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DATELINE August 8, 2016
CABRILLO FESTIVAL O’ MUSIC NATIONAL PRAISE. First of all (in answer to many of our questions)…no word has been made public as to Marin Alsop’s replacement. Second of all, last Friday and Saturday concerts almost completely packed the Civic Auditorium. Dozens of tributes of all styles were given and received by Marin, it was good fun. Right after intermission Jesse Rosen President and CEO, League of American Orchestras flew in from New York and stated…”America’s 1200 orchestras look to Cabrillo as a kind of laboratory, a cauldron of creativity; developing the finest compositional talent. Cabrillo is regarded as a standard-bearer in fostering creativity and demonstrating a rich and authentic relationship with its community“. He really said it more friendlily and profoundly than that, but I emailed him Sunday and he just sort of paraphrased it all for us especially. It amazed many audience members to hear that there are 1200 orchestras in the USA and although The NY Times, The Wall Street Journal and many, many national and international media voices have recognized The Cabrillo Festival, it was still great to hear OUR orchestra praised and respected so highly. You shoulda been there, and there are just two more concerts left…get those tickets in case you’re still wondering what the super fuss is all about.
| YOU TUBE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA…WHO KNEW? |
| FUNNY PRESIDENT OBAMA. We’ll never get another one like him!! |
HOW MORAL ARE YOU? Lee Taiz sent in this deep and timely question/test.
Subject: MORALITY
Are you as moral as you think you are?
This test only has one question, but it is a very important one. By giving an honest answer, you will discover where you stand morally. The test features an unlikely, completely fictional situation in which you will have to make a decision. Only you will know the results, so remember that your answer needs to be honest.
THE SITUATION:
You are in Florida, Miami to be specific.
There is chaos all around you caused by a hurricane with severe flooding.
This is a flood of biblical proportions.
You are a photojournalist working for a major newspaper, and you’re caught in the middle of this epic disaster.
The situation is nearly hopeless.
You’re trying to shoot career-making photos.
There are houses and people swirling around you, some disappearing under the water.
Nature is unleashing all of its destructive fury.
THE TEST:
Suddenly you see a man in the water.
He is fighting for his life, trying not to be taken down with the debris.
You move closer.
Somehow the man looks familiar.
You suddenly realize who it is.
It’s Donald Trump
At the same time you notice that the raging waters are about to take him under forever.
YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS:
You can save the life of Donald Trump OR you can shoot a dramatic Pulitzer Prize winning photo, documenting the death of one of the world’s most powerful Republican men hell bent on the destruction of The United States of America…
THE QUESTION:
Here’s the question, and please give an honest answer…….
“Would you select high contrast color film, or would you go with the classic simplicity of black and white?”
TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES.
John Aird Former co-chairman of CLUE, member of Desal Alternatives and Community Water Coalition (CWC)……active citizen went to much trouble to lay out some facts and questions in this most troubling time of political honesty. He says…
“I thought you might find the compilation (below) that I put together based on information from the politifact.org organization of interest. They took information/statements on the respective listed individual websites and then judged each of them on its relative “truth” on a scale from “true” at the high end to at the low end, “pants on fire”- their rating step that’s worse than just being false.
What is shocking is the comparative difference on the low/false end:
Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, President Obama statements ranged from 11%-14% “false” or “pants on fire” while more than half (55%) of Trump’s statements were so rated.
I know that this difference is not entirely new “news” in general. However, the fact that the basis of this information is from their own presumably well-reviewed and considered websites makes it especially noteworthy.
