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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CONGRATULATIONS SWIFT STREET NEIGHBORS. Alan Pagano, Superintendent of Santa Cruz City Schools even says in a written statement that the sentiment of the neighbors was a factor in the SCCS deciding to remove their appeal of the Swift Street Bus Depot Project. The City Council was going to hear the appeal but the school board requested postponing that hearing and now they withdrew it entirely. Pagano says the City Schools want to be good neighbors, he also says they want to re-revalue any and all other possible facilities. It was a cruel and nearly bizarre case where you had the schools owned by the City actually fighting the residents who didn't want their neighborhood ruined by their own buses. It was a good job of a neighborhood organizing against unwanted development of their environment.
TWO WEEKS AGO'S HISTORIC PHOTO. Click on May 2007 in the archives (on your right) to see that very early photo of downtown Santa Cruz the Plaza corner of Pacific and Front intersection. Michael Lewis of KUSP emailed in to state... "I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate the historical photos in your column. I was a professional photographer for twenty-five years in a previous lifetime, specializing in archival quality reproduction and conservation of historical photographs. I sink deeply into these photographs!
Two things about this particular photograph: 1) it was taken with very slow, orthochromatic film, which washes out the sky (overly sensitive to blue and ultraviolet) and causes anything moving to reduce to a blur. That's why the picture has so few people in it; most are on the move, with the exception of the lazy fellow right foreground who was probably the photographer's assistant.
2) Notice the shutters on the Journal Office Building, most closed, some of them open on the left side. I suspect this may have been an impromptu darkroom arrangement inside. It was a common practice during this time period to prepare printing frames indoors (negatives sandwiched between glass with photographic paper), then set them out on a balcony for exposure. After a few minutes, the frames were taken inside for the exposed print to be processed, washed and dried. It looks like there is something on the balcony underneath the opened shutter on the left side of the picture. Just a guess without having seen the detail of the original image. Thanks again, Michael Lewis Bwthyn Lleuad Bae North Twin Lakes. Nope, I have no idea what Bwthyn LLeu etc. means, probably some KUSP secret code.
LAST WEEK'S RORY CALHOUN PHOTO. Local history enthusiast Len Klempnauer emails to tell us "a rodeo was held in Felton in 1956 or 1957, and Rory Calhoun and his wife, Lita Baron, made an appearance. I attended the rodeo and remember seeing them. I don't know whether the photo of Calhoun was taken at that time. The Sentinel files could tell you the year of the rodeo". Len Klempnauer, Capitola. Thanks Len, I'm still trying to figure out where that photo was taken. Somebody told me it was (judging by the vivid floral pattern) in the mezzanine of The Del Mar Theatre. Others have said it's the Deer Park Inn or looking at the mural maybe the Palomar Hotel??
PAJARO VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. Peter Nichols wrote a piece for The Register Pajaronian titled "I'm Going To Be Blunt Here" and he sent BrattonOnline a copy. In it he says interim superintendent Mary Anne Mays is like George Bush, patronizing, bullying, and contemptuous. Then he tells how Mays will manipulate proceedings so that Rowland Baker will be their next Superintendent of schools. Peter Nichols is the husband of Sandra Nichols member of the PVUSD board. It's well worth reading, click here.
AWAY FROM HER. Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent should receive something better than Oscars but make sure they both get at least Best Actor (and Best Actress to use the old term). It's a scary monster movie dealing with one of the deadly three monsters of our time Alzheimer's disease. (Cancer and Parkinson's).
10 QUESTIONS FOR THE DALAI LAMA. More insipid than inspired, the 11th question to Mr. D. Lama should be…Why did you let this fawning-jerk-wannabe-documentary film maker take up your time?
SHREK THE THIRD. Sure it broke box office records and yes, which proves people are desperate for some entertainment, but it's still the worst and most talky of the Shrek films. Yes, there are a few "grown-up" takeoffs/parodies in it but absolutely nothing you haven't seen or imagined before….wait and rent it.
GEORGIA RULE. Jane Fonda's 70, Felicity Huffman is 45 and Lindsay Lohan is 21, so age-wise this films works out. And the fact that they are all good actors(and actresses to use the old term) sure helps, but the directing of Georgia Rule is non- existent. It's as if the director chickened-out and went with fewer takes or didn't dare push this trio into some really memorable scenes. Rent this one too because it is fun to watch their interacting.
28 WEEKS LATER. Some folks don't like flesh-eating blood-sucking walking-dead zombie films, but if you saw 28 Days Later about how the experimental Rage Virus escaped in England, this sequel is even better, and that one was very good. The tension, pacing, drama, plus the messages about government, the military, morals, and death warmed-over make this one of the most exciting films I've seen in years.
THE VALET. Funnier than Avenue Montaigne and just as French. And don't worry Gerard Depardieu is not in it, but Daniel Auteuil is and he carries the whole thing. The same director did The Birdcage and the original The Man With One Red Shoe, so you know it's going to be funny.
