June 6, 2024

Rueben Williams of Thunderbird Management Group

Rueben Williams

Rueben Williams founded the Thunderbird Management Group more than 20 years ago. Its primary mission is to develop artists and create long-lasting careers in the music industry for those artists. From the successful 20-plus-year career of Tab Benoit, one of Williams’ first clients, to the rapid rise of current artists like Devon Allman, Samantha Fish, and Mike Zito, Williams has clearly succeeded. Williams’ company has represented such artists as Cyril Neville, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Anders Osborne, the Royal Southern Brotherhood, Jonathon Boogie Long, the Honey Island Swamp Band, and others. Through those relationships, Williams has also been involved as executive or associate producer on over 25 records, many of which have been nominated for GRAMMYs® and Blues Music Awards. These accomplishments run concurrently with Williams’ and Benoit’s founding of and involvement with the Voice of the Wetlands, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Through VOW’s recordings, festivals, and educational outreach, they hope to bring public awareness to and create solutions for the coastal erosion in southern Louisiana. Part of this outreach occurred in 2006, when Williams and Benoit brought more than 50 New Orleans musicians to perform at the 2006 Democratic and Republican National Conventions.

https://blues.org/blues_kba_winner/rueben-williams/

Saw Allman Brothers on a high school field trip over 50 years ago to Fillmore West to see the blues: BB King, Buddy Guy, and an opening band that was new to us, Allman Brothers on first national tour. Familiar with Devon Allman's because discovered Samantha Fish in 1987. Devon and Samantha share Rueben Williams as manager and play together fairly often. There is a music video and song from Devon Allman's first solo album "Turquoise" that is with Fish. If one watches that video, the older black man that tips Allman and Fish when they are busking is Cyril Neville. Here is a version of the Petty-Nicks song from just about 2 years ago.

&t=1s

Here is a Devon Allman Project video where they play "Fire on the Mountain" (Grateful Dead) with 4 guitars.

June 5, 2024

Trump-appointed 9th Circuit judge hearing Biden genocide case met with Israeli officials

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

A judge on the federal appeals court panel in a case accusing President Joe Biden of enabling genocide in Gaza traveled to Israel recently and met with government officials urging support for their military actions. Lawyers for Palestinian-rights groups say Judge Ryan Nelson has forfeited any appearance of neutrality and must disqualify himself from the case.

“Recusal in this important case is necessary to ensure the appearance of fairness to the parties and promote the integrity of our legal process,” attorneys led by the nonprofit Center for Constitutional Rights argued in a motion Tuesday night asking Nelson to withdraw from the panel before next Monday’s hearing.

Judges recuse themselves from a case when they conclude that they have a conflict of interest or that they would be seen as biased. Democrats in Congress want Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from former President Donald Trump‘s criminal cases because of flags outside Alito’s homes that were used by supporters of Trump’s challenges to the 2020 election results, but Alito has declined.

The motion was filed shortly after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals announced members of the randomly selected panel that will hear the appeal of a federal judge’s dismissal of the suit: Nelson and Daniel Bress, both appointed by Trump, and Jacqueline Nguyen, appointed by President Barack Obama.

Read more: https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/dei-teacher-union-19489151.php

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Note that a Federal Judge has already dismissed the suit against POTUS Biden and Judge Nelson is on the appeals panel.

IMHO ridiculous to charge POTUS Biden with enabling genocide in Gaza and was correct to dismiss the suit.

What a tangled mess.

May 21, 2024

Cal Poly Humboldt was not reported accurately in news coverage.

1. Cal Poly Humboldt was California State University Humboldt prior to the academic year. The switch to Cal Poly Humboldt was accompanied by several hundred million in investment, more emphasis on STEMS, and a major increase in student enrollment. Plans were inadequate for all the new students to live. Students that had been living in the dorms were evicted for the new influx of students without places to live. The homeless students set up camps on campus. The new university president went directly to law enforcement and ultimately several motels were leased and dorms are being built.

