Blog Archives

July 23 – 29, 2014

EARLIEST PHOTO OF DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ. This was taken around 1859. It’s of course what we now call Pacific, Front, and Mission streets with that Jamba Juice, US Post office and stuff there now. Back then it was Willow, Front and Main Streets.

photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

DATELINE July 21, 2014

SANTA CRUZ CHILDRENS MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY.Lots of good people in the county have been working hard to create a Children’s Museum Of DISCOVERY. Folks like
Patrice Keet, Katherine Beiers, John Leopold, Trink Praxel, Bob Keet, Michael Watkins, and Don Lane. They’ve researched and gone around the Country talking to experts to determine what would work well in our County. Check on the right to see how much they are accomplishing. Right now they’re looking for a location, some donations and underwriters. The Children’s Museum of DISCOVERY is a great idea and we need to support it and them. Here’s another DISCOVERY Museum video link which is more of a guide to Santa Cruz but still worth watching and telling your friends about.

Unfortunately there’s been some confusion and misdirection lately with that long time local poseur (fake) Franklin Marshall trying to horn in on the DISCOVERY Museum’s hard work and reputation. Be very careful of Franklin Marshall, most folks have learned by now what he’s up to. Check him out thoroughly and stay away from his fake Children’s LEARNING museum…it doesn’t exist.

FRANKLIN MARSHALL STILL AT IT. Franklin Marshall wrote a children’s book about Louden (LONDON) Nelson that is so full of flaws it would be laughable if some folks didn’t and children disn’t take it seriously. More important than that, Franklin Marshall has been collecting money for his Children’s LEARNING Museum for more than a decade. Friends and foes alike have wondered for years how Marshall exists, except on his museum collections. His museum website still lists Longs Drugstore and Borders Bookshop as sponsors. The Guide Star website will tell you that Franklin Marshall’s Children’s LEARNING Museum is more than defunct, it had its tax exempt status revoked in 2011 for not filing for three years. Check that out here. Then you could check the LEARNING MUSEUM tax status at the official IRS website. That’s a lot of messing around, but too many people have been taken in by Franklin’s hype and smooth talk and use of our ongoing guilt. He’s no credit to Santa Cruz our children, or the need for a genuine children’s museum.

SPEAKING OF SCAMS. “Almond Milk is kind of a scam” according to Mother Jones and Alternet. I’ve been paying $3.99 per half gallon at T.Joe’s …read this link…

SEND THE IMMIGRANTS HOME. I just was thinking what if we ALL had to go back where we came from? It would be a lonely place…all you’d find would be some American Indians and a bunch of casinos.

ELERICK’S INPUT. Mr. Paul Elerick of Aptos writes…

WHAT ARE THE “TAKE BACKS” DOING IN APTOS?

I’ve been less than amused at what Take Back Santa Cruz has been promoting and the strategies used in their city of Santa Cruz. Lots of anti-homeless and negative stuff, despite their mission statement. Some of the anti-needle exchange antics are questionable.

But now we have a “Take Back Aptos” group with a Facebook page. After living in Aptos for the past 44 years, it seemed appropriate that I get involved with this group to see exactly what they’re going to “take back” from me and my neighbors. I tried to get onto their closed page, and was almost immediately blocked by their admin person. I never had a chance to “like” or comment on a single post. ? I’m sure that action had something to do with a family member of mine who has been very vocal in her support of syringe exchange programs as well as her decision to respond to the almost immediate upwelling of anti-homeless agenda on the page. I did notice several TBSC activists on the Take Back Aptos roster. An open message to TBSC/TBA – Please go away! We don’t need your Clean Team for our parks and beaches or your Cruz Needles posts. We’ll ask for your help if we need it.

And for future moves by TBSC: Neighbors in Capitola, Soquel, Scotts Valley and other communities, you may be next to be “Taken back”. Watch out!. (Paul Elerick is co-chair with Peter Scott of the Campaign for Sensible Transportation, http://sensibletransportation.org , and he’s a member of Nisene 2 Sea, a group of open space advocates).

SWANTON BERRY FARM. Rachel Goodman sent this one out. A beautiful and important message about our rare and endangered North Coast of Santa Cruz County.

TURTLE AND DIVER RESCUE

PATTON’S PROGRAM. Gary talks about “Inclusionary Housing” in Pebble Beach and some implications.Then he mentions our S. Cruz City Council considering the Pacific Collegiate School’s relocating, and the 2120 Delaware development on the Westside. There’s a clearinghouse report coming from AMBAG about land use. That includes a waterline on our North Coast being rehab’ed. Theres more about fracking in Monterey County. He states, “If you would like to “study up” on the topic, here is a “free event” that I think will be interesting. At noon on Saturday, July 26th. Calvin Tillman, the former Republican Mayor of Dish, Texas, is going to be speaking at the Sunnyslope Elementary School Auditorium, located at 1475 Memorial Drive in Hollister. His topic? “Why Fracking Made Me Move.” Texas has welcomed fracking, by and large. Should be worthwhile to hear from former Mayor Tillman about some of the possible downsides! Read the complete scripts of the above at Gary Patton’s KUSP Land Use site http://blogs.kusp.org/landuse . Gary is a former Santa Cruz County Supervisor (20 years) and an attorney who represents indivuduals and community groups on land use and environmenatl issues. The opions expressed are Mr. Patton’s \. Gary has his own website, Two Worlds/365” – www.gapatton.net

CLASSICAL DeCINZO. DeCinzo reveals the reason behind Pearl Jam’s death. Look downwards at the end of this column.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. Mr. Eagan comments on our good neighbor policy , see more below.

