THE MC HUGH BIANCHI STORE. 1972 This lovely old store welcomed everybody to our downtown starting when it was Hotalings Building, then Hinkle's Cash Store and, back in 1972 a lot of people tried to save it. But we lost it to people like Ryan Coonerty and other city council members who would sell anything to raise a buck for the city, because they can't think of any other way to raise money. Now we have that bank building, sitting there... but we still have SCOPE PARK right across the street. We need to save SCOPE PARK. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection, click for bigger version. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

LUIS ALEJO ON IMMIGRATION. Watsonville attorney Luis Alejo gave an excellent talk last Thursday night at the Peoples Democratic Club on the current immigration legislation and situation. Everyone at the meeting agreed it was an excellent presentation of a very complex problem. Luis wrote a note to PDC president Bill Malone Luis stated, "I sincerely enjoyed giving the talk and all the questions that were raised are those that so many are thinking about. I understand that there are no simple answers. It's sort of like the question of how do we improve public schools. There is no panacea, magic bullet or the like. We try to make improvements in certain aspects of the immigration issue, but it also involves a larger commitment by this government and our society as a whole to address the really tough issues. For immigration, part of a solution is eliminating poverty and promoting economic development in the home countries so millions will not be forced to leave their homes. In the meantime, immigrant advocates are left with trying to improve the lives of those who live in our communities- many who are our own relatives, neighbors, co-workers and friends".

SCOPE PARK. No Santa Cruzan could possibly defend the downright ugliness of the main approaches to our city. Highway One (Mission Street) is an embarrassment as anybody enters town from the North. It's a wonder any traveler has ever bothered to find their way to our downtown. Coming in from the South is just as bad. Highway 17 dumps visitors onto Ocean Street which couldn't be uglier. Why do we continue to make even the heart of our City uglier? We could turn SCOPE PARK into a beautiful sitting area; a space where some of the new businesses and residents that will be moving into North Pacific Avenue could just sit or even have a mobile coffee cart like Logo's that would sell coffees there with lots of little tables. We lost McHugh and Bianchi's, we lost a plaza at Church and Pacific...can't we add to the Town Clock area and turn SCOPE park into something that wouldn't be selling the last few statements of our unique community to make a few quick bucks and lose that space forever?

SENTINEL SACKING. One Sentinel employee (who wants to remain nameless) believed I thought it was funny about Sentinel employees being canned...I don't. I thought I'd made that clear. I think it's sad, even tragic that print newspapers have to lay off so many people. BUT as long as our daily newspaper is firing them, and if the Sentinel really does listen to their readers, we should have a voice or vote in it, and the votes are really coming in, and thanks. I can't print many of the Sack The Sentinel 8 entries but here's an excerpt that's worth reading (I'm keeping all senders anonymous) "Let's add Jondi Gumz to the list of who to fire at the Sentinel. She went from being the University reporter, to being 'at large' with the Business section. Last year, she ran as a Republican for Scotts Valley School Board... and won. You'd think a politician and terrible reporter would be the first to be fired? From what I hear about the Sentinel: Soraya Gutierrez is already leaving to go somewhere else... so that cuts the number of positions that need to be cut. Now here's the question I've been wondering: whose going to report on it? With the Mercury owned by the same company as the Sentinel, they don't cover Santa Cruz news anymore. The Chronicle had their own cut back and can barely cover the City. So who is going to be the Sentinel's watchdog? Word on the street is that Peter Koht from the Good Times may be working up an article", end of email.

ONE MORE SENTINEL SACKING EMAIL. Well here's one more that came in from Boston!!! ..."As far as who should be sacked, I'm with you on Shana McCord. But I feel most concerned about Matt King, the education reporter. He's relatively new (no seniority) but he's clearly the best reporter they have. Also, education news tends not to be all that "sexy" so the suits might feel they can cut that position easily. Knowing the mediocrity at the Sentinel, though, they'll probably keep all the untalented reporters there." end of email. And yes, Don Miller still leads the list.

LATE BREAKING NEWS. SENTINEL LAYOFFS, THE FINAL WORD. Not knowing how the Sentinel will announce the seven layoffs here's the word I got Wednesday 6/27 at noon. If the Sentinel was any kind of paper this list will have appeared on their front page in Thursday's edition...we'll just see. Four reporters are out the door; Roger Sideman, Soraya Gutierrez, Daniel Lopez, and Isiah Guzman. One photographer Kate Falconer. Two from the copy desk Max DeNike and Jonathan Whitaker. Yes, that's only seven, maybe they'll announce Don Miller's name on a special day. Keep on sending those wish lists for Sentinel Sackees they'll be sacking more very soon, you can bet on it.

LANDAU'S PROGRES. Click here www.progresoweekly.com to read one of Saul's most hard hitting articles..."Israel is Bad for Jewish Ethics". Saul says things like, "In the United States, Israeli propagandists and uncritically loyal supporters, including Congress, cling to the image of Israel as a besieged David surrounded by Goliaths, as a nation of democrats and justice seekers isolated in a sea of anti-democratic and unjust enemies". He says "Israel has become Goliath. Hopefully, an Israeli David will also emerge and guide his people toward peace and justice". Do read it.

ELERICK'S INPUT. Mr. Paul Elerick recently returned from San Jose, adds fuel to the growing fire about the political and financial power of the California Prison Guards. He then writes about the Sentinel's "Cops and Courts" feature and how it lacks necessary facts, details and more on a specific incident. Paul's still working on this case.

PATTON'S PROGRAM. Gary writes about the "Integrated Energy Policy Report". He talks about our County Supervisors looking at Orange County Politics and why it matters. Then there's more about AMBAG and a meeting on Thursday. Arroyo Grande in San Luis Obisbo County is pushing the development of a hotel!!! He closes by discussing Sprawl versus Smart Growth.

EAGAN'S EFFULGENCE. See Tim's take on "The American Inventor" scroll downwards as soon as you're finished with all these words.

CHRISTINA WATER WEIGHS IN. Yes, Christina's back from Genoa.....full of pasta and some tantalizing food revelations. Tune into http://christinawaters.com. She also asked me to include this press release from Brad Burkhart: "As you know my Rosecrans Show will be opening in Santa Cruz this coming Friday June 29th at the Louden (he probably means LONDON) Community Center in Santa Cruz from 6-9 P.M. I hope those of you who are in the Santa Cruz area will attend. This will be the first time the entire series will be exhibited. I will be giving a short lecture about the show complimented by a PowerPoint presentation on the cemetery which inspired the series. Get further directions to the show off my website: http://www.burkhart-sculptor.com (look under "new" for the show announcement)".

BRATTON ONLINE VACATION JULY 23-AUGUST 7. As previously mentioned, I'm going on a 2 week vacation and while I'm gone godmomasforge.com (Gunilla Leavitt) is going to do some necessary updating to the column.

WHAT DID SHAKESPEARE REALLY BELIEVE? Ever wonder what Shakespeare thought about such subjects as love, order, war, drunkenness, murder and the responsibility of a king? Don Young and Jeff Towle two devoted scholars and lecturers on Shakespeare will talk all about those topics and more Saturday, June 30 at 10:30 am at Bookworks 36 Rancho Del Mar Center in Aptos. Call 688-4554 for more information. It's free.

