During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. - George Orwell

Freedom of expression and freedom of speech aren't really important unless they're heard...It's hard for me to stay silent when I keep hearing that peace is only attainable through war. And there's nothing more scary than watching ignorance in action. So I dedicated this Emmy to all the people who feel compelled to speak out and not afraid to speak to power and won't shut up and refuse to be silenced. - Tommy Smothers

Testing - Seismic Data On/Off Line - Testing
Amateur Radio Public Seismic Network

[Note: '2 Hz' '2 Pole' Low-pass filters have been added to ARPSN-1 (L15B sensors), which eliminate noise on heliplots.

Trace lines will remain flat until a local >= 2.0 magnitude earthquake occurs. Flat red traces represent less than 2.0 magnitude.

From now on heliplots will appear different. The above image (at bottom) is an example of a new heliplot, where one will see a red vertical spike that occurred at: 19:54.27 local time, 02:54.27 UTC - Start Date: 10/11/08.

The below WinSDR image (normally located at bottom of weather pictures) corresponds with above heliplot, showing the original 2.3 magnitude data trace received here, which is larger than the heliplot image. [Green traces represent OFF-LINE.]

The vertical spike represents a 2.3 Magnitude earthquake at "The Geysers" and appears on this USGS list:

http://quake.usgs.gov/recenteqs/Quakes/quakes0_fault.htm

on this map:

http://quake.usgs.gov/recenteqs/FaultMaps/123-39.htm

USA list:

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsus/Quakes/quakes_all.php

World list:

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.php

ARPSN-1 Alerts are intended to begin at >= 5.0 magnitude in our (as of now, undefined) local area and the 'yet to be installed' sensors will cover teleseismic and LFE (low-frequency earthquake) events.]

More information located:
Progress Log Updated -- View Heliplots -- Seismic Shed Re-Construction

How's the Weather?

Click above image for large picture. Top portion is local weather and bottom portion is recent seismic activity. UTC time noted on left. GPS date, with UTC and PDT time located lower left corner.

AT&T SPIES & LIES
[4th Amendment Rapist]
AT&T Issues New Customer Contract

If you do not respond by November 03, 2008, it means YOU ACCEPT their conditions; including:

"NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT LIMITS OUR LIABILITY, IF ANY, FOR OUR WILLFUL OR INTENTIONAL MISCONDUCT," - "WE WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES"

"I'm Bill Kurtis, and I've just found the Internet."

Bravo Sierra! There is NO 3G or Wireless on
Cobb Mountain, California except for... [list elided at this time]

AT&T, if you're going to Spy on U.S. Citizens, give Everybody Fast Internet!

Nobody says, AT&T Exhibits Prejudice Against Poor Sparsely Populated Rural Areas - Nobody has all the answers!

For seventeen years we have been on a lousy dial-up line that gets so much static during the winter it makes Internet unbearable and on several occasions money was lost (Act of God, Bravo Sierra) because the phone cut out during trading.

For years I have continually and politely asked for some sort of Internet improvement, but it appears AT&T is prejudice against poor, sparsely populated, rural areas.

If AT&T can not profit off an area, they will ignore the people of that area, and their bed partner, P.U.C. is a complete waste of time (Investigate the P.U.C.!).

AT&T knowingly broke the 4th Amendment when they spied on U.S. citizens! Here is the reminder:

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

http://www.flyingsnail.com/CASHCPR/index.html

Justice Department Moving to Immunize Snooping Telcos

By David Kravets

Two months ago, President Bush won congressional approval to immunize the nation's telecommunications companies from lawsuits accusing them of helping Bush funnel Americans' electronic communications to the National Security Agency without warrants -- all in the name of national security following the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

But the telecoms, facing 36 lawsuits commingled as one in a San Francisco federal court, still haven't been granted immunity in the lawsuits alleging they breached their customers' Fourth Amendment right to privacy. On Friday, however, Justice Department special counsel Anthony Coppolino said the government would comply with the immunity bill's procedural hurdles by Sept. 19 to seek blanket immunity on behalf of the companies. [Continue Reading]

Congressman Dennis Kucinich Is A Good Man
The Campaign of Lies and Smears Against Kucinich

Dear Friend,

Immigration and Healthcare are serious matters. That's why the Republican smear machine is going into overdrive to misrepresent the facts and mislead voters about Congressman Dennis Kucinich's record. Read this and know why this election is important for Ohio and America, and arm yourself with the facts to expose Republican falsehoods and fiction which are being circulated in printed literature in Ohio's 10th Congressional District.

FICTION: Republicans say "Kucinich voted against Children's Health Insurance Program (S-Chip) because it did not cover children of illegal immigrants."

FACT: Dennis stood up for the children of LEGAL immigrants. Dennis voted against one version of the S-CHIP bill specifically because it did not cover the children of LEGAL immigrants. He stood up and spoke out strongly to protect the health care of more than 400,000 children in America who were ignored and excluded from coverage in the bill. Dennis comes from Ohio's 10th District, a community of many immigrant peoples.

FICTION: Republicans say "Kucinich voted against prescription drugs benefits for seniors."

FACT: Dennis took on Big Pharma. Dennis voted against the notorious Medicare Part D which passed by a single vote and took cost controls off the big drug companies. He voted against giving them multi-billion dollar windfall profits.

FACT: Dennis Takes on the Insurance Companies. Dennis is the author of the MEDS Act which would provide senior citizens with a full prescription drug benefit, cost-free under Medicare. Dennis is also the co-author and the driving force nationally for HR 676, Medicare for All. It is a single-payer system that covers all medically necessary services for all Americans.

Currently, $2.4 trillion is spent each year for "health care." But 1 out of every 3 dollars ($800 billion annually) goes for the activities of the private insurance 'industry' such as corporate profits, stock options, executive salaries, advertising, marketing, cost of paperwork, etc.), rather than actual health care services. Dennis'
bill, drafted with Congressman John Conyers, reallocates that wasted $800 billion to pay for medical care and services for people who need them.

These lies against Dennis on immigration and health care are coming from the very same person who, as chairman of the GOP in Ohio's largest county, collaborated with Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell to suppress the Democratic vote in 2004, which enabled George Bush to win Ohio and the election! Now he is trying to suppress votes for Dennis by manipulating voters with a campaign of lies and smears.

Re-Elect Congressman Kucinich Committee - P.O. Box 110475 - Cleveland, OH 44111
http://www.kucinich.us/ - Support Article - My Name Is Karl Rove, and I've Got A Secret! - and this one.

(sigh) I Win !!! (sigh)

Nine years ago, today, Dahbud starting posting on this page and his first comment was, "It's Not About Who Becomes President, It's about who Selects Supreme Court Justices," ...and we all (Flying Snail Readers) know what happened after that.