2. Siemens Hall was occupied in a peaceful protest and some students went to get food for a Seder and came back to law enforcement confronting the protestors. The situation escalated from there. About 70% of the faculty had already voted a "no confidence" and requested the new university president and his chief of staff resign. The university president responded by administering remotely and relying on law enforcement, ultimately major law enforcement from out of Humboldt County.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218927421

3. Humboldt County has a deep bench of veteran protestors. There are grandmothers and great grandmothers that have not quit protesting since Vietnam. Timber Wars protestors accustomed to tree sits and chaining themselves to gates or equipment to be pepper sprayed. Native American Activists that have led the efforts to undam the Klamath River most recently. There is a fine and respected Native American studies program at Cal Poly Humboldt and the Humboldt County Reservations and Rancherias are a growing political and economic locally and actual genocide is not that far past history. The administration screwed up initially in heavy handed approach then doubled down.

4. Local Jewish leaders approached the university administration in February and were blown off. University administration said they had met with the Jewish leaders and lied. The Jewish leaders finally met with university administrators May 2 and issued a press release that was also a letter to local Democratic politicians McGuire and Wood asking for help.

JEWISH COMMUNITY LEADERS SAY CAL POLY HUMBOLDT PROTESTS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC

Press release from leaders in the local Jewish community who want their letter to Democratic local leaders Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Jim Wood available:

Dear Senator Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Jim Wood,

As leaders in the Jewish community in Humboldt County, we express our disappointment in your recent press release in which you referenced “antisemitic hate speech” in connection to the protests at Cal Poly Humboldt. Yes, there have been instances of antisemitism. Yes, there is important work to be done. But we do not find the protests themselves to be antisemitic and we reject it as justification for the police force used against the protesters. This inappropriate justification is all the more problematic because it was done without any consultation with Jewish community leaders.

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In early February, Jewish community leaders contacted University administration requesting a meeting on urgent problems and solutions. It took three months to get a one-hour meeting. During that time the situation deteriorated, and the University failed to engage with us in any meaningful way. We were surprised to read a recent press release in which the University stated they “have been in touch with Jewish community leaders.” This is inaccurate. Now it appears that our well-intentioned elected officials have been misled by the University.

The protests loudly demonstrated a lack of cultural sensitivity and indifference to alienation of Jewish students with opposing views. The University ignored offers of help from Jewish leaders and failed to provide students, faculty and staff with resources to address antisemitism and support Jewish life on campus. This must change. At a long-awaited meeting on May 2 with the Dean of Students, it was agreed that vigorous, long term effort is needed to educate the Cal Poly Humboldt community about and respond to antisemitism. Crimes and discrimination must be taken seriously, and spurious charges of antisemitism must be scrupulously avoided.

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https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=18921070

5. The protestors were not all students, some were faculty, but there were not outside professional agitators. But law enforcement came in force from far from Humboldt County. Protests started at the Humboldt courthouse in Eureka not long after October 7. At first there were no pro-Israel protestors. One of the protestors with the largest sign that said, "Kill Jew Babies". The guy turned out to be an Assistant DA with an Israeli flag in his office window. Later the guy protested across the street with pro-Israel and was interviewed by local media. Here is the video of the interview.

6. One of the rightwing Access in Media came through the closed campus and the driver was arrested and released. This is weird as no one including LE seems to know who the driver was and there has been no public follow up.

"Law enforcement responded and the driver, who we were told was a Russian national, was arrested. At 10:20 a.m., the Humboldt County Correctional facility booking log shows a Sergey Vladimirovich Polishchuk was booked on a single charge, PC602(m), trespassing, which many of the protesters arrested Tuesday morning were also charged with, as the campus was closed due to the protests. Polishchuk was released after posting bail a little after 2 p.m. yesterday."

