TROOPS MARCHING SOUTH ON BRANCIFORTE NEAR WATER STREET IN THE EARLY MORN OF 1890'S. These troops who were part of the California State Militia were stationed at Camp Stoneman. Jose Vincent De Laveaga was born in Sinaloa, Mexico, educated in Europe, and died in 1894. He was a wealthy San Franciscan and his park had a zoo, trails, vista points and exotic trees. He gave the land to the city and county in 1893 according to Don Clark's book, Santa Cruz County Place Names. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection, click for bigger version. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

DON'T FORGET ABOUT TIM EAGAN. Scroll, or better yet, read all the way to the end of this column, and every new column, to read cartoonist/satirist Tim Eagan's colorful view of what's happening in Iraq. Thanks for your responses; I too have been an admirer of Tim's work for decades.

THE REAL HARVEY WEST. Paul Dragavon wants us to know there is more about Harvey West, the park that we may have forgotten. He writes: "Oh, and the photo of the real Harvey West in last week's column reminds me that his greatest gift to the city, Harvey West Park was accepted by the city sometime in the 1940s, at a controversial city council meeting. By a vote of 4-3 the council finally accepted the free land in spite of the fears that it would cost too much to maintain". Thanks Paul, I wonder if our present City Council would accept Harvey West Park as rapidly as they went for The Coast Hotel development? I doubt it.

BOARDWALK TAXES. As previously mentioned (for about 30 years) there has been no reply from any body on how much taxes, and what kind of taxes the Boardwalk pays to the city annually. I'll bet that we could find out how much taxes Costco pays or Border's but not the Boardwalk. Why is that? NOW Let's see a show of hands from everybody who thinks the city should stop paying John Barisone $1.5 million dollars annually to act as our city attorney and create a city attorney staff position instead. That would help solve a lot of our monetary budget shortfall right there.

THOSE BOARDWALK NIGHTIME FLASHES, THAT AREN'T SO HOT. Here's an entire email I received about those camera flashes emanating from the Boardwalk that are polluting our nighttime skies and that are bothering so many people.

"According to Kris Reyes, public relations guy from the Boardwalk, the pulses of extremely bright light are from a strobe used to make a flash for photographs on the log ride. Please encourage people to call him. I have spoken with him a number of times. He is very nice and responsive. Many neighbors from all over town have called to complain. It is really awful isn't it? However, he has made it clear that our needs as neighbors (we are in Seabright area) will be weighed against the needs of the photographic concessionaire. They won't consider closing the photography concession at night because that will make their patrons feel cheated??? They have tried a shield for the light but it apparently made it worse. He told me that they will continue to try different things (I have noticed no improvement). He said that the Boardwalk will be closed week nights starting in a week or so. He also says that next year they will move the light. Of course that may not improve the situation. Apparently the reason that this did not bother us before is that they did indeed change the light type or intensity this year. Anyway it's bloody bad. Its enough that we hear the Boardwalk and it lights up the sky. But a light pulse that illuminates the whole sky every 15 seconds or so. Please no! Give us a break.
"A very concerned neighbor".

This must solve the case, with once again the Boardwalk telling the neighborhood to shove it. Knowing the Boardwalk, there'll be more, and we'll get to it.

STOP STEALING THOSE F______ SIGNS! Scott Mac Clelland breathlessly sends in news from the UK about a small town in Austria named _ucking. It seems that this F------ town loses many signs. Read about it here, http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050828/wl_uk_afp/britainaustriaoffbeat, maybe we should repaint that ugly blue and yellow Santa Cruz sign, maybe somebody would steal that one?

SALLY CLARKS BENEFIT. Sally Clark is facing serious medical bills from her brain AND her spinal cancer. Sally's a long time Santa Cruzan and great photographer and she's got a lot of friends. Sista Monica and a bunch of her musical guests are going to headline a special benefit up in Ben Lomond on September 25 at 3 p.m. There's going to be a silent auction of art from our finest area artists and many bottles of fine wines will go on the block too. There'll be a SUMMER FEAST of foods from everywhere and a good time will be had by all. The Benefit will be at 595 Wente Avenue in Ben Lomond. Tickets are available at Curbside Coffee in front of Logos Books or call 336-2077

THE NEW CITY IN SAN BENITO? Developers are apparently swaying Benitoites to let them build a city in San Benito County. Click here to see Kate Woods's description of it in The Pinnacle newspaper. Margie Kay wanted you to see it and be very, very AFRAID.

A CALF NAMED SALLY ON PACIFIC. Wormy, proud owner of Curbside Coffee in front of Logo's Bookstore tells us: "Kirby Scudder made a "calf" named Sally, which is placed in the "calf-ee" extension area during business hours. It is attracting a tremendous amount of attention, and is highlighting both the event for Sally Clark's benefit in Ben Lomond and also for Kirby's Tannery project. It's really called "Have A Cow Benefit". It really is quite a hoot - and so far no one from the city has raised any objections. We are selling raffle tix for five bucks apiece at Curbside Coffee and some lucky tix holder will get a phone call on the night of the benefit (see above) that they have won Sally, the "mache moo". ALL proceeds from this event are going to help defray Sally's medical costs, which are heavily mounting. We hope to raise $20,000. Say a prayer for Sally, and her pending surgery".

BOWLERS NEEDED NOW! WomenCARE's 9th Annual Bowling Benefit more popularly known as STRIKE OUT AGAINST CANCER will happen Saturday, October 22nd at the Boardwalk Bowl. All levels and ages are invited to participate in this special fundraiser. This is not a competitive event, but rather a fun way to raise awareness while raising funds. Teams of 5 players, as well as individual players are encouraged to call and register. Team members will collect pledges and bowl one game. Prizes, trophies, a raffle and refreshments for everyone! WomenCARE is a local organization committed to providing advocacy, resources, education, and support to all women with cancer, their partners, families, friends and health practitioners throughout diagnosis, healing, surviving, or dying. All services are provided free of charge. Call to register a team or single player, or for info Bowling Hotline: 831-429-2244

CALIFORNIA COAST WATCHER. You need to read this website. It will tell you the latest news on what's happening to our California Coast AND who's doing what to stop development. This issue tells about no private beaches on any spot of our coast line. It tells about tidal lands and oil and gas drilling, it's an exciting, unnerving and must read site.http://www.coastwatcher.org/

WOLFGANG'S HOME AND WELL. It turned out OK, Wolfgang is back home recovering nicely, and is recovering from his three week withdrawal from political meetings.

