Fat Bill and Me

American Education

2012-01-23T12:06:00.000-08:00

Peter Pond

2012-01-23T07:30:00.000-08:00

Republican

2012-01-23T07:29:00.000-08:00

After 50 years of being a Democrat and a political activist I am now a Republican and believe as the Jehovah Witnesses do ... that is, people should not vote. Worry about the Government of God not the Government of Man.

Your vote doesn't matter in fact it just encourages power and authority of rulers who don't care what you think. The people of this Country and culture will never change it.

The citizens and those living here are so controlled that it renders we humans incapable of stopping the mass collective evil. We still think that we are the heros of the world for stopping the Nazis or the Commies or the Muslims when in reality we are the pigs ... a little more equal than other people.

Face Book and the internet are the new junk heroine of the people. Media, smart phones, social networking, and a sick obsession with politics will prove to be the our downfall.

We are told to cheer for the murder people in Libya, children Gaza and Iraq and anywhere else where our greed takes us. Although I would never take part in violence, I will never condemn violence against this country because of our murderous nature.

Buzzy_Taxes

2011-11-27T18:57:00.001-08:00

Jack and Arlene at Steve and Ellen's Wedding

2011-11-23T18:48:00.001-08:00

Andrea

2011-11-19T07:01:00.001-08:00

Hand Pies

2011-11-18T15:12:00.001-08:00

Faire

2011-11-17T17:56:00.001-08:00

I was talking to a fellow time traveler friend of mine, Rachel Rubin about the Renaissance Pleasure Faire.

I was describing Teske, Self Proclaimed Idiot Savant and Star Map Maker. Teske knew that all memories resided in some place or thing, That someplace was "Media." Teske also knew the names of every visible star to the naked eye. Being a "Trekkie" like myself, Teske knew time travel was forward as well as backward ... maybe at the same time.

I collaborated with Teske on "The World's Largest Marbleized Planetized Star Map"

The thing about living at the Living History Center (Faire site) was that "here and now" of it all was the farthest thing from time travel. I mean, the interactions were real life like when someone bit off Lumpy's ear in a drunk fight. Or when during the Faire, in character, I was forced to buy 20 staff members (guards) mead for passing out a seditious flier or for being a loud mouth at the fencing booth.

Thing like marbling, fencing, backgammon ('tables') and of course food were both the 'flavor' of the faire as well as circuit to take traveling time.

James S. Riepe. Jimmy Riepe to us.

2011-09-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

Jimmy Riepe didn’t come to his 50th high school reunion, I believe he may be far too important for the blue-collar Milford, Connecticut. Or maybe, as is the case with my wife, he and she just didn't want to look back at their days in high school and the people they knew during that short time.

Jim Riepe (upper right) with Tom Coviello (in glasses), Hal Gorman (#19) and Nick Cerino (far left).

Like many kids in the late 50s and early 60s we in the class of '61 benefited from the good education opportunities, the relatively healthy economy, and the some what safe progressive social environment of our suburban Connecticut town.

Jimmy Riepe (right) with his hand on Bruce Kuryla's head sitting in the Coviello's apartment on Center Street.

Whether Riep (pronounced "Reap") was a real friend of mine ... I don't know. And it doesn't matter in the sense of it not being germane to this story. I do know that we spent a lot of time together. I also know we each owe much to Milford, CT.

James S. Riepe - "Take everyone's advice and do as you please"

In the 1961 Milford High's yearbook the Wepawaug Riepe's 'Ambition' was "To go into business management." He certainly did that. Most kids were not that specific about their 'Ambition' opting only to hope "To attend college."

Jimmy Riepe, #37 (center sitting), in 1960 played for Mario Ponsale's Milford 'Indians.'

In high school Riepe was a good ball player, heady and serious. Although maybe not deserving of the title 'Lineman of the Decade' that the local paper bestowed upon him when Milford High's doors were close and 6,000 people attended an all-class reunion in 1983. Jimmy Riepe went on to Captain the University of Pennsylvania varsity football team, proving that the basic football skills and lessons of character taught to him by head coach Mario Ponsalle served Jim Reipe, as well as hundreds of other young men, more than we would like to admit.

Coach Mario Ponsalle (with ball) talks to Hal Gorman (far left). Jim Riepe (far right) looks on.

Mario Ponsalle was a good man, unique and tough. He died at 50 years old in 1973. When Riepe and I played ball Ponsalle had two assistants, Noel Wilkins and the very cool Vito DeVito.

Before the reunion I looked back at those days, those people and the football experience and thought that the imprinting (good or bad) was pressed so deeply into my very being that it was an anchor that both stabilized me and held me back ... for fifty fucking years. Maybe it was the constant head-pounding of the sport or the team building bond Coach Ponsalle created that imprinted the memories so A.F.O. hard on me. But it only took one Google search to find out that there is no Santa Claus and how much more I like Mario Ponsalle after searching the internet -finding this scan:

So before being a Milford High School coach Ponsalle took a Civil Service test for a friend. I thought that was the way it was in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1950.

Here one of those stories have to do with Assistant Coach Noel Wilkins, not on the gridiron but in the classroom. Wilkins taught a high school beginning world history class. One day he writes on the blackboard the word "Islam." He turns to the class and instructs everyone to take out their notebooks. He clearly directs his fourteen or fifteen year old students to subtitle the "Islam" section. "Under that heading write the word ... " then slapping the chalk on the board Wilkins printed and said ... "BLOODSUCKER."
"Holy Toledo", my little brain says. "What was that?"
Granted in 1959 living in a mostly white back-east suburban town I was naive to future of hate but at that very moment I knew something was very wrong. But I think the real question is how different people respond to the exact same experience.

Peter Pond (upper back left near radiator) and James Riepe (upper right back near blackboard) with Ron Cloutier and others at a "Hi-Y" meeting in Milford High School 1960.

A.F.O., Hi-Y and a Trophy Case

Part of going to my high school reunion was to ask forgive or thank everyone I talked to ... or as with Ron Cloutier maybe both. I was bringing some memorabilia for the trophy case in the halls of Milford High, now the Parson's Center or basically a Town Hall annex government building. I thought to my self that the last time I looked in the funky collection of glass trophy and display cases I didn't see a letter sweater.

Paul S

Who Shot Tommy Cov at Reipe's House?

What reporters live for.

2011-01-07T07:45:00.000-08:00

What could be better for a local reporter than to cover a story about porn, money and tax evasion? Santa Fe New Mexican's Tom Sharpe can't hide his glee at the assignment to cover this story.

Tom Sharpe, reporter for the New Mexican.

Rotten Banana Susana and the Martinez Police State

2011-01-04T09:10:00.000-08:00

New Mexico's Governor Susana Martinez has taken office and the shift in politics and mood in Santa Fe has quaked the body politic. And to be honest I don't think I want to continue this blog or continue the theme of covering the perceived relationship between a Governor and an average citizen of New Mexico. Martinez is not only mean and scary but she relishes in reputation. It was fun trashing Governor Fat Bill Richardson but it is hard to enjoy trashing BIG SISTER is Watching a the Police State Governor ... because it is so true and relevant. Susana Martinez initials signify the style of governance she will use ... S and M.

The frumpy former DA with close ties to both Texas and Sarah Palin should receive a chilly reception from the State Legislature considering the Freudian slip she made during her swearing-in ceremony saying instead of Lawbreakers "Lawmakers will have no stronger adversary."

"Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today."

2010-12-31T09:16:00.000-08:00

Bill Richardson as a baseball player for Tufts

When Bill Richardson was running for President I ask reporter Steve Terrell what song would be appropriate for Richardson's theme song. He answered, Credence Clearwater's "Put Me In Coach (Centerfield)."

Bill Richardson Rocks

My darling friend Judy Beth Yelsky nailed it when to the irritation of his critics declared the indisputable fact "My Governor (Bill Richardson) is a Rock Star."

I always always thought that the tie that Richardson wore in the photo on the left was wild and cool. The last time I spoke to the Governor was after shooting a public service announcement for the Census. Richardson was very generous to take time to make the TV commercial to promote the Census especially since I was involved and he knew of this blog. Before the shoot he had acknowledged me with a very curt nod. Afterward I approached the Governor to thank him. I was wearing a tie with woven alternating images of the Democratic donkey and the Great Seal of the U.S. Presidency. The tie was given to me from a friend who's father had received it from Lyndon Johnson. I took the tie off and gave it to the Governor. Richardson was humble and gracious in accepting the gift. "Cool tie." he said, thanking me.

Bill Richardson's Hands

2010-12-30T12:33:00.000-08:00

"This is the end, my only friend the end" quote Ben Lujan

2010-12-30T11:46:00.000-08:00

This is the end
My only friend, the end ...
So limitless and free
Desperately in need ...
the end

See you around Governor, thanks.

2010-12-30T07:10:00.000-08:00

Spooky Bill Richardson.

Governor Bill Richardson is out of here in about thirty six hours. Although I don't think that talking about the blogging process is a good way to explain issues, I have to tell you all that most hits I get now come from photos. And since image searches are done by using words it is very important to title your web hosted images to match what people are searching for. The small photo of Richardson listening to what seemed to be one of his spy friends is weakly titled "small_spooky_Bill"
and the other small photo titled "wen_ho_lee" both could have been better titled something like "Bill_Richardson_CIA" or "Richardson_spy_China" ... that is, if I wanted to discuss how Richardson was allowed to do what he did as an international diplomat.

Bill Richardson and former Governor Gary Johnson while hunting. Gun control in New Mexico ...I don't think so!
Of course the words you use in a file (post) attract hits to a photo and the more hits a file gets the higher a image gets in the image search. So say I did a post about Richardson that became popular and I also used a photo of President Obama smoking (which I did do) within that post then when people searched for an images of "Bill Richardson" the photo below pops up in that search.

From Bill the Kid to Billy the Kid

2010-12-30T06:38:00.000-08:00

As "Fat Bill and Me" approaches 100,000 hits Governor Richardson prepares for his last day in office. I don't know exactly what will happen to Bill Richardson, this blog or myself. But because I chose to only web host a certain amount of photos for this blog I am in the process of deleting many of the unsuccessful or unpopular photos of Richardson and re-posting the ones that might live for ever in cyber-space.

"I'll Be Back"

2010-12-28T06:48:00.000-08:00

Governor Bill Richardson says, "I'll be Back."

Handsome Bill Richardson with lovely sister Vesta.

2010-12-23T07:35:00.000-08:00

Richardson in Korea - Martinez Puts On Weight

2010-10-15T08:38:00.001-07:00

Let's Ride

2010-10-15T08:38:00.000-07:00

Susana Martinez: Susana Banana ... The Cactus Woman

2010-04-20T21:02:00.000-07:00

Lame-duck Governor "Fat Bill" Richardson and the chunky Governor-elect Susana "Banana" Martinez.

Susana Martinez' first appointments were all ex-military. Heather Wilson, Ed Burckle. and Michael Duvall.

Her husband was an under-sheriff and she was a DA.

Martinez is expected to be tagged as "Governor Mean"... about as huggable as a cactus.

During the campaign she said she would not cut funding for education or Medicaid but before even being sworn in she is reneging.

Susana "The Big Banana" Martinez is a cactus woman ... prickly and pro-military.

Heather Wilson: Transition team General.
When Martinez appointed the former Air Force officer and Dick Cheney's good pal Heather Wilson to head the transition team for New Mexico's new Governor's Administration I knew it was going to be a long four (eight?) years. Wilson is one of those teflon-type politician who even when caught lying escapes repercussions.

Wilson (above left) speaks to fellow militarist at Kirkland Air Force Base And below, a file photo of Richardson entertaining Korean diplomats in Santa Fe.

What happened to Diane Denish?.

New Mexico's Lieutenant Governor and defeated Democratic candidate for Governor (on right) and Cove (left) both wear Census 2010 hats.

The thing about Diane Denish is that I thought she really cared. It sounds corny but I did.

