BRATTON…more about UBER/JUMP bikes, Civic Auditorium rebuilding and our City Library money, Scotts Valley Growth pressure. GREENSITE…on trees and climate deniers. KROHN…visits Washington D.C, Panetta’s Office, and talks about Primila Jayapal. STEINBRUNER…Farewell Aptos Coffee Roasting Company, TRC Retail issues, Soquel Creek Water District elections, censorship and more, UCSC Professor Gary Griggs again talks and writes about expensive solutions to water issues, consolidating Aptos and Central Fire Districts. PATTON…about Proxy Activism plus more involvement. EAGAN…re introducing SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS plus DEEP COVER. JENSEN…reviews Blindspotting and remembers James Aschbacher. BRATTON…critiques Christopher Robin and The Spy Who Dumped Me. UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES…all about “SEX”.
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SANTA CRUZ BEACH BOARDWALK. I don’t remember ever seeing this 43 minute tour of our Boardwalk!! |
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SELF POWERED ROLLER COASTER IN JAPAN. |
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BETTE MIDLER SINGS UKELELE LADY. Just because it’s one of my favorite songs. |
DATELINE August 6th, 2018
CIVIC AUDITORIUM TOTAL REBUILDING for 20 MILLION but THE LIBRARY REFURBISHING WOULD COST 23 MILLION PLUS???
If you check this link you’ll see the enormous improvements and additions proposed for our 75 year old Civic Auditorium. Over 85,000 folks attend events there annually now, including the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music and regular appearances of The Santa Cruz Symphony. They plan to completely gut out to the walls all the cement seating structure we sit in now, and are planning a new lounge — and much more. Do check their drawings. All of these improvements are going to be done for a estimated $20 million dollars, to be raised by various donations and funding sources. The BIGGEST QUESTION here is what kind of skullduggery and plotting by our City Staff tells us that our present library can’t possibly be refurbished for even $23 (TWENTY THREE) MILLION Dollars? Let’s use our heads here, folks…there’s some very fancy conniving going on. The Friends of The Civic did their homework and know $20 million will do it. Call your favorite City Council person and demand some thinking and honesty on their part…before it’s too late.
SHAKE UP AT “GOOD TIMES”. There’s a big change in power/management happening at good old Good Times. It’s all in the ownership department so we won’t be hearing much in print about it. You/we can bet that there will be visible changes soon to follow.
TIM EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. A brand new weekly addition to BrattonOnline. Scroll down to read about Tim ,and the history behind both Deep Cover and Subconscious Comics. (p.s Tim Eagan ran for District Attorney in 1978. But his website doesn’t tell you that he actually wore rabbit ears during any press conferences. He’d always say… “this isn’t about the rabbit ears, let’s get to the issues.” Yes, he has a creditable legal background).
SCOTTS VALLEY CFOG AND GROWTH AND WATER. Angela Franklin and Dave Weaver from Citizens for Orderly Growth were guests on my Universal Grapevine last Tuesday (7/31). They talked about the fact that over 900 housing units are being proposed right now for Scotts Valley. That means at least 2000 people, nearly 1500 cars, and obviously a crying need for more water…which they don’t have. Like Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley has two openings on their City Council and are in serious need of finding at least two Orderly Growth candidates to fill them. The Scotts Valley Banner of course says there’s no water problem. But there is, because the Valley depends only on aquifers for water and they are seriously vanishing. We talked about lack of school facilities and police and fire department problems. For example, some of those housing projects call for taller buildings than their fire department has ladders for. If you have good ideas or just want to contact them go to contact@cfog2.org or check out their Facebook Page
UBER BIKES VILIFY? NO EDIFY! Karen Kefauver wrote to say that I was /am trying to “vilify” the UBER/JUMP bike monopoly in Santa Cruz. Nope I’m trying to Edify not Vilify. Too many folks had no idea — and it was not made a big deal — that UBER bought out the bike business shortly before they took over little Santa Cruz, along with the other giant cities they now call home. $1 per 15 minutes of UBER/JUMP rental seems like a hefty source of profit. Too bad some of our local bike manufacturers didn’t get offered a chance to do what the city asked the UBER/JUMP conglomerate to do. It’s that old idea of keeping profits/money/competition local. Karen also said I had incorrect info on the number of stations in Santa Cruz …so check out the map from UBER/JUMP. Some are apparently stations, and I’m not sure what the rest are… but there’s about 60 of them.
