Coachella Valley Weekly - July 22 to July 28, 2021 Vol. 10 No. 19

coachellavalleyweekly.com • July 22 to July 28, 2021 Vol.10 No.19

Tribe-O

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The Gun Club

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Leanna & The Jazz Collective

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Jeff Ross’ Pot Roast at Four Twenty Bank

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July 22 to July 28, 2021

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July 22 to July 28, 2021

BY CRYSTAL HARRELL Coachella Valley Weekly (760) 501-6228

publisher@coachellavalleyweekly.com coachellavalleyweekly.com facebook.com/cvweekly twitter.com/cvweekly1 Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Kirby, Raymond Bill Club Crawler Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Head Music Writer Esther Sanchez Head Feature Writer Crystal Harrell Feature Writers Lisa Morgan, Rich Henrich, Heidi Simmons, Noe Gutierrez, Tricia Witkower Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Eleni P. Austin, Craig Michaels, Janet McAfee, Bronwyn Ison, Haddon Libby, Sam DiGiovanna, Dale Gribow, Denise Ortuno Neil, Rob Brezny, Dr. Peter Kadile, Dee Jae Cox, Angela Romeo, Aaron Ramson, Lynne Tucker, Aimee Mosco, Michelle Anne Rizzio, Ruth Hill, Madeline Zuckerman Photographers Robert Chance, Laura Hunt Little, Chris Miller, Esther Sanchez Videographer Kurt Schawacker Website Editor Bobby Taffolla Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

CONTENTS Palm Canyon Roadhouse 14th Anniversary . 3-5 Travel Tips 4 U ................................................... 5 Tribe-O ............................................................... 6 Safety Tips ......................................................... 7 Consider This - The Gun Club........................ 8-9 Club Crawler Nightlife ..................................... 9 Screeners......................................................... 10 Breaking The 4th Wall .................................... 11 The Vino Voice ................................................ 12 Health - Keto ................................................... 13 Cannabis Corner ............................................. 14

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or the last 14 years, Palm Canyon Roadhouse in Palm Springs has been regarded as a local hotspot for highend entertainment with the longest running jam session in the entire desert empire. From hosting numerous charity events to being presented a prestigious award by AnheuserBusch that very few bars are given, this desert venue is among the best in the Coachella Valley.

Owners Greg and Eleanor Rivers are excited to celebrate the 14th anniversary of Palm Canyon Roadhouse and are hosting a celebration on Friday, July 23, starting at 9 p.m. with live entertainment provided by the Lucky Tongue Band. While Palm Canyon Roadhouse has garnered an impressive reputation, it goes to show that the staff, patrons, and musicians all collectively worked together to make the bar the powerhouse of a venue that it is today.

“I have to say that I and my staff owe a debt of true gratitude to my wife Eleanor for her never-wavering guidance. Whatever the cost, she always gets the job done and stands ready to rise to each new challenge— countless years of being the first one there in the morning and the last one there at night and she's still game. For being the calm voice of reason during the frequent storms that are by nature my personality, I love her,” stated

Greg.

The coronavirus pandemic has greatly affected live entertainment over the past year, but Greg is grateful to see all the musicians who regularly play at the Palm Canyon Roadhouse returning after such a long absence. He insists that the venue could not have survived the last 14 years without the help of some of its veteran players like Eddie Larkin (bass), Andy Fraga (drums), Tim Mcfall (drums), and Brad Mercer (guitar/vocals).

“These are guys who’ve been in the game forever and are perpetually happy musicians and consummate professionals. They’ve seen it all and always bring their A-game. Nothing shocks them and I’m lucky to count them among my friends,” said Greg.

Saturday night regulars like Derek Jordan Gregg, Jimi Heil, Larry Atello, Joss Burrell, Peter Dallas, Woody Retro, Krystofer Do, Pescaterritory, Vinny Berry, and their bands are who the Palm Canyon Roadhouse staff recognizes as the true backbone of what keeps the venue moving forward week after week.

Local artists have voiced their appreciation for the Palm Canyon Roadhouse and the support the venue’s owners have extended to the music community. Singer/songwriter soloist and frontman for The Hive Minds, Derek Jordan Gregg, has hailed Greg as the

unsung hero in the Coachella Valley music scene. He has credited hanging around the jam sessions when he first came to the desert as giving him a foot in the door to the local community, getting him to where he is at now.

“From sending the Palm Canyon Roadhouse Van to pick up Sean Poe [Hive Minds drummer], myself and the five thousand dollars-worth of gear that we had played to win, to taking me to the hospital to get stitches that one time after things got a little out of hand, I’m glad Greg’s getting a little recognition. He’s a class act and the patron saint of local musicians,” praised Derek.

Sunday jam sessions have been a staple of what the Palm Canyon Roadhouse has offered since its inception. Afternoons start off with Mikole Kaar's show and his personal brand of jazz, as he is Greg’s favorite sax player. Then at 6 p.m., the vibe changes over to a more rock and bluesy country-oriented jam session. This is hosted by a new guest each week to keep the jams fresh with Gene Beavers holding down the bass line and Jay Lewis on drums.

There have been many celebrity guests that made unscheduled appearances at the Palm Canyon Roadhouse over the years. The Marshall Tucker Band has dropped in to jam a couple of times as well as members from the New York Dolls, Vixen, Trini Lopez, and Beau MacDougall. Christina Millian even filmed a video at the Roadhouse. Other artists like Steve Miller, Phil Rudd from AC/DC, Mickey Thomas of Starship, Cindy Williams, and Cheech Marin have dropped in just to hear the music, or enjoy a bite to eat and a cocktail.

Greg has a fond memory of encountering Nora Jones one afternoon as he was tending the bar and she came in by herself for lunch, and was delighted to find her personality sweet and down-to-earth.

“Every now and then we’re blessed with real virtuoso moments by the likes of someone like Mike Finn or Pete Sutter, two very differently styled but equally talented guitarists. They’re the kind of guys that, without seeing it coming, will get into a moment where they continue to page 5

Jeff Ross' Pot Roast at Four Twenty Bank ..... 14 Pet Place ..................................................... 16-17 Haddon Libby ................................................. 18 Dale Gribow .................................................... 18 Swag For The Soul........................................... 19 Free Will Astrology ........................................ 19

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July 22 to July 28, 2021

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PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE

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just transcend the stage they’re standing on.

You look around the room and see people with their drinks poised halfway to their mouths and nobody is moving, they’re just staring, wide-eyed at Pete or Mike and you know you’re in the presence of a truly great musical moment. They have taken possession of every soul within hearing range of that riff. It finally passes and the only acknowledgement of it even having happened is perhaps the ghost of a smile on the drummer’s face. Very subtle, but you know something intangible, a tiny slice of excellence, something you'll never be a part of, passed between those men with ease. And that moment makes it all worth it for me,” explained Greg.

The Palm Canyon Roadhouse also plays some of the best country music, with the likes of Roger Lemieux and Greg’s good friend Marc Valverde, who toured the country as bass player/backing vocals for Johnny Lee back the 80s, as well as crowd favorite, Grady James, who is taking the country world by storm since he moved to Nashville. Grady will also perform onstage for the Oasis Music Festival

TRAVEL TIPS4U TUCSON, AZ

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July 22 to July 28, 2021

he mission of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is to inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation, and understanding of the Sonoran Desert.

The Desert Museum is ranked on TripAdvisor.com as one of the Top 10 Museums in the country and the #1 Tucson attraction. Unlike most museums, about 85% of the experience is outdoors!

The 98 acre Desert Museum is a fusion experience: zoo, botanical garden, art gallery,

scheduled for this coming October.

There are two people that Greg considers to be his secret weapons and who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep all the big wheels and cogs turning. Matt Barnes is the go-to guy for anything and everything soundrelated. The Palm Canyon Roadhouse has invested a pretty penny in their house sound system, which Greg likes to run personally on the weekends, but he never purchases a piece of equipment without Matt’s input.

“Many has been the Saturday night, five minutes to show time with a packed house when suddenly something in the main system goes down and we are without sound. Naturally I feel instant panic, but put in a call to Matt who’s always finds me the solution in minutes via telephone and nobody is the wiser. He is a fine tech, a sincerely good friend and true gift from above. If he’s smart, one day he’ll block my number,” revealed Greg.

The second person in Greg’s arsenal is Steve Johns, entertainment director of the Palm Canyon Roadhouse, without whom none

of this would be possible. Steve and Greg met just shortly after the Roadhouse opened, and struck up a fast and easy friendship. Steve hires all the entertainment, Saturday night shows, Sunday guest hosts, tribute shows, fundraisers, and festivals.

“His insight into the bar/club business is remarkable. He even wrote a book about it!

Rolling up countless miles on his car, traveling from venue to venue always looking for a new act, contracts, negotiations, phone calls, e-mails, social media, videos, it never ends.

Where others would crack under the strain of the sheer volume of it all, Steve just keeps that same easy, low-key manner, never raises his voice, steers the ship and gets us all to the place he knows we need to be, even when others can’t see beyond the fog. I learned long ago not to second guess him!” said Greg.

With the endless support the Palm Canyon Roadhouse has received, Greg only hopes that the venue will continue to prosper and that people will still be talking about the Roadhouse for another 14 years. The memories created by the talented and hardworking individuals inside the venue are more than Greg could have ever anticipated.

“We could never have made it this far

ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM

natural history museum, and aquarium.

