Humboldt County: Garbage or Gold?

Is it time to get involved?

Poll: Do you believe Humboldt County should allow the proposed Jungo Road Landfill?

The local group NevadansAgainstGarbage.com have an internet poll that you can participate in. Two years ago, Humboldt County changed its ordinances without any public consultation to allow garbage from outside its area to be dumped at Jungo. Now a company called Recology has been issued a permit to create a "560-acre regional landfill 25 miles west of Winnemucca. This proposed landfill is to receive 8 million pounds of garbage per day, five days per week, with a proposed lifetime of 95 years, from the state of California."

Maybe it's time burners became involved. A large percentage of burners are from California. Isn't it time we took our LNT policy home with us?

In other Jungo news, Aultra Gold Inc. discovered gold at Jungo in 2006. The Jungo property lies between the historic Sleeper and Hycroft mines in Humboldt County, Nevada. The Hycroft mine has recently gone back into production resulting in repairs to the Jungo Road between Winnemucca and Jungo.

So what's it going to be: Garbage or Gold?

Climate Change - Blog Action Day 2009

It's long past the time for action on Climate Change so I decided to focus on a group that is doing something real to make a difference. Black Rock Solar developed from the Green Man theme at Burning Man 2007. Tom Price then the Green Man manager charged with greening the burn took up the challenge and has now formed a not-for-profit to:

take on climate change, and speed the adoption of renewable energy, by building low or no cost solar power in unlikely places, and teaching community members how they can do the same. Because if we’re going to solve the climate crisis, everyone has to be part of the solution. They can then use all the money they save to support their communities how they best see fit.

To date, Black Rock Solar has been involved with installing solar panels at schools, universities and churches with financing provided by NV Energy, in some cases. For example at Lovelock Nevada's school, Black Rock Solar has installed two arrays of panels which will save the amount of one teacher's salary over the course of the lifetime of the array. This initiative illustrates the intent of Black Rock Solar to put renewable energy to work so that other not-for-profits can focus their resources on their mission. Next in line to receive a solar panel array is the Northern Nevada Food Bank. Several other projects have also been completed in the communities of Gerlach and Nixon. And more work is underway in California, Texas and Michigan.

Not one to stand on past laurels, Price is plowing ahead to make solar affordable for homeowners in Nevada. He and Black Rock Solar were proponents of Assembly Bill 186, enacted on October 1, 2009, which changes a long standing Nevada law to allow homeowners to contract with a renewable energy business to use creative financing and install products at little or no cost up front. Not only will this allow homeowners who couldn't realistically afford to update with renewable energy to move forward but it is also a boost to the solar power industry in Nevada.

As one of the Culture Labs of Black Rock City, Black Rock Solar is taking the culture of Burning Man out to the real world to deal with Climate Change by using minimal resources, minimal staff, some volunteers and minimal administrative expenses to deliver real change to communities in Nevada, California, Texas and Michigan.

Donations for this exceptional project are tax-deductible for US contributors and real resources will help push this project ahead. Donate here.

Woodstock - no not that one, the other one

Writing for the next week from Woodstock New York while attending the Tenth Annual Woodstock Film Festival.

Some of my reviews and reflections will be available on Huffington Post, whose senior editor Stewart Nusbaumer has assisted me with credentialling, etc. I remain hopeful that a Canadian publication will be interested in purchasing some of these interviews and articles. Wow, has journalism ever changed!!!

Stewart and Caleb met in Iraq and Afghanistan and shared many of the same war time journalism experiences. This has been our first opportunity to get together as Stewart was in Afghanistan when Caleb died. We're working on the Film Festival but also making time to share our Caleb stories. Stewart's property at Arkville is hidden away in the Catskills - only 2 and half hours from the George Washington bridge!

Caleb would have loved it here. The property reminds me of his home turf at Buchanan and even has a separate studio building similar to his father's. With the fall leaves changing colour, Caleb would have loved it here so I'm making the best of the situation and enjoying the experience here too. Stewart has many stories to share and much encouragement for younger journalists. Being here is like being bathed in the warm glow of a mentor. Now I understand why Caleb spoke so highly of Stewart.

My business card will henceforth say "Fiercely Independent Journalist".

Does ferocity scare editors or publishers? Who knows but it is now time for me to find out?

And here's the press photo...

Moving on - Playa memorials for Caleb Schaber

How to remember Caleb Schaber this year at the burn? Playa time being what it is, pick the one you can fit in to your schedule or that helps you to say goodbye:

• Bring a “found item” like a piece of wood that he might have painted on to add to the on-playa Outsider Art sculpture that we are creating. If you have one of Caleb’s paintings, photocopy and bring that to put on the sculpture. Bring that email that haunts you still. Heck, Caleb once created a piece of art from a pizza box! There will be basic tools to assist and some paints to apply your note – bring burnables only please. It is your sculpture of your memories of Caleb and we will burn it after the memorial on Thursday evening. Check at the ARTERY for placement location.

• Make an origami crane with the assistance of the crew at Rue Morgue (9:00 plaza) early in the week to place either on the sculpture or in the coffin that Rue Morgue puts in the Temple each year. Write your goodbye to Caleb on the crane. This is a drop-in anytime activity.

• Meet on Monday evening at 6PM at the Black Rock Beacon on Evolution Rd @ 5:30, to help us swarm the city's porta potties. We have created a Mental Health survivors Guide to the Playa and printed 500 on sticky labels for the porta potties. In Caleb's memory, let's help those who are suffering to have a safe burn!

