**MayDay MayDay MayDay**

Eureka Information is below

Tuesday, May 1st, will be a nationwide emergency outcry in over 100 cities about economic conditions in the US. This is another important step in the growth of the populist resistance movement in the world’s lone superpower. On May Day, the Occupy Movement, the Immigrant Rights Movement, the Labor Movement, and the Student Movement across the country will march and organize in solidarity for economic justice.

We are the 99%.

1% of the population is controlling vast economic resources while many millions of people are struggling to survive. We will continue to draw attention to the major institutions which corrupt our society and cripple our livelihoods.


Four years after the financial crisis, not a single of the Too Big to Fail banks is smaller -- in fact, they all continue to grow in size and risk. Not to mention they are now immune from prosecution for foreclosure fraud.

Over a million homes are in foreclosure in the US; 3.2 million homes have been foreclosed on since 2008; in total, 18.5 million homes are vacant, while 3.5 million families are homeless.

The two major political parties are expected to spend nearly a billion dollars each to sell the presidency. Corporate money flooding politics is undermining the very principles of American democracy.

1 in 2 college graduates are jobless or underemployed and the national student debt is about to hit $1 trillion.


There will be an array of events in NYC, where the Occupy movement began, and other major cities including: LA, DC, Chicago, Eureka, Minneapolis, Miami, Detroit, Atlanta, Austin and many more. We call upon people to refrain from shopping, walk out of class, take the day off of work, and other creative forms of resistance disrupting the status quo of the 1%.

May Day Flowers On The Fence!

Show Your Solidarity For International Workers Day!  That means U2!

Stand Up and Speak Out on May Day!     Soap box Provided. . .

Tuesday May 1st. at Humboldt County Courthouse

Featured Speakers too -  Noon to 1 pm . . . . . . Or  After Work!

Bring a lunch and listen to all this local eloquence   

Have Fun!  Bring Drums, Tambourine or other percussion instruments. 

"Yes and bring those flowers to beautify the neighborhood and make the courthouse more welcoming."

What is Chelsey Henry and what does Stacey Lawson have to do with it?

What is Chelsey Henry and what does Stacey Lawson have to do with it?

Chelsey Henry Inc. is a company that markets handbags and leather laptop sleeves among other things.  They are manufactured in China and imported for sale here in the U.S.  A reliable source close to me has sent me the following about Stacey Lawson and her business skills while “Director” of the company.

THE CHELSEY HENRY FIASCO

In her public appearances and campaign messaging, Lawson never fails to tout her business experience as one of her main strengths. Though Lawson certainly has marketing talent, recent evidence reveals her managerial abilities to be highly questionable and largely a myth. In this area she has, again, misled the voters of the 2nd Congressional district. On-line purse and luggage retailer Chelsey Henry, Inc was launched by two co-principals, Chelsey Owen and Henry Lin, in 2002. Lawson became a Director and Chairman a few years after this, continuing in this role until 2010. Thus Lawson became a director sometime after the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley law, which added new responsibilities for corporate board members. One of the co-founders (Owen) also claimed a role in developing Lawson’s start-up, InPart (in the 1990s), and may be connected with one of Pillai’s Indian businesses (Brzee Enterprises.) (6B)

From 2002 through 2010 Chelsey Owen was a registered owner, President and Director, Lin was an owner, and from around 2004 through 2010 Stacey Lawson was Chairman or Director. These three were the only responsible corporate owners and officers mentioned in a November 2007 Securities and Exchange commission filing at the time that Chelsey Henry received over $1 Million from venture capital investors, indicating they comprised, in fact, the responsible management team.(6B)

According to records from the King county, WA recorders office, nine separate federal tax liens involving 15 separate charges, totaling over $350,000 were filed against Chelsey Henry, Inc. between October 2008 and March 2010  These charges were for quarterly reporting periods from Oct-Dec. 2006 through September 30, 2009. There are no records indicating this tax was ever paid or the liens specifically released. In addition, the state of Washington filed tax warrants for non-payment of taxes and unemployment insurance on three separate occasions totaling $6,284. The last state of Washington non-payment filing was in June 2010. [King County Superior Court Case # 10-2-22172-7] (6B)

There is much more which I may share with you at a later date.  Until then, see this blog that seems to have some of the same information I have here

Don't Spread Mud Snails From Big Lagoon To Other Lagoons

Big Lagoon just north of Patricks Point State Park has been invaded by New Zealand Mud Snails.  These invasive species can reproduce from 1 to 40 million in just one year.  There is no way to eradicate them or kill them without completly destroying the ecosystem they live in.  The only way to stop them is to stop them from moving around and into other ecosystems. 

