Bruce Bratton hosts University Grapevine, linking local and campus issues, every Tuesday 7:30-8:30 p.m. on KZSC 88.1 fm.
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15TH ANNUAL SAN FRANCISCO SILENT FILM FESTIVAL. After spending four days and nights watching silent film masterpieces in the grand old Castro Theatre deep in the heart of San Francisco...I get a bit out of touch with what's happening in Santa Cruz. However I did get to talk with some big shot folks in the film business. Major silent film historian Kevin Brownlow told me some fascinating facts about the impact of silent films on cultures around the world. Film critic Leonard Maltin agreed with me on the state of films and the impact of 3D on future film business and art. I was surprised to see and share stories and contacts with film documentarian Les Blank. He said to tell his friends in Santa Cruz hello. One of the greatest silent film accompanists Dennis James shared his opinions, and changed my opinions on why the music played to accompany Silent Films should be as authentic as possible. This devotion to authenticity is losing popularity even though Dennis wowed the audiences once again with his artistry as he played the Mighty Wurlitzer in the Castro Theatre.
FILMS AND REAL PEOPLE. Both Mick LaSalle from the Chronicle and Richard Von Busack from the Santa Cruz Weekly were on the media lists and were supposed to be there but I didn't see them. I did see Brian Staubenfiel fresh from his triumphant directing of the Walnut Creek Opera's production of Madama Butterfly. Rick Hildreth formerly of Good Times and for many years one of the festival's writers and researchers has now become the official stage manager for the festival. He too says "hi" to a very specific group of Santa Cruzans. Films such as John Ford's Iron Horse (he was 29 years old at the time!!) and seeing how great Norma Talmadge was in the 1928 film The Woman Disputed rekindles your faith in the power of cinema and especially the art of creating silent films.
DAMNED DE-SAL PLANTS. Thanks to all the folks who sent in links to the NY Times piece on Australia's problems with de-sal. I hope this link works
Get you favorite councilpersons, and especially the council candidates to give you a clear statement on where they are with us having a de-sal plant here. The article ends with this cute little fact stating why we should re-cycle water ..."But since there's only so much water in the world, and it's been through somebody's body or some other place over the past 250 million years, maybe it's not that bad. At least, it might be better than desalination."
SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL'S FORUM PROBLEMS. Wes Modes of Subrosa Café and other community centered projects sent this email to both Don Miller and Tom Moore the online editor for the Sentinel. He copied Michael Jung, Publisher, Mike Blaesser, Sentinel Internet Director and the entire Santa Cruz Progressive Email List.
The title is Community Pressure to Rein in Sentinel Forums...
Dear Don and Tom,
Both of you have told me at various times in the last two months that while, yes, it might be possible to change how the Santa Cruz Sentinel does online comments, the political and financial will is not there. It seems that this is a larger problem than just at the Sentinel, it is something many online publications are trying to tackle.
News sites reining in nasty user comments... from CNN.com
The Sentinel has escaped so far finding itself in court as a result of the irresponsible policies of the online forums. Anonymous threats, personal information, libel are all daily part-and-parcel of the Topix forums. Topix itself has not been as lucky as it has been to court now numerous times as a result of its un-moderated forums, and it has taken other publications with it. The result has been expensive lawsuits and publications dropping Topix un-moderated and anonymous forums. I have offered to Tom my 25 years as an IT specialist to help him and the Sentinel to modify the format of the forums or help with research in switching vendors. Unfortunately, said Tom, any change without something major happening is unlikely. Do we have to wait until someone is hurt or killed before something is done? I'm not nervous about the blowhards on the forums, but when one of those irresponsible and anonymous posters lists someone's home address and a suggestion that someone put a bullet in their head (as they did with me in May), there is always the chance that someone angry or crazy enough will do it. Is that a chance you are willing to risk for whatever modest kickback you might get from Topix?
There are very few things that I find myself on the same side of the fence with Ryan Coonerty, but this is one of them. He and others on the city council have urged the Sentinel to reconsider how they offer the opportunity for online comments. I have written numerous times, as have others, requesting, demanding, cajoling, but still no change seems even on the horizon. I am urging others with similar concerns to put gentle community pressure on you and your publication to stop the hateful, racist, and offensive posts in the Sentinel comments by disallowing anonymous posting. Please get back to me with some concrete actions the Sentinel is planning to take to change the format of the Santa Cruz Sentinel reader comments. Thank you for your time and attention. Sincerely,
Wes Modes.
BrattonOnline certainly agrees with Wes and will print any and all Sentinel actions or reactions.
JOHN LAIRD NEWS. This in from headquarters "With just over one month left until the August 17th runoff election, the campaign is back into high gear and there's great news to report. A new office was opened in Scotts Valley that will be used as a staging location for all canvassing in the area. We may also open the office a few nights a week for phone banking if there is enough interest. The new office is located at: 4444 Scotts Valley Dr. #7, Scotts Valley. (Right next to Malone's Grille).
