Eleanor Roosevelt (wife of President Franklin. D. Roosevelt) visited Santa Cruz and is shown shaking hands with Bert Snyder as Erva Bowen looks on. This was back in April 26, 1962. Bert Snyder was mayor at the time and Norm Lezin was on the City Council. The brand new Cabrilho College invited Eleanor here as part of their Speakers Series. Erva Bowen was president or secretary of the local NAACP, then and for many years later. After the speech at Cabrilho Erva, Eleanor and friends went to the Deer Park Tavern in Aptos. Only after much hassle would the Deer Park tavern allow Erva or any African American to enter. Eleanor went on that evening to speak in the Santa Cruz civic. Both Carolyn Swift and Stan Stevans helped me eke this out. By the way if you care about our past mayors you can go here and get all teary eyed about our past. Geez, remember Larry Edler? Brrrr!!!! photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

RYAN'S RECUSING & HIS LANDLORD?? Ryan Coonerty appears to have been conscientious in not voting on issues that involve his family and business. He recused on talking a position on King Street bicycling because his dad lives on King Street. Ryan recused on the proposed parking structure on Cedar for family business reasons...BUT and how come he is pushing so hard and taking such a strong side supporting The La Bahia development when The Bookshop Santa Cruz's landlord is La Bahia developer Barry Swenson? It wasn't that long ago that Ryan was vice president of Bookshop Santa Cruz. That's a real conflict of interest by many, many definitions. And don't forget that I totally support now and have for decades supported the Bookshop it's just those nagging questions...they keep nagging.

TANNERY APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE SOON. This notice went out to the mailing lists of the various arts organizations in the county. I think it should also be sent and printed in newspapers so that teachers, day laborers, nurses, union members, and everybody gets an equal chance to rent these city funded apartments. Trying to create a Fort Mason type Arts complex in a small town like Santa Cruz is a pipe dream and it's unfair. Read it and reap!!! But first go to their website and see what a huge deal this is
www.tanneryartscenter.org ...and all built on a flood plain!!!

BIG TOYS SMALL BOYS. Read Bruce Willey's piece in Good Times from early September about who rides motorcycles and why all the noise is so important - it's not only funny but applicable especially when you figure out that our police force must have that special little issue otherwise we wouldn't have that problem that continues to plague our downtown every bit as much as panhandlers. Why doesn't some City Council candidate take up motorcycle noise as a platform issue???

WHERE DID ALL THE ZUCCHINI GO? Not just zucchini but what's happened to the great tasting tomatoes that used to grow around Santa Cruz. "Back in the day" we had so much zucchini that Planned Parenthood put out a zucchini cookbook, it was so necessary that they printed two editions. And this year's tomato crop sucks too.

SIMBA KENYATTA AND THOSE DRUMMERS. One of the lighter moments in the City Council candidate's forums was when the candidates were asked about the parking structure on Cedar...they all were opposed. Simba took the occasion to say that he has been a drummer since he was 14 years old and that drum circle needs isn't more laws but lessons on how to drum!!!! He got great laughs and applause...he's right of course. I think that "din of thieves" needs to change the day of the week that they bang or their location. Our Farmer's Market is a precious institution and those miserable drummers and friends hurt a fragile business. The drummers represent exactly why more locals don't shop downtown. Most of them are probably deaf but if they could listen and really do care about free speech, move the drumming to some different day or location ...please. Just in passing, which city official ordered the police action and the taping of the tree at the Drummers circle last week?

LOBA ENDORSEMENTS. Paul Cocking of Gabriella's Café says, "endorsements went to Coonerty, Lane and Terrazas...usual talk about CLEANING UP DOWNTOWN and encouraging RESPONSIBLE development...not a WORD about parking...even though city is broke and we are the only coastal community in the world with FREE parking...why do we have meter maids scouring the same meters every TWENTY minutes terrorizing the tourists that we crave while we build more free parking that the locals fill up is a mystery to me...your average Volvo driver would much rather pay ten dollars an hour to park than get down on his knees with a meter reader...think of the money we would have in order to fill all those vacancies in the police department that would CLEAN UP THE DOWNTOWN...it ain't that dirty, but it would be nice to have more than two police cars available when the bars let loose...how about a plaza at Cedar and Cathcart instead of another parking structure where we could have EVENTS like other coastal towns???".

RITTENHOUSE BUILDING.  Now that we can see Louis' new building at Church and Pacific where we should have had a nice open, green plaza we can only start some kind of contest to name the thing. John Tuck has already entered "The Mausoleum", and that's clever.  I asked a well known art person in town he said "well, it's a tour-de-force", which should win some kind of kindness award. I'm working on the list of prizes. Like a weekend with Louis Rittenhouse and Betty Danner or something like that.

PATTONS PROGRAM. As Gary states this week on his KUSP radio program, "In no other California County is there an official procedure intended to put future growth under the effective political control of the residents of the county. That's what Santa Cruz's Measure J did, among other things. Think about getting involved in that process". He also says that men are welcome to League of Womens Voters meetings and goes into some detail about Monterey County's measure Z.

EAGAN'S DEEP COVER. Tim gives us a lesson on banking....future tense!! Scroll down.

LANDAU'S PROGRES. Read Saul's take on how Bush is winning the war or "The Ab-surge-ity of it all" in Progreso Weekly.

LAKE VIEW TERRACE. Samuel L. Jackson is one great actor. No kidding and no doubt about it, he proves it again in Lake View Terrace. That's really supposed to be two words and if you Google it you'll find that Lake View terrace is near Hanson Dam in Southern California's San Fernando Valley. It's a more or less true story about a sick cop (Jackson) who makes life hell for his new interracial couple neighbors. They ran out of script at the end and it becomes nearly stupid, but worth seeing if you like movies that could have been excellent and tense.

GHOST TOWN. Ricky Gervais is a British actor as we should all know by now. He has rarely had a bad moment onscreen and this American comedy also starring Greg Kinnear is one of the best mainstream comedies of this year. Ghosts, true love, New York City, it's fun...go for it.

MY BEST FRIEND'S GIRL. A disgusting, vile, nasty, filthy, unfunny attempt at humor that makes you wonder how low stars such as Kate Hudson will go for several bucks. She talks and sings nasty, looks way too old for the part and the film even makes Boston look bad....avoid at all costs.

CHOKE. Anjelica Huston never looked so bad. She plays a sick mother in this sad mess of a movie. Weird, odd, boring, unclear, poorly acted...whatever.... just forget about this movie....I'm sure the actors are trying to do just that.