21 interpreted acres with two miles of walking paths through various desert habitats 242 animal species Plants from 1,200 taxa — 56,000 individual specimens One of the world's most comprehensive regional mineral collections Beyond merely an attraction, the Museum's conservation and research programs are providing important information to help conserve the Sonoran Desert region.

The Desert Museum's Art Institute inspires conservation through art education and

gallery exhibits. The Museum's publishing division, ASDM Press, has produced over 40 books and guides on the natural and cultural history of the Sonoran Desert region.

ADMISSION Your ticket purchase directly supports the Desert Museum and our mission.

General Admission (ages 13-64): $23.95 Senior (ages 65+): $21.95 Youth (ages 3-12): $11.95 Children (under 3): Free Desert Museum Members: Free *seasonal pricing may apply HOURS It’s no secret that summers in southern Arizona are hot. Beginning July 1, 2021 and ending September 30, 2021, new summer hours will go into effect. Visit them 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to enjoy the desert while ensuring a fun and safe adventure for the

without the best staff an owner could ever hope for. I don’t always understand them, nor do I want to. It just works better that way. Bartenders Dale, Melody and Michelle function on an ethereal plane I’ll never reach and that’s probably best. They know what they’re doing and who am I to stink up their game? Security head Bobby keeps us all safe, Chef Steve keeps the kitchen running smoothly. You couldn’t find two men better suited to their jobs, always ready with a laugh, and there are no bad days when they’re around,” stated Greg.

Friday & Saturdays: Live Cover Bands and Tribute Bands Saturday, August 7: Journey Tribute Band performed by Journey LTD Sunday afternoons 2:00pm Jazz Jam with Mikole Kaar Sunday night Jam starts at 6:00pm (The longest running Jam in the Desert Empire) Hosts this week are Jason Zembo and Aiden Schaefer of Pescaterritory.

The Palm Canyon Roadhouse is located at 535 South Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs.

Current Summer Hours Wednesday –Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Late night food is available until 1 a.m.

ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY LYNNE TUCKER whole family!

For more information visit: www.desertmuseum.org Think Conservation and Visit the Arizona Sonora Desert

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July 22 to July 28, 2021

LOCAL MUSIC

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he Coachella Valley has become a hub for musicians from all genres and reggae music is no exception.

Although currently, there are several quality reggae acts in the desert, none have been around as long as CV Music Award winners, Tribe-O.... and few have proven themselves with such longevity.

Having recently dropped their new single, “Coachella,” and having scored a twice-permonth residency at The Cantina in Indio, the brother and sister duo have no plans of quitting anytime soon. “Lady Lock” Ann Nix and Siah Nix hail from Miami, Fla, but now see the Coachella Valley as their “home away from home,” so much so that they wrote what they perceive as an anthem for their beloved desert community. Recorded and produced by award winning producer Ronnie King, Tribe-O intends on continuing to spread the peace and love vibes of reggae music with no end in sight.

CVW: I remember seeing you guys open for Steel Pulse around 15 years ago. How long have you guys been making music in the desert?

Siah: “In the desert, we have been performing for the past 22 years, but we have been an entity since 1996.”

CVW: How did you guys start making Reggae music?

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TRIBE-O

THE OG DESERT REGGAE ACT DROPS NEW SINGLE WITH MORE TO COME

Siah: “Our mission is figuring out how our music can become an intricate part of uniting people. Music is so powerful and moves people in so many ways. Music can cross genres and racial stereotypes and all kinds of boundaries. For us, it’s about bringing people together as a community with positivity, forgiveness and acceptance.

We want to cut out the negativity and just be one with one another.”

CVW: Let’s talk about the sibling dynamic in your group. Did you guys come from a musical family? Have you always done this kind of thing?

Lady Lock: “Yes, we grew up singing in the Pentacostal church on our mother’s side. My grandmother was a Reverend and then became a Pastor before she passed away. We started singing on our own just playing and messing around. Singing along with old records...soul and R&B stuff like Gladys Knight who is my favorite. We took it seriously…(points at Siah and giggles)....

Well, he took it seriously!”

Siah: “Some of the earliest memories I have of us singing together was when we were kids and used to go skating. During the time we would wait for our parents to come pick us up at the skating rink and sing songs together….just random songs.

So, from a young teen I was inspired to

become an artist. In Miami I was inspired by a lot of different types of artists and eventually wrote my first track. It gained some popularity there and we were close to being signed (for a record deal) but a few things went down and it didn’t quite work out….but I never let that pull me away from my passion.

Later on, when we came out here to California, we started putting together a package of what we want to bring forth in the music which is our message of love, peace and unity. We try our best not to venture too far away from our intentions. Reggae is universal music that best represents our message.”

Lady Lock: “You know when we first got here it was surprising to us that there was very little presence of reggae music happening in this area.”

CVW: I was meaning to ask you if there were any other reggae bands in the valley that you know of?

Siah: “There was just one. They were called, ‘Equal Opportunity.’ They were a mix of various musicians from other projects all very accredited individually and they would get together to play reggae music. We connected with them early on and later on filtered out to create Tribe-O. That spawned us being able to have the opportunity to

BY ESTHER SANCHEZ

open for all of the major reggae acts that perform here in the valley.

We have opened for Gregory Isaacs, Steel Pulse, Third World, and the list goes on.”

CVW: So what’s new?

Siah: “Well not necessarily, ‘new’ news but, around 5 years ago we linked up with Ronnie King, the legendary producer. We had decided to take a different path as far as the music is concerned.”

Lady Lock: “We started associating ourselves with high quality musicians and weeded out all the riff-raff because we used to deal with a lot. A wise man once said that if you want to be taken seriously you need to do things seriously and that is what we are about.”

Check out Tribe-O’s new single, “Coachella” on all platforms. See them live every other Thursday at The Cantina in Indio.

Tribe-O.com facebook.com/TribeOReggae instagram.com/tribeosweetreggaemusic

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July 22 to July 28, 2021

SAFETY TIPS FROM THE CHIEF’S CORNER

BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA

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he time of year where swimming pool drownings reach their peak.

Drowning incidents are dramatically on the rise both locally and nationally according to Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, just under 400 deaths a year on average are attributed to drowning in a swimming pool or at a spa.

Sadly, of the total number of accidental drownings, approximately one in five victims are aged 14 or younger.

“No matter how the drowning happened or where it happened -- pool, spa, or any other body of water -- one thing was the same, the seconds that claimed their child's life slid by silently, without warning, ‘it happens just like that and can never be brought back.’ Drowning is Preventable!” reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

Children drown without a sound.

Drowning is a quiet event. There is no splashing, no screaming, and no noise at all. What can you do to prevent drowning incidents?

Always be on the lookout!

When kids are in or near water (including bathtubs), closely supervise them at all times. Because drowning happens quickly and quietly, adults watching kids in or near water should avoid distracting activities like playing cards, reading books, talking on the

phone, and using alcohol or drugs.

Follow the ABC’s of water safety: A = Adult Supervision. Assign an adult Water Watcher to keep their eyes on the water at ALL times.

B = Barriers such as fences, self-closing and self-latching gates, pool motion sensors, window and door alarms.

C = Classes. Parents and Caregivers should take CPR and First Aid, and swimming courses that are available for both children and adults.

The same goes for adults. Learn how to swim, and NEVER swim alone!

Learn CPR! Your CPR skills could save someone’s life in the time it takes for paramedics to arrive.

I cannot reiterate this. DO NOT take your eyes off the children in a pool or other water source. Not even for a second. If you need to go in, the kids come out and come with you – even for a few seconds.

Additionally, many drownings occur when children were not supposed to be in the pool. Make sure you have plenty of barriers such as alarms and self-closing gates to protect curious youngsters!

For additional drowning safety information visit: https://lnkd.in/gxW9DVU or the ABC’s of Water Safety from the Orange County Fire Authority https://lnkd. in/ggb72z8.

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July 22 to July 28, 2021

CONSIDER THIS

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ore than 40 years ago, Punk Rock snarled, scratched, spit and elbowed its way into the cultural zeitgeist. Although it was invented in the bowels of New York and its popularity exploded in Great Britain, it truly thrived in Los Angeles. Back in the mid ‘70s, L.A. was still a bastion of sun, sand, surf and mellow vibes. But just beneath the smoggy, sunshiny crust, was a sprawling metropolis, a melting pot of dissatisfied, disenfranchised denizens not living the California dream. Bands like The Germs, The Weirdos, The Plugz, Fear and X tapped into that dichotomy.

These Punk progenitors made their bones in scuzzy venues like the AntiClub, Madame Wong’s, Club 88 and the Masque. Initial inspiration was derived by Punk’s primitive D.I.Y. ethos, but as their musical influences expanded, they began to discard Punk’s nihilistic attitude, and carved out their own sonic landscape.

It was an inclusive scene; Punk paved the way for myriad permutations.

There was the skinny tie Power Pop of The Knack, 20/20 and the Plimsouls.

Meanwhile, bands like X, The Blasters and Los Lobos began incorporating Country, Blues and Folk into their sound.

Taking their cues from ‘60s Psychedelia and Garage, The Bangles, The Dream Syndicate, Rain Parade and The Three O’ Clock formed a loose collective known as The Paisley Underground. Then there was the Jazz/Blues/Psychobilly of The Flesh Eaters and the thrashy R&B of Top Jimmy & The Rhythm Pigs. Diving head first into this sweaty musical mosh pit was The Gun Club.