ABOUT ARISTOCRATS, THE MOVIE, THE JOKE. Like critics around the U.S., I think The Aristocrats is a hilarious film. Go to the film's own website you'll see it plainly says the one joke told 100 times in the film, is about incest. Go to the New Yorker's last week review by David Denby or the N.Y. Times or Sundance Festival review; they all mention incest and say it's one of the funniest films ever made. Most of them also mention the dirty joke is about making fun of and getting laughs from any sexual taboo ever thought or dreamt of. One BrattonOnline reader took serious offense at my review. He wrote and said he was raped by his father when he was little and he didn't think the film was funny. He went to see The Aristocrats at the Nickelodeon and didn't think it was funny, and he got his money back. We've emailed several times, he wrote his own review. I certainly agree with him that being inside a theatre with everyone laughing at a problem you've tried to deal with all your life would not be fun. I told him I'd print his review, and he answered:

"Bruce, Please do. Domestic violence will only be minimized if people talk about it. For a man to raped by his father and talk about it... It was the most horrible experience of my life and to have to think about again, it could be said that I am not jumping-up-and-clicking-my-heels." A. Ward.

My big argument with Mr. Ward is why go see this film in the first place? It's clearly advertised that it's disgusting, offensive, and leading the long list of perversions in the film is almost always incest. But for the rest of you (who have certainly been warned) go see such comics as Eddie Izzard, Bill Maher, Drew Carey, Phyllis Diller, Tim Conway, Sarah Silverman, Chris Rock, Bob Saget, Jason Alexander, Don Rickles and dozens more. Read my critic's criticism here.

THE BROTHERS GRIMM REALLY IS! I don't think that director Terry Gilliam is capable of delivering more than 60 seconds of a story line without changing the flow of a film. It worked once in Brazil but Brothers Grimm is an exercise in total frustration. The story line is so unstrung and lacking sense, or even good fantasy, that the entire film is a waste of time. Such a pity too because of all the talent involved in it, and Matt Damon too.

ASYLUM. This is a Natasha Richardson film. She plays the lead role, and was the executive producer. The film is about being crazy and being in an asylum, or even...who is crazy? In spite of some blah reviews, you should see it because Ian McKellen and everybody else in it do a fine job of acting and it'll take your mind off Crawford, Texas.

NOVEMBER. Courtney Cox does as well as any actor could with this mess of a script. It tries to be a tricky, flashback, surreal, Memento type film but whew, does it miss. Stay home and read a book again like we used to, or go see The Aristocrats or Grizzly Man.

THE CAVE. If you've ever spelunked or had problems with prehistoric creatures or are claustrophobic or enjoy the truly great vintage scary films, don't see this one. Its only fun and the monsters even look like The Alien and so does the plot. Save your money.

JUNEBUG. Advance notice: both Morton Marcus and I are putting this marvelous film on our ten best lists for this year. I'd never read a word in advance, and was completely surprised at seeing this gem of humanity. It's about a British- born art gallery woman from Chicago who meets her new younger husband's family from North Carolina and has to deal with them, and vice versa. It's very much a red state film, and it goes way beyond that.

EXTRA SPECIAL DVD. I finally saw Masaki Kobayashi's 1962 film Hara Kiri, newly released with magnificent extras on the Criterion Collection. (Note; any film released as part of the Criterion Collection is excellent, just rent them). Hara Kiri is one of my best 2 or 3 Samurai films of all time and I've seen a lot of them. Actually Hara Kiri, (original title Seppuku) is about the early years of the Samurai tradition and is brutally critical of the way of the Samurai. Cedar Street Video has a copy of this or see if Netflix has it; don't miss it, unless you can't stand the sight of blood, a lot.

KZSC'S POLITICS OF SANTA CRUZ REALITY. John Sandidge is still at Burning Man so once again I'll be hosting his KZSC (88.1 FM) program this Thursday, Sept 1st from 7p.m. through 8:30 p.m. My guests will be Patricia Matejcek area activist from 7-7:45. We'll be discussing Arana Gulch, UCSC and the water problem, Desalinization and hyper brine dumping into the bay, and who's managing our Monterey Bay Sanctuary? Former mayor Christopher Krohn will be on from 7:45- 8:30 p.m. We'll be talking about The Boardwalk's illegal closing of the public access to the beach at gate six, and some other issues, probably Home Depot at 41st, Red Tree at Liptons, and things like that. Tune in.

MARGIE KAY REPORTS ON WATER SALES. Margie Kay, from Tri County News forwards this piece from the Monterey Herald. Water from any source is getting scarce, and as Felton knows all too well, who owns the water makes all the difference.

GARY PATTON'S WEEKLY WAKE UP CALL. See what Gary says about selling farmland, how it works and what to watch out for. He talks about water rights. He talks about planning transportation before development happens. In closing he discusses the cleaning up of Fort Ord and what to do on Labor Day.

SPEAKING OF LABOR DAY. Don't miss the annual NAACP Labor Day picnic in DeLeavaga park. It's good fun and you'll see all the politicians there. Don't bring lunch, buy super bar-b-que tickets there and have a good time while you're at it. Jeffery Smedberg relates that Channel 25 on Comm. TV and Channel 71 in Watsonville are showing a full day (9 am-8p.m.) of Labor Films on Monday. Most of them were shown at the Labor Film Fest last year but they're worth seeing again.

QUOTES. "We have all passed a lot of water since then." -Samuel Goldwyn. "Accuracy to a newspaper is what virtue is to a lady, except that a newspaper can always print a retraction." -Adlai Stevenson. "He had been kicked in the head by a mule when young, and believed everything he read in the newspapers." -George Ade.

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Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.

BOARDWALKS PLEASURE PIER IN 1953. Ah yes, note the 48 stars on the flags. This was taken in September of 53. It was also called the Electric Pier and was built in 1904. It was taken down in 1964 at the time they filled in the swimming plunges (pools) in the casino and made a miniature golf course instead. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection, click for bigger version. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

MARK MORFORD'S CHRONICLE COLUMN ABOUT SANTA CRUZ'S FUTURE. Judi Grunstra, Thomas Leavitt, and others sent in SF Chronicle's newest columnist Mark Morford's piece on what's happening to our cities. I saw it in the Chron too and it hits hard. It says exactly what many of us honestly believe is happening to Santa Cruz. It says what every Santa Cruz City Councilperson should have tattooed on the back of their hands. They need to memorize Morford's article, especially when they are deciding to cave in to some development scheme or be swayed by Ceil Cirillo's Redevelopment plans. Read it here, and let me know what you think http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2005/08/17/notes081705.DTL

NEW TIM EAGAN POLITICAL WEEKLY CARTOON STRIP. Only Santa Cruz newcomers might not know of Tim Eagan's art work. Tim's been drawing for many years and in the old days his comics were necessary reading in our better local weeklies. Now you can enjoy his color strip, Deep Cover every week as part of BrattonOnline.com. As we join the strip this week we are in Iraq with the troops, it's almost in the same vein as Bill Mauldin's WWII G.I. Joe and that too has become classical art. The cartoon is at the bottom of the column, but you can jump to it if you simply can't wait.