PATTON'S PROGRAM. Gary Patton tells us still more about the importance of Monterey County's measure A and how much attention groups from around the state are giving to it. The measure if passed could easily change the coastal environment forever. Patton reveals good sources of information on Measure A and it isn't TV ads!!! He closes by relating just how important land use issues and decisions are to life around Monterey Bay and the earth and why we should stay involved.
LANDAU'S PROGRES.Go to http://www.progresoweekly.com to read about how Tony Blair and Colin Powell's approval aided Bush in creating the IRAQ disaster.
Click here to read Saul Landau's article on new evidence on the Kent State student assassinations by the National Guard were ordered by authorities.
ELERICK'S INPUT. Paul and Sharon are probably attending meetings in Oahu discussing how to widen the path between the pupu's and the mai tai's.
EAGAN'S EFFRONTERY. Check out Mr. Eagan's visual opinions on just how much weight HIS word has in our little world
CHRISTINA WATERS WEIGHS IN. This week Christina reviews the new Julie Christie flick "Away from Her" and she reveals the top cursed restaurant locations in the area. More on her chocolate favorites, so check out christinawaters.com.
SANTA CRUZ CHAMBER ORCHESTRA TO PERFORM THIS SATURDAY.They'll be performing works by Piazzolla, Bragato and Villa Lobos at Holy Cross Church at 8p.m. (check it out here). Joining the Chamber Orchestra for this fun evening of Contemporary Latin American Music are: Mesut Ozgen (Guitar), Seth Asarnow (Bandoneon) and Kelley Maulbetch (Cello). They'll be playing Double Concerto for Guitar and Bandoneon - Astor Piazzolla (1985)
UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. Every Thursday 4-5 pm on KZSC 88.1 fm and online at www.KZSC.org I host University Grapevine, it's an interview program. This Thursday my first guest will be Ted Orland author of Art & Fear and The View From The Studio Door. Both books work to define just what art is. My second guest will be Brian Staufenbiel artistic director of UCSC's Opera Theatre production of Mozart's Magic Flute playing May 31-June 3. Tickets by calling 459-2159.
QUOTES. "Never mistake motion for action." -Ernest Hemingway. "The Royal Navy - rum, sodomy, and the lash." -Winston Churchill. "The trouble with doing nothing is that you can never take any time off." -Hoagy Carmichael.
Solo Guitar Pieces - Villa-Lobos Prelude No. 1 Étude No. 11 Mazurka-Chôro Graciela Y Buenos Aires - Jose Luis Bragato (1971) for solo Cello and string orchestra and 5 Tango Sensations - Astor Piazzolla (1989) for Bandoneon and Orchestra. Tickets at the door or by calling 1 800 838-3006 or at Streetlight Records.
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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THAT DARNED TONY MADRIGAL. At first it seemed the only decent thing to do was to have Lt. Patty Sapone and her highly trained markspeople just shoot him. A firing-squad kind of event. Then because of the use of guns being a little heavy maybe Taser him to death. Or dress Emily and other terribly wronged people in Friars robes and whip him in the town Square or maybe brand him on his forehead with a J for jerk. Now that Emily's Sacramento advisors have advised her to calm down and try not to lose the Latino vote in her political future we can once again look to her for political and humane guidance. But then again, there's that Tannery project of hers' that could haunt her anyway. And isn't it time she brings us up to date on exactly where her Tannery Project stands and just how much has the city invested in it so far?
THE HIGHLAND WATCH NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION SPEAK OUT. Linda Bottarini is one of the most active members of the Highland Neighbors. They are up in arms over the proposed development proposed by Clifford Bixler. Here's Linda's report on their last meeting
May 15, 2007
Dear Neighbors,
This is to give you a brief summary of the meeting that was held on May 8 between members of our neighborhood and the developers of 340 Highland. Planning Director Greg Larson moderated the sometimes emotion-filled two and one-half hour meeting. About 35 people attended and had an opportunity to look at the new plans and to ask many questions.
Representing the developers, Clifford Bixler informed us that the current Ambassador Apartments, built in 1961, are no longer safely habitable. He said the Ambassador is in need of such extensive repairs that the owners needed to demolish it and replace it with condominiums.
The new replacement plans now show 28 condominiums with 60 bedrooms (four 3-bedroom units, twenty-four 2-bedroom units.) As previously, the plans show a stucco-sided, tiled-roof structure, with a footprint covering all of the level land of the lot. The height now varies from 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 stories above current ground level. There would be underground parking with 70 spaces. {The current development at 340 Highland is of two stories, with 13 rental units containing 27 bedrooms and with 28 ground level parking spaces.}
Neighbors raised a number of concerns.
• The problem identified most often was that the larger development would add to the immediate and greater neighborhood traffic congestion, already out-of-compliance with respect to traffic loads. The increase would be in addition to that resulting from other recently completed and approved projects in the greater neighborhood. The cumulative effects are overwhelming to many.
