Bruce Bratton hosts University Grapevine, linking local and campus issues, every Tuesday 7:30-8:30 p.m. on KZSC 88.1 fm.
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MICHAEL WATKINS MISTAKE. I mentioned last week that I received an anonymous package showing how the non-profit Monte Foundation was listed as supporting Watkins for County Superintendent of Schools. Michael sent me two emails almost immediately and I quote, "My campaign staff took Marc Monte's endorsement as an endorsement from the Monte Foundation. It was an honest mistake by my campaign team. We will take immediate steps to change the endorsement. Respectfully, Michael Watkins". Then he sent another email right after that, "I forgot to mention that I, as well as well as my entire campaign team, take full responsibility for the oversight. As long as I have been in education one of my Mantra's to students is about accepting responsibility, and I try to live by that Mantra myself. Michael Watkins." So that should definitely clear that up. I'm voting for Sandra Nichols.
COAST HOTEL'S POLITICAL LEGACY. When the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Neal Coonerty and Jonathan Boutelle bring up their support of the Coast Hotel they never mention that both Supervisor Gary Patton and Supervisor Mardi Wormhoudt were and still are opposed to the Coast Hotel. And of the county Supervisor candidates only Christopher Krohn was proudly against the Coast Hotel and he's the only one who promises to maintain Patton's and Wormhoudt's political and environmental integrity. The Sentinel, Neal Coonerty, and Jonathan Boutelle seem to have forgotten the main lesson about the defeat of the Cirillo-Rotkin-Kennedy Coast Hotel deal. What Coonerty and Boutelle never bring up is The Coast Hotel was defeated because the majority of the people didn't want it, and they still don't. It was a shaky financial scheme where the developers ended up with all the property after the City had invested millions. More than that it was another poorly-thought-out-quick financial budget fix like Costco and Gateway Plaza were supposed to be. I'm voting for Christopher Krohn.
PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC CLUB. This Thursday Monterey attorney Bill Monning will talk about his recent trip to Caracas, Venezuela to attend the 6th annual World Social Forum. Over 100,000 folks from all over the world attended including ten Santa Cruzans. There'll probably be discussion about supporting Measures 81 and 82. There'll also be some talk about the overwhelming endorsement by the People's Democratic Club of Christopher Krohn for 3rd District County Supervisor. As usual the meeting will be at 7p.m. at the LONDON Nelson Community Center. Remember to go to www.cruzdemocrats.org to stay abreast of local and state-wide politics.
POLITICAL TRADITION. It wouldn't be Santa Cruz if we weren't reminded of one of the nastiest and dumbest campaign moves ever pulled around here. It dates back to October of 1999 (according to Metro Santa Cruz files). The incident happened at Louis Rittenhouse's lot at the corner of Rankin and Almar Streets over by the Mission Street Safeway Plaza. Jerry Hoffman saw it happen, and confronted both Mike Rotkin and Scott Kennedy at the site. Jerry was eating lunch at the corner restaurant and looked up just in time to see Rotkin and Kennedy tearing down campaign posters for Tim Fitzmaurice, Christopher Krohn, and Keith Sugar, and flinging the posters in the street. We later learned that Louis Rittenhouse gave Rotkin and Kennedy permission to act as his agents and take down the posters. Sure. What keeps this story alive is that Neal Coonerty, Michael Watkins and Jonathan Boutelle signs now sit in that very same spot. Will they stay there, did they get permission? Will I bring this up again next election, HA.
SAUL LANDAU & PROGRESSO. Read here what Saul has to say about the film and reality of UNITED 93 http://www.tni.org/archives/landau/united93.htm Read here about Saul's tour of Vietnam, part V
BILL MOYERS SAYS IT AGAIN. Few people in my book have such a grasp on our world, our culture, and our society as Bill Moyers he gave an address last Saturday at Hamilton College. Common Dreams printed it, read it it's called "Pass the Bread" and see what you think. http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0522-35.htm
GARY PATTON' KUSP PROGRAMS. Read here to get Gary's advance news on the measures we'll be voting on in November. Find out about the Bonny Doon hike on June 3rd. Read about Peter McCloskey, Phil Angelides, and Lockyer's wise words about protecting Marine Resources and why we too should care.
TIM EAGAN. Watch Glen (don't ask!) think his way through some downtown, scroll down.
CUBA'S DRILLING FOR OIL IN THE FLORIDA STRAIT. Dawn Gable of the Cuba Study Group of Santa Cruz County, an UCSC graduate and a long time advocate in Cuban and Venezuelan issues wrote a studied piece regarding the possible consequences of Cuba's drilling for oil. Now's the time to read it. It could be the move that sparks the U.S. to attack. Read it here.
MORE ON ORGANIC AND OR IMPORTING PRODUCE. Yana Jacobs of far distant Bonny Doon emails to say, " Originally the dream was to be able to have a yummy tomato in the winter when all you could buy were unripe hard tomatoes...but it's clearly becoming a concern that so much of our organically grown produce is coming from far away places. While the energy costs are of serious concern, the farmers in these once called "third world" are prospering both economically as well as the obvious health benefits both to the growers as well as the care of our mother earth! So what is the answer? Only eat locally? That works for those fortunate enough to live in this luscious central valley/ coastal region but I'd hate to lay this trip on those living in the mid west, or even the east coast. There are pluses and minuses to organic produce being produced and shipped world wide.
