Bruce Bratton hosts University Grapevine, linking local and campus issues, every Tuesday 7:30-8:30 p.m. on KZSC 88.1 fm.
|
UCSC MARINE SCIENCES CAMPUS aka.TERRACE POINT. No matter what UCSC calls it their wanting to develop the last coastal bluff in the city doesn't make sense. With the wetlands, and wild animal corridors that will be destroyed, and more than 3,000 additional daily vehicle trips on Mission Street, we need to ask why they want to do this. 1. It won't be a big or even necessary research facility. There are bigger ones around the Monterey Bay doing more research than this one ever could. 2. UCSC has been trying for years to get other institutions to move in there and develop, but no takers.3. There's a lot of non ocean dependent building being proposed for example the space for admin offices etc that could easily be moved onto campus. 4, The University should be forced to adhere to the same building laws that anyone in the city does. Fortunately the Coastal Commission will be looking at this, maybe even in December!!
If you are as concerned about this development write to the Coastal Commission or at least send emails to Dan Carl at the commission... dcarl@coastal.ca.gov
NEW LEAF'S NEW WESTSIDE STORE. New Leaf Markets is proposing building a new store out on Ingalls and Fair Streets and they too made a presentation at the same Santa Cruz Neighbors meeting at Garfield Church last week. The store will be about the size of New Leaf's 41st Avenue store or 18,000 sq.ft. Their Pacific Avenue Store is only 7500 sq.ft. They are only planning on 10 bicycle lockers for employees, which seems pretty dinky. Considering they are going up against the gargantuan new Safeway on Mission, it's a gutsy move.
BILL MONNING PARTY...There's a big Bill Monning for State Assembly party at Gail & Mitch Page's house on Sunday November 11 at 1 p.m.Luis Valdez Co-founder of El Teatro Campesino, teacher, writer and erstwhile supporter of Monning for State Assembly will give a special talk. The party is free and there'll be great food and of course great company. I asked Bruce Van Allen what's new with Bill, he says "First of all check the campaign website: www.billmonning.org and what is especially exciting are the number and breadth of endorsements from around the district.
Folks like Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the UFW, Mel Mason, former Seaside City Council Member and longtime NAACP leader, and of course Luis Valdez. Monning has recently served on a community forum panel on as co-leader of the Civil Rights Coalition of Monterey County, to address discriminatory treatment of Latino youth in Castroville. He's also done much work on law-enforcement treatment of the mentally ill which led to Bill's recent endorsement by Monterey County Sheriff Mike Kanalakis.
Bill Monning spoke on the invitation of Unite HERE and the Carpenters Union at their rally for a union workforce for the construction and operation of the proposed re-built La Bahia Hotel in Santa Cruz. He spoke at a meeting of the UCSC College Democrats, emphasizing the importance of organizing in political work." Mr. Van Allen says BrattonOnline readers should have fun searching You Tube to see the clip with Monning introducing one of the Presidential candidates, I haven't looked yet... so don't ask me. The list of endorsements are way too long and impressive to try to list here go to his website...you'll be impressed. That gala party at the Page's is at 535 Spring Street in Santa Cruz call 239-7685 for info.
THINK LOCAL FIRST SANTA CRUZ. There is still some confusion between the two buy local organizations and their campaigns. There's the Bruce McPherson-Chamber of Commerce sham group that only says buy or shop at any store located in the County, regardless of what part of the world the profits go to. Then there's the Think Local First Santa Cruz group that wants locals to shop in locally owned stores in the County so our money stays here and our economy will get better. Think Local First Santa Cruz had their kickoff launching party last Friday 10/26 at Book Shop Santa Cruz. The place was packed with people wanting to learn more about Thinking Local. Supervisor Neal Coonerty spoke about the many ways locally owned businesses support the community. Peter Beckmann of Beckmann's Bakery pointed out how locally owned businesses don't fold up and leave like Texas Instruments, (and Wrigley's and Liptons) Ann Bartz member of Balle (Business Alliance for Living Local Economies) a national organization, related that there are 53 such organizations across the country like Think First Local Santa Cruz. She said people are becoming more and more aware of how important in achieving the goal of sustainable economy shopping at locally owned businesses has become.
BOOKSHOP SANTA CRUZ'S 41st BIRTHDAY PARTY AND BOOK SALE. IF and only IF you're a member of Bookshop Santa Cruz's Readers Club you can attend the party and buy books at the preview sale this Friday November 2nd. There's 20 % off everything!! Everybody's welcome all day Saturday November 3rd, but you get to pick and choose on Friday night. Plus there's birthday cake!! In addition to all of that The Hot Damn String Band will be playing for our 26th year in a row. Jim Reynolds on guitar, author Annie Steinhart on fiddle, Dick Hough on string bass, Todd Kimball mandolin, Dave Magram banjo, and yours truly on washboard. We start playing at 7:30...we'll see you there, right?
CRUZIO'S BUSINESS FAIR. Cruzio is having their ninth annual Small Business Fair next Wednesday November 7. The theme is "Succeeding on the Web Today & Tomorrow". It'll be at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History. 705 Front Street
Downtown Santa Cruz, CA 95060 and starts at 5:30. Attendees will first attend a panel discussion, titled "Using Web 2.0 to Build Your Site, Engage Visitors & Create Relationships," where they'll learn from local business leaders how they can use Web
applications such as blogs and content management systems to make Web site Management easier, more dynamic, interactive, and personal. Panel members include Chris Neklason, co-owner of Cruzio, John Patterson, Executive Director of Community TV, Kay Mackenzie, owner of Quilt Puppy, and Dale Julin, owner of Your Solar Future. All of the panel members have either completely remade or are in progress of remodeling their site with Web 2.0 tools. Obviously it'll be a great opportunity for networking. For more information, visit http://smallbusiness.cruzio.com or call 831-459-6301 ext. 231.
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS, ANOTHER VIEW. We are all aware that Daylight Savings doesn't end until Nov. 4th and yes, it does mess up Halloween night. I didn't save the letter I saw someplace from a woman who was happy that her flowers and garden would now get that extra hour of sun. It was probably from Texas or someplace just like it.
ACLU EVENT WITH SANDY LYDON. The Santa Cruz Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) will host its Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday, November 15, 2007 from 7 to 9 pm at the London Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St., Santa Cruz featuring a presentation by Sandy Lydon, Cabrillo College Historian Emeritus titled "When Patriotism Came Marching Home: Santa Cruz, the Great War, and the Constitution 1917-1918."
In a slide-illustrated lecture using local and regional sources, Sandy Lydon, well-known for his highly-engaging and equally highly-praised talks on local Santa Cruz history, will illuminate those terrifying days when neighbors reported on each other so willingly that the Sheriff had to ask them to stop because he couldn't keep up. Against the backdrop of the Great War, the Red Scare and the Flu pandemic, he will ask the questions: How Are We Doing Ninety Years Later? Have we learned anything? And what's this all have to do with Tom Scribner who sits forever playing his saw on Pacific Avenue?