GOOD BYE DeCINZO!!! After eight years of featuring many of Steven DeCinzo’s cartoons, our disagreements led him to tell me to stop running them. So I am.
August 6th 2018
CLIMATE DENIERS.
Believe it or not Santa Cruz has its own set of climate deniers. Many of the same people who applaud even one person choosing to bike rather than drive stare blankly when asked to take action to protect a mature tree from the ax. A recent Sentinel article by a past climate action coordinator on the topic of how Santa Cruz is doing on achieving the goals of the city’s climate action plan made no mention of trees. Maybe it indicates the triumph of technology over nature. If we can build it, sell it, erect it then who cares if nature does it all on her own. Trees store carbon and emit oxygen. No wonder many cultures worshiped trees even if they did not know the scientific basis for such respect. Depending on size and species, mature trees store on average, 1-2metric tons of carbon. The bigger the tree the more carbon stored. If cut down, the fate of most of these trees is to be disposed of by chipping, which means the vast majority of this carbon is released into the atmosphere within 5 years. And if you’ve noticed, chipping felled large trees is the new norm. I wonder how much power those tree eating, chip-spewing machines require? In order for newly planted saplings to become equivalent carbon sinks, several decades of growth are required. Yet planting saplings is accepted as mitigation for the removal of large trees in environmental documents at all levels of civic review: sometimes even with the label “improvements” attached. And the climate deniers nod in approval that saplings will be planted.
Which brings me to the topic of the tree appeal for the pictured Corymbia at 200 Washington Street, which will be decided on by city council at its afternoon meeting on Tuesday August 14th. Your emails in support will help. My heartfelt appreciation to the ten people who responded generously with checks to help cover the $617 cost to appeal the fate of this tree to city council. Four of you are regular readers of this column. Others are active community environmentalists including members of the Environmental Committee of the Valley Women’s Club, that dynamic, effective group from the San Lorenzo Valley. Tree lovers all!
I have attached the text of the appeal below the break. It’s really a simple issue. Will the city council direct PG&E to follow through on its written commitment for this particular tree, which is called out in their letter? Or will city council rely on assumptions and generalities about what this tree might be doing underground rather than actually looking, which PG&E promised to do. Meanwhile the tree does its daily routine of taking in carbon, storing it and emitting oxygen with a halo of bees taking sustenance from its red flowers. Climate deniers ignore the tree and rave about the new red Jump bikes.
| Gillian Greensite is a long time local activist, a member of Save Our Big Trees and the Santa Cruz chapter of IDA, International Dark Sky Association http://darksky.org Plus she’s an avid ocean swimmer, hiker and lover of all things wild. |
ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL, ESPECIALLY WASHINGTON ONES!
Washington, D.C.