The nucleus of The Gun Club, Jeffrey Lee Pierce and Brian Tristan, met waiting in line for a Pere Ubu show in 1979. Jeffrey Lee had already begun making a name for himself writing for Slash fanzine (under the nom de plume of Ranking Jeffrey Lee). He was Reggae music aficionado and also ran Blondie’s L.A. fan club, managing to become friends with the NYC Punk/Pop band. Before connecting with Brian, he had cycled through a few groups like Red Lights, and E-Types, as well as Phast Phreddie & Thee Precisions.

Both guys displayed an eclectic taste in music that belied their age. Jeffrey Lee encouraged Brian to learn guitar and join the new band he was starting.

As Creeping Ritual, their original lineup included Jeffrey Lee on vocals and guitar, Brian (now known as Kid Congo Powers) on guitar, bassist (and L.A. Times music critic) Don Snowden and drummer Brad Dunning. At the suggestion of Jeffrey Lee’s roommate, Circle Jerks vocalist Keith Morris, they changed their name to The Gun Club. But Don and Brad left before the year was out, replaced by ex-Bags bandmates Rob Ritter and Terry Graham. A few months later Kid Congo accepted an invitation to join The Cramps and Ward Dotson took over guitar duties.

The Gun Club distilled their disparate influences into a heady brew that

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THE GUN CLUB

blended Blues, Country, Punk, Rockabilly and Folk. Some categorized it as Tribal Psychobilly Blues, others classified their sound as Cow Punk. They became a fixture on the L.A. scene and audiences either loved them or hated them. They gained wider exposure opening for more established acts like X, The Blasters, Bags and Circle Jerks.

Tito Larriva of The Plugz, and Flesh Eaters front-man Chris Desjardins (a.k.a.

Chris D.) each offered to produce the band, The Gun Club booked sessions with both. Once they signed with Ruby Records (an off-shoot of L.A.’s seminal Punk label, Slash Records), all the recorded material was combined into their sublime 1981 debut, Fire Of Love. The album garnered good reviews and decent sales.

Their sophomore effort, Miami, was produced by Blondie guitarist Chris Stein and released through his boutique label, Animal Records. The general consensus was the songs were great, the production, not so much. An unpredictable frontman, Jeffrey Lee was often at odds with his bandmates.

Drug and alcohol consumption fueled their disagreements. Tired of the constant in-fighting, he sacked Terry and Ward at the end of 1982. Rob had already left in order to concentrate on his new band, 45 Grave. A third album, The Las Vegas Story arrived in 1984. It featured a hodgepodge of musicians, including Blasters guitarist, Dave Alvin.

Surprisingly, it was their most cohesive album to date. From then on, the band endured myriad line-up changes, with Jeffrey Lee remaining the only constant.

The Gun Club officially broke up in 1985

“FIRE OF LOVE” (DELUXE) (BLIXA SOUNDS)

and he moved to London, intent on a solo career. His debut, Wildweed was released that same year, but by 1986 The Gun Club was back. Original members rotated in and out, for a time, Kid Congo played simultaneously in The Gun Club, as well as Nick Cave’s Bad Seeds. 1987’s Mother Juno was produced by Cocteau Twins visionary Robin Guthrie. Between 1990 and 1993, The Gun Club recorded three more albums, Pastoral Hide And Seek, Divinity and Lucky Jim. Jeffrey Lee bounced between L.A., London and Japan, but health issues dogged him.

In late 1995 the band’s most recent line-up played a show at The Palace in Hollywood. Six months later, Jeffrey Lee was found unconscious on the floor of his father’s house in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was hospitalized and remained in a coma until his death from a brain hemorrhage.

He was just 37 years old.

In the 40 years since Fire Of Love was released, The Gun Club has attained cult status. Their influence has been felt by artists like Concrete Blonde, 16 Horsepower, Mark Lanegan and the Yeah, Yeah Yeahs. The White Stripes used to include Gun Club songs in their early sets. Now the cool kids at Blixa Sounds have released a deluxe edition of their seminal debut.

The album opens with the sybaritic kick of “Sex Beat” Jittery guitars stutter and strafe, colliding with manic bass lines and a pile-driving beat. Jeffrey Lee’s yelpy vocals navigate the melody’s hairpin curves, charting a course as carnal conquistador; “And every day I agree, you throw me down by the Christmas tree, I watched your lights blink on and

BY ELENI P. AUSTIN off while you start your fun with me/I, I know your reasons, and I, I know your goals, we can fuck forever, but you can never get my soul.”

Back in the day, part of The Gun Club’s allure was that their music was equal parts crude and cagey, shambolic and shamanistic and always wildly unpredictable. Listening with 21st century ears, the music isn’t so much polished as it is assured and self-possessed. Take “She’s Like Heroin To Me,” snarling shards of guitars fracture atop prowling bass, wheezy slide guitar notes and a punishing big beat. The swirling and chaotic arrangement casts a hypnotic spell, as lyrics limn the edge of erotic fixation, hint at incest, obsession and addiction, but still sneak in a sly reference to “Ruby” by Kenny Rogers & The First Edition; “She’s like heroin to me, she cannot miss a vein, don’t let her take her love to town, they will never fill her heart, she needs passion like her father’s used to be, I know because I’m the train shooting down the mainline, I know because I’m the Indian wind along the telegraph line.”

Then there’s “Black Train,” which clickity-clacks down the track, powered by brawny guitars, rattle-trap bass and a locomotive rhythm. Lyrics sketch out the familiar saga of an outlaw on the run; “Every drop of my body moves with the train and some of it’s on the floor, I’m slippin’ out to anyplace, although I know I’ve been there before.” Jeffrey Lee’s vocals are simply bewitching, going from a whisper to a keen, speaking one minute, yodeling like a Prairie Dog the next.

“Ghost On The Highway” lands somewhere between a murder ballad and a hellbilly hayride. Whiplash guitars careen out of the speakers as bendy slide guitar notes echo and sway, bookended by wily bass lines and whipcrack rhythm.

Choleric lyrics take aim at a spectral femme fatale who has cast him in a spell; “If I ever lie with you again, I pray I do not sleep, if I ever closed my eyes again, I’d realize what you are to me, you are simply a liar, an animal who bluffs and steals, until you become a bigger creature’s meal/You’re a ghost on the highway, you’re trash and meaningless, I hate you but I love you, I’ll carry that to the end.”

A couple of songs, “Jack On Fire” and “For The Love Of Ivy” should have been hits. The former unspools a sinewy guitar figure that is ridiculously catchy, matched by enough distorto bottleneck to dirty up the pretty. Jeffrey Lee comes across as a cheerful, charming psychopath, adopting a come hither pose; “I am like Jack and I tell you this, I will be your lover and exorcist, in the stillness of the mosquito sunset, you will make love to me your very best.” Yes, this seduction comes

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with a side order of DDT! On the vreak, Metallic guitars add a hint of Glam-tastic crunch.

The latter is a bit of a mash note directed at Cramps guitarist, Poison Ivy Rorschach. Strummy rhythm guitars connect a walking bass line, Banshee electric riff-age and a blasé beat. Like a cat presenting their owner with their latest kill, the lyrics conflate homicidal tendencies and love; “Gonna buy me a graveyard of my own, kill everyone who done me wrong, gonna buy me a gun just as long as my arm, kill everyone who has ever done me harm/Then go tell Ivy, ohoh, for the love of Ivy yeah-yeah, I did it for Ivy oh oh.”

The Gun Club put their stank on a couple of Blues classics. Robert Johnson’s seminal “Preaching The Blues” is recast as a screechy, squally Delta Watusi. Jeffrey Lee is fully en fuego, delivering a sermon against the temptations of liquor and ladies; “I had religion, Lord on this very day, but the womens and the whiskey would not let me pray.”

Tommy Johnson’s “Cool Drink Of Water” contains the perfect opening couplet; “I asked her for water and she gave me gasoline.” In The Gun Club’s hands splayed guitars, bowed bass and a cluttered beat teeter on the precipice of pandemonium, nearly collapsing in on itself.

Other interesting songs include the

July 22 to July 28, 2021

akimbo slip-stitch of “Promise Me” and the molten pleasures of “Fire Spirit.” The original album closed with the sinister throb of “Goodbye Johnny.”

On this deluxe version, the remainder of disc one is given over to alternate takes and 4 track demos, featuring several Fire Of Love songs as well as primitive versions of “Bad Indian,” “Fire Of Love,” “Devil In The Woods” and “Watermelon Man.” Those last five appeared fully formed on the Miami album.

The real treasure trove is found on disc two. It offers up a scorching live set recorded at Club 88 in the Spring of 1981. The band is in their ramshackle glory before an appreciative hometown crowd. Jeffrey Lee acts as ringmaster and carnival barker, riffing, cracking wise and breaking into X songs at the drop of a hat. Along with a plethora of Fire… songs, they offer up blistering takes on (as yet unrecorded) “Devil In The Woods” “Fire Of Love” and “Bad Indian.” They completely dismantle and reassemble the beloved Folk-ballad, “Railroad Bill” and offer an embryonic incarnation of “Keys To The Kingdom.”

Revisiting Fire Of Love 40 years on, it’s interesting how perceptions shift. What seemed sloppy and shambolic in 1981 now sounds pithy and succinct. The Gun Club synthesized Punk and Blues creating a musical template that was clearly, ahead of its time.

