May 15 – 21, 2012
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COMMUNITY TELEVISION VIEWS. From deep within CTV comes…”Mary Ann Thyken former Executive Director at Community Television of Santa Cruz County. has left for health reasons and a search has started for a new Ex. Dir. Looks like it will only be a part time position due to budgetary restraints. There are a lot of changes going on at CTV and we should all pay attention, this is of great importance to our community. There’s a sad story unfolding out of Albuquerque, NM about the City Council there stripping the public access station of their contract.
The important story is uPublic.tv, they are the company who took over the contract from the company titled ‘Quote…UnQuote’, who had held the contract for 30 years. Please explore their website, especially the STANDARDS for producers. I’m happy to report so far in Santa Cruz we don’t have quite that sort of threat, but the funding issues coming up very soon are most definitely the sort of danger that could portend the end of CTV, not a scenario Santa Cruz would be happy about.
| COPS SCREW UP AMGEN TOUR. (In France) |
FUNNIEST FILM/PLAY EVER!!! I saw the live telecast of London’s National Theatre production of “One Man, Two Guvnors” at the Del Mar several weeks go. It was the funniest film I’d seen in decades. John Lahr (Bert’s son) who reviews plays for the New Yorker wrote that this production of “One Man Two Guvnors” created the longest laughs from an audience that he’d experienced in 40 years of covering live theatre. Maurice Peel advertising and promotion manager of the Nickelodeon Theatres has seen it three times. It’s British humor, not Noel Coward but more Benny Hill. Not Oscar Wilde more like Buster Keaton. Not drawing room but London Music Hall…it’s great. And it’s back for only four screenings Sunday May 20 @2 p.m., Monday May 21st @6:30p.m. Tuesday, May 22nd @6:30p.m. and Wednesday May 23rd @6:30p.m. It’s based on Carlo Goldini’s commedia play “Servant of Two Masters”, that he wrote in Venice in 1743. Be sure to see it…remember only 4 screenings.
THE DE-SAL MESS. If you’re wondering how all this de-salination plan and plot got to this confusing place….read this, and then attend the meeting this Wednesday, May 16 at 6:30 at UCSC’s College 8 Red room.
UCSC DORM SITUATION.Just in passing… are we all aware that UCSC has just about 8,695 students living on campus right now. Are we all also aware that there are hundreds of empty beds in those dorms…and that UC is currently advertising to get more students to live on campus??? Just asking, and telling.
CEMEX FOREST UPDATE. This is from Jodi Frediani’s MAY ISSUE OF “FOREST UPDATE”
On May 2, the four land trusts involved in the acquisition of the Cemex forest north of Davenport held a community meeting at the Pacific Elementary School in the heart of Davenport. The classroom was filled to overflowing with nearly 150 people in attendance to learn about the Cemex future and share their dreams and doubts about the property.
After hearing from the Land Trust of Santa Cruz, Sempervirens Fund, Peninsula Open Space Trust and Save the Redwoods League about the conservation vision currently being fleshed out for the forest, a facilitator did a masterful job of getting folks to join break out groups to lay out their thoughts on future management of the 8,532 acre redwood property.
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FOLGER’S INAPPROPRIATE COMMERCIAL. But only if you want to laugh!!! |
Following a lively exchange, a spokesperson from each group succinctly presented that group’s concerns and desires to the whole gathering, enabling the meeting to stay on schedule and end on time. Concerns ran the gamut from fire to water for Davenport, trespass on neighboring properties, protection of old growth, endangered species and riparian habitat, and enough funding to adequately do everything.
Dreams and desires included sufficient access for bicyclists, toilets, signage, multi-use trails, selection logging, educational opportunities including scientific research, as well as protection of the varied and valuable natural resources including Coho salmon and steelhead, and Davenport’s sole drinking water supply, San Vicente Creek.
The land trusts heard an earful from a very respectful and enthusiastic crowd and will take the info back to the drawing board and their consultants currently preparing a conservation plan”. Jodi Frediani is Forestry Consultant for The Loma Prieta Chapter of The Sierra Club End of Forest Update.
SANTA CRUZ BICYCLES AFTER DARK-WATCH OUT!