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218927421

7. Cal Poly Humboldt is easily the most progressive institution in Humboldt County. The investment and change to a Cal Poly is a major move by the Democratic Party locally. Local rightwing loves and is gloating over the damage (not physical, that is exaggerated) to the university and reputation.

May 16, 2024

First POTUS vote was McGovern in 1972

Voted Carter in 76 and 80.

Register GOP to vote for Anderson in CA GOP primary to slow Nixon Reagan. Only non-Democratic vote ever made and knew would vote Democratic in actual election.

Voted Brown in 1980 primary and Carter for POTUS.

Was a Fed employee 1969 (career status 73) to 1985 with US Forest Service. After a Cal BS, Feds paid me to go to two programs that totaled 30 units of grad credit but owed the agency 6 years or had to pay back the cost. Under Reagan, the end of 6 years was quit date. The change in agency was massive and Reagan proceeded to break the USFS planning system and enrich the timber industry. A majority of USFS employees continued to whistle while they worked; many of the managers hired and educated with veteran benefits were resistant to the modernization of environmental laws and working with women and minorities. Reagan systematically deconstructed what had been birthed under Nixon and brought to maturity under POTUS Carter. What occurred became even more apparent to me over the years only to mostly disappear down the memory hole.

POTUS Carter has the best and most enduring heart of any POTUS in my dwindling life.

May 10, 2024

Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin

from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Yitzhak_Rabin

Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin

The assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, the fifth prime minister of Israel, took place on 4 November 1995 (12 Marcheshvan 5756 on the Hebrew calendar) at 21:30, at the end of a rally in support of the Oslo Accords at the Kings of Israel Square in Tel Aviv. The assailant was Yigal Amir, an Israeli law student and ultranationalist who radically opposed prime minister Yitzhak Rabin's peace initiative, particularly the signing of the Oslo Accords.

Background

The assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin came immediately after an anti-violence rally in support of the Oslo peace process.[1]

Before the rally, Rabin was disparaged personally by right-wing conservatives and Likud leaders who perceived the peace process as an attempt to forfeit the occupied territories and a capitulation to Israel's enemies.[2][3]

National religious conservatives and Likud party leaders believed that withdrawing from any "Jewish" land was heresy.[4] The Likud leader and future prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, accused Rabin's government of being "removed from Jewish tradition [...] and Jewish values".[2][3] Right-wing rabbis associated with the settlers' movement prohibited territorial concessions to the Palestinians and forbade soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces from evacuating Jewish settlers under the accords.[5][6] Some rabbis proclaimed din rodef, based on a traditional Jewish law of self-defense, against Rabin personally, arguing that the Oslo Accords would endanger Jewish lives.[5][7]

Rallies organized by Likud and other right-wing groups featured depictions of Rabin in a Nazi SS uniform, or in the crosshairs of a gun.[2][3] Protesters compared the Labor party to the Nazis and Rabin to Adolf Hitler[5] and chanted, "Rabin is a murderer" and "Rabin is a traitor".[8][9] In July 1995, Netanyahu led a mock funeral procession featuring a coffin and hangman's noose at an anti-Rabin rally where protesters chanted, "Death to Rabin".[10][11] The chief of internal security, Carmi Gillon, then alerted Netanyahu of a plot on Rabin's life and asked him to moderate the protests' rhetoric, which Netanyahu declined to do.[8][12] Netanyahu denied any intention to incite violence.[2][3][13]

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The assassination has been described as emblematic of a kulturkampf ("cultural struggle&quot between religious right-wing and secular left-wing forces within Israel.[5][4][56] Ilan Peleg of the Middle East Institute has described Rabin's assassination as "reflecting a deep cultural divide within Israel's body politic [...] intimately connected with the peace process"[57] which illustrates both increased polarization and political conflict in the country.[58]

On 28 March 1996, the Shamgar Commission issued its final report into the assassination. It was critical of Shin Bet for putting the Prime Minister at risk and ignoring threats to his life from Jewish extremists.[59]