I had spoken with her about the Census, ethics, and the Tea Party. Although she understood the importance of getting a complete Census count in our State and that she had a desire to help promote the Census, she just had to decline a offer to make a public service announcement because she has pledged not to give the appearance of using her office for personal publicity in an election year. I knew right then and there she was in trouble facing a Republican 'Mean Machine.'

In a state with such needs an under-count of residences would really hit hard. For every person not counted in the Census the State of New Mexico would lose about $2,000 a year for TEN years. Most of that money would be earmarked for health services for the less fortunate.

One thing I found strange listening to Denish at that time was her idea that the "Tea Party wanted to take over the Governors office." Strange in the sense that at that moment she had five different Republican opponent challengers. I must admit I underestimated people's anger at Richardson and the swing toward conservative reactionary fearful polarized mean politics.

For me the contest to become the first modern day woman Governor of New Mexico was sorta like a race between two hot air balloons. Each being pushed in the same direction by the same forces. The winner was going to be a cut-out paper doll of a leader ... conservative, ruled by money, and blown around by the prevailing winds.

Would Rahm Emanuel Off Obama If Was Told To?

2010-03-17T20:14:00.000-07:00

I have a different view of the so-called U.S./Israeli "crisis."

I think Rahm Emanuel manipulated the current situation to benefit Israeli interests. Everyone knows that Emanuel is a high ranking Mossad agent who was working as Obama's Chief of Staff.

Former Sheriff Greg Solano with former Chief of Staff for the White House Rahm Emanuel.
Did Rahm Emanuel teach Greg Salano how to steal?

Cove with former Mayor Debbie Jaramillo.
Sometimes you just have to laugh.

Governor Bill Richardson: Iran and the U.S. Census

2010-01-29T19:25:00.000-08:00

Photo of Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico wearing a U.S. Census "Be Counted" baseball cap shaking hands with Cove (right).

Governor Bill Richardson is brilliant, engaging and powerful, but sometimes he has the attention span of a six year old. When things are not immediately on the plate in front of him, he is impatient and distant. Writing this blog that centers around New Mexico's Governor Richardson and my life in Santa Fe has been a joy. As his term ends, I reflect upon the bell curve of life. The ups and downs of it all.

As I entered his office, I thought how he didn't know me from a hole in the wall. We had talked a few times and interacted a few other times but it was presumptuous of me (not to mention insulting) to imply by the name of this blog, Fat Bill and Me, that I actually had some kind of relationship with the guy.

I sat for a while in the waiting room, thinking how during this legislative session the Governor must be inundated with favor-seekers looking for help with bills before the legislature ... most with their hands out-stretched looking for dough. At least I wasn't asking for money.

Governor Richardson's office in the Round House Santa Fe, New Mexico.

A woman assistant to Governor Richardson walked by and spoke to the jacket-less gentleman sitting next to me. "Are you first?" she asked.
"I guess so. One of my bills is in trouble," he said, without looking up from the stapled pile of papers he was holding.

I thought he might be a House member or something. I thought about asking 'Who are you?' but I struck up a conversation about the Governor instead. "The last time I got to speak to the Governor I was amazed how open he was," I said. The mysterious, obviously important guy looked up and mumbled something affirmative. I continued, "I had come to talk to him about torture and what happened at Abu Ghraib and he was kind enough to speak to me."

The subject seemed to interest my fellow waiting room friend. He began to open up about when Governor Richardson was running for President and a group of military people came to him to say that Richardson was the only candidate that "got it." The man with the papers characterized the group by saying, "They certainly weren't a bunch of left wing liberals."

I mentioned I had a blog about Richardson and that I had written about my meeting with him and how it had turned me from a foul-mouth critic to a fan. Then I asked if the guy was a legislator. "No", he said, "I work for the Governor," handing me his card. "Are you still blogging?" he asked.
"Yeah, but I'm picking on Ben Ray Lujan and Rahm Emanuel now."
A little smile came to the face of, as his card read, Jim Farrell: Policy Advisor - Office of the Governor. "What's the name of your blog?" Now a little smile came to my face ... pause, "Ah, Fat Bill and Me," I sheepishly said. And at that very moment the lady assistant to Governor Richardson came over and told Jim Farrell, "He'll see you now."

One thing I know for sure about Governor Bill Richardson ... do not underestimate his memory or his appetite

As I sat on one side of his enormous inner conference room waiting for him to arrive, I was in earshot of a group of people also waiting to talk to him. When the Governor did arrive, I was the only person to respectfully stand up when he entered the room with two secretaries and a well dressed plain clothes State Police officer.

The group of people before me were there to talk about some funding issue dealing with a rural water project. The Governor knew one of the men as a former Mayor of a small New Mexico town. The Mayor pitched Richardson a plea for more money and 'Big Bill' Richardson tossed him back some figures about how his administration had increased funding for water projects in their area. I like using baseball analogies when I talk about the former baseball player and current hardball player, Bill Richardson. Richardson then threw a change-up by remembering the sandwiches the former Mayor had given him when Richardson visited his town many years ago. Later on, the Governor ended the inning by saying, "I'll see what I can do, if I can get some more of those sandwiches." The nice Jewish lady sitting next to me, who also overheard the conversation, turned to me and said with an implied 'Oy Vey' ..."Again with the sandwich?"

Now it was my turn.
I was asked to sit next to him. On the practically baseball diamond size table, I laid down some examples of marbling that I had brought to show Richardson. Of course, he didn't remember the last time I had spoken to him about the ancient bookbinding craft, and that he had given me permission to use his name in establishing a non-profit foundation to support the art form. I reminded him of the importance of marbling to New Mexico and the importance of New Mexico to the worldwide resurgence of the art.

I tried to explain how marbling was done by floating colors on top of water, and that the Museum of New Mexico had had several shows at the Governor's Gallery just outside his office door. One international show of these decorative papers had been just a few months ago.

Alexis America and Cove marbling.

As I was explaining how I wanted to go to Iran, perhaps the birthplace of marbling as an art form, to contact Iranian artists and arrange a cultural exchange, the Governor interrupted, anticipating my request by saying, "So you want me to write to the Iranians."

The Governor got a little gruff after asking an assistant twice to see the woman in charge of the Governor's Gallery. He turned to me and said of the example of marbling that I had brought, "Let me see your stuff." I said I would follow up with a written request.
The Governor studied the antique book cover with a marbled end page that was in front of him. Then with a sudden shift of gears, the incredibly gifted diplomat Richardson said, "What else do you have for me?" Meaning of course ... next subject.

"Well Governor, I have to tell you about the hard-working people of the Census. You know, the Santa Fe Office has 16 counties to cover, with some of the hardest to count areas in the country. I think you should recognize the very difficult but important work being done, especially by the women working for the Census."

I went on to tell Governor Richardson about some of my friends, like Alexandra, who has 140,000 square miles of northern New Mexico to cover and is responsible for finding and counting the homeless. Or Bertha, who has to make sure 1,500 Census workers get paid. I went on about the many women of New Mexico who deserve some acknowledgment for what I consider this vital and difficult task of making sure we get our rightful representation in Congress and our fair share of Federal funds.

Richardson listened intently as did his two women assistants. I gave the Governor the card of the government liaison for what they call the Census Partnership Program and I gave him a red Census "Be Counted" hat. I asked if I could take his picture with the hat on his head. But he surprised me by calling out to his staff saying, "Someone take a picture of my friend Coviello and me."

After the photo was taken, I said to Governor Bill Richardson, "I had a bet, Governor, that I could get you to put that hat on, because I'm such a good suck-up and you were such a great baseball player."

Everyone in the room laughed, and
the Governor grinned ear to ear.

Geno Zamora: He Does What He's Told

2010-01-10T02:47:00.000-08:00

Geno Zemora (left) is Santa Fe's new City Attorney. He has always done what he was told to do and so has David Coss. So it is no surprise that when Governor Bill Richardson (right), who is running Coss' re-eleection campaign, told the Mayor to appoint Zamora ... both Coss and Zamora obeyed. Below is a reprint from four years ago describing when I first met Geno.

Santa Fe, New Mexico: Oct. 1, 2005

Governor Bill Richardson is up for re-election in 2006 and today was the first day to pick up filing papers for State of New Mexico's political campaigns.

I love the Capitol area on Saturday. Calm.

It has been six years since the Secretary of State for New Mexico has had offices in the Roundhouse. How the fuck should I know?

The church bells actually were chiming eight when I opened the door to the two story building next to the Capitol that housed the Secretary of State. I was there to pick up a petition to run for Governor.

As far as I could tell, Santa Fe City Councilor David Pfeffer, Geno Zamora, and I were the first ones there. Pfeffer was filing papers for the U.S. Senate (Republican) and Zamora, former Chief Counsel to Fat Bill, was there for papers to run for N.M. Attorney General.

As I went to the window to get the packet, I caught Pfeffer's eye. The last time we met, David Pfeffer told me, "I'm not talking to you about anything."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because of all the bad things you said about Jews", Pfeffer snapped back at me.
What things did I say? I really didn't know what anti-Israeli comment of mine he misconstrued to be Anti-Semitic.
"I don't remember exactly what you said, but..." Pfeffer answered, with that look like, 'Oh shit, I don't have a quote.'

Anyway, when I saw Councilor Pfeffer I put out my hand to shake his and I gave him a respectful nod, "Councilor." This time, Pfeffer was ready with his quote..."What are you running for now, God?". What a geek, I thought.
"I'm running for God's Boss, Governor of New Mexico", I said.
Just then the smiling clerk asked, "Will that be on a Major Party ticket?"

As I was walking toward the elevator a guy in a suit came walking toward me. Nice smile, looked important. I put out my hand, "Hi, I'm Cove."
"Hi Cove, I'm Geno Zamora."

I asked Geno if he was getting help with his race from the Governor, his ex-boss.
"That a good question," he answered.
That's not a very good answer, I said in my head. In fact, it's a pretty dumb question, come to think of it.
After a little chit-chat, I said I was running for Governor from the extreme extreme left. "Out beyond the Deanie's" is how I put it.
Geno smiled.
Then it was poker time.
"As a lawyer," I said, "you would be interested in this...I have been blogging for a while now that Governor Richardson took money from the CIA to throw the last election."
One one-thousand; two one-thousand..."Interesting," Fat Bill's Suit replied.
"Yeah, I think the Governor is CIA and it doesn't matter," I continued.
One one-thousand; two one-thousand..."Interesting," Attorney Zamora repeated in the same Suit language.

I said something to Zamora about Fat Bill Richardson's position on the war.
"He cares deeply about the war. He's the only Governor to lower the flag at half mast when we lose a soldier. You know he calls the family..." Zamora rambled on defending his old boss.

"Oh yeah, the Governor is pro-military." I said, silencing Geno. "I've been trying to find out if the Governor has ever mentioned the words 'Abu Ghraib' publicly." I continued, "Do you know if he ever talked about it?"

Zamora laughed and said, "I guess I shouldn't be talking about my conversation with my boss."

"Let's ask him," I said, looking around the room for Governor Lardo.

"I have to join my party now. Nice talking to you."

Ben Ray Lujan and the Death of Democracy in a Government Town.

2009-11-24T05:09:00.000-08:00

Cove and U.S. Representative Ben Ray Lujan.

I like the guy. He's sweet and slick.

After all, Ben Ray Lujan allowed me in his office and managed to dodge or slip every question.

He never once told me anything I didn't already know. He never once declared his beliefs except about being one of the sponsors of pro-gay and lesbian legislation.

If there was one time when Ben Ray Lujan spontaneously broke into a smile was when I told him that I had a picture of he and Rahm Emanuel. That smile was a 'tell.'

While requesting the appointment I had told the nice progressive Jewish brilliant young lady aide to Representative Lujan that I wanted to talk to the Congressman about Israel and the use of American taxpayer's money to kill Palestinian children. And what was remarkable was that this particular aide and her long time friend Herb Cohen were both in somewhat agreement with me about Israeli extremism. Herb ( of the Steaksmith fame was on Ben Ray's calendar next. Before me was Peter Komis and before him was Jose Villegas. Cohen, Komis, and Villegas ... real polictical animals all and all real Santa Feans.