The problem with riding around on bicycles at night is that they are nearly invisible. A week ago I was leaving the parking garage on Front St. about 9 P.M., exiting towards the County Center. Waited in the unlighted exit until no cars were coming from either direction until looking again for cars, but there were none. Good thing I waited those seconds, because along came two bicyclists, dressed in black, with a twinkling “headlight” moving about 25 MPH, the speed limit. I missed them, only by luck.
Last night, we were coming home from a movie at the Regal Cinema on Pacific Ave, about 10 P.M. and headed out River St. to get on the freeway towards Aptos. Three bikers riding side by side were taking the entire lane headed up Highway 9 just past the Highway 1 corner. Each had a twinkling red light on their rear ends and was proceeding at traffic speed. Space here doesn’t make it possible to record all the careless bike riders I’ve had to dodge over the past few months. What can one do about it? I’d be arrested in a minute driving a car with candles for headlights. So count me on a list of people who have one less reason to visit Santa Cruz after the sun goes down. Running into a bicycle after dark is no way to end a person’s day.
(Paul Elerick is co-chair, along with Peter Scott, of the Campaign for Sensible Transportation, http://sensibletransportation.
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SALVADOR DALI. Dali pours blood, breaks and egg and is re-born! I’d never seen this before, have you?? |
PATTON’S PROGRAM. Here’s a slightly edited version of what Gary Patton has to say about electeds and behind closed door meetings:
JACKSON POLLOCK PAINTS!!! |
“It is rare but not impossible that a public agency might carry out the entirety of one of its meetings behind closed doors. In any county, county government has land use jurisdiction over large areas of “undeveloped” land, and the land use and other decisions of county government are often the most important determinant of what will happen to a local community in the future. Persons who want to have an impact on the future of their community need to pay attention to what their county Board of Supervisors is doing. Luckily, the California Public Records Act gives every member of the public a right to look at government files. The Ralph M. Brown Act gives the public access to public meetings. These two statutory systems really make possible the kind of informed self-government that allows ordinary members of the public to affect the public policies that most affect them.
The “open government” provisions of state law, though, do allow City Councils and Boards of Supervisors to hold “closed” meetings in certain circumstances. The Monterey County Board of Supervisors, meeting as the County Water Resources Agency, has made the entirety of their meeting Tuesday, May 15 into a “closed” session, to deal with specified litigation matters. This is not the best news for those members of the public who would like to know “what’s going on?” (Gary Patton is “Of Counsel” to the Santa Cruz law firm of Wittwer & Parkin, which specializes in land use and environmental law. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s. Gary has his own website, “Two Worlds / 365″ – www.gapatton.net)
EAGANS DEEP COVER. Facing the Grim Scissors. See 2 pages below. Check out much more of Tim Eagan’s work at http://www.timeagan.com …a treasure trove of Eaganiana for fans. Check out his bio, especially the part when he ran for District Attorney. (He doesn’t mention the rabbit ears!!)
Micaela Neus emails direct from Palmer Station, Antarctica…” Rarely do I recommend a film about Antarctica. Recent interest in the continent has spawned dozens of new documentaries, few of which offer any original insight. Some of the wildlife footage that crews capture today makes my jaw drop, and the underwater photography never disappoints. But I’ve seen enough of the continent to want more than pretty scenery from a film, and I’m ready for a brand of Antarctic documentary that tackles the human element of the environment. Last week, I found a documentary from 2009 tucked into the non-fiction shelves of our common library that gives me hope that I won’t have to wait too much longer for movies to catch up with my curiosity.
“Terra Antarctica: Rediscovering the Seventh Continent” combines the most compelling aspects of Antarctica: mountaineering, scientific research, historic sites, and contemporary life on station. The National Geographic Society funded Jon Bowermaster’s 2009 kayak expedition to the Western Antarctic Peninsula (passing very near Palmer Station, actually), but the film he made about the trip doesn’t fit the usual mold. He doesn’t spend too much time hyping the scientists and waxing poetical about the coming environmental apocalypse. Instead, Bowermaster talks about international diplomacy, visits abandoned whaling sites, paddles up to leopard seals and parties with the Ukrainians. The breadth of Bowermaster’s own fascination with the continent makes this a well-rounded portrait of life along the Peninsula. I envy him, mostly– the Ukrainians have a formidable reputation!