T. MIKE WALKER ABOUT FIBER ARTS. First T. Mike sent this announcement...

3rd Annual Fiber Art Exhibit, juried by nationally recognized artists: Susan Else and Rachel Clark June 30 – July 29, 2007, Santa Cruz Art League 526 Broadway Santa Cruz, Hours: Wed – Sat: 12 – 5 PM Sunday 12 – 4 PM Artists Reception: Sunday, July 8, 3:30 – 5 PM Free to the Public. Then he sent this:
Fiber Art Fashion Show: Sunday July 8th , 2 - 3:30 PM SCAL Broadway Theatre $5 - $15 Donation Featuring Creations by Rachel Clark and I.B. Bayo Info: 831-426-5787. Then I got to wondering what fiber art was so I looked up FiberCon and learned how to stay regular, avoid bloating, and soften my-you know what. That didn't seem like art very much so I emailed T. Mike again. He wrote back, "I'm just finding out more about it myself. Some splendid examples of Fiber Art are already at Santa Cruz Art League as we speak. Fiber Artists--weavers, quilters, fabric painters & designers of wearable, hangable art, basketry, beaded work, felted pieces, 2 and 3 dimensional pieces--are bringing in their work to be hung and displayed for this weekend's opening of the show on June 30th. There are over 400 active, working, selling, fiber artists in Santa Cruz County alone. Some of them are internationally famous. For an immediate powerful sample of this, check out the back room at Round Robin Fabrics at 3703 Portola Dr (at 38th Ave), where several stunning Award winning pieces are on display. This is not just "women's" art, either. One of the presenters at our fashion show is the African designer, I.B. Boyo, an Open Studio Participant for many years. Rachel Clark, the other presenter on the show (and co-juror of the 3rd annual show, with Susan Else), an internationally acclaimed fashion designer, is the other half of the Fashion Show team. This is serious art, no doubt about it, emerging unexpected out the hands and minds of weavers and dreamers. Expected the unexpected, and be prepared to laugh and gasp and weep.
Does that answer some of your question? Thanks for asking!" Sounds good to me.

SURF'S UP. This is a clever adult oriented film done as an animated documentary. Not just cute penguins squatting on eggs thing, thank goodness. There are amazing achievements in the CGI wave and flora effects and your little tiny surfers should love this film. Maybe I've already seen too much "John from Cincinnati" but are we getting a lot of surfing in our culture lately, and is it proportional to how many even care??

1408. One of the few Stephen King books that have worked on the big screen. The Shining and Carrie and of course Misery with Kathy Bates and James Caan being the only other three I can think of. John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson do their parts beautifully and this is a very scary film. Good scary too. No cop-out explanations, no phoney scares just good Hollywood/King scary. Don't miss it IF you like "scary".

GOLDEN DOOR. A little bit Scorsese, a little bit Fellini, this is the oft told tale of immigrants coming to the USA. However unlike the rest, the film ends at Ellis Island.
It's impossible not to think about our contemporary Mexican immigrants and what they face as you watch this romanticized piece of history. Several flaws in this film like it is too long and has soul music from 1965 in this "early century" saga. But it's pretty good, and it is a first time film from this director,

NANCY DREW, THE MYSTERY IN THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS. I missed the earlier film series with Bonita Granville (1939) and never read the books but this film has a sort of seriousness and respect for the books and it isn't all that bad. It's set in today's Hollywood and has a surprise cameo with B.W., take the 9-12 aged kids to it.

SAN FRANCISCO'S 12TH ANNUAL SILENT FILM FESTIVAL. I've attended almost every year of this now world famed Silent Film Festival and loved every minute of them all. This year is even bigger and has Leonard Maltin, Robert Osborne (Turner Classic Movies) Mick La Salle, and William Wellman Jr all in person. It opens Friday July 13 with Ernst Lubitsch's Student Prince in Old Heidelberg and goes on for 10 wonderful silent films through Sunday July 15 at 8:45 featuring Cecil B. De Mille's The Godless Girl (1929) It's all at the Castro Theatre and the entire event will probably sell out. Last year more than 9,000 people were there. Go to www.silentfilm.org and I'll save you a seat!!

UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. Every Thursday on KZSC 88.1 fm I host this interview program from 4 -5 p.m. You can hear it world wide on your computer at www.kzsc.org

THIS WEEK. (Thursday June 28) Celeste De Wald, executive director of the California Association of Museums will describe the CAM and tell us what's new in museum business. Then Ellen Primack and Roger Emanuels from the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music will give us clues about the hot tickets for this year's festival, occurring July 30-August 12 www.cabrillomusic.org

NEXT WEEK.(Thursday July 5^th). John Jordan, executive director of The Dickens Universe at UCSC will bring us up to date on this year's universe which happens July 29-August 4^th go to http://dickens.ucsc.edu/index.html . My second guest will be Paul Figueroa from the Museum of Art and History and we'll undoubtedly talk about Plein Air Affaire 2007.

QUOTES. "There's another advantage of being poor-a doctor will cure you faster." -Kin Hubbard. "One out of four people is mentally unbalanced. Think of your closest friends. If they seem okay then you're the one." -Ann Landers. "There are more men then women in mental hospitals, which just goes to show who's driving who crazy." -Peter Veale.

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

1925 American La France fire truck. Owned by the Santa Cruz Fire department and shown here in the Church Street Station. photo credit: Santa Cruz Fire Department collection, click for bigger version. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

MONTEREY PINES SAVED FROM GOLF RESORT DEVELOPMENT! Coastal Commission Rejects Plans to Cut over 17,000 Trees. Click here to read Mark Massara' s reaction to last week's enormous victory over Clint Eastwood's, Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods Investment company. Mark is Director of the Sierra Club's Coastal program. Open that link then read how it was reported in the UK, Ireland, Austria, and The LA Times, San Diego and of course The Monterey Herald who once editorialized support for the developers then when it found out about the 17,000 trees being cut went on record to oppose it. And Clint Eastwood can't make good movies either!!

SACKING THE SENTINEL 8. Thanks for the great responses. One Sentinel staffer, who shall go nameless, thinks it's "hilarious". We'll leave the hilarity part up to you. Aside from Don Miller and Shanna McCord's names, added to staff folk we now have Genevieve Bookwalter's name and even the columnists Laina Farhat-Holzman and Jefferson LeBlanc have been added to the list. Voting will continue until the real list is printed. Let's bet on 1. Will they even print the names? and 2. Will the names also be on the very back page?

CPDES AND THE HOLY GHOST SOCIETY PARADE. CPDES or Colonia Portugueza do Divino Espirito Santo will be having their annual Holy Ghost Society Parade Sunday July 1^st at 10am right down Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz. If you've never been to the CPDES parade you should go. Full of tradition, colorful, and unlike any other parade we see nowadays. The parade is a genuine tribute to our Portuguese community.

SPEAKING OF PORTUGUESE. Now that Cabrillo College is getting all big and fancy with many new buildings we need to make one more change and that's the spelling of the name. Go to this website, it's the Library of Congress, you'll see that the explorer's name is spelled Joao Rodrigues Cabrilho...he was Portuguese. The Spanish who wrote the history changed his name to Cabrillo. The article states clearly that he was Portuguese and it wouldn't have been spelled Cabrillo. Why we continue this racial insult to Cabrilho and even more to London Nelson by knowingly misspelling their names gives us an uncaring, prejudicial reputation. Here's another library of Congress link about Joao Rodrigues Cabrilho. Here's part of what that link says...

