Coachella Valley Weekly - December 24 to December 30, 2020 Vol. 9 No. 41

coachellavalleyweekly.com • December 24 to December 30, 2020 Vol.9 No.41

PJ’s Desert Trophies & Gifts

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Robert Plant

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Green Relief

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New Year’s Dining on El Paseo

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LifeStream Blood Drives

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December 24 to December 30, 2020

R.I.P. THE RECORD ALLEY (1978-2021)

BY ELENI AUSTIN

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 Club Crawler Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Head Music Writer Noe Gutierrez Head Feature Writer Crystal Harrell Feature Writers Lisa Morgan, Rich Henrich, Heidi Simmons, Tricia Witkower, Jason Hall, Esther Sanchez 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, Iris Hall, Esther Sanchez Videographer Kurt Schawacker Website Editor Bobby Taffolla Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

CONTENTS Record Alley Closes.............................. 3-5 PJ's Desert Trophies & Gifts ................... 5 Screeners ................................................. 6 Consider This - Robert Plant.................. 8 Cannabis Corner ..................................... 9 Pet Place ......................................... 10 - 11 Safety Tips ........................................... 11 The Vino Voice ...................................... 13 New Year's Dining on El Paseo............. 14 Travel Tips 4 U ..................................... 14 LifeStream Blood Drives ...................... 15 Haddon Libby........................................ 16 Dale Gribow........................................... 16 Swag For The Soul ................................ 17 Free Will Astrology .............................. 17

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pparently, in this most horrible, terrible year, the Grinch is actively stealing Christmas. In this case, the Grinch in question is the {HEAVILY REDACTED} Mall in Palm Desert, who refuse to come to terms with the Record Alley, forcing the store to close after nearly 43 years in business.

For Palm Springs native Jim Stephens, music became an obsession during his teen years.

After high school, he spent a few years working assorted construction jobs until he earned enough to make his dreams come true. In 1978, at age 24, he opened The Record Alley in Palm Springs.

Located waaayyyyy down on North Palm Canyon, next to KDES Radio, it was a narrow little store, a little wider than an alley, hence the name. Jim’s competition in those days included Tape & Record Rendezvous downtown and Showbiz Tapes & Records in the Palm Springs Mall. Further east there was Record Oasis in Cathedral City and the Record Shop in the Indio Fashion Mall.

Despite being on the less populated side of town, The Record Alley built its reputation on stocking a huge variety of music. True music aficionados made the trek from Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indio and beyond to find the latest Punk, Funk, Jazz, Country and Rock. 12” dance singles were as plentiful as Oi imports in those days. Jim also hired employees that were as passionate and knowledgeable about music as he was. In the earliest days that included Dave Field, Jack Epsteen, Mike Keane and the late great Phil Liebert. The Record Alley quickly smoked the local competition.

In 1985, when the Wherehouse corporation invaded the desert, opening locations in downtown Palm Springs and Palm Desert, Jim thought their slashed prices meant the end of his independent store. But rather than close, he feinted and regrouped, relocating to a recently vacated location in Palm Desert’s Town Center Mall.

For the last 35 years, The Record Alley has not only persevered, it has thrived in that

same location, now known as the {HEAVILY REDACTED} Mall. Somehow, Jim and his wife Shelly have run a successful business, managing to outlast chains like Wherehouse, Sam Goody, Music+, Blockbuster Music and Musicland, that opened (and closed) stores in the desert.

Even when records were considered a dead format, The Record Alley kept “record” in the name and vinyl in the store. He also kept a wide selection of genres on hand, offering a lot of used music, along with band t-shirts and Rock & Roll paraphernalia. Most importantly, Jim always employed a knowledgeable staff, which in recent years included Dale Myers, Lauren Ivy Holm, Cory Heskett, Matt Olson and Me. This is the end of an era. I don’t say that lightly, because this is also very personal for me.

I discovered Record Alley, well, more accurately, my mother, Irene, discovered The Record Alley, when she was working for the Urban League in Palm Springs in 1980. Even though we lived in the La Quinta cove and the Record Shop in Indio was closer, I made weekly pilgrimages to Record Alley, the only place I could find music by Elvis Costello, Romeo Void, X, the Jam, and some Tito Puente for my mom.

I started a career in music retail at the Record Shop while I was a 15 year-old high school student (coincidently in 1978). I spent 19 years working at the Palm Springs Wherehouse, as well as a few years running the music departments at Borders Books & Music as well as Barnes & Noble. Luckily, happily, finally, Jim and Shelly hired me to work at The Record Alley, and I have to say it was the best working experience of my life. As I said to them recently, I know a lot of words, (maybe too many words), but I will never be able to completely express what working at Record Alley for eight years meant to me.

Despite the fact that The Record Alley has not only outlasted all other music retailers, but outlasted nearly all the businesses in the mall (save Hot Dog On A Stick, and who amongst us can resist a hot dog, on a stick, no less!) They will be gone by January 2021. In this pandemic year

when every small business is struggling, this landlord is playing hardball. So, the desert’s only real Record store is forced to close…

In Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing” Sal, the owner of the Pizzeria has this great quote toward the end of the film about how proud he is that it’s his pizza that has fed and nourished all the people in the neighborhood. For 43 years The Record Alley has provided that same service: it musically nourished this community.

Don’t just take my word for it.

Zach Huskey: “I was a teenager and a young musician in the early to mid ‘80s, looking for new ear candy. The Record Alley was the only game in town back then. First, I was fortunate enough to meet Phil Liebert, who worked there. He was a freak for music, and loved to talk all things music. Phil and the Record Alley introduced me to so many great bands, like almost every Garage band from the mid ‘60s, plus what Kraut Rock is, and all those artists. Obscure Blues, Proto-Metal, Free Jazz and so much more. I can’t emphasize how much all that music shaped me as a musician and as a fan. Later, it was Eleni that continued what Phil started. Jim always hired people with great knowledge and passion for music. He was also cool enough to carry our Dali’s Llamas albums, as well as so recordings of other Desert bands. From ’82-’86 and beyond, we were lucky that the only game in town was a great one.”

Herb Lineau: “1979-1980, I spent any $$ I had at the Record Alley in PS. That’s when I was transitioning from Cheap Trick to Punk. They were the only place in the desert to get real Punk records, which were a rarity to begin with, since there weren’t that many Punk releases at that point. They also had Punk pins. I got Iggy Pop! I remember the small Import section in the back where I got Dead Kennedys’ FF4RV (only an import at the time), Siouxsie & The Banshees, Mittageisen “Love In A Void” ’45, Also ROTVR V1, The Decline, Black Flag “Jealous Again,” just to name a few. Those records really changed my life. Thanks for your service Record Alley.”

Lawrence Lalli: “I have fond memories of taking the bus from Palm Desert to Palm Springs to shop at The Record Alley. Highlights include in-depth talks with Phil about all sorts of obscure musical topics. The end of an era!”

Andrew Gillespie: “PS Record Alley. I bought the Adolescents record when it came out. If you moved the record back and forth and side-toside the letters would jump around.”

Mario Lalli: “So many memories of discovering music at both locations. The Record Alley was our connection to experimenting with Punk Rock, New Wave, Import releases on vinyl and cassette. They also offered a great selection of fanzines; Flipside and Maximum Rock n’ Roll. I remember getting really influential continue to page 5

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RECORD ALLEY

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records there. “Cracks In The Sidewalk,” an SST compilation that featured Black Flag, Saccharine Trust, Minutemen, Artless Entanglements, that one blew my head wide open. “Flex Your Head” from Dischord Records, “Not So Quiet On The Eastern Front” featured 30+ bands. Imports I scored were Peter And The Test Tube Babies, Throbbing Gristle, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Bauhaus. The days of pre-internet exploring the vinyl bins…. buying stuff because the cover looked intriguing or an article in a fanzine…so grateful to Record Alley, much love.”

Mark Anderson: “We’d stay out on our skateboards all day- and at some point, always escape the heat and stop at the Record Alley to play Asteroids or Missile Command. We were usually high AF. There, we’d buy vinyl of the bands we knew like The Germs and The Clash, and take a chance on Punk bands we never heard of, purely based on the band’s name & album cover artwork. Jim and Phil always treated us well-not like the smack-talking kids we were.

Record Alley forever shaped & influenced my life and the music I listened to-even today, 40 years later.”

Craig Swedin: “I remember walking into the PS store and Jim was watching a pay-per-view Rolling Stones concert as I was shopping. I also bought my first 5 CDs from them. I was turned on to so many artists and groups shopping there.”

Bryan Peterson: “Would there have even been an ‘80s Desert Music Scene without The Record Alley? The PS location was literally the only place in the desert we could get our hands on most of the music that inspired us all. I worked there briefly during the mall years and Jim was the best. His Christmas parties are legendary. Thank you, Jim Stephens, and enjoy

your retirement!”

Mark Landau: “Countless days and weekends spent playing video games, listening to music, bugging Jim and Dave, going to get potato salad at Jurgensens’ market across the street for sustenance. Pretty sure I was one of the first customers, as I lived in the neighborhood.

Found it one day when it really hadn’t been found out yet.”