The narration feels a bit stiff at times and events don’t always work out as planned; for me, these add to the film’s authenticity. Terra Antarctica has an intimacy not usually felt in Nat Geo Soc. videos, and seems uninterested in impressing its audience the way most nature documentaries feel they must. He presents the expedition’s disappointments with the candor and as he does its highlights and that imparts a sense of inclusion to his audience. The post-expedition interview that also comes on the DVD makes me appreciate Bowermaster’s somewhat boyish perspective even more deeply.
I’m going to recommend Terra Antarctica but not for the usual reasons. It’s not an amazing movie: it’s just realistic. The more time I spend down here, the more convinced I become that mythologizing this region does not help to protect it environmentally or (if we’re splitting hairs) politically. The cast and crew of Terra Antarctica seem to agree,
and I’m putting this film out there in support of our shared intuition”.
To buy it from Amazon… click here To read about a recent award and link to Bowermaster’s website click here
(Micaela Neus works for Raytheon Polar Services Company as a utilities technician and is currently living at Palmer Station, Antarctica until at least October 2012.
| STUDIO 54.Watch a very young and sweet Michael Jackson, Andy Warhol, Grace Jones all talk about the near-miraculous & fabulous Studio 54…back in the day. |
LANDAU’S PROGRES. Saul writes, “Free Cuba, Torch a Travel Agency“. Provoking almost everybody he says, “You can disagree with violent anti-Castro dogma, but such dissent could also get you killed – or your business torched as happened on April 25 to Airline Brokers Co. Some Cuban exiles apparently take free speech so seriously that they punish those who use it in “inappropriate” ways. Miami has witnessed countless incidents for five plus decades where those who consider their own views on how to bring freedom to Cuba as so pure and irreproachable, that anyone who challenges their doctrine merits a bomb, a bullet, or an accelerant”. And…” They can’t explain how destroying a Coral Gables travel agency helps free Cuba. “The money visitors spend in Cuba supports the Castro regime.” As if bombing travel agencies stops travel!
Reach beneath the unconvincing rhetoric and into baser motives. Do the violence makers make their living from violence? After the April 25 fire, did Coral Gables business neighbors of the Airline Charter Co. receive visits? “Hey, you got a nice store here…” You know the dialogue from the Sopranos. Except Cuban exile criminals cover their shakedowns with “patriotic” rhetoric. I feel certain, however, that Miami area elected officials have strong feelings against this act of terrorism despite their deafening silence.
Saul Landau is an Institute for Policy Studies fellow whose films are on DVD from roundworldproductions@gmail.
| SCHOOL BULLY FINALLY GETS HIS!!! |
LISA JENSEN LINKS. “This week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/), strap on your best pirate swag for the Capitola Art & Wine Festival kickoff party, welcome 10 fanciful, life-sized animal sculptures by artist Beth Allison Gripenstraw to their new home at the Scotts Valley Library, and ponder along with me how (and why) The Avengers could rack up 1 billion worldwide in just 11 days.” Lisa Jensen has been writing film reviews and a column for Good Times since 1975.
SOUND OF MY VOICE. Warning…this film has almost no ending!!! And it’s excellent. Low budget, intelligent, challenging, even time travel! It’s about documentary makers who get all involved with a cult. If you liked “Another Earth” you’ll love this one. But hurry, I predict it’ll leave quickly.
DARK SHADOWS. A goofy miss, and mess of another teaming of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. Poor Michelle Pfeiffer (age 55), who’s had bad choices in the last years, is about blah in this one too. It feels like Burton and Depp struggled for years to throw in everything possible to make what they call a spoof of vampire films, and didn’t have the time or money to develop any part of the plot. A waste of talent. Depp looks a lot chubbier too, probably because he turns 50 very soon and was born in Kentucky.
ALMOST, MAINE PLAY AT UCSC. It’s a play by John Cariani and is presented by the UCSC Theater Arts Department “As the Northern lights fill the sky above, the residents of the mythical town of Almost, Maine, find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways. The play inventively explores the mysteries of the human heart, touching audiences with laughter, heartbreak and hope. The New York Sun describes it as “love in the time of frostbite.” directed by Kathryn Wahlberg. It plays Fri-Sun, May 18-20 & Thu-Sun, May 24-27 @ 7:00 pm (Sundays at 3:00pm) at The Experimental Theater (UC Santa Cruz) Tickets ONLINE at santacruztickets.com, at the UCSC Ticket Office (831-459-2159) and Santa Cruz Civic (832-420-5260)
“I DREAM OF CHANG AND ENG”. The year is 1874. A plantation home near Mt. Airy, North Carolina. Sixty-three year-old Chang Bunker takes his last breath. His twin brother, Eng, dies a short time later. Their quiet passing in a rural farmhouse was the final note in a truly remarkable and fascinating life — as the world-famous “Siamese” twins.