(To be continued.)

Rahm Emanuel Trashed By Bill Moyers ... Go Bill!

2009-09-02T16:14:00.000-07:00

On the Bill Maher's Real Time TV show journalist and former White House staffer Bill Moyers trashed Obama's Chief of Staff and the architect of Obama's health care reform Rahm Emanuel.

Moyers said that through Emanuel Obama told "... most out-spoken champions of health care reform to 'Sit down and shut up.' That's what Rahm Emanuel in effect, Chief of Staff at the White House, has told progressives when they stood up as a unit in Congress and said 'No public insurance option ... NO health care reform.'

"And I think the reason for that is" Moyers continued, "... in the time since I was there, forty years ago, the Democratic Party has become like the Republican Party ... equally influenced by corporate money."

"I think Rahm Emanuel, who is a clever politician, understands the money for Obama's re-election will come primarily from the health care industry, the drug industry and Wall Street. And so he (Emanuel) is a corporate Democrat who is destined ... DETERMINED that there won't be something in this legislation, if we get it, that will turn off those powerful interests."

Zara Kriegstein Died.

2009-08-28T13:49:00.000-07:00

Zara in a marbleized outfit she made.

Zara with Jack Sinclair at the Las Vegas, Nevada show of Santa Fe Artists.

Parking Ticket ... Santa Fe Style!

2009-08-26T06:39:00.000-07:00

Even a fair judge can’t administer an unjust law. Tommy Fiorina tried and they rode him out of town on a rail.

A City parking enforcement vehicle that was parked illegally in a Santa Fe downtown yellow zone was ticketed with an over-sized 'citation.'

I recently got a parking ticket for a loading zone violation. I left my vehicle running and dashed out to deliver something at a downtown store. I came right out and found one of those cursed ticketing City employees hovering over my car like some hungry vampire.

I yelled, “I’m leaving. I’m out of here.”
The heartless creature turned toward me, smiled and then pushed the button on his hand-held torture device. Out popped a $37 ticket. Now, judging from the line at the once-a-month municipal court session to challenge a parking citation, I bet many people regularly face the brutal money-grubbing unfair parking policies of Mayor Coss and Judge Yalman’s administration.

As much of a monopoly and CORRUPT program and as bad as the punitive selective tax called ticketing is, the worst part is it is not designed to solve the parking problem. It is a cash cow. It is government for profit and injustice for sale.

Sitting in Judge Yalman’s court one has to take pity on those poor (and soon to be poorer) people who have gotten caught entering the hallow grounds of a “Handicapped Zone” without a permit issued with approval of any quack in New Mexico.

Do you know that there are now more handicap permits issued in Santa Fe than there are parking meters? Why is this important? That is because if a handicap space is not available to a permit holder they can park at any meter without paying anytime.

In Yalman’s very P.C. court one sad pizza delivery guy was made to grovel to get his fine reduced from the doubled $500 to “normal” 250 smackers because he had pulled in front of his employer’s business where there were five vacant handicapped parking spaces. I bet that fine was more than the man took home for the week.

When I asked Judge Yalman about people coming to her court pleading “No Contest” to a parking ticket (mine or the pizza guy’s) that should really be handled ‘administratively’ rather then ‘judicially’; that had mitigating circumstances; that was part of a fee collecting scam by, for and of bureaucrats; and that was driven by rich doctors facilitating permits for anyone who would pay … Judge Yalman’s cold reply was “There no sliding scale based on …” What Judge? Justice?

Gov. Richardson Hosts Reception For Mayor Coss ... yawn.

2009-08-03T07:48:00.000-07:00

I parked my 1980 pick-up truck at the end of the line of expensive cars with Obama bumper stickers that were leading to Steve and Kristen Flance's beautiful Wilderness Gate home. I hustled to catch up to City Councilor Carmichael Dominguez who was walking alone toward the reception. He turned and said, "I thought I heard someone."
I then asked a question that I knew the answer to, "Did you bring your check for two hundred and fifty dollars?"
He simply replied, "No."
"Me neither. I'll just say I'm with you."

Mayor Coss speak with his wife, Earl Potter, City Councilor Chris Calvert, Jack somebody and an unidentified women working on her wedgie.

We were greeted at the door by Carol Oppenheimer. Extending my hand I introduced myself, "Hi, I'm Cove."
"I know" she said. "Remember me from the old days?"
"I do. And I know you are one of the hosts."
Carmichael tried to slip right in but Carol said to wait and sign the guest book and get a name tag to stick on your shirt. As if all the insiders inside didn't know each other already.
Funny thing as I wrote my name on the sticker I notice the bowl of donation checks sitting there. The two checks on top were not made out to anyone or to any committee. Humm?
"You missed the Governor", Carol said. "He came, he ate and he left."

In the split second it took for me to lift my head she had realized (as Obama says) that she should have calibrated her words differently especially since she was talking to a guy who writes a blog about Governor Bill Richardson called "Fat Bill and Me."
"I mean I don't know if he ate ... he spoke and then he left." Nice recovery Carol, I thought.
Inside, the first person I saw was Coss' Mayor Pro Tem, City Councilor Rebecca Wurzburger. There weren't that many more people there than the almost 30 people who were listed as "hosts" on the invitation.

A silhouetted Rebecca Wurzburger in shadows.

On the way over to the small group surrounding the Mayor, I shook Morty Simon's hand. Basically he is Coss' campaign manager and money guy. Morty like Bill Sisneros, David Barker, Earl Potter, Flance, and Oppenheimer have mixed feelings about seeing me anytime no less at one of their gatherings.

The Mayor saw me approaching and nervously spoke first.
"You see we got the fountain going." He was speaking about the only public fountain (Fountainhead Rock) in Santa Fe. That fountain has been neglected and in a state of disrepair for the last ten years.
"Yes." I said. "Now you owe me a game." I was referring to a chess game because I had put on a outdoor chess tournament near the fountain's vicinity to call attention to its condition, among other things.
"I promise to throw the match." I joked.
The Mayor smiled as if to say 'Isn't that understood?'

I looked around and realized beside thanking Flance for letting me into his house I really didn't want to hang around. As I did just that, thanking my 'bud" Steve Flance, I turned back toward the Mayor and snapped the photo on the left. I think it was a tell.

Governor Bill Richardson is Running Santa Fe's Mayor Coss' Re-election Campaign.

2009-07-24T11:14:00.000-07:00

Seated: Governor Bill Richardson (left) and Ben "The Rat" Lujan Sr. (right). Standing third from the left, Santa Fe's Mayor David Coss.

When former County Commissioner Javier Gonzales was running for mayor of Santa Fe against David Coss and it looked like Javier could actually win, the boss "Fat Bill" Richardson called Gonzales into his office and told him to drop out of the race ... which of course Javier dutifully did. Richardson was heard saying about Gonzalez's possible defeat of David Coss, "Not my Regent."

Then one year later when Gonzales was going to run for Tom Udall's Congressional seat Richardson again called Javier into his fourth floor office at the Round House and told Gonzales that the fix was in for Ben Ray Lujan to be the next U.S. Representative from New Mexico's 3rd District. Ben Ray Lujan is rumored to be the gay lover of Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and is the son of Richardson's right hand man, Speaker of the New Mexico House, Ben Lujan Sr.

The following is how the story was spun in the local rag, the Santa Fe New Mexican.

"Gonzales, who chairs the Highlands University Board of Regents, confirmed Tuesday that he's considering a run for lieutenant governor in 2010. He said he wasn't pressured by any other candidate to drop out, and his decision wasn't the result of any deals. "

Most people don't think of David Coss as a hardball go-for-the-throat politician but in Santa Fe, New Mexico politics is the only major league sport and Coss came up from the farm team for the Big League by being a State worker and getting Bill Richardson's help. He spent almost a quarter of a million dollars geting elected to a $25,000 a year job.

So now with the help of help of Richardson, Ben Lujan Sr., and money people like former NM Finance Authority Chairman and former rock star Steve Flance ... Coss is running again.

For a suggested $250 donation you can go to the event at Flance's house OR you come with me and just crash the party.

Richardson, Lujan Sr., and Flance

Young John Huddy is a Reactionary Implant.

2009-07-01T15:05:00.000-07:00

John Huddy then.
John Huddy NOW.

Luis Rodriguez died.

2009-06-29T15:29:00.000-07:00

Obama, Iran, Rahm Emanuel, Big Media and Dumb Americans.

2009-06-25T08:14:00.000-07:00

As president-elect Barak Obama used every excuse in the book so as not to say anything about Israel killing hundred of innocent children in Gaza. Obama even sent his Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel to Israel to help with the bombing of school. There was not one single photo of the more than five hundred dead Arab boys and girls ever published by any major American news organization.

Fast forward to the elections in Iran and the incessant coverage of the west's "virtual project" code name "Lady Martyr." Then look at the way there was little or no coverage of the the Chinese murdering 'their Muslims' ... tell me we are not manipulated.

Rabbi Leonard Helman

2009-06-22T07:09:00.000-07:00

Rabbi Helman is a great dancer.

When Judge Tommy Fiorina started his 'Turkeys for Tickets' program to help feed needy folks on Thanksgiving he asked Rabbi Leonard Helman to speak at the court about the history of amnesty. And just like the Rabbi always does he spoke eloquently about the generosity of forgiveness and also to his credit the Rabbi never shied away from things political.

After I was on a TV show (City Confidential) about a tragic murder, Rabbi Helman was the only person in Santa Fe to call me immediately after it aired. Although I didn't show it, I was a little concerned about the repercussions of my public statements on that show. I will always appreciate that call and the strength it gave me.

The photo above is from my wife's Conformation Class at Temple Beth Israel in West Hartford, Connecticut some 51 years ago. Truly, Leonard Helman has been a wonderful influence in both of our lives. Thank you Rabbi.

The Fab Book: The Movie

2009-04-22T07:37:00.001-07:00

As I have said before, some people believe that the past is in front of us because we can see it and that the future behind us because we can't. So when I think of my days in Berkeley I think I'm walking backward into the future.

I have also stated many times that the Internet blogosphere is no place to tell the truth ... the web is not your lover nor shrink. But I'm like many people who are caught in the modern dilemma of needing to be truthful and yet knowing that in the here and now truth is not really desired.
In America, the 'reality" is people line up at the door to blab every little secret of the their lives and every geeky twit wants mediocre content for free. Even now I try to express my feelings through someone else words or better yet lyrics ... "If my thought dreams could be seen they'd probably put my head in a guillotine."

I can't count the time I have tried to talk about past sex, love or relationships and then wisely decided to just keep my fucking mouth shut. But there is a thread or rather a stream that allows truth to flow and that for me is the art of marbling.*
*After writing that line I thought about it for four weeks before publishing this post. I really not sure that it is true at all being that all art is an illusion and abstraction.

"The Fab Book" is really a book albeit a manuscript that is completely scattered, shattered and resting at maximum entropy. The book is more than a journal or how-to-do-it manual it is a metaphysical speculative film script. What the fuck Cove?

The story of marbling is a ancient mystery with an origin that will never be identified. Because it is a simple basic concept, something float on something else, it could have been observed by earliest observer.

Also as I have said before, nostalgia is the worst form of depression. As I look back with one eye I am trying to look forward with the other. I am hoping to use the infinite possibilities of marbling as an allegory for life.

The Fab Book starts with cartoon (above) and recollection of selling a piece of marbleized art to an assistant to scientist/TV star Carl Segan who was purchasing the 'spacescape' as a gift for his boss Segan. I took the liberty of combining that true story with another one when a dog excised its critique of my art by pissing on it.

Life on the the street as a hippie artist lead to adventures and information and people that I was driven to record.

(draft - to be continued)

Super Joel Tornabene, People's Park, and Berkeley in the Early 70s.

2009-04-18T05:46:00.000-07:00

Hibiscus (George Harris).