Cabrilho's Discovery of California

Portuguese were also involved in the exploration of the west coast of North America. In 1542-43, Portuguese-born João Rodrigues Cabrilho and his chief pilot Bartolomé Ferrelo, who may have been Portuguese, were the first Europeans to explore the coast of the present state of California. Sailing for Spain, Cabrilho left in June of 1542 from Navidad on the west coast of Mexico and proceeded north. He reached San Diego Bay in September, becoming the first European to set foot in what is today the state of California. He continued north along the California coast but died in January 1543 from an infection resulting from a broken arm. Ferrelo, his pilot, continued north, possibly reaching the Oregon coast in March 1543.

AMERICANS SHRINKING...NOW SHORTER THAN EUROPEANS!!! It appears that our height is in direct ratio to your wealth or lifestyle. Read here to see what the History News Network says about Europeans now being taller than we are.

http://hnn.us/roundup/entries/40036.html

PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC CLUB MEETS THURSDAY NIGHT ABOUT IMMIGRANT ISSUES. The PDC meets this Thursday at 7pm at LONDON Nelson Community Center. PDC President Bill Malone says in the new online newsletter

"Attend the June PDC meeting for a presentation and discussion of this important subject.
Congress is discussing and debating immigration reform proposals. Many Democrats agree with President Bush on some immigration issues! Many Republicans disagree with Bush on some issues. Talk about "Strange Bed Fellows!"
There are claims and counter claims. Business claims migrant workers do work most Americans won't do and they are cheap. Labor makes a counter-claim: migrant workers take jobs and drive down wages. Migrants that bring their families are better citizens. However, the families impact local schools and social services. There are too many other conflicting claims to list here. The Club will discuss this issue at our June meeting. We will get a background presentation on the issue and then information on the reform proposals.

Making the presentation and discussing the reform proposals will be Luis Alejo, a Watsonville activist and public interest attorney who has worked on numerous federal, state and local immigrant rights campaigns. Luis is active in local labor union movement and local city-county politics, and is a member of La Raza Lawyers Association of Santa Cruz County. He is also active in Democratic politics: a member of the Democratic County Central Committee and co-founder and co-chair of the Pajaro Valley Cesar Chavez Democratic Club. Luis brings a broad background and understanding to this very important issue. To read the full LATE BREAKING Democrat newsletter go to http://cruzdemocrats.org/pdcnewsletter

ELERICK'S INPUT. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Elerick went to San Jose. Enjoyed Hotel St.Claire and discovered the joys of light rail. I'm not kidding that's what this weeks input is about... read it.

PATTON'S PROGRAM. Gary tells about pressure from developers and how the Marks Ranch in Monterey got saved. Read about the VMT measurement, and how its used in environmental studies. There's a picnic coming up from the native Plant Society and some news about the Isabel Drive huge development of 39 homes and the spine flower.

LANDAU'S PROGRES. Saul talks about the presidential hopefuls Obama, Clinton, Kucinich, Gore and many more and wants someone to be truthful about the empire of the United States. Read it here...

EAGAN'S EFFULGENCE. See how Tim takes on the shielding from Missiles, simply scroll down past the quotes at the bottom.

A MIGHTY HEART. It's an exciting story, the film is almost a documentary, and for sure it is a treat to watch Angelina Jolie in curls as Marianne Pearl, a totally different role for her. Dan Futterman (who wrote Capote) plays the Wall Street Journalist Daniel Pearl who got kidnapped. However the film isn't directed well, or maybe it's just edited poorly. The film isn't exciting, it's confusing and because we know the tragic ending there is little tension.

FANTASTIC FOUR AND THE RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER. This comic book hero film beat Ocean's 13 down to a number 2 spot and made lots of money on opening weekend. Why, I'll never know. It lacks the fun the effects, the plot, of any Spiderman, Superman or Batman film. Ioan Gruffuud (according to IMDB.com it's pronounced "Yo-an Griff- ith") is a very talented actor, aside from personally making several million dollars there aren't many reasons I can think of for him to make these films...matter of fact nobody should. The Silver Surfer character is by far the most interesting creature in the film and he's all CGI with Laurence Fishburne's voice.

CRAZY LOVE.A remarkable documentary, and well worth seeing. This is about that guy who threw acid in his girlfriend's face scarring her for life, and after his prison time they got married and lived unhappily ever after. See it and you still won't believe it.

IPHIGENIE EN TAURIDE, THE OPERA. The San Francisco Opera production of this historic opera by Christoph Gluck was written in 1781. It's not an opera for first time opera goers but treating it as a contemporary story of human desires set in mythical times makes it work remarkably well. And while I'm not a huge fan of contemporary costumes on historical plays, I liked it very much. The stage is mostly black, so are the costumes, there is no stage furniture, or props except swords and blood. If you like contemporary minimalist plays go see this opera quick, there are only 4 more performances. Go to www.sfopera.com

ABOUT A CABIN. I made a plea a few weeks ago to see if anyone had a cabin I could use for a vacation the last two weeks of July. Nothing! I plead again; if you know of anyone who has a remote cabin, no electricity necessary, do let me know. Northern California preferably.

VACATION AND WEBSITE DO OVER IN JULY. During those two weeks in July BrattonOnline.com webwoman Gunilla Leavitt of www.Godmoma.com is going to re-do this website and newsletter. SPAM has taken its' toll on the subscriber list and Gunilla has great ideas for some new looks and directions. Hint... we're going to start asking for financial contributions just like every other website is doing, and start making the advertisements that appear on the right hand side more accessible., and doable.

NICKELODEON NEWS. Jim Schwenterley (Nickelodeon and Del Mar owner) says that just maybe they can work things out and possibly make deals with the landlord out at the Aptos Twin and stay there. Their lease runs until November. The theatre needs some costly fixing up, so we'll see. If you want to reach Jim and management with ideas on films and theatres you can always write your thoughts on that yellow pad in the Nickelodeon lobby, but Jim tells me that by going to www.thenick.com you can send emails that are eagerly read, and acted on too.

UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. Every Thursday from 4-5pm I host University Grapevine on KZSC 88.1FM. This week my first guest will be former Santa Cruzan, former Rio Theatre usher and founder of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival Stephen Salmons. The 12^th annual Festival happens July 13-15, we'll talk about that. My second guest will be James D. Houston author of the new book Bird of Another Heaven, an almost racy novel, we'll talk about that and his illustrious writing career.

QUOTES. "There is no limit to how complicated things can get, on account of one thing always leading to another." -E.B. White. "No issue is so small that it can't be blown out of proportion." -Stuart Hughes. "I have a memory like an elephant. In fact elephants often consult me." -Noel Coward.

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

TOWN CLOCK BEING TAKEN AWAY, July 27, 1964. As you can see, the town clock once sat atop the Odd Fellows Building on Pacific next to what is now O'Neill's Surf Shop, across from Regal 9 theatres. The clock tower sat rotting in Harvey West Park by the baseball fields for more than 10 years before it was restored in time for the Bicentennial in 1976 and installed on top of the fountain structure. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection, click for bigger version. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

THE SELLING OF SCOPE PARK?? Late breaking news has it that the Santa Cruz City Council is considering selling SCOPE Park to Louie Rittenhouse or some other nearby landowner.  SCOPE Park is that rectangle of park at the North West corner of Pacific and Mission across from the Town Clock. It isn't a small piece of land... it's as large as almost any one of the properties (restaurants, stores) along North Pacific. SCOPE (Santa Cruz Organization for Progress and Euthenics) a once very active environmental organization created the park as part of the Town Clock environment. SCOPE was formed in 1963, and gave many awards for improving the environment. Roy Rydell was a key mover in SCOPE.

