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Shroom Empire
Myco Matrix




Registered: 12/26/07
Posts: 1,365
Loc: Plugged In
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Rainbow Family warned to leave Forest campsite
#8017112 - 02/13/08 11:04 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Rainbow Family warned to leave Forest campsite
BY JOE VANHOOSE STAR-BANNER OCALA NATIONAL FOREST - Hundreds of Rainbow Family members started gathering deep inside the Ocala National Forest last week. Many who found their way down Paisley Road to a sandy path around a little spot called Duck Pond - some 10 miles south of State Road 40 - might have seen a notice posted high on a pine tree.
"This is an ILLEGAL gathering of 75 persons or more without a permit," the notice put up by the U.S. Forest Service reads. "The max penalty is six months in prison and/or a $5,000 fine."
But Monday came and went, and the Rainbow Family remained, determined not to give up the government land they settled on.
"We've met here for 13 years, and now they're treating us like criminals," said a woman who identified herself by her Rainbow name, Indigo. She was keeping an eye out for any Forest Service Law Enforcement vehicles Monday afternoon.
Sure enough, three Forest Service sport utility vehicles pulled down the path around 2 p.m.
"Six-point-o rolling through the Rainbow land," she yelled out to alert her brethren.
A SIMPLER LIFE The Rainbow Family claims to be the largest non-organization of non-members in the world. Walking the pine-covered paths in the Ocala National Forest, the claim seems to be true. Old vans and cars with license plates from California and Ohio park next to a makeshift tent shading Carolinians and Virginians from the sun.
Senior citizens, college students and families sit around the same drum circle, building fires and playing guitars. Even infants and young children are here.
Why? "A lot of people are here for spiritual growth," said the Rev. James William Middlestadt, who started a chapter of Loving Light Ministries. "We come together to gain enlightenment."
"We're here to live simply, that's all," Loki said. "We want to be without the complexities of Babylon."
Complex their lives are not. Aside from drum beats and guitar strumming, silence surrounds the three-mile stretch of makeshift settlement that weaves its way through woods and meadows. There isn't a power line, strip of asphalt or alarm clock to be found.
The hippie-like group that professes love, the earth and mellow vibes, has at times run afoul of the law. Last year, a man was badly beaten at a campsite by a man known only as "Buddha." Arrests, sometimes on a large scale, have included charges involving drugs, nudity and traffic offenses, including driving under the influence.
The family communicates via walkie-talkies and exchanging shouts, but everyone seems to know what is happening from one end to the other - especially when law enforcement officers show up.
ILLEGAL GATHERING Many in the Rainbow Family have no plans of leaving Duck Pond, even if they get ticketed upward of $250 a day. A couple dozen in the family already have been ticketed for assembling illegally this week.
"As of right now, this is an illegal gathering," Forest Service Officer James Watson said to the group, many of whom answered with a chorus of "We love you." "If you are here when we come back, we will be issuing tickets."
Pat Tooley, the special uses administrator for the Forest Services, said a member of the Rainbow Family filed an application for a permit Monday morning. She drove the second Forest Service SUV as Rainbow Family members crowded around looking for an explanation.
"It's regulatory that a group of 75 or more requires a permit," Tooley said. "We have to make sure the land here does not get overused.
"That applies to anyone who comes into the National Forest. We will review the area for resource issues, but we have five areas designated for big groups. This isn't one of them."
Many in the Rainbow Family questioned officers on where the regulations and rules were posted.
"It's your responsibility to find out what's legal and what the rules are," Watson answered. "We have all the rules posted in our offices."
After Tooley left, Forest Service officers came back to inform everyone that they had been approved to assemble at Syracuse Island, about 20 miles north. All Rainbow Family members must leave Duck Pond by 4 p.m. today and make the pilgrimage to the new location.
That news and the officers were met with harmonizing choruses of John Lennon and Bob Marley songs. About 50 members banded together on fallen trees around the Forest Services vehicles, raising their connected hands high as they sang about peace and love.
"I have the constitutional right to assemble," said Juniper, who added this was her first gathering. "That's why I'm still here.
"They can write us tickets, but we don't need to leave. This is our home."
http://www.ocala.com/article/20080212/NEWS/802120331/1001/NEWS01
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marshalldylan1
Stranger


Registered: 11/09/06
Posts: 2,485
Last seen: 13 years, 1 day
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Re: Rainbow Family warned to leave Forest campsite [Re: Shroom Empire]
#8017224 - 02/13/08 11:39 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I've met a few people in the Rainbow family. They are nice people, they just leave them alone. They don't cause any problems, it's pointless to harass them.
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Shroom Empire
Myco Matrix




Registered: 12/26/07
Posts: 1,365
Loc: Plugged In
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Re: Rainbow Family warned to leave Forest campsite [Re: marshalldylan1]
#8017233 - 02/13/08 11:43 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Pisses me off that they're being run out of the Ocala National Forest. Florida is breaking Federal law by doing so, the Rainbow Family is an officially recognized tribe.
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georgeM
Human



Registered: 07/05/05
Posts: 1,748
Loc: Osage Cuestas
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Re: Rainbow Family warned to leave Forest campsite [Re: Shroom Empire]
#8017271 - 02/13/08 11:54 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Being run out of Ocala is a rite of passage. It's been happening for several years.  Personally, I would welcome being chased off from such a gathering, but that's just me... I like clean drinking water and all the amenities. That said, it is unfortunate the rainbow people are not being allowed to assemble...
Shroom Empire... what do you mean the Rainbows are a recognized tribe? Recognized by what body? Correct me if I'm wrong, but it isn't like they have sovereignty in the eyes of the federal government.
Edited by georgeM (02/13/08 12:02 PM)
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Alan Rockefeller
Mycologist


Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 48,276
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Re: Rainbow Family warned to leave Forest campsite [Re: georgeM]
#8017289 - 02/13/08 12:01 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
They can write us tickets, but we don't need to leave.
Its less about use of the land and more about power and control.
I have never been to a rainbow gathering, but I like their attitude. They never do give in to injustice.
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Shroom Empire
Myco Matrix




Registered: 12/26/07
Posts: 1,365
Loc: Plugged In
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Re: Rainbow Family warned to leave Forest campsite [Re: georgeM]
#8017336 - 02/13/08 12:18 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
georgeM said: Being run out of Ocala is a rite of passage. It's been happening for several years.  Personally, I would welcome being chased off from such a gathering, but that's just me... I like clean drinking water and all the amenities. That said, it is unfortunate the rainbow people are not being allowed to assemble...
Shroom Empire... what do you mean the Rainbows are a recognized tribe? Recognized by what body? Correct me if I'm wrong, but it isn't like they have sovereignty in the eyes of the federal government.
They are an officially recognized tribe by the U.S. Government, no different, than the Navajo or Mohawk Tribe. I'll see if I can't locate the article on their federal recognition.
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Me_Roy
Stranger
Registered: 07/30/02
Posts: 3,230
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Re: Rainbow Family warned to leave Forest campsite [Re: Shroom Empire]
#8017771 - 02/13/08 01:46 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I have never been to a Rainbow Gathering, something that's unlikely to change. An acquaintance of mine has been to several. When I asked her what it was like, she replied, "A bunch of people sitting around, ruining the forest." I can imagine that such large gatherings do present erosion issues, if nothing else. Minor compared to something like a mining operation, no doubt, but enough to compromise the aesthetic of a place for weeks, maybe months to come. (I imagine a lot of corduroy-imprinted mud.)
I speculate, of course.
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Groomies
Ghost



Registered: 08/16/07
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Re: Rainbow Family warned to leave Forest campsite [Re: Shroom Empire]
#8017775 - 02/13/08 01:47 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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i think there is a law i learned in real estate class long time ago. where if you stay on a property for more then 5 years. its yours.
i remember this cause of a story my real estate teacher told me.
There was a building that has been abandon for over 5 years and homeless people been staying there. well one day some company decided to tear that building down and put up something else. well as they were kicking the bums out. a real estate lawyer happen to walk by and noticed what was going on. he went and talked to all the bums that was staying there. and help them sue that company and won. now that company has to build a path way on that property for the bums to walk through.
another thing my teacher told me. if someone pays for the property tax on your home for more then 3 years. the property become theres. for example. if i started paying for your property tax on your house for 3 years and you didn't pay anything. your house is now mine.
its been awhile since i took real estate but if anybody know what i'm talking about please add.
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georgeM
Human



Registered: 07/05/05
Posts: 1,748
Loc: Osage Cuestas
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Re: Rainbow Family warned to leave Forest campsite [Re: Groomies]
#8017813 - 02/13/08 01:57 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I think you are talking about the law of adverse possession. Plenty of information is available online if you want to look it up. There are certain stipulations that must be met for this to be applicable - notably a qualifying time period...
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Soularize
slanted and enchanted



Registered: 02/11/05
Posts: 1,178
Loc: United States
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Re: Rainbow Family warned to leave Forest campsite [Re: Shroom Empire]
#8017904 - 02/13/08 02:19 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Last year, a man was badly beaten at a campsite by a man known only as "Buddha."
lol
What's a violent asshole like that calling himself 'Buddha' for??? That's like if I called myself 'River' but didn't even know how to swim, or something.
silly hippies.
most of them are pretty cool people though.
-------------------- "All but one man died. There at Bitter Creek. And they say he ran awayyy." - A little show called Branded
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usg543
◕‿◕


Registered: 02/11/07
Posts: 5,192
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Re: Rainbow Family warned to leave Forest campsite [Re: Soularize]
#8018727 - 02/13/08 05:49 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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i've never heard of the rainbow family, interesting.
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rawtoxic
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Registered: 10/06/02
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Loc: smokey mountains
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Re: Rainbow Family warned to leave Forest campsite [Re: usg543]
#8018956 - 02/13/08 07:03 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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i've been to a rainbow gathering i was not very impressed with the free love etc it's sooo fake all these people kept asking me for money because I drove a nice truck that I worked hard to earn while all these people were living off rice and eat mad amounts of psychedelics. i also witnessed both parents of a down syndrome child dosed beyond being able to talk with there young child crying endlessly. a few other instances of white trashiness took away from the whole experience some of the spiritual leaders I spoke with did seem quite interesting individuals I must say though.
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Groomies
Ghost



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Re: Rainbow Family warned to leave Forest campsite [Re: rawtoxic]
#8019685 - 02/13/08 09:13 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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"adverse possession" thats the words i was looking for.
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johnm214



Registered: 05/31/07
Posts: 17,582
Loc: Americas
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Re: Rainbow Family warned to leave Forest campsite [Re: Groomies]
#8021909 - 02/14/08 10:59 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Although the Quiet Title Act permits lawsuits against the federal government to adjudicate disputed title to real property in which the United States claims an interest, it contains the prohibition that "[n]othing in this section shall be construed to permit suits against the United States based upon adverse possession." 28 U.S.C. § 2409a(n).
http://ca10.washburnlaw.edu/cases/2006/08/04-1331.htm
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archetype
Stranger



Registered: 03/16/07
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Loc: Missouri
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Re: Rainbow Family warned to leave Forest campsite [Re: johnm214]
#8022651 - 02/14/08 02:25 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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A buddy that i work with went to a rainbow family gathering. He said he brought a brown grocery bag filled with cereal and shit and they let him eat all of the mushrooms he wanted and hit their crazy weed. Even trade.
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