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Talk about pirate loot! This week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com) free copies of Alias Hook are up for grabs at various online portals. Find out how to win one—no purchase necessary! Also, feel the love again from my appearance last week at Bookshop Santa Cruz!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.

THAT IS THE QUESTION
(IN ORDER OF PERFECTION)

LIFE ITSELF. Roger Ebert was certainly America’s number one film critic of all time. This loving and kind documentary makes him eligible for sainthood. He worked and played very hard to get the reputation he had. Pauline Kael was my inspiration as a film critic. I knew her and her husband in Berkeley before she became involved with the New Yorker. Her insight, opinions, and depth made her every bit as unique as Ebert and hopefully a documentary will be made as a tribute to her. In the meantime, go see Life Itself, Ebert was his own monument.

THE PURGE: ANARCHY. This bloody, confusing flick will probably make as much money as last year’s surprise Purge hit. It’s a truly evil premise that centers on 12 hours per year when everybody can kill everybody…all across the USA. This pits race against race, poor against rich, whatever!!! I guess it’s as valid as all those viruses, aliens, freezes, and radiation that kills us in the rest of the disaster films. The pacing isn’t bad, the camera work is passable, the acting is so-so but why go to see a film like this??? Just watch the box office receipts, don’t help them.

STILL PLAYING AT A THEATRE NEAR US
FROM BEST TO REALLY BAD

VENUS IN FUR. This is Roman Polanski’s masterpiece, a genuine master work of cinema, an honest artistic statement and one hell of a good movie. The film stars Emmanuelle Seigner, Polanski’s real life wife. The plot is from an original novel by Sacher-Masoch which is where we get the word masochism!!! (hint, hint) But it’s all talk and brilliant discussion between a play director and an actress. No sex, no S&M, no nudity…the trailers were terrible and misleading ….go see it quickly.

DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. ( or APES OF WRATH ) It’s like Snowpiercer in that it has a somewhat serious message on the present and future status of humans. The apes who live in Marin County and ride horses are half human, speak some English and have almost exactly the same values as we do. It lacks the cutesy humor of Roddy McDowell and super stars like Charlton Heston, and is a much more somber comment on our lives after a virus kills off most humans. You could wait and rent it if you have a big screen at home.

OBVIOUS CHILD. It’s listed as a comedy…it isn’t. It’s a gut wrenching well done portrait of a young woman coming of age in NYC. Jenny Slate plays a stand-up comic with a life that isn’t funny and Gaby Hoffman from Crystal Fairy is her buddy. You might not like Jenny’s character but you’ll face the fact that even tougher- than- shit people have feelings.

SNOWPIERCER. It’s the future again but no aliens are attacking, for once. South Korean director Bong Joon Ho made this one fascinating , tight, fast moving, well-directed movie.. Tilda Swinton plays her silliest role in her career, John Hurt is always the same and he plays “Gilliam” (remember that IF you go see this thriller). It’s about a train that runs forever with all the 1000 survivors left on earth. Ed Harris is the supreme & majestic conductor. It’s a great escape film…go for it.

  1. Now, check out this cast Jon Favreau, Dustin Hoffman, John Leguizamo, Sofia Vergara, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., and Oliver Platt. It’s an original comedy all centering around food. It’s funny, touching, fast moving, and even educational!!! If you enjoy preparing food, and relish eating good food this is your movie! Chefs, food critics, restaurantowners, and normal people should see this well made film.

BEGIN AGAIN. Mark Ruffalo is getting tiresome onscreen, he’s always the same guy, and he’s no different in this sad music business saga. Kiera Knightly is supposed to be a singer and James Corden (brilliant star of One Man, Two Guvnor’s is just about an invisible zero in his good buddy role here. It’s like a new copy of an old Judy Garland-Mickey Rooney movie.

JERSEY BOYS. Like most of Clint Eastwood– directed films, Jersey Boys is about as deep as a 45 rpm disc. The same plot could have been afixed to any pop group. The acting is about as good as you can expect from such a hackneyed show biz story. Even if you’re still a Frankie Valli fan, this movie is boring.

THIRD PERSON. Liam Neeson does the worst job of acting I’ve ever seen him do in this confusing mess of a film. Mila Kunis, Adrien Brody, Olivia Wilde, Kim Basinger and the omni-present James Franco all sound like they are reading their parts off the script. And I like those actors. This poorly directed story is maybe about a writer (Neeson) who is writing a story about the intwined lives of three groups of people mostly in Italy. You can’t be sure if it’s his writing or reality that you are watching….and eventually, you don’t care much.