GREG LARSON AND HIRE LOCALLY. Too bad our City Planning Director Greg Larson's leaving to go work in Los Gatos. Maybe he can learn and then teach his old Santa Cruz friends how Los Gatos has been so successful in keeping formula franchises and box businesses out of town. Let's hope the City is smart enough to hire locally when they replace Greg. A local could afford to live here and could hit the ground running. Anyone want to take bets on that hire?
ELERICK'S INPUT. Get Paul's views and visions on the 10/29 meeting of the Transportation Funding Task Force. After that he says a few things about the mortgage foreclosures we've been sharing. Still undaunted, he carries on about the light brown apple moth...and how we need to support Debra Bowen in her work in cleaning out the voting machine debacle.
PATTONS PROGRAM. Read Gary's thoughts on the Transportation Funding Task Force's very last two meetings. He talks about how the last vote said the people wanted to invest in light rail and not widen Highway One. There are problems with mobile home rents in Marina. Halloween means that Santa Cruz County Government might relax the rules controlling accessory structures which would add much scary rural development. It's also scary that UCSC is really pushing their Terrace Point development and what the traffic will do to Mission Street. Patton closes by telling about People Powers Global Warming Day on pacific Avenue on Saturday 11/03 from 2-3 p.m.
LANDAU'S PROGRES. Saul Landau has a great take on Rudy Guiliani and the ongoing campaigns between the Ridiculous Party and the Disappointing Party. Read it here!
CHRISTINA WATERS WEIGHS IN. Weekly but never weakly, Ms.Waters takes aim at the wine, foodstuffs, and varied attractions in her part of the world. This time it's some hot tamales, mid-range red wines and Halloween dinner at Avanti - that's what Christina explores in her next http://christinawaters.com plus there's stuff about downtown LA and she fills up on cornichons (little pickles) and Mark Morris dancers. (Ms Waters and others may not know if you run an electrical current through a cornichon it'll glow like a fluorescent light!!).Go to www.ChristinaWaters.com
EAGAN'S EMMISSION. Scroll below to catch up on Tim's political cartoon of the week to put it mildly.
LARS VON TRIERS COMEDY!!! Lars Von Trier is famous for many unusual films Dogville, Dancer in The Dark, The Idiots, Zentropa, and Breaking the Waves are some of them. In 2006 he made what I think is his first comedy, The Boss of It All. Film enthusiasts will have to see it, it's on DVD and available at Cedar Street Video. It is "funny peculiar not funny ha ha" as you expect a Von Trier film to be. It's another of his lessons in film making, don't miss it.
THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES. To take millions of dollars plus Brad Pitt and make as dull a film as this one about Jesse James must have caused considerable misery in Hollywood. Brad Pitt isn't a bad actor but he is terribly miscast as Jesse. There is some history about what happened to James assassination Robert Ford afterwards but wait and rent it. That way you can go in the other room every half hour and do something productive like napping and the movie will still be going when you wake up.
30 DAYS OF NIGHT. Josh Hartnett and some cold friends fight off the vampires who have their own language and live near Barrow, Alaska near the Arctic Circle eating bloodcicles. Vampires like the far north because of the 30 days of night (when there's no sun...get it???) Remember when Howard Hawks The Thing came out in 1951? Now that was a scary North Pole film. This one is way too predictable, rent it instead.
THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE. Halle Berry plays a nice looking woman, not the usual knockout babe and she is wonderful in this film. She's a widow who has an unusual relationship with Benecio Del Toro. This is a much better than average Hollywood film and is definitely worth seeing. Del Toro's role has been generating Oscar talk, and it should.
DAN IN REAL LIFE. I have no clue why audiences laugh at anything in this dumbed down studio comedy. Steve Carell plays a slightly more believable part than in his earlier films, but Juliette Binoche must need the money she got for sinking to this level of film. She won an Oscar for English Patient and was magnificent in Chocolat but she's a cipher or even a cornichon in this turkey.
MacCLELLAND CORNER. Michael Scott MacClelland sent in this chuckle... "Was depressed last night so I called Lifeline. Got a call center in Pakistan. Told them I was suicidal. They got all excited and asked if I could fly a plane."
UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. Every Thursday from 4-5 pm I host this radio program on KZSC 88.1 fm. This Thursday 11/01 my first guest will be professor and sometime film maker Eli Hollander from UCSC's Film/Digital Media Department. At 4:30 I'll be talking with Joan Gilbert Martin and Colleen McInerney-Meagher about their new book Pogonip-Jewel of Santa Cruz. On Thursday, November 8 I'll be interviewing Ginger McNally of The Santa Cruz Community Credit Union and Robin McRae Daniels about the controversial moth spraying issue.
QUOTES. "An incompetent lawyer can delay a trial for months or years. A competent lawyer can delay one even longer." -Evelle J.Younger. "The dawn is a term for the early morning used by poets and other people who don't have to get up." -Oliver Herford. "You may certainly not kiss the hand that wrote Ulysses. It's done a lot of other things as well." -James Joyce.
Deep Cover
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
It's free! Click here.
|
PEACE MARCH SAN FRANCISCO. Get all the details on this Saturday's march in San Francisco by going to A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism) www.actionsf.org it all happens starting at 11am Saturday at the Civic Center with a march going to Dolores Park. There will be a die-in and many ways to make your wishes, demands and hopes known. Car Pools, speeches, directions, plans...this should be the biggest protest in our nation's history. Go to Santa Cruz IndyMedia www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/10/10/18453260.php for bus info from Santa Cruz.
DREAMS OF STARBUCKS. Leslie Scott emailed this free spirited near poem of the future, and it goes something like this... starbucks buying wienerschnitzel property on soquel brings to mind more images of the chainification of santa cruz...dennis morton of stapleton's, the former organic grocer near patagonia, shopping at trader joe's...laughed when i told him i'd rat him out...caroline, founder of polar bear, working at trader joe...five lines of shoppers buying trader joe brand shampoo made in china...a new starbucks...same corporate web as noah's and jamba juice (the landmark entrance to our downtown...aside from the eyesore scope park) opens every eighteen hours somewhere in the world...sour grapes...all chains too smart to buy me...did put a sign on door one april fool COMING SOON! HERE!...STARBUCKS!...bad thing was that EVERYONE believed it...just shook their heads!!!
