Cover Story
Green-and-Gold Washing on the Menu?
CPH dining falls short of sustainability goals Walking through Cal Poly Humboldt’s J Dining Hall, students are surrounded by posters and decorative lettering on the walls that tout the university’s commitment to sustainability and locally sourced products. But the produce on students’ plates likely comes via a Sysco truck from hundreds of miles away rather…
Chronicle of a Censure
In the weeks before being censured, Supervisor Michelle Bushnell sought to hold off public discussion on an outside investigation that found she acted in a hostile manner toward two employees, arguing through an attorney that she was denied due process in a flawed system. The hearing ultimately did take place Nov. 4, with Bushnell receiving…
Songs of Love and Hate
I was texting with my sister last week after her birthday and she was in the process of making a playlist of the worst songs ever written. This was unsurprising, as we are like-minded shitheads, despite her being a formidable and dangerous Scorpio lady. We agreed on a few additions from each camp: her suggestion…
Exit Theatre’s Getting Dark Stays Sharp
While Cal Poly Humboldt stages Greek tragedy, above the Arcata Plaza, the Exit Theatre presents Getting Dark: Three One-Act Comedies by local playwright Daniel Lehman. The theme of getting dark is presented differently in each vignette where Lehman asks heavy questions in light ways without ever getting saccharine. The first, Is He Sick? is an…
The Surreal Tragedy of Antigone
Greek tragedy is considered the root of western theater, though its original format can feel strange and stiff to our modern sensibilities. The themes are still relevant, touching as they do on the human condition and broad philosophical questions. Cal Poly Humboldt students, under the guidance of director Cynthia Martells, found creative ways to bridge…
Luke Lemke Builds a Legend
After missing two weeks dealing with an injury, Luke Lemke stood under the overhang of the snack shack on a rainy night at McKinleyville High School. The junior varsity game was finishing up, and he was getting ready for his much anticipated — and needed — return to the field. His team the Arcata High…
Predator Badlands Evolves
PREDATOR: BADLANDS. Whether regarding the Constitution or movie franchises, originalism is a trap, suffocating innovation and imagination against our natural impulse to learn, adapt and evolve with our environment and others in it. Doubtless, the internet is already rife with complaints over the departures Predator Badlands takes from the formula that’s been mostly lucrative, though…
Stop Misusing the F Word
Editor: I fundamentally differ with Jennifer Fumiko Cahill’s characterization of fascism in her “This Paper is Anti-Fascist” (Oct. 23). I could pen a lengthy rebuttal to it, but that would be boring. The first problem with the article is that the sweeping generalizations aren’t supported by actual examples. In other words, explain how “individual rights…
Re: Protecting the Night
Editor: The Journal’s Oct. 16 cover story by Griffin Mancuso, “Protecting the Night,” included snippets from an interview with yours truly! After reading Doug Ingold’s letter (‘Disappointed,’ Oct. 30), I’m writing to provide more information on how we can all keep Humboldt’s night skies dark, why that’s important for people and wildlife, and where to…
Mass Wash-ups
Back when I worked for the Feds, a major non-NATO ally of the United States gifted me a luxury research submarine. While decorating the sub’s interior with golden filigree at taxpayer expense, we discovered a clandestine surveillance system. So, I wired in a video player to show the foreign spies daily episodes of the popular…
‘Space for Poetry’
Editor: Thank you for publishing poems in the NCJ. I am always disappointed with a “poemless” issue. The latest poem by Ryan Muenzer, “The January Wake Up,” (Oct. 30) is a seriously good prose poem. There are multiple layers of meaning, natural and political; not contrived or preachy. The reader joins in the personal and…
Blame Trump
After Tuesday’s elections, many pollsters cited two major reasons for the GOP’s dismal performance: Trump wasn’t on the ballot and the government shutdown. However, Trump was on the ballot. His poor job performance ratings hung like an albatross around GOP candidates’ necks. This was mostly due to Trump’s failure on promised lower prices and increased…
Untitled
Two little dogs bring eight feet of dirt everywhere they go paws on couches paws on floors dirty noses in the roses dirty tails leave dirty trails fur rolled in leaves leave stems from the trees fur rolled in grass leave green blades en mass two little dogs in the bath innocence with laughing eyes…