So apparently Louis Rittenhouse has once again seen the big buck signs looming large because of the huge retail development along North Pacific and made the city an offer to buy SCOPE Park. Fortunately, even though our council is desperate for both creative thinking and money, they can't sell the Park without either a vote of the people saying we are willing to give up park space for Louie, OR unless 5 members of the City Council will say the property is not needed for public purposes. Our Council would certainly bend over for Louie, they did it before and now we have Rittenhouse's Rip-off rising 5 stories above us at Church and Pacific. It was a slightly different council; still they voted unanimously favoring Louie over a possible Plaza or park there. They'll do it again at SCOPE Park unless we let them know we care about the environment. We should also remember that funds from Measure H that we voted yes on are to help maintain our park system, not sell it to Louie Rittenhouse. And didn't The Arts Commission recently vote to give $15,000 to muralist Brian Barneclo to do a mural there, I guess replacing the one that Peter Bartzcak did in 1995? Go to www.brianbarneclo.com and check out his murals in San Francisco. Euthenics are not people who come from Euthanasia, by the way.

SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL MOVE?? Rumors have it that the remaining staff will be moving to Scotts Valley by September 1.

LET'S PLAY SENTINEL. It must be because of orders from California Newspapers Partnership which is a subsidiary of MediaNews Group that the news of The Sentinel cutting 8 newsroom jobs by July 1^st was placed at the very bottom of the very last page of section C last Friday. So here's what Dan Dickmeyer proposes...let the Sentinel readers decide who gets fired!!! What a super idea!! We've read for years how the Sentinel cares about its' readers and what they want, so let us vote on who leaves. Just to get the ball rolling I started the SACK THE SENTINEL 8 CONTEST amongst folks I know...so far Don Miller and Shanna McCord are way out in front. Send me your votes I'll add them to our data tabulator, and print the results.

ABOUT METRO SANTA CRUZ?? I was told in many different terms that there was nothing going on at Metro Santa Cruz and those little problems I reported on a few weeks ago were just glitches. The next glitch just in is that Editor Bill Forman hasn't been to work in at least a month and this is the ad that Metro has been running in Craig's List since May 10.

"Metro Santa Cruz, the area's premier alternative newsweekly, seeks a full-time managing editor. We're looking for an experienced journalist with great writing and organizational skills, who will work with the local editor to execute Metro Santa Cruz' s signature sharp, incisive style. We offer competitive salaries and benefits. Send news clips, résumé and cover letter to newsposition@metronews.com”.

SARAH PHELAN MAKES GOOD. According to the latest issue of The San Francisco Bay Guardian (now just called Guardian in their banner) former Metro Santa Cruz news editor who then became managing editor when Bill Forman became editor is now a reporter for The Guardian. But not just a reporter she won a 2^nd place award in the serious features category from the Peninsula Press Club's annual Journalism contest for her reporting on San Francisco's sewage problems.  Read her article on SF trying to kill Halloween in the Castro in the June 6-12 issue. It seems that some City officials want to move the event to AT& T Park. This, Phelan writes, would be like moving Mardi Gras from New Orleans to Omaha.

TONY SOPRANO KILLED IN SEASON FINALE? Like everyone else I thought my DVR had busted at the end of the end of the Sopranos, and like almost everyone else I then realized it was an ending that would be talked about for a long time. I started going online for the world's reactions and found this one on San Francisco Chronicle's Tim Goodman's www.BastardMachine.com  site. Tim has written extensively on The Sopranos and the rest of the television world for years. One of the correspondents on Goodman's blog says,” From the HBO message boards: So here is what I found out. The guy at the bar is also credited as Nikki Leotardo. The same actor played him in the first part of season 6 during a brief sit down concerning the future of Vito... Apparently, he is the nephew of Phil. Absolutely Genius!!!! David Chase is truly rewarding the true fans who pay attention to detail. So the point would have been that life continues and we may never know the end of the Sopranos.

But if you pay attention to the history, you will find that all the answers lie in the characters in the restaurant. The trucker was the brother of the guy who was robbed by Christopher in Season 2. Remember the DVD players? The trucker had to identify the body. The boy scouts were in the train store and the black guys at the end were the ones who tried to kill Tony and only clipped him in the ear (was that season 2 or 3?).

Then another blog contributor says, ”I think you got it wrong. Tony is dead. 1. In the first episode of this season when Bobby and Tony are at the lake house in a boat, they talk about what being shot must be like. Bobby says, "you probably don't even hear it when it happens right?” 2. The second to last episode (the one before this) at the very end, Tony is holding the gun Bobby gave him in that episode and flashes back to that scene of Bobby, again saying, "you probably don't even hear it when it happens right?” 3. 4 times in the final scene, Tony hears the door open. Each time, the bell jingles, camera shows Tony looking up, and then it switches to his perspective. 4. The 5th time this happens, it is Meadow walking through the door. The door jingles; camera shows Tony looking up and then switches to his perspective, which is black because he has just been shot in the head. By who does not matter. The above explains the cut to a black screen. From there, you just have to remember the quote; "you probably don't even hear it when it happens right?” From the point where Tony is shot until the HBO splash after the credits is in total silence”. End of Goodman's blog. How important is the end of the Sopranos, how important is any controversy over an art form? Scholars will argue forever over Shakespeare, painters, musicians, sculptors, architects, did Sherlock Holmes really die at the waterfalls? it adds a dimension to our culture and it is important.

WHOLE FOODS ON SOQUEL. Newest rumors from inside the food business tell me that Whole Foods are planning big on their new store on Soquel (where Albertsons used to be). It appears Whole Foods is planning to take over the liquor store, plus the paint store and are in negations for the Rite Aid store. Even before Whole Foods set their sights on Santa Cruz, we were known as having more organic food stores per person than any city in the USA. It was only a matter of time before the big Organic chains found out.

MORE ORGANIC "NEWS”. Wal-Mart was busted twice for selling things as organic but are not. Wal-Mart has decided to cut back on their Organic selection, as it has not been that successful. Whole Foods has been blocked from purchasing Wild Oats because of questions of monopoly.

Bloomberg News Published June 9, 2007 FTC: Wild Oats buy means higher prices. WASHINGTON -- Whole Foods Market Inc.'s purchase of Wild Oats Markets Inc. would increase concentration of the country's natural and organic supermarkets and lead to increased prices, the Federal Trade Commission said in a lawsuit to block the deal. The FTC said Tuesday that it planned to block the acquisition of Wild Oats, the nation's second-largest natural-foods grocer, after Whole Foods. "Consumers have benefited directly from the price and quality competition between Whole Foods and Wilds Oats," the FTC said in a sealed lawsuit filed this week, portions of which were released Friday. "If the acquisition occurs, those benefits will be lost."

CHUCK HILGER LEAVING HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.  Chuck Hilger is almost saying goodbye to Habitat for Humanity where he's been executive director for the last 3 1/2 years. He says he can't really leave Habitat and will hang around forever just to remain part of the excitement that goes on there. Habitats present and future building plans have never been more active. Chuck's planning on a number of personal projects including a tour of museums around the country which he claims have the most exciting and promising architecture imaginable.