DA VINCI CODE. Having a gutless, happy ending, middle of the road, feel good director like Ron Howard direct as complex a film like Da Vinci Code was a guaranteed disaster. Ron Howard even failed miserably at directing Jim Carrey and Bill Irwin in adapting a Dr. Seuss book to the screen. There are several ways to tell if a film is impressive, one is if the audience remains seated during the closing credits, and the audience I was with couldn't wait to get out of the theatre. Two, is if they hang around the lobby discussing the film afterwards, and this audience was gone. The third and most important is-if a sizable part of the audience will go see the film a second time, and I'll bet not three people in the world will see this dull dog of a film ever again. It coulda been a contender, but Ron Howard took all the safe and boring choices. You can also tell that, when more people are talking about Tom Hanks' haircut than the story line, something is wrong.
WATER. This luminous film completes woman director Deepa Mehta's trilogy. It takes place in 1938 India and tells the plight of Hindu widows, who often married before their teen age years become widowed and can never lead a human existence after that. It's really the politics of religion, and most easily compared to Satyajit Ray's films. See it quickly, it's too good to stay much longer.
SUMMER & SAN FRANCISCO OPERAS. For the first time ever there will be a huge video screen set up in the Civic Center Plaza across from the San Francisco City Hall and you can watch for free the opening night of Patricia Racette in Puccini's Madame Butterfly. It starts at 8 p.m., and they'll be selling brandy and food and other beverages. Knowing San Francisco you can bet this will be a genuine gala evening. They'll have supertitles; bring only low chairs and blankets. If you haven't heard Madame Butterfly or Patricia Racette this is your chance and it's free. The San Francisco Opera is also doing Tchaikovsky's Joan of Arc featuring Dolora Zajick which is rarely done, Mozart's Marriage of Figaro with Ruth Ann Swenson all happening this summer. Check out www.sfopera.org and see what the new CEO David Gockley has planned.
NEW MUSIC GARDEN PARTY. For 25 years now the New Music Works has been bringing our community absolutely excellent new music. They have also been staging some wonderful Avant Garden Parties as annual fund raisers. This year the party will be Sunday, June 4 from 3-7pm at the Grove at Blue Bamboo 2115 Ocean Street Extension. You can "meander through an idyllic subtropical garden and bamboo art installation while indulging your ears, palate and eyes and benefit New Music Works!! That means you can hear music by Lou Harrison, Undang Sumarna, Cliff Friedlander, Jonathan Glass, Henry Spiller, and Burhan Sukarma plus Phil Collins. There'll be food and drink, a silent auction, and a big deal raffle. Advance tickets at 831 423-8597 or at Streetlight Records. Go to www.newmusicworks.org for more info.
PAUL HOSTETTER'S SUMMER FUN. If you like music and some special entertainment check out Hostetter's website http://www.lutherie.net/live.music.html
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, THE PLAY. Ghostlight Theatre is bringing a new version of William Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's dream to the Actors Theatre, 1001 Center Street in Downtown Santa Cruz June 2-through July 2. No Mendelssohn or Britten music, and only a few cuts. It's directed by Bill Peters, and he's done some excellent works here before. Mark Bradlyn plays Peter Quince. Call 831 420-5260.
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. THE OPERA. Benjamin Britten wrote 16 operas and he broke traditions with every one of them. He wrote "Dream" in 1960, and changed Shakespeare's play...a lot. Oberon and the fairies are much more important and Britten had almost the entire opera taking place in the forest. UCSC's music department is setting it in some Dali-esque Industrial Landscape. There only four performances June 1-2-3-at 7:30 and Sunday June 4 at 2 p.m. Nicole Paiement conducts the 40 piece UCSC Orchestra, Brian Staufenbiel directs it and it's all fully staged, grandly costumed and, since I've heard the students who'll be singing, I can promise you they will be great. Call the UCSC Ticket office at 459-2159 or go online at http://events.ucsc.edu/tickets . Truthfully though, the website isn't very helpful, so just keep trying to reach the ticket office.
WESTSIDE FARMERS MARKET BIG SUCCESS. It was a grand sight last Saturday out at the old Wrigley's parking lot at the opening day of the new Westside Farmers Market. It was deemed a success by all who attended, and I still predict it'll grow into the largest of all our Farmer's Markets, yes Bill the Oyster Man was there...which makes it official. Remember that's every Saturday from 9am-2 pm at Mission and Western Drive. It's really asparagus and strawberry time.
GUERILLA DRIVE-IN. The Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In is back outside and at their old location next to the railroad tracks on Fair Avenue behind Feral's Doughnuts (I know it's not ferals but it's funnier). This week they screen Birdy a much-underappreciated film starring Nicolas Cage. Film starts at 8 pm. Bring chair, share food, and favorite beverages.