CHRISTOPHER KROHN WRITES ABOUT BOARDWALK'S ILLEGAL ACTION. Christopher Krohn, once Mayor of Santa Cruz, and about 20 of us gathered at what was once a public access to our beach last Friday. Only The Metro showed up to document what was happening. The Seaside Security guards took photos and we informed many pedestrians and collected many signatures to help our struggle to take back our stolen public access gate. Here's Christopher's article...

"As some of you already know, the Seaside Company illegally closed an important public access point to the beach some 5 years ago. Three years ago the Coastal Commission brought it to the Seaside Company's attention and demanded that they open the gate. The gate has remained closed and Seaside is now asking the Coastal Commission to allow it to take 2300 square feet more of a significant public thoroughfare area. This area is known to the Boardwalk as Walkway Number 6. It lies at the end of the trestle bridge which connects the Seabright and Lower Ocean Neighborhoods to the Main Beach (between E. Cliff and the Third Street parking lot.)

This issue was to be on the Coastal Commission agenda for August, but The Seaside Company asked that it be pulled. According to the Commission staff, every individual and agency has the right to pull something off the agenda once. The next meeting is in October. The local Coastal Commission staff has asked Seaside as a "good faith" gesture to open the gate immediately. The Seaside Company has declined in letters between the Commission staff and Seaside (Ted Whiting).

Many neighbors and members of this community would like to see this gate opened. Friends of the River and Public Access Now met down at the gate last Friday night at 5pm and gathered petition signatures to present to the Coastal Commission in support of the local Coastal Commission's staff recommendation that the gate be opened immediately. (There is a "cease and desist" order wending its way through Commission bureaucracy in SF, but will not be presented to the Commission itself until October.) The local Coastal Commission staff said gathering signatures is something the Commission pays great attention to. The public turnout proved that the community cares about keeping critical beach access points open to the public".
Chris Krohn.

MORE ON THE BOARDWALK. Christopher Krohn later emailed to ask why the Chief of Police, the former Chief of Police and the City Manager wrote letters to support the closure of our beach access. Did manager Dick Wilson have, or need, approval of the City Council to write such a letter? Go here to read the entire story on this Seaside Company illegal seizure and how bad it would be if they got to put in the turnstiles they are asking for. http://www.coastal.ca.gov/sc/8-2005-W7b.pdf

THOSE MYSTERIOUS BOARDWALK FLASHES. I'm still trying to get to the bottom of where on the Boardwalk territory the nighttime flashes are coming from. Apparently not from the top of the Double Shot ride. Neighbors see them, but two well trained spies I know went there at night and couldn't find the source. Stay tuned.

MARGIE KAY FORWARDS EMINENT DOMAIN NEWS. Margie Kay is a long time friend who lives near Elkhorn Slough. She writes for the Tri County News. I've asked her to help all of us be better informed on stuff happening around the rest of the Monterey Bay. We need to know these things; this world is getting NO, the Monterey Bay is getting smaller. Click here to read about eminent domain laws that are happening in Sacramento.

TWO WEEKS ON KZSC FM. John Sandidge is going to Burning Man and I'm taking over his radio program "Politics of Santa Cruz Reality" ;that's this Thursday, August 25 from 7-8:30 p.m. We'll be talking "All About Cuba" my guests will be Capt. Bill Burtch, Nancy Abbey, Ellen Farmer, and Dawn Gable. We'll cover everything from how to get to Cuba to Homeland Security's latest hassling of our local bus deliverers. The next week (Sept. 1st) we'll work on local issues like the Boardwalk, Lighthouse Field, Tidelands, or whatever is the hottest issue., maybe west side development?? That's KZSC fm 88.1 7-8:30p.m.

MARGIE KAY ABOUT RANCHO SAN JUAN. Once again, Margie Kay sends us newspaper articles, this time on the largest land development in the history of Monterey County. It's still smaller than the proposed 10,000 homes in Wilder Ranch development back in the 1970's, but read about it here.

RUSSIAN SPAM? I'm guessing that I'm not the only one receiving spam in Russian. We all know that millions are made by these spammers, but can any well meaning geek explain why, or how, spam generators could possibly make money from email offers in Russian?

SOCIALIST VIEWS ON IRAQ. David McReynolds forwarded this piece on Iraq. Click here to remember all of David's Socialist credentials and to read his thinking on what's going on in Iraq.

SILENCING OF PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS ON MISSION-WHY? Debbie Bulger, community activist, Safeway representative and Sierra Club editor, sent in this report on the newly silenced signals on Mission and how our blind community is reacting.

MARGIE KAY AND CITY DUMPS. Margie Kay does get around, in this forwarded article we can catch up on the problems our cities are having with old forgotten(?) burn dumps.

PAUL DRAGAVON AND THE NY TIMES RAIN ON BUSH'S PARADE. Paul Dragavon, now Paradise resident, is mad as hell about Prez Bush's plan to shift focus from Sept 11. Read this stunning NY Times editorial.

CORRECTION TIME. A City Council member told me that those tax figures I got from The Sentinel about how much city areas pay in taxes were misleading as far as the Boardwalk goes. Those reported taxes are only from the taxable items like tee shirts, souvenirs, and stuff like that. The City Councilperson said the Boardwalk pays way more than those taxes in entertainment taxes. So I said to this City Council person tell me how much the Boardwalk pays in taxes, because we can find out how much every other business pays in taxes. I have asked many, many Councilpersons to give us/me a total tax figure, they all say no problem and NEVER, NEVER has anyone ever been able to tell us how much the total amount of money in taxes the City receives annually from the Seaside Company. Why is that? You go ask anybody in city hall for a figure, send the responses to me, we'll print them here.

THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN. That's not me, I'm not 40! But I swear I am the only reviewer who didn't like this film. I thought it was awful. Then again, I don't like "cute" toilet humor, or homo jokes, or any joke in this entire film. It's crude where it could have been clever, it's dumb where it could have been cool or even sharp. So don't say I didn't warn you.

THE EDUKATORS. This German film, easily the best since Run Lola Run is about young people finding their political path through part of their lives. The plot is completely exciting and unpredictable. The acting is close to perfect and the ending couldn't be more surprising. See it by all means.

RED EYE. Just when you think you know what you're going to enjoy your self and have a good time when you see a Wes Craven flick, he goofs. If you expect a Scream IX or Nightmare on Elm Street XIC with Red Eye, you'll be sorry. Craven created about 2/5 ths of a scary movie here, but it falls all apart and you can write the ending faster than he could film it. We could use some more thrilling airplane films, but probably won't get them because they never get played on airlines and that's a significant source of income.

GRIZZLY MAN. I pleaded last week for you to go see Werner Herzog's brilliant and thought provoking Grizzly Man. Please see it. While you are watching think about Herzog's statement about mankind interfering with the animal's territory or world. Think about what we do while swimming with dolphins, think about keeping animals as pets, think about zoos, think about home aquariums, think about big commercial theme aquariums, and how many fish die so that some few may be put on display. But at any rate, go see Grizzly Man.

DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET. Peppers are beginning to really come in now, basil is looking good, this is about the peak of the season according to Nesh Dhillon market manager. Stone fruit will begin to trickle down starting now, and the tomatoes are great. The Capitola Market has 4 more weeks to go. The Live Oak market will run through Halloween. I forgot to ask Nesh about attendance levels but the last time he said there were many new faces and that UCSC students are learning about the joys of buying local. So that would still mean about 2500-3000 people every Wednesday from 2:30 to 6 p.m. are shopping at our Downtown Farmers Market. And what about that proposed parking garage where is that supposed to go...when and if started?

MANNY SANTANA, AL JOHNSEN AND HILDY BERNSTEIN OPENING PARTY WAS A BIG SUCCESS. The opening party was enormous, best guesses are around 250-300 art lovers. Friends saw friends they hadn't seen in years. Everybody saw art they never saw before, and food and wine flowed like food and wine always does at a Santana party. The exhibition and sale goes on all this week through Saturday and the prices are proper. Call them at the studio 459-0840 or better yet, stop by between noon and 5p.m. the studio is at 2565 B Mission street corner of Swift.

GARY PATTONS WEEKLY KUSP REPORT. Read all of Gary's KUSP Land Use Reports but be sure to read his report for Friday August 26. He quotes Wallace Stegner talking about the value of saving land. Anybody else remember Wallace Stegner's son Page's article in Esquire really knocking Santa Cruz? But at least he must have made good money doing so. Gary also deals with the provisions of Measure J and how it works.

QUOTES. "She got her looks from her father, he's a plastic surgeon." -Groucho Marx. "Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm schizophrenic, and so am I" -Frank Crow. "A woman went to a plastic surgeon and asked him to make her like Bo Derek. He gave her a lobotomy." -Joan Rivers.

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Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.

DEDICATION OF HARVEY WEST PARK on May 30, 1959. That's the real Harvey West on the right. I have no idea who's on the left. According to the best published Santa Cruz history book, Donald Clark's "Santa Cruz County Place Names". Harvey was born in Soquel in 1894, was former owner of the Capitola Garage. After serving in WW1, he started the Placerville Lumber Company. He died in 1979, and he left lots to the city. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection, click for bigger version. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

BOARDWALK ONLY NUMBER 4 IN TAX PRODUCING AREAS? According to Sunday's Sentinel the Boardwalk/Wharf area ranks only number four in Santa Cruz's top tax producing areas. Eastside is Number 1 @ $513,000, Downtown is #2 @ $270,000, Mission Street is #3 @ 161,000 and the Boardwalk/Wharf area is #4 @ $150,000. You'd think with 2 million visitors per year the Boardwalk would bring in more than that. Those figures came from the City Manager's office, and were based on third quarter sales for 2004. The important revelation here is that the Boardwalk taxes aren't that big a deal, and if Charley Canfield can't make any more money than that from the Boardwalk, we should declare it blighted and scout around and find someone else to run it. Or just shut it down and have a wonderful city beach like Santa Barbara. I would truly miss the Boardwalk, but business is business.

CUBA BUS TRIPPERS GET OFFICIAL TREASURY DEPT. LETTERS. Bill Burtsch, boat captain and the main driver of the Santa Cruz Bus to Cuba, told me Monday that every one of the 120 Americans who went to Cuba on the last Pastors for Peace Caravan just got official letters from J. Robert McBrien, associate director of Investigations and Enforcement of Foreign Assets Control. The three page letters ask a wild array of questions about each individual's part in their last Cuba visit. Who paid for the trip? What did you buy? Where did you stay? Who were your travel companions? Etc, etc. All questionnaires are being sent to Pastors for Peace and they'll get legal advice and we'll see what happens. Nothing was confiscated at the border when our heroes returned. During the more than four hours of formal questioning the Homeland Security people were very polite but annoyed, Burtsch says. More later.

UPDATE ON BUS LOAD OF COMPUTERS FOR CUBA. All the boxes with donated computers and parts were not allowed to cross the border into Mexico. The authorities said "the computers could be used in defensive military maneuvers" or some such b.s. At the moment the computers and boxes are in the bus Santa Cruzans donated and painted. The bus, which obviously didn't get to Cuba yet, is touring Texas and heading to Washington, D.C. to spread the word about Bush's idiotic border policy.

RANCHO SAN JUAN. This sure isn't a NIMBY issue for Santa Cruzans, but we need to be aware of what's happening over on the other side of the Bay. Rancho San Juan development will contain what is being called a "sustainable new village" by its developers. That means they want to put in 4,100 homes, an 18 hole golf course, a town center called Butterfly Village and about 13,000 people. It'll take up nearly 2,581 acres, and it's on Highway 101 north of Boronda turnoff. It's not as large as the 10,000 homes developers wanted to put in at Wilder Ranch just north of Santa Cruz back in the '70's (an attempt that we defeated), but it looks like the developers and other local greedies have greased many Monterey County supervisors and there is a real battle going on over there. I'm working on getting any and all late breaking news on Rancho San Juan. It could, and probably will, happen here again.

GARY PATTON'S KUSP WEEKLY LAND USE REPORTS. Click here to read Gary's take on Monterey Bay land use issues for the week. He talks about City Council meetings on site, Rancho San Juan, a horrible assault on our earth, Scotts Valley on housing and local growth problems and decisions, and the importance of going to land use meetings. Yes, Gary promises to continue his weekly reports when he shifts to Sacramento.

SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL CHANGE. I'd heard that Dave Regan was leaving the Santa Cruz Sentinel as their president and publisher quite a while back. Then we heard that The Sentinel was looking for a replacement. It must be near official that Molly Evans, the present General Manager, will be the new Publisher and president starting January 1st, 2006. Rumors have it that several staffers are looking forward to some big changes in the good old Senile; changes that are long overdue.

WAMM TO PRESENT PAUL KRASSNER AND ROBERT ANTON WILSON. If this were a perfect world Paul Krassner would be the official scribe laureate of Santa Cruz. Krassner was one of the first writing wits to wake us up to the political reality of our USA. His "The Realist" publication kept us all believing that some kind of future may be possible. Paul, who also is great in The Aristocrats, will be here on Friday night Sept. 9th at 8 p.m. with Robert Anton Wilson. This is a fund raiser for Wo/Mens Alliance for Medical Marijuana (WAMM). It'll be at a private residence, and there'll be wine, hors d'oeuvres, and laughing so call 425-0580 for information on the chance to hear and meet these two guys. Krassner will also be at the annual WAMM fest in San Lorenzo Park along with Sleepy John from KPIG on Saturday Sept. 10. Order tickets securely via Paypal from the WAMM website at www.wamm.org or Call 425-0580 for ticket information and reservations. More details to follow.