The Hood – Open Mic – 8pm The Nest – Jojo Malagar – 7pm The Slice – Sergio Villegas – 5-8pm The Village – Rapmarz - 10pm Wildest – Derek Jordan Gregg – 6-9pm

Thursday, July 22

Chef George’s – Marc Antonelli – 6:309:30pm Coachella Valley Brewery – Open Mic – 7pm Cunard’s – Bill Baker – 6pm Kitchen 86 – Jojo Malagar – 7pm Lit @ Fantasy Springs – Whiskey Tango – 7pm Melvyn’s – Mikael Healey – 5pm The Nest – Bryan Magsayo – 6pm The Slice – Leanna Rogers – 5-8pm The Village – Rob & JB – 5:30-8:30pm, Rapmarz – 10pm, DJ LF – 10pm

Friday, July 23

Bart Lounge – DJ Manny and Friends – 8pm Casuelas Café – The Myx – 7pm Chef George’s – Lizann Warner – 6:309:30pm Coachella Valley Brewery – Josh Heinz and Alien DNA – 7pm Cunard’s – Bill Baker – 6pm Four Twenty Bank – Tom Petty Tribute – 6pm La Quinta Brewery – Tim Styles – 8pm Lit @ Fantasy Springs – Forward Nation – 9pm Mastro’s – Nikki Dickinson – 6:30pm

Melvyn’s – Mikael Healey – 5pm O’Caine’s – Midlife O’Crisis – 6pm Palm Canyon Roadhouse – 14th Anniversary w/ Lucky Tongue – 9pm Pete’s Hideaway – Darci Daniels – 7pm Rockyard@Fantasy Springs – Toxicity (System of a Down Tribute) and Playground – 7pm The Hood – Drag Queen Bingo – 8pm The Nest – Jojo Malagar – 6pm The Slice – Marc Antonelli – 5:30-8:30pm The Village – Rob & JB – 5:30-8:30pm, Rapmarz – 10pm, DJ LF – 10pm, DJ Gio the Ace – 9pm Twelve @ Fantasy Springs – Mark Gregg and Co. – 7-10pm Wildest – Derek Jordan Gregg – 6-9pm

Saturday, July 24

Ace Hotel – Reverbnation Radio DJ Set – noon – poolside Bart Lounge – Cynic Love w/ DJ Sets by Cazzuto and Captain Osiv – 8pm Bobby D’s – Derek Jordan Gregg – 101pm Casuelas Café – Flashback Boyz – 7:15pm Chef George’s – Tribute to Franky Valli – 6:30-9:30pm Coachella Valley Brewery – Laughs and Drafts – 7pm Cunard’s – Bill Baker – 6pm

Four Twenty Bank – Jann Brown Hard Rooster – 6pm Lit @ Fantasy Springs – Forward Nation – 9pm Mastro’s – Jojo Malagar – 7:30pm Melvyn’s – Mikael Healey – 5pm Palm Canyon Roadhouse – The Refills – 9pm Rockyard@Fantasy Springs – Faux Fighters (Foo Fighters Tribute) and Almost Famous – 7pm The Hood - Comedy Night – 9pm The Nest – Nikki Dickinson – 6pm The Slice – Leanna Rogers – 5:30-8:30pm The Village – Rob & JB – 1-4pm, Rapmarz – 10pm, DJ LF – 10pm, DJ Gio the Ace – 9pm Twelve @ Fantasy Springs – Mark Gregg and Co. – 7-10pm Wildest – Derek Jordan Gregg – 6-9pm

Sunday, July 25

Bart Lounge – Latina Night w/ DJ LF – 8pm Coachella Valley Brewery – Acoustic Afternoon w/ Switcharoo, Miguel Arballo and Krystofer Do – 3pm Kitchen 86 – Jojo Malagar – 7pm Mastro’s – Nikki Dickinson – 6pm Melvyn’s – Mikael Healey – 5pm Palm Canyon Roadhouse – Mikole Kaar Jazz Event – 2-5pm, Sunday Night Jam – 6-11pm

Monday, July 26

The Nest – The Trebles – 6:30-9:30pm The Village – DJ Gio the Ace – 9pm

Tuesday, July 27

Chef George’s – Lizann Warner – 6:309:30pm Cunard’s – Bill Baker – 6pm Four Twenty Bank – Mikole Kaar and the Kaar Club – 4:20-7:20pm Lit @ Fantasy Springs – Brad’s Pad – 7-10pm The Nest – The Trebles – 6:30-9:30pm The Slice – Sergio Villegas – 5-8pm The Village – DJ Gio the Ace – 9pm

Wednesday, July 28

Casuelas Café – Lisa Lynn and the Broken Hallelujahs – 7:30pm Chef George’s – Tim Burleson – 6:309:30pm Cunard’s – Bill Baker – 6pm Melvyn’s – Mikael Healey – 5pm The Cantina – T- Bone Karaoke – 7pm The Nest – The Trebles – 6:30-9:30pm The Slice – Marc Antonelli – 5-8pm The Village – DJ Gio the Ace – 9pm, Philly Saturn – 10pm, Banda Reyna Del Valle – 10pm

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July 22 to July 28, 2021

SCREENERS

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No. 483

THE BOYS ARE BACK

BY ROBIN E. SIMMONS tyranny of their resident house mother. But tonight the girls of Theta Pi are celebrating their graduation in the most deadly way they know. You’re invited to join them for a night terror and unhinged madness on this their fatal last fling.

Bonus material includes a commentary with director Mark Rosen and sorority actors Eileen Davidson and Kathryn McNeil. MVD Rewind Collection. Blu-ray.

Comments? robin@coachellavalleyweekly.com

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ddie Murphy and Nick Nolte push the limits of both action and comedy in 48 Hrs and Another 48 Hrs in a new line of Blu-Ray releases from Paramount Home Entertainment.

Both films have been newly remastered from 4K film transfers with fresh bonus content from director Walter Hill. They also include vintage behind the scenes footage on the making of these two film favorites.

This is the first time both films are available on Blu-Ray with limited edition packaging.

Featuring a foldout image of the theatrical poster and an interior spread with key movie moments.

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48 HOURS (1982) Nick Nolte is unforgettable as Jack Cates, a rough-edged inspector on the hunt for two vicious cop-killers. Unlikely ride-along con Reggie Hammond Eddie Murphy), is given 48-hours leave from prison to help Cates on the case. Lots of big laughs and fights as both men pursue two very different goals under a fast-ticking clock. This fast-paced action comedy was widely reviewed as one of the best films of the year. Paramount. Blu-ray.

ANOTHER 48 HOURS (1990) Eight years after the first 48 hours of mayhem, Reggie (Murphy) is about to b released from the pen. But,, after the bus

transporting him flips over (17 times!), inspector Jack Cates (Nolte) enlists th ex-con for another seemingly impossible two-day task to nail an elusive drug lord with a price on Reggie’s head. Paramount. Blu-ray.

ALSO NEW FOR THE HOME THEATER… THE HOUSE ON SORORITY RWE: Special Edition (1982) This fabulous sexy suspense/horror film mixes a provocative story with taut direction to deliver a smashing and satisfying entertainment that deservs the cult classic status it has achieved over the years.

Come meet the girls of Theta Pi. All through college they’ve lived under the

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July 22 to July 28, 2021

BREAKING THE4TH WALL

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ounded in 2007 by long time Coachella Valley Philanthropists Ric and Rozene Supple, the Palm Springs Cultural Center is a 501c3 Nonprofit. Their mission is to incubate, produce and encourage arts and cultural programs in order to leverage the unique power of creativity to open minds, bridge what divides us, and discover what connects us.” Their programs include independent films, film festivals, a farmer’s market, live performances, art installations and lecture series.

Independent films and film festivals are a critical segment of any community and became an integral part of the Palm Springs Cultural Center in 2016 when the Camelot theatre was donated by Ric and Rozene Supple to the Cultural Center nonprofit organization.

Along with offering on site independent films, the Center also offers ‘Virtual Cinema.’ These films are Palm Springs premieres, along with a mix of favorites from the Desert Film Society, Cinema Diverse, Cinema Francais and Palm Springs International Film Festival, (PSIFF.) Tickets can be purchased on their websitepsculturalcenter.org/pscc/virtual-cinema.

Hosted by Rosemary Galore, with songs led by the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus, the Cultural Center will also feature weekly Summer Sing-a-Longs, Mary Poppins (7/24), Chicago (7/31), South Pacific, (8/7), Bohemian Rhapsody, (8/14), Westside Story (8/21), Grease, (8/28), Fiddler on the Roof (9/4) and Mama Mia (9/11).

The Cultural Center also sponsors the Certified Farmer’s Market, inside the Palm Springs Pavilion during the summer, located at 401 South Pavilion Way, Palm Springs, Saturdays from 8am – 12:30 pm.

The Center’s newest offering came on July 16th when they kicked off their “Summer Concert Series,” to a sold-out house, featuring the incredible talents of songstress Leanna Rodgers and her band, “Leanna and the Jazz Collective.” Rodgers’ husband Miguel Gomez on Congas, Mark Massey- piano, Sam Montooth- bass, Ishmael Hunter- drums and Aaron Merc on Saxophone.

If you haven’t had the good fortune of seeing Leanna Rodgers perform, you’re missing one of Palm Springs’ true treasures.