BRING YOUR OWN BAG. Ros Munro, obviously inspired by the talk about organics wrote an introspective email that should get us all thinking about shopping bags. Read here
SOLSTICE IS COMING. Joe Jordan of NASA/Ames Research Center + SETI Institute and Cabrillo College + Monterey Institute of International Studies wants everybody to know that there will be a great star gazing evening Wednesday night June 21. He says, "Something you might like to come to on the summer solstice is a stargazing and astronomy evening I'm leading through the City Museum of Natural History (420-6115 for details, sign up, etc.). Hope you can make that, if you're interested ("best star tour on the planet", it's been called – got this amazing GREEN LASER that makes a beam that looks like it goes all the way out to the stars!). Bring a friend or three we'll be meeting at 8:30 (before completely dark --can see lots of interesting twilight phenomena), at a parking area near the base of the UCSC campus --and then walking up to a nice dark spot in the farm and garden. More details at Joe's website < http://www.sky-power.org >. Actually you should go to that website just for the experience of seeing what Joe's been up to and what he's planned...absolutely amazing.
TEE-SHIRT WISDOM. Teddy Lyon saw a t-shirt saying, "BUSH IS LISTENING-USE BIG WORDS". Can't hurt, besides that nothing else has worked.
QUOTES. "Revolution is a trivial shift in the emphasis of suffering." -Tom Stoppard. "Ninety percent of the politicians give the other 10 percent a bad reputation." -Henry Kissinger. "If you walk like a duck and you quack like a duck and you say you are a duck, you are a duck." -George Bush.
Deep Cover
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
It's free! Click here.
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MICHAEL WATKINS, MARC MONTE FOUNDATION AND ELECTION LAW? Michael Watkins is running for Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools. He lists the Rudolph F. Monte Foundation as a supporter. So the other day an anonymous person sends me a package showing that, under IRS rules, non profits like the Monte Foundation (a 501c(3) organization) "may not engage in political activity". Political activity means "influencing the outcome of an election". The IRS can levy heavy fines against the organization, its staff or volunteer leaders. So somebody like Gail Pellegrin or Watkins or Monte better get busy and check this out before there's trouble. Check out Watkins website to see the Monte Foundation name there, then go to www.ombwatch.org to see what non profits can and can't do.
TRADER JOE'S RESPONSE TO MEDIA. Alison Mochizuki is the person at Trader Joe's headquarters in Monrovia who deals with press inquiries. She finally returned my call.... four days later. I was trying to find out where their produce comes from, like which country, how fresh is it, and can we trust the organic label? After the usual give and take and press type games she said she can't give me vendors' names, I said I don't want them, just country or county of origin, she said she'd have to check on that. So later that day she sent me a statement saying, the strawberries and orchids "are sourced from California" that's it period. Go to Trader Joe's, look at that shrink wrapped produce, try to find a date on it, try to find where it comes from other than USA, then go to any of our farmer's markets, and think about what you are buying.
PAUL ROGERS WEIGHS IN. Paul Rogers of The San Jose Mercury writes and encloses a piece he wrote on cage free eggs " I read in your column the other day the item about Trader Joe's and cage-free eggs. On Thursday, Google adopted a cage-free egg policy for all of its cafeterias and restaurants. Here's a story I wrote about it. Turns out Google buys 300,000 eggs a year for its Mountain View campus. Who knew? Other tech companies also have joined the Humane Society of the United States and Google in this effort". www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/14552520.htm
WAL MART AND ORGANICS. This is an extremely important piece from the New York Times. It tells about Kellogg's soon producing organic Rice Krispies and Kraft will produce organic macaroni and cheese, and other sweetened junk food and what will it really do for our health? Read what Marion Nestle says about the state of our food. It is a scary article. It's written by Melanie Warner.
WHOLE FOODS PRODUCE SECTION. There are significant problems with huge grocery chains like Whole Foods and what's happening to "so called small organic farmers". Organic produce farms are getting bigger and bigger and are the resultant products worth the higher price? Will the higher price for organics drive out the real small farmers we see at our Farmer's Markets? Click here before it's too late.
BRING YOUR OWN BAGS. Reader Ros Munro writes in to say we could all do more about helping the earth if we started using our own shopping bags. He talks about Trader Joes, Safeway, New Leaf, Shoppers, and other places. Click here and read his ideas, and you know he's right.
SAUL LANDAU TRIPPING THROUGH VIETNAM. Click here to connect with Saul's tour of Vietnam. This week, we're reading part 4. Open this link to read the rest of Progresso Weekly, starting with Saul's "The age of war continues"
GARY PATTON'S REPORT. Read here about the AMBAG forum, read here too about what's happening in Monterey County re The Brown Act. Read about "brownfields" and about General Plan Updates and how they work, or not.
TIM EAGAN. Tim goes nautical and explains how the rising tide works. Scroll downwards.
LEE QUARNSTROM WEIGHS IN TOO. Last week I mentioned that Rocky Delgadillo's name as a candidate for State Attorney General sounds like somebody at the Ba Da Bing Club. Lee Quarnstrom replies, "Rocky Delgadillo is the very liberal city attorney for the city of Los Angeles. I think he's a good alternative to the increasingly conservative Jerry Brown, who was described by a good friend of mine a few years ago as looking, in his all-black affected outfits, "like a member of the Hale-Bopp cult." Thanks Lee, you folks remember Hale-Bopp right? The comet, the mass suicides, space invasion stuff? It's probably still big in Lee's section of Orange County.
I DREAMED I SAW JOE HALL LAST NIGHT. Just a little joke there, but after 16 years with the City Redevelopment Agency, Joe Hall is retiring on June 1st. Joe's been with the City many years more than that. I remember him acting as an unofficial guide during the Lighthouse Field and the Wilder Ranch battles, and that was back in the 70's. Joe, who went to school at Rutgers University, had a way of making city government nearly human and accessible. I hope he teaches somebody else before he leaves, we'll miss him.
