Back to the Land 2007
What makes a 64-year-old woman abandon civilization?
Cover Story
Back to the Land 2007
The Old Tomlinson Ranch, July 2006. The Wilsons had slept hard, exhausted by their two-day journey up from Ojai and the fiasco they’d had with the moving truck. The truck was too tall to pass under the bridge that crosses over the road at Lady Bird Johnson Grove, and they’d had to bring in a…
Babylon System
A couple of months ago, when controversial reggae artist Buju Banton was about to perform at the Mateel Community Center, KMUD radio aired an absolutely remarkable hour of radio on its regular Friday morning talk show, "Thank Jah It’s Friday." The show aired at a moment when it was unclear whether or not the show…
Roller Derby Comeback
Like so many couplings, theirs began with a terse Craigslist posting a few weeks back. "Looking for a woman 21+," the ad read, "to help co-found Eureka Roller Derby. I’ve got the knowledge if you’ve got the time! "Must be able to skate on quads (4 wheel roller skates) and have excellent leadership abilities. Contact…
Off and running
It’s been a while since Thad Beckman lived here in Humboldt. The blues guitarist/songwriter left for Texas a few years back – Austin to be specific – and then moved on from there to Portland, Ore., home to a substantial Humboldt ex-pat community, not that he’s exactly part of it. When I got hold of…
Lost Coast Trilogy, Part Two
Some six years ago, during spring break at HSU, I hiked the Lost Coast for the first time. On that trip we hadn’t seen another hiker for two days and nearly 18 miles. It was a bit of a shock when arriving at Big Flat to have our first encounter be with a Cessna and…
The Humane Iron Chef
My brother-in-law Chris first hipped me to Iron Chef, a Japanese cooking show he described as "surreal." Originally titled Ironmen of Cooking, the TV program featured a mythical "Kitchen Stadium" maintained by an equally mythic Chairman Kaga, who pitted his team of Iron Chefs against illustrious challengers in a timed battle/race to prepare a collection…
Previewing A Dream and Lettice on Wry
I once had after-theatre supper with Maggie Smith, sort of. Familiar to a new generation as Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies, she was then known as the Oscar-nominated star of Travels With My Auntand other films. I was actually supping with Pat Mitchell, then the entertainment reporter for a Boston television station, now…
