Top Ten Stories of 2008
Weed, feds, fish. Fallen moguls and crooked cops. General economic panic.
Cover Story
Top 10 Stories of 2008
1. CRASH Ugh, the economy … woe is us. It’s “the worst economic meltdown since the Great Depression,” we’re told every few minutes, and Humboldt County can no longer huddle behind the Redwood Curtain. To wit, Samoa’s Evergreen Pulp Mill, which withered in a sluggish global pulp market. The mill somehow changed hands in October…
An Xmas gift for the Mateel
The long wait is over. The Mateel is finally getting the settlement payment they’ve been waiting for — following a long delay blamed on the current state of the lending market. Here’s the announcement from the Ranch: The Dimmick Ranch announces payment of the Mateel Settlement The Dimmick Ranch announced today that Tom Dimmick has…
You’re invalid. No you are.
v. You may have noticed that plenty of folks have not yet taken down their “Yes on 8” or “No on 8” yard signs or peeled off their “8 is Hate” bumper stickers. That’s cuz this thing ain’t over. This slide show was the Courage Campaign’s reaction to Ken Starr’s from-the-top-rope flying leap into the…
Top Five (+5)
Girl on the Fridge. Etgar Keret (Farrar Straus Giroux). Israeli writer Keret writes concise stories that are very weird and very short (most less than four pages). Though his stories deal with heavy subject matter, often inspired by his stint in the Israeli army, Keret has a light, even comic touch. His seemingly off hand…
Mistaken identification
In last week’s Arts! Arcata guide, two works of art were mistakenly attributed to other artists. A painting by Richard Quenzer (shown at Arcata Co-op) was wrongly credited to Ken Jarvela. A painting by Patricia Sennott (shown at Meridian Fine Art Gallery) wrongly credited to Susan Fox. The Journal regrets the errors.
Top Five (+5)
A Virtual Landslide. Peter Molinari (Damaged Goods). This UK singer/songwriter’s sophomore effort is lush, though not overblown, creating a full sound that perfectly compliments his folk, country and pop sensibilities. Analog-recorded by Liam Watson, and accompanied by Toe-Rag Studio musicians, Molinari’s uncanny and sincere delivery is brilliantly captured. This is one of this year’s recordings…
Vote Smart
Editor: Hank Sims now says Humboldt’s official method of counting votes is an outrage and the Diebold/Premier folks “should be shunned. Maybe indicted.” (“Town Dandy,”Dec. 11) He may be late to the party, but the top hat and tails are always welcome. Yes, Humboldt has joined Florida, Ohio and towns and counties across the land…
Top Five (+5)
Treny. Michal Jacaszek (Miasmah). First real masterwork from Polish post-classical composer Michal Jacaszek. Jacaszek’s work is clearly nestled in the digital-conscious world of 21st century modern composition (think Max Richter, Ryan Teague, Jóhann Jóhannsson, etc.) but is strange enough to avoid the overtly cinematic/soundtrack feel of much of his peers’ work (Teague, for instance, is…
Studies in Grace
Editor: Thanks for mentioning my town, Fernbridge, in your story (“Red Hots,” Dec 11). But “The Most Conservative Place in the County”? I find that it’s probable the most liberal place out there. Everyday at my store-cafe-bakery we get every type of person that lives around here. Who hasn’t been at the cafe counter to…
Celebrate the Solstice!
Don’t forget to set your alarm so you can celebrate this year’s winter solstice, one of Earth’s four annual regular-as-clockwork astronomical events — the others being the summer solstice and the spring and fall equinoxes. Solstice happens here in Humboldt — and everywhere in the Pacific time zone — on December 21 at 4:04 a.m.…
Into the Mystery
Throughout history, the primary function of art has been to represent the world as we see it. It has been a way to cheat the relentless forward march of time and hang on to an image that does not age or fade away (well, at least not as quickly as humans do). We have painted…
Third Friday McKinleyville Arts Night
Presented by members of the McKinleyville business community. Receptions for artists, exhibits and/or performances are from 6-8 p.m. on the third Friday of each month. Phone 268-1800, for more information. 1. NorCal Tattoo 1179 Central Ave. Ted Marks, tattoo art. 2. The Front Gallery and Gifts 1181 Central Ave. Jon Marx, photographs; music by Ricky…
Places to Fish
Heads of small riffles Rivers with short names…
Clear Lear
Some call King Lear the greatest of Shakespeare’s tragedies, but it is among the least performed of his major plays. In number of productions, it doesn’t make the Shakespeare Top 10 of England’s Royal Shakespeare Company, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival or Broadway. The story of the old king who divides his kingdom among his daughters…
Prostitution.com
When Eureka police arrested two prostitutes earlier this month, it didn’t require much undercover work. "We just called the cell phone number, set up a meeting location and showed up," Lt. Murl Harpham recalled, adding that the EPD has done this before. "We have a conversation [with the prostitutes] about what they’re gonna do. It…
The Boring Alien
Previews Opening Friday, Dec. 19, is Seven Pounds, which reunites director Gabriele Muccino and Will Smith, both from The Pursuit of Happyness, in a tale about an IRS agent, depressed by the death of his wife, who decides to help seven people before he commits suicide. But the suicide is put on hold when he…
Grapevine
I heard it through the grapevine, second-, maybe third-hand: Absynth Quintet was allegedly breaking up — again. A distraught Lila Nelson heard the story and offered mediation services. When I put the breakup question to AQ guitarist Ryan Roberts, he replied with a paraphrase from Mark Twain: "The rumors of our death have been greatly…
New Front in the Development War
Housing and population growth have long been among the Humboldt County’s most sensitive political issues. The question of where to put new people, and how tightly local government should control development, has fueled any number of deeply ideological, bitter debates in recent years, especially where they touch upon county government’s work to update its general…
Red Tail Stare-Down
While walking my dog Chuck in the Arcata marsh and wildlife sanctuary last Thursday evening we came suddenly upon a juvenile red tail hawk. Practically stepped on him before we noticed him. Perched on a fallen branch just inches off the path, the striking raptor stared unflinchingly up at me, then Chuck. After recovering from…
Naughty or Nice
The Santa Train was set to leave Willits station at around 2:30 p.m. Saturday, and most of the kids were pretty well pumped. Greg "The Train Singer" Schindel, magnificently mustachioed troubadour of the rails, was working the queue, sneaking in a rendition of "Working on the Railroad" among seasonal fare like "Santa Claus Is Coming…