THINK LOCAL FIRST. Now's the opportunity to join local business owners and community leaders when they launch the Think Local First Santa Cruz organization this Friday night (Oct. 26 at 6:30 at Bookshop Santa Cruz. Supervisor Neal Coonerty will give the keynote talk and there'll be a panel discussion with Q &A's from the audience. www.thinklocalsantacruz.com . Businesses that are locally owned are welcome and you'll meet folks from Beckmann's Bakery, Cruzio, The Bagelry, Staff Of Life, Santa Cruz Community Credit Union and lots more. The differences between shopping at locally owned businesses and corporate boxes make a huge difference in the community.
ELERICK'S INPUT. Paul says his piece on the Regional Transportation Commission's survey...it'll surprise you!!! He talks about how the Sentinel keeps warping any news into a "widen highway one" slant and rant. He reports in on the People Power celebration at Gabriella café and closes by reminding us how the removal of the Sentinel printing presses left gouges on our highway and our hearts! Go here.
PATTONS PROGRAM. Read here to get Gary's info on Sacramento dealing with the high speed rail system. He tells about the Pleasure Point Roadhouse and Live Oak development issues. Beyond that he informs us about the water planning meeting in Monterey and closes with discussing the power of political action and technology.
EAGAN'S INTERLUDE. Tim tell us of the many sides and angles of Hillary...scroll down to the bottom of this and every BrattonOnline.
LANDAU'S PROGRES. Saul's article this week centers on his 47 year old memory of Cuba and the revolution. He was there when Cuba began taking over the foreign industries...and only Saul could remember it like this progreso-weekly.com
CHRISTINA WATERS WEIGHS IN. Christina gabs about her cultural-culinary day trip to LA, reviews the Mark Morris "Mozart Dances," and singles out a few choice local dishes. Plus she has some zingers for New Leaf Markets lettuce mix. Don't forget to look for Christina in print at Metro Santa Cruz starting November 14! All at www.christinawaters.com
WATERS COVERS BRATTON. The very same Christina Waters was more than kind in her bio, portrait, dissection, revelation of yours truly in last week's online version of Good Times www.gtweekly.com/10-18-07-/rumpled-joie-de-vivre-3 . The Good Times photographer caught me in front of Lulu's at The Octagon in case you wonder where all that brick is located.
FILM REPORT. NEW YORKER. The article in the Oct.22 issue of the New Yorker isn't available online at their website but David Denby's piece titled "Fallen Idols; Have movie stars lost their magic?" tells more about the changes in the Hollywood film business then I've seen in years. From the ancient studio controls and the contract slave system to today's independent status of the big names it answers many of our questions about why films and film stars are the way they are. I didn't know that the New Yorker website now has animated cartoons go to
MICHAEL CLAYTON. George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson and Sydney Pollack do remarkable acting in this film. It's one of the finest Hollywood products in years. It actually restored my faith that Hollywood can still make films that are intelligent, uncompromising, exciting, suspenseful and still glossy. There'll be even more award talk as Oscar time gets here, see it on the big screen in a real theatre so you can concentrate on how good films can be.
INTO THE WILD. As the West Coast knows Sean Penn wrote the screenplay, produced and directed this impressive film. It's a memorable film, a nearly unforgettable film but only if you wonder about the meaning of life or why we're all here. Never having read the book I saw it unaware of what the author of the book or Sean Penn was trying to accomplish. Hal Holbrook does the best screen role of his career and that's saying something. If you aren't given to searching or dreaming this will be one of the corniest, most pretentious flicks ever made. But do go see it, it's several steps above the dark and heavy flicks gracing our screens nowadays, no matter how you look at it.
GONE BABY GONE. It's a terrible title and it cheapens the film. But Ben Affleck directed and wrote this film and his brother Casey Affleck is excellent in the lead role. Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman and Michelle Monaghan (who seems to be in every movie everywhere all of a sudden) do award winning acting here. It's about the kidnapping of a 3 year old and has more plot twists and surprises than you'll be able to imagine.
WE OWN THE NIGHT. You've seen this plot many times...good brother & bad brother, or "outlaws and in laws" you might say. It's another excellent Hollywood film, the kind they used to make. Robert DuVall, Joaquin Phoenix, and Mark Wahlberg work together well, and this Brooklyn cop film is riveting, And very much worth the price of admission.
RENDITION. "Its clumsy efforts are toward an honest and difficult goal, which is to use the resources of mainstream movie-making to get viewers thinking about a moral crisis that many of us would prefer to ignore." That's exactly what A.O. Scott said in his New York Times review and I agree completely. Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal and even Meryl Streep do not make this a great film because the plot and the director are confused...AND our government's use of torturing terror suspects needs more than a Hollywood film to shake the system.
ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN YEARS. Cate Blanchett does everything she can in this almost part 2 of the Queen Elizabeth saga. If you're really old Clive Owen will remind you of Errol Flynn as Sir Walter Raleigh. This film has everything religion, treachery, sea battles, tiny bit o' sex, 2 American Indians, great costumes and it's still dull. You could wait and rent it when the relatives visit over the holidays.
HEALTH REPORT. Chris Matthews has finished all his chemo, is in remission and is feeling great. Morton Marcus is back home, feeling much better and is still waiting for some test results. Mathilde Rand is back in her home and she's recuperating nicely too.
PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE NEWSLETTER. Gary Patton is among other things a lobbyist for the Planning And Conservation League in Sacramento. He suggests we read and subscribe to their newsletter online. Here's part of an article from the last PCL newsletter that I thought would interest some of you...
OCEANWATER DESALINATION PROPOSAL ALL WETAttention water, habitat, and climate lovers alike! The State Lands Commission and the California Coastal Commission will be hearing a proposal for an environmentally-damaging ocean water desalination plant in the next month and we need you to speak out.Poseidon Resources wants to build the massive plant in Carlsbad, California and sell their desalted product to local water agencies in the region. This project would be the largest and most damaging ocean desalination facility in the western hemisphere. Though there's never a good reason to destroy public coastal property, this project is especially threatening because it would cause the destruction of marine life and ecosystems of one of Southern California's last remaining coastal lagoons. Because of its intense energy demand, the proposed plant would also spew greenhouse gases and exacerbate global warming. In short, this proposal would produce very expensive water, at a very high environmental cost. Tell your representatives at the State Lands Commission and California Coastal Commission that you're opposed to this privately owned company exploiting our natural resources, and that you oppose building a wasteful and environmentally damaging ocean desalination facility in Carlsbad, California.
Feel like delivering your comments in person? Here's the skinny: State October 30, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. Port of San Diego, Board Room - 1st Floor, 3165 Pacific Highway, San Diego, California 92101.California Coastal Commission: November 14-16, 2007 at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel, 1433 Camino Del Rio South, San Diego, CA 92108
TWO CUBA EVENTS. Thursday, November 1 at 7:30 - Cuban playwright Eduardo Machado tell his life's story - from his childhood in Cuba during the revolution, his journey to the U.S. as a "Peter Pan" child, his early years in Los Angeles, and his current life in America - by sharing family recipes that recall the culinary flavors of his past: Tastes Like Cuba: An Exile's Hunger for Home. Don't miss it at the Capitola Book Cafe - 1475 41st Avenue.