• Also of great concern was the impact of a project of this size at this insular location upon the safe use of the lanes that provide access to 340 Highland and upon the livability of the residences adjacent to the lanes.
• Several expressed the opinion that the size of this proposed project is still incompatible with the suburban nature and scale of the neighborhood.
These above critical issues were not resolved by the meeting.
There also were some concerns raised that might be addressed by Conditions, Covenants, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) should this project eventually be approved. These included the impact of noise from the units on surrounding neighbors, especially of the commons/"party" area, and the proportion of units that would be owner-occupied. Furthermore, many other important issues were raised but not resolvedtoo many to list in this brief summary.
Mr. Bixler opined that it was his right to put in at least 21 units, and that according to the RM zoning for the property, he could build the 28 proposed. While Mr. Bixler said he was empathetic with the neighbors' concerns and would like to work with us, nevertheless for him the bottom line was that our rights were in conflict with his. At the end of the meeting he said that the plans were nearly ready to resubmit and no substantial changes would be made.
So we conclude that these developers think we should have no input on the design and scale of this development or upon its subsequent impact on our lives in the neighborhood.
This is not the viewpoint of the Highland Watch Neighborhood Association. We believe that the development should be consistent with the character of the neighborhood in suburban style, scale, and historic qualities. We believe that it should enhance our neighborhood, not create more problems, especially concerning traffic, parking and general livability. The currently proposed project does not meet these criteria.
We will continue to alert you to important information about the project and to how you can make your views about it known.
Highland Watch Neighborhood Association.
There, gentle readers is a grand example of the community working together to let developers and the City Officials know what they want. Now to get those elected officials on the ball and listen to the people who elected them.
RAINBOW FOODS IN SAN FRANCISCO. While we try real hard to forget the TWO Whole Foods stores opening around our corner here's an interesting story about Rainbow Foods in San Francisco...It's a long story but it also contains the past, present and future of our Santa Cruz grocery world. Be sure to read where the City of San Francisco helped Rainbow Foods because they were creating so many jobs.
History of Rainbow Grocery - Part Two The Move to 15th and Mission The Rainbow Grocery and, particularly, General Store divisions continued to grow. Indeed they had outgrown the confines of their 2,000 square foot storefront on 16th Street. In 1983, Rainbow moved to a 9000 square foot space on 15th and Mission. Business jumped 68% in the first year at the new site. With this influx of money, workers were able to give themselves their first substantial raise and obtain group health insurance. Another advantage of the move was that it allowed the Grocery and General Store divisions to share the same building, which promoted cultural cohesion. Yet, each division retained it own cash register system, policies, organizational structure, etc. There were even rules restricting workers from being in both collectives at the same time. People got around those rules, of course, but there was little inter-divisional, even little interdepartmental working in that period. Another significant organizational development made in preparation for the move was creation of a Board of Directors, who met regularly beginning in 1982. Prior to 1982, all decisions were made in "Joint Meetings" of all workers from the Grocery and General Store divisions. READ THE REST HERE AND ESPECIALLY READ THE HEALTH FOOD INDUSTRY TODAY. More than the article, this is a link to Rainbow Grocery's own website, check it out see what a home owned natural foods business can develop into.
MORE ON WHOLE FOODS. Here's another article this one from Slate dated March 17, 2006.Written by Field Maloney of The New Yorker, it gives an honest picture of just how much or less green produce from Whole Foods really is. The surprise is that Maloney closes by asking if Wal-Mart's democratizing of our national foods supply may possibly be better for us than Whole Foods...it's more sustainable. It's something to chew on as they say. Chew here
LOS ANGELES TRIP. Other than the above, this is a shorter column than usual because I spent last weekend in Mar Vista near Santa Monica with daughter Jennifer's family which certainly includes my two grandsons. Whew, just whew! Grandchildren are enough to almost make one believe in angels, except for the devil thing.
MUSEUM OF JURASSIC TECHNOLOGY. Grandson George (age 7) and I went to see the fabled Museum of Jurassic Technology. It's in Culver City right next to Mar Vista and it's one of those never- to- be- forgotten sights to see. Look for their website, read all about the worlds only exhibits of their kind. Mind boggling, puzzling, funny, nearly political. Whatever you end up thinking about it, you won't be the same after you see it. It's on Venice Boulevard near Robertson.
A SMALL MISTAKE. I said last week that the Boardwalk imports students from Germany to live in La Bahia and work for low wages all summer. It's bigger than that. This year students from Singapore, The Ukraine, and all over Europe are paying $975 for one bedroom and $1200 for two bedrooms in La Bahia. There are about 100 UCSC students living there now. They must leave by June 17th so the foreign student Boardwalk labor force can move in.
ELERICK'S INPUT. Paul and Sharon are inputting in Oahu these 2 weeks.
PATTON'S PROGRAM. Read Gary's views on State Proposition 1C and what it means for affordable housing. There's more on Infill housing in Monterey County (our counties future??) then there's info on Toro Park and the Marks Ranch and developers pressure to exploit.