The nation’s capital has been called many things. Saran-wrapped, self-absorbed, and indulgent are on the prettier side. The tourists often wonder ‘ why all the museums are free,’ and visiting Californians say, ‘The rain feels refreshing’ as the humidity is 100% and the temperature hovers around ninety. I will spare you any new adjectives in describing life on the Potomac. So, standing outside the capital last week and Googling my way across Pennsylvania Avenue all I can write is that everything you’ve heard is true. The bubble is real, the humidity barely tolerable, the summer tourists innumerable, the partisan divide deeper than Death Valley, and a President, unfailingly combative, bigoted, and some here even say, evil. And just maybe, will his latest tweet taking on All-World-Everything, Lebron James, prove to be his greatest communication misstep? We can only hope. (Hey, NFL players, are you listening?) (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/04/sports/donald-trump-lebron-james-twitter.html ) The politics here have been DC-dreadful, even with Donald Drumpf away in Bedminster (N.J) or Mar-a-Lago or whatever place he retreats to where reporters and regular people aren’t allowed; and the weather, some here are sick of, but the days-long storms that have hit the east coast and put parts of Baltimore and Washington under water would delight the drought-stricken of Santa Cruzan. The wet summer–climate change?–is most telling along rail tracks where water pools up forcing portions of various trolley lines to close. Passengers are then bused to and from the water-logged stops. As I approached, storm clouds hovered over the Cannon office building at 27 Independence Avenue, a short walk from the capitol building. Luck was not on my side, our US Rep. Jimmy Panetta was not in, but visiting “the district.” I was delighted to see in the SC Sentinel later that he was on a boat looking into the health of our Monterey Bay the same day I was visiting Washington, D.C. It’s much more important being out on our bay. The knee-jerk political offal that has become common food fighting fare in this district– of Columbia–will definitely be here when he returns.
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My Itinerary on the Hill
Upon entering the Cannon office building, I decided to check in first on one of my heroes, Primila Jayapal. She’s on the third floor, one floor over Jimmy, and she represents a part of Seattle, Jim McDermott’s old 7th district seat. Primila may best be known for helping achieve a $15 an hour minimum wage, gay marriage, and she also supports rent control in the city of Seattle. She was recently arrested while protesting Trump’s immigration policies, and she was reportedly the first member of congress to visit a federal prison where children were separated from their parents. In D.C., she supports universal healthcare, a higher minimum wage, universal free college tuition, and immigration, and setting aside Supreme Court nominees, mid-term elections, and war, these are arguably the top issues on the American progressive agenda. Turns out, Rep. Jayapal is back in her district too. August is like that in DC, many reps are on vacation or attending to business back home. I spoke with Jayapal’s political liaison instead, in preparation for meeting Rep. Panetta’s chief of staff, Joel Baily who I would be seeing later in the day. I wanted to know what was the current discussion among progressive Democrats, of which Primila, Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Barbara Lee of Oakland, Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, and Minnesota’s Keith Ellison, all lead the way in crafting a formal progressive voice at the federal level. They may also have a new group member soon, Bronx-born Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who recently won a key New York primary and is likely headed to capitol hill in January. Jayapal’s legislative aid advised me to take perhaps “the 30,000-feet approach,” meaning offer help to your representative in navigating issues in the district. A recent bill, House Resolution 676, a universal healthcare initiative, is a bill Panetta’s signed onto as a co-author, but he has yet to join the 74 members of the “Medicare for All” caucus. That might be something to ask about too.
Main Event
I was warmly received by Rep. Panetta’s staff on the second floor of Cannon. Chief of Staff Bailey asked if I wanted to step into the boss’ office and there we proceeded to chat for almost two hours. We touched on a pantheon of issues confronted by federal reps in Washington and I apprised him of what was happening locally, which he seemed very interested in. Without quoting Bailey, I will mention the general topics we discussed. The top five on the congressional office radar screen appear to be immigration (Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients), gun control, student debt, middle class tax relief, and infrastructure improvements. Rep. Panetta sits on two congressional committees, the Armed Services Committee (funds military) and the Agricultural Committee, which oversees the every 5-year farm bill that is of great importance to Santa Cruz County’s commercial and organic ag interests. Panetta also sits on two subcommittees: Oversight and Investigations (of house members) and Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research. From the conversation with Bailey, I came away with a similar feeling many of us feel these days, that all is not well in Washington and our President daily turns over more apple carts (the “Q-Anon” being most recent) than the Dems can put upright and therefore it becomes ever more difficult to get to the issues congress members are interested in. I emphasized that affordable housing and homelessness were likely the two most vexing issues for the city council these days. It also seemed evident that our congressional office has followed the sanctuary city issue, the nascent cannabis industry ups and downs, and shares our frustration with sky-high housing costs. This meeting was informative and stimulating, as one would hope for when visiting their congress member.
