My documentary “Lost in Time: Druid Heights” began as a tall tale between strangers on barstools.

This bar stool meeting took place five years ago in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. I turned around and saw Ed Stiles' gray face. A twinkle in his eye indicated an excellent yarn. I used to be destined to fall down the rabbit hole.

Stiles didn't mind revealing the shiny shards of his bohemian rhapsody in a barstool reverie. But he reared up like a frightened stallion when he came upon I worked within the documentary department at MSNBC in New York. He didn't want ghost town raiders turning his secret retreat deep in Muir Woods right into a counterculture Disneyland.

Stiles lives in Druid Heights. Now largely a ghost town in Muir Woods, it was once a counterculture haven. When the Pacific fog rolls in, it looks just like the set of a fantasy film.

It is just not shown on any map. But it’s the place, some say, where hot tubs were invented and hedonistic parties dominated the nights. Early LSD experiments also took place there. But it was also a spot where Zen intellectuals and LGBTQ+ activists took root, from which movements developed.

One of the founders, Roger Somers, was an achieved saxophonist, rogue architect and larger-than-life hedonist. He jammed in Druid Heights with Dizzy Gillespie, Carlos Santana and other music legends. The Doobie Brothers and the Eagles played on the lawn.

The other founder, the fearlessly sapphic author Elsa Gidlow, published America's first volume of openly lesbian love poems.

It was a mecca for artists, writers, poets, filmmakers, media innovators, woodworkers, hobbyists and others who lived in cabins, sheds, RVs and fantasy-inspired homes. Somers, a visionary builder, erected what he called “rickety, wobbly” buildings in Druid Heights. While the members of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young became superstars, two of them found the craftsmen of Druid Heights. Somers designed a sexually charged Art Nouveau coach for Neil Young. Stiles made Graham Nash-inspired, organic furniture and music studio furnishings.

Over three many years, starting within the late Nineteen Fifties, Druid Heights was a chessboard of rotating characters: the kings, queens and pawns of the California counterculture – all the time moving, all the time changing.

Residents were central figures in Beat poetry, Zen philosophy, goddess worship, the Summer of Love, the San Francisco Sound, Woodstock, sex staff' rights, LGBTQ+ consciousness, and the equal rights movement. The “King of the Beats,” Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Gary Snyder, lived here within the Dragon House. He was the thinly disguised Japhy character in Jack Kerouac's 1958 book “The Dharma Bums.” Sex employee rights activist Margo St. James was living with Somers in Druid Heights when she founded San Francisco's infamous Hooker's Ball.

But it took him three years to persuade Stiles to open the pages of his story.

Previous media reports have focused on “celebrity” resident Alan Watts, whose books, lectures and videos on Zen Buddhism – e.g. B. “The Way of Zen” – San Francisco and all of America were thrilled. Watts lived between the Vallejo houseboat he shared with narrator Jean Varda in Sausalito and Druid Heights, where he had a library. He was a friend of the Beats, Timothy Leary and essential Zen intellectuals.

But Stiles is the last man standing. When he dies, Druid Heights, its buildings and its history will fall into the hands of the National Park Service. The National Park Service acquired Druid Heights as eminent domain in 1977. Residents without property were evicted. Houses were abandoned. Stiles, a landowner, was given a life plot.

Druid Heights is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. But that may't stop it from disappearing.

It currently sits at the top of a mud road that is just not closed to traffic – a road that’s continuously and currently washed out. Stiles, mentally nimble but physically not, has to park on the treacherous dirt road and hike to his house.

“The failure of the (road) in last winter's rain may well be the defining element, the 'element in the closet,' so to speak, that gives the National Park Service the excuse to simply let Druid Heights fall back to earth.” All there , my vehicles, my workshop, my lumber, my house, and my personal belongings, is basically caught on the “wrong side” of the abyss, rendering them immediately worthless except to future thieves willing to take a chunk of it “To drag you out along the paths down the valley below,” he told me.

Not many individuals feel as strong a connection to “place” as Stiles does to Druid Heights. He lived in a counterculture vortex. It fascinated him, beguiled him and ultimately broke his heart. But his deep connection to his forest paradise was not interrupted.

“I sometimes feel like a coward for surrounding myself with peace and wonder, but I even have decided to live with my guilt, do my best to depart a small mark, and proceed to be smaller and smaller tributaries from the mainstream “To paddle up until, well, you know,” he told me.

