IT'S A SIGN!

ROOMS FULL OF EMPTINESS

An article on kptv.com has stated six Oregon Chili's Restaurants will be closed by Tomorrow. Some of them already are.

Brinker International, the parent company of most Chili's restaurants, confirmed the six restaurant closures Tuesday morning. The Clackamas and Eugene locations will remain open under new ownership.

"The time has come, the end is near..."

Lots of people, layfolk and experts, have been saying that with the economy being the way it is, the small businesses will be the first to go. Seems to be a sign to me.

Chili's was also one of the big accounts for the company I used to drive for, Duck Delivery. With their fuel prices driving their bank accounts downward, I would think it is safe to say that they will be getting rid of some folk and driving their prices upward. In otherwords, food prices will start climbing soon, not just via Duck (no Marx Brothers comments, please), but all produce companies will be facing similar challenges.

It would seem to me that more folks will be staying home to eat because that extra money they had for restaurants is being cut into by gas and rising food prices.

This is from an article on katu.com about the closures:

Workers were stunned.

"I was on the schedule for this morning, and I walked up and (the manager) was here and said, 'Nope, they're closed,' " said Jimbo Purcell, a cook.

Are your sphinsters tightening? Keep an eye out, your head up, and find your community. co-King George and King Dick have created quite the interesting mess for us all.

But don't worry, it will only be perpetuated by whatever other king gets elected in this alleged democracy until it all falls down...

I had a friend whose boyfriend worked at the Chili's in Beaverton. This was some 22 years ago. I also had a friend that worked there. I also ate there quite a few times at that time. My friend was also bitten by a dog that was hit by a car in front of that restaurant.

Salmon Resurgence Amongst a Fisheries Collapse!

Imagine my complete fucking surprise when I found an article in today's San Francisco Chronicle by staff writer, Peter Fimrite titled, "Salmon Resurgence in Butte County." What an amazing story.

[from the article]

The number of spawning fish returning from the ocean to Butte Creek increased 10 percent from 2006 to 2007, Harthorn said. By the look of things, he said, even more fish are returning this year.

But the most dramatic resurgence occurred over the past 10 years, when an average of almost 10,000 salmon a year swam back up the creek, according to Harthorn, who co-founded Friends of Butte Creek in 1999 after years battling farming interests and Pacific Gas and Electric over its DeSabla-Centerville plant.

It is a minor miracle that there are any salmon at all wriggling their way up Butte Creek, given that only 14 fish returned to spawn in 1987.

This information leads to many unscientific conclusions:

It should be investigated that it is mostly habitat destruction in rivers and streams and not so much the ocean that has lead to the destruction of the salmon runs. It is well known the quick destruction, reduction, and often complete extinction of salmon in many rivers and streams on the west coast are due directly to dams. Dams divert water, warm water, and create conditions that are unhealthy for salmon. Hydroelectric dams are known to kill thousands of smolts as they head to the sea to spend several years before returning.

Horrific logging practices by, let's use the common clear cutter...Georgia Pacific. The logging practices done by such major corporations to fill the coffers of the already too wealthy often compromise the spawning grounds of salmon with debris that makes it difficult to say the least for salmon to spawn.

Grazing cattle on US Forest Service and BLM land often leads to similar erosions and destruction of spawning grounds.

Fluoride and tailings from aluminum factories, closed or otherwise (mostly closed), have left horrific damage to the habitats of salmon on the West Coast of the United States.

There are also nuclear facilities that have polluted our rivers since the time those horrific monsters have been built.

That said, with some effort on those who love the salmon, they can be saved when such destructions can be controlled. The U.S. government, however, is controlled by the monied classes and the monied classes make their wealth by destruction of the environment. "They make a killing," it could be said.

Since it is obvious that something CAN be done, may we get out there and do something not only about the salmon issue, but about the war issue, the poverty issue, the health issue, the genocide issue, the homophobia issue, the racism issue, etc., etc., etc. It is OBVIOUS that we can, indeed, in the face of monsters and adversity, triumph over them and create a world that is good beyond outselves.