If you plan to swim, wade, wind surf, boat, kayak or canoe in Big Lagoon, be sure to scrub clean any clothing boots boats or wet suits before going to any other body of water.  These snails can live out of the water for weeks so just because you dry stuff out doesn't mean you are not moving the critters around.

The snails compete with fish for food so more snails means fewer fish. Learn more.

No More Boat In Camping At Stone Lagoon Until Further Notice

A sign posted at the Stone Lagoon boat ramp says that the camp ground across the water is closed as the parking lot for overnight parking. This is a California State Park and due to budget cuts, the camp ground is closed until further notice. 

It doesn't say that you can't go over to the campground and picnic for the day, you would have to leave at sun down though.  Kayaking is still allowed during daylight hours. Too bad California can't afford to keep it's wonderful parks open though.  There is no telling how long this will stay closed.

For those that have never been there, Stone Lagoon is on the Pacific Ocean, about 45 to 50 miles north of Eureka Ca. There is a nice primitive camp ground that is almost impossible to get to except by boat. The camp sites are wooded, have a picnic bench, camp fire ring and there are pit toilets. Some of them have a nice view of the lagoon.  The lagoon has a sand spit between it and the ocean that breaks through every few years.  This year the lagoon got so full that it broke through to the ocean.  This allows salmonoids to enter and exit the lagoon and is just part of the cycle of life in a lagoon like this one. 

Tax Day Protest Tomorrow

Expressing our outrage and demanding that the wealthy and corporations

                    pay as we must!

            No More Rigged Tax Codes! 

              We've had enough!

Not only do corporations like Bank of America get away with dodging taxes,Wells Fargo has paid none in recent years, while millionaire CEOs of these unpatriotic companies get huge tax refunds each year thanks to the Bush tax cuts.

Wells Fargo was also handed another $37 billion from the U.S. government. Flush with billions in bailout money and an economic system designed to siphon wealth from the working class to the idle rich, Wells Fargo has been busy expanding its stake in the GEO Group, the second largest private jailer in America.

We Rally and March to help expose these  tax-dodging banks and corporations in highlighting the disparity of tax codes for the 99% compared to the 1%.

Where: Humboldt County Courthouse
When: April 17th. Noon

Lady Washington & Hawaiian Chieftain Tall Ships In Eureka Through Weekend

Walk on tours and battle sails are offered by both ships while they are here in Eureka at the dock near the Adorni Center.  They head up to Crescent City after this weekend. 

From their website:

The ships’ most popular program is the Battle Sail, a recreation of a typical 18th-century naval skirmish, with real cannon fire and real gunpowder (but no cannon balls). The crews encourage guests to verbally taunt their adversaries, and a victor will be declared. An Evening Sail is a value-priced experience for families that includes a chance to help raise a sail, sing a sea shanty, and take the wheel of a real tall ship, conditions permitting. Purchase tickets online or call 800-200-5239.

For schedules, times and cost to to their web site here

North Valley Bank Removes Trinidad ATM

The ancient North Valley Bank ATM in Trinidad is being removed.  The ATM is one of the older models that sucks your card into it and usually gives it back after your transaction.  It was famous for not working. That never surprised me though because it is made by Diebold, the same company that used to make faulty voting machines. Locals knew that if the machine didn't work the first time, try it again. About 9 times out of 10 if you did your transaction twice, it would work on the second try.  Tourists however didn't know this and they would complain to the bank.

 I went into the main branch in Eureka and made a complaint one morning and one of the nice ladies there told me that they get many complaints about that old machine and that if they got many more, they would be forced to remove it.  She said it was more cost effective to remove the machine than replace it with a modern one.  On April 17th. the machine will go and it is not to be replaced.  North Valley Bank is where I bank and I liked the convenience of not having to drive to Arcata or McKinleyville to use an ATM without paying a fee.  There are still ATM's in town, one at the Chevron across the street and several at the Casino down the street.  None of those are from local banks though and  all have major tolls attached to them. 

Presentation on Upper Klamath Wildlife Refuges, Sucker Fish and

Presentation on Upper Klamath Wildlife Refuges, Sucker Fish and

Tule Marsh Restoration

California Farm bordering Interstate 5

On Monday evening, April 23 at 7 PM at the Arcata D Street Community Center the North Group of the Redwood Chapter of the Sierra Club will sponsor a talk entitled Wildlife Refuges, Sucker Fish and Tule Marsh Restoration in the Upper Klamath Basin. The presentation is by noted naturalist Wendell Wood of Oregon Wild, one of the co-founders on the Northcoast Environmental Center. There is no charge for admission and refreshments will be served.  For more information call 822-9428.