Super-Joel Tornabene at Pentagon protest 1967.

It is strange the way memory and the internet work, as it is with Neddie Jingo's blog about Super Joel and the photo at the top ... "Like watching a huge Pachinko machine at work, little tiny bead goes in one hole, bounces around crazily for a bit, suddenly dingdingding! a completely unexpected other little bead pops out another hole".

From Out of the Crooked Timber of Humanity, No Straight Thing Was Ever Made
Nell 04.06.07 at 12:32 am
Just for the historical record: The demonstrator photographed putting flowers in the barrels of National Guardsmen at the Pentagon demo of 1967 was either ‘Super-Joel’ Tornabene (says his brother) or George Harris, ‘Hibiscus’ of the SF Cockettes (says film director David Weissman). Neither is alive today to resolve the question. I doubt that either of them came anywhere near an SDS chapter in their eventful lives.

Paul Krassner, Tom Waits and many other people thought they knew Super Joel. And many people who met Super Joel who didn't understand themselves and the times they were living in that really misunderstood what he said and did.

I remember when Joel was thrown in jail for the People's Park protest I went to see Loni Hancock, then a Berkeley City Councilor and its future mayor, about writing a letter of support for Joel. Then Congressman Ron Dellums had written one for him but the so-called 'radical' Berkeley Councilor Hancock refused. She had misunderstood Super Joel comments to her about how the younger generation were going to philosophically side with the anti-war street protesters rather than the sell-out 'working within the system' types like her.
"He threatened me." Hancock declared.
I asked, "What did he say? How did he threaten you?"
"He said ..'We're going to get get your kids!' He threaten to harm my children."
I looked at Councilor Loni Hancock with utter disbelief. 'What a freakin' idiot I thought she was. Many times, I had heard Joel talk about educating while winning the hearts and minds of the next generation ... especially the disenfranchised neglected street kids that permeated Telegraph Avenue. Joel would never hurt anyone no less a child.

I think Hancock and the cops set Super Joel up for the People's Park bust because he more effective at empowering then they were at respectively selling-out and oppressing.

I was there the night that the wimpy "lefty liberals" (April Coalition) of the Berkeley City Council tried to get a donation for the North Vietnamese hospital was bombed by United States. The following is from homestead.comThe New City Council, 1971 - 1973. It is talking about Hancock and her liberal friends failure to get a progressive agenda passed in the most radical city in America and why the Hancock pre-yuppie ilk really hated Super Joel Tornabene.

"And in a class by itself, among all the losing motions:

* Contributing $l,000 of city funds to help rebuild the North Vietnam's Bach Mai Hospital which had been destroyed by American bombers.

The Bach Mai Hospital motion was defeated on May 9, l972 before a packed crowd of anti-war protesters in the Berkeley Community Theater. Nixon had just ordered another escalation of the war by bombing North Vietnam's dikes and harbors, causing people to take to the streets in rage, ending up at the City Council meeting, which we had moved to the Community Theater to accommodate the crowd.

Passage of the Bach Mai proposal, previously ignored by the Council, but now presented by Ying Kelley on behalf of a citizens peace group as the first order of business, would have satisfied the angry crowd that demanded action. But the motion was defeated, 4-5, at the hands of the conservative Council majority.

Before the roll call even finished, "Super Joel" Tornabene, a counter-culture leader, grabbed a microphone and started yelling: "The City Council is inciting to riot!! The City Council is inciting to riot!!" This caused the crowd to charge the Council, overturning the tables and ending the meeting. The crowd then rampaged into downtown Berkeley breaking windows, finally ending up at the unguarded Peoples' Park fence, which it knocked over and destroyed by sheer force of numbers, nearly three years to the day after the hated fence was built.

Peoples' Park has been unfenced ever since, thanks to a losing Loni Hancock City Council motion. This remains the Council's most influential action concerning Peoples' Park in the entire l5 years of the park's history."

I could write a book about how unique Joel was in a world and time of unique people. Tim Leary's son, Country Joe McDonald's wife, David Bowie, and The Brotherhood of Light. Taking a bath in laundry 'bluing'; burning all his clothes as a magic spell; getting stuck in Elko, Nevada without a penny; and helping organize a "spontaneous" street closure.

I recently had a chance to share some stories about Super Joel with his sister Fran. She had stumbled on my blog with a photo of her brother "Joey" as she called him (Joseph Eric Tornabene). I had purposely mistitled the photo because I was feeling that I was not going to add to the already intrusive nature of the web. I sent her some photos of "Joey" and personal letters he had written while in jail. The letters showed the suffering Super Joel went through during that time and it filled in some gaps for his family on why he couldn't be with them during the birth of his nephew.

Joel's friend and editor/owner of the Berkeley Barb, the late and wonderful commie beatnik Max Sheer, nailed what Super Joel was going through in a headline that clearly stated "Super Joel Taking The Rap For All Of Us."

The thing about that era (post 60s/early 70s) was how good the "man" had gotten in manipulating the apparent adversaries of the establishment ... the radical "left." Infiltrators, informants and provocateurs were ever present and what was worse was the false labeling of righteous protester as snitches.

At an organizing meeting for a "Free Joel" support committee I looked around and repeated the mantra we used daily on the street or the "Av" (short for Telegraph Avenue) ... "Programs, Programs, you can't tell the agents without a program, program." What still bothers me to this day is remembering Art Goldberg, veteran of the Berkeley Free Speech Movement coming up to me and whispering something about Joel being in jail because the cops wanted him there to "talk" to him. Implying something like a debriefing or the using of Joel in some slimy plan to trap radicals.

If you want to know what it was like read this, albeit later, court filingabout Joel's LSD bust.

Some of Super Joel's Friends

Joel, Nathalie, Nate, Iris

Above Iris and Natalie on Telegraph in front of Cove's marbled fabric street art and below Joel artist roommate Iris reclines.

Tim Leary (left) and below, Country Joe McDonald with his daughter at the Mediterranean Cafe.

Above, Super Joel marches with Eugena Butler (left) and Felicita Butler(Fissy) on the right.

The Photo on the left is of Jimmy Butler and below are two photos of Joel friend Fissy.The one on the left is Angel Fissy and the one on the right is Fissy on the way with Joel, Natalie, and Iris to a spaced-out Elko, Nevada trip from Hell

Joel & The Red Rockets, the Delacours, street kid friends, and the "Telegraph Hilton"
************************************************************

David Delacour (left)

Cove and Kathy Delacour (middle) and in the photo below.

"Telegraph Hilton"
Street kids in front of the "Telegraph Hilton" and below Joe Samberg's photo of a fight in front of that building.

Vanessa Delacour in front of the "Telegraph Hilton" being torn down.

Congressman Ben Ray Lujan didn't pay his taxes ... but then Ben Gay Lujan did.

2009-04-17T10:09:00.000-07:00

The very lovely Ben Ray Lujan (right), pictured here with an unidentified boyfriend, became the latest Obama Democrat who got caught not paying taxes.

But one can't blame Ben Lujan Jr. (better known as Little Lulu here in New Mexico) because coming from Santa Fe he thought there was a tax exemption for gay politicians.Also Little Lulu's father Ben "The Rat" Lujan, Speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives, has always taught him that rules and regulations do not apply to friends of Governor Richardson.

Kathy Soliah (Sarah Jane Olsen) ... act close to your center.

2009-03-17T17:34:00.000-07:00

Reprint

Joe Samberg's photos of life on Telegraph Avenue are spread over the floor like empty bottles that use to contain the finest elixir. David W. Teske, Star mapmaker and self proclaimed, "idiot savant" used say, "All memories reside in something." In fact, that statement also defined what he called "media" ... all stuff.

"Nostalgia is the worse form of depression." I said that.

So digging through the old media was meaningful to me but depressing.

Looking at Berkeley California at that time is very difficult and even harder to know where to begin talking about it. And it is impossible to describe the glory and the guilt of those days.

So how can one be honest as Earnest Hemmingway who felt that you start writing with one honest thought? One honest sentence. For me it is what I learned from the most illusionary of all my life's endeavors, acting. And that lesson learned is... act close to your center.

The flash of Kathy Soliah and I behind the flimsy backdrop of the small stage in church meeting room where we were putting on "Midsummer's Night Dream" came rushing back. A nothing second of our lives that was burned into my head.

I can't exactly remember but somehow a flirtatious look turned into a stolen kiss behind the set while we waited for our entrance. Another split second look at each other and she said "It's too late for us Cove."

Although I had no clue to the details I knew what she meant … "too late" because her world had gotten far too serious for romance. My world as well but I hadn't realized it yet. She left the acting group abruptly soon after that play's run.

I didn't see much of Kathy Soliah again except when the I was looking for a doctor to pull a bullet out of a black guy's leg who had jumped over my backyard fence in the tough area I lived that was between Berkeley and Oakland. I knew she had connections with the Free Clinic doctors and would help no matter what the circumstance around the shooting. The absolute last time I saw her in real life was at the SLA rally where she spoke.

I thought it was insanely courageous of Kathy to speak at a public rally to honor the members of the most notorious home grown revolutionary group in modern American history.

Spacely and I were in the crowd that day trying to count the cops and agents. There were a couple of teams of them with big old video cameras with fake numbers on them to try and fool the audience into thinking they, the gumshoes, were really TV crews.

We would bump into them or stand in front of the cameras ... but these guys were serious and heavy. Any more fucking around than we did and we would have had our asses busted as well as our heads.

Twenty-Five years later I watched on TV when the story broke about her capture as Sara Jane Olson. I thought about the sweet character of Helena that Shakespeare had seem to write for Kathy Soliah. I thought about the "too late" comment she made to me behind that backdrop in a Berkeley pacifist church where Country Joe McDonald's mother was a leader ... and I cried. I cried for Kathy's family and I cried for our generation.

Today, March 17, 2009 I rejoice at her released from prison. I spit on the weak cowards of the chicken-shit blogisphere that anonymously call her a non-repentant "terrorist." No matter how foolish she, her friends and her kin were back in the day of the Viet Nam war and the Civil Rights Movement - Kathy Soliah had more integrity in one of her little finger than all the yuppie scum internet Obama worshipers and Nazi Republican have in all of their limp dicks put together.

Ben Ray Lujan: U.S Representative from the Closet.

2009-02-16T14:45:00.000-08:00

Ben Ray Lujan (far left) shakes Governor Bill Richardson's hand (seated).

When Candidate Obama came to Northern New Mexico to campaign for President he introduced Ben Ray Lujan as the next "rising star" of the State's Democratic Party.

Ben Ray is New Mexico's Hispanic version of a gay Texan Billy Bob. I mean I don't trust anybody who can't decide what his first name is. And I also don't like the "daddy's boy" way he got his job and the way he hides his gayness.

New Mexico Speaker Ben Lujan Sr. and his boy Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (seated right).

My friend Prec has taken offense to the nickname that I gave Ben senior. I have been calling him Ben "the Rat" from the onset of this blog. He has proven time and time again to have earned the name because of his stands that if he were not a Democrat would be considered reactionary. Pro-military, anti-medical marijuana, environmentally insensative, and bureaucratic fat cat patron.

His son, our Congressman, talks a better game but being a former "Corporation Commissioner" he gets big contributions from both Big Labor and Big Business like the pharmacutical and insurance companies. He talks the new green lingo and PC rainbow jive. But when all is said and done he is a Obama lackey with a daddy that lets him speak to the State legislature when ever he wants.

Little Lujan, like his father, gets his support from voters with patronage jobs dished out by the main industry in Santa Fe ... government. And being an in-the-closet gay type who the talks like an environmentalist, Ben Ray benefits from the hoards and herds of poofy politically correct Obama worshippers in New Mexico's "City Different." Little Lujan also benefits from the tradition here of liberals and local Hispanics voting against their own self interest; voting for the devil that you know or who is a distant relative; and the general lack of an opposition political party.

Keep the Tradition Alive?

Ben Lujan senior from a 1980s' campaign flier title "Keep the Tradition Alive."