Truthfulness based on Facts:
“Mostly True” + % in Rank Order
| Bernie Sanders | Hillary Clinton | Pres. Obama | Trump | |
| True | 13 | 22 | 21 | 4 |
| Mostly True | 39 | 28 | 27 | 11 |
| Half True | 20 | 21 | 27 | 15 |
| Mostly False | 17 | 14 | 12 | 15 |
| False | 11 | 11 | 12 | 36 |
| Pants On Fire | 0 | 2 | 2 | 19 |
| Totals: | ||||
| Half True+ | 72 | 71 | 75 | 30 |
| Mostly False+ | 28 | 27* | 26* | 70 |
*Apparently the totals are a reflection of rounding
(Paul Elerick is a member of, and former co-chair of the Campaign for Sensible Transportation, http://sensibletransportation.org . He’s a current member of Nisene to Sea, a group of mid-county citizens committed to maintaining an open hiking trail from Cabrillo College to Nisene Marks State Park
WAKE UP WESTSIDE
Members of the Santa Cruz City Planning Commission showed a hint of spine at the public hearing for the 630 Water St. development last Thursday (8/4/16). Although they unanimously approved the development of 20 units to join the already constructed 53 units next to Kiva Retreat House, they balked at catering to the developer’s lament that having to provide 3 “affordable” units out of the 20 was a burden on his profit margin. For once, commissioners seemed to at least listen to the eastside residents who showed up to voice their concerns about the cumulative impacts of dense developments rising on the eastside like mushrooms after rain. Perhaps toadstools is a better simile since there is nothing palatable about this sea change to the character of Santa Cruz neighborhoods on the eastside.
click here to continue (link expands, click again to collapse)
~(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).
PATTON’S PROGRAM. From Gary’s Two Worlds website…(dated Friday, August 5 2016)
“In an article that ran in The San Jose Mercury News on Thursday, August 4th, Michael Doyle and William Douglas of the McClatchy Washington Bureau observed that Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump is apparently laying the ground for a post-election challenge to the results of the November election (presuming he isn’t declared the winner in that election, of course):
“If there’s voter fraud, this election will be illegitimate, the election winner will be illegitimate, we will have a constitutional crisis, widespread civil disobedience, and the government will be no longer the government,” Trump ally Roger Stone said last week on The Milo Yiannopolous Show. Let’s be clear; this isn’t about being a “sore loser,” as the news article suggests. For the Trump campaign to make the statement (through an intermediary, admittedly) that there will be a “constitutional crisis” and “civil disobedience” if Donald Trump doesn’t win the election in November is extraordinarily concerning.
click here to continue (link expands, click again to collapse)
~Gary is a former Santa Cruz County Supervisor (20 years) and an attorney who represents indivuduals and community groups on land use and environmental issues. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s. Gary has his own website, Two Worlds at www.gapatton.net
CLASSICAL DeCINZO. DeCinzo muses on our ART problem….see below a few pages.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. Tim gives new meaning to “Don’t Tread on Me” scroll downwards. Then check out Subconscious Comics, and the latest EaganBlog, 100 Years Until Forever:
| SPANISH MUSICAL SAW PLAYER. |
MUSICAL SAW FESTIVAL & SCRIBNER CELEBRATION. It’s the 37th annual Musical Saw Festival that we started way back in September 1979, that is happening this Saturday and Sunday (08/11 & 08/12). The most easily accessible (and free way) to hear some of the very best Saw Players from around the world (truly) is to be at the Tom Scribner Statue in front of Bookshop Santa Cruz Saturday from 2-4 p.m. Denise Gallant is filming a documentary on Tom Scribner, she’ll be there too.
Here’s some of what’s going on:
Saturday, August 13th, 2:00 to 4:00 PM The start time for the street jam has been changed to 2pm this year. Chairs will be provided for performers. Acoustic instruments only, please. We will gather at the world’s only life-sized bronze statue of a saw player in front of Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA.
Saturday, August 13th, 6:30 to 10:00 PM We will provide the meat, please bring drinks, a side dish, chairs and a lantern for after dark. We will share a potluck dinner, then pull out our instruments for a jam session. Look for us in the outer parking lot of Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton, California, just seven miles north of Santa Cruz
Sunday, August 14th, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Roaring Camp Railroads, 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA
This year we will be on the Chuckwagon BBQ Stage, which is also known as the Group Picnic Stage. This is an outdoor stage towards the back of the park, near the Chuckwagon BBQ area.