Get out their and do it. I believe in you!

James Hurley

Colette's hosted a fantastic guitar playing story teller, James Hurley, on Saturday. I had forgotten that he was even playing there, and sadly, I had never heard of him.

So...let me tell you a little story:

Shusli and I have knew that Coos Bay is not the place where we will set our roots. But we knew that it would be a jump off point. Things have happened recently that have also strengthened that knowledge in our souls. So, we are reaching our energies out into the world to find that place for us to settle our roots.

To put some cheer into our souls, we decided to go to Colette's and have some beignettes (sp) and coffee before Shusli started her shift at 7pm.

Outside the door to the wonderful little coffee shop was a sign stating that James Hurley would be playing that night. Shusli and I went in and ordered beignettes and some coffee. We were greeted by James who was busy setting up.

Jessica leaned over the counter at one point and asked us if we knew of a cheap place for James to spend the night. Shusli said that we have an extra bed.

I took Shusli to work and I went back to the concert.

James is an amazing musician described as "Americana on the rocks with a twist," I'd have to say that his music is like that. You can't really put a label on it, but there is magic in those fingers and the stories he tells between songs that take you where you need to go. He played a song about called "Mushroom" that is rather eclectic and fun. He also played a song about vampires called appropriately..."The Vampire Song." He has a great voice and is a talented musician that is a MUST SEE when he comes to your town.

After the concert, he and I came to the house and wound up talking until almost midnight. I was shocked to see the time because I had to get up early to pick up Shusli from work.

I picked up Shusli the next morning and when we got home, I made sure James was awake. Having gone through some pretty heavy energy these last couple of days, I had a desire to raise it a bit in the hopes of getting James to play some songs for Shusli before she had to hit the sack.

He was willing, so we had a little mini-JAMES HURLEY concert around our dining room table. James played a rather serendipitous song called "Going Home." It hit Shusli in the right spot and added to the magic that we are creating to find the place to dig in our roots.

James Hurley, amazing musician, amazing human being, a MUST SEE! Visit his website and buy his music.

In Memory of the GREAT U. Utah Phillips!

We lost another good one. U. Utah Phillips passed away of congestive heart failure on Friday, May 23, 2008.

I first heard the name "Utah Phillips" spoken by my dad in the '70's. My dad was a member of the Boiler Makers Union in Portland, Oregon, and occasionally the name "Utah Phillips" woulc come up when he'd sit in the car sharing booze with a fellow union member. I had no idea who this fella was, but I always remembered his name. The name sounded so cool and I wondered for years who he was. I didn't learn about "Utah Phillips" until I was in my early 30's.

KBOO ran his show for a while on Mondays. Damned good show, which is where I first heard the story, "Moose Turd Pie." Funniest fuckin' story I had ever heard. I have included it in this memorial.

GODDAMN IT! WHY COULDN'T THE WHOLE BUSH ADMINISTRATION HAVE BEEN THE ONES! YOU KNOW, THE HORRIFICALLY DESTRUCTIVE AND GENOCIDAL FUCKS!

OK, sorry.

I had always wanted to meet Utah, and missed him by minutes once when he was at KBOO. Then, one day, I'm standing in the hallways of the mighty BOO, when in walks Utah Phillips, plain as day. I walked up to him and shook his hand. I told him I had always wanted to meet him because he was one of my heroes. He was very humble and embarassed by my comment. We wound up talking, he and a few others of us there, for about half an hour or forty-five minutes.

The other day I had to sign an anti-union thing for job prep for the care corporation I will soon be working for. I thought of two things: The UN Declaration of Human Rights, and Utah Phillips.

Well, Utah, I will request of you the same request I put out to all the rest of my buds who have passed on:

PLEASE SEND REINFORCEMENTS! WE NEED TO CHANGE EVERYTHING!

Love ya, Brother. You will be sorely missed.

The World Is Comin' to an End!

LOOK AT ALL THE PRETTY FLOWERS!

Martin Prechtel, a Mayan medicine man, told me one time people are always asking him about the significance of the year 2012. "I say it marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. So how ya doin'? How's the kids?" he says with a big grin and a pat on the back.