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(Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, former Santa Cruz City Councilmember (1998-2002) and Mayor (2001-2002). He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 12 years. He was elected last November to another 4-year term on the Santa Cruz City Council).
Email Chris at ckrohn@cruzio.com |
AND YET ANOTHER RANCHO DEL MAR CENTER TENANT GETS THE BOOT FROM TRC RETAIL
Aptos Coffee Roasting, a locally-owned small and successful business that has been a gathering hub for the Aptos Community for decades, got a 30-day eviction notice from TRC Retail landlord on June 26. The shop will close to the public August 19, house their equipment in storage, and lay off their employees. TRC Retail never responded to multiple attempts by Aptos Coffee Roasting owner Bronson Baker to negotiate a renovation consistent with the shopping center remodel efforts. Read the letter that Bronson posted for patrons (attached file) Here is a link to the Register-Pajaronian report
Please contact these TRC Retail LLC people and their leasing agent and let them know what you think. I have asked for them to rescind their eviction notice and work with Bronson Baker. What confidence can they have in the Community supporting the future businesses they bring in with such a disgusting track record of mistreatment to locally-supported small business tenants? This is not consistent with the picture that TRC Retail representatives. Scott Grady and Bruce Walton, assured those who attended the standing-room-only public meetings they held to discuss the Rancho del Mar Center remodel project. The Community was clear in our message that we support the existing small business tenants.
Scott Grady, TRC Retail Vice President of Development sgrady@trcretail.com 949-662-2142 and/or Shannon Naraghi, TRC Retail Property Manager snaraghi@trcretail.com 925-241-4023 and/or Tom Nelson, Colliers International Leasing Agent tom.nelson@colliers.com 408-282-3960
RUN FOR OFFICE ON SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT AND APTOS/LA SELVA FIRE DISTRICT
The filing deadline for declaring candidacy is this Friday, August 10, 5pm. I hope that you or someone you know who lives within these two District boundaries will run for a Board position. Soquel Creek Water District has three positions (Christensen, Jaffee and Lather) up for re-election and the Aptos/ La Selva Fire Protection District has two (Abendschan and Hurley have filed for re-election). Take a look at current filing status
I believe that it is never a good thing to have incumbents run unopposed. When others are on the ballot, it presents the critical opportunity for better public participation in the issues via candidate forums and news media interviews. Please run, even if you feel you could not win.
WHAT A SHAM OF PUBLIC MEETING….CAN YOU SAY “MOOO”?
We all need to contact Soquel Creek Water District and the ESA consultants to demand more time to review and submit critical comment on the PureWater Soquel Project Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) or ratepayers (and maybe beyond) will be saddled with millions in debt and face possible groundwater contamination with pharmaceuticals and carcinogens not able to be removed.
Contact:
Pure Water Soquel Project CEQA
4041 Soquel Drive, Ste. A-501
Soquel, CA 95073-3105
Email comments to purewatersoquelceqa@esassoc.com
Soquel Creek Water District held its “Public Meeting” to allow members of the public to enter comment on their PureWater Soquel Project Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). It was very poorly-attended. The ESA Consultant REFUSED TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL ORAL COMMENT TO BE REGISTERED WITH THE STENOGRAPHER PRESENT beyond the appointed 3-minute, even after the meeting had closed and there was no time constraint to maintain a schedule of events.
Cheers,
Becky Steinbruner
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Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
As the very last word in his novel, Existence, in a section called “Follow-Up Resources,” Author David Brin recommends “proxy activism.” Brin refers readers to his website discussion of the topic, and here is the link.
If you click the link, you will find that Brin describes the essence of “proxy activism” as follows:
Proxy Power is the uniquely convenient — but seldom discussed — ability of a modern person to participate in activism… helping to change or improve the world… by the simple expedience of joining some group that is vigorously pursuing that part of your personal agenda. In other words, you add both your membership dues and the political impact of your membership, in order to get behind people who are striving to save the world for you.