10:00 – Gathering of the Sawyers
11:00 – Musical Saw Contest
12:00 – The Blacklock Family Band
12:30 – Art Peterson with Laurie Miller, Donnie Hodges & Susan Spoons
1:00 – The Geezers – Juli Moscovitz & Friends
1:30 – Blacklock Ukulele/Saw Extravaganza
Featured Sawplayers
1:45 – Cindy Webster – saw and electricity
2:00 – Joe Eding
2:15 – Lou Mannick
2:30 – Thomas Spearance
2:45 – Terry Bergman
3:00 – Morgan Cowin
3:15 – Alistair “Azo” Bell from Australia
3:30 – Presentation of Awards
4:00 – First Place Winner of Musical Saw Contest
4:15 – CHORUS OF SAWS (ALL Sawplayers welcome)
4:30 – Musical Saw Workshop – play the saw!
5:00 – Sawyers Farewell Circle
For more information, visit our website: http://www.sawplayers.org
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Why would anyone have to take a vacation from watching movies? In my case, it’s two family weddings, and the family reunions that come with them! So I’m taking a short break from the blog, Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com). But I’ll be back in time for opening night at Santa Cruz Parks & Rec Teen Theatre’s production of Alias Hook, August 19, at Louden Nelson. Maybe I’ll see you there!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
THAT IS THE QUESTION
(THE NEWEST FILMS IN ORDER OF PERFECTION)
OUR LITTLE SISTER. 91 on Rotten Tomatoes!!! Many (including me) are calling it the Best film of 2016. Intelligent, sensitive, (Subtitled) perfect acting, the direction assumes we have brains, and a heart. Three Japanese teen age sisters living alone learn they have another sister. The sister moves in with them, and the film takes us through every emotion we’ve ever had. It’s the kind of film we get to see very seldom nowadays. No blood, violence, car chases, sex…just excellence. Please see it, it’ll re-affirm your faith in movies. (P.S. I’ll always try to say if a film is subtitled because I know it’ll turn off about 50 % of you immediately).
SUICIDE SQUAD. Will Smith, Jared Leto, and Viola Davis could never be accused of acting in this horrible Gotham City disaster. Yep, Gotham City and yes Batman is in it for a few seconds but he doesn’t save this Super Hero flick from being one of the very worst ever made. (read any other review!!!). I could try to tell you about the plot, but there really isn’t one…it’s all violence, weird effects, killing, and to save production money most of it is filmed extra dark so you can’t see what might be around the corner. Don’t let anybody go except your worst enemy.
STILL PLAYING AT A THEATRE NEAR US
FROM BEST TO REALLY BAD
CAFÉ SOCIETY. Woody Allen’s newest starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Parker Posey and Steve Carell. Woody narates the film and he’s older and his voice has lost that whiney, confused, contradictory warble that we’ve grown to love so much. This film doesn’t rank in his top 4 or 5 films. The story is original, the acting is perfunctory, Kristen Stewart is above reproach, but it’s no Midnight in Paris, Annie Hall, Blue Jasmine, Hannah and Her Sisters or Purple Rose of Cairo.
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC.Viggo Mortensen, the lead in this family saga, has never been better, and he’s almost always excellent. The older you are the more you’ll appreciate this extension of our 1950 & 60’s belief system. A film that has Noam Chomsky’s philosophy as a driver, Jesse Jackson, Joy of Sex book, Lolita, Glen Gould’s Bach Variations and some non-christian beliefs added, has to take you back just a bit. And in a good way. Viggo raises his family in the total wilds and later they have to face modern life and society. It’s as much fun as it is moving, sensitive, and well made. Frank Langella and Steve Zahn add to this hit film. Go for/to it!!
HUNT FOR WILDERPEOPLE. An excellent movie that has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. I had a problem with the New Zealand or “Kiwi” accents, and missed a few poignant scenes. See the video on the right for a quick tutorial. Also note it’s “WILDERpeople” as in WILDERNESS not WILDER as in State Park. It’s a scenic, sensitive, comedy about the adventures of a 13 year old misplaced orphan who meets up with grizzly, solitary Sam Neill. They escape authorities by existing in the wilderness of the New Zealand Bush Country. It’s also exciting, tight, creative, perfectly acted, and most importantly…ORIGINAL!! (In all fairness, it’s also cute, feel–good and improbable!)