ANTIQUARIAN FUNKS. There were over 200 folks at the Saturday night Antiquarian Funks "Baroque Obama" concert. Obviously it and the repeat concert Sunday afternoon were benefits for Barack Obama's campaign. Over $1250 was sent to Barack. "Interestingly enough (given that it was a beautiful afternoon), the Sunday concert was nearly as well attended as Saturday's. Easily 125 people I think", added Cynthia Mathews when I asked her about the Funks (she's related by marriage and interest to the Funks. She added about the Funks. "I guess just a comment that they've
developed a loyal following over the years for their original programming of obscure yet musically interesting works (remember "500 Years of Chicken Music", and "Where's Gesualdo?") -- pieces you are definitely NOT going hear as standard concert fare. Over the years the Funks have been an evolving crew, including students, talented amateurs with other "day jobs," and professional musicians. Part of the Funks' success is their simplicity: no by-laws, no non-profit status, no salaries, no grant applications. They just get together for the sheer pleasure of discovering and sharing early music". I suggested to her and to maestro Bill Mathews (head A. Funk) that the City of Santa Cruz install the funks as our official municipal band...they're that good and that popular!!

HIJOS DEL CARNAVAL ON HBO. If you're paying all those terrible and unjustified fees to Comcast and are getting HBO I'll still bet you're missing out on the great HBO "Inside" Series Hijos Del Carnaval. It's a "Latino Drama Series" about three brothers who are sons of the mobster who owns and operates Rio De Janeiro's annual Carnaval. Sure it's subtitled and yes, it's bloody, sort of a Latino Sopranos thing. Go to HBO On Demand, then go to HBO series, and watch the first three episodes...it's going to end Nov. 9, 08

SANTA CRUZ CHAMBER ORCHESTRA. The Santa Cruz Chamber Orchestra will open its third season on October 11, 2008 at Holy Cross Church at 8 pm. This will be a romantic and heart filled evening from the Baroque to the Contemporary exploring pieces by Sibelius and Dvorak. In the midst, the stunning Viatore dedicated to Arvo Pärt, and Premiered in the US, by The Santa Cruz Chamber Orchestra. Sibelius - Rakastava Op.14 (The Lover) for Timpani, Triangle and String Orchestra Vasks - Viatore * US Premiere Dvorak - Serenade for Strings Op. 22 For more information regarding the entire season go to their web site: http://www.scmusic.org/

SPAM NAMES. Either those fools who make up silly spam names are getting more tricky and are now using less foolish names or my spam filters are starting to work again...but this week's crop is a little slim...Mohamed Burt, Christy Fanningtop, Tisha Tackett, Dee Downs, Fransco Soua, Romeo Roark, Alano Storem, Gardie Innocenzio, Zebridius Nevins, Ber Knute, Susy Whitley, Langston Wooley, Alvy Lung-lun, and Leta Early. Tom Noddy and Shelly D'Amour sent in:
Cyrus Dickey, Abbott Biliamee,  Constantinos Bhoothap, Jamey Kun and Lanelle Ila. Oops an apology due....Zebridius Nevins is a real name!!! matter of fact he's going to be a guest on University Grapevine Oct. 9 to talk about building houses on Pogonip property. Every body calls him Zeb, me too from now on.

UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. Samantha Folb and Kelly Rivas will be telling us why we need to vote Yes on prop.7. www.yeson7.net. This is the Solar and Clean Energy prop and it's become very confusing...be sure to listen. Then former mayor and now City Council candidate Tim Fitzmaurice will be talking about city issues and why we should vote for him on Nov. 4^th. I host University Grapevine every Thursday at KZSC 88.1 fm from 4-5 p.m. do tune in.

QUOTES. S.K. Tile of Soquel sends this week's batch "Neurotics build castles in the air. Psychotics live in them. Psychiatrists charge the rent," Anonymous graffiti. "Why is it when we talk to God, we're said to be praying - but when God talks to us, we're schizophrenic?", Lily Tomlin. "Everybody has a God-given right to be an atheist," Michael Patton. "Don't make me come down there!" God.

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

RONALD REAGAN VISITS UCSC. May 18, 1967. This was just after he became Governor and around the time he actually signed a bill allowing abortions which he later regretted. He was defeated in his try to become the Republican Party's Presidential candidate later this year. This scene is part of a student vigil against tuition. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

THE PROGRESSIVE FORUM IN SANTA CRUZ. The People's Democratic Club (PDC), The Santa Cruz Action Network (SCAN), and The Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender (GLBT) held their Santa Cruz City Council endorsement meeting last Wednesday night at the Vet's Hall. There were about 100 intensely interested locals there. Bill Monning emceed, and each group made separate endorsements as you can imagine. The results from The Peoples Democratic Club ( PDC) endorsed Beiers and Fitzmaurice and the votes went...1.Katherine Beiers 2. Tim Fitzmaurice 3.David Terrazas 4. Tony Madrigal 5. Ryan Coonerty 6. Don Lane 7. Lisa Molyneaux 8.Blas jay Cabrera 9. Simba Kenyatta and 10. J. Craig Canada.

The Santa Cruz Action Network's (SCAN) also endorsed Beiers and Fitzmaurice their votes went 1. Katherine Beiers 2.Tim Fitzmaurice 3. Tony Madrigal 4. Simba Kenyatta 5. Lisa Molyneaux 6. Blas Jay Cabrera 7.Don Lane 8. J. Craig Canada 9. Ryan Coonerty 10. David Terrazas.

The Gay Lesbian Transgender Bisexual (GLBT) Alliance endorsed six out of the ten candidates Katherine Beiers, Tim Fitzmaurice, Don Lane, Simba Kenyatta, Ryan Coonerty, and Tony Madrigal. It was about as good as these endorsement gatherings can get. There were a few wasted questions like "why did the voters vote no on measure T," "what has been your experience with the GLBT group...duh!" and what do you think of same sex marriage just took up time but questions on living wage, 2120 Delaware, and especially on the La Bahia development gave us some ideas as to where they might stand if elected. Don Lane copped out on La Bahia of course and no one could tell what Madrigal said, but everybody else was against the 70 foot height/7 stories of the Canfield Swenson development. Coonerty stated that the developer has taken back the plans and I guess may lower that height. I'm trying to get some response from our Mayor on that one as we speak, or type as it were.

JOHN LAIRD & JOHN FLORES WEDDING. Congratulations are certainly in order for Assemblyman John Laird and his partner John Flores. They got married right here in Santa Cruz by a prominent official last Saturday. You sure can't say they rushed into this.