Governor Bill Richardson (left), his right hand man Ben Lujan senior (center) and Steve Flance (right). The file name for this photo is pork_rat_wombat because the bill they were signing was government pork like Obama's stimulus package, Lujan sponsored the bill that gave free insurance to New Mexico's National Guard (but not its teachers) and Flance used to play in a cover band called the "Wombats."

Congressman Ben Ray Lujan didn't pay his taxes ... but Ben Gay Lujan did.

2009-02-09T08:35:00.000-08:00

Ben Ray Lujan is sweet on Val Kilmer.

2009-02-05T07:56:00.000-08:00

Why cute Ben Ray Lujan is sweet on Val Kilmer I'll never know. But the daddy's boy congressman from New Mexico got Kilmer tickets for the Obama inauguration. Lardo Kilmer then paid a visit to the State Capital to give Ben Lujan Sr. a big kiss. Ben "The Rat" Lujan is Speaker of the House and Governor Bill Richardson's right hand man in the New Mexico legislature.

Kilmer, in a photo taken yesterday, has ballooned out while he has been floating the trial balloon that he might run for Governor of New Mexico. The only thing that would give Kilmer less of a chance of winning would be if he picked that other great New Mexican, Don Imus, as a running mate.

He is not well liked by his neighbors or Hispanics in general here in New Mexico.
Many New Mexicans think Val Kilmer (as the Stones put it) "has a head full of snow."

Here are some quotes about Kilmer from The Santa Fe New Mexican's online comment section:
"Please spare our good citizens this final indignity."
"This guy is remarkable unpopular with his neighbors in Pecos."
"Val Porko Kilmer is living in denial"
"Break out the bong if this guy get's in the Guv's mansion!"

He is not well liked by his neighbors or Hispanics in general here in New Mexico.

Rahm Emanuel's Middle Finger: Giving it and Taking it.

2009-01-30T09:29:00.000-08:00

At the now famous 2005 roast for Rahm Emanuel the then Senator Obama said of Emanuel’s middle finger:

“It hasn’t been easy for Rahm though. As a young man he had a serious accident, I think many of you are aware of this. He was working at a deli, an accident with a meat-slicing machine … he lost part of his middle finger. As a result of this, this rendered him practically mute (laughter). Has he ever flashed that stubby thing at you? (laughter) It’s appalling! Just recently the polls just came out, Democrat are doing better. Rahm turned around and gave his colleagues the high four and a half (laughter).

Rahm Emanuel's Victims: Blago, Bush and Palestinian Children. The Story of Israeli Killers and Obama's Silence

2009-01-23T09:38:00.000-08:00

From the first moments of my blogging I was assigned a "handler," a Jewish handler. I never met Judy Beth Yelsky but I knew people had to be assured that even if my words were trouble I was not a real threat.

Along with my Jewish wife, my Jewish handler kept me in line to the extent that I was absolutely clear on my criticism of Israel in relation to any possible anti-semitism. But then came Rahm Emanuel's appointment as Obama's White House Chief of Staff; the Israeli invasion of Gaza; Obama's silence on the "murder" of so many innocent kids and my personal feelings on the the death of a young Palestinian woman.

In a early valentine to Rahm Emanuel The NY Times never mentions Israel. Never mentions the speculation about Emanuel and his father's connection to Mossad. The Times does put in glowing comments by Kline and a Axelrod sidebar that shows to everyone but the blind how Emanuel has Obama by the huevos

The Great Black Silent One: Just like Clinton, Rahm Emanuel has Obama by the huevos.

My handler Yelsky says that I'm just pissed that the "Jews and Blacks" are in charge now. She goes on to blame everything on Hamas and my anti-semitism. My peace-loving ex-hippie school teacher sister in-law say about Gazans "Nuke them all." When I complain about Obama silence in the face of all dead blown-up kids ... even my Jewish wife says "Can't you say something without knocking someone else?"

I see Blagojevich isn't going to be able to call witnesses in his impeachment trial. Emanuel gets a pass. Obama is silent on Israeli atrocities in Gaza. Emanuel and Israel gets a pass. The American people pay for a bailout of Emanuel's rich friends. The Times, Emanuel, Israel, and undue influence gets a pass. And what do I get for complaining ... a bunch of tsoris.

But the ability to excuse Rahm Emanuel's and Israel brutality makes me wonder if Americans, my family, and Jews have hardened their heart and minds so much as to be literally blind to other's pain.

Brass Balls Rahm Emanuel on Softball "Meet the Press"

2009-01-16T15:31:00.000-08:00

Rahm Emanuel: a "cross between a hemorrhoid and a toothache." When Paul Begala, in a 2006 Fortune magazine profile, used that analogy he nailed who Rahm Emanuel really is. The comments about Obama's White House Chief of Staff range from a fellow Congressman's characterization of Emanuel as an "amoral, showboating cock" to Anne Schroeder Mullins' quote from Emanuel own humorous campaign ad for Rahm run at Vice President ... "Rahm Emanuel - just a heartbeat away from having a heart."

Marc Ambinder, compared Emanuel to H.R. Halderman. After the Blagojevich thing, Ambinder thought it was Emanuel low point but "He'll be scary again, and no one will be able to dish about him without facing consequences."

Bruce Reed of the Democratic Leadership Council said the Emanuel gets a pass on being a brutal politician declaring, "As Democrats we are oppose to torture, but we're willing to look the other way when Rahm's the one doing it." And when it comes to Emanuel's foreign policy influence on Obama William Safire said it best, that the slogan for the coming years may be, “Invade and bomb with Hillary and Rahm.”

Bill Richardson, Rahm Emanuel, Val Kilmer and Gerald Peters: "Isn't that your connection over there?"

2009-01-11T12:59:00.000-08:00

Rahm Emanuel got Richardson fired for helping Blagojevich.

2009-01-09T08:38:00.000-08:00

Rahm Emanuel, Obama's White House Chief of Staff is missing. King Obama, The Great Silent One, refuses to talk about dead children in Gaza or where his Israeli handler Rahm Emanuel is.
We know where he is. He's in Israel setting up American technology gas chambers for
Palestinians.In a recent file photo below are Sheriff Greg Solano of Santa Fe, NM and Rahm Emanuel of Tel Aviv, Israel secretly testing the devices in Governor Richardson beloved New Mexico.

Rahm Emanuel (right) and Sheriff Greg Solano of Santa Fe, NM test American made Israeli gas chamber for Palestinians.

It seems Rahm Emanuel knew Richardson had given money to Blagojevich's re-election campaign. Obama has had to decide between Rahm Emanuel's corrupt past and Blagojevich's corrupt past. The guilt by association and Richardson's bad rep with Emanuel's crooked Chinese friends sealed the deal for Obama. Bye bye Governor Richardson, hello leaks connecting Richardson to Blago.

Obama isn't so much worried about Emanuel getting busted but rather breaking the willing suspension of disbelief about Obama's purity. As one blogger put it: “What worries the Obama media people is not that Rahm is caught on tape with Blago and staff a full 21 times — but that Emanuel’s propensity for four-letter words will be revealed and cause a distinct toxic shock to idealists who believe Obama will bring a wafting air of clean breeze to politics.”

Obama now is floating the idea that his wants to have secret contacts with Hamas. How secret can it be with Emanuel's desk sitting 3 feet from Obama's. Everyone knows Emanuel is running Obama's policy for the MiddleEast through Mossad. Emanuel isn't missing, he's in Israel right now.

The Richardson (Richardson/Kissinger) State Department connections have always advocated direct talks with Hamas and Hezbollah, not to mention Iran. The savage Emanuel wouldn't hear of it. I guess Richardson should be thankful he was just fired not offed in his sleep by the Israeli/American mob running the silent King Obama, The Great Black Mute One.

Governor Richardson explains Obama's double-cross by Rahm Emanuel.

What makes this story really weird is Obama and Emanuel say they ran Blagojevich's re-election campaign. From Mark Finklestein:

'Rahm Emanuel, a congressman from Chicago and a friend of Obama's, told me that he, Obama, David Wilhelm, who was Blagojevich's campaign co-chair, and another Blagojevich aide were the top strategists of Blagojevich's victory. He and Obama "participated in a small group that met weekly when Rod was running for governor," Emanuel said. "We basically laid out the general election, Barack and I and these two." A spokesman for Blagojevich confirmed Emanuel's account, although David Wilhelm, who now works for Obama, said that Emanuel had overstated Obama's role. -- from Making It: How Chicago Shaped Obama, by Ryan Lizza, the New Yorker, July 21, 2008'

Obama Cans Governor Bill Richardson. Rahm Emanuel Spends the Holiday Bombing Gaza.

2009-01-04T17:41:00.000-08:00

King Obama, The Great Silent One, never mentioned the word Gaza once during the run-up to his election. In the 22 months of the campaign I could only find him mentioning the word Palestine once. And now that the Israeli are killing innocent Gazan children the self-hating black President-elect is silent about Israeli murderous brutality. Self-hating because Obama is do everything possible to exclude the only possible black Sentator from being seated.

In the meantime Obama, after using Governor Bill Richardson to get himself elected, throws Richardson to the wolves as a distraction from the real corruption of Obama's White House Chief of Staff designate and son-of-a-terrorist Rahm Emanuel. Emanuel was suppose to be hiding from Blagojevich's lawyers in Africa but was recently spotted in Israel help the Israeli military kill Arabs the way he did in'91.

Rahm Emanuel, Obama, Bill Richardson, Wen Ho Lee ... It Just Keeps Getting Better.

2008-12-14T07:42:00.000-08:00

When I recently read a opinion piece in the San Francisco Chronicle criticizing the selection of former Energy Secretary Bill Richardson to be Obama's Secretary of Commerce on the basis of Richardson's handling of the Wen Ho Lee episode I laugh out loud because the Chinese/American author called the encounter the most serious "miscarriage of justice in America's history."

The Richardson/Wen Ho Lee story that actually starts with Rahm Emanuel.

Emanuel "latched onto" some shady money to help get Bill Clinton's campaign for President going. The story on the street was Rahm was fronting for an Israelis and for the Chinese in some slimy deals to get trade secrets and illegal technology transfers. The more cynical believed that after the Lewinsky affair (which Rahm orchestrated) Emanuel "left" the White House to continue laundering money through the Chicago Mercantile for Clinton, the Israelis, the Red Chinese and ethnic Chinese Indonesian dope dealers and of all things ... body parts. Yuk!

Either way, other speculate that something went wrong with the alleged "suitcases" of cash being paid to Clinton by the Chinese for nuclear secrets. The Chinese thought it was a straight out "business" deal where they were buying information from the American Government. That's where Wen Ho Lee and Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson come in.

Clinton leaks that Wen Ho Lee was a spy when in reality he was just a delivery boy for illegal technology transfers. Richardson was in the position of being Clinton's/Emanuel's repo man, which is hard to do with "information."

Wen Ho Lee eventually cops a plea to one count of mishandling government secrets but goes on to sue the Government and blackmails the media. Wen Ho Lee gets 1.6 mil; the Chinese get their nuke secrets; Clinton/Emanuel get to keep the suitcases of money; the media doesn't have to drop a dime on the sources of the leaks and Richardson gets to fall on his sword.
Perfect.

Obama Appoints Bill Richardson to Commerce Department Post

2008-11-18T09:50:00.000-08:00

President-elect Obama has named Governor Bill Richardson to be Commerce Secretary. The selection ends speculation as to what Richardson pay-off would be for supporting Obama and delivering his State of New Mexico and helping to secure the Hispanic vote. And for this blog which has been mostly about Richardson as Governor of New Mexico it mean it may be time to think about a new focus.

Anti-Torture Bill
My view of Richardson changed for the better after speaking to him in person about his opposition to torture. And I predict right now the Republicans or someone in Washington who may not agree with Richardson's diplomatic approach to his new job and may also disagree with Richardson's State Department connections will derail this appointment as Secretary of Commerce.

The odd thing is I trust Richardson to be fair more than I trust Obama to be even-handed.