James Opie Boran: “What The Fuck!!! Jim was the coolest! I got all the Punk Rock records I could get there ALL THE TIME! That store, along with WILLFULL FAILURE, DEAD ISSUE and ZEEZO shaped my love for music!! Truly gonna miss going in daily to finger all the coolest LPs no one wanted to carry except Jim!! Thanx ‘Bro, so much love…OPIE.” Sophia Possidon: “So, I remember taking a bag of 3,000 pennies to buy a Simpletones 7” single called “I Like Drugs.” I would walk down to The Record Alley on Palm Canyon Drive and I would buy my Punk records, X “Los Angeles,” Black Flag, DOA, Bad Religion, Adolescents, Agent Orange, Social Distortion and more. One day I walk in and buy Iron Maiden and Jim says “Hey, wait a minute, you’re not into Metal.” I laughed and said “I am now!” What was great is that Jim knew us so well and knew what music we were into. He stocked what we wanted.”

Zachary Abelardo: “Spent many paychecks at Record Alley. Jim and Phil always made spot on music recommendations for me. Enjoy your retirement, Jim!” Gary Burns: “Spent way too much money in the original location from the late ‘70s and continued that habit into the mall location.

Anytime I came back to the desert I tried to pop in. Sad to see it go. End of another era.”

Jerrod Elliott: “A couple of my best buds and

LOCAL BUSINESS

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eceiving an award for an accomplishment provides recipients with a sense of a job well done, but do you ever think about where that trophy comes from? PJ’s Desert Trophies and Gifts has been in the Coachella Valley for decades, providing many custom trophies and gifts for any occasion.

The original store name, Desert Trophies, was originally opened in 1969. It was taken over by PJ Gillespie several years after that, and more recently, Elaine Holmes and her husband Doug took over the business in 2004 as co-owners.

The store was created as an engraving and gift shop at a time when Indio had many new and thriving businesses. Desert Trophies provided engraving services to the local sports teams and schools, Chamber of Commerce, and many of the local businesses, as well as the agricultural community and school programs.

Since Elaine and Doug purchased the business 15 years ago, they have significantly expanded their services. In addition to engraving plaques, nameplates, badges and awards for businesses, hotels, and schools, they also etch crystal, glasses, wine, and champagne bottles.

“We do all of this at our store, including embroidery. We provide embroidery to the restaurants, local trades businesses, and anyone that wants to market their business.

We also provide screen printing services as a more economical approach to branding.

I would ride the bus from PD to PS Saturdays to spend whatever money we had on records.

We were 12 and 13 years old at the time. Punk Rock was certainly one of our main targets, as we had just started to discover Black Flag, Agent Orange, Bad Religion, Circle Jerks, etc. I remember buying a Damned record and Phil so enthusiastically telling me about Naz Nomad and the Nightmares. His passion for music embodied his whole body and spirit. On to PD and the mall-Tony Tornay reminded me of the catalogue we would make special orders from.

I had forgotten that. The staff through the years had many passionate music lovers. Carrie Caldwell, Nicole Huntly, Dale and of course, you, Eleni. I think probably close to half of my music collection came from Record Alley.”

Jack Epsteen: “Yep, very sad. An important part of all our formative years!”

Dave Field: “Sad news. I was the very first employee, waaayyy back when it was in PS, next to KDES, and the only place in town to get vinyl.

Hell of a run for an independent music store.

Thinking of Phil and all the crazy music loving characters who were regulars over the years.”

Lauren Ivy Holm: “Jim, I just want to let you know that you, Shelly and The Record Alley left

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a lasting imprint on my heart. Your store was a saving grace for me as a kid that had just moved to the desert. Know that your store impacted SOOOO many people in the Coachella Valley.

You really gave us all a glimpse outside the desert landscape. So, thank you for that.”

Bruce Fessier: “I was 25 when I first wandered into the Record Alley on North Palm Canyon Dr. in the spring of 1979 it was an oasis of youth culture amid the white-shoed customers and Hawaiian shirt stores of Morrie Guyer and Waltah Clarke. All the best to Jim Stephens who made an enormous contribution to the Coachella Valley Music Scene.”

Jim & Shelly Stephens: “We made our final decision last week. I wrote it on Facebook and Shelly hit “post.” Very emotional, but the outpouring of love from our customers and the community made us feel great. We knew we would be missed, but we were amazed at all of the memories that people shared on Facebook and how the media got involved too. We’ll continue to sell stuff on Discogs.com. We’ll see how that works without a storefront.” discogs.com/user/recordalley

PJ’S DESERT TROPHIES & GIFTS IS A WINNER

We are a full service shop, and we also have business and gift items for recognition of our friends or co-workers,” explained Elaine.

Ever since the first COVID lockdown in March, Elaine and Doug have been following the guidelines to help keep their employees and community safe—which also meant closing down that month. It was an immediate retraction of business, but they vowed to work harder to provide whatever services their customers needed.

The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to significantly impact PJ’s Desert Trophies and Gifts, as schools have remained closed, there are no sport programs running, and many restaurants cannot afford new apparel since businesses have cut back. Elaine recognizes how severely the pandemic has affected the local economy, and has made it a priory to be as creative as possible to help people and local businesses.

“It’s always important to support local.

Every dollar that is used at a local business helps a local family. These businesses are

BY CRYSTAL HARRELL

owned by our friends, and they employ our friends and relatives. It ensures success and sustainability for everyone in our community.

Plus, doing business locally gives you an extra level of customer service that you can’t get online,” said Elaine.

In terms of the future, the duo look forward to a time when they can return back to business as normal, but with a renewed level of serving their customers and exploring new and creative ways to expand the business. After being in the Coachella Valley for 18 years, their

favorite part of owning PJ’s Desert Trophies and Gifts has always been interacting with the customers and the community.

“We love our customers, meeting new people, and helping them select the perfect gift or recognition award. We are in the business of celebrating success! We hope that our business and every small business will grow and become successful after we get through this pandemic. We all need to be creative, and to provide an extra level of service to our customers,” stated Elaine.

PJ’s Desert Trophies and Gifts also offers curbside delivery, custom masks, and promotional products, as well as a website where people can select and buy online at www.pjstrophy.com.

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TENET

SCREENERS

After the long wait for the home theater version, this much anticipated film from Christopher Nolan is visually dazzling, intellectually confusing and emotionally empty.

Playing with time in some form has been an element of some of Nolan’s mostly non-linear, often cerebral (?) films. The idea that time and fate itself is malleable is clearly something that fascinates Nolan on a personal level. But the irony that his preferred art form – cinema – is highly

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TEMPTING FATE

linear creates a kind of unsettling cognitive dissonance when watching “Tenet.”

What if we could ride time’s arrow to any place in the past of future we desire?

What if the flow of time for our planet and the universe could be modulated or perhaps redirected? What if Armageddon was the downside of this discovery? What if time itself was somehow weaponized and devices or a nuclear based electronic trigger that controls it were sought, bought and sold on the international black market by our enemies and nefarious arms dealers.

Nolan’s 11th film is more about the jawdropping wonders of state of the art cinema than about telling a great story. In fact, narrative is mostly jettisoned in favor of constant and confusing exposition.

John David Washington is a charismatic protagonist. But it’s Robert Pattinson who steals every scene he’s in. Elizabeth Debicki

and Kenneth Branagh co star. Michael Caine is on screen for only a few minutes. Is our collective and personal future predestined?

Dare we tempt fate with what we assume is our free will?

GIANT FROM THE UNKNOWN (1958) For the first time ever, cult classic fans can enjoy what the distributor calls the ultimate cinematic experience.

The story is about Dr. Frederick Cleveland (Morris Ankrum), his daughter Janet (Sally Fraser) and scientific researcher Wayne Brooks (Ed Kemmer) who are in pursuit of an ancient artifact from Vargas, a giant 500-yearold Spanish conquistador. When a lightning

BY ROBIN E. SIMMONS

storm interrupts their search, the team finds much more than artifacts when the long-lost Vargas returns to life, with a murderous rage and an axe to grind!

This silly and fun British horror film has been resurrected from the original camera negative with a stunning 4K transfer that includes exclusive special features: neverbefore-seen interviews with C. Courtney Joyner and actor Gary Crutcher and a fascinating commentary from film historian Tom Weaver, directed by Daniel Griffith at Ballyhoo Motion Pictures.

One reviewer said Giant From the Unknown could best be described as Andy Griffith meets the creature from the Black Lagoon.

This limited edition will not be around for very long. robin@coachellvalleyweekly.com

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CONSIDER THIS

“My love is in league with the freeway, it’s passion will ride as the cities fly by/And the tail-lights in the coming of night, and the questions in thousands take flight” hat’s Robert Plant, attempting to explicate his wanderlust at the start of his solo career nearly 40 years ago. Up until recently, he had been the frontman for one of the biggest bands in the world, Led Zeppelin. But in October 1980, following the sudden death of their drummer, and Robert’s hometown pal, John Bonham, the group, which included guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones were heartbroken and devastated.

Opting not to continue without him, they quietly called it quits. Born in the socalled Black Country of England, West Bromwich, Staffordshire, Robert became obsessed with music as a kid. Growing up in nearby Worcestershire, His passion for Elvis Presley was only supplanted when he discovered the Blues. Inspired by progenitors like Robert Johnson and Willie Dixon, he resisted his parents’ wish that he become an accountant, and left home at age 16. He quickly became a part of the thriving Midlands Blues scene. Soon he began singing with nascent combos like the Crawling King Snakes, which included drummer (and Worcestershire native), John Bonham. He cycled through a few more local outfits, finally fronting Band Of Joy with John Bonham behind the kit.