CHRIS MATTHEWS WAKE, CELEBRATION AND PARTY. More than 500 people gathered in the Shakespeare Glen up at UCSC last Saturday to show their love for Chris Matthews. Just like Chris the ceremony/celebration was full of bullshit, awe, respect, love, politics, lots of music, many tears, roaring laughs, and just wonderfully sincere thanks to Chris for making our lives so much more intense in every dimension. Marcus Cato obtained the Shakespeare Glen, John Sandidge arranged the talent, Geoffrey Dunn emceed, and Claire Braz-Valentine told the truth about what really happened when Chris took her to Soledad prison for the first time. More than that there were Native Americans, television, short skirts, banners, activists, columns of veterans, dancers, poets, flowers, actors, relatives, and Chris' brother Dilhon also explained why he doesn't use his name Dennis Matthews anymore. Sue Heinz Matthews proved she has as much guts and heart as Chris and told us all to carry on. Which we will, but it won't be the same.

AGENDA 21? FREEDOM 21 SANTA CRUZ? ADS IN THE METRO? What's all that stuff about Ellen Pirie, The Department of Deception, Alliance For Change? Those two full page ads in Metro Santa Cruz have everybody puzzled. Try going to their website www.straighttalknews.org it's not easy to understand. It all involves the plot behind the Global Warming Scare, and something about sustainable development, the secrets behind affordable housing and stealth like that. Then there's www.amerikanexpose.com/agenda21 that's about the world plot and plots behind the environmental movement. BUT if you go to http://www.freedom21santacruz.net/site you can read a long list of local Santa Cruz names and way down there you'll find good old Dr. Stanley Monteith. I first ran into Stan when he was a John Bircher and I was working at KGO in the 60's. He used to spend his time fighting fluoride because it was a Russian plot to kill us all. I'm still working on that Agenda 21 thing....I'll let you know if I hear anything. Oh yes, that site will also tell you about The Monterey Bay Sanctuary and what an evil plot against freedom it is...the site says, "The Sanctuary program seems to be simply a massive land grab that puts the control of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness for you and your posterity under the control of a cabal of government and non-government bureaucrats. Let's contemplate what we're doing here before the Bay becomes a sanctuary for the elite and the land becomes a controlled penitentiary for us, the common fleet". Whew and jeezus...who knew??? Let's see how long they can continue paying for those Metro ads.

ELERICK'S INPUT. Mr. Paul Elerick has put his shoulder to the wheel just a bit too often...and hurt it! He'll be back writing asap.

BONNY DOON AND LAFCO MEETING. Planning and Conservation League Counsel Gary Patton says in one of this week's broadcasts, "If you live in Bonny Doon, you might want to mark your calendar for an important meeting that will be held next Monday night, September 22^nd. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m., at the First Congregational Church, located at 900 High Street in Santa Cruz. At that time and place, the Santa Cruz County Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO, will consider a proposal to establish a new Fire Protection District (the Bonny Doon Fire Protection District), and to detach the areas within the new proposed District from County Service Area #48, which currently provides fire protection services not only to Bonny Doon but to other rural areas in Santa Cruz County.

By the way, if you happen to live in or have property in one of those "other rural areas", you better mark your calendars, too. Creating a new Fire Protection District for Bonny Doon will not just affect Bonny Doon. Probably, creating such a new Fire Protection District for Bonny Doon will improve fire protection there. That's certainly the expectation and the intention. The problem is that improving fire protection in Bonny Doon, by the means currently proposed, will almost certainly reduce fire protection for rural properties located in large portions of the North Coast, the Summit, and the mountain areas of the San Lorenzo Valley.

EAGAN'S DEEP COVER. By scrolling down you can see Tim Eagan's view of the basic assumptions involved in today's political campaigns.

PATTON'S PROGRAM. Gary talks about the Los Gatos hills burning with more than just a brush fire. He relates how some land could be transferred from one county to another. Then there's the part about building sand mines on the Salinas river. Plus the two day discussion of Bonny Doon and the fire Protection District the issue of which has been smoldering in Bonny Doon for decades, believe me.

LANDAU'S PROGRES. Don't miss reading Saul's "private" letter to George W. Bush. As you can imagine Saul goes to great pains to thank Bush for all he's done for Cuba :-).

DAN BESSIE'S FRENCH TICKER. Dan, former Santa Cruz resident emails every so often from his home in France. This time he writes," Too bad Europeans can't vote in the U.S. presidential election. A significant poll was just taken in 12 European countries, asking who folks favored. The results as follows: Obama 69%, McCain 26%. No, I don't think American voters are "idiots," as a few friends viewing current U.S. polls have written to indicate. I just think that most are too busy living their lives, working hard to get by, dealing with all kinds of family and other personal problems, and so on. And so they get about 95% of their info from sound bites, commercials that demonize the other candidate by distorting their position on issues (the politics of fear), etc, and don't have (or take) the time to get very deeply into exploring what each candidate might actually do as president, what their real positions are, etc. (That's why 51% of those surveyed in recent polls continue to believe that Obama will raise their taxes, when in fact, he proposes that anyone earning less than $250,000 a year will get a tax CUT.)

Cynicism is easy. Finding common ground with people takes more work. But when it's found, most people begin to understand. (Thus, the poll results in that long message I just sent, in which women voted for Obama 47% to 45%, BUT when both his and McCain's positions on a women's right to choose was shown to them, the vote changed to 53% to 40% (for Obama). So again, that's the challenge - cutting through the distortions and lies, and making people aware. All the best, Dan.

LETTER FROM DICKMEYER. Dan writes," I think it's super interesting that Aldo Giacchino wrote the ballot argument AGAINST Measure E--the city's next attempt to raise money (for storm drains) in a nefarious manner. He heads up the Sierra Club, no less. A very convincing argument bringing up issues of double taxation, lack of planning etc.--enough to make me think again after having a nice talk with Dan Haifley, the Measure E coordinator about it. Read it on-line. Why is Santa Cruz being so stupid about raising money? Why didn't Aldo give it another shot for City Council? I guess I'll go for Simba this time (if any). Wouldn't it be fun to know what has happened to people like Keith Sugar, Kris Krone (sic as in Kris Kringle), and others who seem to not be around or never inject their thoughts into the running of their once be-loved city (or Lynn Robinson for that matter--my great female hope.) Dan.

LECTURE #1. PERMIT PROCESS REFORM. Something's also wrong when we hear every candidate for city council say we need more input from the community we need to have the community more involved and yet our existing council and City Planners and related officials continue to have private meetings with developers and make promises and deals long before their plans are made public. That's happened with 2120 Delaware, The Coast Hotel, La Bahia and plenty more projects we'll never know the truth about. That's why and how developers like Craig French/Redtree will spend vast sums of money long before neighbors and the public become aware of a project....then have it railroaded through by a council who has given them assurance their developments will pass...and justify those bucks invested. We need to change the way developments are presented so we have more community input from the very first announcement of these projects. Because this subterfuge has become a way of life in Santa Cruz I asked Gary Patton if he had any ideas...he did and does he wrote, "Here's the URL! Download the full guidebook version of Land Use and the General Plan, and read the chapter on permit process reform, it's pages 51-64 and nails the problems that developers and the public have endured for years http://www.landwatch.org/pages/publications03/gpsummit/landusegeneralplan.pdf

Let's get together and talk about this.