Wednesday, November 7 at 7:00 - One Man's Story: Phillip Agee, Cuba and the CIA exposes the dark side of U.S. foreign policy in this Cuban made documentary - focusing on U.S. terrorism in Cuba and the death of Che Guevara. Former CIA agent Agee tells his captivating story, supported by excellent archival material, of his 14 years as a CIA agent before leaving and writing his classic, The Company.
Dawn Gable, who has lived and worked in Cuba as a translator for Granma International, will discuss the 33 minute film with the audience. 7:00 pm, Weds. Nov. 7, Vet's Hall, Santa Cruz. $5-$10 donation. Sponsored by Cuba Study Group of Santa Cruz County. For more information: 465 8272.
KSCO AND NO BUYERS. Michael Olsen said that there's been no real action on buying KSCO yet. He said that Clear Channel isn't doing any buying due to some other problems they're facing at the moment. He was probably kidding when he told me that somebody wanted to turn it into a Punjabi music station. On the other hand we don't have a Punjabi music station around here... yet. It could catch on!!
NOSFERATU AND NEW MUSIC AND YOU. Phil Collins and his New Music Works Ensemble will play Phil's own ORIGINAL musical score for Murnau's Nosferatu (1922) which is still one of the best vampire films ever made. They will do this Tuesday, October 30, at 7 p.m. at the Del Mar Theatre. Tickets at the door and... if you pledge to give blood to the Red Cross you get $2 off your ticket price.
UCSC MUSIC FACULTY CONCERT. This gala evening occurs Sunday, October 28, 2007 in the Music Center Recital Hall, UC Santa Cruz at 7:30 PM (doors open at 7:00 PM) The program opens with two 18th-century chamber works, one by Bohemian-born court composer Karl Stamitz and the other by Franz Joseph Haydn, the court composer for Vienna's Prince Nikolaus Esterházy. The recital continues with a solo performance by artist Stan Poplin of selected works for double bass. The second half of the program features music composed in the 20th century: a work for three bassoons by French composer Eugène Bozza, a trumpet concerto by Armenian composer Alexander Arutunian, and a recent quartet by Bay Area composer and oboist Philip Freihofner. Featuring UCSC faculty artists: Mark Brandenburg, clarinet; Patricia Mitchell, oboe; Owen Miyoshi, trumpet; Jane Orzel, bassoon; Stan Poplin, double bass; Susan Vollmer, horn. Guest artists: Miles Graber, piano; Richard Palm, bassoon; Joel Schaefer, violoncello; Kevin T. Smith, bassoon. Tickets: UCSC Ticket Office (459-2159), SC Civic Auditorium Box Office, and online at: SantaCruzTickets.com.
QUOTES. "Style is when they're running you out of town and you make it look like you're leading a parade." -William Battie "An acquaintance is someone we know ell enough to borrow from but not well enough to lend to." -Ambrose Bierce "When little men cast long shadows, the sun is about to set." -Michael Seymore.
Deep Cover
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
It's free! Click here.
|
MORE ON SCOPE PARK. If I remember correctly wasn't Cynthia Mathews a member of SCOPE? (Santa Cruz Organization to Promote Euthenics) and didn't she vote to sell SCOPE Park? SCRP Santa Cruzans for Responsible Planning took a vote at their last meeting on October 8th to oppose that sale. SCRP could not get a consensus on the selling of Lighthouse Field because it isn't clear whether the city or the State would muck it up worse in the future. It was clear that most SCRPers were opposed to having unleashed dogs in the park. One member asked, "What about all the people in Santa Cruz who have off-road motorcycles who don't have enough room to ride them in their yards. Shouldn't they be given a place in Lighthouse Field along w/ the dog owners who are in the same position???? After all some people love their motorcycles as much as dog owners their dogs!!!!!! And what about horse owners and, and, and....
DEVELOPING TERRACE POINT MEETING. Westsiders mostly know about UCSC wanting to develop Terrace Point but the entire county should show up next Monday night October 22, 7 p.m. at the Garfield Park Church, 111 Errett Circle. As the SCAN Newsletter stated, "This project has been around for a long time. The proposed UC project will extensively develop the last coastal bluff in Santa Cruz. The issues are numerous: wetlands, traffic, public safety, obscuring of view sheds, neighborhood impacts, etc. It is to be scheduled for a hearing before the Coastal Commission soon. There may be a motion before the City Council to take a position on the project as well. People should contact Council members about a Council position on the project."
PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC CLUB,THIS WEEK. The PDC meets this Thursday Oct 18th at 7p.m. at LONDON Nelson Community Center. State Senator Joe Simitian will be attending his first PDC meeting. Everybody should go and tell him what's wrong with Sacramento. After that we should all tell Congressman Sam Farr what's wrong with his vote to condemn MoveOn's ad criticizing General Petraeus. What a guy!!! This should be a fascinating meeting. I'll save you a seat. If you want to receive the Monthly PDC newsletter free email billmalone@pacbell.net
ELERICK'S INPUT Paul reports that the Barack Obama picnic was a huge success, and that vice-mayor Ryan Coonerty gave a good talk supporting Obama. Elerick and family also are voting for Barack and Paul tells when he left Hillary C. Then he asks if the Pajaro Valley Unified School District can get any nuttier than hiring their own reporters. Read here PATTON'S PROGRAM. Mr. Patton talks about the issue of the Pajaro Valley groundwater basin and how it affects our county. There's an update going on with the Monterey County General Plan that causes many problems. Gary explains how he's a lobbyist and why bills get vetoed over the weekend. Marina is being developed and affordable housing is part of the solution. Camp Roberts and Fort Hunter Liggett are major causes of environmental concern. EAGAN'S VIEW. Tim clearly demonstrates the power of the dollar in action around the world...scroll down...don't worry, be happy.
LANDAU'S PROGRES. Read Saul Landau's review and heavy questions of the film, "In the Valley of Elah". The Progreso newsletter headline says September something, but I think that's a mistake http://progreso-weekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=190&Itemid=1
WATERS WEIGHS IN. Christina "Coyote" Waters herself puts it like this "for next week I have a few wine tips, a movie review (Michael Clayton) and some tasty ideas for getting creative with food at home. Read her here www.christinawaters.com
A READER ASKS...BrattonOnline reader Jim Munro emails to ask, " Perhaps you can shed some light on this one: I was an over the hill commuter for many years and most nights came all the way down Ocean to turn left toward my house near Twin Lakes. Lower Ocean was always a nightmare in the summer, because Boardwalk traffic turned right on East Cliff and then left over the Riverside Ave Bridge, thus mixing with cross town traffic and causing substantial backups up Ocean and along East Cliff. This was far worse during summer weekends and backups all the way to 7th Ave are still common.