The UC Santa Cruz Theater Arts Department presents I Dream of Chang and Eng, a play by Bay Area playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, directed by Gina Marie Hayes.
Conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker were born to Chinese parents in Thailand (Siam) in 1811. Connected by a band of cartilage at their chest, the twins were simultaneously hailed as a miracle and a portent of evil. It is reported that the King of Siam ordered that the “monster” be killed, but their lives were spared and they grew into capable strong boys. As young men, they traveled abroad and were exhibited as curiosities in Europe and the United States. The twins ultimately gave up the touring life and settled in rural North Carolina, marrying two local sisters in 1843, and raising two large families.
Director Gina Marie Hayes points out that Gotanda’s play is not really a history play. “We have, instead, imagined it as a dream that the twins’ eldest daughter, Katherine-Josephine is having about their lives. The spirits of Chang and Eng’s twenty-one children dance through this dream.”
Gotanda, who attended UC Santa Cruz as a student in 1969-70, will return to campus for a special post-show conversation with fellow UCSC alumnus and writer/performer Brenda Wong Aoki and musician Mark Izu on Saturday, June 2. The play happens Friday–Sunday, May 25-26-27 & Thursday–Sunday, May 31, June 1-2-3 in UCSC’s
Mainstage Theater, Theater Arts Center, 7:00 PM (Sundays at 3:00 PM).Unreserved seats
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer (live only, or sometimes old programs are archived…(see next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG On May 15th Gina Marie Hayes will talk about the UCSC production of “I Dream of Chang & Eng”. Then Rebecca Rovay-Hazleton will talk about her book “Choosing Health”. Rachel Goodman will bring us up to date on Tannery Doings on May 22, after Rachel, Tubten Pende will unveil details on his “Art Of Happiness” series at “The Land Of The Medicine Buddha”. May 29 has Ken Koenig discussing details of the annual photography exhibit opening around that time at Felix Kulpa Gallery. Supervisor Neal Coonerty helps me celebrate 6 years of Grapevine on June 12. Winners from Bookshop Santa Cruz read their works on June 19th. Bubble Man Tom Noddy tries radio bubbles on July 3. Dr. Rosalind Shorenstein discusses women’s medicine on July 17th. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always at bratton@cruzio.com
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES.In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 5 years here’s a chronological list of just this year’s podcasts. Click herehttp://kzsc.org/blog/tag/
QUOTES. “I’m not against the police; I’m just afraid of them“, Alfred Hitchcock. “Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also in prison”, Henry David Thoreau. “The object is for everyone to do their own thing, but the thing is to make one’s thing the Revolution”, Eldridge Cleaver.
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BEST OF VINTAGE STEVEN DeCINZO.
Deep Cover by tim eagan.
May 8 – 14, 2012
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HAMMER VS. McPHERSON & SMALLMAN TOO. I went to the San Lorenzo Valley Chamber of Commerce 5th District Supervisor Forum at SLV High School last Thursday. It was the fourth forum in four days for these candidates. About 50 friends and campaign members were there. Candidates got 11 pre-chosen questions emailed into the Scotts Valley Banner. I don’t think there were any surprises in the answers or in the qualifications. Bill Smallman is a heavier version of Greg Kaput and admits to being an underdog from Marin County. He said at one point he’d like to work with Sonoma County on supporting the business community…which was the best example of his thinking. No one could figure that one out. Bruce McPherson talked a lot about his state connections. We can only assume he means the advice he’ll need to appoint Republicans
If he gets elected. No one mentions that he hasn’t been in Sacramento for five years (since 2007). He hasn’t really worked a day in his life unless you count the 25 years at the family Sentinel with his brother Fred covering for him. Fred was there and I hadn’t talked to him since I worked at the Sentinel. Fred should be running!!! Fred Keeley was there too cheering on his boy Bruce. McPherson spoke in generalities like change the image of Santa Cruz business which “is not friendly now”. He said we need to respect the General plan we have now, that a de-sal plant will be costly and that he wasn’t sure about that. He didn’t mention his hill top mansion, or being a bank owner or his firm place in the top 1% that the world is waking up to. Eric Hammer answered the questions with specific facts, names, and figures. He was born in the SLV, worked hard all his life and has dedicated his career to helping people, and proved it.
