HMMMM… Squid has always given lots of love (and ink) to Rep. Sam Farr for standing up to President Bush and voting consistently against the war in Iraq. Farr was one of the few who opposed the original bill authorizing the invasion– sigh. If Squid could wrap Farr up in Squid’s loving tentacles without freaking out the congressman, Squid would do it.

So Squid was kind of confused about Farr’s June 19 non-vote on the $163 billion Iraq War funding bill. The bill passed, and Farr was one of five Dems who didn’t vote.

“I have always voted against the supplemental funding bills that keep the war raging,” reads Farr’s website.

So, Sam, tell us. What gives?

HEART’S AFLUTTER… Poets like Squid are keen on that highly symbolic force that draws moths toward flames– and inevitably, poetically, incinerates them. Seems the wildfires of recent weeks likewise stole the light brown apple moth’s, um, fire. Coincidence, sure, but Squid is intent on squeezing some sort of cosmic metaphor out of it. Right around the time that Helping Our Peninsula’s Environment screened the Santa Cruz documentary Weapons of Moth Destruction– a feisty but tedious piece of anti-spray propaganda– the Indians fire sparked up in Los Padres. A week later the Central Coast was ablaze, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture had put the damper on its bug spray plans. Officials won’t fully admit that democracy killed their poorly planned, gun-jumping assault on the moths’ sex lives, but the activists know it was their shrill opposition that did the job. Squid hopes they’ll harness that civic energy to fight bigger threats to public health, like agricultural pesticides, tailpipe emissions and toxic consumer ingredients. And perhaps grab a hose, while they’re at it.

A FOND FAREWELL… Squid’s not so much into celebrating people. Squid’s into burying folks.

Then comes along a self-taught troubadour troublemaker with a gift for gab– and a distrust of the establishment. (Imagine a more talented Squid.) Squid’s not alone in Squid’s affection for Big Sur bard Ric Masten: His wake filled the Community Church of Monterey Peninsula to overflowing.

This pulpo wasn’t invited to the pulpit, but Squid (strangely enough) isn’t bitter– Masten’s family and friends are as articulate and theatrical as they come. Brother Warren’s insight shone. Daughter Jerri’s heart boomed. Several marveled at Masten’s magic ability to make everyone feel like his favorite, though he loved them all.

Masten’s favorite mollusk felt something foreign in seeing the old anti-war, anti-prejudice poet off: peace.