CHRISTINA WATERS WEIGHS IN. Christina discovers a new wine, a great spring dish and a passel of free-range pigs this week at http://christinawaters.com
EAGANS EFFORTLESS EFFRONTERY. Scroll down to be part of Tim's experience of tripping with the troops.
SAUL LANDAU'S PROGRES. Read Saul's article on what is Bush's mission in Iraq? What has he accomplished? Saul concludes that it has always been the establishing of a permanent USA base in the middle of the oil rich middle East. Surprised?? http://www.progresoweekly.com <-- click there.
FAMOUS FILMS FIRST LINES Clytia Fuller the folk goddess, and host of KZSC's Heaven's Bar and Grill (Fri. 9 –noon 88.1 fm) asked me recently "when you give away free tickets to the Nickelodeon and Del Mar and Videos at Cedar Street Video why not do a quiz on famous first lines from movies"? So I figured that's weird since some few books do have famous first lines, but everyone I've talked to since then agrees that it's odd to realize that movies just don't have famous first lines. Sometimes films have famous lines, but only extremely rarely is it the opening line. And they sure aren't well known, think about that. Yes, there is Citizen Kane and Star Wars and films adapted from books with big deal first lines but which else??
WAITRESS. This is a cute comedy film dealing with the tragedies in the lives of three southern waitresses. Clever, insightful, but nothing really special. It will however be known as the last film by Adrienne Shelly who directed and acted in it. She plays Dawn. Adrienne even brought her real life baby daughter into the film at the ending. Adrienne was tragically murdered in her New York apartment last November, and that fact haunts the film.
THE RIVER STREET PARKING GARAGE OUTDOOR DANCE HALL. Here's a message from THE BRAZEN SQUAREDANCE ASSOCIATION. This is a do-not-miss event. This is a sporadic happening and has become no less than legendary. Charming and talented old-time musicians Amy and Karen (http://amyandkaren.net), a rollicking old-time band, and a surprise square-dance caller. Spread the word.
Friday May 18th 5:30pm (sharp) meet at top of River Street Parking Garage between River and Front Streets near Wells Fargo That all means live music, dancing in the streets, reclaiming public space,(square dance instruction will be provided) bring: water & snackies and your dancing feet.
A report back from October's Brazen Square-dance: Read the story here about previous public Square Dances, they sound great. Do-si-do this way.
HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE. This play opening Friday May 25 going through June 16 should be quite a theatrical experience. The author Paula Vogel won a Pulitzer for it, it played 14 months off Broadway, it won an Obie, the Drama Desk Award, The New York Drama Critics Award, and the Outer Circle Critics Award. It'll be at the Actors Theatre and it's directed by Paul Moriconi who's been active with local for the past nine years. The promotion for the play says it's a story about a disturbing subject that is both darkly funny and tragic. It's about the relationship between a young girl from a tightly knit lower middle class family and the older man, her uncle she turns to as a father figure. The New York Times loved it. Call the Civic Box-office for advance tickets at 420-5260. For information call the Actors Theatre at 425-7529
KZSC FM's PLEDGE
DRIVE GOES OVER THE TOP. Big thanks to everyone who pledged funds to KZSC 88.1FM we went over the top faster than planned. That says a lot for local radio and also for you folks who listen around the world online.
UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. Every Thursday from 4-5 p.m. I host University Grapevine. This Thursday I'll be talking first with Paul Moriconi director of How I Learned to Drive, the new play opening at Actor's Theatre. In the second half of the program my guest will be G. William Domhoff retired UCSC Professor of Psychological Sociology. We talk all about his research and books on the meaning of our dreams.
QUOTES. These are more gems sent in by Marvin Kaplan.
"We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out." -Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962. "The abdomen, the chest, and the brain will forever be shut from the intrusion of the wise and humane surgeon." -Sir John Eric Ericksen, British surgeon, appointed Surgeon-Extraordinary to Queen Victoria 1873. "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." /b> -Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943. "I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year." -The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957
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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SENTINEL AND THE BOARDWALK. Shana McCord Sentinel Staff writer, must be on her way to a Pulitzer with the first part of an "occasional series- examining the cultural, political and economic role of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk" that the Sentinel printed in this Sunday's Sentinel May 6th. Shana is probably only warming up to include the lawsuits that the Boardwalk has filed against the city. Soon after that we'll probably be reading about the cities' position that the Boardwalk has been using city property for a parking lot illegally since the mid 30's. There'll for sure be stories about how the Boardwalk has tried to illegally fence-off part of the public beach from the public...that'll be exciting reading too. Shana must have past records of Boardwalk owner Charlie Canfield's many battles with the city to not pay the same business taxes as all other area businesses do. Hopefully the Sentinel will tell how that age old myth of hiring so many locals is only a myth. The Sentinel will undoubtedly reveal (even though all of the City Council knows it) that the Boardwalk rents the dark dingy La Bahia apartments to UCSC students during the school year then throws them all out in the summer. Because in the summer the Boardwalk imports unsuspecting students from Germany with wild promises of American high times then they must live in the La Bahia and become Boardwalk's low paid labor each summer. But we don't want to ruin the suspense...let's all watch the "Political and Economic role of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk" in our San Jose Santa Cruz Sentinel. "All the News That's fit To Truck"
SENTINEL UPDATE. Here are the latest words from my secret source inside the Sentinel, and the news is sad. "Information is harder to come by these days; it's the wounded walking, dazed and wondering what will happen next. As you know the presses have gone silent and the paper is now printed in San Jose. The switch over hasn't been as smooth as hoped for this week. The papers have been arriving late from San Jose, which means the couriers are under more pressure to place inserts into the paper, fold, and rubber band the final product, and of course deliver the paper. Ultimately, customers have been receiving their paper later then the normal delivery times".