Making a documentary is like climbing a rock slide. You dodge, weave and adjust your stance as each interview reveals surprises, recent characters, unexpected events and recent angles to explore. The Mill Valley Public Library became a vital resource. The great thing about the library and its redwood setting made it a remarkable place to work. One of Stiles' heroes, Bolinas furniture maker Art Carpenter, was hired to make the furniture for the library. The library's oral histories of former residents of Druid Heights and Mill Valley provided the context for the non-public interviews I conducted. I discovered that the tapestry of time, 30 years, interwoven with changing characters and events, created a fancy picture of Druid Heights. The story is filled with faulty memories, surprises and hidden explosives. So it's all the time a balancing act putting the puzzle together.

For me, the story of Druid Heights is an unconventional rhapsody. But for me it's not a ghost town. It's alive, a Shangri-La with colourful characters, ugly warts, wonderful “wobbles” and a magical wildness. Like music in your heart, in your head it never stops. It's alive.

“Three-quarters of philosophy and literature are about people trying to convince themselves that they really like the cage they’ve been lured into.” – Gary Snyder, former Druid Heights resident, Zen monk and Pulitzer -Prize winners

• Details: “Lost in Time: Druid Heights” will likely be shown as a part of the Mill Valley Film Festival on Friday at 1 p.m. on the Lark Theater in Larkspur. While the screening is sold out, tickets could be purchased on the box office. For more information, see mvff.com/program/lost-in-time-druid-heights.

Originally published: October 8, 2024 at 5:13 am

A rocket attack that 12 children killed while playing football on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on July 27, 2024, has sparked international concern that the Middle East conflict could spread to the disputed territory.

Israel has accused the Lebanese militant group Hezbollahand the country has already carried out retaliatory strikes and more are expected.

To explain the importance of the Golan Heights and the importance of the recent attack, The Conversation turned to Mireille Rebeiza scholar of Lebanese studies and chair of Middle Eastern studies at Dickinson College.

What are the Golan Heights?

The Golan Heights are positioned in southwestern Syria and consist of 1,200 square kilometers of mostly rocky hills with views of Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.

Today, over 40,000 people live there. More than half are Arab Druze, including the community within the small town Majdal Shams – the positioning of the most recent attack. Many of them discover as Syrian residents and refuse to simply accept Israeli citizenship. The rest are Jewish settlers, most of whom got here to the world after it was occupied by Israel greater than half a century ago.

Can you tell us concerning the history of this career?

In June 1967, after the Six-Day War Located between Israel and three of its Arab neighbours – Syria, Egypt and Jordan – the Golan Heights, together with East Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula, fell under Israeli occupation.

This prompted the United Nations Security Council to adopt Resolution 242which called for Israel's withdrawal from all occupied territories. It also called for “the cessation of all claims and states of war, and respect and recognition of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of all states in the region and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized borders free from threats or acts of violence.”

In 1973, Syrian troops recaptured the Golan Heights in a surprise attackbefore Israel's counterattack recaptured the Golan Heights. Israel withdrew from some Syrian territories. However, it refused to return the Golan Heights, insisting that it will only achieve this after signing a peace treaty with Syria.

A 12 months later, Syria and Israel signed a Ceasefire agreementthrough which each countries agreed to a ceasefire and the deployment of a United Nations observer to keep up the ceasefire.

On 14 December 1981, eight years after the signing of the ceasefire agreement, the Israeli Knesset passed the Law on the Golan Heightsthereby extending Israeli jurisdiction over the region. In other words, it annexed the Golan Heights.

The United Nations Security Council responded by unanimously adopting Resolution 497It declared the appliance of Israeli law to the Golan Heights illegal and called on Israel to reverse its decision.

What is the present status of the Golan Heights?

Under international law, the annexation of the territory stays illegal. Therefore, the Golan Heights remain occupied territory, no matter Israeli law.

There were some attempts to barter an answer. In 2000, Israeli, Syrian and US delegations met met in West Virginia for this purpose. However, the talks led to nothing.

Since then, the status of the Golan Heights has faded into the background as events elsewhere within the region demanded more attention: First, a provocative visit by former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem in 2000 sparked Palestinian protests that became the Second Intifada, or rebellion. A war followed in 2006 between Hezbollah and Israel.

Then, on March 25, 2019, US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation the annexation of the Golan Heights and its recognition as Israeli territory. Echoing Israeli arguments, the proclamation identified that control of the Golan Heights was essential “in order to [Israel’s] Security from external threats”, particularly from “Iran and terrorist groups, including Hezbollah”.

