BOARDWALK TRAIN AND BUS ACCIDENT. August 16, 1954. No explanations for this one. Either the bus driver parked wrong or took off at exactly the wrong moment. Do note how neat and clean the lawn at the Cocoanut Grove was “back in the day”. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

BLUES BELTER IN A GUITAR SHOP. Another Kit Birskovich discovery (Note from Gunilla: this link didn’t work when I got it, so I’m guessing wildly that this is the video in question. It’s a good one either way!)

THE RETURN OF BEN TREVOR. Former Santa Cruz stage director Ben Trevor (1970-1980) returned for a visit here last weekend. So Katie Heth, , Billie Harris, Larry Jones, Sue Clow, Abby Goss, Rod Wilkinson, John Tuck, Armon Stover, Dennis Carlile and I talked about The Staircase Theatre, Storefront Theatre, Duck Island Stage, The Scotts Valley Cavalcade, Shakespeare, Virginia Wolff, Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and things nobody would believe. Ben is living in Augusta, Georgia with his wife Lee who used to work at the Boardwalk. He says Augusta is full of racial hatred, homophobia forever, and guns and rednecks. He added that we should really appreciate Santa Cruz’s openness and that things are different when you go past the County line.

LATTÉ BREAKING NEWS. I couldn’t get the entire story but rumors have it that Rachel Goodman is no longer the executive director at the Tannery Arts Center. When you go to their website it says that George Newell is the exec.dir. Updates, whispers, even facts would be appreciated. That Rachel sure does move around a lot. But more than a rumor…Lyle Troxell is leaving the County!!! Lyle, son of Peter and Diana Troxell and “tech-coordinator” (major honcho) of UCSC’s Digital Arts and New Media (DANM), plus the brains and voice behind “Geek Speak” on KUSP got some knd of job out of state. Geeks and normal people will miss him severely.

BIRD CATCHING FISH WITH BREAD. As K. Birskovich notes…who knew about birds and using tools??? Watch this one..

PATTON’S PROGRAM. Gary’s daily KUSP bdcsts include…Our Monterey Shale oil deposits looking more juicy to fracking. What will our Board of Supes do about that?? Will Watsonville sell off their prime agricultural land for Wal-Mart’s & franchises?? The Strategic Growth Council meets in SCTO and we should attend…He talks about Wildland and wildfires and how the state wants to spray and destroy our chaparral. He closes with news of a conference at UC Davis and CalCAN the California Climate and Agricultural Network. Read all of above at Gary’s KUSP Land Use scripts http://blogs.kusp.org/landuse (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. Gary has his own website, “Two Worlds / 365” – Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog

VINTAGE DE CINZO. This week’s historic deCinzo proves Watsonville’s river problems never change. Scroll down.

EAGANS DEEP COVER. Tim Eagan « drones » on about terrorism and targets….see down below a few pages.

ELVIS MEETS LIBERACE

LANDAU’S PROGRES.Saul’s pronouncement is titled, “Guns In The US- A Cultural Cancer”. He states, “My country, a unique example, is the only nation to experience periodic massacres of people by killers armed with automatic weapons. When relatives of massacre victims gather to plead with legislatures to prohibit sales of such weapons, other citizens irately rise up to defend “our second Amendment rights.” The Amendment states: “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” He closes with, “The President has proposed background checks on all gun sales, and bans on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines? Read the entire article here

Saul Landau is an Institute for Policy Studies fellow whose films are on DVD from roundworldproductions@gmail.com

LISA JENSEN LINKS. “This week on Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com), a smart and twisty new thriller from Steven Soderbergh, some writing advice from an adverbial abuser, and, hmmm, maybe it’s time to rethink those earlier Oscar predictions…” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.

OSCAR NOMINATED ANIMATED SHORTS I’ve never seen as poor a collection of animation shorts in my life. Trite, boring, (probably rejects) including a Simpsons Cartoon, Adam and Dog, Paperman, Head over Heels, really sucked. Fresh Guacamole was only clever, not worthy. Just shameful, and save your money. Look at a sample of the nominated shorts here.

OSCAR NOMINATED LIVE ACTION SHORTS. This is damned near the finest collection of Live Action shorts since the Academy has been handing out awards. Henry, Asad, The Buzkashi Boys, Curfew, and Shadow of Death are all brilliant and well worth seeing…and they are worth Academy Awards.

SIDE EFFECTS. Steven Soderbergh’s films are all over the place. Silly, bombs, classics, and Side Effects is one wonderful film. Starring Rooney Mara without all that makeup from Dragon Tattoo she steals the entire film. Jude Law is now older and does better acting than we’ve seen in years, and Catherine Zeta Jones is absolutely perfect for her part. It’s a tricky, intelligent plot. Not easy to follow, you have to think a few times unlike most Hollywood films. When Soderbergh does it right, he tops the list of active American directors, go see it ASAP.

SANTA CRUZ BAROQUE FESTIVAL’S 40^TH SEASON. The opening night of the Baroque Festival last Saturday featured a Baroque Lute duet, a genuine rarity in today’s concert world. John Schneiderman and Hideki Yamaya played six compositions by some very obscure composers dating 1670-1758, and completely captivated the audience. Hideki also played the mandolino and the mandora. Don’t miss their next concert Bach For Strings Saturday, February 23 at the Holy Cross Church @ 7:30p.m. The Galax Quartet will perform “on a balanced ensemble of period instruments. Go to www.scbaroque.org for info.

LIBERACE FINALE. You probably heard that Steven Soderbergh is also making an HBO film of Liberace’s life. It stars Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, it’ll be released “in the spring”. Major Studios wouldn’t touch this Soderbergh film because it was too gay!!! See the real guy at

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.

Laura Marcus from Dientes Community Dental Services is on the first half hour of the 2/12 program then Lisa Jensen, Christina Waters, and I talk about the Oscars and who needs them takes the second half on Feb. 12. Feb. 19^th has Kimberly Jannarone and Nancy Carlin discussing the huge Peer Gynt Project about to happen at UCSC. They’re followed by Sandra Nicols and her topic of Santa Cruz’s Board of Education. On Feb. 26 Julie James talks about the Sam Shepard play at coming to the Jewel Theatre and Kathy Bisbee and Lynn Miller talk about Community Television’s future. Historian and author Sandy Lydon guests on March 5^th for the pledge drive night. Teacher, fiddler Annie Steinhart talks about her new book “Pele Voodoo Live” on March 12. 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, 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 Conpany. 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. “No one ever lacks a good reason for committing suicide”, Cesare Pavese. “We belong Dead!”, Frankenstein Monster in The Bride of Frankenstein. “The laying bare of oneself is obscene”, Ad Reinhardt.