Due to the ultimate failure of further progress on the Oslo Accords, there is a popular view that the assassination was highly successful, with some calling it the most successful political assassination in modern history due to it achieving the goals of its perpetrator.[60]

from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Yitzhak_Rabin

May 7, 2024

'On Siemens Hall Hill' How an eight-day occupation at Cal Poly Humboldt divided campus

'On Siemens Hall Hill'

How an eight-day occupation at Cal Poly Humboldt divided campus

Thadeus Greenson, North Coast Journal, May 2, 2024

When a group of several dozen protesters entered Siemens Hall on the Cal Poly Humboldt campus shortly before 5 p.m. on April 22, they say they had no intention of grinding the university's operations to a halt. Standing on the campus quad, which was barricaded on all sides with makeshift blockades crafted out of segments of fencing, chairs, tables, dumpsters, newspaper racks, picnic benches and other debris chained together, a woman who would only identify herself as Trillium says the plan had been to start with a seder dinner.

Trillium says a "big group" had gotten together the day before, wanting to plan some kind of action that would draw attention to the growing humanitarian crisis in the war in Gaza. Because a number of the group members are Jewish, Trillium says they supported the idea of doing something to coincide with the Passover holiday that would bring awareness to the ongoing war and the devastation it was causing, and show people of multiple faiths standing together in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

So they entered the building with matzah ball soup, bitter herbs and other components of the meal.

"We were planning to have a sit-in, an open occupation," Trillium says, noting that, as they envisioned it, the direct action wouldn't encroach on classrooms and would leave the building open for students and administrators to come and go. "I went out to get supplies and when I came back, there was a riot squad outside."

much more at: https://www.northcoastjournal.com/news/on-siemens-hall-hill-29624849

May 4, 2024

Jewish Community Leaders Say Cal Poly Humboldt Protests are not Anti-Semitic.

JEWISH COMMUNITY LEADERS SAY CAL POLY HUMBOLDT PROTESTS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC

Press release from leaders in the local Jewish community who want their letter to Democratic local leaders Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Jim Wood available:

Dear Senator Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Jim Wood,

As leaders in the Jewish community in Humboldt County, we express our disappointment in your recent press release in which you referenced “antisemitic hate speech” in connection to the protests at Cal Poly Humboldt. Yes, there have been instances of antisemitism. Yes, there is important work to be done. But we do not find the protests themselves to be antisemitic and we reject it as justification for the police force used against the protesters. This inappropriate justification is all the more problematic because it was done without any consultation with Jewish community leaders.

Our Jewish community is diverse with wide ranging views. We share the distress felt by so many Cal Poly Humboldt students, faculty, and staff over the ongoing violence and tragic loss of life in the Middle East. We have varying opinions about the protests, slogans, and many related matters, nor do we share one definition of antisemitism. The Temple Beth El Antisemitism Task Force holds that the charge must be brought with discretion, carefully taking into account numerous factors in any situation. While some of us have witnessed and are concerned about statements and acts by individuals that we experience as anti-Jewish, we push back against the charge that antisemitism was endemic to the protests at Cal Poly Humboldt or that expressions of it were an appropriate justification for police action.

Senator and Assemblymember, you stated concern for the difficult experience of “Humboldt’s Jewish students and others over the past week.” Yes, the past week has been traumatic, for the entire campus community and community at large. But the problems with antisemitism at Cal Poly Humboldt are not confined to one tumultuous week. Let us explain:

In past decades very few antisemitic incidents on campus came to our attention, and some longtime Jewish faculty report encountering no antisemitism at Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt). Jewish faculty and staff have received honors, and rabbis teaching or volunteering on campus have been treated with respect. Similarly, for decades there was very little antisemitic activity in the community at large. But things have changed in recent years. Even before the October 7 massacre, some Jewish students reported feeling marginalized by classmates and instructors.