For more info on Klamath water and what it means to fish and farms in California click here

Pray The Devil Back To Hell - The Movie

I Saw God

http://youtu.be/-7gxF1lP8Bw

click for photo information

Happy Easter! The above link will take you to a crappy video with a great song that explores the idea that god could take many images.  Would you pass god by if he were hitch hiking?

The preacher on the TV is just that, some preacher this Easter morning on my tube.  The song is from Dre Allen Project

Urgency Ordinance vs. The First Amendment

Urgency Ordinance vs. The First Amendment

Defend the First Amendment at a candlelight vigil, from 9 to 10pm, on Saturday, April 7, after Arts Alive, at the Humboldt County Courthouse.

The ordinance passed by the Board of Supervisors last week that restricts protest activities in front of the Courthouse is unconstitutional and wrong-headed.
Restricting freedom of speech and assembly at the seat of our local government is a threat to groups of all political persuasions that use the public forum to freely express their views.  These groups include social justice activists, Native Americans, peaceniks, Tea Partiers, Veterans for Peace, anti-abortion activists, pro-choice advocates, Occupiers, Humboldt CPR, Women in Black, gay, LGBT people, supporters of victims of domestic violence, unions, Take Back the Night, health workers, conservation groups, and many others.  Over the years, demonstrators have hung signs on railings or the flagpole base, set up tables, canopies, bulletin boards, stages with PA systems, free-standing displays, signs and flags on bases.

Now, in an over-reaction to the Occupiers, these First Amendment protected activities have been outlawed, and a 9:30pm to 6:00am curfew has been imposed on the courthouse grounds.
Since the Occupy Movement began, there have certainly been some serious problems, mostly caused by non-politically motivated victims of a broken system, who have joined the occupation but do not necessarily participate in Occupy’s decision-making process or rules.  In the Legislative Findings section of the new ordinance these problems are enumerated: “…These incidents include numerous complaints of public urination and defecation, threatening and abusive language, sexual harassment, and smoking of marijuana… calls for service involving assaults and public drunkenness.”  Also mentioned are littering and improper disposal of waste and damaging public property.
Hmm…going down this list of incidents, aren’t all of these activities already illegal?  And how will restricting signs and banners and tables and hours of legal protest prevent the listed crimes?
Also mentioned in the Findings is that the Occupiers are somehow preventing other groups from using the public space at the Courthouse.  Occupiers have never opposed the right of other groups to demonstrate.
 The only constraint on additional protests has been the chain link fence that severely limits the amount of available public space and creates a bottleneck at the courthouse steps.

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors have become unwitting participants in “Reactionary Lawmaking.”  In reaction to the local Occupy Movement, they have enacted a law that restricts the First Amendment rights of everyone who might want to take up a cause in the public commons.  This is how our right to free speech is whittled away by well-intentioned officials.
Further, the Board has passed this as a so-called “Urgency Ordinance,” thereby limiting public discussion and comment on a very serious infringement of our rights.

The real solutions to the problems at the Courthouse do not involve further restriction of rights:Take the fence down.
Allow demonstrators to place and pay for a porta-potty, near the courthouse, as they have offered to do.
Arrest and prosecute anyone who verbally or physically assaults anyone else.
Enforce all other existing laws that guarantee the safety of the public.
Provide an emergency camping facility somewhere near the downtown, for anyone who needs a place to sleep and cannot afford it.

Reactionary laws, responding to the challenges posed by the Occupy Movement, are being passed in cities across the country.  They are “abridging the freedom of speech… the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”  While reasonable restrictions on time, place, and manner of First Amendment activities are legally permitted, laws like the Humboldt Urgency Ordinance go way too far in restricting public protest.  Vibrant, unfettered public expression is essential to a working democracy.  We must actively defend our freedoms, or they will be eroded by a myriad of new laws and regulations.

We are inviting you to defend the First Amendment, at an Arts Alive After-party and Candlelight Vigil, on Saturday, April 7, 2012, at the Humboldt County Courthouse, from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Whatever your feelings about Occupy Eureka, please understand the importance of defending our right to assemble and speak freely at our local seat of political power. We the people of Humboldt are the ones who must defend free speech from the oppressive new “Urgency Ordinance.”
Candles with safe, wax-catching bases will be provided. Bring your own “Self-Stabilized Sign,” or a flag, or a lawn chair if you wish to challenge the law.
Risk arrest (or not), but please be there to defend your rights.
–Dave Meserve