RUTH HUNTER SENT THIS IN; SHE TITLES IT "LEST WE FORGET". The Collateral Damage statue at the Town Clock in Santa Cruz that was created by E.A Chase in 1995 is a reminder of past wars, of civilians who died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Today, it also serves as a symbol for thousands who are injured in the Iraq war. These include soldiers and Iraqis, many victims from the bombs and bullets that have been raining down on civilians since March, 2003. Their lives have become statistics.

Cindy Sheehan, mother of Casey killed in Iraq, refuses to accept that her son is another statistic. Her voice, outside President Bush¹s Crawford Ranch, is the American conscience. She questions why over 1800 of our promising men and women are lying in coffins, their future robbed? She is searching for a rational, for answers as she speaks for many.

It is also time to speak about the statistics that define our injured soldiers. This national tragedy is dragging the soul of America into a quagmire. Statistics are cold facts. They are easily forgotten. But they never can be forgotten by over 13,000 men and women soldiers who have been injured--paralyzed, blinded by landmines, suffering loss of limbs, trapped into post traumatic shock. The war experience has been a searing lonely one for many when they return to civilian life--an experience they cannot share with family and friends. It is a high price to pay for serving the US in an illegitimate war that has left veterans with scars, statistics in the Defense Department.

Collateral damage is the ultimate tragic impact on soldier and civilian alike. If one just visualizes children damaged from the frightening sounds of "Shock and Awe", a terror their parents could never explain to little ones. The Bush Administration has been bringing a strange brand of democracy to Iraq, one that has left thousands dead and many more injured. In the words of Arundhati Roy, well-known India writer, "The assault on Iraq is an assault on all of us: on our dignity, our intelligence, and our future". It is time to stop counting statistics; it is time to end collateral damage; it is time to bring the troops home". The next time you see Ruth tell her how much you appreciated her writing.

MANNY SANTANA, AL JOHNSEN AND HILDY BERNSTEIN TO HAVE A SPECIAL ART EXHIBITION AND SALE. To have a chance to see works by these three artists all at once, is a once only time. They'll be having their big opening (which is really a party) this Saturday (August 20) from 4-9 p.m. Everybody is invited Al Johnsen, who taught at UCSC from 1967 through 1981 and now lives in Gig Harbor, Washington, is bringing down about 20 new paintings including his version of Norman Rockwell's Four Freedoms. Hildy Bernstein's paintings run the gamut from figurative storm skies to hot brutal politics. And she'll have about 20 of her latest works there. Manny Santana currently has a major show of his paintings being exhibited by the Mexican Government in many big cities in Mexico. The Government of Spain has invited him to bring his paintings over there on exhibit too. These three don't fool around, well, yes they do, and they even call themselves the Ketel Three, if you catch their drift. Their exhibition and sale will be up Sunday August 21st through Saturday August 27 noon to 5 p.m. The exhibition is at Manny's Studio 2565B Mission Street at Swift and Mission. Mission runs parallel to highway One. If you can't make the sale, call 459-0840, and make an appointment. I'll meet you at the reception.

THE ARISTOCRATS. The title is the punch line to one of the funniest, most disgusting jokes ever created. The joke has been around for decades, but only circulated amongst comics. Some film makers made a documentary of 100 of the greatest comics of our time, all telling their version of this vile, hilarious joke. George Carlin, Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Bill Maher, Bob Saget, Sarah Silverman, Jon Stewart, Don Rickles, Paul Krassner, Gary Owens, Eddie Izzard, Eric Idle, Drew Carey, Phyllis Diller, Shelley Berman, and dozens more jokers tell the Aristocrat joke and you'll hurt yourself laughing. Go to www.thearistocrats.com, but go see this film too. Like they say, no nudity, no violence, just unspeakable obscenity.

GRIZZLY MAN. This is a Werner Herzog documentary and that should tell you that it's a wonderful film. It's about Timothy Treadwell, a strange guy who's obsessed with living with and protecting Grizzly bears in Alaska. Herzog made it from footage that was left by the guy after the bears ate him. I met Doug Peacock author of The Grizzly Years and the model for Hayduke in Ed Abbey's Monkey Wrench Gang. He was/is very similar to the hero of Grizzly Man, and has a thing about Grizzlys. Doug could face a grizzly but couldn't eat dinner with some close friends without losing it. Go here to read more about Grizzlys and books about the people who love them. http://www.ttgapers.com/ttStore-index2-asin-0805045430.html and go to the theatre and see how a master like Herzog makes a film.

A SKELETON KEY. Kate Hudson does as much as she can with this ancient "don't open the door" scare film script. Gena Rowlands has never been my favorite actor and she barely makes it through this predictable plot. John Hurt doesn't say anything here, but he looks like he's supposed to. Wait and rent this.

FOUR BROTHERS. Mark Wahlberg is the only Hollywood name in this cast. There are moments of interest and potential but this film gets dull, and old fast. It's based on the old western film The Sons of Katie Elder according to Roger Ebert. Sons of Katie was a much better film. Avoid this one.

THE GREAT RAID. Few movie goers may remember it but John Wayne's Back to Bataan covered the same World War 2 action. It's the time in the Philippines before MacArthur came back and the Americans worked with the local Philippine troops to do a major rescue of American soldier prisoners. The acting is miserable, the movie is dull, the photography is great, but don't go anyway.

WHERE'S WOLFGANG? If you missed Wolfgang Rosenberg at your last meeting,(and everybody except Hitler misses Wolfgang) it's because he had a heart valve replacement and there have been some minor problems in him jumping up and ranting lately. So send good thoughts, or white lights, or blue lights, or incense smoke his way, and he'll be back ASAP.

BUMPER STICKERS. Sandy Davis emails this bumper sticker report: "I'm sure you're already aware of the cool bumper sticker that I got at the woman's shop on Cedar. I now have it proudly on my Honda Civic: "Osama (heart) your SUV" as well as the other one I've got next to it, which I bought at the flea: "Well behaved women seldom make history." Thanks for your good work! Sandy Davis.

QUOTES. Constant reader Gunilla Leavitt sent this one. "When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President. Now I'm beginning to believe it." -Clarence Darrow

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Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.