As it becomes increasingly clear that the shit is gonna hit the fan pretty damned soon by the looks of things, you might as well get out and enjoy the flowers. They aren't worried about it.

The world is gonna change. If you haven't found your community...you will.

Pudgy Indian note 5-25-08: Martin also said he has no idea what will happen in 2012, either.

Cigar Butts and Fishin' Line

Cigar Butts and Fishin' Line

An Osprey Lites Across the Lake

Countdown: Special Comment

Shusli turned me on to Keith Olbermann ripping co-King George a new asshole. This guy is on MSNBC, thank the gods and godesses. If you don't hear the whole thing, you can go to Truthout.org and find it there.

Gas

As Shusli and I were driving from my CNA class yesterday, she pointed out that gas prices here in Coos Bay have increased to over $4 a gallon. Some places are at $4.05, the lowest we saw were $3.97. She was wondering what gas prices were six months ago. So I looked up on a website called Portland Gas Prices and found the six month average. In February of '08 gas prices were at $2.85 on the average in Portland. Today, they are $3.87. That is an increase of $1.02 per gallon in a period of about 3 and a half months. If things continue as they are, gas prices should be at $5 or more a gallon by the end of summer.

I have heard that small businesses are folding now. I haven't read any reports, however. When I left "Duck," their fuel bill went up $80,000 in one year. That is a big hunka change. Truckers on May 1st set up a big strike considering independents are going to go out of business. I don't know how many businesses depend on independent truckers, but if they go out of business because of fuel prices, that means shipping will go sky high and will definitely factor into inflation. With the collapse of the dollar, the collapse of the housing market, the banking crisis, two multi-billion dollar wars, small businesses starting to fold, an impending war with Iran which will again cost billions and billions of dollars, I'd say we live in interesting times.

Shusli stated it very well yesterday as we drove along seeing the gas prices hiked so high (diesel was about $5 a gallon at a few stations): "This is exciting and scary at the same time."

Shusli also mentioned that Airlines, besides some of them already collapsing, are cutting flights because of the high cost of fuel.

The message that comes to me was felt by us all at the salmon bake. We need each other. We depend on each other to survive. Find your community.

Salmon Bake 2008

Shusli has an excellent entry on her blog about the Salmon Fest. Check it out.

Gilbert Towner and Aggie Pilgrim. Not only are they elders, but troublemakers as well.

Speedy and Joey breaking ground.

Aggie watching Shusli prep the frybread.

Dawn and Shusli cooking frybread.

Speedy Fry the salmon cook, and Shusli's dad.

Fire to Ash so the Phoenix may rise!

Sammie and Speedy cooking salmon.

Bev and Joey skewering salmon to be cooked.

Peggy O'neill and Gilbert probably talking art.

Larry and Rick Cook.

Singers, young and old.

Pounding it out!

Almost done!

Silver as the crest of ocean waves

Our relations giving their lives so we may live in the spirit of them our ancestors and ancestors yet to come!

Elders can be so funny!

Rick Cook, one of the founders of this particular salmon bake.

"WE'RE HUNGRY! HURRY UP AND SHUT UP SO WE CAN EAT!"

al-Nakba

Palestinians call it "al-Nakba." Israeli's call it their 60th birthday.

NEVER IN A FAIR FIGHT!

"The Catastrophe", as the Palestinians call it, can be easily compared to Krystallnacht, or The Night of Broken Glass, enacted by the Nazi's against the Jews.

"In May 1948 most of its citizens fled the city in terror. In just a few days a community of 120,000 people was reduced to fewer than 4,000 as an almost undefended population fled the forces of the Zionist movement which were fighting to establish the state of Israel."
--al Jazeera

Columbus slaughtered millions of Indians and is celebrated as a great founder of this nation. The "Founding Fathers" of the U.S. are constantly called great people when each and everyone of them was guilty of genocide against the Indians (and so many other crimes against humanity).

When are we going to stop honoring and celebrating horrific crimes that benefit the few at the expense of the many and often enacting cases of crimes against humanity and genocide.