Since October 7 there has been a surge in antisemitic crimes and incidents off campus and one hate crime on campus right after the massacre before protests began. The charged atmosphere of the protests this winter and spring has left some Jewish students, faculty, and staff feeling intimidated and afraid to openly identify with their religion or celebrate their heritage. One student was viciously harassed and has received little help.

In early February, Jewish community leaders contacted University administration requesting a meeting on urgent problems and solutions. It took three months to get a one-hour meeting. During that time the situation deteriorated, and the University failed to engage with us in any meaningful way. We were surprised to read a recent press release in which the University stated they “have been in touch with Jewish community leaders.” This is inaccurate. Now it appears that our well-intentioned elected officials have been misled by the University.

The protests loudly demonstrated a lack of cultural sensitivity and indifference to alienation of Jewish students with opposing views. The University ignored offers of help from Jewish leaders and failed to provide students, faculty and staff with resources to address antisemitism and support Jewish life on campus. This must change. At a long-awaited meeting on May 2 with the Dean of Students, it was agreed that vigorous, long term effort is needed to educate the Cal Poly Humboldt community about and respond to antisemitism. Crimes and discrimination must be taken seriously, and spurious charges of antisemitism must be scrupulously avoided.

We appreciate your service to the community and want to make sure you understand the risks of potential harm and escalation that come from a politicized use of the term antisemitism. We would like to work with you directly to address these complex problems and the nuances required for future communications.

Rabbi Naomi Steinberg, Lecturer Emerita Cal Poly Humboldt

Rabbi Bob Rottenberg

Courtney Ladika, M.D., Temple Beth El President

Caroline Connor, M.D., M.P.H., Temple Beth El Vice President

Emeritus Professor Ann Alter, Temple Beth El Board Secretary

David Boyd, Temple Beth El Antisemitism Task Force

Press release copied from Redhead Blackbelt: https://kymkemp.com/2024/05/03/jewish-community-leaders-say-cal-poly-humboldt-protests-not-anti-semitic/

May 3, 2024

'Doxxing Truck' Takes Columbia--Here's What To Know About The Trucks That Post Names Of Students

Two points of this post.

1) The fact of doxxing trucks that look antiAmerican to me

2) The provenance of the doxxing truck and that it is from a source that is anti-POTUS Biden and just about everything that we want as Democrats and DUers except antisemitism. There have been repeated instances at DU of posts from cringe worthy anti-POTUS Biden and anti-Democratic sites.

One of these doxxing trucks showed up at Cal Poly Humboldt 2 days ago and the driver was arrested (initially reported as a Russian national now just mysterious) and released. The Redhead Blackbelt treats the occurrence as surreal, not realizing the purpose of the vehicle. RHBB was cited by recent NY Times article about demonstrations at Cal Poly Humboldt. One thing not mentioned in NYT was the importance of the Native American studies program at CPH.

‘Doxxing Truck’ Takes Columbia—Here’s What To Know About The Trucks That Post Names Of Students

Brian Bushard; Forbes Staff; Oct 26, 2023 Note date of Forbes article

The conservative organization behind the controversial so-called doxxing trucks stationed a new truck at Columbia University this week, publicly listing the names and faces of students who signed a letter calling on the university to cut ties with Israel, following the truck’s debut doxxing pro-Palestinian Harvard University students—and the organization has plans to expand the program, including outside students’ homes.

The truck, which is the third from the group and has been posting students’ names with the caption “Columbia’s Leading Antisemites,” first appeared on Columbia’s campus in New York City on Wednesday afternoon, according to Adam Guillette, the president of Accuracy in Media, the organization that solely funds the project.

Guillette told Forbes the organization also sent a truck to the University of Pennsylvania, calling on university president Liz Magill to resign, following complaints the university fostered antisemitism by allowing for a pro-Palestinian festival in September—the university defended its leadership earlier this month.