"The Sentinel was also shorted almost a 1000 copies of their weekly entertainment section called, The Guide. The problem was corrected the following day (customers received a copy in the next day's edition). Did anyone happen to catch the Sentinel article on May 2, reporting that The Guide won a major award? I'm glad no categories included delivery times. I hope someone at the SJ Mercury realizes they are now responsible for the Sentinel and its customers. It is clear to see that if delivery delays from the Mercury continue to occur, the Sentinel is left to clean up the mess and ultimately pay the price in lost subscriptions".
"No news on the building, we see people walking around with some sort of plans in hand, for whom, is anyone's guess. As far as where the Sentinel will move to, also remains a mystery. A couple more people were laid off over the last few weeks; they seem to pick us off in either large groups or one by one" End of email from inside Sentinel Source.
ABOUT GAS BOYCOTT ON MAY 15TH. The email message this last week to urge everybody to NOT BUY GAS on May 15th is now at the number one spot of online hoaxes. I've never received so many well-intentioned emails on one topic ever. Please go to Snopes and look up gas boycott and see how many years it's been round and why it didn't ever work and couldn't work. Does anybody honestly think stocking up and buying gas on May 14 instead of May 15th would change anything??
FIRST FRIDAY ART TOUR. It isn't too new but the idea of the First Friday night of each month being open house at most of our art galleries and of course MAH is really catching on. Last Friday night I made it to MAH and saw the new Boardwalk Centennial Exhibit, then to Hide Gallery down on Front Street and saw the Bruce Telopa show then finally to the Felix Kulpa Gallery (both Felix and Mea Kulpa were away). You can see a tiny version of the current show of photographs, paintings and various graphics by going to www.roseking.org/TheArtGroup. This collection of works by The Community Of Artists is up now through July St. It's the hottest show in town, don't miss it. The Kulpa Gallery is at 107 Elm Street right behind Streetlight Records and is open 11am-7 pm Wednesday-Sunday.
DAVID McREYNOLDS EDGE LEFT COLUMN. David McReynolds the once Socialist Party candidate for president of the USA writes this column just sometimes, but when he does it's worth reading. This one is about the LA Police. Click here
PHIL COLLINS TO TEACH MUSIC AND THEATRE APPRECITATION COURSE.
Phil Collins of New Music Works fame is scheduled to teach a music & theatre appreciation course focused on the locally-performed repertoire of 3 celebrated Santa Cruz summer festivals: Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, and Cabrillo Stage. The repertoire of these companies will be discussed, and introduced via audio visual media and perhaps, live performances by guest artists. The three performing companies have offered generous ticket packages to students of the course, so attendance does not include significant mandatory fiscal commitments. The class is titled "Performing Arts Attendance/Appreciation," MUS 85Z, it happens Tuesday nights, 6-10pm, July 17-August 7 in Room 204 of the Cabrillo College Music Building. Section #54280. It offers 1 unit of credit. A course description is on page 25 of Cabrillo College Summer Schedule of Classes.
If you are interested, or know of any people who might be interested, PLEASE ENROLL NOW and spread the word. The Cabrillo College administration has given an imminent deadline for achieving minimum enrollment, and if it is not met, the course will be canceled, (alas, before even getting started).
Phil is very enthusiastic about this course. The curriculum (historic and contemporary works of music and dramatic literature) and the pay-off (live performances of the repertoire encountered and discussed in class) together offer a great opportunity to deepen one's appreciation of the excellent performances of music and drama that are produced locally. This course is a collaborative effort by both educational and artistic institutions. It will enrich Santa Cruz' cultural life through heightened awareness and event attendance. They hope to incorporate it in the school's Fall and Spring semesters. The performance series of established area professional performance groups would provide the subject of the course. You can call Phil at 425-3526 but do it rapidly so the college can plan on it.
TIM EAGAN. Does a new take on watching CLASSIC NEWS...scroll downwards.