LECTURE # 2. THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING LIE. Even god knows there are 1000's of people who can't afford housing in Santa Cruz County. Your God probably also knows that developers make more money from building housing than industrial/commercial buildings. What no one ever figures out or explains is that all the new housing we build here doesn't go to locals but is advertised and sold to out of towners. Remember it's illegal to require buyers to be local. Check out the ads for the housing out on Shaffer Road in the Sunday Chronicle check out the ads for North Pacific Avenue condos/apartments. Locals can't afford these places, ever see a report on who is moving into these boxes? Many go to parents of UCSC Students who buy them as investments. So we keep greasing the tracks for developers to build more of those fly by night sticky, stackey, static, stressed, stylized, stunted, stucco, boxes....why?

LITTLE DINKY SAFEWAYS IN THE FUTURE!! Here's a brilliant idea from Safeway. Now they're building little convenience size stores because people don't want to shop in the big box stores like our Santa Cruz City Council just gave them on a silver plate...anybody see any trends here? If so please run for City Council next time. Read about it here

RIGHTEOUS KILLER. This movie is a terrible waste of both Robert DeNiro' s and Al Pacino' s acting skills. There are scenes that just are actually embarrassing to watch because the acting and script is so bad. I guess they have to keep making movies to afford the lifestyles and personal corporations they run but it is shameful no one can come up with scripts that are worthy of these two icons.

BURN AFTER READING. The Coen Brothers must have given up on making sense in this film. With even more talent than DeNiro and Pacino wasted in this dumb and I mean not-intentional-dumb plot you wonder how moronic these actors could be to appear in junk like this. Shame on John Malkovich, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormond, even Brad Pitt (who's dumber than usual!!) for geezus sake!! You could rent it later, don't go now. Actually, Malkovich and Swinton weren't that bad but the material reeks to high heaven.

THE WOMEN. The funniest thing about this movie is seeing Mick Jagger's name as co –producer. The New Yorker says it's the worst movie ever seen; somehow it's worse than that. Meg Ryan, Annette Bening (who looks ugly!!!) Eva Mendes, and Debra Messing should all pay us any money we spent on admission. They should be stopped from ever making another movie after this one unless they can prove it has some value to anyone.

MISTER FOE. Remember Jamie Bell the dancing kid in Billy Elliott? He's back in this movie and plays a sort of Harold as in Harold and Maude in this neatly odd, quirky, touching, semi comedy. It's a growing-up-Oedipus-type plot with murder, and the scenic rooftops of Edinburgh and dozens of plot twists thrown in. Don't miss it.

TROUBLE THE WATER. This documentary is not just a perfect piece of cinema it shows in devastating detail what is wrong with the USA. It's the Katrina Hurricane versus the poor people of New Orleans and how the people survived with NO help from George Bush's government. Please see this brilliant motion picture, you'll never forget it, and try to bring a Republican if you know any. They need to see it more than you do.

ANTIQUARIAN FUNKS BACK FROM THE DREAD TO BACK BARACK.Their Concert will feature Political Music of the Early Baroque. The Antiquarian Funks, a local ensemble dating back to at least the early 70's and specializing in original programming and authentic performance of early music, will present a special election-year concert on the theme of "Baroque Obama," featuring politically-inspired music from the 17th Century. Among the pieces to be performed are Da Pacem by Heinrich Schutz, an appeal for peace written during the Thirty Years War, incorporating text by Martin Luther. Also included will be tower music composed for the city band of Leipzig by Gottfried Reiche, trumpet virtuoso for J.S. Bach, and music honoring prominent figures of European courts.

The 12-member Antiquarian Funks include singers and instrumentalists performing sackbuts, cornett, violin, viola da gamma and small pipe organ. Members are Bill Mathews, Jon Christian, Charlie McDowell, Kevin Blodgett, John Thomas, Kate Rubin, Joel Schaefer, Kit Birskovich, Suzanne Duval, Nancy Voogd, Jas Cluff and Michael Vojvoda.

The concert will be presented Saturday, September 20 at 8 pm and Sunday, September 21 at 4 pm, at First Congregational Church, 900 High Street in Santa Cruz. There is no charge, but donations are appreciated. For more information: 423-8977. ---NOTE: All proceeds above expenses will be donated to the local Democratic activities and the Obama campaign.

"HOW TO PRICE YOUR ART" SEMINAR. Curators and artists with experience in sales and tax issues for artists will cover such topics as trends in pricing, what is selling, pricing for different venues, and other vital information for emerging and mid-career artists. The audience will have an opportunity to have their questions answered by working professionals. That's all happening on Friday, September 19^th, 2008 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the MAH – 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA. There'll be a panel with Angelo Grova, Sculptor and Owner of MichaelAngelo Gallery, Ann Ostermann, Cultural Council Open Studio Art Tour Manager, James Aschbacher, Muralist, Painter, and Business Owner, Mary Anne Carson, Director of Santa Cruz County Bank's Arts Collaborative and Neno Vilamor, Sculptor/Cast Paper Artist, Bookkeeper, and Owner of GAL Studio, it'll be moderated by Susan Hillhouse, Curator at The Museum of Art & History, Cost: $10. Seating is limited. Tickets are available (cash or check) at the Cultural Council office, 2400 Chanticleer Avenue Ste. G Santa Cruz, CA 95062, Monday through Thursday between 10 am and 4 pm. For more information, contact Nabil Ghachem at the Cultural Council at grants@ccscc.org or (831) 475-9600 x 16 or Joyce Magallanes at ext 10.

SPAM NAMES. How about Penny Ho, Hurley Shantanu, Erendira Paramo, Elmore Ivy, Hansel Ahidee, Chuckusima Soludo, Dagny Dane, Con Farold, Dom Hose, Florine Whitehead, Hugo Colon, Alexi Axel, Guillaume Kimmo, Alric Milo, Shemeka Jerrica, Elwood Blankenship, and Mikko Apriss

UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE.I host this weekly interview program on KZSC 88.1 FM every Thursday from 4-5 p.m. This Thursday Toni Cassista, Chair of the Santa Cruz County Seniors Commission will tell us what the Commission does and has done. (full disclosure... I just got appointed to the Commission). In the second half hour attorney and political observer Bob Taren will give us his views on local politics.