THE SEA BEACH HOTEL. According to John Chase's book, The Sidewalk Companion to Santa Cruz Architecture (Paper Vision Press, 1979) "the Sea Beach Hotel was the premier hotel of Beach Hill in the greatest glory as an Oceanside resort". It started as a two story building called the Ocean View House, it became three stories in 1877 and was renamed the Douglas House. Then D.K. Abeel made the 30 room structure into a 150 room main building. Either G.W. Page or Daniel Damkroeger was the architect, who knows for sure? The Sea Beach Hotel opened in May 1890. It burned down at 3:30am the morning of June 12, 1912. The Casa Blanca Motel and Apartments sit here now. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection, click for bigger version. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

BOARDWALK VERSUS THE CITY. Never before in recent history has the Boardwalk had such a loving, supportive Santa Cruz City Council to help grease their money grabbing plots and plans. This City Council has been giving Canfield's Seaside Corporation everything he wants. That's why the Seaside Corporation is suing the city at this time, Canfield knows the Council will bend over forwards and give in, rather than take the proper and aggressive stances to fight for our city's fair treatment. Canfield wants to expand, and add more rides. I'm betting his long range (but not too long) plan is to enclose the Boardwalk entirely, like all other theme parks, so that he can charge admission fees not just ride fees, and keep beach goers from traipsing through "his property" to their beach. His closing of the east end of the Boardwalk with a fence, and no permits, and revealing he wants two turnstiles added at that far gate is the first step towards complete enclosure. So far the City is helping Charlie's keep that fence. On another money driven plot...there's not a hope in hell that our City Council would ever ask the Seaside Corporation to pay the same entertainment tax that every other business in town pays. There's about an equal chance that the Boardwalk will ever be subject to paying a fair amount of rent on our most sought after property. Santa Cruz, and every other city in the state, is hurting from having no money to run the city. The most honest and deserving solution is to force The Boardwalk and its more than 2 million visitors every year to be fair and pay their share of what it costs the City to support the Seaside Corporation.

ADDENDUM....
And what about the electronic camera flashes at night that are disturbing neighbors from miles around. Those new flashes emanate from the Boardwalk's camera high up on that damned ugly Double Shot ride that the Santa Cruz City Council and Charley Canfield erected this year. Would we put up with such visual pollution and disturbance from anybody but the Boardwalk?

WELCOME TO GARY PATTON'S NEW FEATURE. Former County Supervisor, soon to be ex-director of Landwatch Monterey County, and soon to be the new director of the Planning and Conservation League in Sacramento, Gary Patton has been writing and broadcasting Land Use Reports on KUSP five times a week for a long time. They are sharp, inside environmental updates on many issues we'd never hear of otherwise. They are short and pithy wake up calls about land use problems as Gary sees them. BrattonOnline.Com will make all of them available weekly right here, just a click away. I am assuming he will continue them on a statewide basis once he's in Sacramento, and we can all keep in touch that way. Read his Monday one about "closed sessions" that the public can't attend, or about PG&E's part of the woods, or Elkhorn Slough, or news about Fort Ord, just por ejemplo.

CABRILLO FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC NEWS. Conductor, director Marin Alsop announced at the festival that noted composer Phillip Glass will be composing a new work using photographs by noted photographer Frans Lanting. I asked Frans about the project, he said his photographs will be used in a multi-layered effect projected on three screens. That's all I know, but with Glass and Lanting anything and everything is possible, and eagerly awaited. I may have mentioned it last year, but is everybody aware that Marin Alsop's dad, Lamar Alsop, is a world class whistler? Lamar is also the former concertmaster and viola player, and violinist with the New York City Ballet. He also plays clarinet and saxophone and has recorded with Tony Bennett and Nina Simone.

A WINTER'S TALE. Why Shakespeare Santa Cruz ever does this play I'll never know. It has to be Shakespeare's most weird play. It has oracles, a bear, and takes place in Bohemia, and Sicilia. I don't like the play; I thought the acting was among the very worst shouted-unfelt-un-understood Shakespeare I'd ever heard, and certainly don't recommend you go see it. See Twelfth Night or especially see "Engaged" instead. Once again, actor and Shakespeare student Simon Kelly sends in his review and reactions to Winter's Tale. He got a lot more out of it than I did, to read his review just click here!!

MEA CULPA ALL OVER AGAIN. If you scroll down to last week's column you can see who sent the warning and alert about Mars coming so close to us next week. But I won't embarrass her here, at least not too much. Thanks to sky watcher and avid ether user M. Scott MacClelland, we now know that the Mars notice was at least two years old, and internet users have been sending it out all over again in the last few weeks. So put away the telescopes and H.G. Wells tee shirts. Mas mea culpa... S.K. Tile of Soquel, a trustworthy tile installer, emailed in to educate me that polar bears do not eat penguins as I reported after seeing just part of the Deep Blue movie. S.K. says that, and he's right, polar bears live at the North Pole and penguins live at the South Pole. So the only way polar bears could even see penguins is at the zoo.

THE 27TH ANNUAL MUSICAL SAW FESTIVAL. This festival attracts saw players from all over the world. Japan, China, France, and Eastern Europe too, are well represented. Go to the Tom Scribner Statue in front of Bookshop Santa Cruz this Saturday (August 13) at 1 p.m. and hear some fine saw players. The big show will be up at Roaring Camp on Sunday (August 14 from 10am to 6 pm.) You can learn to play the saw, you can even buy musical saws there. There was a two page spread in the Chronicle last week on the festival so this will be an especially big year.

HELP CUBA'S HURRICANE RELIEF. The Cuba Study Group sent this notice:

Fundraiser for hurricane relief sponsored by the Cuba Study Group of Santa Cruz County. Santa Cruz's sister county, Guama' Municipality in Santiago Province, Cuba, was devastated last month by Hurricane Dennis. Homes, health clinics and schools were badly damaged - some beyond repair - by the storm that tore into Guama' and neighboring Granma Province. Please come help send aid to our amigos and enjoy a very special evening! See Fidel - the Untold Story, a Documentary film in English by Estela Bravo. The film is like taking a walk at Fidel's side. See him visiting his childhood school, joking with Nelson Mandela, Ted Turner and Muhammad Ali, meeting Elian Gonzalez, and celebrating his birthday with members of the Buena Vista Social Club. For more film information - www.estelabravo.com. Then there's a Special feature - the evening will be opened by Santa Cruz's own RAGING GRANNIES singing Fidel and other satirical gems. If that isn't enough, there's also going to be a reading; Margo Pepper, the author of Through The Wall - A year in Havana. This recently released book reveals the failures and successes of one of the few functioning alternatives to corporate-run government, and draws out lessons that will be embraced by all who believe another world is possible. www.freedomvoices.org/pepper. It all happens 7 pm, Thursday Aug.18, Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Avenue (between Capitola Road and Highway One). $10-15 donation for Cuba Hurricane Relief. For more information: 331-5844 or cubastudygroup@schop.com. Besides that Fidel's birthday is August 13th , which makes him a Leo, of course.

DEEP BLUE. Although Pierce Brosnan's voice over through the entire film is dull and uninspiring this French documentary about ocean life is a gorgeous film. They used something like 200 locations and 20 camera teams to make it, and it shows. The best parts are when they go underwater and show us marine life as deep as 15,000 feet. There are living things down there that only Dr. Seuss could have intelligently designed. It does go a bit further than March of the Penguins in showing us Earth's food chain. It's not in the film, but one theory has it that since humans, being on top of the chain, kill and eat nearly everything else on the planet and since nothing eats us to keep the numbers in balance our killing of each other in wars and on the streets is some kind of plan. But never mind that, go see Deep Blue on the Del Mar's big screen.