Mmmm! NEVER!

Like so many folks have enjoyed telling the folks who were damaged by the crimes that they benefit so greatly from, I guess we should just get over it.

Beautiful Work

In actuality, I have to tell you, health care is beautiful work. The industry is criminal. Honestly, I will not give it up, but it is so crazy and insane to me that Americans have NO DESIRE to improve their health care coverage. It is unimaginable to me, but there you go, like Shusli tells me, just stop putting my energy into such an idea because it is NOT going to happen in the United States, and it is so true.

But I must tell you, the folks in the care center are so amazing. These folks are so cool. I wish you could meet them. I used to be scared of these folks when younger. They were the discarded ones. They were the ones whose suffering I was probably feared would rub off on me. But I'm tellin' ya, there is nothing, no job I have ever had, no work I have ever done, that has been rewarding as this. It does come with its drawbacks and with the U.S. doing all it can to nail folks feet to the floor, folks pull through and this is a gift.

But, again, let me point something out that I will beat you all over the head again and again. I've heard so often how folks hate welfare queens and don't want folks to get something for nothing. You all continue to allow and not speak out about the fact that Alan Schwartz received $30,000,000,000 in our tax payer dollars (the money that comes out of your paycheck and goes to the federal government), but will continue to speak out about how welfare queens want to get something for nothing. You all don't even talk about universal health care. And don't forget, many of the congress folks were big investors in Alan Schwartz's failed corporation, Bear Stearns, and therefore have what is called a "conflict of interest." But let's not talk about those things.

SiCKO 2

In my sociology class yesterday, we talked about health care in America and watched the movie "SiCKO" by Michael Moore. Despite Mike's theatrics and such, it is an excellent film about what health care is like in this nation.

People with insurance can't get adequate health care. Why? Because the health care system is not set up to keep Americans healthy, it is set up to make a handful of heartless fucking assholes a whole lotta money. The way these assholes (HMO corporate CEO's and board members, pharmaceutical companies and the like) make there money is not by making Americans healthy, but by making sure that people in need of health care don't receive any. That way the money can go to CEO's and 0ther corporate executives while American folks suffer and often die because of their decisions.

I tell Shusli that I don't understand why folks don't hit the streets. She tells me not to even think about it. Americans will never hit the streets. She didn't say it, but my reasoning is that Americans are taught in public education to SUBMIT TO AUTHORITY. More than anything that is what Americans are taught and therefore do. Read "Walking on Water" by Derrick Jensen or anything by John Taylor Gatto. As well, you're average American is blissfully and willfully ignorant.

Besides, big pharma's and HMO's are part owners in the U.S. government. The U.S. government is the ultimate authority, so the American populace will never stand up to them like they should to create the changes that need to be created to make this a healthy country with a healthy population. Americans are stupid.

Here I am, becoming a participant in this form of health care. Part of the CNA course involves the economics of the folks who reside in the care facilities which I'm told Medicair only pays for 90 days. If these folks own homes, guess what, their homes get sold and the money goes to keeping them in the facitility should they need continued care which most do in these types of centers. I am a participant in that.

I want to be a nurse, which I am having second thoughts about. SiCKO is part of the reason, the U.S. health care is part of the reason, wanting mobility is part of the reason, the fact that I will be working part time for at least three years and barely contributing is part of the reason, etc. Education is not free in this nation either. It will cost me at least a lot of stress in begging assholes to let me have grants and money in order to go to school to become a nurse which I would be very good at. So...I wish to make an appeal...

Dear France,

Shusli is already a trained nurse. She is an RN. She would be quite handy in helping maintain the health of your folks.

I am training to be a Certified Nurses Assistant. Should we be invited to live in your country, I could take advantage of your free education and become a nurse as well and help take care of your folks.

You have a lovely language and I certainly appreciate the romance in the air I see in the photographs of the folks of your nation. Shusli and I would be willing to learn your language and participate in your romantic culture should we be invited to live in your nation.

With Love and Respect

more later, REVOLUTION NOW!

Eugene Johnson

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RACHEL!