My introduction to her incredible talent was in the Desert Rose Playhouse’s production of,

BY DEE JAE COX

“The Sugar Witch,” a play and a performance that was phenomenal. Since that show, I have had the pleasure of seeing her perform on different stages and venues around the desert. Each time more exciting than the last.

Without doubt, Rodgers’ opening of the Cultural Center’s Concert Series was a top tier musical performance. From the Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington’s classic, “Take the A Train,” to Nat King Cole’s, get your kicks on “Route 66,” her show is a musical journey that will keep you smiling and your toes tapping. Leanna’s presentation was elegant and classic, mesmerizing the audience with her timeless voice. Two couples, (who looked to be professional dancers,) bookended each side of the stage, their dance moves adding an exciting ambiance to the show.

I once wrote that “Rodgers is like a cool drink on a hot sultry night, reminiscent of the early Speakeasy performances,” that critique may have been an understatement.

As a continuation of the Concert Series, Leanna and the Jazz Collective will do a second show on August 20th. Check out her upcoming schedule at: leannalive.com The Palm Springs Cultural Center offers the best in culture and the arts.

The Center is located at 2100 Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (760) 325-2582 or psculturalcenter.org.

Dee Jae Cox is a playwright, director and producer. She is the Cofounder and Artistic Director of The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Project. losangeleswomenstheatreproject.org palmspringstheatre.com

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July 22 to July 28, 2021

THE VINO VOICE

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BY RICK RIOZZA

UPDATING BBQ WINES 2021

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hrough the years we have always included a summer column on wine recommendations for the barbecue.

Well—here we go again with perhaps some new ideas on matching wines to the stuff we’re cooking up.

Of course, let’s generalize on the subject on hand: We don’t have to twist many arms when it comes to wine lovers in the sunshine with a delicious glass of wine. Choosing a good bottle for your BBQ can really elevate the occasion.

And of late, one can also look to the new wave of canned wines or box wines as well. So many wine options are out there and it’s easy to decide.

Since everybody is doing spicy food these days, it’s good to remember the fruitier reds and wines with a touch of sweetness. A few styles to consider when matching wines with spicy food: • Off-dry Riesling or rosé • Grenache and Syrah/Shiraz blends • Champagne • California Chardonnay • Sparkling Shiraz • Ripe Pinot Noir with more aromatic dishes Off-dry white wines, such as Riesling, are often touted as a good match for spicy foods, because the slight sweetness can help to reduce the heat.

Bold and fruity reds, such as Grenache and Syrah / Shiraz blends, or California Chardonnay with a dose of new oak spice are both options for those seeking bolder styles. Interestingly, a rather creamy and really mature Champagne goes well with chili-accented dishes. Off-dry wines work particularly well if there is also an element of sweetness in the spicy BBQ sauce.

Sausages with lots of herbs, such as fennel or sage, could be fun with a juicy red. A Grenache blend from southern Rhône could be a winner, particularly if you can find one with herbal hints of ‘garrigue’.

Rounder, gutsier Pinot Noirs that border on plummy fruitiness work well with bbq. Also look to a sparkling Shiraz.

The Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cabernet Sauvignon blend makes for a rich full-bodied wine with floral notes, spices and liquorice.

Fuller-bodied rosé wines can also stand up well to spice and bbq. Rosés from the New World tend to be riper and sweeter than their European counterparts and go extremely well with BBQ fare, necessarily an off-putting quality when they are paired with spicy food.

My wine recommendation for the summer barbecue is indeed a full-bodied rosé: 2019

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Unshackled Rose Wine ($22) created by the innovative winemakers of The Prisoner Wine Company. This bright and crisp rosé wine meets all the requirements for the summer fare. Opening with aromas of citrus as well as hints of strawberry and melon Flavors of grapefruit, tangerine, and lemon bestow lively acidity to this California blush wine, providing a crisp finish. Sourced from California's Central and North Coasts, the premium varietals of Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre instill this fine wine with ageability.

Here are some wine pairings for classic barbecue dishes.

• Steak – Malbec, Syrah/Shiraz • Burgers – Zinfandel, Grenache blends (like Côtes du Rhône), Cabernet Sauvignon • Sausages – Gamay, Pinot Noir • BBQ chicken – Tempranillo Warmer climate Chardonnay • Pork chops – Valpolicella, Barbera, Riesling, dry rosé • Salmon – Rosé Champagne, Pinot Gris, Chilled Pinot Noir • Sardines – Albariño, Picpoul de Pinet • Halloumi (semi-hard, unripened cheese) – Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Assyrtiko (Greek white) • Veggie Skewers – Chenin Blanc (fresher styles), dry rosé, Gamay After a short summer break, Wednesday night jazz at Ace Hotel & Swim Club returns on July 21. There’s another stellar calendar of SoCal artists who are emerging from the exploding LA jazz renaissance booked for the next two weeks until the full August roster is announced.

Wednesday from 7–9 pm for a night of auditory bliss, paired with a menu of delights from the kitchen and a very friendly wine list.

We’ll review that wine list next time. Dinner reservations are highly recommended — you can make them online at kingshighwaydiner. com. Cheers!

HEALTH

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re you a woman of a certain age?

Do you have some life behind you?

Is giving up on how you look not an option? Do you know that age is just a number?

You may also have these inspirational attributes that are your truths to live by: • YOU are unashamed about going all out for yourself and having the body YOU want • It’s important for YOU to feel sexy and confident • YOU are goal-oriented and certainly haven’t given up on life. In fact, YOU are revving up more than ever • YOU won’t settle for less and constantly

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expand your goals • YOU are involved in life, your community, and socially active • YOU are outcome-oriented and are determined to get that last bit of weight off and keep it off.

Keto & Women If you’re ready to pivot and find a diet that meets your goals and works like a charm, then look no further. Keto has the potential to be your last diet ever.

However, you may be wondering about the effectiveness of Keto for “women of a certain age” and if you could abide by the diet and if it’s healthy. Keto is science based and

so different from other weight loss diet plans that sometimes it sparks concern, particularly regarding women’s health. The effects of Keto on women is often misunderstood.

Keto has a positive impact on weight loss and hormones and is a win-win for women.

With Keto you easily kick your metabolism into high gear and enjoy the many benefits of weight loss, health, better moods, energy, mental clarity, and vitality in a relatively short time.

The Standard American Diet (SAD) is not helping you age with its carbs and processed foods that don’t support your long-term goals for mental, emotional and physical health and beauty. A diet like Keto that is low in carbohydrates and rich in animal and plant fats supports brain health, lowering inflammation, helps with hot flashes, balances hormones and gives you an overall better quality of life.

It’s proven to help you age gracefully and feel more youthful.

Get Your Sexy Back No matter your age Keto will ensure that you lose that last bit of weight for good and get your body back. It’s never too late to feel sexy, confident and comfortable in your skin. You can live your best life and thrive on Keto and

July 22 to July 28, 2021

BY MICHELLE BORTHWICK get the outcome you have been searching for.

After all, age is just a number... so don't believe false information that if you are a woman of a certain age Keto won't work for you.

About Michelle Borthwick: Michelle Borthwick is the foremost expert in living the Keto lifestyle and the go to coach for Keto women. Her 1:1 Coaching and DIY Keto programs have helped women lose over 6,000 pounds while eating foods they love.

This foodie’s motto, and business name, is “Keto is Easy” and she’s one of the only Keto leaders who promotes full customization for long term success. Keto weight loss results can be improved with Coaching, Customization, accountability, and a trusted partner to guide you every step of the way. Michelle offers private sessions, proven Keto diet hacks, proprietary customization, goal setting and more. If you are interested in customizing Keto for you and your lifestyle, book a complimentary private coaching session online at KetoIsEasyCoach. com.

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July 22 to July 28, 2021

CANNABIS CORNER

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S

ince Nixon enacted the Schedule I system that linked cannabis with the more deadly drugs like heroin, ecstasy, and LSD, the federal government effectively established a government business for combating drug deaths that poured massive amounts of money earmarked for enforcement.

These yearly reauthorization of monies mushroomed into the United States becoming the only country with the highest incarceration rate worldwide, but it is also home to the largest number of prisoners. Roughly 2.12 million people were incarcerated in the U.S. in 2020.

According to the ACLU report on The Tale of Two Countries, “more than six million arrests occurred between 2010 and 2018, and Black people are still more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people in every state, including those that have legalized marijuana.” Black people were still nearly 4 times more likely than white people to get arrested for marijuana possession, despite similar usage rates.

Both the Democrat and Republican parties, when they had majority legislation, have failed to reverse the damage done to millions of citizens which led to the unnecessary incarceration of nonviolent convictions for simply the possession of marijuana. We all remember Alice Marie Johnson, who was incarcerated for life without parole for a nonviolent drug offense that was given a full pardon by President Trump. She heightened the exposure of the abominable practice of

BY RUTH HILL R.N.

putting women in chains while in childbirth.

For many years, pregnant inmates have been subjected to restraints as a security measure, despite the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and others warning that using restraints can put the mother and baby at risk. While the Federal Bureau of Prisons changed its policy in 2008 to bar the use of restraints on pregnant women, the "First Step Act" codified that into law by President Trump.

Will the current proposal CANNABIS ADMINISTRATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT

by Sens. Booker, Wyden, and Schumer finally succeed? The bill automatically expunges federal non-violent marijuana crimes and allows an individual currently serving time in federal prison for non-violent marijuana crimes to petition a court for resentencing. The

CANNABIS CORNER

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he POT ROAST is where iconic comedian, The Roastmaster General, Jeff Ross comes together with Immersia Live to create a side splitting night of comedy and weed in a one-of-a-kind venue!