Dr. Benjamin M. Emanuel's photo

2008-11-18T09:48:00.000-08:00

In a Topix.com discussion about Rahm Emanuel most comments about his radical Zionist father Dr. Benjamin Emanuel have been deleted. Wikipedia has removed the page about about the early Israeli terrorist. A Google image search produced no photos of Benjamin Emanuel (Auerbach) even after his remarks about Arabs being floor cleaners.

There are many articles about the "Emanuel" (Auerbach) family and their ties to Irgun, the Israeli terror group. But very little mention in the national or mass media outlets.

Now I have to say, that my wife and I really supported Obama. She is Jewish and I am not. But from the moment Obama appointed Emanuel I knew that we would never again agree on anything political. Never.

It is sad because the only thing I wanted was for Obama to have an "even hand" in the Middle East. The only hope that I had was to predict that Lieberman (who my wife can't stand to look at) would keep his chairmanship which I thought would show how the fix was in and how it is going to be a bad time for progressive peace-loving fair-minded human citizens of the world. And sure enough, my prediction came true but it still didn't make any difference. We will never agree again ... at least when it comes to politics .

Israeli Police painting by Cove

Are Rahm Emanuel and Ben Ray Lujan lovers?

2008-11-16T06:54:00.000-08:00

Oy vey, I want my money back.

For all the gelt I gave him and tsoriss I went through campaigning for him I now feel like a lokh in kop (hole in the head). Better I should have voted for the Goy.

I voted for the shvartz because I thought he was a mensch. I thought he would be glaykh (even) in the Holy Land and around the world. But his appointment of Rahm Emamuel was like a zetz to the kiska. Did you hear what his terrorist father, Benjamin Emanuel, called Arabs? FLOOR CLEANERS. Oy gavalt!

With the appointment of Axelrod, Emanuel and Ron Klain it seems the whole mishpocha is there and it also seems like it is “Gai kakhen afenyan” to the Arabs, Muslims, Palestinians and peace movement in Israel (delicately translated: go jump in the ocean).

And now it looks like we get a yenta (Clinton) for Sec. of State and a luftmensh for President. I think it is totally fercockt. What is Obama giving the Arab-Americans, the American Peace Movement, and the Latino-Americans? Gornisht!

Gov. Bill Richardson soon to be Ambassador to China ... yes. Val Kilmer, governor of NM ... fuck no!

2008-11-10T10:58:00.000-08:00

Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico will be named ambassador to China. Sources close the governor said that President-elect Obama and Richardson's "boss", Henry Kissinger have sealed the deal. Kissinger was instrumental in opening relations with China as Sec. of State under Richard Nixon.

Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico with his "boss" Henry Kissinger.

The Santa Fe New Mexican has reported that Richardson is "Silent" on his appointment. In the same story Governor Richardson denies he endorsed movie star Val Kilmer for governor of New Mexico.

Gov. Richardson introduces his wife Barbara to China's Ambassador to the U.S. Zhou Wenzhong.

Val Kilmer reprinted story from Fat Bill and Me.

All I know is our big and restless Governor was a no-show when the New Mexican tried to do something about the "Achievement Gap." Anyway, I saw State Senator Phil Griego at that community forum. I asked him if he was feeling better.
It seems Val "fuck face" Kilmer mouthed off about New Mexico in Rolling Stone and Sen. Griego told Val and all his Hollywood coke head friends to take a flying fuck and stop disrespecting northern New Mexico and it's people... at least publicly you turd Kilmer.

Our Governor Large Lard, always looking for an excuse to eat, publicly invites Sen. Phil and Kilmer to a sit down dinner at the mansion. Phil says fuck you to the both of them and publicly say he's ill.
"So were you really sick?" I asked Griego standing outside the College of Santa Fe.
"Hell no. I wasn't going to eat with the...” Phil lays into Kilmer as I literally jump up and down in delight with our State Senator's description of the whacked-out movie star.

After Fat Bill's dinner with Val Kilmer and without Phil Griego, Governor Suck-off Richardson declared to the press "Val Kilmer is a great New Mexican." I think it's Senator Phil Griego who is a great New Mexican and that he ate Bill Richardson for lunch.

Rahm and the post-Obama blues.

2008-11-09T07:28:00.000-08:00

The appointment of Rahm Emanuel to be Obama's White House Chief of Staff is the most depressing post-election occurrence I could have imagined. Emanuel has to be the most antithetical appointee to Obama's declared values and goals.

McCain/Palin Political Signs

2008-10-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

Zozobra

2008-09-03T16:52:00.001-07:00

The Kiwanis sponsored opening night celebration of the Fiesta de Santa Fe, Zozobra, may be the best thing about Santa Fe.

Louis Rodiquez's collectable Zozobra candle and lost wax fiqures of Old Man Gloom.

Rare Zozobra poster.

Request to Kiwanis for use of their copyrighted Zozobra image.

Tom Udall, Our Next U.S. Senator

2008-08-14T18:49:00.000-07:00

Crystal Dog Set

Cove and Representative Tom Udall

Tom Udall is my neighbor in Santa Fe - in fact we vote in the same precinct. He is running for and will probably be elected U.S. Senator from New Mexico. I am certainly voting for him.

My nickname is Cove. I have run for public office many times, including once for Mayor of Santa Fe. In fact, I have been on the ballot as a candidate so many times that I can't actually remember how many times I have run. But one thing I was always sure of - I wouldn't ever win. For me, winning was never the point.

Once, during a local election while waiting at the polling place to vote, Tom and his wife, Jill Copper, were standing next to me in line, also waiting to vote. After some pleasantries, Jill turned to me. Pointing her finger at me, she said, with all her lawyerish authority, "Don't you ever run against Tom.” Gulp! It is no wonder Tom Udall has been so successful and no wonder Jill Cooper's daughter, Amanda Cooper, is one of Governor Bill Richardson's main political advisors.

Amanada Cooper, Jill Cooper, Tom Udall, and former Ambassador Joe Wilson

I remember at Governor Richardson's book signing Amanda Cooper walked by and I started to introduce myself to her. She interrupted, barking at me with a scowl on her face saying, "I know who you are ... Why are you so mean?" Probably referring to this blog.

In response I said, "Why don't you hire me?"
"I don't think that would work out." Then, thinking for a second, she said, "If you say nothing but nice things about the governor for six months then I'll think about it." As it turned out, I did and she didn't.

Skip forward to the winter. I'm driving down the road from my house in my funky 1980 Dodge Ram ex-Forest Service pick-up truck. I look off to the side of the road and see an old man lying on the ice-covered road struggling to get up. I pulled over to help him and immediately recognized him as Stuart Udall, Tom Udall's father and former Secretary of the Interior.
"Mr. Udall, are you all right? Can I take you to the emergency room?"
As I picked him up. he answered, "No, I'll just go home."

I held his arm and walked him up the driveway toward his house. As we approached what I knew to be his home, I realized that he was very confused and didn't know which house was his. I thought he really must have banged his head hard during the fall. I brought him in and sat him on the couch in the living room. Again I asked, "Can I take you to the hospital? Can I call Tom or Jill or Amanda?"

Starting to lie down and close his eyes, the senior Mr. Udall objected, declaring, "No, I just want to rest for a minute. Tom is in Washington and I don't want to bother anyone." He leaned his head back against the wall. Then, as he lifted his head forward, I saw blood on the paint on wall. I'm not sure it was out loud but I said, "I'm calling 911."

What was strange was when I asked the emergency operator "that maybe they could call our U.S. Representative Tom Udall and tell him that his father was on the way to the hospital" the operator said, "We don't have his number."
"What about calling his office?" I asked.
"I don't think we have that number either."
"Never mind, I'll call myself", I said with frustration.

I looked around the room and saw a sheet of numbers printed in large print. Going down the list there it was - TOM'S CEll. I dialed the number and Representative Udall answered the phone as he continued a conversation with someone. I could hear him say "I have to take this call from my father" obviously noting the name on the caller ID. Assuming it was his father, Stuart Udall, on the phone Tom started to talk, "Dad, you'll never guess who I'm speaking with, I'm here with Senator..." naming a mutual friend of the Udalls.
I broke in, surprising him saying, "Tom ... Tom ... Congressman..."

After a second of shocked silence, he asked, "Who is this?"
After telling him who it was, there was even a more telling silence as he thought, 'why would this nutcase neighbor be calling me in the halls of Congress on my private line using my father's home phone?' Even from two thousand miles away from Washington, D.C., I could see that in his mind, the image was not a pretty picture.

I explained to Congressman Udall that his father had fallen; that I had called for emergency help and that his father was just now on the way to the hospital.

"Do you want me to go with him?" I asked.
"No I'll call my sister," Udall replied.

I left but after a while, just to make sure things were all right, I stopped by the emergency room. Tom's sister was indeed there and Stuart Udall was being examined and treated for a concussion.

It was some months later that I saw a little piece in the paper about Stuart Udall falling and breaking his leg. Although I never thought I had done anything special for the Udalls, I somehow thought I might have heard from Tom after the incident with his father. As I drove down the hill from my house, I happened to see Jill Cooper, Tom's wife, jogging. I stopped my truck and asked her, "How's Stuart?", referring more to the serious bang on her father-in-law's head than the most recent fall.
"He broke his leg."
"I heard."
"How did you know?" she asked.
"I saw it in the paper."
"It was in the paper?"
"This morning." I replied.

Later in the year I was having trouble getting my Social Security retirement benefits.
I went to my Congressman, Tom Udall, for an appointment to ask for his help. It seems he was too busy to see me. I told my story to an assistant who put me on a list of people who needed a form letter to some government agency.

At home, as I went through the piles of old documents that I needed for my appeal to the Social Security Administration, I found an early 70's color Xerox piece of postcard art from my days in Berkeley, CA. It somehow captured the abstract artistic conceptual feeling I had toward the whole race of people we call "politicians." The 'title' of the piece was "POLITICIAN$: The Crystal Dog Set"

RIP Louie

2008-07-31T13:58:00.000-07:00

Former Mayor Louis Montano passed away.

Cove, Councilor Carlos Gallegos, Mayor Louie, Rogue Garcia

Elmer Garcia, JimmyJoe Gonzalles, Mayor Louie

A young Tom Mills, one of the Garcia brothers, Steve Flance and Mayor Louie

Train Time for Santa Fe

2008-06-19T06:02:00.000-07:00

Anonymity

2008-06-17T15:31:00.000-07:00

Anonymity on the web is what turned me off to trying to engage in meaningful dialogue. The Santa Fe New Mexican web site forums are suppose to be used by people using their "full real names." But the place is inhabited by cowardly jerks using fake names to trash, bait, flame, slander, deflect and "fnord" (disinformation or irrelevant information intending to misdirect, with the implication of a conspiracy). "Fnord" is a word coined by Anton Wilson, the father of Luna Wilson who I have written about in this blog.

By Donado Coviello (Submitted: 06/17/2008 1:36 pm)

If there is no way to enforce rules there shouldn't be any. Rule 5. You must use your real full name when posting. Without the delete button The New Mexican is completely responsible for any slander that occurs here with the intended malice of allowing certain selected fake named posters to be protected. Of course this site has descended to the lowest common denominator ... declining in value proportionally with anonymity. We were also suppose to be able to interact with the staff and reporters. When was the last time anyone has seen that occur? Think about all the people that have left this forum and the quality of the discourse now compared to the past.

Every time I go to the New Mexican's "Newspaper Ethics section there are no articles. No Stories ... no ethics, I guess.

It's DEAD, I'm not ... I don't think.

2008-06-02T16:00:00.001-07:00

I got just TWO hits on this blog yesterday ... that being the least amount since my first "virgin post." I now get more hits on my youtube videos than I get on my blog. The most popular image (that I host myself) from this blog is a bio-hazard symbol.

"Blogging is dead", she said.
Someone else said, "If I was really an artist, I wouldn't have to blog."