Quite a few years ago, the City in its wisdom changed the configuration of lower Ocean to two lanes going South, then a turn right onto Barson street for Boardwalk traffic (two lanes), and over the Riverside Ave bridge (two lanes) to the Boardwalk. Beyond Barson St. on Ocean, there is only one lane going south.
The return traffic was to come back via East Cliff (two lanes) and turned left up Ocean towards the freeway (two lanes all the way). Sounds good to me. In theory this would alleviate traffic problems quite a bit, and I am sure it would, except there are no traffic signs that say 'Turn right to the Boardwalk' at Bronson St. Actually, there are NO direction signs anywhere in town to the Boardwalk.
This is quite curious since the Boardwalk is the biggest moneymaker, the source of the majority of tourist traffic, and the one place that outsiders have heard about.
I have spent many happy hours stuck in this traffic, both in the evenings on my way home from work, and at weekends when I like to cross town to go up the coast and do some windsurfing. As a lifelong engineer, I can't help but try to analyze the traffic and having sat and counted cars many times, I know with a good degree of certainty, that 95% of Boardwalk traffic does not use the Branson St route which was developed at significant expense to the City. Even worse, quite a few cars turn left at the bottom of Ocean in their search for the elusive Boardwalk, only to find a spot to do a U-turn later on and further clog up traffic when they realize their mistake.
At some point I tried to talk to the City 'Traffic Engineers' and was fobbed of with some explanation that the system was working just fine. On a later call, I was told by some admin type that hell would freeze over before the City would approve any signs directing people to the hated Boardwalk (I am paraphrasing here).
Is petty politics getting in the way of resolving serious traffic problems in Santa Cruz? I believe so. The only other possible explanation is crass stupidity. LA has signs everywhere for Disneyland and other attractions. Imagine how much worse the traffic would be if they were not there and millions of people had to drive around LA till they stumbled on their destination? Advertising private businesses may not be part of what the City is supposed to do but creating orderly traffic flow certainly is, and if having signs to major tourist attraction helps traffic flow, they should do it, even if the attractions are owned by hated Capitalists.
Everybody has heard about the Boardwalk, but few know exactly how to get there. Absent any other signs, they come straight down Ocean and it is right there in front of them. 'Oh No', there is a river in the way. 'Which way to turn?', 'Beats me, try left.... No, try right'..... 'Why are there no signs in this stupid town?
I understand that upwards of 90% of every tourist dollar is spent at the Boardwalk, and thus it is the largest sales tax generator in the County. It is therefore essential that the City make it a smooth and easy as possible for people to get to the Boardwalk as efficiently as possible. This helps traffic, and it helps tax revenue. It seems like the traffic people have done a reasonable job on their part, but without directing people to use the improved route, it is a pathetic waste of resources all round. And this was done quite a few years ago.
Meanwhile, thousands (maybe millions) of dollars are wasted in fuel, time, and wasted opportunities while the sad saga of Santa Cruz vs. Canfield drags on. Perhaps you would have more luck than me investigating this?" -Jim Munro. Any readers have any ideas or suggestions on this...Munro does have a point.
HOSTETTER'S HOT STUFF. Paul Hostetter in his regularly unscheduled musical hotline sez... "Hi folks -Things are really starting to heat up, it's going to be crazy until New Year's. There are multiple events next weekend. If you can't see the page here, click this link and you'll see what I'm talking about: http://www.lutherie.net/live.music.html
EMAIL BAG. Rick Turner asks about hookah lounges and why no clitorectomy parlors?? He asks about what's behind and below the Mission Street re-digs...then he tells us about a Tasmanian (really) environmental sewage plan that works.
Thomas Leavitt's email relates how he asked the City Planning Director about Starbucks buying the Wienerschnitzel property on Soquel.
PHILIP GLASS, THE CRITICS TARGET. Never, ever have I seen a review of anything as scathing as the review by The San Francisco Chronicle's Joshua Kosman of the "Book of Longing" concert at Stanford last week of songs by Leonard Cohen and music by Philip Glass. Read it, Kosman uses words like fetid, horror and rips that concert like I've never seen in print. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-in/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/11/DDMMSNME6.DTL&hw=kosman&sn=008&sc=379
Philip Glass's Appomattox, the opera also stirred critics as if it were a night in hell. Critic Lisa Hirsch compiled a list of reviews of Appomattox at her website Iron Tongue http://irontongue.blogspot.com/2007/10/surrender.html . Amazing to read these reviews and then to think about how we laugh at those audiences 60 or 80 years ago usually in Europe, who raised the roof at Stravinsky or Wagner. Me? I liked Appomattox and was happy to see so many Santa Cruzans there last Wednesday night. Nancy Bertossa, Chuck Hilger, Manny Santana, Alfredo Navarro, Jim Ende, and folks like John Adams and Philip Glass himself all went to see the second night's performance. The opera does lack something, but Glass keeps working on his operas and will sense what that hollowness was at the end. Glass has been to Santa Cruz many times, once was when he played solo piano all night at the now vanished Palookaville, that was an excellent night of music. I went backstage after the opera to say hello to Dennis Russell Davies who conducted the San Francisco Opera Orchestra. He said to say hello to all his Santa Cruz friends, so I am.
CABRILLO MUSIC FESTIVAL HISTORY. I'm working on a revised history of the origins of the Cabrillo Music Festival...now called the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. Alyce Vestal, an early organizer of the festival and Mary Toews widow of Ted Toews, composer and director of the festival are gathering many documents, facts and figures from the early 1963 days to bring the history closer to reality. If you or any friends of yours were involved in those early years and have data or thoughts on that very involved history let me know and I'll pass it on.
LUST, CAUTION. The late great film director Stanley Kubrick had a goal of creating film masterpieces in as many genres as possible. When you examine his list of films you'll see what variety and great films he accomplished. Ang Lee appears to have the same goal. Consider Sense and Sensibility, Crouching Tiger, Brokeback Mountain, well yes... he did direct The Hulk, but hey! Lust, Caution is a wonderful, carefully crafted film. It's set in China in 1942 and is a war period piece. Sex is a major part of the story and this will be one of the sexiest films you've seen lately. The acting is perfect, emotions are deep, trust, loyalty, honor and commitment all get tested and it's like watching a novel unfold on screen. Do not miss this masterpiece.
UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. Every Thursday 4-5p.m. I host University Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 FM. This week Oct 18 Karl Heiman, owner of Mr. Toots and The Caffe Pergolesi will talk about coffee and the newly formed ICHOOS (the Independent Coffee House Organization of Santa Cruz).After that Amelie Hastie associate professor of film and digital media at UCSC will discuss her new book, "Cupboards of Curiosities". Among other women in Hollywood history her book talks about Zasu Pitts too!! On October 25 I'll be talking with Casey Coonerty owner, operator of Bookshop Santa Cruz. We'll talk about what's new in the Independent book business, and what people are reading nowadays. In the second half of Grapevine Peter Beckman owner of Beckman's Bakery will talk about the newly forming Think Local First Santa Cruz and what this organization is doing to promote buying at locally owned businesses.
QUOTES. "And there is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I'm sorry it's the case, and I'll work hard to try to elevate it," President George Bush. Speaking on National Public Radio, Jan. 29, 2007. Scott MacClelland sent this next one, "The Christian religion is a parody on the worship of the sun, in which they put a man, called Christ in the place of the sun, and pay him the adoration originally paid to the sun," Thomas Paine
Deep Cover
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
It's free! Click here.
|
SANTA CRUZ HOOKAH LOUNGE #3? Dorothy Hensinger emails to tell us: "Have you heard another Hookah Pipe smoking lounge is opening right next to the Teen Center on Laurel Street.? It's a bad idea, our teenagers are our future and having this so near is inviting trouble and may lead them to other drugs and smoking. Hookah pipes are very damaging to lungs and spread other diseases...I think it's very sneaky that the city approved of these lounges (3 now!) Hopefully you can spread the word and help move these lounges to other cities. Not Santa Cruz", end quote.
WHOLE FOODS INTO ALBERTSON'S ON SOQUEL. I had a rumor a few weeks ago about Whole Foods NOT going into the old Albertson's on Soquel because they found asbestos at the site and Whole Foods wanted to back out... but according to another rumor...that's wasn't true, Whole Foods IS going ahead with Soquel Avenue plans. One friend in that business told me of statistics showing how Whole Foods opens every new store with prices set so low they effectively shut down all competition for miles around. Once the competitors are gone Whole Foods then raises prices way above their former level and makes enormous profits. Drew Miller emailed to ask about that Whole Foods maneuver and also asked if I'd heard any more about Starbucks opening the old Weinerschnitzel Hut across the street on Soquel? Nope I haven't heard a word...any news on that, dear readers??
MORTON MARCUS DOING WELL. Morton Marcus hugged Sandy Lydon and me after we did the University Grapevine show Sept. 27. He told us "I'm seriously sick and am going under the knife next Wednesday". Well, he did do "the knife thing" Wednesday October 3 for five hours. Lost a lot of blood, and they found large dark masses on his kidney and liver. He's in ICU (as of Sunday Oct 7), doesn't want any calls or cards or visitors even later when he's better. Daughter Jana says he's doing very well now and was using hand gestures (guess which?) with humor to respond to her comments. Due to an internet error one report stated "he is in ICU where he will be for probably three days, in an induced comma". Only a poet would be in "an induced comma". Think even more than your usual good thoughts for Mort, we owe him that for all the great times he's given us.
NEW MUSIC WORKS KICKS OFF 29TH SEASON. Standing ovations and much awe and even shocks greeted pianist and composer Aaron Jay Kernis at New Music Works opening night concert last Saturday. David Tannenbaum played a composition by Terry Riley on a National Steel Guitar and that was equally loved. More music by Kernis and Riley followed the intermission and The Ariose Singers made the entire evening a big success. It was a great way to begin the New Music Works season which looks as wildly exciting as all their seasons do. Bonita John president of the NMW board said in her welcoming speech that next year (the 30th Anniversary year) will really be huge!! Go to www.newmusicworks.org to keep in touch.
SHAKESPEARE SANTA CRUZ. I promised I wouldn't reveal anything but Shakespeare Santa Cruz will announce their new director to replace Paul Whitworth this week. One friend, who saw this new person act a Shakespearean role, said the actor brought a new level of depth to the part and will add much to Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Watch for the announcement.
ELERICK'S INPUT. Paul's a member of the Transportation Funding Task Force. As many County citizens know the Regional Transportation Commission is finishing a county wide poll. This week in his Input he questions whether that poll/survey was a fair one, and what to do about it if you agree.
PATTON'S PROGRAM. Gary explains how in-lieu fees let developers off the hook. Read about what Monterey County is proposing on the Land Use Report. Read about what a legal mess Rancho San Juan has become. The Land Use Report says public participation could have avoided many of the problems. Secret meetings were intended to "settle" the threat of litigation about Rancho San Juan. But they didn't settle anything! It's all here.
EAGANS EFFRONTERY. Scroll downwards to check out Tim's take on Condi's Critical thinking process.
LANDAU'S PROGRES. Saul Landau sez in this latest issue of Progreso Weekly that we (that's the presidential "we") have 180,000 mercenaries (Blackwater) in Iraq and 160,000 U.S. Troops. He goes into detail about comparing their pay and what they are doing there. This issue also has articles on Che's murderer and Cuban doctors. Click here http://progreso-weekly.com
WATERS WEIGHS IN. Christina Waters tells me she has just left Good Times and will be writing for another venue starting next month. Meanwhile this week at http://christinawaters.com she will be reviewing the new SFOpera production of Philip Glass's "Appomattox," the wine & cheese tastings at Soif and an art show at Winfield Gallery in Carmel.
THE SEEKER: THE DARK IS RISING. It is very possible to read nothing but excellent books then pick up a comic book and enjoy it too. That's what seeing The Seeker is like. It's a comic book, and a fast moving, looney story that makes no sense but it doesn't have to. The fun thing about this film is watching Ian McShane from HBO's Deadwood act next to Frances Conroy from Six Feet Under with her Georgia accent trying to sound British. When bad movies like this are inevitable, relax and enjoy it. Expect nothing but fun and some cool visuals.
DARJEELING LIMITED. Owen Wilson's suicide attempt probably wasn't connected to his role in this extra dumb film but it wasn't helped any. Adrien Brody is a little funnier in this than in "The Pianist" but not much. Brody is now acting the lead in a film about Manolete co starring Penelope Cruz. This very artificial and unbelievable plot in D. Limited isn't worth repeating except as I told David Mayer, you do get to see some good footage of India.
HEARTBREAK KID. This is a disgusting film. The jokes are old, it lacks taste, Ben Stiller is mean, and his father Jerry is worse. The way overworked humor ranges from Donkey-girl scene to gay bashing to clit rings. I hope I got the message across...don't go. And try to burn any copies you ever see in video stores, it's the least you can do.