PERSONAL RAPID TRANSIT (PRT) GOES TO GREEN. The Santa Cruz Green Party invites the public to join them at a free screening and presentation of the new Santa Cruz PRT film. This film shows all the possibilities of having PRT in Santa Cruz and answers all the questions about how and why it should happen here. The film and presentation is from Santa Cruzans for Personal Rapid Transit. There'll be a Q & A session afterwards. It happens Monday June 18, 7p.m. at London Nelson Community Center.

PATTON'S PROGRAM. Gary talks about Clint Eastwood's proposed development in Pebble Beach and the cutting of 18,000 trees for a golf course. He tells us about the results of last week's election in Monterey County and how their Board Of Supervisors still doesn't want to represent their constituents. He discusses the possible growth of Big Basin State Park and how the muscle man in Sacramento could stop that. Then he tells about the exhibit at the Museum of Natural History at 1305 East Cliff Drive near the whale on Neary Lagoon from June 16-July 1^st. He claims it's inspiring!!

ELERICK'S INPUT. Paul Elerick is very concerned about the Regional Transportation Commissions poll now being prepared to determine people's wishes re: transportation in the County. He tells how developer Ry Kelley "fixed” a poll showing that voters wanted Wingspread to happen, and people didn't fall for that one. Elerick also decries last week's summary study given at the RTC meeting. Read Elerick here.

LANDAU'S PROGRES. Saul Landau interviews the president of the Cuban Parliament and talks about how Cuba deals with the terrorists from Miami. Read elsewhere how Fidel has started a Little Round Table on national TV. Then read about Raul Castro appears to be managing Cuban government while Fidel is the Chief of State and grand strategist. Click XXXXXX

EAGAN'S EFFULGENCE. See how Eagan created a "Path to Citizenship” game. You could say it's based on Monopoly - an oil monopoly. Scroll down just a bit.

OCEANS 13. Steven Soderbergh directed this film, and it shows. He is one of the best directors working today. He did Sex Lies and Videotape, Solaris, Pleasantville, Syrianna, A Scanner Darkly, the Good German, and one of my big favorites Bubble, plus Oceans 11 and 12. But even though #13 is filmed with much style it's still boring and has remains of many story lines that were either cut or poorly developed. Explain to me about Don Cheadle as the Evel Knievel –type stunt rider. It isn't as much fun watching Clooney, Brad Pitt, and those same guys flounce around Las Vegas as it used to be. Wait and rent it...it's one that would be fun to watch at home.

HOSTEL 2. One thing to remember is that if you don't like gore, blood, torture, sadism and those things you don't have to watch this film, and I wouldn't if I were you. Part 2 of Hostel is more polished and personal than the first part, and more cruel and mean and more real. That doesn't make it better and it drags at times. I agree that the world doesn't need more blood films but director Eli Roth makes good ones.

DAY WATCH. Based on science fiction novels the Russian CGI film Day Watch (like Night Watch) needs to be seen as a comic book or graphic novel. Look at the themes of dark forces versus light forces, or good versus evil armies as just good cinema tricks. You can't make much sense of any of it, and if you can just enjoy the in your face attitude it's really something to sit back and watch.

PARIS, Je T'AIME. This is a 2 hour film made up of 18 little films by 18 directors, and it is all based on the City of Paris. To give you an idea Natalie Portman, Wes Craven, Bob Hoskins, Coen Brothers, Gerard Depardieu, Gus Van Sant, Ben Gazzara, Oscar Wilde, Nick Nolte, Willem Defoe and Gina Rowlands are all in it, or directed some part of it. As you could predict some pieces are great, others suck.

MICHAEL MOORE'S "SICKO”. Yes, it's coming to either the Nick or the Del Mar. That's Moore's much talked about film on the health care industry, it opens June 29. Paprika, the new adult anime film opens July 6^th.

DER ROSENKAVLIER and DON GIOVANNI. The San Francisco Opera's production of Richard Strauss' opera is magnificent. Voices are completely beautiful, costumes are super and the trio of Sophie, Octavian and the Marschallin at the end of act 3 reminds anyone just how beautiful opera can be. It's the best Rosenkavalier I've ever heard, and that's four. On the other hand Mozart's Don Giovanni in a new production was a dark, foreboding, menacing tale of the great lover (aka Don Juan). The sets were huge textured black boxes on a sharply raked stage representing downtown Seville. But of course the music was about the best Mozart ever produced. The opera bounces back and forth between seria (serious) and buffo (comic) except there wasn't much buffo and no fun was had by anybody. Even the ghost was cheesy. There's a depth to the Don Giovanni opera that directors try very hard to interpret and this one was a valiant attempt.

UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY PROGRAM. I've been hosting University Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 FM Thursdays 4-5 p.m for one year now. That's well over 100 guests including politicians, authors, many students, lecturers, and a bunch that fall into no category except interesting and vital. This Thursday my first guests will be Matt Waxman a former UCSC Student who was instrumental in producing the UCSC Long Range Development Plan. With Max will be Katie Ripley a present UCSC student . We'll talk about the problems of living on and off campus and how students and the City of Santa Cruz can co–exist. Then to celebrate the first year 3^rd district Supervisor Neal Coonerty who was my first guest, will return and we'll talk about his first year as County Supervisor.

QUOTES, well bumper stickers actually. Cedar Geiger has never been known for many things but not for watching bumpers. He did however send in these gems.1/20/09 -- end of an error! Bush. Like a Rock. Only Dumber. If You Can Read This, You're Not the President. We Need a President who's Fluent in At Least One Language. We're making Enemies Faster Than We Can Kill Them. Rich Man's War, Poor Man's Blood.

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

SAN LORENZO RIVERMOUTH 1946. I ran this one not too long ago, but its one of my favorites. It shows how active the San Lorenzo River was AND it shows the tidelands very clearly. It's the ownership of those tidelands that the Boardwalk is suing the City about. You'd think that with the millions of dollars in taxes that the Boardwalk cheats the city of every year that they'd be satisfied just to be located where they are. But they're out to squeeze every possible cent, and "Happy 100th Anniversary" does sort of catch in your throat doesn't it?? photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection, click for bigger version. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

MERCURY NEWSROOM TO CUT 1/4 OF THEIR STAFF. As we learned last week the San Francisco Chronicle is cutting back 100 newsroom jobs and if you click here  you'll see that the San Jose Mercury is cutting back 60 newsroom jobs. These are sad times for reporting and news. It's all too easy to say The Sentinel or Mercury or Chronicle doesn't meet your demands for what you want in a newspaper, but folks... that's the way our community is structured. Who will be left to report and just as importantly investigate the running of our world? Or especially Santa Cruz? Nothing much can be done now. Honest and trustworthy new news sources will develop and probably on the internet, but right now it's just sad. As a 37 year daily subscriber to the Sentinel I can tell you right now is not a pretty picture.
 
SAD NEWSPAPER NEWS. UPDATE: Here's a story from Editor and Publisher

NEW YORK Just days after news emerged that the San Francisco Chronicle is slated to lose almost 25% of its newsroom staff comes word that its southern neighbor, the San Jose Mercury News, may face the same cutback.

At the popular Web site, Grade The News, John McManus asserted yesterday that 60 more newsroom positions, almost one in four at the paper, "are to be eliminated at the San Jose Mercury News this summer after a layoff moratorium negotiated with the local Newspaper Guild expires."