By 1968, he’d joined forces with exYardbirds guitarist Jimmy Page, multiinstrumentalist John Paul Jones, and, per his suggestion, John Bonham. When Who drummer Keith Moon predicted they’d go over like a lead balloon, the moniker stuck.

Their self-titled debut arrived by the end of the year.

Embraced by fans and dismissed by critics, Led Zeppelin released eight studio albums and one live collection between 1968 and 1980. Their sound was a potent alchemy of Blues, Folk and Psychedelia, with trace elements of Country, World Music and Funk. Their off-stage antics often involved groupies, mud sharks and copious amounts of alcohol and other um, medications. Their sybaritic exploits nearly overshadowed their musical prowess.

Two years after Led Zeppelin broke up, Robert embarked on a solo career. His first two efforts, Pictures At Eleven and The Principle Of Moments eschewed the bombastic crunch that characterized the Zep years. The new stuff was leaner, meaner, and more nuanced. He briefly reconvened with Jimmy Page, along with Jeff Beck and Nile Rodgers as The Honeydrippers. They released Volume One, a five-song EP that offered their take on classic ‘50s Rock & Roll and R&B songs, and was a resounding success.

Robert’s solo output didn’t vault to the top of the charts like Led Zeppelin did, but sales were respectable. This allowed him to follow his muses, which included Delta Blues singers, Elvis, the King Of Rock &

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DEEP: SUBTERRANEA” PERANZA RECORDS / RHINO RECORDS) ROBERT PLANT (ES“DIGGING

BY ELENI P. AUSTIN

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Roll and Egyptian singer Om Kalthoum, the reigning Queen of Arabic song. He released albums at a brisk clip, Shaken n’ Stirred in 1985, Now And Zen in 1988 and Manic Nirvana in 1990. Following his 1993 album, Fate Of Nations, MTV approached Robert and Jimmy Page, asking them to reunite on the channel’s successful “Unplugged” program.

Robert was reluctant, (and weirdly, no one thought to include John Paul Jones), but he acquiesced. The duo made it work, largely by forgoing the acoustic format and augmenting their sound with a full orchestra, mandolin, hurdy gurdy and Hozam Ramsy’s Egyptian Ensemble. Filmed in Wales, Morocco and London, it was a ratings success, spawning a live album, No Quarter, an ensuing tour, as well as a less interesting studio album from the pair, entitled Walking To Clarksdale.

His Page And Plant duties took up a huge chunk of the ‘90s, but by the 21st century Robert returned with 2002’s Dreamland and 2005’s Mighty ReArranger. Two years later, producer T-Bone Burnett asked him to collaborate with Bluegrass sensation Alison Krauss. The ensuing album, Raising Sand was critically acclaimed and, surprisingly, an enormous commercial success. It went on to win five Grammy awards.

Just as Raising Sand was topping the charts, Robert, Jimmy and John Paul Jones reconnected with the addition of drummer Jason Bonham, son of John, to headline a pair of benefit concerts to honor the late Ahmet Ertegun. The members of Zep had performed a couple of times before with abysmal results. This time, they woodshedded extensively and completely acquitted themselves at both shows.

The world was clamoring for a fullfledged Led Zeppelin tour. Fans, promoters and venues were on board, as were Jimmy, John Paul and Jason. Robert was the lone holdout. He wasn’t interested in revisiting history he was looking forward, eager for new challenges.

His next musical adventure commenced in 2010 when he resurrected the name of his pre-Zep outfit, Band Of Joy. He then recruited multi-instrumentalists Buddy Miller and Darrell Scott, as well as drummer Marco Giovino, bassist Byron House and acclaimed singer-songwriter, Patty Griffin.

Almost as popular as Raising Sand, the album peaked at #5 and received a couple of Grammy nominations. It also marked the beginning of a romantic relationship between Robert and Patty. The pair set up housekeeping together as her home base of Austin, Texas.

In the last decade, Robert and his most recent band, The Sensational Space Shifters, have released two brilliant albums, 2014’s lullaby and…The Ceaseless Roar and 2017’s Carry Fire. Both records cryptically alluded to his and Patty’s break-up, touched on his “Black Country moods” and reflected on the “musical carousel” he jumped on back in the ‘60s. More recently, he’s begun a new podcast, “Digging Deep.” There, he tells the stories behind his songs. As the second season commences, he’s released a companion, two-disc anthology; Digging Deep: Subterranea.

The record kicks into gear with “Rainbow,” from the …lullaby.. album. A stinging taqsim, the melody echoes the improvisational style employed in Greek and Turkish music. Guitars swirl and shimmy over insistent djembe and bendir rhythms.

Robert’s vocals are nearly as agile and elastic as they were during Led Zeppelin’s heyday, as he pledges everlasting love; “Love is enough though the world be a wind, and the woods have no voice, but the voice of complaining/My hands shall not tremble, my feet shall not falter, the voyage shall not weary, the fish shall not alter.”

This collection simply meanders, forsaking chronology for mood, which is as it should be. The two songs that represent his debut, “Pictures At Eleven” can be found toward the end of disc one and in the middle of disc two. “Like I’ve Never Been Gone” begins tentatively, just broody guitars and pliant vocals. His phrasing here retains a trace of Led Zep grandeur, as the song accelerates slowly, powered by tinkly hi-hat, lush keys and guttural bass. a serpentine guitar solo slithers through the break. Conversely, “Fat Lip” is surprisingly muscular, matching rippling electric guitars with a hiccough-y synth rhythm and defiant vocals.

His earliest solo stuff still holds up, three cuts from ‘83’s The Principle Of Moments manage to feel au courant.

The aforementioned “Big Log” features

courtly Spanish guitars, simmering keys and percolating synth claps. “Wreckless Love” is anchored by an urgent Tsiftetelli beat, modal guitars that scuttle and retreat, blurred bass lines, sun-kissed keys and Robert’s growly carnality. Meanwhile, “In The Mood” still evokes that secret Shangrila, a lush musical oasis hidden in the arid desert landscape. Equally lush and lean, it seems to float by. The flirtatious melody is propelled by arching, airy synths, which envelope pulsating bass lines, taut, hi-hat action and shimmery guitars. Robert is at his most seductive here, simply informing us that he’s in the mood. Guitars shapeshift on the break, over a walloping drum beat and fluttery synths that fade into the ether.

Not surprisingly, it’s the late ‘80s output feels the somewhat dated. “Heaven Knows” is saturated in dayglo synths and his stentorian vocals buried beneath a mountain of distaff backing vocals. The finger-popping syncopation of “White, Clean And Neat” strays from the genuine into gimmicky territory. The slashing guitar riffs on “Hurting Kind” are undercut by programmed drums. Not even Robert’s patented lemon-dripper yowl can save it.

Happily, “Ship Of Fools” escapes the fate of obsolescence. The stately ballad is powered by piquant guitars, subtle keys and angular percussion. A few neatly turned phrases; “Who claims that no man is an island, while I land up in jeopardy, more distant from you by degrees/I walk this shore in isolation, and at my feet eternity draws ever sweeter plans for me,” reveal the depth of desolation.

Robert reserves most of the collection’s bandwidth for two albums, Fate Of Nations from 1993 and Band Of Joy from 2010.

Almost half of the Fate…. record appears.

From the spare and evocative bottleneck Blues of “Great Spirit,” and the buoyant and expansive “I Believe,” to the crunchy sunshine of “Memory Song (Hello Hello)” and the wily and windswept “29 Palms.”

The Band Of Joy stuff is far more earthy.

Their take on “Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down,” recalibrates the traditional spiritual, transforming it into a backwoods, banjo-riffic benediction. On “Falling In Love Again,” Soulful Doo-Wop crooning collides with high lonesome pedal steel and reverbdrenched guitar. “Silver Rider” is suitably autumnal, as Robert and Patty’s vocals lock into shadowy blend. Best of all, BoJ slightly highjacks Los Lobos’ sprightly two-step, “Angel Dance,” by attaching rattlesnake guitars, thrumming bass and nimble mandolin runs to a ramshackle rhythm.

The rest of Robert’s 21st century albums, are afforded two cuts apiece. They range from the deep Delta davening of “Darkness, Darkness” and the jaggy static of “Last Time I Saw Her” from 2002’s Dreamland.

Then there’s the curvaceous siren song of “Embrace Another Fall” from 2014’s

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com lullaby… Meanwhile, both “New World” and “Dance With You Tonight,” off his latest effort, Carry Fire confirm that the self-proclaimed “Golden God” of Rock, is still at the height of his powers. The former offers a homecoming of sorts. A stompy groover, it weds chunky power chords and tensile bass lines to a Rock Steady beat, as Robert’s beatific vocals thread through the sinewy instrumentation. The latter feels like a poignant love letter to his Led Zep mates. Subdued keys and strummy guitars envelope Robert’s intimate croon as he offers a tender farewell; “And now the carnival is over, someone turned out the light, our fields of plenty filled with clover, so long ago and out of sight/This little light that keeps on shining, all through the darkness through the night, the ever more will keep reminding, the road is long, the flame is bright.” The “Skip-To-My-Lou” metallurgy of “Shine It,” sounds as fresh as it did 15 years ago, when it was released on Mighty ReArranger. But the real revelation from that record is “Takamba.” Here, Robert’s musical obsessions coalesce into one heady brew. Spidery bass lines connect with scratchy rhythm guitar, slippery keys, explosive modal guitar notes and a punishing backbeat. Something of an aural juggernaut, it enables him to connect the dots from Elvis Presley to Willie Dixon to

December 24 to December 30, 2020

Oum Khalthoum.

