Drawing A Line In The Sand

Hands Across The Sand took place today at noon on Moonstone Beach California.  In protest of off shore drilling, the event was set up for volunteers world wide to participate.
Started in Florida, here is their Mission Statement:


To organize a national movement to oppose offshore oil drilling and champion clean energy and renewables. These gatherings will bring thousands of American citizens to our beaches and cities and will draw metaphorical and actual lines in the sand; human lines in the sand against the threat oil drilling poses to America’s coastal economies and marine environment.

To convince our State Legislators, Governors, Congress and President Obama to stop the expansion of offshore oil drilling and to adopt policies encouraging clean and renewable energy sources. America needs legislation that creates tax incentives and subsidies to encourage the growth of clean energy and renewable industries for America’s future.


The scene today on Moonstone Beach.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtIH0e2BsDQ

BP, Corporate Felons on Probation.

BP has been on probation. They were convicted of a Felony Offence in 2007. Since then they have violated their probation by breaking the law.

Last year alone BP was fined 760 times for safety violations from OSHA. That's breaking the law more than twice a day. They have been on probation since October 25th 2007 and will be off probation this October.

What good is probation for a corporation if law enforcement isn't a part of the equation. If you or I were on probation and were cited for breaking the law more than twice a day for a year, you can bet we would not be allowed to carry on as usual.

Why do we afford a special privilege to corporate persons that we do not allow for real human beings. I mean, if I killed 11 men on a boat in the gulf because I failed to follow normal procedures because I wanted to hurry and get back to shore, and their deaths were the direct cause of my actions, I would be on trial for murder or manslaughter.

We need to hold the CEO's of corporations that willfully disobey the law and cause harm to others while already on probation to the same standard we would hold any regular person, corporate person or not.

We should tell congress to pass a law that would put these compulsive law breakers behind bars!

Same goes for a drug company that allows a virus or other bug to escape into the population hoping to sell the cure, or a coal mine owner that repeatedly violates safety laws that results in the death of a miner.

There are more examples but until we get the courts, regulators, attorney's general or politicians to fund enforcement, we are doomed to repeat the BP spill and other crimes against humanity.

Write your congress person and tell them to not support corporate felons!
Sign the pettition at: Project.End Corporate Rule. Legalize Democracy. Move to Amend.

Eureka Main Street's Concert Series Tonight

The Swing sounds of the Swinging Chads will fill the air in Old Town Eureka tonight.  The 2nd in a 10 week Thursday night series starts at 6 pm at the F street boardwalk and is free to everyone!

Saturday Night At The Drive In Theater

Red's Crescent Drive-In just north of Crescent City Ca. is one of the last drive-in theaters left in California.


Located at 2303 Elk Valley Cross Road, about 4 miles north of Crescent City Ca. it is still offering movies to motorists at just 10-dollars a carload. They are open April through October on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at about an hour before sunset. In the peak summer months starting any day now, they expand to Wednesday through Sunday.

In business since 1959, they are one of the last drive-in theaters left. Many people my age were created in the back seat of cars at the drive-in theater. Advantages to the drive-in verses the walk in theater are that you can bring in your own food and beverages, make noise and and even smoke if there aren't any kids in the car.
Disadvantages are the picture isn't as clear and the sound is limited to stereo and what kind of radio you have in your car. The sound is broadcast locally on both AM and FM.

If you go, make a day of it as the drive from Eureka is full of spectacular views. Some might even want to get a space at the KOA just north of Elk Valley Cross Road on Highway 101 to avoid much of a drive in the middle of the night.

Elk Valley Cross Road is the next left after the Highway 199 turn off going north out of Crescent City.
It's about a mile up the road from 101.
They don't have a web site but their phone number is 707-464-1813

Free Concert Tonight If It Stops Raining!

Classic Blues band "Fargo Brothers" are scheduled to play a free concert at the F street boardwalk in Old Town Eureka starting at 6 pm and going till 8 pm tonight. 
The free concerts go for 10 weeks and happen every Thursday night at the F st. boardwalk.

Next Thursday will be a Swing band called Swinging Chads.

The concerts are a collaboration of Eureka Main St. and a local radio group.

California Election Results

Click for official California election results from the Secretary of State.

Crabs Split Season Opener Series 2-1 against Fairfield Indians

The Humboldt Crabs baseball season got underway this weekend. The Crabs hosted the Fairfield Indians and took two out of three games in the weekend series.


The Crabs won the Saturday afternoon game by a score of 10 to 1 but lost the night cap 8 to 5.

Today's game was played under cloudy rainy conditions and was almost called in the 4th inning. The rain came and went several times but the game made it through 9 innings and the Crabs were victorious scoring 8 runs against the Indians who were only able to put up 2 runs.

Above is a photo of Hok and the Professor in the broadcast booth calling the game for the local AM radio affiliate and the live stream.

For ticket info or more Crabs info, click Crabs Baseball or call 707-826-2333

Happy Birthday to The Madaket!