Responding to the report, Carole Leigh Hutton, the new executive editor and vice president at the paper, sent a memo to staff, which was quickly posted at the Romenesko site. It reads:

"I'm seeing and hearing a lot of rumors about plans for cuts and consolidations here. There's no denying that this has been a tough year financially and we're in the midst of a difficult budget season for the fiscal year that begins in July. We're discussing a number of cost-cutting measures. As soon as I can give you some definitive plans, I will. Meanwhile, I hope we can focus some of that energy on doing the journalism we do so well. This is a tough business these days, but it remains the very best profession, and we should all remain proud of our contributions to it."

Grade the News had reported: "John Bowman, executive editor at the San Mateo County Times until last week, said the staff reductions were discussed at an April meeting he attended at the Mercury News along with top editors of MediaNews, which now owns every paid daily newspaper around the San Francisco Bay but the San Francisco Chronicle. The proposed cuts would affect 24% of the 250 member Mercury News staff.

"Mr. Bowman said he disclosed the layoff plan and resigned as executive editor of the Times because he was fed up with MediaNews' policies of trying to run newspapers short-handed....David Satterfield, managing editor of the Mercury News, refused to discuss staff cuts." The full report is at www.gradethenews.org . E&P Staff. 

PS. That's an interesting newsite if you haven't checked it out before this.

STILL MORE SAD NEWSPAPER NEWS. Want to read even more about the miserable state of newspapers? Here's an inside report about "business" at the San Mateo County Times and some more references to the Mercury.

JAPANESE BALLOON BOMBS. Eagle-eyed and attentive daughter Jennifer Boulanger emailed to ask if I'd ever heard of Japanese Balloon Bombs. She found mention of them in Liam Callanan's book Cloud Atlas.  Anyway, according to Wikipedia, (and then backed up by Sandy Lydon), Japan launched 9000 hydrogen filled balloon bombs in 1944 and 45. 900 were launched to the United States, they sailed on the jet stream for about three days, and were 33 feet in diameter, and made of a special paper. The balloons landed in Santa Rosa, Santa Monica, Medford and only 6 people were killed by tampering with a balloon they found in Bly, Oregon. The United States Government managed to keep the balloons secret.

Sandy Lydon also says it's hardly news since they have an extensive exhibit in the Tokyo Edo Metropolitan Museum. But balloon bombs were news to me and I went all over the internet looking to disprove such a preposterous idea. But it's true, just google "Japanese Balloon Bombs". Lydon concludes by saying "They were "secret" as the US Government didn't want the Japanese to know that they had successfully reached North America -- and they were not public knowledge until late 1945.  A group of picnickers in Oregon were the only casualties - one of them exploded in a tree -- there's a monument to them there still.

   I actually stood on one of the beaches from which they were launched in Chiba prefecture.  They were one of those desperate measures taken by the Japanese in the later part of the war -- while B-29s were dropping incendiary bombs on and destroying most of Tokyo, they sent up these balloons.  Ingenious -- they knew about the jet stream -- but somewhat pathetic. I know of none landing here in Santa Cruz County.

   Again, the issue of "secrecy" was that the US didn't want Japan to know they had reached here -- and these seems to be evidence that, since they didn't hear anything about them landing in North America, they terminated the program.

   Also, as an interest side-note, when they first started landing on the Pacific Coast, US officials didn't believe that balloons could travel that distance and suspected that they might have been launched form one of the concentration camps holding people of Japanese ancestry.  A geologist apparently solved their point of origin when analyzing the sand used in the ballast bags -- pinpointed its origin as being Japan, not North America. But all of this needs to be played out against the backdrop of the horrific effects of the firebombing going on all over Japan.  And running almost exactly parallel in time was the use of kamikazes that began in earnest in October of 1944. 'Tis a complex and sad story all around. " .End of Lydon quote.

APTOS (Nickelodeon) CINEMA NOT DOING TOO WELL. Jim Schwenterley owner of the Del Mar/Nickelodeon Theatres said Tuesday that the experiment at the Aptos Cinema isn't working and they'll probably close it down. The lack of audiences and the lack of the right kind of films makes for just about a break even situation. Aptos audiences don't like super titled films, teenagers don't go there, and audiences prefer "old lady films" (The Queen, Miss Potter etc.) Pirates of the Caribbean III was their biggest grosser so far, just to give you an idea of the mainstream and convenience type preferences. Many of the smaller films don't have enough prints to allow two screenings in the same area. It was a noble try, and so much for Aptos.

HIGH TIMES AT LA BAHIA. What a lot of the opposition comes down to over the La Bahia project besides the historical significance of the place is... what and how do we want to see our beach front developed?  Charlie Canfield and Barry Swenson want a change of the height limits for their high priced hotel. Do we want a Waikiki, or Florida looking mass of highrise hotels there? Again, when those developers' statements of tax money that will help our poor city coffers are quoted no one talks about the fact that when all costs to the city are factored in, the city makes no money at all from these developments. Jobs?? We need more good jobs here not more minimum wage hotel jobs! Well we need more of them too, but at whose expense?

MORE FROM SANDY LYDON IN BEIJING...."Wanna go to Mongolia with us?  There's still room.  Check out the website www.SandyLydon.Com  for details.  And, on Sunday, June 10 at 7:00 PM in Room 435 at Cabrillo College, Aptos I'll be doing a free China-Mongolia show-and-tell.  Our trip is scheduled for August 10-27, and my sense of urgency about going now is stronger than ever.  We won't be going out there again in 2008 (see Olympics), and by 2009 Mongolia will be two years newer (more modernized), and we'll all be two years older.  Now is the time.  Besides, August is a great time to be out of town" End of Lydon's email from Beijing.

ELERICKS INPUT. Paul has many kind words to say about The Spa Fitness Center and their parking structure...then he says nice words about Capitola. Beyond that, he gives his views on how to vote in Monterey County.  

PATTON'S PROGRAM. Gary also tells about the Monterey County elections that happened on Tuesday (BrattonOnline comes out too late to make this deadline). Patton proceeds to tell about Hollister's General Plan and how it relates to our General Plan. Then he suggests we go to the Santa Cruz Planning Commission meeting Thursday night to hear how Aldo's Restaurant by the yacht harbor works out their relationship with the nearby neighbors. After that he tells us all to take a hike, and even suggests where we might go!!

EAGAN'S EFFULGENCE. The simple act of scrolling downwards will reveal what Tim calls "Gore's Paradox".

CHRISTINA WATERS WEIGHS IN. In no uncertain terms she tells you what she's reading this summer, gushes about a new wine, her favorite lunches at River St. Cafe and Gabriella. Then she's in Italy for two weeks - and you'll hear all about the food, the wine, the art, when she gets back – at www.christinawaters.com.

LANDAU'S PROGRES. Saul Landau is in Cuba right now or at least he was when he wrote this piece about "47 years later in Havanna". Do read it. It tells what Cuba was like before Castro took charge.

PESTICIDE ALERT. Randall Jarrell sent this article to warn us all of the dangers of pesticides infecting neighboring crops and the lawsuit that Jacob's Farms have started to prevent this happening again....plus what we can do about it.

MISTER BROOKS...this is not a film about our schlock (as some call him) local developer and Republican Bill Brooks, but about an even worse character than a developer!!!... A serial killer played by Kevin Costner. Costner makes a better bad guy than any of the heroes he's attempted before. Demi Moore sort of stares her way through her part and looks awful. The plot is implausible, but you should go see it or at least rent it because it's so great to watch William Hurt at his evil best portraying Costner's conscience and nobody's better at evil than William Hurt.