Making this collection just a little more, um collectible, Robert has added three unreleased tracks. They include the sanctified gumbo of “Nothing Takes The Place Of You,” the primordial Blues of “Charlie Patton Highway (Turn It Up-Part One)” and “Too Much Alike,” a down home Countrified charmer that allows Robert and Patty to summon their inner-Elvis Presleys.

The 30-song set closes with one more Fate Of Nations track. The Levee-breaking, crosscut crunch of “Promised Land” unleashes smoky harmonica, whooshy Farfisa keys, roiling bass and brawny Y-Aur guitars over a hopscotch beat. A potent comboplatter styles, to paraphrase the late great Muhammad Ali, it floats like a butterfly and stings like a fucking nest of Murder Hornets.

Inexplicably M.I.A. are any songs from his 1985 Shaken n’ Stirred solo album, or his massively popular Alison Krauss collaboration, Raising Sand. Also, nowhere to be found are huge ‘80s hits like “Burning Down One Side,” “Pledge Pin” and “Tall Cool One.” But in a recent interview, Robert characterized Digging Deep: Subterranea as “a collision of time and ideas. Fine Art curated by a Mad Hatter.” Sounds about right. Anyone willing to take the plunge down this musical rabbit hole will not be disappointed.

CANNABIS CORNER

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reen Relief, Inc., a Southern California-based company that specializes in the production of CBD, is proud to announce that it will be working directly with Holistic Caring™ to create a medical doorway to cannabis for patients and providers throughout the state of California.

Green Relief, Inc. has been working with patients and customers for more than a decade to source and produce top medicinal products. This includes its executive team which features one of California’s most experienced industry personalities with 40 years of cannabis research and development.

“Our mission is to consistently produce top quality medicinal products,” said Ronald D. Brazil, founder and chief cannabis officer for Green Relief, Inc. Known for its reliability and product quality, Green Relief, Inc. has partnered with Holistic Caring™, the San Diego-based network that bridges the gap between traditional and cannabinoid medicine through educational systems to support patients and medical providers throughout California with custom-designed natural medicine.

“We want to help as many people as we possibly can and working with Holistic Caring allows us to do even more,” said Mark A. Thomas, president of Green Relief, Inc. “Our proprietary production methodology offers custom-blended tinctures for adults who want to take charge of their health and wellness. These products offer all of us stronger self-care.”

Holistic Caring™ has an integrated delivery

BY RUTH HILL R.N.

system for medical cannabis patients, providers and products. Their team trains health care professionals to remove the stigma, ignorance and fear and replace them with knowledge, professional protocols, integrity and support. A true "medical door" is set to emerge as Holistic Caring™ will provide the education and expertise on the use of cannabis for healing while Green Relief, Inc. will provide a high-quality product that people can trust.

“We know that Green Relief makes an incredible product line and I believe that their tinctures are the best in the market,” said Elisabeth Mack, Holistic Caring™ founder and CEO. “They’re helping to improve the quality of life for our patients and we’re excited to partner with them to share the benefits of incorporating cannabinoid medicine into daily living.”

Holistic Caring™ offers a tool kit of solutions including telemedicine nurse lines for patients, and a curriculum for providers to become a certified cannabis health coach.

They developed these tools to expand the pool of experts in cannabinoid medicine, so patients can safely follow a plan supported by holistic health practitioners. The ultimate goal is to support those who see the bigger picture in expanding health care options.

Green Relief, Inc., having a non-storefront delivery license, will be able to deliver its custom-made products to patients ages 21+ throughout the state of California.

The Coachella Valley, Orange County and San Diego will be among the initial primary markets with bandwidth to deliver anywhere in Southern California and beyond. They are now building their new, licensed manufacturing facility with expanded

capacity in Desert Hot Springs, Calif. which is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2021.

For more information about Green Relief, Inc. including its licensed products, please visit www.greenreliefcbd.us. And for additional details about Holistic Caring™, visit www.holisticcaring.com.

About Green Relief, Inc. Founded by Ronald D. Brazil, Green Relief, Inc. has been operating in the medical cannabis space since 2009. Known for its high-quality products, the company has applied for patents on its proprietary methodology to customize tinctures for patients and health care providers. For more information on Green Relief, Inc., visit www. greenrelief.us or call 612-817-9497.

About Holistic Caring™ Started in 2016, Holistic Caring™ provides the educational process and programs needed to care for patients and train health professionals. Providers then serve their patients, guiding them to effectively use medicinal formulations, thus creating a CBD Health Ecosystem. By offering knowledge to educate CBD health coaches, Holistic Caring™ advocates for empowered health care options for patients with more effective outcomes. For more information on Holistic Caring™, please visit www.holisticcaring.com, call 619-880-5135 or follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Alignable.

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December 24 to December 30, 2020

PET PLACE

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his week, dog lovers and their 4-legged companions ring in the New Year 2021. In 2020, we made great strides in reducing the plight of homeless dogs and cats. “Rescue” is becoming the favored route to adopt a dog, as the public becomes more aware of the problems with puppy mills, backyard breeders, and online pet sales. The new California law banning the commercial sale of dogs and cats at pet stores went into effect at the beginning of the year with the aim of encouraging shelter adoptions.

Pictured here, ready to celebrate, is adorable Petunia. This Chihuahua girl was once a stray and frightened dog at the San Bernardino County Shelter in Devore.

Rescued by Loving All Animals, this little pup would not let anyone touch her when she arrived at Quannah Combs’ foster home.

Gradually she began to sit next to him, moving closer each day. With her next foster mom, Jan Cooksley, she continued to trust

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NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR DOG OWNERS

and love humans. Now named Sammy, this sweet pup celebrates New Year’s Eve 2020 in her loving forever home with Linda Smith and Kurt Hanft. She will play happily with her Dachshund sister, Peanut.

While our canine companions provide affection and companionship, there is a special love bestowed from rescued dogs in their “second chance” home. These animals will not only bring us increased health and happiness, but they can also be part of our New Year’s Resolutions. Here are some ideas for 2021 resolutions.

GET HEALTHY – Having a dog will improve your physical health, including reducing your blood pressure. If you decide to quit smoking this year, your pet will give you another reason because a smoke filled environment also jeopardizes their health.

REDUCE STRESS & DEPRESSION - Holding and petting a dog immediately makes you relax. Their loving companionship reduces stress, depression and anxiety. Dogs help

reduce post- traumatic stress for combat veterans. They work daily miracles for all of us humans, bringing joy to our lives.

LOSE WEIGHT – Obesity decreases life expectancy of up to 14 years in humans and up to 2.5 years in their animals. As you select healthier foods, make sure to provide better nutrition for Fido. Avoid serving harmful human foods to pets. However, fresh carrots, cooked green beans, steamed broccoli, banana slices, and apple slices are healthy options for you and your dog.

EXERCISE & GET FIT – Walking a dog keeps you both healthy and happy. If you are athletic, enjoy the outdoors even more hiking and jogging with Fido.

MEET NEW PEOPLE – Dogs are natural ice breakers, and that adorable pup you walk down the street can result in new friends or even a new love interest. You score extra points with them when they learn your dog is a rescue.

VOLUNTEER IN THE NEW YEAR – If you resolve to help people in the New Year, dogs may also play a role. If your dog is calm and likes strangers, consider getting him certified as a therapy dog and bring joy to hospital patients and nursing home residents. Volunteer at a public shelter or private animal welfare organization. Walk a dog for sick or elderly neighbors.

ADOPT A RESCUE PET – The New Year is always the time for new beginnings and second chances. If you are still “dogless”, go visit the thousands of animals waiting at shelters and rescue organizations.

Visit the Coachella Valley’s largest county shelter, the Coachella Valley Animal Campus, at 72-050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms. View their adoptable animals at www.rcdas.com and call (760) 343-3644 for more information. Visit the Devore San Bernardino County shelter at 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino or call (909) 386-9820.

View Devore’s adoptable animals at www. petharbor.com. Contact Loving All Animals at (760) 834-7000 or www.lovingallanimals. org to see their available animals.

Happy New Year 2021 to you and your 4-legged family members!

Janetmcafee8@gmail.com

MEET LUNA

MEET SOCKS & MITTENS

This sweet angel girl, just 2 yrs old, waits at our county shelter since Nov 25 to get a home. She’s 45 lbs of love, a mix between a Beagle and a Lab, dog ID#A1516773, a the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms.

Call (760) 343-3644 and follow instructions at www.rcdas.org.

(Shelter closed to walk ins)

Precious brother and sister kittens seek a home together to double the love and double the fun! Rescued by www.ForeverMeow.org these 3-month-old kittens are at PetCo in Palm Desert on Hwy 111. Call (760) 335-6767.