You can legally purchase and consume your favorite cannabis products on site at the venue while Jeff Ross & friends make you laugh. Get baked, get roasted, go home toasted...Safely of course!

The very first POT ROAST will happen August 12, 2021 at The Four Twenty Bank in Palm Springs, CA. The Four Twenty Bank is a fully licensed cannabis dispensary and consumption lounge housed in what was formerly a Wells Fargo Bank. This opulent venue features a retail cannabis dispensary, billiard tables, an arcade (located in the vault!), and a main stage performance area with lighting and PA systems for live music and comedy.

Immersia is a media, tech, wellness and live event platform that is quickly becoming a major voice in the wellness and natural medicine

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space. Immersia leverages their growing voice to eliminate the stigma associated with cannabis and promote the immense wellness properties of The Plant. The Immersia team has extensive experience in comedy events and live entertainment as the co-creators of the ODDBALL Festival, Jeff, and Larry’s Great American BBQ, and have curated/produced over 50 Major Music festivals.

Participating partners include SPIN Magazine, TRUBIFY, CVCAN (Coachella Valley Cannabis Alliance Network), and the leading voice in natural medicine THE BLACKLIST. Cannabis and comedy go together like peanut butter & jelly, come light up with us!

Buy it. Smoke it. Get roasted!

Tickets on sale Monday, July 19 at 10AM. Lots of cool options on tickets.

Go to www.immersialive.com to purchase tickets.

legislation also creates an “Opportunity Trust Fund” funded by federal cannabis tax revenue to reinvest in the communities most impacted by the failed War on Drugs, as well as helping to level the playing field for entrepreneurs of color who continue to face barriers of access to the industry. Importantly, the legislation also ends discrimination in federal public benefits for medical marijuana patients and adult use consumers The CANNABIS ADMINISTRATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT, treats cannabis like alcohol and allows states to determine their own cannabis laws, but federal prohibition will no longer be an obstacle. Regulatory responsibility will be moved from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), the Bureau of Alcohol

Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), as well as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to protect public health.

A 2019 Gallop poll shows one in eight Americans choose to consume on a semiregular basis, including nearly one in four veterans. We must end the practice of arresting over 500,000 Americans every year and denying countless others employment, housing, and other civic rights if we are truly to be the ‘Land of the Free’. Norml has a survey on their website requesting feedback on this law.

Visit https://norml.org/act/what-do-you-thinkabout-the-schumer-booker-wyden-proposal/ and share.

Senators are also seeking feedback on the draft legislation through September 1, 2021.

In an interview with the publication Politico in April, Sen. Schumer pledged that he would hold a floor vote on the bill “sooner or later” this term. The Senate has never held a floor vote on legislation pertaining to descheduling cannabis. Let us all not just talk about legalizing cannabis federally but ACT on our convictions.

Send an email to Sen. Schumer and Senate Cannabis_Reform@finance.senate.gov. We need to crash the website of the Senate.

Comment to info@ruthahillrn.com

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July 22 to July 28, 2021

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July 22 to July 28, 2021

PET PLACE

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his precious Shih Tzu spent the first three years of his life suffering in a small cage inside a garage in the sweltering high desert heat. Other dogs were caged above, below, and next to him.

Frankie was part of an illegal large scale “backyard breeding” operation also known as a “puppy mill” where dogs are bred indiscriminately, confined to small cramped spaces, frequently mistreated, and often experience untreated illnesses and death.

The facility was raided and Frankie was rescued by Loving All Animals.

These cruel facilities operate out of the public eye, posting cute pictures of puppies costing many thousands of dollars online and in newspapers. There is a fine line between smaller local operations, and large scale operations that ship fragile and often sick puppies across the country to

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FRANKIE’S MESSAGE, DON’R ADOPT A PET ONLINE! standing on the wire mesh of my cage in the sweltering garage. I could barely stand up in the small cage. I could not turn around, and my legs cramped with pain. The stench was overwhelming, and the wail of the dogs beside and above made it difficult to sleep.

Sometimes waste products from the dogs above me dropped into my cage, and it was awhile before someone came to clean it.

Some days we had no food. We dogs in the garage never saw the sun, the moon, or the clouds. We never smelled the flowers, saw the rain, or felt the soft grass underneath our feet. We never knew a loving touch from a human. Sometimes one of the men got angry and hit me as he shoved me back into my cage.

We were roughly removed for brief times to mate with the females who were weak from having so many puppies. In the summer, the heat was sweltering and I smelled death coming from some of the cages. Many of the dogs were sick. My fur was so matted it felt like a painful helmet encasing my body. I was shut down and frozen from the endless suffering.

One day the garage door opened!

Humans in uniforms took us away, and a nice woman took me and a few of the other dogs to Loving All Animals. I was scared when my new foster mom tried to touch me, and even more afraid of being groomed and going to the vet. I went to live

unsuspecting buyers. In 2018, California unanimously passed Assembly Bill 485 which banned the retail sale of dogs and cats in pet stores unless they were from rescues and shelters. The supply of animals in pet stores came mainly from puppy mills. Dishonest puppy store merchants then “forged” records to circumvent the law. Additional legal efforts and public pressure eventually closed their businesses in California. The unscrupulous became more creative, hiding behind computers as they lure prospective adopters with cute photographs and deceiving information on social media.

How are the parent dogs treated?

Frankie tells you his story, hoping to help save some of the millions of animals still suffering in these cruel operations: “My feet were sore and swollen from

MEET CHILLY

PRETTY KITTY!

Come meet this fabulous pup today! Chilly is 90 lbs of Warm doggie love. Estimated to be 10 yrs old, this senior staff favorite is an awesome joyful pup. She’s spayed and ready to go home. Chilly is dog ID#A1279461.

Ask for Chilly at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus shelter, 72-050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, open 10am-4pm Monday through Saturday. ADOPTION FEES DURING JULY ONLY $5. www.rcdas.org, (760) 343-3644.

This gorgeous 1-yr-old girl is sweet & shy, but will be happy in a home with you! She’s spayed and ready to go. She’s animal ID#A1630355 at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus shelter, 72-050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms. Shelter open 10am-4pm Monday through Saturday. Adoption fees for all animals at this county shelter are $5 during July. www.rcdas.org, (760) 343-3644.

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BY JANET McAFEE with Kim Bledsoe and Linda Williams who have another dog who was also different.

My new sister Willow only has one eye.

Willow seemed happy and wanted to play.

I wondered if I would ever be like Willow.”

Linda Williams recalls, “I learned that dogs like Frankie lacked socialization and feared people because of their horrible treatment and living conditions. I prayed I was up to the challenge of helping Frankie.

He wouldn’t look at me in the eye, and it took me five days to get him to walk. He slept standing up with his head drooping.

I pushed Frankie in a pet stroller around the neighborhood to introduce him to the world. Lawn mowers, leaf blowers, cars, people talking….all were new and frightening. I was determined he would get the chance at a new life he deserved. One night a miracle happened. It was late in the night when Frankie had a bad dream, and I woke him up. He ran to me and put his front legs around my neck and gave me a huge hug. It took a while, but that was a turning point. He is still a bit timid around strangers, but he is a happy boy and alaways stays near me. When I’m coming home and I’m a block away, he knows it and becomes overjoyed. I have never been loved to the extent of how

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much Frankie loves me.”

As the demand for puppies and kittens increased during the pandemic, puppy mills operating online are seeing a boom in their business. A recent national news broadcast described how some “scam” operators require large deposits and airline fees in advance, and then no dog ever arrives.

Don’t be fooled by how friendly the seller might be! They don’t care about the dogs’ welfare, as “pets for profit” is about the dollar signs that come with each litter.

Sadly, many breeders are profit motivated, and won’t let you see the conditions for the breeding parents. If the pet you purchased online or from a backyard breeder arrives with a medical or behavior problem, don’t expect to be compensated or have your emails and phone calls answered.

Sandy Miller, local dog trainer, warns her clients they are asking for problems when they purchase a pet online. The problems are compounded if the animal has to undergo the dangers of airline travel in the baggage compartment, where animals get lost or suffer health problems. Sandy warns, “You don’t know what problems you are getting when you adopt online. When the animals are unknown and unseen, adopters may experience the tragedy of having to put a new pet down due to the extreme medical and behavior problems these pets can come with. Many of my clients have adopted from pet stores and online sellers only to have huge medical bills.”

The list below can help in your search for a wonderful new rescue pet. Did you know that 35% of the dogs and cats in shelters are pure breeds? Rather than pay thousands of

dollars for a pet, you can adopt a vaccinated, microchipped, and spayed/neutered animal from shelters and rescues for a nominal cost. One of these organizations may have the pet you seek. The Palm Springs Animal Shelter, the San Bernardino City Shelter, and the Coachella Valley Animal Campus are large shelters with many animals.

Kittyland has lots of cats and kittens. Don’t forget the middle aged and older animals who need homes too, and they often arrive house trained! If you seek a specific breed and age of dog, go to www.perfinder.com and type in the breed along with your zip code for a list of dogs close to your home.

Rescue dogs and cats rock! (photograph by Alicia Bailey) Janetmcafee8@gmail.com ----------------------------------------------Here is a partial list of Inland Empire shelters and rescue groups where you can adopt a cat or dog. Please check their websites in advance for updates on adoption procedures during the quarantine.