Based on time and agreement, I get my main page back, without argument, and politics becomes history; except for "None of the Above" on voter ballots. - Hire a Ribbon Cutter! ~@~

P.S. Dahbud asks that visitors enter "October Surprise" in the "Search FlyingSnail" box on the right side of this page and press "Enter/Return".

Harmonic Convergence
[To be added to Remnant of Paradise]

The Harmonic Convergence is the name given to a world-wide esoteric-religious event which took place on August 16 and August 17, 1987. The event was centered on a number of "sacred" places throughout the world from Stonehendge to the Golden Gate Bridge where individuals calling themselves "light beings" gathered in an attempt to usher in a new era.

The date of the Harmonic Convegence was based to some extent on the Mayan Calendar with some consideration also given to European and Asian astrological traditions. The chosen dates have the distincition of marking an alignment of the planets of the solar system.

The Harmonic Convergence was a global awakening to love and unity through divine transformation and divine channeling of sacred information. One of the principal organizers of the Harmonic Convergence event was the academic and author Jose Arguelles. According to his interpretation of Maya cosmology, the selected date marked the end of twenty-two cycles of 52 years each, or 1144 years in all. The twenty-two cycles were divided into thirteen "heaven" cycles, which began in AD 843 and ended in 1519, when the nine "hell" cycles began, ending 468 years later in AD 1987.

According to Arguelles, the event came at the end of these "hell" cycles and the beginning of a new age of universal peace. Adherents believed that signs indicated a "major energy shift" was about to occur, a turning point in Earth's collective karma and dharma, and that this energy was powerful enough to change the global perspective of man from one of conflict to one of co-operation. Actress and author Shirley MacLaine called it a "window of light", allowing access to higher realms of awareness.

According to Arguelles and others, the Harmonic Convergence also began the final 26-year countdown to the end of the Mayan Long Count in 2012, which would be the "end of history" and the beginning of a new 5,125-year cycle. All the evils of the modern world—war, materialism, violence, abuses, unjustice, governmental abusive of power, etc.—would end with the birth of the 6th Sun and the 5th Earth on December 21, 2012. - Wikipedia

[Note]: I have a 'hobby' interest in time and noted several occasions where "time lines" were 'off' or had been manipulated to correspond with 'lines of thought'. Some of these 'lines' have been corrected, but not all of them and it may be worthwhile to know my mentor was the person who specialized (for 30 +/- years) in correcting time lines for "mini ice ages" and a brilliant E.E., with a similar electronic/computer background as mine.

Point: The "Convergence" may have happened, or not, and may be plus or minus accepted time. (imo) The math is off and there is not enough data for prediction.

Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it. - George Santayana

DMAE [Dimethylaminoethanol] a.k.a. Deaner

To A Higher Power

Given the ever-increasing pressures to achieve in modern society [or a Debate?], it was only natural that a compound long used to treat brain dysfunction and memory disorders would be explored for its potential use as a memory enhancer and brain “booster.”

Research has shown that DMAE’s cholinergic effects help produce brain chemicals such as acetylcholine that are necessary for mental sharpness. Some individuals accordingly report that DMAE supplementation causes a noticeable boost in their ability to concentrate. DMAE users also routinely report better memory (especially short-term memory), as well as improved focus, mental clarity, and sleep patterns, all of which may be particularly valuable for those who work in high-pressure or deadline-oriented environments [Continue Reading]. - Wikipedia

The Winner at Dog Obedience School

Oct. 8, 1582: Nothing Happens ... in Catholic Lands

By Randy Alfred - wired.com

1582: Nobody does anything, anything at all. In fact, nobody does anything whatsoever between Oct. 4 and Oct. 15, 1582, because the 10 intervening days have simply been declared out of existence by the pope. (This offer may not apply outside Italy, Spain and Portugal.)

Where did those days go?

By the mid-1570s, the Julian Calendar established in 45 B.C. was 10 days behind the real seasons of the year. The spring equinox was actually occurring on March 12 or thereabouts, and Easter (set by a formula based on an arbitrary March 22 equinox date) was falling too late in the real springtime.

All this happened because the Earth year is about 11 minutes short of the 3651⁄4 days set by Julius Caesar. It's really 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 46 seconds. If the drift kept up, Easter would eventually have been observed in the summer, and Christmas in the spring.

So Pope Gregory XIII appointed a commission to tweak the Julian Calendar. Under the leadership of physician Aloysius Lilius and Jesuit astronomer Christopher Clavius, the commission consulted with scientists and clergy. After wrestling with various ideas for half a decade, the commission proposed eliminating three leap years in every 400 (years ending in 00, unless they are divisible by 400).

That would prevent further creep of the calendar against the seasons (except for a minuscule under-correction). But resetting the calendar so the equinox would come in late March needed a more drastic solution: 10 days would have to be skipped, erased, eradicated, obliterated, wiped out of existence. [Continue Reading]

"The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth becomes the greatest enemy of the State." Dr. Joseph M. Goebbels

When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the American flag and carrying a cross. - Sinclair Lewis

ACORN Raid:
Reflects GOP Anger at Voter Registration Drive

By Daphne Eviatar

Yesterday’s raid on Nevada offices of ACORN reflects the increasingly aggressive Republican attempts to derail voter registration efforts among poor and minority voters.

As The Washington Post reported, the Nevada chapter of the Assn. of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN, had planned a potluck dinner at its Las Vegas office Tuesday night to celebrate the 80,000 newly registered voters its staff had signed up in Clark County.

Before that dinner could start, however, Nevada officials raided the ACORN office, removing 20 boxes of documents and eight computer hard drives. The state officials claimed that workers for the community-organizing group, who are paid by the hour, had submitted almost 300 voter registration cards that included names and addresses that don’t exist in Nevada, or are duplicates of previous registrations. [Continue Reading]

Steal Back Your Vote!

By Greg Palast

Bobby Kennedy Jr. and I have had it UP TO HERE. They stole 2000 They stole 2004. Now, they're snatching it again. So Bobby and I are doing the most important thing we can do in a crisis of democracy: write an investigative comic book.

Here it is: Steal Back Your Vote is out today. Download it right now

http://www.stealbackyourvote.org/ at StealBackYourVote.ORG

Its 24 full-color pages cut open the Rove-arian cancer on our ballot box:

The Six Ways They're Stealing Your Vote - plus a two-page pull-out guide - 7 Ways to Steal it Back.

Print it out. Pass it out. Right now.

Illustrations from the rapier-sharp pencils of Ted Rall, Troubletown's Lloyd Dangle and Lukas Ketner.

Nobody's

Alternatives for the Presidential Election

Statistics show an increase in Voter Apathy. Perhaps it is time to consider alternatives to the Presidential Election?