Santa Fe Disco Brawlers Roller Derby Promo

2008-04-12T19:50:00.000-07:00

Women's Flat Track Derby Association

Here Comes the Sun (Son)

2008-04-08T08:55:00.000-07:00

Jack Sinclair, Santa Fe artist.

Girls Love Shoes

2008-04-01T20:02:00.001-07:00

Girls Love Shoes

Marshmallow (Parts 1-5)

2008-03-30T06:35:00.000-07:00

Obama Topless

2008-03-25T10:07:00.000-07:00

Rock Star Endorses Barack Star and A Plain Star Goes Home

2008-03-21T06:30:00.000-07:00

Governor Richardson, the former "Fat Bill" and subject of this former blog, has endorsed Barack Obama for President.

Sarah Jane Olson, the former Kathy Soliah and actress, has been released from prison.

Stat Counter

2008-03-20T15:58:00.001-07:00

The little counter at the bottom of the page does more than add up the total hits on my blog. It gives me some specific information as to who is coming to the site. And when I saw a number of hit from a site called "Zodiac Killer" it got my attention. It seems just the mention of the Berkeley Tribe warranted (pardon the pun) police to refer to this blog.

New Links

2008-03-19T19:44:00.000-07:00

I have started writing about the now defunct chat room on the newspaper The Santa Fe New Mexican's web site. We use to called it 'The Lost Souls' Room'. I am writing a copyrightable fiction blog titled The Lost Souls Room.

I am also starting to blog on two new links and planning a third.

The first is The World of Marbling.

The Second is about pets call Santa Fe Scoop.

And the third, possibly called 'The Fab Book', will be here on blogger ... I will let you know.

The Last Entry

2008-03-07T11:19:00.000-08:00

This is the last entry for Fat Bill and Me.

I don't exactly know where I go from here.

I think I may go back and fill in and repost all of the 300 postings as if it were a novel. I think I deleted some of the post out of fear and some out of embarrassment at the poor quality. I will be looking for the changes that have occurred in me because of this Blog. I will also be looking for a new subject, new process and new "action theme."

There has been some growth in my skills including the way I title picture and spam the site and some constraints like the self-limiting of space for photo web hosting. Near the end I cannibalized and deeleted good former post and photos to produce new material.

All this of course is not the least bit interesting unless you're a geek and identify with the Internet. But I will use this last post to debrief and continue to clarify my new direction.

I will, at some point link to any new site I start. I truly appreciate those who commented here and those who made return visits … even if it was to trash me.

--------------------------------------------

Great to hear from you Paul .. I knew it was you. I am working on a blog project called "The Fab Book" and will post a link when I get it up. There will be a lot about our shared time and friends in it. I have told the story but never written about the time Spacely, Teske and I did the Star Trek Convention in Oakland. Spacely ask Leary for his autograph when we met him in the 'Green Room.' I had converted one of his "big shot" photo posters, placing Vulcan ears on Leary, and putting it up on the wall. Leary laughed his ass off. When Spacely asked Tim to sign another one of the posters Leary asked, "who should I sign it to? The normally cautious and sometime paranoid Spacely looked around at the FBI agents that were attached to Leary and he said "Make it out to Paul." It seems Leary misunderstood or maybe on purpose he wrote the inscription To Pol."

The End: Part 1

2008-03-05T15:07:00.000-08:00

Sitting at the Ulupalakua Ranch Store with Mitch's (the late Reems Mitchell) statues; feeling fat; feeling old; and feeling it's time to let go.

My niece India had taken care of Mitch at the end of his life after he had a stroke and couldn't work anymore. Mitch had wonderful stories about all his character. There was one about the guy on my right in the photo ... "holding the cock that was holding his cock."

The last piece that Mitch was working on before he died was sitting on a bench in the barn on the property were I stayed. The unfinished wax sculpture of a head had, for years, sat with Mitch's credit card embedded in the dark wax of the his last piece of art. I guess he would use the card as a tool to sculpt the wonderful caricatures he did.

There was something about the smiling face of Mitch's last face that saddened me to the core. Thinking about the end, thinking about my end?

I thought about the paintings by San Francisco artist Jack O’leary that grace the walls of my home. I got them at a flea market in Albuquerque after he died. His sister came to settle his affairs and told the landlady where he lived and died … “Get rid of them, I don’t want them.”

So it that is with all things, including this blog, approaching 300 posts and three years in the making ... how does it end and then what?

711

2008-03-01T17:25:00.001-08:00

Looking at the P.O. Box with scratches I felt very strange thinking of her putting her key into that very lucky numbered address. I had been coming to Hawaii for a number of years and had I known she lived that close to where I had been staying I don't know whether I would have tried to contact her or not.

Sitting on Joe's patio I could practically see the street she had lived on. It was right near the Community Center and Holy Ghost Church. They had changed all the numbers on her streets around that area just off the already very fragmented Lower Kula Road but I am sure it was basically the same.

I had wanted to talk to her for over two years now about a comment I had made on a video that used her image as well as mine. It was an arrogant declaration for dramatic effect and since the videographer decided to cut in her image I felt it gave the impression I was talking about her.

I complained about it because the thought that my stupid remark might be taken as an insult festered in me for a year. When I told the director I wanted to contact her about the video he said I just wanted to see her for other reasons not the question of copyrights or misunderstood content.

Posting on the Internet has opened my eyes to whys and what-fors of blogging. I have come to believe it maybe the most irresponsible, useless, self-center and dangerous thing one can do. With it, like the past, I must just let it be.

Only You

2008-03-01T14:47:00.001-08:00

Violence

2008-03-01T12:14:00.001-08:00

How bizarre it is when violent people are surprised when other generally peaceful people defend themselves when attacked. It is especially bizarre when it is a young fascist doing the attacking and an old hippie defending himself.

Now I do admit I have struggled in my life with a vow I took to proceed in a life of resistance to fascism, bigotry, racism, tyranny, and oppression while trying to use only non-violent actions. It has been a struggle that started from a violent early childhood and was dramatically altered when as a teenager I was lucky enough to have an epiphany while witnessing a brutal beating where I realize I had to step in to stop it. I have spoken many times about the indelible sound of the fists hitting the head of that kid from our rival town across the river.

From the time I refused to kill Vietnamese just because some part of my country's government to told me that I had to damn my soul because of some millionaire industrialist's greed I knew applying non-violence in America was going to be a life-long difficult task. And when I lived in the jungle we call our cities the predators and violent ones could smell the righteous struggle within others and me.

What the fuck are you talking about Cove?

I am talking about what none of you should be surprise about. That good people sometimes fight back. That if you choose to be an aggressor, or a bully, or a racist bigot or a hateful provocateur and worse you might end up with a broken jaw or maybe even a comparable equivalent to your evil. Sometimes justice comes when you least expect it.

Unreal

2008-03-01T12:14:00.000-08:00

Michael was on Oahu filming a commercial so he let me use his Cadillac. It was the "picture car" from Cagney and Lacey. The exact copy "stunt car" also set in his garage but he had sold it to his roommate.

It got a lot of looks when I drove it to the Pukalani Superette ("Puk Soup" for short).
At over $4.00 a gallon for gas; about 10 miles to the gallon mileage; almost 19 feet long; with small parking place and curvy island road ... Michael knew I was going to drive it around that much.

I did drive it to Mamma's Fish House just for a laugh. Being invited to lunch there by the owner's right hand man was quite an honor as well as one incredible three-hour meal.

Taking A Break

2008-02-11T07:12:00.000-08:00

Fat Bill and Me is/are taking a break for a couple of weeks. I/we will be back with a new direction with more videos. We are doing more with YouTube, BlipTV and Public Access Community TV, Santa Fe, NM.

Fat Bill and Me started with a hard look at Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico and with an interaction with an on-line chat room hosted by the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper. We have always been interested in the "convergence" of media, pushing the envelope of free speech and personal story telling.

The growth of blogs that has occurred in the last few years that I/we have been blogging is really unbelievable. My spell-check, only a couple of years old, still tries to correct me every time I use the word "blog." I want to return with posts about Space Lee, Teske, Zia, Clover and Henry, Olaf O'laugh, Vanessa, the Pleasure Faire, and much more.

With God's will, see you on March 1.

Clover and Henry

Fissy

2008-02-08T17:37:00.000-08:00

I had to take down the posts about Star and Luna. My heart inside my chest was exploding. In the "Burning" post below, the photo shows SuperJoel picketing for the underpaid workers. He is flank by Eugenia Butler (left) and her daughter Fissy (on the right).

I just keep burning writings, drawings, pictures and "media" in the fireplace. As I am burning the papers of pleasure and pain it reminds me of lyrics from one of the few songs I wrote during those days in the Berkeley ... "The fire that warms, Your house in a storm, Will cause you to mourn, When it burns your house down." And when I think of Fissy's friendship I repeat the chorus "Sunshine please keep me high, Moonshine don't ever die, Don't ever die."

As I find these pictures of long past relationships what I don't burn in the cleansing fire I'll send to their rightful owners, that's if I can find them. And after my wife reads this blog of mine, I'll probably have to take this post down also but with my two, soon to be, newly broken arms.

Kinky Cove at the Kinks concert.

2008-02-06T19:56:00.000-08:00

Burning

2008-02-06T19:19:00.000-08:00

As I tear pages out of the black covered journals that have been sitting in boxes for more the thirty year … I throw then into the fire.

All memories reside in some physical object as well as in you mind or at least that’s what the Starman would say. He called all objects “media.”

SuperJoel was a firm believer that burning pictures, journals and clothing was a magic spell that helps one move on. You lose all the pleasure of holding on but you lose some of the pain. ‘Walking backwards into the future’ was how I described facing the past.

I think it’s an archetypal fear that your past will come back to haunt you. At the same time I think people are driven to know what happened to friends from the past. There is a natural haunting of memories; a sweet missing link … sorry for ironic Internet pun. But that is the point of the web; it can never fulfill emotional needs or allow for the truth to be felt.

By posting about the past I was hoping for a response and fearing a response at the same time.

Annelise and Fran, thank you for your comments. Thank you for showing me I still care.

Children of Paradise

2008-02-04T21:48:00.000-08:00

In chaos, which Berkeley definitely was, there are points of condensation. Just as in water there are eddies and vortices in time. My art show at the Children of Paradise Gallery in Berkeley was just one of those points of condensation.

There are infinite streams of thought radiating for this moment is mine and other's lives including; Spacely, Marcy, Henry, Clover, Teske and Jimmy Butler.

Below Jimmy Butler 1956; Jimmy Butler at the Children of Paradise show late 70s; and click this link for Jimmy Butler now

"There's alot of bobbing and weaving ..."

2008-02-04T18:55:00.000-08:00

We arranged for the kid to talk to the cops. The cops picked up the suspect in Luna's murder, then they let him go. Even though the guy live across the bay in San Franciso, the information that the suspect was released and free quickly got back to the East Bay.

I called the detective from Henry and Clover's pad. The cop explained that "There was a lot of bobbing and weaving in a murder investigation."

A couple of days later the story broke in the newspaper that they had arrest the Indian guy for Luna's murder. In the news story the police said that this crime had really upset the community and that they, the police, got help from a section of the community that usually wasn't co-operative.

A few days later there was a memorial for the our slain friend with Tim Leary. Luna's girl friends performed an interpertive dance to honor her. I didn't go ... I don't know why, I just couldn't.

When you google Luna's name what you learn is that her brain was placed in a frozen cryogenic state. I think that like all thing on the Internet, you learn nothing about the person nor what is true or spiritual about their lives.

There was sometime about watching some of the kids and people grow up in Berkeley through the seventies. Some like Luna, David D., Kathy D., Groovie, SuperJoel and many others didn't make it. I found out be chance others like; Spacely, Marcy, Jimmy Butler, Vanessa,and Clover did make it. Annelise, I don't know but I sense Star made and is happy somewhere... I hope so.

Star marbling.

It Was Too Fucking Crazy

2008-02-04T09:26:00.000-08:00

I look back at that time in Berkeley, I stop breathing. I think of what I did wrong and what pain occurred and how the dead will never come back and the twisted lifestyle should not be glamorized. I am sorry for good, the bad and the remembering.