The doxxing truck at Columbia comes in response to a joint statement drafted by Columbia student organizations to university leadership, urging the Ivy League institution to cut ties with “apartheid Israel,” including a partnership with Tel Aviv University—the students also expressed “heartfelt condolences” to people affiliated with the university who were “affected by the tragic losses experienced by both Palestinians and Israelis.”

more at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/10/26/doxxing-truck-takes-columbia-heres-what-to-know-about-the-truck-that-posts-names-of-students/?sh=7da423fc1f41

Accuracy in Media (AIM) is an American non-profit conservative[1][2] news media watchdog founded in 1969 by economist Reed Irvine.

AIM supported the Vietnam War and blamed media bias for the U.S. loss in the war. During the Reagan administration, AIM criticized reporting about the El Mozote massacre in El Salvador. During the Clinton administration, AIM pushed Vince Foster conspiracy theories. During the George W. Bush administration, AIM accused the media of bias against the Iraq War, defended the Bush administration's use of torture, and campaigned to stop the United States from signing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It described 2008 presidential candidate Barack Obama as "the most radical candidate ever to stand at the precipice of acquiring his party's presidential nomination. It is apparent that he is a member of an international socialist movement." It also criticized the media's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]

AIM, which opposes the scientific consensus on climate change, has criticized media reporting on climate change. The organization gives out the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award. Past recipients include Marc Morano (who runs the climate change denial website ClimateDepot), Tucker Carlson, and Jim Hoft (founder of The Gateway Pundit).

more at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accuracy_in_Media

Accuracy in Media website: https://aim.org/

Note that all the homepage articles are about antisemitism on campuses that are liberal bastions and Abbott's 1619 Project in Texas that is supported by Accuracy in Media.

1619 Project.

The 1619 Project is a long-form journalism endeavor that became a leading subject of the American history wars.[1] The 1619 Project is a revisionist historiographical work that takes a critical view of traditionally revered figures and events in American history, including the Patriots in the American Revolution, the Founding Fathers, along with Abraham Lincoln and the Union during the Civil War.[2][3][4][5] It was developed by Nikole Hannah-Jones, writers from The New York Times, and The New York Times Magazine. It focused on subjects of slavery and the founding of the United States.[6] The first publication from the project was in The New York Times Magazine of August 2019.[7] The project developed an educational curriculum, supported by the Pulitzer Center, later accompanied by a broadsheet article, live events, and a podcast.[8]

more at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_1619_Project

Texas “critical race theory” bill limiting teaching of current events signed into law.

Texas is one of a handful of states that have approved legislation that prescribes how teachers discuss current events and prohibits students from receiving credit for participating in civic activities

BY KATE MCGEE; JUNE 15, 2021

Gov. Greg Abbott has signed the controversial bill that prescribes how Texas teachers can talk about current events and America’s history of racism in the classroom, according to Texas Legislature Online. His signature makes Texas one of a handful of states across the country that have passed such legislation, which aims to ban the teaching of “critical race theory” in K-12 public school classrooms.

Critical race theory is an academic term that studies how race and racism have impacted social and local structures in the United States. Over the past year, GOP leaders have decried its teaching in public schools, pointing to limited examples in various school districts across the state. In 2020, former President Donald Trump had banned federal employees from training that discusses “critical race theory” or “white privilege,” calling it propaganda.

more at: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/06/15/abbott-critical-race-theory-law/

[UPDATE 5:47 P.M.: HCSO PROVIDES MORE INFORMATION] DIGITAL DISGUISE: MYSTERIOUS LED TRUCK INCIDENT ON CAL POLY HUMBOLDT CAMPUS YESTERDAY

Thursday, 2 May 2024, 11:08 am Kym Kemp; Redheaded Blackbelt

NOTE: There is a photo of the truck with the LED on (like an advertising truck) showing what looks to me to be three KKK in robes and POTUS Biden at the top of the article. The nature of the truck as a doxxing device is not reflected in the article.

