BIG-UPS TO ARCATA

Arcata is a small town/city near Eureka CA, up in redwood country. And they're defying the Patriot Act:

(AP) More than 100 cities and one state have passed resolutions condemning the USA Patriot Act, saying it gives the federal government too much snooping power. But in this liberal fold of Northern California's Redwood Curtain, a simple denouncement just doesn't go far enough.
To cooperate with the act, the City Council says, is criminal.

Starting this month, a new city ordinance would impose a fine of $57 on any city department head who voluntarily complies with investigations or arrests under the aegis of the Patriot Act, the anti-terrorism bill passed after Sept. 11.

Arcata's law is mostly symbolic, since federal law trumps any local ordinance. Still, the notion of civic disobedience is drawing plenty of attention.

"We knew we were doing something a little bit bold," says Dave Meserve, the councilman who sponsored the ordinance. "It certainly did not occur to me that it would catch the imagination of the American public."

Symbolism is still an important thing, and thus I salute Arcata. I have some history with that particular town, as that it is situated near the ultra-hippie Hartwood Institute, home to offical TFM brother Dylan Salisbury for over a year, where he cooked all-natural food, played various instruments and skinnydipped with Ani DiFranco. At least I think that's where it was.