QUOTES. "Union...brothers...Marx...capital....bread and butter....love. It was all Greek to me", Samuel Beckett . "The flush toilet is the basis of Western Civilization", Alan Coult. "Morality—middle class morality, that is—is for me the immoral which one must fight. It is the morality that is founded on our most unjust of social institutions, like fatherland, religion, family, culture—everything that people call the "pillars" of society", Luis Bunuel.

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

RICHARD NIXON IN SANTA CRUZ. This was October 3, 1950. Nixon was here for the California Real Estate Convention at the Cocoanut Grove. Nixon was our Congressman at the time and 1950 was the year that Alger Hiss was convicted after Tricky Dick worked him over on the HUAC committee. Old timers must know who that guy is shaking hands with ol' tricky...what's his name? Nixon became our vice president in 1952. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE NIGHT #1.What a line-up!! Jay Cabrera, J. Craig Canada, David Terrazas, Don Lane, Katherine Beiers, Ryan Coonerty, Tim Fitzmaurice, Tony Madrigal, Simba Kenyatta and not an unique thought between them. Not one new idea, not one bold stand, yes on good old status quo. It was held at London Nelson Center last Wednesday night. This very first of many candidate forum nights was sponsored by the Bicycle Power people and the Committee for Sustainable Transportation People. That meant several things you could predict ahead of time, all the candidates were opposed to the $42 million dollar downtown parking garage, all the candidates supported the implementation of the Master Transportation Study, all were in favor of paving over Arana Gulch for bicycle paths, all were against widening Highway One, and they all supported Red Trees Development at 2120 Delaware. In addition to that none of them gave more than lip service to PRT ("let's study it seriously"), except Canada who hadn't heard of it. Lynn Robinson, Ed Porter, Jane Weed and 54 other people were there for part of the evening but many left early. We learned that J. Craig Canada's t shirt stated he is a Marijuana Medic, ha ha...and he's just a big silly. Blas Jacob Cabrera is a Pranic Healer (in case you hurt your Pran I guess), and he's a self stated Divine Servant. David Terrazas is supported by our present know nothing city council, so if you want to continue with muck like that etc. Fortunately there'll be some real forums and hopefully no more of these sing-a-longs.

LOCAL CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES NIGHT. The People's Democratic Club, The Santa Cruz Action Network, GLBT, and other groups are sponsoring the progressive night for candidates. It'll be moderated by Bill Monning. It's happening this Wednesday night at 7 pm in The Veterans Hall , downtown Santa Cruz . The local PDC endorsed most of the same State propositions as the Democrat State Party BUT there were some important differences in those endorsements thanks to Fred Keeley and others. Every Democrat should read this PDC notice....quickly!!! Click here for details

WATSONVILLE ENDORSES SANTA CRUZ COUNCIL CANDIDATES. The Register Pajaronian wrote a piece about the Pajaro Valley Cesar Chavez Democratic Club's meeting last week and who they endorsed. That even includes candidates from the Santa Cruz City Council race which is pretty far out!! Read it here

THOSE WALNUT TREES. I asked Dean Sliver if Monday's Sentinel article about how the neighbors want to save those Walnut trees needed any more emphasis. He said,

"The only obvious thing I think the article left out is the point that Dan Dickmeyer has made about those trees: They were tall, beautiful, & healthy--until the district started butchering them. About 20 yrs. ago, the district suddenly whacked about half of the height off the trees---interestingly, the "trimming" took place just when they first thought of putting up the tall lights for the football field. Then about 5+ yrs. ago they whacked about another 10 ft. off of the trees, which were still looking pretty good, considering the abuse they had undergone by the district's "trimming."
I'm not an arborist, but it is possible the trees by the field are "dying"; it's sad to say, but so are you, me and every other organism. I find it interesting that several yrs. ago, when the district was going to expand the baseball field (up above the football field), they put a tiny little paper sign on one side of the fence. They got someone to declare that ALL the Monterey pines by the baseball field were dying and would need to be cut down. One of us neighbors appealed, the district backed down, and only a few trees were removed.

So while we are concerned about the trees, we are also concerned about the high school being a good neighbor & giving all surrounding homes adequate and timely information about matters that affect us and the greater community. It would seem like the wisest and most respectful thing to do, even if it's not required by law". (end of Dean Silver's email)

SIERRA CLUB TO MAKE ENDORSEMENTS. I asked Aldo Giacchino treasurer of the Ventana Chapter of the Sierra Club about the Sierra Club making endorsements (the interviews for which are now going on, he replied... "The Club's endorsement process, which includes review of responses to questionnaires and personal interviews with candidates, is still going on. In addition to Santa Cruz we are also interviewing candidates for the Scotts Valley and Capitola races. There are different interview teams for each jurisdiction and they are all made up of Club members. After the interview teams complete their work, the Executive Committee conducts a final review, and the Club's central structure verifies that the procedural requirements have been adhered to. The process should be completed in about 10 days, and we will notify you as soon as possible thereafter".

SHARON CADWALLADER DIES. Sharon was manager of the UCSC's Whole Earth Restaurant back in the earliest 70's and wrote a monumental cookbook based on her recipes up there. She wrote a food column for the Sentinel and The San Francisco Chronicle, and had friends everywhere. Another part of Santa Cruz is gone.

PATTON'S PROGRAM. Gary continues telling us news about agricultural lands going to development in this case Greenfield. Then he talks about the public policy process and ends with Notes from The Capitol

LANDAU'S PROGRES. Saul does a perfect pole vault and lands deep in criticism of Coca Cola, Mc Donalds and KFC as the real winners in China's Olympics...read it
http://progreso-weekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=606&Itemid=1

WATERS WEIGHS IN. Christina says, "Take a brief look at the astonishing "Man on Wire" docu at the Nick which launches me into a Roman holiday. Look for www.christinawaters.com being back on October 1. Meanwhile - stay cool. I'll bring back lots of tasty notes from Italy. Ciao!

2120 DEVELOPER CRAIG FRENCH. Go to the Santa Cruz Business Council's website link and scroll around the Council's website then do read French's Redtree property bio...that's who our city council gave away the farm to when they approved 2120 Delaware. http://sccbusinesscouncil.com/redtree.html

HEAR McCAIN CALL SARAH PALIN. Ron Sandidge (possibly some connection to John Sandidge) sent this too funny to miss audio of John McCain making his vp phone call to Sarah Palin. http://www.236.com/blog/w/lee_camp/mccains_voice_mail_to_palin_le_8644.php

SAN JOSE OPERA'S EUGENE ONEGIN. It's a tricky opera based on a poem by Pushkin. If you saw the film starring Ralph Fiennes and Liv Tyler you'll know that the plot depends on how Eugene himself is played or sung. The San Jose Opera production is excellent, moving, fine voices, full of new ideas, and well worth seeing and especially hearing...don't miss it". Even the chorus was spirited, there were several directors ideas that worked amazingly well, and remembering that there are two casts in San Jose productions the one that sung last Sunday was in fine voice.