Yesterday, around 9:45 a.m., a bizarre incident occurred at Cal Poly Humboldt. The incident, which occurred on a campus already tense due to ongoing protests, involved a mobile LED billboard truck showcasing images of three white hooded figures, reminiscent of Ku Klux Klan members. This display lasted for approximately 30 seconds before the screen turned off and its driver took the truck from the scene, according to an anonymous witness.

The witness described the incident, saying that the digital display also included a masked figure with a turban [the figure on the right on the digital billboard shown in the top photo.] “I witnessed this vehicle with a digital screen and, on the screen, it displayed members of the KKK and as we were standing there watching this vehicle, the screen turned off on the truck and it turned completely black and drove away,” the witness recounted.

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Law enforcement responded and the driver, who we were told was a Russian national, was arrested. At 10:20 a.m., the Humboldt County Correctional facility booking log shows a Sergey Vladimirovich Polishchuk was booked on a single charge, PC602(m), trespassing, which many of the protesters arrested Tuesday morning were also charged with, as the campus was closed due to the protests. Polishchuk was released after posting bail a little after 2 p.m. yesterday.

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UPDATE 5:47 p.m.: Humboldt County Sgt. Eric Losey reached out this afternoon and explained that some of the questions we have, he couldn’t answer because University police were in charge of that part of the investigation. However, he was able to say that he had observed the truck on Tuesday, the day before the arrest took place though he did not see any image displayed. (Another anonymous witness reported seeing the truck during the time the protest was ongoing.) He told us that when deputies stopped the truck, “it appeared that the computer was being actively deleted.” ...... Losey was not able to confirm at this time whether the driver was a Russian national, a citizen of another country, or a citizen of the US.

https://kymkemp.com/2024/05/02/digital-disguise-mysterious-led-truck-incident-on-cal-poly-humboldt-campus-yesterday/

edit because messed up link to Forbes

May 3, 2024

Lived much of life within two Reformed Jewish families and known many Jews

and DU is the first place have ever been called antisemitic. Much of what I see at DU is counter to my experience in that both families were liberal, anti-war families that were revolted by Begin and Kahane. That experience formed my outlook on life as will explain.

Age 5 (1958) my parents separated (but did not say so) and bought a house in SF East Bay. I became best friends with a kid up the street whose father was a researcher at Lawrence Livermore, a Cal Professor of Physics, and had worked on Manhattan Project in WWII. My fragmented family had no religious connection at the time and often had neither parent for supervision (babysitters). Had two Jewish Cub Scout Den Mothers, occasionally went to synagogue, and went to Seders. Close to half the people in our neighborhood were Jewish professional class people (MDs, Dentists, Engineers, Scientists, etc.). Have not anything to do with own family since 1996.

My father was an alcoholic right-wing bigot who had no formal education past 8th grade and ran heavy equipment in rural Humboldt County. The Bay Area house went away when the 1964 Christmas Flood destroyed everything and my maternal grandfather who was brains of family business died. My oldest sibling stayed south, my younger sibling went to live with Mother's cousin, and I was sent to a military academy owned by Episcopalian Church in Marin in 1966. The family in the East Bay were designated as a place I could go on leave. There was a new, progressive then boarding school in the East Bay that their mother wanted her son to go and me to be closer, I was accepted he was not. The school was close to half Jewish kids, some very wealthy (Haas, Selznick, etc.). Father took me out of the "hippy school" and went my senior year of high school on the Hupa Reservation (I am not NA). Had been told not going to Hoopa HS was the reason was sent away.

etc. etc.

Lived with a non-practicing Jewish (father side) woman from age 19-24. Married a Jewish woman active in her faith. Two degrees from Cal. Eight of the 10 people that were roommates while at Cal were Jewish (one non-Jew owned the house). Last two years of undergrad work caretakers for a wealthy Jewish couple in Piedmont with woman I married. Spouse family was from the same neighborhood as Golda Meir in Milwaukee.