McPHERSON MATTERS. This email just in from a very experienced San Lorenzo Valley Resident and business owner.
“The 5th District Supervisor is the only local government elected representative that the San Lorenzo Valley has — there is no city representative like the portion of the district that falls in Scotts Valley or Santa Cruz. For the first time ever, Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz is in the 5th, and Bruce McPherson of Pasatiempo is running for the seat.
On his 12/31/11 filing of donations, he showed that he raised nearly $50,000 — but not A SINGLE DONATION was from SAN LORENZO VALLEY ! On his 3/17/12 filing, ( pdf here) he had raised a whopping $85,934 to date — with a total of $2,450 from SLV. Most of his donations are from Santa Cruz, Watsonville, etc. A few from Scotts Valley. I’m sure there are more by now, but it is all public record and easy to review. The carpetbagger nature of this is the important piece, I think. This is the only local representation that SLV has. The other parts of the district have city governments to help them. If he’s elected, we’ll have no one who really understands this area. That’s less than 3% when we’re the bulk of the district. Please. Let us have representation. It is the only one we can possibly get”.
| TOOTHPASTE HISTORY. I’ve mentioned before that I’ve been collecting toothpaste from all over the world…I personally bought a lot of tubes, but because of the kindness of close friends (not strangers) I now have nearly 80. Way back when I started I checked out other collectors…there weren’t any. Now look at this Guinness champ and his collection
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FORECLOSURE FORUM
“Foreclosed on – The American Dream”
In Santa Cruz County Alone…462 foreclosures in 2011 and in 2012 to date: 362 foreclosures…and 18 foreclosures last week. Want to help our neighbors stay in their homes? Learn why many foreclosures are actually illegal. Hear how Occupy Santa Cruz, WILPF and others are working with the Board of Supervisors to halt foreclosures. Find out what we can do as part of a statewide campaign to stop fraudulent foreclosures. Learn about AB 26107 & SB 1473, the California Home Owners Bill of Rights. Tuesday, May 15, free 7-9pm Quaker Meeting House 225 Rooney Street, Santa Cruz .Sponsored by Santa Cruz WILPF and Occupy Santa Cruz
Also, Free Foreclosure Workshop!! (For those threatened with foreclosure) Sunday May 20, 1-5pm at 275 Main St, Watsonville. Call 831-722-2845 for more information.
SCRIBNER STATUE NEWS.I mentioned last week about Marghe McMahon’s statue of Tom Scribner first being located in S.C.O.P.E. Park across from where the Town Clock is now, in front of Peter Bartczak’s mural. Bruce Van Allen writes in response…”Here’s how I remember a fun story about the original dedication of the statue over in what we called Scribner Park, Water & North Pacific. Mayor Larry Edler was resisting the whole thing, of course, and just to help get his goat, County Supervisor Gary Patton read a great quotation, from Hannah Arendt I think, which ended with that author quoting another: “Workers of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains.” Gary could give you the correct details”. So I wrote to Gary …
So Gary Patton replies…”I do remember this occasion (amazingly enough). It was at a location that was NOT where the Scribner statue is now; it was originally on North Pacific and Water. But I don’t think it was a Hannah Arendt quote. A quote from James Agee (“Let Us Now Praise Famous Men“). I can’t remember what else, but here is what is in the Agee book: “Workers of the world unite and fight. You have nothing to lose but your chains, and a world to win”, I think I probably did the Lear quote (also from Agee) prior to this. Those two pages are together in the book, right at the start”.
HISTORICAL PHOTO FEEDBACK. Carey Casey comments on that post fire photo in April 30′s BrattonOnline.