CHARLIE CHAPLIN, JOHN ORLANDO, MORTON MARCUS TOGETHER AGAIN. John Orlando will be playing Von Suppe, Beethoven and a little Torke this Thursday May 18 at 8 pm as part of the Cabrilho College Distinguished Artists Series. Don Adkins will conduct the Cabrilho College Orchestra. Tickets at 479-6331 or at the door IF they get it together!! Many times the line for tickets stretches to 40-60 would be ticket holders, it's terrible. So plan ahead. Cinema critic and enthusiast Morton Marcus will give a pre-performance talk about Charlie Chaplin and Gold Rush. The Gatto Marte Quartet will play music to the film. That happens Saturday, June 3 starting at 7:30 for Mort's talk and 8 p.m. for Gold Rush. Tickets at 479-6331 or at the door but remember what happens at the ticket booth.
SYMPHONY CONDUCTOR LARRY GRANGER RESPONDS. Last week I wrote about The Santa Cruz Symphony having blind auditions and said I was amazed at the effect those auditions had on orchestras everywhere. Larry Granger responded, saying, "I'm replying to your question regarding screened auditions with the symphony. We have always done those, except for principal players in the final audition. That is sometimes done in order to observe the physical leadership skills the player exhibits. We formally instituted screened auditions a couple of years after I arrived in 1991. We even ask folks to wear soft soled shoes so that you don't hear high heels when a candidate comes in. The audition committee sits behind an opaque sheet and instructions are given verbally to the candidate, but the candidate can only motion to the Personnel Manager, who is on the performer's side. Each candidate is only known by number to the audition committee. Additionally the union steward is present as an observer to ensure that no one is given preferential treatment.
I, for one, have mixed feelings about the benefits of this. For instance, sometimes you can't tell someone has a bad vibrato, or are simply nervous. When you can see someone, you can more accurately tell whether it is a musical problem or a physical one. It is easier to give someone a second chance if you can see what the problem may be.
But screened auditions are here to stay. They are firmly woven into the contract fabric of every orchestra I know. Maybe one day even conductors will have to take blind auditions. After all, who watches us anyway!!!"
Larry Granger
SHAKESPEARE CLUB. If you wonder about what Shakespeare was communicating when he wrote Henry IV Part One you should attend Don Young's and Jeff Towle's Shakespeare Club free sessions starting this Saturday morning at 10 am. Don and Jeff will deal with Falstaff, Prince Hal and all the great lines in the play. The Shakespeare Club has been meeting for years and discussing Shakespeare's plays in four Saturday morning sessions, all free and fun. No experience or prior knowledge of Shakespeare needed. Get the $5.00 Pelican edition, and go to room 833 at Cabrilho College this Saturday, plus May 27, June 3, and 10.
ON A CLEAR DAY. Who would ever believe that Full Monty would become a British formula film? It did, and On A Clear Day is just a half brain, half clever spin off of four or six jolly chums hanging out until one of them thinks up a clever and nearly impossible stunt. The same went for that Brit comedy film of the women's gardening club posing nude for a calendar.
POSEIDON. Speaking of formula films, Poseidon has every Hollywood action disaster cliché ever spewed out. Mission Impossible III is a much better film, if you like that sort of mindless escape stuff. Sad faced Emma Rossum is the more or less star of this Poseidon and they should have named it Fathom of The Opera. Let it sink.
WOMEN'S VOICES CONCERT. Diane Grunes is going to emcee the fifth annual Women's Voices Night this Saturday (5/20) at the Rio. The evening features Destiny, the "harpist from the hood", and her Band of Angels jazz ensemble. Also sharing the headline will be Mayim our locally grown a cappella trio, fresh from their triumph at Kuumbwa. Tickets at Gateways Books, Bookworks, Bookshop Santa Cruz, Paradise Surf Shop, and Arrow Surf & Sport, or at the door. The concert is presented by WomenCARE, WomenCARE works with women with cancer. For more information call 457-2273
THE SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE. Autumn Stage productions is presenting it and Robin Aronson directed this one woman funny evening, and it stars Suzanne Schrag. Lily Tomlin made it a masterpiece of caricature a few years back. It closes Saturday night May 20. I'm finally getting to see it Thursday night and will give you a quick reaction Friday morning right at 8:02 am on The Bushwhackers Show KZSC.FM 88.1. I hear it's very good.
QUOTES. This one's very dated but some of you will get it. "Richard Nixon was offered $2 million dollars by Schick to do a television commercial for Gillette." -Gerald R. Ford. "Ronald Reagan is a triumph of the embalmers art." -Gore Vidal. "President Calvin Coolidge was the greatest man ever came out of Plymouth Corner, Vermont." -Clarence Darrow.
Deep Cover
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
It's free! Click here.