(1) - Put "None of the Above" on voter ballots.

(2) - Change requirements for President.

(a) Require prospective candidates to take an extremely hard civil service exam.

(b) Top 100 scores of exam move on to participate in "Prezolympics".

(c) Top 10 winners from Olympics become candidates and are entitled to campaign.

(d) Winner of the election becomes President.

(e) ...and Gets a device implanted in their brain that explodes if they tell a lie.

(3) - Eliminate office of President and hire a Ribbon Cutter.

(a) Money saved on elections is used to pay off the national debt.

(4) - Declare election day a holiday.

(5) - Tie election participation to jury duty

(a) Let ONLY those who can vote but don't, be placed on the jury rolls.

http://www.nobodyforpresident.org/alter.html

TONIGHT - Lake County Blues Allstars - 6:30-9:30 PM

Wellman Moody, Contributing writer - P. O. Box 2094 - Clearlake, CA 95422 - tel/fax 707-277-7912

September 27, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Blues Allstars to play at Saw Shop Bistro

KELSEYVILLE – The Lake County Blues Allstars will play Thursday, October 9 at the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro in Kelseyville, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The popular rhythm and blues quintet plays at the Saw Shop the second Thursday of each month. The personnel vary from show to show depending on the musicians’ individual performance schedules since each of them are also members of other bands. The regular members include Neon Napalm on vocal and percussion; Mike Wilhelm on vocal and guitar; Jim Williams on vocal, guitar and harmonica; and Jon Hopkins on vocal, bass and harmonica. Guest artists are a frequent feature at Blues Allstars performances.

The Saw Shop Gallery Bistro is known as one of Lake County’s top restaurants, featuring steak, seafood and pasta as well as nightly specials and a full bar. Located at 3825 Main St. in Kelseyville, it is open Tuesday through Saturday from 3:00 p.m. and has live music on Thursday night. Telephone 278-0129 for dinner reservations. Go to HYPERLINK "http://www.sawshopbistro.com" for more information.

'Clickjackers' could hijack webcams, microphones, Adobe warns
It issues security advisory for Flash, but won't patch until later this month

By Gregg Keizer

Flash on all platforms is susceptible to clickjacking attacks, Adobe said in an advisory posted Tuesday. By duping users into visiting a malicious Web site, hackers could hijack seemingly innocent clicks that, in reality, would be used to grant the site access to the computer's webcam and microphone without the user's knowledge. [Continue Reading]

Firefox Extension Blocks Dangerous Web Attack

By Jeremy Kirk

A popular free security tool for the Firefox browser has been upgraded to block one of the most dangerous and troubling security problems facing the Web today.

NoScript is a small application that integrates into Firefox. It blocks scripts in programming languages such as JavaScript and Java from executing on untrusted Web pages. The scripts could be used to launch an attack on a PC. [Continue Reading]

Nobody says, My Retirement Is Half Gone and Somebody Better Put It Back!
FORNICATE CONGRESS WITH A 13% APPROVAL RATING
ARREST BUSH/CHENEY: WAR CRIMINALS - CONFISCATE THEIR BLOOD FOR OIL FORTUNES
WE WANT OUR MONEY BACK AND WANT IT NOW!!!
Are You Better Off Than You Were 8 Years Ago,
Under a LIBERAL REPUBLICAN Watch ?

UNEMPLOYMENT -- JOB CREATION -- STOCK MARKET AND PRESIDENTS -- REAL GDP GROWTH
Source: http://www.academycomputerservice.com/economics/charts.htm

October Surprise

!!! BOO !!!

An October surprise is American political jargon describing a news event with the potential to influence the outcome of an election, particularly one for the presidency. It is so called because the presidential elections are held in early November, and therefore events that take place in October have greater potential to swing votes. "Historically, news outlets avoid investigative pieces critical of candidates within days of an election to avoid appearing partisan." [1] Particularly since the 1980 election, the term has been pre-emptively used to discredit late-campaign news by one side or the other.

The term usually applies to the acts of a sitting president, especially in military or foreign policy matters. But it can also apply to news stories unfavorable to the incumbent administration.

1968 Humphrey vs. Nixon

Citing progress with the Paris peace talks, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson announced to the nation on March 31, 1968 that he had ordered a cessation of "all air, naval, and artillery bombardment of North Vietnam" above the 20th parallel. Additionally, and quite surprisingly, Johnson stated that he would not accept the Democratic nomination for a second term.

1972 Nixon vs. McGovern

With less than a month remaining until the election between incumbent president Richard Nixon and Democrat George McGovern, Nixon's Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, announced that "peace [was] at hand" in Vietnam.

1980 Carter vs. Reagan

The original Carter October Surprise was first written about in a Jack Anderson article in the Washington Post in the fall of 1980, in which he alleged that the Carter administration was preparing a massive military invasion of Iran for rescuing the hostages in order to help him get reelected. Subsequent allegations surfaced against Ronald Reagan alleging that his team had impeded the hostage release to negate the potential boost to the Carter campaign

1992 Bush vs. Clinton

Just four days before the vote that year, Ronald Reagan's defense secretary Caspar Weinberger was implicated in the Iran-Contra scandal. Though he claims to have been opposed to the sale on principle, Weinberger participated in the transfer of United States TOW missiles to Iran, and was later indicted on several felony charges of lying to the Iran-Contra independent counsel during its investigation.

2000 Gore vs. Bush

Days before the November 7 election, Carl Cameron of Fox News, working with the local Fox affiliate in Maine, unearthed an old report that Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush had been arrested for drunk driving in that state in 1976, a report which Bush himself confirmed in a press conference moments after it was revealed.

2003 California recall election

The Los Angeles Times released a story about Arnold Schwarzenegger and subsequent allegations that he was a womanizer guilty of multiple acts of sexual misconduct in past decades.

2004 Bush vs. Kerry

On October 27, the New York Times reported the disappearance of huge cache of explosives from a warehouse in al Qa'qaa (see Missing explosives in Iraq). The John Kerry campaign blamed the Bush administration for this supposed mismanagement; administration officials charged that the Times had gotten the story wrong, and that the explosives had been cleared from the storage facility before the looting was supposed to have taken place.

2006 midterm elections

In October 2006, Charles Peña of libertarian website Antiwar.com wrote that "the biggest October surprise so far is North Korea's underground test of a nuclear weapon on Monday.

Saddam Hussein verdict

News that the Saddam Hussein trial verdict would be rendered on November 5, 2006, just two days ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, led Tom Engelhardt of liberal magazine The Nation to dub it, on October 17th, the "November Surprise". In a White House Press gaggle on November 4, 2006, a reporter implied that the timing of the Saddam trial verdict may be an attempt by the White House to influence the outcome of the November election, to which White House Press Secretary Tony Snow replied "Are you smoking rope?"