• Eat breakfast on Wednesday morning at 8AM and until the food runs out at Toon Town Disco. We’re hosting the Breakfast of Mental Health Champions. We are going to be sooooo politically incorrect as to knock mental health stigma out of our society’s lexicon on Caleb’s behalf. There will be good food to fortify us, heck, Rhino is even bringing GRITS! I’m crazy; you’re crazy too, come dance with me at the disco!

• Memorial at Rue Morgue, 9:00 plaza at 6PM on Thursday followed by the burning of the sculpture once the sun sets. Bring your own “shooter” glass, tequila might be involved. Heck, bring some tequila so there's lots.

• Visit the Temple and leave your memories there. A poster has been created with some photos of Caleb. His name is on the Memorial Burner Plaque. One page in the book of memories in the center of the Temple is for Caleb – read about his life. Add your notes nearby.

• Attend Temple Burn this year, watch the coffin full of cranes enter the Temple and remember that crazy email Caleb sent you and let it all go as the Temple goes up in flames.

• If none of these fit your schedule or your personal connection to Caleb, crack open a PBR and drink to his memory. Don’t be surprised if there’s one less PBR in your cooler – his spirit will be there all around us hopping from camp to camp looking for a brew and deep, spirited conversation. When he shows up at your camp, love him or curse him for leaving us all behind to carry on without his crazy, wild, genius.

Peace be with you, Caleb

BURNcast.TV Presents: In Loving Memory

Burncast Memorial Video

DaBomb of Burncast TV has created a very moving tribute to all the Burners and significant friends who have passed away this year. The music is perfect for this expert arrangement of photos including Caleb. Thanks DaBomb for your very moving project.

BURNcast.TV: BURNcast.TV Presents: In Loving Memory

A memorial service for Caleb Schaber will be held at this year's burn at Rue Morgue in the 9:00 Plaza on Thursday evening starting at 6PM. Origami cranes can be made at Rue Morgue in advance of this service for placement in the memorial coffin to be burned in the Temple on Sunday evening.

My camp will be with the Black Rock Beacon located on Revolution Rd. @ 5:30. I look forward to meeting Caleb's friends at this burn so that we can celebrate his exciting and interesting life together.

We are permitted to grieve
Because we have been
Privileged to love.
To escape grief at the cost of
Never having loved
Is too dear a price to pay

In loving memory of Caleb Schaber

a tribute slideshow

Just made my first upload to YouTube. I'm sure I need to learn something because the quality is not as high as when I view it on my own laptop. Oh well, it was a creative endeavour that was healing.

Caleb's Memorial Monolith Burn

Oh and I really didn't like that YouTube stripped the audio and forced me to replace it with a classical piece. The original soundtrack I made included some of Caleb's favourite tunes and I even bought them but you can't put those on YouTube.

Caleb and I had an intense interest in news and would send each other links constantly. Now every time I see something that I think he'd like, I have to stop myself from sending it.

I'm resigned to having to deal with his death, I'm just now coming to realize that it's all real so I guess I'm not in shock anymore. Amazing the value of being in shock!

postponing birthday

Can you imagine having a birthday in the middle of this?

On April 17th, I witnessed the shooting suicide of one of my best friends in the world, a man I loved. I am so friggin' mad that I couldn't stop him. I tried everything. But I'm even madder that no one else tried to help, even when asked.

Today, FB is sending me happy, happy greetings and all I can do is cry. I have crawled into my pajamas and been here for almost a week. The idea of happy just doesn't register. I don't blame these happy greeters, it's what we do on FB. But doesn't that say something about it's complete lack of relevance to the lives of real live friends?

When are we going to take the lack of mental health care in our world seriously? My friend Caleb deserved better from society and he didn't get it and I couldn't help. My rage at the system knows no bounds today. Depression is not contagious, all we need to do is reach out an empathetic hand as a society and provide the professional services requested and needed. As far as I'm concerned we're all responsible when someone chooses suicide because they couldn't get the help they needed when they asked for it. Every friggin' person on this continent is in some way responsible for the death of Caleb Schaber - he asked for help and we didn't give it to him.

Some people in officialdom even made his life worse. When I'm finished with the Department of Social Services in the City of Seattle, they will not know what hit them. Judging by the emails recently, they are starting to get that message except Mayor Greg Nickels who can keep his jargon and patronizing crap. Too bad that Caleb didn't defeat him in that election back in 2001. As for PayPal, in cahoots with RBC and TD Canada Trust, those bastards will never hear the end of my rage. When I feel better I will hire a lawyer to go after their asses on Caleb's behalf.

And then there's the whole PTSD thing from war. We teach children to get along in the school yard. No lying, no biting, no snatching of toys, etc. Then we grow up and vote for imperialistic shits (owned in whole or in part by military suppliers and world finance) who lead entire nations to war on a pack of lies using torture and stealing resources from weaker nations. Time for women to take a part on the big stage and get the human race on the path to peace.

So, I'm officially postponing my birthday. Today, I'm having a pity party at my house and no one is invited.

Instead of greetings to me, please send an email or phone call to someone you know who needs it or might need it. Talk to someone in your own circle who is having a tough time. Your phone call, your email could be the one thing that gets that person through today.

Re-schedule date for the celebratory birthday is TBA, later. Maybe next year will be easier.




PS. to those who really know me, you know I specifically asked for this week alone in my pjs and I am getting the professional help I need. Next week I will try to get out. Today, I'm feeling the rage and letting it go.