I am endorsing Brin’s call for “proxy activism,” and particularly want to point out the importance of making financial contributions to the causes you support. Jesus, speaking not so much as a religious leader, but more as a sociologist would, tells us that “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” In other words, it just happens to be true that when you make a financial contribution to a group working for a cause, the very fact that you have put your money on the line makes you much more committed to the cause than you would be if you had merely signed a petition, or otherwise stated your support.
I am happy that Brin is touting “proxy activism.” There is nothing wrong with this “uniquely convenient” way to get involved with the critical issues facing the world.
However…..
While I think proxy activism is beneficial, and even “necessary,” it is not “sufficient.” If we want a genuine system of self-government, a government that will respond to human needs, and that will seek to realize our greatest aspirations, we are not going to be able simply to hire nonprofits to make the necessary changes for us. If we want self-government, a large number of us will need to get involved ourselves.
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Gary is a former Santa Cruz County Supervisor (20 years) and an attorney for individuals and community groups on land use and environmental issues. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s. You can read and subscribe to his daily blog at www.gapatton.net
Email Gary at gapatton@mac.com |
EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS & DEEP COVER. See both of Time Eagan’s “Subconscious Comics” and Deep Cover” down a few pages. As always, at TimEagan.com you will find his most recent Deep Cover, the latest installment from the archives of Subconscious Comics, and the ever entertaining Eaganblog.
CABRILLO FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC. NOW -Aug.12. From their website (www.cabrillomusic.org)… Each summer Cabrillo Festival brings together music lovers, community members, professional orchestra players and extraordinary composers for an inspired gathering that offers a musical experience like no other. For the 2018 season, Music Director Cristi Macelaru has summoned voices from around the globe and across diverse cultural backgrounds to present 18 contemporary works that reflect the human spirit and the stories we tell, the grandeur of the planet, and the vastness of the cosmos. You’re invited to journey deep into the creative process through our open rehearsals, talks and the intoxicating experience of live performance. Cabrillo Festival delivers spectacular musicianship, coupled with a warm and welcoming environment for listeners at all levels, plus that famously special Santa Cruz vibe. It’s a rare thrill, and you’re invited! So much is new in 2018!
New pay-what-you-can Community Night Concert This new event welcomes the wider community to experience just how fun new music can be. Earlier concert times All our evening concerts now begin at 7pm! New $20 Youth tickets Invite your favorite young person (age 6-25), and inspire a future Festival fan! New Prix Fixe Dinner on our Grand Finale night.
41st ANNUAL MUSICAL SAW FESTIVAL. The 41st annual Musical Saw Contest is the longest running saw contest in the world. This happens AUGUST 11 & 12. On Saturday August 11, 2018 at 2:00 pm there’ll be an Open jam at the Tom Scribner Statue, 1520 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA, in front of Bookshop Santa Cruz. That night at 6:30 pm there’ll be a potluck and jam up at Roaring Camp‘s outer parking lot in Felton, CA. On Sunday August 12 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm will be the genuine 41st Annual Saw Festival up at Roaring Camp in Felton, CA. From 11am to 4 p.m. there’ll be Featured performers, awards, chorus of the saws and lots of spontaneous fun. At the festival you can jam, meet other saw players, take part in the contest, take a workshop, and hear some great saw players literally from all over the world.
CELEBRATING JAMES ASCHBACHER. Many, many of Jim Aschbacher’s friends are putting together a memorable celebration of his life. Free champagne, free event, lots of music, talks by some good friends, collections of photos and a great sense of community will all happen August 25 at the Rio Theater from 6-9 p.m.
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Not a gangsta movie, Blindspotting takes a sharp, bold, incisive look at culture and community in Oakland, this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). And budding artists get a boost from the new James Aschbacher SPECTRA Fund to support art education in the schools. Find out how you can join the support group!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. Ewan McGregor does the best he can with a boring, depressing, and very commercial attempt to make more money from A.A. Milne’s Winnie The Pooh books. It isn’t even Disney cute or Pixar creative — it’s simply not interesting to watch Christopher Robin be forced by animated versions of Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger and other stuffed toys to remember how much fun he had as a boy. Don’t even send the kids.
THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME. Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon play buddies from LA who for some kinky reason become involved with an international killers. The two of them go to Holland, Hungary, Berlin, Austria, Denmark and Atlanta, Georgia. More than two hours those locations — plus the foolish, overused dialogue between the two women — aren’t enough to make this flick worth paying to see.
EIGHTH GRADE. A 99 on RT and the lead actor Elsie Fisher deserves at least an Oscar for her role as a conflicted and nearly typical eighth grader. The incredibly talented, funny, and profound Bo Burnham directed it. (See his Comedy special on Netflix!). You’ll relive the anxiety, insecurity, and fears we all had in eighth grade. It’s billed as a comedy and some of the audience laughed when I was watching it…but see it for the insights, the reality, and the remembrances of those times.
DON’T WORRY HE WON’T GET FAR ON FOOT. It seems that Joaquin Phoenix can’t make a bad movie, and this one is deep and brilliant. Jack Black, Rooney Mara and Jonah Hill play very serious parts in this nearly true biographical film about a wheelchair bound cartoonist. I looked up the word “sardonic” just to make sure it fit Phoenix’s role…it definitely does. I wish they’d make more films like this one. Better hurry before Landmark takes it away. CLOSES THURSDAY AUGUST 9.
LEAVE NO TRACE. It’s difficult to critique a film with a 100% RT rating. Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie play a father and daughter who live in the woods around Portland, Oregon. Why they live outdoors, and how they face the real world, makes a near perfect film. Sensitive, thoughtful — and it forces us to think again about our definition of what a home is and what will happen after the movie ends. See this excellent film quickly. CLOSES THURSDAY AUGUST 9.
THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS. (94 RT) A very serious documentary about Jewish twin and triplet babies that were secretly separated and placed around carefully-chosen Jewish families in New York City in the 50s, as part of an experiment that has still never been made public. The previews make you think it’s about triplets and the fun they have finding each other. It’s much more than that, and will have you questioning your own behavior and your DNA inheritance. SEE THIS FILM!!!
WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? A well deserved 99 on RT and Mr. Rogers turns out to be all that we’d hope to see in this bio. That he was a lifelong Republican is about the only surprise, but it’s not important. It’s no surprise to learn about his faith-based upbringing and he practiced love and kindness in his entire television career. Go see this film. You’ll agree with him about the glut of violence in other children’s tv shows. We can only guess how he’d deal with Trump’s presidency. He handled Robert Kennedy’s assassination and 9/11 with amazing taste and skill. His neighborhood tv show started in 1968 and lasted until 2001. He died in 2003. As I mentioned go see this film, it’s one of the few uplifting things available nowadays. CLOSES THURSDAY AUGUST 9.
BLINDSPOTTING. Has a 93 on RT…and deserves it. A “blindspot” as we learn in the film, is when something is right in front of you and you can’t see it. In this case it’s the racial scene in Oakland and the rest of the USA. Violent, conflicted, heartwarming, well acted, and painful. It’ll leave an impression on you long after you leave the theatre.
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU. A 95 on Rotten Tomatoes, this is a crude take-off on telemarketers and their lowly status in life. It takes place in Oakland and is nearly all African-American themed. That means that to be a successful telemarketer you have to use your “white voice”. Danny Glover has a small part, and we can only hope he gets some decent roles again. This wasn’t one of them. There is too much racism, role-playing. and politic switching played as humor for me to really like this movie. You are on your own.