Complete text and links - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_surprise

October Surprise X-Files
By Robert Parry

The Russian Report

On Jan. 11, 1993, Russia's Supreme Soviet sent a secret cable to the U.S. Congress. The cable claimed that Russian national security files held evidence that two U.S. Presidents and two CIA directors had committed an act of treachery with Iran's radical Islamic government in 1980.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/xfile1.html

The Ladies' Room Secrets

Stored away in a converted Ladies' Room on Capitol Hill, dusty boxes contained startling evidence of Republican dirty tricks in the 1980 presidential campaign -- and of a bipartisan cover-up that continues to this day.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/xfile2.html

Bill Casey's Iranian

Iranian banker Cyrus Hashemi was a mystery man of the 1980s, a nexus point for scandal, from accessing vaults of the corrupt BCCI to opening doors to the Iran-Contra Affair. But for years, the FBI withheld key wiretaps of Hashemi's secret conversations.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/xfile3.html

Follow the Money

An intimidating array of individuals and forces wanted President Carter ousted from the White House in 1980. Some were driven by ambition; others by money; and still others by revenge. Together, they were over-powering.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/xfile4.html

Saddam's 'Green Light'

In 1980, Iraq's Saddam Hussein was suddenly a bigtime international 'player,' invited to the gaudy palaces of the Saudi Arabian monarchy. But there was an ulterior motive behind the flattering invitation: Saddam's army was the new protector of the petro-rich against the Iranian hordes.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/xfile5.html

Where's Bill Casey

In 1991-92, the October Surprise investigation was like a worldwide Where's Waldo game, trying to locate Bill Casey on crucial days in 1980. Two national magazines and a House task force claimed success, thus disproving that Casey sabotaged the Iran hostage talks. The game was over; Casey and the Republicans were innocent.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/xfile6.html

Bush & a CIA Power Play

The CIA Old Boys were reeling. In the 1970s, exposure of their dirty games and dirty tricks made the Cold Warriors look sinister -- and silly. Then, President Carter ordered a housecleaning that left scores of CIA men out in the cold.

In 1980, the CIA men wanted back in and their champion was former CIA director George Bush. With Bush and Ronald Reagan in power, the old spies could resume their work with a vengeance. The temptation was to do to Jimmy Carter what the CIA had done to countless other world leaders -- overthrow him.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/xfile7.html

Lies Spun into History

Better than Democrats, Bob Dole and other Republicans grasped the value of defending heroes, even imperfect ones. So the GOP battled the charges that Bill Casey and other Republicans played a nearly treasonous dirty trick to win in 1980.

The defense required enforcing absurd alibis, bullying investigators and massaging the facts. But it worked. The Democrats acquiesced and the Republicans proved that they respected history enough to falsify it.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/xfile8.html

October Surprise: Time for Truth? Part 2

The diciest part of the October Surprise saga remains the allegations of secret Paris meetings between Republicans and Iranians in fall 1980. According to some of those alleging that the GOP sabotaged President Carter's pre-election hostage negotiations, the Paris meetings followed earlier contacts between William Casey and Iranians in Madrid; in effect, the Paris talks cemented the deal.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/xfile10.html

Complete articles located at links.

In conclusion I am also reminded of the following:

"The Bush administration deliberately, not inadvertently, helped to arm Iraq by allowing U.S. technology to be shipped to Iraqi military and to Iraqi defense factories," Gonzalez said. "Throughout the course of the Bush administration, U.S. and foreign firms were granted export licenses to ship U.S. technology directly to Iraqi weapons facilities despite ample evidence showing that these factories were producing weapons." - Henry Gonzalez, July 27, 1992

http://www.fas.org/spp/starwars/congress/1992/h920727g.htm

"The president misled Congress and the public about the role U.S. firms played in arming Iraq." - Speech on the floor of the House of Representatives, House Banking Committee chair Henry Gonzalez

http://www.flyingsnail.com/Dahbud/2deadday.html

Seismic Data Currently Off Line

Amateur Radio Public Seismic Network

Progress Log Updated

Testing Testing
Seismic Data On/Off Line
Amateur Radio Public Seismic Network

[UPDATED - New Information == Note: '6 Hz' '4 Pole' Low-pass filters have been added to ARPSN-1 (L15B sensors), which eliminate noise on heliplots. I changed these from 2 Hz 2 Poles to make heliplots more interesting.

Trace lines will remain flat until a local >= 1.0 magnitude earthquake occurs. Flat red traces represent 1.0 magnitude or less.

From now on heliplots will appear different. The above image (at bottom) is an older 2 Hz - 2 Pole example of a new heliplot showing a single red vertical spike.

The below WinSDR image (normally located at bottom of weather pictures) corresponds with above heliplot, showing original 2.3 magnitude data trace received here, which is larger than the heliplot image. [Green traces represent OFF-LINE.]

The vertical spike represents a 2.3 Magnitude earthquake at "The Geysers" and appears on this USGS list:

http://quake.usgs.gov/recenteqs/Quakes/quakes0_fault.htm

on this map:

http://quake.usgs.gov/recenteqs/FaultMaps/123-39.htm

USA list:

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsus/Quakes/quakes_all.php

World list:

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.php

ARPSN-1 Alerts are intended to begin at >= 5.0 magnitude in our (as of now, undefined) local area and the 'yet to be installed' sensors will cover teleseismic and LFE (low-frequency earthquake) events.]

More information located:
Progress Log Updated -- View Heliplots -- Seismic Shed Re-Construction

EXECUTION HAS RETURNED

Georgia comfortable with executing innocent
Supreme Court To Decide Fate of Troy Davis:
Does Innocence Matter?

Wednesday, 24 September 2008
by BAR Managing Editor Bruce Dixon

Yesterday, with less than two hours left till his scheduled execution, The US Supreme Court intervened in the case of Troy Anthony Davis of Savannah GA. Davis was convicted of murder in the killing of a policeman in 1989. But since then seven of the nine non-police witnesses have recanted their stories, all alleging threats and coercion from prosecutors and/or police. The question raised by the campaign to free Troy Davis, which the Supreme Court will decide soon --- does innocence matter? [Continue Reading]

-----------------------------------------------------
From July 2007 Archive
200707

Click to Send Fax to Georgia State Board of Pardons & Paroles or Print Letter via Amnesty International

TROY ANTHONY DAVIS
MY NAME IS TROY ANTHONY DAVIS, 38 YEARS OLD.
I HAVE BEEN ON DEATH ROW IN GEORGIA FOR 17 YEARS.
http://www.troyanthonydavis.org/
TROY A. DAVIS 657378
GDCP PO BOX 3877 G-3-79
JACKSON, GEORGIA 30233

Posted By Charles at 8:36 AM

Georgia is moving forward on July 17 with the execution of a man convicted of killing a police officer on the basis on nine eye-witness statements. Since his conviction, six of the nine have recanted their testimony, and one of the nine has confessed to the crime. Problem is, the 1996 law passed to prevent Timothy McVeigh from dragging out his appeals is preventing the introduction of this evidence to prevent the execution. Scary statement of the week: the state Attorney General is "comfortable" with moving forward with the execution.