According to John Chase (p.166), the two buildings still standing after the 1894 fire (on the left in the photo) were incorporated into the first St. George Hotel (including those bay windows). The fire-gutted building in the middle distance is the first County Courthouse, built in 1866 in the middle of the block on Cooper Street. The second courthouse, which later became the Cooper House, was begun right after the fire. The County Bank building went up at the corner of Cooper across from the new courthouse, replacing a two-story saloon owned by Michael Leonard. Leonard, in turn, constructed a new building at the corner of Cooper and Front, which still stands today.
BARBIE SCHALLER’S SERVICES.A Memorial Gathering will be held for Barbie Schaller according toher kids Merrie and Glen Schaller. Merrie says, “Our brothers are coming in from the east coast and would love to meet Mother’s friends and hear about her life here in Santa Cruz”. Services will be at 2:00 this Saturday, May 12 in the SC Police Dept. community room, 155 Center Street.
County Transit Corridor “Stakeholder” questionnaire and interviews
I’ve always been curious when government agencies direct communications to “stakeholders“. Webster’s Dictionary defines a stakeholder as one with “an interest or share in a commercial venture”, among other definitions of the word. The County’s stakeholder lengthy questionnaire went to these groups, and the interviews with each group were individually scheduled for an entire day.
Government Agencies, Institutions and Major Property Owners, Developers/Real Estate Brokers, Merchants/Business Owners/Chambers of Commerce, Elected/Appointed Officials, Advocates, Special Interest Groups, and “Residents”.
The questions were detailed, demanding considerable thought, but given the short lead-time (two days) to respond before the interviews took place; it will be interesting to see the results of the interviews. Will they be published? I read that the marketing team for Safeway’s’ mega-store in Aptos will be seeking opinions from “stakeholders”; here’s hoping that “residents” are at the top of their list. Will their results be published?
(Paul Elerick is co-chair, along with Peter Scott, of the Campaign for Sensible Transportation, http://sensibletransportation.
PATTON’S PROGRAM. Gary talks about The Los Gatos Gun Club wanting to build a new clubhouse and why it is our business. He asks questions about our Downtown Association and what they do with the $$$. Then he says, “Economic development is a topic of central importance to the City of Watsonville. In the past, the City has used “redevelopment” to provide assistance to private developers, and now that this is no longer possible, Council Member Daniel Dodge is proposing that the City try to get approval to convert farmlands next to Highway One into a site for a Wal-Mart, or a similar big box store.
Council Member Dodge’s suggestion may, or may not, be the best way to stimulate economic development in Watsonville, and it probably would be good to consider alternatives other than turning productive farmlands into big box stores. A study just released in the last week or so appears to show that the rise of hate groups is directly correlated to the construction of Wal-Mart’s and similar big box operations. If you readers have economic development ideas, or opinions, Wednesdays Watsonville Council meeting would be a good time to show up at their City Council to share them. Read the rest of Gary’s KUSP broadcast scripts here. (Gary Patton is “Of Counsel” to the Santa Cruz law firm of Wittwer & Parkin, which specializes in land use and environmental law. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s. Gary has his own website, “Two Worlds / 365″ – www.gapatton.net)
Micaela Neus writes from Palmer Station on Antarctica’s Peninsula… “The work we perform in our official job positions counts for only a portion of the total effort we put into keeping Palmer Station functioning. Other U.S. stations have dedicated janitors, dishwashers, and staff for washing a dorm’s worth of bed sheets. At Palmer, we divide these duties among ourselves and each sign up for shifts working in the kitchen or monitoring the radio during the evenings. Fewer people on station mean more of this type of “community service” per individual because these tasks never wrap up for the season, they go on as long as we do!
Over the last two seasons, I have grown quite used to this communal system and in fact prefer it to hiring people specifically to do menial labor. These tasks represent our core life support, the humble foundation of our ability to survive and moreover to enjoy ourselves down here. Why should we not share these duties, just as we share the rewards? For me, this system engenders a sense of equality and unity on station that make life in the Antarctic so unique. Scientists, the station manager, visiting artists, and special “Distinguished Visitors” like NSF officials must team up with the regular ol’ workers for dish duty one night each week (called GASH…that’s Galley and Scullery Help) and chores every Saturday (House Mouse). The values of egalitarianism become very clear when you’re staring into a sink full of greasy water or a shower drain clogged with someone else’s hair.
