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DATELINE April 21, 2014
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UCSC’S OPENING DEDICATION The video and UCSC founders story never mentions anything about Al Smith who inherited and owned the Orchard Supply Hardware stores being UC Berkeley Chancellor Clark Kerr’s brother in law. Or how Clark Kerr would escape the tribulations of the Free Speech Movement in Berkeley in the 60’s and come down to Swanton Road to stay at Al Smith’s house (which was across the road from mine). |
SCRP AND OUR MUNICIPAL FISHERMAN’S WHARF. Rumors have it that Santa Cruzans for Responsible Planning (SCRP) are going to meet to discuss the many problems with the city’s near secret plans to add 2 acres of width to our wharf. They’re concerned about historic preservation, financing,design, and naturally…coastal considerations. Watch this space.
SAVE THE HORSE CHESTNUT TREE, Gillian Greensite of the “Save our Big Trees” movement writes…”We’ve had great publicity for the red horse chestnut tree over the past week! It seems a good time to take a break and use the time to get the word out over Twitter and Facebook. And write a proposal for Planning and Council since the Planning Director was quoted as saying they hadn’t yet received one. I did send the tree expert reports to all council members who did not respond, but that was before the publicity. Here’s the contact information for Global Head of Hyatt Real Estate.
Chris Dobbins, Vice President of Development, christopher.dobbins@hyatt.com (480) 308 2915
Can you please help get the word out? It’s the only hope we have for saving the tree”. Here’s a link to the Sentinel article
AMONG THE MISSING. Long time friends like Bill Caldwell who was involved early on with Cesar Chavez’s and Luis Valdez good works died. So did David Rigler, child psychologist and Jewish Film Festival organizer. Ginny Fitzmaurice passed on a few weeks ago she worked hard helping UCSC students for decades. Our community is not the same without them.
HEALTH INSURANCE (NOT OBAMACARE) RUNAROUND
I was happy with my health insurance but needed to find a new arrangement since my previous employer got out of the health care business for their retirees. They were extremely helpful in the transition that led me to choose Healthnet for supplemental Medical Insurance.
My first two attempts at claims to Healthnet were rejected, with a cryptic reason given “no EOB.” No indication of what EOB meant. Calling Healthnet was a terrible experience, working through the worst phone exercise ever; I finally got to the recording after asking to speak to a person. The recording said all agents were busy, and expect a wait time of seventy (70) minutes. I called my primary care provider, Dignity Heath, and got to talk to a real person, learning from her to NEVER call insurance companies on Monday, best time is first thing in the morning on THURSDAYS. I also learned the EOB means Explanation of Benefits in insurance language, i.e., they wanted my claims to go first to Medicare. So both providers of service to me have submitted the charges to Medicare. It will be May before these are paid for services I received in March.
So what’s the point with this ranting? We’ve been told of horror stories of waiting on phones to enroll in Obamacare. I’m not eligible for this coverage as a primary Medicare customer, but would certainly give it a try in November if I was.
(Paul Elerick is co-chair, along with Peter Scott, of the Campaign for Sensible Transportation, http://sensibletransportation.org , and is a member of Nisene 2 Sea, a group of open space advocates).
| POLAR BEARS AND DOGS PLAYING. |
CINEMA 9 MAKE OVER. I saw photos of the super luxurious reclining chairs that are going to replace every seat in all 9 of the Regal Cinema 9 theatres. Not only do they look like your front room variety chairs they’ll eliminate 40 percent of the existing seats there now. Not only that, but all the wall coverings and screen curtains will be replaced and they’ll have quite a selection of wines in neat looking decanters. Plans are looking good to even feature some local wines!!! Contractors are working on final plans and all this probably starts around June.
PATTON’S PROGRAM. Gary discusses the Agriculture Water Quality Alliance and how they work to save the Monterey Bay Sanctuary. On Tuesday he talks about the drought and some local workshops that address the issues. The State Water Resources Control Board governs state water use and there are meetings coming up. UCSC’s Common Ground Center has a meeting on Thursday night about sustainable agriculture. He ends the week talking about PG & E’s proposed power line would affect Aptos, Corralitos, and Watsonville, all located within Santa Cruz County. Read all of above scripts at Gary Patton’s KUSP Land Use site http://blogs.kusp.org/landuse. Gary is a former Santa Cruz County Supervisor, and an attorney who represents individuals and community groups on land use and environmental issues. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s. Gary has his own website, “Two Worlds / 365? – www.gapatton.net
RUSSELL BRUTSCHE ART SHOW 5/04. Russell Brutsche has been creating protest art pieces a long time. We’ve seen them nearly evberywhere. He’s got some new ones (seen here this week) that he’ll be showing. He writes …. « I’m excited about a Sunday May 4 exhibit I’m doing related to water, at the Santa Cruz Art League, 3-8 pm, 526 Broadway . As we know, desal and droughts have been major local concerns, and in this show I’ll be addressing the core reason why citizens have been questioning energy-intensive solutions: more carbon equals more climate change equals rising sea levels. With scientists predicting 2 to 7 feet sea level rise this century, and with 5 million American homes currently less than 4 feet above sea level, the topic is certainly ripe for us coastal folk! These pieces are new, and I’ll also have other works I’ve done about water over the last couple of years. Also offering original music, snacks, & wine. One day only, free.