EASTERN PROMISES. A Cronenberg Film. That's almost enough to tell you about this tight, beautifully filmed, gristly, sublimely acted adventure. If you need more reasons the film stars Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl and Vincent Cassel from Irreversible. You can't take your eyes from the screen, marvelous shots of unknown Paris locations...and it's genuinely thrilling. David Cronenberg directed History of Violence, Crash, M.Butterfly, Naked Lunch, The Fly and he remains one of the few directors working today whose films can be recognized just by watching them.
UC SANTA CRUZ FACULTY CONCERT. Six faculty musicians at UCSC are going to perform Sunday October 28 at the Music Recital Hall at 7:30. Mark Brandenburg, Patricia Mitchell, Owen Miyoshi, Jane Orzel, Stan Poplin, and Susan Vollmer will play works by Haydn, Stamitz, Bozza, Arutunian, and Freihofner. Guest artists are Joel Schaefer, Miles Graber, Richard Palm, and Kevin T. Smith. Tickets maybe at the door or by calling the UCSC ticket office at 459-2159 or online at www.santacruztickets.com
SANTA CRUZ CHAMBER PLAYERS, October 27, 28. This is the opening of their 29th season. Good old country music gets classical adjustments by composers Smetana, Kodaly, Copland, Turina, and Villa-Lobos at the next Santa Cruz Chamber Players concert at Christ Lutheran Church, 10707 Soquel Drive in Aptos...take the Freedom Blvd. turnoff. Rebecca Jackson is the concert director and violinist, Jason Calloway plays cello and Felix Lawi is on piano. The concerts are at 8 p.m. the 27th and 3 p.m. the 28th. Go to www.scchamberplayers.org for ticket and location info or you can get tickets at the door.
UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. Every Thursday 4-5p.m. I host University Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 FM. This week Oct 11th , Carolyn Swift will talk about Capitola. She's the director of the Capitola Historical Museum. The second half of the program Don Webber and I will talk about all the problems involved with the proposed La Bahia development. On Oct 18 Karl Heiman, owner of Mr. Toots and The Pergolesi will talk about coffee and the newly formed ICHOOS (the Independent Coffee House Organization of Santa Cruz).After that Amelie Hastie associate professor of film and digital media at UCSC will discuss her new book, "Cupboards of Curiosities". Among other women in Hollywood history her book talks about Zasu Pitts too!!
QUOTES AND EFFULVIA. Still more quotes from Rosalind Lane via Simon Kelley of Soquel "Civil disobedience, that's not our problem. Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world in the face of poverty and starvation and stupidity, and war, and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves, and all the while the grand thieves are running the country. That's our problem".Howard Zinn.
"They made a wasteland and called it peace".Tacitus
"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death", Albert Einstein.
"Every war when it comes, or before it comes, is represented not as a war but as an act of self-defense against a homicidal maniac", George Orwell
"You know your god is man-made when he hates all the same people you do",[Usenet]
Deep Cover
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
It's free! Click here.
|
TERRACE POINT. Good ol' UCSC is gearing up for its big push to develop Terrace Point. They want to add an additional 530,000 square feet of new development. Remember that this isn't for classrooms and students it is for research and development and big government money contracts. This particular development will add 3,128 more daily vehicle trips and we just read in The Sentinel how over loaded Mission Street already is. That's 785 staff and students there and another 800 employees at their Texas Instrument building at 2100 Delaware Avenue. The California Coastal Commission will be examining this growth in December.
As one friend emailed, "Terrace Point was not included as part of the main campus growth plan and will be coming up before the California Coastal Commission in November or December for final approval. However, the Environmental Impact Report certified by the UC Regents in 2004 uses the same faulty analysis for traffic, housing, and water supply that was recently ruled inadequate by the standards of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by Judge Paul Burdick in Santa Cruz Superior Court. Thus far, the City of Santa Cruz has not objected to the Terrace Point project.
There are additional water problems involved and of course there isn't enough housing to handle this growth. People on the Westside need to organize and let the city council know how they feel about this huge development of Terrace Point. Besides that, write letters of concern to the Coastal Commission (Central Coast District Office, 725 Front Street, Suite 300, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-4508, (831) 427-4863, Fax (831) 427-4877) about this project and appear before the Coastal Commission when the hearing on Terrace Point project is scheduled.
LIGHTHOUSE FIELD. I can see no reason in the world to allow dogs to run leash free in Lighthouse Field. It doesn't work environmentally; it endangers the dogs and certainly is a threat to humans. The field isn't really in a natural state right now and needs some work. The real reasons why John Laird worked so hard passing legislation to allow the state to sell it would be fun to learn. It needs re-planting and some revising and not redevelopment. Let's buy it and clean it up. But at the same time hasn't the city said it wants to sell SCOPE Park because it needs the money? More people see SCOPE PARK than see Lighthouse Field!!
SPECIAL NOTE FROM GARY PATTON. The Planning and Conservation League publishes a weekly bulletin on legislative and environmental policy, which we call the "PCL Insider." It's informative, and will keep you up to date on important policy issues. Naturally, we'd like to have a wide distribution of the "Insider," and I hope you'll sign up at our "activist center," if you aren't already receiving it. You can do that online at: http://action.nwf.org/pcl/home.html Very best wishes to you. Gary A. Patton, Executive Director, Planning and Conservation League, 1107 9th Street, Suite 360
Sacramento, CA 95814, Telephone: 916-313-4520 FAX: 916-448-1789 Email: gapatton@pcl.org Website: www.pcl.org
BOWEN DOESN'T GIVE UP. Luckily for us Secretary of State Debra Bowen has been and is in the process of dumping electronic voting machines in California. Bruce McPherson and good ol' Republican gute freund Arnoldt Schwarzenegger both worked hard to continue legalizing and using the easily hacked touch screens that have kept so many fellow Republicans in office. In a Sacramento Bee article from last week you can read,"Former Secretary of State Bruce McPherson, whom Bowen narrowly defeated last year, charges that she is leading a premeditated campaign against voting machines in a political pitch to conspiracy theorists". She's got a lot of courage and hopefully the rest of the USA will wake up to the vote fixing we've all been suffering from. Please read the entire article here
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/405386.html
BUY LOCAL, BUY CAREFULLY. Statistics prove, and many US cities are learning that buying locally from businesses that are locally owned is the only way to create a stable and sustainable local economy. Last week I mentioned two locally owned and locally created groups that are working hard to educate everybody in Santa Cruz County just why it pays to shop in locally owned stores and businesses. They are Think Local First Santa Cruz that Peter Beckmann is spearheading and ICHOOS ( Independent Coffee House Organization of Santa Cruz) a group made up of many of the 39 independent coffee houses in Greater Santa Cruz, being led by Karl Heiman of Café Pergolesi and Mr. Toots in Capitola. Thursday's Santa Cruz Sentinel which you can read here... announced that the very same Bruce McPherson (see above story) who once sold that same locally owned newspaper to Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal and later began tap dancing with his governor Schwarzenegger in Sacramento as our Secretary of State, is now the front man for a phoney Shop Local Campaign. McPherson along with Bill Tyselling of the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce, The Central Coast Small Business Development Center, The Downtown Association of Santa Cruz and SCORE all of which kiss up to and encourage every known franchise and box store are encouraging us only to "Shop Local". That means shop at Costco, Borders, Trader Joes, Home Depot, Safeway, , Starbucks, any chain store...just don't drive over the hill is their motto. McPherson claims that it means more tax revenue and more jobs (that's assuming Wal Mart and others hire locally). It hurts to see these business people continue welcoming growth at any cost, even to our Mom and Pops stores.
