Cover Story
No Kings II
Humboldt speaks up and packs the block From Germany to Ireland, Canada to Mexico, New York City to Eureka, nearly 7 million people in the U.S. and worldwide took to the streets on Oct. 18 to speak their minds about fascism and to embolden communal support at the No Kings II demonstration. Here on the…
Trump and ‘The Sopranos’
Editor: The conventional wisdom is that “The Celebrity Apprentice” got Trump elected because all the super dumb voters believed he really was the forceful and decisive businessman he played on the show, and their votes were enough, in combination with those of all the saps who thought it was their taxes that would get cut,…
‘Healing and Recovery’
Humboldt County receiving significant expansions to crisis stabilization services State Sen. Mike McGuire visited the Eureka Veterans Memorial Hall on Monday to announce a significant expansion of mental health and addiction services in Humboldt County, with the last three years seeing $70 million invested in several projects, adding 101 new beds to crisis stabilization programs…
A Visitor and the Zoo’s Three Bears
With the Sequoia Park Zoo tucked up against the backdrop of a redwood forest expanse, it’s not unusual for neighboring wildlife — from skunks and opossums to racoons — to make an appearance. But Oct. 17 marked the first time an unexpected visitor of an Ursid kind found its way on to the grounds, seemingly…
The Twilight Zone
“Although it might feel as though you are quite still at the moment, you’re actually moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You’ve just crossed over into … the Twilight Zone.” Those words, grabbed from one of the variations of introductions into the old TV show from which this…
Rocky Horror’s New Thrust
The Rocky Horror Show is an iconic cult classic that manages to bend theater norms and create a pearl-clutching experience for staunch and pedigreed theaterists with the level of debauchery its script unabashedly offers. In its 50th year, productions of this scrappy “don’t like it? don’t care” musical often try to mimic the movie in visuals, concepts and characterizations with varying degrees of success. Not being a fan of cookie-cutter theater, nor lazy recycled…
Play Dirty and Shane Black’s Comeback
PLAY DIRTY. Sometimes (often? always?) the thing that suits is a rollicking actioner in the classical mode. Something with gunfights and car chases and heists and revenge, hopefully a soupçon of dark humor and sex appeal, maybe even set at Christmastime — a Shane Black movie, in other words. Black, to use the Wayback Machine,…
This Paper is Anti-Fascist
A few years ago, this would have been neither controversial nor necessary to say. But here we are. The fascist tenets of nationalism and racial superiority, the crushing of individual rights and freedoms, and the suppression of dissenting voices through intimidation and force are in absolute opposition to the mission of journalism. That they directly…
‘Literal Eyesores’
Editor: Re: Protecting the Night (Oct. 16), I’m thankful that our county now has a lighting ordinance, and am as puzzled as Supervisor Arroyo, who said, “… I’m frankly surprised that anyone voted against it.” As an early morning boardwalk stroller, my particular concern is for Humboldt Bay adjacent to Old Town Eureka. I see…
Peaceful Protest
Editor: Thanks to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office deputies for their presence on Saturday, Oct. 18, protecting the peaceful No Kings demonstration. It was very comforting to see them present to protect the peaceful crowd. Stay safe y’all. Suzanne Hart, Eureka
League of Women Voters on Prop. 50
Editor: The League of Women Voters of California (LWVC) has taken a neutral stance on Proposition 50, the Election Rigging Response Act, which will appear on the November ballot. As a nonpartisan organization, the league remains committed to empowering voters and defending democracy without aligning with political parties or candidates. While California’s redistricting process differs…
Voting Yes on Prop. 50
Editor: Yes on 50. Gerrymandering is not good, but we have been forced to think strategically in our battle for the future. Prop 50 is temporary. Prop 50 directs the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to resume enacting congressional district maps in 2031, after the 2030 census. That is the normal time to redraw districts. The…
‘The Stakes Could Not Be Higher’
Editor: Congress has failed in its constitutional duty to serve as a check on executive power. Instead of defending its authority, it has surrendered it. This abdication has left the balance of power dangerously tilted, undermining the very system of government the founders designed. Lower courts have attempted to push back against these overreaches, but…
Tears in Rain: Musings on Memory
“I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.” — Roy Batty’s last words, Blade Runner Or is it “tears in the rain?”Cinephiles…
Limerick
How fungi eat wood leaves me flummoxed. I fear some may think I’m a lummox. White fungi gets chunky, as downed logs gets punky. But how do they eat with no stomachs? — Mary Thibodeaux Lentz