Yesterday, Shuli's daughter Rachel turned 22.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACHEL!

That was some damned good cake, too!

Playing With Black and White

"Walking on Water: Reading, Writing, and Revolution" is a book about writing classes Derrick Jensen gave in colleges and prisons.

But "Walking on Water" also focuses on education. Derrick asserts that education is designed to teach us to submit to authority, ESPECIALLY public education. He writes near the end of the book that he gave a writing workshop that took place in a middle school. The first sign he reads on the classroom wall is, "This is not Burger King, you cannot have it your way." There were all sorts of signs reminding students that they must submit or be punished. No wonder there are never folks in the streets struggling for universal health care, stopping genocide, free higher education, etc.

John Taylor Gatto talks about the 7 seven lesson school teacher. The seven things your average teacher educates our children on, according to John, is:

1) confusion
2) class position
3) indifference
4) emotional dependency
5) intellectual dependency
6) provisional self-esteem
7) one can't hide

I don't see the three R's nor do I see critical thinking or thinking in any form. The seven lesson school teacher's seven lessons teach the most important lesson of all, submit to authority.

In "Walking on Water," Derrick also points out that the American education system helps teach us to submit to the fact that our world is being destroyed by corporate owned civilization. Having been taught to submit, which means we must believe in superiors (those who have power over others), civilization is seen as a superior way of life. So there is little REAL concern for the devastation caused by civilization as many people have been taught not to think. (Derrick asks his college class at one point, "How many of you hate thinking?" One third of the classroom raises their hands.) People, in being taught to submit to authority throughout their educational careers, are busy waiting for leaders to take them away from the bullshit, if they are capable of seeing the bullshit civilization provides, and don't look to the leader within because they've been taught their is no leader within. Like Barbie says in the joke, "Thinking makes my head hurt."

Unlike Derrick's other works, though (usually gloom and doom), this has to be the most inspirational book of his I've read! It is sometimes inspirational for folks to read gloom and doom because they are not taught reality in school or on TV or in the news. They have to search it out. "Walking on Water" is inspirational to me because he has taught these folks to find out who they are, reminded them of their creativity and ways to perfect it, encouraged and cheer leaded these folks into becoming thinking and effective human beings in the world.

The neocons have changed the world for the worst, we can change it for the better. We outnumber them. I realized that the biggest reason I could never get folks organized to struggle for change in this nation and the world is because they've BEEN TAUGHT they have no power. In "Walking on Water," Derrick reminds his students they do indeed have power, have the right to think, and don't have to submit to authority.

Let's hear it for Derrick Jensen! [APPLAUSE]

"Crescent"

I refill my coffee cup before anyone can read the grounds...ej
.......

"Crescent," by Diana Abu-Jaber, is a work of art.

Maybe that was her in the scarf and sun glasses heading into the Coos County library as I left on May 3rd. I was hoping to get her to sign "Crescent" and "Arabian Jazz" which I had checked out at North Bend Library when I saw that she was coming to town. Coos Bay, of all places. Although I still have a tough time imagining it, there actually does seem to be something of a worldly culture to this place. At least one that is being given birth.

My wife informed me of a surprise, however, when she got home at 8am from work. Shusli wanted to take me to see John Trudell in Eugene. We were to start getting ready about 2pm. Diana was to be reading at the Coos Bay Library at 2pm. For somereason Shusli thought Diana's reading was at noon and thought it would all work out without complication. I was hoping to see Diana before hand and get her to sign the books for the library, a kind of a surprise that people could see when they checked out her excellent novels. As 10 minutes before 2pm approached, I had to leave and saw whom I believe was Diana. Other things called for my attention, like the sweetness I had to awake from dreams at home and get ourselves ready for our forthcoming journey.
........