As this Blog approach 300 posts it is disappearing like a photo from the movie "Back to the Future." As if going back in time causes changes in the future time, space and beyond.

My heart goes out to Star and all the people that were caught in the cultural black hole of Berkeley of that time. I thank people like SuperJoel for pointing out a path to a guiltless free acceptance and a possibility of changing the solid walls we all put then up into walls with windows.

Now as I look to my memories and mementos of the past I am doing what SuperJoel suggested ... I am burning my clothes after wearing them one last time.

Sitting Around Doing Coke

2008-02-03T17:03:00.000-08:00

The next night, in shock, I walked over to my connection's house on Derby. We sat around and since I didn't have any money they laid out some lines and gave me an import beer. I cleaned their pot tray and scrounged a couple of joints from the scrug. I thought about the time Adam came gunning for Henry and I stashed Henry and Clover and waited here in this house without curtains until the cops came.

We sat around doing coke trying to figure out who could have killed Luna. After all we had so many eyes on Telegraph Avenue where the murder happened. Luna had been beaten on the head with a portable charge card machine. You know, one of those sliding metal arm devices that would imprint the credit card onto a carbon backed sales slips.

We talked about any new comers to the Street. Any even more than normal weirdoes hanging out. Somebody mentioned a guy who called himself "Lord somebody" or "Sir somebody" that was getting too familiar too quick for everyone's taste. Maybe it was the coke, maybe it made us feel like wired Sherlock Holmes' but we agreed I would call the cops and tell them of our suspicions.

The detective I talked to was interested but not impressed. We really didn't know if the weird guy on the street was an infiltrator, cop or transient. I hung up thinking the cop knew who we were and we were grasping at straws.

Then the kid came in. He was a real runaway, one of the street kids that really did have something to lose dealing with the cops. To our amazement he described going to the store where Luna worked and thinking it was strange that the door was locked during business hours. He looked in the window and saw a big guy and no Luna.

Our jaws dropped. The kid was describing the former boyfriend of the storeowner, a big Native American guy with a grudge and who like to drink.

I called the detective back and said, "We got him." I told the cop the story the kid had related; the time line; the relationship to the storeowner; and that the kid was very frightened.
"Keep him calm,” the cop said. Sure, easy for you to say I thought.

Horror

2008-02-03T15:22:00.000-08:00

It was a scream. More like "Oh No. NO."
The word flowed, rumbled through the crowd.
Luna was dead.
All I remember is Star running out of the house.
I can't recall anything after that for a day or so.
I really don't think I saw Star ever again.

Can Love Ever Be A Mistake?

2008-02-03T05:58:00.000-08:00

When speaking of the past is it just as bad to worry over mistakes than to remember its glory?

I loved many people during my time in Berkeley; had many friends; had sex with many people; desired and didn't have sex with many others. In a post-free-love pre-AIDS anti-romantic drugged-out it was hard to stay clear in the polluted land of the radical and home of the revolutionary I called Bezerkeley.

Annelise, for me there is a responsibility that comes with even the mention of someone's name on the Internet. I have to believe that as I am talking to you I am talking to Star and millions of other people. I know that every second 5 new bloggers around the world come on line. I also know no one cares about what I write especially concerning my feelings.

So as I remember back to that night in 1976 when my friends and I gathered to celebrate among other things Patricia Luna Wilson's birthday, I think of personal fragility. How life can all fall apart and never return together.

At the party I mingled with many of the Telegraph Avenue regulars. Star and her young friends were in the other room. I had now known Star for a couple of years and believed her to be special and extraordinary. Luna and she had a special relationship that just for me, many years later as I thought about the two young women's spiritual relationship, they seem almost interchangeable or binary.

Don't get me wrong both Star and Luna were complete individuals but were connected. And as much as I respected the wise-for-her-age Luna ... I loved Star.

"Where is Luna?" the first questions at the Party were being asked.
"It's not like her to miss her own party", the comments continued as it got later.
"She worked today, didn't she?"

Walking Backward Into The Future

2008-02-02T07:30:00.000-08:00

Some people believe the past is in front of us because we can see it and the future behind us because we can't. So when I think of Star, Luna, SuperJoel, Groovie Bewildered Dead, Vanessa, Kathy Soliah, the Ziprins, Smacky Beary (Jackie Leary), Henry and Clover and all the people of 1976 Berkeley ... I think I'm walking backward into the future.

Of course I want to talk to all of them again. Some I can't because they're gone and I'm still here. Some I have spoken with and others I cry to. But to answer Annelise directly I do not know what happened to Catherine Star, I wish I did. I hallucinated her while I was walking on a beach a year ago. That in combination with other events led me to quit smoking pot after forty years of doing so.

But in 1976 on Oct 2nd in Berkeley, California there was to be a party, a birthday party. It was to be a mix of different group young and older; gay and straight; drugies and drinkers with the guest of honor being Luna.

1976 - Berkeley Photos

2008-02-01T09:35:00.001-08:00

1976 - Berkeley

2008-02-01T09:35:00.000-08:00

1976 in Berkeley was strange in that I can remember the flavor of bi-centennial year on the main street of a counter-culture's capital city. I can remember the color of the marbleized fabric I sold on the Fourth of July on Telegraph Avenue. I remember the long summer of urban living without a chance for escape. I was spending time making art, doing drugs and getting hit on by all manor of people.

I was underground and had not spoken to my family in five years. I lived off of Grove Street which was a mostly a black middle-class neighborhood. My home which was actually a hand made structure we called the "rocket ship” was in a Olaf's backyard on Ward street. For a while I had a store called Paradise Cove that was on Grove Street on the other side of University Avenue. I had friends who had a store down the street and another friend lived right around the corner. Her friends, that introduced us, had lived with Tim Leary in Millbrook, NY and my friends were then living with Jackie Leary, Tim's son.

Luna’s father was close with Tim Leary and in what was really a small town there were little and few degrees of separations.

As you can see I will write about anything; go off in any tangent or direction; describe connections, name drop or pretend I am a writer just to avoid telling you how I actually felt about some of my friends and what happen to Luna.

Star and Her Friend Luna

2008-01-31T18:17:00.000-08:00

I must have tried a thousand times to write the story of the last time I saw Star.

Just as this blog brought the news of SuperJoel's passing to me, the posting of a comment by Annelise here is somehow driving me to look at a moment in my life that was so powerful and meaningful as to make me question all of how I lived my life.

Star was young girl I met in Berkeley. She originally was a friend to an extended family that I was part.

Annelise, I too was in the play you mentioned and your comment started me looking for pictures and writings I have saved that were about that time, my friendships, my loves, and my work as an artist.

I have for years looked for a certain photo of Star, Luna and I talking on Telegraph Avenue. It is gone but I see it.

Telegraph was a universe unto itself. I would sell my art and humanity would pass by.
"Programs, Programs ... You can't tell the agents without a Program, Program", I would say to nameless people going on their way.

Beside the homeless kids and the Red Rockets, a group of young teenage children of Berkeley radicals that were called the Mini-Mob, there were more middle class kids who
hung out on the "Ave." One of those kids was Star and another was her best friend Luna.

Luna was the 15-year daughter of writer Robert Anton Wilson. She worked part time at a little clothing store just down the corner from where I sold my art on the fence in front of the vacant lot where the old "Telegraph Hilton' once stood.

I will not be able to tell you in one, two, ten ...a hundred sittings the story of that one day, what had occurred before and after. I struggle out of love and respect for the young ladies and what after almost 35 years still would have to be trauma for Star and loss for everyone. But I will try.

(continued tomorrow)

Jail for SuperJoel

2008-01-27T11:51:00.001-08:00

So when SuperJoel's sister told me in a comment on this blog that he had died it started my mind connecting to the true feeling in me and a need to express what ever connection that came up.

There are branches from the streams that leads from one memory to another. As with Kathy Soliah to Joe McDonald to SuperJoel and back to Country Joe.

Country Joe McDonald sits with daughter Seven at the Cafe Mediteranian in Berkeley (approximately 1975).

When SuperJoel took the rap for the whole community after the People's Park protests Joe did a benefit for Joel.

When to sessions of sweet silent thought
I summon up remembrance of things past,
I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,
And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste;
Then can I drown an eye, unused to flow,
From precious friends hid in death's dateless night,
And weep afresh love's long since cancelled woe,
And moan th' expense of many a vanished sight.
And I grieve at grievances foregone,
And heavily from woe to woe tell o'er
The sad account of fore-bemoaned moan,
Which I new pay as if not paid before.
But if the while I think of thee, dear friend,
All losses are resored and sorrow ends.

NGC 4594 - Colors & Cove Marbling

2008-01-27T08:52:00.000-08:00

Spaced Out Art

2008-01-26T22:31:00.000-08:00

... act close to your center.

2008-01-23T16:12:00.000-08:00

Joe Samberg's photos of life on Telegraph are spread over the floor like empty bottles that use to contain the finest elixir. David W. Teske, Star mapmaker and self proclaimed, "idiot savant" said, "All memories reside in something." In fact, that statement also defined what he called "media" ... all stuff.

"Nostalgia is the worse form of depression." I said that.

So digging through the old media was meaningful to me but depressing.

Looking at Berkeley California at that time is very difficult and even harder to know where to begin talking about it. And it is impossible to describe the glory and the guilt of those days.

So how can one be honest as Earnest Hemmingway who felt that you start writing with one honest thought? One honest sentence. For me it is what I learned from the most illusionary of all my life's endeavors, acting. And that lesson learned is... act close to you center.

The flash of Kathy Soliah and I behind the flimsy backdrop of the small stage in church meeting room where we were putting on "Midsummer's Night Dream" came rushing back. A nothing second of our lives that was burned into my head.

I can't exactly remember but somehow a flirtatious look turned into a stolen kiss behind the set while we waited for our entrance. Another split second look at each other and she said "It's too late for us Cove."

Although I had no clue to the details although I knew what she meant … "too late" because her world had gotten far too serious for romance. My world as well but I hadn't realized it yet. She left the acting group abruptly soon after that play's run.

I didn't see much of Kathy Soliah again except when the I was looking for a doctor to pull a bullet out of a black guy's leg who had jumped over my backyard fence in the tough area I live between Berkeley and Oakland. I knew she had connections with the Free Clinic doctors and would help no matter what the circumstance around the shooting. The absolute last time I saw her in real life was at the SLA rally where she spoke.

I thought it was insanely courageous of Kathy to speak at a public rally to honor the members of the most notorious home grown revolutionary group in modern American history.

Spacely and I were in the crowd that day trying to count the cops and agents. There were a couple of teams of them with big old video cameras with fake numbers on them to try and fool the audience into thinking they, the gumshoes, were really TV crews.

We would bump into them or stand in front of the cameras ... but these guys were serious and heavy. Any more fucking around than we did and we would have had our asses busted as well as our heads.

Twenty-Five years later I watched on TV when the story broke about her capture as Sara Jane Olson. I thought about the sweet character of Helena that Shakespeare had seem to write for Kathy Soliah. I thought about the "too late" comment she made to me behind that backdrop in a Berkeley pacifist church where Country Joe McDonald's mother was a leader ... and I cried. I cried for Kathy's family and I cried for our generation.

Dead Dog

2008-01-20T08:37:00.001-08:00

D.A.F.F.Y. - ending.

2008-01-20T06:57:00.000-08:00

Pledging My Love

2008-01-19T20:17:00.000-08:00

Dogs for Defense Inc.

2008-01-19T19:58:00.000-08:00

What is Peg? Public,Educational and Government Access TV. A conversation with Penelope Place.

2008-01-19T11:13:00.000-08:00

Les Inconnus

2008-01-19T10:18:00.000-08:00

Cove's Painting

2008-01-18T13:38:00.001-08:00

Jack Sinclair's Paintings, Art and Home Movies

2008-01-18T13:37:00.001-08:00