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BY JANET McAFEE

-------------------------------------------------Below is a partial list of shelters and rescues in the Inland Empire with animals for adoption. They are currently closed for walk-ins, and you must call for an appointment. You can view most of their animals online before calling. If you seek a specific breed, you can also check on www. petfinder.com and put in the breed and your zip code. Thank you for rescuing!

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 www.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 www.rcdas.org, 72050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, (760) 343-3644. (Public) PALM SPRINGS ANIMAL SHELTER – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. They schedule appointments Wed. through Mon. View their animals online at www.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 www. 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 www. 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 in addition to small dogs and cats. View some of their animals at www.orphanpet.com.

Located at 17825 N. Indian Canyon, Palm

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December 24 to December 30, 2020

SAFETY TIPS FROM THE CHIEF’S CORNER

BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA

IN FULL SWING FOR SAFETY, FORE!

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, www.kittylandrescue.org, (760) 251-2700.

(Private) FOREVER MEOW – Foster based rescue for cats located in Rancho Mirage. Contact them at www.ForeverMeow.org, (760) 3356767. (Private) PRETTY GOOD CAT – Foster based rescue for cats located in La Quinta. Contact them at www.prettygoodcat.com, (760) 660-3414 (Private) BFF4pets – Foster based rescue for dogs and cats located in La Quinta. Email them 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, www.lovingallanimals.org, (760) 834-7000. (Private) MORONGO BASIN HUMANE SOCIETY – Located at 4646 Sun View Rd, Joshua Tree,

www.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 closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Call (909) 386-9280 daily. View animals at www. 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 www.DreamTeamangelsrescue. com, (360) 688-8884. (Private)

T

his safety article is dedicated to one of the best people in the world. My Dad Frank DiGiovanna! He loves to golf and was instrumental in helping me write this.

Golf really is a very safe sport and if you follow a few basic safety rules injuries can be reduced or eliminated reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

Swinging of metal clubs propel golf balls at high speeds. If you’re in the way of either you’re in danger. Following a few basic guidelines can help ensure your safety and that of those around you on the course.

Keep Track of Those Around You. When a golf club is in your hands and you are preparing to swing, it is your responsibility to make sure that your playing partners are a safe distance away from you. Never swing a golf club when another golfer is close to you. Practice makes perfect but be a little extra cautious on practice swings, when it’s easy for golfers to let their guard down. Don’t hit your ball until you are confident that any golfers up ahead are out of your range.

Be Heads Up. Even when it’s not your turn to hit, stay aware of your surroundings. Fore Pete’s Sake, Cover Up When You Hear It! Yell “Fore” as loud as you can if suspect someone may be in danger. This is the universal word of warning in golf. If you hear it, cover up, cover behind your golf bag, tree, cart, (or friend) and cover your head with your arms.

Make yourself a smaller target, and protect your head.

Patience: A virtue desired by many possessed by few! Yes, there are those occasions when a very slow group is ahead of yours, and frustration takes over. We’ve all seen it or know them. That “special” person who gets angry and tee’s up intentionally hitting into the slow-playing group ahead.

If you’re ever tempted to do this, don’t! It’s very rare, but golfers have been killed after being struck by golf balls. Many have been injured. Just take a deep breath and enjoy the scenery.

Drive Safely. Driving a golf cart isn’t a

difficult thing to do. Observe all safety rules.

Don’t hang your feet out of the cart while it’s in motion; don’t go off-roading over bumpy terrain; don’t drive at full speed around curves or down steep hills. Don’t let small children drive the cart. Don’t drive the cart if you’ve had a few too many beers. And watch out for other golf carts at points where paths cross.

Sunscreen! Protect your skin by always using a strong sunscreen. Wear a widebrimmed cap to keep the sun off your face.

Add Fluids … (No, not Beer!) the Right Kind of Fluids. If you’re playing golf under the sun on a hot day, you’ll be sweating off a lot of body fluids. Stay hydrated! Drink plenty of water.

Make sure you follow the course guidelines for Covid 19 safety practices at all times!

Lightning. At the very first sign of lightning, head for the Clubhouse. If caught out in the open and unable to find shelter, get away from your clubs, your golf cart, water and trees, and remove metal spikes if wearing them. If in a group, group members should remain at least 15 feet apart. If you feel a tingling sensation or the hair on your arms stands up, crouch in a baseball catcher’s position, balancing on the balls of your feet.

Fold your arms in front of your knees, keep your feet together and your head forward.

Be Safe and Have Fun!

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December 24 to December 30, 2020

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December 24 to December 30, 2020

THE VINO VOICE

SPARKLING HORIZONS AHEAD!

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elief is on the way—and Godspeed indeed!

In our last column, we anticipated good news by reviewing the wonderful French Champagne cheer we enjoy in our dreams. And there’s no reason to stop the cheering as we continue on to the New Year’s celebration.

Value-priced high-quality alternatives to Champagne have never been more plentiful.

Bubbly, sparklers, sparkling wine—call them what you wish, but they are always a celebratory quaff one way or another as an aperitif, toasts & cheers, or at the dinner table pairing with a range of foods.

Sparklers are now in the repertoire of most wineries around the world; and as sparkling wines have gained so much in popularity, there are an increasing number of producers who focus solely in this category. And the prices of these bubblies are incredibly reasonable. Last week we didn’t care about the costs of the wonderful French stuff; this week, we’re kind of looking out—perhaps, in view to grabbing more bottles at a much lower price.

Actually—throughout this past year we’ve covered and recommended a slew of very good sparklers at very good prices, and they’re still a great deal for the New Year’s pop!

A couple of months ago we reviewed the Gruet Brut Sparkling wine with its French roots and winemaker with its vineyard and production facilities in New Mexico—thus qualifying as “an American bubbly”. And at only $16 it continues to be a great buy! “The non-vintage Gruet Brut shows lemon and sweet bready aromas on the nose. Flavors of apple and pear with a toastiness throughout. There’s also white peach and lime zest that finishes with crisp medium acidity.”

Well this time, I’ve just tried the Gruet Blanc de Blancs ($18) and it is a delicious bubbly with everything going for it! The Blanc de Blancs offers abundant aromas and flavors recalling sweet apples, pears and citrus. The three years of aging has contributed a pronounced classic toastiness with accents of roasted almonds and minerals. The palate is creamy and long, and the style is elegant, dry and crisp, with great complexity. I think it sells at the Ralphs in Indio and in Palm Desert. I’ll try to get it in here in the Palm Springs store.

Another fabulous sparkler we’ve just written on is the Faire La Fête Brut. It’s one of the tastiest sparklers on the market for just under $20—indeed, it’s one of the best buys around for the quality. This Champagne-alternative shows aromas and flavors of baked apple, white cherry, and lemon meringue, along with great mouthfeel. Encore—Encore!

By the way—Faire La Fête is in the sparkling category known in France as a Crémant. As many of us know, Champagne can only come from designated vineyards within the Champagne region in northern France; Crémant sparkling wines can only come from specific regions, too, although many are more famous for producing still wines.

Champagne and Crémant wines get their sparkle from the “traditional method”, which involves creating the conditions for a secondary fermentation inside the bottle. Bottles of Crémant and Champagne must also be aged on lees for minimum periods, which can bring extra

BY RICK RIOZZA

body and complexity to the wines. Crémant sparkling wines can be a delicious, affordable alternative to Champagne, i.e., they can taste very comparable and are so reasonably priced.

Always be on the look-out for a Crémant on the bubbly label.

As the Faire La Fête is a Crémant de Limoux (from the Limoux region in France), a very popular Crémant d’Alsace is a couple of our favorite sparkling recommendations: the Lucien Albrecht Crémant d’Alsace Brut, and, Brut Rosé, both sell for around $22. The Brut is produced from 100% Pinot Blanc and shows refreshing touches of lime and lemon zest on the nose. The palate adds a mellow ripe-apple note, helped along by a creamy texture. The long finish is clean and dry. The very popular Brut Rosé is pure Pinot Noir with a panoply of aromas and flavors of dried fruit, apricot, citrus, orange peel, and herb notes. It’s got good acidity and of course is bolder and more lush than its Brut sibling.

So you get the idea that a Crémant is a very wise and tasty buy. For example, a Crémant from the Loire Valley (yes—Crémant de Loire), is the value sparkler Louise d’Estrée Brut ($9). The nose is crisp and clean lemon, melon, citrus aromas, and flavors of ripe peach, tart lemon, and a finish of grapefruit. The acidity is well focused and the finish is nice and full.

The Louise d” Estrée Brut can be found at Trader Joe’s, and, while you’re shopping there, look also for the Opaline Pinot Noir Brut Rosé ($8). The nose is a little black cherry, a touch of bakery bread, some mineral water, and cherry cough drops. This is a crisp, lightly fruity sparkling wine, not particularly complex, but still tasty. It starts with cherry, with a hit of minerality, and strawberry. There is a little tangerine on the midpalate, along with soft vanilla. The acidity is wellbalanced. This light-bubbly wine is very pleasant, an easy sipper, and a good cheer!

The Opaline does have a very nice bottle and makes for a nice neighborly wine gift. The glass is prism-cut and the shape reminds one of the type of bottle they use in Provence.

And finally, if you wish to “step up” a bit at $20 a bottle, a delicious brut rosé from California that we recommend is the non-vintage Schartffenberger Brut Rosé Excellence. This crisp and classy wine owns strawberry and persimmon aromas with raspberry and white peach flavors; great balance of flavors and acidity. Tastes like a hundred bucks. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!—Cheers!