HOSTETTER HAPPENINGS. Paul Hostetter gets around and sometimes settles down long enough to let the rest of the world know what's happening here's his latest. Many of the events are this week and this weekend so hurry. "Coming up for air here, with the first of several things to tell you about, including a great art installation on the beach in SF and the Berkeley Old Time Music Convention. More coming soon. Click here and read all about it

BANGKOK DANGEROUS. This movie is a re-make of the earlier version directed by Oxide and Danny Pang. You could say ,"Pang's plot pales points proven in previous potboiler" but you don't have to. You could also say of Nicolas Cage who does most of his role in blackface "Cage cuts career chances close in cold corny Chinese copy of crazy killers. but never mind just don't see this film.

CHRIS AND DON. This is a documentary about the lifetime love relationship between author Christopher Isherwood and painter Don Bachardy. I'd never heard of Don Bachardy either. Here's an official state portrait Bachardy did of then Governor Jerry Brown. It is a very touching story of Isherwood (age 48) falling in love with Bachardy (age 18). Sort of a gay Harold and Maude thing. Isherwood and Bachardy outed them selves way early in the Hollywood ‘50's and made both serious friends like Laurence Olivier and Leslie Caron and enemies like mean and nasty Joseph Cotton. Worthwhile seeing especially this Thursday September 11 at 7 p.m. at the Del Mar theatre as a benefit showing for the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz. go to their website http://www.ccscc.org and check out tickets and announcements about the annual Open Studios happening later this month.

SWAN LAKE...NOT THAT SWAN LAKE. The many eyed Paul Hostetter sent this clip of an acrobatic version of Swan Lake. Six minutes of amazement, take a break and watch it

LOVE IN BLOOM. Editor Hillary Bratton sends this note... "From Condelezza Rice's recent visit to Libya with Qaddafi: RABAT, Morocco — He called her "Leezza" and gave her a locket engraved with his picture to wear. They dined alone — if you don't count the dozens of servants and Libyan aides rushing about with spicy lentil soup and other delicacies — in the private kitchen of his tent at his Bab al Azizia residence, the compound bombed by American air strikes in 1986 at the height of the American-Libyan tensions. And when she finally left after the first dinner between a sitting American secretary of state and "the brother leader" as his countrymen refer to him, he handed her an autographed copy of his famous Green Book, his revolutionary call to arms that, as the title page puts it, includes "The Solution to the Problem of Democracy, the Solution to the Economic Problem, the Social Basis for the Third Universal Theory." "From Muammar Qaddafi," the inscription said, "with respect and admiration." It was historic: The last time America sent its top diplomat to Tripoli was 1953, that being Secretary of State John Foster Dulles. It was well documented: at a time when news organizations are focused on the presidential campaign, a respectable eight still drummed up the money to send correspondents along to record the event for posterity. It was even a little sweet: Colonel Qaddafi, resplendent in a flowing white gown, his jet-black curls corkscrew tight, showered Ms. Rice with gifts, from the locket to a lute, an enormous ring and a pair of Wonder-Womanesque wrist bands. Ms. Rice did reciprocate, although hardly in kind: she gave him a plate with the seal of the United States, inscribed with her signature. No matter. The man whom Reagan once referred to as "this Mad Dog of the Middle East" was gracious. "Oh, this is so beautiful," Colonel Qaddafi told Ms. Rice, according to a senior administration official involved in the meeting. "Thank you very much."

WILPF (Women's International League for Peace and Freedom) sends..."Take Back Our Democracy" – Join WILPF for our yearly kickoff. The first WILPF General Meeting for the 2008-09 year will feature a report-back from the WILPF National Congress in Des Moines. We hope you will work with us on one of three action-oriented projects we will focus on this year, designed at our annual meeting in August to address an urgent theme - "Take Back Our Democracy." 7:00 PM Tuesday, September 16 , Quaker Meeting House, 225 Rooney, Santa Cruz. Free, (donations always welcomed), open to everyone.

SPAM NAMES. Are you getting fewer of these phoney spam names lately? I mean there are worse problems in life but seems like either the names are getting more real or I'm getting too familiar with them. This week's are ..... Clarissa Crenshaw, Chu Chan, Hye Mirtha, Arnold Reynoldo, Komphouong, Adolph Bunny, Isaac Beppe, Lana Blount, Ingemar Balthasar. Pansy Hanks and then Pansy Larisa. What's with this Pansy stuff lately is it catching on??

SPEAKING OF WHICH...NAMES. She didn't want me to use her name but a friend sent this article from salon.com. Fascinating piece about African American names.

UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. I host University Grapevine every Thursday 4-5 p.m. on KZSC 88.1 fm. Frank Bardacke author of Good Liberals & Great Blue Herons will be my first guest. We'll talk mostly about Watsonville politics. In the second half hour Gary Patton former Santa Cruz County Supervisor and now General Counsel for the Planning and Conservation League and I will discuss Sacramento politics and land use issues.

QUOTES. Ted Burke of Shadowbrook and Crows Nest fame plus being treasurer of the Santa Cruz County Business Council notoriety sent this one, "I wouldn't say it's cold, but every year Winnipeg's athlete of the year is an ice fisherman" -Dale Tallon. "America, I'm putting my queer shoulder to the wheel", -Alan Ginsberg. "The business of America is business", -Calvin Coolidge. "The American economy has been a junkie since World War 1", -Doug Dowd. "Be firm and take over the corporations with dog pudding", -Philip Lamantia.

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

WALT DISNEY AT THE BOARDWALK 1962. Walt was here in 1967 to study how The Boardwalk's Autorama worked. No that's not Charlie Canfield with his hands in his pockets it's Bill Fravel maintenance supervisor. The traditional caption says that's a cigar Walt's stoking on, but isn't it more of a cigarette posture?? photo credit: Bratton's private photo collection Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

WELCOME CALIFORNIA ATTRACTIONS AND PARKS ASSOCIATION. The California Attractions and Parks Association are having their meeting right here in Santa Cruz this week...in case the Sentinel doesn't mention it. Directors and CEO's from Disneyland, Six Flags, Sea World and Legoland will all be here to meet at the The Santa Cruz Seaside Company's Boardwalk. CAPA is a big deal they claim to bring in more than $10 billion dollars in annual commerce to the state. They legislate and fight against state safety inspections and mostly lobby in Sacramento.

