 in Jan, Feb, 2012
Board needs Improvement in:
• Use of Parliamentary Procedure and language (Robert's Rules), i.e., formal votes to replace “Is that OK with everybody?”
• Make available Pre-Meeting materials (including Agenda, attachments, listed warrants, Board Goals, previous meeting notes, etc.) to Trustees, Public, local radio and print media and Student Representatives before the minimally-passing 72 hour legal deadline.
• Decrease the incidence of disparaging remarks about the parents and public who “don't care” as we sit among you.
• Increase engagement by individual Trustees with public individuals/groups to facilitate involvement of same in Board meetings (as per Brown Act law (See Ca Attorney General' s Office).
After one year of attending all noticed meetings of AVUSD Board, it is encouraging to see change over time. Remember, we have entrusted you, via ballot, with our children. Your work is essential to the fulfillment of that trust.
Sincerely,
Patricia Beverley
Boonville
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IT’S DIFFERENT
Editor,
1. D-U-M-B Everyones' accusing me. — Ramones
2. Sometimes I sometimes I sometimes I
Feel it
When you're when you're when you're
Down on your knees
But I wonder sometimes
If you really care
And I wonder sometimes
If you're even there
But I know that you try
I know that you do
Your best to get by Wendy O. Williams
3. Admiral Jorge Anaya, Argentine Navy Chief: “My son is a helicopter pilot. The proudest day of my life will be when he lays down his life for the Malvinas.”
Alexander Haig, US Secretary of State: “You know, when you see the body bags, it's different.”
Jay Williamson
Santa Rosa
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IF ONLY JIM JONES HAD KNOWN
Dear Editor,
A note for your files.
Callum Roberts says in his new book, The Ocean of Life: “If there are insufficient fish to control phytoplankton blooms, (other regions), too, could experience the poisonous combination of anoxia and sulfide eruptions. One such place is Northern California. There is a real possibility that 50 years from now the homely charm of Mendocino will be tarnished by the stench of rotten eggs and its beaches heaped with putrid finish.” (Pages 74-75). Professor Roberts is discussing how oceans are affected by global warming.
I was arrested by the phrase “homely charm.” Accurate? Then again, 50 years — you may be around then, but I won't be, for sure.
Respectfully,
Don MacLean
Eugene, Oregon
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BREAK THOSE CHAINS
Dear Editor,
C.J. Holmes of Home Owners For Justice will be moderating a Town Hall Meeting at the Fort Bragg Methodist Church at 360 N. Corry Street at corner of Laurell St. Date: November 16 Friday at 6pm. Elected officials and the public are invited to find out what other counties and state Recorders are doing and to ask questions of the Moderator.. Some are sending Affidavits of Truthfulness to foreclosing banks where known robosigners have signed documents. None respond because of the lost chain of title when mortgages were packaged as securities and sold in Credit Default Swaps, thereby losing the chain of title. Affidavits, penalties for fraud, have caused no response and thus the Recorder of Deeds does not make any change in the assignment of Deed, effecting a De Facto Moratorium on Foreclosures. Many other solutions to foreclosure will be presented by C.J. Holmes, Friday at the Methodist Church which is not far from the Redwood Coast Senior Center parking lot-3-4 blocks away.
Sincerely,
Agnes Woolsey
Occupy Mendocino
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PUPPET SHOW
Editor,
Another Hobson’s Choice and The People have voted to retain Howdy Doody Obama, the Wall Street puppet, as their deflatable raft prow ornament for the terminal float trip down the River Styx.
Joe Palooka Romney, the K Street muppet, took a dive.
It all seems eerily pre-ordained.
Don’t blame me. I voted for Jackin’ Jill.
Cheers,
Don Morris
Skunktown/Willits
PS. What’s a drone strike? It’s a tactic used by organized pot workers to demand better pay, benefits, and working conditions.
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FERRIS CROSS THE YONGLE
AVA,
Can anyone explain why the Chinese would build a 394 foot high Ferris wheel over the Yongle Bridge in the city of Tianjin, China?
Harold Ericsson
Harbor City
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