COACHELLA VALLEY ANIMAL CAMPUS – The county shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. You can view the animals at all four Riverside county shelters at rcdas.org, and get the ID number of the animal you want to adopt.

Email them the animal’s ID number at shelterinfo@rivco.org, or schedule a virtual adoption appointment at rcdas.org, 72050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, (760) 3433644. (Public) PALM SPRINGS ANIMAL SHELTER – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. They schedule appointments Wednesday through

Monday. View their animals online at psanimalsshelter.org, 4575 E. Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, (760) 416-5718. (Public) ANIMAL SAMARITANS – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. View their animals at animalsamaritans.org. Email acorrow@ animalsamaritans.org to foster. Located at 72307 Ramon Rd, Thousand Palms, (760) 601-3918. (Private) CALIFORNIA PAWS RESCUE - The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Located at 73650 Dinah Shore, Palm Desert. View their animals at californiapawsrescue.com, (760) 656-8833. (Private) HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt a dog or cat. This shelter has lots of big dogs and some cats. View some of their animals at orphanpet.com. Located at 17825 N. Indian Canyon, Palm Springs, (760) 329-0203.

(Private) KITTYLAND – The shelter is closed so call for an appointment to adopt a cat. Located at 67600 18th Avenue, Desert Hot Springs, kittylandrescue.org, (760) 251-2700.

(Private) FOREVER MEOW – Foster based rescue for cats located in Rancho Mirage. Contact them at ForeverMeow.org, (760) 335-6767.

(Private) PRETTY GOOD CAT – Foster based rescue for cats located in La Quinta. Contact them at prettygoodcat.com, (760) 6603414 (Private) BFF4pets – Foster based rescue for dogs and cats located in La Quinta. Email them

July 22 to July 28, 2021

at rescues@bff4pets.com, (310) 431-7818 (Private) LOVING ALL ANIMALS – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Located at 83496 Avenue 51, Coachella, lovingallanimals.org, (760) 8347000. (Private) LIVING FREE ANIMAL SANCTUARY – Large outdoor shelter for dogs and cats up Hwy 74, view animals at living-free.org, and call (951) 659-4687 for an appointment (Private) MORONGO BASIN HUMANE SOCIETY – Located at 4646 Sun View Rd, Joshua Tree, mbhumanesociety.com, call between 11am-4pm for updates (760) 366-3786 (Private) CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ANIMAL SHELTER – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Hours for adoption 10am – 4pm Tuesday thru Sat. Google “City of San Bernardino Animal Shelter” for website to view animals and get the ID number of the animal you want to meet. Located at 333 Chandler Place, San Bernardino, (909) 384-1304 or (909) 3847272. (Public) SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER AT DEVORE – Shelter is now open for walk ins 7 days a week. Call (909) 3869280. View animals at sbcounty.gov/acc and get the ID number of animal you want to meet. Located at 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino (Public).

DREAM TEAM ANGELS RESCUE - Foster based rescue located in Grand Terrace/San Bernardino area. Contact them through website DreamTeamangelsrescue.com, (360) 688-8884. (Private)

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July 22 to July 28, 2021

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HADDON LIBBY

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any of us take for granted that everyone knows what a 401k retirement account is. Only one in three people have a 401k while only six in ten have access to one.

A 401k retirement account is a way to save money for retirement, a life event or emergency. This can be done as part of a company 401k plan or via an Individual Retirement Account if your employer does not have a program.

Many employers match some percentage of the salary that you contribute to your 401k. By simply saving some salary, these employees get a raise.

By saving just $5 per day Monday

ABCS OF 401Ks

through Friday ($100 per month), you get a commensurate raise. Over thirty years, $200 per month results in $300,000 in savings assuming an 8% return. The main thing to remember is that you only get this raise if you can set something aside each paycheck.

A 401k also serves as a nice safety net in the event of an emergency or life event. For example, if you have $10,000 in your account, you can borrow half of these funds for a shortterm need. While you can take up to 5 years to repay the loan, you should think of that need as one that can repay within a year. We say this as most people tend to overestimate their ability to repay. It is better than to be cautious when borrowing.

DALEGRIBOW ON THELAW

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BY HADDON LIBBY While we have been talking about 401k plans that save your money before Uncle Sam takes his piece, we can also save money after Uncle Sam takes his cut. The reason that you would do this is that the IRS offers a future benefit to those who pay their taxes now. The benefit is that you never have to pay any taxes on the growth of that money ever again. With a regular 401k, you delay taxes until you take the money out while with a Roth, you paid your taxes upfront. People who should use Roth accounts are those who pay very low tax rates today.

By the way, you can save up to $6,000 in a Roth account per year or $7,000 if you are over 50 years of age. In a 401k, you can save $19,500 annually if you are under 50 and $26,000 if you are over 50. Uncle Sam is willing to give only so much of a long-term tax break. For those owning businesses, solo 401ks can save even more. We will save that discussion for a future article.

Haddon Libby is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Winslow Drake Investment Management, a locally based State-Registered Investment Advisory firm.

For more information, please visit www.

WinslowDrake.com or email AClosner@ WinslowDrake.com.

LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF THE INJURED & CRIMINALLY ACCUSED

DUI ARREST? NOW WHAT HAPPENS?

t’s Wednesday July 14, 2021 and you have been celebrating Bastille Day at The NEST and quenching your thirst from 115 degree weather. You should have had more waters. You see flashing Red lights behind you and develop black and white fever. You didn’t read my legal columns and took ALL the breath tests at the scene, performed the Field Sobriety Tests, and admitted to Palm Desert Sheriff’s that you had 7 drinks. You also admit that you take pills for Depression or to Lose Weight, not realizing that when mixed with alcohol it makes you more impaired.

At the scene you fail the Field Sobriety Tests and you are asked to put your hands behind your back and taken into custody. The next morning you are brought to court or you are ordered to appear for an arraignment in a month. NOW WHAT HAPPENS? WELL, YOUR FIRST COURT APPEARANCE IS THE ARRAIGNMENT IN DEPT 2K in the Indio Court. There, the judge asks you if you have a lawyer and if not a public defender will be appointed for you. Now you have a choice to plead guilty or not guilty. Most defendants either personally or through their lawyer will plead not guilty. If it is a more serious misdemeanor or felony where you are still in custody, the issue of bail will be addressed.

Recent legislation seems to be making bail an antiquated subject.

If bail is required your lawyer can set a bail review hearing in a few days, if it is not resolved at the arraignment. How much bail is needed depends on the charges against

The best reason to borrow against your 401k is to buy a home. This is a great way to access money in afford to the down payment.

The key thing to remember is that you need to be able to repay the loan in 40 payments over 10 years. Borrowing for any other purpose must be paid back over no more than five years.

If you cannot repay, the loan is considered an early withdrawal. Anyone making a withdrawal before the age of 59 ½ is considered early. Let’s say you made an early withdrawal on $1,000. You are hit with a $100 penalty.

Additionally, you must treat the other $900 as earnings. Remember that money in your 401k is contributed before taxes. The IRS has not taxed these funds like the rest that you have received in your paycheck. As a result, Uncle Sam wants his cut. If your tax rate is 20%, that means you owe another $200. The $1,000 early withdrawal results in $300 in taxes and penalties.

You can avoid the penalties if the withdrawal is considered a hardship. You will still owe the taxes, but you will not be assessed a 10% penalty. Hardships include medical expenses for you or your family, education like college or a trade school, home payment to avoid eviction, or funeral expenses.

As you can see, your 401k is meant for retirement but can also be important for an emergency or important opportunity like a home purchase or higher education.

the Defendant; if s/he has a criminal history and whether the Defendant is a risk to public safety and will likely show up for the next court date. At the Arraignment the defense gets the police report and a new date is set for a Pre Trial if it is a Misdemeanor or a Preliminary Hearing for a Felony.

This setting is another opportunity for the DA and Defense lawyer to discuss an amicable resolution of the case and work out a plea bargain. However, the DA’s in Indio don’t really “DEAL”. If not resolved, the matter may be set again for a Pre Trial or a Felony Preliminary Hearing (PH) may take place. The PH is where the DA shows a crime has been committed and the Defendant is “connected to the crime”. This is not the guilt beyond a reasonable doubt stage. Only a small amount of evidence is needed to hold the Defendant over.

Thereafter, the case is set for trial.

However, before the trial date a good lawyer will visit the scene of the crime. That has been invaluable to be in being able to competently cross examine witnesses on DUI and ACCIDENT cases, who testify to things that are impossible to have been seen.

Careful preparation is often the difference between a not guilty and being convicted of a lesser crime or lighter sentence. Many people believe winning a case is just getting a case dismissed or a not guilty verdict. In reality, a win may be a lighter sentence or fine. Sometimes community service is the sentence instead of jail or a tracking device or

home arrest…..instead of jail.

The most common misdemeanor case in the Indio court is a DUI. Most people don’t realize we have more DUI’s, PER CAPITA, in the CV than anywhere else in California.

The Indio Judges have the biggest personal caseloads because California’s economy does not allow us to have the same number of judges compared to other California counties.

A DUI does not usually result in much jail time…but it can! However, the courts impose 10 days in jail on many cases. This sentence can be handled by home arrest, an ankle bracelet or community service. The consequences of a DUI are very serious as an arrest kicks in a DMV hearing in addition to a court proceeding. Most Defendants will have

their license suspended for 30 days. Those who need a special license for their work, such as nurses, may also have to deal with an administrative hearing on that issue.