As we should all know by now former Boardwalk flack guy and Sentinel reporter John Robinson (husband of Santa Cruz City Council person Lynn Robinson) is now the President and CEO of C.A.P.A. They'll be here for a meeting on Thursday the 4^th. Then they'll have an afternoon of social activities and go sailing on the Chardonnay. The Chardonnay and Beauregard Winery and Shoppers Corner, are all owned by Jim Beauregard.

We can only wonder if CEO John Robinson will be telling his organization how the City of Santa Cruz let his wife Lynn vote on Tuesday Sept 2^nd on the very controversial La Bahia Hotel/Condo project which is co-owned by The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Conflict of interest? Recuse herself from helping her husband score millions for The Boardwalk? Will they talk about The Seaside Companies (Charlie Canfield) future plans to expand the Boardwalk over the decaying remains of the Beach Flats? Who Knows? Will anyone ever succeed in breaking the power block the Seaside Company has over our city? Will the Seaside Company ever pay their fair share of taxes to our city especially now that Santa Cruz is so financially strapped? Ask John Robinson or Lynn they know the answer....and it's just not fair.

FUTURE OF OUR CITY BEACH. If you just tuned in no-one was trying to stop the La Bahia project just lower the height. Without taking a survey I'll bet if some developer even Barry Swenson wanted to rip down 90% of the existing structures in Beach Street and build an entire new 2 or 3 block long beach development everybody would be in favor of it. Just keep it within the existing height limits and don't turn it into Waikiki or Palm Beach...that's all anyone wants.

DENVER REPORT. Maybe just 50 members of Code Pink chapters converged made huge and clever impressions on the Democratic National Convention in Denver last week. Nancy Abbey of Santa Cruz and member of Code Pink, Womens International League for Peace and Freedom WILPF, and IFCO Pastors for Peace phoned in this report. The Denver police were very aggressive at first, then probably because the Democrats said cool it the cops remained nervous but outwardly friendly just waiting for demonstrators to break some kind of law. The biggest impression was the 3000 Iraq Veterans Against the War Click here http://ivaw.org/ demonstrators, Denverites, everybody joined in and followed them in their parade after the Rage Against The Machine played a concert. Tom Hayden, John Conyers, Norman Salomon, and John Nichols were all part of forums held by The Progressive Democrats of America http://www.pdamerica.org and "The Nation" magazine. Nancy said these forums were great opportunities to learn the importance of the planks the demonstrators were working to get included in The Democrats platforms. Our Santa Cruzans couldn't get in the stadium to hear Obama the tickets all went to local Denveronians first and they filled the place. Nancy closed by saying that the Code Pink lapel stickers that said, "Make Out Not War" were the most in demand item from outside the convention hall.

KUSP MEETING. "Stay tuned" has never had more meaning. I attended last week's meeting of KUSP's concerned board, programmers, and staff. The frustration coming out of that station in the last few months since the KAZU merger fell through was both palpable and 100% confusing. What we have here is everyone trying to"save" the station because money and listeners are so tight right now. Programmers are angry because they don't want to lose their programs, board and staff are trying desperately to keep everybody happy and so the listeners end up wondering what is going on. NPR once again is helping ruin our freedom to listen by offering pap for the masses and the masses are responding by supporting NPR programming. Don't ever ask the question why did the FCC allow KAZU do duplicate NPR broadcasting with KUSP right in the same coverage area...I'll bet NPR doesn't know either. And that's the biggest reason for all this mess. So KUSP like all media right now, is changing. No one likes change. We know our weekly newspapers are changing, the Sentinel is changing, television is changing, the internet is changing by the nano second, and our politics have to change. I haven't a clue how KUSP will develop out of this current flux, they don't know either, none of them. But they're trying, all of them....as I mentioned, Stay Tuned.

WANNA BE VICE PRESIDENT SARAH PALIN'S G SPOT. Have you noticed her trouble with the G Spot? She can't seem to add a G to ridin', conservin', ropin', savin', votin', big words like that. A deep bow and sincere thanks to everyone who sent in Palin material ranging from Brian Mann who said something like "she "Pales In" significance etc, etc. Dan Bessie even sent stuff from France, it was an enormous response. The thought I can't get away from is comparing her with Dan Quayle what a pair they'd make. Remember when Dan Quayle and or his wife were here and took their kids on the Giant Dipper? Or was that before you got here?

CHRIS MATHEWS IN THE METRO AND SHAKESPEARE GLEN. Go online if you can't find one in the newsstands but be sure to read Geoffrey Dunn's excellent biography of Chris Mathews in last week's issue. Chris never did get around to creating a New Jersey Wall of Fame in the Poet and Patriot. We talked about it for years, maybe now? With his photo going up first? If you want to attend Chris' wake/memorial service... it'll be at UCSC Shakespeare Glen Amphitheatre at 3pm Saturday September 13 after that as you can imagine everyone will adjourn to the Poet & Patriot.

THE MAYOR RESPONDS. Last week I mentioned that I was disappointed that Mayor Ryan Coonerty used an out of town campaign firm to run his current campaign especially since he's been such a supporter of "Think Locally" and "Buy Locally" campaigns. Ryan responded..."Bruce, I was surprised that you questioned my commitment to local businesses without speaking to me first. As for my "out of town" consultants: They are Terris, Barnes and Walters in San Francisco. They have done campaigns for Mardi Wormhoudt, John Laird, Bill Monning, Fred Keeley, John Leopold, Bruce Van Allen, Mark Stone, and virtually every revenue campaign in the city and county. They design mail. I used Community Printers to print my announcement letter, have my account at Santa Cruz County Bank and buy all my campaign materials from Palace Arts. Hope this helps. Ryan". In answer...nope, putting "out of town" in quotes still makes them out of town...and it doesn't help. Just because other campaigners do it or did it doesn't make much difference in commitment. It's like saying since a lot of people shop at Borders let's all shop there...it's principle, principle, principle...and doing what you preach.

60% !!!!! SIXTY PERCENT !!!!!! 60 PERCENT!!!! In talking with Rick Longinotti and other folks who are questioning spending $42 million dollars on the 5 story parking garage on Cedar Street I learned that a full 60-SIXTY-60 percent of the cars that park downtown are downtown business employee cars. That's 60 percent....unbelievable!!! If some excited City Council candidate could figure a way to get just 484 employees or business owners to park elsewhere our strapped city wouldn't have to go into hock for 30+ years to pay the garage cost back. Go to www.sensibletransportation.org and check out this amazing statistic and some better ideas to park sensibly.