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MADRIGALS ECONOMIC SUMMIT. After more than one full year of meetings, Tony Madrigal's Santa Cruz Economic Summit will happen Saturday, May 13 from 9am to 3pm. It'll be at the University Inn & Conference Center (Holiday Inn) 611 Ocean St. by the County Building. You can read the entire day's schedule of panels, breakout groups, videos, and get a free self serve lunch by going to www.santacruzeconomicsummit.com After I attended about 75% of these meetings it became very clear that there are two visions of how to make Santa Cruz work economically, and only two. 1. More Coast Hotels 2. Create another way of making our community economically viable. Half of the planners of this Summit were in favor of the Coast Hotel and half fought to defeat it. The resulting panel for the Summit is composed of 2 anti- Coast Hotel and 5 pro- Coast Hotel people, so you can see how well that worked. Many people continue to believe that some magic developer's plan that will again be weaseled through the City Council and foisted on the community will bring instant financial relief...that's the Coast Hotel Dream. Fortunately there are a majority of people in Santa Cruz who look around the United States and see other communities face the same problems and do not sell out to Home Depot, Costco, Wal Mart, and phony conference center deals. Those are the people who stopped the Coast Hotel and will stop the next poorly plotted proposal that doesn't involve the voter's right from the beginning. So if you go to the Summit, ask yourself or ask anyone else who attends, do we want more Coast Hotels or do we work together and create a new Santa Cruz approach? Those questions were avoided entirely during the year of planning this Summit.
THIRD DISTRICT SUPERVISOR NEWS. Only Christopher Krohn reported in this week. He says that knocking on doors has given him great new information about what voters really care about, and that voters are becoming more and more aware of the issues. He also marched in the Un Dia Sin Inmigrantes marches and said that Colleen Crosby's memorial had at least 150 friends attending. I agree with Chris that Colleen was an irreplaceable Santa Cruz treasure.
AN INFORMED ELECTORATE ? Ha!! Just when you think you know even a little bit about the upcoming elections along comes the OFFICIAL SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SAMPLE BALLOT. In that ballot sample we find; eight names running for Democratic Party bid for the Governors seat, three for lieutenant governor, and on and on like Insurance Commissioner, Rocky Delgadillo for attorney general?, Martin Luther Church for U.S. Senator then we turn the page and find the State Superintendent of Public Instruction boxes with such names as Jack O'Connell, Sarah Knopp, Daniel Bunting, Grant Mc Micken, and Diane Lenning. Who are these people, why are they running, why should we vote for them? It's embarrassing. What do we know about Measures 81 and 82? Even Bruce McPherson's signature on the front page of The 64 page voter information guide doesn't add great hope for June 6. Why the explanations of 81 and 82 can't be made more readable and educational boggles the mind...and the votes. There's a hodge podge of statements by candidates or issue backers but you can't believe that committee fed corn. There must be a better way to improve our government. Doesn't Rocky Delgadillo sound like one of the guys from the back room of the Bada Bing? I noticed that Ted Lempert is voting yes on 81, and he's a good guy who got terribly tricked by Joe Simitian. So at least yes on 81.
SAUL LANDAU AND HIS VIETNAM DIARY. We're at part three, so click here.
GARY PATTON AND THE SACRAMENTO SERENADE. Punch here to read Gary's weekly KUSP newscasts. He talks about changes in public transportation and what is reasonable to expect. He says there's no easy fix because it took us a century to get as bad as we are now...and more.
TIM EAGAN'S WEEKLY STRIP. Just scroll down.
TRADER JOE'S NOSE IN THE NEWS. According to the Humane Society, Trader Joes finally gave in after four months of negotiations and like Whole Foods will only be selling cage-free eggs under their own label. Whole Foods and other markets have gone beyond Trader Joes in selling eggs. Read about it at the Humane Society website http://www.hsus.org/search.jsp?query=trader+joes&x=24&y=6 it's a long and complex battle. Trader Joes as we know is part of the International ALDI food chain with over 7000 stores worldwide. Non union too!! T. Joes has a few other sorry stories. I tried to ask the manager at the Front Street store about T.Joes produce. I wanted to find out if they bought any, ANY local produce direct from our farmers. New Leaf, Staff of Life, Shopper's Corner all do and do so with a win-win arrangement. I wanted to ask T. Joes if it's true their orchids are heavily sprayed and come from secret places around the globe. Places that have no inspections, no certifications? Whew!! The management at Front Street was nasty, evasive, and argumentative and said they couldn't talk to me. I would have to wait and talk to their customer relations department in Monrovia. I tried that first thing Monday morning. Customer relations wouldn't answer any questions either, BUT they do have a press person. I called her, her message said she'll call back as soon as possible...I'll let you know when I hear anything. I want to find out if they sell Watsonville Strawberries, then how do they get them from Watsonville to Santa Cruz? And how fresh is that? How much of their produce is imported and if it's stamped Organic is it California organic or some lowered foreign organic? Seems like logical questions.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE III. Speaking of Scientology, no response yet on Aptos Academy and their Scientology leanings. Tom Cruise is absolutely perfect in this film. I mean it's a very fine action thriller. Not much love stuff, not much plot, we never do find out what the world destroying Rabbit's Foot is, but you won't care either. Just go for fun. As I always say, these films are like roller coasters, don't ride ‘em if you don't like them. Sit back and enjoy the thrill, don't go for emotional depth, logic, or educational pursuit. Philip Seymour Hoffman is as good as they let him be, but he could have done more.
BRICK. Tries to be a comedy version of dark heavy noir films of the 40's set in a California High School of today. They purposely use language/slang that is almost untranslatable. It's forced, awkward, and will be a big hit at the Del Mar during the midnight cult movies.
ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL. Terry Zwigoff has made a few good films such as Ghost World, Louie Bluie, and Bad Santa. With Art School he got over cute and too tricky. He tried to make a clever takeoff on Art Schools and the lives around them. It isn't funny, moving, or especially new. Zwigoff used to come to Santa Cruz with R.Crumb and the Cheap Suit Serenaders. That was much more fun.
BOOK FAIRS. The biggest, wildest book sale of the year happens this Friday and Saturday at the Civic Auditorium. The Friends of the Santa Cruz Libraries puts it on, and allows members only Friday night May 12th from 5:30 to 8 pm and you can buy a membership at the door. The public is allowed in Saturday the 13 from 10 am to 2p.m. Book for $1 per pound and real collectibles too. Don't miss it especially if you don't have enough books. Let's see a show of hands if you do have enough books!! BOOK FAIR TOO. There'll be another County Wide book sale at the Shoreline Middle School 885 17th Avenue in Live Oak that's Saturday May 20 9am- 4p.m.
FARMERS MARKET NEWS. I just learned that there are eleven farmers markets in the San Jose area on Sundays alone. There are over 350 in the State!!! Our local Live Oak Farmers Market opened last Sunday with about a dozen vendors and will grow every week. Don't you wonder just what Barry Swenson has planned for that East Cliff Plaza? And why did he let it go to ruin? Must be something cooking. Don't forget that the Westside Wrigley Farmer's market opens Saturday May 20. I'll bet that Market will be as big as the Wednesday Downtown Farmers Market in just a few weeks.
SANTA CRUZ GUERILLA DRIVE-IN. No one should need to know anymore than they do about Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. It's one of the most brilliant films ever made. It's the Summer opener for the Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-in and it happens this Friday May 12th, 8:00pm at the Railroad Tracks at Fair Ave, in Santa Cruz And it's hosted by Rico and Sean. With B. Cassidy & S.D. Kid there will be thrilling and funny short films, an intermission, great company, and a rollicking bike ride after the movie. BRING lawn chairs, blankets, pillows, friends, wine, & food to share for intermission. Bring your bike for Midnight Mystery Ride after the movie. Donations are greatly appreciated and directly support the project and the Revolutionary Garden Society who sponsors Guerilla Drive-In. MIDNIGHT MYSTERY RIDE: After the movies, the Santa Cruz Midnight Mystery Ride will take you and your friends on a rollicking after-hours tour of the bike ways and back streets of our fair city. Where are we going? It's a mystery! Only the leader for that week knows. The ride is 3-5 miles long and often ends with an after-hours hoo-haw, so bring a snack to share and pack your trash. A monthly ride after the Guerilla Drive-In, is leaving from the Saturn Café parking lot around midnight.
SANTA CRUZ GUERILLA DRIVE-IN is an outdoor movie theatre under the stars that springs up in the fields and industrial wastelands. Beyond showing great movies and bringing a broad community together, part of our mission is helping reclaim public space and transforming our urban environment into the joyful playground it should be.
SUBURBAN WASTELAND LOCATION: S on Hwy 17 to Hwy 1, Hwy 1 north to Mission St, L on Fair Ave after Feral Donuts, walk a short way along the RR tracks to the right. BREAKING NEWS, updated winter schedule, discussion, do-it-yourself, email list, the works. www.guerilladrivein.org
QUOTES. Scott MacClelland sends these three gems along, "It is usually when men are at their most religious that they behave with the least sense and the greatest cruelty." -Ilka Chase. "Jazz is freedom. Now, you think about that." -Thelonious Monk "Some days you get up and put the horn to your chops and it sounds pretty good and you win. Some days you try and nothing works, and the horn wins. This goes on and on and then you die and the horn wins." -Dizzy Gillespie.
Deep Cover
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
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COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. The Democratic Central Committee voted: Michael Watkins 10, Sandra Nichols 4, Rebecca Garcia 0, Lupe Rivas 0 and No Endorsement 3. There will be a forum featuring all the candidates at the Scotts Valley Senior Center, 370 Kings Village Rd, at 7 PM Thursday, May 4, sponsored by Parents for Scotts Valley Schools. http://www.scottsvalleyparents.org/
SANDRA NICHOLS FOR COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. Sandra Nichols emailed to add these endorsements from the following groups Greater Santa Cruz Federation of Teachers, Local 2030 Santa Cruz Council of Classified Employees, Local 6084 Laborers-International Union of North America, Local 270 Pajaro Valley Cesar Chavez Democratic Club, CSEA (Ca School Employees Assoc.) - Pajaro Valley Unified School District, the Monterey Bay Central Labor Council. Sandra said that the following names are only a partial list.....
Paul Elerick, Bert & Lois Muhly, Celia Scott, Emily Maloney, Bruce Van Allen, Ramon Gomez, Jane Amaral, Robert Chacanaca, Aurelio Gonzales, Moonset & John Smith, Elias Alonzo, Jean & Jerry Thomas, Brett Knupfer, Lucia Villareal, Belinda Garza, AV Coyle, Robin Butterworth, Juana Gomez, Elsa Gonzales, Antonio Rivas, Frieda Krieger, Tom Alejo, Meade Fischer, Scott & Leslie Jones, Marian Martinez, Melissa Matlow, Abel Mejia, Hector & Amy Meza, Barry Kirschen, Carol Hamilton, Sandy Oppenheim, Karen Osmundsen, Carol Summers, Jean Piraino, Dorthea Neri Ponti, Bobby Salazar, Jennifer Selden, Elizabeth Tatum, Lenny & Geri Wolff, Bernard Feldman, and Pat O'Hara.
