# 360 - June 26th, 2013
Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably
then I shall begin… So where did that come from? I’m talking about the couple
of days of very welcome showers we just experienced. After the driest winter
and spring in living memory (ever?), we get this short outburst at the end of
June. Of course, there is nothing strange about our weather patterns over the
past decade or two - there is no such thing as global warming and any efforts
in the field of climate control are unnecessary…
Obviously
that leads perfectly into your Quotes of the Week, featuring the two sides (?)
of the global warming debate… Let’s start with leading environmental activist,
Al Gore, who reported, “Two thousand scientists, in a hundred countries,
engaged in the most elaborate, well organized scientific collaboration in the
history of humankind, and have produced long-since a consensus that we will
face a string of terrible catastrophes unless we act to prepare ourselves and
deal with the underlying causes of global warming”… And more basically, we have
this from comedian, Dave Barry, “If you asked me to name the three scariest
threats facing the human race, I would give the same answer that most people
would: nuclear war, global warming, and Windows”… More seriously and gloomily,
from Larry Schweiger, President of the National Wildlife Federation, “There
will be no polar ice by 2060...Somewhere along that path, the polar bear drops
out”… And finally from the advocates that global warming really and truly
exists, here’s some wisdom from former U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman, “Today, we
can see with our own eyes what global warming is doing. In that context it
becomes truly irresponsible, if not immoral, for us not to do something”…
On the
other hand, and just to keep a sense of ‘balance’ to this discussion, we have
this from evangelical fundamentalist, Jerry Fulwell, “The whole (global
warming) thing is created to destroy America's free enterprise system and our
economic stability”… And from business magnate and owner of the Miss U.S.A.
pageant, Donald “Nice Hair’ Trump, I present these insightful words, “It’s
freezing outside. So much for all those experts on global warming”… And let’s
finish with a famous piece of gibberish from George W. Bush – “I know the human
being and fish can coexist peacefully”… Does global warming exist as a result
of us humans? Can something be done about it if it does? Make up your own mind…
Onward…
The majority of the 7,000+ visitors to the Valley this past weekend had no
doubt left their encampments on Sunday evening before the rain was to get
‘serious’ – which it still hasn’t as I write on a Monday lunchtime. Meanwhile,
hopefully locals have recovered from ‘The Invasion of the Body Painters,
Whirling Dervishes, and their Loud Music Playing Friends’ that attended
Boonville’s 8th year of hosting the ‘Be-dreaded’ (pun intended)
Sierra Nevada World Music (basically reggae) Festival. The impact on the Valley
seemed to be greater than ever – some of it good, some not so. The biggest
negatives I heard were connected to the shear volume of traffic in and around
downtown Boonville. It started on Thursday evening and by Friday lunchtime
getting across town, all of a mile, took nearly half-an-hour as the hordes
arrived in massive numbers. Parking became a major problem for locals trying to
do go about their business and those not attending the festival wisely stayed
away from town entirely. On the other hand, those locals who went to the event
seem to have a marvelous time and enjoyed the music, the dancing, the wide variety
of foods, and the many interesting sights and sounds that this gathering
provides… For those at home, there was KZYX & Z, our local public radio
station covering the festival live… Well sort of - several breaks in their
audio connection occurred as a result of ‘gremlins’, according to the radio
hosts, and it made for an unsatisfactory listening experience. At least they
tried… According to law enforcement, the event was uneventful in terms of crime
and unsocial behavior and that’s amazing in itself with so many folks in town.