HISTORICAL PHOTO FEEDBACK. Katherine (Petersen) Sweet saw last week's historical and sent this informative email..."I found myself in the picture too (long hair, middle of the crowd, just over from second column, looking at camera) This was a later demonstration. Our first was fifteen people holding candles while people honked and yelled bad things while driving by us. The demonstrations were organized out of the Peace Center on Soquel Avenue (across from the Foster's Freeze). John Tuck and I both worked for the Welfare Department at the time. The two of us plus one other social worker got into waaay trouble for wearing our peace buttons on the job. My first indication of that was when my unit supervisor wouldn't issue me a county car to do my required home visits if I had a peace button on my clothing. We finally waved the Constitution at the department director and, I think, John had the ACLU loaded and waiting before they backed down and allowed us to wear our buttons. John and I also got into trouble at the Welfare Department for attending Martin Luther King Action Committee meetings. I got into further trouble for taking my three year old daughter with to the meetings. Meetings were in the garden room of the old Catalyst. I was accused of keeping my daughter up too late at night because the meetings usually weren't over until about 10 p.m. By the time of this demonstration, the FBI would take our pictures from the upstairs room of the McHugh and Bianchi building directly across from the post office. We used to smile and wave at them. I'd love to see those pictures". Katherine (Petersen) Sweet

PATTON'S PROGRAM. Gary has a crash course on the community versus private owner's rights to develop their own property. There are laws preventing you from changing land uses to maximize your profits!!! He talks about San Luis Obisbo and annexing land. SB 375 deals with Coastal Land Development. There are tours of Santa Cruz's Desalination plant IF their website lets you pre–register!! Then there's the rail line acquisition and still using it to haul freight, maybe!! Gary closes with wise words about that 5 story $42 million dollar parking garage.

EAGAN'S DEEP COVER. Tim jumps right in and tells us a few things we might not know about John McCain (snicker, snicker) scroll downwards, if you don't mind.

LANDAU'S PROGRES. Saul Landau tells about Georgia's president making such a stupid mistake as to trust President Bush. The subtitle of his article is "Schmucks of our time"

WATERS WEIGHS IN. Christina takes a break from http://christinawaters.com to visit Italy. She'll be back on-line on Oct. 1. Now's the time while she's gone to click on all those little headings at the top of her website and see what you've missed from past weeks.

DON YOUNG AND JEFF TOWLE TO GIVE READINGS. Don Young will read from his newly published collection of poems "The Invisible Harbor". Don taught for many years at Cabrilho College. Jeff Towle, being of a spiritual mind wrote some poems he titled, "A Future of Remembrances". They'll be reading their works at Bookworks 36 Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center, Saturday, September 13 at 10:30. I'm not fooling when I say get there early to get a seat, Don and Jeff have many fans, followers and friends.

VIVA VINYL. Remember those beautiful lp's do you remember when Fantasy made transparent colored lp's? Well it's probably like people saying "big bands are coming back" but now the New York Times has an article on how Vinyl LP's are making a comeback. They even interview Scott Karoly at our very own KZSC fm. Check it out

THE WORLD IS GETTING HAPPIER...HERE'S PROOF. (SO WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU???) S.K. Tile Company of Soquel sent in this article about "happiness" and which countries are the happiest of all, read it before you attend one more political fund raiser.

IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS. This is a wonderful movie. A Woody Allen type love story shot in black and white all over downtown LA it'll grab you in ways you aren't prepared for. It's quirky, eccentric like Woody's Manhattan but it's more honest than Manhattan, more up to date. It's a little rough because the director is new to movies but go, you'll like it.

TRAITOR. Don Cheadle and Guy Pearce normally very good actors, try hard in this anti-Muslim- spy- terrorist- thriller that Steve Martin thought up and a new movie director tried to put some excitement into, all failed totally. It's confusing, boring, and full of clichés that go nowheres. You shouldn't go either.

OTHER MOVIES. I didn't see, and never will see Vin Diesel in Babylon A.D. or Disaster Movie or Pineapple Express or The Rocker or College. I mentioned last week that I saw far too much of The House Bunny and Hamlet 2 I just couldn't take anymore. You read the reviews and if you go anyway let me know if there's anything I (or we) should go to. Thanks.

SANTA CRUZ POSTER. As Robert Stockton of Planet Santa Cruz says in his introduction, "With proper homage to Saul Steinberg's 1976 New Yorker cover and lots of input from local Cruzans about the elements that make them feel at home here, Kirby Scudder took months drawing it and has put Planet Cruz on a map. It's not a map you can get around town with, but look at this map of Planet Cruz and you are already there". The map is great fun, a super gift, and verifies our own weird concept of the world a we know it. See and buy the map at Bookshop Santa Cruz or go to the "Poster Release Party" on September 12^th. It's at Graphfix's at 1129 Pacific Avenue from 5 PM - 9 PM.

THE TILDEN TRIO. The Tilden Piano Trio, one of the most sought after chamber groups in the San Francisco Bay Area will perform trios by Martinu, Mendelssohn, Ravel and Copland's Study on a Jewish Theme on Saturday, September 13 at 8 pm at the Cabrillo College Theater. The concert is Saturday, September 13 8:00pm-10:00pm. Tickets at Cabrillo Box Office, Bldg 2100 A or order by phone at 831-479-6331 Tickets may be purchased online at TicketGuys.com 831-656-9507. If you want more info on The Tilden Trio go to www.tildentrio.com . The concert is presented by the Cabrilho College Distinguished Artists Series.

UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. Listen every Thursday from 4-5 pm on KZSC 88.1 fm where I host University Grapevine. This week my first guest will be JENNIFER CHARLES from the UCSC Tree sitters. Jennifer will tell us why the tree sitting on this campus isn't ending, regardless of that so called agreement. In the second half BECCA KING REED second generation Santa Cruzan and now executive director of KTEH TV in San Jose will reveal secrets of behind the camera stuff at her station.

SPAM NAMES OF THE WEEK. Faulkner Monty, Ezequiel Ruggieri, Harley Molina, Genther Kwang, Gibbie Roberta, Fairlie Samita, Mai Bermudez, Hobart Toshiter, Wilder Dill, Dudu Ben (maybe it's Ben Dudu, you can't be sure with these spam things) Monroe Cherry, Milagro Kerns and a name I can't imagine making it alive with through grade school...Felizio Loyola. Imagine being able in an introduction to say "Dudu this is Felizio, Felizio this is Dudu, Gibbie meet Felizio" etc etc. Or "once a Toshiter always a Toshiter", etc. etc.

QUOTES. "There's a whole world in a mud puddle", Doug Clifford. "After the rain, good weather... In the wink of an eye... The universe throws off its muddy clothes", Ho Chi Minh. "Who shall be afraid of the merge?", Walt Whitman.

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