KNOCKED UP. This is one strange film, it's repulsive, sexist, stupid, touching, and sentimental (I even cried) and funny too. I almost walked out after 10 minutes because I disliked every one of the characters in it. Almost all of the humor is really low and sexist as are the lead actors. But underneath all the television-based jokes there is some semblance of human beings working out their problems. I stayed all the way to the end, and must admit I was won over.

JINDABYNE. Set and filmed in the town with the same name in New South Wales, Australia, Gabriel Byrne and Laura Linney argue and fight a lot over a big decision Byrne and friends made whilst fishing one day. The film won many awards, it certainly will keep you attentive, but Byrne and Linney don't seem to fit their parts (their accents don't help much) and you keep thinking about them as actors. Rent this one too.

ONCE. An appealing film that would fall under the "musical" category if forced, but the plot and use of music in this Irish film makes it almost a documentary. It's about an Irish guy who falls for a Czech girl, he plays guitar and she plays the piano and you've never seen a film like this one...go for it.

LA VIE EN ROSE. Marion Cotillard deserves at least an Oscar for her portrayal of Edith Piaf in this film. Piaf whose real name was Edith Gassion led a life just as tragic as the songs she sings. Oddly, she was the same age as Judy Garland when she died at 47. No one can remember seeing Marion Cotillard in Tim Burton's Big Fish but this is her role of a lifetime. Gerard Depardieu is in it too, and a Marlene Dietrich ringer has a walk on for some reason. The costumes, the sets, direction and acting all work together beautifully and it's one of the finest non-Hollywood screen biographies you'll ever see.

MORE ON THAT RORY CALHOUN PHOTO A FEW WEEKS BACK. I can't get away with anything...Len Klempnauer, erstwhile history buff emailed to say, "In reference to your photo of Rory Calhoun, one of the couples is Leonard and Eunice Sanches (with an "s" not a "z"). They were the parents of my 1954 Santa Cruz High classmate Ron Sanches. Ron emailed that Calhoun and his wife, Lita Baron, were here in 1952 for a rodeo (not 1956/57), and Ron chauffeured them a parade in a new 1952 Chevy convertible. Ron said the rodeo could not have been in 1956 or 1957 because he was in the Army then.  I don't know this for sure, but I'd guess that the other couple in the photo is Harold and Mary Eisele, not Hy and Mary Einsile. Ron did not recognize the other couple or did he know where the photo was taken. Len Klempnauer, Capitola. Len must be right; I got my spelling from trying to decipher some penciled handwriting on the back of the photo.

GOODBYE TONY SOPRANO. After watching The Sopranos for eight years or nearly all of their 86 episodes it's going to be difficult to watch the final ending this Sunday night. Aside from the cover of this week's New Yorker, Vanity Fair did a nine page story. In it you'll read that only James Gandolfini and David Chase the producer and creator, are looking forward to doing other things. It's a major contribution to our culture, and it'll certainly enter dramatic historical achievements. I've debated many friends about how many more murders occur in Samurai films, war films, zombie flicks. I guess it's just the idea of portraying a caring family man like Tony Soprano as both human and a killer goes down hard. Someday, rent the first season of The Sopranos, watch a few episodes, then tell me it didn't grab you.

MAGIC FLUTE AT UCSC. Even with a bit much stage business the UCSC Student production of Mozart's Magic Flute had some wonderful moments. Voices were excellent, and there were two complete alternating casts!! Setting the opera in a 1920's silent film studio was clever and a little distracting. But it's such a great opera it always works. The orchestra was full of life, and the entire production had that great enthusiasm that comes from students...big congratulations.

UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. Viella Shipley of CCOF (that's California Certified Organic Farmers) will be on University Grapevine this Thursday June 7, KZSC 88.1 FM. After Viella I'll be talking with Ian Sitton of Pachamama Coffee Co-Op. Ian tells me that Pachamama is the only farmer-owned wholesale coffee company in the USA. So we'll find out about that.

 QUOTES. "I've got all the money I'll ever need if I die by four o'clock this afternoon." -Henny Youngman. "My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying." -Ed Furgol."You should always live within your income, even if you have to borrow to do so." -Josh Billings.

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

TOM SCRIBNER 1976. This very typical photo of musical sawyer Tom Scribner memorialized forever in bronze in front of Bookshop Santa Cruz was taken by photographer Eric Fingal. Eric says it was taken back in 1976 near where the statue of Tom is now and he wondered if the guy smiling in the photo wasn't Jay Shore the founder of Good Times Weekly? I assured him it wasn't Jay, because Jay never smiled  :-) Newcomers should know that Tom Scribner didn't play the musical saw for spare change, and didn't collect money for playing...it was just for fun. Union Organizing for the IWW was his real achievement in life.  photo credit: Eric Fingal photo collection, click for bigger version. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

SENTINEL MOVING TO SCOTTS VALLEY? As I've said (and somebody else did too) many times, "I don't like spreading rumors but what else can you do with them?" Here's an email from Nel Rauen..."I heard through the grapevine -- my barber, and what better source is there than a barber, except maybe than a bartender? -- that the Sentinel will be moving its offices to Scotts Valley; ergo, the Scotts Valley Sentinel?/s/Weekly Reader". End quote.You heard it here. You probably read where a Pasadena paper is outsourcing its writing to India, that's writing...not just printing. So why not the Sentinel in Scotts Valley??  It isn't as if they were connecting much with local readers anyway.

OTHER NEWSPAPERS?? Read here what last Tuesday's SFChronicle column by Neil Henry said about the Chron's announcement that they are slashing 100 newsroom jobs!! That's newsroom jobs!!! That's fewer reporters folks, less news, way less investigation... read Henry's column

SUICIDE A SYMPTOM OF LARGER UC CRISIS. On Thursday May 10 Gary Shoemaker acting co-director Counseling/Psychological Service at UCSC was my guest on University Grapevine 3 weeks ago. We talked about the need for more help on the UCSC campus in the mental health and psychological facilities. Gary just sent me a link to the LA Times of May 23/07, and an article by Richard Paddock titled Suicide a Symptom of Larger UC Crisis or Campuses lack the resources to cope... you might want to take a look at it. One of the statements in the article says, "Across the country, about 1,300 college students a year commit suicide". As I said, it's worth reading.

CABIN ANYONE? Anybody know or have a cabin out in the wilds I could use sometime between July 19 and 28^th ? Electricity or plumbing not necessary. Usually I go for car camping in the wilderness areas of National Forests, so get in touch if you know of something...and don't assume 95 other people will respond. Do get in touch.

ELERICK'S INPUT. Paul's back from his Maui vacation. He reports in on the 8-10 lane freeway H1 out of Honolulu and what a disaster that continues to be. He goes on to tell about the increased military recruiting at the Watsonville Fly In. I've had many other reports this week criticizing the blatant selling of enlisting in the service to the gullible and confused young kids attending. Looks like an important location for the Brown Berets and many other area Peace Groups to hold a protest next year.

CHRISTINA WATERS WEIGHS IN. See what the world's only Christina Waters thinks about the new chef at Gabriella, and find out more about the New Music Works Avant Garden Party menu - at http://christinawaters.com.

LANDAU'S PROGRES.click here (http://www.progresoweekly.com) to read Mr. Landau's take on the 1970's as Context for Terrorist Violence. You can also read Bill Press on The Sad Legacy of Jerry Falwell.. and he does nail Falwell right where he deserves, very well written.