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December 24 to December 30, 2020

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EL PASEO FINE DINING ON NEW YEAR’S EVE: IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME

THEPAMPEREDPALATE

BY CHRIS CLEMENS

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everal of the fine dining establishments on El Paseo are offering spectacular meals togo, giving you a fine dining celebration to take home for New Year’s Eve! After a tumultuous 2020, ring the New Year with loved ones over a memorable holiday meal and leave the cooking to these exceptional restaurants on El Paseo offering full- course holiday spreads.

Pacifica Seafood Restaurant 73505 El Paseo Suite 2500, at The Gardens on El Paseo Enjoy a three-course preset Surf & Turf menu to-go, from 4 – 8:30 p.m., $70 per person.

This delectable meal includes lobster tail, filet mignon, seasonal vegetables, Caesar salad and Bartlett pear bread

TRAVEL TIPS4U

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pudding for dessert. Call or go online to place your order, 760-674-8666, www. pacificaseafoodrestaurant.com.

Sullivan’s Steakhouse 73505 El Paseo Suite 2600, at The Gardens on El Paseo Select either hand-carved prime rib served with mashed potatoes and Au Jus, 12 ounces for $44 per person or 16 ounces for $45 per person; or make it a filet mignon and lobster tail for $65 per person. Sides are available and include Brussels sprouts with caramelized onions for $10, fresh asparagus with parmesan and red wine vinaigrette for $10, or cream-style spinach for $10. Call or go online to place your order, 760-3413560; www.sullivanssteakhouse.com.

Mastro’s Steakhouse 73405 El Paseo, Suite 120

KING TIDES

Mastro’s has several ultra-spectacular options for this milestone New Year’s Eve! · The Midnight for $295 for two includes a seafood tower with two appetizers, two entrees, two sides, shared selection of three desserts, accompanied by a bottle of Moet Imperial Brut Crystalized with “Happy New Year’s” or “Cheers”, along with party hats, noise makers blow horns, festive necklaces and balloons. · The Resolution for $395 for two, includes a seafood tower and caviar with two appetizers, two entrees, two sides, sand a shared selection of three desserts, accompanied by a bottle of Moet Imperial Brut Crystalized with “Happy New Year’s” or “Cheers.” · The Extravaganza for $475 for two includes a seafood tower with two

appetizers, two entrees, two sides, shared selection of three desserts, with a bottle of Dom Perignon Crystalized with “Happy New Year’s” or “Cheers,” party hats, noise makers, blow horns, party necklaces and balloons · The Auld Lang Syne for $575 prepared for two with a seafood tower and caviar, two appetizers, two entrees, two sides, shared selection of three desserts, along with a bottle of Dom Perignon Crystalized with “Happy New Year’s” or “Cheers,” party hats, noise makers, blow horns, party necklaces and balloons.

Call Mastro’s at 760-776-6777, or go online to place your order at www. mastrosrestaurants.com/location/mastrossteakhouse-palm-desert.

Eddie V’s 73040 El Paseo Indulge in Chilean sea bass miso marinated with roasted Shitake mushrooms, with starters of chilled Gulf shrimp cocktail style with Atomic horseradish and spicy mustard, and Caesar salad with shaved Parmesan cheese and garlic croutons, accompanied by truffled macaroni and cheese, grilled asparagus, and Au Gratin cheddar potatoes. The meal is complete with a Banana Fosters Butter Cake served with butter pecan ice cream. Served for two at $150, or for four to six at $250. Call or go online to place your order: 760-340-9455, www.eddiev.com/menu-listing/holidaysat-home.

Mitch's on El Paseo Prime Seafood 73951 El Paseo Mitch’s is offering their regular menu service with bottles of wine half off and free delivery.

Call 760-779-9200 to place your order.

With this being a New Year’s Eve to remember, make it especially memorable with these fine dining options available only on El Paseo.

WAIKIKI BEACH WITHIN CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT STATE PARK. PACIFIC COUNTY, WA

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pectators gather near Waikiki Beach to watch big waves generated by a King Tide crash into the rocks below Cape Disappointment Lighthouse.

What is a King Tide?

In the simplest terms, King Tide is colloquially used to describe an extremely high tide. Ordinary tides are caused by the gravitational pull between the Earth and the moon; king tides happen when astronomical events amplify that pull. Storms out in the ocean and other factors often add one or more feet to the height of the surf.

King Tides also happen when the sun is closest to the Earth in its orbit – a position called perihelion. The sun reaches this position in early January each year. Similarly, in early July, the sun is furthest away from Earth – a position called aphelion – and the gravitational pull is weakened, resulting in smaller tides.

ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY LYNNE TUCKER It’s a great photo op for everyone.

Photographers often gather to watch the waves crash into the cliffs.

King Tide Schedules: Jan. 9 - 8:55 AM Jan. 10 - 9:48 AM Jan. 11 - 10:40 AM Jan. 12 - 11:30 AM Think King Tides and Don’t Forget Your Camera for the amazing View!

Lynne Tucker - A Passion 4 Photography 818.298.7007 Contributing Writer & Photographer for: CV Weekly (Coachella Valley) The Tolucan Times (San Fernando Valley) Conservation Ambassador for The Living Desert

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LOOD DONATIONS URGENTLY NEEDED! As a provider of an essential service, LifeStream is OPEN. ALL blood types needed!

JFK Memorial Hospital • Address: 47111 Monroe St., Indio • Date: Tuesday, Dec. 29 • Time: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

• Donors receive a $15 e-gift card.

LifeStream tests all successful wholeblood donations for COVID-19 antibodies.

Donors learn results and if their plasma could potentially help current COVID-19 patients. This test does not detect if the donor is currently infected. Donors receive free cholesterol screening. Please set an appointment by calling LifeStream at 800879-4484 or visiting LStream.org. NOTE: All blood donors must wear a mask/face covering (mask/coverings with one-way valves to filter outside air are not sufficient), submit to a temperature check and COVID-19 symptom review before being admitted to the donor waiting area.

Healthy individuals at least 15 years of age may donate blood. Everyone under 17 years of age must provide LifeStream with written parental consent. Parent consent forms are available at any donor center, community blood drive or at www.LStream. org. All prospective donors should be free of infections or illness, weigh at least 115 pounds, and not be at risk for AIDS or hepatitis.

Donors receive a free mini-physical as part of the donation process. Donating blood takes about an hour, yet gives someone a lifetime.

For more information, please call 1-800TRY GIVING. Join the LifeStream volunteer team and make a lifesaving difference! For information, call 1.800.879.4484, ext. 458.

La Quinta Medical Center • Address: 47647 Caleo Bay Drive • Date: Tuesday, Dec. 29 • Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Donors receive a $15 e-gift card.

LifeStream tests all successful wholeblood donations for COVID-19 antibodies.

Donors learn results and if their plasma could potentially help current COVID-19 patients. This test does not detect if the donor is currently infected. Donors receive free cholesterol screening. Please set an appointment by calling LifeStream at 800879-4484 or visiting LStream.org. NOTE: All blood donors must wear a mask/face covering (mask/coverings with one-way valves to filter outside air are not sufficient), submit to a temperature check and COVID-19 symptom review before being admitted to the donor waiting area.

Hi-Desert Star • Address: 56445 Twentynine Palms Hwy., Yucca Valley • Date: Wednesday, Dec. 30 • Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Donors receive a $15 e-gift card.

LifeStream tests all successful wholeblood donations for COVID-19 antibodies.

Donors learn results and if their plasma could potentially help current COVID-19 patients. This test does not detect if the donor is currently infected. Donors receive

free cholesterol screening. Please set an appointment by calling LifeStream at 800879-4484 or visiting LStream.org. NOTE: All blood donors must wear a mask/face covering (mask/coverings with one-way valves to filter outside air are not sufficient), submit to a temperature check and COVID-19 symptom review before being admitted to the donor waiting area.

Starbucks • Address: 78752 Highway 111, La Quinta • Date: Wednesday, Dec. 30 • Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Henry’s Bar and Grill • Address: 68955 Ramon Road #7, Cathedral City • Date: Saturday, Jan. 2 • Time: 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Palm Springs Air Museum • Address: 745 N. Gene Autry Trail

December 24 to December 30, 2020

COMMUNITY

• Date: Saturday, Jan. 2, Sunday, Jan. 3 • Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days • Donors receive a $15 e-gift card on Saturday, Jan. 2; donors receive a longsleeved “Count on Me” T-shirt on Sunday, Jan. 3. LifeStream tests all successful wholeblood donations for COVID-19 antibodies.

Donors learn results and if their plasma could potentially help current COVID-19 patients. This test does not detect if the donor is currently infected. Donors receive free cholesterol screening. Please set an appointment by calling LifeStream at 800879-4484 or visiting LStream.org. NOTE: All blood donors must wear a mask/face covering (mask/coverings with one-way valves to filter outside air are not sufficient), submit to a temperature check and COVID-19 symptom review before being admitted to the donor waiting area.

Healthy individuals at least 15 years of age may donate blood. Everyone under 17 years of age must provide LifeStream with written parental consent. Parent consent forms are available at any donor center, community blood drive or at www.LStream. org. All prospective donors should be free of infections or illness, weigh at least 115 pounds, and not be at risk for AIDS or hepatitis.