Been living in the Klamath Mountains of childhood since 2002 so like Rip Van Winkle. Have not been to Bay Area (or any city) since 2003. Did not see a stoplight or chain store from 2013 to 2017 when was diagnosed with lymphoma followed by several other cancers. Have decided to die in place.

The Jews I knew were all liberal and loving people. The only religious meals have ever attended are Seders with the two families of Reformed Jews. My love of learning and outlook on life did not come from my own family. Went to San Francisco and Berkely anti-war rallies with Jews in late 60s and early 70s.

Still occasional contact with friend from 1st grade and regular contact with younger brother who was also one of roommates at Cal. Friend became a Jew for Jesus back in 1990s and moved to deep South. He broke things off with his parents and I broke things off with him until during covid.

The hate and violence deeply troubles me.

May 2, 2024

Does anyone know Nancy Skinner or does she read DU?

Perhaps Nancy Skinner could give DU advice?

Nancy Skinner (California politician)

Nancy Skinner (born August 12, 1954) is an American politician who is member of the California State Senate. A Democrat, she represents California's 9th State Senatorial district, encompassing parts of the East Bay.

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Skinner attended the University of California, Berkeley, earning a B.S. from the U.C. Berkeley College of Natural Resources and a Masters in Education from the U.C. Berkeley School of Education. As a student, she was a leader in the Anti-Apartheid Movement, served as the Academic Affairs Vice President of the ASUC, the student government, and was a founder of ASGE, the Union of Graduate Student Employees.[1] Skinner later taught courses in native California plants and interned at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.[2]

Skinner was elected to the Berkeley City Council while still a student and served from 1984 to 1992. She remains the only student ever elected to the City Council.[1][3]

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In 2016, Skinner ran for the California State Senate to replace Senator Loni Hancock, who was termed-out of office in 2016. She was elected to office on November 8, 2016 and sworn in on December 5, 2016. In the 2017–2018 and 2019–2020 legislative sessions, she served as the Majority Whip of the state Senate.[8][9] In the 2019 legislative session, she chaired the state Senate's Public Safety committee.[9] In November 2020, Skinner won reelection to the Senate for another four-year term.[10]

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from wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Skinner_(California_politician)

Nancy Skinner was also the Executive Director of the Graduate Assembly at Cal (Graduate Assembly is the graduate student government, ASUC for under grads). Ms. Skinner is an extremely competent person.

Know this because I was a Graduate Assembly delegate from Haas B-School MBA program in 85-86 and 86-87 and on the finance committee these two years. Had a BS with highest honors from the School of Natural Resources from the 1970s and worked at USFS research lab then in Berkeley. My only contact ever with Ms. Skinner was GA and doubtful if she remembers me.

Those specific years were also (as per article below), were immediately following the Anti-Apartheid demonstrations and the beginnings of ASGE took place. There was an occupation of Sproul Hall (Cal's administration building) and grad TA strike (that I argued against and did not participate) while I was a GA delegate.

Free Palestine Encampment mirrors 1980s protests against South African apartheid

Kiana Sezawar Keshavarz; Apr 29, 2024; The Daily Californian

As UC Berkeley’s Free Palestine Encampment enters its second week, onlookers have begun to draw parallels between this protest and the 1985-86 campus demonstrations for divestment from South African apartheid.

On April 10, 1985, students staged a sit-in on the steps of Sproul Hall to protest South African apartheid and the university's investments in the South African state. The protest became an encampment that remained on the steps until nearly the end of the 1985 school year.

The current encampment, which was established after a rally for Gaza last week, has four main demands, as listed on a banner hung above the very same steps as the South African apartheid protest. Demands include an end to the silence regarding the genocide in Gaza, financial divestment, an academic boycott and an end to the repression of Palestinian students and their allies, according to the sign.

https://www.dailycal.org/news/campus/student-life/free-palestine-encampment-mirrors-1980s-protests-against-south-african-apartheid/article_1fac6bc6-0624-11ef-a0ea-87db70263af0.html