REBECCA GARCIA FOR COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. Rebecca said to check out her website for endorsements, I did and you should too, but here's the Garcia- endorsing- elected officials names; Simon Salinas, Felix Robles, Gary Reece, Ana Phares, Tony Campos, Rachel Spenser, Al Smith, Antonio Rivas, John Leopold, Claudine Wildman, and Oscar Rios. Among other names are Abraham Zuniga, Amy Newell, Arturo Cantu, Becky Campos, Bob Swenson, Carlos Rico, Celia Organista, Dennis Osmer, Denise Holbert, David Trevino, Dora Salinas, Francisco Serna, Geoffrey Smith, George Couch, George Ow, Gloria Garcia, Jennie Velasco, Dr. Jeffrey Salinas, Jason Pineda, Joe Moreno, Julie Edwards, Les Gardner, Lillian Roybal Rose, Lisa Massey, Lupe Nava, Manuel Osorio, Maria Gitin, Mas Hashimoto, Mary Benitez, Mary Carlon, Paul Nava, Pegi Ard, Peggy Brooks, Shary Carvalho, Sylvia Mendez, Teresita Hinojosa, Todd McFarren, Vera Romandia, Vince Garcia, and Yolanda McFarren.
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THIRD DISTRICT. The Sierra Club has now given its official endorsement to Christopher Krohn. The Democratic Central Committee voted; Neal Coonerty 15, Christopher Krohn 1, Jonathan Boutelle 0 and No Endorsement 0. The Peoples Democratic Club voted Christopher Krohn 46, Neal Coonerty 28, Jonathan Boutelle 0, and No Endorsement 1. And no word yet from the SEIU.
SANTA CRUZ BUSINESS COUNCIL. Here's an update on members of the Santa Cruz Business Council. Sister Julie Hyer, Dominican Hospital. Kaylor Shemberger Watsonville Community Hospital. Dr. Larry de Ghetaldi, Santa Cruz Medical Clinic. Marvin Labrie, Physicians Medical Group. Satish Sheth, RMC Pacific Materials. Molly Evans, Santa Cruz Sentinel, Ted Burke, Crows Nest. Charlie Canfield and Chris Reyes,Boardwalk/Seaside Corp. Larry Pearson, Pacific Cookie Company. David Heald, Santa Cruz County Bank. Ken Kannappan, Plantronics. Linda Burroughs, Real Estate. Janene Adema, Community Bank of Central California. Sandy Eason, Coast Commercial Bank, Bruce Wolpert, Granite Rock. Kurt Kniffen, Granite Construction. Gary Manfre, Watsonville Coast Produce. I still wonder for a group that takes political stances (pro highway widening, pro Coast Hotel, endorsing local candidates etc.) who gets to join this group? No non profits, no weekly newspapers, no Bay Federal Credit Union, no Community Credit Union, no cultural organizations, and yes James Conklin who lives in Stockton, is still running this show.
SAUL LANDAU, PART II. Go to http://www.progresoweekly.com/index.php?progreso=Landau&otherweek=1143698400 for the second part of Saul Landau's Vietnam Diary. The site has dozens more Landau articles. There are plenty of late breaking news articles on Venezuela, Cuba, and almost all the rest of Latin America.
ELECTION DAY. JIM BIERMAN'S PLAY. Jim Bierman's play as directed by Danny Scheie is like a page from Wikipedia gone wild. It's about the Third District Berkeley City election and problems on the UC Berkeley Campus (wink, wink!). Look up the Voynich Manuscript and you'll see what I mean. If you know about people and places such as John Dee, Edward Kelley, Wolfgang Rosenberg, Dr. Faustus, Rebecca O'Malley, hermetic philosophy, The Berkeley Daily Planet, the Enochian language, William Shakespeare, Tristan and Isolde, Angels, computers, Elsinore and Hamlets Chess you maybe could figure it all out. Instead it's more fun just to laugh a lot. The student actors do their job and Susannah Freedman as Edna Farmer the Homeland Security agent is ready for prime time. It plays Thu-Fri-Sat-Sun 7pm. At UCSC's Experimental Theatre. Call 459-2159
UNITED 93. An unforgettable film, and a shattering experience. Using no recognizable actors, this intense thriller recreates every imaginable second of United Flight 93 up to the moment it crashes in rural Pennsylvania instead of The White House. It's not a feel good film, it is not a cathartic experience, and it is completely tragic. You will run every possible emotion and you'll be forced to ask yourself what you would have done, or what you will do IF and when you too face certain death. Who would you call, what action would you take, how courageous would you be? The film is a near Greek tragedy combined with one of the most riveting suspenseful films I've ever seen. See it in theatres not at home, for the full experience.