I went digging around on the net after reading the article in The Hill, and here's some of what I ran across [Continue Reading at]:

http://www.sheehanmiles.com/blogid/2520

Some say their lies framed convicted killer
By MONI BASU

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2007/07/14/davis_0715.html

Victim's mother says 18 years long enough
By SONJI JACOBS

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2007/07/15/victim_0716.html

A chance of innocence
State parole board must intervene in death row inmate's case

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/stories/2007/07/12/deathpened_0713.html

Inmate's sister insists time shouldn't run out on the truth
By MONI BASU

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2007/07/15/sister_0716.html

Georgia judge refuses to halt execution of [INNOCENT]

Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 07/14/2007 11:37:56 PM PDT

SAVANNAH, Ga. — A judge has denied a bid to halt the execution scheduled Tuesday of convicted cop killer Troy Anthony Davis, refusing to hear evidence the defense says would show he is innocent and identify another man as the killer. Defense attorneys said they would appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court.

Davis, 38, is to die by injection at 7 p.m. Tuesday for the 1989 killing of Savannah police Officer Mark MacPhail, who was shot while moonlighting as a security guard. Davis insists he's innocent. His lawyers filed a motion last week seeking a new trial based on affidavits by witnesses from Davis' 1991 trial who now say they lied or exaggerated when they testified that Davis shot the officer.

Davis' lawyers also say other witnesses have signed affidavits naming another man, Sylvester "Red" Coles, as MacPhail's killer. "The new evidence does not merely impeach state witnesses, but destroys the prosecution's case and establishes Red Coles' guilt," defense lawyer Thomas Dunn wrote, saying "a grave injustice may result from the execution of Troy Davis."

http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_6378666

Another Victim Of Georgia’s Attorney General

http://udoj.wordpress.com/2007/07/06/another-victim-of-georgias-attorney-general/

Groups say death penalty flaws merge in Georgia case
By Ian Swanson

http://thehill.com/business--lobby/groups-say-death-penalty-flaws-merge-in-georgia-case-2007-07-03.html

BUSH ADMINISTRATION HAD ACUTE KNOWLEDGE OF IRAQ'S MILITARY INDUSTRIALIZATION PLANS
Henry B. Gonzalez, (TX-20)
(House of Representatives - July 27, 1992)
'1992'
Congressional Record

[Page: H6696]

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Gonzalez] is recognized for 60 minutes.

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, last week I showed that this administration, President Bush's administration, deliberately and not inadvertently helped to arm Iraq by allowing United States technology to be shipped to the Iraqi military and to the Iraqi weapons factories. Throughout the course of the Bush administration, United States and foreign firms were granted export licenses to ship United States technology directly to Iraqi weapons facilities, despite ample evidence showing that these factories were producing weapons.

[TIME: 1610]

I also showed how the President misled the Congress and the public about the role United States firms played in arming Iraq.

Today I will show that the highest levels of the Bush administration, including the President himself, had specific knowledge of Iraq's military industrialization plans, and despite that knowledge, the President mandated the policy of coddling Saddam Hussein as spelled out in National Security Directive 26 (NSD-26) issued in October 1989. This policy was not changed until after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, by which time the Bush administration had sent Saddam Hussein billions of dollars in United States financial assistance, technology and useful military intelligence information.

I will also show how the President's policy of appeasing Saddam Hussein was at odds with those in the administration who saw Iraq as a major proliferation threat. This will help set the stage for next week's report which will discuss Iraq's clandestine technology procurement network and the Italian bank agency in Atlanta's role in funding that network.

We will bring out the very intricate system which up to now has not been elaborated upon other than through the great alarm sounded by the Commodity Credit Corporation's extension of guarantees through the letters of credit that were issued by this bank. But it was more intricate, it was a lot more elaborate, and it was very well thought out by these overseas students or system, and its gaps, and its failures, which is the reason that I am here today and have from the beginning spoken out, that is on the vulnerability of our financial banking system to these external forces.

I would like to emphasize, however, that the administration knew about the procurement network, and I indicated some of that last week, and decided to go ahead and tolerate it.

From the beginning of the Bush administration Iraq received billions in United States financial assistance and sophisticated United States technology, what actually had started under President Reagan's first term in 1983 when the President took Iran off of the list of nations that he had listed as terrorist nations.

As is well known, the largest financial aid program for Iraq was the Commodity Credit Corporation and their export guarantee program. Between 1983 and the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Iraq received $5 billion in CCC guarantees that allowed them to purchase United States agricultural products on credit. Over half of that program or $2.6 billion was authorized during the first 2 1/2 years of this administration, the Bush administration. [Continue Reading]

Say yer prayers now!

Steve Bell

Garsh ding it!

Steve Bell

Can I git back to ya on that?

Steve Bell

Bush Administration Endorsed Waterboarding In Secret Memos

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Memos issued by the White House in 2003 and 2004 explicitly endorsed the use of waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods by the CIA on al-Qaeda suspects, the Washington Post [Waterboarding Got White House Nod] reported on Wednesday.

Citing administration and intelligence officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Post said the memos, which still remain classified, were issued in response to repeated requests from then CIA chief George Tenet.

Senior CIA officials were concerned that the White House had never endorsed the use of harsh interrogations in writing. Tenet made his first request for a written approval during a 2003 meeting with members of the National Security Council, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was then National Security Advisor. His second request came in 2004 after the abuse of detainees in Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison by U.S. soldiers were reported.

Rice said in a statement last month to the Senate Armed Services Committee, which is investigating the treatment of detainees in U.S. custody, that she led meetings in 2002 about the legality of letting the CIA use harsh interrogation techniques on al-Qaeda detainees. It was the first admission from a senior Bush administration official that such meetings were held.

The interrogation methods discussed in the meetings, held over a two-year period at the White House, were based on a Pentagon program called Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE) to train American military personnel how survive aggressive interrogations. They included methods such as forced nudity, sleep deprivation and waterboarding, or simulated drowning.

AHN Staff - http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7012661177

Governmentium is the latest element Lawrence Livermore Laboratories has discovered.
Lawrence Livermore Laboratories has discovered the heaviest element yet known to science.