Perhaps they were medicated in some way… Anyway, once again we have experienced
another ‘happening’ that has its supporters and opponents among our local
population and as I’ve said many times – that’s life in the Valley, and we’ll
do it all again next year…
Public
Service Announcements… Calendars and pens at the ready… #413 – The next in the
series of Guest Chef Dinners that take place every two months to benefit the
Senior Center is coming up this weekend. Usually a Friday night event, on this
occasions it is a Saturday - June 29 to be precise, with Happy Hour at 5pm
followed by an Hawaiian-style pig roast cooked and then served by Chris Rossi
and friends at 6pm. Tickets will certainly sell out, if they haven’t already,
so call Gina at 895-3609 to reserve yours… #414 – That same evening, you could
make a wise decision and take a short walk/drive down the street from the Pig
Roast at the Veterans Building for the monthly Sing-along-a-Liddy with Patty
Liddy at Lauren’s Restaurant. That fun time will be starting at 8.30pm and it’s
well worth it… #415 – The Boonville Road Race – which they tell me is
‘Boonville’s finest bike race’ is also on Sat June 29. This is a benefit for
‘Cycked’, the Valley’s ‘premier bike advocacy group, working hard to bring a
30-mile bike path from Boonville to the coast at a cost of over $25,000,000.’ Contact
www.bitehardboonvilleroadrace.com for details… #416 – The annual Boonville Art
Walk returns on the following weekend - Saturday, July 6, from 3pm – 7pm.
Paintings, collages, ceramics, woodwork, jewelry, textile art, and more. Call
895-2204 for details… #417 – That weekend also sees the monthly Barn Sale on
A.V. Way just north of Boonville. That’s Sat/Sun, July 6-7 from 10am to 2pm
each day… #418 – The Vets are not back in the Valley until Thursday, July 11
but will have a full service on that day, featuring house calls in the morning
and all your vet needs from 2pm to 3.30pm in the afternoon at the A.V. Farm
Supply. Call 462-8833 for further details… #419 - Ginger Valen informs me that
she and husband Walt have a new permanent home for their ‘Garden Whimsy Garden
Shop.’ It’s at 13400 Anderson Valley Way at The Little Green Barn; open on
weekends from 10am to 4pm. From Hwy 128 just outside Boonville, look for the
banner on the roof. They specialize in garden sculpture, gate decor, garden
oriented pottery pieces, and handmade and manufactured pots for plants.
Ring the bell at the gate to let them know you've arrived or contact them
at Stoney Bottom Gardens, waldenvalen@pacific.net 707-895-9424…
Nothing
from The Three-Dot Lounge this week – we were closed in order to attend the
music festival. However, from the bird that never sleeps, nor dances to reggae,
The Old Buzzard, comes another in his insightful series – ‘The Approach of the
Apocalypse’… Buzzard reports, “The Graduation Season is at an end and the
school students have departed for a summer of fun and frivolity, and perhaps
even to find time to give a little help to their parents around the house and
in the yard! I attended some part or all of each of the four graduation
ceremonies in the Valley, although there are just two that I personally feel
are really meaningful – the one for the 6th graders moving on to the
‘new world of the big school’, and last Thursday’s ceremony for the high school
seniors. I know I am certainly not alone in thinking this way. I am not against
the pre-school graduation or the 8th grade event as such, each are
lovely occasions, but with four graduations before our students are even
eighteen I feel we somewhat downgrade the significance of the other two
ceremonies – each of which are particularly important watershed moments in a
young person’s life. I could go on, but won’t; after all, the joy on the faces
of every child and parent at all four events was something both very special
and even moving and perhaps this is not, as I have often thought, a sign that
the Apocalypse is fast approaching… After all, I must admit, they even bought a
tear or two to this old curmudgeon’s eyes…”
Well
now I think it’s time to take my leave… So, until we talk again – ‘Keep the
Faith’; be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts; please
remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle; and
may your god go with you… Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”…
Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture
p.s. You can contact me with words of support/abuse
either through the Letters Page or by e-mail at <turkeyvulture1@earthlink.net>
p.p.s. Hi, Silver Swan – behaving yourself? Hopefully
not!
p.p.p.s. Bobwhite Quail - keep up the knitting!
posted by Turkey Vulture @ 8:40 AM
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