The jewel of Humboldt Bay celebrates a birthday.The Madaket turns 100 years old today and is celebrating with a ceremony and special cruises. Originally built to ferry workers from the north spit to Eureka during the lumber big lumber years, the Madaket was one of several passenger boats that used to cruise the waters of Humboldt Bay Ca.


The wooden boat was in operation until 3 bridges were built to link Eureka with the town of Samoa on the north spit of the bay in 1972.

The Madaket was taken out of commission and sold and returned to service as a tourist boat with cocktail cruises. The Madaket was purchased by the Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum in 1983 and underwent an extensive rebuild in 1989.

Operated by Dalene and Leroy Zerlang she continues to offer Champaign and cocktails cruises every summer and is home to the states smallest legally licensed cocktail lounge.

For a list of prices and times of cruises click The Madaket.
Or call 707-445-1910

Above is a view of Humboldt Bay from the deck of the Madaket.

Just Before The Election, The Politics Get Ugly

On the Friday before Tuesdays election, local blog The Humboldt Herald is reporting that a candidate for 5th District Supervisor had a DUI that never made the local news paper.
Below and without permission is a copy of the blog.

The same week Ryan Sundberg announced his candidacy for 5th district Humboldt County Supervisor, a bench warrant was issued when he failed to appear in court for DUI charges.


Stemming from a Dec. 7, 2009 incident, Sundberg was charged with 2 counts of Driving Under the Influence with a special allegation of blood alcohol levels of .15 or higher. The legal limit is .08.

Sundberg’s campaign announcement came on January 22. The warrant was issued on January 26. Sundberg pled Nolo to count 1 and the second count was dismissed on January 28.

The court imposed a fine of $2,341.00 and 3 years probation. Sundberg was also ordered to enter a 1st Offender DUI program. The fine was unpaid as of March 12.

While the Times-Standard regularly runs a list of people charged with DUIs, Sundberg’s name never made the paper. Maybe he lucked out and got lost in the shuffle of a new computer system at the DA’s office.

I am not big on bashing politicians for traffic violations, being seen at sex clubs, having a wide stance, being caught with a hooker, a DUI or a pot ticket. I would if they were vigorous in condemning others that break those laws. That is called a hypocrite.


I question the timing of this story. It should have come out in March after the fine wasn't paid. The Humboldt Herald either took it's time to share this with the rest of us or there was a reason this story didn't surface that had nothing to do with the Herald.  Maybe someone was able to keep this quiet until now.

The Humboldt Herald points out that other DUI's make the Times-Standard newspaper and this one didn't.
Why is this? Why did the newspaper endorse Patrick Cleary the 5th District?


One thing is for sure, the election is about 3 days away and the ugly is starting to surface.

Pony Express Days Starts Today In McKinleyville!

What to do:

Today- Clam Chowder Cook-off at Pierson Park
5:30 to 7:30 pm

Thursday June 3rd.- Fireman's Muster Mill Creek Marketplace by Ray's Food Place.
5 pm until done.

Friday June 4th.- Car Cruise down Central Ave.
6 to 7 pm.
Alumni Football Game at McKinleyville High School.
7:30 pm until done.
Pony Express Dance at Central Station
8 pm till Midnight.

Saturday June 5th. - Parade on Central Ave.
11 am to Noon
Oldies but Goodies CAr Show at Pierson Park.
Noon till 4 pm
Craft & Vendor Booths, Kids Activities, Live Music from Road Masters and Beer tasting all at Pierson Park from Noon to 4 pm

Sunday June 6th. - Gymkhana at McKinleyville Arena at the end of Kjer Rd. Hosted by the McKinleyville Rodeo Association.
8 am until late afternoon.

If We Voted Based On Political Signs

I make no bones about who I would like to see win the race for 5th. District Supervisor, Patrick Higgins.
I think that he is the most qualified person in the running.
That said, if I voted for candidates based on political signs and nothing else, I would be in the Jeffrey Lytle camp.
This has to be the best political sign in the 5th. District.

I share some of the frustration Mr. Lytle has with a rigged system. Although it isn't always the case, those with the most money usually win. Lytle isn't taking any campaign money so he wouldn't have to return any favors should he win.

The Times-Standard which is owned mostly by Bank of America due to a bankruptcy, has endorsed Patrick Cleary. The Times-Standard says that Patrick Higgins has too many side issues what ever that means. I think it comes down to ideas and good communication skills and both Cleary and Higgins seem to be better at communicating their ideas than Sundburg and Lytle. Sundburg either has few ideas or is afraid to articulate them and Lytle doesn't seem to care what people think because he believes in his convictions.

It's only a week away from the election and we all have to make a choice. Follow your conscience and follow the money. Make an informed decision and don't let the system get you down. The so called system has less influence on local elections than it has on a national scale. I think that it all boils down to how you see Humboldt County and the 5th. District in the future and the quality of life you expect to achieve and which candidate would best represent you in that futuristic vision. For me the choice is clear, Patrick Higgins represents the best choice for the world I want to live in even if he doesn't have the best sign or the most financial backing.