The new element, Governmentium (Gv), has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.

These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.

Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A tiny amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second, to take from 4 days to 4 years to complete.

Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2- 6 years. It does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places.In fact, Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes.

This characteristic of morons promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass.

When catalysed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium, an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.

I DON'T KNOW WHO THINKS THIS STUFF UP, BUT THIS IS SADLY ALMOST TRUE. ENJOY, Joe

Avoid the "Straight Party" Vote Stealing Trap

You may have read about this, and Black Box Voting has sent an ELECTION ALERT about this. Here are the details and what to do about it:

THE PROBLEM: "Straight party voting" on voting machines is revealing a bad pattern of miscounting and omitting your vote, especially if you are a Democrat.

Most recently (Oct. 2008), a firm called Automated Election Services was found to have mis-coded the system in heavily Democratic Santa Fe County, New Mexico such that straight party voters would not have the presidential vote counted.

Straight party voting is allowed in 15 states. Basically, it means that you can take a shortcut to actually looking at who you are voting for and instead just select a party preference. Then the voting machine makes your candidate choices, supposedly for the party you requested. [Continue Reading]

Nobody Loves You When You Are Down & Out!

Hi Curtis, Here in the Floyd, Virginia, it looks to be a dead heat between red and blue voters. Except at the intersection of Floyd's Main Street - Where Nobody's crossing the street! Cheers, Chris

Immaculate Connection

Late yesterday afternoon (200810.23), my hybrid LAN router started to fail at the same time I was completing the first phase of fine tuning on the VolksMeter II sensors, in the seismic shed. Seismic Shed Re-Construction - Complete Progress Log

Shutting the router and modem off for a while, letting it cool down, and turning it on, allowed for about 15 minutes of connection time, before it would freeze again, and I used this method to upload new seismic data files. Heliplots

Fine tuning is something that takes longer than necessary because of an over anal approach to accomplishment, which is not necessarily a good thing, all the time.

Before going to bed, I turned the modem and router off and pulled the ethernet cable out of the Vista, HP laptop (I have autoupdates turned on, but will not allow Vista to connect to the Internet without me being present, for specific reasons.... and yes I could turn it off, but...)

When I got up this morning, after experiencing a 2.9M shaker:
(http://quake.usgs.gov/recenteqs/Quakes/nc51210050.htm ),

I walked into the computer room and noticed the Vista box had my login prompt on the screen!

I needed that 2.9M quake to help me tune the VolksMeter gif display, so I logged in and Vista told me it had downloaded new software, installed it, and rebooted (see above image).

I have autoupdates set to trigger at 3 AM, there was NO WAY this machine could have reached the Internet (ethernet cable removed), and there was absolutely no logical way this could have happened... unless it was the first known case of Immaculate Connection?

Because I rise early, the first hour of chores are usually on automatic, so I did not save all the proof that would support my claim, but (imo) I saved enough.

I have no intention of wasting any time trying to figure out how this happened, because it is too weird; even for me! (-;

Court issues stay, lets Davis make his case

By Bill Rankin, Rhonda Cook
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, October 25, 2008

The federal appeals court in Atlanta on Friday halted Troy Anthony Davis’ execution, the third time his life has been spared shortly before he was to be put to death.

Davis’ claims of innocence, based largely on the recantations of prosecution witnesses, have attracted international attention and protest. He was set to be executed by lethal injection Monday evening for the 1989 murder of an off-duty Savannah police officer.

The 11th Circuit’s ruling is the latest in what has been a roller-coaster ride of last-ditch appeals in which Davis, 40, has been repeatedly denied relief only to be spared again and again.

Martina Correia, Davis’ sister, said she and her mother, Virginia Davis, were packing for the trip to death row when they got the news.

“I’ve been praying,” Correia said. “He deserves to be free. He at least doesn’t deserve to die for something he didn’t do.”

Since Davis’ 1991 trial, seven of nine key prosecution witnesses have backed off their testimony. Others have come forward and implicated another man in the killing of 27-year-old Savannah Police Officer Mark Allen MacPhail. [Continue Reading] - [Troy Davis News Stories]

Lake Blues Allstars - Upper Lake - October 27 - 6:30-9 PM

Blues Allstars at the Blue Wing Monday night

Wellman Moody, Contributing writer

UPPER LAKE – The Lake County Blues Allstars will play Monday, October 27 at the Blue Wing Saloon and Café in Upper Lake, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.

The Lake County Blues Allstars received a standing ovation at this year's Blue Wing Blues Festival. The rhythm and blues quintet is one of the regularly featured bands at the Blue Wing's popular Blue Monday dinner concerts.

Blues Allstars' personnel may vary from show to show depending on the musicians' individual performance schedules since they are each also members of other bands. Appearing Monday are regular members Neon Napalm on vocal and percussion; Jim Williams on vocal, guitar and harmonica; Mike Wilhelm on vocal and guitar; Jon Hopkins on vocal, bass and harmonica; and new member Mark Phillips on drums.

The Blue Wing Saloon and Café has become known as one of the county's best restaurants, featuring an appealing selection of fine wines and beers in addition to exquisite food and period ambience. Many patrons agreed with Allstars' singer Napalm when she told her audience, “This is the best place I have ever been!”

Lake County Blues Allstars' singer and percussionist Neon Napalm on her way to a standing ovation at the Blue Wing Blues Festival 2008. Photo courtesy of Bernard Butcher.

An Evening of Eclectic Nostalgia by MiKö!
Tuesday, October 28, 8-11PM Free Live Music
Papermill Creek Saloon
415 488-9235 1 Castro St., Forest Knolls, CA 94933
At Forest Knolls intersection, between San Geronimo and Lagunitas. Visible from Sir Francis Drake.
Thought for the day: Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
Happy Trails...........>>>>>>>>>> Michael<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Bottle Rock Blues & Rhythm Band

To Play at San Francisco Halloween Celebration

October 25, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Local band to play San Francisco Halloween celebration

by Wellman Moody, Contributing writer
http://lakeconews.com/content/view/6124/768/

SAN FRANCISCO – Lake County's own Bottle Rock Blues & Rhythm Band will play at AT&T Park for this year's San Francisco Halloween Celebration on October 31. The celebration runs from 4:00 p.m. until late. Admission is free.

The celebration, which gets national media coverage, has been held in Castro St. in past years but due to ever-larger crowds has been moved to AT&T Park's Parking Lot A.

The opening segment features '60s musicians and is produced by Summer of Love Productions' Ron Frazier in the name of AIDS awareness. Anyone can be a victim of this deadly disease. Stopping the spread of AIDS begins with being tested.

The music starts at 4:00 p.m. with Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Cathy Richardson. Big Brother was Janis Joplin's band back in the '60s. The tribute to Jimi Hendrix featuring Ralph Woodson starts at 5:30 p.m. Bottle Rock plays at 6:30 p.m.