If the Golan Heights is occupied Syrian territory, why is Lebanon involved?

Hezbollah is just not only an ally of Iran, but additionally has a sophisticated but recently close relations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assadwho’re intervening within the country's civil war on behalf of the Assad regime. The Lebanese militants see themselves as allies of Syria within the dispute with Israel over the Golan Heights.

To further complicate matters, Lebanon and Hezbollah are embroiled in a long-running conflict that brings them into conflict with each Israel and Syria. The conflict centers on an area on the northern end of the Golan Heights. called Shebaa Farms.

Israel claims that the Shebaa Farms are a part of the annexed Golan Heights. After appointing cartographers, the United Nations announced that the Shebaa Farms are positioned on Syrian territory. Assad claimed in 2011 that the country belonged to Syria.

Despite these claims, Hezbollah continues to assert that the Shebaa Farms area is Lebanese territory and that Lebanon has the appropriate to withstand the Israeli occupation there.

Why is the region considered vital?

The Golan Heights are viewed by Israel as an important strategic outpost.

The elevated rocky plateau allows Israel to watch Syrian activities and presumably repel any act of aggression from Syria or Iran by Hezbollah, supported by TehranSince occupying the world, Israel has installed listening stations and military bases.

At the identical time, the fertile land and other features of the Golan Heights make it a useful asset. It is known for its vineyards and other agriculture. And the world has wide access to water through the Jordan, the Yarmuk and the Sea of ​​Galilee. In fact, Israel has a chronic water deficiencyconsumes most of its limited renewable water reserves and Use of additional water resources from occupied land.

Is an attack on the Golan Heights unusual?

Although the Golan Heights have often been caught within the crossfire between Israel and Hezbollah, this latest attack undoubtedly represents an escalation of violence. And the incontrovertible fact that children were among the many victims makes it all of the more shocking.

It needs to be noted that Hezbollah has been firing rockets into northern Israel in support of the Gaza Strip since Israeli retaliation following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

Israel and the United States each have accused Hezbollah of the attack on the Golan Heights on July 27, 2024. Hezbollah, for its part, has denied any responsibility.

There are at the very least two ways to interpret this attack, if Hezbollah was indeed responsible. One possibility is that the militant group misjudged the eye the attack would attract from the international community. Although Hezbollah fighters perform attacks in northern Israel on an almost day by day basis, the group has – thus far – seemed careful to not go too far and provoke a full-scale Israeli response or a reason for further US involvement.

An alternative explanation is that Hezbollah deliberately targeted these children to send a message to Israel, suggesting that Hezbollah is willing and in a position to start a war on a dormant front: the Golan Heights in Syria.

What are the results of the attack?

The consequences of a deliberate provocation by the Iran-backed Hezbollah might be serious and there’s a risk that the present conflict could escalate right into a conflagration throughout the region.

To prevent such a scenario, the US, France and other countries called for immediate de-escalation within the region.

If these calls are ignored and the Israeli forces respond with force – thereby frightening an escalation with Hezbollah – then I imagine the results of the attack on Majdal Shams might be devastating.

Since the attack on October 7, greater than 95,000 people were displaced in southern Lebanon and 60,000 in northern Israel consequently of shelling by either side.

If the intensity of the conflict and the extent of violence used increase, the geographic focus could expand to incorporate more villages and towns. And external actors similar to Iran could openly enter the war.

Such an escalation is in nobody’s interest.

Follow live coverage of the primary day of the Open 2024 from Royal Troon today

TROON, Scotland — Every day the questions got here, one after the opposite, and Scottie Scheffler got mad about whether he would go away the Masters while his wife was in labor with their first child. The entire week revolved around this emotional turning point in his life. People and Us Weekly followed it like celebrity gossip. Here at, we even wrote a story about how Scheffler took the lead Saturday night without his wife, Meredith, by his side.

The baby's due date was just one month away.

When Bennett was finally born in May, an ESPN reporter ambiguously announced the news with the hashtag #babyborn. The PGA Tour made the announcement on its website. Scheffler's arrival this week on the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, was like a royal appearance.

Scottie Scheffler's life is suddenly very different. A golfer once considered boring, unexciting and mediocre has someway gone from being a extremely good golfer to being incredibly famous. A player who talked greater than anyone else on Tour in regards to the importance of keeping golf and life separate – in regards to the fundamental must stay grounded despite success and generational wealth – is now the focal point. His injuries and equipment changes make headlines. His family is fodder for the tabloids. A bizarre arrest in Louisville made him a world fascination. His rare weeks when he finishes outside the highest 10 in a significant are treated like disasters.