PACIFIC AVENUE VACANCIES. If you've walked down Pacific avenue lately you've probably noticed that COTTON TALES the great children's store is GONE. And Om Gallery with locations in Boise, Idaho and Capitola are moving into Cotton Tales. Togo's an old veteran sandwich shop with a crazy front door (and a franchise of 350 stores owned by Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins!!) well Togo's is long gone too., with nobody in sight to move in. Body Options a locally owned women's clothing shop at 1530 Pacific Avenue near Bookshop Santa Cruz is gone as well. This gives us another chance to see how our city council directs Ceil "Chopper" Cirillo to shop for more businesses that will keep Santa Cruz livable. If you know anybody on the Council for goodness sakes tell them to shop for local shops...if you're still on speaking terms.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. I ran a letter from Dian Corneliussen last week lamenting that the First Congregational Church at 900 High Street was being dismantled and some less than wonderful things were happening to that parish and the buildings. Almost within minutes Senior Pastor Dave Grishaw-Jones emailed BrattonOnline saying Dian's letter was largely inaccurate and that he resents her character assassination. He talks about how the church is developing and growing and about Gay marriages and about the nearly $100,000 cost to repair the cross tower.
Then Laura Engelken who is a member of the First Congregational Church 900 High Street emailed. Laura too says that the church is not being dismantled and that less than 1/3 of the pews were removed and replaced with nice chairs to better serve the community needs. Laura also says that the church is creating a vibrant community not falling apart as was stated in Dian's original letter. Read all the letters right here.
CIRCUS CRUELTY NOT FUNNY. Click on this link about Circus Gatti and Circus Vargas both are California based circuses that visit Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley nearly every year http://www.circuses.com/circuses.asp . You can read about many many circuses with detailed reports on their cruelty to animals. Ringling Brothers has a separate fact sheet from PETA and other organizations trying to protect these special animals. For example Ringling Brothers does enormous hype on how they raise and breed their elephants, yet 57 of the 62 elephants they own were captured in the wild. Ace about reporter Jennifer Bratton Boulanger of Mar Vista sent in this report.
BARACK OBAMA SANTA CRUZ EVENT. It's happening Sunday Oct.14th 1-4 p.m. Harvey West Park. For all the details and ways to get involved click here....
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/meeting/4v2z3
ELERICK'S INPUT. Paul Elerick talks about UCSC working with the County and how the Sentinel has to slam such good works. He also talks about President Harry Truman versus General Douglas McArthur and the benefits of hindsight!! Click here to check out his latest views and visions.
EAGAN'S POLITICAL CARTOON. About looking back and laughing according to Mr. Eagan...scroll down.
PATTON'S PROGRAM. Gary writes and broadcasts about self-government and how revolting it can or should be. Then he addresses the problems of mobile home ownership. What a city architectural review committee is all about. Pesticides and local control and how Marina is growing and creating a new downtown
SAUL LANDAU'S PROGRES. Saul visits an Indian owned but not managed gambling casino in Washington...not a pretty sight. Next to his column in Progreso Weekly is a link to why we vote on Tuesdays, do watch it. It also talks about how the USA ranks 139th in the world for voter turnout.
CHRISTINA WATERS WEIGHS IN. Christina returns from Tuscany full of white beans, wild boar sausage and a few tips about food, wine and museum-going, Italian-style. At http://christinawaters.com.
HITCHCOCK SYMPOSIUM IN SAN JUAN BAUTISTA. I've written and talked about the First Annual Central California Hitchcock Symposium happening Oct. 5, 6, 7 in San Juan Bautista. Go here for details www.sandyLydon.com . I mentioned that I was taking part in that 50th anniversary celebration of the filming of Hitchcock's Vertigo. Due to a large mistake...I'm not.
NEW MUSIC WORKS PRESENTS. This Saturday Oct. 6th New Music Works presents the music of Aaron Jay Kernis and Terry Riley. At 8 p.m. in UCSC's Music Recital Hall. David Tannenbaum will play guitar. Kernis is a Pulitzer Prize winner and Terry Riley should be known to all. Here's a link to the complete, incredibly complete New Music Works program for the concert. It's also an advance calendar for the full new season of New Music presentations through 2008. Link up here
RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION. Like eating cotton candy, riding a roller coaster, or reading a comic book you should have enough sense to know what you're getting into before you do it. I did when I went to see Resident Evil: Extinction and had a fine time watching it...just go warned.
THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB. I like Jane Austen's books but not enough to like this spin-off. You need to have memorized all of Austen to become part of this cutesy concept of gee how much like her books our lives are. Even reading Northanger Abbey one more time is more fun.
FIERCE PEOPLE. This film stars Diane Lane and Donald Sutherland. It's about the class system. How poor working class folks from the big apple just don't quite measure up to the wealthy group. It's unreal, boring and contains not one likable human...of any class.
UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. University Grapevine happens every Thursday 4-5 p.m. on station KZSC 88.1 fm. That last camping experience at a fire lookout cabin was so great we're going to another one...this time up near Redding (actually nearer Hayfork), and will be back next Friday night. On Thurs. Oct 3 KZSC will be playing a repeat of Bill Domhoff talking about his book in progress "Who Rules In Santa Cruz". Trust me it's quite a topic. On October 11 historian Carolyn Swift will be discussing what's new and old in Capitola. And Beach Area resident Don Webber and I will cover many problems with the proposed controversial La Bahia project.
QUOTES. Rosalind Lane sent a huge number of quotes here's a few starters.
"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours", Stephen Roberts
"We, on our side, are praying to Him to give us victory, because we believe we are right; but those on the other side pray to Him, too, for victory, believing they are right. What must He think of us?" -Abraham Lincoln
"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich, as well as the poor, to sleep under the bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread" -Anatole France
"It was, of course, a lie what you read about my religious convictions, a lie which is being systematically repeated. I do not believe in a personal god and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious, then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it." -Albert Einstein
Deep Cover
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
It's free! Click here.
 |
© 2003-2010 Bruce Bratton • info@brattononline.com • HOME |  |