THE PROMISE. This is supposed to be China's most expensive film ever produced, but that doesn't mean it's much good. It is so jam packed with computer generated effects that it's closer to a Japanese anime film than any real camera work. It took every bit of fantasy, anti gravity spinners, and lush dream sequences from Flying Daggers, Crouching Tiger and Hero and pasted them into this very confusing ghost saga. You can buy the DVD for $10.99
LONDON NELSON DEDICATION CEREMONY. Some friends at the Museum of Art & History told me last week that it's true that it reads LONDON Nelson on his death certificate. It reads LONDON Nelson in the June 8, 1860 Santa Cruz News newspaper that covered his death and his life. It says LONDON in the Pacific Sentinel of Oct.17, 1861 that tells about Nelson giving his property to the school children of Santa Cruz. It's always LONDON Nelson except where someone misread his signature. Historian Leon Rowland in his Annals of Santa Cruz (1947) called him LONDON Nelson. Some jerk edited Rowland's Annals in 1980 and misspelled it Louden. Be all that may, this Saturday at the Evergreen Cemetery at LONDON's grave site, the local chapter of E Clampus Vitus (EL Viceroy Marquez De Branciforte Chapter 1797), a stalwart and upstanding group, will dedicate a special plaque in LONDON's Honor. It is guaranteed to be a memorable occasion. Mayor Cynthia Mathews will say a few words, MAH director Paul Figueroa will say something too. E Clampus Vitus has erected 100's of historically accurate plaques all over California and the west coast. It's the second thing they do best.
DEBRA BOWEN FOR SECRETARY OF STATE & ENDORSEMENTS. The California Democratic Party Convention endorsed Debra Bowen in Sacramento last Saturday with an amazing 80 % of the delegate vote. That's the highest percentage of any Democrat running for statewide office. Meanwhile, constant reader but-doesn't-agree-with-me-all-of-the-time Ted Burke of Crow's Nest repute, said my reporting of the S.F. Chronicle endorsing Debra Bowen over Bruce McPherson for Secretary of State wasn't quite right. He's right!! I got an email from Bowen's camp and didn't notice that the Chron did indeed enthusiastically endorse Democrat Bowen but only over her Democrat opponent in the Democratic primary. We'll have to see if they endorse McPherson in the Fall.
CHANCELLOR DENTON'S SECURITY GUARDS. Liz Irwin, UCSC's Public Associate Vice Chancellor called to say that not a thing I wrote about the rumor that Chancellor Denton's house now has two security guards was true. It must not be true! After last week's column, Amelia Timbers sent a letter to the editor to BrattonOnline.com in which she states: "I am a little surprised that you are surprised that the Chancellor's home has guards. There are reasons. A brick was thrown through a window in her home. Another time, a student showed up and refused to leave without seeing her. And then, there is Tim Fitzmaurice leading a march on her house.
Similarly, there has been vandalism and destruction of property both on and nearby campus. While no one knows who is responsible, based on people's previous record of respect for the Chancellor's privacy, I think she has grounds for concern.
To me, this amounts to a monumental void in reason, rationality, respect, maturity and effectiveness on the part of protesters who have forced the chancellor into hiring guards to ensure the safety and privacy they carelessly threaten".
Sincerely, Amelia Timbers.
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SYMPHONY. This Saturday night's Berlioz' Requiem performance is one night only and every Santa Cruzan should be there. Full orchestra, four brass bands, 10 kettledrums plus as part of its annual collaboration the concert will feature the Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus, under the direction of Cheryl Anderson, singing one of the most monumental choral works ever written... The Requiem utilizes chorus, orchestra, additional brass bands and an enormous percussion sectionit's an unforgettable experience. Audience members will enjoy the drama and dramatic contrasts. A free pre-concert talk by Don Adkins will be held at 7 PM, Saturday, in the Civic Auditorium. Tickets are available at the Santa Cruz Civic Box Office, 420-5260, online at santacruzsymphony.org, or at the door. Tickets $17-$55.
GARY PATTON AND HIS KUSP PROGRAMS. Click here.
SANTA CRUZ FILM FESTIVAL. There are schedules all over the County or got to www.santacruzfilmfestival.com . Amazing selections, happy screenings and some never to be forgotten films. Don't miss them!!
THE SEVEN WONDERS OF WORLD... UPDATED. You take your basic world wonders like The Acropolis, The Alhambra, The Statue of Liberty, and your Sydney Opera House... well, anyways, the powers that be are going to select the new seven wonders of the world pretty soon. If you want to pick your choice out of all the 21 finalists go here; http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20060424/7wonders_hum_print.html
SCIENTOLOGY AND APTOS ACADEMY. Yet another reader asks the ongoing question: what affiliation does The Aptos Academy have with L. Ron Hubbard's Scientology> This nagging question has never been answered in public that I know of. You can go online and look up Sea Org members, www.able.org (Association for Better Living and Education, The Happiness Kids, www.helplearn.org, Applied Scholastics, you can check out the director of the Academy Shea Pase and see her connection with Scientology...it never ends. Let me know if you've ever found any proof, or it just some dissatisfied parents and former Scientologists stirring up stuff.
QUOTES. "I owe a lot to my teachers...and mean to pay them back someday." -Stephen Leacock. "My father wanted me to have all the educational opportunities he never had, so he sent me to a girl's school." -Jack Herbert. "I won't say ours was a tough school, but we had our own coroner. We used to write essays like "What I'm going to be IF I grow up." -Lenny Bruce.
Deep Cover
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