PATTON'S PROGRAM. Gary rants on about the Monterey County Measure A and how the Republicans are trying to kill it. He talks about Thursday nights meeting of the Santa Cruz City General Plan gang and how important it is to attend and participate. There's news about The Carmel River and how sprawl is infecting the Central Valley. Read it here.

OUR ENTERTAINMENT FUTURE? All too many times we are seeing more violence in the daily television programs we watch at home. More than that our top grossing films are becoming even more gross. Blood, slashing, gouging, stabbing, slicing are the main ingredients of our popular, visual culture and it appears that is rapidly becoming the standard for any new attempt to reach the public is it simply a question of "all gore for precedent?" or what?

AFTER THE WEDDING. A perfect motion picture. No flaws in acting, story, pacing, photography, and especially directing and every time you're tempted to believe they don't make movies like they used to, you are right....this film is better. It's in Danish with subtitles and like another film "Celebration" a few years ago; it's a drama about a family. Do not read any reviews, especially plot lines it'll spoil it, just go.

BUG. Ashley Judd doesn't just star in this William Friedkin film she is the film. Friedkin is best known for The French Connection, The Exorcist, and winning an award in Cannes last year for Bug. Friedkin is now 72 and has been producing operas such as Wozzeck in Italy, Strauss's Salome, and Bartok's Duke Bluebeard's Castle with Placido Domingo in Washington. Bug is about the paranoid fears we see infecting folks all around us especially in Santa Cruz involving conspiracy theories. JFK, World Trade Towers, AIDS, contrails, Tri-lateralists, you name it. Harry Connick Jr. is in it too. One has to call Bug a signature Friedkin film, the Watsonville audience I saw it with was forced to laugh at times because the tension was so high. See it just for cinema history's sake.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, THE THIRD. Even Johnny Depp has limits on how much hammy mugging he can do onscreen. He's used it all up and now his gimmicks are very tiring. I defy anyone to understand the script for this film; it is probably the result of committee writing. It's not much fun, the plot has vanished, Depp isn't even in it very much and Spiderman 3 is earning more money at the box-office. Wait and rent it then you can watch and stop it whenever you get tired.

SEVERANCE. This is another British comedy spoof, this time kidding horror/ slasher films. It's pretty good, sometimes so bloody and visual you lose track. There's an argument in the film about whether or not the guillotine is a humane way to kill people. You know ...does the brain continue to think and feel pain after it leaves the body?? etc.,etc. So I asked patient friend Dr. Jennifer Choate about that. Just to get it settled once and for all. She replied, "Nope, the brain is the most oxygen requiring organ in the body, and I can't imagine perceiving pain without it.  The Aztec wrenched the hearts out of the victim's chests while still beating, but I don't think one can do that to the brain. I vote for the guillotine being humane as was intended by its creator, but it must have been terrible to walk up to it". Dr. Choate probably doesn't support capital punishment and bringing back the guillotine to California, but now we know the human head does not feel the thump as it drops in the basket. So go see the film, the rest is funny...but twisted.

SANTA CRUZ CHAMBER ORCHESTRA MEETS PIAZZOLA. 200+ folks attended last Saturday night's concert at Holy Cross church. People from the Cabrillo Music Festival, Santa Cruz Symphony, and Santa Cruz Baroque Festival were there to hear the area's hottest new serious music group. Maya Barsacq conducted the Astor Piazzolla pieces in some of the most exciting concert music of the season. Mesut Ozgen played and soloed on guitar and Seth Asarnow proved the bandoneon deserves a more prominent place in world's music. Stay tuned for more performances of the SCCO, they are definitely worth waiting for. It seems like a good idea to ask the Santa Cruz City Council to make the Bandoneon our official number two musical instrument. The Musical Saw is of course number one.

HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE. This is an excellent play by Paula Vogel. It won The Pulitzer, an Obie, several big time critic group awards. As presented by The Santa Cruz County Actors' Theatre it doesn't work out too well. The demand for very high quality acting to carry out the subtleties and deliver the meaningful lines is more than this cast can handle. They try hard, very hard but the subject of pedophilia and the internal family relationships are too complex for any but the most experienced actors to deliver. It's at the Actors Theatre now through June 6 go to www.scat.org  for details.

LIME INDUSTRY HISTORY BOOK. If you've lived in Santa Cruz very long you've heard that lime played an important part in our history. It was a major force in attracting workers and in the way our county grew. It's all been captured in the Museum of Art & History's newest publication Lime Kiln Legacies. You can meet all the authors at a big book signing this Saturday June 2 at the Museum 705 Front Street from 1-3 p.m. Many folks worked on the book and authors Frank Perry, Bob Piwarzyk and Alverda Orlando will be on University Grapevine 4:30-5pm KZSC 88.1 FM this Thursday.

PAUL HOSTETTER'S HOTLINE. Here's a link to Paul's guide to area attractions. As you can imagine Paul has captured all the good stuff to do in one place. The only problem is that he and I haven't been able to coordinate online publishing dates so there's some past events we should have been attending...and check it out. http://www.lutherie.net/live.music.html

NEW MUSIC AVANT GARDEN PARTY. It happens once per year and This Sunday June 3 from 3-7 pm is it!!! The details and attractions are outstanding, go to www.newmusicworks.org  and check it all out. The location is perfect and one of your few chances to ever go there.

MOZART'S MAGIC FLUTE NOW. Only four performances of the UCSC Music Departments production of Mozart's Magic Flute. It's a perfect first time opera and even the children will love it...IF there are any tickets left. That's no hype it sells out every year and most of the four performances are gone already. Call 459-2159 for tickets and keep trying, they get awfully busy. Did you know that in 2002 25.3 % of the US Opera audience was under the age of 35?

SANTA CRUZ NUDE BEACHES. Dan Dickmeyer sent this email link. http://www.sfbg.com  It takes you to San Francisco Bay Guardian and their annual guide to Nude Beaches (on left margin) there you'll find an update on all our local nude scenes.

FIRST FRIDAY ART TOUR- Hop on the Bus... I quote," The Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Arts in conjunction with the Santa Cruz Sentinel is proud to announce the First Friday Art Tour. Every First Friday of the month.  Friday, June, 1st from 5:30 until 9:30pm buses will be guiding individuals to all of the latest art openings and happenings in the greater downtown area. Starting at the Tannery and the Wharf at 5:30pm and leaving every 30 minutes from 12 Art Bus Stops, the bus allows First Friday Art goers the opportunity to customize where they get on and where they get off at each of the participating galleries and museums. $5 gets you an unlimited ride on the Art Tour Bus, a certificate allowing you 10% off the purchase of original Art for the night of First Friday and a host of offers and discounts by participating sponsors. For more on the Art Tour and the bus schedule go to www.scica.org . Again, I urge you to see the Community of Artists show at the Felix Kulpa Gallery. I saw it last month and it's well worth seeing.

UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. I host University Grapevine it's on station KZSC 88.1 fm every Thursday from 4-5pm. Katie Ripley and Nico Archer will be discussing the Second Annual Queer and Allied Pride March and Festival happening Saturday June 2^nd. Then Frank Perry, Bob Piwarzyk and Alverda Orlando will be talking about their new book Lime Kiln Legacies.

QUOTES. "He has all the characteristics of a dog except loyalty." -Sam Houston. "When you say that you agree to a thing in principle you mean that you have not the slightest intention of carrying it out in practice." -Otto von Bismarck. "I haven't heard from our ambassador in Spain in three years. If he doesn't contact me in the next year, I intend to write." -George Washington.

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