The recently formed band's music is described by leader Mike Wilhelm as "Smokin' R & B!" Bottle Rock also sprinkles in some '50s, '60s and '70s rock and roll. Many will remember their well received sets at this year's Lake County Fair.

The band features the superb voice and percussion stylings of Neon Napalm, '60s legend Wilhelm on vocal and guitar, Stephan Holland on lead guitar and vocal, Bill McMenomy on bass and vocal with Mark Phillips on drums.

Napalm, a card-carrying member of the Cherokee Nation, was formerly the lead singer of the well-known Native American band Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers. The rest of the band members are all veterans of well-known San Francisco Bay Area groups.

Bottle Rock leader Mike Wilhelm. Photo courtesy of Bernard Butcher.

It's out!

Mike Wilhelm's new private label solo acoustic CD, "Keys to the Highway", is now available [Click for more information]

Bottle Rock singer and percussionist Neon Napalm. Photo courtesy of Bernard Butcher

October 29, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Bottle Rock Blues & Rhythm Band

By Wellman Moody

LAKE COUNTY - Bottle Rock Blues & Rhythm Band formed in Lake County, CA in August of 2008 and describes its music as "Smokin' R&B!" It is not often that one finds a band that has roots as deep and a family tree as broad as this one.

The band coalesced around sixties legend Mike Wilhelm, guitar and vocal; and Neon Napalm, vocal and percussion. Wilhelm is best known as a founding member of the Charlatans, San Francisco's first psychedelic group as well as for his work with cult heroes Flamin' Groovies. Napalm, a card-carrying member of the Cherokee Nation, is the popular lead singer formerly with Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers, a Native American band well known throughout the Southwest.

According to Wilhelm, "I had a concept for a rhythm and blues band featuring harmony vocals and a rock style rhythm section. I designed a logo with the letters BOTTLE ROCK made from obsidian, common in Lake County and known locally as 'bottle rock'. I also had certain personnel in mind."

First on his list was Napalm whom he had met in the Lake County Blues Allstars. Wilhelm explains, "Neon is not only one of the best female vocalists I've ever heard, and I have heard many over the years, but we had already been singing harmony together in the Blues Allstars."

Wilhelm and Napalm started playing with guitarist and vocalist Stephen Holland. He hails originally from Clarksdale, MS, central to the Mississippi Delta, the ancestral home of Chicago blues. Born in 1950, he has been playing for 44 years and has an original style all his own. He has played with such Bay Area bands as Soundhole and Cottonmouth with members of Huey Lewis and the News and Tower of Power.

Holland introduced them to bassist Bill McMenomy who had recently moved to Lake County after spending a number of years playing in the Portland, Oregon area. McMenomy is originally from San Francisco. Back in the day, he played with the San Francisco rock trio Aum. He sings backup has a very powerful rock bass style, which is just what Wilhelm had in mind for the band.

Drummer Mark Phillips is probably best known as a member of the Grateful Dead cover band Street Dogs. He is an extremely well seasoned player having played with P. T. and the Pleasers during the early '80s in the Bay Area opening for acts such as Greg Kihn and Huey Lewis and the News. In demand as a recording session musician, Phillips has divided his time between the Bay Area and his native England.

The resulting band has the much sought after quality of being more than the sum of its parts. In addition to the R&B repetoire, they are also mixing in some classic rock from the sixties and seventies including songs associated with the Charlatans and Flamin' Groovies. For further information about Bottle Rock Blues & Rhythm Band, email: guit_blue@yahoo.com

Remnant of Paradise continued

Have You Ever Been Experienced?
[page out of order]

[Selected information from the Other Side]

There was a gentleman by the name of Don Hamrick (Frontiers of Science) who severely caught my attention during early 1966 in the Haight/Ashbury, because one of his projects involved mapping altered space.

Here is a short piece I found on him at the Rolling Stone Archive:

Celestial Synapse at the Fillmore
Good vibes in the name of science - 2/19/69

Mad scientists

It was a "Frontiers of Science Celestial Synapse."

A what? What's Frontiers of Science? What's a synapse, and what's the Grateful Dead's name doing among the lines of medieval Irish script, the kind preferred for church bulletins?

The answer to the questions raised by the classy printed invitations was unquestionably the best musical gathering in months. Fifteen hundred invitations were sent out for the February 19 event, and though there was no other announcement, probably double that number attended. Everyone was treated to the best vibrations and some of the best music the Fillmore West had seen in some time.

After a stirring oboe and bagpipe introduction by the Golden Toad, Don Hamrick of Frontiers of Science spoke for a few minutes in a gentle rural accent, addressing the crowd as "the Goodly Company." "It is our hope," he said, "that this evening there will be an opening and a free interchange, so that something new may emerge. Let the barriers fall, let there be a merging."

Then the Grateful Dead began a set that ran for four hours or so with scarcely an interruption. "I haven't seen anything like this in years -- it's like one of the old Ken Kesey Acid Tests," said Bob Thomas, piper of the Toad and, like the Dead, veteran of many an Acid Test, "-- only it's less hectic and confused. It's fucking amazing." People were handing each other flowers, joints, funny incomprehensible little picket signs four inches high.

The Dead played continuously, a flowing improvisatory set of new material. (Originally the concert was to be recorded for inclusion on the next Dead album, but last-minute difficulties in setting up the recording equipment scotched that.) Three light shows were playing, at no charge to the sponsors. The Grateful Dead and Bill Graham donated their services for free.

Invitations had gone out to people in music and a broad range of psychedelic tribes -- from Rancho Olompali and other communes to the Hells Angels. Many Frontiers of Science people and other communards could be seen embracing each other, greeting strangers, dancing and celebrating.

Toward two in the morning there were a number of stoned occurrences. People began taking off their clothes. Don McCoy of Olompali got up on the stage stark naked, against a tableau of Bill Graham restraining the rent-a-cops from pulling him down.

The organizing body was Frontiers of Science, headquartered at Harbinger, a former hotsprings resort 100 miles north of San Francisco. Incorporated as a nonprofit organization a year ago, FOS grew up around Don Hamrick, a 33-year-old alumnus of both a Church of Christ seminary (he has since been excommunicated for his radical mystical views) and research physics. Around two years ago Hamrick started speaking of a religious calling to establish order and unity on earth and to connect the physical and metaphysical aspects of science.

It has to do with the crystal at the center of the living Earth, which is affected by human vibrations and which may either change shape (a creative change) or change size (a destructive change, since it would cause earthquakes). The idea is to send down good vibrations to change the shape of that crystal, and the Celestial Synapse may very well have done just that.