Of course, not everyone experiences the same rosy glow of solidarity when they pull the “GWR Men’s Room” card out of the job jar. Some folks do seem to think their time is more valuable than others’ and less important people should take out the trash. This attitude gets little sympathy from me personally, which hardly matters except that it also violates one of the most unbreakable, unwritten laws of station: Thou Shalt Not Complain about GASH or Shirk Thy House Mouse. No one, no matter how much they agree with you, will take your side in this argument. People have their favorite or most-despised House Mouse jobs and will trade them if possible, but they will not bail out on doing whatever card they end up holding.
But why not? Complaining is such a pleasurable pastime, nearly everyone enjoys doing it occasionally. What makes this topic off limits? I think we know that any job we don’t do must get done by someone else, not an anonymous stranger but a friend and companion. The social guilt is too palpable, and the moral failing too obvious. Better to wash the windows, take out a tampon bucket, or peel garlic with friends than be thought too snobby or weak to do the job yourself. And that’s as it should be”.
(Micaela Neus works for Raytheon Polar Services Company as a utilities technician and is currently living at Palmer Station, Antarctica until at least October 2012.
VINTAGE DE CINZO.Some things never change…Like the Sentinel, scroll down.
EAGANS DEEP COVER. Mister Eagan gives us the Disney version of life…about 3 pages below.
LANDAU’S PROGRES. Saul’s article this week is, “The Prize Fight Election”
He opens with, “Six grueling months remain until the November election. “Dogs for Romney: Brisk Head Winds Build Character” and “Dogs Against Romney: Pat Us, Don’t Strap Us To The Car Roof” bumper stickers may well highlight the campaign publicity. Imagine a heavyweight fight announcer introducing the contenders at the debate!” Read all of it Saul Landau is an Institute for Policy Studies fellow whose films are on DVD from roundworldproductions@gmail.
LISA JENSEN LINKS. “This week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.
BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL. I resented this film. It depicts seniors (and most of my best friends are seniors!!) as ditzy, cute, dippy, insecure, daffy, and mostly incapable of making decisions. It’s cute, condescending, and vacuous with Judi Dench, Maggie Smith (both are 77 years old), and Tom Wilkinson and Bill Nighy (both being 63 years old). They do fine jobs with this witless script. It’ll feed all your stereotypes of seniors and is on the same level as Disney’s Chimpanzee. But younger critics liked it.
MONSIEUR LAZHAR. It’s here, the winner of Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars this year. (2011). It’s a very good film. Touching, great kid actors, filmed in Montreal. Suicide, bureaucracy, loyalty, and well worth seeing.
THE AVENGERS.What’s funny about this record breaking money maker are all the stars who are in it, but I never saw them. I completely missed Don Cheadle and Paul Bettany. Gwyneth Paltrow and Harry Dean Stanton have dinky little roles but only go see this flick if you care about how The Hulk meets Iron Man or how The Black Widow manages to maneuver The Iron Man or if Captain America’s shield will stand up to nuclear power. It’s got tongue- in- cheek laughs and the 3D helps, but it’s no Batman or early Superman quality.
SHERLOCK HOLMES, THE NEWEST. If you’re not watching the latest incarnation of Sherlock Holmes on channel 9 on Sunday nights you’re missing an incredible, smart, witty and oddly enough very faithful adaptation of the Arthur Conan Doyle books. All up to date but amazingly faithful. There’s only 3 in this new series and 1 has already played last Sunday night, search around for them.
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer (live only, or sometimes old programs are archived…(see next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. May 8th has Orville Cantor working hard to save UCSC’s Student Family Housing. He’ll be followed by Miriam Ellis sharing the delights of International Playhouse 12 (8 plays in 8 languages) On May 15th Gina Hayes will talk about the UCSC production of Chang & Eng. Then Rebecca Rovay-Hazleton will talk about her book “Choosing Health”. Rachel Goodman will bring us up to date on Tannery Doings on May 22. May 29 has Ken Koenig discussing details of the annual photography exhibit opening around that time at Felix Kulpa Gallery. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always at bratton@cruzio.com
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES.In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 5 years here’s a chronological list of just this year’s podcasts. Click herehttp://kzsc.org/blog/tag/
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Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Direct email: Bratton@Cruzio.com
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BEST OF VINTAGE STEVEN DeCINZO.
Deep Cover by tim eagan.