Scheffler was the world's No. 1 golfer for 96 of the last 121 weeks. But it wasn't until 2024 that he became a superstar.

“It was definitely a little more difficult,” Scheffler said on Tuesday before the Open Championship at Royal Troon. “I think I'm definitely continuing to play better this year – especially in tournaments, I think there's just a lot more happening from day to day. I think I almost had to get more into it, just keep working on my calmness so that it's really restful.”

Scheffler has all the time tried hard to maintain his life small. He has some big sponsorship deals, but they’re minimal in number. He doesn't post his life on social media. He stays away from his phone for a remarkable period of time overall.

And before this 12 months, that was all nice. He was No. 1 on this planet. He was the 2022 Masters champion. But he was the fifth most famous player in his sport. He might be normal. Ignore an occasional interview? No big deal. Not sign a contract for a fan? Oh well, he wants more other people anyway.

But beyond elevating his game to recent levels in 2024, something has noticeably modified. He's won six major tournaments in his last 10 starts, including his second Masters green jacket in April. Conversations around major championships have develop into, “Who's your favorite, you know, other than Scottie?” And while his galleries were solid but unremarkable a 12 months ago, Scheffler now has the largest fan base alongside Tiger Woods, as fans need to see history made.

A certain sense of responsibility is now evident in his public appearances. He seems to have understood that.

“It's a pretty cool feeling to make someone's day by signing an autograph or taking a picture,” Scheffler said. “It's a pretty fun feeling. I try to capitalize more on that side of it than not being able to sign everyone's autograph. People get upset because you can't get a hold of them all day. That's not a nice feeling. I try to capitalize more on making someone's day by signing something or taking a picture.”

It's fascinating how this has slowly developed. It's really easy to forget that his pre-tournament press conference on the Players Championship in March was stuffed with questions on how unfamous he was and why, for some reason, he hadn't made as much of an impact as other big stars.

But something happened within the second round that week. He had won the Arnold Palmer Invitational the week before with a brand new putter, and there was increasing talk of how unstoppable he could be with a greater green shot. Then, that Friday, Scheffler injured his neck barely and needed to be massaged before every tee shot for several holes. Suddenly, a few dozen reporters from the media center rushed to catch him on the back nine. It was urgent. It was covered in a way that golf injuries are almost never covered. Of course, he got here back from behind and won.

His four-shot victory on the Masters was treated as a given. He had Tiger-like odds as a 4-1 favorite, while his week was continually dominated by the arrival of his son. His greatness took on a brand new tone.

But it was that strange, horrific day in Louisville that took Scheffler over the Rubicon. When Scheffler was slammed right into a automobile and arrested before the second round of the PGA Championship, it was a viral, lightning-fast moment. By the time he teed off, hours after his prison sentence, fans had “Free Scottie” T-shirts and were buying prisoner costumes in support. They were for him, and all due to one freak incident.

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 16, 2024

Since that Masters victory, he has won three more times. When he finished forty first on the US Open in June – his first time in 2 1/2 years ending outside the highest 25 at a significant – it was met with concern.

So how does someone who places such importance on living a quiet life outside of golf cope with this recent level of attention and be certain that it doesn't affect his profession?

“I think that's something my wife and I are constantly working on,” Scheffler said. “What does recovery look like when we're home and resting? It doesn't necessarily mean sitting there watching TV. We do a lot of different things to get good rest so that when we get back on the road and playing and doing things, I have the energy to compete. I have the energy – really the social energy to go out and interact with the fans and do stuff like that, sit in the media center.”

This is where Scheffler now lives, for higher or for worse. He is an envoy now. He is a celeb. He has responsibilities and expectations. And sometimes meaning strange interactions with strangers who recognize him.

“There are always some funny ones because I think sometimes people don't know exactly what to say and they can be a little weird sometimes,” he said, laughing.

This week at Royal Troon, Scheffler will attempt to cap a historic 12 months. He has the prospect to develop into the primary golfer since Arnold Palmer in 1962 to win seven tournaments up thus far in July, and a second major in 2024 would show just how great he has been.

So, yes, Scheffler has finally accepted that he's famous. He admits that his life is different and that's not going to vary. But don't expect Scheffler to clarify why people love him.

“I can't tell you,” said Scheffler with a smile. “You'd have to ask yourself.”