"Synapse" is the term used by the people around Hamrick for a mass meeting of minds, parallel to the linking-up of brain cells that makes thought possible, called a synapse in psychology. The Celestial Synapse was the beginning of a five-day Frontiers of Science conference, which included a Congress of Concerned Educators at the College of Marin and a two-day gathering of about 400 people at Harbinger. - (RS 30, April 5, 1969)

Common Recorded Experiences: [to be continued]

 

Boptime - Saturday Morning
6 am East -- 3 am Pacific -- 1000 UTC
Click: Listen On-Line for Even Steven

Dear Friends, I am sorry for the sad news of Merl Saunders passing. Please read article below for info. PLH, Marliese

Keyboardist Merl Saunders dies at 74
Joel Selvin, Chronicle Senior Pop Music Critic
Friday, October 24, 2008

(10-24) 16:44 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- Keyboardist Merl Saunders, the gentle lion of the San Francisco music scene best known as co-captain of guitarist Jerry Garcia's solo excursions outside the Grateful Dead, died Friday at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, after fighting infections.

The 74-year-old musician suffered a debilitating stroke six-and-a-half years ago and, although he lost the ability to speak, he made numerous sentimental guest appearances at shows over those years playing with one hand.

"I never met anybody so happy who had a stroke," said Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart. "In the end, the only thing that lit him up was the music. Sometimes he'd cry, but I've never seen anybody so happy in the realm of music."

The native San Franciscan attended Polytechnic High School with singer Johnny Mathis.

After serving in the Army from 1953 to 1957, he played jazz organ on the same circuit as Jimmy Smith and Brother Jack McDuff. He worked as musical director of the Billy Williams Revue and served in a similar capacity in Oscar Brown Jr.'s off-Broadway show, "Big Time Buck White." He backed up Dinah Washington and jammed with Miles Davis. Mr. Saunders, who was rarely seen in public without his trademark aviator shades and black leather fisherman's cap, started playing with Garcia in 1971 at a small Fillmore Street nightclub called the Matrix, where the Grateful Dead guitarist liked to hold informal jam sessions on Dead nights off. Within months, the loose-knit band was playing to packed houses at small local clubs like the Keystone Korner in North Beach every weekend the Dead wasn't working. Members sometimes included former Creedence Clearwater rhythm guitarist Tom Fogerty and former Journey rhythm guitarist George Tickner.

The Saunders-Garcia Band, as the group came to be called, backed Mr. Saunders on his 1971 solo album, "Heavy Turbulence," and recorded two albums for Berkeley's Fantasy Records.

"Merl was an ensemble guy, a groupist," said Hart, who played with Mr. Saunders in his early '80s solo group, High Noon. "He brought those sensibilities to the Garcia band. He let Jerry have his flights of fancy."

Mr. Saunders told The Chronicle in 1972 that playing with Garcia offered them both an opportunity to experiment and explore different forms of music. "We do it just for fun," he said.

With the addition of saxophonist Martin Fierro in 1974, the group transformed into the Legion of Mary and disbanded the following year. Mr. Saunders also played in Reconstruction with Garcia from 1979 to 1980. Garcia appeared on the 1990 Mr. solo album and video, "Blues In the Rainforest," a surprise hit on the New Age music charts.

After Garcia fell into a diabetic coma in 1986 and lost some of his basic motor skills, Mr. Saunders spent hours daily with the stricken guitarist running scales, working him out on jazz standards such as "My Funny Valentine."

Mr. Saunders' music appeared on such soundtracks as "Fritz the Cat" and "Steelyard Blues." He worked on the TV series "Nash Bridges" and, as musical director of the 1985 TV series, "The New Twilight Zone," inveigled the Grateful Dead into a new recording of the classic theme song.

He recorded numerous albums, toured constantly and earned a welcome spot in the post-Dead jam band scene. Mr. Saunders headlined the Haight Street Music Fair for 24 consecutive years.

After his stroke, Mr. Saunders' musician son, Tony Saunders, completed his final solo album, "Still Groovin'." The album featured duets with Bonnie Raitt and Mavis Staples. Huey Lewis stepped up with a lead vocal after Mr. Saunders was disabled.

In his first public appearance following the stroke, Mr. Saunders attended the September 2004 CD release party at the Great American Music Hall, and played a handful of notes on the keyboard.

Mr. Saunders cheated death twice before. On Sept. 11, 2001, he was booked to return to San Francisco on United Flight 93 out of Newark, but decided to take an earlier flight so he could get home in time to watch the 49ers on Monday Night Football. In 2002, he underwent surgery for cancer, only weeks before his stroke.

He is survived by his longtime companion, Deborah Hall; his sons, Tony of Martinez and Merl Saunders Jr. of Novato; daughter Susan Mora of Oakland; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at First AME Zion Church, 2159 Golden Gate Ave. -- E-mail Joel Selvin at jselvin@sfchronicle.com.

Underground Hour
Tuesdays - 7 to 8 pm
http://ksfs.sfsu.edu/
Music by MiKo
Tuesdays - 8 to 11 pm
Paper Mill Creek Saloon - Forest Knolls, CA - Free
Miko's Eclectic Nostalgia! - Saturdays - 6:30 - 9:30 pm
Taste of Rome, 1002 Court St - San Rafael, CA - Free
Featuring Brian "The Don" Fischer on drums, Rocky of "The Rocoons" on bass
Marliese's Corner - San Francisco Events

ASIFA-SF NEWSLETTER
Association International du Film d'Animation
(International Animated Film Association)
September 2008
by Karl Cohen

Nina with the Oscar winning stop-motion animator Barry Purvis

NINA PALEY WON A SECOND HONOR AT ANNECY Not only did she win the festival's grand prize (known as the Crystal) for best animated feature, she and Johannes Walters of Germany came in third in the 8th running of the Nik and Nancy Phelps Annual Paddle Boat Race. (Not yet an official Olympic event.) The photo was taken after they crossed the finish line.

Nancy tells me the annual race and picnic came about because, "Not much ever happens on Saturday in Annecy. Everyone is waiting for the awards ceremony. We had a lot of the major contenders at the party this year. The young Croatian who won peddled his legs off. We started this event several years ago (7 or 8 at least) so that after a very high-powered week we could all relax and just have fun. We definitely consume a lot of alcoholic beverages. That makes the race pretty funny." - [Continue Reading]

NO ON 8
Apple is publicly opposing Proposition 8

Apple is publicly opposing Proposition 8 and making a donation of $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign. Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees' same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person's fundamental rights -- including the right to marry -- should not be affected by their sexual orientation. Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8.

Cindy Sheehan for Congress 2008

Nobody Brought Peace to Our Times!

Nobody for President
Hire A Ribbon Cutter!