Donors receive a free mini-physical as part of the donation process. Donating blood takes about an hour, yet gives someone a lifetime.

For more information, please call 1-800-TRY GIVING. Join the LifeStream volunteer team and make a lifesaving difference! For info, call 1.800.879.4484, ext. 458.

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December 24 to December 30, 2020

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HADDON LIBBY

COVID CRAZINESS

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n a rare show of action, Congress and the Senate agreed to a $900 billion COVID relief package. This bill will get $600 into the hands of most Americans along with a resumption of pandemic unemployment benefits at a $300 per week rate, or half of the levels extended back in March for four months.

Monies were also availed to schools, colleges, and small businesses. Approximately $69 billion assists in vaccine distribution.

Two partisan issues were tabled and pushed to next year - aid for city and state governments, and business liability. It seems that Democrats want monies to go to the cities and states to help offset lost income and higher costs from the pandemic, yet Republicans oppose this. Similarly, Republicans want to indemnify business against frivolous lawsuits related to the pandemic, yet the Democrats oppose this.

Call me crazy but both need to be done and it shows the political animal that DC has become where the parties put partisanship above people. To hold up relief for months over these two issues is insincere at best by both parties.

By holding up relief, Republicans are essentially defunding the police as the municipalities are forced to cut spending.

By holding up business liability protections, Democrats are hurting the very workers they are looking to help with enhanced relief.

Nevertheless, some relief is on its way for everyone even if it is a smaller group of folks that need much more in support to get by. Call

BY HADDON LIBBY

me crazy again but most of this aid should be targeted at the people and businesses hurt most by the pandemic.

Rather than dwell on the shortcomings of those making decisions in DC, let’s look at this through a different lens – one that sees the dark humor of it all.

Nothing exhibits this better than the live broadcast of Nurse Tiffany Dover getting the first vaccine shot in Chattanooga, Tennessee on December 17th. Shortly after taking the vaccine, she fainted. “I have a history of having an overactive vagal response, and so with that…I can just pass out. It’s common for me,” said Dover to WRCB-TV. Call me crazy yet again but the folks at CHI Memorial Hospital must have had a better choice amongst its hundreds of employees. Why choose the girl most likely to pass out when staging a news conference to show that the vaccine is safe? CEO Janelle Reilly has some ‘splainin’ to do.

Still, Reilly has less ‘splainin’ to do than The

DALEGRIBOW ON THELAW

University Medical Center of El Paso, Texas.

For their live news conference, Nurse Ricardo Martinez was given the shot…but the plunger was already fully depressed. Simply put, the vaccination was staged and not given to Martinez. While hospital administration denied this for some time after the LIVE television broadcast, they eventually confessed to the deception and gave Nurse Martinez a second shot. The hospital smartly told folks that it was okay for Martinez to get the second vaccination on the same day in this type of situation.

Not to be outdone, the White House engaged in similarly odd behavior last week.

Within minutes of the live broadcast showing Vice President Mike Pence, his wife and the Surgeon General getting vaccinations and reminding folks to wear masks and socially distance, the President re-tweeted a post questioning the efficacy of ‘experts’ who promote mask wearing. Thanks, Mr. President.

Many blame Trump’s odd behavior on the

election loss. While his Attorney General, CIA, FBI, Republican Party and others could not find the election-turning fraud that Trump tweets, many news outlets have given these false claims veracity on their newscasts. Fighting back, the maker of one of the voting machines (Smartmatic) has threatened lawsuits against Fox News, Newsmax and One America claiming that their business has been hurt and lives threatened due to the spread of these bogus claims. This legal threat caused Lou Dobbs of Fox Business News to air a segment debunking his own past statements to show that he was wrong.

Election rigging was found though but thousands of miles away in New Zealand’s Bird of the Year contest. Nearly 1,500 votes came from one email address (clearly not the work of Russian hackers) for the Spotted Kiwi nearly depriving the Kakapo of its victory. The Kakapo is the world’s only flightless parrot.

Haddon Libby is the Founder and Managing Partner of Winslow Drake Investment Management. For more information on their award-winning services, visit www.

WinslowDrake.com or email Hlibby@ WinsowDrake.com.

LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF THE INJURED & CRIMINALLY ACCUSED

MR GRIBOW, WHY WON'T YOU ACCEPT MY COVID ACCIDENT CASE?

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or the first time in over 30 years I am being contacted by potential clients who are notably upset when I will not accept their accident case. I explain that any accident case places the Burden of Proof on the injured plaintiff to prove Liability (that someone else is at fault) and Damages (that they were injured).

In addition, it is more expensive than ever during the Age of Covid, to pursue a PI case for the lawyer. When the case settles some of those costs get passed on to the client. I do not want a client that will be unhappy in the end because most of the money went to costs and not them.

All this is especially true during our Covid restrictions. It is hard to find doctors in their office to examine and treat the injured client. If you can see a doctor how difficult is it to go to the pharmacy to get prescriptions filled? Who wants to wait in line with people that are picking up drugs because they are sick?

Unless you are rear ended the defendant often lies and claims you were at fault……..or partly at fault. They will argue they had the right of way……especially if there was no witness or police report. It becomes “liar’s poker”, and a lawyer must evaluate how likely it is that the jury will believe the plaintiff. During Covid and the arguments to lessen funding for the police, good luck in getting a police report prepared.

California has Comparative Negligence and thus if the defendant can show the plaintiff was partly at fault, that degree of fault is deducted from the settlement. For instance, if the Plaintiff client was 50 % at fault, s/he would lose 50% of the value of their case.

As stated earlier, an accident case is made up of Liability and Damages. First you have to show that someone else was at fault and that the treatment received was reasonable and

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necessary. If you are not taken by ambulance or go to the hospital or ER within 24 hours, many of my contemporaries will not accept the case. But who wants to go to a hospital or ER where there are so many sick people…who may have Covid?

This case rejection is also true, if you have talked to the insurance adjuster. It is not just what you said, but what the ADJUSTER THOUGHT THEY HEARD YOU SAY. Your lawyer will never know if you said something that could sink your case at trial, and the insurance adjuster will not share this information. S/ he will sandbag you and the defense adjuster or lawyer, will wait until trial to present the evidence that could potentially blow your case out of the water.

I explain to potential clients that things have changed dramatically in recent years..and more so with Covid 19. Today, insurance companies do not want to settle any soft tissue case where nothing is broken. Also, jury verdicts are lower today because the public has been brainwashed into thinking that a soft tissue injury will heal without treatment or that the plaintiff was milking the insurance company.

In addition, insurance companies carefully examine the medicals. They look to see if the treatment you received was clearly from this accident and not pre-existing. If you had a prior auto accident or slip and fall in the shower, or around the pool, 10 years ago, they will argue your treatment is from a preexisting condition and not accident related. Thus they refuse to pay…or they may just make a LOW BALL offer.

There is a big difference between $9,000 of medicals comprised of a $7,500 medical bill from Eisenhower for a few hours of diagnostic. This might be followed by a few doctors’ appointments and no physical therapy.

Compare that with a bill of the same amount that is mostly Physical Therapy. A bill of $7,500 for 40 PT visits and $1,500 of diagnostic and exams would be worth a lot more.

In 2021 the cost of litigation will be a major concern for an accident lawyer. If the insurance company forces you into litigation by offering $6,000 on your bill of $9,000, your lawyer has to invest his/her money into your case. That just happened to me in the last few months. Unfortunately, these cases could cost a fortune as with Covid it could easily take 5 years of litigation before you get to trial. Now, with Covid, all cases are being continued for long periods of time. No cases are going out to trial. This plays into the hands of the insurance company. Why would they want to settle if they can do so with 2026 dollars and not 2021?

There are also costly depositions to be ordered. If the judge rules incorrectly on an issue the lawyer sometimes must hire an appellate attorney to make things right. Because the plaintiff has the burden of proof, when you get to trial your attorney has to pay YOUR DOCTORS to come to court to testify.

Unfortunately this process is not a science.

Because a case is set for trial on January 15, 2021 does not mean it will go out on that date.

With Covid, I can assure you it will be continued for over a year.

Meanwhile the doctor demands $5,000 to $15,000 per day, up front, to testify. The lawyer pays this when the doctor reserves that date and does not schedule patients. When the date is changed or the testimony of a witness runs over, the doctor will ask for the same amount for the second day.

We recently had a doctor who moved to NY to join the faculty at NYU but had treated my

client locally. He demanded we fly him back first class and pay him $7,500 a day for travel and his testimony, in addition to paying for his hotel room at a 4-5 star hotel …plus all his expenses.

Absent a large case, a lawyer cannot afford to lay out this amount of money. It is not fair to a client who would wind up with nothing after the legal fees and costs are deducted from the settlement. As a matter of fact, all the money could conceivably go to costs, and not legal fees or money to the client.

I have been representing plaintiffs injured by drunk drivers, as well as, representing those charged with driving under the influence for over 30 years and there has never been a more challenging time to handle an accident case.

This includes auto accidents, slip and falls and dog bites. The insurance companies recognize that lawyers in 2021 cannot afford to fund these cases and thus low ball an offer or make no offer. This was true before Covid and doubly true now.

