Genocide & Extortion
150 years later, the hidden motive behind the Indian Island Massacre
Cover Story
Genocide and Extortion
The dance was over [in] one day. The wind blew and rough weather. On account of this nobody went home. That night after the dance all were asleep. There were four houses and one sweat house….The door was blocked by white men as the people were asleep, not expecting anything to happen. They were not…
Blogwatch
John Osborne: Price of Peace • John Osborn: Nostalgia® • John Osborn: Riding the WaveConnect • John Osborn: Beer Thieves • John Osborn: A Network of Sanctuaries • John Osborn: You Know You’re In Arcata When… • John Osborn: Peace Out Banks • John Osborn: The No-Beg Zone • John Osborn: Visualizing the Agressive Panhandling…
Road Eating Itself!
Yeah, well, OK. Fess: It’s not that big of a deal. But we were so hoping it was. Hoping, that is, that the sinkhole on Eel River Drive, between Copenhagen Road and CANNIBAL Island Road, was a great, gobbling thing consuming pavement like a John McPhee pickerel — a tasty little fish JM stalks in…
Bike Coalition Takes On Careless Drivers
Just an aside to the post before this about restitution in the Alan Bear case: The California Bicycle Coalition is looking to sponsor legislation this year that would, according to the CBC’s newsletter: enhance the penalties for careless drivers who injure or kill bicyclists, pedestrians, runners, highway workers, farm equipment operators and other vulnerable road…
Restitution Ordered in Jennings Case
From the District Attorney’s office, news that Alan Bear has been ordered to pay the family of Greg Jennings a quarter of a million dollars in restitution. Bear struck and killed Jennings while the latter was riding his bicycle along Highway 299 in August 2008. In September 2009, under strange circumstances, Bear pleaded guilty to…
The Hippo Campus
Editor: Thank you for your article on College of the Redwoods’ plan to buy Jefferson School to replace its current downtown branch campus (“Schoolyard Scrap” Feb. 18). The neighbors of the school site are adamantly opposed to their homes being severely impacted by the increased traffic, bumper-to-bumper parked cars, constant noise and disruption that will…
It Is To Laugh
Editor: Regarding “Away We Go” (“Town Dandy,” Feb. 18): You wrote a story that isn’t really a story. You weaved supposed facts and innuendo that may impact everyone running for the upcoming county offices and essentially you succeeded in throwing a bucket of mud at the faces of all candidates. Your “pledge” to “deliver full,…
Growth and Decline
Editor: My congratulations to Clint Victorine, owner of Eel River Organic Beef, for landing a contract with Whole Foods, no small accomplishment. But I’m worried. According to “Humboldt: the Brand” (Feb. 11) Eel River Organic Beef is already sold in 10 of the biggest Whole Foods in Southern California (and at Eureka Natural Foods, and…
Corrections
In last week’s McKinleyville Arts Night listings, a painting of sunflowers was erroneously attached to artist Susan Fox; in fact, the painting was by artist Susan Harper. In the same issue, “The Hum” gave an incorrect release date for the British electronica group DNA’s underground remix of the Suzanne Vega hit “Tom’s Diner.” In fact,…
Soggy Rune
I live in the hut at the edge…
Field Music (Measure)
When England’s Field Music, fronted by brothers David and Peter Brewis, released their debut album in 2005, they were known as a precise, quirky pop unit with influences ranging from Steely Dan to XTC. At times it seemed they were striving for something beyond their means, resulting in impressive failures. Their successes, on nuggets such…
Everything You Know about Indians Is Wrong
Paul Chaat Smith is an enrolled Comanche, veteran of the American Indian Movement in the ’60s and ’70s, and now an associate curator at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington. His main interest is contemporary artists, and many of the essays in this volume were originally linked to particular exhibitions — though…
Root Down
February is not the easiest month in the garden. The weather is dreadful, the ground is soggy, and some indoor project is probably demanding your attention. Income taxes, perhaps, or the last of the earthquake repairs. It is too early to think about a summer vegetable garden. Tomatoes and squash and green beans will not…
The Ends of the Earth
Quickly, point in the general direction of the North Pole with one arm. With your other arm, point to the South Pole. What’s the angle between your arms? If you look like Fig. 1, take a moment to think about it. And if you’re still thinking about it, peek at the figures at the bottom…
Pay Dirt!
Stop! Wait! I hope I’m not too late — although if you, like me, eagerly await the end of January, I probably am. You’ve already filed online and seen the direct deposit refund swell your checking account. Yay, tax time! But as gamblers and lucky lotto players know, that sudden wealth can evaporate, leaving the…
The Lamest Wolfman
Previews Opening Friday, Feb. 26, is The Last Station, based on Rose Tremain’s novel about the last years of Leo Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer). Tolstoy’s wife is played by Helen Mirren and his disciple by Paul Giamatti. Plummer and Mirren are both up for Oscars. Rated R for a scene of sexuality/nudity. 112m. At the Minor.…
Festivus!
Scott Carlson had an idea. He wanted to bring the local music community together for an all-day festival showcasing the wide range of great bands playing here. His plan was to have bands playing all day in various Arcata venues with attendees able to wander from place to place, all as a benefit for some…
A Gentleman Wanderer
Lately he’d been reading a big Dean Koontz novel that was so good he’d urged his sister Bonnie to read it, the last time they talked on the phone. “Write it down, Bonnie!” he’d told her. Of course, he and Bonnie were always swapping good reads. They talked just about every day, Bonnie Taylor from…
Our Fathers
It’s still hard for some locals to accept that 150 years ago — five generations, a historical blip — Humboldt County was controlled by genocidaires. Our illustrious forefathers, the settlers of this county, were, in large part, twisted, scheming, evil men. They murdered the original people of this place for their own private gain, ruthlessly…