Ideas for future columns contact Dale Gribow 760-837-7500 or dale@ dalegribowlaw.com.

DALE GRIBOW - REPRESENTING THE INJURED AND CRIMINALLY ACCUSED “TOP LAWYER” – California’s Prestige Magazine, Palm Springs Life (PI/DUI) 2011-20 Inland Empire Magazine 2016- 2019 PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating

SWAG FOR THESOUL

“[As we step into the new era] our freedom will grow exponentially because we begin to remember that nothing happens to us, things happen by us as a product of choice.” Shifting Into a Creator Mentality, Blogpost, www.ihsunity.com ou have probably heard the phrase, “your perception is your reality” at some point on your journey. If you took the time to contemplate the meaning of it, you hopefully found these words to be empowering. This insight reminds us that it is how we view things that determine how our experiences impact us.

Many of our perceptions have been shaped by those who raised us or tutored us in some way, by society, and by those we look up to. These perceptions become ingrained with repetitive exposure, and most of the time we don’t even realize that we are in training to claim these views as our own.

A common perception is that one must work hard to achieve or gain something of value. This is probably something many of us heard our parents and guardians say when we were kids and is a widely accepted view of how things work. Another prevailing view is that we must step outside of our comfort zone to grow. In other words, we must experience discomfort to be a better human.

These two examples of common perceptions ingrained in many of us have produced a lot of blood, sweat and tears over the course of a lifetime.

What would happen if we were to intentionally choose to shift this perception? What if you birthed a new view from the idea that remarkable growth or achievement can occur without having to suffer?

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BY AIMEE MOSCO

A shift in perception does not happen overnight. It takes time and effort to retrain your views, but when you make the effort, you may notice that your reality changes too.

Explore the idea that your number one goal as a soul incarnated in physical form is to have experiences that produce growth.

Every single thing that happens in your life has been calculated and chosen by your soul for this purpose. Your judgements are what make the experiences good or bad for you.

When you shift your focus to identify what you gained vs how painful the journey was, your judgments shift as well. An experience that you once viewed as arduous, may become something wonderous and filled with discovery if your (new) underlying perception supports that your reality is filled with exciting opportunities. When your view does not support the idea that things must be hard or uncomfortable to produce growth, there is no longer a reference point for discomfort. This is a reality where your comfort zone no longer has borders.

In my pursuit to help human beings connect with higher views, I invite you to join Facebook group Evolve through Love hosted by Elizabeth Scarcella and me. Go to facebook.com/groups/evolvethroughlove and share with us.

Aimee Mosco is an Author, Intuitive Channel, Spiritual Teacher and Co-Founder of Intentional Healing Systems, LLC. Aimee’s desire to help others inspired her book “Gratitude + Forgiveness x (LOVE) = Happiness”. Aimee serves as Vice Chair to the World Game Changers Board of Directors, a charitable CIC based in the UK. Find Aimee at www.ihsunity.com.

July 22 to July 28, 2021

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

WEEK OF JULY 22

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Author Valerie Andrews reminds us that as children, we all had the “magical capacity to see the land as an animal does; to experience the sky from the perspective of a flower or a bee; to feel the earth quiver and breathe beneath us; to know a hundred different smells of mud and listen unselfconsciously to the soughing of the trees.” Oh, how I would love you to be able to recover even a fraction of those talents in the coming days. My reading of the current astrological potentials tells me that your chances of doing so are much better than usual.

Your ability to connect with the eternal child and wise animal within you is at a peak.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus singer Barbara Streisand has a shopping mall built below her large home. Its purpose isn’t to sell consumer goods to strangers but rather to stash her precious belongings and show them off when friends come over. Among the storefronts are an antique store, doll shop, costume shop, and candy store. The coming weeks would be an excellent time for you to start building a shopping mall beneath your home, too, Taurus. If that’s too expensive or complicated, here are alternatives: 1. Revitalize your appreciation for your treasured possessions.

2. Acquire a new treasured possession or two that will inspire you to love your life even more than you already do. 3. Reacquaint yourself with the spiritual powers that your treasured possessions arouse in you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The Dalai Lama says there are core similarities between science and Buddhism. Both keep searching for evermore complete versions of the truth. Both employ firsthand observation and experimentation to do that noble work. If they find new information that contradicts previously held versions of the truth, both are willing to discard them. Now that you Geminis are entering the Deep Questioning Phase of your astrological cycle, I’d love you to make generous use of the Buddhist/Scientific approach.

More complete versions of the truth will be available in abundance in the coming weeks—if you’re alert for them.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian artist Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–1656) achieved the impossible: She became a supremely skilled and renowned painter in an era when women had virtually no opportunities to become artists. Many aspects of her work distinguished her from other painters. For example, she depicted women as having strong, agile hands and arms. In Artemisia’s world, the power of women’s wrists, forearms, and fingers signifies their ability to put their mark upon the world, to accomplish strenuous practical tasks with grace and flair. If I were going to paint images of you in the coming weeks, I would also portray you as having strong, agile hands and arms. I suspect you’ll have potent agency to get things done—to adeptly manipulate the material world to serve your ideals. (Thoughts about Artemisia’s hands come from art historian Mary D. Garrard.)

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “Once upon a time”: That’s your phrase of power these days. What do I mean by that? I’m suggesting that you will strengthen your problem-solving abilities by engaging in playful pretending for the sheer fun of it. I’m predicting that you will boost your confidence by dreaming up amusing magical stories in which you endure heroic tests and achieve epic feats. And I’m proposing that you will fine-tune your ability to accomplish practical feats if you regard your robust imagination as crucial to your success.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo singersongwriter Fiona Apple says she’s not religious. On the other hand, she regularly kneels on the ground and announces to whatever great power might be listening, “Thank you for my problems, and I send my love everywhere.” She’s sincere. She regards her sadness and her challenges as being equally important to her happiness and success. The difficulties teach her what she didn’t even realize she needed to know, and make her appreciate the

© Copyright 2021 Rob Brezsny

good times more intensely. I suggest you borrow from her approach right now.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Nobel Prize-winning author Albert Camus wrote, “Great feelings bring with them their own universe”—which he said may either be degraded or splendid, selfish or generous. I love that he allowed for the possibility that great feelings could be positive and noble. So many renowned thinkers focus on negative and ignoble states of mind. In accordance with current astrological potentials, Libra, your task is to cultivate feelings that are splendid and generous.

These sentiments should exalt you, uplift you, and empower you to spread transformative benevolence to those whose lives you touch.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “How can you hold on to something that won’t hold still?” asked Scorpio poet Benjamin Fondane. In general, you Scorpios have more talent than every other sign of the zodiac at doing just that: corralling wiggly, slippery things and making them work for you.

And I expect this skill will be especially in play for you during the coming weeks. Your grasp on the elusive assets won’t ever be perfect, but it will be sufficiently effective to accomplish small wonders.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian Calvin Trillin is a witty writer with a good imagination and a flair for inventive language. But back in school, he confesses, “Math was always my bad subject. I couldn’t convince my teachers that many of my answers were meant ironically.”

You Sagittarians are authorized by the cosmic powers-that-be to borrow your style and attitude from Trillin in the coming weeks. So you shouldn’t be fixated on mathematical precision and fastidious logic; your task is not to be conceptually impeccable and scrupulously sensible. Rather, you have a license to be extra lyrical and lush and rhapsodic and humorous and irrepressible.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In 2011, an eBay seller produced a 19th-century photo that he said proved Capricorn actor Nicholas Cage is a time-traveling vampire. Although the character in the image did indeed resemble the Oscar-winning star, he rejected the theory, and emphatically declared that he is not a time-traveling vampire.

Maybe that all sounds absurd, but I must tell you that you may soon have to deal with people’s equally inaccurate and off-kilter theories about you. My advice: Don’t take it personally. Simply correct others’ misimpressions and rely solely on yourself for definitive ideas about who you are.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I’ve assembled excerpts of love poems for your inspiration. Why? Because you’re entering the Intensified Intimacy Phase of your astrological cycle. Consider using the following riffs as inspiration when you interact with loved ones. 1. “I profess the religion of love; it’s the belief, the faith I keep.” 2. “Holding your hand, I can hear your bones singing into mine and feel the moon as it rolls through you.” 3. “Raw light spills from your eyes, utterly naked, awakening an intoxicating shimmer of adventure.” 4. “I ask you please to speak to me forever.” (Poem fragments are from Ibn ‘Arabi, Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi, Herman Hesse, Sara Eliza Johnson, Alejandra Pizarnik.)

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): An Australian witch named Michelle Clinton praises the joys of a “moon garden.” It features flowers and plants that reveal their full beauty after dark. Among the flowers that bloom at night are evening primrose, angel’s trumpet, and Dutchman’s pipe cactus. As for the flowers whose aromas are most potent after the sun sets: night-blooming jasmine, garden heliotrope, and honeysuckle. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you will have resemblances to a moon garden in the near future, Pisces. Be alert for opportunities to glow and grow in the dark. (More: tinyurl.com/LunarGarden) Homework. Send me an oracle you’d like to receive for the first week of September.

Newsletter@freewillastrology.com ---------------------------------------Rob Brezsny - Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

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July 22 to July 28, 2021

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