If you have any questions or suggestions for future columns contact Dale Gribow 760-8377500 or dale@dalegribowlaw.com.

DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE, CALL A TAXI OR UBER…IT IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN HAVING AN ARREST OR ACCIDENT AND CALLING ME.…SO DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER! DALE GRIBOW - Legal Representation Of The Injured and Criminally Accused “TOP LAWYER” - California’s Prestige Magazine, Palm Springs Life (PI/DUI) 2011-21 “TOP LAWYER” - Inland Empire Magazine 2016-19 PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating

SWAG FOR THESOUL

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BY AIMEE MOSCO

KEEPING YOUR BALANCE

“Often times as children when we ‘took responsibility’ for our choices, we reaped consequences rather than rewards… when a person enjoys rewards associated with taking ownership, the experience is incredibly empowering.” Daily Agreements, Guidelines & Intentions, by Aimee Mosco and Donald L. Ferguson, page 127 he Universe at large is our model for achieving success in all areas of life. It operates with precision and always without fail. It adheres to laws that extend beyond the true understanding of humanity’s brightest lights and that represent magic to us mere mortals.

While it may be impossible for us to understand the mechanics behind the forward movement of our Universe, it is easy to identify things it models for us, like balance for example.

The Universe is in perfect balance. We know this because each morning we wake up to a sun rise and then a sunset at the end of the day. The Universe is responsible for the coordination among the elements of our solar system that successfully produces sun rise and sunset. This continuum presumably could not occur with wild fluctuations in Universal balance. The disaster that would befall us if the cosmos became lopsided is unthinkable.

The manifestations associated with imbalance in our individual lives isn’t unthinkable to us because it is something many of us inadvertently create on a daily basis. When we have ignored the warning signs, we suffer the consequences. Often times we don’t correct imbalance until it becomes dire enough for us to take corrective action because there is no other choice.

Just imagine how different things would play out if we each strived to achieve the

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level of balance modeled by our Universe?

If we followed the Universe’s lead and actively took responsibility for creating balance in our daily lives before discomfort manifests? And then imagine experiencing that balance among collective humanity.

When there is balance, there is no need for warning bells or discomfort. Balance sets the tone for harmony.

According to the dictionary, balance is “stability produced by even distribution of weight on each side of the vertical axis” (www.merriam-webster.com) This is the literal definition, but it still applies to life events and experiences if you think of “weight” as energy. When you take in as much energy as you put out, you create equilibrium.

To experience the rewards of taking responsibility, in the likeness of the grand and wise Universal body, set your intent to create balance in your life. Then be mindful and aware of what you are putting out in relation to what you are taking in, and vice versa. Make adjustments based on your observations to keep yourself in power and in alignment with favorable outcomes.

In my pursuit to help human beings connect with harmony and love, 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 your joy.

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 is a founding member of World Game Changers and she serves on the Board of Directors of this charitable CIC based in the UK. Find Aimee at ihsunity. com.

December 24 to December 30, 2020

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

WEEK OF DECEMBER 24

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Your capacity for pioneering feats and impressive accomplishments will be at a peak in 2021. So you could become the best human ever at balancing a ladder on your chin or typing with your nose or running long-distance while holding an egg on a spoon with your mouth.

But I’d prefer it if you channeled your triumphal energy into more useful innovations and victories.

How about making dramatic strides in fulfilling your most important goal? Or ascending to an unprecedented new level of inspiring people with your passionate idealism? Or setting a record for most illusions shed?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Ark Encounter is a fundamentalist Christian theme park in Kentucky.

Its main attraction is a giant replica of Noah’s Ark. Constructed mostly from spruce and pine trees, it’s one of the world’s largest wooden structures. Even though I don’t believe that there was in fact such a boat in ancient times, I do admire how its builder, Ken Ham, has been so fiercely devoted to making his fantasies real. I encourage you to cultivate an equally zealous commitment to manifesting your own visions and dreams in 2021.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): From 1961 until 1989, a concrete barrier divided the city of Berlin.

Communist East Berlin lay on the east side of the Berlin Wall, and capitalist West Berlin on the west.

It was an iconic symbol of the Cold War between the US and Soviet Union. More than 100,000 people tried to escape from east to west, but just 5,000 succeeded. The standoff ended in 1989, during the peaceful revolutions that swept through Eastern Europe. In subsequent months, the Berlin Wall was slowly demolished. Today, tiny fragments of the wall are marketed as medicines for asthma, headaches, narcolepsy, and ulcers. Now I will propose that in 2021, you adopt the demolished Berlin Wall as your metaphor of power. May it inspire you to be gleeful and forceful as you dismantle psychological obstacles and impediments.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): The year 2021 will contain 525,600 minutes. But I suspect you might enjoy the subjective sensation of having far more than 525,600 minutes at your disposal. That’s because I think you’ll be living a fuller life than usual, with greater intensity and more focus. It may sometimes seem to you as if you are drawing greater riches out of the daily rhythm—accomplishing more, seeing further, diving down deeper to capitalize on the privilege of being here on planet earth.

Be grateful for this blessing—which is also a big responsibility!

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Our lives are filled with puzzles and enigmas and riddles. We all harbor aspects of ourselves that we don’t understand. I hope that in 2021, you will be on a mission to learn more about these parts of yourself. One of your superpowers will be a capacity to uncover secrets and solve mysteries. Bonus: I suspect you’ll be able to make exceptional progress in getting to the root of confusing quandaries that have undermined you—and then fixing the problems so they no longer undermine you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): When actor Gene Wilder was eight years old, his mother began to have heart-related health issues. The doctor that treated her suggested he could help her out if he would try to make her laugh. From then on, Wilder cultivated an ability to tell jokes and got interested in becoming an actor. Ultimately he appeared in 22 films and was nominated for two Oscars and two Golden Globe Awards. I foresee a comparable development in your life in 2021: A challenging situation will inspire you in ways that generate a major blessing.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In my astrological opinion, love won’t be predictable in 2021. It won’t be easily definable or comparable to what you’re experienced before. But I also suspect that love will be delightfully enigmatic. It will be unexpectedly educational and fervently fertile and oddly comfortable. Your assignment, as I understand it, will be to shed your certainties about what love is and is not so that the wild, fresh challenges and

© Copyright 2020 Rob Brezsny

opportunities of love can stream into your life in their wildest, freshest state.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Until 1893, Hawaii was a sovereign nation. In January of that year, a group of wealthy foreigners, mostly Americans, overthrew the existing government with the help of the US military. They established a fake temporary “republic” that excluded native Hawaiians from positions of power. Their goal, which was to be annexed by the United States, was fulfilled in July 1898. I propose that you use this sad series of events as a motivational story in 2021. Make it your goal to resist all efforts to be colonized and occupied.

Commit yourself passionately to preserving your sovereignty and independence. Be a tower of power that can’t be owned.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In 2021, you may be smarter than you have ever been. Not necessarily wiser, too, although I have reason to hope that you will leverage your smartness to also deepen your wisdom. But as I was saying, your intelligence could very well soar beyond its previous heights. Your ability to speak articulately, stir up original thoughts, and solve knotty riddles should be at a peak. Is there any potential downside to this outbreak of brilliance? Only one that I can imagine: It’s possible that your brain will be working with such dominant efficiency that it will drown out messages from your heart. And that would be a shame. In order to do what I referred to earlier— leverage your smartness to deepen your wisdom—you’ll need to be receptive to your heart’s messages CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The birds known as red knots breed every year in the Arctic regions.

Then they fly south—way south—down to the southern edge of South America, more than 9,000 miles away. A few months later they make the return trip to the far north. In 1995, ornithologists managed to put a monitoring band on one red knot’s leg, making it possible to periodically get a read on his adventures over the subsequent years.

The bird’s nickname is Moonbird, because he has traveled so many miles in the course of his life that it’s equivalent to a jaunt to the moon. He’s known as “the toughest four ounces on the planet.” I nominate him to be your magical creature in 2021. I suspect you will have stamina, hardiness, persistence, and determination like his.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): An Aquarian park ranger named Roy Sullivan was struck by lightning seven times in the course of his 71 years on the planet. (That’s a world record.) None of the electrostatic surges killed him, although they did leave a few burns. After studying your astrological potentials for 2021, I’ve concluded that you may be the recipient, on a regular basis, of a much more pleasurable and rewarding kind of lightning strike: the metaphorical kind. I advise you to prepare yourself to be alert for more epiphanies than usual: exciting insights, inspiring revelations, and useful ideas.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Coral reefs are in danger all over the world. These “rainforests of the sea” are being decimated by ocean acidification, toxic runoff from rivers, rising temperatures, and careless tourists. Why should we care? Because they’re beautiful! And also because they’re hotbeds of biodiversity, providing homes for 25 percent of all marine species. They also furnish protection for shorelines from erosion and storm damage, and are prime spots to harvest seafood. So I’m pleased people are finding ways to help reefs survive and recover. For example, a group in Thailand is having success using superglue to re-attach broken-off pieces to the main reefs. I hope this vignette inspires you to engage in metaphorically similar restorative and rejuvenating activities, Pisces. In 2021, you will have an enhanced power to heal.

Homework: Make a bold positive prediction for your life in 2021. FreeWillAstrology.com ---------------------------------------Rob Brezsny - Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

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December 24 to December 30, 2020

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