GARY PATTON. Gary says that contrary to the Sentinel's article Santa Cruz County is growing faster than Monterey County He adds that little ol' Greenfield is growing extra fast..probably too fast to take care of healthy growth problems. Watch the Coastal Commission meetings on TV. And remember that next month will be the decision whether or not to cut 17,000 Monterey Pines to make Clint Eastwood and other developers rich and happy.
SAUL LANDAU'S IN TOWN.(repeat from last week) Saul will be at the Unitarian Fellowship 6401 Freedom Blvd. in Aptos at 7p.m. on May 11. He'll be showing his new film (he's made 40) "We Don't Play Golf Here-and other stories of Globalization" about what foreign investments do to third world countries...in this case Mexico. He'll do a Q &A afterwards.
PAUL ELERICKS INPUT.(Paul's going to Oahu for a couple of weeks so we'll miss his next columns...memorize this one). Read Elerick re: bringing San Jose tourists over the hill to the Boardwalk in Metro buses, how it would help weekend traffic and read how Maggie Ivy and her Convention and Visitors Council is fighting that idea. Read about the Transportation Funding Task Force may cause an opinion poll to happen...at last! Then Paul encloses links to the Campaign for Sensible Transportation's plan so you can see what a good idea it is.
CHRISTINA WATERS WEIGHS IN. Christina's back from her latest Journey to the East, with tidbits about restaurants and museums in the Philadelphia area, at christinawaters.com
SPIDERMAN 3. Well, the facts are that Spidey 3 broke all box office records. The film took in $148 million dollars domestically and another $227 million worldwide, which shows you how important our films have become in foreign markets. It's a foolish film, the creators threw in many more villains than necessary, way too much talking, too little web swinging and those grosses are impressive. Sure they're planning on making more Spiderman flicks, but I predict they'll never top Spiderman 2.
AVENUE MONTAIGNE. One of those cute cuddly French comedies with French stereotypes as far as the eye can see. It's like Amelie, and it was nominated for 5 Cesar awards. The original French title is Orchestra Seats.
LUCKY YOU. It's a poker playing movie starring Robert Duvall, Drew Barrymore and Eric Bana and considering that the game of poker is reputed to be exciting, dark, and sneaky this film isn't any of those. It's light, not much tension, some family drama, and you really should know poker if you go see it, other wise you won't care what happens any more than the characters do.
BLACK BOOK. This film has a little bit Marlene Dietrich, Cabaret, Greta Garbo, all wrapped up in WW2 with Jews and the Dutch resistance fighting the Nazi's. There's a melodramatic touch that seems proper and it's exciting. Paul Verhoeven directed it and after some Hollywood disasters he's back doing his better work again. Go see it.
UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. Michael Keith Olsen agriculturist and journalist and author of "Tales from a Tin Can" which is a book about his dad's adventures on the Navy Destroyer ship the U.S.S.Dale"in WW2 will be my first guest. Gary Shoemaker, the Director of clinical services at UCSC will be my second guest, we'll talk about the campus psychological reactions to Va. Tech and changes in the student makeup over the last 35 years. University Grapevine is on every Thursday KZSC 88.1 FM 4-5 pm and online at KZSC.edu as streamed broadcasting.
KZSC PLEDGE DRIVE. It costs a lot of money to keep a community radio station on the air and when you think that KZSC 88.1 fm now reaches almost all of the entire Monterey Bay you are getting a bargain by supporting it especially now during the pledge drive. Aside from the fact that some of the smartest, brightest students I've ever met are learning about broadcasting, responsibilities of the media, the power of communication AND the station is about to double its broadcast area, we are still privileged to have access to a free voice like KZSC. I would especially like to you call and pledge during my University Grapevine program Thursdays 4-5pm. That way I can continue to bring you City Politics, Campus Politics, Town and Gown events. Tune in 88.1 fm or online then call in...thanks.
QUOTES. Marv Kaplan sent these quotes in.
"Man will never reach the moon regardless of all future scientific advances." -Dr. Lee DeForest, "Father of Radio & Grandfather of Television." "Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons." -Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949. "The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a 'C,' the idea must be feasible." -A Yale University management professor in response to Fred Smith's paper proposing reliable overnight delivery service. (Smith went on to found Federal Express Corp.) "I'm just glad it'll be Clark Gable who's falling on his face and not Gary Cooper." -Gary Cooper on his decision not to take the leading role in "Gone With The Wind." "I don't know what use any one could find for a machine that would make copies of documents. It certainly couldn't be a feasible business by itself." -the head of IBM, refusing to back the idea, forcing the inventor to found Xerox. Next week I'll quote Marv Kaplan
Deep Cover
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
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SAFEWAYS SPRING MEETING. The proposed expansion of the Mission Street Almar Safeway just bounced right along at another of their well scripted, professionally honed meating (sic) of the neighbors last week. Actually even the word expansion is misleading they are building a brand new 60,000 square foot Safeway and then tearing down the old 36,000 Safeway. The new Safeway will be just behind where the old one now sits. The main entrance to the new one will be one straight shot down Miramar Avenue, and if all goes the way Safeway plans... the about to enlarged UC campus and everyone from the Westside will zoom down Miramar, wait for the proposed stoplight that Caltrans will install and zoom across Mission into the new store. Safeway misses no tricks; they've been developing since 1925.