BROKEN FLOWERS. Bill Murray beats even Buster Keaton in his use of just his face to express his acting ability. His co stars in Broken Flowers don't get much of a chance to act, but they are good, and well known too. Watch Sharon Stone, Jessica Lange, Frances Conroy, Chloe Svigny, Tilda Swinton (warning...she plays the motorcycle mama and has long dark hair) and Julie Delpy as well. Jim Jarmusch directed this, and along with his Stranger Than Paradise, Night on Earth, Ghost Dog, Dead Man, and Down by Law he's building up quite a roster of respectable films. See it quick.

LAST DAYS. Gus Van Sant who directed the deeply blue and deeply misunderstood film Gerry, and Elephant (Columbine), Good Will Hunting, and Drugstore Cowboy, did this treatise on the last days of somebody very much like Kurt Cobain. Van Sant's films have the mark of originality and they have a unique atmosphere that most other directors should envy.

SARABAND. Another Ingmar Bergman film masterpiece. If you want to enjoy this film to the fullest, go rent Bergman's Scenes from A Marriage first. Saraband has Liv Ullman and Erland Josephson in their original roles from Scenes, only Saraband takes place 30 years later. It's more than a look at the same couple; it's a study of how their emotions and family relationships developed. Bergman is now 87 years old, and Saraband proves his mastery of what film is all about. See it immediately, it probably won't stay long, it's too good.

FARMERS MARKET FRESH TIPS. Nesh Dillon manages our Downtown Farmer's market and also Live Oak's and Capitola's. Capitola's is new and needs local shoppers and supporters or it'll go away. Tourists support it now but folks out in the Jewel Box neighborhood and surroundings better make it on over ASAP. Live Oak's market has tables and chairs and live music and about 21 vendors now. All three markets are up in business from last year's losses. All colors of peppers are coming into their big season almost about now, and Nesh says they're really sweet this year. More dry farm tomatoes are trickling in and will continue to do so. Stone fruit is strong now and will last until October. Greens are most abundant in August and September, and strawberries are at their peak, but get over looked by stone fruit addicts so get them strawberries.

BUMPERSTICKERS. I haven't seen or heard of any good bumper stickers for months. However, John Leopold of Cabrilho College's Governing Board and advisor to famed Arhoolie Records saw this one on the UCSC Campus "Orwell was an Optimist". Special thanks to John for that one, and congratulations too, because John just got re-married two weeks ago.

QUOTES. "Some people are always late, like the late King George." -Spike Milligan. "The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his." -George Patton. "William F. Buckley looks and sounds not unlike Hitler - but without the charm." -Gore Vidal. "I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with a lot of pleasure." -Clarence Darrow.

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Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.

RICHARD NIXON IN SANTA CRUZ. There's no sense in denying it: Tricky Dick was here. This was taken in The Cocoanut Grove October 3, 1950. He was here for the California Real Estate Convention. Somebody identified the fellow on the left when I ran this photo once before, but I've lost his name. Anyone out there know who these other two guys are...or were? photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection, click for bigger version. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

ALL THE PROPERTY THAT'S FIT TO STEAL. Now at last we have the New York Times taking a look at Ceil Cirillo and the majority of our City Council voting to take over the Lau property. Read the N.Y Times story from last Saturday here: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/30/national/30property.html? (registration required, but it's free) Then, after you think about how blighted Oswald's and The Asian Rose restaurants are, think about how much more valuable the Louis Rittenhouse property is at the corner of Church and Pacific. Think about how far over this and other recent city councils have bent to kiss butt with Louie R. To not declare the most prominent corner in our downtown "blighted" years ago and create some community usage, shared with some business, is a lifelong shame that every council member involved should never be allowed to escape. The council's answer has usually been "Well, Louie has plans." Those plans have been artists' eyewash and all the councils have known it. First of all, let's redevelop the Redevelopment Agency or at least develop our thinking, do we even need them anymore? Just don't ask what have they done lately, unfortunately we know all too well.

CALIFORNIA LAW SAYS BUSINESSES MUST HAVE PUBLIC BATHROOMS. According to Tuesday's July 26th Wall Street Journal, California has a code that requires stores to allow the public to use their restrooms when they ask. As you know, parents of children and seniors find the scarcity of restrooms while shopping a major problem. What does this mean for Santa Cruz? Here is the link to the article: Small Merchants May Run Afoul Of Rules on Restroom Access By Gwendolyn Bounds, July 26, 2005 (http://online.wsj.com/article_email/0,,SB112232855662695358-Idjf4NjlaV4o52saXuIbqqGm4,00.html - you need to log in here as well, not sure if it's free or not) Debbie Bulger sent that notice in. She also sent the following info on the Boardwalks' latest scheme, read on.

MORE ON MARILYN MONROE AND SANTA CRUZ. We're still hot on the trail about Marilyn Monroe making her first film appearance in Scudda Hoo, Scudda Hey which was partially filmed up on Swanton Road near Davenport. Constant reader Barbara Tyger emailed in about that, again. Read her letter here.

CABRILLO FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC. There's little doubt that the Cabrillo Festival is our biggest claim to world fame. The awards it's won, the praise of renowned critics, and the world of contemporary music all have acknowledged our Cabrillo Festival for spirit, the boldness, the experimenting and just the fact that it exists and is successful makes it a valuable asset to our community. Open and free rehearsals are being held right now at the Civic auditorium, drop by, listen a while and pick up on the magic that happens when the orchestra (most of whom are long time friends from all over the west coast) starts playing. Try the free Wednesday night special concert at 5:15 of new works by three young composers in the Civic. Go to the also free Music Art, Food & Wine Festival 11am-8pm Saturday August 6th on Church Street in front of the City Hall and the Civic. You'll get a taste of the Festival. Then go to www.cabrillomusic.org and get the details on all the concerts, and how to buy tickets. The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music is definitely our finest showcase. Call 420-5260 (press 5) for more information.

BOARDWALK CLOSES BEACH AND SAN LORENZO RIVER ACCESS. Mission: Pedestrian (Debbie Bulger's a member, and sent this email) has received notice from the Coastal Commission of the following item that is on the agenda for the Coastal Commission meeting on August 10 in Costa Mesa.
"Permit number: 3-04-075
Applicant: Santa Cruz Seaside Company.

Project Description: After-the-fact approval for the closure of a public access route and to replace fencing installed without the benefit of a coastal permit with additional perimeter fencing and public access turnstiles that provide access to the Boardwalk during operating hours."

It seems ped paths and bike paths are being put behind locked gates all over town. What is going on here? Is this connected to the Seaside Company's lawsuit against the City regarding the tidelands at the mouth of the San Lorenzo?

