Thanks for jumping in on this Zoom meeting. As you all know from the 16 meetings it took to get to this meeting, consulting on increasing vaccine uptake in the face of disinformation, conspiracy theories and general quackery is a plum gig for us. So keep in mind this is a brainstorming session and there […]
satire
Posted inLetters + Opinion
Dead Blonde
“You found me!” He did not look happy to have found me, which I thought was strange. He was looking for me, wasn’t he? Isn’t that why he was here, in the brushy highway median, with a shovel in one hand and a USB microphone in the other? Wasn’t searching for my body the point […]
Posted inNews
NCJ Preview: Enterprise, Burgers, Place Names and Etiquette
This week we’re looking at the future of the Ferndale Enterprise, newly purchased by North Coast Journal Inc. And it’s Burger Week, so we’re sharing what’s whetting our appetites and whether you can eat 28 burgers in 10 days. Good luck, friends. We’ll take a look at the effort to rename Patrick’s Point, its fraught […]
Posted inNews
NCJ Preview: Drought, Humboldt’s High COVID Numbers and Monster Advice
This week we’re looking at how historic drought conditions are hitting the state and our county, and what it means for fires, salmon and daily life for residents amid what may be our new climate normal. And how did Humboldt wind up with the state’s worst COVID-19 numbers? And how can we turn it around? […]
Posted inNews
NCJ Preview: A Cannabis Con Uncovered, Infusion Fails and Wishful Strains
In a roundup of our annual Cannabis Issue, we’ve got the story of how Rohnert Park police got busted for allegedly making shady pot busts, taking cash and weed for themselves, then trying to cover it up. We’ve also got the hilarious cautionary tale of a writer who tried to infuse homemade mozzarella and a […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
Cannabis Strains We Need in 2021
Six-foot Skunk Whoa, there. Are people getting a little lax with social distance after a year? This heavy diesel, extra stinky bud is bred with skunk cabbage genetics and raised in a compost of teenage boys’ socks and a mystery compound found in a Tupperware in the back of the break room fridge at our […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
Self-care Gift Ideas
Well, here we are again, on the cusp of Christmas and Kwanzaa, and nearly burned through those Hanukkah candles, and yet some of us are still chipping away at our holiday shopping lists. Or, you know, staring at them like we’ve been struck with a paralyzing blow-dart, waiting for any scrap of meaning to spontaneously […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
Haunted House 2020
In the darkness, a whisper like a branch scratching a windowpane: “Get out.” “Who’s there? What are you doing in my house?” “Get out … leave this place.” “How did you get in — did you wash your hands?” “I don’t — get out! You are not welcome here!“ “I know this isn’t a gentrification […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
The Cat Would Like You to Return to Work
Oh, hey. Did I wake you by running full bore through the living room and leaping up the couch arm onto your head? Well, now that you’re up, let’s talk. First of all, it’s four o’clock in the afternoon. Not only are you here but you’re napping. In my 4 p.m. spot. And it’s weird. […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
COVID-19: An FAQ for Asian Americans
Greetings, fellow Asian Americans! While we prefer to discuss community issues at our secret monthly meetings, where we tackle such topics as whether it’s time to reclaim Tiger Woods or if we should tell people what their Chinese tattoos really mean, the issues surrounding COVID-19 (aka coronavirus 2019) are urgent. Asian Americans are going through […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
Welcome to the Launch of MDVL
Hello and welcome! Thanks so much for joining me here in this muddy field for the launch of MDVL. I’m sure some of you rolled your eyes when you got our press release — another wellness site! And I’m the first to admit the industry is crowded to the point of collapse, with gurus and […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
Happy Holidays from the O’Briens!
Dear Friends and Family, Once again it’s that time of year when I curl up with a glass of eggnog in front of the fire and share what our family has been up to. I know plenty of folks are keeping up with each other on Facebook and Instagram, but it just isn’t Christmas unless […]