WHO OWNS SAFEWAY? Safeway was acquired by financial capitalists Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts (KKR) in a notorious leveraged buyout in 1986. The Magowan family used to own Safeway. KKR as they are known in the mega bucks industry keeps buying more businesses read on...KKR bought Safeway and Beatrice Foods in 1986, Motel 6 in 1985, RJNabisco, Borden Foods, Regal Cinemas (yes our Regal Cinema 9), Yellow Pages, Evenflo, Sealy, Toys R Us, Masonite, Duracell, and the list is never-ending. For fun reading go to Wikipedia and read about the Skaggs family, then read about Safeway. You'll see how they started "rebranding" in 2005. That means making the stores more like Shoppers Corner only massive. Safeway now sells gas at a price lower than what they buy it for, and charge more for standard items. I found Safeway had olive oil on sale last week at $5 more than Nob Hill's everyday price. Safeway sold their Liquor Barn stores in 1987. Remember Liquor Barn, which is now our Morrissey Post Office?
RETURN TO TOPIC. So for 4 years Safeway's been staging their "neighborhood get-togethers". They hired Debbie Bulger of The Sierra Club and editor of the club's Monterey Chapter Newsletter Ventana as the Safeway outreach coordinator. One audience member called her position "duplicitous" at last week's meeting. The Westside neighbors of the new store location have been attending these meetings organized and controlled by Safeway for 4 years and are now beginning to realize that they need to organize, meet on their own, itemize their demands, present their demands to the City Council and take charge of their neighborhood and the admitted traffic disaster before it's too late. Safeway says if everything goes their way they'll break ground in the summer of 2008 and expect 9months to a year of construction. They haven't sent their plans to the City Planning Department yet. Lynn Robinson was at the meeting ask her what she thinks about the Mission Street Safeway...and let me know.
SAUL LANDAU IN SANTA CRUZ. Saul will be at the Unitarian Fellowship 6401 Freedom Blvd. in Aptos at 7p.m. on May 11. He'll be showing his new film (he's made 40) "We Don't Play Golf Here-and other stories of Globalization" about what foreign investments do to third world countries...in this case Mexico. He'll do a Q &A afterwards.
ELERICKS INPUT. Paul gives a first hand report on John Laird's 2007 Monterey Bay Bash which drew 700 paying guests. Mr. Elerick goes on to talk about No Child Left Behind and State Testing.
PATTONS PROGRAM. Gary talks about the difference between greenfields and brownfields, he says a lot about Monterey's development and land use problems. He praises Santa Cruz County Land Trust and announces a workshop they have coming up. He closes his week by describing what Vision San Benito is working on and the increasing problem of mini- castles (McMansions) around the Monterey Bay.
EAGAN'S EFFULGENCE...Tim takes on truth, believability and attorney firings in general scroll downwards.
SAUL LANDAU'S PROGRES. Saul quotes the great Ray Stevens song and asks "Would Jesus wear a Rolex on his TV show?" Manuel Ramy has a fine article on China and Cuba and how important they are to each other. Click here http://www.progresoweekly.com
SOME KIND OF INTERNET TRICK. Abbi Hartsell of Jazzercise fame sent in this very strange mathematic thing about how often you eat out. See if you can figure it out.
Don't tell me your age; you probably would tell a falsehood anyway - but your waiter may know!
YOUR AGE BY DINER & RESTAURANT MATH
This is pretty neat.
DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST!
It takes less than a minute. Work this out as you read ....
Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!
This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.
- First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to go out to eat. (more than once but less than 10)
- Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)
- Add 5
- Multiply it by 50
- If you have already had your birthday this year add 1757... If you haven't, add 1756.
- Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.
You should have a three digit number.
The first digit of this was your original number. (i.e ., How many times you want to go out to restaurants in a week.)
The next two numbers are
YOUR AGE ! ------ (Oh YES, it is!!!)
THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2007) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS
MURMURS AT SANTA CRUZ METRO. First it was people answering the Metro phone not having a clue about who writes for them or what the content of the paper is. Then it was rumors that editor Bill Forman either left or went on vacation very rapidly. News editor Linda Mattingly is now just part time, from what I can gather. Editor of Metro Silicon Valley Steve Palopoli came back to Santa Cruz last week to fill in, and I asked him what's happening to Metro Santa Cruz...he says just that "Bill Forman is on vacation". Which just goes to show you....
COMMUNITY TV AND NEW LEADERSHIP. Our Community Television of Santa Cruz County has been searching for a new executive director since March. You can check this out on their newly revised and vastly improved website at http://www.communitytv.org One of the looming problems for the new director will be that the financial support that Comcast was forced to provide in exchange for complete freedom and 100% control of their Santa Cruz will stop soon. That will have a huge effect on how the station will be run. You can watch some of the local TV programming on that new website.