My wife and I went to Empire Cafe last night, May 9th, and had dessert to express our Love for each other as it has been two years and a day since we actually got together (now two years and two days). Shusli is reminded of Portland inside this restaurant. Pix Patissierie is what comes to mind for the both of us. The food is beautifully presented and the deserts we enjoy are the finest in town, no doubt. Chocolate cake with blackberry mousse between the layers. Huckleberry Trifle which delights us with memories of Shusli's jam, much given away at our wedding. Oh my goodness, as far as tasty treats go, nothing has ever topped the flavor of Shusli's sweet jam as it would swirl in my mouth and make me think of Indian Heaven. "This side for Indians to only" or something like that, the sign says on the side of the road. The boundary created by a handshake that guarantees Indians their right to this sacred food. All of that and so much more in a little spoonful of Huckleberry Trifle at the Empire Cafe. The owner, Amanda, Shusli strikes up a conversation with as she pays our bill and buys a loaf of "rosemary sourdough." Amanda, too, mentions how Coos Bay seemed like a cultural dead zone five years ago when she arrived from California. Coos Bay seems to come to life, though, with such a restaurant and such an artist as Diana Abu Jaber having come to town.
.......

Diana Abu-Jaber (seen here with her father) came here to read from her new book, "Origin," of which I have not had the pleasure to read yet. But I just finished "Crescent" minutes ago. The tears and passion and beauty of the whole novel. Diana is one of the most excellent writers whose descriptions of lands and scents makes one ache for the beauty of where we come from...where we belong.

"Crescent" is a Love story between an American/Arab woman and an immigrant professor from Baghdad, Iraq. A Love that aches with such beauty, a beauty we all yearn for, or, at least in my opinion, should yearn for. That Love that makes you ache deep in the belly, heart, and soul. A Love that aches for the taste of Huckleberries and dried salmon. An ache like that which I feel for Shusli every time her beauty reaches into my soul and pulls at the best parts of me I want to deny exist.

The book has been banned in Texas. Nothing says GREAT NOVEL like a novel banned in Texas.

I rarely read fiction anymore. My nose is stuck in textbooks now and news off of the internet. But there is a lull as I do my clinicals for my Nursising Assistant certification. There is the timing of Diana's visit. But Shusli, my sweet, borrowed my attention to go visit a hero of ours and fellow human being, John Trudell. I have no regrets at this decision, but I do regret not having yet met Diana. Key word..."yet."

"Crescent" is about Love, and food, and life, and oh, how "Crescent" made me miss "Hoda's" on 34th and Belmont. The wonderful bread they would bring to our tables hot and ready to eat. The lamb. How Hoda would come to ones table even without knowing you and let you know that in his restaurant you were his friend. We have a restaurant here called "Mediterranean Cafe," and they make excellent food, but Hoda's... Honestly, I would have never thought that North Bend would host a Middle Eastern reastaurant. What a pleasant surprise!

Diana is such an excellent writer that I'm sure I could now talk my wife, Shusli, into walking from here straight to Indian Heaven in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and we could sit amongst the Huckleberry bushes and watch the blossoms turn to fruit, black and purprle against the blue skies and the peaks of Pahto (Mt. Adams) and Sleeping Beauty.

I have been told that "Origin" is also an excellent book by a friend who has read and interviewed more authors than I can imagine. "Origin" is what had brought Diana to the tiny podunk town of Coos Bay.

My favorite part of "Crescent," which you can read through the pages of scents and flavors yourself before coming to the passage, is how Hanif describes his life in Baghdad with a Love and longing that I have only witnessed in one person. I married that person. Shusli, I have seen in her eyes the desire and Love for the Rogue River (where she and her people are from) that Hanif describes of Baghdad. That ache, that beauty, that desire. She has even recently described that desire for the Columbia River. East, of course, and away from Portland, near the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, near Indian Heaven, near where my grandmother's folks came from (at least half of her folks). Our hearts both yearn for one place or the other. For beginnings and ends of our story that has no beginning or end.

Like the story Sirine's Uncle tells throughout "Crescent" of Abdelrahman Salahadin. Our story has no beginning and no end like that of Abdelrahman Salahadin. Many of you know who Abdelrahman is... The name we know him by is...

Oh...wait...I have drank all of my coffee and must refill my cup before someone tries to see my future. I like seeing my future, but sometimes...I really like the mystery, too.