Please consider contacting the Coastal Commission to protest this loss of public access. Letters should be sent to the Coastal Commission by August 4 at the latest. Do it now before you forget. This right of way is public access, not property for the exclusive use of the Boardwalk. The illegal fence should be removed and public access restored. This makes no sense to me. You still need a ticket to go on the rides, so what is the problem with a path to the beach? All the fence does is making it less convenient for pedestrians who come on their bikes from the levy or across the trestle bridge.

Mark the agenda item (W7b), the application number (3-04-075), your name and your position (opposed) on the upper right hand corner of the first page of your letter.

Send your comments to: Mike Watson
Coastal Program Analyst
Central Coast District Office
725 Front Street, Suite 300
Santa Cruz, CA 95060-4508
(831) 427-4863
FAX (831) 427-4877

SHELLEY HATCH AND SALLY CLARKS' BIRTHDAYS. There are parties and there are parties. Sally Clark's birthday was celebrated right on the street in front of Logos' Books. Wormy's Coffee Cart hosted the affair complete with tables, balloons, posters, cake, ice cream and the looks of hundreds of passers by who had never seen a birthday party on Pacific Avenue before. Sally didn't get any older, she just got wiser (or so she said) and we all had a great time. Shelley Hatch of Ice Cream Bank fame had one of those rare decade celebrations at Diane Grunes' house. Shelley, who knows nearly everybody in town, didn't know this party was going to happen. Her surprise, and the secrets that were shared that night will remain locked in the party goers hearts forever. Happy Birthdays were wished to them both.

MARS IS COMING, MARS ATTACKS EMINENT, REOPEN ALL BOMB SHELTERS. Kate Minott is known for many things, but not astronomy. She does send this warning, and it seemed like everyone should know about it.

Hello all you stargazers. This is worth looking at so get out your magnifiers and stand in awe. It's the last time you'll have the chance to do this. Cheers and enjoy. The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again. The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide.

At a modest 75-power magnification Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Mars will be easy to spot, in early August it will rise in the east at 10p.m. and reach its azimuth about 3 a.m. By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month. Share this with your children and grandchildren. Kate closes with this very cool ending: "NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN".

SHAKESPEARE SANTA CRUZ PRESENTS GILBERT'S "ENGAGED". WS Gilbert, of Gilbert and Sullivan fame, was one great writer. He wrote many very funny plays. Shakespeare Santa Cruz opened their production of his wonderful play last Saturday night. I thought it was one of the finest productions Shakes. S.C. has ever done. All of the cast were phenomenal and click here (www.shakespearesantacruz.org) to get play dates and ticket info. Equally as important Simon Kelly, actor and student of the arts, reviewed the opening performance. Read it here.

ANOTHER SMALL BUSINESS WORTH CHECKING OUT. I started writing about small businesses in Santa Cruz, with quality and honesty, that get over looked. Catharine Gunderson emailed to tell us about a knife sharpener and sewing machine fixer at Morrissey and Soquel.

BERKELEY'S 20 TH ANNUAL KITE FESTIVAL. I spent 4 or 5 hours last Sunday at this truly amazing Kite Festival with daughter Hillary, son in law Martin, and the omnipresent Grandson Henry. What a genuine family event. Everybody gets to build and fly kites...free! Food prices are reasonable, commercialism is almost invisible and big time kite flyers from all over the world show up to show off their building and flying skills. Held on the flowing hills of the Berkeley Marina, once the scene of a land use battle (the Marina is made 100% from land fill, and we lost that battle back in the fifties). There must have been 3000 people there. Santa Cruz should have a kite festival. I won't get into trying to describe the many 90 foot long octopi, all in colors, the scuba diver kite, the sharks, spinning rainbows - it was unlike anything I'd ever seen before. Then there were the kite flyers like the 78 year old geezer from Vancouver who flew three kites at one time synchronizing their flight to Tchaikovsky's Queen of the Night aria, we watched Carmina Burana, and even some Wagner being danced and flown by kites against Berkeley's blue skies. Go to the Kite Festival link at; http://www.highlinekites.com/Berkeley_Kite_Festival/ better yet, go to the 21st Annual Berkeley Kite Festival, whenever it is.

DEEP BLUE. The people behind the film Deep Blue, a spin-off from the Blue Planet television series, say Deep Blue is a sensory event rather than a more fact oriented journalistic report. It's an underwater documentary narrated by Pierce Brosnan and it is so beautiful, it is mind numbing. It's the kind of film that if Prez W. Bush had any smarts, he'd put in every theatre so folks would forget the earth has problems. We get those Emperor Penguins again, plus the polar bears that eat them, plus underwater shots from Bermuda, Patagonia, South Africa, the Azores, Cayman Islands...staggering. It makes you wonder why we have walk in admission paying aquariums at all, the photography here is so much better than actually looking at the same creatures all bunched up in those small tanks. Matter of fact, you should dump your home aquarium in the ocean and just run this film continually on your TV. I'm going again, it's that stunning.

THE DEVILS REJECTS. This film directed by Rob Zombie is clever, sophisticated, excellently directed, nasty, disgusting, funny, sadistic, and sharply edited and it's sort of a humorous version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It has a soundtrack by Three Dog Night, Buck Owens, Kitty Wells, and The Allman Brothers. Rob Zombie also directed House of 1,000 Corpses and this one is better and funnier. The blood, gore, decapitating, and other muck are a takeoff and salute to the horror films of the "70's. The main killer uses names of characters played by Groucho Marx in his best films. Roger Ebert liked the film and added in his review "I've warned you about the horror stuff so don't come crying to me if you don't like it". And that goes for me too.

HUSTLE AND FLOW. This is a story of hustlers, pimps, prostitutes and one of the most unlikable heroes I've ever felt empathy for in a film. Terence Howard plays the mean yet needy lead, and deserves something close to an Oscar for his role. See this film, it's not cute and fun, but it is a story that will remain with you a long time.

THE ISLAND. This story won't remain with you as soon as the theatre house lights come on at the end. Scarlett Johansson and Ewan McGregor are the leads in this very expensive film. Steve Buscemi plays his usual weird nerd part and is wasted in every way. The first half is a possibly interesting sci-fi plot of escaping from some futuristic workplace. They escape, and land in the middle of a car chase action plot in Detroit, but the signs say Los Angeles for some unexplained reason. Wait and rent it, if you're not into watching some of the fine HBO series like Comeback, Six Feet Under and Entourage that are now running, and are much better entertainment.

THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY. This is a heart rending dramatic film of a young half Vietnamese, half American boy trying to find his ex-GI father Nick Nolte, who lives in Texas. It's a beautiful film; it's sad, wonderfully acted, and has Tim Roth as a ship captain. See it, you'll like it.

QUOTES. "I never drink coffee at lunch - I find it keeps me awake for the afternoon." -Ronald Reagan. "A committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing, but together decide that nothing can be done." -Fred Allen. "Revolution is a trivial shift in the emphasis of suffering." -Tom Stoppard.

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Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.