OCTAGONAL LULU'S. I mentioned last week how great the coffee is at the new Lulu's at the Octagon. Owner Manthri Srinth told me that's because he's got a Clover Vacuum press coffee machine. I went online and found that these little Clover babies cost just a bit over $11,000 each and there are only a few in California. Manthri says it's worth every cent. He also has a Marzocco Mistral espresso machine which has a dual boiler system, but I haven't tested the espresso yet. As previously mentioned lots of familiar faces at O'lulu's any time you go in. Dan and Alice Harper, Paul Figueroa, Tim Fitzmaurice, County Supervisor Mark Stone, Paul Figueroa, City Planner Greg Larsen and family, Paul Figueroa, the Bookshop Santa Cruz staff, Bruce van Allen and more. As you can see Figueroa is in there a lot.
INVISIBLE. A teenager is almost left for dead and his ghost haunts people to get them to find his body and bring him back to life. It does pose some involving type questions and if you still want to go I can't help you.
THE TV SET. Unfortunately this is about how the plotting and planning of our TV shows actually happens. David Duchovny is great as the writer who watches his work get butchered by Sigourney Weaver and other Hollywood types. If you've ever thought you too had an idea for a TV series, see this film as soon as possible it's wonderful and too short (87 minutes).
CONDEMNED. By watching this film you too become part of the food chain of people who pay to watch violent films and this is brought out in this extra gory violent almost pointless excuse for a film or as a possible Reality TV series. You'll be embarrassed if anyone sees you coming out of the theatre after watching it, believe me.
NEXT. Nicolas Cage stars in another bad movie, and so does Julianne Moore. Hollywood still can't figure out time travel and there are enormous mistakes in this contrived and overworked plot.
INTO GREAT SILENCE. It's gone already but it was a very long documentary about the Carthusian Brothers who are the most ascetic order in the Catholic Church. They don't talk, just pray and make Chartreuse and the new hip Vertical Vodka. I normally wouldn't write about a film that's gone already, but I can't get it out of my mind. A genuine meditation of a film plus it has gorgeous photography. It would be a waste to watch a video version.
VACANCY. One of those "don't stay at that creepy motel with that creepy type guy behind the counter", type films. It deals with snuff films, and Kate Beckinsale is in it. The thing is that the film is genuinely scary, keeps moving, and yes, you've seen it many times before.
MADAMA BUTTERFLY, THE OPRERA. Opera San Jose's current Madama Butterfly is nearly perfect. It is a traditional, almost old-fashioned production, the voices are wonderful, and Puccini's music is classic. It only plays through May 6th and there might not be any tickets left for this weekend but try. Call 408 437-4450 or go to www.operasanjose.org
EXONERATED, THE PLAY. Once again Pisces Moon productions has taken on a deep and complex play The Exonerated and made a success of it in every way. Six real people who were freed from death row because they were proven innocent tell their stories, and we get to think about that. The tragedy, the concept of revenge, our entire criminal system is all there, on stage. It plays now through May 26, and there are only 9 performances left. Go to www.piscesmoon.org to order tickets. Don't miss it.
SHAKESPEARE GROUP AT MAIN SC LIBRARY. Shakespeare experts Don Young and Jeff Towle are moving their Shakespeare Discussion group from Aptos to the second floor of the Santa Cruz main library for their four free discussions of Shakespeare's Macbeth. The group meets at 10am and goes to 12 noon. No prior knowledge of Macbeth or Shakespeare is necessary. It's all free, actually it's very free, relaxed and everybody learns some more about the play and Willie himself. Get a copy of the play, (the $5 Pelikan edition is suggested) and join us this Saturday May 5th.
COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS SHOW AT FELIX KULPA. 25 years ago a disparate group of creative people in Santa Cruz started meeting regularly to "cross fertilize" each others work. They still get together, with some changes in personnel. They call themselves A Community of Artists and for the first time as a group they have a show at The Felix Kulpa Gallery behind Streetlight Records on Elm Street. The Exhibit of their digital ands film type photography opens on First Friday Art Walk, May 4th 6-9 p.m. and runs through July 1st. Most of the names involved are very well known, and it'll be talked about for years don't miss it.
UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. As mentioned previously, I host the University Grapevine radio program every Thursday 4-5 pm on KZSC 88.1. My first guests this week will be Ken Koenig and Ted Orland who will talk about the Community of Artists exhibit at the Felix Kulpa gallery. Then Jeffery Smedberg will talk about the May Day Labor Film Festival running now through May 11.
QUOTES. "Never rub bottoms with a porcupine." -Jane Philbin. "Some people can stay longer in an hour than others can in a week." -William D. Howells. "We were so poor we didn't even have a lavatory brush. We used to tie my pet hedgehog to a stick and tell him to hold his breath." -Roy Brown.
Deep Cover
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
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