MORGANI CHIMES IN. This “photo essay” just arrived from Frank “Morgani” Lima. He told me last week that the reason we haven’t seen him playing is that he’s just waiting for official City Approval for some spaces on Pacific where he can play with his back against the buildings so that his audience doesn’t block traffic and stop customers from entering the stores. He writes,
I love the comments from everyone, regarding this trend…hell, I’ve been doing this for 17 years, and never thought that I was «seeking liberation through complete sublimation of the physical self. I have just rationalized, that I am an accordionist, who dresses, in an unusual manner, without all the «Bovine defecation analytical theories» He attached this photo of the Tokyo Zentai Project minding their own business in downtown Tokyo earlier this year.
| FIRST TEST FLIGHT WITH DRONE COVERAGE. Tom Graves sent this clip..it’s Elon Musk’s (Tesla) rocket flight and planned landing. |
CLASSICAL DE CINZO. DeCinzo displays his fishy ideas about «Thee Acquarium» see downwards.
EAGANS DEEP COVER. Tim gives new meaning to «and the horse he rode in on»….see below
SANTA CRUZ CHAMBER PLAYERS CONCERT 4/26 & 4/27. The Santa Cruz Chamber Players present Bohemian Soul: Nationalism Inspired by Folk Musicfeaturing music by Janacek, Kodaly, Marinu and Smetana. Artistic director Rebecca Jackson, violin, will be joined by Sarah Rommel on cello and Christine McLeavey Payne on piano. This concert will take place on Saturday, April 26, 8:00 PM & Sunday, April 27, 3:00 PM at Christ Lutheran Church in Aptos. Click here to view the program, notes and bios of all the players in this concert, or visit our web site at: www.scchamberplayers.org For more information on tickets or sponsorships, please call us at 831-425-3149 or 831-713-5061.
PARAPROSDOKIANS. Ralph Davila sent in these paraprosdokians which he states are figures of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently humorous. Wikipedia states Some paraprosdokians not only change the meaning of an early phrase, but they also play on the double meaning of a particular word, creating a form of syllepsis. You can look up “syllepsis”. I did.
Here are the first seven…
1. Where there’s a will, I want to be in it.
2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it’s still on my list.
3. Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
4. If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong.
5. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.
6. War does not determine who is right – only who is left.
7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I would add that these are not only funny, but even profound. Thank Ralph when you see him. (more next week).
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa says she’s taking a break this week and will be back with more juicy stuff next week. Lisa Jensen has been writing film reviews and a column for Good Times since 1975.
THAT IS THE QUESTION
……In order of perfection……
NYMPH()MANIAC.Vol. 2. If you saw Nymph() vol. 1 you have to see Nymph() 2. Just like artists paint differently and authors write differently directors make movies and tell their stories differently. Nymph() director Lars Von Trier does exactly that. This part 2 is as sexual and scary as Vol.1 and completes the prostitutes’ ( Charlotte Gainsbourg) story as she tells it to kindly old asexual Stellen Skarsgard. It has a shocking ending…that’ll surprise you. And as you’ve probably read, the sex scenes as simply 100% total. Thjose scenes will push some or maybe all of your buttons and they’re supposed to. See it quickly it’ll probably close soon.
DOM HEMINGWAY. Jude Law literally chews up the hard drive in this very British art-house film. It somehow ended up at Cinema 9 in Santa Cruz. Law plays the angriest man I can remember on screen. He is mean, pissed, cruel and just served 12 years in prison instead of ratting on an equally mean billionaire mob boss. It’s an excellent film, and funny, driven, exciting and touching, all at the same time. Go for it…it’s really a Nickelodeon film at Cinema 9 no less!!!
OCULUS. Featuring a haunted mirror, this is a pretty good and pretty scary movie. It has some clever and well thought out scenes and is definitely several cuts above the usual horror film. What it does do is maintain a tense feeling throughout almost all the film, that’s not easy. Go if you like to be mystifyied or scared.
TRANSCENDENCE. Johnny Depp seems to be losing the zillion dollar attraction he used to have. This film is a dud. It’s about technology and re-creating dead people. Paul Bettany does his usual fine actiong job and so does Morgan Freeman who hasn’t had a chance to rslly act in years and just keeps playing the same old Morgan Freeman. It’s Man versus machine and dullness versus your cost of admission…you decide.
HEAVEN FOR REAL. Jesus H. Christ, is this a god “faith-based” film or what??? Greg Kinear plays the preacher who’s son almost dies but goes to heaven anyways and probably, or maybe??? The kid sees jesus and his horse, and lots of Christian stuff. Don’t go unless your church is closed for some reason and you have nothing to do.
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. April 22 we have Julie James from the Jewel Theatre talking about “What the Butler Saw”. Jeffrey Smedberg follows her telling us about the 13th annual Reel Work Film Festival (4/26-5/6). Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Paul Burdick returns April 29 to talk more about issues from the bench. Marty Rizzo follows on 4/29 by telling us “new” details in our earliest Santa Cruz Mission Days. Traci Hukill and Eric Johnson tell us about Hilltromper Santa Cruz on May 6., then Anita Monga artistic director of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival reveals their film features. Dan Haifley author of “50 Years of Safe Harbor” talks about his book on May 13. 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 here http://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.”A careful driver is one who looks in both directions when he passes a red light”, R.Marterie. “It is very easy to endure the difficulties of one’s enemies. It is the successes of one’s friends that are hard to bear”, Oscar Wilde. “This year Elizabeth Taylor is wearing Orson Welles designer jeans”, Joan Rivers.
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BEST OF VINTAGE STEVEN DeCINZO.
Deep Cover by Tim Eagan.