STAR TREK BEYOND. The third in the new Trek movie series this is a waste of eveyone’s time and money. They cop out and show a photo of Leonard Nimoy about half way through and show a snapshot of the entire Enterprise original 1966 crew. Mostly it’s just another throw bombs and shoot around corners (or curves on spaceships). Nothing near the humanity, intelligence, or real wit the original had, which made all of us such lifelong fans. The acting is terrible, the plot is meaningless. Go only if you need your periodic Star Trek Fix, and don’t care how “authentic” it is. ( I didn’t know Capt. James Kirk’s middle name was Tiberius and that Shatner is 85 years old and was born in Montreal).
JASON BOURNE.The minute you leave the theatre this movie will seem like a dream you had. It’s fuzzy, unclear, random scenes in random order, no real meaning…just like a dream. The director tried to make some new kind of spy killing, car chase, fie, explosion movie. Edits, cuts, dialogue are all mixed up and mixed together…it makes little or no sense at all. Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Vincent Cassell, Alicia Vikander, and Riz Ahmed from “The Night Of” all do their best, but it’s all the director’s fault. Well, Matt Damon just phoned in his part and he’s terrible.
GHOSTBUSTERS 3. Remember that there was a sequel also with the original cast in 1989. As most movie fans know, they have replaced the original male Ghostbusters….Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Eddie Hudson, Rick Moranis and Harold Ramis with an almost all woman cast ie…Melissa McCarthy, Kristin Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. Plus adding Charles Dance and Chris Hemsworth. The sex change isn’t the important change, even though that’s what everyone focuses on. The big difference is in the amount of intelligence, cleverness, and solid humor in the script. These new jokes are dumber, clumsy, obvious, shallow and just not funny. The ghosts aren’t as clever either. Only go if you need to complete your ghostly experiences. Watch for cameos by most of the originals.
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS. I hear that this is a very funny TV show made into a movie. I read in various places that it’s funny…I didn’t laugh once. Two loud British “babes” go to the French Riviera and race through a lot of muck and fuss. Kate Moss (I just learned) is a beautiful and famous model and the two bimbo stars get involved with her. Just to be fair and add perspective…the young girls/women in the movie audience did laugh a lot. So if you’ve watched and liked the TV series, you’ll probably like this heavy accented film too.
| 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 archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. . Rick Gladstone opens on August 9th discussing Tom Scribner and Santa Cruz political history in the 1960’s. He’s followed by Debbie Hencke discussing undesirable Branciforte & Eastside growth. The new book “Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast” co-author Christian Schwarz guests on August 18th after which former County Supervisor and Sanders pledged delegate Gary Patton talks about the DNC. Carol Panofsky talks about Munching with Mozart and other music on August 23. Then on August 30 Artist and Doctor Mark Wainer talks about his forthcoming exhibit. Angelo Grova unveils his Fashion Art Show on Sept.20. Michel Singher previews The Espressivo Orchestra’s next concert on September 27. 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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This is a trailer for a movie called “Embrace” It’s a film about body acceptance, and there is a way we can get it to show in Santa Cruz! Follow this link to Gathr and preorder your tickets to ensure a screening at the Riverfront on September 28 at 7:30. I’ll be there. |
NEW UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVE FEATURE. Stuff changes at KZSC a lot. If you missed 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.
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 – OLYMPICS
“Finishing second in the Olympics gets you silver. Finishing second in politics gets you oblivion”, Richard M. Nixon
“Olympics — A lifetime of training for just ten seconds”, Jesse Owens (African-American athlete, 1936 Summer Olympics)
“I swam my brains out”, Mark Spitz (American swimmer, 1972 Summer Olympics, on winning seven gold medals Inspirational)
“It was not the money that was my main motive; it was the challenge and the thrill where I got my kicks. Armed robbery to me was like a sport. To take on an armored vehicle with two armed security guards—it was like an athlete attending the Olympic Games” Drexel Deal.
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions: Click and enter the box in the upper right hand corner of each Ccolumn. You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!) Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Direct email: Bratton@Cruzio.com
Direct phone: 831 423-2468
All Technical & Web details: Gunilla Leavitt @ godmoma@gmail.com
BEST OF VINTAGE STEVEN DeCINZO.
Deep Cover by Tim Eagan.