MALEFICENT. As we all know know, this is “Sleeping Beauty” gone bad. Curses, spells, special effects and Angelina Jolie’s fake jawbones plus horns make this an almost silly and phony saga. Elle Fanning who is now 16 years old is still cute as all get out. And you should get out and see some more meaningful movie.

TRANSFORMERS: Age of Extinction. Mark Wahlberg and his “Autobots” fight off the “Decepticons” or something like that. In case you care (and you shouldn’t ) The Transformers now have personalities like the fat robot who smokes metal cigars and has a metal beard. There’s a Japanese Samurai robot, a southren red-neck robot, it’s just awful and it’s 2 hours and 37 minutes long. You could knit a scarf in that same amount of time. Peter Cullen is the voice of the Opitmus Prime robot (not our Peter Cullen) one of those special effect thingees.

22 JUMP STREET. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are back again doing their dumb undercover cop thing. The film took in $111.5 million dollars the opening weekend, and what else is new??? It’s stupid, mean, crotch focussed, anti-gay, and will probably make many more millions before thet finish 23 JUMP STREET. If you do go and see this pierce of junk don’t tell me about it!

EARTH TO ECHO. Kids find a cute tiny, little robot from outer space and it’s just like all the rest of the cutesy, summertime, kids & robots movies. Not one new twist, you don’t even see the robot until 45 minutes into the film and it’s very poorly directed and miserable editing, with lousy camera angles. Don’t go. Or at least SEND the kids, don’t go with them.

TAMMY. What a line-up of stars in this very sad downer of a movie. Susan Sarandon, Kathy Bates, Dan Aykroyd, Sandra Oh, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Mark Duplass and Melissa McCarthy who co-authored and produced it with her husband Ben Falcone. It cedrtainly isn’t a comedy, because Melissa ans Susan Sarandon play such loser roles. It’s not a tragedy because you’ll laugh at the stupid, and vulgar scenes. It’s a waste of… time, your money and their talents.

UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE RADIO PROGRAM
KZSC 88.1 FM or live online at
www.KZSC.ORG TUESDAYS 7-8 P.M.

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. Becca King Reed will talk about The Farmers Market Diet and about heart disease and raw food benefits on July 22 then executive director of The California Grey Bears Tim Brattan (no relation) tells all about their latest achievements. On July 29th Julie Callahan talks about the “March for Elephants” program followed by Lisa Robinson telling everybody about the wonders at The San Lorenzo Valley Museum. Sentinel reporter and author Terri Morgan discusses her book “The Genetic Lottery” on August 5th. Then Jacob Martinez describes the work he’s doing on DigitalNest.org and young folks in Watsonville. On August 26 Mary Altier and Carol Trengove talk about the Pajaro Valley Arts Council’s newest exhibit. 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/universal-grapevine then tap on “listen here” to hear any or all of them… all over again. The update includes Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, Anita Monga, Mark Wainer, Judy Johnson-Darrow, Wendy Mayer-Lochtefeld, Rachel Goodman, George Newell, Tubten Pende, Gina Marie Hayes, Rebecca Ronay-Hazleton, Miriam Ellis, Deb Mc Arthur, The Great Morgani on Street performing, and Paul Whitworth on Krapps Last Tape. Jodi McGraw on Sandhills, Bruce Daniels on area water problems. Mike Pappas on the Olive Connection, Sandy Lydon on County History. Paul Johnston on political organizing, Rick Longinotti on De-Sal. Dan Haifley on Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Dan Harder on Santa Cruz City Museum. Sara Wilbourne on Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre. Brian Spencer on SEE Theatre Co. Paula Kenyon and Karen Massaro on MAH and Big Creek Pottery. Carolyn Burke on Edith Piaf. Peggy Dolgenos on Cruzio. Julie James on Jewel Theatre Company. Then there’s Pat Matejcek on environment, Nancy Abrams and Joel Primack on the Universe plus Nina Simon from MAH, Rob Slawinski, Gary Bascou, Judge Paul Burdick, John Brown Childs, Ellen Kimmel, Don Williams, Kinan Valdez, Ellen Murtha, John Leopold, Karen Kefauver, Chip Lord, Judy Bouley, Rob Sean Wilson, Ann Simonton, Lori Rivera, Sayaka Yabuki, Chris Kinney, Celia and Peter Scott, Chris Krohn, David Swanger, Chelsea Juarez…and that’s just since January 2011. Hear them all!!!

QUOTES. “OCEANS”“We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came”, John F. Kennedy. I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me”, Isaac Newton. “Sponges grow in the ocean. That just kills me. I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be if that didn’t happen”, Steven Wright.

COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS.

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Snail Mail: Bratton Online
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BEST OF VINTAGE STEVEN DeCINZO.

Deep Cover by Tim Eagan.

Posted in Weekly Articles | Comments Off on July 23 – 29, 2014

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