EQUALIZER 2. Denzel Washington is back again as a vigilante. Unlike all the rest of the bloody, violent, killing, revenge movies, Denzel makes this one a little deeper, more thoughtful, and yet at the same time heavy-handed. There’s nothing new, imaginative or startling in it, but because it’s Denzel you’ll be able to sit through all of it.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE :FALLOUT. Another Tom Cruise do it yourself stunt movie. Simon Pegg and Alec Baldwin are back again too. It has some wild and inventive stunt scenes that we’ve never seen before. Plus a music score that keeps almost all of the movie at a very intense level. It’s thrilling, mindless, pointless, but full of kicks. It’s made for the big screens.
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP. It’s embarrassing to watch Michael Douglas, Laurence Fishburne and especiallyMichelle Pfeiffer having to take roles in yet another factory-produced Marvel Comic mass-produced monster hit. (85 RT) Paul Rudd is back in this sequel, and does the best possible job as the Ant-Man. He shrinks; he grows, flies around on the Wasp’s back and does what little he can with this comic book movie. I’m guessing that these Marvel movies are best enjoyed by eight-year-olds. If you’re older than that, think at least twice before attending. INCREDIBLES 2. I liked Incredibles 1. Now Pixar/Disney has shifted to centering on Mrs. Incredible as a Wonder Woman who goes through numerous violent bloody battles against the one concept I thought was funny…the evil Screenslaver. Very little of the original charm, family stuff, human frailties, it’s another cutesy version of the Marvel Comics blockbusters
MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN. It’s all of the original cast (even Meryl Streep for two songs) and ABBA music. It’s mindless, pointless, meaningless, and lacks almost all of the charm or naiveté of the first one. If you wait until almost the end you can watch a 72 year old Cher in tights singing to her daughter Meryl Streep — who is 69 years old!!! You could also watch Stellan Skarsgard, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Julie Walters embarrass themselves in this strictly for-the-money prequel. Or I could say, “here we go again… BUT you shouldn’t”.
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 archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. On August 7 Dr. Shawna Riddle of PAMF talks about staying healthy. She’s followed by Hina Pendle from US Partners. On August 12 Barry Scott from Friends of Rail and Trail is the guest. He’s followed by Attorney Bob Taren discussing politics and problems on August 14th. On Aug.21 cardiologist and Doctor Neil Sawhney talks about heart problems. Then Lisa Sheridan and Robert Morgan from Sustainable Soquel talk about car dealerships and Soquel traffic. Aug. 28 has Lisa Rose and Ken Koenig from Santa Cruz Indivisible talking about their latest plans and events. September 11 Michel Singher from the Espressivo Orchestra will describe their upcoming concerts. Sept. 18 has Don Stump pres. and CEO of CCH housing returning to discuss affordable housing. Nora Hochman guests on September 25 to talk about rent control and Housing Justice. OR…if you just happen to miss either of the last two weeks of Universal Grapevine broadcasts go here… http://www.radiofreeamerica.com/dj/bruce-bratton You have to listen to about 4 minutes of that week’s KPFA news first, then Grapevine happens. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always and only at bratton@cruzio.com
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UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 9 years here’s a chronological list of some past broadcasts. Such a wide range of folks such as Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal, Anita Monga, Mark Wainer, Judy Johnson, 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.
QUOTES. “SEX”
“I have no objection to anyone’s sex life as long as they don’t practice it in the street and frighten the horses.” Oscar Wilde
“Homosexuality isn’t contagious” tv interview I saw last week, didn’t get his name.
“I don’t know the question, but sex is definitely the answer.” Woody Allen
“Boys and girls in America have such a sad time together; sophistication demands that they submit to sex immediately without proper preliminary talk. Not courting talk — real straight talk about souls, for life is holy and every moment is precious.” Jack Kerouac, On the Road
“Someone told me the delightful story of the crusader who put a chastity belt on his wife and gave the key to his best friend for safekeeping, in case of his death. He had ridden only a few miles away when his friend, riding hard, caught up with him, saying ‘You gave me the wrong key!” Anaïs Nin
“Sex without love is as hollow and ridiculous as love without sex.” Hunter S. Thompson
“Good sex is like good bridge. If you don’t have a good partner, you’d better have a good hand.” Mae West
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