Absentee ballots were mailed this Monday, July 19th, so we will need your help calling these voters to remind them to mail in their ballots every night this week.
More information regarding fundraisers and other events will be coming soon!
Go to http://www.lairdforsenate.com to see how you can help clean up this messy campaign and help John get elected.
At the moment things are going the way of the developer, with the trail easement that was previously agreed upon between the County and the developers now looking to be in jeopardy. The land-owner/developer Steven Carmichael has started building his monster house on the hill, the permit was granted as part of the deal in return for a trail access to be used by the public. Cabrillo College and California State Parks have approved connection of the County Trail to their lands. However Steven C. is openly telling certain neighbors that the trail won't be built. He also has asserted his "property rights" by fencing in previous access points with board and barbed wire fences. The closing of open space that has been used respectfully by the public for over sixty years is difficult to watch, as are the "citizen's arrests" being inflicted on neighbors by the developer when as hikers they try to access the property.
It's important for people to remember that this property is co-owned by two development companies, the Carmichael's and Men-Chy Properties from over the hill. It's hard to believe the County planners expect that only one "McMansion" will be built on the 142 acre property. Even with all 142 acres being outside the urban services line, and much being unbuildable due to slope problems, their originally stated goal of a luxury home community is still the developer's openly stated intent. Nisene2Sea, the group of activists and their supporters will continue to push to make sure the trail connection from the upper campus of Cabrillo to the trail at the western entrance to Nisene Marks State Park happens. For those who want to help, call 688-7724.
(Paul Elerick is a member of Nisene 2 Sea, a group of open space advocates, serves as the chair of the Campaign for Sensible Transportation, and is a member of the Sierra Club's Santa Cruz Group's executive committee).
PATTON'S PROGRAM. Gary talks about our City Rental Inspection concept and how the City Council will discuss it and how it will change UCSC's housing commitment. He talks about Smart Growth and SB 375 and it's relation to global warming. Read too how Big Sur has re-worked rulings on time shares. He closes by discussing how there's pressure in Santa Barbara on the Coastal Commission to allow more local decisions on land use. Go hereXXXX
(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.)
EAGANS DEEP COVER. Tim reveals secrets about the "loathsome vices" surrounding the very best of us....scroll down.
LANDAU'S PROGRES. Part way into his column Saul asks, "Didn't the ruthless 9/11 killers die when they crashed their skyjacked jets into buildings, or the Pennsylvania ground? How to wage war against one man, bin Laden, or his shadowy terrorist gang (al Qaeda) that sneaks away from soldiers, and communicates through the internet? Why should armies and air forces assume the role of police? Does Obama mean to equate current wars with the metaphor used in the interminable "wars" against drugs or poverty or cancer? Read his entire article titled "The rhetoric-reality Gulf" at progreso-weekly.com Saul Landau is an Institute for Policy Studies fellow whose films are on DVD from roundworldproductions@gmail.com
LISA JENSEN LINKS. This week in Lisa Jensen's Pirate Adventure, Runaways: A Novel of Jonkanoo: Chapter 29: "Gone A-Maying" Back in the islands, Jack feels like a boy again, Tory laughs at danger for the sake of freedom, and Alphonse is forced to confront his own private desires.
Click here to read Chapter 29
Click here to begin with Chapter 1
Lisa Jensen has been writing film reviews and a column for Good Times since 1975.
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT. Make a film starring Annette Bening and Julienne Moore as lesbians and add Mark Ruffalo as the love interest...how can you miss? That's' almost a joke, but it isn't at all. This is one excellent film. I kept thinking that it's a west coast version of the New York City stories Woody Allen works so hard to bring off. This film doesn't work at cleverness or being too California-phoney, it's honest, wrenching, real and damned worth your time to see. That's all I saw besides 10 features at the Castro over the weekend, and you missed those and can't see their like until next year.
UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:30-8:30 p.m. I host University Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer (live only) at WWW.KZSC.ORG Tim Jackson executive director of The Kuumbwa Jazz Center and General Manager of the Monterey Jazz Festival will talk about this years Fest and past history of the Monterey Jazz Festival on July 20, and after Tim Jim Funaro will bring us up to date with his 25 year project Contact and other spacey items. Wayne Boss will talk about his Muse and the program he's developed about creativity on July 27. Therapist Jane Dawson will talk about addiction, depression, marriage and intentional partnerships on August 10. Somewhere in all this John Laird will stop by and bring us all up to date on where and how that campaign is going. Those are only rumors that Parts of Topeka, Kansas and Prescott, Arizona are in this 15th California State Senate District.
Any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in and keep listening.
QUOTES: "We are going to have peace even if we have to fight for it", Dwight D. Eisenhower. "Politicians should read science fiction, not westerns and detective stories", Arthur C. Clarke. "A society that hates its young has no future", Fred Dutton California Board of Regents.
Deep Cover
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
It's free! Click here.
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